Why dress a good idea in this fustian?-unless, indeed, the object is to send our little boys to their Greek lexicon and French dictionary. It is fair, nevertheless, to acknowledge the general fidelity of the English version before us, and to thank the translator for the good service he has done to a multitude of readers.

In the headings of these successive "books" and " chapters," we have an analysis of the whole subject. They comprise the persons sacrificing, the place, the various kinds of sacrifice, and the theory of expiation; the laying on of hands, the slaughter, the sprinkling of blood, the burning, the sacrificial meal; the bloodless offerings; the consecration of the people, priests, and Levites; special seasons and feasts; the removal of uncleanness, &c. Of all these particulars the treatment is masterly; and if a few cases occur in which Dr. Kurtz does not convince us, (a result all but inevitable, amid multiplied detail, if we have any opinion of our own,) there are none in which he does not furnish matter of profitable reflection, none in which his statements do not rightfully claim to be weighed with care. For the present, let us glance at a few of the earlier chapters, and, as we proceed, freely annotate on a sentence

two.

ΟΙ

1. The text in Leviticus, (xvii. 3 -5,) quoted by Dr. Kurtz, does not seem to apply to any ox, sheep, or goat, slain for ordinary domestic consumption, but only to such animals as were destined for the altar. -2. The "sweet savour" which went up to heaven, from ancient altars, denotes more, far more, than that the self-dedication of the offerer was well-pleasing to God.-3. We must pause long before regarding the piacular victims "as food for Jehovah." Such phrases as "the bread of their God" (Lev. xxi. 6) are capable of another exposition.

4. After looking at the philological remarks on pp. 67-70, (which revive the discussion of the Hebrew term for atonement, expiation,) we still incline to take in the plain meaning, to put out of sight, and so to render of no account; and this the rather, because Dr. Kurtz allows the correctness of the radical sense commonly given, (" to cover," "to cover up,") and grants that it is retained in the Piel form of the verb.-5. The following sentences represent, in brief, our author's opinion respecting a most important part of the furniture of the Most Holy Place ; namely, the CAPPORETH,

that plate of beaten gold which served as the lid of the ark of the covenant, and is generally called the mercy-seat :".

66

Hengstenberg's view-that the covering of the ark, or of the law contained in it, by the capporeth, was intended to express the idea, that the grace of God had covered or silenced the accusing voice of the law-will be found to be defective and inadmissible. denotes not a local, material covering, but a spiritual one; and the object of this covering is always and everywhere the sin of man. Hence the capporeth cannot be taken as covering the tables of the law. The object to be covered, (that is, to be atoned for,) could not be anything that came from God, and least of all God's holy law. That law was to be anything but covered up.-What, then, was the chief significance of the capporeth? This is quite evident from its name, and was practically exhibited in the expiation there effected. By the circumstance, that on the great day of atonement (Lev. xvi.) the blood of the holiest sinoffering was sprinkled upon the mercy-seat, just as the blood of the ordinary sacrifices on ordinary days was sprinkled upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering in the Court, or upon the altar of incense in the

Holy Place, it was shown to be an altar, but as much higher and holier than the other two altars, as the Most Holy Place was higher and holier than the Holy Place and the Court of the sacred Tabernacle. The GLORY OF JEHOVAH rested between the wings of the cherubim that overshadowed it, whereby that altar became the throne of God-the throne of grace. Now, since the support of the throne, together with the capporeth as an altar-plate, enclosed the record of the covenant, or the covenant testimony and pledge; the idea expressed was, that Jehovah's enthronement here was based upon, and rendered possible by, the covenant which God had concluded with Israel, and the institution of atonement which He had solemnly given. (Lev. xvii. 11.)

The Siege of Jerusalem by Titus. With the Journal of a recent Visit to the Holy City, and a general Sketch of the Topography of Jerusalem from the earliest Times down to the Siege. By Thomas Lewin, Esq., Trinity College, Oxford, M.A., F.S.A., Author of "The Life of St. Paul," &c. Longmans.-Mr. Lewin is not unknown to our readers; and hence it will not be a hard matter to obtain from them a very friendly welcome for his new work. In the first part of it,-following Josephus, of course, -he gives a most readable outline of a tragedy unparalleled in history, and marked, first and last, with the blood of more than a million. His other chapters will repay attentive reading; serving, in our judgment, to throw light on several vexed questions of that most perplexing topography with which he deals. An example or two we hope soon to insert in the miscellaneous department of this Magazine. In the meantime, the author's frank statements will do more, probably, than the hasty commendation of reviewers, to conciliate any whose interest

Journal' would not prove much more attractive...... It occurred that the best and only successful mode would be to interweave the subject with a narrative of sufficient interest to outweigh the dulness of the local details. Hence 'The Siege,' &c.

