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&c., and religion manifested in external service, free from superstition and hypocrisy. Acts of religion are the invocatjon or adoration of God, and the sanctification of his name. Under the first of these divisions are contained supplication, thanksgiving, oath, and, oddly enough, casting the lot, to which ceremony Milton attributes more importance than we should be inclined to give to it. In considering them, he discusses fasting, invocation of saints, adjuration, and, in short, all subjects connected with them. Zeal is the most important circumstance attending on sanctification, and it occupies some attention. The remainder of the work is employed în considering the various duties of men with respect to each other, which, in our opinion, is chiefly curious on account of the light it throws on Milton's ideas of the several virtues. He is severe in reprobation of intemperance, laziness, and immodesty; and Mr. Sumner has well illustrated these passages from others in his already published works. Milton's doctrines here are in general judicious, and supported by adequateTM quotations from Scripture. As a specimen of his mode of argument through the entire work, as well as of his last opinions on a point which had engaged much of his attention, in theory and practice, throughout his life, we quote his last chapter.

* De Officiis publicis erga proximum.

Hactenus de officiis privatis: publica sunt vel politica vel ecclesiastica.

• Politica sunt magistratus et populi vel inter se vel erga vicinos

et exteros.

'MAGISTRATUS OFFICIA ERGA populum docentur Exod. xxiii. 8. munus ne accipito, nam-. et xxxii. 11, &c. deprecatus est Moses

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et dixit, quare, Jehova, accenderetur ira tua in populum tuum-? Lev. xix. 15. ne accipitote personam tenuis, neque honorem exhibeto persona magni: juste judicato proximum tuum. Num. xi. 11, &c. quare non inveni gratiam in oculis tuis, quod imposu isti onus hujus populi totius mihi-? et xiv. 13. dixit vero Moses Jehova, atqui audirent Ægyptii Deut. i. 9. non possum solus ferre onus vestri. xvii. 20. ne efferatur animus ejus præ fratribus suis, et "ne recedat ab hoc præcepto dextrorsum aut sinistrorsum. 1 Reg. ii. 3. observabis observationem Jehova Dei_tui—. et iii. 8, 9, 10. des animum servo tuo intelligentem. 2 Chron. i. 10. idem. 1 Chron. xiii. 2. dixit David toti congregationi Israelis, si vobis bonum et a Jehova Deo nostro videtur esse, passim dimittamus ad fratres nostros et xxviii. 2. audite me, fratres mei et popule mi 2 Chron. xix. 6. edicens judicibus, videte quid facturi sitis; non enim pro homine judicaturi estis, sed pro Jehova, qui vobiscum futurus est in rebus judiciariis,' &c.

In præmio et pœna. Psal. ci. 4, &c. animus perversus recedet a me—: oculi mei attendent ad veraces terræ. In poena sed

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moderata tamen. Deut. xxv. 3. quadragenis plagis cædendum curabit eum; ne addito. 1 Reg. ii. 26. reus mortis es, attamen hoc die non afficiam te morte, quia

Jus magistratus et gladii. Gen. ix. 6. per hominem sanguis illius effunditor, quia—. Job. xii. 18. vinculum règum dissolvit—, Psal. Ixxv. 7. non enim ab exortu aut ab occasu, neque a deserto est exaltatio. Prov. viii. 15, 16. per me reges regnant Dan. ii. 21. ipse mutat tempora. et iv. 17. ut agnoscant viventes, dominari Excelsum in filiis hominum et v. 18, 19. Deus excelsus regnum et amplitudinem. dederat ei - sed quum elatus esset animus ejus, depositus est e solio regni sui Rom. xii. 1, &c. omnis anima potestatibus -: non enim frustra gladium gerit -: si non frustra, certe non ad bonorum perniciem. 1 Pet. ii. 13. ut qui per eum mittantur tum ad ultionem facinorosorum

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'De eligendis magistratibus Exod. xviii. 21. tu provideto ex hoc populo, et curato eligi- Num. xi. 16, 17. 25. congrega mihi septuaginta viros. Deut. i. 13, &c. exhibete homines sapientes et prudentes. 1 Sam. xii. 2, 3. abeuntes itaque totus ille populus Gilgalem, regem constituerunt ecce auscultavi voci vestræ et constitui super vos regem. 2 Sam. ii. 4. quo advenientes homines Jehuda unxerunt ibi Davidem in regem super familiam Jehuda.

