and that he did nothing more than employ a different kind of acid, which we are much inclined to regard as less proper for the purpose. -Under these circumstances, we do not hesitate to consider Dr. Smyth's parliamentary grant as unmerited; and though we cannot but regret that the argument should have taken so personal a turn, yet the contemptuous manner in which Dr. Smyth treated his antagonist in some measure excuses the severity of the latter. We hope that the discussion will now be set at rest; and that Dr. Smyth will be satisfied with his 5000l. leaving the merit of the discovery to Dr. Johnstone and M. Guyton. Art. 28. A Proposal for destroying the Fire and Choak-Damps of Coal-mines; and their Production explained on the Principles of modern Chemistry: addressed to the Owners and Agents of Coalworks, &c. By Thomas Trotter, M.D., late Physician to His Majesty's Fleet, &c. &c. 8vo. 2s. Longman and Co. We are sorry to say that, in the course of our critical labours, we have seldom met with a work which, under the garb of science, presented more ignorance or false reasoning than are here displayed. Fatal accidents frequently occur in coal mines, in consequence of the noxious gases which abound in them, and which are of two kinds, viz. what has been called the fire damp, principally composed of hydrogenous gas, and the choak-damp, consisting of carbonic acid. After much philosophic parade, Dr. T. proposes that the former should be destroyed by fumigating the mines with the oxy-muriatic acid gas; and that the latter should be absorbed by throwing water into them. We imagine that every person, who is in the least degree acquainted with collieries, must know that neither of these remedies would be adequate to the proposed object, and that the employment of them would render the mines absolutely useless. Art. 29. A Manual of Anatomy and Physiology, reduced as much as possible to a tabular Form, for the Purpose of facilitating to Students the Acquisition of these Sciences. By Thomas Luxmore, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, &c. &c. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Boards. Highley. This volume contains a great quantity of information, compressed into a small compass; and, as a manual of anatomy, it is fairly intitled to commendation: but the physiological part seems to be extremely defective. RELIGIOUS. Art. 30. Sermons for the Use of Families, Vol. II. By Edmund We noticed with approbation the first volume of these discourses, which was published in 1798.* A second edition has now been printed with this additional volume, in which some corrections have been made, and a sermon on Religious Education' has been substitated for the original Hymns that were subjoined to each discourse See Rev. Vol. xxx. N. S. p. 110. Bos. Do Do in in the first impression.-The contents of Volume II. are in 'no respect inferior to those of its predecessor. We trace in it the same liberal and enlightened views of Christianity, the same attention to the actual state of society in the choice and manner of treating the subjects introduced, the same union of piety and taste, and the same honourable notions of God and his Providence. The Discourses are truly practical, and in all of them are passages which speak to the feelings and situations of real life.-Mr. Butcher seems well aware that the mysteries of religion, on which questions have been started which no powers of the human intellect can decide, and by the discussion of which, few, if any, dispositions of the human heart have been improved, can never be the essential and most important parts of the religion of Jesus. His style is animated, and often figurative, but it is never obscure nor difficult of comprehension. If his thoughts are not greatly distinguished by novelty, they are appropriate and judicious; and his appeal to the understanding and conscience of his reader is frequently solemn and impressive. A short extract will enable our readers to form some idea of Mr. B.'s language and manner.-In the 4th Sermon, the character of the Apostle Paul is thus summed up: The character of Paul has some shades, but they are faint and few. It is his extreme humility that leads him to speak of himself as he frequently does, "I am the least of the Apostles, and am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. I was before a persecutor, and blasphemer, and injurious:" and in this view he stiled himself " the chief of sinners." It is evident, however, that he was not an immoral character, for he elsewhere tells us, that as touching the righteousness which is of the law he was blameless.. Paul of Tarsus had no littleness of soul, no insipidity and apathy about him. His understanding was sound, and his heart at all times ardently upright. When he was convinced of the truth of Christianity, he renounced, without hesitation, every contrary sentiment. Every prospect of honour and advantage from Judaism was given up; every prejudice was sacrificed; and reproach and persecution encountered rather than make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. To make others as happy as himself he travelled from country to country. Dangers and sufferings seem only to have invigorated his zeal, expanded his heart, and made him more and more desirous of turning his fellow creatures from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. He had a most lively and glowing sense of the divine love in making him instrumental in the spread of that cause which he once persecuted. His earnest desire to diffuse the Gospel, to make known the Grace of Christ Jesus, and to extend to as many regions as possible the benefits of redemption, are parts of his character supereminently conspicuous. 1 shall close this imperfect sketch of it with his own words to Timothy." Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions and afflictions, which came upon me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what conflicts I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Now I am ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only but to all "them that love his appearing." Glorious Apostle! behold him like a buffeted mariner in view of the port. He looks back upon the stormy ocean, and rejoices that his conflict with the waves is almost over. Like a faithful worn-out soldier, he anticipates the hour of his dismission, and looks with honest exultation to the wreath of glory which is preparing for him. Christians! if you wish to be satisfied what a good conscience and the hopes of the gospel can do for you, survey this venerable figure; it is Paul of Tarsus examining his heart and life, glorying in the consciousness of having done his duty, and longing to depart and be with the Lord.' Ja Man S Practical utility is the express aim of this preacher, and it appears Had not the short lived controversy on the uses of the Greek Definitive Article, so indiscreetly provoked by Mr. Sharp, been completely put to rest, the assistance of Mr. Winstanley, who comes properly armed with erudition and critical acumen, would have been hailed as a most auspicious event by Mr. Sharp's opponents: but as Mr. S.'s "Remarks" have been proved to be unfounded and fal lacious, (see M.R. Vol. 44. N.S. p. 401.) to fight over the field again with Mr. W. would only be to slay the slain, and to make the parade of a long triumph for a victory which required very little skill and effort to obtain. He must therefore excuse us from discussing his Vindication,' and have the goodness to accept from us a general commendation instead of a minute examination of his work, which would unquestionably prove more creditable to his reputation as a scholar. By a multitude of examples, he shews that in the use of the article and the copulative, the Greek writers were governed not so much by any arbitrary rules, as by a regard to perspicuity and distinctness; and that, accordingly, there are some cases, in which the article cannot be repeated after the copulative, whether the nouns relate to the same thing or person, or to different things or persons; there are others in which it must be repeated; and there are others again, in which the repetition depends on the pleasure of the writer.' Mr. W. does not address himself to the unlearned, and cautiously guards his orthodoxy, while he protests against Mr. Sharp's new trinitarian versions. Art. 32. 4 Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocese of Rochester, May here here to the scriptural mode of preaching, which exalts the grace of Art. 33. Letters on Election. By Richard Wright, Wisbeach Calvinian Election and Reprobation are strongly opposed by this writer, who contends that the term Sovereignty of God (on which the advocates for the orthodox faith erect this article of their belief) means the Sovereignty of infinite love; and that, by representing the Almighty as partially attached to some of his creatures, while he severely retaliates on others, we degrade his righteousness below that which he requires of his saints. Mr. Wright's position is that the Great Jehovah, in electing a part of mankind, had in view the happiness of all; that one end is pursued in all the divine dispensations; and that by imagining the contrary, and placing one part of mankind under an eternal decree of salvation and the other part under an eternal decree of damnation, we are reduced to the necessity of ad mitting the existence of two opposite principles in the Deity, or Manicheism. The subsequent remarks on those passages of Scripture which are adduced in favour of the doctrine of a partial Election, on the Jewish peculiarity, and on the use of the words Elect and Chosen, in the N.T., merit attention: but for these we must refer the reader to the pamphlet, which manifests great plainness and perspicuity. Mr. W.'s arguments against partial Election include a defence of the doctrine of Universal Restoration. Mo-y. Do Art. 34. EYMBOAON TPILATION, or the Geometrical Analogy of the Catholic Doctrine of Triunity consonant to human Reason and Comprehension; typically demonstrated and exemplified by the na tural indivisble Triunity of certain simultaneous Sounds. With Letters from Dr. Herschell, and the late Rev. William Jones of Nayland, and published at his Request and Desire. By H. Harington, M.D. 4to. 38. Robinson. It would be deemed indecorous not to preserve our gravity while discussing the most awful of subjects: but, when a writer endeavours to illustrate the mysterious doctrine of the Trinity by the properties of a right angled triangle, or by the notes of the musical scale, we feel ourselves so irresistably moved to indulge in something the re verse of seriousness, that we dare not meddle with Dr. Harington's Theological Geometry; and we must leave it to those Reviewers, if such can be found, who have never stepped over the threshold of the school of Democritus. Art. 35. AIPEZENN ANAETÀƐIE: or a New Way of deciding Old X 4 DO ourselves in the foregoing article, but, pleading the Horatian adage, Art. 36. A Charge to the Clergy at the primary Visitation in the In the first part of this charge, the late learned Prelate appears in the character of an expounder of the law, explaining certain clauses of the "Curates Act," and insisting that no curate should be per mitted to officiate without a licence from the Bishop. He tells incumbents, that they are not to dismiss their curates with as little ceremony as they might turn away their menial servant, at a month's warning or with a month's wages.'-He next adverts to the Mar riage Act"; notices the ignorance which prevails, even among the Clergy, respecting it, particularly as to the Publication of Banns; and advises them, in order to obtain that knowlege of Statute Law which relates to their ecclesiastical duty, to purchase "The Clergyman's Assistant," a work published by the University of Oxford. When the Bishop proceeds from the Rules to the Doctrines of the Church, he adverts to the controversy respecting the complexion of the Articles; which, he contends, are so neutralized between Arminianism and Calvinism, that there is nothing to hinder the Arminian and the highest Superlapsarian Calvinist from walking together in the Church of England as friends and brothers.' We regard this as a very bold assertion. Reprobation makes no appearance either in the Articles or the Liturgy; and some of the prayers are directly in the teeth of the Superlapsarian scheme. Towards the conclusion, the Clergy are advised not to dispute on controverted points, but to lay down the doctrine categorically; of which practice, the R. R. writer affords them a very striking example. Art. 37. A Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocese of Durham, at the Ordinary Visitation of that Diocese, in the Year 1806. By Shute, Bishop of Durham. 4to. 1s. 6d. Rivingtons. Mo-y. Do ridentem dicere verum Quid vetat ? |