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highly advantageous. We hope, that on confidering these arguments, no oppofition will be made, by the members of the corporation, to the introduction of a bill, fimilar to that which has been loft, at fome future time; that the company may be placed in that state of fecurity and dignity which they fo juftly merit.

ART. 30. Obfervations upon the Venereal Difeafe; with fome Remarks on Barrenness, Impotence, and certain Disorders incident to either Sex. By Martin Bree, Surgeon. 8vo.

25.

An elaborate advertisement, to invite perfons afflicted with the diforders mentioned; but not containing a single observation from which the learned or unlearned reader may collect any ufeful information.

DIVINITY.

ART. 31. A Layman's Proteft against the prophane Blafphemy, false Charges, and illiberal Invective, of Thomas Paine, Author of a Book, entitled "The Age of Reafon, Part I and II; being an Investigation of true and fabulous Theology." By J. Padman, Jun. 8vo. 241 pp. 35. Symonds. 1797.

We have been so often called upon to peruse the answerers of Paine, that it was not without fome reluctance that we opened "The Layman's Proteft." We were, however, agreeably difappointed in finding, that the layman had made but very little ufe of the arguments employed by his predeceffors in the fame caufe; and that he difcovered a knowledge of his fubject, and talents for defending it, which merit the most respectful notice. As the most material objections advanced by Paine, have been ably and repeatedly refuted, we fhall present our readers with a fpecimen of Mr. Padman's mode of confutation, from the mifcellaneous part of his reply.

"Every animal in the creation (fays Mr. Paine, in a tone of grum. bling diffatisfaction) every animal in the creation, excels us in fomething." True, great naturalift! your affertion is incontrovertible.But what does it tend to? You feem to be upon the look-out for a better body, and a more convenient form; but you have mistaken your road; the question to fuch a seeker is not, Whether every animal in the creation excels us in fomething, but whether any one animal in the creation excels us in every thing. If Mr. Paine can but bring fubftantial proof, that any one animal has an advantage or fuperiority over mankind, upon a general comparison, he will of courfe be justifiable in his longings after a "better body, and more convenient form;" but till he has done this, we are juftifiable in confidering his envying the "winged infect, the fish, the fnail, and the spider," as one of the moft mean, grovelling, and contemptible paffions, that ever found a place in the human bofom. These animals are doubtless moft admirably provided with every thing neceffary, or even expedient, for that ftate of existence in which they are placed: and can our author fay lefs for his own fpecies? How happens it that he, who, a little while ago, brought a charge againt the Chriftian, of reproach and ingra

"

titude,"

titude," fhould now be detected quarrelling with his Maker, for neg lecting to give him the qualifications of a fnail and a spider? How happens it, that he who but juft now charged the chriftian with undervaluing the bleffings of life, and defpifing the gift of reason, fhould now lay himfelf open to both of thefe charges, by decrying that wonderful microcofm-the anatomical conftruction of an human being; and with prefumming effrontery, daring (within the omniprefence of his Creator) to breathe a half-ftifled with, that, instead of a human form, he had bestowed upon him that of a reptile? Mr. Paine may perhaps pretend, that his words have no reference to the gift of reafon; and that, therefore, he is not chargeable with defpifing it: but we cannot admit of the diftinction. It is evident, that the gift of perfect reason is only bestowed upon creatures bearing the human form; we have, therefore, no right to feparate these two ideas in our mind, nor to require of the Creator to annex reafon to any deviuio from the human figure. He, therefore, who (with Mr. Paine) defpites the human form, cannot avoid the charge of defpifing that gift of reafon which it has pleafed the Creator to annex to it." P. 174.

From this quotation it will appear, that the Layman's Proteft is a work of ability. The writer pretends only to animadvert on those affertions of his opponent, which the Bishop of Llandaff has left unnoticcd. He has executed, in our opinion, with complete fuccefs, the commiffion of that "under-officer, who (to ufe his own words, in his Introduction) when his commander has routed the army of an enemy, pursues, and makes prisoners of the straggling fugitives."

ART. 32. Sermons, preached in the Parish Church of John, Manchifer, on the following Subjects: Faft-Day, Lent, Eafter-Day, AfcenfionDay, the Lord Jefus Chrift the great Houfeholder, putting away Evil the great Effential of Religion, Chriftian Perfection, or the Duty of doing what he can. By the Rev. J. Clowes, M. A. Rector of the Said Church, and late Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Vol. 14. Svo. 257 pp. Rivingtons. 1796.

