^^, 
 
 w 
 
 
 mPM^ 
 
 /'^^^§l 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ^8 
 
 ti^^l 
 
 .ix .;fv 
 
 ^'•^^' 
 
as: 
 
 # 
 
 ^^^^'^'' 
 
 fisio 
 
 ritif/ 
 
 '^r 
 
 % 
 
 FROM THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D. 
 
 BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 
 sac 
 
 m 
 
^i^V^ /**i^ 
 
 
 
 -.^7^ 
 
 y 
 
 -^ -/ 
 
 /iCw. r 
 
 r^ //^ 
 
 / % 
 
 ^^^3U^ 
 
 >^7w 
 
CHRISTIAN OBSERVER, 
 
THE 
 
 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER, 
 
 CONDUCTED BT 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 ESTABLISHED CHURCH. 
 
 FOR THE YEAR 1806, 
 
 THE FIFTH VOLUME. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED BY C. WHITTINGHAM, 
 
 103, Goiuiill Slrect ; 
 
 PUBLISHED BY JOHN HATCHARD, BOOKSELLER TO HER MAJESTY, 190, PICCADILLY, 
 TO WHOM COMMUNICATIONS, POST PAID, MAY BE ADDRESSED. 
 
 (itn AtSO IN- LONDON, BY SEELEY, AVE MARIA LANE ; AND SYMOVDS, PATERNOSTER ROW : AT OXFORD, 
 BV HANWtLI. AND PARKER, AND COOKE : AT CAMBRIDGE, BY DEIGHTON, AND NICHOLSON : AT BATH, BY 
 HAZARD: AT BKlSrOL, BY MILLS; AT EDINBURGH, BY OGLE : AT GLASGOW, BY OGLE : AT DUBLIN, Bf 
 COLBERT; A\I» BY ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS, AND BY THE NEWSMEN, THROVCHOUT THS V.VITIW 
 «■^•^COOM, 
 
 1S06. 
 
Digitized by tine Internet Archive 
 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/hymnspublishedinOOgran 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 VV HEN the Conductors of the Christian Observer. 
 began their labours, they grounded their claim to puhhc 
 favour, principally, on the assurance which they gave of its 
 being their main purpose to extend the influence, and in- 
 crease the efficacy, of those Christian principles which con- 
 vey, to fallen man, his only hope of salvation. They will 
 not pretend to say how far they have redeemed this pledge ; 
 but there are circumstances, independent of the grow- 
 ing demand for their work, which lead them to Lelieve, 
 that they are not considered by their readers in general 
 as having forfeited it. This persuasion tvill not fail to ani- 
 mate their future efforts. 
 
 One object which the CoNnucTORS of the Christian 
 Observer have endeavoured uniformly to pursue, has been 
 to abate the acrimony of theological debate ; and to in- 
 duce those " who agree in the essentials of our most holy 
 faith," " to put away from them all rancour of religious 
 dissension," as well as all unfounded suspicions of their 
 brethren, " and to fulfil our blessed Saviour's command- 
 ment of lOviuG: one another as he hath loved us*." That 
 some improvement, in this respect, is visible in tlie religious 
 world, since ihe commencement of their labours, they cannot 
 doubt. Probably many causes have coticnrred in produc- 
 ing this favourable result : yet they are willing to hope that 
 it may have pleased the great Head of the Church to render j 
 
 * Prayer appointed to be used on the J 9th of October 1S0.3, being a 
 •iiy of public, tasting and humiliation. 
 
"Vi^ " PREFACE. 
 
 llieir work in some small degree subservient to its production. 
 
 To him be tlie praise ! 
 
 The Conductors of the Christian Observer find an ad- 
 ditional source of satisfaction in the gradual diminution 
 of those vehement prejudices, which assailed their under- 
 taking at its outset, and for a time impeded its success. If 
 the groundless and contradictory clamours of " Calvinism** 
 and " Anninianism'* have subsided, they are disposed to at- 
 tribute the circumstance to an increasing conviction, among 
 religious persons, that the questions which agitate the parti- 
 zans of these two systems are comparatively unimportant, 
 and little affect the foundations of our common Christianity ; 
 and that therefore, on such topics (to use a trite but signifi- 
 cant expression) good men may " agree to differ." It has 
 been with the view of brinirino: Christians to this wise and 
 beneficial determination, that they have employed so much 
 of their time in correcting the mistakes and misapprehen- 
 sions of writers on both sides of this endless controversy. 
 And although they may have seemed to many, to neglect, 
 in the eagerness of polemical discussion, the paramount in- 
 terests of practical pietj' ; yet they acted from a belief, that in 
 order effectually to promote those interests, and to call men 
 off from the angry contentions in which they were engaged 
 to the cultivation of a spirit of Christian unity and peace, 
 it was necessary to impress strongly on their minds the com- 
 parative unprofitableness of the speculations which excited 
 their animosity, and fully to expose to them the errors and 
 misrepresentations, the prejudice and want of charity with 
 which both parties were sometimes chargeable. They de- 
 rive comfort, in looking forward to the future, from the hope 
 ihat it will no longerbe requisite to divert an equally large 
 share of their attention from practical objects to those of a 
 controversial description. 
 
 Had any thing been wanting to confirm the Conductors 
 of the Christian Observer in the view they have given of 
 the question which has now been alluded to; a view, as they 
 
PREFACE. vii 
 
 conceive, perfectly coincident with tliat of our Church ; it 
 would have been i'ound in a work, proceeding from high au- 
 thority, which has recently issued from the press. The friends 
 of evangelical theology, no less than those of the oppressed 
 African race, have occasion to regret the loss of the distin- 
 guished talents of the late Bishop of St. iVsaph : but he has 
 left behind him a memorial of his theological opinions *, 
 which will not carry with it the less weight, v^dien the cir- 
 cumstances are considered under which it has met the pub- 
 lic eye. The Conductors of the Christian Observer will- 
 embrace another opportunity of making their readers fully 
 acquainted with this seasonable production. In the mean 
 ^ime they will observe, that could they have emulated the 
 eloquence of this learned and lamented prelate, they would 
 gladly have cnosen the same language in which to have 
 enounced the same sentiments. ^Vith him they would say 
 to their fellow Christians in general, but especially to the 
 clergy of the land ; " Leave these barren disquisitions. 
 Apply yourselves, with tlie whole strength and power of 
 your minds, to do the work of Evangelists. Proclaim to 
 those who are at enmity with God, and children of his 
 wrath, the glad tidings of Christ's pacification. Sound th; 
 alarm, to awaken to a life of righteousness, a world lobt 
 and dead in trespasses and sins. Lift aloft the blazing 
 torch of Revelation, to scatter its rays over them that sit in 
 darkness and the shadow of death : and guide the footsteps 
 of the benighted wanderer into the paths of life and peace." 
 p. 29. 
 
 The Conductors of the Christian Observer have inti- 
 mated, on many former occasions, that it was their great aim 
 to recommend to their readers a plain and practical religion ; 
 and that they should feel themselves greatly indebted to such 
 correspondents as should aid them in their design. They 
 likewise suggested, that this important end might be much 
 promoted, by the occasional introduction of that ligher spe- 
 
 * Charge delivered to his clergy In the month of August, 1806. 
 Hatchard. 
 
Mil PREFACE. 
 
 cies of writing, uhich amuses while it instructs, and whicfj 
 may therefore _3erve to concihate the attention of the intelli- 
 gent youth of both sexes to the concerns of religion ; an object 
 which is certainly of immense moment, and yet often of ex- 
 treme difficUity. They have reason indeed to be grateful 
 for the many valuable contributions which they have received 
 to both tliese departments of their miscellany. They hope 
 however to be excused, if they venture to call on their cor- 
 respondents for continued support, in a cause which, they do 
 not hesitate to say, is worthy of their best exertions. 
 
 At the dose of the Number for December (p. 79?) the 
 CoNDUCTO^.s of the Christian Observer have stated the 
 ground on which they have thought themselves entitled to 
 increase the price of tl>cir publication. What they have 
 there said, they doubt not, will prove satisfactory to every 
 considerate mind; and to that they refer their readers. They 
 have now only to renew their acknowledgments to their cor- 
 respondents for the able assistance afforded by them, and to 
 the public for its liberal patronage ; and again to express 
 theif anxious desire, that the efforts which they employ to 
 advance the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom, may ob- 
 tain his approbation and blessing, and may tend to his 
 glory. 
 
THE 
 
 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. 
 
 No. 50. 
 
 FEBRUARY, 1806. [No. 50. Vol. V. 
 
 lHeligiou0 Commimication^* 
 
 To the Editor of the Christian Observer. 
 
 THE following sketch of the cha- 
 racter of John Lord Harring- 
 ton, Baron of Exton, is taken from 
 Harrington's XugwAniiqiKB. The Edi- 
 tor of that work states it to have been 
 evldentlv compiled from " The 
 Churches Lamentation for the Loss 
 of the Godly," a sermon delivered at 
 the fmieral of this pious young noble- 
 man, by Richard &oc/:,i?astor of All- 
 hallows, Bread-street, London, and 
 printed in iGl-t, a sermon which has 
 now the rarity of a Manuscript. 
 
 John Lord Harrington, was born 
 in J391. He was the eldest son of 
 the Lord and Lady Harrington to 
 whose care and tuition King Ja?nes 
 committed the education of his 
 daughter Elizabeth*, who was after- 
 
 * A letter in the Talbot papers from Sir 
 Thomas Chaloaer to the Earl of Shrews- 
 bury, October 18, 1603, says, " Tiie Lady 
 Elizabeth is given in custody to the Lord 
 Harrington, who hath undertaken to defray 
 hercharcres for c£. 1600 yearly," see Lodge's 
 Illustrations of British History, iii. '20 k 
 
 The blessed fruits of the care of Lord 
 Harrin^on in the education of the Princess 
 Elizabeth, (she was grandmother of George 
 the First) were very conspicuous in her 
 after life. I am unwilling to withhold from 
 your readers a trait of the piety of this un- 
 fortunate Princess, which appears in the 
 same volume from which I have taken the ac- 
 coTintoftheyouni; Ix)rd Harrington. A copy 
 of verses composed by her, and addn ssed to 
 Lord Harrington hi.-r preceptor, is there in- 
 serted. The whole is too long to be trans- 
 cribed at present, and the poetry i;* of a kind 
 which does not entitle it to any peculiar di>- 
 litietion. But the sentiments throughout 
 are noble and elevated : in a word, they are 
 truly Christian. Permit me to subjoin aspe- 
 .ciinen of them. Speaking of the happiness of 
 bcaren, the pious Pnniess thus proceeds : 
 CliRU^^U OBSEKViR, No. DO. 
 
 wards married to Frederick Prince 
 Elector Palatine. Both Lord and 
 Lady Harrington were persons emi- 
 nent for prudence and piety, who 
 carefully ed ucated this their son both 
 in religion and learning; and he, 
 thankful for the care and honour 
 received from them, returned ho- 
 nour to them again with advantage, 
 being no less honourable to them 
 than they were to him. 
 
 He was of an excellent wit, firm 
 memory, sweet nature, and prompt 
 to learning; so that in a short time 
 he was able to read Greek authors, 
 and to make use of them in their 
 own language. He spake Latin 
 well, wrote it in a pure and grave 
 
 " Doth not this surpassing joy, 
 Ever freed from all annoy. 
 Me inflame ? And quite destroy 
 Love of every earthly toy } 
 
 O how frozen is my heart! 
 O my soul how dead thou art ! 
 Thou, O God, must strength impart: 
 ~ aiu is human strength and art. 
 
 O my God, for Cinist his sake, 
 Quite from me this dulness take: 
 Cause me earth's love to forsake. 
 And of heaven my realm to make.'' 
 
 " O enlighten more my sight. 
 And dispel my darksome night, 
 Good Lord, by thy heavenly light. 
 And thy beams most pure and bright." 
 
 " What care I for lofty place, 
 If the Lord grant me his grace. 
 Shewing me his pleasant face ; 
 And with joy I end my race i" 
 " O my soul of heavenly birth. 
 Do thou scorn this basest earth. 
 Place not here thy joy and mirth 
 Where of bliss is greatest dearth. 
 From below thy mind remove, 
 Ajid affect the things above : 
 Set thy heart and fix thy love. 
 Where tbou truest joys shalt prove" 
 
70 Sketch of the Character 
 
 style, and was able to confer with 
 any stranger, readily and laudably, 
 in the French and Italian tongues; 
 understood the authors which he 
 read in Spanish; and for arts was 
 well read in logic, philosophy, and 
 the mathematics. He made a good 
 progress in the theoretic part of the 
 art military and navigation, so that 
 he wanted nothing but practice, to 
 make him perfect in both. His un- 
 derstanding in heavenly matters, 
 and the mysteries of salvation, was 
 so admirable, that thrre was scarcely 
 any question could be propounded 
 to him, about those matters, unto 
 which he "^vas not able to give an 
 understanding and quick answer*. 
 
 Bemg well grounded in religion 
 and learning at home, his noble 
 father sent him to travel abroad in 
 France and Italy, that by experi- 
 ence he might ripen that knowledge 
 which he had before gained : and 
 for a guide and tutor for him in his 
 travels, he chose and sent over one 
 Master Tozej/, a grave and learned 
 religious man, and formerly the 
 head master of the Free-school at 
 Coventry. But how dangerous a 
 thing it is for rfdigious gentlemen 
 to travel into thest popish countries, 
 may appear by the example of this 
 nobleman and his tutor, m hose sound 
 religion and lieavenly zeal for the 
 truth being taken notice of by the 
 Jesuits, they took their opportunity 
 to administer a slow-working poison 
 to them ; that seeing they had no 
 hopes of corrupting their miiuls, 
 the}' might destroy their bodies, 
 and bring them to their graves. 
 
 Of this poison, Mr. Tovty, being 
 aged, and so less able to encounter 
 
 * Fuller observes, with his characteristic 
 quaintncss, that this yuuns noblnnian 
 •'did not count himself privileged fiom 
 being good by being great : his timely piety 
 rising early did not soon after go to bed, 
 but continued watchful during his life." 
 f Worthies ofSnmi'rsrt.) 
 
 Gataker in his " Discourse Apologeti- 
 cal," 1654, styles the young liord Harring- 
 ton " a mirror of nobility ;" and Dr. Birch 
 has made honourable mention of him in his 
 life of Prince ilenry, p. IIS &\ seq. 
 
 of Lord Harrington. [Feb. 
 
 with the strength of it, died, pre- 
 sently after his return to England. 
 But the Lord Harrington being of a 
 strong and able body, and in the 
 prime of his age, bore it better, and 
 conflicted with it longer: yet the 
 violence of it appeared in his face, 
 presently after his return, and not 
 long after hastened his deathf. 
 
 He was eminent for sobriety and 
 purity. His lips were never heard to 
 utter an impure or unseemly speech,* 
 which was the more admirable, con- 
 sidering that he was in the warmth 
 of youth, livinfif in the court, and 
 had been a traveller into those coun- 
 tries (Italy and the Venetian States) 
 which are schools of impurity, 
 whence few return such as they 
 went out. And indeed he took the 
 right way to preserve his mind from 
 being corrupted. He spent not his 
 time in courting of ladies, and con<. 
 templating the beauty of women; 
 but he preferred his books before 
 their beauty, and, for his society, 
 chose men of parts and learning for 
 arts and arms. Besides he was very 
 temperate in his diet; frequent in 
 fasting; and hated idleness and much 
 sleep. In the night, when he lay 
 awake, to prevent the intrusion of 
 improper thoughts, he exercised his 
 njind with heavenly meditations. 
 
 His justicf, so far as he had occa- 
 sion to show it, was very exemplary. 
 He dealt honourably and honestly 
 with every body he had to deal 
 with. And, whereas his father had 
 contracted great debts by his prince- 
 like housekeeping, and other public 
 and private occasions, he was very 
 solicitous for the discharge of the 
 same, giving power to his executrix 
 to sell part or all his land, if need 
 were, therewith speedily to dis- 
 charge the creditors. And being 
 asked, when the writing was drawn 
 up, whether he assented to it, he 
 answered, " Yea, v\ ith all my heart, 
 for my honour and my honesty, arc 
 my nearest huirs." 
 
 But the splendour of his religion 
 
 f Possibly some part of this statement 
 may be referred to the violent prejudices oi' 
 the times. 
 
1806.] Sketch of the Character 
 
 outshined all his moral and natural 
 accomplisluuents. This was the 
 temple that sanctified the gold, and 
 the altar that santtified the ofl'ering : 
 this was that which ennobled his 
 sobriety, justice and other virtues: 
 and this appeared both by his pri- 
 vate and public exercises of pietv, 
 which were rare in a young man, 
 more rare in a young nobleman, 
 and hardlv found in such a measure 
 in any man of what age or condi- 
 tion soever. He usually rose every 
 morning about four or five o'clock, 
 seldom sleeping above five or six 
 hours at a time. When he first 
 waked, his constant care Mas to set 
 *s his heart in order and fit it for ho- 
 liness all the day after, ofl'ering the 
 first fruits of the day, and of his 
 thoughts, unto God. Being up, he 
 read a chapter out of the holv Scrip- 
 tures; then with his servants in his 
 chamber he went to prayer; then 
 did he spend about an hour in read- 
 ing some holy treatise to enliven his 
 aftections, and increase his know- 
 ledge. He read over Calvin's Insti- 
 tutions, and Roger5's Treatise* ; 
 which were his two last books. He- 
 fore dinner and supper, he had a 
 psalm, chapter, and prayer, in his 
 family, and prayer after supper. 
 And besides those public duties, he 
 prayed privately every morning in 
 his closet, after which he betook 
 liimself to some serious study for 
 three or four hours together, except 
 he was interrupted by special busi- 
 ness. The residue of the morning he 
 spent in converse with his friends, 
 riding the great horse, or some such 
 other honest and noble recreation, 
 til! dinner time. Thus avoided he 
 idleness, and prevented temptations 
 which comtiionly ensue thereon. 
 Presently aftt-r dinner, he retired 
 into his study to meditate on ser- 
 mons he had lately heard ; or, if he 
 
 * " Of the privileges wliich belong to 
 every true Christian,'' wherein, say^Culver- 
 wcll, is fully laiJ out what special favours 
 and benefits God hath provided for his chil- 
 dren, both m this life, in all the several 
 estates thereof, and in the life to come. 
 Treatise of Faith, l'"^22. 
 
 of Lord Hairington. 7 1 
 
 was disappointed of that opportuni- 
 ty, he neglected not to take the first 
 that wasofTered to him : yea, many 
 times, in his travels by land or by 
 water, he thus busied himself. The 
 rest of the afternoon he spent in bu- 
 siness, study of histories, the art of 
 war, mathematics, and navigation ; 
 Avherein he attained to a great mea- 
 sure of perfection. After supper, 
 he prayed with hisservants,and then 
 withdrew himself into his study, 
 where he kept a diary or day bookf, 
 wherein he recorded what he had 
 done that day; how he had oflend- 
 ed, or what good he had done; 
 AA hat temptations he met with, and 
 how he had resist«d them. And sur- 
 veying his failings, he humbled him- 
 self to God for them ; and for such 
 failings as were fit to beknoMnonJy 
 to God and his own soul, he wrote 
 them doAvn in a private character, 
 which none rould read but himself, 
 and then betook himself to his rest. 
 To prevent evil thoughts before 
 sleep, one that Avaited on him in his 
 chamber read a chapter or two te 
 hira out of the holy .Scripture; and 
 this practice he continued for four 
 years before his death. And that 
 his public as well as private care to 
 walk with his God might the better 
 appear, the use of his time in the 
 means of God's worship bore sufli- 
 cient testimony: being a most reli- 
 gious observer of the l.onPs day, 
 both in public and private duties; 
 yet preferring thn public before the 
 private, so that though he had an 
 household chaplain, yet he ever fre- 
 quented the j)ublic assemblies twice 
 a day. "\ ea, whilst heAvas a courtier, 
 and if his occasious cast him into a 
 place AAhere the word was not 
 preached, he woultl ride to some 
 other place, many miles, rather than 
 want it. Immediately after sermon 
 he withdrt w himself from company 
 for about half an hour, to meditate 
 
 t He was one of the first, according to 
 Fuller, who began the pious fashion of a 
 diary, wherein he registered, not the inju- 
 ries of others done to him,, but his own 
 failings and infirmities toward his divin« 
 >Iast'jr. I Ifort'iies, ubi sup. J 
 
Sketch of the Character of Lord Harrin<rton. 
 
 72 
 
 and apply what he had heaird to his 
 soul. After the evening sermon, 
 two of his servants having written, 
 he caused them to repeat both the 
 sermons in his family, before supper ; 
 and such was his memory, that he 
 could usuall}'^ repeat more than they 
 iiad written. Then wrote he them 
 down in his book, and prayed him- 
 self with his familj',wherein he had 
 an excellent gift. And by way of 
 preparation to the sabbath, every Sa- 
 turday night he used to call himself 
 to a strict account how he had spent 
 the whole week: and accordingly 
 he humbled himself to God for his 
 failings, and returned praise for 
 mercies received from him. On 
 the sabbath morning, rising betimes. 
 
 [■Feb. 
 
 he willingly laid down his honour 
 at Christ's feet. To avoid ostenta- 
 tion or the appearance of it in his 
 private duties, he never admitted 
 any one either to his prayers or re- 
 petition of his sermon in and with 
 his family, but only one friend that 
 was most intimate with him. And 
 thus was this holy servant of Christ 
 blamehss and pure, and this child of 
 God, luithout rebuke in a naiis^hti/ and 
 crooked generation, amongst xvhom he 
 shined us a light in the ivorld, holding 
 forth the zior(i of life, that he ynight 
 rejoice in ths daj/ of Chrht's coming 
 that he had not run in vain, nor la- 
 boured ivithout fruit. 
 
 He further manifested the since- 
 rity of his religion by his love to all 
 he used (as ho was making himself that were truly godly, especially to 
 
 ready) to repeat to his servants those 
 sermons he had heard the Lord's 
 day before; He used, monthly, to 
 receive the sacrament of the Lord's 
 Supper; and to fit himself to feast 
 at the Lord's table, he kept a private 
 fast the day before. And then he 
 looked over his books for his carriage 
 that month, and spent the whole day 
 in prayer and meditation and self- 
 examination, observing how it was 
 with him since his last receiving; 
 what progress he had made in piety; 
 how he had thriven in grace, and 
 what more strength he had gotten 
 over his corruptions. Thus he spent 
 the whole day, not coming out of 
 his study till about supper time. 
 Also the morning before he received, 
 he read 1 Cor. xi. wherein is con- 
 tained the institution of the Lord's 
 Supper. And to his servants that 
 were to communicate with him, 
 he read a little treatise Avhere- 
 in the right manner of communi- 
 cating was contained. Besides these 
 monthly fasts, he kept many other 
 days of afflicting his soul, upon sun- 
 dry occasions. He was wondrous 
 attentive in hearing the word of 
 God preached or read ; and carried 
 himself wondrous and exceedingly 
 reverent therein, knowing that he 
 was in the presence of God, and shew- 
 ing thereby that when he came to 
 hear not the word of man but God, 
 
 faithful and painful ministers ; as 
 also by his mercy and charity to the 
 needy saints and poor members of 
 Jesus Christ. After his return from 
 his travels, by way of thankfulness 
 to God, \vt gave yearly, by the hand 
 of a private friend, twenty pounds 
 to the poor. And the second sabbath 
 after his landing in England, hav- 
 ing spent the day before with his 
 tutor Mr. Tovey, in prayer, fasting, 
 and thanksgiving, he heard the 
 word, received the sacrament, and 
 gave to the poor of that parish five 
 pounds. And besides, he gave forty 
 pounds to be bestowed upon poor 
 ministers and other Christians, for 
 the relief of their necessities. Yea, 
 such were his bowels of tender 
 mercy, that he gave a tenth part of 
 his yearly allowance, which was a 
 thousand pounds, to pious and cha- 
 ritable uses; besides much that he 
 gave occasionally, as he travelled 
 or walked abroad, &c. Also, all 
 his other graces were beautified by 
 the ornament of admirable humility; 
 which is rarely found in persons so 
 honourable and honoured both of 
 God and man. 
 
 From the first daj' of his last sick- 
 ness, he strangely apprehended the 
 approach of his death, and therefore 
 accordingly prepared himself for it. 
 Besides his private nieditations, liQ 
 called often others to pray for him. 
 
1806.] 
 
 S/cetchf^s of the Rtformation... Bishop Lalhnerl 
 
 and often prayed hiinscU'. He made 
 ronfession of liis sins and often con- 
 fessed his faith, and an undoubted 
 hope of salvation bv Christ Jesus ; 
 professing, with so much cheerful- 
 ness, that he feared not death in 
 what shape soever it came. Me ut- 
 tered many heavenly speeches, de- 
 siring to be dissolved, and to be at 
 home with God his Fafiur; jjrofess- 
 ing, not above two hours before his 
 death, that he still felt the assured 
 comforts and jovs of his salvation 
 by Christ. And when death itself ap- 
 proached, he breathed forth these 
 longing expressions: " O thou my 
 joy ! O my God I when shall I be 
 with thee !" and in the midst of such 
 desires, sweetly and quietly resigned 
 up his spirit unto God, anno Domi- 
 ni, 1613, aged 22 years*. 
 
 SKETCHES OF THE REFOUM ATION, 
 NO. X. 
 
 niSHOP LATIMER. 
 
 The extracts inserted in your last 
 number from the .sermons of l^ishop 
 I.atimer, had an almost exclusive 
 reference to the much contested sub- 
 ject of prede>tination and election. 
 On this doctrine we find that vene- 
 rable prelate adopting a moderation 
 of sentiment and a latitude of lan- 
 guage, which, however creditable 
 they may be to him iu the eye of 
 the Christian Observer, will be lit- 
 tle relished by the bigoted systema- 
 tizcrs of either party. Leaving it 
 to them to settle to which of the two 
 .s3-stems that divide the pious divines 
 
 * " He lived out all his days," says Ful- 
 ler, " in the appointment of Divine Provi- 
 dence ; not ha//o( them according- to the 
 course of nature, not half a quartrr of them 
 accordine; to the hopes and desires of the 
 lovers and honourers of virtue in this na- 
 tion, especially of the Society in Sydney 
 College, Cambridge, whereto he was a 
 most bountiful benefactor." (Worthies, 
 ubi sup.) 
 
 " His estate,'' says Granger, " was in- 
 herited by his two sisters, Lucy, Countess 
 of Bedford, and Anne, wife of Sir Robert 
 Chichester." His portrait is in the He- 
 roologia. 
 
 73 
 
 of the present day. Bishop Latimer 
 approached most nearly, I will pro- 
 ceed to exhibit his sentiments on a 
 point respecting which there will 
 be no variance of opinion among real 
 Christians, whether they belong to 
 the Arminian or the Calvinistic 
 school; I mean the metliod of a sin- 
 ner's sahaiion. And here, only a 
 very sniall proportion of the nume- 
 rous passages which present them- 
 selves need be adduced. Take the 
 following as a fair specimen. 
 
 " Whosoever fron) the bottom of 
 his heart is sorrv for his sins, and 
 studieth to leave them and live \ip- 
 rightly, and then belie\eth in our 
 Saviour, confessing that he came 
 into the world to make amends for 
 our sins, this man or woman shall 
 not perish, but have forgiveness of 
 sins, and so obtain everlasting life. 
 And this, God revealeth especially 
 in the New Testament, where our 
 Saviour saith, ' Whosoever be- 
 lieveth in me hath life everlasting,* 
 where we learn that our Saviour i.s 
 ordained of God to bring us to 
 heaven, else we should have been all 
 damned world without eud." Fourth 
 Sermon npon the Lord's Praijcr, p. 
 142, 
 
 " The Scripture witncsseth that 
 ' there is full ami plenteous redemp- 
 tion by Christ.' But how shall I 
 get that? How shall I come unto it? 
 By faith. Faith is the hand where- 
 with we receive his benefits, there- 
 fore ^\e must needs have faith. Faith 
 bringeth Christ, and Christ bringeth 
 remission of sins;" " and remission 
 of sins bringeth everlasting life." 
 Sixth Sermon upon the Lord's Prayer, 
 p. 165. 
 
 " Do I in forgiving mv neighbour 
 his sins deserve at God's hand for- 
 giveness of mine own sins? No, no, 
 God forbid, for if this should be .so, 
 then farewell Christ" — " it is vcrv 
 treason wrought against Christ;" 
 "in him onlv, and in nothing else 
 neither in heaven nor earth is our 
 remission of sins; unto him onlv 
 pertaineth this honour. For remis- 
 sion of sinSjwherein consisteth ever- 
 lasting life, is such a treasure that 
 
Slcetclids of Reformation.. .Latimer. ..Method of Salvation. [Fkb. 
 
 pa>seth all men's doings. It must 
 not be our merits that shall serve, 
 but his. He is our comfort, he is 
 the raajt-sty of God, and his blood- 
 shedding it is that cleanseth us from 
 our sins. Therefore whosoever is 
 jninded contrary to this, he robbeth 
 Christ of his majesty, and go casteth 
 iiimself into everlasting danger.'' 
 " So vou see as touching our salva- 
 tion, we must not go to m ork to 
 think to get everlasting life by our 
 own doings. No this were to deny 
 Christ's salvation." " As touching 
 our good works Avbich we do, God 
 will reward them in heaven, but they 
 cannot get heaven. Therefore let 
 every man do well, for it shall be 
 Avell rewarded: but let them not 
 think that they with .their doings 
 may get heaven, for so doing is a 
 robbing of Christ." Ih. p. Hid. 
 
 " The}' that will leave such wick- 
 edness, and will live conformable 
 unto God's word, and then believe 
 in Christ our Saviour, trust and be- 
 lieve to be cleansed from their sins 
 through his death and passion, no 
 doubt they shall hear this joyful sen- 
 tence of Christ our Saviour, ' Come 
 to me ye blessed of mv Father,' 
 &c." Sernioji on Luke xxi. p. 255. 
 
 " The will, ])lt-asure, and counsel 
 of God is, to receive onlv those which 
 come to him in the name of his son 
 our Savionr, which know them- 
 selves, lament their own sins, and 
 confess their own nanglitiness and 
 wickedness, and put their whole 
 trust and confidence only in the 
 Son of God the redeemer of man- 
 kind. Sermon on Christmas, 1552, p. 
 208. 
 
 " That the law could not do, for 
 itwas letted bv the tlesh : — what can 
 the law do when it hath no let r It 
 can justify, but it was weak through 
 the flesh; man was not able to do 
 it : the lack w as in ns ; for we are 
 wicked and the law is holy and 
 good. But that which we lacked 
 the same hath God fulfilled and ap- 
 plied. He hath sent his son to sup- 
 ply that which man's works could 
 fiot da; and with his rultilling of 
 the lu\y and painful death lie me- 
 
 rited, that as many as believe m 
 him though they had done all the 
 sins in the world, yet shall they not 
 be damned, but are righteous before 
 the face of God, believing in Christ; 
 so that remission of sins and ever- 
 lasting life may be sought no where 
 else but only in Christ." Sermon on 
 Tii-elfth Da/, 1553, p. 2.Q3. 
 
 *' We must come to Jesus which 
 is the right and true Savi<;ur, ' He 
 it is that hath saved us from sin.' 
 Whom hath he saved r His people. 
 Who are his people r All that be- 
 lieve in hini, and put their whole 
 trust in him, and those that seek 
 help and salvation at his hands, all 
 such are his people." Sermo7i on 
 the first Sunday after Epiphany , \b52j 
 p. "2P5. 
 
 " Hero thou seest whereon hang- 
 eth thy salvation, namely believing 
 in the Son of God, which hath pre- 
 pared and gotten heaven for all those 
 that believe in him and live upright- 
 ly according to his word: for we 
 must do good works, and God re- 
 quireth them of us : but yet wc may 
 not put our trust in them, nor think 
 to get heaven with the same, for 
 our works are wicked and evil, and 
 the best of them be unperfect." 
 lb. p. 2.Q7. 
 
 " Let us come unto Christ, for he 
 is the Saviour of mankind, and he 
 is the only helper. He suveth our 
 souls by liis word, if when we hear 
 we believe the same." Sermon on 
 the third Sunday after Epiphany, p. 
 30(). 
 
 " Those which die repentantly, 
 and are sorry for their sins, cry God 
 mercy, be ashamed of their own 
 wickedne.ss, and believe with all 
 their hearts that God \\\\\ be merci- 
 ful unto them through the passion 
 of ourSavionr Christ, shall come into 
 everlasting felicity." Sermon onfifth 
 Sunday after Epiphany, p. 317. 
 
 It A^ ould be easy to multi])ly pas- 
 sages to the same effect, all shewing 
 that, according to Bishop Latimer, 
 salvation is only through Christ, of 
 grace and not of works. But what, 
 it may be asked, were more partit:u- 
 I'arly the sentiments of this prplate 
 
1806.] Bishop Latimer. ^' 
 
 on the much contested points of jus- 
 tification, and of the relative impor- 
 tance of faith and works uith rete- 
 rcnce to that blessing? His senti- 
 ments on these points might be sa- 
 tisfactorily gathered by any candid 
 reader from the extracts which have 
 already been given. But as all rea- 
 ders are not of this description, I 
 shall now proceed to cite a few pas- 
 sages, which will place the matter 
 beyond the reacii of cavil and ob- 
 jection. 
 
 Describing the office of a preach- 
 er; he observes, that " he hath first 
 a busy work to bring parishioners 
 to a right faith, as Paul calleth it; 
 not a swerving faith, but a faith that 
 rmbraceth Christ, and trusteth to 
 his merits, a lively faith, a justify- 
 ing faith, a faith that maketh a man 
 righteous without respect of works : 
 
 AS YE HAVE IT VERY WELL DEi LARED 
 A.ND SET FORTH IN THE HOMILY*. 
 
 Sermon preached \^th January, 1548, 
 p. 17. 
 
 " As many as believe in Christ 
 shall be the. children of God." 
 " When we believe in him it is like 
 35 if we had no sins. For he 
 changoth with us : he taketh oursins 
 and wickedness from us, and giveth 
 unto us his holiness, righteousness, 
 justice, fulfilling of the law, and so 
 consequently everlasting life: so 
 that we hf like as if we had dune no 
 .sm at all, for his righteousness stand- 
 eth us in .so good st»rad, as though 
 we of ourselves had fulfilled the law 
 to the uttermost." First Sermon on 
 Lord's Prayer, p. 122. 
 
 St. Paul (1 Cor. xiii.) calleth 
 faith nothing without charity. 
 " Some have thought that St. Paul 
 spake against the dignity of faith: 
 but you must understand rhat St. 
 Paul speaketh not here of the justi- 
 fying faith wherewith we receive 
 
 * It will scarcely be av^ued by the stur- 
 diest maiiitaiiicr of that prcvailihg system 
 of theology, wliich would admit our works 
 to an equal partitipatli^n with faith io the 
 office of just'licUion, that I.atimer did not 
 under-tand the drift of the homilies, which 
 h:id just been published when he preach«d 
 *'.:\* sermca 
 
 Justification hy Faith. 75 
 
 everlasting life ; but he understand- 
 eth by this word taith, the gift to 
 do miracles, to remove hills. This 
 I say to the confirmation of this prw 
 
 position FAITH ONLY JL'STIFIETH : thi:5 
 
 proposition is most true and certain. " 
 Sermon on Jvhn xv. p. 2G3. 
 
 " Such is the office of Christ— to 
 deliver us from the law and the 
 wrath of it. The law requireth a 
 perfect righteousness and holiness : 
 now all they that believe in Christ, 
 they are holj' and righteous, for he 
 hath fulfilled the law for us which, 
 believe in him: we be reputed just 
 through faith in Chri.st." " Our 
 works are not able to make us just 
 and deliver us from our sins: but we 
 are just by this, that our sins are 
 pardoned unto us, through the feith 
 which we have in Christ our Sa- 
 viour." Sermon on Tuelfth Day, p. 
 292, see also p. 293. 
 
 " Leave all papistry, and stick 
 only to the word of God, which, 
 teacheth thee that Christ is not only 
 a judge, but a justifier, a giver of 
 salvation, and a taker away of sin ; 
 for he purchased our salvation 
 through his painful death, and we 
 receive the same through believing 
 in him, as St. Paul teacheth, saying, 
 Rom. iii. 4, 'freely ye are justified 
 through faith.' In these words of 
 St. Paul all merit and estimation of 
 works are excluded and clean taken 
 away. For if it were for our works 
 sake, then were it not freely. Whe- 
 ther will you now believe St. Paul 
 or the Papists r" " We must be 
 justified, not through our good 
 works, but through the passion of 
 Christ." Sermon on the Jirst Sunday 
 after Epiphany, p. 29 1), 297. 
 
 " What is a ju.st man.^ He is just 
 that bilieveth in our Saviour: those 
 which believe in Chri.st are justified 
 before God." li/. p. 300. 
 
 ♦' Faith is like u hand wherewith 
 we receive the benefits of God: and 
 e.xcept we take hisbenrfiti with the 
 hand i»f faith ue shall never have 
 them." " God will justify us if 
 we believe in him." Ser/non on the 
 third ^ar<Jay aftrj Fpiphaity. p. 307, 
 
'6 Sketches of the Reformation.,. Latimer. ..Failh and its Fi-uits, 
 " All are and must be justified by 
 
 the justification of our Saviuur 
 Christ, and not by our o^vn well 
 doing^s." " For if we believe in 
 him then are we made righteous." 
 " St. Paul saith that tho>e that are 
 just, that is, those that are justified 
 
 [Feb; 
 that faith, of which St. Paul speak- 
 eth here." Sermon on the tiienty-Jirst 
 Suitday after Trinif)/, p. 201. 
 
 " This faith must not be only a 
 general faith, but it must be a spe- 
 cial taith, for the Devil himself hath 
 a general feith." " But I sav that 
 
 by faith, and exercise faith in their every one of us must have a special 
 
 faith. I must believe for myself, 
 that his blood was shed for m'e. I 
 must believe that when Christ saith, 
 ' Come to me all ye that labour, &;c.' 
 Christ calleth me unto him, that I 
 should come and receive everlastin'^ 
 life at his hands." Sermon on thejirbt 
 Sunday in Advent, p. 229. 
 
 "St. Paul speaketh not here (1 
 Cor. xiii. 2.) of this lively justifv- 
 iu2^ faith; for this right faith is not 
 without love, for love cometh and 
 flowcth out of faith. Love is a child 
 of faith, for no man can love except 
 he believe, so that they havG two 
 several ofiices, they themselves being 
 inseparable," " Love may be called 
 the chiefest, yet we must not attri- 
 bute unto her the office ■^^hich per- 
 taineth unto faith only; for though 
 love be greater, yet it is not her of- 
 fice to save." Sermon on St. Simon 
 and St. Judt^s Dai/, p. 265. 
 
 " Love is the daughter, and f;\ith 
 is the mother. Love tloneth out of 
 faith: where faith is there is love: 
 but yet we must consider their of- 
 fices: faith is the hand wherewith 
 we take hold of everlasting life." 
 lb. p. 2tj7. 
 
 " That man is m good case that 
 can be content to fight and strive 
 with sin, and to withstand the Devil 
 and his temptations, and calleth for 
 the help of God, and believeth that 
 God will help him and make him 
 strong to fight. This man shall not 
 be overcome by the Devil. And 
 whosoever feeleth this in his heart, 
 and so wrestleth Mith sin, may be 
 sure that he hath faith, and is in the 
 favour of God. If thou wilt have a 
 trial of thy faith, do this. Examine 
 thyself towards thine enemies. He 
 doth thee harm; he sjandereth thee 
 or taketh away thy living frum thee. 
 How shah thou now use thyself to- 
 
 living and conversation, * they shall 
 shine like uuto the sun in the king- 
 dom of God'." Sermon on the fifth 
 Sundaij after Epiphani/, p. 318, 319. 
 
 But it becomes of imponance to 
 enquire what wa.s the nature of that 
 faith, which Bishop Laiimer has 
 thus uniformlv represented as the 
 sole medium of our justification, and 
 vliat were the effects which he as- 
 cribed to it, as necessary evidences 
 of its existence. On this point also, 
 he is very full and explicit. Let a 
 few short extracts suffice. 
 
 " Fnith hath ever going before 
 her thr confessing of sins : she hath 
 a train after her, the fruits of good 
 works, the walking in the command- 
 niPiits of God. He that believeth 
 will not be idle: he will work: he 
 will do his business. So if you will 
 try faith, remember this rule : con- 
 sider 'tvhether the train be waiting 
 upon her. If you have another 
 faith than this, you shall have weep- 
 ing and gnashing of teeth." Seventh 
 Sennon before Kin<r Ediiard,p. 87. 
 
 " How shall our hearts be purified 
 and cleansed f through faith." Ser- 
 mon on All Saints, p. 19. 
 
 " Faith must not only be in our 
 mouth, but in our hearts: we mu.st 
 not only talk of the Gospel ; we must 
 follow it in our conversations and 
 livings." " Now we may try our- 
 selves whether we have this faith or 
 not: if we lie in sin and wickedness, 
 care not for God's word and his holy 
 commandments^ but live only ac- 
 cording to our lusts and appetite.s, 
 then we have not this faith: when 
 we be slothful, wlieii we be un- 
 chaste, swearers, or unmerciful to 
 the poor, then we have not this 
 faith, so long as we be in such .sin.-?. 
 But if we hear God's word, believe 
 and be content to live after it, leave 
 our sins and iniquities, then we have 
 
 wards such a man? If thou canst 
 
1806.] S/,etchcs of tlic Reformation., , 
 
 find ill thine heart to pray for him, 
 to love him \\'nh all thy heart, and 
 forgive him with a good will all that 
 he hath sinned against thee; if thou 
 canst find this readiness in thy heart, 
 then thou art one of those which 
 hath faith." Stnmon on the fifth Sun- 
 day after Epiphany, p, 319. 
 
 The doctrine of the venerahle 
 Bishop on the subject of Good 
 Works, (taking good works in its 
 large sense as including holy dispo- 
 sitions of mind) will be found to be 
 in exact consistency with the views 
 which appear in the above extracts. 
 The performance of them he repre- 
 sents as of primary and indispen- 
 sable oblijration, and the neglect of 
 them as utterly inconsistent w ith a 
 Christian hope. But yet he vigo- 
 rously oppose-s the error of those 
 who make our justification to de- 
 pend on our works, or who attri- 
 bute any merit to them in the sight 
 olGod. To Christ, and not to our 
 own doings, which are sinful and 
 imperfect, Latimer uniformly as- 
 cribes the salvation of the soul. The 
 extracts already given, might be 
 deemed sufficient to establish these 
 positions : but it may not be impro- 
 per to add a few more which, if pos- 
 .sible, are still moredirectly in point. 
 
 " Let your body," says he, " be 
 clothed in the armour of righteous- 
 ness, ve mav do no wrong to any 
 man, but live in righteousness: ye 
 must live rightly in God's law, fol- 
 lowing his commandments and doc- 
 trine." p. 3. And yet, he adds, 
 '• as touching our salvation and eter- 
 nal life it must be merited, not by 
 our own works, but only by the 
 merits of our Saviour Christ :" " yet 
 hath God such pleasure in good 
 Avorks which we do with a faithful 
 heart, that he promiseth to reward 
 them with everlasting life." p. 1P3. 
 " We shall all come before the 
 judgment seat of Christ, and there 
 receive every one according to his 
 deserts: after his works he shall be 
 rewarded of Christ." p. '24-5. For 
 tiiough they, viz. those who are 
 saved, " will not be able to fulfil the 
 law of God to the uttermost, yet for 
 Christ. Observ. No. 50. 
 
 Bishop Latimer. ...Good Works. 77 
 
 all that God will take their doings in 
 good part tor Christ his sou's sake." 
 p. 251. 
 
 " You will say now, here is all 
 faith, faith, but we hear nothing of 
 good works, as some carnal people 
 make such carnal reasons like them- 
 selves; but I tell you we are bound 
 to walk in good works, for to that 
 end we are come to Christ, to leave 
 sin, to live uprightly, and so to be 
 saved by him. But you must be 
 sure to what end vou must work," 
 " not to win heaven withal, for if 
 we should do so, we should deny 
 Christ our Saviour, despise and tread 
 him under feet." " We must first 
 be made good before we can do 
 good. We must first be m^de just, 
 before our works please God : for 
 when we are justified by faith ia 
 Christ, and are made good by him, 
 then cometh our dut}"^, that is, to do 
 good works, to make a declaration 
 of thankiulness." p. 294. " And as 
 concerning our good works, they 
 are imperfect and not so agreeable 
 to the law of God, who requireth 
 most perfect works; by the which 
 it appeareth that the best works 
 which are done by man are not able 
 to get or deserve salvation." p. 297. 
 " If Me shall be judged after our 
 own deservings, we shall be dam- 
 ned everlastingly." p. 296. " We 
 must seek our salvation not in our 
 works but in Christ. Our works be 
 evil and imperfect, and evil works 
 deserve auger, and imperfect works 
 are punishable and not acceptable, 
 and deserve no heaven but rather 
 puuishuicnt." p. 298. " Man's 
 salvation cannot be gotten bj' any 
 Avork : life everlasting is the gift 
 of God. True it is that God re- 
 quireth good works of us, and com- 
 mandeth us to avoid all wickedness. 
 But for all that we may not do our 
 good works to the end to get heaven 
 wilhal, but rather to siiew ourselves 
 thankful for what Christ hath done, 
 who with his passion hath opened 
 heaven to all believers, that is, to all 
 those that put their hope and trust, 
 not in their deeds, but in his death 
 and passion, and studv to live well 
 
7« Advantage of Marginal References in reading the Bible. [Feb. 
 
 and godly, and yet not to make me- tion on the expediency of using 
 
 rits of their own works, as though 
 they should have everlasting life 
 for them." p. 321. 
 
 And here, before I close this 
 sketch, I must warn my readers 
 against inferring, as they may be 
 apt to do, from the above extracts, 
 that the example of Latimer may be 
 adduced to sanction that general and 
 merely doctrinal strain of preaching, 
 ■vyhich some preachers of the pre- 
 sent day deem it their dutv to adopt. 
 I confess. Sir, that I am one of those 
 who regard such a mode of preach- 
 ing as a great evil, and as one of 
 tiie chief causes of the inconsisten- 
 cies which are but toovi-.ible in the 
 conduct of many who profess to be 
 religious characters. On this sub- 
 ject I feel disposed to concur en- 
 tirely with a judicious writer in your 
 Miscellany, who subscribes himself 
 A Friend to practical Preaching, (see 
 ■vol. for 180-1-, p, 403 and 659), and 
 whose papers I warmly recommi'nd 
 to the consideration of my clerical 
 brethren. Bishop Latimer was very 
 far indeed from giving anv counte- 
 nance to this mistaken and perni- 
 cious practice. On the contrary, 
 he was in the habit of denouncing, 
 with the utmost plainness and par- 
 ticularity, the reigning vices of the 
 people among whom tie laboured; 
 imitating in this respect the conduct 
 of John the Baptist, and of our Lord 
 himself. Innujncrable instances to 
 this effect miglit be produced iVom 
 his volume of sermons ; but as a great 
 many of them have already been 
 collected by Mr. Gilpin, and pub- 
 lished in his accomit of the life of 
 Bishop Latifuer, a work which is 
 sufliciently easy of access, it seeujs 
 uunecfct;sary to occupy your pages 
 with detailing them. 'tt. 
 
 To the Editor oftiie Christian Observer. 
 
 Amongst the vsLrious hints which 
 have from time to time been giv^-n 
 for the advantageous perusal of the 
 Holy Sciiptures, I do not remem- 
 ber to have met with any observa- 
 
 marginal references; or to have con- 
 versed with persons to whom such 
 a practice Avas familiar. Having 
 derived much pleasure and instruc- 
 tion from this mode of reading, I 
 venture to reconmiend it to the at- 
 tention of Christians who have lei- 
 sure in their retirements. Those 
 who have not made the experiment, 
 can scarcely imagine what light 
 will frequently be thrown upon the 
 most interesting subjects, and how 
 beautifully the Old and New Tes- 
 tament harmonize with and eluci- 
 date each other when thus compar- 
 ed. Mr. Scott's edition of the Bi- 
 ble is in this respect an invaluable 
 work, and with a Concordance, will 
 supply materials for an investigation 
 of Scripture that may greatly en- 
 hance the pleasui'e* of closet devo- 
 tion. Supposeonehourinaweek were 
 employed in examining and trans- 
 cribing corresponding passages; 
 the amount at the end of a year 
 would be considerable; and a rich 
 assemblage of Gospel doctrines, pre- 
 cepts, and promises, suitably ar- 
 ranged under different heads, would 
 be the reward of a diligent search 
 after those hidden treasures of wis- 
 dom and knowledge contained in 
 the Sacred Writings. 
 
 Permit me to offer a specimen, 
 which may serve more fully to il- 
 lustrate my meaning. The verse 
 that came under review a short time 
 since was Ecclesiastes v. 1. "Keep 
 thy foot when thou goest to the 
 house of God, and be more ready 
 to hear, than to give the sacrifice of 
 fools." 
 
 'i'he first clause implies, that rep<r- 
 rcnce in worship is required, which 
 the following texts confirm: 
 
 Genes, xxviii. lb, 17. "Surely the 
 Lord is in this place, and I knew it 
 hut." " How dreadful is this place ! 
 this is none other than the house of 
 God, and this is the gate of heaven." 
 
 Exod. iii. 6. " The place where- 
 on thou standest is holy ground." 
 
 Lev it, X. 3. " I will be sancti- 
 fied in them that come nigh me." 
 
 Psal, Ixxxix. 7. " God is greatly 
 
1 80(5.] Advantage of Marginal References in reading the Bible. 
 
 to be feared in the asseiuMy of his 
 Kiints, and to be had in reverence 
 of all of them that are about him." 
 Hel). xii. 28, " Let us therefore 
 have grace, whereby we may serve 
 God acceptably with reverence and 
 godly fear." 
 
 The next clause presents to us 
 the necessity of attention in wor- 
 ship. " Be more ready to hear, &c." 
 Matt. xi. 1.5. " He that hath ears 
 to ear let him hear." 
 
 Mark iv. 24. " Take heed what 
 you hear." 
 
 Lukeviii. 18. "Take heed there- 
 fore how ye hear." 
 
 I-nke xi. 28. " Ek-ssed are they 
 that hear the word of God and keep 
 it." 
 
 Acts X. .3". " Now therefore we 
 arc all here present before God, to 
 hear all things tliat are commanded 
 thee of God." 
 
 Act? xvii. II. " They received 
 the word with all readiness of mind." 
 James i. 19. " Let every man be 
 swift to hear," 
 
 Luke xix, 4-8. "The people were 
 very attentive to hear him." 
 
 Acts xvi, 14. " And a certain 
 woman named Lydia, a seller of 
 purple, of the city of Thyatira, 
 •which worshipped God, heard us, 
 whose heart the Lord opened, that 
 she attended unto the things which 
 were spoken of Paul." 
 
 1 Pet, ii. 1. " Laying aside all 
 malice, and all guile, and hypocri- 
 sies, and envies, and all evil speak- 
 ings, as new-born babes desire the 
 sincere milk of the word that ye 
 may grow thereby." 
 
 The third idea in the text ap- 
 pears to be that spirituality in wor- 
 ship is e.ssential to render it accept- 
 able: and this directs us to the great 
 medium of intercourse between God 
 and man, even Jesus Christ, whose 
 soul was ninde an ofli?ring for sin, 
 and through whom alone we can 
 " approach boldly unto tiie throne 
 of grace, that we may t)btain mercy 
 to pardon and find grace to help in 
 time of need." " Be more ready 
 to hear than to offer the sacrifice of 
 fools." 
 
 79 
 
 Genes, iv. 4. " The Lord had re- 
 spect unto Abel and to his offering, 
 but unto Cain and to his offering, 
 ho had not respect." 
 
 lleb xi. 4. " By faith Abel of- 
 fered unto God a more excellent sa- 
 crifice than Cain." 
 
 1 Sam. XV. 22. " Hath the Lord 
 as great delight in burnt oflerings 
 and sacrifices, as in obeying the 
 voice of the Lord ? Behold to obey is 
 better than sacrifice, and to hearken 
 than the fat of rams." 
 
 Psal, ]. 5. " Gather my saints to- 
 gether unto me,those that have made 
 a covenant m ith me by sacrifice." 
 
 Psal. li. 17. " The sacrifices of 
 God are a broken spirit." 
 
 Prov. XV, 8. " The sacrifice of 
 the wicked is an abomination unto 
 the Lord ; but the prayer of the up- 
 right is his delight." 
 
 John iv. 23. " True M'orshippers 
 shall worship the Father in spirit 
 and in truth ; for the Father seeketh 
 .such to worship him." 
 
 John iv. 24. " God is a spirit, 
 and they that worship him must 
 worship him in spirit and in truth." 
 Heb. X. 12, 14. " This man af'er 
 he had offered one sacrifice for sins, 
 for ever sat down at the right hand 
 of God," " for by one offering, he 
 hath perfected for ever, them that 
 are sanctified." 
 
 Heb. X. 22. " Having therefore 
 boldness" to enter into the holiest by 
 the blood of Jesus, let us draw near 
 with a true heart. 
 
 Rom. xii. 1. " I beseech you 
 therefore, brethren, by the mercies 
 of God, that ye present your bodies 
 a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable 
 to God, which is your reasonable 
 service." 
 
 1 Pet. ii. 5. " Ye also are built 
 up a spiritual house, an holy priest- 
 hood, to oiliir up spiritual sacri- 
 fices, acceptable to God by Jesus 
 Christ." 
 
 Heb. xiii. 15. " By him therefore, 
 let us ofP-r the sacrifice of praise to 
 God continualh', that is the fruit of 
 our lips, giving thanks (or confess- 
 ing) to his name." 
 If you. Sir, deem these remarks 
 
On the Evil of violating Truth in any Instance. 
 
 80 
 
 \Aorlhy of notice, and tending to 
 general usefulness, they are at your 
 service, 
 
 CONCORDIA. 
 
 For the Christian Observer. 
 
 [Feb. 
 
 ON TIJE EVIL OF VIOLATING TRUTlf. 
 
 Truth and justice are duties nearly 
 allied together, truth being in words 
 what justice is in deeds. And the 
 same arguments which require jus- 
 tice to lie practised amongst man- 
 kind, require also the practice of 
 truth. Truth is often represented 
 in Scripture as a glorious and dis- 
 tinguishing attribute of the blessed 
 God : and in his sight all kinds of 
 fraud and deceit are declared to be 
 abominable. Truth requires that 
 every thing should appear as it real- 
 ly is. And of so iniportimt and ex- 
 tensive a nature is this virtue, so 
 nearly allied to every thing that is 
 great and good, that it is, on the 
 one hand, by the propagation of 
 truth that the interests of holiness, 
 and the happiness of man are pro- 
 moted; while, on the other, sin and 
 misery are propagated by fraud and 
 deceit. The sin Avhich first brought 
 death and ruin into the world, was in- 
 troduced by a lie. Satan deceived 
 our original parents, bv first excit- 
 ing a doubt concerning God's veiaci- 
 t}^ and then by telling a direct im- 
 truth. And as it is the glory of 
 God that he is the God of truth, so 
 Jt'is the characteristic of Satan that 
 he is the father of lies. He supports 
 his kingdom by deceit. His temp- 
 tatipiis consist in conveying false 
 impires^ions; — false impressions of 
 God, ,as harsh, severe, tyrannical; 
 — false impressions of the service 
 of God, as unreasonable, and attend- 
 ed with gloom and misery ; — false 
 impressions of the nature of true 
 happiness, which he represents to 
 consist in things of a totally dif- 
 ferent nature from thosq in which 
 it really consists; — false impres- 
 sions of this world, as good and de- 
 sirable, while the Scripture speaks 
 pf it as vain and unsatisfying;— 
 
 false impressions of sin, as the source 
 of pleasure, though in truth it is 
 ever followed by pain and avenged 
 by death; — false impressions of the 
 nature of religion, as consisting in 
 foolish and unprofitable rites, ab- 
 surd ceremonies, and superstitious 
 practices. Thus the reign of sin is 
 the reign of ignorance, and its whole 
 empire is supported bv lies and de- 
 ceit. Truth therefore is justly re- 
 presented as light; and to discern 
 it, the understanding is enlightened 
 by tiie Holy Spirit of God, who re-f 
 veals things as they are, and mani- 
 fests them in their true and proper 
 colours, and not as they appeared 
 to us in the ignorance and blind- 
 ness of our minds. Hence the whole 
 of religion has been represented by 
 some writers as the discovery of 
 truth ; and the foundation of virtue 
 has been laid in its being according 
 to truth. Very justly also is the 
 Gospel styled truth, because it truly 
 reveals God to us, shewing him to 
 be a Being as entirely diiterent 
 from what Satan and our own minds 
 had represented him to be, as it is 
 possible to conceive; — as so full of 
 mercy and love as to have sent his 
 only begotten son to die for sinners. 
 Wonderful display of goodness! 
 This one fact affords a luminous 
 exhibition of the true character of 
 God, which may stand in the place 
 of the most laboured comment. It 
 proves to us that his goodness must 
 be infinite; that his yoke must be 
 easy; that his commands must be 
 light; that his care and tenderness 
 for his creatures must be unlimited; 
 for " he that spared not his own 
 son but gave him up for us all, how 
 shall he not with him also freely 
 give us all things?" 
 
 My reason for dwelling so long 
 upon this part of my subject is to 
 convey an adequate idea of the na- 
 ture and value of truth. There is 
 perhaps no sin which is regarded in 
 so slight a point of view as that of 
 Ij/ing. In general the evil of it is 
 estimated entirely by its conse- 
 quences. If for instance a person 
 tells a Ije in order to injure his 
 
1806.] 
 
 On the Eiil of violating Truth in ani/ Instance. 
 
 neiEfhbour, he is thoutrht to have 
 committed a very criminal act, be- 
 cause it is an act of injustice, and is 
 attended with injurious eliecto. But 
 if a person tells a lye merely to 
 screen himself from punishment, or 
 to advance his own interests, with- 
 out any apprehension of iijuiediate 
 injury to others, his fault is consi- 
 dered as of a very venial kind. " It 
 does no harm," it is said, " to any 
 one." Now, in opposition to tliis 
 erroneous idea, I Mould wish to in- 
 culcate upon the minds of my rea- 
 ders the evil of lying in itself, as a 
 branch of that general system by 
 which the Devil maintains his em- 
 pire in the world ; and to lead thein 
 to consider it as a practice entirely 
 contrary to God, to godliness, to ex- 
 cellence, to knowledge, to wisdom, 
 to everv thing that is great and 
 erood and useful in the world. I 
 wish them to be thoroughly con- 
 vinced that it is absolutely impossi- 
 ble to be renewed in the spirit of 
 our minds, unless the t'oundation is 
 laid in an inviolable regard to truth, 
 and a sacred reverence for its au- 
 thority : and that therefore to tell a 
 lie, on whatever account, is a hei- 
 nous sin in itself: and that a liar, so 
 far as he is justly chargeable with 
 this sin, is necessarily under the in- 
 fluence of the father of lies. 
 
 But there remains another view 
 to be taken of the intrinsic evil of 
 lying: I mean its being most posi- 
 tively and directly forbidden by 
 God. And this it is which in any 
 case constitutes the grand malignity 
 of siu. It is utterly unchristian 
 therefore to reason, as many do, 
 only upon the injurious conse- 
 quences of an action, as if in these 
 consisted its whole guilt. It ought 
 surely to be sufficient to satisfy the 
 mind of a Christian, that a thing 
 is sinful, to say that it has been 
 forbidden by God Now God has 
 marked the practice of lying with 
 peculiar reprobation. " Hear the 
 word of the Lord ye Children of 
 Israel, for the Lord hath a con- 
 troversy with the inhabitants of the 
 land. By swearing and ijing they 
 
 81 
 
 break out," break out as it were 
 in open defiance of God, " therefore 
 shall the land mourn." " Lyinq lips 
 are an abomination to the Lord: 
 but they that deal truly arc his de- 
 light." " The Lord shall cut oiF 
 all flattering lips, and the tongue 
 that speaketh proud things, M'ho 
 have said, with our tongue will we 
 prevail, our lips are our own ; who 
 is Lord over us ?" " Lie not one to 
 another." " All liar-i shall have 
 their part in the lake which burneth 
 with fire and brimstone." 
 
 These passages will be sufficient 
 to impress those who value the 
 word of God with a dread of li/in» 
 in general. Permit me however to 
 consider more particularly some of 
 the branches of this evil. 
 
 It is a common thing for a person, 
 when he has done wrong, to tell 
 lies in order to escape the blame 
 which he justly deserves. And this 
 is with many a very early habit, 
 formed even in childhood, and con- 
 tinued throughout the whole course 
 of life. Now whenever such an oc- 
 casion for lying occurs, let me re- 
 quest the person who is tempted to 
 it to pause for one moment, while he 
 thus reasons with himself. " If I 
 acknowledge my fault, I shall, it is 
 true, be blamed ; but what then? I 
 shall have maintained my character 
 for veracity. If I attempt to con- 
 ceal my fault by telling a lie, it is 
 probable that I shall be suspected, 
 and my character for truth may be 
 lost. And what confidence can be 
 afterwards reposed in a persoii who 
 is detected in telling a lie. Besides, 
 I shall commit probably a much 
 greater sin by telling a lie than I 
 have already done, I shall also violate 
 my conscience: and surely it is bet- 
 ter that the whole world should 
 know that I have done wrong; than 
 that God and ray conscience should 
 be witnesses against me that I have 
 told a he." 
 
 I cannot but here remark, how 
 seldom it is that people pay much 
 regard to conscience. If they can 
 conceal their faults from others, they 
 think it a small matter that these 
 
On the Evil of violating Truth in any Instance. 
 
 «2 
 
 faults are known to themselves. 
 Iso^v, a sacred reverence for con- 
 science is the grand characteristic 
 of a real Christian. He does not 
 abstain from sin because his fellow- 
 men would become acquainted v^'ith 
 
 [F£B. 
 
 ed as highlj^ sinful, all approaches 
 to it ought equally to be avoided. 
 The Christian therefore, will take 
 care, that he does not, for instance, 
 hastily make promises wYnch. he may 
 be unable to perform. For though he 
 vhathe had done, and his character may intend at the time to perfonrv 
 would be lost; neither does he do them ; yet, if they are made rashly, 
 
 and without due consideration, and 
 especially if he is conscious that he 
 has been in the habit ofpromisino- 
 too readil57-, he exposes himself to 
 the danger of uttering a falsehood. 
 
 The Christian will also guard as 
 sedulously against equivocation as 
 against a direct lie. The miserable 
 ingen-jityofsome persons, who think 
 they have not been guilty of li/ing, 
 becatise their words have been so 
 managed, as to convey the faUe idea, 
 which theyvvereintended toconvev, 
 while they admit of a construction 
 consonant to truth; argues both a 
 want of good sense, and a mean and 
 disingenuous mind. Let such re- 
 member that God is not deceived 
 by their sophistry. Liars they are, 
 unquestionably, with cowardice and 
 a mean and despicable subtlety add- 
 ed to their lie. Such conduct ought 
 therefore to be abhorred by every 
 upright and ingenuous character. 
 
 I conclude this paper with a cau- 
 tion to my readers asainst indulging 
 a habit of exaggeration in common 
 discourse. The reverence due to 
 the sacred majesty of truth cannot 
 be too .strongly enforced upon the 
 mind: and it becomes every person 
 therefore to measure and guard his 
 words habitually, that that reverence 
 may be cherished and may appear 
 on all occasions. There may in- 
 deed be an unnecessary and ri- 
 diculous preciseness, as there is a 
 counterfeit of every thing that is ex- 
 cellent ; buttheindispensableobliga- 
 tion \\hich lies upon tis to keep truth 
 inviolate in every relation, and even 
 in ourconmion modes of expression, 
 ought strenuously to be maintained. 
 Who shall say that one slight tran.s- 
 gre.ssion may not be a step to ano- 
 ther: and that the Mant of reve- 
 rence for truth which now appears 
 only in lesser matters may not, 
 
 good in order to be seen and ap 
 plau'led by men: but in both cases 
 he consults his own conscience; and 
 it is because it is right, that he 
 either does, or forbears to do any 
 particular action. We shiuld learn 
 therefore to fear and reverence our- 
 selves more than we do any one 
 else. How many persons do we 
 meet with, whose consciences are 
 perfectly at ease, although they are 
 in the habit of lying whenever they 
 can thereby promote their worldly 
 interest.>! If an appeal Avere made 
 to their consciences whether they 
 had committed any evil action dur- 
 ing the day, they would perhaps, 
 boldly answer in the negative: and 
 if reminded that they had told a lie, 
 they would probably reply, " Oh, 
 that is a mere trifle not v.orth men- 
 tioning." Thus do men deceive 
 themselves, while they adopt a 
 standard of right and wrong, wholly 
 opposed to that whichGod has estab- 
 lished in his word. 
 
 It is here important to remark, 
 that the true excellence of Christian 
 principles is shewn by our willing- 
 ness to submit to loss or blame, ra- 
 ther than to commit sin. We are 
 likely to be blamed for having done 
 wrong; and this blame we may per- 
 haps have it in our power to escape 
 by telling a lie, which there is no 
 chance that any one will be able to 
 detect. Now such cases as these, 
 occur perpetual!}- in common life: 
 and it is by our conduct on such oc- 
 casions, that we may ascertain whe- 
 ther we \v\\\ pre-scrve our integrity 
 at the expence of suffering blame or 
 reproach: — whethcr,in short,weare 
 true Christians: for a true Christian 
 had rather suffer the extremity of 
 worldly evil, than incur the dis- 
 pleasure of his God. 
 
 If direct l;/ing is thus to be avoid- 
 
1806.] On Mr. Daubeny's Omission of the Not in the Homilies. 85 
 
 when wilfully indulged, become so confusion in his idtas respecting the 
 strengtheued by habit as to discover real sentiuunts of our reformers, al- 
 low me to quote the whole of the 
 passage containing the omitted not, 
 as it stands m the liomily. 
 
 "The first coming unto God, good Chris- 
 tian people, is tkrougk faith, wh'.'rebt/, r»e 
 li'' justified before God. And lest any man 
 should be deceived, for lack of right under- 
 
 itself on tlie most important occa- 
 sions? A. D. 
 
 To the Editor qftJic Christian Observer. 
 
 Mr. Daubeny has lately published a 
 \ judication of his conduct, in omit- 
 
 tung the significant monosyllable stan.;in.srtherec'f,i*i.<i diligently to he noted, 
 NOT, in a quotation which he made that faith is taken in the S. vipture two 
 in his Vindicice from the first Homily niai.ner of ways There is one faith, which 
 ~ " ■ " " ■ ■ ■ in Scripture is called a dead faitii, which 
 
 bringeth forth no good works; but is idle, 
 br.nen, and unfruitful. And this faith, by 
 the holy apostle St. James, is compared to 
 the faith of Devils, which believe God to be 
 ^ - . true and just, and iremi/e forfear ; yet they 
 
 rect. 1 he edition of 1 ti W certauuy jo nothing well, but all evil. And such a 
 wants the i\OT. Mr. Daubeny there- qianner of faith have the wicked and naugh- 
 fore stands exculpated from tlie ty Christian, people, ivhich co'fess God, as 
 charge of vdlful misquotation*. It St.Paul saith, in their mouths, but deui/ him, 
 will be obvious, however, that those ii their de:'ds, being abominable, and icithout 
 arguments respecting the nature of the right faith, and to all good -sorlis n-provc- 
 
 fafth which he has made to hinee on ''^'^- .An*^ ^'^'^ f^ith is a persuasion and 
 
 belief in man's heart, whereby he knoweth 
 that there is a God, and agreeth unto all 
 truths of God's moSt holy word, contained 
 in the Holy Scripture. So that it consist- 
 
 on Faith. The only edition of the 
 Homilies in his possession, he says, 
 was that of 16-tO, and in that edition 
 the NOT is omitted. Thus far, I am 
 happy to say, Mr. Daubeny is cor- 
 
 this misquotation, gain no strength 
 from the admission here made. In 
 one edition of the Bible published 
 in this country, the not contained in 
 the seventh commandment was acci- 
 dentally omitted. Had a divine 
 risen up to contend for the lawful- 
 
 eth only in believing the word of God that 
 it is true. And this is N'orf properly called 
 faith. But as he that readeth Cassar's 
 Commentary, beiieving the same to be 
 
 Uess of adultery, and referred to the true, h-ath tliereby a knowledge of Cesar's 
 
 Bible in support of his theory, we life and notable acts, because he believeth 
 
 should not have thought very highly the history of Cesar : yet it is not properly 
 
 of the correctness of his theological ^"'^X, that he believeth in Caesar of whom 
 
 system, even if he had pleaded that ^^ '""'^^*^' <■<"" "« '^«^P °'' ''<="^''>*- E^'"^" •'*'' 
 
 the Bible distinguished by this Un- !'° that heii.veth nil that is sp.,kcn of God 
 
 , . • ° .u 1 in the Bilile is true, and yet nveth so un- 
 
 happy omission was the only one ,,., ., , , ^ i i, ^ • n 
 
 i^r,-'. , , , , rr^L ■ godhlv that he cannot look to enjoy tlie 
 
 to which he had access The pre- ^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^.^^ ^^ ^^j. ^^hough it 
 
 sent case ditiers indeed trom that ^^^^ f,e said, that such a man hath a faith 
 which we have supposed, in this and' belief in the words of God; yet it is 
 very important particular, that ?;,oi! ;jro;jer.'(/iY/!(/|| that he believeth in God, 
 though both manifest a want of clear- orhathsuchafaiihand trust in God where- 
 ness in the understanding, the latter by he may surely look for grace, mercy, 
 argues also a bad state of the henrt. • 
 
 That I may not be accused of un- f This is the not which was omitted by 
 justly imputing to Mr. Daubeny a Mr. Daubeny. 
 
 * This was a crime with which we never 
 charged him, even in idea. For even before 
 we had ascertained that the edition of I ii40 
 was without the .vot, we had attributed the 
 gmission in our own minds to some swQh 
 circumstance »« tiiis ; that Mr. Daubeny in 
 transcribing the passage into his common- 
 place book had omitted the not by acci- 
 dent, and had afterv/sTds referred to this 
 tiaoscript, aninot to the original. 
 
 This illustration might have corrected 
 Mr. Daiibeny's mistake, had he attended 
 to it. The not is not omitted in this clausp 
 also in the edition of 1640. 
 
 II By this clause likewii^e, might Mr. Dau- 
 benj''s mistake ha^e been coi reeled. It 
 evi:i?ritly stands in direct contradiction to 
 his mutilated sentence. The propositions 
 contained in the two clauses, as they n«\T 
 gtaad, artt idciUicaL 
 
84" Mr. Daubenj/'s View qf the Conneciion between Faith and Works. [Feb. 
 
 and everlasting life, at God's hand, but ra- 
 ther for indignation and punishment, ac- 
 cording to the merits of his wicked life." 
 Hotnilirs, Oxford edition, 1802. p. 27. 
 
 Mr. Uaubeny, in the vindication 
 to which I have alluded, employs 
 much pains to persuade his readers 
 that our reformers -would have ex- 
 pressed their meaning more cor- 
 rectly, had they omitted the not as 
 he has done: and he intimates a 
 doubt whether the insertion of the 
 little uord not be not an interpola- 
 tion, which the original copy of the 
 Homilies will not warrant; or whe- 
 ther the omission of it be not an 
 emendation of the editor 6f this par- 
 ticiiiar edition, \vhich the general 
 tenor of editions may not justify. 
 Jsow I cannot help thinking, that 
 this insinuation is unworthy of Mr. 
 Daubeny. Did he then possess no 
 meajis of satisfying himself on this 
 point? Besidcs,cau any man read the 
 above extract from the Homilies, 
 without perceiviug that our reform- 
 ers have there very clearly and con- 
 sisrentlv expressed their meaning; 
 and that the context loaves no room 
 for doubt with respect to the real 
 cause of the omission in the edition 
 of ItilO? But although the case be 
 of that kind which at once er.plains 
 itself to an unprejudiced mind, and 
 althoucrh the context afibrds no 
 
 V ... 
 
 room tor suspecting either an m- 
 
 terpolation or an emendation of the 
 
 text; yet it may prove satisfactory 
 
 to you and to Mr. Daubeny to be productive. 
 
 told, that on an examination of the 
 
 editions of 1547, 1303, 1623, 1633, 
 
 1035, 1676, (all black letter) 16«3, 
 
 1766, and 1 S02, some printed before 
 
 and some after that of le-iO, the not 
 
 appears in ihcni all. 
 
 While I have the pen in my hand, 
 I will take the liberty of adverting 
 to anothfr topic, on which 1 think 
 justice has scarcely been done to 
 Mr. Daubeny. I allude to the doc- 
 trine of the necessary connection 
 between faiih and works. 71iat 
 vhen Mr. Daubeny first entered 
 the lists of controversy, he expressed 
 himself in a very incautious, not to 
 say erroneous manner on this sub- 
 
 ject, I admit. Eut in his Vindicict 
 J reaH with much satisfaction the 
 following passages, which indicate 
 views, in this particular at least, 
 much more correct and scriptural. 
 " The good tree (lively faith) is ne- 
 cessarily productive of fruits (good 
 works)." " By its necessary pro- 
 duce of good works alone can we 
 know that any m^n's faith is true 
 and lively." " When lively faith 
 haa actual l}"^ taken possession of the 
 human soul, then a general disposi- 
 tion to love and obedience v.-ill be 
 found; and so longos this faith con- 
 tinues in a liveli/ state, it must ne- 
 cessarily be productive of its cor- 
 respondent effects, even as a fruitful 
 tree vJtiht in that state must neces- 
 Siirily produce fruit." (p. 362.) If 
 such he Mr, Daubeny 's sentiments, 
 I cannot see, for my own part, 
 wherein they diifcr, on this parti- 
 cular point, from those of Mr. Over- 
 ton or any of his opponents. When 
 ihescspeak of faith necessarily pro- 
 ducing good works, they must of 
 course mean //rt/y faith ; for a dead 
 faith they affirm to be no faith at all. 
 W'here then, as far as respects this 
 doctrine, doesthere exist any ground 
 of contention ? Neither Mr. Daube- 
 ny nor Mr. Overton will say of a 
 dead faith that it necessarili/ produces 
 good works : they unite in affirming 
 it to be unproductive. And with re- 
 spect to a liveli; feith, they equally 
 unite in affirming it to be necessarily 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 A SINCERE FRIEND TO THE 
 
 CHURCH OF ENGLAND. 
 
 To the 
 
 ditorofthe Christian Observer. 
 
 In your first three numbers for 1 805, 
 you have reviewed the third volume 
 of the Life and posthumous Writings 
 of Cowper, published by William 
 Hayley, Esquire. Your account of 
 the departed poet in this critique 
 appeared to mc remarkable, in the 
 main, for its clearness and accuracy; 
 but 1 could not help being sur» 
 prised at your laying it down, as aa 
 
1806.] On the Oiaracier 
 
 undeniable position, that though 
 "vve (Jiscover,{)articuiarlvin his early 
 letters to lady Hesketh, tnices ot" a 
 uiind peculiarly alive to the gn-at 
 concerns ot eternilv, and intent on 
 the pursuit <A the one thing needlul, 
 yet at a later period ot'his lite, reli- 
 gion appears trj iiave been excluded 
 from his thoughts. 
 
 In our remarks. Sir, on the dead 
 even more than on the living, v.e 
 should Use great candour and cir- 
 cumspection, because the dead, 
 though themselves beyond the reach 
 of our censure, are unable to cor- 
 rect our errors or prevent their ef- 
 fect upou others. It is this consir 
 deration, which induces um to sub- 
 mit a few circumstances to vour no- 
 tice, which upon examination may 
 induce you in some measure to alter 
 your opinion, or at least to soften 
 the severity of vour decision. 
 
 I have no doubt, Sir, that it was 
 painful to you to advert to the gra- 
 dual disappearance of religion from 
 the letters of Cowper. Yet, I ima- 
 gine, that disappearance, however 
 it must needs be lamented, may in 
 his case be partly accounted for 
 without resorting to the supposition 
 that religion was excluded from his 
 thoughts. 
 
 You will recollect. Sir, that on 
 Cowper's relapse in 1773, he took 
 up an unalterable conviction, that 
 all other Christians, once renewed 
 in the spirit of holiness, might conti- 
 nue in the grace voi>chsafed them, 
 and become partakers of their Sa- 
 viour's glory; but that he alone was 
 doomed to peril ition bv an especial 
 decree, and shut out from all hopes 
 of returning mercy. 
 
 This dreadful persuasion abode 
 with him till the day of his death ; 
 and though he had oecasionally 
 some faint glimmerings of hope and 
 consolation, it induced him in gene- 
 ral to abstain from all attempts at 
 public or private prayer, as from 
 blasphemy, conceiving, that as it 
 must be useless, so it was also an 
 abomination for him to pray, when 
 he was sentenced to everlasting de- 
 struction. 
 
 Christ. Ousekv. Ko. 50. 
 
 qf Onvper the Poet. S5 
 
 Consider, Sir, what it is to live 
 under a persuasion like this, for the 
 greater part of thirty years ! Surely 
 a heart unsubdued bv the grace of 
 the HolyOne, must have sunk under 
 such inconceivableanguish, and been 
 tempted, even to charge God with 
 injustice. But we find Com per re- 
 signed, even under these agonizing 
 reflc'Ctif.ns. He was miserable in- 
 deed: for the hidings of God's face 
 are misery itself But though he 
 had no hope, yet he took up his 
 cross with patience, and in the midst 
 of his sufferings declared, that if 
 holding up his finger would save 
 him from endless torments, he would 
 not do It against the will of God. 
 
 It is not possible to believe, that a 
 being who, because it was the will 
 of God, could submit with such re- 
 signation to afflictions so intolerable, 
 should be v.hat he thought himself, 
 utterly a castaway. Yet, I confess, 
 it is not a little surprising, that at a 
 time, when he was tlius fearfully- 
 looking for the judgment of God's 
 wrath, lie could have been diverted 
 for a moment from those awful ap- 
 prehensions by any earthly pursuits 
 or engagements. Above all it would 
 have surprised me, that he should 
 have been able to enter with such 
 spirit as he seems to have done into 
 those sallies of wit and turns of hu- 
 mour, which abound in his subse- 
 quent letters, had he not told us a 
 diflirent tale in one to Mr. Haylev. 
 " I am not what I affect to be, my 
 dearest brother. I seem cheerful 
 upon paper sometimes, when I am 
 absolutely the most dejected of all 
 cfcatures. Desirous however, to 
 gain something myself by my own 
 letters, unprofitable as they may 
 and mu-t be to mv friends, 1 keep 
 melani-holy out of them as much as 
 I can, that I may, if possible, by as- 
 suming a less gloomy air deceive 
 myself, and by feigning with a con- 
 tinuance improve the fiction into 
 reality." 
 
 With this cine I think. Sir, we may 
 explain the disappearance of reli- 
 gion from his letters upon other 
 grounds than those, to which you 
 N 
 
Means of benefiting hi/ the Reading of History. 
 
 86 
 
 have traced it. Of religion, as he 
 felt it, he could unfold nothing, but 
 his despair; and whatever on this 
 subject he did unfold, must probably 
 have been too black to be commu- 
 nicated to the public, so that it is 
 with apparent justice, that a later 
 memoriahst has observed: " In his 
 
 [Feu. 
 
 the Spirit of God, and with respect 
 to the dismal darkness in which his 
 sun finally set, we may apply to it 
 the words which he penned long 
 before with regar<l to God's dealings 
 with mankind in general: "I doubt 
 not that he enlightens the under- 
 standings, and works a gracious 
 letters, as printed, there are many change in the hearts of many in 
 
 obvious chasms, Mhich were most 
 probably occupied with expressions 
 of religious despondency. His cor- 
 respondence with Mr. Newton, by 
 which alone the real state of his 
 mind was likelv to be unfolded, is 
 
 their last moments, whose surround- 
 ing friends are not made acquainted 
 with it." 
 
 Surely then, Sir, we may account 
 for his apparent silence in matters of 
 religion, without concluding, as I 
 
 yet involved in impenetrable secre- hope and think Ave need not, that 
 
 cy." it had previously been excluded 
 
 Much therefore may still remain from his thoughts. On the con- 
 
 ro be known of this extraordinary trarv, it seems to have been with a 
 
 being, and much perhaps, which it view to disengage his thoughts from 
 
 may be improper to divulge during a subject, into which they most na~ 
 
 the life-time of any of his most in- turally ran, but Avith res^ard to 
 
 tiniate connexions. But from what 
 is known, I think, we may gather, 
 that he "was visited by afflictions 
 such as have ver\ rarely fallen to 
 the lot of humanity; that he bore 
 these afflictions in his lucid moments 
 with a fortitude, that can only be 
 referred to the unseen operation of 
 
 which thev wc^re comfortless and 
 desponding, that he assumed an air 
 of gaiety, Avhich made others smile, 
 while he was himself consuming 
 with a secret and mtlancholy de- 
 spair. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 c. c. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 To the Editor of the Christian Observer. 
 
 I REMEMBER reading some time ago 
 in one of those many books written 
 for the use of children, from which 
 grown gentlemen and ladies also 
 might derive no small advantage, a 
 little piece entitled, " Eyes and no 
 Eves." It was the w Titer's object, 
 (and the object was well accom- 
 plisiied) to shew the advantugcs of 
 keeping tlie attention m lively and 
 wakeful exercise, by the example 
 of two children, who took a tountry 
 walk together, the one of thtm see- 
 ing everv moment some object to in- 
 terest or inform him, while blind- 
 ne»s itself could scarcely have ren- 
 dered the ether less observing dur- 
 
 ing his ramble, or more vacant at 
 the end of it. Nothing is more re^ 
 markable than the dilierent degrees 
 of information or improvement, 
 which difffrent people derive from 
 their perusal of the same books, 
 their conversation with the same 
 companions, their passage through 
 the same country: and there is per- 
 haps no cause to which we may so 
 commonly and so surely refer these 
 difllrences, as to the various degrees 
 of attention which thev severally 
 exert. — Much indeed it may be 
 said, and said with truth, depends 
 on the difference in the natural and 
 acquired faculties of diflerent men. 
 The disceriiment, the comprehen- 
 sion, the memor}-, may be found of 
 
1806.] Means of benefiting b/ 
 
 all various degrees, and the effects 
 of these diversities cannot but be 
 considerable : nor shall we be rea- 
 dily brought to admit, what we are 
 told the humility of the great New- 
 ton led him to declare, that if he 
 had himself made any considerable 
 intellectual proficiency, it was to be 
 ascribed merely to a superior de- 
 gree of patient and laborious atten- 
 tion, and not to any natural superio- 
 rity of parts. Yet, where there is 
 no material defect in any of the na- 
 tural powers, we often see persons 
 who read book aftc^r book with sur- 
 prisingly little profit : and there are 
 still more, who in reading only take 
 in and retain all the writer's facts 
 and opinions, without so much as 
 endeavouring to exercise their own 
 judgments on his remarks ; without 
 drawing from his pages any new 
 inferences, or combining his obser- 
 vations with those of any other au- 
 thor; without refuting, or correct- 
 ing, or qualifying, or enlarging, his 
 positions, from the result of their 
 other studies. 
 
 Mere reading may indeed, ac- 
 cording to t|ie sententious wisdom of 
 the great Bacon, make a full man, 
 but it is consideration and reflec- 
 tion onlv that can make a well in- 
 formed man; much less can any 
 thing short of this make a wise one. 
 It is not merely b\' eating but by 
 digesting that the body is nourished, 
 and without the latter process our 
 intellectual part will receive no sub- 
 .stantial benefit from its appropriate 
 food. I am aware this is a trite re- 
 mark, but its truth and importance 
 will excu.se its repetition. 
 
 it has often appeared to me, that 
 even the more acute and intelligent 
 of the female sex are peculiarly 
 chargeable with this faulty method 
 of reading books. It is a fault 
 which very naturally indeed results 
 from the defective nature of their 
 education. May we not however 
 hope that the elforts of that excel- 
 lent female writer of our days, who 
 has most effectually vindicated for 
 her sex the riijht to have their un- 
 derstandings cultivated, by proving 
 
 the Reading of History. 87 
 
 the extensive benefits which man- 
 kind would derive from the cultiva- 
 tion, will not be wholly unsuccess- 
 ful; and that, in compliance with her 
 valuable lessons, Ave .shall no longer 
 see the intellectual powers of women 
 neglected, while the acquisition of 
 accomplishments is made the great 
 object in education, — the natural 
 prelude to a disposition which soof- 
 ten follows, to consider amusements 
 as the grand object of lifer It would 
 be indeed a reproach to us, if in 
 our days, in which we seem disposed 
 to make the most of all our posses- 
 sions, we should leave in it^ present 
 waste state, our vast unimproved 
 field, if so it may be termed, of fe- 
 male intellect 
 
 Gibbon informs us in the interest- 
 ing account of his own life and stu- 
 dies, a work wlverein the most su- 
 pei-ficial readers will .see that it was 
 only by strenuous and persevering 
 application that he attained to hi.«: 
 high poiut of literary eminence, 
 that it was his constant practice be- 
 fore he entered on the perusal of 
 any new book, to consider in a soli- 
 tary walk what he already knew or 
 thought on the subject of it. This 
 practice is also powerfully recom- 
 mended to us by the authority and 
 example of Dr. Paley. 
 
 The object with which I now 
 take up the pen^ is to point out to 
 your female readers another prac- 
 tice from which, especially in the 
 perusal of certain classes of books, 
 they would be likely to derive con- 
 siderable benefit. This is — when 
 they are about to enter on the pe- 
 rusal of any new author, the im- 
 ])ortance of whose work renders it 
 worthy of being read with care, 
 previously to consider awhile se- 
 riously, what, from its nature and 
 subject, are the chief Itissons they 
 may expect to learn from it ; what 
 the principal points on which a read- 
 er may expect to derive informa- 
 tion; finally, what the chief consi- 
 derations he .should endeavour to 
 retain in view during the perusal; in 
 order that he may .see in connection 
 with and relation to them, all the 
 
88 Means of benefiting by the Redding of History. [Feb. 
 
 Various ideas which the author may which I would advise your female 
 
 bring before him. By the reader's readers, and indeed your young 
 
 being thus prepared, books will be readers of the other sex also, to be 
 
 read with increased interest, intelli- provided, when they are about to 
 
 gence, and recollection, and espe- enter on the perusal of any historical 
 
 cially with far more permanent pro- work. The matter of every book 
 
 fit. For instance — Is it a history may be divided into facts, sentl- 
 
 that is to be the subject of our ments,aM(l principles. I would there- 
 
 Study? After consulting those pas-' 
 sages in the works of the most ap- 
 proved authors, in which they have 
 stated the objects and benefits we 
 ought chiefly to have in view in the 
 study of history, let us draw up a 
 
 fore draw up some such scheme as 
 that which follows: 
 
 HISTORY. 
 I, Facts^ Sentiments, & Principles. 
 
 \. Religious. Such as illustrate 
 
 distinct enumeration of these, and the dispensations of Providence, the 
 
 also of all the several classes or di- moral government of God, or the 
 
 visions to which the various kinds of general connection which God has 
 
 information we are likely to meet established in the wayofnatural con- 
 
 with, may be conveniently and pro- sequence between virtue and happi- 
 
 perly referred ; together with a brief ness, vice and misery; — whatever 
 
 memorial of the chief ideas, or pro- illustrates, or confirms, or is incon- 
 
 positions, or maxims, in connection sistent with those lessons of religion 
 
 with which it may be probably use- which we learn, where only they 
 
 ful for us to view what we are about are authoritatively taught, in the Ho- 
 
 to read. Sorne persons there may ly Scriptures. 
 
 be, whom an eminently retentive 2. Moral. Under this head may 
 memory, together Avith superior be classed whatever exhibits any 
 precision and comprehension of strikingpeculiarity of human nature, 
 mind, may enable to retain in recol- or illustrates or establishes its chief 
 lection all the above particulars with governing principles; — whatever 
 so much firmness and freedom (to respects all the right and the wrong 
 borrow an expression of the nervous affections of the mind; — all those 
 South) as that they shall be all main- various duties which we owe to our 
 tained in constant contemplation, or fellow creatures, differing according 
 at least that they shall be within to the various relations in which we 
 reach, so as at once to answer to the stand to them; — passages which 
 call, or even to present themselves illustrnte the nature of any moral 
 unsummonedi when the occasion for principles, or point out their appli- 
 them arises. But in general it will cation, or enforce their value; — emi- 
 be found most adviseable to put nent examples and striking charac- 
 them on a paper which should be ters, whether calculated to serve as 
 kept at hand ; and at intervals, sup' models for imitation or the contrary, 
 pose after every four or five pages, Some other chief classes I will 
 tho paper should be referred to, and merely specify in general terms, 
 "we should consider, in order, what leaving in most instances the subor- 
 we have met with which it referable dlnate divisions to be Supplied by 
 toour several classes ;orAvhich, when rpy readers, 
 viewed in connection with, and re- .'3. Cmistituiional. 
 latlon to, the several articles noted 4. Political. Whatever regards 
 down on our paper, suggests any the conduct or interests of a corn- 
 useful information or conclusions, munity, whether in relation to in- 
 
 As I would avoid obscurity even ternal or foreign matters, 
 
 at the hazard of being deemed pro- 5. Judicial. Such as respect the 
 
 Xix, let me explain my meaning still administration of justice, its princi- 
 
 jmore in detail, by putting down ple^, mode, origin, effects, purity, 
 
 some of the chief memoranda v\ith "fexcellencies or defects. 
 
1806.] Means of benefiting bi/ the Heading of History. 89 
 
 6. Financial. Whatever respects pen to be engaged. The same 
 
 the revenue or taxes of a country, method, suited and modified in its 
 
 their amount, nature, distribution, detail, according to the nature of the 
 
 etFects on the nation's internal or Avork, Avill be adviseable m the pe- 
 
 external state, its happiness or com- rusal of everx"^ other cliiss of authors, 
 
 merce, teconomv or profusion in — Thus — Is it a book of travels we 
 
 the expenditure, Sec. are about to peruser Let us previous^ 
 
 1 . Military. Including naval. ly consider, if we were ourselves to 
 
 8. Aoyicultural. visit the country which is the scene 
 
 9. Commercial. This includes, of of our author's narration, what are 
 course, trade and manufactures of the points to which we should think 
 all kinds. it right to direct our attention. For 
 
 10. Practical or Pnidentiul. Such instance — the national genius and 
 as mav guide or warn us in the eon- character — the constitution of go- 
 duct of life. To this head we may vernment — the administration of 
 fefer instances of remarkable re- justice — the state of religion,moraIs, 
 verses of fortune — anv signal exam- and manners — the institutions, whe- 
 ples of the great uncertainty of pu- tlier national or local, with the man- 
 liticaland military event«, — in short nor of conducting them, their me- 
 anv useful lessons of practical wis- rits or defects, their consequences, 
 dom whether on a larger or smaller &c. In short, let us be on the watch 
 scale. for any information which mav il- 
 
 1 1 . Respecting Literature, — the lustrate the nature and effects of the 
 Arts and Sciences. Here of course different forms of government, the 
 the different particular arts, scien- different religious or moral systems, 
 ces, and branches of literature, the different education, customs, 
 should be enumerated which are in- and manners which foreign coun- 
 cluded within these general terms — tries may exhibit: and let us remem- 
 their rise and progress severally, ber that our great object, as indeed 
 their advancement and decline, to- the great object of every traveller 
 gether Avith the causes and eflects ought to be, to endeavour to bring 
 of these. back from abroad something which 
 
 II. lNsriTUTioNs,SvsTEMs,PLANs. may be of use at home. 
 Political, charitable, &c. whether 
 
 useful or the contrary. 
 
 III. Manners and Customs. 
 
 IV. Remarkable tjEras. To this 
 head may be referred also critical 
 
 Thus I have very imperfectly, 
 because far too hastily (haste, for 
 which numerous avocations and a 
 small stock of leisure form, I fear, 
 but a very inadequate apology) 
 
 situations and events, which liave sketched out the detail fjf the plan I 
 had large influence and extensive would recommend to my female 
 consequences. friends in the study of history. Few 
 V. Cause and Effect. I mean, perhaps, especially among the very 
 that a reader should endeavour to youne', may hud it adviseable to eft- 
 trace the events which are related, deavour to carry the plan I have 
 upwards to their causes, and down- described into execution in all its 
 wards to their consequences. parts. In one degree or other how- 
 There will be another clas.« or di- ever, it may be practised by every 
 vision of topics ffir consideration ap- one : and I think I can promise that 
 plicable to authors of every species ; she who begins to make accurate ob- 
 — such I mean as respect the merits servations in this way, under one of 
 of the compositio7i, (whatever it may the foregoing heads, will reap such 
 be) in a literary vieiv — And here l<rt improvement and satisfaction from 
 the reader bear in mind the difter- the practice, that ere long she v. ill 
 •^nt merits and demerits of the dif- extend her labours to a second and 
 ferent species of composition; and a third, and at the end of a couple of 
 observe how far each is exemplified years will find herself able to cai- 
 in the work on which h£ may bap- brace a far greater part of the pro- 
 
90 Means of benefiting by 
 
 posed plan than she would at first 
 have tlipught possible. 
 
 My classical readers will long 
 agohave recognised my having taken 
 for my model, a practice which 
 prevailed among some of the rheto- 
 ricians of antiquity, of having cer- 
 tain common places, or loci, to which 
 they might resort for matter, in 
 treating all subjects. I am well 
 aware" there is no teaching wisdom 
 l)y rules; yet I must also declare, 
 that much experience has convinced 
 me, that by having before our eyes, 
 whilst we are perusing any author, 
 the several heads or considerations 
 in relation to Mdiich the contents of 
 his pages inav probabh' be viewed 
 with most advantage, we shall be 
 enabled to form a far better judg- 
 ment of the merits of his work, as 
 well as to derive far more benefit 
 from it than by reading it in the 
 common method. We shall espe- 
 cially be often led to discover com- 
 missions and deficiencies which we 
 should not otherwise have perceiv- 
 ed, and many reflections will occur 
 to our minds which might other- 
 M'ise have escaped us. In short, 
 whatever we peruse will be read 
 with a larger comprehension, with 
 a more discriminating judgment, 
 and above all, with a m.ore accurate 
 observance of it5 manifold bearings 
 and relations. 
 
 Whatever apologies may justly 
 bedue forthe verv iniperfectmanner 
 in which I have executed my inten- 
 tion, none, I trust, will be required 
 for the intention itself. My object 
 has been to enable my female friends 
 to read to greater advantage than 
 they commonly do at present. — You, 
 Sir, lam persuaded, need not to be 
 reminded, that the cultivation of the 
 understanding, and the storing of 
 the mind with useful knowledge and 
 sound principles, constitute a very 
 important branch of Christian duty. 
 And I cannot but hope that if in- 
 creasing attention were paid to its 
 discharge, much of that time might 
 be employed not only more profita- 
 bly, but also more agreeably, which 
 is now wasted in trifling occupa- 
 tions, or frivolous conversation, and 
 
 ihe Reading cf History. [Feb. 
 
 in visits either altogether needless^ 
 or else often prolonged to an exces- 
 sive length, merely for want of 
 something to do. 
 
 It cannot, I trust, be necessary 
 for me to endeavour to enforce po- 
 sitions at once so important and sq 
 manifest. Let any one consider 
 ' how large and important a share 
 in the division of human duties, 
 belongs to the female sex. This, 
 is a subject on which my mind 
 loves to dilate. It is obvious that 
 the entire education of their oAvn 
 sex, and the instilling into the minds 
 of ours the earliest principlesof con- 
 duct,and (pardon the expression) the 
 most influential also, is commonly 
 devolved on the ladies. Their 's 
 it is to render religious and moral 
 truths more engaging and impres- 
 sive, by the superior delicacy and 
 tenderness Avith which they are laid 
 down and enforced. — Their's, toap^. 
 plv^ precepts and <levelope cha- 
 racters, with more than manlv accu- 
 racy of discernment, and felicity of 
 illustration. — Their's, in almost eve- 
 ry state of life, to alleviate the 
 pains of sickness, to sooth the lan- 
 guor of convalescence, to infuse into 
 the cup of social intercourse its 
 choicest sweets and most exquisite 
 relish — Their's,to cheer the fatigues 
 and calm the turmoil of an over 
 busy, and ti:> enliven the monotonous 
 nniibrmity of a too vacant solitary 
 life. Surely any thing which has 
 for its object the better enabling of 
 them to fulfil all these endearing of- 
 fices v>'ell deserves attention. I 
 will therefore only add, that the 
 duty which I have been now re- 
 commending often finds itself abun- , 
 dantly rewarded in this life, in the 
 way most congenial and most £jra- 
 tifying to the female heart, by the 
 cheerful animation of a domestic and 
 social circle, by the increased es- 
 teem, admiration, and affection of 
 the husband, the parent, or the 
 child ; — of those, whose approbation 
 and love are dearest to every vir- 
 tuous woman, and come the closest 
 to her heart. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 EUBULUS> 
 
1 906.] On the Principle (f Expedienqf adopted by Mr . Mahhus. 9 1 
 
 anarchy, were not its fatal progress 
 
 To the Editor of the Christian Obsener. 
 Among many other writers, who, 
 as appears to rae, without suHicient 
 consideration, have given their 
 rountenance to the system of General 
 Expediencv, is found the name of 
 Mr. ^lalthus. This system has at 
 tirst sight, a very captivating aspect, 
 and seems to he calculated to make 
 a large accession of happiness to so- 
 ciety. For what can moreilirectly 
 and powerfully contribute to that 
 end, than for each iVldividual to pro- 
 
 arrested by the Opel at ion of cer- 
 tain che«ks derived iVcm diticrent 
 sources. These checks are of two 
 kinds, the preventive and the posi- 
 tive. 
 
 Of the positive kind are civil pe- 
 nalties and retaliation. 
 
 Retaliation is a powerful check 
 upon the independent and licentious 
 spirit of the system of general ex- 
 pediency. If one man, under the 
 authority of his own view of public 
 good, feels himself justified in any 
 
 pose to himself the happiness of the invasion upon the person or proper 
 
 Avhole as the supreme motive of his 
 actions? To one, however, who car- 
 ries forward his view to consequen- 
 ces, at no considerable distance, 
 the general adoption of this princi- 
 ple will appear in quite a different 
 light, as requiring rather to be re- 
 pressed than encouraged. 
 
 The doctrine of general expedi- 
 ency constitutes, in reality, every 
 man his own supren\e law-giver. 
 For when it is asked, who is to be 
 the judge of the general expediency 
 
 ty of his neighbour, his neighbour 
 feels himself equally justified, not 
 onlv in resisting the aggression, but 
 in being, when the opportunity or 
 temptation presents itself, himself 
 the aggressor. The liberty of the 
 system is equal to all, and no one has, 
 more right to use it than another. 
 Hence proceed those fatal discords 
 and that treachery, which render 
 human life a constant scene of dis- 
 tress, danger, and apprehension; 
 and powerfullv enforce the necessity 
 
 proposed as the rule of human ac- of adopting in common some exter- 
 tion: it is answered, every man for nal laws, which shall control the 
 himself. There can be little doubt, private decisions even of general 
 therefore, that this system, however expediencv, and give to each indi- 
 broad at the basis, when it is brought vidual, if not some degree of posi- 
 to its due height, Avill, like the tive security, some knowledge of 
 Egyptian pyramids, terminate in a the sources of his danger, 
 point; and that tiic general good The laws of human society have 
 will only be another name for our likewise provided the sanction of 
 own. And when the ultimate ap- civil penalties for the purpose of re- 
 peal is to a man's own conscience, it straining a disposition, which, in 
 
 may readily be inferred, that he has 
 sullicicnt interest in that court to 
 gtiin a judicial sentence in his fa- 
 vour. When such a plea for the 
 txercisc of private interest is ob- 
 tained, and when it is rendered sa- 
 cred by the conceit of duty, what 
 excesses may not deluge the v. or Id ! 
 What contempt of justice, what per- 
 petration of iniquity may not be ex- 
 pected ! 
 
 In truth, the evil of selfish affec- 
 tions is of so prolific a nature, that 
 
 its indulii'ence, presses with so much 
 force against the limits of all social 
 institutions. These inculcate upon 
 the self constituted judge of his 
 own duty, with a practical and ir- 
 resistible effect, the salutary admo- 
 nition, that there is a judjje of his 
 duty, at least as a member of socie- 
 ty, greater than himself: and that 
 if he persists in disregarding that 
 superior he must sutler for his te- 
 merity. If he stands upon his pri- 
 vilege, as a member of the society 
 
 without any adventitious encourage- incorporated for the promotion of 
 
 ment, it threatens destruction to general expediency, and makes no 
 
 every bond of society; and would hesitation to violate the laws of hiu 
 
 doubtless terminate in a constant re- country; impris(nmient,confi«cation, 
 
 ciprocation of injuries, and absolute corporal inflictions, and death; niil 
 
92 On the Principle of Expediency adopted by Mr. Bfahhus. [Feb. 
 
 remind him and his associates, that of expediency -would suggest. The 
 they are subjects not sovereigns, consequence of this would be, not 
 and that they cannot with impunity an entire abolition of the obnoxious 
 erect one independent and superior system, but such a limitation of it 
 government within the bosom of as would change its nature, and con- 
 another, and, under pretence of obe- vert it even into an act of obedience 
 dience to the first, pour contempt to the divine law. For there are 
 upon the last. evidently cases, in which we arq 
 But of all the checks upon that generally required to do good ; but 
 principle which reduces the whole the means of doing it most eifectu- 
 circle of duty to private opinion, ally must be determined by our- 
 and tolerates or rather commands s(:>lves. If the will of God should, 
 whatever that private opinion may through the exercise of moral re- 
 suggest, none can be regarded with straintupon the pride, self-sufficien- 
 a greater mixture of the opposite cy, and independence of the cor- 
 sentiments of hope and despair than rupt mind of man, regain the supre- 
 the preventive one, or moral re- macy, the happiest effects would 
 straint. None with more despair; instantly result; and he who first 
 because by the experience of every returned to his allegiance to God, 
 age of human existence, it has been would afterwards, and as a part of 
 abundantly proved, that nothing that allegiance, become a faithful 
 is more rare than the imposing of and conscientious subject of human 
 restraint upon natural inclination, government; a subject, much more 
 Indeed the adoption of the very to be depended upon, and for more 
 principle under consideration is one useful, than those who pretend to 
 proof of the impatience of moral re- make the general good their su- 
 straint among men. For not to in- preme object and supreme law. 
 elude those in the censure, whose But should this check fail in its 
 speculations have not been assisted operation, Avhatever may be the 
 by their inclinations, what is the cause of its failure; should the corn- 
 character of the greater part of those plicated injuries arising from alter- 
 writcrs ancient and modern, who nate aggression and retaliation, or 
 have elevated general utility to the the iron force of civil penalties be 
 throne, from which they have ex- insufficient to restrain the inunda- 
 pelled the divine law ? Butason the tion of iniquity which would be let 
 one hand, and forthereasons alleged, in upon society,, were every man to 
 there is no principle less to be de- consider himself as his own lord : gi- 
 pended upon than moral restraint ; gantic, inevitable anarchy stalks in 
 so, on the other, if it could be put the rear, and after having afflicted 
 in practice, there is none which the rebellious race \\ith every spe- 
 would justify more sanguine expcc- cies of misery, consigns them to 
 lations. For if men would reflect, final and irretrievoable destruction, 
 that it is impossible that beings so A. Z. 
 mnorant, so short-sighted, so much 
 exposed to various errors, as the hu- 
 man race evidently are, should be 
 able to discover what is the greatest 
 possible happiness of the intellectual 
 system, or even of the human, and 
 that they should be the supreme 
 
 arbiters of their own duty, and that When gathering clouds around 1 view, 
 
 sometimes in opposition to the de- And days are dark and friends aie few. 
 
 dared and known will of God ; they O" '^''^ ^ ^ff "' ^^^o "ot ,., vam, 
 
 would perceive the necessity of an E^'Per.enc d every haman pa.n : 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 For w^ huee not an high priest which cannot 
 be touched Kith the fccli?is; of our injir- 
 mities : but zvas in aU points tempted like 
 at- :^'c are, yet '.viihnut .tin. Hcb. iv. 15. 
 
 absolute submission to that will in 
 every possible case, and even in 
 opposition to what their own views 
 
 He feels my grief, allays my fears, 
 And counts and treasures up my tears*. 
 
 ■^ I'salms, Ivi. J-. 
 
1806.] Ili/mn... Fragments... Infidelity and Credulity... Mr. Pitt. 
 
 If aught should tempt my soul to sti:\y 
 From heavenly wisdom's nairovv way, 
 To fly the good I wnuKl pursue, 
 Aiul ik> the sin* I would nr)t do ; 
 Still he who felt temptation's power 
 Shall guard me in that dangerous li'iur. 
 If wounded love uiy hosom swell, 
 Deceiv'd by thoje 1 priz'd too well ; 
 He shall his pityinj aid bestow, 
 "Who felt on earth severer woe. 
 At onec bctray'd, denied, or fled, 
 By those who shar'd his daily bread. 
 \\''lien sorrowing o'er some stone I bend. 
 Which covers nil that was a friend. 
 And from his voice, his hand, his smile. 
 Divides me — for a little while j 
 Thnii, Saviour, mnrk'st the tears I shed. 
 For thou did'st v.eep o'er Lazarus dead. 
 When vexing thoughts within me rise. 
 And sore dismay'd my spirit dies; 
 When writhing on the bed of pain, 
 I supplicate for rest in vain ; 
 Still, still my s.nil shall think of thee. 
 Thy bloody sweat and agony. 
 
 And O ! when I have safely past 
 Through every conflict but the last, 
 Wilt thou, who once for mc hast bled. 
 In all my sickness make my bedf , 
 Then bear me to that happier shore, 
 Where thou shall mark my woes no more ? 
 E— Y. D. R. 
 
 FRAGMENTS. 
 
 INFIDELITY AND CREDULITV. 
 
 The following extract from Thie- 
 bault's original Anecdotes of Frede- 
 ric II. of Prussia, affords a strong 
 proof of what the Christian Obser- 
 ver has more than once aflirmed 
 respecting the perfect consistency of 
 infidelity with super:;titious terrors. 
 (See vol", for 1S05, p. 618, Note.) 
 
 " On the same canvas with this 
 philosophical King, Frederic, we 
 view a Le Metherie, the apostle of 
 univer-sal materialism, making the 
 sign of (he cross if it does btit thun- 
 der. Maupertuis, who does not be- 
 lieve in God, says his prayers every 
 evening on hi^ knees. JD'Argens, a 
 still firmer infidel, shudders if he 
 
 ♦ Romans, chap. vii. 
 
 " The Lord will strengthen him on the 
 bed of languishing ; thou wilt make all his 
 bed in liis sickness." Psalm xli 3. 
 
 Christ. Oastav. No. 50. 
 
 93 
 
 counts the number thirteen around a 
 table. The Princess Amelia, the 
 favourite sister of Frederic, almost as 
 much a philosopht i', and endowed 
 with almost as strong an intellect as 
 himselt^ is the dupe of fortune tel- 
 lers. And full half the court arc be- 
 lievers in the story of the woman ail 
 in white, who appeared in one of the 
 apartments of the palace, holding in 
 her hand a large broom, with wliich 
 she swept the apartment, when any 
 member of the royai family was to 
 die in the course of the year." 
 Vol. 1. p. .388. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM MR. PITt's SPEECH ON 
 THE SLAVE TRADE, APRIL 2, 1792. 
 
 " But now, Sir, I come to Africa. 
 That is the ground on v.hich I rest, 
 and here it is, that I say mv Right 
 Honourable Friends t do not carry 
 their principles to their full extent. 
 — Why ou,i;ht the Slave Trade to be 
 abolished.^ Because it is incur-ible 
 I.\jusTicE. How much stronger 
 then is the argument for immediate, 
 than gradual abolition ! By allowing 
 it to continue even for one hour, do 
 not my Right Honourable Friends 
 weaken — do not they desert, their 
 own argument of its injustice? If on 
 the ground of injustice it ought to 
 be abolished at last, why ought it 
 not now.? Why is injustice to be 
 suffered to remain for a single hour? 
 From what I hear without doors, it 
 is evident that there is a general con- 
 viction entertained of its being far 
 from just, and from that very con- 
 viction of its injustice, some men 
 have been led, I fear, to the suppo- 
 sition, that the Slave Trade never 
 could have been permitted to begin, 
 but from some strong and irresisti- . 
 ble necessity; a necessity, however, 
 which if it was fancied to exist at 
 first, I have shewn cannot be thought 
 bv any man whatever to exist now. 
 This plea of necessity, thus pre- 
 sumed, and presumed, as 1 suspect, 
 f.t-om the circumstance of injustice 
 itself, has caused a sort of acquies- 
 
 X Mr. DuNDAS, now Lord Mrhille, and , 
 Mr. Addinctwn, now Lord Sidinouih. 
 
 o 
 
can clear our consciences by this 
 general, not to say irreligious and 
 impious way of laying aside the 
 question. If we reflect at all on this 
 subject, we must see that every ne- 
 cessary evil supposes that some 
 other and greater evil would be in- 
 curred were it removed: 1 therefore 
 
 94 Review of Dauhmys Discourses 071 various Subjects. [Feb. 
 
 cence in the continuance of this 
 evil. Men have been led to 
 
 .place it among the rank of those 
 •n^ctssarr^ evils, which are supposed 
 to be the lot of human creatures, 
 and to be permitted to fall upon 
 some countries or individuals, rather 
 than upon others, by that Being, 
 
 whose ways are inscrutable to us, desire to ask, what can be that 
 
 and whose dispensations, it is con- greater evil, which can be stated 
 
 ceived, we ought not to look into, to overbalance the one in ques- 
 
 The origin of evil is indeed a sub- tion? — I knmv of no evil that ever has 
 
 ject beyond the reach of human existed, nor can imagine any evil to 
 
 understandings; and the permission exist, worse than the tearing of eighty 
 
 of it by the Supreme Being, is a thovs.m^u versons annnallj/fro7n their 
 
 subject into which it belongs not to native land, by a combination of the 
 
 us to inquire. But where the evil most civilized nations, in the most en- 
 
 in question is a moral evil which a lightened quarter of the globe ; but more 
 
 man can scrutinize, and where that especialhj by that nation, ivhich calls 
 
 moral evil has its origin with our- herself the 77tos[ free and the most hapjjy 
 
 'selves, let us not imagine that we of the?nall." 
 
 REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Daubkny's Discourses, &c. 
 
 (Continued from page ^0.) 
 
 After so much blame, neither 
 founded, we trust, in misconception 
 of the author, nor conducted in an 
 improper temper, as we have had 
 occasion to besto\v on particular 
 parts of these sermons, we are sin- 
 cerely glad to return to the far 
 more agreeable duty of dispensing 
 praise and commendation. Sermon 
 VI. r>?z jjrorw/e/ict, isable and useful, 
 and the concluding reflections, such 
 as we should be glad to copy, were 
 it not necessary for us to be sparing 
 of our extracts. A general reflec- 
 tion, however, suggested by the to- 
 pic of this discourse, will here find 
 its proper place. It has often struck 
 us with some surprise, that the near 
 affinity of the doctrines of predesti- 
 nation and divine providence should 
 not have had the effect M-ith such 
 of the opposers pf the former doc- 
 trine as embrace and defend tfie 
 latter, of, at least, softening the as- 
 perity of cerjsure, and inducing an 
 
 apprehension that the maintenance 
 of the obnoxious tenet, however er- 
 roneous, docs not necessarily imply 
 either v.eakness or impiety. So 
 nearly allied are the two subjects in 
 the arguments which (independent 
 of direct scriptural authority) are 
 employed to support them, and 
 in the difficulties which they in- 
 volve, that the defender of the one 
 will find he has much the same ob- 
 jections 1o obviate with him who 
 defends the other ; and that in .so 
 doing, he is compelled to take, in a 
 very great degree, the same ground 
 which, when occupied by an adver- 
 sary, he is apt to consider as un- 
 tenable. In the sermon before us, 
 Mr. Daubeny speaks of the divine 
 power (p. 147.) as *' overruling 
 the ways of men on some occasions, 
 and making them minister, even in 
 spite of themselves, to the execution of 
 God's designs." Now if anv one 
 were to infer from this particular 
 phrase, that Mr. Daubeny, in oppo- 
 sition to all that he has so frequently 
 and so explicitly avowed upon other 
 occasions, is an enemy to human 
 
Hymn... Fragments... Injtdelifj/ and CreduUti/...Mr. Pitt. 93 
 
 1806.] 
 
 If aught should tempt my soul to stray 
 From heavenly wisdom's narrow way, 
 To fly the good I Wduld pursue, 
 And do the sin* I wo\il(t not do ; 
 Still he who felt temptation's power 
 Shall guard mc in that dangerous hour. 
 
 If wounded love my hosom swell, 
 Deceiv'd hy those I pri/'d too well ; 
 He shall his pitying aid hestow, 
 Whe felt on earth severer woe. 
 At once betray'd, denied, or fled, 
 By those who shar'd his daily bread. 
 When sorrowing o'er some stone I bend, 
 Which covers all that was a friend. 
 And from his voiee, his hand, his smile. 
 Divides me — for a little while; 
 Thou, Saviour, mark'st the tears 1 shed, 
 For thou did'st weep o'er La/.arus dead. 
 
 When vexing thoughts within me rise. 
 And sore dismay'd my spirit dies; 
 When writhing on the bed of pain, 
 I supplicate for rest in vain ; 
 Still, still my soul shall think of thee, 
 Thy bloody sweat and agony. 
 
 And O ! when I have safely past 
 Through every conflict but the last, 
 Wilt thou, who once for me hast bled, 
 In all my sickness make my bedf , 
 Then bear me to that happier shore, 
 Where thou shalt mark my woes no more? 
 E.— Y. D. R. 
 
 FRAGMENTS. 
 
 INFIDELITY AND CR1£DUL1TY. 
 
 The following extract from Thie- 
 bault's original Anecdotes of Frede- 
 ric II. of Prussia, affords a strong 
 proof of what the Christian Obser- 
 ver has more than once affirmed 
 respecting the perfect consistency of 
 infidelity with superstitious terrors. 
 (See vol" for IS05, p. 618, Note.) 
 
 " On the same canvas with this 
 philosophical King, Frederic, we 
 view a Le Metherie, the apostle of 
 universal materialism, making the 
 sign of the cro*..s if it does but tfuin- 
 der. MuKpertnis, who does not be- 
 lieve in God, says his prayers every 
 evening on his knees. D'Argens, a 
 still firmer infidel, shudders if he 
 
 * Romans, chap. vii. 
 
 " The Lord will strencthenhim on the 
 bed of languishing ; thou wilt make all his 
 bed in his sickness." Psalm .\1: .3. 
 Christ. Oijserv. No. c'-O, 
 
 counts the number tJdrtcen around a 
 table. The Princess Amelia, the 
 favourite sister oi Frederic, almost as 
 much a philosopher, and endowed 
 with almost as strong an intellect as 
 himself, is flu dupe of fortune tel- 
 lers. And full liaU'the court arc be- 
 lievers in the story of tiie woman all 
 in white, who appeared in oiif of the 
 apartments of the palace, holding in 
 her hand a large broom, with which 
 she sw ept the apartment, when any 
 member of the royal family was to 
 die in the course ot the year." 
 Vol. 1. p. 388. 
 
 EXTRACT FROM MR. PITT's SPEECH ON 
 THE SLAVE TRADE, APRIL 2, 17^2. 
 
 " But now. Sir, I come to Africa. 
 That is the ground on which I rest, 
 and here it is, that I say my Right 
 Honourable Friendsl do not carry 
 their principles to their full extmt. 
 — Why ought the Slave Trade to be 
 abolished? Because it is inccrvkle 
 Injustice. How much stronger 
 then is the argument for immediate, 
 than gradual abolition ! By allowing 
 itro continue even for one hour,, do 
 not my Right Honourable Friends 
 weaken — do not they desert, their 
 own argument of its injustice.' If on 
 the ground of injustice it ought to 
 be abolished at last, why ought it 
 not now? Why is injustice to be 
 suffered to remain for a single hour? 
 From what I hear without doors, it 
 is evident that there is a general con- 
 viction entertained of its being far 
 from just, and from that veiy con- 
 viction of its injustice, some men 
 have been led, I fear, to the stippo- 
 sition, that the Slave Trade never 
 could have been permitted to begin, 
 but from some strong and irresisti- 
 ble nece.ssity; a necessity, however, 
 which if it was fancied to exist at 
 first, I have shewn cannot be thought 
 by any man whatever to exist now. 
 This plea of nece.'^sity, thus pre- 
 sumed, and presumed, as I suspect, 
 from the circumstance of injustice 
 itself, ha.s caused a sort of acquies- 
 
 % Mr. PuNDAS, now Lord Mrhille, and 
 Mr. Acpi.'^cnoN, now Lord .'nduiouth. 
 
96 Review of Daubeny^s Discourses on various Subjects. [Feb. 
 
 of the Christian covenant." How that we can do be imperfect, and 
 Mr. Daubeny understands the Chris- therefore not able to deserve our 
 tian covenant, we pretend not fully justification ; but our justification 
 to unravel from so brief a hint ; doth come freely by the were mercy 
 but enough is told us to authorize of God ;" which mercy is declared 
 the conclusion, that if he under- to be exercised towards us, "with- 
 stands it rightly, our reformers must out any of our desert or deserving," 
 have ^nzsunderstcod it. Let the through his merits by whom " our 
 above quotation from the author be ransom v\"Jis fully paid, the law ful- 
 contrasted with the following pas- filled, and the divine justice fully 
 sage taken from the fir>t part of the satisfied. So that Christ is now the 
 liomily, or sermon, of salvation, and righteousness of all them that truly 
 it will appear hoM' completely Mr. do believe in him. He for them paid 
 rSaubeny is at issue, on this prime their ransom by his death. He for 
 a!id fundamental article of the Chris- them fulfilled the law in his life, 
 tian faith, Avith the Church of So that now in him, and by him, 
 England. According to the for- every true Christian man may be 
 nier, " repentance and works of called a fulfiUer of the law, foras- 
 righteousness, &c." are co-eftlci-' much as that which their infirmity 
 cuts in procuring (are to be exer- lacked Christ's justice hath sup- 
 cif^ed in order to) onr "acceptance" plied.'' (See also page 75 of the 
 with God ; a term which, we take ^i resent IS umber.) 
 ior granted, is here used, as it is by This is explicit and intelligible, 
 theological writers in general, its And why should not a way of stat- 
 svnon'ymous with justification. Ac- ing the subject, at once so scriptural 
 cording to the latter, " St. Paul de- and satisfactory, be always resorted 
 clareth nothing upon the behalf of to, in preference to that confused, 
 man concerning his justification, unsatisfactory method, adopted by 
 but onlj/ a true and lively faith, our modern divines ? A tenderness 
 Mhich nevertheless is the gift of for the interests of i)ractical religion 
 fJod, and not man's only work with- is the plausible pretence held out 
 out God. And yet that faith doth ibr this deviation from the "good 
 not shut out repentance, hope, love, old way" of teaching Christianity ; 
 dread, and the fear of God, to be but Avill any man readily believe, 
 joined with faith in every man that -who is ever so slightly conversant 
 is justified" — these being the ne- with the livesorwritings of our first 
 cessarj/ accompaniments of a " true divines, that they can be exceeded 
 and lively faith," whereby it is in s<:)licitude for holiness of heart and 
 evermore distinguished from a false life by any men whatsoever in the 
 and dead faith — " but it shutteth present day ? But perhaps, Avith 
 them out from the ojice of justifying, equally good intentions, we are 
 So that though they be ail present grown wiser with time, and have 
 together in him that is justified, constructed a better system! Sound 
 yet they_7«5///y not altogether: nei- reason (to say nothing of Scripture) 
 ther doth faith shut out the justice is against this presumption. Deep 
 of our good works, necessarily to be humility and poverty of spirit form 
 done afterwards of duty towards the only soil in which all Christian 
 God (for we are most bounden to graces can flourish, and a glance of 
 serve God in doing good deeds, the eye is sulficient to shew (what 
 conmianded by him in his holy however has been clearly and de- 
 Scripture, all the days of our life :) moiistrably argued at length by 
 but it cxcludcth them, so that we many valuable writers) which of 
 7nay ■SOT do them ro mis isrr.ST, to the two methods of teaching is 
 be made just hj doing them." Tlie best calculated to excite and nourish 
 reason of this assertion is then this state of heart. Matter of fact 
 »s.«igned : " tor all the good Avorks likewise opposes this coMclusioiv 
 
1806.] Rivinu ofDaubenfs Discourses on various Subjects. 
 
 Let the rectitude of either method 
 be only referred to this test, and 
 preference be given to that mode of 
 preaching which has had the hap- 
 piest results, and the cause, we ap- 
 prehend, is at once decided. For 
 the history of the Church from the 
 bcgiuiiiuiJ- to this day, will, we are 
 persuaded, bear us out in aiVirming 
 that vital aiid practical religion has 
 flourished or declined in every 
 country of Christendom, as well 
 before as since the sera of the refor- 
 mation, in a ratio nearly propor- 
 tioned to the zeal and stt^adiness 
 which have been discovered by the 
 Christian ministry, in the promul- 
 gation of that doctrine so justly 
 called by the great Luther, " Arti- 
 culus sfantis aut cadeutis ecclesire:" 
 — in the promulgation ofit, we mean, 
 as understood by all protestants at the 
 enliglitened period (for such we beg 
 leave to call it) when our liturgy 
 and homilies were composed, and 
 as explained in the admirable ex- 
 tract just now given from the latter 
 work. 
 
 Many conscientious persons, 
 doubtless, both among the laity and 
 the clergy, are led to adopt that 
 method of stating the doctrine of 
 justification against which we con- 
 tend, from not perceiving by what 
 other means the subject may be 
 guardedagainstAntinomian abuse. A 
 distinction may therefore be recom- 
 mended to the attention of such per- 
 sons, which will much more eff'ectu- 
 allv attain the end they have in view, 
 tiian the expedient to which they 
 have resorted : a distinction obvi- 
 ous and tangible, free from every 
 just exception, clearly marking 
 the two great leading doctrines of the declared purpose of the Gospel 
 X,'hristianity, and giving to each its ot Christ to abase. 
 
 97 
 
 due course of education, that he may 
 be fitted for the station designed for 
 him. It would readily be perceiv- 
 ed, that no excellency of attain- 
 ments which the adopted son might 
 eventually acquire, could in the 
 smallest degree influence his title, 
 which must still rest on itsown pro- 
 per ground, the free and conde- 
 scending act of the adopter : while, 
 on the other hand, it would be as 
 distinctly discerned, that his future 
 respectability and enjoyment must 
 depend on his acquiring the requi- 
 site qualifications; so that the last 
 could in no sense be said to be less 
 tiecessaiy than the former, though 
 neceaiaiy for very diiferent reasons. 
 Two things in the author's Vlllth 
 sermon will call for our notice. On 
 thetlrst, however, we do not intend 
 to enlarge, being satisfied to point it 
 out, though perhaps to be regarded 
 as little more than a slip of the pen, 
 as considerably objectionable. It is 
 where Mr. Daubeny speaks of "our 
 moral advances" being made in a 
 gradual manner, like our improve- 
 ments in knowledge : " oiie good 
 resolution," says he, " begets ano- 
 ther, w^hich again produces suc- 
 ceeding ones ; till, through several 
 intervening states, we arrive, or al- 
 most arrive, at perfect obedience." 
 Surely Mr. Daubeny too well un- 
 derstands the purity and spirituality 
 of that law, which is "exceeding 
 broad," to entertain the deliberate 
 opinion that any human obedience 
 even approaches, in the highest at- 
 tainable degree upon earth, a per- 
 fect conforinity to its demands. 
 The sentiment is too much calculated 
 to cherish that pride, which it is 
 
 due weight and influence. Our 
 justification then, be it observed, 
 rt-spects our title to heaven ; our 
 sanctification relates to our meetness 
 or qualification for it. Those ideas 
 would not be confotinded in the 
 parallel case of some mean person, 
 graciously adopted by one of very 
 .superior rank as his son and heir, 
 aiid put, in the mean time, under a 
 
 The second passage we are to no- 
 tice will call for more remark. 
 
 " We hear nmch," says Mr. Daubeny, 
 " about the Spirit of Ciiriit ; and it is an 
 expiessioi), wliicli taken in its proper sense, 
 conveys the mo.<t cotnfoiiable idea ; for 
 certain it is that ' without the Spirit of 
 Christ, we are none of hi.s.' But has it not 
 sometimes happcuvid, that tvhen the .Spint 
 of Christ has been in men's mouths, the 
 spint of th'; evil one has been visiWe in 
 
98 
 
 Revioi} ofDaubcTiy's D iscourses on various Subjects, [Fe b ; 
 
 he thus emphatically gives it hi» 
 countenance and sanction ; for he . 
 speaks of it as very generally adopt- 
 ed within the walls of the Church. 
 And, to say the truth, the practice 
 has as little of novelty as of wisdom 
 to boast ; for an older or coarser ex- 
 pedient can scarcely be named than 
 that of avoiding one extreme by 
 rushing into its oppasite. Mr. 
 Daubeny has in reality published in 
 this sentence, one of the severest 
 satires we ever remember to have 
 read on the general good sense and 
 theological skill of the clergy. What 
 would that gentleman have said, had 
 some one of his controversial oppo- 
 nents affirmed, in equally direct 
 terms, but accompanied with its 
 merited censure, the fact which he 
 has here given to the world, under 
 the sanction of his authority ^ The 
 fact itself, however, is important, 
 and, when established by such com- 
 petent testimony, ought carefully to 
 be preserved. 
 
 But to be serious on a very seri- 
 ous subject. There is an incon- 
 sistency in this exculpatory lan- 
 guage of Mr. Daubeny with hig 
 own practice, which we scarcely 
 know how to reconcile. Certainly, 
 it cannot be alledged, judging from 
 the specimen of his manner of 
 preaching now before us, that little 
 is ><aid about the Spirit of Christ 
 within the walls of his Church. It 
 is the very subject, on the contrary, 
 on which we should lay our finger, 
 Avere we asked to point out what is 
 the leading, prominent, topic in these 
 sermons. And yet ]Mr. ])aubeny, 
 we apprehend, need be under no 
 fearof proving instrumental by these 
 discourses in leading his readers 
 into the error of enthusiasm. He 
 has found out therefore a different 
 method, it seems, frcan the general 
 body of the clergy, of making men 
 " serious, rational, comcientious, not 
 f/^ar^'/Kffry Christians;'' viz. by de- 
 claring the doctrine fully and expli- 
 citly, and yet guarding it, as he 
 proceeds, by shewing its legitimate 
 tendencies and eflects, and distin- 
 guishing them from tliose which 
 
 their actions ? It will not be denied, that an 
 eventful period in our own history has 
 borne abundant testimony to this re- 
 mark ; and thai there have been instances, 
 not a few, of men of the most despicable 
 character, who have fancied that they 
 had attained the highest pitch of holiness. 
 —On which account perhaps it maj-- be, 
 that, in these days, less is said about the 
 Spirit of Christ within the walls of the 
 Church, than may be heard on that head 
 among some other societies of Christians ; 
 because the ministers of the Ciiurch of 
 Christ would not be instrumental in lead- 
 ing their hearers into an error, upon a sub- 
 ject of this primary importance; because 
 they wish to make them serious, rational, 
 conscientious, not imaginary Christians," 
 (p. '216, '217.) 
 
 These are surely very reprehen- 
 sible sentiments. Does Mr. Dau- 
 beny really think that he has suf- 
 ticiently vindicated his brethren, 
 by the reason here assigned, in 
 keeping back from their hearers so 
 important a part of the counsel of 
 God ? Is a truth then to be no 
 longer preached, or at least to have 
 little said about it, because ungodly 
 men have abused it ? It is hard to 
 say, if that be the case, what truth 
 would at this time of day be 
 left to the ministers of Christ to in- 
 sist upon ; for it would be difficult 
 perhaps to name any doctrine pe- 
 culiar to revealed, and even to na- 
 tural religion, which has not been 
 equally perverted with that in ques- 
 tion. It may indeed be a very ef- 
 fectual method for a preacher to 
 take, who " would not be instru- 
 mental in leading his hearers into " 
 '^ny particular " error," to be silent 
 upon the doctrine whence it is de- 
 duced ; but this way of exhibiting 
 the Gospel, in a partial and " muti- 
 lated" form, we cannot conceive to 
 be the most likely means to make 
 his hearers "serious, rational, and 
 conscientious Christians." iNIr. Dau- 
 beny himself h<';s here used the em- 
 phatic italic character, to mark, 
 doubtless, his own sense of (he va- 
 lue of this singular expedient for 
 making such Christians as he has 
 described. To the merit of the dis- 
 covery he does not pretend, though 
 
Review of Daubenys Discourses on various Subjects. 99 
 
 1806.] 
 
 are the efTects only of fancy and 
 delusion. Every truth, we are per- 
 suaded, exhihitfd on this plan, will 
 guard it,>;clf. It is onlv by shewing 
 a truth on one side that openings are 
 left for the abuse of it. Shew it 
 on all sides; trace its relations and 
 bearings with regard to other truths ; 
 let its practical consequences be 
 drawn out fully, distinctly, impres- 
 sively ; and it may then be left 
 without anxiety to its fate. For 
 more, at all events, the minister of 
 God is not answerable. When he has 
 thus preached the truth, the Mhole 
 truth, and nothing but the truth, he 
 has done his part. If men should still 
 abuse it, the iault rests not with 
 him. He has delivered his own 
 soul. But not so, if he has kept 
 back any thing profitable unto the 
 people from the apprehension of its 
 perversion. He acts then a part of 
 equal folly and absurdity, in the 
 capacity of a steward in God's 
 liousehold ; as he would in that of 
 the father of a family, were he to 
 withhold necessary sustenance from 
 his children and servants, from a 
 dread of the consequences of indi- 
 gestion or surfeit. He who should 
 adopt such a remedy as this for re- 
 ligious errors, would discover much 
 the same wisdom with his, who 
 should propose, as the best expedi- 
 ent for preventing the growth of 
 noxious or poisonous weeds, to ex- 
 tinguish the sun. And his pietj' 
 would be as little manifested by 
 such conduct as his wisdom. For 
 what else would be implied in it 
 than an assumption of being wiser 
 than G<jd ? And what (;lse could he 
 expect to hear at the la.st, instead of 
 ■" Well done, good and faithful 
 steward," but " Who hath required 
 this at your hand r" — to amend 
 \'nur commission, instead of fulfilling 
 It ! to alter my orders, instead of 
 obeying them ! 
 
 In this sermon, however, we find 
 ninrh that is excellent; and itwould 
 alone furnish ample testimony, that 
 Mr. I)aubeny is no enemy to 
 preaching eapcrimentail^ ; though 
 
 such might be the conclusion that a 
 hasty reader would draw from the 
 manna' in which he has, in a for- 
 mer discourse, accused some of his 
 brethren of teaching their heai-ers 
 to rely upon their "feelings aiul 
 experiences." We give the author 
 full credit, that in this accusation he 
 had no intention of sneering at the 
 practice; but meant only to censure 
 the unscriptural and fanatical wav 
 in which he believes it to be execut- 
 ed by the objects of his reproof. 
 His error lies in rashly speaking 
 evil of his brethren : and to prove to 
 him that he has done so, we will 
 propose a criterion to which he will 
 not object. Let it be supposed then, 
 that those parts of this volume, and 
 of the sermon now before ns in par- 
 ticular, which exemplify the mode 
 of preaching here in question, were 
 carefully selected and published, 
 without the name of the author. If 
 the specimens thus produced should 
 meet the entire and cordial appro- 
 bation of those men whose religious 
 sobriety is so much suspected by 
 Mr. Daubeny ; if — to say all in one 
 word — they should so completely 
 recognize in them their own views, 
 and their ven,'^ habits of speaking, 
 as to be deceived into an opinion, 
 that they must have proceeded from 
 the pen of one of their own body, 
 " a prophet of their own ;" then, 
 Mr. Daubeny, we presume, could 
 no longer be dis])osed to doubt, 
 that their sentiments are sound, and 
 their mode of inculcating them cha- 
 racterized by propriety and discre- 
 tion. Now so satisfied are we, that 
 such as we have stated it would be 
 the result of the experiment, that 
 we should not hesitate a moment to 
 stake our credit upon the event. 
 Our readers must in a great degree 
 have fbrmed their own jui'gmenton 
 this head by the extracts already 
 given in the earlier part of this re- 
 view; and in confirmation of that 
 judgment, which we are well per- 
 suaded coincides fully with our 
 OWD, we will venture, lengthened 
 as this article already is, to make 
 
1 00 Review of Daubenys Discourses on various Subjects 
 
 ome further extracts, which shall 
 be taken from the very sermon 
 that in two instances has fallen 
 under our censure. 
 
 " Now every man understancls what is 
 meant by a burden piessing uiinn and 
 gallina; his shoulder ; ^nd never fails to 
 feel that burden, whenever he labours uii- 
 \ der it j but it is not every man that feels 
 the weight and burden of s n. Tliere 
 are many, alas ! who travel, throngli thcii 
 whole lives, with the load upon their 
 shoulders, and yet fancy themselves at li- 
 berty. And to what, it may be asked, is 
 it owing, that man should be so sensible 
 of oppression in one case, and not in the 
 other ? 
 
 " The answer is obvious. So long as man 
 continues in an unrenewed condition, he 
 has no spiritual sense about him. ' The 
 natural man receiveth not the things of the 
 spirit of God ; neither can he know them ; 
 for they are spiritually discerned.' — He is 
 that insensible bcin;:, who, in the strong 
 language of scripture, is described as ' dead 
 while he liveth;' — 'dead in trespasses 
 and sins.' — .And a dead man, we know, 
 feels nothing. The apovtle, therefore, ad- 
 dresses him in that insensible condition ; to 
 give us to understand, that man must first 
 be roused and awakened from it, before he 
 can come to any sense or feeling with re- 
 spect to his actual condition. * Awake 
 thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, 
 and Chri.'^t. shall give thee light.' — In fact, 
 a livelv <ense of a man's natural condition, 
 constitutes the necessary preparatory to 
 any thing being done to relieve him. 
 When God has opened his eyes to see 
 himself fallen in Adam, man then begins 
 to appreciate the means that have been 
 provided for his recovery ; for no one seeks 
 a remedy for an evil he does not feel ; and 
 where no remedy is -sought, none will be 
 found ; it being the condition upon which 
 all thinsrs are to be obtained by man, that 
 they be" sought by him. ' Seek and ye shall 
 find ;' is the direction of that same divine 
 Person, who calls upon man in the text to 
 come to him for rest, and is in fact only a 
 different mode of C(mveyiiig one and the 
 same idea ; namely, that man must go nut 
 of mms'-lf, and scik from another quarter 
 that salvation, which will not otherwise be 
 found." (p. 204— '20t>.) 
 
 The follcvine: ju.st and scriptu- 
 ral sentiments afterwards guard the 
 subject which Mr. Danbeny had 
 thus clearly and forcibly handled. 
 
 [Feb. 
 
 " The religion of Christ, it should be re- 
 membered, is an hrart-rvorkinc; thing j it is 
 the greatest cleanser and purifier in the 
 world J where it has its perfect work, it 
 leaves no foulness or corruption beliind. 
 Whenever, therefore, what is called reli- 
 gion, leaves man in the same natural con- 
 diiioii in which it found him ; earthly, sen- 
 sual, and corrupt; a slave to his appetites 
 and passions ; depend upon it, that man's 
 reiigiun is not the religion of Christ, but 
 something that has been mistaken for it; 
 some imagination of his own, with which 
 the grand deceiver peisuades him to rest 
 satisfied, in the view of preventing hiin 
 from looking farther, and from becoming 
 that spiritual creature, which the religion 
 of the blessed Jesus was designed to make 
 him. 
 
 "There is one infallible mark, by which 
 it may be known whether we are come to 
 Christ, in the sense in which we are invited 
 in the text ; and it is this : examine whe- 
 ther the life of Christ is in us ; for he who 
 hath not the life of Christ in him, hath no- 
 thing but the name J nothing but a fancy 
 of Christ ; he hath not the substance.'' 
 (p. 213, 219.) 
 
 We beg leave here to state, for 
 the benefit of all whom it may con- 
 cern, that the two last extracts 
 contain very just and striking speci- 
 mens of that experimental preaching, 
 which of late years has sustained so 
 much obloquy and reprehension. 
 
 In the following discourse, 
 preached atavisitation of the clergy, 
 we were glad to find Mr. Daubeny 
 thus addressing his brethren on the 
 duty of a minister in the established 
 Church. 
 
 " In the next place, but above all, 
 his object must be to take away all just 
 reason for the desertion of his ministry, by 
 giving full proof of his evangelical com- 
 mission. With the apostle he must be 
 able to say to his l>earers, ' I take you 
 to record this day, that I am pure from the 
 blood of all men ; for I have not shunned 
 to declare unto you all the counsel of 
 God.' — To this end, whilst he is guarding 
 against the fatal error of Aiitinnmiaiiism on 
 the one hand, he must at the same time 
 take care, that Seneca does not occupy in 
 his Church the place of St. Paul. In a 
 word, he must endeavour to give to every 
 part of the Gospel covenant its due weight 
 and consequence. In conformity with our 
 articles and homilies, the misery of fallen 
 
Review of Daubeni/'s Discourses on various Subjects. 101 
 
 1606.] 
 
 man, salvation by Christ, the Christian 
 faith, and good works, as the fruit nt'tlie 
 Christian tree, must constitute iljc summa- 
 ry of his doctiiiic. For in a matter of this 
 importance, meii will take the liberty to 
 judge for thcmselvi'S ; and if they have 
 reason to think that they are not fed with 
 the true hicad of life within the walls of 
 our Churches, they will unqutstionably 
 seek for it, where they faney it may be 
 found, either in lields oi in conventicles." 
 (p. '2-i8,«W.) 
 
 Oq the first part of this passage, it 
 is obvious to remark, that, if the ad- 
 vice be good and wise, a> unqucs^ 
 tionably it is, then, tluit very dif- 
 ferent conduct, attributed in the 
 preceding sermon to the general 
 body of the cleriry, with reference 
 to a most essential doctrine of the 
 Gospel, must be far indeed from de- 
 serving these epithets ; and that 
 the apology for such conduct there 
 oftered by the author is completely 
 at variance with the counsel here 
 given. The sentiment in the latter 
 part of the pussage deserves the 
 most general and serious attention, 
 as it assigns, we are persuaded, the 
 true reason for that lamentable de- 
 sertion of our Churches, wbich e- 
 very friend of the establishment, 
 and of true religion, deeply de- 
 plores. The true remedy for the 
 f-vil is here indicated. All the 
 preaching and writing in the world 
 against schism, enthusiasm, &.c. 
 will avail little to oppose the pro- 
 gress of sectaries, and their con- 
 venticles. There is one effectual 
 •way of doing it, and but one. 
 " Out pr<:uh them, and outlive 
 them," i)t said to have been the 
 answer of Charles the Second to his 
 clergy, when complaining to him of 
 the defection iti their own times 
 from the church to the conventicle. 
 The advice suits all times, and will 
 never be mended. 
 
 We are sorry to observe, howe'- 
 ver, the preacher before us weaken^ 
 ing the impression of his own coun- 
 sel, by one of those qualifying ad- 
 missions, frexjuent in modern charges 
 and visitation sermons, which 
 serve indeed to ward ofl" the dis- 
 Christ. OesEhvtB, No. 50. 
 
 pleasure that reproof, however mild- 
 ly insinuated, is apt to provoke; 
 but which at the same time usually 
 destroys all its effect. " However we 
 may dillL-r (says Mr. Daubeny) la 
 points of lesser moment; upon sub- 
 jects of essential consequence it is 
 impossible but we must all agree." 
 How can Mr. Daubeny's conscience 
 allow him thus to flatter ! Is it pos- 
 sible, that he can sincerely believe, 
 that, even as to their speculative 
 creed, there is no essential differ- 
 ence to be found between the opi- 
 nicms i)f any of his clerical brethren 
 and his own r Does he not then con- 
 sider the doctrines of original sin, 
 of the atonement, and of the neces- 
 sity of the Holy Spirit's operation, 
 as of essential consequence ? No 
 reader of these sermons will,, we are 
 confident, attribute to the author 
 any lower estimation of their value. 
 But has Mr. Daubeny then never 
 heard of INIr. Fellowesor Dr. Gleig? 
 Has he never heard (to say nothing 
 of the Antijacobiu Reviewers) of 
 the Editors of the British Critic, 
 (clergymen we presume) who in 
 some late numbers of their work, 
 (see Christian Observer, vol. for 
 1804-, p. 4-99.) have adopted most 
 unequivocally Dr. Gleig's sentiments 
 upon original sin, in direct violation 
 of the principles avowed iii their 
 prospectus, and wnth complete hos- 
 tility to the sentiments inculcated 
 in this volume by Mr. Daubeny? 
 When we see .such men, the pro- 
 fessed guardians of our religion and 
 literature, and who in many ia- 
 stances had deserved well of the 
 cause of evangelical truth, departing 
 from the faith which they had pro- 
 fessed, and in which we had hoped 
 they were established ; it is high 
 time surely for the friends of truth 
 to give the alarm, instead of using 
 flattering word.«, that can only serve 
 to betray the cause which they 
 ought to vindicate and support. 
 
 Of the remaining sermons, six in 
 number, several passages had been 
 originally marked for quotation, one 
 only of which we shall, however, 
 bring forward, in order to confirm 
 
Reiieii: of Daubeiifs Discourses on various Subjects 
 
 102 
 
 the importance of some observations 
 which fell from us in an earlier jtart 
 of this revievA-. It occurs in the 
 11th Sermo?i on 1 John, in. 3. the 
 .second on the same text, in which, 
 after mucli just and scriptural nb- 
 tJcrvation, the author thus proceeds: 
 " But althoucrh man is not able to cleanse 
 himself from that stain and infection of sin 
 which is hert^ditary to his nature, still he 
 maj' in some desjiee free himself from the 
 power and dominion of sin. God alone, 
 uc know, must cleanse aud purify; he- 
 cause God alone can create that grace in 
 the heart, where hy this purification is 
 effected. Yet that Uian might be so 
 cleansed and purged by divine grace, he 
 must first, in a degree, be morally cleansed, 
 by an abstinence from unrighteous aetious, 
 and bj' a denial of all carnal indulgence. 
 Hence it is that a part of the en!,'a5:ement, 
 by virtue of which fallen man is admitted 
 into the church, for the purpose of his being 
 finally and effectually elcansed from all 
 sin by the blood of Christ is, that he re- 
 nounces the Devil and all his works, to- 
 gether with the sinful lusts of tiie flesh : in 
 such a sense, ' that he n ill not follow, nor 
 be led by them.' — In this sense sinners are 
 called upon by the Apostle ' to cleanse 
 their har.ds and to purge their hearts.' 
 Jam^s iv. 8. And provided they thus draw 
 rear to God, God, fte are as:,ured by the 
 same Apostle, will draw near to them. — 
 Joint's iv. 8. ' In such case he will not fail 
 to carry his part of the evangolical (•.o\g- 
 nant into compkte effect, by purifying 
 tliem * as he is pure'." (p. 295, 29^.) 
 
 It %vill be recollected that, in our 
 remarks on Sermon V. of this vo- 
 lume, wc objected to Mr. Daube- 
 ny's manner of speaking, v. here he 
 savs, " that the grace of God, and 
 the free-agency of man, when con- 
 sidered in ihcir relation (o the eco- 
 nomy of redemption, have certain 
 litnitatiotts." The ill consecjucnce 
 of viewing the subject in this man- 
 ner is strongly exemplified in the 
 above quotation, where we .--x'c that it 
 ha^ led the author into an assertion 
 of the ability ofirian, iudependiiilly 
 of (he grace of(/f'd, to " free idm- 
 self in some de^ii^-cc Vrom tlie power 
 and dominion of sin;" and of the 
 necessitv of his being " first, in a de- 
 gree, morally cleansed, by an absti- 
 ncr.ce from unrighteous actions. 
 
 [Fi5U. 
 
 iscc." as the Indispensable prepara- 
 tion for hisbeing spiritually "cleans- 
 ed and purged by divine grace." 
 Mr. Daubeny has indeed Iiere sup- 
 plied in some measure thitt desi- 
 deratum w'hich we formerly in- 
 quired after. He has at length as- 
 signed with some precision those 
 " limitations" which he before af- 
 firmed to exist, but of wluch he had 
 then neglected to trace theboimda- 
 ries. It appears pretty clearly now 
 i\:hat it is that a man must do for 
 himself, before he can exi)ect God 
 to do any thing for him. " He is to 
 cleanse himself morally," &c. ; in 
 other words, to" free himself from the 
 pow er and dominion of sin." Still, 
 however, some perplexity remains, 
 for it is only " in u dtgree," or as 
 elsevthere expressed, " in so7n€ de- 
 gree," that he is expected to do all 
 this ; so that an honest inquirer 
 would yet be somewhat at a loss to 
 ascertain with as much exactness as 
 he must wish in a case of such mo- 
 ment, and where the condition of his 
 exerting hiuiselfto the point require^ 
 involves no less than his eternal fe- 
 licity, hoxi far he is to carry this 
 preparatory operation. But seri- 
 ously, is this the way in which the 
 Scriptures speak on these subjects? 
 Or is it reconcileable even with 
 V. hat ]Mr. Daubeny himself has else- 
 where spoken: — with those views 
 of the moral depravity, and of course 
 the mural impotence of man, which 
 are as strongly affirmed in these 
 sermons as we have ever knowa 
 them to be in any aiithnr ffccient 
 or m.odern: — and with that entire, 
 unqualiiied adoption of the apostolic 
 decisions, " that we are not suilicient 
 of ourselves to i/iin/c or do any thing 
 asof ourselves, but that all oursutbci' 
 ency is of God," and that " it is God 
 who worketh in us both to icill and 
 to do of his good pleasure;" which 
 is found in the very sermon just 
 now referred to r tide p. 12}'. Can 
 plainer evidence be required, that 
 Mr. Daubeny has not hit upon the 
 right manner of representing this 
 controverted subject, than the en- 
 tangled, confused, and to say all in 
 
1 S0<5.] Review of Daubetv/'s Discourses on tarioiis Subjecls. 103 
 
 a ^?v•ord, the unscn'ptural modes of tations to the violation of controvor- 
 
 .speaking into which it has betrayed 
 him ? Whether the correction we 
 have ventured to propose in its pro- 
 per place, be more just and scriptu- 
 ral, the reader must judire tor liim- 
 .self. Mr. Daubeny's representation 
 and our own are both before him, 
 and we can only say, drum horum 
 mavis, accipe. 
 
 Upon t!ie whole, it is easy to see 
 ■what is our jiulgmont of these dis- 
 courses. Their great excellence 
 consists in their deserving, much 
 more than modern sermons com- 
 monly do, tlie title of Christian dis- 
 courses. They affirm the universal 
 and total cfwruption of human na- 
 ture. Trjev inculcate on eveiy man, 
 that he is a sinner and needs for- 
 giveness. Thev teach strongly tiie 
 necessity of Divine influence to qua- 
 lifvusfor the performance of every 
 good A^■o^d and work. And they 
 teach all this seriously and impres- 
 sivelv. The language bespeaks the 
 preacher to be iu earnest. The sen- 
 timents seem to come warm front 
 tlir' he^rt. O si sic omnia.' But ^Ir. 
 Daubeny is a man of strong preju- 
 dices: and although these place 
 him in the singular predicament of 
 shewing hostility towards the men, 
 to whose sentiments, and even to 
 whose very phraseology, his own 
 evidently have a much nearer ap- 
 proximation, than either to the lan- 
 guage or opinions of many of those 
 divines whom he treats with partiali- 
 ty and friendship; they are yet so 
 tirnilv fixed in his niin<i as uuqucs 
 Jionable verities, that niidvr their iu- 
 H;u nee, ht- is liotrayed into a want of 
 candour and fairness of representa- 
 tion, which we are often at a loss 
 to explain, in any consistency with 
 that integrity and g< od principle 
 whi< h we wish always to attach to 
 his character. In his eyes Cah iiiisia 
 i> a bugbear, and every man whom 
 the World is pleased to call a Me- 
 tfiodist is a Calvinist. Arminianism 
 is also the triumphant system of the 
 day, and an author, prejudiced as 
 Mr. Daubeny is against the contrary 
 scheme, has therefore strong temp? 
 
 sial fairness and integrity, which it 
 will require the whole force of his 
 moral principles to overcome. Let 
 an author avow himself an Anti-Cal- 
 vijilst, and he has nothing to fear. 
 Let him but givt; the nami.'. of C'al- 
 vinism to whatever opinions itpleases 
 him to dislike, the pop-dar voice 
 will be on his side. Reviewers will 
 stand forth to blow the trumpet of 
 his fame: they will call hisdeclama- 
 tion argument, and his assertions 
 proofs. No misrepresentations, how- 
 evL-r palpable, will their critical acu- 
 men be able to detect. No quota- 
 tions, however garbled of falsifud, 
 will their literary impartiiility in- 
 duce (hem to rectify. No sophistry, 
 however flagrant, will their love 
 either oi' truth or of sound logic, 
 prevail with them to expose*. .Some 
 k'ss fashionable and accommodatin<r 
 critic may indeed venture to tt"*.'! 
 the world the truth, baV it will be 
 easy, with the help of so many pow- 
 erful associates, to cry down a wri- 
 ter whci, shall act so unpopular a 
 part. To call him the advocate of 
 a party, and give him a few ill 
 name^, \vi]\ generally do the busi- 
 ness; nor will it occur to the herd of 
 loose and .superficial readers, that 
 the applauders on the other side are 
 in a party also, and their testimony 
 thert-fore liable to equal suspicion, 
 and calling for equal caution. Mr. 
 Daubenv^'s exposed to still additi- 
 onal temptations, as the champion of 
 his party, with whom it is but too 
 probable, as w ith jKuties ia general, 
 religious as well ;i.s poKtical, that 
 popularity is not to be kt-pt up by 
 cool and candid statements, by fair 
 reasoning and i^ispa^sionate repre- 
 
 * Those assertions may seeai severe 
 and uncharitable : but let the unprejudiced 
 rt'ader of the Reviews which have lately 
 appeared of Dr. Kipling's and Mr. Daube- 
 ny's performances in the anii-calvinistic 
 controyeisy, determine whether they be 
 not fully «arranred by unquestionable 
 facts : and if so, whether charity, exten- 
 sively and truly considered, does not rather 
 demand the exposure of such arts, than 
 their palliation or conrtahn'^ nt. 
 
1 1< Review of Foster** Essai/s. . . . 
 
 sentations, but by methods directly 
 contrary to these ; too well known, 
 alas ! and too often practised, to re- 
 quire any more distinct Specifica- 
 tion. 
 
 We do not mean to attribute to 
 Mr. Daubeny the being knowingly 
 and wilfully influenced by such mo- 
 tives and considerations as have been 
 suggested. God forbid! We have 
 Spoken of them only as temptations 
 which lie in his way; and it implie.<» 
 iio imputation of more than the or- 
 dinary measure of human infirmity 
 to suppose, that temptations like 
 those which we ha\'e mentioned, 
 so flattering at once to an author's 
 vanity, his prepossessions, and his 
 love of ease, may have even a consi- 
 derable, thougli an unperceived 
 operation upon his conduct ; draw- 
 ing him insensibly aside from that 
 line of scrupulous care and fidelity, 
 •which, under circumstances of an 
 opposite complexion, a regard to 
 his reputation might have warned 
 him to observe. 
 
 Of Mr. Daubeny's style nothing 
 need be said. The public is well 
 acquainted with it, and want not to 
 be told by us, that it is easy> per- 
 spicuous, and well adapted in all 
 respects tb theological subjects. 
 
 Foster's £ssaj/s. 
 
 f Continued froyyi p. 5Q.J 
 
 •The third Essay is on the applica- 
 tion of the epithet Romantic. Mr. 
 Foster introduces it with some just 
 rensure on the manner in which 
 compendious terms of V'^pi'f'ach are 
 generally applied, and gives some 
 instances ot it in those of Puritan, 
 j\tethodist, and Jacobin. The epithet 
 jtomatitic, he observes, hasobviouslj- 
 no similarity to these words in its 
 coinage, but it is considerably like 
 them in the mode and effect of its 
 application. — For having partly 
 quitted the rank of plain epithets, 
 it has become a convenient explod* 
 jng word, of more special deriding 
 signihtance than the other words of 
 its orde|r, such as wild^ extravagant, 
 
 On ike Epithet Romantic. [Feu: 
 
 and -^'isionary. Having mentioned 
 the origin of this term to have been 
 the designation of the qualitieji 
 which characterised the persons and 
 the transactions displayed in the 
 works called romances, the author 
 justly adds, that the great general 
 distinction of the actors in those 
 books and times has been the as- 
 cendancy of imagination over judg- 
 ment; and that this is, therefore, 
 the main principle of every thing 
 that may properly now be denomi- 
 nated romantic in human character. 
 After describing this undue preva- 
 lence of the imagination, Mr. Foster 
 proceeds to distinguish those forms 
 of it which may be justly called ro- 
 mantic. One of the efiects some- 
 times produced by the predomi- 
 nance of this faculty, he observes, is 
 a persuasion in a person's own mind, 
 that he is born to some peculiar and 
 extraordinary destiny; while yet 
 there are no extraordinary indica- 
 tions in the person or his circum- 
 stances. This is traced in a variety 
 of instances, with much accuracy 
 and liveliness. Another eflect of 
 this predominance of the imagina- 
 tion, is stated to be a disposition to 
 form schemes, or indulge expecta- 
 tions, essentially incongruous with 
 the nat\ire of man. This is illus- 
 trated in the cases of visionary 
 schemes of life ; — and of those theo- 
 ries of education, and those flatteries 
 of parental hope, which presume 
 the possibility of young people in 
 general being matured to eminence 
 of wisdom, and bedecked with the 
 universality of noble attainments, 
 by the period at which the faculties 
 are in fact, but beginning to ope- 
 rate ; — in the case also of specula- 
 tions as to an equality of property 
 and modes of life throughout socie- 
 ty; — and by the character of the 
 age of chivalry. 
 
 A third instance of the undue 
 prevalence-of the imagination which 
 Mr. Foster states, is the disregard 
 of all the relations between ends 
 and means. This is traced in the 
 habit which some indulge of musing 
 on those happy casualtiesjf "wbici^ 
 
1 806.] Heviiw of Foster's Essui/s. . . 
 
 fancy will promptly figure to them, 
 as the very things, if they would 
 but occur, to accomplish their wishes 
 at once, without the toil of a sober 
 proc<\ss. In this connection, the 
 author justly reprobates the princi- 
 ples and plans of modern novels and 
 romances. Another deception of 
 this kind which he exposes, is the 
 facility with which fancy passes 
 along the whole train of means, and 
 reckons to their ultimate effect at a 
 glance, without resting at the suc- 
 cessive intermediate stages. And 
 again, adds Mr. Foster, where ima- 
 gination is not delusive enough to 
 embody future casualties as effec- 
 tive means, it may yet represent 
 \'ery inadequate ones as competent. 
 This is an important point, which 
 he pursues through several particu- 
 lars. Plans for the civilization of 
 barbarous nations, without the in- 
 tervention of conquest, or of that re- 
 ligion by which omnipotence will 
 at length transform the world*, he 
 considers as coming under this 
 charge. — His sentiments on this 
 point, though containing much truth, 
 are perhaps stated somewhat too 
 stronglyf. But we are more con- 
 cerned with the illustrations which 
 follow. " One is the expectation 
 of far too much from the influence 
 of mere direct instruction." 
 
 " Nothing," observes Mr. Foster, " seems 
 more evident than that youthful character, 
 as far as it depends on external causes, 
 is mainly formed by surrounding circum- 
 stances, to the operation of which direct in- 
 struction is indeed a useful ally when they 
 are auspicious, but a feeble couiiteractor 
 if they are malignant. And yet this mere 
 instmction is, in the account of thousands 
 of parents, the grand tutelar saint and ge- 
 nius, which is to lead the youth to wisdom 
 and happiness ; even that very youth whom 
 the united influence of almost all things 
 else which he is exposed to see, and hear, 
 and participate, is drawing, with the unre- 
 laxing grasp of a fiend, to irretrievable de- 
 struction." (p. 52,51.) 
 
 * Mr. Foster appears to us to have too 
 slightly noticed this last exception to his 
 general theory. 
 
 f Tlie growing civilization of Russia, for 
 example, cannot with any propriety be 
 scribed to ooncj^ucst. 
 
 On the Epithet Romantic. 105 
 
 There is something sadly true in 
 the preceding melancholy observa- 
 tion — and we are sorry to add, that 
 it may be particularly exemplified 
 in the case even of many religious 
 parents. They are, in general, 
 profuse, indeed, in imparting Chris- 
 tian knowledge and instruction to 
 their children, according to their 
 views and opportunities — but how 
 seldom do they seriously consider 
 that all their precepts and admoni- 
 tions are, in a great measure, con- 
 tinually counteracted, either by 
 their own inconsistent practice, or 
 by the various circumstances, con- 
 nections, and associations, with 
 which they are surrounded. We 
 earnestly recommend this reflec- 
 tion to all those who are concerned 
 in the education of youth. They 
 cannot too constantly bear in mind, 
 that children are influenced by eve- 
 ry thing which they sec and hear 
 around them, and that such as their 
 parents and tutors are in their own 
 conduct, and such as are the cir- 
 cumstances of general situation and 
 society in which they are placed* 
 such, in all probability, will ?Aey be- 
 come, in spite of the best and most 
 reiterated instruction to the contrary, 
 if there should, unhappily, be any 
 striking difference between the pre- 
 cept and the example. 
 
 Respecting the extravagant pre- 
 sumption of the efficacy of instruc- 
 tion, Mr. Foster thus continues: 
 
 " A too sangiflne opinion of the efficacy of 
 instruction, has sometimes been entertain* 
 ed by those wko teach from the pulpit. Till 
 the di.'ipensations of a better age shall be 
 opened on the world, the probabilities of 
 the effect of preaching must be ascertained 
 by a view of the visible effects u hich are 
 actually produced on congregations from 
 week to week; and this view is far from 
 flattering. One might appeal to preachers 
 in general — What striking improvements 
 are apparent in your societies .■* When you 
 inculcate charity on the Sunday, do the 
 misers in your congregations liberally open 
 their chests and purses to the distressed on 
 Monday ? Might I not ask as well whether 
 the rocks and trees really did move at the 
 voice of Orpheus i After you have unvcileij 
 even the scenes of eternity to the gay and 
 frivolous, do you find in more than som« 
 
10(3 Review of Foster's Essays. 
 
 rare instances a dignified seriousness take 
 place of their follies ? What is the effect, on 
 the elegant splemlid professors of Christia- 
 n'str, of that solemn interdiction of their 
 habits — Be not conformed to tbis world r 
 Vet, notwithstanding tliis melancholy state 
 of facts, gome prtachcrs, from tlie persua- 
 sion of a mysterious apostolic sacrediiess 
 jn the office, or from a vain «stimote of 
 their personal talents, or fmnj mistaking 
 the applause, with which the preacher h.is 
 been flattered, for the proof of a salutary 
 effect on the minds of the hearers, and 
 some from a much worthier cause, the af- 
 fectiiic; influence of sacred truth on their 
 own minds, have been inclined to antici- 
 pate immense effects from their public mi- 
 nistrations. Melancthon was a romantic 
 youth when he began to preach. He ex- 
 pected that all must be inevitably and 
 immeuiateiy persuadrd, wiicn thty should 
 hear what be had to tell them. But he 
 soon disi'oveved, as he said, that old Atiam 
 was loo hard for yonno; Melancthon. In 
 addition to the grand fact of the depravity 
 of the human heart, so many influences 
 operate through the week on tl-.e charac- 
 ters of those who fm-m a congregation, the 
 siglil of so many bad example?, the com- 
 munications of so many injurious acquaint- 
 ances, the hearing and talking of what 
 '.yould be, if written, so many volumes of 
 vanity and nonsense, the predominance of 
 fashionable dissipation in one class, and of 
 vs:i.rarity in another, that the preacher 
 must indeed imagine himself endowed with 
 th'fe potency of super-human eloquence, if 
 the instructions, expresed in an hour or 
 two on the sabbath, and wliich too, he 
 misht know, are soon forgotten by most 
 of his hearers, are to form through the 
 week the efficacious repellent to the con- 
 tact and contamination of all tljese forces 
 of evil. As to elTecting on obdurate and 
 tiKwglttiess minds a grapd change, by 
 which they shall become serious and de- 
 vout, it appears to me, from a rather long 
 obseivation, the most romantic enthusiasm 
 to expect it fiom any thing less than an 
 operation strictly di%-iiie, the probability of 
 the intervention of which, at any given 
 season, is ex'actly in proportion to the ap- 
 parent frequency or infruquency of its in- 
 tervention in the general course of exjie- 
 rience. 
 
 *' Reformers in general are very apt to 
 over-rate the power of the means by which 
 their theories are to be realized." 
 
 " It is presumed, that truth must at 
 length, by the force of indefatigable inqui- 
 j-y, become generally victorious, and tl)at 
 
 . . On the Epithet Romantic. [Feb, 
 
 all vice, being the result of a mistaken 
 judgment of the nature or the means of hap- 
 piness, must therefore accompany the exit 
 of error. Of coarse, it is presumed of the 
 present times also, or of those immediately 
 approaching, that in every society and 
 every mind where tiuth is clearly admitted, 
 the reforms which it dictates must substan- 
 tially follow. I have the most confident faith 
 that the empire of truth, advancing under 
 a far mightier agency than mere philoso- 
 phic inquiry, is appointed to irradiate the 
 latter ages of a dark and troubled w orld ; 
 and, on the strength of prophetic intimar 
 tions, I anticipate it to come sooner by at 
 least a thousand centuries, than a disciple 
 of that philosophy which attains its proudest 
 present triumph in the rejection of revela- 
 tion, is warranted, by a view of tlie past 
 and present state of mankind, to predict. 
 The assurance from the same authority is 
 the foundation for believing that when that 
 sacred empire shall overspread the world, 
 the virtues of character will coirespond to 
 the illuminations of understanding. But 
 in the present state of the moral system, 
 theprobablecffectof truth on tlie far greater 
 number of persons fully admitting its 
 convictions, is determined by the testipio- 
 ny of facts." (p. 5■^ — 5S.) 
 
 There is undoubtedly, too lunch 
 truth ill tlie foregoing verv spirited 
 representation. But it i.s, as certain- 
 ly, partial and defective, and as we 
 conceive not without some mixture 
 of positive error. 
 
