142 Review of New Publications. "I know that the ufual way of evading the force of these two laft authorities is, by faying that this impofition of hands was for the fole purpofe of conferring the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit: but this will not reach the firft cafe, where St. Paul mentions the laying on of bands among the rudiments of the doctrines of the Gospel. In the infancy of Chriftianity, extraordinary or miraculous gifts were neceffary for its eftablishment and propagation in the world. But have we reafon fufficient to justify the opinion, that all upon whom the Apofiles laid their hands received thefe miraculous powers? Is it not furprising that twelve men at Ephefus, who had not even heard that there was any Holy Ghoft till St. Paul's vifit, fhould be pitched upon by him for receiving thefe extraordinary gifts? The miraculous powers of the Holy Spirit are communicated when, and where, and how, it pleafes Infinite Wisdom: and very probably St. Paul was furprized at this extraordinary difplay of the power of the Holy Spirit upon the twelve men at Ephefus, as well as St. Peter had been, when the Holy Ghoft fell upon the whole company of Cornelius to whom he was preaching, even before they had been baptized (Acts x. 44, &c.). Because God fometimes departs from the ordinary inftitutions in his Church, are we to fuppofe that there is no virtue in those ordimary inftitutions, except when God fhall please to accompany them with miraculous powers? The Holy Spirit is given for the fanctification of the heart, and to lead all thofe who will be governed by him, from one degree of holiness to another, till they shall become fit inhabitants of the kingdom of Heaven. And in truth there is as great a miracle in the converfion of a finner from the error of his ways, as in fpeaking with tongues and prophefying. Both are beyond the power of nature, and both require Almighty Interpofition. "In Confirmation, by the impofition of the hands of the Bithop and prayer; we believe the Holy Spirit to be given. for fanctification, i. e. for carrying in effect that regeneration which is conferred in Baptifm. By Baptifm we are taken out of our natural ftate of fin and death, into which we are born by our natural birth, and are tranflated, tranfplanted, or born again into the Church of Christ, a ftate of grace, and endless life; and by Confirmation, or the impofition of the hands of the Bishop; when we perfonally ratify our baptifmal vow and covenant, we are endued with the Holy Spirit, to enable us to overcome fin, and to perfect holinefs in the fear of GoD. If it can be proved that the Holy Spirit is not neceffary for thefe purposes, but that his influence is only neceffary when miraculous powers are to be conferred, I will confefs that Confirmation is unneceffary at this time, for it is not pretended that the miraculous powers of the H ly Spirit are now conferred by the laying on of bands. "You must hava obferved that though the Samaritans were converted and baptized by St. Philip the deacon, yet the Apoitles fent two of their own order to lay bands on them. And St. Paul, when the twelve difciples at Ephefus had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jefus, laid His bands on them. For these reafons, the Christian Church has always appropriated this rite to the fucceffors of the Apofties, the fupreme order of the Chriftian priesthood. "The time when Confirmation is to be ufed is not restricted to any particular age. When the perfon is of competent reason and understanding to comprehend the nature of the baptifmal covenant, and is duly inftructed in it, and fenfible of his duty to fulfil it, and difpofed to ratify and confirm it before GOD and his Church, with fall purpofe of continuing God's faithful fervant to his life's' end, he is properly qualified for the rite. And of thefe qualifications his minifter is to be the judge, and is to certify the Bishop thereof.-A God-father or God-mother are to attend with them, to witness their Confirmation, and to put them in mind, if they perceive them to be afterward negligent of their duty, or departing from the folemn vows and promifes they then made. "The benefits refulting from this inflitu tion have in fome measure been anticipated; permit me however just to enumerate them. It enters us into a new engagement to be the Lord's, and to lead a Holy and Chriftian life; it is a lafting admonition not to dishonor or defert our profeffion; it preferves the unity of the Church, by making men fenfible of their obligations to maintain communion with thofe ecclefiaftical fuperiors who are the fucceffors of the holy Apostles; and it is a teftimony of God's mercy and favour to them, if they receive it worthily; because his minifter declares authoritatively that GoD accepts their proficiency, and, advancing them to the higher rank of the faithful, gives them a right to approach his Table