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To the Editors of the Baptist Magazine.

simplicity for the regulation of SCRIPTURE CHRONOLOGY. the occurrence of Easter; and from that time it has been thus used, though before the change of style it had made Easter deviate considerably from what was considered the proper time when the Nicene council was held. By the Metonic or lunar cycle then, as adjusted to the present century, we are to regard the full moon as happening this year on Saturday, the 21st of March; and the 22d being the Sunday after, is consequently considered as Easter-day.

Whatever difference of opinion may exist among different bodies of professing Christians, as to the observance of any particular day to commemorate the grand facts relating to the Messiah, the facts themselves must be held dear by every friend of the Saviour, not only on one particular day, but on all the days of the year. In short, these important realities will, no doubt, furnish a subject for contemplation and regard through the countless ages of eternity. It is true, indeed, that Christ was to the Jews a stumblingblock, and to the Greeks foolishness. He was a corner-stone rejected by the builders; but to those who believe, he is a precious stone. Such, then, is the estimation in which he is held by those whose hopes of salvation are founded in his death, and whose hopes of a blissful immortality are animated by his glorious resurrection. To them he appears the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely. His death excites their gratitude-his resurrection inspires their everlasting hopes and to them his yoke is easy and his burden light. Their regard is internal, but its proofs are external-they remember the saying of Jesus, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." J. F.

IN looking over some remarks that I made many years ago on Mr. Scott's Chronology, I found some things that I thought would tend to reconcile some seeming contradictions in scripture, and so stop the mouths of gainsayers, and remove stumbling blocks out of the way of weaker Christians. If you think them worth inserting in your valuable Magazine, they are at your service.

It is said, Gen. v. 32, Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And in Gen. vii. 6, that Noah was 600 years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. But in the 11th chapter, verse 10, it is said, Shem was 100 years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the food. Now here seems to be a mistake of 2 years.

In order to correct this seeming mistake, let it be observed, that not Shem, but Japheth, was Noah's eldest son, Gen. x. 21, and was born when Noah was 500 years old; but Shem not till he was 502, for Noah had but one wife; hence it appears, that Shem was just an 100 years old when he begat Arphaxad, two years after the flood. For these two years Mr. Scott in his chronology could not account.

Again, Gen. xv. 13, and Exod. xii. 40, 41, seem not perfectly to agree. But it should be observed, that the passage in Genesis speaks only of Abraham's seed; but that in Exodus includes also the time that Abraham himself was a sojourner. The reason why some chronologers cannot make these passages agree is, because they date the call of Abram when he was 75 years old, instead of 70; and, consequently, in order to make the number of years right

admitted to a participation of that ordinance if he were known to be an habitual partaker of such innocent amusements? Would a man be considered worthy the office of a deacon who himself did these things, and by his example said to any young persons looking up to him, "This is the way, walk ye in it?"

in Exodus, they have 405 instead | Baptist Magazine; which, as they of 400, for the passage in Genesis. materially concern perhaps the But that Abraham was called of immortal interest of my own and God to sojourn in a strange land the souls of others, I trust before he was 75 years old, ap- some experienced Christian will pears from Gen. xi. 31, and xii. answer. What is meant by a se1; in which latter passage it is paration from the world? Does said, "God had said to Abram, it exclusively refer to gross sins, Get thee out of thy country," &c. or does it include a renunciation that is before he dwelt in Haran, of such as are termed innocent as appears from the words of amusements-as the theatre, the Stephen, Acts, vii. 2-4, "The God ball-room, the card-table, &c.? of glory appeared unto our father And I much wish to know, if a Abraham when he was in Meso-candidate for baptism would be potamia, before he dwelt in Charran," &c. Now it is pretty plain that he dwelt in Haran some time, from Gen. xii. 5; and he was but 75 when he departed thence; therefore, I conclude, that he was called of God at 70 years of age. And now we shall have the 400 and the 430 years end together; for Abraham sojourned in a strange land 30 years before the Again, may I ask if, in the pribirth of Isaac, who was born mitive church, such were the enwhen Abraham was 100 years old; gagements of the followers of then, consequently, if his seed so- Jesus when they assembled ? are journed in a strange land 400 they the occupations of a Chrisyears, the whole sojourning of tian? are they congenial or inthis people from the call of Abra-jurious to a life of devotion to ham to the deliverance of his God? Will they afford pleasure seed out of Egypt must have in the retrospect of a dying hour? been 430 years, in accordance with the passage in Exod. xii. 40. Chronology is a difficult subject; but if these remarks will throw any additional light on these passages of holy writ, my end will not be lost; or if they only serve to stimulate some abler pen to do it, I shall thereby be gratified.

Z. T.

SEPARATION from the WORLD.

