years cally profefs, and whofe precepts I humbly endeavour to fulfill." Should any apology, either public or private, be demanded, my name fhall not be withheld; but if, through ignorance of my fubject, I have only advanced an untenable or exploded propofition, I truft that the offence will not be deemed inexcufable in a Layman.” 52 The Principles of Roman Catholicks and Unitarians contrafted: A Sermon, written wilb Reference to the Charges brought against the who maintain the Doctrine of the Divine Unity in the ftri&eft Senfe, by Dr. Horfley; preached, on l'ue day, Nov. 5, 1799, to a Congregation of Proteßant Difenters, in St. Saviour Gate, York, and published at the Request of the Audience. By Charles Wellbeloved. jected that unless the rife of the eighth king be correctly afcertained, no certain æra will be afforded from which we may date the commencement of the 1260 years during which power was to be given to the beat to perfecute the Church. But it may be obferved, that, as the xiith and xiiith chapters of Revelations (in which chapters only the 1260 years are mentioned) contain no allufion to the eighth king, the commencement of thefe is not neceffarily confined to the rifing of that power: probably the period from which it is to be calculated will not be known with certainty before the whole number of years fhall be elapfed. "When Daniel predicted the arrival of the Mefliah in 69 weeks, he dated the commencement of thee weeks from the going forth of the decrce for restoring Jerufa lem. The event having fixed the ap: plication to the decree of the feventh of Artaxerxes, it was easily difcovered, by the learned Prideaux, that, according to the analogy of the Scripture language, the restoration of Jerufalem could, with propriety, import nothing but the restoration of its true charac terifticks, the political and ecclefiaftical eftablishments of the Jewish nation. condition," fays the preacher, p. 19. So, when the final overthrow of Papal But, we would afk, is this following Antichrift fhall have afcertained the reafon, or any fixed principle, or blind end of the 1260, the coincidence of the chance? "In our mode of worship, beginning with the conceffion of Phoas in our creed, we are not perfectly cas, with the rebellion of Gregory 11, uniform; different focieties obferve with the donation of Pepin, or with different methods-and errors, we acany other period of equal notoriety in knowledge, may belong to every modę Papal hiftory, will probably fuggeli to we practife." (p. 21.) No wonder then pofterity the reafon for its application that they want that firong incentive to fuch particular period. The predic- to intolerance which all other religious tion being explained by the event, thefects poffets." (p. 29.) They have no end of the prophecy will be fully anfwered by establishing the infpiration of the Apoftles." (pp. 52, 53.) "The contents of thefe pages could derive no importance from the publication of the author's name; and pro feilional confiderations have induced me to fupprefs it, fince thole who forget the example of the venerable Hale might pothbly be induced to deem theological enquiry inconfiftent with the ftudy of the law. I am not confcious that any thing has efcaped me which can afford juft caufe of offence to the learned and relpectable gentlemen to whom I addrefs myself, or which can, in the flightest degree, derogate from the tenets of the Church of England, whole creed I unequivo IF this is to be confidered as the Creed of Unitarian Chriftians, they may be fafely defied to find it in the Bible. But, when it is afferted, p. 29, that, "highly as they value their principles, they do not confider them as effential to eterual falvation," there is an end of all religious influence on the mind of thofe who profefs them. "Whatever character we individually fuftain, it is formed by the events of our lives and the circunftances of our principle to be tenacious of, nor will they be true to any. Confidered in this view, in which their prefent advocate labours to place his brethren, their religious, moral, and political principles, if not dangerous, are precarious. They may find their characters drawn by an inspired penman, whether they chufe to admit his infpiration or not unftable in all their ways,' and, like their great apoftle now funk into neglect in the tranfatlantic regions, glory in frequently changing fides. 