ART. 26. A Sermon on a Future State, combating the Opinion that "Death is Eternal Sleep." Preached at the Magdalen Aflum, Leefon-Street, Dublin. By Gilbert Auftin, A. M. Chaplain of the Magdalen Afylum. 8vo. pp. 36. is. Dublin: and Rivingtons, London, 1794•

This is no cold difquifition: it is a very animated and powerful oration. The author ftates the evidences of our future existence, as derived, 1 ft. from the Deductions of our Reafon; and zdly, from the light of Revelation. The former of these topics occupies almost the whole difcourfe, the other, only the conclufion of it; but we are allowed to expect that it may be enlarged upon at another time. We hope it will be fo, and that it will fall under our notice: for, the prefent difcourfe combines found reafoning with vigorous eloquence, in a ftyle at once vehement, elegant, and correct. Difcourfes like this fuitably delivered from the pulpit (to which it is even more adapted than to the press) can hardly fail to produce much good effect.

ART. 27. The Spirit of Chriftianity compared with the Spirit of the Times in Great Britain. By Gilbert Wakefield, B. A. late Fellow of Jefus College, Cambridge. A New Edition, with Corrections and Additions. 8vo. 40 pp. 1s. Kearsley. 1794.

This well-meaning, but very ill-judging writer, fupposes that the war against France could not have been carried on without our inter ference, and that all the murders within that country are to be attributed to the war, and confequently to us. Then come in all the common places against war, which will never prove, if quoted millions of times, that war for felf-defence may not be taken up, even before actual aggreffion renders it inevitable. In this reformed edition, Mr. W. disclaims all thoughts of feditious motives; he holds forth the fpirit of a martyr, and would even have us believe that he is not an enemy to the Conftitution. We queftion not his fincerity about martyrdom, but in the other point his own words condemn him. For he is avowedly zealous for a Reform in Parliament, yet he fays plainly, in p. 33, that if once the Commons are a complete reprefentation of the people-good night to monarchy." Knowing this, he perfifts to feek fuch a reprefentation, A pretty friend to the Conftitution! But he has the honefty to own what others of fimilar principles dishonestly conceal.

ART. 28. A comprehenfive View of the Real Chriftian's Character, Privileges, and Obligations, being the fubftance of a course of Sermons on the 8th chapter of St. Paul's Epifile to the Romans. By the Rev. T. Bryfon. 8vo. 3s. 6d. Chapman. 1794.

The fubject which Mr. Bryfon undertakes to difcufs, is not among the leaft difficulties which the famous Epiftle to the Romans contains. Mr. Bryfon proceeds upon the high Calvinistic system, and therefore

the

the general ftrain of his expofition will have been anticipated by thɔfe who are at all converfant with the schemes of Election, Reprobation, and final Perfeverance, as maintained by Whitfield, Toplady, and others of that defcription. To thofe, however, whofe piety flows in this channel, the volume before us will be found an acceptable prefent, as it expands the feveral parts of this important Chapter into propofitions and reafonings, which appear to embrace the whole creed of Calvinifm.

ART. 29. Equality: a Sermon. To which is added, a Sermon preached on Friday, Feb. 28, 1794, the day appointed for a General Faft By the Rev. James Hurdis, D. D. Prefeffor of Poetry in the Uni werfity of Oxford. 8vo. 63 pp. 15. 6d. Johnfon. 1794.

In the first Sermon, entitled Equality, the Profeffor makes it his object to illuftrate the neceffity of a regular fubordination of members in bodies of all kinds. St. Paul's allufion to the natural body, in the text, 1 Cor. xii. 25, gives occafion to thefe reflections, to the introduction of the famous Apologue employed by Menenius Agrippa, and feveral other illuftrations. In the notes are fome pertinent lines from Shakspeare, and an account of the proceedings of former Equalizers, in the reign of Richard II. and at other times. The Faft Sermon is on Proverbs xviii. 10, and displays the judgments of Providence, against cities and ftates, for impiety.

ART. 30. Mary Magdalen, a Sermon, preached in the Chapel of the Magdalen Hofpital, Blackfriars Road, on Sunday Evening, March 23, 1794. By the Rev. William Williams, B. A. Curate of High Wycombe, Bucks. Svo. 6d. Rivingtons, &c. 1794.

