required as an evidence only of faith, and an acknowledgment to God for his mercy through Christ; or, with the Arminian, as a condition also of that mercy. The Scripture referred to is the sixth verse of the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians, faith worketh by love.' But whilst both parties allowed good works to be necessary, it was surely wise not to press the point in dispute, when it could not be decided, without of fence to great numbers of pious and good Protestants.

"Again, whilst one party considered justification as a high state of grace in the subject, and the highest degree of favour on the part of God; and the other looked upon it more correctly to be simply that state of reconciliation, upon which, as upon a ground-work, man might be enabled with the assitance of the Holy Spirit, to work out his future salvation; this definition, alluding to the words, By the obedience of one, many shall be made righteous,' with equal consideration to both parties avoids all discussion of their differences." p. 16, 17.

The Article of original sin is next considered, from the remarks on which we extract the following.

"Moreover, this vitium originis, or original fault, is said to be truly peccatum, damning, and even now inducing eternal death upon all who are not born again by baptism and the Holy Spirit; whereas our own Article, leaving out the imputation of Adam's sin, and the penalty here attached to it, eternal death, has adopted only the latter member of the definition, the corruption of our nature, which manifests the defect of righteousness, and the existence of concupiscence: and even this is done with so cautious a regard not to fix the consequences derived from it too strictly, that it hath omitted to subject man, on account of this corruption of his nature, of this defect of original righteousness, or of this concupiscence, to eternal death; an instance of moderation, which cannot but have its weight in the construction or interpretation of this Article with every attentive mind; and the more so, if it be duly observed, that in this instance our church stands alone of all Protestant churches, and hath alone made these

deliberate omissions; subjecting man indeed, in the language of the apostle to the Ephesians, to God's wrath and damnation, but leaving these words to be variously interpreted of temporal evils, and of a natural death, the appointed consequence of Adam's sin; or of eternal death, in an exclusion from the presence of God; or of a positive and eternal punishment hereafter, as the reader may decide for himself, upou the words of the Apostle.

"Original sin is indeed likewise said in every one born into the world, in unoquoque nascentium, to deserve God's wrath and damnation, however the words be interpreted: but necessarily to understand this word deserveth, in the sense of an actual and just desert, would be to neglect a more probable and consistent inter pretation: for we learn from the repeated authority of the ablest Protestants, both at home and abroad, that the words meritus, mereri, meruit, and the like, were frequently, and indeed not unusually adopted in a more lax and less correct sense, which implied no more than the attainment, or possession of good or evil: a meaning which, with the subtle distinction between merit of condignity and congruity, had been adopted to avoid the difficulties attending the strict and proper sense of the term. It must however be confessed, that in this one instance there seems to be a designed ambiguity in the term, to which all parties had long been accustomed to resort.

"The sum and substance of this Article will amount, by the ordinary modes of construction, simply to this: That original, or birth-sin, is the fault, or corruption of our nature, in consequence of which man is far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always against the spirit, and therefore in every one born into the world, it deserves, it meets, or is subject to, God's wrath and damnation; that is, to the penalties of the first covenant made with Adam, however they be understood; that this infection of our nature doth remain even in them that are regenerated, whereby the lust of the flesh is not subject to the law of God; and that though there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized, yet, according to

the Apostle, concupiscence and lust hath of itself the nature of sin; doctrines these, which I apprehend, can afford no doubt or difficulty to those who are disposed to receive the subject of their faith from Scripture. It would, indeed, be at once negligent and unjust not to refer the laboured accuracy and correctness of them to the peculiar wisdom of our Church; whilst the Reformed abroad, Lutheran as well as Calvinist, have embarrassed themselves with the imputation, or guilt of Adam's sin, with the want of distinction betwixt the corruption of our nature and the sinfulness derived from it, and with the doctrine of eternal punishment to be inflicted upon all not baptized, and regenerate: whereby the involuntary depravation of human nature is itself made fully and truly sin, and put on a footing with sins which are actual." p. 18-21.

The Article of predestination is the last noticed, on which we cite the following observations.