"If the author's prognostications be fulfilled, most of those who take up his volume will peruse the first Part; some will perseveringly find their way through the second; and a few, imbued with antiquarian lore, or having made the holy places of Jerusalem their peculiar study, will struggle through the third."

Of those who pay regard to our brief Notice, a fair proportion will graduate, we trust, in the third of these reading-classes.

Missions, apostolic and modern: An Exposition of the Narrative of St. Paul's first Missionary Journey, in relation to the Protestant Missions of the present Century. By Frederick W. Briggs, Author of " Pentecost," &c. Hamilton, Adams, and Co; John Mason.-Missions represent the church aggressive. Their argument is found in every doctrine of the Bible, and their appeal is enforced by all that is passing around us. Among the signs of our times, (some of them dark and louring,)

there is one of happiest augury,-that the churches are awaking to the great duty for which they have an existence among the nations of the earth.

And, since this work is as old as Christianity, as old as the revelation of saving truth to man,-it cannot but be interesting to trace its story in the ages past. Organization, in the forms now best known, is quite modern; not so, however, the design itself which they serve. Delightful it is to mark early presages of good for human kind,—

"Dawnings of hope, and promises of day,"

which of cld cheered the world's grey fathers. There is, first, the intimation of a Saviour made to the parents of the race, before their expulsion from Eden. Mark, next, in successive ages, the migrations of godly patriarchs; the distinct announcement, more than once given to Abraham, that his race was chosen with a view to a blessing for "all the families of the earth;" the central position of the Temple, like a pharos of many nations, on Moriah; the spacious Court of the Gentiles, latterly crowded with proselytes; the warning sent to the Ninevites, by the ministry of Jonah; the grand poetry of Hebrew seers, who carried the "burdens" of Egypt and Assyria, of Tyre, Damascus, and Babylon; and whose pages glow with visions of the knowledge of the Lord'spread from the river to the shore. Bright are all these starry hopes for the world; but they are lost in the sunrise of Christianity, the effulgence of the "Light to lighten the Gentiles," and "the Glory of" His "people Israel." Though by slow degrees, apostles learned the import of their great commission; and at length Antioch, of Syria, became the mother-city of Missions to the Heathen. There the first formal proceedings to this end were taken;

and thence went Barnabas and Saul

patterns of "travelling preach-. ers"-on their extensive circuit, telling everywhere of "peace by Jesus Christ."

It was a happy thought to write on this last-mentioned section of the continuous history; and the author of the volume now announced brings to his task sound views, competent learning, and a variety of Missionary information. In expounding the sacred text, he combines reverence with sagacity; in grouping various illustrations, he admits only what is pertinent; in applying the whole to a practical end, he is earnest and powerful. A perusal of his chapters will be helpful to public speakers, and stimulating to all who are disposed to think and feel aright. No time could have been better selected for an addition of this class to our Missionary library; and we hail it as an offering of true and loyal affection,-not the least of the costly tributes brought, in this year of Jubilee, to swell our great Master's revenue of praise.

Denmark and her Missions. Dedicated, by permission, to the QueenDowager of Denmark. By Harriet Warner Ellis, Author of " Toils and Triumphs,' ""The Kaleidoscope," &c. Seeley, Jackson, and Halliday.-A very pleasant addition to our Missionary library, containing a good amount of information drawn from various sources, many of which are not accessible to readers in general. It comes to us at this time, moreover, (like everything Danish,) with a fresh or a revived interest. But, apart from this, the names of men like Ziegenbalg, Swartz, Egede, Carey,-and of places like Tranquebar, Serampore, Greenland, St. Tho mas,-cannot fail to illuminate the pages in which they occur. Frederick IV., of Denmark, also claims special honour; "a rare example of