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petual importance to mankind, and involve their most permanent interests; and, moreover, that, though the truths of religion are always the same, the manners of the world, and the characters of men, to which they ought to be applied, are subject to perpetual variation." In this manner, our reverend Baronet pleads for sermon-making without end. With respect to the Discourses here collected into a volume, he observes that they are chiefly addressed to the congregation for which they were originally prepared, to which he officiated thirty years; and he allows himself to believe that among them they will neither be useless nor unacceptable. The seven which present themselves first to the reader appear to form the best part of the volume: they proceed from the heart of the writer, are pious and impressive, calculated to reach both the mind and conscience.

We shall not analize the contents of this volume, but allow the Rev. Baronet to explain his own intention, when he says; With regard to the subjects here illustrated, the author has only to add, that it has been his chief object, to represent the doctrines and the duties of Christianity as inseparably united, in the faith and practice of those who embrace it. Practical religion is of much more importance than the solution of difficult questions; and the sanctifi cation and salvation of those who profess the gospel, than the soundest opinions.'-In this sentiment we heartily concur.

Art. 31. Sermons preached to a Country Congregation to which are added a few Hints for Sermons; intended chiefly for the Use of the younger Clergy; by the late William Gilpin, M.A., Prebendary of Salisbury, and Vicar of Boldre, in New-Forest. Vol. IV.* 8vo. pp. 423. 75. 6d. Boards. Cadell and Davies.

The estimation in which we held Mr. Gilpin has always inclined us to speak handsomely of the productions of his pen; while at the same time, the publications themselves, though not faultless or complete, sufficiently merited respectful notice. The additional volume before us displays a farther claim as being posthumous, though intended by the author for the press, and corrected by his hand;-and also as being destined, by any profits which it may produce, to contribute to the support of a school which was benevolently established by himself at Boldre. Twenty-five Sermons are here offered to us, followed by twenty-three Hints for Sermons. Of the discourses, the first two cannot be supposed entirely to correspond with the professed design of the collection, because they were preached at visitations: but they are sensible, instructive, and useful, though more directly suited to an audience superior to common country congregations.

When the reader reaches No. 16, in this volume, he perceives an alteration in the plan of its contents: this discourse and the eight which follow have the same text, John v. 39. Search the scriptures, &c. and are accompanied by an advertisement, stating that the following sermons are presented to the public merely as a specimen of a mode of preaching, which, it is thought, may be useful to a country congrega. tion: the scriptures will be read with more pleasure, the more each little difficulty, which now and then stops an unlearned reader, is re

See M. Rev. Vol. xliii. N. S. p. 313.
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moved. This mode of preaching might be carried still farther. The Sunday-lessons, from the Old Testament, are not all, perhaps, selected with equal judgment Many of them contain difficulties which want explanation. If these lessons, as they occur, were now and then explained in the following sermon, it might have its use among the common people.'-After some remarks relative to the perusal of the scriptures, several chapters of St. Matthew's gospel are brought under review; and an attempt is made to illustrate their contents, and to lessen the intricacy which attends some passages.-No. 25, which may be regarded as a sequel, from John vi. 68, is very sensible, and calculated to instruct and improve the hearer or the reader. Indeed, a similar account may be given in general of the volume; although some parts are, we think, too slightly and hastily performed.

We come now to the Hints, which occupy upwards of sixty pages of the volume, with great propriety and advantage. We find here much to approve and commend; and, had we room, we should be inclined to insert some specimens of the writer's thoughts and manner.-One, however, must suffice, from No. 8; which, wandering perhaps from its motto, 1 Pet. iv. 8. proceeds to enumerate some instances in which men endeavour and hope to cover their offences:

Some men (says the preacher,) will ask, what almsgiving to the poor will do for them? They are willing to cover their sins by great bounty in this way; but these traders must be informed, that as far as themselves are concerned, they might as well keep their alms in their pockets. Theirs is just the old popish practice of indulgencies in both cases, money is paid for a liberty to commit sin.

