events of the unhappy reign of Edward II. The guilty character are for a time fuccefsful, but afterwards meet with just retribution, and virtuous innocence is triumphant. In the fate and fortunes of Ella, the fweet heroine, every feeling heart muft take a deep concern. Many fictitious incidents are interfperfed, and the liberty now in vogue is taken with the fober truths of hiftory, in fpite of all the remonfrances of critics. But it was an unneceffary departure from hiftory, to reprefent Maltravers as hanged by the populace, vol. ii. p. 43. The fact is, that this man, who was an accomplice in murdering Edward, with a barbarity which has not been exceeded, lived to the age of 99, and the infcription on his tomb-ftone is very penitential. From these two circumftances a moral leffon might have been drawn, more affecting and inftructive than the account of his fudden execution. At p. 70 of vol. ii. mention is made of piftols, though the very invention of Gun-powder was many years later. We are bound to add, that the ftyle of this work is inaccurate and faulty; but probably many errors are imputable to an uncommon negligence in the perfon who fuperintended the press.

DIVINITY.

ART. 32. A Sermon preached at St. Magnus Church, London Bridge, at the Anniversary of the Royal Humane Society, on Sunday, March 23, 1794. By Thomas Rennel, D. D. late Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, and Rector of St. Magnus. 8vo. 20 pp. vingtons. 1795.

IS. Ri

It is pleafing to fee a benevolent and excellent inftitution, judicieioufly and powerfully recommended. This truly humane fociety, for the recovery of perfons apparently dead, has long triumphed over the prejudices which oppofed its early efforts, has obtained the royal patronage, is properly incorporated, and is refpected and revered as it deferves. Annual collections are, however, ftill neceffary for the fupport of its funds, and to plead in its behalf a more able advocate could not eafily have been found than Dr. Rennel. After ftating juftly and learnedly the peculiar connection of benevolence with the chriftian fyftem above all others, he proceeds to intereft the feelings of his hearers; and this he performs in such a manner as could not fail to be effectual. His text, Luke ix. 56, is appofite and well chofen; and the whole is fuch a difcourfe as muft operate equally to the honour of the writer, and the benefit of the fociety.

ART. 33. On religious Indifference. A Sermon preached at the Church of St. Mary Woolmoth, London, April 22, 1795; before the Correspondent Board in London, of the Society in Scotland (incorporated by Royal Charter) for Propagating Chriftian Knowledge in the Highlands and flands. By George Hay Drummond, A. M. Prebendary of York. Published at the Requeft of the Society, and of the Correfpondent Board in London. 4to. 27 PP. Is. Strahan. 1795.

This preacher, taking up the important enquiry into the causes of religious indifference, very judiciously enumerates thofe that princi

Sce Gough's Sepulchral Monuments; part i, vol. ii, p. 118.

pally

pally operate at the prefent day, in the manner following: "a pretence of attention to morality, as diftinct from religion; the mistaking licentioufnefs of thought on ferious fubjects, for liberal fentiment; and a weak fufpicion of being efteemed crampt by prejudice, if they adhere to the principles of their childhood; together with an apprehenfion of placing their understandings on a level only with the generality of mankind, did they allow fuch doctrines as are generally received, and adhere to fuch precepts as are generally established." Thefe four caufes, which, at the first fight, will appear to the fagacious reader well felected, are illuftrated at large in the progrefs of the discourse; towards the close of which the author contrasts the ftate of those who act on nobler principles, and finally recommends that particular fociety for which he was called upon to preach. The discourse has confiderable merit.

ART. 34. The Gospel Miffion; or, The Teftimony of the Spirit effential to the Impofition of Hands. A Sermon preached before the Lord Bifhap of London, and the Candidates for Holy Orders, at the general Ordination holden by his Lordship in the Chapel of Fulham Palace, June 21, 1795. By John Owen, A. M. late Fellow of Corpus Chrifti College, Cambridge, and Curate of Henham, Effex. 8vo. 24 pp. IS. Cadell and Davies. 1795.

From the great difficulty and importance of the chriftian miniftry, this author first argues à priori, for the neceffity of preternatural aid, and then remarks the teftimony of fuch aid under the first and fecond difpenfation of revealed religion. The language of Mr. Owen is elegant and clear, and the particulars which he undertakes to ftate are expreffed with force. We have no doubt that his difcourfe was heard with much approbation. His text is Rom. x. 5. "How can they preach except they be fent?"

