provided. We know of no publication which possesses such legitimate expressions of religious feelings as this now under our review. And, besides, each Prayer is not only adapted to the special occasion, but is so disposed as to be in its proper place. In an advertisement prefixed, Mr. Clapham says: "I have endeavoured so to adapt them to the Family, the Closet, the Sacrament, &c. &c. &c. that every one, whether alarmed with apprehension, drooping with despondency, or rejoicing in hope, may hold communion with God; and, by perseverance in prayer, may at last find rest to his soul.""I was farther encouraged to make this collection, in the hope that it will be esteemed an useful appen dage to the Family Sermons I have published, and which, from the patronage they have received, have been found, I trust, productive of good, in deterring from profligacy and vice; in discouraging lukewarmness and indifference in religion; in elucidating many passages of Scripture which perplex the generality of readers; and in demonstrating to the understanding, that the doctrines of the Church are indeed the doctrines of the Gospel." Mr. Clapham next gives the character of his Author in the language of two celebrated scholars, the late Bishop Warburton and Dr. Parr. "Bishop Taylor ranks in the very first class of English writers. The late Bishop Warburton* says, Tillotson is no orator, in the Greek and Roman sense of the word, like Taylor. You cannot sleep with Taylor; you cannot forbear thinking with Barrow. Taylor and Barrow are incomparably the greatest Preachers and Divines of their age. But my predilection is for Taylor. He has all the abundance and solidity of the other, with a ray of lightning of his own, which, if he did not derive it from Demosthenes and Tully, has, at least, as noble and generous an original.' And a greater than Warburton has said t, "Often has my mind hung with foudness and with admiration over the clouded, yet clear and luminous galaxies of imagery, diffused through the works of Bishop Tay lor.' In the Prayers which compose this volume, I know not whether I shall have more exquisitely gratified taste, or more efficaciously assisted devotion. As specimens of composition, they exhibit the happy union of eloquence and piety."I have, in various instances, appropriated to one service more Prayers than many people may have leisure to use, or can command attention to profit by them. Some of them, therefore, may either be entirely omitted, or occasionally changed, or may make two separate acts of devotion.""May these Prayers become, in the family and the closet of every Member of our excellent Establishment, a principle of life, a support in sickness, a refuge in distress, and an admonition in prosperity !" We have only to add that, solicitous as we are for the welfare of the Established Church, and the practice of the Gospel morality, we partici pate the feelings of the worthy Editor; and hope that this Volume will of every Churchman, but will be daily not only make a part of the library used both in his family and his closet. Could the Members of the Church once be brought to appretiate justly the value of their religion, and to practise it in its purity, schism, which now triumphs, would shrink before the Truth. 1 4. Gratitude to God for National Mercies: a Sermon, preached November 18, 1810, by Robert Young, D. D. Minister of the Scotch Church, London Wall, being the Day set apart, by Authority, for the public Acknowledgment of the Divine Goodness, in the Abundance of the Harvest. Text, Psalm 107, Verse 8,-" Oh! that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works unto the children of men!" Williams and Smith; 8vo; pp. 30. IN this Sermon, which we have read with pleasure, there evidently appears a tone of love to God, and regard for our fellow men. Among the blessings we enjoy, the Doctor thinks that, in this Country, we ought to be thankful, not only that we have lived so long under a merciful King and Governor, and that we enjoy the liberty of conscience, denied to many; but also that we ought to be thankful for the plenty we enjoy, in consequence of the abundant harvest; which are the principal topicks of the Sermon. In speaking of the liberty of conscience we enjoy, the Doctor, in the Notes at the end of the Sermon, compares the present state of the Country with that of former times, and quotes these beautiful words of Graham on *Warburton's Letters to Hurd. Let the Sabbath: ter L. "O blissful days! When all men worship God as conscience wills. Far Far other times our fathers' grandsires knew, A virtuous race, to godliness devote. What though the Sceptic's scorn hath dar'd to soil [the men The record of their fame! What though Of worldly minds have dar'd to stigmatise The sister cause, Religion and the Law, With Superstition's name. Yet, yet, their deeds, Their constancy in torture and in death, These on Tradition's tongue shall live, these shall On History's honest page be pictur'd bright To latest times.. With them each day was holy-every hour They stood prepar'd to die - a people doom'd [simple maids. To