motive, prohibited the exportation of paper, (papyrus) out of their dominions; which obliged the king of Pergamus to invent, or rather to improve and augment, the manufacture of parchment, from thence called pergamenum, or membrana, because made of the skin wherewith beasts and their members are covered. Of these leaves of vellum or parchment, books of two descriptions were made; one in the form of rolls, composed of many leaves of vellum, sewed or glued together at the end. These were written on one side only, and had to be unrolled before they could be read. The other kind was like our present books, made of many leaves fastened on one another, were written on both sides, and were opened like modern books. The Jews still use rolls in their synagogues. The ancients wrote likewise on linen. - Pliny says the Parthians, even in his time, wrote on their clothes and Livy speaks of certain books made of linen, lintei libri, on which the names of magistrates, with the history of the Roman Commonwealth, were written, which were preserved in the temple of the goddess Moneta. The manner of writing was suited to the material adopted. Thus, for writing on the harder substances they used a bodkin, or iron style; but when they wrote on linen or parchment, they used a reed (calumus), formed into a pen, and some colouring substance equivalent to ink; like Isaiah, when he wrote his prophecy, in ch. viii. 1. In Ezek. ix. 2, 3. 11. we read of persons carrying ink-horns at their sides. The same is done at the present day among the Moors, in Barbary, and also among the Persians. These remarks will throw light on several passages of Scripture, which must appear very singular to persons unacquainted with the forms of ancient books. Thus Isaiah says, "The heavens shall be folded up like a book or scroll," ch. xxxiv. 4. Here is an allusion to the method of rolling up books among the ancients, of which we have spoken. A volume of several feet in length was suddenly rolled up into a very small compass. Thus, the heavens should shrink into themselves, and disappear from the eyes of God, when his wrath should be kindled. * These rolls were generally written only on one side; but that of Ezekiel (ch. ii. 10.) was written within and without; i. e. on both sides, to shew the abundance of matter contained in it. Of the same kind, probably, was that of John (Rev. v. 1.) which, as "a book written within and without," is difficult to conceive of. See a representation of one of these books in the accompanying wood-cut. on In Isaiah xxx. 8, the Lord says to the prophet, concerning a prediction relative to the Jews, "Now go, write it before them in a table;" and the father of John Baptist (Luke i. 63.) called for " writing-table;" both of which passages refer to the tablets of wood, or other material, of which we have already spoken. The commentator Varro, describing one of these Tabulæ Literariæ, says, "It is of a square oblong form, like those tablets for letters on which children learn to read and write, having on the upper part a round appendix, called the capitulum."-See a figure of this kind of writing-tables, in the wood cut at the head of this article. " " There is an expression in Psal. xl. 7, which has been ingeniously illustrated by the editor of Calmet :-" In the volume of the book it is written of me," which is rendered by the LXX. "in the head (cephalis) of the book." Chrysostom has described this cephalis as a wrapper (eilema), and supposed that on this was written a word or words, which imported "about the coming of the Messiah ;" and Aquila uses the word eilema to express the Hebrew word, which we render volume. On this Mr. Harmer says, The thought is not only clear and distinct, but very energetic, amounting to this, that the sum and substance of the sacred books is, the Messiah cometh ;' and that those words, accordingly, might be written, or embroidered, with great propriety, on the wrapper, or case, wherein they were kept." Admitting Mr. Harmer's conclusion to be just, Mr. Taylor thinks he has found better premises for it, in a picture which was discovered at Herculaneum, than Mr. H. had collected. This painting represents a portable book-case, apparently made of leather, and of the kind which was known to the Romans by the name of scriniarii. It is filled with rolled books, each of which has a ticket or label appended to it, which is very probably the genuine capitulum, or argument of the book, for the purpose of directing the person who was about to draw out a roll, to that which contained the treatise he wanted. In this view, Mr. Taylor proposes to read" Burntoffering and sacrifice were not what thou didst require they were not according to thy will- Then said I, Lo, I come as in the roll of the book (or, as the keri has it, the doubly-rolled-roll; i. e. the little roll upon the greater roll) is written concerning me: -I delight to accomplish thy will." The representation of this case of books, at the beginning of this article, shews that these small labels were capable of being rolled up, till they were close to the greater roll to * Observations, vol. iv. p. 10. which they belonged, as seems to be the meaning of the reading which the keri has preserved.⚫ that are his; and on the other, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." Besides books in the form of rolls, we Dr. Brown, to whom we are indebted for also read in Scripture of letters being sent some of these observations, states, that he from one person to another. These were, in saw a letter addressed from a governorgeneral, in the form of rolls also, and re- general of India to the king of Persia, in sembling probably those in the East at this Persic, on beautifully glazed white paper, day. Thus, Niebuhr tells us that "the fifty inches long, and twenty inches broad. Arabs roll up their letters, and then flatten The written part, however, was only two them to the breadth of an inch, and paste up feet long and one foot broad, the rest being the end of them, instead of sealing them."