ART. X.-1. A new translation of the Book of Job, with an introduction and notes, chiefly explanatory. By GEORGE R. NOYES. Second edition, with corrections and additions. Boston: 1838. James Munroe & Co. 12mo. pp. 212. 2. The Book of the Patriarch Job, translated from the original Hebrew, as nearly as possible in the terms and style of the authorized English Version: to which is prefixed, an introduction on the history, times, country, friends, and book of the patriarch; with some strictures of the statements of Bishop Warburton, and of the Rationalists of Germany, on the same subject. And to which is appended, a Commentary, critical and exegetical, containing elucidations of many other passages of Holy Writ. By SAMUEL LEE, D. D., Regius Professor of Hebrew in the University of Cambridge, &c. &c. London: 1837. James Duncan, Paternoster Row. Svo. pp. 546.

WE are glad to hear a voice from points so distant and so opposite in theology, respecting this most ancient and interesting portion of revelation. The qualifications of Professor Lee for the task he has assigned himself, will be as little doubted by his friends, as those of Mr. Noyes by the party to which he belongs. As to learning, the labors of the two can bear but slight comparison, since Mr. Noyes has given us little beyond the literature ready at his hand, in the storehouses of the profession; while Professor Lee, though not covetous of originality, has evidently wrought over the materials of others, and filled up much that was wanting in the interstices of the literature of the book. For example, in order to determine the character of the Hebrew of Job, and thereby give no mean clue to its chronology and authorship, he has instituted comparisons without number between its words and the words of other portions of scripture, and sprinkled his references all along his margin, so that any reader, not less intimidated than himself by the formidable task, may put bis accuracy to the severest test. This has the air, at least, of the faithfulness and fearlessness of the true scholar. Professor Lee has, also, a due share of the genuine modesty of learning, and of that peculiarly cautious modesty, which should characterize all who assume the responsibility of making vocal the oracles of Almighty God. The Common Version is his model, even to the beautiful chime of its cadences; and he had much rather imitate than dilute its vigorous Saxon.

He gives us a singularly copious extract of the theological instructions of the book, and finds a richness and grandeur in them, which would make the skimming student stare. We wish that he, and others, who have descanted on the poetry of Job, not excepting even Lowth and Herder, had given us not only its colors, but its depths. Colors are superficial; they strike the eye, and it is not difficult to describe them coldly. But he who would enter into the interior spirit of a poem, must feel with the writer, and not less warmly or profoundly. It is far from surprising, therefore, to find a correct, but not an ardent critic, like Lowth, speaking cursorily of the sacred poem, which delineates not merely the outward fortunes of the suffering patriarch, but the surgings and strivings of his soul, laboring like a ship amidst angry floods. But it is a disappointment to see one, of such lively and universal sympathy as Herder, looking at Job, rather than making common cause with him, and living over his catastrophes, till he was able to unfold his whole inward life. The influence of the fashionable theology of their time, upon the feelings of Job's friends, and bis now dauntless, and now pathetic, but always eloquent contention with their prejudices and provocations, while Providence was dealing darkly and sharply with him, and his poor flesh writhing in agony, present us a picture of truth, integrity, fortitude, patience, and hope, struggling against odds, humanly speaking, altogether appalling. It were no small gratification, could we see the issue, but the conflict itself is all before us; and more masterly portraitures of emotion and character it is scarcely possible to conceive.

But there is another vein for the curious to open, in this consecrated mine. Job is an argument, as well as a poem. Its exhibition of reasoning would bear longer analysis, as well as its development of events and of the passions.

There is not space to mention Professor Lee's theory of the authorship of Job, further than to say, that he thinks the main portions of the book might have been delivered to Moses during his temporary sojourn with Jethro, in or near the native country of Job; and that he probably added an exordium and conclusion to his materials, and put the whole on record for permanent The manner in which he notices objections to "Satan," whose introduction he considers a vision representing a reality, (as in 1 Kings, xxii. 19,) and not a pure fiction, quoad modum Germanorum, may satisfy the reader of his fitness to cope with neologists. "It is absurd to object," he says, (p. 187,)" as the

use.

modern Germans do, that this name could not have been known in the sense of a spiritual enemy, before the time of the captivity. As well might one attempt to prove that no English word, not found in the authorized version of the Bible, was in use in England before the times of King James I. The existence of a tempter, and in this sense an enemy, was known as early as the times of the fall, (see the introduction, as above,) and it can be of little consequence what he was called, oyar, or satan, when both the words will designate the same person: and yet it is on mere quibbles, such as this, that the whole system of modern rationalism rests!"

In respect to Mr. Noyes's notions of the theological peculiarities of Job, we are any thing but amazed to discover him following the example of the Jews respecting its allusions to the Messiah, and copying, what old Schoettgen bluntly calls their fishlike dumbness. The celebrated text (Chap. xix. 25) he would, of course, despoil of its noble testimony to a Redeemer and a resurrection. On the whole, however, when the power of his "idols," as Bacon calls them, is not too strong over him, his criticisms are fair, judicious, and well sustained. One must have something of the poet's fire to understand all a poet's inspiration; and in this Mr. Noyes is lacking. He may possess more grammar-and-lexicon knowledge than such a man as Bishop Horne, but he could never write a commentary upon sacred poetry which could count a tithe of Horne's absorbed and delighted readers.

