In

being a ftrictly papal church, peculiarly warrants the state in fuch a demand. The Roman Catholic Church of Ireland, from caufes already alluded to, never has vindicated its own liberties againft the See of Rome, it has no Concordat, it has no domeftic rights exprefsly fecured. The Pope has, on many occafions, rejected the recommendations of their bishops to vacant Sees, and fubftituted direct nominations from himself in their room. fhort, it may be afferted, founding their difcipline and church government principally on the canons of the council of Trent, a Council which pointedly faved to the See of Rome all its rights and privileges, in the moft extended and objectionable sense, and which has never been acknowledged, in points of difcipline, by the Gallican and other free churches, that the Irish church is at this day one of the most dependent in Europe, and that in which the power of the Pope has the most unqualified fway." P. 24. If the foregoing reprefentation be accurate, which is fully confirmed by the fpeech reviewed in the preceding article, it ought to make an end, for the prefent at least, of what is called "the Roman Catholic Question."

DIVINITY.

ART. 22. The Accomplishment of Prophecy, in the Character and Conduct of Jefus Chrift. From the impreffive Treatife on the Truth of the Chriftian Religion. By James Abbadie, D. D. for merly Dean of Killaloe. 45. Rivingtons.

1810.

12mo.

267 PP•

Few books have been more highly or more justly commended than the treatise of Abbadie, on the Truth of the Chriftian Reli- ' gion. It appeared firft in 1684, and has gone through at least feven Editions, in the original French. It was translated into English by Henry Luffan, of New College, Oxford, in two vo lumes, which appeared in 1694 and 1698.

The prefent publication is, with great judgement, extracted from that part of the work which is moft ftriking and most important; where the author treats of the Meffiahfhip of Jefus Chrift, and the proofs relating to it. The Original is divided into two principal parts, and fubdivided into fections and chap. ters. Part I. contains four fections: 1. On the Existence of God; 2. On the Truth and Neceffity of Religion in general; 3. On the Truth of the Jewish Religion; 4. On the Means fupplied by the Jewish Revelation to establish the Truth of the Chriftian Religion. In this fourth part, the prefent publication begins; namely, from the fifth chapter, which treats on the calling of the Gentiles, and the predictions of Chrift as the Meffiah. Part II, of the Original, undertakes to establish the Christian Religion on its own probfs, and it contains alfo four fections: 1. Proofs drawn from the teftimony of those who first published it; 2. Proofs drawn from the Scriptures of the New Teftament; 3. Attempt to push the proofs from fact and fentiment to a degree of demonftration; 4. Proofs drawn from the

nature

nature and properties of Chriftianity itfelf. From this part the prefent editor has felected only three chapters, taken out of the fecond fection; these are, ch. 6. Examination of the facts related in the Gofpels, to fee whether they are capable of illufion or impofture; 7. On the Holiness of the Life of Chrift; 8. On his Prophecies. By this mode of felection, a very useful treatise is formed, confifting of thirteen chapters: and presenting to the reader abundant proofs of the truth of Christianity, without going into too extenfive and fatiguing a difcuffion. The felection is excellent in itfelf; fhould it revive the knowledge and the fame of the original work, it will render a more extenfive fer. vice. Abbadie added a third part, on the Divinity of our Saviour, against the Socinians; which forms a third volume in the French editions of his book.

The prefent Editor has occafionally corrected the language of the old tranflation; and has fubjoined a few judicious notes, in which the remarks of Bonnet and others are introduced. The notes of Seigneux de Correvon, on Addison's Evidences are also cited; the tranflation of which, by the late Dr. Purdy, deferves to be made known to every English reader. A chronological table is fubjoined, from "Collyer's facred Interpreter." We much commend, and recommend the publication.

ART.

1. 23. Thoughts on Reafon and Revelation, particularly the Revelation of the Scriptures. By Jofeph Gurney Bevan. Second Edition. 8vo. pp. 23. Arch.

That this very fenfible and well-written pamphlet should pass through two editions, will not appear furprifing to those who fhall read it with the attention which it merits. But how we fhould have omitted it fo long, is furprifing even to ourselves. The fubjects are Reafon, Revelation, Infidelity, the Scriptures, Faith and Experience. On thefe fubjects we have the author's thoughts given, in the manner of which the fubjoined extract is a fpecimen.

