Art, 39. The House of God. opened, and his Table free for Bap,

tifts and Podobaptists, who are Saints and faithful in Christ.. Or,
Reasons wby their different Sentiments about Water-Baptisin
should be no bar co Church-fellowship with each other. The prin,
cipal Objections aofwered. Also an illuitrative Dialogue and an
incidental Narrative, By John Brown. 8vo, 6d. Johnton. .
$777

Every discovery of a charitable and candid spirit is plealing and laudable. Not indeed that charity, falsely so called, which is no. thing more than indifference to all religion ; but that charity which accompanies true piety, and is founded on the generous principles of the gospel. Such a spiric Mr. Brown maniselts in regard to the subject of baptism. He writes in a plain but Senable manner, and en forces his ideas with proper fervor as well as ftrength of argument,

The çluftrative dialogue, as it is called, is drawn up with spirit, I rand seems much to the purpose, though perhaps sometiges rather too familiar, if not too ludicrous, for the gravity of the subje&

The Incidental Narrative contains an instance of the miserable narrow-mindedness which, even in this enlightened age, ftill preyails in some baptift-congregations, especially in the country, Art. 40. The Order of Confirmation ; or laying of Hands, &c -as improved by the Commisioners appointed to review the Common Prayer in 1689. 12mo. 3 d. Sewell.

Designed for the use of the parochial clergy as well as the benefit .,of part .

and are come to years of discretion. The Editor obseryes, in his preface, that the Order of Çonfirmation is here fo improved and enlarged, that nothing can be well conceived more complete and perfect; and that it is so judiciopfly drawn up, as to superfede, in a good degree, every thing else that has been written on the sub jedt.'

& M.

SERMONS.
I. Preached within the Pecoliar of Nallington, &c. in the County

of Northampton, in October 1775. By James Ibbetson, D.D.
Prebendary of Lincoln, and Archdeacon of St. Alban's. 40, is,
White.

The leading part of this fermon is ingenious and well compofid, containing some pertinent and useful remarks on charity, and on The words which are chosen for a text; It is more bleffed to give than po receive. In the latter part of the discourse thc preacher grows warm, and appears angry at some practices which have lately prevailed within the district, as we apprehend, to which the church of Nalington belongs. "Inclosing of lands, as far as we can gather, is the great object of his indignation; he seems to be himself affected by it, for he complains that his freehold has been unjustly taken from him. His professed intention however is to plead the cause of the poor, who, he thinks, are injored by this means.

All at tempts to yindicate the rights of the poor, who are too often neglected and oppressed, and perhaps in this article of inclosures, we heartily commend." We can in such a case excuse fome fallies

of

of anger, and call it an honest resentment. How far the sage of ing
closing, which marks the present time, is generally beneficial or
detrimental, after all that has been offered on the topic, yet remains
problematical. The evils which Dr. Ibbetson sees arising from it,
appear to be apprehended with some justice. But we imagine thai
such care is taken of the clergy in these instances, that they derive
rather advantage than inconvenience.. What particular ill treatment
the Doctor has received we know not, but somewhat of this kind
seems to have concurred in exciting his warmth. When he talks,
in the course of his reasoning, on fupremacy, allegiance, &c. we
hardly know what he aims at. There is, we think, fome tendency
to high church and despotic principles, which are inimical, not only
to the rights of the poor, but to the rights and the comforts of all
mankind. The title-page exhibits a fanciful small copper plate,
which intimates in Latin that the King's Supremacy was vindicated
(that is, by this Author) in the lower house of convocation, on the
23d of January 1775. See Review, vol. liii. p. 364.

M.
II. AULIM-Luz.- Preached at the Opening of Northampton Cha.

pel (formerly called the Pantheon) in the Spa Fields, Illington,

July 6, 1777. By Herbert Jones. 8vo. 6 d. Johnson.
. Aulim-Luz--literally, the colonade of profaneness, alias, the

Pantheon ; spiritually, the heart of man; for the heart of every
man by nature is Luz, a city of profaneness, a temple of idols, full
of deceit, and desperately wicked.” For the farther illustration of
this matter, fee Herbert Jones, paffim.

