begins by vindicating the confiftency of the religious and military characters, he ftrongly contraits the pictures of profligate and pious foldiers, and concludes by urgent exhortations. If in the last paragraph he feems too clofely to annex rewards to the deeds of the good; it is plain by the context that he forgets not the higher merits by which thofe deeds are rendered acceptable. ART. 26. The Regard which is due to the Memory of good Men. A Sermon, preached in the Epifcopal Chapel, Dundee, on the Death of George Yeoman, Efq. By the Rev. James Bruce, A. B. late of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Svo. 30 pp. Rivingtons, London; Creech, Edinburgh; and Donaldson, Dundee. 1803. Though we do not much approve of preaching, and ftill lefs of pubLifhing, a funeral eulogium on any private character, we congratulate the public on Mr. Bruce's being of a different opinion; for, to his regard for the memory of his deceafed friend, we are indebted for one of the most instructive fermons that have fallen under our cognizance fince the commencement of our critical labours. From Pfalm cxii. 6, after vindicating, as a motive to virtuous conduct, the jealous regard for reputation which every generous mind feels, he gives a defcription of the character of a righteous man, in language at once animated, elegant, and perfpicuous; and concludes with an appeal to his audience, if George Yeoman was not fuch a man. The principles inculcated in this difcourfe, whether religious, moral, or political, are incontrovertibly just; and even the part of it profeffedly devoted to the delineation of an individual character, is fraught with inftruction of the most important nature. As a fpecimen of the preacher's ftyle, and mode of reafoning, we extract what he fays of piety. "The first and moft diftinguished ingredient in the compofition of a righteous man is piety, or an habitual reference of all his actions to the will and authority of Almighty God. Hence the fame perfon, who, in the text, is called righteous, is defcribed, in the first verse of the Pfalm, as the man that feareth the Lord, and hath great delight in bis commandments. Indeed, without the fear of God, or a fixed habitual fenfe of religion, the human character, however accomplished in other refpects, is defective in its most effential lineaments. Too many, it is true, in this licentious age, feem to look on piety rather as a weakness than as a perfection; and would think themselves degraded, if they were furprised in the pofture of devotion: but surely this is an unaccountable depravity, I do not fay of intellect, but of fentiment and tafte. Can it poffibly be below the dignity of the highest and most accomplished of men to feel their dependence on Almighty God, or their obligation to acknowledge that dependence? This abfurd affectation of felf-fufficiency, this exalting of ourselves above omnipotence, would, even in the nobleft of created beings, be an equal inftance of fin and folly; bat in fuch an infignificant creature as man, it denotes a degree of fottish ftupidity, to which language cannot furnish a name.' ART. ART. 27. A Sermon preached at the Clofe of a Series of Lectures on the Signs and Duties of the Times, continued for nearly three Years in the Metropolis, by a Society of Clergymen: published at the unanimous Requeft of the Society. By Thomas Scott, Chaplain to the Luck Hospital. 8vo. 31 pp. 9d. Seeley, &c. 1802. This is the laft of a fet of lectures, of which we noticed the first in our 15th vol. p. 691. We do not know that any others have been publifhed. At p. 5, the defign of the fociety is thus explained. "At this crifis," namely, during the alarm and danger of the war, "the fociety, which is this day diffolved, was firit formed; a fmall number of clergymen in the metropolis, in the habits of friendly unrestricted intercourfe on fuch fubjects, entered into a refolution to affift each other, in endeavouring to ftir up their congregations. 1. To perfonal felf-examination, repentance, and religious diligence. 2. To use their influence in checking the progrefs of infidelity, impiety, and vice; and promoting fcriptural chriftianity, in their families and among their connexions. 3. To pray conftantly for the nation, and for the church of God, that is among us: and alo, as connected with these ends, to strengthen, as far as our little influence would extend, the hands of our governors and to exhort the people "to fear God, and honour the king; and not to meddle with thofe who are given to change." "But, while we confined our exhortations to our own people, it occurred to us, that we might be confidered merely as delivering a private opinion, which would be but little regarded in order therefore to imprefs the minds of our feveral congregations more deeply, with the conviction that we were entirely agreed in our opinion on "the figns and duties of the times;" we formed the plan of preaching on the fubject at ftated feafons for each other. This has been continued for a confiderable time: and