ART. 28. Prayers for Families: confifling of a Form, fort but comprehenfive, for the Morning and Evening of every Day in the Week. Selected by Edward Pearfon, B. D. Rector of Rempftone, NottinghamShire. 8vo. 125 pp. 38. Adams, Jun. Loughborough; Rivingtons, London. 1800. We hail, with much fatisfaction, publications of this kind; and we truft that the effect produced by them has lately been confiderable, and is happily increafing. The author, or editor, after fome remarks on prayer in general, and on family-prayer in particular, ftates, that though we have numerous publications of this kind, yet he has never met with one, which enThe collections of forms, which I tirely accorded with his ideas. have seen, are either fo multifarious, as to leave too much difficulty of felection for each particular occafion, or fo limited, as not to comprehend a fufficient variety either of fubjects or expreffions; not to fay. that, in many inftances, the prayers themselves are either too verbofe or too concife. Befides, in compofitions of this nature, while warmth of devotion is endeavoured to be excited, there is a danger, not always. very clearly fhunned, of falling into fentiments or expreffions, which fober piety may not altogether approve, On the other hand, while an approach to enthufiafm is apprehended, it is eafy to fall into coldness and apathy. It has been my aim, whether fuccefsfully or not, to keep the mean between the feveral extremes, to which I refer. In any cafe, there will be no harm in adding to the variety; which, if not a neceffary, may at leaft be a pleafing accommodation to the variety of exifting taftes. But, though I did not know a work of this kind, which I approved in the whole, I was fully fatisfied with various parts of many; and, as the merit of original compofition was not in view, I have freely borrowed from fuch, as feemed moft likely to affift me. Thofe of which are made the moft ufe, are the following:-Book of Common Prayer;-Common Prayer-Book the best Companion, &c.Companion to the Altar;-Pious Country Parishioner;-Great Importance of a religious Life." P. 6. Much ufe is very properly made of the Prayers of the Established Church; but as, in the order in which they are directed to be used, they are of too general a nature for the purpose of family devotion, felections are here made from them; different prayers, or parts of them, are brought together with The order of fubjects generally, though fuitable verbal alterations. not invariably, obferved in this collection, is this:-Introduction,Confeffion, and Prayer for Pardon,--Prayer for Grace,-Prayer for Prefervation,-Interceffion,-Thank fgiving,-Conclufion. For the introductory Pfalms or Hymns, which I have made ufe of, and which are taken from different verfions of the Pfalms of David, Addison's Hymns, Pope's Univerfal Prayer, &c. I am principally indebted to the felection of Pfalms and Hymns made for the use of the Parish Church of Cardington, in Bedfordshire." P. 10. To the Hymns for Sunday Morning and Evening, we recommend to be added, in another edition, two by Mr. Malon, which will be fingularly acceptable (we think) to well-educated families. In fuch families, A families, if the finging were affifted by mufic, a very defirable impreffion might, perhaps, be made upon fome minds not fufficiently ferious. The whole work has our cordial approbation; being com. pofed with much judgment, and with a warm, yet fober spirit of devotion. ART. 29. The Diffusion of Divine Truth. A Sermon, preached before the Religious Tract Society, on Lord's Day, May 18, 1800; and published at their Requeft. By David Bogue. 8vo. 47 pp. 6d. Williams. 1800. "The fole object of this Society is the diffufion of divine truth, by means of fmall cheap tracts on fubjects purely religious, calculated to alarm the profane-to awaken the inattentive-to inftruct the ignorant-to affift the plan of education in Sunday fchools, and the benevolent exertions of focieties for vifiting the fick." P. iii. In promoting this object we fhall always moft cordially concur; yet never lofing fight, we hope, either of the profeffions of any fociety, or of the mode in which they make good thofe profeffions. The writing of religious tracts is juftified, without much neceffity, at p. ro, in a manner fomewhat curious: Mofes, Joshua, Samuel, David, Solomon, the Prophets, and the Apoftles, are faid to have composed religious tracts for the benefit of mankind. 66 Nay, to do the greater honour to this way of diffusing divine truth, God himself becomes the author of a fhort religious tract: with his own hands he wrote the Ten Commandments of the law. You fee what high authority we can plead for writing as well as fpeaking truth." P. 10. The preaching of merants is vindicated in a way not lefs remarkable: Is it not a fingular circumftance, that when God had but one fon, he fhould make that fon a teacher of truth? And, that it might be more widely diffused, he made him an itinerant preacher. Let thofe who have ought to fay againft itinerant preaching, fay it now." P. 19. In despite of these, and a few other fectarian eccentricities, this is a pious, animated, and vigorous piece of oratory. ART. 30. A Sermon, preached at the Triennial Vifitation of the Lord Bishop of Sarum. By Richard Laurence, LL. D. Rector of Great Cheverell, Wilts. 