E. III. Ibe Progress of Moral Corruption.- Preached at St. Thomas's,

Jan. 1, 1778, for the Benefit of the Charity School, in GravelLane, Southwark. By Hugh Worthington, jun. Published at the Request of the Managers. 8vo. od, Buckland,

A fenfible application of the moral sentiment comprehended in the scripture prove, b—"A little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump,” to the gradual corruption of states,-churches,-families, -and in: dividuals : from whence the ingenious preacher jully infers the uti Jity of such benevolent inftitutions as that which hath afforded occasion for the present discourse.–Of this institution Mr. W. gives the folle lowing account, which we shall transcribe for the information of those, among our Readers, who may be ftrangers to it;

• This school was first established in the year 1687, in the reign of King James the Second, when various attempts were made so introduce the errors, absurdities, and cruel usurpations of Popery. Iz particular, a school was set up by one Poulton, a Jesuit, and public notice was given, that he would instruct the children of the poor graris: a very artful method of bringing them over to that antichrillian form of religion. Upon wbich Mr. Arthur Shallet, Mr. Samuel Warburton, and Mr. Ferdinando Holland, laid the founda. tion of this schoul in Gravel·lane, Southwark, that poor children might be instructed in the principles of the Protettani faith. The number of the scholars was originally forcy, but, fince that sme, has gradually increased, and is now iwo hundred. It is said to be the first school in which Protestant Diffenters had any concern. The children are infructed in reading, writing, and arichmetic, without

Pin any

I s.

I s.

any expence to their parents, the girls are taught to sew and knit;
and all are furnished with spelling books, catechisms, and tefta-
ments.'
IV. Before the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in the Abbey Church

of Westminfter, Jan. 30, 1778. Being the Day appointed to be
observed as the Day of the Martyrdom of King Charles I. By
Beilby Lord Binop of Chefer. 410. Payne, &c.

Eloquent in flyle, and juít, candid, and pious in sentiment. We never perused a prelatical discourse on the subject, with greater fatiffaction. V. Before the Governors of Addenbrook's Hospital, June 26, 1777,

at Great St. Mary's Cambridge. By John Hey, B. D. Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, and one of the Preachers at his Majesty's Chapel at Whitehall. 450. L, Davis, &c.- For the Bere.

fit of the Charity.
.VI. The Providence of God vindicated in the Sufferings of good Men-

At Yarmouth in Norfolk, Jan. 11, 1778, on the death of the Rev.
Richard Proft. By Thomas Howe. 6 d. Buckland.

Sermons on the late General Fast, Feb. 27, 1778.
1. Before the House of Lords, at the Abbey Charch of Westminster.

By John, Lord Bishop of Oxpord. 410. is. Cadell.

The good Bishop.exhorts his noble audience not to despair of an happy issue to the American war, although we have not hitherto been very successful. It seems to give his Lordship some comfort to find that we are not yet ruined; while, on the other hand, he thinks, (if we rightly understand him) that the Americans are nearly so; and that they mält, in all human probability, be completely undone, should they refuse our proffered terms of accommodation.- On the 'whole, his Lordship seems to have given rather a flattering ftate of the case :--but his point was to encourage us in the maintenance of a just cause. -" If thou faint in the day of adverfity, thy strength is small.” — But what shall encourage those among us who are not equally perfuaded of the justice of our cause with his Lordship? Such, and not a few, we apprehend, there are; but is should seem that the right reverend Preacher makes light of those political sceptics : for, speaking of the (misguided), zeal of the American clergy, he says their prayers have been chiefly for success in a cause, in favour of which no man, under the joint influence of understanding and piery, could have a well-grounded opinion--How unlike is all . this, to Dr. Butler's excellent sermon on the Fait in 1776!-See Review for January, 1777. II. At St. Paul's, in the Town of Bedford. By Thomas Bedford, M. A. Rector of Wike St. Mary, Cornwall. 410. 6d. Wilkie.

The Author expatiates much on the gloomy aspect of the times, and on the visitation of God's judgments in all times the general * topic] for the wickedness of the land. As to government, in particular, no fault is found in that quarter.-We have observed, thác your very legal preachers often give broad hints of the people's un worthiness to live under so righteous an administration as that with which they are undeservedly befred; for the pozvers thar le are always immaculare. That the present powers, indeed, are fucb, nene bat

wicked patriots (who are " the servants of corruption, and laves to
every vice under heaven") will deny.--How happy for Britaip,
that even amidst the general depravicy of her fons, WISDOM, VIR-
T'UE, and INTEGRITY are to be found at Court, although they
have abandoned every other corner of the kingdom !
II. At Mitcham, in Surry. By J. ParsonsA.B. Curate of Mit-

1 s. Becket, &c.
Pious, and loyal, as Mr. Bedford's discourse ; but somewhat less
elaborate, though double the price. The good people of Mitcbam
were not obliged to falt very long.