In the same manner, others endeavour to cover their sins with what they call their virtues : -Their honesty, their temperance, their. veracity, or some other virtue which they think they possess, they set in opposition to some favourite sins; and hope under such cover to escape. But these men must not be surprised to hear, that virtues arising from such motives are no virtues at all; and instead of atoning for sins, are in fact themselves only sins in disguise - Their circumstances and situation in life are with many considered as making a good cover for sin. While we live in the world, they cry, we must in some degree follow the ways of the world. The ways of the world are not always consonant with strict duty; but we must now and then temporize, or we are nothing.-But, perhaps, our situation in life is not so commonly seductive as we are apt to suppose. No honest profession has,. I believe, any thing in it opposite to the duties of religion. If, however, we have unhappily chosen a profession which avowedly leads us into sin, we have our option; we may take either the broad or narrow way; and serve either God or

mammon.'

To these Hints, which may be profitably studied by Divines, particularly the junior part, is immediately joined an Analysis of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, well worthy of a careful perusal, and an Examination of Illustrations used by St. Paul in his Epistles.

MEDICAL.

MEDICAL, &c.

Art. 32. Cow-pox Inoculation no Security against Small por Infections with above 500 Proofs of Failure. By William Rowley, M. D. &c. &c. 3d Edit. 8vo. 3s. Harris, &c. 1806.

As the subject of Cow-pox still continues to occupy a large share of the attention of the medical world, many treatises respecting it have lately issued from the press, some vehemently opposing the practice, and others zealously contending in its favour. In order that our readers may be able to form a just opinion respecting the state of the controversy, we shall first notice the works of those authors who are adverse to vaccination, and afterward examine the arguments that have been employed to repel the objections.

We begin with Dr. Rowley's publication; to which we give the precedence, not from any idea of its superior merit, but because we believe that it has been the most widely circulated, and has probably, on the whole, had the most effect in counteracting the progress of the vaccine inoculation. In remarking on a production of this kind, there are two points to which the attention must be directed; we are to have respect both to the strength of the arguments employed, and to the manner in which they are set forth. Dr. Row ley sets out as a most violent partizan, and continues to support his cause in an unparalleled strain of declamatory virulence. Although occasionally some symptoms of candor make their appearance, the general strain of the pamphlet is marked by a degree of illiberality which no cause can justify, and which irresistibly leads the mind to doubt the force of reasoning that requires the aid of such weapons. He repeatedly charges the friends of vaccination with the most gross and criminal transactions; he accuses them of giving false accounts of the success of their practice, and even of bribing their patients to conceal the truth; and he proceeds on the supposition that the greatest part of them persevere in supporting and recommending the cow-pox, although they are well aware of its inefficiency. This conduct on the part of Dr. R. is so directly contrary to that spirit which ought to guide philosophical discussions, and which can alone enable us to arrive at the truth, that it cannot be sufficiently reprobated.

The arguments here employed are buried under such a heap of declamation, that it is with some difficulty that we are able to recognize them; they may, however, be reduced to the following heads. The cow-pox was unnecessary, because the variolous inoculation completely secured the patient, and was never fatal. The cow-pox has its origin from the ulcerous, stinking, horrid disorder, called grease in horses,' and must therefore itself necessarily produce an equally disgusting disorder. The cow-pox is not a permanent security against the small-pox. The attempt to eradicate the smallpox is absurd, or even impious; and, lastly, the cow-pox is followed by the most unpleasant effects, such as foul ulcers, incurable erup tions, &c. Our readers, who have attended to the state of the controversy, will at once be able to appreciate the weight of Dr. Row ley's arguments. They chiefly resolve themselves into discussions concerning matters of fact; and notwithstanding the very positivę

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and dogmatical manner in which they are stated, it is well known that they are contradictory to the experience of those practitioners whose opinion is, on every account, the most intitled to credit.— Since the publication of this treatise, Dr. Rowley has been called from this mortal scene of contest, doubt, and difficulty.

Art. 33. Serious Reasons for uniformly objecting to the Practice of Vaccination in Answer to the Report of the Jennerian Society, &c. By John Birch, Surgeon Extraordinary to the Prince of Wales, and to St. Thomas's Hospital. 8vo. 38. 6d. Callow, &c. 1806. On many accounts, the publication of Mr. Birch is more intitled to respect than that of Dr. Rowley. Whatever we may think of the force of his arguments, he at least treats a serious subject in a serious manner; and his pamphlet is free from vulgar scurrility.

