371 Observations on Theft, by Homo.-Query. produce conviction. I should not be surprised to learn, that some hairbrained fellow or other, had actually laid it down as a principle, that Thieving is no crime in itself, and that it only only deserves punishment, when the clumsiness of the performance leads to its detection. But I cannot easily believe, that any wise and great nations of antiquity have really and publicly adopted such a maxim.' This assertion has, however, been made from the pulpit, and published to the world in writings, whose moral and religious tendencies are undoubted; nay, whose authors unquestionably meant to serve Christianity. But Christianity wants no such support; and whatever cannot stand the test of fair examination, is not likely to be of any ultimate benefit. The apostle Paul has said, that "when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves; which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another," (Rom. ii. 14, 15.) This language is decisive, so far as morality and worldly affairs are concerned; and unless the sentiment which it contains were admitted, no society could exist, not even that of professional thieves and robbers, who must either behave honestly amongst themselves, or be prepared for an early destruction of their band. 372 thing had actually happened.) The lad was rewarded, not for the theft, but for the heroism with which he suffered the fox to mangle his body, rather than betray the presence of the animal. Such an action must have appeared of inestimable value to a people, with whom personal prowess availed so much, that nothing could be compared with it. The lad had, perhaps, quite as much right to the fox as any body else. The right to steal has never yet been acknowledged by any nation; and if any further proof were wanting, we may find it even amongst the most savage tribes ever yet discovered. Objects of European manufactory excite, of course, the most eager desires of every individual in their communities, and many watch the opportunity to snatch at some inestimable prize. But their manner shows plainly, that they are aware of its being wrong; and if they do it nevertheless, they act in that respect merely like thousands of their brethren and sisters, who have had all the benefit of a civilized and religious education. Liverpool, March 13, 1821. Query on the Body that shall be. MR. EDITOR, SIR,-On hearing a sermon upon the resurrection, I was dissatisfied with the assertions that the minister made, they appearing to me to be neither philosophical nor scriptural. I thereThe above-mentioned assertion be- fore desire to ask information, through comes still more preposterous, when it your very excellent Magazine,-If the is made respecting the Spartans, who same body shall be raised at the rewere a most hardy people, despising surrection, or it will be a new body? every kind of luxury and effeminacy, if a new body, to say something of the and amongst whom the sneaking habit nature of it? and if the same numeriof Thieving was less probable than cal parts of matter will be united amongst any other. Moreover, what to the soul at the resurrection that should they steal? We are told, that are at this moment, to account for they had scarcely any private property the constant changes that are taking but their arms, and a man could not place in the present body? and to be more completely disgraced, than by say if it will be the same numethe suspicion of indulgence; and for rical parts of matter that are united the sake of avoiding it, they dined in to the soul at death, that shall be raised, public, and their children were educated at the public expense. The of our life?-Your insertion of the or the same body at some other period more courage they displayed in brav-above into your Imperial Magazine, ing hardships, or in undergoing pri- will oblige, vations, the more they were esteemed. This latter point explains in a most natural manner the story of the lad and the fox, (supposing that such a Your's, &c. Low Moor Iron Works, 373 Reply, and Queries to Correspondents. Reply to a Question on Oxygen. MR. EDITOR, SIR,-In your Magazine for October, col. 844, the following question is proposed. By inserting the remarks which I have subjoined, you will oblige, Your humble Servant, Feb. 15th, 1821. H. B. "As vegctation is a principal source for oxygen in the summer, what substitute does nature employ for the renovation of the atmosphere in winter, to make up for the deficiency, when the leaves of the plants are gone, and vegetation is in a manner suspended?" This question assumes as a fact, that vegetation is the principal source of oxygen; a point by no means established. Dr. Priestley, and Ingenhouz, made a number of experiments, which seemed to favour the opinion, that vegetables, when acted on by light, emit oxygen, and absorb carbonic acid; and that the reverse takes place, during the abstraction of light. More recent experiments, however, and particularly those of Ellis and Saussure, have been attended with different results. Mr. Ellis inferred from the experiments which he made, that oxygen is given out by vegetables, only when directly exposed to the solar rays; and, that when not placed in this situation, whether there be darkness, obscure light, or clear day, Oxygen is absorbed, and carbonic acid formed. Several other chemists have repeated these experiments, and have obtained similar results. They have concluded, therefore, that the vegetation of plants is not the principal source from whence oxygen is derived. The subject appears indeed to be involved in a good deal of obscurity, and it yet remains to be discovered, whether vegetation is or is not the only source of oxygen. Assuming, however, that it is the principal source from whence this gas proceeds; we remark, that during the winter season, vegetation is not entirely suspended; the grasses, and many other plants, and evergreen shrubs and trees, still continue to flourish, and of course afford oxygen when exposed to the rays of the sun: besides, as a smaller quantity of carbonic acid is evolved during the winter, it is obvious that a proportionably less quantity of oxygen will be required. QUERIES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 374 1.