from naming, but which we think ought to have been strong reasons why he should be named. Let not the name of a Paley be suffered to sanctify error; but let us point him out for the benefit of the Christian world, that they may not be led away by the authority of the most acute reasoner of the age, who has laid down a principle (of expediency) which if pursued through all its conscquences is most destructive of true religion and sound morality. Mr. Hall has proved he is not more successful in his appeal to the sober judgment than the feelings; and we confess, for genuine eloquence, animated sentiment, and true pathos, we have read nothing on the subject which surpasses this Sermon.

"Recollect for a moment his invasion of Egypt, a country which had never given him the slightest provocation; a country so remote from the theatre of his crimes, that it probably did not know there was such a man in existence; (happy ignorance could it have lasted!) but while he was looking around him, like a vulture on an eminence for objects on which he might gratify his insatiable thirst for rapine, he no sooner beheld the defenceless condition of that unhappy country, than he darted upon it in a moment. In vain did it struggle, flap its wings, and rend the air with its shrieks: the cruel enemy, deaf to its cries, had infixed his talons, and was busy in sucking its blood, when the interference of a superior power forced him to relinquish his prey and betake himself to flight. Will that vulture think you, ever forget his disappointment on that occasion, or the numerous wounds, blows, and concussions he received in a ten years struggle? It is impossible. It were folly to expect it. He meditates, no doubt, the deepest revenge. He who saw nothing in the simple manners and bland liberties of the Swiss to engage his forbearance, nothing in proclaiming himself a Mahometan to revolt his conscience; nothing in the condition of defenceless provinces to excite his pity; norin that of the companions of his warfare, sick and wounded in a foreign land, to prevent him from dispatching them by poison, will

treat

treat, in a manner worthy of the impiety and inhumanity of his character, a nation which he naturally dislikes as being free, dreads as the rivals of his power, and abhors as the authors of his disgrace."

The following passage is entitled to distinguished no

tice:

"I cannot but imagine the virtuous heroes, legislators, and patriots of every age and country, are bending from their clevated seats, to witness this contest, as if they were incapable, till it be brought to a favourable issue, of enjoying their eternal repose. Enjoy that repose, illustrious mortals! your mantle fell when you ascended; and thousands inflamed with your spirit, and impatient to tread in your steps, are ready to swear by Him that sitteth upon the throne, and liveth for ever and

ever, they will protect freedom in her last asylum, and never desert that cause which you sustained by your labours, and cemented with your blood."

We cannot, however, take our leave of this excellent Discourse without suggesting, that from the length, and some part of the matter, it is better adapted to the closet than the pulpit: nor have we approved of the intrusion of a few strange words, and turgid sentences, which somewhat detract from its merits.

A View of the Moral State of Society at the close of the Eighteenth Century, much enlarged, and continued to the commencement of the year 1804, with a Preface addressed particularly to the higher orders. By John Bowles, Esq. 8vo. pp. 120. London, printed for Riringtons, Hatchard, Asperne, and Spragg, 1804.

TH

HE zeal and exertions, which this Gentleman uniformly displays, in the cause of religion, virtue, and social order, entitle him to our warmest acknowledgments, We admire the intrepid fortitude with which he steps forward, in seasons of popular disturbance and political errors, to stem the tide of passion and prejudice, to expose the arts of the designing demagogue, and open the eyes of the deluded multitude; nor do we less applaud his efforts to check the growth and spread of vice, especially the fashionable and prevailing follies and crimes.

of the age.

The pamphlet before us professes to exhibit a view of the moral state of society at the close of the last century. The Author has chosen an extensive field, and embraced, as we may suppose, a variety of topics of the greatest importance to the community. His language breathes, as it does on all occasions, an ardent patriotism, the most affectionate solicitude for the welfare and prosperity of his countrymen, which he justly makes to depend on the state of their morals. His preface exhibits a just and pleasing character of our beloved Monarch, who is the pattern of every excellence both in public and private life. Nor is a less tribute of our approbation due to him for his observations upon the conduct which is expected from an Heir Apparent, as well as the perfectly delicate and respectful language in which his sentiments are conveyed upon this tender subject. We agree with him "the

present

present are no times for flattery. The nation stands in urgent need of all the aid which can be afforded by religion and virtue, by good example and good morals.' After a beautiful exordium, in which he dwells at some length on the grand divisions of time, and particularly the period of a century, which has so powerful a tendency "to excite the sinner to reflection, and ought to be a season of great religious and moral improvement," he proceeds to develope the principles, and paint the practical effects of modern philosophism in colours which we do not think too highly charged. His language is peculiarly nervous, and animated on this point, but surely not too strong, when we look back and survey the scenes of horror which have afflicted the civilized world, and the series of crimes, which are the natura and necessary fruits of the principles of the New School The luxury of the age is the next object of his animadversion, which has lent its aid to the success of infidel principles. The crimes of adultery, a lukewarmness in religion, the declining force of conscience, the specious pretensions to candour, liberality, and moderation, the visible decay of prudence, temperance, fortitude and justice attract his particular notice. "Humility, gratitude, and the congenial virtue of fidelity are evidently on the decline." Among the causes of depravity, he reckons a manifest relaxation in habits of industry, regularity, and punctuality, the keeping of late hours, the contempt for the external appendages which distinguish the various classes of society. Under this melancholy aspect of general depravity, he calls upon men of all ranks and professions to rouse their best energies, and exert themselves in a cause, on the issue of which so much depends. The friends of religion, of virtue, and of social order. throughout the Christian world, should

form

form from this moment a grand association for the preservation of those inestimable blessings. He enlarges on the value of religion, as the main pillar of society, the practice of virtue, the controul of the passions, and the regulation of the desires. As a further and necessary means of producing a general reformation, he directs our attention to the systems of public education, and complains of the bad lessons and bad examples at home, the neglect of the Lord's day, the prodigious number of public houses, and the deleterious practice of drinking ardent spirits, which is certainly an evil of such magnitude as to threaten the destruction of civil society. One distiller we know pays fifty thousand pounds a year tʊgovernment for duty only. The ravages committed by this practice fall, we believe, at the present day only short of those we hear of the yellow fever in the West Indies, There is no subject, we are persuaded, in all its bearings more deserving of the serious attention of our governors. Mr. Bowles sums up and concludes his observations with a pious and affectionate exhortation; he adverts to the only means left us of our deliverance and preservation from impending dangers in the following strain.

"What course have we to pursue, but to endeavour, by sincere repentance, by deep humility, and by a thorough amendment, to conciliate the favour of that All Powerful Being, who like an affectionate father corrects in love, and punishes in mercy; and thus to seek, what happily we have reason to hope we may yet obtain, the aid of an Almighty arm. Let then the awful warning, which from all sides is now sounded in our ears, excite us to the most serious reflection; let the severe chastisement with which we are now visited, inspire us with heartfelt compunction for the impiety and the vices which have drawn down such judgments on our heads, and make us to loath, and for ever to abjure, those irreligious systems, and Fol. I. Churchm. Mag. Jan.

H

those