lately published by C. Bayley, in Oppofition to that Doctrine. H. 8vo. Clarke, &c. Manchester. 1785. Art. 76. The Swedenborgian Doctrine of a Trinity confidered; or, Strictures on a late Publication, entitled, The Scripture Doctrine of a Trinity vindicated, according to the Principles of the illuminated Em. Swedenborg, with Remarks on a Sermon on Gal. iv. 6. 12mo. Longman. 1785.

We have claffed the above pamphlets in one Article, as they have an immediate connection with each other. In the first the Author (Mr. Bayley) afferts the unity of the Divine nature, and then pro→ ceeds to defend and establish the doctrine of a Trinity according to the profeffion of the church of England.

An anonymous writer appears, in the fecond pamphlet, who difputes the arguments of the former; infifting, with Count Swedenborg, that a Trinity of perfons was unknown in the apoftolic church; and labouring to confirm the opinion of the Swedish baron, which. it is, with fome reafon, concluded, Mr. Bayley had intended to oppose.

This calls up the firft Author again; and, in order to vindicate himfelf, and his caufe, he prefents us with a publication larger Whether the conteft, thus begun, will than either of the former. clofe here, is very uncertain, fince it is well known the beginning of Each of the affailants difArife is as when one letteth out water. covers fome metaphyfical ability and learning fuited to the fubject; and they have, on the whole, advanced thus far with a tolerable Yet it is pretty evident, that if degree of temper and candour. they allow themselves to proceed, the paffions will be interested, and as hath been too frequently verified, the truth will be in danger of being overwhelmed, and forgotten amidst thofe boisterous agitations. It appears to us far the wifeft and beft method for each to reft fatisfied with his own opinion, at least without troubling the Bye-ftanders will be world any farther with their conjectures. much difpofed to think, that a fubject which admits, or requires, fo much labour and art for its investigation and fupport, cannot be Do of effential moment or confequence to human happiness. Art. 77. The Reftitution of all Things: An Effay on the important Purpose of the Univerfal Redeemer's Destination. By James Brown, late Miffionary from the Society for propagating the Gofpel, and Chaplain of the British Garrifon at Savannah, is. 6d. Cadell. in Georgia. 8vo.

The preface to this work gave us a favourable opinion of the Writer. He speaks concerning it and himself in fenfible and modeft terms: he appears to have formed views of religion more Jiberal, juft, and useful than are attained merely by rehearsing creeds, and forms, and articles: amidst fcenes of war and confufion he feems to have employed his time fuitably to his character: and he apprehends that the univerfal refloration of the divine works, the fbject which he wishes to fupport, will recommend Christianity to the attention of thofe who have been difgufted by the narrow and partial reprefentations which men have fo often given.

We cannot fay that the effay itfelf anfwered our expectations. The topic requires maturer thought and attention, than, perhaps. the fituation in which he was placed would allow; neither, poffibly,

is his mind fo wholly unfettered from human fhackles and inftitutions as he may be willing to apprehend. He dwells greatly on the expectations which had prevailed at all times among mankind of fuch a perfect redemption as that for which he pleads; expectations occafioned, he intimates, by divine communications to them, of which we have not now any knowledge. But though he does not thoroughly inveftigate the fubject, he appears to be a man of fome learning, and acquaintance with ancient writers. His work, however, required revifal, There are much better tracts extant, on the fubje&. H. Art. 78. A Monument to the Praife of the Lord's Goodness, and to the Memory of dear Eliza. Cunningham. Published for the Benefit of a charitable Inftitution. 8vo. 6d. Trapp. 1785. It is nothing wonderful that Mr. Newton fhould be affected by the fickness and death of a young perfon, niece to his wife, or impreffed by the suitable spirit fhe might in fuch circumstances difcover; yet it does not neceffarily follow that the account fhould be made public; however, if this little tract does any good, it is fo far well. Do Art. 79. A View of the great Events of the Seventh Plague, or Period, when the Mystery of God fhall be finished, Rev. x. 7. which completes and adds Confirmation to an Explanation of the Seven lait Plagues, Rev. xv. xvi. lately offered to the Public. By Robert Ingram, A. M. Vicar of Wormingford and Boxted in Effex. 8vo. 6d. Rivington.

This Author continues his enquiries; but with what fuccefs we will not determine. The feventh plague, he fuppofes, has refpec to the restoration of the Jews, and the extenfion of Chriftianity throughout the world by their means, until it finally triumphs. We refer to the Review for July 1785, p. 85, for fome remarks on Mr. Ingram's publications, We have now nothing to add to what is there faid, and in former Articles, to which the Reader is there directed.

