The following anecdote of Mr. Whitfield, was related by Mr. Lane to the writer of this article: One Lord's Day morning, at the early sacrament, Mr. Whitfield, with his usual fervour, exhorted his hearers to give up the use of the means for the spiritual good of their relations and friends only with their lives; and remarked that lie had had a brother, for whose spiritual welfare he had used every means: he had warned him and prayed for him; and, apparently, to no purpose, till a few weeks back, when this brother, to his astonishment and joy, came to his house, and with many tears, declared, that he had come up from the country, to testify to him the great change that divine grace had wrought upon his heart; and to acknowledge with gratitude his obligation to the man whom God had made the instrument of it. Mr. Whitfield added, that he had that morning received a letter, which informed him, that on his brother's return to Gloucestershire, where he resided, he dropped down dead as he was getting out of the stage; but that he had previously given the most unequivocal evidence of his being a new man in Christ Jssus. "Therefore," said this great preacher of rightconsness, let us pray always for ourselves and for those who are deur to us, and newer faint”

OBITUARY.

REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

An Enquiry Whether the Description
of Babylon, contained in the Eigh
teenth Chapter of the Revelatione,
agrees perfectly with Rome as a City,
&c. In a Letter to the Rev.
By Granville Sharp.

THE character and fall of Mystic Babylon make so conspicuous a figure in the Revelations of St. John, that they strongly urge the scriptural student to enquire, Which, among the powers of the earth, bears the most resemblance to the apocalyptic descriptions? Of the many volumes written on this interesting subject, not a few claim attentive perusal by their solid and pious contents; but it is to be regretted, that so many of them have been filled with wild conjectures and strained applications of Scripture, while some have been issued merely to serve the passing interests of religious er political party. So prominently, however, do the features of descriptive comparison present themselves to view in the seventeenth and eighteenth chapters of the Revelations, that all Protestants have concluded they designate the city and church of Rome.

He

the

means of proselyting the Papists to une
When the
adulterated Christianity.
religious systems that men have adopt-
ed are openly and powerfully assailed,
they put themselves into an immediate
posture of defence. The best way to
overcome error is by a clear, simple,
and mild statement of the truth. It is
certain, whatever be their principles,
that the sons of Rome are not now
breathing out threatenings and slaughter
towards the Protestants: they seem
disposed for peace; and it would be
well if this inclination were embraced.
as affording a fair opportunity to in-
troduce among them plain publications
on exclusively evangelical subjects.
The presence of the pure unhampered
gospel, will scatter the gloomy clouds
of Ignorance and Superstition, and
bring the dawn of that period when

those who sit in darkness shall see a great light."When shall the day break and the shadows flee away?

With the views, however, that Mr. Sharp entertains of what is termed the Complete Roman Catholic Emancipation, we, for the most part, agree. Although many in the communion of the Romish church are men whose minds are expanded by liberality and softened by benevolence, yet the tendency of their principles, if acted out, is still unaltered. Such too is the versatility of the human character, that temptation will call forth the energies of those prejudices which have long lain dormant in the mind; and convert, as it were, the amiable Hazael into the cruel Syrian King. Far be it from us to throw any harsh suspicion on the leading Papists in Ireland; but it is well known that, on the Continent, the Jesuits are making great efforts to regain that influence which they have lost since the suppression of their order, in the pontificate of Clement the Fourteenth; and, after all, perhaps nothing would so effectually tend to the estab lishment of Popery as the admission to posts of political authority, of suchas have not abjured her anti-social

To establish the justice of this explanation, Mr. Sharp has taken some pains, in the little volume which now lies before us. He first endeavours to prove, that Ronie, as a city, is evidently marked out by the apostle John in the chapters under consideration; and that they contain an accurate representation of the prophet Daniel's fourth beast with seven heads and ten horns. then proceeds to substantiate charges of idolatry, sorgery, persecution, and unballowed commerce in souls against the Papal church, demonstrating that to no other can they be so clearly and fully applied. There is subjoined to the Letter a copious Appendix of Notes; to which is prefixed, A Short Address to the Roman Catholic Reader. The evidence that our author has brought forward, amounts (in our opinion) to lucid proof, that Rome, in her secular and spiritual eco-ténets. nomy, is plainly intended by Babylon the great; but whether the manne in which he has treated the subject be calculated to do much good among the Catholics, may very fairly be questioned.

