when we persecute those who differ from us either in a mode of wor ship, or in doctrinal theories. Thus the scribes and pharisees perse cuted even the meek and lowly Jesus, though he came on an errand of love. This mistaken zeal further displays itself, when we pursue things as tending to promote the glory of God, which are calculated to produce effects diametrically opposite. This was evinced in the zeal of the idolatrous Gentiles; and also in that of the papists, for the worship of images, relics, and the like. Superstition and enthusiasm have unitedly defaced the artless simplicity of truth. For what can be a more mistaken zeal, than to make religion consist in a down-cast look, in the gloom of dulness, or in a habit of prescribed dimensions? True piety is seated in the heart; and whilst it mourns inwardly for the guilt of sin, it looks with an eye of faith to a cru cified Redeemer, who hath made a full and ample atonement for sin, and who hath brought in an everlasting righteousness. A mistaken zeal leads men to take improper ways and methods for advancing the interests of religion; as was manifest even in the followers of Christ, who were rebuked by our blessed Lord for wishing fire to come down from heaven, to destroy those who obstinately refused the glorious invitations of the Gospel. And indeed it is evident from ecclesiastical, no less than profane history, that numbers have unhappily mistaken the true spirit and genius of our holy religion, which is mild, gentle, and persuasive; which addresses itself to the reason and understanding of men; using no other mode of en forcing its precepts, but the authority of Scripture, the evidence of facts, the demonstrations of truth, and the positive command of God. If men are determined to resist the influence of a pure religion, and obey not the Gospel, let us pray for them, but not persecute them," For it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." P. 116.

A

ART. 16.-Devotional Exercises, for the Use of young Persons. By Charles Wellbeloved. 12mo. 2s. Boards. Johnson. 1801. The design of this work is to lead the thoughts of young people daily to their Creator, and to form their minds to prayer. The intention cannot be too much praised; and, in general, the execution is to be commended. The author does not, however, seem to have considered sufficiently the capacities of youth, nor to have adapted his style entirely to the model of their understandings. His reflexions are pious and just. The introductory address conveys SOlemn truths; but, to one who has never before tried the experiment, it must be astonishing to perceive how many paragraphs are read by young persons, when the language is at all flowery or elevated, which convey no distinct impressions to their minds. This experiment may be enforced by our author on a young person or two of tolerable capacity; and, by this mode of reading his address, he will see how far they comprehend it, and will thence be able to form judgement in what manner it may be revised so as to make it of more general utility. The prayers are rather too long, and savour too

much of the essay-addresses used in some pulpits. The prayers of the church of England, in the Common-Prayer book, would have been better models for imitation; indeed many of them might have been adapted, with but little alteration, to the author's purpose. ART. 17.-A Sermon preached at the Octagon Chapel in Norwich, August the 30th, 1801, for the Benefit of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. By Pendlebury Houghton. 8vo. Is. Johnson. 1801. This discourse is adapted to the occasion; and the occasion is one in which a truly evangelical preacher appears to very great advan tage. The first institution of infirmaries by a Roman lady is very well introduced, as is also the instance of the gratitude of a sailor for the benefits received at the hospital; and the general account of the conduct of the institution must have been pleasing to the audience, which could not be otherwise than affected by the peculiar address to them in its favour. If the sermon should reach another edition, we recommend to the writer to enlarge his note on Fabiola by a sketch of the progress of similar institutions to the present day,' in which he may properly notice this remarkable circumstance, in a nation renowned for its charities-that, while in other countries the ladies are very frequent visitors and assistants in hospitals and infir. maries, in England the whole care of them seems to have devolved on the men; and that, excepting the matron, the hired female assistants, and the female patients, no female enters into these mansions consecrated to the relief of suffering humanity. Our fair countrywomen have, we are persuaded, as good hearts as those of any nation on earth; and the mauvaise honte, which deters them from following the bent of their dispositions, might, with proper care and attention, be gradually removed.

ART. 18.-An Appeal to the Society of Friends, on the primitive Simplicity of their Christian Principles and Church Discipline; and on some recent Proceedings in the said Society. 8vo. is. Johnson. 1801.

