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Tho' he drew his ancient blood

From the bold undaunted flood

That boil'd in Norman William's fiery breaft ; &c.

DRAMATIC.

Art. 28. The Artifice; a Comic Opera, in Two Acts. As performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury-Lane. By William Auguftus Miles. 8vo. 1 S. Cadell. 1780.

The Writer of this Comic Opera feems to value himself on the fidelity of his draughts of fea characters. We cannot boast a fufficient degree of forecastle learning to enable us to difcover their excellence. To us they appear much more lifeless and infipid than Congreve's Ben, or even than the "group of characters in the Fair Quaker of Deal," which our Author affects to defpife. Counterparts of Commodore Flip and Beau Mizen may ftill be found in the navy, and are as fair fubjects of ridicule as any land characters. The ftage generally does juftice to "their bravery, their honefty, and their contempt of danger;" and even the Captain Ironfides of Cumberland, attacked by our privateer Poet, cafts no unworthy reflection on the gentlemen of the navy. How far the Lieutenants of our fleet may be pleafed to acknowledge Charles as a brother officer," we cannot determine. For our parts, we are more delighted with the far

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cical jargon of Sir Benjamin Brief, and the military rage of Mrs. C1

'Bobbin.

Art. 29. The Volunteers; or, Taylors to Arms! a Comedy, of

One Act; as performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden.
The Music by Mr. Hook. 8vo. I S. Almon, &c. 1780.
This "Comedy of One A&" is fearce half an act of a forry farce! C,
Art. 30. The Siege of Gibraltar; a Mufical Farce, in Two
Acts. As it is performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden.
By F. Pilon. 8vo. 19. Kearly.
Temporary and trifling!

SERMON S.

I.-Preached before the House of Lords in the Abbey-Church of Westminster, Jan. 31, 1780, by Thomas Lord Bishop of Lincoln. 4to. 1s. Owen.

C.

63,80.

A great deal of courtly elegance appears in this difcourfe; the 1e Vol. chief object of which is to recommend the duty of obedience to the higher powers. His Lordship hath drawn a striking picture of that fanatic fpirit which occafioned the troubles and confusion that preceded and followed the death of King Charles. The prevalent party, intoxicated with a love of power, no fooner perceived in the King a flexible difpofition, than they began with encreafing vehemence to reiterate their complaints of tyranny. The republican fpirit, which, in conjunction with the fpirit of puritanism, had fecretly diffused the poifon of difaffection to the eftablished government of church and state, now burst forth. The leaders availing themfelves of the efficacy of this levelling principle, fo adapted to their purpose, instructed the populace where to direct their feditious invectives; while they themfelves flood prepared to fecond their endeavours; to tear down every fence which a reverence for Majefty had planted round the throne; to - annihilate every branch of the prerogative; and to wreft by tumul

tuous

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tuous force out of the hands of royalty, the whole executive power of the flate. So unexpected a convulfion aftonished all ranks of people: those whom a love for their country had at firft prompted to join the popular party, found their paffions fo enflamed by the ardour of controverfy, that they knew not where to draw the boundary, nor how to difengage themfelves from councils in which they had taken fo confiderable a fhare. Some few who faw into the fatal tendency of thefe councils, preferved their integrity amidst the conflict; and with the bravery of untainted loyalty, defended the caufe of injured Majefty by the most weighty arguments drawn from history, and the fundamental laws of the conflitution; till overpowered by numbers, and filenced by clamour, they were compelled to confult their perfonal fa ey, and to with draw from fcenes which threatened universal ruin to the kingdom The moft atrocious, ftimulated by a reftlefs ambition, entertained hopes of future greatnefs in the profpect of impending civil war, and accordingly rendered ineffectual every propofal for an accommodation. Religion in the mean time, that facred friend to union and peace, was, by a fingular perverfion, employed to aid the caufe of fedition and rebellion. Hypocrify, arrayed in the robe of piety, became perfect in the habitual exercife of the arts of deception. The pulpit, the fenate, and even the camp, afforded in succeffion a theatre for the difplay of her powers, and alternately refounded with the declamations of falfehood, impofture, and treafon. Thefe in their turn operating on the diftempered imaginations of men, produced a gloomy fpirit of fanaticifm, which, under the fancied impreffions of fuperior direction, fanctified every deed of wickedness, and ferved the more effectually to adminifter the poisonous ingredients which hypocrify had prepared. To a combination of these principles, however contradictory, may be referred many of the celebrated characters of that age;-the character of ONE in particular, the magnitude of whofe crimes has rendered him confpicuous, and whofe elevation on the ruins of liberty, was not lefs owing to the dark duplicity of his defigns, than to the ftrong impulfe of the fanatic fpirit which fo rapidly promoted the execution of them. To a combination of these principles may be referred the precipitate demolition of our religious eftab ifhment, which fell the first facrifice to popular fury. The fathers of the church were faithful to the crown, and zealous fupporters of the conftitution: hence they were excluded from their fhare in the public councils, and their order was voted ufelefs. The clergy were in general a learned body, and exemplary in their lives; but they "honoured the king;" and hence they were denominated fcandalous minifters, were haraffed, ejected from their churches, and imprisoned.'

