author employs, throughout, the language of panegyric; and in difplaying the merit of the Danish courtiers, he deals too much in fuperlatives. If he be indeed an Englishman, as his title-page pro◄ feffes, his long refidence in a foreign country must have corrupted the purity of his native tongue. His expreffions are often improper, and the conftruction of his fentences is seldom correct. Without dwelling, however, on verbal imperfections, his work is fuch as cannot fail of highly gratifying the English reader; who will naturally feel himself interested in contemplating this picture of an amiable young prince, fprung from a branch of the royal family of Great Britain. Gil Art. 46. The Reform; or an Account of an Undertaking for the Employment and Reform of the Deftitute and Profligate Poor. No. I. (to be continued.) 8vo. pp. 16. 4d. Johnfon. 1791. This fcheme is fo nearly allied to that of the Philanthropic fociety lately formed, that we were fomewhat furprised not to find the least reference made to the Philanthropists by their younger brethren, in the account now published: which leads to a conjecture that they may be feceders, on account of the variation in their propofals. The Philanthropic fociety has for its object the rescuing children from vagrant or vicious parents, to train them up to fobriety and industry: leaving the parents as confirmed and incorrigible. This fociety propofes to receive the miferable adults rejected by the other. There is fuch a connexion among these two societies, the Magdalen, Afylum, Foundling Hospital, and the Marine Society, that we think fome fort of union, incorporation, or correfpondence, would communicate ftrength and confiftency to the whole as one grand fyftem of benevolent charity. By continuing under separate pames, and making feparate applications for fubfcriptions, they will poffibly be all weakly carried on; for there are multitudes who may plead the fanciful number of the schemes, as an excufe for rejecting them altogether: whereas, could one plan, comprehending thefe feveral branches, be offered to the public, the claim on humanity would be fo ftrong, that even fashion might affift in making it difgraceful for any perfon of good property to withhold his name from the clafs where liberality implied affluence. N. Art. 47. Reflections on the General Utility of Inland Navigation, to the Commercial and Landed Interefts of England: with Obfervations on the intended Canal from Birmingham to Worcester ; and fome Strictures upon the Oppofition given to it by the Proprietors of the Staffordshire Canal. 8vo. PP. 17. is. 6d. Debrett, The public welfare refults from the aggregate of private industry, which is greatly facilitated by thefe inland water roads. The opening of particular canals are local objects of confideration; and the oppofition of interefts operates to the full inveftigation of circum flances, and to the maturity of the undertakings. THEOLOGY and POLEMICS. N. Art. 48. Remarks on the Scriptural Account of the Dimensions of Solomon's Temple; occafioned by the Supplement to a Pamphlet entitled, entitled, Evidence that the Relation of Jofephus concerning The defign of Mr. Burgess, in this publication, may be best understood from his own recapitulation, which we fhall therefore fub join; premifing, that Mr. B. treats the fubject with his ufual learning and ingenuity; and in a manner lefs contemptuous toward his opponent, than that which we difapproved in his last pamphlet: I think I have now abundantly fhewn that the Sanctuary and Holy of Holies were not diftin&t buildings, but parts of one and the fame building, the fame House of the Lord:-that the Sanctuary and Holy of Holies together were but fixty cubits in the clear :that the Sanctuary was but forty cubits: - that the Porch before the House was not included in the clear dimenfions of the Houfe: -that the whole interior space of the Houfe, and of the Porch before it, was but feventy cubits :-and that the whole fpace in length from out to out, was but an hundred cubits. It is therefore evident that as the of Solomon was only fixty cubits long in the clear, and Zerubbabel's was of the fame length, Herod could have added nothing to the length of Zerubbabel's ναός to make it equal to Solomon's; and therefore that καθαιρήσειν τον νεων, καταλύσαι το παν έργον, &c. in the narrative of Jofephus do not mean that Herod took down a part of the vas to enlarge it, but that he took down the whole and that ryg TOV νέων, κατασκεύασαι τον νεων, &c. mean that he rebuilt the Temples and confequently that Jofephus has not been mifreprefented.' Art. 49. Difcourfes on different Subjects: by the Rev. Richard Polwhele. The 2d Edition. To which are added, Two Difcourfes and an Effay. 