ing height, through the excessive use of spirituous liquors, and the growing licentiousness of the press and the stage, as to call loudly for the interference of the legislature. A bill was in consequence brought into parliament for altering the duties on spirituous liquors; and another bill, the object of which was, to check the profligacy, impiety, and sedition propagated by means of dramatic writings, was carried, for reinstating the Lord Chamberlain in his office of Censor of the Stage. The only speech upon record, in opposition to this measure, was delivered by the late Earl of Chesterfield. After noticing the further effusions of infidelity, giving an account of what was written in reply to them, and touching on the controversies in which Middleton, Waterland, Dodwell, Church, and Warburton, were severally engaged, the author introduces the revered name of Dr. Woodward, well known to have been the founder of several religious societies which were formed in London and Westminster, as an antidote to the increasing impiety of the times. The account of these institutions is interesting, and shall be given in our author's words. "Above a century ago, a society was established in London, which branched out into various parts of the country, for promoting the benefits of religion among its members, as well as for encouraging a general reformation of manners. This society continued to meet for many years, and, I believe, was not extinguished at the conclusion of the reign of George the Second. It became their pious resolution, that they should meet together once a week, and apply themselves to good discourse, and things wherein they might edify one another. And for the better re gulation of their meetings, such rules and orders were prescribed, as seemed most proper to effect the end proposed. At every meeting, they turned their attention to the wants of the poor, which in process of time amounted to such considerable sums, that thereby many poor families were relieved, some poor people put into a way of trade suitable to their capacities, sundry prisoners set at liberty, some poor scholars furthered in their subsistence at the university, several orphans maintained, with many other good works*.' great object they had in view, as the But the * Woodward's Account of the Rise and Progress of the religious Societies. source from whence these fruits of the Spirit were expected to spring, was the attainment of religious knowledge, which they well knew would be attended with suitable practice. They did not, therewhich they found existing among them, as fore, separate themselves from the Church insufficient for the great purposes of reformation; but strengthened her interests with renewed endeavours, to make themselves and others more worthy of so excellent and evangelical an establishment. They promoted public prayers in several of the Churches; some of which, Dr. Woodward says, never wanted a full and affectionate congregation. They instituted sermons and lectures, which were greatly frequented, and by which many were conof the true principles of primitive religion." firmed, both in the profession and practice (p. 139-141). The good effects of these societies yet remain; for we are informed (p. 142), that "the Society for propagating the Gospel in foreign parts," and "the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge," may be attributed to them; as likewise, that glory of our metropolis, the numerous charity schools, which the latter body supports. How would the pious Woodward have rejoiced to see the spectacle which is now annually exhibited in the cathedral church of London, ed with the sight of thousands of poor where the eye of benevolence is feastchildren, clothed and educated by the voluntary contributions of the public, and joining in one grand chorus, of praise, to their Creator and Redeemer. Speaking of the charitable institutions which resulted from Dr. Woodward's religious societies, Mr. Brewster observes, "such are the good effects of well-directed, and well-principled endeavours! If it pleases God that this nation shall be saved in the present day of her trial, it must be by such efforts as these." In this sentiment we cordially concur, and we mean, in no long time, to bring the subject more directly before our readers. The rise of the Methodists is one of the most conspicuous eyents in the religious history of the last century. Our author's plan did not admit of his giving a full account of it; but he has fairly and temperately related some of dent, that he has not been unobserits leading circumstances. It is evivant of what is reprehensible among the Methodists, yet his candour towards them is as conspicuous as it is manifest that he does not accord with them. “Such a division of interests, as has been occasioned by the introduction and increase of methodism in this kingdom, is no indifferent subject of reflection to every member of the established Church, but particularly to its ministers. The object of its principal influence, is the common people. And here, in many cases, the enemies of its general principles ought candidly to acknowledge its merits. While we have seen the colliers of Kingswood or Newcastle; the miners of Cornwall or of Durham, rechained to a sense of their religious duties, meliorated in their manners, and putting on, in numerous instances, more than the form of godliness, let the most prejudiced of other denominations of Christians condemn, if he can, the benevolent exertion. The diffusion of religious principles, when consistent with the pure doctrines of the Gospel, must always be beneficial to mankiad. We but regret, when they degenerate into superstition, or lose their good effects, by