fuggeft; and the Editor affures his readers, that he will gratefully acknowledge fuch communications as can tend to improve a future edition of the work.

Art. 43. Debates in Parliament. By Samuel Johnson, LL. D. 2 Vols. 8vo. 12s. Boards. Stockdale. 1787.

We have already briefly noticed this collection in a former article *; it will therefore now only be neceffary to inform our Readers that they are here prefented with the Debates in the Senate of Lilliput, from Nov. 19, 1740, to Feb. 23, 1743, divefted of the difguife of Lilliputian names, in which they first appeared, in the Gentleman's Magazine. These volumes are advertised as the 12th and 13th, in addition to Sir John Hawkins's edition of Dr. Johnson's works. Art. 44. Confiderations on Parochial Mufic. By William Vincent, D.D. Rector of Allhallows the Great and Lefs, London. 8vo. Is. Cadell. 1787.

However lightly finging may be estimated as used in Proteftant worship, yet it must be allowed, that mufic has a great influence on the human mind; and as the impreffions made on the audience may be no flight object of attention in public ordinances, parochial mufic may derive an importance on the latter confideration, that may be less evident on the former. Indeed we are pleased to see a Divine take up a fubject hitherto refigned to parish clerks, and charity fchoolmasters, to be burlesqued, and to difguft the intelligent part of every epifcopal congregation: we diftinguish epifcopal, because, in general, Pfalmody is better conducted among Diffenters.

The worthy Author of thefe Confiderations pretends to no other merit than that of dilating the ideas of Dr. Brown, as expreffed in his Treatife on Mufic, at a feafon which he deems more favourable for carrying them into execution. He confiders religious mufic under two heads, cathedral and parochial; cathedral mufic is fcientific, and confined to those who are mafters of the science; parochial mufic is defigned for the people at large, and is therefore fimple, and eafily attainable by the ear: the latter is the object now before us.

The general caufe of the abuse of parochial mufic, our Author attributes to the indolence or backwardness of the congregation, which reftrains them from joining in this part of the fervice; and this has introduced an attempt towards a remedy, which is worfe than the evil..

This confifts principally of two parts, which fhall be denominated abuses, not in a bad sense, but as a perverted use of a good practice.

The firft is, the Select Band of the country church.

The fecond, the Charity Children in the metropolis.

The first of these abufes cannot be better defcribed than in the following words t-" Here devotion is loft between the impotent vanity of thofe who fing, and the ignorant wonder of thofe who liften;" and it is really matter of aftonishment that either the minifter, or the better part of the congregation, have fuffered this evil to encreafe to the extent it has: that at the fame time both complain

*Vid. Rev. Aug, p. 139.

+ Dr. Brown.

that

that their ears are wounded with diffonance, and their ideas degraded to ridicule, neither the minifter has exerted his influence, or the congregation claimed their right, but have tamely fuffered themfelves to be precluded from a duty fpecially their own, and the fervice to be lengthened (as it fometimes is unreafonably) by a practice that adds tenfold to the tedium of it.

The abufe in the metropolis is fimilar in its nature, and equal in point of difguft. Charity children, it is true, are taught by mafters better qualified to form them for this fervice; but whether thefe mafters cannot now depart from an established cuftom,-whether the error arifes from the children themselves, from their incapacity, from imitation, or emulation, the evil is equally to be complained of. They univerfally fing at the utmoft height of their voice; and fifty or an hundred trebles, ftrained to their highest pitch, united to the roar of the full organ, can never raise admiration of the performers, or a fenfe of devotion in the hearers; the difguft is general, and the complaint of the congregation univerfal.'

The remedies to thefe evils are by the Author respectfully addreffed to the clergy, who, if they have but the inclination, cannot be at a lofs for the means to apply them. The first step requifite (and in this the chief difficulty confifts) is to collect a few creditable perfons to attend a practice after fervice; it is poffible that fome of this defcription, offended by the ordinary mode of finging, would liften to the perfuafions of their Minifter on this head; or in parishes where there is no felect choir in the gallery, perhaps the business would be easier to induce the people to admit proper inftruction from the beginning, than to correct a bad method where it has already taken place. Some Minifters will, doubtless, object to difgufting their prefent Band; they will efteem it driving one body of men from church, before they are fure of fecuring the attendance of others; they will be defirous of avoiding divifions and parties in their parish, and envious comparisons between the new and old method. But perhaps it is not impoffible by difcreet management, and gradual means, to make thefe very men leaders and conductors in the defign; and by difperfing them in different parts of the congregation, to employ them as directors of others, instead of engroffing the whole of this fervice to themfelves, in a diftinct gallery, or feat.' With respect to the popular versions of the Pfalms, after pafling a deferved cenfure on that by Sternhold and Hopkins, in which he jaftly obferves there are few ftanzas which do not give offence, or excite ridicule;' the reverend Author propofes to form a collection from different poets, to be prefented to the people under epifcopal and royal authority. But among the verfifiers of Pfalms that he inftances, we were aftonished not to find the name of Dr. Watts! Was he omitted because he was a diffenter from the Established Church? It would fhew good fenfe in the church to adopt excellence wherever it may be found; and there is no good fenfe in adhering to wretched doggrel, and leave an elegant verfion of the Pfalms to grace the devotion only of Diffenters.