 Tlui.s, Ave cannot agree with Mr. 
 poster in his sentiments respecting 
 the elVicacy of preaching. We en- 
 tertain no vain persuasion of a 
 ?n>/sterious apostolic sacredness in the 
 mini.sterial oifice ; but we certainly 
 consider it as of divine a])point- 
 ment, and intended to be one of the 
 most important means of conveying 
 moral aiid religious instruction, in 
 every age. And though the xnsi- 
 hlc effects of preaching are not in 
 general such a,s might be expected or 
 ■v\ ished ; yet in numerous instances 
 it has proved instrumental, — nav, 
 in every age, it has been the grand 
 engine wiiirh the Holy Spirit has 
 eijiploytd, in converting men from 
 the error of their ways to the know- 
 lodge and practice of true religion. 
 The success of public instruction is 
 so variou.s, that no coudnsion re- 
 specting it sliould be drawn frorn 
 
1800.] Reiieu' of Fostei^s Essays.. .On the Epithet Roniu'Mic. IW 
 
 particular and continexl observation. 
 iS'oither should uur opinion bo 
 foruied hastily wpou this subject. It 
 may be a long time before the ci- 
 ficacy of preaching a|jpear.s in a 
 congregation ; but if a minister 
 who preaches the truth as it is in Jc- 
 
 howevcr, say so much when we con" 
 sider liis opinions respecting the 
 aid which Christianity mav be ex- 
 pected to atlijrd, eviMi in the existing 
 circumstances of the world. The 
 general inefticacy of Christian in- 
 struction, in producing such charac- 
 
 Sii.v, be earnest and diligent in the ters as theGospel reijuires, is indeed, 
 discharge of his duty, and exem- a deplorable fact ; but we are far 
 plary in Jiis own conduct, the from attributing it, as Mr. Tester 
 blessing of God will assuredly ac- seems to do, to any failure or defect 
 company his labours: and he will in theadministrationofChristianitv, 
 have the satisfaction of observing, iu considered with reference to the 
 a greater or less degree, the benefi- divine agency. We could with 
 Cial eflects of his instructions. We him, " smile "in bitterne.-is," if feel- 
 think it of so much importance to ings of a more appropriate kind 
 hold out every encouragement to would permit us to do so, " to hear 
 preachers to exert themselves in the some of the professed believers and 
 workof the ministry, that we cannot advocates of the Gospel, avgwiu"- 
 but deprecate any observations high anticipations of its progressive 
 tending to paralyse their efforts; efficacy, solely by moans of the force 
 and we trust that further retl.-clion Avhich it carries, as a rational ad- 
 and experience will lead Mr. Foster dress to rational creatures." With 
 to correct his opinions on this sub- Christians of this order we have but 
 jt'ct. little in common. But our author 
 (rreat part of wtiat remains of this admits of a special divine agency ia 
 essay is taken up with views of a si- rendering Christianity efficacious. 
 milarnature; but as they are inter- '• 5ow? success," says he, " in trans- 
 mixed with each other, without forming the hearts and characters of men 
 much regard to order, we shall U attendant on tiie system of Chiistiao 
 take occasion, from the passage we means among those u-h(.> rest all their efii- 
 have last quoted, to consider them ^^^Y »" divine agency, and this affords 
 
 somewhat more distinctly. We en- 
 tirely agree with Mr. roster, tiiat 
 there is no such intimate connec- 
 tion, as some have supposed, be- 
 tween the admis'^ion of truth, and 
 
 some glimmering consolation amidst the 
 mournful darknesj of the economy; only, 
 the small dearee of effect, indicating an e.v- 
 ceeding-ly restricted operation of divine, as 
 well as the utter inefficiency of human, 
 energies, supplies a scale lor limiting ex- 
 consequent action;— tnat to have in- pectation. ;.nd forbids even the mr.n who 
 formed and convinced a man may acknowledge? the div.ne a-ency in all 
 be but little towards emanci[)ating Christian successes, to pronounce, unlecs 
 him from wrong habits, and making some new an.J decisive omens should ap. 
 hiinthepracticaldis'cipleof thetruth pear, more than the humblost predictions, 
 which he receives; — and therefore, (P- t'ti-) 
 
 that though truth is a most impor- It is here that we think Mr. Fo<^- 
 tant agent, the expectations that ter^s views defective, and iu some 
 presume its omnipotence, or even degree prejudicial. H. appears to u$ 
 its moral efficacy without the inter- to t ntertain too low an idea of the 
 vention of an actncy " strictly di- administration of divincgrace, under 
 vine," are romantic delusions. We the present ec(»nomy of the Gospel, 
 coincide with him, also, in his senti- It is true thai verv" extraonlinarv 
 ments respecting the chimerical interpositions for the conversion of 
 nature of those speculations and rntn are not now frequent ; and th^t 
 schemes for the moral reformation the prfe-;ent state of the Christian 
 of mankind, which anticipate their world does not present a vwy fa- 
 effect independently of the assist- vourable \iew of the reality and ex- 
 ance of Christianity. — We tannot tent of this divine efficacy. But fh*- 
 
108 Review of Foster's Essays,, 
 
 fault is in ourselves, not in the prof- 
 fered influence of the grace of God. 
 This is rich and po\A erful, and ready 
 to be conferred on all who sincerely 
 and earnestly implore it. It is ade- 
 quate to the utmost wants and infir- 
 mities of mankind ; nor would we 
 despair, M'ith the author before us, — • 
 (both Scri})ture and experience for- 
 bid it — ) of effecting, even on obdu- 
 rate and thoughtless minds, a grand 
 chans^, by which they shall become 
 transformed into such persons as 
 might be justly deemed true disci- 
 ples of Christ. This is a subject of 
 the very last importance. If the 
 dispensation under which we live 
 be, indeed, defective in affording 
 the means of fully realizing the prin- 
 ciples of the Gospel, our condition 
 is surely very awful and distressing. 
 But we cannot think thus, with- 
 out contradicting the whole tenor 
 of the New Testament, which is 
 em])hatically stilcd, " the law of 
 the spirit of life," and which, how- 
 ever confined and ineffectual it may 
 sometimes appear to be in its ope- 
 ration and influence, is, unquestion- 
 ably, " the power of God unto sal- 
 vation" to every one who faithfiilly 
 avails himself of the help which it 
 offers*. 
 
 * Mr. Foster, at the beginning of the 
 fourth letter of this essay, advances an opi- 
 nion on the subject of the divine as^ency, 
 which appears to us to be at variance with 
 what is said in Scripture. He assumes, with- 
 out any svniptom of doubt or hesitation, 
 that the degree of divine agency which has 
 been exerted to reform the moral state of 
 man is to be measured exactly by the suc- 
 cess which has attended it, this agency 
 «' stopping where the effect stops, leaves 
 men to accomplish, if they can, what re- 
 mains." p. 6j. On such a principle as this, 
 if wo have not mistaken Mr. F.'s meaning, 
 we should be utterly at a loss to explain 
 the many passages both of the Old and New 
 Testament which speakof the resistance or 
 abuse of divine grace. Even that class of 
 Ciiristians, who are considered as extolling 
 most highly the efficacy of divine grace,'we 
 have ahvays understood to regard, in their 
 own c^se, resistance to the motions of the 
 Spirit of God on their hearts, and abuse of 
 his grace, as having constituted a formida- 
 fcle aggravation of their guilt. Ou a sub- 
 
 ,0n the Epithet Romantic. [Feb; 
 
 Much of what Mr, Foster has 
 written on this subject is connected 
 with his views respecting " the dis- 
 pensations of a better age," which 
 when arrived he thinks will unfold 
 an energy of operation, such as 
 mankind have never, except in a 
 few momentary glimpses, beheld; 
 and which will " command the 
 dreary chaos of turbulent and ma- 
 lignant elements into a new mo- 
 ral world." We anticipate with 
 equal anxiety, the manifestation of 
 such latter times, when, agreeably 
 to prophetic intimations, the know- 
 ledge of the Lord shall cover the 
 earth, and when the efficacy of the 
 Gospel shall be abundantly increas- 
 ed. — Perhaps, also, as the author 
 suggests, the grand moral improve- 
 ments of this future age may be ac- 
 complished in a manner that shall 
 leave nothing to man but humility 
 and grateful adoration. But with 
 whatever eagerness and joy we may 
 look forward to such events, our 
 main business is with the economy 
 under which we are placed ; and 
 our most strenuous efforts should be 
 directed to the accomplishment of the 
 utmost good which is thus 'brought 
 within our power. — So says Mr. 
 Foster also; but in a way which 
 seems to imply, that very little can 
 be done, and that to expect more is 
 to entertain visionary and romantic 
 expectations. It is but just, how- 
 ever, after what we have said, to 
 permit him to speak for himself as 
 to this point, though we can scarce 
 ly afford room for very extended 
 quotations. 
 
 " I should deem a train of observations," 
 says Mr. Foster, " of the melancholy hue 
 which shades some Af the latter pages of 
 this essay, useless, or perhaps even noxious, 
 were I not convinced that a solemn exhibi- 
 tion of the feebleness of human agency in 
 relation to all great objects, might aggra- 
 
 jectof so delicate a nature, we are re- 
 luctant to express any very strong opi- 
 nion: and yet conceiving as we do, that the 
 view which Mr. Foster has given of it is 
 unscriptural, and may be hurtful, we could 
 not conscientiously avoid a slight refcrencf 
 to it. 
 
I S 06 . ] licvicw of Fouler' s Essays. . 
 
 vate the imiiression, often so taint, of the 
 absolute suprciiKicy of God, of the total 
 dtpendeiKo of all iiioital tlVoit on liitn, 
 and of the nectssity of devoutly resraidins 
 liis intervention at tvc-i y mnnient. It might 
 promote that last attainmentof a zealously 
 good man, the resignation to be as diminu- 
 tive an agent as God pleasps, and as unsuc- 
 cessful a one. I am assured also that, in 
 a pious mind, the humiliating estimate of 
 mt-ans and human power, and the conse- 
 quent sinking doun of all lofty expecta- 
 tions founded on them, will leave one single 
 meiin, and that far the best of them all, 
 not only undiminished, but more eminent, 
 in value, th; n it ever appeared before." 
 (p. 87, 8S.) 
 
 " I am convinced that every man who 
 amidst his serious projects is apprised of 
 his dependence on God, as completely as 
 that dependence is a fact, will be impelled 
 to pray, and anxious to induce his serious 
 frienis to pray, almost every hour. He 
 will as little without it promise himself any 
 noble success, as a mariner would expect to 
 reach a distant coast by having his sails 
 spread in a dead stagnation of the air. I 
 asserted it visionary to expect an unusual 
 success in the human administration of re- 
 iiaion, unless there are unusual omens j 
 now a most emphatical spirit of prayer 
 would be such an omen; and the individual 
 who should solemnly determine to try its 
 last possible efficacy, might, probably find 
 himself becoming a much nuire prevailing 
 agent in his little sphere. And if the whole, 
 or the greater number, of the disciples of 
 Christianity, were, with an earnest unalter- 
 able resolution of each, to combine that 
 Heaven should not withhold one single in- 
 fluence which the very utmost efiort of 
 conspiring and persevering supplication 
 would obtain, it would be the sign that a 
 revolution of the world was at hand.'' (p. 90, 
 91.) 
 
 Without entering into any dis- 
 cussion respecting Ihis last view of 
 the subject, we would only further 
 observe, that we quite agree with 
 tl;e author in thinking, that the ac- 
 knowledged feebicntss of human 
 means In effecting moral and reli- 
 gious improvements, should lead us 
 iio depend more humbly and simply 
 on the divine agency; and in ear- 
 nestly wishing, that this were more 
 generally felt amongst us. We can- 
 not however, avoid repeating, that 
 this conviction and dependence 
 CiiniiT. Obslrv. Ko. 50. 
 
 ,, Evangelical Ttellgwn, S^c. lOfl 
 
 ought, in the first instance, to have 
 their influence on our present cir- 
 cumstances, and that instead of 
 yielding to the suggestions of indo- 
 lence, or to the lascinating visions 
 of future timL'S, we .should be faith- 
 ful to that degree of power which 
 is already cffered to us, and strain 
 every nerve in promoting both in 
 ourselves and others, the great pur- 
 poses of the Gospel. 
 
 We now proceed to the fourth 
 and last of the Essays before us 
 the subject of which is of the utmost 
 importance, and is treated by Mr. 
 Foster in a very superior manner. 
 Itis a splendid, and in ouropinionaa 
 eminently useful production. Its 
 object is to point out some of the 
 causes " by which evangelical reli- 
 gion has been rendered less accepta- 
 ble to persons of cultivated taste." 
 In the first letter, the author briefly, 
 but very ably, describes the feelings 
 which are sometimes the effects of 
 these causes. He supposes the per- 
 sons in question fully to admit the 
 divine authority of the Christian 
 religion, and to be by no means 
 mere tritlers respecting it ; but to 
 recoil from some of its peculiar and 
 distinguishing doctrines, which are 
 chiefly comprised in that view of 
 Christianity denominated among a 
 large numlier of the professors of 
 it, in a specific sense, evangelical. 
 He observes, however, that ihough 
 the greater propoition of the inju- 
 rious influences on which he pro- 
 poses to remark, operate more pe- 
 culiarly against evangelical distinc- 
 tions, some of them are hostile to 
 the spirit which Christianity inevi- 
 tably retains, even in the least modi- 
 fied form in which it is possible to 
 profess it: and that, though he has 
 specified the more refined and in-- 
 tellectual class of minds as indis- 
 posed to the religion of Christ, by 
 the causes to which he refers ; and 
 tliough he keens them principally 
 in view; yet the influence of some 
 of these causes extends to manv per- 
 sons of subordinate mental rank. 
 
 The first cause which the author 
 notices, as having excited jn persons 
 
 Q 
 
I JO Reviexu of Foster's Emuj!;.. 
 
 of taste a sentiiiient unfavourable lo 
 the reception of evangelical religi- 
 on, is, ihat this is the religion of many 
 wcn/c and un-juUivaLed minds. Con- 
 tracted, says Mr. Foster, i n its abode ; 
 the great inhabitant will, like the 
 sun through a misty ^ky, appear 
 with but little of its tnagniticence, to 
 a man requiring large views and 
 elevated sentiments to accompany 
 and to evince in all its disciples the 
 majesty of religion. Happily he 
 iintis the great subject imparted by 
 other oracles than the forms of con- 
 ception and language in which a 
 narrow and uncultivated mind de- 
 clares it; but while from them he 
 receives it in its own character, he 
 is tempted to wish he could detach 
 it from all the associations which he 
 feels it has acquired from the hum- 
 ble exhibition. The author then 
 proceeds to mention various ways 
 in which the injurious impressions 
 have perhaps struck the mind of 
 such a person. ^^'e cannot follow 
 him in all his observations on these 
 points, but must content ourselves 
 with making a few extracts. The 
 ibllowing remarks seem to deserve 
 peculiar attention, although if we 
 were at liberty to indulge our own 
 inclination, we should scarcely 
 know how to exclude any part of 
 
 this essay. 
 
 " The majority of Christians are inevi- 
 tably precluded from any acquirements of 
 general knowledge ; but he" that is the 
 intellectual man " has met with numbers 
 who had no inconsiderable means, both as 
 to money, judging by their unnecessary 
 expences, and as to leisure, judging by the 
 quantity of time consumed in UL^eless chat 
 or needless slumbers, to furnish their minds 
 with various information, but who were 
 quite on a level in this re-^pect with those 
 of the very humblest va.rk. They never 
 tven suspected that knowledge could have 
 aiiy connexion with religion, or that they 
 could not be as clearly and amply m pos- 
 session of the great subject as a man whose 
 JacuUies had been exercised, and whose 
 va^nded acquaintance with things would 
 gnopi v .-n endless series of ideas illustrative 
 QFVeli^ioh. ^ He has perhaps even heard 
 tliei-ruwku akird of merit of their mdiffer- 
 ence to kncwie.d.;c, as if it were t1« proof 
 ji,t il>e rc-iuit oi a bisber vak.c for rcl-.sion. 
 
 ..Evangelical -Religion, ^C. [F£K« 
 
 If a hint of wonder was insinuated at their 
 reading so little, aird iviihin so very con- 
 fined a scope, it would be replied, that they 
 thotight it enough to read the Bible ; as if 
 it Were possible for a person whose mind 
 fixes with inquisitive attention on what is 
 before him, e\en to read through the Bible 
 without at least ten thousand such questions 
 being started in his mind as can be answer- 
 ed only from the sources of knowledge ex- 
 traneous to the Bible. But he perceived 
 that this reading the Bible was no work of 
 inquisitive thought; and indeed he has 
 Commonly found that those u ho have no 
 wish to obtain any thing like extended in- 
 formation, have no disposition for the real 
 business of thinking, even in religion, and 
 that their discourse oh that subject is the 
 disclosure of intellect-i;al poverty. He has 
 seen them live on from year to year con- 
 tent with the same confined views, the same 
 meagre list of topics, and the same uncouth 
 religious language. Yet perhaps, if he 
 shewed but little interest in conversing 
 with them on the subject, or sometimes 
 seemed anxious to avoid it, this was consi- 
 dered as pure aversion to religion ; and 
 what had been unintere>-ting as doctrine, be- 
 came revolting as reproof*." (p. 120 — 122.) 
 ]\Ir. Foster next proceeds to no- 
 tice the prejudices which may be 
 excited in the mind of a person of 
 refined taste and intellectual acquire- 
 ments b}'^ the vulgar religious habits 
 of some Christians, bv their strange 
 grimaces and coarse conversation, 
 especially if his education had been 
 in the society, and under the in- 
 spection and controul of persons, 
 vvhetherparentsor any other friends, 
 whose religion was in a form so un- 
 attractive to taste. One extract we 
 shall give from this part of the essay, 
 because we think it calculated to 
 be particularly useful, at least in the 
 way of caution, to many of our rea- 
 ders. 
 
 " The religious habits of some Christians 
 may have revolted him excessively. Every 
 thing, which could even distantly remind 
 hiin of grimace, would inevitably do this; 
 as, for instance, a solemn lifting up of the 
 
 * " I own," says Mr. Foster with much 
 truth and propriety, " that what I said of 
 Jesus Christ's gladly receiving one of the 
 humbler intellectual order for his disciple, 
 will but ill apply to some of the character* 
 tiat I desciibc.'' 
 
lS0i3.] Rez'ie J) of Foster's Essays.. 
 ej'es, artificial impulses of the breath, gro- 
 tesque and regulated gestures and postures 
 in religinus exercises, an affected faltering 
 of the voice, anti, I might add, abrii|it re- 
 ll,nous exclamations in common tli.-cnuroe, 
 thouijii they wero even benedictions to llie 
 Almisihty, which he has often heard so ili- 
 timt^d as to have an irreverent and almost 
 « lurlicrous eftect. In a mind such as I am 
 sup|)osino:, even an increased veneration for 
 religion will but increase the dislike to these 
 habits. ]Sor will it be reconciled to them 
 by a conviction, ever so perfect, of the 
 sincere piety of the persons who practise 
 them. 
 
 " la the conversation of illiterate Chris- 
 tians, he has perhaps frequently heard the 
 most unfortunate metaphors and similies 
 employed to explain or enfi^rce evangeli- 
 cal sentiment, and probably if he twenty 
 times recollected that sentiment or subject, 
 or if he met with it from some other quar- 
 ter, the repulsive figure was sure to recur to 
 his imagination. If he has heard so many 
 of these, that each Christian topic is asso- 
 ciated with its appropriate image, you can 
 easily conceive that a lively impression of 
 the pure spirit of the subject itself is re- 
 quisite to preclude the disgust, and banish 
 the associations. Here I might observe, it 
 \rere desirable that some one would suggest 
 to Christian teachers the propriety of not 
 amplifying the less dignified class of those 
 metaphors which it may be very proper to 
 introduce, and which perhaps are emploj'- 
 ed, in a short and rapid way, in the Bible. 
 I shall notice only that common one, in 
 which the benefits and pleasures of religion 
 are represented under the imase of food. 
 I do not recollect that, in The New Testa- 
 ment at least, this metaphor is ever drawn 
 to a verj' great length. But from the fa- 
 cility of the piocess , it is not strange that 
 it has been amplified, both in books and 
 discourses, into the most extended desciip- 
 tiwus; and the dining-room has been ex- 
 hausted of images, and the language ran- 
 sacked for substantives and adjectives*, to 
 diversify the entertainment. The metaj)hor, 
 in its simple unexpandeil form, may often 
 serve as an apposite illustration, without 
 lessening the subject ; but will it be no de- 
 gradation of spiritual ideas thus extensively 
 and systematically to transmute them, 1 
 might even say cnnk them, into sensual 
 ones? No analogy between great things 
 and mean ones ought to be pursued, for the 
 
 * Dainties, love-feasts ; sweet, rich, fat, 
 savoury (the king of this w]iole tribe of ad- 
 jcctires), delicious, and a great many more. 
 
 ..Evangelical Religion, Sfc. 1 1 1 
 
 mere sake of analogy, beyond the extent 
 of necessary illustration.'' (p. 125 — 1-7.) 
 Mr. Foster closes this part of his 
 subject with an attempt to correct, 
 in the snpposfd iiitellfctual observ- 
 er, that fast idioiisnoss of taste which 
 repeishini from Christianily on ac- 
 <otHit of the lovi' and dis<rus)insr 
 lorm which it is sometimes made to 
 assume. The passage is too long, or we 
 should with pleasure have extract- 
 ed the whole. It is full of the most 
 important and energetic thoughts, 
 and deserves to be carefully stu- 
 died by every one who is disposed 
 to neglect or contemn the Gosj)el. 
 
 The two next letters of this essay 
 are devoted to the consideration of 
 another of the causes in question ; 
 which the author thinks is the pecii- 
 liuriti/ of language adopted in the dis- 
 courses and books of the teachers of 
 e\ angelical religion, as well as in the 
 letters and religious conversation of 
 Christians. The assemblage of the 
 best writers in the language, he ob- 
 serves, havecreated and fixed agrand 
 standard of general phraseology. De- 
 viations from this standard he consi- 
 ders to be, first, by a mean or vulsar 
 diction, which is below it; or second- 
 ly, by a barbarous diction which is 
 o;/^of it, or foreign to it; or thirdly, 
 by a diction which though foreign to 
 it, is not to be termed barbarous, be- 
 cause it is elevated entirely above 
 the autliority of the standard by 
 a super-human force or majesty of 
 thought, or a super-human commu- 
 nication of truth. Mr. Foster first 
 attends to the phraseology of evan- 
 gelical divines-]- as coming under 
 the second of these deviations. 
 
 f This unfortunate epithet has been 
 made the subject of so much discussion, 
 that one is almost tired of hearing it men- 
 tioned. The foIlowirMi- note, however, of 
 Mr, Foster is so sensible and apposite, 
 that to prevent, if possible, the sneers and 
 evils of opponents, we subjoin it as a good 
 explanation of the term. " When I say 
 Evan<r''lic(il Divinps, I r>oncur with the opi- 
 nion of those wliodeem a considerable, and, 
 in an intellectual and literary view, a highly 
 respectable class of the writers who have 
 professedly taught Chri>tianity to be not 
 tvangelical. Thcv might rather be deno- 
 
1 12 lievieia of Foster's Essays.. 
 
 " I suppose," says he, " it will be in- 
 stantly allowed, that the mode of expies- 
 sion of the greater number of evangelical 
 divines and professors, is widely difl'erent 
 from the standard of general language, not 
 only by the necessary adoption of a few 
 peculiar teims, but by a continued and 
 systematic cast of phraseoloa,y j insomuch 
 that in reading or hearing five or six sen- 
 tences of an evangelical discourse, you as- 
 certain the school by the mere turn of ex- 
 pression, independently of any attention to 
 the quality of the ideas. If, in order to 
 try what those ideas would appear in a 
 different form of words, you attempted to 
 reduce a paragraph to the language em- 
 ployed by intellectual men in speaking or 
 writing well on general subjects, you would 
 find it must be absolutely a version." (p. 
 144, 145.) 
 
 Perhaps my description of this 
 mann*=r, rontinue Mr. Foster, ex- 
 agserafe? ; but that there is a great 
 systematical difference between it 
 anri the true classical diction, is 
 most palpably obvious, and I cannot 
 help regarding it as an unfortunate 
 circumstance. 
 
 "It appears to me," he adds, "thatChris- 
 tian doctrine should be given, if it can, in 
 thatuncoloured neutral vehicle of expression 
 which is adapted inditTerently to common 
 serious subjects, and may therefore; be call- 
 ed the language of generality, and which 
 should become peculiar on any one subject 
 only just so far as that subject has indispen- 
 sable peculiar terms. That in such a vehicle 
 Christian truth ca^ be discriminatively con- 
 veyed, is proved by a very few perfect 
 examples of living and dead writers, and 
 by many partial ones. It might be proved 
 also by the practicability of making such a 
 version as I was just now supposing, of any 
 discourse or treatise where the peculiarity 
 of phrase prevails. Evangelical sentiment 
 might be very specifically presented in 
 what should be substantially the diction of 
 Addison or Pope. And if even Shaftesbury, 
 Bolingbroke, and Hume, could have be- 
 come "Christians by some mighty and sud- 
 den efficacy of conviction, and had deter- 
 mined to write thenceforth in the spiri't of 
 the Apostles, they Would have found no 
 
 minated moral and philosophical divines, 
 treating very ably on the generalities of 
 religion, and on the Christian morals, but 
 not placini^ the economy of redemption ex- 
 actlif in that liglit in which the New Testa- 
 ment appears to m<; to place it. 
 
 ..Evcngdkal I\eUgion,S;c. [Feb. 
 
 radical change necessary in their style.'* 
 " it would be striking to observe how a 
 diction which appears most perfectly pagan, 
 providedit be of a strong and dignified cha- 
 racter, wouM become christianized by a 
 very slight change, if the real presence of 
 a Christian spint, as well as the denomina- 
 ting terms of a Christian subject, were in- 
 troduced." (p. 150—152.) 
 
 The author then gives several very 
 weighty reasons to justify the wisli 
 that such language had been much 
 more generally employed. Amongst 
 these are the two following, which 
 are peculiarly important, viz. that 
 hypocrisy would find a much greater 
 difficulty, as far as speech is con- 
 cerned in supporting its imposture, 
 if a more general language wpre 
 employed in religion: and that if 
 this alteration of language were 
 adopted, some of the sincere disci- 
 ples of evangelical religion would 
 much more distinctly feel the ne- 
 cessity of a clear intellectunl hold on 
 the principles (if their profession. 
 
 Mr. Foster next proceeds to con- 
 sider the objection which may be 
 urged against his views respecting 
 religious language, that the diction 
 which he has been describing has 
 grown out of that of the Bible, es- 
 pecially of the New Testament, 
 which it will, perhaps, be also as- 
 serted, that Christian instructors will 
 do wisely to imitate. This objection 
 is treated with much acuteness and 
 judgment by our author. In op- 
 position to it he observes, that the 
 diction which he is censuring does 
 not produce the solemn impression 
 of Scriptural language, and is there- 
 fore not the proper modelfor Chris- 
 tian instructors; and that its mean- 
 ing is not so exacth" and promptly 
 comprehended, as if the ideas were 
 perspicuously expressed in the lan- 
 guage empJo3'ed on general sub- 
 jects. 
 
 ''Why should the diction," says Mr. 
 Foster, " of one part of the sacred writ- 
 ings be imitated and another avoided ? 
 No man would think of narrating a fact 
 even of the Scripture history in the biblical 
 forms of narrative expression. Why then 
 should not the truths of a more doctrinal 
 kind be taught from the Bible in the Ian- 
 
.1 806 . ] Review of Foster's Essays. . 
 
 guage that most belongs to our mental ba- 
 ,bits?— 'Let the oracles of inspiration be 
 cited contiuuiilly , both as authority and il- 
 lustration, in a manner that siiail uinke the 
 mind instantly lefor each expression that 
 is introduced to the venerable book from 
 which it is taken ; but let wir part of reli- 
 gious language be sinjply ours, and let those 
 oracles retain their characteristic form of 
 expression unimitated and unique to the 
 end of time." (p. 168, 169.) 
 
 IMr. Foster admits, that there are 
 many single terms of the biblical 
 diction, e.syjecially of that of the 
 New Testament, which seem ne- 
 cessarily employed in the language 
 of religion, and are almost peculiar 
 to it; such as grace, sanctification, 
 covenant, salvation, and some others. 
 But he contends, that this theologi- 
 cal peculiarity does not belong to 
 the original words, and that some of 
 the terms of the English New Tes- 
 tament which have now acquired a 
 pre-erninence in the diction of di- 
 vines, were adopted by the first 
 translators as simply common words, 
 though from their disuse in other 
 subjects, they now seem to be ex- 
 clusively appropriated to evangeli- 
 cal religion. With respect to some 
 of these terms, Mr. Foster allow.;, 
 that they could not easily have fol- 
 lowed the alteration of general lan- 
 guage: but he thinks, that many of 
 them might have been advanta- 
 geously exchanged for others of 
 sufFicientlv parallel meaning. 
 
 " As for instance," he observes, " piety 
 might have been substituted for godliness, 
 improvement for edification, desire for 
 lust, justice for righteousness, affliction 
 for tribulation, sensual for carnal, happi- 
 ness for blessedness. Even the term sal- 
 vation might oftener have been exchanged 
 for deliverance, b'haviour for conversa- 
 tion, and grace for favour or kindness. 
 The «acredness which some good men seem 
 to feel in a peculiar class of terms is ima- 
 ginary, since the peculiarity itself is in a 
 great degree modern and adventitious." 
 (p. 171, 17-2.) 
 
 In tlie general view of this point 
 we fully agree with Mr. Foster; 
 though as to several of the single 
 terms which he has mentioned, we 
 do not think t-hat they could often 
 Jje exchanged with advantage for 
 
 ..El angelical Religion, Sfc. 1 1 3 
 
 any others. Indeed it has been one 
 object of the labours of the Christian 
 Observer, an object, however, the 
 prosecution of which has given no 
 small offence to some well meaning 
 persons, to correct the religious taste, 
 in those very particulars which 
 have given occasion to the animad- 
 versions of Mr. F. We may be sup- 
 posed therefore to view with pleasure 
 the accession of so potent an auxi- 
 liary; and we do very cordially re- 
 turn him our thanks for his aid iii this 
 important work. But there are ex- 
 .tremes to be avoided in this case, as 
 in every other. Mr.F. has very ably 
 exposed that which is most common 
 amongst evangelical preachers; but 
 he is, perhaps, in danger of recom- 
 mending the other. Scriptural 
 terms ought not to be too frequently 
 and indiscriminately used, but nei- 
 ther ought they to be fastidiotisly 
 and systematically avoided. Some 
 of them have, unquestionably, a pe- i 
 culiar and forcible meaning which 
 no others can so well express; and 
 which if altogether discarded, therp 
 is reason to fear, that with the lan- 
 guage, many of the most important 
 subjects in tlteology w^ould be either 
 entirely forgotten, or so greatly al- 
 tered and obscured, as tolose much 
 of their genuine force and effect. 
 It is also to be feared, that were 
 the diction recommended by Mr. 
 Foster to be adopted in its utmost 
 extent, the doctrinal terms of the 
 Scriptures would become gradually 
 unintelligible if not disgusting to 
 persons of literary taste, from "the 
 total disuse of it in theological A'* rit- 
 ings or discourses; as the Scripture 
 style itself was unhappily confessed 
 to be by the celebrated Dr. Con- 
 yers Middleton, from his exclusive 
 familiarity with the classical writers. 
 It is evident, therefore, that most of 
 the terms in question ought to be 
 retained, and brought forward by 
 our divines upon every appropriate 
 occasion ; though their general style 
 may and ought to be such as a man 
 of taste and judgment may be able 
 to approve. 
 This letter closes with some severe 
 
1 1 -t Retieic of Foster's Essar/s.,..EtangeUccd Religion, ^c. [Feb, 
 
 but just strictures on the great body -'^s a specimen of Mr. Foster's exe- 
 of evan<ielical authors. Here we cutioii of this part of his worjc, we 
 affain hail him as a vakiable anci add the foh'owing observations on 
 
 powerful allv. 
 
 The next letter proceeds from the 
 consideration of the causes which 
 are associated immediately ^vith the 
 object, and by misrepresenting it. 
 
 the last of these writers : 
 
 " The eloquence of Lucan's moral he- 
 roes does not consist ill images of triumphs 
 and Conquests, but in reflections on virtue, 
 sufferings, destiny, and death ; and the 
 sentiments expressed in his own name have 
 
 render it less acceptable to rehned ^^^^^ ^ melancholy tin.e which renders 
 
 taste, to those wnich operate. by per- them irresistibly fascinatin-. He mi-ht 
 
 verting the very principles ot this, seem to have fek a presage,\vhile mushig 
 
 taste itself, so as to make it dis- on the last of the Romans, that their poet 
 
 like the religion of Chris*;, even if was soon to follovv them. The reader be- 
 
 presented in its own full and genu- comes devoted both to the poet and to these 
 
 ine characters, cleared of all these i'iustiious men ;iut, under the influence of 
 
 associations. Mr. Foster remarks th'Sflevotion, he adopfs all their sentiments, 
 
 chiefly on one of these causes. '''"'' «•''"''* ''^ "'« sympathy ; forgetting, oi- 
 
 „ r i „ V cc ■, ■ ■ I i- unwilling, to reflect, whether this state of 
 
 •' I fear,' says he, " il is incontroverti 
 
 ble that far the greatest part of what is 
 termed Polite Literature, by familiarity 
 with which taste is refined, and the moral 
 sentiments are in a great measure formed, 
 
 feeling is concordant with the religion of 
 Christ, and with the spirit of the apostles 
 and martyrs. The most seducing of Lu- 
 can's sentiments, to a mind enamoured of 
 
 ..,,,, ... ^ .1 1- • f /-i ■ . ^pensive sublimity, are those concernins; 
 1? fatally hostile to the religion of Christ j a . fu 
 
 partly, by introducing fnsensibly a certain 
 order of opinions unconsonant, or at least 
 not identical, with the principles of that 
 religion; and still more, by training the 
 feelings to a habit alien from its spirit. 
 And in this assertion, I do not refer to 
 writers obviously irreligious, who have la- 
 boured and intended to s-educe the passions 
 into vice, or the judgment into the rejec- 
 tion of divine truth ; but to the general as- 
 semblage of those elegant and ingenious 
 authors who are read and admired by the 
 Christian world, held essential to a liberal 
 education and to the progressive accom- 
 plishment of the mind in subsequent life, 
 and regarded as so far co-incideiit, at least, 
 with Christianity, as not to injure tiie views 
 and temper of spirits advancing, with the 
 New Testament for their chief instructor 
 and guide, into another world.'"' (p. 133, 
 184.) 
 
 Though it is modern literature 
 which the author has more particu- 
 larly in view, he takes occasion pre- 
 viously to review the spirit and ten- 
 dency of the ancient biographers 
 and poets, in order to shew the in 
 
 I remember the very principle 
 which I would wish to inculcate, tjjat is, the 
 necessity that a believer of the gospel 
 should preserve the Christ-an style of feeU 
 ing predominant in his mind, and clear of 
 every incongruous mixture, struck me with 
 great fjrce amidst the fascination and en- 
 tluisiasm with which I read many times 
 over, the memorable account of Vulteius, 
 the speech by which he inspired his gallant 
 band with a passion for death, and the re- 
 flections on death with which the poet 
 closes the episode. I said to myself with a 
 sensation of conscience — What are these 
 sentiments with which I am burning ? Are 
 these the just ideas of death ? Are they 
 such as were taught by our Lord ? Is this 
 the spirit with which St. Paul approached 
 his last hour? And I felt a painful collision 
 between this reflection and the passion in- 
 spired by the poet. I perceived with the 
 clearest certainty tiiat the kind of interest 
 which I felt vvas no less than a real adop- 
 tion, for the time, of the very same senti- 
 ments by which he was animated.'' (p. '203 
 —205.) 
 
 " And why," asks our author, " do I 
 deem the admiration of this noble display 
 
 jurious influence of their writings <'f "^o''"! excellence, i. e. in the heathen 
 
 With reierence to the spirit and cte=- 
 
 isign of Christianity. " This part of 
 
 his subject is executed in a very iu' 
 
 geniousaud mastiriy manner intleed. 
 
 Homer, Virgil, and Lucan are made 
 
 to pass under a severe scrutiny in a 
 
 moral aad religious point of view. 
 
 worthies, pernicious to these refle(;tive [re- 
 flecting] minds in lelatioil to the religion of 
 Christ? For the simplest pos.-ible reason; 
 because the principles of that excellence 
 are not identical with the principles of this 
 religion"' The man of taste " has felt the 
 animation which pervaded his soul in mu- 
 sing CO the virtues, the seatimenls, an4 
 
1806.] Reviciv of Posterns Essays. ...Evangelical Rdl<riori, !fc. 
 
 115 
 
 tlie achieveir.ents wf these iliv^nirreil men, 
 suddenly expivinir, if his tlioiights turned 
 to the vinues, sentiments, and a<;ti(iii,<, ot' 
 lUe Apostles of Jesus Chiist." (p. 209.) 
 
 The practical result of such ob- 
 servations ^Ir. Foster thinks should 
 be the utter condemnation of classi- 
 cal antiquity, so far as it is implicated 
 in this charge. But this is surely 
 too harsh a judgment. For many 
 reason^ ^Yhich we have not room to 
 specify, the anciept authors ought 
 not to be thus severely reprobated. 
 We would rather sa^', let them be 
 read with caution, under the direc- 
 tion of an intelligent and religious 
 tutor; and let the false principles 
 and sentiments which they contain, 
 be exposed and corrected as they 
 occur^ as Milton advises in his Trac- 
 tate on Education, by a reference to 
 the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 In the next letter, Mr. Foster pro- 
 ceeds to make some observations, 
 with relation to the same object, on 
 modern pohte literature. He confines 
 his view chiefly to that of our o\\n 
 country, and to those writers v/ho 
 are professedly believers in Chris- 
 tianity. This school is composed of 
 poets,moral philosophers, historians, 
 essayists, and the writers of fiction. 
 Kow, says the author, if the great 
 majority of these authors have in- 
 jured and still injure their pupils 
 in the most important of ail their 
 interests, it is a very serious consi- 
 deration, both in respect to the ac- 
 countablencss of the authors, and 
 the final efiect on their pupils. Mr. 
 Foster maintains that they are guilty 
 of this injury*. 
 
 In the first place, he considers 
 that the alleged injury has been 
 done, to a great extent, by omission, 
 or rather it should be called exclu- 
 ♦ In a note on tliis part of bis subject, 
 Mr. Foster .brings a heavy charge against 
 the late Sir William Jones, for \vritin;< his 
 Hymns to the Hindoo Gods. Though we 
 think that there is some foundation for 
 this charge, yet it seems to us rather un- 
 fairly urged, a-; those productions were evi- 
 dently intended by tlieir accomplished au- 
 thor, merely as, illustrations, like many of 
 bis Dissertations of tli- H udon Mythology, 
 and to be servicealli; in I'le sauic wny. 
 
 sion — that is, by the absence of that 
 Christian tinge and niodification, 
 which should be ditfused universal- 
 ly through the sentiments that re- 
 gard man as a moral being. Mr. 
 Foster pursues -this general charge 
 at some length; and then proceeds 
 to specify more distinctfy several of 
 the particulars in which he consi- 
 ders the generality of our fine \vri- 
 ters as disowning or contradictinf 
 the evangelical dispensation, and 
 therefore beguilinff their readers in- 
 to a complacency in an order of 
 sentiments that is unconsonant with 
 it. Thus, the good ttian, the man of 
 virtue, he observes, who is necessa- 
 rily presented to view ten thousand 
 times in the volumes of these wri- 
 ters, is not a Christian. His charac- 
 ter could have been for.^ed though 
 the Christian revelation had never 
 been opened on the earth, or though 
 all the copies of the New Testament 
 had perished ages since ; and it 
 might have appeared admirable, 
 but not peculiar. Again, says Mr. 
 Foster, moral wrrtings are instruc- 
 tions on the subject of happiness ; but 
 the doctrine of this subject as de- 
 clared in the Gospel is not that 
 which our accomplished writers iti 
 general have chosen to sanction. 
 The same observation is next ap- 
 plied with respect to the doctrine 
 of a future iiale of immortuliiy, as a 
 principle of action. 
 
 Another article, says our author, 
 in which the Anti-Christian ten- 
 dency of a great part of our pro- 
 ductions of taste and genius is ap- 
 parent, isthe style of coR.soto/o?J ad- 
 ministered to distress, old a^^-e, and 
 death. We wish that our linjits 
 would permit us to extract some pas- 
 sages from this part of the es'iay, 
 which are remarkably justand beau- 
 tiful; but we must hasten to the le- 
 mainder of it. In the last letter, 
 ^Ir. Foster continues his enumera- 
 tion of pjrrticulars in which our po- 
 lite writers differ from the sacred 
 records. The instances which h« 
 mentions are the following: viz. 
 their opinions resp.?cting the moral 
 condition of maukind; redemption 
 
116 Review of Foster's Essays.,, 
 
 by Jesus Christ, where any allusion 
 to it occurs, and the Anti-Christian 
 motives to action which they more 
 than tolerate; particularly that of 
 the love of glory. Some observa- 
 tions are then added respecting the 
 several classes of the authors thus 
 censured. We trust our readers 
 will excuse our not inserting the 
 remarks which follow on some of 
 the historians, and on our two cele- 
 brated essayists, Addison and John- 
 son. We wish that the censures 
 which they contain on the latter 
 writers were unfounded in truth ; 
 but we cannot avoid concurring in 
 the justness of them. 
 
 The poets, with two or three 
 splendid exceptions, are next sub- 
 jected to the censure of our author, 
 who after a few just observations on 
 novel writers, thus concludes this 
 singular'v able and ingenious essay. 
 "At the close of this review of our fine 
 writers, it appears to me a mo?t melancho- 
 ly consiileration that so many accomplished 
 and powerful minds should have been in a 
 world, where the noblest cause w hich that 
 world ever saw was inviting- their assist- 
 ance, and that this cause should have vainly 
 sought even their neutrality. They a;e 
 gone into eternity with the guilt resting on 
 them, of having employed their genius, as 
 the magicians their enchantments against 
 Moses, to counteract the Saviour of the 
 world. 
 
 " Under what restrictions then ought the 
 study of polite literature to be conducted ? 
 I cannot but have foreseen that this ques- 
 tion must return at the end of these obser- 
 vations; and I acknowledge, that I am not 
 prepared to answer it. But neither am I 
 .required. It is enough for the purpose of 
 this essay to have illustrated the fact, that 
 the grand mean of mental cultivation is 
 one of the causes of aversion to Christiani- 
 ty ; and if you, my dear friend, or any 
 other person who may read these letters, 
 shall be convinced that the representation 
 is just, it will be the concern of individual 
 judgment to consider and adopt the needful 
 J)recautions against the pernicious influ- 
 etice. I trust it will cogently press con- 
 science, that nothing Ipss than the most 
 serious exertion of that judgment will be 
 justice to so great an interest." (p. '296, 
 297.) 
 
 Having finished our examination 
 of the.se volumes, v/e Imve only to 
 
 .Evangelical Religion, Sfc. [Feb. 
 
 add a few general observations on 
 the whole; which must, however, be 
 very brief, as we have already ex- 
 tended our review to an unusual 
 length. The view which. we have 
 given of Mr. Foster's sentiments on 
 the different subjects of his essays, 
 will enable our readers to form a 
 tolerably correct j udgment of them ; 
 and the remarks which we have oc- 
 casionally made, sufficiently express 
 our own opinion respecting them. 
 
 They are, as we before observed, 
 the production of a man of original 
 genius, and abound with the most 
 vigorous and impressive sentiments 
 on some highly interesting and im- 
 portant subjects. The author is 
 evidently one who has not onlv 
 thought for himself, but in a manner 
 very different from what is common- 
 ly met with in the present day. He 
 has taken a comprehensive and .scru- 
 tinizing survey of human nature, 
 and is well acquainted both with 
 its strength and Aveakness. His pow- 
 ers of discrimination both with re- 
 spect to characters and opinions, 
 are particularly striking, and the 
 force and energy of his thoughts, 
 and the brilliancy of his imagina- 
 tion, have enabled him both to ex- 
 pose error, and to recommend truth, 
 in a very convincing and attractive 
 manner. 
 
 We .should suppose, from the ge- 
 neral tenor of these volumes, that 
 they are very much the result of 
 personal reflection and experience. 
 The author seems to have taken a 
 wide range as to speculative opinion, 
 and to have conducted his researches 
 with a bold and independent spirit. 
 But it is truly gratifying to a Chris- 
 tian Observer, to perceive that he .is 
 now establi.shed on the terra firma' 
 of Scriptural truth; and that his ob- 
 ject in the es.says before us is to re- 
 commend and enforce it upon others. 
 Though we could have wished, that 
 Christian principles, wherever they 
 wereintroduced,had been.somewhat 
 more plainly and explicitly stated, 
 we cannot but think, that this pub- 
 lication may have a very beneficial 
 cflect, in txciting the attention of- 
 
1 806 , ] Het'ifzv of Foster'i Essays. . .Letttr on the Death of Mr. Pitt. 1 1 7 
 many persons of an intellectual and pleasure, as a distinguished ally in 
 
 literary character to just and serious 
 views of religion. The last essay is 
 calculated to be particularly useful 
 for this purpose, by removing many 
 prevailing prejudices against the 
 more peculiar doctrines of Christia- 
 nity. 
 
 On the other hand, in addition to 
 the particular objections which we 
 have alr.eady made, we must further 
 observe, that Mr. Foster is apt to 
 express himself upon a variety of 
 points in too strong and unqualified 
 a manner. We have no doubt how- 
 ever, that this arises chiefly from the 
 force with which things strike his 
 mind, and from the liveliness of his 
 imagination; and that it is an error 
 which will be gradually corrected. 
 There is also a general appear anceoi' -a 
 feeling of contempt for persons of a 
 lower intellectual order, as well as 
 of a spirit of satire; both which 
 stand opposed to Christian humi- 
 lity and charity, and therefore re- 
 quire to be chastised and subdued. 
 
 The slile of these essays seems to 
 deserve some notice. It is generally 
 nervous,animatt'^d,and eloquent; and 
 it abounds with fine and happy il- 
 lustrations : but it is also, occa- 
 sionally obscure, inflated, and rhe- 
 torical. The sentences are fre- 
 quently too long and involved, and 
 the expressions are sometimes quaint 
 and inaccurate. The stile indeed, 
 is by no means that which is appro- 
 priate to letters or essays, as it is 
 defective in those points which 
 are peculiarly characteristic of that 
 Species of writing, — namely, sim- 
 plicity, perspicuity, and ease. These 
 are faults, however, of a compa- 
 ratively trivial nature ; and they 
 are such as a little attention may 
 easily correct. We trust that 
 a second edition of this work, 
 which we understand is already in 
 the press, will leave but little room 
 for objection in any material point. 
 In the meantime, we have no hesi- 
 tation in saving, that we think it very 
 highly creditable to the genius, ta- 
 lents, and principles of the author, 
 •whom we again hail with sincere 
 
 ChrisT. Oksfrv. No. 50. 
 
 the cause of moral and religious 
 truth : and we can certainly recom- 
 mend it to our readers as calculated 
 to afford them no common degree 
 of gratification and instruction. 
 
 A Letter to a Friend, occasioned hy 
 the Death of the Right Honourable 
 William Pitt. London, Hatchard. 
 1806. 8vo. pp. 24. 
 Wf. seldom have it in our power to 
 notice those pamphlets which are 
 called forth by the passing events of 
 the day. In general, indeed, they 
 are removed from the sphere of our 
 review by the exclusively political 
 aspect which they assume. The 
 tract before us furnishes an honoura- 
 ble and an useful exception. Its ob- 
 ject is to deduce from the death of 
 our great and lamented statesman, 
 some important instruction for the 
 benefit of those who survive, and 
 particularly of those who succeed 
 him. And this object the author 
 has accomplished in amannerwhich 
 strongly marks both his talents as a 
 writer, and his piety as a Christian. 
 Our limits will permit us to give 
 only one extract as a specimen of this 
 performance, and we shall be much 
 gratified if it encourages any of our 
 readers to peruse the whole. 
 
 After twentj' pages of very judi- 
 cious reflections, of which our limits 
 will not permit us to give even an 
 abstract, the author thus expresses 
 himself at the close of his letter. 
 
 But what if the] voice of Mr. Pitt 
 could now reach a British cabinet? What if 
 It could now commaml the attention of a 
 British senate? What are the suggestions 
 vi'hich, with his present views, be it more or 
 less that his views are corrected and en- 
 larged j what are the suggestifins, which, 
 with his present views he would nov>' be 
 earnest to enforce upon public men. 
 
 With solicitude inexpressibly greater 
 than he ever felt on any subject of tempo- 
 rary concern, he would entreat Statesmen 
 and Politicians habitually to bear in mind 
 not only that they have a country to pro- 
 tect, and a King to serre, but that they have 
 aho a Master in iL'aven. " Discharge your 
 duty," he would exclaim, " to your country 
 and to your King in tingleness of Kect, <tf 
 
 R 
 
118 
 
 Re;piew of Sirneori's Churchman's Confession. [Feb. 
 
 counsels and exertions through that adora- 
 ble Mediator, by whom all blessings are 
 dispensed to mar.. T.ook to the day of ac- 
 count before his tribu'^al. Think that be- 
 times, which yrw wiil think at last. Judge 
 all things now by the standard by which 
 you are to be judced. If you may not 
 save your country ; forfeit not the salvation 
 of your soul." (p. 21 — '24.) 
 
 unto Christ; not with eye-service, as men- 
 pleasert, but as the servants of C'lrist, doing 
 the zcill of Go i from the heart: zviih good 
 tvill doiv:; service, as to the Lord, and not ti 
 men. Be not ashamed of your God and 
 your Redeemer. Hold forth the -cord of 
 tifcbcSove the eyes of all men, as the spring 
 of action, as your supreme and universal 
 la\v. Hold it forth by measures conforma- 
 ble to its dictates ;hold it forth by the sted- 
 fast avowal of the principles which it teach- 
 es, of the motives which it enjoins. By the 
 rules which it delivers, by the spirit which 
 it inculcates, try all your proceeding.s. 
 Urge not the difficulties of your situation 
 as a plea for sia. To you, to every man, 
 belongs the assurance j Myrrace is sufficient 
 for thee. Expel iniquity from your system. 
 Will you say that the machine of Govern- 
 ment cannot pursue its course, unless the 
 path be smoothed by corruption? Will you 
 say that the interests of your country can- 
 not be upheld, unless a distant quarter of 
 the globe be desolated to support them? 
 Will you say that the security of the free 
 Briton ^'ill be endangered, unless the man- 
 stealer, against wliism God has denounced 
 his curse, receive from you licence and 
 .protection? Will you scy. that if rapine 
 and murder will at any rate be continued, 
 you are war'anted in becoming the de- 
 spoilers and the murderers yourselves ? Is 
 this to be a tfrror to evil-doers ? Is this to 
 (leanse yoiirselvn from all filthincss of the 
 frsh and spirits Is this to perfect holiness rn 
 
 The Churchman s Confession, or an 
 Appeal to -he Liturgy, being a Ser- 
 mon jireached before the Unizersitj/ 
 of Cambridge, Dec. 1 , 1 805. By the 
 Kev. Charles Simkon, M. A. 
 Fellow of King's College, Cam- 
 bridge. Cambridge, Deighton. 
 London, Rivingtons. pp. 30. 
 price Ls. 
 
 The object of this sermon is to prove, 
 bv an appeal to Scripture, and to 
 the acknowledged principles of 
 everv member of the Church of 
 England, as they are expressed in 
 the general confession at the open- 
 ing of otir liturgy, the unimpeacha- 
 ble orthodoxy of those ministers of 
 the establishment, (however thev 
 niav be reviled by the ignorant as 
 enthusiasts and visionaries), who 
 strt-nuously and invariably press 
 upon the consciences of their liear- 
 
 tne fear of God/ Is t\\\^ to abstain from all ers the following grand topics of 
 apprara'tce of evil ^ Is this to have the on- evangelical doctrine, viz. 
 
 srrer of u good conscience to-xards Godi' Is 
 it not practically to aver to tlie Most High 
 — ihc laws, O God, which Thou hast pro- 
 mulgated for the administration of Thine 
 ovfs world, rue inadequate to their purpose. 
 Thar which Thou commandest, we di.-.c<)vi>r 
 to be in many instauces detrimental. That 
 whjch Thou prohibite.st, we perceive to be 
 in many cases necessary. Forgive, ap- 
 prove, reward us, for introducing, as occa- 
 sion rfqnires, the needful alterations and 
 exceptions. — Do you .start at the thoughts 
 of such language ? Speak it not by your 
 deeds. Obey the precepts of your GikI j 
 and leaf e consequences in hit hands. Dis- 
 trust not his truth. Dare to confide in his 
 Ouuii'polence. Beliei e that tt is righteous- 
 n';s which exalteth a nulion: that .»/'« is a 
 reprnucli to any people : that nations shnll be 
 pu'iishedfor Ikrir iniqmlns. In unfeigned 
 humility ; la con^-tant prayer ; in watchtul- 
 nt.ss against transgression; not slot 'if ui in 
 b'jstni'.i.s-, but frrvi/il m spirit, serving, the 
 Lord ; hope for, the divi-r^e blc-sicg on your 
 
 1st. ** That every man is a sinner 
 before God ; — that both the actions 
 and the hearts of men are depraved ; 
 — t hat vv hate verditlerence there mav 
 be between one and another with 
 respect to open sin, there is no dif- 
 ference with respect to their aliena- 
 tion from God, or their radical aver- 
 sion to his liolv will ; — that on ac- 
 count of their defection from God, 
 they deserve his heavy displeasure ;" 
 — " and that all men without excep- 
 tion must perish, if thev do not turn 
 to God in the wav that be ha.'? pre- 
 scribed." (p. 8.)" 
 
 2nd.'"That in orderto obtain sal- 
 vation, two things are necessary, 
 ' repentance towird.sCod and faith 
 in our Lord Jesus Christ'," mean- 
 ing by repentance " such a deep 
 sense of giiilt and danger, as lead"? 
 men with all humility of mind to 
 
1806.] 
 
 Review of Simeon's Churchman's Confession. 
 
 Co(\, and stirs them up to a most 
 earnest application tohim formercy; 
 — that we must feci sin to be a bur- 
 then to our souls, must be made to 
 tremble at the wrath of Cod which 
 Ave havenierited,and must cry tohim 
 for deliverance from it:" — "And 
 that this must be our experience, 
 not merely after some flatrraut trans- 
 gression, or on some particular oc- 
 casion, but at all times: it must be 
 as it -were the dailv habit of our 
 mii^ds." (p. W.) 
 
 3rd. That Christians must practise 
 " every personal and relative dutv;" 
 —that " not satisfud with that stand- 
 ard of holiness which is current in 
 the world," they must aim at " a 
 higher tone of morals," being not 
 only sober and honest, but leading 
 Jives " entirely devoted to (rod ; — 
 that it is everv man's dntv to de- 
 light himself in God, and to have such 
 a lively sense of Christ's love to 
 him, as shall constrain hira to 
 an unreserved surrender of all his 
 fiicultics and powers to the service 
 of the Lord ; — that we must live for 
 God, and be like a faithful servant 
 ■who enijuires from day to day what 
 his master's will i.s, and enquires in 
 order that he may do it ; — that as 
 a servant who had neglected his 
 duties through the day, \\ould feel 
 a'^hamed and afraid of his master's 
 displeasure, so should we feel asham- 
 ed' and afraid, if any day pass with- 
 out our having executed to the ut- 
 most of our power the duties ofit ; — 
 that weshould walkasonrheconfines 
 of the eternal world, and act as per- 
 sons who must shortly give account 
 ot" every talent that ha> been com- 
 mitted to them ; — that to be 'dead 
 «nto the world,' and ' alive unto 
 God,' to attain more am! more of the 
 divine imago, to ' gi'ow up into 
 Christ in all things/ to enjoy fellow- 
 ship with God, and anticipate the 
 enjoyments of heaven, is our duty, 
 and should be our daily study and 
 delight." 
 The preacher, wc think, has prov- 
 
 ed his point, and has thus given 
 us a test whereby we may try the 
 discourses which we hear, as well 
 as the state of our own souls. And 
 it is evidently also a test which will 
 condemn all those preachers "who 
 descant on the dignity of our nature, 
 the goodnt\ss of our heart.s, and the 
 rectitude of our lives;" — " who tell 
 us that we are to be saved by our 
 w-orks, and who would thus lull us 
 asleep in impenitency, and divert 
 our attention from the Saviour of the 
 world;" — "-who plead for a confor- 
 mity to the world, and decry all vi- 
 tal godlincssas enthusiasm ;" — "who 
 separate the difl'erent parts of reli- 
 gion, inculcating some to the neg- 
 lect of others, magnifying works to 
 the exclusion of faith, or establish- 
 ing faith to the destruction of good 
 works, or confounding faith and 
 works, instead of distinguishing 
 them as the fruit from the root." 
 All those persons arc'also condemned 
 by it -who do not " from their in- 
 most souls lament the numberless 
 transgressions, and the unsearchable 
 depravity of their hearts;" — who do 
 not " feel that they deserve the 
 wrath of the Almighty," so that 
 they can find no peace but in plead- 
 ing with God the merits of his son; 
 — towhose souls Christ is not " pre- 
 cious," and who do not make him 
 their "all in all;" — who are not " at 
 the same time renewed in the spirit 
 of their minds ;" — who do not "hate 
 sin," and " account ' the service of 
 God to be perfect freedom'; — whodo 
 not, instead of Avishing to have the 
 la^\ of (lod reduced to the standard 
 of their practice, desire to have 
 their practice rai.sed to the standard 
 of that law; — and who do not " la- 
 bour to ' shine as lights in a dark 
 world,-* and ' to shew forth in their 
 own conduct the virtuts of him that 
 hath called them'." 
 
 We have perused this sermon 
 with pleasure and profit, and we 
 confidently recommend it to our 
 readers. 
 
120 
 
 [Feb, 
 
 LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE, 
 
 SCc. &>. 
 
 GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 A rouRTH vohime of Sermons from the 
 MSS. of President Davies of America ; the 
 Rev. Job Orton's \ etters 5 Letters on Na- 
 tural History by Mr. Bigland ; and a new 
 edition of the works of Franklyn, will soon . 
 make their appearance. 
 
 Accountgcf the Life of Lord Nelson are 
 preparing by Mr. Bosryer ; and by J. 
 M'Arthur, Esq. and the Rev. J. S. Clarke. 
 
 Dr. Touiiiiin has announircd his intenti- 
 on of publishing a continuation of the 
 History of Dissenters tVoin the period of 
 the Revohilion to the present time. 
 
 In the press : — The History of Scotland 
 related in familiar conversations, with 
 moral remarks, by Mis. Helme ; Con- 
 siderations on the Debates in Parliament 
 on the Catholic Petition, by Sir J. Throck- 
 morton ; and Fenel(in"s Dialogues on Elo- 
 quence, and Letters on Poetry, Rhetoric, 
 History, &,c. translated from the French by 
 Edward Williams, D, D. 
 
 The temporary house of the London In- 
 stitution in the Old JeWry was open«d on 
 the 18th of .Fanuary for the use of Pro- 
 prietors and Life Subscribers. The read- 
 ing rooms are well supplied with daily and 
 inonthly journals-, and the library already 
 contains a valuable collection of books. 
 
 The long desired measure of restricting 
 the Medical Profession to the hands of 
 none but well-instructed practitioners, in 
 the country as welt as in London, is, it is 
 said, at length about to be carried into ef- 
 fect. The provisions, so far as they con- 
 cern regular practitioners, are to be pro- 
 spective, and consequently will not ope- 
 rate on the present generation ; but, as 
 these die away or retire, their places will 
 be occupied by persons of suitable and 
 competent education. 
 
 Mr, Webb, mine agent to His Royal 
 Highness the Prince of Wales, has disco- 
 vered a most valuable Copper Mine, in 
 the Tamer river, which divides the coun- 
 ties of Devon and Corn'vall. This mine 
 was opened on the 19th of September 
 lait ; and a rich Vein of copper ore, four 
 feet wide, was cut in a steep hill, nearly 60 
 fathom from the river, which piomises to 
 make one of the finest mines ever disco- 
 vered in either country, as it resembles 
 the famous Ansjlesea mine, requiring no 
 windlass, nor any thing but a wheel- barrow 
 
 to take out the ore. The cost of opening 
 the mine was not more than thirty pounds, 
 
 Mr. WooLrhas lately made some con- 
 siderable improvements in the Sleam En.' 
 gine, whereby a great saving is effected ii^ 
 the fuicl, and the danger of explosion ftilly 
 obviated. If steam be sufficiently ex- 
 panded to counterbalance the pressure of 
 the external atmosphere, it is well known 
 that the engine will work. Mr. Woolf has 
 discovered tliMt a fortieth part of commoQ 
 steam, expanded forty times as much, 
 will still work the engine. 
 
 The following is a method of preparing 
 a luminou? bottle, which will give suffici- 
 ent light during the night, to admit of the 
 hour being easily seen or) the dial of a 
 watch. — A phial of clear white glass, of a 
 long form, should be chosen, and some fine 
 olive oil should be heated to ebullition in 
 anothtr vessel. A pi* ce of phosphorus, of 
 the size of a pea, should be thrown into 
 the phial ; and the boiling oil carefully 
 poured over it, till the bottle is one-third 
 filled. The phial must then be corked : 
 and, when it is to be used, it should be un- 
 stopped, to admit the external air ; and 
 then closed again. The empty space of 
 the phial will immediately appear lumi- 
 nous, and will give as much light as a dull 
 ordinary lamp. Each time that the light 
 disappears, on removing the stopper it will 
 re- appear. In cold weather the bottle 
 should be warmed in the hand before 
 the stopper is removed. A phial thus 
 prepared may be used every night for six 
 months. 
 
 The following is the number of books, 
 in various departments, published, in Lon- 
 don, in the year 1805 : — Divinity, 104; 
 History, Antiquities, and Topography, 
 38. ; Biography, 27 ; Voyages and Tra- 
 vels, 27 ; Politics, Political Economy, an(J 
 Corame.fe, 98 ; Law, and Trials, '24 j 
 Medicine, 67 ; Philosophy, Mathematics, 
 Natural History, and Astronomy, 33 ; 
 Agriculture, 9; The Arts, 17 j Poetry, 
 84 ; Drama, and Dramatic Criticism, 33 ; 
 Novels, 15 ; Education, 20 ; Military and 
 Navai, 16 ; Miscellanies, 69 : — Total, 741. 
 
 The Duice of Argyle has presented the 
 Highland Society of Scotland with <£1,000. 
 as the commencement of a fund for edu- 
 cating the yourjger sons of Highland Gen'> 
 tiemeo for the Navy. 
 
1806.] France. ..Denmark. ..Germany . 
 
 FRANCE. 
 The French have lately employed them- 
 selves very actively in advancing those 
 economical improvements in Fire Places, 
 which Count Rvmford introduced. On 
 some sug!;estion by M. Olivier, Quiton 
 and Bertholet have lately made a re- 
 port to the class of physical sciences of 
 the National Institute, and state them to 
 produce the following advantages : — 1. To 
 reduce the tunnels of the eh imnies to dimen- 
 sions so sm;ill, that they cannot be liable 
 to smoke : 2. To burn, without producing 
 any smell, all sorts of combustibles; and so 
 completely, that no visible smoke escapes 
 from the top of the chimney : 3. To re- 
 tain at pleasure, within the apartments, by 
 well-managed circulations, all the heat 
 which the combustible con disengage, or to 
 direct part of it into the neighbouiing 
 apartments, or superior stories : 4. To re- 
 gulate, in this manner, the degree of heat 
 S^hichis required : 5. To afford, by a par- 
 
 .. Russia . . . List of Netv Pub. I gi 
 
 ticular kind of shelf, pKiced immediately 
 above the fire, the convenience of boilinj 
 liquors in porcelain dishes: 6. To be ius- 
 cCptible of all kinds of decorations tha| 
 tnuy be desired. 
 
 DENMARK. 
 The Lectures of Dr. Gall on Craniology 
 have met with a flattering reception at 
 Copenhagen. He intends visiting Pari$ 
 before he publishes his system. 
 
 . GERMANY. 
 
 Dr. Strove has contrived, it is said, an 
 apparatus, to shew by means of Galvanism, 
 whether the appearances of death be real. 
 
 RUSSIA. 
 The Russian Circumnavigator, Captain 
 Krusenstern, who after hi-; return from a 
 voyage round the world, had conveyed th? 
 Russian Ambassador to .lapan, has, after 
 remaining seven months in that country, 
 returned to Kamtschatka. 
 
 UST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 T>IEOLOGY. 
 
 A Sermon, preached in the Parish 
 Church of St. Andrew, Holborn, on Sun- 
 day, January 5, 1806, on occasion of the 
 death of the Rev. Charles Barton, M. A. 
 late Rector of the said Parish. By the 
 Rev. Charles Pryce, M. A. Joint Curate 
 of St. Andrew's. Is. 
 
 Moral Reflections and Anticipations on 
 the Opening of the present Year; a Ser- 
 mon addressed principally to Young Per- 
 pons. By Joseph Barrett. 1 s. 
 
 A Sermon, sacred to the Memory of 
 the Honoured Dead, and particularly of 
 the late James Currie, M. D. preached at 
 the Cliapel in Paradise-street, Liverpool, 
 November 17, 18U5. By the Rev. G. 
 Walker, F. R. S. Is. 6d. 
 
 A .Sermon preached in the Scots' Church, 
 London Wall, on the day appointed for a 
 General Thanksgiving. By Robert Young, 
 D. D. Dedicated, by Permission, to His 
 Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex. 2s. 
 
 A .Sermon, preached on the day of Ge- 
 neral Thanksgiving, December 5, 1805, 
 in the Parish Church of Kells. By the 
 Most Rev. T. L. O'Beirne, D. D. Lord 
 Bishop of Meath. 2s. 
 
 A Sermon, preached on the day of 
 Thanksgiving for the Victory oft" Cape 
 Tr.ifalgar. By the Rev. James Moore, 
 LL. B. Is. 
 
 A Dissertation on the Prophecies that 
 have been fulfilled, are now fulfilling, of 
 will hereafter be fulfjiled, relative to tl>« 
 great Period of 1,260 Years ; the Papal 
 and Mahorr.'iiedan Apostasies; the Ty- 
 rannical Reign of Antichrist, or the Infidel 
 Pov/er ; and the Restoration of the Jj^vvj, 
 By George StanUy Faber, 8. D. Bvo 
 2 vols. 163. 
 
 A Sermon, preached at the Off at Syna- 
 gogue, Duke's Place, on the day of Gene- 
 ral Thanksgiving-. By the Rev. Solomon 
 Herschel, Presiding Rabbi of the German 
 Jews in London. Rendered into English 
 by a Friend. Is. 6d. 
 
 A Catechism ; or, Instruction for Chil- 
 dren and Youth in the Fundamental Doc- 
 trines of Christianity. By D.Taylor. 4d. 
 
 Christ's Sermon en the Mount, with a 
 Course of Questions and Answers, explain- 
 ing that Portion of Scripture ; for the Use 
 of Young Persons. By the Rev. J. Eyton 
 Is. ' ' 
 
 Select Pails of the Old and New Testa- 
 ments, agreeably to the most a|)proved 
 Modern "Versions. Arranged accorditig to 
 a Plan recommended by the late Dr. Lsaac 
 Watts. By the Rev. Tbeophilus Browne, 
 A.M. Royal Svo. I5s. 
 
 A Vindication of certain Passages in a 
 Discourse on Occasion of the Death of 
 Dr. Priestley, and a Defence of Dr. Priest- 
 It j'* Character and Writings, in Reply to 
 
Kevj Publications... "Religious lnttlligence...Tartary. 
 
 122 
 
 ttw Animafiveriiions of the Rev. John Pye 
 Smith; By Thomis Belshani. 8v6. 3s. 
 
 A Sermon, preaclied in the Parish 
 Churches of Staple and Bickenhall, in the 
 Cfaiuty ofSoinorset. By'the Rev. Charles 
 Toogood. Is. 
 
 Victory and Death ; the Substance of a 
 BiscouPbe delivered Decembers, 180'">, the 
 day of General Thanksgivinj; fox the To- 
 tal Defeat of ttie Combined Fleets by Lord 
 Nelson ; in Aid of the Patriotic Fund. 
 By T. Wood. 
 
 MISCELLANIES. 
 
 An Account of the State of France dur- 
 ina: the la^t Three Years, parlicularly in 
 relation to the Beigic Provinces ; and the 
 Treatment of the English detained by 
 the French Government. By Israel Wor- 
 sley, late a Prisoner at Verdun. 
 
 The Life of Thomas Dennodj', inter- 
 spersed with Pieces of Original Poetry, 
 and containing a Series of Correspondence 
 with several eminent Character. By James 
 Grant Raymond. With a Portrait by 
 Fittler. Crown 8vo. 2 vols. 16s. 
 
 Sir John Froissart's Chronicles of Eng- 
 land, France, Spain, and the adjoining 
 <'ountries, from the Latter Part of the 
 Feign of Edward IL to the Coronation of 
 Nenry IV. Newly translated from the 
 French, by Thomas Johnes, Esq, M. P. 
 Second Edition. Vols. I II. and III. 
 11. Us. 6d. 
 
 The New Annual Register for 1S04. 
 8rO. 
 
 .Dodsley's Annual Register for the Year 
 1804. 8vo. I'.'s. 
 
 A» Examination into the Principles of 
 
 [Ffb. 
 By 
 
 what is called theBrmionian System. 
 Thomas Morrison. 4s. 
 
 A Pjactical Account of a Remittent 
 Fever, frequently occurring among the 
 Troops in this Climate. By Thomas Sut- 
 ton, M.D. 8vo. 2s. 
 
 Arguments relative lo Cow-Pok, in- 
 scribed to Lord Hawkesbury ; and laid be* 
 fore the Board of Health. By a Physi- 
 cian. 
 
 The Efficacy of Inoculated Small Pox 
 in promoting the Population of Great 
 Britain. 
 
 A Treatise on the Doty o^ Infantry Offi- 
 cers, in Camp, Garrison, Qniarters, and on 
 Sliip- board ; and an Elucidation (jf the pie- 
 sent System of Britisii Military Discipline. 
 The whole in exact Conformity to his Ma- 
 jesty's Regulations. A new edition, with 
 considerable Alterations and Additions. By 
 Brigade-Major Reide, on the Staff of the 
 London District. 5s. bound. 
 
 A Tieatise on Military Finance, con- 
 taining the Pay and Allowances, in Camp, 
 Garrison, and Quarters, of the British 
 Army, with Oflicial Documents for the 
 Guidance of Officers in every Depart- 
 ment. By Brigade-Major Reide, on the 
 Staff of the London District. 2 vols. 10s. 
 bound. 
 
 An Examination of Mr. Ducrald Stew- 
 art's Pamphlet relative to the Into Election 
 of a Matiiematical Professor in the Univer- 
 sity of Edinburgh. By one of the Minis- 
 ters of Edinburgh, "is. 6d. 
 
 English Hymns, Part 11. By William 
 Smyth, Fellow of St. Peter's College Cam- 
 bridire. 3s. 6d. 
 
 RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. 
 
 TARTARV. 
 
 V/e insert a few extracts of letters lately 
 received by the Edinburgh Mis^iion Society 
 from their ^Nlissionaries settled at Karaas 
 in, Russian Tartary. 
 
 " 10th Jv/w, 180.'). 
 " Our Family," they sny, " is now 
 considerably eni'reascd. Besides Euro- 
 peans, it consists of nineteen natives, old 
 and yoinig, who are all in good health. 
 Such of them as are grown up have 
 renounced Mohammedanism, except an 
 old man whom «e ransomed, soon after 
 We first settled in this place, to assist us in 
 our work. The children are attentive to 
 
 our in!5truction.s, and. upon the whole, are 
 very promising. Some of them appear to 
 be under serious impressions, and would 
 on no account go to bed without praying 
 to God One of them had been sick and 
 thouijhf himself dying. On tiiis accoimt, 
 as lie afterwards told Mr. Brunlon, he 
 prayed to God almnst a whole day, to 
 pardon bis sins for Christ's sake. The 
 young man whom we named Davidson, 
 who renounced the superstition of his coun- 
 trymen more than a year ago, and who has 
 since been firm and fearless in the profes- 
 sion of the Gospel, is soon to be married 
 to one of our native women, of whom we 
 entertain a very favourable opinion. It is 
 
RcligiotiS InteUTgence...Misiionaries in Ensiian Tartary. 123 
 
 your own mind, :u)d if I cannot take hold 
 of them as yon do, you will perhap* be 
 surpwed. EiU one day I was in a similar 
 condition : before 1 saw your friends, I had 
 not the lea-:t doubt with legaid to our reli- 
 gion, but ever sinCe I saw them, I have beeu 
 unable to come to any conchision witli re- 
 gard to it. A true way ihere is, I believe, 
 for all the world s^Sirch for it; aud, accond- 
 ii!g to my opinion, ail the world would not 
 search for what is unnecessary, and not to 
 be found. A prince who seeks for power, 
 aided by cunning persons around him, 
 might pervert the judgment of a nation by 
 violence and deceit for their own advan- 
 tage: but no set of pcr><ons are able to per- 
 vert the judgment of the whole world, if 
 the whole world agree to search for one 
 thing, that thing must exist. The necessity 
 of religion, every man knows; yet every 
 necessary thing is not always found : some 
 even die for want of food, whilo others 
 are satisfied. God has given us judgment 
 to search for what we need, yet he does 
 not always biing what is necessary in our 
 way. Were it not for this, I should have a 
 clear knowledge of the way to heaven : t 
 know of nothing that is more precious than 
 religion, and 5ur<Jly the religion of God ij 
 to be found. Concerning this 1 have rea- 
 soned much; every day I search for what 
 is precious, yet I have never found one 
 jewel; I have not so much as found tlie 
 riches of this world: But I will not decline 
 to search f()r the true way, which may the 
 gracioils (iod himself shew me ! I have biith 
 hope and fear. I have, for fifteen years, 
 been botli priest and magistrate among the 
 people about KaraJ^s, where my autliority 
 has been undisputed : your fi iends. say, 
 however, that the Christian religion is pre- 
 ferable, but, if it do not agree with my 
 own judgment, their approbation of it will 
 be of no advantage to me: the Moslems 
 too, commend their religion, but Ihii will 
 not purify, my conscience. , , 
 
 " I have agreed to teach the children of 
 your friends for a sum, which, I am afraid, 
 will bo too small f.r my necessities ;, but I 
 have a few cattle, and if what yoiu' friends 
 give me be not "sufficient for my wants, I 
 sliall not die for want of food. 1 thank God, 
 that, to this day, 1 havtr had to eat. and 
 drink. In this respect I have been com- 
 fortable ; and, could I fnid ;i way that would 
 be of advantage to me at the /ait day, I 
 would not b(j atViiid of the riches of this 
 world." " .^BCY Mo." 
 
 The four ini%.vion:irics who mailed (rom 
 Lsith in May la-t had aiiived at Karass. 
 Ofcij of tlicm, yii. tinhciton, thus wtitt* ; 
 
 180<5.] 
 
 proposed that both of them shall be public- 
 ly bapti:;ed before they are married ; and 
 with a view to this, we have taken for some 
 time past more than ordinary pains in 
 their instrucfiun. 
 
 " We are happy to inform the Directors, 
 that Mr. Pa'.erson is now tolerably healthy, 
 and Mr. Dickson nmcii better than he 
 was. We have much cause to be thankful 
 for all our mercies, and trust that we shall 
 by and bye have still better tidings to send 
 you. From various circumstances we be- 
 gin to hope, that our mission and settle- 
 ment are in a fair way of flourishing." 
 
 " Karaxs, \sl Aus;. 1805. 
 " During the last month few events of 
 any importance have occurred. We thank 
 God that the family has been in a much 
 better state of health than formerly.'' 
 
 " .\bdy, the Mohammedan Priest whom 
 we have so often mentioned, has given up 
 his charge among his countrymen, and has 
 engaged to teach our children to read and 
 write the country languages. The people 
 around us are greatly offended at his com- 
 ing to us, and some of them have talked of 
 killing him : but though they do this, 
 scarcely any of them have the courage to 
 reprove him. They all seem to stand in 
 awe of him ; for although they do not ac- 
 count him one of their mort learned .Mou- 
 lies, or priests, yet they all allow him to 
 possess a superior degree of eloquence and 
 good sense. It is but justice to him to men- 
 tion, that since he came to us he has taught 
 the children with the greatest diligence; 
 and though he has not yet professed his be- 
 lief of Christianity, he makes no scruple of 
 teaching them the catechisms which Mr. 
 Bnmton has composed for them, and seve- 
 ral of the children appear to make consi- 
 derable improvement under him. He has 
 written a letter to you, which he has re- 
 quested us to forward." 
 Letttr from Abdt/, the Priest of Ka- 
 rass, to tht ikcretary of the Edin- 
 burgh .Missionary Society. 
 
 (Translat'd.frum the Anibtr. j 
 " May there be abundance of peace, 
 «nd of every blessing to ytm I .Ire you well 
 and healthy^ May the glorious and true 
 God always preserve you in safety! If you 
 enquire a little coiicernint; our circimistau- 
 ces, I thank GoO voucan know th:it we are 
 well and in peace. What I have to say is 
 this: last year you sent me a letter, with 
 which I was highly pleased; your true 
 fiif ndkhip has be. n evident, to my advan- 
 tage ; wherefore, I write also to you as a 
 friend. With regard to rellgit^n too, you 
 iia»e forcible wordi, v hiwh remain fi.u. in 
 
J2i KtlfgiduS hteWgf^ce. ..summaries in Ttiuidan Tartary 
 
 " fCar/2)s, September 29th, N. S. 1805. 
 
 " In the letters which w'e sent you frwm 
 Sarcpta, (the Moravian settlement) we in- 
 formed you of the good state of our health, 
 and the great kindness which we experi- 
 enced from the people there. We cannot 
 e-^press the obligations we are under to 
 them, and in particular to the Re^-. Mr. 
 Wigand for the attention whioii he shewed 
 us, and the assistance we received from 
 him, in procuring the vaiioiis articles which 
 we stood in need of. We set out from Sa- 
 reptaon the 4tU of this month, and arrived 
 safe here on Monday the Ifjith. In our 
 journey through the Steppe, (or desert) we 
 ttiet with considerable difficulties, on ac- 
 count of the number of rivers we had to 
 pass ; and particularly, we had no small 
 trouble in getting our horses and baggage 
 across the lakes of Manvvick." 
 
 '* Our joy on coming here was somewhat 
 allayed by finding all our friends, more or 
 less, indisposed \\ ith an epidemic disorder, 
 which has been raging through the whole 
 of this country : but to our great comfort 
 they all soon got the better of it, except 
 Mrs. Cairns, who was attacked with it more 
 severely than any of them. We are now 
 all busy, endeavouring to put our habitation 
 in as good a condition as we can, to defend 
 ourselves, both against the approaching 
 cold weather, and what we dread as much, 
 the plundering parties of Tartars who tra- 
 verse the country, and carry oft' whatever 
 comes within their reach. One of these 
 parties, a feiv days before our arrival, car- 
 ried of? tliree horses, and since we came, 
 they have stolen from us no fewer than 
 three oxen and three cows, and to add to 
 our misfortune.^!, the wolves uiiieh some- 
 times visit us from the mountains, have 
 killed Some of our calves. However, we 
 hope soon to have our property in a situa- 
 tion of greater security, and, notwithstand- 
 ing these and other occurrences of a si- 
 milar nature, this little settlement wears a 
 vc:ry'promi.siiig appearance. We are greatly ' 
 pleased with what our friends have done. 
 There are in the family nineteen natives, 
 some of whom have made very consrd>'rable 
 progress in religious knowledge, and I think 
 that in a short time we shall be warranted 
 tn gratify their desire by admini'^tering to 
 them the holy ordinance of baptism. J. T. 
 Davidson is a very sensible young man, 
 and di.'covers on every occasion the great- 
 est boldness in the profession of Christia- 
 r:ty. When conversing with the natives 
 about religion, he never fails to express the 
 strongest ahlioirence uf the bloody, perse- 
 cuting principles of Moliaminedism, and 
 
 [Feb. 
 
 his warm attachment to the mild and holy 
 doctrines of the Gospel. There is another 
 native, a youne woman, of whom all the 
 family think very highly; her Circassian 
 name is Kingy Khan, but since she came 
 here she has got the name of Margaret Da- 
 vidson. She is remarkably clever and use- 
 ful, and on every occasion shews the great- 
 est willingness to do all she can for the com- 
 fort and welfare of the family. She was 
 ransomed by Mr. Bruntor), at her own ear- 
 nest desire, and immediately renounced 
 Mohammcdi.Nm, and embraced Christia- 
 nity. She discovers the greatest willing- 
 ness to be instructed, in the way of salva- 
 tion through the death of Christ, and fre- 
 quently expresses a great dislike at the 
 conduct of the Kabardians, among whom 
 she formerly lived, and calls them a wicked 
 bad people. — Abraham Warrand is a fine 
 lad, and is remarkably useful on account 
 of his speaking both the Tartar and Kabar- 
 dian languages, with the greatest fluency. 
 He is commonly employed by our friends 
 as their interpreter, when they speak to 
 the Kabardians, which gives him an op- 
 portunity of knowing what is said to them; 
 and of this privilege he seems to have 
 availed himself, as he evidently possesses 
 a greater degree of knowledge, than could 
 have been expected from the time he has 
 been at Karass.— The young boy, who is 
 named after you, is very promising, and re- 
 markably well disposed. He is much liked 
 in the family, and he seems to take much 
 pleasure in prayer, and in other reli- 
 gious exercises. The people in the village, 
 who are bigotted to their superstition, be- 
 yond what I ever could have imagined, 
 often try to shake his attachment to Chris- 
 tianit}'. They tell him that, if he believe 
 what the infidels (for so they call us) say 
 to him be will certainly go to hell ; but 
 this does not move him in the least. He 
 argues against them in the best manner he 
 can, and when he is at a loss for an answer 
 to any thing, which they say to him, he 
 comes to Mr. Erunton, who furnishes him 
 with an answer, and sets his mind at ease. 
 Pie seems determined to be a Christian at 
 all hazards." " I have not time for it, or 
 I could mention other children, both boys 
 and girls, wiio are very promising. — Wlien 
 they are all assembled, and sitting with the 
 rest of the family, round the large room 
 where we meet for worship, it is a pleasing 
 and nnimati-ng sight. When I think on 
 the dilfcrent tribes to which they belong, 
 the difTcrent parents from whom they are 
 sprung, the great distances from which 
 some of them have come, the remarkable 
 
1806.] ReUghus InteUi<rence... .Missionaries in Russian Tartaiy, ]2t 
 
 circumstances in providence by which they 
 have fallen into our hands, and that here 
 they are brouglit togetht-r, from the midst 
 of heathens and Mohammedans, to learn 
 the knowledge of the true God, and of his 
 Son Jesus Christ, through whom, at least 
 some of them, I trust, will become heirs of 
 Gild, and joint heirs of Jesus Chri.-t : — when 
 I think on these things, I feel what I am 
 not able to express. For my part, I know 
 not where a more pleasant sight, or a more 
 agreeable family, is to beseen. But if I 
 am filled with wonder when I think how 
 these young people have been brought to- 
 gether, I am equallj' so, when I consider 
 iv/ioin Providence has given them for an in- 
 structor. Who could have thought that a 
 Alohammedan Print was to give up his 
 charge among his own people, come and 
 live with us, notwithstanding all the danger 
 and obloquy to which it exposes him, and 
 employ himself diligently in teaching the 
 children the principles of Christianity. This 
 is wonderful indeed, and perhaps unprece- 
 dented in the' history of missions ! This en- 
 courages us ; and will, I hope, induce many 
 with you to pray more fervently, that ' Zion 
 may stretch forth her curtains' over the 
 lands that are groaningunderthe cruel bon- 
 dage and horrid -superstition of Moham- 
 medanism, that so they may be deliveied, 
 enlightened, and blessed with the liberty 
 wherewith Jesus Christ iraketh those free 
 who truly know his name ! 
 
 " Manj' of the people around us begin to 
 perceive the absurdity of the doctrines, 
 which they have hitherto professed, and 
 would willingly come and settle along with 
 lis; and not only so, but embrace Christia- 
 nity, from a persuasion that it is abetter re- 
 
 bigotted to their own faith, and do not seem 
 to rt-joice at our arrival. 
 
 " Of all the places I have seen, since I 
 came to this quarter of the Russian em- 
 pire, I have seen none that will bear a com- 
 parison with Karass. It is delightfully si- 
 tuated on the side of the Besh-Taw, and 
 surrounded with land of the finest quality. 
 There is a beautiful plain on the east, about 
 a verst from this, extending from the foot 
 of the mountains to a considerable dis- 
 tance. In the midst of it are two Tartar 
 villages. On the south we have a fine hilly 
 country ; and on the north and west, the 
 mountains of Caucasus raise their towering 
 heads to the clouds. The sides of them 
 are covered with excellent hard-wood j 
 the beech in particular abounds here, and 
 grows to a prodigious size. — We could not 
 wish to be better situated for wood and wa- 
 ter: the former we have in abundance, 
 about a mile and a half off, and the latter 
 runs past our door in a plentiful stream that 
 comes down from the mountains. Owing 
 to various circumstances, we have not yet 
 had it in our power to get any thing done 
 about the land that is to be assigned us; 
 but I hope, that we shall be able in our next 
 letter, to give you satisfactoiy information 
 on this head.'' 
 
 Tiie funds of the Society which supports 
 this promising mission aie by no means in 
 a flourishing state. 
 
 Should any individual wish to employ a 
 little money in ransoming one or more Tar- 
 tar slaves, with the view of having them 
 instructed in the Christian faith, the mis- 
 sionaries will cheerfully undertake to be 
 the almoners of his bounty. On this sub- 
 ject more accurate information may be 
 obtained from the Rev. Walter Buchanan, 
 
 ligion; could we afford them protection from 
 
 their tyrannical chiefs, who rule over them ^' £dinburg!i, Secretary to the Society 
 with most despotic sway. Several of them 
 have come and told us so themselves. No 
 farther back than yesterday there came 
 two men here, who had a long conversation 
 with Mr. Brunton, and pleaded ivith him 
 earnestly to go to the Russian General, to 
 see if he would afford them and their fami- 
 lies protection, shouki they come and settle 
 \vith us, which, they said', they wi.^hed to 
 do, for the 'express purpose of Irarning the 
 truths nf Chrlstinn'dy. Nor is it one or two 
 families, but many that wish to do this ; 
 and if we could give them protection, we 
 are persuaded that many would soou flock 
 to thi^ place. At the same time, as I ob- 
 served before, it mubt be owned, that great 
 
 WEST INDIES. 
 An account has lately appeared of the 
 progress of the methodist mis.iicns among 
 the poornegroes in our West India Islands; 
 which, in the almost utter neglect that they 
 experience at the hands of the Church of 
 of England*, ran not but impart satis- 
 faction to every feeling mind. 
 
 * We wish to take this opportunity of 
 correcting an error which has been poiifted 
 out to us by a respectable correspondent. 
 We had stated, in our number for Decem- 
 ber last, our belief that of the clogy- 
 
 men sent to the AVest Indies by the Bishop 
 numbers of the people, and especially of of London in the capacity of mi';sionarie?, 
 those about tins vdlage, are excessively „one now remained there. In this how< 
 Chkist. Ob.serv. No. 50. S 
 
126 
 
 Religious Intelligence. 
 
 In St. Chrls/opher^s, the mission is said 
 to prosper in a singular degree. " The 
 simplicity, zeal, and piety of thousands of 
 the negroes in that island call for much 
 thankfulness and praise to God," and it is 
 added '* that their uprightness of conduct, 
 their fidelity to their masters, and all the 
 Christian virtues v/hich they manifest in 
 their lives, afford strong reason to believe 
 that the work in general in that island is 
 deep and established. And what is perhaps 
 still more pleasing, the white people begin, 
 many of them to delight to attend the 
 preaching of the Gospel. At Dominica the 
 society had increased from 50 to above 
 1000, but the Cliapel at Prince Rupert's 
 Bay had been blown down by a hurricane, 
 and the poor people were unable to rebuild 
 it, which proved a considerable hindrance 
 to the mission. The funds of the mission 
 arc also stated to be inadequate to the ex- 
 pence. Since the persecuting: act of the 
 legislature of Januiica has been disallowed 
 by his Majesty, the mission to that island 
 has again resumed its activity'; and could 
 the means be obtained of erecting places 
 of worship, the prospect of usefulness is 
 stated to be considerable. Missions are 
 also established with various degrees of 
 success in the Islands of Antigua, J'orlola, 
 Sjianiihtoxvn, St. Barlholomew''s, St. Vin- 
 eenfs, Grenada, Barbadoex, and in the Baha- 
 ma Islands, Bermuda and Dnnerara. 
 
 CATECHIZING. 
 We liave been favoured with a letter 
 r'roai the Rev. Basil Woodd, Minister of 
 Bentinck Chapel, Paddington, expressing 
 
 e\er we were mistakea. Two of them, 
 the llev. Messrs. Territand Naiikivel, we 
 are informed, still continue their labours as 
 missionaries; To the latter a regular liv- 
 ing had been offcitd; but he had declined 
 the offer in order that he might bestow all 
 his time on the poor negroes, hundreds of 
 whom flocked to hear him, and among 
 whom, it is added, he has had some suc- 
 cess. We understand that it is in the 
 prrwer of a clergyman in Yorkshire, to fur- 
 nish a particular account of the proceed- 
 ings of these missionaries. Should this be 
 the case, we shall be extremely obliged to 
 him for any communications on the sub- 
 j-ct which he niaydectait adviseable to 
 :aake. 
 
 West Indies... Catechizing. [Feb. 
 
 his surprise at the unfounded charges 
 against some of his clerical brethren which 
 have been advanced by Mr. Pearson, in a 
 tract reviewed by us in December last. 
 Mr. Jl'nodd for one is so far from neglecting 
 the duty of catechizing, that he has no less 
 than 500 children under his immediate su- 
 perintentlance, to whose religious instruc- 
 tion he devotes, in addition to the atter- 
 hoon of the first Sunday in each month, 
 two, and for the greatest part of the year 
 three mornings in each fortnight, during 
 which he makes the Cimich Catechism the 
 basis of his catechetical labours. Mr. 
 Woodd has at the same time obligingly 
 sent us a copy of the tracts which he has 
 published for the benefit of the young. 
 These we have read with cordial approba- 
 tion, and we recommend them without re- 
 seive to all who are concerned in the edu- 
 cation of 3'outh, as excellent manuals of 
 religious knowledge and sound instruction. 
 The tracts are as follow ; 
 
 1. A Card containing Morning and Even- 
 ing Prayers and Hymns for Children, with 
 a short summary of the Christian religion. 
 
 2. A Card containing a Catechism on 
 the Duties of Children to their Parents. 
 
 3. A Card containing a Catechism on 
 the Duties of Servants. 
 
 4. A short Intioduction to the Church 
 Catechism, designed as a lirst book for 
 Children. Pnce 2d. 
 
 5. The Same with the addition of the 
 Church Catechism, with short Questions 
 and Scriptur* Proofs, and the Card >;o. 1. 
 Price 4d. 
 
 6. An Explanation of the Church Cate- 
 chism, containing a plain Account of the 
 Christian Covenant, Creed, Duty, Prayer, 
 and Sacraments, with a short Statement of 
 Baptism, Confirmation, Church Goyein- 
 nient, the Inspiration of Scripture, Ccc. &t. 
 ISth Edition. Price 6d. 
 
 7. Abridged Explanation of the Church 
 Catechism, with an Appendix eontaining 
 Cards 2 and 3. Price 2d. 
 
 8. A concise Statement of the two Cove- 
 nants. Price 3d. 
 
 9. The Faith and Duty of a Christian, 
 chiefly taken from Bishop Gastrell's Chris- 
 tian Institutes. Price 3d. 
 
 10. Advice to Youth, principally design- 
 ed for young People leaving School. Piice 
 Is. These may all be had of Watts and 
 Bridgewater, Hatcljard or Rivingtous. 
 
1806.] 
 
 127 
 
 \JE\V OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS^ 
 
 CONTINENTAL AFFAIRS. 
 Tis treaty of peace between Austria 
 and France has at length been published. 
 By the articles of this treaty the constitu- 
 tion of the Germanic empire is completely 
 overthrown J and yet the King of Sweden 
 is the only member of it who has dared to 
 romplain. Bonaparte may be considered 
 as lord paramount of Girmany ; nor is there 
 any one of its powers who can now venture 
 to move without his permission. As for 
 the Emperor he is thrust out from all ( on- 
 eern in that country of which he continues 
 tiie nominal head. He seems even to have 
 renounced his ancient t\t\e ol Emperor of l/te 
 Rronans, at least no mention is made of it in 
 the treaty j the 5th article of which also ac- 
 knowledges the French Emperor to be 
 King of Italy. And with this title the ab- 
 solute dominion of those parts of Italy 
 nliich had previously been annexed to 
 France is confirmed to Bonaparte ; to- 
 gether with the entire cession of all the 
 territories of the qunndum Venetian Repub- 
 lic. Austria is tlius driven out of every 
 part f)f Italy. The whole t)f her German 
 flominiuns also, including all the territorj' 
 stretching from Gravenau near the river 
 I)tz to Braunau on the Inn, the Tyrol, and 
 ^^ hatever she possessed in .Swabia and on 
 the borders of Switzerland, have been di- 
 vided between the new Kings of Bavaria 
 and W'irtemberg, whose kingly dignity is 
 acknowledged in the treaty without even 
 the form of consulting the States of the 
 Kmpirej and the Elector of Baden. Per- 
 mission is also given to tlic first of thesn 
 three powers to seize and occupy the free 
 imperial city of Augsburgh. In short, 
 Austria has lost, as has been calculated, 
 1^)00 square miles of territory containing 
 2,716,000 inhabitants, and yielding a reve- 
 nue of upwards of 1 G millions of florins, be- 
 .■(ides all her influence and power in Ger- 
 many and Italy. The only return miuie 
 by the treaty for all these cessions is the 
 territory of Wurtzburg in Franconia, wireh 
 has been given to the Archduke Feidi- 
 nand, as an indemnity for some fragments 
 of the Electorate of Saltzburgh which have 
 been taken from liim, and added to the 
 Austnan dominions. 
 
 This treaty is supposed to contain 
 some secret articles, by which Austria 
 is encouraged to seek an indemnity for her 
 
 losses in the West, by seizing some of tbe 
 Turkisli provinces which form the F'ast<,-rn 
 boundary of her etiipire. Many circum- 
 .^tances concur in giving probability to this 
 statement, particularly the advance of an 
 Austrian force to the Turkish frontier: and 
 we have little doubt that in a siiort time 
 some attempt will be made, for which the 
 existing insurrection ill Servia and the 
 neighbouring provinces will furnish both 
 convenient pretexts and tempting facili- 
 ties, not only hy the Austrians from Hun- 
 gary but by the Frc nch from Dalmatia, to 
 dismember the Turkish Empire. Any at- 
 tempt of this kind will naturally excite the 
 jealousy of Russia, and may lead her to 
 Tinticipate the blow with which the Otto- 
 man poller is threaten! d. What may be 
 the elfects of these rumoured movem<'rits it 
 is impossible to state. 'One effect, as is not 
 improbable, may be the downfal of Ma- 
 honmiedanism in Europe; ah event, whicb, 
 if we may believe those who have made 
 the prophetic writings the object of their 
 study, is so closely connected in point of 
 time with the restoration of the Jews to 
 their own land, and with other still more 
 awful and afTccting changes, as to ex'cite a 
 peculiar interest in the breast of the chris- 
 tian observer. We are aw are that we' 
 tread on tender ground, and we therefore 
 gladly retire from it. The transient glance, 
 however, which we have ventured to east 
 at the possible course of future events, na- 
 turally suggests to us, (and we wish to press 
 the thovighton the atteniicm of our readers) 
 hoiv veiy incomp'tent the wisest politi- 
 cians are to appreciate the intrinsic value, 
 and the real tendency, of any of those oc- 
 currences whicb, in their turn, excite the 
 opposite and conflicting feelings of hope 
 and fear. The battle of Austerlitz, for ex- 
 ample, calamitous as it has appeared to us 
 to be, may possibly only have paved the 
 way for the' more speedy deVelopcment of 
 " those scenes sui passing fable," which 
 form the subj.ict of the ardent praj'ers and 
 longing expectations of every true Chris- 
 tian. Indeed under the pressure of events' 
 still more distressing, the true Christian, re- 
 lying on that w<)rJ of promise — " all things 
 shall work together for good to them that 
 love God:" and confidently believing that 
 all the revolutions of empires are tending 
 to that glorious consummation, when " all 
 th« k.<ngduins of the world shall bevome the 
 
123 Public Aff'airs...CoiUtncntal IntelligQiice^ 
 
 kingdoms of otir God and of his Chust," 
 will not want for sources of consolation. 
 He will indeed be assiduous in the fiilfil- 
 ipent of every civil, social, and relative 
 duty, and so much the more as he sees 
 the day approaching; but he will at the 
 same time cast his cmes en God, and com- 
 mit himself, and all his dearest interests to 
 him, m -jOill doing,, with a perfect con6- 
 dence in iiis wisdom, power, and love. 
 
 The Emperor of Russia, probably with 
 a view to the threatened inovenients of 
 Austria and Fraiice, i?; said to be busily 
 augmf^nting his force both naval and miii- 
 tary in the Eiixine and louian seas. 
 
 The great body of the French army, 
 lately employed in Moravia, is bending: its 
 march homewards, and js destined probably 
 to resume its menacing position at Bou- 
 logne, where the most stuj endous works, 
 intended to facilitate the proj cted inva.^ion 
 ofthis country, have been continued without 
 interruption. A lar2,e army, houever, still 
 continues cantoned in Swahia and its vici- 
 nity, for the purpose partly of extorting con- 
 tributions from thejprostrate powers of Ger- 
 many, and partly probably for that of over- 
 awing Prussia. The contributions imposed 
 on Frnnljort alone, have amfiuuted to near 
 ef.iOOjOOO. These mercih-ss exactions 
 manifest, more than any words can do, the 
 rapacity, the contempt of all engagements, 
 and ti»e unbridled despotism, which mark 
 the career of Bonaparte. 
 
 The fate of Naples has probably been 
 decided some weeks since. The French 
 force under Massena htid advanced as far hs 
 Rome in execution of the decree of Bona- 
 parte that the present Neapolitan Dynasty 
 had ceased to rei^in. The British and Rus- 
 sian troops who had landed at Naples have 
 probably re- embarked ; and that kingdom 
 must of course fall an easy prey to the 
 arms of France. 
 
 It has been reported that a body of 
 Spanish troops was on its march to Portu- 
 gal, with the professed object of compelling 
 that power to shut its ports aqraiost Eng- 
 land. And fears have also been entertained 
 lest the free tv ns in the north of Germa- 
 ny, and ev-ij Pin..sia herself, should be re- 
 duced to the necessity of completely ex- 
 cluding all English commerce. 
 
 In short, it seems the delermmation of 
 B^/naparte to extinguish the light of free- 
 dom wherever he can exert his power. Bjf 
 his dark dtcrees, Europe is to consist 
 henceforth only of tyrants and slaves : and 
 to give these decrees effect. Great Britain 
 mu.>t be cut off, let the desi,j;n cost what 
 acts of violence it may, frcm all commu- 
 
 [Feb. 
 
 nication with the continent. What a crisis is 
 that at which we seom to have arrived ! It 
 is indeed a fearful one : but fearful to many, 
 chiefly from the apprehension that our new 
 ministers may be reluctant to risk tljeir 
 popularity by the adoption of those novel 
 a lid energetic measures of policy, which 
 the new and unprecedented emergency in. 
 which they are placed loudly calls on them 
 to pursue. For our own part, we shrinl^ 
 from the discussion of a subject which so 
 much exceeds our comprehension. 
 
 By an article from Genoa it appear?, 
 that a considerable cnmpiotion had been 
 excited there by the levy of a number of 
 men to be employed in the occupation of 
 Venice. A proclamatior. issued on this 
 occa.'.ion by Le Brpn, after using several 
 soothing arguments, thus concludes: " Oh ! 
 do not compel me tc) lay aside the character 
 o( indulgence, and to punish those w horn \ 
 have sworn to render happy. Voij are sur- 
 rounded by an armed forpe. If a icord be 
 sp iken yo it simll Ai^h be pit nislicd, j n .m o c e n T 
 OK. GUILTY.'* Bpt it is not merely the 
 horrid ferocity of this j roclaniation, buf 
 the evidence it afFordsif the progress France 
 is making in the augmentation of her mili- 
 tary power, which claims our attention. No 
 sooner is Genoa finally incorporated with 
 France, than its inhabitants are made ta, 
 bend under a cruel system of conscription. 
 Her martial bands thus augment in propor- 
 tion to the extent of her acquisitions : and 
 in this way does the ambition of her chief 
 appear to be laying the foundations of uni- 
 versal empire. 
 
 Bonaparte returned to Paris on the 26th 
 of January. Previously to his return a letter 
 from him was delivered to the senate an- 
 nouncing the peace of Prf sbnrgh, and the 
 marriage of Prince Kngene Beauharnois, 
 " my son," with the Princess Augusta of 
 Bavaria. " I cannot resist," he adds, 
 " the pleasure of remaining with the young 
 couple, n'hit arc midds nf their sexes.^' This 
 letter was followed by another, communi- 
 cating a decree of Bonaparte by which he 
 adopts Prince Eugene as his son, and ron- 
 stitutes him and his descendants heirs of 
 the crown of Italy, which in the case of 
 his having no issue, is to devolve on one of 
 the nearest relations of the prince of the 
 imi-erial blood, who shall then sway the 
 .<:ceptre of France. What must be the 
 destinies reserved for the imperial brother- 
 hood of Bonaparte, if his stepson is already 
 appointed to the inheritance of a kingly 
 throne ! 
 
 The return of Bonapai te to Paris has been 
 made as grateful to him as the most falsome 
 
PubUc Afairs.. .Continental Tntelli^ence.., America. 
 
 1806.] 
 
 strains of adulation, poured on him from 
 all quarters, r.iul the most flattering decrees 
 of triumpli;il monuments coujd make it. 
 Tlie s'Miatc nut him in a body, and 
 offeied him "the homage of the admiiation, 
 the -jratitude, and the love of the French 
 people." 
 
 The north of Germany has been evacu- 
 ated by the allied forces. The British 
 troops have all returned to England. Pnisr 
 kia has in the mean time taken possession 
 of Hanover. This occupation is stated to 
 be in consequence of au arrangement coii^ 
 pluded with Bonaparte, and the professed 
 object of it is to prevent the north of Ger- 
 niany from becoming the theatre of war. 
 His Prussian Majesty is to keep it till the 
 conclusion of a general peace: but whether 
 it will then be restored to its lawful owner 
 seems a very doubtful point. 
 
 EAST INDIES. 
 
 We announced at ihe close of onr last 
 mimber the lamented death of the Marquis 
 Cornu-'illis, Governor General of India. 
 This afflicting event took place on the 5th 
 of October last at Ghazeepore, in the pro- 
 vince of Benares, where his Lordship had 
 arrived, in his progress to assume the per- 
 sonal command of the army, and to clTect, 
 if possible, an adjustment of all existing 
 ,differL-nces with the native powers. Dur- 
 ing a long and active life this illustrious no- 
 bleman was eminently distinguished ly the 
 most honourable and persevering exertions 
 jn the service of hi'> country. As a patriot, 
 a statesman, and a warrior, he will ever 
 rank in the first class of British worthies. 
 To his wise and benevolent arrangements 
 during his former administration, may our 
 empire in India be said to be indebted, 
 mider Providence, for the happiness and 
 prosperity to which it has attained ; and to 
 the great object of resturing and consoli- 
 dating that happiness and that prosperity, 
 he may be considered as having sacnficed 
 bis life. Tlie sacrifice we trust has not 
 been unavailing. The short space during 
 which it pleased Providence to continue him 
 in the government of India, was most asgi- 
 duously employed in repairing the eiTors 
 of the precedi.ig administration ; in re- 
 trenching unnecessary expences; in eco- 
 nomizing tlie company's resources; and 
 above all in allaying the jealousy and dis- 
 trust which late events had naturally ex- 
 cited, in the minds of the native Princes, 
 respecting the projects of British ambition. 
 It is to be deplored that he did not live long 
 enough to perfect the work of peace which 
 he had so happily begun. Wc hope how- 
 ever, that h« has laid a solid foundation for 
 
 129 
 
 conciliation and confidence, on which hii 
 successor w ill have little difficulty in erect- 
 ing a durable superstructure. Sir Georgp 
 Barlow who was next in council succcded 
 to the Government on the death of the 
 Marquis, and fully adopted, as is said, the 
 economical, unambitious, and pacific views 
 of his predecessor. He has«ince, we art 
 happy to add, been confirmed in that of- 
 fice by the utianiotoiis vote of the Court of 
 Directors. 
 
 A monument to the memory of tho Mar* 
 quis Cornwallis in St. Paul's, has been 
 voted by the House of Commons. 
 
 AMERICA. 
 
 Tho constitut'on of the United States re- 
 strains Congress from abolishing the Slave 
 trade prior to the 1st of January, 1808. 
 The House of Representatives, however, 
 :mticipating their constitutional power, 
 sent up a bill for prohibiting the importa- 
 tion of slaves into any State in the Union, 
 from andafterthe 1st of January, 1808. In 
 the senate the Bill was opposed, and, after 
 a great struggle, rejected, on the obvious 
 principle, that the restriction in the consti- 
 tutional act postponed the right of legisla- 
 ting for such a purpose, and not merely 
 that of giving an earlier operation to the 
 law. The words of the restriction are, 
 " the viigration or importation of such per- 
 snns as any of the States noio existing shall 
 think proper to admit, shatinot be prohibited 
 by the Congress prior to the year 180S :" and 
 they appear scarcely compatible with the 
 passing a prospective prohibitory act i« 
 180'). Yet such is the impati(.nce felt id. 
 America at the temporarj' toleration of 
 the slave trade, by any State in' the Union, 
 that this violent strain of the constitmion 
 was twice supported, even in the senate, 
 by considerable majorities, and was de- 
 feated at last only by the Vice-President's 
 casting voice. 
 
 This decision took place on the 18th of 
 December last, and is detailed in Ths Npic' 
 York Evening Post of Dec^ber 23. The 
 account adds," it was allowed on all hands, 
 that, as soon as the time arrived when the 
 Congress shall posse-ss the constitutional 
 power of prohibiting the importation of 
 slaves, it would be proper for tljem to ex- 
 ercise it." 
 
 The only American State which admits 
 slaves into its ports is South Carolina, and 
 this proce(!ding, as was formerly stated, 
 (vol. for 1804, p. 6T8) gave very great and 
 general umbrage Ihroughnut the Union. 
 A motion was lately made in the legislature 
 of that State for renewing the law which 
 interdicted the slave trade, Ths bill was 
 
1 J Public Affa irs . . . Great 
 
 cgtiTied in the lonec house by a. cojisi- 
 deiable niajoiily ; but was negatived in 
 the seujite by oiie vote. The congress 
 however has mauifcsted its unshaken anti- 
 pathy to the Slave Trad,e, by proh'biting 
 itj in spite of the loudest. usurmars of their 
 new citizens of Louisianaj in that 'exten- 
 sive province. 
 
 A ver^v considerable sensation continues 
 to be fcUin Ameiicaon tlie subject of the 
 principles asserted by this country respt ct- 
 ;n^^ thf relat,ive rifihts of belligerent and 
 
 Britain.. . General Reflections. [Pes. 
 neutral nations. We are happy, how- 
 ever, to perceive, that even those u-ho 
 clamour most loudly against the conduct 
 of England, do not attempt to deny that 
 she has much ground of serious complaint ; 
 and that there exist many flagrant abuses 
 of the rights of neutrality, whi(^h it is no 
 more than equitable on the part of England 
 to suppress. We have little doubt that the 
 reasonableness of our claims: will be feH by 
 the sober snd dispassionate pjirt of the 
 United States. 
 
 GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 GENERAL REFLECTIONS. 
 W-E mentioned in our last number the 
 death of Mr. i^itt, and the consequent ex- 
 pectation nf a new ministry. The new 
 administration has siure been fofmed.- 
 His Majesty who, on a former occasion, is 
 uoderstcod to have stedt'astly resisted e- 
 very solicitation to admit Mr. Far into 
 cffice, influenced, doubtless, by the cir- 
 cumstances of the present times, appears 
 to have readily cousentcd to the plan of an 
 administration, suggested to him by Lord 
 Grenville, in which Mr. Fox bears a con- 
 spicuous part. We cannot help contem- 
 plating this act of our Soverign as pecu- 
 liarly honourable to his character, since it 
 lijdicales a disposition which indeed has 
 been also manifested on former occasions, 
 to jnake his own opiiiions bend to the force 
 of' circumstances, to the- temper of parlia- 
 ment, and to the wi;->hes of the people *. 
 Ainon? the hew cabinet, ministers, not one 
 is to be found who was a. member of the 
 im'nediately antecedent cabinet ; and in 
 this jespeot the profession of forming :>. go- 
 
 * We here allude in particular to his 
 Majesty's former admission of Mr. Fox 
 into power, and also to his rec'ip;i^i.tion of 
 American independence. When Mr. 
 Adanis, the first envoy, from the (J/Vited 
 States of America, obtained his iutrcduc- 
 tpry audience, he was received by. hjs Ma- 
 jesty with the uQost gracious a^Tabiliiy. 
 — " Sir," said tlse king, " I was the last 
 man in the kingdom to consent to the in- 
 dependence of America; biU now ii is 
 granted, I shall he the last man in the 
 world to sanction a violation of it." M\. 
 Adams was umch aficctcd. This dignified 
 language constituted a sti iking reftitation 
 of many of those caiuronies against his 
 >lajesty, which had been prop.jgattd in 
 America. 
 
 vernment on the bjoadest basis seems not 
 to have been fulfilled. It moreover appears 
 that the removals which have taken place 
 in the irrferior departments have been con- 
 siderably greater than have been usual in 
 the case of other changes of administra- 
 tion. The new ministers are as follows ; 
 those who compose the cabinet beiu"- 
 marked thus (*). 
 
 TREASURY. 
 
 *Lord Grenville First Ix)rd. 
 
 *Lord H. Petty Chan, of the Excheq. 
 
 Lord Althorpe 1 
 
 Mr. Wickham ^ Lords. 
 
 • Mr. Conrteriay ) 
 
 Mr. Vansittart 1 , 
 
 Mr. King \ Secretaries. 
 
 *EarlFitzwilliam ..^.Presid. ofthe Council. 
 *Visc. Sidmouth Lord Privy Seal. 
 
 StCP.ET ARIES or STATE. 
 
 *Mr. Fox Foreign Department. 
 
 Sir F. Vincent ? ,, . „ . " 
 
 General Walpole... 5^"*^" Secretaries, 
 
 *Larl Spencer Home Department. 
 
 Mr. W. Wvnne ...?,.. ^ 
 
 Mr. Harrison \ ^"'^*^'' Secretaries. 
 
 *Mr. Windham Colonial Department. 
 
 SiraSbee ? tt , o 
 
 >ir. Amyot $ U"'''^'" Secretanes. 
 
 =i:Lord Erskine Lord Chdncellor, 
 
 ADMIR.'^LTY. 
 
 *Mr Grey First Lord. 
 
 Sir Ph.. Stephens 
 A'lmiral Maikbam 
 
 Sir C. Pole . ^ , 
 
 SirH. B. Neale /^Lpfrds. 
 
 Lord VV. Rnssel 
 
 Lord Keusmgton... 
 
 *Earl of Moira Ma^t. Gen. of Ord. 
 
 Ott). Fitapauick Secretary at War, 
 
1306.] 
 
 Mr. SlitTidan ...Tieas. oftlu- Navy. 
 
 Duke of Bedford Ld. Lieut, of Ireland. 
 
 Mr. Elliot Secretary to Do. 
 
 BO.A,ilD OF CONTROUL. 
 
 Lord Mintn, Lord Spencer. 
 
 Mr. Windham, Mr. Fox. 
 
 Lord Grenviilc, Lord H. Petty. 
 
 Lord Morpeth, Mr. H. Addington. 
 Mr. Sullivan. 
 
 JointPostmnstcrs. 
 
 Earl of Derby. 
 
 Mr. Adam. 
 
 Mr. Garrou-. 
 
 Public Affairs. . . General R<;flections.. .Kav Minishy. ' 1 !> 1 
 
 guardians of the constitution, and as we 
 concxive not without reason, to be a cou- 
 jiiiiotion of two employments which aie in- 
 compatible. 
 
 In forming our estimate of the present 
 ministry, we are d;>pu.srd to allow that they 
 undoubtedly comprize the principal talents 
 of the. country : and if, in making this ad- 
 mission, we seem to reflect on tlic preced- 
 ing administration, not one of whom, as 
 we have already noticed, has any place in 
 the <;abiiiet, we do but the more exalt the 
 stupendous talents of JVIr. Fitt, who un- 
 iloubtediy eomiuunicated to tiiose with 
 whom he was associated, a degree of re- 
 putation and strength, which rendered 
 that ministry, wliile Mr- Pitt's health and 
 life remained, by uo means incompetent to 
 the administration of the affairs of this 
 great country. 
 
 That iiis death should issue in the total 
 exclusion of his coHeaaues from office, and 
 that the succeeding ministry should never- 
 thefess claim to be a combination of al- 
 most all that is great in parliament, audio 
 the country, is a new proof of his trans- 
 cendancy. 
 
 Some meetings have been called for the 
 purpose of congratulaling the king on the 
 choice of his new ministry, and on the con- 
 sequent prospects of the country. Under 
 
 \ 
 
 Earl Buckiniihamshin 
 
 E.irl Carysfort 
 
 Lord Auckland .Pres. Board ofTrade. 
 
 Earl Temple Vice President ditto. 
 
 Earl Temple ? Joint Paymasters of 
 
 Lord J. Townsbend J tl:e Forces. 
 
 Earl of Carnarvon... .Master of tiie Horse. 
 
 Lord C. Spencer Master of the Mint. 
 
 Earl of Albemarle. ..MasterofStagHounds. 
 
 Lord Ossulston Treas.ofHousehold. 
 
 Chancellor of tlie Du- 
 chy of Lancaster. 
 
 . , e. I u S Captain of Band of 
 
 Lord 6 1. John < h> ^ \, ■ 
 
 \ Gent. Pensioners. 
 
 Lord Rt. Spencer Snrv. ofCrown Lands. 
 
 Mr. Bond Judge Advocate. 
 
 Mr. Pigott ;Attorney General. 
 
 Mr. Tlomilly , .Solicitor General. 
 
 Chancellor of the D. 
 
 of Cornwall. 
 Attorney General to 
 fiis Royal Higliness 
 ( thePrince of Wales, 
 ^ord Ellenborough has a seatinthe Cabinet. 
 
 We appreheiiil that the changes in some 
 of the law departments, and also the intro- 
 duction of the party of Lord St. Vincent in- 
 to the Admiralty, are the parts of this ar- 
 ranjTCment which will be the least satis- 
 factory to the public. 
 
 The appointment of a military council 
 which is to assist the Duke of York, who 
 csntinues to be Commander in Chief with- 
 out having a seat in the cabinet, is consist- 
 ent with the former professions of some of 
 the present mihisti'v', and will unquestion- 
 ably be gratifying to the nation. In a 
 moment like the present, every measure 
 which may contribute to the mOre eflbc- 
 tuai defence of the country will obtain the 
 jiublic applause ; and all impropc'r delica- 
 cy 6ughl to yield to higher Consirterations. 
 His .Majesty has<jiv'en another proof of the 
 predominance of his regard to the public 
 good oTer every private and natural feel- 
 ing, by acquiescing, after only a shoit 
 suspense, in this part of the artan;." mciit. 
 
 The a(ip>intment of Lord Ellenborough, 
 Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench 
 to a seat in the Cabinet, has excited some 
 surprise, aud is thought by wany ji;alaus 
 
 by 
 
 these auspices, it is now supposed 
 some, either that the war cannot fail to be 
 vlgorotisly carried on, or that a peace will 
 be prtiiured which shall be at onee safe 
 and honourable *. 
 
 We entertain upon this subject some- 
 what less sanguine expectations. The 
 difficulties in which we are involved arise, 
 as we think, more out of the times in which 
 we live, than out of the fault of this or that 
 adrjiinistratiou, although there may be 
 ground for the praise or the c( nsure of som« 
 of the vaiious acts of government. Though 
 accustomed to regaid with no small degree 
 of jealousy the principles of some of the 
 individuals who form the new ministry, we 
 are desirous, nevertheless, of exercising 
 touavds them, and of claiming on their be- 
 half, the same candid con-structicn of their 
 measures, uhich wfe demanded for the last. 
 And we would warn our countrymen, in 
 the outset, agttinst indulging any especta- 
 tion of being relieved from great burdens 
 a« well as great exertions. Even the best 
 peace whicli vve can reasonably hope to at- 
 tain must be insecure and quoslionable, 
 
 * See the debates and resolutions of tiie 
 Common Council of the City of London. 
 
1 32 Public /{fairs. . . Greet 
 
 and is likely to be maintained only by 
 an expence litt'e inferior to that of our 
 H-ar establishment. It has been the gene- 
 ral practice of those who have const'tutcd 
 the opposition party in parliament, to exag- 
 gerate the distress.? of the country, to 
 refer them too exclusively to the fault of 
 government, and to excite expectatiouof a 
 greater improv^ement in onr affairs, in the 
 case of Iheir succeeding to jwwer, than 
 events have warranted. 
 
 When the ministry of Lord North was 
 overthrov^n, an immediate peace was 
 deemed likely to follow. But the new mi- 
 nistry knocked at the door of almost every 
 cabinet on the Continent, without efiecting 
 their purpose. And it was reserved for the 
 succeeding adn>inistratioTi, of the Earl of 
 Shelburne and ^Mr. Pitt, to make peace ; a 
 peace which Lord North and Mr. Fox 
 united in condemning as inadequaie. 
 
 Sluch (lisappointment also took place in 
 respect to the reform of parliament, and of 
 the various departments of the state. Si)me 
 laws indeed were passed for the limitation 
 of the influence of tl;e crown, which we be- 
 lieve to hi\e been beneficial: but they fell 
 remarkably short both of the claims of our 
 reformers, and of the fust intentions and 
 professions of the very movers. That one 
 ministry diflfors less from anothei than is 
 commonly supposed, in vespeet at least to 
 the general principles of govenmient, was 
 also soon afterwards indicated In the clear- 
 estmanner by the union of the two most 
 adverse parties in the country, that of 
 Lord North and Mr. Fox, who, afrer ap- 
 pearing to the nation to be the very anti- 
 podes to each other, met in the same ca- 
 binet. 
 
 A ticw coalition has now been fonncd, 
 and it consists, somewhat in like manner, 
 of men heretofore the most ad\'erse to 
 each other. We are persuaded that the 
 public opinion of our political parties is 
 much loweiedby these combinations. 
 
 We are willing at the same time to 
 hope for some advantages from the piesent 
 union of influence and of talents. Lotus 
 not however be entirely blind either to the 
 evils which may result from the heteroge- 
 neous nature of some at least of the mate- 
 rials out of which this ministry is com- 
 posed : and above all let us not imagine 
 that it is in their power to change the pre- 
 sent state of things upon the Continent; 
 to induce Bonaparte to forego his ambi- 
 tious projects aguint the greatness and in- 
 dependence of Britain ; or to provide 
 othci-vvist than by nesv burtiiens und ucw 
 
 Britain...Nev; Muistrj. [Feb. 
 
 exertions for the safety of the empire. Bo- 
 naparte will not be charmed into submis- 
 niission by the name of a Fox or terrified 
 into it by that of a Grenville or a Wind- 
 ham. He knows his ow^n strength, and we 
 fear that he may be disposed to make a 
 farther trial of it, without sacrifices and 
 concessions on our part, which, while tliey 
 procured for us the delusive semblance of a 
 peace, would only serve to render our de- 
 struction more speedy and ineviti ble. 
 
 Our new government, as we trust, will act 
 a wise and manly part : ♦hey will call forth 
 the resources and the energies of the peo- 
 ple: they will greatly extend our measures 
 of defence, as we may presume Mr. Pitt 
 would also have done : and thej' vvill con- 
 tinue vigorously to employ that immense 
 maritime power, with which providence has 
 blessed us, not only in turning the tide of 
 war from our own shores, but in reducing 
 the immense resources of our formidable 
 enemy. 
 
 The nation also we trust will have reason 
 to perceive that no means are left untried 
 fur extricating us out of our difficulties ; 
 and they will consent, from a clear con- 
 viction of its necessity to bear that heavy 
 pressure which must be brought upon 
 them. The disaffected, whether in this 
 country, or in Ireland, Mil! be convinced 
 that they have no party in the parliament 
 of the united kingdom favourable to their 
 views : and the tone of those who have 
 heretofore been thought by many, to have 
 too much countenanced the spirit of dis- 
 content and faction, will no doubt be such 
 as becomes the ministers of the state. 
 
 The chief hope however which can rea- 
 sonably be entertained in tiavour of our 
 country must always arise from the vir- 
 tues rather than the talents of our rulers ; 
 though the latter are the too common ob- 
 ject of idolatry. A fair and honourable 
 conduct towards our allies ; a faithful and 
 close attention in every department of 
 government to the laborious duties of their 
 respective offices ; a selection of men ac- 
 cording to their merit, and not according 
 either to court favour or their influence 
 in a party, a point of sujireme importanpe 
 in the command of our fleets and armies ; 
 and a paramount regard to the religious 
 and -moral intere=;ts of the nt'.tion in the 
 concerns both of the executive government 
 and of the legislature : — these appear to us 
 to be the highest recommendations of a mi- 
 nistry ; and they imply much more of up- 
 rightness and integrity than of intellectual 
 endo^meut. 
 
1806.] Great Britain. ...New Ministrj/.,. Slave Trade. 
 
 But it is not to the virtues of the adrni- 
 nistration only that we must look tor the 
 preservation of the empire. General cor- 
 ruption will always be the souice both of 
 parliamentary and ministerial corruption. 
 Are the peoi)le sclii^h, void of I'.ublic spi- 
 rit, complaining, factious, and unreason- 
 able ? The ministers in such case can 
 hardly fail to partake in the common in- 
 fection, and are tempted to employ cor- 
 rupt means of governing so corrupt a peo- 
 ple. The parliament also is then placed 
 under the necessity of taking: various 
 measures «hich infringe on liberty for the 
 sake of preserving its own authority, and 
 lb-' general principles of the constitution. 
 Are the people on the other hand loyal, 
 sijber, industiious, patriotic, at peace 
 among themselves, and united in sentiment 
 ajraiiist the common enemy ? How easy is 
 it for almost any ministry to direct the ef- 
 forts of such a nation ! How nearlj' cer- 
 tain must be the success of such a peo- 
 ple against the armies of a profligate in- 
 vader, and how confidently, moreover, 
 may they expect that the blessing of hea- 
 ven will crown their efibrts. So true is it 
 according to the language of the prophet, 
 that righteousness exalteth a nation, but 
 sin is the ruin of many people. 
 
 There is one point of view, yet unno- 
 ticed, in which we are disposed to contem- 
 plate with hope the accession of the new 
 ministiy to power : we allude to the abo- 
 lition of the Slave Trade. The majority 
 of the leading men in the present admi- 
 Bistration have pledged themselves to 
 the prosecution of the measure. On this 
 question Mr. Fox has thus expressed 
 himself. " Any gentleman, who after a 
 full knowledge of the subject, can avow 
 himself an abetter of the shameful traffic 
 in human flesh, it can only be either fiom 
 some hardness of hciirl, ov some such dif- 
 Jiculty of understanding as I really know 
 not how to account for." — " The cause of 
 abolition,'' he rem^irked on another occa- 
 sion, " being a cause of justict-, it is one in 
 which I cannot admit of any compromise j 
 for there cun be no cornprcmise beln:een justice 
 and injustice." — 'i Upon the whole, I shall 
 give my opinion of this traffic in a very iew 
 words. I believe it to be impolitic. I 
 know it to be inhuman. I am certain it is 
 unjust." — " Even if the objects of it were 
 bcute animals, uo humane man could ex- 
 pose them to be treated with such wanton 
 cruelty. If the merchandize were totally 
 inanimate, no honest man could support a 
 trade founded upon .«uch principles of in- 
 Gmrist. Observ No. 50. 
 
 133 
 
 justice. Upon these grounds there is 
 every necessity for putting an immediate 
 end to it.'' — " Let us therefore tliis night 
 act the part which wiildo us honour : let 
 us vote for bringing in a bill for the aboli- 
 tion. If we fail, 1 have only to express 
 my gratitmle to the honourable gentleman 
 (Mr. Wilberforce) for the part he has 
 taken. He does not need my exhortation 
 to persist. But this I will declare, that 
 whether we vote in a small minority, or in 
 a large one, we never will give up the 
 POINT. IVhether in this house or out of this 
 house; in xchatsocjer situation I may ever be; 
 as long as I have a voice to speak; this ques- 
 tion SHALL never have AN CND. If it 
 
 were possible that the honourable gentle- 
 man could entertain the idea of abandon- 
 ing it, I weukl not." — " We who think 
 that these things are not merely impolitic, 
 but inhuman, and tirjust ; that they are 
 not of the nature rif trade, butlhat they are 
 crimes zvhich stain the honour of the country : 
 
 W'E, SIR, WILL never relax OUR EF- 
 FORTS." On every subsequent discussion 
 of this momentous question, the language 
 of Air Fox has been equally decided ; nor 
 does there appear the least ground to 
 question bis sincerity. Lord Grenville, 
 whenever he has had an opportunity of 
 express^ing his sentiments, has manifest- 
 ed an hostility no less marked and de- 
 termined to this detestable commerce. 
 " No advantage," he has declared, 
 '* which individuals or the public can de- 
 rive from the continuance of the slave 
 trade shall ever induce me to give it my 
 approbation, or to consider it in any other 
 light than a system, not only of injustice 
 and inhumanity, but of fraud, robbery, 
 and murder." Other members of the Ca- 
 binet, as Lord Spi^ncer, Lord H. Petty, and 
 Mr. Grey, have declared themselves on 
 the same side in this question. And al- 
 though there may be parts of the new 
 ministerial arrangements which appear 
 somewhat inauspicious : although moreover 
 we have learned, especially in this question, 
 to moderate our expectations from man, 
 and to look for a solution of its difficulties 
 to a higher interference than even that of a 
 British legislature ; we nevertheless in- 
 dulge a hope that some effectual remedy 
 will at length be applird to this enor- 
 mous evil : an evil, our wilful continuance 
 of which seems to exclude a rational and 
 well founded reliance on the divine 
 blessing and favour. If it be true, as has 
 alreariy been said, that it is rigkteous- 
 nf-ss which exalteth a nation, then what 
 
 T 
 
1 54; Public Affairs. . . Parliament . . .Dofnesfic Intelligence 
 
 reasonable expectation can Christians en- 
 tertain that the Aiir.ijhty vvill bless (iiir 
 efforts, while the Slave Trade, that 'jreat- 
 esl practical evil which ever has affli' t^-d 
 the human race, that conipouml of all 
 that is base, fraudful, and iniiutnan, is 
 rttaiij'-d and cherished by us. 
 
 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. 
 
 Little business of momcjjit has come be- 
 fore Parliament during the present niciith, 
 in consequence of the changes of Govern- 
 ment, and the dela}' necessarily «aiis.'d by 
 the re-election of the new ministers. 
 
 Thanks have be«n voted to our naval 
 commsndcrs, who distinguithed th.Miiselves 
 by the late victories, and to the otficers and 
 men who served under them. A monu- 
 ment in St. Paul's was voted to the me- 
 mory of Lord Nelson, and it was stated at 
 the .-.amo time to be his ?.Iajesty's intention 
 to settle c£.'2000 per annum on the widow 
 of Lord Nelson, and to appropriate the 
 sum of <£. 200,000 to the purchase of an 
 estate to be attached to the title of Earl 
 Nelson, 
 
 We mentioned in our last, that a reso- 
 lution was carrii-d in the House of Com- 
 mons for an address to his iMojesty, pray- 
 ing that the rsmains of i\lr. Pitt might be 
 interred at the public cha:ge, rnd that a 
 monument might be elected to his memory 
 in Westminster Abbey, " having an in- 
 scription e-xpressive of the national regret 
 at the loss of that excellent statesman." 
 An address to his Majesty was afterwards 
 moved in the House, to issue tiie sum of 
 of.40,00l) for the purpose of paying 
 iMr. Pitt's debts, which passed unani- 
 mously. 
 
 The treaties and other explanatory pa- 
 pers, which have been laid belore Parlia- 
 ment by hi> iMajcsty, have thrown much 
 light on the causes which have led to the 
 late disasters on the Continent ; and have 
 tended to tix on the Austrian Cabinet the 
 charges of gross improvidence and misma- 
 nagement, and of a violation, in the conduct 
 of liie war, ot her engagements to this 
 coimtry ^nd to Russia, particularly in the 
 luifortunate advance of General Mack"s 
 army into Suabia. Tp these causes, on 
 which our limits forbid us at pre>ent to en- 
 large, may be immediately referred tiie 
 suddenness at least of the ruin wluch lias 
 overwh'-lmed that power. 
 
 The following estimates have been voted 
 viz. ^.l,lP3,10o for 154.437 men for ge- 
 neral service for three months; .£.505,057 
 for the troops employed abroad: and 
 
 [Feb. 
 
 <£.6 17,584 for the militia of the United 
 Kingdom. 
 
 A resolution has passed for raising the 
 sum of five millions by Exchequer bills. 
 
 The Committee appointed to try the 
 meiits of the Middlesex election have re- 
 ported that " (i. B. Al/.tnwaring, Esq. was 
 duly elected and ought to have been re- 
 tmned.'' 
 
 A bill has passed both houses and re- 
 ceived the Koyal assent, for enabling Lord 
 Crrn-ji/lf to retain the office of Auditor of 
 the ExchequeE, while he holds the office of 
 First Lord of the Treasuiy, appointing a 
 deputy to discharge the duties of tiie former 
 office, who should be responsible for their 
 due discharge, and who should not be re- 
 moveable by Lord (irnville. This act 
 has caused some dissatisfaction in the pub- 
 lic mind. 
 
 A French squadron, bound as is supposed 
 to the West Indies, fell in with part of the 
 outward bound West India fleet in lat. 36. 
 long. '23. and is supposed to have captured 
 six or seven ships. 
 
 No fartheraccounthas yet been receiied 
 of the various French squadrons which are 
 out of port. 
 
 The public funeral of the Right Hon. W. 
 Pitt took place on the '22d inst. The cere- 
 luony was conducted in a very solemn and 
 affecting manner. But llie nation pays 
 him a nobler homage than that of any pa- 
 geant or procession, hon ever splendid. His 
 giave is watered with the tears of his coun- 
 trymen, who feel that, ;!greeably to the 
 words used in pronouncing the style of the 
 deceased, Non sibi sedpntrKE vLvit. 
 DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. 
 Sir John Newport is appointed Chancel- 
 lor of the Exchequer for Ireland. 
 
 The following pcr.sons have been raised 
 to the peerage of the United Kingdom, viz. 
 Thomas Auson, Esq. created Viscount An- 
 son; the Marquis of Sligo created Earon 
 Monteugle: the Earl of Egliiiton created 
 Baion .\rdro.<;san : ti.e Earl of Lauderdale 
 created Baron Lauderdale: the Earl of 
 Granard created Baron Granard: John 
 Ciev, e, Eai- created Bnron Crewe: Wil- 
 liam Lyg'^n, Esq. created Baron Beau- 
 champ; and the Hon. Thomas Erskine 
 cicatcd Baron Erskine. 
 
 Viscounts Goslord, Oxmanton, Somer- 
 ton, and Cliarleville.have respectively been 
 created Earls of Ireland, by the title: of 
 Goslord, lloss, Normantoii, and Charleville, 
 and P. J.Tlu llusson, Esq. has been created 
 a peer of Irelaxid, by the title of Baron Ren- 
 dlcsham. 
 
1806.] 
 
 13; 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL PREFERMENTS. 
 
 Rev. John Ward, NT. A. rector of Stoke 
 Ash, Occol<l R. Siiffoik. 
 
 Rev. F. Palmer, Combpync R. Devon. 
 
 Rev. William Aldricb, elect -d to St. 
 Mury Elms pLMpetuat curacy, Ipswicli, -Jtce 
 Kdge, dec. 
 
 Rev. R. W. Salmon, rector of Caistor, 
 next Great Yarmouth, Thrigby.R. Norfolk. 
 
 Rev. R. Llewellyn, M. A. TolesLiiiry 
 living, near Colchester, Essex. 
 
 Rev. J. Banks Jeiikinsun, B. A. Hawkes- 
 bury V. co. Gloucester. 
 
 Rev. T. Frere, M. A. Finuing-ham R. 
 cu. Suffolk. 
 
 Rev. T. Tordiffe, Holconibe R. Oxon. 
 
 Rev. Edward Bogges, M. A. Hasketoii 
 K. CO. Suffolk. 
 
 Rev. Michael Thomas Becher, M. A. 
 master of the grammar-school in Bury, 
 Wotton-Wawen V. co. Warwick, -ace 
 Gaches, dec. 
 
 Rev. Richard Williams, M. A. rector of 
 Great Houghton, co. North.impton, of 
 Markfield, co. Leicester, and vicar of Pud- 
 dington, co. Bedford, to the prebend of 
 Longford-Mauor, in Lincoln cathedr;;). 
 
 Rev. Thomas Theophilus Humphries, 
 "SI. A. Baldock R. Korts. 
 
 Rev. Richard Lloyd, St. Dun.stan in the 
 West V. London, c/f.- Williamson, resigned. 
 
 Rev. Robert Hales, M. A. Hemisby V. 
 CO. Norfolk. 
 
 Rev. Dickins Haslewood, M. A. AvclifTe 
 V. CO. Durham. 
 
 Rev. John Forster, of Newcastle, Rythcr 
 R. CO. York. 
 
 Rev. John Francis St'iart, M. A. Mar- 
 ket- Weston R. CO. Suffolk. 
 
 Rev. T. Williams, M. A. Weybread V. 
 CO. Oxford. 
 
 Rev. John Edge, B. A. Naughton R. 
 CO. Suliolk. 
 
 Rev. J. Carr, :M. A. of Leeds, rector of 
 Great Oakley, Essex, to a prcbendal stall 
 in Hereford cathedral. 
 
 Rev. John Knipe, M. A. Charlton-upcn- 
 Otmoor R. co. Oxford, vice Fothcrgill, 
 dec. 
 
 Rev. Wm. Wood, M. A. of Woodtliorpe, 
 to be minister of St. John's, Wakefield. 
 
 Rev. Charles Wedge, B. A. Borough- 
 Green R. CO. Cambridge. 
 
 OBITUARY. 
 
 A FIXE child, upwards of two year.> old, 
 belonging to Mr. Blenheim, of Bond-street, 
 being at nurse at Elackhcath, fell into a 
 well in the garden, and was drowned, it 
 having no cover or fence. The father and 
 mother, on the day before Christmas-day, 
 v.hen visiting the child, foresaw the danger, 
 took dimensions for a cover, and sent it by 
 the coach on the Stith, but the acci<lent had 
 happened bef'<re it.« arrival. 
 
 Burnt to death, Mrs. Gooch, of Sloane- 
 square, mother to the Lady of the Bishop 
 of Bath and Wells. 
 
 At Cawthorne, near Earnsley, in her 
 18tli year, Martha Mellor, who was shot 
 by Samuel Ibbolson, a boy VI j'ears old. 
 Having gone into the house wheie the girl 
 was, he took up a gun, but was desired to 
 lay it down immediatelj', which he did ; 
 but shortly afterwards took it up again, 
 and, seeing the girl in another room, said 
 he would shoot her, which he immediately 
 did. 
 
 Rev. Matthew Tliompsoii, rector of Brad- 
 field and Mistley, Es.sex, and in the com- 
 mission of the peace for that county. He 
 was invited, with a party, to dine with Col. 
 Righy, at Mistley ; when the company 
 WQve informed that dinner was ready, JNIr. 
 Thompson, in the act of ri.sing to go into 
 the dining-room, fell down, and expired 
 immediately, leaving a wife and II chil- 
 dren to lament his sudden departure. 
 
 During the funeral processicni of Lord 
 Nelson's remains on Ihe river, a ladv of 
 the name of Baync, was so affected at the 
 .scene, that she fell into hysterics, and 
 died in a iew minutes. 
 
 Aged 70, of a mortification in his foot, 
 occasioned by cutting a toe nail to the 
 quick, Mr. .Abraham Parkinson of Leeds, 
 formerly a liquor merchant, but had re- 
 tired from business. 
 
 Mr. Houghton, shoemaker, at Bury St. 
 Edmund's. He was in apparent good 
 beal'.li, chopping a fag^got, the same after- 
 
135 Obituaiy...Ansii-crs 
 
 noon, when he accidentally cut one of his 
 fingers, and, on his wife's expressing a wish 
 to drer.s it, he said, " Never mind, my 
 dear; what is this woand compared to Lord 
 Nelson's ?" and immediately fell down '" ^" 
 apoplectic fit, from which he never re- 
 COTered to utter another sentence. 
 
 At Ashe, near Basingstoke, Hants, 
 aged 60, the Rev. George Lefroy, rector 
 of that parish, and of Compton, Surrey. 
 
 At Fern-house, Wilts, the seat of Tho- 
 mas Grove, Esq. Miss Mary Anne Grove, 
 his fourth daughter, a fine young lady, 
 a?ed 13. By some accident, her mui-lia 
 dress caught fire, when there was no 
 oue in the apartment with her except a 
 younger sister, who was incapable of as- 
 sisting her. Terrified by her alarming 
 situation, Miss G. ran out of the house; 
 bnt, unfortunately, no one was at that in- 
 stant on the spot; and when she again en- 
 
 to Correspondents. [Feb. 1S06. 
 
 tered, and flew to an apartment in which 
 Mr. Baukes of Salisbury was on business, 
 she was entirely enveloped in flames ; and 
 though Mr. B. used every exertion, with 
 the assistance of two servants, to extin- 
 guish them, and were much burnt, their 
 cfiorts were unavailing, till her clothes were 
 nearly consumed. She bore her suffer- 
 ings with fortitude and resignation till 
 she was happily released from them by 
 death. 
 
 In the prime of life, in consequence of 
 a severe wound by an accideiit from his 
 thrashing-mill, which caught his hand, 
 tore oft" his arm, and fracturc<l the opposite 
 collar-bone, Thomas Whittington, Esq, of 
 Haniswell-house, near Bath. 
 
 Mrs. Kamsay, wife of Mr. William 
 R. of Belfast, in Ireland. Her death was 
 occasioned by taking a large quantity of 
 laudanum in mistake. 
 
 ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
 
 We beg to inform Johs, that the first volumes of our work are reprinting. Notice 
 
 will be given when they are re:\dy for publication. 
 The letters sent by R. J. are under consideiation ; also B; J. P. T. ; and Fidelo. 
 Z. ; S ; A plain hovest Mav; C. L. ; and Johan.nensis are received, and will appear. 
 C. B. L.'s purpose has been anticipated, 
 Antive.no.m ; A. D.; and Tristis, have been received. 
 
 ERRATUM. 
 
 LAST NUMBER, 
 
 Page 65, col. 1. last line but one, for York read London. 
 
TABLE OF COXTENTS. 
 
 VOL. V. 
 
 BEING FOR THE YEAR 1806. 
 
 NUMBER I. 
 
 Uemc. Com. ..Sketches of the Reforma- 
 tion, No. IX. Sentiments of Latimer on 
 Predesfinatioii, .tc.On 1 Tim. vi. 10... 
 Oi) fortify ins Youth against Infidel Prin- 
 ciples. ..On Anger ...Importance of .Man- 
 ner in the Pulpit.. A Mitigated Law... 
 Theological Library. --Means of rightly 
 impressing the Minds of Children... Ad- 
 vantage of Preacliers being able to spell 
 ...On the Inscription by Mr. Fox to the 
 r.^emory of the late B'sbop of Doun and 
 Connor p. 1 — 15 
 
 MiscEi On interestins ourselves about 
 
 Political Events. ..Illustration of that 
 Charity which believeth all Things to 
 Men's Prejud:ce, and of that which 
 calls evil good. ..On the Character of Dr. 
 Heylin as an Historian. ..On the Pro- 
 prieties of the Female Character, p. 17 — 
 
 Review of ... Daiibeny's Discourses... 
 Foster's F.ssays...Cockburn's Address... 
 The Critical Review p. 26 — 52 
 
 Lit. a.vd Phil. I.vtel... Great Britain — 
 £a«t India College — Comet. ..Germany 
 ...New Publications p. 54, 53 
 
 Relic. Ivtll... New South \Vah"s...Tar- 
 tary — Cape of Good Hope — Mission 
 Society to Africa and the East — Society 
 for promoting Christian Knowledge — 
 East Indies p. 56, 51 
 
 Tub. Affairs. ..Continental Intelligence 
 ...<;re:it Britain — Parliamentary Pro- 
 ceedings. ..General Reflections, &,c. p. 
 59—63 
 
 Obituary. ..Right Hon. Wiiliain Pitt .. 
 Bishop of Ossory p. 63 — 65 
 
 Distresses in Germany p. 67 
 
 Death of Lord Cornwallis p. 68 
 
 NUMBER II. 
 
 Relic. Co.m.. .Character of John Lord 
 If arruigttiii...Ci'hop Latimer's View of 
 the Way of Salvation — Justification by 
 Faith, &c... Marginal Refercnce.s...Oii 
 violating Tiiilh... Mr. Duubeny's Omis- 
 sion of a iVof.. .Character of Cowpcr 
 the Poet p. 09— 84. 
 
 MiscEL... Advice to Ladies on reading 
 IIi>tory.-.On the Principle of Expedi- 
 eiicy adopted by Mr. Malthas.. .A Hymn 
 .... Infidelity and Credulity — Extract 
 from Mr. Pitt's Speech on the Slave 
 Trade p. 86— '.^3. 
 
 Christ. Oes. App. 180S. 
 
 Review of.... Daubeny's Discourses.... 
 Foster's Essays.. .Letter on the Death of 
 Mr. Pitt. ..Simeon's Churchman's Con- 
 fession p. 94—118. 
 
 Lit. and Phil. I.vtel. ..Great Britain.... 
 France.. .Denmark... Germany ...Russia 
 New Publications p. 1'20 121. 
 
 Relic. I.vtel... Mission to Tartary... 
 West Indies.. '.Catechising, p. 122 — 126. 
 
 Pub. Affairs.. .Continental Intel. ..East 
 
 Indies and America. ..Great Britain 
 
 General Reflections.. .New Ministry, 
 &c p. 127—1.34. 
 
 Ecclesiastical Preferments ..p. 135. 
 
 NUMBER III. 
 Relic. Com. ..Funeral Sermon on the 
 Death of Martin Lutiier...Bi.-<hop Lati- 
 mer's Sentiments on Baptism, theChurch, 
 Preaching, Inteipreiation of Parables — 
 General Remarks. ..On 1 Pet. iv. 1 and 
 2. ..On 1 Tim. vi. 10. ..Prophecies re- 
 specting the Destruction of Jerusalem. 
 Lawfulness of Anger. ..Advice to joun"' 
 Men. ..Private Religious Societies... The 
 j)eces.,ary Erudition. ..Hebrew and Itali- 
 an Bibles p. 137 — 154. 
 
 I^IiscEL.. Scott's Lay of the last Minstrel 
 ...Duelling. ..Horrors of the Slave Trade 
 ....4.nti-jacobiii's Review ui I'oslei's Es- 
 says. ..Lines on a Daughter's Less of 
 
 Sight... to a Friend gathering 
 
 wild Flowers p. 154 — 160. 
 
 Review I>f... Robinson's Christian Svstcm 
 ...Tuke's Pi'incipl.^'S of the Quakers... 
 Smith and Williaius on the Origin of 
 Moral EviljFredesiination, &,c...Foste:'s 
 
 Essays p. 161 — 1S6. 
 
 Lit. and Phil. I.ntei Great B itain... 
 
 East India College. ..New PuhliL-aiions, 
 
 p. 189—190. 
 
 Relic. Intel... Institution for Poor Pious 
 
 Clergymen. ..East Iiulies... America — 
 
 Prisoners of War p. lyo — 193. 
 
 Pun. Affairs — Continental. ..Cape of 
 Good Hope. ..America. ..Great Eriiain, 
 Parliameiitan" Proceedings, &c. p. 193 
 
 —197. 
 
 Obituary. ..Rev. Dr. Black. ..Mr. Dale 
 
 ...Deaths p. 198,199. 
 
 NUMBER IV. 
 
 Relio. Com. ..Death of the Earl of Sa- 
 lisbury. ..Private Sentiments of the Re- 
 formers on Justification, &.c... Letter to 
 a young Clergyman oii the Duties of his 
 H 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 Office. ..Tilcans of the Piospeilty of the 
 Church. ..Aitevbury's Defence of Luther, 
 ad Jiistiiication ...Dress proper for 
 Ciiristiaiis... Society proper for Chris- 
 tians p. 201—216. 
 
 MisCei... Flattery... The Golden Pillar... 
 
 The Mother of Augustin — Lord Bacon's 
 
 Recommendation of Clerical Societies, 
 
 P.V217— 226. 
 
 Review of. ..Robinson's Chiistian Sys- 
 tem.... Giberl's Sermon.'!.... Napleton's 
 Sermons.. . The Chrstian Mirror.. .Robin- 
 son s Clergyman's Assistant.. .Interest- 
 ing Conversations.. .Murray's Spelling 
 Boole p. 227—247. 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Tn'tel... Great Britain... 
 Society for bettering the Condition of 
 the Poor... Scottish och-.iols... France... 
 Holland. ..Uuiy... Germany... Sweden... 
 Russiii... Turkey. ..Anjerica ..New Puh- 
 lications...M...... .......p. 248—252. 
 
 Relig. Intel. ..American Indians.. .The 
 Je'vs... Mission to Tartary, p. 253—255. 
 
 Pub. Aff.^irs... Continental. ..Cape of 
 Good Hope. ..Great Britain. ..Sunday- 
 
 dril'itig Parliamentary Proceedinsrs, 
 
 ^io P- 256—262. 
 
 OsiTUARV... Execution of Riciiard Patch, 
 
 p. 262. 
 
 NUMBER V. 
 
 Rel!G. Com.. .Life of 'Bishop Jewell... 
 Bradford's Vieivs of Predestination. .On 
 the Biessedness of thoj^e who mourn... 
 Duties bindinsj on Cin'istians in their 
 Intercourse with others. ..Letters to a 
 young Clergyman on ministerial Success 
 ...Education of Children, p. 265 — 279. 
 
 MiscEL... Flattery. ..The World As It Is... 
 Farther Intelligence from the Country 
 Squire ...' p. 260—289. 
 
 Review OF.. For-yth's Principles of mo- 
 ral Science. ..Edinbutgh Review of For- 
 syth. ..Buchanan's .Memoirs on an Ec- 
 clesiastical Establishment in India, p. 
 292—303. 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intel. ..Great Britain... 
 Germany. ..Denmar!<.... East Indies, and 
 America. ..New Publications, p 315 — 
 
 317. 
 
 Relig. Intel. ..Baptist Mission in India... 
 United Brethren... Jamaica... Labrador... 
 
 Greenland North Ainericit British 
 
 and Foreign Bible Society, p. 319 — 323. 
 
 Pub. Affairs... Continental. ..F!ast Indies 
 
 ...Ameiica... Great Britain.-.S.ave'l'rade 
 
 ...Parliamentary Proceedings, &.c. p. 
 
 " 325—328. 
 
 NUMBER VL 
 
 Relig. Com. ..Account of Bishop Jewell... 
 Practical Nature of Bradforil's Pi,elit;ion 
 ...On the Era Aimo Domini. ..On Anjrer 
 ...Education of Children. ..Letter of a 
 Self-obierver p. 329 — 341. 
 
 MiscEL...On the Rev. Sydney Smith's 
 Lectures on the Education of Females... 
 The World As It Is p. 343—355. 
 
 Review of... Clowe's Defence of Swe- 
 denborgianism...Pinckard's Notes on 
 the AVest Indies. ..Cottage Library of 
 Christian Knovvledgc.Innes's Reasons 
 for sepai-ating from the Church of Scot- 
 land p. 361—375. 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intel. ..Great Britain... 
 
 France Gernsany Italy.... Russia ... 
 
 America... New Publications, p. 377— 
 
 380. 
 
 Relig. Intel. ..Society for Suppression 
 of Vice. ..Society for distressed Ger- 
 mans ..Mission to Tartary, p. 381 — 
 
 384. 
 
 Pub. Affairs. ..Continental. ..Great Bri- 
 tain... Slave Trade.. .ParliamentaryPro- 
 ■ceedings, &c p, 387 — 390. 
 
 Ecclesiastical Preferments ...p. 3.90. 
 
 NUMBER VH. 
 
 Relig. Com. ..Bishop Ridley, Nature of 
 the Catholic Church. ..Eternity of future 
 Punishment. ..Difference between gene- 
 ral and particular Religion... Qualifica- 
 tions of a Christian Minister. ..Danger 
 of delaying the Concerns of the Soul in 
 
 lingering Illnesses p. 395 — 403. 
 
 Miscel.. ..Education of Females of the 
 upper Ranks... The World As It Is. ..The 
 Case ot the Hon. Miss Seymour, re- 
 cently decided in the House of Lords, p. 
 410—419. 
 
 Review oF...Pinckard's Notes on West 
 Indies. ..Hints for the Security of the 
 Establish.-d Church.. .Grahaint's Birds 
 of Scotland, and other Poems.. .Cottage 
 Library p. 423—441- 
 
 Lit. and Phil. In' el... Gieat Britain... 
 New Works, Ladies Committee, Friend- 
 ly Female Societies, Scho'Js, &c. &.c... 
 France... Italy. ...Russia. ..China. ...New 
 Publications p. 442 — 44-1- 
 
 Relic. I.vtel... British and Foreign Bi- 
 ble Society. ..Cape of Good Hope, Ota- 
 heite.. .North America p. 446 — 449. 
 
 Pub. Affairs. ..Continental, Peace, &c. 
 ...South America.. .St. Domingo. ..Great 
 Britain, Parliamentary Proceedings, Sic. 
 ...Horrid Cruelty of a Guinea Captain to 
 a N* gro 
 
 Ecclesiastical Preferments, p. 449 — 
 
 454. 
 
 NUMBER VIIL 
 
 Relig. Com. ...Account of Lady Mary 
 Verc.On 1 Cor. iv. 4. ..On 1 Tim. vi. 
 JO. ..On rendering Sermons intelli.ihie 
 to the Poor... Principles of the Quakers 
 ...On preaching Sermons composed by 
 other Persons... On the teiiiporal Ad- 
 vantag-es flowing tVoiu Religion, p. 457 — 
 
 468, 
 
TABLE OF 
 
 MiscEL.. .Female Dress. ..Dictionary of 
 False Knglish... Filial Piety rewarded... 
 Extracts from Kurnet and Seeker. ..Ar- 
 chetype of the Bible Sociel y, indefinite 
 Phraseology, Anecdote of the Kin^, 
 iVIatt. V. 14, Frederick II. of Prussia on 
 Field Sports p. ■i"2— 481. 
 
 Keview of. ..Bates's Christian Politics... 
 
 Blunders Sermons... Cooper's Sermons 
 
 ...Pinckard's Notes on the West Indies, 
 
 p. 4S'2— 507. 
 
 Lit. and Phil. I>jtel... Great Britain... 
 Holland.. .Spain... Italy.. .New Publica- 
 .tions p. 511—513. 
 
 Eeltg. Intel. ..Missions to Africa and 
 the East, Mr. Burn's Sermon, Mr. 
 Venn's .Address. ..Ireland. ..Slate of the 
 Clnueh p. 514—516. 
 
 Pub. Affairs... General Reflections.... 
 Continental.. .Great Britain, p. 517 — 
 
 522. 
 
 Obituary. ..Rev. Thomas Hervey, p. 522. 
 
 NUMBER IX. 
 
 Relic. Com.. ..Bishop Bidley...On the 
 Era Anno Domini... On Forms of Prayer 
 ...Why are Religious Persons often not 
 Happy... General Character of Wliich- 
 cote's Divinity, with Extracts.. .On Self- 
 deception p. 525 — 541. 
 
 MiscEL ..Advantages of our Navy. ..The 
 
 World As It Is.. .Exposure of a certain 
 
 dangerous and pestilent Publication, p. 
 
 542—548. 
 
 Review of... Woodhouse's Translation of 
 the Apocalypse. ..Sir Matthew Hale's 
 Works. ..Fuller's Discourses on Genesis 
 ...Edinburgh Review of Franklin's Life 
 and VVcrks p. 553 — 5';2. 
 
 Lit. and Phii. Intel. ..Great Britain... 
 France ... Holland. ...Denmark. ...United 
 States ...New Publioatious, p. 5'i7 — 
 
 579. 
 
 Relic. Intel. ..Mission to Tartary... Me- 
 thodist Conference.. .British and Fo- 
 voiga Bible Societj' p. 580, 5S1. 
 
 Pi'B. Affairs. ..Co-itinental... Battle of 
 
 Ma'.la... Ma, ta... Buenos Ay, es... Great 
 
 Britain. ..Ecclesiastical Preferments, p. 
 
 584—587. 
 
 NUMBER X. 
 
 Relic. Com. ...Account of Sir Matthew 
 Hale. ..Archdeacon Philpot...On I Cor. 
 iv. 4. ..On composing Sermons. ..On as- 
 certaining the State of our Affections to- 
 \varfisGo(l...B'irclay's View of the Au- 
 thority of Scripture p. 589 — 604. 
 
 MiscEL ..First Protestant Mission to In- 
 dia. ..On Female Einpl<iyment...<^)n kil- 
 lina: Game for Amusement. ..A Hermit's 
 Meditati'in... Puritan. ..I'pigrain on Pope 
 Clement IV. by Ciaconius.. .Critical In- 
 consistency p. 007 — 613. 
 
 CONTENTS. xi 
 
 Review oF..,Faber's Dissertation on the 
 Prophecies.. .Bates's Christian Politics 
 ...Edinburgh Review p. 614 — 635. 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intel.. Great Britain... 
 
 Switzerland. ...Denmark Russia 
 
 Greece. ..East Indies. ...New Publica- 
 tions p. 647_649. 
 
 Pub. Affairs... Reflections on the Ge- 
 neral Election. ..Continental. ..Malta... 
 Great Britain p. 6.53 — 658. 
 
 Letter from the Rfv. Basil Woodd respect- 
 ing the Tartar Mission p. 660. 
 
 NUMBER XL 
 
 Relic. CoM....Bishopnooper...On ITim. 
 vi. 10...On Actsxiv. 23.. .Character of a 
 Christian. ..On the Pretence of Proprie- 
 ty for Conformity to the World.. .On 
 the Connection between Religion and 
 Melancholy p. 661— 673 
 
 MiscEL.. .The World As It Is p. 683. 
 
 Review 0F...Faber's Di-sertation on the 
 Prophecies.. .Miss Hamilton's Letters on 
 the Formation of Religious and Moral 
 Principles... Primr.ry Charge of the 
 Bishop of Norwich p. 688—707 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intel. ..Great Britain... 
 
 Stneotype printing, &,c France '. 
 
 Holland. ..Germany.. .New Publications 
 p, 711— 713. 
 
 Relic. Intel. ...Society for promoting 
 Christian Knowledge.. .Mis.sioi) to Tar- 
 t^'y p. 714, 715. 
 
 Pub. Affairs. ..Continental. ..Great Bri- 
 tain. ..Remarks on the Ekctions, &.c p. 
 716—720. 
 
 Obituary. ..Right Hon. Charlts JameK 
 Fox. ..Henry Kirk White. ..Dr. Henry 
 Richuioiid p, 72] 727. 
 
 NUMBER XII. 
 
 Relic. Com. ...Reformation, JolinRogers, 
 and Laurence Sanders.. On 1 Tim. 
 vi. 10.. .On Matthew ii. 23.. .On Gene- 
 sis V. 19. .Causes of Melancholy in Re- 
 ligious Persons.. .On improper Singulari- 
 ty. ..Remarks on the R' ligion of WJiich- 
 cote. ..Letter o!' Archbishop Tillotson... 
 On the Peace of the Gospel, p. 729— 
 
 745. 
 
 MiscEL....View of Lord B.Trham's Naval 
 Administration... Evil of alfixing Terms 
 of Reproach to Religious Characters... 
 Testimony of Marmontel, Voltaire, and 
 Rousseau, to the Wretchedness of a 
 Worldly Life.. A Hymn for Christmas 
 Day, by Chatterton p. 747 755; 
 
 Review OF.,..Fellowes's Poems.. .Diary 
 and Letters of Colonel Bteckader ... 
 Prim.iry t harge of the present Bishop of 
 St. David's. ..Giant'sSermoiis, p. 755 — 
 
 773. 
 
xil TABLE OF 
 
 Lit. and Phil'. Intel. ...Great Britain.. 
 
 franco... Switzerland. ..It.Tly ....Spain .. 
 
 HuTigary... Sweden ...Russia ...China .. 
 
 South America.. .New Publications, p 
 
 774—776 
 
 Relic. Ivtel Mission to Tartary.. 
 
 South Africa.. .Bucno.^ Ayres...Jewisl 
 
 Children... Flibcrnian Society Goiivo- 
 
 cation of the Clergy. ..New Peniten- 
 tiary p. 7"7 — 752. 
 
 Pub. Affairs... Progress of the French 
 ...Seizure of Hamburjjh... Fall of Prus- 
 sia.... Turkey... ..Russia Blockade of 
 
 E!ip:laii<J by France. ..Great Britain... 
 iicw Pailiameiit... King's Sp?ec!i, and 
 l)ebate upon it.. State of internal De- 
 Kncc,&.c.' p. 7S2— 737. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Obituary. ..Charles James Fox.. .p. 787' 
 Notice to Readers...., p, 795 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 List of Members returned to the House 
 
 of Commons p gQj 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Iiitell... Great Britain... 
 France... Germany ...Russia.... "North 
 America. ...East Indies... .University 
 Promotions, Oxford, Cambridge, p. 806 
 , , —810 
 Index to the Essays, Intelligence, Occur- 
 rences, &c p 85 1 
 
 Reviews p. Sl5 
 
 principal Names p. 816 
 
 ■ Texts illustrated or referred 
 
 t" p. SIS 
 
 Signatures p. 81? 
 
819 
 
 IXDEX TO THE SIGNATURES, 
 
 WED BY THE WRITERS IN THE FIFTH VOLLME OF THE CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. 
 
 A Pice 
 
 • 226, 284 
 
 A B 22 
 
 Abolitionist 159 
 
 A.D 83 
 
 Anti-secular Philoso- 
 pher 284 
 
 A. Z 92 
 
 Bi°>:)-<J):>.c; 607 
 
 I>oethos l4 
 
 Britannicus 20 
 
 C 12, 403 
 
 Cantab 731 
 
 Cautus 533 
 
 C. C 8? 
 
 Christian Mother 279 
 
 Christian Parent 15 
 
 Churchman 153 
 
 C. L 145, 732 
 
 Concordia 80 
 
 CO. T 33b 
 
 Crito 154 
 
 Cumbrian 594 
 
 C.X.B K 611 
 
 D. L 416 
 
 D.V 472 
 
 E. N 541 
 
 Eubulus 11, 90 
 
 Eiiphranor 683 
 
 E— Y D. R 93, 160 
 
 Father of a large Fa- 
 mily 216 
 
 F. H.' "AK 
 
 Paec 
 
 Guiseppe 154 
 
 H. T 7, 463,465 
 
 J. D 276 
 
 J M. S 478 
 
 Johannensis 138 
 
 J.S 744 
 
 L. B 155 
 
 Lover of Peace 747 
 
 M. A 208 
 
 Mem 216 
 
 .Menibei'of the Church 
 
 of England 66& 
 
 Minimus 536 
 
 M J 531 
 
 -M. R 462 
 
 M. T. H 664 
 
 N. G 337 
 
 O. C. K 736 
 
 O. M. R 592 
 
 P 755 
 
 Pater 341 
 
 P. Ex. Eff. 4S1 
 
 P. H 15 
 
 Philo-Britannicus 545 
 
 (^iXoTltuyo; 4^4 
 
 ^(>.37r.-£rcv 476 
 
 OiaoSe'c- 14 
 
 Plain honest Man 146 
 
 P. M 26 
 
 P. Q 24 
 
 Protestant 423 
 
 P«!;e 
 
 Q. 6, 78, 143, 208, 265, 
 
 272, 332, 335, 396, 530^ 
 
 594, 663, 730 
 
 R. B 752 
 
 R. S 673, 741 
 
 S.. .17, 145,461, 748,755 
 S. E.... 212,279,468, SyB 
 
 Self Observer 34S 
 
 S. F. N 156 
 
 S. G 201 
 
 Sincere Friend to the 
 Church of England 84 
 
 S. L 403 
 
 Sopater ■ 14 
 
 S. P 150, 273, 732 
 
 S. T 292 
 
 T. C 666 
 
 Triceps .^ 160 
 
 True Englishman 476 
 
 Una 216 
 
 Vigil c04. 
 
 W. A 215,597, 535 
 
 W. W 409 
 
 X 400 
 
 X. Y 6li? 
 
 y, N 549 
 
 Y.Z ,. 24 
 
 Z 149 
 
 C. WHITr.NtJHAM, Prialtr, MdZ. Ccwell Strte*. 
 
INDEX 
 
 TO THE 
 
 KSSAYS, IXTELLIGEXCE, OCCURREXCKS, &>. 
 
 Advantages of our Navy :lii 
 
 , temporal, of Keli-jiion 468 
 
 Aifections touaitls God, Means of as- 
 certaining the. State of 59$ 
 
 Africa aiul the East, Mission to. See 
 Missions. 
 