§. 1. Before any book profeffing to relate facts, can be intitled to credit, its authenticity and veracity must be established. Now there is no book in the world of equal age, of which the authenticity is established upon firmer ground than the New Teftament: so that if a fceptic, unable to withstand the arguments which it affords in favour of Chriftianity, fhould be difpofed to reject it, he must be driven to the abfurdity of rejecting all the hiftorians of the fame age; a piece of folly which would difgrace a fchoolboy.

"The profane authors, as they are called, though now held in general and deserved credit; and their narratives relied on, as the best fource of information concerning their respective countries and governments; fuffered, during the decay of learning in the middle ages of Christianity, a temporary eclipfe: but the facred writings, before, during, and fince the fame period, have been un

Tt3

inter

interruptedly handed down from generation to generation; appealed to by both the friends and the enemies of the doctrines which they contain; and cited by writers of all ages, even the earliest, fince their publication, in a manner which shows that they have always been fuch, or very nearly fuch, as we find them at present. Nay, further, notwithstanding they have been multiplied by manufcript beyond any other book in the world; which would of courfe occafion fome errors; and notwithstanding the industry of modern critics has actually difcovered many thoufand various readings, arifing from thefe numerous tranfcriptions; the authenticity of thefe writings is in no wife affected, and the uniform tenour of their doctrine in no wife altered. The confequence is, that we muft either difpute all ancient hiftory, or admit the authority of the New Teftament. P. 13.

We have before teftified our refpect for this writer, a most refpectable member of the Society of Friends, and fhall be happy to do so again

ART. 24. A Vindication of Unitarian Worship, a Sermon preached on Sunday, Nov. 4. 1810, on Occafion of the opening of the New Gravel Pit Meeting Houfe, Hackney. By Robert Afpland. Johnson. 1810.

Mr. Afpland undoubtedly appears in this difcourfe to have taken fome pains to vindicate the feparation of his affociates from the Established Church in terms of charity, and we are in no manner inclined to qneftion the right of any to depart from us, upon fuch grounds as Mr. Afpland mentions p. 25. that is, where they think their "compliance would be finful, though they may pbly err in their non-conformity."-Mr. Afpland will not expect us to admit that the Unitarians do not err in their nonconformity; we do cordially believe their errors to be as great, as any of thofe that they charge upon us, that is, as important. They accufe us of adding to the fcriptural doctrines, and we accufe them of deducting from them. We fhould be forry, fuppofing our tenets correct, to have any taken from us, by this fermon before us, because we could eafily point out to our readers, if our limits would admit, and the occafion feemed to call for it, abundance of grofs miftakes, in the reprefentation given of the doctrines of the eftablishment. Our belief is, that Mr. Afpland, does not mean to mifreprefent matters, but that he really thinks, we are all as blind and ftupid, as he defcribes us to be, and tha our errors are downright abfurdities and contradictions.-Ye even in his own difcourfe, he names certain celebrated members

"A various reading is, where a word is not alike in all the manufcript copies. As thefe manufcripts are in Greek, many of them would be uninterefting to an English reader. The learned Michaelis fays, that the most important relate, in general, to fubjects that have no connection with articles of faith."

ef

of the Church in terms of fuch refpect, that we hope we may be at leaft allowed to shelter ourselves under their protection. Mr. Afpland cannot expect us to be much alarmed as to the charge of ahjurdity and fanaticism, when he reminds us of fuch fellow-believers as Bishop Taylor, Mr. John Hales, and Chillingworth. Mr. Afpland's compliment to the tolerant principles of his majesty, and the general fpirit of his government, fince he came to the throne, does him honour, and the delicate allufion to his prefent" domeftic calamities," is highly creditable to his feelings.

ART. 25. Reflections on the Shortness of Time. A Sermon fuggefted by the general Mourning for her Royal Highness the Princefs Amelia, and delivered at the Octagon Chapel, Bath, on Sunday, Nov. 11, 1810. By John Gardiner, D, D. Bath. PP. 26. Rivingtons.