encouraging an excess of presumption and enthusiasm. Both extremes may naturally be expected in a large society; but neither, in candour, ought to be attributed to the whole." (173-175). Nearly coeval with the rise of the Methodists, was the appearance of the Moravian brethren in England. Mr. Brewster mentions them, but with such a scantiness of information as must leave his readers very imperfectly acquainted with their character. We were surprised to find, that he has not adverted to the labours of this body for the conversion of the heathen. The Moravians are distinguished from almost all other sects by one peculiarity, which is certainly greatly to their praise: they take no pains to proselyte the members of other Christian Churches to their own, but confine themselves almost entirely to the establishment of missions in heathen countries; and in these labours, such have been their patience, their submission to hardships, and their exemplary constancy, as to deserve honourable mention from every friend to the Christian cause, and to have drawn forth the highest eulogium from many, particularly West Indian planters and merchants, who merely witnessed their conduct and demeanour, without looking into their principles. which our present beloved monarch ascended the throne. The first ecclesiastical event of any note in the present reign, was the association formed at the Feather's Tavern, in London, (A. D. 1772) by "certain clergymen of the Church of England, and certain members of the two professions of law and physic, and some others, who were desirous of being relieved from the subscription to the 39 articles of religion." The application of this association to parliament was rejected, to the joy of all the members of the Church of England, who still adhered to the doctrines of the Reformation. Our author records likewise, the repeated attempts of the Dissenters to obtain a repeal of the Test Act. The detail of these facts brings us down to the year 1780; that critical period, in which London had nearly become the prey of rioters. After this, the author records events, of which, as they come more within the recollection of most of our readers, we need not specify particulars; it is sufficient to say, that no material fact, connected with religion or morals, which occurred during the eventful period of the last twenty years is omitted by Mr. Brewster. After these details, the work concludes with a general view of the state of practical religion at the close of the eighteenth century; in which are interwoven many serious and pious admonitions. Mr. Brewster shews himself to be deeply impressed with a sense of the prevailing evils. There is one mark, however, of the low state of religion among us, on which he has not touched, namely, the general neglect of family devotion. We cannot account for his silence respecting this circumstance, but on a supposition which reflects credit on the inhabitants of the town of Stockton; as we know, by a-former publication of Mr. Brewster's, that his sentiments with respect to the obligation of family worship, are in perfect unison with our own*. Mr. Brewster's style is more florid and rhetorical than is consistent with the simplicity which becomes the divine, or the dignity which suits the historian. There are also several instances in which he has not expressed himself in such terms as our views With some account of the Mystics, the Hutchinsonians, the followers of Swedenbourg, the Bill for the Naturalization of the Jews, and the Marriage Act, we are brought to the period in By the author. Published in 1800. *See No. 23. Meditations of a Recluse, would have dictated. We feel plea sure, however, in acknowledging, that he discovers a mind always aiming to do good, and that we have frequent ly been profited by the piety of his reflections. LXXIV. Family Worship; a Course of Morning and Evening Prayers for every Day in the Month; to which is prefixed, a Discourse on Family Religion. By JAMES BEAN, Curate of Carshalton, in Surry. The Third Edition. London. Rivington's and Hatchard. 1802. pp. xl and 294. to promote the interests of religion and social order. The following extracts will give our readers some idea of the nature of this dialogue. After noticing the tendency of jacobinism to eradicate every thing that is generous and good, and to leave nothing but wickedness and misery upon the face of the earth, the author observes, The trial which has been given to it has ascertained its true character. Men of virtue recede from its guilt; men of humanity shudder at its cruelties; men of sense are shocked at its absurdities; so that it is now left as exclusively the possession of those, who have neither sense, virtue, nor humanity; and a country must be very bad, in which such men abound." (p. 9). He notices, with the commendation which is justly due to them, the strenuous, but unsuccessful, endeavours of Lord Belgrave to prevent, by legislative provisions, the publication of Sunday newspapers; and he thus accounts for his failure: THE approbation of the public has been so unequivocally expressed by the recent call for a third edition of this publication, that any farther recommendation of it may seem to be superfluous. After having had occasion, however, to notice, in the last article, the lamentable prevalence of a neglect of family worship, which forms one of the most unfavourable symptoms of our present religious state, we are glad to have the opportunity of introducing to such of our readers, as may be unacquainted with it, the work before us; a work which, while it conveys just and scriptural views of the momentous truths of Christianity, is well adapted to promote the cultivation of right affections towards God and man, and of a holy, devout, and spiritual frame of mind. We particularly recommend the discourse on family religion to the serious attention of all, who are either negligent in the performance of its essential duties, or anxious to obtain farther information respect-matics, while they live in communion with ing them. LXXV. The State of Things for 1803; in a Dialogue between the Old Year and the New Year. London, Hatchard, pp. 23. 