53. A Sermon, preached in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, London, or Thursday, July 6, 1799, being the yearly Meeting of the Children educated in the Charity fchools in and about the Cities of London and Weft minites minfter. By Thomas Rennell, D. D. F. A. S. Mafter of the Temple, &c. &c. FROM Gal. vi. 7, this able preacher directs the attention of his auditory to the circumstances of the times, in which the ignorance of Chriflianity is to be remedied and prevented; to the fpecific exertions by which this has been attempted by the members of this inftitution; and to the duty of zealoufly co-operating with this work of charity and labour of love. Although, in all times, there appears a fufficient degree of that apoftacy from God which the primeval defection from him engendered in our fallen nature, yet this corruption does, in a marvelous degree, affimilate itfelf to the various political opinions and focial habits of particular ages of the world. The evil confequences arifing from thefe it is the peculiar objects of religious inftruction to remedy and counteract. Upon political opinions and principles I will only obferve, that errors more fatal, and miftakes more radical, have prevailed in the times in which we live than in any former period of the annals of the hunan race, As civil governors throughout Europe did not condefcend to make religion the ftability of their power, fo the governed, on their part, feeing how lightly religion was prized by thofe invefied with authority, gave into a profligate opinion, that civil government was the creature of the people, and not the INSTITUTION of God. This, under different fhapes, received great encouragement from thofe who expected a rich harvest from the confufions and diftractions which the general acceptance of fuch opinjons promifed to produce. The prevalence of thefe fentiments reduced the wretched countries where they were firft broached to a wreck and ruin; and had nearly, if Providence had not vifibly interpofed, precipitated the reft of Europe into the gulph of the fame deftruction." (pp. 5, 6.) "Another circumftance of the times, which renders the labours of this Society of peculiar exigency, is, the moft lamentable and notorious defectiveness of Chriftian education in many of our public fchools, and other great feminaries of this nation*. Still greater, if poffible, and more strenuous exertion is called for from the progrefs of riotous and dilipated revelry, which has, for years, been incalculably increasing anong us, and appears, in the prefent moment, to amount to an intoxicating defiance of every principle of public virtue. Concerning the influence of thefe profligate nocturnal meetings upon the morals of those who exhibit and furnish them, it is not my prefent purpofe to defcant, or to enquire how grateful a return this is to that Gracious Providence which has fo visibly interfered in ftaying the hands of the avenging angel! But to confider their effects directly and indirectly upon the morals of the lower ranks of men is indeed a very awful fubject of reflection. To what are the numerous domeftics of thefe men configned over during fuch fettivals but to the oaths and drunkennefs, the debauchi, riot, and confufion, which the fireets of a populous and luxurious metropolis exhibit! While this proftration of religious principle is every day by the high and affluent effected among their domefticks and dependants, how bleffed are the labours which may in fome meafure counteract fuch baleful confequences!" (pp. 8, 9.) We cannot but wonder the Doctor did not connect the fin of wafting in thefe meetings and revels fo much of the neceflaries of life in that time of fcarcity, which were announced and reported with fo much pleasure in our daily prints. The reinedies pointed out in thefe defigns are, the carly inftruction in religious truth communicated by them; the habitu ating children to an early and lasting fenfe of the fanctity of the Sabbath; and preferving with unremitting anxi ety the doctrines of our truly primitive and apoftolical English church "By the labours and exertions of the Society for promoting Chriftian Knowledge, the departed minifiers of Chrift though dead yet speak. The voice of Kettle well, of Beveridge, and of Tillotson, yet calls us from their tombs to practical *We cannot but lament, that, in very few of our heft-endowed feminaries, the Atudy of Christianity has that portion of time and regard allotted to it which the welfare of fociety, the progrefs of delufive and ruinous errors, and the true intereft of found learning itfelf, feems, at the prefent time, peculiarly to call for. In fome of them, and thofe not of fall celebrity or importance, all confideration of the revealed will of God is paffed over with a refolute, fyftematical, and contemptuous neglect, which is not exceeded in that which the French call their National Inflitute." See more of this in the excellent note A, fubjoined to this fermon. See before, p. 347. 6 holiness, holiness, and to "flee from the wrath to come." By the ineftimable exertions of this numerous Society, fo peculiarly bleffed by the favour and protection of God, more, perhaps, than by any other fingle means, the genuine light of the Gofpel is preferved, and the wreck of the civil and ecclefiaftical fabrick, under Providence, prevented. The character, the good-nature, the franknefs, the integrity, of Englishmen, I have no fcruple to affert, have, hitherto, beft flourished in the bofom of the Eftablifhed Church; and that all diffent from it has a strong tendency, at leaft, to disfigure, if not to defroy, thefe genuine and characteristic features of the natural virtues and difpofition." (p. 14.) 