it drew the purest and sincerest waters; whereas, accordingly as they are derived through several minds, as so many several conduit-pipes, they become corrupted and tincted with extraneous qualities, and contract impurity. If there be found a doctrine, that has all the marks of antiquity, and there appears nothing in the world that equals it, it ought not to be doubted, but that the same proceeded from him that is more ancient than all, as being author of all things. If the language in which it was revealed be as the mother and stock, from which others, though very ancient, are sprung; if it describes the history of the world, and of men, and their propagation upon the earth; if it affords the demonstration of times, and that without it the knowledge of chronology would be more intricate than a labyrinth; if it deduces its history from point to point with an exact correspondence; if it clearly and certainly relates histories, that are as the body of the fabulous shadows that we see in the writings of the most ancient authors in the world; who will doubt, but all which they have is taken from thence, and that we ought to refer what is therein depraved and corrupted thereunto, as to its principle, and have recourse thither to learn what we are ignorant of? If there be found a religion, all whose parts accord together with an admirable harmony, although it has been propounded at several times, and by several persons in several places; if there be a discipline, a doctrine, a book, a society, in which God himself speaks to men in a style and manner agreeable to the eminence of his majesty, displays his justice to them most terrible in its appearance, discovers his power in its highest magnificence, and gives them to sound the breadth and length, depth and height of his infinite mercies: lastly, if examples of an incomparable virtue be found therein, with incitations and instructions to piety; such as are not to be paralleled any other where in the world; 'tis an indubitable argument, that they are proceeded from some other than the human mind, or the school of MAN!"

(To be concluded in our next.)

A Sermon preached at the Cathedral Church of Winchester, on Thursday, Nov. 19, 1807, being the Anniverfary •Meeting of the Charitable Society of Aliens, established for the benevolent purpose of Apprenticing Poor Children. By the Rev. FREDERIC IREMONGER, A. B. F. L. S. Minor Canon of Winchester Cathedral. 8vo. pp. 32. 1. 6d. Rivingtons.

IN a preliminary advertisement we are informed

"That the Society under consideration, is established for ap prenticing the Children of the Poor, and is supported by the vo

luntary

luntary contributions of the inhabitants of Winchester, and its Vicinity. According to the state of their fund, the Stewards for the year, and after them the Trustees in succession, have the nomination of the children. In consequence of this mode of conducting the Establishment, it not unfrequently happens, that the Benefactor, who has listened from the most commendable motives, to an application, from a numerous and distressed family, is perfectly unacquainted with the Habits or disposition of the Boy, whom he nominates. The Master is consequently dissatisfied with his Apprentice, and the most unjustifiable insinuations are thrown out against the Society itself. The Author therefore conceives, that by the proposed plan (without any disadvantage that he can foresee) this Charitable Association will have the unspeakable satisfaction of apprenticing those alone, whose conduct and disposition have been previously tried, whom they have taught their Duty to God and man, and whom they have furnished with a proper supply of books, and thereby given them the power at least of knowing, how pleasant, and how lovely are the paths of humble Piety!"

The plan recommended is that of Dr. Bell, as it has been carried into effect by the trustees of the charity school in the parish of Whitechapel, after ftating which, the preacher obferves,

"I should not have dwelt so long on this subject, were I not conscious, how much benefit might result from adopting a similar plan in the Society I am now addressing. Religion, I repeat it, Religion alone, must be the ground-work of every undertaking. Other foundation than this can no man lay-this is the CORNER STONE of every thing that is good, of every thing that is great! Suppose therefore a number of Children selected, as you shall think fit, from honest and industrious Parents, educate them upon the plan proposed, and year by year apprentice those, of whom you hear the best account from their Superintendant. Here, exclusive of grounding them in the Christian Religion, exclusive of the much greater probability there is, of their becoming respectable members of Society, we see a stimulus for exertion in the Children, and a noble opportunity for your rewarding humble. merit. The payment of a master-the hire of a room, and the providing the Scholars with books, would be the sole expence incurred. As the number would be limited, neither of these would fall heavy, and the latter would be supplied in the cheapest and best manner possible, by your subscribing to that excellent, unexceptionable Institution,-The Society for promoting Christian Knowledge. You would perhaps be surprised to find, at how small a charge you might bestow the invaluable blessings of a Christian Education on these Children. From you they would carry a certificate of their good conduct to their respective masters -from

VOL. XIV.

Chm. Mag. April, 1808.

PP

-from them again, you should receive an unprejudiced account of their behavour, during the time of their being in service and, if satisfactory, might then, by reward, or in any other way you should think fit, endeavour to promote their future welfare in the world. Here, my brethren, you behold a perfect System-You see Children religiously educated, you see merit rewarded, and improper conduct punished, by delaying apprenticeship from time to time, and if there is no amendment, absolutely denying it. You see a reason for exertion from their earliest years to manhood, and a well-grounded hope of their good conduct at service, from the foundation you have laid, and from the prospect held out to them of future assistance."

The fermon is excellent, and alike creditable to the abilities and benevolence of the author.

Strictures on Subjects chiefly relating to the Etablished Reli gion and the Clergy; in two Letters to his Patron, from a Country Clergyman.

Ν

IN

(Concluded from page 211.)

his fecond letter, this fpirited writer and acute obferver, examines and comments on fome of the parties who have been moft induftrious in their hoftility to the church and her minifters. Thefe he claffes under the titles of "The democratic or infidel intereft;-the agricultural intereft;-the new diffenting intereft; and the methodistical intereft."