"And here my general view of the design of the Articles will receive considerable confirmation; for whereas every other confession, which notices predestination and election to life, states it expressly and peremptorily to have taken place in the Divine Councils, absolutely and irrespectively, and to have separated persons so favoured, that they might be faithful, not from a prescience that they would through divine grace render themselves faithful; in our Article the question of absolute, or respective, predestination is wholly omitted, the decision of it is in no degree touched upon, nor is it implied in the literal and obvious sense of any expression employed therein. For predestination to life, as there described, may properly be considered in the same light with every divine blessing, promised upon condition; the fulfilment of the condition being foreseen of God, the blessing is predestinated when first annexed in the divine council to the condition." p. 24.

"The expressions therefore of predestination to life,' and of ves'sels made to honour,' leave the question of respective and irrespective election wholly untouched; whilst with some this predestination will be considered as founded on God's prescience of the future faith

and obedience of individuals, and with others, as the first cause of such faith and obedience.' p. 25.

·

"Conformable with the omission of this controverted point, is the tacit rejection of a favourite notion nearly connected with it, that of a primary will and determination in God to save some only through Christ; as is the reference made to the promises of God, as they are generally proposed to us, and the conclusion, that in our doings that will is to be followed, which we have expressly declared to us in the word of God.' It cannot be doubted, but that the promises generally proposed to us in Scripture' point to that of St. John, God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' And when it is said, that will in our doings is to be followed, which we have expressly declared to us in the word of God,' it is dif ficult not to recur to that of St. Peter, God is not willing that any 'should perish, but that all should come to repentance,' and to that of St. Paul, who will have all men to be saved.'

6

"If it be said, that there lies no presumption against the Calvinistic sense of this Article from any such references as these to Scripture, which the Calvinist has been accustomed to reconcile with his notion of election and predestination; I answer, that evident references to these passages of Scripture at least form another difference betwixt the language of our reformers, and that of any others; and that this taken together with their forbearance to state predestination and election as absolute and irrespective, in which also they stand alone, cannot but powerfully contribute to refute the opinion, that the Articles of our church were formed upon strict principles of Calvinism; an opinion, to which it was the attempt of a party to give a public authority in the very reign in which these Articles were agreed upon, by the addition of several new proposi tions, all of which were said to be either openly asserted, or necessarily deducible from those already authorized. The project, however, was peremptorily rejected by royal au thority." p. 26-28.

CLXI. ANIMAL BIOGRAPHY; or, Anecdotes of the Lives, Manners, and Economy of the Animal Creation, arranged according to the System of Linnæus. By the Rev. W. BINGLEY, A. B. Fellow of the Linnean Society, and late of St. Peter's College, Cambridge. In Three Volumes, 8vo. Vol. II. Quadrupeds.

THE

HE following extract from the preface will enable our readers to form an idea of the nature of this .work.

"The work, as it at present stands, may, I think, without impropriety, be denominated an Animal Biography:To this end, I have omitted nearly every thing that did not bear an illustration to the character of the animals; and the reader will also observe, that, to render the anecdotes of their manners as interesting and as little interrupted as possible, by matter not immediately relative to the subject, I have in general confined even the descriptive parts of dimensions, colour, shape, &c. to the first ten or twelve lines of the account. I have also left entirely unnoticed all such animals as afforded nothing but this kind of description; for a sufficient account of these is to be found in almost every authentic book of natural history extant; but particularly in Dr. Shaw's elegant and valuable work on general zoology. I am well aware, that the reader may recognize many of the anecdotes: it is impossible entirely to prevent this; but, in order to avoid it as much as possible, I have omitted nearly all those that are the most trite and well known." . vi. vii.

The author immediately after the preface gives a list of the principal works that form the foundation of his volumes.

The work is introduced with some observations on the study of nature, which are closed with the following suitable remarks.

