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But our author says, matter never was, nor could be at rest. The boriginal state off all materials things was most probably chaotic, and that could be no other than what they would again revert to, if all bodies were reduced to their first principles, and left floating in the air or expanse, that is, in a perfectly fluid state, a little denser perhaps than common air: and it is not easy to conceive how such a fluid could long remain at rest, or ever be so at all. And since all motion in such a medium must be curvilinear, every material substance once put in motion would acquire weight, or tendency to the centre off its own motion: for previous to their moving they could have neither. Now no body can so move, but its exterior limb must run over more space, and meet with more resistance, than the interior, and by these means the body itself is necessarily pressed towards the centre: this is the only centripetal force in nature: and acting in that direction, thither every body so moving would fall, if at liberty; but being more or less supported by the very motion itself, as well as by the medium, it can only fall round the centre, that is, revolve. The grosser particles, however, still floating around, would descend to the centre ultimately, and there coalesce and form the heavenly bodies; while the lighter ones would continue to revolve or rotate with those fixed masses, as atmospheres. Many such local centres would naturally take place, each involving to a greater or less extent the surrounding atoms, all bearing down to them by the same general law, here called the law of curvilinear motion: while all these separate vortices, being involved in the general vortex, would bear down at the same time to the common centre of the system, and so all revolve round the sun.

On these plain and well-known prineiples of nature, the author attempts to shew that the planets would all describe ellipses, and areas equal to the times, that their central tendency would be inversely as the square of their distances, and the square of their times as the cube of the distance. Hence, the phenomena of the tides are, according to the same natural and mechanical laws, perfectly solvable, and also those of the exhausted receiver, which last are allowedly insolvable on New tonian principles.The-versed sine of the least arc, this writer does not admit to be the measure of the force by which bodies falls it is the same oin quality, for both are nothing but unsupported weight, but not the same in quantity; for revolving

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bodies are more, and falling ones less supte portedas ji dquordt wobniw ed to tigil ed With any thing like a gravitating power, our author's system is so much at variance, that he says the weight of bodies is as the square of their distance directly, and moti inversely; for the upper regions of the sys◄ tem are more rare, and of slower smotion; than the more central parts! And, in fine, they all move in parts of the medium lighter than themselves, and are conse→ quently precipitated, accelerated, &c.,base on the old principles; and their being so is itself the very main-spring of their pers petual motion, nor can they ever cease to move, so long as the same laws of nature are in force.-Such is a brief sketch of the author's astronomical theory.

1

Having thus given a brief but impartial analysis of the two preceding works by the same author, we feel but little inclined to animadvert on their peculiarities. All theories are open to investigation, and infallibility is a prerogative which no man has a right to claim either in science or theology. To rigorous examination we are indebted for most of the important dis coveries with which science is enriched g and were this to be laid aside, no furtheri progress would be made in our acquisition of knowledge. Our author has stated his opinions fully and fairly, and given the reasons on which they are founded. His appeal is made to the test of rigorous scrutiny, and by this the fate of his books) will ultimately be decided.

REVIEW. The Divine Origin of Christianity deduced from some of those Evidences which are not founded on the Authenticity of Scripture. By John Sheppard. 2 vols. 12mo. pp. 400-383. Whittaker. London, 1829. AFTER the many able works which have! been written on the evidences of Christianity, it would seem that every new attempt must be either presumptuous vor superfluous. In reference to the defence of our holy religion against the attacks off infidelity, the plausibility of this reasoning is generally admitted, yet we never heara similar objections urged against the numer ous treatises on experimental and practical godliness, which daily issue from the press! In the latter case, the malignant influence of sin is presumed to furnish a sufficient reason for their appearance, yet in reference to the former, no one who contemplates the prevalence of infidelity can reasonably suppose, that while objections are circul lated in all the formidable array that learne

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Review.

ing and ingenuity can devise, the Christian advocate should sit in silence, and make no effort to repel the assailant.

It is an admitted fact, that the fortress of revelation has long since been rendered impregnable by the ramparts thrown around it; but it is equally true, that the weapons of infidelity now wielded by its votaries, have many times been brought into action, and as often wrenched from the besiegers' hands. The rust of antiquity having been, however, artfully rubbed off, many of these old and blunted instruments assume the appearance of being new, and as such they are frequently imposed upon the public. Whenever attempts of this kind are made, it is a duty incumbent on the defenders of the Christian citadel, to expose the cheat, and bring again into notice the means of repulse, which have always been crowned with success.

From the observations thus made, it will be natural for the reader to expect, that the work before us is simply a compilation of arguments and reasonings, which owe their birth to other authors, and to other days. This the writer in his introduction gives us fully to understand, disclaiming "all pretensions to extensive reading, or scholarship, properly so called." He has, however, contrived to range over a vast field of evidence, where he has collected a host of witnesses both from friends and foes, which concur in the aggregate to establish the authenticity of the sacred writings.

The sources whence the evidence in these volumes is drawn, are comparative, historical, incidental, and collateral; but the result accumulates to a vast amount, sufficient to satisfy any one who wishes to be convinced of the truth of scripture. To the internal testimony which the Bible affords, Mr. Sheppard rarely makes any appeal; to Paley's evidences it therefore bears no resemblance. Historical facts furnish his primary basis; Mahomet and Budho assist in rearing the superstructure; and both heathen and infidel writers are laid under heavy contributions.

The substance of these volumes is contained in the two following propositions.

1. There may be enough known of Christianity, (without investigating either its miraculous or prophetic proof, and without studying the written accounts of its progress, whether as given by friends or enemies) from a view of its distinctive character, of its actual effects, of its continued and prospective spirit and tendency, and of its acknowledged origin, to yield complex presumption that it is not of men, but of God."-p. 1.

