REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. Twenty Short Discourses, adapted a The subjects are appropriate to the purposes expressed in the title. They discover a fertility of intellect, a deep acquaintance with the human heart, comprehensive knowledge of mankind, and an experimental savour of divine truth. The style also, in general, happily corresponds to the powers and spirit of the author. Scriptural quotations and metaphors abound, by which the subject is placed before the reader with the most inviting and interesting evidence. The sound logic, the forcible reasoning, and the impressive appeals to the heart, make these discourses no bad models for young divines. The Sermons are not of equal merit; but there is a pure vein of evangelical divinity which runs thro' them all. Yet the experimental unction, the practical spirit, and the awakening energy that pervade them, demonstrate how far the author was concerned to preserve the doctrines of grace from the abuse of professor and profaue. The discourses on "the Heavenly Stranger," are the most interesting, both for sentiment and impression. The opening of the first head contains a masterly description of human depravity and obstinacy. We shall extract the first paragraph from the first head in the sixth sermon; which admirably expresses the benevolent spirit of gospel invitations : — "If any man hear my voice. How soft, how sweet the expression! how extensive the grace! If any man, ~ whatever his country, cha racter, or condition may be. Tho' he may have been a monster in wickedness, a beast in fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, and a devil in fulfilling those of the mind; though he has no merit to recommend him, no peace-offering to bring with him;-though he feels his heart as hard as a stone; nay, harder than the nether mill-stone; let him have had ever so much or ever so little terror before hand; let his convictions have been ever so weak, or ever so strong;-though he may seem to himself ever so unhumbled and unbroken ; yea, though he may have stood it out against Christ these thirty, forty, fifty, or sixty years, "yet, if he shall now hear my voice," saith the Saviour, "and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." p. 45. This extract shews that genuine, old-fashioned Calvinism is neither afraid nor ashamed of addressing sinners of all descr.ptions. Aad this volume contains many awakening addresses to the ungodly. In fine, it affords much that is profitable for readers of all characters and of all opinions. An Essay on the Sanctification of the Lord's Day: humbly designed to recommend that important Duty, By Samuel Gilfillan, Minister of the Gospel, Comrie. Third edit. How OUR apology is due to Mr. Gilfil lan for the delay of this article. The pamphlet was mislaid. ever, the subject is of unvarying importance. The respectable wri ter does not treat it in that elabor ate and argumentative way which Owen and Watis have done. His method is more popular, but not less useful. The essay is founded on Exodus xx. 8, "Remember the Sabbath-Day to keep it holy." The arrangement is good, and coin. prises the following sections! troduction, General Design of the Institution of the Sabbath, - In THIS number commences with an Introduction to the Third Volume; giving a general outline of the proceedings of the Society since the period concluded in the first volume. The papers contained in Number XVII are, 1st, Extracts from the Annual Report of the Missionary Institution at Bethelsdorp, for the year 1805; also, several Letters from Dr. Vanderkemp and Mr. Read, concerning that Mission. 2nd, Extracts from the Leiters and Journal of Messrs. Anderson and Kramer, respecting 1 the Mission among the Corannas. 3. Extracts from the Letters and Journal of the brothers C. and A. Albrecht and Mr. Sydenfaden, regarding the New Mission among the Nainacquas, which are uncommonly pleasing and important. 4. The Number closes with an Account of the Proceedings of the Miss onaries at Otaheite, up to June 1805. Those of our readers who feel themselves interested in the growing prosperity of our Saviour's king dom among men, will find in these priodical publications a full and faithful record of events which cannot fail to gratify their best feelings, and to encourage their utmost exertions for the further spread of the gospel. The next Number, which will shortly go to press, will include much curious and interesting intelligence from India. Concise Account of the Rise and Progress of the Missionary Society. Price 6d. THE Missionary Society having been established nearly twelve years, and the objects of their attention having been numerous and diversified, it became very desirable to concentrate the information respecting their concerns, in such a manner as to give the reader a just view of the whole in a small compass. This has been done; and, we judge, will prove acceptable, not only to those who have noticed the progress of the Society from the first, but especially to persons who may be inclined to afford their future aid; and, we hope, that the old friends of the Institution will endeavour so procure many new ones, by putting this neat and portable tract into the hands of their religious associates. - THIS Account has been often reprinted in our country, and recommended to public notice by Dr. Woodward, Mr. Whitfield, the late Mr. Ryland, and others; and is now seasonably republished by the Managers of the Adelphi Chapel, for the benefit of their SundaySchool, and other charities. It is printed in a cheap form; and, we hope, will find its way into the hands of multitudes who have not yet read this wonderful dis play of the peculiar providence of God, in favour of a benevolent institution; and it serves to teach us that human foresight cannot apprehend the height and length to which a good work may be advanced by a blessing from above; and it may prove a great encouragement to those who are now en gaged in schemes of active benevolence. Salvation by Christ alone: a Ser mon preached at Portsea. By Js. Churchill, Ongar, Essex. 