The anonymous apologist is at great pains to prove that the word umbra muft here mean the impendent boughs; which, with refpect to the nightingale fitting below, may be called a shade, whether the fun fhines or not. True-but what if Virgil's nightingale warbled while the moon fhone, as HE frequently does? In that cafe,' there is no need of ftretching the meaning of umbra beyond its common acceptation. From Mr. D'Ifraeli's remark, that " the nightingale ceases to fing when it is delivered of its young," it might be imagined that the nightingale was a viviparous animal, and that her previous fong was intended to footh the pains of parturition. The female nightingale, however, fings not at all: it is the male who performs that office, as a ferenade to his beloved mate.

SINGLE SERMONS.

Art. 75. Preached before the University of Cambridge, May 3, 1795. By John Mainwaring, B. D. 4to. Is. 6d. Cadell jun.

and Davies.

This discourse is pointed against that fceptical philofophy, which has of late years made fuch rapid progrefs as to excite general alarm among the friends of established inftitutions. The author attempts to prove that natural philofophy and popery are offsprings of the fame common parent, the fpirit of antichrift, and are diftin&t parts of that mystery of iniquity which God has permitted to fpring up in his church The abfurdities of the Romish church, particularly its bigotry, fuperftition, and intolerance, having been effectually difcredited by the progress of learning and science; it is obferved that a new corruption has arifen from the abuse of reafon and learning, in the dangerous influence of a prefumptuous free-thinking philofophy. The progrefs of free thinking is traced through the first reformers, (who made a noble ufe of free inquiry,) and the fubfequent proteftant fects, (who, entertaining notions of liberty too refined and romantic, did not admit any bond of union or articles of peace which might hold them together; and confequently fell into animofities on uneffential forms and mere points of fpeculation,) down to a fet of fceptics, who, fervilely copying the abfurd tenets of Zeno, Epicurus, and Pyrrho, determined to overthrow received opinions in religion, morals, and policy, and to substitute the most wild notions, that fancy could invent or impiety fuggeft.

In order to fecure young men against the spreading infection of this philofophy, Mr. Mainwaring warns them against too confident a reliance on their reafoning powers, and exhorts them to enter on religious inquiries with reverential awe, and to be careful that they keep feparate and distinct the respective provinces of reafon and faith. This caution, we own, appears to us to difcourage free inquiry, more than is likely to be permitted by young men whole ftudies have inured them to the accurate exercife of their reafoning powers. Advice more confiftent with the character of an academical preceptor would furely have been; "Examine every propofition refpecting religion, natural or revealed, with the fame cool deliberation, and, as far as you are furnished with data, with the fame accuracy of reafoning, with which you have been accustomed to investigate mathematical truths." Nothing can deferve the name of knowlege but opinions thus obtained.

Art. 76. The Divine Goodness to the United States of America. A Difcourfe on the Subjects of National Gratitude, delivered in Philadelphia on Thursday the 19th of February, 1795, recommended by the Prefident of the United States to be obferved throughout the Union as a Day of general Thanksgiving and Prayer. By Samuel Stanhope Smith, D. D. Vice Prefident and Profeffor of Moral Philofophy and Divinity in the College of New Jerfey. 8vo. Matthews.

IS.

A pleasing picture of the rifing ftrength, wealth, and prosperity of the American States is here prefented to the British reader. The advantages already obtained by the American. conftitution are, as far as collateral report enables us to judge, fairly stated; and a well-earned tribute of honour is paid to the patriotic Prefident of the States. Many ftrong arguments are urged, on the policy of pacific measures with refpect to foreign powers, and on the value of religious principles, and the utility of voluntary and equal ecclefiaftical inftitutions. We fhall copy Dr. Smith's interesting obferva tions on the prefent federal government:

This government contains an admirable balance of liberty, and of energy. Refting on the free election of the people in all its departments, and fupported only by their attachment, there refults the highest fecurity that their happiness will be cherished, and their rights protected. But as a fingle republic is not calculated to act with promptnefs and vigour over an extenfive territory, this defect is remedied by the union of many diftinct and fovereign ftates in one political fyftem. Each state is calculated to maintain and promote the intereft and felicity of its own citizens-the general government protects and defends the whole. The general government, like the heart, diffures the vital principle through every member. But if it acted alone, this current would flow with a languid motion to the remoter parts; the re spective states therefore, like the vigorous muscles of an athletic body, affift to propel it, with warmth and force, to the most diftant extremities.

