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Snell, whose last days of widowhood were rendered happy by the society of so cheerful, kind and pious an inmate!" "There was only one circumstance," observes Mr. Farmer's biographer," attending his situation in this family which, after the deccase of his worthy friends, was the cause of any regret; which was, that the pleasing accommodation which he had met with in

this hospitable abode, free from every domes tic care, was the principal occasion of his remaining all his days in a state of celibacy; the evil of which towards the close of life, when he was left alone, and the cares of a houseestablishment devolved upon him, he severe ly felt, and sometimes, with an air of pleasantry, lamented to his friends; at the same time cautioning those of them in the early period of life, against the like inconveniences. When visiting some of his acquaintance, with whom a younger minister boarded, lie would sometimes say, in his jocular manner, "Don't use him too well: treat him roughly, that he may not be tempted to follow my example." Though this anecdote may appear trivial, and cause a smile, the subject is serious, and is capable of a very valuable improvement. The conjugal state, if entered into with prudence, is doubtless of all others the happiest, and many in the decline of life have had cause for bitter regret that they missed the favourable opportunity for enjoying it."

In this peaceful dwelling, free from all domestic cares, he pursued the inquiries belonging to the profession to which he had devoted himself; and the result he gave in the following order: in the year 1761 he published "An Inquiry into the Nature and Design of Christ's 'Temptation in the Wilderness ;" and in 1761, appeared an "Appendix to the Inqniry." This work passed through three editions. In 1771 he published A Dissertation on Miracles; a work which will convey the fame of the author to a distant age. “An Essay onthe Demoniacs of the New Testament," intended to prove that the persons said to be possessed of demons, were not usually under the influence of evil spirits, but afflicted only with such bodily disorders as had been commonly ascribed to such influence," was given to the public in the year 1775, In defence of this he printed, in 1778, "Letters to Dr. Worthington," who had attacked it with great violence; and in 1783, appeared his last work, entitled, "The general Prevalence of the Wor. ship of Human Spirits in ancient Heathen Nations, asserted and proved." These, with "A Sermon," published in early life, constitute the whole of Mr. Farmer's works. Previous to his death,

however, which happened on February 5, 1787, he had prepared for the press "A second volume on the Demonology of the Ancients," and " A Dissertation on the Story of Balaam." These it was supposed had, in compliance with the strict and peremptory injunctions of his will, been commited to the flames, by his the other valuable papers which had been overscrupulous executors;" with all the result of a long and studious life. They have, however, denied the fact; and there is reason to suppose that the author himself had destroyed them.

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Knowing the conditions of his will, we were surprised when it was announced that some of Mr. Farmer's papers, not hitherto published, were about to be pre sented to the world; and we were anxious to learn by what means the injunctions of the will had been avoided, and indulged sanguine expectations of being pleased and instructed by the promised publication. But we no sooner perused the book before us, than we felt the severest disappointment, and exclaimed with Horace, Quid dignum tanto, &c.

Sixty-four pages of this little volume are employed in biographical memoirs, from which scarcely any thing more is learned, than had been before communicated by Dr. Kippis in the Biographia Britannica. This is followed by a few remarks on some passages in Mr. Fell's let ter to Mr. Farmer, entitled, "The Idolatry of Greece and Rome, distinguished from that of other Nations." These were drawn up by Mr. Farmer, and a short time before his death were put into the hands of a friend, Mr. S. Palmer, the present editor, with a desire that he would publish them in whatever form he pleased. Mr. Palmer, therefore, certainly had a right to print them after Mr. Farmer had ordered all his papers to be destroyed. But they come too late to excite any interest. In justice to Mr. Farmer, the editor should have published them nearer to the time in which the question to which they relate was agitated; and not have suffered any private considerations respecting his personal connection with Mr. Fell, to prevent the performance of a duty which he owed to his departed friend. Mr. Farmer ought to have been immediately vindicated, and the gross misrepresentation of Mr. Fell exposed.

The next paper is, "A Fragment of Mr. Farmer's MS. Treatise on the History of Balaam." This was obtained

from the widow of the late Mr. Dodson, who had transcribed it from the MS. lent to him by Mr. Farmer. The publication of this we cannot but regard as an act of great injustice to the author's me mory. It is, indeed, a mere fragment from which little can be learned; it is a fragment of a work too, which it appears Mr. Farmer had with his own hands de. stroyed, to prevent its appearance before the public. Had he left the whole treatise in a finished condition, his executors would not have been highly blameable, in the peculiar circumstances in which

they were placed, had they chosen to gra tify the curiosity of those who knew and admired Mr. Farmer's writings: but now, after all curiosity had long ceased, the editor cannot, we think, hold himself justified in bringing to light a mutilated part of what, even in a perfect state, the author did not wish the world to see.

