probable, from the answers and returns made in confequence of the Population Act, 41, Geo. III. that the mean population of Great Britain and Ireland, during the above fifty-four years, was 12,000,000; and the mean population of Europe, during the fame term, was calculated to have been 150,000,000.

The dea hs by fmall-pox, therefore, in Great Britain and Ireland, within fifty four years, are 1,762,135, or 32,632 annually; and in all Europe 22.026,699, or 407,901 annually. And if it could be ftated, with any probability, at what periods the small-pox first appeared in the other quarters of the world, and what has been the mean populaation of each, then fome idea might be formed of that havock of the human fpecies, which has been made by this diforder. May the vaccine-pock inoculation become the means, under Divine Providence, of caufing this malady, with all the pain and mifery produced by it, to ceale throughout the world.

"P.S. If the above term, of fifty-four years, be divided into t equal periods, then the proportion of deaths by the fmall-pox to other caufes, is, for the first period, a very little less than 2 in 17, and for the fecond period, a little less than 1 in 17.

"If the term be divided into three equal periods, then the propor tion is, for the first period, a little less than 1 in 10; for the fecond, a little more than 1 in 10; and, for the third, a very little less than 1-in 19. This computation may, perhaps, be applied towards a folution of the question concerning the increafe or diminution of mortality by the fmall-pox, fince the introduction of inoculation. And it may, hereafier, be applied, towards fhewing the progreffive, and the final happy effect of vaccine-pock inoculation." P. 102.

We have ftated thus fully the contents of this paper, wifhing to excite other parish minifters (particularly in large towns) who may poffefs fimilar opportunities, to communicate to the public fimilar information; and they will probably think it expedient to unite all fuch intelligence, by communicating it through the fame channel of this Inflitution.

The authors are compelled, by the length of their Report, to forbear offering many remarks excited by the foregoing account; and they "confine themselves to a few of the im portant truths manifefted in it". They prefent to us, however, nine pages of Obfervations; chiefly tending to fhow, that inoculation has been beneficial to the public in the country, but not in London. The latter part of the fifth Obfervation feems to be erroneous; "with refpect to Mr. Partridge's calculation of the mortality in Europe by the fmall-pox, during the last fifty-four years, it appears to approximate to truth, as far as data will at prefent allow; excepting that it does not Jeem fair to estimate the mortality to be in the fame ratio in London, and in provincial fituations." P. 108. We cannot find that Mr. P. has made any such eftimate; or that he has had London efpecially in contemplation, in any part of his paper.

The

The Third Annual Report flows, that the small-pox is productive of great mifchief, notwithanding the advantages of inoculation; that the fuperiority of vaccine over variolous inoculation, is very great; and, that

"the prefent Inftitution is perfectly fuited for procuring evidence to inform thofe who are unacquainted with the new practice; for the determining all doubtful points relating to it; and for difcovering errors; as every cafe will be regiltered; every improvement be made under the direction of the Medical Eftablifhment belonging to the Inftitu tion; and the refults of the practice will be reported to the Go- vernors.”—“ And that the poorest ranks in fociety may enjoy the benefit of the new inoculation, a Plan of the Vaccine-Pock Inftitution is fubmitted to the confideration of benevolent perfons." P. 120.

At p. 127, are "Directions for the Inoculation, at the Vaccine-Pock Inftitution." The coloured Plates prefixed to the volume, appear to give as accurate a representation as can be expected, of the appearance of the cow-pock compared with that of the fmall-pox, and chicken-pox.

Without entering into any queftion refpecting the comparative merits of the plan adopted by this Inflitution, and others that have been, or might be devifed, we may fafely concur with the reporters in faying, that probably, "fo much good has rarely, if ever, been done at fo finall an expence.'

ART. III. Sermons on the Dignity of Man, and the Value of the Objects principally relating to Human Happiness. From the German of the late Rev. George Joachim Zollikofer, Minifter of the Reformed Congregation at Leipfick. By the Rev. William Tooke, F. R. S. In Two Volumes. 8vo. 1. 15. Longman and Rees. 1802.

