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a general neglect of the doctrines themselves. He thus meets the popular objections to what is termed technical phraseology.

It is objected, that by using technical terms in divinity, men learn to substitute words for ideas, to the great prejudice of real religious knowledge. It may, however, be obviously answered, that a technical term, when once explained, is a sufficient symbol of a complete idea; and will, after such explanation, recall the idea far more effectually than could be done by circumlocution or paraphrase. Why should that which facilitates the knowledge of every other science, produce a contrary effect in divinity? The objection may, indeed, show the necessity that exists for a minister diligently to explain the signi fication of the technical terms which he employs, but is by no means a sufficient argument against a judicious use of them.

It has been further objected, that these peculiar phrases often prejudice men of refined minds against the Gospel, and thus prevent their afterwards examining its doctrines with impartiality. But the fact appears to be, that men dislike the expressions, only because they dislike the ideas conveyed. No change of language can make the doctrines of the cross agreeable to an unconverted man. It is from Deists, and Socinians, and pseudo-philosophers, that the loudest complaints are heard. But it would surely be an excess of courtesy to sacrifice words made venerable by the lips of saints, confessors, and martyrs, and considered by ages past as the accredited representatives of specific religious ideas, to please the fastidious taste of a few individuals, who can have no motive for desiring a change in language, except so far as it may be a prelude to a change in doctrines themselves.

As a practical argument, it may be observed, that those ministers who studiously avoid scriptural phraseology are not found, even in discourses addressed to the more cultivated ranks of society, to be the most interesting or useful; but, with regard to the lower classes, the argument is far more powerful; for, among persons of this description, undisguised scriptural language is absolutely necessary, if a minister wishes to be either understood or believed.' pp. 7-10.

Mr. W. evinces a cordial attachment to the Episcopal Church. He considers its clergy as being, as a body, the highest in the scale of excellence of the clergy of all the National Churches now existing. He reprobates, nevertheless, the morbid sensibility which induces persons to shrink from the abstract discussion of important religious subjects, and to be afraid of the characters of men being discussed, even in a general point of view, lest some unpleasant consequences should arise • from the application of theoretical truth to practical

' researches !'

We cannot better conclude this Article, than with the following extract from Mr. Wilks, which strongly applies to the general subject.

But feeling is, or ought to be, out of the question. The souls

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of men are concerned, and minor considerations must therefore disappear. If those who profess to instruct others in the way to hea ven, be ignorant of it themselves, the consequences are too awful to be risked for the sake of gratifying the false delicacy of individuals. It is essential to the interest of the people of the Establishment to which they belong, and also of individual ministers themselves, that the precious be separated from the vile.' If the blind lead the blind, both must fall. The advantages of serious examination into the characters of the Clergy, must, therefore, always be far more than commensurate with its inconveniences. The unfaithful may, indeed, be exposed to disgrace; but the pious will, at the same time, be rewarded with the honour due to their fidelity and labours. pp. 69, 70.

To delineate the ministerial character adequately is impossible; for who can fully conceive what that man ought to be, who is sent by the Sovereign of the Universe as his herald to a world in arms, with denunciations of wrath which the tongue of angels might falter to proclaim; and with tidings of love and mercy so ineffable and divine, that even imprisoned demons, were they interested in them, would melt with contrition, and rejoice once more to employ the golden harps of heaven in singing songs of glory and praise to their beneficent Creator? Were a minister to walk altogether worthy of his high vocation, it would be impossible to mistake his character. He would appear among men as an inhabitant of a superior world. His conversation would be in heaven. Elevated above earth, he would learn to look down with equal eye on its honours and its frowns, its sorrows and its enjoyments. His spotless garments would be uncontaminated with its pollutions. Employed in the same, or even a higher work than that of angels, he would participate their spirit. His manners would be celestial. Like the Redeemer himself, he would appear on earth but as one come to do good; and when his course was finished, would quit it with "a hope full of immortality and glory." p. 64.

