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muft fuppofe, from a virtuous indignation. Chrift called Herod a fox, and ftyled the Pharifees a generation of vipers: but then, indeed, it was not in his prayers.

Art. 72. Sermons on practical Subjects. By Robert Walker, late one of the Minifters of the High-church, Edinburgh. To which is prefixed, a Character of the Author, by Hugh Blair, D. D. New Edition. 8vo. 3 Vols. 155. Boards. Elliott.

As these three volumes have already been prefented, feparately, and at different and diftant periods, to the public, nothing farther is neceffary for us to add concerning them, befide the proper references to the account of each diftinct volume. For the firit, we direct the reader to our Review, vol. xxxiv. p. 484; for the fecond, to vol. liii. p. 90; and for the third, to the 72d vol. p. 476.

SINGLE SERMON S.

Art. 73. On Church Difcipline; being an Inquiry how far the prefent National Clergy are to be justified in their Departure from the Strictness and Severity of the Primitive, and of the early Reformed Church, Preached at the Cathedral at Norwich, June 17, 1791, at the Vifitation of the Bishop of that Diocefe; and publifhed at the Request of the Chancellor and Clergy of the Deanries of Norwich, &c. By Thomas Jeans, A. M. Rector of Witchingham, Norfolk, late Fellow of New College, Oxford, and formerly Secretary and Chaplain to Lord Stormont, in his Embafly at Paris. 4'0. PP. 22. 13. Robfon,

It is unquestionably a juft obfervation, that although all mea were fuppofed, in all cafes, to judge rightly what is virtue and right behaviour, there would ftill prevail a very confiderable variety in their moral practice, in different ages and countries; because, as new connections take place, and new cultoms and political inftitutions are introduced, new obligations mult arife;-whence many practices, very warrantable and proper under one form of government, or in the new establishment of a community, or among people of a particular genius, or where particular regulations and epinions prevail, may be quite wrong in another state of things, or among people of other character and customs.

On the ground of this remark, (quoted more at large in this difcourfe from "Price on Morals,") Mr. Jeans undertakes to justify the conduct of the church of England, in relaxing its difcipline. He draws a comparison between the ftate of the primitive and the early reformed churches, and that of the national establishment in this kingdom, to prove that feveral of the caufes, which formerly required rigour in the exercife of church authority, are ceafed; and that other circumftances have arifen, which render a different method of proceeding more expedient. Mild ecclefiaftical difcipline he fhews to be fuitable to the freedom of our civil conftitution, and to the prefent refinement of manners. He might have added a reafon, which has in fact, perhaps, more weight than all the reft; that, in the prefent enlightened age, feverity would hazard the very

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existence of ecclefiaftical authority. The argument is stated with clearnefs, expreffed in unaffected language, and fupported by an appeal to facts. So general an air of good fenfe and liberality runs through the difcourfe, that we are perfuaded the author will, on revifal, perceive an inconfiftency between the two following paffages. Speaking of the early errors and herefies introduced into the church, from the philofophical schools of Alexandria, he fays, To prevent or to punish thele was the painful but necessary duty of the church' he elfewhere fays, " Religion is a plant of fo delicate, and withal fo generous a growth, that no pains taken to force it shall ever make it flourish; nor can it bring forth fruit of acceptance with God, or of value in the world, unless it fpring up freely in a fincere and honeft heart.'-It cannot be difficult to determine, which of thefe two contradictory paffages ought to have been expunged.

Art. 74.
On the Divinity of our Saviour. Preached at Norwich
Cathedral, Dec. 26, 1790, and at St. Gregory's, Jan. 9, 1791.
By John Gee Smyth, A. B. The Profits to be applied to the
Ufe of the Sunday Schools in St. Gregory's and Eaton. 4to. 13.
Rivingtens.

Though we cannot compliment Mr. Smyth with having deeply explored this controverted fubject, and with having ftrengthened the orthodox faith by new arguments, it must be allowed that he has exhibited his fentiments with candour, and that he discovers a liberal mind. Had he proved his affertion, p. 20, that Christ encourages and directs us to addrefs our prayers to Him as well as to the Father,' he must have triumphed over the combined hoft of Arians and Socinians: but where are to be found the texts which will demonftrate this affertion? Where is the adoration and worfhip of our Saviour, totidem verbis, commanded? We put this queftion with the utmost propriety to Mr. Smyth, as he confeffles that it would have been happy for the Christian world, had the ancient fathers of the church drawn up a confeffion of faith in the awards of feripture. The text is John, v. 22. 23.

