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On the Natural Hiftory of the Cow, fo far as it relates to its giving Milk, particularly for the Use of Man. By C. White, Efq. F. R. S. &c. Read March 12, 1783.

All that this little effay attempts to convey is, that the cow" having a larger and more capacious udder, and longer and thicker teats than the largest animal we know ;"-alfo, having "four teats, whilft all other animals of the fame nature have but two;-alfo, because the "yields the milk freely to the hand, whilft most animals refufe it, except their young, or fome adopted animal be allowed to partake;"-" was, by the omnifcient Author of nature, intended to give milk, particularly for the ufe of man."

On the Natural History and Origin of Magnesian Earth, particularly as connected with those of Sea Salt, and of Nitre; with Obfervations on fome of the Chemical Properties of that Earth, which have been, hitherto, either unknown, or undetermined. By Thomas Henry, F. R. S. &c.

This is a masterly differtation on magnefian earth, which this excellent Philofopher has purfued to the lowermost depths of che mistry; nay, followed to the loweft abyfs of ocean's felf!

The main subject of this paper, how important foever it may be to the profeffionalist and the philofopher, is, in a manner, uninterefting to readers in general; nevertheless it must not be paffed over in filence. It would be difficult perhaps to produce a more striking inftance of the power and utility of the imagination, (so well defended in a former paper) than is to be found in the paper before us. It is by means of this intellectual eye, that men of genius are enabled to trace, perhaps from the fmalleft caufes, effects of the utmost magnitude. Thus our ingenious author, in tracing the origin of magnesian earth, strikes out a rational theory to account for the undecaying faltnefs of the fea. "Philofophers, he fays, have been much puzzled to account for the original faltBets of the fea. Some have imagined it must have been furnished by rivers which, flowing from the land, conveyed with them fuch quantities of fat, from accumulations of that mineral formed within the bowels of the earth, as to communicate, and continually fupply faltness to the fea; while others have attributed its impregnation to rocks of falt, fituated at the bottom of the ocean. To both thefe opinions objections have been made; and the learned bishop of Landaff has chofen to adopt another,

viz. that the sea was originally created falt In fupport of this theory, and in objection to the others, efpecially to that which afferts the origin and fupply from the land, it has been advanced, that a great part of the finny inhabitants of the ocean cannot exist in fresh water, and therefore it is not to be supposed, that they should ever have been placed in a fituation unfuited for their fupport. It might alfo have been added, that there is as much difficulty in accounting for the origin of the falt which the rivers are supposed to wash down, as for its formation in the fea. But might not the great Creator, by whofe FIAT all things were produced, accommodate the first inhabitants of the fea to their temporary fituation; and gradually produce fuch changes in their conftitutions, as to make the faltnefs of the water neceffary for their fupport? Changes equally great, appear to have taken place in the human habit. The duration of life, in particular, was protracted, in the earlier ages, to a length convenient for the speedy population of the world; and when that end was accomplished to a certain degree, Providence affigned limits to the existence of mankind, at the utmost of which we feldom arrive, and beyond which we never pafs.

"Notwithstanding what I have here advanced, I must confefs myself inclined to join in the opinion, that the fea was origi nally created falt. But all faline fubftances with which we are acquainted, are subject to gradual decay, decompofition, or volatilization, in long process of time, and when exposed to the action of air, moisture and heat. Nature has established an univerfal fyftem of alternate deftruction and recompofition in her works; and is continually carrying on proceffes in her grand laboratory, which art is unable to imitate, Animals and vegetables perish and decay; and, when corrupted, contribute to the fupport or accommodation of each other; and many mineral fubstances, though more permanent than those which constitute the other kingdoms, are liable to confiderable changes, are frequently decompofed, and forced to enter into new combinations. It is not therefore to be fuppofed, that the fame individual falt has been contained by the ocean from the creation to the prefent time. We know that the waters are continually evaporatir g into the atmosphere, forming clouds, defcending again in rain, replenishing the earth, and, after forming rivers, returning to the fea. Sea falt rifes, by a moderate heat, with the vapour of water, and is often carried by ftorms to confiderable diftances. By thete

*Watson's Chemical Effays, Vol. II. Y y 2

and

and other means, it is probable, there must be a continual wafte of falt, which nature must have fome mode to fupply.

