Art. 39. The House of God opened, and his Table free for Bape tifts and Podobaptilts, who are Saints and faithful in Christ. Or Reasons why their different Sentiments about Water Baptifin fhould be no bar to Church-fellowship with each other. The prin cipal Objections answered. Also an illustrative Dialogue and an incidental Narrative, By John Brown. 8vo, 6d. Johnston. 1777. Every discovery of a charitable and candid fpirit is pleafing and laudable. Not indeed that charity, falfely fo 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 gofpel. Such a fpirit Mr. Brown manifefts in regard to the fubject of baptifm. He writes in a plain but fenfible manner, and enforces his ideas with proper fervor as well as ftrength of argument. The illuftrative dialogue, as it is called, is drawn up with fpirit, rand feems much to the purpose, though perhaps fometimes rather too familiar, if not too ludicrous, for the gravity of the fubject The Incidental Narrative contains an inftance of the miferable narrow-mindednefs which, even in this enlightened age, ftill preyails in fome baptift-congregations, efpecially in the country, Art. 40. The Order of Confirmation; or laying of Hands, &c -as improved by the Commiflioners appointed to review the Common Prayer in 1689. 12mo. 3 d. Sewell. Defigned for the ufe of the parochial clergy; as well as the benefit of the younger part of the laity, or thofe who have been baptifed. and are come to years of difcretion. The Editor obferves, in his preface, that the Order of Confirmation is here fo improved and enlarged, that nothing can be well conceived more complete and perfect; and that it is fo judicioufly drawn up, as to fuperfede, in a good degree, every thing else that has been written on the fubject.' SERMONS. 1. Preached within the Peculiar of Naffington, &c. in the County of Northampton, in October 1775. By James Ibbetson, D. D. Prebendary of Lincoln, and Archdeacon of St. Alban's. 4to. Is. White. The leading part of this fermon is ingenious and well compofid, containing fome pertinent and ufeful remarks on charity, and on the words which are chofen for a text; It is more bleffed to give than to receive. In the latter part of the difcourfe the preacher grows warm, and appears angry at fome practices which have lately prevailed within the diftrict, as we apprehend, to which the church of Naffington belongs. Inclofing of lands, as far as we can gather, is the great object of his indignation; he feems to be himself affected by it, for he complains that his freehold has been unjustly taken from him. His profeffed intention however is to plead the caufe of the poor, who, he thinks, are injured by this means. All at tempts to vindicate the rights of the poor, who are too often neglected and oppreffed, and perhaps in this article of inclofures, we heartily commend. We can in fuch a cafe excufe fome fallies of of anger, and call it an honest refentment. How far the rage of in III. The Progress of Moral Corruption.-Preached at St. Thomas's, A fenfible application of the moral fentiment comprehended in the fcripture proverb-" A little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump," to the gradual corruption of ftates,-churches,-families,-and individuals from whence the ingenious preacher jully infers the uti lity of fuch benevolent inftitutions as that which hath afforded occafion for the prefent discourse.-Of this inflitution Mr. W. gives the for lowing account, which we fhall tranfcribe for the information of thofe, among our Readers, who may be strangers to it; This fchool was firft eftablished in the year 1687, in the reign of King James the Second, when various attempts were made to introduce the errors, abfurdities, and cruel ufurpations of Popery. I particular, a school was fet up by one Poulton, a Jefuit, and public notice was given, that he would inftruct the children of the poor gratis: a very artful method of bringing them over to that antichrillian form of religion. Upon which Mr. Arthur Shallet, Mr. Samuel Warburton, and Mr. Ferdinando Holland, laid the foundation of this school in Gravel-lane, Southwark, that poor children might be inftructed in the principles of the Proteftant faith. The number of the fcholars was originally forty, but, fince that time, has gradually increafed, and is now two hundred. It is faid to be the firft fchool in which Proteftant Diffenters had any concern. The children are infructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic, without Fa any H. E. any expence to their parents; the girls are taught to few and knit and all are furnished with fpelling-books, catechifms, and tefta ments.' IV. Before the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in the Abbey Church faction. V. Before the Governors of Addenbrook's Hofpital, June 26, 1777, fit of the Charity. I s. 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 Froft. By Thomas Howe. 6d. Buckland. SERMONS on the late GENERAL FAST, Feb. 27, 1778. I. Before the Houfe of Lords, at the Abbey Church of Westminster. The good Bishop exhorts his noble audience not to defpair of an happy iffue to the American war, although we have not hitherto been very fuccefsful. It feems to give his Lordship fome 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 fo; and that they mult, in all human probability, be completely undone, fhould they refufe our proffered terms of accommodation.-On the 'whole, his Lordship feems to have given rather a flattering ftate of the cafe but his point was to encourage us in the maintenance of a juft caufe." If thou faint in the day of adverfity, thy ftrength is fmall."-But what fhall encourage thofe among us who are not equally perfuaded of the juftice of our caufe with his Lordship? Such, and not a few, we apprehend, there are; but it should feem that the right reverend Preacher makes light of thofe political feeptics: for, fpeaking of the [misguided zeal of the American clergy, he fays their prayers have been chiefly for fuccefs in a caufe, in favour of which no man, under the joint influence of understanding and piety, could have a well-grounded opinion: How unlike is all this, to Dr. Butler's excellent fermon on the Faft in 1776!