been originally brought up for the Bar; but his own tastes were decidedly against the pursuit of jurisprudence, and, through the influence of M. de Choiseul, he obtained a commission in a regiment where he met with several officers who had been initiated into a sort of mystical freemasonry by the Portuguese Senhor Martinez Pasqualis. We can hardly imagine the nature of a metaphysician and a dreamer amidst the excitement of military life: Saint-Martin soon threw up his commission, and spent the remainder of his career in writing, meditating, and endeavouring by every means in his power to "crush what really deserved to be denominated as "the wretch,"the cold, heartless form of speculation, which was then every where the order of the day. With his eyes fixed upon the invisible world, he passed unscathed through all the horrors of the French Revolution; he saw the Reign of Terror, the Directory, the Consulate, and he died quietly and happily at Aulnay, near Paris, October 13th, 1803.

-we mean

M. Caro has given a complete list of Saint-Martin's works: they are rather numerous, but some of them bristle with such obscure conceits, that they would baffle the patience of the most clear-headed readers. The best are the following: Des Erreurs et de la Vérité, L'Homme de Désir, De l'Esprit des Choses: these supply a clue to the main features of the author's character, and by a careful study of them we are enabled to ascertain the exact position he occupies in the gallery of modern metaphysicians.

All the mystical schools have sooner or later found their natural issue in fanaticism; against this rock Saint-Martin also struck; and despite the guarded manner in which he handles theological questions, the heresies contained in his writings are neither few nor small. The clearest and by far the best part of his system is his refutation of materialism; and, as M. Caro very fully demonstrates, whenever the philosophe inconnu confines himself to the questions which belong to the province of what is called "natural religion," he has uniformly the advantage over all his opponents.

The legislators of the first French Revolution, in their attempt to remodel society after the Reign of Terror, had taken as their code of laws, and as their universal panacea, a debasing theory which they, however, imagined would regenerate the world, and according to which they most naturally therefore wished to train the new generation. Such was the origin of the Ecole Normale, subsequently remodelled and organized by Napoleon, and still rendering the greatest services as a seminary of teachers. Saint-Martin had been sent by the district he inhabited to attend the lectures delivered in that school, and, of course, was expected to receive as sound Gospel the teaching of the celebrated philosopher Garat, whose prelections on "ideology" were scarcely any thing else but a réchauffé of Condillac, dressed up with much taste, but still more assurance. The disciple of Jacob Boehm, the young mystic, felt that what society required was not the deification of matter, nor the Encyclopédie made easy; he boldly rose up to refute the Professor; and by a reference to the third volume of the Débats des Ecoles Normales, the reader can follow all the circumstances of a discussion which ended in Garat's discomfiture. M. Caro has supplied a valuable résumé of the whole affair,-an extremely important epoch in the life of Saint-Martin.

Brief Literary Notices.

547

The influence of the philosophe inconnu has been great and useful. Some of the ideas which he propounded on the momentous topics of original sin, man's fall, the doctrine of sacrifices, are essentially correct, although too often expressed under a form unnecessarily obseure. They were subsequently adopted by Count de Maistre, Viscount de Bonald, and other publicists, who had imbibed more thoroughly than they chose to acknowledge the spirit of the Theosoph.

The Phases of Matter; being an Outline of the Discoveries and Applications of Modern Chemistry. By T. Lindley Kemp, M.D. Two Vols. London: Longman. 1855.

NOTWITHSTANDING the number of Manuals, Systems, and Dictionaries of Chemistry, we cordially welcome this work. In some respects the author takes new ground, and sets an example worthy of imitation by other writers of scientific works. We refer to his insisting upon the unity of science, and to his endeavour, successful as far as it goes, to show the mutual relations of its separate branches. It is to a popular account of Chemistry, in this enlarged sense of the science, that the work is devoted. Geology and Mineralogy are enlarged upon to a considerable extent; and he has endeavoured to make the whole into a general system of Philosophy with regard to matter and its changes.

The work is divided into four books. The first is on 66 the Revelations of the Laboratory; or, the Present State of Inorganic Chemistry, containing the Elements and the Compounds that they form in the hands of the Chemist;" the second, on" the Crust of the Earth; or the Chemistry of Geology, giving the Composition and Properties of the principal Minerals and Rocks;" the third, on "Matter Vitalized; or, the present State of Organic Chemistry, describing the Compounds formed in the Structures of Animals and Plants;" and the fourth, on "the Chemistry of Life, or the Chemico-Physiological Laws of Animal and Vegetable Life," including Digestion, Respiration, Causes of Death, &c. An Appendix of some extent is added, on the Application of Chemistry to the Arts.