IV. The Laymar's Sermon, &c. 4to. 6d. Wilkie.
Our worthy Laymaa is a preacher of peace, and, at the same time,
a fevere reprover of those hypocritical fons of violence who “faj
for frise and debate, and to smite with the fift of wickedness." _Let
us,' says he,“ seek peace and Infue it,"_" as the means of render-
ing ourselves acceptable to heaven, and of diverting from us the
impending ruin. Reduced from a temper of fierceness, wrach, and
oppreflion, to that of moderation, temperance, and justice, we may
expect to be favoured with the countenance of heaven.'-

This lay-fermon might, now, safely make its way to the palpit,
and would not, perhaps, be deemed altogether heterodox even at
St. James's.: so changeable our politics-lo versatile our principles :
As the poet fingeth,

“ Opinions and systems, like time pass away,

“ And yellerday's truth may be falschood to-day."
V. 4 Form of Sermon, deligned as a Supplement to a Form of Praga

to be used in all Churches and Chapels, Feb. 27, being the Day
appointed for a General Faft, &c. &c. By ribes Author's Special
Defire. 410.

I S. Almon.
There is good writing in this discourse, with much declamation,
and some obscurity with respect to the Author's particular view, in
giving us a public document in fo questionable a form, -We believe
he is a Shyboots,

OTHER Faft Sermons.
1. The Dominion of Providence over the Paffons of Man-Preached at

Princeton, May 17, 1775, being the General Past appointed by
the Congress, throughout the United Colonies. By John Wither
spoon, P. D. President of the College, NEW JERSEY. 8vo. 6d.
Philadelphia printed, London reprinies for Fielding and Walker.
1778.
Dr. Witherspoon is a character well known. He is a man of
considerable abilities, a little tinctured with fanaticism, of the White-
"fieldian complexion. Some years ago we had frequent occafions of
mentioning his writings, published while he was a minifter in Scet-
land, bis native country. He is now become an eminent preacher
'among the Americans 7. This discourse, however, has nothing in
it irrational or illiberal. It abounds more in piety than politics;
though by no means deftitute of the latter ; bac his doctrines, in both
respects, breathe a spirit fo candid, and fo agreeable to the modera-

Page 12, of this discourse.
+ The news-papers have given him a seat at the Congress Board.

of

tion of the Chriftian character, that, excepting a few passages tending to encourage the Americans in their scheme of independency, this animated and pious discourse might have been delivered, with

general acceptance, and pollibly wirb good effe&t, before any Paftday audience in this kingdom, --without subjecting the Preacher to the impucation of disloyalty, or disaffe&iod to government. II. Two Sermons preached on a Fatt-day during the late War with

France. 8vo. 6 d. Bew. 1778. The preface gives us all the assurance which anonymous prefaces can give, that these discourses are genuine copies of two sermons preached on a fatt.day, during the last war; and that they were found among the manuscripe remains of the preacher. It is not said whether they are the productions of a Churcbman or a Diffenter; but, from the exceeding good fense with which they abound, we fcruple not to affirm, they would do honour to either.

CORRESPONDENCE.
To the AUTHORS of the MONTHLY REVIEW.
GENTLEMEN,

S the voice of the Public hath long fince constituted you arbi

trators of literary merit, I Mall cake the liberty to address you in that capacity, with the requelt that you will publish, at the end of your next Number, the following challenge :

WHEREAS the AUTHOR of Elays Moral and Literary, lately publihed by Dilly, bath, in his fourteenth paper, wilfully, if not maliciously, asserted that the late Poet Gray hath beea notoriously guilty of unwarrantable practices against the true principles of Poetry, and even of treason against his Majesty of Parnaffus, this is to certify that unless he appear before the tribunal of the Public on or before the Itt day of March, 1779, and there fupport and confirm his affertions by proper and sufficient proof, he thall, from that time, be posted in the public papers as a 'false and invidious libeller. But that if, before, or on the date mentioned, he shall attempt to make good the charge, his Challenger doch hereby pledge himself to contest and confute any such proofs as he thall be able to bring. Witness,

A FRIEND TO GENIUS,

A

Our Somerset Friend, P. may be asured, that we were not ironical in our commendation of the letter to the Right Hon. Willoughby Bertie, &c. the Author of which, as a writer, is indifputa. bly much superior to the unfledged aur bor :' but who, or what, che Gentleman may be, is a circumttance of which we are totally ignorant. In regard to the NOBLE Writer, we highly approve bis pubbic conduct, and have no doubt of the goodness of his intentions ; byt muft we therefore confess that he "Thines a Tully, and a Wil mot too?"-We are sorry to find that our Correspondent, who professes to think for himself, in religion and politics,' should have so poor an idea of impartiality, as to imagine, that to commend the ABILITIES of a writer who happens to entertain fentiments that are repugnant to our own, implies * UNDUE INFLUENCE!'The most diltant in Gnuation of this kind, against men who have not only their personal credit, buc that of a very conliderable publication, to sup

port