phyfician of great fagacity and judgment, but he was more remarkable for a clear and folid understanding, than for the brilliancy and fplendor of his talents. Of his quitting the ufual mode of inveftigation, and exploring new and unknown methods of treating difeafes, we have no knowledge; certainly he has left no public memorial of fuch discoveries. The fame remark would apply to the account of Dr. Auftin, whofe lux perennis, and gloria fplendidiflima," are only faint reflections of the dazzling flafhics of lightning, with which he had before clothed Dr. Pitcairn.

Befides thefe topics, the oration before us notices fome diffentions among the fellows, which have lately convulfed the college, and glances at a difpute between a part of the licentiates and the fellows. On thefe we fhall make no obfervation, but join the author in his wifhes, that they may foon be appeafed. The oration is printed in octavo. This diftinguishes it from all that have gone before it, but not, we think, with advantage: the quarto fize, which has hitherto been conftantly adopted, and feems appropriated to academical difquifitions, being more refpectable. At any rate, this alteration in the form, lays collectors under difficulties, as it is too fmall to bind by itself, and will not readily affort with fimilar compofitions.

ART. 22. Catechifm of Health for the Ufe of Schools, and for Domes tic Inftruction. By B. C. Fauft, M. D. Tranflated from the improved German edition of this Work by J. H. Baffe. 8vo. pp. 190. 2s. 6d. Dilly.

1794.

1

The intention of this publication is wife and falutary; it explains in a fimple and fatisfactory manner how health, and in particular the health of children may be preferved, improved, and reftored. It is printed in the form of queftion and anfwer, with an obfervation fubjoined to each, which is calculated to convey more or lefs of useful instruction. The reader may judge of the nature of the work from the fubjoined chapter.

66

OF THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.

"2. How are people to conduct themselves in thunder storms when they are in the field?

"A. They are not to run, or trot, or gallop, or stand still, but keep on walking or riding quietly, flowly, and without fear.-Obfervation. Here the schoolmaster is to explain to the children, the nature and caufes of thunder and lightning, in order to prevent thofe fears and falfe impreffions which are made upon the human mind, when children are fuffered to form erroneous ideas of fuch phænomena.Herds or flocks, in thunder ftorms, ought not to be driven, hunted, or overheated, or fuffered to ftand ftill, or affemble clofe together; they ought to be feparated and divided into small numbers, and people fhould take care not to come too near to them."

ART. 23.

DIVINITY.

The Age of Unbelief, a Second Part to the Man of Sin. A Sermon preached in Spring Garden Chapel, on Sunday, February 8, 1795. By William Jones, M. A. F. R. S. 8vo. 1s. Rivingtons.

The

The fermon alluded to in the title page was reviewed by us in our third volume, p. 341, and, as it well deferved, highly commended. Whatever may be thought of the principal pofition in that difcourfe, that the French people are the Man of Sin (which certainly militates with opinions that have been confidered as nearly demonftrated) there is nothing in this that can cause a fimilar hesitation. Mr. Jones begins by defcribing Faith, or the wifdom of God; and Reafon, or the wifdom of Man, as in oppofition to it; from which he concludes, very justly, that if the prefent age be allowed to be, as it has been called, the age of reafon, it cannot be the age of faith. "Reafon is triumphant over Faith, that is, man has prevailed against God." He then proceeds to examine the characters of this age; the infidels, the lovers of pleafure, the neglect of prayer, and the unfcriptural and inefficient ftyle of preaching, with the prevalent difregard of the reference of government to heaven. The manner in which this infolence of reafon was introduced, by difguft at fanaticism, is then ftated, and the effects," not of philofophy, but the vain deceit of philofophy" towards bringing in materialifm. The fhort but animated conclufion points out the use of these reflections, which is, as the author thinks, to fhow us that, in proportion as the faith decays, the coming of Chrift is drawing near." As this is the most ftriking part of the fermon, the whole of which is able, we shall felect a paffage from it. It is concerning one of the figns of the time, which, fays Mr. J. is but little noticed.

