year, that the Treasurer was in advance ninety-one pounds paid as the reward of life preferved; and in the prefent only retains a trifling balance in his favour; or fhall I rather rejoice with you in this bieffed abundance of objects refcued from deftruétion, and in the conclufive evidence thence refulting of the utility of this inftitution? Can it be imagined that our wants fhould be known, and not be inftantly libe- . rally fupplied?" P. 20.-" Brethren, I am pleading the caufe of mankind: I adjure you in the name of humanity-by the love you bear your country-by the affection you feel to your neareft relativesby every tender fenfibility now moving in your bofem--and, above all, by the duty you owe to the great Author of your Being, by whom you are fo fearfully and wonderfully made, replenish our exhauited rcfources. Give, give! not grudgingly or of neceflity, for God loveth a chearful giver.”

ART. 31. The Fall of Babylon; or the Harmony between Prophecy and Providence, in the Rife, Duration, and Destruction of Antichrift. A Sermon, delivered to the Independent Congregation, Long Buckby, Northamptonshire. In which is confidered the Opinions of the Rev. Dr. Valpy and E. King, Efq. By William Mofeley. 8vo. 42 pp. Button. 1799.

IS.

66

Mr. M. propofes, after making a few preliminary obfervations (of which the chief is, that by "Baby lon, Rome Chriftian is intended,") to point out the agreement between the predictions of Scripture, and the rife, duration, and fall of Babylon, or Rome." P. 2. The texts produced to show, that the rife of Popery is prophefied of in Scripture, and that the prophecies correfpond with no other character in hiftory than the Roman Pontiff, are Dan. vii, 8, 21, 25, xi, 36, 37; 2 Theff. ii, 3,4; Rev. xiii, 1, 5,7, xiv, 15. The preacher confiders, 2ndly, the connection between prophecy and the duration of Antichrift. This deration he fixes, with feveral commentators, at 1260 years. But in fettling the commencement of the reign of Antichrift, he acknowledges there is much dificulty. Lowman has fixed it in 756; Bishop Newten in 27. That the principle upon which thefe authors argued, and the data they chofe, were wrong, time has proved. For according to Fleming, Lowman, and others, he ought to have poffeffed his temporal power till the year 2016. And, according to Bishop Newton, till the year 1987. Mede, and those who have followed him, have fixed his rife much earlier. Mede dates his rife in the year 456. And, according to this, he must have fallen in the year 1716. Fleming, Lowman, and Newton, were in one extreme, and Mede in the other." P. 17. The preacher then choofes the most memorable period between 456 and 756, and this he fays is 606. Among his five reafons for choofing this period, the fourth is thus expreffed: "4thly. Recent events have rendered this epoch more probable than any other. We have feen the Pope defpciled of his temporal authorities; but he fill fills the Papal chair., Secular authority was not neceffary to conflitute him a hern of little power at first, and taking this away does not terminate his reign. There is little profpect of his reftoration to temporal power; but whether the prefent Pontiff, or fome of his fuccef

fors,

fors, may not take, for a fhort time, the pontifical chair again in Rome, is not yet certain. The judgments, however, with which the great city has been lately vifited, are probably included in the fifth vial.

And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the feat of the beast, and his kingdom was full of darknefs, and they gnawed their tongues for pain." Mede, Lowman, and Bifhop Newton, unite in faying this refers to a remarkable period, in which the power and authority of Antichrift fhall be diminished. His very throne has been vifited in wrath; but he is ftill alive, and still maintains his ecclefiaftical honours. The wounds, however, which he has received, are deadly, but his end is not yet. The vial may be 50 or 60 years running out; during which time, it is probable he will continue to experience a vaft variety of painful providences; and after fuffering many heavy judg ments will be finally fwept away. Is it likely that this event is, according to Fleming, above 200 years diftant? Do not existing circumftances strongly favour the fuppofition, that not more than 70 years are yet to come?" P. 25. In a note at p. 28, the opinions of Dr. Valpy and Mr. King, who have fixed the rife of Antichrift in 538, are diligently confidered, and are combated. This Sermon, or rather dif quifition, is diftinguished by learning and clofe argumentation.

ART. 32. Two Sermons, preached before the University of Oxford, Feb. 10, 1799. An Attempt to explain by recent Events five of the feven Vials mentioned in the Revelation; and an Inquiry into the fcriptural Signification of the Word Bara. By G. S. Faber, A. M. Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford. 8vo. 80 pp. Is. 6d. Rivingtons, and Hatchard. 1799.

