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REVIEW.

"Still pleased to praise, yet not afraid to blame."-Pope.

ART. I.-A Solution of the Grand Scripture Puzzle, the Genealogy of Jesus; not only evincing the Authenticity of the Tables, but explicitly proving the Story of the Miraculous Conception to be interpolated: with a Treatise on the Fall of Adam; eliciting the Primitive Meaning of the Original Account, and a Prayer to the Deity. By John Gorton. 3rd ed. with Additions. 8vo. pp. 40. Hunter. 1819. HE us commences

a

The work before face. Then follows a Dialogue between an Indian and a Briton, which opens in the following abrupt and singular manner:

"Briton. Since I find, Sir, that you dislike to enter generally into this topic, I will confine myself to one particular question, a question which has long agitated the learned world, and given rise to a good deal of discussion. The subject which I mean to propose, is the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, as it is given by two of his biographers." The Indian is now told that the Messiah was to descend lineally from David, and is directed to peruse the first chapter of Matthew's Gospel with attention, in order to obtain satisfaction on this point. He follows the direction given to him, and is perplexed. He finds that the first seventeen verses of this chapter give a complete genealogy of Jesus; but that, in the remaining part of the chapter, the fact of his descent from David is entirely set aside, and the conception of Mary is represented as a miraculous one, or, in other words, as having taken place without the intervention of a man. He is now instructed to consider the miraculous conception as the fulfil ment of a prediction contained in Isaiah vii. 14-16; but, on turning to the passage, he finds that the first four verses of the following chapter contain a literal and exact account of the accomplishment of this prophecy. The Briton acknowledges the truth of this remark; and, at the Indian's own request, directs him where to find Luke's genealogical table. Nothing can exceed the astonishment of "the

poor Indian" on turning to this table-
The names he finds to be almost en-
tirely different from those which he
had met with in the pedigree given by
Matthew; and he is informed that
this table "belongs not to Joseph,
but to the wife of Joseph; that a great
deal of pains has been taken to shew
that Luke, when he wrote this genea-
logy, did not know what he was wri-
ting; and that, when he registered
Joseph's name, he intended to have
entered Mary's." "This is strange,”
exclaims the Indian. “For my own
part," rejoins the Briton, who has
hitherto appeared under a dubions
kind of character, "I confess, candid-
ly, that I apprehend Luke is perfectly
correct in his account, and that his ex-
positors are decidedly wrong in their
construction of it."
"Excuse me,

Sir," replies the Indian, "but I con
ceive you will have some difficulty in
reconciling these two tables." The
Briton, however, confident as to the
strength of his own argument, pro-
ceeds to shew in what manner these
two apparently conflicting accounts
may be reconciled. In the first place
he states that there is not one syllable
in any of the gospels to prove that
Mary belonged to the tribe of David;
and from this circumstance he infers
the extreme improbability of the com-
mon opinion upon this subject. He
then goes on to shew that Matthew's
is the genealogy of Joseph's father,
and Luke's the genealogy of his mo-
ther. "The learned know very well,"
says he, "that it was formerly custo-
mary among the Jews, to denominate,
on the female side, the grandson the
son; and, by the same rule, to term
the grandfather the father." "I un-
derstand you, Sir," replies the Indian;
"this exposition renders all plain. I
now perceive that Joseph is doubly (if
I may so express myself) descended
from David: he claims his lineage
both from Solomon and Nathan, who
were brothers, and the sons of David."
"He does so," rejoins his companion.
But here the Indian starts an objec
tion, and begs to be informed whether
this theory does not "produce a sus-

picion that Joseph was the natural Father of Jesus." The Briton acknowledges the validity of this objection; and proceeds to shew that, if the genealogical tables exhibited in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke are correct, the account of the miraculous conception must necessarily be a fabrication, but that if, on the other hand, Joseph was nothing more than the reputed father of Jesus, the Messiah could not have been a lineal descendant of David. The conclusion of the whole matter is, that, in the age in which Jesus lived, "no doubt was entertained of his being the legitimate son of Joseph, and that the evangelists and apostles held this opinion, and no other."

