DIVINITY. When a man like Mr. Bryant takes up the pen ia defence of any Chriftian doctrine, it is ftrange that we fhould have occafion to hefitate about giving his book a place in this recital. Yet fuch is the mixed nature of his Effay on Philo Judæus*, that, conceiving it more likely, on the whole, to do harm than good, we were compelled by our fenfe of duty to oppose it; and, for the fame reafon, felt the hesitation we have mentioned. It defends, indeed, the Scriptural Doctrine of the Trinity; but it defends it partly on falfe grounds, and introduces an hypothefis which, if admitted, would fubvert one of the best and foundest books we have; Dr. Allix's Judgment of the Jewish Church. We are convinced that Dr. Allix and Mr. Whitaker have taken the right ground, and Mr. Bryant the wrong. Yet this latter author is greatly mistaken, if he supposes us actuated by any hoftility to him, or defirous, in the fmalleft degree, to wound his perfonal feelingst. We can diftinguish between the man and the book; but it is feldom that the author can. Whoever attacks his opinions is thought to attack him, and this we find perpetually. So very important a fubject, as the Infpiration of the Holy Scriptures, we were much pleafed to fee treated by Mr. Parry, in an Effay which we noticed in our first number, with great judgment, precifion, and clearnefs of argument: nor could the fupplementary obfervations of Mr. Padman against Paines be unwelcome, even to thofe who had digefted and admired the arguments of Bifhop Watfon. Mr. Tatterfall's No. I. p. 13; II. 140. We heard with furprife, well as pain, that a metaphorical expreffion, concerning indiftinct vifion, had been fuppofed by the venerable writer to allude to an infirmity of that old-age, which, united with worth and talents, is fo truly refpectable. We difclaim and abhor the idea. No. I. p. 79. No. 1. p. 39. fplendid plendid though unpublished edition of Merrick's Pfalms, was mentioned in the fame number*. For the excellence of the verfion, and of the editor's intentions, we can equally anfwer; the reft we leave, of course, to thofe whofe office it is to regulate fuch, matters. A volume of Sermons, by the Rev. J. Clowest, which is the second he has published, deferves alfo to be mentioned. A very meritorious precifion of ideas and expreffion diftinguishes the Four Ejays of Mr. Ludlamt, on the ordinary and extraordinary operations of the Holy Spirit; a fubject wherein precife ideas are very important, to guard against the oppofite errors of fcepticism and enthusiasm. This fervice the Effays of Mr. Ludlam are well calculated to render; and the controverfial part of them is written with fpirit and acuteness. It will readily be fuppofed that, in thefe times, a treatise which afferts the apoftolical inftitution of epifcopacy, and the danger of fchifm, will meet with many oppofers. Hence is it, that Mr. Daubeny's book, which he has entitled, a Guide to the Church, has produced already two or three anfwers. We fhall of course have to estimate the objections which have been brought against it. Yet, before we fit down to this task, we can clearly affert, that it is written in general conformity to the principles of the Church of England, and therefore, though liable to encounter the fame hoftilities, cannot be denied its proportion of the fame praifes. Dr. Bell, though late called up to our table, will, we truft, accept of an honourable inftead of an early place at it. His Enquiry into the Divine Miffion of John the Baptift and Jefus Chrift, certainly entitles him to be an affeffor with the venerable defenders of our religion. We have nothing further to remark in this clafs, except a few detached difcourfes of peculiar excel * No. 1. p. 64. Two cheap and convenient are fold at Rivington's, Hatchard's, &c. ‡ No. IV. p. 400. No. V. p. 549. 22 editions of this work + No. I. p. 80. No. VI. p. 616. lence. lence. Among thefe, we can by no means overlook the excellent fermon of the Bishop of Lincoln, at St. Paul's, on the day of Thanksgiving; a difcourfe replete with just and patriotic fentiments, expreffed with elegance and vigour. In the Charge of the Bishop of Durhamt, delivered at his Vifitation in 1797, the state of the times, and the duties refulting from it, are in a very ftriking manner explained and enforced. It affords one of thofe pleafing pictures of the paftoral care of a Bishop, which will more ftrongly affect fome minds, than the cogent arguments which may be produced in favour of the office. Nor muft we omit to mention Dr. Barrow's Sermon on the Faft, to commend which once, is not enough. It is not one of thofe where patriotic fentiments excufe defects; the manner is worthy of the matter. Two difcourfes have been published feparately by Mr. Magee of Dublin, either of which might have ferved to make him noticed as an able and judicious teacher. The one was preached before an Affociation formed in Dublin for difcounte nancing vice, and promoting religion§; the other on the National Thanksgiving in Ireland, for deliverance from invafion. As we noticed both very much at large, we need not further expatiate upon them, but fhall merely repeat our general recommendation. Such are the beft theological productions which our prefent volume comprifes. They contain abundant means to gratify the wife, and inftruct the ignorant. In pointing them out we have enjoyed a pleafure as well as fulfilled a duty; and in perufing them we have pre-occupied an advantage which we wish our readers to partake. METAPHYSICS. So few at prefent are the cultivators of this foil, that no great produce can be expected at any single *No. III. p. 275. No.HI. p. 265. + No. IV. p. 438. + No. VI. p. 684. harvest harvest. Lord Monboddo indeed, (whom we unwittingly flew last month, though we wish him as much life as he himself can defire) makes powerful efforts to reinstate the wisdom of the Greek philofophers upon these fubjects. Through five volumes in quarto, of his Ancient Metaphyfics*, he has now purfued, without concluding, his learned investigation; and it will proceed rather from the redundance than the deficiency of his difcuffions, if the metaphyfics of Plato and Ariftotle are not re-established in their original reputation. If we may be allowed to unite the kindred fubject of Morality with this, we must here mention Dr. Croft's Commentaryt, on fome paffages of our two moft eminent moralifts. Such dif cuffions, properly conducted, are liberal and ufeful, tending to place truth ultimately, on the fureft and most ample bafis. HISTORY. Though we did not witnefs the commencement of Mr. Gutch's publication of A. Wood's Hiftory of Oxfords, we were glad to announce the conclufion of it. That a work fo frequently confulted should have been fo long before the public, only in a Latin tranflation, which the author himfelf difapproved, is a fingular literary fact. By the care of this editor we now poffefs the work as the writer wifhed it to ftand, and with his laft corrections and improvements. In compiling a confiderable part of the Hiftory of Scotland, Mr. Pinkertons has given a laudable example: has fought with diligence for new materials, and has digefted them with fagacity and care. Some peculiarities both of plan and ftyle, which we could not approve, do not prevent the work from being, on the whole, both creditable to the author, and ufeful to the pub No. VI. p. 658. + No. VI. p. 656. ‡ No. II. p. 183. No. IV. p. 345». |