in the Scriptures, is a fcheme of love and mercy, and not, as it appears in fome human fyftems, the effect of wrath and vindictive juftice. He proves likewife, p. 215, that

"through this fatisfactory atonement, a full pardon of all fin is freely offered to every individual of the human race, to whom the gospel is preached; that the invitation to finners is unlimited; that the commiflion which Jefus gave to his difciples was "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gofpel to every creature" and that, on account of the fufficiency of this atonement to fave the whole world, "God now commandeth all men, every where, to repent." But," continues he,

The principles of fanaticifm exclude the greater part of the human race, from the benefit of this Divine remedy; and the abettors of that fyftem might as well preach the gospel to the Devils in hell, as to thofe finners, whom they declare to have no interest in Chrift's atonement. But that man's mind must be greatly blinded by prejudice and error, who can read the facred Scriptures, and seriously believe this opinion to be a doctrine of Christianity." P. 216.

The fourth and laft ARTICLE of this fyftem is fubdivided into the following Eflays:

15. General principles-appointed means adapted to different characters-the means ufed by finners and faints for their own falvation. 16. Effects of the remedy on thofe who are favedconviction-illumination-faith and repentance-regeneration. 17. The new birth-born of God-adopiion-fanctification-perfeverance. 18. The benefits of falvation-juftification-adoption-acceptance and approbation of God-the Divine care and protection-prayer-efpoufals to Jefus Chrift. 19. Benefits in Heaven-perfection of the foul-the refurrection-acquittal at the judgment—the heavenly state. The Conclufion.

The reader who is acquainted with the technical terms of theological fyftems, and has paid attention to the extracts which we have already laid before him, will eafily conceive how the topics difcuffed in thefe four Effays, are treated by Mr. Smith; and the lefs learned reader we muft refer to the work itself, alluring him, that the author's doctrine is as far removed from Pelagianifm, Socinianifm, and every herefy of which we have heard, as it is from that fpecies of Calvinifm which is here called fanatical. As a fpecimen, however, of the author's manner and modeft good sense on these controverted topics, we cannot refufe ourfelves the pleasure of extracting the following paffage on perfeverance, and what is abfurdly called the faith of affurance.

"It may be proper here to mention an objection to this attempt to warn Chriftians, against that doctrine which leads to fecurity. Some will complain, that no Chriftian can ever enjoy peace and fpiritual comfort, if he be not perfectly certain, that God, by the exertion of his irrefiflible power, swill preferve him from perifting. To this it may be aufwered, that the Angels in Heaven, and Adam in Paradife, enjoyed peace, and a pure fpiritual joy, when they were in a ftate of probation, and knew the danger. of falling into fin or condemnation. As a hiftorical fact connected with this fubject, it may be added; that the moft diftinguished Chriftians in the first century believed the poflibility of be coming apoftates, and of finally perifting. Notwithstanding this opinion, they fully enjoyed the fpritual comforts of the gofpel, and ftrove fuccefsfully againft fin, refifting unto blood. Mankind in general enjoy life, if in ordinary health, though no individual, in any period of his exiftence, can be certain of feeing another day. The Chriftian alfo enjoys his fpiritual life, if he be walk. ing uprightly in the Divine ordinances, though he believes it pollible to make fhipwreck of his faith." P. 3.6.

In a fimilar frain of plain good fenfe docs the author re. ply to all the arguments and myftical jargon of thofe who contend for the methodistical doctrines of conversion, regene ration, and new-birth, &c. eftablishing his own doctrines on the folid foundation of fcripture compared with the fcripture.

The reader, we truft, is now enabled to form a judgment for himself of the nature of thefe effays, which we recommend to his attentive perufal. That they contain nothing which is in any degree reprehenfible is more than we will take upon us to affirin; but we affirm with confidence that they contain nothing which will be deemed heretical by any man who does not admit as the foundation of his faith the horrible decree of Calvin, or who does not conceive orthodoxy to confift not in notions but in words-in words undefined and undefinable. To this kind of orthodoxy, Mr. Smith is indeed no friend; and for his oppofition to it, he feems, when alive, to have been attacked, with a degree. of fury, which, we hope, is at prefent without a parallel, by a fet of zealots, who, if we may infer their future conduct from the pift, will neglect his family, and load his memory with reproach, now that he is dead.

"More than twenty years ago," fays he, in the Conclufion, "I ventured to oppofe the Calvinistic interpretation of the feventh chapter of Paul's Epiftle to the Romans; as not only erroneous,

I

St. Paul believed this of himfelf. See 1 Cor. ix. 27. Rev.

but

but injurious to the interefts of evangelical morality. Though no Calvinistic doctrine was oppofed in that publication, and the fubject of difcuffion was limited to the genuine fenfe of a dif puted paffage; the clerical bigots immediately broke up all minifterial intercourse with the author, without ever ftating to him any cause of offence; and their pulpits refounded with the moft injurious mifreprefentations of his principles and his charac The unreasonable and rude hoftilities, which (the former volume of) this publication has excited, manifeft the fame fpirit, and are conducted in the fame manner; whilst the conduct of moderate Calvinifts is ftill (as formerly) friendly, and very different from that of the fanatical party.

ter.