54. Scepticifm not fparable from Immorality, illuftrated in the infances of Hume and Gibbon; a Sermon, preached in the Church All Saints, Northampton, at the Vi•J fitation of the Reverend the Archdeacon of the Diocefe of Peterborough, May 8, 1799. By Christopher Hunter, B. D. Rector of Gayton, Northamptonshire. FROM 2 Cor. iv. 4, Mr. H. (who, we understand, is nephew to the late Christopher Smart, the religious poet) fhews, that " Negligence, Pride, and Prejudice, are the fources of Scepticifin and Infidelity. The feducing writers alluded to feem to have confidered it as unneceffary labour to examine the evidences for religion, and chofe rather to abide by fuch hatty conclufions as flowed from their own prejudices. Chrifiianity, however, had, undoubtedly, a claim to a fair and attentive fcrutiny, and merited not to have been confounded with thofe erroneous theological fyftems which they coudemu." (p.15.)"An ardent defire for literary fame was, by their own acknowledge ment, the predominating paffion of both; let us not, therefore, wonder that truth fhould be facrificed to popuJarity; and, infiead of well-authenticated hiftory, furuifhed with fimple and fevere realities, that the reader fhould be prefented with vifionary narral, wes, with graceful rarities, and agreeable fictions. But, of the different fources of error, the molt dangerous and inexcufable are the habits of vice. To what caufe but this fhall we attribute eritings, now diffeminated with induftrious maliguity, in which novelty ftands in the place of argument, and abufe gives energy to falfehood? where, GENT. MAG. April, 1803. the fure guidance of experience being, difdained, the boldeft theories are hazarded on alfract questions of religion and politicks where the ignorant, indeed, may not know to be falfe, but which no fleight of men, nor cunning craftines whereby they lie in wait to deceive, fhall ever prove to be true?" (pp. 17, 18.) This fermon is inferibed to Thomas March-Philipps, Efq. of Garendon park, in Leicefterfhire. 55. Due Ordination as necessary as a due Call to the Gafpel Pricfibood: A Sermon, by the Rev. C. Church, Rector of Gosforth, and Minister of Trinity, Whitehaven. AN able vindication of the Jewish' and Chriftian prietthood, and the fuperiority of the latter in the comparifon, and a defence of ordination against Quakers, Methodifis, and other lectaries, and an uninterrupted deduction of Epifcopacy from the times of the Apotiles, Text, Heb. v. 4. The fermon is dedicated to the prefent Bishop of Chester. 56. A Defence of itinerant and Field Preach. ing: A Semon, preached before the Society for gratis Sabbath Schools, Dec. 24, 1797, in Lady Glenorchy's Chapel, Edinburgh. By Greville Ewing, Minifter of the Gospel THE author informs us that this fermon created no little buttle; but, as no objections were made to his doc trine, but "the leading confideration urged upon him was, that it was imprudent for any man in his fituation to preach fuch a fermon at all, however true the doctrines might be, it is fair to confefs that he decidedly rejects the In all principle of this reafoning. queftions of Chriflianity he deems it of Scripture; the fecond, to declare that the first object to afcertain the doctrine doctrine. In every fituation he is willing to be chargeable with wanting the prudence which would lead him to fhun to declare the whole council of God." Here then we leave him, only juft obferving that his text is Prov. I. 20, 21. THE defign of this work will beft be ftated in the words of the author's addrefs to Mr. W. 64 Before I began thefe letters, I thought it neceffary to enquire whether you had any fimilar defign. Though your affurance to the contrary determined me to proceed, a variety of more preffing engagements retarded the publication. Should it, in any degree, fubftantiate the caufe of Evangelical religion, thofe fragments of time which have been redeemed, or perhaps fiolen, for the purpofe, will not prove milemployed. Averfe as I am to party-language, I have not been able wholly to avoid it. The term Caluiniftic, in particular, has, by various arts, been rendered odious; yet, under this term, Unitarian writers generally comprehend the doctrines of Humin Depravity, the Atonement of Chrift, and the Influence of the Holy Spirit; a circumstance which has obliged me to adopt it. though I am fenfible that thefe truths are not lefs dear to thousands who do not pafs under the denomination of Calvin fs.".... Letter I. is introductory. II. treats of the teft of truth. III. Scriptural doctrine of the depravity of human na ture. IV. Mr. Belfham's view of the ment, Bunhill Fields, April 5. By John MR. W. was the fucceffor, and, if 59. A Sermon, preached in the Parife Church THE defign of this difcourfe, from prefent ftate of human nature. V. Ori- by the much lamented Death of the Rev. English Clergy. Their income has comes The C comes did not exceed 501. per annum. The number of the Established Clergy of this kingdom is about 18,000 perfons; therefore, according to the above ftatement (after a fair deduction is made for fecular officers in the universities), rating the higher and lower orders of the Clergy promifcuously, one clergyman with another, does not receive more than 881. 