12mo, 6d. THE preacher from Gal. ii. 21, "I do not frustrate the grace of God," &c. explains, 1st, The terms which the Apostle uses in the text; 2dly, The impossibility of righteousness coming by the law; and shews, 3dly, How the insufficiency of the law to justify a sinner, establishes the importance of the Redeemer's death. The Sermon appears to have been published at the request of Mr. Griffin, of Portsea, before whose congregation it was preached. The language is perspicuous, the argument conclusive, and, upon the whole, well calculated, with the divine blessing, to lead persons, under conviction, to seek for salvation through Christ alone. A Sermon, preached at Biddeford, Devon, on Account of the Death of the Rev. Samuel Lavington, by R. Evans, of Appledore; to which is added, In Extract from a Fermon delivered on the same Occasion, by W. Rooker, of Tavistock. 8vo, Is. MR. EVANS, who had been the intimate friend of the deceased for nearly half a century, was well qualified to pay this last tribute of respect to that venerable servant of Christ Mr. Lavington, who was dismissed from the body in his 81st year, on the 18th of April last. The preacher, alluding to the excellent character and valuable fabours of the deceased, takes for his text those encouraging words of Elisha, in 2 Kings ii. 14, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" From which he observes, 1, That how much soever the ambassadors of God have laboured, and whatever success has attended their labours, there is a time limited for their continuance in this world: 2, That it is the duty and interest of those who are bereaved of an ablé and faithful minister, to apply to his God, from whom he derived his gifts, graces, and success for the manifestation of his power and grace in their own experience." The discourse is short, but neat and appropriate. Mr. Rooker's discourse, from which a copious extract is given, appears to have been delivered in the morning of the same day; and contains an excellent, and we doubt not, a perfectly just character of Mr. Lavington. We forbear to make y quotation at present, as we hope to be favoured with a Memoir of his Life. The discourses of Mr. L. it is said, possessed singular merit; and delighted, astonished, and benefitted may Mr. Evans informs us, that he printed nothing but a Thanksgiving Sermon, and An Address to the Associated Churches in the west; yet never, perhaps, were more innuscript sermons of any minister in private hands than those which had been preached by him: very many thinking themselves happy to have it in their power to transcribe them. We sincerely hope, therefore, that the public will soon he indulged with, at least, one volume of his dis courses. Essays to do good: addressed to all Christians, whether in Public or Private Capacities. By the late C. Mather, D. D. F. R. S. A New Edition, improved by G. Burder, 12mo, 2s. 6d. we THE "prophetic eye of Bacon was employed in discovering and pointing out the unexplored regions of human knowledge;" and could mention several valuable productions, in divine as well as human philosophy, which have grown out of his suggestions. Christian benevolence has had its Bacons too: men of eminent endowments anal benignant minds, who, prompted by the best motives, have looked around them to see what regions yet remained unexplored, what of portunities of doing good presented themselves, and how various talents might be most usefully employed in active benevolence. It is known that the pious Gouge engaged in his great work in Wales, of instituting schools for the children of the poor, and of distributing Bibles, &c. in consequence of a hint which he received in reading the Life of Joseph Alleine. It is also certain, that some of the most important institutions of the present day were pointed out tents. This, however, will convince by Baxter and others. A Howard indeed, was at once the author and executor of his own plan: "a plan as full of genius as it was of humanity, a voyage of discovery, a circumnavigation of charity." The book before us, it is justly said by the present editor, contains not the idle speculations of an ingenious theorist, but the faithful transcript of a holy life. The author, by his own practice, has demonstrated their practicability to others, and encourages every individual reader, whatever may be his share of capacity, or his sphere of action, to hope that he may do some good in the world. The late celebrated Dr. Franklin, in a letter to the author, says, "When I was a boy, I met with a book, entitled, " Essays to do good;" which, I think, was written by your father. It had been so little regarded by its former possessor, that several leaves of it were torn out; but the remainder gave me such a turn of thinking, as to have an influence on my conduct through life; for I have always set a greater value on the character of a doer of good, than any other kind of reputation; and if 1 have been, as you seem to think, a useful citizen, the public owes the