The next division of this curious pamphlet contains some "Further Observations on the Genealogy of Jesus Christ." The first remark of importance here relates to the total dissimilarity of the names in the two genealogies, with the exception of Safathiel, Zorobabel and Eliakim; and the consequent impossibility of reconciling them on any other supposition than that advanced in the course of the dialogue. The coincidence, as far as regards the above names, is accounted for by supposing that there might have been individuals of these names on both sides. To prove that Luke's table does not refer to the mother of Jesus, but to his father, the author ingeniously remarks that "the name of Joseph (a favourite family appellation) is not less than four times recorded," and hence infers "that the evangelist in assigning it to the father of Jesus, (his more than putative, his real father,) has placed it to the account of the right owner." We are next referred to a curious inscription found by Mr. Wood at Palmyra, of which the following Latin version is given from "Harmer's Observations," Senatus populusque Alialamenem, Pani filium, Mocimi nepotem, Æranis pronepotem, Mathæ abnepotem, et Eranem patrem ejus, viros pios et patriæ amicos, et omni modo placentes patriæ patriisque diis, honoris gratia. Anno 450, Mense Aprili." Here "the difficulty is that Eranes is called the father of Alialamenes, who is himself called the son of Panus, just in the same manner as St. Matthew tells us, that Jacob begat Joseph; and St. Luke calls Joseph, the son of Heli."

This difficulty the author considers as fully explained by supposing that Eranes is the true father of "Alialamenes, and Panus, his maternal grandfather. The two genealogical tables of Jesus, printed at full length, bring this part of the work to a close.

"A Treatise on the Fall of Adam" follows next in succession, in which the author boasts that he has elicited the primitive meaning of the original account. To this "Treatise" is subjoined "a Prayer" for the extension of more enlightened views on subjects connected with religion, and this prayer seems to have formed the original conclusion to the work. It is evidently the production of a pious but singularly constituted mind. The Treatise on Adam's Fall contains many curious and excellent observations; but as our attention was attracted to the work by the theory advanced respecting the genealogy of Jesus, and as this, in fact, constitutes by far the most original and valuable part of the pamphlet, we must content ourselves with referring our readers to the book itself for information on other subjects, and proceed to "an Address to the Clergy of every Denomination relative to the 'Genealogy of Jesus," which appears to have been stitched up only with the later editions. In this "Address" the author endeavours to draw the attention of his readers once more to the importance of the subject which he has made it his principal object to illustrate. We shall quote from it one or two short passages for the satisfaction of our readers, and then close the hasty sketch which we have been induced to take of this ingenious and singular publication.

St. Matthew's genealogy of Jesus tend"The introductory verse alone' to ed in a great measure to convince me that Joseph was the undoubted parent of Jesus; for I would wish to be informed, how the word generation' can be interpreted, if he had been his putative father only, and had no act of generation been achieved on his part. Nor is this all; for had Joseph been a relative of such little estimation, would this evangelist have thought it worth his while to have far depreciated his own character as a bitaken such pains, or would he have so ographer, to enumerate as he has certainly done, the ancestors of Joseph (which were of the regal line) for the

avowed purpose of distinguishing them as
being those of Jesus also? And after-
wards in a recapitulation of the number
of these very ancestors, does he not in-
clude Joseph himself, expressly as his
immediate progenitor? What historian,
possessing his proper senses, would think
of relating the genealogy of a father-in-
law, with a view of proving the pedigree
of a son-in-law, (though there should
happen to be a little consanguinity be--the most persecuted of women.
tween them,) merely because the mother
of the latter might be the wife of the
former ?"

out the kingdom, when the priufti &
dings of her decease were revet
tolling the bells of the Cather and
Churches. But there is me excrmin a
this very creditable fact which demand
especial notice. In this episcopal
containing six Churches, independeny
of the Cathedral, not a single bell an
nounced the departure of the me
mous spirit of the most injures of Che

These questions we recommend to the careful consideration of every theological inquirer; and take leave of our author by assuring him, that, although we have detected a few inaccuracies of composition and punctuation, we have derived both pleasure and instruction from the perusal of his

little work.

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the brutal enmity of those who embitter
ed her mortal existence pursues her in de
shroud. We know not whether any
tual orders were issued to prevent de
customary sign of mourning but de
omission plainly indicates the kind of
spirit which predominates among er
clergy. Yet these men profess to be fil-
lowers of Jesus Christ, to walk in b
footsteps, to teach his precepts, un ies
cate his spirit, to promote harmaag, és
rity and Christian love! Out apoi
hypocrisy! It is such conduct which
ders the very name of our Established
Clergy odious till it stinks in the muscle,
that makes our Churches look like d
serted sepulchres, rather than temples of
the living God; that raises up convent
cles in every corner, and increases the
brood of wild fanatics and enthusins;
that causes our beneficed dignitaries
be regarded as usurpers of their posses
sions; that deprives them of all pusval
influence and respect; that, in short, has
left them no support or prop in the
tachment or veneration of the people.
Sensible of the decline of their spiritual
and moral influence, they cling to tempo
ral power, and lose in their officiusten
in political matters, even the semhinner
of the character of ministers of religio
It is impossible that such a system d
last. It is at war with the spirit of the
age, as well as with justice and reaser,
and the beetles who crawl about unist
its holes and crevices, act as if they wer
striving to provoke and accelerate the
blow which, sooner or later, will iness-
tably crush the whole fabric, and level à
with the dust.”—Pp. 5, 6.

