THE BRITISH CRITIC, A NEW REVIEW, FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL M DCC XCVIII. Caufa jubet melior Superos fperare fecundos. LUCAN. = VOLUME XI. London: PRINTED FOR F. AND C. RIVINGTON, PREFACE. THO HOUGH we would not arrogate too much to ourselves, we cannot but compare our halfyearly recapitulations, in fome degree, to the Tables of Fame propofed by the Tatler*, to which we invite fuch perfons as feem moft worthy to be admitted, for their wisdom, learning, eloquence, fagacity, inventive powers, or other useful accomplishments. Our femeftral tables are not indeed fo very select as thofe proposed by Ifaac Bickerftaff, because our object is to feed the living, not to clais the dead; and to exclude a living author from a banquet is no trifle. It ought to be very clear that he is by fome circumftance or other difqualified, before fo ftrong a ftep is taken. Be it known then, that we confider a book, an edition of a book, or even a finall pamphlet, as a ticket to our tables; unlefs it fhall appear on the face of the production itself, that the author is either ignorant of his fubject, dull, or abfurd, defirous of exciting any bad or malignant paffion in his readers, or, above all, an enemy to Religion. Some of the firft of thefe claffes are of courfe excluded, as not belonging to the defcription of perfons for whom our viands are prepared; the reft we doubt not would feel as uneafy at being mixed with our friends, as the latter would feel indignant at the introduction of fuch interlopers. Having premifed thus much, we proceed to open our tables, arranging our guests according to the tendency of their refpective ftudies. Tatler, No. 67, 81, &, BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XI, a DIVINITY, DIVINITY. When a man like Mr. Bryant takes up the pen in defence of any Chriftian doctrine, it is ftrange that we fhould have occafion to hesitate about giving his book a place in this recital. Yet fuch is the mixed nature of his Effay on Philo Judæus*, that, conceiving it more likely, on the whole, to do harm than good, we were compelled by our fenfe of duty to oppose it; and, for the fame reafon, felt the hesitation we 'have mentioned. It defends, indeed, the Scriptural Doctrine of the Trinity; but it defends it partly on falfe grounds, and introduces an hypothefis which, if admitted, would fubvert one of the best and foundest books we have; Dr. Allix's Judgment of the Jewish Church. We are convinced that Dr. Allix and Mr. Whitaker have taken the right ground, and Mr. Bryant the wrong. Yet this latter author is greatly mistaken, if he fuppofes us actuated by any hoftility to him, or defirous, in the smallest degree, to wound his perfonal feelingst. We can diftinguish between the man and the book; but it is feldom that the author can. Whoever attacks his opinions is thought to attack him, and this we find perpetually. So very important a fubject, as the Infpiration of the Holy Scriptures, we were much pleafed to fee treated by Mr. Parry, in an Effay which we noticed in our first number, with great judgment, precifion, and clearnefs of argument: nor could the supplementary obfervations of Mr. Padman against Paine§ be unwelcome, even to thofe who had digefted and admired the arguments of Bishop Watfon. Mr. Tatterfall's * No. I. p. 13; II. 140. + We heard with furprise, well as pain, that a metaphorical expreffion, concerning indiftinét vifion, had been fuppofed by the venerable writer to allude to an infirmity of that old-age, which, united with worth and talents, is fo truly refpectable. We disclaim and abhor the idea. No. I. p. 79. No. I. p. 39. fplendid plendid though unpublished edition of Merrick's Pfalms, was mentioned in the fame number*. For the excellence of the verfion, and of the editor's intentions, we can equally anfwer; the reft we leave, of course, to thofe whofe office it is to regulate fuch matters. A volume of Sermons, by the Rev. J. Clowest, which is the second he has published, deferves alfo to be mentioned. A very meritorious precifion of ideas and expreffion diftinguishes the Four Effays of Mr. Ludlamt, on the ordinary and extraordinary operations of the Holy Spirit; a fubject wherein precife ideas are very important, to guard against the oppofite errors of scepticism and enthufiafm. This fervice the Effays of Mr. Ludlam are well calculated to render; and the controverfial part of them is written with fpirit and acuteness. It will readily be fuppofed that, in thefe times, a treatise which afferts the apoftolical inftitution of epifcopacy, and the danger of fchifm, will meet with many oppofers. Hence is it, that Mr. Daubeny's book, which he has entitled, a Guide to the Church, has produced already two or three anfwers. We fhall of course have to estimate the objections which have been brought against it. before we fit down to this task, we can clearly affert, that it is written in general conformity to the prin ciples of the Church of England, and therefore, though liable to encounter the fame hoftilities, cannot be denied its proportion of the fame praises. Dr. Bell, though late called up to our table, will, we truft, accept of an honourable inftead of an early place at it. His Enquiry into the Divine Million of John the Baptift and Jefus Chrift, certainly entitles him to be an affeffor with the venerable defenders of our religion. Yet, We have nothing further to remark in this class, except a few detached difcourfes of peculiar excel Two cheap and convenient editions of this work + No. I. p. 8o. No. VI. p. 616. No. I. p. 64. are fold at Rivington's, Hatchard's, &c. ‡ No. IV. p. 400. No. V. p. 549. P 22 lence. |