thefe projects are to be refifted, are much more ferious and important. For when we fee men of the moft latitudinarian principles UNIFORMLY preffing forward this dangerous propofal, when we fee the moft unbounded panegy rics beftowed on those who have converted the Mofaic hiftory into allegory, and the New Teftament into Socinianifm, when we see these attempts ftudioufly foftened and applauded by the advocates for this projected revifion, we muft conjecture that fomething more is meant than a correction of miftakes, or an improvement of diction. Those doctrines, the demolition of which we know to be, in late inftances, the grand object of fuch innovators, when they propose alterations in articles of faith, or correction of liturgical forms, are furely in ftill greater danger when attempted by the fame men under the diftant approaches of a revifion of our English Bible." P. 236.

The conclufion of this Difcourfe, in which the preacher with much energy touches on the danger of too great an approximation in the clergy to the manners of the times, is of - fuch peculiar excellence and utility, that we must give it entire.

"In the prefent day," he most juftly fays, "it is perhaps a want of abftinence from amusements, which (as far as my obfervation can carry me) has contributed more to diminish the power and effect of our labours, and to lower the dignity of our character, than it is poffible to conceive or calculate. Nor doth it reft here-Levity of manners muft affect our doctrines. Thefe, it will be neceffary for us in mere felf defence, to lower down to the standard of our PRACTICE. But to be drowned in fashionable amusements, to go down the full tide of pleasure and diffipation, is not to difcharge our duty to our Flocks, our King, and our Country, in this moment of their greatest need. It is furely to cheat mankind of thofe exertions, by which alone peace, virtue, fubordination, and happiness can be restored and perpetuated among us. At a time when the foldier is undergoing his temporal warfare, courageoufly ftruggling against the fatigue of his labours and the anguish of his wounds, it ill becomes us foldiers of Chrift to flacken our activity, refolution, and fidelity in this our spiritual

career.

"Men in fuch circumstances should be aware, that every approximation to the MANNERS of the world, fets us nearer to the morals of

the translation of the Bible now in ufe, and little altered fince; there feems to be in it as great strains of true fublime eloquence, as are any where to be found in our language, which every man of good tafte will observe in the Communion Service, that of Burial, and other parts.

"With this opinion the late Lord Monboddo, whofe eminent and profound critical skill in ancient languages rendered him a confummate judge of the ftructure and beauties of our own, entirely coincides→→→ I hold (fays he) the English Bible to be the bef Aandard of the English language we have at this day." Vide Origin and Progrefs of Language, vol ii. p. 141,"

it. And woe be to that Minister of the Gofpel who by a flagrant act of known profligacy, at any time, adds by his conduct to the triumph of the wicked, to the affliction of the virtuous, to the seduction of the innocent, to the perverfenefs of the captious, and to the general furtherance of the powers of Hell and of Darkness! But at THIS tremendous crifis, what can be faid of fuch a conduct! Is it to tear open thofe wounds which we fhould be binding up with the tendereft affection,-it is to ftrike a deep and deadly blow at the vitals of our fainting country,it is to difpenfe poifon inftead of medicine to languishing and confiding patient,-it is to ftifle all natural affection for thofe of our nearest relatives, who must partake of the temporal effects which our example occafions! If fuch there be, not I truft many in number, well may the Apoftle exclaim, "Wretched men that they are, who shall deliver them from the body of this death?"

"From the edification I have received from most of my brethren who are employed in the ministerial office in this metropolis, than whom I believe no body of Clergy in thefe latter times have exhibited a more fteady, fincere, and confpicuous piety,-from the perfonal knowledge I have of fome, who by the purity of their conduct, and the fervor of their zeal, would have been an ornament to the beft and moft primitive ages of the Church; from the eminent virtue, zeal, and piety, of that excellent PRELATE whom God has called to the government of this Diocese, I am convinced that in these fentiments I fhall meet with the cordial concurrence and agreement of those who now hear me. All in this venerable affembly will join me in fervent afpirations to the great Shepherd of the Sheep, that he will give his heavenly protection to his faithful expecting Church, and that after all our trials, ftruggles, anxieties, temptations, and afflictions are ended, we may have fo fought that good fight, and fo finished our courfe in this our earthly and militant ftate, that we may be thought worthy to be admitted to that triumphant Church above, where, in the prefence of God and of his Chrift, "the tears fhall be for ever wiped from every eye." P. 244.

