that of many others who have made themselves confpicuous in the period I am alluding to, I propofe to adopt it as a general title for that era, in which Reafon has been peculiarly opposed to Revelation, and, I think I may fay, actual experiment made of its ftrength and its effects *.

"A queflion naturally arifes, how has Chriftianity paffed through this period? Has Reafon in this conf & got the better? Has the recommended herfelf fo as to be henceforth folely relied on, to the exclufion of all pretended Revelations? Has the, in delivering man from the rubbish of ancient prejudices and fuperftitions, fet him upon a fure footing; fortified his foul against every terror; cleared it of every doubt and perplexity; and given it either the enjoyment or certain hope of eafe and happinefs? Has the established a clear and indisputable rule of right, whereby a man may not only regulate his actions with prudence and decorum, but become a kind and good neighbour to all around him? Has Reafon, in this her first appearance upon earth, (for fo the affumed title would infinuate,) fhewn herself fuperior to thofe falfe apparitions of her that deceived the world in ancient times? Has the done fo much for us in this her own peculiar age, as to enable us not only to difcard Revelation with contempt, but to fee the emptiness of thofe vain pretenders of former days, who, affuming her name, fought to enlighten the world in the fame bold manner, and to releafe it from the bordage of error and dark nefs?

"If the fhall be found to have done this for the world, let it be HER age! If he has appeared fuperior to Chriftianity, more divine, more encouraging, more falutary in her doctrines and precepts, let us not live any longer in error, let us hail her as The deferves: let us fall proftrate at her feet, as a meflenger of better tidings than the Gospel of Chrift has proclaimed, must needs demand every teftimony of regard and gratitude!

"We have, I conceive, no need to enquire whether the author, from whom we more particularly derive the title of the Age of Reajon, was fincere in calling it fo, with reference to other dif coveries befides his own: it is enough to be certain that he at leaft apprehended, from the general complexion of things, that fuch a happy period was just then arrived; and if we examine into the circumstances of thofe particular times, we cannot fail to be fatisfied, that a correfpondent spirit prevailed throughout the whole continent of Europe." P. 17.

The notes to all thefe difcourfes are very extenfive, and it will eafily be perceived, that no other method could be devifed for completing the design of the Lecturer. In the

See, as to the probable refult, Profeffor Brown's Appendix to Leland's View of Deiftical Writers, 1798.

fermons,

fermons, it was not practicable to go into the minute confideration of particular difputes, the ftatement of objections, and the complete anfwers to them. Thefe muft, of neceffity, in many inftances, go to an extent which the allowed measure of pulpit difcourfes, even under the largest defcription, could by no means admit; and very few fuch argu. ments could have been comprifed in eight fermons. It remained, therefore, for the preacher to do little more than allude to the topics, in the difcourfes themselves, and referve the more ample difcuffion of them for the notes;' in which, accordingly, he has compreffed much argument, and the refult of very extenfive reading.

Mr. E. N. appears to have given a full and careful examination to the allegation of unbelievers; and to have employed much time in fatisfying his own mind as to the futility of their objections. He appears, befides, to have applied himfelf with carneftness to the ftudy of thofe sciences from which they draw their weapons; and thereby to have enabled himfelf to judge with foundnefs, of the ftrength or weakness of their arguments. It feems, therefore, that he has felected for his difcuffion, a fet of topics which he was peculiarly well qualified to handle; and that the reader may expect the utmoft fatisfaction from an enquiry fo condy Red. In the fecond difcourfe, the author developes his plan, as far as it is capable of being formed; premifing, however, that it is not practicable to keep the questions fo diftinct as might be wished.

"Our reply to many of these objections would lie in a narrow compafs, if we could have leave to reduce the feveral questions to their true terms, and confine them within their proper limits; but where history and criticism should decide, we are for ever interrupted by metaphyfical and moral arguments, wholly inapplicable to the cafe. If we were to comply with all the demands of Deifts, we should not be allowed to appeal to the Canon of Scripture, till we had determined by à priori reafoning both the utility and neceffity of Revelation in general. We fhould not be allowed to plead the evidence of miracles, till we had not only demonftrated their poffibility, but the fufficiency and competency of any evidence to prove them true." P. 59.

Under fuch limitations, his plan is defcribed in the following manner.

"I have propofed fome arrangement of thefe objections, by referring them to the feveral heads of HISTORY, PHYSICS, METAPHYSICS, ETHICS, and CRITICISM: an arrangement, which, as far as it can be done, I still mean to pursue. Under the head

of

of HISTORY I propofe to confider the extraordinary defect of all records and hiftorical monuments, that could be alleged to be in pofitive contradiction to the Mofaic writings; even now that the whole globe has been traverfed, and every enquiry of that nature purfued and encouraged in a way unknown before. Under the head of PHYSICS I purpose to give an account of the invincible obftacles, that feem to be in the way of our attaining to any clear comprehenfion of the caufes that have operated in time paft in the body of the earth; fo as to enable us to form any conjectures from thence concerning the high or low antiquity of the general mafs of our globe. I fhall notice the consent of many celebrated naturalifts to the low antiquity of our prefent continents, as deduced from obfervation, and the extraordinary facts that tend to corroborate the Scripture accounts of an univerfal deluge. Under the head of METAPHYSICS I shall have fome remarks to make on the prefent ftate of the queftions, concerning the materiality of the foul, and the neceffity of human actions; and I fhall have frequent occafion incidentally to notice the inefficacy of all fpeculative reasonings on certain fubjects connected with Theology. Under ETHICS I propofe to confider the indifperfable neceffity of a divine Revelation for moral purposes; to notice fome of the most offenfive moral principles and fyftems of modern reformers, and to fhew how ably Chriftianity has been vindi cated from the charge of omiffions in this line. And under the head of CRITICISM I fail endeavour to point out the great abuses to which it has been expofed; its great utility to fecure us from the mifrepresentations of modern Deifts; and the fatisfactory manner in which it has recently been applyed to confute the dogmatical affertions of modern Unitarians." P. 60.

