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But for what specific purposes is parental power and authority to be ex erted? Not to take away the lives of children. Not to deprive them of their limbs. Not to restrain the operations of conscience. No: but to keep them from sin. Eli had a power; but his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. Joshua had a power in his family, and exert ed it with propriety: "As for me, and my house, we will serve the Lord." Take Abraham for an example also. "I know him," said God, "that he will command his children, and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord."

That the preacher's second proposition, as he explains it, is fully consistent with the fact of human depravity, appears to us unquestionable; and the source of the mischief we conceive to be, very frequently, the abuse of another fundamental truth-the necessity of divine influence. With this doctrine, however, the sacred scriptures enforce the duty and utility of employing means; what God hath joined, let no man put asunder. But we must refer the reader to Mr. Tyerman.

The second sermon is derived from the well known apoph thegm, 1 Cor. xv. 33. Mr. T. considers what may be called good manners, as that which will endure the test of public opinion, and the scrutiny of the Omniscient Judge; he then largely illustrates the truth affirmed, and cautions the young against the delusions which they are apt to indulge, respecting this practical maxim. Every young man, especially, should read this sermon. We are sorry that we can only insert one of the cautions, as a specimen of the style, which, though not immaculate, is manly, and perspicuous.

• You hope that the evils arising from bad company are not so dreadful as we would have you to believe.-Be not deceived; it will certainly tend to the corruption of your manners. And is it not truly awful to have your manners corrupted? In this is comprehended a loss of all good principles, a relinquishment of all religious profession, and a dereliction of all genuine morality. But without principle, religion, and morality-what are ye? but monsters in human shape; a mass of misery. Without these, where are ye? in the depths of disgrace; under the curse of a just God; on the brink of perdition; almost within the reach of the worm which dieth not, and the fire that is never quenched. Without these, how are ye? brands prepared for the everlasting burnings; as wretched as ye can be out of hell; without God, and without hope in the world! Yet do ye say there is no danger? In evil society ye are taught, that your precious souls are of little moment; that sin is a trifling thing; that religion is a most frightful object; that the word of God is a mere imposition; that Jesus Christ, the only Saviour, is unworthy your love or esteem; that God either is not, or if he exist, that he is altogether such an one as yourself; that heaven is a fiction; that hell is a dream; that with time all you are shall expire; and that eternity, and a day of judgment are only found in the creeds and imaginations of idiots and fanatics? yet do ye say there is no danger? when your bodies, your souls, your happiness, your reputation are all at stake? "Be not deceived; God is not mocked; whatsoever a man soweth, that

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shall he also reap; he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; and he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life ever. lasting."

We are sorry to learn from Mr. T. that the increasing corruption of manners in the island where he resides, rendered the earnestness of his exhortations particularly applicable.

Art. XIX. Real Religion, the sure Foundation of Personal Dignity and National Glory. A Sermon Preached at Broad Street Chapel, Lynn, Feb. 25, 1807; being the Day appointed for a General Fast. Ey Isaac Allen. pp. 21. Price 1s. Baynes. 1807.

MR. Allen's short, but serious, sermon is founded on Prov.

xiv. 34. Righteousness exalleth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. He explains the manner in which sin degrades, and in which religion dignifies, and the means by which one may be escaped and the other possessed. Instead of entering into a larger abstract of his discourse, we select a paragraph from it.

The true dignity of an individual and a nation is effected by the doctrines of christianity. The preaching of the gospel in its pure and unadulterated form, has been productive of the most salutary change in the manners and habits of mankind; by it, those who were once the most ignorant of God and divine things, have been made wise unto salvation. The most hardened have been brought to feel compunction of spirit; the most obstinate and incorrigible, have been reclaimed to a sense of duty; the most ferocious and turbulent have, by its meliorating influences, been rendered mild and gentle as the dove; the most wretched and miserable have been blest with angelic happiness. Thus the word of God has been like a hammer, breaking the rock in pieces; like a refreshing stream, mak ing glad the city of God.'

