which, He obferves, are taken out of the way and abolished by the Revolutionifts of France. In fhort, He applies the prophecy of this great defection to a neighbouring country, where the Christian religion hath been renounced, not negatively, through corruption of manners or neglect of truth, but pofitively, publicly, and in folemn form:" where the reftraining power of government, and the obligation of law, have not been interrupted and defied, but abfolutely taken out of the way, and abolished," where we fee "a portentous Company rifen up, who take to themselves the fublime denomination of Legiflators, not under the authority of God, but in their own right, exclufive of his legiflation, and in oppofition to his power:" where "the churches have been fhut up from the worship of God, and opened to admit the worship of reafon-the reafon of man, or man himself, who now, as God, is actually feated in the temple of God, to be worshipped*." "Does this defcription of the great apoftacy correfpond with that of St. Paul? The Apoftle clearly and in the moft explicit language informs us wherein it confifts :-not in a dereliction of all religion, not in a change of political principles, not in a rebellion or revolt from the Roman, or any civil government-not in the annihilation of all law and order; but in a falling away from the purity of the gospel by admitting certain tenets and practices which he fpecifi cally enumerates:-the worship of demons-the prohibition of marriage-abftinence from certain meats. Where this triple Complication of erroneous doctrines is found, there and there only we are to look for the predicted apoftacy, the feeds of which were sown in the firft ages of the Church, have long fince taken deep root, and brought forth fruit abundantly. These three doctrines have abfolutely been promulgated by the hypocrify and effrontery of men noted for falfhood, for lying miracles, and forged writings, and, in the emphatic language of the Apostle, "having their confcience feared with a hot-iron.". P. 2. This is furely very folid arguing against the opinion of Mr. Jones; and it is followed by other judicious obfervations, directed also against Mr. Wrangham, and those who have held a fimilar doctrine: after which, he inferts a caution, too valuable at the prefent moment to be omitted by us. "The adaptation of events to the prophetic parts of fcripture requires great care and circumfpection. A warm and lively fancy is Jones's Man of Sin, 3d edit. p. 9, 19, 20. "The words in the original which exprefs this Apoftacy are of a fimilar import with the Hebrew and which by no means fignify an entire desertion of all religion. When the Ifraelites added to the worship of the true God the Worship of Baal, Asteroth, and other heathen idols, they were pronounced to be guilty of Apoftacy. -See Mede's Application of 2 Pet. II. to the Church of Rome. Mede's Works, p. 238.” F 2 apt apt to exceed the limits of moderation and difcreet judgment. If in the viciffitude of human affairs any uncommon incidents occur, the pages of prophecy are unfolded, a fortunate concurrence of circumitances is remarked, and the Reader unwilling, and perhaps unable to cxamine the fubject with the ferious diligence which it demands, too readily admits the accomplishment of a prediction. But it muft be obferved that the fyftem of prophecy is not vague or uncertain-that it feldom derives any elucidation from the propofal of hafty conjectures. The events, which conflitute its completion, flow along the ftream of time in a regular and uninterrupted fucceffion. Predicted revolutions, which are yet future, will in due courfe be fo decidedly fulfilled, as to leave no room for fcepticifm itfelf to fluctuate in sufpenfe." P. 18. The fubfequent chapters apply the Prophecies of Moses, Deut. xxvii. 49-68; Jer. v. 15-18; Daniel ii. 40-45, to the Romans. Daniel vii. 7, 8, 19, 20, the author examines, and enforces the application of the little horn to the Pope. After which, he undertakes to prove diftinctly (in chap. v.) that the regicide government of France cannot be intended by that defcription. In the fixth chapter, he applies the Prophecy of the little horn of the he-goat (Dan. viii.) to the ancient Romans: fuggefting alfo, that he thinks it applicable, in a fecondary fenfe, to Papal Rome. Both thefe applications he carries on diftinctly through each particular of the Prophecy. He then (chap. vii.) refutes the application of that fymbol to Antiochus Epiphanes; and afterwards (chap. viii.) contends, that it is equally inapplicable to Mahomet and his fucceffors. In the ninth chap er, Mr. Z. undertakes to apply Dan. xi. 26-39, to the Papal power alfo; and follows Bishop Newton in confidering the Mabuzzim, as the falfe faints of that church. The latter chapters treat of the Man of Sin, as predicted by St. Paul in his Epiftles to the Theffalonians and to Timothy, and of the two Beafts in the Apocalypfe; contending, in every inflance, for the receflary application of them to Rome and its corruptions. No confiftent Proteftant can, in our opinion, neglect thefe applications; nor can Mr. Zouch's reprefentation of them be confidered as wanting force or propriety. The following paffage refpecting the actual state of Christianity, towards the conclufion of the book, deferves particular attention. "II. The prefent ftate of the chriftian religion in the world fuggefts no motives to innovate from the commonly received opinion concerning Antichrift. The condition of the monaftic orders is truly wretched and forlorn. Their habitations plundered, their revenues confifcated, they are reduced to the loweft ebb of diftrefs. In this country fome of them have found protection and a safe afylum. The zeal and warm