fire from the harsh aftringent darkness. As foon as this child of love is born, the whole birth of eternal nature ftands in great triumph of divine joy, all its powers and effences become fubftantial, and they fee, hear, fmell, tafte, and feel one another in the moft ravishing joyfulnefs beyond words, and this pen's expreffion.-When this love-fire tincture enters into the dark fire forms, and comes to penetrate the burning fulphur, poisonous mercury, and fal-nitre of the fire fpirit, and to change them into its own nature, there arifes fuch triumphing joy, charming pleasure, ravishing extafy and exultation, as none can imagine but thofe that have felt them; and tinctures them with fuch variety of beautiful fparkling colours, as furpaffes all the precious ftones and gems of this vifible creation.' How wonderful! how edifying! Is this fenfe? Is this piety? If it is either, we must own we know nothing of the matter. We should rather think that fome parts of these writings were a kind of blafphemy, than any way honourable to the Supreme Being, or beneficial to mankind. Hi. ART. 30. A fhort Treatife on the Lord's Supper. Wherein the chief Meanings which Men put on its Inftitution are examined; the Ends of it are confidered; the Benefits conveyed to us by it are demonftrated; the Obligation of coming to it is proved and enforced; the feveral Pleas which are offered by Men in Excufe for not coming to it are answered; the Preparation to be made for it is recommended; and the Behaviour which is proper at and after our receiving of it is pointed out. By Thomas Pollen, A. M. 8vo. 2 s. 6 d. fewed. Rivington. 1770. After fo diffuse an account of this treatife in the title-page, it will not be requifite to spend much time in fetting forth its contents. How faithfully and fully the Author has executed his propofals, is a question which will doubtlefs be differently decided by different readers. It is hardly poflible that a perfon who has a common fhare of fenfe and knowledge fhould write upon fubjects of this kind without faying fome pertinent and ufeful things. We acknowledge that there are fome, that there are feveral very good and proper obfervations in the little book before us; yet we cannot declare ourselves perfectly fatisfied in it, not merely because the Writer's views of the fubject do not entirely correfpond with our own (fince we may mintake as well as he) but we apprehend he has not thoroughly canvaffed, and is not truly mafter of the topic, which he has under taken to treat upon. The firft chapter encounters the abfurd doctrine of tranfubftantiation, and plainly overthrows it by fome fuch arguments as have long been made ufe of in this difpute. The fecond confiders and confutes a notion that has prevailed among many Christians, that the body and blood of Chrift are carnally prefent with the bread and wine, and take up the very fame room as they do, but are not seen as they are.' Though Proteftants do reject and ridicule the Popish doctrine of tranfubitantiation, there is yet reafon to think that among the common people, and among others who have greater advantages in our church and land, there are fome fuperititious and falfe opinions very prevalent concerning this ordinance. Nor are thefe opinions likely to be removed unless great care is taken by the clergy, in a plain and rational way, to inftruct their hearers REV. Jan. 1771. G in in the nature of it, as it may be deduced from Scripture; or unless fome alterations were made in the method of administering it, which has certainly a tendency to excite and encourage fome mistaken apprehenfions concerning it. The prefent work, however useful fome parts of it may be, inclines to the fame purpose, fince the Lord's Supper is here spoken of as a mystery, and what our Lord fays of eating his fief, drinking his blood, and having eternal life, and being raifed up at the last day, applied to it in fuch terms as thefe: Common meat and common drink can preferve us alive for a while, but. cannot raife us up when dead, whereas these words feem to intimate that our Lord's flesh and blood both can and will.-How the body and blood of our Lord eaten and drunk by us, become a principle within us of eternal life, we are given to understand, as much as we are able to understand it, by the fymbols of bread and wine. For as bread and wine can lengthen out our life in this world, as far as it is capable of being lengthened out, fo can the body and blood of our Lord lengthen out our life in the next world.' But without other reflections, we fhall only juft obferve, as a farther inftance of this writer's inattention and mistake, that he has applied the parable of the marriage feaft, without any hesitation, as inviting and compell ing perfons to celebrate this ordinance. Hi. Art. 31. Conflant Readiness for Chrift's final Appearance, urged from the Uncertainty of the Time of it. The Subftance of Two Sermons preached at Morley, near Leeds, Yorkshire: on the Lord's Day, April 17th 1768. By William Whitaker. I 2mo. 6 d. Buckland. 