Officiis magistratuum opposita sunt. Psal. xxvi. 10. quorum dextra est plena corruptionis muneribus. et xciv. 20. an consociaretur tibi solium ærumnarum ? Prov. xvii. 23. munus e sinu improbus accipit ad pervertendum itinera juris. et xxi. 7. renuunt exercere jus. et xxviii. 15, 16.' &c.

• Aulicorum nequitia perspicitur. Gen. xii. 15. nam visa ea principes Pharaonis laudaverunt eam apud Pharaonem Prov. xxv. 4. ut, ita auferendo improbum a conspectu regis, stabilitur justitia solium ejus. 2 Chron. xxiv. 17. post mortem Jehoiada venientes principes Jehuda. Isa. xxii. 15, 16. age, accede adjutorem istum Sebnam, qui præest domui-. 1 Reg. xxi. 7. dixit ei Jezebel uxor ejus, tune nunc exerces regnum super Israelem-? Esth. iii. 6. sed quum sperneret in oculis suis mittere manum in Mordecaium solum, et v. 9. si apud regem bonum videtur, scribatur ́ ut perdant eos-. Dan. vi. 8. consilium invenerunt omnes eparchi regni, &c.

Magistratuum imprimis est religionem et cultum Dei, præsertim publicum, fovere, et ecclesiam revereri. Isa. xlix. 23. erunt reges nutricii tui, et fœminæ principes eorum nutrices tuæ; vultų in terram demisso incurvabunt se, habentes honorem tibi, pulveremque pedum tuorum lingent. Non nempe indigere magistratuum curatione ecclesias, sed propriis legibus ac disciplina, pax modo concedatur, optime se regere atque amplificare posse, testimonio est ille locus. Act. ix. 31. ecclesia per totam Judæam et Galilæam et Samariam habentes pacem, ædificabantur; et pergentes in timore Domini, et consolatione Sancti Spiritus, multiplicabantur.

Defendenda itaque religio est a magistratibus, non cogenda. Jos. xxiv. 15. quod si malum videtur in oculis vestris —, eligite vobis hodie quem colatis ; ego vero et familia mea colemus Jehovam. Psal. cv. 14. non permisit cuiquam opprimere eos etiam repre

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hendit propter eos reges, ne attingitote (inquiens) unctos meos, et prophetas meos ne afficitote malo. Certe si religiosis hominibus ullo modo vim afferre reges hic vetantur, quanto magis eorum conscientiis in ipsa religione, iisque præsertim controversiis in quibus rex aut magistratus æque ac papa falli potest, et sæpe fallitur? nisi ipse æque ac papa eam præcipue ob causam pro Antichristo haberi se velit. Judicabant quidem in religione reges et magistratus olim Judæorum, et vini etiam afferebant; at iis in rebus, de quibus ex lege Dei clarissima sine ullo errore aut controversia judicari a magistratu potuit: nunc Christiani iis de rebus vexantur sæpe aut puniuntur, quæ aut controversæ sunt, aut libertati Christianæ permittuntur, aut denique in ipso evangelio clare non docentur. Contra tales igitur magistratus, nomine solum Christianos, in judicio surgent multi magistratus Ethnici et Judæi, et primum ipse Pontius Pilatus: is enim Judæorum usque eo rationem habuit, ut ingredi prætorium propter religionem nolentibus ipse exire quamvis proconsul non recusaverit, Joan. xviii. 28, 29. et Gamaliel, Act. v. 39. sin ex Deo est, non est facultas in manibus vestris · - et Gallio, cap. xviii. 15. judex istarum rerum esse nolo.

