THE BRITISH CRITIC, FOR JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, M DCC XCIX. Non refert quam multos libros, fed quam bonos habeas. SENECA. VOLUME XIV. London: PRINTED, FOR F. AND C. RIVINGTON, NO. 62, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD. 1799. PRINTED BY T, ROCKABY, PETERBOROUGH COURT, FLEET-STREET, PREFACE. "IT T matters not," fays Seneca, "how many books you have, but how good they are*." We are clearly of the fame opinion, and therefore make a regular felection for our readers; from which, if they felect again, according to their various purposes, the advice of the old Stoic will be fufficiently obferved in their purchases: their fhelves will not be loaded by number, but graced by value; and, for the chafms left upon them, it would be better that they fhould be filled for a time by the carpenter, than too precipitately supplied by the dealers in paper and ink. DIVINITY. If an aufpicious beginning were, in truth, as important as it was efteemed by the ancient world, we hould felicitate ourfelves on being able to open our prefent Preface with the mention of a work fo ufeful, and in all refpects fo valuable, as the Elements of Chriftian Theology, lately published by the Bishop of Lincoln. To the ftudent in Divinity it offers that clear and right introduction, which will throw a light on all his future labours; and as every member of the Church of England is, or ought to be, in fome degree a ftudent of that kind, it ftands ready as a faithful * See the motto to the prefent volume. + No. V. p. 465; VI. p. 610. guide |