confpicuous, where piety is exemplary, they infure admiration and reverence; they exhibit the most forcible comments upon the whole system of religion and morality; they gain an empire in the hearts of the people; and, where these are confpicuous, the clergy become truly the lights of the world.

"It may be deemed unneceffary to contend for what cannot be difallowed, -a reciprocity of kind offices from the minifters to the people, and the people to the minifters; or to affert, with the apoftle, that they who preach the Gofpel fhould live by the Gofpel. Thefe topics have been long ago explained; the mutual advantages derivable to both have been amply enforced, and the neceflity of fuch a participation generally admitted. But no incentive to virtuous action fhould be omitted, no ftimulants to excite the dormant feeds of piety should be accounted infignificant, when the decay of either seems to threaten our happiness as individuals, or our welfare as a nation.

"Though the doctrines of Chriftianity are so clearly revealed and confirmed, though the facred oracles of divine truth are open to the infpection of all men; though the precepts of the Gofpel are uniformly rational, and awfully fublime; yet a corruption of principle seems to strive for the afcendency over revelation, and the prefent æra of boafted refinement teems with effufions of infidelity moft pernicious and alarming. A peculiar heedleffnefs to every thing which respects religion or religious duties prevails; the best intended schemes to advance the caufe of piety, and with piety the happiness of mankind, are frustrated or disregarded. By fashion our churches are neglected; by fashion the fabbath is deemed only as a day of festivity and amufements; morality is accounted a jeft; and the prohibitions of the divine law are evaded by a laxity of conftruction.-Nor is it afferting too much, to remark that where religion still exifts, it too much degenerates into human maxims; it is warped from its fpiritual purposes, and moulded and tempered to make it palatable and polite. The rigours of the law are foftened, the penalties extenuated, and the name of honour fophiftically explained in contradiction to the command of Him who declares, in the moft express terms, "if thou wouldeft enter into life, keep the commandments."

Sermons on various Subjects. By the Rev. T. BASELEY, A. M. Chaplain to the Lord Bishop of LINCOLN. 8vo. pp. 270. 6s. boards. Cadell and Davies.

SOME perfons are of opinion that the publishing of fermons is unneceffary, confidering what an immenfe number already crowds the catalogue of theological literature. But though we must allow that a clergyman ought to be very deliberate before he ventures to fend a volume of difcourfes into the world; and though we cannot but lament that fo many flimfy effays, under the name of fermons, are conftantly iffuing from the prefs, yet we are rather difpofed to encourage the practice of publishing than to hinder it.

The public mind cannot be kept too much awake to the confideration of religious truths, and a good fermon may be read with attention, that would have been heard perhaps with indifference. Befides every divine has his particular circle of acquaintance and admirers by whom his printed difcourles will be received with a refolution to read them carefully. And when " he enters upon his reward" his exhortations will remain, so that "though

dead

dead he will yet continue to speak with effect to the hearts of those who knew him, and to their pofterity.

We are further pleafed with the practice of printing fuch discourses as have actually been preached, because it tends to encourage the ftudy of divinity, and to give us a correct representation of the state of religious opinion.

The fermons now before us have evidently been composed with confiderable care and attention. They are diftinguished by cogency of argument and a flowing neatnefs of ftyle. Mr. Bafely has wifely avoided that glitter of expreffion which recommends fo many of our modern difcourfes to the admiration of fentimental readers. Thofe who would with to fee the most important doctrines of our holy religion difcuffed seriously, closely, and in impreffive language, will find much fatisfaction from the perufal of these fermons; but thofe readers whofe perverted tafte is only to be gratified by mere moral declamation and flimfy defcription, will here meet with nothing to fuit their palate..

We could extract many pleafing paffages by way of confirming our recommendation, but our very confined limits will only permit us to give the table of contents. "Sermons I. and II. On the belief of God, and the works that fhould follow it. Text, James ii. 19.-III. On the law to which our firft parents were subject in paradife. Gen. ii. 16, 17.-IV. On liberty and neceflity, fame text.- V. Same fubject continued, on Luke, xvii. 1.-VI. On the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. 1 John v. 7.—VII. The Jews reproach of our Saviour, and on John the Baptift. Luke vii. 33, 34. -VIII. On Pilate's Queftion "What is truth?" John xviii. 38.-IX. On fearing the reproach of men. If. li. 7.-X. On the duty of mercifulness. Luke vi. 36.-XI. On the judgment to come. Acts xxiv. 25.-XII. On peace with God. Job xxii. 21." Having thus fpoken to the general merits of thefe excellent difcourfes, we truft, the author will excufe us for noticing a fmall inaccuracy in his ingenious difquifition (for such it is) on liberty and neceffity." Be it, however, premifed, that we are neither stoics nor calvinists, in the ftrict fenfe of those appellations, yet we are of opinion that the predestination of the latter does by no means bear a relation to the fatalism of the former. Mr. Bafeley, and many other found divines, have confidered the terms as fynonymous, and if they were indeed fuch, then we should not fcruple to condemn culinifm as being both gloomy and horrible. But the fact is, there is a wide diftinction between the two fyftems, and we cannot, in juftice to the virtues and learning of an eminent reformer, permit the convertibility of the terms to pafs without notice. The doctrine of neceffity, which is the fatalifm of Zeno, makes no difference at all between human actions, but confiders every one whether good or bad, as the confequence of abfolute predetermination; whereas the real doctrine of Calvin, on this fubject, is no more than this, that fallen man is restored to the divine favour and prepared for heaven by communicated grace, which leads him to abbor vice and to love virtue. What his followers, or those who have unjustly affumed the fanction of his name, have broached, with respect to the divine decrees, is another question, and for their dogmas he is not answerable.