Passing by the preliminary proceed Mr. SCARLETT was counsel for the ings, we come to the trial at Durban prosecution, Mr. BROUGHAM for the defendant. The speech of the former gentlemen was according to the proved recipe in such cases. He b called the defendant "that unhappy man." Mr. Brougham caught b of this expression in his exordium.

"Unhappy he will be indeed, but DE the only unhappy man in this country, f the doctrines laid down by my learned

friend are sanctioned by your verdict; for those doctrines, I fearlessly tell you, must, if established, inevitably destroy the whole liberties of us all. Not that e has ventured to deny the right of disCussion generally upon all subjects, even upon the present, or to screen from free nquiry the foundations of the Established Church and the conduct of its ministers is a body (which I shall satisfy you are ot even commented on in the publicaion before you). Far from my learned riend is it to impugn those rights in the bstract; nor, indeed, have I ever yet eard a prosecutor for libel-an Attorney General, (and I have seen a good many a my time,) whether of our Lord the King or our Lord of Durham, who, while the act of crushing every thing like nfettered discussion, did not preface his ddress to the Jury, with Ġod forbid hat the fullest inquiry should not be llowed;' but then the admission had variably a condition following close beind, which entirely retracted the conession- provided always the discussion e carried on harmlessly, temperately, almly'-that is to say, in such a manner 3 to leave the subject untouched, and he reader unmoved; to satisfy the pubc prosecutor, and to please the persons ttacked.

"My learned friend has asked if the efendant knows that the Church is estalished by law? He knows it, and so do The Church is established by law, as e civil government as all the instituons of the country are established by w-as all the offices under the Crown re established by law, and all who fill hem are by the law protected. It is not more established, nor more protected, an those institutions, officers and officeearers, each of which is recognized and voured by the law as much as the hurch; but I never yet have heard, and trust I never shall; least of all do I xpect in the lesson which your verdict is day will read, to hear, that those ficers and office-bearers, and all those stitutions, sacred and secular, and the onduct of all, whether laymen or priests, ho administer them, are not the fair abjects of open, untrammelled, manly, alous, and even vehement discussion, as ng as this country pretends to liberty, ad prides herself on the possession of a ee press.

"[At this part of the learned counsel's Adress, which was delivered with extradinary force and animation, there was involuntary burst of applause from e persons in Court, which was crowded excess. The Judge said it was 'abo■inable,' and Mr. Brougham, addressing me Jury, said, I am sure nothing can more contrary to every feeling that I

VOL. XVII.

4 U

have than that any human being excepting yourselves should, directly or indirectly, take part in these proceedings." The interruption having ceased, the learn ed gentleman resumed.]

"In the publication before you, the defendant has not attempted to dispute the high character of the Church; on that establishment or its members, generally, he has not endeavoured to fix any stigma. Those topics then are foreign to the present inquiry, and I have no interest in discussing them; yet after what has fallen from my learned friend, it is fitting that I should claim for this defendant, and for all others, the right to question, freely to question, not only the conduct of the ministers of the Established Church, but even the foundations of the Church itself. It is indeed unnecessary for my present purpose, because I shall demonstrate that the paper before you does not touch upon those points; but unnecessary though it be, as my learned friend has defied me, I will follow him to the field and say, that if there is any one of the institutions of the country which, more emphatically than all the rest, justifies us in arguing strongly, fecling powerfully, and expressing our sentiments with vehemence, it is that branch of the State which, because it is sacred, because it bears connexion with higher principles than any involved in the mere management of worldly concerns, for that very reason, entwines itself with deeper feelings, and must needs be discussed, if discussed at all, with more warmth and zeal than any other part of our system is fitted to rouse. But if any hierarchy in all the world is bound on every principle of consistency, if any church should be forward not only to suffer but provoke discussion, to stand upon that title and challenge the most unreserved inquiry, it is the Protestant Church of England; first, because she has nothing to dread from it; secondly, because she is the very creature of free inquiry-the offspring of repeated revolutions-add the most reformed_of the Reformed Churches of Europe. But surely if there is any one corner of Protestant Europe where men ought not to be rigorously judged in ecclesiastical controversy-where a large allowance should be made for the conflict of irreconcileable opinions-where the harshness of jarring tenets should be patiently borne, and strong, or even violent language, be not too narrowly watched-it is this very realm, in which we live under three different ecclesiastical orders, and owe allegiance to a Sovereign who, in one of his kingdoms, is the head of the Church, acknowledged as such by all men; while, in another, neither he, nor any earthly being, is allowed to assume that name➡