1770. A plain, but ferious and fenfible exhortation to prepare for death and futurity: it comes recommended to the public notice by the particular circumstances of the young minifter, its Author, which gave rife to the publication. The evening after he had preached upon this fubject, we are informed, a blood-veffel broke in his lungs, and finished his capacity for ufefulness, as a preacher, in an inftant: a circumftance which he hoped might procure fome peculiar attention to what is here delivered, efpecially from thofe who had a perfonal value for the writer. Therefore, during his lingering illness, he fent it to a friend, requesting that it might be publifhed after his decease, which happened on the 7th of June laft. He prefixed to it, with much dimculty, a farther addrefs to the Reader, being defirous, it is faid, to bear his dying teftimony against that delufion to which many truft, the hopes of a death-bed repentance, grounded on the prefumption of a lingering death." These pious and benevolent intentions of the Author, together with his affecting fituation will befpeak fome regard to him and his performance, and was there any reafon for it, muft effectually prevent all cenfure. We with his good defigns may be in any measure answered, and shall only add in the words of the publisher: If the critical Reader fhall yet difcern the want of perfect exactnefs, it is hoped he will candidly attend to the circumftances of the cafe.' Hi. Art. 32. A Short Account of Theological Lectures, now reading at Cambridge. To which is added, a new Harmony of the Gofpels. By the Reverend John Jebb, M. A. late Fellow of St. Peter's College. 4to. 2s. 6d. White, &c. 1770. From From the account which is here given, Mr. Jebb appears as a friend to learning, to religion, and the right of private judgment; but he laments that his endeavours to call the attention of youth to the ftudy of the Scriptures have in some instances been treated in a manner far different from what might be expected from men, born to the enjoyment of civil and religious liberty. That confidence, how. ever, he obferves, with which the uprightness of his intention, and the approbation of many worthy and learned perfons had infpired him, enabled him for a time to perfevere, regardless of the clamours of his adverfaries. But when he was informed, that a charge of the moft invidious nature was folemnly urged, in a manner which was likely to do him great differvice; he was no longer able to refrain from attempting a vindication of himself from thofe calumnies, with which the untempered zeal of fome otherwife well-difpofed brethren had afperfed his character.' The first method he used was, we are told, to tranfmit an apology for himself, to fome perfons of eminence in the church; and had the intolerant spirit of his enemies, it is faid, been fatiated with this exertion of their power, he would have contented himself with oppofing the efforts of private flander, by the force of private reprefentation and remonftrance. But fince fome perfons of weight and authority in the univerfity have thought proper openly to exert their influence, in order to obftruct the progrefs of that scheme of lectures which they once approved; fince fome other Gentlemen more artful, and therefore lefs honourable in their deportment, have given authentic evidences of being equally induftrious in the profecution of fuch flifling measures; his only refource is the power of appealing to the free, impartial voice of an unprejudiced public. He therefore now fubmits his vindication and plan, together with the annexed harmony, to their candour and indulgence.' The method which this Author propofes for the ftudy of the Scriptures, and the plan of his lectures, appear to be rational, judicious, and well adapted to advance an accurate and critical knowledge of the facred writings, and alfo to imprefs the mind with a sense of their excellence and value. He discovers no bigotted attachment to any particular scheme or party, but feems willing to avail himself of real affiftance in his enquiries from any quarter. From the relation he gives, it certainly appears, as he fays, that he has not made it his aim to fhew the confonancy of the articles of the Church of England with the words and fenfe of Scripture: But I truft, he adds, it will be apparent, that I have endeavoured to do more; to explain-establish-and recommend to the love and efteem of youth, that complete, that glorious fyftem of faith and morals, which is the only proper foundation of every Church in Chrif tendom. I have honestly communicated to all who have honoured me with their attendance, the fame means of information which I have found to be of fervice in my own cafe.