We can eatily believe that this Sermon might have had confiderable effect in the place where, and upon the occafion on which it was delivered. The fable and funereal appearance of fo diftinguished a congregation, as the Octagon Chapel at Bath is generally known to contain, muft have been peculiarly ftriking, and have naturally led to fuch reflections as the text fuggefts; (1 Cor, vii. 29.) as well as to a tender fympathy in the melan. choly event which occafioned it. Dr. Gardiner has managed to place both thefe circumftances in a ftrong point of view, but the difcourfe is not otherwife remarkable for much novelty of remark, or any great purity of ftyle; as a temporary effusion it may de. ferve fome praise.

JUBILEE SERMONS.

ART. 26. England's Caufes for Thankfulness during the Reign of George the Third; or their much-loved King an Example to Britons: A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of Hartlepool, in the County of Durham, on Wednesday, October 25, 1809; being the Day of Public Praife and Thanksgiving to Almighty God, on His Majefty's Entrance into the Fiftieth Year of his Reign. By the Rev. N. Haling forth, A. M. Vicar of Haltwifle in the County of Northumberland; perpetual Curate of Hartlepool in the County of Durham, &c. &c. A new Edition, enlarged. 12mo. 47 PP. IS. Durham, printed; London, Rivingtons, &c. 1810.

We approach now very nearly to the bottom of our collection on this fubject. The very loyal author of this difcourfe fays, in his preface, that the fubject of it has by no means been regarded or treated by him as of a mere temporary nature; " and an increafed confideration of it," he adds, "has led me the more to

wifh

with that its feveral topics may be deeply impreffed upon the memories of my parishioners and countrymen, and upon their hearts. Sincerely do 1 defire, that, when our prefent venerable Monarch fhalt long fince have ceafed to reign,-and the author of this Sermon fhall have been long forgotten, England's Caufe for Thankfulness to the God of nations, during the laft half century, efpecially in the mild and gentle, the pious, and benevolent reign of its prefent Sovereign may be retraced, with grateful adoration, by our children's children." P. vi.

Thefe excellent fentiments are fuitably illuftrated by a very clear and copious ftatement of particulars in the discourse itself; which in its former lefs extended edition never met our confideration.

ART. 27. The Jubilee, a Source of Religious Improvement. A Sermon, preached at Worship Street, Finsbury Square, Wednesday, October 25,1809, being the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Reign of George the Third. By John Evans, Morning Preacher at Worfhip Street, and Afternoon Preacher, Leather Lane, Holborn. 8vo. 36 pp. 1s. Sherwood and Co. 1809.

:

Of the zeal of this fermon, an idea may be formed from this paffage "Let then the lengthened reign of a venerable earthly monarch, who has attained to the age of man, elevate our thoughts to the illuftrious reign of the MESSIAH, which endures till the confummation of all things." P. 2. God forbid that we fhould object to the piety of a preacher, who prefers contemplating the reign of the heavenly king, to that of any earthly monarch; the preference is moít juft. But why then call it a Jubilee Ser. mon? In this difcourfe, of 36 pages, only five at most are given to the difcuffion of its profeffed topic. All the reft is proper, certainly, in any chriftian congregation, but had no more to do with that day, than with any other. With refpect to the character of the king, the author briefly mentions his perfonal and domeftic virtues, and his defire to diffufe education. The reft relates only to the indulgences granted to diffenters, with a wifh that they were greater, and a wifh for peace. From that place to the end, our Saviour alone is celebrated: properly and well, we grant, but with no reference to the occafion.

MISCELLANIES.

ART. 28. Green Room Golfip; or Gravity Gallinipt: a Galli. marwfry, confifting of theatrical Anecdotes, Bon Mots, Chit-chat, Drollery, Entertainment, Fun, Gibes, Humour, Jokes, Kickshaws, Lampoons, Mirth, Nonfenfe, Oratory, Quizzing, Repartee, Stories,.. Tattle, Vocality, Wit, Yawning, Zeft. Got up to guile Gymnafti cal and Gyneocratic Governments. With an Appendix of gravs

Subjects.