THE BRITISH CRITIC, FOR JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, M DCCCI. Χαλεπὸν, ἄνθρωπον ὅνα, μὴ διαμαριάνειν ἐν πολλοῖς, τὰ μὲν ὅλως ἀγνοήσανία, GALEN. VOLUME XVIII. London: PRINTED FOR F. AND C. RIVINGTON, 18.1. PRINTED BY T, RICKABY, PETERBOROUGH COURT, FLEET-STRERT. PREFACE. MONG the profpects of Peace, few are more pleafing to a true critic, than that of feeing literature flourish, the commerce of learning renewed, and fecurity and leifure prepared for thofe on whom the Mufes fmile, or whom inventive Genius qualifies to increase the triumphs of art, or extend the boundaries of knowledge. That hope is now conceded to us, and we truft our future volumes will record as realized, what we at prefent hail as probable. Yet there are enemies with whom, for the fake of public happinefs and tranquillity, BRITISH CRITICS muft not make even a moment's truce. Thefe are, the affailants of religion, infidelity and impiety; or the difturbers of the ftate, faction and difloyalty; enemies, whofe inroads called us from our voluntary studies, to a state of literary warfare; to wield the pen, and fhed the ink, which otherwife would have been quietly confumed, in defence of all that we hold facred in religion, valuable in law, or useful in fociety. Those enemies, as we cannot hope to drive them from the field, we muft always be prepared to combat: happy if we may at least preferve the ftatus quo, prepared for us in church and ftate, by our honest and judicious ancestors. Dulnefs, Ignorance, and their companion Impudence, we must alfo oppofe; but not fo much in the character of enemies with whom we are to contend, as in that of delinquents whom it is our office to punith. Not that infidelity and fedition difdain even these affociates; but ftill, what BRIT. CRIT, VOL. XVIII. a ever ever the main force may be, the parties that are formed of flaves may fafely be encountered with whips instead of fwords. In our Prefaces, however, we wage no hoftilities; our business here is only to recount and pay honour to our friends. DIVINITY. Influenced by the importance of the work to theological study, we cannot hesitate to give the first place here to the elaborate Edition and Collation of the Septuagint, by Dr. Holmes*. Amidft the fhades of difference to be found among the opinions of learned men, concerning the particular ufes of this venerable verfion, all who are competent to judge, will pronounce it to be highly valuable; will fee with pleasure its advance through the three firft books of Mofes, and be ready, doubtlefs, to affift with patronage the completion of a work fo excellent. The friends of biblical criticifm will receive alfo with peculiar fatisfaction, a Verfion of the Prophet Hofea, produced by the labour, and illuftrated by the fagacity, of the acute and learned Bishop of Rochestert. Our remarks upon this work have hitherto been only commenced; but even in the Preface there are inftruction and ability enough to ftamp its value, and to promise further fatisfaction, in proportion to our further research. Such at least are our expectations, and by writers fo established, they are not often fruftrated. Befides these two works, we have several to mention that are good; though none of equal importance. As an inftance of ingenuity, conducted by found judgment, we praised, and recollect with pleasure, an anonymous Effay on the Plurality of Worlds. It takes up the subject, as connected with the doctrine of Redemption, and tends to remove difficulties by + No. VI. p. 569. 1 No. IV. p. 405. • No. V. p. 449. which many minds have been affected. As it is no longer anonymous to us, we fhould now perhaps impart our knowledge, were we not reftrained by circumftances, temporary indeed, but of peculiar delicacy. Against an inveterate enemy of Chrif tianity, Mr. Roberts has stepped forth with a zeal well fuited to the caufe. His vindication of our faith, if not so animated as the attack, has fincerity and truth upon its fide; and the weapons of truth äre like the fword Of Michael, from the armoury of God,which, as our immortal poet feigns, with fuch propriety, Was given him temper'd fo, that neither keen Nor folid might refift that edge. To the benefit of the Church, within itself, Dr. Napleton has directed his judicious efforts; first, in advice to candidates for Holy Orderst; and, latterly, in Advice to a Minifter of the Gofpelt: a tract, breathing the fame fpirit with the former, and conducted with equal judgment. For the domeftic ufe of all Chriftians, Mr. Talbot has drawn up his laborious and inftructive Analysis of the Holy Bibles; a book of good arrangement and convenient reference, and calculated to augment, by very eafy application, our ftores of facred knowledge. In his Expofition of the Commandments, Dr. Glaffe has alfo rendered fervice to the Chriftian student. His book, without affecting profundity, is accurate, and adds practical utility to pious knowledge. From Scotland we received a small volume, which we thought worthy of particular notice; profeffing to contain A Layman's Account of his Faith and Practice, in the Epifcopal Church of that kingdom. + Noticed Brit. Crit. vol. vi. p. 255. || No. II. p. 203. * No. IV. P. 337. |