screws, which are of wrought-iron; and I believe this to be the first aqueduct, for the purposes of a navigable canal, which has ever been composed with this metal. It has completely answered the intention, although it was foretold by some, that the effects of the different degrees of heat and cold would be such, as to cause expansion and contraction of the metal, which not being equal to extend or draw back the whole mass of the aqueduct, would operate upon the separate plates of iron, so as to tear off the flanches which connect the plates lengthwise, and break the joints. Others said, that the expansion of freezing water would burst the sides, and so break off the flanches which connect the sides with the bottom plates: but after the trial of a summer's heat, and the very severe frost of the winter of 1796, no visible alteration has taken place, and no water passes through any of the side or bottom joints. After the frost had continued very severe for three our four days, and the water had not been drawn off, (although there is the means of doing so,) but it had stood in the aqueduct about the height of two feet six inches, the ice had then frozen to the thickness of an inch and a half, but instead of having forced out the sides, it was melted away from them, and quite loose upon the surface of the water.' The advantages of rail-ways, and the possibility of their construction in situations in which canals are impracticable, are also stated. The paper is illustrated by plans and elevations of the Inclined Planes on the Shropshire and Shrewsbury canals, with the application of the Fire Engine; and by a Perspective View of the Iron Aqueduct, and a Plan and Elevation of the Iron Bridge built over the Severn at Build was, in the county. of Salop, in the years 1795 and 1796. This Report terminates, as usual, with suggesting Means of Improvement; in which conclusion, Mr. Plymley, as a clergyman and philosopher, endeavours to raise the character of the country gentleman, and to excite a general attention to the duties which belong to it: Nothing low, or idle, or flippant, or profligate, belongs to this character. Like every other post in human life, it is a post of duty. Independent of the assistance required from him in administering the justice of the country, he should be the adviser and peace-maker of his district; he should co-operate in the improvement of rural arts; he should be the pattern of improved husbandry; he should set an example of scrupulous obedience to the laws in his own person, and endeavour to sustain the tone of Christian morality throughout his neighbourhood. And in what situation of a country will the possessors of large fortunes, so acting, be deemed useless or inconvenient? Or can any country be endangered, that is cemented by a middle order, whose powers and services are so happily mingled?" No fact is more indisputable than that the improvement of a country is very intimately connected with the state of its morals. Under this conviction, the reporter before us has, throughout his Survey, adverted to moral considerations; and he is intitled Bb 2 intitled to praise not only for the ability with which he has executed his task as a scientific agriculturist, but for his solicitude to ameliorate the manners, together with the soil, of the County. The Map of Shropshire, accompanying this report, is not worthy of the place which it occupies. ART. V. The Use of Sacred History; especially as illustrating and 128. AUTHORS who devote themselves to the composition of voluminous treatises on specific subjects are generally observed to grow enamoured of their theme, and, in consequence of this enthusiasm, to find more in it than the calm reasoner can ever discover. Whether it be owing to the habits of their clerical profession, as being occupied in searching after many meanings in a text in which one only is apparent, and in promulgating speculations from the pulpit without the fear of contradiction; or whether it arises from a superstitious contemplation of the Sacred Scriptures; the fact itself is manifest, that Divines are of all men most prone to carry interpretation to the wildest extremes, and to allow a fanciful zeal to overpower and becloud the understanding. Hence men, in other respects sensible, exhibit all the symptoms of imbecility; and the good purpose which they have in view is materially frustrated. Mo-y We are concerned to find this observation illustrated in the case of Dr. Jamieson; who, instead of a temperate and guarded discussion of an important yet difficult subject, has not been solicitous to keep a mean, and to occupy only strong ground, but has endeavoured sometimes to defend what is absolutely untenable, and at others to apply Sacred Scripture to uses for which many will think it could never be intended. As we are required by Christ and his Apostles rationally to examine, and to employ a sound judgment in the province of religion, we should be very careful how we surrender the Scriptures into the hands of mystical, typifying, and allegorizing interpreters. We should guard against the dogmas of the systematic divine, and the far-fetched glosses of the elaborate commentator. Let us read Sacred History with a view to facts, rather than to creeds; creeds; let us not be desirous of proving more than it requires; let us consider the difficulties with which it is necessarily embarrassed, as well as the information which it clearly conveys; and respecting the Jewish records especially, let us judiciously employ ourselves in deducing those general truths which form the basis of Revealed Religion, and not unnecessarily volunteer a vindication of every individual passage, as if the existence of Christianity depended on the absolute integrity of the Hebrew text. Since this latter point has been conceded by the most learned critics, and since interpolations are allowed to have crept into the N. T., why might they not be suspected to have insinuated themselves into the O. T. ? Is it not a preferable mode of conduct in removing difficulties, and in quashing certain objections to the Scriptures altogether, freely to own the existence of interpolations, than to attempt, by weak and doubtful arguments, to maintain their purity? If we wish to silence the infidel, to satisfy the critic, and to strengthen the faith of the rational believer, we must be ingenuous and manly. No doubt it was Dr. Jamieson's wish to accomplish each of those purposes: but we apprehend that his success will not be very complete. He seems to us to have imbibed too much of the superstitious reverence of the Jews for the Pentateuch; and in consequence to have undertaken a defence of it against all objctors. In maintaining the authenticity of it and of the book of Joshua, and the perfect accuracy of every relation which they contain, he rests his assertion on the faith of the Jews in them, and maintains that this people (who were credulous to a