10 s. per annum to maintain himself and family; a poor income indeed, in fuch a rich and luxurious nation, where real education is fo very expenfive, and where money, from its plenty, is of fuch fmall value; a poor income this, for an order of men who, from their profeflion, are fo limited as to the means of increafing their fortune, and yet who are required to make a decent external appearance, and are defpifed if they do not. And this argument, refpecting the fmallness of the average income of the Clergy, receives great additional weight when it is confidered that, if the fum of money often fpent in the education of a clergyman before he can creditably leave the Univerfity was invefted in an annuity for his life, it would produce him nearly, if not fully, what his average income is thus flated to be." (pp. 13, 14.) So far is the Priesthood from being a burthen to the State, that, even in a pecuniary light, the community, at least the lower claffes are gainers by it. If their total income was not paid to the Clergy, it would neither add to that of the farmer or the labourer, or of the nobility and gentry, nor be fo beneficially appropriated to the relief of the por as it is by the Clergy, who, by their education, their example, their advice, their acting as juftices of the peace, or as preceptors of youth, are of the greateft ufe.-This is an excellent defence of the Established Clergy of the Church of England. 60. A Sermon, occafioned by the Death of the Rev. Jofeph Towers, LL. D. delivered at Newington Green, June 2, 1799, by the Rev. Jofeph Lindfey. To which is added, the Oration delivered at bis Interment, by the Rev. Thomas Jervis. ENOUGH has been faid of the fubject of this fermon in vol. LXIX.529.The preacher, who has been connected with him 12 years as afternoon-preacher to the fociety of which he was minitter, is not willing to part with him without letting the world know, that, under all the difadvantages of a confined educa tion, having been apprentice to Mr. Goadby, printer, at Sherborne, he correfponded with the great Lord Lyttelton; at 24 was chofen a member of the Confiitutional Society, and examined with them before the privycouncil; and that "his rigid adherence to rectitude was fo well known among his acquaintance, that a man of firstrate wit and penetration once obferved in a humourous way, but with a perfect conviction of the truth on which the humour was founded, that, if Dr. T. were as tall and as thick as he was honeft, he would stand behind him in a battle." The addrefs at the grave contains alfo encomiums on the deceafed. 44 A lift of Dr. T.'s works is annexed, in which, befides thofe enumerated in vol.LXIX. 529, we find "Obfervations on Public Spirit, Patriotifm, Minifterial Defpotifm, and National Grievances; with foine Remarks on rich Petitions, loyal Addreffes, and military Execu tion. In a Letter to the Freeholders of Middlesex and the Livery of London. By an independent Citizen of London. 1769," 8vo. A letter to the Rev. John Wefley, in answer to his late pamphlet, intituled, Free Thoughts on the prefent State of public Affairs,' 1771," 8vo. "A Dialogue between two Gentlemen concerning the late Application to Parliament for Relief in Matter of Subfcription to the Thirtynine Articles and Liturgy of the Church of England, 1772," 8vo. "An Examination into the Nature and Evidence of the Charges brought against Lord William Ruffel and Algernon Sydney by Sir John Dalrymple, Bart. in his Memoirs of Great Britain, 1773," 8vo. "A Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of Shelburne, firft Lord of the Treafury, 1782,” 8vo. "Obfervations relative to the Caufe lately tried in the Courts of Common Pleas and King's Bench, and afterwards removed, by Writ of Error, to the Houfe of Peers, between the Lord Bishop of London and Lewis Difney Ffytche, Efq. concerning the Legality of general Bands of Refignation, 1783," 8vo. “Dalogues concerning the Ladies; to which is added, An Effay on the antient Amazons, 1785," 8vo. An enlarged edition of Memoirs of Frederick III. King of Profia was published in 1795. "Ad *Here Mr. L. takes occafion to intule over the literary pride of regular education of fome public feminary or college. dref's |