THES

THESE Sermons are preceded by a fhort Preface, originally written by the author, and a brief account of him, from the pen of the editor. From the latter, we learn that he was a native of St. Gall, in Switzerland, and born in the year 1730, his father having been an eminent lawyer. He profecuted his ftudies firit at Bremen, and afterwards at the Univerfity of Utrecht: after he had completed his academical courfe, he was appointed preacher at Murten, in the Pays de Vaud, whence he was preferred fhortly after to a more confiderable place at Monftein, in the Grifons. Thence he went, upon invitation, to Ifenburg; and, laftly, in 1758, to Leipfick. He was twice married, but had no iffue by either marriage. He died, univerfally and juftly regretted, January 23, 1788.

The

The firftvolume contains twenty-five difcourfes, the fecond twenty-feven. The titles of which we fhall fubjoin. "Wherein the Dignity of Man confifts."-"What is in Oppofition to the Dignity of Man."-" How and by what Means Chriftianity reflores the Dignity of Man."-" The Value of Human Life.". "The Value of Health."-" The Value of Riches.". The Value of Honour."-The Value of Senfual Pleasure."-" The Value of Intellectual Peasures.""The Value of Devotion."-" The Value of Senfibility." "The Value of Virtue."-" The fuperior Value of Chrif tian Virtue."-" The Pleafures of Virtue."- Why many virtuous Perfons enjoy not more Pleafure."-" The Value of Religion in General."-"The Value of the Chriftian Religion in particular."" The Value of Chriftianity in regard of the general Advantage it has procured to Mankind, and still procures." The high Value and Excellence of the Humant Soul."-" The Value of Man's Life-Time upon Earth.""The Value or the Importance of One Year."-" Of the Detriment and Danger of too frequent Diffipation and Diverfions."—" The Value or Importance of the Doctrine of our Immortality."-" The Value or Importance of the Hope of a blessed Immortality, confidered as the principal Source of our Satisfaction and Serenity of Mind."" Of Spiritual Experiences."

Vol. II. "The Value of Social and Public Worfhip.""The Value of Solitude."—" The Value of Social Life.' "The fame continued."-" The Value of a bufy Life.' "The Value of Commerce."-" The Value of a country. Life." The Value of Domeftic Happiness."--" Of, Friendship."-" Of Civil and Religious Liberty."-" Of "Of Learning."-" Of more enlightened Times."-" Of Afflic-' tions and Tribulations."-" Of a good Reputation."--" Of Converfion from a bad Course of Life."-"The Bieffedness of Beneficence."-" The Value of Human Happiness itself." -"Settlement of our Notions concerning Human Happinefs."—"The Difference between Profperity and Happiness.

"View of the Sources of Human Happinefs."" The Chriftian Doctrine concerning Happinefs."-" Arguments against Vanity."-"Rules for rightly appreciating the Value of Things."" The Vanity of all earthly Things."-" Of the practical Character of Jefus Chrift."" Of the Imitation of the Example of Jefus."-" Of the paftoral Office."

Prefixed to each difcourfe is a fuitable and appropriate addrefs to the Deity. In the author's fhort Preface it is fuggefted, that probably thefe difcourfes may not be thought by fome" clerical, theological, or biblical enough;" and the

author,

author, by anticipation, combats fuch objections, by afferting human happiness, in all its branches, to be a subject fufficiently theological and biblical of itself; the fum and fcope of the Bible having no other tendency than to improve the condition of mankind. But, though we should admit this to be true in fome sense, and allow it to pass as a just vindication of the ftyle of the Sermons, yet we cannot allow them to be fuffici ently theological when they tend to depreciate Chriflianity; and we hall always think Chriftianity depreciated, when its great doctrine of atonement and redemption through the blood of Christ is kept out of fight, or in any manner overlooked. We cannot forbear to remark, that we have many complaints of this nature to make. The eighteenth Sermon, Vol. I. on the Value of Chriflianity, intended particularly for ChristmasDay, is, in our opinion, extremely defective on this head? The advantages of Chriftianity there enumerated, however juft, and however eloquently defcribed, feem poor in comparifon with the great scheme of Chriftian redemption and atonement through the blood of "the Lamb flain from the founda tion of the world." We are in fome degree at a lofs, indeed. to know why this doctrine is fo kept out of fight in difcourfes evidently leading to it; for, though omitted in the Sermon juft referred to, in the very next following (Sermon XIX Vol. I.)" on the Value of the Human Soul," the doctrine of redemption through Chrift is mentioned in very animated

terms.

