with the early history of the human race, and so closely connected with the rise of the Hebrew nation, as exhibiting the fortunes of their progenitors, that, in fixing on the relative proportions of such a work, we should never have thought of passing over them as our author has done.

The second section of chapter 1st, entitled "Civil Society before the Flood," despatches the history of human affairs, during 1656 years, in a single page, as follows:

CIVIL SOCIETY BEFORE THE FLOOD.

"In the fragments of Antedeluvian history preserved by Moses, there is nothing explicit respecting civil societies. If there was any authentic information on this subject extant in his time, it did not appertain to the book of Genesis, which was designed merely as an introduction to the history of the Mosaic legislation. As such, it preserves a knowledge of the Creator, gives a general view of the conduct of men, and a more particular account of the ancestors of the Hebrews, from the creation of the world to the origin of the Hebrew Commonwealth.

"The first man undoubtedly kept his children and other descendants about him as long as possible, and exercised parental authority over them. Cain was the first who separated from his father's society, and he was impelled to this step through fear of punishment for the murder of his brother. In the course of time, various motives, such as a desire to obtain land for cultivation or pasturage for cattle, might induce others to follow his example. Thus, there arose separate families which were governed by their own patriarchs. This is the state of nature, that Golden Age, which the prophets and poets of later times have painted in the liveliest colours, and exhibited as a picture of perfect happiness.*

"When families had increased to tribes and nations, then without doubt, civil societies began. Even at this early period we find that men were engaged in agriculture and in the improvement of the arts; that the laws of marriage, the rights of private property, and the public institutions of religion were recognized and observed. These

* Isa. ii. 4: xi. 6–9; lxv. 17–25. Joel iii. 18. Micah iv. 1-5. Ovid. Metam, I. 89. Virgil, Ecl. IV.

Gen. ii. 15: iv. 2, 3, 17-22; v. 29.

societies, however, during the ten generations enumerated in the fifth chapter of Genesis, were very imperfect; for those lawless deeds of violence which arose from profligacy and impiety, prove but too clearly, that the power of the strong then generally passed for right.* Those famous heroes of great stature, the giants of the old world, who are 'mentioned as the authors of these crimes, were either powerful chiefs, who engaged in open wars, or perhaps mere wandering thieves who with their lawless bands every where plundered and murdered the defenceless. The prevailing form of government during this period was probably the patriarchal; though the patriarchs were either unable to restrain and bring to punishment stronghanded transgressors, or swayed by the ties of relationship, and in some cases, perhaps, by a participation in the spoil, they were unwilling to exert their authority for this purpose."

From this extract, it will be seen that the learned author did not think proper to take any notice whatever of the event which we denominate the fall of man. Perhaps he did not believe in the reality of such an event. But we were particularly struck with a sentence which occurs at the end of the second paragraph of the above extract, relating to the period sometimes denominated the "Golden Age." We have always supposed that the only "Golden Age" of the Bible and of the Christian, was the period, whether long or short, of paradisiacal innocence. But Dr. Jahn seems to refer it to the period which followed the murder of Abel, and the consequent departure of Cain from "the presence of the Lord." And for this view of the subject, he refers to the Prophets, Isaiah, Joel, and Micah, and to the heathen poets, Ovid and Virgil. We have always supposed that Isaiah, and his companions in the prophetic office, in the passages referred to, had an eye to an entirely different affair; and with respect to the heathen poets, we cannot, for a moment, hesitate to believe that the basis of all that they and others have said or sung of the "Golden Age," is

Gen. vi. 4, 11, 13, comp. ix. 3-6. Gen. iv. 26, comp. vi. 2.

the tradition, from the progenitors of our race, of their primitive state, in Eden, in which all was health and order, and purity, and unmingled bliss; but which, alas! "like the morning cloud, and the early dew," soon passed away.

We infer from the whole aspect of Professor Jahn's representation of the early part of the history of the human race, that he considered the primitive state of man to be a state of intellectual and moral infancy, from which he arose very gradually, and by the exercise of his own powers. To this source, as it would appear, that is, to the gradual developement of man's faculties by his own efforts, he ascribes the attainment of language, and all the arts and comforts of life. We have no doubt that this view of the subject is radically erroneous. To us it appears quite clear, that the original state of man was his most perfect state; that his Maker formed him a social being; that society is, therefore, strictly speaking, a Divine institution, of which the first man was taught the use and enjoyment; that as soon as God made man, he began to speak to him, of course, to instruct him in the use of language as a vehicle of thought; and also that a knowledge of the more necessary and important arts of life was probably imparted in the same manner. It is hardly necessary to add, that whichever of these theories the historian may adopt, will give a corresponding colouring to his representation of the progress of human affairs, in a thousand cases. The theory which we prefer, is, in our view, not only most rational, and most agreeable to the whole current of the history of our race; but the only one that can be reconciled with the inspired records.