death-Old men, and youths, and With them each day was holy-but that [Lord On which the Angel said, 'See where the Was laid,' joyous arose, to die that day Was bliss. Long ere the dawn, by devi morn 5. Memoirs of the Life of Peter Daniel Huet, Bishop of Avranches: written by Himself, and translated from the original Latin, with copious Notes, biographical and critical, by John Aikin, M. D. In Two Volumes; 8vo; Longman and Co. and Cadell and Davies. The dedication of these Memoirs is to William Roscoe, esq.; and, Dr. Aikin observes, had it been a matter of consideration with him to whom he could, with the greatest propriety, offer a work including the view of a most interesting literary period, no pame would more immediately occur to him than that of the Biographer of Lorenzo de Medici and Leo the Tenth. To this consideration, he adds the recollection that Mr. Roscoe was the beloved associate of his youth, the object of his peculiar respect and esteem, and one of those remaining friends for whom he feels the "warmest affection," The Translator's Preface observes, that it is barely possible the biographical narratives of eminent men, written by themselves, should fail to possess both useful instruction and * "Sentinels were placed on the surrounding hills, to give warning of the approach of the military. "The father durst not receive his son, nor the wife her husband: the country was prohibited to harbour the fugitives, and the ports were shut against their escape by sea. When expelled from their homes, they resided in caves, among morasses and mountains, or met by stealth or by night for worship. But, whenever the mountain-men, as they were styled, were discovered, the hue and cry was ordered to be raised. They were pursued, and frequently shot by the military, or sought with more iasidious diligence by the spies, informers, and officers of justice: and, on some occasions, it appears, that the sagacity of dogs was employed to track their footsteps, and explore their lurking retreats.-Laing's History, vol. 2," amusement amusement. An author knows of his own history and mind numerous particulars which could not be ob tained by even an intimate friend, supposing such only to undertake their memoirs; consequently, they may commence with a very early period of their history, and give interesting facts denied to others engaged in their task only from acquaintance with the subject at a mature age, and who must content (themselves) with vague and defective accounts of all that passed before they were produced on the public stage." Self-biographers are particularly valuable as far as depends on the origin and formation of character. This Dr. A. illustrates by the instance of Dr. Franklin, the general outline of whose actions may be accurately given by a stranger to him; but who, he enquires, "besides himself, could have communicated those incidents of his childhood and youth which are so precious to a student of human nature, and, perhaps, afford more important lessons to the moralist, thau all that he acted upon the open theatre of the world?" The Translator admits that this species of narrative is liable to one objection, from the facility it affords to those who wish to deceive; but he thinks a very slight degree of sagacity will enable the reader to detect an attempt of this kind. The motives on which a person acts who offers his life to posterity may be readily imagined; he wishes to appear to advantage, to inform the world of the merits of his mind and actions, which he supposes to be unknown or undervalued, and, finally, to remove prejudices, either real or imaginary; indeed, it is next to impossible that he should be entirely free from these propensities. "Even they who appear the most frank and undisguised have their reserves and glosses; and it is a shrewd remark of Bayle concerning Cardan, that, freely as he has exposed many of his vices and frailties, a well-informed observer of his character and conduct, who should have written his life, would have made public much to his discredit that he has suppressed." Dr. Aikin thinks, besides, that there is an indiscreet. loquacity apparent in the works of those who undertake to produce erroneous impressions in their favour, which will always serve Ito counteract their efforts. Un guarded disclosures will occasionally occur, affording a clue for the disentanglement of truth from deception. "The experienced reader will readily discover vanity beneath the mask of modesty, and selfishness beneath that of public spirit." The Translator's observations on self-biography in general are extremely pertinent; and, in our opinion, useful in guarding the publick against the numerous ephemeral memoirs, the offspring of mere vanity and presumption. A man who writes of himself should possess a consciousness that he has a right to demand the attention of the discerning part of the community, by divulging facts not to be found in the common circle of life. "This may consist either in what is external, or what is internal; in the extraordinary events of which a man has been the subject or