- filled with a beautiful ornamental painting at And Hanway states, that "the Persians the head of the letter, and a very elegantly make up their letters in the form of a roll, painted border round the whole sheet. The about six inches long; and that a bit of bag in which it was to have been sent, and paper is fastened round it with gum, and which the author also saw, was a cloth comsealed with an impression of ink, which re- posed of gold threads and crimson silk. It sembles our printers' ink, but not so thick." was tied at the neck with a gold lace, which, When letters were written to inferiors, they after being knotted, passed through an imwere often sent open, or in the form of an mense seal, four inches in diameter, and unsealed roll; but, when addressed to equals about an inch thick, of red wax; which seal or superiors, they were enclosed in a bag of of office was entirely covered with Persic silk or satiu, sealed and addressed. Hence characters, containing the titles of the comthe insult of Sanballat to Nehemiah, in send-pany, those of the king being at the being his letter to him by his servant open. Neh. vi. 5. It was just now said that these letters were sealed. We may remark, as an additional circumstance, that the very ancient custom of sealing them, with a seal or signet set in a ring, is still retained in the East. See Gen. xli. 42; Esth. iii. 10, 12. viii. 2.8.10; Jer. xxii. 24. Thus," in Egypt," says Dr. Pococke," they make the impression of their name with their seal, generally of carnelion, which they wear on their finger, and which is blacked, when they have occasion to seal with it." And Mr. Hanway remarks, that the Persian ink "serves not only for writing, but for subscribing with their seal: indeed, many of the Persians in high office (he adds) could not write; but in their rings they wear an agate, which serves for a seal, on which is frequently engraven their Game and some verse of the Koran." So Dr. Shaw, in like manner, says, that "as few or none either of the Arab sheikhs, or of Turkish and eastern kings, princes, or bashaws, know how to write their own names, all their letters and decrees are stamped with their proper rings, seals, or signets (see 1 Kings xxi. 8; Esth. iii. 12; Dan. vi. 17; Eccles. xlix. 11), which are usually of silver or carnelion, with their respective names engraven upon them on one side, and the name of their kingdom or principality, or else some sentence of the Koran, on the other." It is, perhaps, to this that the apostle alludes, when he says (2 Tim. iii. 19), "The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal or impression on the one side, The Lord knoweth them • See Fragments to Calmet, No. 74. ginning of the letter. In order to preserve the seal and lace entire, the bag was opened at bottom, to extract the letter; but the natural way of opening it would be either by melting the wax, or cutting the lace between the wax and the bag. Mr. Wortley's courier, whom he sent from Essek, returned with the bassa's answer, in a purse of scarlet satin, somewhat similar to the above, but, as was to be expected, not so elegant. Whether the bag represented in our woodcut were appropriated to such a purpose we know not.- Carpenter's Popular Introduction to the Study of the Scriptures. ANECDOTE. "Some winters since, while the Congress of the United States were in session, a slave dealer was driving past the capitol of Washington, about forty slaves, chained together. Among the rest was a large negro man, who was not only chained, but also handcuffed. He was a very Cæsar in appearance and spirit, and possessed an admirably fine voice for singing. The spectacle drew to the door many of the champions of freedom, and some of the veterans of the revolution. At the moment when the wretched victims came opposite the ball, the negro above mentioned, on a lofty and bold key, struck up—– "Hail Columbia! happy land! "Hail ye heroes," see this BAND! at the same time lifting up his hands bound together! The voice and action, so appropriately timed and affectingly performed, drew tears from the eyes of many; and to their honour be it said, they immediately bought and freed him."—Philadelphia Religious Messenger. REV. AND VERY DEAR SIR, IN some preceding numbers we have given SINCE I wrote you last, our brethren have an account of those pious persons who have established a Theological Institution, at recently separated from the Established Newton, near this city. It has seemed to Church in the Canton de Vaud. An old be my duty to become connected with it. calumny has, it seems, been raised against I could be spared from the Columbian them. They have been accused of enCollege; and my place has been well sup-couraging designs hostile to the civil governplied by a very worthy brother, Professor ment. In reply, they tendered a paper, in Caswell, who was a tutor at the time of my September last, to the Council of State, being in Europe. I removed from Wash-expressing their entire submission to "the ington last September. I have lately returned from the triennial meeting of the General Convention of our Denomination in the United States, which was held in New York. The measures adopted were such, I trust, as will conduce to the advancement of the cause of Christ; and it was refreshing, indeed, to meet with brethren from the different portions of our widely extended country. The seat of our Board of Managers for Foreign Missions is hereafter to be at Boston. It is for the purpose of attending a meeting of this Board that I am