able, but moft melancholy tale, is employed, of which it is but juftice to fay, that it is conducted with much fkill and ingenuity.

ART. 25. Ivey Cafile, a Novel, in Two Volumes.

Owen. 1795.

12mo. 6s.

Love at firft Sight, fhould have been the title of this work; which is remarkably infipid, and, in fome inftances, not fo moral as we could with.

DIVINITY.

ART. 26. Two Sermons, preached in the Cathedral Church of Llandaff: and a Charge delivered to the Clergy of that Diocefe, in June, 1795. By Richard Watson, D. D. F. R. S. Lord Bishop of Landaff. 8vo. 77 PP. 25. Evans. 1795.

Few writers have been more diftinguished in the defence of religion than the Bishop of Landaff. The fermons contained in this publication are dedicated to the fame duty; the first being a general argument against Atheists, the fecond a more particular difcution of the evidences for Chriftianity. If the arguments used on fubjects handled fo frequently, cannot be entirely new, they are at leaft drawn up with that perfpicuity, and expreffed with that force, which characterize an able difputant. The celebrated argument of Leflie, on the standing evidence of the Jews and their national rites, is ftated with peculiar beauty and effect, at p. 13.

The purpofe of the Charge is not fo evident. It feems intended principally to recommend theological humility, in oppofition to dogmatizing but is rather calculated, on the whole, to raise doubts than to folve them. The following manly and honest vindication of the clerical order, in the beginning of this difcourfe, well deserves to be prefented to general notice.

"There have been men in former ages, and there are not a few in our own, who think and speak of the clergy, as deftitute either of understanding or honefty; who reprefent them as interested in the fupport of a fuperftition; and ready, at all times, to facrifice their probity as men, on the altar of profeffional hypocrify; who ftigmatize them as the protectors of ignorance, and the perfecutors of fcience. A philofopher, fays Helvetius, has for his enemies, the Bonzees, the Dervifes, the Bramins, the minifters of every religion in the world. Let us forgive thefe philofophers, whether foreign or domeftic, this wrong; but let us, at the fame time, beg them to confider-that we, as well as they, are subjects of a free ftate, in which the road to wealth and diftinction is open to every man of ability; and more open, perhaps, to men of ability in other profeffions, than in that of the church; that we, as well as they, enjoy talents from the gift of God, and have been as fedulous as themselves (fpeaking without arrogance) in the improvement of them. Are they mathematicians, natural philofo phers, metaphyficians, logicians, claffical fcholars? fo are we. fpeak not of individuals, much lefs of myfelf, but of the great body

I

of

of the British clergy. There is not a fingle branch of knowledge, in which the clergy are not equal, at leaft, to thofe who injuriously im pute to them the groines of ignorance in believing an impofture, cr the more degrading or flagitious infamy of fupporting what they do not believe." P. 50.

ART. 27. Advice to a young Clergyman upon his entering into Priff's Orders. In Six paftoral Letters. By a Divine of the Church of England. Svo. 11 pp. 2s. 6d. Rivingtons. 1756.

Paftoral letters have hitherto been usually thought to come with propriety from Bifhops only; yet this dignity is not claimed by the prefent writer, who ftyles himfelf nothing more than a divine. Without cavilling at the title, the letters are certainly the production. of a found, learned, and able divine, and may be read with advantage, particularly by thofe who have entered into the clerical order. The arguments against the common notion, that deacons may be allowed to lay afide their orders, are important, and fuch as it will not be found eafy to refute.

ART. 28. Sermons on various Subje&s, by the late Rev. Thomas Tol ler. 8vo. 310 pp. 6s. Robinfons. 1796.

Of the ten fermons contained in this volume, eight have before ap peared in print at different times. These were reviled by the author, and the remaining two were tranfcribed by him for the prefs. The editor, his fon, thinks that he thould have been guilty of injuftice to his memory, and to the public," if he had fuffered his father's death to defeat the defign of collecting them into one volume. The former of these motives is pious and commendable. The family and friends of Mr. Toller, "who remember him with the greatest respect and affection, will be gratified by this publication; and to them it will be an interefting memorial of his pious labours:" but, with regard to the public, we cannot fay that the detriment would have been to great. These fermons are very plain, practical, and almoft unexceptionable; but they do not rife above mediocrity; the arguments are trite, and are not urged with ftrength or acutenefs; the ftyle is fufficiently perfpicuous and correct, but it is neither vigorous nor elegant; and the fentiments are juft and true, but by no means original or very affecting. The preacher generally obtains our calm acquiefcence, but feldom our ftrong approbation.

