character of Jerom, the learned, irascible, dogmatic Jerom,' who is selected as a proper specimen of the theological despotic temper. To this succeed some general observations upon factious religionism, which would tempt us into extensive discussion, did not our limits forbid our entering upon the copious subject. We shall, perhaps, find some other opportunity of examining our Author's views on this subject, which seem to us, we must confess, clouded with the indistinctness of imperfect analysis. He borders upon a true solution of the perplexing phenomenon, when he complains, that nothing can be looked at in its native form, so long as the jealousies and the interests of eight or ten ancient and corporate factions spread themselves over the field of theology. But he has not exhibited his usual skill and judgement, or opulence of historical information, in this portion of his labours. The most appropriate illustration of the Fanaticism of the Symbol might have been drawn from the history of the Lutheran Reformation; but to this period there is scarcely an allusion. In one place, reference is made to the dogmatic fanaticism which raged at the time of the Reformation'; but it is only as a passing remark. Has he reserved the illustration of this period for another occasion ? Or did he shrink from portraying the great Saxon Reformer in his genuine character as a theologue, in which it is impossible to deny that fanaticism was strongly mingled as a deteriorating ingredient?

We have already remarked, that the last two chapters (or, as they are whimsically and improperly called, sections) of the work are, in some respects, the most valuable of the whole; but we have left ourselves no room for abstract or lengthened citation. In fact, the consecutive train of argument and illustration is scarcely susceptible of abridgement. The chapter on the Spirit of the New Testament is an admirable specimen of a rare species of biblical criticism, combining the literary spirit of Lowth with the spiritual tact of a highly devout mind. The Author's style, too, in this portion of the work, is calm, flowing, and more suitable to philosophical writing than in some of the preceding sections. The analysis of the Apostolic Epistles is peculiarly interesting. As a specimen, we must make room for the observations on the Catholic Epistle of St. John.

At a hasty glance, it might seem as if the first epistle of John was of that sort which engenders a supra-mundane or abstracted style of piety; and so, although itself free from rancorous ingredients, might, at second or third hand, become the source of unsocial feelings. Abstract or philosophic love is but another name for visionary selfishness; so it has proved in the instance of mystics of all sects.

But in such cases it will be found, that the system of sentiment has been made to rest upon dogmas, metaphysic or abstruse, and hard to be expressed in familiar terms.-The "pure love of God,” and of

"all creatures in him," has been a stagnation of the soul, reflecting from its dead surface, not the smiling and various landscape around, but the mere vacancy of the skies. Has then the divine love which John describes and recommends, any such character of subtilty or refinement or does it rest at all upon a theoretic basis? Every reader of the Catholic epistle must confess that it is not so. In the first place, the singularly inartificial structure of this composition (so unlike the elaborate rhapsodies of the mystic) contradicts the supposition; and so does the homeliness of the style, which, instead of recommending itself to the fastidious taste of sensitive recluses, seems specially adapted to the uninstructed class of readers. But the main circumstance of distinction is this-That the very drift of the whole treatise, the point which at all events is to be secured, and which rises to view in each paragraph, till it seems a tautology,-is, that ne profession of love to God can for a moment be admitted as genuine. or as better than " a lie," if it does not constantly and consistently prove itself to include the love of benevolence towards all around us. He

that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" Now this plain appeal to common sense is a concise refutation of the principle of mystic religion, which we find to be, that what is occult, is always more worthy than what is sensible or visible. But St. John makes what is occult subordinate to what is visible. Or it might be said, that he utterly sets at nought and spurns all modes of religious sentiment that are too sublime to be measured by the very simplest maxims of common virtue. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth."-Or if an exhortation so clear needed a comment, we have it at hand:-" Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"

The epistle of John ought then to be regarded, not as a germ of mysticism, but, on the contrary, as a plain and pointed caution against every form of hyperbolic piety. The ultimate reason of this caution is not indeed the one which secular men will approve; for it does not assume all elevated and intense emotions fixed on unseen objects to be absurd or pernicious. Far otherwise; for the apostle carries the notion of true piety to the very highest point, even to that height of "perfect love," which "casteth out fear."-But while he does so, he employs all his force in strengthening the connexion (which the mystic labours to weaken) between the offices of piety and charity, and those exalted motives that should animate virtue. In a word, the religion of John is not abstruse, but intelligible; not theoretic, but practical; not monastic, but domestic:-it is the very religion which the Soffee, and the Platonist, and the Pietist, and the Monk, spurn as vulgar, or natural, in comparison with his own, which he declares to be " celestial." pp. 465–67.

At the commencement of this article, we intimated our intention to offer some general observations upon the works of the philosophical writer to whom we feel ourselves, in common with the religious public, so deeply indebted; but the length to which

VOL. XIII.-N.S.

