Manifestations of THE DIVINE MAJESTY AND GLORY, even upon earth and proceeding, equally with the manifeftations in the heavens, from that Divine Giver of all things, THE GREAT CREATOR;-to whom the Powers in heaven lift up their voices continually, with holy praife, faying,

Holy-Holy-Holy-Lord God of Sabaoth! Heaven and Earth are full of the Majefty of Thy Glory." P. 36.

In the fecond Differtation, the object of the author is to diftinguish accurately the differences which he supposes to be intended in Scripture between the expreflions Heaven, the Heavens, and the Heaven of Heavens. The diftinctions are ingenious, and not without probability. Section 3, is a note fuggefting, from paffages of Scripture, that the fun and stars are not of fo recent formation as our earth. No. 4, is a note on the Elementary fluid of Heat. No. 5, is a Diflertation on the word Alay, as used in Scripture.

The fixth fection takes up a fubject, at which, it is probable, fome readers will take alarm, and fome offence; it is, however, handled by Mr. King with a modesty and caution which render it, in his ufe of it at least, perfectly free from danger. This author's notion then is (however ftrange and novel it may appear)" that the commonly received opinion, that all mankind are the fons of Adam, is fo far from being really founded on Scripture, or neceffarily to be implied from the whole tenor of the infpired Mofaic Writings, that it is even directly contrary to what is contained therein." P. 70. He thinks then, that as other animals are created of different fpecies under one Genus,“ so Man also, the head of the visible creation on earth, was at first created of one GENUS indeed, and all of one blood-and in the image of God,--but of different fpecies;-with different capacities, and powers, and difpofitions, for very wife purposes, having ADAM (of fupereminent abilities and endowments) as the first and head clafs or fpecies;-and who was therefore diftinguithed by that noble appellation of being a Son of God." P. 74. In like manner, he thinks that, at the deluge, it was not only Noah and his family, in the whole world, that were preferved, but they only of this fuperior clafs, whofe hiftory is exclufively given by the facred writers. Nor does he stock the ark with creatures of all kinds, to preferve their race upon the earth, but only fuch as were required for the fubfifience of the perfons in the ark, during their confinement there. That thefe interpretations of the Mofaic account remove fome difficulties, must be allowed; but it is very doubtful to us, whether they do not bring with them difficulties, ftill greater than thofe which they remove. On one matter of doubt, that of the poffibility of the wide varieties of the human fpecies grow

ing up out of one original pair, we have heard the opinion of a very skilful naturalift and anatomift, that it may undoubtedly be fo; which he illuftrated from the differences which we ourfelves can fee produced in animals by domeftication, and other changes of external circumftances. Thofe perfons, however, who find a difficulty in conceiving this, and other particulars confequent upon the common notion of the creation and deluge, will do well to weigh and reconsider the matter, as it is reprefented by Mr. King. The great reafon which he af figns for the diftinction given to the race of Adam and Noah in the facred writings, is as follows:

"As therein we find, in the first part of the Book of Genefis, the particular circumftances of history, confined to what related merely to the firft and higheft fpecies or class of men, and the reft mentioned only incidentally ;-fo in the fucceeding part of the narrative, in what is re. lated concerning the univerfal deluge and its confequences—we have, as to any particular account, only a detail of the prefervation of the uncorrupted branch of that firft Species and class; but yet others are there alio referred to incidentally whilft the hiftory of the defcendants of Noah alone, through fucceffive ages, is preferved in Scripture; merely becaufe, from that branch was to defcend at laft the FROMISED MESSIAH, in, and by wнOM, as in Adam, all became subje& to death, fo at laft all fhould be made alive; and by WHOм the whole fcene of Creation, and the whole work of God, fhould finally be finished and perfected." P. 101.

Let it be remembered, however, that all this new, and apparently bold fyftem, is propofed by the author with great modefty, as a fubject of confideration, rather than a matter to be implicitly received. We fhall therefore imitate his inodefty; and though many objections fuggeft themselves to our minds, we fhall recommend our readers to consider the author himself, without any bias or partiality, not throwing, on our parts, any difficulties in their way to prevent their acquiefcence in his reafonings.