ART. 29. The Declaration of George Wiche, on refigning the Office of a hired Preacher. 8vo. 17 pp. 6d. Johnton. 1796.

We are inclined to regard with much tenderness all reasonable fcruples; and to wish that men in general entertained them more frequently than they do, both in religious and worldly concerns. But, on the other hand, we confider extravagant and groundless fcruples, as even pernicious in their effects, tending to bring into disrepute and difcredit all confcientious doubting whatever. Into this extreme, Mr. Wiche has gone very far. He has refigned the office of a hired

preacher

preacher, (it does not appear of what perfuafion) becaufe he thinks that no man ought to receive a pay for preaching the gofpel; which obftructs (he fancies) its reception in the world, and deftroys its efficacy on the minds of its hearers; impofing alfo upon the preacher himfelf, intolerable restraints in the investigation and communication of truth. For our part, we rely on the determination of St. Paul, fupported by authority greater than his own: "Even fo hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the gospel, should live of the gofpel." Cor. ix. 14.

Another curious fcruple of Mr. W. relates to the word Chriftiani'y: he diflikes this, and all appellations, as forming fences around the ming, which obftruct its view over the fair and open fields of truth, &c." p. 5. St. Peter, (1 Pet. iv. 6.) however, has warranted the appellation of " a chriftian ;" and we are fo far from being difpofed to give it up, that we glory in it as the nobleft title. This little tract is not ill written; though it is depraved by, we do not say an affectation, but a morbid excefs, of fenfibility and refinement.

ART. 30. A Difcourfe on the Importance of right Sentiments in Reli gion, as to their Influence upon the moral Character of Mankind. By Benjamin Cracknell, A. M. 8vo. 46 pp. 8d. Dilly. 1796. The author fhows, that right sentiments in religion are requinte to promote holiness of life, from analogy, reafon, feripture, and fact. Under the last head, Calvinifm is exalted at the expence of Unitarianifin. The happy effects of believing right fentiments in religion to be important, are then confidered; and the tract, (or rather fermon) concludes with a few obfervations.

This fubject well deterves to be treated with more copiousness and vigour, than we find in the flight performance before us.

ART. 31. A Sermon, preached at the Meeting-houfe in the Old Jewry, on the 28th of June, 1795, upon occafion of the Death of the Rev. Roger Flexman, D. D. who departed this Life, on the 14th Day of the fame Month, in the 88th Year of his Age. By doraham Rees, D. D. F.R.S. 8vo. 38 pp. 19. Kobinlons. 1795.

Dr. Rees taking for his text, Heb. ii. 15, fets forth the principal caufes of that fear of death, by reafon of which many have been all their life-time fubject to bondage; and then he shows, what provision Christianity has made for our deliverance from this diftreffing paffion. An account is fubjoined of Dr. Flexman's life, ftudies, and literary fervices. The general index to the Journals of the Houfe of Commons, from 160, to 1697, was compiled by him, and was much approved and liberally rewarded. He appears to have excelled chicfly in a very extenfive and accurate acquaintance with the History of England. In criticifm alfo, and divinity, his talents were refpectable. His theology was nearly that of Dr. S. Clarke. At the great age of 88, he closed an useful and exemplary life, by a suitable, and christian departure,

This difcourfe is diftinguished, rather by folidity and practical utility, than by ingenuity of argument, or accurate delineation of character.

ART. 32. Chriftology, or a Difcourfe concerning Chrift; in himself, bis Government, his Offices, &c. By the Rev. Robert Fleming, (Author of the " Difcourfe on the Rife and Fall of the Papacy,") Abridged: in two Parts. By Alexander Cleeve, A.B. Vicar of Wooler, Northumberland. 8vo, 527 pp. 75. Deighton, Cambridge; Cooke, Oxford; Rivingtons, London; Hill, Edinburgh. 1795.