1803. price 6d. THE author of this lively and amusing tract, who is evidently a person of discrimination, has taken a popular, but cursory, view of the principal occurrences of the last year, and has endeavoured, by means of these, to throw some light on the present political and moral state of the country. He writes with candour and moderation; and his aim seems to be "There is a strange disease abroad in the world, and some men's minds are so deeply infected with it, that they can scarcely hear the name of religion mentioned without betraying symptoms of the most unaccountable apprehensions. The deliberative assemblies, or in polished soconsequence has become, that few men in ciety, will say any thing in favour of true Christianity, for fear of awakening suspicion. Those who fear God rather than man, venture to break through this rule of prudence and accommodation; but then their characters smart for it; and they are not unfrequently branded as Hypocrites, Puritans, Methodists, and Schis the Church, and are bringing down blessings upon their country, by their services, their examples, and their prayers." (p. 16, 17). He next mentions the disgraceful continuance of the slave trade, and animadverts with becoming severity on the "long involution of reasoning," by which a legislator succeeded "In convincing a majority of the House, that an exhibition of cruelty was a nursery of courage; and that shedding the blood of bulls and dogs, was an innocent and imthe people." (p. 20). proving recreation for the lower orders of We shall present our readers with only one more extract, the remarks in which we conceive to be very just. "A writer has appeared, who was born for the age in which she lives. Her sphere of life has been large, and her means of observation various. These advantages of condition she has improved by talents, which were capable of any attainments, and by piety, which gave them an useful direction. With these qualifications she lectured her sex, in language which united the devotion of the scripture with the amenity of the classics; what estimation she enjoys among her own sex, I know not; course be lamented by him in proportion to the conviction which he may have received, of the beneficial effects which funeral sermons, when judiciously managed, are calculated to produce. Occasional sermons, in general, awaken expectation, and thereby interest the attention more than those which occur in the ordinary routine of ministerial instruction. And funeral sermons have this additional advantage, that persons are not unfrequently drawn to the House of God by their connection with the deceased, who seldom, if ever, attend it at any other time; and are thus brought within the reach of those admonitions which such an occasion must dictate, and which the preacher might possess no other opportunity of addressing to them. but she has certainly been treated with Ettle courtesy by the other. Periodical publications have vented against her the foolest abuse; and aspersed her reputation with every calumny, that ignorance, jealousy, and malignity could suggest. They have opened a monthly arena, and invited combatants of every description to assault a woman, whose faults are the incidents of zeal, whose merits are the atchievements of virtue-a woman, who, in the extensive range which her writings have taken, has done more towards rectifying the pub- As experience is among the most le opinion, and removing prejudices a- intelligible and persuasive of instructgainst religion and good government, than ors, and as a man may be taught, not all the self-constituted anti-jacobins in the only by his own experience, but also kingdom. The clamour against her has by that of others, the preacher of a now subsided; and as the greater part of funeral sermon has often an opportuthose who raised it, have worn the mask, they will have no temptation to lay it aside. nity of greatly benefiting his congreAlready the name of More is connected gation, by applying the spiritual hiswith every valuable species of commenda- tory of the deceased to the spiritual etion. The calumny of anonymous libellers, dification of the living; and by imand the eulogy of a virtuous prelate, will parting to such as listen to him in equally transmit her to the affection of the sanctuary, those experimental ilposterity, as the condescending enlight-lustrations of Christian doctrine, those ener of the poor, the accomplished instructress of her sex, and the indefatigable benefactress of mankind." (p. 20-22). LXXVI. Life a Vapour; being the Substance of a Sermon, delivered in the Parish Church of St. James, Bristol, on the Death of Mr. John Marker. By THOMAS T. BIDDULPH, A. M. Minister of the said Parish, and Chaplain to the Right Honourable the Dowager Lady, Bagot. Bulgin, Bristol. Hurst and Hatchard, London. A Message from the Tomb: being the Substance of a Sermon, preached on the Death of George Gieves. By the same. It has been remarked, that funeral sermons were much more frequently preached and published in former umes than they are at present. To whatever cause the decay of so useful a custom be ascribed, it is a circumstance which will be lamented by every religious man; and it will of lessons of Christian practice, those encouragements of Christian