them, and the authority of the Grand Signior was re-esta blished in Mecca, Medina, and Jodda.-These events broke the martial and fanatical spirit of the Wahabees, who have not caused again any great national convulsion, so that they are now only dreaded as a race of plunderers.

It does not appear, however, that the schism is healed. In several parts, the Wahabees maintain themselves; and, in others, they are propagating their opinions around them. These Protestants of Mohammedism awaken expectation in the minds of many. Reflecting persons see, in their character and growth, indications of a propitious change, particularly as connected with the present decline and falling away of the Turkish religion and empire. It would be more pleasing, however, to a Christian, to see that numerous people in full possession of the holy Scriptures in their own tongue, and zealous missionaries living at this propitious time among them, than to witness their passing from one denomination of Mohammedism to another, perhaps not at all better. Some persons think, indeed, that divisions and variance among the professors of the Turkish religion, so immensely extended as to cover some of the best and fairest portions of the globe, will be the chief means of its decline and end. This is highly probable: but Christians should apply to good purpose all the happy opportunities afforded them for the promotion of the true faith; for we live in the midst of wonderful changes, so that it cannot be doubted that Divine Providence is taking unusual measures, in order that the name of the Lord may be made known among the nations, and true religion cover the whole earth *.

*Missionary Register for 1819, p. 363.-Those who wish to know farther particulars of this novel branch of the Mohammedan church militant, may consult Niebuhr. "Description de l'Arabie," p. 296, &c.; Malcolm's "History of Persia," vol. ii. p. 378; Waring's "Travels in Persia;" Lord Valentia's "Travels,” vol. ii.; the "Travels" of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan, lately translated from the Persian; Legh's "Travels in Egypt," p. 27, &c.; and ❝ Travels of Ali Bey," vol. ii.

APPENDIX.

OF

MATERIALISM, NECESSITARIANISM,

DEISM, AND ATHEISM.

C...

MATERIALISM*.

"I am positive I have a soul; nor can all the books with which Materialists have pestered the world, ever convince me to the contrary.".

STERNE.

NAME.

THE Manicheans, and several Oriental sects, had an abhorrence of matter; and therefore all parts of Scripture that mentioned the uses of matter were rejected by them as spurious, and at length the whole Old Testament was cut off at one stroke.

. It seems also to be the opinion of the Persian Sooffees, at this day, that matter is merely a mental delusion. A late philosopher and divine (Bishop Berkeley) goes further, and asserts, with the most dogmatical confidence, that the existence of matter is impossible, and that the very supposition of it is absurd +."

On the contrary, many of our modern philosophers are prodigious friends of matter; and therefore, to suit their

I have reserved to this place, the following brief sketch of the doctrines of Materialism and Necessitarianism, as, considered in the light of religious speculations, in which alone they can be entitled to notice here, the former appears to be more nearly connected with Paganism, and the latter with Mohammedism, than either of them is with Christianity; unless perhaps with that scheme of Christianity described above, under the name of" SOCINIAN UNITARIANISM." I think it necessary to make this exception; for I am disposed to believe, with Dr. Priestley, that the doctrines of Unitarianism, Materialism, and Philosophical or Mechanical Necessity, if they be not equally parts of one system, are at least more nearly connected than Mr. Belsham seems willing to allow, (see above, vol. i. p. 81.) Thus, the scheme of necessity is the immediate result of the materiality of man, Mechanism being the undoubted consequence of Materialism; and this last is eminently subservient to the Unitarian doctrine of the proper or mere hu manity of Christ. For, if no man have a soul distinct from his body, Christ, who in all other respects appeared as a man, could not have a soul which had existed before his body; and thus the whole doctrine of the pre-existence of souls, of which the opinion of the pre-existence of Christ is a branch, will be effectually overturned.

+"Lecteur, si vous comprenez cette theorie, faites moi part de vos lumieres."

principles, the Scripture must be so construed as that even the soul may be material. The abbettors of this doctrine are called Materialists.

DOCTRINE, &c.

The Materialists believe, and attempt to prove, contrary to the opinion which has been almost universally prevalent in the Christian church in all ages*, that man does not consist of two substances essentially different from each other; but is of an uniform composition; and that the conscious principle, or what we generally term the soul, is merely a property resulting from such an organical structure as that of the brain; or, that it is the result of that actuating power which we call animal life.

From this hypothesis it seems to follow, as an immediate and necessary consequence,-that man is not a free agent; that the soul is not naturally immortal; and, that there is no intermediate state of consciousness between death and the resurrection: for the properties of sensation and thought must of course be extinguished at the dissolution of that system of organized matter to which they appertain†.

This doctrine of Materialism has long been considered as a tenet peculiar to infidelity; and has even been held in almost as much abhorrence, by the generality of Christians, as Atheism itself. It, notwithstanding, was very prevalent in France before the late Revolution, and has also been gaining ground in this country of late. It has been copiously discussed, and warmly patronised, by Dr. Priestley, in his "Disquisitions concerning Matter and Spirit," and in the "Free Discussion of the Doctrines of Materialism and Philosophical Necessity," in a correspondence between him and Dr. Price; and, by his friend Mr. T. Cooper, in his "Philosophical Essays," &c. But the founder of the school, in this country, was Dr. Hartley, and his principal disciples, whom, together with their master, an able opponent has termed "alchemists in the

Those who are the least acquainted with ancient philosophy need not be told, that much of it consisted in, or might be resolved into, Materialism: and in the reign of the Emperor Severus, about A. D. 180, a sect called Hermogenians, from Hermogenes, an African, held that nothing is or can exist but what is wholly material; that the soul is material; that the matter of the world was coeval with God, &c.

+ In searching the Scriptures for passages expressive of the state of man at death, the Materialists cite Job xiv. 7-12, Psalm vi. 5, &c. as texts wherein they find such declarations, as, they conceive, expressly exclude any trace of sense, thought, or enjoyment.