It is from want of fpace more than from want of inclination, or from the fmalleft inferiority in the other Sermons, that we withhold any further extracts. But, refpecting Difcourfes fo excellent, fomething fhould be faid to diftinguith the specific merits of each. Difcourfe 1. On Gaming, has been justly celebrated as a remonftrance of great force, against a moft degrading and deftructive vice. If the author has been fuppofed to include too indifcriminately under his cenfure the innocent amusement (if taken in moderation) of frugal play, the objection, we think, is obviated fufficiently in an Appendix now fubjoined.

The fecond. Difcourfe, on Old Age, proves diftin&ly, and with found argument, that neither pleasure, ambition, or knowledge, except the knowledge of Chrift and him crucified, can afford fubftantial comfort to declining life; and that the

3

ftores

ftores then to be enjoyed must be provided principally in youth.

Difcourfe III, contains a masterly and learned proof that the doctrine of Benevolence is, and of neceffity muft be, unknown to Natural Religion, and refts, notwithstanding all the pretences of modern Philofophy, on Chriftianity alone. Here we cannot forbear to quote a part of one Note, and the whole of another, in which the ignorance of T. Paine is most justly expofed.

"The author of "the Age of Reafon" is pleafed to affert, that "the Bible of the Creation is inexhauftible in texts." Yet fo ill was it understood by Cicero, who knew not, and Mr. Hume who rejected the Gofpel, that both confeffed that utter doubt and uncertainty was the refult of the beft philofophy." P. 103.

"Of the Divine Nature, Cicero afferts, "Res nulla eft de quâ tantopere non folum INDOCTI, fed etiam DOCTI diffentiant;" and a little before, Qui Deos effe dixerunt tantâ funt in varietate et diffentione, ut eorum moleftum fit dinumerare fententias." De Nat. Deor. This citation will enable the most fuperficial reader to difcern the broad, vulgar, and elementary ignorance of the following pofitions of Mr. T. PAINE in the above-mentioned tract :-" Deism, then, teaches us, without the paffibility of being deceived, ALL that is neceffary, and poffible, to be known. The creation is the Bible of the Deift."

Inftead of ftudying theology, as is now done, out of the Bible and Teftament, it is neceffary that we refer to the Bible of the Creation. The principles we difcover there are eternal and of divine origin; they are the foundation of all the science that exifts in the world, and must be the foundation of theology."-Affertions fo grofsly ignorant may be expofed, but fcarcely need confutation. Nothing can give them a momentary impo tance or currency but the growing neglect of ancient learning, and the foppifh indolence of the age. But let it be remembered, that if men of HIGH RANK will embalm the memory, and fpread the pofthumous fneers of GIBBON, the vulgar, corrupted by their example, will swallow the atrocious blafphemies of PAINE. Let THEM, therefore, look to the confequences." Ibid.

Difcourfe IV, was preached for the Benefit of the Charity for the Sons of the Clergy, and a more animated and rational defence of the Church of England could not be pronounced. It well exemplifies what the author himself fo justly afferts in another place.

"We may conclude that a temperate and decided zeal for the peculiar and distinguishing doctrines of the Church to which we belong, is not only reconcileable to our duty as Chriftians, but infeparable from it, in this its hour of danger and difficulty. Well may this chafte fpoufe of Chrift exclaim with affection to her true fons in these days, have continued with me in my tribulations," P. 236.

"Ye

The

The fifth Difcourfe most excellently thows how we ought to rejoice before God for his prefent mercies to us; namely, to rejoice with trembling," Pfal ii, 11. "Great," fays the author, "are the dangers we have ftill to encounter, and flupendous are the obstacles we have yet to furmount, calling for every refource of courage, fobriety, patience, energy, and activity." P. 162.

