REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

An Original Essay on the Immate-
riality and Iminortality of the
Human Soul, founded solely on
Physical and Rational Principles.
By S. Drew. 2d Edit. 8vo, Pr. 75.

COMPARING the merit of this work with the circumstances of its author, the reader will be forcibly struck with the idea, that in the common ranks of life there are men of uncommon ininds. The dedication to the Rev. and learned Mr. Whitaker, is eminently distinguish ed from the fulsome flattery which too frequently debases this species of composition. It is evidently the deserved tribute of respectful gratitude, flowing from a feeling heart, and expressed by an elegant pen. It does equal honour to the author and to his patron.

The publication of this work, which is intended to prove that the soul of man is immaterial and immortal, is rendered seasonable by the late attacks of Infidels and professedly Christian philosophers. The subject is confessedly deep and mysterious. The author proposes to establish it on rational principles, distinct from divine revelation. Whether it is discoverable without the aid of revelation, will probably admit of a dispute; but that reason confirms what revelation has taught on this subject, is, we think, in this work, very clearly demon'strated.

The author introduces his sub. ject by some observations on matter and spirit. In proving the im. materiality of the soul, he remarks, that every man feels within himself a consciousness not only of his own existence, but also of the powers of perception, judgment, volition. He then shews that these, having no positive existence, necessarily support the positive existence of a substance in which they inhere; that these powers are not essential to matter that they cannot be the result of matter, nor of any modification of matter, nor any quality

superadded to matter. He then proceeds to prove, that a conscious principle is essentially immaterial; and deduces his evidence of this, especially from its intelligence, its affections, and its reflective powers. In the discussion of these topics, the author has some ingenious remarks on the difference between reason and instinct.

On the immortality of the soul he observes, that if the soul perish, it must necessarily be either by dis solution, by privation, or by anni. hilation; and then clearly shews that it cannot possibly perish by any of these means; - that nothing in the soul itself, nor any thing exterior to it, can produce these ef fects; and that the essential properties of the soul are as immortal as itself. In demonstrating these particulars, he employs a very wide compass of forcible reasoning.

The admirers of metaphysical disquisition will be highly gratified in reading this treatise. They will not expect to find every argument equally conclusive; but we venture to say, that they will certainly meet with a depth of penetration, a force and acuteness of reasoning, of which few publications can boast. The author craves indulgence for the incorrectness of his style, and for any grammatical inaccuracies. But there needs no apology. His style is far from inelegance. Consider. ing the nature of his subject, it is remarkably clear. In his use of the subjunctive mood, we think we discover an error; and the nature of his work being argumentative, occasions its frequent recurrence. But if he errs in this particular, it is in company with many of the most respectable writers. It is commonly supposed that contingency is the sign of the subjunctive mond; but if we deliberately consider the subject, we shall probably conclude, that the subjunctive form should be used only when the sen tence supposes contingency and yaturity united *.

• See Murtay's Grammar, 8th Edit. p. 56. &c. and p. 159, &c.

The limits of our review prevent tis from giving a specimen of the author's style and manner; we therefore conclude by informing our readers, that this second edition is, in many respects, so far superior to the first, as to give it the character of almost a new work.

Memoirs of Eminently Pious Wo. men, who were Ornaments of their Sex, Blessings to their Country, and Edifying Examples to the Church and World. By Thos. Gibbons, D.D. To which is now adiled, a Second Volume; containing the Lives of many others equally exemplary in every Grace which can adorn the Female Character. By the Rev. George Jerment. In Trvo Vols. embellished with 15 Portraits, 185; fine, 215. THE former part of this work is already known to the public, and was so well received as to require a second edition. The Editor has judiciously comprized the substance of the original memoirs, which were printed in two volumes, in the first of these, which we think an improvement, as some of the lives were certainly too prolix. To these are now added, in a second volume, the lives of Mrs. Drake, Lady Falkland, Lady Halket, Mrs. Combe, Mrs. Clarkson, Mrs. Terry, Mrs. West, Mrs. Ann Dutton, Mrs. Housman, Mrs. Woodd, Miss Gray, Miss S. Mainwaring, Mrs. M. M. Althens, Lady Hope, Lady Glenorchy, Lady Huntingdon, Mrs. Talbot, Mrs. Campbell, Lady Bur. ford, Mrs. Brander, Mrs. Middle. ton, Miss Neale, Mrs. Humphrys, Mrs. Hutchinson, and Mrs. Bennet. Most of these have appeared before singly; but, combined in the present form, they present to view a rich constellation of female excellence, which, we trust, will be studied with delight and profit by a great number of our fair countrywomen; and excite in many a breast earnest desires to resemble these pious persons, who, in various stations of life, adorned the doctrines of grace, exemplified the Christian temper in all its branches, and are now, without doubt, inheriting the promises. Had the Editor ex.

punged some obsolete phrases and Scotticisms from a few of the lives, the work would have been more uniformly agreeable to a reader of taste; but these are trifles compared with the substantial excellence of the whole, which we can cordially recommend as a valuable performance.

