drudge could look around him, he would fee the half of his audience dozing over his dull repetition; not a foul affected, unleis perhaps an old beggar gives a groan from a dark corner when he hears the found. An honeft countryman happening to hear one of these paper-geniuses preach, was asked by his wife, when he went home, how he liked the preacher: "Alas! faid he, he was a poor preacher, as ever I saw, woman: he was juft like a crow picking the corn; for he always put down his head for a pick, and then looked about to fee if any person was coming near him." Let our clergy, who ought not to think contemptuously of the common people, take the fame pains to qualify themselves for public orators, which the gentlemen at the bar appear to do; and it is more than probable that they would foon acquire that self poffeffion and that prompt elocution which are fo much admired in our courts of law. Moo-y. Art. 48. Accounts of the Ten Tribes of Ifrael being in America; originally published by Manaffeh Ben Ifrael. With Obfervations thereon, and Extracts from Sacred and Prophane, Ancient and Modern History, confirming the fame; and their Return from thence about the Time of the Return of the Jews. By Robert Ingram, A. M. Vicar of Wormingford and Boxted, Effex. 8vo. pp. 56. 1s. Robinfons, &c. 1792. Mr. Ingram is ftrongly perfuaded that great numbers of the Ifraelites, after their difperfion, in confequence of the Babylonish Captivity, &c. retired into a remote and uninhabited country, where their defcendants, a numerous and diftinct race, remain to this day; and that this (to us unknown) country, is a portion of North America, fomewhere in the vicinity of a part of California, to the fouth of Hudfon's Bay, and from 53° to 60 N. Lat. where they still are, unconnected with the reft of mankind. How thefe wanderers originally made their way from Afia into thofe remote regions, muft be matter of furprize to many readers: but the rev. author of this tract easily removes all the difficulties by the aid of miracles; by means of which, the greatest rivers, the Euphrates, for instance, and even the Sea, are divided, or dried up, to facilitate the paffage of the emigrants. The author has fhewn great diligence in fearching and applying the Jewish prophecies, and other authorities, in fupport of his opinion, and of the evidence of Rabbi Manaffeh. Art. 49. A Sketch of the Life and Projects of John Law of Laurifton, Comptroller General of the Finances in France. 4to. pp. 48. 35. Kearsley. 1791. In our Review, vol. Ixv. p. 183, may be found a brief account of the principal events in the life of Mr. Law, extracted from the Private Life of Louis XV. tranflated by Mr. Juftamond. The * It was once remarked, (in a private converfation, at which the writer of this article was prefent,) by the late Dr. Gregory Sharpe, mafter of the Temple, that" with fome people, and in fome countries, miracles were not miraculous, fince they were as common with them, as mackrel are with us, in goofeberry time." 5 sketch sketch now before us being materially the fame, in a detached form, there is no reason for our enlarging on the subject at this time. N. Art. 50. The Hiftory of the Royal Circus, introductory to the Cafe of Mr. Read, late Stage Manager of that Theatre. In a Letter to a Friend. 8vo. pp. 138. Is. 6d. Parfons, &c. 1791. Nothing will probably tempt any uninterested person to peruse a narrative of this nature, but a curiofity to ftep behind the curtain, to fee how matters are managed there. That perfon must be ftrangely at a lofs for objects of attention, who can take a part in the private difputes of proprietors and managers, quarrelling about the public as their property. The lawyers are bufy among them, and will not leave them till they have exhausted the fubject, and have reduced the contending parties to a state of quietifm. N. THEOLOGY and POLEMICAL. Art. 51. The Aged Chriftian's final Farewell to the World and its Vanities. A pious Meditation, compofed in the laft Century, by that truly benevolent Patriot, and Compaffionate Friend to the Poor Citizens of Bristol, John Whitfon, Efq. Alderman of the faid City, and Member in feveral Parliaments. Collected from the Author's Manufcripts. To which is prefixed, fome Account of the Author, collected from authentic Records, by George Symes Catcott. 8vo. pp. 62. 1s. 6d. Palmer, &c. in Bristol. Though this be only the republication of a very old tract, and though, from its not appearing in London, it has for fome time. efcaped our attention, yet it deferves notice, as well for the fake of the worthy writer, a diftinguished merchant of Bristol, in the reign of James I. and a great benefactor to that city, as for the found fenfe and unaffected piety of his fentiments at the clofe of a well spent life, untainted with the growing fanaticism of that age.N. Art. 52. A Letter to the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Landaff, containing Remarks on his Lordship's Charge to the Clergy of the Diocese of Landaff. 4to. 1s. Debrett. 