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interest is advanced by their seeming success; and efforts naturally are feeble and ineffectual, where desire is languid. If the drudgery of pulpitwork is dispatched, they are not solicitous what instructions, exhortations, and warnings, are most necessary and best calculated for doing good. Sometimes a clergyman's behaviour is not visibly influenced by the doctrine and duties of religion. Men of small sagacity discern it, infer his craft and disingenuity, or conclude that they may imitate him without hazard. His well-composed discourse may indeed gratify the curious, and entertain the man of taste: but the force of his reasonings is blunted, by the evidence, at least by the suspicion, that he feels not that force.

"The natural abilities, extent of knowledge, and persuasive talents, highly important in a teacher of religion, do not always accompany true piety. The dignity of a subject is not perceived, when it is dressed in mean and low language. A florid and pompous style, and subtile reasonings, which plain common sense cannot follow, generally make no impression and, when the passions are addressed, without informing the judgment, impressions made on the people prove slight and superficial, and, as the morning cloud and early dew, quickly pass away.

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"But, are there not teachers of distinguished genius, learning, taste, and eloquence, who yet labour and spend their strength in vain? Perhaps, this is seldom the case, when they sincerely aim at the glory of God, and the salvation of souls, and preach the various truths and duties which God has appointed to be preached, as means of edification. Striking truths, when frequently and fervently inculcated, often command the attention, conquer prejudice, and have a powerful influence. Even

when teachers neglect, arraign, or exhibit in a false light, the distinguishing doctrines of the blessed gospel; the lesser and occasional advantages of sermons are sometimes gained. The warm address of the speaker, and his fair and amiable character, constrain many to listen to his instructions: and the force of his arguments from other topics may restrain gross immoralities, promote

a decent deportment, and stimulate to acts of justice and beneficence. Let not this seem strange. Men, who never heard the gospel, or whose leading principles of action were never changed by its efficacy, have, notwithstanding, repressed particular vicious inclinations, and amended many things formerly amiss in their conduct. Though the word and Spirit of God, and these alone, can convert the soul from sin, eloquence may outwardly reform. What re'formation may therefore be expect ed, when preachers provoke not the Spirit to withhold his blessing from their useful moral instructions, by shunning to declare the whole counsel of God, and keeping back from their hearers, truths the most profitable and necessary!

"Yes: reformation, and something more than outward reformation, may then be expected. Happy, indeed, are they, whose eyes see their teachers, if their ears hear from them the faithful word, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it! Not so, when any part of that word is kept out of view. All scripture, given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. It is therefore neither modest nor wise, to neglect any part of what is revealed as thus profitable. Neglects of this kind sometimes diminish, and sometimes destroy, the benefit of public instruction. God hath said, even with respect to prophets who ran unsent, Jer. xxiii. 22. If they had stood in my counsel, and caused my people to hear my words; then they should have turned them from their evil ways, and from the evil of their doings. Paul tells the Philippians, ch. i. 15, 18. • Some preach Christ, even of envy and strife; and some also of good will. Notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and, therein I do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.' It would therefore seem, that though their motive to preach the gospel was the reverse of holy, and their professed regard to Christ hypocritical, their sermons were not useless. A glorious and happy change on men's characters and conduct, is foretold as the consequence of the preaching of the gospel, Isaiah lv. 10, 11,

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For, as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it to bring forth ⚫ and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the ⚫eater; so shall my word be, which goeth forth out of my mouth it shall not return unto me void; but it shall accomplish that which I please; and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto 1 sent it.' Every part of revelation, whether read or heard, has its distinct use. The strict precepts, and awiul sanctions of the law, endear the Saviour to sinners. The glad tidings of salvation are often, to the convinced and humbled, the ministration of the Spirit, and of life: and, when a temper and conduct becoming sound doctrine, are inculcated, Christians are thereby excited to adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things. But, if pride, forgetting that the gospel is a divine report, not a human invention, courts applause, by pretending new discoveries in religion; if it diminishes, enlarges, or alters the sacred directory, and accommodates it to the fashionable taste, or to popular humours; the perfection of that directory is denied, and its energy blunted. If ingenuity arrogantly and absurdly endeavours to improve a revelation, which can make the man of God perfect, thoroughly furnished to every good thought, word, and work; the Spirit will not honour fancy and folly, for awakening the conscience, enlightening the understanding, or purifying the heart. God will not transfer his blessing, from that word which he hath magnified above all his name, to schemes for attaining his favour, different from, uay, inconsistent with, that plan, which Infinite Wisdom hath chalked out in the sacred oracles. One, thinking of his own understanding more highly than he ought to think, pronounces certain doctrines of revelation useless or pernicious. Another, in his discourses on the leading facts and duties of Christianity, forgets to unfold them in the plain and clear language of scripture, which the poor and illiterate, as far as is necessary for them, may easily understand; and vainly hopes, by the aids of genius, philosophy, and criticism, to enable his hearers fully to comprebend the

