this kind of authority is admitted, who can fay to what extent it may reach,-if there is but the power?

The editor has corrected and abridged the work, and added to it occafional notes, together with an index particularly relative to Britifh or Welsh words, and alfo a preface containing fome account of the author. He obferves that the dialogues were not originally compofed, and are not now publifhed, to folicit applaufe, but to promote the most substantial interefts of mankind; the low and illiterate not excepted. To the improvement of the latter, he fays, this familiar treatife has a peculiar refpect: and to this, we apprehend, it may contribute-except in fuch cafes as that we have mentioned before, and which, in our view, have a tendency to promote a narrow, bigotted, and uncharitable fpirit.

Art. 74. Sermons on various Subjects. Publifhed for the Benefit of the General Hofpital in Bath. By the Rev. Lancelot St. Albyn, A. M. Rector of Paracombe, Devon, &c. 8vo. 5s. Boards. Robinsons.

The contents of this volume are as follows; I. The nature of truth, John xviii. 38. II. Duties arifing from the knowlege of the true God, 1 Kings xviii. 39. III. Interested motives allowable in religion, Job i. 9. IV. Bleffed nefs of faith, John xx. 29. V. Union between' moral and pofitive duties, Matth. xxiii. 23. VI. Happiness of felt approbation, Rom. xiv. 22. VII. Danger of felfjuftification, Luke x. 29. VIII. The rich ruler, Luke xviii. 23. IX. Peter's repentance, Matth. xxvi. 75. X. Jofeph's advice to his brethren, Gen. xlv. 24. XI. Mofes's teft of his divine commiffion a vifitation fermon, Numb. xvi. 29. XII. Chrift crucified, the power of God, and the wifdom of God, 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. XIII. Analogy between the Jewish-paffover and the Lord's fupper, Exod. xii. 26. XIV. Shortnefs and mifery of human life, Gen. xlvii. 9. XV. Patience of Job, fupported by the hope of a refurrection. Job xiv. 14.

The immediate defign with which thefe fermons are made public, would fufficiently forbid any obfervations that might retard their fale, were we difpofed to make them. They were not written, the author fays, with even the moft diftant thought of being ever fubmitted to the public eye: but feparate from the laudable purpofe of affifting an useful charity, the difcourfes themfelves are, in general, well written, edifying, and perfuafive. We might perhaps object to fome paffages; but, on the whole, we think thefe difcourfes justly entitled to our approbation, as compofitions well calculated for general utility.

Art. 75.

Sermons on evangelical and practical Subje&s. By the late Rev. Thomas Gibbons, D. D. in three Vols. 8vo. 12s. Boards. Buckland. 1787.

Those who have had any acquaintance with Dr. Gibbons, will expect that these difcourfes fhould be guided by a fyftem, and that fyftem Calviniftic. Such they will be found, as to the doctrinal part, but it fhould alfo be faid, that they are directed to a practical purpofe, and tend to form the heart to piety and goodness. The ftyle is plain, and, on the whole, properly adapted to the pulpit. If the

fermons

fermons are not diftinguished by depth of thought or ftrength of reasoning, they are often pathetic, affectionate, and perfuafive. Though fcriptural, they are not critical; but rather take texts in a popular fenfe, without regarding that different and real meaning which farther attention might affign; they are not, however, without the appearance of being produced by a man of fome tafte and learning; fuch as the author was known to poffefs. Fourteen difcourfes in the firft volume are from Titus iii. iv. v. vi. vii. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour, &c. XV. Early acquaintance with the fcriptures: 2 Tim. iii. 15. And that from a child, &c. XVI. Returning to the Lord. Jer. 1. 4, 5. In those days, and at that time, faith the Lord, &c. XVII. John xv. 8. Herein is my father glorified that ye bear much fruit, &c. Vol. 2nd. XVIII. Univerfal holiness. 1 Cor. xv. 58. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye ftedfaft, &c. XIX. Human life fhort and uncertain. James iv. 14. XX. A crucified Saviour. John xii. 32. And if I be lifted up, &c. XXI. The Lord's fupper. I Cor. xi. 24.

