Widely as the knowledge of the new medicines is diffused, and numerous and zealous as their advocates are, there feems no just reafon for the extreme uneafiness shown, that a few perfons ftill hesitate to acknowledge their antifyphilitic powers. If the refult of future trials fhould prove as favourable as fome of the reports already published, why not leave thefe fceptifts to the difgrace that certainly awaits them, if they fhall ultimately be found to have been obitinately contending against the truth?

DIVINITY.

ART. 29. A Serhion, preached before the Honourable House of Commons, on the 29th of November, 1798, at the Church of St. Margaret, Weft minfer, being the Day of General Thanksgiving for the Success of His Majefty's Arms. By Thomas Rennel, D. D. Master of the Temple. Printed by Order of the Honourable Houfe of Commons. Second Edition. 8vo. 22 pp. IS. Rivingtons, &c. 1798.

To preferve the humility of Chriftian devotion, amidst the triumph of victory, is a point of no fmall moment in fuch occafional difcourfes; and this propriety is ftrialy and feelingly obferved in the prefent publication of Dr. Rennell. His text is " Rejoice with trembling" (Pfal. ii. v. 11.) which in itself marks the right feeling of the author.

After a few general and able obfervations on the providential government of nations, Dr. Rennel takes a specific view of the nature of our prefent conteft. In this part, the following impreffive paffage will give our readers a very just idea of the difcourfe.

Men of fharp wits and beggard fortunes early faw, that under the thin difguife of liberty and fraternity, fuch confufion would enfue, as might probably lead to their real and favourite project; that is, to a repartition of property in every nation in Europe. Add to this, that the relaxed and morbid ftate of morals throughout Europe, incalculably aided and accelerated the progrefs of the evil. Disorders which a found and vigorous body, though at the expence of fome firuggles, refifts, where the whole head is fick, and the whole heart faint,' foon overfpread a difeafed frame with putrefaction and diffolution. The oppofition which found and genuine religion might have offered, was enervated by SUPERSTITION, and overwhelmed by the ATHEISM which the corruptions of SUPERSTITION had principally engendered. The debility, the difcord, the private and selfish views of many of thofe Continental Powers, who attempted to counteract this revolutionary fyftem by force of arms, and the treachery of many of the inftruments in whom they confided, fo baffled and enfeebled every effort to oppofe the common enemy, that a train of the most unprof perous events enfued; and in the iffue of the conteft, the most flourishing, fertile, and opulent countries, in very diftant regions of the world, became in their turns the victims of infult, violence, and depredation. Of French principles, and of French force, it may feelingly be faid, "the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a defolate wilderness." P. 7.

We with the author had avoided the word germ, in p. 6. We would not willingly adopt any word that favours of the neological cant of republican France. In fuch a writer, it only proves how active the contagion is, and how difficult it is for any one to be fufficiently on his guard against it. Our determination is, to refift its incroachment in every poffible shape.

ART. 30. A Sermon on the Excellence of British Jurifprudence: preached an the Tenth of March 1799, in the Cathedral Church of Salisbury before the Fudges of Affize. By William Coxe, A. M. F. R. Š. F. A. S. Rector of Bemerton, and Domeftic Chaplain to the Lord Bifup of Salisbury. 8vo. 27 PP. 16. Cadell and Davies. 1799.

The author gives a clear and comprehenfive view of his fubject, by felecting with judgement the principal points of excellence by which our fyftem of laws is diftinguifhed, and the advantages of the manner in which they are administered.

ART. 31. A Sermon, preached in the Church of St. John Baptift, Wak field, for the Benefit of the Choir of the faid Church; for defraying neceffary and incidental Expences, and forming a Fund for its fu ture Permanence and Profperity. By the Rev. Richard Munkboufe, D. D. To which are added, Notes, and an Appendix. 4to. 46 pp. Is. 6d. Rivingtons. 1798.

The zeal of Dr. Munkhoufe, in forming a choir in his parishchurch, and introducing into it Mr. Merrick's verfion of the Pfalms, with Mr. Tatterfall's improved Pfalmody," was commended by us in our eleventh volume, p. 682. In the prefent difcourfe, on 2 Chron, xxix, 30, Dr. M, gives a concife account of the rife of Pfalmody among the Jews in the reign of David, its progrefs under Solomon, its fubfequent declenfion, and its revival under Hezekiah. "We cannor," he fays, "boaft the perfonal prefence of a David, a Solomon, or an Hezekiah, but we have the countenance of a gracious Prince on the throne of thefe realms, whofe Power, whofe Virtues, whofe Piery, we may compare with theirs." He then proceeds to confider briefly the ftate of Pfalmody in these our times," (p. 22) and the improvements of it adopted in the parish-church of Wakefield. We particularly approve of the intention, " to retain a number of the best old tunes, and to extract, from the two verfions commonly used, fuch words as beft agree with the mufic" (p. 23) to feparate certain portions of the choir from the main body, and difpofe of them in different parts of the church;" (p. 44) and the hint given to Mr. Ta't tall, to “make fuch a selection of appropriate paffages, as may beft accord with the particular fervices of our Fafti and Fefinals, itated or incidental;" thus guarding against the very great and growing inconvenience, of " admitting into the curchervice by mns which have not Scripture for their foundation," P. 41, Piety, learning, and good taste, are difplayed in this difcourte, without oftentation.