The name of Watts is indeed incidentally mentioned, when the Author recommends caution in the use of hymns not authorized by the Church; when he vouchfafes to admit thofe of Dr. Watts as not improper for the recreation of private families: and then takes occa

hon to cenfure his liberty of adapting the fentiments of David to the Chriftian difpenfation as not being authorized by Chrift himfelf, who fupplied no fuppofed deficiences in David. Sternhold and Hopkins are indeed fufficiently clear from this accufation; they took no fuch licentious liberty, but have preferved fidelity enough to put very unchriftian fentiments into the mouths of a Chriftian congregation. On the whole, we may venture to predict, that we fhall never fee a better verfion of the Pfalms than that by Dr. Watts, nor is it probable that we shall foon fee one fo good, in the face of fo formidable a competitor.

Some years ago, a hint was thrown out, in one of the public prints, for a preference of compofitions by the CHRISTIAN Mufe. The thought, we remember, feemed to meet the private approbation of fome of the clergy,-men of learning and eminence in the church; but none of them were bold enough to give it their public counte

nance.

THEOLOGY, &c.

Art. 45. Lectures on the Creed of Pope Pius IV. or the Trent Confeffion of Faith: wherein the Arguments of Cardinal Bellarmine, in Vindication of the principal Tenets of Popery, as diftinguished from primitive Chriftianity, are confuted. 12mo. 35. fewed. Rivington.

The name both of the Author of thefe Difcourfes, and of the place in which they were originally delivered, is carefully concealed, except that at the end of a fhort infcription to the inhabitants of a parish, fomewhere to be found, are the initials O. S. We are only informed in the general that they were in fubftance preached to a country congregation, in a quarter of this kingdom where Popery has long erected its ftandard; that they were undertaken by particular defire, and are now committed to the prefs, chiefly with the intention of placing them in the hands of fuch of the Editor's hearers, as may poffibly want leifure, opportunity, or inclination, to refer to larger works on the fubject;-without urging any thing farther, the writer adds his hope, that this primary inducement will be thought a fufficient apology for publishing this volume. The lectures of which it confits are twelve, and a few of them are divided into two parts. The ftyle in which they are written has nothing particular to recommend it; but the Author appears to have given confiderable attention to his fubject. He has, as many have before him, fuf. ficiently difplayed the erroneous tenets of Popery, and furnished Proteftant readers with arguments both to confute their opponents, and confirm themfelves in an adherence to reafon and fcripture. He appears to be a friend to liberty and rational enquiry; though fometimes, perhaps, the attentive reader may think him a little confined by a regard to fyftem and establishments. He rejects the thought of perfecuting the Papifts, yet not with all that warmth we could with. If ever, he fays, perfecution were juftifiable, it should be exercifed against perfecutors themfelves: but this is incompatible with the principles of a Proteftant nation: we must not perfecute even to prevent perfecution: this our adverfaries well know, and anake their advantage of it.'-To which he adds, every friend to

toleration

toleration will except that fect which tolerates none but their own.' However faulty and dangerous the principies of Popery may be and certainly are, it is defirable to promote charitable and liberal fentiments towards the perfons of thofe who are involved in thefe or any other miltaken opinions. It could not have been improper if this Author had added fome farther reflections which might conduce to advance, in this respect, the exercise of moderation, candour, and benevolence.

Art. 46. An Account of the Establishment of Sunday Schools in Old Brentford; extracted from "The Oeconomy of Charity." By Mrs. Trimmer. 8vo. 6d. Longman, &c. 1787.

This tract was first published at the end of The Oeconomy of Charity," [See Rev. for May, p. 436.] and Mrs. T. informs us, that it is now printed feparately, by the advice of a refpectable friend to the inftitution of Sunday fchools, for the accommodation of fuch perfons as may wish to difperfe it.-As it is the beft account of these fchools which has yet been published, and as thofe at Brentford are fo well regulated by, and carried on under the inspection of Mrs. Trimmer, and other ladies, who are fo kind as to affist her in that laudable defign, we hope it will circulate through every part of the kingdom; to which purpose, the smallnefs of its price is well accommodated.

