some instances this enthusiasm of grateful feeling has been carried to a pitch almost bordering on impiety. In the passage above quoted, Mr. Poulter is, in our opinion, very reprehensible for calling the subject of his praise a martyr. This surely is too sacred a term to be applied, at leats in a church, to any other than strictly religious characters who have suffered in the cause of Christianity. Lord Nelson was in every respect a hero, and one of the greatest that ever adorned this or any other country; but he cannot be called, except by a very bad perversion of language, a martyr. Mr. Poulter continues his panegyric to an extraordinary length, and scruples not to bestow upon his favou rite subject every quality of saintship. It is only difficult to say," he observes," which most prevailed, his service to his country, in other words, his duty to his neighbour, or to his God." We are aware that we stand upon tender ground in objecting to such passages delivered on so delivered on so glowing and interesting an occasion. But we have a duty to perform, above that of sacrificing to popular feelings or popular prejudices. Before a dignified clergyman undertook to bestow such an eulogy in a cathedral, and especially before he sent his discourse to the press, he ought to have been assured that his panegyric was in every part strictly just. Let us praise heroes as they merit; but no farther. Let their country pay all due honour to their memories, and be just to their posterity for their sakes; but let us not overstep the sacred boundaries of religious faith, by ascribing to them more virtues than they really had, or by representing them as persons possessed of absolute perfection. To the second discourse (Joel xi, 12. "Therefore also now saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning,") we have not the same objections, as lie justly, in our opinion against the first: though even in this the preacher enters too much into particular politics. His encomium, in a note, on that pre-eminent statesman Mr. Pitt is entitled to praise. Fol. X. Churchm. Mag. April 1806. Rr A Sermon 4 Sermon preached in the Church of St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster, before the Governors of the Benevolent Institution, established for the Purpose of delivering poor married Women at their own Habitations, on Sunday, March 9th, 1806. By GEORGE ISAAC HUNTINGFORD, D.D. F. R.S. Warden of Winchester College, and Bishop of Gloucester. 4to. pp. 24. T HE subjects treated of in this learned and eloquent discourse are, 1. On vitality in general; 2. On the Mosaic account of man's creation; 3. On the fall, and its consequences as they affect our species; 4. On the continuation of the human race; 5. On the moral advantages to be derived from physical evils; 6. On Christianity as beneficial to society; 7. On improvements in art; 8. On the utility of this institution. It will readily be conceived that as so many points are proposed for consideration, the discussion of each must necessarily be brief. Notwithstanding this conciseness, the reflections of the learned prelate on each head of his discourse will be found always perspicuous and striking, and oftentimes novel. We shall content ourselves with giving a few extracts; and the first shall be on the Fall of Man, and its consequences: "Corroborated by proofs of daily occurrences," says the bishop, "is another relation made by the Sacred Historian. On the first woman, and in her, on the generality of those who should come after, was pronounced this sentence: "In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children." That from Eve to her latest posterity, this infliction has been widely extended and painfully continued, the experience of mothers is hourly testifying. And in how bitter sufferings, we may collect from the usage of heathen and sacred writers, who when they would convey an idea of acute anguish, compare it to the pangs of a woman in travail.† "That from two, and only two, original parents, descended the whole race of mankind, is what we are to infer from the book of Genesis.The deducing of all generations, which have since existed, from this simple beginning, is attended with no difficulty in the minds of those who have observed with what astonishing rapidity and increase the progress of population advances: and Gen. iii. 16. † Hom. Il. 11. 269,---Ps. xlviii. 5. it is also much more consonant with reason and analogy, than to imagine God, without necessity, would at once place in the world many progenitors, all complete in stature and bodily endowments. For, in genuine philosophy, it is a leading principle, "that more causes ought not to be admitted, than are sufficient for explaining appearances." "Nature, i. e. the established order of Divine Providence, is simple, and abounds not extravagantly in superfluous causes of things." From diversity either of climate, or food, or employment; or from the operation of other external and adventitious circumstances, there certainly obtain very striking varieties between people who inhabit different quarters of the globe. Still, however, as human bodies in all parts of the universe resemble each other in having the same characteristic properties of internal structure, which discriminate man from brute, those human bodies clearly belong to one and the same species. St. Paul, who was deeply read in profane and sacred literature, could not be unacquainted with several of those varieties. Yet, with evident allusion to Mosaic History, he introduces his discourse before an inquisitive and civilized people, with an assertion, that God "out of one blood!" made all nations. The same apostle considers Adam individually taken, as the fœderal representative of mankind, through whom, on account of sin, came "judgment unto *condemnation" upon the human race which descended from him. And Eve also he