ART. 35. Six Sermons preached before the Right Hon. Paul Le Mefu rier, Lord Mayor of the City of London. By George Stepney Townley, M. A. Chaplain to his Lordship, Rector of the united Parishes of St. Stephen Walbrook, and St. Bennet Sherehog, and Lecturer of St. Dunstan's in the Eaft. 8vo. 110 pp. 35. Rivingtons. 1794 Thefe are practical difcourfes well adapted to the feveral occafions on which they were delivered. They contain fome plain and temperate ftatements of, and juft remonftrances against, the prevailing errors and faults, political as well as perfonal, of the prefent times. The fubjects of them are, the Holy Communion; fetting God before us; the judgments of God in the earth; equality; liberty; feeking the peace of the city. On thefe fubjects readers in general, and the citizens of London in particular, may find much feasonable admonition and instruction in the refpectable difcourfes of Mr. Townley.

ART.

ART. 36. Published by particular Defire. A Sermon, preached in the Chapels of Queen-Square and St. Margaret, and in the Parish Church of Walcot, in the City of Bath, with a prefatory Address to modern Reformers. By the Rev. C. Daubeny, L. L. B. Fellow of Winchefter College, and Vicar of North-Bradley, in the County of Wilts. 8vo. Is. Rivingtons. 1795.

32 pp.

The addrefs, written with much fpirit, contains a fatisfactory anfwer to a trite objection, that subjects like that of this difcourfe be. long to politicians, and not to divines. "Thefe fubjects (Mr. D. fays) fall under our confideration, not as we are politicians, but as we are concerned for the prefervation of the divine laws, and the peace of the world in which we live. When the power of God, his authority as a law-giver, his providence in governing and difpofing of kingdoms, is totally left out of the modern fcheme of politics; and when felf-will, felf-government, liberty as we like it, and property as we can feize upon it, have taken place of divine law; are the ninifters of that God to feal up their mouths, and thereby give their tacit approbation of fuch a confounding fyftem, &c. ?" P. 8. We difapprove entirely of party-politics in the pulpit; but general politics (as it has been well obferved) are in thefe times a part of general morals. A Chriftian preacher will be true to his profeffion, when he inculcates "the doctrines of order and fubordination, of obedience to government, with an eye to that Supreme Governor, upon whofe autho.rity it is built." P. 9. Mr. D. has done this in a plain, seasonable, and inftructive discourse, on Prov. xxiv. 21. in which we find nothing that could juftly offend any perfons, but those who would fhut the mouths of preachers on these fubjects, left the people should hear fome admonitions unfavourable to the plans fpeciously denominated reformation, but truly fubverfion. There are a few expreffions in this fermon fomewhat too familiar, and unfuitable to the dignity of the pulpit.

ART. 37. The Example of our Enemies, a Leffon of national Abafement and Reformation to ourselves. A Sermon, preached at Yeovil, on Wednefday, the 25th of February, 1795, being the Day appointed for a general Faft. By George Beaver, B. D. Rector of Trent, in the County of Somerfet, and Weft-Stafford, cum Frome Billet, in the County of Dorfet, 4to. 17 pp. IS. Baldwin. 1795.

This is a very found, practical difcourfe, and judiciously adapted to the folemn occafion of it. The atrocious wickedness of our national adverfaries is fpoken of in ftrong and juft terms, without bitterness and coarseness of invective, which have fometimes difgufted us in publications of this nature. And the preacher enforces well the true leffon which the fallen ftate of France holds forth to us; not to exult over them, but "to confider our own ways, enter into a strict examination of our thoughts, words, and actions; compare them with the unerring rule of God's holy word; and, impreffed with a lively fenfe of the guilt we have incurred, by our offences against a gracious Redeemer, form, from this very inftant, an holy refolution of working in ourselves,

with the affiftance of God's grace, an effectual reformation." We approve highly of the author's fentiments on political preaching, which are the fame as those we have commended in Mr. Daubeny's Difcourse. Party politics he condemns, but he says, " a true love of our country, loyalty and fidelity to our fovereign, a regular fubordination to our fuperiors, a quiet and peaceable difpofition, &c. inafmuch as it conftitutes a part of the Chriftian fyftem, cannot (at fuch seasons especially as the prefent) be too frequently, or too ftrongly, inculcated from the pulpit." P. 6. note.

The style is vigorous, elegant, and correct.

ART. 38. A ferious Exhortation to the Inhabitants of Great-Britain, with Reference to the approaching Faft. By the Rev. Thomas RobinJon, M. A. Vicar of St. Mary's, Leicefter. Second Edition. Small 8vo. 24 PP. 3d. Matthews. 1795.

