of London; who, with a zeal and attention honourable to his exalted station and truly Christian character, is taking the steps necessary to inform himself of the condition of his very important Diocese. The number will certainly not be found materially to affect the present argument, as it bears a very small proportion to the aggregate just stated; and as it has been made evident that the Separatists could not be received, even if they were desirous of joining the present Congregations of the Church of England. The preceding induction of particulars appears to have established the melancholy truth, that within a circuit of about eight miles around the City of London, by the present distribution and circum stances of the Parishes, after allowing to each Church a proportion more than sufficient to fill it, and quite, if not more than equal to the Parochial Care of the Clergy at present allotted to the charge, there is found to remain a surplus population of NINE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-THREE THOUSAND excluded from the benefits and advantages of participating in the instructive Public Worship and Pastoral Superintendance of the Established Church. -This number EXCEEDS (by upwards of 6000,) the entire population of the NINE COUNTIES, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Dorsetshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire, and Cambridgeshire, containing Sixteen hundred and fifty-two Parish Churches. "From the facts just adduced it is evident beyond a doubt, that an immense numerical majority of the Inhabitants of the Metropolis (and the same may be said of other populous districts) derive no spiritual edification from the Established Ministry and Public Services of the Church; that our admirable Liturgy gives them-no knowledge of a God and a Saviour, no restraining or consolatory impressions of future hopes and fears; that in the midst of a Country boasting its civilization, intelligence, and Gospel-light, they are left exposed to all the delusions of mental darkness and gross ignorance. Some few of them seeking and obtaining from Sectarian zeal a scanty portion of that instruction, which they must in vain look for from the present state of the Established Church; but by far the greater part spending the hallowed day appropriated to religious duties in a worse than heathenish pursuit of secular avocations, in a degrading idleness, or in the riotous profligacy of the public house. Thus the Sabbath, that most gracious boon of a merciful Creator to suffering humanity, like every GENT. MAG. August, 1815. other blessing not employed to its proper purpose, becomes to them perverted into a source and occasion of evil, - a day of injurious indolence or depraved in temperance. "The Law of the Land, as it is supposed to stand at present, prohibits, except under certain difficult regulations, the building and opening of any places of Public Worship for the use of the Liturgy of the Church of England. But structures for every other mode of Worship may be erected and opened, by any person so inclined, upon the easy condi tion of obtaining a licence from the Magistrates, granted by the Law upon a very inconsiderable pecuniary payment, To complain of the increase of Sectaries and Methodists cannot therefore answer any good purpose, while we have no Churches to receive them, even if they wished to join our Congregations; and while the Law permits them, if they continue to dissent, to build as many Chapels as they please; but if they conform to the Liturgy, the privilege of providing themselves with the means of Public Worship is immediately denied, although the Establishment, in its present state, does not itself afford that essential supply. It is not at all wonderful, therefore, that in districts where numerous Sheep are shut out from the possibility of receiving instruction in the fold of the regular Shepherd, some of them should seek refuge and refreshment from the care and zeal of self-appointed Pastors. This part of the subject may receive illustration from most of the newly-populated districts of England. "As the Metropolis has been so largely expatiated upon,two examples from Country towns may be sufficient for present notice. The increasing town of Cheltenham, with a population of Eight thousand three hundred and twenty-five, is still supplied with only ONE Parish Church; and the whole is placed under the Parochial and Pastoral Charge of ONE Minister. The different sentiments of our ancestors are evidenced by the state of the neighbouring City, Gloucester, which, with a population of only Eight thousand two hundred and eighty, is divided into TEN Parishes, with as many Parochial Churches, without including the Cathedral and its Clergy.