At rule over you," will give an En- adoration, which the Kafirs, [the glish reader an idea of certain infidels, Pagans,] offer up to the powers in the pastors, either to Supreme Being. This prayer is determine the faith and duty of pronounced in a whisper: the others, or to inflict certain penalties party holding up his hands before on their disobedience; neither of his face: its purport, (as I have these notions is consistent with been assured by many different that authority in the church, which people,) is to return thanks to God our Saviour has reserved to him for his kindness through the exist. self, or with the obligation which ence of the past moon, and to solie [lies] upon every Christian to licit a continuance of his favour, search the scriptures, and to make during that of the new one. the best use in his power, of the the conclusion, they spit upon their understanding which God has hands and rub them over their given him, in order to determine faces: this seems to be nearly the what he is to believe and practise. same ceremony, which prevailed But the words of the original among the heathens, in the days convey no such sentiment. The of Job."-Mungo Park's Travels primary sense of the word which in Africa, 8vo. 1810. p. 406. we translate "rule," is to "lead;" and though it may sometimes be applied to governors, yet it refers to them only as persons chosen to lead or precede in any particular affair. And thus the words may be rendered: Remember your pastors or guides, who have spoken the words of God unto you, and considering the end of their conversation, follow their faith." Illustrations of Scripture. Job. xxxi. 26, 27. Jeremiah xlix. 19, and 1. 44. "After having descended the outermost bank, you go about a furlong on a level strand, before you come to the immediate bank of the river. This second bank is so beset with bushes and trees, such as tamarisk, willows, oleanders, &c. that you can see no water till you have made your way through them. In this thicket, antiently, (and the same of it is reported at this day,) several sorts of wild-beasts were wont to har. bour themselves; whose being washed out of the covert by the overflowings of the river, gave occasion to that allusion, Jer. xlix. 19, &c."-Maundrell's Journey, 8vo. p. 110. London ed. 1810. REVIEW. "Still pleased to praise, yet not afraid to blame.” POPE. ART. I.-A Plain Statement of for bringing forwards such a work after the appearance of Dr. Paley's Elements of Natural Theology, and View of the Evidences of Christianity, justly observes, that though his performance and those of the Doctor are nearly allied in title, To this statement we can-' not but add, that while we are duly sensible of the excellence of the Doctor's labours, we consider those of Mr. Watson better adapted to the use of readers in general, and particularly of the young and uninformed. The design of the author in, the work which more some of the most important Principles of Religion, as a Preservative against Infidelity, Enthu siasm and Immorality. By the Rev. Thomas Watson. 8vo. pp 176. Longman and Co. 1811. This treatise is the production and accord altogether in design; of a Dissenting minister at Whitby the plans are totally different, in Yorkshire, who, before the the materials are no where the commencement of our Repository, same, and there is no interference rendered essential service to the in the management of the arguinterests of rational religion and ment. sound morals, by two very excel. lent publications, The first of these, which is entitled, Intimations and Evidences of a Future State, details the proofs of that im portant doctrine, derived from reason and natural religion, and from revelation, with that force, perspicuity and simplicity, which immediately claims our notice, render it admirably calculated to "is to give a plain statement of produce impression on ingenuous some of the most important prin. ciples of religion, and particu. and unprejudiced minds. other publication, entitled, Popu- larly those principles which may lar Evidences of Natural Religion have the most powerful influence and Christianity, possesses similar upon our conduct; and to shew recommendations in point of com- that Christianity is a system foundposition with the former, and ed upon the best evidence, that it merits the encomium which it has is a rational system; that it is received in the most respectable of simple and plain, adapted to the our monthly critical works, where capacity of all those who are enit is observed that the author dowed with common understand"has in this treatise so collected ings; and that its great aim is to and displayed the various evidences bring in and support universal in favour of religion, that it is im- righteousness." This design the possible to weigh them without author has executed in a manner feeling the dignity of man, and very creditable to his abilities as the importance as well as truth of a writer, intending to inculcate imChristianity." In his Introduc- portant and valuable truths, in tion the author, while apologizing language likely to produce effect, The from its being plain, familiar and intelligible. Throughout the whole work he also appears animated by a spirit of warm and genuine piety, and by an ardent zeal for vindicat. ing religion from those corruptions, abuses and inconsistencies, which have too long been substituted for the plain principles and excellent morals taught by Jesus Christ. Thus much we can say, without subscribing to all the opinions advanced by the author, (though we have seldom found reason to differ from him;) and we recommend his work as deserving the perusal and encouragement