66

The A pendix contains fome judicious obfervations, by Mr. Sampfon, Organift of St. John's, "relative to the mode of teaching, and

the

the methods which have been perfued for the expeditious formation of the Choir, especially intended for the information of the Country Choirs," P. 1.

ART. 32. Motives for public Thanksgiving, stated and enforced. A Sermon, preached at the Foundling-Hofpital, November 29, 1798 (being the Day appointed for a general Thanksgiving). By the Rev. Jonn Hewlett, B. D. Morning Preacher to the faid Charity, and Lecturer of the united Parifbes of St. Vedaft and St. Michael le Quern. Published at the Request of the general Committee. 4to. 22 pp. 15. Johnfon, Rivingtons, &c. 1798.

From Exodus xv, 6, the preacher fhows the grounds on which the duty of thanksgiving refts; and then, in order to render it an ac ceptable fervice, to what particular objects we may direct it, and with what temper and difpofition of mind it ought to be performed," p. 10. Here he enumerates-the reformation of Christianity from the errors and corruptions of popery-the confequent formation and establishment of our admirable form of goverment-and that " right mind, which feems to have pervaded the mafs of the people, and taught them the value of the bleffings which they enjoy, by conftrafting them with those which others have unfortunately loft," p. 17. These things are urged as motives for "habitual praife and thanksgiving, not confined to one particular event, but extended to a whole feries." This difcourfe is uniformly temperate and judicious; and therefore a fingle extract will enable our readers to form a true estimate of the whole: Let us not forget, however, while we thus join hand and heart in one common caufe for the general good-let us not forget the ultimate end of all virtuous exertion-the peace and happiness of mankind. God forbid that pride, or ambition, the love of glory or of gain, a paffion for conqueft, or a thirst for blood, should ever unsheath the British fword, or fend forth the fleets of England to rule the waves. When we engage in war, or when we continue war, may it be with a firm and ferious conviction, that we submit to a lefs evil, in order to avoid a greater; that we have not had recourfe to the dreadful neceffity of hedding human blood, till other expedients have failed; and that hereafter we may be enabled to justify our conduct, on the grounds of SELF-DEFENCE before that God of Peace, who is of purer eyes than to behold evil. To conclude, may our thanksgiving on the prefent occafion be fo tempered with humility, the defire of peace, a love for our fellow-creatures, and a feeling for their frailties, fufferings, and er rors, that we may appear, in the eyes of all men, not entirely unworthy of the mercies we enjoy, and the deliverance which we have experi enced. Thus fhall we best qualify ourselves to, bear the exalted title of • Peace-makers on earth.' Thus fhall we be enabled to moderate the fury of angry and vindictive pallions, to mediate with dignity and effect, to ftop the further effufion of blood, and reftore the bleffings of order and civilized fociety to the afflicted nations of Europe,” pp 20,

21.

t

ART.

ART. 33. 4 Sermon, preached in the Parish Church of Towcefter, at the Triennial Vifitation of the Lord Bittop of Peterborough. I' Ralph Charion, M. A. Rector of Middleton Cheney, Northamptonbire. Svo. 6d. Rivingtons. 1798.

Of the importance of the clerical station, and of the magnitude of the charge attached to it, there cannot be any ferious Chriftian who is not convinced. The Sermon before us enforces the recollection of this truth upon our minds, with fome impreffive arguments, and well felected expreffions; and strongly recommends the general knowledge of whatever relates to the profeffion of Chriftianity, as highly conducive to the fuccefs of our miniftry, by the following judicious paffage.

"We must therefore be well grounded in the faith, verfed in the habits and forms of found reafoning, and juft interpretation; ready and expert in the Scriptures, well acquainted with the proofs of their authenticity, and of the truth of our holy religion; and not ignorant of the errors and herefies with which, in various ages, it has been deformed and corrupted. Thefe learned topics it will not indeed often be neceffary to bring forward; but men of fcience will fee, and the unlearned will feel, whether he who difcourfes on any subject exhausts his whole ftock of knowledge, or whether he speaks from the fulness of a mind richly ftored with information, and repreffes much more than he delivers. More direct ufe alfo of the proofs of Chriftianity, and of its leading doctrines, may be requifite to fatisfy fcruples, or to folve objections, at a time when tracts of infidelity are induftrioufly diffeminated; in an age highly curious and inquifitive, when, if erudition dwells in the fchools, learning difdains not to vifit the cottage.' The only thing we regret in this Sermon, is its brevity.