Having been witneffes to the good effects which the inftitution has already produced on the children of Brentford, we rejoice in this opportunity of congratulating Mrs. T. on her zeal, affiduity, and fuccefs, in bringing the fcheme of Sunday fchools to fo much perfection.

Art. 47. A Courfe of Lectures for Sunday Evenings; containing religious Advice to young Perfons. Vol. II. 12mo. Is. 6d. bound. Marshall.

This is a continuation of that useful work which we noticed in our Review, vol. lxxi. p. 159. We are glad to see a publication continued with the fame merit which we obferved in its outfet. To inftill into young minds religious and virtuous principles is the Author's chief defign; and the fimplicity of his language is well adapted to the early years of thofe for whom thefe Lectures are chiefly intended. Art. 48. Selca Pfalms and Hymns, for the Ufe of the Parish Church of Cardington in the County of Bedford. 8vo. 4s.; and 12mo. 15. 6d. bound. Brown. 1787.

A judicious collection of Pfalms from fome of the best versions hitherto published. The compilers feem to have been regardless from what authors they have felected, having only in view the choice of fuch pieces as are fit for a rational Chriftian affembly. A plain tune is adapted to each, that the whole congregation may join in the finging.

Art. 49. An Inquiry into the fecondary Caufes which Mr. Gibbon has affigned for the rapid Growth of Chriftianity. By Sir David Dalrymple. 4to. 7s. 6d. Cadell.

Notice more than fufficient has, in our judgment, already been taken of Mr. Gibbon's brief and ill-fupported attempt to account

for

、

for the progress of Christianity from fecondary caufes. Sir D. Dalrymple has, however, thought it worth while to re-examine, more fully than Bishop Watfon, Dr. Chelfum, and other refpondents to Mr. Gibbon had done, every pofition which this celebrated writer has advanced on the fubject. In doing this, he has difplayed much erudition, and fully difcuffed feveral curious points. He defends the authenticity and authority of the Book of Revelation against the objections of Mr. Gibbon and others. He examines feveral relations of miracles in the fecond and third centuries, and particularly a cure faid to have been wrought by Proculus, a Chriftian, in the reign of Severus; and afferts, that though many of the miraculous gifts and powers ceafed long before the civil establishment of Chriflianity, there is very probable, if not complete, evidence, that even in the earlier part of the third century, the Chriftans cured various difeafes by prayer, without any human means. He apologizes for the morality of the Fathers, by comparing it with that of their contemporaries among the heathen, and particularly by running an amufing parallel between the rigid doctrines of Clemens Alexandrinus and Seneca.

We leave Mr. Gibbon to exculpate himself, if he thinks it necef fary, or finds himself able, from the numerous charges of unfair infinuation which Sir D. Dalrymple has brought against him.

1. Preached, Auguft 14, 1786, at St. Giles in the Fields, before the British Affurance Society, inftituted for the Support and Benefit of the Sick, or otherwife afflicted Members, Orphans, Widows, &c. By the Rev. Edward Barry, M.D. 4to. 6d. Bew.

A fenfible and pathetic exhortation to promote the prudent as well as charitable institution for which it was delivered. From Galatians, vi. 10. the preacher recommends the Affociation formed by his audi. ence; and addreffes the heart without aiming to gratify the luxury of the ear by the studied affectation of ornamental language: he is, as the true preacher ought to be, more perfuafive than flowery.

II.

at the Opening of the new Chapel in Bridge Street, Bristol, Auguft 24, 1786. By Benj. Davies, D. D. To which is prefixed an Introductory Address, by the Rev. James Manning. 8vo. 6d. Buckland.

The circumftance of opening a new Meeting-house, gave the preacher an opportunity, from Zechariah, vi. 13. to advert to man as the fpiritual temple of the Lord; on which idea he pours forth a copious fund of Scripture authorities to work up the myftical allufion, under a series of divifions and fubdivifions, that muft, confequently, render the discourse intricate to common readers. But we are perfuaded he confulted the taste of his fubfcribing audience; who probably have not the puny ftomachs of babes, but can digeft trong meat, and certainly have a right to be fed with that kind of food that pleases them belt.

III. A Caution against Socinianifm, in a Difcourfe preached at the . Cathedral, Canterbury, on Good Friday, 1787, and published for the Benefit of the Charity Schools, St. Clement Danes, Weltmin

fter.