mentions as the first woman, through whose transgression sorrow hath been entailed upon her daughters." On the continuation of the human race, and the scheme of redemption, the learned prelate observes: "In all his dispensations, God tempers judgment with mercy. The fall of man was no sooner permitted, than a remedy for it was provided. The divine counsel was not openly revealed: intimation, however, was so far conveyed, as to give our first progenitors reason to hope there would be* forbearance and mercyin God. The seed of the woman was to bruise the serpent's headt. We who are acquainted with the wonderful and gracious plan of Redemption, are assisted by the light of the Gospel in comprehending that prediction. All that was forfeited through the malignity of the Devil, was to be regained by the power and perfect holiness, the death, resurrection, mediation, and intercession of Christ the Lord. "In the fulness of time," he was to * See Newton's Principia, p. 357 in the Amsterdam Ed. of 1723. →→ See "Introduction to a Voyage to the Pacific Ocean." Vol. 1. P. lxxiv. lxxv. On Peopling of the Earth. + See Forster's "Observations made during a Voyage round, the World;" Ch. 6. S. 2 and 3. p. 227.—256. &c. Acts xvii. 26.- * Rom v, 12--18.-1 Cor. xv, 22. Tim. 11 14. * See Sherlock's 3d Disc. on Prophecy, p. 66.†Gen iii. 15.————† Gal. *Gal. iv. 4. to become Man; and as such to be born of a Woman. The sentence of condemnation was immediately pronounced on the act of disobedience; but the execution of that sentence, in pity, and for reasons of divine wisdom, was for some years deferred. The stroke of temporal death was not inflicted, till from the Parents of Mankind had proceeded an offspring, through whose descendants not only the earth was to be peopled, but what would be of infinite moment to the human race, Messiah was to be derived, The Advent of Messiah was to be followed by the establishment of his pure religion, in opposition to the foul works of sin and satan; and " ages to come" were to know, see, and feel the abundant mercy of God's grace and kindness towards mankind, "through Christ Jesus." The accomplishment of this plan involved in it the existence of successive generations; and the existence of those generations implied the preservation of the human species. The human species has accordingly been preserved many thousand years; and that it might be preserved, there has been maintained a very remarkable and near proportion between the births of male and female children; a circumstance which can have resulted only from the appointment and direction of divine care for the race of mankind."† for The following is a very ingenious and lucid dissertation on the modern improvements in art, and the appli cation to purposes of benevolence. If a comparison were instituted between the ancients and moderns on the question of intellectual superiority, the ancients might claim the preference for inventive genius; the moderns for experimental improvement. The arts and sciences have been so thoroughly investigated, and are so well understood, that the enlarged portion of knowlege attained in every department, by those who cultivate them, may be considered as an accumulation of experience, derived through a series of preceding years, and combined into a system by artists and professional men of the generation now existing. It is a source of gratulation to individuals and the public, that the medical art more especially, in all its various branches, has been examined with so deep insight, and is practised with so great and happy success in this kingdom. Such proficiency has been made in whatever relates to cases of parturition, that the mortality, which was accustomed to be in the proportion of one to eighty, is now in the proportion of one to a thousand. Charitable institutions of different kinds have contributed not a little to the increase and the diffusive communication of skill: and thus, if it were only on account * Eph, ii. 7.- --† See Sermons preached at Boyle's Lectures by BentJey; S. 3. p. 27. vol. 1. Fol. Ed. of those Lectures, and by Derham, B. 4. p. 626. vol. II. of of this advantage, the establishment of them has been infinitely beneficial. To the glory of this country (for works of benevo lence reflect true glory,) to the glory of this country, be it remembered and spoken, that plans for administering comfort have been conceived judiciously, adopted extensively, and prosecuted steadily, in no nation more than our own: so that fallen on a fair ground is the lot of every person, who is here born." "That wide field of discovery, which has recently been explored by navigators and travellers, has opened to us a view of tribes and communities scattered over various and distant parts of the globe. The descriptions, which are given of them, should not only entertain, but should also instruct us. There are circumstances in savage life, of a nature so wretched, disgusting, and horrid, that the friends of children born in barbarous hordes, might now, as in past ages, flament at their birth, in the prospect of miseries sustained by them. When we contemplate the condition, manners, disposition, usages, and character of unin structed and ferocious people, we should find new reasons for thankfulness to our Creator, that we are natives of a country and members of society, improved by civilization, enlightened by true religion, and actuated by a spirit of Christian benevolence." The discourse coucludes with an energetic and persuasive appeal to the feelings of the audience, particularly the female part, in behalf of the benevolent institution for which it was preached, POETRY AN EVENING REFLECTION. [By the late Mrs. ELIZABETH CARTER.] W HILE Night in solemn shade invests the pole, And calm Reflection sooths the pensive soul; And life's deceitful colours fade away: * Ps. xvi. 7. †See Herodot. 5. 4. To |