8vo. 22 PP. IS. Hanwell and Parker, Oxon; Rivingtons, London. 1800. A found and vigorous defence of ecclefiaftical establishments in general, and of our own in particular. A few fpecimens will perhaps more effectually recommend this discourse, than an analysis of its arguments." Nor is the affertion true, that the clergy, in this country at least, are maintained at the public expence of the government. The property they poffefs is in all refpects independent, and as fuch is acknowledged and protected by the laws of the land. That it may be feized and configned to other hands cannot be denied; but fuch a feizure (which could never take place without the fubversion of our exifting laws) would perhaps anfwer only a temporary purpose of government, while it enriched another clafs of men, who might be lefs, but who could not be more attached to our conftitution than its prefent 3 poffeffors poffeffors from education, habit, and principle. At any rate the confifcation of church revenues would annihilate a character of more utility and importance in rural districts than it may at first be imagined; a character, which, while it remains, will prevent the total lofs of that middle link in the chain of fociety, fo much apprehended of late from the accumulation of landed property in fewer hands; a character, which knows how to be exalted, and how to be humbled; in its lowest ftate of humiliation equally preferving its confiftency as in its highest state of exaltation; which in the reciprocal interchange of duties is not too far removed either below the fuperior claffes, or above the inferior; which by its meliorating influence, while it difplays a luftre derived from its intercourfe with the former, diffufes over the manners of the latter the gradual dawn of a brighter day." Pp. 10, &c. At p. 16, the talents and learning of many among the Diffenters "It may indeed be remarked, that among are juftly acknowledged: the Diffenters, who enjoy no feminaries of distinction, there are Minifters eminent both for natural and acquired abilities. But of these the best informed, and most liberal, honeftly confefs the great deficiAccording to the ency of their order, when collectively confidered. opportunities which they poffeffed, all may have more or lefs profited; many in fo commendable a degree, as not only to claim respect, but to excite admiration. It is the poverty of their means, that they have to lament, and not of their talents. To extend thefe no pains have been fpared; repeatedly has their eloquence been exerted to roufe the private as well as public fpirit of their refpective congregations, and fometimes with confiderable effect. Hence attempts have been made to form a kind of collegiate feminary, which was to receive its principal fupport from contributions. But every attempt of this fort has hitherto uniformly failed. Should not the experience of fuch things weigh,' &c. P. 16. Though unanimity on religious fubjects, however defirable, is found by the experience of ages to be unattainable; yet union, among Chriftians (whether Churchmen or Diffenters, Proteftants or Catholics) "in fupporting with combined zeal the general caufe of Christianity," is well enforced at p. 18. Very jult is the following remark; and we with the thought had been purfued in its application to our own, as well as to foreign countries: "But it is not only the garb of the Philofopher which the Infidel has affected in order to cheat the eyes of the multitude; for the purpose of a similar delufion, he has affumed the mark of the Patriot, and, by pretending an almost exclufive zeal for liberty, has gained a political importance, more dangerous to religion than the keenest fhafts of his wit, or the molt formidable batteries of his logic." P. 20. ART. 31. A few plain Reasons for the Belief of a Chriftian. By Tho- A tract, having a title very fimilar to this, and proceeding from the of God. 2. Of the Reafons for believing the Old Testament. 3. Of the Reafons for believing the New Teftament. 4. Of the Reafons for believing the prefent Scriptures to be agreeable to the original. 