by private addrefles and fome publications, we have endeavoured to ftir up our brethren, both in London, and through the land, to join with us in thefe exertions; especially in conftant united prayer for the land, and for the church of God." This defign was unquestionably pious and laudable; and the second paragraph affigns a reafon of fome ftrength for that to which we formerly objected, the preachers quitting the parishioners properly under their charge, to addrefs themselves in turn to other flocks. Mr. Scott rejoices, at p. 17, " that the number of those who call themfelves evangelical minifters, is rapidly increafing in the church." To preach what is truly evangelical is the highet praife; but for certain preachers to affume that title to the exclufion of their fellowminifters, favours more, we think, of fpiritual pride, than of Chrif tian humility. With thefe exceptions, we pronounce Mr. Scott's difcourse to be a pious, animated, and useful exhortation. ART. ART. 28. A ferious Call to a conflant and devout Attendance on tlg ftated Services of the Church of England; in an Addrefs from a Cler gyman to his Parishioners. By the Rev. Thomas Robinson, M. A, "Vicar of St. Mary's, Leicester. 12mo. 34 pp. 6d. Rivingtons, 1803. This is a plain, but foundly argumentative and animated exhortation, to a fedtaft adherence to our eltablished church. Sentiments and declarations, like the following, fhould conciliate favourable at tention from perfons of every religious perfuafion. My principal concern is with you, over whom I am appointed. I defire to fir up no contention with others: I cast no reproaches upon thofe, who from confcientious motives feparate from our communion, and with quietness and peace purfue their own plans: I will enter into no altercations, or anfwer the idle cavils of fuch, as delight in ftrife. But being a churchman on full examination and from ferious conviction, I am folicitous that you should enter into my views, and that all caufe of diffention being removed, we may join with life and vigour in the fame ordinances, and "with one ind and one mouth glorify God." I would therefore engage your attention in this addrefs, not only as a preacher of Christianity, but as a minitler of the established church, prefiding over you for your fpiritual infìruction, and " watching for your fouls." I will freely align what appear to me very strong reafons for conformity, and leave them to your mature deliberation, intreating that they may regulate your conduct, only fo far as you perceive their ftrength and importance. But weigh them with candour and ferioufnefs: and though each one may not impress your mind with equal force, yet taken together I truft they will pro duce the defired effect." P. 5. The reafons affigned are, 1. That the church of England is truly apoftolical, in her form of government, and fervices, and doctrines. 2. That the book of Common Prayer is truly excellent, 3. That a man owes it to his country, to comply with its ordinances, when they are not contrary to a good confcience. 4. That trong objections exift against a different ecclefiaftical establishment. And, Taftly, That where there is no juft caufe for feparation, fchifm is finful. This little book may be read with good effect by all candid diffenters, and by lukewarm and wavering churchmen. In one fentiment, we do not concur with the author; that "the church is rent, and lies bleeding on the ground." P. 29. That it is affailed, and endangered by fome falfe friends, as well as by avowed enemies, we acknowledge with great concern; but it is ftill erect, and dignified; and we trult it will fo continue, by the favour of Divine Providence, as long as its prelates and minifters in general shall continue to adorn it, which they do in the prefent day, by their piety and learning. ART. 29. The Importance of re-confidering our Baptifmal Vow. By Sponfors, we fear, are too generally inattentive to their folemn charge. They plead, that parents are the fitteft inftructors of their children; children; and that only in cafe of their death, or neglect, or inability to teach, the aid of a fponfor is neceffary. Nothing, furely, of this. fort appears in the office of baptifin, or in any history of it which has come to our knowledge. Mr. Yonge has thought, and afted, much more correctly: My dear young friend, (he fays) though you have had the advantage of a good education from your excellent parents, I cannot think my felf abfolutely difeharged from the important trust E took upon me, when you firit entered the Chriftian church."" think it my duty, before I refign you to yourfelf, to point out to you the feveral articles of faith and practice contained in that vow, which took in your name when you were an infant, and which you will foon ratify and take upon yourfelf." P. 3. He then takes a view of the baptifmal fervice; deducing from it "the whole of the obligations of a Chriftian." We are glad to fee a fecond edition of this little tract; and we advise the author, in another, to reconfider his very general interpretation of the third Commandment; and two lines at the bot tom of page 40, &c. We strongly recommend Mr. Yonge's example to the attention of thofe fponfors, who could hardly give a pofitive anfwer, if they were afked, whether the young perfons for whom they were fureties had received a Chriftian or a Pagan education. ART. 30. An Apology for Sunday Schools. The Subftance of a Sermon, preached at Surry Chapel, February 22, 1801, for the Benefit of the Southwark Sunday Schools: with incidental Remarks on the late Charge of the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Rochefter. By Rowland Hill, A. M. 8vo. 44 PP. 18. Williams. 