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fear that there is matter in the remaining points involved in the discussion, which prevent Mr. Wolff from coming off triumphantly, notwithstanding the elaborate exposition of the subject with which he is supported by Mr. Frere, and which is printed in the Journal. It must strike their antagonist likewise as a strange circumstance, and lead him to conclude that the prophetical truths of Christianity must be founded upon a very capricious basis, to find the disciple with whom he disputes taking 2300 years as the period of the vision of Daniel vIII. and the master assuming 2400 years to be the true reading, and declaring that his disciple was aware of it!

The statements of Mr. Wolff in regard to prophecy have drawn forth some kind and judicious hints from the Rev. Mr. Duff, the eminent Missionary of the Scottish Society; whose advice Mr. Wolff himself elicited, and whose letter Mr. Wolff with great candour and simplicity publishes in his journal. Mr. Duff says:"I might say, that it would be well to introduce the subject of the Millennium at all times with a notification, that you did not consider your view of it an essential article of faith; but merely as your own opinion, which you are ready to deliver when required. I would suggest that you might always limit and define what you mean by the literal interpretation of prophecy; not literal always in word, but in sense." p. 435. The latter hint we consider a very saga. cious one, and wish the definition were more frequently kept in view. The former we likewise concur in, on the assumption that Mr. Duff alludes to matters of detail respecting the condition of the saints and men in the flesh, &c. during the Millennium ;-matters in regard to which many have advanced unwarrantable imaginations. But if by" the Mil

lennium," Mr. Duff means those demonstrable points which we have before enumerated, we should deprecate the distinction of essential and non-essential, as calculated to lead Christians to suppose, that they are at liberty to neglect the latter; which consequently proves a means of those doctrines being at length lost sight of by the Church, and this to the unavoidable detriment and loss of many, as we are persuaded has been the case in the present instance. We believe that we are, in the most fundamental sense, saved by the precious blood of Christ, and therefore that the atonement is an important doctrine: but we believe also that we are "saved by hope;"-and as this declaration is immediately connected with the redemption of the body, the deliverance of creation from bondage, and the manifestation of the sons of God, (Rom. VIII. 19-24) we are bound to consider these matters important likewise; and no man can say-as regards the means which God may employ to keep him in the way, after he has awakened him-how connecting a link in the chain of salvation any one doctrine of divine revelation may prove.

We must not conclude without observing, that there is much in Mr. Wolff's Journal which renders it interesting the latter part of his travels, narrating his adventures, after his entering upon the territories of Runjeet Singh, has more of the charm about it of romance, than of the sobriety of real life. We must confine ourselves however to a notice of that which forms the principal object of Mr. Wolffs enterprise, viz. his researches after the Ten Tribes; and this leads us back rather to the earlier part of his narrative. It was a desire to explore the regions of Bokhara and Affgha nistan that first prompted him to

undertake his perilous journey. Our readers are doubtless aware that many conceive the Affghans to be descended from the ten tribes who were led into captivity: we may sum up the discoveries of Mr. Wolff concerning them in the following

statement.

He was informed by the Jews of Bokhara and Balkh, cities of Toorkestaun which he visited, that they are the ancient Habor and Halah mentioned in 2 Kings xvII. 6, and XVIII. 11; but that the Jews lost their written account of this matter in the time of Jenghis Khan. This account was corroborated by the Musselman Mullahs; who told him further, that the first name of Balkh was Hanah and afterwards it became Halah, and that it had been built by a son of Adam. Mr. Wolff was indeed himself led to conclude, that Toorkistaun is the same as the land of Nod, and Balkh the situation where Nod stood. (p. 186.) This appears to decide, so far as tradition can do it, that this is the region in which the ten tribes were formerly located. In regard to the inhabitants of this region, the same Jews of Bokhara informed him, that they emigrated from Babylon to Persia, and settled at Sabzawar, two day's journey from Meshed; and that before the time of Jenghis Khan they were carried to Balk and to Samarcand. When Samarcand fell into ruins a great number of them went to Bokhara; and there, they say, they found many who originally came from Babylon, and of whom many had emigrated to China, which they call Tsheen Patsheen and that these took their genealogies with them.

;

Mr. Wolff further says, that the Jews of Meshed, mentioned above, have not the Talmud; that they keep themselves entirely secluded from their neighbours, and never intermarry with them, nor even with

the Jews of Yazed, on account of the bad character of the latter; that they have no hatred towards Jesus Christ, neither have those of Toor kestaun and Khorossaun; which caused Mr. Wolff to infer, that they were of the ten tribes who had no share in the crucifixion. (page 159.) He also states, that the Jews believed the Affghans to be descendants of the Jews; an admission which we may be quite sure a Jew would be slow to make in regard to those who are living as Gentiles, unless he had strong and irresistible reasons for so concluding. And he adds, that Aga Levi, one of these Jews, informed him, that the tribes of Benjamin, Simeon and Joseph were carried to Candahar; where they lost their books, and then turned Mahommedans. Page 134.