 America, 1-it. and Phil. Intel], 251, 31'?, 
 r579, 578, T75 
 
 -.Public Affairs, 59,- \1^, 195, 
 
 :325, 3h3, 4.30 
 
 , RuligiousIjit^Ui^enpe, 193, 253, 
 
 American War.. ..".".. ..i.'.. ^72'i 
 
 Anecdote of his present Majesty 481 
 
 Anaer U, 147, 336 
 
 Anno Domini 335, 530 
 
 Answers to Correspondents, 6", 136, 1P9, 
 264, 32S, 392, 456, 524, 588, 659, 7-28, 
 
 798 
 Anti-jacobin's Review of Foster's Essavs, 
 
 159 
 
 .Apocalypse, Woodhnti^ie on the b^^ 
 
 Archetype of the Bible Society 4SI 
 
 Assurance '^d 
 
 AtoncDieiit 101, 164, 235 
 
 Atter!)f.ry,Bp. his DeiV^nce of Luther, 215 
 
 Auerstadt, Battle of... 716 
 
 Augu>tin's Mother ....,.i>,.i.f...^ 226 
 
 Bacon, Lord, on Clerical Meetings ... 226 
 
 Hapiism 30, l40 
 
 Barclay, Robert, on the Authority of 
 
 Scripture 604 
 
 J5arhiini, Lord, View of liis Naval Ad- 
 ministration 747 
 
 Bible Society, British andForcign,323,446, 
 
 481,581 
 
 Bibles, Hebreu- and Italian 154 
 
 Black, Kev. Dr 19S 
 
 Bleaching Straw 55 
 
 •^Moeding at the Nose 578 
 
 !>lessedness of those who mourn '272 
 
 Bradford, John, on Predestination and 
 
 Klf-ction 268 
 
 , on good Woiks 232 
 
 iuenos Ayies, Capture of b'66 
 
 'urnett on private Monition 430 
 
 5y, on the Preposition, with Refer- 
 ence to 1 Cor- iv.4 594 
 
 'ape of Good Hope, Mission to. See Mis- 
 sion. 
 
 , Pub. Aflair^, 195. 
 
 257 
 
 .«<;'• of Miss Seymour 4l'J 
 
 atechisinu '. 12'3 
 
 atholic Church, Latimer and Rid- 
 ley's Semiments 39-i 
 
 Character becoming a Christian Bishop 1.5 
 
 • ofCowper the Poet S5 
 
 Charity, modern ~1 
 
 Children, on ri>.ihtly impressing their 
 
 Minds r ..•• 15 
 
 , on the Religiou.s Education 
 
 of «79, 337 
 
 China, Lit. and Phil. Intell 145. 77G 
 
 Christian, Sketch of the Character of 666 
 
 Pontics 482. 621 
 
 Soldier 7^3 
 
 Christians, Dress of. 216 
 
 , Society pioper for 21(5 
 
 , their Duties in Ci^pversa- 
 
 tion ^<i 27.3 
 
 Christianity, nominal and real 29 
 
 , wonderful ElTectsof 641 
 
 Cicrgymau, young, Letters to, 208, 276, 
 
 465, 595 
 Clerical Meetings, Lord Bacon on... 226 
 
 Office, Duties of 
 
 770 
 
 Collection for redeeming Tartars trom 
 
 Slavery : 660 
 
 Composing Sermons 463,465,595 
 
 Conformity to the World, Excuses for 669 
 
 Contaicioii, specific against 578 
 
 Continental Intell. 59, 127. 193, 2.56, 264, 
 
 323, 3S7, 449, 520, 584, bhb, 716, 78^ 
 
 Conversation of Christians 27.T 
 
 Convocation of the Clergy. 782 
 
 Corruption of human Nature, 103, 140, 
 U";4, 236,394, 503., 704 
 Country 'Squire, farther Intelligence 
 
 froirj 289 
 
 Courage 633 
 
 Cowper the Poet, his Character 85 
 
 Critical Inconsistencies 613 
 
 Review 53 
 
 Cruelty to a Negro 452 
 
 Daubeny, Mr. his Omission of not 
 
 in the Homilies 83 
 
 , his X'iewofthe Conntctidn 
 
 between Faitii and Works 84 
 
 Decision of Character 46 
 
 Defence, internal 517, 786 
 
 Delay inconcernsof the Soul 40-3 
 
 Deluge, Query on 7.32 
 
 Demuark., Lit. and Phil. Intell. 517, 578, 
 
 649 
 
 Discernment, spiritual lOQ 
 
 Distresses in (J'-rniany... 67, 381 
 
 Dictionary of false English. 477 
 
 Domestic Intelligence, 63, 134, 197, 327, 
 3y0, 452, 521, 587, 657, 72t) 
 
 Dress of Christians . 216, 473 
 
 Duelling 155 
 
 Duties of Christians in Con^ CI sation 273 
 
S1L> 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Earthenware of nn inferior Qualitj', 
 
 prejudicial to Health 379 
 
 East India College 189 
 
 East Indies, Public Affairs, 60, 1'29, 3!!>5, 
 - , 388 
 
 , Lit. and Phil. Intell. 317, 649 
 
 Ecclesiastical Preferments 135, 587 
 
 Edinburgla licvieweis, th^ir Religious 
 
 Opinions 572, 635 
 
 , Review of Forsyth's 
 
 Elements 303 
 
 Elucation of Children 15, 279, 537, 
 
 694, 706 
 
 ■ Females in the upper 
 
 Ranks 348, 4lO, 694 
 
 Election 5, 141,269 
 
 , Parliamentary 651, 718 
 
 Epigram on Pope Clement IV 613 
 
 Equivocation 82 
 
 Enata, 67, 136, 199, 328, 392, 456, 524, 
 
 583, 660 
 
 Ernditionof a Christian Man l.'>3 
 
 Eruption of Mount Vesuvius 512 
 
 Established Church, on promoting; its 
 
 Prosperity 212 
 
 , Hints for Secu- 
 rity of 429 
 
 Established Church 629 
 
 Eternity of future Punishment 396 
 
 Evangelical Divines 1 11, 710 
 
 — Reiiv;ion ]09 
 
 Evil of Terms of Reproach 750 
 
 violating Truth 80 
 
 -, Origin of 172 
 
 Exaggeration, Evil of S2 
 
 Expeiimental preaching 100 
 
 Expediency, on the Pri;ici|)le of 91 
 
 Exposure of a ceitain dangerous Pub- 
 lication , 54s 
 
 Extracts from Burnett and Seeker... 479 
 
 Faith ''4,84, 110, 239,507, 730 
 
 ■ and Practice . 347 
 
 Pa'.se English, Dictionary of. 477 
 
 Female Character, Proprieties of. 25 
 
 Employment 610 
 
 ; Edmatinn 348, 410, 694 
 
 Penitentiary Society 782 
 
 s, Advice tr),on reading History 87 
 
 Field Sports, Frederick II. Sentiments 
 
 on '.. 482 
 
 Filial Piety rewaided 478 
 
 Final Perseverance — 141 
 
 Flattery, variouj Kinds of 317,280 
 
 Forms of Prnyer 531 
 
 Fortifying Youtii against Infidel Prin- 
 ciple s 7 
 
 Fox, Right Hon. C. J. Memoir of, 721,787 
 
 Fragments 93, 226, 481, 613 
 
 Frames and Feeling-; 507, 525 
 
 France, Lit. and ""Phil. Intell. 121, 250, 
 378, 44+, 573, 712,775 
 
 Franklin, Dr. Principles of. 572 
 
 Funeral Sermon on M. Luther 137 
 
 Game, on killing for Ainusement 611 
 
 Geiieial and particular Kcliijion 397 
 
 Vaso 
 
 General Election, Reflections on the 651, 
 
 71S 
 
 George the Tliinf, Anecdote of 481 
 
 Germany, Distresses in 67,381 
 
 , Lit and Phil. Inteil. 55, 121, 
 
 188, 250, 317, 379, 71'i 
 God, on ascertaining State of Affec- 
 tion towards 598 
 
 Golden Pillar ooi 
 
 Gibbon's Sneer at Miracles 64-2 
 
 Gospel, Peace of... 745 
 
 Grace of God and free Agency of Man 32 
 
 , Irresistibihty of 33 
 
 of the Gospel 'J3 
 
 Great Britain, Lit. and Phil. Inteil. 54, 
 
 120, 248, 315, 377, 442, 511, 577, 647, 
 
 711,774 
 
 , Public .Affairs, 61, 130, 195. 
 
 2j7, 326, 388, 451, 521, 587, 657, 718, 
 
 735 
 Greece, Lit. and Pliil. Intcll 649 
 
 Hale, Sir Matthew, Account of. 589 
 
 Happituss, Want of, in Religious Per- 
 sons : 535 
 
 Ilcbrev.' and Italian EJbles 154 
 
 Hcrculanenm MSS 250 
 
 Hermit's Meditation, a Poem 612 
 
 Hervey, Rev. Mr. Death of 522 
 
 Heylin, Dr. his Ciiaracter as an His- 
 torian ,.... 24 
 
 Hibernian Society 781 
 
 Historjs Means of benefiting by the 
 
 reading of. 87 
 
 Holland, Lit. and Phil. Inteil. 250, 512, 
 
 578,712 
 
 Holy Spirit's Influence 165 
 
 Abose of this Doctrine 165 
 
 Hooper, Bishop, Accountof 206, 661 
 
 Horrors of the Slave Trade 157 
 
 Horse Chesnuts, Food for Sheep 713 
 
 Hungary, Lit.^nd Phil. Inted 775 
 
 Illustrations of Modern Charity 21 
 
 Genesis V. 19 73^2 
 
 Matt. ii. 2y 721 
 
 ^ V. 14 482 
 
 — ■ John vii. 38 15 
 
 Acts xiv. 23 664 
 
 • 1 Cor. iv. 4 461 
 
 1 Tim. vi. 10.. .6, 145, 46i, 
 
 663, 730 
 
 1 Peter iv. 1, 2 144 
 
 Inanity of the World, Voltaire and 
 
 Rousseau's Testimony to 752 
 
 Indefinite Phraseology 4S1 
 
 Inilia Bill, Fox's 725 
 
 India, Means of civilizing 308 
 
 Infidelity and Credulity 93 
 
 , t'anses of '236 
 
 Infidel Principles, Duty of ibitlfying 
 
 Youth against 7 
 
 Inscription by Mr. Fox on the Bishop 
 
 ofDown 15 
 
 Inventions. See Mechanical, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Iioland, iuefficient State of the Church 
 
 tht'tc 516 
 
 Ino-isliijility ol divine Grace 33 
 
 Itjiv, Lil. aiul Phil. Iiittil. iiJO, 379, 444, 
 
 j 12, 775 
 
 Jein«alein, Prophecy respecting its 
 De-truction 145 
 
 Jewull, Biihop, i^ccountof. '265, 0'i9 
 
 Jews 25+ 
 
 JfM'ishFiee School 781 
 
 .ludgiiients, Secret, of the Almighty 537 
 
 Jusiitlcaiion, 30, lu-i, 205, Q15, ,2:58, 245. 
 
 593,.730, 743 
 
 Killing Game for Amusement, on CI I 
 
 Ladies' Committee.. 443 
 
 i.nudanum, its Kliects prevented 24S 
 
 La-.v, mitigated 14 
 
 Lay of the last Minstrel 155 
 
 Letterofa Self Ohsfiv>.r 341 
 
 < to a young Clergyman, 2'i8, 276, 
 
 4u5, 595 
 
 of Archbishop Tillotson 744 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intell. 54, 120, 18S, 24S, 
 315, .3T7, 442,511,577, C.47, 711,744 
 
 London liiEtitution 516 
 
 Lord'."! Supper 29 
 
 Luther, Account of his Death 137 
 
 • , Allerbiuy's Defence of 215 
 
 Malta, Public Affairs 5S6 
 
 .\Jalthiis, Principle of E\[j.(lienf.e 
 
 adopted tty him 91 
 
 Manner, Jmporlai.ce of, in the Pulpit 12 I 
 Marginal References, Advantage of 73 
 Means of ascertaining the State of the 
 
 Aflectioijs to'.vard.s God 5?fi 
 
 • benefiting by the reading of | 
 
 History 87 ! 
 
 J^Iechatiical and other Inventions. | 
 
 Bleaciiin^ Straw 55,712 
 
 Builiiin.; Houses wit!) Enrlb 443 
 
 Horii:onta4 Witi'Imill 24S 
 
 Im})rovement in Steam En- 
 gine 120 
 
 : Luminous llottle I jn 
 
 ■ I'resirving Water sweet... 649 
 
 ■ Patent Hollow Wick for 
 
 Candles 24? 
 
 Melaticholy, as eonnccleii with Re- 
 
 Page 
 
 Miracles 642 
 
 Mission to Africa and the East... 59, 514 
 
 Bueno^ Ayresi 781 
 
 Cape of Good Hope, 57, 448, 
 
 7Sl 
 East Indies 53, 192, 319 
 
 Eabrador 322 
 
 North America 449 
 
 Otaheite ....; 448 
 
 Tartary, 57, 122, 255, 384,580, 
 
 f.60, 715, 777 
 
 West Indies 125,320 
 
 ; of United Brethren 320 
 
 to India, Account of the 
 
 First 607 
 
 Mis-sions, Conduct of 636 
 
 Miti'.-atcd Law 14 
 
 Mndi-rn Charity 21 
 
 Moral Evi:, (Jrij^in of 172- 
 
 .Moral Science, Principles of 292 
 
 Mutability of the World 235 
 
 Naval Intelligence, 63, 196, 262, 327, 390, 
 454, 522, 587, 657, 787 
 
 Navy, Advantages of., 54*21 
 
 New Publications, List of, 55, 121, 19(», 
 252, 317, 380,444,513,579, 650, 713, 
 
 .67: 
 
 3Iemoir of Lord Hairingtoii 6;) 
 
 . Earl of Salishury 201 
 
 l!i>liop Jeuell 265,329 
 
 Bishop Ridley 393 
 
 Lady Vere 4.' 7 
 
 .Vrehdeacoii Piiilpot 592 
 
 .Sir .Matthew Half 5b.9 
 
 Riuht Hon. Wiiliatn Pitt... 93 
 
 . Right Hon- C. J. ¥t>\ 721 
 
 Methodist Conferenee 581 
 
 Method of a Sinner's Salvation 73 
 
 Ministry, new 131 
 
 -, Christian, Qualifications for 401 
 
 -r.6 
 
 New South Wales, Religious Intell... 
 
 Obituary, 63, 135, 19S, 262, 328; 391, 
 
 455,522, 5.7, 65S, 721, 787 
 
 Original Sin, 101, 140, lto4, 238, 394,483. 
 
 504 
 Origin of Moral Evii 172 
 
 Parliamentary Proceedinsrs, 61, 134, 195, 
 261,326, 389, 451 
 
 Patch, Richard, his Execution 262 
 
 Peace of the Gospel 745 
 
 berween Fiance asid Austria... 127 
 
 Perseverance, final 141 
 
 Philpot, Archdeacon, Account of him 592 
 
 Phraseology, imlefinite 481 
 
 . , adopted by Evangelical 
 
 Divine.' 1 11 
 
 Picion, Governor, his Trial 197 
 
 Piety, filial, rewarded 478 
 
 Pitt,' Right Hon, Wiiliain 63 
 
 Poetry, a Hermit's "Meditation 612 
 
 92 
 
 Hyinn on Heb, iv. 15. 
 for Christmas Day, 
 
 Chattel ton 
 
 Lines by a rather on 
 
 Daughter's Loss of Sigh; 
 
 Lines to a Friend galhcii 
 
 Ministers, oa their x\ppointment by 
 popular Sutfrage ., 664 
 
 F.'owt 
 
 114 
 
 17 
 
 190 
 
 Polite Literature, hostile to i.i.e Reli- 
 
 g'on of Christ — 
 
 Political Events, Duty of interesting 
 
 ourselves about 
 
 Poor pioii'; Clergymen Society 
 
 Popular SufiVage in the Election of 
 
 Ministers ^^64 
 
 Practical Reflections on Matt. v. 4... 272 
 
 Prayer, Forms of 531 
 
 Preaching Sermons composed by 
 
 Others, on • ^^5 
 
814 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 I'reachers, A(lvantae;e of their being 
 
 adleto spell 15 
 
 Predestination and Election, 3, 141, 172. 
 
 2d8, 526 
 
 Pveferments', Ecclesiastical 135, 587 
 
 Price of Cliristian Observer 728, 798 
 
 Prisoners of War, on giving them Re- 
 ligious Knowlodge 193 
 
 Private Monition, Duty of, in the 
 
 Clergy 4S0 
 
 Property Tax 519 
 
 Prophecies 553, 614, 688 
 
 '— respectinsr Jerusalem .. 145 
 
 Propriety, as an Excuse for Confor- 
 
 , mity to the World 669 
 
 Proi)rietips of Fem:ile Character 24 
 
 Providence and Predestination 94 
 
 Prussia, her Fall 78 3 
 
 Public Affairs, View of, 59, 127, J93, 256, 
 
 323, 337, 449, 517, 584, 650, 716, 782 
 
 Publication, Exposure of a dan.cerous 548 
 
 Punishment, future, Eteinitv of 396 
 
 Puritan, on the Use of the Torin 613 
 
 Quaker Principles 168, 464, 604 
 
 Qualifications for the Christian Mi- 
 nistry 401 
 
 Queries Jlri, 473 
 
 Redemption by Christ 73, 140, 256 
 
 Eefcrences, marginal, Advuntapres of 78 
 Reflections on the General Election... ^b\ 
 
 ■ 01) the Times 61 
 
 on the Ministry 130 
 
 ■ at the Close of the Par- 
 liamentary Session 517 
 
 Reformation, Sketches of. See SkfUhrs- 
 
 K-crcrcy Bill 792 
 
 Kecf I) era tion 3(), 1 4(J 
 
 Reiijiion and INIelancholy, theii' sup- 
 posed Connection 673, 733 
 
 , j;ener<il and particular 39" 
 
 , true, its temporal .'Advantages 468 
 
 Religious Societies 150 
 
 Intelligence, 56, 122, 190, 253, 
 
 319, 381, 446, 514, 5S0, 714, 777 
 
 Rennedy fo. bleeding at the Nose 578 
 
 Repentance 167, 498, 541 
 
 jPeproach, Evil of Terms of. 750 
 
 Reprobation 235 
 
 Resurrection, eeneral 234 
 
 Review of New Publicat'ons. 26, 9i, 161, 
 227, 292,301, 423, 4S2, 553, 614, 688, 
 
 755 
 
 — Reviews, 52, 159, 303, 572, 6.'>5 
 
 Richmond, Dr. Account of ,.. .727 
 
 Ridley, Bishop 393,525 
 
 Romantic, on the Epithet 104 
 
 Russia, Lit. and Phil. Intell. 121, 251, 379, 
 
 444, 649, 776 
 
 Russian Armament 792 
 
 Salisbury, Eml of. Account of his 
 
 D.ath ••• 201 
 
 Salt, serviceable for Apple Trees 378 
 
 Salvation by Grace 73, 164,394 
 
 Scott's Lay of the last Miastrel Ibki 
 
 Page 
 Seeker, Extracts from, on private 
 
 Monition 480 
 
 Secret blasting of the Almighty, 
 
 Whichcote on the 537 
 
 Self-deception 541 
 
 Observer, Letter of 341 
 
 Sermons, on cnmpo.sing 100, 463, 595 
 
 on rendering them intelligi- 
 ble to the Poor 463 
 
 Seymour, Miss, her Case 419 
 
 Singularity, improper, on 736 
 
 Sketches of the Reformation, 1, 73, 140,- 
 
 204, 268, 332, 393, 525, 592, 661, 7'2& 
 
 Slave Trade, &^, 93, 133, 326, 366, 388, 
 
 423,507,519, 720 
 
 — , a Caution to Electors.,. 655 
 
 , Extract from Mr. Pitt's 
 
 Speech ■ 93 
 
 — , Horrors of, exemplified' 157 
 
 -, Extncts from Mr. Fox's 
 
 Speech 797 
 
 Society for pronwting ChristianKnow- 
 Icdg'e ,57, 714 
 
 Female Penitentiary ...... 78'i 
 
 — — Suppression of Vice ....381 
 
 Hibernian 73-1 
 
 poor pious Clergymen 190 , 
 
 bettering the Condition of '" -' 
 
 the Poor....; .....;.....h 24$'-'' 
 
 relieving the distressed 
 
 Germans 381 
 
 for Employment of Female 
 
 Poor r 443 
 
 Societies, religious, on tl»e right Con- , 
 
 duct of 150 
 
 Spain, Lit. and Phil. Intell .....512, 775 
 
 Spiritual Discernment lOO 
 
 St. Domingo, Public Afiairs 45()- 
 
 Stcreotyjic printing, its Progress 711 
 
 Simday-drilling 257 
 
 Su'edcn, Lit. and Piiil. lutull 251, 775 
 
 Swedeobnrgiaiiism 3(')1 
 
 Swimming, O'oservations on... 577 
 
 Switzciland, Lit. and Phil. Intell. 649, 775 
 
 Tartary, Mission to. See Mission, 
 Temporal Advantages of true Reli- 
 gion 468, 505 
 
 Temptations to which young Men are ' ' 
 
 exposed \^%'- 
 
 Terms of Reproach, Evil of 750' , 
 
 TI)eo!oi;ical Library, Inquiry respect- ' . 
 
 in- 14 ' 
 
 Tillotson, .Archbishop, his Letter to a 
 
 dviiia- Friend 744' 
 
 Tolerati.ui 625 
 
 Trinity 1 ' i 4 
 
 Truth, Evil of violating 80 
 
 Turkey, Lit. and Phil. Intell 251 
 
 Vaccination 512 
 
 its rapid Prtvgress in Sweden 251 
 
 ' in China 444, 
 
 775 
 
 Vere, Lady, Memoir of 45t' 
 
 Voltaire's TiSiimonv to Inanity of the 
 World .', 753 
 
I'age 
 "W hit hrotc's Divinity, its eencral Cha- 
 racter 536 
 
 Whte, Henry, Kirke 7'26 
 
 WorkH, goovi, ", 84, no, 142, 143, 237, 
 
 World, \oUai re and Rousseau's Tcsti- 
 
 inoTiy to the Inanity of 752 
 
 , Muiability of g'^J 
 
 World As It Is ... *2S4, 355, 416, 546, GSiJ 
 
 Youth, Advice to, on Temptations ... 149 
 
 IXDEX TO THE REVIEWS. 
 
 P2ge 
 -A POCALYPSE translated by Wood- 
 house 553 
 
 Bate's Christian Politics 482, 621 
 
 Blackader's Diary and Letters 763 
 
 Blundell's Sermons 41*5 
 
 Buchanan's .Memoir on the Expedien- 
 cy of an Ecclesiastical Establish- 
 ment in India 308 
 
 Charge of the Bishop of Norwich 707 
 
 ^^ St. David's... 7h9 
 
 Christian Mirror 241 
 
 Observer ISO 
 
 System by Robinson. ..161, 227 
 
 Politics by Bates 4S2, 621 
 
 Churchman's Confession, by Simeon US 
 Clereymaii's Assistant, by Robinson 245 
 Clowes's Defence of Swedenborgia- 
 
 nism 361 
 
 Cockbujn's Address to Methodists and 
 
 Dissenters 50 
 
 Conversations on moral and religious 
 
 Subjects 246 
 
 Cooper's Sermons 497 
 
 Cottiige Library 372, 441 
 
 Critical Review 52 
 
 Daubetiy's Discourses on various Sub- 
 
 je^-ts 26,94 
 
 Diary and Letters'of Col. Blackader... 762 
 Di^isertation on the Prophecies, by 
 Faber 614, 683 
 
 Edinburgh Reviewer's Review of For- 
 syth's Principles of moral Science 303 
 "Expository Discourses on Genesis, by 
 
 A. Fuller 569 
 
 Faber's Dissertation on the Prophe- 
 cies 614, 688 
 
 Fellowes's Poems 755 
 
 Forsyth's Principles of moral Science 292 
 
 Fostei-'s Essays 4<.>, 104 
 
 Fuller's expository Discourses on Ge- 
 nesis 569 
 
 Gibert's Sermons 203 
 
 Grahame's Birds of Scotland, &,c 457 
 
 Grant's Sermon before the Society 
 for promoting Ctiristian Knowledge 
 in the Diocese of St. David's 773 
 
 Hale, Sir Matthew, his Works, moral 
 aad religious 5(^3 
 
 Page 
 Hamilton, Miss, her Letters to the 
 
 Dausrhter ofa Nobleman 69* 
 
 Hints for the Security of the Esta- 
 blished Church .....' 429 
 
 Innes's Reasons for separating from 
 the Church of Scotland 37^ 
 
 InlerestiniT Conversations on moral 
 and religious Subjects 246 
 
 Letter to a Friend on the Death of 
 Mr. Pitt in 
 
 Murray's English .Spelling Book 247 
 
 Napleton's Sermmis 237 
 
 Norwich, Bishop of, his Primary 
 
 Charge 707 
 
 No;es on the West Indies, by Dr. 
 
 Pinckard 366, 423 
 
 Origin of Evil, by Smith 172 
 
 Pinckard's Notes on the West Indies 366, 
 
 42J 
 
 Poems descriptive of the softer Sensa- 
 tions, by Fellowes 755 
 
 Predestination to Life, by Williams... 17',2 
 
 Priiitaples of moral Science, by For- 
 syth 293 
 
 Quaker's Principles, by Tuke 16i 
 
 Reviews, Critical 52 
 
 , Christian Observer 186 
 
 , £diub*ngb 303, 572, 6.35 
 
 Robinson's Christian System 161, 227 
 
 ■ Clergyman's Assistant i!4J» 
 
 .Sermons, Blundel's 493 
 
 , Cooper's 497 
 
 , Giberfs 2j3 
 
 , Grant's 773 
 
 , Xaplet<in's 237 
 
 Siir.pon's Churchman's Confession 113 
 
 Smith on the Origin of Evil, &c X'l^l 
 
 i>t. David's, Bishop of, ln> Charge 769 
 
 Tuke's Principles of the Quakers 168 
 
 Williamson Predestination to Life ... 172 
 Woodhouse's Translation of the Apo- 
 ca'ypse ^.. 553 
 
INDEX TO THE PRINCIPAL NAMES. 
 
 AbDY 123 
 
 jSiddison 112, 116 
 
 Alhx, Di- 6'lK) 
 
 Andrews :3j3 
 
 Amnii-jnus 646 
 
 Arbuthnot 54T 
 
 Arthur '2S4 
 
 Aiislo'.le 757 
 
 Atterbuiy 1\b 
 
 Angasti 11 '22 o 
 
 Ayscough ... 4-51 
 
 Bacon, Lonl, 87, 218. Ill, 
 '232, 4:>4 
 
 Ba'ham, Lord T^S 
 
 Eiuviay, Roburf, 1 63, 4^4, 
 
 ("04 
 
 Bnrnavde .' 1''7 
 
 lianow 636 
 
 Earruel ('20, 752 
 
 Bates, E1V...482, 621, 7fiy 
 Baxter.. .10, .533, 565, 752 
 
 Uayle 1:57,376, 622 
 
 ifentlie ^2 
 
 Eeda 536 
 
 Bedford, Duke of.. ... 64 
 
 Beilarnjiiie 402 
 
 -Btriiurd, Dr 400 
 
 Bsviilicr 2 
 
 Boitholet 154 
 
 Deza 170,663 
 
 Bii-lsei.o 694 
 
 liirch, Dr 70 
 
 Biriiiiis ' 4(12 
 
 Biack, Dr 193 
 
 iBiiic-kader 763 
 
 Blnckv\.all 463 
 
 Pliindeli 4P3 
 
 J>olingbr<Ae, 11'2, .547,640 
 
 Bonneil 535 
 
 Boiiiicr '267 
 
 Bo'.ven 265 
 
 Bradlord,204, 268, 332, 526 
 
 Cramerd 516 
 
 Brougham 426 
 
 ijrifnton, 57, 12'2, 255, 334, 
 581,777 
 
 Buchanan 308, 607 
 
 Jiull, Bishcp,216, 363,401, 
 
 436 
 Bur.ke ...64, 306, 351, 625 
 
 Bu::i ^... 515 
 
 Burnett, Bishop, 17, 171, 
 " 402, 430, 564, 591, 743, 
 
 769 
 
 Burrey 265 
 
 Buxtorf 174 
 
 Calvin 71, 170, 268, 394, 
 00 J, 691, 762 
 
 Can 193 
 
 Carter, 'Mn. E 200 
 
 Cal« «i21 
 
 Chamier 402 
 
 Cliartres 547 
 
 Chattel Ion 755 
 
 Chedsey : 266 
 
 Chesterfield 6S-J 
 
 f:icero 487, 621, 700 
 
 Clarksoi) 666 
 
 Claude 595 
 
 Cockburn 50 
 
 Collingwood, Lord 157 
 
 Cole, br 330 
 
 Cooper 159, 260, 36~ 
 
 CVioper, Rev. E 497 
 
 Cornw;d!is, Marquis 68,129 
 Coverdale.. 2i.i7, '269, 526 
 
 Cowper 84, 440, 674 
 
 Cranuier...!, 526, 730,762 
 
 Creighton 7S1 
 
 Croft, Dr 433 
 
 Crome, Dr 206, 526 
 
 Culvcrft-ell 71 
 
 Cumberland 707 
 
 Currie 249 
 
 Dale 198 
 
 D'Alembert .547 
 
 Daubeiiv 26, 53, 82, 94, 
 '2()S, 216 
 
 Descc'aiigPS 192 
 
 r>icksf)n 15 
 
 Dionysius 232, 336 
 
 Doddridjce 15,279, 481, 664 
 
 Eehard 94 
 
 Kdi\ard;i 54, 184, 636 
 
 EllioU 516 
 
 Frosmus 704 
 
 F.iisebius 645 
 
 Evans 51 
 
 Faber 560, 615, 688 
 
 Tarrcr 204,626 
 
 Fellovves KjI, 453, 755 
 
 Filiner, Sir R 6.53 
 
 Eirrninger 54 
 
 Fisciier 55 
 
 Forsyth 29'2, 493 
 
 Foster 40, 104, 134, 159, 
 186, 241,307 
 
 Fox, C. J 787 
 
 Fox 15,204,207, 269, 526, 
 592, 606, 661,730 
 
 Frey 254 
 
 Fuller 70, 73, 569, 613, 
 i^\5, 691 
 
 Gardiner 268,730 
 
 Gaskin 56 
 
 Gataker 7o 
 
 Gericke 58 
 
 Ge.«ner 757 
 
 Gibert 223 
 
 Gibbon 87,640 
 
 Gilpin 78, 611 
 
 Gisbornc 241,260,550,675 
 
 Gleig, Dr 101 
 
 Godwin 646 
 
 Gosner 333 
 
 Grahame 437 
 
 Granger 73 
 
 Gran't,.Rev. Mr 773 
 
 Griesbach 55S 
 
 Grindall '268, 527 
 
 Grotius 613,666 
 
 Guyse 11,147,634 
 
 Hafe.Sir M 563,589 
 
 Hall 20.638 
 
 Hammond 144, QG^i 
 
 Hamilton 67 
 
 Hiimilton, Miss 694 
 
 Harrington, Lord 70 
 
 Hart 52'} 
 
 Heivetiiis 621 
 
 Ileischel, Dr 34 
 
 Herviv, Rev. T 52'2 
 
 Heskith, Ladv 8.5 
 
 Hesythiiis...4Sl,561, (>e>5 
 
 Hevlin, Dr 24 
 
 Hirst 714 
 
 Hobbe.s ■ 547 
 
 Homer 114 
 
 Hooker 159, 170, 333,402, 
 
 462, 682 
 
 Hooper 204, 206, 526, 66'i 
 
 Horace 737 
 
 Home 2GS,6S0 
 
 florsley 69'2 
 
 Howard 9 
 
 Ho-.vel 3'20 
 
 Hume... 112, 547, 640, 680 
 
 Ii'.nes 375 
 
 Jefferson 367 
 
 .Ifff-rv 537 
 
 Jewell , 263, 330 
 
 Johnson, Rev. U... 56, 116 
 
 Johnson. Dr. 173, 249,285, 
 
 308, 547, 627, 664, 734 
 
 Jones, Sir W 115,310 
 
 Josephus 530,645 
 
 Kelt 614,691 
 
 Kicherer 448,636, 781 
 
 Kiplin- 1U3, 433 
 
 Knowlys 268 
 
 Lambert 37S 
 
 Lardner 531 
 
 Latimer 1, 73, 140, 269, 
 272,394, 3'i!i, 730, 762 
 
 Laurence, Re^•. J 2ti7 
 
 Law, Dr 172 
 
 Leigh 147 
 
 Leigblou 17, 1 i ? 
 
Paee 
 
 Le Mertherie 93 
 
 Leslie 170 
 
 I-ess, Dr 358 
 
 Livy 6^5 
 
 Llovd 531, 619, 771 
 
 Locke 173,240, 6'23 
 
 Lodge 71) 
 
 Loveless 193 
 
 Lowman HSZ 
 
 Lucan 11-*, 481 
 
 Luther 137,215,364, (",91, 
 
 742, 762 
 
 Lyttleton, Lord 684 
 
 Machiavel 621 
 
 iMackeiizie 367 
 
 Maclean, Dr ^.. 10 
 
 Maintenon 684 
 
 Malthus 91 
 
 Maicellinus 645 
 
 Marmohtel 733 
 
 Maisderi 56 
 
 Marsh 331 
 
 Martyr 266 
 
 Alauiidrell 4S1 
 
 M'Diaimid 638 
 
 ."VJede 361,617, G92 
 
 Melancthon 106, 137, 2655, 
 364, 762 
 
 Michaells 531,533,613 
 
 Middleton 113, 613 
 
 Mi'ner 10, 226, 463 
 
 IMiltoii 1 14, 440, 493, 623, 
 
 756 
 
 Mirabeau 620 
 
 Montaigne 633 
 
 Montague, Lady M... 684 
 
 Moore 646 
 
 Moore, Dr 402 
 
 More, Mis. 134,349,574, 
 
 744 
 
 Morgan 266 
 
 Moren 266 
 
 Mosheliu 481 
 
 Murray, Lady 249 
 
 Napleton, Dr 2G7 
 
 Nelson 131,436, 744 
 
 Ncwcome 531 
 
 Newport 7 
 
 Newtou 539, 614, 6S8 
 
 Origen 431 
 
 Overton 84 
 
 Paezold 714 
 
 Paley, Dr. 27, 87, 293, 433, 
 397,700 
 
 Pamphilus 4B1 
 
 Paraeus 170 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Page 
 
 Parkhurst 145, 174, 265, 
 
 463,731 
 
 Parr, Dr 750 
 
 Paschall 675 
 
 Patch 262 
 
 Patrick 401 
 
 Pear«on 127, 159, 208 
 
 Philpot 205, 526, 592 
 
 Pierius 481 
 
 Piscator 170 
 
 Piijckard, Dr. 366,423,506 
 
 Piiikerton 123,635,777 
 
 Pitt, Rt Hon. W.63, 117, 
 
 787 
 
 Polycarp 372 
 
 Porueranus 137 
 
 Pope 112,547, 761 
 
 Povnet 268 
 
 Prideaux 336, 531, 616 
 
 Priestley, Dr. 175, 365, 531 
 Plutarch 645 
 
 Ravnal 621 
 
 Reid, Dr 297 
 
 Renti, Marquis de 355 
 
 Reynolds, Sir Joshua 489 
 
 Richardson , 707 
 
 Richmond, Dr. H .. .. 726 
 
 Ridley 203, 269, 393, 326, 
 
 730 
 
 Ringeltaube 193 
 
 Ritson 646 
 
 Robinson 53, 161, 227, 245 
 
 Rogers 71, 730 
 
 Rogers, Rev. J 207,526 
 
 Roscoe 215 
 
 Rottler 714 
 
 Rousseau 43, 347, 620, 753 
 Russell, Lady '355 
 
 Sabellins 363 
 
 Sailer, Dr 582 
 
 Salniasius 625,633 
 
 Salford 332 
 
 Sanadon 634 
 
 Sanders 730 
 
 Sands' 263 
 
 Saunders 207, 526 
 
 Scott 34, 73, 154, 337 
 
 Seeker 480 
 
 Selden 401 
 
 Seneca 100,411 
 
 Sergeant 449 
 
 Serve tus 625 
 
 Shaftesbury 112 
 
 Shakespeare 337, 764 
 
 Sharpe 691 
 
 Shellive 777 
 
 Simeon, Rev. C 594 
 
 Simon 134 
 
 Smith, S 348, 410, 640 
 
 817 
 
 I I'aqe 
 
 ' Smith, J. P 172 
 
 Smith, Mr. J 401 
 
 Spanheim 531 
 
 Spinoza 625 
 
 Stephens 665 
 
 St. John 466 
 
 Stock' 70 
 
 Sivartz 313,516, 609 
 
 Sivedenborg 363 
 
 Sivift ,. 675 
 
 Taylor, Dr.... 193, 205,326 
 
 i'erapie. Sir W 62.1 
 
 Thiebault 93 
 
 Thirlwall ^ 365, 539 
 
 Thurlow, Lord 587 
 
 Tillotson 682, 74.i 
 
 Toland 623 
 
 Tovey 7i) 
 
 Tresbam 266 
 
 Trusler, Dr 46G 
 
 Tuckney, Dr 537 
 
 Tuke ..". 168, 607 
 
 Usher 401, 458, 750 
 
 Vanderhoots 134 
 
 Vaiiderkerap 57, 443 
 
 Vehn 57, 442, 513 
 
 Vere, Lady 458 
 
 Virgil 114 
 
 Voltaire 547, 620, 640, 732 
 Vulteius 114. 
 
 Wake 313, 609 
 
 Walker 215 
 
 Warburton 376, 630 
 
 Waterland 208 
 
 Watts.. .243, 372, 375, 405 
 
 Weld .*... 367 
 
 Westley 31, 159, 381 
 
 Whichcote 537, 741 
 
 White, H. K 726 
 
 Whitaker 403,615,688 
 
 Whitfield 31 
 
 Wilberforce 702 
 
 Williams 172, 302 
 
 Wilson 595 
 
 Wintle 5Ci 
 
 Wood 365 
 
 WocKld, Rev. B 126 
 
 WnoJhouse 353 
 
 Woodward 151 
 
 Woolf 120 
 
 Yorke, Redhead 65 
 
 Young, Dr... 440, 496 
 
 Zaieucus 621 
 
 Ziegenbaigius 313, 607 
 
 ZoMch ^ 691 
 
 Zuinglius 17U, 268 
 
 Christ. Ojs. App. 180*5. 
 
 50 
 
818 
 
 INDEX TO THE TEXTS, 
 
 ILLUSTRATED OR REFERRED TO. 
 
 Pase 
 
 Gen. iii. 1^, 15 493 
 
 iv. 4 79 
 
 V. 29 732 
 
 XV. 3,6 571 
 
 xxviii. 16, 17... 78 
 
 txoD. iii. 6 78 
 
 Lev. X. 3 78 
 
 XXV. 8 562 
 
 NuM.xiv. 33,34 5G3 
 
 DEUT.vi. 7 333 
 
 Jos. i. 9...' 765 
 
 V. 1 538 
 
 1 Sam. XV. 22 79 
 
 J Sam. viii. 6. 14 765 
 
 2 Kings vii. 19 733 
 
 1 Chr.v. 20 765 
 
 Job. x.xxvii. 8 733 
 
 Psalms xviii 765 
 
 xxxii. 7, 8 
 
 xxxix. 11 537 
 
 xli.3 93 
 
 1. 5 79 
 
 li. 17 79 
 
 Ivi. 8 92 
 
 Ix. 12 765 
 
 Ixxxix. 7 78 
 
 cvii. 6 538 
 
 Prov. ix. 10 300 
 
 xiv. 29.. 147 
 
 XV. 8 79 
 
 — 18 147 
 
 xvi. 32 147 
 
 Jlcc. ii.26 .38 
 
 iv. 8 
 
 408 
 
 4 
 
 79 
 
 301 
 
 Mat. vii. 20 , 
 
 viii 
 
 xi.l5 
 
 25 
 
 xviii. 23—34.... 2 
 
 XX. 6 407 
 
 x.'ii 4 
 
 xxiv 145 
 
 44 403 
 
 xxviii. 19 171 
 
 xxxi. 24 396 
 
 MAR.iii. 5 11, 147 
 
 iv. II 7 
 
 — 24 79 
 
 xiii 145 
 
 LuKEiv. 16. 21 492 
 
 viii. 18 79 
 
 xi. 28 79 
 
 xvi. 8 301 
 
 xix.48 79 
 
 xxi 3, 74, 145 
 
 John iii. 5 465 
 
 IV. 23, 24 79 
 
 xii. 13 300 
 
 [sA. vi. 9, 10 540 
 
 xiv. 6, 7 174 
 
 xxviii. 17, 18.... 4o4 
 
 xl. 29— 31 765 
 
 xli. 10, 13,14 ... 
 
 xliii. 1 — 5 
 
 Iv. 1 28 
 
 Ix. 8 733 
 
 EzEK.iv. 5,6 5(33 
 
 xviii 3 
 
 Dan. vii. 11 
 
 — 25 
 
 viii. 9 
 
 ix. 24—27.. 
 xii. 7 
 
 Joel. ii. 3 692 
 
 Amo> iii. 2 540 
 
 J5tc. xii. 13, 14 692 
 
 MAT.ii 23 732 
 
 V. 14 481 
 
 V. 16 408 
 
 — 22, &c 1*7 
 
 VII. :il. 
 -38. 
 
 27 
 15 
 
 xxi. 15 16 
 
 AXTSX. 33 79 
 
 — 41 664 
 
 xiv. 23 
 
 xvi. 14 79 
 
 xvii. 11 
 
 — 30 14 
 
 XX. 19, 21,26, 28 16 
 
 Rom. i. 16 773 
 
 — 30, 31 301 
 
 692 
 563 
 5G0 
 531 
 563 
 
 2CoR.iv. 8, f>... 773 
 
 V. 6, 7, 8 38 
 
 vi. 10 773 
 
 — 16 618 
 
 vii. 1 20 
 
 Gal. ii. 20 211 
 
 iv. 6 212 
 
 V. 22 212 
 
 Eph. i. 3, 14 270 
 
 ii. 12 618 
 
 iv. 26 II, 147 
 
 V. 25 771 
 
 vi. 12, 13 303 
 
 Phil. ii. 12, 13 31 
 
 111. 
 
 — 23 ,... 175 
 
 iv.5 571 
 
 viii. 5 212 
 
 xi. 8 540 
 
 xii. 1 79, 211 
 
 xiii 3 
 
 XV. 13 36 
 
 ICoR ii 5, 6 301 
 
 iii. 16 618 
 
 iv. 4 461, 594 
 
 vi. 11 407 
 
 — 19 211, 618 
 
 viii. 1 301 
 
 — 12 771 
 
 ix. 24, 26 496 
 
 — 27 37 
 
 xiii 75 
 
 — 2 76 
 
 — 3 301 
 
 XV. 22 169 
 
 2C0K.,i. 12 52.9 
 
 — 13 211 
 
 Col. ii. 18, 23 618 
 
 iii. 1 211 
 
 2THEss.ii. 1 615 
 
 — 16 36 
 
 iii. 1 496 
 
 ITiM.i. 15,16 4Cf7 
 
 iv. 1 61S 
 
 — 12,16 16 
 
 vi. 10.. .4, 145, 462, 
 
 663, 730 
 
 2TiM.ii. 1, 15, 2t, 25 16 
 
 iii. 1 709 
 
 — 3, 7. 301 
 
 iv. 2 !<» 
 
 — 3. 618 
 
 vi. 1 709 
 
 Tit. i.7 147 
 
 ii. 7,8 16 
 
 Heb. iii. 6 618 
 
 iv. 15 92 
 
 \\. n 36 
 
 X. 12, 14, 22 79 
 
 — 22 549 
 
 — 26, 28 52>9 
 
 xi. 4 79 
 
 Xli. 28 
 
 xiii. 15 
 
 Jam. i. 19 79,147 
 
 ii. 22 40S 
 
 IPET.ii. 1,5 79 
 
 — 17 26 
 
 iv. 1,2 143 
 
 V.2. 
 
 773 
 OPET.ii 61$ 
 
 — 10. 
 
 1 JoH.iii. 2 
 
 — 14 
 
 — 23 
 
 — 4—19... 
 
 JuDB S 355 
 
 Rev. m.U— 21 692 
 
 35.^ 
 618 
 102 
 771 
 14 
 61S 
 
THE 
 
 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER, 
 
 CONDUCTF.D BT 
 
 MEMBERS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ESTABLISHED CHURCH. 
 
 FOR THE YEAR 1812, 
 
 THE ELEVENTH VOLUME, 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 VRINTflfc BY ELLERTON AND HENDERSON, 
 
 Johnson's Court, Fleet Street; 
 
 I'UBI.ISIIED BY TOTIV IIATCHAKD, BOOKSELLER TO HER MAJESTY. 19O. PICCADILLY, 
 TO WHOM COMMUNICATIONS (POST PAID) MAY BE ADDRESSED; AND OF WHOM 
 MAY BE HAD THE PRECEDINCi NUMBERS OF THIS WORK, EITHER SEPARATXLV 
 OR BOUND UP IN VOLUMES. 
 
 St-iI.O also, TN LONDON, BV SEEI.EY, FLEET STREET ; AND SHERWOOD, NEKLY, AND JONES, PATERNOSTER 
 ROW; AT OXFORD. BV H ANWELL AND PARKEi'., AND COOKE : AT CAMBRIDGE, BY DEIGHTON, ANP 
 MCHOLSON : AT BATH, BY HAZARD: AT BRISTOL, BY MILLS: AT EDINBURGH, BY OGLE: AT GLAS. 
 COW, BY OGLE: AT Dl BI.IN, BY COLBERT: AND BY ALL OTHEii BOOKSLLLEKS, ANU BY THE NEWS- 
 MAN, THROUGHOUT IHE U.NITED KINGDOM. 
 
 1813. 
 
 / 
 
Tf 
 
 \ 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 VOL. XI. 
 
 BEING FOR THE YEAR 1812. 
 
 NUMBER I. 
 
 Keltg. Com. — Countess of Seafield- -What 
 is it to preach the Gospel ?• 'Interpreta- 
 tion of Scripture- • Sermon on Rom. iii. 
 23- -Self-Examinaiion Page 1 — 19 
 
 MiscEL.— Tlieories of Population- •Licence 
 Sjsteiu • • Papal Excommunication • • Pur- 
 gatorian Society of Dublin • • • • 19 — 28 
 
 Rev. of — Scott's Don Roderick- • Life of 
 
 Huet . •• Butler on Chrijlian Liberty 
 
 26—40 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intel. — Great Britain ; 
 New Wo'-ks ; Vegetable Wax ; Births and 
 Deaths in London; Cambridge; Oxford; 
 New Publications 55, 56 
 
 Relig. Intel. — Society for pronioiing 
 Christian Knowledge • - Huntingdonshire 
 Bible Society • • Regimental Schools 57 
 
 —59 
 
 Pub, Aff. — Spain; Ciudad Rodrigo- -Rus- 
 sia. . Turkey . . Sweden • • United States ; 
 Java- -Great Britain; Prince Regent's 
 Speech ; Population Returns ; Fast-Day ; 
 Naval and Military Bible Society ; Naval 
 Intelligence 61 — 63 
 
 Ecclesiastical Preferments. . . . 63 
 
 Answers — On Toleration, and Blue Cover 
 Advertiieiuenis 64 
 
 NUMBER II. 
 
 Relic. Com. — Countess of Seafield • • On 
 Rom. V.15 — 17- -On Matt. vi. 23- -Bishop 
 Wilson on Matt. is. 13. • • Genealogy of 
 our Saviour •• Sermon on Col. iii. 2. •• 
 South on Original Sin- -Biblical Inquiries 
 • -Reeves's Common Prayer • - • • 65 — 79 
 
 MisCEL. — Rev. Dr. Kerr, of Madras •• 
 Union of Tutor and Minister • • Fox the 
 Marty rologist- -Paraphrase of Heb. iv.l5.: 
 Hymn - -80—91 
 
 Rev. of — Alison on Taste- -Accownt of Sy- 
 rian Ciiri^libus, in Report of Society for 
 promoting Christian Knowled^^e. 91 — 105 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intfl. — Great Britain- • 
 New Works- -Cambridge- -Population- • 
 List of New Publications 115 
 
 Relig. Inlel. — Ilcrtfoidshire Bible .'So- 
 ciety ; JMr. Dealtry, &:c. • • Sutton Cold- 
 ficldand Bristol Bible Societies - -Bible So- 
 ciety and Dr. Marsh - - Cape of Good 
 Hope- -United States 116 — 122 
 
 Pub. Aff. — Spain • -River Plate - • Sweden 
 • -Sicily. •• United Stales; Orders in 
 Council J Exports- -Great Baltain; State 
 
 of Parties ; Letters of Prince Regent, and 
 of Lords Grey and Grenville ; Parliament ; 
 Catholic Question ; Reversion Bill ; Li- 
 censing System ; Domestic and Naval 
 
 Intelligence 122 — 131 
 
 Ecclesiastical Preferments ••••132 
 
 NUMBER IIL 
 
 Relig.Com, — Countess of Seafield - -On Ex. 
 xviii. 30 ••On Gen. xv. 31-- Sermon on 
 Luke XV. 7.- • Difference between Know- 
 ledge and Practice in Religion- -Form of 
 Consecration,. Lord's Supper- -133 — 149 
 
 MiscEL. — Rev. Dr. Kerr of Madras-- On 
 Grace before and after ]Meat--On the 
 Fast-Day- -Injustice of Names of Pieligi- 
 ous Reproach - - • 1 50 — 159 
 
 Rev. of — lless's Life of Zuinglius .• 
 Marsh on giving the Bible without the 
 Prayer-book 160 — 173 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intel. — Great Britain; 
 New Works announced ; Cambridge ; 
 Consolidated Fund ; War Taxes, &:c. 192 
 
 Helig. Intel. — General Observations -• 
 Bible Society and Dr. Marsh- •Blackheath 
 Auxiliary Bible Society 193, 194 
 
 Pus. Aff. — Spain- -France- -Russia- -Swe- 
 den.. United States- -Great Britain; Do- 
 mestic ; Naval. 195, 196 
 
 NUMBER IV. 
 
 Relig. Com. — Abyssinia- -On Matt, xxvii. 
 52, 53. •• On Justin Martyr's Quotatioa 
 from Ezra • - On AiBiction - • Sermon on 
 Pet. i. 3; Regeneration -- Baptism and 
 Regeneration • - 197 — 215 
 
 MiscEL. — Advantages from a Diilerence of 
 Parties in Religion- -Bible Society, Pray- 
 er-book, Articles, and Homilies- -Want of 
 Instruction among Gaelic Emigrants- -On 
 the Papal Curse • • Burning Women ia 
 Bengal. . Hyiuns for the first Sunday af- 
 ter Epiphany 216 — 225 
 
 Rev. of — Vaughan's Sermons •- Woodd's 
 Sermon on the Liturgy- -Cunningham on 
 Origen against Celsus - - Dr. Marsh's In- 
 quiry 225—238 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intel. — Great Britain ; 
 New Works ; Cambridge ; Imports ; Ex- 
 ports; Licenses; East Indies ; the College 
 of Fort William and new Works there- • 
 New Publications 240 — 24i 
 
 Relig. Intel. — Society for promoting 
 ChxIsUau Knowledge • • Society for poor 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 pions Clergymen* -Prayer-book and Ho- 
 iijily Society- • Society for Missions to 
 Africa and the East« • British and Foreign, 
 Wailinsford and York, Bradford, and 
 Stailordbhire Bible Soiieties- -Speech of 
 Mr. Gisboriie- -Society for Jews- -Religi- 
 ous Tract Society- -Society for Observ- 
 ance of Lord's Day • -Sunday Schools- • 
 
 Want of Bibles 243—255 
 
 Pub. Aff. — Spain ; Capture of Badajoz, &c. 
 --Russia; Sweden- -Great Britain: Par- 
 liameiit ; Catholic Question ; Orders in 
 Council ; East India Charter; Corporal 
 Punishment ; Reversions, &c. - -Domestic 
 and Naval Intelligence 256 — 260 
 
 NUMBER V. 
 
 Reiig. Com. — Obligation of Great Britain 
 to Christianize India- - Rev. Henry Scou- 
 gal . - Sermon on John xv. 8. - - 261 — 279 
 
 MiscEL. — Letter, the Rev. C.F. A. Slein- 
 koptT to the Right Hon. N. Vansittart. . 
 Reeves's Common Prayer- • Rev. Richard 
 Greenham • -Licensed Schoolmasters- -On 
 Mr. Hodgson's L^se of the Phrase " sanc- 
 tified Look"- - Hynnis for the third Sun- 
 day after Epiphany 282—289 
 
 IIf,v. of — Report of Cambridge Bible So- 
 ciety, Marsl.'s Address and Inqoirj'-- 
 Clarke's, Dealtrv's, Vansittart's, and Si- 
 roeon's Reply to Marsh ••The Dog in the 
 Manger ' 289 
 
 Lit. and Phu.. Intel. — Great Britain; 
 
 New SVotks; Mendicity; Cambridge; 
 
 Bullock's Museum ; !New Publications ; 
 
 Population of Great Britain in 1811.. 
 
 315, 316 
 
 Relic. Intel. — Bible Society, Eighth An- 
 niversary Report • -Society for Missions to 
 Africa and East • -Prayer-book and Homi- 
 ly Society •- Baptist Missions in India.- 
 Ecleciic Review- - Religious Intelligeiice 
 317—328 
 
 Pub. Aff. — Spain •• Russia •• Turkey , . 
 Prussia- -Sweden, &c.- -America : Orders 
 in Council ; Henry, ^c. • • Great Britain : 
 Assassination of Mr. Perceval ; New Ad- 
 ministration ; Naval Intelligence ••329 — 
 
 332 
 
 NUMBER VL 
 
 Relig. Com. — Rev. Henry Scougal •• Ge- 
 nealogy of ]\]essiah- -Hebrew Names de- 
 scriptive of Properties-- Dr. Barrow on 
 the Work of the Holy Ghost in Regene- 
 ration • -Sermon on John v. 40. - • Lord's 
 Supper. .Herbert on Assurance •• 333 — 
 
 348 
 
 MiscEL. — Piety and Benevolence of Ed- 
 
 • ward VI.- -Oath of Winchester College- • 
 On Col. JMalcolm's View of chrisliaidzing 
 India •• Influence of the Sun on Vegeta- 
 tion 349—356 
 
 Rf-v. of — Scott OH Tondinc's Relnfation of 
 
 Calvinism • • Lord Byron's Cliilde Harold - • 
 
 358—376 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intel. — Great Britain: 
 New W'orks ; Oxford ; Bibliomania; Stra- 
 moiHum ; Leslie's frigorilic Process; Re- 
 medy for Rats ; Polyflame Lamp, &c. &c.; 
 New Publications 387, 388. 
 
 Relic. Intel. — Relief of the Manufac- 
 turing Poor •• Prayer-book and Homily 
 Society- -Society lor Projiagation of Go- 
 spel in Foreign Parts- -State of Clergy a* 
 to Residence, and of Parishes as to Places 
 of Worship, &c.-- Mission to Tartary.. 
 African and Asiatic Society • • 389 — 40(J 
 
 Pub. Aff. — Spain- -France- -Russia.. Swe- 
 den- • United .States- - Caraccas- • Si. Vin- 
 cent • -Cuba- -Great Britain : Parliament; 
 Nesv Administration; Conciliatory Mea- 
 sures of Government ; Revocation of the 
 Orders in Council ; Budget; Loan; New 
 Taxes, &c.; Domestic and Naval Intelli- 
 gence 400 — 404 
 
 NUMBER Vn. 
 
 Relig. Com. — Rev. Henry Scougai . . Cor- 
 
 rociions of Hebrew Bible . . . Sermon oa 
 
 Psalm Ixxxiv. 1,2... On Self-examination 
 
 405—417 
 
 MisCEL. — On Education . . Pope's Bull . . 
 World's Estimate of Goodness . . Anec- 
 dote 01 Mr. Cecil . 424—432 
 
 Rev. of — Sco»t on Tomline's Refutation of 
 Calvinism . . DOyly's Letters to Sir Wm. 
 Drummond 433 — 449 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intel. — Great Britain; 
 New Works ; iMungo Park ; Hebrew Bi- 
 ble ; Bevenue; New Publications. . .462 
 
 Relic. Intel. — British and Foreign Bible 
 Society . . Bible Associations. . Circulation 
 of Prayer-books . . Blaclibeatli, Liverpool, 
 jManchcster and Salford Bible Societies. . 
 Society for Conversion of the Jews . . . 
 Baptist Missions in India .... 464—470 
 
 Pub. Aff. — War between Russia and France 
 . . Offer of Peace to Great Britain . . Pro- 
 gress of French in Russia . . Poland . . 
 Turkey . . Sweden . . '>pain, &c. . .United 
 Stales. . Great Britain : Parliament; Se- 
 cret Committee and Law to repress Riots 
 . . Toleration Act, &c. &c. . . Naval and 
 Domestic Intelligence 472 — 476 
 
 NUMBER VITI. 
 
 Relig. Coji. — Rev. Dr. Bayley of Man- 
 chester . . Rev. Henry Scougai . . Sermon- 
 on Gen. sviii. 19. . . . On Mr. Simeon's 
 Defence of Liturgy 477 — 491 
 
 MiscEL. — Arabian Epistle, by Mark CVL 
 Patriarch of the Copis, to a Moravian Bi* 
 shop,. On signing Collcse Testimonials. . 
 Supplication of Poor (o King Edward VI. 
 . . On the Declension of Politeness . . Dr. 
 Goldsmith's Commendation of Public 
 Schools 495—500 
 
 Rev. of — Simeon on the Lirurjy- • Scott oi\ 
 the Bishop of Lincoln's Refutation of 
 Calvinism .501 — 51 'J 
 
 Lit. and Phil, Intil. — ^^Great Britain . 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 New Works ; Caii.liriilpe, &c. • -New In- and the East : Cliurch Missionary Asso- 
 
 ventions : Steam Engine, &c. • • New cialions ; General Meeling of llie Sociely 
 
 Publications '• • • > • • 53j, 53 i 677 — 679 
 
 Kelig. Intel. — British and Foreign Bible Pen, Aff. — Spain : Sie^e of Burcos, &c. . , 
 
 Society- •Biuli, Uxbridgp, and South-West War in the North: B..ttie of Borodino; 
 
 Esses Bible b«jcieties.. Religious Liberty Capture and Couflauration of Moscow, Sec. 
 
 ••Bapti!<t .Missions in India- -St. Alban's, . .United States of Anierica : (Capture of 
 
 Claphan'., City of London, and Naval and Gen. Hull's Army; Loss of a Frigate; 
 
 Mili;ary Bible Societies- -Society for Sup- State of Feeling in America . . Great Bri- 
 
 pression of Vice 535 — 514 tain : General Elections ; Sir Fr.incis Bur- 
 
 PuB. Aff. — Spain : Lord Wellington's Vic- dett 680 — 683 
 
 tory,6cc.- -North of Europe- -French Bui- Ecclesiastical Puefeiiiients -••• 6'6i 
 
 letins- -Peace : Ilussia and Turkey ; Great 
 
 Britain, Sweden, and Russia- -.\raerica: NUMBER XL 
 
 Declaration of War. .Great Britain: Prince Relig. Com. — On tlie Love of God . . Ode 
 
 Regent's Speech 546, 547 of Habakkuk, from the Hebrew . . On Dr. 
 
 Obit. — Jacob Min, a Jew 548 Clarke's Denial of the Brazen Serpent be- 
 ing ;t Type of Christ. . Sermon on Ephes. 
 
 NUMBER IX. vi. 10. . . Siineou's Defence of his Sermons 
 
 Relic. Com. — Rev. Henry Scougal- • Ser- on the Liturgy . . Bishop Cleaver on tiie 
 
 nion on Matt. vi. 6. - -On Submission to Articles • 685 — 705 
 
 God 549 — 559 Miscel. — Answers to a " Friend to Fairness" 
 
 MiscEL. — On the sarcastic Application of . . On Scougal . . Means of impressing 
 
 Scriptural Phraseology 565 ymithful Minds . . Slovenly Habits in Lon- 
 
 Rev. of — Gregory's Letters on Christianity don Churches . . Luther's Hymn . . 706 
 
 • • Stewart's Philosophical Essays •• 577 ■ — 712 
 
 — 5S7 Rev. OF — Cottage Sketches . .Maltby on the 
 Lit. and Phil. Intel. — Great Britain: Plans of the Bible Society .. Cunning- 
 New Work>, ^c; Trial for X'on-residence; ham's Reply to Mall by .. Sixth Report 
 Vaccine Establishment; Mendicity Otiice ; of the African Institution • • - - 713 — 729 
 
 New Publications 606 — 608 Lit. and Phil. Intel. — Great Britain: 
 
 RcLio. Intel. — New Auxiliary Bible So- New Works; lluiuan Antiquities .. New 
 
 cieties- • Want of Bibles in Liverpool - • Publications 737 , 738 
 
 Effect of Bibles near Neath and Bristol ; Relig. Intel. — National Society for Edu- 
 
 among Soldiery ; among Prisoners of War cation of the Poor .. Prayer-book and 
 
 ••Baptist Mission Society -• De>truction Homily Society ... Wilberforce Philan- 
 
 of Printing Establishment at Serainpore- • thropie Association ... Missions of the 
 
 Southwark and Wilts Bible Societies • United Brethren to the Esquimaux. .N.E. 
 
 Supply of Bibles and Prayer-books to ihe Middlesex, Cinque Ports, and Gloucester 
 
 Navy .-Yearly Meeting of the Quakers- • Bible Societies . . Portsmouth Bible Asso- 
 
 609—618 elation . . Demarara 738—746 
 
 PcB. Aff. — Spain: Capture of JMadrid.&c; Pub. Aff. — Spain: Raising Siege of Bur- 
 Raising Siege of Cadiz, &c. • -War in the gos ; Retreat of Lord Wellington; Bal- 
 North-. Sicily: New Constitution-- lasteros .. Rnssia : Retreat of LJonaparte ; 
 United States: Hostilities- -Great Britain: Reverses of his Armies ; his Cruelty and 
 Dissolution of Parliament ; Suggestions on Injustice . . France . . America . . Great 
 the View of a General Election, 617 — 619 Britain: Reflections on Slate of Parties, 
 
 &c.; Domestic Inielligence . . . 747 — 75'^ 
 
 NTJMBER X. Postscript — Defeat and Capture of a se- 
 
 Relio. Com. — Of Abassinia . . Sermon on cond American Army 752 
 
 Epbes. vi. 18. . . On Trusting in God, 621 
 
 —631 NUMBEP>, Xn. 
 Miscel.— On onr occasional State Prayers Relig. Com. — Rev. Dr. Leechraan . . Dr. 
 . . On certain injudicious Expressions of A.Clarke on Deut. vi. 20. . . Sermon on 
 Religious Persons ., Jerusalem Lost and 1 Cor. iii. 21. .. Collation of Bishops Tom- 
 Regained ; a Poem . . the Blessings of line and Tillotson on Regeneration . . Sir 
 Knowledge, by Mr. Montgomery . . A Matthew Hale on the Excellei'icy of the 
 prospective Defence of the Bible Society, Bible . . Lavater's Rules of Holy Living . . 
 
 by Dryden 638—648 753 — 770 
 
 Rev. OF — Hall's Sermon on the Christian Miscel. — Complaint of a neglected Female 
 
 Ministry , . Stewart's Philosophical Essays . . A Baptismal Ball . . Oath cf Abjuration 
 
 649 — 654 . . Inquiry respecting Corporation lor 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intel. — Great Britain: propagating Govpcl in New England; 
 
 New Works; New Publications ••• • 676 Wheelock's Indian School ; Danish Mis- 
 
 Rkiic. Intbl. — Mission Society to Africa iwii in th6 East; Denon's Account of 
 
 V/r~ 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 the Jews , . Replj' of a " Friend to Fair- 
 ness" . . Letter from the Chaplain at the 
 Bay of Honduras 771—781 
 
 Rev. or — Mi^^s Edgeworth's Tales of Fa- 
 shionable Life . . Clark's Travels in the 
 Holy Land 781—797 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intel. — Great Britain: 
 New Works ; Cambridge ; St. David's Col- 
 lege ; Sir H. Davy- Hydropliobia, dec. . . 
 
 811 
 
 Rei.ig. Intel. — Westruinster, Surrey, and 
 Rutland Bible Societies 81'}, 813 
 
 Pub. Aff. — War in the North : Defeat and 
 Suffeiings of the French Armies; Escape 
 of Bonaparte, and Return to Paris... 
 Spain . . United Slates: President's Speecli; 
 Opinions of the Religious Public of Ame- 
 
 , rica on the War . . Great Britain : Parlia- 
 ment ; Prince Regent's Speccli ; Vote to 
 Lord Wellington; Aid to suiiering Rus- 
 sians • • 814—819 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Relig.Ixtel. — Missions of UnitedBrethren 
 at Cape of Good Hope, Surinam, Green- 
 land, St. Croix, St. Tliomas, Antigua, Bar- 
 badoes, and South America . . Mission So- 
 ciety to Afi ica and East : Sermon and Re- 
 port . . London Missionary Society : Ab- 
 stract of Report . . Spiialfields. Benevolent 
 Society . . Sunday School Union . . Hiber- 
 nian School Society . . Society for Observ- 
 ance of Lord's Day, &c. . . Spiritual Wants 
 of the Poor in the Forest of Dean . . Navy 
 Chaplains . . . Poor Curates . . . Tract So- 
 ciety. .Jews. .Lascars . . United States- • 
 iMethodists . . Seranipore . . Church Mis- 
 sion Tracts . . Keynsham Association for 
 reading Bible . . Newcastle, Sulfolk, Shrop- 
 shire, Blackheath, Henley, Hibernian, 
 Sussex, North London, Hackney, Cam- 
 bridge and Edinburgh Bible Societies 821 
 
 — 86S 
 
 List of New Publications 866 
 
 Ecclesiastical Preferments .... 867 
 
 Index to the Essays, &c.; Reviews; Names; 
 
 Texts; and Signatures 871 — 880 
 
THE 
 
 CHRISTIAN ■ OBSER VEM 
 
 \(i 
 
 No. 121.] 
 
 JANUARY, 1812. 
 
 [No. 1. Vol. XL 
 
 RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS. 
 
 To the Editor of the Qirislian Observer. 
 
 I BEG to submit to your judg- 
 ment the enclosed manuscript ; 
 bearing, as you will perceive, the 
 marks of age, but bearing also the 
 marks of undoubted autheaticily ;■ 
 and from which, if the whole be 
 too long for insertion in your work, 
 occasional extracts may be made 
 for the ediBcatioQ of your readers. 
 I am, &c. 
 
 H. 
 
 " SOME MEMORABLE THINGS, ESPE- 
 CIALLY OF THE LAST YEARS AND 
 MOLKS OF THE LAST COl.NTESS OF 
 SEAFIELD, WHO DEPARTED TH S 
 LIFE AT CULLEN, THE 1 4lh OF ALG. 
 1708. DONE FOR THE USE OF HER 
 CHILDREN. 
 
 " Anna late Countess of Seatteld, 
 ihe eldest daughter of Sir William 
 Dunbar of Durn. son to the Laird of 
 Grangehill, and Janet Brodie his 
 wife, grandchild ofllie Lord Brodie, 
 was born in the year of Cod ]672, 
 and bred up virtuously from her in- 
 fancy by her parents, and particu- 
 larly by her gramimolher Lady Dun- 
 bar, who was a virtuous and pious 
 woman, and took care to instil into 
 her grandchild's mind, a sense of 
 piety and devotion from her very 
 infancy. 'I'liere appeared in her, 
 from her childhood, a sweetness of 
 temper and disposition which made 
 her agreeable lo all that saw her, 
 and which was always observable in 
 her to the last. 
 
 " When she was a young girl 
 with her parents, her mother wouki 
 have had her to learn housewifery ; 
 but her inclination led her rathei 
 
 Christ. Oustuv. ISo, 121. 
 
 to read, and therefore she stayed 
 mostly ill her closet and gave her- 
 self much to reading, and still avoid- 
 ed the company of the servants, 
 having an abhorrence of the pro- 
 faneuess and ribaldry with which 
 they are ready to defile one another's 
 ears, and pollute their hearts. And' 
 in this sense, one's great enemies are 
 oftentimes those of one's own house ; 
 and children, in their younger years, 
 are greatly corrupted by the exam- 
 ple and speeches of servants. 
 
 " IJer parents, knowing how rea- 
 dy young people are to corrupt one 
 another, and that one of the best 
 means to keep them from evil is to 
 preserve theiu from the occasion of 
 it, chose not to send herto the city, to 
 the women's schools, accordintrto the 
 ordinary custom, there to be train- 
 ed up in the thincrs which become 
 those of her own age and quality to 
 learn ; but to keep a virtuous woman 
 within their house to attend their 
 daughter, and instruct her in such 
 things as wert! til for her to learn." 
 
 •' She began very early to rcarV 
 good and devout books, and took 
 delight to hear them read to her; 
 and when a portion of some of them 
 had been read, slie would retire to 
 her closet, and was often observed 
 there on her knees in prayer to God. 
 When she was about eight years of 
 age, while reading the holy Scrip- 
 tures, she happened to read these 
 words, ' The wicked shall be turn- 
 ed into hell, and all the nations that 
 forget God.* On wliich, reflecting 
 on her own sinful state, she was 
 struck with great terror, looking on 
 herself as one of those against whonr 
 this is' threatened. In this stat« 
 
2 Some Particulars of the Life of the last Countess cf Sea field. [ Jan- 
 
 her grandmother did greatly comfort When he first addressed her, she 
 
 her; and when she would be in the 
 greatest anguish, these two passages 
 of holy Scripture gave cure and re- 
 lief to her spirit : ' One day with 
 the Lord is as a thousand years ; and 
 a thousand years as one day.' 
 * When the wicked turneth away 
 from his wickedness which he hath 
 committed, and doth that which is 
 lawful and right, he shall save his 
 soul alive.' However, the deep 
 impression of this threatening, re- 
 mained on her spiiit for several 
 years. 
 
 " When she was vvith her parents, 
 her mother happened to be visited 
 ■with a sever&and long sickness, du- 
 ring which she constantly attend- 
 ed her, and ministered to her in 
 every thing, sitting up by her in 
 the night to serve her; and the 
 seeing her mother so afflicted, and 
 the apprehensions of her death, and 
 the solitary nights she spent in at- 
 tending her, made her very thought- 
 ful ; so that she employed them 
 much in reading the Scrijilures and 
 devout books, and came thereby to 
 !have a deep sense of her duly to 
 God, and received her parent's 
 
 gave him no other return bat that 
 she was to obey her parents, and be 
 directed by them. When all was 
 agreed unto, he made her a present of 
 a rich diamond ring, but she would 
 by no means accept of it till the 
 marriage was solemnized ; she con- 
 sidering, that mauy have been con- 
 tracted, who have not been married 
 togetlier ; and that if it should so 
 happen vvith her, such a present 
 could not be kept, and therefore she 
 chose rather not to accept of it. 
 
 " The entering into the married 
 state so young, where she foresaw so 
 many difficulties, made her very 
 thoughtful, and therefore she had 
 recourse to God ; and begged ear- 
 nestly, counsel and direction from 
 him. And this she said she did af- 
 terwards in all her difficulties, and 
 that she found God was pleased to 
 direct her and bring her through 
 them she knew not how. 
 
 " When she was first married, her 
 husband had no plentiful fortune in 
 the world, although lie had the 
 prospect of being his father's heir, 
 (his elder brother, though alive, being 
 very infirm); yet the estate of the 
 
 blessing for her so pious care other; family was under such burdens, that 
 of the good of all which she was af- 
 terwards very sensible. 
 
 ". In the sixteenth year of her 
 age, she was married to the Hon. 
 James Ogilvie, second son to the 
 Earl of Findlaier, who was after- 
 wards created Earl of Seafield, and 
 whose eminent parts appeared in 
 the discharge of two great oflices of 
 stiile ; that of secretary of state, and 
 that of lord high chancellor, to 
 which he was advanced in this and 
 the last reign ; first to the one, and 
 then to the other; and that for two 
 several times, continuing in the last 
 till the late union of both king- 
 doms into one, of Great Britain, 
 
 " When he came first to ask her 
 for his wife, her father having told 
 her of it the night before, some of 
 her acquaintances pressed her to 
 look out of her window to see him 
 while he alighted (for she had never 
 seen him), but she would not do it. 
 
 it was scarcely better than none at 
 all. This made her give great ap- 
 plication to a careful and prudent 
 management; and their worldly 
 wealth still increasing, and God 
 blessing them with a plentiful for- 
 tune, and her husband being for 
 the most part from home, and com- 
 mittmg to tier the care and manage- 
 ment of his own estate, she did it 
 with great application and fidelity. 
 She looked on herself as the steward 
 of it for her husband, and that she 
 was obliged to be faithful to her 
 trust. 
 
 " When her first-born son was 
 born, being of a thin body, she was 
 prevailed with to give him to be 
 nurst by another wonjan, who, prov- 
 ing a very bad nurse, occasioned 
 much sickness to the child ; which 
 brought him to the gates of death, 
 for which the mother had deep re- 
 morse ; and having met vvith the 
 
1812.] So7ne Particulars cfthe Life of the last Countess of Seajkld. 3 
 same aftliction in her second child, heaven and hell, as made him to 
 for which she was touched with like tremble, and gave him a deep sense 
 trouble, she resolved afterwards to of that charity and compassion which 
 nurse her own children, which she we ought to liave for the poor and 
 accordingly assayed in the next miserable. There was nothing she 
 child, her present eldest daughter ; was more careful to curb in her 
 but after two months' suckling-, she children than the least inclination 
 became so weak that she was forced to lying or deceit. She was also care- 
 to give it over. ful to suppress i» them the least in- 
 
 " Though her husband was, for clination to pride and self-conceit. 
 
 the most part, always abroad, being And when she found them lifted up, 
 
 employed in the public atfairs, yet she would take occasion to humble 
 
 she kept still at home, being careful them, and so to point out to them 
 
 to educate and bring up her children their faults as to mortify their pride, 
 
 in virtue and piety, and looked well " Though it was still her care to 
 
 to the ways of her household, and make no shew in her devotion, and 
 
 ate not the bread of idleness: a rare not to be seen of men, jret, for the 
 
 example for the ladies of this age. most part, she constantly retired 
 
 " She was most careful to nip the thrice a day for pra^^r and medi- 
 first buds of vice that appeared in tation on the holy Scriptures; and 
 her children, and to pull them up in particular on the Lord's day in 
 by the root. She still inculcated to the afternoon; and frequently took 
 them the heinousness of their dis- in someone of her children with her, 
 obedience to God, and their sinning keeping her child under her arm 
 against him, and would not forgive while she prayed with great devo- 
 them the offence they had done, till tion; and afterwards would set down 
 they had first earnestly begged par- and speak seriously to the child of 
 don of God. And she made tliem the obedience and love he owed to 
 still conceive that the reason of their God, the duty of depending upon 
 obedience to her commands, was be- him, and having recourse to him by 
 cause it was the will of God, and he prayer on all occasions, repenting 
 commanded it. Her eldest son, in and confessing his sins before him. 
 his childhood, when about five or And she would then reprove him 
 six years of age, having learned mildly of any particular faults she 
 from the servants to take the name thought he was guilty of, and re- 
 of God in vain, she wrought in him commend to him the particular du- 
 such a sense of the baseness and lies he ought to perform ; and espe- 
 heinousness of that crime, that ever cially to employ the Lord's day in 
 afterwards he had a horror of it. At readmg and meditating on the holy 
 another time, about the eighth or Scriptures and in prayer. She 
 ninth year of his age, she having vvould then dismiss the child to get 
 given iiim a little money to carry to by heart a portion of a psahn or 
 a beggar whom she saw at the gate, some other part of the holy Scrip- 
 he was tempted by a boy, of the same ture ; and after she had ended her 
 age with himself, to buy figs with it. own devotions, vvould call in the 
 This coming to her ears, she so laid child again, and take an account of 
 before him the heinousness of this it. She accustomed the children, 
 sin ; the greatness of the theft he from their infancy, to pray morning 
 had committed in robbing the poor ; and evening, and recocnmended to 
 the dreadfulness of the account he them, before they fell asleep, to call 
 roust have to give at the last judg- to mind some passage of Scripture, 
 nient for this uncharitableness, when and meditate upon it ; and when ihey 
 we shall be judged by Jesus Christ awoke in the morning, todolhesame. 
 according to our charity or want of "About a year after their mar- 
 it; and did so inculcate upon him riage, they came to live with the 
 the thoughts of death and judgment, Karl of Findlaler, her husband'* 
 
 B2 
 
4 Some Particulars of the Life of 
 
 father, at his house of Culleii, w here 
 the Countess of Findlater being de- 
 ceased, the whole care of the family 
 was committed to her; in the ma- 
 nagement of which she discovered <i 
 wonderful prudence and discretion, 
 far beyond what could ha?e been 
 expected from a you"? lady of 
 eighteen j'ears of age. There were 
 in the familv, besides the lady and 
 her own husband, the Earl of Find- 
 later, his eldest son, the Lord Desk- 
 foord, the earl's two daughters, both 
 of them older than herself, and a 
 younger son : and these were of 
 such ditVerent tempers and interests, 
 that it was not easy to oblige one 
 without disobliging the other : and 
 yet this you:«e lady so lived among 
 them, as to obtain the esteem and 
 good will of ail, and to avoid a con- 
 cern in their little quarrels and re- 
 sentments. She heard them com- 
 plain of each other without offend- 
 ing the person complained of, and 
 was displeasing to none of them. 
 
 " The Earl of Seafield had been 
 in public office several years, both 
 in Edinburgh and London, before 
 he obliged his lady to leav^ her 
 country-house to come to live with 
 him at court or in the city. The 
 Jadies were wont to express their 
 surprise why she lived still in the 
 country ; and concluded her lord 
 was ashamed to bring her to the 
 court and the city, because of her 
 rural breeding. They earnestly 
 pressed him to bring her up, and 
 they pleased themselves with the 
 fancy of the sport and divertisement 
 they should have in the manners, 
 speech, conversation, and behaviour 
 of a country lass ; and how odd 
 she would look when she was out of 
 her element. She knew not what it 
 was to disobey her husband ; and 
 as she was well pleased to live in 
 the country so long as he saw it fit, 
 so she made no scruple, upon his 
 call, to come to the city. Before 
 she came first to Edinburgh, she had 
 never been in a town so remarkable 
 as Aberdeen, and therefore one 
 would think every thing mightseem 
 Strange lo herj but, on the contrary. 
 
 the last Covntess of SeajlelJi [Jaw* 
 
 she did not appear at all aflfectetl 
 with the novelty of things. When 
 the ladies and others came to visit 
 her, they were surprised to find how 
 much they had been mistaken in 
 their opinion of her, and that, in- 
 stead of rural manners, they beheld 
 a lady endued with all the valuable 
 accomplishments of the breeding of 
 a court and city, and tainted with 
 none of their vices. Her behaviour 
 towards others was so courteous, 
 that never any one who saw her, of 
 what quality soever, thought her 
 wanting in the respect due to them. 
 Whatever occasions ofl'ered of doing 
 good oflices to others, she was ready 
 to embrace them. Jn conversation 
 she had an easiness of expressing 
 herself in proper words, without the 
 least aftectation. She was so well 
 verst-'d both in ancient and modern 
 history, and in the present state of 
 Europe, and in n)atters of religion, 
 that no subject of conversation did 
 usually occur to which she was a 
 stranger. She had nothing of the 
 coquetry of the age; her behaviour 
 in all things was perfectly modest 
 and unatVecled ; and both in Scot- 
 land and England, in the opinion of 
 the most discerning persons, she 
 obtained the character of one of the 
 most accomplished ladies in Britain, 
 and had the good will and esteem of 
 all ranks of people. 
 
 " The Earl of Seafield being en- 
 gaged in the interest and service of 
 the court at the time when the discon- 
 tents of the nation swelled to a great 
 height, he became one chief butt of 
 their displeasure which is the ordi- 
 nary fate of ministers of state. His 
 lady on all occasions stood up for the 
 honour and interest of her husband, 
 aufl to vindicate him from the re-, 
 proaches cast upon him ; and yet, 
 nevertheless, retained the general 
 good will, so that when the rabble 
 arose at Edinburgh with respect to 
 Darien, and broke the glass win- 
 dows and did other indignities to 
 houses which wanted illuminations; 
 — -though there were none in the 
 EarlofSeafield's house where his lady 
 then wait; aiid though they were o& 
 
1812.] Some Particulars of the Life of the last Countess of Seafield. 5 
 their march to commit insolences if it were his holy will, that he would 
 there ; — yet upon a suggestion made he pleased to spare her yet awhile, 
 them that none was there but this even but for one year p.iore. The Lord 
 virtuous lady, and that it would be heard her prayer, and beyond the ex- 
 ungenerous to treat her indiscreetly, pectation of all she was restored to 
 they turned their course another health, and had the least she desired 
 way. granted her, so that her soul was 
 " In the year 170(3, her lord being full of devout adoraiion. And in 
 then Chancellor of Scotland, and this divine frame and disposition of 
 about to return from court, and hav- spirit, she wrote meditations on the 
 ing desired her to meet him atEdin- Lord's prayer, which, when she pe- 
 
 burgh against such a time ; while 
 she was making ready for the jour- 
 ney, she was seized suddenly in her 
 closet, at the moment that she was 
 
 rused tliem, served to enliindle her 
 devotion.'' 
 
 The whole of these meditations 
 are inserted in the manu'^oript. A 
 
 employed in preparing to receive the few extracts from them will serve to 
 
 sacrament on the next Lord's dav, mark their character, 
 with a violent vomiting of blood, " O holy Lord God, come then 
 
 which returned more than once, and and rule in my heart. Be my king, 
 
 brought her to the very gates of and establish thyself a throne m my 
 
 death. God was pleased to call her, aliections; and govern my will, that 
 
 not only by this sudden and unex- I may be a most obedient subject 
 
 pected stroke, but by the checks unto thee. O hasten the day wtieii 
 
 and motions of his Holy Spirit; and alt knees shall bow before thee, and 
 
 she was struck with a deep sense of all tongues shall confess thy name; 
 
 God's wonderful mercies to her, and when the Gospel shall shine glo.. 
 
 of her abuse of them. She had be- riously, and Jew and Gentiie shall^ 
 
 lore her the prospect of death and in their heart and practice, acknow- 
 
 eternity, and felt how unfit she was ledge the Messiah, and turn their 
 
 to enter into it. On the review of aflections to the great and mighty 
 
 her whole life, though she had not God." 
 
 been guilty of what the world would " O God, I desire to give up my 
 account heinous crimes, yet she found will unto thee; and let thy will be 
 that she had been seeking herself done in and by me, and not only in 
 and her own reputation more than me, but in all that is mine. O pull 
 God ; and saw what a difference there down every thought that raiseth itself 
 was between that virtue which is in disobedience to thee, and every' 
 founded on true humility and the base imagination, that thy will may 
 sincere love of God, and is the work be fullv obeyed not only by me, but 
 of his grace and Spirit, and that in all the earth. Give thy enlight- 
 which is only the effect of self-love, ening Spirit, that thy will may bei' 
 She was struck with deep remorse known, and that it may dissipate 
 that in all things she had sought the thick clouds of iniquity that 
 herself more than God, and by ar- darken or go between thee and us." 
 dent prayers implored his mercy and " Lord, let me no. longer satisfy my- 
 compassion for Christ Jesus' sake, self with praying, Thy will be 
 And while she was in the extremity done; but by an actual giving my- 
 of weakness, she caused her eldest self to be guided by thy reveakd 
 daughter to read to her the fifth will, and by submission to thy pro- 
 chapter of Matthew, and made so vidential will, may I follow thee in 
 excellent a discourse on the eight all thy steps." 
 
 beatitudes, therein contained, that it " Lord Jesus, thou art the bread 
 
 greatly affected and left a deep im- of life: give me that bread which 
 
 pression on the spirits of all who shall feed me lo life everlasting; and 
 
 were present. She devoted herself grant, that as 1 cai;not live without a 
 
 wholly loGod, and begged earnestly, dependence on thee, so may I never 
 
On preaching the Gospel, [Jaut. 
 
 desire to live without it, but that any place there. Nothing of this 
 
 the eyes of my soul may be always was known till a .few days before 
 
 looking towards thee, and receiving her death, when she desired one of 
 
 with thankfulness my temporal and her maids to look for such a paper 
 
 spiritual food from thy hands." " O in her cabinet, and bring it to her, 
 
 that I could give my heart entirely that some parts of it being read to 
 
 to thee ! Ldrd, lam a poor defiled her, she might the more reproach 
 
 wretch ; but it is by thy blood I must herself for not having walked iin- 
 
 be cleansed, whose I am, and to swerablv to such powerful calls, and 
 
 whom I do resi;:(n myself, soal and such solemn engagements.'' 
 body, and all that is mine. This is (To he continued.) 
 
 but what gratitude obliges me to, ^^ 
 
 since he gave himself for sinners, 
 
 of whom I am the chief." To the Edit or of the Christian Observer. 
 
 " O holy Lord Jesus, grant that So much has been said of late re- 
 
 niy passions may be subdued to thee, specting Gospel preaching and Go- 
 
 and that all my revenge and anger spel 7iiinislers ; and those who are 
 
 may be against sin; that I may most frequent in the use of the 
 
 strive through thy strength to root terms seem to understand so little 
 
 it out of my heart ; that I may be a of their real import, that I must look 
 
 declared enemy to the devil, the upon it as an essential service to the 
 
 world, and the flesh, whom I re- cause of religion, to endeavour to 
 
 nounced in my baptism, and have communicate precise and just views 
 
 declared war against often in the on the subject. What, tiien, is it to 
 
 tows which I have made to thee." preach the Gopsel? And who are 
 
 " O keep me from relying on any they who may be considered as 
 thing but Christ and him crucified, fairly entitled to the appellation of 
 and on thy abounding mercy. O evanzelical ministers ? These ques- 
 lioly Lord God, purge me from sin, tions appear to me to be satisfac- 
 and pardon the sins of my holy du- torilv answered in the inclosed pa- 
 ties, my wandering and vain thoughts per; with the insertion of which I 
 in prayer. O take away my hard- should be glad to see you open your 
 ness and stupidity of heart ; possess new volume. This paper is the 
 my will, and fill my affections. Thou production of a friend whom I most 
 art the only object that is worthy of highly value, but whose modesty 
 all love! Thou only canst satisfy a would not permit him to see in it 
 right-placed affection 1" any thing which was calculated for 
 
 " These,'' the writer of the paper tke general benefit. My opinion is 
 observes, "are the excellent medi- certainly widely different from his; 
 Utions which this lady then formed and I have piev;iilt-d with him to 
 on this divine prayer; and they submit it to the test of your judg- 
 manifest not only the clearness and me»t. Should your opinion coin- 
 exactness of her thoughts, but also cide with mine, I sincerely hope 
 the deep sense and feeling of her that it will serve to encourage the. 
 heart with respect to the greatness author of it (who entertains great 
 and goodness of Cod, and the infinite respect for your decisions in general) 
 obligations she had to love him with to become a mora frequent contri- 
 all her heart, and her great unduti- butor to your work. I am well 
 fulness to so good a God, and the persuaded that he could not write 
 hopes she had in his mercy through without interesting and enlighten-. 
 Jesus Christ, to which she flies, yield- ing your readers. I am, &.c. 
 ing up her will wholly unto his, and 
 resolving in the strength of his grace 
 to live from henceforth wholly unto 
 him, that he might reign and rule in 
 her heart, and no idol might find 
 
 S. 
 
 ON PREACHING THE GOSPEL. 
 
 The Gospel is stated by St. Paul, 
 to be " the power of God unto saU 
 
1812.] 
 
 On preaching the Gospel. 
 
 vation to every one that believeth." 
 In other words, it is a dispensation 
 ill which the power of God is strik- 
 ingly manifested by the manner in 
 which the salvation of man is f fleet- 
 ed. The object of the Gospel is the 
 recovery of man from the stale of 
 guilt and misery into which he had 
 sunk by the fall, and his restoration 
 to the Divine favour and to eternal 
 happiness. The tneans by which 
 this great change is etiected are 
 made known by the (jospel. Pro- 
 perly speaking, Christ, who, Wy his 
 tieath, takes away liie guilt of n)an, 
 and the Holy Spirit, who, by his 
 operation, sanctifies the heart, are 
 the grand agents in accomplishing 
 this work. The Gospel only niakes 
 known their agency, and is used 
 by them as an instrument of etlecl- 
 ing their great design, 'i'hey re- 
 quire, therefore, faith in the Gospel, 
 and they employ that faith as the 
 medium by which they operate in 
 changing the condition of man. And 
 hence the Gospel is said to be the 
 means of salvation. 
 
 The Gospel evidently supposes 
 man to be in a state of sin and guilt, 
 under the just displeasure of God, 
 and liable to eternal condemnation. 
 It supposes him lurlher to be inca- 
 pable of extricating himself from 
 this state, by the exertion of any 
 powers which he possesses in him- 
 self; and it implies that there is no 
 other law or dispensation given by 
 God by which man could be saved ; 
 every law of God being too pure 
 and holy to be sufliciently kept by 
 the weakness of man. 
 
 In this state of the utter ruin of 
 man, we are informed by a revela- 
 tion from God, that he has been 
 pleased, in compassion to his crea- 
 tures, to appoint a Saviour for them. 
 He has sent his own Son to take 
 upon him our nature, and to make 
 atonement for our sins. He has 
 likewise sent his Holy Spirit from 
 above to testify of this Saviour, and 
 to communicate the benefits of his 
 salvation to the souls of men. 
 Through this Saviour men are to be 
 restored to the Divine favour, and to 
 
 be made partakers hereafter of the 
 blessed kingdom of heaven. In the 
 mean lime, through the influence of 
 the Holy Spirit, they are to be fitted 
 and prepared lor that holy state, by 
 the renewal of their nature, by the 
 sanctificalion of their souls, by the 
 mortifying of the body of sin, by 
 their growth in grace and in a con- 
 formity to the Divine image. 
 
 Such is the brief outline of the 
 Gospel. To preach the Gospel is 
 to make it known to men in a fuU 
 and perff ct manner, and also to en- 
 force and apply the several bran- 
 ches of it to the conscience. From 
 this outline, then, we may form some 
 judgment of the true method of 
 preaching the Gospel. A moredis- 
 tinct view^ of the subject, however, 
 may be obtained by considering 
 what it is not to preach the Gospel. 
 
 Those do not preach the Gospel 
 who represent man in a ditierent 
 state from that which the Scripture 
 supposes. If ministers do not speak 
 ol li'ni as fallen and corrupt, as na- 
 turally under the power of sin, and 
 therefore subject to the just displea- 
 sure of a holy God ; this is to give 
 such a view of man as would render 
 the Gospel unnecessary. If allow- 
 ing the corrupt state of the human 
 race, they assert that there is power 
 in man to restore liimself by his 
 own exertions, without referring him 
 to the Divine power and grace, they 
 do w t preach the Gospel ; because 
 thus the sanctil'ying influences of 
 the Holy Spirit are rendered useless. 
 W exalting the merit of any rigli- 
 teous acts which man can perforin, 
 they suppose them capable of coun- 
 terbalancing his transgressions, and 
 rendering him acceptable in the 
 sight of God, the)' do not preach the 
 Gospel ; for thus they make the 
 cross of Christ of none efliict. If 
 they represent Christ only as a pat- 
 tern and example to mankind, and 
 not as making atonement for sin by 
 his blood ; or as being only a man, 
 instead of the Son of God come down 
 from heaven to redeem us, they do 
 not preach the Gospel : for great is 
 the m3'stery of godliness j that is, of 
 
8 On preaching the Gospel 
 
 *he Gospel ; " God was manifest in 
 *he flesh/' If they fail in pointing 
 out, that the great end of Christ's 
 coming in the flesh was to purchase 
 to himself a holy people, who, being 
 made partakers of a divine nature, 
 and delivered from tlie corrup- 
 tions of the world, should be zea- 
 lous of good works, they do not 
 preach ihe Gospel ; their preaching 
 is at variance with tht main design 
 for which that Gospel was given. 
 In a word, if they do not represent 
 man as in absolute need of a Saviour ; 
 if they ascribe to him the power to 
 save himself ; if they keep tiie great 
 and only Saviour out of view, or 
 substitute any thing whatsoever in 
 the place of his meritorious death, 
 perfect righteousness and prevailing 
 intercession ; if th'-v do not insist on 
 the sanctifying intliiencesofthe Holy 
 Spirit as indispensiblv necessary to 
 the great end of the Gospel, the re- 
 newal of the sDul in the divine 
 image; or if, allowing this to be the 
 end, they do not point out the ap- 
 pointed means of attaining it; they 
 do not preach the Gospel; they 
 give false views of the state of man, 
 and of the means of preparing him 
 for eternity. 
 
 In these several cases, the Gospel 
 may be said not to be preached at 
 all ; because either some doctrine 
 contrary to it is introduced, or some 
 essential part of it is omitted. But 
 besides this, the Gospel may be 
 preached imperfectly, and may thus 
 fail in a considerable degree to ful- 
 fil the great ends which it was de- 
 signed to accomplish. This is the 
 case when the several points already 
 stated as characterizing the Gospel 
 are not exhibited in the full and 
 proper proportion; when a lucid 
 view of the whole is not presented ; 
 when a distorted representation is 
 given of it, one part being unduly 
 magnified, or its connection with the 
 rest not suQiciently marked ; when 
 the outline is not filled up; when 
 the points more immediately re- 
 quired by the peculiar circumstances 
 of a congregation are not insisted 
 ujion; or when a close and direct 
 
 [Jan, 
 
 application of scriptural truth is 
 not made to the conscience. 
 
 It seems hardly necessary to ob- 
 serve, that in order to all this, much 
 knowledge and wisdom are required. 
 The Gospel, indeed, is of itself plain 
 and simple. It was meant to be so, 
 being expressly intended for the 
 poor and unlearned. In this, as in 
 all the other works of God, a noble 
 plainness and simplicity bespeak 
 the perfection of his skill. Christ 
 and his apostles, by whom it was de- 
 livered, came not with excellency 
 of speech or worldly wisdom: they 
 were the very models*of plainness 
 in all their discourses. However 
 high the subjects of the Gospel may 
 be, they are made so plain by the 
 inspired writers, that he who runs 
 ma\' read. Besides which, the Holj' 
 Spirit has been promised to enlighten 
 the mind. What is required, there- 
 fore, in order to understand the Go- 
 spel, is only an humble and teacha- 
 ble spirit, a diligent study of the 
 sacred oracles, and earnest prayer to 
 the Giver of ail wisdom for his illu- 
 mination. 
 
 But though the truth will be made 
 clear to those who use these means, 
 and are thus duly prepared to receive 
 it, it must be acknowledged that there 
 is in men, in general, an unhappy 
 blindness of mind, a perversity of 
 judgment, a corruption of heart, a 
 prevailing regard to worldly interest, 
 or an obstinate spirit of prejudice, 
 which renders them indisposed to its 
 reception. Hence it is that mini- 
 sters with the same documents in 
 their hand-^, with the words of our 
 Lord and the WTitingsof his apostles 
 before them, have diflered so widely 
 in the views they have given of re- 
 ligion; while plain and illiterate 
 men have bten perplexed, and have 
 been at a loss to know what really 
 was the Gospel of Christ. 
 
 Some have dwelt almost exclusive- 
 ly on the evidences of Revelation; 
 an important subject, doubtless, if 
 it be considered as only introductory 
 to a knowledge of the Gospel 
 itself; while others have entire- 
 ly overlooked the external proofs 
 
1812.] 
 
 of our faith. Some 
 chielly on man's moral obligations, 
 sinking liiose doctrines which con- 
 stitute the foundation of all Chris- 
 tian practice, and especially keep- 
 ing out ,of view that Saviour bv 
 ^vhose blood alone we are cleansed 
 from our sins. Others, sensible of 
 this error, have gone into the oppo- 
 isite extreme; they have perpetually 
 dwelt on points of doctrine, while 
 what related to Christian practice 
 has been either omitted or iiur- 
 ried ovtr in general terms and with- 
 out sufJicient explanation. Another 
 class has failed in not applying the 
 truths they have delivered. They 
 have preached the grand doctrines 
 of Scripture indeed ; but they have 
 preached them as matters of specu- 
 lation, as if the bare and cold know- 
 ledge of the truth could be eflectual 
 to salvation. The warm and ani- 
 mated appeal to the feelings ; the 
 close application to the conscience ; 
 the atiectionate address as from a 
 father to his children, over whom 
 he was tenderly watching in Christ 
 Jesus: — these have been wanting; 
 and the preaching, though specula- 
 tively correct, has been unfruitful. 
 Others again have failed in particu- 
 larizing, that is, in applying, the 
 general truths of the Gospel to the 
 pariicular cases of their hearers. It 
 is not the constant repetition of the 
 same form of sound words, however 
 excellent, which can be regarded as 
 a complete delivery of the truth. It 
 must be elucidated : it must be 
 branched out into particulars : it 
 must be explained and amplitied : 
 it must be brought to bear on the 
 peculiar circumstances of the con- 
 gregation, so that they may clearly 
 understand and feel its force. In 
 this way only can a minister of the 
 Gospel be said rightly to divide the 
 word of God, and to give to each his 
 portion in due season. 
 
 The grand and distinguishing doc- 
 trines of the Gospel are, as has been 
 observed, exceedingly plain and easy, 
 but at the same time they are most 
 comprehensive ; and fully to under- 
 stand all their bearings,and the whole 
 Christ. Obsery. No. 121. 
 
 On preaching the Gospel. 9 
 
 have dwelt detail of their application, requires 
 more than the study even of a whole 
 life. The sinfulness of our nature, 
 for example, a most important doc- 
 trine of Christianity, is readily seen 
 and admitted. But what avails the 
 general acknowledgment of this 
 truth? The effects of sin must 
 be pointed out in all their various 
 forms. The numerous lusts of the 
 flesh which lurk disguised in the 
 human heart must be stripped of 
 their disguise end exposed to view. 
 The Jove of ease and the love of 
 pleasure must be exhibited in all 
 their workings. Pride in its several 
 branches of self-conceit, vanity, os- 
 tentation, and such like afTections 
 must be held up to view. The love 
 of money, with its ditFerent indica- 
 tions: the love of worldly honour, 
 the desire of human applause, the 
 operations of a secret spirit of impa- 
 tience, envy, resentment; all these 
 must be fully explained, if we would 
 know the true meaning of that cor- 
 rupt state from which it is the de- 
 sign of the Gospel to set us free. 
 He, therefore, who is thus exposing 
 sin, with the view of more clearly 
 shewing the necessity of the Divine 
 work of Christ on the soul, is preach- 
 ing the Gospel as truly and eftectually 
 as if he were proclaiming the glad 
 tidings of forgiveness in Christ 
 Jesus. 
 
 In like manner, he who explains 
 in detail the holy tempers and dispo- 
 sitions which characterize the " re- 
 newed" man; he who illustrates the 
 fruits of the Holy Spirit, (not neg- 
 lecting also, either in this or in the 
 former instance, to give a clear and 
 full view of the other great branches 
 of Christianity) : may be truly said to 
 be preaching llie Gospel. It is a 
 narrow and confined view of the 
 Gospel which would confine it ex- 
 clusively to a particular doctrine, as 
 that of faith in Christ Jesus, without 
 embracing all those other points 
 which were equally taught by 
 Christ and his apostles. 
 
 It appears to have been the prac- 
 tice of our Lord and his apostles to 
 direct their peculiar attention to the 
 C 
 
10 On preaching 
 
 prevailing faults of the people what- 
 ever they were. These they at- 
 tacked in a forcible manner. Our 
 Lord saw that the Pharisees were 
 the chief opposers of real reli- 
 gion : He therefore constantly re- 
 proved them, and exposed their 
 hypocrisy. He perceived that false 
 interpretations were put upon the 
 law: and he took occasion fully to 
 explain its purity and the extent of 
 its requisitions. He observed the 
 apostles to be worldly minded and 
 ambitious ; he therefore frequently 
 inculcated heavenly mindedness, and 
 deadness to the world and the things 
 of it. 
 
 The Epistles likewise (to say no- 
 thing at present of the preaching of 
 .Tohn the Baptist)are directed against 
 prevalent errors or vices. And it is 
 this particularity in theEpistles which 
 renders them at once interesting and 
 instructive. Tbe Apostle's command 
 to Timothy, and, through htm, to 
 every minister of the Gospel, is not 
 only to preach the word, but to re- 
 prove, rebuke, exhort, with all long 
 suffering and doctrine; to watch in 
 all things, and thus do the work of 
 an evangelist, and make full proof 
 of his ministry. 
 
 The (iospel was intended not only 
 to convert men, but also to baild 
 them up in the faith, the love, and 
 the obedience of Christ. We fVnd, 
 therefore, a ditference i!> the strain 
 of the Apostles^ preaching at ditle- 
 rent times and to ditl'ereirt persons. 
 When preaching to those who were 
 unacquainted with the truth as it is 
 in Jesus, they declare unreservedly 
 the grace of the (lospel. If any 
 afterwards abused that grace to li- 
 centiousness, we hear an apostle 
 sharply reproving them, and telling 
 them, that faith without works is 
 dead, and that a man coald not be 
 justified by faith if it were alone, - 
 that is to say, barren and unproduc- 
 tive. Thus did the apostles accom- 
 modate their preaching to the cir- 
 cumstances of their bearers, leaving 
 an admirable piittern of the true 
 manner of preaching the Gospel. 
 And surely they as truly fulftlled 
 
 the Gospel. [3aU' 
 
 the high commission they had pe- 
 ceived from Jesus Christ to feed his 
 sheep, when they reproved sin, un- 
 masked hypocrisy, or rectified error, 
 as when they delivered at first the 
 simple doctrine of Christ dying for 
 sinners, and exhorted men to be re- 
 conciled to God. 
 
 But while a minister thus fully 
 elucidates every iin]>ortant branch 
 of the Gospel, and thus guards a- 
 jzainst imperfect |-epresentations of 
 it, Christ must ever be held up to view 
 as the great Author of salvation, and 
 the great Agent in it. He must be 
 made the 9prii>g of all obedience; 
 the sun of the system, whose influence 
 is to pervade every part of it. 'All 
 things must refer ta him as their 
 centre. This being kept otiiformly 
 and steadily in view, the perfection 
 of preaching is to deliver the whole 
 counsel of God, to omit no import- 
 ant part, and to dwell on each ir» 
 proportion to its rank and import- 
 ance,of which the Scriptures exliibit 
 to us a perfect scale. 
 
 What has been said may serve to^ 
 correct the error of those who would 
 confine the preaching of the Gospel 
 to those doctrines alone which relate 
 to the forgiveness of sins in Christ 
 Jesus. This is indeed a most high- 
 ly important part of the Gospel ; 
 but it is not the whole. In some 
 congregation a, it may be that the 
 state of the bearers may require that 
 these doctrines should be chiefly 
 dwelt upon. In others, however, 
 the practical parts of religion may 
 be nwre particularly necessary. To 
 preach the Go«pel wisely and faith- 
 fully to each would require a strain of 
 preachingwhich might seem,to super- 
 ficial judges, to be almost contradicto- 
 ry. Such was precisely the ease wiljj 
 St. Paul and St. James. They both 
 preached the Gospel with much wis- 
 dom and ability. They were both 
 inspired by the very same Spirit; yet 
 the one will seem to many to have 
 spoken inconsistently with the other, 
 A little reflection, however, on dif- 
 ference of circumstances, would serve 
 to reconcile every seeming coiUra* 
 diction. 
 
1S12.] On ihe right Literpretaiion efScriplure. II 
 
 In conclusion, let it be remarked, fess their sins before God, are deeply 
 tliat nothing new can be expected humbled on account of them, and 
 in the preacliing of the Gospel. If strive against them in the power of 
 it be new, it is on that very account Jesus Christ. In like manner, the 
 false. Yet many persons seem to knowledge of the grace of the Go- 
 be anxious to tinJ out something spel will benefit those only who, 
 new which is to operate as a charm weary and heavy laden with the 
 in effecting tlieir salvation. That burden of their sins, listen to the 
 only is the (Jospel which the Scrip- invitations of Christ Jesus, make 
 tures liav.e revealed as such ; and their application to him in faith and 
 there the truth will always be found prayer, and rely on him for salvation 
 JO be clear just in proportion to its with the heart unto righteousness, 
 importance. One preacher may be No more will the knowledge of the 
 more happy than another in his ta- pure precepts of the Gospel benefit 
 lents, Ins mode of expression, his anybutthosewhoare purifyingthem- 
 manner, lie may have more inge- selves even as He is pure, and who are 
 nuiiy of illustration, and may be watching over th«ir whole conduct 
 more expert in handling particular that the temper and dispositions of 
 subjects ; but^^he truth itself is old a Christian may be found in them to 
 and well known. Nor is it only the honour of their blessed Master, 
 folly to expect something new in The hour is fast approaching, as on 
 the preaching of the Gospel : such the wings of a whirlwind, when 
 an expectation often leads to fatal empty speculations will not be al- 
 consequences. INIany, through life, lowed as a substitution for a living 
 are thus seeking and never finding the faith and a holy practice. God 
 truth. Some persons are led to fix grant that every one who reads this 
 on particular expressions of Scrip- paper may be found in that day to 
 ture, to the neglect of what is mos.t have received the truth in the love 
 important in doctrine ; some to die- of it, and to have brought forth 
 ■risha fond regard to doctrines with- abundant fruit to the glory of our 
 out attending to practice J and some Lord and Saviour ! 
 to use even religion itself for stilling 
 the remonstrances of cojiscience. 
 I;lence also come divisions in the 
 Church. It has ever been the po- 
 licy of Satan rallier to undermine While Christians of almost every 
 the Church than to attack it openly, denomination profess to adopt the 
 An open denial of any truth would same Scriptures as the rule both of 
 be rejected; but the disproportionate faith and practice, they yet draw, 
 exaltation of one part of the Gospel, or seem to draw, from the sacred 
 to the depression of the rest, is not volume conclusions widely different. 
 so soon perceived to be pregnant Many causes, doubtless, contribute 
 with danger. Let it be ever remem- to this effect; and none, peri;aps, 
 bered, that it is the practical appli- nvore than that corruption of our 
 cation of old and well known truths nature, which blinds the understand- 
 to the conscieuce, which is chiefly ing and hardens the heart; which in 
 wanted, and from which Satan one man exalts itself against the 
 would divert the attention of man. humbling truths of the Gospel, and 
 "SVhat will a\ ail, as has been already in another refuses obedience to its 
 said, the speculative belief of any self-denying precepts. Still we find 
 religious truth, uidess that truth be differences of opinion, which exist 
 brought into effect? The knowledge between those who appear to believe 
 of the sinfulness of our nature will with sincerity, and to study with 
 bejiefit those only who trace it candour, the revealed will of God ; 
 through its windings, cherish the dillerences which are, 1 think, to be 
 convictions of their conscience, con- traced in a considerable degree i« 
 
 C2 
 
 To tJieEdUor of the C/irislianObserver. 
 
On the right Interpretation of Scripture. 
 
 12 
 
 a wrong method of interpreting the 
 sacred writings. A judicious work 
 op the interpretation of Scripture 
 would be a valuable treasure to the 
 Christian world : it might be the 
 instrument, under the grace of God, 
 of leading many serious inquirers to 
 the knowledge of the truth, and of 
 uniting discordant sects in the bonds 
 of Christian charit;,-. The subject 
 i? too large to be fullv discussed in a 
 periodical workj nor do I feel by any 
 means able to grasp the whole of it. 
 A few detached observations is all 
 that I propose to offer; but they 
 ■will not prove wholly useless, if thej' 
 have no other effect than that of 
 leading some other person to treat 
 the subject in a more regular and 
 comprehensive manner. For the 
 present, I shall only suggest, and il- 
 lustrate by examples, a few canons 
 of coastructioii applicable to the 
 sacred writings in general. I may, 
 perhaps, at some future period, re- 
 sume the subject by discussing some 
 further rules of interpretation, rela- 
 ting more particularly to our Sa- 
 viour's mode of instruction, and 
 others relating to the epistolary 
 writings of the apostles. It is a 
 trite observation, tl>at every passage 
 should be construed by the context ; 
 but, trite as it is, commentators on 
 Scripture (I should rather say, wri- 
 ters on controverted points of divi- 
 nity), r9rely apply it to all the uses 
 of which it is capable. It is, indeed, 
 a, fundamental rule of construction, 
 and most of the following observa- 
 tions qiay be considered as illustra- 
 tions oj it. 
 
 I. The first caupa which I pro- 
 pose for interpreting Scripture is 
 this: — A proposition, which is used 
 merely as a Imk in a chain of rea- 
 soning, is often expressed in more 
 general terms than would be re- 
 quired to establish the conclusion, 
 which the writer is proving; in this 
 case, the proposition is not necessarily 
 Ip be taken in the widest sense of 
 which the words would admit: it 
 
 [JAn 
 
 did not affebt the course of the argu- 
 ment; aild we should ever bear in 
 mind that our Saviour and his apo- 
 stles adapted,for the most part, their 
 instructions to the occasion, without 
 
 attempting to treat religioH in a 
 systematic order. The following 
 passages will at once illustrate ami 
 confirm the rule. In St. Luke, ch. ix. 
 ver. 50, our Saviour says, "He that 
 is not against us is for us;" but in St. 
 INIatthevv, ch. xv. ver. 30, " He that 
 is not with me is againai me." Hovr 
 are these propositions to be recon- 
 ciled ? By taking one of them in 
 some limited sense ; and the occa- 
 sion on which the first \yas delivered 
 evidently points out the liniitation 
 which it requires — '•■ And John an- 
 swered and said. Master, we saw 
 one casting out devils in thy name ; 
 and we forbade him, because he 
 followeth not with us. And -le- 
 sus said unto him, Forbid him not :' 
 for he that is not against us \5 
 
 for us.' "Forbid him not" — that 
 is the precept — forbid him net to 
 do good in my name — and the rea- 
 son follows—" for he that is not 
 against us is for us :" he who does 
 not oppose me, promotes mv cause: 
 let my Gospel be preached, even 
 though of strife and contention. 
 Here our Saviour inculcates for- 
 bearance towards those who, from 
 whatever motives, promote the pro- 
 gress of his kingdom: but in the 
 passage from St. Matthew he teaches 
 us, that mere indifference will not 
 avail to our salvation; that they 
 who would obtain the reward, must 
 profess the character of his disci- 
 ples; that they who do not confess 
 him before men, and espouse his 
 cause in this world, will be treated 
 as his enemies at the day of judg- 
 ment. 
 
 The manner in which St. James 
 and St. Paul state the doctrine of 
 justification will furnish another il- 
 lustration of this canon of criticism. 
 St. James says, " Ye see how that 
 by works a man is justified, and not 
 
 viay be subject to various limitations, by faith only,"(ii. '24.); and St. Paul, 
 vyhich the writer did not think it " Therefore we conclude that a man 
 Tpecessary to express, because (hey is justified by faith without the deeds 
 
I S 1 2.] On the right Inteipr 
 
 of the law:" and it is a little singular, 
 that each of the apostles illustrates 
 his position by the instance: of Abra- 
 ham. But the apparent discrepancy 
 will be removed, if we examine 
 the course of their reasonini^. St. 
 James is endeavourin^f to prove that 
 faith without works is a dead faith, 
 a faith which will not avail to sal- 
 Tation. " What," he asks, " doth 
 it profit though a man say he hath 
 faith, and have not works? Can 
 faith" — can such a faith — "save 
 iiim. If a brother or sister be naked, 
 and destitute of daily food, and one 
 of you say unto them, Depart in 
 peace: be ye warmed and filled: 
 notwithstanding ye give them not 
 those things which are needful to 
 the boily; what doth it profit?" 
 What sincerity, what worth is there 
 in such professions of kindness ? 
 What benefit do they confer on those 
 who are the objects of them? " Even 
 «o faith, if it hath not works, is dead 
 being alone;" all professions of 
 faith, which do not evidence their 
 truth bv a holy life and conversa- 
 tion, are false, vain, and unprofitable. 
 " Yea, a man may say" to such a 
 professor, " Thou hast faith," — or 
 pretendest to have it — " and I have 
 works : shew me thy faith without 
 thy works ;" give me, if thou canst, 
 some other proof of it; " and 1 will 
 shew thee my faith by my works. 
 Thou believest there is one God ; 
 thou doest well : the devils also be- 
 lieve and tremble.'' Wherein doth 
 thy faith differ from theirs, if it pro- 
 duce not the fruits of righteousness 
 and holiness? " But wilt thou 
 know, O vain man, that faith with- 
 out works is dead," wholly unprofit- 
 able to salvation ? " Was not Abra- 
 ham, our father, justified ;" did he 
 not shew forth a living faith unto 
 justification; " by works, when he 
 had offered Isaac, his son, upon the 
 altar r" Did he not by that act of 
 holy obedience prove and display 
 that living faith in the truth and 
 power and premises of God, which 
 ♦* was imputed to him for righteous- 
 ness r" " Seest thou how faith 
 wrought with his works," producing 
 
 •etation of Scripmre. I $ 
 
 obedience to the commands of God* 
 however apparently severe and irre- 
 concileable with his promises; " and 
 by works was faith nuide perfect/*; 
 brought forth into action, andsbewa- 
 to be a lively and efficacious prin- 
 ciple in the soul ? " And the Scrip- 
 ture was fulfilled, which saith. Abra- 
 ham believed God, and it was im- 
 piUed to him for righteousness : and 
 he was called the friend of God. 
 Ye see, then, how that by works a ' 
 man is justified, and not by faith 
 only." Ye see that by works a man: 
 is jusiified,— proves his title to be 
 acquitted before God, by works evi- 
 dencing that faith which is inipntcd 
 to the believer for righteousness; by 
 such works a man is justified, and 
 not by faith only, not by a mere 
 barren profession, or even a mei't' 
 speculative belief, which does not 
 influence the lite and conduct. Such) 
 appears to be the course of St.- 
 James's reasoning. St. Paul, on thd 
 other hand, is proving to the Jews,, 
 that they, as well as the Gentiles, 
 must be saved by fiiith : and his ar- 
 gument is this ; " AH have sinned 
 and come short of the glory of God ;" 
 all have broken the moral law of 
 God ; no one, therefore, can be 
 saved by that law, which exacts a 
 perfect obedience ; and thence he 
 concludes " that a man is justified 
 by faith without," apart from, dis- 
 tinct from, " the deeds of the law." 
 In order to be justified before God, 
 he must have that faith which God 
 will impute to him for righteousness; 
 a faith, however, which worketh by 
 love, and maketh those who are in- 
 fluenced by it zealo'jsof good works. 
 II. The passage of Sr. Paul, to 
 which I have just referred, will 
 serve to illustrate another rule, 
 which may sometimes guide us in 
 interpreting the Scriptures. The 
 first rule was, that a proposition, 
 occurring in the course of an argu* 
 ment, is not necessarily to be taken 
 in the widest sense which the wortis 
 will bear ; the second is, that it must 
 be untlerstood in a sense sufficientl}'^ 
 large to bear out the conclusion 
 which it IS intended to prove. Thu?> 
 
14 On the right Interpretation of Scripture. [J ax. 
 
 iH the first part of the epistle to the as a dead man has for the pleasures 
 
 Romans, the Apostle's object is to 
 shew, that the Jews as well as 
 the Gentiles need the salvation 
 which is by Christ Jesus: and his 
 argument is this: " All have sinned 
 and come short of the glory of God ;" 
 therefore all, both Jews and Gen- 
 tiles must be " justified freely 
 through the redemption that is in 
 Christ Jesus." (Rom. iii. 23, 24). 
 This conclusion will not follow from 
 the premises, unless we understand 
 the Apostle to lay it down as an 
 universal proposition that " all have 
 sinned." 
 
 III. A third principle of construc- 
 tion to be observed with respect to 
 the Scriptures, relates to those doc- 
 trines which are peculiar to reveal- 
 ed religion. While we receive 
 them not as mere matters of specu- 
 lation, but as active principles in- 
 fluencing the heart and conduct, and 
 leading us cheei fully to obey the 
 practical precepts which the sacred 
 writers derjve from them ; we 
 s4iould use great caution whenever 
 we attempt to deduce from them, 
 by the tnere force of reason, prac- 
 tical conclusions not warranted by 
 the word of God. — An erroneous 
 inference, thus rashly drawn from 
 the doctrine of grace, is noticed and 
 reprobated by St. Paul in his epistle 
 to the Romans. After lavinij it 
 down " that where sin abounded 
 grace did much more abound: that 
 as sin hath reigned unto death, even 
 so might grace reign through righ- 
 teousness unto eternal life, by Jesus 
 Christ our Lord," (v. 20, 21); he 
 immediately asks ; '• What shall we 
 say then : Sii:ill we continue in sin, 
 that grace may abountl? God for- 
 bid : how shall we, that are dead to 
 sin, live any longer therein r" "The 
 objection," as if he had said, " is 
 built on ii:^norance of that grace 
 which is to reign, through righte- 
 ousness. The grace of which I 
 speak, consists in the renewal of the 
 heart unto holiness, as well as in 
 the pardon of sin : and he, who is 
 a partaker of this grace, is dead 
 onto sin; he has lost his taste for it, 
 
 of sense ; he has no longer any en- 
 joyment in it ; he hates it, abhors it, 
 dreads it, avoids it as the greatest of 
 evils; he no longer lives in it." 
 
 Yet we find this same error, 
 wjiich St. Paul thus refutes, still 
 existing in the present day. The 
 enemv of vital religion ascribes it 
 to the true servants of God : the 
 Antinomian actually adopts it. We 
 might also notice other errors of a 
 similar description. St. Paul ex- 
 horts us to " work out" our •* own 
 salvation with fear and trembling;" 
 and by way of encouragement (lest 
 we should sink under the difficulties 
 of the undertaking) adds, " for it is 
 God that worketh in you, both to 
 will and to do of his good pleasure." 
 (Phi!, ii. 12, l.S). While the self- 
 righteous seek, and seek in vain, to 
 work out their own salvation, with- 
 out depending on the grace of God, 
 working in them; others seem to 
 give their whole attention to the 
 encouragement conveyed in the lat-.r 
 ter pirt of the passage. Because 
 God worketh in us, they seem to 
 inler, in direct opposition to the 
 apostle, that we need not work, and 
 to forget that we are exhorted to 
 *' watch and be sober," to " watch 
 and pray," to " strive to enter in at 
 the strait gate." 
 
 I have often thouglit, that if we 
 attended more to this rule of con- 
 struction,. we should hear less of the 
 controversy between Calvinists and 
 Arminians. Without entering into 
 minute distinctions upon abstruse 
 points of doctrine, Christians would 
 cordially unite in drawing from 
 Uiem the practical lessons to which 
 the sacred writers constantly make 
 them subservient. Waving all spe- 
 culative questions as to the natme 
 of the Divine decrees, and the uni- 
 versality of Christ's redemption, 
 they would agree, that all who 
 would be saved must use " all dili- 
 gence to mako" their " calling and 
 election sure;" that salvation is to 
 be obtained only through the atone- 
 ment of the Son of God, and i!he 
 sanctifying influence of the Holy 
 
1812.] Family Sermons. 
 
 Spirit ; and that to man, therefore, 
 belongeth the deepest huinility, to 
 (iod all the elorv. While briiiuiiu;: 
 forth the fruits of holii)ess, and pre- 
 serving, through Divine grace, " a 
 conscience void of ollence both to- 
 wards God and towards man," the 
 Calvinist would feel an assurance, 
 and the Arminian a well-grounded 
 hope, that God, who once loved him, 
 would love him to the end, and 
 enable him to finish bis course with 
 joy. From this trust in God, they 
 would both derive support and con- 
 solation in the pilgrimage of life. 
 At the same time, well knowing 
 that " without holiness no one 
 shall see the Lord," and that he 
 who is living in habitual and allow- 
 ed sin, IS living in a state ot con- 
 demnation, they would carefully 
 examine themselves by the standard 
 of God's word, lest their hope 
 should be found to be built not on 
 the Rock, but on the sand, and 
 should fail them at the judgment 
 day: they would be instant in 
 prayer, and constantly pressing for- 
 ward to higher degrees of holiness, 
 that so the evidences of their faith 
 might be more clear, and their hope 
 might become " the anchor of the 
 soul, sure and stedfast." 
 
 ■Vo. XXXVII. On Rom. i.i. 23, IJ 
 
 and whither we are going : " In the 
 sweat of thy face shall thou eat 
 bread till thou return unto the 
 ground; for out- of it wast thou 
 taken: dust thou art, and unto dust 
 slialt thou return." 
 
 Also, the holy patriarch Abraham 
 did well remember this name and 
 title, dust, earth, ni:d ashes, appoint- 
 ed by God to all mankind : and 
 therefore he calls himself by that 
 name, when he R,akes his earnest 
 prayer for Sodom and Gomorrah. 
 And we read that Judith, Esther, 
 Job, Jeremiah, with oliierholy men 
 and women in the Old Testament, 
 did use sackcloth, and cast dust and 
 ashes upon their heads, when they 
 bewailed their sins. 'Jhey cried to 
 Goil for help and mercy, with 
 these ceremonies, that thereby they 
 might declare to the whole world, 
 what an humble and lowly estima- 
 tion they had of themselves, and 
 how well they remembered their 
 true name and tide; their vile, cor- 
 rupt, frail nature, dust, earth, and 
 ashes. And God commanded his 
 prophet Isaiah to make a proclama- 
 tion to the whole world; and Isaiah 
 
 B. 
 
 F.\MILV SERMO.NS. No, XXXVII. 
 
 Rom. iii, 2.'J. — All have sinned and 
 come short of the glory of God. 
 
 The Holy Ghost, in writing the 
 Scriptures, seems in nothing mure 
 diligent than to pull down the 
 vain glory and pride of man, which 
 of all vices are the most universally- 
 grafted in all mankind, even from 
 the first infection of our fatln^r 
 Adam. Therefore are we often 
 taught in Scripture, to guard against 
 this old rooted vice, and to culti- 
 vate the contrary virtue of humility; 
 to know ourselves, and to remem- 
 ber what we are of ourselves. In 
 the book of Genesis, God gives us 
 all, in our great father Adam, a title 
 which may serve to shew us, as in 
 a glass, what and whence we are. 
 
 asking, '• What shall I cry?" the 
 Lord answered, " Cry, that all tleah 
 is grass," and " that all the goodliness 
 thereof is as the flower of the field : 
 the grass wiiherelh,the flower fadeth, 
 because the Spirit of the Lord hiow- 
 eth upon it. Surely the people is 
 grass." And the holy man Job, 
 having himself had great experience 
 of the miserable and sinful estate ot 
 man, declares the same to the world 
 in these words : " Man that is born 
 of a woman is of few days, and full 
 of trouble: he cometh forth like a 
 flower, and is cut down: he fleeth 
 also as a shadow, and continueth 
 not. And dost thou open thine eyes 
 upon such an one, and bringest me 
 into judgment with thee.? Who can 
 bring a clean thing out of an un- 
 clean .^ Not one." Job xiv. I — 4. And 
 all men, oftheir depravity and natural 
 proneness, are so universally given to 
 sin, that, as the Scripture saith, 
 " God repented that he had made 
 man.'' And by their sin his indigna- 
 
Family Sermons. -^No. XXXFII. On Rom. iii. 23. [Jan, 
 
 16 
 
 tion was so much provoked, that he 
 tirowned all the world with a flood, 
 «scept Noah and his little house- 
 hold. It is not without great cause 
 ihattheScripturesso many times call 
 all men in the world by this word, 
 'earth. Thus He plainly named us, 
 ■who knows best, both what we 
 are and what we ought of ria;htto 
 he called. And to the same eft'ect he 
 declares,speakin<>' bv his faithful apo- 
 stle St. Paul : "}jolh Jews and Gen- 
 tiles are all under sin ; as it is writ- 
 ten. There is none righteous, no, not 
 one : there is none that understand- 
 eth, there is none that seeketh after 
 God. They are all gone out of the 
 way, they are together become un- 
 profitable; there is none that doeth 
 good, no, not one. Their throat 
 an open sepulchre; with their 
 tongues they have used deceit; the 
 poison of asps is under their lips: 
 whose mouth is full of cursing and 
 bitterness : their feet are swift to 
 shed blood : destruction and misery 
 
 plainly allows, that he had need to 
 be washed of Christ. He extols and 
 glorifies his Lord and Master Christ, 
 and humbles himself as unworthy to 
 loose the latchet of his shoes. Such 
 also does St. Paul confess himself 
 to be of himself, giving, as a most 
 faithful servant, all praise to his 
 Master and Saviour. Jn like man- 
 
 , ncr the blessed St. John, in his own 
 name and that of all other holy men, 
 makes this open confession — " If 
 we say that we have no sin, we de- 
 ceive ourselves, and the truth is not 
 
 . in us. If we confess our sins, God 
 is faithful and just to forgive us our 
 sins, and to cleanse us from all un- 
 righteousness. If we say that we 
 have not sinned, we make him 
 a liar, and his word is not in us»" 
 The Wise Man also, in Ecclesiastes, 
 makes this general confession — 
 " There is not a just man on earth 
 that doth good and sinneth not." 
 And David is ashamed of his, sin, 
 but not to confess his sin. How 
 are in their ways; and the way of . often and how earnestly does he im- 
 
 peace have they not known : there 
 is no fear of God before their eyes.'' 
 Rom. iii. 10— IS. 
 
 And in another place, St. Paul 
 thus writes : " God hath concluded 
 all men in unbelief, that he might 
 bave mercy on all.' The Scripture 
 shuts up all under sin, that the pro- 
 mise by faith of Jesus Christ should 
 be given unto them that believe. St. 
 Paul, in many places, paints us in 
 Ofir true colours, as '* children 
 cf wrath," even when we are born, 
 und as unable of ourselves to think 
 a good thought. And the Wise Man 
 saith in the book of Proverbs, '* the 
 just man falleth seven times a-day." 
 Job, that tried and approved man, 
 distrusted all his works St. John the 
 Baptist, though sanctified from his 
 mother's womb, and praised before 
 he was born, being called great be- 
 fore the Lord, filled even from his 
 birth with the Holy Ghost, the pre- 
 parer of the way of our Saviour 
 Christ, and declared by him to be 
 " more than a- prophet, and the 
 greatest that ever was born of 
 woman;" yet John the Baptut 
 
 plore God's great mercy for his great 
 oliences, and entreat that God would 
 not enter into judgment with him! 
 And again, how vvell does this holy 
 man weigh his sins, when he ad- 
 njits, in the nineteenth Psalm, that 
 they are so many, and so secret, that 
 it is impossiole, without the Divine 
 help, to understand them. Having 
 thi^ just and detp view of his sins, 
 yet feeling himself unable fullyto 
 understand them, he prays to God 
 to cleanse him from his secret faults, 
 the knowledge of which he could 
 not otherwise attain to. And these 
 his sins he rightly traces from their 
 original root and spring, saying, 
 "Behold I was shapen in iniquity, 
 and in sin did my mother conceive 
 me." Our Saviour Christ saith, that 
 " there is none good but God," and 
 that we can do nothing that is good 
 without . him ; nor can any man 
 come to the Fatlier but by Christ. 
 He commands us also to say, "When 
 we have done all that it was our 
 dutv to do," that we are still " un- 
 profitable servants." He prtifers^the 
 penitent Publican before the proud 
 
1812.] Family Ser mom.— No. XXXV IL On Roni.Vn, 2^. 
 
 and vain-gloiious Pliarisee. He calls 
 himself a Physician, not fo» those 
 that are whole, but {'or tliusc that 
 are sick. He teachus us in omt 
 prayers to acknowledge ourselves 
 sinners, and to ask righteousness, 
 and deliverance from all evils, at 
 our heavenly Father's hand. He 
 declares tliat the sins of our own 
 hearts do defile ourselves. He 
 teaches that an evil word or thour^ht 
 deserves condeninalion, afiiriniug 
 that " we shall give account for 
 every idle word." He says, "He 
 canie to seek and to save them that 
 were lost." Therefore few of the 
 Pharisees were saved by him, be- 
 cause they justified themselves by 
 their counterfeit holiness before men. 
 Let us, then, beware of such hypo- 
 crisy, vain-glory, and justifying of 
 ourselves. 
 
 Thus have we heard how hum- 
 bly all good men have always 
 thought of themselves ; and how 
 they are taught so to think and 
 judge of themselves by God in bis 
 holy word. For of ourselves we 
 are as crab-trees, that can bring 
 forth no apples. We are of our- 
 selves of such earth, as can but bring 
 forth weeds. Our fruits are declar- 
 ed in the fifth chapter to the Gala- 
 tiaus. We have neither faith, chari- 
 ty, hope, patience, chastity, nor any 
 thing else that is good, but of God ; 
 and therefore these virtues be called 
 there the fruits of the Holi/ Ghost, 
 and not the fruits of man. Let us 
 therefore acknowledge ourselves be- 
 fore God, to be, what we are indeed, 
 miserable and wretched sinners. 
 And let us earnestly repent, and 
 htnible ourselves heartilj', and cry 
 tO'God for mercy. Let us all con- 
 fess with mouth and heart that we 
 are full of imperfections: let us 
 know our own works, how imper- 
 fect they are, and then we shall not 
 stand foolishly and arrogantly in 
 our own conceit, nor chatlenge any 
 part of justification by our merits or 
 works. For truly there arc imper- 
 fections in our best works : we do 
 not love God so much as we are 
 bound to do, with all our heart. 
 Cubist. Obsekv. No. 121. 
 
 17 
 
 mind, and power: we do not fear 
 God so much as we ought to do : we 
 do not pray to God, but with great 
 and many imperfections : we give, 
 forgive, believe, live, and hope im- 
 perfeclly : we speak, think, and ace 
 imperfectly ; we fight against the 
 devil, ths world, and tt»e flesh ini- 
 perftctlv : let us therefore not be 
 a'fhamed to confess plaiidy our state 
 of imperfection: yea, let us not be 
 ashamed to confess imperfection 
 even in our best works. Let none 
 of us be ashamed to say with the 
 holy St. Peter, " I am a sinful man." 
 Let Us say with the holy prophet 
 David, " We have sinned with our 
 fathers; we have done amiss, and 
 dealt wickedly." Let us all make 
 open confession with the Prodigal 
 Son, to our Father, and say with him, 
 " We have sinned against Heaven, 
 and before thee, O Father : we are 
 no more worthy to be called thy 
 sons." Let us say with holy Baruch, 
 " To the Lord our God is worthily 
 ascribed righteousness; to us and 
 to our fathers, open shame : we have 
 sinned, we have do»e ungodly, we 
 have dealt unrighteously in all thine 
 ordinances." Let us all say with, 
 the holy prophet Daniel, " O 
 Lord, righteousness belongeth to 
 thee; but unto us confusion of 
 face." We have sinned, we have 
 offended, we have tied from thee, 
 we have gone back from all thy 
 precepts and judgments. — Thus do 
 we Itara of all good men in the 
 Scriptures, to humble ourselves, and 
 to extol and glorify God. 
 
 Thus we have heard how evil we 
 are of ourselves ; how of ourselves, 
 and by ourselves, we have no good- 
 ness, help, or salvation, but, on the 
 conlrury, sin, damnation, and death 
 everlasting: which if we deeply 
 iveigh and consider, we shall the 
 better understand the great mercy 
 of God, and liow our salvation comes 
 only by Chri^t. For in ourselves 
 (as of curselves) we find no means 
 of deliverance from this miserable 
 captivity, inro which we are cast, 
 through the envy of the devil, by 
 breaking uf God's cutnmandotent ia 
 D 
 
Family Sermons.--No. XXXVI L On Rom. iii. 23. 
 
 our first parent, Adam. We are all 
 become unclean: but we all are not 
 Hble to cleanse ourselves, nor to 
 make one another clean. We are 
 by nature the children of God's wrath : 
 but we are not able to make our- 
 selves the children and inheritors of 
 God's glory. We are sheep that run 
 astray : but we cannot of our own 
 power come again to the sheepfoUl, 
 so great is our imperfection and 
 weakness. In ourselves, therefore, 
 may we not glory, since of our- 
 selves we are only sinful : neither 
 tnay we rejoice in any works that we 
 do, all of them being so imperfect 
 and impure, llvat they are not able 
 to stand before the righteous judg- 
 ment-seat of God, as the holy pro- 
 phet David saith: " Enter not into 
 judgment with thy servant, O 
 Lord: for in thy sight shall no 
 man living be justified." To God, 
 therefore, must we ftee, or else shall 
 we never find peace and quietness 
 of oonscience. For he is " the Fa- 
 ther of mercies, and God of all con- 
 solation." He is the Lord, with 
 whom is " plenteous redemption :" he 
 is the God who of " his own mercy 
 hath saved us,*' and shewn his ex- 
 ceeding love towards us, in that of 
 his own voluntary goodness, when 
 we were perishing, he saved us, and 
 provided an everlasting kingdom for 
 qs. And all these heavenly trea- 
 sures are given us, not for our own 
 deserts, merits, or good deeds (of 
 which in ourselves we have none), 
 but of his mere mercy freely. And 
 for whose sake ? Truly for Jesus 
 Christ's sake, that pure and unde- 
 filed Lamb of God. He is that dearly 
 beloved Son, for whose sake God is 
 fully satisfied, and reconciled toman. 
 He is " the Lamb of God which 
 taketh away the sins of the world ;" 
 of whom only it may be truly said 
 that he did "all things well, and in his 
 mouth was found noguile.'' None but 
 he alone may say,*'The princeof this 
 world came, and in me hath no- 
 thing." And he alone may also say, 
 ** Which of you shall reprove me of 
 any fault ?" He is the high and ever- 
 lasting Priest, which hath <* offered 
 
 [Ja?j. 
 
 himself once for all "upon the altar 
 of the cross, and " with that one 
 oblation hath made perfect for ever- 
 more them that are sanctified."' H» 
 is the *• alone Mediator betweent 
 God and man," which paid' our ran- 
 som to God, *' with his own blood," 
 and with that hath he " cleansed us 
 all from sin." He is the Physician, 
 which healeth all our diseases. He 
 is the Saviour, who saves his peo- 
 ple " from all their sins :" He is that 
 flowing and most plenteous fountain, 
 " of whose fu1n«ss all we have re- 
 ceived." " For in him alone ar» 
 hid all the treasures of the wisdom 
 and knowledge of God." And ia 
 him, and by him, have we, from God 
 the Father, all good things pertain- 
 ing either to the body or to the soul.' 
 O how much are we bound to this 
 our heavenly Father for his great 
 mercies, which he hath so plente- 
 ously declared unto us in Christ 
 Jesus oar Lord and Saviour! What 
 thanks worthy and sufficient can we 
 give to Him? Let us all with one 
 accord burst out with joyful voice, 
 ever praising and magnifying this 
 Lord of mercy, for his loving kind- 
 ness shewn unto us in his dearly 
 beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 To co»K;lude : we have heard what 
 we are of oorselves ; very sinful, 
 wretched, and damnable. We have 
 also heard how that of ourselves, and 
 by ourselves, we are not able either 
 to think a good thought, or work a 
 good deed ; so that we can find in 
 ourselves no hope of salvation, but 
 rather whatsoever makes for our de- 
 struction. We have further heard 
 the tender kindness and great mercy 
 of God the Father towards us, and 
 bow ready he is to bestow bless- 
 ings upon us for Christ's sake, 
 without our merits or deserts, even 
 of his own mere mercy and tender 
 goodness. Let us then learn to knovf 
 ourselves, our frailty and weakness, 
 without any boasting of our own 
 good deeds and merits. Let us also 
 acknowledge the exceeding mercy of 
 God towards us, and confess, that as 
 of ourselves come all evil and dam- 
 nation ; so likewise of him come all 
 
1812.] On Self-examination. —Remarks on the Theories of Population. "Jl 
 g;eodness and salvation; as God liim- members of our established church, 
 self hath said by the prophet flosea: It is unquestionably a duty of great 
 *' O Israel, thy destruction cometh importance and utility in the Chris- 
 of thyself: but in me is thy help tian life, and a conscientious regard 
 and comfort." If we thus humbly to it is incumbent on ail who love 
 submit ourselves in the sight of our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. 
 God, we may be sure that in the But there is a very interesting 
 time of his visitation he will raise us branch of personal religion connect- 
 up unto the kingdom of his dearly ed with it, and referred to in gene- 
 beloved Son, Christ Jesus oar Lord; ral terms by G. B., which I should 
 to whom, with the Father, and the be glad if he, or any other of your 
 Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory correspondents, would more fully 
 for ever. Amen.* consider — I mean the duty of self' 
 ___^^^^^^ einmination. I do not remember to 
 ' have seen this subject distinctly dis- 
 To the Editor of theCliristian Observer, cussed in any of the pages of your 
 Youa correspondent, G. B., in your "^^^^^ r^'^" ^ should therefore 
 numberforOctobei-last,p.618,has think that a conc.se statement of 
 1 '^ r T what is essential to this branch oi 
 given a summary, and, as far as I " "' , ^»i»'="'''"' ^ u ^ v 
 perceive, a scriptural view of the personal piety, with some short di- 
 • sacrament of the Lord's Supper. It "-f ^^^l^"? for the most profitable me- 
 is much to be wished that this divine ^hod of conducting it. would be very 
 ■ordinance of our holy religion were 
 more clearly understood, and gene- 
 rally attended to, by the professed 
 
 * The intelligent reader will perceive that 
 the above sermon is taken, witli ouly a few 
 Oinisbions and soHie slight verbal altefaiions, 
 from the Ilomilj, "On the Misery of Man- 
 kind, and of hisCondcmnation to Death ever- 
 
 acceptable to your readers in gene* 
 ral, as well as to. 
 
 Yours, &,c. 
 
 A CONSTANT READER, 
 
 We join in the wish expressed by 
 our correspondent. In the mean 
 tii7je, however, we would refer him 
 to the following passages of our 
 
 lasting by his own Sin." It contains the vvork, among many Others, for some 
 
 doctrine of the church respecting the naiu- j^j^^g ^^ ^^e important subject of 
 
 ral corrnption of man; and we should be self-examination, viz. vol. for 1S02. 
 gad ,f the Bishop of Lmcoin or any of h,s ,5,3 219, 632, 693 ; vol. for 1803, 
 
 roilowcrg, would point out wherein it varies 'r " " ' ,nr^- aco 
 
 f ,1 • ■ f .1 u- . V. pp. 205, 401 : vo . for 180j, pp. 4-03, 
 
 ironi the view given of the same subject bv rV' ^'^'■'f ■»■"*> « j 1 
 
 such writers as are the objects of his Lord'- 716; vol. for 1 808, p. 286 J and VOl. 
 
 ship's attack in his late " Refutation of fo*' 1809* p. 559. 
 
 -Calviaiim." 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS.. 
 
 To the Editor of the Christian Observer. 
 
 The soundness of the rival theories 
 of population must ultimately be de- 
 termined by fact. In the mean time, 
 the speculations of Mr. Mai thus are 
 partly opposed on the ground of 
 their assumed inconsistency with, 
 the arrangements of Providence. 
 The scheme, it is agreed, virtually 
 
 charges the Creator with cruelty ; 
 because he sutlers beings to come 
 into a world, where, in a certain 
 period, their redundance will occa- 
 sion a general famine. 
 
 But let it be asked, first, Is it 
 true, that this world, including ani- 
 mate and inanimate nature, is in a 
 state of moral and physical derange- 
 ment ? For if this be the case, why 
 
56 
 
 Cursory Remarks on the Theories of Population, 
 
 [Jaw. 
 
 are we to be startled by a theory, 
 which, instead of offering violence 
 to a pre-conceived opinion, actually 
 confirms that opinion ; and, as such, 
 positively demands our acceptance? 
 Are we not formally bound, not 
 merely to examine it with impar- 
 tiality, but to enter upon its investi- 
 gation with the direct hope of ascer- 
 taining its truth ? If we value any 
 opinion, we are justified, and we 
 certainly justify ourselves, in look- 
 ing out for its collateral supports. 
 
 Secondly, Be the theory true or 
 false, does it tend to prove the ex- 
 istence of an evil greater than anv 
 which has hitherto disturbed the 
 happiness of mankind ? If it do not, 
 then you are complaining of the 
 discovery of a species of miserv in- 
 ferior in malignant ellicacv to one 
 already operating upon the alfliirs of 
 mankind ; and concerning wiiich 
 confessedlv existing evil vou olfer 
 no objection in retjard to its in- 
 consistency with the arrange- 
 ments of Providence. On the oilier 
 }iand, if the rccentlv discovered evil 
 be really greater than all former 
 sources of calamity, then the ob- 
 jector sef'ms to have ascertained the 
 precise measure of evil which the 
 Creator wirty permit, consistently 
 ■with the exercise of ids moral attri- 
 butes. 
 
 Let the moral part of the theory 
 be examined by the rules of ana- 
 logy; which, I presume, teach us to 
 investigate doubtful propositions by 
 comparing them with acknowledged 
 truths. Tlie inijuinies above are 
 analogical. The doctrine of origi- 
 nal sin is asserted to derive T\iost 
 powerful confirmation from the no- 
 torious sufl'erings of mankind. The 
 Scripture declares, " Man is born 
 to trouble, as the sparks fly up- 
 ward — the creature was made sub- 
 ject to vanity — the whole creation 
 groaneth and travaileth in pain to- 
 gether until now." These solemn 
 aifirmations are judged to account 
 satisfactorily lor the tremendous ag- 
 gregate of calamity already appa- 
 rent in the constitution and course of 
 nature. Why is the inductive pro- 
 
 cess to be interrupted here? In dis- 
 cussing subjects of this kind, I trust 
 we all are conscious of standing 
 upon holy ground. This premised, 
 I ventnrr to suggest, that a man who 
 uses his understanding, .may as rea- 
 sonabiv'^ be sceptical about Itie eter- 
 nity and intenseness of future pu- 
 ni'<hments — (for can he discern the 
 proportion between the demerit of 
 sin and the severity uf the penalty ?) 
 — as about the most cabmitous re- 
 sults of this disputed theory. Yet 
 the arrangements of the Divine pro- 
 ceiivire, if examined at ah, wast be 
 equally examinfd iis their oonnec- 
 tion with a future stnte, where Di- 
 vine jus'ica and mtrcy are to be 
 fully vindicated. If Providence, 
 
 From seeming evil still educes good. 
 In infinite progression — 
 
 the seeming evil of a redundant po- 
 ]julation is surely less mysterious 
 than the eveilasting pains of millions 
 of creatures. A practical Christian, in- 
 stead of losinr himself ''n the perplex- 
 ities torr'bined with a revealed truth, 
 makes it a Question of fan, whether 
 an alleged doctrine be, or be not, 
 to be foun'i in the Scriptures; and 
 if it be found there, he ret;ts himself 
 on the credit and authority of in- 
 spiration. He recei^es the kingdom 
 of Cod as a little child, and therefore 
 enters into it. 
 
 Let it farther be inquired, whe- 
 ther, in circumstances of political 
 embarrassment, it be not the duty 
 of a government to attempt the re- 
 moval of moral causes by moral mea- 
 sures, but the remedy of civil inconve-^ 
 nifciices by the usual means of world- 
 ly policy. — Now, on the supposition 
 that a given European province 
 (Swisserland for instance) is at this 
 moment so inundated by its popula-> 
 tion, as that no agricultural and 
 commercial exertion can save it 
 from a partial famine within the suc- 
 ceeding twelve months, the question 
 is, whether the state of this province 
 is to be quiescently regarded as an 
 extraordinary example of the judi- 
 cial severity of Providence ; so ex- 
 traordinary as to stand distinct from 
 
1812.] Cursory Remarls on the TJieories of Populalion. 21 
 all preceding manifestations of such bottomed bents, in order to float 
 severity? 1 must hesitate before I down the Rhone into the Gulf of 
 venture to reply affirmatively. I Lyon*;, and thence lo be shipped off 
 ■would rather sugtrest, that, if the for the coa^^ts of California. Be the 
 qovernment of this province had suspicion just or otherwise, I do 
 dulv watched the stream of popu- formallv, in the second place, re- 
 lation, they might have calculated, quire these gentlemen to tell both 
 with all the accuracy necessary for myself and the public at large, 
 practical purposes, when the waters whether the repletion of one district 
 would rise to the level immediately be nota hiut sufficiently intelligible, 
 below that of an inundation. The in this age of economists, that it is 
 measure demanded by this calcula- high time to transport ihe redun- 
 tion would be, to divert the super- dance into regions, where the whole 
 fluous tide into new channels, as population of civilised Europe might 
 the only mean of saving the sur- breathe Ireelv, and increase, even on 
 rounding country. Let not the An- the scheme of doubling in twenty- 
 ti-Malthusians smile at this illustra- five years, without any present need 
 tion, till they have, in the first to calculate consequences. This 
 place, given in a rough estimate of very |jrinciijle of transfer is, bv all 
 the physical capacities, not merely parties, allowed to be actually in 
 of the uninhabited regions of the operation in our own island ; where 
 earth, but of the most populous and the redundant births of the agricul- 
 most civilised dominions of Europe tural districts flow into the towns ; 
 and Asia; not forgetting even poor which, without such supply, would 
 China, where, as veracious travel- not maintain their proper level. In 
 lers assert, one cannot find any towns of a moderate size (and much 
 space more ext«^nsive than the sur- niore in such immense masses of 
 face of a spangle, bu« wh.^t is cul- population as Liverpool, Glasgow, 
 tivated and cropped, tili the soil is &c. &c.), the deaths are as 1 in 2S 
 ready to scream with irritability, or 2<J ; in agricultural villages, they 
 Great portions even of the British are frequently only 1 in 50 or 60. 
 islands *, immense tracts of Euro- Colonies have been f )unded bv the 
 pean and Asiatic Russia, of the pe- lust of gold, by religious intolerance, 
 ninsula west of the Pyrenees, and of and bv the expatriation of felon«, 
 Turkey (I mention only such d;vi- no longer to be trusted at home; 
 «ions of wilderness as immediately but has modern Europe, in one sin- 
 occur to me), are yet in a state of gle instance, established even a fac- 
 nature. Add to these, the boundless tory or a fishery on the surplus of 
 regions of central Africa; central its own human produce? * It will 
 America on both sides of the isthmus be alleged, there has oeen no sur- 
 of Panama; and the whole of Au- plus. But, as Hamlet says, " T/iat 
 stralasia and Polvncsia; all of which is the question." 
 may be regarded as uninhabited. A powerful critic fin the British 
 The party opposed to Mr. Malihus, Review, No. IV. pp, 4-75, 4-76) has 
 1 suppose, will begin to suspect fallen out with Mr. Malihus on the 
 me of a wish to decoy the human subject of the population of Otaheite. 
 superflux of Swisserland into flat- Captain Cook, in the vear (773, 
 
 supposed the inhabitants of this 
 
 • In 1806, the cultivated land ot South 
 Britaia was computed at 39,000,000; the 
 ■waste at 7,888,777 acres. Of the latter, in- 
 deed, about a million and a half were sup- 
 posed to be wholly unimprovable, or fit only 
 i'oT plantations. — The extent of the Russian 
 empire it 9,'200 by 2,400 English miles. 
 
 island to be 20+,000. Turnbuil, 
 about ten years airo, reduced the 
 number lo 5000. Tne 204,000 and^ 
 the 5000 are the totals contrasted 
 
 * Lord Selkirk's experimei % in Prince 
 Edward's Island may, per . , be luen- 
 
 rith the scanty population of 36,500,000 tioncd as an exception to thuin e here iup- 
 8oa!«. posed. "i^r* 
 
fsi 
 
 Cursor^/ Remarks on the Theories of Population. [Jan. 
 
 form the to be " receiving ia themselves that 
 recompense of their error which was 
 
 by the reviewer; and 
 basis of his argument. But the 
 missionaries in I79.Q (that is, about 
 the period of Turnbull's voyage), 
 assert the number of the inhabitants 
 to be 1 6,050. Their mention of the 
 odd fifty seems incidentally to prove 
 that their census was the result of 
 actual enumeration. However, the 
 force of the arguments respectively 
 founded by Mr. Malthus and the 
 reviewer, is strangely weakened by 
 the missionary evidence. The in- 
 fanticide practised in the island, is a 
 circumstance which may be account- 
 ed for independently of any sup- 
 posed arrangement on the part of the 
 parent to check the population ; at 
 least, where the parent is not a ple- 
 beian. It seems, then, that the po- 
 pulation of Otaheite never amounted 
 to the calculation of Cook, nor de- 
 scended to that of TuTHbuU. Arith- 
 metic has always been hostile to 
 hypothesis; though it is conceded 
 in the present instance, that both 
 Malthus and the reviewer fairlj/ 
 judged their rival systems to be be- 
 friended by simple addition. But so 
 much for rival systems, each built 
 on misinformation'. Pinkerton, no 
 incompetent judge of statistical 
 <]uestions, thinks that the whole of 
 Australasia and Polynesia does not 
 contain above 300,000 souls; and 
 he chastises Forster for computing 
 the population of Otaheite at 1 O0,000j 
 though so considerable a deduction 
 from the number assigned by Cap- 
 tain Cook. 
 
 The reviewer has unaccountably 
 given us to understand, that no esy- 
 traordinary measure of vice is to be 
 found in this island; whereas the 
 yeverse is notoriously the fact; and 
 ipqually notorious is the positive 
 check it affords to the natural pro?- 
 gress of population. The profligacy 
 of the inhabitants is at least in pro- 
 portion to the envied climate, exu- 
 berant vegetation, and luxurious 
 scenery, of this Hesperian region ; 
 but by the righteous arrangement of 
 Providen* their abuse of its boun- 
 ty is reco" 2 upon these children of 
 nature ; and they seem at this hour 
 
 meet. 
 
 Mr. Malthus's theory is accused 
 of a tendency to create a positive 
 check on the progress of charity; 
 since every assistance given to the 
 lower orders encourages the mar- 
 riage of young persons, who expect 
 the same gratuities which were con- 
 ferred on their parents, to be be- 
 stowed on themselves, when they 
 venture into domestic troubles. But 
 any individual, with a judgment 
 liberalized by Christianity, will be 
 charitable in practice, at the very 
 time when his political theories con- 
 demn the cause which calls forth 
 the exercise of his principles. He 
 may advise moral restraint, while 
 he silently determines to relieve the 
 subject of his admonition, should 
 circumstances render relief neces- 
 sary. Whatever consequences he 
 foresees, or thinks to be inevitable, 
 will not be saflered to suspend an 
 act of present duty ; for this simple 
 reason, that the results of all things 
 may safely be left with Omniscience. 
 But I would here remark, that the 
 alarm excited in some serious minds 
 by the system of Mr. Malthus, 
 seems to me to wear the appearance 
 of a disposition to question the powers 
 of Providence to meet the exigen- 
 cies of a supposed crisis in the 
 affairs of the world ; or to doubt the 
 Divine mercy in eventually permit- 
 ting a scarcity so calamitous in its 
 consequences, as even to occasion 
 the destruction of half the species. 
 Supposing such a scarcity actually 
 to depopulate half the earth once in 
 every generation — will it be thought 
 romantic to make this inquiry, — 
 Would mankind consent to pur- 
 chase, by submitting to this perio- 
 dical scourge, a perfect immunity 
 from all other evil; from every dis- 
 quietude of mind, including the 
 usual sources of domestic uneasiness 
 (trifling indeed when contemplated 
 individually, but far otherwise in 
 the aggregate) ; the desolation of 
 ispirit occasioned by the wounds, or 
 the loss of friends; the distractions 
 
1612.] Cursory Remarks on the 
 
 of remorse, of shame, of defeat, of 
 fear, of jealousy, of insulted pride; 
 the perturbation of guilt and de- 
 spair; — an miraunity from every de- 
 rangement of the animal system; 
 the languor of protracted debility ; 
 the throbs of protracted torture; 
 from all that appals the imagination 
 in prospect, or maddens with excess 
 of agony when actually endured; — 
 an immunity also from the efiectsof 
 popular commotion; from the ter- 
 rors of war — " upon the earth, dis- 
 tress of nations, with perplexity; 
 men's hearts failing them with fear, 
 ami for looking after those things 
 which are coming on the earth ; 
 nation vising against nation, and 
 kingdom against kingdom" — the fire 
 and the sword ? Would men gain, 
 ®r would they not gain, by this 
 compromise ? Let those think out 
 an answer to this inquiry who have 
 taken the dimensions of human mi- 
 sery, from a fair knowledge of the 
 world, added to their own practical 
 acquaintance with sorrow and pain. 
 The Anti-Malthusians talk unad- 
 visedly in asserting that individuals 
 in the middle and higher ranks, 
 though of small fortune, may marry. 
 Their statement amounts to this : 
 the 200/. or 400/. a year, which 
 suffice for a bachelor, would suf- 
 fice for a family; but with the mis- 
 taken assumption, that persons may 
 accommodate their married habits to 
 their single incomes; as if (to say 
 nothing of the hardier sex) a wo- 
 man of refinement could step down 
 from a life of comparatively luxu- 
 rious ease, to the coarse house- 
 wifery of a farm-house. The ques- 
 tion is not, whether inexperience, 
 encouraged or deluded by strong 
 attachment, would persuade her to 
 venture into such servitude ; but 
 whether a man, who deserved to be 
 happy with her, could bring himself 
 to propose this dark descent. If an 
 indigent bachelor must marry, be 
 would most probably consult his 
 own happiness, and most certainly 
 his convenience, by soliciting the 
 hand of his laundress's daughter, 
 whose tears would not be likely to 
 
 Theories of Population. 23, 
 
 flow at the reflection of having 
 rashly encountered distresses which 
 already oppress, and will inevitably 
 oppress more. Tliere would be no 
 sentiment, no sympathy, no strug- 
 gle of a delicate mind, to suppress 
 tender upbraidings; no conflict of 
 passionate love, with the bitter con- 
 sequences of poverty and self-con- 
 demnation. All this would be sa- 
 tisfactorily escaped. There would 
 be a sordid house; a more sordid 
 wife; with no cause of affliction to 
 her, but such as would " make Tom 
 Butcher weep." Of the two evils, I 
 should advise a man of genuine feel- 
 ing to choose the young laundress. 
 At all events, it is thu evil which 
 the Aoti-Malthusian deserves him- 
 self to taste, by way of ascertaining 
 the full and fair value of his own 
 hypothesis. Let this desperate spe- 
 culator understand, that marriage, if 
 it mean nothing more than the legal 
 union of Robert and Catherine, is 
 only a permanent penance, fitted to 
 expiate the crimes of Napoleon the 
 Great; but if it realize its own in- 
 tent, and fill its o>vn capacities, we 
 must condescend to provide against 
 the incursion of vulgar wants ; and 
 regulate our cautionary measures by 
 that true philosophy of human na- 
 ture, which instructs us that the 
 most refined emotions of the mind 
 are far from being independent of 
 the soul's union with its " muddy 
 vesture of decay." Foolish ventures 
 are indeed made, and will be made, 
 in spile of Mr. Malthus, and 
 of this paper. Young persons will 
 olTer and receive addresses in the 
 spirit of affected sentiment; and 
 after marriage will have full leisure 
 for repentance. 
 
 Respecting the general subject of 
 population, I do not presume to 
 have more than a general opinion. 
 On looking over the very cursory 
 remarks here offered, I thought 
 more than once that I felt the 
 ground begiiming to sink; and 
 therefore hurried out of the way of 
 danger. Perhaps some of your cor- 
 respondents will force me to try the 
 surface again; which I will do 
 
24- A Tradesman's Complaint on 
 
 without force, if they will provide 
 me stilts, and dry stockings, in the 
 event of reaching the quicksand. 
 When I began these observations, 
 my chief design was, nn I chief it 
 remains, to write for ihe silce of ob- 
 taining inibrmation frum others, 
 who, irom their habits of investiga- 
 tion on subjects of this nature, are 
 qualified to repress tlie dogmatism 
 of all positive and fretful theorists. 
 1 iiave been told that Mr. Pitt's 
 views of population were comcident 
 with the new system. Of course, 
 he regarded the matter as a branclj 
 of political philosophy. The read- 
 ers of your work will connect it 
 with the moral government of God. 
 Far from wishing to violate this 
 hallowed connection, I would en- 
 deavour to strengthen it; but by 
 inquiring again, whether the worst 
 supposable consequences of the ob- 
 noxious hypothesis may not be 
 as reconcilable with the arrange- 
 ments of Providence, as the pro- 
 portion of evil actually known to 
 be infused into the system of this 
 world. Human vindications of the 
 Divine procedure must be founded 
 on Divine revelaiion, as illustrated 
 by the visible creation. 
 
 When Milton ventured to justify 
 Providence, he took care to occupy 
 the vantage ground of Scripture; 
 and the didactic |)art of his perform- 
 ance is merely a poetical amplifica- 
 tion of the simple statements of the 
 Bible. Then came the twin philo- 
 sophers, Bolingbioke and Pope, with 
 the beggarly elements of human 
 wisdom. Yet the Es.say on Man 
 contains many a noble sentiment ; 
 and divinity at least as excellent as 
 can be detected in the writings of 
 such of Mr. Malihus's opponents 
 as deny (this is far from being the 
 case, however, with the British Re- 
 viewer) the catholic doctrine of 
 original sin, while they revolt at the 
 charge supposed to be brought by 
 his system against the benevolence 
 of the Deity. Let these persons ex- 
 plain how the permission of the 
 crimes perpetrated during the last 
 Ivveiuy-tliree years by revolutionary 
 
 the viornl State of Commerce. [Jan. 
 
 France, adjusts itself to the scheme 
 of universal goodness; and I will 
 dare to promise them full satisfac- 
 tion 00 every branch of the hypo- 
 thesis, which, right or wrong, has 
 persuaded me to adopt the general 
 sentiments, and, in the present com- 
 munication, the signature of, 
 
 Sir, your a y;riari reader, 
 
 A MALTHUSlAN. 
 
 To the Editor of the Christian Observer. 
 
 My education and habits of life as a 
 tradesman have inclined me hitherto 
 to be but little of a politician. I 
 have in general contented myself 
 with the regular routine of my busi- 
 ness; and, excepting the attention 
 which is at times forcibly called to 
 the important occurrences of the 
 present eventful period, I have left 
 state ail'airs to wiser hea4s than 
 mine, thankful to Providence that 
 my humble sphere did not expose 
 me to many »)f those severe trials, 
 which I am sure they must expe- 
 rience, who, being called upon to 
 decide in matters of state, on ques- 
 tions of the most intricate nature, 
 at the same lime wish to preserve a 
 conscience void of oflence towards 
 God and man. 
 
 But it has unfortunately hap- 
 pened, of late years, either from the 
 unbounded spirit of adventure in our 
 merchants, or from the too ready ear 
 which our Government has lent to 
 their statements, that commerce and 
 politics have become >o much con- 
 nected with each other, as to require 
 from the mei chant, and those con- 
 cerned with him, an accurate know- 
 ledge of the politics of the day, ia 
 addition to that of his own trade. 
 Formerly, it was deemed a relaxa- 
 tion to take up the newspapers occa- 
 sionally, after the business of the 
 day was over; but now, a man is 
 almost compelled to study them, in 
 order to guard against being led into 
 dangerous errors in his mercantile 
 adventures, by the frequent changes 
 in the measures of Government re- 
 specting commerce. I contess, Mr. 
 Editor, this is a matter which, as 
 
i812.] A Tradesman's Complaint on 
 
 an old-fashioned man, I cannot ap- 
 prove of. I tli'nk it highly proper 
 that statesmen should make them* 
 selves acquainted with the oul- 
 iines of trade and commerce in ge- 
 neral, but I do not like to see too 
 many of our manufacturers and 
 merchants turn stUesmen. One 
 cannot help fearing, that, instead of 
 legislating for their country, upon 
 an enlarged principle, their atten- 
 tion may be too muck drawn to 
 their own individual interests. 
 
 These thoughts have occurred to 
 me, in considering the many difficul- 
 ties which 1 have experienced of late 
 in carrying on my own trade, occa- 
 sioned by the new-fashioned :5y3lem 
 of commerce; and which I cannot 
 but think would uave had no exist- 
 ence, if Government had not been 
 too anxious to please the mercantile 
 part of the nation, at the expense 
 (in my opinion) of sound policy, — I 
 had almost said, at the expense of 
 every principle of morality. You 
 ■will easily suppose (hat I allude to 
 the present mode of exporting and 
 importing goods to and from those 
 countries under the controul of 
 prance, and which, with regard to 
 us, are in the mongrel ch^.racter of 
 half friends, half foes. I was much 
 pleased with some remarks which 
 appeared in your work last year, 
 particularly a paper, signed Pp.obus, 
 in your number for April IS 10*, and 
 have been a good deal struck with 
 the fulfilment of his almost prophetic 
 forebodings respecting many of the 
 *• nrouveaux riches." 
 
 As I before said, Sir, I am no poli- 
 tician ; and perhaps it is on that 
 account that I am so utterly at a 
 loss how to account for our Govern- 
 ment persisting in sanctioning the 
 present mode of trade. To me it 
 appears, in every point of view, 
 highly impolitic. 1 think it tends 
 to degrade the character of our 
 merchants and seamen, by accus- 
 toming them to every species of 
 fraud and dissimulation; for what- 
 ever these Proteuses may think of 
 themselves, 1 durst appeal to the 
 
 ■* P. 218. 
 CuBiST. ObSEJlV. No, 121. 
 
 the moral State of Commerce. QS 
 
 common sense and honesty, which* 
 thank God, are still left in the na- 
 tion, whether that man must not be 
 co.isidered as degraded, who, merely 
 for his own emolument Aviil one day- 
 swear himself an Englishinan, ano* 
 thtr day an American, ?nd a .hird 
 a German, just as the wind blows. 
 Another objection to this tiade, in a 
 political point of view, is the dis- 
 proportion between the irrports and 
 the exports, and that therhief profit 
 arising from it goes into the pockets 
 of foreigners. Another political 
 evil, in my opinion, is the great 
 number of foreign seamen, who are 
 bv these means eciucat^d at our ex- 
 pense for Bonaparte : (I think you 
 did allude to this subject in one of 
 your numbers*). These sailors acquire 
 an intimate knowledge of all our 
 coasts and harbours ; and I think aa 
 attentive observer cannot but have 
 been struck with the improved ap- 
 pearance of these men in the last 
 few years. I am much in the habit 
 of seeing them, and used to feel some 
 elation in the comparison betweea 
 them and our British tars; but I as- 
 sure you I see a wonderful alteration 
 now in their dress and manners, and 
 I hear a good deal of their seaman- 
 ship ; so that I entertain a far more 
 respectable opinion of them as sailors 
 than I ever used to do, and cannot 
 but have my fears that we shall, oa 
 some future day, feel the sad effects 
 of this great addition to the resources 
 ©four enemy. Besides these objec- 
 tions, it is a matter well worth con- 
 sideration how far we should be 
 benefited by pultins a total stop to 
 the trade. I say benefited, because 
 I believe, in this as in all other 
 cases, it will eventually be found 
 that honesty is the best policy. 
 Your correspondent, MERC.\T0Rt, has 
 some judicious remarks on this head. 
 There are, 1 believe, few of the arti- 
 cles we now get from the Baltic, 
 which might not easily be raised in 
 our own dominions, either at home 
 or abroad. Surely, if British capital 
 and ingenuity were sufficiently ex- 
 
 • Sec Vol. for 1810, p. 249. 
 t Vol. for 1810, p. 217. 
 