Art. XX. The Affairs of Asia considered in their effects on the Liberties of Britain, in a series of Letters addressed to the Marquis Wellesley, late Governor-general of India; Including a Correspondence with the Government of Bengal, under that Nobleman, and a narrative of transactions involving the annihilation of the personal freedom of the subject, and the extinction of the liberty of the press in India: with the Marquis's Edict for the regulation of the Press. By Charles Maclean, M. D. 8vo. pp. 172. Price 5s. Quick. 1806. DR. Maclean wishes us to believe that the riches acquired by the Com

pany's servants in India, may be and are employed in corrupting the administration of our affairs, and in subverting our liberties. He complains that the Governor-general (Marquis Wellesley) exerted his power in sending him to England, as a punishment for commenting in a public newspaper on the misconduct of a magistrate in the interior of the country. He also furnishes the regulations which he says the Marquis issued for the regulation of the press; these appear to be chiefly, that no newspaper should be published till it should have been previously inspected by the Secretary to the Government or his deputy-and that the secretary should

prevent the publication of any remarks on the funds, credit, army, navy, officers, and foreign relations of the company, all private scandal, and all extracts from European papers, tending to affect the influence and credit of the British power with the native states-all this to be observed on pain of transportation to England. How far these restraints on the press were justified by the state of india, is one of the many questions relative to the noble Marquis's administration, which the public has a right to ask, and is not very likely to have answered. According to Dr. M.'s statement, he has reason to complain of Lord Wellesley; but his attachment to political liberty, the freedom of the press, and the natural rights of the subject, abstractly seems, even on his own testimony, to have formed his character for the climate of Britain rather than of Bengal. It is not fair to judge the conduct of an Oriental Viceroy, by the principles of Blackstone's Com,

mentaries.

XXI. The Child's Monitor; or Parental Instruction; in five Parts Containing a great variety of Progressive Lersons, adapted to the comprehension of children; and calculated to instruct them in reading, in the use of stops, in spelling, and in dividing words into proper syllables; &c. &c. &c. By John Hornsey, (Scarborough) Author of a short Grammar of the English Language, and an Introduction to Arithmetic. 8vo. pp. 240. Price 3s. 6d. bound. Longman and Co. 1807. Art. XXII. The Book of Monosyllables; or an Introduction to the Child's Monitor; adapted to the capacities of Young Children; in two Parts, calculated to instruct them by familiar gradations in the first principles of education and morality. By John Hornsey. 12mo. pp. 184. Price 1s. 6d. Longman and Co.

BOTH the design and the execution of these elementary works, are intitled to our commendation. The subjects selected for the improve ment of the young pupils in reading, are adapted at the same time to instruct them in the principles of grammar, natural history, morals, &c; the care which has been taken invariably to suit the inexperience and feeble intellect of children, both in respect of subjects, and division of syllables, is such as might be expected from a person who has honourably employed thirty years of his life in the important duties of tuition. The author takes frequent occasion to recommend gentleness, diligence, and docility, and also to instil just notions of religious truth.

Art. XXIII. A New Clear, and Concise Vindication of the Holy Scrip tures; in an Affectionate Address to the Deists: adapted likewise to the Use of Practical Unbelievers, Doubtful and Uninformed Christians. and all Others, Concerned in the Glorious, Common, Fundamental Cause of Divine Revelation. By George Nicholson. 8vo. pp. 79. Price 1s. Rivingtons, 1806.

THE

HE author of this serious and well meant pamphlet, we apprehend, has mistaken the nature of his own powers, and misapplied them. With us, a writer's worthiness of intention is a plea which, we hope, will always preserve any weakness in his execution from ungenerous severity of reproof; but this certainly is not the prevailing disposition of the persons whom Mr. Nicholson addresses. It is not for us to decide that there are

no persons, to whom such a vindication may appear satisfactory; but we frankly own that its merits do not, in our esteem, intitle it to general recommendation.

The appendix contains many useful and patriotic admonitions against the indulgence of a discontented, cavilling, and ill-affected spirit. With a few alterations, this would deserve a separate publication, and might, in some instances, be extensively beneficial.

Art. XXIV. Poems, &c. by William Lane. 8vo. pp. 114. Price 3s. Matthews. 1806.

MANY a conqueror has been unable to write, or even to read, his own dispatches. Many a mechanic and merchant has risen to opulence and civic honours, with little help from education. Self-taught mathematicians and astronomers are not uncommon. The fane of the muses, alone, seems to be inscribed with a prohibition to the access of unlettered genius. A Burns, and a Bloomfield, indeed, like the knights errant of ancient days, have broken the spell, and atchieved apparent impossibilities. Hundreds of adventurers had failed in the attempt before them; and hundreds probably will fail, before a similar experiment is again crowned with success. The unlettered bard, a part of whose performances claim our present attention, assumes the posture of supplication, not of defiance. His pretensions are humble, but they are not contemptible. Poverty has taught him to bend, and piety has rendered him contented.