The next Differtation, which is the feventh, is alfo of a very curious nature and propofes what may be called a Sabbatical fyftem of chronology, as that which will furnish the most complete divifion of time, without even the smallest defect or redundance. The advantages of this fyftem are thus ftated.

"If we fuppofe fuch a Period to have commenced, at the Creation of the World; on the first appointment of the Sabbath; it would have its first real, and great adjustment, at the end of the year 6000; (or of our year of the Chriftian æra zcoo:)-and its final great adjustment, at the end of the year of the world 144000.

"And even let it be fuppofed to begin, at any fubfequent time, or moment whatever, in any age whatever-it will still ever go on keep

ing perfect time, with the ordained motion of the earth-and the fame days of the week, will fall conftantly on the fame days of the month, and year; whilft every identical year, in the whole vat period, will be fufficiently, and precifely diftinguifhed, in every different region, and country, by the precife day, and hour, and minute, on which either the first New Moon, or elle the Passover Full Moon fhall fall.

"And hence even the very exceffive irregularities of the Moon's motion, in all respects, will be found a moft beneficial appointment in the order of Creation.

"And the Sun and Moon will truly be, throughout all ages, to inhabitants upon earth, what they were ordained to be, by the THE WORD OF GOD:

Genefis, chap. i.

Ver. 14. For SIGNS,—and for SEASONS,—and fər DAYS,— and YEARS.". P. 195.

Here incidentally the author illuftrates, to a curious extent, the prevalence of the number feven, in many of the ordinances of nature; and carries the comparison of the feven musical notes with the feven prifmatic tin's, to a greater degree of accuracy and minuteness than has ufually been attempted.

The eighth Differtation, on the Credibility of Miracles, takes up a very important argument in a new and fingular form. The author undertakes to fhow, refpe&ting all the Scripture miracles, that they are not fo remote from the cominon order of nature, but that they might have taken place under other circumftances, by ordinary means.. Left we thould at all mifreprefent the author in this very fubtile and ingenious argument, we fhall ftate it in his own words.

The fact is, that the Miracles recorded in Holy Writ, are not fo entirely contrary to all experience as Hume has fated ;-and that, though nothing but the Divine Power, and Word of God, could have brought them to pafs, jutt at the time, and in the manner, in which they were wrought-yet that there are operations,―causes,—and effects,— known to exift in the nature of things,—and of which we have expe-. rience, that might produce, on other occafions, and in a flower manner, even fome fuch events, as are many of the Divine Miracles, fo blafphemoufly fcoffed at." P. 230.

We confefs we do not feel, with the philofophical and pious writer, the neceffity of going into this kind of argument; but the fpeculation is curious, and may be purfued with fatisfaction. by fome minds.

No. 9, contains only a fhort note on two fcriptural paffages. No. 10, continues the Differtation given in the former volume (p. 373) on the Seals, Trumpets, and Vials, in the Book of Revelations. To this note a very ufeful table is joined, exhibiting

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exhibiting the coincidences of the prophetic and hiftorical times, according to the fyftem of the author.

The 11th fection confifts of a note on the falling away previous to the fecond coming of the Meffiah, which Mr. K. explains, very reafonably in our opinion, to fignify only fuch a deficiency in faith, as may even now be attributed to mankind, and not a total defertion of it.

Section 12, is a note on the meaning of the word onasion. ** In the 13th fection is a very philofophical Differtation on the combined Effects of Gravitation, the Attraction of Cabefion, and the centrifugal Force on our earthly Globe; from which the author argues, that the globe is probably only a mere shell, of a moderate thicknefs, the central parts being entirely hollow. Thefe ideas have directed the mind of the author to the formation of a new fyftem, different from thofe of Burnet, Whiteburft, Woodward, and Catcott, on the breaking up of this fhell at different periods. On this fubject Mr. King fuggefts his own original notions, and in the following manner ftates his wish to prefent them hereafter to the public. Speaking of the authors above-mentioned, and their fyftems, he says ;

"They reafoned hypothetically-but reafoning, on the contrary, analytically, has led me long fince to form this conclufion.