QUERIES.

DISCIPULUS.

Our young inquirer seems to have a correct view of separation from the world: we trust all our

young friends will exercise a rigid nonconformity in this respect! We feel persuaded, that persons known to attend places of public amusement, &c. would not be admitted either to baptism, or to any office in our churches.

Should such inconsistent professors be found in any of them, (as we fear the queries of Discipulus implies,) we trust the reproach will soon be removed by regard to the apostolic precept, 2 Thess. iii. 6.

THE desire of information has led me to make the following que-a pies through the medium of the

100

Juvenile Department.

PHILOSOPHICAL

REFLECTIONS.

No. XVI.
HEAT.

WHAT philosophers called heat, modern chemists term caloric. Heat is now considered as a sensation produced by caloric. It is the contemplation of the nature and effects of the latter we now propose to our young friends.

In the investigation of its nature, | the lowly youth will soon discover the imperfection of the human reason, the folly of pride, and the suitability of humility, for the most laborious and successful investigators have not agreed in their theories: but enough is known concerning it to command our admiration of divine wisdom and gratitude for divine goodness.

While some have considered calorie as a quality common to all bodies, others have denominated it a body sui generis. The latter opinion we may safely adopt, as affording the most reasonable explication of those effects to which the attention will be presently invited. It is a fluid of the most subtile, light, and elastic nature, whose weight cannot as yet be estimated, and it is ever seeking an equilibrium, which an endless variety of circumstances tends to interrupt. It is therefore ever in action, and through the great Creator's kind superintendence, constantly producing the most powerful and beneficial effects. But, before we glance at these effects, it may be proper to endeavour to make the consideration of the equilibrium just mentioned more familiar.

Caloric admitted to a homogenous body, such as air, speedily diffuses itself through the whole mass, so that every part will be found of the same temperature, and, in such

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facts, consists the equilibrium alluded to. Further to elucidate this subject, let it be imagined, that in this heated air, several bodies be placed of the same temperature, but colder, as we term them, than the air itself; the caloric will leave the air, infusing itself into them, till they, and the air in which they are situate, are of one common temperature. But it will not be found that each of these bodies has imbibed an equal portion of caloric, as their dispositions for absorbing and retaining heat, called their capacities for heat, depend on a variety of circumstances.

The various degrees of facility with which different bodies conduct heat, materially influences the existence of this equilibrium: thus, while metals conduct it readily, wood, glass, resin, &c. conduct it feebly: it is not possible long to hold an iron wire, one end of which is in the fire, while a piece of wood, of the same size, can be retained till nearly the whole of it is consumed: the artizan who blows a ball at the end of a glass tube, holds the tube at a distance, which, if it were metal, would inevitably | burn him.

Besides the portion of caloric whose communication depends on its nearness to or contact with other bodies, there exists another called radiant caloric, not influenced by such affinity, which, though our limits preclude us from minutely explaining, is worthy of the attention of the curious youth. It may be scen escaping from the mouth of a stove or oven owing to its expansive force, in the form of rays, which can be reflected, especially by polished metals like light, it freely traverses the air, passing from one body to another in right lines, retaining its radiant property; or, by affinity, uniting with bodies it meets in its passage; and, in the progress to an equilibrium, the quantity of

radiant caloric taken up by each body, is greater or less than what it yields to others.

the body is reduced to a liquid: but it is remarkable, that the increase of caloric after liquidity commences, does not increase the temperature of the body till the whole is dissolved: thus the thermometer is not seen to rise after a body of ice begins to liquefy, till the whole is thawed. Of the same nature is the melting of iron; indeed, it has been observed, that it would be equally correct to speak of the thawing and congelation of iron as of ice, a greater quantity of caloric only is required.

But the effects of this wonderful

The organs of the human frame are not adapted to discover the different degrees of temperature that bodies possess, nor is there any known method of ascertaining the quantity of caloric they contain. We touch a body of higher temperature than our hand, and, in consequence of the sensation we feel in gaining a portion of its caloric, we merely pronounce it warm or hot; and on the contrary, in handling a substance of less temperature, we impart caloric to it, and experienc-fluid stop not here. Caloric contiing the opposite sensation by the loss, we denominate it cool or cold. It is therefore the temperature of our bodies that determines for us the limit of heat and cold, a criterion so varying and vague, as to induce us to pronounce the same body occasionally hot and cold: thus caves, vaults, and cellars are said to be cold in the summer and warm in the winter, though their temperature varies little, it is that of our bodies that varies so much.