This fmall volume of fermons affords a very creditable fpecimen of the talents and piety of their author. The parable of the Householder is difcuffed very much at large. Seventeen fermons are employed in tracing and applying its religious moral, to the condidon of mankind under the Chriflian difpenfation. Notwithstanding a tendency to mysticism which occafionally difcovers itfelf, the fubject is managed, in many refpects, with great ingenuity; and gives rife to obfervations of the higheft practical importance. We thall prefent our readers with a fpecimen of the author's ftyle and manner, from his fermon upon the duties of the Spiritual Hofbandman.

"A moft poisonous and deftructive perfuafion is, at this day, prevalent in the Chriftian church, which would lead men to believe, that things are going well with them in the way of faly ution, although they never in any way exert the powers which God giveth them to promote their falvation. How many, for inftance, do we fee eafy and unconcerned about their fpiritual ftate, who yet are living in the daily "neglect of the abilities they poffefs to improve that ftate! With facul

ties to read the word of God, they never read it. With faculties to comprehend the eternal truth, they never comprehend it. With faculties to practife the precepts of revealed purity, fanctity, and wifdom, they never practife them. With faculties thus to attain to the pure love of God and of their neighbour, and to live separate from fin, and to be born again and become the fans of God, they are ftrangers to all these bleffings, and live at an infinite diftance from the privileges which the Father of Mercies intended them by the gift of thole faculties. And yet, notwithtanding all this total annihilation of the powers of falvation entrusted to them, they are blind enough to imagine, that they are ftill in the way to blifs, especially if, in the mean while, they can repeat a creed, or utter the found of a prayer, or plead, in behalf of their negligence, the blood and the merits of the Redeemer. But can any imagination be more delufive? Can any be more groundless? For what is falvation, and what is eternal happiness, but an effect of our reception and cultivation of the word of God in our hearts and lives? Can man be faved and made happy without the word of God? And can the word of God fave him and make him happy, unless it be implanted and become fruitful in him? And can it be implanted and become fruitful in him, without fome exertion on his part of the ability which God giveth him for that purpofe? Let the lot of that flothful fervant, who hid his Lord's pound in a napkin, determine thefe queftions." P. 105.

The other difcourfes are executed on the fame model; a terfeness of language pervades the whole volume, which gives to many of the obfervations the air of aphorifms. If, however, we should be compelled to difpute, in any degree, the purity of the author's style, or the correctness of his talte, we muft yet concede to him all the praife that belongs to a mind devoutly affected, and ftudious of kindling an equal fame of devotion in the breaft of others.

ART. 33. The Nature and true Causes of Atheism, pointed out in a Difcourfe delivered at the Chapel in Lewin's-Mead, Briftol. To which are added, Remarks on a Work, entitled, Origine de tous les cultes, ou Religion univerfelle; par Dupuis, Citoyen François. By John Prior Eflin. Svo. 85 pp. 25. Johnfon. 1797

The confufion which enters into the views of those who arrive at Atheistical conclufions, is very well pointed out in this Difcourfe. "They fometimes argue," fays Mr. Ettlin, "in fuch a manner (and they are neceflarily driven to it) as a perfon would do, who fhould fay that the houfe made the builder: fometimes, that the bricks, ftones, and mortar, made the houfe; at other times, that it made itfelf; and at other times, that the operation or act of building was the builder." P. 12.

"Every object around us fuggeft three ideas to the mind;-an effect, agency, and an agent. They who deny the existence of the agent, mult confound him, either with the operation or with the effect; and yet they would not confound the builder of the houfe with the act of building, or the houfe felf; nor is it probable that they would fay, that the printer or binder, the printing or binding, or the book i self, was the author of the compofition. Though they would guard against

thefe

thefe abfurdities, because they would be immediately feen and felt by all; yet, my friends, they who deny the exiftence of God, affert much greater abfurdities; for furely there is more of the effect of defign in the universe, than in any human compofition. It has been usual to fpeak of, the works of art; and fome, by a bold figure, have addreffed Art, as a perfon; and yet no one ever thought of fubftituting art for man; although many (and I fear it has been one great cause of atheism) have, with as little reason, fubftituted nature for God." P. 13.

Having fubverted the falfe reafonings of fpeculative Atheism, the writer preffes the importance of belief, againft the practical effects of infidelity. The grounds of Mr. Eftlin's defence, are principles common to all believers in a revelation; and, therefore, the Difcourfe may be read with fatisfaction, by those who have not embraced Christianity, in what this writer calls its "pureft," by which we prefume he means, that which its profeffors call, its Unitarian" form."

ART. 34. Sele Essays on Scriptural Subjects, viz. 1. An Enquiry into the Nature of our Lord's Prophetical Office; 2. On the Office of the Holy Spirit; 3. On the Nature and Defign of the Gospel Ministry; 4. On Fafting; 5. Reflections on the Human Nature of Chrift. By N. Meredith. 8vo. 185 pp. 2s. 6d. Matthews. 1796.