witness, or in the extraordinary operations of his own mind." M. Huet was celebrated in the age in which he lived for his various works, the result of profound learning and excellent endowments of mind. At the same time, Dr. A. wishes that he may not be understood as advancing, that the subject of his labours ranked "among men of the first order of intellect;" but he filled one of those spaces in literary history which is too firmly associated with the durable monuments of lettered industry to be in danger of perishing. The incidents of his life differed but little from those of the generality of scholars and ecclesiastics; yet there were peculiarities in the manner of his training to each of the above cha racters, that render him a distinct individual in those orders of men. As he long enjoyed the controul of his own actions, he was enabled to choose his company, his studies, and places of residence. From his very youth he had been an enquirer on religious subjects; and, equally connected with Catholics and Protestants, "he imbibed a degree of learned Catholicism which, did not entirely quit hiu even when become a Prefate;" causing a more general acquaintance with his literary contem poraries, than could have been the case had he been confined to a reli gious order, or destined to an exclusive priesthood. "On these va rious accounts, added to a life pro tracted tracted to nearly a century, the bio graphy of few men affords so wide a basis for the superstructure of a literary history of the age in which he flourished." Although Dr. A. very properly resolved not to anticipate the narrative of M. Huet, or to at. tempt the raising of any prepossessions in his favour, he thought it right to premise in his Introduction "a summary view of the state of European literature, anteriorly to the commencement of this Biographical History, or in the early part of the 17th century;" thus enabling the reader of it to form a correct idea of the nature of the education likely to be received by a youth, when Huet entered upon his studies; besides "the progress that had already been made in those branches of science and literature, which he and his contemporaries were engaged in cultivating." Although the period had elapsed which restored a classical age to Italy, the effect of it was visible in the remainder of Europe, where the antient languages were correctly understood, and a pure taste in composition prevailed. Scaliger, Casaubon, Grotius, Meursius, Gruter, Daniel Heinsius, Ritterhuysius, Barthius, Dousa, Gerard Johu Vossius, and Salmasius, were a critical groupe which would "confer lustre on any period of philology." The literati of the country just mentioned had avoided theological controversy, till the progress of the Reformation compelled them to contend against the violent attacks of its promoters. In the foremost rank of the Roman Catholic champions were the Cardinals Baronius and Bellarmine, who were supported by many others; to whom, Dr. A. remarks, "the inexhaustible wealth of the Romish see administered substantial aliment." Sarpi main tained a dauntless front against Papal usurpations, but acquiesced in the general doctrines of his religion; and Grotius commented on the Scriptures with exquisite penetration and learning, without adopting the doctrines of any particular sect of Christians. Duplessis Mornai, and Dumoulin, pleaded the cause of the Reformed religion in France, and it had able advocates in different parts of the continent, The Separatists were at the same moment engaged in their own controversies, and Arminius and Gomarus had their respective partisans. Lord Herbert of Cherbury and Vannini also disseminated their deistical and atheistical opinions, which roused into action many defenders of Religion and Revelation upon general grounds. These various causes, operating in the minds of most men, produced earnest speculations on theological subjects, "to which they brought the same resources of learning and argument that have since, though perhaps with improved skill and accuracy, been employed on those topics." Aristotle, whose authority in the schools had remained undisputed for ages, was now doomed to sustain numerous attacks from speculators in abstract philosophy; and some learned persons attempted the revival of Platonism; others appeared to be attached to the system of the Stoics, particularly in morals; and those 66 66 daring geniuses, Jordano Bruno and Cardan," had proposed new methods of philosophising, though with little success: but, upon the whole, it was evident that the human intellect "could no longer bear the restraint which had been imposed upon it." Bacon had lately published those great works which were destined to effect a mighty change in the pursuit of knowledge in general; but it does not appear that their influence was imme diate. Natural philosophy had received due attention; and Tycho Brahe, of whom much is said in the Memoirs before us, had made many valuable discoveries in astronomy. At length Galileo diffused a bright and unextinguishable light over physical science; and, being followed by