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We have often heard the society of friends, or quakers as they are vulgarly called, accused of being deists; but had no suspicion, till very lately, that there was any reason to believe that the doctrine of the Trinity was acknowledged by many of them, and least of all by their chiefs. The intent of this publication is to show the society that their founders and earlier professors-and in this we agree entirely with the author-did not believe in the doctrine discussed. But the society has changed its nature considerably. The original idea of equality seems to have lost ground; and its form of church government approaches every day more nearly to that of a political association. The cause of this change seems to consist in the gradual extension of the power and influence of the select meetings at large, and the consequent dissolution of their former connection with, and regular subordination to, the meetings for discipline.' Hence there have doubtless been of late great defections from the society; and a long duration of its existence seems to us to be very precarious. Whether this be of much importance, it is not for us to determine; but the slightest acquaintance with the society

of friends, in its present state, must evidently lead to a prognose; tication that it must speedily either be reformed or ruined.

ART. 19.-The Gospel Testimony: a Sermon, preached at the Opening of the New Meeting, near Greenland Dock, Rotherhithe, August 25, 1800. By John Townsend. Published by Request. Matthews.

8vo. IS.

To this discourse, the audience, in a meeting built for members of the Calvinistic persuasion, gave an indulgent and patient hearing through one hour and a quarter. Why they should wish to extend their indulgence and patience to another hour and a quarter in the closet, the contents of the sermon give us no clue to discover. ART. 20.-A Sermon, preached at the Parish Church of Childwall, near Liverpool, the 21st of December, 1800, being the Day on which his Majesty's Proclamation was read, recommending Economy in the Consumption of Grain. By the Rev. J. Sharpe, Minister of the said Church. Published at the Request of the Congregation, 8vo. Rivingtons. 1801.

A very just rebuke on those unfeeling men who could convert the distresses of the times into an occasion of making their fortune: but we must not be surprised at such a disposition in a neighbourhood where so many fortunes are made or marred by speculations on the produce of kidnapping, enslaving, and selling the persons of our fellow-creatures on the coast of Africa,

ART. 21.-A short Account of the Work of Grace in the Life of William Coombs, a Youth of Buckfastleigh, in the County of Devon; who, after nearly two Years Walk with God, left the Church Militant here below, to join the Church Triumphant, which is above; and died the 12th Day of November, 1801, aged 13 Years. Drawn up from authentic Testimonies, at the Request of the Church of which he was a Member. By Robert Hawker, D. Ď. Vicar of Charles, Plymouth. 12mo. 6d. Williams. 1802.

The title-page sufficiently explains the contents of this publication, which may be compared with the miracles performed at the tomb of the abbé Paris. By a proper distribution of it, a number of young methodists will be qualified to prattle texts of Scripture, just as boys of the same age, at the grammar-school, can repeat verses.

ART. 22.-The Duties of Men in public Professions, considered in a Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of St. Alban's, at a Visitation, holden May 27, A. D. 1801. By Joseph Holden Pott, Prebendary of Lincoln, &c. Printed by Request of the Clergy present, 4to. Is. 6d. Rivingtons, 1801,

A very sound wholesome charge, which may be applied to any set of men whatsoever in a public profession. It exhorts every individual to be attentive to the duties of his station-the private soldier should be careful to employ his thoughts on his exercise and service in the ranks-the curate and vicar on their flock, in the respective parishes to which their exertions ought to be confined. The clergy present requested the printing of this discourse; or we should have thought

the speaker might have been satisfied with their approbation, and the effects it produced on such an audience.

MEDICINE.

ART. 23.-Annals of Insanity, comprising a Variety of select Cases in the different Species of Insanity, Lunacy, or Madness, with the Modes of Practice, as adopted in the Treatment of each. By William Perfect, M.D. Soo. Ss. Boards. Murray and Highley. 1801.

We remember perusing the first edition with some satisfaction, as containing several well drawn, but perhaps not always sufficiently discriminated cases. To these many are now added; and the collection may be of service in elucidating the diseases of the mind. The author will, however, allow us to observe, that they would have been much more useful, if they had been more scientific.