In p. 15 and 16, where Mr. Smyth ftates his faith, he does not ufe fufficient precifion; for while he fpeaks of Chrift as a Divine Being, he, in the fame fentence, deferibes his coming into the world to appease the refentment of the Deity.

Art. 75. Preached on Sunday the 3d of April, 1791, at the Chapel of the Magdalen Afylum, Leefon-freet, Dublin. By Gilbert Auftin, A. M. Chaplin to the Magdalen Afylum. 4to. pp.36. 28. Printed at Dublin.

The fituation of this charity appears to be critical; its duration, we are told, depending, in a great meafure, on the valuable, but moft precarious life of its founder and prote&or, the excellent Lady Arbella Denny.' In fuch circumftances, the preacher, affured of the utility of the inftitution, exerts his whole ftrength in recommending it to the attention and liberality of his audience, and now to that of the public in general. He addreffes the imagination and

the

the paffions; he defcribes with pathos, and perfuades with energy and we apprehend his arguments have the fupport of truth. His endeavours appear to have had fome confiderable effect; as we are informed that, in a chapel containing not above 250 perfons, the fum of 3041. 25. 7d. was collected; in confequence of which two additional beds have been provided in the afylum. The number of objects who had been before admitted, was thirty-one, while fix other fuppliants, whofe cafes (excepting one, too horrid for rela tion,) are particularly defcribed, were anxiously waiting for the favour; to two of whom, we conclude, it has been granted. Poffibly, fome farther affillance to this afylum may be gained, by more generally circulating a knowlege of its ftate.

The text of this difcourfe is John, viii. 2. Its profits, fhould any arife, are to be given to the charity.

Art. 76. The Duty of preaching the Gospel explained and recommended. An Ordination Sermon, preached at New-Town-Ards. By Sinclare Kelburn. 8vo. PP. 36. Dublin. 1790.

A plain, ferious, and orthodox difcourfe, fuited to the occafion on which it was delivered.

Art. 77. Love to Enemies explained and recommended: delivered to the two Societies of the Old and New Meetings, in Birmingham, lately burnt down; and now affembling together at Carr's-lane Meeting-houfe, Aug. 7, 1791. By Radcliffe Scholefield. 8vo. pp. 24. IS. Johnson.

These are the weapons which muft finally prove fuccefsful. Clamour, violence, and perfecution, will die away, and retire with fhame before reafon, moderation, and benevolence. On an occafion fo irritating to Diffenters as the riots and conflagrations of Birmingham, we must confefs ourselves to have been gratified at finding one of their minifters inculcating the great precept of Christ-love to enemies; and we hope that the temper, with which this difcourfe is compofed, will induce the members of the established church to treat Diffenters in their turn with the like liberality and candour; that the evil spirit which fome perfons have endeavoured to foment between them may totally fubfide; and that no more riots and outrages may be committed, to the difgrace of religion and of this enlightened country. Speaking of the leaders and actors in the riots, Mr. S. gives the following temperate advice: let juftice, not revenge, appear to influence and direct your conduct-while you endeavour to detect the principal infiigators and leaders in this horrid bufinefs, let it be mixed with pity and compassion to the deluded multitude. Perfuaded as they were of the criminality of our views, and heated by fury, heightened by intoxication, it may literally be affirmed of many, that they knew not what they did.

Mobs never act from knowlege and reafon. They are like an herd of fwine, which never run with violence, but when fome devil inftigates them.

Mr. S. apologizes for the publication of his fermon, which was not compofed to meet the public eye. It will, notwithstanding, do

him no difcredit as a compofition:-but, drinking up vitals, p. 23, is not an accurate expreffion.

Art. 78. Paul's Defence before Felix, confidered and applied; preached April 27, 1791, at the opening of the New Chapel, in George-ftreet, Plymouth-Dock. By Joshua Toulmin, A. M.

8vo. pp. 45. 6d. Johníon.

On St. Paul's skilful defence of himself, (fee the text, A&s, xxiv. 14, 15, 16.) from the charge of preaching herefy, Mr. Toulmin erects a vindication of the Unitarians from the fame accufation. Having in view its direct application to the Unitarian doctrine, he thus comments on the words of St. Paul: What herefy could there be in worshipping the fame Almighty Being, whom his nation worshipped; in believing the fame Scriptures which they had received; in looking for that refurrection which they expected; and in being guilty of no offence either toward God or toward man?'