The volume concludes with a short account of Mr. Hugh Owen, drawn up by his grandson, Mr. H. Farmer, and a very few letters from Mr. Farmer to Mr. Toms, which exhibit the writer as “a good man and a pious pastor."

ART. IV. An Attempt to rescue the Holy Scriptures from the Ridicule they incur, with the Inconsiderate, occasioned by incorrect Translations; their Mispflication to certain Doctrines, St. by a new Translation of the various con'roverted Pas ages, arranged as they occur in the Old and New Testaments. Illustrated with Notes, eri ical, philosophi cal and entertaining; and prefaced by a copious Introduction, historical and elucidory; including the Opinions of the Ancients on several important disputed Poin's, which manifest the Necessity of a Divine Revelation. By ROBERT TOMLINSON, Eq. 8vo. pp. 391. MR. Tomlinson, the author of this long preface, and of the curious work which it ushers into the world, is we be lieve a very good man, who knows something of Hebrew, and something of Greek, and a great deal of Hutchinsonianism; who is very angry with Deists, Arians, and Socinians, and very laudably desirous of their conversion.

Rightly judging that all the objections which infidelity urges against the volume of holy writ, arise from a want of better formation concerning the genuine meaning of those sacred records, and that all the heresies which abound in the Christian world are built upon misconception of scripture language, our author has adventured to remove objections, and by new translations, and the addition of learned comments, to confound the adversaries of reputed orthodoxy. But previous to this very praiseworthy attempt, we are favoured with a general preface of twenty pages, an introduction of no less length than seventy-seven, and an apologetic preface of twenty more. In these prologues, we have an abundance of old, interspersed with a small portion of new matter. That the antients knew much of science, but very little of religion; that they had some notion of the being and perfection of one supreme God, but no notion of the Hutchinsonian Jehovah Aleim; that Theodosius was an atheist, and Epaminondas a brave Theban general; that Simonides was puzzled with Hiero's question; and Canute the great reprov.

ed the flattery of his courtiers, are things well known, and, we believe, generally acknowledged; but it was for Ir. Tomlinson to discover, that any thing deserving the name of chymistry was known by the Egyptians, several hundred years prior to its being known in Europe; that the whole city of pagan Rome was deyout; that our Henry V. was a “pious king;" and that Henry IV. of France was truly excellent, either in his "faith" or "practice." But notwithstanding these, and many other similar inconsistencies, many thoughts occur, often strangely expressed indeed, but deserving of consideration from those who deny the value of the sacred writings, and discovering much piety in the author.

Of the execution of the principal part of this work, we shall let our readers judge for themselves, from one or two short specimens.

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with that earnest, eager joy, by which a man expresses himself when he has, with much pains and attention, accomplished or obtained something, that he most earnestly desired. Instance. When Themistocles, the Athenian admiral, deserted to the king of Persia, that king was so exceedingly elated, that "he would frequently cry out, (when he awaked from his sleep) Thank the gods! I have got ten Themistocles the Athenian." So Eve, in a rapturous transport of joy, Kanithi ish eh-Jehovah. I have gotten a person of the very Jehovah! And why this extatic jov? Because she had experienced a state of holiress, and had also felt somewhat of the bit te: evil and the baneful consequences of sin. She therefore longed for that promised Deliverer, who was to come from her seed, that should braise the serpent's head; destroy sin, and him who had the power of it, that is, the devil." Heb. ii. 14. And as she was first

called, a woman; she longed to expe

rience the fulfilment of her new name, Chavah, the manifester, and, that she should behold "God manifest in the flesh," i. Tim. iii. 16. to take away her sins, to redeem her from all iniquity, and that she might be created anew in righteousness and true holiness; and be thereby enabled to live" to the praise and glory of his grace." Ephes. i. 6.

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Gen. iv. 4.

"So did Abel: moreover he caused to be brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of their fat; therefore Jehovah had respect to Abel, and to his minchas he had respect."

Nearly thirty pages are occupied in endeavouring to prove that the term

when used in relation to the Supreme Being, means not to repent, but to appease, to pacify, or to console. And Mr.. Tomlinson thus insinuates, Gen. vi. 6, «Nevertheless Jehovah was consoled for having made man on the earth, though he had idolized himself in his heart. And though Jehovah hath said, I will sweep every man whom I have created, from the face of the ground; from man unto beast, beside the reptile, and moreover the fowl of the air: yet, I am appeased for I have made them.'

