in this manner occupied in the preparation and in the printing of the new edition of the Thesaurus;—an ample space, we should suppose, for even such a republication as the one in question, with all the additions and improvements intended to be introduced into the work. A fair occasion was furnished to the Editors, by having in their hands an undertaking of this magnitude and character, of obtaining reputation for themselves, and of doing honour to their age and country. It will not, however, we believe, be generally acknowledged, that they have entitled themselves to the approbation of their subscribers and the public by the manner in which they have executed this literary enterprise. The extensive additions made to Stephens's volumes supply very abundant testimonies to the industry of the Compilers, and shew how successfully the inquiries of the Editors, in respect to the materials necessary for the enlargement of the Thesaurus, have been answered. An immense accumulation of matter has been obtained, and the original work has by this means been very considerably augmented. The proper use of the materials prepared for a work of this kind, is, however, in respect to its literary and philological advantages, of more importance than the mere quantity of them. From the editors of a republication of the Greek Thesaurus of Henry Stephens, intended to correspond to the expectations of scholars in the present advanced state of literature, we look for higher qualifications than mere industry,-for the faculty which shall manifest itself in nice and needful selection, in correct discrimination, and in luminous and judicious arrangement. With these qualities, the Editors of Stephens do not appear to have been highly gifted; and the work which they have issued as an Improved Greek Thesaurus, comes far short of the excellence which it ought to exhibit, and which the funds contributed towards its completion, as well as the time occupied in its preparation and progress, should have ensured. It is much to be regretted, that the execution of the work is not more worthy of the several announcements which gave promise, that the long cherished wishes of all who cultivate Greek learning were about to be accomplished, in their being presented with the Greek Thesaurus of Henry Stephens, in an improved edition, honourable to the projectors, and invaluable to themselves; since there can scarely be even a remote probability of another attempt to engage the patronage of scholars for a series of volumes so large and costly. *

* We will avail ourselves of the present occasion, to refer to Mr. Valpy's edition of the Delphin Classics with Variorum Notes. The prospectus announcing the publication of this undertaking stated, that it would comprise 130 parts at £1 1s. each part to subscribers, and that the work could not be subscribed for in separate parts or authors,

To those who take pleasure in the perusal of literary history, to professed scholars and critics, and to the collectors of rare and primary Greek impressions, Mr. Greswell's volumes will furnish both instruction and abundant gratification. The interest and utility of them are much increased by the concise, but clear and correct sketches which he has introduced, of the civil and religious transactions of the periods which they include. Mr. Greswell's qualifications for the work which he has thus ably executed, are well known; and we are happy in testifying not only to the merits of the work, but also to the candour and uprightness of the Author.

In the account of Postel, (Vol. I. p. 155.) that scholar is said to have first brought into Europe the Syriac version of the New 'Testament.' This ancient Translation (the Peshito) was originally brought into Europe by Moses of Mardin, and was edited by Widmanstad, assisted by Postel.

6

but only as a whole collection. The following note is appended to the prospectus. As some gentlemen have not yet sent in their names as subscribers, on the supposition that the work will hereafter be offered for sale at a lower price, Mr. Valpy begs to state, that, to prevent such depreciation, he has printed but very few copies over the present Subscription (971 large and small).' That the work is now accessible to purchasers on much easier terms, and can readily be obtained, any one may ascertain for himself, who will look into a bookseller's catalogue. We know that the entire series of volumes, or a selection of any Authors, at the option of the buyer, may be had for less than onefourth of the original cost. It is notorious too, that a very considerable number of copies is on sale. It is, we think, important that the attention of those who patronize large and expensive works should be directed to cases like the present. It is the original subscribers to a work who enable a publisher to prepare and issue it; and they should certainly be saved the mortification of seeing the set of books for which they have paid a liberal price, common in the market at a greatly reduced valuation. It cannot certainly be otherwise than vexatious to a subscriber to this republication of the Delphin Classics with Variorum notes, to learn that his friend or his neighbour has purchased for less than thirty pounds, precisely the same books for which he gave one hundred and thirty!-and that any Authors included in a collection may be bought separately, which he could not obtain as a subscriber, without buying the entire series. We do not, in these representations, do more than state facts; but the inquiries which they suggest, are important in reference to the interests of learning.

Art. IV. Sermons by the Rev. Richard Winter Hamilton. 8vo. pp. 590. London, 1833.

WE are not among the number of those critics Mr. Hamilton. refers to in his Advertisement, with whom style is every thing. There are some preachers and writers whose style we think essentially faulty, formed on a bad model, or deformed by vicious taste, yet to whom we cannot deny a high merit which redeems their faults, and makes them dangerous by the lustre which it throws over them. Dr. Chalmers is a preacher of this class his style is peculiarly his own, and, being native and vigorous, it answers well as the vehicle of his singularly vehement eloquence. But it cannot be necessary to point out, how insufferable would be the faults of his style in an imitator. Mr. Irving's florid modern-Gothic style, notwithstanding the palpable affectation which disfigured it, was in like manner rendered subservient to a powerful impression, till the orator became lost in the fanatic. The style of a person's composition is often very much the result and reflection of his mental temperament. Strength united to impetuosity displays itself sometimes in a lawless force of expression, which commands, rather than pleases; while the not unfrequent combination of warmth of feeling and energy of character with mental indolence, may be detected in the fitful inequalities of style, the mixture of strength and weakness, by which another writer is characterized. A tinge of pedantry (often mistaken for affectation) is the natural result of vanity; while an affected style is rather the result of ambitious effort, and may be equally unconnected with an artificial character. A vehement dislike of the tame and common-place is extremely likely to lead a young writer into the opposite fault of grandiloquence. And there are some writers who may be compared to performers who, not being well taught at first, continue, after they have acquired the art of playing with effect, to finger badly. But, whatever be the faults of style and manner with which a preacher or writer is chargeable, it is in his power to render them so subordinate to the matter, and purport, and aim of his composition, as to render criticism a cold and unseasonable impertinence.

