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grace, the sacred poetry of the Hebrews, under the doings of "Thomas Sternhold, John Hopkins, and others."

This tract should have been much fooner noticed in our Review; but, through some accident, it did not fall into our hands till very Lately.

Art. 52. An Attempt to explain some of the Thirty nine Articles, on scriptural Principles. By a Minister of the Church of England. 8vo. pp. 23. 6d. Johnson. 1789.

The editor of this little pamphlet observes, that in respect to the long wished for and much folicited removal of subscription, and conformity to human creeds and articles of faith, we have been in a retrograde state, since the days of the venerable Hoadley, -though the neceffity of fuch a reformation has never been equally held forth, and more generally allowed at any time than the present. He farther informs us, that this Modification of the Articles was sent to him, accompanied by a letter from a clergyman, who had a large family, defiring him to have a few copies printed. The Modification itself is addressed to some respectable names (here suppressed) of his ecclesiastical superiors, assuring them that it is only in the sense here given, that he could, as a believer of Chriftianity, ever again subscribe the articles; and expressing a hope, that his situation, and that of several of his brethren, might fo far excite their compassion, as to induce them to remove these stumbling-blocks of human introduction. As this publication is anonymous, fome readers may poffibly doubt the particular fact. However, it is not be questioned, that there are many upright and sensible minds who struggle with the difficulty here mentioned; and it is very defirable that men of piety and principle (and such we conclude there are), who have it in their power, would employ some exertions for their afsistance and relief.

Art. 53. A Survey of the modern State of the Church of Rome. With additional Obfervations on the Doctrine of the Pope's Supremacy. Addressed to the Reverend Dr. Butler, &c. &c. By William Hales, D. D. Rector of Killesandra, and late Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin. 8vo. pp. 226. 3s. 6d. Faulder. 1789. Dr Hales has undergone the labour of establishing the principal objections urged by the Protestants against the doctrines and difcipline of the church of Rome, from vouchers which the profeffors of that church can neither deny nor evade. But to what purpose has this task been so often undertaken? Where Catholics poffefs the temporal sword*, they disdain to argue; and where they are reduced to this act of condefcenfion, they will not reason closely, nor abide by the result of argument. How can they? It is a vain attempt to argue with men tied up by previous subscriptions and obligations! For near three centuries back, the reformers have been incessantly engaged in controversy with Catholics; but past ftruggles are forgotten, few will wade through old controverfies managed by men who have long been in their graves, and where there are no present triumphs to enjoy. The hostility is therefore renewed by every generation, and Dr. Hales now stands forth as a

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fair difputant. 'Disclaiming (says he) all vague and idle assertions,
her doctrines I have delivered, from the Canons, Authorised Cate-
chifms, and Orthodox Creeds, of the Romish Church, illuftrated by
the conceffions of our opponents themselves, and the most respectable
and approved writers of their communion, and confirmed by the
practice and difcipline of the church through a long fucceffion of
ages down to the present day: and the conclufions from thence, all
converging to one and the same point, I am confident will appear to
be drawn with fairness and impartiality, and, I trust, without any
illiberal acrimony, or abuse." The subject is too trite for us to
dwell upon; but having it full in our minds, we cannot but join
Dr. Hales in
remarking, that the latitudinarian principles which
pervade the writings of some Roman apologifts at the present day,
particularly Mr. O'Leary †, come to us in a very questionable shape.
He must be conscious, that were they translated into Spanish, Portu-
guese, or Italian, and published in those countries, so far from being
confidered as the strenuous efforts of a miffioner zealous in support
of the Catholic cause, they would infallibly be prohibited by the
Congregation of Index, and publicly burnt; and also expose the
author, tranflator, or publisher (if to be found), to all the rigours of
the Inquifition; or, at least, procure them a lodging in the prifons
of the Holy Office, there to confider, at leifure, of recanting doc-
trines, which in some instances we have seen actually adjudged to be
gross error, and heretical pravity 1.' But English Catholics § were
generally, in all ages, a refractory set of mortals. The doctrines
that pass current in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, will not suit their
enlarged apprehenfions; even Catholic teachers, therefore, learn to
be all things to all men, with the farther view, no doubt, of recom-
mending themselves to the protection of a Protestant government.

Art. 54. Specimens of Sermons and Prayers, of a late Divine, for the
Use of the Young. By Edward Hall. 8vo. 25. stitched. John-
fon.

