Review of New Publications. Letters to Edward Gibbon, Efq. Author of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Em"pire." By George Travis, M. A. Prebendary of Chefter and Vicar of Eastham. The Second Edition, corrected and confiderably enlarged. 8vo. THIS work confifts of five letters. "The fit of them is introductory to the general fubject, which is, A Vindication of the Authenticity of the Verfe, "John. v. 7. The fecond contains all "the politive evidence which the author “has adduced directly in proof of that "authenticity." Many other proofs are urged thereto indirectly, as it were, or collaterally, in the three fubfequent let ters. Thefe two, it may be obferved, were originally addreffed to Mr. Urban, in three anonymous letters, and inferted in our volume for the year 1782, pp. 65, 278, 330, and 522. But in a quarto pamphlet, pp. 128, with an appendix, 1784, the concluding letters were directly addreffed to Mr. Gibbon, with the author's name. We are too vain not to omit the following elogium: "I do not regret the circumftance of "having introduced myself to you [Mr, Gibbon], in the mifcellany, to which "the name of URBAN is prefixed. It is, in its humble fphere, of eminent adyantage to the prefent age. It has, "in fome inftances, encouraged modeft merit to give to the world pleating or profitable communications, which might otherwife have perished un"known; by holding forth to its bashful efforts that concealment which it covets. In minds more adventurous, and more affured, it may, in fome fenfe, be faid to have created ex"cellence, by exciting emulation. It has advanced the caufe of truth, in "general, by promoting liberal enquiry; and it facilitates the progrefs "of knowledge, by the frequency, as well as variety, of its communications, and the extenfiveness of its "circulation." In the prefent edition all the letters are addreffed to Mr. Gib bon." The third ftates, and replies whole argument, applying it particuGENT. MAG. February, 1786. 137 "larly to Mr. Gibbon. In the three "letters, last mentioned, many allega "tions against this verfe are occa "fionally anfwered, which have been "brought by M. Simon, Emlyn, Mi"chaelis, Wetstein, La Croze, and Le "Long."-Such is the author's own account, in the preface. We cannot follow him in his argu ments, especially as the pofitive evi, dence has already appeared in our work. We shall only fay, in general, that Mr. Travis has confidered, with great accuracy and impartiality, every thing that has been stated on both fides of the question; and that though Mr. Gibbon, in that respect, feems only an auxiliary to many writers, not only of learning, but of undifputed belief, we cannot but pronounce, on the whole, that he and they have entered into this literary conteftnec Diis, nec viribus aquis. Towards the conclufion, Mr. Gibbon's "elegant Mythology," or Deistical and Pagan fyftem, and alfo his "plan of morality," in regard to the abandoned conduct of Honoria, the fifter of Valentinian*, are repro bated and exploded, 14. A Sermon preached in the Church of Saint Nicholas, Rochefter, on June 24, 17852 (being the Day of the Archdeacon's Vifitation, on the Introduction of Sunday-Schools. To which is added, a large Appendix, containing various Arguments on the Utility and Importance of the Inflitution, and Answers to Objections: Together with an Account of their Establishment in the Parishes of Boughton-Blean and Hearn-hill, Kent. Charles Moore, M. A. Rector of Cuxtony and Vicar of Boughton-Blean, Kent. 40, 1785. By FROM Matthew xi. 5, The Poor benevolent and chriftian inftitution of bave the Gospel preached to them, the Mr. Raikes, of Gloucefter, is here Sunday-Schools, happily introduced by trongly inculcated, both by precept and example. Waving the utility felf-evident) we will confine ourselves "and importance" (which are almost to the establishments. The Rev. Mr. Hearne, of Canterbury, very laudably firft eftablished them in Kent (we are told, in the Appendix,) in his parishes in January laft. And on May like fchools, for feventy-eight children, and by a fubfcription opened by the were opened at Boughton, on the plan "Hiftory, vol. III. p. 404." picar. 138 Review of New Publications. vicar. A man and his wife attend and inftruct all the children fent to their houfe on a Sunday, at "a guinea and 66 half a per quarter, and another woman, in another district, at one guinea 66 per quarter." The teachers and children attend constantly at church. The children are taught to read, and are in. ftructed in the plain duties of the Chriftian Religion. Two hours in a Sunday morning, and four in the afternoon, are the hours ufually allotted. Some use. ful books, near 81. value, are found, The annual fubfcription is about 161. Having extraordinary helps, the first expence was zol. A like school, of about thirty children, is established at Hearn-hill, an adjoining parish.