LAST BODY OF EMPIRE, that of ROME; and as it were growing upon it, and out of it; and not as a diftinct and extraneous power, as the chief powers of all the four great empires, were diftinct and extraneous from each other." P. 133. Far removed from the vanity of attempting to prophely by the aid of the facred prophecies, this author interprets every thing future in fo general a way, as to leave to Providence its own mode of fulfilment, without pretending to limit or ascertain too exactly, what is to happen.

We haften to notice this tract, and prefer giving it this thort. and vigorous commendation, to the attempt to analyze it more exactly in a longer article. Suffice it to fay, that the author is clear and learned in his views of past times, correct as to the prefent, and modeft as to the future,

ART. 30. The Duties of Patristifm confiftent with Chriftianity. A Sermon. By Francis Skurray, B. D. Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. 8vo. 39 pp. Hatchard. 1811.

This Sermon was preach'd on the 28th of May, 1809, in the Church of Warminster, by the author, as honorary Chaplain to a regiment of Local militia; (we prefume the 5th regiment of Wiltshire Local militia, commanded by Lord George Thynne, to whom, in conjunction with the other officers it is inscribed). It is now published as feasonable at this particular period, when thofe military corps are re-affembling, Mr. Skurray, whose writings we have before had occafion to notice and commend *, has managed in this difcourfe, to notice, though in a most cursory manner, many important points, of which he feems to us to en tertain fuch juft views, (that is, views fo conformable to our fen. timents and feelings,) that we are only forry he felt compelled to write upon them, as though the hour-glafs were at his elbow. In former days, Sermons were allowed to be of that length, that there was room for the fullest difcuffion of almost any subject the preacher had to handle, but then, indeed, they were lefs frequent, Now, that they are fo common, and fo generally confidered as a certain limited portion of the church-fervice, it is difficult to find time to treat any topic properly, and there is no pofli bility of treating it fully nor is it difcreet to rely more upon the patience of readers of Sermons, than upon the auditors of fuch public difcourfes. A Sermon to be at all po❤ pular, muft to a certainty be of a prefcribed length. From Mr. S.'s mode of handling the topics he does touch upon, we hould have been glad to have had him more diffufe, on the pretended incompatibility of " Patriotifm with genuine Chriftianity," on the "atteflations of Divine agency," and favorable interpofition,

See Brit, Crit, vols. xxii, xxxii, and xxxv.

"exemplified within the compass of our own experience and recolleetion," on the ftriking contrast between the Volunteer corps of British soldiery, and the miferable confcripts of enslaved France; on the neceffity of war, as arifing naturally out of the prefent conftitution of things, and on the compatibility of the duties of a foldier and a Chriftian. Thefe and other very important topics are all briefly touched upon in this difcourfe, and fo neatly, properly, and difcreetly, that we could not upon perufal, help lamenting that the difcourfe was fo fhort. The following tribute to the memory of Mr. Pitt, we think most just, and are glad to fee it fupported by reference in the notes, to Mr. Goldsmith's strong attestation, in regard to the opinions of certain moft confpicuous French Revolutionists.

"On reference to this critical period, we should prove unjust to the memory of the dead, did we not recal to our grateful recollection, the merits of that intrepid Statefman, who feemed an inftrument in the hand of Providence, to fnatch us from the precipice of impending defolation.

-

"When there was upon the Earth diftrefs of nations with perplexity, the fea and the waves roaring, he, like a fkilful Pilot, who participates in the dangers of the veffel which he navigates, ftood unappalled amid the political agitation. By dexterous ma. nagement, under Divine Providence, he brought the veffel of ftate, fafe from among the rocks, which threatened her with fhipwreck, and from the vortex which yawned to engulf her. At length his exhaufted frame funk under the fatigue of duty at the helm, when he breathed out his ardent spirit, in mingled accents of piety and patriotifm."

To every fentiment of the above, we cordially fubfcribe.

ART. 31. A Dialogue between a Minifter of the Church of England, and his Parishioner, on the Excufes alledged by those who abfent themselves from the Holy Communion. By the Rev. George Hutton, D. D. Vicar of Sutterton, and Rector of Algarkirk cum Fofdyke, near Bofton, and fometime Fellow of St. Mary Magdalen College, Oxford. 8vo. 30 pp. 6d. Kelsey. 1811.

