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ties, have been prevalent in almost every land; and the great adversary of mankind has successfully contrived to get the moral taste of the nations Into his hands. Hence evangelical doctrine is methodism, and a life regulated by the gospel of Christ is rigid puritanism. To how long a list might instances of this kind be extended! Of what consequence is it, then, that christians should make themselves masters of public opinion, and give it a decisive tone in favour of every thing that is good.' pp. 18, 19.

The system of education which it is designed to adopt, will form the pupils for usefulness in the various lines of business; and it will be a valuable introduction to more elevated literary pursuits, for such as intend to devote themselves to the learned professions, and a life of study. When you think or speak on the subject, always keep in view the two parts of which it consists, and the importance of the union of both in the scholar. The principles to be taught are infinitely valuable: a life conducted under their influence leads to immortal glory. But if literature be not connected with them, the person will be much less useful than he would have otherwise been, and altogether unfit for some departments, which, when properly filled, conduce in a very high degree to the happiness of man. On the other hand, if learning be alone, if it be not united with good principles, it is a sword in the hand of a madman, who is as likely to attack his friends as his foes: it is a stately ship without a helm or a pilot. The pride of the scholar's heart will mislead him on the journey of life, and he is in imminent danger of employing his talents to the dishonour of God, and the injury of man: when both are united, every thing that is wise and good may be expected from him.' p. 23..

Appended to the Sermon, are the General Plan, and a List of the earlier Patrons, of this infant Seminary.

Art. XIX Human Laws best supported by the Gospel. A Sermon preached in the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, York; before the Hon. Sir Soulden Lawrence, Knt. one of the Justices of the Court of King's Bench, March 6, 1808. By the Rev. Francis Wrangham, M. A. F. R. S. of Trinity College, Cambridge. Published at the Request of the High Sheriff, and the Gentlemen of the Grand Jury. 4to. pp. 31. Price 2s. 6d. York, Wilson; Mawman, &c. 1808.

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IN

this discourse, (from Deut. iv. 8.) Mr. Wrangham begins by extolhing the British Themis, or legal constitution of England. He then notices the reflections that have been cast on the insufficiency of its minute details, and the inefficacy of its sanguinary sanctions, to enforce, among our countrymen, the due observance of social duties. Hence he takes occasion to remark the great propriety with which legislators have "summoned the fear of the Lord in aid of their own denunciations." We were pleased to find Mr. Wrangham cautiously distinguishing the incidental and secular benefits of Christianity, from its chief and eternal object; especially as some of his clerical brethren appear more willing to recommend the religion of Christ, as an instrument for civilizing the barbarous, and regulating the civilized, than to proclaim it as the dispensation of mercy to the guilty. The minister of Christ, he observes,

"Must recollect, that the promotion of civil concord, though one of the most valuable of earthly blessings, is with him but a subordinate func

tion that his primary charge is to pray men, in Christ's stead, to be reconciled to God; and that therefore his foremost exertion in the service of his Great Principal must be, to make his hearers not good subjects, but good Christians-Christians in the peculiar acceptation, in which the name was first earned by the disciples at Antioch; and which still, under a synonymous epithet, honourably stigmatises the evangelical followers of their Lord. In achieving the latter, indeed, he will incidentally have achieved both.

"This will demand a constant and conscientious exhibition of the pecta liar truths, and precepts of the Gospel. To guard the sanctity of an oath, and to protect society from the effects of some of the grosser suggestions of the Tempter, it might possibly suffice funder the lack of nobler motives) to announce a Jehovah ever competent, by his infinite knowledge and justice and power, to detect and condeinn and punish the most secret trangressions. But these misrepresentations alone, however they may imperfectly serve the cause of secular and social duty, will never qualify mankind for their better, that is, their heavenly country. With the spirit of fear, which they are adapted to infuse, and which chiefly acts as a curb to prevent the perpetration of evil, must be combined the principle of love-all-bearing, all-believing, all-hoping, all-enduring love-kindled by a frequent display of the glorious work of Redemption in its whole tissue of causes, cost, and consequences, to animate to the doing of that which is good.

Let us not shun then, in miserable compromise with the sophistries of the sceptic, or the jibes of the scorner, to d clare to the best of our ability the whole counsel of God. What he has commanded us to impart entire, let us not, under the affectation of improving, presume to curtail. There can be no partial reception of the doctrines of Christianity. It must be every thing, or it is nothing."

Mr. W. concludes with exhorting the higher orders of Society, to promote the salutary influence of religious principles among their inferiors, not merely by an exemplary observance of external forms, but by evincing in their whole demeanour a cordial zealous piety.

