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    apostolic elder , or of any presbyter , who lived near the time of the apostles , would be good authority as to the general reception of traditionary facts . But the probable genuineness of the first chapter may be inferred from this : that if Simeon , who succeeded James

    the Just , as bishop of Jerusalem , were its author , as some suppose , it is very unlikely that he would adopt t } ie fiction of speaking in the person of Peter ; though , if such a fiction were used , the passage would still supply unimpeachable evidence to the circumstance of

    no doubt being -entertained in the ancient Christian Churches , respecting the presence of Peter on the Mount during the utterance of the voice from the cloud and the transfiguration of Jesus . The narrative is further valuable from

    the indirect testimony which it bears against " a voluntary humility or worshiping of angels , " through a misapprehension of powers or glories derived from the Father of lights . The proposal to erect three tabernacles , stands as a beacon of warning against Christian idolatry .

    But , Sir , I must contend that this deciding on the absurdity of any miracle from the assumed internal evidence of its improbability , is consistent with no rule of reasoning that can be

    considered as applicable to miraculous history . The story of the Magians , and the narrative of the supernatural conception , are opposed on very weak grounds , whenever they are opposed as improbable or incredible * in

    them-* Without opening up this controversy , it may be remarked , that the story of the Wise Men is historically consistent with Eastern manners . The worship ( homage ) with gifts of gold and myrrh was that paid to the princes of the East . As Daniel was the master of the Magians , they would probably retain a tradition of the one true God and the promised Messiah .

    That there was a general expectation of some great person in different parts of the world about the time of the birth of Jesus , is sufficiently authenticated . As the Magians were astrologers , the appearance of a star would be fitted to excite their attention : and some sort of

    luminous appearance had always been employed as a symbol of the Divine presence . The purpose of their pilgrimage may have been to indicate the flowing in of the Gentiles . That John the Baptist should not have known of this , presents a

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    selves . A miracle rests on testimony , not on a supposed inherent fitness , for this cannot be ascertained by previous reasoning . The suspicion attached to those narratives is justified on critical grounds of a widely different nature . Pfo be concluded in the next Number . ]

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    Periodical Literature . No . III . REEIEWS—MONTHLY . The Monthly Review . 8 vo . 2 s . 6 d . Now in the XCIInd Volume of the New Series . This long-celebrated work exhibits some of the infirmities

    of old age . Its vigour is spent , and it is manifestly unequal to the contest with its younger competitors . The Quarterly Reviews especially have interfered with it , and have introduced a taste for less calm and sober writing than occupies the pages of the Monthly .

    Instead of being spirited up by rivalry , opposition seems to have cowed it . In theology , which was once its forte , it has fallen off miserably : indeed , from this Journal it would scarcely be known that there is such a department as Theology in our literature .

    The British Critic . 8 vo . 2 s . 6 d . Now in the XlVth Volume of the New Series . This is a High Church and Tory work . Its character has risen in the hands of its present publishers , the Rivingtons . It has , however , dropped none of its bigotry .

    The Edinburgh Monthly Review 8 vo . 2 * . 6 d . tfow in the IVth Volume . Highly as literary wares from Edinburgh are esteemed in the &outh , it is doubtful whether the existence of this publication be known to a single

    difficulty ; but Mr . Grundy in his Lectures has , I think , allowed himself a flippancy in treating of this ancient traditionary record , inconsistent with the caution of patient criticism ; he has shewn also a degree of modern fastidiousness , in regard to Luke i . 34 , evincing a want

    of attention to the simplicity of ancient manners . These chapters of Luke are by no means unworthy of an apostolical penman . To a Unitarian they are important , ( for the miraculous conception proves nothing of a superhuman nature , )

    as the manner in which Christ is spoken of consists strictly with the Humanitarian scheme , but can scarcely be reconciled either with the Trinitarian or Arian hypothesis . Luke i . 32—35 , ii . 40—52 .

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    672 Periodical Literature .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1820, page 4672, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2494/page/44/