In the two other forms of the Lower School-Sacred Exercises two days in a week.

On Mondays, alternately-Bifhop Williams's Expofition, and the Catechifm repeated and explained, viva voce.

Boys 10, 11, or 12 years of age.

UPPER SCHOOL.

Fourth Form.

Bible Exercife. Greek Teftament. Sacred Exercises-and, at first, Greek Teftament every day conftrued and explained.

Fifth Form, and Shell.

Nearly the fame; with Sacred Exercifes occafionally in all three.

Grotius, Hebrew Pfalter, Bible Exercife weekly.

Upper Boys receive the Sacrament four times a year; always lectured and prepared.

Throughout the Upper School,

Greek Teftament during Paffion Week-the history or doctrine explained.

Confirmation once in two years a week's lecture to explain and

prepare.

Prayers in College, and at the Boarding-houses.

On Saturdays in Term, Lectures are read to the King's Scholars by a Prebendary.

This Inftitution has produced two learned and ufeful Publications by Dr. Heylin and Dr. Blair; and the duty is now very meritoriously performed by the Rev. Mr. Hughes, Prebendary of the Cathedral.

After perufing fuch a fcheme as this for religious improvement, it would be prefumption, indeed it would be more than prefumption, it would be downright calumny, to afperfe the reputation of Westminster School; wherein Chriftian morality as well as found learning, go hand in hand; wherein boys are inftructed, as they advance in years, in the pure fyftem of Chriftian knowledge; and wherein Pagan writers and Pagan fentiments are only taught, as fubfervient to the refinement of the human mind, but not inculcated to the fubverfion of the Gospel of Chrift. If, however, Dr. R. excepts Weftminfter School from his cenfure, but complains of "notorious defectiveness of Chriftian education in many of our public fchools," we think that the trustees of those schools fo notorious for this defectiveness ought to have known their duty better than to have fuffered the principal defign of the pious founders of them to be fo violated; and it would have been well worthy of the zeal of Dr. R. and highly confiftent with his duty, as an eminent Chriftian

divine

divine, to have directed his attack upon fuch fchools in particular rather than to have caft, as he has done, a moft ferious and unmerited reflection, a reflection of moft injurious tendency, upon Public Schools in general. Mankind are not apt to difcriminate with that impartiality which ftrict juftice requires; on which account, it ought to be matter of confcience with us, to impute blame only where blame is due; and to be careful that our exertions to fupprefs, do not, by being overftretched, diffeminate error. To prove too much is to prove nothing. And this excefs of the truth is the more dangerous, as, of late years, falfehood, mifreprefentation, and the evil fpirit of calumny, have gained a wonderful afcendency over the minds of the multitude; fo that they cherish, with a degree of fatisfaction, any "tale that is told" against thofe venerable inftitutions, which are at once the pride and honour of our country. "Nihil eft tam volucre quàm maledictum, nihil faciliùs emittitur, nihil citiùs excipitur, nihil latius diffipatur."

If, by preferving the light of the Gofpel among the lower ranks of men, Dr. R. means to affert, that the light of the Gospel is extinguished "in the greater part of our public inftitutions," how comes it to pass that the most celebrated divines of the prefent day, among whom Dr. Rennell is defervedly numbered, have been trained up in thofe very Public Schools, and have finished their education at one or other of the two . venerable feats of learning which adorn this kingdom, and have shed their benign influence over the world! From our Public Schools and Univerfities have proceeded thofe excellent characters to whom we are indebted for ftopping the torrent of infidelity, that had well nigh swept away our choiceft bleffings. "Hoc viri boni proprium eft, nihil à veritate alienum loqui, ut et nihil à juftitia alienum exequi."

"But in public schools, wherein does this lamentable and notorious defectiveness confift? and why is a preference given to the teachers of charity schools rather than to the inftructors in a higher sphere? Could not a popular audience be fufficiently flattered without levelling all above them? Could not the educators of the lowest be confoled under their laborious duty, without detracting from those whom the public voice, and the difcernment of their nominators or electors had appointed to the management of the first feminaries in the kingdom? Are not these men of the fame profeffion as their accufer? And does Dr. Rennell deny faith and ability to every Churchman but himself? No, not ability but will; that fhall be answered in its place. But why are men bred to the inftruction of youth by an apprenticeship, fuppofed more willing to execute their truft, than thofe who have received the moft liberal education known in Europe? This is no vainglorious boaft. Foreigners fubfcribe to it; they allow the palm of general information to English travellers above all others. Where did they acquire it? In English fchools, in English univerfities; and in nineteen inftances out of twenty from the English clergy. Why are thefe foundations to be decried? Why are these men to be degraded by a comparison with those who have never had fimilar means of acquiring knowledge, or equal advantages in life, manners, and education? But this is not fufficient; the inferior is to be raised above the fuperior; the children of the poor are to be told, that they have better inftruction than thofe above them; and the teachers of the poor are taught to believe, that their's is the pre-eminence; that they are to Vol. 11, Churchm, Mag. Feb. 1802. Ο

