Art. X. The Christian Soldier: A Sermon preached to the "Regiment of Renfrew Militia, at Bridge Chapel, in Bristol. By Samuel Lowel. 8vo. 1813. THE close resemblance betwixt the mode of conducting worship in the Church of Scotland, and amongst theProtestant Dissenters in England, is well known, and sufficiently accounts for the predilection the natives of Scotland have generally evinced for dissenting above episcopal places of worship, when they have settled in the southern part of the island. Under the influence of this partiality the Renfrew Militia, accidentally stationed at Bristol, expressed a desire of attending at the Rev. Mr. Lowel's chapel, a popular and highly respectable independant minister at Bristol. The promptness with which this request was acceded to, on the part of the Lieutenant-Colonel, and the General of the district, General Buller, to whom it was referred, does the highest honour to the liberality of those gentlemen; while the presence of upwards of 500 soldiers, devoutly listening to the word of God, is a striking spec tacle in a dissenting place of worship, well adapted to impart an additional animation to a Christian preacher. The excellent author of this sermon appears to have felt the impulse such a circumstance is calculated to give, in its full force, and has produced a discourse, not only suited to the immediate occasion, but of permanent utility. In illustrating the Christian warfare, he has delineated the character, and enforced the duties of a Christian, considered in a military capacity, with much propriety, delicacy, and animation: the analogy is closely pursued, without being pushed to fanciful coincidences. The sentiments are equally judicious and devout, and the language highly animated and impressive, with as much elegance as is suited to a popular address. On the whole, we feel a pleasure in recommending this excellent discourse to the public, and should consider it as one of the best modes of doing good, for opulent persons to purchase a number of them with a view to their gratuitous distribution amongst the soldiery. Art. XI. Tales of the Poor, or Infant Sufferings: containing the Chimney Sweeper's Boy; Sally Brown, the Cotton Spinner; the Orphans, a ballad: Mary Davis. 12mo. Price 2s. 6d. Montgomery, Sheffield. Longman and Co. 1813. THIS, although an unpretending, is an interesting and important publication; its statements are founded upon facts, and its tendency is uniformly to the promotion of the present and future welfare of mankind. The sufferings of "the Chimney Sweeper's Boy" are universally known, and although all affect to pity them, we are sorry to say that the measures which a few philanthropists have taken to alleviate them, have met with but a partial support. The Cotton Spinning establishments seem to be more extensively injurious, and we hope that the attention of the public will be kept alive to these unne cessary abuses of necessary employments, until the whole of the objections be removed. Art. XII. Directions to seek after Truth, and Cautions against the Errors of Modern Unitarianism. In a Letter from a Minister to his Congregation. By W. Evans, Stockport. 8vo. pp. 30. Price is. 6d. 1813. THE author justly remarks, that Unitarians have, of late, shewn a most lively anxiety, and a zeal perfectly novel among them, for disseminating their own principles: they employ missionaries--they circulate cheap tracts-they preach controversial lectures-they embrace every opportunity to engage the attention of youth-they neglect no occasions of insinuating the peculiarities of their creed. For these vigorous efforts to disseminate the principles of their faith, so far as they are free from artifice and fraud, we are of opinion, that they deserve our respect rather than our reprehension; but when we witness such strenuous exertions on their side, we ought to feel it an imperious duty to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints." Our thanks are due to Mr. Evans for the good sense and pious feeling displayed in this cautionary address; and we think it will be favourably received by many readers beyond the limits of his pastoral charge. After a variety of preliminary remarks with respect to the manner in which truth should be investigated and defended, the author urges the following objections to the system of Unitarians. 1. It is a system that depreciates the Bible. 2. It is a system that degrades the character of Jesus Christ. 3. It appears to exclude all that distinguishes the gospel of Christ from every other system of religion. 4. It is inefficient as to the great ends to be answered by the gospel. Art. XIII. Poems. By Three Friends. 12mo. pp. 168. Price 7s. boards. Underwood. 1813. NASCITUR poeta, we acknowledge; but nothing is easier than to make a verse-writer. Invention is the gift of nature alone; but there are certain feelings in almost all minds, which, by a poetical education, may be fostered up into a spurious kind Art. X. The Christian Soldier: A Sermon preached to the 'Regiment of Renfrew Militia, at Bridge Chapel, in Bristol. By Samuel Lowel. 