1 evil. We know that God existed before fin, that he could have prevented the being of fin-tha he hates fin, and will feverely punish it-and yet fin has been in the universe thousands of years, and will continue there for ever.--How great difficulties are here? What queftions may be, and have been, raised? But filence is our duty. God hath not revealed the method of refolving them; yet is certainly able to do it, and will, when his own glory requires it. To Him we therefore leave it: we believe what he reveals, and no more is required of us. "The fame may be faid of the nature of the Divine Existence— We believe the Unity and the Trinity, on the most fatisfactory evidence; the modus of the Divine Being, it will be time enough for us to know when he discovers it. "I am aware that this way of referring things to God, is ridiculed by many; but have they found a better? Themselves practise it in a thousand inftances, when they come to be the ne plus ultra of their understandings. And where they reduce truth to their own comprehenfions, they seem to have little reafon to boast the advantages they gain thereby. Unitarians and Arminians are as much divided in their opinions, as Trinitarians and Calvinifts." P. 15. When he gives rules for prayer, (p. 61) he feems, indeed, virtually to condemn that extemporaneous method which he intends to recommend. The chief part of the faults against which he warns his readers are incident only to that method, and appear quite intollerable. His Appendix is a felection of paffages from other authors, on subjects connected with thofe of his book. We cannot approve Mr. R. Robinfon's exordium, which he quotes at p. 89. On the whole, however, we commend his book, as fenfible, prudent, and written in the spirit of genuine piety. How the first edition escaped our notice we know not. ART. 31. A Sermon preached in the Parish-Church of Chesham, before the Grenadier Company of the First Regiment of Bucks Volunteers, on Sunday, the 12th of Auguft, 1804, in confequence of Colours having been prefented to the Regiment, on Wednesday, the 8th of the fame Month to which is prefixed, the Prayer of Confecration. By the Rev. John Simpson, Curate of Chefham. 8vo. 22 pp. 1s. Ebers. 1804. Very little matter is contained in this Sermon; fo little indeed, and fo perfectly undiftinguished from the commoneft reflections of any pious and loyal mind, that we cannot exactly see why the press should have been employed to multiply copies of it. The prayer is pious and proper; making no more of the confecration than may fairly be allowed, a request that God will be the defender of those who fight in a good cause. ART. 32. Three plain Reafons for the Practice of Infant Baptifm. By Edward Pearfon, B.D. Rector of Rempftone, Nottinghamshire. 12mo. 38 pp. 6d. Hatchard. 1805. Mr. Pearfon feems to hold opinion with those who think that a few ftrong reafons are better than a multitude. They are certainly more eafy easy to be retained in memory; and if they are conclufive, it is manifeftly fuperfluous to heap others upon them. The three reafons for Infant Baptifm here adduced, are thefe; firtt, "Because Infant Baptifm among Chriftians, is correfpondent to infant circumcifion among the Jews"; fecondly, "Becaufe it is highly probable, that Infant Baptifm has been practifed by the generality of Chriftians ever fince. the days of the apostles"; thirdly, "Becaufe, fuppofing the practice of Infant Baptifm to be an error, it is an error on the fafer fide". Each of thefe arguments is expanded in the tract by very clear and convincing illustrations: with refpect to the first, in particular, it is made extremely plain, that whatever arguments are used against Infant Baptifm, which is not exprefsly enjoined in fcripture, would, if admitted, be equally valid against infant circumcifion, which certainly was fo enjoined. We rejoice to fee that Mr. P. is pursuing the fame method with fome other important subjects. ART. 33. Chriftian Intrepidity; or, a Diffuafive from the Fear of Death in the Discharge of Duty; a Sermon, preached in the Parish-Church of Dudley, on Wednesday, the 19th of October, 1803, being the Day appointed for a general Faft. By the Rev. Luke Booker, LL.D. 8vo. 25 pp. 6d. Hurft. 