My gentler breaft, at fight of others' woe, Hard is my lot, for ever doom'd to stay, Yet this is not confiftent with what foon after follows: A life of virtue with a life of ease. But, perhaps, the poet thought confiftency incompatible with the fen- The poem is, on the whole, unequal, and contains feveral un- Art. 35. Imitations, and Tranflations, from the Latin of Mr. From the celebrated Alcaic Ode at the Grand Chartreuse. Thou, whose strict mandate dictates here, And fways this awful place, Whoe'er thou art; (but no weak pow'r, This vaft ftupendous mafs. Such poetry as this requires only the filent criticism of italics, of which we fay, as Sancho faid of fleep, bleffed be the man who invented them.' Art. 36. Anti-diabo-lady-calculated to expofe the Malevolence of the Author of Diabo-lady. 4to. I s. 6d. Parker, &c. Calculated to expofe the Author'-cf Anti-diabo-lady. Art. 37. POEMATA Latine partim fcripta, partim reddita: quibus accedunt quædam in Q. HORATIUM FLACCUM, Obfervationes. critica. A Gilberto Wakefield, A. B. et Coli. Jefu apud Cantab. Socio. 4to. 3 s. 6s. White. 1776. Puerile and juvenile performances. Art. 38. Ode to Dragon, Mr. Garrick's House Dog at Hamp ton. 4to. 6 d. Cadell. 1777. A witty compliment on Mr. Garrick's retiring from the stage, and not unworthy of Hannah More. RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIA L. Art. 39. An Inquiry into the Nature and Defign of Chrift's Temptation in the Wilderness. By Hugh Farmer. The Third Edition. 8vo. 3 s. 6 d. Buckland. 1776. · L. L. Ling As we took notice of the two former editions of this learned and ingenious Inquiry, we fhall only fay, with refpect to the present impreflion, that it contains large Additions,-more especially in the third fection; in which the Author confirms his explication of Chrift's being brought into a wilderness by or in the spirit, by new arguments. 5 Art. Art. 40. Twelve Sermons. By the Rev. J. Smith, M. A. Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majefty. 8vo. 6 s. Harrifon. 1776. The first, eighth, and ninth of these Sermons, are, as the Author acknowledges in his preface, partly taken from two eminent French divines; and, we doubt not, they will be no less acceptable to the Reader, than they were to the Congregation before which they were preached. Thefe difcourfes are all fhort; but whatever they contain, is faid to the purpose, in an eafy ftyle, and plain but not mean language. There is here no pompous difplay of learning, but there are many indications of an heart that wishes well to religion, and endeavours to promote its best interefts. Art. 41. The Riches of Gospel Grace opened, in Twelve Difcourfes on the following interefting Subjects of the New Testament; the Word of God in its Truth and Efficacy; the Word of God in its extensive Latitude; Chrift the great High Prieft; Chrifl all in all; Repentance and Remiffion of Sins; Regeneration, or being born of God; Juftification by Faith; Evangelical Sanctification; the Baptifm of the Holy Ghost; the Spirit's Teftimony of the Son; the Father's Glory opened by the Son; the Son of God on the Throne of Judgment. By John Johnson, Minifter of the Gofpel in Liverpool. 2 Vols. 8vo. 8 s. fewed. Warrington printed; fold by Law in London. 1776. The Author of the above difcourfes appears to have great command of words: his language is eafy and animated: his fentiments are Calvinistical, and he fometimes expreffes himself with a confidence and pofitivity which, it might be hoped, deliberate inquiry on doubtful fubjects, and a due confideration of human frailty and fallibility, would tend to correct. H. SERMONS on the late General Faft, continued: See our laft. XXVIII. The whole Service as performed in the Congregation of Proteftant Diffenters at Wakefield, December 13, &c. By William Turner. 8vo. 6d. Wakefield printed. This difcourfe is plain and practical, giving a proper account of the nature and defign of a faft-day. The preacher wifely refrains from entering into the controverfy which immediately occafioned the appointment of the day; though from fome hints it may be furmifed that he does not violently incline to the government-fide, in the conteft with America. The prayers which it has been thought proper to publish with the fermon, are very fuitable to the occafion. H. XXIX. The Nature, Extent, and Importance, of the Duty of Allegiance-at Aberdeen. By George Campbell, D. D. Principal of Marihal College. 