"II. There are statements concerning Chris

tianity (and other coeval religions), in extant

Jewish and Heathen writers; in citations from the lost works of its adversaries in notices of

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current oral objections to it; in public appeals as to facts by early apologists; in details by Christian writers, of events, the general truth of which is amply confirmed by their opponents: together with implications in the silence of some. Jews and Heathens, and in the conduct of others; which concur to furnish very strong grounds for believing its supernatural origin,"—p, 67.

In support of these propositions, Mr.S. has adduced a body of evidence, derived from sources to which their clauses respectively refer. We have perused what he has advanced, with much satisfaction; being convinced that its various branches are calculated to obviate objections, to throw light on obscurities, to remove diffic culties, and to furnish the mind with topics of argument in favour of the Christian cause, around which it throws a fortifica tion that infidelity has no weapons to subdue.

REVIEW.-Christian Biography; a Dic tionary of the Lives and Writings of the most distinguished Christians of all Denominations, both at home and abroad, from the Revival of Literature to the present period. By William Jones, M.A. 12mo. pp. 460. Tegg. London. 1829.

Ir is no bad compliment to a book, to say that its contents justify its title, and this may be fairly affirmed of the volume now under inspection. Nor is this all; the biographical sketches seem to have been written with impartiality, wholly unin fluenced by the peculiarities of the various churches or sects to which the individuals respectively belonged. From the author's delineations, we can scarcely gather whether he is a Churchman, or a Methodist, or a Dissenter, and, satisfied with his equitableness, we inquire not into the localities of his creed. To avoid partiality on an occasion like this, every one must allow to be an exceedingly difficult task, and, therefore, the author by whom it is creditably accomplished, merits the greater praise.

We:

In glancing over the list of names alphabetically arranged in this volume, we find an omission of many which we should have been gratified to see introduced, but in a work on so diminutive a scale, nothing short of this was to be expected. have not, however, to complain that the room is occupied by names of little or no account in the Christian world, or which we think ought with justice to be omitted; nor are the sketches spun out to an immoderate length. A condensed history of the leading events in the life of the individual is accompanied with a list of his publica

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tions, and a survey of his peculiar sentiments. On these latter, Mr. Jones generally makes a few observations; but in no case have we found his zeal intemperate, or his remarks injudicious. So far as our views can extend over this ample range of biographical literature, we are not aware that he has distorted the creed of any one, or painted it in colours which its partisans would not candidly acknowledge.

Of these memoirs, the greater part have been long before the public, sometimes extended to an immoderate length, and encumbered with much irrelevant matter. From these, Mr. Jones has selected such portions as may be said to be merely biographical, characteristic, and incidental, leaving all besides in their native soil. To others less voluminous, he has added his own gleanings from various sources, and thus rescued the memories of illustrious individuals from that brevity which would rather light them onward to oblivion, than raise them to that rank which their virtues and talents merit in the eyes of posterity.

Nor is it to eminent characters exclusively English, that the author has confined his delineations. He has ranged over the continent, and collected together names of renown from most of the nations of Europe, thus placing before us many of the great and good, who have stood as champions in the Christian cause. These assume a variety of attitudes, according to the channels into which their energies, learning, and piety were directed. They nevertheless all appear as so many parts of one great whole, all aiming at the same ulterior object, and conspiring to give an impulse to morals, to encourage learning, to cultivate intellect, and to spread among mankind the great principles of the Christian system.

The periods of time over which Mr. Jones has extended his researches, furnish a great variety of character, not only as to the individuals themselves, but in relation to their diversified writings, and the subjects on which they employed their pens, and exerted their talents. Hence, these sketches embody, in an incidental manner, much of the spirit, and habits of thought and reflection, which have prevailed in different ages, from the Reformation down to the present hour. In each period, the instrument appears suited for the task to be accomplished, and in this the divine wisdom shines with perspicuous lustre. The placidity and refinement of the present day, would not have served the Christian cause, when Luther and his associates in Christian arms and armour attacked the

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Papal hydra, and cut off many of his heads; and should the primitive gigantic reformers, now rise with all their former characteristics, they would be deemed intolerant, ferocious, and half savage, in their language, zeal, and uncourteous inflexibility.

Forming our estimate of what- ought then to be, from what appears proper now to us, we can find many things to censure, and even to condemn; but this is an improper ground for decision. To judge with impartiality, we must recall departed days and manners, place ourselves in the situations of those whom we half charge with indiscretion, and then ask how we should, or ought to have acted under the same circumstances. These considerations will lead us to extend our local toleration beyond the boundaries with which we are now circumscribed, and to include within its embrace a mode of conduct which we should exonerate from condemnation, without making it a subject of imitation.

These observations, however, belong not to the biographer, but to his subjects. His duty was imperative. He was to give the men and their writings as he found them, leaving principle, spirit, and manner, to shift for themselves. In this he has acted with commendable fidelity, so far as he has proceeded. We have only to regret that the work has not been so extended, as to include many worthies in the Christian army, whose names now find no place in his pages. Another edition, enlarged to double the size of the present volume, may hereafter accomplish this desirable object.

THERE are few questions more difficult to decide than those which arise from the approximation of instinct to reason, the links by which they are connected, or, in the estimation of some, the principles by which they are identified. It is not our province to investigate these abstruse and very interesting questions; but with the surprising instances before us of animal sagacity, with which this volume abounds, we find ourselves at a loss to assign to the empire of instinct any exclusive limits, that shall not encroach on the dominion of rea

son.

The author in this work takes a comprehensive range through the canine genus,