Difcourfe VI, explains the true foundations of the Chrif tian Benevolence, afferted before in the third.

The feventh we have already noticed, and its tendency may be collected from our extracts.

The eighth Difcourfe illuftrates the great Chriflian doctrine of Atonement, and afferts it against the foppifhness of an apoftate age," and "that fhort-fight reafon which," as the author truly obferves," is feldom weaker than in those who affect the largest portion, and the cooleft exercife of it." P. 222. From the ninth, we have given fufficient fpecimens.

Difcourfe X, preached before the Trinity-Houfe in 1797, expatiates, with thankfulness, on the advantages of our infular fituation, and commercial profperity. To this Sermon is fubjoined the following Note.

"This Sermon was preached before the victories obtained by Earl St. Vincent, Lord Duncan, and Lord Nelfon. Such an acceffion of national Itrength and fecurity as thefe heroes have earned for their country, within fo fhort a fpace of time, even the molt fanguine enthufiafm could not have anticipated, May the glory be afcribed unto God!"

Difcourfe XI. This Sermon, which fo amply and ably explains the effects of ignorance, in producing both fuperftition and Atheism, is moft highly worthy of attention, and truly fit to be delivered before an ancient University.

Difcourfes XII, XIII, XIV, are on Death and Sin, from the important text, 1 Cor. xv, 56, 57. They offer a collective and a masterly view of the natural and invincible evils brought upon the human race by Sin, and of the only effectual remedy, -the facrifice and merits of our blessed Saviour.

With this view of the prefent volume prefented to him, what ferious and reflecting Chriftian can poffibly doubt, that the whole is truly worthy of his perufal and most serious confideration? To fuch we earnestly recommend it.

ART. IX. A Treatife on Land Surveying, in Six Parts. Part 1. contains Definitions and Problems in Geometry. Part II. Rules for finding the Content of Land without using a Chain, but by stepping the Dimenfions, by which any Hufbandman, who knows the first Five Rules of Arithmetic, may find the Content of his own Work. Part III. To furvey with the Chain and Crofs. Part IV. To furvey with the Chain only. Part V. Rules for parting off any given Portion of a Field, in Form of a Triangle, Square, or Parallelogram. Part VI. A full Explanation of the Method used by the most eminent Surveyors, in measuring and planning a Farm or a Lordship, with a Chain only. Illuftrated with Five Copper. Plates, and an engraved Fac-fimile of a Field-book. Plates exhibit the progreffive Steps of planning a small Farm, and point out the Appearance of the Plan in Six different Stages. By Thomas Dix, of Oundle. The Whole illuftrated with One Hundred and Eighty Diagrams, and Ten Copper-Plates. 8vo. 5s. Iceley. 1799.

The

THIS work, the author informs us, is defigned for the use of

fchools; to inftruct boys in the firft rudiments of landfurveying by the chain and crofs only. It is divided into Six Parts. The 1ft contains a few definitions, and thirty-nine problems in practical geometry, without demonstrations, wherein nothing uncommon is advanced on the fubject. The 2d contains rules for finding the content of land without ufing a chain, by fepping the dimenfions, the knowledge of the four first rules of arithmetic being all that is previously neceffary. The author supposes that a perfon, by half an hour's practice, can afcertain the length, in yards, of any line, by walking or stepping over it, nearly enough for common occafions. But this, we think, is at best only gueffing at the content, and attended with more labour than the ufe of the chain. This method is exemplified by twelve diagrams. The 3d by eighteen examples directs how to furvey with the chain and crofs. Rough fketches are given of the pieces to be furveyed in a field-book, the dimensions put down, and the points where offsets cut the bafe lines noted. Hence are the fields planned, and their contents found. This mode of furveying is indubitably the most eligible, as no errors can poffibly arife, if the neceflary dimen fions are attended to; and it is now adopted by the most skilful furveyors. In the 4th part, we have directions to furvey with the chain only. The sketch of the field is here also taken with the dimensions only for plotting it. When the field is

plotted,