1801. When a book has, in any respect, a pernicious tendency, instead of analyzing and appreciating its contents, we fometimes only expofe that tendency, and warn our readers against wafting their money and time by the purchafe and perufal of it. Thus we must deal with Mr. Rowland Hill's fermon. This publication might have been entitled, An Invective against the Clergy. We find an advertisement, a dedication, a fermon, and copious notes. Every part abounds with calumnious abufe of the Mihifters of the established church: "not many of whom, (Mr. H. fays) I am forry to obferve, are willing to exert themselves beyond the obligations of their official routine of duty." Now, there are feveral thousands of these minifters; and it is fcarcely poffible that this * Wheatly is inconfiftent on this fubject. At p. 315, edit. 1794, he fays, "the church makes provifion, that if the parents fhould be negligent, or if it fhould pleafe God to take them to himfelf before their children be grown up, there yet may be others upon whom ic Shall lie to fee that the children do not want due inftructions, by means of fuch careleffnefs, or death of their parents." But, at p. 338, we read with more fatisfaction; " how ridiculous for thofe who have taken this duty upon them, to think they can fhake off this charge again, and affign.it over to the parents. But yet this is frequently the cuftom of this licentious age." preacher preacher fhould know a hundredth part of them. Perhaps he has looked about him diligently for the leaft refpectable among them. Qur acquaintance is with thofe of the oppofite character; and we know many, very many, whofe whole lives are paffed in the discharge, firft of their official and bounden duty; and then of most useful and important offices, undertaken voluntarily, and performed most affiduoully, and gratuitoufly. If Mr. Rowland Hill calls the uttering of grofs flanders preaching the gospel, we can only fay, that it is preaching the gospel of peace and love, with the fcalping ferocity of a Chickfaw or Cherokee Indian. Such was the pure spirit of the Puritans of old, whofe merits were feen in their works. POLITICS. ART. 31. The Crifis of the Sugar Colonies, or an Inquiry into the Objects and probable Effects of the French Expedition to the Weft Indies, and their Connection with the colonial Interefts of the British Empire. To which are fubjoined, Sketches of a Plan for fettling the vacant Lands of Trinidada. In Four Letters to the Right Honourable Henry Addington, Chancellor of the Exchequer, c. 8vo. 222 pp. 55. Hatchard. 1802. The variety of important matter contained in the work before us, as well as the ability difplayed by the author in difcuffing it, would warrant, and indeed feems to demand, a fuller examination than our limits will allow. The Crifts of the Sugar Colonies was known to us by repu tation, before it fell into our hands, and its general merit does not belie the favourable character it had obtained. Unlike the majority of thofe who publicly addrefs a minifter, this author begins with a liberal and candid compliment to the commencement of his adminiftration. The peace, generally confidered, is mentioned with approbation; but our attention is drawn to a ferious danger, of which (fays the author) it has quickened the approach." This danger he thinks likely to arife from the French expedition to the Wett Indies; and he propofes to enquire, First, What are prefumably the objects of that expedition? Secondly, What confequences interefting to Great Britain are likely to refolt from it?! Laftly, What meafures does the probability of fuch confequences demand from the prudence of the British Government? To follow the writer with accuracy through the difcuffion of these widely extended topics, would require confiderable space. Suffice it to fay, that on the first queftion he is decidedly of opinion, that the intention of the French Conful is " to reitore the old fyftem of negro flavery in St. Domingo, and in the other colonies wherein it has been fubverted," Subfequent events appear to confirm this opinion. Indeed, if we mistake not, an express decree of the French Government has fince re-established the flavery of the negroes in St. Domingo, and the other countries where they had been emancipated. The nature of this flavery is very clearly and forcibly stated by the author, as well as the |