from the pages of any pædobaptist periodical. In our own Magazine, we have the official accounts of the transactions of the Baptist Missionary Society as given in the Missionary Heraldthose of the Baptist Irish Society as given in the Irish Chronicle-those of the Baptist Home Missionary Society as given in the Quarterly Register, with intelligence from the United States, from British America, from the continent of Europe, and from other parts of the world, derived from correspondents whose hearts are interested in the advancement of truth and holiness whether in Britain or in foreign, regions. In addition to these things, the Baptist Magazine comprises occasional articles on Ecclesiastical History, particularly portions relating to ancient baptists, sermons, original essays, extracts from foreign publications of importance, and correspondence containing suggestions designed to promote the harmony and efficiency of the churches. This correspondence is peculiarly to be valued, as affording opportunity to thinking men to lay before the whole denomination at once, plans which have occurred to their minds, and which after being considered and matured may be carried into operation. The origin of the Baptist Irish Society, the Baptist Union, the Bible Translation Society, and the Hanserd Knollys Society, may be traced to articles which appeared in the Baptist Magazine. One novelty will distinguish the volume for 1850. A series of papers will be introduced which will doubtless be found interesting and instructive. They will consist of brief dissertations on the transferred words which occur in the common English version of the New Testament. The word baptize is but one of many that are frequently not translated but transferred; and it is believed that correct views of the mean ing of these words with lists of the places in which they occur, will do much to elucidate scripture, especially to the apprehension of Christians who have not access to the original Greek. The object to which the profits of the work are devoted must not be passed over in silence. They are given to widows of approved ministers who after serving the churches during their lives have left behind them dear partners in toil and privation for whom no adequate provision has been made. Five thousand six hundred and fortyseven pounds have been realized and distributed among widows of ministers from this source. It is still few who can be relieved annually from this fund, in comparison with the number who need relief, but the number of recipients and the amount of the grants will be increased in proportion as the sale of the work is extended. A purchaser of the Baptist Magazine, therefore, while he is obtaining supplies of instruction adapted to promote his own spiritual advantage, and the best interests of his children, is also contributing to aid an interesting and necessitous class of beneficiaries. Sixpence per month thus expended is employed in a way which conduces to the welfare both of him who parts with it, and of others who have claims on his sympathy. There are several smaller periodicals conducted by members of the baptist denomination which are doing good in their respective spheres. But it is only from the Baptist Magazine that the widows of baptist ministers derive any pecuniary advantage; it is only in the Baptist Magazine that the official documents of our denominational societies regularly appear; and, the pages of the Baptist Magazine being more numerous than those of any other baptist periodical, afford opportunity for the most ample and diversified contributions of valuable matter. CHRONOLOGICAL PAGE FOR DECEMBER, 1849. Haggai i., ii. Zechariah i., ii. Zechariah iii., iv. Zechariah xii., xiii, MEMORANDA. 1135, Henry I. died, aged 67. Moon rises, 45 min. past 5, afternoon. Sunday School Union Lessons, Moon sets, 44 min, past 10, morning. Baptist Irish Committee, half-past 5. 1821, John Chamberlain (Agra) d., aged 44. Moon's last quarter, 53 min. past 6, aftern. Moon sets, 1, afternoon. Moon rises at midnight. 1608, John Milton born. Mars visible in evening, Jupiter in morning. Sunday School Union Lessons, Matt. xviii. 21-35, 1 Sam. xxiv. John xviii. 28-40, xix. 1-18. 1520, Luther publicly burned the Pope's Bull. John xv. John xvi. John xvii. John xviii. 1-27. Ezra vi. 3 49 John xix. 19-42. Moon rises, 16 min. past 4, morning. Mcon rises, 20 min. past 5, morning. New Moon, 38 min. past 3, afternoon. Sunday School Union Lessons, 1836, Dr. Rippon (New Park St.) d., æt. 86. Sunday School Union Lessons, Moon rises, 29 min. past 1, afternoon. Moon rises, 39 min. past 2, afternoon. Sunday School Union Lessons, REVIEW S. Man Primeval: or, the Constitution and, and sustaining of In-organic, Organic, Primitive Condition of the Human Being. A Contribution to Theological Science. By JOHN HARRIS, D.D., Author of "The Great Teacher," "The Pre-Adamite Earth," &c., &c. London: Ward and Co. pp. xx., 490. OUR notice of Dr. Harris's new "Contribution to Theological Science," has been delayed much longer than we either intended or wished. We can only say in extenuation that it is not a work to be read cursorily or judged of hastily. It is evidently the result of deep thought on subjects at once the most profound and the most important to mankind, and it justly calls for serious and pains-taking examination before expressing any opinion upon it. Our readers may remember that Dr. Harris's previous volume, "The PreAdamite Earth," which was the subject of review in April, 1847,* was announced as the first of a series