"Before the first coming of Jefus Chrift, the world had been harraffed, plundered and deftroyed for many years by a nation of Republicans; enthufiafts for liberty at home, but fubjecting all nations in their progrefs to robbery and flavery: who, like wolves, by nature quarrelfome and ravenous, were banded together to make a prey of mankind. This was the ftate of the world before the firft advent of Christ, and with his appearance it ended. In the ways of Providence there is an uniformity of conduct; and though we muft not prefume, where we have no pofitive direction to guide us, yet is it a very strange incident, that when the fecond coming of Chrift is expected, the most powerful nation in Europe (for fuch they are) and the most monarchical (for fuch they were) should turn into the moft favage and ravenous republicans, and form a plan, as the Romans did, of invading, overturning and plundering all other nations; this nation in particular, if it fhould ever be in their power, above all the reft. How this began, we can tell how it will proceed, and by what farther fteps, God only knows but this we are fure of, that however long it may laft, it must ceafe with the coming and kingdom of Chrift. In the interval, they may rejoice and be as merry as Ahab was, when he had feized upon the property of the murdered Naboth: but the fearful queftion will come at laft, haft thou killed and also taken poffeffion? 1 Kings xxi. 19. Then fhall rebellion, and blood-guiltinefs, and blafphemy, call upon the mountains to hide them from Him, who will then manifeft himself in the two characters, at prefent the objects of their peculiar hatred and contempt--a Prieft and a King. It may be admired as a great exploit, that Chriftianity, with all its reftraints, is driven out: but the world may be affured, this will be no peaceable event. The faith, planted

throughout

throughout the earth, will never be rooted out without a tremendous fhock. When the founder of our religion expired, the earth trembled, the fun was darkened, and all nature felt the ftroke; and if his faith is to expire, the catastrophe will shake the world: a circumftance often fpoken off in the Scriptures both of the old and New Testament, as preparatory to the great day of the Lord. How much the earth is moved at this time, we feel every day: how much more it may be before the end cometh, it is not for us to judge: but this we know, that all the commotions of the earth will terminate in the fulfilling of the promises of God, when we fhall receive a kingdom which cannot be moved." P. 25.

The preacher concludes by reminding us, that this ought not to be felt as an alarming fubject, the coming of Chrift being that for which we pray, and which we ought to with. It should be mentioned that the text is Luke xviii. 8. " When the Son of Man cometh fhall be find faith on the earth?" We recommend this difcourfe to the attention of those who are willing to think, and able to feel.

tor.

ART. 24. The Libertine led to Reflection by Calm Expoftulation, a Method recommended in a farewell Addrefs to his younger Brethren, by an old Parocbial Clergyman. 8vo. 94 PP. Is. 6d. Cadell. 1794. The younger part of the British Clergy may learn fome ufeful leffons from the warm, yet candid, admonition of this aged precepThe reformation of fociety, and the establishment of good morals, lie very much in the hands of this body of men: and, as their profeffion cannot fet them above the frailties incident to humanity, they ftand in need of that counsel which age and reflection can best communicate. On this ground, therefore, we cannot but recommend, as deferving their particular attention, many of the found and fenfible admonitions of this old parochial clergyman; particularly the appeal to those who teach, to examine fully the ftate of their own hearts, (p. 39) which is written with peculiar energy and elegance. There are parts, however, in which the author, though a profeffed fon of our Church, gives completely into the dangerous doctrines of the rationalizers of Christianity.

ART. 25. The Sinner encouraged to Repentance: a Sermon preached at the Opening of the Chapel of the new Houfe of Correction for the County of Middlefex, on Sunday, Sept. 28, 1794, before the Chairman of the Seffions, and a Committee of Magiftrates; and published at their Requeft. With a Prefatory Addrefs to Magiftrates in general, and to the Magiftracy of the County of Middlefex in particular. By Samuel Glaffe, D. D. F. R. S. Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majefly, and one of the Juftices of the Peace for the faid County. 8vo. 29 PP. 15. Kivingtons. 1794.

Nothing can be more delightful than the contemplation of a plan, which is defigned to obviate the moral and religious evils ufually attendant on imprisonment, and among others, the following: too many cafes, the door of the prifon is opened for the difcharge

In

of

of the prifoner, at the expiration of his fentence; and the poor wretch, though not knowing which way to turn himself, is glad to accept of liberty on any terms. What now is he to do? Is it an unnatu ral fiction, to fuppofe him reafoning in this manner with himself?• Having satisfied the justice of my country for my offence, I am once more at my own difpofal; but here I ftand, thrown upon the world, a defolate, helpless, defperate individual, without friends, without character, without money, with fcarce a poffibility of obtaining honeft employment; oppreffed with hunger, yet without any lawful means of fatisfying the demands of nature.'-What are we to expect from one fo circumftanced, but that the robber will initantly return to his depredations, and the offender of the other sex to her abandoned fyftem of proftitution." Pref. Addr. p. v.-A more truly Chriftian, benevolent difcourfe than that which follows this Addrefs, or more calculated to produce the best effects on the unfortunate part of the audience, cannot eafily be imagined; while the text, Matth. xxv, 36. properly reminds the fuperior part, of the bleffing that will attend their pious labours. Should this excellent plan, of prifons calculated to reform the offenders, be carried on throughout the kingdom, we shall prefent a noble spectacle to all the world, of fomething very near perfection in our criminal justice.Such preachers as Dr. Glaffe will powerfully affift this great object.

