families, if the finging were affifted by mufic, a very desirable 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 fpirit 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 thall always moft cordially concur; yet never Jofing 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 justified, without much neceffity, at p. 10, in a manner fomewhat curious: Mofes, Joshua, Samuel, David, Solomon, the Prophets, and the Apoftles, are faid to have compofed religious tracts for the benefit of mankind. Nay, to do the greater honour to this way of diffufing 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. preaching of itinerants is vindicated in a way not lefs remarkable: Is it not a fingular circumstance, 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 thefe who have ought to fay against itinerant preaching, fay it now," P. 19. In defpite of thefe, and a few other fectarian eccentricities, this is a pious, animated, and vigorous piece of oratory.

ART. 30.

The

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. 15. Hanwell and Parker, Oxon; Rivingtons, London.

1800.

IS.

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 analyfis 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 fubverfion of our exifting laws) would perhaps anfwer only a temporary purpofe of govern ment, while it enriched another clafs of men, who might be lets, but who could not be more attached to our conftitution than its prefent

3

polefors

་

poffeffors from education, habit, and principle. At any rate the confifcasion 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 Howeft ftate of humiliation equally preferving its confiftency as in its higheft ftate 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, Szc. At p. 16, the talents and learning of many among the Diffenters are juftly acknowledged; " It may indeed be remarked, that among the Diffenters, who enjoy no feminaries of diftinction, there are Mi nisters eminent both for natural and acquired abilities. But of thefe the best informed, and meft liberal, honestly confefs the great deficiency of their order, when collectively confidered. According to the opportunities which they pofleffed, all may have more or lefs profited; many in fo commendable a degree, as not only to claim refpect, but to excite admiration. It is the poverty of their means, that they have to lament, and not of their talents. To extend these no pains have been fpared; repeatedly has their eloquence been exerted to roufe the pri vate 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, Protef tants or Catholics)" in fupporting with combined zeal the general caufe of Christianity," is well enforced at p. 18. Very juft 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 mask of the Patriot, and, by pretending" an almost exclufive zeal for liberty, has gained a political importance, more dangerous to religion than the keenest shafts 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 The mas Robinfon, M. A. Rector of Ruan-Minor, Cornwall. 8vo. 44 PP. Is. Crutwell, Bath; Robinsons, London. 1800.

A tract, having a title very fimilar to this, and proceeding from the pen of Mr. Cumberland, was analyfed by us in April laft (p. 436). The two publications, however, have little fimilarity, except in their titles. The prefent has nothing polemic in it, but contains a plain and didactic tatement. 1. Of the different Revelations of the Will

of

of God. 2. Of the Reafons for believing the Old Teftament. 3. Of the Reafons for believing the New Teltament. 4. Of the Reasons 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 witneffed 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 Chrifti. anity 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 seen 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 base, and but for the timely interference of divine Providence, must have been proftrated in the duft.” P. 42.

Mr. Robinson 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 formor 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 inftance of the retributive justice of God." P. 12. This is an awful topic, and is treated (we think) fomewhat prefumptuously. зdly, "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 caufe, which God abhors." P. 21. 5thly, " As leading our thoughts forward to its final deftruction, and the univerfal diffufion of the Gospel in all its native fimplicity and glory." P. 26. In fome paffages, the preacher fpeaks with juft abhorrence of the atrocious wickedness which bas 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 enterprising spirit of that nation has completely burst 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 such exertions, should 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 diftinguifhed by found good fenfe, 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 Bossuet.

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 Ifues 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 confequences muft have appeared: ft. the difcredit of the bank-paper; zdly, 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 compreffed within a fmall compafs.

ART. 35. Short Thoughts on the prefent Price of Provifions. By an Officer of the Volunteer Corps. 8vo. 15 pp. Wright. 1800. Few, as well as fhort. The dearnefs 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 taritical 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 existence of the former of these causes, 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 ascertainment 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 seanty stock of found information.

ART.

ART. 36. Thoughts on the Dearness of Provifions, and the most certain Method to reduce the prefent high Price of Wheat; addreffed to the principal Inhabitants of Great Britain. 8vo. 15 pp. 6d. Robinfons, &c.

Thefe Thoughts, at the price of fixpence, are dearer, in our opinion, than provifions have ever been; and the "certain method to reduce the prefent high price of wheat," is of less value than one handful of the most damaged wheat we have seen.

ART. 37. Refutation of certain Misrepresentations relative to the Na ture and Influence of Bank-Notes, and of the Stoppage of Isues in Specie, at the Bank of England, upon the Prices of Provifions, as stated in the Pamphlets of Walter Boyd, Efq. and Mr. William Frend. By T. S. Surr. 8vo. 44 PP. Is. 6d. Hurt. 1801.

The author's purpofe is to fhow, that, from the very nature of the operations of the Bank, it is impoffibie that the Directors can have availed themselves of the reftriction, to have iffued a fingle pound more than they could have done, had it never exifted. (P. 42) And his conclufion is, that the reftriction of the Bank from payment in fpecie, has not increased the circulating medium. (P. 43) This tract ap pears to have been written with the best intentions; but the author characterizes it juftly, when he fpeaks of it as "touching too lightly on the fubject." P. 21.

POLITICS.

ART. 38. The Queftion, as to the Admiffion of Catholics to Parliament, confidered upon the Principles of exifting Laws; with fupplemental Obfervations on the Coronation Oath. To which is annexed, a further Supplement, occafioned by the Second Edition of Mr. Reeves's Confiderations on the fame Subject. By John Jofeph Dillon, Efq. Barrister at Law. 8vo. 53 pp. 3s. 6d. Booker. 1801.

The reafons which, on a former occafion, we alledged for declining to enter into a full difcuffion of the Catholic Queftion, fubfift in their full force, and muft neceffarily abridge our account of the tract before us. It is, however, but juftice to fay, that it is written not only with. ability and information, but with candour and temper.

The claim of the Catholics to be rendered eligible to feats in the legiflature, is the point chiefly urged by this writer; and his principal argument is drawn from the circumftance, that Proteftant Diffenters, though incapacitated (by the Teft A&t) from holding offices, or being members of corporations, are not difqualified (as the Catholics are by another ftatute) from fitting in Parliament. Thence he infers, that

by no principle of the British Conftitution, are those who exercife parliamentary functions obliged to profefs the religion of the state;"

*See Brit, Crit. for May, 1801, p. 549.

and