of distinct though connected treatises on the various manifestations of the works and ways of God to his creatures, and that certain principles were there laid down as the foundation of a consistent view of each successive display of the divine character. These principles, or laws, were, in that volume, applied to the operations of God in this earth, before it became the abode of man. It was argued that as the ultimate end of all creation is the manifestation of the divine glory, we might expect that the perfections of God would be exhibited successively in the order of Power, Wisdom, Goodness. To that point the argument was unfolded, as far as these attributes are illustrated in the creation * Baptist Magazine for 1847, p. 213. and Sentient Beings, in this world. The present volume takes up the subject where the former treatise had left it; and proceeds to illustrate the new manifestation of God's character which is made in the creation of man. It will not be necessary that we should here repeat in detail the objections we formerly took to the foundations on which Dr. Harris rests his whole argument. It will suffice to say, that we see no reason to alter the views which were then expressed. We should indeed much prefer taking up the present volume simply on its own merits; but the method of the treatise is so materially modified by its forming part of a general plan, that we cannot avoid looking upon the subject in the light in which Dr. Harris places it before us. We will endeavour, in the first instance, to give as distinct a summary as And we we can of the whole work. cannot better introduce the present subject, in its connexion with the former, than in Dr. Harris's own words. "In our first imaginary visit to the ancient earth, we beheld, in the origination of matter, and its planetary formation, an expression of Power. The bare existence of the new dependent substance presupposed the existence of the independent and infinite Substance. The laws which the planetary motions exhibited were His laws, and proclaimed him to be the God of order.' The first objective effect-the creation of matter-irresistibly awoke the conviction of the First Cause; it was the solemn utterance of the Deity on causation. We beheld the universe of matter in motion; it was the great practical lesson of the Deity on dynamics-the doctrine of force producing motion. Every idea which can be supposed to have been then truly suggested and represented, expressed a spiritual correspondence, infinitely greater, in the Divine Creator. But that which the whole-every property of matter, every process by which its properties were developed, and Wisdom, and Goodness, have done already every law which regulated these processes, * * * is not to exist in vain as a revelation of God to the creature, a being must yet be formed capable of recognizing these perfections in what they have already done. The same reason which made it infinitely desirable that the glory of God should be made objective as all suffi ciency, clearly implied that, when displayed, there would be beings to understand it. That race, indeed, whenever it shall arrive, may be expected, in harmony with what we have found to be an already established law of the manifestation, to assume into its nature, under certain qualifications, the distinguishing princi ples of the physical, the organic, and the animal creations which have preceded it, and thus to form a part of the actual means of the manifestation. But the great end and object of the whole require, in the case supposed, that the new race of creatures, besides displaying the Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of God, in common with the pre-existing creations, should be intelligent beings, capable of understanding the display. Such a capability will, of course, be associated with the power of appreciating what is understood of the manifestation; for to understand, and yet not to appreciate it, would be to defeat the very design of the manifestation. But the system requires that beings capable of understanding and appreciat constituted a part of the manifestation, should be capable also of consciously and voluntarily promoting the objects of the great system, and should be held responsible for understanding, "A survey of this advanced stage of the Divine operations prepared us to expect, that, in the revolution of ages, the period might come when forms of organized being might not only live, but move, and be happy. Accordingly, another supposed visit to the scene of our meditations being permitted to us, a spectacle opened to our view which compelled us to ex-ing the Divine perfections, and who are thus claim, How great is his Goodness!' In the introduction of animal life, we beheld a being constructed for enjoyment; each of its movements yielding it gratification; each of its senses an inlet to pleasure; and the whole pre-appreciating, and intentionally promoting it, to paring the way for greater enjoyment still, and finding happiness in the occupation. If the reason for the existence of this kind of life is to be sought in the Divine Creator, so also must be the reason of its enjoyment. As every effect must be, in some sense, like its cause, the origination of even a single creature would be, not indeed formally, but virtually, a manifestation of some property of the Divine Nature. But here was not merely an individual animal designed for enjoyment, nor a single species, but a world-a succession of worlds, filled with animal enjoyment. What fact of the Divine Creator