Mr. Birch was one of those whose evidence before the House of Commons was unfavourable to vaccination; a circumstance for which he assumes to himself great credit:-but, on referring to the examination itself, we are not disposed to regard it as a subject of any particular exultation; fince Mr. Birch had at that time never practised the vaccine inoculation; and his answers betray rather an indifference to the subject, or an ignorance of it, than a spirit of patient and deliberate investigation.

Although we have admitted that the treatise before us displays a less objectionable temper of mind than some other publications of the opposers of vaccination, we cannot commend the argumentative part of it. The author takes it for granted, as a fact which requires no farther proof, that small-pox has frequently recurred after vaccination; that in many instances the local affection of the arm, excited by the insertion of the vaccine virus, has produced fatal consequences; and that the vaccine disease has given rise to a train of new and distressing complaints, which have harrassed the patients for a long time after the operation. These points are rather assumed, as having been universally admitted, than introduced with that atten tion to minute detail which is requisite in a discussion of this kind. Were these assertions previously demonstrated, no doubt of the validity of Mr. Birch's conclusions against the cow-pox could remain : but, stated as they are at present, they make no impression on the body of evidence which is adduced on the other side of the question. -The only argument employed by Mr. Birch against vaccination, which can be considered as in any respect new, is of so extraor dinary a nature, that it is necessary to state it in the words of the author: When such pains are taken to magnify the numbers that fall victims to small-pox, ....... why is it not remembered, that in the populous parts of the metropolis, where the abundance of chil. dren exceed the means of providing food and raiment for them, this pestilential disease is considered as a merciful provision on the part of Providence, to lessen the burden of a poor man's family?'

To Mr. Birch's publication, is subjoined a small treatise by Mr. Rogers, who appears to have been the pupil of the former gen. tleman, and who embraces the same side of the question, writes much in the same style, and proceeds on the same principles. The positions unfavourable to vaccination are supported by a reference to

facts,

facts, which are loosely or imperfectly detailed; while many circumstances, essential to the determination of the argument, are overlooked or disregarded.

Art. 34. A Dissertation on the Failure and Mischiefs of the Disease called the Cow-pox; in which the principal Arguments in favour of Vaccination are examined and confuted. By George Lipscomb, Surgeon. 8vo. 38. Robinson.

Mr. Lipscomb is a decided and zealous opposer of the practice of vaccination; and he has fallen into the error, which unfortunately has been sanctioned by some of those who adopt his view of the subject, of supporting his cause more by declamation and humor, than by sober argument and patient investigation. He sets out with professions of candour and moderation, disclaims all personalities, and resolves to employ no other weapons than those of reason but his good resolutions soon fail him, and he gradually falls into a strain which would assimilate with the pages of Dr. Rowley himself.

It appears that Mr. L. was one among those who uniformly opposed the introduction of the vaccine inoculation, from the time at which it was first recommended. He could not reconcile himself to the supposed origin of the disease; and he conceived it impossible that so slight an affection could permanently secure the constitution. His grand objections, however, depend on the degree of uncertainty which still prevails concerning some particular points, even among the warmest advocates for the cow pox. They have differed about its origin, about the occurrence of eruptions, and about the possibi lity of its being received more than once by the same subject; whence he infers that our knowlege respecting it is not sufficient to countenance the appeals that have been made in its favour. The recur rence of small-pox after vaccination, and the production of disgusting and loathsome diseases, he considers as facts so well established as to require no farther proof. He does not, therefore, condescend to state particular cases, but deems it sufficient to appeal in general terms to the body of evidence already before the public.

Art. 35. The Vaccine Contest; or, "mild Humanity, Reason, Religion, and Truth, against fierce, unfeeling Ferocity, overbearing Insolence, mortified Pride, false Faith, and Desperation;" being an exact Outline of the Arguments and interesting Facts, adduced by the principal Combatants on both Sides, respecting Cowpox Inoculation; &c. &c. By William Blair, M. A. "Surgeon of the Lock Hospital and Asylum, &c. &c. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Murray. 1806.

This work is an answer to the publication of Dr. Rowley; our opinion of which we have just expressed without reserve. It is not easy to decide on the best method of answering such a performance; its numerous misrepresentations require patient and careful investi gation; while its popular and declamatory style ought, if possible, to be opposed by something which would equally impress the minds of those who are influenced more by feeling than by the calm deductions of reason. Mr. Blair has chiefly directed his attention to the

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