mysteries of faith. A third, through that fear of man which bringeth a snare, disguises his conviction, holds the truth in unrighteousness, and handies the word of God deceitfully. He, who, in the study of nature, at, tends more to experiments than to plausible theories destitute of their support; in studying the Bible, adopts an opposite plan, and overlooks the proof from experience, that the doctrines and duties on which the scripture lays the greatest stress, have in fact conduced most to the holiness and to the happiness of mankind. Not a few, blinded by prejudice, teach error from real conviction. Yet, though they are sincere, error doth not, and cannot, operate as truth. None are brought to look to Christ for salvation, by hearing that the doctrines of his deity and atonement are absurd, and that, by repentance and amendment of life, they can save themselves. Prayer for divine influences is not excited, by declaiming against all expectation of, or reliance upon them, as fanaticisin. It is remarkable, that religion and moral virtue flourish or decay, in proportion as doctrines, which pretended modern reformers pronounce corruptions of Christianity, are esteemed or disregarded. All the words of God are pure, those not excepted against which many have discovered the greatest spite, by persecution, by ridicule, or by misrepresentation. Thou, therefore, who desirest to do good, by instructing thy fellow men, despise none of the instructions of God. In recommending the belief of truth, or the practice of duty, go as far, but no farther, than the Bible goes. Add not to God's words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Christianity, like the first man, came from the hands of God, pure and perfect. By every change, every subtle and refined interpretation, it is corrupted and debased.

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Jaw, to our fellow Christians, to all men, enemies not excepted, flowing from a pure heart, a good conscience, and faith unfeigned. Holiness of heart and life may be so enforced, that men may view it as their title to God's favour; and thus, going about to establish their own righ teousness, may not submit themselves to the righteousness of Christ. Justification through the blood and merits of Christ may be so taught that the impressions may be weakened of the necessity of that holiness, without which we can neither serve nor enjoy God, and of those good works by which our heavenly Father is glorified. The obligations of duty may be so explained, that men may lose sight of their natural depravity, and need of divine influence. The Calvinist may so speak of man's inability, and the Arminian of the frailty of his nature, that transgressors may conclude, that their performing duties, and avoiding criminal indulgences, are naturally impossible, or at least are the consequence of a frailty, for which they were not to blame, and on account of which they cannot, without cruelty or injustice, be punished.

"Counsels equally necessary at all times, are the most important, and should be the most frequent subjects of sermons. Yet counsels peculiarly adapted to the times, have their importance, and the withholding thein may diminish our usefulness. In this dangerous crisis, when with out are fightings, and within are fears, men should be excited to turn to Him who threatens to smite, and to seek the Lord with the whole heart. Personal reformation should be exhibited, as necessary for national reformation, and for preventing national ruin. Isaiah's warning should be inculcated, that they fast in vain, who undo not the heavy burden, (and surely the burden of negro slaves is heavy), and who turn not away their foot from the Sabbath, from doing their pleasure on God's holy day. When political opinions spread, seducing subjects to undermine, under pretence of improving, an excellent constitution, and to rebel against their rightful Sovereign, because they see not the wisdom of certain measures of government, we ought, occasionally, to exhibit scripture principles and precepts, which demonstrate the falsehood of such