For near forty years, with unceafing attention, enquiries to elucidate this fubject have been an object of my purfuit:—and the first intimations of the chain and mode of reafoning which I was led to purfue, and of the ideas which led me to it, were ventured by me into the world, and were printed in the Philofophical Tranfactions, Vol. LVII. for the year 1767, page 44; long before Mr. Whitebarft's book was published.-Since the printing of that paper, I have continually been purfuing the fubject analytically, both by putting toge ther facts refulting from every obfervation that I had myfelf any opportunities to make on natural appearances; and alfo, by collecting, and arranging facts, from all the accounts I could meet with of the moft intelligent Voyagers, and Travellers, and Natural Hiftorians;and thefe I should, ere this, have communicated to the world;-endeavouring to place the conclufions refulting from the whole in the fulleft and fairet point of view;-but have been hindered, by the great expence attending the engraving of the numerous drawings, that must accompany fuch a kind of publication.

Whether it will ever be in my power, during the short remainder of life, if my days be yet prolonged,-to accomplish my wish of overcoming thefe difficulties; and of publishing the materials I have collected, arranged, and written; or whether any one, coming after me, will take the trouble, and care, to make ufe of them ;-or whether any more able Enquirer will tread in the fame path, I cannot dare to expect, with any fanguine hope.

"But this I will venture to affirm;-that all the external appearances of this our terrestrial globe, when duly compared and confidered,

do

do at once bear united teftimony to the exact truth of the Mofaical account; and alfo ferve for the developement of a clue, leading us to apprehend the concurring operation of well-known ordained powers of nature, whereby fuch mighty change might be effected, as has turned the jea into dry land,-has moft probably caufed, confiftently with all its phænomena, the variation of the magnetic needle-and has flamped an everlasting record of HIS Divine Power, Whofe way is in the fea, Whofe paths are in the great waters, and Whof footfieps are not known, or rightly adverted to;-and Who, according to the words of one of the most inspired of all the Sacred Writers,-did cover the earth with the deep ('Abuogos) as with a garment;-and did caufe the waters to ftand above the mountains (ini Tav ogéwv)-W'ho did caufe them to go up as high as the hills, and down to the vallies beneath :—even unto the place that was appointed for them." P. 418.

The fourteenth, and last section, confists of a note, in which the author purfues, and further confirms his opinions, refpecting the difference between and ux, the Spirit and foul of man; the latter meaning the animal foul or life, the other the Spiritual mind.

We cannot take our leave of this valuable work, without expreffing our admiration of the fingular union of ingenuity and piety which appears in every page. Few readers perhaps will follow the author's fteps with the fame alacrity with which he proceeds through the moft curious and fubtile enquiries; but all muft readily grant that fuch an application of ingenuity, diligence, learning, and philofophical knowledge, is in a high degree praiseworthy.

ART. XIII. Obfervations on the Manners and Customs of the Egyptians; the Overflowing of the Nile, and its Effects; with Remarks on the Plague; and other Subjects. Written during a Refidence of Twelve Years in Cairo, and its Vicinity. By John Antes, Efq. of Fulnec in Yorkshire. Illuftrated with a. Map of Egypt. 4to. 7s. 6d. Stockdale. 1800.

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T is evident from an examination of this volume, that Mr. Antes could, if he thought proper, easily produce a history of Egypt, its manners, inhabitants, trade, &c. far more authentic, fatisfactory, and important, than the Letters of Savary, or Travels of Volney. What is faid in these two laft writers on the fubject of the Mamelucs, is principally copied from Pocock, Norden, and Niebuhr. Savary pretends to give an account of Upper Egypt; but this writer was perfonally witnefs, that he never proceeded beyond Cairo. Volney knew nothing

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