 £ 
 
26 A Tradesinans Complaint on 
 
 erted in Ireland. and America, we 
 should have no temptation to resort 
 to such means as are now made use 
 of. I might go on to allude to the 
 supply of naval stores which the 
 enemy receives by the abuse of our 
 licences. It is impossible, upon the 
 present system, but that such abuses 
 should exist ; and I fear, from what 
 I have heard, that they exist to a 
 considerable extent, and that the 
 minds of men have become so fami- 
 liarized with it as to think it no 
 crime. Every thing now-a-days, 
 Mr. Editor, has some soft appella- 
 tion to disguise its enormity. For- 
 gery and perjury are merely a simu- 
 lated clearance; and a "slipping 
 voyage" is the technical term for 
 supplies of naval stores conveyed to 
 our enemies; which, if it could clearly 
 be brought home to some of our mer- 
 chants, would probably give them 
 at least a slipping voyage to Botany 
 Bay. 
 
 But I must check myself, or I 
 shall consume both your time and 
 patience, before I come to my main 
 reason for addressing you ; and that 
 is, to ask how people in my situa- 
 tion ought to act under the present 
 circumstances. I need not tell you, 
 after what I have written, that I 
 disapprove entirely of the trade in 
 question, and should exceedingly 
 regret having any thing to do with 
 it, directly. But indirectly, Sir, we 
 all must be concerned in it, in a 
 fjreater or less degree. The desk, 
 for instance, on which I write, and 
 the candles which give me light, are 
 of Russian produce, besides various 
 other articles commonly used for 
 domestic purposes. The question is, 
 Avhere to draw the line ; and I shall 
 feel myself much obliged to any of 
 your numerous correspondents who 
 will give himself the trouble to re- 
 flect a little on the subject, and favour 
 roe with his sentiments through the 
 medium of your valuable publication. 
 
 My business consists in buying 
 hemp and tar of the merchants, and 
 manufacturing them into cordage for 
 the use of the King's navy and the 
 merchant service; »nd this, I think 
 
 the moral State of Commerce. [J Aif, 
 you will agree with me, is a very 
 honest and useful calling. Occa- 
 sionally I used to derive considerable 
 profit by importing my hemp and tar 
 direct from Russia myself. The mo- 
 ment, however, I found that this was 
 no longer to be done without fictitious 
 papers, false statements of the voyage 
 intended, a false protest of the pre- 
 tended loss or capture of the vessel, 
 in order to cancel a bond deceitfully 
 given in Russia, and many other 
 such like deceptions, accompanied, 
 I fear, frequently with perjury, — 
 *' standing up to swear all true," — • 
 I did not hesitate to relinquish any 
 concern in this part of the business : 
 but it becomes a serious question 
 with me, whether I ought to go fur- 
 ther. There appears, however, no 
 alternative between giving up my 
 business entirely, and throwing my- 
 self and family out of employment, 
 or buying my hemp and tar, as usual, 
 in the market, without concerning 
 myself by what means they come 
 there. 
 
 I am aware that it will not avail 
 one moment, to state how great the 
 sacrifice must be in the former in- 
 stance; such as extensive warehouses 
 and machinery unoccupied, and la- 
 bourers and mechanics deprived of 
 their labour, &c. Still, however, in 
 proportion to the greatness of the 
 sacrifice, should be one's care to do 
 nothing rashly, and to weigh well 
 whether duty really calls for that 
 sacrifice under the circumstances of 
 the case. The matter seems to re- 
 solve itself simply into this ; — how 
 far a man is called upon to investi- 
 gate the means by which another 
 obtains his goods. It is vain to 
 disguise my suspicions that disho- 
 nourable means must have been 
 resorted to. But, on the other 
 hand, you will please to observe, 
 that these goods are exposed fairly 
 to an open sale in the market, with- 
 out the least infringement of the 
 laws of one's country. 1 fear that 
 lies have been told, and frauds com- 
 mitted, to obtain these goods. I 
 fear, also, the same may be said of 
 many other branches of trade. But 
 
I S 1 2.] Specimen of Papal 
 
 am I therefore to refuse the com- 
 forts of society, because many trades- 
 men, in their dealing, set truth and 
 conscience at defiance? Or, will 
 Bay purchasing such goods of the 
 importer as above stated, leaving to 
 his own conscience to decide on the 
 means he employs in obtaining 
 them, subject me to the charge of 
 being partaker in his sins? Shall I 
 be told, that a receiver is as bad as 
 a thief? or, if so, do you, Sir, con- 
 sider the two cases as analagous ? 
 It is probable that many people will 
 not see much- difference between 
 them, but still the line must be 
 drawn somewhere. It is, indeed, 
 possible that goods so exposed to 
 open sale mav have been obtained 
 in the most unobjectionable manner ; 
 for instance, of the agents to our 
 ships of war who have taken the 
 goods at sea, and had them con- 
 demi^ed as lawful prizes. After the 
 first or second hand, such goods can- 
 not easily be known from those ob- 
 tained by other means. Am 1 then 
 called upon to discriminate between 
 them, scrupulously rejecting the one 
 and accepting the other? 
 
 1 must beg your pardon, Mr. Edi- 
 tor, for this long intrusion ; but, as 
 I doubt not you have many readers 
 ill nearly a similar situation with 
 myself, i hope you will not consider 
 the subject unworthy a place in the 
 pages of the Christian Observer, I 
 shall be very happy, on their account 
 as well as my own, to be favoured 
 with your opinion on the case I have 
 stated. 
 
 I am, very respectfully, &c. 
 
 A ROPtMAKER. 
 Wapping, December, 1811. 
 
 Excommunication. 
 
 27 
 
 To the Editor of the Christian Observer. 
 
 I HAVE lately found, in the hands of 
 one of my parishioners, an original 
 document, issued by the Pope, in 
 the year 1758, against a professional 
 man of this place, for havmg re- 
 nounced the errors of the church of 
 Rome. As many of your readers 
 may never have met with so horrid 
 
 a specimen of papal excommunica- 
 tion, 1 will subjoin a copy for inser- 
 tion in the Christian Observer, if 
 you think it worth observing. 
 I am, yours, 
 
 Hanipreston, MATT. PLACE. 
 
 Dec. 1811. 
 
 " The Pope's Curse, Bell, Book; and 
 Candle, on a Heretic, at Hum' 
 preston. 
 
 " By the authority of the blessed 
 Virgin Mary, of St. Peter and Paul, 
 and of the holy saints, we excom- 
 municate, we utterly curse and ban, 
 commit, and deliver to the devil of 
 hell, Henry Goldney, of Hampres- 
 ton, in the county of Dorset, an in- 
 famous heretic, that hath, in spite of 
 God, and of St. Peter, whose church, 
 this is, in spite of all holy saints, 
 and in spite of our holy father the 
 Pope (God's vicar here on earth), 
 and of the reverend and worshipful 
 the canons, masters, priests, Jesuits, 
 and clerks of our holy church, com- 
 mitted the heinous crimes of sacri- 
 lege with the images of our holy 
 saiuts, and forsaken our most holy ■ 
 religion, and continues in heresy, 
 blasphemy, and corrupt lust. Ex- 
 communicate be he finally, and de- 
 livered over to the devil as a per- 
 petual malefactor and schismatic. 
 Accursed be he, and given soul and 
 body to the devil, to be bufleied. 
 Cursed be he in all holy cities and 
 towns, in fields and ways, in houses 
 and out of houses, and in all other 
 places, standing, lying, or rising, 
 walking, running, waking, sleeping, 
 eating, drinking, and vvhatsoever he 
 does besides. We separate him 
 from the threshold ; from all the 
 good prayers of the church ; from 
 the participation of holy mass; from 
 all sacraments, chapels, and altars; 
 from holy bread and holy water; 
 from all the merits of our holy 
 priests and religious men, and from 
 all their cloisters; from all their 
 pardons, privileges, grants, and im- 
 munities, all the holy fathers (pope« 
 of Rome) have granted to then) ; 
 and we give him over utterly to ih< 
 E2 
 
Purgatorian Socieiy at Dublin. 
 
 28 
 
 power of the devil ; and v/e pray to 
 our Lady, and St. Peter and Paui, 
 and all holy saints, that all the 
 senses of his body may fail him, 
 and that he may have no feeling, 
 except he come opeuiy to our be- 
 loved priest ac Slapefiill*:, in time 
 of mass, within thirty days froui the 
 third time of pronouncing hefeof by 
 our dear priest there, and confess 
 his heinous, heretical, and blasphe- 
 mous crimes, a:id by true repentance 
 make satisfaction to our Lady, St. 
 Peter, and the worshipful company 
 of our holy church of Rome, and 
 suffer himsf^lfto be bufiei.ed, scourg- 
 ed, and spit ofion, as our said dear 
 priest, m his j^oodnesS; holiness, and 
 sanctity shall dirt-ct and prescribe. 
 
 " Given under the sea! of our holy 
 church at Rume, the lenih day of 
 August, in the year of our Lord 
 Christ one thousand seven hundred 
 and tiriy-eij,h^ and in the first year 
 6f our pontificate. " i\ R. -f" 
 
 " 8tb oi C;-toner, 1758, pro- 
 nounced the first lime. 
 
 " 15th of ditto, pronounced the 
 second time. 
 
 *•' 2'2d of ditto, pronounced the 
 third time." 
 
 To ike Editor of the ChristianObserver. 
 
 As you have taken several opportu- 
 nities of directing the alteniion of 
 your readers to the state of religion 
 among the Lish Roman Catholics, I 
 send you an exact copy of a printed 
 notice, which fell into my hands in 
 the latter end of June last; and I 
 trust that its appeaiance in the 
 pages of your work will have a ten- 
 dency to increase that inicrest in be- 
 half of the uninstructed inhabitants 
 of this kingdom which you have so 
 frequently endeavoured ta excite. 
 ''It is a pious and salutary thought 
 to pray for the dead, that they 
 may be loosed from their sins." 
 — Mac. ii. chap. xii. ver. 3. 
 
 " • At StapeliiH there is s'ill a chapel, and 
 IB female convent of rhe order of La Trappc. 
 t C. R., I suppose, must mean Ciiurch of 
 Ro/ue. 
 
 [Tan 
 
 " PURGATORL\N SOCIETY, 
 
 " Under the Protection of the most 
 
 glorious Name cf Jesus. 
 
 " The stability of this society de- 
 pends on the punctual payment of 
 your arrears, the sooner to yield re- 
 lief to the suiTering souls in Purga- 
 tory, supply tlie wftnts of our dis- 
 tressed ciersrvrnien, and for tl'e spi- 
 ritual and temporal welfare of its 
 members ; the three principal points 
 of ihis laudable institution. 
 
 " N.B. Subscriptions received in 
 the school-room of Rosemary-Lane 
 chapel, on the first Sunday of each 
 month, from eleven till two o'clock. 
 
 " Your arrears nii 6s. 6d., being 
 twelve months* subscription, ending 
 June 181 L 
 
 " (Signed, by order), 
 
 " J. C. Bacon, Pr(»sident. 
 
 ** You are humbly prfi3'ed to con- 
 tinie your laudable exerfions (so 
 happily experienced since the com- 
 nieucfivent of this society) in ob- 
 taining new subscribers.'* 
 
 The original of this notice is print- 
 ed on a square piece of paper, folded 
 like a note, with blank spaces left 
 for the sum in arrear, the number 
 of months' subscription due, and the 
 period when they expire ; ana these 
 are regularly filled up. I obtained 
 it from a dissenting mini-ter ia 
 Dublin, who had it from one of his 
 congregation, that had been educat* 
 ed a Roman Catholic. 
 
 The perusal of such a paper as 
 this, is calculated to excite a great 
 variety of reflections, which I shall 
 not attempt to anticipate. We are 
 accustomed to meet with many sucli 
 specimens of the doctrines taught by 
 the priests, and received by the 
 people; but what must the inhabi- 
 tanis of England think of the state 
 of a religious community, wherein 
 such papers are circulated by the 
 (eachers, and such a society sup- 
 ported by the people ? Surely dark- 
 ness covereth the land, and gross 
 darkness the people. 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 D w, Dec. 1811. *' 
 
i«i2.J 
 
 Review of Scon's Vision of Don RodericJc. 
 
 2» 
 
 REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 The Vision of Don Roderick. A 
 Poe7n. By Walter Scott, Esq. 
 Edinburgh: Ballantyne. 1811, 
 4to. pp. 122. Price Ids, 
 
 That works of fiction, grounded oa 
 historical fact, will generally be less 
 interesting than those which owe 
 their birth exclusively to 'he imagi- 
 nation, is a remark which we be- 
 lieve to be just; and the truth of 
 which, we think, might easily be 
 admitted without an appeal to ex- 
 perience. For it is obvious, that, 
 in productions of which the object 
 is enttriainment, whatever tends to 
 circumscribe the field of invention, 
 must, iu the same proportion, rob 
 them of the charm which forms 
 their chief attraction. 
 
 If Shaks|>eare had confined him- 
 self to the wars of York and Lan- 
 caster, his Caliban and his Ariel 
 would never have been called into 
 being. To have " drawn each 
 change of many - coloured life," 
 might still have been his praise ; 
 but to " exhaust worlds," and then 
 to " imagine new," are feats beyond 
 the powers of the historical fabulist, 
 because they are not within his op- 
 portunities. 
 
 Nor does the historical tale pos- 
 sess any advantages sufficient to 
 outweigh this great objection. Even 
 in point of credibility, it has no re- 
 commendation ; for a partial ad- 
 herence to fact renders every devia- 
 tion from it more marked and re- 
 volting; and the mind, which, re- 
 signing itself to the delights of ab- 
 solute fiction, can at last almost 
 " hold each strange tale devoutly 
 true," is, in the mixed species of nar- 
 rative, kept in continual incredulity 
 by the collision between matter of 
 fact and matter of invention. 
 
 If these remarks are applicable to 
 all works resting ou the joint basis 
 of history and fiction, they are pecu- 
 Jiarly so to those ir> which the his- 
 
 tory is recent, and the personages of 
 modern date. Such performances 
 have, besides, this additional dilii- 
 culty to tonleud with, that they are 
 on the confines of what is ludicrous, 
 and, if not sustained by a strong 
 and steady hand, juevilably descend 
 into buiiesque. 
 
 It is for these reasons, that, among 
 the poets who have undertaken to 
 celebrate tlie triumphs of their con- 
 temporaries, so few iiave beea found 
 (-•ompetent to discharge the task 
 with credit to their subject or to 
 themseives. While the insignificant 
 contests of border chieftains, or the 
 predatory excursions of an Indiaa 
 tribe, have been recorded in the 
 noblest strains of the British Muse, 
 our numerous and animating suc- 
 ceases by sea and by land, graced as 
 they are by the lustre of the cause 
 in which they have been obtained, 
 and consecrated by the sympathy of 
 all good men throughout tlie world, 
 have found no poet* capable of 
 sc'curiug to them the immortality 
 which tliey deserve. 
 
 The war in Spain was a subject, 
 therefore, which, with great disad- 
 vantages, was still worthy of tlie 
 powers of Mr. Scott, both in respect 
 of its difficulty, and of the neglect 
 under which it had hitherto labour- 
 ed trom those competent to adorn it 
 with poetry ; and we felt, for this 
 reason, a sentiment of regret, when 
 we collected, both from the size of 
 the work before us, and from the 
 avowal contained in the advertise- 
 ment, that it was meant to be con- 
 sidered as a slight and subordinate 
 production ; the sport, rather than 
 
 • In making this observation, we do not 
 forget that Mr. Campbell has wriileu *ome 
 line stanzas on the iJorabardnient of Copen-r 
 hagen; and that tlie BiUtles ofTalavera is a 
 piece of considerable merit; but we do not 
 think that either of these producliims can b« 
 considered as of importance or value suflit 
 cient to disprove tlie justice of our remaiL 
 
so 
 
 Revieiv of Scott* s Vision of Don Roderick. 
 
 [Jan. 
 
 the effort, of the author's genius, 
 and not one of those capital com- 
 positions, on the basis of which he 
 rests his fame. 
 
 It is impossible, however, that 
 Mr. Scott should write without ex- 
 hibiting some traits of greatness ; and 
 if the present poem is not to be classed 
 among his most powerful perform- 
 ances, it is, at least, such as could 
 have been produced by no other 
 poet of the present day. It possesses 
 (though in a more limited degree 
 than we have elsewhere seen them) 
 the peculiar excellencies which have 
 raised this author above his rivals — 
 an energy without abruptness or 
 constraint, and a rich strain of in- 
 vention untinctured with extrava- 
 gance. 
 
 The poem opfens with an intro- 
 duction, in which the mountains and 
 torrents of the borders are invoked 
 to aid their bard with inspiration, 
 while he celebrates the recent 
 triumphs of the British army. The 
 mountain spirit directs him to seek 
 a theme among the legends of Spain ; 
 and the poet obeys by proceeding 
 to narrate the Vision of Don Ro- 
 derick. 
 
 This tradition is briefly as fol- 
 lows: Don Roderick, the last king 
 of Spain, before the invasion of that 
 kingdom by the Moors, was led, by 
 an ill-starred curiosity, to penetrate' 
 into a cave near Toledo, the entrance 
 of which had been closed for ages,' 
 and concerning wliich there was a 
 prophecy, that the king by whom it 
 was opened, " would discover both 
 good and evil things.'' In this cave 
 he discovered a bronze statue, re- 
 presenting Time, which incessantly 
 struck tiie earth with a battle-axe, 
 and on the shoulders of which, as 
 well as on the walls of the cave, ap- 
 peared inscriptions prophetic of the 
 impending destruction of Don Ro- 
 derick and his kingdom by the 
 Moors. 
 
 These slender materials the crea- 
 tive imagination of Mr. Scott has 
 drawn out into a poem of sixty-nine 
 cjuarto pages, bending them, at tlie 
 same time, with great skill, to his 
 
 purpose of celebrating the British 
 campaigns in the Peninsula. In 
 following his narrative, it is inte- 
 resting to observe the nature and ex- 
 tent of the amplifications with which 
 he has adorned and dignified the 
 narrow basis of the poem. 
 
 The reader is first presented with 
 a moonlight sketch ol'DonRoderick's 
 camp before the walls of Toledo ;— 
 a scene conceived with that peculiar 
 elegance, and delineated with that 
 extraordinary felicity of diction, by 
 which the poet of Melrose and Loch 
 Katrine is so eminentlydistinguished. 
 The monarch is next introduced at 
 his confession before the prelate of 
 Toledo; the penitent hiding, within 
 the folds of his mantle, the fear and 
 remorsedepicted onhiscounienance, 
 while that of the priest grows pale as 
 he listens to the recital of many adeed 
 of darkness. The confession over, 
 the tyrant demands to be led to that 
 " mysterious room" where the fates 
 of the Spanish monarchy were to be 
 developed; and, after a solemn remon- 
 strance h'om the reluctant prelate, ob- 
 tains his request. 
 
 " Long, large, and lofty was that vaulted hall. 
 Root, walls, and floor weie all of marble 
 sloiic. 
 Of polish'd marble, black as funeral pall, 
 Carv'd o'er with signs and characters un- 
 known ; 
 A paly light, as of the dawning, shone 
 Through the sad bounds, but whence ihej 
 could not sp}-; 
 For window lo the upper air was none ; 
 Yet by that light Don Roderick could descry 
 Wonders that ne'er till then were seen hy 
 mortal eye." xiii. 
 
 The bronze statue, mentioned in 
 the legend, is turned to very good ac- 
 count by the ingenuity of Mr. Scott. 
 " Grim centinels against the upper wall. 
 Of molten bronze, two statues held their 
 place ; 
 Massive their naked limbs, their stature tall. 
 Their frowning foreheads golden circles 
 
 grace. 
 JMoulded they "seemed for kings of giant 
 race 
 lliat lived and sinned before the avenging 
 flood ; 
 This grasped a srythe, that rested on a 
 mace • 
 
1812.] Rev'ieiv of Scott's Vision of Don Roderickl 
 
 TUis spread his wings for fliglit, that ponder- easy to fancy them in any 
 
 stood ; 
 
 'Ej<ch stubborn seemed, and stern, immuta- 
 ble of mood. 
 
 Fixed was the right-hand giant's brazen 
 look 
 Upon Ills brother's glass of shifting sand; 
 A» if its ebb he measured by a book 
 
 Whose iron volume loaded his huge hand; 
 In which was wrote of many a falling land. 
 Of empires lost, and kings to exile driven ; 
 And o'er that pair their names in scroll 
 expand — 
 lA>J)cstiny and Time, to whom by Heaven 
 The guidance of the earth is for a season 
 given. 
 
 Even while they read, the sand-glass wastes 
 away ; 
 And as the last and lagging grains did 
 . creep. 
 That right-hand giant 'gan his club upsvvay 
 As one that startles from a heavy sleep. 
 Full on the upper wall the mace's sweep 
 At once descended with the force of thunder. 
 And hurling down at once, in crumbled 
 heap 
 The marble boundary was rent asunder. 
 And gave to Roderick's view new sights of 
 fear and wonder." xiv — xvi. 
 
 Of these sights of fear and won- 
 der, the first is a dreadful battle be- 
 tween the army of Don Roderick 
 and the Moors, terminating in the 
 defeat of the Spanish monarch, 
 •who perishes in flight. Then is ex- 
 hibited the recovery of Spain by the 
 Christians, and the reign of Supersti- 
 tion, or the period during which, in 
 the language of the poet, the land 
 obeys a hermit and a knight, the 
 one named Bigotry, and the other 
 Valour. 
 
 If such allegorical personages are 
 ever admissible, it is surely in a 
 vision, where the events and per- 
 sonages are all of a shadowy and 
 illusory kind ; and where the sys- 
 tem of symbolical representation 
 harmonizes with the general charac- 
 ter of the piece. Not even in this 
 connection, however, nor under the 
 garb of Spenser's metre, can we find 
 much delight in the personification 
 of abstract qualities. They have 
 been so long known to us in their 
 metaphysical capacity, that it is not 
 
 31 
 
 other. 
 Yet it is impossible to refuse to the 
 following passage the praise of 
 highly poetical spirit. 
 
 " Valour was harnessed like a chief of old. 
 Armed at all points and prompt for knight- 
 ly gest; 
 His sword was tempered in the Ebro cold, 
 Morena's eagle plqme adorned his crest. 
 The spoils of Alric's lion bound his breast. 
 Fierce he stepped forward and flung dowa 
 his gage, 
 As if of mortal kind to brave the best : 
 Hini followed his compa\iion, dark and sage. 
 As he, my master, sung, tlie dangerous Archi- 
 
 niage. 
 Haughty of heart and brow the warrior 
 came. 
 In look and language proud as proud 
 might be, 
 Vaunting his lordship, lineage, fights and 
 fame ; 
 Yet was that bare-foot monk more proud 
 
 than he : — 
 Anil as the ivy climbs the tallest tree. 
 So round the lol'iiest soul his toils lie wound. 
 And with his spells subdued the fierce and 
 free. 
 Till ermined age, and youth in arms renowned. 
 Honouring his scuuigeand haircloth, meekly 
 kissed the ground. 
 
 And thus it chanced that Valour, peerless 
 knight, 
 Wiio ne'er to King or Kaisar veiled his 
 crest. 
 Victorious slill in bull-feast or in fight. 
 
 Since first his limbs with mail he did invest. 
 Stooped ever to that anchorite's behest ; 
 Nor reasoned of the riiiht nor of the wrong. 
 But at his bidding laid the lance in rest. 
 And wrought fell deeds the troubled world 
 
 along ; 
 For he was fierce as brave, and pitiless as 
 stroHii." xxviii — xxx. 
 
 The next scene described is the 
 usurpation of Bonaparte, under the 
 inglorious rejgn of " a loose female 
 and her minion." The delineation 
 of the French tyrant is rather below 
 what we should have expected from 
 such a poet upon such a theme. The 
 concluding image, however, is just 
 and finu. After iiUroducing the 
 spectre of Ambition, which inces- 
 santly " beckons her votary on thro' 
 fight and storm," it is said. 
 
ittvieijo of Soli's Vision of Don ttoderick. (JaW, 
 
 Irisli, the poet boldly breaks the 
 chain of his fiction ; escapes from 
 Don Roderick, the Prelate, and the 
 Visionr and devotes the remainder 
 of the poem exctasirely to the cele- 
 bration of British valour. We have 
 already noticed some < f the beauties 
 of the piece. That our readers may 
 have an idea of its defects also, we 
 copy the following lints, which are 
 not more weak, or of more ordinary 
 manufacture, than nianyf'hers which 
 we pass over without notice. They 
 contain an address to Massena. 
 
 '92 
 
 ** No longer now slie spurued at meaa re- 
 venge. 
 Or siaul lier bend for conquered foenian's 
 moan. 
 As when, the fates of aged Bome to change, 
 Bj" Cftsar's side she crossed i\c Rubicon; 
 Nor jo^-ed she to bestow ihe spoils she won. 
 As when the banded powers of Greece were 
 tasked 
 To war beneath the youth of Macedoii : 
 !No seemly veil her modern raiuion asked ; 
 He saw her hideous face, and k>Ted the fiend 
 unmasked." xli. 
 
 After thfs we have the detail of 
 the Spanish war : — the coronation of 
 Joseph, the general insurrection, the 
 Guerillas, Saragossa and Gerona, the 
 exploits of Lord Wellington and of 
 Generals Deresford and Graham. 
 This was certainly the n>08t difficult 
 and dangerous part of Mr. Scott's 
 task, and he has extricated himself 
 4"rom it without disgrace. To do 
 more was perhaps impossible — at 
 least it required his happiest vein, 
 and the must strenuous exertion of 
 his powers; yet, as if to shew that the 
 force of his genius can at pleasure 
 triumph over mean associations, he 
 'has ventured to introduce into a scene 
 of very serious and terrible interest, 
 the three cheers of Old England, and 
 with so noble an effect that we do 
 not hesitate to give this passage the 
 preference to any other in the poera. 
 * While all around was danger, strife and fear. 
 
 While tlie earth shook, and darkened wai 
 the sk\-. 
 And wide destruction stunn'd tlic list'ning ear. 
 
 Appalled the heart and stupVlied the eye ; 
 
 Alar was heard that thrice repeated cry 
 In which old Albion's heart and tongue unite 
 
 Whene'er her tout is up, and pulse beats 
 high, 
 WTietber it hail the wine-cop or the fight. 
 And bid each arm he strong, or bid each heart 
 be light. 
 
 Don Roderick turn'd hira as the shout grew 
 
 lond: 
 
 A varied scene the changeful vision show'd; 
 
 For where the ocean mingled with the cloud, 
 
 A gallant navy steumi'd tlie billows broiid." 
 
 liv, Iv. 
 
 After a highly spirited description 
 of the British army, in their several 
 divisions of English, Scotch, «nd 
 
 *' But (hou, unfoughten wi!t thoa yield to fate» 
 
 Minion of fortune now miscalled in vain 1 
 Can vantage ground no confidence create, 
 Marcclla's pass nor Guarda's mountain 
 
 chain ? 
 Vain-glorious fugitive, yet turn again J 
 Behold where, named by some prophetic seer. 
 Flows * Honour's Fountain, as fore-doomed 
 the stain 
 Fr«m thy dishonoured name and arais to 
 
 clear — 
 Fallen Child of Fortune turn, redeem her 
 
 favour here. 
 Yet ere thou turn'st, collect each distant aid; 
 
 Those chief that never beard the lion roar f 
 Witliin whose souls lives Bot a trace pour- 
 tray'd 
 Gf Talavera or Mond ego's shore! 
 Marshal each band thou hast, aud sumraoQr 
 more ; 
 Of war's fell stratagems exhaust the whole j 
 Rank upon rank, squadron on squadron 
 pour, 
 Legion on legion on thy foeraan roll. 
 And weary out his arm — thou can's! not 
 quell bis soal." Cmichmon, viii. ix. 
 
 And afterwards: 
 
 '' Go baffled boaster? teach thy liaughtj 
 
 mood 
 
 Toplead at tliine imperious master's throne ! 
 
 Say thou bast left his legions in their blood,] 
 
 Deceived his hopes and frustrated thine 
 
 own j 
 Say that thy utmost skill and valour show* 
 By British skill and valour were outvied j- i 
 Last siiy thy conqueror was Wellingtonl " 
 And if he chose, be his owa fortune tried — 
 God and our cause to friend, the venture we'll 
 abide." Conclusion,, xi. 
 
 We conceive that this is mere 
 rant, without the least pretension to 
 
 ■• The literal traniln'Jou A Fuentes d'HoQor»> 
 
1S12.] Review of Memoirs of the Life of Htiet, Bishop of Avranches. 35 
 
 the name of poetry; and it" we did 
 not know its oriaiij, sliould almost sup- 
 pose it written ibr the Morninjj Pust. 
 
 Tile Vision of Don Roderick con- 
 tains many passages of descriptive 
 elegance, much spirited declamation, 
 and many sounding iiiies. That it 
 has less striking beauties than anv 
 ot the former productions of its au- 
 thor, — that it is occasionally turgid, 
 and sometimes mean, — that it is de- 
 ficient in elaboration and polish, — 
 and, above all, that it fails in inte- 
 rest, — are truths which our admira- 
 tion of the writer need not lead us 
 to conceal; for it is proverbially 
 true, that no man is at all times 
 ecjual to himself: nor is there any 
 want of precedent among poets, tor 
 enequalities of composition infinite- 
 ly more marked than that which 
 Mr. Scott has exhibited. The great 
 demerit of this piece is its incom- 
 petency in exciting and arresting 
 the attention — a fault, tlie cause of 
 which is easily to be traced in the 
 radical weakness of its plan. It is 
 as dilTicult to listen with interest to 
 a vision ?.s to a dream, and they 
 both e(]ually demand conciseness lu 
 the narrator. If extended to any 
 length, their dulness can only be re- 
 deemed by some artifice of plot, and 
 continuity of action. A succession 
 of independent events of real oc- 
 currence, such as form the subject 
 of this poem, amounts to nothing 
 raore than a history, which is not 
 the better for being told in verse, or 
 introduced through the medium of a 
 fiction. 
 
 High as the genius of INIr. Scott 
 must be ranked, by all the lovers of 
 true poetry ; and wonderfully en- 
 dowed as he is with the talent of 
 adorning every subject that tails into 
 his hands ; it has been always ap- 
 parent that he has owed much to 
 his story, and that if he has far ex- 
 ceeded every other poet of his day 
 in the delight which his works have 
 excited, it is partly because his tales 
 have been such as would, inde- 
 pendently of the embellishments of 
 his verse, have been productive of 
 ^tertainment. We consider the 
 
 Christ. ObsErv. No, 12] . 
 
 poem before us as the first instance 
 in which, instead of being aided by 
 his plan, he has been encumbered 
 by it. Tliis )S the severest test to 
 which talent can be exposed, and 
 we think that it bus been sustained 
 in the present instance with ho- 
 nour. 
 
 Memoirs of the Life of Peter Daniel 
 Hutt, Bishop of Avranches : writ- 
 ten by himself; and translated 
 from the original Latin, with co- 
 pious Notes, biojiraphical and cri- 
 tical, by JoHS AiKix, M. D. 2 vols, 
 8 vo. London : Lcngman and Co., 
 1810. 
 
 Whatever might have been the 
 real motive which impelled Huet to 
 compose his own memoirs, he him- 
 self professes to have discovered 
 one, in a desire to disclose the un- 
 sound parts of his character; by 
 wav of making a kind of oblation 
 to the righteous Governor of the 
 world. Under the influence of af- 
 fliction, he writes: — " I felt myself 
 summoned b\- (lod to scrutinize the 
 engrained spots of ray conscience, 
 and most humbly and submissively 
 lay them before his sight. I there- 
 fore thought 1 should perioral an 
 useful task in presenting an account 
 of my past years to hini, the Wit- 
 ness and Judge of all my delinquen- 
 cies, and the Author of all grace, 
 goodness, and beneficence, if I 
 may hope to have acquired any me- 
 rit for my actions in his eyes." (p. 2.) 
 — To this paramountconsiderationhe 
 attaches one of subordinate impor- 
 tance, thus: — " To this motive was 
 addtxl the almost daily reproach of 
 my frienils; who, having heard me 
 relate many anecdotes concerning the 
 most learned men of this age, with 
 w honil lived in close intimacy, urged 
 me to undertake such a work." Ibid. 
 Then follows a prayer that the Al- 
 mighty would bless his undertaking. 
 The comparative efficacy of the two 
 motives announced in the above 
 paragraphs may be determined by 
 the general air of the pertbrraance. 
 If the life of Huet be an useful spe? 
 F 
 
34" Review of Memoirs of the Life 
 cimen of spiritual anatomy ; then 
 the writer was actuated by the no- 
 bler impulse first described. If it 
 be merely an illustration of the 
 importance of a man to himself; 
 in that case, the narrator of his 
 own tale may have had some 
 difficulty in distinguishing the blan- 
 dishment of some friends and many 
 dependants, from a desire which 
 originated solely in his own mind, 
 to augment the reputation acquired 
 by his writings, by superadding the 
 fame and flattery of his admirers. 
 Here then are two theories, one of 
 which may perhaps be fully de- 
 veloped in the course of this ar- 
 ticle. 
 
 Huet Was born in ]630. His fa- 
 ther was once a Calvinist But the 
 inention of this fact deserves to be 
 amplified. 
 
 ■ " My father was born aurl bred in the 
 Biidst of the errors of Ciilvini=ni; yet, throuoli 
 the influence oiDivine Grace, and the exhor- 
 tations, both in person and by letter, of John 
 Gontier, a pious and learned man of the 
 order of Jesuits, he renounced the fatal doc- 
 trines which lie had imbibed. When liis 
 inother, from whom he had derived his er- 
 roneous opinions, was attacked by a severe 
 disease tlmt brought her life into imminent 
 tianj^er, the prayers of this excellent person 
 •for liis parent's salvation, and his urgent ex- 
 hortations, were so etficacious as to bring her 
 to a sense of the truth ; and, renouncing the 
 doctrines of her nefarious sect with her dy- 
 jng Voice, she calmly slept in Christ." p. 4. 
 
 Gontier, elevated to the most 
 dizzy heights of self-gratulation, by 
 this triumphant refutation of Cal- 
 vinism, celebrated the whole affair 
 «' in a collection of Greek, Latin, 
 and French verses ;" (p. 5.) which, 
 in perpetuani rei ntcnioriam, were en- 
 graved on immortal marble on the 
 lady's tomb, in the church of St. 
 John at Caen; at the expeinse of 
 her son, who was " an elegant 
 dancer;" indeed, so elegant, "that 
 once," says the anti-calvinistic pre- 
 late, '• when a splendid ballet was 
 in preparation at Caen, and he was 
 confined to his bed with a slight 
 illness, the dancers came to him 
 and constituted him the spectator 
 
 nf Huet, "Bishop of Avranches. [Jan. 
 
 and sole judge of their intended ex- 
 hibition." p. 6. 
 
 Huet details the adventures of his 
 early years with more prolixity 
 than would be adinired even in the 
 present age; when the value of bi- 
 ography seems almost to be mea- 
 sured by the compiler's ability to 
 collect the littlenesses of the cradle, 
 the coral, the nursery, the ginger- 
 bread, the school, and so on till the 
 suckling becomes a man. But, 
 peace ! we do not wish to raise the 
 ghost of Sam. Johnson. 
 
 While Huet was finding his way 
 to manhood, 
 
 " There arrived at Caen a company of 
 Dominicans, for the purpose of restoring thie 
 relaxed discipline of the order in that town. 
 With the spirit of piety displayed in thi? 
 new form, I was so much captivated, tiiat I 
 became extrenrel}' desirous of being admitted 
 into the society. My own relations, atfec- 
 tionately, yet pertinaciously, detained me 
 a sort of prisoner in their houses; and thus 
 was obviated a de-ign, undertaken, as 1 su])- 
 posedjon tin: Divine suggestion. Even from 
 my early childhood I was conscious of no 
 obscure wishes to enter into the service of 
 Christ; and 1 fiequently felt the sparks of 
 tliis pious desire bursting forth in my soul, 
 which were repressed by a vivacious dispo- 
 sition, obnoxious to the light inclinations and 
 feeble blandishments of the world ; until at 
 length conquering grace threw the rein over 
 my reluctant spirit, and entirely subjected 
 it to its own dominion." p. 2.5. 
 
 As curiosity allured the degene- 
 rate Israelites to attend the instruc- 
 tions of the precursor of the Messiah, 
 though his doctrine, like his vesture 
 and food, was repulsive to a haughty 
 and luxurious nation, — .so there has 
 been always something in Mo- 
 nachism, which the young mind 
 finds attractive ; and unnatural as 
 it may seem, the attractions are such 
 as might be expected, if they pleas- 
 ed at all, to please any period of 
 life except its vernal season; when 
 pleasure either blossoms or begins 
 to mature its high-flavoured fruit. 
 This is the conquest achieved by the 
 imagination of youih over the expe- 
 rience of age. When Huet had 
 reached the winter, the hard season 
 of life, he was able to interpret the 
 wishes of bis earlier days; and h« 
 
1812.] Review qf Memoirs of the Life of Huct, Bishop of Avranches. S5 
 
 found his call to religious seclusion 
 to have been nothing better than a 
 boy's fancy. However, there seems 
 to be in the above extract a lurking 
 design on the part ot" the bishop to 
 secure to himself the credit of havmg 
 been subslaniially relij^ious from his 
 infancy. Yet the terms employed 
 to testify the existence of this occult 
 and dormant piety, are so artificial 
 that if the climax be really truth. 
 Truth, in this instance, Iwas conde- 
 scended to veil her simplicity be- 
 neath the drapery of affectation. 
 
 Huet's insatiable love of literature 
 introduced him to Bochart : " Hut 
 as the controversies between the Ca- 
 tholics and Calvinists, of the latter 
 of whom Bochart was minister, uere 
 carried on with peculiar warmth ; 
 lest those of my persuasion sh(vild 
 entertain suspicions of the sound- 
 ness of my faith, it was agreed 
 between us that I should pay my 
 visits with caution, and for the most 
 part by nijiht, and without wit- 
 nesses." (p. 36.) Let no controver- 
 fiialist, after readin;^ this, neglect to 
 improve the witchmg time ot night; 
 for now Peter, Martin, and Jack 
 may converse without either speak- 
 ing or using daggers. 
 
 While Huet's nights were given 
 to Bochart, he laboured to accom- 
 plish his exterior by commencing a 
 series of attentious to the sex ; " to 
 be a favourite of whom," he says, 
 " I regarded as the surest proof of 
 politeness. In this view, I omitted 
 nothing that I thought necessary to 
 ingratiate myself with them : such 
 as care of my person, elegance of 
 dress, officious and frequent attend- 
 ance upon them, verses, and gentle 
 >vhispers, which feed the insanity 
 of love : practices which 1 have, 
 with too little reserve, displayed in 
 a metrical epistle to Menage, well 
 )inown to the public." (p. 48.) On 
 this ridiculous and pitiabledrivelling, 
 the keen translator observes : " No- 
 thing costs less to sell-love than a 
 confession of this kind; in which the 
 writer, under the pretence of ac- 
 knowledging some youthiul frailties, 
 ^ives vi«ws of himself which he 
 
 knows to be likelv to enhance his 
 character in the eyes of the majority 
 of his readers. The epistle to Mf» 
 nage is here obviously referred to, 
 by way of further information on a 
 subject which he could not deco- 
 rously dwell upon." If an accurate 
 surveyor of human nature, in its 
 present abject state, were looking 
 abroad for an object which had an 
 undisputed claim to deep commi- 
 seration, we should venture to direct 
 his attention to the conduct of a 
 Christian prelate, who, in his eiglity- 
 fifth year, could not resign the repu- 
 tation of having enjoyed the average 
 sliare of sinful pleasure in the prime 
 of manhood; the season when raeii 
 of the world formally allov\' them- 
 selves and others to drink the Cir- 
 cean cup, not merely as a matter of 
 course, but as a kind of homage 
 fairly due to their general system, 
 and llie willing price by which the 
 friendship of their community may 
 be purchased and secured. Huet 
 writes, as though he expected to 
 •' breathe a second spring," while 
 he caught a distant prospect of the 
 groves of Daphne ; to whose guilty 
 recesses all return M'as now debarred; 
 not, it should seem, by principle, but 
 by causes which no speculations of 
 his could controul. 
 
 Some readers may censure these 
 remarks, as too harsh for the occa- 
 sion. The translator, we believe, 
 will not concur in that censure. He 
 has known enough of mankind to be 
 avvare of the fact, that in many sad 
 instances, the libertine survives the 
 man ; and he will account fur the 
 unextinguished influence of vice on 
 the mind of one who appears un- 
 willing to renounce sin, even when, 
 in one sense, sin has renounced him. 
 It is a strange circumstance, and 
 wise men will observe it, that liber- 
 tines themselves have frequently 
 turned with abhorrence from sucb 
 superannuated otienders as have 
 aspired to totter back again, from the 
 verT;e of the "rave, to scenes where 
 the confession is wrung out, " I have 
 nop leasure in them." Nature feels 
 herself degraded and insulted j and 
 F2 
 
S6 Revkvj of Memoirs of the Life of Hue t, Bishop of Avranches, [JA>i 
 the very adepts in profligacy are 
 
 ready to despise gralificatioiis which 
 Ihey discover to be valuable to the 
 fancy of a dying dutard. 
 
 Ill 1652, Huet visited Sweden in 
 order to pay his learned respects to 
 queen .Christina. On his return 
 through Holland, he says : 
 
 *' At W(3rruiii I pcrsonalij experienced 
 ■what I hiid ol'ien lieard, but ret^ardeiJ as a 
 fiction; iinmely, that in tiie Dutch inns, a 
 charge is made to the guest, not only lor 
 expenses incurred in his entertainment, but 
 for tlie noise he makes. For vvlien we were 
 reckoning with our host, he put down to 
 our account the barking of our little dog, 
 and the horse-laughs of our saucy valet. 
 And upon our laugliing still louder at the 
 charge, and treating it as a joke, the land- 
 lord flew into a passion, and called to his 
 assistance certain rustics armed with axes: 
 ' Here,' said he, ' are those who will make 
 these rascally Frenchmen pay their dues ! ' 
 We chose rather to submit than to fight." 
 p. 189. 
 
 This jocose story will convince 
 every candid reader that Sir John 
 Carr's claim to originality must 
 henceforth be abandoned. He is 
 now convicted of having twitched 
 from a Scandinavian crag all that 
 time has ouiiered to remain of the 
 mantle of Sir Peter Daaiel Huet. 
 But such IS now the ingratitude of 
 mankind, that a traveller can com- 
 pile a quarto iNorthern Summer 
 without expressing a single obliga- 
 tion lo the man, V, ho not only be- 
 queathed his mantle, but an anec- 
 dote oiit of Ml/ Pocket-Book, by 
 dropping a leaf of his journal at a 
 Dutch tavein. 
 
 j^f ter a season, the author's moral 
 feelings revived. He describes the 
 consequenqe thus; 
 
 " It was now s-ome time since I had duly- 
 explored the recesses of my conscience, and 
 unfolded iheni in the Divine presence : for it 
 conniionly happens that the pursuit of vulgar 
 objects attracts the mind from the contem- 
 platioji of the celestial lite, and even from a 
 vigorous correction of the manners. For 
 these purposes, a retreat to La Fleche, and 
 the assistance of Mambrun, appeared well cal- 
 culated. I therelbre with gieat alacrity re- 
 paired thitlicr; and after a delightful con- 
 rersaiion between us on the state of our con- 
 eerlls, I resolved to set apart an entire week. 
 
 according to the institution of the blessecf 
 Loyola, for the attentive recollection of all 
 the errors of my past life, -and the more 
 careful regulation of my future days, And 
 
 that I had adhered to my engagements! 
 but I too readily suffered myself to be borne 
 away by the fire of youth, the allurements 
 of the world, and the pleasures of study, 
 which so filled my breast, and closed up all 
 ils iiilets with an infinite number of thoughts, 
 that it gave no admission to those intimate 
 and charming conferences with the Supreme 
 Iking. Under this imbecility of soul with 
 respect to divine things I have laboured 
 during the whole course of my life; and 
 even now, tlie frequent and almost perpetual 
 wanderings of a volatile mind blunt my as- 
 pirations to God, and intercept ail the benefit 
 of my prayers. • When from time to time 
 God has benignantly invited me to pious ex- 
 ercises for the purpose of confirming in my 
 soul the sense of religion, and washing away 
 the stains contracted from human contagion, 
 
 1 have retired to places suitable to those in- 
 teijtions; either to the Jesuits' College at 
 Caen, or the Abbey of Ardennes of the 
 Pr.-smonstratensian order, one mile distant 
 from Caen, or to our own Aulnai, after I was 
 placed at the head of it. But I frequently 
 experienced a contrary current in the breeze 
 of divine grace; as if the Deity by this in- 
 difference meant to punish my immoderate 
 attachment to letters, and my sluggish move- 
 ments towards divine things.'' p. 239. 
 
 The religion developed in this 
 confession, is that of a person whd 
 compels himself to bear in mind, 
 that when a bishop writes his own 
 life, the world will expect him to 
 say something about the object of 
 his proft'ssion, as a matter at least 
 of propriety ; or demand it as a 
 kiad of technical finish to a piece 
 of ecclesiastical biography. But 
 to answer this demand, is embar- 
 rassing. A prelate finds himself 
 to be no bishop, but a parade offi- 
 cer ; or a civilian in canonicals; or 
 a man of letters living in classical 
 luxury at the expense of the church. 
 Still, there are moments when the 
 soul looks into futurity. The feel- 
 ings of tltese awful intervals, toge- 
 ther with their immediate conse- 
 quences, are recalled and described ; 
 and the result is made to stand as 
 evidence of the writer's religion. 
 In retracing his adventures, Huet 
 
1812.] Reviexo of Memoirs of the Life of Huet, hisliop of Avranches. 37 
 
 lemeinbers, that he had paused for 
 a whole week to refit his moral 
 powers; and the period appears to 
 nave been accurately adju'^ted to 
 the (iefjree of impurity which it was 
 judged expedient to remove. But 
 the influence of the principle ob- 
 tained by this process was limited 
 by the walls of La Fleche. The 
 ai^pirant returned to the world; and 
 ijje world returned to him. 
 
 It can scarcely be necessary to 
 remind the reader of the fanciful 
 character of the piety which Huet 
 mistook forpiaciical godliness : "In- 
 timate and charming conferenceswith 
 the Supreme Being* !" In no human 
 writings, excepting perhaps the dra- 
 mas of Kotzebue and the novels of 
 Miss Owenson, can easily be detected 
 such strange phraseology. Thebishop 
 must be supposed to mean the exer- 
 cise of religious affections. Through- 
 out the whole narrative, he seldom 
 speaks of sacred things in the lan- 
 guage of Scripture. Every subject 
 is secularised. 
 
 In 1670, lie was appointed sub- 
 preceptor to the Dauphin (father of 
 Fenelon's Duke of Burgundy), and 
 fdled that situation for ten years. 
 About this period he compiled his 
 "great work, the Demonstratio Evan- 
 gefica ; and superintended the Del- 
 phin edition of the classics.originally 
 projected by the Duke of Montausier. 
 Whosoever expects to find any anec- 
 dotes of the Frencii court, or any de- 
 tail of the mode of educatien adopted 
 by Huet, will be sadly disappointed 
 
 * We give the translator credit for a 
 faithful version. But in looking through 
 these volumes, wo frequently wished to have 
 consulted tlie original, to which we had no 
 access. Fidelity alone can account for some 
 of the odd expressions, belonging, we should 
 have thought, to no lansiuagc whatever. 
 The annotations are a specimen of the pre- 
 vailing literature of times wiien we arc 
 all expected to know all persons and all 
 things superficial!}', and nothing profoundly. 
 Dr. Aikin selected the work as affording a 
 good basis for the literary history of the age 
 in which Iluct flourished ; — the best apology 
 lor having turned imc> Enjjlish so dry a 
 boot. 
 
 by this preceptor's perverse silence. 
 As Falstaft" had a kind of alacrity 
 in sinking, Huet has a kind of 
 alacrity in reducing interesting 
 topics to incurable insipidity; and 
 more frequently in omitting them 
 altogether. He is a true Baratariari 
 physician; for as soon as the table 
 is covered witli delicacies, in comes 
 the bishop, touches every dish, tu- 
 reen, and goblet; and in a twinkling, 
 they all disappear ! The guests. 
 
 at the full feast are famislied,] 
 
 And wonder why. 
 
 Studies connected with his elaborate 
 defence of Christianity once more 
 awakened his conscience, and stimu- 
 lated a long-formed desire to go into 
 orders. Bossuet was consulted how 
 this desire might be realized. The 
 most serious view of the project 
 seems to have presented itself in 
 the difficulty which attended the 
 transition from a court dress to the 
 coslusne of an ecclesiastic. Bossuet 
 advised the transition to be rapid ; 
 but the subject of the experiment 
 thought differently ; and by an in- 
 verted process, gradually reduced 
 himself from a perfect rana to the 
 unfinished figure of the tadpole. 
 But hear him : — " 1 was of opinioa 
 that I should not suddenly change 
 my habit, but by degrees ; daily 
 shortening my hair, and bringing 
 the rest of my dress to a more sober 
 form. This was at length approved 
 by Bossuet ; and the matter was so 
 dexterously managed, that although 
 I had hitherto appeared in a garb 
 suited to a court life, and rather in 
 the military mode, the alteration was 
 scarcely perceived." (Vol. ii. p. 178.) 
 An achievement thus splendid drew 
 after it long streamers of glory. He 
 had already received the clerical 
 tonsure; he was initiated into the 
 inferior orders of the church; and in 
 his forty-sixth year became a perfect 
 ecclesiastic. " He appears,"observes 
 the translator, "to have taken ordi- 
 nation like a nauseous dose; that is, 
 swallowed it down as quickly as pos- 
 sible, iri order to get rid of the tastt." 
 He was soon aficr appointed abbot 
 
38 Review of Memoirs of the Life 
 
 of Aulnai, where he wrote Latin 
 verses, observed eclipses, weighed 
 air, and examined the Cartesian phi- 
 losoph)'. 
 
 In 1692 he was consecrated bishop 
 oi" Avranches, a city in lower Nor- 
 mandy; but the situation, he says, dis- 
 agreed with him ; and in seven years 
 he abdicated the see, on the plea of 
 ill health. The annotator tells a 
 diflferent story. According to him, 
 Huet was too fond of books to be 
 fit for an active station. When 
 persons came to him on business, 
 thev were constantly told, tl)at the 
 bishop was at his books, and could 
 not be disturbed; upon which one 
 of them said, "Why did not thekinji; 
 give us a bishop who had finished 
 his studies ?" Huet now retired to 
 the abbacy of Fontcrfai, conferred 
 upon him on resignation of the 
 bishopric. Here was to be his 
 heaven. But no sooner was he com- 
 fortably settled, than there seemed 
 to be a general insurrection against 
 his peace. His successor at Avran- 
 ches, and the representatives of his 
 predecessor at Fontenai raked him 
 fore and aft. Father La Chaise, ap- 
 pointed arbitrator in his disputes, be- 
 haved with downright severity. The 
 very tenants of the abbatial farms 
 were only to be subdued by parlia- 
 mentary interference. — Huet died at 
 Paris on the 2()th of January, 1721 ; 
 having almost completed his ninety- 
 first year. 
 
 Every attentive reader of this 
 book, will readily perceive, that by 
 far the greatest part of it might 
 much better have been written by 
 the bishop's secretary. If a person 
 profess to write his own life, the 
 public has a fair right to know a 
 little of the author's interior ; for all 
 the rest is " known and read of all 
 men." He imposes upon himself a 
 moral obligation to tell what none 
 else can tell ; but if he virtually dis- 
 owns the obligation, the public will 
 express their sense of injury and 
 disappointment by suspecting the 
 oliender to have disclosed all that 
 could be exhibited with credit. Con- 
 sequenlly, he is rejjarUed not us a 
 
 of Huet, "Bishop cf Avranches. [Jan. 
 good and true historian, but as an 
 apologist ; or as one who will be 
 heard first, that he may prejudice 
 the jury before they call for the 
 witnesses. There is indeed a method 
 by which some self- biographers 
 have passed themselves for confes- 
 sors ; but they have had the sagacity 
 to make their confessions of sin 
 set n/f what they assume to be their 
 virtues ; the lustre of the latter being 
 heightened by contrast. Tiiey will 
 consent to allow one part to be evil, 
 on condition that you will own the 
 other nine, or forty-nine, or ninety- 
 nine, (the quantities vary), to be sub- 
 stantially good. The dishonesty of 
 self-biographers offends the moral 
 feelings, by depriving the thoughtful 
 reader of that peculiar instruction 
 which is imparted, by comparing the 
 moral operations of another mind 
 with his own. Anxiety for himself 
 as a probationer for eternity will 
 create what may be called a sancti- 
 fied curiosit}'- to be informed by 
 what process of spiritual degrada- 
 tion aman brings himself deliberately 
 to present the world with a false ac- 
 count of his own motives of action, 
 and, while he professes to let them 
 into a secret, is, in reality, laughing 
 at their credulity. There is an ela- 
 borate hypocrisy in this case, which 
 may alarm such persons as recollect 
 our common origin. — The intellec- 
 tual reader will be galled, by feeling 
 himself swindled out of the oppor- 
 tunity which self-biography afiords, 
 of observing the subtle operations of 
 the will, when conscience struggles 
 with passion, and pride with sen- 
 suality, and when the occult causes 
 of actions, unaccountable to all but 
 the actor, are develoj)ed by the only 
 perbon who could indulge him with 
 the disclosure. Not that the actor 
 can, as such, give the truest account 
 alwmjs; but a quick-sighted judge 
 of human nature will find some in- 
 structive amusement in watching 
 another's eObrts to tell what he thinks 
 about himself; when, like Cowper's 
 sheep at the lime-kiln, he knows 
 not what to think. 
 
 A most unreasonable quantity of 
 
1812.] Revieii) of Memoirs of the Life 
 
 Huet's memoirs is engrossed by a 
 eatalogue raisonnee of his literary as- 
 sociates. They seem to have sat 
 for their pictures, that the bishop 
 might, liang- his gallery to repletion ; 
 and then walk np and down thi« 
 temple of fame, communicating and 
 receiving greatness. To be sure, 
 if vanity were justifiable, no lover of 
 Sound learning would quarrel with 
 him for exulting in an intimacy 
 vvith such men as liochart ; but the 
 bishop, like numbers of our fellow 
 mortals, makes his familiars stepping 
 stones to importance. 
 
 He appears to have been credu- 
 lous. One reason for this infirmity 
 may perhaps be found in his want 
 of a practical knowledge of the 
 world, which he chiefly knew from 
 books ; and he was not free from 
 what was once a vulgar prejudice, 
 that whatever is in print must be 
 true; that is, in his case, of course, 
 if supported by a great name. His 
 Swedish journey subjected him to 
 one or two palpable honxes. And 
 there is a story about his having 
 been half gulled by an alchemist, 
 (Vol. ii. p. 26.) 
 
 The character of this prelate is a 
 itriking and an afi'ecting illustration 
 of the difference — we adopt the lan- 
 guage of a living philosopher — be- 
 tween beiojc the dignified advocate 
 of Christianity, and its humble dis- 
 ciple. He published a work abound- 
 ing with deep erudition and sound 
 reasoning; which the learned of all 
 nations have combined to admire. 
 Men of letters, to-day, have written 
 commentaries on a voluptuous clas- 
 sic ; and to-morrow, on an apostolic 
 epistle. In each case, they frequently 
 write as though there wc-re no diiler- 
 ence between sacred and profane li- 
 terature. The salvation of the soul is 
 as an accident to the substance. The 
 truth of the Gospel is demonstrated ; 
 and its doctrine practicalls'^ denied. 
 The infidel is confuted by the un- 
 believer. Huet expresses no per- 
 sonal interest in the Gospel. "He 
 dies, and makes no sign !" His re- 
 ferences to "the God and Father of 
 •ur Lord Jesus Christ," are little 
 
 of Huet, Bishop of Avranches. %[) 
 
 superior to what a theist might 
 make to a metaphysical deity, uh- 
 revealed and inaccessil)le, the un- 
 known God of the Pagan world. 
 'I'he cxiremtis labor of a Christian 
 bishop might have been excused, 
 even by the bigots of infidelity ; had 
 it contained the dying thoughts of a 
 sound believer in Christ Jesus. As 
 it is, the enemy may perhaps ex- 
 claini,"Are these thy triumphs,Chris- 
 tianity r" We answer, " No: we refer 
 you to something more substantial. 
 Look at the examples of practical 
 religion which repeat the apology 
 of the early Christians : Non magnet 
 eloquinmr scd vivimus." 
 
 Some persons may acquit Huet 
 on the score of old age ; a season 
 when men have a prescriptive right 
 to be garrulous. The question, 
 however, is not, whether their talk 
 may be redundant ; but wliether 
 their talk ought not to discover that 
 serious subjects are wrought into the 
 texture of their minds, and cause 
 them, sometimes at least, to be re- 
 dundant on religion. The last years 
 of holy persons may indeed betray 
 infirmities connected both with their 
 spiritual and secular fiabits; yet 
 the divine principle, even though 
 oppressed bv much intellectual de- 
 bility, manifests its existence and 
 efficacy too. From them the (hris- 
 tian paradox receives useful illustra- 
 tion : " As dying, and, beiiold, we 
 live ; as sorrowful, yet always re- 
 joicing ; as having nothing, and yet 
 possessing all things." 
 
 Our report of the work under re- 
 view has been undertaken with re- 
 luctance; both on account of the 
 innate disagreeableness of the book 
 itself, and because it was but barely 
 just to the Bishop of Avranches to 
 refrain from visiting him while the 
 recollection of the nodes cosnceque 
 dcum spent at Camhray*, made us 
 impatient of all other society. Cer- 
 tainly, the nights and suppers at 
 Avranches"^re purely human. 
 
 Fenelon — oh the freshening in- 
 fluence of that name ! — differs from 
 
 • Cliristi.in Observer for November, 1810, 
 pp. 6£7— 702. 
 
40 Revieiv of Memoirs of the Life of Huet, Bishop of Avranches. [Jan. 
 Huet, as the beams of a vernal Neither the purity of Fenelon, nor 
 morning from the night exhalations the delinquency of Huet, can be al- 
 of a morass. In the first. Christian!- tribuled to their church. In that 
 t,y did indeed display her triumphs ; communion, as in other divisions of 
 from the other, she extorted the the Christian world, the personal 
 heartless compliments of ceremony sanctity of eminent saints seems to 
 and office. Could any mortal ho- indicate the inefticacy of all humaa 
 mage have increased her jiative dig- modifications of the Gospel; that 
 nity, she would have been indebted is, as distinguished from the imme-. 
 to JFenelon lor a boon unconscious- diate teaching of the Holy Ghost, 
 ]y bestowed; while Huet would who chooses, as it were, to be some- 
 have otiered an unaccepted sacrifice, times eijually independent of the 
 though assumed by himself to be best and worst instruments. Not 
 cosilv and meritorious. The two that the circumstance here supposed, 
 characters stand opposed to each should be so abused as to make 
 Other, as a sublime degree of creeds a matter of indifference; for 
 .spirituality is contrasted to the the force of a principle must be 
 worldliness of a man who considers measured by its known operation 
 Christianity as a material out of on the mass, and not by its assumed 
 which he may erect vast structures influence on individuals. Whoever 
 of intellectual fame. The contem- refuses to concede this, may be re- 
 jjlation of these is a compensation ferred to the undisguised profligacy 
 lor his having agreed to be a be- of manners prevailing among tli^ 
 
 liever. With a contractor ofthis kind, 
 the question is, " What shall 1 be 
 prohted, if i lose the world, and 
 save my own soul ?" The reply is 
 
 higher and middle ranks in Pojjish 
 countries. Compare this with the 
 general decorousnt.ss of the same 
 classes in this island, or in any por- 
 ready ; " 1 have no occasion to lose tion of the world, where Christianity 
 the world ; lor 1 will contrive to has been suifered to diffuse her own 
 • jnake it all my own by causing re- doctrines without molestation. The 
 fi-rion to be the prime source of my scale of morals will be found to cor- 
 1-eputation; and thusopposites shall respond to purity of faith; and, if 
 for once he reconciled." Fatal so- amidst the corruptions of Rome, 
 phistry ! but so we deceive, and are some have walked with undefiled 
 deceived. garments, we do not forget that this 
 
 We feel a very strong desire that degenerate communion has uever 
 Fenelon also had written his own formally renounced the elementary 
 life. As to poor Huet, he has done doctrines of the Gospel. They are 
 the deed; and, with Snakspeare's indeed found in combination with 
 Thane, we can truly say, " This is baser matter; but expert analysts 
 a sorrv sight ! " The portraits of have succeeded in decomposing the 
 both prelates hang side by side in mass; and, after examination, have 
 our cabinet; and when to our fancy, chosen the good part. In all reli- 
 the Galilean Church presents her gious communities there will be a. 
 matron form, we think of Hamlet's profanmn vulgus, which will take its 
 
 filial remonstsaiice, faith upon trust; that is to say, will 
 
 have no faith at all, although of- 
 fensively impatient with aiiy party 
 but its own. This is not Popery, 
 nor Protestantism, but human nature 
 in religious masquerade ; some- 
 times in a black, then in a purpl^ 
 doniino; and in fact, in every 
 colour and costume which can be 
 invented. Fenelon never assumed 
 » character. His owti suppo^e^ 
 
 Look here, upon tliib picture, and on tliis; 
 The coiiiiterfcil present inont rf two brothers. 
 See what a grace was ieatcfl on lliis brow; — 
 A combination and a form indeed. 
 Where ever) God did seem to set hi-i seal, 
 To give the wodd assurance of a man. 
 This was your husband. Look joii now, 
 
 wliat follows ; 
 Here is your liusband ; Jilic a mildewed car, 
 Ulaitiug liis wUolesooie brother. 
 
Revieiu of Butler's Sermon on Christian Liberty, 
 
 1812.] 
 
 itself. Huet was driven to personate 
 one to which he was unable to im- 
 part spirit and nature. He wore 
 the mitre with such counterfeit dij^- 
 nity, and waved the crosier with so 
 clumsy a grace, that many who 
 watched his feats at the masque- 
 rade, wondered he should have 
 chosen the very character which he 
 was irresistibly fated to spoil. 
 
 Christian Liberty; a Sermon preached 
 at St. Mary's, before His Royal 
 Highness the Duke of Gloucester, 
 (Chancellor of the University J, and 
 the University of Cambridge, at the 
 Installation, June 30, 1811. By 
 Samuel Builer, D.D. late Fellow of 
 St. John's College, and Head Mas- 
 ter of Shrewsbury School. Shrews- 
 bury, Eddowes ; London, Long- 
 man. 12mo. pp. 129. 1811. 
 
 In the month of June, 181], as the 
 public well know, the Duke of Glou- 
 cester was installed Chancellor of 
 the University of Cambridge ; a dii^- 
 tinction which he justly merited, 
 both on account of his public con- 
 duct and his private virtues. Our 
 readers will also remember, that on 
 the occasion of his installation a pro- 
 digious concourse of people of both 
 sexes, and of all ranks, assembled 
 within the precincts of the Alma 
 Mater. Amidst other points of as- 
 semblage, a great part of this mul- 
 titude came together at the Univer- 
 •ity church, to hear Dr. Butler ad- 
 dress them in his ministerial charac- 
 ter. Prepared for the nature and 
 extent of his audience ; expecting 
 to address thousands of the young, 
 the fashionable, the dissipated; se- 
 lected by the University as a sort 
 of organ of their embodied opinions; 
 carrying, as it were, their reputa- 
 tion, for a day, in his hands; he 
 thought proper to deliver the present 
 discourse. It might have been expect- 
 ed, that a preacher, raised to such a 
 vantage ground, would have eagerly 
 embraced the opportunity of fighting 
 the battle of Religion; that he would 
 have defended her cause, where she 
 CuRisT. Obsexv, Is'o. 131. 
 
 4l 
 
 was most rudely assaulted ; that 
 he would have fortified some weak 
 point in our own camp, or seized 
 some advanced post of the enemy. 
 We too fondly hoped, that, suiting 
 the topic to the audience, the preach- 
 er would teach the worldly, the dis- 
 sipated, the thoughtless, the perils 
 of worldliness, of dissipation, and of 
 neutrality. But whether it was that 
 the elevation of some pulpits, like a 
 station on the Alps, gives a clearer 
 and more commanding view ot the 
 valley below ; or whether the magi- 
 cians'of that astrological university 
 conjured up some phantom before 
 the eyes of the preacher, we know 
 not. Certain it is, he did not see his 
 audience with our eyes, or contend 
 with an enemy who appears to us to 
 have any real existence. But these 
 are points rather to be proved than 
 asserted ; and although it will be at 
 the expense of carrying our readers 
 over ground they have often trod, 
 they will, we trust, forgive, and, as 
 far as they can, accompany us, while 
 we review the work before us. If 
 the hydra has seven heads, it must 
 be beheaded seven times. 
 
 The text of the sermon is from 
 Gal. V- 1: "Stand fast, therefore, 
 in the liberty wherewith Christ hath 
 made us free ;" and the sermon is, as 
 the text promises, a defence of Chris- 
 tian /i/yc?/y— employing the term, 
 however, as will be seen, in a very 
 peculiar sense. It opens with de- 
 claring, p. 9, that " even in in- 
 fancy the germ of this passion (for 
 liberty) is developed among the ear- 
 liest operations of the human will." 
 The author proceeds to shew, in a 
 well written passage, that St. Paul 
 did not, in his submission as aChris- 
 tian, forget his rights as a citizen. 
 He then states his intention to inquire 
 " whether the restraints and austeri- 
 ties which some teachers (whom he 
 does not name) would engraft upon 
 religion are consistent with the doc- 
 trines or practice of Christ and 
 his apostles." He states also, ttiat 
 he shall pursue this inquiry, not 
 by examining " particular and de- 
 tached texts," but by regarding the 
 G 
 
42 Review of Butlers Sermon 
 
 " general tenor of Scripture," and 
 more especially the " recorded ac- 
 tions of Christ." And laying down 
 as a principle of interpret ation, " that 
 the precepts of the apostles may, in 
 all intricate and disputable cases, be 
 best understood by unequivocal and 
 direct reference to the actual prac- 
 tice of our blessed Lord," he con- 
 trives, very conveniejitly, to free 
 himself from the " bondage" in 
 which the Epistles of the New Tes- 
 tament were not unlikely to hold 
 hiiTi. 
 
 Dr. Butler gives us, at p. 14-, a 
 catalogue of things and qualities in- 
 terdicted in Scripture. The enume- 
 ration is as follows: "Absurd and 
 extravagant gestures which may at- 
 tract notice, gloominess or dejection 
 of countenance, affected professions 
 of humility, severe, censorious, arni 
 uncharitable judgment of our neigh- 
 bours, strict and literal interpreta- 
 tions of metaphorical phraseology in 
 contradiction to the spirit and gene- 
 ral meaning of the context, usurped 
 spiritual pre-eminence, blind and in- 
 fatuated zeal for proselytism, mo- 
 roseness,pride,and selfishness." Why 
 the author has collected all these 
 atrocities into a catalogue, it is diffi- 
 cult to say. Certain great writers, 
 indeed, as poets and botanists, have 
 their catalogues. Other writers also, 
 as Dante, love to conjure up and hold 
 converse with the most tremendous 
 images. In human nature itself, 
 moreover, there is an occasional love 
 of the horrible : this passion may, 
 for the moment, have seized our 
 author. Whatever be the solution 
 of the difficulty, however, we can 
 discover no rational cause why the 
 character of our Lord should be 
 contrasted with the fictitious per- 
 sonage compounded of these quali- 
 ties. Cicero says, indeed, that there 
 is no opinion so absurd which some 
 philosopher has not been found 
 absurd enough to defend ; but cer- 
 tainly we will venture to affirm, that 
 the name of the writer who defends 
 qualities such as these is not yet 
 upon record, much less has it an 
 English termination, or a modern 
 (/ate. 
 
 on Christian Liberty. [Jan^ 
 
 In justice to Dr. Butler, as well 
 as to ourselves, we will now lay a 
 rather lengthened extract before 
 our readers. We prefer doing this 
 to giving them a brief abstract of 
 the passage, because we are anxious, 
 that if the comn»ent should not be 
 borne out by the text, they may have 
 the means of rectifying our miscon- 
 ceptions. 
 
 " Wiih regard to the practice of our Sa- 
 viour," observes the preacher, " we may re- 
 mark, that his first miracle was performed 
 for an occasion of festivity ; we find him 
 also constantly partaking of social inter- 
 course with those about him, and so far was 
 lie from recommending or performing any 
 acts of ascetic* mortification, that he w.as 
 reproached by the over-righteous sect of 
 Pharisees as ' a glutton and a wine-bibber, a 
 friend of publicans and sinners.' We find 
 no particular acts of penance enjoined by 
 him; no rigorous austerities recommended, 
 no ceremonious strictness of outward deport- 
 ment practised by him; on the contrary, HE 
 \fihi3 was greater than the greatest, and wiser 
 than the wisest, and holier than the holiest 
 of tlie sons of men, lived among them as one 
 of themselves. Not distinguished from thft 
 truly pious worshipper by unsocial gloom, or 
 by uncharitable censoriousness, or by forbid- 
 ding severity, or by haughty abstraction; but 
 visibly and uniformly distinguished from the 
 superstitious or hypocritical Pharisee by ra- 
 tional cheerfulness, by engaging affability, b\c 
 active and unwearied benevolence, carrying 
 his piety onward from words to things, and 
 employing it to regulate every act of life ; 
 and by its mild, steady, but unobtrusive and 
 unostentatious influence, to direct and sanc- 
 tify the performance- of every social duty. 
 Thus ITe threw fresh radiance and fresh en- 
 dearments around the sacred duty of Charitj 
 itself, by uniting the occasional exercise of it 
 witli our convivial enjoyments; for he in- 
 structed his followers, when they prepared a 
 feast, to call the blind, the poor, and the 
 maimed ; and he added, that however unable 
 such persons might be to return the kindnes? 
 
 • We are no friends to acts of oscetic m»r- 
 tification : but we should be glad to know in 
 what precise light Dr. Butler views the facts 
 of our Saviour's fasting forty days in the wil- 
 derness, and of his retiring to a mountain to 
 pray; His intimation, that "this kind goeth 
 not out but by prayer and fasting ;" and the 
 rules He lays down (Mai. vi.) to regulate the 
 practice of fastiog. Does Dr. Builer supposft 
 that fasting does not imply niorlificatiou.^ 
 
Review of Butler's Sermon on Christian Liberty. 43 
 
 ascribe to their Rlaster.the marked and entire 
 exeraptioa from affected singularity and ex- 
 terior austerity, which I consider not only a» 
 shedding addilional graces on liis personal 
 cliaractKr, but affording addilional evidence 
 for the divinity ot his mission." pp. 15 — 19. 
 
 IS12.] 
 
 they liad rtceived, yet they who thus mingled 
 courtesy with bounty, and made things ten»- 
 poral subservient to things spiritual, should 
 meet with a recompense at the resurrection 
 of the just. 
 
 " May I be permitted to remark, that an 
 adum ration of this conduct is to be found in 
 the lile of hiui whom Plato describes as the 
 most just ninn lie ever knew, and whom we 
 are accu!^tomed to consider as one of the 
 wisest |iliit(isophers of the heathen world. 
 Increasing his usefulness without diiuinishiug 
 his dignity, Socrates associated with the lost 
 sheep of tlie gentile flock; even with cour- 
 tezans, libertines, and sophists; and by expe- 
 dients the most gentle, he endeavoured to 
 rectify their errors and correct their irregula- 
 rities; did not our Master, for the same be- 
 nevolent pur[K)se, mingle in familiar converse 
 with publicans and sinners? Socrates, on the 
 most serious topics, drew his images from sur- 
 rounding scenery and the objects of common 
 life ; have not the most judicious and learaed 
 expositors observed the same beauties in the 
 discourses of Christ? Socrates condemned 
 the mischievous subtleties of those declaimers 
 who displayed their ingenuity and fondness 
 Jbr paradox, in separating the useful from the 
 honourable ; did not our Lord in the same 
 manner combat the doctrinal refinements of 
 those teachers, who not only tore asunder 
 what God had joined together in the religion 
 of Moses, but set the ritual above tlie weigh- 
 tier matters of the law, and made of little or 
 110 effect some express prohibitions in the 
 Decalogue, especially those which are pointed 
 against perjury and adultery ? Socrates, as 
 Cicero jnstly remarks, brought down philoso- 
 phy from the skies to the bosoms and business 
 of men in social lite ; did not our Lord, in a 
 yet nobler ktrain of simplicity and sublimity, 
 iuculcate the first and second great command- 
 nieiitb; and «aen revealing or enforcing the 
 will of his Father, did he ;iot uniformly appeal 
 to those clear and salutary apprehensions of 
 right and wrong which the hand of God has 
 deeply engraven upon the tablet of tlie hu- 
 man heart? 
 
 " Plato, we may farther remark, and Xeno- 
 phon, however dissimilar from each other in 
 the colour of their style, the choice of their 
 subjects, and the purposes for which they re- 
 corded the opinions and actions of Socrates, 
 yet seem to have been equally impressed with 
 these characteristic qualities to which I have 
 aiJverted,in the daily life of the Grecian sage. 
 In the same manner the Evangelists, however 
 they might differ from one another in the 
 sources of their knowledge, or in the peculiar 
 t&mpetameuts of their own minds, uniformly 
 
 In this passage, there are some 
 sentences in which we cordially con- 
 cur with Dr. Butler. We concur with 
 him in admiring the uniform cour- 
 tesy, the active and unwearied bene- 
 volence of our Lord. But wlien it 
 is said of him, that " he lived among 
 the sons of men as one of them- 
 selves," we cannot but apprehend 
 that Dr. Butler has formed a very 
 inadequate conception of the charac-, 
 ter both of our blessed Saviour and 
 of the world which he came to re- 
 deem. " Ye are not of the 
 world," says Christ to his disciples, 
 " even as I am not of the world. If 
 ye were of the world, the world 
 would love its own ; but now the 
 world hateth you." And he tells 
 them not to marvel at this, because 
 " it hated me before it hated you." 
 Deferring for the present our fur- 
 ther observations on this subject, we 
 would only ask Dr. Butler, whether 
 he thinks to establish the fact of our 
 Saviour's conformity to the world, 
 by the reference he has made to the 
 particular description of guests 
 whom he recommended to his fol- 
 lowers as the partners of their con- 
 vivial hours? Whatever it might; 
 have been in the days of Christ, we 
 apprehend that this species of feast- 
 ing is not very common in the con- 
 vivial circles of the present day ; 
 and that if it were, those persons 
 would be the very last to object to 
 it, whom this sermon so vehemently 
 condemns as fanatics, puritans, au- 
 stere, unsocial. We would humbly 
 submit to the decision even of Dr. 
 Butler, which class of men most 
 abound in the luxury of feeding the 
 hungry ai»d clothing the naked, 
 of being eyes to the blind and feet 
 to the lame, of cheering the afflicted 
 and instructing the ignorant: — the 
 vilified preachers and professors of 
 " evangelical religion," of " vital 
 G 2 
 
Eeview of Butler*s Sermon on Christian Liberty. 
 
 44 
 
 Chrislianity ;" or those who, like Dr. 
 Butler, delight in holding these men 
 up to the scorn and derision of the 
 world. He may be able, we doubt 
 not, to solve this question, without 
 extending his view beyond the 
 limits of Shrewsbury itself. 
 
 A parallel between our Saviour 
 and Socrates is not a new idea. It 
 was attempted by Rousseau before 
 Pr. Butler was born. And how 
 much superior, in justness of concep- 
 tion, as well as in strength and 
 beauty of colouring, is the parallel 
 of the infidel philosopher to that of 
 the Christian divine, may be seen by 
 turning to our volume for 1810, 
 p. 272, where the former is inserted. 
 In one respect, however. Dr. Butler's 
 parallel is perfectly original. He 
 is, we believe, the first person who 
 has attempted to vindicate the con- 
 duct of Socrates in associating with 
 coxtrtetans, by the example of Christ; 
 or who has attempted to stain the 
 purity of our Saviour's character, or 
 to «legrade the standard of Christian 
 practice, by so indecent (we had al- 
 most said profane) a comparison. 
 We earnestly request that such of 
 our readers as aie sufficiently ac- 
 quainted with classical literature 
 to institute the examination, would 
 lurn to the eleventh chapter of the 
 third book of the Memorabilia of 
 Xenophon, and we are persuaded 
 that they will not think our repre- 
 hension of Dr. Builer misplaced. 
 The very title of the chapter, we 
 should have thought, would have 
 precluded any Christian scholar, 
 much more any Christian divine, 
 from the possibility of being guilty 
 of a profanation so gross and revolt- 
 ing. The title of it is, " Cum mere- 
 trice Theodota de arte hominum al- 
 liciendorum disserit" (Socrates, viz.). 
 Doubtless many who heard Dr. But- 
 ler preach, and many more who have 
 »ince read his sermon, have taken it 
 for granted, that, when he ventured 
 to recommend the conduct of Socra- 
 tes in associating with courtezans, 
 as being an adumbration of that of 
 our Saviour, he must have alluded 
 to inManceg in the life of that phito- 
 
 [Jak. 
 
 gopher of his having laboured to re- 
 claim the vicious, or to console the 
 penitent with the hope of pardon. 
 For ourselves, we know of no such 
 instances. But what will be his sur- 
 prise to find that the intercourse of 
 Socrates with courtezans, as it is 
 here recorded by Xenophon, was of 
 the most licentious and profligate de- 
 scription ; that part of the enjoy- 
 ment of this likeness of the holy 
 Jesus, arose from gazing at the ex- 
 posed person of Theodota, as she was 
 modestly lending herself as a model 
 to the painters, (Hf&Y.nvi]v siriSsiKvvsiv 
 exvrr^r oca, y.ccXwf syja ; — that his 
 whole conversation with her is di- 
 rected to the perfecting of this cour- 
 tezan in the arts of seduction ; and that 
 not even one remote hint drops from 
 him calculated to impress her with 
 the dishonourable nature of her pur- 
 suits? And yet Dr. Butler dares (is 
 it possible not to feel indignant ?), 
 from the University pulpit of Cam- 
 bridge, not only to hold up the con- 
 duct of Socrates, in thus associating 
 with courtezans, to the admiration 
 of his audience, but to represent it as 
 a fair parallel to that of our Saviour. 
 Had a man wished insidiously to 
 undermineeverysentimentof purity, 
 ill the minds of the lettered youth 
 who filled St. Mary's on this occa- 
 sion, could he have pursued a more 
 effectual course than this? These 
 young men would naturally look to 
 the same work to which we have 
 referred, for an elucidation of Dr. 
 Butler's estimate of the character of 
 our Saviour, and of the liberty which 
 he allows to his followers ; and what 
 would they find ? They would find 
 that, under the name of Christian 
 liberty, a licence was given them to 
 indulge in the most polluting inter- 
 course. — We are not charging Dr. 
 Butler with having actually intend- 
 ed this ; but the eiFect is the same ac 
 if he had intended it. It certainly is 
 much to be lamented, that a man who 
 possesses so little moral discrimina- 
 tion, or, to speak more properly, so 
 defective a moral taste, as to be 
 capable of confounding the conduct 
 of Socrates in " his ftssociations with 
 
1812.] 
 
 Revin^ of Butler s Sermon on Christian Liberty. 
 
 Courtezans ;" with that of Christ, in 
 calling sinners ot" this class to re- 
 pentance, and consoling tlie weep- 
 ing penitent; should be charged 
 with the tuition of so many of our 
 youth, and should also he numbered 
 anioni( the ministers of the Church 
 of England*. Hek foes are indeed 
 they of her own household. But 
 we proceed. 
 
 Dr. Butler, after having stated 
 with tolerable correctness the na- 
 ture of the lib«rty which the Chris- 
 tian dispensation imparts, draws 
 from his statement this general in- 
 ference : " Hence whatsoever tends 
 to confine the operation of the 
 Christian religion, to cramp it with 
 needless austerities, to make it bur- 
 thensome or unamiable in the sight 
 of mankind, must be contrary to the 
 very spirit of Christianity, and to the 
 benevolent designs of its blessed Au- 
 thor." Now to this inference we de- 
 cidedly object, as false, unscriptural, 
 and mischievous. We admit, indeed, 
 that to the true Christian ; to him who 
 has been "renewed in the spirit of 
 his mind,'' and become "a new crea- 
 ture ;" with whom "old things have 
 passed away, and all things are be- 
 come new;" who is therefore not 
 "of the world," even as his Master 
 was "not of the world;" who, no 
 longer "carnally minded, which it is 
 death to be," has attained through 
 Divine grace that "spiritual mind 
 which is life aad peace: we admit 
 
 • If any thing were wanting to justify the 
 jcverity of these remarks, it might be fouiid 
 in a note at p. 53, where Dr. Butler quotes, 
 with marked approbation, the following pas- 
 sage from £rasmus ; " Viz milii teiupero 
 quin dicam, sancte Socrates, era pro nobis ;" 
 and again, " At ipse inihi saepeiiuraero non 
 tempero, quin bene ominer ianctct animae Ma- 
 ronis ac Flaceu' To the holy Socrates we 
 have already adverted. But to apply the 
 terra holy to Horace, is a prostitution of it, of 
 which we apprehend that no man cculd be 
 guilty whose moral taste had been formed by 
 the New Testament. It will be a consolation 
 to the " modern Puritan" to find, that the 
 accusation brought against him as oier-righ- 
 teous, is preferred by one who appears to 
 contemplatt with admiration the puritjf of 
 Horace. 
 
 45 
 
 that to him Christianity presents no 
 needless austerities, nothing burthen- 
 some, nothing unamiable. His heart 
 is cast in the mould of the Gospel. 
 He loves the holy law and the holy- 
 service of God : and guided by the 
 example and strengthened by the 
 grace of Christ, and animated by the 
 hope which He has inspired, he is 
 ready, like him, to deny himself, to 
 endure the cross, and to despise the 
 shame. But Dr. Butler's words would 
 imply that the spirit of Christianity 
 is such as will accord with the views 
 of mankind at large. What, then, is 
 meant by the self-denial which is uni- 
 versally enjoined in Scripture; by the 
 crucifixion of the flesh, with all its 
 affections and lusts; by the mortify- 
 ing of our members which are ia 
 the earth; by our even d]/ing to the 
 •xorld, an attachment to which is re- 
 presented as "enmity against God?" 
 What is meant by the solemn en- 
 gagement which we all make at the 
 baptismal font, to renounce the 
 world, the flesh, and the devil ? Is 
 there nothing arduous in the perfor- 
 mance of this vow? What, also, is 
 meant by the reiterated exhortations 
 to " watch and pray," to " strive to 
 enter in at the strait gate," to " press 
 forward towards the mark," with 
 which the New Testament abounds; 
 and by the promises of Divine aid 
 which are annexed to these exhor- 
 tations, since "without Me ye caa 
 do nothing ?" What, we would ask 
 Dr. Butler, is meant by all this, if 
 it was the design of Christ to make 
 
 his religion such that mankind should 
 
 ... . 
 
 fall in love with it, as it were, 
 
 spontaneously, and at first sight ? 
 Let Dr. Butler fairly make the trial: 
 let him go to the first ten or twenty 
 men he can think of, who are in the 
 habit, after the example of Socrates, 
 and, as he allows it to be profanely 
 implied, after the example of a 
 greater than Socrates, of " associat- 
 ing with courtezans :" let him preach 
 the Gospel to them ; — " Repent and 
 be converted ;— flee youthful lusts ;— 
 whoremongers and adulterers God 
 will judge ;— cleanse your hands and 
 purify your hearts, ye sinners ; — for. 
 
Review of Butler's Sermon on Christian Liberty. 
 
 A6 
 
 know, that he who even looketh on a 
 womanto lust after her hath already 
 r.ommitted adultery vvith her in his 
 heart, and that no unclean person 
 shall inherit the kingdom of God : — 
 therefore turn from your evil wavs, 
 that your souls may live, and ac- 
 cept the pardon, the grace, the 
 peace of the Gospel," — Kow does 
 he suppose they would relish such 
 a doctrine ? Would they or would 
 they notdeem the preacher needless- 
 ly austere, and his injunctions bnr- 
 thensome and unamiabie? Will Dr. 
 Butler deny, that to preach thus 
 would be to preach the Gospel ? Or, 
 allowing this, will he deny that such 
 preaching would meet with much 
 conti-arietv in the hearts and lives 
 of a great part of our population, 
 and especially of our youth? And 
 it so, has Dr. Butler, or has he not, 
 fceen guilty, in the representation 
 which, in this sermon, he has given 
 of Christianity, of misleading those 
 whom he is especially bound to 
 guide into all truth ? We think he 
 has ; and in this opinion we are con- 
 firmed by what follows: 
 
 " Let us suppose a sensible heathen were 
 told that the first raau having transgressed a 
 pobitive command of God, was subjected 
 thereby to a curse inflicting death and 
 multiplied sorrows on himself and his pos- 
 terity. Let hini then be told, that by the 
 Christian dispensation this curse was re- 
 moved in all its fatal consequences, and 
 happiness and imraoitality restored to man. 
 Would he not immediately perceive and 
 acknowledge the benevolence of this dispen- 
 sation ? Let him, wliile this natural im- 
 pression is fresh and vivid, be farther made 
 acquainted with the precepts* of that dis- 
 pensJition. Would he not say, in all that 
 1 learn anfl hear on this subject, I lind new 
 confirmations of the benevolence of Cod. 
 The new law which he has given, contains 
 notliing which does not harmonize with the 
 tjreat act of mercy and goodness from which 
 it originated; noiiiing thnt does not sup- 
 
 • for example, " Love your enemies, bless 
 them that curse you," " deny yourselves," 
 '* liike up your tro.'-s," " crucify the Uesh," 
 " love not the world, neither the things that 
 ore in the world," " cut off the riglit lii)ud> 
 pKjck out the right ey**," &c &c,&.c. 
 
 [Jan. 
 
 p'.'css terror*, and encourage confidence, that 
 does not awaken love and soften apprehen- 
 sion, that does not enkindle gratitude and 
 enliven hope t. I am indebted, he might 
 say, to God, for lif? and being, in the midst 
 of a world stored with every thing adapted 
 to the wants and happineis of my nature, 
 and for a rule of life tending as well to se- 
 cure that happiness as to exalt ray gratifi- 
 cation in the enjoyment of all the temporal 
 blessings around nie." pp. 23, 24. 
 
 The author here supposes a hea- 
 then to be told, that the " first man, 
 having transgressed a positive com- 
 mand of God, was subjected thereby to 
 a curse inflicting death and multiplied 
 sorrows on himself and his posteri- 
 ty ;" and to be told also, that " by 
 the Christian dispensation, this curse 
 was removed in all its fatal conse- 
 quences;" and he then asks "whe- 
 ther the heathen would not acknow- 
 ledge the benevolence of this dispen- 
 sation?" We answer, Perhaps not,for 
 he might, like many others, to whom 
 the moral law of God is unpalatable, 
 have condemned, first, llie issuing 
 such a law, and, secondly, the in- 
 fliction of its penalties. But, in our 
 view, the statement of the author 
 would afford the heathen a very 
 inadequate conception of the evils 
 consequent upon the fall. Were 
 "death and multiplied sorrows" the 
 only consequences of that event? Did 
 no moral evils result from it; no de- 
 pravation of the nature of man ? 
 Even when he would do good, was 
 not evil (henceforth) present with 
 him ? Did he not reduce himself by 
 his disobedience to a state in which 
 his bias and determination, as it 
 were, was to what is bad ? — Neither 
 would the second clause of the au- 
 thor's instruction to the heathen be 
 more accurate. Does Christianity 
 remove all the " multiplied son'oivs" 
 of man ? It provides, indeed, a balm 
 for all. It weighs them down, as it 
 
 • " A^otAtn^ that does not suppress terror!'' 
 " Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, pre- 
 pared for the devil and his angels — where 
 their worm dierb nut, and their fire is not 
 quenclied." 
 
 t " Many will say to rae in that day, 
 Lord, Lord," &c. — " and then will 1 profess 
 Muto them, 1 ncfer knew you," &«. 
 
1812.] 
 
 Review of Butler^s Sermon on Christian Liberty. 
 
 were, and reduces them to the mere 
 dust of the balance, by the eternal 
 weight of glory which it places in the 
 other scale. But is the best Christian 
 exempt from sorrows? Is not his 
 state represented as a state of trial ; 
 a race, a warfare, a life of self-denial, 
 taking up his cross, and bringing 
 his body into subjeclion ? So much 
 for the author's accuracy as a divine. 
 True it is, indeed, that Christianity 
 is a benevolent system; tliat, like 
 its disciples, whatever house it en- 
 ters, it savs "peace be unto that 
 house;" — but, then, the character of 
 her benevolence is not faithfully 
 delineated here. The painter has 
 not left her in her naked majesty and 
 beauty, but has patched and paiultd 
 her to suit the heathen taste, 
 
 " But what," asks tlie auiliur, " would this 
 heathen say, if, after thus far soothing his 
 benevolence, and t!ius far kindling his piely, 
 we were also to tell him that his rational 
 enjoyment of temporal blessings vill ruin 
 his eternal happiness" — "that he may sec 
 the birds exuhing in their liberty ; the 
 beasts bounding over the plains, &c. ; but 
 that lie (man) alone must grieve for his mi- 
 wortiiiness in voluutuvy and mysterious 
 sloom ; that the senses with wiiich his 
 Creator has framed hi:a, are but il;e iustru- 
 luoutsof his ruin in the hand of the temjuer, 
 and that his desires, vNliich are the natural and 
 only spurs to action, are to be subdued i;ito 
 supine inditference and listless inseusibility. 
 Tell him farther, iliat when he has done and 
 willed to do all that man is capahle of doing ; 
 when, by a hfe of inortification and nieian- 
 choly and entire abstraction from all worldly 
 iiiterest, be has wrought himself Into habitual 
 «ind invincible apathy; wiien he has accus- 
 tomed himself to look wiili sullen and sour 
 disgust upon the pleasures, and with oureless- 
 ness, or, it may be, with scorn, npun tiie em- 
 ployments, and, as 1 should call them, the 
 duties of social life, his labour, ' even in the 
 Lord,' may yet liave been ' in vain ;' that as 
 to him, Christ may in vain have shed his 
 blood upon tlie cross, and that the God, 
 whose mercy is over all his works, may 
 have secretly and irrevocably doomed him, 
 «veii before his birth, to everlasting perdition, 
 Irom which no conteiuplntiuns, however se- 
 rious, upon the attributes and works of the 
 Deity, no belief, however sincere, in his re- 
 vealed wonl, no thanksgivings for mercies al- 
 ready received, no prayers for protection and 
 succour, no remorse for sto* past, no resolu- 
 
 47 
 
 tions or efforts for amendment in time to 
 come CAN rescue, I had almost said the hope- 
 less, helpless, guiltless victim : — and that no- 
 thing but certain lunmltuous, irrejistible, in-' 
 explicable intimations can afford him any 
 safe and wdl-grounded assurance of pardon 
 or reward." pp. 24 — 26. 
 
 The author thinks that every man, 
 "gifted with the feelings of huma- 
 nity, would shrink from such a doc- 
 trine and discipline." In this we very 
 cordially agree with him ; but not so 
 in the declaration which follows, that 
 " for the prevalence of «uch doctritie, 
 and the vindication and praise of 
 such discipline, he need only appeal 
 to tlie observation of those who hear 
 him." If he designed to " appeal tt» 
 the observation " of the beau monde 
 by whose magic circle be w as chiefly 
 environed, we, who live in Ijondon, 
 do assure him, who lives at Shrews- 
 bury, and therefore can know little 
 about the matter, that il%e repose of 
 
 is 
 of 
 
 our various modish chapelries 
 lis species 
 
 never molested by thi 
 hornet. If he meant his university 
 audience, our eye has also rested 
 pretty constantly upon the pulpit of* 
 St. Mary's, and we certainly have 
 heard neither this discipline vindi- 
 cated nor these doctiiiies broached, 
 if he appeals to the members of the 
 univerity who listened with such 
 profound attention to Dr. Buchanan, 
 at the Commencement 1810, we 
 should expect them to rise up in a 
 bofiy and challenge his accuser to 
 make ^ood his charges. If, once 
 more, he appeals to the hearers of 
 Mr. Simeon (whose university ser- .. 
 mons we have more than once 
 judged it right to notice), we are 
 persuaded that the quickest ej'e at a 
 likeness can discover no resemblance 
 here. Besides, the doctrine and dis- 
 cipline which Dr. Buchanan and 
 Mr. Simeon are in the habit of vin- 
 dicating, are placed distinctly on 
 record in their own numerous pub- 
 lications. Where, indeed, is the wri«»^ 
 ler ill the universe, with the excep-i 
 tion of the author, who ever darkened 
 p&per with such words as these : " no 
 belief however sincere, no thanks- 
 givings, no prayers, no remorse, no 
 
Review of Butler's Sermon on Christian Liberty. 
 
 At 
 
 resolutions or efforts for amendment, 
 can rescue, I had almost said (he 
 has quite said) the hopeless, helpless, 
 guiltless victim?" 
 
 Dr. Butler, however, does not 
 leave us in doubt respecting the per« 
 aons whom he intended to charac- 
 terise by this extraordinary de- 
 scription. He lets us know distinct- 
 ly that they are " the evangelical 
 clergy." Here, however, we would 
 observe, that, after the wrong which 
 Dr. Butler has done to the charac- 
 ter of our Saviour, we cannot won- 
 der that the tendency of his sermon 
 should be to vilify and degrade his 
 servants. " It is enough for the 
 disciple that he be as his Master, 
 and the servant as his Lord. If they 
 have called the Master of the house 
 Beelzebub, how much more shall 
 they call them of his household.'* 
 If a man can so mistake our Lord's 
 principles of action, as to represent 
 the conduct of Socrates in associat- 
 ing with courtezans as an adum- 
 bration of that of Christ, we can- 
 not wonder that he should find a 
 parallel (for, after this, no parallel 
 can be extravagant) between those 
 *• modern Puritans," as he calls 
 them, " the evangelical clergy," 
 and the adherents of the Church of 
 Rome. In order to assist the paral- 
 lel, he begins by declaring that the 
 *' great and characteristic blessing of 
 the Reformation, was the removal 
 of needless and burthensome cere- 
 monies, of an usurped dominion, &c. 
 of authority, &c. &c." Now we 
 unquestionably owe much to the 
 Reformers for the restitution of a 
 simple and spiritual form of wor- 
 thip; but do we owe them nothing 
 else ? Was the emancipation from 
 absurd ceremonies really the " chief 
 and chnracterislic blessing of the 
 Reformation ?'' Did Luther call 
 this the " articulus stantis aut ca- 
 dentis ecclesiae ?" Or was it not the 
 doctrine of •• justification by faith 
 alone," which he so named; that 
 Very doctrine with which the evan- 
 gelical clergy are sometimes charg- 
 ed as their crime, and their " foul 
 disgrace ;" that, doctriae which, at 
 
 [Jan. 
 
 all events, it will not be denied that 
 they hold and preach ? Now then, 
 supposing them to be (as the author 
 extravagantly enough does suppose) 
 guilty of endeavouring to impose a 
 of papal and monkish ritual 
 
 sort 
 
 upon the world, 
 
 firm adherence to 
 
 might not their 
 the grand distin- 
 guishing doctrine of the Reforma- 
 tion be fairly set against this proof of 
 their papacy ? Could Luther be 
 called from the throne, which we 
 trust he occupies in heaven, to orga- 
 nize a church on earth, would he 
 launch his thunders at the heads of 
 these who were the champions and 
 apostles of his chosen doctrine ? 
 Would he predict the revival of 
 popery under their administration ? 
 Would hen')t say — " This, this was 
 the great and characteristic bless- 
 ing of the Reformation, that men 
 were again taught to seek their 
 salvation at the foot of the cross?" 
 Would not his discovery of their 
 fidelity to this great article, per- 
 suade him to a generous interpreta- 
 tion of their sentiments and conduct 
 as to other points? Would it not 
 spread a sort of glory round their 
 heads, in which the minor defects of 
 their features would be lost ? If so, 
 Luther and Dr. Butler do not see 
 with the same eyes, or interpret 
 upon the same principle. But we 
 must repeat it, it was not to be ex- 
 pected that one who could so entirely 
 mistake the character of Christ, 
 should rightly appreciate that of his 
 servants. This must be our answer 
 to much of what the author ha* 
 written between pages 2S and 35, 
 and in which we scarcely knowr 
 which to admire most, the general 
 boldness of the author's fabrications, 
 or the occasional levity and pro- 
 faneness of his statements. W' e had 
 almost said, that, as respects the 
 clergy called evangelical, there tft 
 not one word of reality in the whole 
 representation ; and if we had said 
 so, we are not sure that we should 
 have had any thing to retract. We do 
 not, however, charge Dr. Butler with 
 intentional misrepresentation. We 
 can account for his grossest mistaken 
 
131?.] 
 
 Review of Butler's Sermon p« Christim Libertj/. 
 
 without thus usurping the office of his 
 own conscience. Such of them as ma)"^ 
 nut be fairly explained on the prin- 
 ciple of sheer ignorance of the sub- 
 ject on which he writes, may, we 
 think, be referred to that defect in 
 his moral taste, to which we have 
 already adverted, as lying at the 
 root of some of his other misrepre- 
 sentations. 
 
 The substance of the several suc- 
 ceeding pages may be summed up 
 in the imputation, that the evangeli- 
 cal clergy are even worse than the 
 papists — for whereas the latter "ap- 
 peal to antiquity for the vindication 
 of their creed., the former vindicate 
 theirs solely on the score of its 
 novelty." The same charge is rei- 
 terated in the notes, where a passage 
 from Erasmus is exiracled, which we 
 suspect did not merely suggest itself 
 in defence of the allegation, but sug- 
 gested the very allegation itself. 
 Kow of this charge, as of much that 
 precedes it, we are compelled to say, 
 that it is wholly unfounded; and we 
 here publicly defy the author to 
 j)roduce a single passage from the 
 works of the clergy he calumniates 
 to maintain it. If he cannot do this, 
 ought he not either to retract his 
 charge, or to be content that some 
 men should have so little charity 
 for him as to accuse him of wilfully 
 misrepresenting his brethren ? IVe 
 can tell Dr. Butler that the specific 
 ground on which the objects of his 
 vituperation rest their vindication ; 
 and he could not open one of their 
 books without seeing this ; is not the 
 novelty, but the antiquity of their 
 opinions. Their appeal is uniformly 
 made to the Scriptures, to the au- 
 thorised formularies of the Church 
 of England, and to the writings of 
 her blessed reformers and martyrs. 
 
 We really cannot consent to pol- 
 lute our pages with any more of 
 the slanders which more or less fill 
 those of the author, till he comes to 
 the distinct charge in p. 41, " that 
 strong indicationsof even more than 
 contempt for literature, are occasion- 
 ally manifested in the writings and 
 discourses of the f&natics of the pre- 
 
 CaBlST. OusEBv. No. 121. 
 
 49, 
 
 sent day." We. ask, in what writ- 
 ings, and in what discourses, are ihey 
 to be found ? It is true, indeed, that 
 a few sentences (and to these we sus- 
 pect I he writer refers), which may lead 
 to a construction of this kiml, may be 
 found in a sermon of Mr. Simeon'?, 
 reviewed by us in our last volume, 
 p. 304, where we spoke of it more 
 harshly, perhaps, than it deserved. 
 A liberal adversary, (we are sorry 
 ever to use this epithet in opposition 
 to that which we think more ap- 
 propriate to Dr. Duller,) upon 
 finding thateveiy other page of Mr, 
 Simeon's writings breathed a con- 
 trary spirit; thai, he cultivated litera- 
 ture himself; that he recommended 
 tlie pursuittoothers;that hedisplayed 
 in his printed sermons no inconsidera- 
 ble share of learning ; would hav^ 
 referred these tVvy sentences, at the 
 worst, to some unguarded moment ; 
 or, which vvould be the candid 
 course, have interpreted them by 
 tiiepeculiar circumstances of the au- 
 dience which he addressed. When 
 a large body of men are occupied in 
 one pursuit, they are likely to be 
 absorbed by it; therefore, in every 
 universitj', it may be conceived, that 
 in the pursuit of learning every 
 other object will be apt t!> be for- 
 gotten. Above all, religion, which, 
 from our natural corruption, is least 
 likely to present any powerful mag- 
 net to the mind, is likely to i)e aban- 
 doned. And more especially if there 
 arisesany distinguished tuacher.who, 
 himself possessing much learning. 
 uqduly exalts it; who, occupied in 
 sacred criticism, forgets too often the 
 subject matter of the critcism ; who, 
 bordering continually upon sacred 
 ground, seldom enters it ; who, hold- 
 ing his lamp to the vestiijule of the 
 temple, lets no ray of it fall upon the 
 interior ; wiio, by degrees, is doing 
 that which, however unintentionally, 
 has a tendency to withdraw ilie 
 minds of Biblical students from doc- 
 trines to words, and from the obviou.s 
 meaninc to the various readings of 
 the passage; — we can conceive that 
 a man zealous for his (iod.and for 
 his YouuK aiid lettered countrymen, 
 H ' • 
 
50 Jlevieio of Butler's Sermon on Christian Liberty, [Jan. 
 
 should lift up his warning voice, mistaken as to the opinions of Cal- 
 
 and, in a strain which other circum 
 stances wouid not justify, insist upon 
 the comparative insignificance of 
 literature. If we are not mistaken 
 in the dates of the lectures of Pro- 
 fessor Marsh, and the guilty sermon 
 of Mr. Simeon, we imagine that 
 the one may serve as a sort of kev 
 to the other. But whatever might 
 be the opinion, or the literary heres}', 
 of an individual, liis offence must not 
 be visited upon a large body. To say 
 nothing uf Mr. buneon himself, was 
 Mr. Milner, the ecclesiastical his- 
 torian, or is his brother, the Dean of 
 Carlisle, a despiser of knowledge ? 
 Or is Dr. Jowett, or Professor 
 Parish, or Mr. Faber, to be classed 
 among the religious Goths and 
 Huns of the nineteenth cenlurv f 
 Is Mr. Wilberforce the foe of elo- 
 quence, or Mri. More the extir- 
 pater of wit ? Are the sermons of 
 Gisborne and of Cooper, breathing 
 as they do the purest evangelical re- 
 ligion, inferior in point of compo- 
 sition to any of the age .'' 
 
 There is nothing in the discourse 
 before us which is more remarkable 
 than this, that while the author pro- 
 fesses to regard wnh peculiar ab- 
 horrence the vices of " acrimonious 
 censoriousness and austere intole- 
 rance ;" yet if we were asked to 
 characterise his own production in 
 a single sentence, we should think 
 these very terms the best a lapted to 
 convey to our readers some idea of 
 its qualities ; and if the terms " pro- 
 fane levity and unfounded assertion" 
 were superadded, we do not know 
 that any thing would be wanting to 
 complete the description. We do 
 not mean, however, to enter the lists 
 with him in favourjeither of Calvinists 
 or Methodists, excepting to say, that 
 he misrepresents Doth. He see;ns 
 to attribute to John Wesley, and his 
 followers, tlie errors (if errors they 
 be) of Calvinism, although their de- 
 cided hostility to that system is well 
 known, and although Wesley him- 
 self was tlie aoiest oppugner of its 
 peculiar doctrines which the last 
 geotury produced. Nor is he less 
 
 vinists : he attributes to them no- 
 tions which, we will venture to say, 
 are no where recorded, except, per- 
 haps, in the annals of Bedlam. Of 
 this, at least, we are confident, that 
 they are not to be found in the writ, 
 ings of any divine of the Church of 
 England to whom Dr. Butler would 
 give the appellation ohtiodcrn Puri- 
 tan. We again, therefore, call on Dr. 
 Butler either to name the writings 
 which contain these obnoxious opi- 
 nions, or to retract his charges, under 
 pain of being accused ol intentional 
 misrepresentation. 
 
 Our author, in one of his notes, has 
 attacked Dr. Buchanan for appearing 
 to favour Unitarianism,by remarking 
 in his sermons, entitled the Eras of 
 Light, that " the true criterion of 
 the faith of a Christian at this day 
 is to acknowledge the continued in- 
 fluence of God the Holy Spirit;" 
 a remark which obviously means no 
 more than this, that as there are 
 many in the present day who will 
 readily acknowledge the love of 
 God the Father, and th« mediation of 
 God the Son, but who are neverthe- 
 less very averse to the admission of 
 the continued influence of the Holy 
 Spirit in sanctifying the hearts of 
 believers, it becomes especially im- 
 portant to insist on this last truth. 
 Indeed, the language of Dr. Butler, 
 in this very publication, is of a na- 
 ture whicFi seems to call for some 
 such remark as that of Dr. Buchanan. 
 " Let us bear in mind," he says, 
 " that the age of miracles has long 
 ceased, and that we are now left to 
 the common operations of reason and 
 investigation, for advancement in 
 our religious as well as all <'ur other 
 intellectual improvements." p. 114-. 
 How widely ditferent from this 
 language is that of ihe Church of 
 Bogland ! What is the language 
 of her liturgy ? " Send thy Holy 
 Ghosty and pour into our hearts," &c. 
 " Thou alone cAmt order the unruly 
 wills and atiections of sinful men." 
 *' O Loni, from whom all good tilings 
 do come, grant to us, that, by thy holy 
 inspiration, we may tliink those 
 
1812.] 
 
 RevievB of Butler's Sermon on Christian Liberty, 
 
 things that be good." " Grant us 
 bv^ thy Holy Spirit to have a right 
 judgment in all things/* •' Without 
 thee, nothing is strong, nothing is holy" 
 " Lord of ail power and might, who 
 an the Author and Giver of all 
 good things, praft in our hearts the 
 love of thv name, increase in us 
 true religion," &c. " Grant to us 
 tiie spirit to think and do always 
 such things as be rig'itful ; that we, 
 ivho cannot do any thing that is good 
 without thee, may by tiiee be enabled 
 to live according to thy will." " Of 
 thy only gift it cometh that thy peo- 
 ple do unto thee true and laudable 
 service ;" and " F' rasrauch as with- 
 out thee xve are not able to please thee, 
 niercit'ully grant that thy Holy Spi- 
 rit may in all things direct and rule 
 our hearts." " Almighty God, unto 
 whom all hearts be open, all desires 
 known, and from whom no secrets 
 are hid, cleanse the thoughts of our 
 hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy 
 Spirit." — And what say the Articles 
 on this suijectr They tell us, that 
 " Works done before the, grace of 
 Christ,and the inspiration ofhisSpirit, 
 are not pleasant to God ;" and that 
 " godly persons are such as feel in 
 themselves the luorking of the Spirit of 
 Christ, mortifying the works of the 
 flesh, and drawing up their mind to 
 high and heavenly things."— Stil! more 
 in poiut, if possible, are the Homilies 
 of the Church. " 1th the Holy Ghost, 
 and no other thing, that doth quicken 
 the minds of men, stirring up good 
 and godly motions in their hearts, 
 which are agreeable to the will and 
 commandment of God, such as other- 
 wise, of their own crooked and per- 
 verse nature, they should never have." 
 " As for charitable and godly mo- 
 tions, if man have any at all in him, 
 they proceed only of the Holy Ghost, 
 •who is the only worker of our sanc- 
 tification, and maketh us new men 
 in Christ Jesus." Homily for Whit- 
 sunday, ed. 1802, pp. 389, 390. — 
 Can it be that Dr. Butler is a minis- 
 ter of the church which thus speaks ; 
 the same Dr. Butler who stems to 
 contend (p. 119) for the divine in- 
 ipiratioa of lome of the Greek and 
 
 51 
 
 Roman classics, and yet tells us, as 
 one having authority, to bear ia 
 mind that we are nou) left to the 
 common operations of reason and in- 
 vestigation for advancement in reli- 
 gious improvement? We must leave 
 it to him to explain this paradox. 
 
 We deem it incumbent on us to 
 notice another misrepresentation of 
 Dr. Buchanan's meaning. In the 
 same sermons Dr. Buchanan had said, 
 that " the usual name of reproach" for 
 religious men " at this day is metho- 
 disl;" and that this name " is nowr 
 applied to any man of pure and un- 
 affected pietv, and is, in short, ano- 
 ther term for Christian." Dr. But- 
 ler is very angry with him for say- 
 ing so, and, in the warmth of his 
 displeasure, misrepresents what he 
 has said. He assumes that Dr. Bu- 
 chanan's proposition amounts to this, 
 that all men of pure and unaffected 
 pi ly ae methodisls(p. lO'J); where- 
 as L)r. Buchanan only says that 
 they are so called ; and that, in the 
 phraseology of the irreligious, me- 
 thodist is, in short, another name 
 for Christian. IVe believe that Dr. 
 Buchanan has not much overstated 
 the matter, although of late the cur- 
 rent term of reproach has been 
 somewhat varied, and " Calvinist," 
 or " modern Puritan," is occasion- 
 ally substituted, as the pages of Dr. 
 Butler bear witness. 
 
 We had resolved, in the outset of 
 our review, to carry on a sort of fly- 
 ing warfare with the author through 
 the whole of his notes, as well as his 
 sermon. But, really, the number of 
 objectionable passages deters us. Not 
 only is there much wrong; there is 
 scarcely any thing right. To attack 
 every fault would exhaust all the 
 small shot of our critical canister, 
 wear out our readers and ourselves, 
 and perhaps, after all, not materially 
 aftect the author, who may now be 
 healing his wounded reputation as a 
 divine, by the issue of another play 
 of (we presume Saint) .ffischylus. 
 
 We pass over, therefore, among 
 
 many other passages, what he quotes, 
 
 at p. 1 1^2, as a fine observation, but 
 
 which we always thought a most peri- 
 
 H 2 
 
Review of Butler's Sermon on Christian Liherirj. [Jan. 
 
 lous and even heretical apophthegm, tion which ought to be answered : 
 
 of his master, Erasmus: " ubicun 
 <]ue pura mens est, ibi Deus est ;" — 
 also the high commendation be- 
 •stowed, at p. lip, on a quotation in 
 which Erasmus contends for the di- 
 vine inspiration of some of the clas- 
 sical writings, " cum iila scriberent 
 numen aliquod bonum agitaverit;" 
 — as well as a note extracted from 
 that distinguished writer, Jeremy 
 Taylor (whose quiver, we regret to 
 say, occasionally furnishes an arrow 
 to a bad cause), in defence of dice, 
 &c. horse-racing, cock-tighliug, the 
 ■fight of quails and partridges, bull- 
 ■baiting, &c.— on all which we had 
 projected some remarks. After tiie 
 quotation from Bishop Taylor, to 
 ■which we have alluded, we entirely 
 lose sight of Dr. Butler ; for, leaping 
 into a sort of classical car, construct- 
 ed of an infinity of hard names, 
 Ureek and Latin, cat short, for the 
 confusion of us unlettered readers, 
 he disappears in a cloud, with " Ca- 
 saubon. Animadv. in Athenaeum, and 
 Valcken. ad Theocr. Idyll." (p.l29.) 
 We trust that he was found, or 
 picked up, after his flight, at Shrews- 
 bury. 
 
 There is, however, one passage in 
 this publication which we have 
 thought it right to reserve for a more 
 extended comment. It occurs at p. 
 y2, and is as follows : — 
 
 " In the sermons which I myself preach, 
 and read, and hear, there fs always an ex- 
 press mention of the name of osr Holy Re- 
 deemer, or a reference to liis Gospel, for the 
 purpose of ilhislr;ui)ig some doctrine, or cn- 
 i'orcing some practical duty, or confirming 
 ihe deduction* of reason from the attributes 
 and works of God. When, therelore, the 
 hint appeal is thus made directly or indi- 
 rectly to the authority of Holy Writ, by the 
 preachers of the Estiiblished Church, wjien 
 <]uestions [lurely scriptural are olien discussed 
 by them, when every discourse is preceded 
 by a liupplicaiion, in which tiie name of 
 Jesus is reverentially introduced, and by tliat 
 very form of prayer which lie Ikik himself 
 commanded and taught us ro employ, what, 
 I would ask, is the ground for ilie loud and 
 I'leqiR-nt nccusarions brouj^ht against us as 
 preaciiers iwi evangelical '." 
 
 The author here puts a ques- 
 
 " What is the ground for the loud 
 and frequent accusations brought 
 against me as a preacher not evange- 
 lical r" Had we been told by whom 
 these ''loud and frequent accusations" 
 were brought, we could better have 
 replied to the query. It is possible, 
 for instance, that the antinomiau 
 followers of Mr. Huntington might 
 use this language to all who would 
 insist on the regulation of the heart 
 and life by the precepts of Scripture. 
 Real churctimanship, in like manner, 
 might possibly bring down the tre- 
 mendous imputation of " not evange- 
 lical" from someclasses of bigoted dis- 
 senters. " Not evangelical" also may 
 be the title by which a good stitFpapist 
 might designate a sound protestant. 
 But if the author desires to know- 
 why we should a little question his 
 pretensions to it, we shall endeavour, 
 very faithfull}', to give the reasons. 
 The author refers to his own sermon* 
 as evidence of the fairness of his 
 claim to this title; and as that be- 
 fore us evidently contains a pretty 
 full developenient of his principle?, 
 and probably not an unfavourable 
 specimen of his manner, we shall 
 satisfy otirselves with the induction 
 of particulars which it supplies. Our 
 readers, we trust, will excuse our 
 touching briefly on some points to 
 which we have before adverted. 
 
 In the first place, then, we should 
 complaui that this sermon displayed 
 a very inaccurate statement of some 
 of the lundamental doctrinesof Chris- 
 tianity. Wlien he speaks of the 
 fall, for instance, merely as produc- 
 tive of " death and multiplied sor- 
 rows," we should say that the cata- 
 logue of consequences was deficient 
 by the almost endless list of moral 
 evils by which society is scourged. 
 The " death" spoken of in Scripture, 
 as the general lot of man, is not 
 merely the death of the body ; for, 
 says the apostle to living men, "You 
 hath he quickened who urre dead in 
 trespasses and sins." Nor was bodily 
 sorrow the only evil engendered by 
 the fall ; for, says the same inspired 
 writer, " In us^ that is, in our flesh. 
 
!«12.] 
 
 Review of Butler s Sermon on Christian Liberty, 
 
 63 
 
 tiwelleth no good thing." In like 
 manner, we should complain that the 
 statenaent of the author is no less de- 
 fective upon the doctrine of the 
 Divine Agency. But on this point, 
 as well as the former, we have al- 
 readv suQu ienlly enlarged. Now 
 the creed of the author thus either 
 opposing or falling short of Scrip- 
 ture, upon two points of paramount 
 importance, could it be a matter of 
 surprise if persons who profess to 
 adhere closelv to the Bible, should 
 refuse to associate the epithet of 
 " evangelical" with the name of 
 Dr. Butler ? 
 
 If we proceed from the investiga- 
 tion of his creed to that of his scale 
 of religious and moral practice, as 
 exhibited in this sermon, we think 
 that we should still be equally justi- 
 fied in refusing him the title of 
 evangelical. That cannot be an 
 evangelical standard of practice 
 which diflers from the model exhi- 
 bited to us in the conduct of Christ 
 himself, or from the rules which he 
 laid down for the conduct of others. 
 But such is the standard of the 
 author. He neither inculcates the 
 devotion by which our Lord was so 
 strikingly characterized, nor even 
 tolerates the self-denial which Christ 
 so continually enjoins. Dr. Butler's 
 Christian, for what we can see, 
 might be sensual, self-indulgent, 
 worldly, a " lover of pleasure ;'" 
 whilst the evangelical Christian must 
 be spiritual, must " take up his 
 cross," must ** not be conformed to 
 this world," must be a " lover of 
 God." What, then, becomes of the 
 Doctor's complaints at any negation 
 of his title i The very papers and 
 witnesses by which he emleavours 
 to substantiate his claim bear testi- 
 mony against him. His own sermons, 
 like son)e other men's swords and 
 pistols, are the instruments of his 
 ruin. In our critic's eye, we can see 
 him sit, like another Cato, with the 
 fatal roll before him. But before he 
 again pronounces the fatal " it must 
 be so," " I must sign the death-war- 
 rant of my theological reputation by 
 publishing another sermon," let him 
 remember that on awful fclo de se 
 
 awaits the Christian, to which those 
 " divinely inspired" Greek and Ro- 
 man sages were not exposed. 
 
 But to speak more seriously, we 
 think well of Dr. Butler's solicitude 
 to obtain the name of evangelical. 
 It is, we conceive, an honourable 
 title; and we shall be sincerely glad 
 to attend him to this font, and to see 
 him baptized with this baptism. \t', 
 therefore, hf will do us the favour of 
 listening to ns for a few moments, we 
 will tell him the measures by which 
 he may infallibly obtain the name. 
 
 Let him begin by giving his most 
 serious attention to the whole of the 
 New Testament; not only to the Go- 
 spels, but to those of the Epistles 
 of the compatiions and fdllowers of 
 Christ which he appears so completely 
 to have overlooked in his discussion 
 of the Christian character. Let him, 
 with earnest |)rayer to God, study, 
 in these several works, the Christian 
 creed and practice. Let him endea- 
 vour to seize upon the prominetit 
 ideas exhibited by our Saviour and 
 his apostles; upon the master feelings 
 which employed the aili'ctions and 
 prompted the conduct of the early 
 Christians. Let him satisfy hrnisetf, 
 as the serious incjuirer will, we think, 
 always do, that the leading topics 
 there are the redemption of a lost 
 world by the blood of Christ, and the 
 sanciification of a corrupt nature by 
 his Holy Spirit ; that every thing else 
 serves as a sortof scatVolding for these, 
 is framed and fitted so as to display 
 them in their proper symmetry, and 
 in their strongest point of vision. 
 Having satisfied himself of the pa- 
 ramount importance of these doc- 
 trines, he will feel that a Christian 
 minister must make them the key- 
 stone of his whole spiritual erection. 
 These doctrines be must preach, he 
 must make plain to the understand- 
 ing, he must press upon the con- 
 science, lie must carry home to the 
 hearts and allections of his hearers. 
 
 At this point he will perhaps think 
 it worth while to stop, and to ask him- 
 self, whether the evangelist, the dele- 
 gated herald of these truths, has lei- 
 sure, especially in addition to the 
 occupation of a school, to be the la- 
 
5 + Review of Butler's Sermon on Christian Liber fy. [Jan. 
 
 borioiis editor of a Greek tragedian ? ruined city, an(J bore them, as such. 
 
 He may then, perhaps, be tempted 
 to substitute Paul lor uEschylus, 
 and for the " Prometheus vinctus" 
 the deliverance of man. Let him 
 learn that the Christian minister is 
 to " give himself wholly to these 
 things," — to be " instant in season, 
 and out of season/' — to preach as a 
 d\'ing man to dying men, — to keep 
 back no part of the " whole counsel 
 of God," — to " s[)end and he spent" 
 in the service of his crucified Master: 
 — and under this impression let [\\m 
 preach the plain, practical, awaken- 
 ing truths of the Gospel ; let him in- 
 stitute schools, visit the poor, with- 
 draw himself frftm all occupations 
 which may divert him front these 
 objects, abandon all amusements 
 
 from its flaming walls. Imitating 
 this model (since these must be his 
 models), let him rejoice to lose all, if 
 he may but " win Christ, and be 
 found in him." Let him thus act ; 
 and then, if he do not gain the title 
 of on evangelical minister, he will, 
 at least, have this satisfaction, that 
 he deserves it. After this transfor- 
 mation, whatever others mav do, we 
 at least shall rejoice to hail him in 
 bis new character, and bind a better 
 wreath than that of the Capitol, or 
 even of the senate-house, around 
 his brows. 
 
 Before we conclude our review, it 
 may be necessary to apologize for 
 tlie severity of the terms in which 
 we have thought it right to pass our 
 
 which are calculated to desecrate judgment upon the sermon before 
 him in the eyes of his hearers, to 
 divest him of anv of the sanctiiy^ 
 which awes the had, the seriousness 
 whicli convinces the wise, the spiri- 
 tuality of mind which, like a sort of 
 fiacred radiance, at once discovers the 
 messenger of Heaven. Let him carry 
 down this zeal and sanctity even into 
 the conmion walks of life; there also 
 " warning the unruly, comforting 
 the f'-eble minded, supporting the 
 weak." Lpt him consider himself 
 as a man pledged, like another Han- 
 nibal, though at a higher altar, and 
 by a more noble destination, to fight 
 the battles of his God. Let tiini 
 "count all things but loss for the 
 excellency of the knowledge of 
 Christ Jesus his [>ord.'' Let him 
 give his classical zeal a spiritual 
 direction; and if ht: must imitate 
 the heroes of the heathen woiKI. let 
 him do that for his God which they 
 sometimes did for their country. — 
 Let him trar.Bltr to the altar of 
 Jehovah, some of the tire which 
 occasionally burned upon the altars 
 of their superstition. Let him re- 
 member that they had fiods of the 
 " hearth" nnd of ihe " table," as w«il 
 asof the ten)[jle; and il)us learn. even 
 from heathens, to " eat and to drink" 
 in the name of (Jol, and with a refe- 
 rence to his glory. Let him remem- 
 ber, that one of His own heroes deem- 
 ■^ v.- "Otis the best treasuie of a 
 
 us. Considering, however, both its 
 matter and its manner, we did not 
 see how we could avoid the plain 
 dealing we have used. The refine- 
 ment of the ase, indeed, has done 
 much for the manners of controver- 
 si;vlists. Of late the assailants, even 
 of the evangelical body, have car- 
 ried on their attacks under a 
 masked battery. They have struck 
 (if Messrs. Crib and Molineux will, 
 without making an acknowledg- 
 ment in their professional manner, 
 allow us to borrow a metaphor from 
 them) with the gloves on. There 
 has been somethmg subdued and 
 measured in the charges they have 
 advanced. But, on a sudden, up 
 starts the author in one of the most 
 public spoUs in the nation, throws 
 away the gloves, and aims, sans 
 ceremonie, to deal his black eyes 
 and blooily noses upon all the mise- 
 rable wights whocliaiut to bear the 
 title of evatigelical. W here, where 
 was the pipe of the Gracchi to have 
 tempered the wrath, the tone, the 
 langua;re, of this child of the Grac- 
 chi ? This new, ami most unwar- 
 rantable mode of attack, required to 
 be met, not indeed with tlie same 
 weapons, but bv a distinct exposure 
 of the real weakness of the as- 
 sailant. 
 
 We must further request those 
 who rai'y still be disposed to cou- 
 
1812.] Lit. and Phil. Intel!.— Great Britain. 55 
 
 demn the severity of our censures, largest power in his hand ; when 
 
 to remember, that Dr. Butler has called upon to check the raovementi 
 
 been guiltv, in the present instance, of dissipation and selt'-indulgence; 
 
 of wasting, or rather abusing, one he only taught his ardent hearers to 
 
 of the grandest opportunitiBs of do- do that upon principle, which their 
 
 ing good which could be presented corruption had before impelled 
 
 to a human being. Placed at the them to do from inclination. Ic is 
 
 fountain head of religion in the land, our consolation, however, that the 
 
 where he was called upon, like the late conduct of nuuu' of these dis- 
 
 prophet, to remove the bitterness of tinguished vouths, in the erection of 
 
 the water, to sweeten it of all bi- an auxiliary iMble Stjciety at Cam- 
 
 gotry and error; he refused the bridge, proves at once their rejec- 
 
 office, and cast in herbs additionallv tion oi' this new apostle, and their 
 
 bitter and pernicious. Pl.iced with detenninuion, in despite ofhisrea- 
 
 lialf the noble, vouih of the country soning, to " deny themselves," in 
 
 at his feet, in the centre of action, order that they may serve their God 
 
 and with an instrument of the and benefit the world. 
 
 LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE, 
 
 GREAT BRITAIX. 
 In' the press: — Tlie Second Part of Dr. 
 durke's Travels, conipreliending Greece, 
 Syria, and Egypt ; — In iwo 8vo. vols, a Voy- 
 age 10 the East Indies, in the years 1802 lo 
 1806, giving an account of the Isles of 
 France, Bourbon, Java, &c. ; — Strictures on 
 reading the Church Service, by the Rev. W. 
 Faulkner of Worcester; — The Father's Rea- 
 siint lor being a Cliristian, by the Rev. C 
 Powley ; — Letters on Sicily, by Dr. Irvine 
 (by sub5cri|)tion) ; — And a new Edition of 
 the Greek Grammar, and Enijlish .Scripture 
 lexicon, by llie Rev. Grevillc Ewing of 
 Glasgow, in one volume, royal 8vo. of about 
 400 pages, 
 
 Mr. Wilson, who has already stereotyped 
 lieveral hundred volumes of the books of the 
 greatest sale, has proposed to print a stereo- 
 type edition of the British Essayists in thirty 
 Volumes, for sis pounds. 
 
 Sir R. Phillips propose* to print by sub- 
 fcriplion, in 70 volumes 8vo., a volume to 
 be published monthly, a new and enlarged 
 edition of the great Universal History, with 
 Diaps, &CC., at 12s. a volume. 
 
 1 lie vegetable wax from Brazil has under- 
 gone a very rigid examination by the Royal 
 Society, who have accurately analysed it, 
 and also ascertained its chemical properties. 
 The trials %vhich have been made to ascer- 
 tain its fitness for candles, are said to be «a- 
 llsfttCtory. The addition, it appears, of frorn 
 
 one-eighth to one-tenth part of tallow i( 
 sutficient to obviate the brittleiiess of the 
 wax in its pure state, without giving it auj 
 unpleasant effc;ct. 
 
 A general Bill of all the Cliristcniugs aid 
 
 Buriali, from Dec. 11, 1810, to Dec. 10, 
 
 1811. 
 
 Ciiristened in the ninety-seven parishes 
 within the walls, 879. — Ouried 1164. 
 
 Ciirinened in tlie seventeen parishes with- 
 out the wr.lis, 4480.— Buried, 3479. 
 
 Christened in the twenty-three out-pa< 
 rislies of IMiddlesex and Surry, 11,242.^ 
 Buried, 8742. 
 
 Christened in the ten parishes in the city 
 
 and lihe^-ly of Westminster, 4044, — Buried* 
 
 ?758. 
 
 Christened : MaleS 10,4')3 ) r uanr'n 
 IT 1 ../^^./. > J I" "" 20,fi+» 
 
 Females lO.aO'i S 
 
 Buried: Males 8868 ), ,, ,~ ,...-, 
 Females 8175 J 
 
 The Hulsean prize has this year been ad- 
 judged to Francis Cunningham, Esq., fel- , 
 low commoner wl Queen's college. The sub- , 
 jecl was, " A Dissertation on the books of 
 Origen against Celsus, wiih a view lo illus- 
 trate the argument, and to point out the 
 evidence they afford to the truth of Chris- 
 tianity." 
 
 Tiie subject of the Hulsean priie for the 
 present year is " an inquiry into the reli- 
 gious knowledge whicli the heathen philv!- 
 
i6 < Lit. and Phil. IntelL- 
 
 •ophers derived [from the Jewish Scrip- 
 tures." 
 
 The following subjects are proposed for 
 the Chancellor's prizes at Oxford lor 1812 : 
 For Lalin verses, " Coioni ab Anglia ad 
 Aniericffi orani missi." For an Er.glisli es- 
 sa^', " On Translaliou ftoai dead Lan- 
 
 -New Publications. [Jav. 
 
 guages." For a Latin essay, " Xenophoii- 
 tis res bellicas, quibus ipse iiiterfuit, nar- 
 rantis, cum Cassare coniparalio." 
 
 Sir Roger Ncwdegate's prize for the best 
 con; position in English verse, not containing 
 more than fifty lines: Apollo Belvedere. 
 
 LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 THEOLOGY. 
 
 Love to Christ : a Discourse delivered at 
 Coventiy, June 11, 1811, before the Unita- 
 rian Tract Society establislied in Eirniing- 
 hain, for Warwickshire and ihe neighbour- 
 ing Counties. By James Hews i3ransby. Is. 
 
 The Circular Letter of the Kev. liobert 
 Luke. Is. 6d. 
 
 A Treatise »in the Government of the 
 Church ; compiled from the most celebrated 
 Divines. By Edw. Barwisk, A. B. T. C. D. 
 4s. 
 
 Third Report of the Committee of the 
 London Society for promoting Christianity 
 among the Jews. '2s. 6d. 
 
 A Defence of the Ancient Faith ; or Five 
 Sermons in Proof of ihe Christian Religion. 
 By the Rev. P.Gaudoiphy. 8v<). 5s. 
 
 Letters to a Friend on the Evidences, 
 D(;,ctrines, and Duties, of the Christian Re- 
 ligion. By O. Gregory, LL. D. 2 vols. 
 l'2mo, I4s. 
 
 An Entire New Version of the Book of 
 Psalms; in which an Attempt is made to 
 accommodate them to the Worship of the 
 Clnistian Cluircii. By the Rev. W. Goode, 
 M.A. 2 vols. 8vo. 1/. Is. 
 
 The Excellence of the Liturgy. By the 
 Rev. B. Woodd. M. A. Is. 6d. 
 
 A Body of Divinity, wherein the Doc- 
 trines of the Christian Reliiiion are explained 
 and delended. By 1. Ridgley, B. D. 8vo. 
 A'oi. L 9s. 
 
 A Sermon preached in the Cathedral 
 Church of Chichester, Auiiust 8, 1811. By 
 W. S. Goddard, D. D. 2s.' 
 
 A Sermon preached in tlie Parish Cluirch 
 of St. Michael's, Lewes, before the Right 
 Rev. .T. Buckner, D. D. Julj 18, 181 1. By 
 the Rev R. Ellison, M. A. 2s. 
 
 A Sermon on the Salvation wliicli is in 
 Christ only. By the Rev. E. T. V'aughan, 
 M. A. Is. 6d. 
 
 A Sermon on the great Duty of bringing 
 Ciiildren unto Christ; preached in the Pa- 
 rish Church of Horncliurch, June £3, 1811. 
 By the Rev. M. llorne. Is. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 Memoirs of the Life of Prince Potemkin, 
 Fii Id-Marshal and Cominander-in-Chief of 
 the Russian Army. Comprehending Oiigi- 
 nal Anecdotes of Catherine the Second and 
 of the Russian Court. Translated from the 
 German. 8vo. 8s. 
 
 Biographic Modenie ; or, Lives of Re- 
 markable Characters who have distinguished 
 themselves from the CommenceiKent of the 
 French Revn'iition to the present Time, in 
 which all the Facts which concern them are 
 related in the most impartial and authentic 
 Manner. 3 vols. 8vo. 1/. lis. 6d. 
 
 Postscript to Trotter's Life of Fox. 8d. 
 
 A Brief Inquiry into the Merits of the 
 Bill for the belter regulating, &c. Parish and 
 other Registers. By the PJev. VV. C. Frith, 
 LL. B. Is. 8d. 
 
 The Asiatic Annual Register, for 1809. 
 21«. 
 
 Evenings' Amusements, for 1812. By W. 
 Frend. 5*. 
 
 Instinct displayed, in a Collestion of well- 
 authenticated Facts; e.\emplifying the ex- 
 traordinary Sagacity of vaiious Species of 
 the Animal Creation. By P. Wakelield. 
 12rao. oi. 
 
 Lines, sacred to the Meinory of the Rev, 
 J. Grahame, Author of the Sabbath. 8vo. 2s. 
 
 Substance of two Speeches, made by the 
 Right Hon. N. Vansitiarl, May 7 and 13, 
 1811, on the Report of tlie Bullion Com- 
 mittee. 5s. 6d. 
 
 Jollie's Cumberland Guide and Directory ; 
 containing a descriptive Tour through the 
 County, and a List of Persons in public 
 and private Situations in every principal 
 Place in the County : also a List of the 
 Sh,ipping. 8vo. 6s. 
 
 A Journey through Persia, Armenia, and 
 Asia Minor, to Constantinople, in the Year 
 1808, 1809. By J. Morier, Esq. 4to. 3/. 
 13s. 6d. with 25 Plates, bds. 
 
 Travels in the Island of Iceland, during 
 the Summer of the Year 1810, with iS 
 Plates. By Sir George S. Mackenzie, Bart. 
 4 to. 3!. 3s. 
 
1812.] Relig. Intell. — Society for promoting ChrislianKnovjkdge. 57 
 
 RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. 
 
 SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN 
 KNOWI.IDGE. 
 
 The Report of this Society, for tlie year 
 ending at Ladyday 1811, ii;is reached us. 
 It coutaiiis an account of (lie Society's }'ro- 
 icsiant missions for the year IRIO, of which 
 ■we purpose, as usual, to give an abstract. 
 
 The Rev. JMessrs.Kolhoif and llorst, in a 
 letter dated Tanjorc, January 30, 1810, re- 
 port, tliat lliey ami their fellow-Iaboiirers 
 liad had many oppurtunilies of explaining 
 the iniporlant truths of our holy religion to 
 heathens and papist*, and of inviting tlieni to 
 accppt the grace of God sliewed to us in 
 C'lirist Jesus. They liad also inculcated on 
 their congregations and schools the great 
 importance, tlie necessi'y, and tlie inesti- 
 mable advantage of livinij according to the 
 Gospel of Christ ; and they pray that God 
 may bless their poor labours, and render 
 them elFectual by animating every one of 
 tlieir hearers to work out their salvation with 
 fear and trembling. 
 
 Among the ditierent casts, those ealled 
 TeluBger are more inveterate against Chris- 
 tianity than any other, except tlie Braniins. 
 A man of this cast, admitted into the con- 
 gregation some years since, had evinced the 
 sincerity of his professions, not only by lead- 
 ing a Chri^lian life under many sulFerinas, 
 but by his endeavours to convert liis family 
 to Christianity ; in which he has happily 
 succeeded. Among all the catechumens, 
 the family of iliis man bad given Ihira llie 
 greatest saiisfiiction by their love of the 
 truth and their devout frame of mind. 
 
 Among the deaths that had occurred, 
 and were greatly regfetted. were two cate- 
 chists, Dhevvaragayam and AreeUppen. 
 They had both been converted from pagaiiisiu» 
 and trained up and eiuployed as teachers, 
 by the late Rev. IMr.Swartz. Although their 
 talents were not so brilliant as those of some 
 other native labourers, they were faithful in 
 improving iliem, and had made themselves 
 greatly esteemed by the heathens, as well as 
 among Christians, by their Christian dispo- 
 sition, their unfeigned piety, and iheir pru- 
 dence and zeal. "Tlie country priest Sat- 
 liitnaden, who was still employed on the 
 Tinnavelly province, as well as all the other 
 teachers, ha-l faithtully assisted them in 
 cliurch and schools, and in going abroad and 
 pre;K;liing Jesus Christ, among believer* and 
 unbelievers." 
 
 Christ. Obsep.v. No, 121. 
 
 The number of coinniunicp.nls had greatly 
 increased. All of them had been fully in- 
 structed and those admitted for the first time 
 attended a special preparation of a month 
 or more, and were afterwards carefully exa- 
 mined. If any of them had been at va- 
 riance with others, and not fully reconciled 
 (a c.ise which did not often occur), they weie 
 not allowed to ))artake of the lluly Sacra- 
 ment. Whoever had turned his back on 
 this divine ordinance, when in health, was 
 seldom admitted to it on his sick bed. Such 
 a patient, however, was visited and exhorted 
 unremittingly to cry to God for mercy and 
 forgiveness through Christ. " Those who 
 had not received the sacrament for a year 
 or upwards previous to tiieir death, and died, 
 impenitent, were interred at a distance from 
 other Christians and without the burial ser- 
 vice." 
 
 The missionaries acknowledge with grati- 
 tude the mercy of God in inclining the 
 Court of Directors to raise their allowance 
 for the schools from five hundred to twelve 
 hundred pagodas annually. The news had 
 reached them when overwhelmed with anx- 
 iety, and the supply relieved liieni from 
 the necessity of contracting uew debts, in 
 order to maintain the many native labourers 
 in the Tinnavelly district, for which the an- 
 nual produce ot Mr-Swartz's legacy was in- 
 sufficient. 
 
 The progress of Christianity, and the con- 
 version ot the heathens resident at a distance 
 from any of I heir congregations, having 
 obliged iliera to increase the number of their 
 native teachers, to enlarge the old places of 
 worship, or to erect new ones, and to visit 
 tliem from time to time, their funds were niv 
 able to bear those expenses, but " they 
 trusted that the Lord of the harvest would in- 
 cline the hearts of hii servants, the Honourable 
 Society, if possible, to enable them vigorousl>f 
 to carry on his work in that nation." On 
 this account, they were anxious lor a print- 
 ing press at Tanjore. 1 he brethren at Traii- 
 quebar liad assisted, as much as was in their 
 power, but ttieir supplies were utterly insul- 
 iident. " Their want of Bihlet, Testaments, 
 Psalters, and other religious books, was greater 
 than they could describe." If it were in their 
 power to furnish at least every Protestant 
 family with a copy of the Scriptures, and 
 other good books, numbers of infidels and 
 Uoman Catholics would be beneliied ; " the 
 1 
 
58 Kelig. Ill tell. — Society for promoting Christian Knowledge. [J as. 
 
 distance of most of their mission places from 
 T.arooeans being of considerable adcaningi? 
 for the conversion of the nutices. If MalabcTr 
 types could not be proLured, they might still 
 do iiiucii good by printing Portuguese books, 
 theix- being great nuuiLers of Roiuan Catho- 
 iics of tbat cast." 
 
 A letter from the Rev. !\Ir. Kolhoff, dated 
 Tanjore, 'iOth August, 1810, coiimunicates 
 th(^ death of Mr. Horst. The learning ami 
 abilities of this worthy missionary, liis arcJent 
 desire to prove useful, the fervour ar>d de- 
 light with which he ever pnrsvied his uork, 
 and the essentia:! services he had rendered lo 
 the mission, had given Mr. Kolhoff great 
 cause to lament so early and unexpected a 
 death, which had depiived the mission of a 
 faithful pastor, and a numerous family of a 
 kind parent and affectionate husband. It 
 ■was particularly afflictiQ!!, in the present 
 dearth of missionaries, to lose one who was 
 likely to prove a great blessing to the mis- 
 sions. His sufferings had been very severe, 
 but be endured them \yith the patience and 
 firmness of a Christiaw. His humble sub- 
 mission to the will of God was tru!^' awaken- 
 ing, and the peace Ive enjoyed to his last 
 breath was a lively example of the inestima- 
 ble happiness that attends a life of godliness. 
 The thought of his family, whom he should 
 leave without any provision, was the only 
 thing which afflicted his mind. A few days 
 before his death, he requested Mr. PoWe aud 
 Mr. Kolhoft" lo intercede with the Society in 
 favour of his wife and six infant children. 
 The small property left to his family was 
 insufHcieut to provide tl>e necessaries of life. 
 The business of the mission continued to 
 be cariied on as usual. Sattianadeu bad 
 been visiting the congregations in the pro- 
 vince of PalaiButta, where lie bad been of 
 inuch service. His health, Jiowever, being 
 on the decline, new assistance had become 
 absolutely necessary; aud Mr. Kolhoff, there- 
 fore, begged the Society to permit the ordi- 
 nation of some of their native teachers, and 
 to grant them salaries. 
 
 The Society, having taken Mr. Kolhoff 's 
 suggestions into consideratio!), have agreed 
 to grant Mrs. Horst and her family the hun- 
 dred pounds wliich they were about to send 
 lo her husband, " trusting that God will be 
 pleased to furnish them with additional aid 
 from other quarters;" aud also, that one or 
 two of the native catechists should be or- 
 tdained according to the rites of the Luthe- 
 ran chuich, when salaries should be given to 
 them also, as has heretofore been done. 
 
 Mr. Pohle, in a letter, dated at Trichino- 
 poly, March 3, 1810, mentions, that in the 
 preceding year tlierc had been in that plac« 
 
 28 baptisms, includin" heathens; 42 Porlti- 
 piese and 206 Malabar coraraunicants ; tne 
 number of the congregation being 168 Portu- 
 guese and 304Malabars;andatDindegal,17 
 Portnsjnesc and 28 Malabars. In the English 
 garrison, there had been 4-1 baptisms and 
 70 communicants. His six native Ullow- 
 labourers in the mission continued as hereto- 
 fore, four a.-, cateehists and two as schoolmas- 
 ters. Beside these, there were two English 
 schoolmasters. All went on well. 
 
 Mr. Pohle mentions, that it was expected 
 that the British and Foreign Bible Society 
 would establish a printing press at Tanjore. 
 Speaking of the death of JMr. Horst, he ob- 
 serves, that the senior judge, and the resi- 
 dent at Tanjore, had been making a con- 
 tribution for the relief of the widow and 
 children. Mr. Pohfe besonght the Society 
 to aid the same charitable design, Mr. Horst 
 having been eighteen years a servant of the 
 mission, and fuar years one of the Society's 
 missionaries. 
 
 Mr. Pohfe, after mentionirtg with thank; 
 fulness the safe arru-af of the annual stores 
 and piesents for the mission, adds, " Would 
 to God that we could also receive new mis- 
 sionaries f I am npwards of siiity-six years 
 old ; my strength faileth me, and I may soou 
 be gone, and the mission be an unprovided 
 orphan, whereof to think only is painful to 
 me. May the Lord hear our prayers, and 
 help us, for his mercy's sake." 
 
 " It is with regret that the Society have 
 still to report, that they have not been able 
 to obtain any suitable supply of new mis- 
 sionaries. Hopes, nevertheless, are still en- 
 tertained, and efforts used, for the accom- 
 plishment of this design, in behalf of their 
 Indian missions*." 
 
 Letters from ]\Ir. Prezald at Madras state, 
 that in the Malabar congregatian at Vepery 
 every thing was perfectly quiet. The Eu- 
 ropean invalids at Trippntore having appli- 
 ed to him lor an English schoolmaster to in- 
 struct their children, he had sent one, toge- 
 ther with a suitable supply of books. He had 
 also sent a Malabar sclioolmastcr to the same 
 place, for the instruction of a considerable 
 number of native females, reported to him 
 as married to Christian soldiers. Some of 
 them had wished to embrace the Christian 
 rchgion. 
 
 The Danish missionaries, in a letter dated 
 
 * How is it that this Society should, for 
 so manv years, have been unable to procura 
 a single missionary; while every other 
 missionary society in the kingdom has beeri 
 able to procure us many as they can Jup- 
 port ' 
 
IB 12.] Huntingdonshire Auxiliary Bible Society. — Regimental Schools. 59 
 
 at Tranquebar, March 2Tth, 1810, state, 
 that Mr. John had lost his sight, but by the 
 grace of GotI was still able to preach al- 
 ternately in the Fortuguese and Malabar 
 cliurches. The monthly allowance from Go- 
 veraiaenf, ot two hundred pagodas, Lad been 
 found insufficient to support these cliariry 
 schools, deprived, as they slill were, of re- 
 minances from Denmark and Gerniaay. 
 They had therefore diminished the nnniber 
 of children in the Malabar ^chouls, but re- 
 tained the usual number in the Portuguese 
 schools. They had, however, increased the 
 children in the school at Velipattam, and be- 
 gun a new one at Porrcar. Their weli-ih- 
 ibruied and faithful senior catechist, Savary- 
 Tayen, as acting country priest, had been 
 sent to visit the country congregations, and 
 had given them much satisfaction by his 
 reports. 'ITiey had been much gratified by 
 a visit from Mr. KulhotF; and they -bad 
 thereby had the opporfoaity of an Interest- 
 ing conference v.'ith liiiu, on the various aiid 
 important atlairs of their respective missions, 
 and on the means of preserving unity among 
 thcraselres. 
 
 We have omitted, for the present, all no- 
 tice of what is inserted in this Report on 
 the subject of the Syrian Christians. The 
 reasons for this omission may apj)ear her^ 
 after. 
 
 The plan which we announced, in our 
 volume for last year, p. 58, to have been 
 adopted by this Society, of lorraing diocesan 
 and district committees, has been attended 
 with considerable success ; thirteen diocesan 
 and llurteeu district con)raiitees liaving been 
 termed ; which, it is stated, have proceeded it) 
 pursue the methods recorumecded by tlie 
 parent board, for extending the usefulness 
 jkndincreasing the inttueiice of tlie Society, and 
 tor promoting the co-operation of the clergy 
 and other friends of the church ihrougliout 
 The kingdom. It has been resolved by them — 
 t<J apply to the neighbouring clergy who are 
 not members of the Society, und also tu the 
 opulent laity ot the Kstablislied Church, re- 
 questing ttieni to become members ; — to ro- 
 rjuest the olhciating clergy to make anivuitl 
 collections for the Society; — to request. the 
 clergy ami others loinquiie into the state ot' 
 instruction of the poor in the prisons, hos- 
 pirais, workhouses, and almshouses in their 
 respeclivje parii>hes, and how far there exists 
 in them, or amoug the labouring poor gene- 
 rally, any want of Bibles, Testaiiients, and 
 prayer-books, and where any such w;int is 
 found, to supply it gratuitously ; — and with a 
 view to defray the expense of su[)plying 
 •uch wants, to promote parochial and uttici 
 
 subscriptions for procuring books at the 
 reduced jirices of the Society. 
 
 Encouraged by the exertions, thus made 
 by tlie diocpsan anil district committees, to 
 promotejthe designs of tiie Society, the Board 
 in London has established a Committee of 
 Coricspondence, which is to sit during the 
 summer recess. Since the adoption of tliis 
 new plan, that is, from .July 1810, to Nov. 
 12, 1811, the Society has received an ac- 
 cession of Jiot fewer than 1.300 members ; 
 and a hope is expressed, that a plan so well 
 calculated to furtker the designs of the So- 
 ciety, may experieiu'e a much more consi- 
 derable -exiension. It is certainly very gra- 
 tifying to witness the revival of zeal which 
 has taken place in this Society. 
 
 In the course of the ye.ir, the Society has 
 distributed 10,'-'24 Bibles, 16,242 New Tes- 
 taments and Psalters, 20,5.'j5 Common 
 Prayers, £0,968 other bound books, and 
 145,123 small tracts. 
 
 nCNTINGDOXiHIP.E AVXILIARY BIBLE 
 SOCIETY. 
 
 On the 3lst of Decembeij at the town- 
 hall at Huntingdon, in a numerous and re- 
 spectable assembly, the president, his Grace 
 the Duke of Manche.>ter, being unavoidably 
 absent. Lord Viscount Hinchiubrook was 
 called to the chair, and opened the business 
 by declaHiig his firm conviction of the mag- 
 nitude and importance of the object for 
 which they were assembled. 
 
 The meeting was enlivened not only hy 
 the eloquence of the three Secretaries of the 
 parent institution, but by the animated ad- 
 dresses of Lord Carysforr, .S. Knight, Esq. 
 and J. Hamaioiid, Esq.; of the Reverends 
 Pope, Bourdillon, Longmire, and Martyii, 
 of the established church ; of the Reverends 
 Arrow, Morell, and Crisp, dissenting mini- 
 sters ; of the Rev. F. Calder, of ilie me- 
 tliodist connection ; and of Mr. Wm. Brown, 
 of tl»i: society of Friends. More than 700/. 
 has been already received. 
 
 REGIMENTil. SCHOOLS. 
 
 in our nufrfber for November, p. 751, we 
 noticed the orders whicii had been given by 
 tiic Commander in Chief for the institutior^ 
 universality throughout the army, of Regi- 
 mental Schools lor the instruction of the 
 children of the soldiery, to be conducted ou 
 Dr. Bell's plan, as exemplified at the Mili- 
 tary Asylum at Chelsea. On the 1st instant, 
 the following additional General Orders on 
 this subject weie issued from the Hoise- 
 Guards: 
 
 " With a most earncit desire to give Lli« 
 12 
 
00 Religious Intelligence.. . Regimental Schools. 
 
 fullest eflTect to the benevolent intentions of 
 
 [Jan. 
 
 Government in favour of tlie soldiers' chil- 
 tlreii, to vliich Jiis Royal Highness the 
 Prince Regent has, in the r:n!iie and behalf 
 fif his jMaJcsty, given the royal sanction, 
 the Commander in Chief calls on all general 
 officers, colonels of regiments, and command- 
 ing otiicers of corps, to take under their 
 special superiutendance the regimental 
 schools belonging to their respective com- 
 mands; and his Royal Hiihuess is per- 
 suaded, that, bearing in mind the important 
 benefits which these iiislitutiuns, under pro- 
 per guidance and maniigcment, are calculated 
 to produce to the individuals tiiemselves, to 
 the army, and to the nation in general, they 
 will consider them as deserving their con- 
 stpnt personal care and attention. 
 
 " It will rest with the children themselves, 
 ■when arrived at a proper age, to adopt the 
 line of life to which they give the preference; 
 hut it is extremely esseuiial that their minds 
 should be impressed with early habits of 
 order, regularity, and discipline, derived 
 frora a well-grounded respect and venera- 
 tion for the established religion of the coun- 
 try. With this view, the Commander in 
 Chief directs, that the regimental schools 
 shall be conducted on military princij)les; 
 and that, as far as circumstances will permit, 
 their establishment shall be assimilated to 
 that of a regiment, and formed on a sys'em 
 invented by the Rev. ]3r. Bell, whicli has 
 been adopted with the most complete suc- 
 cess at the Royal Military Asylum. 
 
 "His Royal Highness has directed, that 
 extracts shall be made from Dr. Bell's ' In- 
 structions for conducting a School, throush 
 the Agencyof the Scholars themselves,' which, 
 liaving received Dr. Bell's approbation, are 
 s\ibjoined, as the best directions his Royal 
 Highness can give ior the conduct of the 
 regimental schools of the British army. 
 
 " It is necessary to observe, that a!thot!''h, 
 ill the instructions, boys only are mentioned, 
 yet the female children of the soldiery are 
 fliso intended to partake of the benefits of 
 this sjstem of education, wiierever the ac- 
 commodations, and other circumstances, 
 will permit. 
 
 " The Commander in Chief considers it 
 peculiarly incumbent on the chaplains, and 
 01 III r clergy ujcn engaged in the clerical 
 duties of the army, 'o give their aid and 
 assistance to the military officers in promot- 
 
 ing the success of these institntions, by fre- 
 quently visiting the regimental schools of 
 their divisions and garrisons; by diligently 
 scrutinising the conduct of the seijeant 
 schoolmasicrs; examining the progress and 
 general behaviour of the children ; and re- 
 porting the result of their observations to 
 the commanding officer of the regiment. 
 
 " It must ever be remembered, that the 
 main purposes, for whicli the regimcnlai 
 schools are established, are, to give to the 
 soldiers the comfort of being assured, that 
 the education and welfare of their children 
 are objects of their sovereign's paternal 
 solicitude and attention ; and to raise frora 
 their offspring a succession of loyal subjects, 
 brave soldiers, and good Chrittians." 
 
 These General Orders are followed by in- 
 structions with respect to the details of Dr. 
 BelTs system, which we may take another 
 opportunity of inserting. The whole closes 
 Avith the following injunction : " The atten- 
 tion of every person directing and superin- 
 tending the school is particularly called to 
 watch over the moral and religious conduct 
 of the children ; and to implant in them, as 
 well by daily practice as by perfect instruc- 
 tion in the books recommended for that 
 purpose', such Jiabits as may best conduce 
 to guard ihem against the vices to which 
 their condition is peculiarly liable : in parti- 
 cular, the most rigid observance should be 
 enforced of the grand virtue of truth, both 
 lor its own sake, and as supplying one of 
 the readiest means of correcting vice of 
 every kind. On this ground, a lie should 
 never be excused ; and a liiult, aggravated 
 by a lie, should always be jjunished with 
 exemplary severity. Those portions of their 
 religious bocks should be strongly riveted 
 in their minds, which warn against lying, 
 swearing, their, idleness, provoking conduct, 
 and the use of improper expressions one to- 
 wards anotlicr; and which are fitted to im- 
 press ou them, Irom tlieir earliest years, the 
 principles of our holy religion, as establish- 
 ed in this kingdom, being th^ surest means 
 of promoting their success in their various 
 pursuits in ll:is norld, and of insuring their 
 everlasting happiness." 
 
 • Viz. — Ostervald's Abridgments of the 
 Bible, The chief Truths of Religion, The 
 Catechism, I'ravcr-Book, and Bible. 
 
1812.] PuhUc AJFairs—Spain—Tiussia, &'c. — United Statea — Java. 61 
 
 VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. 
 
 OvR reviewof Public A ff.iirs for the present 
 tHoiitli must be n)uch iiuire brief tbi-.n we 
 li;ul intended. \Vc bad lioped, by throw- 
 ing a quantity of matter into tbe Appemiix, 
 U* bave broucbt up our arrears, particularly 
 Under tbe bead ot ReligiDUs I:itclii<;ciice ; a 
 ilepartnient of our work wliicb we know to 
 be particularly interesting lo our readers in 
 general ; and thus to bave obtained space for 
 a more exteitded consideration of general po- 
 litics. Bui the events in tbe religious world 
 are so important, and follow cacb otbcr in 
 such rapid succession, tbat we bave been 
 obliged to give lo tbein tbe room we bad al- 
 lotted for Public Alfairs. 
 
 SPAIN. 
 On tlie Spanisb Peninsula, tliere have 
 been some very imporlaut occurrences. Tbe 
 army of Lord Welliugion bas made a fur- 
 ward movement; and, on t!ie 9lb instant, it 
 invested Ciudad llodrigo, after having car- 
 ried, in a luoit gallant style, a s'.rong redoubt 
 wbicli bad been thrown up for the defence 
 of tbe i)lace. It is expected that Ciudad 
 llodrigo will fall before any I'orce can arrive 
 lo its succour. — General Hill, with bis co- 
 lumn, bas driven the Frencii every where 
 before him, and entirely cleared tbe country 
 in tbe neigbbourbood of ]Merida. — A force 
 of 10,000 men having laid regular siege to 
 Tariffa, garrisoned only bv about 1000 Bri- 
 tish and 800 Spanish troops, under Culotiel 
 .Skerrett, a practicable breach was soon ef- 
 fected, tlia place being del'ended only by 
 an old wall. The enemy twice advanced to 
 tbe assault, but were repulsed on both occa- 
 sions witli considerable loss; and on the 
 night succeeding tbe last assault, they silently 
 docani)>cd, leaving their cannon, and a great 
 part of ilieir stores, bebirid them. Our loss 
 has been small. — To counterbalance these 
 brilliant exploits, it appears that Sucbet had 
 
 forced tbe .Spanish lines before Valenlia, 
 dispersing tbe army of Blake, who, with 
 part of it, has taken refuge in that city. No 
 account has yet been received of its tall. — ■ 
 'Ibe Guerillas are still active, and, in many 
 iiutances, signally successlul. 
 
 RUSSIA, &c. 
 It has been confidently stated, that peace 
 bas taken place between Russia and tbe 
 Porle; but no official intelligence has been 
 received of that event. The Government of 
 Sweden seems disposed to niaiutain Jriendly 
 relations with ns, if possible. 
 
 UNITED ST.VIES. 
 The proceedings of Congress, relative to 
 the dirt'erences between Great Britain and 
 the United States, are marked by con- 
 siderable violence. War is loudly talked 
 of, in case we do not immediately repeal our 
 obnoxious Orders. Our Government says, 
 " Shew us the proof that P.onaparte has re- 
 pealed his decrees: shew us even the ollicial 
 act of repeal : you may then, but not till 
 then, call upon us to repeal ours.'" This, 
 however, does not satisfy America ; and, if 
 we may judge from the lone of their pro* 
 ceediiigs, war is now scarcely to be avoided. 
 
 JAVA. 
 
 Intelligence bas been received of tbe 
 complete conquest ot liic island of ,Iava, 
 after a succession of very brilliant and al- 
 most chivalrous exploits on the part both of 
 our army and navj". General Jansens at 
 length capitulated, with the residue of his 
 Ibrce, and obtained terms for that part of 
 the island which was not already in our pos- 
 session. Those terms are so little disad'^ 
 vantageous to us, that we presume they will 
 be extended to tbe whole of the island. 
 
 GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. 
 
 Parii AMENT met on the 7tli in»t. The 
 Prince Regent's speech was read by com- 
 jnissioncrs. It begins with lamenting the 
 continuance of his .Majesty's indispositi(jn, 
 and tbe disappointment ot tbe hopes tiiat 
 liad been cherished of his recovery ; and 
 recoiuraends tbat a suitable and ample pro- 
 vision should be luude for the King during 
 
 his illness, and means taken to preserve to 
 biui a facility of resuming his royal June* 
 lions, in the event of recovery. Tiie s|)eech 
 ihon adverts to the elfectiial defence ot Por- 
 tugal, and the lirilliaiit etnerprise ot Gtineral 
 Hill in Estreraadura ; and extols the valour of 
 the British and allied Ibrces, and the con- 
 summate judgment and skill dis()layed by 
 Lord Wellington in the conduct of the cam' 
 
62 
 
 f^reat Britain — Parliament arj/ Intelligence. [Jan. 
 
 paign. In Spain, the spirit of tlie people is 
 represented as unsubdued, and tlie guerilla 
 system of warfare, aided by our navy, and 
 promoted by (he Ibrce we have on tlieir 
 frontier, has been extended and improved, 
 and this even in provinces chiefly occupied 
 by the French forces. Tlie Prince Regent 
 hopes to be enabled by Parliament etfec- 
 tually to support the contest. The achieve- 
 ineuts of the British arms in the Indian Seas 
 are spoken of in terms of appropriate com- 
 rBendatiou, whereby security has been given 
 to the British commerce and possessions in 
 India, and the colonial |X)wer of France has 
 been entirely extinguished : and it is re- 
 coraruended to Parliament to consider " the 
 propriety of providing such measures for the 
 lumre government of the British possessions 
 in India, as shall appear from experience, 
 and upon mature deliberation, to be calcu- 
 lated to secure their internal prosperity, and 
 10 derive from these flourishing dominions 
 the utmost degree of advantage to the coro- 
 merce and revenue of the United Kingdom." 
 The differences wiih America are stated to 
 be still unadjusted ; lire difficulties caused 
 by the aflPair of the Chesapeake have, how- 
 ever, been removed ; and the Prince Regent 
 itss&res Parliament, that every means of con- 
 ciliation will be used consistent with the 
 Crown's honour and the rights and interests 
 of the empire. The attention of Parliament 
 is again called to the finances of Ireland, 
 vhich arejlated to have improved in the last 
 year. The speech thus concludes: — "The 
 f rrncc Regent is satisfied that you entertain 
 a just sen>e of the arduous duties which he 
 lias been called upjn to fulfil, in conse- 
 quence of his Majesty's continued indis- 
 p>sition. Under this severe calamity, his 
 Royal Highness derives the greatest conso- 
 lation from his reli.ince on your experienced 
 •wisdom, loyalty, and public spirit, to whicii 
 in every ditiiculty Ire will resort will* a firm 
 confidence, that through your assistance 
 and s'jppoit he shall be enabled, under the 
 blessing of Divinj Providence, successfully 
 to discJiarge the iaiportant funciions of the 
 liigh trust repos d hi him, and, in the nariK; 
 and on the beliall of his beloved father and 
 revered sovereign, to maintain unimpaired 
 the prosperity and honour o( the nation."' 
 
 In ll:e House o1" Loios, the address was 
 moved by the Earl of Siialisbury, and se- 
 conded by Lord Broivniuw, and it passed 
 wiihout a division; Lord Grenville entering 
 his protest against the present system, both 
 of commerce and finance, and severely coii- 
 denining the conduct pursued with respect 
 lo Ireland. 
 
 In the House of Commons, the address 
 was to have been moved by Lord Jocclyn 
 and seconded by Mr. Vyse ; but Sir Francis 
 Burdett rose without any previous notice, 
 and after a long speech, in which he went 
 over the various topics on which he is ac- 
 customed to dwell, moved a long address 
 in which all those topics were enumerated : 
 he was seconded by Lord Cochrane. This 
 reduced Lord Jocelyn to the necessity of 
 moving his address as an amendment. It 
 was carried by a majority of two hundred 
 and thirty-eight to one. 
 
 An examination of tr,e physicians in atten- 
 dance on his Majesty has been taken by both 
 Houses of Parliament. The result is highly 
 unfavourable. By all of thein, his recovery is 
 pronounced to be very improbable ; and by 
 one or two, a still stronger expression was 
 used to denote the absence of hope .On 
 receiving the Report of this examination, the 
 House of Commons proceeded to arrange his 
 Majesty's household and civil establishment, 
 the whole of which it is intended to transfer 
 to the Prince Regent ; granting him, at the 
 same time, 100,000/. for the purpose of de- 
 frayijig the expense attending his exercise of 
 the regency during the last year, and for 
 which no provision was made. For the care 
 of his Majesty^s person, and the housel-old 
 which he will require, and wl-.ich is to be 
 under the management of the Queen, 
 100,000?. per annum is to be allotted, to- 
 gether with an addition of 10,000/. a year to 
 her Slajcsty's allowance. 
 
 Resolutions have been adopted in the 
 House of Commons for siojjping all dislilla- 
 tiim from grain in (jreai Britain, from the 
 I5th of February next until the 31st of Ue- 
 ccmbe.', and tor regulating the duties on 
 sugar wasii. This restriction not extending 
 lo Ireland, it became necessary to prohibit 
 the importation of spirits from that country. 
 
 Lord Folkstone having brought under the 
 notice of the House of Commons some 
 cases of severe oppression, wh ch had oc- 
 curred in consequence of the |)roceedings of 
 some of the inferior ecclesiastical courts, a 
 disposition was manifested by the House to 
 apply some remedy to the evil; aud Sir 
 William Scott has consented to prepare a 
 bill which shall have llie effect of reforming 
 the administration of those courts. 
 
 A Committee of the House of Commons 
 has been appointed to consider the state of 
 the Police. 
 
 By the retu.ns under the Population .\cr, 
 laid on the table of the House of Commons, 
 it appears that there has been an increase 
 of our population, since the last Census «as. 
 
I S 1 2.] Domestic and Naval Intelligence— Ecclesiastical Preferments. 63 
 tnkcii, to the astonisliini; extent of one mil- equally, if not more, desiitule. \Vliil<: we 
 
 lion six hundr<jcl tliousiifid souls. We hope 
 to be able to lay an abstract of the returns 
 before our rcuders in some i'ulurc nuiuber. 
 
 DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. 
 
 We are iiuppy to state, th;«t the alh day 
 of tehruary is appointed tu be licid as a 
 day of public faslinn and humiliation. We 
 underitand that it is the inteniicn of many 
 clergymen, in and ne^r London, to moke a 
 collection on that occasion lor the I'faval and 
 Military Bible Society, whose exclusive ob- 
 ject it is to supply our naval and military force 
 of 450,000 men with IVibles. By a recent 
 inquiry, it appears, that, of the seamen who 
 can read, on'y one in six has a Bible ; and 
 there are now upwards of 20,000 sailors who 
 have applied to the Society for Bibles ; with 
 %vhose request, owing to the state of its 
 fundi', the Society finds it impobbible, with- 
 out further aid, to comply. The army is 
 
 are annuully expending such immense sums 
 in preparing tlie weapons of destruction, 
 let u^ not grudge to our countr^-nien, who 
 jtaii'l for ocr defence in the ptrilouj edge of 
 battle, the means of sjtiiitual health and 
 salvation. 
 
 NAVAL INTELLICFNCK. 
 
 W'e are deeply concerned to state the losj 
 of no less than one ship of 98 gnna, two of 
 74, and one sloop of war, on their return 
 from the Baltic. One of the 74s, the Hero, 
 and the sloop of war, the Grasshopper, were 
 wrecked on the coast of Holland. Th& 
 whole of the crew of the former, and a great 
 part of that of the latter, perished . The St. 
 Geori^e, of 98 guns, and the Defence, of 74, 
 were driven ashore on the Danish coast, and 
 the ctews of both, amounting to near 1400 
 men, were drowned, with the exception ot 
 six men. 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL PREFERMENTS. 
 
 Rev. John Tench, B. D. Great Rollright 
 ■ R. Oxon. 
 
 Rev. John Parsons, IM. A. Oborne V. with 
 Casileton, Dorset, vice Digby, deceased. 
 
 Rev. David \\ illiam Garrow, M. A. and 
 Rev. John Welboe Doyle, B. A. Chaplains 
 io Ordinary to the Prince Regent. 
 
 Rev. T. T. Haverlield, B. C. L. Chaplain 
 in Ordinarv to the Duke of Sussex. 
 
 Rev. W. J. D. Waddilove, JM. A. Pre- 
 bendary of Ripou, Yorkshire. 
 
 Hon. and Rev. Armine Wodehouse, M. A. 
 Barnham Broom R. with Bixtou and Kim- 
 bertou annexed, Norfolk. 
 
 Rev. Sherard Becher, M. A. East Mark- 
 ham V. with West Drayton, Notts. 
 
 Rev. J. R. E. NMson, Congham St. Mary 
 R. with St. .\ndrew, Norfolk. 
 
 Rev. W. Clarke, M. A. Sheckling V. with 
 "Bur>iwicb, Holderness, ticeSnaith, deceased. 
 
 Rev. J. Mavkretli, Ottingham Perpetual 
 Curacy, Yorkshire, vice Snaith, deceased. 
 
 Rev. Thorpe Fowke, M. A. All-saints V. 
 Sudbury. 
 
 Rev. W. Karslake, Colrastock V. Devon. 
 
 liev. J. Tiiexton, Beetham V. Westmor. 
 
 Rev. Jonath. Holmes.Kildale R.Yorkshiie. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Man^flt•ld, Chaplain to the Hon. 
 Society of Gray's Inn, lice Uaine, deceased. 
 
 Rev. Charles Plutnptre, Houghton il. Dur- 
 ham, vice Byron, deceased. 
 
 Pccv. George Ht-ywood, B. A. Ideford 
 alias Iddesford R. Devon, vice Bradford, 
 deceased. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Melhuish, sen. St. ErvanR, 
 Cornwall, vtct Molcswortb, deceased. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Mel hnish, jun. .^shwater R, 
 Devon, vice Melhuish, resigned. 
 
 Rev. F. Belfiekl, jun. M. A. Toruioham 
 and Cockingham Perpet. Curacies, Devon. 
 
 Rev. W. Bolland, M. A. vicir of Swines- 
 head, Frampton V. Lincolnshire, i!ice Whel- 
 dale, resigned. 
 
 Rev. Robert Hales, M. A. Herringswell 
 R. Norfolk. 
 
 Rev. Andrew Quicke, B. A. Ashbriitle R. 
 Somerset, vice Veale, resigned. 
 
 Rev. John Rouse, St. Breock R. Cornwall. 
 
 Rev. Oliver Rouse, Tetcott R. Devon. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Perney, Oxendon Perpetual 
 Curacy, co. Glouc. tice Cradsiock, dec. 
 
 Rev. J. H. Hall, Risley and Breastou 
 Perpetual Curacies, Derbyshire. 
 
 Rev. George Stanley Faber, B. D. rector 
 of Kediiiershall, Long Newtoa R. Durham. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Cleaver, Newton R. Montgo- 
 meryshire, lice Lewis, decciised. 
 
 Rev. Dr. E. Barry, rector of St. Mary's, 
 Wallingfbrd, St. Leonard's R. in the same 
 town, ttiih Satwell Chapelry annexed. 
 
 Rev. O. Cooper, Otlerden R. Kent, vice 
 Hawker, resigned. 
 
 Rev. C. Ord, M. A. vicar of St. Mary's, 
 Lincoln, Gretton V. with Doddington, 
 Noitliamptonshire. 
 
 Rev. J. Chilton, B. A. Easton R. Suffolk. 
 
 Rev. Luke Booker, LL. D. vicar of Ted- 
 stone Delamere, Herefordshire, DudJey V. 
 Worcestersjiire. 
 
 Rev. J. F. William;, B. A, Buckland 
 Denhiini V. Sotucrset. 
 
64> Answers to Correspondents. 
 
 ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
 
 pASTOn ; I. L. ; J. ; and the corrected edition of a Hj-inn by E— y P. R. will be insetted. 
 
 Philocarites ; Cheisticola ; and B^aSi/n-ef, have been received. 
 
 We beg to inform Ma UG A RKT Dun., that although the British Tleview ig a Quarterly 
 Review, it is not 27it! Quarterly Review. The works are perfectly distinct. 
 
 It is not consistent with the general plan of our work to insert the letter of Oppressorum 
 Amicus. 
 
 All Impartial Oeserver conipkiina of us, we apprehend, wiihont reason. We still 
 think the attention wliicli Lord Sidniouth has paid to tiie state of relitjioii in this country, 
 as well as many of his projected iniprovcmenis, pariicuiarly with respect to tlie build- 
 ing and appropriation of places of worship, highly " laudable," It is not thence to be 
 inferred, that we coincide with his Lordthip in every thing which he proposed to effect 
 with respect to the Toleration Act. — Our Correspondent assumes, that we have left it 
 doubtful whetlier dissent or riot be ffi« greatest evil, because we happen to have re- 
 commend'ed an eveniiiLC service in the church, or. this ground, among others, that it will 
 tend " to coiuiteract the growth of riot on the one hand, or of dissent on the otlier." 
 Now it surely is not to be inferred from thi«, that we consider "riot and dissent " as 
 evils of the same kind, or of the same degree. It is impossible to have read our work, 
 and to think so. There is a difference between a tyi)hus fever, and a tooth-aclie ; yet 
 both are evils to be deprecated. So, though we infinitely prefer dissent to riot, we 
 sliould like much better, in a parish committed to our care, to have neither. We cer- 
 tainly are no friends to dissent, as such • alliiougli we think it far better that nien 
 should be good dissenters than bad churchmen ; and although we most cordially rejoice 
 in beholding the union of churchmen with dissenters, i'or purposes in which they can 
 conscientiously unite. But will our Correspondent himself say that there is no descrip- 
 tion of dissent, the growth of which in a parish it would be desirable to use such 
 mean? as we recommend for stopping, even although those means should tend to stop ihe 
 growth of riot also ? Whst would even he say, in the case of an attempt to establisb 
 an Anlinomian " interest" in a parish; or to form a society of Univer^alists, or Socinians, 
 or Swedenborgians , or to gain adherents to Johanna S(juthcot ? Would it be allowable 
 to consider such cases of dissent as evils, the growth ofwhich a minister might labour by 
 ail lawful means to repress ? And supposing tiie case to be evei' so favourable, in respect 
 to the doctrines taught ai\d the practice inculcated, can a faithful pastor, who is con- 
 scientiously devoting himself to the care and improvement of liis flock, regard wiibout 
 uneasiness tlie progress of dissent and separation among them ? We believe that no per- 
 sons would feel the separation and disunii^n of their flocks more keenly than riissenling 
 ministers therasclve.s would do. 
 
 A Tabled Correspondent olijects, and we think justly objects, to the reference occasionally 
 made in the Advertisements on our blue Co\er to " the principles of the Christian Ob- 
 server." And he says, " It is often asked, What are those princijjles? Are they those 
 of the Church of Euizland ? if so, why give them any oiher name? If otherwise, then 
 I have done with the Christian Observer." We have only to observe, that it lies with 
 the advertisers, and not v>'ith us, to discontinue such a mode of expression ; and we sin- 
 cerely wish they may discontinue it. But if they do not, we should tiiink it hard that 
 any one should thence infer that the Church of England and the Christian Observer are 
 at variance. Tiie Bishop of Lincoln has given us /us interpretation of the |uinciples of 
 the Church of England ; Dr. liaweis and the Editors of the Evangelical Magazine, have 
 given us another ; the Clni'stian Observer agrees wiih mither, in the view which it lakes 
 of those jirinciples. Now is this work to be condemned, because a person, wanting a 
 situation, chooses to tell the public, and pays money for the privilege of telling them so,- 
 " I wish to afford you the means of apprt ciatiug my sentiments in religion. 'J hey are 
 ilioae of the Churcli of England, hs held, nut b^' the Bishop of Lincoln or Dr. Hawcis, 
 but by the Christian Observer?" 
 
THE 
 
 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER, 
 
 No. 122.] 
 
 «M= 
 
 FEBRUARY, 1812. [No. l. Vol. XI. 
 
 RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS. 
 
 SOME MEMORABLE THINGS, ESPECIALLY 
 OF THE LAST YEARS AND HOURS OF 
 THE LAST COUNTESS OF SEAFIELD. 
 
 (^Continued from p. 6.) 
 
 •TT^HE Countess of Seafield con- 
 I tinued in a tolerable state of 
 health for about a year after her 
 former sickness ; and she was then 
 seized apjain with the same malady, 
 and had the sentence of death in 
 herself, that she might not trust in 
 herself, but in God who raiseth 
 the dead. She was deeply sensible 
 how far short she had come in 
 answering her former call from God 
 and her engagements to him; and 
 she had recourse to his infinite mercy, 
 begging he would yet spare her to 
 recover strength, before she went 
 hence. Her prayer was again 
 heard, and her spitting of blood was 
 stayed. Recovering some degree of 
 bodily health, and being desired by 
 her lord to see him at Edinburgh, 
 public affairs requiring his return to 
 court, she went thither and staid 
 for some time. She was here seized 
 with a violent cough, which con- 
 tinued till she was delivered of a 
 ton. For a lew days after this, she 
 was more easy; but in a little time, 
 the cough and the hectic returned 
 Tvith more violence than ever. 
 
 " Soon after her return home, 
 being low in health and in agony of 
 mind, she happened to read tliat pas- 
 sage of Holy Scripture, 1 Thess. 
 ▼. 16, ' Rejoice evermore, pray 
 ^vilhout ceasing, in every thing give 
 thanks, for this is the will of God in 
 Christ Jesus concerning you.' She 
 was thereby greatly comforted ; and 
 the duty of continual resignation to 
 the will of God, and of continual 
 
 Christ. Obeeav. No. 12'2. 
 
 prayer to him, was thereby so press- 
 ed upon her that she was led to 
 more frequent prayer, a«d to the 
 entire surrender of her heart to God. 
 She complained, indeed, of frequent 
 distractions, but she bessed that He 
 would accept the will for the deed; 
 and in all her agonies and troubles she 
 was enabled to resign herself to the 
 Divine will, and to comfort herself 
 thus : ' His wrath endureth but for 
 a moment. In bis favour is lift. 
 Weeping may endure for a night, 
 but joy cometh in the morning.' 
 
 " Some weeks after she was 
 brought to bed, being under great 
 pain and weakness of body, and. 
 agony of spirit, she asked her son, 
 what apprehensions he had of death, 
 when of late he was so low in his 
 health at London and giveo over by 
 the physicians; whether he thought 
 he should then die. He replied, 
 that he had not at that time any 
 positive impression on his spirit that 
 lie should then die, as she seemed to 
 iiave, but was very uncertain what 
 the event might be. On this, she 
 asked what he then thought of him- 
 self in case he should die. To 
 which he answered, that when he 
 considered his own great impurity, 
 and called to mind many instances 
 of it, and also of his great ingrati- 
 tude to God, notwithstanding God's 
 lender and continual care of him, 
 he judged that it was hardly possi- 
 ble he should ever be admitted into 
 Ills presence, or have any com- 
 munion with him ; but that whea 
 he was in these thoughts, he hap- 
 pened, in reading his Bible, to meet 
 with this passage of Scripture ; ' But 
 let us who are of the day be sober, 
 putting on the breast-plate of faithi 
 and love, and for an helmet the hop« 
 K 
 
66 Some Particulars of the Life of the last Countess ofSeafield. [Feb. 
 
 of salvation ; for God hath not ap- taken up wholly with the thoughtsof 
 
 pointer! us to wrath, but to obtain death and eternity. She often said, 
 
 salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, that it was a quite ditFerent thing to 
 
 who died for us that we may live meditate on death at a distance, and 
 
 wjth him;' that this immediately to behold it just at the door. She 
 
 encouracjed him to hope that, through was struck with a deep sense of her 
 
 the merits of Jesus Christ, his sins undutifulness toGod.of the mispend- 
 
 might be done awav, and greatly ino; of her tim-e, of her having been 
 
 comforted him ; and that afterwards, an unfaithful steward of what he had 
 
 looking a little farther, he observed 
 these words, ' Rejoice evermore : 
 pray without ceasing: in every 
 thing give thanks: for this is the 
 will of God in Christ Jesus con- 
 
 committed to her trust, of her un- 
 faithfulness to her former calls and 
 solemn engagements, and that now, 
 when the cry was to go out and meet 
 the bridegroom, she might have had 
 
 cerning you:' which words suggested oil in her lamp, but she had slum- 
 to him how great reason he had to bered and slept. She continued for 
 be thankful for whatever might be several days in greatdistress of mind, 
 the will of God concerning him, judgingandcondemning herselt, con- 
 since God had ever been so good to fessing that she had sought to please 
 him notwithstanding his ingratitude herself more than Gnd, and that self- 
 and impurity ; and since his will love and the cares of the world had 
 <:ould not but be the best; that occupied her thoughts more than 
 therefore he should never let grief God, and that she was not worthy 
 or melancholy prevail over him, but of anv regard from him. Thus she 
 should comfort himself withhis being poured out her soul before God day 
 commanded to rejoice evermore, and and night, through a deep sense of 
 in every thingr to give thanks; and her sins and a dread of the Divine 
 that in ail his infirmities of body judgment, often saying, 'There is 
 and heaviness of mind, and tempta- no peace to the wicked, saith my 
 tions from the devil, the world, and God.' And being told by some who 
 the flesh, he should always have re- visited her, that no repentance was 
 course to the remedy which God acceptable to God, but that which 
 himself had prescribed to him, viz. flowed from the true love of God, 
 to pray without ceasing. He added, and not from self-love and the dread 
 that on many occasions afterwards, of hell, and she, doubting if her's 
 when he happened to be in any was any thing else, was ready to 
 of those circumstances, the remem- despond. And when to comfort her 
 brance of these passages of Scripture it was told her that she had led a very 
 had comlbrted and supported him. virtuous life, and so had no reason to 
 On this his mother expressed a great entertain such fear.-, siie said it was 
 deal of joy, and said, that when she far from being so, and that she had 
 herself, in the last winter, had been sought only to please herself, 
 weak in health, and in great anguish " Being in this state, and bewail- 
 of mind on his account, the same ing to one her sinful condition, and 
 passages of Scripture had greatly that although God had preserved her 
 refreshed her spirit. She confessed from gross and scandalous sins, yet 
 she had been far from rejoicing in when she placed herself in God « 
 God's will, and praying without presence, and beheld his purity, she 
 ceasing ; but she hoped God would saw in herself nothing but vileness, 
 mercifully look upon her infirmities, having sought only to please herself, 
 while she resolved, forgetting what and not God; it was said in reply, 
 was past, to do the best for the future, that she had reason to bless God, 
 " She had now a |)rospect of her who had opened her eyes to see her 
 npproaching end, ami applied wholly own sinfulness, and that this was a 
 to prepare for it. She abandoned the token of his great mercy to her, 
 fonccrn of all other thing-^, and was though her sins were great and 
 
1812.] Some Particulars of the Life 
 
 many, yet the Lord was ' not will- 
 ing that any should perish, but that 
 all should come to repemance.' ' He 
 came not to call the rifihteous, but 
 sinners to repentance.' She saw 
 with what compassion Je>;us treated 
 sinners, while he was upon earth. 
 ' Daughter, be of good comfort : 
 thy sins are forgiven thee.' ' But,' 
 said she, ' I have mispent all my 
 life ; aivd now no more time remains 
 for me.' It whs told her, that neither 
 the greatness nor the multitude of 
 sins would exclude from God's mercy 
 those who should seek him and turn 
 to liim with all their hearts; and 
 that although her time was now 
 short, yet she ought to consider that 
 not only they who were called at 
 the third, sixth, and ninth hours 
 received their penny, but he also 
 who was called at the eleventh. 
 She said, that ' God had some years 
 ago mercifully called her, and had 
 she answered that call, she might 
 have been a grown Christian before 
 now, but she had slumbered and 
 slept.' It was told her, that she had 
 great reason to deplore this; but 
 such was the infinite goodness and 
 mercy of God that he continued yet 
 to ca[| her: • Behold, I stand at the 
 door and knock; ifany man will hear 
 my voice, and op«n the door, I will 
 come in unto him.' ' O my God,' 
 she said, * I would open my heart 
 wholly to thee : come and take pos- 
 session of it.' Some, it was further 
 argued, who had been powerfully 
 called, and yet had afterwards not 
 only slumbered but fallen into grie- 
 vous sins, have been again called 
 and found mercy. David had been 
 called in his youth, yet afterwards 
 lell into grievous sins; but God had 
 mercy on him, and granted hin^ the 
 grace of repentance and pardon. 
 Peter WHS called to be oar Lord's 
 disciple, and followed him, but yet 
 afterwards denied his Lord; and 
 when his Lord looked on him, he 
 went out and wept bitterly : and we 
 see with what compassion our Lord 
 treated him : he did not so much as 
 upbraid him with his sin, but said, 
 iSimon, son of Jonas, lovest tbou 
 
 of the last Cotintess of Seafidd. 67 
 
 me ? feed my sheep.' * I do not, 
 she observed, ' in the least distrust 
 the nnfrcv, toe boundless nr.ercy and 
 compassion of God, but the deceit- 
 fulness of my own ht-art, which 
 makes me think I am penitent, 
 when perhaps it is only the fear ot" 
 hell which affects me; and should 
 1 recover again, 1 should again slum- 
 ber and sleep.' You have indeed 
 reason to distrust yourself, it was 
 said to her^ and we are bid to 
 work out our salvation with fear and 
 trembling; but he that will judge 
 you is the Lord who died for vou. 
 Therefore you are to resign yourself 
 wholly to your merciful God and 
 Saviour, and to labour, by his grace, 
 to have the present temper of your 
 heart all contrition, all love, all ado- 
 ration. God of his mercy has given 
 you this disposition at present, and 
 he will not break the bruised reed, 
 nor quench the smoking flix, until 
 he brmg forth judgment unto victory. 
 He now has given you a heart to adore 
 and love him, and to abhor and hate 
 yourself for having been so undutiful 
 to him. It is God who worketh this 
 holy disposition in your heart, and 
 will perfect it unto the end: and as 
 to your fear, in case your health be 
 restored, of returning to a state of 
 s-lumber, iheLord will either strength- 
 en you to resist temptations, if he see 
 it tor his glory to continue you longer 
 in this life, or he will remove you out 
 of the hazard of temptation, 'His 
 will/ she said, ' be done ! I have often 
 entreated the Lord to give me a token 
 of his favour before I go hence ; but 
 he leads me through this dark path 
 of the valley and shadow of death.* 
 It was replied to her. You have no 
 reason to murmur for this, but to bear 
 it with patience. You are not worthy 
 of any comfort here; and therefore, 
 if he think not fit to grant you anv 
 in this dark path, his will be done. 
 If he see it expedient for you, he 
 will not fail to grant it at last ; but 
 this is the time of your trial, and God 
 sees it fit to visit you, not only with 
 bodily affliction, but also with afflic- 
 tion of spirit, for your greater puri- 
 fication, and to wean your heart from 
 K2 
 
68 Some Particulars of the Life of the lAst Countess of Seafield. [Feb. 
 
 the love of the world and of yourself, 
 and to make you more humble, and 
 to let you see the vanity of all earthly 
 things, which can give no ease to a 
 wounded spirit, and to make you 
 thirst the more earnestly for God, 
 and feel that nothing can satisfy you 
 without him. Besides,the graces you 
 are to labour after are Faith, Hope 
 (not Assurance), and Charity. So in 
 the midst of this darkness, you must 
 still hope in God, even against hope, 
 resign yourself wholly to him, and 
 ardently love him. They tell of one 
 of the fathers of the desart, that a 
 devout young man having commitied 
 himself to his conduct, to be trained 
 up by him in a divine life, the devil, 
 transformiu" himself into an anfjel 
 of light, appeared to the father, and 
 bid him be no longer solicitous in 
 training up that youth, for he was 
 ordained for eternal torment. The 
 old man \vas exceedingly distressed 
 at this; which the youth observing, 
 entreated to know the cause of his 
 grief, and having learnt it, he said, 
 ^ O let not this trouble you, good 
 father, for whatever may become of 
 me hereafter, I will only set myself 
 to love my God the more ardently 
 while here, and to praise him and 
 lejoice in his goodness.' At last, 
 the old man was convinced it was a 
 delusion, and was comforted. The 
 countess then said, ' O my good God, 
 I will ever praise thee; 1 will never 
 cease to praise thee; I hope only in 
 thy mercy, and in the merit of my 
 blessed Redeemer; I resign myself 
 wholly to thee; I will never cease 
 to love thee ; O take the full posses- 
 sion of my heart, and let never any 
 creature enter there any more.' You 
 must not, it was again said to her, 
 be discouraged if the Lord should 
 not presently grant your request. 
 Kemember tlie Canaanitish woman. 
 Jesus at first seemed to take no notice 
 of her, and, when prevailed upon to 
 speak to her, he seemed to deny her 
 request. Yet this was but to make 
 her faith and prayers the more ar- 
 dent. Be not then discouraged, but 
 wait for Go<] : blessed are all they 
 tfeftt wait for him. ' O wliat icasoi» 
 
 have I,' she said, * to wait for my 
 God, who has waited for me so long, 
 whose patience and long suffering 
 have been so great towards me. Yes, 
 my God, I will wait: thy will be 
 done, not mine!' Besides, it was 
 added, you must not despond, 
 though God should not think fit to 
 grant you any token of his favour 
 in this world; for our Lord Jesus, 
 to support his followers under such 
 inward darkness and trials, was 
 pleased, even upon the cross, to 
 sutler the eclipse of the light of his 
 Father's countenance, so that thi» 
 inward cross of spirit was more pain- 
 ful than the outward one; which 
 made him cry out, ' My God, my 
 God, why hast thou forsaken me?' 
 If he who knew no sin yet became 
 sin for us, underwent such agonies 
 to bring us to God, why should we 
 think it strange if God should see fit 
 thus to bruise us, that the old man, 
 self, and corrupt nature may be cru- 
 cified in us. On this, the countess 
 said, ' O my Saviour, was this thy 
 state? O why should I complain, 
 who deserve not the least favour? 
 Did Jesus on the cross cry out, as 
 one forsaken of his God, and shall I 
 complain at wanting the sense of his 
 favour? O my God, I resign myself 
 wholly to thee: thy will be done, 
 not mine. Thou canst do nothing 
 amiss. I cast myself down at his 
 feet: if I perish, it shall be there. 
 Though he slay me, yet will I trust 
 in him. I will never cease to praise 
 him, never cease to love him.* 
 
 " These conversations passed about 
 ten er twelve daj's before her depar- 
 ture out of this life; and it pleased 
 God to give her from that time a 
 more quiet resignation to his will, 
 and a humble hope in his infinite 
 mercy, and her heart seemed always 
 with God and in a divine frame. 
 She had a profound view of the 
 purity of God, combined with a 
 deep sense of her own vileness; and 
 these considerations made her some- 
 times despond, as being wholly un- 
 fit for comnmnion with God. But 
 she would be again comforted, and 
 say, ' Yet my tongup shall «evwr 
 
J612.] Some Particulars of the Life 
 
 cease to praise him wliile I have a 
 being.' Siie had deep views also of 
 the approaching judgment, so that 
 when spoken to about worldly 
 affairs, she would say, ' What sig- 
 nities all this to me ? I am shortly 
 to appear before my Creator and 
 Judge.' 
 
 " After having been asked about 
 her spiritual state, or after silent 
 prayer to Cod, she would sometimes 
 express great spiritual delight ; but 
 she would then check herself, under 
 an apprehension that she was de- 
 luding herself, and say, that it was 
 nothing but passion (meaning natu- 
 ral emotion) in her, and not a true 
 ae/tled principle of religion, for ske 
 had ©fien had such fits of devotion 
 before. She therefore begged ear- 
 nestly that God would settle a solid 
 principle of religion in her heart ; 
 that Christ might dwell in her heart 
 by faith, and she might be rooted 
 and g^-ounded ia divine love." — 
 '* She never tasted any thing vvith- 
 •out begging God'a blessing, or hav- 
 ing some ejaculation, as, 'Most bless- 
 ed God, 1 do not deserve this, who 
 am an unworthy wretch ; but thou 
 art good and dost good: Lord, give 
 nie thy blessing with ii.'" 
 
 " She h.d a deep sense of her 
 tins, and wab desirous to take shame 
 to herself, and to acknowledge them 
 before all, expressing great indigoa- 
 tioB against herself on account of 
 thera. ' What value I,' said she, 
 * my reputation ? I will confess my 
 «ins, for they are great and many. 
 I am sorry that any one should have 
 thought me good. 1 loath ^nd ab- 
 Ijor myself for my sins.' There 
 were two sins which she esper iaily 
 acknowledged with great grief and 
 indignation against herself. One 
 was, the luispetiding of her time, in 
 being so much taken up ;::)uut the 
 cares and concerns of the world; 
 the other in extending her pity, 
 and her hands so little in the relief 
 of the poor. She said, that when 
 first married to her husband, their 
 circumstances were but mean in 
 the world ; yet God had since blest 
 item with a plentiful fortune, sod 
 
 of the last Countess of Seafeld. 69 
 
 that she had not, as she ought to 
 have done, clothed the naked, and 
 fed the hungrv, and relieved the 
 miserable; and though it was true 
 she looked upon herself as entrusted 
 with all by her husband, yet both of 
 tiiem ought to have considered that 
 they were but stewards entrusted 
 by God, aiifl she might have reliev- 
 ed the necessitous without wronging 
 her husband. She entreated, that 
 whoever thought themselves wrong- 
 ed by her, they would let her know 
 it, and she would make reparation 
 according to her power. When any 
 of the neighbours came into the 
 room where she was, she would ask. 
 them if she had wronged them in 
 any thing, and desired to know it, 
 that she inight repair it.. She called 
 for some wnlleti obligations she had 
 received of several persons, and c;uv« 
 celled them, delivering them up to 
 them. 
 
 " She was most patient in her 
 trouble, had nothing of fretfulness, 
 but was calm and easy to all about 
 her. She refused no medicine that 
 was ofiered to her, however disagree- 
 able to the taste, and although she 
 had a strong aversion to all drugs. 
 She ial)oured in every thing to deny 
 herself. 
 
 " She expressed an ardent love to 
 God, and desired to be whoily his, 
 and prayed that he might take the 
 entire possession of her heart. She 
 would often say, * O my Ciod, take 
 thou the full possession of my soul : 
 shed abroad thy love in my heart : 
 till it with thy love : let there be no 
 room for ilie world: let nothing of 
 this world obtain admission, O thou 
 my God, my Lord, myall!' She 
 often repeated these words, ' peace 
 on earth, good will lo men. O how- 
 great is thy good will towards men!* 
 Slie said she loved all the world, all 
 mankind, ail her neighbours, and 
 only hated herself." 
 
 (To be continued.) 
 
 To the Editor of the Christian Observer. 
 
 I VENTUKE to oiler to you, for inser- 
 tioa in your valuable publication^ « 
 
70 
 
 comment on one of those interjected 
 clauses (Rom. v. 15, 16, IT), of 
 which St. Paul makes so much use, 
 and which, in many instances, tak- 
 ing their rise from his animated con- 
 ceptions of the divine r-cheme of 
 man's redemption, are not the least 
 important parts of his writings. At 
 the same time, their twofitid charac- 
 ter, as being both separate from and 
 allied to their respective contexts, 
 subordinate to these and complete 
 in themselves, renders ihem liable 
 to a difficulty of interpretation. 
 
 The gnilt and condemnation 
 brought upon mankind by the sin 
 of Adam, have their counterpart in 
 the righteousness and justification 
 Eupfrinduced by the atonement of 
 Christ. If the former, by. inconsi- 
 deration, perverseness, and st-lf-in- 
 duUence, attached to his posterity 
 the displeas>ure of their Creator, and 
 a disposition of resistance against 
 his authority; the latter, by fore- 
 thouejlit, rectitude, and sulTtriug for 
 the sake of others, procured for his 
 followers reconciliation to their hea- 
 venly Father, and a disposition of 
 conformity to his will. " For as by 
 the disobedience of the one man, 
 the many were made sinners ; so 
 also by the obedience of the one, 
 shall the many be made righteous." 
 
 But though the demerits of the 
 first Adam, and the merits of the 
 second, the misery occasioned by 
 the one, and the happiness wrought 
 by the other, are thus to be contrast- 
 ed rather than compared; what the 
 one is in respect of evil, such con- 
 trariwise being the other in respect 
 of good ; yet, on taking into the ac- 
 count by what method the conduct 
 of e>'ch tended to its opposite end, 
 occasion is found for comparison, and 
 the result shews that the advantage, 
 in point both of energy and preci- 
 sion, is altogether on the side of the 
 efficiency of good. Now, the trans- 
 gression of the first man may be 
 considered as an insulated sin, which, 
 without any iurther effort on the 
 part of the perpetrator, but merely 
 by being left to take its natural 
 course, spread through and tainted 
 
 Comment on Rom. v. 15 — 17. [Feb. 
 
 all his posterity: whereas the atone- 
 ment of Christ may be considered, 
 not as opposed to this single sin in 
 the man that committed it, and then 
 left to its natural course, but rather 
 as set in array against this sin both 
 in the first man and in all his de- 
 scendants ; each one of whom being 
 personally and individualh' a sin- 
 ner, each one must be regarded as 
 having need of a special interposi- 
 tion for his salvation; and whoever, 
 therefore, obtains silvation, as in- 
 debted for it to the special interposi- 
 tion of Christ, " And not as (is) 
 the transgression, so also (is) the 
 free gift. For if by the transgres- 
 sion of the one the many died, much 
 rather the grace of God, and the 
 gift by grace of the one man, Jesus 
 Christ, abounded unto the many." 
 
 ?]ut further : the atonement of 
 Christ may be considered not only 
 as set in opposition to the one ori- 
 ginal sin committed by the first 
 man, and carried on by all his pos- 
 teritj', but also as making head 
 against it in all its multitudinous 
 consequences, when, under various 
 forms, it has been repeated and re- 
 repeated continually by each indi- 
 vidual. Hence there is no man but 
 must confess, that having been 
 guilty of sins without number, for 
 each of which he is subject to con- 
 demnation ; if he be accounted 
 righteous before God, it must be, 
 that for each particular sin of which 
 he has been guilty, a particular 
 satisfaction has been made by Christ. 
 " And not as by one that sinned (is) 
 the gift ; for the judgment(was) from 
 one (transgression) unto condemna- 
 tion : but the free gift (is) from 
 many transgressions unto justifica- 
 tion." 
 
 As, then, the transgression of the 
 first man, though thus comparatively 
 inert and undistinguishing in its 
 operation, has yet power to infix in 
 those who feel its malignancy, the 
 corroding fear of eternal death: how 
 much rather may the atonement of 
 the second man, thus absolutely in 
 its operation energetic and appro- 
 priaiive, implant iu those who, by- 
 
1S12.] On Mat. vi. 23, in Reply to Laicus.~Bp. Wilson on Mat. ix. 13. 71 
 
 experience of its present effects, 
 have reason to believe that it is ex- 
 erted for themselves; that it enters 
 into their own businesses and bo- 
 soms ; how much rather may it im- 
 plant in these the living and invi- 
 gorating hope of life everlasting! 
 " For if, by the transgression of the 
 one, death reigned by the one; 
 much rather they that receive the 
 abundance of grace, and of the gift 
 of righteousness, shall reign in life 
 by the one, Jesus Christ." 
 
 F.T. 
 
 To the Editor of the Christian Observer. 
 
 Youu correspondent, Laicus, in the 
 exposition which he has given in 
 your number for October last, of 
 Matt. vi. 23, appears to me to have 
 misconceived the force of the pas- 
 sage ; and the translation which he 
 offers, is founded upon a manifest 
 distortion of the original. 
 
 He renders the Greek as if it 
 .stood thus : s\ sx dvro ro (puce cs 
 ry.dfjg sr), •mo<rGv ro CKoro; to Iv 
 «-5j ; whereas the reading is, si sv ro 
 ^x; ro ev ro) crycoro; Iri, '^s <r%orog 
 "isoTov ; the literal translation of 
 which is that given in our common 
 version, viz. " If therefore the light 
 that is in thee be darkness, liow 
 great is that darkness." 
 
 The expression, " the light that 
 is in thee," is, it must be confessed, 
 somewhat equivocal ; and hence, 
 probably, arose Laicus' misappre- 
 hension of the passage: but a very 
 slight alteration in the turn of the 
 words may, I think, clear away all 
 difficulty even to a mere English 
 reader. If they were rendered " the 
 light within thee" (as I think they 
 should be), would not the obscurity 
 be removed ? For the whole pas- 
 sage would then run thus: "Lay 
 not up for yourselves treasures upon 
 earth, where moth and rust corrupt, 
 and where thieves break through 
 and steal. But lay up for your- 
 selves treasures in heaven, where 
 neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, 
 and where thieves do not break 
 through nor steal. For vvhere your 
 
 treasure is there will your heart be 
 also. — The light (or lamp} of the 
 body is the eye : if, therefore, thine 
 eye be single, thine whole body will 
 be full of light (or be enlightened) ; 
 but if thine eye be evil, thy whole 
 body will be full of darkness (or be 
 in darkness). If, therefore, the light 
 xvithin thee be darkness, how great is 
 thai darkness?'' In other words, 
 " If the bodily eye be sound or 
 vitiated, the xvhole body is accord- 
 ingly surrounded with light or dark- 
 ness. How n)uch greater and more 
 momentous, then, is the darkness 
 which arisfs from the corruption of 
 the mind's eye ; that internal light, on 
 which depends our choice of spiri- 
 tual good or evil ! '' The leading an- 
 tithesis appears to me to be not#so 
 much between (paig and o-aorog, as 
 between o Xvyn/og re o-Mi/yCcroc, and 
 ro (pa-g ro sv croi; the latter phrase 
 being, 1 conceive, equivalent to r» 
 (puj; rou Ttvkvij^a.tos cs. 
 
 P. M. P. 
 
 Sedburgh, 28th Nov. 1811. 
 
 To the Editor of the Christian Observer. 
 
 SfiouLD the following hasty remarks 
 be worthy of a place in your Ma- 
 gazine, the author will feel honoured 
 by your insertion of them. 
 
 It may not be uninteresting t© 
 your readers to observe the very 
 different comments of Bishop Wilson 
 and Bishop Tonilyn on Mat^ ix. 13, 
 " I am not come to call the righ- 
 teous, but sinners to repentance.'* 
 Bishop Tomiyn (vide Kefutalion, 
 &,c. 2d edition, p. 13), says, that 
 "the righteous," here spoken of, are 
 " those who are truly and sincerely 
 righteous ; who have truly reformed 
 their lives; who carefully endea- 
 vour to abstain from all known sins, 
 and set themselves sincerely to the 
 performance of their whole duty 
 both to God and man, and so are 
 righteous and acceptable in the sight 
 of God; in which sense Job was 
 righteous^-, and eschewed evil ; Za- 
 
 • Job, however, does not seem to have 
 regarded himself as one of those righteous 
 
72 Bp. Wilson on Malt. ix. 1 5.— On the Genealogy of our Saviour. [Feb. 
 
 charias and Elizabeth were righ- 
 teous, walking in all the commarid- 
 ments of the Lord, and Simeon ; 
 and so they needed not that repen- 
 tance, which consists in the change 
 of the life from a course of sinninof 
 to a living unto God." The bishop 
 had- said, in the outset of his obser- 
 vations on the passage in question 
 (p. 1 I), " I am aware that conimeti- 
 tators, wlio wish to reconcile this 
 passage to the Calvinistic system, 
 explain the word ' righteous' by 
 those who consider themselves righ»- 
 teous.^' 
 
 Now, as Bishop Wilson has never 
 V»t fallen, I believe, under the atro' 
 fio?/.y charge of Calvinism, but is re- 
 garded as a sober-nwuded man by all 
 who pretend to piety, I will subjoin 
 his interpretation of the words be- 
 fore us, and let your readers decide 
 which of these directly opposite ex- 
 positions is to be preh'rred. 13ish«)p 
 Wilson says (vide Works, 8vo. 3d 
 edition ; and Isl vol. Sermons, p. 
 34'1, Serm. xvii.), "*I came not'" 
 (says he), " * to call the ri2;I-iteous/ 
 such an tJdnk themselves safe, * but 
 sinners to repentance/" 
 
 The bishop goes on to observe, in 
 the page following : " This was the 
 case of the church of Laodicea; 
 Thou sayest Jhat ihou art rich and 
 wantest nothing, and knowest not 
 that thou art wretched and misera- 
 ble, and poor, and blind nd naked." 
 *♦ This" (continues I .lop Wilson), 
 " is a sad case, and yet it is the case 
 (God knows) of too many Christians, 
 «S appears plainly by that great un- 
 concernedness to be seen in the lives 
 of Christians; who generally satisfy 
 themselves, and place their hopes 
 of safety and happiness in b«ing 
 free from scandalous sins, such as 
 the magistrate would punish; in ob- 
 serving the outward duties of Chris- 
 tianity, such as the most unconvert- 
 ed*' person may perform, without 
 
 ptrsons who liarl no need of repentance, 
 %»lM.Mt lie says, " I liave lieaid ol'tlice by ll)e 
 iiearinii uf tlie car, l)ut now mine eye scetli 
 thee: lablior myself, and repent in dust and 
 *5Ues." 
 •■ 'J'liis was wril^ea itjotx the Bishop of 
 
 being sensible of the bondage of 
 
 sin; and that religion must mend^ 
 
 their corrupt nature before they die, 
 
 or they must never expect to be 
 ,.,1 " ' 
 
 saved.' 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 PASTOir. 
 
 TotheEditor of the Christian Observer^ 
 Though I was pleased with the inge- 
 nious paper of T. Y., inyour number 
 for December, I must confess it has 
 appeared to me that the most palpable 
 diiliculty on this subject, and which 
 strikes the unlearned infidel with 
 the most peculiar force, is the ap- 
 parent contradiction in terms (which 
 T. Y. does not obviate) in the two 
 accounts: the former asserting, that 
 " Jacob was the father of Joseph;'* 
 and the latter, that " Joseph vras the 
 son of Heli." This is considered a» 
 an absolute contradiction, since the 
 same man cannot have two fathers; 
 and therefore no ingenious hypo- 
 thesis, to shew that one line is meant 
 to trace the descent of Joseph, and 
 another of Mary, can obviate the 
 verbal difficulty. I think, however, 
 •A little attention to the Greek text of 
 St. Luke will satisfactorily doit. It 
 runs thus, exactly as printed in the 
 edition of Robert Stephens, of 1549 : 
 " xa) aiiTo; Tjy 6 i/jo-crvf ajtrsi sroS'v 
 TpiccKOvrx apy^oiji^evof, cvv, cog ']vouA~ 
 ^sro, v\og 'iwcrr/:p, rS r,\i, i s fMal^cir, rar 
 As:,')." And I would prof)ose thus 
 literally to translate it: *' And Jesus 
 himself began to be about thirty 
 years of age, being, as was sup- 
 posed f, the descendant of Joseph, of 
 Heli, of Matthat. of Levi," &c. Jt 
 is certain the Greek text does not 
 (as our translation, I think, injudi- 
 ciously does) assert, or, properly un- 
 derstood, imply any thing as to the 
 relative connection between Joseph 
 and Heli, but only the connectioa 
 (according to supposition as to one, 
 
 London's last Charge appeared, wliich wage* 
 war witli " conccrslon^y 
 
 * " 7?C)U'io" should be substituted fojT 
 " mend." 
 
 t This qnalifleation is evidentfy"n)eint-» 
 applj to Joseph onl^'. 
 
1812.] Famil]/ Sermons.--' No. 
 
 aiul really as to the other), between 
 Christ and ihem bolh; much less 
 does it assert, that Joseph was the 
 son of Heli. It is true, Stephens's 
 edition, above quoted, gives some 
 countenance to our translation, by 
 putting no comma after ia;«rr)<2, so 
 making " vio$ iu!a-^<p t5 •>;a)" run on 
 together, as here printed ; but this 
 circumstance can, at best, only in- 
 dicate what might have been Ste- 
 phens's private judgment; but that 
 we know how to estimate by the 
 injudicious manner in which his sub- 
 sequent edition of the New Tesia- 
 Iiieut, printed in 155 1, frequently 
 divided the text into verses, which 
 had not been done before that period, 
 and is not done in the above quoted 
 edition of 1549 (see Marsh's Mi- 
 chaelis, vol.ii. p. 528.) But I have 
 looked into four other Greek Testa- 
 ments, each of which has a comma 
 after the word iuj<rri<p, and three of 
 theni are very good editions ; the 
 lirst, the London edition of 1633; 
 the second, the Cambridge edition 
 of 1065, by J. Field; and the thin), 
 the London of 1727, from tht; press 
 of Knaplock, Tonson, and Watts. I 
 have rendered ihe word vtoi, " de- 
 scendant," not only because it often 
 has that sense (see Matt. i. 1, 20; 
 xxii. 42, 45; Rom. ix. 27 ; Heb. vii. 
 5; see also Parkhurst, Voc. Tjoj), but 
 because the connection evidently 
 requires it. I must further notice, 
 that our translation is, in this place, 
 more deceptive than in any other, in- 
 asmuch as it does not print in Italics 
 the ivhole of the words which are 
 supplied, but only " the son," leav- 
 ing us to conclude, that, in the ori- 
 ginal, there are words corresponding 
 with "which was;" but this is not 
 the case. It is impossible to con- 
 ceive that there can be a real con- 
 tradiction between the two evan- 
 gelists, because the words in Luke, 
 " as was supposed," bear an evident 
 allusion to the miraculous conte[)- 
 tion, as recorded by Matthew ; and 
 there can be no reasonable doubt but 
 Luke's account was meant to trace 
 the genealogy through Mary, who 
 was the real mother of Christ, as 
 Chi\15t. Or.sERV. No. 122. 
 
 XXXV III. On Col. iii. 2. 73 
 
 Matthew had done with respect to 
 Joseph, who was his supposed 
 father : yet it is material to shew 
 that the verv words of Scripture do 
 not place an express negative on 
 this construction ; and this, I sub- 
 mit, is above etlected. t' 
 
 FAMILY SERMONS. No, XXXVIII. 
 
 Col. iii. 2. — " Set your affections on 
 things above." 
 
 Th^t man is fallen ; that his nature 
 is changed from what it was, when 
 he first came out of the hands of his 
 Maker, is not only told us with great 
 plainness in Scripture, but is most 
 clearly to be drawn also from its 
 doctrines and precepts. Consider in 
 this view the precept in the text. 
 Why should it be necessary to urge 
 men to set their affections on things 
 above? Is there ever any occasion 
 to raise their desires after earthly 
 things ? Does the heir to a valuable 
 estate, for instance, feel indifferent 
 to it.? So strong indeed are our de- 
 sires after earthly things, as to re- 
 quire that-the law should .^ay, " Thou 
 shalt not covet.'' But who is in dan- 
 ger of too eagerly coveting what is 
 heavenly? This shews what is in 
 man. The sou! would not move 
 upwards to that glorious and excel- 
 lent state above, so heavily and un- 
 willinglv, were not its moral feelings 
 depraved. Hence arises the impor- 
 tance of the Apostle's exhortation; 
 and certainly, under the proof we 
 have of the natural tendency of our 
 hearts to the earth, we ought to say 
 with David, whrn we consider this 
 subject, " My soul cleaveth unto 
 the dust; quicken thou me according 
 to thy word." With this view of 
 ourselves, and depending on the pro- 
 mised assistance of the Holy Spirit, 
 iet us now inquire; 1st, What are 
 the things above ? 2d/ What it is to 
 set our ailections upon I hem. 3d, 
 The motives and encouragements we 
 have to do this. 
 
 I. " Tlie things above" are things 
 spiritual, in opposition to things car- 
 
74 Family Sermons.— No. XXXVUl. On Col. iii. 2 
 
 nal; things heavenly, in opposition 
 
 to earthly thin^i^s; they are things 
 
 eternal, as opposed to what is only 
 
 temporal. Thus much is in general 
 
 meant by " the things above/' 
 
 Tl)ey refer to the kin£;(loni ol" grace 
 
 here, and of glory liereafier. But it 
 
 will be proper to narrow this wide 
 
 view of the subject, and to considt r 
 
 that part of it to wliich the words 
 
 of the text seem more immediately 
 
 to rtfer; I mean, the joys and em- 
 ployments of those whoare adniitted 
 
 into the kingdom above. " Set 
 
 your afJectioiis on things above ;" 
 
 set your atfections on heaven, on its 
 
 happiness, and its services. Would 
 
 we rightly know (though it be 
 
 through a glass darkly) what these 
 
 are, we must with heart and mind 
 thither ascend where Christ has 
 
 gone before, and theie continually 
 
 have our conversation. They are 
 the pleasures which are at his right 
 
 hand ior evermore; the joyful ado- 
 ration wliich is constan'ly paid to 
 God and to the Lam!> ; ih^ palms, 
 the harps, the songs of the blessed, 
 whose robes are washed white in 
 the blood of the Lamb; the society 
 of angels and of the spirits of the 
 jusf ; the absence of all pain and 
 grief, temptation and sin ; the sight 
 of (jod as he is ; entire conformity 
 to his image; and unerring obe- 
 dience to his wilh These things, 
 productive as they are of the highest 
 happiness, and such as eye hath not 
 seen, nor ear heard, nor man's heart 
 hath conceived, are but a faint re- 
 presentation of " the things above," 
 on which we are commanded to 
 " set our aiiections." 
 
 II. But what is it " to set our 
 affections" on these things ? To set 
 our atfections upon them implies, 
 first, that we view them as reali- 
 ties. We must believe that things 
 exist, that they are real and sub- 
 stantial, before we shall be induced 
 to seek after them. It is the child, 
 not the man, who chases the rain- 
 bow. It is the certamty that he has 
 a home which makes the traveller 
 m distant lands sigh to return to it. 
 We must have " the evidence," a 
 
 [Feu' 
 
 conviction of the real existence, " o 
 things not seen," in order that we 
 may be induced to set our hearts 
 upon them, and toil through every 
 difBculty to obtain them. Who 
 would sail with a daring adventurer 
 in search of new islands or new 
 continents, and encounter the storms 
 and perils of the ocean, with his life 
 and all his property embarked in the 
 cnterprize, if he did not believe the 
 reality of the object of his search ? 
 It is the same with us. Unless by 
 faith we behold things invisible ; 
 unless we can believe that there are 
 things above worthy of our pursuit, 
 our desires must necessarily be cold, 
 and our endeavours devoid of ear- 
 nestness and sincerity. 
 
 2. But what hope could any man 
 who knows himself, his weakness 
 and sinfulness, have of entering into 
 heaven ; and what inducement, there- 
 fore, could he have for setting his 
 afleciions upon it, and labouring to 
 attain it, if it were not represented 
 in Scripture as a free gift, purchased 
 by the death, and bestowed by the 
 grace, of his Redeemer and Interces- 
 sor ? But for this, the obstacles to 
 his reaching that pure and holy 
 place would appear to be such as 
 could not be overcome. His state 
 would be hopeless, and he would see 
 it to be so. For how could he make 
 that the object of his atftctionate 
 desire and pursuit which he was 
 persuaded could not be attained ? 
 Hope is the very spur of all exer- 
 tion. We may indeed suppose a 
 selfish man to desire heaven as a 
 place of deliverance from sorrow and 
 anguish, though not as a place of 
 deliverance from sin, and a scene of 
 hoh' employment. A heaven of 
 holv obedience and grateful adora- 
 tion can be desired only by humble 
 and holy men. And yet such per- 
 sons would give up the pursuit of it 
 in despair, were they not told of 
 their gracious Advocate in the courts 
 above, who, after having obtained 
 eternal redemption for his people, 
 had gone before to prepare a place 
 for them, and by his Spirit was now 
 conducting them thither, that where 
 
1812.] Family Servians. — No. 
 
 he is, there they might be also. The 
 throne of a holy and heart-searching 
 God, who cannot look on sin with- 
 out abhorronce, and who has de- 
 clared that he will by no means 
 clear the gnilty, would be too awful 
 an object for sucli to think of ap- 
 proaching it, did they not know 
 that Jesus Ch,ist, their atonement, 
 and their intercessor with God, is 
 also exalted to the throne in heaven, 
 and " is able to save them to the ut- 
 most that come unto God by him." 
 
 '.i. To set our atlections on any 
 thing must imply preference and 
 esteem. This is the condition of 
 our nature. We cannot, then, set 
 our atiections on heaven, unless we 
 prefer it to earth. The man whose 
 heart is fixed on " things above," 
 must have a lively view of the 
 comparative emptiness and vanity 
 of things below. He must have 
 entered into the spirit of our Lord's 
 solenan question, " What shall it 
 profit a man if he should gain the 
 M'hole world, and lose his own soul ?" 
 In how many different lights does 
 our Saviour place the excellency of 
 the kingdom of heaven, in order to 
 increase our esteem of it, and our 
 desires after it. It is " a pearl of 
 £:reat price;" " treasure hid in a 
 field ;" a place of perfect security, 
 " where no thief approacheth, neither 
 rust corrupteth j" a place of tran- 
 scendant glor}', where we shall be 
 " as the angels." He warns us also 
 deliberately to count the cost, declar- 
 ing that the kingdom of heaven sufler- 
 eth violence ; and that it istlie violent, 
 those who so prize it as to be willing 
 to make the most strenuous efibrls for 
 that end, who at length reach it. Is 
 not all this intended to shew us, that 
 unless we value heaven so much as 
 to be willing to submit to any sacri- 
 fices, however painful, and to make 
 any exertions, however diflicult, ra- 
 ther than come short of it, we cannot 
 consider our hearts as properly set 
 upon it, fior ourselves as likely to 
 attain it ? 
 
 III. We proceed to consider the 
 motives and encouragements we 
 faave thus to act. It ought to be a 
 
 XKXVIIl. On Col. iii.2. 75, 
 
 great inducement with us to set our 
 aflfections on things in heaven, to 
 consider that, by our calling and pro- 
 fession as Christians, we are bound 
 to renounce those on earth. The 
 apostle Paid frequently insists on 
 this. "Ye are dead," dead by your 
 very profession, to this world ; " bu- 
 ried with Christ by baptism unto 
 death." We have also each of us 
 contracted an express and solemn 
 obligation to this eflfect. We have 
 promised to renounce the pompss 
 and vanities of tliis wicked world. 
 As many as have been baptized 
 have thereby confessed themselves 
 to be strangers and pilgrims upon 
 earth, and have declared their de- 
 termination to seek a better country, 
 even a heavenly. There are, in- 
 deed, many hindrances to this course. 
 The world, the flesh, and the devil 
 stand opposed to it. But then our 
 everlasting all depends upon it; and 
 though our difficulties are great, our 
 means of overcoming those difficul- 
 ties are more than sufficient, if we 
 will but avail ourselves of them. 
 The Throne of Grace is open to us: 
 we are invited to come to it boldly, 
 there to obtain grace to help us in 
 the time of need. Christ, our fore- 
 runner, has already entered within 
 the veil ; and we are allowed to fix 
 ouf hope on him as an anchor to our 
 souls, to keep us stedfast in our hea- 
 venly course. Jesus, who is the Sa- 
 viour of his people, who has shed 
 his blood to redeem them, who is 
 their Head and Representative, the 
 Author and Finisher, the Captain of 
 their salvation, rules over all things 
 in heaven and in earth. All powers 
 and principalities submit to his au' 
 thority. The hosts of heaven fall 
 prostrate at his feet. All the powers 
 of darkness tremble before him. 
 ThouKh we are weak, he is strong ; 
 though we are unworthy of the 
 Divine regards, yet he pleads for us, 
 and his merit is infinite. 
 
 And here let us faithfully ask 
 ourselves, on what our affections are 
 placed. Are we living to God, or 
 to ourselves? Do we seek our own 
 things, or the things of Jesus Christ? 
 L2 
 
Familt/ Sennons.—No. XXXVIII. On Col. iii. 2. [Feb. 
 
 are momentous questions, his God, and on the delights of com" 
 
 76 
 
 These 
 
 Time is hastening on; and we are 
 dying, accountable creatures. Let 
 us not flatter ourselves that God will 
 condemn us only for gross and noto- 
 rious sins. If we do not supremely 
 love Him, and endeavour to advance 
 His glory, we shall in the end be 
 numbered with those who have for- 
 gotten God. "The wicked shall be 
 turned into hell, with all the nations 
 that forget God ;" that neglect to 
 pay him the homage of hearts filled 
 with his love, and devoted to his ser- 
 vice. The rich man who lifted up 
 his eyes in torment, and his com- 
 panion in misery, who comforted his 
 soul with the thoughts of his goods 
 laid up for many years, may have 
 led, for any thing we know to the 
 contrary, what the bulk of mankind 
 would call harmless and innocent 
 lives. Their crime seems to have 
 bieen, that, instead of being spiri- 
 tually minded, they were selfish 
 and sensual. They set their affec- 
 tions on the things below, not on 
 those above; and thus they perished 
 for ever. And thus will it be with 
 all those who tread in their steps, 
 who choose this world for their por- 
 tion. They have chosen a hard ser- 
 vice, and a most unsatisfying por- 
 tion. They are preparing tor them- 
 selves the bitterness of disappointed 
 hope. " It shall even be as when a 
 hungry man dreameth, and behold 
 he eateth ; but he awaketh, and his 
 soul is empty : and when a thirsty 
 man dreameth, and behold he 
 drinketh; and he waketh and be- 
 hold he is faint, and his soul hath 
 appetite,*' Let us awake, then, from 
 our dream of fancied security, to 
 contemplate the awful realities of a 
 death and judgment to come ; and 
 let us lift up our hearts unto the 
 Lord. Heaven is surely worth our 
 seeking. " One day in those courts 
 is better than a thousand days of 
 worldly joy ;" and it is to an eter- 
 nit}' of such blessedness that we are 
 called to raise our hearts. In the 
 view of it, let us adopt the language 
 and cherish the feelings of David, 
 tvhen he thought on the house of 
 
 munion with him. " How amiable 
 are thy tabernacles, O Lord of 
 Hosts ! ' My soul longeth, yea, even 
 fainteth for the courts of the Lord; 
 my heart and my flesh crieihout for 
 the living God." 
 
 I am anxious to enforce the neces- 
 sity of thus setting our aflections on 
 things above. It will not avail us 
 that we are merely free from gross 
 sins, that we are regular in the out- 
 ward duties of religion, unless our 
 whole lives are regulated by the 
 word of God, and the temper of our 
 minds is holy, heavenly, spiritual ; 
 unless we are anxiously praying and 
 labouring to be delivered from the 
 bondage of a corrupt nature, and to 
 be admitted into the glorious liberty 
 of the children of God ; unless our 
 desire and strenuous aim be, that 
 Christ may dwell in our hearts by 
 faith here, and that we may dwell 
 with him hereafter. We may not be 
 vain, or slothful, or dissipated; we 
 may be friendly and humane in our 
 disposition; we may be mindful of 
 many social and relative duties; we 
 may attend with regularity the public 
 worship of God ; we may establish 
 the worship of God in our families ; 
 we may instruct our children and 
 our servants ; we may join in many 
 good and charitable and even pious 
 works; we may be the professed ad- 
 mirers of pure and evangelical reli- 
 gion; we may be all this: and, in- 
 deed, we rnusl be all this, if we have 
 any claim to be regarded as Chris- 
 tians: but, I repeat it, we may be all 
 this, and yet come short of the king- 
 dom of God. All is unavailing with- 
 out that spiritual mind which is life 
 and peace, without that faith which 
 worketh by love, without that dead- 
 ness to the world and the things 
 of it, and that holy elevation of 
 soul, which are especially implied 
 in the words of the text. " Set your 
 affections on things above, not on 
 things on the earth; for ye are dead, 
 and your life is hid with Christ in 
 God." And then " when Christ, 
 who is your life, shall appear, ye 
 shall also appear with him in glory." 
 
IS 12.] Family Sermons. — No. X. 
 
 How inconceivable must be the 
 misery of that man, who has been 
 flattering him3elt" with the hope of 
 hiaven, until he arrives at heaven's 
 gate, and finds itbarred against him. 
 The conviction that he has been de- 
 ceived, at once bursts upon him in 
 its full blaze. " Lord, Lord, open 
 unto us !" "I know you not whence 
 ye are ; depart from rne into ever- 
 lasting fire, prepared for the devil 
 and his angels." 
 
 But let us turn to contemplations 
 of a more cheering kind; to the view 
 of those who, having set their affec- 
 tions on things above, at length ar- 
 rive on the borders of that world on 
 which their hearts have been fixed. 
 Behold holy Simeon, on the eve of his 
 departure from this life : " Lord, 
 now lettest thou thy servant depart 
 in peace, for mine eyes have seen 
 thy salvation." Consider the faith, 
 the hope, and the love of the mar- 
 tyred Stephen : '• Lord, lay not this 
 sin to their charge; Lord Jesus, re- 
 ceive my spirit. Behold I see the 
 heavens opened, and Jesus standing 
 at the right hand of God." Hear 
 Hi. Paul in the view of his dissolu- 
 tion : " 1 have fought a good fight; 
 1 have finished my course ; I have 
 kept the failb. Henceforth there is 
 laid up for me a crown of righteous- 
 ness, which the righteous Judge will 
 give me in that day, anil not to me 
 only, but to all them that love his 
 appearing." Nor have there been 
 wanting those in every age of the 
 church who have manifested, in the 
 hour of death, the unspeakable ad- 
 vantage there is in having set their 
 affections during life on things 
 above. And even if this were not 
 the case, even if they should have 
 no opportunity of leavmg their dying 
 testimony to this truth, it is not on 
 that account the less certain. To 
 those who have really set their af- 
 fections on things above, however 
 clouded their departure hence may 
 be, an abundant entrance will assu- 
 redly be administered into the ever- 
 lasting kingdom of their God and .'Sa- 
 viour. This is true, as God himself 
 is true. He bas pledged his own 
 
 XXVI 11. On Col Vu. 2. IT 
 
 faith fulness and trutii, that those who 
 are thus wise shall shine for ever as 
 the brightness of the firmament. 
 
 Am), finally, let us bear it in mind, 
 that we must not only desire and 
 wish for heaven, bnt we must pursue 
 it with earnestness and constancy, ia 
 the way which God hath appointed, 
 and with clear apprehensions of its 
 real nature. I^t us seek it as the 
 free gift of God through Jesus 
 Christ ; as a temple where God, 
 and al?o the Lamb, are served and 
 worsiiipped for ever ; as a place 
 where nothing ^»ters that defileth ; 
 as a complete deliverance from sin 
 as well a^ sorrow. Let us gladly 
 forsake every thing, however sanc- 
 tioned by custom, howevf r dear to 
 us by habit, which would retard u.'* 
 in this pursuit ; and let us follow 
 Christ. Let us act, in regard to 
 heaven, as we do in the case of those 
 things belcw which engross our af- 
 fections; renouncing whatever might 
 prevent our attaining them; despis- 
 ing reproach; submitting to labour 
 and toil ; exercising forethought, 
 care, vigilance, perseverance. If we 
 would get to heaven, let our em- 
 ployments now be heavenly ; let us 
 act with heaven in our eye ; let us- 
 meditate upon it; let us talk of it; 
 let us not only pray, "Thy kingdom 
 come," but let our efiorls also be 
 directed to this en<l. If we thus 
 " labour to enter into that rest," we 
 may be confident that He, whose 
 only gift it is that our hearts are 
 thus far set on things above, will 
 carry on his work in us, until we are 
 made meet to partake of the glorious 
 inheritance of his saints. — Now unto 
 him who alone is able to keep us 
 from falling, and to present us fault- 
 less before the presence of his glory 
 with exceeding joy ; to the only 
 v»ise God our Saviour, be glory and 
 majesty, dominion and power, both 
 now and ever. Amen. 
 
 To iheEditorof theChvistian Observer, 
 
 In reading the tenth volume of 
 South's Works, which I lately bor- 
 rowed of a friend, I was very much 
 
75 
 
 South on Original Sin. 
 
 [Feb. 
 
 struck with the forcible lantfua^e truly and properly sin which is not 
 
 he used in speaking of " Original 
 Sin," in a sermon on Rom. vi. 23, 
 *'The wages of sin is death." Should 
 the extract I have sent you be 
 deemed suitable to your invaluable 
 Magazine, I hope you will insert it. 
 It comes from one who wishes the 
 
 voluntary; but original corruption 
 in infants cannot be voluntary, since 
 it precedes all exercise of tlieir ra- 
 tional pouers, their understanding, 
 and their will. But to this I an- 
 swer, that original corruption, in 
 every infant, is voluntary, not in- 
 
 cut prejudice by every clergy h- 
 man of the established churc. 
 
 A CLERGYMAN OF THE CHURCH 
 OF ENGLAND. 
 
 Christian Observer to be read with- deed in his own person, but in Adam 
 
 his representative; whose actions, 
 while he stood in that capacity, 
 were virtually, and by way of im- 
 putation, the acts of all his posterity: 
 as amongst us, when a person serves 
 " Original Sin, It may seem in parliament, all that he votes, in 
 s strange, perhaps, that sin bears date that public capacity or condition, is 
 with our very being; and indeed, truly and politically to be esteemed 
 in some respect, prevents it; — that the vote of all those persons, for 
 Ave were sinners before we were whom he stands and serves as repre- 
 born; and seem to have been held sentative. Now, inasmuch as Adam's 
 in the womb, not only as infants for sin was free and voluntary, and also 
 the birth, but as malefactors in a imputed to all his posterity, it fol- 
 prison ; — and that, if we look upon lows that their original corruptios, 
 our interests in this world, our forfeit the direct and proper effect of this 
 was much earlier than our posses- sin, must be equally voluntary ; and 
 sion. • We are' (says the Apostle) being withal irregular, must needs 
 ' by nature children of wrath,' Ephes, be sinful. Age and ripeness of 
 ii. 3. Not only by depravation, or years does not give being, but only 
 custom, and ill-contracted habits, opportunity to sin. That principle, 
 but by nature; the first principle which lay dormant and inactive be- 
 and source of action. And nature, fore, is then drawn forth \x\\.o sinful 
 we know, is as entire, though not as acts and commissions. When a man 
 strong, in an infant as in a grown is grown up, his corruption does not 
 man. Indeed, the strength of man's begin to exist, but to appear; and 
 natural corruption is so great, that to spend upon that stock which it 
 
 every m&/i is born an adult sinner. 
 Sin is the only thing in the world 
 which never had an infanc}^ that 
 knew no minority, •Tantillus puer, 
 tantus peccator,' saj's St. Austin. 
 Could v;e view things ' in semine,' 
 
 had long before. Pelagius, indeed, 
 tells us, that the sons of Adam came 
 to be sinners only by imitation. 
 But, then, I would know oi' him, 
 what those first inclinations are 
 which dispose us to such bad imita- 
 
 and look through principles, what a tions? Certainly that cannot but be 
 nest of impurities might we see in sinful which so powerfully and al- 
 tl.e heart of the least infant! like a most forciblv inclines us to sin. We 
 knot of little snakes wrapt up in a may conclude, therelore, that even 
 dunirhilll What a radical, produc- this original, native corruption ren- 
 tivt; force of sin might we behold ill ders the persons who have it ob- 
 all his faculties, ready upon occa- noxious and liable to death. An 
 sion and the maturity of age, to dis- evil heart will condemn us, though 
 play itself with a cursed fertility ! Providence should prevent its run- 
 There are some, I know, who deny ning forth into an evil life. Sin is 
 that, which we here calloriginal sin, sin, whether it rests in the inclina- 
 to be indeed proj)erly any sin at all ; tions, or shoots out into the practice : 
 and will have It, at the most, not to be and a toad is full of poison, though 
 ourfault, but our infelicity. And their he never spits it.'' — South's Works, 
 reason is, because nothing can be vol. x. pp. 315 — 317. 
 
 .£k. 
 
1812.] Biblical Inquiries. — 
 
 To the Editor of the Christian Observer. 
 
 I BEG leave to solicit nnswers to a 
 few questions, through ilie medium 
 of your excellent publicaiioii, if 
 they are such as you shall think 
 compatible >\ith its object, and 
 worthy the attention of its readers. 
 
 Jusiin Martyr affirms, as most 
 who have reail his works will recol- 
 lect, that the Jews expunged passages 
 from their sacred writings, which 
 bore testimony to the vicarious suf- 
 ferings and death of Jesus Christ; 
 and, among them, the following 
 verv striking passage : " When Ezra 
 celebrated the passover (as is re- 
 lated Ezra, ch. vi. 19}, he spake 
 (says Justin) thus : 'And Ezra spake 
 unto the people, and said. This 
 passover is our Saviour and our 
 Refuge: and if ye shall understand 
 and ponder it in your heart, that we 
 shall adlict hiin for a sign ; and if 
 afterwards we shall believe on hi7n; 
 this place shall not be desolated for 
 ever, saith the Lord of Hosts. But 
 if ye will not believe on him, nor 
 hear his preaching, ye shall be a 
 laughing stock to the Gentiles*."' 
 Kow, if this has, ;is Justin aifirms, 
 been expunged from the Septuagint, 
 the Jews have taken equal care to 
 strike it out of their Hebrew copies 
 likewise ; for I am not aware that it 
 exists in any copy extant. But what 
 I wish to ask is, 
 
 1st. Is Justin's assertion confirmed 
 by any other author of equal anti- 
 quity ? 
 
 2d. Was it denied by any Jew of 
 that period ? 
 
 3d. Is the passage to be found in 
 any ancient copy r 
 
 The only place, I conjecture, in 
 which there is any chance of finding 
 it, is in the Buchanan manuscript. 
 Mr. Yeates, who has already given 
 us such an interesting account of 
 this njanoscript, wdl perhaps have 
 the goodness to communicate the re- 
 quisite information on this point, 
 
 • Just. Martyri Opera ab Abcrthur. 
 rol. ii. p. 196. 
 
 Reeves's Prayer- Book. 79 
 
 My next question is of far less 
 importance than the preceding ones; 
 but as I know not where to obtain 
 information respecting it, you will, I 
 trust, allow me to ask it here. From 
 Mat.xxvii..!j2,53,we learn that (ifter 
 the resurrection of our Lord, "many 
 bodies of the saints which slept 
 arose from their graves," which, as 
 it would seem, had been thrown 
 open by the earthquake at his cruci- 
 fixion, " and went into the holv 
 city, and appeared unto many." It 
 does not seem, irom this phraseo- 
 logy, that they cotuiimed in the 
 city ; what, then, became of them ? 
 1 am, &c. 
 
 ACADEMICUS. 
 
 To the Editor of the ChristianObserver^ 
 
 I BEG leave, through the medium of 
 your publication, to spread abroad 
 the following observation of Mr. 
 Scott. " I have seen some copies 
 of the Prayer-Book printed by Mr. 
 Reeves, in whici\ the word ' he/p' is 
 substituted for 'health.' I hope it is 
 an error of the press, and not inten- 
 tional : for certainly no authority, 
 except that of king, lords, and com- 
 mons, in parliament a.ss^■mbled, is 
 competent to make this alteration." 
 — This error is continued through 
 every edition I have seen subsequent 
 to the year 1802. These editions, 
 from size, type, paper, and binding, 
 are the fashionable Prayer-Books. 
 But I more particularly wish to draw 
 the notice of your readers to another 
 omission of some magnitude. In the 
 Prayer-Book printed by Mr. Reeves, 
 in 1808, at the end of the Second 
 Collect at Evening Prayer, he lias 
 omitted " the merits of" Jesus. All 
 who feel their want of spiritual 
 health, and look to the merits of 
 Jesus Christ for everlasting righte- 
 ousness, will naturally be di?salisfie<l 
 with such alteratioHs. 
 
 A. 
 
so Some Account of the Life of the laie Rev. Dr. Kerr of 3Iadras. [Feb. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 The follpwing communicatioa has 
 been made to us by a much es- 
 teemed (Viend ; and in compliance 
 with his wishes, as well as from 
 sincere respect to the memory of 
 the deceased, we take the earliest 
 opportunity of inserting it. 
 
 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF THE 
 LATE REVEREND DK. KEKIl, SENIOR 
 CHAPLAIN OF THE PRESIDENCY OF 
 MADRAS. 
 
 Richard Hall Kerr, was the elder 
 of the two sons of the Rev. Lewis 
 Kerr, and was born in Dublin on 
 Jhe 3d of February, 17()'j. It would 
 appear that several of bis ancestors 
 had been brought up to the sacred 
 profession of a clergyman. Dr. 
 Kerr's grandfather, at an early 
 period of his life. h«l<l a curacy in 
 the bishoprick of Ciogher, and mar- 
 ried the eldest sister of his diocesan, 
 Bishop Sterne; whose extensive 
 and mnnificent charities have just- 
 jv entitled hitn to be enrolled among 
 the principal benefactors of his 
 Country*. Dr. Kerr's father, who 
 
 * *' John Sterne, Bishop of Ciogher. The 
 Sternes were originally of Mansfield in the 
 county of Nottingham ; and this prelate was, 
 I presume, of the family of Richard Sterne, 
 who died Archbishop of York in 1G83, aged 
 87 ; and the son of English parents, though 
 born in Ireland, from whom also descended 
 the late Lawrence Sterne, that eccentric 
 genius, more commonly known of late years, 
 by the familiar name of Parson Yorick. 
 Dr. Sterne was SwilVu immediate predecessor 
 in the deanery of St. Patrick's, Dublin ; and 
 on a resignation thereof, by compromise in 
 his favour, was, in May 1713, promoted to 
 the bishopric of Dromore : from wliich he 
 was, in March 1717, translated to Ciogher, 
 where he died in June 1745, at the age of 
 86. Tiie generosity", hospitality, and charity 
 of Dr. Sterne, were unbounded. The deanery 
 house of St. Patrick, the palaces of Dromore 
 and Ciogher, and cathedral of Ciogher, are 
 ksting monuments of his munificence ; and 
 »liew us what bishops can do in the cause of 
 
 recently died at an advanced age. 
 had, while young, the misfortune to 
 sustain a severe injury of the leg; 
 and it became necessary that he 
 should, in consequence of it, submit 
 to amputation as the only means of 
 preserving his life. He married the 
 
 relijzion when they h.ave no families to sup- 
 pori*. But even there we must not stop — 
 they may do more : for he erected the uni- 
 versity priming-house of Dublin : and be- 
 fjiieatlied all his books to St. Sepulchre's 
 Library,' of which they had not duplicates. 
 He acted as his own executor by giving Ws 
 relations and friends most of the legacies he 
 had designed for them; but tlie bulk of his 
 fortune (full 30,0001.) he left lo public in- 
 stitutions. Among these benefactions were 
 ten exhibitions to the University, of 50/. per 
 annum each ; Mercer's hospital, 200/. ; St. 
 Stephen's hospital, 40/. for a chaplain ; 
 Dean Swift's hospital, 6001. ; towards the 
 spire of St. Patrick's cathedral, 1000/. Such 
 acts as tliese conler honour on our Pro'.estanl 
 prelates." — Mr. Nolle's Continuatmi of Gran- 
 ger, vol. iiu 
 
 But notwithstandhig all this munificence, 
 it becomes necessary, on the present occa- 
 sion to observe, that his sister having mar- 
 ried without his consent. Bishop Sterne was 
 £0 highly incensed at this neglect, although 
 she had been his favourite sister, as never 
 afterwards to notice lier. The paicrnal estate 
 of Bishop Sterne was Belough, situated in the 
 county of Dublin, After his death, it was 
 enjoyed by his nephew Richard Hall, who, 
 dying unmarried, left, together with his 
 majden sisters, legacies to a very considerable 
 amount to Dr. Kerr's father. On tlie death 
 of Richard Hall, the Belough estate became 
 possessed by the trustees of St. Stephen's 
 Hospital, in whose hands it still remains. 
 Dr. Kerr's father was the heir-at-law, and 
 was perhaps the person who ought to have 
 possessed the estate ; but he never adopted 
 any measures to establisli his right to it, 
 being averse from engaging in the vexatious, 
 expensive, and uncertain process of a tedious 
 liti^alion. 
 
 * The author of the Continuation of 
 Granger, we presume, from this insinuation, 
 was a Roman Cathohc. Editor. 
 
1812.] Sof)ie Account of the Life of the late Rev. Dr. Kerr of Madras. 
 
 daughter of Colonel Lynden, a gen- 
 tleman who had resided many years 
 at Gibnillar, and who was unlorlu- 
 nately drowned in returning thence 
 to England, Though he entered 
 into holy orders, he never held any 
 preferment in the church. With 
 less worldly prudence than is con- 
 sistent with a due regard to his own 
 interest and the welfare of his family, 
 he was invariably respected for his 
 Upright and independent conduct ; 
 for the unatVected simplicity of his 
 manners, and for his actively bene- 
 volent disposition. In the course of 
 a long and eventful life, he presided 
 over several respectable seminaries 
 of education in Dublin and its vicini- 
 ty; but his exertions were constantly 
 more beneticial to others than to 
 himself. His reputation, however, as 
 a teacher, was always eminent; for, 
 with a profound knowlege of the 
 mathematics, he blended a refined 
 taste for the beauties of Grecian and 
 Roman literature. 
 
 The subject of this sketch was 
 educated under the tuition of his 
 father, until he attained the age of 
 fourteen years. He was then ad- 
 mitted a pensioner of Trinity Col- 
 lege, Dublin; and on the 27th 
 February, 1788, he took his degree 
 of Bachelor of Arts in that univer- 
 sity. 
 
 About this period, his father be- 
 came involved in pecuniary embar- 
 rassments, and the family was in 
 consequence plunged into deep dis- 
 tress. Mr. Kerr, deeply ati'ected 
 with this reverse of fortune, and 
 desirous to relieve his faiher from 
 expenses which he was no longer 
 able to support, quitted college and 
 formed the design of setting in 
 America in the medical profession. 
 With this view, he engaged in a 
 course of study and professional 
 attendance at the hospitals of Dub- 
 lin and London ; but the exigencies 
 of his situation did not admit of his 
 devoting to these studies sulTicient 
 time lor maturing the attainments 
 which he felt to be necessary, in 
 order to a conscientious discharge of 
 the duties he had proposed to under- 
 
 Christ. OflSEsr. No. I2'i. 
 
 81 
 
 take. He accordingly relinquished 
 this design in favour of another 
 pursuit, and embarked for Virginia 
 on Good Friday, 1788 : but he had 
 scarcely arrived there before he was 
 attacked with an obstinate intermit- 
 tant fever, the long continuance of 
 which impaired his constitution ; and 
 it was to the efttjcts of this disorder 
 that he was wont principally to 
 ascribe the ill health to wliich he 
 was ever afterwards subject. To this 
 visitation of Providence, he was also 
 wont with fervour to attribute the 
 mental revolution which disposed 
 him to undertake the sacred duties 
 of a profession to which his whole 
 life was thenceforth exclusively de- 
 voted. It was in consequence of 
 these deep and serious impressions 
 that he returned to England early in 
 178P, and, thence passing over to 
 Dublin, resumed his studies in the 
 university. On the 21st October, 
 of the same year, he was ordained 
 deacon by Dr. Crigan, bishop of 
 Sodor and Man; and on the 1st 
 November, that prelate appointed 
 Mr. Kerr his domestic chaplain. 
 This venerable dignitary of the 
 church, who is still living, was the 
 friend of Mr. Kerr's father. His 
 lordship honoured the son also with 
 his friendship, and on various oc- 
 casions gave him unequivocal proofs 
 of warm and unalterable attach- 
 ment*. 
 
 The most scrupulous view of his 
 
 * In an account of tlie Isle of Man, pub- 
 lished in the Monthly Magazine for Septem- 
 ber 1802, this accomplished and venerabls 
 prelate is thus spoken of. 
 
 " The bishop is near sixty ; in his coun- 
 tenance, benevolence and penetration are 
 strongly marked ; at limes the latter is pe- 
 culiarly severe, and at such moments it is 
 ditiicult to bear steadily the scrutiny of his 
 eye. He has great dignity in his deport- 
 nient, especially when he addresses a stran- 
 ger ; his manners are ihe most finished, his 
 conversation is replete with fashionable 
 anecdote, and his style, of expression is un- 
 commoiily Huent and elegant. His family 
 are annable and highly accomplished ; as 
 may be supposed, when it i!s known that 
 his lordship himself undertook the principal 
 care of their education." 
 
 M 
 
82 Sojne Account nf the Life of the late Rev. Dr. Kerr of Madras. [Feb 
 
 new duties could not, howtver, render 
 him insensible to the distresses of a 
 fat-ier ; and if Providence should not" 
 enable him to alleviate, he was de- 
 termined, at least, not to add to his 
 embarrassments. Our Indian set- 
 tlements apfieared to he a held well 
 suited to tiie combined duties which 
 pressed upon hisiuind; and having 
 obta ned letters of recommeodaiion 
 to gciitltmen of respectabilitv at 
 Eonihay, he accordingly embarked 
 for that settlement, and arrived there 
 on the 5th Jmif. 11 JO. >-,-,inerfhe 
 hopes of filiai piety, nor the objects 
 of a vocation to whicli he teit the 
 most seriou* impulst, were rouch 
 promoted bv the first results of this 
 voyage. 
 
 Soon after his arriv:d in India, he 
 was appointed to superintend the 
 Portuguese College at Mankeini. in 
 the island of Bombay; a situation 
 which, altiiough by no means con- 
 genial to his wishes, he held during 
 the space of nearly two years. After 
 that period was elapsed, despairing 
 of obtaining an appointment that 
 would enable him to accomplish 
 thes^e objects, he determined to return 
 to Europe; among other purposes, for 
 that of obtaining priestly ordination, 
 to which, when he embarked for 
 India, he had not attained the re- 
 quisite age to be admitted. 
 
 It being understood that the Per- 
 severance iVigate was shortly to be 
 dispatched to Knglaiid, Tvlr. Ktrr 
 solicited the appointment of chap- 
 lain to that vessel, chiefly with the 
 view of being enabled to return 
 home without expense. But another 
 of our Indian settlements was des- 
 tined to be the scene of his future 
 labours; and the Perseverance, hav- 
 ing sailed IVoni Bombay in 1792, 
 proceeded, contrary to his expecta- 
 tion, first to Madras, and arrived 
 there on the 3d June. 
 
 At this settlement, he was attack- 
 ed by a severe fever ; in which he 
 long lingered, friendless and forlorn, 
 at St. Thomas's Mount near Madras, 
 and the ship sailed to England with- 
 out him. On his recovery, how- 
 ever, he was enabled, by the kind 
 
 aid of the Hon. Basil Cochrane, 
 whose official connection with the 
 navy introduced him to his acquain- 
 tance, to establish a seminary on a 
 respectable and extensive scale in 
 the Blnck Town of Madras. To 
 this obj< ct he exclusiv«dy directed 
 his aUentio.i ; and i>e had the satis- 
 faction, in a very shore time, of suc- 
 ceeding in it beyond his expecta- 
 tions. 
 
 Hiiherto we have seen Mr. Kerr 
 struggling against adver-e fortune 
 with laudable perseverance. But 
 his industry, his good sense, and 
 his exemplary demeanour, could not 
 fail to attract notice, and attach to 
 his interest frii nds respectaole from 
 tlieir worth, talents, and official em- 
 ployments. Occasionally solicited 
 by the resident clergymen, he of- 
 ficiated in the church of Madras ; 
 and Sir Charles Oakley, at that time 
 the governor, was so gratified with 
 -his discourses, and held his character 
 in such high estimation, that, unso- 
 licited by Mr. Kerr, he resolved to 
 appoint him one of the East India 
 Company's chaplains. This ap- 
 pointment accordingly took place 
 on the loth April, 1793. He now 
 discontinued his school, and shortly 
 afterwards proceeded to join the 4th 
 battalion of European infantry at 
 Etlore, at that time the principal 
 station in the northern territories 
 subject totheGovernmentof Madras. 
 
 Arrived at Ellore, he evinced his 
 zeai m his sacred profession by a 
 sedulous attention to its duties. He 
 was the first clergyman wb.o had 
 been stationed in that part uf the 
 Company's dominions; and,, as 
 might be expected in a society 
 which had long been deprived of a 
 spiritual instructor, lie found that 
 the observances of the Sabbath were 
 entirely disregarded, and, in general, 
 all the established rites of religion. 
 To overcome this prevailing indif- 
 ference to Divine institutions, and to 
 excite and keep alive in his congre- 
 gation that devout and reverential 
 Itcling which constitutes one of the 
 chief benefits resulting from religious 
 ordinances, he conceived no measure 
 
1812.] Some Account of the Life of the late Rev. Br, iv^r/' <?/" Madras. 83 
 
 a further referen<>8 in Mr. Kerr'* 
 favour to the authorities at home. 
 
 In February he received instruc- 
 tions from Government to desist front 
 his preparations for the church, it 
 having been determined to remove 
 the troops from Ellore to Masuli- 
 patam. Mr. Kerr had reason to re- 
 gret this arrangement ; for, in the 
 expectation that Ellore would con- 
 tinue to be a principal military sta- 
 tion, he had expended a corjsider- 
 able sum in building a suitable 
 house for the accommodation of his 
 family. Mrs. Kei r's health had 
 sustained a severe sh^ck about this 
 period; and his anxiety for her re- 
 covery, his apprehensions respect- 
 ing the confirmation of his appoint- 
 ment, the welfare of all most dear 
 to him being deeply involved in the 
 decision, together with the loss at- 
 tendant on the removal of the gar- 
 lison, owing to the great deprecia- 
 tion in the value of property in con- 
 sequence of that event, were so ma- 
 ny circumstances conspiring to ren- 
 der his present situation peculiarly 
 distressing. But 
 
 " Fortunaque perdat 
 
 woiiiii \^^' so flFectual as that of 
 er-^ • ing a huddi^iij exclusively for 
 thf pe^f(>1•;u^nl:' of Divine worship. 
 Hjvinirco.n nuu'cated liis sentiments 
 on 'his >ultjr'(t n> the principal of- 
 ficers of the district, he was encou- 
 raged, in i'l'bruary 1794, to address 
 xhf public and solicit c<Mitributions 
 tovvards erecting a church at Mlore. 
 His t xe.vJons to promote ti.t sub- 
 scriji' ion were unremitted ; and for 
 this'purp -;e lie undertook a journey 
 throu:jh t'j- \orthi^r:i Circars, per- 
 forming divin^- service at every sta- 
 tion. A <:on>»iilerable sum was thus 
 obtained 'lircuh his individual ex- 
 ernons, which, with the addition of 
 1 '.)()) pagodas c(m.nhuted by the 
 Government, was deemed adequate 
 todelVay the expense of the build- 
 ing; the erection of which together 
 ■with a free school adjoining were 
 begun about that period. 
 
 On the I6t.h August 1794., Mr. 
 Kerr was married at Madras to Miss 
 Eliza Falconer; a lady who, with 
 an excellent understanding i.nd a 
 cultivated mind, blended every fe- 
 minine virtue. Willi such a com- 
 panion he had the prospect of everjr 
 happiness which the matrimonial 
 state can confer, and never was there 
 a union crowned with more perfect 
 harmony. 
 
 In the endearing society of his 
 amiable consort, in providing ma- 
 terials for his church, and in the 
 y)erforman(;e of his ministerial func- 
 tions, his time vvas forawhiledelight- 
 tully occupied. In January 1795, 
 he received the distressing intelli- 
 gence that the Court of Directors 
 had thought proper to annul his ap- 
 pointment as a chaplain in their ser- 
 vice; a resolution adopted not from 
 any personal objection to Mr. Kerr, 
 but because the appointment had 
 been conferred upon him ir\ India, 
 and not, as is usual on such occasions, 
 by the Directors in England. To 
 his merits. Lord Hobart, then gover- 
 nor of Madras, was not a stranger; 
 and his lordship was pleased in this 
 instance to suspend the execution of 
 the order, and await the result of 
 
 Oppo^ila virtute, niiiias.'' 
 And besides the consolations he de- 
 rived from religion and the applaud- 
 ing testimony of his own mind, he 
 received, in this period of adversity, 
 seasonable relief of another kind. 
 
 A friend, who appt'ars to have 
 been well acq:iainted with his em- 
 barrassments, sympathizing in his 
 distress and solicitous to relieve it, 
 forwarded to him by the post a 
 letter, of which the following is a 
 copy, containing a Bank note of 500 
 pagodas (200/.) 
 
 " 5t.h March, 1795. 
 
 " A friend to virtue in distress 
 takes this method of contributing to 
 its relief. It will be sufficient satis- 
 faction to him to know, by a line in 
 the Courier, that A. B. has received 
 the favour of a Christian." 
 
 Such an instance of genuine be- 
 nevolence commands our admira- 
 tion, in the highest degree delicatt 
 M 2 
 
84- Soitie Account of the Life of the 
 
 and generous, it was the act of one, 
 *' who," 10 use the words of Mr. 
 Kerr, " confers the greatest obliga- 
 tionj without exacting the blush of 
 the receiver, who lets i>ot his left 
 hand know what his right hand 
 doeth; who, actuated by the pure 
 motive of benevolence, seeks from 
 his own heart his own reward*." 
 
 It is unnecessary to say, that the 
 obligation was j^ratefully acknow- 
 ledged by Mr. Kerr in the Courier. 
 His solicitude to discover his bene- 
 factor may be easily imagined: but he 
 could never, with apparent probabi- 
 lity, attach to any mdividual the 
 performance of this truly generous 
 act. 
 
 Notwithstanding his straitened 
 circumstances, it would seem that at 
 this time Mr. Kerr atibrded some 
 pecuniary aid to his father. At a 
 subsequent period, when his re- 
 sources were more ample, he allow- 
 ed his father an annuity sufficU;nl to 
 render his decliniu<j a^e comfortable 
 and happy. 
 
 The Reverend Dr. Bell, Superin- 
 tendantof the Militarv Male Orphan 
 Asylum, at Egmore, near Maclrasf, 
 under whose direction the charity 
 was founded, and who had the merit 
 of iritroducing into the institul^ion a 
 system of education, the advantages 
 of wliich have since become known 
 and acknowledged throu'^hout Eng- 
 land J, having intimated that it was 
 his intention to return to Europe, 
 
 * Dr. Kerr has noticed this interesting cir- 
 cumstance in his Religious Tracts and Ser- 
 mons. See Vol. IV. Seniion VI. 
 
 t The Milit;iry Male Orphan Asylum is an 
 institution for the support and education of 
 tlie children, legitimate or otherwise, of Eu- 
 ropean soldiers, botli in the service of liis 
 Majesty and of the East India Companj, em- 
 ployed under tlie presidency of Madras. By 
 far the greater number of the boys admitted 
 are born of native mothers. Tlie institution 
 was founded in the year 1789. An Asylum 
 for female cliildren was founded at Madras 
 some years before, under the auspices of 
 Lady Campbell. 
 
 { See Dr. Bell's publication, entitled, "An 
 Experiment in Education made at the Male 
 Asylun^ at E^jmore, near Madras." 
 
 late Rev> Dr. Kerr of Madras, [Feb. 
 
 the Directors of the Asylum selected 
 Mr. Kerr as the fittest person to 
 succeed Dr. Bell in his important 
 charge. He accord ■ni,dy undertook 
 the superintendence of the Asylum, 
 on the resignation of Dr. Bell, in 
 August 179t); and about the same 
 time he received the f; ratifying in- 
 ttlligence that the Court of Direc- 
 tors had confirmed his appointment 
 as a chaplain on the establishment. 
 
 In September following, he was 
 appointed junior chaplain of Fort 
 St. George, a vacancy having occur- 
 red at the presidency by the retire- 
 ment of the Reverend B. Milling- 
 champ. 
 
 He was now placed in siftiations 
 the emoluments of which relieved 
 him from the pecuniary difficulties 
 under which he had lono- laboured; 
 and the Asylum aftnrded a sphere 
 for the exertion of his talents and 
 the exercise of his benevolence 
 more extensive than any he had hi- 
 tlierto enjoyed. At the period of 
 his appointment to the superinlen- 
 dency of that charily, it was on a 
 narrow scale compared with the 
 present extended e.stablishment ; the 
 inadecjuacy of its funds necessarily 
 excluded many destitute ohjects 
 from partaking of its benefits; and 
 as t!ie appeals to the public foi as- 
 sistance had been frequent, the on- 
 tributions diminished, and were no 
 longer commensurate with the in- 
 creasing wants of the institution. 
 
 " Under these circumstances," to 
 quote the words of Mr. Kerr, " I 
 felt that there was no object of 
 greater importance to my charge, 
 than the establishnivint of some cer- 
 tain plan by which the orphans 
 themselves might be made to bear a 
 part of their own expetjse, and be- 
 nefit both themselves and the pub- 
 lic by their own labours. 
 
 " After various attempts to ascer- 
 tain the best means for so desirable 
 a purpose, I found that none could 
 be so lucrative, none so extensively 
 beneficial to the public, as the 
 establishment of a printing press at 
 the Asylum. 
 
181 2.] So7»e Account of the Life of the late Rev. Dr. Kerr of Madras. 85 
 
 " Finding, however, that 1 could 
 not easily convince others of the 
 practicability of such a plan, I was 
 obliged to make the experiment at 
 my own cost; and having purchased 
 a press and tvp«s, and en ployed a 
 few of the orphans in working them, 
 I had the pleasure of >ooii wiviag a 
 solid proof of the excellence of my 
 .scheme; and, having presented a 
 large snm of money to the school 
 from the work, the directors of the 
 institution resolved to give their 
 sanction and support to the under- 
 taking*." 
 
 The merit of introducing the art 
 of printing at the Asylum, is ex- 
 clusively due to the active and per- 
 severing eflbrts of Mr. Kerr. To- 
 tally unacquainted with the practice 
 of the art, and unable to procure 
 any person duly qualified to instruct 
 his young pupils, he had, at the 
 commencement of the undertakings 
 to contend against obstacles which 
 appeared almost insurmountable. 
 He not only derived no assistance 
 from others, hut he had t > encoun- 
 ter opposiii'in instigated by those 
 who, in the success of Mr. Kerr's 
 plan, contemplated the diminution 
 of their osvn emoluments. These 
 difficulties, sufficient to have appal- 
 led an ordinary mind, so far from 
 discouraging, servv d rather to stimu- 
 late dim to njore strenuous exertion. 
 The success of his experiment hav- 
 ing at length induced the Directors 
 to patronize the press for the benefit 
 of the Asylum, ityieided progressive- 
 ly increasing revenues to the insti- 
 tution, so as to admit of the number 
 
 which the government-press was 
 established at the Asylum, and 
 whence have flowed etUcts recipro- 
 cally advantaiieous lo the commu- 
 nity, to the Asylum, and to the East 
 India Company. 
 
 In this arrangement was involved 
 the publication of a weekly govern- 
 ment-newspaper, in whicl) all the 
 advertisements and public notifica- 
 tions of the Government were in 
 future to be printed. The profits 
 arising from ibis piper, in conjunc- 
 tion with those produced by the sale 
 of various books, &c. &c. the print- 
 ing of which is undertaken for the 
 benefit of the charity ;, have consti- 
 tuted the chief resource of the in- 
 stituiioi) on its present extended 
 scale. Be'iides the execution of all 
 tiie English primed work required 
 by the Govt-rnment, at no o'hrr ex- 
 pense than that of paper, printing is 
 gratuiiouslv [ierformed to a great 
 extent in the several native lan- 
 guages; in the Per>ian, Telin^a, 
 and Malabar characters; and the 
 saving in printing cha'-rji-s which 
 has been produced to (Tovernment, 
 throuiih the exertions of Mr. Kerr, 
 may be estima;ed at upwards of 
 1(),60() pagodas (400(V.) annually*. 
 
 Nor did the extens;ve beuetits re- 
 sulting to the Asylum from the press, 
 constitute the sole claim which he 
 possessed lo the gratitude of that in- 
 stitution. His merit was scarcely 
 
 * Tliis calculation is made with reference 
 to the expenses of governnieat-prinling at u 
 period antecedent to the eslahliihnient of 
 Uie experimental press, at the Mule Asvluni, 
 Ijv Mr. Kerr. By a luinute of Lord dive's 
 
 of children being augmented to 300, C"'^ lordship beiug then governor of Madras) 
 beyond which it has been deemed in- 
 expedient to ( xtend the establish- 
 ment. In the year 179iJ, the Govern- 
 ment having resolved to establish a 
 printing-ofiice at Madras, Mr. Kerr 
 was ioierro^aled with respect lo the 
 ability of the press at Egmoreto per- 
 form the printing of the Government. 
 The result of this communication 
 was a permanent arrangement, by 
 
 * Letter to the Court of Directors, Janu- 
 ary 19, 1803, 
 
 it appears that, by means of the Asylum 
 press, before it obtained the patronage of 
 Governnienl, the Conimittee of Retorm wer^ 
 enabled to ciieck the expenses of printing 
 ac llie other offices, and reduced ttieni, a^ 
 expressed in the report of the Committee, to 
 one half. The actual saving to Government 
 without utteiiiion to this circumstance, of 
 course, will not rpucli exceed half the sUni 
 stated in the Ibre<;oi:i'; paragraph. 
 
 Letter from Mr. Kerr to the Court of Di- 
 rectors, dated January 19, 1S03, and 
 Appendix. Also Minutes of the Male 
 Asylum, SepteaUr 2Q, 1806. 
 
S8 On the Vnion of the Offices of Tutor and Minister. [Feb. 
 
 less conspicuously evinced in the against this union. It is not my in- 
 
 diligent and able manner in which 
 the education of the children and 
 the general conre ns of the charity 
 were conducted under his fostering 
 protection. The improved regula- 
 tions he established, the attention he 
 invariably shewed to the health and 
 comfort of the boys, and the mecha- 
 nical arts in which he caused them 
 to be instructed*, at once to render 
 
 tention to support the arguments of 
 a former correspondent in favour of 
 the practice, but merely to state the 
 reasons which, under the general 
 circu instances of the case^ inciuce 
 me to think it justifiable. 
 
 I. I do not conceive these offices 
 to be incompatible, unless peculiar 
 circumstances render them so. 
 
 I. Bf cause the canons of our 
 
 t'lem more useful members of so- church permit, in certain cases, this 
 
 ciety, and to afford them more am- 
 ple means of afterwards maintaining 
 thenisi'lves, are circumstances which 
 ousfht to be mentioned with merited 
 encomium 
 
 (To he continued.) 
 
 To the Editor of the ChrisH'anObserver. 
 
 I AM one of tho^e who unite the 
 ofnces of minitipr ^:nd tutor ; and 
 have read with attention tiie remarks 
 in the Chriotiau Observer lor and 
 
 ^ Encournired by the success vliich at- 
 tended tiis experiment ol' t'.ie press at ibe 
 Asvlum, Mr. Krrr was led to extend his 
 Tiews for t!ie mutual benefit of the chanty 
 and of the otijects to whom it afforded sup- 
 port, by proposing that the bojs sliould be 
 instructed in various linndicraft employ- 
 ments, and tauglu the business of cabinet- 
 makers, bookbinders, smiths, engravers, 6cc. ; 
 occupations wliich would always afford sup- 
 port to the industrious, and contribute great- 
 ly to the convenience and advantage of the 
 community. Tiiis plan was patronized t)y 
 the Directors of the Asyluui and partially 
 adopted ; but owing to the difhculty of pro- 
 curing proper masters to instruct llie boys, 
 and to other unexpected impediments, it 
 ■was never carried to the extent Mr. Kerr 
 designed. Bookbinding and some other 
 arts continue to be performed by the boys 
 of the chaiity. 
 
 Experience hitherto has shewn the appre- 
 liensions to be void of foundation, which 
 were entertained, that employment could 
 not be found lor the new and increasing 
 cla>« of subjects brought up at tlie As\lum. 
 The boys have scarcely time to attain the 
 rudiments of education, before applications 
 are made for them from various quarters, to 
 
 union. If it be said that this per-r 
 mission refers to the children of a 
 clergyman's parish, it will still be 
 j^raiited that it was not considered 
 incotisistent with a minister's ordi- 
 nation-engagements, to employ a 
 considerable portion of his time in 
 intparting knowUdge, which is not 
 stricllv professional. 
 
 2. JN or is there any thing in 
 Scripture which militates against 
 this union. On the contrary, the 
 e.Kanip'i.i of the Apostle, whose 
 " hands ministered to his necessi-, 
 ties," asTords a direct countenance 
 to those, whose peculiar circum- 
 stances render an honourable, or 
 even an honest subsistence imprac- 
 ticable, from an exclusive attention 
 to the spiritual concerns of his pa- 
 rishioners. The writer of this paper 
 d d nm think it inconsistent with his 
 character or profession, when leaving 
 a people, among whom he had 
 laboured wiih some success for 
 several years, to appeal to his con- 
 gregation that he had " coveted no 
 man's silver or gold," but that his 
 talents, such as they were, had 
 ministered to the support of himself 
 and his familv. 
 
 3. It may be added, that the two 
 offices in question concur in one 
 common object — the communica- 
 tion of knowltdge, and the forming 
 of mural and religious habits : so 
 that the office of tutor does not unfit, 
 but rather (jualifies him for a more 
 successful discharge of his duty as a 
 minister, and collaterally promotes 
 the good of his parish. 
 
 4.The greaterpartof private tutors 
 
 be indentured as clerks, accountants, faruers, 
 
 »nd assiMants in the medical department of reside in villages, where the parishes 
 
 the army, anizan?, &c, 6oc. are generally small, and where, of 
 
1812.] On the Union, of the OJkes of Tutor and Minister. S7 
 
 course, the number of prolesslonal will have less lem|jiatiori to {requent 
 
 visits is restricted within 
 limits. 
 
 5. The intervals of teach- fg, and 
 occasional I olidavs, afl'ird maiiv, 
 and, in most cases, probrtblv sutii- 
 cient opportunities of private visit- 
 ing. 
 
 6. It is not difficult to devise ex- 
 pedients to supersede the necessity 
 ofconsL.iut, individud visits: such, 
 for instance, as taking act", of tea 
 once or twice a week with a pa- 
 rishioner, who is gratified by the 
 attention; and, after the hours of 
 labour, coliecting at his house tight 
 or ten of the neighbours lor the pur- 
 pose of religious conversation, ex- 
 pounding the Scripture, and prayer. 
 I have adojjted this plan for some 
 years, and have found the best 
 eflects result from it. 
 
 7. It does not appear, nor do I 
 think it can be shewn, that clergy- 
 men who unite these offices are less 
 uselul and successful in their pa- 
 rishes than others. The time which 
 others spend in literary ease (and 
 few scholars possess the self-denial 
 to renounce all the pursuits which 
 have engrossed their attention for a 
 succession of years, in which their 
 habits have been formed, from 
 which they have derived much re- 
 fined pleasure, am! which hjive qua- 
 lified them for usefulness on an ex- 
 tensive scale); I say, the time which 
 these spend in literary ease may be 
 devoted with advantage to the edu- 
 cation of youth. I may add, too, 
 that lime will, in general, be better 
 husbanded by tutors, Thev will rise 
 earlier; spend less time at the table; 
 have the best excuse for declining 
 invitations; have fewer intrusions 
 from trifiers ; attain to gjeater re- 
 gularity in domestic concerns; and 
 turn ahnost every fragment of Mme 
 to some useful account. Nor let it 
 seem invidious (for we are put on 
 our defence) if it be added, that 
 they will be less likely to have their 
 houses crowded with a succession of 
 visitors; that they will pav fewer 
 
 , and shorter yisita to their friends; 
 
 '.\u*^ering-p!aces, or to make excur- 
 sions '>f pleasure ; and, in short, 
 will be more likrlv' to be found at 
 their po-:i ilian many others. 
 
 Ii. If these officus are not, in 
 tbemselv. s, incompatible, so, in 
 some cases, their union is neces- 
 saiy. 
 
 1. Many private tutors will be 
 founn am og curates, wlio have no 
 other respectable means of obtain- 
 ing a bare subsistence. 
 
 o. Orhfrs possess livings which 
 are unequal to the support of a 
 family; and it is presumed, that 
 very few will be found in this class 
 of tutors whose circumstances raise 
 them above the necessity of this 
 arduous undertaking. 
 
 3 It may, however, be added, as a 
 justification, probably, of all those 
 who are engaged in this office, 
 whose circumstances may seem to 
 be easy, that the children of clergy- 
 men labour under peculiar disad- 
 vantages. They are necessarily 
 brought up with different views 
 from the children of most of their 
 parishioners. They see nothinc in 
 the occupation of their parents, 
 which, bv association, may gra- 
 dually train them to business: thej*" 
 are generally looked up to bj' their 
 neighbours, and, in spite of all that 
 can be said to the contrary, they 
 will imagine themselves destined 
 to move in higher circles than the 
 children of the farmer and mechanic. 
 Now, what is to be done for them 
 under these circumstances r Must 
 the parent, by declining the only 
 meaPiS by wljich he can procure 
 them a decent entrance on the 
 course of life in which they can be 
 expected to appear with advantagfe, 
 render i. morally certain that his 
 children will be either a blank or a 
 blot in the world ? Other children 
 are iinperceptiblv led to enter into 
 the profession and plans of their 
 parents: mU'i iho^e of clergymen 
 be precluded from the literary pur- 
 suits of theirs, and, by an unnatural 
 counteraction to their prejudices and 
 
88 On the Union of the Offices 
 
 feelings, be thrown upon a mode of 
 
 gaining a livelihooil, which, to sav 
 the least of it, would be a continual 
 burden? 
 
 It deserves consideration, whether 
 some of the unhappy instances of 
 the children of excellent ministers 
 turning out idle and vicious, — a 
 source of miser}'^ to their parents, 
 and a pest to society, — may not be 
 accounted for by the circuuistance 
 of their parents having no means of 
 early introducing them to business, 
 or of putting them in the way of 
 forming those associations between 
 industry and success, exertion and 
 respectability, which repel idleness 
 at its first approach, and connect 
 sensual indulgences with wretched- 
 ness and disgrace. 
 
 4, It may be added, that not 
 many livings will enable the parent 
 of a tolerably large family to put 
 out his children to schools where a 
 sound education may be obtained. 
 Necessity, therefore, makes him the 
 tutor of his own children : bat he 
 finds that, without much additional 
 expense of time, he can, with great 
 advantage, educate a few others with 
 his own cliildreii. Compan}^ and 
 superior attainments aflurd a salu- 
 tary stimulus, and greatly lessen the 
 fatigue of instraction, and smooth 
 the path to knowledge. 
 
 One or other of these reasons, it 
 is presui^ned, will justify most of 
 those ministers who are embarked 
 in educating the rising generation. 
 But, 
 
 III. I will advance a step further, 
 and " magnify iny office." I do 
 not think that the increasing num- 
 ber of private schools, conducted 
 by clergymen, is a subject of lamen- 
 tation, but rather of congratula- 
 tion. 
 
 ]. Much collateral advantage is 
 ofsen derived to a parish from this 
 union of offices. Not to mention 
 that little tradesmen are much as- 
 sisted by the money which is neces- 
 sarily put in circulation ; a clergy- 
 man is enabled to be much more 
 liberal in his parish, than, with his 
 
 of Tutor and Minister, [Feb; 
 
 confined means, without a school, 
 he could have been. If his visits to 
 tlie sick are less frequent (and, un- 
 less his parish l>e large, this need 
 not be the case)y they are the more 
 welcome and profitable, from the 
 relief which is administered to the 
 body as well as the mind. Sunday 
 and day-schools may be established 
 and supported. Clothes and food,. 
 Bibles and religious tracts, are dis- 
 tributed to an extent proportioned 
 to a minister's increased means. 
 Besides this, the parents of his pupils 
 are never backward to assist in any 
 work of benevolence N^hich may be 
 going on in his parish : even his 
 pupils themselves will often feel a 
 pleasure in doing good among the 
 poor. I bate seen the sons of 
 members of parliament and of no- 
 blemen — nay, a nobleman himself — 
 constantly and unsolicited, attend a 
 Sunday-school, take peculiar interest 
 in the progress of the poor children, 
 and liberally reward their improve- 
 ment. 1 may be permitted to add, 
 that much more has been done in 
 my own pari«;h for the good of the 
 whole, than could have been done, 
 had my labours been confined solely 
 to the ministry. 
 
 2. Let us next consider what in- 
 fluence this union of ofiices has on 
 the propagation and extension of 
 sound learning. Without detract- 
 iiig from the literary attainments of 
 many laymen, it will be admitted 
 that, of those who have drank deeply 
 into science, not many are in such 
 dependent circumstances as to ren- 
 der any arduous employment neces- 
 sary ; and those who are, have 
 opportunities of turning their know- 
 ledge to a better account than by 
 applying it to the education of 
 vouth. It will, therelbre, be con- 
 ceded, I suppose, that were the 
 clergy to decline this post, it would 
 not be very easy to find a substitute 
 for their " lack of service;" and 
 the interests of literature must, of 
 course, materially sufter. On the 
 other hand, v\ hat can so eft'ectualty 
 secure the extension of knowledge. 
 
1812.] On the Union of the Offices of Tutor and Minister. 89 
 
 as the devoting of those attainments have not fallen greatly short of the 
 
 which were made, under peculiar 
 advantages in preparing for the 
 ministry, to the instruction of the 
 rising generation ? 
 
 It has been recommended, indeed, 
 that those clergymen whose circum- 
 stances or inclination induces them 
 to undertake the tuition of youth, 
 should relinquish their ministry, 
 and pur>uf tliis object exclusively. 
 Some have done so. I neither con- 
 demn nor approve their conduct: 
 ** let every man be persuaded in his 
 own mind." 1 may, however, be 
 allowed to say, what I suppose 
 
 success of others in ihe work of 
 the ministry under similar circum- 
 stances) to this department of their 
 labours. The name of every mini- 
 ster or public character whom they 
 have educated is " letrion ;'' and if 
 they have succeeded in imbuing 
 these with true piety aiid Christian 
 principles, the ultimate advantage 
 of their labours is incalculable. 
 
 But view this subject as it stands 
 connected with our chrrch esta-» 
 blishraent. Are these times whea 
 we may repose in security in the 
 ark of the church ? Is there nothing 
 
 many others would also asst-rt for to apprehend from the various cla-ses 
 
 themselves, that / could not aban- 
 don my ministiy : " A dispensation 
 is laid upon me," &c. ; and till it 
 can be shewn that the two offices are 
 inconipaiii)le, and that serious evils 
 result from their union, 1 presume 
 to think tliat this recommendation 
 is unauthorised and premature. 
 
 3. In the discussion of this im- 
 portant subject, we must not over- 
 look the aspect which it bears on 
 true religion and our church esta- 
 blishment. Admit that clergymen 
 cannot conscienliouslv combine the 
 two offices of minister and tutor, 
 and into whose hands must the reli- 
 gious instruction of youth neces- 
 sarily devolve ? This is a question 
 of no small impcriance. Where 
 shall we find an equal guarantee 
 against either the general neglect 
 (we are speakmg of private schools) 
 of a sound, religious education, or 
 the overwhelming influx of Socinian 
 or infidel principles f One of the 
 most encouraging signs in these 
 portentous times is, the increasing 
 attention which is every where paid 
 to the diffusion of knowledge and 
 true religion ; and though I should 
 incur the censure of vanity, 1 will 
 assert it, that this day of better pro- 
 mise has dawned from the labours 
 of pious clergymen in educating 
 youth, as well as preaching the 
 Gospel. I ara persuaded ihai many 
 of my brother tutors will unite with 
 me in ascribing their t!,reatest use- 
 
 of dissenters ? and may we safely 
 leave the field of private educa'ion, 
 and the training of our futuie di- 
 vines and senators in their hands? 
 Do the hierarchy and the established 
 ministry possess such firm hold on 
 the minds of the community, and 
 command such universal respect, as 
 to leave nothing to fear from the 
 private insinuations, or open ridi- 
 cule, or hostile attack of the enemies 
 of our church ? If the affirmative of 
 these and similar questions will not 
 be advanced, 1 would ask whether 
 the perpetuity of our tolerant^ mild, 
 and scriptural establishment is alto- 
 gether independent of the labours of 
 pious clergymen in the tuition of 
 youth? tor my part, I cannot help 
 connecting the diffusion of sound 
 learning and Christian principles; 
 the safety of our church establish- 
 ment; and the good of the public 
 at large with the labours of the re- 
 gular clergy in the education of the 
 rising generation. It is now too 
 late to discuss the question of the 
 comparative advantages and disad- 
 vantages of public and private 
 schools; a considerable portion of 
 the community will prefer the lat- 
 ter : and, in my humble opinion, 
 those clergymen, wiio, without neg- 
 lecting thtj'.r appropriate duties, de- 
 vote a considerable portion of their 
 time and tah lUs unci spirits to the 
 benetit of youth, act in no way in- 
 consistently with their profession 
 
 fulness (and I iiumbly hope that we and that, so far from deserving the 
 Chrjst. Obsebv. No. 122. N 
 
■&0 Some Acccfunt of Fox the Martyrologisi. 
 
 imputation of prkie or avarice, er a 
 
 [Fe». 
 
 dereliction of dntv *, as tliey are 
 " in labours more abundant," so they 
 art- entitled to some degree of pub- 
 lic graLiiude. 
 
 I am, Sir, yours, &c. 
 
 To the Editor of the CkristianObserver. 
 
 I s^ND you the following brief ac- 
 count of the renowned John Fox, 
 the Martyrologist, written by Do- 
 nald Lupton, and published in the 
 3'ear 1637, if you think it will be 
 acceptable to your readers. 
 
 THEOGMS. 
 
 " Behold this man, and thou canst 
 not choose but wonder at his ex.- 
 Iraordinary labowr and travaite, to 
 gather together so many of God's 
 servants in a bundle : hee was borne 
 in the county of Lincoln ; his youn<j; 
 yeares shewed that he was layd out 
 for a scboUer, and so he had educa- 
 tion accordiiiglv.in a famousschoole. 
 After being ripe, he was s-ent to Ox- 
 ford, and was admitted into Magda- 
 /en Colledge, where hee gave himselfe 
 strictly to study, and then protest 
 divinity. Hee attained to an excellent 
 skill in the Latme, Greek, and Hebrew 
 tongues, in King Eilward Sixth his 
 reigne; and for his better safety and 
 security, left this kingdome in Quet n 
 Marks daves, and lived in the Low 
 Countries. But when the date of 
 that Quecne'vS daves were expired, 
 hee came backe into England, and 
 proved a fatuous divine. Hee had 
 an excel ient faculty in preaching ; 
 and added to painefulnesse, constan- 
 cy at:id willingnesse: but that worke 
 of his called ' 'I'li-e History of the 
 Martyrs' made bis name famous in 
 this kmgdome and elsewhere, and 
 will for ever speake his praise. — Hee 
 Vk'as a man of an humble spirit, and 
 had truely learn'd that doctrine of 
 St. Paul, in what estate soever he was 
 in, thereviiihuU to be content. Hee 
 was one that bud, as it seeiTi'd, cru- 
 cified himselfe lo the world and its 
 
 * Vicie the conchiding paragraph, signed 
 R., of page 7. "iS, of Christ. Ob»erv, for Dec. 
 I8il. 
 
 vanities, as it may appeare, m a 
 kind and fatherly reprehension of 
 his eldest sonne, who having a great 
 mind to travel into forraigne parts, 
 which when hee had performed, hee 
 came to his father in Oxford, then 
 being old, and hee being attired in a 
 loose out-landish fashion; * Who are 
 your' said his father, not knowing 
 him. To whom his sonne replyed, 
 'I am your 9<^>nne :' to whom th>s 
 Master JFore answered; 'Oh, what 
 eiieniy of thine hath taught thee so 
 much vanity ?' which speeche of his 
 shewed, that his minde was weaned 
 from the love of the world. And, 
 indeed, I cannot conceive how hee 
 could have any liberty to addict 
 himselfe to follow delights and plea- 
 sures, doing so exquisitely such rare 
 pieces of schollersnip, which tooke 
 up all his time : nay, it is rather to 
 be wondered, how hee performed so 
 great labours in so short a time; 
 which tie could not have done with- 
 out long and tedious watchings and 
 fastings;- which three, study, fast- 
 insi, and watching, will subject the 
 jksh to the spirit; and this course 
 tooke hee. 
 
 " This man never sought after,^ 
 greedily, any promotions or pre- 
 ferments, but he-Id and approved of 
 that estate in which he dyed. Hee 
 de-parted 'bis life in London, and 
 lyes buried in the church of 
 Saint Giles without Cripplegate, 
 upon whose marble monument his 
 Sonne, Srmvd Foxe, hath caused to 
 be iu<ifavt-n this iftscription: 
 
 " Chri«to, S. S. 
 " To John Foxe, his honoured fa- 
 ther, the faithful Martyrologian of 
 our English Church, a most disert 
 searcher into the antiquities of his- 
 tories, a most stifte bulwarke, and 
 fighter for the evangelical trutJi> 
 which hath revived the Martyrs, as 
 so many Phoenixes, from the dust of 
 oblivion, is this monument made. 
 Hee dyed iSth of April, 1537 ; and 
 of his age 70. ' 
 
 P. S. Among the many reprints 
 of old chrooitles and other works, 
 why ie Fox overlooked ? A reprint 
 
) 8 F 2. ] Paraphrase of Heh. iv. 1 3 
 
 of him, from t>»e first edition of 
 I5o3, may be considered a desidera- 
 tum, and would ceriainly weH repay 
 some of our speculatiot; booksellers ; 
 and I liope soon to see a new edi- 
 tion of the " Acts and Monuments 
 of the Church," announced on the 
 covers of the Christian Observer. 
 
 To the Editor of the Christian Observer. 
 
 I SEND you an improved edition (at 
 least 1 hope it is one) of a hyain 
 which you ooce honoured with in- 
 sertion in the Christian Observer, 
 If 3'ou are of the same opinion, you 
 will probably insert it whtn vou 
 have a spare column. 
 
 I am, &c. E T. D R. 
 
 ** For we have not au Hi^h Piii'>rt who can- 
 
 • not be toucheii with tiif l^-euui; of aur 
 
 infirmities; but wa& In all poin'.s tempted 
 
 like as we are, jet wiilieut siu." — ^Hbb. 
 
 IT. 15. 
 
 WHEN gathering cloHds around I view. 
 And days are dark, and friends are itw.. 
 On him I lean, wiiu, itot iiivaia, 
 Expericnc'd every human paiu j 
 He sees my wants, allays my fears. 
 And couats and treasures up my tears. 
 
 S. — Revievj o^ Alison on Taste. 
 
 91 
 
 If ouijht should tempt my soul to stray 
 From ht-aveniy virtue's narrow way. 
 To fly the uood I would pursue, 
 Or do the siu I would not do, 
 Still he wjio felt temptation's power 
 Shall guard me in that dangerous hour. 
 
 If wounded love ray bosom swell, 
 Deceiv'd by those I priz'd too well, 
 Hf shall his pityinii; ,iid bestow. 
 Who felt on earth severer woe ; 
 At once belray'd, deiiied, or fled. 
 By aU that shar'd his daily bread. 
 
 When vexing thoughts within me riae. 
 And, sore dismay'd, my spirit dies, 
 •Yet he who once vouchsnt'd to bear 
 The sickening augnish of despair. 
 Shall sweetly soothe, shall gently dry, 
 Tlifi throbbing heart, the streaming eye. 
 
 When somnving o'er some stone I bend. 
 Which covers all that was a friend ; 
 And from his voice, his hand, his smile, 
 Divides me — for a little while, — 
 Tliou, Saviour, see'st iht; tears I shed. 
 For ihou didst weep o'er Lazarus dead. 
 
 And O, when I have safely past 
 Through every confticl — but the las'. 
 Still, still unchanging, watch beside 
 My paiiilul bed< — for thou hast died ; — 
 Then point to realms of cloudless diiy, 
 And wipe the latest tear away ! 
 
 REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Essays on the Nature and Principles 
 of Taste. By Archibald Alison, 
 LL. B. F. R. S. London and Edin- 
 burgh, Prfrbendary of Sarum, &c. 
 2 vols, Edinbiirsh, Bell and Erad- 
 fute; London, Rivingtons. 1811. 
 Price l«s. 
 
 If any of our readers feel a disposi- 
 tion to complain, that we are in 
 some measure breaking bounds, by 
 entering u|)on the examination of a 
 work with the title of that before 
 us, we beg them to suspend their 
 judgment till they understand the 
 system of Mr. Alison, and have done 
 as the favour of considering our 
 poor observations upon it. Ifamore 
 geoeral objection be urged to any 
 
 review of a work originally publish- 
 ed in 1790j it may be answered, 
 that this publication never met with 
 the attention it appears to us to de- 
 serve; that it has been republished 
 with some additions, within a few 
 morrths; that the public e5'e has been 
 laiel}- fixed upon it, l)y a very splen- 
 did critique in a periodical work ; 
 and that the work itself, whilst it 
 yields some advantage to religion, 
 will derive much by being brought 
 into a closer contact with it. It will 
 be our endeavour, in the following 
 critique, first, to present, as may 
 suit us best, in his words and by 
 his machinery, or in our own, a 
 faithful exhibition of the system of 
 Mr. Alison ; and then to carry thf 
 
92 
 
 Review of Alison on Taste. 
 
 [Feb. 
 
 system and the subject of it, from 
 the schools, as it were, to the tem- 
 ple; and, for a moment, examine its 
 bearings upon those grand topics, to 
 which our labours are more espe- 
 cially consecral-i-f]. 
 
 If the inquiry be made, " what is 
 Taste ?" it i> frequently answered, 
 " that faculty by which we perceive 
 or appreciate beauty.'' And if we 
 ask, " what is beauty r " it is answer- 
 ed, " that qualiiy which gratities 
 taste."' Now, it is obvious, that the 
 inquirer will no', be much the wiser 
 for ttiese answers. And, accordingly, 
 minds with anv sprinkling of jjhilo- 
 sophy, or, indeed, of rational curio- 
 sity, have seldom stopped at this 
 point of the inquiry. 
 
 In repeating tlie question, "what 
 is taste ?" tiie examiner will find 
 two classes of respondents, each of 
 whom pretend to satisfy his curiosity 
 by a more philosophical reply. Say 
 the _firsl, " Taste is a distinct sense, 
 appropriated to the perception of 
 beauty; beauty consists in certain 
 peculiar lines, forms, colours, mo- 
 tions; and taste, like an eye, disco- 
 vers and approves them." Such is 
 the theory of most technical writers 
 upon this subject — of most painters, 
 and sculptors, and architects; of 
 Hogarth ; of <»ur distinguished coun- 
 tryman. Sir Joshua Reynolds; of 
 the Abbe Winkleman. The second 
 class of theorists, on the contrary, 
 rejecting the idea of a peculiar sense, 
 consider taste as the modification of 
 some other simple emotion. One, for 
 instance, perceiving the mind to be 
 gratified by the perception oi'vdliti/, 
 resolves taste into a perception of 
 utility. Another, in like manner, 
 calls it the pt-rception of relation ; a 
 third, the perception of desii^n; a 
 fourth, the perception of order and 
 Jitness. 
 
 This last class of theorists are 
 chiefly to be condemned, as taking 
 a part of the truth for the whole. 
 Any one of their systems will solve 
 some of the phenomena involved in 
 the question before us, but no one 
 of them will go near to solve all 
 
 sublimity, where we do not perceive 
 utility ; or where there are no indi- 
 cations of relation or design; or 
 where, if there be a peculiar fitness 
 for the end proposed, it is concealed 
 from us. The champions of " utility'* 
 have often been put to flight by the 
 peacock's tail; those of "design," 
 silenced by the fact, that a strong 
 perception of "design" in th^ artist, 
 frequently destroys the beauty or 
 subliraitv of the performance; and 
 those of " fitness," have been con- 
 founded by the necessity of acknow- 
 ledging the beauty of many objects, 
 which, as far as we know any thing 
 of them, are fit for nothing in the 
 world but to be looked at. It is 
 perfectly compatible with the theory 
 of Mr. Alison, as will be seen, to 
 allow all the range to these several 
 systems which belongs to them. 
 He distinctly admits, that the per- 
 ception of utility, design, fifness, 
 may promote the emotion of Taste. 
 If be errs at all upon the point, it is, 
 that in the course of his triumphant 
 career, he sometimes suffers his sys- 
 tem to run away with, him, and then 
 tramples a little upon that class of 
 perceptions which, in calmer mo- 
 ments, he is disposed to treat with 
 due reverence. 
 
 To the other class of theorists who 
 resolve taste into a distinct sense, 
 and beauty and sublimity into cer- 
 tain material qualities, as lines, co- 
 lours, motions, &c., it is the pecu- 
 liar object of the present work to 
 reply ; and, in our judgment, the 
 refutation is complete ; not, indeed, 
 that this work assumes any thing of 
 a controversial aspect; and this is 
 one of its many merits. The author 
 has felt, that the establishment of 
 his own system is the best refutation 
 of every other ; and, in a work on 
 taste, has proved his own possession 
 of that faculty, by not kindling in 
 his readers those bad passions which 
 so ill harmonize with the exquisite 
 scenes of nature, and productions of 
 art, to which he introduces them. 
 We shall now proceed to develope 
 his system to our readers, reserving 
 
 We frequently perceive beauty or to ourselves, however, the liberty of 
 
1812.] Review of Alison on Taste. 9S 
 
 passing over what is not material, were any such thing) to acres, for- 
 
 and of taking any short cut to a 
 point to which the author travels by 
 a circuitouscourse. We forewarn our 
 readers also, that no analysis oFours 
 can do justice to the \iierits oT the 
 original work. Tliey have here, 
 however, a sort of rude skeleton, and 
 if they wish to see it very beauti- 
 fully cloihed, we beg tliein to turn 
 iVom the reviewer to the auilior. 
 
 The theory, then, of Mr. Alison 
 is simply this, that the beauty or sub- 
 Utility of any object is not to be 
 ascribed to its material qnaltties, but to 
 certain other qualities of 'which these 
 ure the sis.ns or expressions, and 
 tvliich are Jilted, by the constitution of 
 our nature, to produce pleasing or in- 
 teresting emotion; arid that beauty or 
 sublimity arc not perceived till both 
 such pleasing or interesting emotions 
 are excited, and the imagination is 
 stimulated to conceive a train of ideas 
 coiresponding with these emotions. 
 
 In the establishment of this theory, 
 the first proposition whicii the au- 
 thor sets himself to prove is, that 
 where the imaginati<jn is not excited 
 or set to work, beauty or sublimity 
 are not perceived, or, \i\ other words, 
 the emotion of taste is not felt. The 
 illustrations of which this admits, 
 are numerous : for instance, if pe- 
 culiar circumstances, such as grief 
 or sickness, check the workings of 
 the imaginatioc, objects the most 
 admired seem, at once, to be shorn 
 of all their beauty. The beauties 
 of poetry, of painting, and even of 
 nature, fade m the eyes of the trai- 
 tor who has forfeited his life, or the 
 parent who has lost her child : the 
 imagination is here chained to a 
 point, aud all its sensibility ex- 
 iiausted upon one subject, in like 
 manner, certain employments, by 
 fettering the movements of the im- 
 agination, destroy the perception of 
 beauty ; as the critic, who is em- 
 ployed in detecting the faults of 
 language or of editorship in a poem, 
 almost ceases to discern its beauty ; 
 or as the purchaser of any tract of 
 the most picturesque country, in the 
 .&ct of proportioning guineas (if there 
 
 gets the fairy scenery which, per- 
 haps, had originally seduced him to 
 purchase. In the same way, there 
 is a certain constitution of mind 
 which seems to disenchant all scenes 
 and objects of the beauties which 
 others di.scern in them : the mere 
 calculator sees noihip^r in the face of 
 nature, but the value of her productive 
 surface ; the philosophizer regards 
 all objects in the dry shape of ma- 
 terials for thinking; in youtii, vvhea 
 the imagination is all awake, beauty 
 or sublimity are easily recognized 
 and strongly felt, while the old sit 
 calmly by, and, perhaps, expatiate 
 with wonder upon the enthusiasra 
 of youth But if the beauty or sub- 
 limity resided in the scenes or ob- 
 jects themselves, could all this va- 
 riety exist in the perception of dif- 
 ferent individuals, or of the same in- 
 dividual at diilerent periods ? 
 
 There are other instances which 
 tend to the same result. To whom 
 do not his associations with certain 
 scenes and objtcts enhance their 
 beauty ? The scenes of our infancy, 
 the songs of our native country, the 
 residence of those once dear to us, 
 have all a factitious beauty for us. 
 Could an Englishman behold Run- 
 iiymede, or the fields of Agincourt 
 and Blenheim, without discovering 
 a sort of charm spread over them, 
 which lent the scene new lustre iu 
 his eyes? All other beauty may, 
 indeed, be lost in that thus adven- 
 titiously communicated. Thus De 
 Lisle, in describing Vaucluse : 
 
 " Mais ces eaux, ce beau ciel, ce vallon en- 
 
 chaiUeur, 
 Mollis que Pelrarque et Laure imeresaoicnt 
 
 mon coeur. — 
 Paitout mes yeux cherchoicnt, voyoient, 
 
 Pc'traiqiie et Laure. 
 Et par eux, ces beaux lieux s'«aibc!lhsoicnt 
 
 encore." 
 But the author here pleads his 
 own cause too eloquently to permit 
 us any longer to speak for him. 
 
 " The deliaht which most men of educa- 
 tion receive I'roni llie consitleraiion of anti- 
 quity, and ttie heauty tiiat tliey discover in 
 every object which is connected with ancient 
 limes, isiu a great inousurc to be aacribed to 
 
Review of Alison on Tastt. [V'em. 
 
 The antiquarian, in his who stems to him to rae again from ber 
 tomb, to give laws to the universe. All that 
 tlie labours ot his youth, or the studies of his 
 maturer age have acquired, with regard to 
 the history of (his great people, open at once 
 before his imagination, and present him v/iih 
 a field of higli and solemn iiuagerj, which 
 can never be exhausted. Take from liiia 
 these associations, conceal from him that it 
 is Rome that he sees, and how diflerent 
 would be lijs emotion ! " Vol. i. pp. 39 — 42. 
 AUIiough much might be added 
 under this head, neither less striking 
 nor less eloquent, we hasten on to the 
 second position taken by the author. 
 It is evident, that all exercise of the 
 imagination does not lead to the 
 emotion of taste. Many objects 
 e.xcite a train of ideas in the mind 
 which yet excite no emotion of 
 pleasure. The ideas which are 
 excited by objects of beauty and 
 sublimity have two peculiarities. 
 1. They are " ideas of emotion," or 
 ideas by which emotion is excited ; 
 and, 2dly, Ihey have a principle of 
 connection by which the whole 
 train have a tendency to txcite the 
 same emotion. That the cofnplex 
 e^nolions of beauty and sublmiity 
 are never felt except zvhen sane sim- 
 ple emotion is excited, or affection is 
 kindled, is capable of various proof. 
 Who ever calls that beautiful which 
 he, at the same time, declares to be 
 indifferent to him .? If an object also 
 is beautiful tons and not to another, 
 do we not ascribe it to some associa- 
 tion by which it has laid hold of our 
 mind, or formed a lodgement in our 
 feelings ? In like manner, all which 
 contributes to give us an interest in 
 any pursuit or object invests it with 
 new beauties. 
 
 " The lover reads or hears with indiffe- 
 rence, of all that is most sublime in the 
 history of ambition, and wonders only at the 
 fully of mankind, who can sacrifice their ease, 
 their conilorts, and all the best pleasures of 
 life, to the unsubstantial pursuit of power. 
 The man, whose life has been passed in the 
 pursuiis of coinraerce. and who has learned 
 to estimate every thing by its value in money, 
 laughs at the labours of the philosopher or the 
 poet, and beholds with indifference the most 
 splendid pursuits of life, if they are not repaid 
 by wealth. 'J he anecdote of ii late celebrated 
 matheaiaticiau is well known, who read the 
 
 •94. 
 
 ■the same cause 
 
 'Cabinet, surrounded by the relics of former 
 ages, seems to himself to be removed to pe- 
 riods that are long since past, and indulges 
 in the imagination of living in a world, 
 which, by a very natural kind of prejudice, 
 we are always willing to believe was both 
 wiser and betier than the present. All that 
 is venerable or laudable in the history of 
 these limes present themselves to his memo- 
 ry. The gallantry, tiie heroism, the patriot- 
 ism of antiquity rise again be tore his view, 
 eoftened by tire obiCu:iiy in which they are 
 involved, and rentlercd more seducing to 
 the imagination by that obscurity itself, 
 wliich, while it mingles a sentiment of regret 
 amid his piir.'uits, serves at the same time 
 to stimulate his fancy to fill up, by its own 
 creation, rb.ose long intervals of time of 
 Avhich history has preserved no record. The 
 relics he contemplates seem to approach him 
 ■etill nearer to the ages of his regard. The 
 dress, the furniture, the arms of the times, 
 are so many a'<sistances to his imaginaliun, 
 in guiding or directing its exercise, and offer- 
 ing him a thousand sources of imagery, 
 provide him with an almost inexhaustible 
 £eld in which his memory and his fancy may 
 expatiate. There are few men who have 
 not ielt somewhat, at least, of the delight of 
 'such an employment. There is no man in 
 the least acqnainted with the history of an- 
 tiquity, who does not love to let his imagina- 
 tion loose on the prospect of its remains, 
 and to whom they are not in some measure 
 iacred, from the innumerable images which 
 they bring. Even the peasant, whose know- 
 ledge of former times extends but to a few 
 generations, h.as yet in his village some mo- 
 nument of the deeds or virtues of his fore- 
 fathers ; and cherishes with a fond veneration 
 the memorial of those good old times to 
 which his imaginatirni returns with delight, 
 and of which he loves to recount the simple 
 tales that tradition has brought him. 
 
 " And what is it that constitutes that emo- 
 tion of sublime deliglit, wliich every man of 
 common sensibility feels upon the first pros- 
 pect of Rome ? It is not the scene of de- 
 struction which is before him. It is not the 
 Tiber, diminished in his imagination to a 
 paltry stream, flowing ;mfid the ruins of 
 that magnificence which it once adorned. 
 It is not the triumph of superstition over the 
 wreck of luiman greatness, and its monu- 
 ments erected upon the very spot where the 
 first honours of humanity have been gained. 
 Jt is ancient Rome which fills his imagina- 
 tion. It is the country' of Caesar, and Cicero, 
 and Virj^il, which is before him. It is the 
 juistress of the world which he sees, and 
 
J8I2.7 
 
 Review of Alison on Taste. 
 
 Paradise Lost, without being able to dis- 
 cover in it any thing that was sublime, but 
 who said that lie could never read the que- 
 ries, at the end ot' Newton's OjitivS, without 
 feeling lii:> hair stand on end, and his blood 
 run cold. Tliereare thou'<»ndj who have read 
 tlie old ballad ofChevyChace, withuut having 
 their iniai;inations inHained with the ideas 
 of military t^lory. It is the brave only, who, 
 in the perusal of it, like tiie gallant Sir Philip 
 Sydney, feel' their hearts ruovcd, as by the 
 sound of a trumpet.'" Vol. i, pp. 87 — B9. 
 
 In like manner, when, through the 
 circumstances ofthe moment, the sen- 
 sibility is deadened, a pail stems to 
 be cast over the most spltiidid objects. 
 And in the same way, when the 
 attention is withdrawn iVom the in- 
 teresting, and directed to the unin- 
 teresting, qualities of an object, the 
 emotion of beauty decays. The 
 artist who withdraws his attention 
 from the expression of the Apollo 
 Belvidere to measure its proportions; 
 the affluent who are familiarised to 
 their splendid furniture, and who 
 look on them not as the mere orna- 
 ment of the drawing-room, but as 
 the apparatus of dbily life ; the auc- 
 tioneer whose enthusiasm is divided 
 between the colour&of a picture and 
 the construction of its frame; one 
 and all ctase to perceive the beauties 
 upon which others are feasting. 
 
 It is scarcely less obvious that the 
 traiti of images by which the emo- 
 tion of ta^te is excited is distin- 
 guished bv some s^eneral principle of 
 connection. When the eye, for in- 
 stance, wanders over a landscape, 
 the taste is often oiltinded bv some 
 feature which does not harmonize 
 with the rest. In like manner, in 
 poetry, in painting, or in music, a 
 discordant sentimen;, image, or tone 
 often checks the rising emotion of 
 taste. In each of these cases it is 
 evidently a certain charucter or ex- 
 pression to which the discordant part 
 is referred, and by i's discrepancv" 
 witlj which it otlends. This ex- 
 pressior; is the charm by which the 
 emotion is kindled, and, as the one is 
 weakened, the other vanishes. Tiie 
 corner stone of the edifice of our 
 feeling or allection is touched and 
 tbe fairy fabric fails to the ground. 
 
 It is curious to observe how nature, 
 in some rare instances, by her very 
 prodigality tarnishes the beauty of 
 her own scenes. One object clashes 
 with another, and so destroys the ex- 
 pression of the whole. Nor is it less 
 curious to observe the artist or pott, by 
 the labour of selection and assimila- 
 tion, endeavouring to improve upon 
 this profuse^xpeiidit lire and bold irre* 
 gularilv of nature. The author, how- 
 ever, by stating this point too broadly, 
 seems to us to do a little dishonour 
 to Nature. The discordancies dis- 
 covered in her scenes are often less 
 in the prospect than in the examiner. 
 The narrowness of the mind often 
 betrays us into a false interpretation 
 of their character. If a spectator 
 mistook the expression which a 
 painter meant to give to his picture, 
 and wliich he actually did convey 
 to the accurate eye, many parts, 
 really appropriate, must seem to 
 him out of place. And thus, if 
 we narrow the expression of the 
 landscape, parts, which in fact con- 
 spire to adorn the scene, appear dis- 
 cordancies to us. Man, in this in- 
 stance, should do homage to the 
 great Artist of the scenery before 
 him ; and not cripple the landscape 
 to the mind, but strain the mind to 
 follow and embrace the landscape. 
 " Non miiii res, sed me rebus subjun- 
 gere conor," should be our motto 
 hsre; and a readiness be discovered 
 to vindicate Nature at our own ex- 
 pense. 
 
 The foregoing observations, how- 
 ever, we think, sufficiently establish 
 the two last mentioned propositions 
 oftiie author; so that we may rest 
 in the conclusion stated by him zv 
 the end of his first essay, that wher- 
 ever the emotions of beauty or sub- 
 limity are fell, an exerci.s(; of ima- 
 gination is promoted, and that the 
 train of thought upon which the 
 imagination is employed is made 
 up of ideas of emotion, associated 
 by a general principle of connectiou. 
 Mence, he adds, the dilierente be- 
 tween our emotions of simple 
 pleasure and the emotion of taste 
 are obvious. 
 
Review of Alison on Taste. 
 
 9<J 
 
 " 111 the caie of these last emotions, no 
 additional train of tlioiiglit is necessary. 
 The pleasurable feeling fullows iniiiiediateiy 
 the presence of the object or quality, and lias 
 no dependence upon any thing for its perfec- 
 tion, but the sound state of the sense by 
 ^hicli it is received. The emotions of jay, 
 pity, benevolence, gratitude, utility, pro- 
 priety, novelty, &c. might undoubtedly be 
 I'elt, alihough we liad no such power of 
 mind as that by which we follow out a train 
 «f ideas, and certainly are felt in a thousand 
 «jases, when this faculty is unemployed. 
 
 " In the case of the emotions of taste, on the 
 other hand, it seems evident, that this ex- 
 ercise of mind is necessary, and that unle!>s 
 this train of thought is produced, these emo- 
 tions arc unfelt." Vol. i. pp 15§, 160. 
 
 The author having thus, in his first 
 essay, shewn the iiatuie of tl)e emo- 
 tions of sublimity and beauty, pro- 
 ceeds to shew, in the second, that it is 
 by a process of this kind that the sub- 
 limity and beauty of the " material 
 world" are discovered and felt. In 
 this argument also, we shall endea- 
 vour to lollow him. 
 
 The qualities of matter are known 
 to us only by the senses, by which^ 
 though sensation and percej)lion are 
 conveyed to the mind, emotion 
 plainly is not. The smell of a rose, 
 or the taste of a pine-apple, produces 
 agreeable sensations, but nut agree- 
 able emotions. But although the 
 qualities of matter are incapable, in 
 themselves, of producing such emo- 
 tions, they may acquire a new power 
 upon the raind by their being associ- 
 ated witii other qualities, of which 
 they may thus become the s/ifns or 
 expressions. And buch associations 
 are very numerous. All external 
 objects, for instance, employed for 
 ose or pleasure, become signs to us 
 cf the uses or pleasures for which 
 we employ them. The plough sug- 
 gests the idea of rustic labour, and 
 of the plenty which follows it ; and 
 the harp, of the animation it has 
 often comtimnicated; and thus each 
 produces ilit; emotion which pro- 
 perly belong to the qualities they 
 signify. In like manner, all works 
 of art suggest the idea of design, 
 wisdom, and skill in the artist. In 
 the sanic way, we are accustomed to 
 
 [Fe8« 
 
 associate the qualities of quickness, 
 tenderness, magnanimity, with cer- 
 tain casts of countenance ; and thus 
 the features acquire the influence of 
 the qualities they represent. Hav- 
 ing thus also learned that certain 
 features of body indicate certain 
 qualittesof mind, when we discover, 
 in animate matter, forms resem- 
 bling these features, we insensibly 
 erect them into representatives of 
 the same qualities. We speak of the 
 strength of the oak, the delicacy of 
 the myrtle, the boldness nf the rock, 
 the modes; V of the violei, &c. &c. 
 which are qualities not of matter 
 but of mind. Besides these, lan- 
 guage is productive of many such 
 associations, by conveying to us, in 
 i-ts figurative expr-'ssions, the analo- 
 gies between the qualities of matter 
 and mind discovered by other met* 
 in other places and ages. To all 
 these are to be added the associations 
 springing from the peculiar circum- 
 stances of every individual Par- 
 ticular sounds, colours, motions, 
 scenes, suggest ituitges, and therefore 
 emotions, to us, which they may not 
 to any other. 
 
 Hiving thus explained the various 
 processes by which these associa- 
 tions are generated, the author pro- 
 ceeds to shew, in successive chap- 
 ters, that it is only through these 
 associations that we are impressed 
 with the beauty or sublimity of 
 sounds and colours. It would be 
 absolutely Quixotic to attempt to 
 follow him through this pari of his 
 career. \Yt shall content ourselves, 
 like the chart-makers, simply with 
 dotting his track through these, in 
 a degree unexplored, regions, now 
 and thfn pausing to give a sketch of 
 some particular scene. 
 
 The general arguments by which 
 he establishes his main position ap- 
 pear to be these, that if beauty 
 were the mere object of a sense, 
 then all possessed of that sense must 
 be familiar with it ; must discover 
 in it the same properties ; must be 
 atiected by it in the same manner ; 
 must be ' atiected by it in the 
 same wav, at ditlerent times; most 
 
1312.] 
 
 Review of Alison on Taste. 
 
 be able with certainty to define its 
 elFect upon others, and to reduce it 
 to certain general laws. But no 
 part of this description applies to the 
 case of the emotions ot sublimity 
 and beauty. Here all is irregular- 
 ity. No two men are allected in the 
 same way ; no one man, perhaps, in 
 the same manner, at two dilliMcnt 
 times ; and the alleired objectsof this 
 sense appear and disappear accord- 
 ing to the frame of the examiner, 
 or the society in which the object 
 is viewed. 
 
 Take, in the first place, the case of 
 soimds. Thunder, when heard as the 
 " artillery of heaven,'' is sublime. 
 Is it the mere quality of loudness 
 which renders it sublime? Let it, 
 on the contrary, be discovered that 
 what we supposed to be thunder is 
 the mere rumbling of a cart, and 
 the emotion ofsublimity is destroyed. 
 Indeed, there are instances in which 
 the lowest sounds are invested with 
 the same sublimity : 
 
 " Along the woods, along the inoorlHli fens. 
 Sighs the sad genius oC the coming storm." 
 
 Or to take a more striking instance 
 from that unfathomable mine of all 
 that is beautiful or sublime, the 
 Scriptures. It is a passage in which 
 the appearance of the Deity to the 
 prophet Elijah is described. " And 
 he said, Go forth, and stand upon 
 the mount before the Lord. And 
 behold the Lord passed by, and a 
 great and strong wind rent the 
 mountains and brake in pieces the 
 rocks before the Lord, but the Lord 
 was not in the wind ; and after the 
 wind an earthquake, but the Lord 
 was not in the earthquake ; and 
 after the earthquake a fire, but the 
 Lord was not in the fire ; and after 
 the fire a small still voice. And it 
 was so, when Elijah heard it, that he 
 wrapped his face in his mantle." 
 
 Here, then, we have instances both 
 of the same sound, by different asso- 
 ciations, affecting the mind in an 
 opposite manner; and of the most 
 opposite sounds affecting the mind 
 in the same manner. Can we need 
 any stronger proof that the beauty 
 or sublimity does not reside in Ibe 
 Christ. Obsskv. No. J 22. 
 
 97 
 
 mere sound, but in the quality of 
 which it is the sign or expression ? 
 
 In proceeding to apply his theory 
 to colours, the author remarks that 
 the greatest part of colours are 
 " connected wiii» a kind't>f establish- 
 ed imaj^ery in the tnmd, ' and are 
 considered as " expressive of many 
 pleasing and interesting qualities.'* 
 These associations are, 1st, such as 
 arise from the nature of the objects 
 thus permanently coloured; as black, 
 from being the complexion of night, 
 is expressive of gloom : or, 'idly, 
 such as arise from some analogy 
 between certain colours and certain 
 dispositions of the mind, whence 
 these colours are called mild, or bold, 
 gay, or gloomy: and, 3dly, such as 
 arise from accidental connections ; 
 as purple is to us the sign of im- 
 perial dignity, and yeliow to the 
 Chinese. Ttiese associations will 
 sufficiently explain the peculiar at- 
 tractions of some colours, while a 
 few plain observations will shew 
 that they have no intrinsic beauty. 
 For, if they had, the same colour 
 would always be beautiful, and we 
 should rejoice to see the pink of the 
 cheek extended to the nose: neither 
 would the beauty of colours vary 
 with the caprices of fashion, where- 
 as half a dozen duchesses may, bv 
 dint of the associations which rank 
 can convey, clothe the town in a 
 new colour every winter : nor vAould 
 different nations make their elec- 
 tions of opposite colours, and the 
 dusky beauties of one hemisphere be 
 the monsters of another. 
 
 In chapter IV. upon Forms, the 
 course of argument is nearly the 
 same as before. The illustrations 
 are numerous and convincing. As 
 it is on the subject of forms that the 
 old theories chiefly dwelt, the author 
 had here many prejudices to combat, 
 and difficulties to overcome. We 
 think, however, that the hitherto 
 wavering converts of lli.>garth and 
 Kurke, and of the more recent up- 
 holders of the intrinsic beauty of 
 lines, will rejoice to find here a key 
 to many difficulties confesse«ily \m* 
 pervious by their aucitnt master >. 
 O 
 
Review of Alison on Taste. 
 
 98 
 
 In succcssire sections, the influence 
 of design, of fitness, and of utility, 
 upon the beauty of forms, is exa- 
 mined with great acuteness. Many 
 striking extracts might lie made. 
 We owe it, however, to our readers, 
 to whom we have hitherto manifest- 
 ed, perhaps, unbecoming parsimony 
 in quotation, to give them one or 
 two, which may both teach them 
 some curious truths, and supply 
 them with a fair specimen of the 
 manner of the author. The first is 
 a curious history of the decay of 
 works of taste. 
 
 " However obvious or important the prin- 
 ciple which I have now stated may be, tlie 
 fine arts have been unfortunately governed 
 by a very different principle ; and ilie un- 
 due preference which artists are naturally 
 disposed to give to the display of design, 
 has been one of the most powerful causes 
 of tliat decline and degeneracy which has 
 uniformly marked the history of the fine 
 arts, after they have arrived at a certain pe- 
 riod of perfection. To a common spectator, 
 the great test of excellence in beantiMil 
 forms is character or exprc ssion, or, in other 
 words, the appearance of some interesting or 
 atFectinc quality in the form itself. To the 
 artist, on the other hand, the great test of 
 excellence is skill; the production of some- 
 thing new in point of design, or difficult in 
 point of execution. It is by the expression 
 of character, therefore, that the generality of 
 men determine the beauty of ibrms. It is 
 by the expression of design, that the artist 
 delennines it. When, therefore, the arts 
 which are conversant in the beauty of form, 
 have attained to that tbrtunate stage of their 
 progress, when this expression of character is 
 itself the great expression of design, the in- 
 vention and taste of the artist take, almost 
 necessarily, a different direction. When his 
 <'Xccllence can no longer be distinguished by 
 the production of merely beautiful or expres- 
 sive form, he is naturally led to distinguish 
 it by the production of what is uncommon or 
 tlifficult ; to signalize his works by the fer- 
 tility of his invention, or the dexterity of his 
 execution ; and thus gradually to forsjet the 
 ftiid of his art, in his attention to display his 
 superiority ia the art itself." Vol. ri. pp. 
 110—112. 
 
 " Nor is this melancholy progress peculiar 
 to those arts which respect the beauty of 
 form. The same causes extend to every 
 other of those arts which are employed in 
 the production of beauty ; and they who 
 are acquainted \vith the history of the tine 
 
 [Feb. 
 
 arts of antiquity, will recollect, that the hi»- 
 toiy of statuary, of ])ainting, of music, of 
 poetry, and of prose composition, have been 
 alike distinguished, in their latter periods, hj 
 the same gradual desertion of the end of the 
 art, for the display of tlie art itself; and by 
 the same prevalence of the expression of de- 
 sign, over the expression of the composition 
 in which it was employed. It has been sel- 
 dom found in the history of any of these 
 arts, that the artist, like the great master of 
 painting in this country*, has united the 
 philosophy with the practice of his art, and 
 regulated his own sublime inventions, by the 
 chaste principles of truth and science. 
 
 " For an error, which so iniuiediately arises 
 from the nature, and from the practice of 
 these arts themselves, it is dilficult, perhaps 
 impossible, to find a remedy. Whether (as 
 I am wiltingto believe) there may not be cir- 
 ciniistances in the niodtrrn state of Europe, 
 which may serve to check at least, this un- 
 fortunate progression ; whether the beauti- 
 ful models of antiquity in every art, may not 
 serve to fix in some degree the standard of 
 taste in these arts ; whether the progress of 
 philosophy and criticism may not tend to in- 
 troduce greater stability, as well as greater 
 delicacy of taste ; and whether the general 
 diffusion of science, by increasing in so great 
 a proportion the number of judges, may not 
 rescue these arts from the sole dominion of 
 the artists, and thus establish more just and 
 philosophical principles of decision, it is far 
 beyond the limits of these essays to inquire- 
 But I humbly conceive, that there is no rule 
 of criticism more important in itself, or more 
 fitted to preserve the taste of the individual, 
 or of the public, than to consider every 
 composition as faulty and defective, in which 
 the expression of the art is more striking 
 than the expression of the subject, or in 
 which the beauty of design prevails over the 
 beauty of character or expression." Vol. ii, 
 pp. 115—117. 
 
 The other observation is equally- 
 striking, and is meant as a reply to 
 those who urge the permanence of 
 certain proportions in architecture 
 in proof of their inherent and ex- 
 clusive beauty. After having no- 
 ticed the influence lent to these pro- 
 portions by our veneration for anti- 
 quity, he goes on to observe ; 
 
 " But besides these, there are other causes 
 in the nature of the art itself, which suffi- 
 ciently account for the permanence of taste 
 upon this subject. In every production of 
 
 * Sir Joshua Reynolds." 
 
181^.] Review of Alison on Taste. 
 
 Ituman labour, the influence of variety h 
 limited by two circuinstances, viz. by the 
 costliuess, and the permanence ol' the ma- 
 terials upon wiiich tiiat labunr is employed. 
 Wherever the materials of any object, 
 whether of use or of luxury, are costly; 
 wherever the original price of such subjects 
 is great, tlie intlueiice of tlie love of variety 
 is diminisiu-d : the objects have a great in- 
 trinsic value, independent of their particular 
 form or t'avhion , and as the destruction of 
 the form is in most cases (lie destruction of 
 the subject itseit, the same I'orm is adhered 
 to with little variation. In dress, for instance, 
 in which the variation ol fashion is more ob- 
 servable than in most other subjects, it is 
 those parts of dress which are least cosily, of 
 whicii the forms are ujost frequently changed : 
 in proportion as the original value increases, 
 tlie disposition to variety diminishes ; and in 
 some objects, which arc extremely costly, as 
 in the case of jewels^ there is no change of 
 fashion whatever, except in circumstances 
 different from the value of the objects them- 
 selves, as in their setting or disposition. Of 
 all the fine arts, however, architecture is by 
 far the most costly. The wealth of indi- 
 viduals is frequently dissipated by it : and 
 even the revenue of nations, is equal onl3' to 
 rery slow and very infrequent productions 
 of this kind. The value, therefore, of such 
 objects, is in a great measure independent of 
 their forms; the invention of men is litiie ex- 
 cited to give an additional value to subjects, 
 which in themselves are so valuable ; and the 
 art itself, after it has arrived at a cerlaia ne- 
 cessary degree of perfection, remains in a 
 great measure stationary, both from the in- 
 frcquency of cases in which invention can be 
 employed, and from the little demand lliere 
 is for the exercise of that invention. The 
 nature of the Grecian orders very plainly in- 
 dicates, that they were origitially executed in 
 wood, and that they were settled b, fore the 
 Greeks had begun to make use of stone in 
 their buildings, from the period that sloiie 
 was employed, and that of course public 
 buildings became more costly, little tarther 
 progress seems to have been made in the art. 
 The costliness of the subject, in this as in 
 every othtfr case, gave a kind of perniancjit 
 value to the form by which il was dis- 
 tinguished. 
 
 " If, beside* the costliness of the subject, 
 it is also permanent or durable, this character 
 it still farther increased. Those productions, 
 of which the materials are perishable, and 
 must often be renewed, are Irom thtir nature 
 subjected to the influence of variety. Chait* 
 and tables, for instance, and the other coni- 
 lyoii iirtic}c3 of furniture, caau^t well l<ut 
 
 • 99 
 
 above a few years, and very often not so 
 long. In such articles accordingly, there is 
 room for the invention of the artist todisphiy 
 itself, and as the subject itself is of no very 
 great value, and may derive a considerable 
 one from its form, a strong motive is given 
 to the exercise of this invention, l^ut build- 
 ings may hist, and are intended to last for 
 centuries. The life of man is very inade- 
 quate to the duration of such productions: 
 and the present period of the world, thouuh 
 old with respect to those arts, which are em- 
 ployed upon perishable subjects, is yet young 
 in relation to an art, which is employed up- 
 on so durable materials as those of architec- 
 ture. Instead of a few years, therelbre, 
 centuries must probably pass before such 
 productions demand to be renewed; and long 
 before that period is elapsed, the satreriiiess 
 of antiquity is acquired by the subject itself, 
 and a new motive given for the preservation 
 of similar forms. In every coinitr^', accord- 
 ingly, the same effect has taken pliice: and 
 the same causes which have thus served to 
 produce among us, for so many years, an 
 nniforniiiy of taste with regard to the slyls 
 of Grecian architecture, have produced also 
 among the nations of the east, for a much 
 longer comse of time, a similar uniformity of 
 taste with regard to their ornamental style of 
 architecture; and have perpetuated among 
 them the same forms, which were in use 
 among their forefathers, before the Grecian 
 orders were invented." ^'ol. ii. pp.162 — 167. 
 
 The length to which these reason- 
 ings and extracts have extended, and 
 our farther designs of a somewhat 
 collateral nattjre upon the reader, 
 admonish us here to state the final 
 conclusions to which the author 
 comes in the 6th section of his last 
 chapter. " The preceding illustra- 
 tions" (he says) " seen) to atiord 
 evidence for tlie following conclu- 
 sions." 
 
 1. " That all the qualities of mat- 
 ter are, from nature, from experi- 
 ence, or from accident, the sign of 
 some quality capable of producing 
 tmotioii or the exercise of some 
 moral aftictipn; and, 2diy, that 
 when these associations are dissolved, 
 or in other words, when the niaierial 
 qualities ceas,' to he signihcanl of the 
 associated qualities, ihey cease also 
 to produce the emotions of beauty or 
 sublimity." — Such, therefore, is tbe 
 theory of the author. 
 '2 
 
100 Review of Alison on Taste. [Feb. 
 
 Before entering upon some ob- literary topics, we couM have wisb- 
 
 servations, which perhaps, when it 
 is remembered who the author is, 
 he should have saved us the trouble 
 of making ; we deem it necessary to 
 
 ed to see him now and then kindle 
 with a more sacred flame. Even his 
 reviewer, in the critique to which 
 we have already referred, though not 
 
 observe, that tho present work, as of a fraternity who make any loud 
 
 an essay on taste, is defective in 
 two material points. The author 
 has taught us, and taught us ably 
 and truly, that the emotions of beau- 
 ty and sublimity are to be ascribed, 
 rot to the mere perception of ma- 
 terial qualities, hut of other quali- 
 ties of which these are the natural 
 or accidental signs. But should he 
 not have taught us, distinctly, and 
 at length, what these other qualities 
 are ? No classification, generaliza- 
 tion, or enutneraiion of them is at- 
 tempted. They may be any thing, 
 it would seem, but qualities of matter. 
 —The other (juestion left untouched 
 by the author is, whether there be 
 any standard of taste, any such 
 thing as good or bad taste. He in- 
 deed, in his preface, acknowledges 
 certain deficiencies in his present 
 literary contributions, and expresses 
 his readiness to make them good, 
 jf the public should call for them. 
 But if he thought it fit to publish at 
 all upon taste ; and if he can, when 
 the public calls for it, find leisure to 
 publish still more upon this subject; 
 then we are disposed to question the 
 propriety of his publishing at all, 
 without entering upon topics so ma- 
 terial to the rounding of his system. 
 
 Any attempt to fill up the chasms 
 in Mr. Alison's work would be great 
 ■presumption ; and, especially when 
 we are trembling at the huge demand 
 we have already made upon the time 
 of our readers, would be impossible. 
 "We will therefore enter upon ground 
 where we tread with more security, 
 and which is more appropriate to 
 our feelings and to our office, viz. 
 to examine the bearing of this sub- 
 ject upon religion. 
 
 We have already suggested, that 
 from Mr. Alison, as " one who mini- 
 sters and serves the altar," we had, 
 perhaps, a right to expect some such 
 consecration of his subject. In his 
 enthusiasm upon many secular or 
 
 profession of religion, is sometimes 
 surprised into devout allusions, which 
 constitute a part of the charra of his 
 oratory. Indeed, much of the 
 scenery employed in the display of 
 this subject, is calculated to sublime 
 and spiritualize the mind; and we 
 wonder, that, when the car mounts, 
 the prophet should not ascend with 
 it. But we should do injustice to 
 Mr. Alison, il' we left our readers 
 persuaded that he had not in any de- 
 gree connected his systeiw with re- 
 ligion. There is a splendid, though 
 somewhat objectionable, and in part 
 mj/sterioiis, passage with which the 
 work concludes, and which, though 
 long, yet, in justice to Mr. Alison, 
 we shall extract. 
 
 " There is yet, however, a greater expi^ei- 
 sion which the appearances ot the material 
 world art- rilted to convevi and a more im- 
 portant infitieuce whidi, in the design of 
 nature, they are destined to produce upon 
 us ; tlieir influence I mean in leading us di- 
 rcciiy to rcKgious sentiment. Had organic 
 enjoyment been the only object of our for- 
 mation, it svoijld have been sutficient to es- 
 tablish senses for the reception of these en- 
 joyments. But if the promises of our nature 
 are greater : if it is destined to a nobler con- 
 clusion ; if it is enabled to look to the .Au- 
 thor of being himself, and to feel its proud • 
 relation to him ; then nature, in all it» 
 aspects around us, ought only to be lelt as 
 signs of his providence, and a» conducting 
 us by the universal language of these signs, 
 to the throne of the Deity. 
 
 " How much this is the case with every 
 pure and innocent mind, I Hatter myself 
 lew of my readers will require any illustra- 
 tion. Wherever, in fact, the eye of man 
 opens upen any sublime or any beautiful 
 scene of nature, the first impression t is to 
 
 " Quere, p-oud ? Ought it not to be hum.' 
 hie ? 
 
 t Is this true in point of fact? That this 
 impression is made on the religious mind we 
 admit ; but we do not believe that the finest 
 prospect in the world would have ihe 
 
1812.] 
 
 Review of Alison on Taste. 
 
 consider it as desif ned, as the effect or work- 
 marjship ot tlie Author of nature, and a» 
 tignilicnnt of jiis power, his wisdom, or his 
 goodness : and perhaps it is cliiefly for thii 
 Jine issue, that the lieart of man is thus finely 
 touched, tliat devotion may spring from de- 
 lifilit; that the imagination, in tiie midst of 
 its itight'st enjoyment, may be led to termi- 
 nate in the oidy object in which it finally 
 can repose ; and that all the noblest convic- 
 tions, and coiiiideaces of religion, may be 
 acquired in the simple school of nature, and 
 amid the scenes which perpetually surround 
 us *. Wherever we observe, accordingly, 
 the wojldngs of the human mind, whether 
 iu its rudest or its most improved appear- 
 unces, we every where see this union of de- 
 votional sentiment with sensibility to the 
 expresiions of natural scenery. It calls 
 forth the iiymn of the infant bard, as well as 
 the anthem of the poet of classic times. It 
 prompts the nursery tale of superstition, as 
 well as the demonstration of the school of 
 philosophy. There is no ara so barbarous 
 in which man has existed, in which the 
 traces are not to be seen of the alliance which 
 he has felt between earth and heaven, or of 
 the conviction he has acquired of the mind 
 that created nature, by the signs which it 
 exhibits ; and amid the wildest, as amid the 
 most genial scenes of an uncultivated world, 
 the rude altar of the savage every where 
 marks the emotions that swelled in his bosom 
 when he erected it to the awlul or the bene- 
 ficent deities whose imaginary presence it 
 records. In ages of civilization and refine- 
 ment, this union of devotional sentiment 
 with sensibility to the beauties of natural 
 •cenery, forms one of the most characteris- 
 tic marks of kuman improvement, and may 
 be traced in every art which professes to 
 give delight to tlie imagination. The fune- 
 real urn, aud the inscription to the dead, pre- 
 sent themselves every where as the most in. 
 teresting incidents in the scenes of ornament- 
 ed nature. In the landscape of the painter, 
 the columns of the temple, or the spire of 
 the church, rise amid the ceaseless luxuri- 
 ance of vegetable life, and by their contrast, 
 give the mighty moral to tl;e scene, which 
 wc Jove, even while we dread it ; the powers 
 
 eiTect of producing such an impression as thi» 
 in a mind not already imbued with religious 
 sentiment. 
 
 * This will prove but a poor substitution 
 for the school of Christ. How miserably has 
 Mr. Alison's new school failed of its effect 
 in every age ! Can he produce instances of 
 '' convictions and conjjdence*" thus, wrought? 
 
 101 
 
 of music hare reached only their higlieit 
 perfection when they ha\'t been devoted to 
 tlie services of religion ; and the description 
 of the genuine poet has seldom concluded 
 without some hymn lo the Author of the uni- 
 verse, or some warm appeal to the devotional 
 sensibility of mankind. 
 
 " Even the thoughtless and the dissipated 
 yield unconsciously to this beneficent in- 
 stinct ; and in the pursuit of pleasure, return 
 without knowing it, to the first and the no- 
 blest sentiments of their nature. They leave 
 the society of cities, and all the artificial 
 pleasures, which they feel have occupied, 
 without satiating their imagination. They 
 hasten into those solitary and those uncul- 
 tivated scenes, where they seem to breatbe 
 a purer air, and to experience some nior« 
 profound delight. They leave behind them 
 all the arts, and all the labours of man, to 
 meet nature in her primeval magnificence 
 and beauty. Amid the slumber of their 
 usual thoughts, they love to feel thcmselvei 
 awakened to those deep and majestic emo- 
 tions which give a new and a nobler expansion 
 to their hearts, and amid the tumult and 
 astonishment of their imagination, 
 
 Prcesentiorem compicere Peum 
 
 Per invias rapes, fera per juga, 
 Clivosque prjeruptos, sonantes 
 Inter aquas, nemorumque noctem *. 
 
 " It is on this account tiiat it is of so much 
 consequence in the education of the younc, 
 to encourage their in»tinctiv« taste for the 
 beauty and sublimity of nature t. While it 
 opens to the years of infancy or youth a 
 source of pure, and of permanent enjoyment, 
 it has consequences on the character and 
 happiness of future life, which they are 
 unable to foresee. It is to provide them 
 amid all the agitations and trials of society, 
 with one gentle and unreproaching friend, 
 whose voice is ever in alliance with goodnes* 
 
 •Mr. Alison has clearly formed too lofty 
 conceptions of the state of mind which be- 
 longs to the crowd who run annually from 
 the town to the country, and from the coun- 
 try to town, or who fill the room at an ora- 
 torio. We apprehend that his imputations 
 would surprise many of them. 
 
 t Has not Mr. Alison completely- inverted 
 the right order of things? Ought he not to 
 have urged the formation of religious senti- 
 ment in the young, that they might thence 
 acquire a higher taste for beauty and subli- 
 mity, rather than to have taught them, as he 
 has done, that the cultivation of taste will 
 lead to religion, a posilian which we believe 
 10 have lil!le or no foundation in fact? 
 
