In order to avoid the too frequent return of the fame form, ten different services are given in this volume. This variety, however, confifts more in expreffion than in fentiment, or method; and where the ideas are nearly the fame, and are arranged in the fame order, a fmall diverfity of language is perhaps of lefs confequence than is commonly fuppofed. In thefe fervices, and in almost all the publications. of this kind which we have feen, the fame general plan is followed; namely, adoration, thanksgiving, confeffion, petition, and interceffion. We are furprized that no attempt has been made to vary this arrangement. Devotional exercises, in which no fuch formal feries of fubjects should appear, would perhaps be more interefting; and we cannot fuppofe that devotion is so barren a theme as not to afford fcope for confiderable variety. A wide field for the exercife of invention and judgment appears to lie open to the future compofers of liturgies; and it may reasonably be expected that attempts of this kind will meet with encouragement among Diffenters:-efpecially when it is recollected, as the editor of thefe offices remarks, that their ancestors, the original non-conformists, in many particulars lefs enlightened, admitted the lawfulness, and in fome cafes the expediency, of forms of prayer; and that, at the Restoration, the main body of the Diffenters would have complied with the use of the national liturgy, if some points, which appeared to them unfcriptural, might have been omitted.

Besides the ten fervices above mentioned, this volume contains occafional prayers and thanksgivings, and fervices for the communion, baptifin, and the burial of the dead. We understand that this work was compiled for the use of a diffenting congregation at Bridport, in Dorsetshire.

Art. 56. The Mystery of Providence and Grace, and the Sins of Britain: Two Sermons preached at Woodbridge in Suffolk; the former delivered Feb. 2, 1794, and the latter Feb. 28, being the day appointed for a General Faft. By Samuel Lowell. 8vo. IS. Johnfon.

To juftify himself from the charge of being a mover of fedition" is the reafon alleged by the preacher for this publication. The first fermon, from If. xlv. 15. tends to fhew that, though there are intricacies in the difpenfations of the Lord towards his people, he will be their deliverer: the fecond, from Jer. xii. 4. has for its bafis the two following propofitions: 1ft, We, as a nation, have fins which it becomes us to lament; and, zdly, With men of real religion, national as well as perfonal fins will be matter of lamentation.' Among our national fins, the preacher enumerates-infidelity-pride and luxury -religious ignorance and indifference-and injuftice and cruelty, particularly exemplified in the flave-trade, which he regards as our capital national crime.

If these fermons be all the evidence adduced to prove that their author is feditious, he must be acquitted of the charge. In the first, indeed, he pays a compliment to Mr. Whitfield at the expence of the clergy, for which he apologizes; and in the fecond, he reprefents eftablishments as uneffential to Christianity: but we rather fuppofe that objections were made to his fermons not fo much for those things, as for his ferious and pointed attack on the vices of the age,

Art.

Art. 57. A concife View of the Hiftory of Religious Knowledge, from the Creation of the World to the Eftablishment of Chriftianity. Intended as an Introduction for young Perfons and others, to a proper Apprehenfion of the Origin, Progrefs, Principles, and final Settlement of the Chriftian Church; on the Authority of the Holy Scriptures. 12mo. pp. 210. 3s. Boards. Robinfons. 1794. The view here given of the hiftory of religious knowlege is almoft entirely drawn from the Bible. The work is little more than a brief abstract of the hiftorical parts of the Old and New Teftament, with fuch comments as may ferve to establish the reader in a firm perfuafion that what is ufually called the orthodox fyftem of faith is, without doubt, the doctrine of the Scriptures.-A very fmall portion is introduced of the collateral hiftory of religion in the Pagan world. Not the leaft intimation is given of any doubts or difficulties, with respect either to facts themfelves, or to chronological dates; but every thing, both hiftorical and doctrinal, is laid down with as much oracular decifion, as if the whole had been univerfally received in the Chriftian world without controverfy. Such manuals of credenda may very well anfwer the purpofe of fupporting a system, but will contribute little toward the real propagation or advancement of religious knowlege. Art. 58. A Charge given at the Primary Vifitation of the Archdeaconry of Salop, in the Diocese of Hereford, in the Year 1793. By Jofeph Plymley, M. A. Archdeacon. 4to. Is. Longman.

cures.