It is doubtful, whether any such direct attacks on Popery will be the

We wish that the writer of the work under our review, had paid more atten tion to the construction of his sentences, as he would easily have avoid ed that obscurity in which many of them are involved. He seems also to have forgotten his professions of “* chas rity to mens' person," in his philig

REVIEW OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

pic against the late Edmund Burke, Esq. Though we disapprove of the temper and aim of that "Third Letter to a Member of Parliament," yet we cannot forbear censuring the spirit which breathes in the 47th note of the Appendix.

Should Mr. Sharp's publication fall into the hands of the Roman Catholics, we hope they will seriously weigh his admonitory warnings, and fee from Mystic Babylon, lest, partaking in her sins, they share in her plagues.

The Age of Frivolity: a Poem, addressed to the Fashionable, the Busy, and the Religious World. By Tim. Touch'em. 12mo, 2s. 6d.

SATIRE is so dangerous a weapon, that, like a naked sword, the sight of it, even in a friendly hand, makes us. shudder. We are particularly jealous of its application to religious subjects, as it throws a levity upon them which lessens their due impression on the mind. In appreciating characters, as the best of men have their foibles (and foibles are the food of Ridicule) there is likewise danger of wounding Religion through the sides of its ministers, since whatever lessens their respectability impedes their usefulness; and

XIV.

225

there is the more danger of this, in proportion as characters are the more strongly marked.

Our readers will naturally suppose we were led to theso reflections by the work before us. To the two first books, as they are levelled against the frivolities of the gay an1 busy world, which are confessedly fair marks for the arrows of Satire, we have no objection. Indeed, we cannot deny the author considerable merit. His wit is poignant, his versification smooth, and he keeps us in good humour throughout. The third book has perhaps equal poetic merit, and some of the characters are admirably drawn; but others are so pointed as to appear personal; and though we may be (as we have been privately informed) mistaken in some of our applications, we fear many of our readers will be led into the saine error. Had Mr. Touch'em made his characters more general, and drawn them with more good-nature, his readers might more probably have caught their own features; but we are not likely to be reformed by the satire that offends us.

Notwithstanding these abatements in our commendation, we cannot but admire many passages; and we doubt not bat our readers will unite with us in our commendation of the following:

"Behold the Christian, he demands respect,
Whatever be his name, his mode, his sect:
Ne loves the God who made him, thinks with awe
On his perfections vast, and perfect law;

Yet with a filial confidence relies

-

On this great Parent, holy, good, and wise!

"He loves the Saviour, who on Calv'ry bled,

A spotless victim, in the sinner's stead;

Hails him the gift and means of endless love,
Ilis Plea below, his Advocate above!

"He loves the Spirit, whose renewing grace

Illumes and sanctifies a fallen race;

Supports and cheers the saint while trav'lling home,
And gives sweet foretastes of the joys to come.

"He loves his Bible, fount of Truth divine,

Whence comfort beams, and light and glories shine :
Its doctrines credits, by its precepts lives,

And its sure promises by faith receives.

"He loves the world, and o'er its follies weeps;
But his own heart with jealous caution keeps:
In manners gentle, gen rous, good, and kind;
Religion forms his actions and his mind. -

"flence flow sott Charity, and Pity blend,
That move a feeling heart and helping hand :
He pardons freely, should a brother fail,
Well knowing that himself is weak and frail.
"He builds no hope on merits of his own,
But trusts to Mercy, — boasts of Grace alone:
Eternal things his better thoughts engage;
Nor will he trifle in a trifling age!"