-I recommend the fame process in the Acts and the Epistles as I have purfued in the Gofpels. And, as affiftances, advise the perufal of thofe Authors, who have fo happily completed the fcheme of Mr. Locke.' He proceeds to propofe fome hints to the confideration of students of the Gofpel, explaining the defign of his harmony, and pointing G 2 out out a compendious method of acquiring a comprehenfive knowledge of all thofe do&rines and injunctions, which Jefus recommended to the attention and obfervance of his difciples.' After expreffing his perfuafion, that the mode of ftudy here propofed, will, upon experience, be found to be far lefs irkfome, than the pains of toiling through a fea of commentators, expofitors, fathers, schoolmen, councils, &c. he farther obferves, The fruits of fuch industry will be, as far as relates to all neceffary points, a thorough acquaintance with, and a perfect knowledge of our Bible: a book which contains whatever is profitable for doctrine, for inftruction, and reproof; and which amongst its other epithets and titles defcriptive of its worth, may juftly be filed in the words of the immortal Chillingworth, THE RELIGION OF PROTESTANTS.' Hi. Art. 33. Sermons on the most useful and important Subjects, adapted to the Family and Clofet. By the Rev. Sam. Davies, A. M. late Prefident of the College at Frinceton, New Jersey. 8vo. 2 vols. 8 s. fewed. Buckland, &c. 1771. As fome notice hath already been taken of the pulpit discourses of this writer, formerly printed, we shall not intrude much upon our Reader's time, by dwelling on the prefent publication.A former collection appeared, (in three volumes, under the fame title with thefe) fince the Author's death, for the benefit of his widow and children. The volumes now before us are published, with the fame view in regard to the orphans,-the widow, we understand, being de ceafed. From the particulars which the Editor hath here collected, in refpect to the Author, the latter must be regarded as a confiderable and a worthy man. His difcourfes are plain, but ftriking and animated; Calviniftical, as to principles, but ferious and practical: and, if not perfectly accurate and polished, yet likely to be useful to thofe who hold the fame opinions, or who can make allowance for them, although their own fentiments fhould, in fome refpects, be different. We are, nevertheless, obliged to obferve, that there are fome fpeculative points, in thefe compofitions, to which we must object, as being not merely ufelefs, but even uncomfortable,—if not 'hurtful to mankind. Hi. Art. 34. The Moral Syftem of Mofes. By Samuel Pye, M. D. This work, which is called the Moral Syftem of Mofes, is little 'more than a paraphrafe on the Mofaic hiftory of the creation and fall of man. It is divided into chapters, the contents of which are 1. Of the moral attributes of God. 2. Of the moral fyftem of Mofes. 3. Of the tree of life, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 4. Of the inftitution of the moral government of God in Eden. 5. Of the old ferpent. 6. Of the formation of woman. 7. Of the fall. 8. The temptation. c. Of the fall of Adam. 10. Of the origin of thame. 11. The examination of the offenders. *See Review, vol. xxxiv. p. 485. 12. The 14. The 12. The fentence paft on the different parties concerned in the fall. There are many ftriking, and fome very pathetic, obfervations in thefe difcourfes; which we, therefore, with pleafure, recommend to the public. POLITICAL. Art 36. Thoughts on capital Punishments: In a Series of Letters. 8vo. I S. Baldwin. 1770. These letters have already been published in the London Magazine; but an advertisement now informs us, that, intimations having been given of a defign to attempt an amendment of the penal laws, the Writer concluded it would not be improper to collect and place them in one view, for the eafier perufal of thofe who are difpofed to exercife their thoughts upon this important fubject. The letters, it is farther faid, confift chiefly of extracts from a variety of refpectable Authors, the coincidence of whofe fentiments with the Writer's, gave him great pleafure.' The fubject must be allowed to be of confiderable moment, both as refpecting fociety in general and individuals: wife and good men have long expreffed their wishes that fome attempt might be made for an alteration and amendment of the prefent fyftem of penal laws, and modes of punishment: it peculiarly requires the attention of those who are appointed to direct and enact our laws: but whether any endeavours will be ufed as to this matter in particular, or in refpect to fome others which materially affect the property and welfare of the fubject, or whether they shall all be left to take their courfe, 'till by fome violent efforts they amend or deftroy themselves, is a point which it is not our bufinefs to canvaís, nor can any one determine it. Our Author expreffes his hope that he fhall not be confidered as an apologift for criminals, and an encourager of them, when he declares his wifh, that none of them befides murderers, were by our laws condemned to die. He propofes the following queftion, which is obvious to all who think upon the fubject; Doth not experience demonftrate that the law threatening death, frequently put into excution, is not effectual to keep men from a violation of it? I well remember, fays he, that very foon after the legislature had made fheep-tealing a capital offence, I heard the Judge on the bench inform the grand jury, that, to his great furprize, he found in the calendar an uncommon number of that fort of criminals, I would G 3 there. H |