a realm composed of three great divisions,
in one of which Prelacy is favoured by
law and approved in practice by an Epis-
copalian people; while, in another, it is
protected, indeed, by law, but abjured in
practice by a nation of sectaries, Catho-
lic and Presbyterian; and, in a third,
it is abhorred alike by law and in prac-
tice, repudiated by the whole institutions,
scorned and detested by the whole inha-
bitants. His Majesty, almost at the
time in which I am speaking, is about to
make a progress through the Northern
provinces of this island, accompanied by
certain of his chosen counsellors, a por-
tion of men who enjoy unenvied, and in
an equal degree, the admiration of other
countries and the wonder of their own
and there the Prince will see much loy-
alty, great learning, some splendour, the
remains of an ancient monarchy, and of
the institutions which made it flourish.
But one thing he will not see. Strange
as it may seem, and to many who hear
me incredible, from one end of the coun-
try to the other he will see no such thing
as a bishop; (loud laughter;) not such a
thing is to be found from the Tweed to
John o'Groat's: not a mitre; no, nor so
much as a minor canon, or even a rural
dean-and in all the land not one single
curate so entirely rude and barbarous
are they in Scotland-in such outer dark
ness do they sit, that they support no ca-
thedrals, maintain no pluralists, suffer no
non-residence; nay, the poor benighted
creatures are ignorant even of tithes.
Not a sheaf, or a lamb, or a pig, or the
value of a plough-penny, do the hapless
mortals render from year's end to year's
end! Piteous as their lot is, what
makes it infinitely more touching, is to
witness the return of good for evil in the
demeanour of this wretched race. Un-
der all this cruel neglect of their spiri-
tual concerns, they are actually the most
loyal, contented, moral and religious
people any where, perhaps, to be found
in the world. Let us hope (many indeed
there are, not afar off, who will with un-
feigned devotion pray), that his Majesty
may return safe from the dangers of his
excursion into such a country; an excur-
sion most perilous to a certain portion of
the Church, should his royal mind be
infected with a taste for cheap establish-
ments, a working Clergy, and a pious
congregation! But compassion for our
brethren in the North has drawn me
aside from my purpose, which was mere-
ly to remind you how preposterous it is
in a country of which the ecclesiastical
polity is framed upon plans so discordant,
and the religious tenets themselves are so
various, to require any very measured
expression of men's opinions upon ques-
ions of church government. And if

there is any part of England, in which s
ample licence ought more especially t
be admitted in handling such matter,
say without hesitation, it is this very b
shopric, where in the 19th century, yu
live under a Palatine Prince, the Lord
Durham; where the endowment of the
hierarchy, I may not call it enormou,
but I trust I shall be permitted without d
fence to term it splendid; where the es>
blishment, I dare not whisper pros
grinding to the people, but I will rather
say is an incalculable, an inscrutable
blessing-only it is prodigiously lang,
showered down in a profusion somen
overpowering; and laying the inbe
tants under a load of obligation
whelming by its weight. It is in Durian
where the Church is endowed with a
splendour and a power, unknown
Monkish times and Popish countries, i
the clergy swarm in every corner,
it were the Patrimony of St. Peter-it
here where all manner of conflicts are 3
each moment inevitable between the p
ple and the priests, that I feel m
warranted on their behalf, and for the
protection-for the sake of the Establi
ment, and as the discreet advocate &
that Church and that Clergy-for
defence of their very existence-to
mand the most unrestrained discuss
of their title and their actings under
For them in this age to screen their o
duct from investigation, is to stand se
convicted; to shrink from the discussion
of their title, is to confess, a flaw
must be the most shallow, the most hän
of mortals, who does not at once percent
that if that title is protected only by
strong arm of the law, it becomes o
worth the parchment on which it is
grossed, or the wax that dangles to is
a seal. I have hitherto all along amet,
that there is nothing impure in the pr
tice under the system; I am aduktak
that every person engaged in its admin
tration does every one act which he
and which the law expects him to do.
am supposing that up to this hour
one unworthy member has entered wi
its pale; I am even presuming that
this moment not one of those individ
has stepped beyond the strict line**
sacred functions, or given the site
offence or annoyance to any human bo
I am taking it for granted that she a
act the part of good shepherde,
the welfare of the flock their first
and only occasionally bethinking the
shearing in order to prevent the to
riant growth of the fleece proving
cumbrance, or to eradicate discas
however, those operations be a
that the flock actually live under
knife-if the shepherds are so gen
and employ so large a troop of the

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