"It would be no inconsiderable improvement to the rising generation, if natural history could in some measure be introduced to their attention, in preference to novels and the usual pernicious books of entertainment. If they could have recourse to a rational source of amusement, rather than corrupt their hearts and bewilder their imagina

tions with these, the common trash of circulating libraries:-Early impressions frequently afford such a stamp to the future character, as to render the proper introduction of them a matter of the utmost importance.That thoughtless cruelty which we now so frequently observe toward the inferior orders of created beings, would scarcely be known, could we but teach mankind that the same God who gives its lustre to an insect's wing' ordains with it a right to life and happiness as well as ourselves; and that wantonly to deprive it of these is an offence against his work who formed nothing in vain.—An at tention to nature from childhool would also contribute greatly to the happiness of mankind in gener, and to that of females in particulr, by enabling them to overcome ill those fears and vulgar prejudies which have commonly attached to some of the smaller quadrupeds, and to the reptile and insect tribes. They would then possess no greater repgnance towards handling a lizard beetle, or a spider, than they nov do in that of a bird, or a flower.

"It is necessary however to inorm them, that they must not be contented merely with reading: theprincipal use of this is to direct them to contemplations on the objects hemselves, and to induce a taste formore minute investigation; but it it from this investigation only that they will be enabled to reap the advantages of the science, and such advantages as books alone do not always bestow." p. 24, 25.

Each of the six classes of the animal kingdom are briefly described, as also the seven orders of the first, or class of Mammalia.

After a general description of the ape-tribe, a particular account is given of the Oran Otan, and several instances of its manners are related, which we have observed in works of common use, and therefore omit: but the following curious drcumstance we transcribe for the amusement of our readers.

"Père Carbasson brought up an oran otan, which became so fond of him, that wherever he went it always seemed desirous of accompanying him: whenever, therefore, he had to perform the service of his church, he was always under the necessity of shutting it up in a room. Once,

however, the animal escaped, and followed the father to the church, where, silently mounting on the sounding board above the pulpit, he lay perfectly still till the sermon commenced. He then crept to the edge, and overlooking the preacher, imitated all his gestures in so grotesque a manner that the whole congregation was unavoidably caused to laugh. The father, surprised and confounded at this ill-timed levity, severely reproved his audience for their inattention. The reproof failed in its effect, the congregation still laugh, and the preacher, in the warmth of his zeal, redoubled his vociferations and his actions: these the pe imitated so exactly, that the ongregation could no longer retain bemselves, but burst out into a loud ad continued laughter. A friend the preacher at length stepped up to him, and pointed out the cause of this improper conduct; and such was the arch demeanour of his animal, that it was with the utmost difficulty hecould command the muscles of his contenance, and keep himself appaendly serious, while he ordered the servants of the church to take hin away." p. 46, 47.

In the accounts of the habits and mamers of monkies we notice the following:

"Monkies are generally peaceable enough among each other. In extensive, solitary, and fertile places, herds of different species sometimes chatter together, but without disturbance, or any confusion of the race. When, however, adventurous stragglers seem desirous of seeking their fortunes in places where another herd is in possession, these immediately unite to sustain their rights. M. de Maisonpré, and six other Europeans, were witnesses to a singular contention of this nature in the enclosures of the pagodas of Cheringam. A large and strong monkey had stolen in, but was soon discovered, At the first cry of alarm many of the males united, and ran to attack the stranger. He, though much their superior in size and strength, saw his danger, and flew to attain the top of a pyramid, eleven stories high, whither he was instantly followed; but when arrived at the summit of the building, which terminated in a small round dome, he placed himself firmly, and taking advantage of his situation, seized three

or four of the most hardy, and precipitated them to the bottom. These proofs of his prowess intimidated the rest, and after much noise they thought proper to retreat. The conqueror remained till evening, and then betook himself to a place of safety.

“Their conduct towards such of their brethren as become captives is very remarkable. If one is chained in their neighbourhood, especially if of the society to which he belonged, they will attempt various means, for some time, to procure his liberty: but when their efforts prove ineffectual, and they see him daily submit to slavery, they will never again, if he should by any chance escape, receive him among them, but will fall upon and beat him away without mercy." p. 78, 79.

In the account of the Vampire bat the following instance of its sanguinary habits is given.