XXII. A chriftian church. 1 Cor. i. 2. Unto the church, &c. XXIII, XXIV. Spiritual bleffings. Isaiah xii. 3. XXV. The fcape goat. Levit. xvi. 21, 22. And Aaron fhall lay both hands, &c. XXVI, XXVII. Divine condefcenfion. Ifaiah Ivii. 15. For thus faith the High and Lofty One, &c. XXVIII. Perfeverance. Phil. iii. 13, 14. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, &c. XXIX, XXX, XXXI. Benefits of godlinefs. 1 Tim. iv. 8. Godlinefs is, &c. Vol. 3d. XXXII. Unfeen things. XXXII. Unfeen things. 2 Cor. iv. 18. While we look not, &c. XXXIII, XXXIV. Family government. Gen. 18, 19. For I know him, that he will command, &c. XXXV, XXXVI. Bleffings of the gospel covenant. Ifa. xxv. 6, 7, 8. And in this mountain fhall the Lord of Hofts make unto all people a feast, &c. XXXVII. God all-fufficient. Ifaiah xl. 30, 31. Even the youths fhall faint, &c. XXXVIII, XXXIX. Putting on the Lord Jefus Chrift. Rom. xiii. 14. But put ye on, &c. XL. Rom. viii. 2. For the law of the spirit of life, &c. XLI. Triumph over death. 1 Cor. xv. 55. O death, where is thy fting?

We have only to add, that we confider Dr. Gibbons as a worthy and refpectable character, though we cannot always accord with his opinions, or admire his poetry.

Art. 76. The Christian Remembrancer; or fhort Reflections on the Faith, Life, and Conduct of a real Chriftian. 12mo. Is. 6d. fewed. Trapp. 1787.

A plain and Serious book, which may be ufeful to many readers. It is rather of the puritanical caft; but it meddles not with controverfy its language is, while others difpute, let me enjoy;' and in order to this, it aims at forming the heart to piety and goodness: and if this end is attained and advanced, the means of effecting it are a very fecondary confideration. We have thought fometimes, in Jooking into this little volume, of Thomas à Kempis, or Bishop Hall's Meditations. All we have farther to fay is, that the profits of the treatise are devoted to fome poor perfons.

8

Art.

Art. 77. A Letter to a Friend. 8vo. is. Bew. 1788. This writer aims fome heavy blows at national churches in general, and at the Church of England in particular. Five questions are propofed refpecting the latter, which are answered much to her difadvantage. The defence we leave to thofe concerned, only we remark, that as to fome points of doctrine the Author appears to accord with the thirty-nine articles; and farther, that he is a Baptift: Infant-baptifm is, in his view, the fruitful fource of all evil. However, he does not feem to diftinguish between the practice itself and the manner of its adminiftration.

Art. 78. A Blow at the Root of pretended Calvinifm, or real Antinomianifm. By John Hampion. 8vo. Is. Johnfon. 1788. By pretended Calvinism this writer means that which, under the fhew of attributing all to grace, deftroys the freedom of human actions, reduces man to a mere machine, and runs into the ftoical fatalifm. This (after Mr. Robertfon) he calls pretended, because it was not, he fays, the fyftem of Calvin, nor is it the system of the Scripture, which never fo ftates the doctrine of the fall, as to exculpate finners, nor ever fo fpeaks of divine influence, as to annihilate moral agency.' Whether he is himself a Calvinist we enquire not: he appears to be a man of thought and knowlege, and we apprehend of piety and candour. He gives a ftrange account of the rant of fome who are ranked as pretenders. The topics of predeftination or neceffity, liberty or free-will, are attended with great difficultieshappily for us, practical religion and moral duty are far more obvious. This pamphlet is farther intended as a defence of another which is called Free Thoughts on the Extent of the Death of Christ, and on the Doctrine of Reprobation.'

1. The Sign given to Abaz. A Difcourfe on Isaiah vii. 14, 15, 16. delivered in the Church of St. John, Devizes, at the triennial Vifitation of Shute Lord Bishop of Sarum, July 26, 1786. By Benjamin Blayney, B. D. Rector of Poulfhot, Wilts. To which is fubjoined, a propofed Emendation of a Paffage in a Differtation formerly published by the fame Author, on Dan. ix. ver. 20, &c. 4to. Is. Cadell.