Art. III. An Account of the Kingdom of Caubul, and its Dependencies in Persia, Tartary, and India; comprising a View of the Afghaun Nation, and a History of the Dooraunee Monarchy. By the Honourable Mountstuart Elphinstone, of the Honourable East India Company's Service, Resident at the Court of Poona, and late Envoy to the King of Caubul. About 700 pp. 31. 13s. 6d. London. Longman and Co. 1815.

WE

[Concluded from p. 472 of our last Number.]

E shall now endeavour to give a brief general view of the remaining contents of this volume, as they lie in the order adopted by Mr. Elphinstone.

The Geography of the Kingdom of Caubul, presents considerable difficulties, occasioned partly by circumstances too obvious to need enumeration, but principally by the varying and uncertain limits of an empire that has been established by the sword, and which is perpetually a scene of conflict.

The boundaries of the Dooraunee sovereignty, once compre

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hended sixteen degrees of longitude, extending from Meshhed to Delhi, the breadth being nine hundred and ten miles from the Oxus to the Persian gulf. It is now contracted in its dimensions, and the king of Caubul may be said, in a vague sense, to hold a doubtful and precarious sway over the countries extending from the west of Heraut, in longitude 62° to the eastern boundary of Cashmeer, in longitude 77° east.' It does not appear that its nominal extent in latitude has undergone any material change. This territory,

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according to the nomenclature of our latest maps,* comprehends Afghaunistan and Segistaun, with part of Khorasan and Makran; with Balk. with Tokarestaun, and Kilan, Caubul, Kuttore, Kandahar, Sindy, and Cashmeer; together with a portion of Lahore, and the greater part of Moultan.'

Mr. Elphinstone seems to think fourteen millions a low estimate for the general population; and it does indeed appear, from the various circumstances arising from the extent, features, and characters of the country, that it should be taken higher. In his geographical delineations, Mr. E. takes so wide a range, that, how interesting soever such an excursion might be, it is quite impracticable to follow him. The general aspect of the country is mountainous; the lofty range of Hindoo Coosh forms its northern frontier, and the triple chain of Soliinaun stands within its eastern boundary. West of this range the whole country is a table Land, lying higher than most of the neighbouring countries.' The height of one of the summits of Hindoo Coosh, was estimated by Lieut. Macartney at 20,493 feet. The climate of such a country as this, extending from the region of perpetual congelation, down to the deep, rich, well-watered valley and the fertile plain situated under the influence of an eastern sun, must include every possible variety of temperature. The Monsoon reaches part of the country.

6

When we entered Peshawer in March,' says Mr. Elphinstone, the upper parts of the mountains around, were covered with snow, while the plain was clothed with the richest verdure, and the climate was delicious. Most of the trees were then bare, but enough were in leaf to give richness and variety to the prospect; and in the course of

* Mr. E. here refers to Arrowsmith's map of Asia, 1801, probably one of the most complete specimens of what a general map ought to be, that has ever been produced; but we advert to Mr. E.'s reference, principally for the purpose of hinting to Mr. Arrowsmith, whose high merits we can duly appreciate, the necessity of greater correctness in the orthography of names. His otherwise excellent map of Syria, lately published, is miserably disfigured by errors of this

nature.

a fortnight the numerous gardens and scattered trees were covered with new foliage, which had a freshness and brilliancy never seen in the perpetual summer of India. Many streams run through the pain. Their banks were fringed with willow and tamarisk The orchards scattered over the country, contained a profusion of plum, peach, apple, pear, quince, and pomegranate trees, which afforded a greater display of blossom than i ever before witnessed; and the uncuitivated parts of the land were covered with a thick elastic sod, that perhaps never was equalled but in England. The greater part of the plain was highly cultivated, and irrigated by many watercourses and canals. Never was a spot of the same extent better peopled. Frem one height, Lieut. Macartney took the bearings of thirty-two villages, all within a circuit of four miles. The villages were generally large, and remarkably clean and neat, and almost all set off with trees. There were little bridges of masonry over the streams, each of which had two small towers for ornament at each end.'