-Brighton is also one of those modern towns, for the increasing population of which the Law makes no provision. The want of edifices for the Public Worship of the Members of the Church of England in this town has been long felt. A Chapel was recently erected by some Gentlemen for the cele bration of Divine Service, according to the the Liturgy of the Church of England. After much literary discussion with the Vicar of the Parish and the Bishop of the Diocese, the Vicar thought it his duty to enforce the Law, as it is conceived at present to stand, , and to shut up the Chapel. This was subsequently confirmed by the judgment of Sir John Nicholl. The Chapel has since been advertised for sale, and sold and may be opened without further expence or trouble, by the Methodists or any Sectarian Form of Worship, upon the easy terms of taking a licence from the Magistrates. The present effect of the Law, in restricting and restraining the Service of the Church of England, may be further illustrated by comparing the circumstances of this modern town, and the two neighbouring antient ones, C Chichester and Lewes. Chichester, with a Population of Six thousand four hundred and twenty-five, is divided into eight Parishes, with Churches, exclusive of the Cathedral. Lewes has a population of Sir thousand two hundred and twenty-one, and is divided into six Parishes, with a Church and Minister to each.-Brighton, when a small fishing town, was furnished with one Church and one Minister. It is now increased to a resident population of twelve thousand and twelve inhabitants, and the Law still continues that number in ONE PARISH, under the Pastoral care of ONE Minister and the same ONE CHURCH, which, upon the largest computation, cannot supply the benefit of the Liturgical Instruction of the Church of England to more than three thousand, leaving a surplus population of nine thousand without Parochial Communion with the Church of England. Such instances may more properly be termed Exclusion rather than Defection from the Established Church: they may account for the increase of Methodism and Dissent, but certainly cannot be assigned to the zeal or the activity of Sectaries. They arise solely from a disuse of the wise practice of our ancestors. The continuance of such a system must indeed be highly injurious, and may be ultimately fatal, to the Established Church. It can only be remedied by the Legislators of the Established Church itself. The dereliction of Duty, and Nonresidence of the Clergy, have also been assigned as chief causes of danger to the Church ; and several Legislative Acts have, in consequence of this opinion, been brought forward to correct these supposed evils, with what effect; the present state of the Church, and of the religious instruction it is intended to supply, is a lamentable proof. The Acts which have recently passed the Legislature, and the discussions consequent upon their introduction, seemed to have been formed upon a view of these exceptions alone, The censure dealt with no unsparing hand, and unsoftened by any notice of the far greater proportion of pious and useful Pastors, feil, like corrosive poison, upon the cause of Religion; and consequently upon the best interests of the State, and of humanity. And the Acts themselves have not produced any of those benefits to the Established Church which their advocates proposed and expected. They may, perhaps, have reached a few instances of delinquency; but have not contributed in the least degree to supply the wants of the Establishment, where those wants are most urgent and most dangerous. Some few unoffending and useful Curates may have been dispos sessed, by the Rectors and Vicars being compelled to undertake the charge in their own persons. In the thinly-poputated Country Parishes, such changes have no effect upon the Establishment at large, and are often injurious to the Parishes in particular. But in the extended and thickly-inhabited Parishes noticed in the foregoing pages, the present letter of the law is complied with the legal residence is enforced; although the very intent and purpose of Resident Clergy is defeated, by devolving upon an individual or two, in these districts, a charge which, according to the proportion of population allowed in the adjoining Counties, should be intrusted to fifty or sixty; leaving a surplus population in the Metropolis District alone with a deficiency of Public Instructors equal, not only to an infraction of the Residence Acts in other parts of the Kingdom by sixteen hundred and fifty non-resident Incumbents, but to the still greater evil of that number of Parishes left totally without ANY Pastors, either Rector or Curate; and by which several hundred thousand supposed Members of the Church of England are left without Parochial Communion; without Divine Service; without any benefit from our admirable Liturgy; without any Gospel Instruction; without any sense of Religion." Many valuable historical facts are brought forward, respecting the New Churches built at the beginning of the Eighteenth Century and many useful suggestions towards pursuing the same good work to a far greater extent. The education of the Children of the Poor is also most candidly and very ably discussed. The animatedWriter thus concludes: "Your ? Your Lordship'a time and attention cannot, therefore, be employed more ho nourably to yourself, or more beneficially to the Nation, tham in undertaking and putting forward a Work so much for the honour of God, the spiritual welfare of his Majesty's subjects, the interest of the Established Church, and the glory of his Majesty's Reign. To establish this great work upon a judicious and comprehensive plan, would impress a perImanent and beneficent splendour upon your Lordship's Administration would place upon a solid basis of, security, the Constitutional Government, the rank of the Nobles, the property of the wealthy, the protection of the weak, and the just rights and liberties of all. A security which can never be found in