1803. On the very threshold of this publication we fee what much pleafes us, a dedicatory Addrefs to Mr. Parker Coke, conceived in lively and just terms of commendation for his public conduct at Nottingham. Dr. B. expreffes a strong abhorrence of those violations of the freedom of election by which that town was fo much difgraced; and, alluding to the meafures taken by the wifdom of parliament on that fubject, he fays, with great propriety, "on the latter occafion it was truly pleafing to fee that the fiery zeal of oppofition could be effectually regulated by a judicious interference of the civil power; a circumftance which abundantly fhews, that whenever the conftitution is allowed to exert its extrinfic force, as well as to demonftate its intrinfic beauty, it is amply competent to redrefs every grievance that preffes upon the people." The Sermon itfelt contains a fpirited, yet Chriftian exhortation, to all ranks of perfons, to exert theinfelves against the common enemy: and though on this topic it is not very strikingly diftinguished from many others we have had occafion to read, yet loyalty and patriotifm appear fo confpicuous in it, that we are unwilling to continue the accidental neglect, which has made us hitherto filent upon it. The beginning of the difcourfe is that which chiefly recommends intrepidity, from the very appropriate text of Luke xii. 4 and 5. "I fay unto you, my friends, be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you fhall fear: fear Him, who, after he hath killed, hath power to caft into hell; yea, I fay unto you fear Him.” ART. ART. 34. The Manners of the ancient Ifraelites; containing an Ac count of their peculiar Cuftoms, Ceremonies, Laws, Polity, Religion, &c. &c. In Three Parts. Written originally in French, by Claude Fleury; with a short Account of the ancient and modern Samaritans, The whole much enlarged, from the principal Writers in Jewish Antiquities. By A. Clarke. 8vo. 4s. 6d. Baynes. 1805. The original of this work has always been held in the highest eftimation, and this tranflation of it, with various additions, is entitled to great respect and praife. This work was greatly esteemed, and generally recommended, by the late excellent Eishop Horne. We think with him, that it is an admirable introduction to the reading of the New Teftament, and all inftructors will do well and wifely to put it into the hands of their pupils. POLITICS. ART. 35. Letters on the Modern Hiftory and Political Afpect of Europe: exhibiting the Nature, Caufes, and probable Confequences of the grand Contest between Great Britain and France, and the Political Circumflances of the different Nations which compofe the European Syftem. With an Investigation of the Political and Commercial Importance of Egypt, and the Confequences that might refult from the Annexation of that Country to the Dominions of France. Illuftrated with Geographical Obfervations. By John Bigland, Author of the Letters on the Study and Ufe of Hiftory. 8vo. 343 pp. 78. Longman and Co. 1804. We have before met with Mr. Bigland, and have praised him, both as a Christian and as an hiftorian *. We are now informed that he has been for many years mafter of a fehool in a northern county, and has ftruggled in his career with the difficulties attached to a confined fituation of that nature. That in fuch circumftances he should have acquired by study a competent knowledge of written hiftory, ancient and modern, however creditable to him, is much less extraordinary than that he should have qualified himself to fpeculate, as he here does, with great fagacity and information, on the political fituation of the principal ftates of Europe. The Letters in this volume are 16 in number, and they discuss, in turn, almost all the great questions which can be agitated by politicians of the prefent hour. The principles of the author are every where found and patriotic, and his knowledge is furprifingly extenfive. Speaking of the peace of Amiens, and the recom mencement of hoftilities, he fays, "The ceffion of fo many important acquifitions spoke the ardent defire of Great Britain to restore tranquillity; and the actual surren * See his work on our Saviour's Refurrection, vol. xxii. p. 324, and his Letters on the Study of Ancient and Modern History, vol. xxiv. P. 95. der der of the greatest part of them demonftrated the fincerity of her intentions. These are facts which prove more forcibly than any arguments, that it was the determination of government to execute with punctuality the articles of the treaty of Amiens, and to leave nothing unperformed that might contribute to the permanency of the pacific fyftem, of which that treaty was fuppofed to be the bafis. "While things were proceeding in this promifing manner, Great Britain difcovered the existence of afyftematic hoftility in the conduct of the republic, and the uniform tendency of its politics to the depreffion of this country, and the embarraffment and diminution of its commerce. At the fame time, government could not fail of obferving the numerous forces the republic kept on foot, with the military confcriptions for their augmentation, befides its perfevering fyftem of continental aggrandifement, which still continued to operate with unabated vigour. The portentous afpect of this affemblage of circumftances