4to. Is. Cadell, &c. There are fome general principles in which wife men agree, on almost every subject; but in the explication of thofe principles, in the reasonings, obfervations, and conclufions that arise from them, they are often found to differ widely. This is not, perhaps, more apparent in any inftance, than on the topic of government. Senfible advocates for the Americans, in the prefent unhappy and miferable contention, contention, will agree with the Author of this difcourfe, in feme general remarks which he offers; but in the extenfion of thofe remarks, and in feveral of his reflections on the difpute between Britain and its colonies, they will think there is reafon to dissent from him, and even fometimes to charge him with partiality. Few of the late faft-fermons have entered fo particularly into a difcuffion of the queftion between us and our American brethren as this; which has, especially in fome parts, rather the air of a political pamphlet than of a Chriftian minifter's addrefs to his andience, on a day of humiliation. For this, however, the Author makes fome apology in his preface, the chief ftrefs of which refts on the duty of a Chriftian minifter to inculcate on his hearers all the precepts of the gofpel, and among the reft, that of obedience to magiftrates. The ingenuity and ability of the writer are fufficiently apparent, and his reflections on the American controversy, in particular, deferving of attention, though they are chiefly fuch as have been confidered and re confidered, as it should feem, but to little purpose. The ufe which the Doctor makes of irony and ridicule, in fome inftances, appears to us, unfuitable to the occafion, unworthy of the place in which he stood, and what would be feldom proper in the difcuffion of a point which is now become fo ferious and fo truly deplorable. He is, no doubt, perfectly convinced of the injuftice of the American caufe, and we need not wonder that he fhould thus confider it, if the opinion of that people is formed merely, or chiefly, from the character with which he tells us Mr. Burke has furnished him, (though he owns himself inclined to think it exaggerated) that they are a proud, fierce, jealous, ftubborn, untractable, fufpicious, litigious, chicaning race of pettifoggers. Dr. Campbell has, however, candor enough to admit that in regard to the article of representation, there is fome difference between the fubjects in America and Britain: "The members of the house of commons," fays he, "in almost every tax they lay on their British fellow-fubjects, tax themselves in proportion. The cafe is different in regard to their fellow-fubjects in America. But this, he adds, is an inequality that neceffarily refults from the difference of fituation, and is, befides, more than counterbalanced by fome motives and difficulties that will ever effectually prevent the legislature from going the fame lengths in taxing the American fubjects which it may fafely go in taxing Britons." This laft fuggestion may tend to alleviate the evil; how far it will be admitted as an anfwer to the objection, it is not requifite for us at prefent to confider. We obferve that, in the clofe of the difcourfe, Dr. Campbell manifefts fome approbation of the propofal made by Dean Tucker. Better far were it, he thinks, to let them have their beloved independence than to agree to all the conceffions which they have requested. "I am not sure," fays he," that this would not have been the best measure from the beginning. I fay this, however, with all due deference and fubmiffion, for I am far from confidering myfelf as a proper judge in fo nice a question." The principal difference between this pamphlet and others that have been written on the American difpute, lies in the introduction and application of thofe paffages of fcripture which enforce fub miffion miffion and obedience to the civil government. Thefe precepts certainly have their force, and muft be fuppofed binding on all who receive the Chriftian revelation. But though Dr. Campbell introduces a popish and ecclefiaftical interpretation of them, by which alone, he would infinuate, their power can poffibly be eluded, he certainly need not be told that this part of the fubject of liberty has been formerly fully canvaffed, and it has fufficiently appeared that an attention to them is very confiftent with a zealous regard to those civil and religious rights of mankind, which an honest mind would wifh to defend and fecure. It belongs to others more particularly to canvass this point, and therefore we fhall only farther