In our 34th vol. p. 424, we recommended a Dialogue by this author, on the fubject of Infant Baptifm. With much fatisfaction, we fee another fpecimen of his atttention to the fpiritual welfare of his parishioners. The opening of this Dialogue prepares us to expect the happy effect of it:

Minifter. Good morrow to you, Neighbour, I am glad to fee you looking fo well.

"Parishioner. I thank you kindly, Sir, God be praised, I am pretty well in health, confidering that my beft days, as I may fay, are gone by.

« Minister.

"Minifter. I hope, John, that fome of your best days, as you call them, are yet to come: and that every day added to your life, will add to the improvement of your time.

"Parishioner. I heartily join with you, Sir, in that hope."

At p. 20, the Parishioner fays, very properly, "I am much obliged to you, Sir, for the information you have afforded me. You have indeed fet these matters in a clearer light than I ever faw them before. And I will endeavour to profit by your inftructions."

We earnestly join with the author in his hope, that his endea. vours may not be entirely without effect, in reftoring a muchneglected ordinance to its due regard and eftimation.

ART. 32.

A Difcourfe delivered on board his Majefty's Ship Trident, in Malta Harbour, Nov. 19, occafioned by the Death of Sir A. J. Ball, Bart. his Majefty's Civil Commissioner for adminiftering the Affairs of Malta and its Dependencies, RearAdmiral of the White, &c. &c. &c. By Richard Cruttwell, LL.B. Chaplain of the faid Ship, and late Secretary to the Rear,

Admiral. 8vo. 21 PP. IS. Cadell. 1809.

There is nothing in this fermon which can demand particular notice, nor would any thing have deferved reprehenfion, had the author forborne to introduce fome verfes, which, befides their incongruous appearance in a fermon, have neither poetical expreffion nor even correct verfification, to recommend them. No author is quoted for them, and the natural conclufion is, that they are the production of the preacher himself. No man, indeed, who did not write them, could have been partial enough to quote them.

ART. 33. A Sermon preached at the Archdeacon's Vifitation, June 22, 1808, in the Parish Church of Thirsk. By Thomas Newton, M.A. Rector of Tewin, Herts, and Curate of Coxwold, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. 4to. 17 pp. is. 6d. Rivingtons. 1809.

IS.

Plain and fenfible arguments in favour of religion in general, and our Church in particular, are offered to the reader in this fermon. Studious himself not to use reproach against those who differ from us, this author is well entitled to ask, why are fuch weapons employed against us. "Why are our hearers told in every town, and almost in every village, that their lawful minifter does not preach the Gospel," or, that they "preach up felfrighteousness," because they preach, as St. Paul did, that we ought to "maintain good works?" Thefe are certainly queftions to be asked, and more easily afked than fatisfactorily anfwered,

ART.

MISCELLANIES.

ART. 34. Microcosmography; or a Piece of the World difcovered; in Efays and Characters. By John Earle, D.D. of Christ Church and Merton Colleges, Oxford, and Bishop of Salifbury. A new Edition. To which are added Notes and an Appendix, by Philip Blifs, Fellow of St. John's College, Oxford. Cr. 8vo. 340 PP. 10s. 6d. Harding, 1811.

This republication of a fcarce and curious book, and valua ble as well as curious, which is not always the cafe, is executed with diligence and tafte; and will be very acceptable to thofe who are attached to our early literature. The laft complete edition appeared in 1732, and from that edition, collated with the firft, which appeared in 1628, the present has been taken; very carefully noting the several variations. On the whole Mr. Blifs notices ten editions, before his own, of which the laft was anonymously printed at Salisbury in 1786, and contained only 74 characters instead of 78.

To the work itfelf Mr. Blifs has fubjoined an Appendix, (commencing at p. 211) which contains fome account of Bishop Earle; characters of him, written by contemporaries and others; feveral of his minor compofitions, fome of them now first pub. blished from MS., with a chronological lift of "Books of Cha racters" from 1567 to 1700; a few corrections, &c.