Happy, under this admired frame of policy, the principal evils against which we have to guard are those of confolidation, and thofe of divifion. Confolidation would end in tyranny-and divifion would expose us to destructive and perpetual wars. To the former of thefe evils, we are perhaps lefs exposed than to the latter. The influence, the interefts, the vigilance, and, I may fay, the pride of the individual ftates, are our fecurity against it. Divifion is a calamity which we have more reafon to fear. And I fee, with infinite regret, that obftinate factions are beginning to be formed. To what degree they may proceed in decompofing and diffolving the prefent harmonious fyftem can be known only to God, and to pofterity. But, next to flavery, I deprecate its diffolution as the worst of evils. If we would effectually guard against it, we ought to be no less cautious of weakening the federal government, than vigilant against the infidious approaches of tyranny. On this fubject the Amphictyonic confederacy in Greece affords us an inftructive example. The jealoufy of the ftates which compofed that league, gradually detracted from its authority, till at length it was deprived of the power neceflary for the

general

general intereft. Ambitious demagogues, that they might acquire influence at home, impelled the people to refift its decrees. The council of Amphyctions was at length diffolved by the contempt into which its authority had fallen. It was re-united only on particular emergencies by fome common and imminent danger that threatened Greece. Then you might fee it a theatre of rafh and hasty treaties, made and obferved with Macedonian faith. Cemented for a moment by fear or by intereft, they were always broken by caprice or by intrigue. The ftates which compofed it were engaged in perpetual wars; and, finally, it became the tool of a tyrant by whom they were fucceffively enslaved. Such, alfo, are the unhappy confequences which I anticipate from a diffolution of our union. We fhall become of one another, the fport of foreign intrigue, and at last, perhaps, the victims of foreign ambition."

Art. 77. Preached at St. Peter's, Exeter, at the Lent Aflizes. In 1788. By the late Rev. Samuel Badcock. 4to. 15. Richardfon. 1795.

Like every thing that comes from the pen of the ingenious but unfortunate author, this difcourfe is well-written rather 100 well: properly, however, calculated for a rational audience, fuch as we may fuppofe that to have been before which it was delivered. Indeed most of Mr. B.'s compofitions were, as Hamlet fays, " Caviere to the general"-Poor B.! once our pleafant affociate and correfpondent! too early loft!-Such a man, " take him for all in all," furely merited a better fate!

Art. 78. Preached before the University of Cambridge, May 29, 1795. By Edward Pearfon, B. D. Fellow of Sidney Suffex College, Cambridge. Svo. 6d. Deighton.

A difcourfe is here prefented to the public, which very feasonably and judiciously inculcates difcretion in executing plans of reformation. The author appears to be an honest friend to the caufe of freedom, and to be fincerely defirous that the diforders which have crept into fociety fhould be corrected, and that its benefits fhould be as univerfally extended as poffible. He admits that improvements may be made, and confequently laudably attempted, in any particular form of government: but he wishes to convince reformers of the impracticability of establishing any form, which aims at once at perfection, without regarding existing circumftances; and he is more etpecially defirous of guarding them against attempting fudden and violent al terations. The necefity of proceeding gradually, in effecting any fcheme of reform, is well illuftrated by an appeal to the English hif tory at the periods of the ecclefiaftical reformation, the civil wars of the last century, and the restoration; and by a brief retrospect of the affairs of France.

*The editor publishes this difcourfe as the last which the esteemed and lamented writer compofed, or delivered from the pulpit. We have no doubt of its authenticity. Mr. Badcock died, at about the age of 39, on the 19th of May, 1788, in London, at the house of his faithful friend and patron Sir John Chichester.

Nothing

Nothing can reafonably he objected to the author's plan of popular inftruction, except perhaps that it is too limited. There feems to be no fufficient reason why the people should not be instructed in the general principles of politics, which are in truth a branch of morals; and with which it is abfolutely neceffary that they fhould be acquainted, before they can be properly qualified to discharge their duty as

citizens.

Art. 79. The Folly and evil Tendency of Superftition expofed: fuggefted by the late Confecration of Colours in various Parts of this Kingdom. By Samuel Lowell. Svo. IS. Crowder. 1795:

The reader will find in this fermon a warm attack not only on fuperstition in the abstract, but on what the author judges to be the predominant fuperflition of the prefent times. The ceremony of confecrating colours engages only a fmall portion of the preacher's attention he expatiates more largely on the fuperftitions which he conceives to be incorporated with all religious eftablishments, and particularly on those which he finds in the church of England. The difcourse is written in a style of familiarity approaching to coarsenefs; and the author's general obfervations are illuftrated by particular facts and anecdotes, fome of which could fcarcely have been delivered without exciting a fmile. The Diffenters are perhaps fomewhat too univerfally exculpated from the charge of fuperftition; and the legislation of this country is too rudely attacked on account of the ftill defective ftate of religious toleration. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that there is much truth in the author's obfervations; and he is entitled to commendation, if not for the bluntness, yet for the honesty, with which he inveighs against a propensity which, in all ages, has been productive of innumerable mifchiefs.