1792. This letter-writer, who fubfcribes himself a Country Curate, expreffes his difapprobation of the opinions advanced by the Bishop of Landaff in his admirable Charge, and thinks that the opportunity which his Lordship took for conveying his opinions was an improper one. We, on the other hand, regard the fentiments advanced by Dr. Watfon as fo juft, liberal, and politic, that we are difpofed to applaud him for embracing the earlieft opportunity of inculcating them on his clergy. The Country Curate writes with the fame good wishes toward the Establishment that actuated the Bishop: but he does not feem to us to poffefs his Lordship's enlarged and penetrating mind. For our account of the Bishop's Charge, to which this letter relates, fee Review for March laft, p. 293. Art. 53. The Religious Principles of a Prefbyterian, founded on his There Moo-y - There is an oddity of manner in this petit performance, united with good fenfe and liberality of fentiment. How far the account, of Prefbyterian principles will accord with thofe of our fellowfubjects of Scotland, and with their religious practices, we shall not pretend to determine. The author's ideas do not wholly correfpond with their offenfible creed, or, rather, perhaps, with their confeffion. Meffrs. Pitt and Dundas, to whom this little morfel of divinity is immediately addreffed, will, no doubt, perufe it with edification and comfort! Art. 54. Ledures on the Lord's Prayer; with an Introductory Difcourse. By the Rev. Richard Taprell, of South Molton. 8vo. PP. 373 5s. Boards. Dilly. 1792. A courie of plain, ferious, and affectionate, difcourfes, on those importants fubjects which the Lord's Prayer fuggefts, is here provided for the ufe of religious families. They appear to be compofed with a strong fenfe of piety, and with a fincere defire of impreffing on the minds of men the truths which concern their everlafting falvation. They are written on the orthodox fyftem, and in a ftyle which will afford little entertainment to the elegant fcholar: but they may be of ufe in impreffing lefs cultivated minds with a conviction of the importance of religion. The work is introduced by a very fingular dedication, To the Father of Angels and men, the God of Univerfal Nature, Author of Grace and Giver of Glory.' Art. 55. A Lift of Books intended for the Ufe of the younger Clergy, and other Students in Divinity, within the Diocese of Chefter. 8vo. pp. 51. IS. Rivingtons. 1791. The defign of this publication will be best explained in the Right Reverend Editor's own words: With regard to the diftinguishing character of these books, my principal object has been in the two first claffes to select fuch only as are most obviously employed in maintaining the fundamental doctrines of our faith, and in vindicating and illuftrating the articles, rites, and ceremonies of the Church of England, avoiding carefully fuch as avowedly controvert thofe doctrines, rites, and ceremonies, or indirectly oppose them. If to the philofophers of the prefent day, it fhould feem, that I wish to narrow the grounds of liberal inquiry, and to prejudicate questions of importance, I beg it may be obferved, that this lift is intended for their ufe chiefly, who, upon a conviction already formed, have engaged, or are defirous to engage themfelves" to preach the faith and difcipline of the Church of England against all opposers *." 'I am not, it will be remembered, giving my directions or advice upon the means and mode of acquiring this conviction, nor am I laying down the first principles and inftitutes of Divinity. They, who have been educated in an Univerfity, have neither wanted the means of information, nor the affiftance requifite; and literate per • Wotton on the Method of studying Divinity, p. 14.' REV. MAY 1792. I Hi...s. E. fons, fons, who have not had thefe advantages, yet if they have any de◄ gree of attention to their duty, and any ability for the profeffion they are to undertake, cannot fail to have ftudied and compared with the doctrines of our creeds and articles, the Scriptures themselves.' From this account of the list of books here recommended to the attention of young divines, it is pretty plain, that it can be of little fervice except to thofe who have made up their minds on matters of controverfy; in doing which, furely, young divines ought not to be too hafty-for, why fhould we clofe up the inlets to knowlege?The heads, under which the books are claffed, are, Practical and Paftoral Duties; Books of Devotion; Religion in general; Revealed Religion; the Scriptures; Comments on the Scriptures; Concordances, &c.; Doctrines; Creeds, Articles, Catechifms, Liturgy, and Sermons; Sacraments and Rites; Church of England; Ecclefiaftical History and Law; the Chriflian Fathers, &c. E. Art. 56. A Letter to the Students in Divinity in the Diocese of Chefter: Occafioned by a late Publication of "A Lift of Books," with "A Preface," by the Bishop of Chefter; and intended as a Supplement to that Work. 8vo. pp. 23. 6d. Johnfon. 