در

ART. 34. A Sermon, preached at the Vifitation of the Lord Bishop of Carlyle, held in the Cathedral Church of St. Mary, Carlyle. By the Rev. John Farrer, Vicar of Stanwife. Eve. 15. Rivingtons. 1798.

Another difcourfe upon the fame fubje&t, aided by an additional motive, the defire to benefit a very laudable chrity of the tchooln after's affociation in the north of England. This Sermon treats more at large of the duties incumbent upon the profeflion, and likewife recommends particular fubjects to treat upon, and a ftrict attention to the feveral feafons and folemnities, appointed by the wifdora of the Church to commemorate the most remarkable and striking events in the hiftory of our Redeemer. The language might in some paffages be improved, but the general merits of the ditcou:fe give it a

claim to favour,

ART. 35. The Lord proteing Great Britain, for his oven Name's Sake; a Sermon, preached at the Lock Chapel, and at St. Mildred's Church, Bread Street, on Thursday, Nov. 29, 1798, the Day of the late General Thanksgiving. By Thomas Scott, Chaplain to the Eack Hofpital. 8vo. 40 PP. Is. Mathewe, 1798.

A plain, but inftructive and pious difcourfe, on Ezek. xx. 22. Scott, ift," makes fome brief obfervations on the text, as illuftrated

Mr.

by

"more

by the Lord's dealings with the nation of Ifrael;" and, 2dly, fully confiders the words as applicable to the prefent circumftances of this our favoured land." The fecond head contains a brief recapitulation of "what God hath wrought in our behalf, fince the beginning of the prefent convulfions in Europe." At p. 14, we find a remarkable paffage, which confirms our opinion of the found loyalty of fome anong the Methodists (for we understand thefe perfons to be spoken of) and the very questionable loyalty of others: "Several minifters have united, in the courfe of the year, to excite their own and each other's congregations, to pray earncftly for our beloved country, in these perilous and critical times; and while infidels deride, and mere politicians overlook, fuch means of natural prefervation, it is afflictive to obferve, that fome, whom we confider as brethren, have mifunderstood us; and have fuppofed, that we meant to excite people to pray for the deftruction of cur enemies, and the gratification of national ambition, rapacity, or refenti, by bloody victories." P. 24. Mr. Scott's judgment can hardly be fo hood-winked, as not to perceive that the latter fort of brethren, are thofe who grieve at every victory that we obtain over the enemy; and who, without approving of French atrocities, or being men of blood, are yet unwife enough ftill to hanker after fome fart of a revolution.

ART. 36. A Watchrverd and Warning from the Walls of Zion. A Sermon, delivered at Providence Chapel, on Tuesday, December 19, 1797. Being the Day appointed for public Thanksgiving. By William Huntington, S. S. Minister of the Gpel at Providence Chapel, Little Titchfield-Street, and at Monk-well-Street Meeting. Svo. 85 pp. 1s. 3798.

"I am very

Mr. H. opens his difcourfe with fufficient familiarity, glad to fee fo many of you here this morning." The fame easy freedom pervades the whole difcourfe; as at p. 42, No; they fufpected the cheat, they had been too often bit by the devil before."" Many warnings and cautions have I given you from this pulpit, when the devil fent forth one of his drummers to beat a march to the Holy Land: I told you it was a trick of the devil," p. 55. "God had thewn me this, nine months before it had happened, in a dream, which I then told to Mr. Morgan and Mr. Winkworth: and at this time he gave me alfo another dream fimilar to the former, which fhewed me what we were to do," p. 82. We are forry that fuch specimens muft be given of a difcourfe, which, in its way, ftrongly exhorts men to piety and loyalty.

ART. 37. The divine Government a Ground of rejoicing at all Times ; and, the Tears of England, or a Word in Seafon to the People: two Sermons, preached in Subftance at Debenham, in Suffolk, the former on Tuesday, December 19, 1797, being the Day appointed for a General Thanksgiving for Naval Victories obtained in the prefent War, and the latter on Wednesday, March 7, 1798, being the Day appointed for a General Faft. By W. Hurn, Vicar of Debenham. 8vo. 79 PP. 1s. 6d. Shave and Jackfon, Ipfwich; Chapman, London, 1798, In the first of thefe Sermons, on Pfal. xcvii. 1, Mr. H. confiders, "what is implied by the expreffion, the Lord reigneth; or, what is

the