and feaft with their brethren on the facrifice of the Holy Eucharift, the memorials of Chrift's death; and by it alfo GOD condescends to communicate fupernatural strength, even the gift of his bleffed Spirit, to enable them to encounter and vanquish their fpiritual enemies, and fulfil the terms of the Gospel. "Thefe things, Reverend Brethren, you will explain and inculcate in your several congregations, that all may be informed of the nature of their duty, excited, on proper motives, to comply with it, and inftructed how to come worthily to this holy rice, that they may receive the full benefit of it, and the Church be edified with found and Living members. "You will alfo put God-fathers and Godmothers, as well as their natural parents, in mind, to fee that the children they have an fwered for at the font be properly inftructed, and in due time brought to the Bishop 4 ΤΟ Review of New Publications." to be confirmed bỹ him, that they may difcharge themfelves of the obligation which their Chriftian charity excited them to undertake. "And the GOD of all grace, who bath called us unto bis eternal glory by Jefus Chrift-make you perfect, ftablish, frengthen, fettle you, 1 Pet. v. 10, 11.-blefs and profper your mi niftry in his Church, and reward your faithful labours with the bleffings of his own heavenly kingdom. To bim, the holy triune God, be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." 17. Dr. Watts's Hymns and Moral Songs for the Ufe of Children, Revised and Altered. To which are added, Prayers for the Use of Children. fm. 12mo. TO decide on the poetical merits of this little volume would be to determine on what is already univerfally acknowledged. Due honours have been paid by Dr. Johnfon to the writer "who condefcended to lay afide the fcholar, "the philofopher, and the wit, to write little poems of devotion for children, "and fyftems of inftruction, adapted to "their wants and capacities, from the dawn of reafon through its gradations "of advance in the morning of life " The REVISER of thefe "Hymns" (a lady) joins in the plaudit as far as Poetry is concerned, but objects to fome of the doctrines to which the original compotions may lead the infant mind. "Dr. Watts's DIVINE SONGS," he fays, have been defervedly admired for their eafy and familiar verfification; nor can they receive a more honourable teftimony of their anfwering the defign of the benevolent author, than from the pleasure and avidity with which they are generally received by thofe children into whofe hands they have been put. It is, however, the duty of parents and teachers to inform the mind and Bnderftanding of children, as well as to please their ears; and, in certain exercifcs of the memory, to inculcate religious truths as well as moral virtues. In this view, Dr. Watts's little book has been confidered as very defective, or rather erroneous, by great numbers of ferious Chriftians; for though it has been very credibly reported, and generally believ ed, that he changed many of his religious opinions before his death, nevertheless, there are retained in his book fome particular doctrines and phrafes which his better judg ment would probably have corrected, or expunged. But, be this as it may, the prefent Editor has judged it expedient to make many alterations in both thefe refpects. It has been her principal defign to confine all the afcriptions of praife and thank igiving to the one only living and true GoD, to whom alone all praife and thanksgiving are due. 143 In this the apprehends herself to be fupported by the Religion of Nature, and by the Word of God." To many well-meaning Chriftians thefe alterations will doubtless be pleafing; whilft the more zealous Trinitarian will continue to prefer the originals. 18. Original Papers, confifting of a Letter from the late Earl of Hardwicke to a near Relation [the prefent Earl], on the Subject of a Minifterial Negociation in the Year 1763. And also a Letter from the Hon. Charles Yorke to the Rev. Dr. Birch. 8vo. THESE "Letters" are equally authentic and curious. In the former ("to Lord Vifcount R--n," dated "Wimple, Sept. 4, 1763,") the characters who are concerned were diftinguifhed, and the tranfactions to which it alludes was "the most extraordinary," fays the writer, "that ever happened "in any court in Europe, even in times 66 as extraordinary as the prefent." In fhort, not to difcufs particulars, as Lord Bute's "ininiftry could not go on," his Lordship went, by appointment, to Mr. Pitt's houfe on Thuriday, August 25, who in confequence was required to attend his My on Saturday. He had that day an audience of three hours, and another of two hours on Monday. He was gracioully received, and his propofals (for a new miniftry) were tiftened to, but (in the words of this letter)" Mr. Pitt profeffes himself "firmly perfuaded that Lord B- was "fincere at firft, and that the **** Review of New Publications. 