Retrofpeé? of Domeftic Literature.—Theology and Morals. 
argument, and prieftly bigotry for 
Chriftian tolerance. A wilder hodge- 
podge of politics and religion was ne- 
ver put together! Dr. Rennel, how- 
ever, is alearned man, and his learn- 
ing often difplays itielf. 
“© The mild Tenor of Chriftianity, an 
Effay.”” 
This tra&t is faid to be the produc- 
tion of Mr. JeERNINGHAM, the elegant 
tranflator of Sele&t Sermons of Bofluet. 
The object of it is to fhow that the 
yoke of Chrift is eafy and his burden 
light; that the ways of wifdom are 
ways of pleafantnefs, and that all her 
paths are peace. 
The moft learned and venerable Ja- 
COD Bryant has publifhed his. ‘* Ob- 
Jervations upon fome Paffages in Scripture 
which the Enemies to Religion have 
thought mof obnoxious, and_attended with 
Difficulties not to be furmounted.”’ 
Mr. Bryant has confined himfelf to 
four paflages which have been ftanding 
objeéts of ridicule to infidels, and of 
difficulty to many believers. The firft 
article undertaken to be explained is, 
the account given of Balaam, who was 
reproved by the animal 
The fecond relates to Sam{fon, who is 
defcribed as defeating a holt of Philif- 
tines with the jaw-bone of an afs.— 
The third hiftory is of the Sun and 
Moon, which are faid to have ftood 
ftill at the command of Jofhua. The 
fourth and laft is the account of the 
prophet Jonah, and particularly of his 
having been entombed in a large fith, 
which is fuppofed to have been a 
whale. 
“© Song of Songs; or, Sacred Idylls : 
tranflated from the original Hebrew, 
with Notes critical and explanatory, by 
Joun Mason Goop,” 
Mr. Good obferves that the ‘* Song 
of Songs has hitherto been generally 
recarded as one continued and individu- 
al poem ; either as an epithalamium ac- 
companied in its recitation with appro. 
priate mufic, or elfe asa regular dra- 
ma, divifible, and at firft clearly divid- 
ed, into diftinét aéts or parts ;** and he 
adds,that “fince the commentary of the 
learned and elegant Boffuet upon this 
admirable paitoral, and more. efpeci- 
ally by that® excellent critic Buifhop 
Lowth, the latter opinion. has more 
generally prevailed.” The poem has, 
in confeqtfence, been arranged into 
feven parts, each being appropriated to 
a diftinét day in the bridal weeky fer 
te fuch a period of time the bridal ces 
he rode.— ° 
621 
' Iebration extended. Mr. Good gives 
us his reafons for differing from this 
opinion: he confiders the whole as a 
colleétion of diftinét idylls upon one 
common fubjeét, and that the loves of 
the Hebrew monarch and his fair 
bride. Mr. Good has prefented us 
with a double tranflation of thefe 2- 
cred idylls, one in profe and one in 
verfe ; the former preferving the divi- 
fions of the Bible tranflation, and the 
latter references to the notes, which 
conftitute the greater portion of the 
volume, and every where difplay eru- 
dition, tafte, and feeling. Our readers 
will thank us for giving them a {peci- | 
men of the tranflation; we fhall take 
the profe verfion of the fifth idyll : 
© RoyvA BrRInE, attendant VIRGINS, 
Kina Soroman, (afterwards. } 
Scene—-A Chiofk, or Pavilion. 
VIRGINS. 
Ch. iii. 6.——What is this coming forth from 
the wildernefs 
Like columns of {moke perfumed with 
myrrh, : 
With frankincenfe, and all the pow- 
ders of the merchant ? 
Other VIRGINS. 
— 7. Behold! it is the palanquin of Solo- 
man: 
' Threefcore valiant men are about it, 
Of the valiant of Ifrael. 
— 3. They all bear fwords, being expert in 
war 3 
Each hath his {word upon his thigh 
Againft the peril of the night. 
— 9. King Soloman hath made for himfelf 
‘6 This bridal’? couch of the wood of 
Lebanon 5 
— 10. Its pillars hath he formed of filver, 
Its infide of gold, its hangings of pur- 
ple; 
Its covering is paved ** with needle- 
work”’ 
By his beft-beloved among the daugh- 
ters of Jerufalem. 
’ 
Rovat Bribe, 
— 11. Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion ! 
And behold King Soloman, : 
With the crown with which his mo- 
ther crowned him 
On the day of his efpoufals, 
On the day of the gladnefs of his 
heart. 
Kine SoLroman, (introduced) 
Ch. iv. 1.—Behold ! thou art fair, my love ! 
behold, thou art fair ! 
Thine eyes are as ‘* the eyes of ® 
doves beneath thy locks ; 
Thy hair is asa flock of goats 
That browfe about Mount Gilead. 
4L2 we 2, Thy 
