Divine Providence, or the three Cycles of Revelation, showing the Parallelism of the Patriarchal, Jewish, and Christian Dispensations, being a new Evidence of the Divine Origin of Christianity. By the Rev. George Croly, LL.D.

TO discover, in these late days, a new evidence of our holy religion, an evidence unsuspected and undiscovered by all former theologians and scholars, must lead to the belief of the superior erudition and acuteness of the Author. The labours of our modern divines are chiefly occupied in strengthening and remoulding the form of the evidences already discovered, in presenting them in more striking shapes, and adorning them with more graceful illustrations. To Dr. Croly, however, belongs a higher and more lasting praise, if he has fulfilled the promise which he has made, of lending new forces to the defenders of religion, and adding a new wing to the temple of the Christian faith. The argument which he unfolds is, that the leading facts of Christian history have been the leading facts of the two former dispensations, Judaism and the Patriarchal religion: and that these facts have occurred in the three, not merely in essence, but with the same purpose and the same order-that all the great and leading facts of the Patriarchal dispensations have been gone through twice subsequently in the Jewish and Christian eras, with attendant circumstances proving that Providence continued to exercise constant provision for their performance, and for their suitableness to the necessary changes arising from three states of mankind, and totally distinct, as the Patriarchal, Jewish, and Christian worlds. Dr. Croly says, if he can effect this proof, the acknowledgment of a Providence as the Author of Christianity, is no more capable of dispute than the properties of the triangle -it is demonstrative.

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"Not merely the nature and order of the leading facts in the three dispensaindividual characters of the leading men tions are exactly the same, but that the

and nations are the same, that individuals

born 2000 years, and whole empires asunder, have had precisely the same part in the several series, with the same character of mind, the same successes and reverses. That Joseph in Egypt and St. Paul in Greece, that Ezra in Judea and Luther in Germany, that Alexander in Asia and Napoleon in Europe, have especially been the direct providential agents in the same departments of their series.

"Protestantism in Europe now stands precisely in the same position with Judah in the midst of the fallacies and temptations of the ancient world. Germany, the land of the Reformation, seems even at this moment to invite the scourge. The scandalous corruption of domestic life in her courts and cities, the jacobinical vice and turbulence of the Colleges, and the enormous and even ostentatious infidelity of her Theologians, have made that great country long a fearful object to every man who knows that for such things there is an inevitable reckoning. The scourge fell on the Jewish Church in the interval succeeding the partition of the Macedonian empire. The interval succeeding the fall of the French empire, takes the same place in providential history, and will witness the same extent of evil, for the same exorbitant offence, upon the inheritor of the spirit and privileges of Judah, the Church of European Protestantism."

It is evident that such a work as this would require little less than encyclopedic knowledge, an extensive acquaintance with ancient languages, a profound knowledge of all branches of theology, both ancient and modern, as well as of Rabbinical and Jewish learning, and many of the sciences. How far Dr. Croly is such a scholar and polymathist we know not; but having studied the subject with some attention, we feel at liberty to say, that his observations on Geology* are extremely superficial; and the tone of them, as applied to such eminent men as Cuvier and Buckland, and others who have already taken

* We mean to make some observations on Dr. Croly's Geology in the next number.

their seats in the temple of science, is to our minds far from pleasing; nor do we much admire the positive manner in which he accuses Magee, and Paley, and Warburton himself, of error. Acknowledging, as every body does, the connection existing intimately between the different forms which religion assumed in different periods of the world, as most conducive to the fulfilment of the great purposes designed, through types and figures, and the manner in which these were gradually developed and increased; and the great central point of Christianity to which, as to a focus, all the converging rays pointed their direction; granting this, as a matter well known and familiar to all minds, we think all Dr. Croly has done beyond his predecessors, is in pushing this argument to an extreme and erroneous extent. We are aware of the difficulties, and even obscurities of the subject; we know the immense learning, and thought, and acuteness that has been employed on it; we know the difference of opinion that exists on

1. The Persian empire conquered great part of Asia, and established Viceroys over the provinces-these provinces assumed independence; but at the Macedonian invasion they became nominally dependent again.

2. The Persian empire destroyed the Babylonian.

3. Alexander was the instrument by which the Macedonian empire was to punish the Persian, as the Persian did the Babylonian.

