the former volumes were written; but gives his fancy a ftill freer scope, when he finds himself on the fairy ground of types and emblems. He fpeaks of it as probable, that the Grecians borrowed their ftyle of architecture from the Hebrew model. The variegated cieling of the holy place he understands to have been a reprefentation of the impenetrable receffes of the eternal mind; the quadrangular figure of the altar, and the equality of its fides, an emblem of the impartial extension of divine goodness to the four quarters of the world; and its materials of Shittim wood and pure gold, a figure of the twofold nature of Chrift. Thefe pretty fancies might, for aught we know, have had a powerful effect in preaching; but we very much queftion whether, in reading, they will have any other effect than to raise a smile. There is a point of condefcenfion to vulgar conceptions, below which no writer of real ability should ever suffer himself to pass. Art. 61. Six Chapters of the Gospel according to St. Luke, from the 10th to the 15th inclufive; with the long Words divided into Syllables, at the Head of each Chapter, after the Method of Mr. Brown's Family Teftament: with a Morning and Evening Prayer, taken from Dr. Adams's Paftoral Advice before Confirmation. 12mo. 2d. or is. 6d. per Dozen. Johnson. 1788. Ufeful for Sunday schools. Art. 62. Two Effays on Juftification, and the Influence of the Holy Spirit. By W. Ludlam, B. D. Rector of Cockfield, Suffolk, and formerly Fellow of St. John's, Cambridge. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Davies. 1788. For an account of fome theological effays*, formerly published by this worthy writer, we refer to our Review for January 1786, p. 15. Mr. Ludlam, both in that tract, and in the prefent publication, justly reprehends the mistaken and injurious ufe, which has been made, by fome writers and teachers, of the metaphorical language of fcripture; and he alfo oppofes the explications and pretenfions of those who lay claim to the teaching of the spirit, or a kind of divine infpiration. He ftill appears, as in his former publications, to be a man of genuine piety and good fenfe; and while he pleads for the ufe of our understanding, in religious inquiries, he reafons like a firm friend to Christianity and virtue. We are forry to add, that the learned world was deprived of this excellent man, foon after the publication of the prefent tract, a few months ago -He was eminent as a philofopher, mathematician, mechanic; and, to crown all, a candid and rational divine t. Art. 63. The Young Chriftian's Introduction to the Knowledge of his God and Saviour Jefus Chrift. By J. Hodfon, M. D. 12mo. 6d. Deighton, &c. 1788. The Author undertakes to explain the doctrine of the Trinity in an easy and familiar manner,' for the use of Sunday schools. On fcripture metaphors, &c. + We have heard that in his very advanced age, he fhewed fome partiality toward the Methodists; but we queftion the truth of the report. If If the children can comprehend his notions, they will have the ad- Art. 64. Sermons on Public Occafions, and Tracts on Religious Subjects. 1. A fermon preached at Cambridge affixes, March 9, 1769; for an account of which, fee Review, vol. xl. p. 352. II. A fermon preached before the Governors of Addenbrook's Hofpital, Cambridge, July 1, 1774. This fermon hath not before appeared in print. The text is Gal. vi. 10. As we have therefore an opportunity, let us do good unto all; from which words the perfuafive preacher almost compels his hearers to contribute their mite for the relief of their poor fick brethren. III. The Principles of the Revolution vindicated; a fermon preached before the University of Cambridge, May 29, 1776. This admirable difcourfe met with our fulleft approbation on its first appearance in print (fee Review, vol. Iv. p. 8o.), and was the caufe of a controverfy, in which the adherents to the Stuart fimily made a despicable attempt to overturn the arguments of the worthy preacher. See Review, vol. Iv. p. 317. two articles; and p. 478. IV. A fermon preached before the Univerfuy of Cambridge, on the anniversary of his Majefty's Acceffion to the Throne, October 25, 1776. For an account of this excellent conftitutional difcourfe, fee Review, vol. Ivi. p. 80. V. A fermon preached before the Univerfity of Cambridge, on the day appointed for a General Fast, Feb. 4, 1780. Of this first-rate pulpit production, fee our account, with large extracts, Review, vol. jxii. p. 329. VI. A fermon preached before the Lords, Jan. 30, 1784. We have already bestowed, in our 70th vol. p. 166. a just tribute of praise on this difcourfe, which is indeed worthy the philofopher and politician. VII. A fermon preached in the parish church of St. Bride's, London, before the Lord Mayor, &c. on Monday in Eafter week, 1786. This fermon, which is now first published, is unlike the generality of difcourfes on charitable inftitutions, being void of thofe common-place ideas, and worn-out expreflions, which commonly fill the Eafter Monday city fermons. The text is John, xiii. 35. VIII. A difcourfe delivered to the Archdeaconry of Ely, May 1780. X. A letter to his grace the Archbishop of Canterbury; fee Review, vol. Ixviii. p. 431. In August 1786, the Bishop received a letter, figned by two clergymen, together with a printed one, giving an account of an intended meeting of the curates in Lancashire, to confider of fome mode of applying for a relief of their diftreffes, requesting his affiftance in fupporting their caufe. The worthy prelate's anfwer to this letter. 