8vo. 2 Vols. pp. 260 in each. 10s. 6d. Boards. Cadell. 1791. Pars..s. The first edition of thefe difcourfes having already paffed under our notice*, we have only to give a brief account of the additional difcourfes and effay. The fubjects of the former are, A particular Providence; and our Difinclination to convert the friking Events of Life to our religicus Advantage. The Effay treats on The comparative Learning and Morality of the Ancients and Moderns. The difcourfe on Providence is rather practical than fpeculative, and more adapted to imprefs the heart with pious fentiments, than to clear up the difficulties attending the fubject. The fecond, in a pathetic train, deduces religious reflections from fundry particular incidents, public and private. In the elay, Mr. Polwhele combats the opinion of the fuperiority of the Ancients in works of tafte. He prefers Taffo's Jerufalem Delivered, to Lucan's Pharfalia; Mickle's tranflation of the Eufad of Camoens, to Virgil's Aneid; Milton's Paradife Left, to Homer's Iliad; and the English to the Grecian Drama. His decifions, however, are, we think, too general and too flightly fupported, to over turn the prejudice, (if fuch it be,) which has fo generally prevailed in favour of the claffical writings of antiquity. In point of fcience, * kov. New Series, vol. i. p. 3-3. it will be allowed that the moderns far excel the ancients: but, in works of tafte, and particularly in poetry, fculpture, and architecture, it may be justly questioned whether they do not still retain an unrivalled fuperiority. As to the comparison of modern with ancient times, with respect to morality, the queftion is, in our opinion, much too complex to be decided within the compass of a short effay. E. Art. 50. Remarks on the Religious Sentiments of learned and eminent Laymen, with occafional Reflections on Incredulity. 4to. pp. 154. 2s. 6d. Robinsons. 1790. The names, enumerated in the title-page, and to which the remarks of this little volume belong, are, Sir Ifaac Newton, Hon. Robert Boyle, Locke, Sir Matthew Hale, Addifon, Nelson, Lord Lyttleton, Weft, Soame Jenyns.' This lift is followed by two et cætera's; which we cannot avoid obferving, fince it may lead the reader, in looking into the work, to expect farther additions: but no others will be found, befide thofe above-mentioned. It has been long and frequently employed as an argument in fa. vour of Christianity, that fome of the wifeft and greatest men, which our country has produced, have been its avowed and sted fast friends. The above names are well known to be highly refpectable; and the determinations of fuch perfons certainly carry with them great weight. The compiler has chofen to make his felection from among the laity, as not being liable to the fame objections as to intereft, prejudice, &c. which might, by fome, rather uncandidly, be fuppofed to lie against the clergy. It is known that these gentlemen were believers, on full inquiry and conviction; it is also known that fome of them did not affent to all the explications and opinions which are generally esteemed orthodox. Indeed there have been none more firmly attached to the truth and doctrine of the gospel, than fome of those who have feen reafon to differ confiderably from human ftandards of faith. This is far from leffening the value of their verdict.-Soame Jenyns will not, poffibly, be confidered by all readers as entitled to equal refpect with thofe to whom he is here united. Some have doubted his being friendly to revelation, which yet he probably was; although he advances reflections, that, in the opinion of many fenfible obfervers, covertly militate against it. There are things objectionable even in the fhort extracts here made from his work: but it is not for us now to enter into this inquiry. On the whole, we hope this brief and easy compilation may prove useful, and may lead perfons to confider and regard fuch evidences for the truth of Chriftianity as come within their reach; and fuch there are, and of a powerful kind, to which all perfons may attend, though Soame Jenyns would perfuade us that they muft reft entirely on the credit of others. Art. 51. Reflections on Faith: In which it is fhewn, that no Difference of Religious Opinion is any reasonable Ground of Difrefpect among Men, and efpecially among Chriftians. By Philanthropos. A new Edition, with Alterations and Additions. This Edition includes Obfervations on the Utility of Almfgiving, and of providing for the Poor by Law, in defence of thofe Means Hi. of of Mercy against fome Afperfions caft on them in the FIRST REPORT of the PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY; and an Appendix is added, occafioned by Mr. Burke's Animadverfions on the Revolution Sermon of Dr. Price. 