"Captain Stedman was, while in Surinam, attacked during his sleep by one of these animals; and as his account of this incident is somewhat singular, and tends to elucidate the fact, we shall extract it in his own language from his narrative. I cannot here (says he) forbear relating a singular circumstance respecting myself, viz. that on waking about four o'clock one morning in my 'hammock, I was extremely alarmed at finding myself weltering in congealed blood, and without feeling any pain whatever. Having started up, and rung for the surgeon, with a fire-brand in one hand, and all ' over besmeared with gore; to which, if added, my pale face, short hair, and tattered apparel, he might well ask the question,

'stinct, that the person they intend

to attack is in a sound slumber, they 'generally alight near the feet, where, while the creature continues fanning with his enormous wings, which keeps one cool, he bites a 'piece out of the tip of the great toe, so very small indeed, that the head of a pin could scarcely be received into the wound, which is consequently not painful; yet through this orifice he continues to suck the blood, until he is obliged to disgorge. He then begins again, and thus continues sucking and disgorging till he is scarcely able to fly, and the sufferer has often been known to sleep from time into eternity. Cattle they generally bite in the ear, but always in places where the 'blood flows spontaneously. Having applied tobacco ashes as the best remedy, and washed the gore from myself and my hammock, I ⚫ observed several small heaps of congealed blood all round the place where I had lain, upon the ground; on examining which, the surgeon judged that I had lost at least twelve or fourteen ounces during the night." p. 95, 96. This is extracted from the Narrative of an Expedition to Surinam.

The sagacity of the rhinoceros is exemplified in the following description of the manner in which it obtains its food.

"Mr. Bruce's description of the manners of the two-horned rhinoceros, is highly worthy of notice. He informs us, that, besides the trees, 'capable of most resistance, there are, in the vast forests within the 'rains, trees of a softer consistence, and of a very succulent quality, which seem to be destined for his 'principal food. For the purpose of gaining the highest branches of these, his upper lip is capable of being lengthened out so as to increase his power of laying hold with it, in the same manner as the elephant does with his trunk. With this lip, and the assistance of his tongue, he pulls down the upper branches, which have most leaves, and these he devours first; having stripped the tree of its branches, he does not therefore abandon it, but, placing his snout as low in the trunk as he finds his horns will enter, he rips up the body of the tree, and - reduces it to thin pieces like so many

་

laths; and, when he has thus prepared it, he embraces as much of it as he can in his monstrous jaws, and twists it round with as much ease as an ox would do a root of celery, or any such pot-herb or garden-stuff"." p. 112.

A very long description is given of the habits and manners of that interesting animal, the elephant, exemplified in a number of anecdotes, from which we present the following to our readers.

"A soldier at Pondicherry was accustomed to give a certain quantity of arrack to one of these animals, every time he got his pay; and having one day intoxicated himself, and being pursued by the guard, who wanted to put him in prison; he took refuge under the elephant, and there fell fast asleep. The guard in vain attempted to drag him from this asylum, for the elephant defended him with its trunk. Next day the soldier having recovered from his intoxication, was in dreadful apprehensions when he found himself under the belly of this enormous animal. The elephant, which unquestionably perceived his terror, relieved his fears by immediately caressing him with its trunk." p. 145.

"An incident to which M. le Baron de Lawriston was a witness, during one of the late wars in the east, forms another trait of the sensibility of the elephant. This gentleman, from his zeal, and some other circumstance, was induced to go to Laknaor, the capital of the Soubah, or viceroyalty of that name, at a time when an epidemic distemper was making the greatest ravages amongst the inhabitants. The principal road to the palace gate was covered with the sick and dying, extended on the ground at the very moment when the nabob absolutely must pass. It appeared impossible for his elephant to do otherwise than tread upon and crush many of these poor wretches in his passage, unless the press would stop till the way would be cleared; but he was in haste, and such tenderness would be unbecoming in a personage of his importance. The elephant, however, without appearing to slacken his pace, and without having received any command for that purpose, assisted them with his trunk, removed some, set others on their feet, and stepped over the rest with