There is one thing in respect to which all the commentators of Job have disappointed us, not excepting the very latest; and, singularly enough, this is, its chief practical design. "The most prominent part of the author's design is, indeed, (says Mr. Noyes, p. xiv.,) to enforce the duty of unqualified submission to the will of God." "A little consideration" (says Professor Lee, p. iii.) "will enable us to see that the primary object of this book is to show that there is a power attendant on true religion, sufficient to enable its possessor, eventually, to overcome every temptation and every trial."

But we must differ from both, and indeed from most, if not all of Job's commentators, on this leading topic. We do not say that these are not lessons derivable from the book, and fairly too; but when we remember the contents of the much greater portion of the book, namely, the arguments of the patriarch and his misnamed "comforters," we have always thought that the scope of the book lay there; and we are the more convinced of

this, when we listen to Professor Lee's proofs that the beginning and conclusion of Job are afterpieces. Job's friends, it seems, would convert this world into a place of retribution, and denounce him as a criminal for his losses, sores, and pains. It is a natural, perhaps one of the most natural, promptings of the human judgment, to regard sufferings as the due of crime, and to esteem all providential chastisements as, therefore, punitive. It was desirable that such a disposition (especially under an economy whose best disclosures were far down amidst the shadows of the future) should be soon and effectually corrected. In Job we have the intended antidote. The book would turn the attention away from this dim world, where truth so often passes before our faces like a flitting spirit, (Job iv. 15,) to that where it shines with the sun's steadiness and brightness;-where, too, the now sinking good will soar, and the triumphant wicked fall to their merited humiliation.

In other words, we esteem the book of Job as containing the most satisfactory intimation (by way of inference; for it was reserved for the gospel to bring immortality into open day, 2 Tim. i. 10) respecting a future state and its destinies. Job made this inference, as we believe, under the teaching mentioned in 2 Peter, i. 21; and a glimpse, only, of his redeemer and his vindicating judgment, tranquillized his soul into perfect peace, and was the secret of that patience which has stood as a model and a warning for circles of centuries. Indeed, with the added illustrations of the gospel, we consider the book of Job one of the most satisfactory and complete correctives that we know of, for all mistakes and murmurs about providence and retribution.

We are glad to find Mr. Noyes, after the prevailing opinion of the day, arranging his text in parallelisms, and are quite astonished at Professor Lee for pertinaciously avoiding them, especially when we consider his governing reason for so doing, because, forsooth, the parallelism is found to pervade oriental prose. No one doubts that such prose is tinged with it, at least need not, who will look into Jebb's Sacred Literature; but, because such is the fact, it is a strange non sequitur to infer that poetry is, therefore, devoid of it. Is it possible that Professor Lee can maintain that Job, and no small portion beside of the Old Testament, is not genuine poetry? Then poetry must be defined anew. Assuming, however, the position that they are poetry, we are entirely willing to leave the question of arrangement in parallelisms to the mere English reader, satisfied, per

fectly satisfied as we are by experience, that the poetry of the Old Testament can be understood by such a reader, when exbibited in its natural parallels, better than by the light of the whole Critici Sacri, condensed into a solid beam.

We are happy to learn that Professor Lee's book on Job is but the harbinger of a complete commentary on the Old Testament. There are few living scholars better fitted for the task of illustrating Hebrew Scripture; and we trust and pray that he will live to do away an imputation sometimes thrown upon the Church of England, that she has borne but a feeble part in the campaigns of sacred criticism, nobly as she may have toiled for the Christian evidences, and ethics, and doctrinal theology.

ART. XI.-1. Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting, in obedience to a resolution of the House (of Representatives) of the 29th of June last, information in relation to Steam Engines, &c. Washington: 1838. 8vo. pp. 416.

2. Report of the Committee appointed by the Citizens of Cincinnati, April 26th, 1838, to inquire into the causes of the explosion of the Moselle. Cincinnati: 1838.

THE frequency of the accidents which have occurred in the steam boats of the United States, and in particular the loss of the ill fated Pulaski, called the attention of the national legislature to the subject, during the session of congress, which ended in July, 1838. The result of their action was a law, and a call for information on the secretary of the treasury. The reply to this call we have before us.

The honorable secretary, for the purpose of obtaining the desired information, addressed circulars to the several collectors of the customs, requiring them to institute inquiries in their respective districts. He also called upon such of the officers of the army and navy, as had opportunities of becoming acquainted with the subject of steam navigation, and proposed a series of questions to several gentlemen, who, either by their scientific pursuits, or their practical experience, might be considered capable of furnishing information. Nor were his inquiries confined to steam navigation alone, but were extended to the engine in all its applications. This course of proceeding has enabled the secretary to collect a vast mass of practical information, which is