now in the city; and being informed that a gentleman is on the point of leaving this place for London, I could not omit to write you a few lines, though in great haste, and assure you of my affectionate remembrance. Our Missionaries in Burmah, you know, have been passing through severe trials; but we doubt not, "'Tis all for the best." For God will make the wrath of man praise Him, and the remainder thereof he will restrain. How consoling it is, amidst the darkest dispensations, to know and feel that the Lord reigneth that nothing can occur without his permission, and that ALL things work together for good to them that love powers that be," in all civil matters, entirely renouncing revolutionary principles, while they claimed liberty of conscience in every thing relating to religion; and petitioning that this declaration might be made public, as an answer to the accusations that might be brought against them. The Council of State refused to receive their petition, on the ground that they could not recognise any Church, separate from the National Establishment. In the Canton of Grison, a decree against proselytism has been lately passed, of which the following is the substance: "That the communication of ideas on religious subjects is free; that every one has a right to give, to those who may consult him on these points, those explanations which in his conscience he believes to be true, provided they are not contrary to the doctrines of the two confessions acknowledged in the Canton; but that no person whatever ought to persuade others to leave their own church to join that to which he belongs. The authorities are directed to punish such attempts by fine or imprisonment; and, if they are made by persons who are not inhabitants of the Canton, by temporary or perpetual banishment. No individual nnder twenty years of age is to remove his communion from our church to another, without the consent of his parents or guardians: conBaptist General Tract Society. versions of this kind are declared null and SINCE the annual meeting of the Baptist void; the authorities are directed to proGeneral Tract Society, its Printing Com-hibit and prevent them and parents whose mittee have procured stereotype plates for children shall leave the communion in which 164 pages of Tracts, and have printed, they have been brought up, before they are Him. twenty years of age, are authorised to diainherit them !" Switzerland was once called the cradle of the Reformation. One would almost imagine that the expression was prophetic, and that he who first used it foresaw what has now taken place that in that country the great principles of the Reformation are hushed to sleep! DOMESTIC. IRELAND. THE Sunday School Society for Ireland has sustained a heavy loss in the death of its excellent Secretary, James Digges La Touche, Esq. We are requested to insert the following resolution, passed on this occasion. Resolved-That the Committtee feel impressed with awe and deep solemnity by the afflictive dispensation which has deprived the Society of the invaluable services of their late Secretary, James Digges La Touche, Esq.; they express, in terms of unaffected sorrow, their sense of the severe loss the Society has sustained, in one, who watched its early formation and progressive advancement with parental solicitude who, by his unabated exertions in the cause of the Society—by the soundness of his judgment — the mild and Christian spirit of bis correspondence, and the warmth and energy of his public addresses, contributed so essentially to its prosperity; they look with confidence to Almighty God to carry forward His purposes of mercy, according to His own counsel and by instruments of His own selecting; they commend the Society anew to His protection, and they earnestly desire and pray, that the present mysterious and trying visitation, may be blessed, as the occasion of arousing them and every friend of the Society, to greater zeal and diligence in prosecuting its all-important objects. Signed on behalf of the Committee, RELIGIOUS CIRCULATING LIBRARIES. THE general diffusion of education having excited a taste for reading throughout the community, the Committee of the Religious Tract Society have felt anxious to extend their Publications, and, in some measure, to keep pace with the growing demands of a large reading population. Their Catalogue now includes a sufficient number of Publications, when arranged in a suitable manner, to form a Circulating Library. While general knowledge is spreading, and Mechanics' and other Circulating Libraries are increasing, it is of great importance that Religious Works should maintain that pre-eminence to which they are most justly entitled. The Committee have therefore arranged nearly the whole of their Publications in a List; and they are happy to state, that the number of volumes bound and half-bound, contained in it, amounts at present to Seventy-four, and that they are enabled to furnish this complete set to their Subscribers for Four Guineas; to Non-Subscribers Five Guineas. Boxes, to pack and to keep the books, are sold separately, price 8s. each. The Committee trust that this Set of their Publications will be found peculiarly useful for Village, Mechanics', and Sunday School Circulating Libraries, as well as for private use. They have published a few Rules and Hints, calculated to facilitate the establishment of Religious Circulating Libraries; and they trust that this extended plan of promoting religious knowledge will, through the divine blessing, be rendered abundantly successful. The Rules, and a complete Catalogue, are published in a separate paper for the use of those who receive the books. STEPNEY ACADEMY. THE Annual Meeting of the Subscribers and Friends to the Stepney Academical