66

which brings the expiration of its term, or 1260 years, exactly to the year 1796. This is more difputable, but the termination of the period approaches fo near, that it muft very speedily be decided. 3. He explains the ten horns of the first beaft, to be the ten Kings who have fupported the Papal po ver, which he thus enumerates. France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Sardinia, Naples, Tufcany, Genoa, Venice. But instead of Genoa, which comes in very lamely as a king, fuppofe we were to fubftitute England, which till the reformation fupported the beaft; and find a fubftitute alfo for Venice in the fame manner and for a fimilar reafon. 4. The two witneffes he interprets of the Old and New Teftament. This is not here firft fuggefted, a very ingenious writer, though anonymous, (who in 1787, published an explanation of the Revelation, from alTufons to the Temple fervice at Jerufalem,) thus writes on the fubject. Other commentators have fuppofed the Old and New Teftaments to have been fignified by the witneffes, but in what fenfe or by what bold figure they can be faid to be flain, rife from the 'dead, and afcend into heaven, is not eafy to explain." p. 133. This difficulty, if any, is done away by the prefent interpreter, for the abolition of worship at Paris, may well be figured by the death of the witneffes, and the rule of that power which flew them is actually dated Auguft 10, 1792, and confequently, allowing it three years and a half, (or a time, times, and the dividing of a time) will expire in 1796. So far the numbers well coincide. The fame author who objects to the Old and New Teftament as the witneffes, propofes the Mofaic and Chriftian Churches. It is odd he did not fee that what is faid figuratively of them, might be faid equally of the books of their two laws. 5. The prefent writer contends that Paris is more likely to be meant by Sodom (where the dead bodies of the witneffes are to lie than Rome, which has the prophetic name of Babylon. In this we perfectly agree. Thefe are the most remarkable circumstances. But the attentive reader will find throughout this publication, much curious matter for fpeculation, with many remarkable coincidences, and will certainly give it his refpect if not his full affent. In fuch difficult matters we must not be precipitate. We hefitate not to recommend it to ferious confideration.

ART. 32. A Sermon preached before the Lor's Spiritual and Temporal, in the Abbey Church, Westminster, on Wednesday, February 25, in 1795. Being the Day appointed by his Majefty's Proclamation for a General Faf. By Henry Reginald, Lord Bishop of Briftol. 4to. 15 PP. is. Robfon.

The Bishop inculcates, with found fimplicity, the fear of God, the neceffity of prayer and repentance, and reliance on the great attonement. He notices alfo, the vices incident to wealthy and flourishing nations, and thofe particularly obfervable among ourfelves. He directs us to rely on Providence, and to adhere to the conftitution, whofe excellence we have fo fully experienced. His text is Dan. ix. v. 9, 10.

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ART. 33. National Calamities the confequence of National Guilt; a Sermon preached at the parish Church of Chertsey, in Surry, on the 25th of February, 1795, being the day appointed for a public Ft By the Rev. E. W. Whitaker, Rector of St. Mildred's, and All Saints, Canterbury. Publifhed at the Request of the Parishioners, for the Benefit of their Sunday Schools. 4to. 15. pp. 15. Rivingtons.

Very weighty and important are the fuggeftions of this difcourfet The general course of Providence with respect to nations is, fays this author, that if the evils at first inflicted, produce not that alteration of conduct to which they were directed, they are fucceeded by others still more fevere," proceeding thus in regular gradation till the offenders, being proved incorrigible, are finally fwept away. Under this confideration, he examines how far this nation improved under the ftrong admonitions of the American war. We then affembled for fupplication," But while we thus drew near to God with our lips, what was the reformation really wrought among us? The par ticular alterations in the conduct of each individual may, in fome measure be known only to himself. The amendment of fome partie cular habits, and the introduction of a more ferious turn, among fome claffes of fociety, might be noticed by thofe immediately connected with them. But any thing like a general return to the paths of temperance and piety, muft have occafioned a change in the manners of the nation at large, that could not have efcaped general ob fervation, nor have left ground for those reflections which may justly be made, on the progrefs of voluptuoufnefs and irreligion among us, fince the conclufion of that war." p. 6. He then particularizes the in stances in which he conceives cenfure to be most deserved. This is taking the fubject in a new, and truly religious light; and the remainder of the fermon is formed of fuitable warnings and admonitions. Among the many difcourfes these days of humiliation have produced, we have not feen any that were animated with a fincérer Ipirit of piety, or more likely to produce ufeful reflection, and effectual amendment.