any display of Military Renown, Financial Power, or Commercial Prosperity, when unsup ported by the invigorating and decisive agency of Moral, Religious, and Christian Principles. These are the only principles of true and radical Reform, and of peaceful and legitimate Liberty. The only certain and undeviating means of individual and social improvement; and of the leletation of the rational faculties to their just and universal ascendancy; preparatory to that ultimate happiness in an unchangeable state of existence, to which the present life is only the intro duction. Of these principles an admirable practical compendium is given in the words of a justly-revered Writer, himself a Scholar, a Philosopher, and a Reformer; whose authority, though disavowed by too many of the present age, will be justly appreciated by your Lordship, and is worthy of, as it is destined to attain, an universal acknowledgment: We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake, and be at peace among yourselves. Warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings (public explanations of Scriptare). Prove all things, bold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of Peace canctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of your Lord Jesus Christ. These are the principles, upon the prevalence of which the peace and prosperity of Nations, and the protection and happiness of indi viduals, can alone be founded. These are the principles which the Established Church is occupied in defending and diffusingem on vd drove 19. A Sermon, in Two Parts, preached at Lower Mitton Chapel, Oct. 2, 1814, in Aid of the Sunday School established at Stourport. By Thomas Price, M.A 8vo. pp. 36. Longman and Co. IT is very difficult to say any thing new on so common a subject as that of Sunday Schools. There is, howe ever, a superiority both of reasoning and styles in the Sermon before us, which may fairly entitle it to distinc tion. After taking occasion, from the to recoinmend the Fustitution for 2d Epistle of St. John, hn, verses 4 and 8. which he pleads, the Preacher endeavours to combat the objections which are usually urged against this mođe of public charity, and with what success, our Readers may, by the following specimen, be enabled to judge for theinselves. nso Jadise 90T N "It is possible that to some here present, this colouring may seem too much heightened, and even the beneficial tendency of Institutions of this nature appear questionable. It may be objected, that it is doubtful whether the Children, who are bred up in this School, will ge the way which they are trained to fol low; whether they will attain the character suited to their rank; whether they will not imbibe more vanity and ambition than practical wisdom and saving knowledge; whether the dislike of ordinary labour will not be cloaked with the unthrifty diligence of useless reading; whether, instead of feeding the mind with the wholesome nutriment of moral or religious learning, they will not glut their grosser tastes with the garbage of levity, ribaldry, and blasphemy; in fine, even if their attention should be directed exclusively to the Inspired Writings, whether from a partial acquaintance with the letter of Scrip ture will not originate false and enthu siastic notions of its spirit. But what objections are these? When the noble army of Martyrs, the goodly fellowship of the Prophets, and the glorious company of the Apostles; nay, when the honourable, true, and only Son of God was the Teacher, did none of his Disciples miscarry? Were there no hearers, in whom malignant temper, unruly passion, infirmity of purpose, pride, avarice, a restless, turbulent, or anxious spirit, choked the growth of the Word? And was every heart honest, and good, and There are sentences which even call to mind the lively imagination, or the pathetic eloquence, of our carlier Divines, and particularly of Bp. Taylor.der ell v "The serpent can convert the juice of salutary herbs into deadly poison.". "Satan in Paradise could find a stage for the tragedy of Eve's transgression." That awe for the place of worship which is instilled into th the minds of young people by an early habit of attendance on its services, is thus happily expressed: "Bring them yourselves to Church, while it is yet within your power, and in after-life they will not defile, with sacrilegious trampling, the pavement of the Sanctuary, which they were wont to tread gently with the feet of infant innocence." duty of the Clergy to attempt the amelioration of this lamentable result of a regulation, in its nature strictly civil. It is plain, from 1 Cor. iii. and other passages, . indeed the whole of the Epistles, that the Apostles would not endure the introduction of doc triual errors. The Author, therefore, in his Preface, after shewing the importance of promoting a correct understanding of the New Testament, publishes the above work, as being the principal book recommended by the Bishops to Students in Divinity, and therefore standard authority. For the sake of perspicuity, and in compliance with Episcopal recommendation, he has derived considerable assistance from the other great Commentators mentioned in the title, but with a studious exclusion of the fanciful excursions of Dr. Hammond. The work is addressed to Divinity Students, and also adapted to education and general distribution. The Author further