though the rant of Ignorance or Fanaticifm may gain an afcendancy over weak and timorous minds, the pure strain of unfophifticated Chriftianity has its fair influence with the humbleft, and carries conviction to those of the meaneft capacities." (pp. 82, 83) "I have done; and let me hope that those who have hitherto been uninformed on the fubject of our Church Establishment, the ftate of her finances, and the character of her Clergy, will candidly perufe what I have written, and compare the authorities I have adduced with the unfupported affertions of her enemics; and that thofe who have thought more meanly of us than we deferve, or who conceived us to be the pampered favourites of Fortune, will have the liberality to recant thofe errors, and render juftice where it is due. Once more let me draw the attention of my countrymen to the example which France has afforded us. Once more let me recall to their recollection, that the Church was crumbling to duít, and a mere ruin, before the Throne was utterly de ftroyed; that the overthrow of Religion was the fperm of Republican Tyranny; and that, from the denial of a Supreme Being, the curtailment of his divine attri butes, and the neglect of his precepts, firit gushed those rivulets of blood which afterwards deluged the ill-fated land of Revolution. We are now at peace with this people; and the influence of their exam-, pie is the more to be apprehended from the unreftrained intercourfe which will neceffarily fubfift between us. I am an enemy to national prejudice in its reference to individuals; but the tremendous and frightful fpecimens France has afforded of falle principles being carried into effet, of the vain and foolish fpeculations of ignotant Philofophy being reduced to prac tice, and their exterminating influence treading down all that the wifdom and virtue of ages have deemed eftimable in moral and focial life, leave, I confefs, that impreffion upon my mind, that, though I may congratulate my countrymen on fheathing the fword of War, I fhall not be in hafte either to give or receive the fraternal hug. Let us contradict that libel on our national character, with which we 116. Methodsm unmasked; or, The Progress of Puritanism, from the Sixteenth to the Nineteenth Century; intended as an expla natory Supplement to "Hints to Heads of Families" By the Rev. T. Owen, B. A. Rector of Llandyfrydog, Anglefen, and *The acc unts we have rece ved from those of our acquaintance who have had opportunities of visiting France afford little motive to curiofi.y, independent of the confideration that it is a land fill reeking with the blood of murdered millions of every rank, gloying in the fpoils of kingdoms plundered, not in open war, but by treacherous peace; a fcene of wretchedness and immorality, and the infeparable companions of both Poverty and Vanity, rags and finery. Sincerely do we with fome judic ous travellers may hereafter publifh a detail of fcenes and tranfactions, of national manners, and defolated buildings, now obtaining there, ill-contrafted with the affectation of art and science, and of every fpeculation in both, alike ill-founded and unft-ady; and what our own country, which, if lefs rapid in its advances, is more fure, or if not unfrequently the dupe of its credulity, is not ashamed to own a recovery from its errors. EDIT. † Nor, we add, excharge the important and convincing truths of the Oracles of God for the flimfy arguments of Tom Paine, or the daring doubts of Dr. Geddes. EDIT. Late late Student of Christchurch, Oxford. THE defign of this work is, to prove, by extracts from their writings, that "fectarifts of all kinds are (and ever have been fince the time of the Reformation) either blind inftruments or wilful tools in the hands of Anarchifts and Atheifrs; that their aim is not a reform in religion, but a total overthrow of our religious and political conftitutions, and a revolution in thefe dominions fimilar to that which deluged France with blood, and brought upon many millions irreparable ruin;" and that "forne reftriction on fecret focieties is abfolutely neceflary."-"Thefe excerpts may ferve as a beacon to warn the fincere but unwary Chriftian from approaching too near the fhoal of fchifin and the rock of revolution."