The following extract is from the chapter on the Composition of Minerals:

"Among the more important of these sub-varieties (of quartz) we may enumerate,

“A. Flint. This is usually of a dark grey colour, and consists of about 98 per cent. of oxide of silicon, with a little lime, alumina, and iron. It is found in the chalk formation, and is the quartz of the older rocks that have formed these, mechanically altered by the changes it has gone through. Flints, when exposed to the air, in time crumble down, and then constitute that variety of sand called gravel. Flints used to be much used for guns and for glass-making; but percussion-caps and pure silicious sand are now generally substituted for them.

It is

"B. Rock Crystal. This is a nearly pure quartz, distinguished by being always transparent, and generally white or brown. usually found in the primitive rocks. It is principally used as a gem, and made into seals, necklaces, &c., and, when large, into drinking

cups. These last were held in great esteem by the Romans. Some times rock-crystal is of an orange colour, in which case it is often called a topaz, and, in Scotland, a cairngorum. Its form of crystallization is a hexagonal prism.

"C. Amethyst. This is also a pure quartz, remarkable for its purplish violet colour; and which occurs, although sparingly, in a great many formations.

"D. Jasper. This is quartz, with from nearly two to four per cent. of oxide of iron, which communicates a colour to it usually of a reddish brown nature. It occurs in a great many formations, and is employed for ornamental purposes.

E. Chalcedony. This variety of quartz includes the cornelians (generally blood-red) and the heliotropes, (commonly dark green with deep spots,) or blood-stones.

"F. Opal. This is a hydrated quartz, sometimes containing as much as ten per cent. of water. It is generally of a milk-white colour, and semi-transparent. It is found in primitive and trap formations, and is used as a jewel.

"G. Hornstone. This is a compact translucent form of quartz, probably not very pure. It is common in many secondary and tertiary formations, and frequently contains petrefactions. This name, hornstone, is given to it from its somewhat resembling horn in colour, fracture, and transparency. Its colour, however, is sometimes yellow or green. It is used as an ornamental stone, and for mill-stones.

"H. Agate. This is not a mineral, but a rock; that is to say, it consists of several minerals; but its chemical constitution is an oxide of silicon. It is, in fact, composed of a mixture of the above varieties, quartz, chalcedony, flint, hornstone, cornelian, jasper, and amethyst."

A Critical and Grammatical Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, with a Revised Translation. By C. J. Ellicott, M.A. London: J. W. Parker and Son. 1855. THIS work forms the second part of a Commentary on St. Paul's Epistles, founded on the same principles, and constructed on the same plan, as that on the Epistle to the Galatians, of which we had the pleasure of giving a very favourable notice in a former number of the "Review." With respect to this second part of his work, the author reminds his readers " that, as in style, matter, and logical connexion, this sublime Epistle (to the Ephesians) differs considerably from that to the Galatians, so the Commentary must necessarily, in many respects, reflect these differences and distinctions. Several points of grammatical interest, which particularly characterized the former Epistle, are scarcely perceptible in the present; while difficulties which made themselves but slightly felt in the vivid, argumentative, expostulatory language of the Epistle to the Galatians, are here, amidst the earnest hortatory comments, the deeper doctrinal expositions, and the more profound emanations of the primal counsels of God, ever maintaining a distinct and visible prominence." These differences and distinctions refer chiefly to the greater importance which in the former of the Epistles attaches to the significance of the particles; and in the latter, to that of the cases, especially the genitive.

Brief Literary Notices.

549

The same system of exposition is pursued as in the former work; and the same critical and grammatical characteristics are maintained. Above all, the same reverential and evangelical spirit breathes through the whole. We can generally go with the author in his criticisms, as well as in the expositions founded on them. But we would very respectfully suggest to him a re-consideration of that part of his note on Eph. i. 8, in which he pleads for a transitive rendering of the verb Teploσevrey, on this ground, among others, that "epirrew, though περισσεύω, used by St. Paul twenty-two times intransitively, is certainly transitive in 2 Cor. iv. 15; ix. 8; 1 Thess. iii. 12." The words referred to by Mr. Ellicott are supposed to be in the optative mood, but may they not be more properly regarded as being in the infinitive? (See Buttmann's Gr., § cxliii., cxliv., obs. 5, and Matthiæ's Gr., § 547.) We would also express something more than a doubt as to the correctness of the statement made in his note on Eph. i. 3, to the effect that "a customary or repeated act" is "a meaning which the aorist never bears in the New Testament."

