No wonder, if under the influence of this consuming zeal, we form lessening views of the number of the saved." I only am left." Yes, they are few indeed, if none belong to them that do not belong to your party-that do not see with your eyes-that do not believe election with you, or universal redemption with you that do not. worship under a steeple with you, or in a meeting with you-that are not dipped with you or sprinkled with you. But hereafter we shall find that the righteous were not so circumscribed, when we shall see many coming from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south; to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven." 66 Do I plead for an excessive candour?-That candour which regards all sentiments alike, and considers no error as destructive, is no virtue. It is the offspring of ignorance, of insensibility, and of cold indifference.-The blind do not perceive the difference of colours: the dead never dispute: ice as it congeals aggregates all bodies within its reach, however heterogeneous their quality. Every virtue has certain bounds, and when it exceeds them, it becomes a vice; for the last step of a virtue, and the first step of a vice, are contiguous. But surely it is no wildness of candour, that leads us to give the liberty we take; that suffers a man to think for himself unawed; and that concludes he may be a follower of God, though "he follow not with us." Why should we hesitate to consider a man a christian, when we see him abhorring and forsaking sin, "hungering and thirsting after righteousness," diligent in approaching unto God,, walking in newness of life;" and discovering a spirituality of temper, a disposition for devotion, a deadness to the world, a benevolence of mind, and a liberality of hand, such as we seldom find in those high-toned doctrinalists, who regard themselves as the only advocates for free grace?-And by the way, it is not a system of doctrine however good, or a judgment in divine things however clear, that will constitute a christian.' Mr. Jay's reflection at p. 291. merits the consideration of those who are bigoted to the creed of their own sect: What a difference is there between the ocean of revelation, and such a vessel-full of truth as any formulary of doctrines contains!' It is neatly and beautifully remarked that Holiness is the Gospel embodied;' and that the life of the active christian is the labour of the bee; who all day long is flying from the hive to the flower and from the flower to the hive, but all his business is confined to fragrancy and productive of sweets.' The ninth sermon, on Amos vi. 1. Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, is the most searching and awakening. After having expatiated on the desirableness of ease of circumstances and of body, but particularly of peace of mind and of a calm within, the Preacher thus commences his expostulations: And yet strange as the declaration may appear, this tranquillity is too common; and to disturb it, is the design of this discourse : a design, design, not only justified by inspired example, and demanded by ministerial fidelity, but required even by love to your souls. For though it may wear the appearance of harshness; it is in reality the kindest expression of friendship: it is the severity of one who rushes forth, and breaks in upon your pleasing reverie, when you approach the brink of a dreadful precipice; it is the severity of one, who should knock loudly, and interrupt your repose, when he perceived your house becoming the prey of devouring flames, and saw you had scarcely time to escape-For your peace is a false peace. It is the friendship of Joab concealing his murderous dagger. It is the slumber of Samson in the lap of Delilah, softly depriving him of his locks. It is a sleep obtained by opium. It is the loss of feeling, the presage of death. It is the calm of the dead sea, the conse, quence and the evidence of a curse-Thus we have observed, that before a fall of exceeding heavy rain, the wind has been unusually still-Thus historians inform us, that before an earthquake, the air is uncommonly serene. Whether therefore you will hear, or whether you will forbear, I sound the alarm, and give you warning from God "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion." The substance of the discourse is occupied in delineating those characters, the delusion of which Mr. Jay wishes to destroy; viz. those who are at ease from selfish insensibility, from infidel presumption, from vain confidence, and from practical indifference. Some excellent remarks occur in the sermon on the Progress of Religion; and the Preacher's application of the text (Joshua xiii. 1.) we believe to be new: but we do not think that such playfulness with Scripture is a proof of good taste. His illustration of the advantages of progressive religion must finish our extracts : • Needs the christian be told, that adding grace to grace, is adding strength to strength," dignity to dignity, beauty to beauty, joy to joy? It is with the christian, as it is with the man in trade; the more he acquires, the more he is enabled to gain; every increase is not only a possession, but a capacity. "To him that hath, shall be given, and he shall have more abundantly; but from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he seemeth to have.” The more sin is mortified in us, the less will the "prince of this world find" to encourage his approach; the less susceptible shall we be of temptation in the scenes of danger through which we pass. There is something very attractive and pleasing in progress. It is agreeable to observe a stately edifice rising up from the deep basis, and becoming a beautiful mansion. It is entertaining to see the rough outline of a picture, filled and finished. It is striking in the garden, to behold the tree renewing signs of life; to mark the expanding foliage, the opening bud, the lovely blossom, the swelling, colouring, ripening fruit. And where is the father, where is the mother, who has not sparkled with delight, while contemplating the child growing in stature; acquiring by degrees the use of its tender G 3 limbs ; limbs; beginning to totter, and then to walk more firmly; the pointing fiuger succeeded by the prattling tongue; curiosity awaken. ed; reason dawning; new powers opening; the character formingBut nothing is to be compared with the progress of "this building of God." The way of life, narrow at the entrance, widens as we proceed. It is the nature of habits to render their acts easy and delightful. There is little pleasure in religion, if there be no fervency: if there be no vigour in faith, no zeal in devotion, no life in duty-religion is without a soul; it is the mere carcass of inanimate virtue.' When Mr. Jay discusses the expediency of the sufferings of Christ, he seems aware of the difficulties which await the doctrine of