When the Magdalen Hofpital was firft projected by Jonas Hanway, a Letter was addreffed to him by Dr. Lardner, at that time anonytoufly, but fince inferted in his works, (Vol. II. p. 253. Edit. 1788.) explaining very clearly that the name was improper; there being no real ground to fuppofe that Mary Magdalen was the finner mentioned in the 7th chapter of St. Luke, or that he had ever been of irregular life. The fame juft diftinction is made by Macknight alfo in his Harmony, part 2, page 201. thus removing an error inveterate among the divines, and other Chriftians, of the middle ages. Yet the name was, we know not why, perfifted in; probably because it had been fo mifufed before in foreign countries. On this error of a name, Mr. Williams founds his difcourfe, of which he makes poor Mary Magdalen the fubject. Abating this radical mistake, which does not affect the reafoning, there feems little to object to this Sermon, except a flyle rather too rhapfodical.. The Author, however, is modest, and willing to amend,

ART,

ART. 31. The Practice of what is called Extempore Preaching recom mended, and the Propriety and Advantage of that mode of Public Inftructim urged and supported, by Arguments deduced from Scripture Authority, Primitive Example, Hiftoric Facts, and the very Nature of the Office. By a Clergyman of the Church of England. 8vo. 126 pp. 28. Mathews. 1794.

Out of multitudes of men but few can ever bring themselves to speak with force or propriety before an audience, and they who can do it beft will generally fay, in the warmth of declamation, what had been better unfaid. Second thoughts are always beft, and he who writes a Sermon may take his fecond or his third thoughts on the infinitely important fubjects there delivered, while he who fpeaks extemporarily must give them as they happen to arife. Such, and much more numerous, are the arguments for written against spoken Sermons; yet is this well-meaning Author fo bigotted to his opinion, that he cannot forbear owning his "aftonishment that the practice of reading fermons fhould ever become fo general, or that any man of "fenfe mould ever think of appearing as an advocate in fuch a caufe." p. 4. A mind fo biaffed will certainly fee but one fide of the queftion, and if he could not confirm his prejudices by his reading, would prefently give up all reading as abfurd. That fome evils arile occafionally from written Sermons, fuch as careless reading, neglect of meditation, &c. we fhall readily allow, but none that are comparable. to a fingle inftance of a congregation being difgufted or perverted by the unchaftifed effufions of an injudicious or extravagant prater. What fuch a man would blurt out without fear in speaking, he could hardly have the folly or the impudence to write,

AxT. 32. Subordination confidered on the Grounds of Reafon and Religion. A Sermon, preached in the Univerfuy Church of Great St. Mary's, before the Right Hon. Sir James Eyre, Kut. Chief Jutice of the Common Pleas, and the Hon. Sir William Ajburft, Kut. on the 5th of Auguft, 1794, being the Day of Affize. By the Rev. John Owen, A. M. Fellow of Corpus Chrifti College, Cambridge. 8vo. 36 PP. 15. Merril, &c. Cambridge. Cadell, &c. Lon

don. 1794•

We are not particularly vain of our fagacity in having foretold (Br. Cr. Vol. III. p. 452.) the excellence of Mr. Owen's more mature exertions. The cafe was felf-evident; and his Retrofpect, 10ticed in the fame volume, (p. 551,) further established our opinion. But we did not expect, fo early as in the prefent year, to fee him writing with a chaftifed and finished ftyle, as in the Sermon now before us. Here is nothing to cenfure in point of compofition, and much to praife in point of matter. Part of the 14th verfe of Chap. xix. of St. Luke, affords the Preacher opportunity to difcufs, in a mafterly manner, the following great topics, 1. Civi: Subordination, confidered in its nature, extent, and advantages. 2. The Caufes which obftruct its influence in Society. 3. The Means of afifting

its impreffion upon the Mind. The caft of Mr. Owen's Preface, and of his conclufion to the Sermon, is melancholy. But the complexion of the times muft occafionally urge melancholy reflections upon every good and feeling mind, which, however, if accompanied by fuch refolutions as the following, cannot fail to be useful." What remains then but to wait, in pious compofure, the awful iffue.-Neither relaxed into indifference, nor exalted into confidence; equally removed from prefumption and despair. To accelerate or retard the movements of Fate, falls not within the province of Humanity. Be it ours then to keep the path of duty, and eye the rewards that attend the Juft; ftrict in our attachment to the Conftitution of our forefathers; zealous for the faith once delivered to the Saints: in the difcharge of our duty and the fatisfaction of our confcience, fearlefs of danger, and contemptuous of reproach; as Magiftrates-wielding the fword of the Law; as Subjects-fupporting the existence of Order; as Chriftians-refigned to the will of him, who touches the fprings of Providence; and who, amidst the wrath which shall desolate the wicked, will cover the righteous as with a shield."