Nothing is more cenfurable, than that injudicious partiality, which fo frequently obtrudes posthumous publications on the public without the author's previous instructions, and even in direct violation of his modest wish, to retire from the world in that humble obscurity in which he has lived. Papers, thus hastily gathered up, and fent forth with all their imperfections on their head," sometimes subject a writer to literary cenfure, whose abilities might have entitled him to no inconfiderable share of applause. This, if we * Page 202.

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+ We add Mr. Berington (Rev. Auguft, p. 146.), whose late tract Dr. Hales probably had not then seen.

‡ In Ireland, however, the case seems to be somewhat different; and this tract, therefore, may be confidered as more particularly calculated for that country; in which a work of this kind, and written, like this performance, with decency, moderation, and candour, may seem more peculiarly requifite, for the support of the Protefiant intereft. In a word, this Survey, &c. deserves to be read by all who pay any regard to the subject.

§ Page 92.

mistake

mistake not, is the cafe with the publication now before us. The discourses bear evident marks of having been written without any apprehenfion that they would ever pass under the eye of the public; and the editor has shewn little tenderness for the literary reputation of his deceased friend, in the uncommonly incorrect manner in which he has printed them. Through all this thick incrustation of inaccuracy, we think, however, that we discover rays of genius and good fense; but these discourses would, doubtless, appear to more advantege from the pulpit, than they do, in their present state, from the press. Nevertheless, as specimens of animation without fanaticism, and of a popular and useful application of a knowlege of the world to the purpose of moral instruction, they merit attention.

The prayers abound with strong expressions of devotional sentiments, but are, according to our judgment, greatly deficient in that fimplic which is the first excellence in forms of devotion.

THANKSGIVING SERMONS continued: See our last.

,

XXIX. Preached in the Parish Church of in the County of Cornwall, April 23d, 1789, the Day of Public Thanksgiving, &c.

&c. 8vo. IS.

pp. 30. Law.

We cannot imagine why this very commendable fermon appears without the name of the preacher, or of the place where it was delivered, unless the author may have thought it prudent, for a season, perhaps, not to be marked as answerable, in whatever quarter, for certain political fentiments which are, we think, very properly introduced into it, as naturally arifing from the subject; and fuch as, in our opinion, must ever be grateful to all consistent Protestants, all fincere well-wishers to the constitutional liberties of this country. Whoever, therefore, is the author, he has our fincere acknowlegement of the general merit of his pious, judicious, and well-adapted discourse.

XXX. The Confitency of Man's Free Agency, with God's Foreknowlege in the Government of the World, proved and illuftrated:-preached in the Parish Church of Great Yarmouth, April 23d, 1789, being the Day of General Thanksgiving for his Majesty's happy Re... covery. By Samuel Cooper, D. D. 4to. IS. Robinsons. The learned author of this discourse, not satisfied with delivering, on the occafion of the King's recovery, a general enforcement of religious gratitude, enters into a metaphyfical examination of the objection which lies against the doctrine of Divine Providence, and consequently against public acts of thanksgiving, from the apparent incompatibility of prescience in God with freedom in man. He solves the difficulty, by denying the absolute contingency of human actions, and maintaining, that every action must arife from some motive, and may therefore be foreseen by the Supreme Being, as the natural effect of a certain cause.

Having established this point, and strengthened the argument by fome new observations, he proceeds, in a strain of animated declamation, to represent the grounds of thanksgiving which the occafion

• In reference, we apprehend, to the Regency business.

afforded, afforded, by describing the happiness of a free people under a virtuous prince.

This elaborate discourse is, in our opinion, much superior to the generality of those which have been published on the subject. Indeed it is not to be regarded merely as a thanksgiving fermon, but likewife as a laudable endeavour to establish, as above intimated, by a new argument, the consistency of God's foreknowlege with man's free agency; in answer to Bishop Watson's objections, delivered in a fermon preached before the House of Lords: -and, fo far, it may be regarded, if we rightly recollect, as a continuation of Dr. Cooper's former discourse on Providence. But, for particulars, we must refer to the fermon itself.

SINGLE SERMONS, on various Occafions,

I. Delivered on Wednesday the 6th of May, 1789, at the MeetingHouse in the Old Jewry, London, to the Supporters of a New Academical Institution among Protestant Dissenters. By Hugh Worthington, Junior. 8vo. pp. 69. 1s. Cadell.

