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The truth then of the fcriptures of the New Teftament, the prophecies whereof have been fulfilled, and are daily fulfilling, being as certain as that God is true; there are two inferences from the whole of the argument, which claim our attention.'

For these inferences we must refer our readers to the volume itself, which has undoubted merit. dų ar tesky

Sermons on various Subjects; with an Account of the Principles of Proteftant Diffenters, their Mode of Worship, and Forms of Public Prayer, Baptifm, and the Lord's Supper. By H. Kirkpatrick. 8vo. 5. in Boards. Johnfon.

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an introduction of fifty-fix pages, this author has given a clear and fufficient account of the principles of the Prefbyterians, and particularly of thofe which distinguish them from the established church. We do not often find a sketch on any fubject conveying more information in fo narrow a compass. The grand characteristic feature of this feet of nonconformists will be very intelligibly prefented to our readers by the paragraphs followinged Sign wood sludgang olja berts

• By the word diffenter, in general, is meant, every one who does not conform to the established religion of this country, except Roman catholics. But I mean not to take in every description of men of this fort; there are many I am much a ftranger to, and others, perhaps, of whom I am totally ignorant. By the word diffenter, I would therefore be understood to mean the perfons commonly called Prefbyterians.

Joy These differ not from the church in any point of doctrinal faith, more than its own members differ one from another. There are many non-conformists, who believe all the articles as expreffed in the book of Common Prayer, except thofe relating to church power and governmentaus or bak uch

Praying without a printed, or compofed form of prayer, is not a diftinguishing difference betwixt a churchman and a diffenter. Some of the latter, prefer compofed forms to thofe delivered from memory, or which are commonly called extempore. Nor are the vestments, and forms made ufe of, as standing and kneeling material objections to the established church, with the perions I am defcribinganoite

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The grand diftinguishing difference betwixt a churchman and a Prefbyterian is this; the latter claims a fole right of judging for himself, in matters of religion, he acknowledges Jefus Christ as the fole head of the church; and afferts that no man, or body of men upon earth, have any right to pre

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fcribe forms of worship, or articles of faith, for his obferv. ance and belief: that this is contrary to the fpirit of the Chriftian religion, and to the unalienable rights of conscience, and tends to deftroy genuine piety, and rational devotion.

A diffenter is therefore no more than fimply this: viz. a Christian and a Proteftant, without any one point of doctrinal faith peculiar to him as fuch, claiming to himself a right of private judgment, and the interpretation of thofe fcriptures, which contain the Chriftian religion; and denying the autho rity of the civil magiftrate in thefe matters, over the judgment and confciences of men. On the contrary, members of the establishment entirely give up this principle, and profefs it to be their duty to receive thofe articles of faith, and attend that mode of public worthip, which has been formed by others, and prefcribed by law, though they may differ from their own private creed or they allow (Article XX.) " that the church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies, and authority in controverfies of faith, &c." A diffent from this article I confider as the grand and diftinguishing difference betwixt non-conformists and the members of the established church.'

Mr. Kirkpatrick then difpatches, in a few words, the method of conducting public worship among thefe diffenters.The remaining part of the introductory difcourfe is employed principally in noticing the difference of opinion, which fub. fifts between the diffenters and the church of England, relative to baptifm, confirmation, the Lord's Supper, and the burial of the dead. The friends of the author's fect will probably give him credit for the acuteness of his obfervations, and fuch as think differently, will hardly accufe him of wanting temper, or indeed moderation.

The volume contains eight Sermons. The first discourse treats of the Neceffity of a conftant and fteady Regard to the Precepts of Religion and Morality. Mr. Kirkpatrick infifts, with ingenuity and fome force of argument, that, in the estimation of human actions before God, the greatest regard will probably be had to the habitual conduct and disposition of the mind in the latter part of life, in cafe there fhall have happened, at its different periods, a great change in our moral demeanor. The Sermon on the Sufferings and Death of Jefus Chrift abounds with pious and edifying reflections. The third, on our Saviour's Temptation in the Wilderness, confiders this reprefentation as a vifion. This method removes feveral difficalties, but, in our opinion, not all. The difcourfe is, however,

ever, ingenious. Sermon IV. is on Brotherly Love. V. On Man's Ignorance what Events conduce most to his trueft Happiness. VI. On the fuperior Importance of improving the Mind to adorning the Body. This title is not neatly expreffed. VII. On glorifying God in all our Actions. VIII. Obfervations on the Hiftory of the blind Man that was reftored to Sight by Jefus. This Sermon feems to exprefs more forenefs, in fome reflections on the establishment, than we should have expected from this author, in thefe times of moderation.

The difcourfes, on the whole, are pious, practical, and well written. What follows them, and concludes the volume, is mentioned in the title-page.

The Strangers at Home; a Comic Opera, in Three Acts: as performed the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. 8vo.

Harrifon.

Is. 6d.

