ATHEISTICAL CONTROVERSY-AND ON MATE RIALISM. Hobbes' Leviathan. AND SCEPTICAL the Chronological Table, at the end of Mosheim's Church History.The ecclesiastical writers of the first six centuries of the Christian era, are those only which are usually called Fathers. Archbishop Wake is the author of a good translation of the Apostolical Fathers, accompanied with valuable observations. This is a common book. Spinoza's Ethica, more geometrico demonstrata. Cudworth's True Intellectual System of the Universe. Dodwell and Collins: and Clarke's masterly replies to both, and his "Answer to Toland's Amyntor," DEISTICAL CONTROVERSY. (1) Sherlock's Trial of the Witnesses. History. Scotland. Crookshank's do. Cook's do. (1) Palmer's Nonconformist's Memorial. Crosby's History of the Baptists. Sewell's History of the Quakers. Gough's do. CHURCH GOVERNMENT. Vitringa de Synagoga vetere. Owen on the Nature of a Christian Church. Slater's Original Draught of the Primitive Justus Jonas, Marlorat, Peter Martyr, Musculus, Hyperius, Joseph Scaliger, Polanus, Drusius, J. J. Grunæus, Pareus, Wallæus, Altingius, Fred. Spanheim, Ralph Hospinian. In England and Ireland. John Lambert, John Rogers, Lawrence Saunders, Thomas Cooper, Jennings, Grosvenor. Knox was himself the soul of the reformation in Scotland.-He had, however, able coadjutors, both among the clergy and the laity. See M'Crie's Life of Knox. The Reformed Church, as contradistinguished from the Lutheran, was mournfully divided and corrupted, by the innovations of Arminius. Those who adhered to his doctrines, at and after the Synod of Dort, were called Remonstrants; and among them, the celebrated Grotius and Episcopius were the chief. They were opposed by a host of able writers in the Dutch church, who remained steadfast in the Calvinistick doctrines. Mark, De Moore, and Witsius, are among the most able of this class. Stapfer, of Zurich in Switzerland, and the Pictets and Turretines of Geneva, are Calvinistick writers of great and just celebrity. Arminianism, if not introduced, was first patronized, in England, by Laud, afterwards Archbishop, countenanced by James I. in the latter part of his reign. Till that time, the established Church of England was as much Calvinistick as the Puritans were, who left it on account of ceremonies and human exactions. MISCELLANEOUS: or authors and works Perkins, Usher, Wilkins, South, Norris, Sherlock, Law, English Episcopalians. Bordaloue's, Berry-street Sermons. POLITE LITERATURE. Beatie's Works. If you are ready to indulge surprise, that I should give you such an extended catalogue of books, when I know you are not able to purchase a fourth part of them, nor ever likely, perhaps, to be so, I remark, that I had several reasons for doing what I have done. You of character not mentioned under the fore- may hereafter find both the means going heads. and the inclination for enlarging your library, far beyond your present expectations-Something of this kind I have myself experienced. But many of the works I have named, have been mentioned, solely because you may be able to find H one or two of a class, without ever having an opportunity to purchase any of the rest. In several instances, if you obtain one of the best authors of a particular class, it would be nearly, or quite superfluous, to purchase any other. There is, however, some use in knowing the principal writers of reputation, in the several departments of theological knowledge, although but a small proportion of them, should ever make a part of your own library; and this has had some influence in leading me to extend this second catalogue. In addition to other considerations, it occurred, that you might be concerned, as I have been, not only in naming books for a private library, but for one of a publick institution; which ought to be large and various, on the subject of theology, as well as on other subjects. There are two descriptions of books, however, which I particularly wish you not to suppose that I have put down, merely with a view to enlarge a catalogue. The first, embraces those which relate to the Syriac, Chaldee, and Arabic languages. I do hope that the time has arrived, when our young clergymen, especially, will think that these languages are worth their serious attention. Some of those who expect to be missionaries, may find them of primary importance to their usefulness; and there is no one, to whom they would not be sensibly advantageous. Neither is the acquisition of them, nearly as difficult as is commonly supposed. It is now getting to be common for our candidates for the ministry, to be pretty well grounded in the Hebrew; and of this the Syriac and Chaldee are only dialects, soon acquired, when the parent tongue is well understood. Schultens, certainly a very competent judge, affirms that the Hebrew itself, can never be well understood, without a knowledge of the Arabic, as well as the Chaldee and Syriac; and ac cordingly his method of teaching was, to combine the whole into one system. Scott, you know, acquired and taught Arabic, after he was sixty years of age; and he had far more engagements beside, than clergymen commonly have. The secret of learning any language is, to set apart a short space for studying it diligently, every day; and not to be impatient because it cannot be mastered at once-The progress, at the end of a year, will be surprising. The other description of books, to which I wish to direct your special attention for a moment, is, the Greek and Latin fathers. I am as little disposed as any one, to consider the fathers as of any absolute authority in the church. But there is certainly a considerable advantage in being acquainted with them. Begin, my son, and read them gradually and deliberately. They are, indeed, not easily obtained in