Some will think, and perhaps not unjustly, that the bishop's zeal hath led him to colour this picture of fanaticifm with too bold a pencil; but we cannot avoid remarking, that the circumstance alluded to in the concluding paragraph of our quotation is, on reflection, fufficient to to provoke the indignation of every friend of the established church; and we truft that not many, in thefe more liberal days, will be found amongst the Diffenters, who can, on ferious conviction, and without a bluth, vindicate that farce of mockery to God, and infult and tyranny to man, exhibited by a fet of gloomy wayward enthu

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fiafts and dark defigning hyprocrites, who were deputed by Cromwell
to fit in judgment on the minifters of the church of England, and info.
lently affumed the title of TRYERS. One object of their examination,
as fpecified in their commiffion, was this;-Whether fuch or such
minifters had the work of grace in their hearts ?" The names which
fhone most illuftrioufly in this fpiritual committee were thofe of Ste-
phen Marshall, Philip Nye, Jofeph Caryl; and above all Hugh
Peters! Their very names carrying ridicule with them; but at that
time of day they were regarded with a reverence that bordered on
adoration; and those mock difcerners of the Spirit were classed in the
very first rank of the excellent of the earth.
B...k.
II.-Preached in the Parish Church of Welfeby in Lincolnshire, Oc
tober 3, 1779, by John Whitcombe, A. M. Rector of that Church,
and Chaplain to Lord Milford. 4to. Is. Crowder.

This is a plain, ferious, and well-intended difcourfe on the advan-
tages of the gofpel difpenfation, and the obligations under which its
profeffors are to exert their influence to promote its propagation.
This fermon was preached in confequence of the letters lately ad-
dreffed by his Majesty to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and by his
Grace to the Diocefan Bishops, &c. &c. for the purpose of supporting,
by fresh contributions, the miffions of the Proteftant clergy into foreign
parts, for the propagation of the gospel. The object is of import-
ance, and Mr. Whitcombe is no mean advocate for its fuccefs.
III.-Preached on the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's Release from
the Tower, at St. Mildred's, London, where the stopped to hear
Divine Service in her Way to the Palace. By the Rev. J. Mont-
gomery, Chaplain to the 10th Infantry. 8vo. 6d. Dilly.
A lively, fpirited difcourfe, but a little too inflated.

B...k.

IV. Univerfal Toleration recommended.-Preached at St. John's Church
in Hackney, February 13, 1780. By Benjamin Choyce Sowden,
8vo. Is. Cadell.

This fermon truly answers its title; and enforces, with folid argu-
ments, and in good language, the ftriking expoftulation of St. Paul,

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Who art thou that judgeft another man's fervant? To his own
mafter he ftandeth or falleth." The author treats of the late repeal
of the penal ftatutes against the Papists. On this subject he delivers
his opinion with great candour and judgment, and from this part of
his difcourfe we with pleasure prefent our readers with the following
extracts. I am willing to hope, that few who now wish to protest
against repealing thefe ftatutes are acquainted with the severity of the
penalties they inflict. These were, as an ingenious foreigner ob-
ferves, fo "
rigorous, though not profeffedly of the fanguinary kind,
that they do all the injury that can be done in cold blood." In fhort,
they were odious and deteftable; a disgrace to our statutes, and a re-
proach to our nation!

It will perhaps be faid, that thofe ftatutes, from the moderation of
the times, would never have been exerted; but if this be true, why
fhould they not be repealed? It can hardly be fuppofed that any
would be fo entirely inconfiftent in their conduct as to petition Go-
vernment against the abrogation of laws which they intended fhould
` never be carried into execution. Befides, until these acts were an-
nulled, it was in the power of any contemptible informer to oblige the

magiftrate

magiftrate to enforce them in all their rigour; and as a late learned writer juttly obferves, "it ought not to be left in the breaft of every mercilefs bigot, to drag down the vengeance of thofe occafional laws apon inoffenfive, though mistaken fubjects, in oppofition to the lenient inclinations of the magistrate, and to the destruction of every principle of toleration and religious liberty." B.... V.-Preached in the Church of St. Andrew's, Dublin, on Sunday the 6th of February, 1780, in aid of a charitable Fund for the Support of twelve Boys and eight Girls. By Thomas Campbell, LL.D. Published for the Benefit of the Charity, 4to. 1 s. Dublin printed.