102 
 
 Review of Alison on Taste. 
 
 [Feb. 
 
 «nd virtue, and which, when once under- 
 stood, is able both to sooth misfortune and 
 to reclaim from folly. Il is to identify them 
 ■with the happiness of that nature to which 
 they belong ; to give tii"m an interesit in 
 every species of beinir which surrounds then) ; 
 and amid the hours of curiosity and delight, 
 to awaken those latent i'eelings of benevo- 
 lence and of symp;nhy, from which all the 
 moral or intellectual greatness of man finally 
 arises. It is to lay the foundation of an early 
 and of a manly piety ; amid the magnificent 
 system of material signs in which they re- 
 side, to give them the mighty key \vliich 
 can interpret them ; and to make them look 
 ■upon the universe which they inhabit, not 
 as the aiiorie only of human cares, or human 
 jo3's, but as the temple of the living God, 
 in which praise is due. and where service is 
 to be perfornied." Vol. ii pp. 441 — 447. 
 
 Mr. Alison has here instructed us, 
 in very soaring language, how the 
 cultivation of taste is calculated to 
 promote the exercise of religious 
 sentiment. We should be glad to 
 borrow a pen from the same «ing, 
 Avhile we endeavour to establish a 
 fajr less dubious, and therefore more 
 important, doctrine, which is, the 
 necessity of religion to the highest 
 eujoi/ments oftnsle. Whether we re- 
 gard the works of nature or of art, 
 it will be found that it is the asso- 
 ciations which connect them with 
 religion, that supply them with their 
 highest characters of sublimity and 
 beauty. If, for instance, we cast 
 our eye over some vast expanse of 
 country, how does it rejoice 
 
 "To view the slender spire 
 And massy tower from deep embowering 
 
 shades 
 Oft rising in the vale, or on the side 
 Of gently sloping hills, or, loftier placed. 
 Crowning the wooded eminence !" 
 
 It at once unsecularizes the soul, and 
 carries it with hasty wing from 
 earth to heaven. If, in like manner, 
 we are viewing some sunny vale, 
 where the lake seems to sleep, 
 where every field is whitened by 
 flocks, and every cottage pours forth 
 its brown sons and daugiiters of ex- 
 ercise, what fresh beauties kindle in 
 the scene, whtn we regard all these 
 features of peace as the expression 
 of Divine mercy, of the gracious 
 
 prodigality of » heavenly Father.* 
 When, again, we lift our eyes to the 
 rocky regions of the north, and see 
 nature as it were in her elemental 
 shape, mountain piled on mountain, 
 rocks which seem like the skeleton 
 of the world waiting to be clothed, 
 interminable wastes, where the Cre- 
 ator appears almost to have forgot- 
 ten to be gracious ; what a new 
 sublin)ity pervades the scene ■when 
 we regard this desolation as the in- 
 dication of Divine wrath, as the so- 
 lemn relics of a deluge in which 
 Jehovah broke up the fountains of 
 the (hep, and let loose his angry wa- 
 ters upon a guilty world } In like 
 maimer, when we contemplate the 
 heavens and see the lamps with 
 which they are hung, with what 
 fresh sublimity are the\' clothed 
 when we refer them to the Infinite 
 IJeing who suspended them there ; 
 when we consider them as the parts 
 of a machine stretching through all 
 space, but following the coniroul 
 of his mighty hand ; when we re- 
 gard each star as the sun of a sy- 
 stem, and each system perhaps peo- 
 pled with immortal souls, who are 
 to feel the terrors of his wrath, or 
 to wear the crown of glory which 
 God hath prepared for them that 
 love him .'' 
 
 Nor does religion minister less to 
 the enjoyments of taste in the works 
 of art. When the artists of antiqui- 
 ty meant to give perpetuity to their 
 labours, to chissel the statues which 
 should command the admiration of 
 all times and places, they did not 
 choose the mere heroes of their 
 country, but the gods. It was a 
 Hercules or Apollo which levied the 
 tribute of idolatrous homage through 
 all the regions of heathenism. Ig- 
 norant of religion, they borrowed 
 the aid of superstition ; and even 
 with its false glare threw a glory 
 round their statues which ensured 
 the admiration of the world. In like 
 manner, when the painters and 
 sculptors of Italy sprung up as it 
 were from the graves in which the 
 artists of antiquity slept, and sat 
 down to project new schemes for the 
 
1S12.] Review of A! iso7i on Taste, 103 
 
 pacific conquest of the world ; they rus ! And why does Milton, inferior 
 
 did not roam for subjects in tlie re- 
 gions of heathenism, of romance, 
 or even of n)odern history, but 
 sought them in the pages of Scrip- 
 ture. Thence, as from a mine, they 
 dug the ore and cast the coin which 
 was to circulate in all ages and 
 countries. Thence, as from a quar- 
 ry, they hewed their stones and 
 wrought them into the enduring pil- 
 lars of their own reputation. Con- 
 secrated by their close affinity to re- 
 ligion, these works seem to catch a 
 portion of its perpetuity ; and the 
 
 perhaps in the embodying of his 
 ideas, and in the accomplishmynt 
 of Ids vast drsigns, to these his elder 
 brethren of Greece and Roni< . yet 
 take the first place in the processioa 
 of bards ? It is because he borrowed 
 a lustre from celestial truth, which 
 superstition did not supply. It is 
 because he copied the heaven and 
 hell which the ardent, though erring, 
 imagination of Homer and Virgil 
 fancied. It is because, spurning at 
 the interest which the developement 
 of hunmn passions and the history 
 
 Virgins of Raphael, the Infants of of human crimes communicates, he 
 
 Correggio, and the Ecce- Homos of 
 Carlo Dolce and Guido, levy their 
 contributions of applause upon the 
 people of many nations and succes- 
 sive ages. If we turn from painting 
 to music, and it is asked " where is it 
 that the richest repasts have been 
 provided for this modification of 
 taste?" We answer, " where music 
 has been allied to religion." It is 
 Handel who is the musician of all 
 times and countries. It is Handel 
 who is called " immortal," from the 
 Jnmiortality of the subjects to which 
 he has tuned his lyre. It is Handel 
 who has almost caught a portion of 
 the inspiration of his themes, and 
 has sung the songs of angels in 
 strains scarcely unworthy of them. 
 It is Handel whom the connoisseurs 
 in this fascinating art, forgetting the 
 exclusive worship of Jehovah incul- 
 cated by his own harmonious les- 
 sons^ have assembled to commemo- 
 rate, in strains which belong alone to 
 the Author of the language he har- 
 monized. 
 
 Let us turn next to poetry, and 
 we shall find how immense its debts 
 are to religion, or to those suj)ersti- 
 tions which were the shadow of it. 
 How are the Iliad and Odyssey en- 
 nobled by their mythological ma- 
 chinery ; by the scales of fate, the 
 irown of Jove, the interpositions of 
 Minerva! How does Virgil endea- 
 vour to throw around his scenery 
 the fictitious splendour of the po- 
 pular superstition in the storm of 
 iSi'eptune, and the descent to Tarta- 
 
 cl imbed to lieaven for the theme of 
 some sublimer song. And finally, 
 whence is it that Cowper, though, 
 unpopular in many of his topics, 
 though careless in the structure of 
 his verse, though somewhat over- 
 charged in his satire, though some- 
 limes dark, low, prosaic, is yet 
 the delight of thousands who stand 
 condemned by his verse ? It is not 
 merely his true English spirit, liis 
 ardent love of liberty, his bold and 
 idiomatical language, his strong vein 
 of sense, his variety of imagery, his 
 love of nature; but it is what haa 
 been called., by a somewhat reluctant 
 panegyrist, the " magic of his mo- 
 rals." It is because, if we may so 
 say, he writes in the spirit of one 
 whose lips had been touched by a 
 coal from the altar of his God. 
 It is because he never fails to 
 introduce the Creator into the 
 scenes of his own universe. It 
 is because he sets the imagination 
 roaming far beyond the bounds of 
 space and time. It is because he 
 draws so largely upon the fountains 
 of Scripture, and so continually ad- 
 dresses rnan in the language of God. 
 — But the length to which these ob- 
 servations have extended, warns us to 
 dwell no longer upon thiscopious to- 
 pic, than to ask, if religion be thut; 
 essential to the highest enjoyments of 
 taste, shall any pretenders to taste be 
 found among the impugners of re- 
 ligion f" Is not this throwing away 
 the lamp which would light them to 
 their chosen treasures: Is it not 
 
104 Revieio of Alison on Taste. 
 
 trampling under foot a number of change its complexion; 
 
 associations calculated to yield them 
 that harvest of pleasure they most 
 tlesire ? We know, indeed, that the 
 gratifications which religion thus 
 yields to the refined taste are 
 among its very smallest fruits. But 
 still we urge the point, because we 
 wish to shew the irreligious, that 
 they are but clumsy architects of 
 their own little fabric of happiness, 
 that they are not worse Christians 
 than philosophers, and thnt the 
 enemy of religion is the enemy of 
 taste. We urge it also to shew 
 those of the youog who may con- 
 ceive that religion is calculated to 
 give a sort of torpedo touch to the 
 more refined sensibilities of our na- 
 ture, to extirpate by a sort of Van- 
 dal attack all the gratifications of 
 taste, to disenchant the scenery 
 with which the creative hand of 
 painting and poetry surprises and de- 
 lights us; that religion is strong even 
 at her supposed weak point ; that she 
 is rich even where she is confessedly 
 the poorest ; that she is the friend of 
 all innocent pleasure, the ally of ge- 
 nius, the living fountain not less of 
 our daily gratifications than of our 
 eternal joys. 
 
 A topic not less important than 
 this remains still to be noticed. It 
 appears (if indeed it could ever be 
 disputable) inconlrovertibly from 
 this essay, that the beauty and sub- 
 limity of all objects depend much 
 upon the associations with which 
 they are connected. Now this pro- 
 position is so extensively true, that 
 even religion may be disfigured by 
 the medium through which, or the 
 society in which, it is seen. It is 
 indeed true that the really philoso- 
 phical will learn, as in certain op- 
 tical illusions, to correct the effect 
 of a refraction such as this; and not 
 charge upon the object the defects 
 of the medium. But since all men 
 are not philosophers, and therefore 
 this sort of correctness cannot be 
 expected, how ill do those serve the 
 interests of religion who shew it to 
 the world through a medium which 
 must distort its proportions or 
 
 [Feb. 
 
 or who 
 present it in society by which it 
 cannot fail to be disgraced! This 
 subject admits of much enlargement. 
 It may, however, be sufficient to hint 
 at some of those disfiguring processes 
 to which we have referred. Some 
 thus degrade it, for instance, who 
 teach its truths in a vulgar, canting, 
 or needlessly technical phraseology. 
 Others do it like dishonour, bv asso- 
 ciating it with absurd peculiarities, 
 unauthorised demands, or capricious 
 prohibitions; who send it abroad in 
 a large?brimmed hat, cut off the 
 lappels of its coat, or deny it a how- 
 to its neckcloth. But far deeper are 
 the wounds which those inflict upon 
 it who display it to the world shorn 
 of those moral graces, those charms 
 of temper and aflections, which are 
 some of its appointed passposts to 
 the heart. Are there not some who 
 teach the world to associate frowns 
 with religion; who clothe its neck 
 with the thunders of disputation ; 
 who invest it with the porcupine 
 coat of an irritable temper; who 
 throw into its eye the glare of envy, 
 and into its cheek the hue of jea- 
 lousy; who arm it with the knife of 
 controversy, and satire, and censori- 
 ousness ? We dare not trust oar- 
 selves to complete the sketch. It is 
 a sort of portrait wholesome neither 
 to conceive nor to contemplate. 
 Rather would we call upon the 
 friends- of religion to present her to 
 the world in all the native " beauty 
 of holiness." How sublime are the 
 associations with which she is trans- 
 mitted to us, both in the language of 
 .Scripture, and in the person of 
 Christ! Let then the guardians of 
 these " oracles of God," and the 
 followers of this Master, adhere to 
 the language of the one and endea- 
 our to reflect the image of the other. 
 It is a rule of eternal obligation, both 
 as to the language in which we de- 
 scribe and as to the portrait which 
 we exhibit of Christianity, " see that 
 thou make all things according to 
 the pattern shewed to thee in the 
 mount :" see that all be cast in the 
 moulds of heaven. Whilst we re- 
 
1812.] Review of Society for Christian 
 
 proach the enemies of the Gospel 
 wiih their aspersions upon religion 
 as if offensive lo taste, let us beware 
 of supplying any ground for them. 
 If her lessons are to have universal 
 currency, we must teach them in the 
 universal language of intelligence 
 and good taste, and not in the patois 
 of a party. If she is to be raised to 
 the throne of the world, her soldiers 
 must muster, not under the petty 
 flags of faction, but under the migh- 
 ty banner of the Cross. She must 
 be presented to the world invested 
 with her own infinite and immortal 
 attributes; and we trust that, led by 
 the hand of God, they will see the 
 star, and worship. 
 
 We here take our leave of Mr. 
 Alison, and of the topic to which he 
 has directed our attention, with some 
 regret that our limits do not admit 
 of a wider excursion with him. His 
 book would be Improved, we think, 
 by one or two additional chapters on 
 the unnoticed parts of his subject to 
 which we have adverted ; by a ge- 
 neral abbreviation of the chapters 
 already in our hands; by the sim- 
 plification of some of his sentences; 
 and, above all, by his treating at 
 length, as he is bound, both in the 
 character of a philosopher and a 
 clergyman, upon the topic so inad- 
 equately touched by us — the impor- 
 tance of religion to the most exqui- 
 site enjoymeuis of taste. These de- 
 fects, however, with the exception 
 of the last, are but small spots in a 
 brilliant performance. We should 
 be glad to learn by a volume of 
 sermons from the same hand, that 
 the author thinks as justly upon the- 
 ology as on belles letlres ; that hn 
 is an equally formidable enemy to 
 all prejudices and errors ; and that 
 (if we may venture upon the allu- 
 sion), having slain "the lion and the 
 bear" of unsound philosophy, he is 
 as terrible an assailant of the "giant" 
 enemies of religion, infidelity, 
 worldliness, dissipation, and iodif- 
 ference. 
 
 Christ. Obsxrv, Uo, 122. 
 
 Knowledge on Syrian Christians. 105 
 
 An Account of the Society for prO' 
 mating Christian Knowleuge. LoQ- 
 don : Rivington. 1811. 
 
 The title of the present article will 
 probably surprise many of our read- 
 ers. They will be greatly disap- 
 pointed, however, if they are led to 
 expect from it a discussion of the 
 comparative excellence of the sys- 
 tenis of education of Bell and Lan- 
 caster, to which the sermon of Dr» 
 Marsh, prefixed to this account, 
 might be supposed to invite us. 
 They will be no less disappointed, if 
 they look for a critique on the tracts 
 o( this Society, for an exposition of 
 its various claims on the public grati- 
 tude and support, or for a statement 
 of the circumstances in the manage- 
 ment of its affairs which may tend to 
 diminish the weight of those claims. 
 We mean to direct the attention of 
 our readers to the single point of the 
 information which the Society has 
 this year thought proper to give to 
 the public respecting the Syrian 
 Christians of Malaysia. We briefly 
 alluded to this subject in the ab- 
 stract of the Society's Report in our 
 last number, p. 59, intimating aa 
 intention to consider it more fully 
 hereafter. Be it therefore known to 
 our readers, that the Society for pro- 
 moting Christian Knowledge have 
 published, in their last Report, some 
 particulars concerning the Syrian 
 Christians, which have been trans- 
 mitted to them by their missionaries 
 in India. The Society had put a 
 question to these missionaries, whe- 
 ther it would be practicable to em- 
 ploy the Svrian Christians in their 
 Indian mission in conjunction vvith 
 them, the German and Danish mis- 
 sionaries. The reply to this in- 
 quiry, as stated in the Society's Re- 
 port, we will now lay before our 
 readers. 
 
 " In reply to a- query, whether 
 Syrian priests could be employed in 
 the missions, thev (Messrs. Kolhoff^ 
 and Hoist) enclose a memorandum, 
 stating tiieir reasons why they de- 
 cline a union with those priests, as 
 
1 06 Revieio of Societj/for Christian K 
 they hold doctrines which militate 
 against the Thirty-nine Articles of 
 the Church of England, the Augus- 
 tine Confession, and the Nicene 
 Creed. This memorandum the Board 
 deem proper to be- submitted to 
 public inspection." The memoran- 
 dum is as follows : 
 
 " Already, in 171?;} and following years, 
 our predecessors, tlie missionaries at Tran- 
 c^ucbar and Madras, hy the advice of tlieir 
 iriends in Euro|x-, endeavoured' to make ac- 
 quaintance wkli tiie dignitaries and priests 
 of tlie St. Tlioiiuis or Syrian Christians, and 
 to unite them with ilie Protestant Cliurch ; 
 or, at least, to bring iliem to agree in doc- 
 trine witli the I'rotestants. They hoped that 
 the hatred of the Syrians against the Papists 
 would favour such a union. They employed 
 for this purpose a very learned divine ol 
 The Reformed Churcli at Cochin, the Reve- 
 rend Valerius Nicolai, and they spote witli 
 several Syrian priests that came to the coast 
 at different times. But they were at last 
 obliged to give up all hopes of such a union. 
 The following abstract of the result of these 
 researches will shew how unfit the Syrian 
 clergy are to be Protestant missituiarleb. 
 
 " The Syrian Cliristians are split into two 
 sects directly opposed to each other, yet 
 ecj^uaily receding from the orthodox doctrine 
 of the Clnistian church; Nestorians and 
 Eulychians. They pray, moreover, to the 
 Virgin Blary and to the saints (though not 
 precisely to the same as the Church of 
 Rome), and desire their mediation. They 
 believe that gooii works are meritorious. 
 They hold the doctrine of works of supere- 
 rogation. Their public prayers and admi- 
 jiistraiion of the sacrament are in a tongue 
 not understood by the people. Celibacy 
 luis grown customary among their priests, 
 though it is not enjoined. Tims their doc- 
 trine militates against the 2d, 5th, lltli, 14th, 
 24t!i, iiud in a manner also against the 32d 
 articles of religion, and against the Nicene 
 Creed. 
 
 " They are so ignorant that lliey could 
 not even be used as sub-assistanls to our na- 
 tive Catechists, and of course, as iuch peo- 
 ple use to be, they are obstinate and would 
 •Jemaud of us to coiilbrin to their persuasion 
 and ritual instead ol' contbrming themselves 
 to. that of the Church of Knaland. 
 
 •' Their proper limguage is not Syriac, 
 but the Jlahiyalim idiom.- They only make 
 stiift to read as luuch Syriac as is necessary 
 fo- celebrating tlie imiss, and reading their 
 liturgy, which aie ahivjsl ihc «anie with those 
 •vt itio Artiii'tiiaii'-. 
 
 noivkdge on Si/rian Cliristians. [Fes; 
 
 " The cast out of which all the priesS9 
 are taken are the Cassanares, and the priests 
 claim an equality with the highest cast of 
 that country, the Nairs; and, on this ac- 
 count, they have hardly any intercourstt 
 with people of lower casts*, wliereby they 
 jncapiiciiate themselves for the propagation 
 of Christianity. 
 
 " We hope that the above reasons will 
 justify our request, that we may be excused 
 Irom admitting those Christians to a uniou 
 of faith with ourselves, and to the ofiice of 
 teachers in our orthodox congregations^ Jn 
 violation of our ordination oatlsv" 
 
 " The Rev. Mr. Pohle, in reply tir> 
 
 the same query, observes * that he 
 can only mention, with respect to 
 the Christians of the Syrian church, 
 what his predecessors, the former 
 German missionaries, had reported 
 on that subject in their German 
 Missionary Accounts, which he had 
 got translated into English by Mr. 
 Ilorst, and a copy whereof he had 
 subjoined ; from which he drew, as a 
 conclusion, the impracticability of 
 uniting iti missionary concerns with 
 those Christians ; adding, howeverj 
 that their present situation might 
 probably be better known if soms 
 person actjuainted with their lan- 
 guage were to reside among them 
 for a year or two, for the purpose of 
 gaining sufficient information re- 
 specting their present state. Thfc 
 extracts herewith transmitted," the 
 Society a<lds, " are so interesting 
 and pointed that it has been deemed 
 proper to subjoin them." 
 
 I'h-ese ext;iact<, however, it will 
 be unnecessary to transcribe, as the 
 substance of them has been al- 
 ready given in the memorandum of 
 Messrs. Kolhoiiand Ilorst. We shall, 
 however, have occasion to refer to 
 them. 
 
 Mr. Paizold also gives his decided 
 opinion, that it would be impracli- 
 
 * it is a remarkable ciroumslauce, that the 
 immediately preceding report of this society, 
 viz. that for 1811), contains a loiter of thes« 
 very gentlemeii, JMessrs. JvolholF and Ilorst, 
 in which they anxiously delcnd tiieiuSelvet 
 from a siufilar charge brought against them 
 by the missionaries of the I..oiidon mission- 
 ary Society ; a charge (u-igiiuiting probablj 
 in miiapprolietision in both cases. 
 
1SJ2.] Revien) af Society for Christian Knoidedge on Syrian Christians. 107 
 
 cable to employ the clergy of the 
 Syrian church in the Society's mis- 
 sions, " they being sectaries of the 
 Nestorian and Eutychian principles, 
 praying idolatrously to the Virgin 
 Mary and to the Apostle St. Thomas, 
 and laying a great stress upon many 
 very superstitious ceremonies. Be- 
 fore they could be employed in a 
 Protestant mission, they nvust them- 
 selves," he observes, " be converted 
 from the error of their ways, of 
 which little if any liope could be 
 entertained." 
 
 The missionaries therefore, it is 
 obvious, huvc no knoivledf^e them- 
 selves of the Syrians, who live in a 
 country far remote from them ; but 
 they had found some notices of 
 them in looking ovty the journals 
 of their brethren the Danish mis- 
 sionaries, between the years from 
 1725 to 1738, as appears from the 
 extracts above mentioned, where 
 no allusion is made to any com- 
 munication of a later date. These 
 former missionaries alsc; had not 
 themselves visited the Syrian Chris- 
 tians; but they had seen, as appears 
 by the extracts from their journals, 
 some Syrians evidently of the Ro- 
 mish church, who came to Madras 
 on a pilgrimage to St. Thomas's 
 Mount, as is usual with the Roman 
 Catholics in India. That the only 
 Syrians they saw were of tiie Romish 
 church is fully proved by these very 
 extracts, which ascribe to them the 
 use of " missals" and " mass," the 
 acknowledgment of " the supre- 
 macy of the pope," and " subjec- 
 tion to a Portuguese bishop," &c.&c. 
 Such Syrian Christians as liave 
 joined the Ciiurch of Rome are well 
 known to be in a degenerate and most 
 illiterate stale, and they are justly 
 so described by the missionaries. 
 ]>ut it does not appear that they 
 ever saw one of those Syrian Chris- 
 tians of Malayala who continue 
 separate from the Church of Rome. 
 They state, indeed, their having 
 seen a Neslorian Syrian priest; but 
 he also must have belonged to that 
 church, for he spoke of " the ado- 
 ration of th** mother of God," and 
 
 informed them, that he had been 
 ordained b)' Mar Gabriel, a Nesto- 
 riun bisliop, who " celebrated mass," 
 and used a " missal," and who, 
 we are afterwards told, when soli- 
 cited to unite in tlie true orthodox 
 doctrine, answered " in a papistical 
 strain." The journals of the Da- 
 nish m'ssionaries further record, 
 that they had some correspondence 
 with Valerius Nicolai, a Dutch mi- 
 nister at Cochin, respecting the Sy- 
 rian Christians. It appears that, 
 about the year 172!), Mr. Nicolai 
 had written several letters to a Sy- 
 rian bishop, one Mar Thomas, wilh 
 a view to reclaim him from an error 
 in doctrine by proofs from holy 
 writ, (the bishop maintaining, as is 
 alleged, a tenet of Eutyches, that 
 Christ had but one nature), but this 
 bichop had decli.aed giving any an- 
 swer till he should receive permis- 
 sion fj-om his patriarch in S3'ria. 
 
 From the perusal of these jour- 
 nals the Society's present mission- 
 aries had come to the conclusion, 
 tfiat the Syrian Christians of Ma- 
 layala " are Nestorians, and wor- 
 ship the Virgin Mary," and that, 
 therefore, they cannot be admitted 
 to " an union of faith with them- 
 selves." 
 
 Such is the account which, in the 
 year 1811, the Society for pro- 
 moting Christian Knowledge have 
 thought proper to publish respect- 
 ing the Syrian Christians of Ma- 
 layala. Its publication, however, 
 could only have been proper on the 
 sujjposition that no more recent and 
 authentic accounts of this interest- 
 ing people could be obtained. It 
 is possible, indeed, that the worthy 
 missionaries of the Society, who'are 
 chiefly Germans, and have little in- 
 tercourse wilh the English in India, 
 were ignorant of the existence of 
 any such accounts. But it seems 
 hardly possible that, to some mem- 
 bers at least of the Board for ma- 
 naging the affairs of this society, it 
 should not have been known, that in 
 the year IS05, the Madras Govern- 
 ment sent the Rev. Dr. Kerr, senior 
 chaplain at the pre^rideucy of M*» 
 
 P 2 
 
108 Review of Society for Christian Knowledge on Syrian Ckristianut [Feb. 
 
 dras, on a special mission to Mala- 
 bar and Travancore, (before Dr. 
 Buchanan visiied those countries), in 
 order to investigate the state of the 
 Syrian and other Christians; and jhat 
 thenfficial Rt port which this esteem- 
 ed and much-lamented clerfryman 
 made to Lord William Bentinck, 
 was afierwards pubiislied under the 
 autlioiitj- '>f the Supreme Govern- 
 ment of India. ]f they had paid 
 the slightest aitenlijn -o this Re- 
 port, it would probably have pre- 
 vented their present publication. 
 It would, at least, have prevented 
 their fhajjing the Syrian church 
 of Maiaya'T with the errors of 
 Rome ; for it would have clearly 
 pointed out to them the disiin' tions 
 which exist among the Ciirisiians on 
 the Malabar coast, and must have 
 convmced them that the accouut 
 which they have given to the world, 
 under the sanction of their authority, 
 referred principallv, if not wholly, 
 to the Syrian Roman Catholics, and 
 not to the true Syrian Ctunch of 
 Malayaln. An ext-actfrom the Re- 
 port of Dr. Kerr will prove this 
 point. 
 
 " In the creeds and doctrines,'' he 
 observes, " of t he Christ ians of Mala- 
 bar, internal evidence exists of their 
 bein ,' a primitive ( iiuirh ; for tht su- 
 premacy/ of the pope is denied, and the 
 doctrine ot transub^iantialion never 
 has been held by them. They also re- 
 garded, and S'ill regard, the worship 
 ofiinaqes as idola^reus, and the doc- 
 trine ot pur ,ator}' to be fabulous. 
 Moreover, they never admitted as 
 sacranjents, extreme unction, mar- 
 riaije, or confirmation. All which 
 facts may be substantiated on re- 
 ference to the ' Acts of the Synod, 
 assembled by Don Alexis de Mene- 
 ses. Archbishop of Goa, at Udiam- 
 per, in the year 1599.* 
 
 " The Christians on the Malabar 
 coast," he procerds to state, " are 
 divided into three sects; 1. The St. 
 Thome, or Jacobite Christians. 2. 
 The Syrian Roman Catholics. 3. 
 The Latin Church." 
 
 " 1. The St. Thome Christians 
 still retain their ancient creed and 
 
 usages, and consider themselves as 
 the descendants of the flock esta- 
 blished by St. Thomas, who is gene- 
 rally esteemed the Apostle of the 
 East. Their ancestors emigrated 
 from Syria, and the Syrn-Chaldaic 
 is the language in which their 
 chuich service is still performed. 
 They admit no iina^es within their 
 churches, but a figure of the Virgin 
 Mary with the child Jesus in her 
 arms, xohich is con'^idered inerely as 
 an ornument, and not a subject of ido- 
 latrous worship." 
 
 *'It has been long believed, that 
 these Christians held tlie tenets of 
 the Nestorian heresy, and that they 
 were obliged to lea-ve their own 
 country in consequence of persecu- 
 tion However, it -appears, that the 
 Creed they now hold denies thai heresy, 
 and seems to coincide in several points 
 with the treed of St. Athanasins, but 
 without its damnatory clauses. The 
 service in their church i< performed 
 very nearly after the nxanner of the 
 Church of England; and when the 
 Me.iU|;olitan was told, that it was 
 hoped that one day an union might 
 take place between the two ci.uiclies, 
 he see7ned phased at the sug<^tstion. 
 — The character of these p opie is 
 marked hv a striking superiority 
 over the heathens in everj' moral ex- 
 cellence ; and thev are remarkable 
 for their veracity and plain dealing. 
 They are extreemely attentive to 
 their religious duties. They are re- 
 spected very highly by the Nairs ; 
 and the Rajahs of Travancore and 
 Cochin admit them to rank next to 
 the Nairs. Their number, it is ge- 
 nerally supposed, may be estimated 
 at seventy or eighty thousand. The 
 direct protection of the British Go- 
 vernment has been already extended 
 to them ; but as they do not reside 
 within the British territories, I am 
 doubtful how far it may be useful 
 to them. To unite them to the Church 
 of England would, in my opinion, 
 be a most noble work; and it is 
 most devoutly to be wished, that 
 those who have been driven into the 
 Roman pale might be recalled to 
 their ancient church ; a measure 
 
1812.] Reviexv of Society for Christian 
 
 which it would not be difficult to ac- 
 complish, as the count! y govern- 
 ments would be likely to second 
 any efforts for that purpose. Their 
 occupations are various as those of 
 otherChristians; l)ui they are chiefly 
 cultivators and ariiz ms ; and some 
 of them possess a comhiriable, if not 
 a -ipleiHlid independence. Tlieir 
 clenrj^ many in the same vmnner as 
 Protestiiuts. Their residence is en- 
 tirely inland." 
 
 •' 2. The Syrian Roman Catholics 
 are those who were constrained, 
 after a long struggie.to join the Latin 
 church, and who still continue in 
 her pale, though distinguished from 
 her in this, that they are allowed, by 
 a dispensation from the pope, to 
 perform all services of the Church 
 of Rome in the Syro-Chaldaic lan- 
 guagf." " The Hindoos have a 
 murh greater respect for the (!hris- 
 tians of the orisinal church, than for 
 the converts of the Latin commu- 
 nion." " Their priests," we are 
 also told, " act under the direction 
 of the Church of Rome, and leave no 
 means unessayed lo draw over their 
 primitive brethren to the Romish 
 communion." These priests are 
 spoken of as being very ignorant. 
 " They read prayers in Malabar, ac- 
 cording to the ritual of the Church 
 of Rome." 
 
 Dr. Kerr closes his Report with 
 some general observations. — " It ap- 
 pears," he observes, " from the fore- 
 going statement, that pure Chris- 
 tianity is far from being a religion 
 for which the highest cast of the 
 Hindoos have any disrespect; and 
 that it is the abuse of the Christian 
 name, under the form of the Ro- 
 mish religion, to which they are 
 averse." 
 
 No candid man can read the above 
 Report, without perceiving that the 
 Syrians spoken of by the Society's 
 missionaries in their journals, are 
 identified with the Roman Catholic 
 part of the Syrian Christians de- 
 scribed by Dr. Kerr ; and it would 
 be just as fair tojudge of the Church 
 of Ireland by the sentiments of those 
 
 Knoioled^e on Syrian Christians. 109 
 who had apostatized from her com- 
 munion and joined the Romish 
 church, as to judge of the Syrian 
 church of Matayala by the opinions 
 or conduct of those who had quit- 
 ted her pale and conformed to the 
 Roman Clatholic ritual. The jour- 
 nal of the missionaries accords en- 
 tirely with the Report of Dr. Kerr, 
 if we allow that they refer, not to 
 the Syrian church of Malayala, but 
 to the Romish converts from that 
 church; but otherwise these docu- 
 ments are directly at variance. 
 
 But Dr. Kerr's Report is not the 
 only recent and authentic informa- 
 tion we possess on this subject, and 
 with vyhich the Society might have 
 collated the obsolete and unsatisfac- 
 tory hear-say statements of their 
 missionaries. An account of the 
 Syrian Christians was published in 
 India in 1807, by the Rev. Dr. Bu- 
 chanan, after his return from Tra- 
 vancore, part of which ^Tas after- 
 wards re-published in England by 
 the late Bishop of London. It also 
 appeared in the Christian Observer 
 for 1807, p. 65i. The following is 
 an txtract from this account, which 
 contains some particulars not men- 
 tioned in the Christian Researches. 
 
 " The number of Syrian churches" 
 is greater than has been supposed. 
 There are at this time fifty-five 
 churches in Malayala, acknowledg- 
 ing the Patriarch of y^ntioch. The 
 last ciiurch was erected by the pre» 
 sent Bishop in 1793. 
 
 " The Syrian Christians are nof 
 Nestorians. Formerly, indeed, they 
 had bishops of that communion, but 
 the liturgy of the present church is 
 derived from that of the early church 
 of Antioch, called ' Liturgia Jacobi 
 Apostoli.' They are usually deno- 
 minated Jcuobitce, but they diifer in 
 ceremonial from the church of that 
 name in Syria ; and, indeed, from 
 any existing church in the world. 
 Their proper designation, and that 
 which is sanctioned by their own 
 use is * Syrian Christians,' or ' the 
 Syrian church of Malayala.' The 
 old Syrians have continued till late- 
 
! ■! Review of Society for Christian 
 
 iy to receive their bishops from An- 
 tioch * " 
 
 We have unrlerstood from Dr. 
 Buchanan's private communica- 
 tions, since he came to this country, 
 that he had found a few of the Sy- 
 rian priests who held that tenet of 
 Eutyches, which asserts, that Christ 
 had but one, and that a divine na- 
 ture ; but even these seemed to ex- 
 plain it away in words, for they 
 spoke of Christ's human nature like 
 Protestants. Their bishop never 
 once mentioned the subject, although 
 he knew that Dr. Buchanan held a 
 contrary opinion ; and, as for the 
 bulk of the people, they seemed to 
 know no more of Eutychian doc- 
 trine than the common people in 
 England; and the-y are probably as 
 little acquainted with it as our popu- 
 lation is with the Arian or Socinian 
 doctrine. In his discussions with 
 the Syrians, Dr. Buchanan appears 
 not to have thought it fit to canvass 
 with them difficult points of doc- 
 trine. He wisely made it his chief 
 object to forwaid th« translation of 
 the Bible, knowing that this was the 
 fountain of light ; and that if they 
 were once possessed of this, it would 
 be easier to adjust particular doc- 
 trines. Under the peculiar circum- 
 stances, indeed, in which this peo- 
 ple are placed, it is impossible that 
 their minds should not be in a some- 
 what fluctuating state with respect 
 to doctrinal points. The nation in 
 general are called St. Thoine Chris- 
 tians. This is their name in all 
 parts of India, and it imports an an- 
 tiquity that reaches fur heyond the 
 Eutycbians or Neetorians, or any 
 other sect ; but in process of time 
 certain Nestorian, and after them 
 certain Eutychian, bishops obtained 
 the supremacy among them f ; and 
 now the Roman Catholics constantly 
 
 * Account of Sjrian Christians, p. 3. Cal- 
 cutta, 1807. 
 
 t It surely would be unfair to infer the 
 character ot any church ; of our own, for ex- 
 aiu})le, from the cliaracter and doctrinal sen- 
 timents of individual bishopsor priests. What 
 say our Articles ? What say* our Liturgy? 
 
 Knowledge on Syrian Christians. [Feji. 
 
 assail them whenever an opportu- 
 nity offers. Much allowance was, 
 therefore, to be made for them ; and 
 Dr. Buchanan, finding them placed 
 in such interesting circumstances, 
 holding fast the few Bibles and frag- 
 ments of Bibles they possessed, and 
 resisting the antichristian spirit 
 " which had deceived the nations," 
 he appears rather to have sought, in 
 what things they might agree, than 
 in what they might differ ; how he 
 might do them good by the com- 
 munication of scriptural light, than 
 how he might find reasons to justify 
 his exclusion of them from the pale 
 of Christian fellowship. 
 
 In following such a conduct, we 
 think Dr. Buchanan acted wisely 
 and well. In giving an account of 
 them in his Christian Researches, he 
 has chiefly confined himself to his 
 conversations with their most learn- 
 ed men on important subjects. In 
 regard to the state of the people ge- 
 nerally, he has observed " that he 
 perceived all around symptoms of 
 poverty and political oppression ; 
 that in the churches and in the peo- 
 ple there was the air of fallen great- 
 ness; and that they appeared like 
 a people who had known better 
 days ;" to which one of their priests 
 replied, " We are in a degenerate 
 state, compared with our forefathers ; 
 the learning too of the Bible is very 
 low amongst us." Dr. Buchanan 
 also notices, that " they have some 
 ceremonies nearly allied to those of 
 the Greek church ;" and in his. con- 
 versation with the Bishop, he remark- 
 ed, " that there were some rites and 
 practices iji the Syrian church which 
 our church might consider objec- 
 tionable or nugatory." Had the 
 Society thought proper to examine 
 this living witness, they might have 
 found reason to quality, if not en- 
 tirely to withhold, their statements. 
 But the most competent autho- 
 rity on subjects relating to the Sy- 
 rian Christians, is Colonel Macaulay, 
 
 Tliis is the only fair test. Even supposing 
 tliat all our bishops and all our clergy are 
 now orthodox, have they always been so ? 
 
 \ 
 
f 8 1 2. ] Reviei'J of Society for Christian 
 
 late Political Resident for the Bri- 
 tish Government, in Travaiicore ; 
 who is now in this country. This 
 ollicer, we are informed, resided for 
 about eight or ten years in the vi- 
 cinity of the Syrians, had constant 
 official intercourse wit!i them, saw 
 them verv frequently, and often vi- 
 sited and received visits from their 
 metropolitan and chief priests. We 
 also understand this officer to have 
 declared, that the account which 
 ■state? the Syrian Christians in Ma- 
 layaia, who are not in the connec- 
 tion of Rome, to be Nestorians, and 
 that they worship the A^irgin Mary, 
 •is utterly groundless; for that the 
 metropolitan Mar Dionysius (whom 
 he is said to describe as having been 
 a man of great piety and respectabi- 
 lity) had sent to him the Creed of 
 his Church, which disclaims the er- 
 rors of Arius and Nestorius by name -. 
 Dr. Kerr has staled in his Report, 
 that " the direct protection of the 
 British Government had been ex- 
 tended to the Syrians." This was 
 done through this British Resident 
 (Colonel Macaulay), who, if we are 
 
 * This inforniation appears to be con- 
 firmed by a statement in our volume for 
 1807, p. 65.7, where there is the following 
 nole : " In a written coramiinication to the 
 llesidcnt of Tra.vancure, the Metropoliian 
 stales their creed " (viz. that of the Syrian 
 church of Malayala) " to be as follows : 
 ' We believe in the Father, Son, and Holy 
 Ghost, three persons in one God, neither ton- 
 iounding the persons nor dividing the sub- 
 stance ; one in three and three in one ; the 
 Father generator, tlie Son generated, and the 
 Holy Ghost proceedinir. None is before or 
 after other in majesty, honour, might, and 
 power, coequal ; Unity in Trinity, and Tri- 
 nity in Unity.' He then proceeds to dis- 
 claim the diiferent errors of Arius, Sabellius, 
 Alacedonins, Manes, Marcianus, .Tulianus, 
 Iseslorius, and the Chalcedoniaiis, and ends 
 with repeating their belief in the doctrine of 
 the Trinity, and that • in the appointed 
 time, througli the disposition of the Fiither 
 and the Holy Ghost, the Son appeared on 
 «arth for the salvation of radnkin'i ; that he 
 was born of the Virgin Mary, through the 
 means of the Holy Ghost, and was incarnate 
 God and man ; so that in this union of the 
 divine nature, there was one nature and one 
 tubsunce.-* " 
 
 Knowledge on Syrian Christians, 1 1 1 
 
 not misinformed, constantly exerted 
 his influence with the Rajahs of 
 Travancore and Cochin, to defend 
 the old Syrian Christians, and also 
 the Syrians of the Romish Church, 
 against the oppression of the Rajah'a 
 officers, and particularly of the 
 Dewan of Travancore, the chief who 
 afterwards fomented the war of 
 ISOS — 9 against the English, whicll 
 ended in the humiliation of the Tra- 
 vancore power. Jt was to Colonel 
 Macaulay, also, that the Syrian 
 Bishop entrusted the portions of the 
 New Testament, as he translated 
 them into Malayalim; and the print- 
 ing of thein afterwards atBorabavwa* 
 conducted under the direction of the 
 same officer. As Colonel Macaulay 
 possesses such indisputable means of 
 communicating to tl>e Society for 
 promoting Christian Knowledge and 
 to the public at large the most authen- 
 tic accounts of the present state of 
 the Syrian Christians, we trust that 
 he will be induced by the import- 
 ance of the points which have been 
 mooted, to the interests, not only of 
 the Syrian Church, but of Christia- 
 nity itself, to come forward with a 
 statement on the subject, which may 
 serve to remove all farther doubt* 
 respecting it. If the charge brought 
 against the Syrian church be, as we 
 believe, unfounded, he will thus as- 
 sist in rescuing froru an unmerited 
 stigma, a body of Christians, whose 
 constancy through so many ages in 
 the profession of a comparatively 
 pure faith, w hile almost everv other 
 church yielded to the overwhelming 
 power either of the Latin or Greek 
 superstition, is well fitted to com- 
 mand our highest veneration. 
 
 In one important particular, tho 
 journals of the missionaries confirm 
 the more recent intelligence; we 
 mean, as to the respectable charac- 
 ter of the Syrian'clergy in their own 
 nation. It is stated, " that the 
 priests claim an equality with the 
 highest cast of that country, the 
 Nairs." It may be expected, that 
 when such shall be led to turn their 
 attention to biblical" literature, they 
 should make some proficiency in i*. 
 
112 Review of Society for Christian Knowledge on Syrian Christians, [Feb. 
 
 As to their incompetence to instruct 
 the poor on account oF their clider- 
 ence of rank, such an objection 
 
 would apply equally to the clergy 
 of England. Give them the means 
 of studying the Bible in their ver- 
 nacular tongue, and let them im- 
 bibe its spirit, and we have no doubt 
 that any dilficuUies arising from dif- 
 ference of rank will speedily vanish. 
 We have already alluded to the de- 
 fence made by Messrs. KoIhofF and 
 Horst against what they call a charge 
 of Messrs. Cran and Desgranges, 
 that they had " allowed the cast — 
 i. e. the ditVerence between nobility, 
 clergy, gentry, and common people 
 — to subsist." This charge they 
 pronounce to be " highly unchari- 
 table." They admit, at the same 
 time, that they, the missionaries, 
 never did " insist on any person, 
 who wished to embrace Christian- 
 ity, to renounce his cast. To desire 
 a man to renounce his cast," they 
 proceed to argue, " signifies, for 
 example, to require a man of the 
 high Seyva, or Wellaler cast, who 
 is accustomed from his infancy to 
 live only upon vegetables, to eat 
 meat, to enter into a close coimec- 
 tionor to level himself with the lower 
 classes, or to intermarry with one 
 another, e.g. with the Pariars ;"— 
 " and we do not feel ourselves war- 
 ranted to require of the higher ranks 
 such an unscriptural surrender of 
 their birthright, to which no noble- 
 man or gentleman in our own coun- 
 try would evt:r subriiit." — Society's 
 Eepoct for 1810, p. i(J-k 
 
 Now if all this be sjoand reasoning, 
 as it respects the converts made by 
 the Society's missionaries, why 
 should ii not be good when applied 
 1,0 the Syrian Christians? We can 
 see no difference in tJie two cases ; 
 uor, indeed, is there any proof in the 
 journals of the missionaries, that the 
 attachment to cast on the part of the 
 Syrian priests, or their separation 
 from the lovver classes, was, in the 
 very slightest degree, greater than 
 what they themselves (be it right or 
 wrong) allow and justify in their 
 ftveo congregc^tions. 
 
 These journals also, as far as they 
 go, shew that there was no unwill- 
 ingness on the part of the Syrian 
 Christians, not in connection with 
 the Church of Home, to listen to 
 pvoposals for an union with Protes- 
 tants. The only person mentioned 
 in these journals, who appears not to 
 have been of the Romish commu- 
 nion, is one of the bishops with 
 whom the Rev. Valerius Nicolai cor- 
 responded on the subject of the Eu- 
 tychian heresy*, and whom he in- 
 vited to unite " in the true ortho- 
 dox doctrine." 
 
 The bishop, Mar Thomas, did not 
 receive this invitation in an ungra- 
 cious manner ; he merely answered, 
 " that he could not reply to the sub- 
 ject until he had received permission 
 from his patriarch in Syria." — Now^ 
 if the Syrian bishop was willing to 
 give the subject a consideration at 
 the suggestion of an individual, the 
 Dutch minister at Cochin, what 
 might not be expected if our Church 
 were to use her influence to conci- 
 liate, and instruct, and reform that 
 nation? If it be true that they are 
 in the low state which has been al- 
 leged, the proper inference from 
 this is, that we should use the oppor- 
 tunity, if such be olfered, of instruct- 
 ing them. It does not seem possible 
 to be entirely indilierent to a people 
 in their circumstances, who notwith- 
 standing their having had, from time 
 to time, spiritual heads who held er- 
 roneous opinions ; and notwithstand- 
 ing the cruel persecutions they have 
 had to sustain from their Romish 
 . brethren in former ages, and their no 
 less prejudicial arts of seduction xn 
 the present ; to say nothing of the 
 sulferings they have experienced 
 from the native powers to whom 
 
 • This bishop seeius not to iiave been 
 avvfii'e that he was an Eiitychiau, until he 
 was informed of it by Mr. Nicolai. The 
 words of the journals are, " Th& Rev. Vale- 
 rius Nicolai wrote, on the 11th July, 17'29, 
 both to Mar Gabriel and to Mar Thomas, 
 and pointed out to tkem that Mar Gabriel is 
 a Nestorian, and Mar Thomas an Eutychian^ 
 nnd otfered bis mediation, for to unite them 
 bolU in the true orthodox doctrin«.'' 
 
1 S12.] Revieiv of Society for Christian 
 
 they are in subjection, have main- 
 tained, to this day, a primitive cha- 
 racter. Nor would it be a grateful 
 reflection to the Church of England 
 to' learn hereafter, that, in conse- 
 quence of her passin<^ them by (as 
 being called Eutychians) they had 
 at last, after 1600 years or more of 
 independence, and of resistance, for 
 the truth's sake, even unto blood, 
 yielded to the solicitation and local 
 power of the Church of Rome. 
 
 As to the idea of employing the 
 Syrian priests in the missions of the 
 Society on the east coast of India, it 
 is not for a moment to be entertain- 
 ed : and we cannot help expressing 
 our surprise, that such a plan should 
 have been thought of by the Society. 
 Eor even supposing that they were 
 qualified, which we believe they 
 are not, the language is rjuite dif'er- 
 €nt. Indeed, it is evident, from all 
 that is said above, that the mis- 
 sionaries at Tranquebar and Tan- 
 jore know no more of the Syrian 
 Christians of Malayala, of their lan- 
 guage, religion, manners, or cus- 
 toms, than the Society's missionaries 
 in Scilly know of the Syrian Chris- 
 tians in the island of Cyprus. But, 
 surely, their unfitness for becoming 
 missionaries at present, is no reason 
 for not endeavouring to enlighten 
 and improve them. 
 
 In regard to a union with the Syrian 
 Christians in India, even supposing 
 it to be at present impracticable, 
 either on account of the political 
 circumstances of the country — thev 
 being the subjects of another state — 
 or on account of certain ditierences 
 of religious opinion or practice; yet 
 surely there is nothing, even now, 
 to prevent a friendly intercourse 
 with them; or, as the late Bishop of 
 London expressed it, *' such a con- 
 nection as might appear to both 
 churches practicable and expedient:" 
 such a connection as should tend to 
 their improvement in scriptural 
 knowledge, as well as to their civil 
 happiness. Such a connection as 
 this, we will venture to add, in the 
 words of that lamented prelate,would 
 
 Chwst. Ohsf.rv. No. 122. 
 
 Knotvledge on Syj'ian Christians. J 1 3 
 
 be " a happy event, and favourable 
 to the advancement of religion." 
 
 It ought not to be alleged, that we 
 cannot have any intercourse with the 
 SyrianChristians merely because they 
 are denominated Eutychians. We 
 believe it to be a fact, and if so it will 
 be allowed to be most important, 
 that both the Syrians in Malayala 
 and the Christians in Ceylon (Ro- 
 mish and Protestant) are, at this 
 time, in a state to become what we 
 may choose to make them. Surely, 
 under those circumstances, it will 
 not be said that we are in no way to 
 connect ourselves either with the 
 Dutch church of Ceylon, or with the 
 Eutychians of Travancore. These 
 are not times when we ought to scan 
 too accurately the nominal creed of 
 our neighbour, particularly in hea- 
 then lands. We " that have know- 
 ledge," must bear the infirmities of 
 " the weaker brethren." The great 
 dispute in these lands is not between 
 shades of Christian doctrine, but be- 
 tween light and darkness, between 
 the true God and an idol. It will 
 be time enough, at least, to enter on 
 particular points of doctrine, after 
 ive have given them the Bible, and 
 can refer to a common testimony. 
 We ought to remember, that our 
 church has even cherished the hope 
 of a union with the Roman Catho- 
 lics themselves. It is well known, 
 that Archbishop Wake, while presi- 
 dent of the Society for promoting 
 Christian Knowledge, was engaged 
 in a correspondence with doctors of 
 the Sorbonne, the object of which 
 was a union with the Galilean 
 church ; and the present Bishop of 
 Durham, in his last Charge, observes, 
 " that there appears to him to be, in 
 the present circumstances of Europe, 
 better ground of hope lor a success- 
 ful issue to a dispassionate investi- 
 gation of the dilFcrences which sepa- 
 rate the two churches of England 
 and Rome, than at any former p(^- 
 riod." C/mr^e«, p. 44-1 . And the learn- 
 ed prelate adds, that if, " by perse- 
 vering ui a spirit of truth and cha- 
 rity, we could bring the Roman ca- 
 Q 
 
J 14 Revieio ofSocieti/for Christian Knowledge on Syrian Christians. [Fek. 
 
 any thing be done to enlighten her 
 darkness; to rectify the errors pro- 
 duced in the long lapse of ages, by 
 her isolated state, and by her desti- 
 tution of the raeans of religious 
 knowledge? Can any thing be done 
 to protect her against the oppression 
 of the native governments, and 
 against the insidious arts of the Ro- 
 mish church, aided by the terrors of 
 an inquisition? Such are the inqui- 
 ries which the occasion called for; 
 and these inquiries, we trust, will 
 yet be eiFectually prosecuted, not 
 only as aduty incumbent cr\ the So- 
 ciety under any circumstances, but 
 as doubly requisite in order to repair 
 the injurious eifect of the present 
 publication. Of course, no injury 
 could have been intended by the 
 Society ; that is altogether impossi- 
 ble : but an injury has nevertheless 
 been done, by the mistatements 
 which have thus been forced into cir- 
 culation under an authority so gene- 
 rally venerated as that of the So- 
 ciety for promoting Christian Know^. 
 ledge. Had the purpose, however, 
 of these mistaken re[)resentations 
 been to excite the commiseration 
 and the exertions of the members of 
 the Society in favour of this suffer- 
 ing and destitute body of Christians, 
 though we should still have regretted 
 their incorrectness, we should have 
 applauded the motive which gave 
 them publicit}'. But vve cannot 
 discover that such is its intention; 
 on the contrary, if any inference 
 may be drawn froni the general co- 
 lour of the Report, it would be, that 
 the Society desigtied to justify itself 
 for making no efforts to enlighten 
 the Syrian Christians. This infe- 
 rence, however, will prove to be 
 unfounded, and we shall rejoice to 
 witness the proof of its injustice, 
 in the early adoption of some mea- 
 sures on the part of the Society with 
 a view to ascertain tlte practicabi- 
 lity of its beneficial interference in 
 behalf of this people. If, on the 
 other hand, no such measures should 
 be adopted, we must then call loud- 
 ly on all the members of the Church 
 of England, \\;ho feel for her true 
 
 tholics to see certain important sub- 
 jects in the same light that the ca- 
 tholics of the Church of England 
 do, a very auspicious opening would 
 be made for that long desired mea- 
 sure of Catholic Union, which for- 
 merly engaged the talents and anx- 
 ious wishes of some of the best and 
 ablest members of both commu- 
 nions." Charges, p. 4 5 3. 
 
 Auiiion, therefore, with the Sy- 
 rian Christians, at a future lime, 
 ought not to be accounted a vision- 
 ary obj' -l. At present, however, 
 they only want our countenance and 
 the means of instrur:tion. They 
 are descended from the first Chris- 
 tians at Antioch (at least with more 
 ' certainty than we can trace the de- 
 scent of almost any other people); 
 they maintain a primitive character, 
 and can boast of an antiquity to 
 •which we cannot pretend ; and al- 
 though, in respect of refinement and 
 learning, they may not be deemed 
 worthy to sit at meat with us, yet 
 "WQ may give to them, and it appears 
 that they would thankfully receive, 
 " the crumbs that fall from our ta- 
 ble." 
 
 Before we conclude this article, 
 we wish it to be distinctly under- 
 stood, thai we have no intention to 
 censure the Society's missionaries. 
 They, we doubt not, gave the best 
 answer they could to the query that 
 had been put to them. We think, 
 however, that the query itself was 
 ill-timed. The Society might have 
 known that the members of a church, 
 however apostolical that church may 
 be in its constitution and in its creed, 
 which is deprived of free access 
 to the word of God, the grand foun- 
 tain of light and knowledge, cannot 
 be in a capacity to become the he- 
 ralds of the everlasting Gospel to 
 other nations. The inquiry ought 
 rather to have been,What can we, as 
 a society embodying within its pale 
 the constituted authorities of the 
 Enalish episcopate — what can we do 
 to raise this ancient, but fallen and 
 oppressed, church to a participation 
 of the privileges with which the Di- 
 vine mercy has favoured us? Can 
 
1 S 1 2. } Lit . and Ph il. Intel!. — New Publications. 1 1 5 
 
 honour, as a dispenser of the bless- charge the obligation which is im- 
 
 \ags of salvation, and as " a light posed upon them, to employ their 
 
 of the world," (whether they are utmost exertions to raise from its 
 
 members of the Society for promot- present stale of darkness and depres- 
 
 ing Christian Knowledge or not) to sion this .oost interesting commu- 
 
 consider how they can best dis- nity of Christians. 
 
 LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE, 
 
 UKtAl JSKiiAUM. Bulleck's Catalogue (considerably enlarged) 
 
 Prep AR IN G for publication : — By subscrip- i)f the ]>ond'in INluieuiu of Natural History, 
 
 tion, Memoirs of the late Philip Melvill, Esq. removing to Tl.e new building in Piccadilly ; 
 
 Lieut. Governor of Pendennis Castle, pre- . — and The fifth edition of Cotteiiil's Psalms 
 
 pared by a Friend : the profits to be applied and Hymns adapted to the Fcitivals of the 
 
 to the benefit of his widow and family. The Church of Kngland, with additions. 
 price to subscribers will be 10s. 6d. 
 
 la the press : — A History of the Univer- The following are the subjects for Sir Wil- 
 
 sity of Cambridge, in two volumes, includ- ]iara Brown's gold medals for the present 
 
 ing the Lives of the Founders, with Engrav- year at Cambridge : — For the Greek ode, 
 
 iiigs, by Mr. George Dyer; — Shipwrecks and Crinemque tiniendi 
 
 Disasters at Sea, in three volumes 8vo.; — A Sideris et terris inutaulem regna Cometen, 
 View of the Political State of Scotland at Luc an. 
 
 Michaelmas 1811, comprehending the Roll For the Latin ode, 
 of Freeliolders, &c. &c. ; — Outlines of a Honestae paupertaiis laus; 
 
 Course of Natural Philosophy, by Professor For the Epigrams, 
 
 Playfair; — Lectures on Portions of the Old Miraturque niiiil nisi quod Libitini sacravLt. 
 Testament, intended to illustrate Jewish Horace. 
 
 History and Scripture Characters, by Dr. Several genuine MSS. (many of which 
 
 Hill, Principal of the University of St. An- are in the hand-writing of Oliver Cromwell) 
 
 drew's; — A Treatise on Algebra, by Mr. have been discovered in a chest containing 
 
 Bonnycastle, in two volumes 8vo. ; — A records of the town of Haverford-west. 
 System of Algebra and Fluxions, by Mr. The following is a coniparaiive statement 
 
 Joyce, for the use of schools; — Sermons of the population of Great Britain, in the 
 
 and Letters to a Young Clergyman, by the years 1801 and 1811 ; shewing the differ- ■ 
 
 late Rev. Mr. Gtion, with a Sketch of Jiis ence between the two returns. 
 
 1801. 1811. 
 
 Males. Females. Total. Males. Females. Total. 
 
 England 3,987,935 4,343.499 8,331,434 4.5.55,?J7 4,944,143 9.499 40O 
 
 Wales -251,178 284..S68 541,546 '2S9,414 317,966 607,380 
 
 Scotland 734,581 864,487 1,599,068 825,377 979 487 1,804,864 
 
 Army, Navy, &c. 470,598 470,598 640,500 640,500 
 
 Totals 5,450,292 5,492,354 10,942,6 .6 6,310,548 6,241,596 12„552,144 
 
 Difference m the Returns. — England, 1,167,966— Wales, 65,834 — Scotland, 208,180 — 
 Army, Navy, &.;., 169,902.— Total, 1,611,882. 
 
 LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 THEOLOGy. 
 
 Russell's Letters, Essays, and Poems, on 
 Religious Subjects. Second Edition. 12ioo. 
 5s. 
 
 A Second Volume of Sermons. By David 
 Brichan, D. D. 8vo. 9s. boards. 
 
 All Address, c' .livered at Worship Street, 
 Nov. 3, 1811. By the Rev. J. Evaus, A. M. 
 Is, 
 
 A Sermon, preached before the University 
 of Cambridge, Jan. 27, 1811. By J. Plump- 
 tre, M. A. Is. 
 Q 2 
 
Relig. Intell. — Hertfordshire Auxiliary Bible Society. [Feb. 
 
 Caii Jiilii Caesaris Opera omnia ; ad opti- 
 morum exemplarjum fidem Recensita, notulis 
 sermone Anglicano exaratis illustrata, et in- 
 dice Nttniiauin proprioruni uberrimo iiistruc- 
 ta. I» usurn Scholag Glasguensis, Studio 
 Joannls Dymock. 12rao. 6s. bound. 
 
 An Essay on the good Effects which may 
 be derived from the British West Indies. By 
 S. Gaisford, Esq. 8vo. 7s. 
 
 The Poor Child's Library, designed as a 
 Gift to Children on leaving the eleemosynary 
 Schools. By the Rev. John Barrow. 3s. 6d. 
 
 A Father's Bequest to his Son, containing 
 Rules for his Conduct through Life. Fools- 
 cap 4s. 6d. 
 
 Political Essay on the Kingdom of New 
 Spain. By A. De Humboldt. Translated 
 from the French by J. l31ack. Vol. IlL and 
 IV. 8vo. 31s. 6d. 
 
 A Concise History of the Moors in Spain, 
 from their Invasion of that Kingdom to their 
 final Expulsion. By T. Bourke, Esq. 4to. 
 2Is 
 
 Mechanical Exercisns, or the Elements and 
 Practice of Carpentry, Joinery, &c. By P. 
 Nicholson. 8vo. 18s. 
 
 Designs of Modern Costume, &c. engraved 
 in outline by Henry Moses, the Artist who so 
 ably executed the Costume of the Ancients. 
 By Mr. Hop. 
 
 An Examination of the Mineralised Re- 
 mains of the Vegetables and Animals of the 
 Antediluvian World, generally termed Ex- 
 traneous Fossils. By J. Parkinson. Vol.111. 
 4to. 3/. 13s. 6d. 
 
 Evening Amusements, or the Beauty of 
 the Heaveas <(isplayed ; for the Year 1812. 
 By W. yrend,Esq. M. A. 3s. 
 
 A Companion to the Telescope. 8vo. 6s. 
 
 A Dictionary of the Malayan Languages 
 ill two parts, Malayan and English, and 
 English and Malayan. By W. Marsden. 4lo, 
 2/. 2s. 
 
 'J lie Situation of Great Britain in 1811, 
 by M. M. de Montgaillard, published by au- 
 thority of the French Government, and 
 translated fjom the French by F. W. Blag- 
 don. 9s. 
 
 History of Aberdeen. By W. Thomas. S 
 vols. 12mo. 10s. fine paper, 12s. 
 
 116 
 
 Charge deliverer! to the Clergy of the Dio- 
 cese <>f Rochester, June 1811. "is. 
 
 A Sermon preached in the Parish Church 
 of All Saints, Derby, Oct. 7, 1811. By Mr. 
 Gisborne. 2s. 
 
 Conferences between the Danish Mission- 
 aries resident at Tranqitebar, and the Heathen 
 Natives of Hindoostan, now first rendered 
 into English. 12h)o. .5s.* 
 
 Scripture Directory, or an Attempt to as- 
 sist the unlearned Reader to understand the 
 general History and leading Subjects of the 
 Old Testameitt. By T. Jones. 2s. 6d. 
 
 A Sermon on the Necessity of educatins! 
 the Poor, beJore the University of Oxford, 
 ntSr. Mary's, Dec. 1, 1811. By the Rev^ 
 G. Faussett. Is. 
 
 A Defence of Infant Baptism, and of 
 Sprinkling, as a proper F«rm of Baptising. 
 Is. 
 
 A Sermon on the Duties of the Clergy. 
 Is. 
 
 The Life of John Knox, containing Illus- 
 trations of the History of the Reformation 
 in Scotland, with Biographical Notices of the 
 principal Relormers, and Sketches of the 
 Progress of Literature in Scotland, during a 
 j;reat Part of tlie Sixteenth CeiUury. By 
 the Rev. Thomas M'Ciie. 8vo. igs. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 Serio-political Observations, or Thoughts 
 «n the Circulation of tite Holy Scriptures, 
 and on the British and Foreign Bible Socie- 
 ty. By the Rev. L. J. Hobson, Master of 
 the Grammar School, Doncaster. Is. 6d. 
 
 Memoirs of Joan D'Arc, or Du Leys, call- 
 ed the Maid of Orleans. By G. Ann Graves. 
 8vo. 7s. 
 
 The Life of the Rev. J. Hough, D. D. By 
 .T. Wilmot, Esq. F. R. S. 4to. 1/. lis. 6d.; 
 fine paper, 0,1. 2s. 
 
 A Narrative of the Persecnlion of Hippo- 
 lyto Joseph da Costa, imprisoned and tried 
 by the Inquisition tor the pretended Crime 
 of Freemasonry. 2 vols. 8vo. 20s. 
 
 • This work proceeds from some disciple 
 of Voltaire's school, and is as paltry in its 
 execution as it is mischievous in its inten- 
 tion. CAViTO. 
 
 RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. 
 
 HEIlTPORDSIIinE AUXILI.*RY BIBLE 
 SOCIETY. 
 
 A VEHY numerous and highly respectable 
 meeting, convened by public advertisement, 
 tyas held at the Shire-hall in Hertford, on 
 Friday the 24th of January, 1812, for the 
 purpose of establishing an Auxiliary Bible 
 Society to co-operate with the British nnd 
 TMt'ign BiWe Sociefy. 
 
 William Plumer, Esq. was unanimously 
 called to the chair, but declined it on ac- 
 count of his health ; when, in compliance 
 with the same unanimous request of the 
 meeting, expressed on the motion of Mr. 
 Plumer, seconded by Sir John Saunders Se- 
 bright, Bart. William Baker, Esq. accept- 
 Gil it. 
 
 The Chairman, in a very concise and abl^ 
 
1812.] 
 
 Hertfordshire Auxiliary Bible Society. 
 
 117 
 
 manner, expluincd the occasion of the lueet- 
 iiiC, and stated, tli.it, accordhig to his view 
 of" the question, the onl^' difliculiy tliat ex- 
 isted oil the subject must rest with those 
 wlio were disposed to object to the formation 
 of so truly excellent and important an insti- 
 tution. " The object," he observed, " is 
 simple, totally uncoiniected with every ques- 
 tion of politics, on which parlies might be 
 formed ; and tlie means proposed to attain 
 it, such as, in my opinion, every Christian 
 might safely and conscientiously agree to 
 (Hiite in supporting. It has my cordial ap- 
 probation." 
 
 Mr. Plumer then rose, and addressed the 
 meeting in a short, but very impressive 
 speech. He stated that this was probably 
 the last time he should ever meet his friends 
 and neighbours on any public occasion. He 
 was glad that he l)ad an opportunity of bear- 
 ing his testimony in so good a cause. It 
 would be a consolation to him, as he ap- 
 proached his last hour. Diflereiice of judg- 
 ment must exist on many points, " but if 
 wc cannot reconcile all opinions," said Mr. 
 P. (quoting Mr. Vausittart's letter to Dr. 
 Marsh) " let us endeavour to unite all 
 hearts." Mr. Plumer concluded by tuovinj; a 
 series of resolutions, which were seconded 
 by Sir John Sebright. 
 
 The Secretaries of the parent society then 
 proceeded to explain the nature, objects, and 
 progress of the institution. 
 
 Mr. SteintoplT forcibly stated tlift want 
 of Bibles in various parts of the continent, 
 and the great anxiety to obtain them. 
 Among other interesting facts, which he 
 mentioned, was the following. An offer 
 was made by a person from Stockholm to 
 the governor of Russian Finland, of some 
 pecuniary assistance towards supplying the 
 poor Finland ers with Bibles. The covernor 
 inquired from what generous hands tlie 
 proposal came. When he learnt that they 
 were indebted for it to England, he could 
 not refrain from tears ; but added, that 
 without consulting the Emperor nothing 
 could be done. The Emperor was consulted, 
 and has contributed, from his private purse, 
 live thousand roubles to the Bible Society 
 now forming in Finland. 
 
 Mr. Hughes entered upon a vindication 
 of the nature and constitution of the parent 
 society and its auxiliary associations. His 
 speech was almost entirely argumentative, 
 and, to the convictioH of all who heard him, 
 he established the expediency of such a 
 union for such a purpose. 
 
 The resolutions were then read from the 
 chair, and unanimously adopted. 
 
 On the motion of .\dolphus Meeikcrte, 
 
 Esq., seconded by Culling Smith, Esq. it wa* 
 resolved, that Lord Viscount Griraslon be 
 requested to accept the olfice of President of 
 the Society. His Lordship has acceded to 
 llie wish of the meeting. 
 
 The following is the list of the Vice-Pre- 
 sidents. 
 
 The Right Hon. Lord John Townsltend, 
 
 ]\I. P.* 
 Hon. Thomas Brand, M. P. 
 Hon. William Lamb, M. P. 
 Hon. Edward Spencer Cowper, M, P.. 
 Sir John Saunders Sebright, Bart. M. P. 
 Cavendish Bradsliaw, Esq. M. P. 
 Nicholson Calvert, Esq. iM. P. 
 Oliver Cromwell, Esq. 
 Daniel Giles, Esq. M.P. 
 Thomas Greg, Esq. 
 James Gordon, Esq. M.P. 
 Joseph Halsey, Esq. M. P. 
 Adolphus Meetkerke, Esq. 
 William Plumer, Esq. 
 Sir Culling Smith, Bart. 
 Abel Smith, Esq. M.P. 
 Culling Smith, Esq. 
 Samuel Smith, Esq. M.P. 
 The Rev. j\Ir. Lidden entered at some 
 length, and with considerable force, into 
 the character and probable effects of the 
 Bible Society. He considered it not merely 
 as a powerful instrument of God, but as 
 likely to become a permanent blessing. 
 
 The Hon. Mt. Brand, in proposing the 
 Secretaiies of the Auxiliary Society, dehver- 
 ed a very manly and strong appeal upon the 
 beneficial tendency of the iiLstilulion. He 
 adverted in terms of high and just encomium 
 to Mr. Deallry's " Vindication of the Bible 
 Society," and gave it his warmest recom- 
 mendation, as a most candid and unanswer- 
 able defence of the object and proceedings of 
 the iiulitution. 
 
 The motion for the appointment of the 
 Pwev. William Dealtry and the Kev. C. 
 Maslen, iis secretaries, having been seconUt i 
 by Nicholson Calvert, Esq. and adopted by 
 the meeting, Mr. Dealtry rose to relura 
 thanks. 
 
 We are happy that it is in our power 
 to iuseit the substance of this excellent 
 speech, which has been printed at the par- 
 ticular request of the Committee of the Hert- 
 ford Auxiliary Bible Society. It was as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 " In rising to return my thanks for the dis- 
 tinction which you have been pleased to con- 
 
 * An extract was read from a letter of 
 Lord Joiin Townshcnd, at Bath, expressive 
 '. .o(hi»cordiid support, aud icgrcititig his un- 
 jvoidat'ie :ibsence «u accouot of Lis heaJlh, 
 
Hertfordshire Auxiliary Bible Society... Mr, DeaUry. [Feb, 
 
 118^ 
 
 fer upon nie, I fe';l myself called upon lo 
 express my warraesl wishes for the prosperity 
 of the great cause which has brought us to- 
 gether. So far as my liumble exertions can 
 promote its glorious object, they will not be 
 wanting; and I think it an honour and a 
 privilege to be thus employed. If facts of 
 tlie mostinteresting nature can operate upon 
 our minds, what facts can be more impres- 
 sive than those which we have this day 
 heard? If our reason is to be swayed by 
 arguments, I have never heard arguments 
 more cogent aud conclusive. To me, indeed, 
 the whole range of argument, for the disper- 
 sion of the Scriptures, whatever else we dis- 
 tribute, appears to lie within a very narrow 
 compass. If these records are indeed the 
 revelation of God, and expressly intended to 
 make us wise unto salvation, where is the 
 Christian that shall dare to arrest their pro- 
 gress? The pretence, that the free circula- 
 tion of the Bible can do harm, what does it 
 amount to? That, in the most important of 
 all concerns, Inlinite Wisdom has devised 
 means ill adapted to their end ! That man 
 is wiser than his Maker! That God is not 
 to be trusted with the declaration of his own 
 ivill in this world, which his hands have 
 ittiade! 
 
 " When the disciples of John inquired of 
 oilr Saviour what were the proofs of his di- 
 vine authority, he crowns the catalogue by 
 stating, that the poor have the Gospel preach- 
 ed to theiit. And what is the object of the 
 Bible Society? It is to give that Gospel to 
 the poor: it is to fulfil, as far as human 
 agency may be permitted lo fulfil it, i tie great 
 end of our Saviour's mission. And who could 
 endure the tliought of refusing to a poor 
 nrin the comfort of a Bible ! What sort of 
 consolation would any of us derive upon his 
 death-bed from reflections like these: " I 
 saw my poor brother hungering for the bread 
 of lile, and I withheld it : I perceived him 
 thirsting for the waters of salvation, and I 
 refused to give them: he was perishing for 
 lack of knowledge, but I turned and pass- 
 ed by!" Is there in this assembly one 
 person, who would not ii.vink with ierror 
 and dismay, if addressi-d iu lliat awful hour 
 by the voice of conscience and in tones like 
 these? Let us act now, as we shall then 
 wish that we had acted. Are wc command- 
 ed to make the Gospel known to every crea- 
 ture ? Lit us have the Christian courage to 
 do so, and leave the consequences to God. 
 Is there a member of the Church of England, 
 who can reasonably entertain apj)reliensions 
 for the Establishment from tlic widest dis- 
 persion of the Scriptures? As a minister 
 gf that church, I beg leave lo say that I fear 
 
 not the test ; she is not built upon a fonn- 
 alioh of sund, but upon the firm basis of 
 the everlasting Gospel. She has no need to 
 hide herself iu dh.knejs: her goodly pro- 
 portions are then best discernerl, her pillars 
 and her towers are then seen to the fairest 
 advantage, when reflecting back the full 
 blaze of the light of truth. 
 
 " I would even venture to adopt the lan- 
 guace of a distinguished ornament of the 
 university of Cambridge (Dr. Clarke) upoQ 
 a recent occasion, and declare, ' So soon as 
 it shall be proved' (what I nm sure never will 
 be proved) ' that the distribution of the 
 Bible alone is hostile to the interests of the 
 Established Church, then, and then onlyj 
 be that church subverted.' 
 
 " I have been led into these observations by 
 a printed paper now in my hand, and which 
 was yesterday circulated through this town 
 and neighbourhood with considerable assidu- 
 ity. It bears the signature of a " Church- 
 man :" and, with views not very friendly 
 to the object of this meeting, presents us 
 with a. sort of parallel between the Bible 
 Society, and another admirable institution, 
 the Society for promoting Christian Know- 
 ledge. I am myself a member of this latter 
 society : other members have been admitted 
 on my recommendation; and I heartily 
 wish that every churchman in the land, wh» 
 can afford to subscribe, would lend his assis- 
 tance to both institutions. But for vf hat end 
 can any man wiih to introduce jealousy and 
 hostility in a cause like this ? Why should 
 there be any other rivalry between these 
 great institutions, but the generous rivalry 
 of conferring benefits on mankind ? Here 
 is a world lying in sin : here is a world to 
 be evangelized ; surely there is abundance 
 of room for the labours of both ; every heart 
 and eve-y hand should be pressed into the 
 tervice, and invited to partake of the reward. 
 In attachment lo the Church of England, I 
 will yield to no man living: but God forbid 
 that I should fetter the liberal exertions of 
 any benevolent mind, or seek to deprive my 
 churcli of tlie distinguished honou.r of assist- 
 ing and co-operating with good men, though 
 not of my own communion, in the diffusion 
 of universal blessing. 
 
 " If the time xvould permit roe, and if I con- 
 sidered the paper in my hand aslikely to pro- 
 duce much impression in the county,! would 
 enter more at large into a discussion of its 
 statements. My observations for the present 
 sii^^ll be very concise. I would first call your 
 attention to a question of fact. It is here 
 asserted, that the British and Foreign Bible 
 Society is patronised by "asmal) proportioB 
 of our bishops." I need not inform this »«- 
 
I-SIC.] Hertfordshire Auxiliary Bible Society. ..Mr. Deallry. 
 
 119 
 
 senibly, that the number of prelates in Great 
 Briidin . Qtl Ireland is fort^'-eight. I will now 
 read ^ou the names of those ^«'ho patronise 
 the Parent Society or institvilions of a similar 
 nature. In Great Britain, we find the Riglit 
 Rev. ilie Lord Bishops of Durham, Salisbury, 
 Bristol, A'orwich, Chichester, ijt. David s, 
 and Llandalt", In Ireland, the Most Rev. 
 the Lord Primate, the Archbisliop of Dub- 
 lin, the Archbishop ofCashel, the Archbishop 
 of Tuam, the Right Rev. the Lord Bishops 
 of Kildare, Derr} , Cl"gher, Cloy ne. Limerick, 
 Cork, Down, and Killala. The archbishops 
 and bishops, whose names have just been 
 recited, amount to nineteen. I am not 
 wholly unacquainted with arithmetical calcu- 
 lation ; and I know tiiat uineieen is not a 
 small proportion of forty-eight t. So much 
 for the matter of fact. 
 
 " It is further stated by the " Churchman," 
 that the Bible Society " distributes Bibles 
 alone." We must really plead guilty to the 
 charge. Tt^e give nothing, as a society, but 
 the pure and unsophisticated word of the most 
 high Cod. The Society for promoting Chris- 
 tian Knowledge distributes " the Scriptures 
 and other religious Books and Tracts." This 
 p\so is correct. Many of their tracts are 
 very excellent, and cannot fail to do good. 
 But are we therefore enemies to the disper- 
 sion of good' tracts, because, in the first place, 
 and above all things, we wish to supply the 
 poor with the New Testament ? A worthy 
 rector in this county, at present immediate- 
 ly below me, who has for nearly twenty 
 years been a member of the Society for pro- 
 moting Christian Knowledge, and who is 
 jiow a very earnest advocate 4'or an Auxiliary 
 Bible Society, has supplied with tracts from 
 the old society, all the poor families in his 
 parish, that can use them. And great has 
 been the benefit. But is our opinion of the 
 JJew Testament such that we ciare not ttust 
 it without a tract? Does tlie Church of 
 England appeal for its authority to the in- 
 Ycntions of men, or to the Bible? When it 
 can be shewn Uiat religious tracts contain 
 yoniethiiig more essential to our salvatinu 
 than tlic word of God contains, or that in 
 tiiem the terms of redemption ate mure 
 clearly and conclusively expressed than in 
 
 • We have since to add the Right Rev. 
 the Lord Bishop of Lilchileld and Coventry. 
 
 t There are, it is true, forty-eiglii bishops 
 in England and Ireland, but only ihirty-two 
 of these belong to the Society for promoting 
 Christian Knowledge, while the number who 
 patronize the British and Fori-i^^n Bible 
 SiocJety iSj ,xi above stated, twenty. Editos- 
 
 tlie language dictated by the Holy Spiril, 
 then I will admit that the dissemination of 
 such tracts will be more useful than that of 
 the Bible itself: but till this proof shall be 
 given, I will not be offended with the British 
 and Foreign Bible Society for circulatins the 
 Bible alone, tvithoiit note or comnKtit, and 
 unaccompanied by tracts of any kind. 
 
 " It is further contended, that we ought <o 
 give I'ra^-er Books with our Bibles. To 
 whom, I would ask, ought «e to give them i 
 To Dissenters.' No: but to the members 
 of our own church. Is it meant to be in- 
 sinuated that we neglect to do so? I hold 
 it to be the duty of every clergyman to sup- 
 ply his poor with Prayer Books to the ut- 
 most of his power : and I am well persuaded, 
 that no men are more active in diicharging 
 this duty than the clerical members of the 
 Bible Society. The worthy rector to whotn 
 I have just alluded, has in this respect also 
 set an example in his own parish, which all 
 his brethren would do well to follow. In 
 looking to general benefit, I never would 
 forget, that I am a member of the Church 
 of England. Does my connection with a 
 society, from which I purchase the Scriptures 
 alone, deprive me of the right or the incli- 
 nation to do every thing for the poor of the 
 Establishment, which a friend to the Esta- 
 blishment ought to do ? The force of such 
 logic I cannot perceive. By this connection 
 I forfeit none of my means, I abandon none 
 of my principles: but I procure incalculable 
 good, which I could procure in no other way. 
 By the united co-operation of Christians of 
 all denuuiinations, in a cause where all can 
 saiely unite, asperity is subdued, Chnsliau 
 charity Is promoted, and, above all, resources 
 are called into existence, which descend in 
 blessings, not merely upon this land and 
 people, but upon every nation to which the 
 liberalit}' of Britain can direct them. 
 
 " Gentlemen, if we would fully appreciaie 
 the glorious exercise of charity, to which tii>; 
 Biltle Society invites us, we should consider 
 ourselves not merely as Englishmen, but 
 as members of the whole family of mail 
 The miserable savage, who wanders in the 
 desert or the forest, untutored and unsubdu 
 ed, is still a brother of our own, created liko 
 ourselves in the image of God, and like u»- 
 an heir of immortality. For near six thou- 
 sand years, the groans of nature have been 
 heard in every land : but sages and prophets 
 have consoled us with the assurance, that 
 these times shall have an end ; that a new 
 order of things slnll arise ; and that the bless- 
 ings of the Gospel shall, ere long, tall forth 
 from all nations the sacied and lofty moa 
 
120 Hertfordshirt Auxiliary Bible Society 
 
 sures. of adoration and praise. Even now, 
 I seem to myself to behold the dawning of 
 that brighter clay : even now, by the favour 
 of Providence upon the labours of English- 
 men, and especially by means of the Bible 
 Society, the glad tidings of the Gospel are 
 heard in the most distant regions. Trans- 
 lations of the Scriptures are pioceeding to an 
 extent beyond all example ; and if the socie- 
 ty continue to act according to the promise 
 of its present exertions, the Gospel will 
 aoon have been preached not in this land 
 only, or where its institutions and language 
 are known, but • unto all that dwell on the 
 earth, to every nation, and kindred, and 
 tongue, and people.' Wherever the footsteps 
 of civilization can be traced, there will men 
 read, in their own tongue, the wonderful 
 works of God. In the contemplation of 
 these things, I am struck with a degree of 
 admiration and asionishment which I cannot 
 express. I would venture to borrow the 
 ■words of that sacred book, wliich it is the 
 object of this meeting to dispense to all 
 men, and inquire, ' Who hath heard jnich 
 a thing? Who hath seen such things?' 
 * Ask now of the days that are past, since the 
 day that God created man upon the earth, 
 
 [Feh. 
 
 combining our efforts ' as workers togetlier 
 with God.' The ardour and unanimity, 
 which we have this day witnessed, afford a 
 convincing proof, that we shall enter with 
 zeal upon this work of faith and labour of 
 love. Let us then work, while It is day ; 
 the night conieth, when no man can work : 
 the opportunity' is now in our hands . we 
 soon shall go hence and be no more seen." 
 
 In the course of his speech, Mr. Dealtry 
 took occasion to read part of an interesting 
 and appropriate letter from the Principal of 
 the East-India College, which was received 
 wkh much attention and applause. 
 
 Sir John Sebright observed, that he per- 
 fectly concurred in the sentiments expressed 
 by the last speaker, and was a warm friend 
 and well-wisher to the Church of England. 
 It was in this view that he felt himself 
 particularly called upon to support the so- 
 ciety. 
 
 A motion for thanks to the secretaries of 
 the parent society, for their valuable as- 
 sistance on this occasion, having been made 
 by the Rev. J. H. Mitchell, seconded by 
 Mr. Ford ham, and adopted by the meeting, 
 Mr. Owen entered into a lively description 
 of the extensive field of labour which lies 
 
 and ask from the one side of lieaven unto - before those persons who wish to supplant 
 
 the other, whetlier there hath been any 
 Such thing as this great thing is, or hath 
 been heard like it?' Except the day of 
 Pentecost, 1 know of nothing to compare 
 with it. The temple of Truth has been 
 founded and built up in Britain: but the 
 light is streaming through every outlet to all 
 'he regions ot tiie world. It has penetrated 
 the hut of tiie shivering native of Labradore : 
 it has cheered the dwelling of the poor Hin- 
 doo. The glory of the Lord is visiting his 
 Church ; from every quarter the gentiles 
 are coming to her light, and kings to the 
 brighmess of her rising. The consoling de- 
 clarations of the prophets appear, even iu 
 these days of coniiict, to be fast approach- 
 ing their completion ; the brightest visions 
 of our poets seem on the point of being 
 realised, when, 
 
 ' The dwellers in the vales and on the rocks 
 Shout to each other, and the mountain tops 
 From distant mountains catch the tlying J9y, 
 Till, nation a'tiT nation taught the strain, 
 L'arth rolls the rapturous Hosanna round.' 
 
 "As sure as the voice of prophecy has fore- 
 told them, these glorious limes will nrrive; 
 and we in our generation are called to the 
 distinguished honour of acting as instruments 
 in the Divine Hand to hasten their approach. 
 We ire invitetJ to the privile<:t; of Immblv 
 
 the Bible Society and its numerous depen- 
 dencies. Alter leading them through all 
 parts of Great Britain and Ireland, he then 
 proposed, that they should visit the conti- 
 nent of Europe, and pass over into America 
 and Asia. When they should have accom- 
 plished their purpose to the extent already 
 pointed oar, he thought that he could tell 
 them of additional employment. His con- 
 clusion was marked by some striking obser- 
 vations on the retrospect of the proceedings 
 of this day. It would prove a source of 
 consolatory and animating reflection to many- 
 distinguished gentlemen around him, par- 
 ticularly to those who were terminating a 
 long career of public usefulness by their 
 generous co-operation in support of the 
 cause of religion throughout the world. 
 
 Mr. Plnmer, seconded by Sir John Se- 
 brinht, then moved the cordial thanks of the 
 meeting to \A'illiam I5aker, Esq. for his able 
 conduct and important exertions in the bu- 
 siness of this day. 
 
 Mr. Baker, in an address of great feeling, 
 expressed the delight which he ^xperience«1 
 in seeing, on the close of a long political 
 life, one meeting of unanimity. It had beeii 
 his lot to witness many of dissension; he had 
 been opposed to gcr.tlem^n near him on 
 questions of great interest to public men, 
 when both sides considered themselves a? 
 
i 8 1 2.] Sutton Coldfidd and Bristol Bible Societies.— Dr. Marsh. 1 2 1 
 
 tfogaged in the right cause. It rejoiced his 
 heart to find, at last, that there was one sub- 
 ject on wKch they could all agree, and 
 especially that this subject was the disper- 
 sion ot" the Scriptures. " They are;" he ob- 
 served, " (he only solace of affliction in this 
 life, and afford the only ground -of hope for 
 the life to come." 
 
 An eyc-wirness of what passed at this 
 meeting assures us, that " the harmony, so 
 uniformly manifested on the formation of 
 auxiliary societies in every part of the king- 
 dom, was eminently displ.iyed on this occa- 
 sion." "A more grati tying scene," lie adds, 
 " has seldom been witnessed. The elFect 
 produced upon the minds of tho^e who were 
 present, will not be the transitni impression 
 of a day. They will, many days her.ce, ac- 
 knowledge the excellence of a cause that 
 can unite in perfect ci-rdiaiity genilemcn 
 of dbtLiction who have lung been opposed 
 upon political questions, and elicit the best 
 feelings from men of every class. Tlieir 
 principles of Christian charily will be en- 
 larged and confirmed. From the good which 
 bas already been done by means of the 
 Bible Society, they will see what the united 
 exertions ot Cluistians can effect in the 
 most benevolent of all projects, and will 
 perceive, that we are liot merely called by 
 A sense of duty, but nivited by our best 
 interests to cu-operate in its service, and to 
 •hare its blessingb." 
 
 8U»TON COLDFIELD AUXILIARY EIBH 
 SOCIETY. 
 
 On the 23d of Dec. 1811, a society was 
 formed at Sutton Coldfield, for that town 
 and neighbourhood, in aid of the British 
 and Foreign Bible Society. Henry Grimes, 
 Esq. the warden, was appointed treasurer, 
 and the Rev. Joseph Mendham secretary. 
 The comraiitee consists of the rector, the Rev. 
 J. Riland J Sir E. C. Harlopp, Bart. ; Franeis 
 Hackett, Esq. ; TLos. Terry, Esq. ; and W. 
 Webb, Esq. 
 
 In the address of the society, it is well 
 •bserved, " Religion is communicative. One 
 of its two great branches is love to man j 
 and tie who understands the value of divine 
 blessings by his own enjoyment oi ihcni, will 
 be desirous of imparting the bentfit to 
 Others. This t» the best benevolence : it is 
 benevolence eminently Christian : we add, 
 it is a benevolence, which will return seven- 
 fold into our own bosom. For, certainly, it will 
 prove no unprofitable baigain, if, in return 
 for our liberaJity, we become instrumental in 
 conferring upon a fellow-creature the best of 
 blessings, obtain a share in the fenreat 
 
 Chri«t. Obsert. No. 1^. 
 
 prayers and benedictions of the righteous 
 and find our own piety rekindled and in- 
 creased by contemplating the zeal of 
 others." 
 
 BRISTOL AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY, 
 
 The annual meeting of this institutinn was 
 held at the Guildhall on the 13th inst. tlie 
 Rev. Dr. Randolph, prebendary of Bristol, 
 in the chair. The report ol the committee 
 having been read, nud received with great 
 approbation, several gentlemen addressed 
 the meeting ; among whom were, Mr. S. 
 Cave, Mr. J. Smith, the Rt^v. Mr. Thorpe, 
 jMr. E. Protheroc, Mr. Lowell, the Rev. ilr. 
 Rowe, and the Rev. Mr. O'Donnoghue. 
 Mr, Smith observed, " that England had 
 been called the !anJ of Bibles; set the 
 scarcity of them, before the establishment of 
 this institution, was truly surprising. Even 
 in our city and neighbourhood it h;id been a 
 subject of eq'jal regret and astonishment." 
 To prove the truth of this statement, Mr. 
 Smith read a letter from Keynsham, where, 
 although a small place, and l}ing between 
 two such cities as Baih and Bristol, yet, on 
 inquiry', 13^ grown jjersr)ns were found 
 without Bibles in their possession. " Even 
 in the Bristol Infirmary, out of 205, only 
 "fourteen possessed this sacred treasure." — 
 Mr. Thorpe, among other things, observed, 
 " In the year 1804, it any man hdd ventur- 
 ed to predict that an instituiion would soon 
 be formed, under the patronage of the mitre 
 and the coronet, wiih the sanction of genius 
 and literature, comprehending the religious 
 of all denomination', whose jarriug princi- 
 ples had so long repelled them from each 
 other, but who should all at once feel them- 
 selves drawn, as by some poweriul but invi- 
 sible magnet, into a friendly association, 
 where, actuated by one spirit, they vfould 
 combine to promote one and the same ob- 
 ject ; if he had gone farther, and ventured 
 to predict that, within a few years after the 
 estaUisluuent of this society, the Scriptures 
 would be printing in about tifty difTerent lan- 
 guages, into many of which they had now, 
 for the first time, been translated, and that 
 near 200,000 copies of the Old, and near 
 500,000 copies ot the Nca- Testtiiiient, would 
 be dispersed in the course of six years, 
 would lie not have been deemed a visionary?* 
 The amount raised by this socieiy, during 
 the preceding year, was about 1750'. Up- 
 wards of 1700^ of that amount was remitted 
 to the British and Foreign Bible Society. 
 
 THl BIBLE SOCIITY AXD DR. MARSH. 
 
 We should hare been flUa, had our liiaiii 
 
 R 
 
1 22 Cape of (?. Hope. . . United States.- 
 admitte'-lof it. to havcnoiiced the formalion 
 of many oilier Auxiliary Bible. Societies ; 
 but this we must reserve for aiiotlier oppor- 
 tunity. We Mere al>o anxious ti) liave given 
 some account of a pamphlet wlticli lias re- 
 cently appeared, against the Bible So- 
 ciety', from the pen of Dr. Marsh ; because 
 we think the air of confidence with which 
 it is written may produce some effect on 
 persons ignorant of the real merits of the 
 subject. We liave only delayed, however; 
 ■we have not abandoned our purpose; and 
 we here pledge onrselves to prove, that the 
 learned author's single ground of objection to 
 this society — the forlorn hope of his party- 
 is as destitute of weight, and as little eulitled 
 to consideration, as any one of the " eigh- 
 teen'' refuted objections of Dr. Wordsworth, 
 Mr. Spry, aad Mr. Sykes; most, if not all, 
 of which, indeed, Dr. Mar^h himself seems 
 to consider as too weak to be defended. 
 His own single objection, though produced 
 with much " pomp and circumstance," ap- 
 pears to us to have already received its 
 answer in Mr. Dealtry's speech, inserted 
 two pages back. 
 
 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
 
 The missionary Read, veiling from Cape 
 Town, in the month of June last, s(aies, that 
 he and Dr. Vander Kemp had been sent for 
 from Bethelsdorp b}' the Governnie«t, in 
 order to assist in invesiigating the com- 
 plaints which had been made of cruellies 
 exercised towards the Hottentots by the 
 Dutch boors. From his account, a consi- 
 derable degree of concern about religion had 
 been excited al Cape Town; which was 
 greatly increased by a severe earthquake, 
 which occurred on the ' th of June. " I 
 fi^iind," he s.iys, " on iny arrival at the Cape, 
 niy hands full. I hav.e ^jreached four times 
 
 - View of Public Affairs. . .Spain, [Feb. 
 
 a week to the soldiers and others. AnioDgst 
 the soldiers, the woik of the I..ord seerar 
 greatly flourishing. Among the Dutch is a 
 greater revival than we ever saw. OiiB 
 speaks to tlie Christians on the Saturday 
 evenino.and another instructsthe slaves on the 
 Scndtiy evening. Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Hyser 
 are indeOitigable in their labours, instructing 
 theslavcsi &c. We have uiorning and even- 
 ing lectures in our own hired hoHse, whieb, 
 ia the evenings especially, is not only crowd>- 
 ed,. but numbers, who cannot come in, hear 
 from the open window."; 1 have commenced 
 a Sunday school fur the poor slaves, which 
 is likely to be of important service. There 
 are numbers of young friends who will carry 
 it on, and nwch- good, we hope, will be 
 done." A revival of religion, similar to that 
 at the Cape, is said to have taken place iii- 
 other pans of the settlement. 
 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
 The General Assembly of the Phesbyterjan 
 Church, in the United States,. have proposed 
 the establishment of a Theological School for 
 the education of ministers. In the prospectus 
 it is affirmed, that the progress of population 
 is four limes greater than the increase of 
 niiaisters; that ministers and missionaries 
 are loudly called far, and that there are 400 
 raciint congregations within the bounds of 
 their jurisdiction. 
 
 The Philadelphia Bible Society liave di»» 
 tribuled during the last year 8185 Bibles 
 and Testaments-. It is a rule of the society 
 not to give a copy where one was previously 
 possessed. 
 
 Dr. Buchanan's Christian Researches iR 
 India have been re-published in America, 
 and are said to be producing much etfectijj 
 that country. The Chrisiian Observer i»^als» 
 regui.iily re-pubiished at New York^ 
 
 VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, 
 
 SPAIN. 
 CiUDAD Rodrigo was carried by assault on 
 the I9lh of January, being the tenth daj- after 
 it had been inveited by Lord Wellington. 
 I'bis is unquestiotiablj one of the most bril- 
 liant exploits of the war. The Prince Re- 
 gent has expressed hiu sense of it by con- 
 ferl-ing an Earldom on the gallant general, 
 and Parliamrut by a vote of thanks and an 
 additional pension of 2000J. a year. No- 
 thing would exceed the g«lUutry of our 
 
 ti«ops during every part of the siege, and 
 paiticiilarly during the storra. The govarnor, 
 T8 officers, and 1700 men, were made pri- 
 soners. We got possession ^Iso of 158 pieces 
 of ordnance. The French general Marraont 
 api)ears to have been astonished at the 
 rapidity with which this jilace has been re- 
 duced, lie professes to have atttEipted the 
 junction of (loops from dilferent quarters, \a 
 order to march to its relief; but the vigour 
 of the besiegers dUappoiatei;! all his calcula- 
 
MI2.] Public Afairs— Spain. ..Sw<:deH...Sicilj/...Vniied States. 138 
 
 <ioiw. '• There is ia llii» event," he sit>s, 
 " something fo iiicoiupreh«n!>ible that J will 
 ■not permit nivs^lJ" to make any observ^l^on 
 uponil.'' Our los* during tlie siege, we are 
 jorry 10 say, aiaouuted, including ihe Fortu- 
 gueze, to J60 killed, and oOO wouuckd. Two 
 geueral oiticcr:,, Majur-^encralii Mackiniiuii 
 •and Crawtoid, were aiiung tlie loriuer. it 
 was expected that ihe siege of Badnjoz 
 would be iiiiniediati'ly uiideriaken. -Ciiulad 
 Rodrigo has been given up lo the Span- 
 iards, 
 
 The same post which brought the ofiicial 
 account ot the capture o( Ciiid;td Rodrigo 
 broiicht that also of the fall oi Valencia. 
 This event took place on the 6lh ol January, 
 and it appears at least as iiicouipreheniible 
 at the tail of Ciudad l^odiigo. lilake with 
 -17,000 men, well Mipplied wiih aiuuiuniliun, 
 was within its walls. Where was the spirit 
 of Palafox and the heroes of Saragoza, or 
 that more recently displayed by Colonel 
 Skerret and his thousand British troops at 
 Tarifa, against ten times his force? The 
 besitged were ia this in.-,taiKC about half 
 as nuraetous as the besiegers. 
 
 The guerillas continue to make vigorous 
 Lead against their oppressors. 
 
 A complete change has taken pl.ice in the 
 executive governiuent of Spain. The mem- 
 bers of the old regency have been dispUtctd, 
 and a new regency has been appointed, at 
 the head ot' which is the Uuke del Inlan- 
 tado, now ambassador from Sp:iin lo the 
 British Court. Great hopes are entertained 
 from the increased vigour which is to be 
 expected from the new administration. We 
 anxiously wish they may -be realized. We 
 should rejoice to see the new reign commence 
 by the exiinciiou of the abominable Inquisi- 
 tion, and we should augur from such a com- 
 mencement the happiest issues. 
 
 A truce has been agreed to by the riv.il 
 parties in the Kio Plata, under the media- 
 tion ol the Portugueze Government, ihe 
 basis of whicli is the mutual acknowledg- 
 ment of Ferdinand VII. and a disposi- 
 tion to receive the proposals of the (Jom- 
 ruissioners who have been appointed by 
 Great Britain and Spain to settle tlie ad'airs 
 ff the Sauih-.'iiQericai) provinces. 
 
 SWEDEN'. 
 A strong hope is entertained of peace 
 between Sweden and Great briiain. .Such 
 a measure would clearly imply that Berna- 
 dotie was desirous of shaking from his shoul- 
 ders the yoke of France ; and the recent for- 
 cible seizure of Swedish Pomerania hy a 
 body of French troops givrs g>ound to sup- 
 
 pose that a disposition of tiiis kind has been 
 raanilested by Sweden. If peace ihouid 
 actually take plate between that country, 
 and Great Britain, such an event could not 
 fail greatly to embarrass Bonaparte. 
 
 SICILY. 
 A complete rcvxilution appears to have 
 taken plate in this i^ijnd. On the 16th 
 January, the King is!-ueil a Royal Act, ap- 
 pointingthe Ileredltaiy irince, Vicar-General 
 of the kingdom, with the whole of the royal 
 auihiirity. And on the 19lh, the Prince ap- 
 pointed Lord W. Beiuinck Captain-General 
 of the Sicilian force.-. The Biilish array 
 had been ordered lo Palermo, and was ex- 
 pectiid in a few days. The Sicilian nobles 
 who were banished in July last were recall- 
 ed, and an entire change has taken place in 
 the ministry ; the Piince Cassano having 
 lor the present the chicl' direclioa. 
 
 UNITED STATES. 
 In what will be found in ii subsequent 
 j);ige, on the licensing system, we think thai 
 a decisive answer is* given lo the complaints 
 of -America on the subjcrt of our Orders in 
 Council. The Orders in Coivjacil are neither 
 more nor less tlian a juslifiable, and, as we 
 conceive, necessary measure of defence 
 against Bonaparte's open and avowed war 
 on our commerce, which is the seminal prin- 
 ciple of our power. ^<or is it our own in» 
 terests, or our own existence only, that »e 
 are defending, but tliose of America also. 
 America, however, is not disposed lo take 
 this view of the subject ; and she appears 
 bent on going to war with us, because, io 
 aiming tome hard blo>y9 at our enemy, she, 
 who has been told to keep out of their reach 
 yet chooses to put herself in the way of them, 
 receives a few scratches. That her trade 
 must be lessened by our blockade (for, in 
 fiici, our Orders in Council are a blockade 
 under another name) of ihe ports of Holland, 
 France, and the north of Italy, is unques- 
 tionable ; but. still it is obvious, that it is 
 only when she chooses to attempt to render 
 nugatory this defensive measure of ours, by 
 entering the proliibited ports of our enemy, 
 that she can sustain any actual loss. If, then, 
 our right of sell-defeiiec be unquoslionahlejif 
 our right to retaliate on France her decrees 
 against our commerce be equaliy unquestion- 
 able, surely the neutrals who oppose ihem- 
 selves 10 those rights ought not to complain 
 of the belligerent if they should sutler from 
 their intrusion. We still hope that circum- 
 stances may arise to abate the violent feel- 
 in"* towards this country which pervade th« 
 
3 24 Public Affairs. , . United States. . , Great 'Britain : State of Parties. [ Feb' 
 
 Amciican councils. This liopci however, be- Now, it is to be observed, that the trade 
 comes every day soroewhat weaker ; the of America to the Baltic, to the Peninsula, 
 whole of I heir proceedings bear a warlike and to all other countries, except France 
 aspect; aiul neither in the government nor and Italy, is perfectly nnshackled. The 
 in the legislature does there appear any dis- whole, therefore, of the large exports to 
 position 10 listen to proposals, which do not those countries have probablj' reached their 
 involve the abandonment of our essential destination. With respect to the three mil* 
 rights. In this state of thinss, we can only lions of dollars, and this was the whole ex- 
 look to Him who has the hearts of all men, porttjd to France and Italy, it is impossible 
 as well as the course of events, in his hands, to say how much has been turned from its 
 that lie would so " order their unruly wills original destination, and brought into Eng- 
 and affections," that the peace of the two land. From the rate of insurance between 
 countries may not be broken, nor the blood America and France, which is about 40 per 
 of their sons sacrificed in a contest, which cent., we should suppose that the amount; 
 rnust injure both, and can beneht neither. might be about a million gf dollars, or 
 
 A statement of the exports of the United 250,000L sterling. This, therefore, is the 
 States, for 'he year 1811, has been laid be- loss of which America has to complain, 
 fore Congress. This is an important docu- during the last year, in consequence of -our 
 ment, especially at the present moment, and Orders in Council ; and it is a loss voluntarily 
 »ve will proceed to analyse it. The exports incurred. Had we chosen, however, to as. 
 of domestic growth or manufacture are esti- ^ert our undoubted right of excluding al! 
 mated at 45,294.043 dollars: and those of commerce from tlie Baltic as w«ll as from 
 foreign growth at 16,022,790; the toi-.il France, upwards of eight millions of Ameri. 
 being 61,316,833 dollars, or about 15 mil- cap commerce woidd have been at once an- 
 lions sterling. The amount of their manu- nihilated, for it would have been almost im- 
 faciures exported, including, as we presume, possible to have traded at all with the Baltic 
 pot-ashes, perhaps tar, pitch, maple-sugar, {,, the face of our prohibitory decree; and 
 &c. is 2,376.000 dollars. The rest consists t|,e pressure would liave been still more 
 offish, lumber, and the produce of agricul- severe had we extended the prohibition tp 
 ture, as flour, tobacco, cotton, rice, &c. The 5,,^}, parts of Spain as are under the con- 
 proportion of these exports, sent to different troul of France, which we also might fairly 
 parts of the world, is as follows— first, ^ave done. America, therefore, ought rather 
 Of Domestic Groioth or Mamfacttire. ^^ be thankful for our forbearance, than fo de- 
 Russia, Prussia, Swelen, and ^ ^ claim against our rigour. The injury she has 
 
 Denmark 3,055,835 sustained was not intended by us. It has 
 
 Spain and Portugal 18,266,466 ^een incidental, and, what is more, self-in- 
 
 France and Italy 1 ,194,275 ^^^^ ^ ghe has been fairly warned to avoid 
 
 Great Brita.n 20,308,211 j,^^^^^ ghe has contemned the warning; 
 
 All other countries •••••;;• '2.469,255 3^,, ^he has consequently incurred loss. But 
 
 Of Foreign Growth or Manufacture. j„ 33^ t,,„t ^^ j^ave caused the loss; that we 
 
 Russia, &c. 5,340,117 ^^^ pillagers, because we enforce decree* 
 
 Spain, &c. . • 5,772,.572 ^^^,, y,^j, s„|g„,„iy published, and standing 
 
 France and Italy 1,712,537 „„ the most satisfactory grounds of belligerenf 
 
 Great B-itain • • 1 ,57o,jl4 right, is childish, and can impose only on those 
 
 All other countries. ..^. • 1,624,220 ^^o wish to be deluded. As for the allega- 
 
 . J Owrt . ^.^^^ ^1^^^ Bonaparte has repealed his Berlin 
 
 Russia, &c. 8,395,952 ^nj Milan decrees, we ask for the document 
 
 '^P»'"' ^'=- ?4,039,038 j^ ^hg^^ that he has done so. None has yet 
 
 J""*^^^-'^: 2.906,812 d. 
 
 Great Britain 21,881,52^ 
 
 All other countries 4,093,475 
 
 GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 STATE OF PARTIES. 
 
 The following are copies of a letter 
 addressed by his Royal Highness 
 the Prince Regent to the Duke of 
 York, in order to its being coni- 
 rpunicated to Earl Grev and Lor^ 
 
 Grenville, and of the reply of those 
 noblemen to the proposition sub- 
 mitted to them. 
 
 " MY DEAREST BROTHER, 
 
 " As the restriction* on the exer- 
 
1812.] Puhtic Affa irs— Stale of 
 
 else of the roval amhnriiy will short- 
 ly expire, when I must make my 
 arratifrements for the future admi- 
 nistraiion of the powers with which 
 1 am investeil, 1 think it right lo 
 communicate those seiuimenis which 
 I was withheld ivom expressing at 
 an earlier period of the session, by 
 my warmest desire, thu the expect- 
 ed motion on the alfairs of Ireland 
 might undergo the deliberite discua- 
 «ion of Parliament, unmixed with 
 any other consideration. 
 
 " I think it hardly necessary to 
 call your recollection to the recent 
 circumstances under which I as- 
 sumed the authority delegated to 
 me by Parliament, At a moment 
 of unexampled difficulty aud dan- 
 ger, I was called upon to make a 
 Selection of persons to whom I should 
 entrust the functions of the execu- 
 tive government. Mv sense of duty 
 to our Royal Father solely decided 
 that choice; and every private feel- 
 ing gave wav to considerations 
 which admitted ot no doubt or hesi- 
 tation. I trust I acted in that re- 
 spect as the genuine representative 
 of the august person whose functions 
 1 was appointed to discharge; and I 
 have the satisfaction of knowing, 
 that such was the opinion of per- 
 sons, for whose judgment and ho- 
 nourable feelings 1 entertain the 
 highest respect in various instances, 
 as you well know. When the law 
 cif the last session left me at full li- 
 berty, 1 waved any personal gratifi- 
 cation, in order that his Majesty 
 might resume, on his restoration to 
 health, every power arid prerogative 
 belonging to his crown. I certainly 
 am the last person in the kingdom 
 to whom it can be permitted lo de- 
 spair of our Royal Father's reco- 
 very. A new era is now arrived ; 
 and I cannot but reflect with satis- 
 faction, on the events which have 
 distingui'^hed the short period of my 
 restricted Regency. Instead of suf- 
 fering in the loss of her possessions 
 by the gigantic force which has 
 been employed against them. Great 
 Britain has added most important 
 acquisitions to her empire. The na.- 
 
 tional faith has been preserved in» 
 violable towards our allies ; and if 
 character is strength, as applied to 
 a nation, the increased, and increas- 
 ing reputation of his Majesty's arms, 
 will shew to the nations of the Con- 
 tinent how much they may achieve 
 when animated by a glorious spirit 
 of resistance to a foreign yoke. In 
 the critical situation of the war in 
 the peninsula, 1 shall be most anxi- 
 ous to avoiil any measure which can 
 lead my allies to suppose that I 
 mean to depart from the present 
 system. Perseverance alone can 
 achieve the great object in question ; 
 and I cannot withhold my approba- 
 tion from those who have honoura- 
 bly distinguished themselves in sup- 
 port of it. 1 have no predilections 
 to indulge, — no resentments to gra- 
 tify, — no objects to attain but such 
 as are common to the whole empire. 
 It' such is the leading principle of 
 my conduct, — and I can appeal to 
 the past as evidence of what the fu- 
 ture will be, — I flatter mys«!f I shall 
 meet with the support of Parliament, 
 and of a candid and enlightened 
 nation. Having made the commu- 
 nication of my sentiments inthisnew 
 and extraordinary crisis of our af- 
 fairs, I cannot coitclude without ex- 
 pressing the gratification I should 
 feel, if some of those persons with 
 whom the early habits of my public 
 life were formed, would strengthen 
 my hands, and constitute a part of 
 my government. With such sup- 
 port, and aided by a vigorous and 
 united administration, formed on the 
 most liberal basis, I shall look with 
 additional confidence to a prosperous 
 i.ssue of the most arduous contest in 
 which Britain was ever engaged. 
 You are authorised to communicate 
 these sentiments to Lord Grey, 
 who, I have no doubt, will make 
 them known to Lord Grenville. 
 
 " I am always, my dearest Fre- 
 derick, your ever affectionate brother, 
 (Signed) " Geokce, P. R. 
 
 " Carkon House, Feb. 13. 
 
 " P. S. I shall send a copy of this 
 letter immediately to Mr. Perceval." 
 
42<J Pub. Jjf..,. State of Parties. ..Letter of Lords Grey and Grenville. [Frb. 
 
 express, without reserve, the impos- 
 sibility of our uniting with the pre- 
 sent government. Our difFerences 
 
 ^' Sir, " Feb. 15, 1812. 
 
 " We beg leave most humbly to 
 express to your Royal Highness our 
 dutiful acknowledgments for the 
 gracious and condescending manner 
 in which you have had the goodness 
 to communicate to u-s the letter of 
 his Koyal Highness the Prince Re- 
 gent, on the subject of the arrange- 
 Tnenis to be now made for the future 
 administration of the public affairs; 
 and we take the liberty of availing 
 ourselves of your gracious permission, 
 to address to your Royal Highness 
 in this form what has occurred to us 
 in consequence of that communica- 
 tion. The Prince R(^gent, after ex- 
 pressing to your Royal Highness in 
 that letter his sentiments on various 
 public matters, has, in the conclud- 
 ing paragraph, condescended to in- 
 timate his wish that some of those 
 persons with whom the early habits 
 -of his public life were formed, would 
 «trengthen his Royal Highness's 
 hands, ar»d constitute a part of his 
 government; and his Royal High- 
 ness is pleased to add, that with such 
 support, aided by a vigorous and 
 united administration, formed on the 
 most liberal basis, he would look 
 ^vith additional confidence to a pros- 
 perous issue of the most arduous 
 contest in which Great Britain has 
 ever been engaged. On the other 
 parts of his Royal Highness's letter 
 we do not presume to offer any ob- 
 servations ; but in the concluding 
 paragraph, in so far as we may ven- 
 ture to suppose ourselves included 
 in the gracious wish which it ex- 
 presses, we owe it, in obedience and 
 ■duly to his Royal Highness, to ex- 
 plain ourselves with fraokijess and 
 sincerity. We beg leave most ear- 
 nestly to assure his Royal Highness, 
 that no sacrifices, except those of 
 honour and duty, could appear to 
 tis too great to be made, for the pur- 
 pose of healing the divisions of our 
 <.'ountry, and uniting both its go- 
 vt rnment and its people. All per- 
 sonal exclusion we entirely disclaim ; 
 
 of opinion are too many and too im- 
 portant to admit of such an union. 
 His Royal Highness will, we are 
 confident, do us the justice to re- 
 member, that we have twice already 
 acted on this impression ; in \H09, 
 on the proposition then made to us 
 under his Majesty's authority ; and 
 last year, when his Royal Highness 
 was pleased to require our advice 
 respecting the formation of a new 
 government. The reasons which we 
 then humbly submitted to him are 
 strengthened by the increasing dan- 
 gers of the times; nor has there, 
 down to this moment, appeared even 
 any approximation towards such an 
 agreement of opinion on the public 
 interests as can alone form a basis 
 for the honourable union of parties 
 previously opposed to each other. 
 Into the detail of those differences 
 we are unwilling to enter; they 
 embrace almost all the leading fea- 
 tures of the fpresent policy of the 
 empire ; but his Royal Highness has 
 hinaseU' been pleased to advert to the 
 late deliberations of Parliament on 
 the affairs of Ireland. This is a sub- 
 ject, above all others, invportant in 
 itself, and connected with the most 
 pressing dangers. Far from con- 
 curring in the sentiments which his 
 Majesty's ministers have on that oc- 
 casion so recently expressed, we en- 
 tertain opinions directly opposite; 
 we are firmlv persuaded of the ne- 
 cessity of a total change in the pre- 
 sent system of that country, and of 
 the immediate repeal of those civil 
 disabilities under which so large a 
 portion of his Majesty's subjects still 
 labour on account of their religious 
 opinions. To recommend to Parlia- 
 ment this repeal is the first advice 
 which it would be our duty to offer 
 to his Royal Highness, could we, 
 even for the shortest time, make 
 ourielves responsible for any farther 
 delay in the prospect of a measure, 
 without which we could entertain 
 
 we rest on public measures ; and it no hope of rendering ourselves use- 
 is on this ground alone that we must ful to his Royal Highness, or to the 
 
Fuw of Public A fairs.., State of Parlies. 1 27 
 
 We have only further to Royal Highness, and is now made 
 
 LS12.] 
 
 count rj'-, 
 
 beg your Royal Highness to lay be- 
 fore his Royal Highness the Prince 
 Regent, the expression of our hum- 
 ble duty, and the sincere and re- 
 spectful assurance of our earnest 
 wishes for whatever may best pro- 
 mote the ease, honour, and advan- 
 tage of his Royal Highnesses go- 
 vernment, and the success of his en- 
 deavours for the public welfare. 
 " We have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 (Signed) ,, ,^ „ 
 
 V D J i< (, RENVILLE. 
 
 To his R. H. the Duke of York. 
 
 We shall take the liberty of ex- 
 ercising our privilege, as English- 
 men, of offering a lew observations, 
 both on the letter of the two noble- 
 men, and on the proposition for a 
 partial change of ministry, which 
 his Royal Highness the Prince Re- 
 gent has thought proper to convey 
 to their Lordships, on the era of his 
 assumption of the unrestricted pre- 
 rogatives of the Crown. 
 
 That his Royal Highness has 
 been prompted to take this step l)y 
 a patriotic zeal for the common in- 
 terests of the empire, and by a de- 
 sire to extinguish that party spirit 
 which has so long divided and 
 weakened us, will, as we doubt not, 
 be the persuasion of the people of 
 England in general, and is cer- 
 tainly our sentiment. It is exactly 
 that course to which any amiable 
 prince, on ascending the throne, 
 wotild naturally incline, and from 
 which he could only be diverted by 
 a knowledge either of some invinci- 
 ble auimosiiy in the great competi- 
 tors for power, or of some difierences 
 of judgment on the measures to be 
 pursued, too serious and important 
 to be compromised. 
 
 Individual hostility is happily, as 
 we believe, disavowed by men of 
 all parties among us. Who, indeed, 
 that knows any thing of Mr. Per- 
 ceval, could refuse, on personal 
 grounds, to sit with him in the same 
 cabinet? That the other obstacle 
 to union, nevertheless, exists, might 
 sm^ely ha^'e been surmised by his 
 
 abundantly manifest by the very 
 decisive language of the letter of 
 the Lords Crey and Grenville. 
 Whether the Prince Regent him- 
 self exactly anticipated the answer 
 which they have given, we do not 
 presume to say. We confess, how- 
 ever, that we ourselves are not sur- 
 prised at it. The Catholic subject 
 presented an obstacle to union, 
 which was very obvious. There i« 
 a passage in the Prince Regent's let- 
 ter vvhicii seems a little to imply, 
 that the Parliament had already dis- 
 posed of this subject ; whereas even 
 the temporary settlement of that 
 question is not likely to be admitted . 
 by the chiefs of opposition, some of 
 whom carefully distinguished the 
 vote recently given, from the vote 
 soon again to be called for. The 
 Catholics are about to petition ; and 
 it is, therefore, held by our oppo- 
 tionists that the question is suspend- 
 ed. The late vote, they insist, 
 turned principally on the propriety 
 of the measures lately taken by the 
 Government to prt down the con- 
 vention, and did not at all decide 
 the main question. Some, who then 
 voted with Government (in particu- 
 lar. Lord Wellesle}' in the House of 
 Lords, and Mr. Canning in the 
 House of Commons), professed an 
 intention of soon favouring the Ca- 
 tholic claims. Could it then be sup- 
 posed, that, while this important 
 point of national policy was waiting 
 for a more complete and a separate 
 disgussion, the leaders in the intend- 
 ed contest should meet together as 
 friends in the same cabinet. Tbe 
 moment seems, in this respect, to 
 imve been remarkably unpropitious 
 to an union of parties. We do not 
 enter into the other grounds of dif- 
 ference between Mr. Perceval and 
 the Lords Grey and Grenville, be- 
 cause the two Lords have themselves 
 abstained from doing it. We can- 
 no.t, however, help observing, that 
 his Royal Highness the Prince Re- 
 gent must, in consequence of his 
 former political familiarity with 
 their Lordships, have been fully sen- 
 
158 
 
 SlQte of Parties '-rParliamentary Proceedings. 
 
 [tt.t. 
 
 aible of the nature and extent of 
 those ditTerencesj so that his R-')yal 
 Highness seems to have expected 
 a greater deviation in them from 
 the doctrines which they had held, 
 as well, indeed, as publicly pro- 
 claimed, than is common with men 
 who lead the parties of this country. 
 On the whole, we are disposed to 
 refer to an amiable facility in his 
 Royal Highness, in accommodating 
 himself to the politics ot Mr. Per- 
 ceval, that ex[)ectdtion which his 
 letter implies ot hisfinduig ihe same 
 
 sistency arising, in the event of his 
 continuing lonj; to exercise the royal 
 fi'nclions. when is it, we would ask, 
 that his Royal Highness is to use 
 his own judgment? It is not, it 
 seems, when he exercises a restrict- 
 ed regency. Is he, then, to act for 
 himself when the regency is unre- 
 stncted ? Even then, he may plead 
 no less i)is filial revereace. It is 
 only, therefore, when he shall be 
 crowned King of England. Many 
 years may elapse during which he 
 shaH have exercised the whole of 
 
 facility in the stubborn breasts of the Royal Prerogative ; and by this 
 
 the two noblemen whom he indi- 
 rectly addresses; and it there be 
 any fault in the letter, it consists in 
 the seeming simplicity with which 
 it assumes that the coalition it re- 
 commends can be elTected. It is 
 »n offer which, under all the circum- 
 stances, it is but too plain was un- 
 likely to be accepted; and it has had, 
 
 time connections may have beer» 
 formed, and a direction given to 
 public affairs, under his own aus- 
 pices, which it may be impossible to 
 change. 
 
 The Marquis Wellesley has re- 
 signed the seals of the foreign office, 
 and it is believed that some other 
 changes of a partial natiTre are to take 
 
 as we fear, the unfortunate eflect of place; but the successor of his Lord 
 widening the dislance between the 
 contending bodies ; for the Lords 
 Grey and Grenville having now been 
 led to make a formal declaration of 
 the existing difierL-nces, have natu- 
 rally employed some strength of 
 expression in describing them. The 
 two parties have once more unfurled 
 their respective banners, and are 
 now summoning their wavering and 
 scattered followers. The war in 
 Parliament will be renewed with 
 ■vigour ; and the country, far tVoni 
 reaping the beneht of that union of 
 parlies, so p.itriot'cally desired by 
 his Royal Hightiess, will nnly be 
 toru by new political hostility. 
 
 We shall oiler one further obser- 
 vation, which, indeed, we also sug- 
 gested to our readers about twelve 
 montfis ago, when the former letter 
 of his Pi.o\al Highness attracted our 
 attention. His Royal Highness then 
 professed, as he has also on the pre- 
 sent occasion, to be governed in the 
 choice of his political servants prin- 
 cipally, if not exclusively, by a re- 
 gard to the supposed wishes of his 
 Royal father. We then foresaw the 
 danger which is now still more ma- 
 nifest of some rippearance of incon* 
 
 ship has not as yet been announced. 
 
 PART-IAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. 
 
 1. The Catholic question has undergone a 
 discussion in both Housps of Parliament, 
 wliici) \?a9 produced by a mution for a com- 
 niiitee to consider the slate of Ireland. Th« 
 motion w.is negatived by large majorities j 
 but expressly, in 'he case of many persons 
 coiuposir.g that niajoiiiy, not because they 
 wiMO disinclined to an extension ef the pri- 
 viieges of the Caiholics, but because an as- 
 sent to the presiMir motion would imply, that 
 G'lvernm at had bi-tu to hiaiite in the mea- 
 sures which it hud »akeu to defeat the at- 
 tempt to form a Catliolic convention in Dub- 
 lin. The Catholic qnesiioa is likely to un- 
 dergo fresli discussious. 
 
 2. A bill has been brought in for ascer- 
 taining the population of Ireland. 
 
 3. The House of Commons has called for 
 a return of all places of worshi|), through- 
 out the kingdom, with the number oi per- 
 soiiB they are capable of containing ; and 
 al.-io of the number of dissenting places of 
 worship, in parisiies whuse population eii- 
 ceeds one thousand. 
 
 4. The bill to pi event granting place* ia 
 reversion was renewed bv Air. Bankes, but 
 was thrown out in the House of Commons 
 by a majority of one. This decision hai 
 caused considerable dissatisfaction. 
 
 5. Ou the subject ot America, •we «Bsr 
 
1812.] Pari lament.., Col. M'Mahon,.. Orders in Council. 
 
 129 
 
 refer to what lias been said under the head 
 of tlie United States. 
 
 6. The appointment of Col. M'Mahon 
 to the office of payuiaster of widows' pen- 
 sions, has given rise to much discussion in 
 the House of Commons. The office, being a 
 sinecure, had been marked by a resolution 
 of the House ns fit to be abolished. It was 
 therefore thought disrespectful to the House 
 to fill up the vacancy. On voting tlie army 
 estimates, in which the sum to bo paid to 
 Colonel M'Mahon was included, a debate 
 took place, which ended in llie rejection of 
 that part of the estimate. Tliis may he con- 
 sidered as a virtual abolition of the office. 
 The numbers were, 116 to 112. 
 
 7. Some discussion has taken place in 
 Parliament respecting the Orders in Council, 
 and a farther discussion is expected. All we 
 have heard or read on this subject confirms 
 lis in the view wiiich we originally took of 
 this measure, as in its principle most wise 
 and expedient. In saying this, we do not 
 mean to defend all the particular provisions 
 by which the general principle was originally 
 enforced. Such of those provisions, however, 
 as were liable to just exception, were re- 
 mwed by the Order of May 1809, which 
 converted the complex regulations of the 
 Orders of Nov. 1807, into a simple prohibi- 
 tion of trading with the ports of the enemy. 
 The main objection wliich we felt to this order, 
 •was its confining the prohibition within too 
 Harrow limits. It went no farther nortli than 
 tlie river En)s, and included only the coasts 
 of Holland, France, aB<i the north of Italy. 
 The reasons for e.xempiing the Baltic from 
 its operation we ma^- be unable sutiiciently 
 to appreciate ; but the policy of doing so 
 has certainly always appeared to us to be 
 dubious ; the moral evils which have attached 
 themselves to the Baltic trade fonning, in 
 our view, by no means the leait powerful 
 objection. 
 
 But on what grounds would we rest the 
 justice of sucli a prohibition? Simply on 
 this, that it had become necessary to our de- 
 fence. The war having assumed the cha- 
 racter of a war on our commercial resources, 
 which are the sinews of our strength, it be- 
 came our duty to defend those resources. 
 If an enemy attempt to ruin us by destroy- 
 ing our navy, the course we naturally and 
 justly take is, if we can, to anniiiilate his. 
 If, however, finding himself incapable of 
 openly attacking our navy, he should say, I 
 ■will undermino it; 1 will cut off the sjirings 
 of your power ; I will destroy your trade ; 1 
 will allow it access in no way, by no route 
 however circuitous, not only into my own 
 
 Christ. Obsery. No. 122. 
 
 dominions, but into any other country to 
 which my power or influence can extend ; 
 nay, I will make the admission of a jinnle 
 bale of British goods (even into any neutral 
 state) my warrant for treating thai state as 
 an enemy, and for destroying its independ- 
 ence ; — then we say, th;it the law of self- 
 defence imniedia'ely confers on us the right 
 of saying in return, that our enemy's trade 
 shall he annihilated. Why is it that nations 
 have assumed the right of saying that neu- 
 trals shall not carry military or naval muni- 
 tions to an enemy? Why, hut because that 
 law of nature to which we have referred, 
 the liivv of s(*h' defence, obviously requires it. 
 And is not the present a ciise to wliich the 
 same law is equally applicable ? Siiail we 
 permit our enemy by his regulations, whe- 
 ther maritime or municipal, to aim a deadly 
 blow at our commerce and manufactures, 
 our niiirine and revenue, and to force neu- 
 trals to concur in his measures, without ward- 
 ing off the blow by any and by all the 
 means which we possess : and w!iy nor, 
 among others, by an universal interdict of 
 commerce from his ports? Is there any thing 
 unjust in this? 
 
 Many men, however, will allow this course 
 to be just, who yet deny its policy; who 
 say, that v/e only give effect to the hostile 
 decrees of our enemy, by thus acting; that 
 we injure ourselves, and not him. Now we 
 do not shiiuk from maintaining 'he direct 
 converse of ihis proposition; from main- 
 taining, that is to say, that had Great Bri- 
 tain, from the year J 807, adhered rigidly tu 
 her system of sealing up every hostile port, 
 and of allowing neither ingress nor egres-> 
 there, her condition would, probably, at this 
 moment have been much more prosperous 
 than it is : and she would abo have been 
 preserved from many evils, wliich have arisen 
 from the relaxation of that s\steiu. Our 
 own resources, both domestic and colonial, 
 would have been developed and almost indefi- 
 nite! v enlarged ; — even our mercantile marine 
 mi"ht have increased, while we should have 
 deprived France of the means almost of raising 
 a single seamf.n, or employing a single ship. 
 The bogs of Ireland, and the waste lands of 
 England, our American forests, and the sunn 
 and paat fieldsof Hindostan.. would in no long 
 time have itli the influence of tiie continu- 
 ed prohibition. Hemp ami flax, or at least 
 substitutes for them, together with cora 
 and timber, would in no long time have 
 been either supplied from our own fields, 
 or imported from our foreign possessioiiB 
 in ]3ritish ships. Instead of employing 
 hostile ships, manned by hoitile steiv- 
 
Parliamentary Proceedings.,, Licensing System, 
 
 130 
 
 men, to bring us the productions or manu- 
 factures of i:ostile countries, we should have 
 employed our uun ships and our own sea- 
 men, and we should have given life to our 
 own manufactures, und to our own agricul- 
 ture, foreign and domestic*. But we can 
 merely glance at this subject: our limits will 
 not permit us to enter upon it. This, how- 
 ever, we are anxious to repeat, ihat even if 
 the advantages arising from the relaxation of 
 our prohibiiory decrees, by means of li- 
 cences, had been greater than its warmest 
 advocates have ever pretended, we should 
 still have objected to it the moral evils 
 by which these advantages are purchased. 
 Much as we value conimi rce as one of the 
 main sinews of our national strength, we 
 should have no scruple to say, Perish that 
 commerce if we ci:n only retain it by the 
 practice oi frauds, forgeries, and perjuries. 
 We may rely on it, that with nation'^, as well 
 . as individuals, the path of reciiiude is the 
 path of safety, as well as ot honour ; and if, 
 trusting in the Divine protection, we reject 
 all base and dishonourable means of ad- 
 vancing our interests, we shall in the end 
 i)e no losers by our conduct. 
 
 We are happy to perceive that the fla- 
 grant iramftralities attached to the licensing 
 system, particularly in relation to our com- 
 merce with the Baltic, has begun to attract 
 general notice. The town of Kingston upon 
 Hull has done itself honour by taking the 
 lead in the reprobation of those immoralities, 
 and of the system by which they are encou- 
 raged. On the llili inst. a meeting of the 
 merchants and ship-owners of that place was 
 lield, to consider the propriety of peiiticning 
 the House of Connnons against granting 
 licences to foreign vessels to trade between 
 this country and those parts of Europe from 
 which the British flag is excluded; and a 
 series of resolutions was adopted as the 
 basis of the petition, to the justice of every- 
 one of which we should readily subscribe. 
 Thry resolve, among otiier things, 
 
 " That it is the firm persuasion of this 
 Meeting, that this system of Licences is in- 
 jurious to the trade and interests of the 
 United Kingdom ; is calculated to drain it 
 of its resources — to nourish a race of sea- 
 jufen in the ports of the Continent — to en- 
 courage a spirit of conmicrcial cuterprize in 
 liosiile states — and to deprive the British 
 
 * The only plausible argument in favour 
 of the licensing system respects the West 
 India produce. But even here we should 
 liope to prove, that the argument, viewed in 
 ;«li its bearings, is not well founded. 
 
 [F£B. 
 
 Merchant of that prospect of reward, witli- 
 out which his labours must be rendered ua- 
 availing to the benefit of himself and of his 
 country. 
 
 " That this Meeting is seriously impressed 
 with a consciousness of the immoral effects, 
 as well as the impolicy of Licences; that it 
 contemplates, with feelings of shame and 
 indignation, those frauds, collusions, and 
 forgeries of documents, which are notoriously 
 known to have arisen from the License sy- 
 stem, as equally contrary to the dictates of 
 religion, and subversive of that high sense of 
 honour, that probity and good laith, which 
 have hitherto been the pre-eminent charac- 
 teristics of British Merchants ; and in the 
 maintenance or decline of which, the welfare, 
 and even the existence of the Constitution, is, 
 in its judgment, deeply and inseparably in- 
 volved. 
 
 " Ihat, fully convinced of the truth and 
 importance of these principles, this Meeting 
 does agree to present a Petition to the Ho- 
 nourable the House of Commons, in Parlia- 
 ment assembled, pr<iying, that they will take 
 the siibject of granting liicences to Foreign 
 Vessels to trade between this country and 
 ports from which its flag is excluded, into 
 their serious consideration ; and that they 
 will apply such remedy to the evils now ex- 
 isting, as in their wisdom may seem most ex- 
 pedient." 
 
 We should rejoice to witness the adoption 
 of similar resolutions in every trading town 
 in the kingdom. We must defer, however, 
 for the present, what we had further to say 
 on this subject. In the mean time, we will 
 present our readers with an extract taken 
 from an able sjwech of Sir. Hill, at the Hull 
 Meeting, which contains some facts that will 
 serve to illustrate the nature of this com- 
 merce. " The documents," he said, " which 
 he held in his hand, would shew the extent 
 in which persons engaging in this trade 
 were guilty, with their eyes open, of per- 
 jury, or of subornation of perjury. The 
 first document was the protest of a captain 
 who sailed from Hull to Pillau without a 
 cargo, in the autumn of 1810, which he ad- 
 duced to shew the manner in which ships 
 coming from England in ballast obtained ad- 
 mission into the ports of Prussia. — The ship 
 had come to -Hull with a cargo from the 
 Baltic, under the protection of a British 
 convoy, had entered regularly at the custom- 
 house, and delivered her cargo in the usual 
 luanner to the consignees, without any in- 
 terruption whatever; but the captain and his 
 crew asserted in the protest (and confirmed 
 their assertion by an oath administered with 
 more than usual sokninity) ihat ' they Iiad 
 
1 S12.] Public Affairs — Domestic Intelligence,,. Naval Intelligence. 
 
 liad been captured, and sent iato Hull; that 
 the cargo was there condemned and the ship 
 restored to theiu.' 
 
 " Ihestcoud was the protest of a ship 
 which sailed Irora Hull in the spring of 1811, 
 with a cargo ol colonial produce for Riga. 
 In this it was stated that the ship had load- 
 ed at Churlestown in America, and various 
 particulars of her preieiided voyage were 
 added ; ail which, though notoriously false 
 and fictitious, were contirnied as before by 
 the oath of the captain and crew. 
 
 " The third and last document was an act 
 of the French Government, relative to the 
 condemnation of a ship, which had been cap- 
 tured and carried into Holland in November 
 1810, with a cargo of colonial produce, from 
 London for Memel. The captain and crew 
 stoutly maintained, on their examinations in 
 Holland, that they had loaded their cargo at 
 Santa Cruz in the island of TeneritFe; but by 
 several curious interrogatories put to them 
 separatelv, their testimony was found so dis- 
 cordant as completely to expose the false- 
 hood of their whole story. 
 
 " If these documents (which were fair 
 specimens of those in general use, and not 
 selected for this particular purpose) were 
 not sufficient to set the question concerning 
 the immorality of this trade completely and 
 finally at rest, he could not see how it was 
 possible to enter into any farther argument 
 «a the subject. Assuming the immorality' as 
 proved, he considered that alone as suflioient 
 to induce every good man to wish for the 
 annihilation of the whole system. Much, 
 Jiowever, had been said in defence of it, on 
 the ground of policy and necessity. For his 
 part, he was prepared to maintain, as a be- 
 liever in the doctrines of Christianity, in the 
 moral government of God, and the accoun- 
 tability of human actions, that our duty and 
 our interest ;ife nmch more closely allied 
 than many are willing to suppose ; and that 
 our Creator has in general linked them indis- 
 solubly together; he was prepared to main* 
 tain, with a late distinguished British senator, 
 that ' what is morally wrong can never be 
 politically right.' 
 
 " But waving these general principles, he 
 would proceed to examine the subject on the 
 ground of alleged expediency." 
 
 Here, however, we cannot follow jMr. Hill, 
 but must refer our readers to his speech in 
 the " Hull Advertiser " of the loth inst. and 
 though he has given an able view of the sub- 
 ject, we have no doubt that the arguments 
 which he has adduced might be greatly 
 strengthened by additional facts and consi- 
 derations. 
 
 131 
 
 DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. 
 
 The health of liis Majesty is said to conti- 
 nue in precisely the same state as it was 
 when the parli<imentary examination of the 
 physicians last took place. 
 
 Sir Evan Xepean has been appointed "o- 
 veriior of Bombay. 
 
 Mr. Kirwan, one of the Catholic delegates, 
 having been found guilty, under the Catholic 
 Convention Act, of a violation of the law, iti 
 assembling as one of the delegates of the Ca- 
 tholic body ; the rest of the trials were sus- 
 pended, on the ground that the law having 
 been thus declared, there was no doubt that 
 the Catholic body would feel themselves to 
 be bound by it. 
 
 A special commission having been ap- 
 pointed to try, on a charge of treason, a 
 number of British seamen, who, after beino- 
 taken prisoners, had entered into the French 
 service, and were found in arms against their 
 country in the Isle of France ; the trials 
 came on at the Surrey Sessions House during 
 the present month. When seven convic- 
 tions had taken place, and that on grounds 
 which left no doubt whatever of the guilt of 
 the parties, and of the equity of their con- 
 demnation ; the Attorney General signified 
 that the ends of justice had been fully an- 
 swered, and that he should now stay farther 
 proceedings, trusting that the example now 
 given would operate powerfully throughout 
 the whole mass of our naval and military 
 force. The sentence of the law has not yet 
 been executed. 
 
 NAVAL INTELLIGENCE, 
 
 The amount of our loss by the shipwrecks 
 of men of war that had taken, place we 
 slated in our last to be 1,400, when we 
 should have stated it at near 2,000 seamen. 
 Another frigate, the Manilla, has since been 
 vrrecked on the coast of Holland ; but the 
 whole of the crew, with the exception of six 
 men, have been saved. 
 
 An attack was made, on the Neapolitan 
 coast, on a convoy ot the enemy, consisting 
 of nine gun-boats and twenty inerchanl ves- 
 sels laden with naval stores ; and the ene- 
 my's batteries on shore having been seized 
 and dismantled by a party of troops, tiie 
 whole were either destroyed or brougrit oft". 
 
 The French frigate, La Pomone, of forty 
 guns, has been captured in the Mediterra- 
 nean by his Majesity's ship Active. Captaiti 
 Gordon lost a leg, and his first Lieutenant an 
 arm ; besides which, ten of our men were killed 
 and sixteen wounded. An armed storeship, 
 under the convoy of tiie Pomone, was alsa 
 taken ; another escaped. 
 
132 Ecclesiastical Preferynents. — Answers to Correspondents. — "Errata. 
 
 A second French frigate, La Corceyve, taken, 170 seamen and 130 soldiers, 300 
 lias been taken in the same sea by his Ma- tons of wheat, and a quantity of military 
 jestj's ship Eagle. She had on board when stores. 
 
 ECCLESIASTICAL PREFERMENTS. 
 
 Rev. John Smith, M. A. vicar of Bices- Kev. C. J. Biomfield, Dunton H. Bucks. 
 
 ter, Oxon. Master of the endowed Gram- Rev. Thomas Hooper, Castle Coombe, 
 
 mar School of Dilhorne, vice Wolfe, re- Wilts. 
 
 signed. Rev. S. Nosworthy, Brashford R. Somer- 
 
 Rev. William Jackson, D. D. canon of set. 
 
 Christ Church, and Regius Professor of Rev. Roger Franklaud, Canonry in WelU 
 
 Greek in the University of Oxford, Lord Bi- Cathedral, mce Digby, dec. 
 
 shop of Oxford. R^v. Dr. W^eston, Thirfield R. Herts. 
 
 Kev. John Leslie, D. D. dean of Cork, Rev. W. B. Ramsden, Little Wakering 
 
 Lord Bishop of Dromore, vice Hall, de- V. Essex. 
 
 ceased. Rev. J. B. HoUingworth, one of his Ma- 
 Rev. Henry George Liddle, Redmarshall jesty's Preachers at Whitehall. 
 
 R. Durham. Rev. James Slade, Feversham R. Cam- 
 Rev. Thomas Peyton Slapp, Bracou-Ash bridgeshire. 
 
 R. Norfolk. 
 
 ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
 
 A Country Rector will be admitted. 
 
 FuTURus ; Epaphroditus ; M. G.; Philalethes; Theognis ; A Cvpher, are 
 under consideration. 
 
 Charitatis Amicus, we think, must change his name before he can become the advo- 
 cate of Dr. Butler's sermon. In another and tiie main point of his letter, we deny the 
 charge. He has quoted, as our language, words wliich we never used. 
 
 Our present limits would not suffice for correcting tlie misappreliensions of An iMPARTiAt 
 Observkr. Referring him to what we have already written, we have now only to say, 
 that lie has totally misapprehended us. 
 
 We are of opinion, that the time is past for the publication in the Christian Observer of the 
 Letters of A Layman on Mr. Stone's sermon. 
 
 Sopater's note has been received. 
 
 We must request The Author who has written to us, not to consider our silence respect- 
 ing his publication as any mark of disrespect. We have it not in our power to notice 
 one twentieth part of the books which are sent to us. 
 
 SxAfFORDSHiRE's request as to his lines is complied with. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 No. for January, p. 44, col. 2, lines lb and IC, for r, in three places, read {. 
 Present No. p. 72, col. 2,1. 20 from bottom, after Itotma dele the comma. 
 
THE 
 
 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER^ 
 
 CONDUCTED 
 
 BY MEMBERS OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH. 
 
 FOR THE YEAR 1815. 
 
 BEING 
 
 THE FOURTEENTH VOLUME. 
 
 FROM THE LONDOJ^ cOITION. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY DAVID HALE. PUBLHUED ALSO BYUFZFKJAH HOWE, NEW 
 
 haven; and SOLOMON WIATT, PH) L \ DKLPHI A. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 VOL. XIV. 
 
 BEINfi FOR THE YEAU 1815. 
 
 NUMBER I. 
 
 Page 
 Relig. Com. — East-India Missions . 1 
 
 Authority of Josephus . . .5 
 
 Oa Luke xxi. 32 . . . . ib. 
 
 Extracts from Writings of Luther . 7 
 
 Family Sermon, on Matt. xx^i. 41 . 8 
 
 Adnce to a Young Clergyman . 13 
 Miscd. — Hint to Rehgious Parents . 20 
 
 Expenses of College ... 21 
 , British Critic .... 23 
 
 Gypsies ..... ib. 
 
 State of Religion in France . . 25 
 jRer. of- — Venn's Sermons . . 26 
 
 Marsh's Sermons ... 46 
 
 Lit. Intel. — New Works ; Oxford ; 
 
 Cambridge; Rain; Stone Coffin, k.c. 59 
 
 Germany ; France ... 60 
 Relig. Intel. — Geneva ; Abolition of 
 Slave Trade ; Episcopal Church ; 
 Bible Society . . . .61 
 
 Waldenses, their Sufferings . . 62 
 Pub. .'iff. — Congress ; Spain ; France ; 
 
 United States . . . .65 
 
 Hayti ib. 
 
 Great Britain — Joanna Southcott . 67 
 Obit.— Rev. John G. Thompson . 68 
 
 Henry Thornton, Esq. . . 72 
 
 NUMBER II. 
 
 Relig. Com. — East-India Missions . 73 
 Spiritual Contest with the World . 76 
 Family Sermon, on 1 Peter ii. 21 . 86 
 
 Dr. Whitaker and CaKin . . 91 
 
 .Vwfe/.— Theology of the Day . 93 
 
 Use of Psalms and Hymns . . 95 
 
 Society for Christian Knowledge . ib. 
 
 Mbrepresentation of Mr. Norris . 98 
 
 Rev. o/— Thorp's Sermon . . 99 
 
 Alison's Sermons . . . 109 
 
 LU. Intel.— "Sev^ Works . . 118 
 Cambridge ; St. David's ; Deaths and 
 Births in London ; Restoration of 
 
 Noses 119 
 
 'Relig. /n/e/.— Bristol Tract Society 121 
 
 Southcuiipton Bible Society . 123 
 
 Bristol Missionary Association . 124 
 
 China — Letter of Mr. Milne . ib. 
 
 Fub. .'Iff. — Congress ; American Fri- 
 gate ; Parliament . . . 126 
 
 Obil.-UenTy Thornton, Esq . 127 
 Mr. Richard Barlow . . .136 
 Christ. Observ. No. 1.57. 
 
 NUMBER III. 
 
 Page 
 
 Relig. Com. — Lessons from Death of 
 
 distinguished Individuals . . 137 
 
 On the Prophecies of Gog . . 141 
 
 Importance of cultivating Holiness 143 
 On animadverting on Errors of good 
 
 Yien 145 
 
 On a contented Disposition . 148 
 
 Family Sermon, on Acts xi. 24 . 151 
 
 Miscel. — Independence of Mind . 155 
 
 On Clerical Residence . . 162 
 
 On tlie Expenses of College . 165 
 
 Rer. of- — A brief Account of the Jesuits 166 
 
 Bishop of Chester's Charge . 177 
 
 Lit. Intel. — New Works; Calvanism ; 
 Commerce ; Athenian Society ; 
 
 Deaf and Dumb and Blind, &c. 188 
 
 Relig. Intel. — Distresses in Germany 191 
 
 London society for Jews . . 198 
 
 Ceylon— Letter of Sir A. Johnston 200 
 
 Pub. Aff\—Covn Bill . . .202 
 
 Restoration of Bonaparte . . 204 
 
 Sla%'e Trade Question . . 205 
 
 Treaty with United States . . 206 
 
 Obit. — Rev. Dr. C. Buchanan . ib. 
 
 NUMBER IV. 
 
 Relig. Com. — Character of Lydia . 209 
 
 On Interpreting Prophecy . . 214 
 
 Faults of Scripture Characters . 216 
 
 On Fear and Love in Religion . 218 
 
 Family Sermon, on Genesis vi. 8 . 223 
 
 .Miscel.— Errors of Dr. Marsh . 227 
 
 Usher's Advice to Younger Clergy 231 
 
 Calvin against Antinomianism . 233 
 
 On John "xxi. 15 . . . 235 
 
 Misrepresentation of Mr. Norris . ib. 
 
 Rec. of — Chalmer's Eridence of Chris- 
 tianity 236 
 
 Wilks on Conversion in Ministers . 248 
 
 Lit. Intel. — New Works ; Geimany, 
 
 Werner ; Spain ; France, <fec. . 255 
 
 Relig. Intel. — Society for Jews - 257 
 
 Hibernian Church ^Missionary Society 259 
 
 Tartary — Edinburgh Society . 261 
 India — Abdool Messee, ic, ; Dr. 
 
 John's Schools . . . 262 
 
 Madras ..... ib 
 
 Colombo Bible Society . . 263 
 
 British and Foreign Bible Society 264 
 
 RelijfioTis Tract Societj- . ' . 266 
 A 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 _ ^ I I'etion 
 
 HayU — r^^'Maration of Congress ; 
 
 Pub. .J/J---ind Naples; France ; Bona- 
 
 Aivs; Slave Trade, kc; Peace and 
 
 . » ar, k.c. .... 
 
 ^reat Britaki — Capture of Mobile ; 
 
 Prince ivegent's Message ; Slave 
 
 Trade, ice. ice. 
 
 NUMBER V. 
 
 Relig. Com. — Death of a J*Iorik of La 
 Trappe ..... 
 Usher on Satisfaction of Christ 
 Faber on the V2G0 Years 
 Prevailing Theological Errors 
 Family Sermon, on Prov. xii. 26 
 Miscel. — Humboldt on Slave Trade 
 On Unity of Opinion 
 On the State of the Waldenses 
 Profanation of the Lord's Day 
 Rev. of — Mrs. More's St. Paul 
 Cooper's Sermons 
 Smedley's " Jephthah" 
 ■Lfil. Intel. — New Works ; Bogs ; Arith- 
 metical Machine ; Pt-utateucli ; Ef- 
 fects of Cold ; Substitute for Hemp, 
 
 &c 
 
 Relig. Intel. — Anniversaries of Religious 
 Societies .... 
 British and Foreign Bible Society 
 Church Missionary Society 
 Society for Jeivs 
 
 Prayer-booii and Homily Society 
 Pub. .-iff. — Preparations for War ; State 
 of Fc-eling in France, kc. ; Educa- 
 tion ; Itah", Defeat of Murat ; Spain 
 Great Britain — Question of Peace or 
 W^ar ; Slave Trade, <<cc. 
 
 NUMBER VL 
 
 Relig. Com. — Life of Pascal 
 Witness of the Spirit 
 Family Sermon, on Romans xiii. 10 
 Mr. Penn's Views of Propihecy 
 JSIisccl. — Society for Christian Know- 
 lodge ..... 
 Old Society and its Safeguards 
 Abbe Sicard and his Pupil 
 On Perseverance 
 \ Rev. of — Remains of J. Tweddell 
 
 Brook's Lives of the Puritans 
 .hit. Intel. — New Works ; Oxford; Dean 
 of Peterborough aud Mr. Lingard ; 
 Bishop of Lincoln and Bible Socie- 
 
 ty 
 
 France — Education I 
 Relig. Intfl. — Society for promoting 
 Christian Knowledge 
 Patriarch of Constantinople 
 Conversion of a Budhu Priest 
 Fiib. .J^".— Battle of Waterloo 
 
 France — Champ de Mai, ice; ]\Iar- 
 tinique ..... 
 
 Page 
 266 
 
 267 
 
 273 
 278 
 281 
 283 
 294 
 299 
 300 
 304 
 305 
 306 
 317 
 
 336 
 
 338 
 
 339 
 342 
 343 
 345 
 
 ib. 
 
 348 
 
 349 
 358 
 359 
 365 
 
 367 
 ib. 
 371 
 372 
 374 
 386 
 
 406 
 407 
 
 409 
 410 
 411 
 413 
 
 415 
 
 Termination of Neapolitan War 
 Holland — 'I'reaty with Great Britain 
 Great Britain — Parliament ; Loan ; 
 Duke of Wellington ; French Slave 
 Trade; Register of Slaves ; Catholic 
 Claims ; India Ships ; Apprentices ; 
 Meodkity .... 
 Obit. — Rev. AVilliam Jesse 
 P. S — A.;dicatioa of Bonaparte ; Ad- 
 vance of Allies to Paris 
 
 NUMBER VIL 
 
 Relig. Com. — Life of Pascal 
 Cuninghame on tlie 1260 Years 
 Bloderator on the V.i60 Years 
 Family Sermon, on Psalm Iv. 17. 
 Quere respecting the Lord's Supper 
 Misccl. — Moral State of Paris 
 
 Mr. Norris's Demonstrations ' . 
 Rev. of. — Brook's History of the Puri- 
 tans ..... 
 Lit. Intel. — ^ew Works ; Steam Boat ; 
 New Noses ; Weights and Meas- 
 ures ..... 
 Relig. Intel. — British and Foreign 
 Bible Society ; Ele%'entli R eport 
 Prayer-book and Homily Society 
 Bristol Society for Jews 
 Oxford Ei'le Society — Annual Meet- 
 ing ; Speeclies 
 Pub. ./?/.— Capture of Paris ; Resto- 
 ration of Burbons ; Sufferings of 
 French ; AbolWon of Slave Trade ; 
 Surrender of Bonaparte, &c. <i:c. 
 Loss at Waterloo ; Congress ; Ameri- 
 cans and Algerines 
 Great Britain — Parliament ; Duke of 
 Cumberland ; Mr. Wliitbread 
 0*77.— Mr. Thomas Rock 
 P.S. — French Ordinance against Rebels, 
 fcc ..... 
 
 NUMBER VIIL 
 
 Relig. Com. — Life of Pascal 
 Cuninghame on the 1260 Years 
 Penn's View of Prophecy 
 Dr. Marsh's View of Justification 
 Family Sermon, on Heb. x. 26 
 Miscel. — Complaint of a neglected Fe- 
 male ..... 
 On the Practice of Novel-Reading 
 Dr. Hunt respecting Tweddell's Re- 
 mains ..... 
 Rev. of — Kirwnn's Sermons 
 
 Lord Byron's Hebrew Melodies 
 Lit. Intel. — New Works ; Cambridge ; 
 St. David's .... 
 Java ; Fort William, Speech of Earl 
 Moira, Sec. 
 Relig. Intel. — British and Foreign 
 Bible Society .... 
 Y'^early Epistle of Quakers 
 Instruction of Adults . . . 
 
 Pa pre 
 416 
 ib. 
 
■l.ONTKNT«^. 
 
 Piicn- 
 AlaHne Bible Associations . . 5G1 
 C'imrcli -Missionary Society . 562 
 
 Pub. ,lff. — France : General Observa- ■ 
 tiuDs ; Labcdoyere, Ne}", ice: Bo- 
 naparte ; New Army, ice. . 5C2 
 Great Britain — Ivc.vards to soldiers 
 of Waterloo; Ceylon ; India, ice. oW 
 
 NUMBER IX. 
 
 Rdi<^. Com. — Lite of Pascal . . 565 
 
 Family Sennon, oa Luke ii. 27, 28. 576 
 Dr. ivlarsii's \ie'.v of Justification 581 
 
 Extract from a Sennon of Baxter's 584 
 Miscel. — Society lor Christian Know- 
 ledge ..... 585 
 I^Ir. Norris and the Bible Society 589 
 
 On the Condition of tlie GA-psies . 500 
 On administering the Lord's Supper 591 
 Rev. of- — Southcy's Roderick . 592 
 
 Buckworth's Sermons . . 616 
 
 Lit. Intel. — New Works; Literary 
 Prize at Aberdeen ; Irish Academy ; 
 Woollen Trade ; Steamboats; Heb- 
 rides ; Porter Brewers 
 Rflig. Intel. — Louisiana Bible Society 
 Baptist Juiision in India 
 Society for Jews — Report 
 Pub. .iff. — France : State of; Elec- 
 tions; Spanish Armies; Ney ; Rus- 
 sian Emperor ; Protestants 
 NetJierlandi, New Constitution ; 
 
 Spain ..... 
 Great Britain — Capture of Gauda- 
 loupe ; Port Royal destroy ed ; Ja- 
 maica Fleet ; India ; Irish Roman 
 Catholics ; Harvest ; French Ships 
 restored ; Bonaparte , . ib. 
 
 NUMBER X. 
 
 ^f/(.2-. Com.— Life of Pascal . . 637 
 J^umily Sunnon, on ■Matt. si. S. . 644 
 On Regeneration . . . 649 
 
 Arguments for the Bible Society . 650 
 Miscel. — On Appendix to Jebb's Ser- 
 mons . . . - . 655 
 Preaching of St. Paul in Britain - 660 
 Use of Psalms and Hymns . 661 
 Errors of the Greek Church . 663 
 R(v. o/"— Hall on Communion . 664 
 Chalmers on the Christian Life . 685 
 Lit. Intfl. — New Works ; Discovery in 
 
 Africa 694 
 
 Reli^. Intel. — British and Foreign Bible 
 Society: Bi=hop of Lincoln's Charge; 
 IVIr. Gisbome's Letter . . C96 
 
 Colleee of New Jersey ; Revival of 
 
 Religion .... 699 
 
 Baptist Mission in India . . 703 
 Pub. .-Iff. — France : Change of Ministry; 
 Works of Art ; Opening of Cham- 
 bers ; Parties, ice. tc, '. . 704 
 Spain — Insurrection ; Change of Minis- 
 ters . . . • . 707 
 
 621 
 6'23 
 626 
 629 
 
 G33 
 
 635 
 
 Great Britain — Ireland; Seamen; In- 
 dian War .... 707 
 
 NUMBER XI. 
 
 Iicli§. Co»i.— Life of Pascal . 70f» 
 
 On 1 Sam. xviii. 10, 11 ; and xix. 9, 
 10 715 
 
 Family Sermon, on Mal. iii. 6. . 717 
 
 Regeneration .... 722 
 Jtisctl. — Disastrous Fruits of Cranio- 
 
 logy 726 
 
 Litaii3', a Hjmn . . . 73* 
 
 Rer. o/— Yates on the CJ.urch in 
 
 Dimger ..... 735 
 
 Claims of Established Church . ib. 
 
 Letter to the Bishop of Lincoln, on 
 Bible Society . . . . ib. 
 
 Scott's Field of W^aterloo . . 750 
 Lit. Intel. — New Works ; University 
 Intelligence ; Bibles and Prayer- 
 books printed ; Regent's Canal, ice. 760 
 
 Mcnditity .... 761 
 
 Russia — \'oyageof Discove'y . 764 
 Rehg. Intel. — British and Foreign Bi- 
 ble Society : Remarks ; Iceland ; 
 Finland ; Letter of Catholic Metro- 
 politan ; Thcodosia Bible Society ; 
 Asia Minor ; Moscow ; Georgia ; 
 Cbiina ; Java ; Calcutta ; United 
 States . . . . . 76.^ 
 
 Church 3Iissionary Society : iVimual 
 Report ..... 769 
 
 Baptist Mission in India . . 774 
 P«6..'f/.— Treaty of Peace . . 776 
 
 France — Persecutions at Nismcs ; Ney ib. 
 
 Murat ; Napaul War ; Cejlon . 780 
 
 NUMBER XII. 
 
 Relig. Com. — Life of Pascal . . 731 
 Efforts of French Catholics to circu- 
 late the Scriptures . . . 787 
 Family Sermon, on 1 Cor. xiii. 3. 793 
 Siiarp and Hammond on Regeneration 799 
 .V/jw/.— Sabbath at Geneva . 800 
 On Charity Feasts . . . 804 
 Rer. of — CrooPs Restoration of Israel 809 
 Scott's Answer to Crool . . ib. 
 Campbell's Travels in Soutli Africa 820 
 Lit. Intel. — Works ; Asiatic Journal ; 
 
 London Institution . . . 857 
 American Edition of the Christian 
 
 Observer .... 838 
 Ancient Authors discovered . 839 
 Rehg. Intel. — Cinque Ports Bible 
 Society ; Speech of Earl of Liver- 
 pool 840 
 
 Society for Conversion of Jews . 8-11 
 College of New Jersey ; Questions 
 
 and Counsel to Students . ^ ib. 
 
 Strangers' Friend Society . . 84.1 
 
 Pub. ./Iff. — Treaties of Peace . G46 
 
 Monuments of .'Vrt ; Slave Trade ; and 
 
 Hayti 8/0 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 France — Funds ; La Valette ; Ney ; 
 
 Amnesty ; Disturbances at Nismes ; 
 
 Bonaparte . . . .851 
 
 Great Britain — Thanksgiving-day ib. 
 
 Erratum ..... ib. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Relig. Com. — Life of PasccJ . 853 
 
 Belig. Intel. — Pitcaim's Island . 858 
 
 Hibernian Sunday School Society 865 
 
 London Missionary Society < 869 
 
 Church Missionary Society . 874 
 Wesleyan Methodist Mission in Ceylon 885 
 
 Page 
 
 American Foreign Missions . . 888 
 
 Spitaltields Benevolent Society . 888 
 
 Methodist Conference . . 892 
 
 Hibernian Society . . . 893 
 Society for the Support of Gaelic 
 
 Schools 895 
 
 Ecclesiastical Prefemunts . . 898 
 
 List of Mew Publications . . 901 
 
 Index to the Essays, k,c. . . 903 
 
 Reviews . . 906 
 
 Principal Names . ib. 
 
 Texts referred to . 908 
 
 Signatures ur^ed . ih,- 
 
THE 
 
 CHRISTIAN OBSERVER. 
 
 [fHOM the LONDON EDITION.] 
 
 No. \67 ] 
 
 NOVEMBER, 1815. 
 
 No. 11. Vol. XiV. 
 
 RELIGIOUS COMMUNICATIONS. 
 
 LIFE or BLAISE PASCAL. 
 
 (Contimietl from p. 6^1.) 
 
 A HE disordered srvite of M. Pascal's 
 health seemed lo increase daily, so 
 thai he was shorlly afterwards con- 
 strained to relinquish every literary 
 pursuit. But in the midst of his 
 afflictions, he resolutely adhered to 
 his first maxims ; and at those sea- 
 sons when frail nature seems to re- 
 quire more than ordinary indultjence, 
 he persisted firmly in rejectintj all 
 the blandishments of sense. M.Pas- 
 cal had a comprint in his stomach, 
 which reqxiired him to live upon de- 
 licate food: he was determined, how- 
 ever, to derive no pleasure from ibis 
 circumstance, and therefore avoided 
 paying attention to any thing he eat. 
 If he were asked, after a meal, whe- 
 ther the viands had been agreeable; 
 he would reply, " 1 really took no 
 notice of their taste.'' When any 
 one, in his presence, mentioned with 
 vivacity the excellent relish and deli- 
 cious nature of any article of diet, he 
 would seriously condemn such a dis- 
 position : '' It argues," said he, <' great 
 sensuality in those who talk thus : 
 they seem lo have no belter motive for 
 etvting, than the flattering of their ap- 
 petites." He was naturally fond of 
 acids, and such other articles as tend 
 to excite the appetite and heighten 
 the flavour of food ; but lest he 
 should be seduced, insensibly, into the 
 practice of what he so much disap- 
 proved, he never permitted any 
 lemon or vinegar to be mixed in his 
 diet. With respect to quantity, at 
 his first retiring from the world, he 
 assigned to himself that portion 
 Christ. Observ. Ne. 167. 
 
 which seemed requisite for the pre. 
 servation of his he^dth, and on no oc- 
 casion whatever would he exceed 
 thobC limits. If any person, surpris- 
 ed at his precision, inquired his rea- 
 sons, he would reply ; '• It is a proper 
 and necessary thing to supply the 
 '-.vajita of the stoinach, but it is not 
 my duty to satisfy the cravings of ap- 
 petite." When his sister used to 
 express her amazement, at his taking 
 the most unpleasant medicines, with- 
 out manifesting the least aversion, or 
 disgust, he would rally her in his in- 
 genious and entertaining manner: 
 " Why do you wonder," he would 
 say, " that I swallow a nauseous po- 
 tion, without expressing any distaste ? 
 Do I not know that it is disagreeable 
 before it is presented to me? And 
 do I not take it voluntarily ? Surprise 
 or violence may produ e aversion ; 
 but how can I pretend to dislike that 
 which is the object of my choice ?" 
 Such facetious sophisms as these 
 would lead us to conclude, that the 
 author of the Provincial Letters, 
 while he practised the severities o£ 
 an ascetic, had not renounced his 
 sprightliness and vivacity. — M. Pas- 
 cal was well acquainted with the 
 writings of Epictetus :* he had form- 
 ed a just estimate of the tendency of 
 the stoical philosophy, and regarded 
 many of their admired maxims as be- 
 ing no less subversive of true piety, 
 thuntheir paradoxes were repuivnant 
 to the dictates of common sense and 
 natural feeling. Christianity requires 
 no man to violate the constitution of 
 
 * Pens6es de Pascal, sar I'Epictete 6t 
 Montaigne, Art. XI. 
 
 4 Y 
 
710 
 
 lAf^ of Pascal. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 his nature ; to renounce the precepts 
 of sound wisdom and discretion in the 
 conduct of life, or to extinguisii those 
 kindly affections which constitute the 
 bond, and contribute most esseniially 
 to the comfort, of society. But it 
 must be ailowed to possess this pecu- 
 liarity, iliat while it imposes the 
 duiies of condescension, tenderness, 
 sympathy, and loving-kindness to- 
 wards others, it opposes all effemina- 
 cy, self-commiseration, and fond in- 
 dulgence : it commands courage, 
 fortitude, hardiness, patient endu- 
 rance, and all those manly, robust, 
 and noble exercises of the soul, which 
 qualify the individual to maintain 
 his station as " a good soldier of 
 Jesus Christ." Many persons will 
 probably consider those rigid atten- 
 jions to the subjugation of the senses, 
 as indicating an over-strained preci- 
 sion, as characteristic of one that was 
 " righteous overmuch." Religion, 
 they will tell us, and tell us truly, 
 does not consist in such minute ob- 
 servances, and unrelenting severities. 
 But does it hence appear, that the piety 
 of M. Pascal consisted \n humiliating 
 chastisements and corporeal mortifi- 
 cations? The holy Scriptures, indeed, 
 have not assigned the specific manner 
 in which we are to " crucify the flesh, 
 with its affections and lusts," but the 
 duty itself is unequivocally insisted 
 on : every one is required to " deny 
 himself," — lo " take up his cross," — 
 not to " mind earthly things," — " to 
 be dead to sin and to the world," — to 
 be an exemplary follower of the holy 
 Jesus, whose life presents no common 
 exhibition of labour, self-abnegation, 
 and suffering. Should any reader be 
 inclined to brand M. Pascal with the 
 odious epithet of Pharisee, let him 
 not forget his own vocation, but re- 
 member that "except his righteous- 
 ness exceeds the righteousness of the 
 scribes and pharisees, he shall in no 
 wise enter into the kingdom of 
 heaven." 
 