recommends the establishment of Diocesan and other Societies for promoting a correct understanding of the Scriptures; and the work, sanctioned by the Prelates of Durbam, St. David's, St. Asaph, and Norwich, is published at the low price of three shillings, and printed in columns like the 12mo Testament, that it furnish may a full and complete Exposition.. ry merit is disclaimed, as not being in the intentions of the Author; indeed it was not required, as all the works of Mr. F. have been favourably received by the publick, and his claim to talent, industry, and curious ar The Discourse was delivered, and chæological erudition, been highly is now published, in aid of a Sunday attested in numerous Reviews. School for Female Children at Stour-The following extract exhibits in a port; and is inscribed to Mrs. Worth ington and the other patronesses of the Establishment, strong light the intellectual power of the Author, who, it is to be regretted, has not yet appeared as Bampton Lecturer, to illustrate his positions at large. "The Trinity may be defended upon the plainest grounds of natural reason. There can be nothing older than Being, because a thing must exist, or be, before it can be any thing else. This primary eyexistence must, of course, include in it 20. Key to the Testament; or, Whitby's Commentary, (abridged only,) with occasional Aids from Dr. Hammond and Bp. Mann. By the Rev. T. D. Fosbrooke, M. A. F. A. S. Author of British Monachism; the History of Gloucestershire; Illustrations of the Townley Statues, &c. 12mo. pp. 170. Jennings. AS Toleration, however judicious in a political view, has an undeniable tendency to encourage perversion of the Scriptures, it becomes an especial self all other power, and can be no other than God. Locality, time, or number, cannot apply to that which must be one and all every where, and eternally existent. God is Being, the original abstract principle, so denominated; and it does not not appear, that although that principle tions which are there multiplied only can be communicated, it can ever be de- an hundred-fold" by the revered tached from identity with the parent Mecenas, under whose auspices such Almighty Being, on account of the nefine specimens of typography occa cessary properties of that Being; the sionally issue forth, preclude us from power of all existence being dependent any other privilege than borrowed upon t that of the Primary Being, and a part of it. What absurdity, therefore, is perusal. Not so with the work be there in thinking upon authentic testi- fore us; which Mr. Quillinan has conmony, that God should authorize self-signed to the general patronage of the existent parts of his own essence to ap- publick. Nor need he fear the suf pear in a distinction of person and frage the publick will give, unless we action, without the destruction of iden- form a wrong estimate of his merits. tity, when, from the ubiquity of Deity, We will not say that he has produced and other attributes of it, any other dis- "A faultless monster, which the world tinction as God is not possible? God can ne'er saw;" sustain, no loss by any communication, and the pernicious interpolations of gross conceptions, as of form, matter, &c. with Deity is the basis of repugnance to the doctrine of the Trinity, through mixing the human nature of Christ, as inseparable from his Divine attributes.' After this proemium follows an able Scriptural Defence of the Trinity, by the Author's friend, Mr. Bluck, of Bere-house, Stepney. 21. Monthermer: a Poem. By Edward Quillinan, Esq. of the Third Dragoon Guards. pp. 177. Longman and Co. THIS is certainly an extraordinary performance and such, we are persuaded, our Readers will deem it, when they consider the age of its Author, and the circumstances under which it was written ;-his age about twenty-three, and the circumstances, during eight or nine of the latter years of his life, those arduous and perilous ones of the tented field, or sanguinary conflict, to which Europe has so long been familiarized. His age we ascertain from a lesser work, which we have seen, printed at the" Lee Priory Press a few weeks antecedently to this; where he speaks of himself in the following feeling manner: This heart, this harp of mine, this public toy, [tieth year; Hath now endured its three-and-twen And, save when Hope hath tried the note of Joy, [Memory's tear,) (And e'en her strings were warp'd with All bave been sounds of harsh Afflic tion here." Much, from that work, and still more from his "Dunluce Castle," printed nearly at the same time, at the same elegant Press, could we select, to adorn our pages, were those performances legitimate objects of criticism. But the favoured produc but we do assert that he has conferred upon the world an obligation, by presenting it with a performance enriched from the stores of fancy, adorned with the beauties of description, polished with the graces of style, and rendered highly interesting by occurrences and by incidents, which come home "to the business and bosoms" of persons of every class. Though the ground-work of his profession that of a soldier,—and 7 Our limits will not allow us ne Our first extract shall introduce the Hope of a line, whose ancestorial pride To trace its source roll'd back an age's tide, Our Readers will better know how to pronounce this name after we have divided it thus : Mont-Hermer. Fresh |
