quickly discovered the unscriptural character of many opinions for which he had once argued with inconsiderate keenness. He discovered, and the more he examined the scriptures, the more he was convinced, that the system which they teach is, in all its leading points, that which is commonly termed Calvinistic. I went to England,' he said, with sen timents little differing from those of the modern Socinians in all their latitude. By having no other guide in my subsequent studies but the bible, and by endeavouring implicitly to follow it, I learned to think as I now do.' Remarking the coincidence between his case and that of the Rev. Thomas Scott, he observed, Read Scott's Force of Truth, and you will see exactly what passed in my mind.' pp. xiii, xiv.

This important extract affords a striking confutation of the slanders of that school of theological speculation, which is continually insinuating, that every system of faith but its own is established on preconceptions and assumptions of the doc. trine of scripture; that only the initiated of its order have entered the penetralia of the temple of truth, under the guidance of that high priest (or priestess) of their profession,' which they denominate Reason, who has vouchsafed exclusively to them ber illuminations and discoveries. "No doubt they are the men, and wisdom shall die with them!" Unfortunately for their credit, in pretending to such lofty privileges, here is an instance of one whose prepossessions were formerly in their favour; who had advanced so far into the mysteries' of Socinianism as to contend for them with keenness; but who still retained on his mind a powerful conviction, that the bible was the only rule to which all his decisions concerning sacred truth should be conformed. He inquired; he determined; the influence of that determination was permanent; and the character of the man, the Christian, and the minister, was formed on those principles of faith which he had once disputed, but now cordially embraced. What they were, we learn from his sermons; what effects they produced, from this interesting memoir. They inspired zeal and activity into his ministerial labours; they imparted the most attractive benevolence to his temper and disposition, and in the immediate prospect of eternity formed the only basis of his hope and consolation.

This narrative illustrates also the necessity of practically regarding the authority of revelation, both as to the senti ments we entertain, and the duties we perform. No symptom of real religion is more decisive, than the habitual subjection of the mind to the dictates of scripture. Powerful emotions are often of transient duration, and afford in themselves no certain indications of the state of the heart; but such a disposition as that which determined the inquiries of Mr. Coutts, necessarily possesses a most important influence on the sentiments and conduct.

The sermons are eighteen in number; and are chiefly of a doctrinal complexion, designed to elucidate either the peculiar truths of revelation, or the privileges of Christians. At the same time, the holy tendency of those truths is carefully inculcated; and the corresponding duties arising from the enjoyment of divine blessings are, at least in general terms, strongly enforced. We regret, however, the want of a more minute and distinct illustration of such tendencies and duties; and particularly of those impressive appeals to the consciences of men, which we have no doubt characterized many of the discourses of Mr. Coutts, when a living advocate of the Christian faith. It is possible that the impassioned ardour of the pulpit supplied many appeals, which the cool labours of the study could not suggest: for we can easily conceive, that a preacher, whose mind is cultivated, capacious, and fertile, and who feels at the same time a supreme conviction of the importance of religious truth, would often devjate from the correctness of his manuscripts, and give full scope to the bold, commanding, and energetic emotions, which his own discourse had inspired. In such moments of elevated feeling, new vigour would be imparted to his powers of memory and invention; the holy light of truth would be more vividly reflected from the kindled animation of the speaker's mind; and if ever the force of sacred eloquence was felt, it would be felt thenif felt, it would be displayed in the fixed and devout attention of a listening audience. But such oratory, like the emotions which produced it, is but momentary and evanescent. Hence we often find in the posthumous sermons of the most acceptable preachers (and indeed in most of the printed discourses of our countrymen), that the spirit and vivacity which animated their addresses never existed in their written preparations, or vanished too soon to be secured by efforts of recollection.