When a young aspirant after literary honours, yet in the first efflorescence of juvenile vanity, prints his maiden production, the Critic has a stern duty to perform, which may seem as unkind as the wind that strips the trees in spring of the false blossom. It is then, if ever, that criticism is useful. But, when years have fixed the taste and naturalized the manner of a writer, whatever were his original faults, it is, we are well persuaded, nearly as useless as it is invidious to blazon them.

Should these remarks appear inapplicable to the subject in hand, we must throw the blame upon Mr. Hamilton, who, anticipating that his 'style will be, as usual, severely attacked, should

criticism deign a notice,' scarcely does justice either to himself or to the critics he seems to fear. hearing him from the pulpit; but we have always understood him We had never the pleasure of to be a very effective and powerful preacher, of which these Sermons contain, indeed, sufficient evidence. Nineteen years spent in the honourable discharge of the pastoral office in one place, give a title to higher respect than all the graces of composition could win from us as critics; and we know not why Mr. Hamilton should have indulged in the sarcasm veiled under the declaration, that he will still stoop, if the censor be of a sufficient order of intellect to warrant a jest and sneer.' he has chosen, would preclude a jest, as much as the talents he The nature of the themes possesses, would raise him above a sneer.

6

Were we to say that the style of these Sermons is their distinguishing recommendation, we should say what is not true, and what, if true, would be but a poor compliment. Mr. Hamilton's style is certainly more nervous than graceful, more oratorical than accurate*, more copious than select. a certain mannerism, which, whether the manner be good or bad, It bears the stamp also of is a fault. But, having said thus much, we shall not expend a word more in verbal criticism; but proceed at once to notice the more substantial qualities of the volume.

The Sermons are eleven in number: as the volume extends to nearly 600 pages, it will be inferred that they are length. We do not consider this as a fault in compositions preof very unusual pared for the press; and we take it for granted that each of these sermons imbodies the matter of several as originally delivered. The subjects are as follows.

I. The Inviolability of Christianity, Gal. i. 8. II. The Counsel of Gamaliel examined, Acts v. 38, 39. III. Moral Means preferable to Miracle, Luke xvi. 31. IV. The transcendent Love of Christ, Eph. iii. 19. V. Incarnate Deity, Phil. ii. 5, 8. VI. The Atonement, John i. 29. VII. The Christian Doctrine of Divine Grace, Rom. xi. 6. VIII. The Son of God anticipating his Reward, Heb. x. 13. IX. The Heavenly Country, Heb. xi. 6. X. Deism no Refuge from Judgement, Rom. iii. 6. XI. Jesus Christ Creator and Lord of the Universe, Col. i. 16.'

Sometimes it is not easy to determine whether the inaccuracy is typographical or not: ex. gr. Men who affect their desire of miracle.' (p. 113.) Men may affect a desire, or may assert their desire. To inspire a zest (p. viii.) is, perhaps, a mistake for, impart a zest. The following sentence is too elliptical to be intelligible: (p. 517.) The concession of such a Being is inconsistent without a moral character, and his moral character is inconsistent without an assent to Christianity.' Substitutionary concert,' (p. 349.) is a phrase bordering on enigma.

6

It will be seen that most of the subjects are such as are involved in the controversy wiih the Unitarians, and the sermons may be characterized as mainly argumentative. Mr. Hamilton has shewn himself, not only in this volume, but elsewhere, a zealous champion and a powerful advocate of the truth. If not always a very close logician, he is a skilful and formidable polemic, and he wields with peculiar force the weapons of caustic rebuke and sarcasm. Yet, these sermons are by no means of a dry polemical cast. On the contrary, they abound with admirable statements and forcible appeals, adapted to enforce, as well as to vindicate the great doctrines of Christianity. The Author will, however, be thought, by the majority of his admirers, most at home in dealing with the opponent and the sceptic. In the following passage, taken from the first sermon, the Preacher with great force maintains the inference deducible from the apostolic protest, Gal. i. 8, that the import and construction of the Gos6 pel cannot be vague and indeterminate."

It cannot be reasonably doubted, that the first Christians, whatever were their "differences of administrations and diversities of operations," had a "like precious faith," and a common salvation." They coincided in the first principles of the oracles of God," in the principles of the doctrine of Christ." They "obeyed, from the heart, that form of doctrine which was delivered them." "The form of sound words" was inculcated with the precision of a lesson, and the authority of a law. The characteristic of the Gospel was alleged to be its truth. This was, to the sophists of that era, a strange and novel pretension. To require faith to a testimony, only so far as conformable to fact, only so far as supported by evidence, appeared to them a startling affectation. Yet, this was the tone which the primeval disciples assumed; and as history proved what religion hallowed, we need not wonder at their port of magnanimity and valour. "They could do nothing against the truth, but for the truth." Hence their belief was definite and avowed. Neither did confusion cloud their judgement, nor strife divide their interpretation, nor suspicion canker their "singleness of heart." singleness of heart." "Sound and good doctrine" they opposed to "fables ;" "love of the truth" united them; they were encouraged to come to "the knowledge," and bidden to "the acknowledging," "of the truth." With this the Apostles were "put in trust;" they were "stewards of the mysteries of God." Their power was ample; they were teachers in faith and verity." They wore the manner of conviction the most entire and unshrinking, and justified their followers in its adoption. The language current among them was, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him." This was no conjecture, but assurance; no faltering, but infallibility. So "established, strengthened, and settled" were they, so "rooted and built up," borrowing the description from the tenacity of the root and strength of the building, that the