which are in a great measure attributable to the want of tone in their fibre, will be almost unknown; that as the fracture of limbs, Like the rupture of blood,veffels, is more owing to the fate of the body than the fhock encountered, they will be infinitely lefs liable to fuch diftreffing accidents; that their inftability, and confequently, their objurgatory propenfities will gradually fubfide, that they will become not only more robust but more beautiful; that their carriage will be erect, their fep firm; that their developement at a critical period of youth, the prematurity of which has been confidered an evil, will be retarded; that above all the danger of being deprived of them will in every way diminish; while by thefe light repas their hilarity will be augmented, and their intellects cleared” (a fine clearance thefe light repafts" have made in the author's intellects!) "in a degree which shall aftonishingly illuftrate the delightful effects of this regimen !!!??

"Would heart of man once think it." Hamlet.

ART. 24. A Differtation on Retroversion of the Womb, including Jame Obfervations on Extra-uterine Geftation. By Samuel Merriman, M. D. Phyfician and Man-Midwife to the Westminster General Difpenfary, and to the Middlefex Hofpital. 8vo. 80 pp. 38. Callow. 1810.

This little pamphlet will be found a valuable acquisition to the library of the midwife, as it records interefting cafes and obfer. vations relating to a fubject on which little has been faid..

The opinion as to extra. uterine geftation, which has had its advocates, namely, that "where the nourishment and maturation of the fetus has been fuppofed to be effected in a receptacle feparate and apart from the uterus and the uterine fyftem," is an idea which this author combats, and we think with fuccefs.

Some ufeful obfervations are thrown out relative to retrover fion of the uterus producing retention of the urine. It is properly recommended, that no more than twelve or fourteen hours be fuffered to elapfe before the introduction of the catheter.

DIVINITY.

ART. 25. A Sermon preached April 28, 29, and 30, 1812, at the Vifitation of the Rev. the Archdeacon of Berkshire. By the Rev. Arthur Onflow, D. D. Dean of Worcester, and Archdeacon of : Berkshire. 8vo. 18 pp. 18. Worcester, printed; Reading, Cowflade; London, Rivingtons, &c.

"That the foul be without knowledge, it is not good This is the principal part of the text, and the Sermon is confe

quently employed very principally in explaining the neceffity of diffufing, as much as poffible, falutary inftruction.

The difcourfe is ftrongly characterized by moderation and good temper, but is not the lefs forcible in argument Without cenfuring any other plans, Dr. Onflow powerfully recommends the extenfion of thofe fchools which are founded on the principles of the Establishment.

"For this falutary purpofe," he fays, "and for other advantages which will be likely to accrue, it is to be wifhed that the estabJifhment of NATIONAL SCHOOLS fhould become as univerfal as poffible, that the children of every village may be enriched with the trea fures of facred knowledge. In cities and populous towns the new fyftem of education on the principles of the Church of England will prove highly beneficial. In fmaller parishes, though the numbers may not be fufficient to give full effect to the plan, yet it may be adopted in fchools already established. It facili tates and leffens the labour of teaching.

"We fhould give every fupport to these falutary inftitutions; we should not only render them objects of our attention, but recommend them to the notice and confideration of our parishioners where they are already established; and where they are not, we fhould take every opportunity of promoting fimilar inftitutions. We mean no hoftility to any defcription of perfons. We interfere not with their fyftems of education; we wish to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace *. But as Minifters of Chrift's Gofpel, it is our duty to promote the pious education of children, whilft as Minifters of the Eftablishment we should cause them to imbibe early the found doctrines of our Church. It is effentially neceffary. We are creatures of habit. 'Pious habits early introduced will be likely to remain; fpiritual wifdom implanted within us will abide; whilft the rifing generation, being attached from their infancy to the doctrines, ordinances, and difcipline of the National Church, will not be fo eafily carried away by every wind of doctrine, or liften to the enthusiasm of felf. created and unordained teachers." P. 14.

This Sermon was particularly well-timed, as the different diftricts of Berks were at the period of its delivery bufily employed in establishing focieties for the very purpofe here recommended. That at Reading, we understand, is formed; and thofe of New bury and Wallingford are expected immediately to follow the ex ample.