advantage of it to that book." The reviewer of this article must be permitted to say, That the Christian world is much indebted for a now and improved edition of this excellent book; but the limits assigned to it will not permit him to insert more than a sketch of its Con the reader, that if other excellent LITERARY NOTICES. Volumes I to VIII, of the New Edition of Hall's Works, have been regularly published once a quarter : of these, Vols. I and II contain the Contemplations; Vols. III and IV, the Exposition of Hard Texts; Vol. Vis the Bishop's Sermons; Vol. VI, his Devotional Writings; and Vols. VII and VIII, his Practical. Vol. IX, containing the whole of his Polemical Works, which should, in regular course, have appeared at Midsummer, will be delayed a month or two, by its magnitude (ex. tending to about 800 pages) and the great quantity of Notes. Vol. X, including the Miscellaneous Works, with a Life, Glossary, Index, &c. will appear in the winter. A New Work has been commenced at New York, entitled, 66 The Christian's Magazine," to be published quarterly; of which Dr. Mason is the respectable Editor. SELECT LIST OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. Bagsler's Edition of Henry's Bible, Part VI, 8s. fine, 12s. Baynes's difto, complete, 5 vols, 4to, boards, 61, 15s.; or bound, calf and lettered, 81. 5s.-Vol. Y may be had separately, by Subscribers. Rev. T. Watson's Body of Prac tical Divinity. A new edit. in two large vols. 8vo, 15s. boards. Luther on the Galatians, a new edit. I vol. 8vo, 9s. Shrubsole's Christian Memoirs, 3d edit. with Life of the Author, by his Son, 8vo. Travels and Voyages of a Bible. By J. Campbell, 18mo, 2s bd. fine, 3s Christian Classics, No. 1, 6d, fine is Sturm's Peflections, ditto, ditto. Hunter's Sacred Biography, a new edit. 5 vols. 8vo, 21. 5s Simpson's Plea for Religion, 4th ed. 8vo, 8s.; 12mo, 4s, The Restoration of the Jews, the Crisis of all Nations; to which is prefixed, A Brief History of the Jews, 8vo. Glorious Hope to a Lost World, 12mo, 6d. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. PERSECUTION IN CHINA. The following curious and very interesting Paper, translated by a literary Gentleman at Canton, has been transmitted to us by a Friend in India: Imperial Edict of the Emperor of China, 10th Year of Kia King, A. D. 1805. "THE Supreme Criminal Court has reported to us the trial, investigation, and sentence of that tribunal against Chin-yo-vang, a native of the province of Canton, who had been discovered to have received privately a map and sundry letters from the European Te-tien-tse (Father Odeadato, a Catholic Missionary at Pekin); and also regarding several other persons who had been found guilty of teaching and propagating the doctrines of the Christian religion. The Europeans who adhere to the Christian faith, act conformably to the customs established in those countries, and are not prohibited from doing so by our laws. Their establishments at Pekin were originally founded with the auspicious view of adopting the western method in our astronomical calculations; and Eu ropeans of every nation, who have been desirous of studying and practising the same at this court, have readily been permitted to come and reside upon the above establishments; but from the beginning, they were restricted from maintaining intercourse with, and exciting troubles among our subjects. "Nevertheless, Te-tien-tse has had the audacity secretly to propagate and teach his doctrines to the various persons mentioned in the Report; and he has not only worked in the minds of the simple peasantry and women, but even many of our Tartar subjects have been persuaded to believe and conform to his religion; and it appears that no less than thirty-one books upon the European religion have been printed by his order in the Chinese character. decision on this occasion, how are these perverse doctrines to be supand how shall we stop pressed? their insinuating progress? "The books of the Christian religion must originally have been written in the European languages; and in that state, were incapable of influencing the minds of our subjects, or of propagating the doctrine in this country; but the books lately discovered are all of them printed in the Chinese character. With what view, it is needless to enquire; for it is sufficient, that in this country such means must not be employed to seduce our simple peasantry to the knowledge and belief of those tenets; and much less can it be suffered to operate thus on the minds of our Tartar subjects, as the most serious effects are to be apprehended from it on the hearts and minds of the people. "With respect to Chin-yo-vang, who had taken charge of the letters; Chui-ping-te, a private of infantry under the Chinese banner, who was discovered teaching the doctrine in a church; Lieu-chao-tung, Siaoching-ting, Chu-chang-tay, and the private soldier Vang-meu-te, who severally superintended the congregations of Christians, as they have been respectively convicted of conveying letters, or employing other means for extending their sect and doctrine, it is our pleasure to confirm the sentence of the court; according to which they shall severally be sent into banishment at Elu, in Tartary, and become slaves among the Eleuths; and previous to their departure, shall wear each of them the heavy cangue for three months, that their chastisement may be corrective and exemplary. "The conduct of the female peasant Chin-yang-shy, who undertook to superintend a, congregation of her own sex, is still more odious. She |