atone

atone for the neglect, and compenfate for the deficiency of all that are engaged in the education of the higher orders. If the children who heard this difcourfe understood it, I should imagine, that their respect for the rank above them must be greatly diminished, and their refiftance to fubordination greatly increased; and if they were capable of drawing a conclufion, the natural confequence ought to be, that, as they are wifer and better than their fuperiors, they ought to govern, and their fuperiors obey."

We here clofe our report of this truly important and convincing publication, which we truft will give as much fatisfaction to the excellent characters to whom it is immediately addreffed, as it has done to us. Some critics, in the height of their zeal, have expreffed a wifh that this letter may produce a widely-extended controverly; but for our parts, we fincerely hope that the " fpirit of peace and love" will prevail among the venerable movers of the queftion, and that the heads of other schools will profit of this letter, and take the plan which it contains, as a model for their own practice.

Journal through the North of England and part of Scotland, with Remarks on the prefent State of the Church of Scotland, and the different Seceffions therefrom; together with Reflections on fome Party Dijiinctions in England, fhewing the Origin of thefe Difputes, and the Causes of their Separation; defigned to promote Brotherly Love and Forbearance among Christians of all denominations: and aljo fome Remarks on the Propriety of what is called Lay and Itinerant Preaching. By ROWLAND HILL, A. M. late of St. John's College, Cambridge, and Minister of Surry Chapel. 8vo. pp. 182. London, Hatchard.

SOME books are noticed for their merit, others for their mischief. If

merit alone were to recommend this little work, we should gently confign it to eternal filence, but it is our duty and our engagement to guard against mifchief; therefore our numerous readers will excufe us, if we drop a few remarks on a book which is only circulated among a certain claís. This is the firft attempt of Mr. Rowland Hill to appear as a JOURNALIST, and, if we might advife him, it should be the lat. Some readers may be more edified than we have been with his journey to Scotland, and the laming of his horfe; but the GREAT Mr. Whitfield publifhed a journal, and why thould not Mr. R. H.? If we look for juft obfervation, ufeful information, and pious reflections, in fuch a work, we fhall look for what we thall not find; but their place is abundantly fupplied by the ebullitions of vanity, the infolence of ipiritual pride, the confidence of vain boafting, and the different exhibitions of a clerical mountebank. Egotiftical, vain, and poor, as were the different journals of Weftley and Whitfield, yet this little performance is ftill more egotistical, vain, and poor.

Now, from a journalist, we are to confider Rowland in the character of a prophet: Speaking of the complete overthrow of Popery as accomplifhed; (note to p. 107.) he fays (in the year 1799.) This power, now dethroned of God, thall never more be eftablifhed by man.' It is unfortunate that our modern expounders of prophecy will not keep their lucubrations by them a few years, then we thould not fee them expofing themselves in the manner they do. Had Mr. R. H. ftayed till the year 1801, he would have found that "this power, dethroned of God, was reftored by man," and that man was Bonaparte. How far the Pope or the

Chief Conful are fincere, is another queftion. How far they may attempt to out-wit one another, or to deceive the nations, we do not now ftop to enquire only this is very clear, that the fimple matter of fact fully confutes all Mr. Hill's pretenfions as a prophet; not only in foretelling things to come, but merely as an expounder of fcripture.

We proceed to prove that he is as bad a divine as he is a prophet. He warmly afferts, that the Creeds of the Church of England are Calvinistic. Now examine the Apostles Creed, the Nicene, and the Athanafian, and we defy the most rigid Calvinist to find out one word of Calvinifm in them. Nay, does not Mr. R. H., and other Calviniftic minifters, fincerely lament, that the Lambeth Articles do not make part of the Articles of the Church of England. These indeed, would prove her to be, what she is not, Calvinistic. That party were grievously disappointed by the rejection of thofe choice fcraps of ignorance and felfifhnefs; and the rejection of them, by the first authority in the kingdom, proves the contrary of what they are brought for. It proves that in the mind of our governors; in the mens imponentis, Calvinifm is not the doctrine of the English Church: and, we truft, it never will, unlefs we should be given over to a reprobate mind; and fanaticism, on the one hand, and infidelity on the other, fhould prepare the way for the deftruction of Church and State.