"The ocean is replete with animals and plants. The destruction and corruption of these must furnifh much matter fitted for the formation of faline fubftances, much earth, much of the principle of inflammability, and of air; and if water were not a part of their compofition, the fea would plentifully fupply that elementary ingredient. By the putrefaction of fimilar fubftances, mixed with calcareous earth, moiftened with water, and expofed to the gradual action of the air, Nitre is formed. May not the fame substances, under different circumftances, covered by the depth of the ocean, and fe-, parated thereby from immediate communication with the air, produce fea-falt? It has lately been discovered, by an ingenious chemift, that though Nitre is produced by the above fubftances, with the accefs of air, yet it they be fo placed that the air may be excued, and the fituation perhaps not too moift, Sulphur, and not Nitre, is the refuit. So that the three mineral acids fhould

seem to have a fimilar origin; and it is not without good grounds, that they are faid to he modifications of each other.”

Such are the contents of the first volume of these entertaining Memoirs, which, being the joint production of various writers, ard each paper having been already spoken to feparately, will not admit of many general obfervations: however, as a collection, it has fome features pretty strongly marked: there is an evident prolixity-a want of clofeness-in many of the papers ;—quotations and notes of immoderate length too frequently give additional loofenefs to the page and languor to the argument; whilst an inordinate difplay of the learned languages convinces us, that even the Manchefter Suciety is not altogether weaned from that idolatry which has, age after age, been the hane of true philofophy. Nevertheless, we are fully authorized by the volume before us to fay, that facts-the only foundation of modern philofophy-are held in due veneration by fome of the moft refpectable Members of this truly refpectable Society.

Difcourfes on Prophecy, read in the Chapel of Lincoln's-Inn, at the Lecture founded by the Right Reverend William Warburton, late Lord Bishop of Gloucefter. By Eat Apthorp, D. D. Rector of St. Mary-le Bow. 2 Vols. 8vo. 12s. Rivington, Lidon, 1786.

HESE Volumes contain a series of lectures which prefent a forcible and connected argument.in favor of the truth and certainty of revealed religion, drawn from the accomplishment of a variety of preditions refpecting Christianity. In tre.ting this interefting fubject, the author has proved himself fully adequate to fo important an undertaking, and has difplayed fo much learning, profound erudition, and uncommonly extenfive reading, in the inveftiga tion of it, as to render it difficult to deter mine whether he is moft confpicuous as an hittorian, a critic, a philofopher, or a Chriftian divine. But though we are happy in paying this just tribute to Dr. Apthorp's unquestionable merits, we cannot help lamenting that he has ventured, we think, rather rafhly on a dangerous coaft, which has proved fatal to the most experienced and able mariners, on which even the immortal Newton himself narrowly escaped fhipwreck. The Revelation of St. John, however “congenial the book itfelf may be to the ancient prophecies, however worthy the majefty of infpiration, however entitled to profound ve

neration and careful study," will, to thofe at leaft who are not as great adepts as the Doctor" in fymbolic language," we doubt, prove, in many inftances, 66 a flumbling bla.k.”

This work is divided into twelve lectures

7,8,

on the following fubjects. 1. Hiftory of Prophecy. 2. Conons of Interpretation. 3. Prophecies on the Birth of Chrift. 4. Chronological Characters of the Meffiah. 5 Theological Characters of the fame. 6. The Chain of Prophecies relating to him. and 9. Prophecies of the Death of Chrift, and of his Kingdom. 10. Character of Antichrift. II. The mystic Tyre; and 12. Prophecies of the Origin and Progrefs of the Reformation. Thefe feveral fubjects the author has treated fully and with great per fpicuity, and fupported and proved (where proof was poflible) what he has affected by a vaft variety of illuftrations and eminent authorities.

Although prophecy," he obferves, "listh illumined all ages in a juft degree, there are four eminent periods in which it was imparted with fignal luftre: namely, in the age of Moles :-in that of David :—during

* M. Fougeroux. Vide Memoires de l'Academie Royale des Sciences pour l'année 178 The Sulphur produced under the above circumstances, was found amidit the ruins of an old houfe which had been built in a very filthy place, contained in a mass of earth, and in part cryftallized; and conftituting, in feveral of the large portions of the earth, a third of the whole mafs.