344 "Effe finunt. As no monument has been erected to "the memory of the illuftrious fon, any "more than to that of his venerable "father "His faltem accumulem donis et fungar "ipani "Munere." The fubject is "Sir Francis Bacon's "Letters," then publishing by Doctor Birch, in which Mr. Yorke wished the words in brackets, fol. 31, 32, "ftruck out of the book," for fuch conclufive reafons, that the Editor was induced (we are told) to reprint the leaf, and to add "a note in vindication of the Earl of Salisbury."-Any literary morceaux by a Bacon or a Yorke are ineltimable. The public, therefore, are much obliged to the Editors of both.-Another admirable letter, of the latter, to Dr. J. Hoadly, in the fame fpirit of liberality," a fpirit congenial to the Yorkes, is preferved in our vol. XLVI. p. 165. Si fic plural 19. The Hiftory of Ancient Greece, its Colo- and a complete Index. Qu. "repining?" Is it not an exratum for "ripening?" EDIT. the nation at large the defcription and particular revolutions of each independent republic; an undertaking, as he juftiy obferves, "difficult indeed, and new, yet evidently well calculated to anfwer the great purposes of instrucs tion and entertainment:" taken of his fubject, the fluctuation of In the view which the author has public affairs, and the viciflitudes of war and fortune, form not the moft The arts and fciences, the literature important object of Grecian hiftory. and philofophy, which diftinguished and ennobled Greece, are treated in a manner more diftinct and fatisfactory than in any performance hitherto offered to the world on those interesting topicks. In the work throughout, the author ventures to think for himself: he is warmed and elevated by his fub ject, of which he feels the dignity.As fpecimens of the style and fentiments of this nervous and manly writer, we shall felect the two following paffages: "Such was the preparation of materials which the fmalleft fpark might throw into combustion. But before we relate the events which immediately occafioned the memorable war of twenty-feven years, it is impoffible (if the calamities of our own times have taught us to compaffionate the miferable) not to drop a tear over the continual difafters which fo long and fo cruelly alllicted the most valuable and enlightened portion of mankind, and whole immortal genius was defined i enlighten the remotest ages of the world. When rude illiterate peasants are fummoned to mutual hoftility, and, unaffected by perfonal motives of intereft or honour, expend their strength and blood to gratify the fordid ambition of their respective tyrants, we may lament the general Aupidity and wretchednefs of human nature; but we cannot hear tily fympathife with men who have fo little fenfibility, nor very deeply and feelingly regret, that thofe fhould fuffer pain, who feem both fure. Their heavy unmeaning afpect, their unwilling and incapable to relish plea barbarous language, and more barbarous manners, together with their total indifference dignity and glory of man; thefe circum to the objects and purfuits which form the ftances, interrupting the ordinary courfe of our fentiments, divert or repel the natural current of fympathy. Their victories or defeats are contemplated without emotion, coldly related, and read without intereft or concern. But the war of Peleponnefus prefents a different fpectacle. The adverse parties took arms, not whom they had reafon to hate or to defpile, to fupport the unjust pretenfions of a tyrant, but to vindicate their civil rights, and to maintain their political independence. The meanet Grecian feldier knew the duties of the Review of New Publications. the citizen, the magiftrate, and the general. His life had been equally divided between the most agreeable amufements of leifure, and The most honourable employments of activity. Trained to thofe exercifes and accomplishments which give ftrength and agility to the limbs, beauty to the fhape, and grace to the motions, the dignity of his external appear ance announced the liberal greatnefs of his mind; and his language, the most harmonious and expreffive ever spoken by man, comprehended all that variety of concep tion, and all thofe fhades of fentiment, that characterise the most exalted perfection of human manners. "Ennobled by fuch actors, the scene itfelf was highly important, involving not only the ftates of Greece, but the greateft of the neighbouring kingdoms; and, together with the extent of a foreign war, exhibiting the intenfenefs of domestic fedition. As it exceeded the ordinary duration of human power or resentment, it was accompanied with unufual circumstances of terror, which, to the pious credulity of an unfortunate age, naturally announced the wrath of heaven, jaftly provoked by human cruelty. While pestilence and famine multiplied the actual fufferings, eclipfes and earthquakes increafed the confternation and horror of that lament. able