pleasure to lay before our readers, that the pious and benevolent author has devoted the profits of her publication to the use of the societies formed for sending the Gospel to Heathen and other unenlightened nations.

Poems on various Subjects, by William Lane, a poor labouring Man, of Flackwell Heath, near High Wycombe. 8vo. Price 38. Chapman.

Pages 159.

WE have already paid our tribute of respect to the abilities of this poor man *. The favourable opinion we then formed of his talents has been by no means weakened by the perusal of the poems before us. Besides evident marks of genius, they discover more reading and polish than we could have expected. The reader indeed will not be astonished and transported by the vigorous efforts of a soaring imagination; but he will find that the modest and worthy author is not deficient in the sentimental and descriptive species of poetry.

The first poem is entitled, The Supposed Departure. It was occasioned by an intimation that the poor man would be removed from his cottage, on Flackwell Heath, to his legal settlement; which was happily prevented by the kind interposition of his friends. In this poem he gives us a pleasing picture of his beloved home, and the beautiful country round it. With the deepest sorrow he anticipates the prospect of leaving it, but endeavours to comfort his mind with a hope of the presence of his God, which would render every situation equally comfortable. Towards the close of the poem the cloud seems to dissolve, as the order for his removal is reversed. Hence he takes occasion to express his obligations to his friends, and especially to make his pious and grateful acknow.. ledgements to his Almighty Benefactor.

This piece is superior to any of those which we have formerly noticed, and is perhaps equal to any other in this volume. His poem on Religious Courtship is the longest, and will afford some entertainment to many of our readers. This is followed by another on Conjugal Felicity, written with much more dignity and spirit, and is, perhaps, in no respects inferior. Added to these are many shorter pieces, all, except one, named, The Apology, written in blank verse. They possess indeed considerable merit, but are rather deficient in variety of cadence. It would, perhaps, have been more acceptable to his readers, had he confined himself, entirely to rhyme. No writer must expect to excel, or to be even tolerable in blank verse, who is not supported by the dignity of his subject, and the consciousness of superior poetical abilities. that thinks himself," says a very able critic †, "capable of astonishing, may write blank verse; but those that hope only to please, must condescend to rhyme."

"He

We are precluded from making remarks on many defects which a critical eye would discover in this volume, when we reflect on the cha See Number XVI. of our Magazine.

† Johofon's Lives of the Poets.

N 2

racter

racter and circumstances of the author. We are credibly informed that he is very humble and pious, and has long laboured under accumulated afflictions. He has a wife and eleven children, and is prevented, by illness, from attending to his proper employment. He was a journeyman paper-maker, but is now chiefly supported by the oc casional contribution of his friends, and the profits arising from the sale of his publications. Independent of these considerations, his poems are entitled to our recommendation.

A Good Minister of Jesus Christ. A Sermon, occasioned by the Death of the Rev. Samuel Stennett, D. D. By Dan. Taylor. 8vo. 40 Pages. Price 6d. The Author, Button, Knott, Ash, Marsom, London; B. Pollard, Quorndon..

THIS is another voluntary tribute of respect to the memory of Dr. S. It breathes much friendship towards the deceased, and much general benevolence; and it contains much scriptural and profitable matter. The multitude of subdivisions into which the discourse is parcelled, rendered it impossible to say much upon any 'particular, or to avoid some degree of tautology. We think it an event devoutly to be wished by congregations, that their ministers may at length discard the method, whilst they adhere to the spirit and substance of the valuable productions of the last century.

In describing the reward of a good minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. T. says, "God has given us the most positive assurance, that he will reward his faithful servants according to their works, and proportion their glory to the services they have, by his grace, done for him in the present world. This doctrine runs through the New Testament." "He refers, in proof, to Matth. xvi. 27. Rom. ii. 12. 2 Cor. v. 10. Gal. vi. 9. Rev. ii, 23. &c. which may be understood merely of the everlasting difference between the godly and the wicked. We highly prize, and would faithfully apply, every motive for watchfulness and exertion that has a scriptural foundation. But however natural, rational, and generally entertained, the sentiment may be which the author has advanced, his candour will doubtless excuse us, if we regard it rather as a matter open to fair and liberal controversy, than as a proper subject for positive assertion and practical urgency.

After this caution, we cordially recommend Mr. T.'s discourse, as not only well, adapted to the peculiar occasion on which it was delivered, but worthy of general attention from ministers and hearers of the Gospel.

The Missionary; a Poem. To which are subjoined Hints on the Propagation of the Gospel at home and abroad. Respectfully inscribed to the new Missionary Societies. 36 Pages. Price 6d. Button, Heptinstall, London. 1795. THE Poem, which is in blank verse, celebrates missionary heToism, for the greater part, with an energy worthy of the subject,

The

The genius, and more especially the literature which the author seems to possess, excite our surprise at meeting with several lines which are no kind of metre. The conclusion is also too abrupt.