Highly as we are gratified with the just and pious sentiments of this discourse, we could wish they had been delivered in a more uniformly perspicuous style. The occasion perhaps did not justify that familiar and affectionate and zealous mode of address which we deem especially desirable, and doubt not that Mr. Wrangham adopts, in parochial sermons; but the requisite dignity might, have been better attained by a somewhat philosophical discussion of the thesis on the same scriptural principles, than by a pomp of diction or an excess of rhetoric.

Mr. W. has subjoined an Appendix, referring to two distinct subjects. First, an account of the establishment of a small parochial library of moral and religious publications, in the vestry room of his church. The plan and selection of works appear liberal and judicious; the clerk or schoolmaster is librarian, and the books are lent gratuitously. We are to glad learn that so laudable an undertaking has been received with great avidity; and strongly recommend it to general imitation. The other subject of the appendix, is a controversy in which Mr. W. has been involved with the venerable "Society for promoting Christian Knowledge," on the amount

and application of its revenue. It originated in a complaint of ours, (Vol. III. p. 141.) repeated by Mr. W. that the energy of this Society was not quite proportionate to its resources. Without entering into a detail of Mr. W.'s defence, we shall only say, that we are as little disposed as himself, to retract an expostulation, made in perfect good will, and, we trust, not wholly in vain.

Art. XX. Men and Manners: or Concentrated Wisdom. By A. Hunter, M. D. F. R. S. (York) 8vo. pp. 202. Price 3s. bds. Mawman 1808. IN the 80th page of " Men and Manners" and the 423d maxim, are these words; When you have wrote yourself into reputation, be content. If you go further, you may write yourself out of it." We admire the public spirit and success with which Dr. Hunter, the celebrated author of a savoury work intitled "Culina Famulatrix Medicina," has violated his precept in order to verify his prediction. A due regard to our scanty limits forbids us to enrich our pages with more than two or three specimens of the worthy Doctor's concentrated wisdom;" we can assure every reader who is delighted with the sagacity which has discovered and the liberality which has disclosed them, that he may find in this edifying work several hundreds of aphorisms but little inferior to these in delicacy, originality, and importance. "332. There is something bewitching in hair-powder. It always makes a man look like a gentleman." "775. Women manage their feet in dancing much better than men." "426. He who expects nothing is never disappointed."

Art. XXI. Strictures on Free Discussion; with Observations on
the common Notions of infernal Influence on the Human Mind. By
Philologus. pp. 60. Price Is. 6d. Longman, &c. 1807.
THIS performance may be considered as an amplification and defence

of a criticism on two passages of scripture, which first made its appearance in the (Liverpool) Theological Repository. The criticism itself undoubtedly intitles the author to rank among those intrepid advocates of "Free Discussion," who disdain an entire subjection to apostolic authority, and who scruple not to put that construction on the words of inspired truth, which, in the plenitude of their wisdom, they judge most rational; any obvious meaning of the terms, or general testimony of scripture, to the contrary notwithstanding. The real design of Philologus in this sophistical pamphlet, is to explode the doctrine of the existence and agency of Evil Spirits; and in order to this, he seems to think that little else is requisite, than to prove that the doctrine in question receives no support from Eph. ii. 2. and 1 Pet. v. 8., and to assert, that it is not contained in any other part of the word of God. His arguments and assertions. display an ignorance and a temerity extremely pitiable. We would recommend to Phil logus to suspend his triumph over the "Common Notions of Infernal Influence," till he has stumbled on some better interpretation of the texts referred to, and till he has examined a few other passages which, according to the ordinary rules of criticism, appear to demonstrate the truth of the doctrine he rejects. The most forcible and conclusive of these, however, he finds it convenient to pass over in silence, ju

diciously reflecting how much skill would be requisite to give them even a specious interpretation, on the principles that he wishes to

establish.