 If M. Pascal's notions of Christian 
 mortification appear excessive and 
 unreasonable to the " carnal mind," 
 
 not less remote from ordinary con- 
 ceptions will his sentiments be found, 
 concerning poverty, and the vanity ©f 
 worldly splendour and greatness. He 
 saw and lamented that numbers of 
 persons who seemed to possess a 
 serious regard for religion, and pro- 
 fessed to be deeply concerned for the 
 salvaiionof their souls, were neverthe- 
 less living in great conformity to the 
 world; complying with customs and 
 usages of a very doubiful and hazard- 
 ous nature, and obeying the caprices 
 of novelty and fashion, like the rest 
 of mankind. He observed, among 
 those who thought themselves Chris- 
 tians, a frivolous solicitude to emu- 
 late others in the gayety and expense 
 of their apparel; that they courted 
 applause and distinction from the 
 superior architecture of their houses, 
 the elegant taste and exquisite work- 
 manship displayed in their furniture ; 
 and were absurdly ostentatious of 
 appearing splendid and luxurious 
 in their social entertainments.—- 
 "Those," he would say, "who as- 
 pire to have every thing about them 
 executed in a superior style, and are 
 solicitous not to employ any but the 
 best workmen, seldom consider that 
 they are indulging that *lust of the 
 eye,' which the Scripture condemns, 
 and are cherishing a disposition, 
 which has a dangerous tendency to 
 extinguish that poverty of spirit, 
 and contempt of the world, which 
 the Gospel requires. Choose the 
 artificers that are poor and honest, 
 without curiously hunting after that 
 sort of excellency which is neither 
 useful nor necessary, but is a mere 
 creature of the imagination. O ! 
 were my whole heart penetrated 
 with those sentiments of poverty 
 which my understanding dictates, 
 what felicity should I enjoy! and 
 I am firmly persuaded, that unless 
 we become in reality ' poor in 
 spirit,' we shall not see the king- 
 dom of Heaven." — It niay be said of 
 M. Pascal with great truth, that he 
 not only exercised a tender com- 
 passion towards the poor, but that 
 
lais.l 
 
 Life of Pascal. 
 
 711 
 
 he loved their very state and condi- 
 tion. If his humanity forbade him 
 ever to reject the pcition of the poor 
 suppliant, his conforniiiy to the tem- 
 per of Jesus led him ardently to de- 
 sire that he might resemble his Di- 
 vine Master even in his poverty. 
 His income was small, and a stale of 
 continual sickness considerably aug- 
 mented his necessary expenses ; yet 
 his diffusive beneficence frequently 
 constrained him to borrow a tem- 
 porary supply to his own necessities. 
 It was sometimes represented to 
 
 who is destitute of this one virtue, 
 stands exposed to eternal condemna- 
 tion, we should be quickened to 
 greater diligence in our duty. Chris- 
 tians have but low apprehensions of 
 faith in God, or they would not be 
 afraid of parting with their whole 
 substance. Another advantage," said 
 he, " to be derived from frequenting 
 the abodes of sickness and poverty, 
 is a more inliinate acquaintance with 
 human calamities. Von will often 
 behold the sons and ddugiuers of af- 
 fliction labouring ui.der painiul and 
 
 him, that a generosity, productive of dangerous diseases, and at the same 
 
 these inconveniences, was excessive, 
 and ought not to be indulged: to 
 ■which he woisld reply with some 
 earnestness ; " Let us be ever so 
 poor, we shall always leave some- 
 thing behind us when we die ;" and 
 thus he imposed silence on such 
 remonstrants. Towards the close 
 of his life, this benevolent disposition 
 seemed greatly to increase, and no 
 conversation was more pleasant to 
 him than that which turned upon 
 the best methods of assisting the 
 poor. He would earnestly exhort 
 his sister to dedicate herself to the 
 service of the distressed, and to train 
 up her children in the same views. 
 She urged, that such a service would 
 interfere with the attention that was 
 due to the concerns of her own 
 family. M. Pascal, dissatisfied with 
 such a plea, would reply, that "every 
 virtue has its proper measure and 
 suitable occasion, so that one duty 
 need not to exclude another ; and, 
 where the mind is heartily disposed, 
 attention to the poor may be prac- 
 tised without any prejudice to do- 
 mestic concerns." " This duty," 
 continued he, " does not require a 
 purticul.ir sign, whereby we may 
 know that we are called to it : it is 
 the general vocation of all Christians. 
 Jesus Christ has informed us, that 
 when he comes to judge the world, 
 he will particularly inquire after a 
 spirit of charily. Were we there- 
 fore seriously to consider, that he 
 
 time deprived of the comfort of 
 friends, unprovided with medicines to 
 sooth the agonies of pain, and even 
 destitute of the necessiiry food to sus- 
 tain a wretched existence. When 
 such a spectacle is exhibited, that 
 heart must indeed be an inhuman 
 one, that is not willing cheerfully to 
 resign trifling conveniences, and 
 useless embellishments, to alleviate 
 or dispel such complicated misery." 
 Discourses of this kind made so 
 great an impression upon the mind 
 of his sister, and some oilier friends, 
 that they would sometimes propose 
 the establishment of an institution, 
 so regulated, as to relieve the indi- 
 gent and distressed of every descrip- 
 tion. But schemes like this never 
 met wiih his ai^piobaiion. " Each 
 Christian," said he, '• is called upon 
 to perform this good work individu- 
 ally, and not to content himself in 
 co-operating with general plans of 
 relief. It will be a much better proof 
 of true charity, for each individual 
 lo assist the poor according to his 
 ability, however circumscribed that 
 ability may be, than to affect a more 
 public and diffusive beneficence. 
 The minds of men are often inflated 
 with lofty designs and magnificent 
 projects, which, under llie specious 
 appearances of charity and con)pas- 
 sion, conceal a base and unworthy 
 thirst of general admiration and po- 
 pular applause.'' Il was not the de- 
 sign of M. Pascal to censure the 
 
712 Life of Pascal. [Nov. 
 
 endowment of public hospitals ; but yond its true and legitimate si^nifi- 
 he used lo say, that "such splendid cation, may conduct to as palpable a 
 performances were chiefly designed dereliction of duty, and be as incon- 
 to be llie duty of certain persons, on sistent with pure and genuine piety, 
 whom God, in his wise providence, as a defective and inadequate enunci- 
 had bcsiowed elevation ol rank, and ation of it. There exi^us no neces- 
 affluence ot fortune : whereas the sary alliance between poverty and 
 most obvious vocation of the bulk of piety : ihe lenipiaiions, which beset 
 mankind, was to daily and more a state of want and misery, are not 
 humble exercises of charity." fewer, nor less iniperious in their 
 That our Saviour should conde- influence, than those which are in- 
 scend to appear as a poor man, in a cidcnt to the enjoy men', of a com- 
 low and mean condition, and choose petency ; and men are as liitle quali- 
 for his companions and friends, per- fled lo judge what may be the pro- 
 sons of uneducated minds and un- bable operadun of poverty on their 
 cultivated manners, may seem tocon- minds, as wiiat may be ihe result of 
 firm the soundness of the niaxims, opulence. The rule of duty seems 
 on ihe subject of voluiuary poverty, to be comprised in a ready and 
 adoi)ted by M. Pascal, and by soiue cheerful acquiescence with the Di- 
 olher pious persons of a diff'erent vine will, whatever may be our allot- 
 communion. It cannot be disputed, nient ; in s;udying to be contented 
 that a coiiformity with ihe spirit and and faitiiful in the condition of life 
 temper of such sentiments is incum- assigned us, not being elated wiih 
 bent upon all Christians; that we our advantages, not repiiiinif under 
 ought to be detached in heart and our privations ; and instead ot in- 
 affections from all the uncertain pos- dulging idle and whin-.sicai fancies, 
 sessions of this world, and be ready concerning the probable eHect of 
 to relinquish every object, however other circumstances, be studiously 
 dear and valuable, when God in his concerned to comply with our pre- 
 word or by his providences shall re- sent (jbligations, to '' fulfil as an hire- 
 quire it. There should be a holy ling our day," and " finish the woik 
 coldness and indifference towards which our L' rd and Master has 
 seBular advantages, an absence of given us lo ('o." Occasions m.ay, 
 taste and relish for them, as things doubtless, arise, on uhich a Ciuis- 
 in which we take no delight and lian may be called to make great 
 repose no confidence. But these and extraordinary sacrifices, and 
 maxims do not instruct us to abandon expose himself to vast inconvenience 
 the station and condition in which and difliculiy, for the sake of Christ, 
 we find ourselves placed ; to riispos- and the good of his fellow-crea- 
 sess ourselves of that which Divine lures: but let him wait for the 
 Providence has allotted lo us, aiid to occurrence of such peculiar exi- 
 reduce ourselves, literally, to a state gencii's, and not rashly anticipate 
 ol imligence and mendicity. There the siunmnns of his Divine Master, 
 would be no more sense and reason lest his offerings be rejc< ted with 
 in sucii an interjjretatiun, than if we this severe rebuke : " Who hath 
 Wire to extirpate an eye, or amputate required this at your hands?" It 
 a hand, because they might become is ioo well known to admit of con- 
 ihe instrumeias of sin. Great refine- troversy, that the making vows of 
 ment and extraoidinary measures in voluntary poverty, a practice high- 
 matters of religion are always to he ly encouraged and exlolh d by the 
 viewed with suspicion and diffidence; Romish church, hath been the 
 since an error of excess in violently source of notorious and scandalous 
 extending a Christian precept be- corruptions, enriching those who 
 
1815.J 
 
 Life of Pascal, 
 
 713 
 
 preteuded to impoverish themselves, 
 and pel vc: uiig tin ir mendicant pio- 
 fessioii into a system of cuvetousness 
 and rupjciiy. I'hese pious exira- 
 vagances, wnich outr;iti;e common 
 sense, and prove subversive of the 
 veiv purposes for wiiich tney were 
 seeminv;i3' adopted, arc jus'.ly cen- 
 sured aud rejected by the reformed 
 chuicnes. Yet il is very important, 
 while we restrain excebsesund prune 
 exuberances, that the root of ciiarity 
 su.m.d strike deeply into the heart, 
 ana ne assiduously cultivated there; 
 Ilia' it may couiiuuali) i^ailier strength, 
 multiply its br.inches, and expand 
 wan iiici easin^i . amplitude and beauty, 
 till, like the trees planted by the river 
 of Ills Water of life, its fruit and 
 foiiage being alike perennial, health 
 and gladness snail fix their residence 
 uiidci its refreshing sn..do\v. It was 
 id pcrtetl conformity with that spirit 
 of poverty wnich M. Pascal so ar- 
 dently chcriSiied, that he advised his 
 friends rather to employ workmen 
 who were poor and pious, than to 
 • prefer those of great celebrity in the 
 fashionable world. This tertiper of 
 mii.d is quite agreeable to the genius 
 of Chr.siianily,alth(iugh the practical 
 application of it may require some 
 limit and qualificauon, being sub- 
 jected to suiih restrictions as judg- 
 ment and prudence shall dictate ; yet 
 it ought not to be fastidiously decried, 
 and ditogelher renounced. The ex- 
 ercise of sound discretion is perfectly 
 compaiib e wi h the obligations of 
 charity : no man is bound to build a 
 house wahuut symmetry or conve- 
 nience, to purci)ar>e furniture coarse 
 and misshapen, to wear .ipparel 
 which is uneasy .>nd unsightly, that 
 he niay encourage an honest and 
 indigent artificer We shall seldom 
 be at a loss to find out other modes 
 of assis ing worthy .md industrious 
 persons, without necessarily combin- 
 ing perpetual mortification with our 
 humane exertions. A good man 
 ought, indeed, to be a considerate 
 man, not conducting himself by the 
 
 vague, uncertain suggesMons of hu- 
 mour, fancy, caprice, or iabhicn, and 
 where no remark.)ble di^parivy of 
 talents and acquireineius exists, that 
 charity, which is the distinguishing 
 character of a Christian, will naturally 
 pron)pt him to shew favour to those 
 who may enjoy less estimation in 
 the world than ihey deserve, on ac- 
 count of their regard for religion.* 
 
 When M. Pascal pleaded in be- 
 half of poor and honest artificers, he 
 never designed to countenance that 
 defect of reputation and consequent 
 distress, wiiich so justly ov rtake 
 idleness, in.ipplicatic^n. and thought- 
 less. indiscretion, i he mysteries of 
 Divine Providence are not, indeed, 
 to be measured by the scanty line of 
 human wisdom and foresight : God 
 is a Sovereign ; he acs " according 
 to tiie counsel of his own will," and 
 in his conduct towards individuals, 
 he may perplex their calculations, 
 and confound their most reasonable 
 expectations ; yet this is not his or- 
 dinary course of proceeding; nor 
 ought we, from a few exceptic'ns to 
 conclude, that the general laws, by 
 which material beings and intelli- 
 gent and moral agents are governed, 
 are vacillating and uncertain : they 
 still continue in full force, and ope- 
 rate with steaoiness and regularity. 
 Nothing can be more weak and un- 
 reasonable, than to interpret rare 
 instances of departure from an esta- 
 blished rule into a positive and habi- 
 tual abrogation of it. 
 
 * This is no uncommon case. Manv re- 
 spectable aiul worthypei'sons of anenlarged 
 and liberal turn of thinking-, and who pos- 
 sess much kindness and benignity of nature, 
 ofien hastily adopt unjust prejudices and 
 cherish secret aversions against men win '01 
 they wmjld Diherwise highly esteem ; and 
 they would, perhaps, be aba.^lied and con- 
 founded, if the true motives were disclosed 
 which prompt them to a dislike of such 
 characters, and which seduce thorn into u. 
 strange unfriendliness and harshness in their 
 transactions with persons of an elevated 
 but unbending' piety. 
 
714 
 
 Life of Pascal. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 In the general course of human 
 affairs, where talents and diligence 
 are not opposed, in the application 
 ot them, by the re-action of some 
 great controlling force, we may rea- 
 sonably, and with some confidence, 
 look for success. Hence men usual- 
 ly infer ability from a series of suc- 
 cessful enterprises ; and a competent 
 number of such observations form 
 the grounds of probable expectation, 
 in the several departments of study 
 and business. Some disproportion 
 must and will subsist between the 
 rewards obtained by different per- 
 sons, who may rank, nearly in the 
 same order : and a few men of merit 
 
 not to be assumed, that these mis- 
 taken persons are not to be compre- 
 hended among the proper objects of 
 bounty, when they are in want : but, 
 as such a course of conduct is equal- 
 ly at variance with reason and piety, 
 the benevolence which relieves their 
 necessities should also correct their 
 errors, and be careful not to suffer 
 torpor, sloth, and indiscretion to 
 screen themselves under the vene- 
 rable shade of a religious profession. 
 Men of good capacity and slender 
 application are always ready to con- 
 sole themselves, by attributing the 
 success of competitors, not gifted 
 with endowments superior to their 
 
 may be quite overlooked, and fail of own, to extrinsic and contingent 
 the encouragement justly due to 
 them. But a small number of ex- 
 ceptions, and those frequently ad- 
 milting of a satisfactory solution, do 
 not mvalidate the general position, 
 that capacity and assiduity will com- 
 monly engage the public confidence, 
 and secure a recompense. To deny 
 this, and ascribe all success to con- 
 tingences, or a fortuitous concur- 
 rence of favourable circumstances, 
 is to disunite cause and effect: it is 
 to falsify, or render nugatory, all the 
 maxims of civil and political econo- 
 my, founded on . observation and long 
 experience ; and by abolishing every 
 motive for diligence and exertion, to 
 subject tiie results of human actions 
 to blind hazard or inevitable fatality. 
 Unfortunate men, as they are fie- 
 *}ucntly called, are commonly im- 
 prudent men, deeply tainted wiih 
 idle and desultory habits, who, hav- 
 ing sacrificed their time, and mis- 
 employed their talents, on objects 
 foreign to their particular vocation, 
 affect surprise at the neglect they 
 experience, and the difficulties which 
 they are obliged to encounter ; and, 
 •when they give themselves the 'rou- 
 ble of reflecting, they are ready to 
 ascribe all their sufferings and dis- 
 honour, to some particular interpo- 
 sition of Divine Providence. It is 
 
 causes. These pretences exhibit a 
 dangerous specimen of self-delusion, 
 and deceive scarcely any but the 
 pitiable victims of such reprehen- 
 sible habits. Nothing can be more 
 unreasonable and inconsistent, than 
 to expect civil advantages without 
 competent attainments ; to suppose, 
 that a man, who dreams away the 
 best portion of his life, shall be esti- 
 mated by his capacity, rather than 
 his acquirements ; and that the 
 homage he claims to his transcendant 
 genius shall secure the rewards 
 which are justly conferred on labo- 
 rious application and successful 
 diligence. The qualities of an agent 
 are best shewn by his works ; and 
 where nothing but the potentiality 
 of becoming profound in learning, 
 skilful in science, or dexterous in 
 business can be adduced to justify 
 the demands of a claimant, he has 
 no right to complain, if the poten- 
 tiality of competence and respecta- 
 bility comprises the whole of his 
 gratification. 
 
 The generous and humane prin- 
 ciples, by which M. Pascal regu- 
 lated his eleemosynary distribu- 
 tions, claim our respect at least, 
 although our unqualified appro- 
 bation of their practical conse- 
 quences may be in some measure 
 
1815.] 
 
 On I Sam. xviii. 10, 11. and %ix. 9, 10. 
 
 715 
 
 withheld. To compassionate the 
 miseries, and liberally conlribute to 
 the relief of our poor distressed fel- 
 low creatures, are obligations which 
 no Christian can deny. What may 
 be the exact measure of duty incum- 
 bent on each individual, cannot be as- 
 signed ; but an error of excess is 
 always preferable to a neglect of cha- 
 rily. When with singleness of eye 
 and rcciitu'le of intention, we ac. 
 knowledge God in all our ways, he 
 has gracioubly promised to " direct 
 our pailis." 
 
 The following instance will illus- 
 trate the judgment and prudence, 
 with which M. Pascal conducted his 
 charitable exertions. As he was one 
 day returning from the church of St. 
 Suipice, about three months before 
 his death, a young und beautiful girl 
 from the country, about fifteen years 
 of age, applied to him for relief, 
 pleading great distress. He was 
 struck with the ditnger to which her 
 youth and her necessities exposed 
 her, and therefore inquired to what 
 cause she owed her present destitute 
 condition : she informed him, that 
 her father was dead, and her mother 
 was that day carried sick into the 
 Hotel Dieu. M. Pascal did not think 
 it sufficient to give her a little money, 
 and take no more notice of her ; but 
 he conducted her to a seminary, and 
 recommended her to the care of an 
 ecclesiastic, who was one of tlie di. 
 rectors of the house, giving him at 
 the same time a proper sum of 
 money, and earnestly requesting, tliat 
 she migiu be placed in some useful 
 way of life, where she would be pro- 
 tected from Wiuit, and sheltered from 
 temptation. The next day, he sent a 
 female friend with some clothes and 
 other necessaries, and, by proper at- 
 tention, the fiiendless orphan was 
 soon placed in a very respectable 
 service. He was so extremely averse 
 from ostentation, that it was with dif- 
 ficulty tiie priest obtained the name 
 of the author of this benevolent ac- 
 tion ; and even then, it was upon a 
 
 solemn promise, that he would not 
 divulge it during his life. Madame 
 Perier, his sister, to whom we are 
 indebted for the preservation of thil» 
 anecdote, has modestly suppressed 
 the share which she had in this lnu- 
 dable exertion of beneficence. 
 
 (To be coiitiiiueJ.) 
 
 To the Alitor of the Christian Obseryer, 
 
 I HAVE no apology to offer for troub- 
 ling you with this address, except 
 that it is of consequence that the sa- 
 cred volume of Scripture should be 
 right'iy uiiderstood and explained, 
 even in its less important parts, and 
 that, in the promotion of this object, 
 even the humblest efforts may nut be 
 wholly superfluous. 
 
 The passage on which I beg to 
 offer a few words, is the account of 
 the quarrel between Saul and Jona- 
 than, in the twentieth chapter of the 
 First Book of Samuel. Saul, it ivill 
 be remembered, had sought to slay 
 David, by smiting him to the \^ all 
 with his javelin ; and David had twuce 
 escaped his fury, whether on the saiti e 
 or on two different occasions, does 
 not appear.* David therefore absent- 
 ed himself from his place at the 
 king's table; and when Saul misscsd 
 him and inquired after him, Jonathan 
 (by previous concert with David^ 
 gave some explanation of his al>- 
 sence. Saul, perceiving his son*6. 
 policy, burst into a paroxysm of rage:^ 
 reviling Jonathan in the most oppro- 
 brious terms, and commanding him» 
 to fetch the son of Jesse immedi- 
 ately ; for he should surely die- 
 ♦' And Jonathan answered Saul his> 
 father, and said unto him. Wherefore' 
 shall he be slain ? What hath he 
 done ? And Saul cast a javelin at 
 him, to smite him : whereby Jona- 
 than knew that it was determined of 
 his father to slay David. So Jona- 
 
 • Ch. xviii. ver. 10, 11. and cli. »x. 
 ver. 9, 10, . 
 
/1 6 
 
 0?i 1 Sam. xviii. 10, 11. mzc? xix. 9, 10. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 than arose from the table in fierce 
 anger, and did cut no meat the second 
 day of the month : for he was griev- 
 ed for David, because his father had 
 tlone him shame.'' ver. 32 — 34. 
 
 The common way of understand- 
 ing; this passai^e appears from the 
 ordinary titic of the chapter; Saul, 
 mitsing Dax'id, seekft/i to kill Jona- 
 than. I do not mean to sr.y tliat this 
 is at all an improbable expianati)n: 
 but there is another which strikes 
 me as perhaps more natural. And 
 that on the following accounts: — 
 
 First, However unliallowfd the 
 ehsiracter of SouI, and hov/ever vio- 
 lent his fits of passion, the atrocity 
 of attempting his son's life far ex- 
 ceeds any thing else recorded of him. 
 His fury against David, though not 
 more justifiable, is at least more in- 
 telligible. 
 
 Secondly, The siightness with 
 wluch the circumstance of the jave- 
 lin is here stated, rather militates 
 against the received interpretation 
 than otherwise. Compare the pas- 
 sa3;e in question with the two ac- 
 counts before given of the endeavour 
 to assassinate David, and the diflfer- 
 ©nce is obvious. The two former 
 accounts give an entire transaction ; 
 the one under consideration merely 
 mentions that a javelin was thrown, 
 ivithout relating the event, or ex- 
 plaming how there came to be any 
 javelin ut all within reach at the time. 
 
 Thirdly, It is at least singular that 
 Saul should sit at meat with a javelin 
 in his hand, or so very near him as 
 not to allow time for the subsiding 
 of his resentment. 
 
 Fourtiily, By the throwing of the 
 javelin, Jonathan knew that his father 
 had determined to slay David. On 
 the supposition of its being thrown 
 at himself, this inference, though 
 traceable, was at least rather cir- 
 cuitous. 
 
 Fifthly, From the next verse it 
 appears that after the quarrel, Jona- 
 than arose frpm the table with deep 
 hut deliberate displeasure, being de- 
 
 termined to fast from grief on ac- 
 count of David. Tliis hardly seems 
 to harmonize with the idea of his 
 having started from his seat to save 
 his life ; whif.ti we must naturally 
 suppose him to have done, if his 
 father aimed a deadly weapon at him 
 across the table. 
 
 For these reasons, I am inclined 
 to suhmit another expKination as at 
 least probable. I would suggest that 
 no javelin was thrown at Jon .than ; 
 but that the verse, " A;id Suui cas. a 
 javelin at him to smite him ; whereby 
 Jonathan knew thjt it was determin- 
 ed of his father to si ty David, " must 
 be understood as a reference, which 
 the historian interjects, to the former 
 aitenpts against the life of David 
 himself. As if the translation had 
 run ilius : 
 
 ■"And Jonathan answered Saul his 
 father, and said unto liim, Wherefore 
 shall he be slain I What hath he 
 done? Now Saul had cast a javelin 
 at him, to smite him: whereby Jona- 
 than knew that it wis determined of 
 his father to slay David." That is, 
 Jonathan, recollecting the assassina- 
 tion before attempted, well knew that 
 the present threats of his father were 
 by no means empty words ; but, coup- 
 ling the present with the former 
 scene, became convinced that his 
 fatlier had really formed a deliberate 
 purpose of slaying David. 
 
 Such a repetition of an incident 
 formerly related, seems to me not 
 unlike the manner of the sacred his- 
 torian. And it will be observed that 
 the latest antecedent before the pro- 
 noun him (in the words " cast a jave- 
 lin at him") is the name David. 
 
 This view of the passage may have 
 occurred to some other person, though 
 I am not aware of it ; if indeed the 
 case be worth a dispute. However, I 
 could wish I had access to the coun- 
 sel of a Hebrew scholar. Possibly, 
 some one of your readers who is en- 
 titled to that appellation, will have 
 the goodness to tell me whether I am 
 wrong in supposing that the word 
 
1815.] 
 
 Family Sermons. — jYo. LXXXIII. On Mai iii. G. 
 
 rir 
 
 translated " cast" may whh equal 
 propriety be rendered "'had cast." 
 The Hebresv, I apprehend, has in 
 strictness no phipertec tense ; and, 
 if mere is bui one word for past time, 
 
 Maker, our Preserver, our Redeem- 
 er, our Master, and our Judj^e, — He 
 touches us, as it were, in so uiany 
 points, — He is so closely connected 
 with the immortal part of ournature, 
 
 that may as well stand for the past of — that not to know Him, is dcplo- 
 
 ihe past as (or the present of the past. 
 If this idea is just, and if the copula- 
 tive turned " and" (in the words 
 "And S*ml cast a javelin") ever has 
 the force of " now," I should sub- 
 mit that the probability is in favour 
 of the conjecture here offered. If 
 either or both these props fail me, 
 that probability, 1 must confess, is 
 proportionably reduced; though how 
 much, I will not pretend to deter- 
 mine. CRANTOR. 
 
 BAMILY SERMONS. No. LXXXIII. 
 
 Mai. iii. 6. — I am the Lord, I change 
 
 not. 
 
 It is of very serious consequence to 
 man, that he should make himself 
 acquainted with the character of 
 God. There are many things which 
 it does not greatly matter whether 
 we know or not. There are a thou- 
 sand curious parts of the creation, — 
 there are wonders in the heavens 
 above, and in the earth beneath, and 
 in the waters under the earth, — 
 
 rable ignorance indeed. I'or this is 
 a knowledge which mu^t produce 
 the greatest effect on our happiness, 
 not only in this world, but in that 
 which is to come. It is a knowledge 
 which will be found of unspeakable 
 value long ufier the heavens above, 
 and the earth beneath, and the waters 
 under the earth, shall have passed 
 away. It is, therefore, equally and 
 deeply important to all of us, whether 
 high or low, learned or unlearned. 
 For, whatever may be cur condition 
 in this life, we all stand equally in 
 need of life eternal ; and what is life 
 eternal, but to know the only true 
 God, and Jesus Christ whom he 
 hath sent ? 
 
 In order to improve ourselves in 
 this knowledge, it is useful to fix our 
 attention at times on particular quali- 
 ties of the Divine character. By care- 
 fully observing the different parts. we 
 shall become better acquainted with 
 the whole. And, while we are con- 
 sidering any one particular quality 
 of God's character, — if we really 
 
 which it is very well for persons of are in earnest, — if we faithfully fol- 
 
 leisure to search out and understand, 
 but which others may safely leave 
 unknown. I say nafdy^ — for these 
 are branches of learning that have 
 no connection with tliat everlasting 
 state to which we are all hastening. 
 The man who studies these things 
 the most, must yet leave his studies 
 behind him at last. Though he un- 
 derstands all mysteries and all know- 
 ledge, — though he penetrates the 
 secrets of the deep, and measures 
 the courses of the stars, — yet " he 
 shall carry nothing away with him 
 when he dieth ;" neither shall his 
 learning I'oUow him. But the know- 
 ledge of God is of a very different 
 
 low the guidance of Scripture, — 
 there will (by the Divine blessing) 
 be no danger of our forgetting oc 
 undervaluing His other qualities. 
 For the adorable perfections of GoJ 
 are so closely united together, — 
 they so admirably reflect light orj 
 each other, — that if, is impossible 
 fully or properly to study one, with- 
 out at the same time bestowing 
 attention on all. 
 
 The particular quality of God 
 which the text brings before us, and 
 on which it will be our present busi- 
 ness to reflect, is His tinchanging 
 iiciture. " I am the Lord, I change 
 not." Let us, on this subject, con- 
 
 kind. The Almighty Being stands sider, first, this quality itself; and 
 In such near relations to us, as our secondly, the effects which the cob* 
 Christ. Observ. No. lfi7, 4- Z ' 
 
TIB 
 
 Jf'aMiy Herinons — jYo. LXXXIII, On Mai. iil. €. 
 
 [Nov, 
 
 templalion of it ought to produce on 
 ouv lieavis. 
 
 I. And, first, let us consider this 
 qualiiy itself; that is, the unchange- 
 ableness of God. 
 
 \n this worId,every thing is change- 
 able. It lias pleased the Almighty 
 that even the most beautiful parts of 
 the visible creation should be full of 
 change. Days and seasons follow 
 and chase away each other. The 
 leaf dies; the grass withers; the 
 flower fades ; '-the mountain lailing 
 Cometh to nought, and the rock is 
 removed out of his place." Even 
 the whole frame of nature, great 
 and wonderful as it is. shall one day 
 be destroyed. The wind of Almighty 
 wrath shall pass over it ; and it is 
 gone But, while every thing that 
 >ve sec is thus fiail and varying, far 
 otherwise is it with Him who-'goeth 
 by Ub, and we see Him not." For 
 what say the royal P^alinist and the 
 holy Apostle ? '' Thou. Lord, in the 
 beginning, hast Kud the foundation 
 of the earth, atid the heavens are the 
 ■works of thine hands : they shall 
 perish ; but thou remainest ; and 
 they all shall wax old as doth a gar- 
 ment ; and as a vesture shalt thou 
 fold them up, and they shall be 
 changed ; but thou art the same, and 
 thy years shall not fail " 
 
 in this world, not only all that we 
 see is subject to change and uncer- 
 tainty, — but man himself who marks 
 and mourns those changes, is as 
 changeable as the rest. The objects 
 in which he takes delight, change : 
 his honours fade ; his pleasures 
 wither ; his riches make to them- 
 selves win;^s and flee away ; his kins- 
 folk fail, and his familiar friends 
 forget him. His body changes ; the 
 strengi-h of his youth is dried up; 
 his beauty consumes away ; and his 
 eye waxes dim by reason of sorrow 
 
 cissitude. he must undergo that great 
 and solemn change, when the desire 
 of his eyes shall vanish, and his body- 
 return to dust, and his soul appear 
 before God who gave it. Bui, while 
 man varies, God is the same. For 
 what says the Psalmist? " My days 
 are like a shadow that declineth ; 
 and I am withered like grass ; but 
 Thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever ; 
 and thy remembrance unto all gene- 
 rations." 
 
 Thus we see that, while the world 
 changes, and while man changes, 
 God IS perpetually the same. When, 
 therefore, the text says, " 1 am the 
 Lord, I change not," it is as if the 
 words were. '•'I arn the Lord, andyb?- 
 that reason I change nf)t.'* I an> the 
 Creator, and not the creature ; God, 
 and not man ; therefore I change 
 not. Beside me, there is none other; 
 all else is vanity of vanities ; the 
 world passeth away, and the lust 
 thereof; but I am supreme, self-ex- 
 istent, and eternal, and My counsel, 
 that shall stand. 
 
 If, then, God is unchangeable, we 
 must remember that all His Divine 
 perfections are unchangeable : His 
 l)ower, His wisdom, His holiness, 
 His goodness, change nut And this 
 is what the Scripture expressly tes- 
 tifies His power changes not: "Thy 
 throne, O God, is for ever and ever:" 
 " Thy kingdom is an everlasting' 
 kingdom, and Thy dominion endur- 
 eth throughout all generations." — 
 His wisdom changes not : " Why 
 sayesl thou, O Jacob, and speakest| 
 O Israel, My way is hid from the 
 Lord, and my judgment is passed 
 over from my God? Hast thou not 
 known, hast thou not heard, that the 
 everlasting God, the Lord, the Crea- 
 tor of the ends of the earth, faintetli 
 not, neither is weary ? There is no 
 searching of His understanding." — 
 
 His mind changes: the desires of His holiness changes not: The works 
 
 yesterday are not the desires of to- of His hands are verity andjudgment; 
 
 day ; the purposes of youth are aban- all His commandments are sure, 
 
 doned in age. And at last, alter a They stand fast forever and ever, and 
 
 ijfcw fleeting years et" vanity and vi- are done in truth and uprightness." 
 
i815.] 
 
 Family Sermotis — Ab. LXXXIJI. On Mai. iii. 6. 
 
 7Y9 
 
 Above all, His goodness and tender- 
 ness and nieicv, which are His la- 
 vouriie aiiributes, chanj^e not : »• O 
 give thanks unto the Lord; lor He 
 is good ; lor His mercy endureili lor 
 ever. O give iliaiiks unto the God 
 of gods ; tor His mercy en'lurelh for 
 ever." " As the mountains are round 
 about Jerusalem, so the Lord is 
 roiiiMl about His people from hence- 
 fonh even lor ever." " As for iiiciii, 
 his days are as grass ; as a flower of 
 the field, so he flourisheth : for the 
 wind passe' h over it, and it is gone; 
 and the place thereof shall know it 
 no more But the mercy of the 
 Lord is from everlasting lo everlast- 
 ing upon them that fear Him, and 
 His righteousness unto children's 
 children; to such as keep His cove- 
 nant, and to those that remember 
 His commandments to do tliein." 
 *' Lift up your eyes to tlie heavens, 
 and look upon the earth beneath : for 
 the heavens shall vanish away like 
 smoke, and the earth shall wax old 
 like a garnnent, and they that dwell 
 therein sliall die in like manner : 
 but My salvation shall be for ever, 
 and My righteousness shall not be 
 abolished." Indeed, it is worthy of 
 remark, that our text, in mentioning 
 the unchangeableness of God, seems 
 pecuiiarly to refer to His compas- 
 sion and long-suftering. For the 
 whole verse runs thus ; " I am the 
 Lord, I change not; therefore, ye sous 
 of Jacob, arc not consumed." That is, 
 ye are sinful and rebellious, and 
 merit nothing better than destruc- 
 tion ; but I spare you, because my 
 mercy entlureth for ever. 
 
 These declarations of unchan'^ing 
 rnercy are most gracious and encou- 
 raging. Without tiiese, the thought 
 that God is unchangeable, would 
 only distress and alanu us. There 
 is something so awful — so unlike 
 ourselves, — in the idea of a Being 
 placed far above all chance and 
 change and infirmity, a Being with 
 whom a thousand years are as one 
 <!ay,— -that we should be terrified by 
 
 the thougiit, if we weie not told that 
 the nercy of this great Bt ing was 
 as constant and enduring as His w is- 
 doni, His righteousness, and His 
 power. But there is somelliing else 
 to be observed, if we would take a 
 full view of ihis subject The Chi is- 
 lian dispensation teaches us lo study 
 and know, not merely the character 
 of God, but tlie characier of God in 
 Christ. As the perfections of the 
 Divine nature were peculiarly mani- 
 fested in our blessed Saviour, so in 
 Him we should peculiarly observe 
 and consider them. And it is in 
 Him that the unchani^ing mercy of 
 God shines forth with the greatest 
 lustre. It was His own gracious 
 promise to His sorrowing followers : 
 " Lo, 1 am with you alway, eve* 
 unifr-rtie end of the world.'' It is He 
 who is " Jesus Christ, the same yes- 
 terday, to-day, and for ever.'' It is 
 He who " hath an unchangeable 
 priesthood," being made " a Priest 
 for ever after the order of Melchise- 
 dec." It is He who " liveth and 
 was dead ; and, behold, He is alive 
 for ever more. Amen ; and hath the 
 keys of hell and of death." And the 
 Apostle Paul draws an inference 
 from this doctrine, which is highly 
 interesting; " Wherefore," (saitU 
 he, speaking of our Saviour,) " He 
 is able also to save them to the ut- 
 termost, that come unto God by 
 Him, seeing He ever liveth to make 
 intercession for them." 
 
 II. Having now considered what 
 we first proposed, — she unchangea- 
 bleness ofGocl in itself, — let us,intlie 
 second place, consider what effects 
 ought to be produced on our minds 
 by the contemplation of it. 
 
 And I begin with remarking that 
 this doctrine of God's unchangeable- 
 ne>*s gives unspeakable value to the 
 holy Scriptures. It is the whole end 
 and aim of the Scripures to reveal 
 God to man. They give us a de- 
 scription of the chai'acter of God, a 
 history of His nuides of proceeding, 
 and an account of His li\ws. Now, i? 
 
720 
 
 Family Sermons. — M. LXXXIII. On Mai. in. 6. 
 
 [Nov, 
 
 God were as changt-able as man, we 
 could ha\e no secure reliance on this 
 reveJadon. In that case, the book 
 of Scripiure might be true at one 
 lime, and not at another. It might 
 have been true when it was first 
 wrmen, aiid riot be true now Since 
 ihtil time, the character of God 
 might have altered ; since that time, 
 he might have changed his modes of 
 proceeding; since that time, he 
 mi.yht have framed a ntw set of laws. 
 This is u hat aciualiy iiappens among 
 men. There arc lew if any persons, 
 whose habits, or manners, or pnnci. 
 pies do not vary more or less at dif- 
 ferent periods of life ; nor is there 
 any government which does not 
 more or less alter its laws from time 
 lo time. And, in such cases, new 
 descriptions of character, and new 
 books of laws, beconie necessary. 
 But God is always the sanie ; and 
 therefore the Scriptures are always 
 sure. The New Testament has now 
 been written nearly eighteen hun- 
 dred years; and some parts of the 
 Old Testament three thousand. Yet 
 the Bibie is as laitlifui an account of 
 the Most High at this moment as at 
 first ; and it will remain so, if the 
 world should last even millions of 
 years longer. With what reverence, 
 then, should we receive that holy 
 volume I how attentively should we 
 study its doctrines ! how earnestly 
 should we attempt to catch its spirit I 
 how sincerely should we labour to 
 obey its precepts I and how fervently 
 should v.e impiote the Divine bless- 
 ing on our endeavours I 
 
 Let us, therefore, with this sacred 
 book in our hands, consider more 
 particularly wl)at efi'ect should be 
 produced on ourmind.> by reflecting 
 on the great truth rieliverrd in the 
 text, "I am the Lord, I change not." 
 And, Tortile more easy application 
 of the subject, let us inquire what 
 effect should be produced on three 
 difTerent classes of persons. 
 
 !. First, on the sinful ar.tl imneni- 
 
 tent. By the sintul and impenitent, 
 1 mean not only those who live in 
 gross sin or impit y, but those also 
 whose hearts are chiefiy set on the 
 things of this lite, aiid not on the 
 things of the iile to come. 
 
 And in what words shall I de- 
 scribe the folly anci danger oi such 
 persons I 1 say, their J'olly.t for, if 
 God be uncha ging? and every thing 
 else fickle, and fleeting, and delu- 
 sive, how exquisite UiUst be the folly 
 of seeking our chief good any where 
 but in Him I How exquisite must 
 be the folly of casimg ourselves, not 
 on the favour of Him who can give 
 steady and lasting happiness, but on 
 the wretched irienaship of things 
 that peiish in the usiiig I Yet, alas 1 
 how many of us act thus irrationally ! 
 — business, — pleasure, — -money, — 
 advancement in the world, — these 
 are our idols ; and Ood is forgot- 
 ten. These niiserable trifles. — which 
 will ceriainiy fail us in a lew years, 
 — which may possibly fail us this 
 very day. — these are our gods; and, 
 for the sake of these, we desert 
 Him, who, if we did but choose to 
 trust Him, would be " llie strength 
 of our hearts and our portion for 
 ever " If we saw a man building 
 his house on a quicksand, we should 
 be amazed at his stupidity ; but how 
 infinitely greater ihe infatuation of 
 an immortal creature who builds his 
 happiness on the passing, perish- 
 ing objects of lime and sense 1 O my 
 brethren, — the shilling sand. — the 
 unstable water, — the rushing wind. — 
 aflbrds an incomparably surer foun- 
 dation ior an edifice, ih<in this world 
 for the happiness of a never-dying 
 soul. Pass a few short years, — 
 pursue a lew more vanities, — trea- 
 sure up a few additional monuments 
 of folly — and how will you feel at 
 the conclusion of this wretched 
 game, wheri that voice, which will 
 one day awake the dead, proclaims 
 in your ears. Thou fool, this houp 
 sIk'.U thy soul he required of thee ?' 
 
IS 15.] 
 
 Faimly Sermons. — Ao. LXXXIII. On Mai. iii. 6. 
 
 721 
 
 And O thai even this were all 1 — 
 bui that Scripture by which we all are 
 alike to oe judL;cd, connuands me to 
 ado ihat iht loial dibapponunieni of 
 our hopes ib not to be ilie wlioie of 
 our awlul talc. If it were, our folly 
 (as 1 iicive said) would be exquisite 
 indeed ; but luai lolly rises lo lue 
 most perfect madness, wlien we con- 
 sider ihal, if we have not God for our 
 uncii.intjedble fnend, we must huve 
 hi.n for oui- unchan;^eai)lc enemy. 
 What a reflection ! and what lerrors 
 does it brea he to the ihuui^hiless 
 heari ! — me unchangeable enmity of 
 an Almignty Being 1 — me vengeance 
 of Him who '• chanijes not l""— To 
 have years pass, and ceniunes roll 
 away, and worlds sink in ruin, and 
 systems appear and disappear like 
 meieors, — uid siill to feel the una- 
 bated wraih of iliose eyes that con- 
 sume ihe soul ! O ye w lo spend your 
 invaluable liuie of probaiion in lyuig 
 vanities, once more, and in the pre- 
 sence of that unchank^eable God, who 
 douijtless marks even this feeijle at- 
 tempt to awaken you from your se- 
 curity, and who will produce it afi;ainst 
 you at ihe threat and solemn day, I 
 warn you lo flee from the wrath to 
 come. Once more 1 present you 
 with ilie offer of mercy and recon- 
 ciliation. And remember that, if God 
 is unchanginsjj, you must change, or 
 there is no hope of a reconciliation 
 with Him who is of purer eyes than 
 to beiiold iniquity, and who will by 
 no means clear the guilty. 
 
 2. In hopes that this solemn warn- 
 ing may not have been entirely lost, 
 I proceed, secondly, to apply our 
 subject to those who are seriously 
 alarmed about their everlasting safe- 
 ty ; but who, when they consider the 
 greatness of the sins they have com- 
 mitted, are apt lo fear that for them 
 there is no forgiveness. Far be it 
 from the preachers of the Gospel lo 
 speak a false peace to such persons I 
 He alone, who gave this wound can 
 effectually heal it. The only true 
 
 cure for such troubles is the pe-vce 
 of God. But, while 1 wouid ear- 
 nestly Warn you not to dissipate your 
 alarms by a return lo the careioss 
 life you formerly led, and while I 
 would exhort you lo keep near lo 
 God, und, by prayer and a dingcnt 
 perusal of ihe iioly Scriptures, to 
 seek the light of his coufuciiance.— - 
 while, 1 say, I would do ihs, I would 
 at me same linie beseeca yni not to 
 add to your offences by doubting tne 
 Divine goodness. You say that your 
 sins have been very grievous, ^nd 
 that you fear you hive transgressed 
 beyond pardon. But 1 vvuuld ask you 
 this question; were you, Ai this mo- 
 ment, with your bodily eyes tu see 
 your blessed Saviour extended on 
 His cross ; offering Himself a sacri- 
 fice for the sins of His enemies ; were 
 you to hear Him praying even for 
 His murderers, for taose daring and 
 presumptuaus sinners who, despising 
 all ihe glorious proofs of His Divine 
 Mission and Godhead, nailed Him to 
 the accursed tree ; — could you doubt 
 that His most precious blood was 
 able to wash away even your sins, 
 however heavy and numerous ? if you 
 could not doubt ibis, then reooliect 
 thai Jesus Christ is the same yester- 
 day, to-day, and for ever. "One day 
 is with the Lord as a thousand years, 
 and a thousand years as one dny.'' 
 The one oblation of Jesus Caristj 
 once offered, is al this moment as 
 effectual, and, if 1 may so say, as 
 visible in the eyes of the Father, as 
 at liie very hour when he cried, '• My 
 God, my God, why hast ihou for- 
 saken me V And, at this moment, 
 our adorable Redeemer ib as ready 
 lo receive into His favour ihe most 
 grievous transgressors, provided they 
 are truly contrite, as when He pray- 
 ed for His cruel murderers, or con- 
 verted Saul of Tarsus into a chosen 
 instrument of His grace. Doubt ye 
 not, therefore, but earnestly believe 
 that He will receive you also, hum- 
 bly and penitently drawing near to 
 
?22 Does the €hurch firay fdr the "Regeiieration of her Members? flCoV. 
 
 Him. "For a smalt moment have I 
 forsaken ihee ; but with great mer- 
 cies will I gather thee. In a little 
 wrath 1 hid my face from thee for a 
 moment; but with everlasting kind- 
 ness will I havt* mercy on thee, saith 
 the Loud, tliy Redeemer." 
 
 3. In the third and last place, let 
 me very shortly address those who 
 are really makmg religion — devo- 
 tional and practical religion — the 
 principal object of their lives, and who 
 hum^ily trust that, through the Divine 
 blessing, they are gradually increus- 
 in"" in all godliness and Christian 
 virtue. Such persons will find their 
 advantage in frequent meditation on 
 the unchangeableness of God. If 
 they are in affliction, or in distress of 
 mind, this will be their hope and 
 stay: they will reflect tliat, tho»U!;h 
 outward things alter, He in whom 
 they have laid up their chief hopes 
 remains the same : they will remem- 
 ber that, beyond the dark clouds 
 which for a time enclose them, tiiere 
 are unchanging sides and perpetual 
 sunshine. If, on the other hand, 
 they are prosperous, if they have 
 comfort without and peace within, 
 the recoiled ion of the unchangealjlc- 
 ness of God will not only increase 
 and aninv.ue t'ncir gri'.titudc, hut it 
 will prepare and fortify them against 
 future trials. By feeling the strength 
 «f their weapons in a season of quiet, 
 they will be made readier for a pos- 
 sible hour of conflict. 
 
 Let all Christians, therefore, trea- 
 sure up in their minds such merci- 
 ful declarations as these: — " Lo, I 
 am with you alway :" — "This God 
 is our God for ever; He will be our 
 guide even unto death :" — " The 
 Lord shall preserve thee froni all 
 evil : he shall preserve thy soul. The 
 Lord shall preserve thy going out 
 and thy coming in, from this lime 
 forth, and even for evermore:" — 
 « But Zion said, The Lord hath for- 
 saken me, and my Lord hatii forgot- 
 ten me. Can a woman forget her 
 sucking child, that she should not 
 
 have compassion on tiie son of her 
 womb ? Yea, they m«y forget, yet 
 will I not forget thee Behold, I 
 have graven thee on the palms of my 
 hands." 
 
 That we may all be enabled to 
 apply to ourselves these and other 
 siiviilap promises of Scriptwie, may- 
 God ot Hii infinite mercy i^rant, for 
 
 the sake of Je^us Christ our Lord 
 
 Now unto Hnn thai is abie to keep 
 us from fawnig, and to presein us 
 lauliless before the presence of His 
 gloiy wall exceeding joy, to the only 
 wise God oui S»iviour, be i^lory and 
 majes y, dominion and power, both 
 now and ever. Amen. 
 
 To the Editor of the Christian Obsetrer. 
 
 I HAVE been much interested by the 
 letter of X, in your number loi Sep- 
 tember (p. 585.) Your correspon- 
 dent proves with irresistible clear- 
 ness (for what can speak so clearly 
 as facts ?) that the Society for pro- 
 moting Christian Knowledge has at 
 one period published, as the genuine 
 doctrine of the Church of England, 
 what at another she reprobates as 
 palpably inconsistent with numerous 
 and unequivocal declarations of tliat 
 Church. My attention, however, has 
 less been attracted by the question 
 your correspondent agitates respect- 
 ing the Society itself, than by the 
 subject its authorized expositions of 
 which have been so contradictory. 
 It seems that, according to recent 
 publications by the Society, spiritual 
 regeneration uniformly accompanies 
 the regular administration of b^iptism 
 as prescribed by the Churcii ; that 
 the Church instructs her baptized 
 members to legard spiritual no less 
 than baptismal regeneration as a thing 
 past ; that she no where encourages 
 them to pr .y for it as future; and 
 that, in the Collect for Christmas-day, 
 which implores " that we, being re- 
 generate and made God's children 
 by adoption and grace, may daily jje 
 
43 15."] Does the Church /iraij Jbr the Regeneration of her Members ? fQS 
 
 renewed by his Holy Spirit," ihe pe- 
 lilion is purely lor daily lenovution, 
 and liie noiice of rei^ener aion, adop- 
 tion, and grace, wlioliy retrospective. 
 
 It is not my purpose to enter into 
 ihih question at l-irge; but, even ad- 
 mitting the propriety of the construc- 
 tion put on the Collect, I would sug- 
 gest the three followiiit; considera- 
 tions, as explanatory of the want or 
 infrequency of any diiect or formal 
 pedlion for regeneration in our litur- 
 gy and othei formularies: — 
 
 1. It was not natural that general 
 petitions for regeneration, petitions 
 (that is) in l)eiialf of the wiiole con- 
 greg ition, should be frequent in those 
 formularies A prayer for regene- 
 ration could not well be put up by 
 those who, from such evidences as 
 the Scriptures point out, might have 
 reason to believe that they had already 
 received tliat grace. Now, taking 
 regeneration in the view of Bishops 
 Bradford and Hopkins, yet the 
 Church might chaiitably presume, 
 that in every congregation, there 
 would at least be some persons of 
 this description ; and she would be 
 tender of introducing supplicatory 
 forms whicli such persons could not 
 adop'. One or two Collects of this 
 kind she might intersperse, but they 
 would not be fi equeiit. This, indeed, 
 must be imnnidiaiely admitted by the 
 advocates of tne Society's new opi- 
 nions on the sulijcct. Their own ar- 
 gument entirely proceeds on the 
 grouad that the regenerate cannot 
 properly pray for regeneration. They 
 contend that the Cliurch directs no 
 petitions for this blessing, because 
 she holds her congregations to be 
 partakers of it already. If this be 
 fair reasoning, it cannot be unreason- 
 able to contend, that the Church di- 
 rects but few general petitions for 
 the blessing, because she presumes 
 that at least some part of every con- 
 gregation has partaken it already. 
 The infrequency, therefore, of such 
 general petiti^Ds may fully be ex- 
 
 plained on this principle, without re- 
 sorting to the device of confounding 
 spiritual regeneration with the rege- 
 neration of water. 
 
 2 But, then, might there not have 
 been general petitions for individual 
 regeneration ? That is, might not the 
 congregation join in imploring this 
 grace for such of its members as 
 were still destitute of it ? 
 
 In answer to this question, I make 
 my second remark ; which is, that 
 our Church seldom particuKinses 
 in this manner. Hrr general incli- 
 nation, I think, is »ot to maik out 
 and specify individual crises in her 
 formularies. Indeed, it is well known, 
 that on the giound of this want of 
 specification, those formularies have 
 been censured by Dissenters. The 
 generality of the Confession, for ex- 
 ample, has been the frequent theme 
 of sectarian reproach. Innumerable 
 offences might be named, and innu- 
 merable cases of conscience imagin- 
 ed, which are no where mentioned 
 or alluded to in nur Prayer-book, — 
 to which no part of our ritual is pecu- 
 liarly appropriate, — for which no pro- 
 vision has been made in our forms of 
 devotion, beyond the general acknow- 
 ledgments of sin, and general solici- 
 tations for mercy. To come nearer 
 the present point, there is no prayer, 
 penitential or intercessory, for those 
 who have unworthily received the 
 sacrament of the eucharist. There 
 may be none, therefore, for a parallel 
 delinquency with respect to that of 
 baptism. 
 
 In staling this generality as rather 
 characteristic of our forms than other- 
 wise (and, be it observed, I do not 
 mean to make the statement at all in 
 an unlimited extent,) let it not be 
 supposed that I adopt the objections 
 which have on this ground been 
 urged by Dissenters. It is, on the 
 contrary, my conviction, that those 
 objections admit of very weighty and 
 very sufficient answers. Not only 
 so, bufc I believe that there are siren*. 
 
724 Does the Church pray for the Regeneration of her Members? |^Nov. 
 
 suljstantive advantages in that degree 
 of k^enefility which our fornns exhibit. 
 At prcbent, however, 1 nway be allow- 
 Cil to slate the fact, as bearing on the 
 question u<;der consideration. 
 
 But u riuiv be said that individual 
 cases I'lc, tor the most part, virtually, 
 though not specifically, provided for 
 in our Prayer-book ; that our general 
 confessions and supplications suffi- 
 ciently covi r all the private sorrows 
 and rtecfcssiiies of tiie worshippers. 
 I lully admit the allegation ; indeed, 
 this coiiSiiiutes^a main answer to the 
 sectarian objections already noticed ; 
 ard, f-trther, on this very groui d do 
 I iiirtke my third oiiservation, which, 
 I liust, niiiy be found conclusive. 
 
 3. 'i'he truth, 1 would suggest, is 
 that the case of baptized persons, 
 spiiitually unregeneratc, is most am- 
 ply provided f"r in many pans of our 
 proveri, where it is not the subjtci 
 of ciircct specifiration or allusion. It 
 ipuftt be \ery evident tlial both peni- 
 tential and supplicatory expressions 
 may easily be found, which shall 
 equally suit the regenerate person 
 who has fallen short of the excellence 
 at which he aims, and the sinner who 
 is not yet regenerated. The petition 
 "Create in me a clean heart," is one 
 of many obvious instances exactly in 
 point. Now such expressions abound 
 in our prayers ; and, if I am told that 
 such expressions cannot be consider- 
 ed as exclusively applicable to per- 
 sons desiring regeneration, I demand 
 in return why they must be consider- 
 ed as exclusively applicable to rege- 
 nerote persons desiring pardon. It 
 appears to me that the Church has, 
 with equal wisdom and felicity, pro- 
 vided for the deei)est feelings of per- 
 sons in both these situations, without 
 severing them from each other in 
 the performance of public worship. 
 Her forms are general, but they are 
 by no means vague or indeterminate. 
 In fact, what can be more proper 
 than that the visible church of Christ, 
 
 a mixed society, should concurrently 
 supplir.ite mercy for all her mem- 
 bers; should at once beseech grace 
 for the unconverted, giace lor the 
 imperfect, and grace for the fallen; 
 should jointly implore a simultane- 
 ous display of all the energies of the 
 Divine Spirit ? 
 
 Expressions, I have said, admit- 
 ting ot this double application, abound 
 in our Piayer-book ; and. if an in- 
 stance is required, it will not be far 
 to find. Take the very first address 
 to the Deity both in the Morning and 
 in the Evening Service ; that is, the 
 first sentence of the General Con- 
 fession. " Almighty and most mer- 
 ciful Tather, we have erred and stray- 
 ed from thy ways like lost sheep." 
 It must he obvious that these woids 
 are as appropriate in the mouth of 
 an unregenerate person, as of a true 
 Christian confessing his deficiencies. 
 Taking the metaphor of lost sheep 
 in its primary application, which was 
 to the sinful part of the hr.use of 
 Israel, yet even they required Chris- 
 tian regeneration on any hypothesis. 
 But it is notorious that the metaphor 
 is familiarly extended to the unrege- 
 nerate, or the Gentile part of man- 
 kind, those " other sheep which are 
 not of this fold." It is so ai)plied by 
 St. Peter (1 Pet. ii. 24, 25 ) and by 
 our Church, distinctly, though not 
 very directly, in the Collect for 
 Good- Friday, and more broadly in 
 the Second Part of the Homily en 
 the Misery of Man. And it is clear 
 that the words may as properly indir 
 cate the natural corruption "■ where- 
 by man is very fai' gone from origi- 
 nal righteousness,*' as the sinful pro- 
 pensities which " remain in them 
 that are regenerated." 
 
 Now, sir, it would be easy to 
 examine the Confession clause by 
 clause, and to shew that every sin- 
 gle part of it has that twofold ap- 
 plicability already mentioned. I de- 
 cline the detail, only because it 
 
1815.] Does (he Church pray for the Regeneration of her Members? 725 
 
 can be perused by every person for 
 him-ielt. 
 
 But, if another example is requir- 
 ed, I would refer to the very next 
 formulary, the Absolution. Will it 
 be denied that such phrases as, '' Al- 
 mis;hty God, who desireth not tiie 
 death of a sinner, but rather that he 
 may turn from his wickedness and 
 live ;'* and again, " he pardonelh all 
 them that truly repent and imjeigned- 
 lij believe Ins hcly Gospel;''^ have as 
 exquisite a propriety in an address 
 to repenting unregenerates, as in any 
 other possible adaptation ? It forms 
 no objection here that the Absolution 
 is declaredly restricted to the "peo- 
 ple'* of God. That expression ex- 
 cludes, 1 admit, persons without the 
 pale of the Church. But the present 
 question is, whether there may not 
 be unregenerate persons ivithin that 
 pale ; and to say there cannot, because 
 the unregenerate cannot, even in an 
 external sense, be the people of God, 
 is to beg the whole point in dispute. 
 
 Perhaps, however, it may be ob- 
 jected, that the expression, "Almigh- 
 ty God desireth not the death of a 
 sinner," is borrowed from the address 
 of the Most High to the Jewish 
 Church, and is by this derivation re- 
 stricted to sinners among the regene- 
 rate, it might, as before, be answer- 
 ed, that this derivation could only 
 restrict it to sinners among the people 
 of God ; which, as has been shewn, 
 can have no effect on ilie present 
 question. But, as a still more deci- 
 sive reply, I would refer the objector 
 to the third Collect for Good- Friday, 
 where a petition for the conversion 
 of Turks and Infidels is thus prefaced ; 
 « O merciful God, who hast made all 
 men, and hatest nothing that thou 
 hast oiade, nor voouldest the death of a 
 sinner, but rather that he tdiould be con' 
 verted and live — ." — This parallelism 
 surely places the applicability of the 
 Absolution to persons hitherto spiri- 
 tually unregenerate beyond all dis- 
 pute. 
 Cfarist. Observ. No. 1 67. 
 
 The instances I have given do 
 sufficiently, I should hope, illustrate 
 n»y meaning. And the Prayer-book, 
 abounds with such ; but the fear of 
 prolixity induces me to deny myself 
 muliiplied citation. I will therefore 
 content myself with making one addi- 
 tion to the examples already given. 
 That one is the Collect for the Cir- 
 cumcision ; which I transcribe : — 
 
 " Almighty God, who madest thy 
 blessed Son to be circumcised, and 
 obedient to the law, for man ; grant 
 us the true circumcision of the Spirit, 
 that, our hearts and all our members 
 being mortified from all worldly and 
 carnal lusts, we may in all things obey 
 thy blessed will : through the same 
 thy Son Jesus Christ our I^ord." 
 
 Now, sir, the analogy between the 
 institutions of circumcision and bap- 
 tism must be familiar to every reader. 
 And, as outward circumcision an- 
 swers to outward baptism, or the 
 washing of water, so the circumcision 
 of the Spirit unquestionably corres- 
 ponds with spiritual regeneration. 
 Were I, therefore, writing in the 
 spirit of a controversialist, I should 
 certainly be tempted to maintain 
 (what I think might be maintained 
 with very strong appearance of truth) 
 that the Collect just quoted is afiray- 
 er for regeneration, and can be nothing 
 else. Here is no scope for controver- 
 sies about prospective and retrospec- 
 tive. The petition is direct and un- 
 involved. Without going that length, 
 can any reasonable person doubt that 
 the Collect may fairly be tised as a 
 prayer for regeneration ? or that its 
 applicability in this manner, if not 
 directly intended, could not at least 
 but be distinctly perceived, by those 
 who placed it among the devotional 
 exercises of the Church ? 
 
 With regard to the Collect for 
 Christmas, I will not say much. The 
 warmest advocates for construing the 
 clause " we being regenerate" retro- 
 sficctively, must allow that it will at 
 least bear a prospective consirucuon. 
 5 A 
 
t26 Disastrous Fruits of the firevailing Rage for Craniology. [Nor. 
 
 I go farther. They must allow that that they have already obtaintd the 
 the prospective construction is very very deliverance for which ihey are 
 natural and easy. so fervently imploring. Is there a 
 
 If they mean to deny either of these critic in Christendom who would 
 assertions, — if they mean to contend, contend for such an interpretation of 
 either that the clause cannot be con- the passage I 
 
 strued prospectively, or tliat it can- Our forms furnish many other in- 
 not be so construed without harsh- stances of the same or a very similar 
 iiess, — I beg leave to submit to them structure of sentence, in which the 
 the following instances of exactly prospective sense is equally necessa- 
 parailel phraseology taken trom other ry or natural. It is indeed (speaking 
 parts of the Prayer-book, and to ask as on a dry point of syntax) always 
 whether these also are to be under- the more natural. To an unpreju- 
 stood retrospectively. diced apprehension, the Christmas 
 
 " Graciously hear us, — that ive^ thy Collect would (I doubt not) always 
 servants, being hurt by no persecutions^ appear, what it seems always to have 
 may evermore give thanks unto thee appeared to the Bartlett's Buildings' 
 — .'' Prayer against Persecution. Society before the present century, 
 
 " Grant that thy Church, being al- namely, a prayer for regeneration. At 
 "juay preserved from false apostles, may the same time, I admit that the words 
 be ordered and guided by faithful will also bear a retrospective, or (as 
 and true pastors—." Collect for St. I would rather call it) a conditional, 
 Matthiases Day. construction ; and that such a con- 
 
 " O send thy word of command to struction seems favoured by parallel 
 rebuke the raging winds and the roar- passages in the offices for Private and 
 in-g sea ; that xve, being delivered from Adult Baptism. My own inclination 
 /Ai's cfc\s;7'e5s, may live loservethee — ," certainly is to believe that the com- 
 Prayer to be used in Storms at Sea. posers of this prayer (in 1549) irtten- 
 
 Now if it be necessary to under- lionally used a somewhat indefinite 
 stand the Christmas Collect as speak- mode of expression, in order that the 
 ing of retrospective regeneration, it petition might suit different classes 
 must be necessary to understand of worshippers. But having already 
 these parallel passages as speaking illustrated this principle, I will not 
 of retrospective safety from persecu- now farther encroach on your pa- 
 tions, retrospective preservation from tience. Hereafter, should my leisure 
 false apostles, and retrospective deli- serve, I may perhaps venture to 
 verance from the raging wi.nds and trouble you with some additional re- 
 roaring sea. On that principle, in marks, with a view of more directly 
 the last of these prayers, which by shewing that our Church holds spi- 
 the supposition proceeds from men ritual regeneration to be separable 
 on the point of perishing, the peli- from the regeneration of water, 
 tiuners are made roundly to affirm ahala. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 To tbe E luoi- of ti4e ciii-isiiau Observer. ]efj. exclusively to the learned and 
 
 When singular and ingenious iheo. able. But no sooner is the novelty 
 
 ries in piiilosophy are proposed to announced, than, like sweets opened, 
 
 the world, it is very unfortunate that it attracts a swarm of buzzing triflers, 
 
 the examination of them cannot be who rush into the seductive element, 
 
1315.] Disastrous Fruits of the firevailivg Rage for Craniohgy. 727 
 
 drown themselves in its rich embrace, and intended me for the University; 
 
 and render it ever afterwards oflen- l)Ut a growintj family, and the times, 
 
 sive to all the rest of mankind. What- had nearly disqualified him, in point 
 
 ever the merits of any given system, of finances, for the execution of this 
 
 or of its authors, may be, the cause purpose, when I received from a 
 
 of truth is surely served by exposing rich uncle an invitation to a splendid 
 
 the folly of such shallow partisans. seat in one of the home counties, ac- 
 
 Every one has heard more or less comj)anied by a proflcr of patronage, 
 of the new system of Craniology, re- The proposing party was one of 
 cently imported into tiiis country, two brothers of my father's, boih 
 Of the system itself, I have little greatly his juniors, and to both of 
 knowledge, and still less capacity of whom he had once supplied a father's 
 judging. It may be right, or it may place. One of them, my volunteer- 
 be wrong, for what I know. Nor ing patron, entered into trade, and, 
 have I a prejudice or a prepossession by what the world is pleased to term 
 respecting it, except that the rude- some lucky hits, acquired a very 
 ness with which it has been attacked considerable fortune, opulent illite- 
 in our popular reviews naturally racy and vulgarity in the shape of a 
 tends to rally in its favour the feel- wife, a princely mansion in the coun- 
 ings of the impartial and ignorant; try, and, to crown all, a title. !Mean 
 and to that class of persons I belong, time, some part of his conduct to- 
 Nothing indeed can be more offen- wards my father was so offensive as 
 sive than the manners of our modern to cause a deep bieach between them : 
 critics. If the theory in question the great man chose to be irrecon- 
 be as absurd as they allege, this could cileable, and my father was so much 
 be shewn in calm language. And hurt that, for years, he could not 
 certainly, it is not shewn the better bear the mention even of his bro- 
 for violent imputations of ignorance, ther's name. He, however, still 
 fatuity, and fraud; which, as it seems bore towards him a fraternal heart; 
 to me, can produce no effect but to and when at length he received from 
 irritate instead of confuting the par- him overtures of friendship accom- 
 ties, and to disgust instead of con- panied by a tender of patronage, joy- 
 vincing the candid inquirer. fully closed with the former, though 
 
 So much for the theory and theo. much doubting the propriety of ac- 
 rists in question : — I neither applaud cepting the latter. I shall call this 
 nor condemn either. But, as for mighty man Sir Arthur. 
 some of their shallow, eager abettors, The other brother, whom I shall 
 read (alas I) this melancholy letter ! name Richard-, took orders, obtained 
 Indeed you will soon perceive that I by his merit a fellowship at the Uni- 
 have shewn some candotir in speak- versity, and afterwards a college liv- 
 ing neutrally of a system which has ing. He ever maintained, so far as 
 occasioned me (however innocently) distance would allow, a close inter- 
 so many evils. Hear, then, sir, the course with our family; and was, in 
 narrative of my woes, and, if you fact, the mediator of the present 
 think proper, record it for the benefit reconciliation between his brothers, 
 «f mankind. and the instigator of the proposal in 
 
 I am the eldest son of a laborious my favour, 
 
 clergyman, situate in a very remote I pass over tiie long negotiation 
 
 part of this United Kingdom. My that ensued, which at length ter- 
 
 fdther educated me for the Chtirch, minated in our acceptance of Sir 
 
738 Disastrous Fruits of t/i£ prevailing Rage for Craniology, [Nov. 
 
 Arthur*s offer. Neither will I re- 
 count the particulars of my journey 
 fronn my father's, which to my inex- 
 perience seemed an Iliad of adven- 
 tures ; nor detain you on the circum- 
 stances of my arrival at llie maf,nili- 
 cent mansion of my patron; of my 
 introduction to himself and his lady ; 
 of my surprise at the appearance 
 and the hurried yet self-complacent 
 manner of the former, so unlike my 
 father and other uncle ; or of my 
 deeper horror at the eternal war 
 waged by his obsequious partner 
 against all the cases, persons, moods, 
 tenses, and concords, I had ever 
 heard of. On my part, I was ex- 
 tremely confused and awkward ; 
 ^vhilemy uncle had an air of the most 
 provoking benignity. 
 
 The first thing that roused me to 
 any distinct feeling of personal iden- 
 tity, was a remark made by Sir Ar- 
 thur while we waited the anriuncia- 
 tioli of dinner. Speaking of my uncle 
 Richard, he said, " Poor Richard ! — 
 a good fellow, eh ? — But I'm surpris- 
 ed what made him think of going into 
 the church.^ — Not fit for it, not fit 
 for it at all. — Why, man, there's no 
 such thing as hofir, veneration, con- 
 scientiousness, or benevolence, in his 
 whole head. — No, not ever-a-one of 
 them. — " I had not time to recover 
 from the vague astonishment into like a gallery of whole-length por 
 
 sion, and, vvell knowing both parties, 
 conceived that his presence would 
 probably be advantageous in smooth- 
 ing the mutual approaches between 
 oddity and shyness. 
 
 My uncle Richard met me with 
 the most afi'cctionate cordiality ; and 
 I, on my part, was overjoyed at the 
 sight of one whom I love and vene- 
 rate as the exact duplicate (if! may 
 so say) of my father. Sir Arthur 
 welcomed his brother, not exactly 
 with affection, but with much impor- 
 tant kindness and much ill-dissem- 
 bled respect. And as for the lady, 
 she attempted to piay a similar part, 
 but succeeded siill worse, Tiie truth 
 is, she had felt the inconveniences of 
 a want of education, and could not 
 help reverencing a scholard, though 
 unadorned by a title, and unpossessed 
 of a shilling's worth in the three per 
 cents. 
 
 On our introduction into the din- 
 ner apartment, new forms of spltn- 
 dour struck my amazed eyes I was 
 oppressed by the magnificence of 
 the table, and cmbarras^-ud at the 
 number, figure, and solemuiiy of the 
 waiting-servants ; for 
 
 «• Head to foot 
 Now were they total gules — " 
 
 and they stood round us staring 
 
 which this speech had thrown me, 
 when my attention was diverted iVom 
 it by the unfolding of the door, and 
 the entrance of the very person llius 
 calumniated. 
 
 I know not whether mv uncle 
 Richard has benevolence in his 
 head: I am sure he has it in his 
 heart ; as, indeed, was now proved, 
 by his having rode from his parish 
 (thirty miles distant), with great in- 
 convenience to himself, for the pur- 
 pose of meeting me at Sir Arthur's. 
 However, it was not merely for the 
 pleasure of an interview ; but he was 
 anxious to superintend my debut at 
 T\iy titled uncle's. He thought mucii 
 
 traits. However, the dinner proved 
 most welcome, not merely as it 
 naturally would to a weary travel!- r, 
 but in two oilier very important 
 respects. First, it rid me of the 
 trouble of disposing of my hands ; 
 which appendages of my person I 
 had for the last half-hour found so 
 intolerably in the way that 1 really 
 thought them multiplied to six at 
 least. Secondly, it found equal 
 ensploymeiit for Sir Arthur's eyes, 
 which, for about the same space of 
 lime, had been fixed on my unfor- 
 tunate head, and with glances, now 
 direct, now transverse, now sta- 
 tionary, now vibratory, were inter. 
 
 might depend on the first impres- jeciing it in all directions. Hi* 
 
1815.] Disastrous Fruits of the firevailing Rage for Craniology. 
 
 729 
 
 looks had inconceivably disturbed 
 me, nor could I at al! divine their 
 object. However, 1 persuaded my- 
 self that he was studying my likeness 
 ID my father. 
 
 My uncle Richard soon made me 
 feel at home in more senses than 
 one : he asked particular questions 
 about my father, mother, each of my 
 brotheis and sisters, and afterwards 
 about various persons in the parish, 
 dilating on each, and intermixing 
 remarks of a jreneral nature. Sir 
 Arthur was very capable of attending 
 to more than one subject at a time ; 
 but the table afforded him such a 
 variety of them, as completely to 
 divide and subdivide his whole mind. 
 His converse, therefore, never wan- 
 dered from the matters in hand (I 
 mean those literally so) till towards 
 the close of the first course ; when, 
 hearing my uncle Richard talk of the 
 studies I had been pursuing with my 
 fallit", he abruptly asked what they 
 had been. 
 
 I answered the question pretty 
 minutely, and, on my completing 
 with Algebra (the last of my acquisi- 
 tions,) and then pausing — 1 must 
 own with the hope of a little compli- 
 ment—Sir Arthur said, "Well?" 
 
 " Well, sir," said I ; "that is all." 
 
 " All ? Then haven't you learned 
 the most valuable science in the 
 world — the head-science — eh V 
 
 " Why, sir," said I, " if you mean 
 (as I suppose) t/ieologij, I certainly 
 have not as yet studied it systemati- 
 cally ; but my father has always 
 taught me to attend to religion as the 
 chief business of my life." 
 
 A laugh with which Sir Arthur 
 heard the beginning of this reply, 
 was overcast, towards the conclu. 
 sion, with a certain look of awkward- 
 ness, which made it assume the 
 semblance of a cry. " Why, yes," 
 said he ; " right, very right ; — that's 
 what we should all do, certainly ; — 
 but, Richard, that was a capital pun 
 ef mine, eh ? — Science of headti-'^ 
 
 head-science^ — eh ? All accident ;— 
 but as good as if I had meant it, eh ?" 
 
 " Perhaps better," said my Lincle 
 Richard, smiling; and then, turning 
 to me, he said, " By the most valua- 
 ble science in the world. Sir Aiihur 
 does not mean what you conjeciuied, 
 but the science of heads, or Craniolo- 
 gy ; the science taught by Drs. Gall 
 and Spurzheim He hiniself has 
 been devoted to it lliese six monthr; 
 and his lady," added my uncle, rather 
 (as I thought) /i2ywa72^/z/, " is his very 
 humble convert and pupil " 
 
 " Ay, and a charming science 
 too," said the knight ; " do you 
 know it nephew, eh ?" 
 
 " Ye-e-es, — No, — not much of it, 
 sir," said 1 ; and here false shame pre- 
 vented my being completely honest, 
 for which I very justly suffered after- 
 wards, I ought to have confessed 
 that I had heard little nioie of this 
 science than the name. However, 
 the motive of Sir Arthur for recon- 
 noitring my head now flashed upon 
 me ; and O what fearful thrills past 
 through that head in every direction ! 
 I now began to guess also what was 
 meant by brother Richard's having 
 neither hope, veneration, conscien- 
 tiousness, nor benevolence, in his 
 whole head. 
 
 "Well, well," said Sir Arthur, 
 " we shall soon find out how much 
 you know of it. — But doesn't the old 
 parson study it, eh ?" 
 
 » My father, sir," answered I, and 
 the paternal blood ran a little hot in 
 my check at the irreverent appello- 
 tion used by Sir Arthur, "has too 
 many other calls on his time and at- 
 tention. He has a large parish and 
 a large family." 
 
 And now Sir Arthur paused a 
 moment ; and, leaning over to me 
 with a look of eager cunning, and 
 half-suppressing his voice, said, 
 " And how many organs are there, 
 my man, eh V 
 
 " Organs, sir ?" said I, rather em- 
 barrassed. 
 
739 
 
 Disastrous Fruits of the JifcvaiUng Rage for Craniologg. [Nov. 
 
 " Yes, organs, organs ; — why, man, 
 don't you know wi»at an organ is, eh?" 
 
 " Why, my father has sometimes 
 talked of persuading the vestry to 
 set on foot a subscription for an or- 
 gan ; but at present we have none. 
 The parish is very poor." 
 
 "Ha, ha," roared out Sir Arthur 
 — " caught ! fairly caught ! — Wi:y, 
 man, I meant the organs of the head ; 
 •—never was any thing better ;— -eh, 
 my dear ?'' 
 
 *' Upon my word, Sir Arthur, as 
 you say,'' answered her ladyship, 
 setting the tune of his bass laugh to 
 a pretty high treble. And both 
 laughed immoderately. 
 
 "Why, man," resumed his knight- 
 ship, " there are no fevver than thirty- 
 
 ''Upon my word, Sir Arthur, as 
 you say," replied the lady : " I'd lay 
 a crown as the poor dears is a-long- 
 ing to come." And a servant receiv- 
 ed some most ungrammatical direc- 
 tions to summon the young gentle- 
 men from above stairs. 
 
 " I not fond of children, sir !" ex- 
 claimed I. 
 
 " Eh now, you half think me a 
 magician now, don't you, eh ?" said 
 the knight, affecting coolness, while 
 he was twirling his watch-chain with 
 agitated pleasure. 
 
 " Why a magician ?" said my 
 uncle Richard, quietly : " for trans- 
 forming him into a brute ?" 
 
 " Come, I'll tell you how I dis- 
 covered it;" continued the pleased 
 
 three organs; — organs, I tell you, of knight, still to me and not noticing 
 
 the head ; such as benevolence^ firm- 
 ness^ caution, and plenty more be- 
 aides ; and, according as any of these 
 appears prominent on a man's head, 
 just so is his character. — What, not 
 know Craniology ! — Not know the 
 thirty-three organs 1 — Why, man, 
 this is being downright gothic ; — 
 
 his brother ; " your head shews you 
 
 have no philo-progeny." 
 
 " Discovered what ?" said I, in 
 
 amaze. 
 
 " Why, that you dislike children." 
 "Dislike them ? — Idoaton them !" 
 
 — and 1 spoke vehemently, for I 
 
 thought on my little brothers and 
 
 why, all the world are gone out of sisters, whom I had just left for the 
 their senses about all this ; and where first time. 
 
 can you have been, eh ?" 
 
 " In his senses, I suppose,'' said 
 my uncle Richard. 
 
 " And your father too," continued 
 the eager Sir Arthur, '' a parson and 
 a scholar ! and not study the thirty- 
 three organs 1" 
 
 "I suppose," said my uncle Rich- 
 ard, "he is content to study the 
 thirty-three Homilies." 
 
 The second course, now entering 
 in all its unsubstantial and transitory 
 glory, silenced all Sir Arthur's or- 
 gans (including his vocal ones) in a 
 moment ; and, for a lime, my uncle 
 Richard and I again talked a duet. 
 At length, on the approach of the 
 desert, our host, looking to his lady 
 with an aie of studied indifference 
 but real triumph, said, " My dear, 
 though my nephew here is not fond 
 ef children, I suppose the boys had 
 belter come in, eh ?" 
 
 " Doat on a fiddlestick !" said the 
 impatient Sir Arthur, his vanity and 
 pride mortified at once : " can't you 
 feel the back of your head, eh ? — The 
 back of your head says quite plainly 
 that you dislike children ; — can't you 
 feel it's quite flat, eh.^" 
 
 " It must be flat indeed,'' said I 
 warmly, " not to find out that I d(- 
 light in them.'' 
 
 " You don't delight in them, sir 1** 
 cried the knight, raising his voice. 
 
 " Indee(!,sir, I do !'' replied I, and 
 (I fear) in my turn a little loudly. 
 
 "You know you don't, you know 
 you don't," exclaimed he, enraged. 
 
 " 1 doat on them," said I, once 
 more. 
 
 '' You don't," cried he, now grown 
 furious : " you hate them, you 
 detest them, you abhor them — 
 you know you do — you would kill 
 them if you could. Richard, ring 
 
1815,3 Disastrous Fruits of the ^irevailing Rage for Craniology. 
 
 •731 
 
 ihe bell ; — I won't have my boys 
 brouijht in at all, while this senile- 
 man chooses to stay; — nay, I'll send 
 thein uut of the house this moment, 
 under a stronj^ guard, — that I will." 
 
 I had risen tluring this lust fulmi- 
 nation ; and as for Sir Arthur, he 
 was on liis feet before. And I was 
 jusi aliout to vent my scorn, when a 
 look fiom my uncle Richard silenced 
 me. " Arthur," Sdid he, turning to 
 his brother, and speaking with calm 
 severity, " were I to ring the bell at 
 all, it would be to order my horses, 
 that I might return home." The 
 fiery knight felt that he had acted 
 wrong, and (what was worse) had 
 exposed himself: and his lurking 
 rcbpect for his brother began to ope- 
 rate ; and, I dare say, a grateful re- 
 membrance of my father crossed his 
 mind : and he therefore stopped short, 
 in pitiable embarrassment, — looked 
 round for something to say, — then 
 began mumbling a phrase which I 
 afterwards found to be a very usual 
 refuge with him after dinner, viz. 
 that " the bottle stood." — " It cannot 
 help standing, while you do so," said 
 my uncle Richard : " come, sit you 
 both down, and let us talk this mat- 
 ter ovei." We obeyed, — but I will 
 noL lieKiy you with relating how the 
 gentleness and firmness of my uncle 
 gradually healed this breach, I was 
 ashaaied of myself, and resolved, for 
 the future, to take Sir Arthur's worst 
 flights en badinant. 
 
 Peace had been for some lime re- 
 stored, when the promised boys en- 
 tered. And here, whatever other 
 organs I may want, I confess I am 
 not without those of risibility : and 
 severely were tiiese put to the test 
 on the entrance of my little cousins, 
 whom I now beheld for tlie first time. 
 The cause was not in their persons, 
 but in what I may call their costume. 
 Tliey were three in number, extend- 
 ing upwards from about five years 
 old to nine. The eldest was crown- 
 ed with a sort of machine open at the 
 
 top, but covering that part of the 
 head just above the neck, to the 
 breadth of three or four inches, and 
 protruding large metallic flaps over 
 the temples, which had exactly the 
 appearance of a huge pair of blinkers. 
 The second, a boy of about seven, 
 was ornamented with a head-piece of 
 a precisely contrary kind, and resem- 
 bling nothing that I had ever seen 
 but the paper fool's-caps with which 
 boys arc sometimes decked at a vil- 
 lage-school. It pressed on the fore- 
 head and crown of the head, but left 
 the back and the region about the 
 temples perfectly bare. But this 
 pair of curiosities fell far short of the 
 third. The poor little fellow aclu.i 
 ally wore a close helmet, enveloping 
 his whole head with so terrific a 
 blackness that I every moment ex- 
 pected to see him close his visor and 
 set a lance in rest. 
 
 Sir Arthur, whose temper was 
 always as ready to explode, and as 
 quiet immediately after an explosion, 
 as gunpowder, had by this time quite 
 forgotten the late scene ; and the 
 sight of the boys entering, one after 
 the other, in shrouded majesty, threw 
 him into such spirits as made me 
 strongly suspect that they had on this 
 occasion found in him not only a 
 father but a hatter. Meantime, the 
 Blinkers walked up and took the sta- 
 tion of honour by her ladyship ; the 
 Helmet wandered into the vacancy 
 next to me ; and the Fool's cap, really 
 a very intelligent and pleasing look- 
 ing boy, occupied the post between 
 the Blinkers and my uncle Richard, 
 whom he evidently regarded with 
 great pariialiiy. 
 
 After what had past, I had resolved 
 to receive my young relatives wiili 
 peculiar kindness ; and I was now 
 too happy to compromise with my 
 muscles by relaxing them into pro- 
 fuse smiles of courtesy. The dc^ 
 gree of apparent sensation which, in 
 spite of my eff'orts, remained in my 
 countenance, answered verv well. 
 
733; Disastrous Fruits of the firevailing Rage for Craniology. [NoVi 
 
 lated to me the whole matter. He 
 informed me, that Sir Arthur had 
 thought proper to judge the charac- 
 ters of his children by studying their 
 respective heads ; that, having found 
 each possessed of peculiar and valu- 
 able qualities, he had determined to 
 assist nature in the development of 
 these endowments, partly by means 
 of an appropriate education, partly 
 by the head furniture I beheld, which 
 was so contrived as to leave the or- 
 gans of some particular faculties to 
 expand at pleasure, while those of 
 others should be proportionably re- 
 stricted ; and farther, that he had 
 given each boy a characteristic name, 
 indicative of that distinction which 
 they would all respectively attain in 
 their several departments. 
 
 '' That eldest boy's head, for in- 
 stance,'* pursued my uncle, " be. 
 speaks virtues which you will readily 
 guess from the nick-name which has 
 superseded his baptismal name of 
 Arthur. He is called Job; and I 
 fervently hope he may verify the title 
 only by his virtues and his prosperity. 
 
 " The upper-works of my little 
 fellow here denote, it seems, great 
 musical faculties. They proclaim 
 this by some appearance or other ; 
 but I really forget what it is call- 
 ed."— 
 
 '♦The tunc of organ " interrupted 
 her ladyship, simpering. 
 
 *' The organ of tune " said Sir Ar- 
 thur, snappishly. 
 
 " Well, tune of organ, or organ of 
 
 For Sir Arthur, greatly flattered by 
 it, as his tortured watch-chain but too 
 plainly experienced, said, " You arc 
 a little surprised, I believe, nephew — 
 eh?" 
 
 " I must confess I am,'' answered 
 I, smiling ; and 1 spoke truth, for the 
 sight of the three Cabadars could not 
 have astonished me more. 
 
 " Ha, ha," said he, " Gall and 
 Spurzheim for ever I — And yet it's 
 none of their inveaiion either, but all 
 my own. — Why, man, — but I must 
 begin with asking you to tell me the 
 names of these young fellows." 
 
 " I was just going to ask you to 
 tell mf," Sdid I. 
 
 "No, no; guess," said he, "can't 
 you ? What's the name of that little 
 buck there, eh ?" pointing to the 
 Fools-cap. 
 
 " I guess Richard" said 1 ; for 
 the likelihood of his being my uncle 
 Richard's god-son flashed on me. 
 
 " Won't do, won't do ; — a very 
 good guess too ; — but what's your 
 name, my little man, eh ?" address- 
 ing the boy. 
 
 The boy hesitated, — looked at his 
 uncle, — then at his father, — then at 
 me, — then again at his uncle, — and 
 at last timidly said, " Handel." 
 
 " Handel 1" exclaimed I, in 
 feet amaze. 
 
 " Who gave you this name ?" said 
 my uncle Richard placidly, yet grave- 
 ly and with meaning. 
 
 " Papa,'' said the boy. 
 
 "He did indeed, he did indeed," 
 oried the papa : '< it was all my own 
 doing — Gall and Spurzheim for ever ! 
 — but it was all my own doing for all 
 that, my dear, eh ?" casting his de- 
 lighted eyes towards her ladyship. 
 
 The lady was just commencing 
 with her usual proem of Upon 7?ty 
 word, Sir Arthur, as you say, when 
 my uncle Richard, perceiving my 
 surprise, and sensible that at least an 
 hour would elapse before I should 
 be able to make up an explanation of 
 tjhese wonders out of the broken 
 statements of Sir Arthur, shortly re- 
 
 per- 
 
 tune,*' proceeded my uncle, smiling, 
 " it matters not which ; but poor 
 little Richard (whom you justly sus- 
 pected of being my godson and 
 namesake) has been found guilty of 
 this same organ ; and the conse- 
 quence is that he is in a fair way of 
 being set to tune organs for life. The 
 best music-master in London comes 
 down three times a week, at a vast ex- 
 pense, to give him lessons : he has 
 been adorned with the iron crown you 
 see, in order to assist his musical 
 faculties; and I," continued ray uncle 
 
i 8 1 6. J Disastrous Fruits o/(/ie firevailing Rage for Craniologij, 
 
 too 
 
 Willi a smile, " have been cheated 
 oui of my clmrch-relationship to him, 
 in Older to make room for the mighty 
 musical name you have heard. 
 
 "• The last, who is ijour namesake, 
 has now been converted into no less 
 a personage than Jijiaminonclas. His 
 head discovers, it seems, the same 
 univeisaiity of talents and virtues 
 wnich adorned that celebrated charac- 
 ter. In other words, all its good and 
 great organs are developed cquilly ; 
 and, tiiat this organic symmetry may 
 be preserved, it is enveloped m the 
 terrors of tliat sable helmet which is 
 periodically to be changed for one of 
 larger size. By means of an equal 
 pressure over the whole surface, it 
 is ihoughtthatthe organs will be pre- 
 vented from aitempiing to overtop one 
 another. They will, as it were, march 
 forwards m line, or (to use a still more 
 military phrase) always Jrfss /o^efArr; 
 and thus be one day adequate to ef- 
 fect, if necessaiy, the deliverance of 
 their country." 
 
 My uncle Richard had hardly clos- 
 ed his statement, when Sir Arihur, 
 turning to me in an ecstasy, cried out, 
 <' G.dl and Spurzheim for ever 1— 
 Capual, — isn't it now, nephew, capi- 
 tal,— ch ? " 
 
 " It is literally so," answered I, 
 taking refuge (and I fear not very 
 honestly; in a poor pun. 
 
 '' It is indeed," resumed he, " and 
 what d'ye think I call iliese same 
 clever head-machines, eh ? — A dozen 
 of Madeira now for a guess — I call 
 them S/iurz/ieims. — A hard name, to 
 be sure, thi t German doctor's. — 
 And, when I put tiie machine on any 
 body's head, how d'ye think I say it, 
 eh ? — I call it S/iurzheiming them.'' 
 " Would it not be easier to call it 
 Galling them ?" said my uncle Rich- 
 ard. 
 
 " O brother Richard," cried the 
 knight, with a smile of superiority, 
 " you have no turn for these things, 
 with all your learning. — You have 
 no organ of casualiiy, nor yet of con- 
 atructiveneas. — Why, man, this is 
 nothing at all to what 1 can do.— 
 Christ. Observ. No. 167. 
 
 Come, it must out," (as if to him- 
 self) — '' Why, man, what d'ye think 
 now I'm composing night and morn- 
 ing in my own room, eh C' 
 
 •' Composing 1"' 
 
 "Yes, ycb, yes; composing — in- 
 venting — making, — night and morn- 
 ing, — eh V 
 
 " How should I guess ?'' said my 
 uncle Richard, smiling, " you know 
 I have no organs for these things." 
 
 " Why then, I'll tell you,'' rejoin- 
 ed the knight, with a look of such 
 importance as- if he had been in the 
 act of issuing out of the Trojan horse, 
 " — it's something a little in your 
 way ; — it's a vianxLal of self-examina- 
 tion .'" 
 
 " Indeed !'' cried his brother, but 
 with less emotion than I should have 
 expected ; " that may be a very use- 
 ful work." 
 
 " Useful ! — O capital, capital ! — 
 and I'm sure it will take, — eh ?" 
 
 " Take I Why, you don't think of 
 publishing it ?'' 
 
 " Ha, ha, poor Richard I — he's 
 always thinking of those musty 
 books I — Why, man, you don't think 
 it's a book I'm speaking of, eh ?-r«< 
 Why, it's a machine.''' 
 
 " A machine I — Is it possible ?" 
 
 " Possible I — ay, possible, and, 
 what's more, done and ready. — . 
 But I'll tell you how it is, man. — 
 You know, people's characters may 
 change every day, — and, when they 
 do, their organs are sure to change 
 too ; — so this is a machine which 
 you fit to your head with your hand, 
 — you understand me, — and it mea- 
 sures to a T liow much your organs 
 
 have altered since last time And 
 
 so this way you examine yourself. 
 You may use it, if you will, once 
 or twice a day. — And so I call it a 
 manual of self-examination. — Isn't it 
 most capital, eh ?" 
 
 My uncle Richard paused a mo- 
 ment, and then said, '' And do you 
 really conceive, Arthur, that, by 
 means of all this ingenious Crani- 
 ologv, you can turn one of our most 
 
 5 B 
 
734 Disastrous Fruits of the Jirevailing Ea^efor Craniology. [Nov. 
 
 important duties into a matter of appearance now made by Sir Arthur, 
 
 pure mechanism ?" enraged as he was, on the one hand, 
 
 " Can? — "cried Sir Arthur, not at the boy for discrediting his theory, 
 
 at al! taking his brother's meaning, and, on the other, alarmed lest harsh 
 
 ^^ Can ? — Ha, ha, poor Richard 1 — measures should only produce a still 
 
 Why, man, 1 have ; — why, it's all more marked exposure of it. But 
 
 done, ready cut and dried. My wife resentment and conciliation were 
 
 knows all about it, don't you, my alike in vain. In vain he spoke 
 
 dear, eh ? — And you think it charm- blandishments ; in vain he looked 
 
 ing, eh ?" daggers ; in vain, a fist, intended tor 
 
 " Upon my word, Sir Arthur, as the private eye of the rebel, peeped 
 
 you say," replied she ; " 1 think as from under the table. To every re- 
 
 that there mangle of examination's monstrance, " Be patient, Job !" no 
 
 the handiest thing as ever I see." other answer was returned than a 
 
 ''Pythagoras," observed my uncle roar of, " Job sba'n't be patieni ! he 
 
 Richard, '' is said to have enforced sha'n't !" till resentment masicred 
 
 the duty of self-examination on his fear, and the young gentleman was 
 
 scholars ; and he was a great mathe- ordered away to close confinement, 
 
 matical genius also ; but I do not and a deep but rather awkward 
 
 remember to have heard of his aid- silence ensued. 
 
 ing the perfortnance of this duty by And here, sir, it is time that your 
 
 machinery.'' And thus, beginning correspondent should be silent also. 
 
 on the lower key of philosophy, I have given you, I trust, a tolerably 
 
 that he might not alarm his hearers clear picture of my first day at my 
 
 at the outset, my uncle gradually proposed patron's. A week was 
 
 proceeded to more sacred topics ; passed very much in the same man- 
 
 and, while he avoided an immediate ner. It was a week, however, by no 
 
 collision with the self examining means barren of incidents. During 
 
 apparatus of Sir Arthur, gently in- the course of it, poor little Handel's 
 
 sinuated principles shewing the ex- musical instructer, a very respecta- 
 
 tent and obliguion of the duty which ble man, had the honesty and con- 
 
 his brother had in so gross a manner science to inform Sir Arthur that he 
 
 endeavoured to mechanize. must discontinue his attendances ; 
 
 Alas, he had not advanced far, as his pupil, though a model of iu- 
 
 when he was interrupted by the in- dustry and docility, had received 
 
 creasing animosity of acontest which from nature no means of discriminat- 
 
 had arisen between the eldest boy ing one sound from another, or 
 
 (Job) and his mother. Tlie boy, knowing the scraping of afiddle from 
 
 having already feasted on two large that of a shoe. A still more impor- 
 
 blices of pine apple, was greatly dis- tant revolution took place. The 
 
 posed to augment his slock by a impatient Master Job was, to the 
 
 third, and, witi) this view, made a universal satisfaction of the house, 
 
 dash at the only remaining one in sent off to school ; where I under- 
 
 the plate. The lady opposed, on the stand that, in ridicule of his name 
 
 ground that he would make himself and his temper, the poor boy hasever 
 
 ill. The one party still persisted; since been known by the appellation 
 
 the other still resisted ; till the deep- of Job's Wife. And, as for that para- 
 
 cning tumult drew the attention of gon of universal faculties, the Icdrn- 
 
 the whole table ; and we soon per- ed Theban, I am grieved to say, that 
 
 ceived that Job was conducting him- it now seems very doubtful whether 
 
 self in a way very little befitting his he will ever have any faculties at 
 
 name and character. all. 
 
 Jt is impossible to describe the But I had almost forgotten my 
 
1815.] Litany.— ^Review of Pamfihlets on the Dangers of the Church. 7S5 
 
 own fate. Sir Arthui^ satisfied that 
 I had no organs for the clerical pro- 
 fession, bui was born a great musi- 
 cian, procured for me, without my 
 concurrence, or even knowledge, the 
 place of chief musical teacher to a 
 great seminary. As I not only hiid 
 never learned a note of music, but 
 was naturally gifted pretty much like 
 my little friend Handel in this res- 
 pect, I thought it my duty to decline 
 the office ; and I was turned out of 
 Sir Arthur's doors on the following 
 moining. 
 
 Oiice more, sir, I disclaim any 
 hostility to the science of Craniology, 
 or iis authors: yet, after the compli- 
 cated wrongs it has wrought me, I 
 may surely without offence subscribe 
 myself anti gall-icus. 
 
 For t!ie Clu-istian Observer. 
 
 LITANY. 
 
 Saviovr, when in dust to thee 
 Low we bow th' adoring" knee, 
 W'len repentant to the skies 
 Scarce we lift our streaming eyes,- 
 O, by all thy pains and wo 
 Suffered once for man below. 
 
 Bending- from thy throne on high, 
 Hear our solemn litany ! 
 
 By tliy helpless infant years, 
 By lliy lite of want and tears, 
 By thy days of sore distress 
 In tlie savage wilderness, — 
 By the dread, pei'mitted hoin* 
 Of tU' insullins^ tempter's pow'r,— 
 Turn, () turn a piiying" eye, 
 Hear our solemn litany ! 
 
 By the sacred griefs that wept 
 O'er t!\e grave where Lazarus slept,' 
 By the boding tears that flow'd 
 Over Salem's lov'd abode, — 
 By the anguish'd sigh that told 
 Treachery lurk'd wuliin thy fold, — 
 From thy seat above the sky 
 Hear our solemn litany ! 
 
 By thine hour f)f dire despair, 
 By thine agony of pray'r, 
 By the crnss, the nail, the thorn. 
 Piercing spear, and torl'ring scorn,- 
 By the gloom that veil'd the skies 
 O'er the dreadful sacrifice, — 
 Listen to our humble cry. 
 Hear our solemn litany ! 
 
 By thy deep expiring groan. 
 By the sad sepulchral stone. 
 By the vault whose dark abode 
 Held in vain the rising God. — ■ 
 O from earth to heaven restor'dj 
 Mighty, re-ascended Lord, 
 Listen, listen to the cry 
 Of our solemn litany ! 
 
 REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 The Church in Danger : a Statement 
 of Che Cause, and the probable 
 Means of averting that Danger at' 
 tem/ited. In a Letter to the Earl 
 of Liver fiooL By Rev. Richaud 
 Yates, B. D. F. S. A. 8cc &c. 
 London: Rivingtons. 1815. Price 
 5s. 
 
 The Claims of the Established Church 
 considered as an Afiostolical Insti- 
 tution, and esfiecially as an author- 
 ized Interpreter of Holij Scrificure. 
 London: Rivingtons. 18 15. Price 
 3s. 6d. 
 
 ..f Letter to the Right Reverend the 
 Lord B'shofi of Lincoln, on the Sub- 
 ject of the Attack made by his Lord, 
 shi/i upon the British and Foreign 
 
 Bible Society, in his recent Charge 
 to his Clergy. By A Clerical 
 Membeii of the Society. Lon- 
 don : Baldwin and Co. 1815. 
 Price Is. 6d. 
 
 The reason which induces us to 
 crowd so much miscellaneous mat- 
 ter into a single article, although 
 of the important nature of that con- 
 tained in the above recent publica- 
 tions, may be easily guessed. The 
 srnallness of the limits which are al- 
 lotted for the reviewing department, 
 a certain preference for the doctri- 
 nal above the statistical discussions 
 connected with our venerable Esta- 
 bliijhment, together with the fre- 
 
736 Review of Pamjihleta on the Dangers of the (thiircb. [KoV. 
 
 quency of publications of the latter 
 description, and their cheap and free 
 circulation, are amongst the reasons 
 Avhich dissuade us from placing them 
 before bur readers in an abstracted 
 form, or, indeed, from any trequent 
 recurrence to their numerous sub- 
 jects of discussion. Not that we are 
 insensible either to the interests or 
 the dangers of the Church — its real 
 interests, or its real dangers — or that 
 we would neglect what appears to us 
 the best method for securing the one 
 and averting the other, It is under 
 a strong conviction of our duty in 
 this respect, that we have selected 
 for review the three publications 
 abovenamed, of which, perhaps, the 
 connection is more close than may 
 be at first conjectured ; and of which 
 it appears to us, that with much pro- 
 priety each might be inscribed with 
 the alarming motto of the first — the 
 
 CHURCH IN DANGER. 
 
 The first of tliese publications, 
 ■which to our minds conveys the idea 
 of the greatest danger of all, may, 
 perhaps, on that account be reserved 
 for our mention the last. For a simi- 
 lar reason the last, as containing the 
 slighter ground of alarm in our ap- 
 prehension, may properly come un- 
 der review the first. The second 
 involves a danger which may be just- 
 ly considered as having respect in- 
 termediately to all the others. 
 
 There seems tous in [)lain words to 
 be four principal dangers with which 
 the several friends of the Establish- 
 ment seem at this present moment, 
 according to their different views, 
 to consider it as surrounded; — the 
 two first resulting from the exis- 
 tence and active operations of the 
 British and Foreign Bible Society, — 
 the others from circumstances here- 
 after to be noticed. 
 
 *' Much has been said and written 
 on various occasions," begins the 
 very sensible Letter to the Bishop 
 of Lincoln on this subject, '• concern- 
 ing the tendency of the Bible Socie- 
 ty to injure and even ' :o ruin' the 
 
 Church of England. And I confess 
 that there are circumstances, and 
 circumstances to which certain per- 
 sons seem very desirous ol reducing 
 us, under which it has always ap- 
 peared to me that the Bible Society 
 might prove highly dangerous to 
 the Church." 
 
 It is evident that, according as 
 these sentences are turned, they may 
 be made to refer to two distinct dan- 
 gers resulting to the Establishment ; 
 one from the general suf-ilion given to 
 the Bible Society by all classes of 
 Christians ; the other fron. i he parti' 
 cular op/iosilion made to it by church- 
 men. 
 
 To begin with the first of these 
 dangers — It perhaps would not be 
 deemed justice to the opponents of 
 the Bible Society to rest the whole 
 weight of their argument for its dan- 
 ger to the Church upon the following 
 slender and unaiithorizecl* portion of 
 the bishop of Lincoln's late Charge 
 which has been so widely and indus- 
 triously circulated. " He considers 
 the constitution of the Bible Society 
 to be very dangerous to the establish- 
 ed religion, and to the orthodox 
 principles of those who attend its 
 meetings, as it admits members of 
 any cieed and of no creed;'' after 
 wiiich he alludes to " the real views 
 of many of its most active mem- 
 bers;'' and concludes it to be " as 
 absurd and unaccountable for those 
 who pray against false doctrinchere- 
 sy, and schism, to join in religious 
 associations with those who avow the 
 falsest doctrines, most notorious he- 
 resies, and most determined schism 
 as to see loyal Britons joining them- 
 selves, and furnishing arms to the 
 exciters of sedition, abettors of privy 
 conspiracy, and promoters of re- 
 bellion." 
 
 * If appears lliat Iiis lordship, for reasons 
 liest kiioun to l.imself, lias firmly resisted 
 .ill solicitations to give further publicity to 
 his Charge than wiiat it received from a 
 public delivery to his Clergy during the 
 last sunimer. 
 
1815.] Revievj of FamfMets on the Dangers of the Church. 
 
 737 
 
 To these dangers resulting to the 
 Establishment from the Bibie Socie- 
 ty, as supponecl by Churchmen, may 
 ,be joined also the danger of indiffe- 
 rence to tlie Liturgy, as alleged by 
 Dr, Marsh ; the lessening of the feel- 
 ings of conscious dignity in Church, 
 men, which forms jMr. Norris's 
 principal argii7)!e?it, together with the 
 increasing of the feelings of con- 
 scious dignity in Dissenters ; the 
 possibility of coming to discard all 
 ministerial instruction whatsoever, 
 accoramg to Mr. Nolan ; the ques- 
 tionable effect, according to Dr. 
 Maltby, of distributing generally the 
 whole Bible ; and the very common, 
 though undefinable notion of a conta- 
 gion arising from the association with 
 Dissenters for any religious purpose. 
 Should we add to these alleged dan- 
 gers one other of still more uncertain 
 complexion, but, we fear, not less 
 powerful influence with some persons 
 than all the rest ; we mean that of 
 an increased spirit of what is vulgar- 
 ly called JMeihodism through the 
 country ; we believe we should state 
 all the dangers to the Church which 
 either "fancy ever feigned or fear 
 conceived" in the operations of the 
 British and Foreign Bible Society. 
 Now as we profess on the present 
 occasion rather to state dangers than 
 to propose remedies for them, or 
 even to give a lengthened discussion 
 of their nature, we must be excused 
 for great brevity in our remarks on 
 this first class of dangers, which has 
 found such ample justice in the pages 
 of the learned controversialists above- 
 mentioned : and as far as we can 
 consider our own experience to be 
 any test of the real condition in which 
 the Church now finds herself placed 
 from these several causes of appre- 
 hension, we beg leave simply to 
 state, that the views of the great 
 mass of Dissenters who support the 
 Bible Society are not to overthrow 
 the Church, inasmuch as there seems 
 to be no platform ready to be esta- 
 blished in its room, while they are 
 
 also more widely separated from each 
 other than most of them from the 
 Establishment ; — that even were tiieir 
 views such as are alleged by the op- 
 ponents of the Bible Society, we see 
 little approximation to their accom- 
 plishment in the operations of that 
 Society; — that as to "clearing pa- 
 rishes of their ecclesiastical heads," 
 by establishing f/zs?r/c/s for Bible As- 
 sociations, it is to be considered that 
 those Associations are for the exclu- 
 sive purpose of contributing to the 
 general diffusion of the holy Scrip- 
 tures, whilst the office of inslruclioyi 
 happens to be left, by the very con- 
 stitution of the Society, to the same 
 hands in which it before was placed, 
 without the smallest interference on 
 its part : — that, moreover, our own 
 view of the necessity of the Test Act, 
 as well as of the excellence of our 
 invaluable Liturgy, Articles, and Ho- 
 milies, remains unaltered by the 
 circumstance of our having occasion- 
 ally been present at some of the 
 Bible meetings : — that, as far as we 
 can collect from what has passed at 
 such of those meetings as it has been 
 our good fortune to attend, we have 
 found the Established Clergy present 
 treated with marked respect by all 
 denominations of Christians ; while, 
 on the other hand, the unfeigned 
 charity and Christian condescension 
 manifested by the clerical members 
 of the society have seemed to recom- 
 mend their order, without degrading 
 it, in the eyes of their fellow-Protes- 
 tants : — that the contagion has uni- 
 formly appeared to us to have been 
 caught in the main by the Dissenters, 
 who, though sufficiently attached to 
 their own opinions, liave always 
 shewed a favour and inclination to- 
 wards the Established Church, in 
 their speeches, highly creditable to 
 both parties : — that, on general prin- 
 ciples, distributing the Bible by the 
 hands of a Dissenter has to us, who 
 regard the Church as standing on the 
 basis of Scripture, always appeared 
 so far different from furnishing the 
 
m 
 
 Review of Pam{ihlets on the Dangers of the Church. (]Nov. 
 
 pike or the bayonet to rebels and re- 
 volutionists, that it seemed to be giv- 
 ing the best antidote to the evil of 
 separation, and that whatever his 
 principles may be a man is at least in 
 a fairer way of having them rectified, 
 if he has a Bible, than if he is with- 
 out it ; — which leads to the final ob- 
 servation, that V/cre this otherwise, 
 and did the Bible in its naked form 
 really tend, as Rousseau would teach 
 us, lo disaffection, or to immorality, 
 rather than to peace, good order, and 
 good morals ; then the sword of the 
 civil magistrate ought to interfere, 
 rather than the episcopal charge; 
 and the police should be rather called 
 in to suppress so pestilent a publi- 
 cation, than Dr. Maltby, with all his 
 subscriptions, oaths, and declara- 
 tions about him, be called upon to 
 purge it. 
 
 If there seems to be something of 
 levity, we know not how, necessarily 
 attending the reply to some argu- 
 ments for the alleged dangers of the 
 Bible Society, we can assure our 
 readers it is far from being congenial 
 to our feelings on so important a sub- 
 ject: and most heartily do we wish 
 that controversialists on that side had 
 not so laid themselves open to attack, 
 as almost to invite that style of ridi- 
 cule in some of our public meetings 
 which they Hnd so disa'^rceable to 
 their feelings ; but which, it must be 
 added in fairness, is almost wholly to 
 be attributed to the quaintness, in- 
 consistency, and grave absurdity ob- 
 servable in too many of the attacks 
 made in print upon the Bible So- 
 ciety. 
 
 We feel disposed to add but one 
 niore general observation onthe prac- 
 tice of charging hostility to the 
 Esuiblishment on this Institution ; 
 and that is, that every great measure 
 of public utility, particularly of a re- 
 ligious nature, has been always liable 
 to a similar charge, beginning with 
 the accusation brought against the 
 Apostles themselves, of *' turning the 
 ■world u/iside doivn :" and, therefore} 
 
 that no such imputations ought now 
 to be made, without something like 
 proof, at least, to a moderate extent. 
 One or two individual instances of 
 the Bible Society being joined even 
 with a view to injure the Church, if 
 such a thing could he /irovedf would 
 no more establish the charge in ques- 
 tion, nor half so much, as one or two 
 individuals joining the Church from 
 motives of worldly policy, would 
 prove the whole clerical body to be 
 a selfish, unprincipled association of 
 knaves and cheats. Perhaps that 
 community of Christians which is 
 known to be the least disposed to 
 meddle in affairs of church or state, 
 and least desirous of an establish- 
 ment of its own, has been the most 
 energetic and persevering in its en- 
 deavours to promote the Bible So- 
 ciety. It would be invidious to state 
 who are the least energetic ; but it 
 is clearly not those who are the least 
 desirous of a change in the doctrines 
 of the Establishment, and even in 
 the authorized version of the Scrip- 
 tures. 
 
 We shall conclude this head by the 
 pointed remarks of the writer of the 
 " Letter." 
 
 " Will it be said, ♦ But the heretics and 
 Ecliismatics will gain access to the people 
 by going with the gift of a Bible in their 
 hands, and will thus find an adrantageous 
 opportunity of infusing their sentiments by, 
 at least, a verbal connmentary ?' I answer, 
 Would they not gain an equally favourable 
 hearing by going with the money, which a 
 Bible costs them, in their hands ? And, 
 in that case, the pernicious sentiments 
 which they might insinuate, would be un- 
 accompanied with tlie antidote which the 
 Bible, furnished in the other, must supply. 
 But how are we to prevent the dissemina- 
 tors of false doctrine from teaching men to 
 pervert the Scriptures ? Your lordsiiip, I 
 am sure, will not say that this is to be 
 done by withholding the Scriptures from 
 the people ; otherwise we should be revert- 
 ing to Popery at once ; but rather, surely, 
 it is to be accomplished by our increased 
 zeal and exertion in teaching them to un- 
 derstand the Scriptures aright, and in in- 
 culcating uponthem the necessity of uniting 
 with all their reading and hearing bumble 
 
1815,] Reviezv of Pavifihlets on the Dangers of the Church. 
 
 73> 
 
 prayti'to Him, who tcacheth 'the hearts 
 of nis faiihtul people,' and by whose 
 gul'.iiince alone we can hope to ♦ have a 
 T-.AiX. understanding in all things.' And 
 tlie B'bic; Society, it must be remembered, 
 limits us in no means viliatever of impress- 
 ing tlirse lessons upon the minds of our 
 people." p. 36. 
 
 But in entering on the second dan- 
 ger \.o which we think the Establish- 
 ment at this moment exposed, we 
 desire to speak with the utmost seri- 
 ousness when we declare it our hum- 
 ble opinion, that the ofifiosition made 
 by some of its members to the Bible 
 Society, is a circumstance fraught 
 with much real mischief to its best 
 interests. In this view of the case, 
 we are not backward to grant that the 
 existence of the British and Foreign 
 Bible Society may ultimately, though 
 innocently, render much injury to 
 the Church considered as an establish- 
 ment: and ihat^ just in proportion as 
 churchmen shall be found unwilling 
 to abide by the plain scriptural test 
 to which such an Institution imme- 
 diately brings them. It is totally 
 impossible but a very large mass of 
 really conscientious persons in the 
 Establishment, must favour the ex- 
 tensive distribution and translation of 
 that Book on which they deem their 
 own Establishment and their own 
 best hopes to be exclusively built. 
 Hence if other persons acting under 
 the influence of prejudice, or at least 
 of very refined and difficult argumen- 
 tation, though many of them also we 
 will allow, acting as tliey think con- 
 scientiously, should be induced to 
 take a contrary part, there munt ensue 
 mutual feelings that are neither de- 
 sirable nor safe in members of the 
 same religious community. The 
 fault will still be itself a mutter of 
 question : both parties actintj; consci- 
 entiously, neither will relinquish its 
 own view. And yet this diversity of 
 sentiment must be an unpleasant, nay 
 wc will add a prejudicial circum- 
 stance in the heart of an Establish- 
 ment; and therefore, though the 
 
 existence of the Bible Society itself 
 would have been no injury, yet t'le 
 ofijiosition made to it, by introduciuj^j 
 diversity of sentiment, cannot but oe 
 considered as affording ground for 
 the apprehension of danger. 
 
 Another danger arismg from this 
 opposition is the loss of public opi- 
 nion which must inevitably ensue, 
 when the members of an establish- 
 ment endeavour to bring the whole 
 weight of that establishment to bear 
 against a Society, pursuing the sin- 
 gle simple object of the unattended 
 distribution of the pure Word of 
 God. They will appear at least, after 
 all they can say, to be acting incon- 
 sistently with their own profession of 
 standing only on the Bible. Their 
 arguments cannot in the nature of 
 things be generally understood, und 
 will not be read. They will, when 
 read and understood, at least look 
 like Popery, and by multitudes of 
 plain readers hcmistaken for it. The 
 motive for their opposing the distri- 
 bution of the Bible will never be 
 thoroughly comprehended, at least 
 to their advantage. They will be 
 suspected of sinister motives ; per- 
 haps of uncharitable feelings ; and 
 certainly of the absence of a fiara- 
 mount regard to the spiritual wants of 
 hundreds of milligns of their fellow- 
 creatures, who daily rise from their 
 bed unvisited by the rays of that great 
 moral sun, to enlighten their spiritual 
 darkness. A loud firofeitsion of re- 
 gard for the wide dispersion of the 
 Sacred Volume, by those who are 
 forcibly opposing it, will be thought 
 insincere, and something like the 
 prayer of the emperor for the pope's 
 rescue, whom he was himself hold- 
 ing in captivity. The reiteration of 
 often-answered arguments, (certain- 
 ly to vulgarapprehension answered), 
 will look like Jesuitism, of which the 
 great principle is, continually to re- 
 peat with equal assurance what has 
 been continually confuted. Their 
 exultation at one or two ill-substan- 
 tiated facts of mismanagement in 
 
■74© 
 
 Review of Pamtihlets on the Dangers of the Church, 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 nearly the dozen first years of a new 
 society will seem unlike that "Chari- 
 ty, wnich thinkeih no evil, rejoiceth 
 not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the 
 truth" On these and many other 
 grounds, wiiich might be mentioned, 
 it is imfiossible but that an ill opinion 
 must attend the churchman's efforts 
 against the Bible Society : and that 
 ill opinion, widely disseminated 
 through the country, may doubtless 
 be productive of very serious conse- 
 quences. The view taken of this 
 danger m the ''Letter," is so good, 
 and so convincing, that we liave oo 
 hesitation in giving it at length. 
 
 " Suppose now, my lord, vv hile all other 
 denominations of Christians are zealously 
 Gonctirrinif in whit appears the obviously 
 good work of providing A Bible for eve- 
 ry MAN IN THE WORLD — SUppOSC the 
 
 people ot" England to see one body of Chris- 
 tians standing aloof — withdrawing to a sort 
 of sutely distance — refusing to take any 
 part in what is going forward — viewing its 
 progress witli lowering jealous looks — 
 giving vent, from time to time, to the 
 harsh feelings which stir within, against 
 the parties employed in llie work — and not 
 concealing their suspicions that all is meant 
 against them — that, while the glory of God 
 and the good of mai-kind are the pretext, 
 tiie subversion of their church is the real 
 object, or is likely, at least, to be the prac- 
 tical consequence Should the generous- 
 minded people of England, warmed and 
 animated as they are by the benefits they 
 have received, or are immediately antici- 
 pating from the Bible Society, have sucli 
 an ungracious spectacle as this set before 
 them, what, permit me to .ask, would be 
 tiie feelings with wliich they would view 
 it? Certainly they would be the very re- 
 verse of all those, with wliich I should wish 
 them to regard the first Christian institution 
 in the world If any Christian body is des- 
 tined to exhibit itself m this odious light, 
 m^y it be any body of Christians rather 
 than the Ciuirch of England! For though 
 I am little harassed with those fears, which 
 seem much to agitate certain minds con- 
 cerning the insecurity and instability of the 
 Established Church, yet, knowing tlie force 
 of popular opinion in this free country, I 
 confess I should have my apprehensions for 
 the consequences which might follow from 
 
 what, I trust, will never exist but as the 
 hypothesis of an argument, — the people be- 
 coming impressed with the idea, that the 
 church was indifferent to their best inte- 
 rest, viewed wiiatwas done for them with 
 jealous eyes, and, moreover, seemed to in- 
 dicate a distrust of the effect likely to be 
 produced by the diffusion of the pure and 
 unmixed word of God." pp. 5 — 7. 
 
 It would be difficult to state in a 
 short compass, the various other re- 
 marks which press for utterance in 
 our more extended consideration of 
 this important danger to the Estab- 
 lishment. On her estimation among 
 surrounding nations, our Letter- 
 writer properly observes, that at pre- 
 sent she takes the lead in their grati- 
 tude for the benefits of this invaluable 
 Society. 
 
 "But if your lordship should unhappily 
 prevail upon the Church of England (wliich 
 yet I fear not), to withdraw and take no 
 part in the proceedings of the Society, how 
 different an impression would be made ! 
 How would foreign Protestant Cliurches 
 blush to think, that their honoured sister of 
 England had, apparently at least, deserted 
 the good cause of tAe Bible in all hands, and 
 the Bible alone the repository of her religion ! 
 And how would all foreign nations, who are 
 now hailing the principle of this Society, 
 and rejoicing in the blessings which flow 
 from it, abate their reverence and affection 
 for the Church of England, should they 
 hear that she was the only Christian so- 
 ciety, who refused to take part in the 
 proceedings which gladden their hearts." 
 pp. 40, 4l. 
 
 To us we must own it appears no 
 small detriment accruing to the 
 Church, from the opposition to the 
 Bible Society, that it serves to dis- 
 countenance real seriousness in re- 
 ligion itself. The motive for this 
 opposition, we are persuaded, is 
 often as we have stated before, an 
 undefinable hatred to Methodism. 
 Now a hatred to Methodism, we are 
 fearful, is frequently nothing more / 
 than a disguised dislike of the Bible 
 itself, and of all true scriptural 
 piety. What a weapon, then, is fur- 
 
1815.] 
 
 Review of Pam/i/ilets on the Dangers of the Church- 
 
 741 
 
 nished to this dislike, when it can 
 be prosecuted under the mask of 
 oppusitir)n only lo the operations of 
 the Bible Suciciy. By tiiese means 
 all zcjI fur the truth, all disinterested 
 cniriiy of a religious nature, may be 
 vilified and scorned, and hooted oulof 
 Society. A man will be made asham- 
 ed If) conu-ibute to the support of re- 
 lit^ion, otherwise than as to the sup- 
 port of a party ; and instead of the pure 
 unsophisticated love of God and man, 
 which has been the ornament and 
 stay of the true Church in all ages, 
 we might be driven, by an irreligious 
 clamour, to seek an excuse for our 
 charitable efforts, by confining them 
 to the maintenance of the mere ex. 
 terior, the formalities of the state- 
 religion. What effect such a de- 
 terioration of the religious, and such 
 an enlargement of the secular, prin- 
 ciple, in this or in any establishment, 
 must tend to produce, we may leave 
 even to shuliow calculators to deter- 
 mine. Suffice it to say, it would be 
 such as our worst enemies could 
 wish ; such as would tend to reduce 
 us to the mere cafiiit mortuum of 
 popery — nay, of heathenism itself; 
 such, in fine, rts we might be assured, 
 would draw down upon us the frowns 
 of an Almighty Avenger. We trem- 
 ble when we reflect upon that spirit, 
 we trust as yet in embryo in the 
 Church, that cap look with indif- 
 ference on the stupendous efforts of 
 the Bible Society, and heartily wish 
 ihem, for some imagined fioUcical 
 goo !, sunk back into their original 
 nothiugness. We tremble when we 
 see the spirit of any controversialist 
 such that he would appear willing to 
 pron')unce a hearty '• Yes,'' for the 
 sake of a mistaken point of church 
 etiquette, to the following spirited 
 quesiions, quoted by our Letter- 
 writer from an eloquent speaker in 
 the cause : — 
 
 " Would you, then, tiiat all the fifteen 
 hundred tijousand copies of the Scriptures 
 which the Society has been the means of 
 distribufirig "' l'=nginj muUitudes, a great 
 
 Christ. Observ. No, 167. 
 
 part of whom might never otherwise Iiave 
 possessed a Bible, — that these shoidd all be 
 recalled, or that thej should never have 
 been issued ; Would you, that all the con- 
 sequences, eternally happy consequences, 
 which these books may be the blessed 
 means of producing, should be annihilated r 
 Would you, that all this homage and honour 
 to the word of God, which have accom- 
 panied the progress of the Society, through- 
 out so many countries, had never been paid ? 
 That all this zeal to communicate, and all 
 this eagerness, which has kept pace with it, 
 to receive ihe word of life, had never been 
 excited ? Would you cast back Russia, and 
 Sweden, and Prussia, and Germany, and 
 Holland, and America, and India, and all 
 the people speaking the fifiy-five different 
 languages and dialects, in which the Society 
 has dispersed the Scriptures, as well as our 
 own country, into the stale of comparative 
 torpor in which the Christian world had so 
 long slumbered with respect to this inter- 
 esting subject." pp. 37, 3S. 
 
 But we must take our leave of this 
 second danger of the Establishment, 
 and wit it of this very able corres- 
 pondent of the bishop of Lincoln ; 
 only apprizing our readers that he 
 has adorned his pages with many- 
 valuable extractsfrom Mr.Gisborne's 
 first-rate and masterly exposition of 
 the claims of the Bible Society in a 
 speech at the first Staffordshire 
 Auxiliary Bible Meeting ;* as well as 
 with the several c/i/sco/za/ testimonies 
 delivered in its favour ; amongst 
 which appears an important extract 
 from the prel''ace of the Bishop of St. 
 David's, to his last learned work, 
 " The Bible, and nothing but the 
 Bible, the Religion of the Church of 
 England." 
 
 Not so remote as may be imagined 
 from this subject, is the third danger 
 to which we now direct our readers' 
 attention, in turning 'o another work 
 at the head of this article, entitled, 
 '' The Claims of the Established 
 Church." From a negligent or a 
 distorted view of the Claims of the 
 Estaldished Church, we are free to 
 own our opinion, that much danger 
 has arisen, and continues to arise to 
 
 • See also the account of Mr. Gisborne's 
 recent Letter to the Bishop of Gloucester, 
 on this subject, in our last Nuraberj p. 695. 
 5 G 
 
742 
 
 Review of Famfihlets on the Dangers of the Church. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 it. " Nothing," says this important but fundamentals, and those funda- 
 
 little essay on church prmciples, 
 
 " Nothing has contributed so much to the 
 increase of" sciiism, and consequently of 
 heresy, as ihe ignorance wliich lias so gen- 
 erally pievailed respcciing the constiiulion 
 of tiie Christian Church ; and nothing, it is 
 conceived, would prove a more effectual 
 remedy for these evils, than to make that 
 constiiulion better imders,tood by ;iU classes 
 of the community." 
 
 The danger here, as in most cases, 
 arises IVoin two quarters ; from ex- 
 cess, and from defect. When we 
 see a writer, under the influence of 
 party spirit, exasperated whether by 
 youthful temerity or aged spleen, 
 write down and condemn all dissent 
 from the Ebiabiishment in the mass, 
 broadly staling all dissidence to be 
 schism, and schism, thus constituted, 
 to be a crime of equal magnitude 
 with adultery and murder; — when 
 no latitude of opinion, no tenderness 
 of conscience, no habits of education, 
 are allowedfor by a Protestant writing 
 against a brother Protestant ; — when 
 a firm believer in the Divinity of 
 Christ, resting his whole hope of sal- 
 vation on the blood of the Cross, and 
 leadings moral and sober life, is lett 
 to the " uncovenanied mercies of 
 God," because not admitting the full 
 rights of episcopal church-govern- 
 ment ; whilst another, adtniliing 
 them, though a loose and free liver, 
 and ignorant even of his own princi- 
 ples, is considered as comparatively 
 safe (we state fiossibilitits ;) — we 
 then say that here is a worse enemy 
 to the Church of England to the real 
 ends for which it was instituted, and 
 consequently to its vital existence 
 as a part of Christ's holy Catholic 
 Church, than any Dissenter what- 
 ever, whom he attacks, is to its ex- 
 istence as an Establishment. On 
 the other side, when we hear the 
 loo-fashionable latitudinarianism of 
 modern times ; — when we are told 
 that nothing is of any consequence 
 
 mentals limited to the least possible 
 number and definiteness ; — -when we 
 are all represented to be fellow- 
 Christians, meaning junt the same 
 thing ; — when no difference is pro- 
 fessed to be felt between Church and 
 Meeting, so that the Gosfiel is but 
 preached at both ; — nay, what is still 
 worse, wiien we see this very indif- 
 ference accompanied with an admis- 
 sion, and even strong assertion, at 
 another time, of church principles, 
 and of the peculiar claims of the 
 established ministry ; we then are 
 ready to thank God that we have so- 
 berer and better heads with authority 
 to rule in our apostolical church. 
 We are always greatly afraid of 
 mistaking indifference for charity ; 
 and, were it for no other reason, it 
 would be for this, that many persons, 
 who profess and really think them- 
 selves indifferent on many of the 
 great principles of church-govern* 
 •ment, would, if they were to examine 
 their own minds, or if circumstances 
 were to call them forth, discover a 
 deep-rooted aversion lurking within 
 to the existing order of things. We 
 consider a firm and sober-minded 
 preference, and a fearless avowal of 
 our own principles, essential to a safe 
 or scriptual exercise of Christian 
 charity. Nor do we less consider a 
 truly Christian humility, an unfeign- 
 ed active love for all mankind, to be, 
 essential to the wholesome main- 
 tenance or successful propagation 
 of our own peculiar tenets. With- 
 out this due admixture of counter- 
 active, but perfectly consistent, feel- 
 ings, we anticipate nothing but the 
 cant of liberality on the one side, 
 the fire of bigotry on the other. 
 Without it, we are prepared, accord- 
 ing to the accidental flow of corrupt 
 humours, for every opposite extrava- 
 gance of principle and practice. 
 Without it, one will be for perfect 
 identity, another for perfect hatred. 
 Each bide will stigmatize the other, 
 
1815.] 
 
 Review of Pamphlets on the Dangers of the Ghurch, 
 
 743 
 
 thouc;h on opposite principles, with 
 equil fierceness. Neither will be 
 able, in a due spirit, to ^ive to the 
 other the hand of Christian fellow- 
 ship ; and a Bible Society will be 
 hailed by the one, and deprecated by 
 the other, as if it were intended to 
 level all ranks and abolish all dis- 
 tinc'ions. We believe that, did each 
 party understand better their own 
 principles, no such effect would 
 either be expected or feared from 
 such an union. And not only on that 
 account, but for the general peace, 
 security, and stability of the Church, 
 we are forward to recommend to the 
 attention, perusal, and consideration 
 of our readers the distinct exposition 
 we have now under review of the 
 Claims of the Established Ciiurch. 
 
 It would not accord with the de- 
 sign of this article, nor would it be 
 possible in a little space, either to 
 give a complete outline of this im- 
 portant essay, or to state our own de- 
 finite opinion upon every point. Con- 
 sidering its avowed plan, it has struck 
 us that its title is rather inappropri- 
 ate ; the subject of the Essay not be- 
 int; the claims of the Established 
 Church, so much as of the Church; 
 the claims, not of the Church consi- 
 dered as an Establishment, but of the 
 Establishment considered as a Church. 
 Perhaps the latter description would 
 have afforded a more definite title to 
 the work, such as it is. We say, such 
 as it is — for we are not without our 
 doubts how far the claims of the Es. 
 tablishment are not, in the plan of the 
 work itself, too much merged in those 
 of the Church. And if we could wish 
 any addition to be made to its matter, 
 it would be certainly a distinct state- 
 ment of the respect which it has a 
 right to claim from the subjects of a 
 government wiiich has adopted it as 
 its own. On tlie contrary, says this 
 work. 
 
 *' Tiie law of the land leaves every one at 
 liberty to separate from its communion 
 without being subject to any kind of penaU 
 ty, censure, op reproach ; but considered 
 merely as a National Kstablisliment, as a 
 part of il>e Constitution, tliat Cluirch claims 
 only to be entitled to provision for its wor- 
 ship and its ministers, and to protection 
 against all otiier religious professions. This 
 is the extent of its engagement with the 
 civil magistrate; who on his part, in enter- 
 ing into such an engagement, has no otiier 
 object but to keep alive a sense of religion 
 with a view to die well-being of society. 
 Beyond this the pi-ovince of the civil magis- 
 trate does not extend. It i.s his duly to 
 support a religious establishment, in order 
 to pi-e.serve his people fi-om the fatal effects 
 of irreligion ; and in so doing he wdl of 
 course give tlie preference to his own re- 
 ligious persuasion, whicii he considers as 
 most consisieiU with the truth. But it is 
 also his duty to remember, and in this coun- 
 try he does remember, that religion is a 
 concern between God and the soul, in which 
 he is not made an arbiter ; and that it does 
 not belong to human authority to judge for 
 mat) in 'such matters,' or to restrain him 
 from worshipping G )d according to the 
 dictates of his own conscience." pp. 3, 4. 
 
 This perfect allowance of liberty 
 in the choice of our religion, unfet- 
 tered by any human laws or regula- 
 tions, is maintained almost from the 
 beginning to the end of the work : so 
 that it was with some surprise we 
 met in p. 126 with an incidental hint 
 of "the awful responsibility which 
 attends unjustifiable separation from 
 an Established Church.' None, ac- 
 cording to our claimant, can attach 
 to separation considered only in that 
 light ; a point which, indeed, his re- 
 marks in the preceding; pag? had 
 fully set forth, by still founding the 
 claims of the Church on her a/iosto- 
 //ca/ authority and personal character, 
 not her character considered as a 
 member and portion of tlie state. 
 And tliat it is only separation from 
 her in her apostolical capacity, which 
 is the object of his censure, we think 
 uill appear from a general perusal of 
 
744 
 
 Rcvienv of Famfihlets on the Dangers of the Church. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 the whole volume, no less than from 
 the following passage : — 
 
 "When therefore the Establislied Church 
 promulgates a rule of faith and worship, it 
 is to be remembered, that slie acts not in 
 her temporal and incidental character as 
 an establishment, but in her spiritual, ap- 
 propriate, and permanent character as a 
 church ; in which character she claims to 
 be a divinely appointed guide, duly autho- 
 rized by virtue of an apostolical commission, 
 to shew to the people of this land the way 
 of salvation. Surely it behoves those nuko 
 separate from her coJnvuaiion, to examine 
 luell the grounds on ivhich such a claim is 
 grounded. For if the church be really a Di- 
 vine Institution, separation from it cannot 
 fail to involve an awful responsibility." p. 6. 
 
 Now without entering at large on 
 this subject, may wc be permitted, in 
 consistency with our present cursory 
 view, to offer one or two short ob- 
 servations on this main principle of 
 "the Claims," as well as on some 
 collateral branches of reasoning in- 
 volved in it ? 
 
 We cannot help thinking, then, 
 though with no wish to incur the 
 charge of Eraslianisni, that the claims 
 of the Legislature, which are virtually 
 those of the community in the mat- 
 ter of religion, are greatly impugned, 
 if not wholly vacated, by this method 
 of reasoning. We think there is a 
 wide distinction between a church 
 deriving all its authority, and a church 
 deriving some part of its authority, 
 from the civil power. Whilst we 
 acknowledge an independent claim 
 to the highest respect on the part of 
 our own venerable and apostolical 
 church, we are yet unprepared to 
 say, that it would i)ossess an inde- 
 pendent and exclusive claim to obe- 
 dience should it cease to be enjoined, 
 should it be prohibited by law. The 
 very wciglit and importance inciden- 
 tally attached to it by our author, in 
 the passage above quoted, as an esta- 
 blishment, would naturally operate 
 in acontrary direction, should it cease 
 to be established. They would form 
 eoiiie reason against conformity to it. 
 
 It is possible that reason might be 
 final ; and this, even though some 
 preference were due in theory to the 
 non-established over the established 
 form of religion : provided only this 
 latter required no sinful terms of 
 communion, nor denied any funda- 
 mental article of faith. In our es- 
 timation, indeed, a long and obsti- 
 nate adherence to our own prefer- 
 ence, however well founded that pre- 
 ference might be, in opposition to 
 the will of the state, which in this 
 country at least must be the general 
 will, is of itself a great evil ; nor can 
 we think it fully justifiable, except 
 vrhere positive sin, or a positive de- 
 nial of the word of God is implied in 
 the contrary compliance. 
 
 We know very well that the ques- 
 tion of church government, like most 
 others, pushed up to the "ultima 
 ratio," is exceedingly intricate, and 
 leads to the tiiost embarrassing dis- 
 cussions. Concession is so very 
 hazardous on either side; that it is 
 difficult to find any writer on the sub- 
 ject, who does not, in his greediness 
 of safe principles, flagrantly contra- 
 dict himself in the course of his rea- 
 soning. It is far from our present 
 intention to lay down any definite 
 firincijile of our own upon it. But 
 having already suggested the danger 
 on both sides, whether arising from 
 an over-rigid assertion, or from a 
 lax and indifl'erent maintenance, of 
 church views ; and having further 
 stated our general opinion as to the 
 moderation and candour of "the 
 claims of the Established Church ;" 
 we cannot dismiss the subject with- 
 out two humble suggestions. 
 
 Our first is, that to make the 
 apostolical succession in the sacred 
 ministry a sine qua non of the true 
 church — in other words, an absolute 
 fundamental in the Covenant of 
 Grace — were in our minds to eva- 
 cuate the great fundamental of all, 
 which is faith in the Saviour ; and, 
 moreover, were to disunite any Pro- 
 
1815.] Review of Pamfihleta on the Dangers of the Church. 745 
 
 testant Church asserting it, from the 
 communion of almost all other Pro- 
 testant Churches in the world, and 
 closely to assimilate it to the Romish 
 communion. 
 
 Our second suggestion is, that to 
 make the Articles of Faith accepted 
 by any Christian Church, mere arti- 
 cles of peace, and to allow the utmost 
 latitude in the individual construc- 
 tion of them, so that they are only 
 not preached against, nor preached 
 u/1071, we.rc to eviscerate the whole 
 substance of such a church, and to 
 reduce it to the mere shell or lifeless 
 skeleton of a church — a convenient 
 free-thinking political establishment. 
 Neither of tlicse views, we are per- 
 suaded, are fairly within the range of 
 tne present " Claims of the Establish- 
 ed Churcli;" but a reference to some 
 particular passages will convince our 
 readers, that some approximation is 
 made by their author to the verge of 
 those hazardous positions ; and that it 
 is consequently our duly, as Christian 
 watchmen, to warn the community 
 of danger on that side, to every thing 
 we hold dear as Protestants and as 
 Christians. 
 
 We forbear to extract the passages 
 in question, and shall merely refer 
 our readers to pp. 13 and 14, 107 and 
 108, 1 1 1 and 1 12. 
 
 But after all the cries of danger 
 originated and re-echoed from every 
 quarter, how apt are the generality of 
 reformists and theorists to overlook 
 the most plain and palpable mischief 
 of all : more particularly if that mis- 
 chief shall seem to require but little 
 ingenuity to discover, and when dis- 
 covered shall point rather to simple 
 practical expedients for its removal, 
 than to loud and high sounding de- 
 clamation, without any good purpose 
 whatsoever I Such is eminently, we 
 believe, the state of the case with 
 regard to the fourth danger of the 
 Church, as it stands really demon- 
 strated in the very able, manly, and 
 temperate work of Mr. Yates, placed 
 al the head of this article. 
 
 The danger, it is true, is of a 
 purely mechanical, let us call it or- 
 ganic, but therefore mobt seiious, 
 nature ; and we think, might well 
 outweigh in importance every other 
 that can be produced. It arises from 
 such an enormous want of parish and 
 other episcopal churches in and about 
 the metropolis, as, with all our vast 
 conceptions of the same evil through 
 the whole country, we could never 
 have imagined to have existed to such 
 an extent in any community calling 
 itself Christian, and much less in the 
 very focus of Christian illuminuiion, 
 the metropolis of Great Britain. We 
 shall not detain our readers by car- 
 rying them through the ingenious 
 and comprehensive calculations with 
 which Mr, Yates has arrived at the 
 appalling conclusions, which his 
 work contains. We shall content our- 
 selves witli alluding to the principle 
 of his calculations, and their final re- 
 sult. 
 
 The principle on which he calcu- 
 lates the due proportion of churches 
 to inhabitants, is taken from an ex- 
 tensive survey of all the counties 
 within an hundred miles rourid Lon- 
 don. These includini^ the Crty of 
 London itself, taken together, yield a 
 general average of about 1 10 houses, 
 and 640 persons to one parish church. 
 Accordingly, Mr Yates assumes such 
 to be the due allotment of population 
 to parishes, each containing one 
 parish church, according to tl,e wise 
 and pious views of our forefathers 
 when such distribution was made. 
 This average, indeed, Mr. Yates 
 admits to be considerably less than is 
 absolutely necessary for the purposes 
 of parochial instruction : aijd he re- 
 commends, in cases of some small 
 neighbouring populations, the junc- 
 tion of parishes. Assumini^, how- 
 ever, this average as his guide, which ., 
 we think he should have exchanged, 
 as being defective, for an imaginary 
 one, more within the possibility of 
 present attainment, he proceeds to 
 consider the state of the several pa- 
 
746 
 
 Review of Pamfihlets on the Dangers of the Church. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 rishes, within eij^ht miles distance 
 from St. Paul's cathedral. These he 
 divides into two concentric circles, 
 an exterior and an interior one. The 
 more distant and exterior circle com- 
 prises 38 parishes, and the interior 
 one 55 ; none of them included in the 
 general county averape, and conse. 
 quently not including the parishes in 
 the City of London. He then pro- 
 ceeds to ^ive in gross and in detail 
 their entire population, together with 
 
 still more terrific, Mr. Yates has re- 
 course to his former County Ave- 
 rages ; according to which he is ena- 
 bled to state, that the whole number 
 of persons unaccommodated may be 
 considered as exceeding the entire 
 population of nine counties, which 
 he names, containing 1652 parish 
 churches. And the practical evil of 
 such a deficiency, he pomts out as 
 " equal not only to an infraction of 
 the Residence Acts in other parts of 
 
 the means of public worship under the kingdom, by 1650 non-resident 
 
 the Establishment possessed respec- 
 tively by each. The 93 churches at- 
 tached to these parishes he estimates 
 roughly, and somewhat largely, as 
 capable in the average of accommo- 
 dating 2000 persons each. And final- 
 ly, he assumcsthe numberaccommo- 
 
 incumbents, but to the still greater 
 evil of that number of parishes left 
 totally without any pastors, either 
 rector or curate, and by which several 
 hundred thousand supposed members 
 of the Church of England are left 
 without parochial communion, with- 
 
 dated in the several regular chapels out Divine service, without any bene- 
 
 in and round the metropolis,at 30,000. 
 From these principles he then 
 draws the following " results, in num- 
 bers so enormous, in probable conse- 
 quences so terrific, as perfectly to 
 appal the imagination." 1. That in 
 the exterior circle, containing 38 
 parishes and 181,882 inhabitants, only 
 59,000 per?ons are accommodated 
 with the means of public worship: 
 and in the interior circle, containing 
 55 parishes and 970,668 inhabitants, 
 only 110,000 persons receive the 
 same accommodation. 2. Conse- 
 quently that in the former circle 
 there remains a surplus of 122,882 
 persons, and, in the latter, the enor- 
 mous one of 860,668 persons, wholly 
 
 fit from our admirable liturgy ; with- 
 out any Gospel-instruction ; without 
 any sense of religion." " Such a 
 mine of heathenism," Mr. Yates pro- 
 perly and forcibly exclaii«s, in p. 51, 
 " and consequent profligacy and 
 danger, under the very meridian (as 
 it is supposed) of Christian illumi- 
 nation, and accumulated around the 
 very centre and heart of British 
 prosperity, liberty, and civilization, 
 cannot be contemplated without ter- 
 ror by any real and rational friend 
 of our established government, in 
 church and state: and is surely 
 sufficient to awaken the anxious 
 attention of every true patriot, 
 every enlightened statesman, every 
 
 unaccommodated with the means of sincere advocate of suffering humani- 
 
 public worship in regular parochial ty, and every intelligent and faithful 
 
 churches. Or, 3. That subtracting Christian." 
 
 the 30,000 assumed to be ?ccommo- Whether we take the parochial 
 
 datedin theseveral episcopal chapels, average at the stated number of 
 
 there remain nine hundred and 640 in the coimiy calculation, or 
 
 FIFTY-THREE THOUSAND wiihout the at an imaginary one of 2000 (the 
 
 possibility of partaking the advan- estimated contents of each parish 
 
 tages of parochial worship, and con- church, in and round the metro- 
 
 sequently without that regard and polls), which last makes the deficit 
 
 attachment to the Church of Eng- 
 land, which can only be formed by 
 a sense of benefits conferred and 
 received. 
 
 of parish churches on the whole, 
 about 477 within the two circles : 
 whether or not -we deduct the quan- 
 tum of population supposed to 
 
 To make this alarming statement quit the metropolis on the Sabbath 
 
1«15.] 
 
 Revinv of Painfihlets en the Dangers of the Church. 
 
 747 
 
 day, which, however, seldom quits 
 ihe limits of the exierior circle; or 
 whether, finally, we speculate on the 
 number inviitd and enabled to attend 
 the several dissenting places of wor- 
 ship within the same districts ; the 
 result will still indicate the urgent 
 necessity there is for the speedy con- 
 sideration of [his most enurmous evil, 
 and of the serious danc^er to llie best 
 interests of the Establishment, so long 
 as it shall remain unattended to. 
 
 Space does not remain for us to 
 interest the lovers of round numbers, 
 by specifyifig some of the t^ii^aniic 
 details contained in this work of Mr. 
 Yates, and wliich speak of parishes 
 containing upwards of 40,000, ♦ and 
 one 75,624t mhabi.ants. Neither can 
 we do more than allude {.o the hints 
 given of similar deficiencies in the 
 remoter parts of the kingdom, and 
 which we kiie'-M in divers instances to 
 be crying grievances. Much less 
 can wc now enter upon the various 
 important discussions to which the 
 consideration of remedies leads so 
 inquiring and thoughtful a mind as 
 that of Mr. Yates. We must satisfy 
 ourselves with stating his strong cen- 
 sure of the law of the land, as it at 
 present is supposed to stand, which 
 throws every difficulty in the way of 
 opening episcopal chapels, and af- 
 fords every faciTuy to dissenting esta- 
 blishments •.\ together with the gene- 
 
 • St. Pancras 46,300; Shoreditch 43,900; 
 St. G'rorge's, Hano»'er Squ.jre, 41,687; 
 Lambeth 41,644. The 7 parislies in Hol- 
 born division, contain together 21 j,647. 
 
 f St. Mary-le-bone. 
 
 \ The following; stattment of tlic case 
 as it stands, with respect to Biijjiuon, we 
 extract with many feelings of poignant 
 regret : — 
 
 "Brighton when a small fishing town 
 was furnisried with one church and one 
 minister. It is now increased to a resident 
 popidation of ttxetve thousand and tnxelve in- 
 habitants ; and the law still continues that 
 number in one parish, tnider the pastoral 
 
 ral basis of his remedial proposals, 
 viz. a re-division of the several over- 
 grown masses of population into prac- 
 ticable parishes, and a mciiily and 
 effectual investigation in Parliament 
 of the best means of raising funds for 
 the erection of competent churches, 
 and the endowment of a suit^ible 
 regular ministry for their supply. 
 This is accompanied with a minute 
 detail of the proceedings wliich took 
 place in the several reigns of Queen 
 Ann, George I. and George II. rela- 
 tive to the well-known plan for build- 
 ing 50 new churches, in and about 
 the metropolis ; followed with some 
 very judicious observations on the 
 very large and lamentable failure in 
 the execution of that plan. 
 
 We should not feel disposed, even 
 if we had time, to develop more o^ 
 Mr. Yates's valuable statements and 
 proposals, from the strong desire we 
 feel, that the woik itself should be 
 extensively possessed and most atten- 
 tively considered by our readers 
 themselves. The probable conse- 
 quences upon society, and the best 
 interests of our country, from letting 
 things remain as they are, appear 
 with a force in Mr. Yates's pages, 
 which we could not otherwise convey 
 than by transcribing his own words. 
 Full of the real and terrific dangers 
 
 care of one minister and the same one 
 church ; which upon the larijest computa- 
 tion cannot supply the benefit of tiie litur- 
 gical instruction of tiie Church of England 
 to more than 3.000, leaving a surplus-popu- 
 lation of 9,000 without parocliial commu- 
 nion with the Church of England — Such 
 instances may more properly be termed ex- 
 clusion rather than derectioi) from tlie Es- 
 tablished Church : They may account for 
 the increase of Methodism and Dissent, 
 but certainly cannot be assigned to the zeal 
 or the activity of Sec'aries. They arise 
 Solely from a disuse of the wise practice of 
 our ancestors. — The continuance of such a 
 system must indeed be highly injurious, 
 and may be ultimately fatal, to the Estab- 
 lished Church. It can only be remedied 
 by the legislators of the Elstabhshed Ciiurch 
 itself." 
 
748 
 
 Heviem of Pamjihlets on the Dangers of the Church. 
 
 [Nor. 
 
 accruing to the Establishment, both 
 in church and state, from the neces- 
 sary influx and increase of every evil 
 principle, where no means exist for 
 the culiivaMon of good ones, Mr. 
 Yates has neither time nor inclina- 
 tion for the lesser warfare against the 
 different modes of Chrisiianity, which 
 too many modern controversialists 
 make the whole of their own mode 
 of professing it. 
 
 ♦' It is not," he prope."!/ observes, " from 
 the most discreet friends, and greatest or- 
 naments of the CImrch of Enj^land — the 
 wisest men and the best informed divines ; 
 tiiat the reproachful epithets — Methodist, 
 Calvinlst, A.rminian, and Enthusiast, are so 
 frequently heard. Let us rather repel in- 
 temperate and unfounded charges, by the 
 superior excellence of our own principles, 
 the superior candour and charity of our de- 
 meanour." p. 102. 
 
 And in comparing the present 
 source of danger with certain others 
 to which we have alluded in this ar- 
 ticle, we are particularly ^lad to 
 quote the words of Mr. Yates, as 
 those of one certainly not prejudiced 
 in favour of the Institution to which 
 our two first heads had respect, if not 
 possessed of some degree of dises- 
 teem for its signal operations. 
 
 " The Associations formed of late years 
 fir the distribution of the Bible, have been 
 described as a probable cause of inju.''y and 
 danger to the Established Church. But 
 surely the only injury likely to result to the 
 Establisliment from the existence of these 
 societies, and the controversy to which 
 they have given rise, attaches equally to 
 both sides of the question. The theoreti- 
 cal fears, and ideal phantoms of dang'er 
 that appear to excite such serious alarm in 
 one cluss of literary antagonists ; — and the 
 extravagant anticipa'.ions and exaggerated 
 hopes of ilieir zealous opponents, — have 
 equally tended to divert the public atten- 
 tion fi'om the real source of danger, and of 
 consequence have led to the proposal of 
 palliative and insiinicient assistances, in- 
 stead of the only practical and efficient re- 
 medy — llepressing the exertions of these 
 societies cannot possibly preserve the 
 
 Church from the danger that impends 
 over it through the neglected ignorance, 
 the unawed profligacy, the gross intempe- 
 rance, and the habitual impiety of several 
 hundred thousands, who are considered to 
 be its members, and ought to be its sup- 
 porters and protectors.— So far otherwise, 
 that those who can be prevailed on to read 
 the Bible, must certainly be less dangerous 
 and less inveterate enemies, than those in 
 whom all the evil propensities of human 
 nature are suffered to retain their full influ- 
 ence, fostered and strengthened by habitual 
 and vicious indulgence ; who are left in 
 total ignorance of a God and a future state, 
 and who equally disregard all laws, human 
 or divine. 
 
 " Whatever danger may be supposed to 
 threaten the Established Church from giv- 
 ing the Bible without the Prayer-book, that 
 danger can only take its full effect from the 
 neglect and disuse of the Prayer-book, con- 
 sequent upon the neglect and disuse of the 
 public service of the Church. Those can- 
 not be expected to have much love and 
 reverence for the Prayer-book, when given 
 to them, who are denied the opportunity of 
 using it, and learning its excellence, in 
 public worship." pp. 91 — 9o. 
 
 To conclude — Whilst Mr. Yates's 
 pages breathe in every line the zea- 
 lous and unoffending spirit of a true 
 Ctiurch-of-England activity ; we can 
 do no better than earnestly express 
 our hope that such a spirit may be- 
 come more diffusely felt and acted 
 upon by the whole body of the En- 
 glish Clergy. Standing upon the 
 high vantage ground of their own su- 
 perior education, and the undoubted 
 and unrivalled favour of public opi- 
 nion wherever they conscientiously 
 discharge their duty : we have no 
 fears whatever for the Church they 
 represent, " set, as it may be, in the 
 midst of so many and great dangers ;" 
 whilst, impressed with a becoming 
 sense of the source whence these dan- 
 gers arise, they " walk worthy of the 
 vocation wherewith they are called." 
 We are bold to affirm, that no sound 
 apostolical church, like our own, 
 can ever fall by any other means 
 than by means of its own fault and 
 
1815.] Rex'ievj of Pamfihlets on the Dangers of (he Church. 749 
 
 the net^ligent or improper conduct kind; and displayed in cnli.a;htened 
 of Its appointed ministry. Every ex- piety, sound learning;, and active be- 
 clamatioii on its diiiigers, from what- nevolence." p. 125. In exact pro- 
 evcr quarter, is, to our ears, but a portion as this testimony shall be 
 satire on its own body; and with wlial found, on extensive observation, sub- 
 consistency, therefore, in our view, stantiaily true, do we firmly believe 
 its own ministers can reiterate that liic Cluirch of Eni^laiul to stand on a 
 cry, let our readers judge. Let only rock, that nothiny; can shake. There 
 the Church obtain the same legal is notliinLj unstable in the revelation 
 facilities with the Dissenters, and we slie unfolds: there is notliing un- 
 should not fear even the danger just- sound, we honestly believe, in her 
 ly apprehended by Mr. Yates, other- exposition of the code. If her disci- 
 wise tiian from the inactivity of the pline be relaxed, or rather be scarce- 
 Eitablishcd Clergy ; persuaded, as ly perceived to breathe beneath the 
 we are, that places would abundantly mass of nominal profession which she 
 spring up for the exercise of their embraces, let it be remembered, 
 ministry, wherever that ministry pro- that in a free country and a free reli- 
 mised its proper fruits. 'I'he throng- '^^ ion, the mistake as to her security 
 cd con{i;regations of some churchts nsigiu easily be on the side of too 
 abundantly confiini the muxini on much, rather than of too little exter. 
 one siile ; and would that the situa- nal severity. The thunders of her 
 tion of others did not fatally prove pulpit are to our cars at least as fear- 
 the converse! ful as the ban of Presbyterian excom- 
 
 In fine, not to acknowledge the munication. It is in the pulpit and 
 Church to be in danger, would be the cottage that her battle must be 
 not to fall in with a very popular cry, fought, and her cause either main- 
 or to lay ourselves open to the charge, tained or lost, by the personal cha- 
 perhaps, of sinister motives. On the racter and conduct of her ministers, 
 other hand, as the investigation of Let them know their own weight, 
 that danger, if any, with its causes, "magnify their own office," feel 
 must, even in our minds, ultimately their own responsibility, and exer- 
 bear hard upon the conduct of her cise with a zeal directed by know- 
 ministers, even under exii-ting dis- ledge, the power entrusted to them 
 advantages, it is plain we must by their God and their country, and 
 feel ourselves standing upon tender Ave are persuaded neither they nor 
 ground. But, indeed, " we are per- we have any thing to fear for the 
 suaded better things, and things Churcli of England. Let them, in 
 which accompany salvation." We short, display only, nu ostentatious 
 would not be " unrighteous to forget indeed, but a real and sound regard 
 the work of faiih and labtjur of love" to liie souls of men and their evcr- 
 which characterize so large a por- lasting interests, and we have no ap- 
 tion of the established ministry of prehension but their country will in 
 this country, both within and beyond return maintain their temporal in- 
 the limits of the metropolis. \Vc teresis and those of the cliurch to 
 believe, with the respectable Mr. which they belong. 
 Yates, that, guided by "a candid and Let them, above all, and we leave 
 liberal spirit of examination, we it as the last accent of our warning 
 shall find no class of the community, voice in these certainly critical times, 
 equally numerous, to produce a abstain even from the appearance of 
 more excellent standard and charac- indifference or distrust in their re- 
 ter than the Clergy of the Church of gards towards the sacred volume. 
 England ; founded on a serious and The crisis is fast approaching, per- 
 conscieniious regard to the honour haps " now is," v/hen the religion of 
 of God and the best interests of man- the Bible, "that shall stand.'.' An 
 Christ. Observ. Xo. 167. 5 D 
 
750 
 
 licvie^iU of Walter Scott's Field of Waterloo. 
 
 [Nov, 
 
 appeal lo the Bible has always 
 pruved itself a most powerful, if not 
 iirebibiible weapon, whether of at- 
 tack or defence : and if but, in idea, 
 liie ministers of our Churc!) siiould 
 nun over liie free and unfettered use 
 of ihot "Sword of the Spirit'' to 
 their supposed opponents, we not 
 only fear, but confitlently foreiel, the 
 worst consequences lo their own 
 profession. The sword must nei- 
 ther be rashlv inutiialcd, nor unskil- 
 fully encumbered, nor limidly wield- 
 ed, that is tflfeciuully to maintain the 
 cause of Christianity or of the true 
 Church. The discovery of fear in 
 their champions will be fatal. Much 
 more will a pretended zeal for the 
 honour of God's word, used as a 
 clonk to real indifference and averse- 
 ness to its circulation, be at once (lis. 
 covered and condemned. " That 
 wiiich is spoken in the ear," let 
 them be assured, '' will be proclaim- 
 ed on the house-top" No claims of 
 tlie Establisl)ed Churcli will be ad- 
 mitiei! to supersede the claims of 
 that 13ook on wiiich it is exclusively 
 built. No purify in its liturgy, how- 
 ever unrivalled or unbiemisiied, will 
 be received as a substitute, much 
 less a corrective and only as a subor- 
 dinate help meet, for the Divine In- 
 structer, whose voice it echoes. 
 The rock will be adm.itted as neither 
 moie nor less stable for the buildin:^ 
 erected upon it. If they can be 
 brouglit into mutual collision, it will 
 easily lie foreseen which must fall. 
 Thins^s human against thitigs divine 
 will prove, at best, a senseless strui^- 
 gle. "Whosoever shall stumble on 
 that stone, shall be broken ; but on 
 whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind 
 him to powder." 
 
 2Vie Field of Waterloo ; a Poem. By 
 Walter Scott, Esq. Edinburgh : 
 Constable. London : Murray. 1815. 
 8vo. pp. 54. 
 Mr. Walter Scott is generally deem- 
 ed among the foremost of those living 
 
 writers who have rescued English 
 poetry from its wrinkled and panned 
 decrepitude, aiid have re-mfused into 
 it a portion of the native haleness and 
 vigour of its maturity. The poems 
 which have chiefly contributed to 
 make him what he is, are of tlie days 
 of Dryden at least, even where thty 
 are most modern; and, not seldom, 
 they touch on the " olden time" of 
 minstrels and troubadours. His n.use, 
 being thus but a new transmigr.uion 
 of a former existence, may be al- 
 lowed to retain the manners, as well 
 as to speak the language and breathe 
 the spirit, by which she was foimer- 
 ly distinguished. And, among other 
 characteristic habits that mark her 
 antiquity, she may be permitted to 
 select themes for her song from the 
 public events passing before her 
 eyes ; — to paint liviiig scenes and 
 celebrate contemporary lieroism ; — 
 a custom, frequent with our earaer 
 bards, but whicii seems to have been 
 frowned out of fasiiion by the dis- 
 countenance of Pope. 
 
 There is, indeed, no contemporary 
 subject which a poet may undciiake 
 witli so little hazard of debasing the 
 dignity of song by modern and fami- 
 liar associations, as a dreadful battle. 
 The very idea of mighty and mortal 
 encounter transports the fancy to 
 other times. The extraordinary pic- 
 ture of material and mental sublimity 
 which such an oi casion may be con- 
 ceived to exhihit, — the roar and tu- 
 mult, — the wild sky and blood-stain- 
 ed ground, — the frightful forms of 
 danger, and agony, ami despair, 
 and death, — the infinitely various 
 and inexpressibly powerful atti- 
 tudes of passion,— the moral om- 
 nipotence of courage, and endu- 
 rance, and enterprise, — the serene 
 conflict of intellects " in the very 
 throat of sulphurous war," — -the 
 tremendous levolulions of fortune, 
 the desolating rage of man, and the 
 predominant awfulness of mortali- 
 ty, — all these circumstances, tinit- 
 ed, make a compound of such 
 
1815.] 
 
 Review of Walter Scoti^s Field of IValerloo. 
 
 75 1 
 
 strange and picturesque grandeur, 
 as no casual concomilanis can etHec- 
 tualiy cJegiade fro >. the elevation of 
 romance. Ii is impossible to modern- 
 ize a great bat.le. The field of 
 Waterloo is already become as ven- 
 erable and as ancient as Cressy or 
 Agincoun ; and, though yet reeking 
 with the blood ol the brave, has, by 
 a son of premature immortality, 
 receded into the depths of history. 
 
 Still the more eminent poets of 
 late limes have betrayed no love lor 
 such subjects. Probably they have 
 considered them .is at once difficult 
 and vulgar. A victory which ex- 
 pands every bosom, and animates 
 every voice, from the throne to the 
 hovel, is beyond poetry. No energy 
 of song can satisfv the enthusiasm 
 which the first simple relation of the 
 event has infallibly excited in the 
 national feeling No music of ac- 
 companying numbers, no embody- 
 ing power of expression, no enrich- 
 ing ii;arniture of fiincy, — can add to 
 its inherent claims on the attention 
 and heart. And, in the mean time, 
 the popularity of the subject has re- 
 commended it to a hostof scribblers. 
 Every catch-penny rhvmer, "high 
 in Drurylane,'' flies to a field of bat- 
 tle after anengageaient, as regularly 
 as a camp-follower; and it is witli 
 the sime object, — that of raking 
 among the corpses of the valiant, and 
 the shields of the mighty, for some 
 miserable pittance of personal ad- 
 vantage. The greater poets, there- 
 fore, have generally receded from 
 the task, and have left it open to 
 antagonists over whom a victory 
 could confer no honour. 
 
 We believe that the Ode of Mr. 
 Campbell, on the battle of Copen- 
 hagen, affords only an apparent ex- 
 ception to this remark ; that spirited 
 production not having been publish- 
 ed (as far as we remember) till some 
 lime afterthe sip;nal event it records. 
 Eut Mr. Scott made a very near ap- 
 proach to the former practice in his 
 Don Roderick, and has comi)ieteIy 
 
 revived it in Waterloo. Nor does 
 the haste in which he has confessed- 
 ly despatched his present work, nor 
 do the imperfections which that haste 
 has occasioned, at all impair the re- 
 semblance of the poem to elder com- 
 positions of the same class There 
 is this distinguishing circumstance, 
 however, between Mr. Scott and his 
 predecessors, that they poured forth 
 their occasional rejoicings chiefly 
 for the purpose of obtaining piofit or 
 patronage; while he celebrutes the 
 glory of his countrymen with the 
 nobler objeci of relieving the suffer- 
 ings by v.hich that glory was pur- 
 chased. 
 
 Considcriiig tlic reputation whicli 
 Mr, Scott now has to hazard, the 
 strength cf his competitors in the 
 poetic lists, and that he is watched 
 by the eyes of no friendly criticism, 
 — it argues some nerve and courage 
 that he should have ent*'rprised on 
 such a subject as the present, and 
 without any adequate command of 
 leisure or solitude. There is some- 
 thing enchanting, especially at first 
 view, in this carelessness of fame. 
 It appears to resemble the bold and 
 free inrlifference of a border-chief- 
 tain, who fights, and takes, and gives, 
 and spends; and still wiih the same 
 c^enerous disdainfulness, both of 
 petty gains and petty hindrances. 
 The border-chiefiains, however, 
 were characters ratiier of a strong 
 than a fine texture ; and it seems 
 questionable vvhethcr this free ex- 
 penditure of fame can be carried be- 
 yond a certain limit, without some 
 surrender of that delica'e self-respect 
 which is the proper companion of 
 genius. In staking an established 
 and an envied reputation on a care- 
 less effort, a ii;reat man, unless he 
 is compelled by urgent nrces'-.iiy, 
 scarcely does jusiice to liimself. 
 There are writers, v;ho, having made 
 a single successful enterprise in pub- 
 lication, become so morbidly tender 
 of their fame that they are crip- 
 pled for life. Their genius flowers 
 
fS^ Review of fValta- Scott's Field of Waterloo. [Nov. 
 
 but once. Becau-ie, however, this The interruptions of a continental 
 shrinking timidity is not only poor journey are a very good reason for 
 and ignoble, but is in its principle writing imperfectly, but they are 
 reprehensibly selfish and worldly, it none for publisliing what is thus im- 
 does not follow that we should rusli perleclly written. The meaning, 
 into the opposite extreme, or should therefore, is, that the journey ac- 
 lavishly waste a treasure so costly counts for the imperlections, and the 
 as the estimation of mankind. subscription for sending them into 
 
 Let it not be thought that these the world. It is in)po3sible not to 
 observations are intended to sup- appreciate, and very sincerely, the 
 port the commonly received notions patriotism and humanity of the au- 
 rcspecting the value of fame. The thor ; but it may be observed, that 
 desire of praise has been too indul- a subscription so nobly flomishing, 
 gently spoken of by most writers ; — so richly overflowing, as thdl for the 
 from the celebrated genius, who had, Waterloo fund, could have afforded 
 perhaps, sonte excuse for counting to wail a week longer both for his 
 it the " last infirmity of noble contribution and for his respected 
 minds," to those more disinterested example, and that possibly the delay 
 subjects of the same passion, who miglu have been more than compen- 
 hold it to be no infirmity at all, or sated by the increased efliciency of 
 who evidently give itthat appellation the publication when it came, 
 by way of endearment. 'Yhc lirinci- I'rom what has been said, it will 
 file in this matter is easily settled, be perceived that we are not dis- 
 however difTicuIl tlie /;rac//t'(? Fame posed to class the Field of Waterloo 
 is one part, or one form, of prosperity among the highest productions of its 
 in general; and, therefore, must be great author. The truth is, that this 
 viewed in the same light, and treated poem reminds us far less of the 
 in the same manner. Consequently, three first and mightiest epics of 
 it must be received thankfully, en- Mr Scott, than of Rokeby, and the 
 joyed moderately, used beneficial. Lord of the Isles ; compositions 
 ly, and (when necessary) resigned which discovered the same mind as 
 cheerfully. These very rules, how- before, but that niind either jaded by 
 ever, imply that it is to be econonus- the frequency of writing, or made ^; 
 ed, not wasted. It is a talent., for the careless by success. They were no 
 employtneiit of which the recipient every-day productions, but (if we 
 is responsible. It must, therefore, may, without improprietvi so apply 
 neither be idolized, nor buried, nor a sacred phrase) they " attained not 
 squandered. — But we are fast di- to the first three.'' Waterloo cer- 
 gressing into dissertation. tainly bears clear vestiges of the 
 
 It is proper to observe, that Mr. geniusof Mr. Scott ; but those marks 
 Scott modestly apoiogizesfor the im- are not frecjuent. If the author had 
 perfections of his pen. He states, not said for the poem that it was 
 " that it was composed hastily, dur- composed in haste, the poem would 
 ing a short lour on the continent, have said it for itself 
 when the author's labours were lia- It is always, hovvever, reckoned 
 ble to frequent interruption." But an advantage to begin well ; and 
 what lie deems its best vindication lo this merit the work may con- 
 is, " that it was written for the pur- fidenily lay claim. It is gratifying 
 pose of assisting the Waterloo sub- to us (and we trust the reader will 
 scription." He, doubtless, intended share our pleasure,) to be able to 
 that these two grounds of apology commence our extracts with so long 
 Should be considered in connexion, a passage as the following, which 
 
1815.3 
 
 ^exiieiif of IValter Sccti's Field of Waterloo. 
 