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the Babylonian and Perfian empires;-and in the evangelic age, or first century of the chrittian church. The laft and greatest of the chriftian prophets was the writer of the Revelation, after whole death, it is reafonable to think that this excellent gift entirely cealed: the few notices we have of it afterwards, being little more than the lively impreffion which fo great a miracle made on the minds of men, till the memory, or report of it, gradually died away, like the faint murmurs of the diftant thunder, or the heaving of the ocean when the ftorm fubfides."

Hiving in the first lecture ftated the general idea of infpiration, and given a short history of prophecy; he, in the following words, recapitulates the fubject of this difcourfe.

"Predictions of the highet import tradfcend the date of the most ancient writings, and are coeval with the word tfelf: others are cotemporary with the parnarchs and with the law many, moft determinate and circumstantial, occur in the 25lms: another, and the largeft clafs, are from pece to BC years prior to Christianity; which is itself prophetic of its own hiftory to the end of time. These prophecies, taken collectively, respect not only future facts, but future ideas and doctrines: they defcribe the events and opinions of diftant ages: and they all terminate in the founder of a religion of univerfal extent and eternal fanctions. If the defcriptions, notes, and characters of a predicted and prophetic Saviour are fulfilled in the AU

THOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH: we will exclaim with reasonable confidence and honest rapture, We have found HIM, of whom Mofes in the Law, and the Prophets did surite, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Jeleph; and thus finding him, we will ever pay him our grateful homage and adoration, THOU ART THE SON OF GOD, THOU ART THE KING OF ISRAEL."

In the fecond lecture Dr. Apthorp proceeds to establish the moft ufeful carons of interpretation; efpecially that which addreffes itfelf to the fincere and unvitiated commonfinfe of a wife and virtuous man, refulting from the natural and obvious coincidence of predictions with events; exemplified in the harmony between the religious prophecies and the life of Jefus Chrift: to these he has annexed literary obfervations on the myftic and double fenfe, on prophetic actions, and the fymbolic language.

In the third lecture the virgin-birth and fublime attributes of our Redeemer are illuftrated, to fhew the greatness and fanctity of his perfon and character, both human and divine.

In the fourth and fifth, the Doctor fhews that the divine author and doctrine of the

christian religion were announced to the pro. phet Daniel in the reign of Cyrus, with an exact specification of the very time of Chrift's miniatry, and the year of his paffion, with his fignal judgment on the Jewish nation after 40 years, "when be fent forth his armies, deftroyed thofe murderers, and burned their city. He has likewife fhewn, that the feveral characters of redemption thefe diftinctly revealed are inapplicable to any civil or fecular events, and a proper demonstration that the religion of Chrift being divinely predicted was divinely revealed.

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In the fixth lure the whole chain of prophecies refpecting the promited Saviour is clearly ftated, with fufficient examples to prove the certain conclufion drawn from that admirable combination of feparate proofs, reulting from predictions of the whole hiftory of the Meffiah, and of the moft refined d›ctrines of his religion, "The coincidence of the hiftoric with the theologic characters,” our author obferves, "doubles the effect of a demonftration which is perfect in each. The hiftoric events, unconnected with the religious truths, alone afcertain the inspira tion that foretold them. But the internal conftitution of the new religion thus infeparably blended with its hiftory, times, and fortunes, gives fuch an accumulated evidence, as to overcome the most pertinacious fcepticifm, fo long as it retains an ingenuous fenfe and love of truth."

In the feventh difcourfe, after giving an analyfis of the book of Ifaiah from the 40th to the 66th chapter, and a particular illuftration of the three laft verfes of the 52d and twelve firit of the 53d chapter, the author proceeds to demonftrate the truth of chriftianity from this prophecy, and the expiation of fin by the death and facrifice of Chrift.

In the eighth and ninth lecture, the agree. ment of prophery and hißory is fhewn in a general view of the adverfe and profperous fortune of the chriftian church, perfecuted both by the pagan and antichriftian powers, yet victorious, progredive, univerfal. In the tenth, the author of our faith is cortrafted with that hoftile power which hath fo long exerted its malevolence in oppof tion to the philanthropy of Chrift, till the mitchief ended in the ufurped dominion of antichrift. The temporal splendour of the church, and the decline of learning, our author confiders as the primary causes of the corruption of chriftianity. He next tvces the origin and progrefs of the papal fupremacy, brings inftances of its exceffes, and goes on to defcribe the marking cha racters of antichrift, viz. infolence of power, idolatry, perfecution, papal fupremacy, mercenary superstition, the doctrine of merit, and military and ecclefiaftical fraternities, in

