The fading pageants of unpeopled states,
And mouldering empires: Oh! what fearful scenes
Of horror, thro' thy long continued course
Of twice three thousand years, hast thou beheld,
Pale sovereign of the night! thy peerless rays
Have played in transient softness, o'er the mass
Of dark and raging tempests, as they lashed
The sounding shores; have seen them vex the deep
With hurricane, and swallow in th' abyss
Of maddening waters potent fleets, that rode
In stately majesty above, and seemed

To conquer Ocean! thou hast tinged the surge
That closed the space of their descent, and howled
A louder rear, big with the dying shrieks
Of the wrecked mariners, who turn to thee
A sad farewell, despairing look and drown.
Thou, when gaunt Famine, Pestilence, and War,
Have swept with fevered wing the groaning lands.
The wealth of nations, and the pride of states,
Mid all the terrors of the thundering bolt,
And midnight lightnings, flashing thro' the clouds
Of heaven; amid the battle and the storm,
Thou, unconcerned, hast held thy stately course,
And, heedless of an agonizing world,
Poured thine expanded beams alike on all!
Now, doomed thyself to ruin! thou, pale moon!
Torn from thy monarch Earth, shalt leave thine orb,
And hurl thy broken fragments thro' the sky,
To rest upon the Comet's burning mass,
When, guided by the demon arm, it bends
Its flight resistless thro' the solar way.
Oh! thou hast risen on the last night of Earth,
That, hushed as midnight murderer approached,
And found tho' long foretold the human race
Yet slumbering o'er the plans of future days,
Unfit, and unprepared to meet their Judge
Eternal; all things in their wonted train
Continued; passion and debasing vice,
Pale guilt, and error, luxury and pride,
Bewildered still the millions of mankind;
Youth hoped continual spring, and roved at will
In fancy's gayest dream, o'er many a flower
Of future pleasure, and of lasting love,
Expecting cloudless suns, and spotless joys,

The Paradise of life: there manhood pined.' &c. pp. 11-13.

396

Art. IX. An Index to the Anatomical, Medical, Chirurgical, and Phisiological Papers, contained in the Transactions of the Royal Society of London; from the Commencement of that Work, to the End of the Year 1813. Chronologically and Alphabetically arranged. 4to. pp. 101. Price 10s. 6d. boards. Callow: R. Floyer: Longman and Co. London. 1814.

WE

'E are induced to notice this work for the purpose of making it known to the numerous and respectable body of the medical profession, whose convenience and advantage must have been principally in the contemplation of the Author when he resolved on its publication; for we apprehend that no expectation, either of fame or of emolument, could have been a suffiient inducement to incur the risk of printing. This Index was originally drawn up for the Author's private use; but he naturally thought, that as time is to many persons of greater value than money, there might be some individuals, pursuing the same course of useful and laborious study, who would be glad to avail themselves of his industry, and to purchase at the price of a few shillings, what had cost him no inconsiderable degree of application to an irksome occupation.

The Royal Society was formed at an earlier period than any of our Medical Societies. Its extensive series of transactions contains a vast number of valuable communications on all the departments of science connected with medicine; and to possess the means of easy and direct reference, to so valuable a collection of papers, must be advantageous to every individual member of the medical profession, especially as the volumes themselves, from their number and costliness, are to be met with only in our public libraries, or in the extensive collections of a few opulent individuals.

Art. X. An Enlarged Series of Extracts from the Diary, Meditations, and Letters of Mr. Joseph Williams, of Kidderminster : with Notes Biographical and Explanatory. To which are annexed, some Original Letters from Ministers, &c. occasioned by his Death: and an Index. Embellished with a Portrait. By Benjamin Hanbury, a Descendant of the Author. 8vo. pp. xxiv, 512. Price 14s. C. Taylor, 1815.

THESE Extracts" will make their readers acquainted

with a man of no ordinary character; one who, in his day, though he occupied only a private station in it, was found among the most useful and laborious members of the Chris tian Church. The name and distinguished virtues of Mr.

oseph Williams, of Kidderminster, have long been known and highly appreciated. Many have derived instruction and consolation from the former selection from his Diary, made by the late Rev. B. Fawcett, pastor of that church of which Mr. W. was so bright an ornament. To the Editor of the present volume, we are indebted for a much larger selection, derived partly from letters preserved by his numerous correspondents, and partly from MSS. in short-hand, which have been carefully deciphered by an affectionate descendant. The additional matter thus obtained, is more than equal in quantity, while it is not inferior in merit, to the papers contained in the former edition; the arrangement is according to the order of time in which the letters, &c. were written; general titles are prefixed; and there are added in many cases, explanatory notes at the foot of the page, containing biographical notices of the persons to whom the letters were addressed, or whose names are incidentally introduced.

As many of our readers have not probably met with the selection formerly published, and as those who have may feel some degree of curiosity to know of what materials these additional Extracts are composed, we give the following passages as fair specimens of the whole. They are selected, not as superior, or even equal, in energy of thought and expression, to many others, scattered through the volume; but because they relate to subjects which lay nearest to the heart, and most frequently flowed from the pen of this truly devotional writer. The first relates to himself, the second, to his family, and the last, to the state of religion in his day.

