IT T is feldom that we can fatisfy an author with praife. Readers are more eafily contented. They are rather apt to think us faulty on the other fide; efpecially when they happen to have purchafed an indifferent book. Our Prefaces ought to please both parties. Authors, because they contain only commendation; readers, because, if they fulfil their plan, they do not even mention a production unworthy to be purchased. We write no Index Expurga. torius. Silence is here our heavieft cenfure; and departed authors must not haunt us, if we speak nớ evil of them after their deceafe. Οὐχ ὁσίη, κλαμένοισιν ἐπ' ἀνδράσιν εὐχε ψασθαι. DIVINITY. 21398 do ditive When we open this article with the two works of Mr. Jeffe, which we commended together, his Differta tion on the Apostles, and his book on the Study of the Scripel tures*, we have an eye to the amends we promised. then for accidental delay. The works, however, deserve distinction. They are acute as well as pious, and cannot fail, particularly the latter, to increafe the love of facred study. In treating of the Prophe *No. III. p. 289. BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XVII. 409106 cies, cies, Mr. Zouch has united caution with fagacity. More we hardly venture to pronounce on fubjects of this nature; but his book we recommend with out hefitation, to thofe whofe ftudies are directed to that point. Mr. Reeves, whom formerly the ftudious world had known, only as a writer on law and politics, excellent in both, and evidently qualified to write on any fubject he had once confidered or examined, has come forward lately to demand attention on fubjects of theological enquiry. To us this was not furprifing, who knew him to be spans as well as Toλupaons; but to thofe who have not feen him in his study, it must feem a very fudden change. What? John Reeves, the leader of the first Affociations, the defender of the Conftitution, against republican and even whiggish innovations, writing on the Palmst, and commenting on the Liturgy? Even fo, moft aftonished enquirer; and doing both with piety, with learning, with, fuccefs. The Church and State are not more firmly allied by the various cautions of our Legislature, than by their own specific attractions, in the mind of this author. Have patience, and you will behold him commenting on the Scriptures at large. The enemy of levellers, is the friend of true religion; and a learned, and a powerful friend, Hate him, Jacobin, if poffible, more than ever; but beware of affecting to defpife him. The Church of England, let us hope, will never be ill-furnished with defenders. Among those who lately wielded the pen in her behalf, let us not omit to mention. Mr. Grahams, whofe work, though aimed against the Baptifts in particular, is fuch as will fupport our cause against all fects, by the only true defence, the bulwark of the Scriptures. Againft all that can be urged by the acuteft adverfary in favour of feparating from us, we have one, in Mr. Hartel, who P. 74. No. No. II. p. 182. No. VI.) + No. IV. p. 341; VI. p. 624. ‡ No. IV. 0.412. 5 603. pleads pleads with learning, livelinefs, and judgment. It would, perhaps, have been more prudent to leave good Dr. Gill, and his pretended reasons, to their repose, than to call them up to meet with fuch an anfwer as we here allude to. The general caufe of eftablishments, which are often generally attacked, is pleaded with great fkill by Mr. Ranken of Glafgow. The author indeed reasons well, but his chief ally, experience, brings documents of fuch force as are not easily repelled. In behalf of Chriftianity, a writer of great eminence, in almost every line, has lately volunteered his aid. Mr. Cumberland, whofe Reafons are plaint in fenfe, but enlivened by the ornaments of wit, has urged the friends of infidelity by fuch weapóns, as must make prefumption feel, through all its buckram coats. A poet thus employed, and, after all his dalliance with fancy, returning to the love of truth, exemplifies moft ftrongly what another able writer has fupported in a different way; the benefit of Religious Education. Mr. de Luc, pursuing his ufeful labours on the Continent, has written, among other works, fome letters on that fubject, worthy of his name and character. Connected as he is with Britain, in various honourable ways, we cannot but regard him as a writer of our own; and therefore think it right to trace his fteps, wherever he may bend his courfe. An Effay on Christianity as producing Happiness, though anonymous, muft not be paffed in filence. It is written with fagacity and judgment, and with a well-conducted reference to immediate ufe. The republished volume of the Bishop of Lin coln's Elements, entitled an Introduction to the Study of the Bible, feems to be as eagerly received by the public, as it has been ably prepared by the excellent author; and its repeated editions fpeak more ftrongly No. III. p. 318. j No. IV. p. 466. + No. IV. p. 436. + No. IV. p. 359° for for it than any words that we can employ. The volume on the Oriental Trinities, by Mr. Maurice*, is aimed against a large clafs of objectors, and, being now more fitted for circulation, may be expected to produce a more extenfive benefit. We turn now to Sermons, whether in volumes, or in a separate state; and firft to thofe collected into volumes. Of Mr. Gilpin's first volume, we should fpeak with more fatisfaction, were we not, in fome degree, conscious of default, in not having yet delivered our opinion on the second. Such an author, however, has little to apprehend from critics, and the public little to learn on the fubject of his merits. The works of Mr. Gilpin will be bought, without particular recommendation. The name of Dr. Grant is lefs known; but his Sermons, on various fubjects and occafions, will tend to give it celebrity. On the fubject of Mr. Sydney Smith's difcourfes, we regretted that his fecond volume obliged us greatly to lower our tone; by a very reprehenfible Preface, and the increase, instead of amendment, of the faults obfervable in his former volume. Still, however, we will not deprive him of a place in this recapitulation; which, if due to a certain rank of merit, muft not be denied because the author thinks he has ftill higher claims. Among theological difcourfes feparately printed, we cannot refufe the first place to the excellent Charge of the Bishop of Rochester. The picture of the times, drawn by this prelate, is fo lively, and his fuggeftions on the fubject of duty fo forcible, that attention to them ought by no means to be confined, as in fact it certainly will not, to the diocese for which they were produced. Sermons of diftinguished merit, brought forward by particular occafions, are thofe of Dr. Jackson, and Dr. Booker**, on the Fast; Mr. Blackstone on the confecration of Lord George No. V. p. 546. ¶ No. VI. p. 652, No. VI. P 608. No. VI. p. 617. No. V. p. 545 + No. I. p. 21. || No. V. P. 543. Murray, |