The first clafs is briefly but characteriflically sketched. On this subject the author is very particular, and he expofes the agricultural combinations of all religions, and of no religion; of lords and butchers, and graziers and furveyors, and 'fquires, &c. &c. &c. in the strongest colours.

"Though I defy any group of agricultural amateurs to “venerate the plough" more than I do, and though I deem as highly of the utility, and of the respectability, of the English farmer, as any of those gentlemen who elevate him into ridiculous importance; I have never been able to discover the wisdom of those speculations, which, under the avowed intention of promoting and encouraging agriculture, have generated confederacies hostile to the permanent peace of every country parish in the kingdom. I may be thought to use strong language. But, when men with

out

out education, with very contracted habits of thinking and of act ing, and with the strongest love of gain, (qualities inseparable from the character of a farmer), are formed into clubs and debating sacieties: when the only subjects that can engage their attention in those clubs, and for which alone they would attend them, are, their own profit, and the removal of what they think impediments to that grand object; and when their prejudices are embittered by the authority of their superiors in rank and knowledge; the result must be envy and contention. As to the encouragement of agriculture, what possible encouragement does it want, while the demand is more than equal to the produce? I have indeed been told by gentlemen, whose judgment in such matters cries" in the top of mine," that the spirit of agricultural improvement, has within these ten or twelve years, wonderfully benefited the nation. It may be so, and I shall not pretend to canvass the truth of a fact, on which their opinions are so decided, and on which my information is confined. But, whatever good may have been produced by the spirit of agricultural improvement, I know that agricul tural boards, agricultural clubs, and agricultural writers, have ag gravated the malignity of another spirit, that of DISCONTENT, to such a degree of rancour against the parochial clergy, as to involve their ministry, as well as personal character, in continual insult and contempt."

The board of agriculture, its prefident and reports, are next considered, and as this vain and mifchievous inflitution has employed its labourers in the pious work of endeavouring to excite a clamour in the nation against tithes, our author enters into a minute examination of the subject. From this part of the pamphlet we could extract with pleasure, many important paffages, but we muft content ourselves. with what is faid on the last grand objection of the agriculturift, that TITHES are an impediment to RELIGION."

"This is a solemn objection: but like the solemnity of a monkey it is so ridiculous, that it would be as absurd to reason seriously upon it from that quarter, as to solve a problem to the monkey. The credibility of assertions depends on the character, the conduct, and the purposes, of him who makes them. To be sure it is a delightful and edifying thing to behold the zealous anxiety of these missionaries and their congregations in the cause of godliness: but as the godliness means nothing else but gain, the common object of the great portion of modern zealots, let us hear how they prove their assertion.

"Tithes are the cause of great disputes and bickerings between the parsons and their parishioners."-Granted.-But why?"Because the parson always wants more than his right."-Want it perhaps he may: but he never can possibly have it, for the best of all reasons: because the parishioners can always, and always

do

do prevent him. "But the parishioners often quarrel with the parson, and will not go to church."-Granted-But why? For no other earthly reason, than because he will not allow them to reduce his property to their valuation. "But they leave the church and go to the meeting-house, which is a great hurt to religion."-Granted:-there, is hardly any greater hurt to religion. But, O ye patrons of injured simplicity! heroic avengers of rural wrongs! ye firm abettors of piety, and furtherers of the drill and the oil-cake! why would ye, like other great improvers, build a wall to dash out your precious brains? Consider-The canting malcontents of the Tabernacles hate the parsons from the very bottom of their suffering souls: YE cannot hate them more. It is true we do, in one respect, admit of your assertion, that to desert the church for the meeting-house, is a hurt to religion: because we know, that a man, not unfrequently, by going thither, if he do by chance forego the vices of men, adopts those of devils: and that his malice and uncharitableness against the priest and church which he has deserted, are aggravated ten-fold by his apostate fraternity. But, Gentlemen! for You to cast such reflections on discontented Brethren is too cruel.-" Call ye this backing of friends?"-Ever while ye live, and as ye hope to prosper in your PLAN, keep your enmity against the Parsons, on the windward side of the Saints; ye may want their help; they are numerous and they are formidable; and they are ready to give a shove to your heavy improvements, and to drag your plough, when it shall be prepared, for the complete evulsion of the ecclesiastical foundations."

Many excellent obfervations occur on the subject of what is properly denominated the "New Diffenting Interest.”

"It would be" says the author "a waste of time to enumerate, or to comment on, the variety of new sects, which have sprung up, like mushrooms, during the last twenty years, with names, of which no one can guess the meaning, but with principles, of which every one sees the tendency. All call themselves Dissenters, (and some to my certain knowledge without knowing why): All claim the benefits of the Act of Toleration, which cannot be refused: All have tender consciencies; and All are ready to believe any thing, except what the Parson shall teach: and to do any thing, except going to their parish-church. Liberty of conscience is the word, and who shall dare to gainsay it?" But all these people have a right to worship God in their own way." Be it so:

and perhaps, as they are not shy in delivering their opinions, it may be thought prudent not to care about them. They will tell you openly, that the Church neither is, nor ought to be, any part of the English Constitution: that it is no more than a remnant of Popery (though Popery is not so bad now-o'-days)! that the Church is a worn-out superstition, and ought to be superseded, by letting "every man worship God in his own way:" that we of the clergy, universally disbelieve the tenets which we profess,

and