dependance, and those motives for Christian gratitude and joy, which present themselves to the attentive observation of persons, whose professional duties and dispositions lead them to witness the interesting scenes occurring in the chambers of the sick and dying. The sermons before us exhibit strong marks of the piety and ability of their author, and are calculated, in our opinion, to produce beneficial effects. The justness and importance of the observations contained in the following spirited paragraph, entitle them to the most serious regard We a little doubt, however, the propriety of the apostrophe contained in it. from future misery, and of an admission to future glory, because they have not drunk with the drunkard, nor blasphemed with the profane; though they are conscious of no pretensions to real godliness! Is it possible, thou subtle deceiver of the nations, that thou shouldest thus beguile thy slaves, "How many dream of an exemption even while they have the Bible in their hands, and the word of truth sounding in their ears? The belief of it would be impossible, did not matter of fact loudly proclaim the illiunitable extent of thy influence over the fallen heart. O, how fatal a blunder is that which represents such a life as a life of innocence! Innocence consisting in neglect of God! in contempt of his claim to our affections! in rebellion against his authority in the basest ingratitude for all his favours! in a rejection of his merciful offers contained in his Gospel! in trampling under foot the precious blood of Jesus Christ! and in despite done to the Spirit of Grace!! If this be innocence, what is criminality? If this intitles to heaven, what can deserve hell?" (p. 17). Of the person whose death occasioned this discourse, it is said, (and the assertion deserves to be attended to) that though his life, previous to his becoming a religious character, "had been sober and decent; yet, as it had been without God, he viewed it with detestation." (p. 24). To the question, "In what does true religion consist?" the following answer is given-"It consists in LOVE TO GOD. And it should be added, that all love to God, in the fallen soul of man, arises from this persuasion, 'that he has first loved us, and given his son to be the propitiation for our sins. So that there can be no love to God, without faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as the great atoning sacrifice; and no faith in him, without a previous conviction of our lost estate, both by nature and by practice." From the second of the sermons now before us, we shall select but one passage for quotation; and it is one, which we were much pleased to meet with, and are very desirous to distinguish, because it shews that the author, at the same time that he is a firm maintainer of the doctrines of grace, does not undervalue or overlook the subject of Christian Morality. He stands, in this respect, opposed to those (of whom there are, we fear, in the present day, too many to be found, though we hope their number in the Church is small), who, while professing a zeal and love for sound doctrine, make little, if any, account of practical piety; and seldom mention social duties, except it be to pour contempt upon them, and upon the persons who inculcate them. ly to be distinguished from those gossipping religionists, whose time is employed in running from one place of worship to another, in discussing the comparative talents of different preachers, and debating controverted points of doctrine; while private devotion is neglected, the cultivation of communion with God, in which the essence of religion consists, is unthought of, and perhaps a disgrace brought on their profession of the Gospel by the omission of those relative duties, which every man has to perform. Our friend was a practical, a Bible Christian. The whole circle of religious, social, and domestic obligations had a due share of his regard. He was exemplary as a husband and an uncle, as a surviving widow and nephew can loudly testify. In his intercourse with his fellowchristians, his constant aim was to communicate or obtain good. His conversation was, therefore, with grace, seasoned with the salt of heavenly wisdom. It was not merely on religious subjects; but it had a religious aim, tendency, and influence. And it should farther be remarked, that as he was fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, worldly calling, that he might provide he was also diligent in the business of his things honest in the sight of all men, and have to give to him that needed, according to his ability." (p. 24.) We should have been still better pleased with these Sermons, had their style throughout been as simple and as free from needless ornament as the last quoted passage. We observe, with satisfaction, that the profits arising from the sale of this sermon are devoted to the widow of the deceased. LXXVII. Christ's Warning_to_the Churches to beware of fulse Prophets, who come as Wolves in Sheep's Clothing; and the Marks by which they are known illustrated in two Discourses. By JOSEPH LATHROP, D. D. Pastor of a Church, West Springfield, North America. Edinburgh, Ross and Blackwood. 1802. pp. 58. ENTHUSIASM, irregularity, and schism seem to be no less the causes of complaint with the Independents of New England, who have become, by a kind of prescription, the standing orChurch in England from which they der there, than they are with that originally seceded. The discourses before us are intended to guard the people against these evils, by an exposure of the pretensions of unautho"The subject of this memoir is careful- rized and self-commissioned teachers, In the passage, to which we have referred, it is said |