THE incidents in this opera are founded on a fimple and natural event, viz. the return of fome captives delivered from flavery, in which they had been confined at Algiers. Many were fuppofed dead, and few expected to return; fo that the fituation of their friends may fuggeft fome interesting fcenes. The general plan is of fo favourable a kind, that our expectations were highly raifed; but the conduct of the author did not fupport them. A feries of inconfiftencies deftroy the probability by which alone we are interested. The moft intimate acquaintance do not recognise fome of these happy ftrangers; while others, who have been abfent an equal time, and fubjected to the fame hardships, are immediately known. Too much is alfo attributed to difguife; and the fituations, in confequence of the changes of drefs only, are fo intricate, that the mind labours, in understanding them, to a degree incompatible with pleasure. The characters are common, and not well difcriminated. The language is neither witty or humorous; the former is fupplied by equivoque frequently fo remote as to require Italics in the closet, and pointed delivery on the ftage; the latter by trite or trifling obfervations. Yet this opera is not without merit. Where the plot is not too intricate, it is lively and interesting; fucceffive incidents awaken the attention; and the poetry is often animated and elegant. If we confider this piece in the light of a pleafing trifle, a vehicle for mufic, we may have examined it too ftrictly; and the faults may not be fuch as to diminish the pleasure of the reprefentation. The audience were of this opinion, probably for the reasons we have given. On

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our board it must have a more pointed trial; its faults and merits must be strictly scanned, and the decifion be made on a careful comparison of the weight of each. The author may properly allege, in arreft of judgment, that he defigned to please only on the ftage; and that, in this trial, he has been acquitted with honour. If this be his plea, we shall at least delay the fentence.

The ftory of the opera would detain us too long, and not be easily understood; fo that we fhall proceed to infert fome short specimens.

The first chorus is most easily detached from the plot. It is fung by the captives, on their return.

• Welcome once more our native land!
Where fmiling Freedom's bounteous hand
Life's fading picture bids to glow
With tints fhe can alone bestow!

'Tis Liberty infpires the lay,

To hail our fecond natal day:

Hail, goddefs bright! by all ador'd;
By thee to more than life reftor'd.'

The first scene of the fecond act is no improper fpecimen of the dialogue; and the concluding fong is pleafing and poetical.

• Laurence. Tell the cook to make hafte, Alice. I like my victuals rather under done.

Alice. You have been us'd to eat your meat rare, I suppofe?

• Laur. Yes, the meat that came to my share in Algiers was very rare, indeed!--not above once a month.

Alice. And how did they treat you, Laurence? tell me all about it.

Laur. They treated me with my board, to be fure-to fleep on I mean; a fcarcity of bread and water; and plenty of ftripes and hard labour. For my part, I had rather pay my own way in Florence, than be treated fo by the beft Algerine of 'em all!

Alice. Pray, Laurence, had your mafter many wives? • Laur. Wives! aye, in every hole and corner of his houfe they ran about like rabbits in a warren!

:

• Alice. And did not you turn poacher now and then, and fnap up a ftray rabbit?-Eh! Laurence?

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Laur. Not I, indeed! I had a much keener appetite for a fat capon.- Hunger is a bitter enemy to gallantry!-Befides, the Infidels have ways of keeping their wives to themfalves, which we have not yet attain'd.

· Alice,

Alice. By making flaves of them! Thank my ftars. that odious fashion does not prevail in Christendom!

Laur. No, the matter is just revers'd' with us: in all Christian countries, the wives keep their husbands in fubjec tion."-But here comes madam Viola!..

Enter Viola.

• Viola. Honeft Laurence, I am rejoic'd to see you once more at home!

• Laur. Thank ye, ma'am !-I am much rejoic'd to fee myself here!

Viola. I imagine you have had a fufficient fample of tra velling?

Laur. Enough to laft me my life, ma'am !

Viola. And what think you of the men and manners where you have been?

Laur. As for the men, the leaft faid about them is the beft; and, as for their manners, egad! I never was treated with fo much ill-manners, by any other fet of people before or fince!

Viola. Laurence, you are released from the chains of a tyrant, just time enough to fee me in fetters!

Rondeau.

• Woman's fate is ftill diftreffing,
Be her lot whate'er it will;
Man perverts her every bleffing

To a caufe of future ill.

If with charms her form enduing,
Nature kindeft care employs,
Man, the gaudy prize pursuing,
Conquers firit, and then deftroys.
Riches ferve but to entoil her;
Like the bee with honey ftor'd,
Her wealth allures the cruel fpoiler,

And dooms her-victim of her hoard."

MONTHLY CATALOGUE.

POLITICA L.

Certain Arrangements in Civil Policy, neceffary for the further Improvement of Hufbandry, Mines, Fisheries, and Manufacture in this Kingdom. By the Hon. A. Fraser. 8vo. 15. Cadell. MR.

R. Frafer, in a very rational manner, points out the difficulties attending every improvement in agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, where the local fituation of a Vol. LXI. March, 1786.

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