obferve, that it is most true, as our Author fays, that the Christian religion is friendly to order, and to the public peace; which it will not permit us rably to infringe. He adds, "the ancient landmarks of the conftitution, it forbids us to remove, in the prefumptuous hope that we should place them anew better than our forefathers have done." Rafhly to infringe the public peace is, we agree with the Doctor, inconfiftent with chriftianity, and with common reason and fenfe. But conftitutionally, in this writer's phrafe at other times, to attempt amendments, which may be done without any real difturbance of the general order, if all parties are properly difpofed, is far from being contrary to the spirit of the gospel, which leads Λ us by all means to promote each other's comfort and happiness. As we have drawn out this article to a much greater length than we intended, we fhall here close it by uniting in the with with which the good Doctor finishes his fermon; "May God, who bringeth light out of darkness, and order out of confufion, make all our troubles, terminate in what fhall prove the felicity of all.”. H. Single SERMONS on various Occafions. 1. The Doctrine of a crucified Lord, vindicated and applied-At St. II. Grace difplayed, and Saul converted; preached in Newgate, Dec. IV. At Winchefter Affizes, before the Judges, &c, March 5, 1777. The following NOTE bas, by accident, been omitted; it should harve been inferted at the End of our Abftraŭ of the Life of the late Bishop of Rochefter: fee Rev. February. The Editor of Bishop Pearce's Life has committed a great mistake in faying, that Dr. Busby ufed to detain thofe boys longest under his dif sipline, of whofe future eminence he had most expectation, and affigning this as the reason of Mr. Pearce's being kept at Weftminster school to the zoth year of his age; for Mr. Pearce was fent to Westminster fchool, Feb. 12, 1704, at which time Dr. Friend was mafter of it. Dr. Bufby died in 1695, aged 89. COR F CORRESPONDENCE. To the AUTHORS of the MONTHLY REVIEW. GENTLEMEN, YOUR YOUR Correfpondent R. E. R. is right, as to the magnificence and elegance of Potsdam; but I felt, when there, a painful fomething at the impropriety of beggars occupying what could only fuit their fuperiors. But Potfdam was to be magnificent at all events, and the outfide is indeed fo. Force, and military defpotifm, are not calculated to draw inhabitants of WORTH together. There is much money spent to fhew the traveller fplendida miferia. The rage for building has been the foible of that family. There is fomething fhocking in a valet de chambre living in a palace fit for a fovereign prince. The Military Orphan-house and Workhouse, this Gentleman fays, is perhaps equal to Greenwich Hofpital in grandeur and neatness. After ages will not impute this to the noble charity of this opulent and powerful nation, but to the taste of the monarch for fplendour; the nation is not opulent, but the monarch is, and will be. Potsdam resembles the forced fruits of the gardens of Sans Souci; it is a hothouse in an ungrateful climate. Your conftant reader, and humble servant, S. N. • The Reviewer of Art. I. in the laft Number, had difcovered, previous to the receipt of a letter on the fubject from a Correfpondent, that the divifion and conftruction fuggefted by Dr. Chandler, in his notes on chap. i. 23. and chap. ii. 1. of the epiftle to the Ephefians, were not new: fee Monthly Review for laft Month, p. 166, 1. §. He had found, on examination, that Dr. Doddridge, in loc. takes notice of fome who propofed the fame conftruction, though he dif approves of it. But it appears that the learned commentator Dr. C. was not apprized of this; and the Reviewer was misled by an improper confidence in the accuracy of his inquiry. He fays (fee note, p. 91) fpeaking of the connexion between the three firft verfes of the fecond chapter and the laft verfe of the first chapter; however evident this appears to me, yet no interpreters or critics, that I have seen, have taken the leaft notice of it; and therefore for want of it, have been greatly at a lofs for the conftruction of the words, and how to fix a proper fupplement to make up the sense of them.' We are obliged to our Correfpondent for his remark; and likewife for noticing the errata, in this and other Articles, which had efcaped both the tranfcriber and corrector; particularly that of which is in the original copy from which the מתים for כתים tranfcript was made. * Review, March, p. 166. R..s †lt Mr. |