period. Several warlike communities were expelled from their hereditary poffeffions; others were not only driven from Greece, but utterly extirpated from the earth; fome fell a prey to party rage, others to the vengeance of foreign enemies; fome were flowly exhaufted by the contagion of a malignant atmosphere, others overwhelmed at once by fudden violence; whilft the combined weight of calamity affailed the power of Athens, and precipitated the downfall of that republic from the pride of profperous dominion, to the dejection of dependence and mifery." "In the populous and extenfive kingdoms of modern Europe, the revolutions of public affairs feldom disturb the humble obfcurity of private life; but the national transactions of Greece involved the intereût of every family, and deeply affected the fortune and happinets of every individual. Had the armis of the Athenians proved fuccefsful in Sicily, each citizen would have derived from that event an immediate acceffion of wealth, as well as of power, and have felt a proportional increase of honour and fecurity. But their proud hopes perifhed for ever in the harbour of Syracufe. The fucceeding difafters thook to the foundation the fabric of their empire. In one rath enterprife they loff their army, their fleet, the prudence of their experienced generals, and the flourishing vigour of their manly youth.-Irreparable difafiers which totally difabled them to reff the confederacy of Peleponnefus, reinÇİNT. Mat. Februdy, 1786. 145 forced by the refentment of a new and power ful enemy. While a Lacedæmonian army invested their city, they had reafon to dread that a Syracufan fleet thould affault the Pyræus: that Athens must finally yield to thefe combined attacks; and her once profperous citizens, deftroyed by the fword, or dragged into captivity, atone by their death or difgrace for the cruelties which they had recently inflicted on the wretched republics of Melos and Scioné. "The dreadful alternative of victory and defeat renders it little furprising that the Athenians fhould have rejected intelligence, which they must have received with horror. The firft meffengers of fuch fad news were treated with contempt: but it was impoffible long to with-hold belief from the miferable fugitives, whose squalid and dejected countenances too faithfully attested the public calamity. Such evidence could not be refused; the arrogance of incredulity was abafhed, and the whole republic thrown into confternation, or feized with despair. The venerable mem bers of the Areopagus expreffed the majesty of filent forrow but the piercing cries of woe extended many a mile along the lofty walls which joined the Pireus to the city, and the licentious populace raged with unBridled fury against the diviners and orators, whose blind predictions, and ambitious hafangues, had promoted an expedition eternally fatal to their country. "The diffrefs of the Athenians was too great to admit the comfort of sympathy; but, had they been capable of receiving, they had little reafon to expect, that melancholy confolation. The tidings so afflicting to them gave unspeakable joy to their neighbours; many feared, moft hated, and all envied a people who had long ufurped the dominion of Greece. The Athenian allies, or rather subjects, feattered over fo many coafts and islands, prepared to affert their independence; the confederates of Sparta, among whom the Syracufans juftly affumed the firft rank, were unfatisfied with victory, and longed for revenge: even those communities, which had hitherto declined the danger of a doubtful conteft, meanly folicited to become parties in a war, which they expected muft finally terminate in the deftruc tion of Athens. "Should all the efforts of fuch a powerful confederacy ftill prove infufficient to accomplish the ruin of the devoted city, there was yet another enemy behind, from whofe frength and animofity the Athenians had every thing to fear. The long and peaceful reign of Artaxerxes, king of Perfia, expired four hundred and twenty five years before the Chriftian era. The two following yeats were remarkable for a rapid fuccefiion of kings, Xerxes, Sogdianus, Ochus; the last of whom affumed the name of Drive, to which hiftorians have added the epithet of Nothus, the baftardy to distinguish this effe minate 146: Review of New Publications. minate prince from his illuftrious predeceffor. The first years of Darius Nothus were 'employed in confirming his disputed authority, and in watching the dangerous intrigues of his numerous kinfmen who afpired to the throne. When every rival was removed that could either disturb his quiet, or offend his fufpicion, the monarch funk into an indo, lent fecurity, and his voluptuous court was governed by the feeble administration of women and eunuchs. But in the ninth year of his reign Darius was roused from his lethargy by the revolt of Egypt and Lydia. The defection of the latter