— "The laity," we have the pleasure to find, are as induftrious in promoting" this labour of love "as the clergy. Par"ticularly, Mr. James Six, of Canter"bury," has fet up fuch fchools in his parish. "The Dean and Chapter of 66 Canterbury have taken up the caufe "in a body. Many other parishes have "been followed in that city;" and, lately, the Dean has preached on the fubject in one of Mr. Hearne's churches, where above 200 children attended.More inftruction and information in other places will doubtlefs foon be expected, particulary" from the very refpectable Mr. Hanway."--" With “what fatisfaction (concludes Mr. M.) muft Mr. Raikes view the progrefs "of his humane and confiderate fcheme! May he yet live to fee the good fruits "of the virtue that is gone out from him!" AMEN. 15. A Sermon preached at the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul, London, on Thursday, May 26, 1785, being the Yearly Meeting of the Children educated in the Charity-Schools in and about the Cities of London and Weftmiufter. By the Honourable and Right Rewerend James Lord Bishop of Ely. 410. 1785. FROM Luke xiii. 18, 19, the parable of "a grain of muflard-feed," the preacher exemplifies the "gradual progrefs" of Chriftianity. After removing fome difficulties and objections arifing from “the apparent contradic-tion the fact carries with it to the de"claration which it conveys," which feems a comment on the text, he proceeds to the immediate object of the Dr. Yorke. day, by commemorating and promoting the defirable end in view. Speaking of the "new fcenes" that are ftill "conti"nually opening" in foreign parts, "The late difcoveries," fays his Lordfhip, which our gallant adventurers "have in various climates made, with "amazing and laudable perfeverance, "afford the most encouraging opportu "nity for the utmost reach of this "higheft fpecies of benevolence. Un"doubtedly many confiderable benefits "refult to fcience of every kind from "fuch well-concerted and important "expeditions. But the principal object to which they all fhould tend is the "glory of GoD, and the good of his creatures. And the time approaches (may it not be paffed by without the "proper application!) when the fame "almighty hand, which conducted thefe "heroes through fo many perils to thofe "uncivilized inhabitants, fhall likewife "lead to them, through us his inftru"ments, fome well-ingructed miffionary, to open before them the Book "of Chriftian Revelation, and to ex"pound to them the inexhauftible store "of truths contained in it?"-- Thẹ "glory of GoD" fhould indeed be the principal object; but in thefe expeditions, alas! it has hitherto been lament ably deficient. No "miffionary," from this Proteftant country at least, has yet vifited "thofe uncivilised inhabitants;' and the only iflander that has ever feen Britain was fcarce capable of inftru&ting and being inftructed, or of speak · ing" in his own tongue the wonderful "works of GOD," if fuch a converfion had been attempted. Of that "gentle "favage," not more to his lofs than to our fhame, we may fay, with Mr. Cowper, 66 we return'd him, rude "And ignorant, except of outward show." Encouraged, however, by this So. ciety, may happier profpects foon be opened, and the "glad tidings of the gofpel," as well as our agriculture and domeftic animals, be there introduced! May the "grain of mustard" grow into a large tree!" there " "An Account of the Society for Promoting Chriftian Knowledge" is annexed (as ufual), by which, in the last year, 4340l. appear to have `been received, and 3480l. paid. "Tafk," book I. 16. A Review of New Publications. 16. A Sermon preached before the Convention of the Clergy of the Epifcopal Church in Connecticut, ar Middletown, Auguft 3d, 1785, the Day on which they recognised Bishop Seabury. By the Reverend Jeremiah Leaming, M. A. Rector of Chrift's Church, in Stratford. With Bishop Seabury's Firft Charge to the Clergy of bis Diocefs, delivered at Middletown, August 4b, 1785. THIS Sermon and Charge accompanied the Addrefs from Connecticut, which appeared in our last, p. 61.-The Sermon is from 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17: "All fcripture is given by inspiration of GOD, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righ teousness : "That the man of GoD may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." The preacher, after entering fully into the fubject of his text, obferves, "Our church is now compleatly organized with all it's proper officers to continue her exiftence, upon a conftitution, which we believe to be primitive; as it is unconnected with any civil eftablishment; it will appear to be truly the work of GoD, not of man. "I have the pleasure to see the day when there is a Bishop here, to act as a true Father towards his Clergy, fupporting their dignity, as well as his own; to govern them with impartiality, ae well as lenity; and to admit none to the altar, by ordination, but the worthy: to uphold a Church beaten with ftorms on every fide: to fupport a Church that has been a bulwark against infidelity on the one hand, and Romish fuperftition on the other: but by the Divine Providence it has continued to this day. And upon this aufpicious day, I cannot forbear to mention (and I do it