stances, imperiously call upon us | tions by which our youth are to unite as a Denomination; and expelled from the English Unithe objects to be promoted by versities. the Annual Meetings, afford opportunities for all Calvinistic Baptists, to imitate the primitive Assembly at Jerusalem, and to be of "one heart and one soul in one place." APELLES. While, however, I express, my full approbation of more use being made of the Scotch Universities, I think it will be unnecessary to raise new subscriptions, for the purpose, until it is ascertained, that those which have been provided, by our pious evangelical Dissenting forefathers, are insufficient for the purpose. Dr. Ward's Trustees, it appears, are two Baptist Num-Students in every year: Dr. Williams's Trustees can, if they please, I apprehend, extend their assistance to Baptists: and Observations on the Letter of enabled to send 86 Projector" in the last ber of the Magazine. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. a considerable part of the Bap SIR, tist Fund has been left expressly to provide academical education for young ministers. If six or eight persons annually could be sent from the funds already pro It is evident, from the style and spirit of" Projector's" letter, that he is one of our Denomination, of no common or ordinary charac-vided, I conclude that, at present, ter. That he possesses a liberal the proposed object is fully proand benevolent feeling towards vided for; but should it be found the future respectability and wel- that a greater number of approved fare of our churches, is very students are anxious to visit Scotapparent; and it is probable, land than these can supply, then also, that his influence is suffi- the plan of "Projector" will, I ciently great to accomplish the doubt not, be acted upon; and object which he so powerfully the writer of this pledges himself and eloquently recommends. to do what he can to promote it, by his own subscription, and by application to his friends. There are so many new objects which depend upon annual donations and subscriptions, that no plan should be obtruded upon the attention of the religious public, for which ample funds are already provided. That the Scotch Universities open a door for the free admission of our youth, whose education is in progress, and especially of our young ministers, is a gratifying circumstance; and that the liberty has not been fully improved by English Dissenters, cannot be contradicted. I am pleased with the suggestion of 66 Projector," therefore, because it supersedes the necessity of establishing an English College, free from those vexatious restric A BAPTIST. postpone the insertion of THE CHURCH *WE are unavoidably obliged to AT SARDIS to our next number. Ed. 242 Miscellanea. PHILOSOPHICAL REFLECTIONS. No. XXXI. ON THE Bones of the Human Frame. SAY, what the various bones, so wisely wrought! How was their frame to such perfection brought? composed of very many, each of which has its appropriate form and uses. It is impossible for the reflecting mind not to admire the infinite skill displayed even in the apertures left for the organs of sense, and for all that is needful in the process of sensation; nor can we fail to admire the construction and firmness of the jaws, and the important purposes, which, in counexion with the teeth, they serve, The teeth, alone, display the perfections of their Maker. In addition to their use in mastication, Which motion, strength, and ornament demand they contribute not a little to the Bewilder'd, I the Author cannot find, Till some first cause, some self-existent mind, Who form'd, and rules all nature, is assign'd." In more particularly examing the human frame, we propose to commence with the bones. The bones may be considered as the frame-work of the system. They give to the body the rudiments of its form, and the materials of its strength. Their texture, though hard and strong, does not render them unwieldy nor cumbersome; but they are neat and elegant, and exquisitely adapted to all the conveniencies of life; and, like all the works of the glorious Creator, each of them, the more it is examined, the more it unfolds his matchless perfections. its The head is deservedly considered the principal part of the body. Its various bones are wonderfully adapted to their situations and uses; the skull, which contains a most delicate and invaluable treasure, is particularly hard; spherical form renders it capacious, and better adapted for the defence of the brain; the sides of the cranium are wisely depressed, by which the sphere of vision is enlarged, and the situation of the ears greatly improved, both for the reception of sound, and the avoidance of injury. It must not be imagined that the head, nor even the skull, is formed of few bones, on the contrary, it is convex beauty of the face, as seen in conversation, and the occasional display of the benevolent passions, as well as to the harmony of the voice. Their number is generally, although not invariably, thirty-two. The inimitable enamel with which they are covered, not merely adorns, but preserves them, and is so hard that files will scarcely impress it; and, it is remarkable," the fibres of this enamel are perpendicular to the internal substance, and are straight on the base, but, at the sides, are arched with a part towards the root, which makes the teeth resist the compression of any hard body between the jaws, with less danger of breaking these fibres than if