This ingenious and pious author, following the fyftem of Bishop Newton, who contends that the Seals, the Trumpets, and the Vials, in the Revelation, are fucceffive and not parallel in point of time, endeavours to apply the first five of the latter feries to the events of the French Revolution. He proceeds with caution, and with a very laudable attention to the analogy of prophetic language, and certainly gives a degree of probability to his interpretation. Some objections however feem to remain. Particularly, we cannot conceive the French nation to be fufficiently important to be typified by the Sun. Let his fuggeftions ftill be confidered. Every pious attempt towards interpre tation, at this period, demands attention.

Mr. Faber's differtation on the word Bara, proves, by very weighty arguments, that the word truly fignifies created from nothing, and confequently ftands directly oppofed to thofe who wish to confider Mofes as defcribing a new arrangement of matter only, not a creation. This difcourfe is also found and able.

ART. 33. Spare Minutes, or Refolved Meditations and Premeditated Refolutions. Written by Arthur Warwick. 12mo. 2s. 6d. Arch.

1799.

This is a republication, as we are told in the Advertisement to the Reader, from the feventh edition of the work published in 1640. Of the original author, we find no account in any of our biographical

col.

collections; he appears to have been a pious and intelligent man; and thefe Meditations, in the manner of Bruyere, are fufficiently interefting to justify their republication. The following is a fpecimen:"There is nothing more certain than death, nothing more uncertain than the time of dying. I will therefore be prepared for that at all times, which may come at any time, and must come at one time or another. I shall not haften my death by being always ready, but sweeten it; it makes me not die the fooner, but the better."

ART. 34.

A brief Views of the Neceffity and Truth of the Chriflian Revelation. By Thomas Hartwell Horne. 12mo. 3s. 6d. Sael.

1800.

This agreeable little work is divided into two fections. The contents of the first, as the author modeftly informs us, were, in their original state, notes made from different writers on the fubject, and principally from Dr. Leland: the fecond is compofed of materials felected chiefly from the Holy Scriptures. Mr. Horne fatisfactorily proves the neceffity of the Chriftian Revelation, from the state of religion in the ancient Heathen world; having done this, he demonftrates the existence of our Saviour from the united teftimonies of authors, as well those that are friendly as those who are hoftile to Chriftianity. The whole forms a convenient and useful manual for the young ftudent, and may alfo be perufed by the more experienced with edification and pleasure. The ftyle is always eafy, and fometimes very vigorous; the author's reading is extenfive; and his obfervations and application of what he has read, fufficiently acute.

ART. 35. A Sermon, preached in the Parish Church of Heddington, in the County of Wilts, on Wednesday the 12th of March, 1800, being the Day appointed for a General Faft. By the Rev, Richard Weaver, Mafter of the Boarding School, Chippenham, Wilts. 8vo. 23 pp 1s. Coombs, Chippenham; Macklin, London. 1800.

To the matter of this difcourfe nothing can be objected, the advice and exhortations in it being feasonable and good; to the form is which they are conveyed, with refpect to compreffion of thought and vigour of style, much praife cannot confcientioufly be extended.

ART. 36. The Publications of the Religious Tract Society. Volume I. 8vo. Is. 9d. Rouffeau. 1800.

This volume contains 27 tracts, few of them original, written by various hands. Some are recommended by the name of Dr. Watts, Of the good defign of them there can be no doubt. The "Perfuafive to public Worship" is a very useful tract. But we apprehend that the tendency of many among them is, to render men gloomy and unhappy by means of that, which, rightly understood and duly attended to, would make them more truly chearful and happy, than any thing elfe in this world can make them,-Religion.

ART.

ART. 37. For the Defence of the Conftitution in Church and States A Sermon. By the Rev. Robert Luke, M. A. Curate of Clyft St. Lawrence, in the County of Devon; and Fellow of Sydney Suffix College, Cambridge. 4to. 19 pp. 1s. Trewman, Exeter; "Wilkie,

London.

We recommend to this preacher, whofe intentions are evidently very good, if he fhould choofe again to inftruct the public, to felect fome topic of difcourfe lefs comprehenfive than that expreffed in the titlepage, and to adhere to the difcuffion of it with far greater clofeness and precifion.