threatened to tear from his dominion the valuable provinces of Afia Minor; a confequence which he determined to prevent by employing the bravery of Pharnabazus, and the policy of the crafty Tiffaphernes, to govern refpeétively the northern and fouthern diftricts of that rich and fertile proinfula. The abilities of thefe generals not only quelled the rebellion of Lydia, but extended the arms of their maker towards the shores of the Agean, as well as of the Hellefpont and Propontis; in direct oppofition to the treaty which forty years before had been ratified between the Athenians, then in the height of their profperity, and the unwarlike Artaxerxes. But the recent misfortunes of that ambitious people flattered the Perfian commanders with the hope of reftoring the whole Afiatic coast to the great king, as well as of taking exemplary punish ment on the proud city, which had refifted the power, difmembered the empire, and tarnifhed the glory of Perfia. "The terror of fuch a formidable combination might have reduced the Athenians To defpair; and our surprise that this confe- . quence should not immediately follow, will be increased by the following reflection: Not to mention the immortal trophies of Alexander, or the extenfive ravages of Zingis Khan, Tamerlane, and the Tartar princes of their race; the Spaniards, the Portuguefe, and other nations of modern Europe, have, with a handful of men, marched victorious over the effeminate or barbarous coafts of the eaftern and western world. The hardy difeipline of Europe easily prevailed over the unwarlike foftness of India, and the favage ignorance of America, But the rapid fuccels of all these conquerors was owing to their military knowledge and experience. By the fuperiority of their arms and of their difcipline, the Romans fubdued the nations of the earth. But the Athenians afford the only example of a people, who, by the virtues of the mind alone, acquired an extenfive dominion over men equally improved with zthemselves in the arts of war and government. They poffeffed, or were believed to poffefs, fuperior conrage and capacity to the rations around them; and this opinion, which should feem not intirely deftitute of -foundation, enabled them to maiptain, by very feeble garrifons, an abfolute authority in the islands of the Ægean, as well as in the cities of the -Afiatic coaft. Their difafter and difgrace in Sicily destroyed at once the real and the ideal fupports of their power; the lofs of one-third of their citizens made it impoffible to fupply, with fresh recruits, the exhausted strength of their garrisons in foreign parts; the terror of their fleet was no more; and their mukiplied defeats, before the walls of Syracufe, had converted into contempt that admiration in which Athens had been long held by Greeks and Barbarians. "But in free governments there are many latent refources which public calamaties alone can bring to light; and adverfity, which, to individuals endowed with inborn vigour of mind, is the great school of virtue and of beroifm, furaithes alfo to the enthufiafm of popular affemblies the nobleft field for the difplay of national honour and magnanimity. Had the measures of the Athenians depended on one man, or even on a few, it is probable that the selfish timidity of a prince, and the cautious prudence of a coun cil, would have funk under the weight of misfortunes, too heavy for the unsupported ftrength of ordinary minds. But the first fpark of generous ardour, which the love of virtue, of glory, and the republic, or even the meaner motives of ambition and vanity, excited in the affembled multitude, was diffufed and increased by the natural contagion of fympathy; the patriotic flame was com municated to every breaft; and the focial warmth reflected, from fuch a variety of objects, became too intense to be refifted by the coldnefs of caution, and the damps of defpair." It is not from particular paffages that we can form an idea of the principal merit of this valuable work, which, we doubt not, will ferve in future as an Hiftory of Ancient Greece, not only for England, but for Europe. The connection of the feveral parts, the ftrong light which they reflect on each other, and the juft arrangement of the whole, prove Dr. G's performance to be the ripened fruits of much time and labour. Amidst the vast variety of objects civil and military, laws, arts, literature, and philofophy, which enter into the plan of this hiftory, each article is treated with fuch perfpicuity and fullness, that, when we confider it apart, we are apt to imagine it the favourite topic of the writer. The flyle varies with the fubject; perfpicuous and flowing in narrative, ornamented in defeription, lofty on great occafions, and affecting in fcenes of diftrefs. Confcious that diction is valuable only as a tranfcript of thought, Dr. G. has not feared to expofe himfelf to the frivolous imputation of inequa lity |