 753 
 
 opens the composiiion, consider- 
 ing that il can be ihuughl long only 
 ■when the lines are counted. 
 
 " Fair Brussels, thou art far behind, 
 Though, linp-cring nn the morning wind, 
 
 We yet may liear the liour 
 Pral'd over orchard and canal, 
 W'th viice prolung'd and measured fall, 
 
 f'rom proud S:iiiit Michael's tower,- 
 Thy wood, d«rk Snignies, holds us now, 
 Where the tall beeches' glossy bough 
 
 F >r many a league around. 
 Witii biicli and clarksome oak between, 
 Si'rf'ads fl'ei) and far a pathless screen, 
 
 ijf tangled forest ground 
 Stems planted close by stems defy 
 The adventurous fo^ii — the curious eye 
 
 For access seeks in vain ; 
 And the brown tapestry of leaves, 
 Stiew'd on the blighted ground, receives 
 
 N r sun, nor air, nor rain. 
 No itpening glade dawns on our way. 
 No streamlet, glancing to tfie ray. 
 
 Our woodland path has cross'd ; 
 And the siraigln causeway which we tread, 
 Prolocigs a line of tfcill arcade, 
 Ui'.aryinij; through the unvaried shade. 
 
 Until in distance lost. 
 
 A brighter, livelier scene succeeds; 
 In groups the scatterincr wood recedes. 
 Hedge-rows, and huts, and sunny meads, 
 
 \nd corn-fields sjlance between ; 
 The peasant, at his labour blithe 
 Plies I he hook'd staff and shorten'd scythe : 
 
 But when these ears were green, 
 Pl-JCi-d close within destruction's scope, 
 Fud little was that rustic's liope 
 
 Their ripeinng to have seen ! 
 And, lo, a hamlet and its fane : — 
 Let not the gazer with disdain 
 
 Thei'' architecture view ; 
 For yonder rude ungraceful shrine. 
 And disproportion'd spire, are thine, 
 
 Immortal Waterloo ! 
 
 Fear not the heat, though full and hiph 
 The sun has scorch'd the autumn sky. 
 And scarce a forest straggler now 
 To shade us spreads a greenwood bough ; 
 These fields ha\e seen a hotter day 
 Than ere was fired by simny ray. 
 Yet one mile on — y.m shatter'd hedge 
 Crests the soft hill wlmse long sniooth ridge 
 
 Looks on tiie field below. 
 And sinks so gently on the dale, 
 That not the folds of beauty's veil 
 
 In easier curves can flow 
 Brief space from thence, the ground again 
 Ascending slowly from the plain, 
 
 Forms an opposing screen, 
 
 AVhich, with it* crest of upland ground, 
 Shuts the horizon all around. 
 
 The soften'd vale between. 
 Slopes smooth and fair for courser's tread ; 
 Not the most timid maid need dread 
 To give her snow-white p;ilfrey liead 
 
 On that wide stubble ground ; x 
 Nor wood, nor tree, rioi- bush are there, 
 Hei course to intercept or scare. 
 
 Nor fosse nor fence are fou' d, 
 Save where, from out her shatter'd bowers» 
 Rise Hougoumonl's dismantled towers." 
 pp. 9—13. 
 
 This passaf^e cannot fail to gratify 
 tiie adn^irers of Mr. Scoti, as being 
 eminently churacterislic of the author. 
 It has indeed the true border-cliinie ; 
 which, perhaps, notwithstanding it3 
 unquesiionable beauty, begins some- 
 what to pa!l on the public ear. But 
 it has, what is better, ail Mr. Scon's 
 ease, spirit, peispicuiiy, and siiiipli- 
 city. Here is no exaggcratioi, of 
 expression or of sentiment. Here 
 is no trembling on the thiesi-.olfi of a 
 great subject, no nervous impaience 
 for action. Here is no cirbit to 
 strike fire by u singular and un- 
 lhought-ofcoivimencenit'n;,no moroid 
 eagerness lo be oiiginai. Nothing 
 appears which migiitnot have found 
 a place in the feelings or in the nar- 
 rative of an ordinary traveller, except 
 that by Mr. Stou it is felt more 
 strongly and toid better. All is free, 
 bold, and clear ; ail easy and flowing 
 as " the folds of beauty's veil." 
 
 There is undoubtedly some man- 
 nerism in tlie siy/e of Mr. Scott; 
 that is, in the structure of his sen- 
 tences and the cadence of his verse ; 
 — btit there is none in his senti- 
 ments, — and in his language none 
 worth mentioning. He has no od- 
 dities, no angles of any sort. Of 
 ail living poets, Mr. Scott is per- 
 haps the most simple. The sim- 
 plicity of some others is itself a 
 species of manner ; that of Mr. 
 Scott is, what simplicity should be, 
 the absence of all manner. This, 
 indeed, constitutes the great charm 
 of the poems on which his fameprin- 
 
754 
 
 Revietu of Walter Scott's Field of Waterloo, 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 cipally rests. They owe their cur- 
 rency, not so much to the happy in- 
 troduction of a new and strange 
 species of poetic harmony, as to the 
 nature, graphic irutli, and unlabour- 
 ed clearness, both of their narrative 
 and their episodic parts. Had it not 
 been for the possession of these es- 
 sential excellences, the adventitious 
 aid of " the old border-day," with its 
 forayers, its moss-troopers, its bill- 
 men, and its seneschals, could have 
 secured to those compositions but a 
 limited existence, and perhaps the 
 Lay of the Lust iNIinstrel might have 
 proved the last lay of the author. 
 But their main merit lay deeper ; 
 and it was deeply felt, though not 
 distinctly marked or highly praised. 
 These remarks apply to the land- 
 scape-scenery of Mr. Sfott, the sub- 
 ject more particularly suggested to 
 our consideration by the last extract. 
 Comparing his style in this depart- 
 ment with that of contemporary 
 poets, he uppears a more natural 
 painter of nature than any of them. 
 They indeed represent her very 
 powerfully ; but it is less as she /s, 
 than as she nvould ;5e under particular 
 circumstances, or in the eyes of a 
 supposed observer of singular and 
 romantic habits or character. Per- 
 haps they paint her as she ap- 
 pears to the recluse in a moment of 
 voluptuous pensiveness, — when crea- 
 tion seems all thought, all feeling, 
 all sentiment, all voice, — breathing 
 forth the tenderest enthusiasm, and 
 overflowing with a pleasure as sad 
 as sorrow. Or perhaps, amidst a 
 beautiful landscape, they plant some 
 
 mighty but fallen intelligence, 
 
 sorae terrible outcast from the com- 
 munioii of human hopes and feurs, — 
 who colours tiie surrounding region 
 with the blackness of a lost destiny, 
 and peoples every shade with his own 
 furies. Thus they leach us, not 
 merely to associate ?mndvi\\.\\ the ob- 
 jects we behold, (for this perhaps we 
 always do, however unconsriously,) 
 
 peculiar cast. Receiving a strong 
 impression of the described or im- 
 plied observer, we carry his pre- 
 sence along with us: we cannot help 
 in some measure catching his tone, 
 and seeing with his eyes, and feeling 
 with his feelings; — and thus add to 
 nature an interest which, however 
 forcible or bewitching, is certainly 
 not her own. 
 
 The landscape-painting of Mr. 
 Scott is in a plainer and less peculiar 
 style. He seeks not to give a zt-st 
 to liis picture, by flinging across it 
 the dark lights of melancholv, or the 
 heavy shadows of despair. He deals 
 in no strong dear-obscures, nor 
 washes over his day-lights with ro- 
 mantic tints of sapphire, or emerald, 
 or crimson. His subject is coumion 
 nature; and, even where he chooses 
 an extraordinary scene, he delineates 
 it in its ordinary state, and as it 
 would strike the eyes of an ordinary 
 spectator. He sees what we all see ; 
 — only he sees it wnrh a more power- 
 ful, more piercing, more discrimi- 
 native vision. In reading his descrip- 
 tions, we seem to contemplate some 
 familiar prospect through a purer, 
 drier, lighter atmosphere than usual. 
 Every distance is determmately 
 marked. Every boundary is cut so 
 finely, every line traced with such 
 pbecise definition, that the objecs all 
 stand out in void space. The spites 
 sharpen, as it were, to a needle's 
 point, and the outline of the smallest 
 leaf appears drawn i^y a fairy's pen- 
 cil on the clear marble sky. The 
 effect is magical, though there is 
 nothing new. The eye seems rather 
 xofnel than to see, and delights itself 
 in a sense of keen perspicacity. 
 
 The description which has been 
 cited from the present poem, of the 
 wood of Soignics, and the field of 
 Waterloo, surely exhibits, notwith- 
 standing the confined nature of its 
 subject, all that lucid distinctness 
 for which we have just been giving 
 the poet credit. It betrays, though 
 
 but to associate with them mind of a on a narrower scale, the same hand 
 
1815.] 
 
 Review of Walter Scoti's Field of Waterloo. 
 
 755 
 
 which lurnished ihe mubterly deline- 
 alioiis ol Locii CaUiarine in ihe Lddy 
 ot'i.ie LaKe, aud ol ihe Isle of Skye 
 ill liie Lord of ihe Isles. And per- 
 haps ihdi same hand produced a 
 nuniaiure sketch more exquisiie than 
 any of tnese, in the des^ripiion of 
 S.iini Mary's Lake, given in liie in- 
 iroduciion to ihe second canio of 
 Marmion. — But we proceed : — 
 
 " Now, seest thou aug-ht in tliis lone 
 
 scene 
 Can tell of that wliicli late hath been .' — 
 
 A stranger might reply, 
 ' The bare extent of stubble plain 
 Seems lately lightened of its g-rain ; 
 And yonder sable tracks remain 
 Marks of the peasant's ponderous wain, 
 
 When liarves'.-homc was nigli. 
 On tnese broad spots of trampled ground, 
 Percliaiice the rustics danced such round 
 
 As Teniers loved to draw ; 
 And where the earth seems scorcli'd by 
 
 flame 
 To dress the homt-ly feast they came, 
 And toil'd the kercliief'd village dame 
 
 Around her fire of straw.' — 
 
 St deem'st ihou — so each mortal deems, 
 Of that which is from that which seems : — 
 
 But other harvest here 
 Than tliai which peasant's scythe de- 
 mands. 
 Was gather'd in by sterner hands, 
 
 Wi'th bsyonet, blade, and spear. 
 N) vulgar crop was theirs to reap, 
 N'l sliDted harvest thin and cheap ! 
 HtT'ies before each fatal sweep 
 
 Fell thick as lipen'd grain ; 
 And ere the darkening of the day, 
 Piled high as autumn shocks, there lay 
 The ghastly harvest of the fray. 
 
 The corpses of the slain. 
 
 Aye, look again — tl-.at line so black 
 And trampled, marks the bivouack. 
 Yon deep-graved ruts the artillery's truck, 
 
 So often lost and won ; 
 And close beside, the harden'd mud 
 Still shews where, fetlock-deep in blond, 
 The fierce dragoon, through battle's flood, 
 
 Dash'd the liot war horse on. 
 These spots of excavation tell 
 The ravage of the bursting shell — 
 And feel'st thou not the tainted steam, 
 That reek's against the sultry beam, 
 
 From vender trenched mound ' 
 
 The pestilential fumes declare 
 That carriage has replenished there 
 Her garner-house profound. 
 
 Far other harvest-home and feast, 
 Than claims the boor from scythe re- 
 leased. 
 
 On these scorch'd fields were known ! 
 Death liover'd o'er the maddening rout, 
 Ai:d, in the thrilling battle-shout, 
 Sent for the bloody banquet out 
 
 A summons of his own." pp.13 — 17. 
 
 This extract has the same free- 
 dom, spirit, and naturalness, which 
 distinguished the former. But the 
 hat vest lasts a little too long. -It is 
 somewhat unfortunate fur iVIr. Scott, 
 tbdt, in the application of his border- 
 style to modern fighting, he has been 
 anticipated by an imitator of his own. 
 The poem of Talavera set the ex- 
 ample of such application ; and with 
 considerable, though perhaps with 
 over-praised, effect. The conse- 
 quence is, tliat on this field, the 
 original author himself wears the 
 appearance of a copyist, by having; 
 temporarily suffered one of iiis atten- 
 dants to precede liim in the chase. 
 Several parts of Waterioo strike the 
 ear as eclu.es of Talavera ; and, 
 among the rest, the metaphor of the 
 harvest, — which, however, is much 
 more amplified by IMr. Scoit. Nei- 
 ther poet, indeed, has the credit of 
 perfect originality on tlie occasion, 
 the metaplior beip.g at least as an- 
 cient as tlie story of Cadmus ; bul 
 their method of exhibiting it is some- 
 what characteristic The following 
 are the lines in Talavera : — 
 
 " Ar.d wlien the fresliening breezes broke 
 
 A chasm in the volum'd smoke, 
 
 Busy and black was seen to wave 
 The iron harvest of the field, — 
 That harvest, which, in slaughter till'd. 
 
 Is gather'd in the grave." 6lh ed. p. 21. 
 
 After extending a little farther the 
 personification of Death, Mr. Scott 
 thus animatedly describes the tre- 
 
756 
 
 Revievi of Walter Scolt's Field of Waterloo. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 meiidous obstinacy with which the ed as if a magnify ing-glass would 
 
 convert the representcition into life, 
 would surely have found no mean 
 field for us dexterity in Waterloo. 
 Even the last scene of the engage- 
 ment the poet describes vaguely; 
 and his description appears liable to 
 this fartlier and more serious excep- 
 tion, that it by no means attributes 
 that importance to tiie co-operation 
 of the Prussian army which both his- 
 torical accuracy and national gene- 
 rosity wouid dictate. 
 
 The truth, however, is, that, at 
 this stage, the poem falls off, and 
 never afterwards effectually recovers 
 itself Probably, the time which the 
 author had allotted for his composi- 
 tion and his tour, began to narrow 
 faster than he had distinctly appre- 
 hended ; he was, in consequence, 
 compelled to journey with greater 
 rapidity ; — and with this double diffi- 
 culty ot contracted time and increased 
 interruption, no muse could possibly 
 struggle. " Barbs, b^rbs, alas, how 
 swift ye flew !" To wri>e against 
 time IS hard enough ; but to write 
 speedily, on a speedy journey, is to 
 write against time and tide at once. 
 Syniptoms of haste seem every where 
 discernible in the sequel of the 
 work ; as, for instance, the ambiguity 
 in the last of the four following 
 lines: — 
 
 battle was contested : — 
 
 " Feast on, stem foe of mort.il life, 
 Feast oiv! — tiu; think not that a strife, 
 W;tii sucli promisctfiits carnage rife, 
 
 I'rotrhCtfd space may last ; 
 The deadly uig oi" war at length 
 Miist limits find ui imman streng-th, 
 
 And cease wlien these are pass'd. 
 Vain h')j)e ! — that morn's o'erclouded sun 
 Heard tlie wild slioii'. of fight begun 
 
 Ere he at.ain'd his height, 
 And thiough the war-smoke volumed 
 
 high, 
 Still peals that unreinitted cry, 
 
 iMiough now lie s:oops to night. 
 For ten long iinurs of doubt and dread. 
 Fresh succoui-s from tlie extended head 
 Of either bill the contest feil, 
 
 S'iill down the slope tiiey drew, 
 The charge of ciliimns paused not, 
 Nor ceased the storm of shell and sliot ; 
 
 For all that war ctnild do 
 Of skill and force was proved that day, 
 And turn'd nut yet the doubtful fiay 
 
 On bloody Waterloo." pp. 18, 19. 
 
 In advancing beyond this point, 
 however, we find nothing like a gra- 
 phical representation of the order or 
 events of t!ie fight, 'ihe author 
 paints generally the onsets of the 
 Frencii at^ainst certain " serried 
 squares'' of the English, and parti- 
 cul.iily that last dreadful charge, 
 which the happy arrival of the Prus- 
 sians, and the eagle-tjlance and prompt 
 resolution of the British commander, 
 converted into a still more dreadlul 
 rout. But it may fairly be question- 
 ed whether any reader, nut already 
 acquainted with the general nature 
 of the battle, would be able to collect 
 it from this account. Here, there- 
 fore, a disappointment occurs; for 
 the poet had spread out so clear and 
 minute a map of the scene of action, 
 that it was natural to expect an equal- 
 ly detailed and luminous exhibition 
 of the awful drama which ensued. 
 And, iiere also, IMr. Scott has lost 
 what to his powers would have been 
 an adiTiira!)Ie opportunity. That pen- 
 cil which sketched the battle of Flod- 
 den in characters so exact, so exqui- 
 site, so animated, that it almost seem- 
 
 " L'ghtly ye rose that dawning day, 
 Fr.>m your cold couch of swamp and clay, 
 To till, before the sun was low, 
 The bed that morning cannot knoiv" p. 39. 
 
 It costs some thinking to discover 
 that, by the concludmg line is meant 
 " the bed which is never to see a 
 morning dawn." 
 
 To the same hurry may be ascrib- 
 ed such verses as the following ; 
 which appear little befer than the 
 diction of newspaper-eloquence 
 adai)ted to metre : 
 
 ♦' Shall future ages tell this tale 
 Of inconsistence Jaint and frail .-" 
 
 And again, the author thus re- 
 
1815.] Rexne-v of Walter Scott's Field of Waterloo. 757 
 
 minds Bonaparte lliat he hud enn- ries, and exclude those lofty visions 
 
 ployed some of his leisure hours in whicii hauni only ihe bower of leisure 
 
 reading the Roman history : and the [)iilosv ol "repose. There are 
 
 indeed occasional exceptions to the 
 
 " The Romin lore thy leisure lov'd" remark ; for the system of the hu- 
 
 The poem offends, however, rather man faculties is very singularly con. 
 negatively than positively; from ihc structed. Cases occur in which the 
 absence of those pret^naiu proofs of fancy, self-willed as she is, pron>pily 
 a master's hand wiih which it might obeys the spur of exigency. A fever 
 have been expected to abound. It of eff*ort is prodjced, the heat of 
 is remarkable thai tne effect of hurry which throws off noble, and sublime, 
 on poetic composition, is not only and original invaginations. But this 
 to prevent finish, but to impoverish is not the ordinary rule, and will 
 thought. Tne former, indeed, con- least answer when a continued course 
 stituies one of its evils : the poet, of poetic thinking is demanded, 
 ever precipitating torwards, is unable The purest and most ethereal asso- 
 to work up his conceptions with due ciations of the mind are of.a nature 
 effect, or properly to fuse and polish so capricious, so delicate, so fragile, 
 the precious ores of fancy. But it that their fine threads are not only 
 is d worse misfortune attendant on unable to sustain " the various bustle 
 such a case, that there are scarcely of resort," but will snap beneath the 
 any conceptions to be worked up, mere stress of a too-eager mind. In 
 scarcely any precious ores to be mental operations of some kinds, the 
 fused. The reason is, not ihoi fine rapidity of our progress is, within 
 thoughts require a certain lengihof certain limits, proportionate to the 
 time for their growth, — imagination intensity of our voluntary exertion. 
 is not a siill, which proaiices its It is not so in poetry, where unex- 
 sweets by the hour, — but that the pected resemblances are to be start- 
 want of a feeling of leisure incapaci- ed, where singular analogies are to 
 tates the mind for its finer exertions, be struck out, where fire is to be 
 The pressure of urgent haste, if it kindled rather by electric darts than 
 does not discompose and distract us, by a regular process. Here, the 
 at least suggests ideas of task-work, mind is nearly passive, and must re- 
 and diligence, and punctuality ; ideas, sign herself to the casual suggestions 
 admirably proper in every service and flashes of her own thoughts, 
 but that of the Muses, It is not. Here, we canonly place our faculties 
 therefore, time which is required, (as it were) in a situation to be af- 
 but leisure. Were the leisure af- lected, and must then contentedly 
 forded greater, the time in fact em- wait till they arc roused into melody 
 ployed might possibly be much less: by viewless impulses and airy hands. 
 the author, having an unlimited it is with more than poetical reason, 
 credit on time, might actually draw therefore, tiiat poets celebrate the 
 to a very small amount. propitious effect of silence and soli- 
 
 " To constitute a poet," says Juve- tude on their favourite studies ; and 
 
 nal, " a mind is required, free from that they seek, in some untroubled 
 
 anxiety, exempt from every harass, atmosphere, for those rich and ex- 
 
 ing care, in love with shady groves, quisite forms of ideal beauty, which, 
 
 and delighting to drink at the springs like birds of paradise, will fly only 
 
 of the Muses.'' If the principle be in a calm sky. 
 
 thus general, the anxiety of effort, no In application, however, to the 
 
 less than the anxiety of distress, present poem, these remarks must, 
 
 must disqualify men for poetic reve- not be taken too strongly. Although 
 
 Christ. Obscrv. No. 167. 5 E 
 
758 
 
 Review of Walter Scotl*s Field of Waterloo. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 ihe sequel of it is not all that might " Thou, too, whose deeds of fame renew'd 
 
 have been wished, yet rudiments of Bankrupt a nation's gratitude, 
 
 ,, 1 r 1 • • Id ihint- own noble heart must owe 
 
 excellence may be iuund m various More than the meed she can bestow, 
 
 parts ot it, and sometimes lines ol For not a people's just acclaim, 
 
 considerable power. A long ad- Not the fulUiail ot Europe's fame, 
 
 dress to Bonaparte is not without Thy prmce's smiles, thy state's decree, 
 
 spirit or viL^our ; and it contains two Vl'^ d"cal rank, the ga.ier'd knee 
 
 .^ p°. , • . 1 . Nut these such pure delight anord 
 
 images of singular merit, had ihey ^s that, when, hanging up thy sword, 
 
 only been executed as well as they Well may'st thou think, 'This honeststeel 
 
 were conceived. Both these are com- Was ever drawn for public weal ; 
 
 prised in the following quotation; 
 
 " And art thou He of Lodi's bridge, 
 Marengo's field, and ^Vagram's ridge ! 
 Or is ihy soul like mountain-tide, 
 
 And, such was rightful Heaven's decree. 
 Ne'er sheathed unless with victory !' " 
 
 pp. 34, 35. 
 
 " The ducal rank," however, in 
 
 That, swell'd by winier storm and shower, this address, seems a very prosaic 
 
 Rolls down in turbulence of power 
 
 A torrent fierce and wide ; 
 'Keft of these aids, a rill obscure, 
 Shrir.kmg unnoticed, mean, and poor, 
 
 Wiiose channel shews display'd 
 The wrecks of its impetuous course. 
 But not one symptom of the free 
 
 By which these wrecks were made ! 
 
 Spur on thy way ! — since now tliine ear 
 
 Has brook'tl thy veterans' wish to iiear, 
 
 Who, as thy flight they eyed. 
 
 expression. Might it not advan- 
 tageously be changed into the ducal 
 crotvn ? 
 
 One only extract shall be added: 
 it is the short commemoration of the 
 worthies who fell on the British side. 
 The poet is addressing the day of 
 the battle : — 
 
 " Thou saw'st in seas of gore expire 
 
 Exclamied, — while tears of anguish came, Redoubted Ficton's soul of fire- 
 
 Wrung forth by pride and rage and shame, 
 
 ' Oh that lie had but died !' 
 But yet, to sum this hour of ill, 
 Look, ere thou leav'st the fatal hill, 
 
 Back on yon broken ranks — 
 Upon s\ hose wikl confusion gleams 
 The moon, as on the troubled streams 
 
 When rivers break their banks. 
 And, to the ruin'd peasant's eye. 
 Objects half seen roll swiftly by, 
 
 Down the dread current huri'd — 
 So mingle banner, wain, and gun. 
 Where the tumultuous flight rolls on 
 Of warriors, who, when morn begun. 
 
 Defied a banded world." pp. 23 — 30. 
 
 Saw'st in the mingled carnage lie 
 All that of Ponsonby could die — 
 De Lancy change Love's bridal-wreath. 
 For lauiels from the hand of Death— 
 Saw'st gallant Miller's failing eye 
 Still bent where Albion's banners fly ; 
 And Cameron, in the shock of steel. 
 Die like the ofispringof Lochiel ; 
 .^nd generous Gordon, 'mid the strife, 
 Fail while he watch'd his leader's hfe." 
 
 p 38. 
 
 These lines, the reader may per- 
 haps be aware, have been ridiculed 
 in a public print ; and an attempt has 
 
 The comparison, which concludes l^een made, by stripping them of 
 the above extract, of the moon-light il'^ir metre, and giving them a pro- 
 rout of an army to the (low of a riVer saic form, to shew that they want 
 which has broken its banks, appears t'le essentials of poetry, and are pure 
 tobeoriginal; and, had it been finish- commonplace. The attempt shew- 
 ed as the author cc;u/f//ifiT;c finished ed rather a common-place critic. 
 it, would surely have furnished one ^^'^e expedient o{ transfirosing verse 
 of the most magnificent resem- (as Bayes would call it)affords, at the 
 blances in the whole compass of l^est, but a very doubtful test of its 
 poetry, merit. For, independently of the dif- 
 
 The address to the fallen Emperor fercnce which may be made in the 
 is contrasted by the following short delicacy of a thought by the mere 
 and spirited apostrophe to his great collocation of the words in which it 
 antagonist : is expressed (a difference sometimes 
 
1815.] Review of Walter Scott's Field of Waterloo. 73» 
 
 very great,) it should be remem- nicety, that a sabre more or less 
 bered that a harmonious and inspir- might have turned the scale either 
 ing cadence is an important qualifi- way : — think on the gloomy siis- 
 catioii in a poem, and one, of the pense of the last houi before the 
 advantages of which a critic has no welcome flashes of ihe Prussian ar- 
 right to deprive ii. These are suf- tillery were descried in the distance : 
 ficient objections to such an attempt, — observe, during this horrid inter- 
 even supposmg it iairly made, which val, the fast-thinning ranks ol ojr 
 it seldom will be by a professed inesiimable ii-oops, and the personal 
 laugher. With respect to the lines danger of their great commander, — 
 themselves that were the subject of when only a narrow squaie of n.cn 
 it in the present instance, — after the protected him from the whole fury 
 influence produced by the first hOund of France, — when almost every in- 
 of the mighty or cherished names dividual of liis gallant staff fell bleed- 
 which they celebrate has expired, an ing beside his siinup : — consider 
 impartial reader will probably still the innumerable circumstances, any 
 think most of them, if not of a very one of which might have rendered 
 superior order, yet pleasing and abortive all that constancy of conduct 
 animated. A yet higher commen- and prodigality of valour. — d landom 
 dalion seems due to the couplet on shot, — an adverse storm. — the mis- 
 De Lancy, which is turned with take of an order, — the bursting of a 
 great elegance and beauty. tumbril, — and the thousand other 
 
 It is now time to close. How far casualties of battle : — muse on all 
 the general estimate which we have this, and surely it must be a heart of 
 submitted of the merits of this poem uncommon mould which is not filled 
 will accord with that formed by the with trembling thankfulness. On 
 public, we pretend not to conjecture, such a field, it would scarcely have 
 But, in conclusion, we will venture required the purified vision of h 
 to offer one criticism on it, which, prophet, or the creative eye of a 
 we should hope, cannot but have oc- poet, to descry other than human 
 currcd to many of its readers. In combatants, — to see, what was once 
 recording by far the most signal beheld in a like dreadful ciisis, a 
 triumph which this country has super-incumbent orb of " chariots 
 achieved on shore since the battle of and horses of fire.'' And. if it be im- 
 Malplaquet, it is surprising that the portant that instances tlius extraor- 
 poet should not have intermixed his dinary of Providential favour should 
 celebration of heroes with some de- be popularly felt and acknowledged, 
 votional reference to the "Giver — if it be debirable that national suc- 
 of all victory."' The vague, pa- cesses should be mai'e the subjects 
 renthetical remark that " rightful of national commemoration and dox- 
 Heaven" has always crowned Wei- olojj;y, — it niust be higlily proper aiid 
 lington with success, evidently af- expedient that the triumfiiial poetry 
 fords noexcepiion worth mentioning, (if it maybe so called) to which 
 The victory of "Waterloo was one of those successes give birth, should 
 those singular events which force contain a recognition of tlie source 
 the idea of over.ruling Deity on the from which they have proceeded, 
 most insensate mind. Reflect for and should thus be niade to harmon- 
 how many hours the destinies of ise with the more sacred voice of 
 Europe hung in the most trembling religious offices. Ry these means, 
 poise, — when every single life be- not only will the sentiment of nation- 
 came invaluable, — when the day al gratitude be brought more inti- 
 seemed balanced with such dreadful mately home to the bosoms of men, 
 
760 
 
 hit. and Fhil. IntelL — Urtat Britain. 
 
 but a more expressive testimony and 
 memorial of that seniimeni wih be 
 provided ; for, after all, the feelings 
 of a nation will less be sought lor 
 in its public acts, which are ordained 
 by authority, than in its popular 
 literature, which lives on opinion and 
 taste. 
 
 Would it then be impertinent to 
 express a hope that this omiision 
 in tlie work before us may yet be 
 supplied, and that, in a fuiure edition, 
 the author may interweave with the 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 deserved praises of his countrymen 
 a tribute of acknowledgment to 
 Heaven ? This, at lea«t, is certain, 
 that the charitable objects for which 
 IVIr. Scott generally writes will not 
 be the worse pronioied for the con- 
 secration of his lyre. The work of 
 mercy will not be less blessed, by 
 being also made a work of piety ; 
 nor will '' tlie anoiiuing oil" that 
 heals the sick, be deprived of its ef- 
 ficacy, by being mingled with the in- 
 cense of religious gratitude. 
 
 LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL IXTELLIGENCE, 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 GREAT BRITAIN. 
 
 Ix the Press : — A Critical Dictionary of llie 
 Greek Languag-e, translHted fjom the Ger- 
 man of Schneider into Englisli, with Addi- 
 tions, by Mr. Nicoll, of B:*liol College, Ox- 
 ford ; — A Dictionary of Session Law, Ijy 
 the Rev S. Clapiiam, M. A., Vicar ofClirist 
 Church ; — Memoirs of John, Duke of Mail- 
 borough, chiefiy drawn from his private 
 Correspondence and family Documents pre- 
 served at Bienlieim, by Archdeacon i;oxe ; 
 with portraits, maps, plans, &c. ; — An Ac- 
 count of some Improvements in Domestic 
 Economv, more especially relating to Uie 
 Means of warming and ve'iiilaling Apart- 
 ments. Culinary Conveniences, Sec. by Mr. 
 Sylvester, of Derby ; — An IntK^duction to 
 Prudence in the Conduct of AiTairs of ci.m- 
 mon Life, by Dr. TlunTias Fnller ; — Riidi- 
 ments of the Hf-brew Language, with E.x- 
 ercises, and a Key to liie Boiik of Psalms, 
 containing the true Pronunciation, diHerent 
 Significations, and g-rammatical Analysis of 
 every Word, by J. S- C. F. Frey ; — A 
 volume of Sermnns by llie late Dr Srolt, 
 ■Rector of himonbourn ; — Element, try For- 
 tification, ilUistr^iied by 500 Dingrams, by 
 L.ieut.-Co!i)ne1 Paslev : — A second \olume 
 of Sermons by the Rev. Robert Moreliead ; 
 — The History of Dublin and its Environs, 
 by W. M. Mason, Esq. ; — Leading Heads 
 of Twenty-seven Sermons preached by Dr. 
 Doddridge, at Northampton, in the year 
 1749, and never before primed ; — An Ilhis- 
 tration of the Liturgy of tlir Church of 
 England, with a Sketch of the History of 
 the British C:hurcb, by the Rev. T. Pruen, 
 «f Albourn, Wilts ; — Journal kept daring 
 
 a captivity of Nine Years in France ; viz. 
 from Aprd, lo05, to May, 18l4 ; by Mr. 
 W. Story ; — A new edition, wuli la^ge ad- 
 diiions, of the Rev. S. Binder's (Jrien^al 
 Customs ; — under the patronage and at the 
 expense of the East India Con.pany, a Dic- 
 tionary oCthe Chinese Lanonaiie, bj' the 
 Rev. R Morison, to be published in p;u-ts : 
 specimens to be seen at Messrs Blark, 
 Parry, and Co.'s, Leadenhall-streei ; — A 
 volume of Sermons of the Rev. P Heiny, 
 M. A., Father of Matthew Henry, includ- 
 ing the last Sermon lie preached, and his 
 Funeral Sermon by tlie Rev, F. Tallfius, 
 M.A.; edited by Mr. J B. Williams, of 
 Siiewsbury. 
 
 At Oxfird ilip following persons have 
 been afpointed oincers of the University for 
 the ensuing jear, viz .- — Rev. Thomas Lee, 
 D D President of 'IViivty College, Ox- 
 ford, Vict-Chancdlor ,- — Rev Whittiiigton 
 Landon, D D Piovo.st of Worcester Col- 
 lege ; Uev John Cole, D D Recto' of 
 F,xeter College ; Rev. Frodsham Hodson, 
 D D. Princij^al of Brazen Nose College ; 
 and [{ev. George William Hall,D D. Mas- 
 ter of Pembroke C' liege, J'ice ChaKcellors ; 
 Rev. William Hassall' AL A. of Brazen 
 Nose Colle,e:e, Pro Proct'jr ,• — Rev. Ash- 
 hurst Turner Gilbert, M. A. Fellow of 
 Brazen Nose College ; and Henry Cotton, 
 M. \. Student of Christ Church, Masters 
 of the Schools. 
 
 At Cambridge the University officers 
 for the year ensuing are : Proctors — The 
 Rev. Joseph bhaw, M. A. Christ Col- 
 lege ; the Rev. Robert Jefferson, M. A- 
 
1815.] 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intell. — Mendicity. 
 
 761 
 
 Sidney College. Taxors— The Rev. Jo- 
 seph Gibson Whaley, M. A Peterhotise ; 
 the Rev. Thomas Jeplison, M. A. St. John's 
 College. Moderators — The Rev. Miles 
 Bland, M A. St John's College; the Kev. 
 W French, M A Penibroke Hall. Scru- 
 tators — The Rev. Daniel Cresswell, M A. 
 Trinity College j the Kev. l. Dickes, M.A. 
 Jesus College. 7*e Caput — The Vice- 
 Cha'cellor.-l The Kev. Wm Chafy. D D. 
 Sidne\. Divinity.— The Rev.E D.Clarke, 
 LL D Jcsus, Lav!. — Sir J. Pennington, 
 M n F. It Is St. Jnhn's, Ph]'sic.— The 
 Rev S B Vioce, .M A King's,' Sen Nan. 
 jReg _T!ie Kev. G. Haggitt, M A. Christ, 
 Sen. Reg 
 
 The University of Cambridge has receiv- 
 ed from Gi''Vernment, during the lust seven 
 years, as a diawback for paper printed 
 within It, the sum of 13,0sri. 7s. 6d ; the 
 University ')f Oxford, the sum of 18,6581. 
 2s 6d The number of Bibles printed at 
 Cambridge, during the last seven years, 
 was 392,000; of New Te.staments. 423.000; 
 of Pr;.yerbnnks 194,000. At Oxford, 'he 
 ini'nhei- of Bibles primed, of all kinds, was 
 460,500; ..f Testaments. 386.:;0!i ; of Oim- 
 mnn Pi aver B.'oks 400 000; of Cate- 
 chisms, Psalters, &.C. 200,000— What a 
 sati'factory reply does this increased im- 
 pression of Prayer-books furnish to liie 
 moanings of the enemies of the Bible 
 Society ! 
 
 The Regent's Canal, Maiy-lebone, pro- 
 ceeds rapidly. W'<rkmen have been some 
 time past employed in excavating a basin 
 within a few yards of the Hampstead- 
 road, around which warehouses are to be 
 built, and facilities afforded for landing 
 goods of all sorts By this arrangement 
 the expense of land carriage, which has 
 hitherto been so great to the villages in 
 that neighbourhood, will be much reduced. 
 Another basin is to be excavated near 
 Pancras, and at varicus other populous 
 districts on the line of the cut to Lime- 
 house. There aie to be several collateral 
 cuts from the main stream to more distant 
 villagres. 
 
 MENDICITY. 
 
 " The minutes of the Evidence taken 
 before a Com.mittee of the House appointed 
 in the last Session, to inquire into the state 
 ot Mendicity and Vagrancy in the Metro- 
 ^jolig and its Neighbourhood" have been 
 
 published, and are deserving of general 
 attention They establish beyond the pos- 
 sibility of doubt the impolicy, and we may 
 add the inhumanity, of giving morn-y to 
 street-beggars, or to the class of mendi- 
 cants, who apply by letter or petition, with- 
 out a thorough investigation of each parti- 
 cular case. In the case of street-beggars, 
 indeed, it may be assumed as an unques- 
 tionable fact, however wretched may be 
 their exiernal apjjearance, that they ai e im- 
 postors, who beg because they are idle and 
 profligate ; not becau.se they are perishing 
 from want, but iliat they may riot in excess 
 and debauchery. This maybe besi exem- 
 plified by a few extrac;s from the evidence 
 itself. 
 
 Joseph Butterworth, Esq. — " I have for 
 several yt ars past taken an active part on 
 the Committee of the Strangers' triend 
 Society, which lias led me lo be acqiuti'ted 
 with the general state of the poor through- 
 out the metropolis In the course of 
 my observations 1 have noticed the condi- 
 tion of many beggars : tiieir cases have 
 been inquired into, and in the general way 
 they have been li'und to be impostors ; and 
 I am [;ersiiaded they aie the mos' pr«{ji- 
 gate and idle description of character : I 
 am convinced that very few, if any, hones', 
 industrious, and sober people ever have 
 recourse to begging. In the neighbour- 
 hood « here I live there is a great resort ior 
 beggars : and I have mude some inquiries 
 into their condition. There aie two public- 
 houses in Uhurch-lane, St. Giles's, whose 
 chief su[)port depends upon beggars; one 
 called The Beggar's Opera, which is the 
 Rose and Crown public-house, and the 
 other the Robin Hood. The number that 
 frequent those houses at various t:mes, are 
 conifjuted to be from two to three hundred. 
 I hitvc been credibly informed, they are 
 divided into companies ; and each compa- 
 ny is suhdivi(!cd into what are c;dled 
 walks, and each company has its particular 
 Walk: if this walk be considered beneficial, 
 the whole company take it by turns, each 
 person keeping it from half an hour to 
 three or four hours : their receipts at a mo- 
 derate calculation cannot be less than from 
 three to five shillings a day each person, fre- 
 quently more. They cannot be supposed to 
 spend less at night than half-a-cr.)wti, 
 and they generally pay sixpence for their 
 bed. They are to be found in those houses 
 throughout the day, but in great numbers 
 from eight to nine o'clock in the morning, 
 and late in the evening- It is their custom 
 
762 
 
 '\U.t'. and Phil. IntelL-^Mendicity. 
 
 [Nov, 
 
 to sally out early in the morning; and those 
 who have any money left of the preceding 
 day's earnings, treat the rest with spirits 
 before they begin the operations of the day. 
 I have been informed, that they have a kind 
 of committee to organize the walks to be 
 frequented by each person, and they gene- 
 rally appropriate the best walks to the 
 senior begcjars, in rotation. There is an 
 Irishman who pretends to be a sailor, and 
 frequently cuts his legs to excite compas- 
 sion : he begs shoes, and then sells them : 
 lie is a most audacious fellow, and has 
 several times been imprisoned. Another 
 man, half naked, and who generally ap- 
 pears in that condition, has, 1 am credibly 
 informed, a considerable sum of money in 
 the funds : he is a young man with a long 
 beard, he frequently has flowers in his 
 hand, and limps : he will not act with the 
 gang, but preserves his own independence, 
 and is one of the greatest boxers in St. 
 Giles's. 1 understand, that after the busi- 
 ness of the day is over, they frequent those 
 houses, and partake of the best food they 
 can obtain, and tliey spend their evenings 
 in a very riotous manner : the food thai is 
 given them bv benevolent persons ihey do 
 not eat. hut either throw it away or give it 
 to the dogs. Women have been frequent- 
 ly known to assume an appearance of preg- 
 nancy, in order to obtain childbed-linen, 
 which in many cases they have done eight 
 or ten times over. 1 know a sober Iiack- 
 ney-coachman, upon wl-.ose veracity I can 
 depend, who has fiequently conveyed beg- 
 gars to their lodginjrs ; and formerly, when 
 he plied in St. Giles's, has been called 
 to the iiouses I before mentioned, to take 
 them from thencp, being so intoxicated 
 thev could not walk home. A fact lately 
 came under my own observation, of a per- 
 son in Charles-street, Drury lane, who, 
 with his wife, obtained their living by beg- 
 ging: she lately lay-in: a benevolent 
 neighbour perceiving that she had no bed 
 or beds' eail, furnished her with one of 
 eacli ; but he soon foimd that they were not 
 used. The bedstead was ctit up, and made 
 into a rabbit hatch ; and tlie reason assign. 
 ed by the beggar, was tiiis, iliat benevo- 
 lent persons would occa.sinnally visit them, 
 and finding the_\ Iiad neither bed nor bed- 
 stead, would be more disposed to give 
 them money, and lie wislied to appear as 
 mean as p<;ssib'e. The visiters of the 
 Strangers' Friend S.iciely,ontheeastern part 
 «f the town, report, that they never knew 
 any worthy characters found in the streets 
 begging. I have known several insianccs 
 
 of persons obtaining considerable sums, 
 daily, by begging. — About two months ago 
 some children, in Kussell-square, attracted 
 my attention : I inquired particularly into 
 their history, and 1 found the mother sup- 
 ported by a daughter, a girl about twelve 
 years of age, who also appeared very 
 dirty and oifensive : 1 desired the girl 
 to bring her mother to my house, when 1 
 inquired more particularly into the case, 
 and I found the child earned, upon an ave- 
 rage, about eighteen pence a day. I in- 
 quired of the mother wliether the child 
 had any instruction ; she said, she had not, 
 and she g-,ive as the reason, that she had no 
 suitable clothes to go to school in: the 
 mother was furnished with money to pro- 
 cure suitable clothing, and the child was 
 sent to the Sunday School in Drury- 
 lane, which she frequented two or three 
 Sundays ; but, like many other similar 
 cases, she then absented herself. A boy, 
 aged about tifteen years, was placed by hia 
 mother, by the wall near Whiiechapel 
 work-house. Un application to his mother, 
 entreating her to let him be taken into the 
 work-house, she would not consent, unless 
 they would allow her thirty-six or thirty- 
 eight siiilhiigs a week, as she stated that, 
 upon an average, was but a part of his 
 gains. I conceive it in general to be a mis- 
 application of charity; to give to street- 
 beggars : that no plan of relieving the poor 
 is so effectual as that of visiting them at 
 their own habitations : and even then in- 
 quiry must be made of their neighbours to 
 know their real characters ; as persons in 
 the habit of begging are adepts in the art 
 of imposition. I would beg to state to the 
 Committee, that from mwch observation I 
 am satisfied that Sunday Schools, if proper- 
 ly conducted, are of essential importance 
 to the lower classes of society. I have 
 iiad occasion to inspect several Stinday 
 Schools for some years past, and I have 
 particularly observed the children, who at 
 first came to the schools dirty and ragged, 
 ill the course of a few months have become 
 clean and neat in their persons ; atid their 
 behaviour, from my own observation, ard 
 report of a great number of teachers, has 
 rapidly improved : I allude to those schools 
 where tlie teachers are gratuitous, as 1 find 
 that no persons who are paid do the work 
 half so well as those who do it from motives 
 of real benevolence. A large school which 
 I frequently visit in Ui-ury-lane, which liaa 
 u[iwards of 600 children, has produced 
 many instances oi' preat mental and moral 
 improvement amoni^st the lower classes of 
 
1815.] 
 
 Lit. and Phil. Intell. — Mendicity, 
 
 r63 
 
 aocleiy. At this time there are no less 
 than twenty cliimney-sweep boys in that 
 school, who, in consequence of coming 
 there, liave their persons well cleantd 
 every week, and their apparel kept in 
 decent order: 1 have the names of their 
 maslers. Some of the emplojiers of those 
 chimney-sweep boys are so well satisfied 
 with the school, that they will lake no 
 child but what shall regularly attend it, as 
 tliey find it greatly improves their morals 
 and behaviour In another school in Hinde- 
 streei, Mary-le-bone, there • are eleven 
 chimney-sweep boys. Some time ago, 
 when I happened lo be the visiter for the 
 day, a woman attended to return thanks 
 forihe education her daughter had received 
 in Druiy-lane School : 1 inquired whether 
 her cliild had received any particular bene- 
 fit by the instruction in the school; she 
 said, she had indeed received much good. 
 And I believe the woman's words were, 
 She should ever have reason to bless God 
 that lier child had come to that school ; 
 that before her girl attended there, her 
 husbund was a profligate, disorderly man, 
 spent most of iiis lime and money at the 
 public house . and she and iier daughter 
 were reduced to the most abject poverty, 
 and almost starved : that one Sunday after- 
 noon the father had been swearing very 
 much, and was somewhat in liquor; the 
 girl repr-ived the father, and told him, 
 from wliat she had heard at school, she 
 was sure it was very wicked to say such 
 words. Tiie father made no particular 
 reply, but on the Monday morning his 
 Wife was surprised to see him go out and 
 prociM'e f<jod for bresikfasl; and from that 
 time lie became a sober, industrious man. 
 Some weeks afterwards she ventured to 
 ask him t!ie cause of the change of his 
 character ; his reply was, that the words 
 of Mary made a strong impression upon 
 his mii'd, and he was determined to leutl 
 a new course of life. 'I'his was twelve 
 months prior to the child being taken out 
 of the school, and his character had be- 
 come thoroughly confirmed and establish- 
 ed : he is now a viiiuous man, and an e.x- 
 cellent husband She added, that ihey now 
 had their lodgings well furnislied, and that 
 they lived very comfortably ; and her dress 
 and appearance fully confirmed her testi- 
 mony. I have made particular inquiry of 
 a great number of teachers who act gratu- 
 itously in Sunday Schools, and they are 
 uniformly of opinion, that Sunday-school 
 instruction has a great tendency to prevent 
 mendicity in the lower classes of society. 
 One fact 1 bej to mention, of Henry Hai- 
 
 dy, who, when admitted a scholar at Drury- 
 lane School, was a common stieel-beggar ; 
 he continued to attend very regularly for 
 about eight years, during which time he 
 discontinued his former degrading habits : 
 on leaving the school, he was rewarded, 
 according lo tf,e custom, with a Bible, and 
 obtained a situation at a tobacconist's, to 
 serve behind the counter His brother 
 was also a scholar ; afterwards became a 
 gratuitous teacher in the same school ; 
 obtained a situation ; and, up to the period 
 of his quitting London, bore an excellent 
 character. The visiters of the Strangers* 
 Friend Society well knew a negro beggar, 
 who, about two years since, used to stand 
 by Messrs Elliott and Robinson's tea- ware- 
 house, near Finsbury-square, who has re- 
 tired to the West Indies, with a fortune, it 
 was supposed, of about 1,500/. obtained by 
 this mode of life." 
 
 " From much observation, 1 am con- 
 viiiced that begging has a direct tendency 
 to degrade the mind, and (iiat when poop 
 people once find tliey can easily get money by 
 begging, they very seldom afterwards have 
 recourse to iiabits of industry ; and I be- 
 lieve, from the great number of petitions 
 which I have had occasion lo examine, 
 many persons are made beggars from the 
 injudicious kindness of real benevolence: 
 and I am also of opinion, the generality of 
 petitions that are carried about are either 
 impositions, or, although begun from mo- 
 tives of charity, they are frequently carried 
 on for the jnirposes of idleness and profli- 
 gacy. I conceive (and this observation is 
 f 'unded on long experience) the best me- 
 thod of affording relief in cases of real dis- 
 tress, is for benevolent persons to make 
 private collections themselves, and to be- 
 stow the produce upon worthy objects, but 
 not to give them petitions to carry about, 
 as it only teaclies them the art of besiging, 
 which tiiey seldom forget when once ac- 
 quired; I liave often had petitions of three 
 and four years old, with real signatures, 
 and those petitions three and four times 
 over. — I would also add, that there are 
 many persons who live by writing letters 
 and [jetitions : a man in Rose street. Long 
 Acre, gets his living entirely by that em- 
 ployment ; he is neverliieless so idle, tliat 
 lie frequently will not write letters when 
 applied for, and the money brought to be 
 p:iid to him at the time. There is also 
 another person in the Broadway, West- 
 minster, wlio gels his livelihood in the 
 same m.anner — 1 Iiappened last night to see 
 a girl in the street, sf the name of Cafe; 
 
764 
 
 Russia. — List of JVew Publications. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 aged twelve, whose cas<^ I mentioned yes- 
 terday. She informed me she had been 
 six years engaged in begg-ng for her 
 mother ; that on some days she gets 
 tliree and four shillings, and often gets, to 
 use her own expression, a silver sixpence 
 or a shilling, besides copper; that on 
 Clirisi mas-day last, she earned tour shil- 
 lings and sixpence ; that s'le usually gets 
 abotit eighteen-pence a day, the very com- 
 mon days a shiUiiig; thai all the money she 
 earns is" spent at night; and notwithstand- 
 ing what was lately given to her mother, 
 she has no clothes to attend the Sunday 
 School. The moiiier pretends to make 
 soldiers' clothes : I called upon the 
 mother ; she was so ofiensive from drink- 
 ing spirits, I could scarcely stand near 
 her." 
 
 ( I'o be continued ) 
 
 RUSSIA. 
 
 Count Nicolas Romanzow, a public- 
 
 spirited Russian noblemati, has at his own 
 expense built and equipped a ship for a 
 new voyage of discovery This vessel 
 sailed from Cronstadt on the 31st of July 
 last, and has since touched at l^lymouth 
 on her way out. She is called the Rurik, 
 carries the Russian military flag, and is 
 commanded by Captam Kotzebue (son to 
 the celebrated autltor of thai name) a 
 lieutenant in the Russian Navy, and who 
 has already sailed round the world in the 
 Nadeshda, Captain Krusenstern. Dr. 
 Eschholz of the University of Dorpat; M. 
 Chammisso, the naturalist from Berlin; the 
 Danish naturalist, Wormskild and the 
 Russian painter, Choris, accompany tlici 
 expedition. The expedition will visit in 
 the South Seas those places which have 
 not been as yet sufficiently examined ; 
 will coast along the inner shores of Ame- 
 rica to Behring's Straits, and return by 
 the Straits of Torres, to the Cape of Good 
 Hope. 
 
 LIST OF NKW PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 TMEOLOGT. 
 
 A Sermon on the Pe.ace ; by James 
 Rudge, M. A. F. R. S. dedicated, by per- 
 mission, to the Earl of Liverpool, K G. 
 Is. 6d. 
 
 Three Sermons on Importrjnt Subjects ; 
 by James Uudge, M. A F. R. S. Is. 6d. 
 each. 
 
 Discourses on the Apocalypse; by the 
 Rev. Andrev/ Fuller. 8vo. lOs. 6d. 
 
 MTSCELLANEOUS. 
 
 A Treatise on the Nature, Economy, and 
 Practical iVIanagement of Bees ; by Robert 
 Huish, Member of the Imperial Apiarian 
 Society at Vienna, &.C. &c. 12s. 
 
 The History and llliistraiion of Salisbury 
 Cathedral, constituting a Portion of tiie 
 (jaihedral Antiquities of Eii[(laiid ; by John 
 Britton, F. S. a'. No. V. 12s. 
 
 General Biography ; or, Lives, Critical 
 and Historical, ol the most Eminent Per- 
 sons of all .Vges, Countries, (Conditions, and 
 Prot'essions, arranged according to Alpha- 
 betical Older ; bv"ji)hn Aikin, M. D. Vol. 
 X. ]/. lis. 6s. ' 
 
 A Biographical Memoir of the late Sir 
 I'oter Pavker, Bart. 4to. 12s. 
 
 A Delineation of the Strata of England 
 
 and Wales, with Part of Scotland; exhi- 
 biting the Collieries and Mines, the Marsh- 
 es and Fen Lands originally overfluwed by 
 the sea, and the varieties of soil according 
 to tlie variations in the sub-strata, illustrated 
 bv the most descriptive names of places and 
 oi' local districts: shewing also the canals 
 and rivers, sites of parks and principal seats 
 of tiie nobility and gentry, the opposite 
 coast of France, and the lines of strata neatly 
 coloured ; by Wm, Smith. 51. 5s 
 
 The Important Results of an elaborate 
 Investigation into the Mysterious Case of 
 Elizabeth Penning, being a Detail of extra- 
 ordinary Facts discovered since her Execu- 
 tion, including the Official Report of her 
 singular Trial; by John Waikins, LL. D. 
 8vo 6s. 6d. 
 
 Hints from a Mother to her Daughter ; 
 by Anna Williams. l2mo. 4s. 
 
 Friendly Labours ; by — Peacock. 2 
 vols. 12mo. ys. 
 
 The Paris Spectator, or I'Hermite de 
 la Cliaussee-d'Antin ; containing Obser- 
 vations upon Parisian Manners and Cus- 
 toms at the Commencement of tiie Nine- 
 teenth Century ; translated from the 
 French, by AVilliam Jerdan. 3 vols. 12nio. 
 18s. 
 
 The New Annual Register, or General 
 
18I5.J 
 
 JRe/ig. Intel/. — British and Foreign Bible Socielij. 
 
 765 
 
 Repository of Hist'iry, Politics, and Litera- 
 ture, tor liie Yv-ar 1814. 11. 
 
 A new :ind c ipioiis Eiiirlisli and Gaelic 
 Vicubulary, with the different Parts of 
 Speech, in Al|)liabeiical Order ; by P. 
 Macfarlane. 7s. 6(1 
 
 Easi-In.l a Rei^ister for 1815. "s 6il. 
 
 A Caiai.igue of Books in various Lan- 
 guages and Classes ofLitcr-ilure ; isicluding 
 
 one thousand Articles, ancient, curious, and 
 rare ,■ b\ James Rusher, Reading- 2s. 6d. 
 
 Boyce's Belgian Traveller. 18mn 8s. 
 
 Travels to the Source of the Missouri 
 River, and across the American Continent 
 to the Pacific Ocean : performed by Order 
 of the Government of the United States in 
 the Years 1801, 1805, and 1806; by Capts. 
 Lewis and Claike. 3 vols. 8vo. 2/. 23, 
 
 RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. 
 
 BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY. 
 
 We have never been insensible to the ser- 
 vices of those distingi'ished individuals 
 who have undertaken l!ie public vindication 
 of the British and Foreign Bible Society 
 from the calumnies w\\h which it has bi'en 
 assailed ; neither have we been backward 
 in expressing our gratitude. They have 
 d'^ne much to frustrate the efforts ofbigoiry 
 and prejudice, and to secure the free circu- 
 lation of the Word of Life in this and every 
 land. \Ve have, nevcrtiieless, always felt 
 that the most' powerful plea m favour of 
 tliis Society, a plea which speaks directly 
 and forcibly to the heart, and leaves far be- 
 hind the slow and more laboured deducti ms 
 of arugmentatlon, is the simple tale of its 
 beneficence : Thus and thus has the Socie- 
 ty done. " One thing I know," may the 
 weakest of its friends reply to the most 
 subtle reasoning of its most-powerful adver- 
 saries— " One thing I know, that it has 
 done, and is doing incalculable good ; and 
 is a mighty instrument in the hand of the 
 Almighty for spreading the knowledge of 
 liis will. I should not dare to oppose such 
 a Society, being as sure as facts can make 
 me that I should be opposing the work of 
 God. Even in not supporting such a Soci- 
 ety, shall I be entirely guiltless ?" 'I'he as. 
 sailants of the British and F')reign Bible 
 Society, therefoie, may be assured that, 
 however goodly may be their array of ab- 
 stract reasoning, and prospective apprehen- 
 sion, and solemn warning, and episcopal 
 denunciation — however keen their satire^ 
 and however loud their anathemas — they 
 will find all their opposing efforts vain, un- 
 less they can disprove the facts on which 
 chiefly the Society founds its claims to the 
 cordial supp')rt of every real friend of God 
 and man ; unless they can prove that it does 
 Christ. Ob5erv. No. 167. 
 
 not circulate to an extent unknown before 
 the life-giving Gospel of J.-sus Christ 
 amongst all nations, and kmdrcd, and peo- 
 ple, and tongues ; unless it can prove either 
 that it has not distributed upwards of fifteen 
 hundred thousand c^ipies of the Scriptures 
 in little more th..n ten years, or that by this 
 distribution it has done evil, and not good ; 
 unless, in short, it can prove that the litjht 
 of Heaven is darkness. On this account, 
 we hail with satisfaction every fresh record 
 of the progress of this mighty institution, 
 and eagerly embrace tlie opportunity of giv- 
 ing it publicity.— These observations sug- 
 gested themselves to our minds as we 
 perused a sheet of " Extracts from the Cor- 
 respondence of the British and Foreign 
 Bible Society since the publ cation of the 
 Eleventh Report," which has recently 
 reached us, and the substance of which we 
 iiave much pleasure in laying before oui- 
 readers. 
 
 1. The first article is a letter of thanks 
 from the Sheriff of a district in Iceland (the 
 North Pole itself is not safe from the pene- 
 trating influence of this Society,) in the 
 name of " the whole population of the 
 district," for the Icelandic Scriptures sent 
 there in the summer of 1814. The letter 
 was oflicially communicated through the 
 Bishop of the island. 
 
 2 A letter from the Rev. J, Patersofi, 
 dated St Petersburgh, April 24, 1815, as- 
 sures theCommittee, that the 2001. allowed 
 by them for distributing Swedish Bibles 
 among the Swedish inhabitants of Finland, 
 had produced the happiest effect in awaken- 
 ing a desire for the Scriptures, and that he 
 h'>ped, pre long, every Swedish family in 
 Finh'.iid Tvotild be fi:trnished with a Bible* 
 3 F 
 
Relig. IntelL — Britiah and Foreign Bible Society. 
 
 res 
 
 The demand for the Finnish Testament he 
 states to be so great m the government of 
 St. Petersburgh, that the whole edition was 
 already nearly exhausted. *' The inhabi- 
 tants have been famisliing for want of the 
 word of life, and now they are almost in- 
 satiable." Hie emperor has given the 
 Bible Society tlie privilege of sending all 
 letters and packages by post free of ex- 
 pense, so that even Bibles may now be sent 
 to the remotest parts of the empire with 
 ease and without cost— The most impor- 
 tant part of Mr. Paterson's conimunicaiion 
 respects a Pas'oral Letter addressc-d by the 
 Roman Catholic Metropolitan, his eminence 
 Stanislaus Sistrensevitch Bogush, Arch- 
 bishop of Mogileff, to his flock, and which 
 has been published in the gazette, recom- 
 mending to tiiem the readmg of the Scrip- 
 tures. Hi.s letter commences with an ex- 
 tract from the decrees of the Council of 
 Trent, in which it is declared thai the Gos- 
 pel, as contained in the Bible, is the source 
 of all saving truth and pure morality, and 
 that those are cut olf from 'he society of the 
 churcii who do not receive as holy and 
 canonical the bonks of the holy Scriptures 
 of the Old and New Testament. In con- 
 formiiy with this decree th>' Metropolitan 
 state-, that in the year 1778 the late Pope 
 Pius VI. had prefaced an Italian version of 
 the Bible with an mtroductory epistle, ex- 
 plaining the necessity of reading the holy 
 Scriptures, which contains the following 
 words : — 
 
 " At a time when avast number of bad 
 books are published, which most grossly 
 attack the Christian religion, and whicli 
 are circulated even among the unlearned, 
 to the certain destruction of souls, you 
 judged exceedingly well, beloved son in 
 Christ, to translate the Bible into your 
 native language, intelligible to the people. 
 By the printing and publishing of it, Chris- 
 tians Will be excited to read it: you have, 
 therefore, .opened the most abundant 
 sources, out of which they can draw pure 
 doctrine and morality, to cleanse them from 
 error, which is so widely disseminated in 
 this corrupt age," Sic. 
 
 The Metropolitan then proceeds as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 ety prints the Bible in all the lant^uages 
 spoken in the Russian empire. At present, 
 it is also engaged in printing an edivion of 
 the New Testament iu the Polls; . tongue, 
 according to the Vulgate version, undet my 
 superintendence, the press being Corrected 
 by the Jesuit fathers After this edition is 
 finished, the Old Testament will be printed 
 also. The New Testament is likewise 
 publ'shing in thi Samogitian language, by 
 the Bishop of Samogitia.* His imperial 
 majesty has been pleased to graAt en- 
 couragement to this vast undertaking. 
 Liberal subscriptions are made for its sup- 
 port by the rich, and many thousand kopecks 
 are laid together by thy poor, and sent in to 
 promote ils grand objec. For this money. 
 Bibles and N.w Testaments are sent to dif- 
 ferent quarters, and sold at a Imv price, and 
 given to the poor gratis In different govern- 
 ments of the empire, Auxilia'-y Socieiiesare 
 forming by friends to this cause, of different 
 confessions, for the purpose of collecting 
 subscriptions, and transmitting them to the 
 Societyin St. Petersburgh, inorder to receive 
 Bibles fir sale and distribution. 'I'he |iro- 
 gressoftlus g.neral undertaking, by Euro- 
 pean Christians, may be seen in the public 
 gazettes. But 1, by this epistle, give inti- 
 mation to my ffock, concerning the Bible 
 Institution in Russia, and ronclucU- with 
 the following words of St Paul : 1 am not 
 ashained of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the 
 power of God unto salvation to every one that 
 believeth. 
 
 " Given in St Petersburgh, De- 
 cember 14, 1814" 
 
 3. A letter from the Rev. R Pinkerton, 
 dated SI Petersburgh, June 5, 1815, con- 
 tains a report of the establishment of an 
 Auxiliary Bible S'>ciety in the sea-port 
 town of Theociosia, in the Crimea. The 
 following is an extract from this report : — 
 
 " It appears from the plan of the Russian 
 Bible Society, that its primary object is to 
 furnish the nations of the Russian empire 
 with the Bible in their different languages, 
 and in particular to affi>rd our own Russian 
 Bible to all at a low price, and to the poor 
 without money We are not from hence 
 to conclude, however, that it is not per- 
 
 ♦' A Bible Society has been established 'The British and Fore.gn Bible Society 
 
 in St. Petersburgh, under the presidency has granted to the Russian Bble Soci-ty 
 
 of his excellency Prince Alexander Galitzin, 250/. in aid of printing and circuiating the 
 
 minister for foreign confessions. The Soci- Samogitian ScripUircs, 
 
1815.] 
 
 JRelig. Intell, — British and Foreign Bible Society. 
 
 767 
 
 mitted, or that it is inconsistent with tlie 
 aim of vhe B ble Society, to bestow the gift 
 of this liaity dread, coniaiiiiiig- eternal life, 
 on the nuiioiis beyond the borders of 'he 
 empire On the contrary, the Russian 
 Bible Society, during the short period of 
 its exislenc"^, has already shewn, in its 
 intiTCOUi'se with the British and F' reign 
 Bible Society, as stated in its Report of 
 1813, the universality of its spirit of Chris- 
 tian love, and its desire to put tlie Word of 
 God into the hands of those who are with- 
 out the boundaries of the empire. 
 
 "As the town of Theodosia is inhabited 
 chiefly by foreigners of diflierent religious 
 persuasions, it will be necessary to inform 
 them, that the spirit and rules of the Rus- 
 sian Bible Society do not prevent it from 
 sending the holy Scriptures to their friends 
 beyond ilie borders of Ru-sia The Bible 
 S'ictety has limited the object of its tinder- 
 taking (o the distribution of the h"ly Scrip- 
 tures in different languages, without note 
 or continent The object in its simplicity, 
 is exalted, and worthy of the spirit of the 
 Gospel. 
 
 *' The rheodosian Branch Bible Society 
 will strive to distribute the Woid of God 
 among unbelievers, having before it a vast 
 field, — first in th^* peninsula of the Crimea, 
 and secondlxin the neighb'iuring countries 
 of Caucasus and Anatolia — for making 
 known the Gospel to all nations who still 
 remain in Heathen or Mohammedan dark- 
 ness. But without exactly fixing the ex- 
 tent of the sphere of its operations, it is 
 easy to observe, that it will comprehend 
 particularly the ciuintries lying on the 
 shores of the Black Sea. Abliazia, Min- 
 grellia, and Anatolia, being in the closest 
 commercial connexion with Theodosia, 
 present a wide field for the Bible Society 
 proposed to be in that city. 
 
 "It is well known, that in former times 
 the AWiazi were enlightened by the faith 
 of Christ, and belonged to the Greek com 
 muninn, possessed their own bishops, and 
 were reckoned to the Eparche of Ala- 
 nie, the seat of which see was Theodosia, 
 and afterwards Piianagoria. After the fall 
 of the Greek empire, however, the nation 
 of the Abhazi, like the Circassians, being 
 deprived of preachers, and not possessing 
 a written language, returned to their hea- 
 thenish customs, and at length msny of 
 them embraced the Mohammedan religion. 
 Surely, it is possible to enliven the remem- 
 
 brance of extinguished faith, by causing 
 the rays of the Gospel light again to shine 
 upon it. 
 
 "The inhabitants of Mingrellia have been 
 more fortunate than their neighb urs. the 
 Abhazi. They have preserved the faith of 
 their fathers in the midst of the heavy joke 
 of bondage which has lain upon their coun- 
 try for several centuries ; and, noiuith- 
 standing the persecutions of cruel Moliam- 
 medans, lliey still continue t'< hold the 
 Christian faiih nccording to the Greek Con- 
 fession, and j)erform tlieir religious services 
 in the Georgian language. If the poverty 
 of the inhabitants, the ignorance of the 
 clergy, and the strong hold of national cus- 
 toms, have hitherto prevented the better 
 organization of the Mingiellian Cluircb, 
 winch remains without pastors, and almost 
 desolate ; yet now, when this country is 
 joined to the Russian empire, we may 
 surely expect that some help will be given, 
 particularly from the exertions of the Bible 
 Society, provided it were only possible to 
 find means for priming the holy Scriptures 
 in the Georgian language, for distribution 
 in Mingrellia, where church books are very 
 scarce and very dear.* From what has 
 been here stated, it is evident, that the 
 spiritual wants of the inhabitants of Min- 
 grellia are excessive, and demand imme- 
 diate attention. It is also well known, that 
 the same scarcity of the Scriptures exists 
 in Imeretta, and even in Georgia itself." 
 
 " After Mingrellia, the next in order is 
 Guria, or Gunal, a small state inhabited 
 by Christians l)el()nging to ll,e Greek 
 Cliurch. They speak the same language 
 as the Mingrellians, and their state is the 
 very same, in regard to Christian organi- 
 zation ; that is, they are denominated Chris- 
 tians, though almost strangers, not only to 
 Christian civilization, but even to the ex- 
 ternal form of it. 
 
 "At length, the coast of Anatolia pre- 
 sents itself to view, extensive, and well 
 peopled mostly by Greeks and Aririenians, 
 who compose the labouring, or what is 
 there styled the black, part of the commu- 
 nity. Tlie lot of these Christians, yet our 
 
 * " At the time when this idea came 
 into the miiul of the writer, his flesiie was 
 already begun to l)e accomplished by the 
 efforts of the Conimiuee of the Russian 
 Bible Society." 
 
768 
 
 Relig. Inlell British and Foreign Bible Society. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 brethren, sunk in ignorance and poverty, 
 under the iron rod of Turkish dominion, 
 surely merits our compassion. Poverty, 
 produced by oppression, has deeply rooted 
 ignorance among them, and this lias at 
 length begotten indifference to the know- 
 ledge of the Word of God. These poor 
 people are reduced so far, that they have 
 forgotten their native tongues, and now 
 pray to God in the Turkisii language. 
 There are still Greek and Armenian 
 churches among them, in which divine 
 sei'vice is peifiirmed ; but this is done in a 
 very unedifying way, which may easily be 
 conceived, when it is known, that even 
 the priests themselves have but a verv small 
 knowledge of letters. Certainlv, God is 
 not confined to magnificent temples, and a 
 splendid ritual of worship, but accepts for 
 a prayer every sigh which ascends from the 
 boiumi of (lie heart ; yet such deformity 
 in his service, liiimanly speaking, appears 
 to be a dishonouring of his glory, and ought 
 lo toucli the brotheily love of every ChrTs- 
 tian, and powerfully rouse compassion for 
 the unfortunate lot of the Gretk and Ar- 
 menian uiliabiiams of Anatoha, who are 
 deprived of every means of extricating 
 themselves out of their p.esent lamentable 
 condition. To furnish them with the holy 
 Scriptures in the Greek, Armenian, and 
 Turkish languaj^es. is the only aid which 
 the Bible Society can afford them There- 
 by you will pour into their sorrowful souls 
 the sweet consolations of the Gospel, and 
 strengthen their patience to bear up under 
 tlie temporary evils of the present life, with 
 tiie hope of blessedness in the world to 
 come ; for tiieir only hope at present is in 
 the Divine blessing, sent down upon suffer- 
 ing humanity, by means of Bible Societies. 
 
 "The Theodosian Branch Society will 
 take upon iiself the sacred obligations of 
 promoting these views, having numerous 
 facilities by the central commercial inter- 
 course which the port of Theodosia has 
 with Abliazia, Mingrellia, and Anatolia. 
 From these short remarks, it is easy to ob- 
 serve, how important and extensive the 
 fiold is, which presents itself to the zeal 
 and activity of tiie Meinbers of the Theo- 
 dosian Auxiliary Hible Society. Success, 
 and further extended views, depend upon 
 God He, by his oinnijiotent goodness, 
 will direct all f r the best, and will make 
 even impossibilities possible to contrite 
 spirits, that hunger after his righteousness. 
 " Theodosia, Jprii 3, 1815." 
 
 Mr. Pinkerton adds : — ** I rejoice to say, 
 that our Committee have unanimously re- 
 solved to give every encouragement to pro- 
 mote the final establishment of the Theo- 
 dosian Bible Society, and to relieve the 
 spiritual necessities of the poor Abliazi, 
 Mingrellians, and Anatolians, so afTer tingly 
 described in the above statement ; and also, 
 without loss of time, to send off a quantity 
 of Greek arid Armenian New Testaments, 
 so that no time be lost in transmil'mg the 
 treasures of the Gospel with the first mer- 
 chant vessels which leave the port of The- 
 odosia for the shores of Mingrellia and 
 Aiiatolia. 1 leave you, my dear friend, to 
 make your own observations on this won- 
 dertul opening of Divine Providence, to 
 rekuidle the Christian flame among the 
 churches of Asia Minor, where first the 
 great Apostle of the Gentiles preacted the 
 doctrine fif the Cross. For my part, 1 con- 
 fess, that no communication, ever laid be- 
 fore the Committee of the Russian Bible 
 Society, afforded me more pleasure, and, 
 in my opinion, promised such fair opening 
 lo the Word of God into the Turkish em- 
 |)ire, whei-e so many hitndred tliousands of 
 Chris' ians alone are destitute of ii. U that 
 the Turkish Bible were reudy for distribu- 
 tion ! Pi ay use every means to carry it on 
 in Berlin with Sfieed There is great en- 
 couragement at present to put the Word of 
 Gud into the hands of Mohammedans. As 
 a proof of their strong prejudice against 
 Chnsiianlty having abated, 1 shall instance 
 two pleasing incidents. The other day, I 
 met with a Tartar prince, arrived a few 
 days ago Irom the Crimea, who is a n)ajor- 
 general in the Russian service, and is about 
 to march for the frontiers at the head of 
 four regiments of Tartar cossacks, belong- 
 ing to that peninsula 1 made inquiries of 
 him respecting the character of the Mufti 
 of the Crimea, who subscribes 50 rubles 
 anntially to the Bible Society, and is at the 
 head of upwards of 10,000 Mohammedan 
 priests The General said, 'hat the Mufti 
 was an enlightened man ; that he recom- 
 mended to the priests to read the Tartar 
 New Testament ; that he had granted per- 
 mission to himself, for he is still a Mussul- 
 man, and the other Tartars under his com- 
 mand, to wear the crosses of distinction 
 conferred by his imperial majesty for acts 
 of valour; and lastly, that he teaches them, 
 that religion does not consist in meat and 
 drink. 
 
 "The second incident is also interest- 
 
1815. J 
 
 BeHg. Intdl. — Church Missionary Society. 
 
 '69 
 
 ing. 1 remarked to you, in my lust, that 
 tlie Biicliaiian Ambassudcr hud, with his 
 own hand, copied |)art of the manuscript of 
 the Persian New 'reslament 1 have since 
 been informed, that this Ambnssatior, laie- 
 ly arrived from tlitr city wliere poor Abclal- 
 la sntlVred nuirtyrdiMii for his atiachmt-iU 
 to Cnrisi and tlie NfW Testanieni, has 
 alreadv m his possession a Tartar New 
 Testament, wl)ich he broiit,dU with him, 
 and in wliicli he is said frequently to 
 read." 
 
 The Committee of the British and Fo 
 reijfn BbU Society h.ive rect-n'ly g'ranted 
 t" me Russian Bible Society, for the I'he- 
 odosian Auxihary, 500/, 
 
 4 A second letter from Mr Pinkerton, 
 daurd June 15th, transmits some extracts 
 fium the printed Report of the Mos- 
 ow Bible- Society, which he states to be 
 •• drawn up m a masterly style of lang-uai^e, 
 and to b»^ f'lll of piety and zeal for the ad- 
 vancement ot" hie t^oiul cause" Among 
 other striking facts, it stales the follow- 
 ing:— 
 
 «' According to the most aullientic sour- 
 ces of intoririaiion, it appears, that during 
 234 years, since Bibles were first printed 
 in Russia, n.) more tlian tz-centy tivo edi- 
 tions of the Slavonian Bibli have app"urt-d, 
 consisting in ati of but about sixry tbousand 
 Copies /" 
 
 And tliis htr all the succeeding genera- 
 tions, of a pupiilalion consisting of so many 
 miiliuns of souls ! 
 
 5. Cornmunications from Mr. Paterson, 
 datfd at St. P^iersburgli, Aug. lltli, and 
 Sept 2d, coniains some interesting state- 
 ments. The Arcltbisiiop of Geoigia lias 
 informed the Committee, that some of the 
 M 'liammedan iribes in the Caucasus had 
 requested persons to bf sent to teacli tiiem 
 to read, ih.U they miglu be able to use 
 Cliristian books. A prince of the Mongo- 
 lian tribe, has earnestly requested to iiave 
 the Scriptures sent to him and his people, 
 in a language tiiey can read and understand. 
 The Committee iiave resolveil to print 
 500 ' copies of the Scriptures fir the inha- 
 bitants of Moldavia and Wallacliia (the 
 ancient Macedonia), making their sixteenth 
 language. 
 
 The British and Foreign Bible Society 
 bas granted to the Russian Bible .Society 
 10001 for its general purposes, and oOOl. for 
 the Moldavian Scrifitures. 
 
 6. Mr. Morison sends from Canton in 
 
 China, (Jan 30, 1815.) a copy of a 12mo. 
 edition of the Climese New Testament. 
 The cost Will be half a dollar a copy He 
 has bej;un to prml the Old Testament. The 
 Society lias granted lOOOl. to t-xtend the 
 circulation of ilie Clinese Scriptures. 
 
 7. The Rev. Mr. Supper, secretary to the 
 Java Bible Society, in a letter dated Hata- 
 via, Feb 4, 1815, states that the Arabian 
 merchants and sche iks read with eagerness 
 the Bibks they receive of him ; sitting in 
 companies for whole nights for tiiis (lur- 
 pose : the Cliinese in this island also read 
 eagerly the New Testaments distributed 
 among them last year by Mr, Milne from 
 Canton. "1 sometimes," he says, "go 
 round on purpose, and often find Chinese 
 parents reatling to their famdies, in the 
 morning, out of tlie Ntw Testament." 
 
 8. The Rev T Rubertson, in a letter 
 from Calcuti.i, March 27. ISl."^, observes, 
 that by ihe efior's nov using, " know-- 
 ledfre, the best of know ledge, wii! be in- 
 cieasf'd," '• Indeed," he acids, " there are 
 manifest tcdcens of the fall of idolatry at 
 It-ast ; and 1 observe, that all those who 
 bavf learnt the English language, even im- 
 perfectly, iiave acquired nt-w seniiments 
 witli re'spect to the Author of their being, 
 wiihont themselves being aw are of it. Thus 
 tlie f 'iindaiiotis of PoKiheism are iinder- 
 minml (iyily, a.'^d a ho(;e excitid, tlmt in a 
 littlf time we may hf ar t)ie uliole building 
 tumbh- to the ground. With the sarit'ti 
 Scripuires in our hands, we can have no 
 doiib', as to the tcTnpIt- that will rise upon 
 i's rums Wt- hmk up to your Sc>cieiy, as 
 the great insliiimerit, under God, fin- the 
 raising of this house (if the Lord, v here 
 the nations of the Hindoostanee may flow 
 together under the banners of Jesus Christ." 
 
 9 The Seventh Report of the Philadel- 
 phia Bible Society, states, that there are 
 now '• within our national h mils, seventy-six 
 societies, who have taken their res])ective 
 shares of this great design But lest it 
 should be inferred, that there is the less 
 need ofthe liberality of professing Chris- 
 tians in this city and its vicinity, the m.ana- 
 geis take occasion to make known, that 
 iheir proceedings Iiave continually tended 
 to enlarge their views and opportunities of 
 usefulness." 
 
 CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 
 
 The Anntial Report made to this Socie- 
 ty on the 2d of May last has been some 
 time before the public, and we have regret- 
 ted that it has not been in our power sooner 
 to notice its contents. It is preceded by a 
 
770 
 
 Relig, Intell. — Church Missionary Society. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 sermon preached on that day by the Rev. 
 T. T. Vaug-han, M. A., Vicar of Si. Ma- 
 ry's and All Saints, in Leicester, from 
 1 John V. 11,12. The general doctrine 
 winch the preacher endeavours to establish, 
 is tliat " the reception of Christianity is 
 essential to salvation." If then, the hea- 
 liien " Without Christ, liavin^ no hope, 
 cannot be saved ;'* if there be none other 
 name under heaven given among'st men 
 which can avail to this end, " let us rejoice 
 that there are so many different communi- 
 ties even in our own country pursuing 
 separate and combined efforts in this great 
 work. Let us give to eadi our right hand 
 of fellowship, our good wishes^ congratula- 
 tions and prayers. Let us see whether we 
 cannot make our own labours more abun- 
 dant and more successful." Give your 
 alms to-day, under the awakening convic- 
 tion, " that thus only shall the heathen 
 come to God ! Look at the world — it is 
 not only a world which lieth in wicked- 
 ness, but a world in convulsions ; a world 
 groaning and travailing in pain together, 
 till all the kingdoms of the earth become 
 the kirigdoms of the Lord and of his 
 Christ. The decree, long since gone firth, 
 seems now to be on the eve of ns accom- 
 plishment ! Jerusalem shall be built : the 
 foundations of the temple shall be laid. 
 
 " Our favoured island and its dependen- 
 cies have an exalted shure in the vast en- 
 terprise In is remmkable, that, whetjier 
 a faithless and ambitious Conqueror, or 
 the meek successor of St Louis, fill tlie 
 throne, Britain, n seems, is to be tlie model 
 of the new frame of things : our polity is 
 to be their polity, so far as a dissimilar 
 national character and state of things can 
 bear it. True religion, too, is on the in- 
 crease here, and makes known her march 
 by S( unding her trumpet in many excellent 
 insiiutions, by wliich her combined cause 
 is to triumph. Her sons and herdaughters 
 die, and thus prove themselves to be no 
 beuer than tlieir fathers ; but other sons 
 and daughters rise up, and are baptized for 
 the dead. We lose our Venn, to model ; 
 cur Cecil, to paint ; our Robinson, to en- 
 force ; our Buchanan, to explore; our 
 Thornton — son wortiiy of thy father ! — to 
 counsel and support : but we have a vete- 
 ran pioneer or two, still left to lead the 
 wav: we have still inventive genius to 
 plan; we have still laborious industry to 
 prosecute : we have nobles and senators to 
 plead ; we have citizens to enrich, and 
 soldiers to pray for us. What are all 
 
 these, but so many encouragements tugo 
 on with our work, looking to ourselves that 
 "we lose not those things vihich vie have 
 xurought, but that we receive a foil reward. 
 
 " I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by 
 the mercies and by ide judgmenis of God; 
 by dawning hopes and by revived terrors ; 
 by the ashes of your dead friencis, and by 
 the spirit of the dead which breathes in 
 the living; by the groans of perishing hea- 
 thens, and by the joys of heaven-born, labo- 
 rious, consistent Christians; by the pains 
 of hell, and by the gl.->rie9 of heaven ; 
 come. lengiMen the cords, and strengihen 
 the stakes «f your tent — come, bring the 
 gold, tlie silver, ad tiie stones, which 
 are to form die gaies. the walls, and the 
 
 battlements of the last ciiy to be built 
 
 come, eidarge the commission of yom an- 
 gel, and bid him fly with his everlasfiig 
 Gospel to every nation, and kindred, and 
 tongue, and people — to preach unto all 
 them that dwell on the earth, foam the 
 river to the sea, and foom the flood to the 
 ViorWs end " 
 
 The following is an abstract of the 
 Report : — 
 
 The pecuniary resources of the Society 
 have been greatly augmen'ed For twelve 
 years its inc<'me ivas 200ul The Ijth 
 year it was 30001. The 14' h year yield- 
 ed 11, 001 It.s amount during the past 
 year has exceeded 16.0001 Considerably 
 more than the half of this sum has arisen 
 from the efforts of Auxiliary Associations. 
 Since the last Report, many fresh Asso- 
 ciations have been added to the former 
 list ; among the rest, an Hibernian Aux- 
 iliary Society, of which an account was 
 given in our Is' umber for April, with vari- 
 ous associations dependant upon if, has 
 been instituted. Extensive associations 
 have also been formed for Hull and the 
 East Riding of Yoikshire, for Plymouth, 
 for Birmingham and its vicinity, for the 
 town and county of Bedford, for Man- 
 chester and .Salford, for the town and coun- 
 ty 'if Derby, for York, Newcastle on Tyne, 
 Lancaster, and other places. This enlarge- 
 ment of Its funds, and increase of auxiliary 
 institutions, we may justly regard as the 
 indication of an enlightened conviction of 
 the duty of all Christians to contribute their 
 utmost to this work of mercy ; the evi- 
 dence of a growing sense of gratitude to 
 Christ, and of compassion for the perishing 
 souls of men. 
 
1815.J 
 
 Relig. TnCell.-^Churc/i Mismonary Society. 
 
 771 
 
 The Committee advert with peculiar 
 satisfaction to the share which is now 
 borne in works of Christian benevolence by 
 tlie labouring classes and ihe young, and 
 to the benign effect of this |)arlicipauon on 
 their minds Fiom this source many iliou- 
 sand pounds have been added lo the Socie- 
 ty's fund during the past year ; and it is 
 obvious that the minute coiuribuiions of 
 the great mass of the people will prove the 
 mosi effectual and unfailing support of the 
 eff )rts ot charity. Uut lliey have to record, 
 also, particular instances of extraordinary 
 munificence. An anonymous lady has pre- 
 sentei! 8001. to the Society. A respectable 
 but plain countryman, and his sister, lately 
 paid lo the secn-iary a benefaction of 3001.; 
 and in reply lo an expression of surprise, 
 observed, " ood, sir, has put it into our 
 power, and lie has also given us tiie 
 will." 
 
 The e-xertions of the Society have kept 
 pace with the increase of its resources. 
 
 In Wes'ern Africa and in New Zealand, 
 they are aitempling at once to civilize 
 and to evangelize. " In the endeavour to 
 evangelize a nation wholly or [)artialiy civi- 
 lized, the expense is better kaown and 
 more deSniie; and it is comparatively 
 small. But, where the first rudiments of 
 letters are to be made known ; where the 
 language of the natives is first to be fixed, 
 and then taught to themselves ; where the 
 very children who receive Christian in- 
 struction, mus' be fed and clothed ; where 
 even the simple arts of life must be made 
 known or improved ; where the servant of 
 God not only can derive little toward his 
 own support from all around him, but must 
 maintain the character of a liberal bene- 
 factor — it is obvious that the expense of 
 such efforts must be I u-ge, fluctuating, and 
 indefinite. But shall these forlorn heathen 
 be, therefore, abandoned ? Shall injured 
 Africa plead in vain ? .Shall that noble race 
 of half :i million of men, who inhabit the 
 New Zealand islands, be left to the wanton 
 cruelty of men who disgrace tlie Britisli 
 name ?" — One very important part of the 
 Society's plans is the establishment of 
 Christian Institutions, under the protection 
 of British authority, in the most favourable 
 stations for diffusing the liglit of truth 
 among the heathen. In these institutions, 
 it is proposed that provision shall be made 
 for training up the native youth in the 
 knowledge of agriculture and the simple 
 arts, and for qualiO.'ing some of them to 
 
 become teachers of their countrymen, and 
 others, if it shall please God, preachers of 
 the Gospel. These Institutions will serve 
 as points of support to the exertions of the 
 Society in their respective quarters : they 
 may be rendered the asylums of its widows 
 and orphans; and they will become, in 
 various ways, a source of beneficent influ- 
 ence over the surrounding tribes. Sucli 
 an institution is about to be established 
 within the Colony of Sierra Leone It is 
 proposed to receive into this institution the 
 multitudes of African children, who are 
 liberated from smuggling slave vessels. A 
 very laudable regard has been pai'' to edu- 
 cation in the Colony, and exertions are now- 
 making in this respect ; but the rapid ac- 
 cession to the number of lhe.se destitute 
 children, by the liberation of them from 
 slave smugglers, and the large increase 
 winch may yet be expected from the same 
 source, demand more energtnic and sys- 
 tematic eflijrts to rescue them from igno- 
 rance, and to train them up in the koow- 
 ledge of Christianity, and of such occupa- 
 tions as may benefit themselves and their 
 country Un whom does this office of 
 Christian charity so naturally devolve, as on 
 the Church Missionary Society I 
 
 A grant of land having been made to the 
 Society by Government, the way is pre- 
 pared for an establishment adapted to car- 
 ry tiiese plans into execution Tliere a 
 school-house will be erected, for 1200 or 
 1500 children ; with a. church or chapel, 
 and suitable accommodations for the chil- 
 dren, for a master and mistress, and a 
 missionary and his family ; all in a plain 
 and substantial style. The Society's print- 
 ing press may also be there established, at 
 which the Scriptures in the languages of 
 Western Africa, with various elementa- 
 ry books, may be printed. This proposal 
 has been laid before his Majesty's Minis- 
 ters, wiio have very liberally promised to 
 assist the design, and to place all the libe- 
 rated children under the Society's care. 
 The prayer also of a memorial to Govern- 
 ment, on the erection of a church at Sierra 
 Leone, and the augmentation if tlie Chap- 
 lain's salary, from the Committee, and 
 from that zealous and unwearied friend of 
 Africa, Governor Maxwell, has been readi- 
 ly granted. 
 
 The Committee have great pileasure in 
 stating the success of the plan proposed in 
 the last Report, of taking under the So- 
 ciety's protection snch African children as 
 
7r2 
 
 Relig. Intell,— Church Missionary Society. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 might be named by persons in this coun- 
 try, willing to coiitribuit- five jiounds per 
 annum for the siipport ot'each cluld The 
 names of mo'e iliaii a hundred chili'.ren 
 have bee;i received, and upwards of 5001. 
 is annually paid to tlie Society for the 
 beiievole'U puriiose of their maintenance 
 and education in Afi'ica Charitable per- 
 sons, who feel for Africa, cannot apply 
 to a nobler pur|)ose an annual bent-fac- 
 tion of Wve pounds, than in tlie support and 
 Chris'iun education of a little African pen- 
 sioner, to be succeeded by another witen 
 the instruction of one may iiave been com- 
 pleted. 
 
 Tlie West-African Mission has, how- 
 ever, to contend with peculiar difficulties. 
 The hab'ls and supposed interests of Mie 
 native chiefs, lead tliem to suspicion and 
 jealousy of the motives of the Society and 
 its Missionaries; and these feelings have 
 been cherished by men who live on the 
 misery of Africa. The adherents of the 
 slave trade have persisted in cahnnniating 
 them as s[)ies and inforni'-rs; and the 
 efforts of his Majes'y's Government at 
 Sierra Leone, fir the erachcalion of this 
 commerce, have been revenged on the So. 
 ciety's estal)lishments. Uiieofihe houses 
 in tlie Basiiia settlement lias been burnt ; 
 and the school-house in the CuroH'ee set- 
 tlement burst into flames, in the dead of 
 night, wliile the cliildi'en were asleep: 
 but they were, alarmed in sufficient time to 
 escape. In short, the Society's Missit)ii. 
 aries on this coast are called to encounter 
 diffi'ullies from the climate, from the 
 habits of the natives, and from the machi- 
 nations of bad men, which seem luiequal- 
 led in any other part of the great mission- 
 ary fi-ld. One of the laymen and one of 
 the females had died since the last Ueport, 
 and the Missionaries generally had suffer- 
 ed much from illness. In de|)endence on 
 Divine aid, the Committee, however, de- 
 termined to continue, in the face of diffi- 
 culties, its efforts for the good of Africa. 
 Seven persons connected with the Society 
 have lately been sent out to strengthen the 
 Mission. 
 
 The attem[)ts of the Society in Africa are 
 unavoidably attended with a great expendi- 
 ture. In the state of insecurity under 
 which the settlements have hitherto la- 
 boured, little or nothing could be done by 
 them toward their own support. When 
 the total dep.truction of the slave trade 
 shall give security to tlie ()lans of the So- 
 ciety, there is reason to liope, that, by the 
 
 produc" of the soil, its settlements may be 
 brought, in a great measure at least, to 
 support themselves. 
 
 Mr. Butscher has accepted the office of 
 Chaplain to the Colony, by permission of 
 the Committee, and will probably occupy 
 that station until a suitable English Chap- 
 lain shall be found. 
 
 In India, the Society's labours appear to 
 have befell very eminently successhil. In 
 the former Numbers of our work, we have 
 already alluded to the efiTorts of the S"cie- 
 ty, to extend the benefits of instruction 
 among the native youth, on the plan sug- 
 gested by the late Dr. J hn ; and we have 
 detailed largely the interesting and bene- 
 ficial results of i:s mission at Agra. 'I'he 
 uiiloiiked-fir success which has crowned 
 the labours of the Society in this extensive 
 field of service has opened new prospects 
 and plans of usefulness. A proposal has 
 been transmitted to the Correspoi.ding 
 Committee at Calcutta, for (iiunding an 
 extensive institution in tlie neighbnui hood 
 of that city, for the education oi native 
 youth ; aiid in the mean time an annual 
 sum of 15001. h.-is been placed at the dis- 
 posal of ti^ai Committee. The mission at 
 Agra commenced in March, 1813. Before 
 the cluse of that year, 41 adults and 14 
 children hatl been baptized into the faith 
 of Christ, all of whom continued to walk, in 
 the truth. But the effect of the Society's 
 labours are of a still wider extent. A 
 growing attention is excited on the part of 
 resident Europeans to the wants of the 
 natives. Schools are formed by indivi- 
 duals for the instruction of children. Co- 
 I)ies of the Scriptures are circulated, which 
 excite reflection and inquiry. Christian 
 truth gradually difi'uses itself; and the 
 fabric of idolatry seems to totter more and 
 more. Even the native poets begin to 
 make the popular superstitions the subject 
 of their satirical effusions. 
 
 Mr. Martyn's Hindooslanee New Tes- 
 tament in the Persian character has 
 been completed, and is in extensive circu- 
 lation. 
 
 The principal parts of the Liturgy 
 have been translated, by Mr Corrie, into 
 Hisdoostanee, and an edition printed for 
 the use of the native congregations. The 
 Liturgy is peculiarly adapted to the 
 habits and state of feeling of many among 
 the converts, and the Committee trust 
 that they shall ere long witness the 
 
1815J 
 
 JReb'g: Intell. — Church Missionary Society. 
 
 77C 
 
 wide diffusion of our apostolical formula- 
 ries in the most popular laiig-uages of India. 
 The Rev. Messrs. Sdinarre and Khenius 
 have arrived at Madras. About 500 per- 
 sons were on board their ship, and they 
 had maintained Divine Service when cir- 
 cumstances admitted. They were received 
 with Christian cordiality by il»e Rev M. 
 Thompson, chaplain of tlie Company. 
 Here they were met by the afflicting niiel- 
 lig-ence ol the death of Dr John; and with 
 the news, still more afflicting to thrm, of 
 the decease of the Rev. Mr Jacobi, with 
 whom they were personally acquainted. 
 Mr. Caemmerer, who lias become, by the 
 death of Dr. Jolm, Senior of tlie Itoyal 
 Danish Mis.sion at Tranquebar, inviting 
 them to proceed to Tranquebur, they left 
 Madras on the 2ulh of July ; Mr. Tiiomp- 
 son liaving, with great kindness and care, 
 provided for their convenience and com- 
 fort. 
 
 They reached this place on the 28th of 
 July, and were very kindly received by Mr. 
 Caemmer'T and his coadjutor Mr. Schrei- 
 vogel, and tiiere, in the mean time, they 
 are diligeiuiy employed in the acquisition 
 of the Tamul language, for which Tranque- 
 bar affords the very best opportunities. 
 
 The school establishments of the late 
 Dr John were preserved from dissolution 
 by the timely application of the Society's 
 funds, and have been since supported and 
 extended by an allowance of about 180/. 
 per annum The number of children in 
 these establi.shments amounted, on the Ist 
 of June, 1814, to 863. 
 
 The Society's missionaries are already 
 rendering good service in the inspection of 
 the English schools ; and will extend their 
 care to the Tamul establishments, as their 
 knowledge of that tongue shall increase. 
 
 In the island of Ceylon, Goverr>ment 
 have pursufd the wise and liberal policy of 
 inviting and encouraging the efforts of Mis- 
 sionary Societies, to diffuse the light of 
 Divine truth among the Mohammedan and 
 Pagan inhabitants. Three of the Society's 
 missionaries have proceeded to this island, 
 with the view of fixing them.selves there or 
 on the adjoining cfintinent, as may be 
 deemed on their arrival to be most expe- 
 dient. 
 
 The projected mission to New Ze.\- 
 tA.ND engages the unwearied attention of 
 the Rev. Mr. Marsden, the principal chap- 
 lain of New South Wales ; and the sum of 
 C-lirist. Observ. No, 167. 
 
 5001. per annum has been assigned by the 
 Society for its (iromotion. 
 
 Mr. Marsden had purchased the brig 
 Active, ot 110 tons ; and two ot the Soci- 
 ety's missionaries, Mr. Kondall and Mr. 
 Hall, visited Mew Zealand in her, and 
 brouglu back some chiefs and others, who, 
 alter piissiiig some time with Mr. Marsden, 
 were to return, accomj)anied by him, to 
 New Zealand. 
 
 On this subject Mr. Marsden thus 
 writes : — 
 
 " Parramatta, Sept. 20, 1814. 
 " The cliiefs coming over to Port J ick- 
 son will, I trust, lay a firm foundation for 
 the work of tlie Mission, and secure the 
 comfort and safely of those who may be 
 employed therein Were I young and free, 
 1 slioiild ofi'er myself to this work. It 
 would be my delight and my joy. 
 
 " The chiefs are all happy with us at 
 Parramatta, and their minds enlarging very 
 fast. Beiiolding the various works that 
 are going on i.i the smiths' and carpenters' 
 shops, the spinning and weaving, brick- 
 making, and building houses, together with 
 all the operations ol agriculture aiid gar- 
 dening, has a wonderful effect on their 
 minds, and will excite all their natural 
 powers to improve their own coumry. The 
 idea of my visiting them is very gratifymg 
 to their minds. At present I spend all the 
 time I can spare with them, in conversing 
 with them on all the different subjects that 
 appear necessary for them to be acquaint- 
 ed with, particularly on the subjects of re- 
 ligion, government, and agriculture. 
 
 " With respect to religion, I talk to them 
 ofthe institution of the Sabbath-day by God 
 himself; and they see it observed by us 
 with particular attention. They see the 
 prisoners mustered on Sunday mornings, 
 tiieir names called over, and then marched 
 to church. They see tlie soldiers and offi- 
 cers marched lo church likewise ; and most 
 ofthe people ot the town of Parramatta. 
 
 •' As I have many complaints to settle as 
 a magistrate, they frequently attend ; when 
 I explain to them, afterward, the different 
 crimes that each has committed, and what 
 sentence is passed upon them — some men 
 confined for one moon, and some for more, 
 in prison, according to their crimes. 
 
 " With respect to agriculture, they visit 
 different farms, observe the plough at 
 5 S 
 
774 
 
 Relig. LtteU. — Baptist Mission in India. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 work, some men with llie Woe, some 
 threshing, &c Sec. They lell me, that, 
 when Ihey return, ility s.haU sil up whole 
 nights, lelling- their people wliat ll)ey have 
 seen ; and that llieir men will sK^p their 
 CKis with their fingers : ' We have heard 
 eniugh,' lliey will suy, 'of your incredible 
 accoums, urid we will hear nu moie : the}' 
 cannot be true ' 
 
 " I am fully convinced that llie chiefs, 
 and par'. icularly Diiaterra, and Shung-liee 
 who comintinds seventeen districts, will 
 apply all iheir strength to agriculture, if 
 they can obiciin hoes and axes. 
 
 " I think no society was ever eng'aged in 
 a greater work than the Cluirch Missionary 
 Society is in this. Tiie gr.und is wholly 
 occupied by the prince <if darkness ; and 
 many and p iwerful difficulties will, no 
 doubt, one way or another, spring up to 
 opp.i.ie th'S great work. But the Lord is 
 ■King cimongst the Herthen, and will, I have 
 no doubt, esiubhsli his throne there." 
 
 A Sociely has been established in New 
 South Wales, tor ailurcling jji-otcciion to 
 the natives of the South bea Isiunds against 
 the oppressions of l'',uropeans, and lor the 
 advancement of their civilization and their 
 instruction in the principles of Christianiiy. 
 This irisiilution owes its exis'tnce to the 
 deep inteiesi which Mr. Maistlen has long 
 felt in t!ie imjirovement and conversion 
 of the islandeis of tlie Soutli Seas. The 
 Governor is patron j llie Lieutenant-go- 
 vernor, presiilenl : the Depuly-Comrnis- 
 saiy. general is appointed iieasiirer; and 
 Mr. Marsden, secretary. Tliis piiiianihro- 
 pic society cannot fail, by due e.veitions, to 
 rescue the British name from the oppro- 
 bi'ium to which it has been too ofien ex- 
 posed in those seas, and to facilitate the 
 eff'oj-ts of Cinistian societies to diH'use 
 the blessings of tiie Gospel throughout 
 llieir shores. 
 
 Thecommitleehave been desirous of con- 
 tributing to the translation and circulation 
 of tile Scriptures in the languages of A.fnca 
 and the East. The translation of the New 
 Testament into two African languages, 
 Susoo and Bullom, has been begun. I'he 
 Comrnittee are endeavouring also to add 
 the Old Testainent in Hindoostanee and 
 Persian to the New Testament already 
 translated into these languages by Mr. 
 Martyn. A translation of the Scriptures 
 inio Arabic is also proceeding at Calcutta. 
 The Liturgy, us has been already mention- 
 ed, has been translated into Hindoostanee, 
 
 and the grearer part of it into Persian. 
 Tracts in several languages are also pre- 
 paring, with a view to circulation in Africa, 
 in India, and in the Levant. 
 
 Besides the missionaries already sent 
 out, four German students are under a 
 course of prei)araiory instruction, and no 
 less than nine English students are pie- 
 paring for holy orders, and three laymen 
 with iheip vvi\es to act as teachers of 
 schools. The Committee, however, renew 
 their call on the younger part of the tng'- 
 lisii (Mergy to consider the Sjiiritual wants of 
 the heathen world, and to rival the zeal of 
 those holy men vviio have already devoted 
 themsehes to this blessed vvoriv. We de- 
 sire coidiallv to second the call. 
 
 BAPTIST MISSION IN IKDIA. 
 (Concluded fiom p. 704.) 
 
 V. The mission at Surat is as yet in its 
 infancy The missionary C. C. Aiatoon, is 
 employed in translating the Scriptures into 
 the Gnjuratee laiuuiage, and in conversing' 
 with the Mussulmans, Armenians, Parsees, 
 Jews, Hindoos Portuguese, &c. who resort 
 thither, and in disiributmg copies of the 
 Scriptures among them. 
 
 VI. At Cohimbo, in the island of Cey- 
 lon, Mr. Chatei is labouring- to acquire the 
 Cingalese and Por'uguese languages, and 
 in the mean tmie preaches in English to as 
 many as choose to attend, and attends also 
 to the instruction of youth. 
 
 VH Two Missionaries, Mr. F. Carey and 
 Mr. Judson, are stationed ai Rangoon, in 
 BuRMAH, and continue lo receive the coun- 
 tenance and protection of his Burman ma- 
 jesty The only thing which occurs in the 
 account of this mission worthy of reniark, 
 is the extraordinary frequency 'f crime, 
 and the still more extraordinary and revolt- 
 ing severity of the punishments inflicted 
 for lliese crimes. Human ingenuity seems 
 lo be exhausted in contriving more exqui- 
 site modes of torture to punish criminals, 
 and deter otliers f'-om their practices ; but 
 tlie only cifect of these tortures (the very 
 mention of which is sufficient to harrow up 
 the soul of the English reader) seems to be, 
 to produce a savage ferocity of character, 
 delighting in blood, and indifferent to life ; 
 and thus to multiply crimes rather than 
 to diminish them. What a striking illus- 
 tration do the facts here brought before 
 us furnisli of the justice of tiiose princi- 
 ples on which Sir Samuel Romiliy has 
 
1815.] 
 
 Rel. Intell. — BafidsC Mission in India. 
 
 775 
 
 founded his benevolent efforts to abate the 
 rigour of our own criminal code ! 
 
 VIII At Java Mp. Robinson is acquir- 
 ing a knowledge of the Malay and Portu- 
 guese languages, witi) a view to preacli 
 the Gospel to the natives He speaks 
 very favourably boili of tiie ccuntry and of 
 its inhabitants The former he represents 
 as abounding in every comfut of life; tiie 
 latter as a very superior race ol'meii. 
 
 IX. Mr J Carey has recently been 
 placed at Amboyna, and has obtained 
 from the G<nernment tiiere the superin- 
 tendence of all tlie Christian schools, 42 in 
 numi:)er. He is studying the Malav Ian. 
 guage. and finds the Malay Christian 
 sciiool-masters well acquainted witli the 
 Scriptures. How greatly doe-s this fact 
 redound to the credit of the Dutch tjiovern- 
 ment. The Christians, amounting to 
 about 20,000, are, he says, the best of 
 the people. The following extract from 
 an account of this island, by a gentleman 
 long resident there, will interest our 
 readers : — 
 
 " The government of Amboyna com- 
 prises several islands, situated almost all 
 wiltun sight of each other, the inhabitants 
 of which are partly Christians and partly 
 Mahometans,* who live in distinct villages. 
 Tiiese villages are governed by hereditary 
 chiefs, as the inhabitants of Europe were, 
 not many hundred years ago ; that is, the 
 people are fixed to the village in which 
 they happen to be born, and the males are 
 liable to be called to work for the sove- 
 reign, that is (at present) the Honourable 
 Company. The Mahometans have the Ko- 
 ran and other religious books in manu- 
 script in the Arabic character, and they 
 make use of this character in all their trans- 
 actiotis. 
 
 " The Christians have the Bible and 
 other books printed in the Malay language 
 witii the Roman character, and they make 
 use of this character only in all their trans- 
 actions. Every Christian village has a 
 cliurch, in which the congregation, not only 
 on Sundays but once or twice in the week, 
 assemble, The Government maintains in 
 every Christian village a schoolmaster: 
 
 • " i'he mountainous partsof some of the 
 islands have become the retreat fjf the Abo- 
 rigines, a savage people, whom the other 
 inhabitants Ciill ' Alfoores,' and of wliose 
 religion very little is known." 
 
 this person w;is formerly appointed upon 
 the recommendation of the clergy only, 
 who were resp 'iisible for his conduct and 
 qualifications, as he is not only charged 
 with tlie education of the children, but has 
 to perform all the duties of a minister to 
 the church, except administering the sacra- 
 ment and i)erforming the ce'-emonies of 
 marriage and baptism ; for which purposes 
 a regular clerjiyman would formerly make, 
 from time to time, a tour to the clifierent 
 islands, and visit the churches on them." — 
 There is, however, at jiresent, we are sorry 
 to say, no cWrgynian in the isljnd. The 
 Malay Scri|ittires are now printing at 
 Serampore, for the use ol the Chrisiiaiisof 
 Amboyna. 
 
 X. To the account of tliese diflerent sta- 
 tions are subjoined some general observa- 
 tions on the best means of conducting antl 
 mulii])iying scliools In addition to the 
 Scriptures, and llie mote usual t-lementary 
 books, tlie missionaiics recommend " A 
 simple and concise Introduction to Arith- 
 metic;" '• A concise Sy.stem of Geogra. 
 phy ;" " A chronol'gical E[)l;ome of Gene- 
 ral History ;" " A Selection of the best 
 Ideas found among Native Writers relating 
 to the Duties of Life ;" and " Selections 
 from the Sacred Oracles" This recom- 
 mendation they support by very cogent 
 reasons. They dwell strongly on the ne- 
 cessity of an active and gratuitous super- 
 intendence. If this could be obtained, the 
 expense of each school of forty scholars 
 would not exceed (including every charge) 
 120 rupees, or 15l. sterling per annum: 
 15001 annually would, therefore, maintain 
 a hundred village schools, containing 4000 
 children ; — and they add, " Whoever con- 
 siders that these 400 ) youths will pro. 
 bably impart to others the knowledge they 
 have received in history, geography, &c., 
 to say nothing of the Gospel of Christ, must 
 be convinced that such a sum could 
 scarcel) be expended in a more profitable 
 iTianner." 
 
 We omit the account of the Ixinible im- 
 molation of four women in Bengal, which 
 is given bv the Missionaries, and close our 
 extracts with tlieir reinarks on a swinging 
 festival, which lately occurred. 
 
 " In May, 1813, this abf)minable festi- 
 val was held, according to the annual cus- 
 tom, on the last day of the Hindoo year. 
 There were fewer gibbet-|)osts erected at 
 Serampore ; but we hear that amongst the 
 svvintjers was one female. A man fell 
 
776 
 
 Fublic jiffuira— -Treaty of J^eace— France. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 from a stage thirty cubits high, and broke 
 his back ; and another fell from the swing- 
 ing-post, but was not much hurt. Some 
 days after the first swinging, certain natives 
 revived the ceremonies : as Brother Ward 
 was passing tlirough Calcutta, at this last 
 period, he saw several Hindoos hanging by 
 the heels over a slow fire, as an act of de- 
 VoJion. Several Hindoos employed in the 
 pnnti'ig.rithce applied this year to Brother 
 Ward fw protection to esca[)e being drag- 
 ged into these pretendedly voluntary prac- 
 tices : this brought bef ire us facts which 
 we were not aware- of It seems that the 
 landlords of the poor, and other men of 
 property, insist upon certain of iheir tenants 
 and dependants engaging in these prac- 
 tices; and that tiiey expect, and compel by 
 actual foicc, multitudes every year to j din 
 the companies of sunyasees in parading the 
 streets, piercing their sides, tongues, &.c. 
 To avoid this compulsion, many poor young 
 
 men leave tiieir houses and hide them- 
 selves ; but they a; e sure of be ing beaten 
 if caugiit, or of having then huts pulled 
 down I'lie Mifluente and power of the 
 rich have a great effect on t.ie multitude in 
 most of ilie idolatrous fesu» als : m hen the 
 lands and ncbesuf the country were in few 
 hands, this ntfiuence carried all before it ; 
 but it IS stiH very widely felt in com- 
 pellitig dependants to assist in public 
 shows, and to ctiiuribute towards the ex- 
 pense of splendid ceremonies. Tiirough 
 Divme goodness, howe-. er, ilie influence 
 of commerce, the more general diftusir'n of 
 wealth, and tlie intercourse of Eu'npeans, 
 are raising the Hindoos fr'>m this state of 
 abject dependence 'jn lheirs|)iruual tyratits; 
 and thus, providt-ntial events are operating 
 with tlie G'jspel to produce a happy 
 change on the great mass of the popnlat'on, 
 especially in the more enlightened parts of 
 Bengal.'' 
 
 VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. 
 
 The Treaty of Peace between tiie allied 
 powers and France has been at length hap- 
 pily concltuiefl It was signed at Pans 
 on the 20th instant, and arrived in Lon- 
 don on the morning of the 23d. We 
 reserve our obstrvations upon it until its 
 stipulations shall have been made pub- 
 lic At present they are only subjects of 
 conjecture. 
 
 We are happy to observe that the French 
 government has begun to act with a de^^ee 
 of firmness and vigour which affords the 
 best security for the maintenance not only 
 of its own internal tranquillity, but of what 
 every considerate man must feel to be 
 deeply involved in it, the general repose of 
 Europe. The harmony which seems to 
 subsist between the king's ministers, and 
 the chambers, and tlie disposition shewn 
 by both to omit no means which may be 
 necessary to repress the turbulence of 
 those revolutionary spirits, whose proper 
 aliment is civil commotion and foreign 
 rapine, tend to g-enerate in the friends of 
 order that confidence whicii is not only 
 favourable but indispensably necessary to 
 the stability of tiie Bourbon throne. The 
 etiemies of that throne will doubtless be in- 
 defatigabla in their endeavoors to efieet its 
 
 subversion. Every art of misrepresenta- 
 tion will be employed to render the pos- 
 sessors of it odious in the eyes of their own 
 people and of other nations. JVe know by 
 experience how skilful in the use of this 
 weapon is that jacobin party, still so nume- 
 rous b)ih in trance and Ergland : for so 
 successfully has tliis country been assailed 
 by their misrepresentations and calumnies, 
 and so inefficacious have been our efforts 
 to repel them, that the name of England is, 
 even at this moment, most strangely associ- 
 ated, by the general population of France— 
 we may e\ en say, of the continent at large 
 — with whatever is insincere and hypo- 
 critical in profession, and selfish and base 
 in policy. 
 
 It was to have been expected that the 
 partisans of jacobinism would leave no 
 means untried to bring the Bourbon race 
 inio general discredit. They have accord- 
 ingly laboured, and in this effort they have 
 been but too successful, to connect the atro- 
 cities which have recently taken place in 
 the South of France with the Bourbons, 
 and to ascrilie them to the persecuting 
 spirit of the French government, as their 
 origin. So effectually, indeed, have Ihey 
 socceeded in filling the public mind witji 
 
1815.] 
 
 Public Jffairs^-'France : Persecutions at J^fismes. 
 
 777 
 
 the persuasion that these acts of violence 
 and blood have emanated fVom the bigotry 
 of the Bourbons, ihat it has become unsafe 
 to question tlif truth of the p sition. We, 
 however, shall not be deterred by any de- 
 grcre of popular clamour — even lliough ihat 
 clamour sliuuld be heightened by the voicirs 
 of many whom we l>>ve and venerate — 
 from declaring, that, after having examiiif d 
 with impartiality mucii that has been said, 
 and we believe all that lias been published, 
 on the subject, we remain of the opinion 
 not only that there is no evidence to ()iuve 
 that the Bourbons have had the remotest 
 sltare in exciting or encouraging the atro- 
 cities in question, but that even the evi- 
 dence produced by their adversaries, as far 
 as It has any weight at all, goes directly to 
 their exculpation. 
 
 The work which appears to have made 
 the strongest impression on the public, to 
 tiie disudvaiitage ot the French govern- 
 ment, is one to which the name of the Rev. 
 J. Cobbin is prefixed But we must say, 
 witii all due deft reiice to ih.'se whom that 
 Wink may have mfiuenceil, that the « flTect 
 proiiuccd on our minds by its perusal lias 
 beet) 10 remove every latent aii()rehension 
 which lurked there of the participation of 
 llie Bourbons in the enormities wliich it 
 describes. Had the case been as clear as 
 that writer pie.e^ds it is, why siiould he 
 have swelled his pamphlet with a history 
 of all the persecHtions which have ever 
 taken place in France, in order that the 
 accu'iiulated odium of them mighi fall on 
 the devoted head of Louis XVill. ? Is 
 not this a striking exemphhcation of the 
 usual art fices of the jacobin school — of 
 those artifices by whicii they succeeded in 
 persuading the Frencii nation tiiat Louis 
 XVl., the mildest of monarchs, v\as a 
 cruel and bloody tyrant, wlnse crimes the 
 national justice required him to expiate on 
 the scaffold ? 
 
 We admit that great atrocities have 
 been committed at Nismes ; and we are 
 disposed to believe that religious rancour 
 has had a great share in instigating them. 
 The Protestants, indeed, are anxious to 
 prove that their suflisrings have been in no 
 degree connected with their political delin- 
 quencies But bythe veryattemptsthey have 
 made to account for it, their advocates have 
 admitted the fact that they were generally 
 favourable to the cause of tiie Usurper, 
 and averse to the retarn of the Bourbons. 
 
 Even Mr. Cobbin says, «' The Protestants 
 expected tins persecution, and the restora- 
 tion of the Bourbons was a matter of dread 
 to them for some time before it occurred, 
 as the Catholics had shewn such a disposi- 
 tion to persecute on their hist rtturn." 
 But when, oi where, had this disposition 
 manifested itself? We call tor evidence. 
 Every part ot Fiance was traversed duiiug 
 tht summer and autumn of 1814, by Eng- 
 lish travellers, many of them deeply in- 
 terested in the religious state of France. 
 — As far as our infbimalion has gone, 
 not one of them ever intimated tliat 
 any such disposition had shewn itself — 
 'lliis charge was first heaid of when it 
 became necessary for certain persons to 
 blacken the character of the reigning fami- 
 ly in France, in order to extenuate iheir 
 own disloyally. But it is said the Pro- 
 testants expected persecution, and the 
 return of the Bourbons was therefore a 
 matter oi dread to them. This fuel is im- 
 portant. We all know that Proteslants, as 
 well as Papists, are susceptible of unrea- 
 sonable prejudices; and to what lengths of 
 opposition such expeclatiors and appre- 
 hensions as it is atlmiiled tlie Protestants 
 generally eniertaiiied, were likely to excite 
 them, is sufficiently obvious 
 
 Tlie truth, in this instance, seems to be, 
 that the animosities wliich were i\rs\ ex- 
 cited by political events assumed, in their 
 progress, a relii;ious character; and that 
 the bigoted Catholics of the South availed 
 themstUes of the favouralile oppoiuinity 
 which the convulsed and agiiaied state of 
 the country ,^a\e liiem. for giatdyin.Gf their 
 religious no less than their poliiicai iiaired. 
 But we might with as miuh fairness altri- 
 buie the riots at Birmingham, in 1790, to 
 Ceorge 111. and Mr Pitt, as tiie atrocities 
 perpetrated at Nismes to Louis XVllL 
 and his ministers. 
 
 But we are askf-d, why did not the 
 French government reply to certain memo- 
 rialists aiid pamphleteers, who accused 
 them of favouring persecution? '1 hey 
 did what was much more becoming their 
 dignity, — they sent a nulitaiy force to re- 
 store quiet, and ordered their courts to 
 bring to justice the actors in these trage- 
 dies. What can be a more convincing 
 proof of the earnest desire of the Frencli 
 government to vindicate the right of the 
 Protestants to the fullest toleration, than 
 Chat their own commander was shot by a 
 
T7Z 
 
 Public Affairs — France : Persecutions at jVismes. 
 
 [Nov. 
 
 miscreant while carrying into execution 
 their orders to that effect ? 
 
 It will be argued, however, that more 
 prompt and summary measures should 
 have been taken to protect the Protes- 
 tants. It may be so : but the assertion re- 
 mains to be proved. It would, perhaps, be 
 even more just to attribute to our govern- 
 ment a favourable leatimg towards the 
 London rioters of 1780, or the Notting. 
 hamshire rioters of iSli, on account of ihe 
 tardiness with which tiieir pro^-ress was 
 arrested, lh:<n to accuse L'juis XVIII. of 
 favouring tiie insurrectioiis of iMismes, 
 because, in the then ihstracted state of his 
 cou:i'ry and "f his councils, they were not 
 instantly suppressed Indeed, t!ie same 
 feebleness and languor were sliewn in all 
 the public measures of that period ; and in 
 this case the king's jacobin ministry migiit 
 po'^sibly not wish to deprive their adlierents 
 of a popular topic of declamation against 
 the royalists. 
 
 But it is asserted, as a strong collate- 
 ral proof of the alarming bigotry of the 
 Bourbons, that they have sliewn themselves 
 adverse to the scheme of national educa- 
 tion, which was commenced by the short- 
 lived government of Bonaparte, and wliich 
 is still proceei'ing in France under the 
 superiiUeniience of a I'rolestant cler- 
 gyman. 
 
 If Roman Callmlics had felt some dis- 
 like to a plan whicii coniided the national 
 education to a I'roiestant, tt was no more 
 than we haiVa right to expect. Sliould u-e 
 like to see a Catholic clergyman at the 
 head of the central school of our Nationul 
 School Society? We can remember the 
 alarm (an alarm even now in aciive "j.ie- 
 ration) whicii the idea even of Q'laker 
 superintendc cce diffused over tlie whole 
 kingdom. — But is tiicre any ground fjr the 
 insinuation which has been so invidiously 
 brought forward of hostility to this scheme 
 ofeducation on the part of the Bourbons ? 
 On the very forenoon of the day on which 
 we write, it was announced in the Free- 
 mason's Hall, by the Committee of the 
 British and Foreign Sciiool Society, ilsat 
 the king himself, and tlie duke of H.^rry, 
 had liberally conti-ibutcd to the support 
 and extension of the system, that it had 
 been expressly sanctioned by the govern- 
 ment, and was zealously promoted by the 
 prefect of tlie Seine. 
 
 It is undoubtedly true that Bonaparte's 
 government intr icluced the new phm of 
 education; but they wished to make it 
 subseivient to their anii-cliristian views. 
 The commissioners under whose direction 
 it was placed, most peremp'orily inter- 
 dic'ed the use of llie Scrij)tures, or even 
 of any extracts from the Scriptures, in any 
 of their schools. The Bible, they pro- 
 nounced ;o he a mischievous book, fit oidy 
 to make monks of the people — Since the 
 return of the B'lurbons, however, a new 
 commission has been appointed, who have 
 mt only entered wuh zeal into the scheme 
 of extending the bem-Kis of elementary 
 education thmnghont France, but have 
 restored the Bible to its jus' rank in the 
 institution of you;h. The Bible is now 
 read in all the schools Nay, the very same 
 pious Protestant clergyman, IM Martin, 
 who filled the situation of superintendant 
 under Bonaparte's conimissi'iners, re- 
 tains that sitiKitJon stiil, and daily rece ves 
 from thf royal commissioners die most 
 unequivocal marks of iheir approbation 
 and esteem. 
 
 Under these circumstances, we cannot 
 but deeply regret the unjust clamour 
 against the Bourbons whicii has been ex- 
 cited in this country at the present mo- 
 ment, — a clamour tending to weaken the 
 hands of tiie French government, t(> dimin- 
 ish thejust influence to which the voice of 
 tlie Britisli public s entided, and to serve 
 the cause of jacobins and revolutionists. 
 Let us at least not assume the Bourbons to 
 be guilty of a profligate departure from 
 every pledge they have given, until their 
 guilt is proved. And certainly that proof 
 ought to be very clear and unequivocal 
 before we venture to interfere, by means 
 of popular meetings, between a govern- 
 ment situated as that of France now is and 
 its subjects. 
 
 We w°re on the point of sending to tiie 
 press what we have written above, when 
 the newspapers of this morning (Nov 27) 
 broiiglit us an ordinance of the king of 
 France, dated the 2lst inst. " An atro- 
 cious crime," says his majesty, " has 
 stained our city of Nisnies In contempt 
 of the constitutional charter, which ac- 
 know It-dges the Catholic religion for the 
 religi"!! of the state, but which guarantees 
 protection and liberty to other forms of 
 worsiiip, seditious assembhiges have dared 
 to oppose themselves to the opening of 
 
1815.] 
 
 Public Affairs— -France : Persecutions at J\'ismes. 
 
 779 
 
 the Fiotestant cluircli. Our military com- 
 mander, ii\ endeav(Miring to disperse ihcm 
 by persuasion, before lie resoiled to force, 
 has been assassuiated, and liis assassin has 
 soui;ht an aivium a.L,'aiO!i>t the pursuit of 
 justice. If such an aiiempt should remain 
 unpunished, liicre would no longer be pub- 
 lic order r.or government, and our mmisters 
 Would be guilty of thf non-cxecuiion ofllie 
 laws " It then directs measures both civil 
 and military to be taken against the dis- 
 turbers of the public peace. 
 
 We need not point out how strongly this 
 document corrob. urates all our previous 
 reasonings on the subject- 
 Having thus fully expressed our opinion, 
 as iiid(.ecl ii was our bounden duly as Cliris- 
 tiai! Observers to do, we are anxi)US to 
 dcjj'ecaie its injuriDus upjilication to ihose 
 benevolent ii.dividuals vvlio have seen it to 
 be their duty to publish t' Die world a series 
 of strong lesolulions un ihiS delicate hub- 
 ject. Tlie only charge we ieelin the slightest 
 degree disposed to prefer against them, is 
 tlia' of piecij.'iiaiion. They have lent iliem- 
 seives, as we tuink, without due considera- 
 ti'.n, to the tlesigns oi those who ha\eoiily 
 factious and p.t-ty purposes l" serve, by im- 
 plicating- the Fierich government in the 
 go .. <..f persecution; and while we are per- 
 suaded they have been actuated by the 
 purest motives and most upright intentions 
 in tlie steps they have \aken, we confess that 
 we -egard tliose steps as at least premature. 
 Had tiiey [)rivately made their application 
 to his niajesiy's ministers in the fir.st in- 
 St ince, aiul ascertaiiu d from tiiem the facts 
 of ;lie case; had they even urged them to 
 ex.rt tlieir powerful influence with the 
 court of France, to give full efHcacy to tlie 
 libera) princi(>Ies oftlic constitutional char- 
 ter, ihey would have hud our best thanks. 
 
 Tlie course they have pursued, (suppos- 
 ing tbe B'lurbons to be entirely innocent of 
 the weighty charge wliich iho.se resoluiions 
 imply, and from our hearts we .'>elie\e them 
 to be so,) IS cenainly calculated to alienate 
 their ;Tiinds ti'oin their l^rotestant subjects, 
 rather tiian to conciliate their favour to- 
 wards them. 
 
 Let it be considered for one moment 
 what would be the eflect, on the govern- 
 ment and population of this country, of a 
 similar proceeding, on the part of tOreign 
 nations, with respect to our Itoman tJatliolic 
 fellow-subjects. We know, it is true, that 
 these are not now the subjects of persecu- 
 
 tion, in any legitimate sense of that term. 
 But this s by no means the prevailing senti- 
 ment on the continent, lliere is scarcely 
 an indiviiiual in Fiance who does not believe 
 liiat the Roman Catholics, especially those 
 of Ireland, are a persecuted people Even 
 soeiilightencd a man as the Abb^ Gregoire, 
 in a pamphlet lately re[)rinted in Uiis coun- 
 try, stigmatizes our conduct towards the 
 Irish Catholics, as finding its parallel only 
 in the enormitiesof the African slave trade. 
 If, acting on this impression, meetings 
 should he called in France and Italy, in 
 Spam, Portugal, and Austria, m order to 
 urge their respective governments to re- 
 n>unsirate with England on her conduct ; 
 would the eHecl he salutary ? Should we not 
 be disposed to say, th.it the Irish Catholics 
 had vilified their own government, and, in- 
 sensible of the favours conferred on them, 
 had, hy their misre[)resentations and im- 
 fiiuiided claiTi,)ur.s, excited the unwarranied 
 interference of f()reigii nations ? And should 
 we be the more di.'ifjosed on that account to 
 shew them fresh favour ? 
 
 • But we h.ive heard the case of the slave 
 trade adduced as a precedent in point. 
 But what was that case .' Besides that the 
 stave trade is properly an international 
 question, a subject belonging of right to the 
 great comniuniiy of nations, England had 
 g-iven back to France several valuable 
 colonies in wiiicli she herself had abolished 
 the slave trade, not only without stipulating 
 for tlie continuance of that abolition, but 
 with an express agreement that the slave 
 trade should be pe^-milted for five jears. 
 Here, it was our own conduct chiefly which 
 was the subject of complaint. 
 
 Tiie cases would iiave been parallel had 
 England given its sanction by treaty to the 
 oppression and persecution of the Pro- 
 testants. But what is the fact ? It is this, 
 that the constitutional charter, promulged 
 with the jii'ivity, and sanctioned by the ex- 
 press approbation, of all the allies, makes 
 it, in the most explicit manner, a ftiiida- 
 mentai law of the slate, that all Frenclimen, 
 of whatcv-er faith, should be equal in their 
 civil riglits ; that perfect liberty of religious 
 worship should be enjoyed by all denomina- 
 tions ; and liiat not only the Catholic min- 
 isters, but the ministers of other churches, 
 should receive salaries from the stale. 
 What more could be desired than this .' 
 And this is the law of France, solemnly 
 instituted by the concui-rent voice of the 
 three estates of the realm, universally pro- 
 mulged and known as snch, and even re- 
 
780 AVt/ — Murat^-jVa/iaul — Ceylon.^—Ans'ivera to Corresfiondenta. 
 
 cog-nised as such in the ni-w treaty. We 
 sli luld no m >i-e, tlu -refore, charge the 
 French govenimenl, wi h'lut the clearest 
 evidence, w \h being parties to tiie infrac- 
 tion of this law, which has taken place at 
 Nismes, than we should ciiarge our own 
 povernnDent with benig parlies to ihe fraud- 
 ful and nefaiious practices of English slave 
 traders on tlte coast of Guinea, and of their 
 abe'tois in L,:ndi)n or Liverpool, because, 
 in defiance of tlie most solemn enactments, 
 such practices were still continued. 
 
 After all, we cannot too highly honour 
 that warm and genei nus ardour in ihe cause 
 of the opjjressed which has called fortii the 
 expression of feeling on wiwch we have 
 taken the liberty to comment. 
 
 The court-martial appointed to try Mar- 
 shal N^y, has declared itself incompetent to 
 the ofBce assigned to it of trying a peer for 
 the crime of treason. His trial has tUere- 
 fore been transferred to the house of peers, 
 which is now sitting in judgment upon him. 
 Lavaleite, the director of the pusts, who 
 Was so active a co-adjutor of Bonaparte, has 
 been found guilty and condemned to death. 
 
 A descent made by Murat, accompanied 
 by a smalt band of followers, on the Neapo- 
 litan territory, with a view to the recovery 
 (if the throne from which he had been 
 driven, has ended in his capture and execu- 
 tion. He was shot by the sentence of a 
 military court. 
 
 We are happy to observe, that the Na- 
 paiil campaign, in consequence of some 
 briiiiant successes obtaim d by General 
 Ochterl"ny, has terminated by the cession 
 to tile Br'tish government of a considera- 
 ble province. 
 
 The whole of tiie island of Ceylon is now 
 subjecteil to the di"ec; and immediate go- 
 vernment of Great Brua^n The native 
 dynasty is wholly excluded, and the au- 
 thority of the ki''g established in its room. 
 The native provincial governors are to ex- 
 ercise I heir accustomed authority under the 
 control of the governor of tlie island. On 
 one part of the arrangements, that which 
 stipulates for the maintenance of tlie tem- 
 ples and priests of Budhoo, we shall take a 
 future oj)portunity of making some obser- 
 vations. 
 
 ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
 
 B. S. has been misinformed respecting the subject of inquiry proposed by his Friend 
 His observations, therefore, are out of place. 
 
 Mr. Holmes requests us to state, that his work is not an attempt to explain unfulJiUed 
 prophecy, but an explanation oi' fo/filled pruphecy, from A. D. 96, to the overthrow 
 of the French Empire under Napoleon Bonaparte, and only professes to give hints on 
 futurity. 
 
 We do not consider tjie discussion respecting *' the probability of t/ie renetuat and perpetua- 
 tion of particular friendships in a future state," of sufficient practical importance to 
 occupy the space it would require. 
 
 O. C. ; C. O. G ; S. L. ; OuJ'sk ; A constant Reader and Friend; Clericus 
 Damnoniensis i A Lay Member of the Church of Scotland; J. B. L. ; 
 Clericus ; and Christiana, have been received. 
 
 r. A.'s second letter has not produced any more conviction than his first. And as for the 
 pamphlet he recommends, we have read it with care, and each succeeding page only 
 served to increase our doubts, both of the grand fact which it attempts to establish, 
 and of the motives wliicli have influenced that attempt. 
 
 The subject proposed by Ubsf.rvator Observantissimus, involves in effect the 
 essence of the Calvinistic controversy. We are not anxious, therefore, to bring it for- 
 ward. 
 
 Ancelo ; K. K.; An old Frievd and Correspondent, whose furtl.er communica- 
 tions we shall welcome, and W. will appear. 
 
 We wait the continuation of P. A.'s favours 
 
 We shall be glad, if possible, to attend to the wishes of Laicus, 
 
 We are m'tch obliged to Mr. Prvst for his communication. 
 
INDEX 
 
 TO THE 
 
 ESSAYS, SUBJECTS, INTELLIGENCE, OCCURRENCES, kc. 
 
 Abdool messee 
 
 Aberdeen Prize 
 Address, Mr. V^enn's Farewell 
 Adults, Instruction of 
 'Vfrica, Travels in 
 -, Missions in 
 
 Page 
 
 261, 874 
 
 621 
 
 28 
 
 . 360 
 
 . 694, 826 
 
 771, 872,884 
 
 261, 874 
 
 Charge of Bishop of Chester 
 
 of Bishop of Lincoln 
 
 Charity Feasts 
 
 -, its true Nature 
 
 Agra, Mission at 
 America (.tee United Statei) 
 American Foreign Missions , . 886 
 American Edition of the Christian Ob- 
 server ..... 838 
 Anniversaries of Religious Societies 338 
 Ancient Autliors or ilelics discovered 59, 839 
 Answers to Correspondents 72, 136, 208, 
 420,492,564,636, 708, 780, 852 
 Antinomianism . . . 233, 693 
 
 Apples 256 
 
 Arithmetical Machine . . . 337 
 Athens Literature .... .189 
 
 Bacon's Philosophy ... 243 
 
 Paradoxes . . . 436 
 
 Baptism 58,286,588,646,666,694,723,799 
 
 Baptist Missions, (see jnimo/w.) 
 
 Baptists ..... 665 
 
 Barlow, Mr., Death of . . . 136 
 
 Bamabus, Character of . . 151 
 
 Bath, Order of .... 68 
 
 Baxter's Sermons, Extract from . 584 
 
 Bell's System .... 183 
 
 Benedict, a Monk of La Trappe, Death of 273 
 
 Bible Society (see Society.) 
 
 Bibles distributed 
 
 Births and Deaths in London 
 
 Bogs, Formation of 
 
 Bonaparte restored 
 
 , War renewed %vith 
 
 , Surrender of , 
 
 -, exiled to St. Helena 
 
 Bourbons, Restoration of 
 British Critic, Consistency of 
 Buchanan, Dr., Death of 
 Budget .... 
 Byron, Lord, his Poetry 
 
 557,650 
 
 . 119 
 
 337 
 
 204 
 
 267 
 
 . 488 
 
 636 
 
 484 
 
 . 23 
 
 141,206 
 
 126,417 
 
 542 
 
 Vage 
 . 177 
 
 406, 696, 735 
 805 
 793 
 . 124, 870 
 . 292 
 83B 
 
 China 
 
 Christian Spirit and Temper 
 
 Christian Observer in America 
 
 Chronology, Hales's ... 5 
 
 Church in Danger . . • 733 
 
 of Rome and England compared 227 
 
 Missionary Society (see Socieli/) 
 
 Clerical Residence . . . 162 
 Clergymen, Advice to 13, 99, 231, 250 
 Cobbin on Persecutions in France . 777 
 College Education, Expense of 21, 16» 
 Communion, Terms of . . • 664 
 Complaint of Neglected Female . 508 
 Confessions of Faith . • • 681 
 Congress at Vienna . . 66, 126, 267 
 Contentment .... 148 
 Conversion and Unconversion in Minis- 
 ters ^48 
 
 Corn Bill .... 126,262 
 
 Corruption, human 112, 226, 251, 284, 537, 
 
 692 
 Craniology, disastrous Fruits of . 726 
 Crude Theology of the Day . . 93 
 
 Deaf and Dumb . . • .371 
 
 Death of disting-uished Individuals 66, 127 
 
 Divinity of Christ . . • 251 
 
 Doxolog}-, Alteration in . . 365 
 
 Dumb, Abbe Sicard's Instruction of 371 
 
 Calvin, Sentiments of . . . 91 
 Cambridge . . . 59,118,549,760 
 Cameleon ..... 256 
 Catholic Claims . . . 417,636 
 Catholics, their Efforts to circulate the 
 
 Scriptures .... 765,787 
 Ceylon . . . 200,263,411,885 
 
 East-India Missions 1, 73, 261, 555, 626, 
 
 702,774,8-/1 
 Ecclesiastical Preferments . . 898 
 Edinburgh Review . . . 271 
 
 Education in France . . 407, 778 
 
 Errors in Theology . 93, 145, 216, 283 
 
 of Greek Chn.rch . . 663 
 
 propriety of censuring in good 
 
 Men .... 145, 216 
 
 Essentials of Christianity . . 681 
 
 Evidences of Christianity . . 236 
 
 Faith 310,422 
 
 Falling from God . . . . 504 
 Family Sermons, 8, 86, 151, 223, 294, 359, 
 432, 504, 576, 644, 717, 793 
 Fear, Religious .... 218 
 Feasts of Charity .... 805 
 Flavia, Clviracter of . . . 15f> 
 
904 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Page 
 
 Fort William, College of . . 550 
 
 France 66, 204, 346, 407, 420, 485, 562, 
 
 633, 704, 776,851 
 
 - — ' , Literary Intelligence . . 60 
 
 ■ , State of Religion in . .25 
 
 , Isle of ... . 870 
 
 Geneva Bible Societ3^,&c. . . 61 
 
 , Sabbath passed at . , 800 
 
 Germany, Distresses in . . .191 
 
 ' , Literary Intelligence . 60 
 
 Gisborne's Letter to Bishop of Glouces- 
 ter 636 
 
 Godliness . . . 36, 151, 687, ii41 
 Gog, Prophecies of . , . 5, 141, 365 
 Go'iis, Origin of . . . 5, I41 
 Good Friday, Sermon for . . {]6 
 
 Grace .... 33, 229, 289 
 Greek Church, Errors of . . G63 
 
 Gaudaloupe . , . . 635 
 
 Gypsies . . . .23, 141, 590 
 
 Hayti . . ^ . 66, 266, 850 
 
 Heaven 39 
 
 Hindostan . 4, 74, 260, 626, 702, 774 
 Holiness, on cultivating . . . 143 
 Holland, Treaty with . . .416 
 Holy Spiiit'S Inlluence . 223, 288, 692 
 
 Witness . . . 356 
 
 Holy Thorn ..... 496 
 Homilies, Complaint of . . 508 
 
 Huml)oldt on the Slave Trade . 299 
 
 Hymns and Psalms, Inquiry respecting 95 
 
 • ■ , on discretionary 
 
 Use of 661 
 
 Hymn 735 
 
 Jacobinism • • . . . 776 
 
 Java 124, 870 
 
 Jehb's View of Traditional Authority 655 
 Jesuits . . . ■' . . 166, 272 
 Jesse, Death of Piev. William . 417 
 
 Jewish Pieligion .... 809 
 
 Immutability of God . . . 717 
 Independence of Mind, its Advantages 
 and Disadvantages . . . 155 
 
 Indian War 564 
 
 Inquisition ..... 272 
 Interpretation of Scripture . . 655 
 Ionian Isles ceded to Fngjand . 849 
 
 Josephus, Authority of , 5, 141, 501 
 Justification 55,251,287,501,581, 692 
 
 Kipling, Dean,'s Clmllcnge . . 406 
 
 liancaster^s System . . . 183 
 
 Law of God 285 
 
 Leetakoo, Account of . . . r;32 
 
 Leipsir, Distresses there . . 198 
 Letter, Monitory, from an old t© a young 
 
 Clergyman .... 18 
 
 — from a Protestant Minister in 
 
 France ..... 25 
 
 of Dean of Feterliorough . 406 
 
 — ■ fr-oni Mr. M'llfir. ''. i2t 
 
 rage 
 Letter from Sir A. Johnston to Mr. Pratt 200 
 
 from Dr. Hunt, on Tweddell's 
 
 Remains ..... 517 
 from Louis XVIII. to the Vic- 
 ars-general of Paris . . . 633 
 Lincoln, Bishop of, on Bible Society 407, 
 
 696, 735 
 Litany, a Hymn .... 735 
 Literary' and Philosophical Intelligence, 50, 
 118, 188, .255, 336, 406, 472^, 549, 621, 
 694, 760, 837 
 Literary Prize at Aberdeen . . 621 
 Liverpool, Lord, Speech of, on Bible 
 
 Society 840 
 
 Lord's Supper . . . 437, 591 
 Love in Religion . .218, 359 
 
 Love of God and Christ . . 293, 539 
 Ludier, Extracts from Writings of . 7 
 Lydia, Character of , . . 209 
 
 Magog . . . 
 
 Marine Bible Associations 
 
 Mediation of Christ 
 
 Mendicity 
 
 iVlethocii.^t Mission in Ceylon 
 
 Conference 
 
 Millenium ..... 
 Miracles ..... 
 Tviisreprcsentations of Norris (ste JVorrvi) 
 Aiissions in India (see East-India Mis- 
 sions.') 
 of United Brethren 
 
 5,141 
 
 561 
 
 34 
 
 761 
 
 . 885 
 892 
 365 
 565 
 
 827 
 
 ■ in India, Baptist, 555, 626, 702, 774 
 
 Monk of La Trappe, Death of . 273 
 
 Morality 311 
 
 Murat .... 268, 348, 780 
 Mutiny of Seamen . . . 707 
 
 New Testament 
 Persian 
 
 New Jersey, College of 
 
 Niger, Attempt to explore 
 
 New Zealand 
 
 Norris, Demonstrations of 98, 235, 446, 589 
 
 Northampton Mercury . . . 23 
 
 . 241 
 
 . 475 
 609, 841 
 . 694 
 771, 881 
 
 Noses renewed 
 Novel-reading 
 
 Obituary 
 Oflcnce of Gospel 
 Oxford 
 
 119,472 
 512 
 
 69, 72, 127, 206, 417 
 
 644 
 
 . 59, 406, 760 
 
 Paradoxes, Christian 
 Parents, Hint to 
 l^aris. Moral State of 
 Parliament, Proceedings of 
 
 Pascal, Life of 
 
 . 436 
 20 
 . 438 
 126j 3-18, 416, 
 489 
 349, 421, 493, 565, 637, 
 709, 781, 853 
 Paul, St., Character of . . . 306 
 
 ' his Preacjjing in Great Britain 660 
 
 Penn on Prophecy . 5, 141, "G'j, 501 
 Perpetual Motion . . . .189 
 
 Persecutions of Waldenses . . 64 
 
 ©f Protc^tacls in France 776, 
 
 85T 
 
INDEX. 
 
 
 Pag:e 
 
 Pcreeverance 
 
 372 
 
 PitL-airn's Island 
 
 . 858 
 
 Porlier, Insurrection of 
 
 . 709 
 
 Porter brewed, Account of 
 
 . 622 
 
 Potatoes .... 
 
 236 
 
 Rrayer .... 
 
 . 8, 432 
 
 Society, Bible, Report of . 474, 563 
 , Bp. of Lincoln's Attack 
 
 Preaching Gospel 13, 30, 249, 540, 689 
 
 Prophecy 5, 141, 214, 231, 365, 427, 430, 
 
 501, 708 
 Psalms and Hymns, on discretionary Use 
 
 of . . . . . 95, 661 
 
 Public Affairs 65, 126, 202, 267, 345, 413, 
 
 484, 562, 633, 704, 77o, 840 
 
 Publications, List of IVew 39, 118, 233, 336, 
 
 406, 412, 549, 621, 694, 760, 837, 901 
 
 Puritans .... 386, 449 
 
 Quakers, Yearly fleeting of . . 359 
 Quarterly Revieiv reviewed . . 828 
 
 Reason 422 
 
 Regeneration . 588, 649, 694, 723,799 
 
 ■ Dr. South's View of . 649 
 
 ' Archbishop Sharp and Ham- 
 mond on .... . 799 
 
 prayed for by the Church 722 
 
 Reli£cion, Revival of . . 699, 841 
 
 Religious Intelligence 61, 121, 191, 257, 338, 
 409,^474, 553, 623, 696, 765, 840 
 Residence, Clerical . . . 162 
 Revelation, Evidences of . . 236 
 
 Riot 202 
 
 Rock, Mr., Death of . . . 490 
 Rome, Claurch of . . . 227 
 
 S^ibbath profaned . . . 305 
 
 Sacrament, Administration of 437, 591 
 
 Satisfaction by Death of Christ . 278 
 
 Schools of Cell and Lancaster . 183 
 
 in France 407 
 
 at Tranquebar 262 
 
 Sc ,tt"s \'iew of Paris . . . 438 
 
 Scoit, Waller, his Poetry . . 750 
 Scripture, Misttkes respecting . 216 
 
 Scythians, Cienealogy of 5, 141, 365, 501 
 Self-examination .... 841 
 Senex, Character of . . . 149 
 Sermons, Family (see Family Sermons.) 
 
 -, Baxter's, Extracts from 
 ~, Cooper's Practical . 
 — , Funeral, on Henry Thornton 
 — , Jebb's, Appendix to, Ptemarks 
 
 584 
 317 
 127 
 
 655 
 
 518 
 
 46 
 
 479 
 
 99 
 
 26 
 
 769 
 
 Sicard, Abbe's, Institution . , ^71 
 
 Slave Trade 61, 205, 270, 272, 349, 416, 
 
 849, 884 
 
 , abolished by Bonaparte 270 
 
 , in Spanish America . 299 
 
 Society-Islfinds .... 869 
 Society, Bible 23, 98, 178, 235, 264, 589, 
 650, 727, 765 
 -, Annjrersary of . 339 
 
 ~, Kirwan's 
 -, Marsh's 
 — , Sargent's 
 — , Thorpe's 
 — , \'enn's 
 -,V'aughan's 
 
 -, in Africa 
 
 — America 
 
 — Asia 
 
 — Asia Minor 
 Berg 
 
 Calcutta 
 
 Cinque Ports 
 
 Colum'.)0 
 
 Constantinople 
 
 — Denmark 
 Finland 
 
 — France 
 
 — Geneva 
 
 — Germany 
 
 — Great Britain 
 
 — Hanover 
 
 — Java 
 
 Iceland 
 
 Louisiana 
 
 — Malta 
 
 Moscow 
 
 Netherlands 
 
 — Oxford 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
 — Poland 
 Prussia 
 
 — Russia 
 
 Southampton 
 
 Sweden 
 
 — Svvitzerkind 
 Theodosia 
 
 Turkey 
 
 406, 696, 735 
 
 654, 769 
 
 553, 769 
 
 . 553 
 
 . 767 
 
 . 474 
 
 769 
 
 840 
 
 263 
 
 . 410 
 
 . 477 
 
 ib. 
 
 478 
 
 62 
 
 . 477 
 
 556 
 
 474 
 
 264, 769 
 
 765 
 
 . 623 
 
 478 
 
 769 
 
 264, 474 
 482 
 
 265, 769 
 474 
 
 ib. 
 
 475, 766 
 
 128 
 
 477 
 
 . 478 
 
 . 766 
 
 478 
 
 Society, Bristol Church-of-England Tract 121 
 
 -. Church Missionary 124, 2> 0, -..61 
 
 342, 562, 769, 874 
 
 ^ Bristol 124 
 
 , Hibernian 259 
 
 fur promotins; Chnslian Know- 
 
 Icdae 1, 73, 95,"^ 178, 367, 409, 512, 585 
 
 ^ in St. David's 119, 
 
 248, 549 
 ■ ■ Chri?lianiiv among 
 
 Jews . 198, 257, 343,' C29, 810, 841 
 Bristol 481 
 
 E(]inburgh Mission 
 
 for Gaelic Schools 
 
 , Prayer-book and Homily 
 
 . 261 
 
 894 
 
 345,510, 
 
 479 
 
 898 
 
 . 86.5 
 
 . 869 
 
 266 
 
 888 
 
 843 
 
 • 886 
 
 Southcott, Joanna, Death of . .66 
 Southey's Poetry . . . . 692 
 
 Spain, Tyranny tiiere . 6C, 635, 707 
 
 Speeches at Anniversary of the Bible 
 
 Society 340 
 
 ■ at Oxford Auxiliarj' Bible 
 
 Society ..... 484 
 
 at Jews' Society . . 342 
 
 of \'icompte de Chateaubriand 634 
 
 Earl Moira -■ 550 
 
 -, IIii;ernian 
 
 -, Hib,ernian Sunday School 
 
 -, London Missionary 
 
 -, Religious Tract 
 
 -, SpiLalfields Benevolent 
 
 -, Stranger's Friend 
 
 -, \N'eslevan Methodist 
 
906 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Speech of Lord Liverpool 
 
 Mr. Dunn 
 
 Spirit, Witness of . . . 
 Spiritual Conflict with the World 
 Stage Coaches, on the Lord's Day 
 Steam-boats .... 
 
 Page 
 840 
 259 
 356 
 78 
 305 
 472 
 
 Tartary 
 
 Taxes . . . . 
 
 Temptation 
 
 Thanksgiving-day 
 
 Thompson, Death of Rev. J. 
 
 Thornton, Death of Henry 
 
 Tract Society (see Socie/i/.) 
 Tradition 
 Tranquebar , 
 Treaty of Peace 
 Tweddell's Remains 
 
 261 
 
 . 126 
 
 8 
 
 851 
 
 G. . 69 
 
 72, 127, 137, 
 
 266 
 
 United States 
 
 Brethren, Missions of 
 
 Unity of Opinion 
 University Officers 
 
 Preachers 
 
 Prizes 
 
 Voyage of Discovery 
 Usher, Advice to Clergy 
 on Satisfaction of Christ 
 
 Page 
 
 66, 126, 206 
 
 - 827 
 
 . 300 
 
 . 760 
 
 46 
 
 59, 119, 406, 549 
 
 694, 764 
 
 231 
 
 278 
 
 . 655 
 
 • 262 
 
 770, 846 
 
 Waldenses 
 
 War with France 
 
 in India 
 
 Waterloo, Battle of 413, 419, 484, 
 
 Scott's Poem on 
 
 Sufferers at, Subscription 
 
 Vaudois (see TValdenses.) 
 Vicars-general of Paris, Louis XVIIL's 
 
 Letter to 633 
 
 Vigilance, Christian ... 8 
 
 UnchEingeableness of God . . 717 
 
 Weiglits and Measures regulated 
 Wellington . . 413, 417, 
 374, 517 Werner, Account of 
 
 Whitaker on Cahinism 
 Whitbread, Mr., Death of 
 Works of Art at Paris, Restoration 
 World, Spiritual Contest witli 
 
 Zeal 
 
 62,304 
 
 345 
 
 267, 564 
 
 489, 793 
 
 . 750 
 
 for 793 
 
 . 472 
 
 484, 750 
 
 255 
 
 . 91 
 
 . 489 
 
 of 703 
 
 . 75 
 
 . 252 
 
 INDEX TO THE REVIEWS. 
 
 Alison's sermons 
 
 Buckworth's Sermons 
 
 Byron, Lord,'s Hebrew Melodies 
 
 Campbell's Travels in Africa 
 Chahners's Evidence of Christianity 
 
 Address to tlie Inhabitants 
 
 Kilmany .... 
 Charge of the Bishop of Chester 
 Church, Claims of, considered 
 
 in Danger 
 
 Cooper's Practical Sermons, Vol. III. 
 Crool's Restoration of Israel 
 
 Hall's Terms of Communion 
 
 Jesuits, Account of . . . 
 .(ephtliah, Smcdlty's Piizc Poem of 
 
 Kirwan'i Sermons 
 
 Law, Bishop, his Charge 
 Letter to the Bishop of Lincoln 
 
 Marsh's Sermons 
 
 More, llannah,'5 Essay on St. Paul 
 
 Page Page 
 
 J09 Prize Essay, Wilks's, on tlie Signs of 
 
 Conversion in Ministers . . 248 
 gjg Puritans, Brooks's Lives of . 306, 449 
 
 642 
 
 Roderick, the Last of the Goths, 
 
 826 Soutliey's 
 
 ' 236 
 
 )f Scott's Field of Waterloo 
 
 QQ^ Sermons, Alison's 
 
 177 , Buckworth's 
 
 735 1 Cooper's 
 
 ib. 1 Kirwan's 
 
 317 , Marsh's 
 
 809 1 Thorpe's 
 
 , V enn's 
 
 664 ^'iiedley's Jephthah 
 Southey's Roderick 
 
 166 
 
 328 Terma of Communion, by Rev. R. Hall 664 
 
 Thorp's Visitation Sermon . . 99 
 
 gig Tweddell's Remains . . . 374 
 
 177 ^'cnn's Posthumous Sermons . . 26 
 
 735 
 
 ^^ ilks, on Signs of Conversion in Minis- 
 46 ters 248 
 
 G06 
 
 592 
 
 750 
 109 
 616 
 317 
 518 
 . 46 
 99 
 26 
 328 
 592 
 
 INDEX TO THE PRINCIPAL NAMES. 
 
 Page 
 
 AbDOOL Messee 261 ,874 Alison 
 
 Adams . . . 860 Armour 
 
 Adkins . . . 123 Augustan 
 
 Page 
 
 
 Page 
 
 109 
 
 805 
 233. 
 
 Bacon 
 
 Barlow 
 
 Barnabas 
 
 . 436 
 
 . 136 
 
 152 
 
INDEX. 
 
 90-: 
 
 Page 
 
 
 Paee 
 
 Page 
 
 Bates . . . 479 
 
 Green 
 
 . 699 
 
 Orleans, Duke of . 439 
 
 Baxter • . .451 
 
 Green, Susannah 
 
 . 844 
 
 Owen ■ . 844 
 
 BeU . • • 184 
 
 Greenwood 
 
 . 200 
 
 
 BeUay • . ■ 428 
 
 Grindal 
 
 . 457 
 
 Pascal 349, 421, 493, 565, 
 
 Benedict . • 279 
 
 
 
 637, 709, 781, 853 
 
 Bernard . • 235 
 
 Hales 
 
 . 9,142 
 
 Paezold . . 1 
 
 Bissett . . .885 
 
 Hall 
 
 664 
 
 Paul, St. 349, 421, 493, 565, 
 
 Bligh . . .858 
 
 Harrison 
 
 884 
 
 637, 709, 781 
 
 Blucher . . 414,484 
 
 Hinton 
 
 . 484 
 
 Pearson . ' . 483 
 
 Bowdler . . 141 
 
 Hoizberg 
 
 4 
 
 Penn . . 365,501 
 
 Bowlej . . .878 
 
 Hooker 
 
 . 27 
 
 Perkins . . 463 
 
 Brook . - 386, 449 
 
 Humboldt 
 
 299 
 
 Petion . 66, 266 
 
 Buchanan . .1, 206 
 
 Humphreys 
 
 . 844 
 
 Pipon . . .861 
 
 Buckworth . . 616 
 
 Hunt 
 
 . 517 
 
 Pohle . . 1,410 
 
 Bonaparte 204, 267, 346, 413, 
 
 
 
 Porlier . . .704 
 
 485, 563 
 
 Jebb 
 
 655 
 
 Powell . . .849 
 
 Butler ... 243 
 
 Jephthah 
 
 329 
 
 Pratt . . 200, 889 
 
 Butscher . . 884 
 
 Jesse 
 
 . 417 
 
 Pritchard . . 142 
 
 Butterworth . - 761 
 
 John 
 
 4 
 
 
 Bjron . . .542 
 
 Johnston 
 
 200 
 
 Rhenius . , 881 
 
 
 Joenicke 
 
 . 1 
 
 Ringeltaube . 4 
 
 Calvin ... 91 
 
 Jonathan 
 
 716 
 
 Rock . . 490 
 
 CampbeU . . 826 
 
 Josephus . 9, 
 
 141, 501 
 
 Roderick , . 592 
 
 Carey ... 26 
 
 
 
 Romanzow . 764 
 
 Carlyle . . .518 
 
 Kendall 
 
 . 881 
 
 Rowe . . .845 
 
 Carnot . . .407 
 
 Kidder 
 
 . 814 
 
 
 Carpue . . .119 
 
 Kincaid 
 
 . 889 
 
 Saul ... 715 
 
 Castlereagh . 205, 849 
 
 Kipling 
 
 . 406 
 
 Schnarre . . 881 
 
 Chalmers . 236, 685 
 
 KirWEin 
 
 . 518 
 
 Scott, Walter . 750 
 
 Chandler . . 845 
 
 Kolhoff 
 
 1 
 
 , Rev. J. . 809 
 
 Chateaubriand . 634 
 
 
 
 Sicard . . 371 
 
 Christian . . 858 
 
 Labedoyere 
 
 . 563 
 
 Smedley . . 328 
 
 Christophe . . 67 
 
 Lancaster 
 
 184 
 
 Smith . . .859 
 
 Clarke, Dr. Samuel 365 
 
 Lavalette 
 
 851 
 
 South . . 649 
 
 Clarke, Dr. E. D. . 883 
 
 Lincoln, Bp. of 
 
 407, 690, 
 
 Southey . . 592 
 
 Cobbin . . .777 
 
 
 735 
 
 Southcott . 68 
 
 Coke . . .885 
 
 Liverpool 
 
 840 
 
 Staines . . 861 
 
 Cooper . . .317 
 
 Louis 204, 484, 
 
 633, 777 
 
 Sternhold and Hopkins 95 
 
 Corrie . . 261, 878 
 
 Loyola 
 
 . 169 
 
 Supper . . 264 
 
 Crool . . .800 
 
 Lutlier 
 
 7 
 
 Sargent . . 480 
 
 Cuninghame . . 427 
 
 
 
 Swartz . . 1, 73 
 
 
 MacCarthy 
 
 . 884 
 
 
 Dav-id . . .715 
 
 Majo 
 
 830 
 
 Thompson, Rev. J. G. 69 
 
 Da\ison . . 483 
 
 Marsden 
 
 381 
 
 , Rev. M. 262 
 
 Dauxion Lavaysse . 66 
 
 Marsh, Dr. 
 
 . 727 
 
 Thornton 72, 124, 137, 265, 
 
 Doering . . . 460 
 
 , Mr. 
 
 46 
 
 360 
 
 Descartes . . 355 
 
 Macintosh 
 
 284 
 
 Travers . . 465 
 
 Dositheos . . 476 
 
 Malouet 
 
 . 66 
 
 Tweddell . 374, 517 
 
 Duaterra . . 881 
 
 Massieu 
 
 . 371 
 
 Twisleton . . 885 
 
 Dunn , . . 259 
 
 Mede 
 
 . 464 
 
 
 Durham, Bishop of 236 
 
 Mibe 
 
 124 
 
 Vaughan . . 769 
 
 
 Moira 
 
 . 550 
 
 Venn , . 26 
 
 Edwards . . 450 
 
 Molesworlh 
 
 886 
 
 Ushar . 230, 278 
 
 Elgin . . 382,617 
 
 More 
 
 306 
 
 
 Evans . . , 844 
 
 Morrison 
 
 124 
 
 Watts . . 162 
 
 
 Mural 268, 3-18. 
 
 , 416, 780 
 
 Wellington 413, 484, 703, 750 
 
 Faber . 281, 427 
 
 
 
 Werner . . 255 
 
 Folger . . .859 
 
 Natt 
 
 482 
 
 ^\^u taker . 91 
 
 Frere . . .499 
 
 Nepeon 
 
 885, 807 
 
 Whitbread . . 489 
 
 
 A'eweH 
 
 . 886 
 
 Wilbcrforce . 417, 8U 
 
 Galitzm . . . 476 
 
 Ney 
 
 851 
 
 Wilks . . 248 
 
 Gericke . . 1, 73 
 
 Norris . 98, 
 
 , 235, 446 
 
 Wilson . 482 
 
 Gilpin . . . 455 
 
 Norton 
 
 200 
 
 
 Gisborne 696 
 
 Nvlandcr 
 
 8S5 
 
 Ya(e? . f35 
 
 Grattan 521 
 
 
 
 
90S 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 INDEX TO THE TEXTS 
 
 ILLUSTRATED OR REFERRED TO. 
 
 
 Pa^ 
 
 
 
 F.i?e 
 
 
 Page 
 
 Genesis i. 3 
 
 49 
 
 Lake 
 
 iv. 18, 19 
 
 . 279 
 
 Romam xiv. 23 
 
 ] 
 
 Ti. 8 
 
 223 
 
 
 viii. 3 
 
 . 213 
 
 XV. 1 
 
 V 7 
 
 1 Sam. xvii. 10, 11 ) 
 six. 9, 10 S 
 
 715 
 
 
 X. 27 
 
 . 795 
 
 xvi. 23 
 
 ) 
 
 
 xi. 27, 28 
 
 . 576 
 
 1 Cor. ix. 27 
 
 . 22S 
 
 1 Kings xvii. 14 
 
 534 
 
 
 x^i. 23 
 
 525 
 
 xiii. 3 
 
 793 
 
 Psalms Iv. 17 
 
 . 432 
 
 
 xxi. 23 
 
 427 
 
 XV. 58 
 
 141 
 
 cxviii. 22, 23 
 
 8 
 
 
 xxi. 32 
 
 5,366,501 
 
 2 Cor. V. 20 
 
 . 279 
 
 Proverbs x\-u. 16 
 
 279 
 
 John 
 
 V. 40 
 
 . 324 
 
 Gal. iv. 31 
 
 7 
 
 Esfkicl xxxiii. 8 
 
 108 
 
 
 xix. 26 
 
 579 
 
 1 Tim. iv. 16 
 
 . 100 
 
 Zecliariah xi. 9 
 
 84 
 
 
 .XX. 29 
 
 . 7 
 
 Hebrews x. 26 
 
 504 
 
 Malacln iii. 16, 17. 
 
 127 
 
 
 xxi. 16 
 
 47 
 
 1 Peter ii. 21 
 
 . 86 
 
 Matthew iii. 6 
 
 717 
 
 Acts xi. 24 
 
 . 151 
 
 1 John iv. 18 
 
 .'219 
 
 xi. 6 
 
 644 
 
 xn. 14 
 
 . 209 
 
 Rev. vi. 17 
 
 . 499 
 
 xxii. 2 
 
 279 
 
 XX. 26 
 
 . 108 
 
 xi. 6 
 
 428 
 
 xxiv. 46 
 
 207 
 
 Romans ylii, 10 
 
 359 
 
 xvii. 8 
 
 . 500 
 
 xxvi. 41 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 INDEX TO THE SIGNATURES 
 
 Used by the writers in the fourteexth volume of the christian observer. 
 
 A. A. 
 
 Paa:e 
 517 
 
 G. S. 
 
 A. B. . . . 
 
 166 
 
 G. S. Faber 
 
 A Constant Reader 
 
 585 
 
 
 A Friend to the Old 
 
 
 H. 
 
 Society, and to its 
 Safeguards - 371 
 
 1,587 
 
 H. Boner 
 
 Ahala . ' . 
 
 726 
 
 J. D. L. 
 
 -imelia 
 
 An Inquirer . 5. 
 
 An Old Fellow 
 
 371 
 ,501 
 
 22 
 
 Ignotus 
 I. G W. 
 J. N. C. 
 
 An Old Friend and Cor- 
 
 
 J S. 
 
 respondent 
 Anti-Gall-icus 
 
 804 
 735 
 
 John Bartlett 
 I. O Z. 
 J S— H. 
 
 C. . 214, 223, 
 
 ,304 
 
 Justus 
 
 Clencus Lancasteriensis 
 
 437 
 
 
 CO 
 
 7 
 
 K. K. 
 
 Col. R— S— 
 
 21 
 
 
 C ran tor 
 
 917 
 
 Laicus 
 
 Cunin2:hame, W. 
 
 500 
 
 
 c. w: . . 
 
 591 
 
 Merainia 
 M. J. A. 
 
 D. E. 
 
 661 
 
 Moderator 
 
 D. VV. . . 86, 
 
 294 
 
 N L. 
 
 Eusebia 
 
 151 
 
 N— 2. 
 
 F 
 
 141 
 
 P C. R. 
 
 Pliilalcthes 
 
 Pa^e 
 
 
 Page 
 
 278 
 
 Philip Hunt 
 
 . 518 
 
 283 
 
 ^i\o)'.oyi; 
 
 216 
 
 
 ^ll^OTfSLTipUV 
 
 . 231 
 
 273 
 
 */w . . 
 
 356 
 
 449 
 
 
 
 
 Q- • 
 
 . 367 
 
 145 
 
 
 
 218 
 
 R. p. B 
 
 165 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 788 
 
 s. 
 
 . 304 
 
 23 
 
 Suasor 
 
 65* 
 
 590 
 
 S. W. 
 
 • 231, 584 
 
 235 
 
 
 
 148 
 
 The Book of Homilies 512 
 
 98 
 
 Theognis 
 
 . 25, 305 
 
 
 T. H. Y. 
 
 436 
 
 809 
 
 Titus 
 
 95 
 
 
 T. S. 
 
 93, 233 
 
 446 
 
 
 
 
 Verax 
 
 . 236 
 
 372 
 
 
 
 367 
 
 W. 
 
 374, 662, 800 
 
 432 
 
 W H W. 
 
 95 
 
 
 Wm Cuningl 
 
 dame . 500 
 
 591 
 
 W. N. 
 
 . 64 
 
 660 
 
 
 
 
 X. 
 
 . 98,589 
 
 592 
 
 
 
 143 
 
 * » * 
 
 25 
 
 0. e. G. 
 
 299 
 
 EXD OF THE FOURTEENTH VOLUME. 
 
'■> --^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ..^ 
 
 ^W! 
 
 $^€^' 
 
 m 
 
 M