Such are the labours which are to rescue the Holy Scriptures from the ridicule they incur with the inconsiderate, occasioned by their incorrect translations!

Before we dismiss this article, we think it right to observe, that Mr. Tomlinsonhas been guilty of a very gross and injuriou error, in confoundig (page 317) Dr. Toulmin, the author of the Treatise on the Eternity of the World, who has been long dead, with Dr. Toulmin, a pro

fessed believer in revelation, and a dissenting minister in Birmingham.

ART. V. An Antidote to Infidelity, opposed to the anti-christian Strictures of Mr. Gibbon Containing Expositions on the Prophesies of our Saviour, on Matthew xxiv. Mark xiii. and Luke xxi.; with other interesting Disquisitions to similar Effect, carefully selected, and enlarged with some original Remarks. By a LOVER OF DIVINE TRUTH. Svo. pp. 162.

THE prophetic language in which our Saviour denounced the impending destruction of Jerusalem, has in every age been misunderstood by many zealous friends of the gospel, and abused by its professed and determined enemies. The compiler of this work has experienced in his own mind "the distressful impression of those injurious cavils," which inadelity is fond of raising from this part of the Christian scriptures, but having been, happily, restored to a sounder judgment, and taught the real import of passages by which his faith had been once so evidently disturbed, "he has felt himself under some claim of duty to cffer, even to the strong bul

warks of the church, his mite of com pilation." He has therefore selected from Doddridge, Gill, Whitby, the present bishop of London, Mr. Kett, Mr. Nisbett, and others, such passages as tend to illustrate the chapters mentioned in the title, and to indicate the divine origin of the Christian faith. This humble performance proceeds therefore from the most laudable motives, and may be of use in pointing out to such as may labour under the delusion from which the compiler has been rescued, those sources of rational interpretation whence may be derived a satisfactory and com plete resolution of all their difficulties and doubts,

III. EVIDENCES OF NATURAL AND REVEALED RELIGION.

Axt. VI. Discourses on theological and literary Subjects. By the late Rev. ARCHIBALD ARTHUR, M. A. Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Glasgow. With an Account of some Particulars in his Life and Character, by WILLIAM RICHARDSON, M. A. Professor of Humanity in the University of Glasgow. 8vo. pp. 523.

THE author of these discourses was during fifteen years assistant to Dr. Reid in teaching the class of moral philosophy at Glasgow; and upon the death of that celebrated professor was appointed his successor. This honour he enjoyed during only one session, being removed by death in the year succeeding to that of his appointment.

The discourses contained in this volume were not, the editor informs us, "intended by the author to be published as they now appear. With the exception of three or four, none of them seem to have been written over by him twice." We are not therefore surprised that the editor undertook the office of selecting from Mr. Arthur's papers such as might do honour to his memory, with much reluctance, and that the execution of that office occasioned much anxiety and trouble. To choose for the public eye what may be most deserving of its regard, from papers which were never designed by their writer for public inspection, is a difficult and hazardous undertaking; and the hand of friendship will tremble as it draws forth from the obscurity in which they were designed repose, the productions which are to affect the reputation of departed excellence. The critic too, if he possess any proper feeling, will proceed through the pages of a posthumous work, destined by the author to oblivion, with great caution; and if he find little to commend, will pass over in silence what, but for its orphan state, he would have felt himself called upon to censure and condemn. He will consider that by an injudicious publication of the scriniorum quaquilia upon which the author would not have risked a particle of his fame, the editor has already performed the least pleasg part of the critic's duty, and exposed the imperfections which it became him to conceal.

We do not mean these observations to be applied in all their force to the publication now before us. It is upon the whole respectable, but is certainly not adequate to the character which Mr. Arthur just

ly bore in the university to which he belonged. He was not a common-placeman; and if little else than commonplace productions of his pen were to be found, the duty of friendship would have been better performed by not bringing them into the world. It is impossible that so large a volume, comprising the result of the investigations of a studious and intelligent mind, though published under the most unfavourable circumstances, should not contain something that is ingenious and instructive; our only regret is that the general character of the volume does not accurately cor respond with what we have heard from able and impartial judges of the author's talents.

