Threadneedle Street, London. By Louis Mercier, one of the Minifters of that Church. 8vo. pp. 209. 3s. 6d. fewed.

jun. and Davies. 1795.

Cadell

The old French fchool of preaching, now perhaps almost extinct, had its points of excellence. Among these the principal was, that it made fermons direct and animated addreffes, rather than cool didactic effays. Is it not poffible to retain this excellence, and, at the fame time, to difmifs the cant of mysticifm, and to prune the luxuriance of puerile declamation? The fermons here prefented to the public furnifh a proof, in experiment, that this may be done. M. Mercier treats fubjects, in themselves univerfally interefting, in a most interesting manner; and, in his difcourfes, we fee a handsome structure of eloquence erected on the firm bafis of good fenfe. The political events of the prefent times are more fparingly introduced than, from the title, the reader might be led to expect; and when any allufion is made to them, it is with much temper and moderation. The leading defign of the work is to inculcate a regard to the univerfal principles of religion and morals; and it enforces them with a degree of energy and pathos which entitles the author to the refpectable appellation of a Chriftian orator. The fermons are fix in number.

From these specimens of M. Mercier's pulpit eloquence, we are led to hope that he will meet with fufficient encouragement from the public, to induce him to execute his defign of printing another valume of fermons on various subjects.

Art. 46. The Padobaptift Mode of adminiftering the Baptifmal Ordinance defended. By William Miller. 8vo. pp. 140.

2s. 6d. Matthews. 1794. This pamphlet is a continuation of the author's juftification of pædobaptifm, entitled "Catholic baptifm examined;" fee Rev. New Series, vol. xv. p. 346. Mr. Miller takes much pains to ascertain the meaning of the term baptize, and to fhew that, in the performance of this rite, the immerfion of the fubject is not required; and that the injunction prescribes the application of water to the fubject rather than of the fubject to the water. We cannot persuade ourselves that the queftion can merit, nor that it requires, the attention which has been bestowed on it: but thofe who deem otherwife will thank Mr. M. for the affiftance which he has given them in fettling their judgment on the subject.

Art. 47. Sermons on Practical and Important Subjects. By the late Rev. W. F. Jackson, tried and convicted for High Treason in Dublin, April 23, 1795. 8vo. pp. 239. 4s. fewed. Evans.

The peculiar circumstances attending the latter part of the life of Mr. Jackson, and the unfortunate manner in which his existence was terminated, may poffibly attract fome portion of public curiofity towards thefe fermons. We do not, however, find them poffeffed of fo much intrinfic merit, as to be likely to occafion their being much read and admired. They are written, it is true, with a confiderable degree of animation, and bear fome marks of defultory reading: but the compofition is loofe and immethodical, the ftyle flashy and puerile, and the fentiments are trite and fuperficial. One thing, however, we must say in favour of the fermons; that, whatever eccen

9

tricity

tricity there might be in the author's political creed, in theology he was fufficiently orthodox.

Art. 48. The Miffionary; a Poem. To which are fubjoined Hints on the Propagation of the Gofpel at Home and Abroad. Refpectfully inscribed to the New Miffionary Societies. 12mo. IS. Button,

&c. 1795.

This author ftrongly pleads for a revival of our zeal for promoting the good work of Evangelizing the heathen; and he offers many pious confiderations in fupport of the truly Chriftian defign of multiplying the converts to our holy religion, in every part of the habitable globe, where the harveft is plentiful, but the reapers are few. In the POEM prefixed to the HINTS ON MISSIONS, the amiable character and exalted merit of the pious and intrepid miffionary is highly drawn: but, we are forry to add, the poetry is by no means equal to the height of this great argument," as Milton expreffes himself in his fublime exordium to PARADISE LOST.

Art. 49. Chriflian Knowledge, in a Series of Theological Extracts and Abridgments; affectionately addreffed to Philofophical Deifts, Socinians, Chriftians, and Jews. By a Lover of true Philofophy. Volume the First. 8vo. pp. 400. 6s. Boards. Cadell jun.

and Davies.

1795:

The extracts in defence of religion, contained in this volume, are chiefly made from three works long ago published: the firft, a learned introduction to a book entitled Hora Solitaria, in which the belief of a. Trinity in the divine nature is fhewn to have prevailed in various nations from the most remote period; the fecond, Dr. Scott's Chriftian Life, whence paffages are felected on the divinity of Chrift, his redemption, the folly of atheism, and the proofs of divine providence ; the third, Stackhoufe's Hiftory of the Bible; the extracts from which are on the nature of Chrift, his fufferings, the inflitution of facrifices, and the prophecies of the Meffiah. The paffages from Dr. Scott are abridged, and feveral original notes are added.