proverb,-Credat Judæus -) were less subject to imposition than any nation we are acquainted with.' Sufficient evidence of the leading facts of the Jewish history unquestionably exists; and it would be the extreme of scepticism to suppose the whole to be a fiction. On the other hand, however, it is not unreasonable to conjecture that the narrative, in some places, has been a little heightened by Eastern figure and exaggeration, assisted by national vanity. When we consider the incredible tales and traditions to be found in the Talmud and other writings esteemed by this people, we cannot compliment them with being less subject to imposition than other nations. Dr. J. observes; That all the five books ascribed to Moses, were really written by him, under divine inspiration, has been acknowledged by the Jews in every age. This is indeed one of the articles of their creed, the denial of which would subject any Jew to the character of an apostate. It is thus expressed: "The whole law, from the very first word, Bereschit, (that is, In the beginning,) to the last words, In the sight of all Bb 3 Israel, Israel, were written by Moses from the mouth of God." This is not merely the faith of the modern Jews. We have satisfying evidence, that their ancestors, for some thousands of years, were of the same sentiments.' The position, however, here maintained,-viz. that every part of the Pentateuch, from the first words of Genesis to the last words of Deuteronomy, was written by Moses,-though it may constitute an article of an orthodox Jew's creed, cannot possibly be admitted by the rational and considerate Christian. Moses could not record his own death and burial, with an account of which the book of Deuteronomy concludes. Indeed, it is afterward admitted as probable that the last chapter of Deuteronomy was added by Joshua: but if he or any other person took the liberty of adding in one place, may it not be presumed that additions have been made in other places; and would it not be more satisfactory candidly to admit the fact, and to consider certain passages as having all the marks of subsequent insertions, or as having been marginal notes which have crept into the text from the inadvertence of transcribers, than to contend for their having been penned originally by the Jewish Lawgiver? The inspiration of the Pentateuch is maintained by Dr. J.; and he is moreover of opinion that the supposition that Moses was employed by the Spirit of God, before he went up to Mount Pisgah, to write an account of his own death, will not appear incredible to one who believes in the truth of inspiration:' but we can perceive no discretion in such a surmise; and we wish, for the credit of the author, that it had been erased from his dissertation. The period which immediately follows displays more good sense; and had it governed him in his inquiry into this difficult subject, it would have saved him much trouble. It is no wise necessary,' he says, ' to the truth of Revelation, that every word of a book should have been written by the person whose name it bears; this is no where affirmed in Scripture.' This concession being made, much of the argument employed in the two preliminary Dissertations falls to the ground; and we may spare ourselves the trouble of distinctly examining it. The body of the work is divided into three parts. Part 1, inquires into the general Uses of Sacred History, its beauties, and the advantages arising from the historical mode of writing. Part II. treats of the History of Israel; and Part III. of the Use of Sacred History, as illustrating and confirming the great doctrines of Revelation. It is utterly impossible for us minutely to follow this theological writer through the whole of his long discussion; or to find room for those strictures which his positions often require: but we shall endeavour to render as much justice to the author, and to the public, as our limits will permit. Fully impressed with a notion of the typical character of the Israelites, Dr. Jamieson sees in every part of their history some reference to the New Testament Church. We shall adduce one specimen of his mode of explanation. After having stated the circumstances attending the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, this comment is subjoined: What Christian perceives not, in this interesting history, many striking features of our spiritual redemption? Often the LORD, when he means graciously to visit the "vessels of mercy," pours out his plagues on their lusts. Their way is hedged up with thorns. They seek their lovers, but they cannot find them. He takes away their corn, and their wine. He destroys their vines and their fig. trees; the things that ministered to corruption. After all, sin retains its hold of the heart. He perhaps inflicts still more severe strokes. They tremble under awful apprehensions of eternal destruction. As the Egyptians thrust out the Israelites, sin as it were contributes to its own destruction. When the conscience is awakened by means of the word, sin raises such a tumult in the soul, as more fully to unfold its true character, and display its desperate wickedness, than it had done before. "Sin," as in the experience of Paul, "works all manner of concupiscence." The very attempts which it makes for retaining its dominion, are overruled for hastening its destruction. For by means of them, the sinner is made to perceive both its atrocity, and its astonishing power in the heart. He is perhaps in the same situation with the Israelites on the borders of the Red Sea. He is brought to the brink of despair, having no prospect but that of being eternally a prey to sin, and to its dreadful conse quences. Sin not only wrought in Paul "all manner of concupis cence," but deceived him, and slew him :-that it might appear sin, it wrought death in him by that which is good." But in the time of greatest extremity, the LORD works deliverance. His people are "shut up unto the faith" They see no way of escaping from destruction, but by an immediate obedience to the command of God," in "believing on the name of his Son Jesus Christ." They have indeed been formerly redeemed by the price of Christ's blood, by the blood of that spotless Lamb, who is "our Passover sacrificed for us." But their enemies retain the dominion over them till they be also redeemed by the power of his Spirit. Christ saves them not by blood only, but also by water. Of this salvation we have an illustrious type in the deliverance of Israel at the Red Sea. This deliverance, indeed, may be viewed as at once prefiguring the merit of Christ's death, and the power of his Spirit; the deliverance of his people, both from their guilt, and from the dominion of their spiritual enemies. ་་ We learn from an inspired writer, that all the Israelites were baptized unto Moses "in the cloud, and in the sea." This may literally refer to the drops of water which might fall upon them, from the Bb 4 over |