The author hopes, "that the tendency of this addrefs is to promote union and firmnefs in our meafures, as well as a ferious attention to religious duties." To the latter of thefe purposes it is well adapted, being very plain, pious, and practical. But as to "union in our meafures," we do not fee how this is likely to be promoted, by frequent intimations that our public affairs have been ill administered.

ART. 39. Error detected, and Fiction rebuked: in a Letter to Edward Tatham, D. D. fo called, and Rector of Lincoln-College, Oxford; on bis Sermon, 1ft Epiftle John iv. 1. which, (for its excellence) was read in four Parish Worship-boufes, in the Year 1792, and Published under the Title of "A Sermon fuitable to the Times." By Theophilus Haddock. 8vo. 44 pp. 6d. The Bookfellers. 1794. · There is fome fhrewdnefs, but not much of vigour or novelty, in this declamation, by a Quaker, against "fchools and colleges, human arts, learning, and tythes." If the whole book had been written in the fpirit of the following declaration, we fhould have recommended it as a model, in this refpect, to theological difputants: "I am fure I feel nothing but love and good-will to thee in my heart, though I thus write; for thy immortal foul is of great value my heart feems full of love, both to thee and all mankind." p. 15. Sed non-fic omnia!

ART. 40. Unanimity the Security of a Nation. A Sermon preached at Hackney, on Thursday April 23. 1795; on the Prefentation of the Colours to the Loyal Hackney Volunteers. By the Rev. J. Symons, B. D. Published at the Requeft of the Affociation. 8vo. 32 pp. 1s. Rivingtons, &c. 1795.

The topics of this difcourfe are the duty, the neceffity, and the prefent peculiar need of unanimity. Thefe topics are difcuffed in a very judicious and temperate manner, and the difcourfe abounds with wholefome admonitions fuited to the prefent circumftances of this nation. We are particularly pleafed with pp. 29, 30; and fhall tranfcribe them, in part, as being defcriptive of the excellent pur

pofes

poses of the military affociations, which, under legal authority, have happily become fo very general throughout the kingdom.

The object of our affociation is peace: not to disturb, bat to preferve it. Though it wears the garb of military array, it breathes nothing but the peaceful fpirit of the pureft benevolence, and fo far from taking up arms to fpill, unites for the purpose of preventing the effufion of blood. It is not armed and difciplined to carry war and defolation into other countries, but to preserve and maintain tranquility at home. It ferves not the narrow purposes of party. It difdains to be the tool of any set of men. Its views are pure, and unmixed with all the policies of courts, and all the motives of private vanity or gain. Its views are to the public peace. Its defign ftrictly defenfive. Its measures all preventive. Its operations fubfervient to the civil power, and then only to be brought forward when actual danger fhall call for its affiftance, to refift the invafion of a foreign enemy, or prevent the fad effects of riot and diforder here at home."

ART. 41. The Moral Law confidered as a Rule of Life to Believers. Defigned as an Antidote to Antinomianifm. By Samuel Burder. 12mo. 79 PP. Is. Lockman, Coventry; Button, &c. London. 1795, This author's defign is rather to "state and confirm the truth" on the fubject he undertakes, than to enter into a controverfy upon it. Though we do not agree with him in fome of his notions, yet we willingly allow that his book feems to be well intended, and that it is wellwritten. It deferves the attention of real Antinomians; whose moral conduct is probably in fact much better, than their principles, if acted up to, would be found to demand. We doubt not that this is the cafe with the holders of many other extravagant opinions.

ART. 42. The Efficacy of divine Aid, and the Vanity of confiding in Man. A Sermon preached on Occafion of the late General Faft, March 25, 1795, By Benjamin Dawson, L. L. D. Rector of Burgh, in Suffolk. 4tc. 23 pp. 1s. Lunn, Cambridge; Johnson, London. 1795.

This difcourfe, as far as p. 1o, is pious, rational, and unexceptionable, inculcating and impreffing very ftrongly the duty of trufting in God rather than in man. The remainder of it is, for the most part, directed against what the author calls wicked alarms, and is rather calculated to promote difcontent than repentance.

ART. 43. A Sermon preached September 7, 1794, on Occafion of the Death of the Rev. William Turner, more than thirty Years Minifter of the Congregation of Proteftant Diffenters in Weftgate Wakefield, and published at their Requeft. By William Wood. To which are added Memoirs of Mr. Turner's Life and Writings. Svo. 56 pp. is. Johnson. 1794•

It is impoffible not to fympathize with the ingenious and eloquent author of this funeral eulogy. The demife of a venerable and learned paftor is a fubject of rational feeling and natural regret. It feems to