Institution, was held on Tuesday Evening, Jan. 16, at the King's Head Tavern, Poultry. Joseph Gutteridge, Esq. Treasurer, in the Chair. Maze Pond, the Report for the last year was After prayer by the Rev. I. Maun, of read by the Secretary. It stated that at the commencement of the year 1826 there were sixteen Students in the Academy; that three young men have been received under the patronage of the Society during the last year; and that six Students had left the Academy, having either finished their term, or received the concurrence of the Committee in leaving before that period. Mr. Stovel has been ordained Co-pastor of the Church at Swanwick, Derbyshire. Mr. Darkin is supplying at Woodstock, OxfordIshire, where, as our readers well recollect, the late Rev. J. Hinton incurred much personal danger in introducing the Gospel. A Church is about to be formed there, and pleasing prospects of usefulness appear. Mr. Venimore has received an invitation to undertake the pastoral office over the Church at Ingham, Norfolk. Mr. Whitewood has been ordained Pastor of the Church at Andover, Hants. Messrs. Pearce and Thomas who had been studying in the Academy at the expence of the Baptist Missionary Society, have sailed for Calcatta, to engage in Missionary labours. Mr. Swindell has been ordained at Aldborough, Suffolk. There are twelve Students now in the Academy; of the general conduct and diligence in their studies a favourable report was given. After having adverted to the proceedings of the Special General Meeting in May last, at which the resignation of Dr. Newman was received, the report proceeded to state that after much inquiry and discussion, the Committee had resolved, with some difference of opinion, that it should be recommended to the Subscribers to request the Rev. Solomon Young, who had been twelve years Classical Tutor, to undertake the Theological department of tuition. In the conclusion of the Report, the depressed state of the funds was noticed; the importance of union and co-operation was urged; and the necessity of strenuous efforts dwelt upon. "Finally: If your Committee venture to anticipate the future prosperity of the Institution, it is not because they rely on the excellence of its Tutors, or the prudence and activity of those who shall conduct its affairs, but because they trust that the experience of the past has deepened the conviction of the absolute necessity of the blessing of God, and the influences of his Holy Spirit, and that it will lead the friends of the Society to bear it on their hearts when they approach a throne of grace, and to pray that it may be the means of supplying the churches with able ministers of the New Testament-good men, full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith." The Report having been received aud ordered to be printed, it was resolved, "That the thanks of this Meeting be given to the Tutors for their diligent attention to the duties of their office during the past year; and that the Rev. Solomon Young be respectfully invited to become Theological Tutor of this Institution." The thanks of the Meeting were voted to the Treasurer, Secretary, and Committee. The Rev. Thomas Blundell was chosen Secretary, instead of Mr. Cramp, who has resigned. The Resolutions were moved and seconded by the Rev. Messrs. Mann, Upton, Blundell, Griffin, Drayton, Mileham, Brawn, and Dr. Newman; and by Messrs. Freeman, W. B. Gurney, J. Russell, Storks, and Bickham. The Meeting was less strongly marked on the whole than might have been expected, considering the discussions that had taken place at previous meetings, and the opposition felt by many, and slightly mentioned by some, to the principal measures. We regretted chiefly that a minister from the country chose to express himself in a manner, which it was evident all present deprecated, and which was too much calculated to perpetuate feelings that were best allayed and dismissed. Donations and Subscriptions will be thankfully received by Joseph Gutteridge, Esq. Treasurer, Denmark Hill, Camberwell; the Rev. Thomas Blundell, Secretary, Camberwell; and also by Messrs. Wightman and Cramp, 24, Paternoster Row. ORDINATIONS, &c. BIRMINGHAM. ON the 3d of December, 1825, the Rev. Isaiah Birt relinquished the Pastoral charge of the Church, meeting in Cannon-street, Birmingham, by a letter of resignation. He had been eminently useful during a period of twelve years, and we rejoice to know that his labours were highly appreciated, and his removal universally regretted. Some ministers have injudiciously prolonged their continuance with a church, beyond the season of their usefulness and competency; the unhappy consequences have been the alienation of their people, and the decay of the congregation. Mr. Birt has set an honourable and valuable example of withdrawment from an office, for which, although the vigour of his mind remains, the infirmities of his body disqualified him, on account especially of the magnitude of the church: and we understand it to be his intention in future, to decline taking the regular superintendence of a church, but to preach asoften as he is able, and wherever his occasional services may be required. We have! seen the affectionate letter of resignation which he addressed to the church, and the equally affectionate resolutions of the church on the occasion, and have been informed of the substantial and valuable testimonies of esteem presented to Mr. Birt, by the young men, and also by other members of the congregation. In addition to these gratifying marks of respect, the church unanimously voted Mr. Birt the handsome annuity of £100. during his life. We trust that a qualified successor will soon be found, and that the blessing of God will remain though the venerated pastor is removed. F.A. C. |