of the well-wishers to the interests of truth and virtue; particularly, as an useful manual to be placed in the hands of young persons, before they have recourse to more extended treatises on the important subjects which it embraces. The contents of this volume are distributed into seven chapters, which are subdivided into a variety of sections. The 1st chapter treats of the Existence and Attri. butes of God; the 2d, of the Doc. trine of Providence; the 3d, of the Importance of forming worthy. Conceptions of God, and of the Worship of God and Prayer. The 4th chapter discusses the subject of Revealed Religion; the 5th, that of Religious Duties, and particu. larly Christian Morality; the 6th, is on Internal Feelings; and the 7th, on the Sanctions of the Gospel. That our readers may be able to form for themselves some idea of the author's manner of writing, and of the sentiments which he enforces, we shall lay before them the whole of chap. vi, on the Internal Feel. ings required by Religion. "1st. In the estimate of the religious life, great reliance is sometimes placed VOL. VII. 2 A on the inward feelings. Without the and "But this is not what is generally meant by inward feelings and vital religion; it implies something dark and mysterious, beyond the reach of common sense, and the general experience of mankind. Christ, according to them, must beformed within; and their labour must be to work themselves up to some fervour and holy enthusiasm. "endly, Without attempting to give a formal definition of enthusiasm, I would observe, that it may be generally understood by referring to examples. There is an enthusiasm which discovers itself in a vast variety of things, and which we look upon with approbation. A man becomes an enthusiast, in particular pursuits, when he becomes passionately fond of them, and devotes the whole of his time and labour to their acquisition, and his enthusiasm is most remarkable, when there is a little eccentricity and extravagance of character accompanying he pursuit The patriot is often an enthusiast, in the love of his country, when he is so inflamed with the object, as to sacrifice every thing for its preservation; and this is seen more particularly, when he embarks in undertakings, sometimes wild and Imost impracticable, for its honour and deliverance. 'I here is a religious enthusiasm also, pure, sublime, and animating, which good men may frequently feel, sometimes in the acts of devotion, and sometimes in their meditation on the Supreme Being, and his infinit good ness and love; and on the disinterested love, and admirable character of Jesus Christ. "But, then, there is another species of religious enthusiasm, of a baser origin, that runs counter to common sense, that is not authorised by scripture; to which men of weak minds are liable, which crafty men feign, and which interested men foment and encourage. It is this, which produces those wild feelings or expressions of feel.ngs, which outrage all reason and experience. Men, under the influence of this spirit, pretend to feel, sometimes horrors most dreadful, and at other times joys unutterable. But they carry his still farther. They be lieve, or affect to believe, that they receive, also, communications from heaven and tumitations from abo e; and pro ceeding to the utmost height of exiravagance, they feel assured, that their sins are pardoned, and that their eternal happiness is secure. Now these are not harreless delusions; they ought to be combated, on account of the mischief which they create, and the disgrace which they inflict on religion. from the moment they are caught, till they be comple ely secured. The imagination, when once heated, by exercises of his nature, is never permitted to cool. Any suggestions by such means and at such times may be produced and supported, whilst all these nward feelings are nothing more than the delusions of an over-heated brain. It is melancholy to have to combat such principles, in an age, which boasts to be an age of reason: and in a country where we have the freest exercise of this blessing. 3. There is no principle, which can be to little depended upon, as a man's inward feelings; and in nothing does he expose himself so much to every kind of delusion. The feelings are greatly in fluenced by the animal spirits, by the powers of the imagination, and by a state of health and of sickness. When we trust, then, to such uncertain guides, we lay ourselves open to the arts of every impostor. How difficult is it, with people of weak minds to distinguish between the suggestions of a heated imagination, worked up by the enthusiast to the highest pitch of ardour, and the suggestion of the spirit of God. Weak men are casily wrought upon and deluded, and they are soon misled by the bold and confident assertions of the hypocrite or impostor. Various means are employed to accomplish their purpose; sometimes they are to be agitated by terrors, and át other times seduced by hopes. With such things they are plied incessantly, "From the general principles of Christ's relig on, we can find no authority for such delusions; and in the general mass of those, who maintain such principles, we see no improvement in their morals, to ustify such ex ravagant pretensions. The allowing also of such principles is opening a wide door for every thing that is wild and extravagant, and is xposing the religion of Christ to the scorn of the unbeliever, by divesting it of every thing that is rational. "Upon this system, we can find no principle, either to judge of ourselves, or of others. The simplicity and plainness of the Christian system, are some of its distinguishing excellencies, by our