MICHAELIS ON THE GIFT OF TONGUES-A FRAGMENT. SO STILL more remarkable is the The real state of the case apconfusion which was occasioned by pears to me to be this. It is indisabuse of the gift of tongues, for it putable, that a real supernatural is perfectly inconceivable how any gift of the Holy Spirit, consisting thing of the kind could have taken in persons being enabled to speak in place, if all who spake with strange foreign languages, which they had tongues, did it in consequence of never learned, was, immediately on their being moved by the super- the first effusion of the Holy Spirit, natural power, and impulse of the imparted to the Apostles, and also Holy Spirit. This would have communicated to others, Acts ii. been to employ the gift in a man- 4-21. Cornelius, and those who ner altogether irrational where it were assembled with him, received was impossible to effect the least it, Acts x. 44-46; and the miragood, and merely with a view to culous supernatural gift was show themselves off. They spake acknowledged by all, that Peter before the church, in foreign lan- not only deemed them worthy of guages, which the church did not baptism, which had hitherto been understand, and which were not denied to the uncircumcised, but understood by a single member of also adduced it, at Jerusalem, in the church; for it was often the justification of their baptism, which case, that there was no one present the Jewish converts admitted to be who could interpret for the benefit valid in argument, ch. xii. 15– of the rest. This was practised, 18; xv. 7-9. This same supernot by one, two, or three (though natural gift, Paul imparted to the I should deem this more than twelve disciples of John, ch. xix. 6. enough), but a number of speakers, Nor, have I any doubt, that there in strange languages, obtruded were those in the church at Corinth themselves on the congregation, who possessed it but, in a church with this irrational species of Divine of so very fanatical a character, in service, or edifying speeches, in which it was regarded as the most which they only heard themselves, shining endowment, imitation arose; or were desirous of exhibiting and what is said by Paul of the something extraordinary, for the abuse of the gift, is, in my opinion, purpose of attracting the admira- to be referred to this imitation, and tion of others. Several of them not to any exercise of the real gift. spoke at the same time, which ne- The imitation might vary exceedcessarily produced confusion:- ingly. Sometimes it was nothing could these be all impelled by the but gross imposture; sometimes Holy Ghost? They also prayed display, not altogether free from before the congregation, in foreign imposture: sometimes it originated languages, and expected they in misconception-persons supposshould add their Amen to them.—ing that it was edifying and awakWhat absurdity! Many among ening, to pronounce something to them were not even able to trans- the praise of God, or to pray in some late the Greek which they had foreign tongue, with which they spoken, from which it appears, that were acquainted. Some might they did not understand it them- even have learned by heart a prayer selves. Is this to be regarded as in a foreign language, of which a gift of the Holy Spirit? they were themselves ignorant, and the case. in order to produce excitement, pretend that it was a miraculous gift: always proving most successful when there happened to be no person at Corinth who understood the language, as we see was frequently Nor was this all. They sometimes did not even understand the sounds, and were not able to give any interpretation, or any account of them, because they had only learned the sounds, not the language. It is possible that some may have given utterance to sounds that were perfectly without any signification whatever, and pretend that they were prayers in a foreign language-gross imposition! or fanaticism itself run mad! We may also conceive of others, who were foreigners, and who spoke or prayed in their native tongue, and it may easily be imagined that they could not translate, owing to their not being sufficiently versed in Greek to express themselves with perspicuity, and consequently left the translation to others. But if these foreigners, who prayed in their native tongue, pretended that they were exercising a supernatural gift, it was also gross imposture. There may also have been some, who, without deception, may have imitated the speaking in foreign languages-merely considering it interesting and edifying to pray or praise God in their vernacular tongue before a Greek congregation. Imitation is often connected with strange ideas of edification. It may be asked, Why Paul does not oppose such fooleries or impostures with greater severity? Why does he not, point blank, detect the imposture? I must con fess, that in reading or writing these observations, I sometimes feel that it would scarcely have been pos. sible for me not to write with a greater degree of severity, at least against the confusion occasioned by the tongues, and to call imposition by its true name of imposition; and in these chapters Paul, whose style is otherwise keen and impassioned, may not appear in the most favourable light: but we must take into the account, that he had not been at Corinth for several years, consequently he might suppose, or have heard, that such disorders existed, but would not directly assert or prove it: especially as he would not mention any names, which he carefully avoids in both his epistles to the Corinthians, in reference to any thing of a disagreeable nature. In the second epistle we find nothing farther relative to these abuses, not so much even as a hint respecting them, from which we may infer that the representations made by the apostle had gained their end. Whether similar abuses took place with regard to other gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as are not infrequent in connexion with miracles and the healing of the sick, we cannot determine from any thing contained in these epistles. It is what I will not absolutely deny; but it appears that the gift of speaking in foreign languages had made the deepest impression on the feverish imagination of the Corinthians, and it was this that impostors, fanatics, and persons of weak intellect imitated.