Page images
PDF
EPUB

that the prevailing fentiments of my breaft are compaffion and forrow." P. 47.

By what progrefs in thinking, the author fteps from young la dies to tithes, we are at a lofs to conjecture. But on no fubject has he difplayed lefs judgment than on this. Very far indeed is the actual collection of tithes in thefe days from "increafing (more than in former times) diffenting congregations throughout the country." The growing practice of compounding for all tithes, and the legal commutations for land, being put together, it is probable, that the tithes now taken in kind are lefs by three parts in four (we had aimoft faid nine in ten) than they were a hundred years ago. The peroration (at p. 70, &c.) is very ani. mated; but in the note (at p. 71) the author's demand upon Grand Juries is unlimited and very extravagant.

DIVINITY.

ART. 20. A Sermon preached at the Anniversary Metting of the Sons of the Clergy, in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, on Thurjday, May 5, 1805. By the Rev. Charles Barker, B.D. F.A.S. Canon Refidentiary of Wells, &c. To which are added Lifts of the Nobility, &c. who have been Stewards for the Feaft of the Sons of the Clergy, &c. 4to. 50 pp.. 1s. Rivingtons, 1806,

&c.

On perufing this fermon, we have felt more than ufual regret at having fo long delayed our notice of it. Seldom, very seldom, have we feen fo much vigour and originality of thought, united with fo much eloquence of expreffion, in the compafs of fuch a compofition. Mr. Barker is indeed a moft perfuafive advocate, for thofe whofe caufe he undertook; and gives more grace and frefhnefs, to a fubject annually treated, than an ordinary writer would infufe into the most novel topic. One or two obfcurities of construction, and one or two fentences rather too long fufpended, are the utmost we can object to it, while the paffages which we could cite as vigorous, beautiful, or touching, are almoft as numerous as the pages.

In his general confiderations on benevolence, Mr. B. connects it not only with the chriftian difpenfation, but with the fcriptural character of the Almighty, under the law. In various parts of this introductory divifion of his difcourfe he is luminous and inftructive; but when he descends to the more particular fubjects of his exhortation he becomes much more interesting. The fitua tion of the orphans of the clergy, the character of the parents, the nature of their duties, the excellence of the church, all these topics have been treated continually; yet by the mode of hand. ling they are here made new. Speaking of the orphans, the preacher fays;

"They

They bring with them, I had almoft faid the ftrongest of all claims to prompt and generous relief, that which is feen in the fad and deplorable change from good to evil. Not only are they fatherlefs and poor; not only do they lament, in common with others, the lofs of the friendly inftructor, the beloved and revered protector, but they are brought down from their accustomed place.They have enjoyed the comforts of life, perhaps of a liberal and polifhed kind-thofe comforts are taken from them. Their's is, indeed, a bitter forrow, and a marked and melancholy deftitution; while all went well with them, it is not probable that they were very folicitoufly prepared for the change which has befallen them. It might have been prudent, perhaps, to interrupt their thoughtlefs felicity, and to fortify their minds against the ills to come; but where is the parental wifdom that fhall act with fuch fevere precaution, or where the reflection of childhood, that shall profit by fuch a leffon? It is reasonable to fuppofe that poverty and humiliation found most of them unprepared; their claim to your compaffion therefore is of fingular weight and urgency; they are poor, and they have known better days; they deferve your pity, and want your aid in common with all the fatherless and indigent; and they deferve and want them the more, because they knew not that they fhould ever need them; because their life was a life of hope, and becaufe that hope is gone." P. ix.

We are fenfible that to take pieces, from fuch a discourse, is to mutilate rather than to illuftrate. We fhall therefore cite no more, but content ourselves with adding, that if this paffage be thought good, there are many others at least equal to it.

ART. 21.