E

our remarks have already extended, compels us to defer this till his forthcoming volume shall fall under our notice. Were we in few words to characterise the merits of his compositions, we should say, that imbodying, as they evidently do, the solid results of years of recluse study and patient cogitation, they claim to be viewed less as the expression of opinions, than as the testimony of one who has examined the records of human nature, and reported the results. The familiarity which he displays with the writings of ecclesiastical antiquity, is that of one accustomed to converse with, and to cross-examine, the extant witnesses to the state of things in remote ages. Next to this rare literary qualification, we might be disposed to rank his power of imbodying in distinct and vivid portraiture, the conceptions thus obtained of the actors and events in those distant times, did not we regard as still more valuable, the profound physiological acquaintance with human nature which he discovers, and which enables him to combine something of anatomical skill with his moral painting. His composition bespeaks at once a vivid imagination and a slow hand. It is characterised by intensity without fluency, opulence of materials with defective manipulation, -strength and mental power without facility. He seems, it has been acutely remarked, to work almost throughout in a tone of mental orgasm'; and he keeps the faculties of his readers perpetually on the stretch. He is often eloquent, sometimes obscure, but never dull. The distinguishing charm of his writings, however, is the ardent, vigorous, and catholic piety which pervades them, and the spirit of genuine philanthropy which is every where conspicuous. If he may be thought to approximate at any time, or in any degree, to the character of an enthusiast, he must, at all events, be regarded as at the antipodes of fanaticism. The calm benevolence of his philosophy is such as genuine Christian sentiment alone can inspire; and it is the reader's fault, if he does not rise from the perusal of such a volume as the present, a wiser and a better man.

Quarto, pp.

Art. II. The History and Antiquities of the Fortifications of the City of York; by H. F. Lockwood, and A. H. Cates. viii. 48. Price 188. London, 1834.

NOTWITHSTANDING a little turgid common-place in the first paragraph or two of the preface, with a somewhat unnecessary flourish about Samothes the son of Japhet,' and Albion the son of Neptune', this is, altogether, a judicious and creditable work. The historical portion is sufficiently illustrative, and the technical elucidations are clear and comprehensive.

Such a publication, however, requires from us neither analysis nor disquisition; and when we have expressed our general approbation of its execution, we shall have left ourselves little more to say on the subject.

York, from its situation, has been, nearly throughout the whole of its history, of great importance, both as a military post and a centre of administration. Just so far removed from the borders of conflicting provinces and kingdoms, as to place it beyond the first success of invasion, or the more limited range of the foray, it speedily became a rallying point for the national forces and the provincial militia. Hence it was made, at a very early period, both a place d'armes and a regular fortress of considerable strength; answering thus the double purpose of a central depot for martial furniture and a formidable munition, under cover of which, or in the breathing-time of a protracted siege, an inferior strength or a broken army might protract a doubtful campaign. In the civil wars, too, which have so often and so severely shaken the social system of England to its foundation, York has had rather more than an average share; its walls have stood many a severe brunt, and long ago exhibited evidence of rough handling. Their present condition is clearly and minutely described in the essay before us; and the well executed etchings by Mr. Cates from Mr. Lockwood's drawings, illustrate in the most satisfactory manner the original structure of these interesting remains. The towers and gates are not only good specimens of the military architecture of the olden time, but fair subjects for picturesque treatment; their points of view are judiciously selected, and the light and shade expressed with much effect.

Art. III. A Collection of Geological Facts and practical Observations intended to elucidate the Formation of the Ashby Coal-Fields. By Edward Mammatt, F.G.S. Map, Profiles, Sections, and one hundred and two coloured Plates of Vegetable Fossils. Royal Quarto, pp. xii. 101. Price £2. 12s. 6d. Ashby. 1834.

WE

E are partial to works like the monograph before us, exhibiting the results of a long and practical investigation of some one scientific particular connected, as circumstances may dictate, with either subject or locality, or with any other point of science, essential or accidental. In geology more especially, there is ground for suspicion that we have been of late working too much on the grand scale, expatiating more largely and fearlessly than previous surveys will fairly warrant, and taking for granted more than the actual amount of specific knowledge can strictly authorize. We are not forgetting that there is a broad

distinction between hypothesis and generalization, nor that, in many cases where the former would be altogether extravagant, the latter may be highly expedient. But, with this reserve, we shall take leave to enter our protest against that proneness to systematize without ample induction, and that eagerness to force heterogeneous materials into unmaintainable combinations, which are so injuriously prevalent. We may possibly find opportunity to discuss this matter both positively and referentially; but for the present, we only touch upon it by way of caution to geological students, and as a brief preface to a passing notice of the work now in our hand.

Mr. Mammatt has not quite escaped the theorizing contagion; but his speculative moods are happily transient; and this is the more fortunate, inasmuch as his excursions in this way are the least intelligible portions of his book. His facts and illustrations. are valuable, but his flights into the regions of hypothesis tend but little to edification. He is, moreover, chargeable with the error that so much impaired the soundness of Werner's conclusions. As the observations of the Philosopher of Freyberg were vitiated by an almost exclusive regard to the phenomena of the Harz mountains, so, in their degree, are Mr. M.'s notions trammeled by his familiar locality. The Ashby Coal-field is to him primer and text-book, grammar and Lexicon; it supplies him with fact and comment, theory and practice; nor can we find in his volume satisfactory traces of that extensive induction and collocation on which all sound and enduring generalizations must be established. At the same time, it must in fairness be stated, that every thing of this sort is purely incidental, and that the worth of the book is entirely independent of the very small portion of it which is thus questionable. Mr. Mammatt is a shrewd and sagacious observer; and we shall do our readers a service by pointing their attention to a work which contains an ample collection of instructive details connected with an important branch of geological and commercial investigation.

It may be satisfactory to certain prospective alarmists to know, that there is no chance of any very speedy failure in the supply of coal, so far as the Ashby district is concerned; since it appears from rough calculation, that there is enough in the different strata to meet the present rate of demand for ten thousand years' to come. In the midland districts, coal is raised from the mine, and supplied to the consumer, in large masses, very different from the comminuted state in which the sea-borne coal reaches the London market. Hence, an immense quantity of broken material is left behind in the workings; and should circumstances hereafter become urgent, or should prices advance, this rejected coal would certainly find its way to the canal or the rail-road. We give one