"nate safe political principles, to place public "happiness on its true base-public political vir

tue, which are the duties of all good citizens," were the motives which induced our author 66 to

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Amidst the high flown panegyricks which the doctor has heaped on the memory of Mr. Booth, there is one thing, which, somehow or other has escaped him, but of which he ought to be reminded. It is well known that the deceased held in peculiar abhorrence that species of pulpit buffoonery which consists in taking single words for a text, and playing on them throughout a sermon. On this subject Mr. Booth in his sermon-The Amen to social prayer illustrated and improved, thus expresses himself." When I first heard this detached and single word was allotted for me, I could not forbear to hesitate: "because I have long détested the thought of selecting any part of sacred scripture to be the subject of a trial of skill "in order to excite popular curiosity, and to afford amuse"ment: for such conduct deserves the most marked repro"bation; as being a disgrace to the pulpit, and a profanation "of the sacred ministry." Similar remarks likewise occur in what I agree with Dr. Rippon is an "invaluable work,” and which I have before quoted-An Essay on the kingdom of Christ. How strange is it that the doctor should so soon have forgotten the repeated admonitions of his great "reverend, apostolic minister," as to be punning on his christian name in the very sermon preached on his decease. " They which be of "faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." It would not have exceeded some of the doctor's pulpit feats, had he singled out another text for the sirname Booth, which it is a wonder he did not discover in more than one passage of scripture. It is hoped the doctor will for the future pay greater attention to the writings of his favourite, and that he will not, after reading the passages to which I have referred him, and having "beheld

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his face in a glass, go his way, and straightway forget what "manner of man he was.") -Many of my readers will I fear,

endeavour to attract the attention of youth on "this subject."* The catechism is written with much ingenuity and originality, and peculiarly calculated for the instruction as well as entertainment of young people. This work as well as the preface to the Plan of lectures, one of his Village Discourses,† and his sermon entitled-Christian submission to civil government, afford ample evidence of the soundness of his principles as a friend to civil government in general, and to that form of civil government, the British constitution, in particular: indeed some of his encomiums on the privileges of Britons, are expressed in such flattering terms, as, after "seeing what we have "Aseen," one may almost question their justice. Had

our author lived to behold the awful events which have occurred under the unprincipled and profligate administration of PITT,-the numerous violations of the constitution, and of the civil rights

feel somewhat displeased at my bestowing so long a note on such a person. My apology must be-the popularity of the doctor in his own denomination—his being the successor of that learned and excellent man (what a contrast) Dr. Gill-his having been chosen by the first, the largest, and most respectable baptist church in London, if not in the kingdom, the late Mr. Booth's, to deliver the funeral oration over their deceased pastor!!!-And the mischief that his farrago of bigotry and calumny "the short memoir," is calculated to effect in the christian world.

*Preface to the 3d. Ed. Works. Vol. II. p. 257. † DisCourse III. On Contentment with Providence. ↑ Works. Vol. III. p. 289.

of his countrymen, the vast and enormously increased influence of the crown, the lavish expenditure of the blood and treasure of the nation in wars characterised by wickedness and folly,-the events which have taken place under the present administration, the arrest of the progress of toleration in her glorious course,-that act, unparalleled in the history of civilized nations, for its meanness, injustice, perfidy, and cruelty, the invasion of the neutral and unsuspecting Danes, the slaughter of the inhabitants, the conflagration of their capital, the robbery of their fleet and arsenals -Had our author been the witness of these horrid events, together with the degeneracy and supineness of the people, his high panegyricks on the felicity of Britons, would doubtless have been somewhat lowered: that constant and warm reprobation he expressed of the measures of Lord North, must have been not only continued, but increased, under the administration of statesmen, who have proved, unhappily for the British empire and for Europe, that they possessed all the bad, without any of the good qualities of their unfortunate predecessor.

Mr. Robinson was not the mere theoretical politician, nor did he, as stated by Mr. Dyer, "ad"mire King Log in the English form of govern"ment." He justly considered the constitutional prerogatives of a British sovereign as real, effective,

and calculated to promote the liberties and the general welfare of the people. As a christian minister he avoided the extremes, of introducing party politicks in the pulpit, and leaving the people uninstructed in the nature of their rights and duties, under the pretence that "the pulpit had nothing to do with politicks,"—a pretence always ridiculous, and generally hypocritical, it being notorious that the sycophantick priests who have most loudly professed to act on this principle, have the most frequently violated it.

In 1786, Mr. Robinson published Sirteen Dis courses on several texts of Scripture, addressed to Christian Assemblies, in Villages near Cambridge: to which are added six Morning Exercises. There are various circumstances attending the preaching and publishing these truly original sermons not undeserving notice. The following account given by the author in the preface, of the times and places in which they were delivered, serves to shew his own indefatigable industry, and his constant and habitual care to employ those great and useful talents entrusted him by Providence, for the welfare of every part of his flock, and for the benefit of the lowest ranks of society.

"The protestant dissenting congregations at Cambridge, from the first forming of them, have ་ always consisted, besides inhabitants of the town, of a great number of families, resident "in the adjacent villages. In these last families, "there have always been children and servants,

aged and infirm persons, who could attend the public worship in town, only occasionally, some once a month, on the lord's-supper-day, others

once a quarter, and the very aged only once or "twice in the summer. It hath, therefore, been "the constant practice of their teachers, in com"pliance with their own desire, to instruct them 66 at their own towns about once a month. In some there are houses fitted up on purpose; and "in others, barns, in summer, when they are

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empty, and, in winter, dwelling-houses answer "the same end: when either have been too small "to accommodate the auditors, as they often have "been on fine evenings, the preachers have stood "abroad in an orchard or a paddock, or any "convenient place. The following discourses are "a few of many which have been delivered in such places. They are printed, as nearly as can be "recollected, as they were spoken.

"In some places, and in some seasons, the "teacher hath tarried all night, and half an hour "early in the morning hath been employed in devotion, and giving instruction. The short dis

courses, called for distinction sake, Exercises, "were delivered at such times. It was usual, "too, before sermon in the evening, to catechise "the children, by hearing them read a short scripture-history, and questioning them about "the sense of it."

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The manner in which these discourses were afterwards prepared for the press affords a remarka