Though it does not fall within our plan, to review at large republifhed books of old date, yet we willingly give fome general account of such refpectable and well intended performances as the abridgement now before us. The fubject of the work is thus divided: I. A general view of Chriftology, &c. II. The Logos, or an account of Chrift as fuch. III. The Loganthropos; or Chrift as he is the Word made Man. IV. Logocracy; or Christ's government, both of the world, and church of old, as the Logos. V. Chriftocracy; or Chrift's government, as he is Loganthropos; with refpect both to the world in general, and to the church in particular, fince his affuming our nature, PP. I, 2. This part of the work concludes with fome excellent fpiritual and practical thoughts," p. 379, &c. The fecond part contains extracts from the Chriftology, in the way of " auxiliary proofs, with fubordinate explanations and notes," p. 8.

As far as we can judge of this abridgement, without having feen the original werk, (which is very scarce) it feems to be executed with judgment, and to be what the editor propofed, a clear and well-connected compendium; and we recommend it to the notice of divines, as exhibiting undoubted proofs of Mr. Fleming's learning, critical fagacity, piety, and humility. An excellent fpecimen of the two laft qualities may be found at p. 339.

AGRICULTURE.

ART. 33. Reflections on the Cruelty of inclofing Common-Field Lands, particularly as it affects the Church and Poor; in a Letter to the Lord Bishop of Lincoln. By a Clergyman of that Diocefe. 8vo. 33 PP15. Pridden. 1796.

This is doubtle's a well-intended, but by no means a profound difquifition upon the evil of inclosures. That they are, as at prefent managed, often very inconvenient to the clergy and the poor, we do not deny; but the inconveniences are not here judiciously set forth. At one time the author feems to be merely jocofe on the fubject; when he carried us back, for proofs of his main pofition, " to the times of Monmutius, Denwallo, and his fon Belinus, who reigned here four or five hundred years before the birth of Chrift." P. 8. But he is afterwards evidently ferious, and brings proofs (not very convincing indeed) from the reigns of Henry VI, VII. and VIII. Edward IV. James, and Elizabeth. We find, however, fome ufeful

..ats concerning the fituation and value of allotments to the clergy-buildings and the conduct of commiffioners for inclofure, which is, in truth, fometimes very reprehenfible. At p. 8. there is an inftance of ignorance concerning the poor-laws, which is fcarcely excufable in an author. It is faid, "The law forbids a removal from their proper parish, without a certificate." By an act which paffed the 22d of June, 1795, poor perfons may go any where, and remain undisturbed, till they become actually chargeable. This, we may obferve, is a law pregnant with very important confequences, efpecially to populous towns; and there feems to be one grand defect in it, which it may be useful to notice. The power of fending for by warrant, and examining poor perfons likely to be chargeable, did not belong to juftices, before this act, by any express statute, but only by neceffary implication. Being authorized by 13 and 14 Cap. II. c. 12, to remove fuch perfons, they muft of neceffity fend for and examine them as to their fettlement. But the power of removing fuch perfons, being now taken away, by the act in queftion, the power of a compulsory examination feems to be gone with it. Juftices fhould have had this power exprefsly given to them by a clause in this act, together with the power of adjudging and declaring fettlements, as is done moft wifely in the Friendly Societies act, 33 Geo. III. c. 54, f. 19, 20.

As the matter now ftands, poor perfons will often die, leaving families, and their fettlements unknown; and populous towns will foon feel the important confequences we have mentioned.

ART, 34. Elays on Agriculture; occafioned by reading Mr. Stone's Report on the prefent State of that Science in the County of Lincoln. By a Native of the County. 8vo. 63 pp. 15. 6d. Richardson, &c. 1796.

We have learned from good authority that Mr. Stone's "General View of Agriculture of the County of Lincoln" was received in that county with much diffatisfaction. One caufe of which is ftated to have been his free, and, perhaps, juft, cenfure of the agricultural management of fome jealous individuals. But another, and more reasonable caufe, has alfo been affigned; namely, that his actual Jurvey was faid to be made very haftily and flightly, as far as it was made at all. On this account, we lament that the learned Board did not direct each of its furveyors to fill up one page of his report in fuch a way as this:

"The Journal of A. B. in his Survey of the County of C. "1794, Oct. 1, Viewed the parish of D. and particularly the farms

The public would then have known how much information they owed to an actual acquaintance with the prefent ftate of each county; and how much to hearfay, mixed with many prepoffeffions.

Thefe eflays, however, are very flight and ill-written, and offer but little improvement upon Mr. Stone's Report. One of the most

feful