opinions, and the guilt and danger of such practices. zeal, oppose the scripture doctrines When some, with of the Trinity, the atonement of Christ, justification through his merits, and the renewing and sanctifying influences of the Spirit, we, who believe the truth and importance of these doctrines, should defend them with equal zeal Perhaps we see a probability of dangers, yet remote, overlooked by those who only take a superficial glance of the present posture of affairs, without considering slow, is certain. It may not be amiss tendencies, whose operation, though in this case to speak, that our people may hear for the time to come. In a neighbouring country, a destructive despotism for more than a century, has at last produced the miseries of anarchy: and a corrupt absurd religion has betrayed many into scepticism and infidelity, and some into downright atheism half an eye may perceive, that too One with many in other countries, seem fond to renounce the religious and political creed of their fathers, though they have not the same excuse for not point out, what evil either of despising or hating them, and canthem have done. But are no evils to be dreaded for men's changing good principles for bad ones, or for total want of principle, except those which immediately ensue? Is there no danger, that, when nations have deeply felt the baneful consequences of anarchy and irreligion, they may tremes of tyranny in the state, despofly for shelter to the opposite extism in the church, implicit faith, idolatry, and superstition? and are though perhaps their aim is directly measures to be adopted, which, opposite, from the impetuosity with which multitudes often rush from one length issue in so dreadful a cataextreme to another, may at strophe ?

public teachers of Christianity, doth "To conclude-The usefulness of not infer the usefulness of teaching doctrines or precepts falsely dignified with that name: yet, as he who where the most essential and necesoffends not in word is a perfect man, sary articles of Christianity are inof God to salvation to every one that culcated, they will prove the power believeth, though much hay and stubble may be built on the true foun

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dation, and though often little wisdom may appear in the arrangement or style of discourses, in the choice of particular subjects, or in the degree of stress laid upon them. Still, however, the grace of God is no apology for the neglects or rashness of public teachers. p. 95-105.

CXXXV. TRAVELS in Upper and Lower Egypt, during the Campaigns of General Bonaparte. By VivANT DENON. Translated from the French. To which is prefixed, an historical Account of the Invasion of Egypt by the French. By E. A. KENDAL, Esq. Illustrated by Maps, Views, &c. &c. in Two Volumes, 8vo.

THE

HE first volume is embellished with a map of Upper and Lower Egypt, on which are traced a part of the marches of the French army, and the route of the travels of the author ; an engraving of an Egyptian lady, and the manner of passing the Nile; a dance of Almebs in an Harem; and a view of the Birket at Kaira.

The historical account contains a sketch of the actions of the French in Egypt, from their first landing to their defeat by the army under General Abercromby.

Soon after the French landed in Egypt, the author informs us they met with the following melancholy

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"On the second day of the march of the troops across the desert, from Alexandria, they met, near Beda, a young woman, whose face was smeared with blood. In one hand she held a young infant, and her other was vacantly stretched out to the object that might strike or guide it. Their curiosity was excited. They called their quide, who was at the same time heir interpreter. They approached, and they heard the sighs of a beng from whom the organs of tears ad been torn away! Astonished, and esirous of an explanation, they uestioned her. They learned that e dreadful spectacle before their yes had been produced by a fit of alousy. Its victim presumed to utr no murmurs, but only prayers in ehalf of the innocent who partook her misfortune, and which was on. e point of perishing with misery

and hunger. The soldiers, struck with compassion, and forgetting their own wants in the presence of the more pressing wants of others, immediately gave her a part of their rations. They were bestowing part of the precious water with which they were threatened to be soon wholly without themselves, when they beheld the furious husband approach, with the fruits of his vengeance, had who, feasting his eyes at a distance kept its victims in sight. He sprang forward, snatched from the woman's hands the bread, the water (that last necessary of life!) which pity had given to misfortune: Stop!' cried he: she has lost her honour, she has wounded mine; this child is my shame, it is the son of guilt!' The soldiers resisted his attempt to deprive the woman of the food they had given her. His jealousy was irritated at seeing the object of his fury become that of the kindness of others. He drew a dagger, and gave the wo man a mortal bow; then seized the child, threw it into the air and destroyed it by its fall: afterwards with stupid ferocity he stood motionless, looking stedfastly at those who surrounded him, and defying their vengeance.