1792. How ftrange is it, that a zealous Dioce fan may not be permitted to provide his younger clergy with weapons for the defence of the orthodox faith, without being interrupted by the impertinent intrufion of a fectary, who lays open a new armory, plentifully furnished for its adverfaries! Why should they be obliged, after hav ing fettled their creed, to hear of fuch names as Law, Jortin, and Watfon, Lardner, Leiand, Fofter, Lindsey, and Priestley? Yet this felf-instituted preceptor has the prefumption to advise the younger clergy and other ftudents in divinity within the diocefe of Chefter, to do juftice to themselves, and not to fuffer their guides to take advantage of an early and premature determination. Art. 57. Concio ad Clerum in Synodo Provinciali Cantuarienfis Provincie, ad D. Pauli, Die 26° Novembris, A. D. 1790. Habita à Johanne Randolph, S. T. P. Edis Chrifti Canonico, et S. Theologia apud Oxon. Profeffore Regio. 4to. 15. Rivingtons. 1790. E. The learned reader will meet, in this address to the clergy, or Latin fermon, from 2 Tim. iv. 5. with fome admirable obfervations to which he will yield an immediate affent, and with others from which he will be difpofed to with-hold both his admiration and his acquiefcence. Profeffor Randolph judiciously accounts for the corruptions of Christianity; and fhews how, in different ages, it received a different complexion, from the tafte and philofophical principles which happened to prevail. Every perfon, who is acquainted with the nature of the human mind, muft accede to the remarks here offered refpecting the difficulty of emancipating ourselves entirely from the influence of deeply-rooted habits, and of long-cherished opinions, notwithstanding we difcover them to be foolish and abfurd; and will perceive how fatisfactorily they account for the errors of the first Chriftian converts. Qui eam (i. e. Chriftianam fidem) excipiebant manifeftis divinæ authoritatis indiciis perculfi, ex priftinis erroribus et inveteratis opinionibus haud ftatim fefe expediebant. Etenim difficile difficile eft, etiam tum cum maxime velis, et impenfiffimo ftudio tentaveris, affuetam vitæ normam deponere, et novos habitus inducere: ipfi vitæ converfioni hæret aliqua antique labis nota.' P. 2. The difficulty of changing our habits of thinking, and the involuntary retrospect of the mind to principles which we profefs to renounce and ftrive to forget, are here exemplified in the cafe of Juftin Martyr; who, though he rejected the philofophy which he once admired, and became a fincere and zealous Chriftian, could not emancipate himfelf from the dominion of his former purfuits; fo that Philofophiam quam ultro reliquerat, oculo baud prorfus irretorto refpexit,' P. 10. Hence we may account for Justin Martyr's paffion for myfteries, and for his fearching out meanings in texts remote from the literal interpretation; and hence from his Platonizing Christianity, (if we may be allowed the expreffion,) we may trace the origin of certain words and doctrines admitted into our creeds: but, to our aftonishment, when Dr. Randolph was on the brink of this conclufion, he ftops fhort, hangs back, and excepts from the force of his obfervations the only doctrine to which they moft pertinently apply. His reafon is curious: Juftin flourished fo near to the apoftolic age, that he fcarcely could err; but if in one inftance he could mistake the genuine fenfe of Scripture, and diverge into ftrange whims and fancies, why not in others? If he be admitted to have turned the ftream of Platonifm over the pages of the Gospel, traces of its effects may be difcoverable in various doctrines. Profeffor Randolph compliments the prefent age on its philofophical difcoveries, and on the diffufion of knowlege among all ranks of fociety: but he is apprehenfive that the true doctrines of religion will fuffer by it. He fears, we think, where no fear is. He offers it as his opinion, that there are fome among us, the burthen of whofe fong is deftruction to church and fate. Eandem (Independentium) tamen nunc cantilenam canunt nonnulli, quibus omnis authoritas invifa eft, et quibus cordi eft bumi fternere et civilis et ecclefiaftica poteftatis fabricam.' P. 23. If this be true, we may well be alarmed; and every clergyman and layman should fay to his fellow, Eù di mpe: but does not Profeffor R. mifreprefent the advocates for improving our fyftem in church and itate as enemies to both ?-To improve is not to deftroy, but to ftrengthen. Art. 58. Sermons on Important Subjects. With fome Effays in Poetry. By Niel Douglas, Minifter of the Gospel at Cupar in Fife. 8vo. PP. 508. 3 5. Boards. Button, Newington Causeway: Moo-y. Though thefe fermons are not formed after the modern plan, they discover a confiderable fhare of ability; and will doubtless be read with pleasure by those who approve the author's fyftem. We truft, however, that among these not many will be found, who will not agree with us in thinking that his zeal for what he judges to be gofpel truth, has carried him beyond the bounds not only of propriety but of charity. Not contented with forcing the doctrine of the divinity of Chrift into a fermon on numbering our days, and with declaiming against thofe who call in queftion the truth of this doc I 2 trine, |