with pleasure the conduct of the Civil Rulers of this State, refpecting our Church: they have not only manifefted a spirit of benevo lence, but an exalted Chriftian charity; for which, our gratitude is due, and fhall be paid, in obeying all their juft commands. As the fame difpofition appears in the Minifters of our neighbouring Churches, to live in Chriftian harmony with us; we are all ready to meet them upon the fame ground, with a fincerity like their own. And the confequence of this will be, to lead our Bishop to feek the peace and welfare of all Chriftian Churches. "As the conftitution of the Church in this State will be formed upon the model of the primitive Church, antecedent to the time in which the Civil Power undertook to patronize it; fo your Bishop will always confult his Clergy, as the primitive Bishops did, in all matters of importance. And you must be prepared to give the best advice in all fuch cafes and conftantly, for the time to come, preferve that fame unanimity and harmony, for which you have been fo juftly famed." 139 Bishop Seabury fhall now fpeak for himfelf; as it would be doing him injuftice to abridge his Charge. "REVEREND BRETHREN, "Beloved in our LORD JESUS CHRIST! "IT is with very great and fincere pleafure, that I meet you here at this time, and on this occafion; and I heartily thank God, our heavenly Father, for the joyful and happy opportunity with which his good providence has favoured us; and do befeech him to direct and profper all our confultations and endeavours, to his glory and the benefit of his Church. "At your defire, and by your appoint ment, I confented to undertake a voyage to England, to endeavour to obtain thofe Epifcopal powers, whofe want has ever been fe verely felt, and deeply lamented, by the thinking part of our communion. The voyage has been long and tedious, and the difficulties that arofe, perplexing, and not eafily furmountable. Yet, by the favour of God, the important bufinefs has been happily' accomplished; and the bleffing of a free, valid and purely ecclefiaftical Epifcopacy procured to our infant Church; which is now compleatly organized in all its parts, and being nourished by fincerity and truth, will, we truft, under the guidance of the Holy Gholt, grow up in bim in all things, which is the head, even Chrift: From whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted, by that which every joint fupplietb, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, will make increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love. Eph. iv. 15, 16. "As, under GoD, the Bishops of the remainder of the old epifcopal Church of Scotland, which, at the Revolution, fell a facrifice to the jealous apprehenfions of William the Third, were the fole inftruments of accomplishing this happy work; to them our utmoft gratitude is due; and I hope the sense of the benefit we have, through their hands, received, will ever remain freth in the minds of all the members of our communion, to the lateft pofterity. "Under the greatest perfecutions, GOD kas preferved them to this day, and I trust will preferve them; that there may yet be fome, to whom deftitute Churches may apply in their fpiritual wants-fome faithful thepherds of Chrift's flock, who are willing to give freely, what they have freely received from their Lord and Mafter. "With us then, my venerable brethren, it remains, to make this precious gift, which we have received conducive to the glory of GOD, and the good of his Church. Long have we earnestly defired to enjoy the full advantage of our religious conftitution; let us then carefully improve it, to all thofe holy purpofes for which it was originally defigned by our divine Head, the auguft Redeemer of finful men. "Senfible 140 Review of New Publications. # Senfible as I am of my own deficiencies, and ofthe infirmities of human nature, I fhall, by God's grace, be always ready to do my duty, according to my best ability and difcres sion; and, I trust, I thall, by him, be enabled to avoid every thing that may bring a reproach on our lioly Religion, or be a hindrance to the increafe and profperity of that Church, over which, I am, by God's providence, called to prefide. On your advice and affiance, reverend brethren, next to God's grace, I must rely for support in the great work that is before me, and to which I can, with truth, fay, I have devoted my felf without referve, Your fupport, I know, Ifhall have; and I hope for the fupport of all good men. Let us then truft that Gop will profper our honeft endeavours to ferve the interests of his Church, and to make his Gofpel effectual to the converfion of finners to him, that their fouls may be faved by the redemption and mediation of his Soo. World ly views can here have no influence, either on you or me. Lofs, and not gain, may, and probably will, be the confequence of the step we have taken, to procure for our Church the bleffing we now enjoy. But however our worldly patrons may be difpofed towards us, our heavenly Father knoweth whereof we are made, and of what things we have need: And He is able to open bis band, and fill all things living with plenteousness, Pfalm cxlv. 16. Let us then feek firft his kingdom and the righteaufness thereof, Mait. vi. 33; and depend upon the gracious promife of our Redeemer, that all things neceffary to our bodily fuftenance fhall, in the course of his providence, be given unto us. In our endeavours to promote the interefls of Chrift's Church in this world, much, I know, will depend upon me: much also, my beloved in Christ, will depend on you. Permit me then, in this my firit charge, to mention two or three things of great importance in themfelves, and which require your immediate attention. The first is, the obligations you are all under to be very careful of the doctrines which you preach from the pulpit, or in Fulcate in converfation. You will not fuppofe that I am finding fault, or that I have reafon fo to do. General cautions of this kind must make part of almost all the charges from a Bishop to his Clergy. Should any Clergyman be cenfurable in this refpect, it would be ungenerous to attack him in this public way, and unfair to correct him by wounding the body of his brethren. Should fuch a cafe ever happen, which I pray Gop never may, there are other modes of proceeding, more likely to be effétual, and which therefore ought to be adopted. But when you confider, as I doubt not you do often aud fe riously, that many of the people under your care have little or no other inftruction in re. ligion but what they get from you that the are of their fouls is by Obric and his Church committed to you and that you muff give an awful account of them in the day of judgment, you cannot think fuch cautions as jult now interpofed can at this, or at any other time, be either impertinent or unneceffary. You are, and it is expected of the people that they account you as, ministers of Chrift, and fewards of the myftertes of GOD, 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2; let us all then remember that it is required of stewards that a man be found faithful; and our own hearts will inform us, that the firft inftance of fidelity is, that the pure doctrines of the Gospel be fairly, and earneftly, and affectionately propofed, explained, and inculcated; and that we fuffer nothing elfe to ufurp their place, and become the fubject of our preaching. "Another matter, which my duty requires me to mention, relates to a bufincfs in which you will probably be foon called upon to act I mean the very important one of giving recommendations to candidates for Holy Or ders. It is impoffible that the Bithop thould be perfonally acquainted with every one, wha may present himself for Ordination. He must, therefore, depend on the recommendation of bis Clergy, and other people of reputation, for the character and qualifications of thofe who fhall be prefented to him. By qualifi cations, I mean not fo much literary accomplishments, though thefe are not to be neg lected, as aptitude for the work of the mis niftry. You must be fenfible that a man may have, and defervedly have, an irreproachable moral character, and be endued with pious and devout affections, and a competent thare of human learning, and yet, from want of prudence, or from deficiency in temper, or fome fingularity in difpofition, may not be calculated to make a good Clergyman; for to be a good Clergyman implies, among other things, that a man be a useful one. A Clergyman who does no good, always does burt: there is no medium. Not only the maral character, and learning, and abilities of candidates are to be exactly inquired into, but alfo their good temper, prudence, diligence, and every thing by which their usefulness in the ministry may be affected. Nor fhould their perfonal appearance, voice, manner, clearness of expreffion, and facility of com municating their fentiments, be altogether overlooked. Thefe, which may by fome be thought to be only fecondary qualifications, and therefore of no great importance, are, however thofe that will require your more particular attention, and call for all your prudence. They, who hall apply for recommendations, will generally be fuch as have pafied through a courfe of academical studies, and muli be competently qualified in a literary view. Examination, however, will afcertain the matter with fuficient certainty., And it is improbable that the openly vicious, or even they whofe characters will not bear to be ferutinized, will ever apply for your teftimonials: but thould they be fo hardy, Review of New Publications. the matter will foon be decided. You cannot recommend them, and there is an end of it. But the other qualifications I mentioned-good semper, prudence, diligence, capacity and aptitude to teach, and all thofe requifites neceffary to make a worthy, ufeful Clergyman, may probably be fometimes doubted. And then a question arifes, whether fuch a perfon ought to be recommended? The general con fideration that a Clergyman should be useful to others, and should not merely confult his own emolument, but the benefit of Chrift's Church principally, ought, in