Art. 80. The Hiftory of the Miniftry of Fefus Chrift, combined from the Narrations of the Four Evangelifts. By Robert Willan, M. D. The Second Edition, with many additional Notes and Obfervations. Svd. 3s. 6d. bound. Rivington, &c. 1786. This work was characterised, and commended, from the firft edition, reviewed in our fixty-ninth vol. fee p. 8.-The prefent edition is here introduced, on account of the additional notes,— which are more ufeful than numerous. They relate, chiefly, to the manners, cuftoms, opinions, and expreffions, proverbial or allegorical, amongst the Eaftern nations; with which, as the Author juftly obferves, the generality of readers cannot be familiarly acquainted. Art. 81. Devotions for the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper: With an Appendix, containing a Method of digesting the Book of Pfalms fo as to be applicable to the common Occurrences of Life. By a Layman. 8vo. IS. Cadell.

It is the laudable defign of this fmall publication to affift the pious Chriftian in his attendance on the Lord's Supper: the exercifes are drawn up on the ground of the doctrines of our established Church, and adapted to the forms prefcribed in the Book of Common Prayer.

&.

Art.

Art. 82. Sermons, Doctrinal and Practical. By D. Grant, Minifter of the Gospel at Newcastle. 12mo. 2s. 6d. fewed. Dilly.

Calviniftical, declamatory, puritanical, and, in many inftances, we think, irreconcileable with a juft and fober explication of the fa cred writings. H. Art. 83. Conjectures concerning the Nature of Future Happiness: Tranflated from the French of Monf. Bonnet, of Geneva. Is. Baldwin.

8vo.

Though the ideas here offered to the Public are indeed, what the Author calls them, Conjectures, they are conceived with fuch evident marks of good fenfe, as well as piety, and are withal fo agree ably expreffed, that they will not fail of being read with pleasure by thofe who have learned the Chriftian leflon of looking towards &.

another world.

Art. 84. The Calvinism of the Proteftant Diffenters afferted; in a Letter to the Archdeacon of St. Alban's: Occafioned by his Remarks on Dr. Priestley's Second Letter. By Samuel Palmer, Paftor of the Independent Congregation at Hackney. Svo. 6d. Buckland. 1786.

Were it certain that the principles of Calvin have a necessary connection with virtue, piety, and final happiness, an enquiry of this kind might be of great importance. But as this is not the cafe (and we are well perfuaded the Author of this pamphlet does not fuppofe it), it becomes a matter of far lefs urgent concern. However, truth is always of fome moment. There was fufficient reafon for the prefent publication, on account of the mistakes relative to 1 the Diffenters, into which Dr. Horfley has fallen, and his confequent mifrepresentation of their tenets, &c. In that very numerous and refpectable body of men, who feparate from the establishment of this country, there are, no doubt, many who now entertain fentiments, on fome difputable articles of faith, very different from those that were more generally received by their ancestors; but they are, no less than their predeceffors, on conviction, firm believers in Chridianity, and hearty friends to its prevalence and fupport. Mr. Palmer offers fatisfactory reasons to affure us, in oppofition to the Archdeacon's account, that the majority of the Diffenters are fill Calvinifts, even in the prefent day. In this and on fome other points immediately connected with it, the Writer of this pamphlet appears to have the advantage.-Indeed it may generally be expected, that a rational Chriftian, and friend of liberty, will, on topics of religious freedom, ever prevail, as far as argument can go, against those who endeavour to defend articles and creeds enjoined by human authority, with other modes and forms impofed merely by the civil power. H.

RELIGIO U.S.

Art. 85. Chriftian Directions and Inftructions for Negroes. 12mo. 15. Rivingtons. 1785.

This work, except a collection of occafional prayers, and fame of Watts's divine poetry, is a dialogue between a negro and a minister of the gofpel. The intention of converting all nations to Christianity is highly laudable; but we fear that before the prefent

directions

directions can produce any effect, fome other mode must be used. The miferable ftate of the negro flavés is ill fuited to receive the doctrines of Chrift. Where the body is haraffed with labour, ftripes, and want of many neceffaries of life, the mind cannot duly attend to matters that do not much relieve bodily fufferings. The first step to convert thefe miferable wretches, would be to grant them their liberty, and fuffer them to enjoy the temporal benefits which our excellent religion is capable of beftowing. The masters of thefe oppreffed people feem, themselves, to be in much want of Chriftian inftruction. The precepts, Do unto all men as ye would they should do unto you; and From their fruits fhall ye know them; being duly practifed, would fhew the negro flaves, that compaffion and benevolence are the effects and the fruits of the Christian difpenfation; and they will then have good reafon to adopt fo advantageous and fo benign a fyftem.

SERMONS.

m.