PIOUS RESOLUTIONS. Lord's-day, March 3, 1717. I observe this in myself, that I am very prone, if I can find any room for it, to alleviate my sins in my own mind, with respect to some circumstances that may attend them; which I judge to be a symptom of hypocrisy. Being very sensible that my lukewarmness in religion, and frequent compliance with divers temptations, are owing to my neglect of duty; and being also sensible, that I thereby offend God and wrong my own soul, I do resolve, by the grace of God, that I will, as often as may be, read at least two chapters in my Bible, in some retired place; and that, by the same grace assisting, I will not enter on my daily employment before I have bent my knees in secret prayer: and farther, that whatever the hurries of the day may be, I will endeavour, at the close of it, to consecrate half an hour for stated meditation and examination. Oh! what a monster of rebellion and ingratitude am I, so often atheistically to act, as if I believed not that the presence of God is over me, observing and writing down all my wretched actions in the "book of" his "remem"brance." Yea, so estranged from duty am I, that I did not set myself at all, becomingly, to prepare for the Lord's supper till this VOL. IV. N.S. 2 H

morning. 'Tis true, I had thoughts of setting myself about humiliation work on the oyer night, but did not spend any time in that necessary employment. Oh! degenerate, hardened creature! could I at one time have thought that I should now have dared to have approached the Lord's table in so unprepared a manner! This morn ing, indeed, directly after I rose, retiring into a back room, 1 walked about for a time, musing, and at last fell down on my knees to pray; and do humbly hope the Spirit of God did assist me, and humble my heart for sin. I could not begin to pray without an effusion of tears; I wish they were not forced; and do hope I was made to loath my sins and myself for them; but yet I have great reason to fear my hypocrisy. However, I have reason also to hope I have, in some measure, been "in the Spirit" on this day; and that the Lord was pleased to display his grace in breaking my heart for sin, both while hearing his word, and partaking of his supper. I hope I seriously devoted myself to him, and did unfeignedly repent that I have so often sinned against him: and do also hope, that the effects of this my humiliation will appear in my O Lord God, assist me, I humbly after life and conversation. "When thou saidst-Seek ye my pray thee, for Christ's sake. face; my heart said unto thee-Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away iu anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation." pp. 30-31,

Never was parent more uniformly and affectionately solicitous concerning the spiritual welfare of his children; and seldom has parental solicitude on this subject been more richly rewarded. The following letter to one of his daughters cannot fail to excite the sympathies, and may perhaps serve to stimulate the exertions of Christian parents.

DEAR CHILD, My heart's desire and prayer to God for you is, that you may be saved. Our blessed Saviour hath left it on record, that" in his days the kingdom of heaven suffered violence and the violent took it by force:" that is, persons were awakened by John the Baptist's preaching, and his own, to a serious concern about their salvation, and to see the necessity of repentance in order to salvation: and, elsewhere, our Lord tells his disciples, that many shall seek to enter in at the strait gate, and shall not be able." From whence it is plain, that salvation is not to be obtained without much labour and diligence. I have blamed myself many a time for not saying more, and speaking oftener, to you on this head, in order to quicken you now, "in this your day," to And I give diligence to make your calling and election sure. should have been glad to have heard from you oftener: but there is, I know, an unaccountable shyness in young persons to open their minds freely about matters relating to their souls, and their everlasting interest. I hope you "have chosen the good part." I sue nothing blameable in your conduct, nor would I discourage

ور

you, or excite needless fears in your mind: but yet, how it is betwixt God and your soul is best known to God and yourself. It is a matter of such vast importance, whether you be really converted, and savingly interested in Christ, or not, that you will, I doubt not, bear with me, when I tell you, that I cannot but be desirous of fuller satisfaction about this grand point; and the more so, because I cannot but fear thousands have deceived themselves by resting in a bare profession, and in "a name that they live," while they have been "dead in trespasses and sins." If your case be good, it will bear examination; and if it be otherwise, it is high time to use your utinost diligence, in order to make it better. I would, therefore, not only put you on a close and careful examination of yourself, as soon as you can get leisure for it; but would likewise gladly assist you therein, as well as I For this blessed purpose, I would propose two queries, to which, after a careful examination of yourself, I desire you would set down your answers in writing; as I suppose you can do that with greater ease and freedom than by speaking to me; and let me have your writing in a few days, I would ask you, therefore, and put you on asking yourself

can.

'Have you reason to hope, that you are really converted, and savingly interested in Christ?

What are the grounds of your hope, or what evidences have you, that you are interested in Christ?

your

The day is coming, when you will be judged by him that searcheth your heart." If your heart condemn you" now, you may reasonably fear God will condemn you, "who is greater than your heart, and knoweth all things:" but "if," on an impartial examination of self, " your heart condemn you not, then have you confidence toward God.""If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged," that is, we shall not be condemned. Therefore, be at pains about this great concern, chiefly for your own advantage; and in a subordinate degree for the satisfaction of your affectionate parent,

J. W.' pp. 183-5.

It would appear from several letters contained in this work, that many congregations among the Dissenters were at that time in a very declining state; that in many pulpits, the vital truths of Christianity were too much kept out of sight, and consequently little good was done; that some churches which had once flourished, had fallen rapidly into decay; and that Arian or Socinian sentiments gained ground. In such a state of things we cannot wonder that a holy and pious man, like Mr. Williams, should hail the dawn of a brighter day, by means of the zealous, though somewhat uncanonical labours of Messrs. Whitfield, Wesley, and others. In a letter to a relative, he thus describes his feelings on this subject.

From April, 1742, when Mr. Bradshaw was laid aside, till March 1745, when Mr. Fawcett was given to us, sabbaths, which