hope I take my leave, entreating you to accept my most grateful and affectionate acknowledgments, and believe me to be, with the most exalted esteem, Reverend Sir,

THE CANON OF THE OLD AND NEW

TESTAMENTS ASCERTAINED; or the Bible complete without the Apocrypha and unwritten Traditions. By Archibald Alexander, Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology, in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J. 12mo. pp. 418.

Among the many benefits which the church and the world derive from well conducted theological institutions, we must reckon, as highly important, the publications of their able and pious professors. These professors are always selected with a primary reference to their talents and attainments; and their subsequent studies and occupation, enable them eventually to appear with great advantage, as authors on the most important topicks of theology. The justice of these remarks we have already had the pleasure to see exemplified, to a considerable extent, in the Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian church at Princeton. From one of its professors, heresy and schism have received a merited and powerful rebuke; and by another, the evidences of divine revelation have been lucidly and attractively exhibited, and the Canon of Sacred Scripture ascertained and vindicated, in a compendious, popular, and satisfactory manner. Nor shall we forbear, on the present occasion, to express the pleasing anticipations that we cherish, of the benefits which the students of Biblical criticism in our VOL. V. Ch. Adv.

Yours, &c. &c.

country may hereafter derive, from the publications of the youngest professor of that seminary-should he live, as our prayer is that he may, to avail himself of the distinguished advantages which he now enjoys in Europe, for improvement in oriental literature, and in the various knowledge by which the sacred volume may be illustrated.

The work now under review should have received from us an earlier notice, if we had sooner been able to redeem the time necessary to examine it, with that care and deliberation which its importance merits. Its design will best be made known by the author.

thor to undertake the following compilation, was the desire of furnishing a supplement to the little volume which he recently published, on the Evidences of the Christian Religion; for the argument for the truth of Divine Revelation cannot be considered complete, without the testimonies, by which the canonical authority of the several books of scripture is established. But he was also influenced by the consideration, that a convenient and compendious work on this subject, is a desideratum, in our English theological literature. The works which we possess on the canon of scripture, are either too learned or too voluminous, the whole subject has been seldom treatfor the use of common readers. Besides, ed by the same author; for while one vindicates the canon of the Old Testament alone, another confines himself to the settling of the canon of the New Testament.

"One motive which induced the au

"The object of the writer of this work is to exhibit a compendious view of the whole subject, and in such a form às K

will be level to the capacities of all descriptions of readers. He has aimed at bringing forward the result of the researches of learned men who have treat. ed this subject, in such a manner, that the substance of their works might be easily accessible to that numerous class of readers, who are unskilled in the learned languages. It was, moreover, his opinion, that such a volume as this, would not be unacceptable to theological students, and to clergymen, who have it not in their power to procure more costly works."

We entirely agree with Dr. A., "that a convenient and compendious work on this subject-the Canon of Sacred Scripture-is a desideratum in our English theological literature"--Or we would rather say, that till this publication, it was a desideratum: for after examining every part of this little volume pretty closely, it is our deliberate judgment that the desideratum is now nearly supplied. We doubt not indeed, that the author may improve his work in future editions; and we shall, in the sequel, notice what we take to be some slight imperfections or oversights; but these detract very little, in our own estimation, from the general value of the performance." Usefulness" says Johnson, "seldom depends on little things." We can truly say, that if we could have found such a book as the one before us in early life, we should have esteemed it a treasure; and that it would have saved us the trouble of gathering up, here and there, in detached parcels, much of the information which is here accumulated and condensed. No minister of the gospel, no theological student,-nay, no reading man or woman, who prizes the Bible as all ought to prize it, should remain contentedly ignorant of the subjects discussed in this publication. To this opinion we think we shall have the suffrage of all our best informed readers, after they have perused and carefully considered the table of contents. It is as follows:

"Part I.-Introduction-The import ance of ascertaining the true Canon of the Holy Scriptures.-Sect. I. Early use and import of the word Canon.-II. Constitution of the Canon of the Old Testament by Ezra.-The Canon of the Old Testament as it now exists, sanctioned by Christ and his Apostles-Catalogues of the Books by some of the early Fathers -Agreement of Jews and Christians on this subject.-III. Apocryphal BooksTheir origin-Importance of distinguishing between Canonical and Apocryphal Books-Six Books of this class pronounced Canonical by the Council of Trent-Not in the Hebrew, nor received by the Jews, ancient or modern.-IV. Testimonies of the Christian Fathers, and of other learned men, down to the time of the Council of Trent, respecting the Apocrypha.-V. Internal evidence that writers not prophets, and do not claim to be inspired.-VI. No Canonical Book of the Old Testament has been lost.-VII. The Oral Law of the Jews without foundation.