A Sermon preached in the Cathedral Church of Durham, July 30, 1806, at the Affizes holden before the Hon. Sir Robert Graham and the Hon. Sir Thomas Manners Sutton, Barons of his Majefty's Court of Exchequer at Westminster. By Thomas Zouch, D.D. F.L.S. Prebendary of Durham. PubLifhed at the Request of the Honourable and Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Durham. 4to. 19 pp. 1s. Payne, &c. 1806.

As might be expected from the name and character of the author, this is a fenfible and well-written difcourfe. Its chief object is to ftate the contrast between the injustice, oppreffion, and venality of the Roman provincial government, and the pure and upright administration of justice in our own country. The injuftice of the Roman governors is particularly exemplified in the conduct of both Felix and Feftus towards St. Paul, whofe cloquence and Chriftian virtues are, on the other hand, justly extolled. There is in the following paffage an elegance, which in. duces us to quote it, though we know not whence the author has taken the defign of his fecond emblem.

"Amongst other emblematical figures of Juftice, she was fometimes exhibited to her votaries with a veil over her face, to.

denote

denote that all perfonal confiderations were to be laid aside, and that every caufe was to be decided only by its genuine merits. She has been with no leís propriety reprefented with the veil torn from before her eyes, attended by Religion, while the fun, thining from above, gilds the scene with his enlivening radiance, and illuminates every thing around: thus intimating, that in the difpenfation of juftice the most reverential awe of the Supreme Being is effentially neceffary, without any dark defign, without any artful concealment. Such a picture is in perfect agreement with that truly elegant defcription in which the Pfalmift has introduced her, as affociating herself with Mercy, Truth, and Peace, united with them in the clofeft bonds of friend hip and affection. But where is this lovely affemblage to be found, if not in this our land of civil and religious liberty? With us juftice is properly tempered with mercy, while the inveftigation of truth, and the prefervation of peace, are the great objects which it purfues with unwearied affiduity." P. 17.

We fee with pleasure à new edition of Ifaac Walton's Lives, as published by Dr. Zouch, announced at the end of this fermon. Long may the author enjoy that fituation which a diftinguishing patron has bestowed, in his and many other cafes, with a view to merit alone.

ART. 22.

The Battle of Armageddon; or final Triumph of the

Proteftant Cause. I 2mo. 26 pp. 1S. Hatchard. 1806. A moft rapturous" Addrefs to the Meffiah," is followed by "Obfervations on the prophecies now fulfilling in the world." Among which obfervations, thefe are the principal: "By which time, according to the Julian calculation, in the year 1848, and according to the full calculation in the year 1866, I have no doubt, but that both the Roman Catholic and Mahometan Apoftacies, and every corruption of real Chriftianity, will be exploded and done away, and the Kingdom of the Mountain, predicted by the prophet Daniel, will be fully established." P. 13. "Thefe confederate powers are to be brought together to a place called Armageddon, which, tranflated from the Hebrew, literally means the deftruction of troops: it is faid to be fituated between the feas, of the fpace of a thousand and fix hundred furlongs, and to be without the Roman empire, or great city." May there not be a country, which poffeffes the diftinguifhing marks, and has never been included in the temporal dominion of the Roman empire, though it contains an oppofition in religious fentiment, and the Proteftants in it have been a fuffering people, which continued a feparate kingdom, while the great Proteftant power, with which it is now cemented, remained a horn of the beaft, which yoke was fhaken off by this power at a very early stage of the reforma,

Pfalm lxxxix. 10,”

[ocr errors]

tion, at the expence of the blood of our holiest martyrs, and which has ever fince continued true to the Proteftant cause?" P. 20.

In the concluding pages there are many fentiments which we commend. The whole book contains fome learning, mixed with much enthusiasm.

ART. 23. Prayers in Time of War and public Danger. 8vo. 6d. Hatchard. 1806.

20 PP.

A fhort advertisement fays, "the following prayers were printed for the ufe of a clerical fociety, and are now published at the request of fome much refpected friends to the fociety."