-ART. 34. An earnest invitation to the Friends of the established Church, to join with feveral of their Brethren, Clergy and Laity, in London, in felling apart one hour of every Week, for Prayer and Supplication, during the prefent troublesome Times. 12mo. pp 23. id. or 6s. a hundred. Mathews and Pridden. 1795

This "little tract was made very useful in all former wars from the year 1756, and has gone through a great number of editions." p. 8. It contains one of those designs at which infidelity and profaneness will fcoff, but which appears to us very commendable. They will call it enthufiaftic, we call it pious and devout. One thing is certain; whether fupplication of this kind obtain fuccefs against our enemies in war, or not; yet, being made in the true fpirit of chriftian charity, they cannot fail to obtain the divine bleffing upon the fincere and humble fuppliants.

ART. 35. The mournful and pleafing Viciffitudes of Life. A Sermon preached at St. Thomas's, Jan. 1, 1795, for the Benefit of the Charity Schools in Gravel Lane, Southwark." "By Robert Winter. Printed at the Request of the Manager. 8vo. 28 pp. 6d. Knott. 1795A fenfible difcourfe, inculcating not indeed by new, but by effectual arguments, the abfurdity of devoting ourfelves to this world; and written in a style of fimplicity, perfpicuity, and energy.

ART. 36. A Difcourfe on the Duty of making a Teftament. By Samuel Charters, D. D. Minister of Wilton. 8vo. 106 pp. Longman. 1794.

IS.

This is a very useful sermon, on a subject of much importance. The text is Ifaiah xxxviii. 1. In the firft part are fet forth, the reasons for making a testament without delay; in the fecond, the things which fhould be attended to in making one. The difcourse abounds with religious and moral, as well as prudential, instructions; conveyed in language very perfpicuous and forcible, and generally correct and pure. At p. 73 the character of " a mother taken from young children, and the husband of her youth," is described in a moft eloquent and affecting manner,

ཝཱ ཙ 'ཏི

A minifter, whofe years would give propriety and add weight to leffons of this kind, might extract from this long difcourfe one or two fer mons, very ferviceable to any congregation. He would, probably, not agree with the author in all points; and would think, with us, that fome things might well be altered, and fome omitted.

The following fact may be ufeful to our readers, as well as curious. It has happened within our knowledge, that, within a very few years, 189 perfons have died in a certain diftrict, poffeffed of fome property. Of thefe, 69 died inteftate; and a great portion of the remainder made their wills in their laft illness, figning them with a trembling hand, and in characters almoft illegible. This is no mean proof of the utility of discourses like that before us.

ART. 37. The gracious Errand of Chrift; or, the Chriftian Religion unfpeakably beneficial to Men; wifely adapted, and ultimately defigned, to be an univerfal Bleffing to the World. A Sermon delivered at an Affociation of Minifters, held at Coggeshall, Effex, Sep. 9, 1794, and publifbed, with fame Additions, at their Requeft. By Richard Fry, Teacher of Languages, &c. at Billericay. Svo. 40 pp. 6d.

Johnfon.

This difcourfe does credit to the judgment of thofe who requested its publication. From Luke ix. 56, the author takes occafion to prove the beneficial nature of Chriftianity: 1. By the teftimony derived from Chrift's teaching; 2. from his example; and, 3. by the evidence which may be expected at the grand confummation of his kingdom in this world. Though we have met with a few things in this discourse, to which our approbation cannot be extended, yet, upon the whole, we pronounce it to be the work of a well-informed and pious man.

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ART. 38. A Sermm preached in the Church of Wye, in Kent, on Monday, March 2, 1795, at the Funeral of John Sawbridge, Efq. of Ollantigh, in the fame Parish. By Philip Parfons, A. M. Minifter of Wye Published at request. 4to, pp. 15, Is. Simmons, &c. Canterbury, Johnson, London, 1795.,

We lament with an able writer*, that discourses at funerals are fo much out of use. He gives, briefly, fome Itrong reafons for them; together with a good fpecimen of the plain and inftructive manner in which they fhould be preached,