Το

"Determined to employ every lawful mean to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, I applied to those brethren, whofe tender confciences impelled them to exclude the author of these Effays from all Chriftian and minifterial fellowship, and requefted the restoration of our former religious intercourfe. remove every shadow of excufe for maintaining this unprovoked breach of minifterial union, I earnestly urged the offended party to examine the manufcript of this volume, and to state their objections to the firft, that all caufe of offence might be completely removed. As the plan of this fyftem excludes dif putable opinions, and admits only the doctrines which are generally received by both Arminians and Calvinifts, I did not hesitate to engage, that every principle, in the work, against which thofe gentlemen fhould propofe any reasonable objection, should either be altered to their fatisfaction, or expunged. Though this propofal was moft earneftly urged, every opponent, to whom I applied, rejected those very reasonable terms of peace, and fome of them in the most uncourteous manner.— "They anfwered and faid unto him; thou waft altogether born in fins, and doft thou teach us? and they cast him out." John ix. 34.

That the author has, in this paffage, exaggerated the cruel treatment which he received from the Calviniftic part of his brethren, is extremely probable; for it is very difficult for any man to speak with moderation of abufe which he has incurred only for endeavouring to excel; but why fhould he have been abufed at all for a work, in which there is not one doctrine which has been condemned as heretical by any church or council-except perhaps by the fynod of Dort? Mr. Smith indeed talks abfurdly when he fays that his fyftem excludes all difputable opinions, and admits only fuch doctrines as are admitted by both Calvinifts and Arminians; for he teaches that Chrift died for all men, which the Calvinifts exprefsly deny. He has, however, taught no Anti-Calviniflic doctrine, which was not taught before him by Grotius, Epif.. copius, Limborch, Bishop Bull, Archbishop King, and a

hundred

hundred other eminent Divines, whom no man, until very lately, prefumed to condemn as heretics. There is indeed in Mr. Smith's two volumes hardly an original thought. Their value confifts in the judgment with which their author has condenfed into the form of a fyftem, the opinions of other Divines of eminence, on the principles of Chriftianity; and that value is fo great, that notwithstanding the useless repetitions, Scotticifms, and other occafional vulgarifms, which are to be found in the flyle of the work, we trust its fale will be fuch as to make fome compenfation, however inadequate, to his family, for the obloquy, which his writings feem to have brought on himself.

ART. XIV. The Chemical Catechifm, with Notes, Illuftrations, and Experiments. By Samuel Parkes, General Manufacturing Chemift, and Author of the Rudiments of Chemistry, &c. The fourth Edition, containing the new Difcoveries, and confiderable Additions. 8vo. 562 PP. 12s. Lackington, &c. 1810.

THIS

HIS work, which we praised at its first appearance *, has conftantly been growing more interefting and more valuable. The author has diligently kept pace with the difcoveries of the times; while the clearness of his ftyle and method has rendered every thing eafy, which, otherwife treated, might be obfcure and difficult. The Chemical merits of the work are of the highest order, and the valuable fet of experiments fubjoined, are admirably calculated to lead the ftudent, flep by step, to the highest mysteries of the fcience.

Thefe merits will be eflimated and praifed, as they deferve, by thofe whofe objects are purely philofophical; but there is another point of view in which we are anxious to recommend the work, and which flamps upon it a value of a different kind. It is, in fact, a Chemico-theology: for the author never cmits to flate, in the cleareft and moft ftriking terms, those benevolent contrivances of the Creator, which are made manifeft by the researches of the Chemift. Thefe remarks occur only in the notes, but they occur fo frequently, as to fhow beyond all doubt the direction of the author's mind towards pious gratitude, and to clafs him with thofe benefactors of mankind, who have united religion with

* No. xxxi. 16, and xxxiv. 643.

D d

BRIT, CRIT, VOL. XXXVII. APRIL, 1811.

philofophy.

philofophy. This difpofition we have often obferved with delight in the lectures of Profeffor Davy, who occafionally gratifies and inftructs his audiences by reflections which form the fineft contraft to the fhallow impiety of the fciolift, and falfe philofopher. Nothing can be more fublime than the office of the lecturer, who refers the wonders which he difcovers, to the infinite intelligence that gave them being; and makes his progrefs in philofophy a regular approach towards the fanctuary of divine wifdom. The more contrafted this is to the method of fome modern enquirers, the more friking is its dignity and propriety.

For thefe very fufficient reafons, we fhall confine our prefent fpecimens to thofe notes in which this author makes. fome reflection illuftrative of the benevolent contrivances of Providence, in the properties impreffed upon matter. Speaking of the qualities of our atmosphere, he fays:

"It may be remarked that the Creator has endowed atmofpheric air with the property of preferving its own equilibrium at all times, and in all places. Its elafticity is fuch, that, however it may be confumed by refpiration or combuftion, its place is im mediately fupplied by a new portion; and though, by a mistaken policy, the doors and windows of our habitations may be constructed fo as to exclude it as much as poffible, it will have admillion; it forces its way through every crevice and performs the important offices affigned to it, in defiance of all our exertions, If the properties which are given to the different fubftances in nature, and the laws by which they are governed, be thus ex. amined, we shall find them all tending to one point, viz. the welfare and felicity of every species of animated beings." P. 33.

This, however, may be confidered as only a kind of introduction to the reft, pointing out the mode of examination, which the author wifhes to recommend. The following is lefs obvious:

*

"Every chemift must be aware that a large quantity of car.. buretted hydrogen gas is perpetually evolved at the furface of the earth; he muft alfo know that this gas is fatal to animal life. could adduce a melancholy inftance of a gentleman who inhaled it by mistake, and died almoft immediately in confequence of it. How then has the all-wife artificer of the world contrived to protect its inhabitants from the baneful effects of that immenfe quantity, with which the atmosphere is perpetually contaminated? The means are as fimple as they are important. Vegetables are fo conftituted that carbon and hydrogen are the neceffary food of

Hydrogen mixed with carbonic acid. Rev.

plants,