The work is divided into two parts, according to the different nature of the subjects upon which the papers are writ ten. The first part, consisting of theological discourses, is that with which we are principally concerned. These discourses are five in number. 1. On the Argument for the Existence of God, from the Appearance of Design in the Universe. 2. Observations by Mr. Hume on the Existence of God considered. 3. The Goodness of God defended from the Objections of Mr. Hume. 4. On the Justice and moral Government of God. 5. Of Evils and their Causes, and of the Systems respecting them. In these we meet with nothing new or striking; but for the satisfaction of our readers we shall subjoin a specimen of the author's manner. In defending the goodness of God, against Mr. Hume, Mr. Arthur has observed-

"It has already been remarked, with regard to individuals, that if any man make an inquiry among all those with whom he is ac quainted, he will find that the generality of them have much more happiness than misery. But the observation of particular persons tion still occurs, Is the remark to be received reaches only to a small extent. The ques as generally applicable to all the inhabitants of this world?

"I believe it will be found, that the appli cation may be made very universally. What are

those events which we hear of with wonder and astonishment, that rouse our curiosity and alarm our passions? Are they those things which are most common, and most correspondent to our own observation and experience? or are they those events which are strange and uncomnion? The answer is evident. We pass by those things which are common without observing them; and we hear of ordinary events without emotion, and even without paying attention to them. Those events only, which are unconinion and unexpected, attract our notice and rouse our attention. What, then, are those things which we enquire after with eagerness, and are interested in when we become acquainted with them? Not, surely, with hearing that men in a certain country are living in peace, enjoying the comforts of domestic life, and regulated without disturbance by wholesome laws. If we heard such an account of any country, we would disregard it; and when we observe things going on in the same order among ourselves, we say we have no news. What, then, is it which we consider as news? It is strange and unusual appearances which we listen to with attention, such as earthquakes, famine, pestilence, war, devastation, and the commission of enormous crimes. Since we consider such appearances as novelties, and wonder at them as things strange, it is evident that they are not the common accidents of human life. They are events that rarely happen, and therefore they strike us with astonishment and wonder when they do happen. In the same manner, it may be asked, what are the events which history records? Is it the peaceful transac tions of civil life, the regular distribution of equity and justice, the progress and inprovement of the arts of peace? No; such a history would never be read. The events which history records, are wars and bloodshed, the dissensions of princes, and the downfal of empires. The transactions that have happened during fifty years of profound peace, are passed over in a single sentence, which only forms a transition to a new scene of misery and carnage, which is described in all its particulars with whatever colouring the skill of the historian can bestow upon it. History, then, does not relate the ordinary transactions of human life. It relates only those events which are uncommon and striking. It is for the most part a register of evils. But this is a proof that misery is not the ordinary, but the uncommon state of mankind. If calamity were the common situation of the human race, and happiness were acciden

til, it would only be the short intervals of happiness that would fill the chronicles of past ages; but since the contrary is the fact, the conclusion is, that the quantity of hap piness in the world has always surpassed that of misery."

The second part consists chiefly of such literary discourses as were read in the literary society, at their weekly meetings in Glasgow college. 1. On Qualities of inanimated Objects which excite agreea ble Sensations. 2. Concerning Mr. Burke's Theory of Beauty. 3. Concerning Dr. Hutcheson's Theory of Beauty. 4. Remarks upon the Sensations occasioned by grand and terrible Objects. 5. Concerning Novelty, considered as an Object of Taste. 6. Remarks on some Objects of Taste that seem not reducible to Beauty, Grandeur, or Novelty. 7. Concerning the Influence of Custom upon our Judg ments in Matters of Taste. 8. On the Arrangement of ancient and modern Languages. 9. On the Causes that have promoted or retarded the Growth of the fine Arts. (These two were formerly printed in a collection of essays pub lished at Edinburgh by the late reverend Mr. Chapman, minister of Kinfants.) 10. Concerning the Study of the ancient Languages, as a necessary Branch of a liberal Education. 11. On the Impor tance of natural Philosophy. (This essay gained the prize given by the society of masters of arts in Glasgow college, at an early period of the author's life.) 12. On Sensibility. 13. Concerning the Ef fects of critical Knowledge in the Advancemement of the fine Arts: and 14. Observations on the Punishment of Crimes: a Letter.

ed through these papers; of which the Many ingenious remarks are scatter. last perhaps is the best. Mr. Arthur was thought to excel in his lectures on jurisprudence; and in the letter here re published, we have a very favourable specimen of his knowledge, and of his principles, in that important branch of science. Many of our readers have, it is probable, already seen it, in the "Anecdotes of the Russian Empire," by the editor of this volume.

ART. VII. The Authenticity, uncorrupted Preservation, and Credibility of the New Testa By GODFREY LESS, late Professor in the University of Gottingen, &c. Tran lated from the last Edition of the German, by ROGER KINGDON, A. M. of St. John's College, Cambridge. 8vo. pp. 396.

THAT English divines may be induced to pay a greater attention to

modern German theology is not the least advantage that seems likely to arise

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