ART. 24-A Treatise on Ophthalmy; and those Diseases which are induced by Inflammations of the Eyes. With new Methods of Cure. By Edward Moore Noble, Surgeon. 8vo. 3s. sewed. Robinsons. We have for a long time expected the second part of this treatise; but, from the delay of its publication, begin to despair of receiving it; and must now notice the first, though we cannot well judge of the propriety of the precepts till we more fully perceive their application.

Ophthalmy, in general, is well described; and the author's treatment of mechanical causes of inflammation in the eye we think judicious. His system is that of Brown, viz. of accumulated and exhausted irritability; which, we have said, is a doctrine well founded, and frequently applicable, though it has been carried much too far. We shall add the author's own account of his plan of cure, intended to be the subject of the second part.

It may, perhaps, not be improper in this place, to take a general view of what is intended to be given in the second part, which will conclude this treatise.

In the first place I shall enter upon the cure of the inflammation of the eye.

In the laws of the animal economy, there is scarce any fact more clear, than that a stimulus stronger than usual being applied to the moving fibre, makes it less easily excited into action, and that on the sudden subtraction of this increased stimulus, the motions of the part will be diminished,

Upon this law will depend my method of cure of the ophthalmy. The treatment of the disease admits of a variety of modifications; but my principal object will be the application of a stimulus, in a peculiar manner, as great as the eye can bear, without being thrown into convulsive motions, and when this stimulus loses its effect of causing pain, to suddenly remove it, and diminish all stimuli, or irritating causes, as much as possible.

By these means a diminished action of the vessels will be induced, the pain will be moderated, and an alleviation of the symptoms will take place.

• By convulsive motions are meant, those motions which take place from the injudicious application of too powerful stimulants; as the tincture of opium, which has been so much extolled, under the name of the Tinctura Thebaica, by Mr. Ware, from an old formula of the College of Physicians. The tincture of opium is the most efficacious application that has ever been recommended to the public for inflammations of the eye; but, like all other powerful medicines, whose modus operandi we are not well acquainted with, it is daily employed improperly, to the great pain and distress of the patient. It will be my endeavour, in the succeeding part, to lay down rules for its application, and to explain on what its salutary effect depends."

P. X..

Atonic ophthalmy, and some kindred diseases of the eye, will be afterwards noticed.

EDUCATION.

ART. 25.-The Parents' Friend; or Extracts from the principal Works on Education, from the Time of Montaigne to the present Day, methodised and arranged. With Observations and Notes by the Editor. 2 Vols. 8vo. 14s. Boards. Johnson. 1802.

To persons who have not leisure to consult the numerous publications that have lately appeared on the subject of education, these volumes afford much useful information. The extracts are taken from most of the principal writers, chiefly French or English, without a slavish adherence to any of their particular systems; and a parent who exercises his own judgement will, from the variety of hints here suggested, either improve or correct his own practice. It is necessary for him, we repeat, to exercise his own judgement; for it cannot be expected that every precept in this work will bear the test of examination or experience. Thus it is recommended that boys should learn to swim, in which we agree entirely with the editor; but when it is added that bladders, buli-rushes, and, above all, a corkjacket should be used, we know, from experience, that a boy will learn to swim much better without them; and if he has the advantage of seeing a few excellent swimmers, will, after paddling a little in the water, by his own exertions arrive in a short time to very great proficiency in that useful and elegant accomplishment. The old system of making children hardy is a little too much inculcated; but the different methods of improving their senses, and exercising their judgements, cannot be too strongly recommended to those who are intrusted with the care of education. We approve highly of the editor's solicitude, that his work should not fall into the hands of young people; it is not for them to examine systems of education, or plans which must be confided to the wisdom of their superiors: but, on the other hand, we may particularly recommend it to be perused by mothers; and if, in a company of fathers and mothers, the propriety of several maxims in this work were every week discussed, it would be the means of affording them very entertaining topics of conversation, and useful hints for the better management of their families.