this country. But begin with such as you can first get the order in which they are read, is not of great importance. The titles of Latin and French authors, I have generally given in English, and sometimes with abbreviations; because most booksellers will be more likely to know what book you want, when you inquire for it under an English and short title, than if you mention what a Latin or French author, has put in his title-page. A number of English reviews are mentioned, but you will of course take but one; and I think that the Eclectick, which is avowedly Calvinistick, will best suit your taste and answer your purpose; especially if you also read the North American Review, published in our own country. This latter work has always been conducted under Unitarian or Socinian influence, and some very exceptionable articles have appeared in it occasionally. Of late, however, it has been less objectionable, and in general, the articles are ably written. It is of importance to every literary man, and to clergymen not less than others, to keep what may be called an account current with the state of literature and improvement, in the world at large. Reviews are useful for this purpose, as well as for the good writing which they often contain, and for the summary account they furnish of valuable publications. It is to be regretted, that they are often so deeply tinctured with the prejudices and peculiar notions of those who conduct them. I cannot conclude what I have said, in regard to books and reading, without distinctly reminding you, that all your attainments should be made with a view to mi nisterial usefulness. On a dying bed, or in the near view of eternity, it will afford us no comfort that we have read and learned much, if we have not applied it all to some useful purpose. It is a dreadful character, when nothing better can be said of a minister of the gospel, than that he was an accomplished scholar; and of such characters, the number, alas! has not been small. See to it, my son, that all your acquirements be consecrated to your Master's service. Make them with this view, and nothing will so much quicken your diligence; direct them to this end, and nothing will render them so satisfactory. Affectionately yours, FOR THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, A CHRISTMAS HYMN. "Hark from on high! those blissful strains; Or do we hear the cherub voice Soaring from earth, celestial notes Thus spake the shepherds,-yet with dread; So strange the sounds they heard, While o'er their slumbering flocks, they kept And soon they saw a dazzling light, Beam through the starry way; And shining seraphs, clustering where The infant Jesus lay. They came a Saviour's birth to tell, And tunes of rapture sing: Hence the glad notes that filled the air Each swept his loudest string. But now, in accents soft and kind, The chieftain angel said, "Heaven's tidings of great joy we bear, Shepherds, be not afraid." Then suddenly th' angelic choir Renewed the rapturous song; While heaven's wide portals caught the sound, And echoed it along. "To all the kindreds of the earth, Good news to-day we bring In David's city, lo! is born A Saviour, Christ the king. The Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, The Prince of Peace-transcendent grace!- All glory be to God on high, On earth good will, and peace: From all above, and all below, Let praises never cease." Yes, and whene'er this day returns, Till time itself shall close, We'll hail the morn when Bethle'm's star ON PSALMODY. Miscellaneous. (Continued from p. 543. vol. iii.) Winnsboro', July 7, 1825. My esteemed Friend,-To-day you may think me departing from my straight line of duty. But remember, I am not preaching ser mons, but writing letters: and for my letter I may take what motto I please. I choose to-day to take one from a book which is not the word of God.-M'Master's Apology, Sd edition, page 20. Why, in a matter of doubtful disputation, to say the least of it, rend the church of Christ? Consider, ye friends of godliness, the great importance of union in the household of faith. Seriously reflect on the fearful consequences of disunion among those who love the Lord, and who ought with cordiality to love one another." This, and what immediately follows, I call eloquent: and it ought to be seriously considered by every lover of the Lord Jesus Christ. Wo to the man, that will cherish discord among the true disciples of his Lord! Wo to those who will tear asunder the bond of Christian unity, or keep it asunder when there is no sufficient cause! In proposing a plan for union among the members of Christ's spiritual body, the author from whom I took my motto is very defective: for the Episcopalians (whose form of worship and church government, the body to which he belongs have solemnly sworn to destroy, as far as lies in their power,) also sing a versification of David's Psalms. Other sections of the church, which sing the same version, are so bitterly opposed to one another, that they cannot sit down together at the same Lord's table. Can we not devise some scriptural plan for uniting every Christian in the world in the same external worship, as well as in the same sentiments? I propose the following for your consideration. 1. In all our publick worship, let the exercises of the day be commenced with the words of the Apostles, at the beginning of their epis tles: "Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. i. 7; 1 Cor. i. 3; 2 Cor. i. 2; Gal. i. 3; Eph.i.2; Phil. i. 2; Col. i. 2; 1 Thes. i. 2; 2 Thes. i. 2; 1 Tim. i. 2; 2 Tim. i. 2; Titus i. 4; Phil. 1.5; 1 Pet. i. 2; 2 Pet. i. 2; 2 John i. 3; Jude i. 2. Almost every epistle has the same introductory sentiment, and very nearly the same words repeated. This is sufficient to show the divine |