The Hints in prose, which occupy most of this small pamphlet, favour the opinion, that different parties of religious people should undertake distinct missions; but that the various societies which are instituted among them for the purpose of promoting the circulation of the Gospel, whether by educating students, supporting ministers, sending out missionaries, erecting chapels, or distributing religious books, should concur, by an union of delegates from each of them, to advance the great leading design. The author points out several advantages which, he apprehends, might result from such a coalition, particularly in adapting seminaries of education to the benefit of missions. Most of the hints which peculiarly relate to the missionary operations in foreign countries, were previously made public in Mr. Horne's excellent letters on the subject, and in the first periodical account of the Particular Baptist mission. The last two hints seem to us chiefly worthy of attention. Upon raising an adequate fund for the support of missions, the writer observes, that "the whole expence necessary would not be thought an object in any commercial enterprize, nor (to the honour of the nation be it spoken!) in the erection of any charitable institution for the health and lives of our fellow creatures. Are then the souls of men of so much less value than their bodies, that their salvation must be abandoned for the want of a few thousand pounds? I hope not in this country. Here," he adds, "it may be worth inquiry, by what means the primitive Christians, who were generally poor, raised money in such emergencies?"-The multitude of them that believed, were of one heart and one soul; neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed, was his own. Thus they supported the Gospel! The closing hint furnishes an affecting motive for the evangelizing the heathen. "We once were heathens, even as they are, and owe it to the gracious providence of God, and the benevolence of primitive preachers, that Christianity was brought among us. I question if it be possible to find any heathen nation at present more gross in their idolatry, or more savage in their manners than our ancestors were. However, or by whomsoever, the Gospel came to this country, its first introduction must have been attended with the same difficulties, hardships, and dangers that a foreign mission now presents us with. And there is no material objection which can be urged against any of these, which might not have been equally urged against the promulgation of the Gospel among us; and then in what a state might we have yet been! We are therefore called upon to do unto others, not merely as we would that they should do unto us, but as others actually bave done unto us. Not only piety, compassion, and benevolence, call for our exertion, but gratitude, equity, and justice."

We give our hearty approbation to this well-meant and wellwritten performance; and offer, as an apology for the disproportionate

space

space we have assigned to it, the importance of its subject, especially at the present juncture. As to the mode of conducting the intended mission, we are satisfied that, under the blessing of Christ, the picty, the zeal, the prudence, and the indefatigable attention of those to whom it is more peculiarly committed, will leave little or nothing to be desired.

Hearing the Voice of God's Rod, and the Safety of true Penitents in a Time of public Calamity, preached at Broughton, in Hampshire, on the Fast Days of 1794 and 1795. By William Stedman. Pages 70. Pages 70. Price 1s. 6d. Wilkie. 1795.

THESE are plain, serious, and sensible discourses from Micah, vi. 9. and Ezek. ix. 4, 5, 6.; and are well suited to a day of fasting and supplication. The worthy author who, though confined in his ministrations to a sequestered village, is highly esteemed by all that know him, takes a fair and honest view of our national state and conduct, of our sins and our deserts, and calls aloud to repentance and reformation of life. We earnestly wish that his pious endeavours may be crowned with success, and that his publication may find an extensive sale.

A Word in Season; or a Call to the Inhabitants of Great Britain, to stand prepared for the Consequences of the present War, written on the Fast Day, February 25, 1795. By J. Bicheno. Pages 53. Price 1s. 6d. Parsons, London.

MR. B. writes in a very sensible, ingenious, and serious manner; and he loudly calls on us to repent of our sins, and to improve the present awful dispensations of divine Providence. It would comfort us, were we persuaded of Mr. B.'s infallibility, to be assured that this will be the last war under which the human race shall groan; but it is dreadful to hear that it is yet to last four-and-twenty years. We hope our rulers will prove Mr. B. a false prophet.

Remarks on the Eighth and Twelfth Chapters of Daniel, and the Eleventh Chapter of the Revelations, in reference to the recent, present, and approaching Events of the Times. By the Rev. J. Miller, of High Wycombe, Bucks. Page 223. Price 6d. Chapman. 1795.

MR. MILLER thinks the 8th and 12th of Daniel, and the 11th chapter of the Revelations applicable to the present times; and finds their accomplishment in events which have already occurred, or are soon to take place. Among other things he discovers that the war is in a short time to come to a close. As friends of humanity and religion, and as disciples of the Prince of peace, we say, Amen and Amen.

POETRY

POETRY.

sion of the death of his celebrated T

friend JouN CALVIN, who had requested that his funeral might not be attended with any extraordinary honours. An attempted Translation is annexed, which, if approved, is humbly submitd to the English reader, by