benevolence of good catholics may long continue to I Support fupport and preferve, if not to reftore them to affluence and profperity. At least their final diffolution hath not yet taken place. The kingdon of Antichrift ftill exifts, and hath long existed. In the Roman hierar chy we obferve all the marks of " the man of fin," which are fo particularly fpecified in the volumes of prophecy. Though the temporal power of the Pope is fufpended; though his cardinals are driven from their palaces, and tripped of their gaudy fplendor, yet the spirit of popery, exercifing it's ufurpation over the minds of men, fo far from drooping in defpondency, is yet alive and vigorous. Her idols, her pictures, her croffes, her relics are still objects of religious adoration. She retains the fame corrupt doctrines-observes the fame diftinction of meats, the fame abftinence from marriage. She maintains the fame claim to miracles, and profeffes the fame intolerant principles, the fame averfion to heretics. The recent conduct of the Romanifts in Ireland, where the genius of popery preferves its own native difpofition, difcovers the fame bigotry, exciting men to perfidy, mafficre and treafon. In short, the prefent appearance of things tends to confirm in every respect the truth of thofe prophecies, which regard the latter times. That open avowal of atheism and idolatry, which difgraces the hiftory of the age in which we live, is a melancholy confequence of the corruptions of the church of Rome, flowing thence as the ftream from the fountain's head; and should not therefore excite our aftonishment, as if fome new fign of the times had manifested itfelf. 66 Atheism hath been more prevalent in popish than in proteftant nations. The reafon is plain. It is the annual spawn, and the natural effect of the grofs fuperftitions and corrupt manners of the Romish church and court*." "The apocryphal moralift, no negligent obferver of human nature, hath remarked that "the worfhipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the caufe, and the end of all evil." Wifd. XIV. 27. Hence he derives that black catalogue of crimes which he enumerates in the preceding verfes. And St. Paul, in his defcription of men given over to a reprobate mind, attributes their depravity to the fame caufe. And indeed how can it be otherwife? An alienation from the worship of the true God must eftrange the heart of man from every thing noble and virtuous. Deferted by that being, whofe pure fervice he hath abandoned, he can have no pretenfions to divine grace, no claim of affiftance from the holy spirit to purify his heart, or to enlighten his understanding." P. 229. On fubjects of this nature none, who poffefs a truly Chrif tian fpirit, will be contentious, or, with respect to the opinions of others, intolerant; but we ought not, on the other hand, to Jortin's Sermons, Vol. III. p. 254.-" For fome ages before. the reformation, atheifm was confined to Italy, and had it's chief refidence at Rome.- -This atheistical humour among Chriftians was the Spawn of the grofs fuperftitions, and corrupt manners of the Romish church and court." Tillotfon's Works, Vol. I. P. 30." relinquish relinquish interpretations, which formed the very foundation and ancient bulwark of the Proteftant Faith*. They_who are ftudious of fuch enquiries, will do well to confult and confider the work here defcribed. BRITISH CATALOGUE. POETRY. ART. 13. Original Poems. By Thomas Sanderfon. 12mo. 238 pp. 35. 6d. Carlisle printed; Clarke, Robson, &c. London. 1800. Very ample and respectable is the patronage given to this Cumbrian poet in all parts of the kingdom, from which we cannot but conclude that he had already obtained fome celebrity, before his volume appeared. Our fuffrage to his merit cannot be given more effectually, than by inferting one of his moft pleafing Poems. The moral caft of the following ftanzas, and their pure and pleafing ftyle, will speak for the author better than the most laborious criticism. "APPROACH OF WINTER. In woods no more the feather'd throng Where are the walks that blufh'd with flow'rs? And where the western breeze that breath'd Its pilfer'd fweets to fcent the bow'rs, Which PEACE and calm CONTENTMENT Wreath'd? Since now no fragrant bloffoms blow, And DESOLATION fweeps the ground, Come, WINTER! teach me how to draw A moral from the ruins round. Mr. Zouch's Preface opens with an error, occafioned probably by his abfence from the metropolis. He regrets that the Warburton Lectures have been for fome years difcontinued. They have not been published, it is true, fince they were preached by Dr. Apthorpe but two courfes have been given fince, and a third is now begun. Rev. : The The fober thought, to virtue dear, Thy dreary walks fhall furnish ftill; Shall fall the murmurs of the rill. Or to the ruffet heath repair, Adieu! ye glitt'ring fcenes, adieu! That ftole my heart from Peace and Truth; TIME, to all pictur'd blifs a foe, Proclaims, as through its waftes we range, That all our joy is abfent woe, And all our life progreffive change!" P. 14. 'The talents of Mr. Sanderfon are evidently verfatile; but, in our opinion, the ftyle in which this little Poem is written, is that in which he most completely fucceeds. ART. 14. Poems, moral and defcriptive. By Thomas Dermody. 12mo. 4s. Vernor and Hood. 1800. There is great modefty, and much merit, in these Poems; but perhaps the author's best talent is humour, of which his Poem to his Taylor is no mean fpecimen. "Oh! thou, whofe vifionary bills unpaid, Long as thy meafure o'er my flumber gleam; Why do imaginary needles wound? Why do thy fheers clip fhort my fleeting joys? Once more look up, nor droop thy hanging head, Be fmiles far better than thy buttons spread, |