:

The fociety here mentioned is, we conceive, "the Society for Promoting Chriftian Knowledge and Church Union in the Diocefe of St. David's," an inftitution planned by the prefent exemplary Bishop of that diocefe, and eftablifhed under his immediate patronage. We fhall foon take occafion to notice a fermon preached before that fociety; but in the mean time we are anxious to fay of these prayers that which is but strict justice to fay that they are fo well chofen, and fo judiciously adapted to the neceffity of the times, that, in our opinion, a mere perufal of them is more edifying than that of many well-compofed and really ufeful difcourfes. The adoption of them, whether in public or in private, could not fail to be attended with the most benevolent effects; fince they inculcate the very temper and spirit which the prefent times fo imperiously demand, and without which we fhall probably be deftined to partake the chaftifements which are now fo ftrikingly bestowed upon the nations of Europe.

Some of the prayers are felected from the Collects and Services of the Church, fome from the Scriptures, and one most admirable petition is faid to be taken chiefly from the Sacra Privata of the excellent Bishop Wilfon. One fhort prayer we cannot but extract as a pledge for the truth of our affertions.

"For Refignation to the Will of God.

5. O Lord, fettle in our hearts an unfeigned belief in thee, and an entire fubmiffion to thy will; that, being emptied of all felfish folicitude, we may never be difturbed by restlefs fears and anxieties about events, which are in thy difpofal; but, with holy indifference to mere earthly good and evil, may lay strong hold on thee, and put our truft under the fhadow of thy all-wife and almighty Providence. And grant that, fetting our affections on things above, and not on things on the earth, we may live a life of faith, of fortitude, and duty, through Jefus Christ our Lord Amen." P. 6.

We appeal to every fericus Chriftian, whether thefe are not exactly the feelings which the times demand, and which there

fore ought to be as much as poffible inculcated. The two folLowing prayers for "Fortitude and Patience," and for "Growth in Grace," breathe exactly the fame fpirit, and are equally excellent in expreffion. We fhall earneftly wifh to fee other focieties inftituted, inimitation of that for which these prayers were selected and compofed; and fhall very foon give a further account of the inftitution.

ART. 24. A Letter to a Country Gentleman on the Subject of Methodifm, confined chiefly to its Causes, Progress, and Confequences in his oavn Neighbourhood. From the Clergyman of bis Parif. 8vo. 44 PP. Is. 6d. Ipfwich, printed; Rivingtons, &c. London.

The defign of this letter is to furnish the perfon addressed with anfwers to the three following questions:

"1. What are the real doctrines and principles of Methodifm?

2. What are the caufes of the rapid progrefs thefe fectaries are making in his neighbourhood?

66

3. What are the confequences, good or bad, both in a political and moral view of them, that are likely to enfue from the increase of this feet, and the prevalence of their docrines?"

The first head is by no means fully treated; but under it the author urges fome very strong charges ngainft thofe fectaries with whom be bas himself converjed. Namely, that they pretend, from fecret affurances of the Spirit, to know the precife time and marks, by which the teacher is himfelf called into the number of the elect, and by which his followers may infallibly know the fame;" and alfo, what he exprefsly afferts he had from themfelves, that, after they are thus called, it is impoffible for them to come under the dominion of fin, or incur the guilt of it any more." Of fuch doctrines, by whomfoever they may be held, a found member of the Church of England can have no hefitation to fay, that they are falfe, dangerous, and abomiible. The fubfequent denial of good works (p. 7) is equally frange. Because they could never have purchafed falvation, which certainly they could not, thefe people deny them altogether; applying to works with faith, what is true of them with

out it.

To the fecond queftion, concerning the increafe of the Me. thodists, this author replies, that he thinks them rather decreafing in his neighbourhood (p. 9). He confiders, however, feveral real or alledged caufes for their fuccefs.

To the third, or political enquiry, he does not anfwer fo diftinctly. It is clear, however, that he thinks the political ten. dency of the fect in queftion pernicious, and that he even fufpects them of jacobinifm. The Atrong refemblance to the puritans is not forgotten.

This

« PreviousContinue »