usual avocations. In southern latitudes and in the sickly season, it is deemed the height of temerity to venture out of doors, after the sun has gone below the horizon. At this time, the streets of the largest cities are deserted of their inhabitants. Whether the common opinion that sleep, taken in the first part of the night, is more refreshing than that taken in the latter part, is correct, in the sense in which it is entertained, is not certain. Probably there is an error in the case, arising from the fact that the early hours of slumber are of much more consequence, and far more recruiting in effect, than an equal number of hours near the time of waking. When people retire at the usual time, a sufficiency of sleep has commonly been received before the period of rising; of course, the rest of the morning is unsound and broken. It consists rather in dozing than sleeping. At this time, dreams are frequent, which we suppose is not the fact during deep slumber. If the first part of the night has been spent in watchfulness, morning sleep is found sufficiently refreshing.

It seems sometimes to be thought, that the repose of the night is only required for the restoration of the bodily powers, and that he who is not engaged in active corporeal exercise, does not stand so much in need of its repairing agency. This is a mistaken notion. The mind as well as the body is the subject of fatigue, and equally demands a periodical suspension of labor. The industrious student wants as much, and as regular sleep, as the hard working farmer, and as sensibly feels the deprivation of it. Those who lead a life of mental and bodily indolence, or who are engaged in those petty handicraft occupations which require no exertion of any kind, are not so soon exhausted of course, with thein, the hours devoted to rest should be abridged. When the causes which expend are partially abstracted, the need of supply becomes less urgent.

The feelings are the standard by which we should judge of the amount of clothing necessary for our bodies; but here it will be important to distinguish natural from acquired feelings. A morbid sensibility, which has been created by a habit of dressing too warmly, affords no criterion. We have no doubt, that a great deal of the fashionable sensitiveness to the influence of cold and moisture, is the creature of education.

By confinement within doors, by breathing only the atmosphere of a room which is regulated by a thermometer, by a careful seclusion from the open air, except when the mercury stands at 602, or at 30 inches, a sort of artificial delicacy may be formed, which incapacitates the system to resist the influence of such vicissitudes of weather as would prove harmless to a sound constitution. A belief is common to some extent, which has even sometimes been

countenanced by the physicians, that the practice of incasing the body in flannel, even during the hottest months of summer, is conducive to health. It doubtless is so in some cases, and in particular disorders, but as a general rule, it is as detrimental as absurd. By such a course, the skin is irritated and stimulated to an unnatural degree, the secretion of sweat is rendered too abundant, and debility of the cutaneous vessels is produced. Increased susceptibility is always the result. The least change in the weather is instantly recognized. The skin is endowed by nature with great powers of accommodation, by which it is enabled to resist successfully all sudden changes in the medium with which it comes in contact. If it is exhausted by action, and weakened by excessive perspiration, it ceases to perform its function promptly or properly; and with the least irregularity in the external agents which act upon it, it loses the balance of health, and the whole system is thrown into disease. In this state, it may be compared in delicacy to a nice meteorological instrument, compounded of the thermometer, the barometer, and the hygrometer, which appreciates with accuracy the least deviation in the temperature, gravity, or moisture of the atmosphere. In order to guard the body against these fluctuations, frequent exercise in the open air should be taken, and moderate exposure to different kinds of weather allowed. The clothing should be changed with the season, and its amount always regulated by the natural feelings. To a body hardened and fortified in this way, the sun, heat, and cold, moisture and dryness, are alike indifferent.

We are conscious of having only touched on some of the more prominent points of the subject under consideration. It would have been pleasing to dwell at more length on many of the topics. passed in review, and to extend the article, by a remark or two on the effects of change of air, traveling, the influence of the passions on health, etc. but we fear we have already trespassed on the patience of the reader.

ART. V.-REVIEW OF OUTLINES OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. Outlines of Ecclesiastical History on a new plan; designed for academies and schools. BY REV. CHARLES A. GOODRICH. Illustrated by engravings. Hartford; published by H. & F. J. Huntington. 1829. WERE the christian church merely a human institution-designed to answer a temporary purpose, and to be laid aside whenever the condition of mankind shall have become so improved as not to need it, according to the system which is said to be now beginning

* St Simonism, so called-a new form of the old doctrine of human perfectibility.

to prevail in France, the history of such an institution would still be instructive to every individual. It would include a narrative of events, in which the most polished nations of the world have, for centuries, been concerned; and in which the good and the evil of the human character, have been exhibited in their most striking contrasts. It would embody numerous representations connected with the laws and policy, with the philosophy and literature, with the usages and opinions of all ages. It would read to us many important lessons, touching our relations to one another and the duties. which grow out of them, alluring our hearts to virtue, and inspiring a salutary dread of crime. But as christianity is divine in its original, and destined to continue while the world shall stand, in its nature adapted to every variety in the condition and characters of men, needing no change amidst the changes of society, being ever in advance of the human intellect, even in its most cultivated state, and more beautifully exemplified as the heart comes more under its influence; the history of that institution, which constitutes the external form of this religion, and which represents its living spirit, is, beyond all merely secular history, instructive and worthy of attention. It derives an interest-an importance, not only from the past, but from the future-from what christianity has been, but from that which it is to be, as practised among mankind. In acquainting ourselves with the state and progress of the christian church hitherto, we connect it in our minds with its coming glories, with the period when it shall embrace all nations, and fill and adorn the whole earth. As we proceed, we cannot but notice the course of events, and mark the aspect of things in the church in reference to this its anticipated triumph. Unlike the history of splendid nations that are past and gone, the history of christianity is that of an indestructible, living, and rising, and spiritual empire, growing more and more important, and filling the field of vision, as the shadows of the world pass away. With such an institution it becomes all to be acquainted, in the various circumstances that have hitherto attended it; nor is any information more valuable, except a saving, experimental acquaintance with the religion itself, of which the church is a representative and a repository.