these Books are not Canonical-The

"Part II.-Sect. I. Method of settling the Canon of the New Testament.-II. Catalogues of the Books of the New Tes tament-Canonical Books only cited as authority by the Fathers, and read in the Churches as Scripture.-III. Order of the Books of the New Testament-Time the Evangelists.-IV. Testimonies to Matof the Gospels being written-Notice of thew's Gospel-Time of publicationLanguage in which it was originally composed.-V. Gospel of Mark-On what occasion published-Ascribed to the dictation of Peter by all the Fathers.-VI. Gospel of Luke-Testimonies of the Fathers respecting it.-VII. The objections of J. D. Michaelis, to the Canonical authority of the Gospels of Mark and Luke, considered, and answered.-VIII. The Gospel of John-Life of the EvangelistOccasion and time of his writing-Ca nonical authority indisputable.-IX. The Acts of the Apostles-Luke the author

Canonical authority undisputed by the Testimonies to the Canonical authority of Fathers-Rejected only by heretics.-X. the fourteen Epistles of Paul-XI. Canonical authority of the seven Catholick Epistles.-XII. Canonical authority of the

Book of Revelation.-XIII. No Canonical Book of the New Testament has been

lost.-XIV. Rules for determining what Books are Apocryphal-some account of the Apocryphal Books which have been lost-All of them condemned by the foregoing rules-Reason of the abounding of which are still extant-Letter of Abgarus such Books.-XV. Apocryphal Books King of Edessa to Jesus, and his answer-

Epistle to the Laodiceans-Letters of Paul to Seneca-Protevangelion of James -The Gospel of our Saviour's infancy-The Acts of Pilate-The Acts of Paul and Thecla.-XVI. No part of the Christian Revelation handed down by unwritten tradition.-Notes."

It is no small recommendation of this work, that it is popular in its manner. It is so written as to be perfectly intelligible to those who are unacquainted with the learned languages; and so likewise as to engage attention, and even to afford much entertainment to those who take an interest in the general subject. The book will not, on this account, be less acceptable to scholars; and to the mere English reader it will afford a gratification, which he could not otherwise receive. Who has not heard the complaint from those unacquainted with the ancient languages, that biblical discussions are often so interspersed with Hebrew, Greek and Latin, that they cannot fully understand them, and therefore often neglect them altogether? We know that discussions of this character are not to be indiscriminately condemned; because justice cannot be done to some subjects, without quotations from the original languages. of the sacred volume. But scholars can find enough of these; and we suspect that some who are called scholars would be willing to find less of them than they do.

It cannot be expected that we should give large extracts from this volume-Our space forbids it; and we hope that very many of our readers will peruse the whole for themselves. We select as a specimen, the following paragraphs, which close the first section of the second part.

"The question is often asked, when was the canon of the New Testament constituted? and by what authority? Many persons who write and speak on this subject, appear to entertain a wrong impression, in regard to it: as if the books of the New Testament could not be of authority, until they were sanctioned by some

ecclesiastical council, or by some publickly expressed opinion of the Fathers of the church; and as if any portion of their authority depended on their being collected into one volume. But the truth is, that every one of these books was of authority, as far as known, from the moplace in the canon, is not derived from ment of its publication; and its right to a the sanction of any church, or council, but from the fact, that it was written by inspiration. And the appeal to testimony bishops, or others, gave sanction to the is not to prove, that any council of book, but to show, that it is indeed the genuine work of Matthew, or John, or Peter, or Paul, whom we know to have been inspired.