Etenim cum ne ecclesiasticus quidem minister jus habeat dominandi in ecclesia, multo minus habebit magistratus. 2 Cor. i. 24. non quod dominemur vestræ fidei, sed quod adjutores simus gaudii vestri: nam fide statis. Col. ii. 18. nemo adversum vos rectoris partes sibi ultro sumat 1 Pet. V. 3. neque ut dominantes cleris. Rom. xiv. 4. tu quis es qui judicas ? Jacob. iv. 12. idem. Rationes aliæ ex superiore libro petantur, ubi de regno Christi, de fide, de evangelio et Christiana libertate, de disciplina denique ecclesiastica ejusque objecto agitur. Certe enim Christi regnum, cum ex hoc mundo non sit, vi et coactione, quod hujus mundi regnum est, non stat: cogi itaque evangelium non debet ; fides et libertas et conscientia, que disciplinæ ecclesiasticæ materia est, a civili judicio longissime diversa, non potest. Religiosos autem ad religionem sibi non probatam, et profanos, quos Deus arcet a sacris, ad cultum Dei publicum cogere æque alienum est et impium. Psal. 1. 16, 17. improbo autem dicit Deus, quid tua ut enarres mea decreta, et assumas fœdus meum in ore tuo -? Prov. xv. 8. et xxi. 27. sacrificium improborum abominationi est : quanto magis, cum scelerate offert illud?

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• POPULI OFFICIA ERGA MAGISTRATUM docentur. Exod. xxii. 28. magistratus ne execrator, et principi in populo tuo ne maledicito. 2 Sam. xxi. 17. jurarunt homines Davidis ei, dicendo, non es proditurus ultra nobiscum in prelium, ut non extinguas lucernam Israelis. Prov. xxiv. 21, 22. reverere Jehovam, fili mi, et regem —. et xxix. 26. multi quærunt faciem dominantis: verum a Jehova est jus uniuscujusque. Eccles. viii. 1, &c. præstitutum meum, præstitutum regis observa, sed pro ratione juramenti Dei. Matt. xxii. 21. reddite quæ sunt Cæsaris Cæsari, et quæ sunt Dei Deo. Rom. xiii. 1, &c. omnis anima potestatibus supereminentibus subjecta esto 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. adhortor igitur primum omnium, ut fiant deprecationes pro omnibus hominibus; pro regibus et omnibus in eminentia constitutis. Tit. iii. 1. ipsis suggerè, ut 20

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sese subjiciant principatibus ac potestatibus, ut obtemperent, ut ́ad: omne opus bonum sint parati. 1. Pet. ii. 13, &c. subjecti estote cuivis humanæ ordinationi propter Dominum.

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Etiam erga injustos. Matt. xvii. 26, 27. liberi sunt filii; sed ne simus offendiculo, profectus. Act. xiii. 3, &c. pontifici Dei maximo convitiaris? nesciebam, fratres: scriptum est enim — Nisi in rebus illicitis. Exod. i. 17. sed timuerunt obstetrices illæ Deum, neque fecerunt quemadmodum edixerat iis rex Ægypti. et ii. 2. abscondit eum tribus mensibus. Jos. i. 17. tantummodo sit Jehova Deus tuus tecum. -1 Sam. xiv. 45, &c. sic redemerunt populus Jonathanem, ut non moreretur. et xx. 1, &c. qui dixit ei, absit, non morieris et xxii. 17. noluerunt servi regis 2 Chron. xxi. 10. tunc defecit Libna, quia dereliquerat Jehocam- et xxvi. 18. obstiterunt Uzziæ regi. Esth. iii. 2, 3, 4. sed Mordecai non flectebat - Dan. iii. 16. ut respondeamus tibi, non sumus soliciti de hoc negotio. et v. 18. sive non, notum sit tibi, rex, deos tuos nos non esse culturos. et cap. vi. 11. Daniel autem quum cognovisset exaratum esse scriptum illud, ingressus Act. iv. 19. an justum est is conspectu Dei vobis potius obedire quam Deo, judicate. Heb. xi. 23, per fidem Moses occultatus est tres menses, a parentibus suis, et non metuerunt edictum regis.