In the important respects of religious principle and moral sentiment, these poems, and several preceding performances by the same author, are preferable to many that are adorned with elegance and learning. His narratives of Ruth and David are sequels of pieces that appeared in a similar pamphlet printed in 1798. We have seen, also, two prior publications from his hand. All of them are harmless, and most are of a profitable tendency. We have been assured that his conduct is consistent with his profession; and that he, and his family, have suffered severely, not from idleness or extravagance, but from disease and misfortune. To all, there fore, who are, both in the critical and the practical sense of the term, charitably disposed, we confidently recommend the poor bard and his modest muse.

Art. XXV. Wine and Milk for thirsting Souls. Three Sermons, by the Rev. Henry Bruiningk. Translated from the German. 12mo. PP. 46. Price 18. Hatchard. 1807.

WE a

are informed by the translator of these sermons, that they were preached at a village in Silesia, by the regular minister of the place, from which he was then about to remove to another station. It is well known to be unusual in any country but our own, for Ministers to read sermons to their congregations; and it appears, that Mr. B. was not accustomed even to written composition. One of his congregation, who was strongly attached to his ministry, took down the last three discourses which he preached to them, as they were delivered. They are now (says the Translator) given to the English public, not as specimens of good com position, but as containing the most essential truths of the Gospel, delivered in an artless manner, and with such energy as plainly proves that the preacher was interested, both in the message he delivered, and in its eventual success with his hearers."

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To this character, the discourses perfectly agree. Each of them is founded on a portion of the Gospels, appointed by the Lutheran church to be read on the day in which the sermon was preached: yet it is not an exposition of the whole passage, but of the leading fact contained in it, as it refers to the salvation of sinners. This is treated in a spiritual, fervent, and familiar manner; well adapted to reach the understanding, to engage the attention, and to draw forth the affections, of the plainest hearer. We

doubt not, that serious Christians in our country, will derive pleasure and benefit from these effusions of a pious and zealous mind; notwithstanding the different modes which characterize the German and English pulpits. This distinction, indeed, may justly recommend the work to persons, who wish, by viewing Christianity in the different garbs which it assumes in various countries, to form an enlarged and just idea of its nature.

The language is more correct and easy than in most translations from the German; and, having seen the original sermons, we can bear testimony to the accuracy of the interpretation.

Art. XXVI. A Descriptive Tour to the Lakes of Cumberland and Westmorland, in the Autumn of 1804. pp. 186. Price 4s. Ostell, 1806. OUR anonymous author, very prudently as he might think it, published

this tour in a Magazine, in order to feel the pulse of the public. Finding it beat tolerably high with temporary satisfaction, he thought the emotion was that of expectation, and resolved to enable his work to obtain more extended circulation, by printing it in a separate form, than it could meet with between the covers of a Magazine.

We wish he may not smart for his presumption. He is not deficient in mind, and some of his descriptions are well written; but we believe it is often more profitable to send a gratuitous article to a periodical work, than to publish it separately.

We were sorry the author could not express his surprize at a circle of fifty stones, near Penrith, without quoting a scrap of profaneness, and that he has no clearer notions of the nature of moral evil, than to represent drunken revelry among the Blawick miners, as

A spot of azure in a cloudy sky.

Art. XXVII. The Belgian Traveller: or a Tour through Holland, France, and Switzerland, during the Years 1804, and 1805; in a Series of Letters from a Nobleman, to a Minister of State. Edited by the Au thor of the Revolutionary Plutarch. 4 vols. 12mo. pp. 1100. Price 16s. Egerton, 1806.

PHOSE who have read the Revolutionary Plutarch with avidity and cre

dulity, may read these very amusing volumes with similar feelings. Fersons, especially, who wish to believe all the mischief they can of the present state of France, should read them through; they are quite as Hue, as modern novels; and considerably more interesting. They profess to describe the enormous oppressions of a military despotism, and we are well assured that some of the affecting tales are unvarnished facts. But that more than one tenth is true, that any such nobleman ever travelled, and wrote, and conversed with Talleyrand, &c. &c. credat Judeus Apella,

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