Of Mr. Coutts's style we must remark, that it has too much complexity and involution to render his meaning always obvious to the apprehension of unpractised minds. We state this objection, because the compositions before us are Sermons; its force cannot be appreciated by merely perusing them; for in order to estimate it aright, we must imagine the effect of this peculiarity in the structure of his language and sentences, on an audience to which the discourses might be addressed. It is indeed a quality of style, which partakes of the character of the author's mind; displaying a degree of force and comprehension not usually possessed, and imparting that compactness and solidity which form a proper basis for the polish of elegance. But it should be remembered that elegance belongs rather to the essay than the sermon; rather

to the author than the preacher and that it is the province of taste, not of devotion, to admire its brilliancy and con. template its forms. We have no fear of too often impressing on the minds of our clerical readers, the indispensable importance of simplicity, in their reasonings, language, and arrangements.

The sermons before us, however, are truly evangelical in their principles, and are distinguished by a spirit of fervent devotion. Abounding in original illustrations, they exhibit the sacred truths of the gospel in all its purity and suitable ness to the mora condition of mankind. Precision and accuracy, free from that systematic contraction which invariably denotes a narrow mind, are happily blended with animated descriptions, and persuasive argument. We should have presented copious extracts from these sermons, if we had not felt convinced that many of our readers would shortly possess the volume, that it was our duty to recommend its adoption into every theological library, and that insulated quotations from Sermons are, probably, of all the extracts which a Review contains, the least regarded. These considerations have induced us to present only one specimen. It is contained in the eighth sermon, intitled Christ's power to protect and bless;' the text is in Isaiah xxxii. 2. A man shall be as a hiding place,' &c.

The full force and beauty of this imagery we, in these lands, cannot perceive. Our lot is cast in a temperate clime, where the extremes of sultry calms and sweeping tempests, are unknown. It was' not so in Judea, even in that promised land which flowed with milk and honey. There, sometimes the heavens became as brass and the earth as iron the springs of waters were dried up, and the fruits of the field failed. While at other seasons, the winds, let loose, overwhelmed the forests and the habitations of men. To those who were acquainted with such scenes, who had probably often felt the torments of parching thirst, and witnessed the ravages of the tempest, the comparisons of the text would convey the liveliest ideas of security and comfort. But the inhabitants of Judea knew more. Their country was contiguous to the dreary region of the Arabian desart. Of this the soil is generally nothing more than an immense extent of loose and arid sands; which when agitated by the furious hurricanes of those climates, roll on in collected bodies like the vast waves of a tempestuous ocean; overwhelming with irresistible force, every object in their course. Under these, whole armies have been buried; and have found at once their death and their tomb. On the borders of this desart, the children of Israel wandered forty years and Moses reminds them of its horrors, that they might not forget the Lord their God, who led them through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions and drought where there was no water." What words, then, could describe to the people of

Judea, so impressively, as the allusions here employed, the wretchedness and danger of guilty men, on the one hand; and on the other the plenitude of power and blessing united in the Messiah, for their deliverance and happiness? But to us also, they may teach the most important lessons. Figure to yourselves the traveller, contemplating with horror the mountainous waves of the desart rolling towards him, pressed on by mighty winds. Would he stay to amuse himself with the pebbles at his feet; or would he seek safety in any exertions of his own were there within his reach a sure hiding place from the wind, and covert from the tempest? But, men and brethren, such a situation is yours. The overwhelming blasts of adversity may assail you in a moment the storms of divine indignation hang over you, ready to burst; and a retreat has been opened, a shelter reared by the "man Christ Jesus."-Would the pilgrim parched with thirst, and painfully traversing a burning sand, under the rays of a scorching sun, hesitate to betake himself to the refreshing stream, under the cooling shade of a mighty rock? His situation is also yours. Ye stand in need of refreshment and consolation; and for you a fountain is opened, a shade provided. This "man" is also likened to "rivers of water in a dry place," and to the "shadow of a great rock in a weary land." PP. 156-158.