ART. 38. Reft ions on the Revolution of a Century. A Sermon, preached at the Cathedral Church of Wells, on Sunday, June 22, 1800. By George Bear, B. D. Rector of Trent in the County of Somerset, and It Stratford cum Frome Billet in the County of Dorfet. 4to. 15. Rivingtons. 1800.

The author has dexterously avoided the difcuffion of the queftion about the century, and proceeds to point out the neceffity of serious and pious meditations on the lapfe of time. His fentiments are good, and his language animated, though fomewhat inclined to be turgid and verbofe.

ART. 39. Chrift crucifid the grand Theme of St. Paul's Miniftry, illuftrated in a Sermon preached at the Bapst Monthly Meeting, Auguft 22, 1799, at Mr. Hutchin's Place of Worship, Unicorn-Yard, Southavark. By James Dore. 8vo. 1s. Gurney. 1800.

This difcourfe undertakes to prove, that the determination of St. Paul was wife, pious, generous, demonstrative of an ardent zeal in the bett of caufes, and above all was well fupported. The language of the preacher is generally vigorous; and though we object to a few fcattered expreflions which border on fanaticifin, we doubt not that the publication of this difcourfe will be highly acceptable to the author's hearers and friends. The moft exceptionable paffage in this respect is to be found at p. 25.

POLITICS.

ART. 40. An Afwer to a Pamphlet, entitled The Speech of the Ear! of Clare, on the Subject of a Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland. By Henry Grattan, Efq. 8vo. 48 pp. Is. Ro

binfons. 1800.

We have already, on a former occafion, expreffed our opinion of a publication bearing the name of this gentleman, and we with it were in our power to fpeak more favourably of that which is now before

* See review of Mr. Grattan's Speech, vol. xv, p. 686.

us. But the fame intemperate vehemence of manner, the fame bold fophistry of argument, the fame violations of candour, and the fame difgufting coarfenefs of language which we remarked in the Speech afcribed to this gentleman, are, in our opinion, too often difcoverable in this pamphlet. It is not our defign to enter into a full difcution of the points laid down in the able Speech of the Earl of Clare, and controverted in this Anfwer. On the historical part, and particularly as to the conduct of King James the Firt in creating Irish boroughs, we would refer our readers to Dr. Duigenan's well-known Answer to Mr. Grattan's Addrefs; in which, if we do not greatly err, the con troverfy, on this period of Irifa hiflory, is placed in a juft point of view, and the conduct of King James fully juftified. We will only add, that we cannot much admire the confiftency of that man, who, reprobating the creation of boroughs by James the Firft, condemns ftill more violently a meafure which includes the abolition of all the most infignificant of thofe boroughs, and reflores the preponderance to County reprefentation, fo far as refpects the Irish portion of the Parliament..

In arguing upon the Settlement of 1782, and the conduct of the Volunteers at that period, Mr. G. triumphantly puts the following queftions: Does any man mean to affirin, that we could have eftablifhed that claim without them? If fo, he is a miltater of the truth. Does any man mean to fay, that the claim did not deferve to be eftablifhed? If fo, he is a flave; and in neither cafe does he deferve an anfwer." Without admitting either of thefe haughty inferences, we might afk to what, even if both were juft, does the writer's argument amount? What, but to the old Jefuitical doctrine, that "the end juftifies the means?" The danger of fuch an interference is, in effect, admitted by this gentleman; as he takes credit to himself and his party, for having fuccesfully refifted the further attempts made by the Volunteers on the freedom of Parliament. But what will he fay to the precedent thus eftablished, of controuling Parliament by military bodies of men, and bodies (however refpectable many of the individuals might be) unknown to the Conftitution? The comparison of this conduct with that of the English Barons who obtained Magna Charta (who had been previously driven into revolt by oppreffions, and who did not overawe the Legiflature, but themfelves formed a part of it) is grofsly inapplicable.

We will not follow this writer through his arguments on the effect of the Settlement of 1787, as the fophiftry of all fuch arguments (which confifts in extending the word final beyond its rational or indeed poffible meaning) has been often pointed out. To confider it as abfolutely precluding any change in the mutual relation of the two kingdoms, however freely made on both fides, or whatever neceflity aight require it, is a folecifm in politics, and indeed in common sense, which we did not conceive any man, of character for abilites, would be hardy enough to avow.

The remainder of this pamphlet confifts principally in a detail of political measures in Ireland for a long period, with regard to which the writer charges the Specch of Lord Clare with inconfiftencies and ifreprefentations. Refpecting the great queftion of the Union, there