-Ring-worm in Children's Heads. A correspondent requests that some humane person, through the medium of this Magazine, will prescribe a cure for what is generally called the Ringworm in the heads of children. This disorder he thus describes: It begins with the hair falling off from a circular spot on the head, the skin of which being a little raised, and of a red colour. This afterwards turns to a white scale, and the skin becomes very thick. Many remedies, he observes, have been recommended, such as nitre, and sulphur ointment, vinegar, and Barbadoes tar, citron ointment, corrosive sublimate in ointment, and dissolved in lime water, and in spirits; but these and several others, in the case to which he alludes, have been tried in vain, the white scale and thick skin still continuing, so that no hair will grow on the spot. During the last twelve months the head has been constantly shaved and kept clean, which has prevented the complaint from spreading. 2.-On the Reunion of Married Persons who had been separated. A Subscriber wishes to know whether it be lawful or not for a man and woman who had been lawfully married together, but afterwards separated, and were married to other persons, to unite together again, both having willingly quitted the second husband and wife? and if such characters, living together, are fit to be admitted as members of a if the law, mentioned Deuteronomy xxiv. 1-4. is apreligious society? plicable to such characters; or if there be any law of our own nation made for such a case? 3.-On Breaches of tender Engagements. Adoloscenticlus, of Spalding, asks, Does a change of religious sentiment justify a breach of tender attachment? 4.-On Reading. methods which can be adopted to inA. B. D. asks, What are the best duce a person who has leisure to give his attention to study and learning? 5.-On the Origin of Knighthood; by J. Polperroc. It is usual with translators to render the words Equites Aurati, by the English words, Roman Knights; but I believe the only similarity there is between this Roman order and our mo 375 Remarks on Passages of Scripture. 376 dern knights, consists in the name. | such language mean, an eternal gift of Perhaps some one among your sub- the elect to Christ, in order to be scribers may be able to communicate redeemed by him. I apprehend, that an account of the origin of knighthood, the meaning is, such persons as became its intention, and rules; with the Christ's disciples were said to have been country to which it owes its birth. given by the Father to him. Information of this sort, for it includes a variety of particulars, will tend much to illustrate the manners, and modes of thinking, of what are commonly denominated the dark ages. 6.-On Screw Turners. Wm. Smith of Camborne, Cornwall, says, I have often heard it asserted, that a long turn-screw (or screw-driver) will turn a screw with greater ease than a short one: if it will-required the reason, and in what ratio does the power increase with its length? Submitting these to your judgment, I hope you will give them a place as soon as possible. Remarks on Passages of Scripture. SIR,—I am of opinion that many pious and well-meaning persons have maintained erroneous views of several parts of the Gospels. The sources of these mistakes, I apprehend, are the following: first,not distinguishing between our Lord's office as a Teacher, and that of the Redeemer of mankind: secondly, not considering that our Lord, as a minister of the circumcision, conformed to Jewish peculiarities of thought and expression, addressed himself to Jewish audiences, and inculcated obedience to Jewish rites and ceremonies: and, lastly, by attaching a spiritual meaning to language, which it was never intended should convey any other meaning than the literal. It is written, "No man can come unto me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him." When it is considered, who were our Lord's audience, what was the main subject of discourse, and what follows; it will appear that the meaning of these words is, that no Jew could come to be his disciple, unless he were previously prepared by a knowledge of him as the promised Messiah. This passage has been spiritualized, and made to support an erroneous doctrine by some, and has perplexed the system of others. Again, John speaks of individuals who were given to Jesus Christ. The system of John Calvin has made 1. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me," John vi. 37. Giveth being in the present tense, does not favour the idea of an eternal gift. No stress is to be laid upon shall. The context must determine whether the word in the original should be translated shall or will come. The following clause, "and him that cometh to me, I will in nowise cast out," clearly determines that it should be translated will come: for if the will of the comer were not free, the latter clause of the verse would be entirely inappropriate. It is further to be observed, that our Lord reproved the Jews, not because they were reprobates, or had not been given to him from all eternity, but because, having seen him, they did not believe, v. 36. The word give in this place would seem to signify, not that a certain number were eternally appointed to salvation by Christ, but that all the Jews who believed on Christ must have been previously prepared by a firm belief of the scriptures concerning him. "We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph," John 1. 45.-" And ye have not his word abiding in you; for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not." Ibid. v. 38.-"For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words." Ibid. v. 46, 47.-"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." Ibid. v. 39, 40. 2. "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." Ibid. vi. 39. It may be objected, that hath given is consistent with an eternal gift. Yes; but it is also consistent with a temporal gift to discipleship, when the words are considered in reference to the last day. At the last day, it would be proper to use given in a past tense: "Behold I, and the children which God hath given me.” Heb. ii. 13. |