In the last fentence, Mr. O. doubtlefs means, not that the Righteous will receive temporal Protection, which is not to be expected, but final Salvation. Should wickednefs fpread, as Mr. Owen apprehends, the best will probably fuffer meft, but they must learn, like the Apoftles, to glory in their fufferings, and be thankful, like them, that they are thought worthy to fuffer for the truth.

POLITICS.

ART. 33. First Report from the Committee of Secrecy, to whom the feveral Papers referred to in bis Majesty's Meffage of the 12th of May, 1749, and which were prefented (fealed up) to the Houfe, by Mr. Secretary Dundas, upon the 12th and 13th days of the faid month, by his Majefty's command, were referred. Third Edition. 8vo. 40 pp. is. Debrett.

1794.

ART. 34. Second Report from the Committee of Secrecy. A New Edition, with a Supplement and Appendix. Fourth Edition. 8vo. 4s. 6d. Debrett. 1794.

The number of editions through which thefe publications have paffed, fufficiently indicate the extent of the national curiofity on the fubject. It is unneceffary for us to deliver any opinion on a matter in which the Legislature is the principal agent, and the public must form its own conclufions; we are therefore fatisfied with merely announcing thefe publications.

ART. 35. The former and prefent State of the principal Public Offices in this Kingdom, including the Offices of his Majesty's Treasury, Exchequer, Poftmafter-General, Secretaries of State, Admiralty, Army and Navy Pay-Offices, and all the fubordinate Naval Departments,

with Tables of the established Fees received in most of the faid Offices, and in fundry other Departments. Compiled from the Reports of the Commiffioners of Accounts and Enquiry, appointed in 1780 and 1785, from various Statutes, Orders in Council, Warrants, and Documents refpecting the faid Offices, and from other authentic Sources of Information. London. 8vo. Price 3s. Rivington. 1794.

The conclufion drawn by the Editor of this statement, from a review of the matter contained in his pamphlet, is very important, namely, That Eftablishments of fuch a defcription are entitled to the utmoft refpect, and that alterations in them fhould be well weighed, and propofed with caution and diffidence. Of the authenticity of the matter there can be no doubt.

ART. 36. An Impartial Report of the Debates on the Sufpenfion of the Habeas Corpus Act, with the Lords Protefts, and the Report of the Secret Committee upon the Books and Papers of the London Corresponding Society, and the Society for Conftitutional Information. To which is added an Abstract of the Habeas Corpus Act, and the Act for the Sufpenfion, &c. 8vo. 141 pp. 1s. 6s. Jordan. 1794.

The Title-page of this work fufficiently explains what the reader has to expect, and we fee no reason to believe it otherwife than impartial.

ART. 37. A Looking-Glass for a Right Honourable Mendicant; or the real Character of a certain great Ŏrator; with important Political Obfervations: in particular the marrow of the Slave Question, and of that refpecting the Laws of Debtor and Creditor, &c. &c. By an Old Member of Parliament. 8vo. 132 pp. 35. Crosby. 1794.

There is no calculating the odd coincidences that arife from the endless variety of human minds. That Mr. Fox and the Chriftian Religion fhould be jointly attacked, is not a little extraordinary; and, as we are fo completely accuftomed to fee Atheism and Jacobinifm united, it feems no lefs furprising to find the prefent author at once a violent, and by no means a cautious advocate, for the former, and yet a friend to the Conftitution of this Country; and what is moft incredible, fo attached to its forms, that he hopes the Church of England will continue when its religion fhall be abolished. The Right Hon. Gentleman, however, is not attacked, do not fo miftake us, gentle reader, on the score of his religious zeal, but for his politics and private character. With thefe it is not our province to interfere, and the other topics are fufficiently declared in the title-page; but we advife the old Member of Parliament, if fuch he really is, to read Paley's Evidences of Chriftianity before he is too old to mend, if that be not the cafe already; that he may have a chance of retracting his errors, before he is too old to write.

ART.