The term Deist comes from the Latin word Deus, a God, and is applied to the rejecters of revelation, because the existence of a God is the principal article of their belief. The name was first assumed by a number of gentlemen in France and Italy, who were willing to cover their opposition to the Christian revelation by a more honourable name than that of Atheist. Viret, a divine of eminence among the first reformers, appears to have been the first author who expressly mentions them; for in the Epistle Dedicatory, prefixed to the second volume of his "Instruction Chretienne," published in 1563, he speaks of some persons at that time who called themselves by a new name, that of Deists. Deists are also often called Infidels (from the Latin word Infidelis) on account of their want of faith or belief in the christian religion. Some indeed have censured the application of the term infidelity to unbelievers, contending that in our language it is used solely in a particular sense, implying the want of conjugal fidelity.

The advocates for Deism on the continent are Bayle, Voltaire, Fredrick II., king of Prussia, Helvetius, Diderot, Raynal, Rousseau, Condorcet, D'Alembert, &c., with other disciples of the new philosophy. In Great Britain the deistical writers are, Lord Herbert, Hobbes, Toland, Mandeville, Wollaston, Collins, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Chubb, Tindal, Morgan, Blount, Hume, Gibbon, and Thomas Paine, of political celebrity. In the writings of these men it is evident that REASON is extolled at the expense of revelation; but, as it has been beautifully remarked, "The lights of reason and revelation fall upon our path in rays so blended, that we walk like the summer-evening traveller, who, enjoying at the same time the

animate things, as onions, fire, water, &c. Upon the propagation of Christianity, Paganism declined. Julian the apostate made an ineffeotual attempt to revive it, and it is now degenerated into gross and disgustful idolatry. The cheif Sects of Paganism now existing are the Sabians, Magians, Hindoos, and Chinese, together with that of the Grand Lama of Tartary. Curious specimens of the Pagan idols may be seen in the British Museum and in the Museum at the Baptist Acade my, Bristol.-See Young's "Historical Dissertation on Idolatrous Corruptions in Religion," 2 Vols.—Also Ellis's "Account of Owyhee, one of the Sandwich Islands," recently published.

moon and the sun's solstical twilight, is unable to ascertain the proportion in which he is indebted to each of these heavenly luminaries; and some of us, alas! are such incompetent philosophers, as, because the greater is below the horizon, to attribute all to the less!" In the "Tracts and Sermons" of the author of this Sketch, published in a large octavo volume, 1825, will be found, "an Attempt to account for the infidelity of Edmund Gibbon, Esq." with "remarks on the scepticism of Lord Byron,' so unhappily prominent in all his justly admired and widely spread poetical writings. Gibbon and Paine have been most ably and satisfactorily answered by Bishop Watson, in his Apoligies for the Bible, and for Christianity."

Lord Herbert of Cherbury was the first Deist who excited public notice in the country, but was a man of real learning and piety. Dr. Brown's recent edition of Leland's "View of the Deistical Writers," (Tindal, Morgan, Chubb, Bollingbroke, &c. &c.) together with many other valuable treatises, afford information concerning their principles, and contain a refutation of their objections against revealed religion.

It is well observed by Paley,-"Of what a revelation discloses to mankind, one and only one question can be properly asked,-Was it of importance to mankind to know or to be better assured of? In this question, when we turn our thoughts to the great Christian doctrine of a resurrection from the dead and a future judgment, no doubt can be possibly entertained. He who gives me riches or honours does nothing; he who even gives me health does little in comparison with that which lays before me just grounds for expecting a restoration to life, and a day of account and retribution, which thing Christianity hath done for millions !"

The rejecters of revelation (before they thoughtlessly calumniate it) would do well to consider what they are able to give us in its stead, better calculated to alleviate the distresses, and bind up the bleeding heart of humanity.

THEOPHILANTHROPISTS.

The Theophilanthropists are a kind of Deists arisen in France during the revolution. The name by which they stand distinguished, is a compound term derived from the Greek, and intimates that they profess to adore God and love their fellow-creatures. Their common principle is a belief in the existence, perfections, and providence of God, and in the doctrine of a future life; and their rule of morals is, love to God and good will to men. Dr. John Walker, a medical gentlemen, author of the "Universal Gazetteer," published the Manual of the sect, from which a few particulars shall be extracted.