8vo. pp. 159. 29. Dilly. 1790. In our account of the first edition of this work, we bore our teftimony to the apparently good intention and liberal fpirit of the writer*. This en arged reprefentation of his ideas confirms us in our opinion. The piece fuggefts many juft fentiments, expreffed in a clear and accurate, if not in a concife and nervous manner. The Appendix contains little that will be thought new in argument, or peculiarly ftriking in language, after the many able replies which have been made to the doctrines of Mr Burke's Reflections. We have heard that this pamphlet is the production of a brother of the Reverend and learned Gilbert Wakefield. Art. 52. Mr. Turner pronounces Dr. P.'s fermon an infamous libel on our two Universities, and a fcandalous and feditious attack on Government; he afferts alfo, that contempt and ridicule are the only weapons with which he ought to be affailed.' We cannot entirely agree with him in the first of these pofitions; and, fince the publication of this letter, fome of Dr. P.'s opponents have exhibited flaming proofs that they do not agree with him in the last. SINGLE SERMONS. E. Mooy. Art. 53. A Difcourfe on Pain. Preached at Bath. By James After defcribing pain as one of the greatest external calamities known to man, he elevates us to the contemplation of that future ftate where there is to be no pain. The text is Rev. xxi. 4. * See Rev. New Series, vol. ii. p. 120. In a note, p. 43. the Doctor mentions a curious remedy for the cramp. Moo-y. Art. 54. On John vii. 17. delivered in the Parish Church of Sutton-Coldfield, Jan. 30, 1791. By the Rev. F. Blick, A. M. Curate, late of St. John's College, Oxford. With the Letters that have paffed between him, and the Rev. John Riland, A. M. Rector, refpecting it. 8vo. pp. 38. Printed at Birmingham. Mr. Blick, being accufed by his rector of preaching doctrines fundamentally erroneous, appeals to the candid tribunal of an enlightened public; which, no doubt, will acquit him of the charge; and look on Mr. Riland as having more zeal for orthodoxy than knowlege or candour. The fermon, in the compofition of which Mr. B. very ingenuously acknowleges he has been much indebted to one on the fame text already before the public, has nothing objectionable in it, but contains, in our opinion, the genuine fentiments of Christianity. The correfpondence does him equal credit. By the long lift of fubfcribers, the neighbourhood have fufficiently marked their approbation of Mr. Blick's conduct. Do Art. 55. Waiting for God's Salvation. Occafioned by the Death. of the Rev. Samuel Morton Savage, D. D. who departed this Life Feb. 21, 1791, in the 70th Year of his Age. By William Bennet. To which is added, an Addrefs at the Grave, by Thomas Towle, B. D. 8vo. PP. 54. IS. Dilly. Mr. Bennet, in the latter part of his fermon, and Mr. Towle, more particularly, in the addrefs at the grave, have given a true account of Dr. Savage. There is no difgufting panegyric, but his character is very faithfully delineated. Dr. S. poffeffed talents and learning fuperior to many who have rendered themselves confpicuous in the republic of letters; and, had he been ambitious of exhibiting them, his fame might have been extenfive: but, fond of retirement, and unfolicitous of a reputation for learning, he was known to the world as an author only by the publication of a charge and two or three fermons. Mr. 1owle fuggefts his being noble as well as learned and pious; having had a right to claim the title of Earl Rivers. Mr. Bennet's fermon is in the Calviniftic ftrain, and many of the expreffions are thofe of the old divinity; fuch as clofing with the offers of grace :-God's waiting fervants, effectual calling, and appropriating faith. We are told, in this difcourfe, that the deftruction of finners would have reflected honour on God's holiness and justice.' If this, however, be true, what we call the mercy of God was a very incomplete measure of his government. According to Mr. B. he omitted to do what would have reflected honour on two of his attributes. Ought we thus to fpeak of the Divine Being? D Art. 56. A View of Revealed Religion. Preached at the Ordination of the Rev. William Field of Warwick, July 12, 1790. By Jofeph Priestley, LL. D. F. R. S. with a Charge, delivered at the fame time, by the Rev. Thomas Belham. 8vo. pp. 68. 1s. 6d. Johnson. 1790. 4 Names |