Gg

A View of the Social Worship, and
Ordinances observed by the first
Christians, drawn from the Sacred
Scriptures alone: being an Attempt
to enforce their Divine Obligation;
and to represent the Guill and Evil
Consequences of neglecting them.
By James Alex. Haldane. 120. 45.

As this Magazine has been, from its commencement, conducted and supplied with materials "by churchinen, and Dissenters of different denominations," whose professed design was, by laying aside all party distinctions, to promote true catholicism, and diminish the influence of bigotry," we have uniformly refrained from entering into the minutiae of church order, or the forms of worship and discipline which obtain in the various societies of Chrisians among us. It would be inconsistent, therefore, with our plan to enter into the merits of this work, which is intended to establish that order of discipline, generally adopted by Congregational, or as they are commonly called, Independent Churches. In all such

cases we content ourselves with a review, merely analytical, leaving our readers to form their own judgment, without any bias from ours.

The contents of Mr. Haldane's work are as follow: -1. On the Importance of attending to every part of the Word of God. 2. There is reason to presume, that the New Testament contains instruction concerning every part of the worship and conduct of Christian Societies, as well as concerning the faith and practice of individuals. 2. All Christians are bound to observe the universal and approved practices of the first churches recorded in Scripture. 4. On the Causes of the Diversity of Opinion among Christians respecting social worship, and the evils arising from it. 5. Of the Constitution of the Apostolic Churches. 6. Of the Character of those who composed the Apostolic Churches. 7. Of the O'licers in the Apostolic Churches. 8. Of Ordination. 9. Of the Ordinances observed by the Apostolic Churches. 10. Of the Discipline of those Churches. 11. Of Forbearance. 12. Of Schisa and Heresy. 13. Excellence of the Plan laid down in the New Testament for the Social Worship of Christians, and the advantages arising from observing it. 14. Hints concerning the Evils arising from the Neglect of the Separation from the Worl, enjoined by Jesus Christ, in Social Worship and Ordinances. 20. Conclusion.

On these various topics Mr. Hal

dane writes with perspicuity, and ge nerally with temper; but neither the Episcopalian of the South, nor the Presbyterian of the North, will allow him to write conclusively; nor indeed do the English Independents come up to his standard. All, however, will approve of the concluding paragraph of the work.

"Throughout this publication, the distinction between the obedience which we owe in religion only to Jesus, and that which, by his authority, we are bound to give to our civil rulers, has been uniformly supposed. Brethren,

the conduct of Christians in this matter is apt to be misunderstood. Let us be careful to shew, that while in religion we call no man Father, we are among the peaceable and quiet of the land, being in subjection to our rulers, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake. Let us shew that our refusal to acknowledge any human anthority in religion does not proceed from pride and dislike of subordination, but from a sense of duty. Let obedience to the powers ordained of God be cheerful and exemplary; let us obey, honour and give thanks for magistrates, and be ready to every good work. Let us he thankful for the privilege we enjoy. Let us pray for the peace and welfare of our country, and thus, by well doing in every respect, put to silence the ignorance of foolish aen."

Vindication of the Presbyterian Form of Church Government, as professed in the Standards of the Church of Scotland, in reply to the Animadversions of Messrs Innes, Ewing, Ballentine, Glass, Sc. among the Modern, and of Goodwin, Lockier, Cotton, &c. among the ancient Independents; with an Appendix, containing Remarks on Mr. Haldane's View of Social Worship, By John Brown, Minister of the Gospel, Gartmore, 12mo.

An Exposure of some things contained in Mr. Brown's Viudication of Presbyterian Church Government, which scem calculated net so much to affect the argument, as to excite Popular Prejudice and Personal Irritation, by Greville Ewing, 8vo.

FOR the reason before mentioned, we content ourselves with barely announc ing these recent publications; which we may safely recommend to such of our readers as wish to pursue the subject, being written by ministers of piety and talents.