-See Review for January, 1777. II. At St. Paul's, in the Town of Bedford. By Thomas Bedford, 4to. 6d. Wilkie. M. A. Rector of Wike St. Mary, Cornwall. The Author expatiates much on the gloomy afpect of the times, and on the vifitation 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 obferved, that your very legal preachers often give broad hints of the people's unworthiness to live under fo righteous an administration as that with which they are undefervedly beffed; for the powers that he are always immaculate. That the prefent powers, indeed, are fuch, none, but 15 wicked of wicked patriots (who are " the fervants of corruption, and flaves to every vice under heaven") will deny.-How happy for Britain, that even amidst the general depravity of her fons, WISDOM, VIRTUE, and INTEGRITY are to be found at COURT, although they have abandoned every other corner of the kingdom! III. At Mitcham, in Surry. By J. Parfons, A. B. Curate of Mitcham. 4to. 1 S. Becket, &c. Pious, and loyal, as Mr. Bedford's discourse, but fomewhat lefs elaborate, though double the price.-The good people of Mitcham were not obliged to fait very long. IV. The Layman's Sermon, &e. 4to. 6d. Wilkie. Our worthy Layman is a preacher of peace, and, at the fame time, a fevere reprover of thofe hypocritical fons of violence who "fast for firife and debate, and to fmite with the fift of wickedness."- Let us, fays he, "feek peace and enfue it," as the means of rendering ourselves acceptable to heaven, and of diverting from us the impending ruin. Reduced from a temper of fiercenefs, wrath, and oppreffion, to that of moderation, temperance, and juftice, we may expect to be favoured with the countenance of heaven.' This lay-fermon might, now, fafely make its way to the pulpit, and would not, perhaps, be deemed altogether heterodox even at St. James's: fo changeable our politics-fo verfatile our principles! As the poet fingeth, "Opinions and fyftems, like time pafs away, "And yellerday's truth may be falsehood to-day." V. A Form of Sermon, defigned as a Supplement to a Form of Praye to be used in all Churches and Chapels, Feb. 27, being the Day appointed for a General Faft, &c. &c. By the Author's Special Defire. 4to. I s. Almon. There is good writing in this difcourfe, with much declamation, and fome obfcurity with refpect to the Author's particular view, in giving us a public document in fo queftionable a form,-We believe he is a Slyboots. OTHER Faft Sermons. 1. The Dominion of Providence over the Paffions of Man-Preached at Princeton, May 17, 1775, being the General Faft appointed by the Congrefs, throughout the United Colonies. By John Witherfpoon, D. D. Prefident of the College, NEW JERSEY. 8vo. 6d. Philadelphia printed, London reprinted for Fielding and Walker. 1778. Dr. Witherspoon is a character well known. He is a man of confiderable abilities, a little tinctured with fanaticifm, of the White'fieldian complexion. Some years ago we had frequent occafions of mentioning his writings, published while he was a minifter in Scotland, his native country. He is now become an eminent preacher among the Americanst. 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; but his doctrines, in both refpects, breathe a spirit so candid, and fo agreeable to the modera Page 12, of this discourse. The news-papers have given him a feat at the Congress Board. tion of the Chriftian character, that, excepting a few paffages tending to encourage the Americans in their fcheme of independency, this animated and pious difcourfe might have been delivered, with general acceptance, and poffibly wirh good effect, before any Faftday audience in this kingdom, without fubjecting the Preacher to the imputation of disloyalty, or difaffection to government. II. Fave Sermons preached on a Faft-day during the late War with France. 8vo. 6 d. Bew. 1778. The preface gives us all the affurance which anonymous prefaces can give, that these difcourfes are genuine copies of two fermons preached on a faft-day, during the laft war; and that they were found among the manufcript remains of the preacher. It is not faid whether they are the productions of a Churchman or a Diffenter; but, from the exceeding good fenfe with which they abound, we fcruple not to affirm, they would do honour to either. CORRESPONDENCE. To the AUTHORS of the MONTHLY REVIEW. GENTLEMEN, AS S the voice of the Public hath long fince conftituted you arbitrators of literary merit, I fhall take the liberty to address you in that capacity, with the requett that you will publish, at the end of your next Number, the following challenge: WHEREAS the AUTHOR of Eays Moral and Literary, lately published by Dilly, hath, in his fourteenth paper, wilfully, if not maliciously, afferted that the late Poet Gray hath been notoriously guilty of unwarrantable practices against the true principles of Poetry, and even of treafon against his Majefty of Parnaffus, this is to certify that unless he appear before the tribunal of the Public on or before the Ift day of March, 1779, and there fupport and confirm his affertions by proper and fufficient proof, he thall, from that time, be pofted in the public papers as a falfe and invidious libeller. But that if, before, or on the date mentioned, he shall attempt to make good the charge, his Challenger doth hereby pledge himself to conteft and confute any fuch proofs as he shall be able to bring. Witness, A FRIEND TO GENIUS. Our Somerset Friend, P. may be, affured, 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 indifputably much fuperior to the unfledged author:' but who, or what, the Gentleman may be, is a circumitance of which we are totally ignorant. In regard to the NOBLE Writer, we highly approve his public conduct, and have no doubt of the goodness of his intentions; but must we therefore confefs that he "shines a Tully, and a Wilmot too ?"-We are forry to find that our Correfpondent, who profeffes to think for himself, in religion and politics,' fhould have fo 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 diftant infinuation of this kind, against men who have not only their perfonal credit, but that of a very confiderable publication, to fup - port |