my opinion, to determine this point; and if there be real ground to fufpect that a person will not make a useful clergyman, whatever his moral character and literary attainments may be, he ought not to be recommended. He may ferve Gon ufefuliy and acceptably in fome other ftation: and he cannot justly esteem it an injury that he was not admitted to a ftation in Chrift's Church, where the probable chance was, that he would do more harm than good. It is always eafier to keep fuch perfons out of the miniftry, than to get rid of them when once admitted. Open immorality expofes a man to the public cenfure of his fuperiors, and he may, by due authority, be depofed, and dismissed from the ministry. But a Clergyman's conduct may be fo guarded, as to be always within fuch a line as fhall fkreen him from public cenfure, and yet be fuch, as does manifest differvice to religion; and brings reproach on the order to which he belongs and however uneafy you may be with having him in your number, no fair eccafion to get rid of him may ever prefent itfelf.-Lay bands fuddenly on no man, 1 Tim. . 22. was one of the things St. Paul gave in charge to Timothy, whom he had appointed Bishop of Ephefus: and if not fuddenly, without sufficient deliberation and trial, ertainly not in doubtful cafes, especially where the probability is against the man, with respect to his usefulness as a minifter. And all the reafons why the Bishop fhould lay bands fuddenly on no man, are so many trong arguments against recommending any man Suddenly, or in doubtful cafes, to the Bishop for ordination. "The third thing which my duty calls pon me to mention to you at this time, becaufe it requires your immediate attention, is that old and facred rite, handed down to us from the apoftolic age, by the primitive Church-the laying on of bands upon thofe who have been baptifed, and, by proper authority, admitted into the Chriftian Church; and which is now commonly called Confirmation: though, in truth, there feems to me to be more in the rite than a bare confirmation of the baptifmal vow; and that it implies, and was originally understood to imply, the actual communication of the Holy Spirit to thofe who worthily received it. "It has not hitherto been in the power of 141 the members of our Church to comply with this rite, for want of the proper officer to adminifter it. And we truft that the mercy of GoD will pardon thofe omiffions of duty, in his faithful fervants, which arofe merely from the neceffity of their fituation. But the cafe is now altered, and, through his gracious providence, that, and every other rite and ordinance which he has inftitated for the government and edification of his Church, may be obtained and enjoyed. It becomes therefore our duty to attend to this matter; and as it is unreafonable to expect that people thould comply with a rite before they are convinced of their obligation to do fo, it lies upon us to explain to them its na tore and meaning, the foundation on which it ftands, the obligations they are under të comply with it, and the benefits they will receive from the institution, if they come worthily to it; and then, it is to be hoped, there will be no backwardness in the members of our Church to submit to it. "It is, I am fenfible, unneceffary to point out to you, the feveral arguments and reafons by which your instructions in this point may be fupported. You have undoubtedly often and seriously reflected on them. But as your duty, in that respect, is now to be more particularly regarded, and very soon carried into execution, permit me, by way of remembrance, to make a few general obfervations on the authority, nature and benefits of the institution. "We fuppofe, and I think jufly, that the right is founded on apoftolical practice. In Heb. vi. 2. St. Paul enumerates the fun→ damental principles of the Chriftian Religion, fuch as were neceffary for all Chriftians-viz. Repentance from dead works→→ faith in God-the doctrine of baptifms-and of laying en of bands—and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal life. No commentator or expofitor of the holy Scriptures ever underflood this text of any other laying on of bands, but that in Confirmation, till fince the Reformation; and the celebrated Calvin himfelf gives it as his opinion, that this one text ews evidently, that Confirmation was inflituted by the Apostles. (Vid. Calv. in loc.). "In the 8th chapter of the A&ts it is recorded, that when many of the Samaritans had been converted and baptized by St. Philip the deacon, the College of Apoftles at Jerufalem fent two of their own number, Peter and John, who, when they had prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost, laid their bands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. "In the 19th Chapter St. Paul finding fome difciples at Ephefus who had been baptized only with the baptifm of John, had them baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and when be bad laid his bands on them, the Holy Ghof "came on them; and they spake with tongues and propbefied. Iknow |