"M. Denon enquired whether there were no prohibitory laws against such an atrocious abuse of authority. He was answered, that the man had done wrong to stab the woman, because at the end of forty days she might have been received into a house, and fed by charity." p. 30

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In prosecuting their march, the following observation occurs: "In bread; and with the image of a vast a corn-country the soldiers wanted lake before their eyes they raged with thirst. To explain this new species of calamity it must be observed, that it is the effect of an illu sion which has not been found in any other region. This is produced by the mirage of projecting objects on the oblique rays of the sun, refracted by the whiteness of the burning earth; a phenomenon which offers so complete a resemblance of water, that the traveller is as much deceived the tenth time he sees it, as the first, and which thus tantalizes a thirst by so much the more ardent, as it occurs in precisely the hottest part of the day.

"The inhabitants deserted the "6 villages as the army approached them, carrying away all the provisions they contained. Water-melons were the first refreshment which it received from the soil of Egypt; and the memory of this fruit lives in its gratitude. On reaching the Nile, the soldiers threw themselves into that river, clothed as they were, to drink," says M. Denon, "at every pore.' p. 33, 34.

After a severe battle with Murat Bey they arrive at Rashid, where they witnessed the following custom. "When the government of this place was put into the hands of General Menou, many blows of the club were distributed among the populace. This was a remain of the oriental practice, the purpose of which seems to be, at once to drive away a mob, to ennoble a ceremony, and to make the weak sensible of the presence of the strong, and of the distance at which they ought to keep. The French never entered a village in which the Shech did not command, for their honour, such a distribution, which ceased only at their intercession, and when he thought the due respect sufficiently manifested." p. 43.

The following character of the Arabs is introduced thus. "We," says M. Denon," had indeed driven away the Mamlucks; but, being in want of every necessary on our arrival, did we not ourselves, while we removed these, fill their place And then for the Beduin Arabs, who are ill armed, and can make no resistance; whose ramparts are moving sands, whose lines are space, whose retreat is immensity; by whom could they be vanquished or confined? Shall we endeavour to win them by offers of land for cultivation? The husbandmen of Europe, once become hunters, cease to till the ground; and the Beduin is the primitive hunter: indolence and independence are the basis of his character; and to gratify and protect both the one and the other of these, he keeps himself in continual action, and endures the siege of tyranny and want. We have nothing, then, to offer to the Beduin that is equivalent to the advantage of robbing us; and this calculation is always the principle of the treaty into which he will be persuaded to enter.

Envy, that evil from which the abode of want is not exempt, hovers over even the burning'sands of the desert. The Beduins, at war with all the universe, hate and envy only the Beduins who are not of their own horde. They enter into every war; they put themselves in motion the moment a domestic quarrel, or foreign enemy, troubles the repose of Egypt; and, without attaching themselves to either party, they make use of their hostilities to pillage both. Where is the booty, there is the enemy of the Beduins. Their barbarity, meanwhile, has nothing in it atrocious. Those of the French, who had been their prisoners, spoke of the evils they had suffered during their captivity, as the result rather of the manner of life than of the ferocity of this nation. Officers who had been taken, told M. Denon, that the labour required of them to perform was neither excessive nor cruel; it was only to be obedient to the women, and to load and lead the asses and camels. They were obliged, indeed, to encamp and decamp incessantly. All the tackle was packed up, and a march commenced in les than a quarter of an hour. This tackle consisted of a mill for corn and coffee, an iron plate for dressing cakes, a large and a little coffee pot, a few leathern bottles, a few sacks of corn, and the cloth of a tent which covered the whole. A handful of roasted corn, and a dozen of dates, with a little water, which, on account of its scarcity, had served every purpose before it was drank, was the common ration of a day spent in travelling: but these officers had not had their souls wounded by the least ill treatment, nor did they retain any bitter recollection of an adverse condition of which it had been their le but to partake.

"Free from religious prejudice himself, the Beduin tolerates all. A few revered customs serve him is laws. His principles resemble th virtues which are sufficient for t partial association he forms, and the patriarchal government unos which he lives.

"Of the hospitality of this people. continues M. Denon, "I ought to the following instance: a French o cer had been several months the p soner of an Arab chief. Surprises by our cavalry in his camp, at night,

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