fruits, according to the declaration of our Lord, are we to be known; whilst the extravagancies produced by such feelings, should be a sufficient warning to mankind, not to rely upon them. By these, the enthusiast supports all his pretensions. Swedenborgh, a man of educa tion and rank, under the influence of such feelings, relates with the greatest gravity, his journey to the highest heaven, and so infectious is such influence, that he has been followed, in his religious principles, by some men of ingenuity and learning; and his writings, full of absurdities, have been translated, and have had a very extensive circulation. The ingenious and learned Mr. Wesley, in his Journals, gives many relations of his own feelings, and of the feelings of others, sometimes manifested in trifles, and sometimes in matters of some importance, but generally containing matter and circumstances so absurd, as should be sufficient to discountenance all confidence in principles so wild and extravagant. 4. The following reflections must naturally suggest themselves to every man of reason, who seriously considers the whole of this process. "In the first place, what must be the spiritual pride and presumption of those who believe themselves to have obtained the highest hopes that can be obtained by mortals? And from the top of that pinnacle to which they have raised them selves, they look down ith pity, mingled with contempt on all those they have left below but in this new character there is neither charity nor humility, the most certain marks of the disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus. "But, in the second place what must be the condition of those, who after embracing this faith, and fter the most serious application and diligence, have not been able to raise themselves to this high distinction; and are too honest to put in their pretensions? Is not this tempting many of them to feign feelings which they never felt, and to put on the appearance of joys, which they never experienced? And thus they surrender their integrity to preserve their consistency. But, if in the general tenor of their lives, we do not see more honesty, more disinterestedness, &c. than in other men, we may infer, that the gifts, which they have received, are not very powerful, and come from a source not very pure. "It is certainly, not easy to believe, that some of the most abandoned of mankind (for the more abominable they are, the fitter subjects for this experiment) after passing, for a few days, through these operations, should come out perfectly transformed in heart and life, and become angels of light. We have nothing in nature that we can compare with this. It resembles most he transformation which the heathen poet has feigned; and it has more the appearance of magic, than an operation of rational religion. Protestants ridicule the pardons, sold and purchased in the Romish church, and the easy admission that they thus gain into the gates of heaven: but this new mode surpasses every thing which that church ever invented, for cheapness and expedition. "Dr. Middleton, in his celebrated Letter from Rome, demonstrates the exact conformity between Popery and Paganism, establishing it, that modern Rome has borrowed a great number of its religious ceremonies from that ancient. mistress of the world. But will it not surprise the Protestant world to learn, that these wonderful transformations are nearly a copy of the ancient Pagan mysteries, practised in Greece, and in other parts of the heathen world? I will not say they are borrowed; the resemblance may be purely accidental; for the superstitions of all countries are nearly related. The historian in giving an account of the terr ble ceremonies by which the initiated were received into their sacred mysteries, A mechanical operation,' says he, was played off at proper intervals, during the course of the celebration Towards the end, the whole scene is terrible; all as trembling, shuddering, sweat and aston shment. Strange cries and howlings are uttered Light succeeds darkness, various holy hantasies enchant the sight. Melodiqus notes re heard from afar, with all the sublime symphony of the sacred hymns. The pupil now becomes free, is admitted to bear a part in the sacred rites; and then declared a perfect man.' "It requires a firm mind to pass through such scenes w.h the perfect use of the faculties. The mind is required to be in continual exertion, by night and by day, and upon subjects often the most horrible. The deluded con erts are labouring to believe and adopt, what they are told they must feel. They are forbidden to enjoy any of the common innocent amusements of society, as a relief to the distressed soul. They are kept constantly on the rack, and fixed on such exercises only, as are too powerful for weak minds. It is not to be wondered, then, that the spirits, from this unnatural agitation, should sirk down is confirmed melancholy, or burst out in outrageous madness. Those have the best chance of escaping, who are the least in earnest in these operations. An eminent physician, in a late Treatise upon Insanity, in enumerating the causes of this unhappy malady, founded upon principles taken from the register of Bedlam, from 1772 10 1787, assigns 90 cases, in that period, to the effects of false religion and it is to be observed, that this is a larger number, than from any other cause, excepting to fever he gives 116, and 115 to hereditary tendency." (pp. 145-153.) ART. II.-Two Discourses, preached before the University of Cambridge, on the Doctrine of a Particular Providence, and Modern Unitarianism : with Notes, referring to some recent Opinions and Publications on |