"The temple most worthy of the divinity, in the eyes of the Theophilanthropists, is the universe. Abandoned sometimes under the vault of heaven to the contemplation of the beauties of nature, they render its author the homage of adoration and gratitude. They nevertheless have temples erected by the hands of men, in which it is more commodious for them to assemble and listen to lessons concerning his wisdom. Certain moral inscriptions, a simple altar on which they deposit, as a sign of gratitude for the benefits of the Creator, such flowers or fruits as the season afford, and a tribune for the lectures and discourses, form the whole of the ornaments of their temples.

"The first inscription placed above the altar recals to remembrance the two religious dogmas, which are the foundation of their moral.

"First Inscription.

"We believe in the existence of a God, in the immortality of the soul.

"Second Inscription.

"Worship God, cherish your kind, render yourselves useful to your country.

"Third Inscription.

"Good is every thing which tends to the preservation or perfection of man.

"Evil is every thing which tends to destroy or deteriorate him.

"Fourth Inscription.

"Children, honour your fathers and mothers. Obey them with affection. Comfort their old age.

"Fathers and mothers, instruct your children.

"Wives, regard in your husbands the chiefs of your houses.

Husbands, love your wives, and render yourselves reciprocally happy.

"The assembly sits to hear lessons or discourses on morality, principles of religion, of benevolence, and of universal salvation, principles equally remote from the severity of Stoicism and Epicurean indolence. These lectures and discourses are diversified by hymns. Their assemblies are holden on the first day of the week, and on the decades."

The Christian reader will admire the practical tendency of this new species of Deism, but lament the defects by which it stands characterized. It wants the broad basis of revelation, which would give permanency to its doctrines, and energy to its precepts, beside the glorious discoveries of immortality! It was hoped at one time that the profession of this system in France would have prepared the way for the reception of pure Christianity.

JUDAISM.

Judaism is the religious doctrines and rites of the Jews, who are the descendants of Abraham, a person of eminence, chosen by God, soon after the flood, to preserve the doctrine of the Divine Unity among the idolatrous nations of the earth. A complete system of Judaism is contained in the five books of Moses, their great lawgiver, who was raised up to deliver them from their bondage in Egypt, and to conduct them to the possession of Canaan, the prom

ised land. The Jewish economy is so much directed to temporal rewards and punishments, that it has been questioned whether the Jews had any knowledge of a future state. This opinion has been defended with vast euridition by Warburton, in his "Divine Legation of Moses ;" but it has been controverted by Dr. Sykes, and other authors of respectability. The principal sects among the Jews, in the time of our Saviour, were the Pharisees, who placed religion in external ceremony-the Sadducees, who were remarkable for their incredulity; and the Essenes, who were distinguished by an austere sanctity. Some accounts of these sects will be found in the last volume of Prideaux's "Connection," in Harwood's "Introduction to the Study of the New Testament," and in Marsh's improved edition of " Michaelis." See likewise two ingenious and learned volumes, entitled, "Ecclesiastical Researches," and also the "Sequel," to it by John Jones, LL. D. The author contends that Josephus and Philo were Christians, and introduces striking passages from their writings, tending to confirm the truth and illustrate the genius of primitive Christianity.

The Pharisees and Sadducees are frequently mentioned in the New Testament; and an acquaintance with their principles and practices serves to illustrate many passages in the sacred history. At present the Jews have two sects, the Caraites, who admit no rule of religion but the law of Moses; and the Rabbinists, who add to the laws the tradition of the Talmud. The dispersion of the Jews took place upon the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, the Roman emperor, A.D. 70. The expectation of a Messiah is the distinguishing feature of their religious system. The word Messiah signifies one anointed, or installed into an office by an unction. The Jews used to anoint their kings, high-priests, and sometimes prophets, at their entering upon office. Thus Saul, David, Solomon, and Joash, kings of Judah, received the royal unction. Thus also Aaron and his sons received the sacerdotal, and Elisha, the disciple of Elijah the prophetic unction.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, in