But we proceed to its effects, and first, notice its influence in producing in bodies a change of state. The particles of substances which from their compactness and adherence we are accustomed to consider in a state of solidity, are held together by the force of attraction. The elastic force of the caloric, which penetrates between their particles, tends to disunite them, and will vary their volume in a greater or less degree according to the quantity of caloric received, but happily there is another force which assists in preserving their forms, namely, the pressure of the external air; but the effect of this pressure is only manifest in the progress of a body to the elastic state. If we ascend a mountain with a vessel of water, the pressure of the atmosphere decreasing as we rise, because the column of air on the water grows shorter, we may discern the conversion of the liquid into vapour.

When the quantity of caloric in a body is so increased as to balance the force of attraction, the particles move easily in all directions, and

nually introduced into a body already reduced to complete liquidity, further overcomes the forces of attraction and external pressure before noticed, and actually carries away with it the particles of the liquid converting it into an elastic fluid. And here are again illustrated the order and precision of nature, for as in the process of liquefaction, so in this progress, from the liquid to the æriform state, the additional caloric received after the commencement of this further effect, instead of heating the water above 212 degrees of Farenheit, the temperature at which this effect is produced, is merelyemployed in converting the remainder of the liquid into the elastic fluid. And it is worthy of remark, that in the return of the same bodies to their previous state, as of water to ice and vapour to water, the heat absorbed reappears with their varying characters. The fact of keat thus remaining concealed in a body without raising its temperature, deserves particular notice, and has given rise to the term of latent heat, concerning which philosophers have never been able to satisfy themselves.

Though these effects are at present confined to certain substances, it is conceived, that most bodies appear unchangeable only for want of a power of applying a sufficient quantity of caloric for the trial. It is, doubtless, among our mercies, of which, however, few Christians are aware, that this power is not always at command. It is particularly so with respect to the atmospheric air,

which the kind providence of our God will, probably, ever preserve in the class of elastic and invisible fluids.

We now notice the dilatation and contraction of solids. All bodies that are dilated, take away caloric from the surrounding bodies; and, on the contrary, all bodies that are contracted, yield caloric to adjacent objects. Every stroke of the hammer on a bar of hot iron, by driving the particles nearer together, strikes out jets of radiant caloric, which can hardly have escaped the admiration of the observing youth. On the same principle many account for the heat resulting froin friction. They consider friction as a kind of hammering which condenses the particles on which it acts, and consequently presses out the caloric. A very simple experiment proves the dilatability of glass. Procure a small glass tube, terminated with a hollow globe of the size of an orange; fill the globe with coloured water, and place it in a vessel of nearly boiling water, so that the globe is covered, it will then be seen that the glass dilates, for the water will descend; but on removing it, the caloric will escape and the glass will contract, which will accordingly cause the water in the globe to rise. The substance out of which our earthen vessels are made for

domestic uses is a bad conductor of heat; they should, therefore, be carefully treated in their first exposure to heat. The motion of caloric being slow, it accumulates at those places that offer it the easiest access, and endeavours to disperse the constituent particles; hence those vessels are often broken by heat, and even when due precautions are used, at their first exposure to the fire, we observe innumerable little flaws are made, accompanied with a crackling noise, which, from the little breaks in the varnish with which the vessels are glazed, have the appearance of a kind of net-work.

We might further notice the influence of caloric on the dimensions of bodies, but many examples of this kind cannot but be familiar to the juvenile reader. A variation of

temperature is found to have a material effect on the strings of musical instruments. It is on this account that the notes, at one extremity of the piano, are found to dilate and flatten, while at the other they contract and become sharper, according to the situation of the fire in the room. So also clocks are materially affected: an accession or diminution of caloric lengthening or shortening the pendulum, necessarily causes them to lose or gain time. To obviate this great inconvenience, philosophers have ingeniously com bined a copper with an iron rod, and so disposed them, that when the iron pendulum rod shortens, the copper sustaining the same variation in a contrary sense, the centre of vibration should be preserved of the same length.

We learn from such inquiries somewhat more of the infinite wisdom of God: not an object in creation, not a principle in nature, but is subject to His wise controul, and regulated by the nicest and most perfect laws; nor can we but feel the ignorance of vain man who too frequently fancies himself wise.

EXTRACT FROM

N. N.

"Letters after a Tour through some Parts of France, Italy, &c. in 1816."

UNDER the account of MILAN, the author says,

"Circumstances did not allow me to visit Rome, or other Italian cities than those I have mentioned; but that which is observed in these, especially in this capital of northern Italy, and in its cathedral, (second only to St. Peter's,) I conceive may be taken at least for a fair, perhaps a favourable specimen of the whole system, as offered to the people. It may be deemed unjust by Roman Catholics to include abuses which are only connived at; and, if so, I ought to pass by instances of superstitious quackery close to the front of this cathedral, where I twice joined a crowd listening gravely to tales of miracles, detailed with ap propriate comments by venders of

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