I. Preached at Christ Church, London, Sept. 21, 1785, before the I ord. Mayor and Governors of the feveral Royal Hofpitals. By John Prince, A. B. Vicar of Grays, in Effex, and Lecturer of St. Mary, Aldermanbury, London. 4to. 19. Rivingtons. This difcourfe is entitled, The Character of King Edward the Sixth. It will not, I trust,' fays the Author, be deemed improper for a Chriftian preacher, and it cannot be unfuitable to the day, to pay a juft tribute of refpect to the memory of the illuftrious founder.' Accordingly Edward's character is here pleafingly and juftly drawn.

It is remarkable, that Jerome Cardan, a famous Italian physician, and celebrated writer, after speaking of this prince in a strain of high commendation, adds, Thefe are not strokes of rhetoric, but fhort of truth; an acknowledgment which, it is here properly obferved, not only fpeaks the liberality of the philofopher, but is an indubitable proof of Edward's merit. Bishop Ridley firft fuggefted to him the defign of founding the hospitals, and refcued, by this "means, fome part of the riches which flowed in at the Reformation, from the plunder of avaritious and ambitious courtiers. The text of this difcourfe is Luke ii. 14. Mr. Prince hath added many pertinent and practical reflections and admonitions, to the other part of his fubject.

H.

II. On the late attempt on his Majefty's Perfon ;-before the Univerfity of Oxford, at St. Mary's Church, Aug. 6, 1786. By William Crowe, of New College, LL. B. Public Orator of the Univerfity. 4to. IS. Rivingtons, &c.

This is perhaps as good a fermon as the subject could give birth to: but commend us to the feafonable compofition of our newfman, who, in his Christmas "Prefent to his worthy Masters and Miftreffes," thus loyally and pithily remindeth us,

"How Margaret Nicholson affail'd the king,—
To every loyal heart a horrid thing!"

III. Confiderations on the Nature and Oeconomy of Beafts and Cattle.
Preached at St. Leonard, Shoreditch, May 17, 1785; being a
Sequel to a Difcourfe on the religious Ufe of Botanical Philofo-
phy. By William Jones, M. A. F.R.S. 4to. 1s. Robinfons.

For

?

For an account of the difcourfe above mentioned on botanical philofophy, &c. we refer the reader to the feventy-fecond volume of the Review, p. 399. This fermon is intended to illuftrate the fame wisdom and goodnefs of God in the animal or brutal, which the former had traced and difplayed in the vegetable creation. The Author pursues his fubject in an ingenious and agreeable manner : and we may fay, as was hinted concerning the prior publication, that whatever little peculiarity there may be in this writer's mode of thinking or expreflion, the reader will perufe this treatife, as well as the other, with entertainment and fatisfaction. H. IV. Free Accefs to God by a Mediator. Preached at Beffel's Green, near Sevenoaks, Kent. By John Stanger. 8vo. 6d. Matthews. A plain calvinistical difcourfe from Ephef. iii. 12. The Author no doubt means well, and wishes to promote the cause of piety and virtue; but it must be according to his particular method: he appears narrow in his views, when he fays in the following note: I would afk, on what fcriptural ground the conduct of fome perfons can be vindicated, who, while they lay peculiar ftrefs on the doctrine of the atonement, do nevertheless unite in Christian fellowship, or form connections equivalent thereto, with thofe who oppofe this doctrine, or who seem to have no idea of its importance.' This does not appear to us to be dictated by fo catholic or Christian a fpirit as we wish to see in a minister of the gofpel. It feems as if men had yet fome of its firft principles to learn. Let all who refpect the interefts of religion unite cordially in its caufe, and in the exercise of brotherly-love, however they may find reafon to vary in fentiment on fome particular point, or fome explications of fcripture ! H. V. The Eternity of future Punishments. Preached before the Univerfity of Oxford, at St. Mary's, April 9, 1786. By Ifaac Crouch, M. A. Vice Prefident of St. Edmund's Hall. 4to. Is. Rivingtons, &c.

We meet with nothing in this difcourfe that cafts new light upon the fubject on which it treats, or that affifts us in clearing the difficulties which clog this article of the orthodox creed. E. VI. Occafioned by the Death of the late Peter Wilfon, Efq. of Gray's-Inn; preached in Silver-Street, London, July 2, 1786, the Lord's Day after his Deceafe. By Thomas Toller. 8vo. 6d. Buckland.

The difcourfe is fuitable to the occafion: it gives a high, and we doubt not, just account of the deceased, whofe early removal, in the 28th year of his age, afforded proper opportunity to recommend a conftant and affiduous attendance to the fhortnefs and uncertainty of human life. The text is James iv. 14.

VII. Preached before the Bristol Marine Society in the Cathedral Church of Bristol, August 1, 1786, being their annual general Meeting. By Thomas Powys, A. M. Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majefty, &c. 4to. 15. Bristol printed, and fold by Otridge in London.

This laudable inftitution hath found a zealous advocate in Mr. Powys, who warmly preffes his hearers to follow the precept of Solomon-With-hold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.'

m COR.