Torricelli and other eminent disciples, introduced that broad day of knowledge which has since shone upon the world." Kepler, who deserved equal credit for his advances in the science of geometry, applied his skill with such success in investigating the laws which govern the motions of the beavenly bodies, that he afforded Descartes and Newton the basis for their sublime discoveries. Several eminent anatomists had carried their researches into the animal economy to a very prosperous length; " and that fundamental law, the circulation of the blood, had been demonstrated by Harvey a short time before the birth of our Author." Dr. Aikin farther observes, that though, though, on the whole, the state of human knowledge might be considered as then only in its infancy, compared with the consequences of subsequent efforts of genius, yet the impulse was given, and the mind directed into the true channel. The art of writing well was by no means unknown, and respectable models for imitation existed in nearly every species of composition; yet taste wanted greater refinement, and learning still continued debased by pedantry. At the period of Huet's entrance into his literary career, Italy had lost the supremacy it once possessed, which induced the learned and candid Tiraboschi to remark, in the Preface to the Eighth Volume of his History of Italian literature, "that whereas he had found it necessary to employ three volumes on the literature of the sixteenth century, that of the seventeenth would occupy only one ;" and he does not deny that this circumstance was in great part owing to the declension of letters in the latter period. As the freedom of discussion was watched in the Papal dominions with scrupulous jealousy, Huet's acquaintance with the Italian literati was very limited. Holland, having had the liberality and circumspection to confide their universities to men of known abilities alone, and to invite their professors from all parts of Europe, with the additional advantage derived from a free press," seems to have been the magazine whence the greatest number of valuable publications issued, and the chief centre of learned communication throughout Europe." The thirty years war in which Germany had been engaged, was a sufficient reason for the decline of literature there; yet, with this dreadful disadvantage attending it, that country contrived to maintain the reputation which it had acquired for solid erudition, though many of her learned sons were compelled to seek that eucouragement abroad which was denied them at home. The English language seemed, at the time Dr. A. is now treating of, to be universally neglected and despised on the Continent, where, he observes, it was as little understood and read, " as those of Denmark and Sweden may now be;" thus, though we had formed a flourishing school of literature, it was lost to every foreign nation; nor was the stock of our Latin currency of more account. The civil commotions of England were equally disadvantageous; and those whose minds were by this means diverted from learned pursuits fell insensibly into the prevailing infatuation for political and theological controversy. "Perhaps," says Dr. A. "few British names, except those of Bacon, Camden, Buchanan, Selden, and Usher, were familiar to the scholars of the rest of Europe, in the earlier part of the seventeenth century." In France, the University of Paris had always possessed illustrious members; and Huet found many examples of literary eminence, who had decorated the age of Richlieu, which was introductory to that of Lewis XIV." The civil law received much improvement by the labours of the professors of other French Universities; and many persons of the legal profession distinguished themselves as writers on various subjects. The language of the country under consideration attained great excellence; and Dr. A. is of opinion, that the celebrated " Provincial Letters" furnished Huet a specimen for imitation "which has scarcely admitted any subsequent improvement." The Latin, besides, was cultivated with equal success in prose and verse. this period Corneille furnished the French stage with master - pieces, which rendered it the rival of that of Greece; and the Literati were then commencing their long career of excellence in polite literature. The birth of Huet happening in a provincial town was not an unfavourable circumstance in the formation of his mind. "Caen, the seat of an University, and long one of the head-quarters of Calvinism, had imbibed a learned tincture, and had not lost the regularity of manners which usually accompanies a Reforming sect." The Jesuits, particularly celebrated for their ardent promotion of the interests of learning, had succeeded in securing the principal share of the arduous task of instructing youth," and presented in their college those incitements and aids to early study, which have pre-eminently distinguished the seminaries of their order." Though it must be admitted that the cultivation of the mind had reached a greater degree of perfection in the metropolis of France, yet Huet At escaped |