could not efcape the view of the British government; nor could their vifible tendency, and ultimate confequences, elude its penetration. In fuch a fituation, it was time to fufpend the operation of the plan of reftitution, at least until fome unequivocal marks of the pacific intentions of the confular cabinet could be obtained." P. 96. The fingular merits of this worthy author have led fome perfons of difcernment to encourage the publication of two volumes of his effays, by fubfcription; by which means it is hoped that he may be placed in a fituation of more eafe and comfort, and may derive profit as well as credit from the meritorious efforts he has made. His proposals may be had of our publisher, and several others. ART. 36. The Policy and Intereft of Great Britain with respect to Malia, fummarily confidered. 8vo. 2s. 6d. Hatchard. 1805. This is an able and well-written pamphlet. The author begins with defcribing the relative importance of Gibraltar to this country, and proceeds to examine how far the different islands in the Mediterranean might be of confeqnence to Great Britain. After weighing all circumstances, and the peculiar character and unbounded ambition of our adverfary, he draws these conclufions: 1. It is indifpenfably neceffary that Great Britain fhould employ the moft efficacious means to guard against the poffibility of France ever acquiring poffeflion of Malta. 2. It is likewife indifpenfable that Great Britain should establish the permanent prefence of her power at fome fecure and infular po fition within the Mediterranean. 3. That the moft fimple and convenient, and, at the fame time, the only certain and effectual mode of attaining both these objects is, that Great Britain fhould remain in poffeffion of Malta. We have perufed this publication with much fatisfaction, and do not hefitate to recommend it to all who may wish the fulleft information on the fubject which it difcuffes. Rr BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXV. MAY, 1805. SLAVE SLAVE-TRADE. ART. 37. Obfervations principally upon the Speech of Mr. Wilberforce, on his Mation in the House of Commons the 30th of May 1804, for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. By Jé Foot, Surgeon. 8vo. 116 pp. 3s. Becket. 1804. It is impoffible to follow the author of this pamphlet through all his rambling and prolix obfervations. His principal object feems to be to inculcate the doctrine, that the flavery of negroes in the Weft Indies is unavoidable, that their condition is a happy one (he even afferts that it is better than that of any peafantry in Europe!!!), and that the flave-trade, if it can ever be laid afide, ought not, at all events, to be abolished till a time of peace. There are many flippant attacks apon Mr. Wilberforce; but they are, in general, feeble, and fome of them founded in mifconception; as, for inftance, the attempt to convict him of inconfiftency with his own principles, in promoting the refolutions for a gradual abolition of the flave-trade agreed to in 1792, whereas it is notorious that he spoke and voted for an immediate abolition. Neither can we approve of fuch attacks upon any member for expreffions in an unauthenticated fpeech published only in the newfpapers. The author of this pamphlet profeffes to fpeak from local knowledge refpecting the condition of negroes in the West Indies, and afferts (which we hope is true) that they are, in general, kindly treated. He does not however, that we perceive, controvert the acknowledged fact of their being kept to work by the conftant application or dread of the whip. How this would be relifhed by the peafantry of any European country (who are fo much lefs happy than the negroes) we leave to the author to determine. We truft, however, that he is accurate in the affertion that "the population of the negroes is increafing, and with a few, and thofe almoft infenfible changes, the iflands will fhortly be able to fupply themselves within themfelves." Should this important point be afcertained, almost every objection made to the abolition of the flave-trade (at least as to iflands long fettled) will be done away. MISCELLANIES. ART. 38. The Hiftory of Free Mafonry, drawn from authentic Sources of Information. With an Account of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, from its Inftitution, in 1736, to the prefent Time: compiled from the Records. And an Appendix of original Papers. 8vo. 340 pp. 7s. 6d. Lawrie, Edinburgh; Longman and Co. London. 1804. At length we are gratified with a rational hiftory of free masonry, and one which at the fame time ftrongly repels the accufations which have lately been urged against the fraternity. The author very correctly expofes, in his preface, the defects of former hiftories of free masonry ; |