ART. 26. Remarks on an important Paffage, (viz. Matth. xvi. 18.). which has long been perverted by the Church of Rome, in Support of her vain and baueful Pretenfions to a Superiority or fu preme Dominion over all other Epifcopal Churches. By Granville Sharp. 12mo. 27 PP. 2s. Rivingtons, &c. 1812. The name of Granville Sharp ought always to command at.

tention. Our attention it cannot fail to obtain, fince it excites at once in our minds the idea of every thing that is excellent in character, acute in refearch, found and pious in doctrine. Even the smallest publications of this author are never unimportant.

That the Romish hierarchy has founded its pretenfions to dominion chiefly on the text mentiored in the title is well known; and not lefs fo, in this country, that thofe pretenfions, in all their forms, have been folidly refuted by Proteftant writers of various kinds. Mr Sharp, however, calls the attention of his readers. to a point, which has certainly been too much overlooked, namely, that Пalpos, Peter, does not mean a rock, as it has been incautiously tranflated, but a flone. Chrift is the Rock (pa), Peter (poc) is only a little piece of a rock, or a fane, that has been dug out of the rock. Thus is the dignity of Chrift preferved, and Peter properly kept at a due diftance from him. The paffage therefore truly means, "Thou art Peter (or Cephas, both meaning aftone,) a fragment from that facred rock on which I will build my Church. The diftinction is clearly made in the original text, "Thou art Petros, and upon this Petras, (namely, this ROCK, which thou haft confeffed,) will I build my Church.”

Mr. Sharp produces the biblical expreffions in which our Savi our is mentioned as A ROCK or a CHIEF STONE, and commenta upon them with fagacity and judgment. He remarks also, more clearly than we can do in this contracted space, the connection be. tween the words of Peter's confeffion and our Saviour's imme. diate reply to it; and in what manner it actually excludes the fenfe which has been forced upon it by the Church of Rome. The tract, though fhort, is highly deferving of being read and carefully

confidered.

ART. 27. Sermons for Family Reading, abridged from the Works of eminent Divines. By the late Mrs. Trimmer. 12mo. 345 PP. 6s. Hatchard and Rivingtons. 1811.

The following fhort advertisement tells the ftory of the pub. lication, as well perhaps as it can be told, certainly as well as it requires.

This volume of fermons was printed during the life-time of Mrs. Trimmer, and would have been fubmitted to the public laft month, had not the hand of death put a stop to her intentions. It was her defign to have published it without her name, the fermons being only felected and abridged from the works of others; but it is prefumed, that thofe who have hither: o fhown fo much indul. gence to MRS. TRIMMER, will not be displeased to know that the preparing [of] this little book for the prefs, was one of the last of her literary occupations."

This advertisement is dated January 17, 1811. The difcourfes

are fifteen in number, of which we will just recite the subjects and the authors. 1. On the Advantages of Religion, from Dr. Barrow. 2. The Reward promised to the Righteous, a Gift of Mercy. Bp. Bull. 3. On the danger of forfeiting the eternal Reft promised to the Faithful. Arbp. Wake. 4 On the Power of Divine Grace to ftrengthen human Infirmity. Kettlewell. 5. On our Saviour's Injunction to become as little Children. Bragge. 6. On proper Behaviour in the House of God. Bp. Atterbury. 7. On Sins of Infirmity, and prefumptuous Sin. Waterland. On proper Behaviour in a State of Profperity. Bp. Bull. 9. On proper Behaviour in Time of Adverfity. Bp. Bull. 10. On peaceable Behaviour. Waterland. 11. On the Parable of the Sower. Wheatley. 12. The Wifdom of true Simplicity of Mind, and Integrity of Character. Waterland. 13. On the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Dr. A. Gray, from his Differ tations. 14. How to learn Spiritual Wifdom from the Worldly.: minded. Kettlewell. 15. On the Miniftry of Angels. Wheatley.

8.