This is a temperate and fenfible difcourfe, calculated to difarm prejudice, and to promote the practice of virtue.

Art. 79. Preached at St. Edmund's Church in Dudley, and publifhed for the Purpose of erecting a Monument in it to the Memory of its pious Founder, Mr. George Bradley, who died Dec. 8, 1721. 8vo. pp. 20. Printed at Dudley, 1791.

We find that this fermon was preached by the Rev. Luke Booker. In a fhort and modeft preface, he apologizes for the declamatory or poetical language which is ufed in fome parts of the difcourfe, and which, as he intimates, he fhould have avoided, had he intended it for the prefs. The fermon, however, appears to be well fuited to the occafion. The author cannot be fufpected of venal flattery as to the deceased, nor does he difcover fuperftitious notions about the confecration and fanctity of buildings, nor any kind of party-fpirit: but, while attending rather to the convenience and neceflity of a place appropriated to religious worship, he urges the farther propriety of dedicating a teftimony of refpect to the man who, many years fince, had provided it for the inhabitants of Dudley,-and yet had himself been interred without any diftin&t memorial. The erection of this church has not arifen from any of thofe idle and pernicious fancies, much lefs from thofe wicked and flagitious actions, which, in former ages, produced many public ftructures: it appears rather to have been the pure effect of piety and benevolence. Having no relation but a brother, in eafy circumftances, Mr. Bradley expreffed, on his death-bed, a wifh that the fortune which he left might be thus employed; adding, that if, by thefe means, one finner fhould be converted from his error, it would be the noblest purchase that he could make. On thefe topics, Mr. Booker expatiates. He expreffes great refpect for, and dependence on, his audience, as well difpofed to promote the caufe of virtue, or alleviate diftrefs wherever it appeared in this refpect he confiders them all as of one heart and one foul however divided in religious opinions - however varying in fome articles of Christian faith-yet unanimous in Chriftian charity.'

Art.

Art. 80. The Living Temple. Preached at Halftead, in Effex, May the 10th, 1791, on occafion of the Death of the Rev. Jofeph Field. By Robert Stevenfon. 8vo. pp. 34. 1s. Dilly.

This difcourfe is published at the request of the congregation before whom it was delivered, and is intended for the benefit of the widow of the deceafed. The worthy author having, in a regular way, introduced the doctrine of Divine influence, expreffes a very earneft folicitude, that, instead of being abufed to negligence and indelence, it fhould prove an incentive, as certainly it ought, to greater watchfulness and vigour in the Chriftian life.' We with that this fermon may obtain a fale fufficient to produce fome effectual affiftance for the object prepoled, unknown indeed to us, yet, we doubt not, really worthy of a charitable and beneficent

attention.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Philo Africanus in vain attempts to draw back our attention to the hateful business of the flave-trade. Our general ideas on that difficult fubject are before the public; and to the public judgment we wish to confign them, without entering into any controverfy with anonymous, however reípectable, correfpondents, on particular points of argument that may have been, perhaps haftily, fuggefted, on either fide. Philo Africanus may have more leisure, as well as inclination, for fuch debates, than we poffefs; and he is, alfo, probably, better informed concerning many circumftances refpecting the trade in Negroes, than we can pretend to be; and, with this conceffion, we hope, our correfpondent will reft fatisfied: efpecially when we add, that, whatever difficulties may attend the invefligation, we are as much averfe from flavery, of every kind, as he, or any man breathing, can be. He intimates a with that we would print his former letter: but this would very ill agree with the prefent arrangements of our work, with respect to which we claim the entire direction, independently of all foreign interference; acknowleging, at the fame time, our obligation to our Correfpondents, for all friendly hints, conveyed in friendly language.

+++ We have not yet been able to procure the materials neceffary for the determination of the fubject of the letter figned Veritas: but we hope to get them in time to answer it in our next month's correfpondence. In the mean while, Veritas may be affured that he does us great injuftice, in fuppofing that we wish to pluck the laurels from the brows' of any writer whatever, in order to transfer them to thofe of another. Both the gentlemen, mentioned in the prefent cafe, are equally indifferent to us.

Other letters remain for confideration.

*Noticed in our Correfpondence for Auguft 1791. That letter is, however, mislaid; nor do we thoroughly recollect its contents.

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