5. Additional Reafons for believing in the divine Origin of Chriftianity. In the following paffage, a very judicious and impreffive argument is drawn, from events which we all have lately witnessed and deplored. Speaking of the improvements of fociety produced by the Chriftian religion, the author fays: "On this head, indeed, little occafion has the advocate for Chriftianity to go back to the former ages of the world. They that will not allow it the credit of having meliorated and improved the condition of man, have had, an opportunity of witneffing the effects that have refulted from its open rejection. They have feen men abfolved from every religious obligation, and left to their own natural propenfities, to guide their conduct towards each other; and the confequence has been fuch as might eafily have been predicted; the venerable fabrick of focial order has been fhaken to its bafe, and but for the timely interference of divine Providence, must have been proftrated in the duft.” P. 42. Mr. Robiníon has certainly compreffed much ufeful argument into a very narrow compafs, and thereby has probably rendered a material fervice to a large clafs of readers. ART. 32. Reflections on the prefent State of Popery compared with its former State. A Sermon in Commemoration of the great Deliverances of Britain in 1605 and 1688, preached at Salters'-Hall, November 2, 1800, to the Supporters of the Lord's Day Evening Lecture at that Place; and published at their Requeft. By Robert Winter. 8vo. 31 PP. Is. Conder, &c. 1800. The general purpose of this difcourfe on Rev. xv, 3, 4, is to confider the wonderful change which has taken place in the state of the Romish church, as a fource of very important religious inftruction. And, ift, "As affording an awful and impreffive moral leffon, on the uncertainty of all earthly greatnefs, and on the power and wisdom of the Governor of the univerfe." P. 8. 2ndly, "As a memorable inflance of the retributive justice of God." P. 12. This is an awful topic, and is treated (we think) fomewhat prefumptuoufly. 3dly, "As affording a molt convincing evidence of the truth of Revelation." P. 16. This important topic is well, but briefly infifted upon. 4thly, "As a caution against even feeming to countenance a cause, which God abhors." P. 21. 5thly," As leading our thoughts forward to its final deftruction, and the univerfal diffufion of the Gofpel in all its native fimplicity and glory." P. 26. In fome paffages, the preacher fpeaks with juft abhorrence of the atrocious wickedness which has afflicted France; and we could with that he had forborne to speak of any among their late deeds in fuch foft terms as, the enterprising Spirit -the exertions of that nation:" the enterprifing fpirit of that nation has completely burft the chain of dependence on Rome, by which the had long been held in captivity. And one important confequence of the exertions of the French has been, the weakening, to a very great degree, degree, of the Papal caufe." P. 10. Even the annihilation of Popery, and all its corruptions, by fuch a fpirit, and fuch exertions, fhonld be fpoken of with unmitigated horror. We do not, however, hesitate to repeat the praise which we have more than once awarded to Mr. Winter; but willingly pronounce him to be an able divine, and an eloquent - preacher. ART. 33. Sermons fur le Culte Public, par Louis Mercier, Pafteur de L'Eglife Française de Londres. Two Volumes. 8vo. 129. Dulau. Thefe Sermons are evidently diftinguished by found good fense, by unexceptionable fentiments, by the pureft moral doctrine, and by a fpirit of true loyalty; but they are without that fpirit and energy which ufually distinguish French compofitions of a fimilar nature. They have not the fafcinating eloquence of Bourdaloue, nor the interesting manner of Boffuet. SCARCITY. ART. 34. A Twelve Penny Answer to a Three Shilling and Six Penny Pamphlet, intituled A Letter on the Influence of the Stoppage of Iffues in Specie at the Bank of England, on the Prices of Provifions, and other Commodities. 8vo. 29 pp. IS. Richardfon. 1801. The author contends, that if the main pofition of the letter-writer could be maintained, these consequences muft have appeared: ft. the difcredit of the bank paper; zdiy, its rejection at its original and intrinfic value; and, laftly, the circulation of it at a difcount. Here is a grent deal of matter, well compressed within a small compafs. ART. 35. Short Thoughts on the prefent Price of Provisions. By an Officer of the Volunteer Corps. 8vo. 15 pp. Wright. 1800. Few, as well as short. The dearness of bread is attributed to two caufes; a fucceffion of three bad years, 1795, 1796, 1799; (to which may now be added 1800) and, "fpeculators being poffeffed of that degree of ftariftical knowledge, by which is afcertained the exact confumption; and then, by means of combination, feeding the ovens from day to day, and the public markets from week to week." P. 4. Concerning the exiftence of the former of thefe caufes, no doubt can be entertained; and perhaps it is alone fufficient to account for our calamity, continued from the laft to the prefent year. The combination of fuch a multitude of perfons, as the dealers of corn throughout the kingdom, each purfuing his own individual intereft, is much more questionable and if the ovens and markets were not thus regularly fed, what would become of us? A return to government of the quantities of corn grown and confumed, an afcertainment of twelve month's corn being within the kingdom, and a correfpondent opening or shutting of the ports, are the remedies fuggefted in this tract, which feems to contain abundance of good meaning, with a fcanty stock of found information. : ART. |