Though the prefent is given as a firft volume, the editor intimates that it does not fuit him to exceed the limits here prescribed to his little work but he refers to other writers on his fubjects, particularly Burkitt, Whitby, Doddridge, Bishop Newton, Heylin, Bryant, Addifon, Weft, and Beattie. The Editor's intention is laudable: but we have our doubts whether these extracts will engage the attention of many readers, who are not already inclined to ftudy the fubjects in the original authors; and to fuch as are, abridgments of this kind are of little use.

Art. 50. Six Sermons preached before the Right Hon. Paul le Mefurier, Lord Mayor of the City of London. By George Stepney Townley, M. A. Chaplain to his Lordship, &c. 8vo. pp. 110. 35. Boards. Rivingtons. 1794.

The leading character and spirit of these fermons are political. The principal object of the preacher appears to have been to arm the minds of his fellow citizens against the attacks of modern philofophy, and to ftrengthen their attachment to the English Conflitution in Church and State. The doctrine of equality is combated with more zeal than

7

ought

ought to have been bestowed on a mere phantom: the preacher's notions of liberty are limited, not only within the theory of the British conftitution, but within the practice of the present British adminiftration; and he holds up reformers to public odium, as men whofe purpose it is to inflame the paflions of the populace, to overthrow civil government, and to extirpate the Chriftian religion. Several of these difcourfes were, probably, written under the immediate impulfe of that alarm which fome time ago fpred a general ferment through the nation; and this may account, and perhaps furnish fome apology, for the vehemence with which the author fometimes expreffes himself. The manner in which the fermons are drawn up reflects no difcredit on the writer's talents.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 51. A Word in Seafon; or a Call to the Inhabitants of Great Britain to ftand prepared for the Confequences of the present War. Written on the Faft-day, Feb. 25, 1795. By J. Bicheno, Author of the Signs of the Times. 8vo. pp. 54. 1s. 6d. Parfons. 1795.

Though we cannot find room for a particular statement of the explanation which Mr. Bicheno has here given of Chrift's prophetic difcourfe to his disciples, preferved in Luke xxi. and Matthew xxiv. we must do him the juftice to fay that we have never met with any comment on this interefting part of the gofpel hiftory more ingenious and fatisfactory. The refult of his criticifm ís, that these predictions do not refer alone to the defolation of Jerufalem, and the deftruction of the Jewish polity, but also foretel those calamities which were to afflict the church of Chrift, and the nations, in diftant ages, and particularly those which are to prepare the way for his fecond coming. To this criticism are fubjoined, a long and ferious exhortation to national reform, a full declaration of the author's sentiments on the injustice and impolicy of the prefent war, and a folemn warning to Great Britain to prepare for those dreadful events which the author, by the light of prophecy, fees, or apprehends that he fees, approaching. Mr. B. entertains gloomy expectations, but he writes like a good man, and a true friend to civil and religious freedom. Art. 52. Paffages felected by diftinguished Perfonages, on the great Literary Trial of Vortigern and Rowena, a Comi-tragedy: "Whether it be, or be not, from the immortal Pen of Shakspeare." Vol. I. 12mo. pp. 101. 2s. 6d. fewed. Ridgway. 1795.

Some fatirical wag has taken advantage of the curiofity excited by the alleged difcovery of a hitherto unknown tragedy from the pen of Shakspeare, to convey characteristic fketches of well known perfonages, through the medium of paffages fuppofed to be felected from that drama. This he has endeavoured to perform in the manner and language of our great bard; and his attempt has been by no means deftitute of fuccefs. Of the juice either of his fatire or his praife, we Jay nothing but of the ability of his imitation the following paffages, we think, will afford fome proof:

REV. OCT. 1795.

R

• LII.-Mifs

LII.-Mifs H-TH-M.

"Nay, nay, flout me as you please, I'll keepe my spinster's hemour! what care I, if I am doom'd to dance an ape in t'other worlde! is it not better far, than being chained to one in this ?-Tell me, have I not a warme hufbande in my bags of golde, in value of which the fneakinge fellowes would faine make me a wife?- For this coine of mine, which I knowe how to take care of myfelfe, all men are my moft devoted!-fweare I have more perfonal attractions than the feaborn Goddeffe, and that my circuitous waifte is more delicatelie fhaped than even Dian's girdle-admirable conceits! But I have laughed at the humour of these poor knaves fo long, 'tis no marvel I have grown FAT!"

• LXXXIV.-Mr. M-DLET-N.