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Art. XXII. The Economy of a Christian Life: or Maxims and Rules of Religious and Moral Conduct arranged from the Sacred Scriptures and adapted to Christians of every Denomination. With short explanatory Notes. By the Rev. W. Bingley, A. M. F. L. S 2 Vols. 12mo. PP. 432. Frice 8s. J. J. Stockdale. 1808. VARIOUS works, constructed on the principle of this compilation, have

been long known and approved. The most considerable are Gastrell's Christian Institutes, Locke's Common Place Book to the Bible, and Warden's System of Revealed Religion: a smaller production of a respectable

Friend," interspersed with occasional observations, we lately had occasion to notice*; and a very judicious series of Scripture Extracts will be found in the publications of the Religious Tract Society. The recom mendations of Mr. Bingley's work are, that it forms a medium between the bulky and the scanty performances, and that it contains a number of critical and explanatory notes. We should be disposed to take exception at many of these notes, either as unnecessary, or as injudicious. We are decidedly adverse to the indiscriminate insertion of extracts from the Apocryphal books; nearly all of these which merit attention, are superseded by extracts from the canonical Scriptures; and those which vary so far as not to be thus rendered unnecessary, cannot be deemed authoritative on the reader's faith. We think the work would have met with a readier welcome from the public, if it had been printed more economically, and comprised in one volume. The title is not very appropriate, as a large portion of the work is occupied with the doctrines of religion. Art. XXIII. Zoological Anecdotes; or authentic and interesting Facts, relative to the Lives, Manners, and Economy of the Brute Creation: exhibiting the most striking Instances of the Intelligence, Sagacity, social Disposition, and extraordinary Capacities of various Animals, both in their natural and domesticated State. 2 vols. Foolscap 8vo. pp. 483. Colburn. 1808.

THIS is a collection of curious and marvellous stories, illustrating the

sagacity of various animals, the dog, the cat, the horse, the elephant, the raven, the otter, &c. Many of them are new to the English reader, but few are so well authenticated as entirely to satisfy his scepticism. We wish the compiler had been wise enough, if not delicate enough, to free this amusing work from one or two specks of gross impropriety, which render it exceptionable.

Art. XXIV. Questions on the Holy Scriptures, to be answered in writing, as Exercises at School or in the Course of Private Instruction. By John Bullar. 12mo. pp 210. Price 4s. bound. Southampton, Baker and Fletcher; Longman and Co. 1808.

HAVING strongly commended the plan of Mr. Simpson's Questiones

Grace (Vol. IV. p. 87) we are pledged to a still warmer approbation of Mr. Bullar's performance, which recommends and facilitates the adoption of a similar plan of instruction in reference to the sacred Scrip Tuke's Duties of Religion and Morality, (Vol. IV. p. 184.)

tures.

The Questions here applied to the respective chapters, which the pupil is expected to answer in writing, appear to us to have been formed with considerable care and in most cases with strict propriety. The author has evidently taken pains to render his work complete and serviceable; and its circulation, we doubt not, will reward that care, which a mere manufacturer of books would not have bestowed on such a compilation. A sensible summary or description of each Book is prefixed to the Questions founded on its contents; and several articles of miscellaneous information are very properly interspersed. Mr. B. has not adapted any Questions to Solomon's Song and the Revelation; for which he gives obvious and satisfactory reasons in his sketches of their character and con

tents.

To those who use the book, we would recommend, as a variation, and in our opinion a great improvement, of the author's plan, that the questions be answered viva voce in the class, immediately after the reading of a chapter. This is a much better discipline for the understanding, and is also an exercise for the memory.

Art. XXV. The Lamentation, a Poem, in Two Parts. To, which are added, other miscellaneous Pieces, in Blank Verse, and Rhyme. Second Edition, corrected. 8vo. pp. 208. White. 1807.

NOT having been able to make our way farther into this handsome volume than the 96th page, it would be uncandid to assert, that in the whole work there is nothing better than tasteless imagery, vernacular sentiments, and doggrel verse.

It may be proper to subjoin a copy of the doughty stanzas, which proved to us that our patience was not invincible.

For if dejected, why should I conceal

The grief that springs spontaneous in my heart?
If glad, why not acknowledge what I feel,
And what I feel, to those I love impart ?
Then these my wishes are, and these my wants;
But should my life less cheering views unfold,
I'll still be thankful for what heaven grants,

For this is wisdom-at least so I hold.' p. 96.

Art. XXVI. The Iniquity of Witchcraft censured and exposed; being the Substance of Two Sermons, delivered at Warley, near Halifax. By T. Hawkins. 12mo. pp. 36. Price 6d. Halifax, Holden and Co. Williams and Co. 1808.

IT is truly melancholy to find that in our enlightened country there is still any necessity for such a work as this. From the curious account which Mr. H. prefixes to his sermons, it should seem that recourse to professed wizards is very prevalent in his neighbourhood; insomuch as to have imposed on him the painful duty of excluding some of his church from Christian communion. He states, on abundant scriptural authority, the gross iniquity of pretending to intercourse with familiar spirits, or consulting those who advance such pretences. His earnest admonitions, we hope, will be rewarded with ample success among his infatuated neighbours.

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