they had been situated transversely." The teeth have canals formed in their middle, wherein their nerves and blood-vessels are placed, and those which contain the greatest number are most liable to disease. Divine Providence is further displayed in their growth and exchange. The babe, who draws his nourishment from the breast, needs them not, but, as it is necessary he should be weaned from this indulgence, about twenty progressively appear. About the age of seven, the first set is thrust out by new ones formed deeper in the jaw, and others discover themselves farther back in the mouth. After another seven years, the exchange begins to be completed, and a number of stronger teeth are still added. Let it not be imagined that this ex- muscles which perform any of these change of the teeth is a defect in actions are nearer the center of our ccnstitution: as the jaws en- motion; consequently, the lever large, but for this provision, those of with which they act is shorter than the first set must become too far when the centre of motion is on removed from each other; but, the the part of the joints opposite to later teeth having to force out their that where these muscles are inpredecessors, their width is increased serted; which is the case in raising by the pressure, and they are there- the body. This is extremely neby adapted to the enlarged jaw.cessary, since, in the deflections of Nor is the diversified shape of the the spine, the weight of the body teeth unworthy the notice of those soon inclines it to the direction we who delight to trace manifestations choose; whereas in raising it, this of their Creator's skill: some adapt-great weight must be more than ed for dividing and cutting, others counteracted. for grinding our food. an erect posture, must be stretched on one side and compressed on the other, both which they resist; whereas, in raising the body, they assist by their springing force. 4. "In estimating the force In viewing the bones of the trunk, | exerted by these muscles, we should one cannot but be struck with the always make allowance for the acsimplicity of their construction, tion of the cartilages between the considering the innumerable mo-joints, which, in every motion from tions they undergo, and multiplied uses which they serve. The ribs form a powerful yet elegant defence to the principal organs of the animal machine-the heart and lungs, and the erection of the spine, notwithstanding its numerous joints, cartilages, &c. demand particular observation. These joints, unlike those of art, admit of motions the most opposite, and that with the greatest rapidity; thus, without using one foot, we move from side to side, forwards, and even backwards, with ease. From a review of this portion of the human frame, these considerations have been deduced: : 5. "We are hence naturally led to the reason of our height of stature increasing towards morning, and decreasing towards night: for the intermediate cartilages of the joints being pressed during the day, by the weight of the body, become more compact and thin in the even ing but when relieved from their pressure in the night, they expand themselves to their former thickness; and, seeing the bulk of any part must vary according to the different distension or repletion of the vessels composing it, we may understand how we become taller after a plentiful meal, and decrease fasting. 1. "That, because the joints of which the spine is composed are so numerous, the spinal marrow, nerves, blood-vessels, &c. are not liable to such compression and over-after stretching as they would otherwise be, since several joints must be concerned in every movement of the spine; and, therefore, a very small curvature is made at the conjunction of any two joints. 2. "That an erect posture is the surest and firmest, because the surface of contact of these joints is then largest, and the weight is most perpendicular to them. 3. "That the muscles which move the spine act with greater force in bringing the trunk into an erect posture, than in drawing it to any other; for, in bending forwards, backwards, or on either side, the 6. "From the different articulations of the bodies, and obliqué processes of the vertebræ, and the different strength of the ligaments, it is plain that they are formed so as to allow much larger motion forward than backward; this last being of much less use, and might be dangerous, by over-straining the large blood-vesels that are contiguous. 7. "The cartilages, referred to, shrivelling as they become more solid by age, is the cause why old people generally bend forwards." The superior and inferior extremities, as they are called, are sequently at a considerable distance from each other, we must have described part of a circle with the body in making a long step, and, in raising the leg from the ground, we should have been in danger of falling backwards, the centre of gravity would have been too far from the base of the other, our steps therefore would neither have been straight nor firm, nor could we have walked in a narrow path. equally worthy of our grateful ob- | perpendicular, and the knees conservation; particularly, the simplicity and strength of the arms and legs; the numerous and finely formed joints of the hands; the convexity of their backs, and the concavity of their palms-the former giving strength to the hands, and the latter an increased convenience for holding. Concerning the varied length of the fingers, it has been