-"If the Methodifts deny that they are Puritans and Independents, and it fhould be proved in thefe fheets that this feion, Methodifm, is ftill gradually producing the fame fruits with Puritanifin of old, every candid reader will fpare me the trouble of pointing out its refemblance to the original tree in all refpects." The author is not fpeaking of all Diffenters indifcriminately, but of fuch only who have cherished in their bofom the feeds of difcontent, difaffection, and rebelhon, and wish to fee thefe feeds produce in this country the fame fruits which they have already produced through the most fertile regions of the European continent; men who, when the patriotic commander of a refpectable corps of volunteers in the county where Mr. Owen refides directed that the men fhould affemble and march in a body and attend divine fervice in the church, faid, It went against their conSciences to bear arms on a Sunday; and gave the fame anfwer to the probability of the enemy landing on a Sunday. Many Methodifts were actually expelled, and more have fince withdrawn from the corps, becaufe they refufed to bear arms on a Sunday, in the defence of their King and Country, against a foreign foe. "When I fee men, under the cloak of religion, encourage difrefpe&t for the conflituted authorities, a contempt for diftinction of rank and property, and actually erect, within themselves, a mock tribunal, an imperium in imperis, unknown to the laws and inftitutoos of this realm, and un charitably judge, and unwarranta' ly punith or abfolve, the fins of their fellow-crea tures, and inficionfly pry into all the minute niceties of their domeftic conduct, and have the unparalleled effrontery to fauction with their approbation the turbu lent and fanguinary counfels of a Pawson, it would be pufillanimous in a Briton to be flent, and criminal in a clergyman to he inactive; nor thall the calumnes which the enemies of our religion may invent, or dread of that fectarious vengeance which has been fo publicly denounced against me, ever induce me to think from a tafk which I think it my duty to perform.” (Prof. p. xv.) Mr. O. is jufly alarmed at the practice of purchafing livings by the Methodifis, p. 6, n.; and finds firong refemblance between their former and prefent complaint of Pagan education, p. 9. When men fly in the face of moral honefty, and think the wickeder they are the more they are in the way of falvation, what muft we think of them as members of fociety? and must we not become feparatifs from them? And yet with cafes of this fort thefe extracts abound. We have heard of a beneficed clergyman of the Established Church, who declared, that whoever underftands a verfe of the Bible is bound to explain it; and this, by natural inference, gives authority to fet out on preaching by an inftantaneous call. 117. Bull-Baiting! A Sermon on Barbarity to God's dumb Creation, preached in the Parish Church of Wokingham, Berks, the 20th of December, 1901 (being the Day previous to the annual Bull-Bait in that Town). By the Rev. Edward Barry, M. D.. IT appears that a perfon named Staverton had bequeathed the rent of a houfe to purchase, for ever, a bull, to be baited for the diverfion of the town of Wokingham; and the people of this town, to prove that they like the fport, and are not wifer than their benefactor Staverton, have been in the habit of purchafing a fecond bull out of the poor's rate, to protract this brutish and cruel amufement. Such a practice merits the molt pointed reprobation 3 and Dr. Barry will be applauded by all good men, for his refolute and truly Chriftian exertions to fhame the people of Wokingham into the fuppreflion of this cuftom. The brute creation are fubject to our dominion; "we ftand in the place of God to them," fays Dr. Hartley; but it is our duty, even in configuing them to death for our food, to obferve the maxim of the poet"And, till we end the being, make it blett." Dr. 118. Willis's Survey of St. Afaph, confiderably enlarged, and brought down to the prefent Time, with the Addition of the Names of the Canons and Vicars Choral of the Cath dral, and the Incumbents of the different Parishes in the Diocefe, from the earliest Dates, with Memoirs of fume of them. Also, a fecond Appendix, containing an biftoricul Account of the different Archbifhopricks, Bishopricks, Religious Houses, Colleges, Dignitaries, London Churches, &c. referred to in the Body of the Work; with the Life of the Author prefixed. In Two Volumes. By Edward Edwards, MA. Vicar of Llanarmon in Yale, and Curate of Wrexham, in the Dioceje of St. Alaph. [Printed at Wrexham.] MR. EDWARDS, as we recollect, announced his intention of improving Browne Willis's Survey of the Cathedral of St. Afaph, which that Antiquary, in his Dedication to Bp. Fleetwood, acknowledged to be imperfect, and had, therefore, fubjoined an Appendix. Mr. Edwards has re-written the text, garnished his edition with a number of notes, and added a variety of new matter. The plan of the cathedral is not retained. The epifcopal palace has been rebuilt by Bp. Bagot. Of the exiflence of Chebur, as biflop of St. Afaph, Willis himself doubted; and Edwards confirms the non-entity. Large additions