The subjects are-The unsearchableness of Providence. Psalm 1xxvii. 19. Various sources of the Christian's Joy. 1 Thess. v. 16. Christ's power to protect and bless. Isai. xxxii. 2. The duties of Christian Ministers. 2 Cor. iv. 5. The possessions and privileges of Christians. Cor. iii. 21, 22. The unspeakable gift. 2 Cor. ix. 15. Eternal life, John x. 27. Christ, an object of love. 1 Pet. i. 8. FelTowship. 1 John. i. 3. Self denial. Matt. xvi. 24. Union with Christ. 1 John. ii, 28.

Art. IV. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Vol. VI. Part II.

(Concluded from p. 1051) THE next paper in order is

III. Some Account of the Large Snake Atea-azagur, (Bo Constrictor of Linnæus), found in the Province of Tipperah Communicated by Mr. James Russel. Extracted from the Memorandum Book of John Corse Scott, Esq. Read 28th April

1807.

•February 1, 1807. A large snake of this species was brought to Comillah. It measured 15 feet 3 inches in length, and 18 inches in circumference about the middle. This measurement, however, varied considerably by the wreathings and contortions it made, in order to free it self from confinement.

The esophagus, from the mouth to the pylorus, or bottom of the stomach, measured altogether 9 feet 3 inches, and was so wide as to

take in a man's head with ease. The stomach was easily distinguished by the thickness of its coats, or the number of ruge on its internal surface. But there was no contraction at the cardia or entrance of the stomach. The outlet or pylorus, however, was so narrow as hardly to admit two Gngers.

The head of the snake was small in proportion to it's body. And I was curious to observe the mechanism of the jaw, by which it can so easily take into its mouth any substance as large as the thickest part of its body.

The lower jaw consists of two bones, connected anteriorly by skin and ligaments, which admit of considerable distension, so that the añterior ends can be separated an inch from each other. The posterior extremity, or condyle of each lower jawbone, is likewise connected to the head in such a manner, as to allow of considerable separation. The two bones which compose the upper jaw, are capable only of a very small degree of separation at the symphisis or anterior part.

This singular degree of laxity in the structure of the articulations, permits a degree of distension which is incompatible with the firmness requisite to perform the function of mastication.

*July 7. 1790. A Snake of the allea species was brought in, of a ve ry uncommon thickness in proportion to its length, which induced me to open it. A very large guana was extracted from the gullet and stomach; for the animal was gorged to the throat. The guana, from the nose to the tip of the tail, measured 4 feet 3 inches, and in circum ference round the belly 1 foot 6 inches; and yet the snake, after the gu ana was taken out, measured only 8 feet 6 inches in length.

The circumference of this snake is not given; but if it bore the same proportion to its length that it did in the former snake, it would be nearly 10 inches. In this instance, therefore, the snake had swallowed an animal of greater magnitude than itself almost in the proportion of 9 to 5.

On the 16th of the same month another snake was brought in, having nearly the same appearance as the last, but still more distended. It was opened while yet alive, and an entire fawn of one year old extracted. The fawn measured 1 foot 8 inches round the belly; and the extreme length of the snake was only 9 feet 3 inches.

April 5, 1791. A snake of the same species was brought to Comil. lah and opened, from which a fawn was taken still larger than the one. just mentioned; but the snake was 10 feet 6 inches in length.

The animal is swallowed very gradually, being first, I suspect, well lubricated with slime, with which this kind of large snake appears abun dantly provided.

These circumstances may undoubtedly be deemed rather fabulous by those who have never seen nor examined large snakes. But they are facts not to be denied, and are well authenticated by every one who has had opportunities of seeing and opening such snakes.

The instances here adduced, are far within the bounds as signed by some naturalists, who affirm that the Boa Constrictor has been seen as much as 36 feet in length, and that it has been known to swallow leopards, and other large quadrupeds. Probably it was some animal of this species of the order Serpentés, which struck a terror into the whole Re