8vo. 1813. THE close resemblance betwixt the mode of conducting worship in the Church of Scotland, and amongst theProtestant Dissenters in England, is well known, and sufficiently accounts for the predilection the natives of Scotland have generally evinced for dissenting above episcopal places of worship, when they have settled in the southern part of the island. Under the influence of this partiality the Renfrew Militia, accidentally stationed at Bristol, expressed a desire of attending at the Rev. Mr. Lowel's chapel, a popular and highly respectable independant minister at Bristol. The promptness with which this request was acceded to, on the part of the Lieutenant-Colonel, and the General of the district, General Buller, to whom it was referred, does the highest honour to the liberality of those gentlemen; while the presence of upwards of 500 soldiers, devoutly listening to the word of God, is a striking spectacle in a dissenting place of worship, well adapted to impart an additional animation to a Christian preacher. The excellent author of this sermon appears to have felt the impulse such a circumstance is calculated to give, in its full force, and has produced a discourse, not only suited to the immediate occasion, but of permanent utility. In illustrating the Christian warfare, he has delineated the character, and enforced the duties of a Christian, considered in a military capacity, with much propriety, delicacy, and animation: the analogy is closely pursued, without being pushed to fanciful coincidences. The sentiments are equally judicious and devout, and the language highly animated and impressive, with as much elegance as is suited to a popular address. On the whole, we feel a pleasure in recommending this excellent discourse to the public, and should consider it as one of the best modes of doing good, for opulent persons to purchase a number of them with a view to their gratuitous distribution amongst the soldiery. Art. XI. Tales of the Poor, or Infant Sufferings: containing the Chimney Sweeper's Boy; Sally Brown, the Cotton Spinner; the Orphans, a ballad: Mary Davis. 12mo. Price 2s. 6d. Montgomery, Sheffield. Longman and Co. 1813. THIS, although an unpretending, is an interesting and important publication; its statements are founded upon facts, nd its tendency is uniformly to the promotion of the present and future welfare of mankind. The sufferings of " the. Chimney Sweeper's Boy" are universally known, and although all affect to pity them, we are sorry to say that the measures which a few philanthropists have taken to alleviate them, have met with but a partial support. The Cotton Spinning establishments seem to be more extensively injurious, and we hope that the attention of the public will be kept alive to these unne cessary abuses of necessary employments, until the whole of the objections be removed. Art. XII. Directions to seek after Truth, and Cautions against the Errors of Modern Unitarianism. In a Letter from a Minister to his Congregation. By W. Evans, Stockport. 8vo. pp. 30. Price is. 6d. 1813. THE author justly remarks, that Unitarians have, of late, shewn a most lively anxiety, and a zeal perfectly novel among them, for disseminating their own principles: they employ missionaries--they circulate cheap tracts-they preach controversial lectures-they embrace every opportunity to engage the attention of youth-they neglect no occasions of insinuating the peculiarities of their creed. For these vigorous efforts to disseminate the principles of their faith, so far as they are free from artifice and fraud, we are of opinion, that they deserve our respect rather than our reprehension; but when we witness such strenuous exertions on their side, we ought to feel it an imperious duty to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints." Our thanks are due to Mr. Evans for the good sense and pious feeling displayed in this cautionary address; and we think it will be favourably received by many readers beyond the limits of his pastoral charge. After a variety of preliminary remarks with respect to the manner in which truth should be investigated and defended, the author urges the following objections to the system of Unitarians. 1. It is a system that depreciates the Bible. 2. It is a system that degrades the character of Jesus Christ. 3. It appears to exclude all that distinguishes the gospel of Christ from every other system of religion. 4. It is inefficient as to the great ends to be answered by the gospel. Art. XIII. Poems. By Three Friends. 12mo. pp. 168. Price 7s. boards. Underwood. 1813. NASCITUR poeta, we acknowledge; but nothing is easier than to make a verse-writer. Invention is the gift of nature alone; but there are certain feelings in almost all minds, which, by a poetical education, may be fostered up into a spurious kind of poetry and then there are so few ears so deficient as not to discern metre, and fewer memories unprovided with a store of rhymes. Here, then, are the ingredients of a port-folio of verses; and, as money burns the pocket of a child, verses are sure to set on fire the port-folio of a youth; and so out comes a dapper little hot-pressed volume. You may always know these bardlings by a set of threadbare metaphors, and superannuated feelings, much ado about harps, and sheils, and strings, and chords, a vast delight in moonlight and twilight,-an hysterieal inclination to cry,-and a perpetual preference of the past to the present. We by no means wish to speak harshly of the Three Friends, before us; they appear to be persons of very amiable feelings, and of cultivated minds. Their verses, we doubt not, must have been very pleasing to the private friends to whom they were addressed; but the public is more fastidious, and we are afraid that this little volume stands but an indifferent chance for popularity among its numerous rivals in this fortunate day of poetry, None, however, should be condemned unheard: we dip into the volume, and bring out the following lines. Maid of the mountains! fare thee well, I love thy sweet simplicity, And long thy artless charms shall dwell, Born in this wild, romantic glen, Thy cradle was the mountain-side : Sweet floweret of the wooded dell! O! never from these mountains go ; For in that busy world afar, Gay folly holds her airy reign, Wild passions wage eternal war. But here false pleasure's gilded lure, But modesty and virtue pure, Beam sweetly from the eye of truth, |