Mrs. T.fays, that she was led to undertake this task by the confideration that fome of the difcourfes of learned Divines of former times have fallen into difufe, merely from their length. She was de firous alfo to encourage families in the practice of reading fermons together. She fpeaks of her own tafk with diffidence; but there' can be no doubt that it was one which she was fully competent to execute, with judgment and ability.

ART. 28. Five practical Sermons, on the Univerfal Prefence of God, the Manner of Christ's Teaching, Repentance, Private Prayer, and Religious Induftry, with two Sets of Family Prayers, taken chiefly from the Liturgy. 8vo. 63 pp. IS. or 9s. a dozen. Newark, printed; London, Johnfon and Co. 1810. This is the third fet of the fame kind which, we have feen, the first of four fermons, and the fecond of fix, and it seems that there are others of 3, 7 and 8 fermons, all felected or abridged from various authors. Thefe cheap and periodical publications of found divinity, accompanied by felections of prayers from our excellent Liturgy, cannot be too much commended. They put good inftruction within the reach of almost all purchafers; and we hear tily hope that they will have an extenfive circulation.

The Difcourfes in the fet now before us, are taken from Hugh Blair, Dr. J. Leland, C. Peter, S. Bourn, J. Balguy, with an extract from a Sermon by Dr. Leland, on Trufting in God." With two of these authors, C. Peter, and S. Bourn, we had little previous acquaintance, but we are fatisfied that nothing is here. taken from their writings but what is pious, found, and excellent. Whoever the perfon may be who makes thefe felections, though he is fo modeft as to withhold his name, we have no fcruple to pronounce him a friend, and a judicious friend, to the Church and to Religion.

U u

BRIT. CRIT, VOL. XXXIX. JUNE, 1812.

ART.

ART. 29. A Difcourfe preached at Bishopwearmouth Church, on Sunday, May 17th, 1812, with Reference to the Affaffination of the Right Hon. Spencer Perceval, firft Commifier of His Ma. jefty's Treasury, and Chancellor of the Exchequer; published at the Requeft of the Inhabitants of Bishopavearmouth, Sunderland, and Menk wearmouth: expreffed at the Meeting, helden on the 18th, •for the Purpofe of confidering the Propriety of addreing his Royal Highnes the Prince Regent, upon that deplorable Event. By Robert Gray, D. D. Reder of Bishopswear mouth, and Prebendary of Durham, and of Chichefter. Sunderland, printed. Reed.

1

1812.

This is precifely the fort of Difcourse which reasonably might have been expected from Dr. Gray, on fo momentous and awful an occafion,found, judicious, and impreffive. It exhibits a re markably juft and well drawn character of the ever to be las mented Mr. Perceval, and it takes occafion from his foul and atrocious murder to warn the auditory of the peculiar and alarming fituation of the times. The following femtence cannot be too folemnly revolved in every Englishman's mind.

“This however is but one, among many calls upon our reflec tion at an eventful crifis, one, among many fubjects of awful confideration in the prefent day..

"He who directs the difpenfations of the world, has recently warned us, by many indications of his difpleafure at fearful pe riods; he has bereaved us of the prefence of our beloved Sovereign he has deprived us prematurely, of fucceffive Statesmen, whofe talents feemed equal to the emergencies of the times in which they lived, and of Commanders, whofe deaths have been dearly bought by fignal victories; he has fubjected us to a failure of fome of the fources of profperity, and to a diminution of the fupplies of plenty; nevertheless he has holden out the means of conciliating his re newed favour, and feemed to countenance many measures of be neficial operation.

"Our exertions abroad in favor of oppreffed nations, have in fome inftances profpered, and our efforts and inftitutions at home for benevolent purposes, have been favored with the warmeft fupport, and the happieft fuccefs.

A new fyftem of education facilitates rapidly the instruction of the general claffes of fociety; and must contribute to correct their depravity, fometimes carried to the moft lamentable exceffes.

"Typographical improvements of no inconfiderable importance aflift in multiplying with advantage the copies of the fcriptures, while our extended poifeffions and enlarged communications with remote countries, favor our endeavours for the converfion of unenlightened nations, and open the way for the diffusion of the Gofpel more generally than at any period fince its firft promul gation. There is therefore abundant fubject for penitent reflec