This charge is almost entirely directed toward two points, the repairing of churches, and the refidence of the clergy on their several The Archdeacon appears to have taken laudable pains to inform himself not only of the ftate of the diocefe of Hereford, but of the church of England in general, in thefe refpects. He ftates the rectories of the two provinces of Canterbury and York to be about 5098; the vicarages 3687; the churches neither rectorial nor vicarial, about 2970; and he reckons 1200 parochial churches, to which no parfonage-houfes nor glebe-lands ufually belong, and of which the incomes are fo fmall that no houfe could be thereby maintained. Mr. Plymley is of opinion that, if the whole land of each deanry paid tythes according to the compofitions now in force, it would not amount to more than a tenth part of the rent; and of this fum above one half would be due to lay-impropriators; whence he concludes that the right of tythes, as exercifed by ecclefiaftics, is a faculty borne moft mildly."-Whence, then, the innumerable complaints of the laity on this fubject, and the general prevalence of the notion that a much more eligible method of fupporting the clergy might be devifed? Art. 59 A Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Cleve land, at the Vifitations held in the Year 1793. By Robert Peirfon, A. M. Archdeacon of Cleveland. 4to. IS. Baldwin.

General obfervations on the tendency of human nature toward civilization, on the neceffity of fubordination, and on the value of religious principles and public virtue as the basis of national profperity, form the body of this charge. It concludes with a brief exhortation to the clergy to direct their labours toward the fupport of found principles of religion and policy.In a clerical charge, fomething lefs trive

and declamatory might have been expected: but the author has given. his address a claffical air by introducing several poetical quotations. Art. 60. The Immutability of God, and, The Trials of Chrift's Miniftry: Represented in Two Sermons preached at Effex Chapel, in the Strand, March 30, and April 6, 1794. By Joshua Toulmin, A. M. 8vo. pp. 49. 15. Johnson.

Mr. T. justly obferves that the impreffion, made by pulpitdifcourfes, is often more owing to the circumftances under which they are delivered, than to the excellencies of compofition, or even to the juftness and importance of the fentiments they conveyed.' To this he modeftly imputes the earneftnefs with which the publication of thefe difcourfes has been requested.-The first obviously applies to the changes which are taking place in the world. The fecond appears to have directed the thoughts of the preacher and the audience to a man of eminence, who has lately become a voluntary exile from his native country. The fermons are fenfible, plain, and practical; folely directed to compofe and ftrengthen the mind amid the fluctuation of human things, and to animate it to a perfevering practice of truth and duty, whatever obftacles may be caft in the way, or whatever may be the calumnies and the trials to which fuch a conduct may be expofed. Art. 61. An Efay tending to fher in what Senfe Christ hath brought Life and Immortality to Light through the Gospel. By John Spencer Cobbold, A. M. Fellow of Gonville and Caius College. 8vo. Is. Rivingtons. 1793.

This effay gained the Norrifian prize in the University of Cambridge. It contains many fenfible and intructive remarks, which evince with what ftrict propriety life and immortality are faid to be brought to light by Christianity.-Some exceptions might poffibly be mentioned. Had the author obferved that eternal life is the gratuitous effect of divine benevolence manifefted by our Saviour, we could moft cheerfully have agreed with him: but, when he tells us,The only title to the gift of immortality, as promifed in the Gofpel, is the blood of a redeemer,'-we do not well comprehend his meaning. When he talks of faith (an important principle!) as the condition of participating the benefits of immortality, we find ourselves again rather perplexed, as perhaps might be the cafe with the writer himfelf:-for he does not inform us what we are to understand by faith, nor what are its effects and proofs.-In other refpects, we muft acknowlege ourfelves well pleafed with this performance.

Art. 62. The Footman's Pamphlet; or the Footman's Arguments against the Unitarians, &c. and in Defence of the Divinity of Christ; is humbly offered to the Public. By John Saunders. 8vo. pp.152. Printed at Falkirk. 1793.

We have been informed that this is in fact the production of a menial fervant, lately in the livery of Lord Balgonie; and we can eafily believe it; for the work is ftrongly marked with that narrowness of conception, vulgarity of language, and bigotted attachment to old notions, which are the natural confequences of the want of education, The Unitarian doctrine is treated as an invafion made on our spiritual rights and privileges; and the writer offers himself a volunteer in

Q4

Christ's

Christ's injured caufe. He talks of a man, Mr. Lindfey by name, who has published a book, in which he makes himself believe he has clearly demonftrated that Jefus Chrift was not the fon of God, buț only a creature of God; and who, to prove this, has extracted arguments from Lord Barrington, Father Paul of Venice, and many others, which he, the said footman, never heard before, nor knew that they were men renowned either for good judgment, or found doctrine He fpeaks alfo of Dr. Priestley, of whom he fays, I beHeve that man to be an elegant philofopher respecting earth, air, and water, and many other things of a fimilar nature; but is equally unfound, and wrapped up in error and unbelief refpecting gospel doctrine, as Mr. Lindsey.'-Against these two men, this bold champion comes forward as a combatant: but to their ability and learning he oppofes only a confused mafs of words, piled up by zeal without knowlege.