Satisfaction; and he expressly bars the assertion that "the Divine Being could not pardon sin without an atonement." In short, he affords no encouragement to those religionists who delight in perplexity and disputation: but, to adopt the words of the Apostle, which he has taken for his motto, he avoids foolish questions and unprofitable contentions, and considers his chief duty as consisting in exhorting his flock to maintain good works." This is preaching as preaching ought to be conducted, and all besides is vain display and empty trifling. Moy. MONTHLY CATALOGUE, TRAVEL S. Art. 16. Modern Discoveries; or a Collection of Facts and Ob- Lower Egypt, translated, without Abridgment, from the Original Folio Edition, and embellished with Maps, Plates, Vignettes, &c. These two volumes may therefore be considered as a third translation of Denon; and, without adverting to the series in contemplation, and for which proposals are offered, they form in themselves a complete work. In his preface, Mr. Blagdon reprobates on the one hand the very expensive modern mode of book-making with broad margins and * Two more volumes have just reached us, containing Golberry's Travels in Africa, wide lines, and despicable heterogeneous abridgments on the other." He then proposes to exhibit interesting works, unabridged, but in an economical yet elegant style; and thus he hopes to present the most superb publications which have appeared in every European language, at a very moderate price. M. Denon's Travels are given as the first specimen, and the translation is as neatly executed as any which has appeared; but it is not without errors, as may be seen at p. II. where Venice is put for Gozo. Like Mr. Aikin, Mr. Blagdon has conveniently broken the narrative into chapters; and like Mr. Kendal, he has interwoven in the text the substance of the notes subjoined to the plates which illustrate the original work. As cheapness was consulted, few plates are given; and on this ground the omissions may be justified: but we cannot admit the reason which this new translator has assigned, that the great body of original plates possess no particular interest, they being composed either of ruined temples, or representations of battles, &c. The prominent feature of M. Denon's book is antiquity; and the present state of the noble remains of Egyptian art is best shewn by delineations of them. Wood cuts of objects in Natural History are introduced in the letter press. The work is well printed; and we recommend it to Mr. B., in the progress of his undertaking, to attend to the selection and execution of the embellishments. Art. 17. The Modern Traveller. Vol. I. containing the compressed Travels of Mungo Park in the Western Interior of Africa. Vol. II. those of Ledyard, Lucas, and Sonnini. Vol. III. those of Browne, Savary, and Volney. Vol. IV. those of M. Le Vaillant. 4 Vols. 12mo. 16s. Boards. Cawthorn. Moy. Ship-wrights are not better acquainted with the method of cutting down a line of battle ship to a frigate, than book-wrights with the art of cutting down ponderous folios and quartos to octavos and twelves. The Modern Traveller is one instance of this convenient system of diminution. To the first volume, is prefixed a discourse on the knowlege of Africa which the antients possessed, compiled from those authors who treat of this subject but it appears to have been hastily written, and is not free from defects. We believe that few persons, for whom this compilation was intended, will comprehend what the author means by the new organ in the following sentence in the first page: The mariner's compass and the new organ co-operated in bringing to our minds vast stores of food ;'--and we hope that they will not imitate the grammar of the following period, which occurs in almost the last page: In all ages, and in all parts of Africa, ever known to Europeans, there was a slave trade prevailed.'-It is farther observed that the native and original Africans are considerably inferior in point of understanding to Asiatics, and far beneath Europeans.' This we know is a general opinion: but, when negroes have had opportunities of cultivating their minds, they have often proved that they were not defective in natural talents; and it is probable that the African race în general, if they enjoyed the advantages of education and good government, would contradict the degrading sentiments which are propagated, often for unworthy purposes, respecting their natural incapacity. The object of the editor is stated to be, to accommodate those, who may be desirous of being acquainted with modern discoveries, without choosing to be at the expence of the original works, with publications, in an abridged form, of the most remarkable travels, and voyages, exhibited historically and in a connected series.' These four volumes contain the class of African travels, with which is given an appropriate introduction; and it is intended to preface each future series with a similar account of the knowlege which existed relative to that quarter of the globe in which the travels were made, previously to the modern discoveries. Much is here offered for little money, which in these times is a tempting circumstance. MEDICAL, &c. Moy. Art. 18. The Anatomist's Vade-Mecum. Containing the Anatomy, 1802. This manual, containing the most recent discoveries and opinions, will be useful to Students, as a kind of syllabus: but its utility would have been increased, had references been given to works of credit, at the end of each article. Even without this assistance, however, we do not hesitate to recommend it. The clear, though short account of the mode of making preparations will prove of con, siderable advantage in the dissecting room. Art. 19. An Account of an Ophthalmia, which appeared in the Second Regiment of Argyleshire Fencibles, in the Months of February, March, and April, 1802: With some Observations on the Egyptian Ophthalmia. By Arthur Edmonston, Surgeon. 8vo. IS. Callow. .. 1802. . From the circumstances under which this epidemic appeared, the author seems inclined to believe that it was produced by contagion: but to us this appears rather doubtful. The inflammation was rapid and violent in all the cases, but there were no symptoms different from the common ophthalmia. The most effectual remedy, in the carly stage of the disease, was found to be scarification of the vessels on the globe of the eye, and the application of tepid water. Other modes of practice, familiarly known, are recommended in the subsequent course of the disease; on which it is the less necessary to dwell, as we have lately given an account of Mr. Noble's copious treatise on this subject. We are sorry to observe throughout this pamphlet, which is otherwise respectably written, the perverse spelling Opthalmia used, instead of Ophthalmia. We have corrected this error in copying the title page. Art. Fer. Do |