could this display be supposed to manifest, but that He, the Happy God,' is good, or delights to impart happiness! * * "But what will that next perfection be? If Power, Wisdom, and Goodness, are not to perpetuate their manifestation by multiplying physical creations alone, some other perfection must now appear which shall render the continuation of such additions to the mere material world unnecessary. And if all which Power, the utmost extent of their means. Now this is only saying that man, besides having a physical, organic, and animal nature, will be also an intelligent, moral, and accountable being; and this will bring to light the moral perfection of the Deity, that Holiness of nature, or subjective excellence, by which He has com placency in all moral goodness; and that Justice, or objective excellence, by which he exhibits his holiness in retributive acts. In other words, the earth, sooner or later, will become the scene of moral government, "But as mighty intervals have separated the stages of the Divine Procedure hitherto, will similar intervals separate the coming manifestations? Will Holiness, after imprinting its image on man, reign on earth, and rejoice in its likeness, for an uncountable period, before punitive Justice follows and kindles its fires? Will Justice then burn for ages, converting earth into a place of punishment, before Mercy comes, if it come at all, to soothe and to save? Will all these perfections be displayed in the history of the same race? Or, will there be a race for the display of Holiness, to be succeeded, when removed, perhaps, nearer to the palace of the Great King, by a second race for the display of Holiness and penal Justice? And are these again to be succeeded, when removed and banished afar from God, by a third race for the display of Holiness, Justice, and some other attribute-say, Mercy? Or have either of these attributes been elsewhere displayed already? displayed by beings who, though not inhabitants of this world, are yet members of the great system of manifestation, of which this world, and all that it contains, form a part? And if so, is it not in harmony with all the past history of the Divine conduct, to expect that the introduction of the new race, essen tially differing from all the past, will involve, or be attended with, a new manifestation ? tions (ch. vii.); there is a principle of order regulating the appearance of these phenomena (ch. viii.); further, as every thing influences and is influenced by every other thing in proportion to its relation to other things, man will be under this law of influence (ch. ix.); as everything subordinate in rank is subject to each higher law or object in creation, so in man's nature there must be subordination (chap. x.); everything (and consequently man) must be under obligation to promote the great end of its existence (ch. xi.); this obligation pre-supposes general laws (ch. xii.); man (as all other beings) will enjoy an amount of well-being proportionate to the discharge of his obligations (ch. that, besides the Power, and Wisdom, and Goodness, and Holiness, and Justice of God already, displayed, the history of man will be made the occasion of a new display of the Divine Charac-xiii.); everything created will be found ter ?"-pp. 3-7. Having thus stated what we have reason to expect would be the next manifestation of the divine character, Dr. Harris proceeds in the first part of the present volume to illustrate the various laws of the divine operation as they are exhibited in man, in nearly the same order as he had done in the former treatise. This part comprises eighteen chapters in which the subject is thus unfolded; the attribute of the divine character to be illustrated is holiness; this is displayed in the creation of man (ch. i.); in this new manifestation of the divine character the past is brought forward, (ch. ii.); new effects and new laws are introduced by the creation of man according to the law of progression (ch. iii.); yet the manifestation is one of a series, or there is a law of continuity (ch. iv.); the characteristics and properties which existed in former stages are advanced so as to be applied to higher purposes according to the law of development (ch. v.); the new phenomena manifest the divine nature by working out their own nature, or there is a law of activity (ch. vi.); they are carried on by a system of means or medial rela to involve the existence of contingent truth, and thus man is dependent (ch. xiv.); consequently there must be ultimate facts in the history of man (ch. xv.); these ultimate facts rest on necessary truths (ch. xvi. ;) again, every part will be in harmony with every other part, or there will be analogy (ch. xvii.); and lastly, the manifestation of the divine all-sufficiency as it requires progression, requires change (ch. xviii.) The second part relates to the "Reason of the Method," (ch. xix.) and is divided into three sections, treating of "the reason which belongs to man's constitution, and involves his well-being," (sect i.) " the reason which relates to the Divine all-sufficiency, and includes man's destiny," (sect. ii.) and "the twofold reason in its application to the first man," (sect. iii.) The third part treats of "the ultimate end," (ch. xx.) and in this it is shown how the Power, Wisdom, and Goodness of God, which were displayed in the preceding parts of creation, are in this illustrated by new evidences, and how his Holiness is now for the first time exhibited in this part of the universe by the creation of man. |