HISTORY, ANTIQUITIES, &c.

Art. 63. An Efay towards a Hiftory of Biddeford in the County of Devon. 8vo. pp. 284. 6s. Boards. Sewell.

Works of this kind are become fo numerous, that they almost overwhelm us. We learn that the prefent, the dedication of which is figned John Watkins, was intended to give fome affiftance to the prefent ingenious hiftorian of Devonshire, but that the wifh of respectable friends determined its appearance in a feparate form.

Ex nihilo nihil fit, fays this author; and he therefore exhorts his readers not to raile any great expectations from the spot which he has undertaken to defcribe. To characterize this volume in general terms, we may obferve that it contains feveral curious and amufing particulars, together with fenfible and pertinent remarks: but that it is occafionally disfigured by obfervations which manifeft prejudice and bigotry, and is at times both defective and fuperfluous. It is divided into eleven chapters, of which the fubjects are, General Defcription; Antient Hillory and gradual Increase; Commerce; Church and R&tors; Diffenters; Bridge and Quay; Charities and Charityschools; the illuftrious family of Granville, which for 500 Years poffeffed the Lordthip; Biographical Sketches; Witches; Addenda and Corrigenda.'

The bridge over the Torridge forms a capital figure in the defcription of this place. it is uppoled to have been founded at least as early as the year 1350. The Granville connection, by which the town had been honoured and fometimes benefited, is diffolved; the manor having been purchafed, about the year 1750, by John Cleveland, Efq. whofe fon now enjoys it. The biographical article is very unproductive: a fuccefsful and benevolent merchant, whofe name was Strange, ftands first on the lift; and next appears the fingular character of Thomas Stacley, who was negligent of pecuniary concerns, yet, having piles of money in almost every corner of his houfe, and walking in his chamber amid heaps of gold and filver, was devoted to the quadrature of the circle and perpetual motion. One other name completes the number; that of Dr. Shebbeare, well known in political contefts:-it is obfervable that he received from govern

ment

ment a penfion of zool. about the time when Dr. Johnson alfo obtained the fame; on which a wag remarked that the King had penfioned a He Bear, and a She Bear. We think that one of the hundreds in this county is called Shebbear.-The chapter on witches might well have been spared.

NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.

Art. 64. A Synopfis of Mineralogy. By James Miller. 13 large Folio. Sheets. 1. 19. Nicol.

The materials of fcience are now become fo bulky, that to prefent them in a compendious and well-arranged form must be confidered as an attempt of great utility. This has been done with much care and ingenuity, with respect to mineralogy, in the tables before us. The compiler has followed the arrangement of Magellan's laft edition of Cronstedt, and has given, in feparate columns, all the circumstances relative to the constitution, texture, figure, qualities, affinities, uses, and denominations of each fubitance. The tables are contrived fo as either to be pafted together and framed, or to bind in the form of an Atlas. It would not be eafy for us to give an adequate idea of the execution of the work by any extract, but we recommend it as likely to prove very useful to perfons who are defirous of information on thefe Jubjects.

POLITICAL.

Art. 65. The Voice of Truth against the Corruptions in Church and State. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Ridgeway. 1794,

If the voice of truth fpeaks in this pamphlet, it dildains to be indebted to cloquence for fuccefs. The writer talks, in a loose and immethodical way, and with very little energy either of thought or language, concerning the infficiency of monarchical government to produce the general welfare of fociety, the unneceffary burden which it brings on the general mafs of the people, and concerning the influence of religious etablishments in perpetuating error, and in propagating flavith principles of policy. He infifls on the neceflity of a total renovation in all the governments of Europe, and makes the French republic the model of perfection. - Corruptions have unquestionably fprung up, and will for ever fpring up, both in church and ftate: but fuch vague and flimly difcourfe, as is here addreffed to the public, will do little toward preventing or removing them. Art, 66. Vindicie Britannica: Being Strictures on a late Pamphlet by G. Wakefield, A B. Late Fellow of Jefus College, Cambridge, intitled, "The Spirit of Chriflianity compared with the Spirit of the Times in Great Britain." By an Under Graduate. 8vo. pp. 66. 15. 6d. Gardner. 1794

We find in thefe ftrictures a large portion of declamation, but little of correct and rational difcuffion. It is eafy to perceive, for it is written on every page, that the author is a violent enemy to reform and reformers, and a zealous advocate for "things as they are:" but why he is fo we have vainly attempted to discover by an attentive perufal of his pamphlet. Indeed he afferts that the establishments of our ancestors ought to be continued, even when the reasons, which gave rife to their original inftitution, have partly, or in fome

cafes