To the people of this country, ecclesiastical history is on some accounts, we think, invested with peculiar importance. As we live under a form of government, widely different from any in connection with which the church of Christ has hitherto existed, and under whose protection, (a privilege alike extended to all religions,) this institution is left to its amplest means of moral influence, it becomes a matter not only of rational curiosity, but of deep and peculiar interest, to learn its condition in past ages, and the causes which have acted upon it, either retarding its progress, or hastening its triumphs.

The application of this knowledge may be of essential consequence to the christian church in the United States, as it may lead us to avoid the errors of other times, and to improve our favorable situation for the peculiar advancement of the great interests of that church. But important as this study is, and important to us, it has been by far too much overlooked in our schools and academies; and our youth, in general, have consequently been but little acquainted with the subject. Several causes might doubtless be assigned for this neglect; but it concerns us here to mention only one, and that is the want of suitable books, on ecclesiastical history. A distinguished teacher in the United States, has given it as the result of his reflections, on the different histories of the christian church in use among us, that "the form in which this department of history has appeared, both at large and in abridgments, has offended and discouraged almost all readers except the untiring student, and has prevented that extension of this knowledge, which is desirable for the correction of many misapprehensions in society on the subject of christianity."

To remedy the difficulty here complained of, is the object of the work, whose title we have placed at the head of this article. Its author, the Rev. Mr. Goodrich, is advantageously known to the literary and religious public, by means of several valuable works, designed principally for schools, and for the youth of our country. To all who are acquainted with his productions, scarcely any other recommendation can be necessary, than to announce a work on ecclesiastical history, as coming from his pen. Indeed, as the book has been before the public for a length of time, it has already received many testimonials of the estimation in which it is held. If there are, however, any among our readers to whom Mr. G. is unknown as an author, and to whom our favorable opinion would be of any service, in the wider circulation of his book, we take pleasure in stating our conviction, that few writers have deserved better of their countrymen, and particularly of the youth of our land, than Mr. G., for the attempts he has made to entertain and improve their minds. His books, already considerably numerous, are all excellent in respect to their spirit and tendency, having invariably in view, besides the intellectual improvement of his readers, their moral and spiritual welfare. The plan on which his works have, in most instances, been constructed, and the matter and style of them all, have been duly appreciated by the public. They have obtained a deserved popularity, and their introduction into schools has been quite extensive. A cotemporaneous journalist* has remarked that, "his small history of the United States has been re

*The Spirit of the Pilgrims.

ceived with a degree of favor, and has had a circulation, which it is the lot of few productions in this country to obtain." Of the plan of his historical books for schools, as consisting of a division into separate periods, and the use of large and small letters, the one for throwing the principal events into distinct propositions-the other for introducing comments and additional facts, we have spoken on former occasions, particularly in a review of his History of the United States, a few years since. Its convenience, both for teachers and learners, admits of no question. The leading matter of these books is, in the highest degree, entertaining and instructive, interwoven as it frequently is with occasional pious reflections and remarks; their style is uncommonly simple and clear; and the whole turn of thought and manner of representation, bears the marks of a truly candid and liberal mind. On these accounts chiefly, they are far better adapted to the purposes in view, than the great majority of our school books.

In respect to the work before us, we have to observe, that it possesses the same general characteristics as his other publications, with perhaps some peculiarities which entitle it to still higher consideration. These latter are connected with the acknowledged difficulty and delicacy of writing on the topic which our author has selected. "Ecclesiastical history," as he remarked in his preface," is a peculiar subject." Its importance must be admitted by all; but it is extremely embarrassing to write upon it with a view to general edification, amidst the variety of christian sects. This embarrassment was severely felt, but it has been in a great measure overcome. As Mr. Goodrich's book was designed to be introduced into schools of all denominations, it became necessary on that plan, either to omit controverted topics, or if in some instances fidelity required their admission, to handle them with the utmost care. These topics accordingly, have for the most part been avoided; and it is believed that where the author felt it necessary to introduce them, while he has not shunned an avowal of his own opinions, he has observed a commendable share of tenderness and moderation. We understand that in the next edition, which is in forwardness, the work will be made still more unexceptionable in this respect.

Such being the nature and design of Mr. Goodrich's book, we will turn our attention, for a few moments, to the manner in which it is executed. And first of all, the General Division, which consists of eight periods, strikes us as being eminently clear and happy. All readers may have remarked the satisfaction which they feel, when, upon looking into a book with a view to its perusal, they find an easy and significant guide to the train of thought which runs through it. This is a satisfaction which the reader will