5 clofes clofes the prefent volume. He politely excufes him felf from interfering in the affairs of the curates of the county of Lancaster, and gives very fufficient and fatisfactory reafons for his conduct on that occafion. In his letter to the Archbishop, he declared, that the matters contained in it fhould never be brought forward by him, unless a general approbation of the propofed plans fhould in fome degree infare their establishment. His wifh was, that the attempt to relieve the inferior clergy, might originate from another body of men. His Lordship is aware that the political principles contained in this volume of tracts, may not be acceptable to all parties Many of them, he fays, were not originally written, nor are they now republished, with a view of pleafing or difpleafing any party, but from a conviction, that they are wholly confonant to that fyftem of civil government, which it would be the intereft of freemen every where to fubmit to; and intirely repugnant to that, which it is the unhappiness of flaves, in many countries, to endure.' This character of the Bishop's volume of tracts fo entirely agrees with our own opinion of its merit, that we have adopted it as the beft general account which we could give of his Lordship's collection. Art. 65. A Short Account of the Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome, divested of all Controversy, and humbly recommended to the Perufal of all good Catholics as well as Proteftants. 8vo. p. 74. Dublin, printed for Watfon. 1788. This is a brief, familiar, and, in all probability, a juft reprefentation of the diftinguishing tenets of the church of Rome; at least, the Author, in his introduction, and in feveral other parts of his performance, appeals to Mr. O'Leary for the truth of what he writes. If in any particular I am mistaken, I doubt not, but Mr. O'Leary, a gentleman of great learning and known moderation, will fet me right.' If, as we have been credibly informed, this is the performance of a clergyman of eighty-eight years of age, it may be confidered as a rare exertion of a vigorous understanding, at a time of life when few of the fons of men who attain fuch an advanced age, poffefs either mental or bodily powers, capable of much exertion. *The Reverend Daniel Beaufort. I. Preached before the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in the Abbey Church of Westminster, on Wednesday, January 30, 1788, being the Anniversary of King Charles's Martyrdom. By Samuel, Lord Bishop of Gloucefter. 4to. 15. Cadell. 1788.. Thofe political prejudices and paffions, which the religious obfervance of the 30th of January was defigned to perpetuate, are now fo much erafed from the minds of the people, that multitudes, and among thefe fome of the firmelt friends of our national eftablishment, begin to be offended with what formerly gave no offence, but rather pleasure, viz. hearing paffages of Scripture, which can only refer to the immaculate Saviour of the world, applied to an earthly prince, prince, whom his warmest advocates cannot pronounce faultlefs, and of whom his own fon, Charles II. on being reproved for fwearing, did bear this teftimony: "Your martyr fwore more than ever I did." The members of the House of Commons did certainly exprefs the fenfe of the majority of their conftituents, by paffing this day over unobferved; but the Lords fpiritual and temporal, for reafons we will not attempt to investigate, did not choose to let the royal martyr go without his accustomed honours. Nor can we repine at their obfervance of the day, fince it has given birth to a very elegant and well compofed difcourfe. But the fentiments it contains will not juftify the conduct of Charles, nor prove his death a martyrdom. Our learned Bishop, from the words, Let every foul be fubject to the higher powers, does not undertake to maintain, as fome have formerly done, that it is the duty of the subject to fubmit to the will of the fovereign in all cafes whatsoever; nor on the phrafe, the ordinance of God, does he attempt to fet up fuperftitious ideas of the regal character; but very candidly confeffes, that cafes may happen, in which the powers ufurped by the magiftrate may be fo exorbitant, fo contrary to the truft repofed in him by the people, and, if fubmitted to, fo ruinous to all their deareft rights and privileges, that the bond of civil fociety may by this means become not barely loofened, but diffolved. Such a cafe, we all know, happened to ourselves, now near a century age; which occafioned that memorable æra of our hiftory we call the