* Introductory Notes to 1 Cor. xii. ON THE TRANSLATION OF MOSHEIM'S COMMENTARIES ON THE AFFAIRS OF THE PRIMITIVE CHURCHES. To the Editors.-IN the 5th vol. of Mr. Hall's Works, page 484, is the following passage: I am much delighted with reading a new translation of Mosheim's Commentaries on the affairs of the Christians before Constantine. It appears to me one of the most instructive theological publications that has appeared for a multitude of years." This alludes to the translation by R. S. Vidal, of which only half was published by Cadell and Davies, 1813. lishers several years ago, to inquire respecting the remainder. I was told that it was translated, but that they were deterred from publishing it by the insufficient sale of the first two volumes. I intimated that the uncertainty respecting the conclusion was one cause that the first part did not sell, which would be restored to its value by being completed. As far as my experience goes, it is a work very much wished for, and it would be happy for the public, if this notice, from so eminent a person, should be the occasion of their possessing it at last. Entertaining the same opinion with Mr. Hall, of the value of this work, and lamenting its unfinished state, I called upon the pub- Norwich, Dec. 16, 1831. W.Y. As oft with worn and weary feet, We tread earth's rugged valley o'er, Our wants and weaknesses he knows, If sickness, feebleness, or pain, Or sorrow, in our paths appear, His life how truly sad and brief, If Satan tempt our hearts to stray, Sin only, having nothing here, AN EPITAPH. IN Chadkirk Burial Ground, Cheshire, are deposited the remains of the Rev. JAMES SHEPLEY, who was pastor of the ancient Congregational Church, at Hatherlow, in the same county.* The grave is covered with a flat stone, containing the following quaint inscription, almost obliterated by age; but as it exhibits a memorial of a faithful pastor, deserves a place in this Magazine. In Memory of the Rev. James Shepley, Farewell vain world, as thou hast been to me To Him that's Substance, Life and Light to it. * Vide Congregational Magazine, vol. iii. pp. 457, 458. REVIEW OF BOOKS. The Self Interpreting Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, according to the authorized Version, with an In troduction, Marginal References, &c. &c. By the late Rev. John Brown, Minister of the Gospel at Haddington. To this edition are annexed Two Thousand Critical and Explanatory Notes, numerous References and Readings, and a complete Index and Concise Dictionary. Also a Memoir of the Author by the Rev. John Brown Patterson, Minister of Falkirk. Glas gow: Blackie, Fullerton, and Co. 1 vol. 4to., with Portrait. THE excellent Bible, bearing this title, has long been known to the Christian public, and has, probably, been more used and approved as a family book than any other. The reflections on each chapter are distinguished by two important recommendations-their brevity and piety. In most families time cannot be allowed for the reading of a lengthened Commentary. Some reflections are usually deemed de sirable, and those families who have a taste for evangelical sentiments, have found Brown's altogether the best adapted for their purpose. Matthew Henry's Bible is scarcely fit for family use,on account of the length of his remarks; although, in point and usefulness, they surpass any with which the public has yet been favoured. Scott's are liable to the same objection, though, as a minister's and student's book, it is, unquestionably, the first we possess. Few commentators have manifested so much diligence in endeavouring to give the sense of scripture, and in cases of difficulty, perhaps none can be consulted with so much advantage; it is an in. valuable treasury of criticism and learning, and an imperishable monument of the author's candour, industry, and piety. But for plain Christians, we decidedly prefer Brown's to any that we have been in the habit of using. His reflections on every chapter may be conveniently read without any undue protraction of the family devotions, and without that fractional division which often breaks down the sense, and dislocates the connexion, at least in the mind of the hearer, and makes the reading of the Bible through a work of several years. Mr. Baxter's Comprehensive Bible has deservedly received a large measure of public approbation. Many of its notes, and the whole of the apparatus which accompanies it, are highly valuable. To the curious and anxious student of the Scriptures, it has made familiar a large mass of information, which lay scattered over á wide surface of books. It will, we should hope, continue to be valued and applauded, notwithstanding the sanctimonious attempts which have been made to impeach the orthodoxy and piety of its lamented editor. There are some few articles in it that might have been more cautiously stated, and no doubt candid suggestions for improvements would have been gratefully received by the respectable publisher, and adopted in a future edition; but the unprincipled attempts to decry its general merits, and to magnify its imperfections, appear too much like malicious side-blows at the British |