Those who take a deep interest in the great events recorded in the Old Testament, and especially those who are eagerly seeking for new light with respect to a number of points concerning which there appears to be room for diversity of opinion, will naturally expect to find much new and important instruction in the pages of Professor Jahn. In this.

however, they will be disappointed. On such points as the rise of idolatry; the first and subsequent forms of it; the Abrahamic covenant; the origin of that singular rite by which this covenant was sealed; the wonders performed by the magicians in Egypt; the difficulties attending the duration of the government of Judges; and a number of others, which have called forth the display of much good learning; the curious reader will find scarcely a satisfactory hint, and no new light whatever. We cannot call to mind a single instance in which a strong original view is taken of any one subject. The author's narratives are certainly clear, lively, comprehensive, and frequently in manner somewhat striking; but remarkably commonplace, and such as will not afford the reader, who is even tolerably familiar with the matters treated of, a new thought for many pages together. If it had been his aim to avoid committing himself on important and difficult questions, and to pass over knotty points without appearing to recognise their existence, he could scarcely have taken a more direct method to attain his object. We think, in a word, that Professor Jahn's work on the "Hebrew Commonwealth" will often and long be read by tyros, as, on the whole, an able compend, but that it will never be quoted by any subsequent writer, as a luminous guide to direct the curious and critical inquirer in his course.

The following extract from chapter IV. section 33. pp. 99, 100, and 101; entitled "The reign of Solomon," be considered as a fair specimen of Dr. Juhn's manner of treating the most interesting parts of the Biblical history.

may

REIGN OF SOLOMON.

"In the year 1015 B. C. David, about six months before his death, surrendered the government to his son Solomon, after a reign of forty years and a half. Solomon was at that time about eighteen years old, and consequently he was neither the first-born, nor the eldest prince;

but he was appointed to the throne by the direction of Jehovah. Adonijah, the oldest prince, made an attempt to seize the sceptre; but his design was seasonably frustrated, and Solomon confirmed himself in the government during the life of his father. The last charges which the dying monarch gave to his successor, are mentioned in the Scriptures as commendable; and let men judge of them as they please, they are neither revengeful nor unjust, but strictly conformable to the divine precepts. According to the law, criminals were to be punished for the purpose of deterring others from the commission of similar crimes; and it was with this view merely that David gave those directions, the execution of which he left entirely to the discretion of his

successor.

The

"The kingdom under David had been very much extended and brought under good regulations. The arms of the Hebrews were feared by all the neighbouring people, and consequently the reign of Solomon was peaceable. Now the predominant tribe of Judah lay as a lion, and as a lioness, which no nation ventured to rouse up. Hebrews were the ruling people, and their empire, the principal monarchy in Western Asia. From the Mediterranean Sea and the Phenicians to the Euphrates, from the river of Egypt and the Elantic gulf to Berytus, Hamath and Thapsacus, and towards the east to the Hagarenes on the Persian gulf; all were subject to the sway of Solomon. The Canaanites, indeed, had been neither annihilated nor expelled, but they were obedient and quiet subjects. Their whole number might amount to between 400,000 and 500,000; since 153,000 were able to render soccage to the king. The warlike and civilized Philistines, the Edomites, Moabites and Ammonites, the Nomadic Arabians of the desert, and the Syrians of Damascus were all tributary to him. Peace gave to all his subjects prosperity, the trade which he introduced brought wealth into the country, and promoted the arts and sciences; which found an active protector in the king, who was himself one of the most distinguished of the learned men. The building of the temple, and of several palaces, introduced foreign artists by whom the Hebrews were instructed. Many foreigners, and even sovereign princes, were attracted to Jerusalem in order to see and converse with the prosperous, royal sage. The regular progress of all businesss, the arrangements for security from foreign and domestic enemies, the army, the cavalry, the armories, the chariots, the palaces, the royal household, the good order in the administration of the affairs of the empire, and in the service of the court, excited as much admiration as the wisdom and learning of the viceroy of Jehovah. So much had