remarked, that this disposition of them "is the best contrivance for holding the largest bodies, because the longest fingers are applied to the middle largest periphery of such substances as are of a spherical figure." The bones of the thigh are the longest in the human body, and the largest and strongest of the cylindrical bones. Their position is somewhat oblique, their lower ends inclining to each other, so that the knees nearly meet, by which arrangement, more room is given for the lower parts of the trunk, and for the action of those large muscles which move the thigh inwards, while our progression is thereby rendered more quick, firm and straight, and is performed in less space. Had the direction of these bones been The foot is composed of various bones, which is an important arrangement, preventing that shock to the whole frame which must have resulted in leaping, running, and walking, had the legs been terminated by a single bone: doubtless also diminishing the frequency and seriousness of fractures. Although there is considerable resemblance between the bones of the hands and those of the feet, yet we observe those differences, which the different uses of these limbs require: thus, the great toe is the largest and strongest, having to sustain the force with which our bodies are impelled forward at every step we take. N. N. Obituary and Recent Deaths. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. Į stances, you will do good by their DEAR SIR, insertion, and oblige, Southampton. } Yours, sincerely, P.S. The extracts are taken from Memoranda, written by his excel. lent lady." Though the sentiment is but too evidently correct, that "not many wise, and not many noblé are called," yet, blessed be God, it is the case with some of them. Lord Edward O'Brien lately died in this neighbourhood, and I was exceed- Interesting Sentiments uttered by ingly pleased and edified with his the late Lord Edward O'Brien, dying expressions. If you think, as when in dying Circumstances. I do, that many of your readers will be gratified in reading some of FEB. 1, 1824. I yesterday asked the weighty sentiments which drop him the question, now continually ped from his lips in dying circum-in my mouth,Are you happy? He "O so happy, you cannot conceive my happiness; for I believe God will forgive me all my sins, for the sake of Jesus." "Casting all your care on God, for he careth for you," was a text that seemed to afford him inexpressible pleasure. "Careth," said he, that is such a consolatory word to our weak nature." 66 all, and go to Christ. His only de- "Jesus," said he, "must be the To cheer my dying hours; "You read to me, my dear," said be," this morning, a letter, praising me. O never do that again." (The letter was one in which the writer adverted to the consolation I possessed, since my dear husband was evidently so ripe for glory.) I promised that I would not, but added, that it was no praise of him, but of the grace of God. O," he replied, "if it should lead me to think, in any way, improperly of myself, how dreadful it would be! O do not expose me to so awful a tempta-dote of the martyr, John Bradford, tion-it quite frightens me to think of such a thing,-I am such a sinner." 66 As be saw I was uneasy about him, tears came into his eyes; but he wiped them away, and said, with composure, "My dear, must we not bow to the will of God? He will do what seemeth to him best. Look to Jesus,-he is the way, the truth, and the life,-in him we must trust, he is the road to heaven." The next day, he told me, he feared that I did not bow with the childlike submission I ought to the will of God. "If it please God," said he, "I shall recover; but if it please him I should be removed hence, we know it will be at the best possible time it could happen, and what a blessing is that persuasion." I repeated to him several hymns that evening, he was particularly pleased with that of Cowper's, beginning, "O Lord! my best desires fulfil, Thursday, Feb. 9. He was weaker in body, but his mind appeared to be in a more lively frame of devotion. He had much conversation with my sister, in which he expressed his willingness to leave VOL. XVI. I said to him, What a comfort it is to see you so well prepared for your great change. "O," said he, "do not flatter me! Do not let me think well of myself." No, I said, it is God alone whom we must praise. I then told him the ance who seeing a malefactor going to he This day week I read to him a letter from one of my sisters, in which she mentioned visiting a sick man, who had but few comforts in his affliction. "O what a lesson," said he," is that to me,-I am surrounded with many blessings." His mind was so occupied with the thoughts of this poor man, that I could scarcely prevail on him to take any breakfast; and he desired me to write immediately, to procure for him every comfort he could desire during his illness. If any sick person was mentioned, he would say, "What a lesson should that be to me! How much more they suffer than I do; yet I am so impatient." Though I truly believe, that no murmuring, or fretful expression, or sentiment, ever dropped from his lips, during his protracted sufferings. He used sometimes to observe, that one use of affliction was, to make him feel much for others; yet, when in health, no individual was ever more alive to the wants of his fellow-creatures. On Tuesday, Feb. 10, he expressed his entire resignation to the will of God. "I have not one 2 A |