On the other hand Mr. Wolff has some doubts respecting the Affghans; First, because they have not the Jewish physiognomy; secondly, because there existed a contrary tradition, that they were descended from the Copts; thirdly, because he could only trace one word in their language which was strictly Hebrew, viz. or, light. (p. 231.) He confesses however, that there were two tribes of this people-the Youssuf Szeye and the Khaibaree," which cannot be looked upon without astonishment.-They are the only two tribes having a Jewish countenance; their customs are quite patriarchal ; and they are the most hospitable of the Affghans." (p. 242.) Mr. Wolff also believes, and gives documentary proof, that the proper names of the Affghans in general are in numerous instances Jewish. They have many Hebrew names in their genealogy in tracing themselves up to Affghana their ancestor; and before him all is regularly Hebrew up to Abraham. (p. 241—2.)

There exists opposing testimony

to Mr. Wolff, as regards their lan guage, of high authority. Sir William Jones says, that the best Persian historians declare them to be descended from the Jews; and that their families are distinguished by the names of the Jewish tribes: although since their conversion to Islamism, they studiously conceal their origin.- The Pushtoo language (he adds) of which I have seen a dictionary, has a manifest resemblance to the Chaldaic." And he notices the fact, that the Apocryphal Ezra speaks of a portion of the ten tribes who separated from the rest, and settled in a district which he calls Arsareth, and that there was then a considerable district under the dominion of the Affghans, which they call Hazareth or Hazaret.* Captain S. Riley of Nusseerabad, a letter from whom is likewise inserted in the Journal (p. 227,) believes the Affghans to be of Jewish descent, on account of the great number of Hebrew proper names in their appellatives, and their dialect still retaining the genitive sign of the Chaldee, and other marks of cognate affinity. From a note in Mr. Bickersteth's recently published" Guide to Prophecy" we also learn, that the missionaries Carey and Marshman state" that in the Pushtoo or Affghan language there are more Hebrew words than in that of any other nation:" and they quote a learned Affghan as saying, that his nation are Beni Israel, but not Yahood"that is to say, sons of Israel, but not Jews.

The most reasonable conclusion therefore is, that Mr. Wolff is mistaken in regard to their language. He did not understand it, but merely picked up a few words as he travelled, which were given to him in answer to his inquiries, as the names of objects to which he probably

pointed. This afforded him no opportunity of judging of the inflexions of the words as they come under regimen ; which is the point to which Captain Riley speaks: nor is a column or two of words accidently assorted, to be put in competition with the dictionary which Sir William Jones declares he inspected. Neither does it account for the admitted fact of the number of Hebrew appellatives.

There are some speculations of Mr. Wolff, in regard to the existence of the ten tribes in other parts, which as they rest on no satisfactory grounds we forbear to enter upon; and we therefore conclude our remarks with the notice of two or three very practicable improvements which Mr. Wolff may make, should he publish a third edition of his Journal. 1st we would recommend the suppression of those numerous letters and notes printed verbatim, and which often contain little more than an invitation to visit the house of a friend, or an expression of kindness towards Mr. Wolff; whilst the complimentary part of them is liable to misapprehension. 2ndly. We would advise that letters in foreign languages should be translated, for the benefit of English readers. 3rdly. The numerous genealogical lists and other documents, useful only for reference, with which the work abounds, would have been better thrown into an Appendix. And 4thly. Mr. Wolff often records some infidel or sceptical remarks, made by an antagonist in the course of argument, without informing us, how he met the argument; and he sometimes relates forcible things said by himself, without telling us what impression they made, or how they were met. an abrupt character to his work, and often disappoints the reader, just when he has excited his interest.

*Asiatic Researches, vol. I. p. 336.

This gives

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Intelligence, New Publications, &c.