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Opposita sunt rebellio. Num. xvi. 1, &c. assumpsit autem homines Corach 2 Sam. xx. 1, &c. ibi casu aderat vir nequam nomine Seba

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6 Et obedientia in rebus illicitis. 1 Sam. xxii. 18. divertens ergo Doeg-.

Hic quod nonnulli magistratibus non tantum piis, sed etiam tyrannis prava imperantibus parendum esse affirmant, id nulla divina auctoritate confirmatur. Locus enim iste 1 Pet. ii. 13. de quavis humana ordinatione, de quavis specie intelligitur, earum. quæ legitimæ sunt, ut ex v. 14. manifestissimum est: quod autem ex v. 18. de servis affertur, ad officium nihil attinet liberorum populorum, qui longe alio jure censendi sunt atque servi vel emtitii vel mercede conducti. De Israelitis porro Pharaoni obtemperantibus, quis scit, sponte an inviti, recte an secus id fecerint ? quandoquidem nullibi jussos aut ab id laudatos accepimus. Postremo Danielis captivi exemplum non minus alienum est; quid enim potuit facere captivus? Certe Psal. Ix. 6. dedisti timentibus te vexillum, quo utantur propter veritatem potentissime. Verum in rebus licitis etiam tyrannis parere, vel potíus tempori cedere, pacis. publicæ et incolumitatis etiam propriæ causa, sapientis esse haud inficias ierim,' &c.

With this chapter the book closes, we think, abruptly. It is probable that some parts still remain to be discovered, at all events, it is likely that there was originally an epistle at the conclusion as solemn as that with which it opens.

We have thus, as carefully as our limits would admit, analyzed this remarkable work. On its doctrines we have. hardly given any opinion, deeming it more agreeable to our readers to exhibit those of Milton than to drag them through REV. JULY, 1825.

X

all

all the debated points of all the controversies which have agitated the Christian world. To sum up the whole, we may compendiously say, that Milton was in doctrine an Arian, in discipline an Independent. His scheme of predestination is what has been, perhaps improperly, called moderate Calvinism. His doctrine of the sacraments, and some other important particulars, anti-Roman Catholic. He agrees with the Baptists in the peculiar tenet which give them their name, and he is not far, in some particulars, from the Humanitarians. In the questions of polygamy and divorce he is almost peculiar. In his own days those who agreed with him in the latter particular bore the nickname of Miltonists: - we know not that any agreed with him in the former. The fierceness of his early political opinions appears to have abated. The book throughout bears marks of intense knowlege of the Scriptures, and profound and mature consideration of every question of theology. It is defaced by an anxiety to shew scholastic accuracy of refinement, by occasional quibbling and special pleading, and a dogmatic resolution of all questions which come before him, as if ex cathedrá, with little regard for the opinions of those who had before treated on the subject. It is in vain to say in defence of this, that he relied on the Scriptures alone, for such, of course, would be the pretence, if not the practice, of others also. And throughout he uses his own way of putting the objections of antagonists, a method more agreeable to an arguer for victory than to an inquirer after truth. Yet we are sure that he did seek the truth: but his confident and proud disposition, grounded, no doubt, on an unavoidable knowlege of his own great powers and unrivalled genius, has here, as in many other instances, led him to mistake the path by which it was to be found, and the temper in which it was to be sought. On the whole, as a system of theology, the work before us has some merits; as an auxiliary to understanding his poems, it is indispensable to all critical readers of our illustrious epic.

Mr. Sumner has executed the translation very respectably, and his notes display great knowlege of his author.

ART. VII. The Works of Anna Lætitia Barbauld. With a Memoir by Lucy Aikin. 2 Vols. 8vo. 17. 4s. Boards. Longman and Co. 1825.

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