Art. 25. The Youth's Treasure ; or, a Treatise on Morality, Virtue; and Politeness, enlivened with Anecdotes and Examples. From the French of M. Blanchard. 1200 28 Darton and Harvey. These conversations abound in practical instruction for young persors, and appear to be successfully designed for the purpose of incülcating lessons of humanity, mutual kindness, and a general sense of moral and religious obligation. Art. 26. The Juvenile Fible being a brief Concordance of the Holy Scriptures, in Verse, &c. &c. 12mo. Is. 6d. Allen. We cannot flatter the author of this publication, by stating our opinion that his plan is likely to answer his benevolent labours for the improvement of young persons in religious knowlege. Art. 27. 12mo. 2s. The various lessons of virtue, which are inculcated in this little volume, are well adapted to improve the morals, and to cherish the benevolent feelings of young persons. They will find in this collection invitations to industry and application, to an open and ingenuous conduct, to a taste for simple pleasures, to humanity, and to piety. Art. 28. Exercises on the Globes; interspersed with some Historical Biographical, Chronological, Mythological, and Miscellaneous Information on a new Plan designed for the Use of young Ladies. By William Butler. 12mo. 3s. 6d. Mawman, &c. So many small books, on subjects described in this title page, are how submitted to our consideration, that we are not a little puzzled in giving an opinion concerning them that shall be exactly proportional to their merits: we want some scale by which we might at once put down in figures the value of this and of that performance. The present work has undoubtedly merit, and contains (if not new) much useful information. We prefer a beautiful to a dreary road: but, perhaps, the author has too frequently interspersed his clumps of quotation, and too frequently interrupted the plain course of instruc tion with the shrubs and flowrets of poetry. RELIGIOUS. Art. 29 Sacred Hours or Extracts for private Devotion and Meditation; comprehending the Psalms arranged and classed under various Heads together with Prayers, Thanksgivings, Hymns, &c. &c. principally selected from Scripture: the whole intended as a Compendium of Divine Authority, and a Companion for the Hour of Solitude and Retirement. 2 Vols. 12mo. JOS. 6d. Boards. Ginger. 1904. This ample title sufficiently indicates the contents of these Volumes; to the publication of which the compiler has been urged by an earnest desire of promoting the habitual exercise of devout contemplation. Those passages of Scripture are selected which contain sublime descriptions of the Almighty, and which are peculiarly cal. lated for devotion and serious meditation. The Psalms are arranged under the heads of instructive, penitential, supplicatory, thanksgiving, prophet el, historical, and occasional, The Prayers, Hymns, and 9 pious pious Addresses, extracted from various modern authors, form no improper supplement to the selections from the O. and N. T.; and the whole constitutes an useful manual of scriptural piety, which the private Christian may use with advantage, and which may afford to the Clergyman occasional help in suggesting topics for public exhortation. Art. 30. A Guide to Heaven: seriously addressed to all who believe the Gospel to be the Word of God. By the Rev. Charles Sleech Hawtry, A. B. Vicar of Widston, Monmouthshire. 8vo. pp. 172. 4s. Boards. Rivingtons. 1805. With the truly laudable view of promoting the eternal principles of religion, and of inducing Christians to regulate their actions according to the divine standard of the Gospel, this little but important volume is presented to the public. The reverend author makes no attempt to bewilder his readers in the mazes of controversy, but calls the attention of those who profess to believe the Gospel to the numerous and urgent precepts of practical piety which it contains, on the subjects of Forgiveness, Prayer, Covetousness, Temperance, Humility, Justice, Truth, Swearing, Repentance, the Lord's Supper, Charity, Fortitude in Adversity, Conjugal, Parental, and Filial Love, Masters and Servants, Obedience to Governors, and the Conduct of the Clergy. The passages in the Gospels and Epistles, which relate to these topics, are brought together in one view; to which are subjoined a short application and improvement, in the manner observed by Doddridge in his Family Expositor. Art. 31. Sermons chiefly designed to elucidate some of the leading Doctrines of the Gospel. By the Rev. Edward Cooper, Rector of Hamstall Ridware, Stafford. 12mo. PP. 344 5s. Boards. Cadell and Davies. This preacher is of opinion that, of every species of composition Intruded on the public, Sermons perhaps stand least in need of apology.' We, however, must beg leave to differ from Mr. Cooper. The press has been so inundated with Sermons, that an apology is requisite for adding to their number, unless something above mediocrity at least be produced. We find passages in the discourses before us which neatly delineate Christian duty; and Mr. C.'s ardour in supporting what he terms evangelical truth' will be acceptable to orthodox readers but his arguments have often been repeated, and his representations are not peculiarly striking and impressive. He has given one sermon on Christ's yoke, and another on Christ's burden, as if distinct ideas were intended to be conveyed by our Saviour in these two words; and the volume concludes with a discourse intitled Christ the Beloved, and the friend of his people,' on a text from the Song of Solomon, chap. v. 16. An Exhortation to the Duty of Catechising: with Observations on the Excellency of the Church Catechism. By Edward Pearson, B. D Rector of Rempstone. 