FALSE PROPHECIES.-A new Pam- to which he points. They have phlet has just made its appearance, been promised by the spirit, which by Robert Baxter, Esq. of Doncasis reverenced among them, aposter, entitled" Irvingism, in its Rise, tles possessed of a full endowProgress and Present State." It ment of miraculous gifts, with a contains a brief historical sketch of power of bestowing the Holy Ghost that delusion, which will be found by the laying on of hands ;—they particularly interesting to those who were to have had a baptism of fire;are unacquainted with its real cha- they were to have had an abundant racter; and we would hope, and do outpouring of all the miraculous sincerely pray, that it may likewise gifts, particularly of those which be made useful to some of those would have endured the scrutiny of who are at present under its in- the sceptical; they were to have fluence; among whom, we are free to sent forth Missionaries to all parts confess, there are many whose piety of the earth, qualified by miracuwe admire, whilst we deprecate their lous gifts to preach in all languages: "pernicious ways." As the conductors but none of these things have come of a Journal on Prophecy we consider to pass! But we recommend the it our bounden duty to notice and to Book itself; by which the reader exhibit in their true colours those will at once be enabled to judge, pretensions to prophetical inspira- whether he is to view the alleged tion which may force themselves up- prophecies and gifts as the work of on our observation in the course of the Holy Ghost; or as the indicaour labours for if these preten- tion of the rising up in the last days sions be genuine, doubtless the voice of those "false prophets,' 'false awhich they utter ought to be listen- postles," and " false christs," of ed to; whereby the effort of the stuwhich he will find mention as among dent to ascertain by dint of labori- the signs of the last times. The ous investigation the meaning of Pamphlet is published by Nisbet, the prophetic portion of Scripture price One Shilling. would be greatly shortened: and if they be not genuine, they ought as certainly to be exposed, as mischievous devices of Satan, which are intended, on the one hand, to draw off inquiring men from the patient and sober study of the prophetic word; and, on the other hand, to bring that word into contempt among indolent and superficial professors. The failure of one Irvingite prophecy we noticed in the Number which closed our former series; Mr. Baxter in addition brings forward four others which have equally failed up to the present time; besides various conflicting and contradictory "utterances"

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"COME AND SEE."-The Work an- .
nounced in our last Number under
this title by H. S. L. as preparing
for publication by Subscription, is
for the present suspended : we
shall be happy to give notice
should its publication be resumed.
A summary of the views of the
writer, to be contained in a series
of papers, has been offered to us
for publication;
for publication; but considering
that they would probably con-
flict with Mr. Frere's exposition
now publishing, and thus perplex
the reader, we have thought it bet-
ter for the present to defer them.

THE COTTAGER'S GUIDE.-We are desirous to call the attention of our readers to a very useful little work for circulation among the poor, published under the forgoing title in numbers, by the Rev. E. Bickersteth, Rector of Watton. Part I. containing four numbers may now be had in cloth, price nine-pence; or either of the four numbers separately at twopence each. They are upon the following subjects :-No. I. The Holy Scriptures;-No. II. The Great God; -No. III. Creation ;-No. IV. Providence. This enumeration of their contents evinces that they are neither exclusively nor professedly prophetical but prophetical topics are nevertheless very judiciously and practically intermingled. We may instance for example, in the first number, the section entitled "The Bible shows us what is to take place;"—" The display of God's perfections," and " God our salvation;" in the second,-" The New Creation;" in the third,—and " The Signs of the Times" in the fourth.

MARAMENSIS.-We beg to direct attention to a letter from our old and esteemed Correspondent, Maramensis, which is on page 5 of the Cover. He feels himself aggrieved by the observations we applied to his concluding remarks and general opinions in the Postscript to the last volume of our former Series; but when we received his letter we hesitated to give it insertion from a conviction that it would, in the very first number of our New Series, reopen that controversy which it was one object of the new Series to close. We regret some of our expressions, which when pointed out to us by our Correspondent appear to convey a feeling of contempt for him, which was far from being entertained by us. In a second letter which we have received, he thinks

us called upon to say, that the title prefixed to his paper in that number

viz. "Summary of the views of Maramensis"- -was not his choosing but ours this we readily acknowledge. He also considers that we represented his opinions as being diametrically opposed to ours, whereas the difference is not of kind but of degree. We must leave this for the judgment of the Reader; as well as all other topics touched upon in the letter. We should not have printed it at all, but that in his second letter Maramensis restricts us from making any allusion to it without we publish the whole: and therefore, that we may not misrepresent him, we give it entire but we refrain from comment that we may not provoke reply.

New Publications.

THE CRISIS; or the approaching grand religious Revolution, and the fall of the national Churches, &c. ; in which events are traced down to the present time and the nature of the great crisis which is approaching is shewn from the Word of God. By B. D. BOGIE, B. A. Rector of Lusby. London; Hamilton & Co. 4s. 6d. cloth.

DANIEL'S PROPHECY OF THE SEVENTY WEEKS,-By A LAYMAN. Interpreted as 490 years of the temporal covenant with the seed of Abraham, determined upon the house of Judah for the purpose of bringing in the Most Holy through the Tribe-From a decree of Xerxes (shewn to be the Darius of Ezra) to the building of the wall, seven, weeks-To the birth of Messiah, when the sceptre departed from Judah, sixty-two weeks-The covenant at that time suspended by the Romans-Renewed for seven years on their expulsion. Also suggestions as to difficulties in the Apocryphal books of Esdras and Judith. Lond. Rivington: 12mo. 5s.

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