It appears that, befide the annual collection, the funds for the fupport of this charity are only an eftate of twenty-four pounds a year, and a leafe of twenty pounds bequeathed by the late Colonel Paul, which lease is on the eve of expiration: it therefore feems greatly to need the recommendation it receives from Dr. Campbell. His difcourfe from Matt. v. 48, is ingenious and fenfible. Towards the close he obferves, 'a black and gloomy cloud has long hung over this, hitherto, unfortunate ifland. The numbers of our poor grew greater, as the means of relieving them grew lefs; public confidence failed, and yet our charity was not chilled; but our hands could not obey the warm dictates of our hearts. Thefe collections have of course, been every where smaller, this feason, than in former years; but, happily, that alarming cloud is now difperfed, a political day-fpring hath vifited this land, public credit is already restored. Your barrel of -meal will not wale, neither will your crufe of oil fail.' H. VI. Preached before the University of Oxford, at St. Mary's, on the 25th of October, 1779; being the Anniversary of his Majelly's Acceffion to the Throne. By James Williamfon, A. M. Fellow of Hereford College. 8vo. 1s. Dodfiey.

After fpeaking of the advantages which he fuppofes attend here-ditary fucceffion, the preacher proceeds to confider an objection which has been fometimes advanced, that the christian religion is at variance with those principles by which human focieties are improved and brought to perfection.' The objection is flated at length, in the words of Monf. Bayle; the answer is neceffarily more prolix, and after other remarks, fummed up in the following terms: On the whole it appears, that thofe who adopt Bayle's notion of our religion, have never attended to Our Saviour's prophetic character, and the circumflances and expectations of the Jews; and are moreover misled by pot diftinguishing between the orders and directions given for propagating the Christian religion, and the Chriftian religion itself, than which no two things can be more diltinct; for the vifible kingdom of Satan must -be abolished in any nation, before it can have the leaft pretenfions to call itfelf Chriftian and while this work was carrying on, the moft effectual aid which the pious Chriftian could lend must be derived from his prayers and works of charity. The frong holds of Satan were too well fortified to yield to the carnal weapons of human warfare. And the first chriftians were not nations of chriftians, but as fheep amorg wolves; and therefore a more than ordinary circumfpe&tion would be -neceffary and as human focieties would not protect them, it was alfo oneceffary that they should be conftantly looking for fupernatural pro

tection

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tection from God. But after this viûble kingdom of Satan was abo-
lished by the extirpation of idol worship, human affairs, we may
fuppofe, returned into their natural channel; and it is agreeable to
the general plan of God's dealings with mankind, to lend them no
farther fupernatural aid than what their circumstances abfolutely re-
quire. Other confiderations are added to remove the difficulty, of
which our limits will not allow a particular notice. In the close of
the discourse it is obferved, what great advantage Chriflianity affords
for rendering government eafy and beneficial to mankind. One remark
we cannot avoid inferting; It is impotlible, fays he, that a Christian
King could employ any other than pious chriftians in places of truft
and confequence.' If this be true, what opinion must we form of
kings and courts, almoft if not entirely, throughout Christendom! H.
VII. A Vifitation Sermon.-Preached at Truro, Cornwall, May 18th,
1779; with a PREFACE PREFIXED, and a Dedication to the Earl
of Dartmouth. By Samuel Furly, B. A. late of Queen's College,
Cambridge, 4:0. is. Dilly, &c.

This difcourfe will be highly acceptable to thofe who have learned
to defpife the beggarly elements of human reafon, and to value the doc-
trines of religion in proportion to the degree in which they are mys-
terious and incomprehenfible. By fuch readers the following paffage,
though to the unenlightened it may appear little better than errant
nonienfe, will be thought peculiarly fublime and edifying:

The word of God, we are by no means backward to affert, is replete with myfteries fo exceeding high, fo very abstruse, so fuperlatively strange, that could the veil which now in part covers them be wholly removed, their extreme fplendour might be infupportable to the foul with its prefent faculties, imprifoned in these tenements of clay. If excess of joy, if height of furprize has been found to overpower, even to intant diffolution, fome perfons, it cannot be thought impoffible, but that man in this life may be under an incapacity to endure fuch an extacy, in which all the thoughts would be abfolutely abforbed.'

It would be very kind, if these favourites of heaven, who are per-
mitted to take a peep behind the veil of myfteries, would, in conde-
fcenfion to the common herd of ignorant mortals, more plainly de-
clare the wonderful things they have feen; or that, in compaffion to
our blindness, they would fay nothing of things which we cannot
comprehend.

VIII. The Example of Jefus in his Youth, recommended to Imitation.
At St. Thomas's, January 1, 1780, for the Benent of the Charity-
School in Gravel lane, Southwark. By Andrew Kippis, D. D.
F. R. S. and S. A. Printed at the Request of the Managers. 8vo.
6d. Goldney.

E.

A plain, ferious, practical difcourfe, recommending the early cultivation of piety and virtue, from the acount which is given of Our Saviour's childhood by St. Luke, ii. 52. H. IX. The Perfection of the Chriflian's Chara&er,—Confifling particu. larly in Sincerity, Uniformity, Progretion, Comfort, Agreement and Peace. Preached at the Meeting houfe in Barbican, May the 6th, 1779, before the Affembly of Proteftant Diffenters of the

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