4. Alexander was born at Pella, in Macedon.

5. Alexander was educated by Aristotle.

6. The second war commenced with the plunder of Delphi by the Phocians. Greece became a system of confederate republics with Philip at the head. Philip was assassinated-the orators were the governors. Alexander then appeared, and at 22 became Captain-general of Greece.

9. Alexander, with 34,000 men, invaded Asia, and overrun it. Collected a fleet of 220 sail, and took Tyre by storm, and Egypt fell into his hands,

particular interpretations among the most learned interpreters; and knowing this, we feel convinced that Dr. Croly's evidence, as here displayed by him, will never be received as new, or as true, by the commentators on Scripture evidence. In our very limited space, it is impossible we can go through the deductions and arguments of a work of 600 pages, occupied on such a diversity of subjects; but, ́ex pede Herculem.' Perhaps a specimen of Dr. Croly's inferences on one point, will enable us to form an opinion of the soundness of his deductions on others. We turn then to c. xlix. upon the characters of Alexander the Great andNapoleon, and the events connected with them; which according to our Author's scheme, run parallel with each other. If the principle, says Dr. Croly, of a designed coincidence between Alexander and Buonaparte be true, we have no right to consider any minuteness of circumstance as below the principle, for it is by such minutenesses that the likeness is most strongly identified.

.1. The German Emperors possessed great power. The princes of the empire held stations as officers of the household. From the 15th century these privileges were reduced. At the French war the spirit of the German League was renewed.

2. In the 12th and 13th centuries the army gave an irrecoverable blow to the power of the Pope.

3. Napoleon was the instrument by which the French empire was to destroy the German, as the German did the Papal power.

4. Napeleon was born in Corsica, the Macedon of the South.

5. Napoleon was educated at the Royal Military School of Brienne.

6. The plunder of the church establishment was the first act of the French Revolution. The orators became the governors. Louis XVI. put to death. War followed with England. Napoleon appeared at the siege of Toulon, aged 26. "In a year (he said) I shall either be an old general, or dead.”

9. Napoleon in two campaigns overran Italy, and forced the German Emperor to treat of peace. He would not let the German Ambassador take precedence of him. Sailed for Alexandria, the substitute for Tyre. Egypt fell into his hands.

10. Alexander worshipped the bull Apis.

Dr. Croly has not observed that apis

11. Alexander went to the Temple of Jupiter Ammon, and was proclaimed the Son of Jupiter. Alexander entered the Temple, and received the response of the Oracle.

20. Alexander went to Jerusalem, and was heard by the High Priest.

21. Alexander married Roxana, the daughter of a Bactrian Chief.

22. Roxana appears not to have had children. Then he married Statira, the young daughter of the Emperor.

23. They died alike. Alexander died of an inflammatory fever, which soon carried him off. Alexander died in profession of his belief to the gods of Greece.

24. The Macedonian empire fell into four kingdoms.

25. The Septuagint version arose out of the circumstances of the reign of Alexander.

Such is a brief specimen of this ingenious parallel, which forms the latter part of the new evidence of religion. We think another column, containing the biography of 'Jack the Giant Killer,' should be appended to the second edition of this work.

Of Dr. Croly's style, we have only room to give one short specimen, taken by random from p. 461. It has all the gravity and simplicity suited to a disquisition on the Greek language. "That ominous connexion of the fall of a national literature with the fall of a country, which seems to be among the prescribed warnings of ruin, was fully exemplified. The popular dialect of Constantinople had degraded the shape and colour of the original language, long before the Turk was summoned to do judgment on the gorgeous eastern adulteress, the purplerobed, and jewel-crowned drinker of the blood of the Saints, and extinguishing her idolators with the sword, plant the two-fold abomination of desolation, his homicidal standard and his savaye jargon on her grave!

10. Napoleon said, I respect God, his Prophet, and the Koran. We are true Mussulmen, we have ruined the Pope.' and papa are strikingly similar.

11. Napoleon went in pursuit of the Mamelukes, but stopt to see the Pyramids. 'Soldiers,' he exclaimed, from the summits of yon Pyramids forty ages behold you.' Napoleon entered the Great Pyramid, and repeated-There is no God but God, and Mahomet is his prophet.'

20. Napoleon summoned a Sanhedrim at Paris.

21. Napoleon married Josephine, the widow of Beauharnois.

22. Josephine had no children. Then Napoleon married Maria Louise, the daughter of the Emperor.

23. Napoleon died of a schirrus in the stomach, after a long disease. Napoleon died in the rites of his church.

24. France fell into the hands of England, France, Russia, and Prussia.

25. The formation of the Bible Societies commenced in 1805.

Imaginative Biography, by Sir Egerton Brydges. 2 vol. 12mo.