ART. 26. A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of Henley upon Thames. On Wednesday, February 25, 1795. Being the Day appointed by Proclamation for a General Faft. By the Rev. Edward Barry, M. D. 4to. 20 pp. is. Parfons, 1795.

We confefs we have a difficulty to affign any good reason for the publication of this difcourfe, except it be, that the author was moved by the fpirit of gallantry to lay this additional offering at the feet of Mrs. Mary Mettayer*, to whom it is "moft refpectfully infcribed." We have no intimation given us in the title page, that it was either preached or printed by defire and we have reafon to believe that no fuch defire was felt.

Before the fermon is a prayer of confiderable length, in which there appears much of obfcurity and very much of uncharitable and unjuftifiable infinuation. What the Doctor means by "the fuperiority of the nobles of the land being better heard of in the beauty of virtue, than in the found of title," we are at a lofs to understand: nor is that the only fingular expreffion it contains.

As to the fermon itself, against the Dr. publishes a fecond edition, we would advise him to reconfider the following paffages. P. 14. "Adulation and hypocrify are deteftable every where, and in no place more fo, than in that whence I am fpeaking from." P. 15. " If God is not on our fide in our exertions againit the enemy, vain are our fleets and armies, nugatory our councils, and useless is that bawble pomp!" There should be a note to explain in what way the bawble pomp is ufed as an instrument of war. P. 16. On the fubject of war, the intentions of our prefent meeting forbid me to defcant upon."

* See Brit. Crit. vol. iv. p. 313..

P. 17

P. 17. « Save O Lord, from any further facrifice, the creatures of thine own image, and the price of thy redemption "

At p. 19, Doctor Barry is kind enough to point out to his Majesty's loyal fubjects, that their favorite tune of "God fave the king," is but a very fong," dedicated to the praife of him who wears an earthly crown, and that their "up-rifings," to join in "this tuneful adoration, is paying idolatry at the fhrine of fellow man." It will not do the Doctor much credit to have it known, that he is fo totally unacquainted with the purport and fpirit of this popular tune. Yet had he been as converfant in it, as we truft ninety-nine out of every hundred of his majefties fubjects are, he would have discovered that it is no less than a prayer to the Almighty, in behalf of that perfonage whom he fuppofes it to adore. The difcontent manifested in the fermon, and the invidious though cautious infinuations it contains against the higher orders of men, lead us to fuppofe that the author confiders his own merit as unjustly flighted by the higher powers. He is, we understand, a Doctor of phyfick of the University of Aberdeen, and received ordination from the hands of the Bishop of Sodor and Man.

ART. 27. Mr. Weft's Annual Charity Sermon, preached at St. Mary's, Reading, Berks, on St. Thomas's Day, Sunday, Dec. 21, 1794. To which is added, An Account of the Reading Girl's Charity School: with a Lift of the principal Benefactions and prefent Annual Subfcriptions, &c. &c. By Charles Sturges, M. A. Vicar of St. Mary's, Reading, and Treasurer of the School. Reading: printed and fold for the Benefit of the Girl's Charity School, by Smart and Cowflade. 8vo. IS. 1795.

It is with great pleafure that we fee a well-regulated inftitution of local charity, brought forward with fuch advantage to public notice. Mr. Sturges, after fome well-urged reflections on Chriftian benevolence, in a Difcourfe on Matthew, ch. xxi. v. 28. furnishes us with an account of a very important fchool at Reading, for the education of poor girls chofen from the three parishes of that town; who are prepared, by judicious inftruction in the principles of Chriftianity, to become ufeful members of fociety in the humble but important ranks of life. The moft proper measures and regulations are eftablished for the training up of eighteen girls (the number of which the fchool now confifts, and which at Lady-day will be increafed to 21) with proper qualifications to be bound apprentices to creditable. and reputable houfekeepers, in or out of the borough of Reading, as domeftic fervants, or to learn a trade for the fpace of four or five years, five pounds being allowed from the charity for their clothing. A bible, a prayer book, and one or two ufeful works being alfo furnished.

The reflections of Mr. Sturges, which are ftated in earnest and unaffected language, are extremely deferving of attention, as are the regulations of the fchool recommended to our notice. We have before had occafion to commend a difcourfe of this refpectable Clergyman *, published at a very feasonable time, and we hope that his .commendations and illuftrations of Chriftian charity may meet with the attention that they merit.

* Vol. I. P. 108.

ART.