As a specimen of the original matter we give the following extract, containing an account of Lady Glenorchy's conversion:

"Wilhelmina Maxwell, Lady Glenorchy, was the younger of two daughters left by Dr. William Maxwell, Esq. of Preston, a gentleman of high respectability and large fortune, in Galloway, North Britain; and was born at Preston,

an. 1742. Dr. Maxwell died four months before the birth of his youngest daughter; and his widow, now the venerable Lady Alva, wishing to perpetuate the name of a husband so dear, called the fatherless child Wilhelmina. She watched over the education of both daughters with maternal solicitude, and endeavoured to preserve them from the vortex of fashionable pleasure. The oldest was married at Edinburgh, 1761, to William Earl of Su. ject of these memoirs, was married at therland; the youngest, who is the subLondon some months afterwards, to John Lord Viscount Glenorchy, only son of the earl of Breadalbane. The earl of Sutherland and his countess died within a few days of each other, and left an only daughter two months old. That daughter, the present Marchioness of Stafford, formerly Countess of Sutherland, was educated under the direction of her grandmother, Lady Alva; and received kind attention from her aunt, Lady Glenorchy.

Born to

orphans was increased by her own premaThis worthy lady, whose tenderness for ture widowhood, was formed for a superior place in society. Her understanding was naturally strong and capacious, and her memory retentive. Her mind was polished by a liberal education, and richly furnished with ideas. Her person was agree. brilliant, and attended by a constant flow able, her manner engaging, her fancy of spirits and good humour. wealth, and allied to a rich and noble house, she was fitted to make a distinguished figure among the great, and to shine in courts. In early life, as might be expected from these circumstances, this accomplished young lady was filled with vanity, was fond of dress, and attached to gay amusements. But, as Moses, "when he was come to vears, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choose

author in all his arguments, nor to state the objections which he has answered; the reader will see from the above the general nature of the subject. The real condition of man, by nature, and the work of the Holy Spirit in renewing his mind, impressing the image of God on his soul, and producing true hoiness and happiness, are insisted on and explained with considerable ability.

than his own sound and unsophisticated truths; and, therefore, those who, instead of pointing to the Saviour and to the Holy Spirit, are di recting men, more or less, to their own powers, to rational investigation of spiritual things, to metaphysical inquiries concerning divine truth, or to fine-spun theories of human invention, all of them opposite to the plan and simplicity of the gos pel, have their reward in cold, unIn page 28, some observations animated hearers, or uninfluenced worthy of notice will be found, and useless attention. Rarely do relative to the duty of every man even sounder doctrines possess the to believe in Christ. In page happy effect of truly converting sin113, we have a just statement of ners, when adorned with the mereEnthusiasm. His remarks on tricious splendor of man's wisdom, Schism, Moral Preaching, and Re with a laboured style, with orna. vivals of Religion, are peculiarly mental flourishes, with the glitter excellent. "Those," says he, of human wit or oratory, employed are the worst Schismatics, the too much for the purpose of gain real and most dangerous Dissenters ing human applause. Nor do real from the doctrine, and the greatest Christians receive content or edifidisgrace to the discipline of the cation from classical elegancies of Church of England, who, while expression, or studied points bor. they profess to be its ministers and rowed from ancient Heathens, who members, do most strenuously con- neither knew God nor themselves. tradict, by evil life or heterodox Fine and admired discourses, barprinciples, the fundamentals of the ren of evangelical truth, may Christian religion. Idle and dis- cause men to be charmed with the solute clergymen, who (one must preacher or writer; but they lead say with regret) are to be found in them not from the playhouse, nor every place of worldly entertain the card-table, nor fashionable ament; and almost in any place ramusements, nor sordid views and ther than in their duties or churches, where the service seems, too often, tedious and burdensome; the loose, the ignorant, the unprincipled laymen, professing at the same time to be Members of the church these, and these chiefly, are the grand Schismatics and Enthusiasts! Can it be expected, that persons really concerned for truth and salvation will listen to the voice of the fox-hunter, the gambler, the sordid worldling, or the openly profane? It is with a very ill grace, therefore, that ministers of this stamp complain of the increase of Dissenters. They themselves are the principal cause of that increase." As it respects Moral Preaching, he justly observes, "That the Holy Spirit rarely blesses, and cannot be expected to bless at all, any other

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endeavours, nor from the spirit of the world. Preachers of this sort may seem, like instruments of music, to sound well; but they only sound: and their hearers go off as from a concert, admiring the tunes and the performers perhaps; but neither duly fed, nor properly in formed."

We cannot multiply quotations, but must refer our readers to the volume itself; from which, we have no doubt, they will derive both pleasure and profit.

We shall only add, that we have the pleasure to be informed, that for this work we are indebted to the same able pen that produced Horæ Solitariæ, The Christian Remembrancer, and several other excellent publications,

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East. The difficulties which the Missionaries have to combat there, are indeed affecting, but, as nothing is too hard for the Lord, we may still hope that their eyes will be opened, and that they will be turned from darkness to night, and from the power of Satan unto God. The letter from Dr. Vanderkemp to the Directors is remark bly interesting; an extract from which we shall present to our readers in the Inteligence.