THERE is great irregularity in this work; the narrative is far better than the dialogue; and while some parts rise into excellence, others appear to us to be little else than complete failures. The biography of Charles Blount is very interesting, and well written; and we sympathize with the pleasing narrative of Charles Cotton. The dialogue between Gray and Walpole we dislike in toto. What are we to think of this language between two of the most finished and polished gentlemen of the age?

Walpole. Your are as fretful as a Tom cat. I wish you would be a little more companionable.

Gray. You would be more pleasing, if you would be a little less talkative (As if any one ever wished Walpole's charming conversation silenced!).

W. And it would become your age to be a little less of a philosopher.

Now this is all out of nature and truth; when Walpole and Gray conversed, we may be sure it was as gen

tlemen; and when they differed, they differed without vulgarity or abuse. A good deal of poetical criticism is introduced into this chapter. Mason's merits are banded from one to another, without, we think, adding much to our judgment of him. Gray's Latin poetry is compared to Milton's. It is of a totally different kind, and not of such high excellence; but it is far superior to Cowley's. The only fault of his Elegy is not touched on-an occasional tautology, as

"When heaves the turf in many a moulding heap."

The common objections to his Odes are without reason, because the exquisitely fine finish, and elaborate ornament, has not at all destroyed the spirit and vigour of the thoughts, and force of the images. The conversation between Milton and Lord Brackley we do not like at all. It is a bold attempt to carry on a dialogue, and put language, in such lips as Milton's. Sir E. Brydges repeats the old story of Milton's poverty: — he never was poor-he kept two maids and a man, and that is not poverty for a poet in any days.

With regard to Beattie's Minstrel, it has a few very poetical stanzas, and that is all. The Poet rambled on as long as his description and his moral reflections lasted, and then he cut the knot-by a farewell. The account of Collins is given with feeling and discrimination; he possessed a true vein of poetry, and, had he lived, would probably have given to the world some immortal works. Like Gray, his genius was fed with rich stores of learning. The judicious Hooker cuts a very sorry figure, and should not have appeared. The short sketch of the historian Müller, of whose personal history we know nothing, is interesting; but as for the two poems of Bamfylde, supposed to be found in the library of Rome, we could have sworn to their not being genuine they have not that poet's very particular style, who never would have written,

"For I am of a weak and puny mould."

There are many just and beautiful reflections on the character of that most seductive writer, Jean Jacques Rousseau

-we agree with Sir Egerton and Gray in their estimate of the exquisite beauty and attraction of his style. What an extraordinary speech was that he made to Conancez

"Savez-vous pourquoi je donne au Tasse une preference si marquée. C'est qu'il predit mes malheurs dans une stance de sa Jerusalem. Cette stance n'a rapport ni a ce qui precede, ni a ce qui suit; en un mot, elle est entièrement inutile. Le Tasse la donc fait involontairement, et sans la comprendre, mais elle n'en est pas moins claire."

Sufficient commendation is not bestowed on Lord Brooke's poetry; the most weighty, substantial, and condensed of all in the English language. Each line is a solid ingot. The quotation from Sir P. Sidney is curious, in which, speaking of his family, he says,

"I am a Dudley in blood, the Duke's daughter's son; and I do acknowledge, though in all truth I may justly affirm, that I am by my father's side of antient and always esteemed gentry; I do ácknowledge, I say, that my chiefest honour is to be a Dudley; and truly I am glad to have cause to set forth the nobility of that blood whereof I am descended."

Truly, as Sir Egerton remarks, this preference of his mother's family was neither becoming nor just; it is a passage unworthy his independent spirit, his pure affections, his sound mind, and integrity of thought. In personal character, and intrinsic worth, could the Duke of Northumberland, and his father Edmund Dudley, compare with Sir Henry and Sir William Sydney?

We have not space to go through the second volume of this work; but we cannot take our pen off the subject without expressing our cordial admiration of Sir Egerton's continued and zealous attachment to the literature of his country. While, at his age, other men are merely reposing after the labours of life, or contracted into selfish habits of sevile indulgence, Sir Egerton writes with all the persevering vigour of youth, and is continually sending forth eloquent and well-seasoned Treatises on Literature, Morals, and, above all, on his favourite subject, Poetry. We perceive that he has advertised a Life of Milton. From