Thefe Effays are written in familiar language, and exprefs the fentiments of a mind pioufly affected, upon fubjects of great importance. The reader will judge for himself how far the ftatements accord with his own feelings and views. The writer appears to aim at practical utility; and his Effays are, therefore, entitled to a candid perufal.

ART. 35. The true Knowledge of God and Man; of the great Sab bath on Earth; and of the Restoration of all Things; with fome effential Remarks on the Duty we owe to our Creator. 8vo. 182 PP. No. 2, Walbrook; and all the Booksellers in the World, 1797. A tiffue of the wildeft theological conceits, that ever occupied the brain of any enthusiast.

POLITICS.

ART. 36. An Addrefs to the County of Kent, on their Petition to the King for removing, from the Councils of his Majefty, his prefent Minifters, and for adopting proper Means to procure a speedy and an happy Peace. Together with a Poffeript, concerning the Treaty between the Emperor of Germany and France, and concerning our domeftic Situation in Time to come. By Lord Rokeby. 8vo. 83 pp. 18. Debrett. $797.

We can hardly refufe the credit of fincerity, to " the effufions of an old man, earnestly defiring to contribute, what may, perhaps, be almoft his last endeavours for the welfare and fafety of his country." But a man may be very fincere, and yet not equally judicious or wellinformed. Whether this be the cafe of Lord Rokeby, may, perhaps, appear from a fhort examination of his pamphlet.

His Lordship ftigmatizes the prefent war as unnecessary; but how it could have been avoided, like many other fuch cenfurers, he does not condefcend to inform us. He declaims ftrenuously against "corruption, continental wars, and funding" and he would avert the evils which these causes threaten to bring upon us, by difmiffing the prefent mi nifters, making peace immediately, and reforming parliament fome time hence. Still we are not told, where minifters more able or trufty are to be found, nor how the enemy is to be coaxed into a peace by any minifters whatever. Again, therefore, his Lordship's advice is useless. For he tells us, that there is a remedy for our ills; but carefully forbears to tell how or where, we may obtain it. He fays alfo, that "the 13 colonies of America, were most faithfully and affectionately attached to their mother country." This is certainly a piece of news, whatever else it may be. Of the fame kind is the following intelligence refpecting Ireland: "It is hardly more than two years, fince a moft zealous loyalty, a perfect content and fatisfaction, and an earnest defire to affiit England against our enemies, obtained with the whole body of inhabitants throughout that kingdom." (p. 21) Hence it must be concluded, that the fociety of United Irishmen, are not inhabitants of Ireland. This is Iri news indeed! Among fome formidable fuppofitions at p. 25, we find this: " Suppofe the fleets of France, Spain, and Holland, all united and collected in the harbours most convenient to conduct and support an attack upon our country." We fhall endeavour to comfort his Lordfhip by a different fuppofition: fuppofe the fleets of France, Spain, and Holland, fhould venture out of their refpective ports; and leaving 20 fhips of the line in the hands of British failors, fhould return as haftily as they could, and remained blocked up, with fearcely the poffibility of effecting a junction :-would not his Lordship exult in thefe fuccessful exertions of his countrymen? and would he not give fome credit to a ministry, which had fo happily arranged our naval force?

The Poftfcript, which is nearly twice as large as the Address, does little elfe than reiterate the contents of the latter. It fpecifies, indeed, the particular mode of reform approved of by his Lordship; namely, to double the members for counties, and to give every perfon, poffeffing a fee-fimple of zol. a 'year, a concurrent right of voting, in the boroughs within each county; elections being alfo annual. The last fuggeftion, by way of apex, to his Lordfhip's fchemes, is, "that every perion, defirous of peace with the French, fhould wear a symbol of his defire, by fome olive-coloured mark on any part of his drefs and thus, if the nation should be unanimous, the sense of it must undeniably be understood, and produce its due effect.-Such is the wisdom, by which" our country is to be faved and preferved!" pp. 80, 81. ART. 37. A Speech, delivered by J. C. Curwen, Efq. M. P. to a numerous Meeting of the Freemen and Inhabitants of the City of Carlife, on the 26th of fune laft, convened for the Purpose of petitioning his Majefty to difmifs his prefent Minifters. 12mo. 23 PP. Mitchell, Carlife; Johnson, London. 1797.

6d.

If a school-boy, of tolerable parts, being required to write a declamation, upon the. fubject of corrupt parliaments and wicked minifters, were to bring to his mafter a performance as trite in its topics, coarfe

and

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