Art. 80. The Enjoyments of a future Life, and the true Notion of Chriftian Purity: preached in the Chapel of the Magdalen Hospital, on Wednesday April 22, being the Anniverfary of the Inftitution. By Samuel Lord Bishop of Rochester. 4to. IS. Robfon.

Much pains have of late been taken by fome of the zealous defenders of the orthodox faith, to fix on our modern Christian heretics the charge of leaning towards Mohammedifm. The Bishop of Rochester, who has fometimes urged this accufation, with no fmall degree of vehemence, against the Unitarians, may perhaps be in fome danger of having the charge retorted on himself for the doctrine which he has advanced in this difcourfe. Does not the Chriftian preacher, it may be asked, approach the verge of Arabian fenfuality, when he teaches that the Christian heaven will afford certain exquifite fenfations of delight, produced by external objects acting upon corporeal organs?' Yet this is the doctrine of the prefent difcourfe; and this notion the Bishop infers from the general doctrine of the refurrection of the body, and from his own peculiar interpretation of 2 Cor. v. 10. In order, however, to prevent any fenfual abufe of this doctrine, his Lordship adds that the corporeal pleasures of the bleffed will be the fame in kind-far inferior, doubtless, in degree, with those which are enjoyed by the human nature in our Lord.' On this limitation he grounds an exhortation to moral purity, especially in the government of the fexual appetite: whence, by an eafy tranfition, he paffes to the com

mendation

mendation of inflitutions for the purification of public manners, particularly of the Magdalen Hofpital, in favour of which he is an eloquent pleader. The fermon is written with that ingenuity of thought and command of language, by which the writings of Bishop Horsley are always distinguished.

Art. 81. Jacob in Tears. Preached Feb. 19, 1786, on Occafion of the Death of Mr. Jofeph Treacher, Feb. 7. preceding, in confequence of wounds he had received from Ruffians, Jan. 7. preceding. By Charles Bulkley. 8vo. 6d. Johnson. 1795.

An advertisement annexed to this fermon informs us that it is published at this diftance of time after it was preached, on account of its connection with the author's Notes on the Bible, now preparing for the prefs. Independently of this circumftance, we find in the fermon itfelf a fatisfactory reafon for its publication; which is, that it is too good to be loft. The flory of Jacob weeping for Jofeph, whom he fuppofes to have been killed, is ingeniously illuftrated, and judiciously applied to the purpofe of practical instruction. The doctrine of a future ftate is hewn to have been the fupport of good men in the heathen, as well as in the Chriftian, world. A pertinent improvement is made of the difafter which gave occafion to the fermon; and the whole is written in a clear, animated, and energetic style.

Mr. Bulkeley, to whom the public has formerly been indebted for many valuable works, publishes, with this fermon, propofals for printing by fubfcription, in three large volumes octavo, Notes on the Bible; to which will be added, an index of principal matters, with an arrangement of authors under the feveral claffes of Heathen, Jewish, Catholic, and early Chriftian Writers: price to fubfcribers, one guinea.

CORRESPONDENCE.

A letter from the Librarian at Ayr, N. Brit. complains that he has not received, from the bookfeller, the Appendix to our Sixteenth Volume. We have no concern in the periodical circulation of the Numbers of our work: when they iffue from the press, our task is finished. The bookfellers of Edinburgh, we prefume, are the proper perions to whom our Correfpondent thould apply on this occafion. Mr. Creech, who is not unfriendly to us, will no doubt execute any commiffion from the Library at Ayr.-N. B. The Appendix to Vol. XVII. is likewife published.

I+ A letter directed by the Editor of the M. R. (per penny post) as defired, to Mr. Bn, of Lincoln's Inn, has been returned by the Poft-office with a — "No such person to be found according to the direction.” We therefore take this mode of faying, that we are forry that we are not able to communicate to Mr. B. the addrefs which he folicited.

+*+ Dr. Macknight's new literal tranflation of the Apoftolical Epistles will appear in our next Number.