"What art thou, memorie, but a rash obtruder ?-nay fell defpoiler of man's fortune! The little fhare of thy retentive facultie I do pofieffe, I will use as warie men do a dark lanthorne, making it visible only to illumine their owne pathe! - For my parte, I'll put a remembrance on no one's wordes-not even on my owne, if it be not my good pleasure. Why should I weare a memorie, like a tablet on a markette-croffe, to make inquifitive knaves as wife as myselfe?-I am well travelled i' th' manners of the East; fo that, would men derive information from me, it must be as from the radiant dial, which anfwers interrogatorie none, unleffe you make the fun, to shine right fmilinglie upon it."

XCII.-Mrs. GR-Y.

"This wedded sparke of mine would make a husbande far more conjugal, if he were a statesman lefs confequential! At times, when I do fondlie interpret the language of a looke, to the gaze of admiration on the perfon he did fweare to love for better and for worfe he dothe my verie foule bechill with some exclamation of " the GENTLEMAN in his eye! -Now quicklie turning rounde, threatens to divide the houfe" with which in wedlocke he endowed me!-Anon he whispers in mine ear fomewhat of a motion he would make ;”—but foone, alack, cries out, I've loft it by the previous question!"— Heaven defende his fweete wittes, and direct them to one faire point of love or politiques, for, in their divided state, I fear he'll mar them bothe!"

Should this ingenious writer continue his jeux d'efprit, we would advise him not to follow his great prototype, too clofely, in puns and indelicate allufions; of the latter of which, particularly, he is too liberal in the prefent volume.

Art. 53. A fecond Addrefs to the Right Reverend the Prelates of England and Wales, on the Subject of the Slave trade. 8vo. 15. Johnfon. 1795.

It is with great propriety that the Bench of Bishops are called to exert themselves in the caufe of humanity; and the author of this pamphlet preffes the fubject, with the fame happy union of earnestness and urbanity which marked his first Addrefs. See Rev. N. S. vol. viii. p. 102. A very Arong paffage is quoted on the fubject from a fermon

of

1

of the Dean of Peterborough; and many juft obfervations are fuggefted, both on the enormities of the flave-trade and the horrors of

war.

Art. 54. Reflections on French Atheism and English Chriftianity. By William Richards, Member of the Penfylvania Society. for the Abolition of Slavery. 8vo. IS. Jordan. 1795.

The general purport of thefe Reflections is to remove the disgrace of having produced atheism in France from the authors of the revolution, by fhewing that it exifted in that country long before, and that atheistical notions are a natural confequence of the corrupt ftate of religion in Roman Catholic countries. Several direct atteftations from different quarters are adduced, to prove that these notions were many years ago prevalent among the literati, not excepting even the clergy, in France. The ultimate caufe, to which this fingular phenomenon in opinion is traced, is the old civil and ecclefiaftical conftitution of that kingdom; the genius of which is faid to have been favourable to atheism, by rendering the very idea of religion contemptible and hateful. In fupport of this opinion, the writer dilates on the enormous violations of humanity and juftice, committed under a conftitution faid to be derived from God; and he maintains that this corrupt system tended to produce, among the unthinking, vifionaries and bigots; and. among the thinking, infidels and atheifts.

The pamphlet is written without referve, and with more force of argument than delicacy of expreffion. We heartily concur with Mr. R. in his leading fentiment, that nothing can exceed the abfurdity of attempting to crush atheism, and promote Chriftianity, by the fword; yet we cannot approve of the vehemence with which he fometimes gives utterance to his feelings.

Art. 55. The Comforts of Arabella, the Daughter of Amanda. 12mo. Is. Johnfon. 1795.

This fmall publication is a literary curiofity-a Socinian novel. The author makes ufe of the vehicle of fiction to convey to young perfons, in an easy and interefting way, rational notions of religion, particularly refpecting the unity and goodness of the Supreme Being and the defign of Chriftianity. As a ftory, the piece has little merit; as a theological pamphlet, it is not ill written.

*

Art. 56. The Wandering Patentee; or the Hiftory of the Yorkshire Theatre, from 1770 to the prefent Time: interfperfed with Anecdotes refpecting moft of the Performers in the three Kingdoms, from 1765 to 1795 †. By Tate Wilkinson. 12mo. 4 Vols. 14s. fewed. Egerton, &c.

* The Wanderings refer to Mr. Wilkinson's annual circuits. + By way of appendix, Mr. W. has given the fecond act of " Di. verfions of the Morning," and "Foote's Trial for a Libel on Peter Paragraph;" both written by Mr. FooTE; and never before publifhed.' We have alfo " a Medley," written by GARRICK, and first fung at Ranelagh, 1762, by Mr. Beard, for his benefit, after he became Patentee of the York and Hull Theatres..