This statement will at leaft explain to the reader, how extensive a course of enquiry is taken in these lectures, and how much fatisfaction, on fo many important points, he may expect to derive from them. In this discourse also, fome good remarks are made in oppofition to Mr. Lindsey, who feems to have cenfured the inftitution of fuch lectures in general; and in reply to the almoft unintelligible charge brought against our univerfities by Mr. Godwin, "that their forms of education all tend to encourage and fupport the fyftem of permanence." We regard Mr. Godwin's Political Juftice as fo completely and permanently dead, by its own demerits; and fo buried in the general and juft contempt of the public, that we are not very anxious to fee it refuted; but the following remarks, arifing out of the fubject, have our entire appro bation.

"It would be well for the world, if this "fyftem of permanence" had been univerfally adhered to with the fame manly steadinefs and cautious prudence, which have not only diftinguished Dd

BRIT. CRIT, VOL. XXVI11, OCT. 1806.

the

the Universities of this land, in these times, but the country in general. We have juft caufe to pride ourselves in the reflection, that we have not, like others, madly abandoned to the rude demands of fpeculators and reformers, opinions and principles, fyf. tems and inftitutions, fanctioned by experience, and recommended by the consent and approbation of the wife and good, and learned of all ages. We have manfully withftood the indifcriminate outcry against prejudices, not precluding enquiry, but very wifely turning our enquiries on the new principles proposed to us. We were not to be deluded into the ftrange belief, that indifference to all Religion, both speculative and practical, was the beft qualification for the examination of divine truths, and that all reverence and refpect for the Bible were to be laid afide, before we could be competent to judge of the doctrines it contains. These preparatives, if not exprefsly infifted on, have been in more inftances than one, approved and recommended, as the only means of attaining to "a rational fyftem of faith." Thofe who begin to argue with us by perfuading us to diveft ourfelves of prejudices, fhould always excite our fufpicion. What they call prejudices may be very valuable principles; and inftead of fecuring ourselves from delufion by furrendering them at difcretion, we may very poffibly be parting with the beft means of fecurity against deception of the worst kind." P. 70.

Against Dr. Geddes, alfo, who exhorted his readers "to lay afide all theological prepoffeffions," concerning the divine legation of Mofes, and the infpiration of the prophets, we find fome useful remarks, both in the fermon and in the notes. The following paffage, ftating how Chriftianity has once prevailed, not only without the aid of prejudices, but in ppofition to the very ftrongeft prepoffeffions, we cite as expreffed, in moft parts, with particular force.

"No prejudices whatfoever, in favour of Mofes and the Prophets, which we fhall have derived from our forefathers, or imbibed by education, need be fufpected of biaffing our judgments improperly; for it should be remembered, that when Christianity firft made this appeal, fhe was under perfecution, and it was her future establishment that depended on the iffue. Every prejudice which is now thought to favour the Church, and to give an inaginary importance to the evidence of Scripture, was then against her it was not the appeal of numerous adherents, connected by the leaft fhadow of temporal intereft, but it was the appeal of Christ crucified! of impaled and imprifoned apoftles! of a few wandering outcafts! of dying martyrs! and yet fhe prevailed! Her credentials were examined and admitted; the appeal was pro.

*See Stillingfleet's Origines Sacræ, p. 197. fol. edit.

fecuted, the prophecies were fearched, and the Church increafed daily! And fhall this evidence be now difputed? Shall we be told that it is incomplete, and muft be perverted to be made to apply? The appeal is ftill open. It is a curious and interesting enquiry; but in entering upon it, let it be thought no prejudice, but a measure both equitable and juft, to approach these extraor dinary records with reverence and refpect; remembering that if the prefent exalted ftate of the Chriftian Church, in thefe realms, has rendered them fufpicious to her adverfaries, the firft appeal was made when the Church was in difgrace; when the power of the mighty, and the wisdom of the wife, were against it; when the evidences referred to were only in the hands of a despised and perfecuted people, while the appeal was propofed to the whole world; to the might and majefty of ancient Rome, the learning and philofophy of Greece, to the infatuations of the Jew, the corruptions of the Pagan. Thefe were the first to whom the evidence was offered; and I know not what advantage any. can expect to gain by decrying thofe prejudices, and that "system of permanence," which lead us to refpect thefe facred writings; ex. cept indeed, which is furely the truth, they would turn us entire. ly afide from the confideration of them; for if the prefent prejudices of refpect and veneration were laid down, and the very worft prejudices of the ancient pagan world affumed in their stead, even against thefe Chriftianity has prevailed, and is entirely competent to do fo ftill." P. 76.

As we cannot pretend to do juftice to the various topics which are handled in thefe difcourfes, within the compafs of a fingle article, we fhall defer to another opportuni y the further fpecimens we think it juft to give, and the remarks which it may feem important to make.

[To be concluded in our next.]

ART. IX. Madoc. By Robert Southey. 4to.

557. pp.

21. 2s. Edinburgh printed. Longman and Co. Lon

don.

THIS

1805.

HIS Poem, which, with an apparent allufion to his own Joan of Arc, Mr. Southey affures us, does not afpire to the degraded title of Epic, is not, he adds, to be tried by the rules of Ariftotle, but by the propriety of its adaptation to the purpoles of poetry." This polition, which will operate as a confiderable abridgement of our labours, and muft have materially facilitated thofe of the author, who wrote, as he advifes us to judge, without a ftandard.

The queftion, however, which he prefumes to be the only one, namely, the fitnefs of the flory for the purposes

Dd2

of