This New Academical Institution among Proteftant Diffenters (which now obtains the name of NEW COLLEGE*) has hitherto given birth to an annual recommendatory Difcourse. Drs. Kippis, Price, and Rees, have preached and published on this occafion. Mr. Worthington, Junior, its present advocate, shews himself, in the Dif course before us, to be a sensible preacher; but we will not do him or ourselves fo great an injury as to quote the instance of false modely with which it commences, as a proof of it. Such a foil, instead of fetting off, is enough to destroy the effect of his fermon, which contains many pertinent and judicious observations, and was, no doubt, well heard by the audience for which it was compofed.

But the part of Mr. W.'s fermon which doubtless afforded most satisfaction and pleasure to the friends of this New Dissenting College, must have been the public retractation of an opinion once entertained by him, viz. that it was unadvisable to educate Divinity and Lay students together in one house. The promiscuous education proposed by this institution has, as far as it respects the Dissenting clergy, been made an objection to it. Some, looking forward to the situation which the young Divinity student is designed to occupy in life, have feared that this expensive mode of education, affociated with gentlemen's fons, will fruftrate the intention, by raising his views above the Dissenting Ministry, or at least that it will prevent his being, what perhaps an humbler style of tuition might have made him, " paffing rich, with forty pounds a year." Mr. Worthington thinks the objection groundless, and so far from having any fears on this account, he is now of opinion that real benefits are to be derived to the candidates for the Ministry being educated with youths of fortune. In the Establishment, these benefits are obvious, for many a poor clergyman obtains a living in consequence of the connections and friendships which he has formed at college; but this cannot happen among Difssenters. Their congregations enjoy the privilege (which every congregation ought to enjoy) of chusing their own ministers. This mode of education, however, may operate favourably in other respects: but experience must determine this. We have only to add, that it is an institution conducted by very able men on the most liberal principles, and we fincerely hope it will contribute to the diffufion of science, and to the practice of virtue.

* Some apology is offered in a note (p. 4.) for giving it this name. • The term College is used, not for the fake of imitating the Establistment, but because the word Academy (applied of late years to every common school) does not convey a proper idea of our plan of education. As to the word College, we think them perfectly juftified in adopting it; nor was any apology necessary. There was, indeed, no other term for them. But this we cannot say of the epithet new. A better, we mean a more diftinguishing epithet, might furely without much difficulty have been found. From Mr. Newtor, the principal contributor to it, it might have obtained the name of Neruton College, or from its belonging chiefly to Diffenters, and originating with them, the New Diffenting College; but perhaps they will say with Pilate, What we have written, we have written.

feared

II. Preached in the Cathedral of St. Peter, York, before Sir John Wilfon, Knight, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, July 26, 1789. By the Rev. Matthew Raine, A. M. Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. 400. IS. binfons.

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The ingenious author has feized the opportunity of an afsize fermon for pleading the cause of Christian liberty. He has fixed on a passage for his text, which is very pertinent to his design: Aas, xviii. 14, 15. Hence, with a pious generosity of mind, he argues against mere human impositions, and urges the removal of all restraints and laws, even such as may be affectedly spoken of as old and obfolete, which tend to lay men under any disadvantages merely on account of religious opinions. It is worthy of remark, that though power and policy may refift the writers on this fide of the question, the latter are always victorious in the use of reason and argument.

III. Preached at the Anniversary Meeting of the Sons of the Clergy, in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, May 8, 1788. By the Rev. Phipps Weston, B. D. Canon Residentiary of Wells, and Rector of Witney, Oxfordshire. 4to. pp. 23. 1s. Rivingtons. The title of this discourse is, The Temporal Promises of the Gospel afferted and maintained, from Matth. vi. 33. It is a spirited and ufeful performance. The preacher pleads with energy, in vindication of the methods of Divine Providence, and alfo in behalf of the charity. He extols, with some zeal, the merits of the clergy, particularly in respect to public and national benefits, such as, the introduction of Chriftianity, the Reformation, the tranflation of the Scriptures, opposition to arbitrary power, the security of our present happy confitution, &c. The account is partly true, although those who are acquainted with history, well know, that it is to be admitted with confiderable abatements and objections. The institution which occafioned the discourse is highly worthy of attention. Mr. Weston recommends it, in an agreeable and interesting manner, with piety, good sense, and ardour. We hope the collection was a good one, though

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