The author expresses himself in terms strongly indicative of a characteristic humility, when he says, " Though I have laboured with anxious and unremitting industry, and have spared neither toil nor time, but with fear and trembling, and not without many prayers, have devoted every power to the endeavour to develope the outward meaning and connexion of this stupendous revelation, I yet feel, from my very heart, how feeble that effort has been, how inexpressive my words, how powerless my grasp, how imperfect my delineation." But his Commentary will, we doubt not, be generally hailed as a valuable addition to our biblical literature; and the volumes yet to follow will be looked for with great interest.

A Commentary on the Greek Text of the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians. By John Eadie, D.D., LL.D., Professor of Biblical Literature to the United Presbyterian Church. London and Glasgow: Richard Griffin and Co.

PROFESSOR EADIE thus explains his purpose in issuing the work before us: My aim has been to trace and illustrate the thoughts of the inspired writer, to arrive at a knowledge of the truths which he has communicated, by an analysis of the words which he has employed." We think that the Professor has attained a large share of success in the prosecution of his object. We are, on the whole, well pleased with his translation of the Epistle: in many instances he has undoubtedly exhibited the Apostle's meaning more clearly and forcibly than the Authorized Version.

Dr. Eadie has borne in mind the peculiar character and circumstances of the people whom St. Paul addresses. The Phrygians (whose capital was Colosse) were strongly inclined to wild superstition. Their religious worship was a species of delirious fanaticism. The national temperament was dark and mystical; they were powerfully attracted to any extravagance that laid claim to a fellowship with the spiritual world. This impulsive disposition, in connexion with an uncultivated intellect, exposed the Colossians to those errors mentioned by Paul in this Epistle," an intruding into things not seen, will-worship, and a

neglecting of the body." His fears were awakened, and prompted his clear and faithful exposure of their dangers. We are disposed to conclude, that the errors upon which the Apostle animadverts, were not yet fully developed into system; they were indicated, thrown up by the current, and thus discovered prevailing tendencies, but were not shaped into formal and defined heresy. These errors arose in the Church, and were produced by a combination of influences. The party who taught them were not unbelievers; they assumed no hostility to Christ and His claims; they sought not to subvert Christianity, but to perfect it. They did not deny Christ, but they discrowned Him. The Lord of angels was placed among the angels, as if He had been a selected delegate out of many illustrious compeers. That He was superhuman, they did not deny; but that He was truly human, they did more than question. His atonement was not rejected, but it was undervalued. Ascetic austerities and mystical speculations took the place of reliance upon Christ's propitiation.

Confused notions of the spiritual world prevailed. The Gospel was shorn of its simplicity, and grievous errors mingled with most important truths. In striving to adapt it to a vain philosophy, they deprived Christianity of its light and power. They sought peace and purity by ceremonial observances and rigid mortifications, and were "subject to ordinances" of men, in respect "of meats, and drinks, and holy days." They thus injured the Church by placing the commandments of God and the traditions of men upon the same level. They aimed at what the Gospel promised, but not in the spirit of implicit reliance upon that Christ whom the Gospel revealed.

This exposition we have carefully read, and with unusual satisfaction. The following specimen of exegesis we select with pleasure, and commend the work with confidence to the Ministers of the Church, and also to those private Christians whose tastes and opportunities lead them to such studies; assured that both parties will feel grateful to Dr. Eadie for the additional obligation imposed upon them by the publication of such a work. The comment is on the twelfth verse of the first chapter:-" Inheritance of the saints in light." "Heaven is a region of light. The radiance of Him who is light streams through it, and envelopes all the children of the light who live and walk in its lustre. A happy and unfailing intuition, sustained by its vicinity to the uncreated mind, is the source of unchequered and perfect knowledge. Intellectual refinement is robed in the beauty of holiness.' The brilliancy of the Divine Image is reflected from every stainless heart, and the material glory of the residence is only surpassed by its spiritual splendour. That light is liable to no revolution, and suffers no eclipse; it glows with unchanging permanence, and, meeting with no obstruction, creates no shadow. For they are 'saints' who dwell in this kingdom, adorned with purity and perfection. Now, such being the nature of the inheritance, it is not difficult to discover what are the elements of meetness for it. Man is incapable of enjoying it by nature; For darkness covers his mind, and impurity has seized upon his heart, and he must needs be changed.' (John iii. 3.) He has no loyalty to its God, no love to its Saviour, no relish for its pursuits, and no sympathy with its inhabitants. His nature must be brought into harmony with the scene, and into congeniality with the occupa