The character and manners of the Afghauns are very various; and it would be a very difficult task to reduce to specific particulars, the general habits of so many tribes differing in origin and municipal regulations, and yet collected under one general government. The following remarks are very striking and comprehensive; and though they are rather long, we cannot, perhaps, do better than quote them, as exhibiting the best possible representation of this peculiar race of people.

• If a man could be transported from England to the Afghan country, without passing through the dominion of Turkey, Persia, or Tartary, he would be amazed at the wide and unfrequented deserts, and the mountains covered with perennial snow. Even in the cultivated part of the country, he would discover a wild assemblage of hills and wastes, unmarked by enclosures, not embellished by trees, and destitute of navigable canals, public roads, and all the great and elaborate productions of human industry and refinement. He would find the towns few, and far distant from each other; and he would look in vain for inns or other conveniences, which a traveller would meet with in the wildest parts of Great Britain. Yet he would sometimes be delighted with the fertility and populousness of particular plains and valleys, where he would see the productions of Europe, mingled in profusion with those of the torrid zone; and the land laboured with an industry and a judgment nowhere surpassed. He would see the inhabitants following their flocks in tents, or assembled in villages, to which the terraced roofs and mud walls give an appearance entirely new. He would be struck at first with their high and even harsh features; their sun-burned countenances, their long beards, their loose garments, and their shaggy mantles of skins. When he entered into the society, he would notice the absence of regular courts of justice, and of every thing like an organized police. He would be surprized at the fluctuation and instability of the civil institutions. He would find it difficult to comprehend how a nation could subsist in such disorder; and would pity those who were compelled to pass their days in such

a scene, and whose minds were trained by their unhappy situation to fraud and violence, to rapine, deceit, and revenge. Yet he would scarce fail to admire their martial and lofty spirit, their hospitality, and their bold and simple manners, equally removed from the suppleness of a citizen, and the awkward rusticity of a clown; and he would probably, before long, discover, among so many qualities that excited his disgust, the rudiments of many virtues.

But an English traveller from India, would view them with a more favourable eye. He would be pleased with the cold climate, elevated by the mild and novel scenery, and delighted by meeting many of the productions of his native land. He would first be struck with the thinness of the fixed population, and then with the appearance of the people; not fluttering in white muslins, while half their bodies are naked, but soberly and decently attired in dark coloured woollen clothes; and wrapt up in brown mantles, or in large sheepskin cloaks. He would admire their strong and active forms, their fair complexions and European features; their industry and enterprize; the hospitality, sobriety, and contempt of pleasure, which appear in all their habits; and above all, the independence and energy of their character. In India, he would have left a country where every movement originates in the government or its agents, and where the people absolutely go for nothing; and he would find himself among a nation where the controul of the government is scarcely felt, and where every man appears to pursue his own inclinations undirected and unrestrained. Amidst the stormy independence of this mode of life, he would regret the ease and security in which the state of India, and even the indolence and timidity of its inhabitants, enable most parts of that country to repose. He would meet with many productions of art and nature that do not exist in India; but, in general, he would find the arts of life less advanced, and many of the luxuries of Hindostan unknown. On the whole, his impression of his new acquaintances would be favourable; although he would feel, that without having lost the ruggedness of a barbarous nation, they were tainted with the vices common to all Asiatics. Yet he would reckon thein virtuous, compared with the people to whom he had been accustomed; would be inclined to regard them with interets and kindness, and could scarcely deny them a portion of his esteem.'

We could point out some inconsistencies in this statement, and Mr. E. himself admits that it requires a little correction; but, on the whole, it gives a fair and striking portraiture of the subjects, if subjects they may be called who seem to own no subjection, of the Afghaun monarchy.

Many of our readers will be aware that an opinion has very extensively prevailed, which derives the origin of this nation from the Jews, and that it has been sanctioned by the authority of Sir William Jones. The nations of Afghaunistan themselves

⚫ maintain that they are descended from Afghaun, the son of Irmia, or Berkia, son of Saul, king of Israel, and all the histories of their

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