But the queftion of printing is very different from that of preaching. Friends are apt to defire that the respect paid to the deceafed may be made as public as poffible; the preacher is perhaps an old acquaintance, as in this case of more than thirty years; he is called to his office at a fhort notice; and he writes and speaks agitated and overpowered by his prefent feelings. It is therefore a delicate point to call upon him to print his difcourfe. For our part, we should have heard fuch a difcourfe as this with emotion, because it is in fome parts of it pathetic, and we truft, with improvement, because it is found and inftructive; but poffibly we might not have thought it fo important in its matter as to be induced to join in a request for its publication, The account given of Mr. Sawbridge is rather a general panegyric than an accurate delineation of his character,

ART. 39. Athaliab; or, The Tocfin founded by Modern Alarmifts, Two Collection Sermons towards defraying the Expence of the Defend ants in the late Trials for High Treason, preached on the Nineteenth of April, 1795, in St. Paul's Chapel, Norwich, By Mark Wilks, a Norfolk Farmer. 8vo. 106 pp. Is. 6d. Robinson, 1795. We are at a lofs which to admire most in this publication, the titlepage, the occafion, the text, or the context. This preacher thinks the principles and meafures which called for the trials of Meffrs. Hardy, &c. not only innocent, but commendable. The profecuted he ranks among the moft virtuous of mankind, the profecutors among the most abominable. If Mr. Wilks does not cultivate his own fields with more skill than he does the fields of politics, and behave to his immediate connections with better temper than he does to the public, he must be alike reprehenfible as a farmer, a preacher, a writer, and

a man.

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LAW.

40. The Law respecting Horfes. By A. Stovin, Small 8vo. IS. Butterworth. 1794.

The author of this little tract, in his advertisement, gives the following account of its object-" All that is meant is to give a general

+ Mr. Jones: Sermons on moral and religious fubjects, vol. i. p. 73.

idea of the law refpecting horfes, fo far as is neceffary to be known, by thofe who are in the daily habit of trafficking on those noble animals, and to whom questions of law will frequently occur, the folution of which may be defirable, when it may neither be convenient nor worth their while to afk profeffional affiftance."-What Mr. Stovin has thus projected, he feems to have accomplished with fufficient fuccinctnefs and perfpicuity.

ART. 41. A full Report of all the Proceedings on the Trial of the Rev. William Jackfan, at the Bar of his Majelly's Court of King's Bench, Ireland, on an Indictment for High-Treafen, felected from the Notes of William Ridgeway, William Lupp, and John Schooles, Efqrs. Barrif -ters at Law. 8vo. 142 pp. 35. Debrett. 1795.

The above is feemingly a faithful and accurate account of the proceedings against an unfortunate man whofe guilt was but too apparent; and whole melancholy fate we earnestly hope may operate as a warning against all who may have been induced to countenance fimilar nefarious enterprises.

ART. 42. The Lars refpecting Wills, Teftaments, and Codicils, and Executors, and Adminiftrators, laid down in a plain and eaty Manner; in which all technical Terms of Law are familiarly explained; and in which the Statute of Wills, and such parts of the Statute of Frauds and Perjuries, as relate to the Subject of Devifes, are partienlarly confidered and expounded, with proper Remarks and Directions for the Confideration of those who wish to make their own Wills. Also the Methods of Descent and Diftribution of Property, where no Will is made. As colle&ed from the feveral Reports and other Books of Autbority, up to the Commencement of the present Eafter Term, 1795. Containing like wife an Account of the necellary Expences attending the Probate of Wills, and obtaining Letters of Adminiftration; with the Stamps on which Discharges for Legacies and Diftributive Shares of Inteftates Effects are to be written. And an Appendix of Precedents; comprising a great variety of the most approved Forms of Wills, Tef taments, and Codicils, relative to every Species of Property. The whole interfperfed with Notes and References, adapted to the Use of the Profon. By the Author of the Laws refpecting Landlords and Tenants. 8vo. 2s. fewed. Clarke and Son.

It is an old law adage, copied from the Italian proverb of Che s'infegna, &c. that the man who is his own lawyer has a fool for his client. If he undertakes, of choice, to become fo in making his will, he seems to us to verify the proverb in the most obvious and ftriking inftance. For the ill confequences of his ignorance fall upon those whom he loves beit, and wishes to benefit moft. As in many cafes, however, a profeffional affiftance can not be had fo foon as it may be requifite, a competent knowledge of the legal forms of conveying property by will, becomes highly useful to men of various Tanks in life. Such a degree of information may be well enough-collected from this familiar little treatife.

ART.