12mo. Ad. Hatchard. We cordially agree with Mr. Pearson in the fundamental principles of this exhortation, and applaud the boldness with which he combats those those who may be termed the sectaries of his own church, i. e. the zealous Calvinistic Clergy; who, under the self assumed denomination of Evangelical Ministers are making a schism in the body which threatens serious consequences. Nothing can be clearer than that the Articles and Liturgy of the Church of England are not Calvinistic; and if any farther demonstration of the fact were necessary than that which Dr. Kipling has given in his judicious pamphlet on this subject, it will be found in the circumstance mentioned by Mr. Pearson, that these Evangelical Ministers object to employ the Church Catechism in the religious education of youth. The motive of their ob. jection is, as far as it goes, a recommendation of the Catechism to all those who wish to have the Deity contemplated as a God of justice and mercy, an object of our love and admiration, which he cannot be on the high Calvinistic scheme. The Church Catechism is but slightly doctrinal, and is chiefly calculated to impress on the rising generation the practical parts of religion, or to make virtuous and amiable members of society. Mr. P. wishes that it had noticed the constitution of the Christian Church › but is this omission any serious objection? If care were taken to instruct the poor in England, similarly to the practice in Scotland, where every parish has its endowed school, (which this writer recommends,) we should no doubt discern the good effects of it in the improved morals of the poor; for without previous instruction in the first principles of religion, preaching must be altogether nugatory; and it is instruction which Mr. P. means by catechising. Art. 33. The Lord's Supper considered: in Two Sermons preached at Perth, Dec. 2, 1802, on the Occasion of the Church assembling in the Tabernacle, commencing the Practice of celebrating that Ordinance every Lord's Day. To which is added an Appendix, concerning the Sin of eating and drinking unworthily. By Robert Little. 12mo. Is. Ogle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London. Many judicious remarks are made in these discourses, to explain the true nature of the Lord's Supper, and to obviate the misconcep tions which prevail respecting it. The preacher's chief object is the enforcement of weekly communion, as the indispensable duty of all Christians: but, though supported by the practice of the primitive church for a long period, this cannot be said to be expressly enjoined in any of the passages quoted by Mr. Little as containing the scriptural history of the origin of the Lord's Supper. The time and mode of its celebration seem to be left to the good sense and discretion of Christian societies. In the evangelical accounts, no intimation is given which could direct the periods of its recurrence; and in the passage quoted from St. Paul's first Epistic to the Corinthians, (ch. xi 25.) the word ooanis, as often, or whenever, though it intimates a something more than an annual communion like the passover, leaves Christian churches at liberty on this point. We would therefore parody the Apostle here; and say, "Let not him that communicates weekly judge him who communicates less frequently." * See Rev. Vol. xl. N. S. p. 438. POETRY. Art. 34. Fables on Subjects connected with Literature. Imitated from the Spanish of Don Tomas de Yriarte. By John Belfour, Esq. PP. 170. Plates. 75. 6d. in Boards. Richardsons. 12mo. 1804 If Mr. Belfour be a faithful imitator, Yriarte has obtained more than his just praise. Most of these fables are deficient in point and spirit ; and the poetry, in which they are conveyed to the English reader, is not much calculated to relieve their intrinsic dulness. That our readers, however, may have an opportunity of judging for themselves, we quote the 16th fable, at random: " THE SPARROW AND THE NIGHTINGALE. Yet some, in their own judgment wise, "It moves my wonder and surprise From one to whom you knowledge give; H For For all that tasteful melody Yon minstrel makes he learnt from thee ; To whom, devoid of empty pride, Or marks a turn, or steals a grace, Shall boast so sweet a lay as mine." The introductory remarks, which relate chiefly to the respective characters and merits of antient and modern fabulists, evince a cultivated taste and discriminating criticism. They are from the pen of Okey Belfour, Esq. brother of the Translator. Art. 35. A Poetical Epistle to James Barry, Esq. containing Strietures upon some of the Works of that celebrated Artist. With an Appendix. By Francis Burroughs, Esq. 8vo. pp. 143. 3s. Carpenter. 1805. It is not the happy lot of every man who volunteers his services in the cause of slighted genius and virtue, to obtain an inspiration adequate to the expression of his honourable feelings. Highly as we commend Mr. Burroughs's enthusiasm in behalf of that eminent artist Mr. Barry, whose series of pictures on Human Culture decorate the great room of the Society of Arts, &c. in the Adelphi, we cannot say that it is poetical enthusiasm; and that the subject which the painter's celebrated performance suggested glows afresh, and obtains additional charms in his verse. We can praise the friend, but we cannot applaud the pott: we cannot receive tame couplets which hobble to a rhime, as genuine offerings of the Muse: we cannot do our duty to the public without protesting against such heroic verse as Mr. B. has here manufactured; verse which will not be flattering to those whom it means to praise. Can the ghost of Mrs. Montague feel any gratitude for this mention of her? the vestal robe she wore, That robe celestial, was her constant pride, Or that of the Bard of Avon, by this couplet ? Or |