are made to the lives of most of the bithops, particularly in the two laft centuries, and of the other dignitaries; but we are forry to fee a fecond Appendix of 200 pages filled with fuperfluous, because well-known, information about every fee, monaftery, college, &c. with which any bishop, &c. had the least connection. Under the article Laur, Child, p. 71, Mr. E. need not afk, "who that was that is ftiled L. epifcopus Aflavenf. Oct. 20, 1384, in Rymer, vol. VII. p. 445 ;" when he fat from 1382 to 1389, in which laft year his will is dated. Bagle is a nifprint in Leland's Itin. vol. VIII.; for in vol. IV. p. 173, he is written Bache. Willis left off with Dr. Wynne, who died 1743, and was fucceeded by Doors Hare, Tanner, 7 Maddox, Thomas, Lifle, Drummond, Several names are added to the deans, archdeacons, and prebendaries, and large additions in the memorials of the reft. A lift is given of the canons curfal, whofe title he explains, differently from Willis, to be cur. fal. q. d. cura falutis, prefuming that, before the burning of their houses, 1282, they were refident, and performed the duty in the cathedral. Next follow lifts of vicars-choral and chancellors, and of the incumbents of the different parishes in the diocefe of St. Afaph*; and with them erds the Ift volume. The Ild contains the whole of the Appendix to the first edition, with confiderable additions. A number of extracts, of which no notice is given by the prefent editor, from Abp. Peckham's Regifter, are now first added. We might object to the bad colour of the paper; and, in a few inftances, to the incorrectuels of the prefs; but fhall take our leave of the editor with hearty thanks for the pains he has taken, and wishing fome one, like himfelf, may be induced to undertake new editions of Dr. Willis's furveys of the other cathedrals in the principality. 119. The Diftreffed Village, a Poem; reprefenting the diftreffing Effects of Fire, the bappy Confequences of Infurance, the Excellence of Public Charity, and the great Enormity of wilfully defiroving, or attempting to defroy, the bandy Works of GOD in bis Providence. By William Golden, late of Bocking, Effex. WE cannot refufe our tribute of applaufe to this finall piece of poetry, when we confider that it is published for the benefit of a wife and four fmall children, at fo finall a price as 6d. "Our country's boast is public charity;" and, we truft, private will not be for gotten. : continents and iflands which modern navigation has added to the map of the world as the Romans knew it in the Auguftan age; let him purfue his refearches, and when he has made his tour through all their temples and pagodas, let him erect his trophies to Reafou, and publifh his difcoveries with what confidence he may alas! for mankind and the boafted dignity of human Reafon, he will bring back nothing but a raree-fhew of idols, a mufeu of monfters; Egyptian, Indian, and Chinefe deformities and non-defcripts, the creatures of earth, air, and fea, fnakes, reptiles, even flocks and ftones, promoted to be gods, and man degenerating and debating himself to kneel down before thefe dumb divinities, and pay them worship. And now, if this is all that he who oppofes the religion of Revelation can difcover and make prize of in the religion of Reafon, I give him joy of his difcoveries, and with him candidly to declare if, upon refult of thefe difcoveries, he can believe fo well of himfelf as to fuppofe that, had he lived in those days, he fhould have found out any thing more than was found out by thofe who lived in them." (p. 11—13.) "All mankind, with the exception of the Jews only, were in open rebellion against their Creator, renouncing him, and fubftituting falfe gods in his place. loft to reafon and all fenfe of religion, and without fome fpecial interference, fome miraculous and fupernatural youchfalement, loft to mercy and all hopes of heaven; for what was to redeem them? Not their own reafon; they had furrendered that to idolatries and fuperftitions of the grofleft fort: in the temple of Jerufalem alone God's name was heard, and his worthip was preferved. I afk, then, if at this period [the time of Chrift's coming] mankind were not in fuch a defperate and degenerated flate as might warrant the reafonable expectation that God (if he were God) would either affert his juftice by fome general and tremendous judgment, or difplay his mercy by fone exprefs and peculiar redemption. The queftion between truth and falfehood was now at flue; and mankind had the alternative before them, If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." (p. 18.) The appearance of Chrift in the world, nor the morality of his doctrine, are not depied; his miracles have not been