"I will only now remind you, of the last and most glorious reve. lation of the divine grace, promulgated to us by the gospel. Chrift, my friends, the only begotten Son of God, the Lord and head of angels, by whom God made the world, and ftill governs it, divefts himfelf of his authority and glory, comes upon earth, takes our na→ tute upon him, lives among mankind, is their brother, their teacher; their mediator, fuffers for them unfpeakable pains, and dies at laft as à • facrifice for their fins on the cross, to deliver human souls from ruin, to enlighten human fouls, to improve, to fanctify them, to prepare for them the way to communion with God and to everlasting happiness, to make them, from fervants of fin and death, the children of the Moft High, heirs of a blessed immortality, citizens of heaven."

We are the more forry that Mr. Zollikofer fhould not have taken occafion to discuss fubjects more immediately theological than thofe he has in general chofen; because he appears to have been very capable of writing perfpicuously upon topics com monly reckoned abftrufe. His Sermon upon Spiritual Experi ences (Vol. I. Serm. XXV.) is, in many respects, a proof of this: he has there admirably handled many points which have led even acute theologians into doubts and perplexities. From

85

this discourse, as the fubject upon which it treats has been much perverted by fome theological feets, we shall take two fpecimens of the flyle and manner of thefe difcourfes; obferving only, that the term itself of Spiritual Experiences is not feriptural, and is little ufed by the orthodox members of the Church of England; but as explained by this difcourfe, it appears liable to no objection.

19

The term fpiritual experience is generally ufed in a very indefiaite fenfe, and they who boaft the most about it have frequently the moft obfcure and erroneous conception of it. They give this appellation to every feeling that is rather strong, every extraordinary motion of the blood, without first examining whence these feelings and emo tions arife. They continually confound the imagination and experi ence together, and often look upon the most natural changes in their body and mind as fomething extraordinary and fupernatural. When they are defired to explain their experiences, or to fhew whence they arife, they evade the question by declaring the whole of the matter to be incomprehenfible. But were they at the pains to inquire a little into their own nature, and inform themselves fomewhat of the manner wherein the mind acts upon the body, and the body upon the mind; then many of the incomprehenfibilities, at which they aftonish them felves and others, would fall to the ground, and they would obtain a complete folution of what they at prefent regard as an inexplicable myflery. When we fpeak of experiences in common life, every one who understands the language knows what we mean by it: we denote nothing else by it than that we feel the effects of particular things, and are confcious of it. Thus we experience, for example, the power of the fun, the property of the air, the violence of the wind, and the like: that is, we feel the effect that these things have upon us, the alterations they produce in our bodies, and are conscious of ir. Apply this now to fpiritual experiences, and you will have a plain and juft comprehenfion of them. What are they but the feelings of the good effects religion has upon us, of the happy changes it works in our fentiments, our judgments, our inclinations, our actions, and our pleafures This idea is perfectly clear. It coincides with the nature of our mind; and we need only attentively confider what we call fpiritual experiences, for finding that they are no otherwise to be defcribed. I will explain myself farther on this matter. The doctrines of religion have not only an enlightening, but also an affecting and convincing power. They are intended not only to rectify our underftanding, but also to correct our inclinations. They are intended to purify our hearts, to fettle our views and affections, and move us to good and virtuous refolutions. If then they produce in us fuch ef fects, our knowledge is lively, or, which is the fame thing, we get an experimental knowledge of the power and efficacy of the doctrines of religion. A few examples may ferve to illuftrate this. Every devout Chriftian confiders the gracious difpofitions of God towards finners the purfues, with filent attention, the wife and kind methods which the Moft High has ordained for reclaiming and restoring the human races he admires the greatnefs of the love difplayed in our behalf; he

makes