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oppofition to the characters of the Reforma. tion, whofe genuine effects are virtue, liberty, and peace. In the eleventh lecture thefe characters, which are myftically defcribed by the Jewish prophets under the emblems of idolatrous and tyrannic kingdoms, particularly that of the commercial ftate of ancient Tyre, are shewn to coincide with the fecularity and mercenary spirit of the antichriftian church, and with the enormous ambition of its vifible head. The prophecy of Ezekiel is explained and applied by the author to the city of Rome, which he foretels (how truly we will not prefume to determine) " will be abforbed into a lake of fire, and fink into the fea."'

The twelfth and last lecture points out the remedies of the corruptions of idolatry, creature worship, and other fuperftitions which prevail in the church of Rome, as well as thofe which the reformed church labours under, viz. unbelief, herefy, and relaxed morals, together with the means of advancing the promifed purity and felicity of the chriftian church. In this discourse the author has attempted to explain the prophecy in the tenth chapter of the Revelation of St. John: how far he has fucceeded, our readers thall judge for themselves.

"The fyftem of the feven trumpets," fays the Doctor," under which we now live, includes the military revolutions of paganifm, and the ecclefiaftical fortunes of antichrift in the east and weft. The chief events are the

irruptions of the Barbarians, and the fall of the western empire; the incurfions of the Saracens the destruction of the Greek empire; and the reformation of the church in the fixteenth century.

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"The REFORMATION accomplished by Luther is figured by a mighty angel defcending from Heaven, or divinely commiffioned: clothed with a cloud, the fymbol of the divine protection with a rainbow on his head, making offers of reconciliation to the corrupted church: bis face was as it were the fun, diffufing the light of the gofpel: and his feet as pillars of fire, intimating that his followers fhould feffer perfecution, yet be preserved from the rage of their enemies. He is styled a mighty angel, not fo much on account of The undaunted fpirit of Luther, as of the great revolution effected by his means. He has in his hand a little open book, the original gofpel: open, as containing no new Revelation: little, as applying only fuch parts and doctrines of the fcriptures, as refuted the prevailing fuperftitions. He fet bis right foot upon the fea,

* Lancaster Sym. Dict. p. 123. + M. Daubuz, p. 469.

the emblem of war, and his left foot on the earth, the fymbol of peace; intimating that the Reformation fhould experience the viciffitudes of both, but chiefly of the former. He cried with a loud voice, as when a lion reareth: the gospel was openly, refolutely, and efficaciously preached and published.

“And when he cried seven thunders uttered their voices. As Heaven fignifies the ftation of the Supreme visible Power, which is the po litical Heaven, fo thunder is the voice and proclamation of that authority and power, and of its will and laws, implying the obedience of the fubjects, and at last overcoming all op pofition.* Thunders are the symbols of the fupreme powers who established the Reformation in their respective dominions. Seven is a number of perfection, and according to the great Interpreter + whom I fol. low, it denotes the feven states of Europe who established the Reformation by law :1. The Germanic Body, in which, by the treaty of Smalcald, the Proteftant princes formed a diftinct republic.-2. The Swis Cantons, 1531.-3. Sweden, 1 5 3 3 . —4. Det.maik and Norway.-5 England and Ire land, 1547-6. Scotland, 1550.-7. The Netherlands, 1577. Thefe governments re -ceived and established the Reformation with in fixty years after Luther's first preaching against indulgencies. All other countries where the Reformation made fome progress, but without being established by authority, are described by other fymbols. But the foregoing feven uttered Tas taular Caras, their own authoritative voices, to fettle true religion by LAW, each in their own domi nions.