This would be greatly accelerated, if not actually accomplished by Mr. R. H.'s plan of a Union Church; or the general promotion of itinerant preachers. The fpirit of vagrancy which we correct in beggars, is here encouraged in preachers; without learning, without character, without application, they may ftroll about the country; they display their little knowledge, live on their credulous hearers, infult the regular clergyman, encourage fedition, difaffection, and diforder; and as foon as their character is fufpected, their good fare exhaufted, or their fcanty abilities are difplayed, they wander about among others, equally ignorant, and equally deluded. A ftrolling player and a ftrolling preacher are much alike; unless that the player, with all his extravagance, vice, and fenfuality, is generally the better man. Hypocrify is not part of his character. The itinerant preacher has generally lefs abilities, lefs virtue, and lefs application than the ftrolling player. The player only feeks to pleafe for an hour; and amufement may improve the morals: the preacher feeks to delude his audience, to fill them with vain conceits, with fpiritual pride, with falfe judgments of themselves, and to utter vile invectives against all who are not fo eafily impofed upon: the confequence of it is, that his audience, in general, become worfe men, lefs charitable, and more felf-opinionated and malicious, than the generality are; and thefe would be the blessings of Mr. R. H.'s plan of itinerant preaching. Indeed, he properly calls them, and himself, peddling preachers: a pedlar is generally a vagrant, of no character, who often does more harm than good; who deals in finall wares; and these are generally bafe and damaged. To this low and rambling race, may Mr. Rowland Hill, fuo judicio, be compared.

Sermons by the Rev. JOHN WIGHT WICKES, M. A. Domestic Chaplain to His Royal Highness the DUKE of CUMBERLAND. 8vo. Carpenter. THE writings of the Clergy have been highly honourable to the Church

of England. And as their purfuits have acquired them the reputation of a learned and an' accomplished order of men, so have they tended, by a difplay of candour and liberality, highly honourable to teachers of Chrif

02

tianity,

tianity, and truly confiftent with the Religion which they profefs; to promote brotherly love and charity," and all thofe generous affections, which fpring from a right knowledge of the Gofpel.

From the pulpit and the prefs great things might be done towards rectifying the opinions, and enlarging the happiness of fociety: and next to the pleasure and inward fatisfaction of hearing an excellent fermon well delivered, is the benefit to be derived from the perufal of a discourse, of which the doctrine is found, the arguments are plain and forcible, and the diction eafy and pure.

The fermons before us are creditable to the author's abilities. The fubjects of them are practical, and the language not above the comprehenfion of the meaneft capacity, nor beneath the attention of the most refined. If it be plain, it is dignified; and if it be easily understood, it is not devoid

of energy.

From an extract or two the reader will form his own opinion, as to the propriety of our remarks.

"In the New Teftament a difpenfation of mercy is unfolded; a Redeemer is announced; the certainty of a future ftate afcertained; and a day of retribution moft pofitively declared. We now contemplate the goodness of the Deity in the offers of grace, as well as in the works of nature; we now hear him speak plainly of immortality in the words of his Son, whilst the whifpers of confcience are enforced by the impreffion. The ways of life and the ways of death are fet before us; and, as a means to the most defirable end, we are affuredly told that faith and repentance can alone be effective of falvation and, as we regard our tranquillity in this life, or expect happiness in the next, we are directed, by the force of energetic wildom, to have a lively hope in Jefus Chrift, to fear God, and keep his commandments."

"Were we to take a view of the Gospel of our bleffed Saviour, without prejudice and without pride, we fhould find it in every respect pure and perfect-worthy of God to give, and deferving the gratitude of man to receive; in its doctrines, rational and fublime; in its commands, humane and beneficent; in its pofitive inftitutions, fimple and fignificative; in its worship, fpiritual and confoling; in its threat for difobedience, equitable and juft; in its promifes of reward, merciful and gracious;-here we have hope under all our tribulations; here we have refuge under all our afflictions." Come unto me," fays the divine author of Chriftianity, come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will give you reft!" A ray of heavenly joy darts upon the humble penitent, and brings comfort unto the meek in fpirit; a fcene of glory opens to our view; the benefits of redeeming grace are clearly pointed out; life and immortality are brought to light by evidence the moft incontestable, incontrovertible, unequivocal."

66

The following are important remarks.

"It is, generally speaking, in the power of the clergy themselves to prevent much common reflection, which no lefs injures the cause of religion than depreciates the character of its profeffors: it is in their own power greatly to advance the former, and to heighten the estimation of the latter. No pre-eminence, however exalted; no abilities, however tranfcendent; no faculties, however enlarged; will enfure refpect, unless they are illuftrated by qualities of fuperior excellence and recommendation: but where diligence is obfervable, where energy is uniform, where fidelity is

con