On the Difference between the Deaths of the Righteous and the Wicked. Illuftrated in the Inftance of DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON and DAVID HUME, Efq. A Sermon, preached before the University of Oxford, at St. Mary's Church, on Sunday, July 23, 1786. By the Rev. WILLIAM AGUTTER, A. M. London, 1800.

INFIDELS, in order to fhake the Chriftian's faith, and by way of holding

up to view the pretended fuperiority of philofophical Deifm, over the pure principles inculcated by Revelation, have alledged that, while the dying moments of the believer in Chrift are at times difturbed, and, to appearance at least, rendered uneafy, by imperfect affurances of the mind, refpecting its happiness in a future ftate; the infidel, rifing above fuch fears, and not difmayed by a review of his past actions, with perfect indifference to what becomes of that part of his nature which he cannot prove to be material, clofes his eyes "with manly fortitude," looks death in the face with boldnefs, and feems to defy the " king of terrors." This, however, is mere affumption; if the latter end of the Chriftian be fometimes clouded by doubts and apprehenfions, for the most part his death is placid and ferene; and "his hopes, built on the mercy of God, through the merits of his Redeemer," are cheered and fupported to the laft pang of ftruggling nature. This cannot be faid of the death of the infidel, in a general way. An inftance or two may be produced, of minds, which had been long inured to doubt of every thing that bade defiance to the comprehenfion of finite reafon, being rendered callous, through habit, and at the hour of death, having discovered no evident figns of remorfe or terror. But these are folitary inftances, if they can be produced. And we know, from experience, the reverfe to be true, and that inftead of "calm tranquillity," perturbation of spirits, keen fenfations of remorfe, and pungent anguish of foul, are the attendants of the death-bed of the infidel.

To account for the doubts, which may fometimes alarm a pious Chriftian at this awful period, and to point out the caufes whence they arife; and at the fame time to fhow how far the mind may be loft to all confideration on a future ftate, and to what a degree of filence, fpecious reafoning, and immoral habits, may ftrike human fears, and lull awakening reflections, is the laudable purport of this difcourfe; of which one great defign is, to exhibit, by way of proof, a parallel drawn between two men of great eminence in the literary world. The one a Chriftian philofopher, whofe life and writings have tended to improve the underftanding, to enlarge and regulate the beft feelings of the human heart, and to establish and confirm that fyftem of morals which alone is beft calculated to promote the welfare of finite beings. The other an infidek philofopher, or a philofophical Deift; who, doubting himself of every thing that appeared like a revelation of God's will, encouraged the world to doubt of it likewife; and by attempting to reafon away the profpect of a future state of rewards and punishments, gave loofe reins to the moft irregular propenfities of human nature; which, by free indulgence, are fure to produce confequences of inevitable ruin to the individual, to the fociety, and to the country that cherishes them.

The reader of Mr. A.'s difcourfe will be amply repaid for the attention that he may give it in the perufal. The fubject of it requires attention, and it is handled in a way that cannot fail to engage the understanding' on the fide of the believer.

It is a warm and an affectionate addrefs, written, con amore, for the

memory

memory of our great moralift. The ftyle of this fermon is eafy and pleasant, the language of it is good, and the arguments by which it is enforced are convincing.

Thoughts on Happiness; a Poem, in Four Books. 12mo. Ss.
Rivingtons, &c.

PP. 94.

IF WF we flood in need of an apology for taking notice, in our review, of publications which are not ftrictly theological, the following would be more than fufficient in the present inftance. "Whatever profits may arife from the fale of this poem, will be applied to the fund of the Charity for the Relief of the neceffitous Widows, Sons, and Daughters of Clergymen, within the Archdeaconry of Coventry."