con is taken up by a layman, the world is apt to conclude his fenfe of its importance, and his conviction of its truth, are ftronger and more difinterested than in perfons whofe profeffion lays them under a kind of neceffity to ftudy and urge arguments in its defence. Reatoning like this has recommended the defences of a Lyttelton and a Weft, who, being themfelves converted, firengthened their brethren. We know not whether this is the cafe with the prefent apologift; but his caufe is good, and his fupport of it judicious. He has been the friend of virtue and morality in all his compofitions. It is not with out reafon he calls upon the advocate for natural religion to take his ftand at this period of time, or any other period antecedent to the birth of Chrift; for, I know very well that the beft weapons which reafon has with which to combat revelation, and dictate a religion to compare with that of Chrift, are the very weapons which revelation itfelf has furnished. I mean that general illumination which has been fpread over the whole Chriftian world fince the abolishment of Heathenifm, by which all men, who have received the advantages of birth or education in Chriftian countries, however antichriftian they themfelves may chufe to be, have be nefited in their reafoning faculties by the lights of revelation, though they deny the fource from which they fprung. The Frenchman, who reviles his God, defiles his altars, and inaugurates a profiitute as the goddefs of his idolatry, is not the fool who fays in his heart there is no God; but he is of the defcription of devils who deny and yet believe, who blafpheme and yet tremble. Let the modern reafoner, therefore, who would make as good a religion by the help of nature and his own faculties as we have received from the lights of Revelation and the doctrines of the Gospel, take his ground where he will, provided he does not go without the heathen's pale, and let him keep it. Let him borrow no af fittance from Mofes, and let him af fume to himself all the lights that he can find, all the natural religion he can collect, not only in the world then known but in the world fince difcovered; in all the nations of the Eaft, where Reafon furely, as far as arts and sciences were concerned, was in no contemptible ftate; in America, to the North and to the South; in all the futed; the Gospels have not been con- and who can fay that it does not feem confonant to God's wifdom that his Meffias fhould be in his human-nature like unto us, for whofe fake he was fent into the world, though in his divine nature differing from us. Faith in the myfteries of revelation is at once the teft of our obedience and the terms of our falvation. Chrift's miracles were fufficient to anfwer the purpose for which they were intended. The quef tion about a vicarious innocent facrifice for the guilty, and the fufferings of Chrift as an atonement for the fins of the whole world, is a prefumption not deferving an anfwer. Here then Mr. C. concludes; and if thefe few plain reafons for his belief in Chrift, and adhering to his religion, fhould happily have the effect of calling any of his readers, whofe belief is wavering, and whofe adherence doubtful, to a better recollection, bleffed be God! he has done a good work, and not laboured to no purpose. Being now near the end of his days, he implores God to endow his beloved countrymen with a right undertanding of his mercy, and conjures them, as they value their happinefs, their dignity, their freedom, their comforts in this life, and their hopes of eternal blefi dnefs in the life to come, to beware of thofe enfnaring principles which the enemies of their peace are afliduoutly employed to propagate. The whole concludes with an appropriate prayer. 121. A Letter to **** *****, Esq. on Bonaparte's Proposals for opening a Negociation for Peace; in which the Bith Guarantee of the Crown of France to the Heuf of Bourbon, contained in the Triple and Quadruple Alliances, and renewed by the Treaty of the Year 1783, is confidered; together with the Conduct of our National Parties relating to it. By J. Brand, Cl. M. A. &c. [Publifhed in 1801, before the Preliminary Treaty was figned.] THE perpetual neceifity of external war to the Roman Republick cannot be doubted; and the greater neceflity of it to Frence is equally certain. The best-informed undertakers for the fincerity of Bonaparte's pacific propofitions in this country perfectly know that his fituation in this refpect is not at all fuperior to that of the Directory, whom felf-prefervation compelled never to be without a foreign war. it is as manifeft to them as to himfelf, that he has fettered himself down to this by a much more rigid neceflity, And arifing |