The learned Author of this Difcourfe adopts the idea of Mr. Poftlethwaite (in his fermon on the fame text preached and printed at Cambridge in the year 1781*), that in the prophecy in question, the birth of Christ is not given as the fign to Ahaz of his approaching deliverance, but the deliverance itself is the fign held forth to confirm the certainty of the future extraordinary birth; and adds, as a farther illuftration, that the fubfequent prediction of the calamities which were coming upon Ahaz, were also intended as a fign of the fame event. He understands the words "butter and honey, &c." as denoting that the Meffiah would appear in a humble ftation, and be contented with the most ordinary food, and would felect good

* See Rev. vol. lxiv. p. 478.

men

men from the multitude to be members of his fpiritual kingdom. He renders the paffage thus: " Butter and honey fhall he eat when he fall know to refufe what is evil and chufe what is good." The difcourfe will be perufed with pleasure by those who are engaged in the critical ftudy of the Scriptures.

II. The Chriftian Paftor's Duty to teach the Divinity of Chrift with Difintereftedness and Charity. Preached at the Vifitation at Richmond, Yorkshire, May 30, 1787. Published at the Request of the Clergy. By the Rev. C. Francis, M. A. Rector of Wath. 4to. Is. Baldwin, &c.

A flight apology for orthodoxy, which, though neatly drawn up, goes very little farther than barely to fhew the Author's good in

tentions.

III. Preached August 22, 1787, at the Ordination of the Rev. John Love, Minister of the Gofpel at Crifpin-treet, Spitalfields. By the Rev. Thomas Rutledge. To which is added, the Charge, by the Rev. William Smith, A. M. Published at the Defire of the Congregation. 8vo. IS. Elliot and Co. 1787.

Mr. Rutledge gives a very fingular reafon for not fupplying the defects and rectifying the inaccuracies of this difcourfe, namely, that the doing fo would have made it, in fome measure, different from that which was delivered to the auditors, and which they defired to be printed.' The Public has certainly nothing to do with this apology: however, if it fatisfied the congregation to whom it was delivered, it may be fufficient; for it is not very probable that the defects of the publication will be perceived far beyond the precincts of Crifpin-street.

CORRESPONDENCE.

In answer to Curiofa's inquiry (mentioned in your entertaining Miscellany for May laft) concerning the Odes to the holy Mountains,' which you could not find out by your Index; I beg leave to inform her by the fame channel, that the poem fhe inquires after is mentioned in the Monthly Review for Auguft 1779 (vol. lxi. P. 93.), and is entitled, The Jewish Bard. In Four Odes to the Holy Mountains. By John Wheeldon, A. M. 4to. Is. Goldfmith.' I am,

Alnwick, July 18, 1788.

Gentlemen,

Your moft obedient Servant,

R. R.'

It is to be found in the General Index, under the Author's name. Vide letter W. in the class POETRY, &c.

** Mr. Shaw's letter, dated from Rochdale, August 21, 1787, was not received till within a few days paft.

↓*↓ Other Articles of CORRESPONDENCE will be found in our APPENDIX [published with this Number], page 670.

THE

MONTHLY REVIEW,

For AUGUST, 1788.

ART. I. Warton's Edition of Milton's Poems, &c. continued: See our laft Month's Review, p. 12.

M'

UCH will be found in Mr. Warton's notes, for which the admirers of the Miltonic Mufe will confider themfelves as indebted to this learned Editor, and which will contribute to convey his name to pofterity, united with that of our great poet. But notwithstanding the large portion of praise which we confefs is due to him for his long and learned attention to thefe Juvenile Poems; we cannot compliment him fo far as to fay we have read all his notes with approbation. We have obferved in this volume, what is too frequently met with in valuable and approved commentaries-explanations given where no explanations are neceffary, and omitted, where the reader will expect to find them. Sometimes we meet with notes which are neither critical, explanatory, nor illuftrative; and the pages are often crowded by the adduction and juxtapofition of parallel places (if the occurrence of a particular word may be fad to conftitute a parallel place) from various authors, which may evince, indeed, the Editor's intimate acquaintance with our old English poets, but which often appear to us unneceffary, either to explain the meaning, or to render more confpicuous the beauties of his Author. Among the notes which are neither critical nor explanatory, may we not reckon the following?

Il Penferofo, line 62.

Moft mufical, moft melancholy.] I recommend this verse as a motto for an Eolian harp.'

106. Such notes, as warbled to the ftring

Drew iron tears down Pluto's cheek.] When Handel's L'Allegro and 11 Penferofo were exhibited at Birmingham a few years ago, this paffage, for obvious reafons, was more applauded than any in the whole performance.'

The note with which Mr. Warton prefents us, on the 45th line of Lycidas, will not, probably, make his readers fmile, but will VOL. LXXIX.

H

rather