Such a motive for publishing would difarm critics of rigour, even were they difpofed to be ever fo ftern; but we have the pleasure of declaring that, the poem before us, though on a fubject much hacknied, poffeffes uncom mon merit. It is clearly the production of no unfledged poet, though why he fhould choose to conceal his name is unaccountable, efpecially as the poem has been printed by fubfcription. It is dedicated, in a handsome manner, to Dr. Eveleigh, provost of Oriel College, Oxford, of which fociety the author has been a member. We predict, however, that fuch a writer cannot long remain unknown to the public, and it would be a misfortune if he should.

The fource of true happiness is thus energetically described, and with this extract we fhall clofe our notice of this truly excellent poem.

"Let him whofe paffions, fo perverfely strong,

Will take the lead, and yet will lead him wrong,
Fly to a Saviour of unbounded might,

"Whofe yoke is cafy, and whofe burden light?"
In fervent faith confide in him alone,
Hope thro' his merits, tremble for his own.
Afk but the gift, and then if you fulfil
The bleft conditions of the Giver's will,
His furthering aid will renovate the mind,
Give thoughts more pure, more noble and refin’d:
Tho' for a time, fome struggling guft may raise
The latent fpark, or momentary blaze;

Still calm ferenity will foothe the breaft,

And give the foretaste of eternal rest:

When faith informs us, whence and what we are,
Each day, each hour, fublimer joys will share;

Life's fleeting years will unregretted fly,

As hope ftill brings fuperior pleafures nigh."

ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS.

ON

N Friday the 19th inftant, was held at Bow Church, Cheapfide, the anniversary of the venerable Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts. The fermon was preached by the Right Rev. Dr. Buckner, Lord Bishop of Chichester, from 2 Corinthians, ch. iv. v. 6. "For GOD, who commanded the light to fhine out of darkness, hath fhined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face

of Jefus Chrift."

After fhewing the pre-eminent excellence of the Chriftian Religion, in

enlight

enlightening the human mind, and in regulating human actions, his lordfhip proceeded to confider the duty incumbent on all who profess that fublime fyftem, to spread the knowledge of it amongst the ignorant, and efpecially thofe who, in the expreffive language of fcripture," fit in darknefs, and in the thadow of death." The right reverend preacher then gave a concife view of the objects, plan, extent, and progrefs of the fociety whofe anniversary was then commemorated. He admitted that the benevolent and pious endeavours of Chriftians, for the fuccessful propagation of the Gospel among the heathens, had not been attended with all the fuccefs which could have been withed. For this failure of fuccefs, his lordship acutely affigned thefe caufes, the grofs fuperftition and fenfualifm of the heathens in general, the corruptions of popery, whole advocates have been the most active millionaries, and the continuance of the flave-trade. On the fubject of popery, the bishop was very animated, and incidentally obferved, that the fuccefs of the philofophifts on the continent, and particularly in France, was, in a great meafure, owing to the abominations of the church of Rome. The corruptions of that church having been reprefented, by the infidels, as fynonymous with the doctrines of Chriftianity, has occafioned many perfons to reject both. This part of his difcourfe was concluded, by the bishop, with a folemn and impreffive caution against the spirit of popery, a fpirit (as he obferved) which may, perhaps, be dormant, but yet is not extinguifhed. On the fubject of the flave-trade, or "the traffic in human flesh," his lordship made many striking and pathetic remarks. After condemning that odious merchandize, in terms, and with arguments, which became a minister and bishop of the church of Chrift; he remarked, with peculiar emphafis, on the still more fhocking inhumanity of neglecting the fouls of the unhappy perfons whose bodies we enflaved.

The Archbishop of Canterbury not being prefent, the bleffing was pronounced by the Lord Bishop of London.

After fermon, the Lord Mayor fent to invite the bithops, according to custom, to dine with his Lordship at the Manfion House.

A NEW HISTORY AND ILLUSTRATION OF THE COMMON PRAYER. (Continued from page 42.)

OF BENEDICITE, AND THE REST OF THE HYMNS.

THIS is the name of the fecond hymn after the firft leffon, or the Canticle: Benedicite, omnia opera Domini, Domino, which in English might be called the canticle or fong, Oh all ye works of the Lord, blejs ye the Lord. It is alfo called the fong of the three children in the burning fiery furnace; a hymn which the primitive Chriftians moft probably adopted from the Jewith Church.

From Cyprian and Ruffinus, we learn, that this hymn was generally fung by confeffors, martyrs, and all members of the Chriftian Communion; and, though originally in the apochryphal parts of Daniel, Ruffinus maintains, againft Jerom, that it is a portion of Holy Writ: St. Cyprian alfo, calls it a divine fcripture:-Athanafius recommends it in private devotion; and the fourth council of Toledo enjoined it to be used in all the Spanith Churches, "becaufe it was then fung all over the world." St. Chryfoftom, to the fame obfervation, added, that it would fo continue to the latest pofterity. These fuggeftions, fubfequent experience feems likely to confirm.

Vol. II, Churchm. Mag. Feb, 1802.

P

The