Mr. Blifs's notes are in general inftructive and judicious; explanatory of old words and cuftoms, or otherwife illustrative of the text. Of the game called one and thirty, however, he has found no account (p. 62). We will therefore tell him, that it was, even within our memory, a common English game, and was nearly on the fame plan as the French vingt-un, or one and twenty. Another variety of it, called "One and thirty, Bone-ace," or "Bone-ace" alone, is defcribed in the Compleat Gamefter (1680), p. 91. The number of cards dealt to each perfon was three, and he who attained 31, or came nearest to it, won. We have not the older editions at hand, but we doubt not that "queen," in page 101, was 66 quean;" the epithet proves it. "Imputation," in page 183, is alfo fimilarly used in page 162, and implies the pride of conferring a favour.

The writing of characters was, after the appearance of Sir Thomas Overbury's book, a very fashionable employment, and Mr. Blifs has given a curious and entertaining lift of fuch productions; among which the name of Microcofmographia itself ought perhaps juft to have been mentioned, in the tenth place, to mark its chronological fituation. Such a lift cannot be ex

pected

pected to be complete, but we have perceived only one mate. rial omiffion. This is a publication which accident has thrown into our poffeffion, bound up with the Characterismi of Clitus Alexandrinus (No. x1.), and Saltonftall's Picture Loquentes (No. XII). It is entitled, "Characterismi: or Lenton's Leasures. Expreffed in Effayes and Characters, Never before written on. By F. L. (Francis Lenton), Gent. London. 1631." 12mo. It is dedicated to the Right Honorable Oliver Lord St. John, Baron of Bletfoe." The characters are, 1. A State Politician.' 2. A gallant Courtier. 3. A young Barrifter. 4. A Commiffary. 5. A Parafite, or Flatterer. 6. An uxorious Man. 7. A country Widdow. 8. A Chambermaid. 9. A broken Citizen. 10. A Bawd. 11. A Pander. 12. A Darling. 13. A Lawyer's Clarke. 14. A Farmer Tenant. 15. beneficed Parfon. 17. A country Alewife. 18. An Alderman's Daughter. 19. A Prodigall. 20. An Ufurer. 21. A Broker. 22. A Bragadotio. 23. A Sempfter. 24. A Proftitute or Whore. 25. A Gamefter. 26. An Hoft. 27. A common Drunkard. 28. An elder Brother. 29. An Innes a Court Gentleman. 30. A Low Country Souldier. 31. A Gentleman Usher. 32. A Cuckold. 33. An Informer. 34. A Bachelour. 35. An Undershriefe. 36. A Drawer, 37. A good Hufband. A conftant Man. 39. A jealous man. 40. A defperate man. 41. A true Friend. Thefe characters are fhort, but pointed, and often ingenious.

16. A Schoole-mafter.

38

A double

ART, 35 Confeffions of a Methodift. By a Profeffor. pp. 184. Tipper. 1810.

We do not feel competent to fay how far this fatire may be juft or not. It is evidently aimed at Mr. Huntington. What we know of that enthufiaft's writings, would clearly induce us to agree to the greater part of the ridicule caft upon him in this book. We are not fcrupulous of avowing, that we look upon much that he has written as amounting to little less than blafphemy; yet we know, that there are many who are prepared to defend him, and have much to fay, not only in vindication of his principles, but of the quaint and ftrange titles of his publications*, and even of the familiar and grofs terms applied in thofe publications to the Deity. We cannot agree with fuch defenders. We give them leave to think Mr. H. honest and fincere: if he be fo, we have no hesitation in queftioning his fanity; but if he be really able, we have ftill lefs hesitation in queftioning his fincerity. We think it impoffible, that any wife man could write upon fuch topics, in the way Mr. H. writes, unless with a defign to impofe upon the ignorant: if therefore he be fincere he is not wife, and if he be wife he is not fincere. In drawing upon his heavenly banker, and in praifing

* See our Review for March, page 241, where many are re. cited, in a note from Mr. Crabbe's preface.

hîs