Revolution. The avowed defigns of the king were in direct contradiction to the established laws, and abhorrent from the fpirit and principles of our conftitution: the antiquated claim to a difpenfing power, which had hung like the rufty armour in fome trophy'd hall, as an harmless enfign of former. glory, was taken down and furbished again for ufe; and that prerogative, which fome of his ancestors had principally employed for an ornament of fpeech, or as the decoration of an harangue, he was preparing to exert in fober sadness against his people: the yoke that was meant to be thrown upon our necks was popery and arbitrary power and by the fignal goodness of Providence, a remedy was at hand, and within our reach, to which we could, and to which we did, with fuccefs, thank God! apply, to remove the calamities which then oppreffed us. When we labour again under the like malady, the like methods may again be lawfully used for our re The Sermon opens in a manner which may induce the reader to expect a different doctrine; and we think Dr. Hallifax has not fo fully explained the Apoftle's argument, as to fet in a clear light the conclufion, though a true one, which he draws from it, that it was altogether befides the Apostle's intention to ftate and afcertain what are the bounds and limits of civil authority, on the one hand, or of civil fubjection, on the other.' For a more complete difcuffion of this fubject, we refer our readers to Mr. Paley's Moral and Political Philofophy, b. 6. c. 4. which treats exprefsly of the Duties of civil Obedience, as flated in the Chriftian Scriptures. After taking a review of the caufes and confequences which preceded and followed the event of the day, our Right Reverend Author deduces from it the following inftructions: 1ft, The folly of refining refining too much, and endeavouring to attain an imaginary prefection in any human inftitution, whether of government or religion. 2dly, The neceffity of an establishment. 3dly, The ufe and equity of a teft-law, by way of fecurity to the church established *. 4thly, The proneness of human nature to run into extremes of doctrine. And, laftly, that the hiftory of the day fhould teach us to watch, with a jealous eye, the unruly workings of that fpirit (improperly called the fpirit of reformation), which, under pretence of preventing and correcting abuses in our religious polity, and, never fatisfied with things fettled, would, too probably, were the vifionary schemes propofed attempted to be realized, be followed with the most ruinous effects. Objections might be made to feveral things advanced under these heads of inftruction; but few will be difpofed to controvert the obfervations with which the Sermon concludes: Liberty itself cannot be fupported without authority; nor can authority be maintained without fubjection to law. Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to defolation †: it is either overturned at once by the invafion of a neighbouring power, ever on the watch to take advantage of its confufions; or elfe, after long languishing under public want and private luxury, dies away, like rivers that are loft in the fands. The knowledge of fuch events, held out to our contemplation in the faithful monuments of paft ages, fhould ftimulate us, as we value the bleffings of our free conftitution, to cultivate in ourselves and others, that duty and affection to our Sovereign, that reverence and refpe&t for magiftracy, that fobriety of deportment, and above all that virtuous fimplicity of manners, which diftinguished the manly character of our forefathers. And then the civil and religious distractions, which have formerly weakened us at home, and rendered us contemptible abroad, will return no more; and amity and concord being at length reftored, and our angry paffions fubdued by the correcting influence of religion, we may afpire, with well-grounded affiance, to the continued protection of that Almighty Being, in whofe hand all events, whether natural or civil, become proper inftruments of reward or punishment to his rational fubjects, who with one nod controuls and pacifies the tumults both of the phyfical and moral world, and filleth, with equal eafe, the raging of the fea, and the madness of the people ‡.' II. The Advantages of Knowledge, illuftrated and recommended, April 30, 1788, at the Meeting-houfe in the Old Jewry-to the Supporters of a New Academical Inftitution among Proteftant Dillenters. By A. Rees, D. D. F. R. S. 8vo. Is. Cadell. No one can be better qualified for illuftrating and recommending the advantage of knowlege than Dr. Rees, who (as Johnfon would * A hint this to the Diffenters, that they must look up to other Lords, for the repeal of the test-act, than the Lords Spiritual. But they, perhaps, will fay, even allowing the neceffity of a teft (for which there is no more reafon here than in Ireland or Scotland), ought this teft to be the facrament? ought this to be forced on every Deift? ought this to be made (as one expreffes it) a picklock to a place? + Matth. xii. 25. + Pfalm lxv. 7. term |