"And when the feven thunders bad uttered their voices, I was about to write.. The pol ture and action of the prophet is fymbolical the railed expectation of good men, that when the Reformation was ettablifhed in the principal kingdoms and states of Europe, the fall of antichrift would foon follow, and introduce the glorious union of truth and peace on earth. But a voice from beaver commands him to feal up thofe things which the seven thunders have uttered, and write them not; to intimate, that the first reformers would be mistaken in their zeal, and difappointed in their expectation; that the new reform would not foon be followed by the fall of popery, and the converfion of unbelief; but that, by the divice permiffion, the free courfe and progrefs of the reformed religion fhould be checked by the power of temporal princes not in the number of the feven thunders. Such was

Chariet

Charles V. young, aspiring, selfish, and aiming by the influence of the papal system to make himself abfolute in Germany. Such was his fon, Philip II. a tyrannical bigot, who made it his principal object to establish popery and the inquifition throughout his vast dominions. In Poland and the hereditary countries of the House of Auftria, the fupreme powers by perfecution and ill policy prevented the eltablishment of the Reformation. France was the theatre of the most violent oppofition to it, during the inglorious reigns of Henry 11. Francis II. and Charles IX. and Louis XIV. half unpeopled his kingdom by his great armies, and by the expulfion of his best fubjects the Proteftants:-So that, according to this prophecy, the happy state of the church was not then to be effected by the civil power, but by fome other means in fome future time.

"The angel in the vifion, lifting up his right band, fwears by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created beaven, and the earth, and the jea, (by the very formulary protesting against the demon-worship of the apoftate church) that the time for the pure and happy state of the reformed church fhould not be But that in 25 yet, οτι χρόνος ουκ εται Ετι. the days of the voice of the feventh angel, when he fhall begin to found *, the mystery of God fhould be finished †, should be brought to its PERFECTION. The mystery of God is his counfel or fecret defign, of which Chrift is the counfellor and executor; a counfel which begins in the prefent converfion and happiness of man on earth, will terminate in diffufing that felicity over all the world, and compleat it in a state of immor. tality.

"It is evident, continues our author, from the fcope and series of the Apocalyptic vifions, that the feven trumpets include all that period of history denoted by the feventh feal, which commencing with Conftantine's establishment of chriftianity, extends to the great fabbatism, when the kingdoms of this world fhall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of bis Chrifit. As the events of the first five trumpets are all paft, and the events of the feventh trumpet are all future; the reformed church, commencing with the fecond epuch of the fixth trumpet, is co-extended to its whole duration. This æra continues from Luther to the church's laft conflict with antichrift, the prelude to her perfect ftate on earth. We of the present age, actually living under the fixth trumpet, are

coeval with the eastern and western antichrift; are witneffes to the declining ftate of antichriftianifm; and are fo connected with the protestant reformation, as to be deeply interested both in its prefent imperfections, and in its gradual advancement, which is to occupy the long period till the mystery of God fhall be finished in the perfection of his church. Although the counfel of God will not be de feated, either by the indolence or malignity of man; yet it is evident from reafon, as well as the terms of this prophecy, that this improving state is to be effected by the inftrumentality of men, in a course of measures and events not generally fupernatural, though never excluding the divine direction and fu perintendence. That therefore it is not only the high privilege, but the indifpenfible duty of all who enjoy the blethings of the reformed religion, to promote its progrefs and advancement in thefe and fucceeding times."

In the remaining part of this discourse, the Doctor, after fhewing that the true felicity of the church of Chrift confifts in holiness and peace, inftead of thofe chimerical ideas of complete felicity which originally arose from a too literal interpretation of the prophecies, mentions the following circumftances as favourable to the advancement of chriftianity: viz, the decline of popery, and the improvement of civilization. The power of the popes, he says, is everyday diminishing: from being heads of the chriftian world, they are become fuppliants to princes of their own communion." He confiders the prefent peaceable tate of the world in many respects aufpicious to the great ends and objects of christianity; the civilization and converfion of rude and barbarous nations; the bringing back the relaxed and corrupt manners and principles of the proteftant reformation to the purity and fimplicity of the gofpel, and in confequence of both, diminishing the influence of popery, and augmenting the general happinefs of mankind; and then proceeds to point out the most likely means to produce to defirable an end. Among thefe agricul ture holds a distinguished pre-eminence.

"Agriculture," fays Dr. Apthorp, "is perhaps the only art which government must patronize, if they would have their people emerge from barbarifm. In the rude but fertile regions of the uncultivated earth, focieties for promoting agriculture, with rewards and immunities to the most skilful and fuccefstu labourers, would much forward

*Or rather, "when he shall have founded," öтav μin oarmiger. + TEλoon. Lectio Velefiana, Teλobnosti, confummabitur. Vulgate. + C. viii. v. 1.—6.

C. xi. v. 15.

The first epoch of the fixth trumpet is the Turkish empire, 1453.

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