"The books of the New Testament were, therefore, of full authority, before they were collected into one volume; and it would have made no difference, if they had never been included in one volume, but had retained that separate form, in which they were first published. And it is by no means certain, that these books were, at a very early period, bound in one volume. As far as we have any testimony on the subject, the probability is, that it was more customary to include them in two volumes: one of which was

called the Gospel, and the other, the Apostles. Some of the oldest MSS. of

the New Testament extant, appear to have been put up in this form; and the Fathers often refer to the scriptures of the New Testament, under those two titles. The question, when was the canon constituted, admits therefore, of no other proper answer than this, that as

soon as the last book of the New Testament was written and published, the Canon was completed. But if the question relates to the time when these books were collected together, and published in a single volume, or in two volumes, it admits of no definite answer; for those churches which were situated nearest to the place, where any particular books were published, would, of course, obtain copies much earlier, than churches in a remote part of the world. For a considerable each church, must have been necessarily period, the collection of these books, in incomplete; for it would take some time to send to the church, or people, with whom the autographs were deposited, and to write off fair copies. This necessary process will also account for the fact, that some of the smaller books were not received by the churches so early, nor so universally, as the larger. The solicitude of the churches to possess, immediately, the more extensive books of the New Testament, would, doubtless, induce them to make a great exertion to acquire

copies; but probably, the smaller, would not be so much spoken of, nor would there be so strong a desire to obtain them without delay. Considering how difficult it is now, with all our improvements in the typographical art, to multiply copies of the scriptures with sufficient rapidity, it is truly wonderful, how so many churches as were founded during the first century, to say nothing of individuals, could all be supplied with copies of the New Testament, when there was no speedier method of producing them, than by writing every letter with the pen! The pan of a ready writer must then, indeed, have been of immense value. The idea entertained by some, especially by DODWELL, that these books lay for a long time locked up in the coffers of the churches to which they were addressed, and totally unknown to the rest of the world, is in itself most improbable; and is repugnant to all the testimony which exists on the subject. Even as early as the time when Peter wrote his second Epistle, the writings of Paul were in the hands of the churches, and were classed with the other Scriptures. And the citation from these books by the earliest Christian writers, living in different countries, demonstrates, that from the time of their publication, they were sought after with avidity, and were widely dispersed. How intense the interest was which the first Christians felt in the writings of the apostles, can scarcely be conceived by us, who have been familiar with these books from our earliest years. How solicitous would they be, for example, who had never seen Paul, but had heard of his wonderful conversion, and extraordinary Labours and gifts, to read his writings? and probably they who had enjoyed the high privilege of hearing this apostle preach, would not be less desirous of reading his Epistles! As we know, from the nature of the case, as well as from testimony, that many uncertain accounts of Christ's discourses and miracles had obtained circulation, how greatly would the primitive Christians rejoice, to obtain an authentick history, from the pen of an apostle, or from one who wrote precisely what was dictated by an apostle? We need no longer wonder, therefore, that every church should wish to possess a collection of the writings of the apostles; and knowing them to be the productions of inspired men, they would want no further sanction of their authority. All that was requisite was to be certain, that the book was indeed written by the apostle, whose name it bore. And this leads

2 Pet. iii. 14, 15.

me to observe, that some things in Paul's Epistles, which seem to common readers to be of no importance, were of the ut most consequence. Such as, I Tertius who wrote this epistle, &c.-The salutation with mine own hand.—So I write in every epistle.-Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.The salutation by the hand of me Paul.The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token_in every epistle.* This apostle commonly employed an amanuensis; but that the churches to which he wrote, might have the assurance of the genuineness of his epistles, from seeing his own hand writing, he constantly wrote the salutation, himself. So much care was taken to have these sacred writings well authenticated, on their first publication. And on the same account it was, that he and the other apostles, were so particular in giving the names, and the characters, of those who were the bearers of their epistles. And it seems, that they were always committed to the care of men of high estimation in the church; and commonly, more than one appears to have been intrusted with this important commission.

"If it be inquired, what became of the autographs of these sacred books, and why they were not preserved; since this would have prevented all uncertainty respecting the true reading, and would have relieved the biblical critic, from a large share of labour? It is sufficient to answer, that nothing different has occurred, in relation to these autographs, from that which has happened to all other ancient writings. No man can produce the autograph of any book as old as the New Testament, unless it has been preserved in some extraordinary way, as in the case of the manuscripts of Herculaneum; neither could it be supposed, that in the midst of such vicissitudes, revolutions, and persecutions, as the Christian church endured, this object could have been secured, by any thing short of a miracle. And God knew, that by a superintending Providence over the sacred scriptures, they could be transmitted with sufficient accuracy, by means of apographs, to the most distant generations. Indeed, there is reason to believe, that the Christians of early times were so absorbed and impressed with the glory of the truths revealed, that they gave themselves little concern about the mere vehicle by which they were communicated. They had matters of such deep interest, and so novel, before their eyes, that they had neither

• Rom. xvi. 22. 1 Cor. xvi. 21. Gal. vi. 11. 2 Thes. iii. 17.