keeping their opinions at home? With remarks on this question, the first fermon finishes, exhorting the clergy, instead of employing their time on the difficult topics of the gofpel, to inculcate, by all means, thofe important truths of religion which fo much concern all perfons.

The fecond difcourfe, on the Simplicity of the Gospel, from 2 Cor. xi. 3. is indeed worthy of a Chriftian minifter. Simplicity of doctrine, and fimplicity of manners, are recommended in a judicious and perfuafive train. We are not,' fays Mr. Gilpin, (addreffing his brethren of the clergy) legiflators; and things would not go on better, if we were. The only means which we have to employ in this matter (the fupport or revival of religion) lie in two eafy words, our doctrine and our manners; in both of which it fhould be our utmost endeavour to attain, as far as we can, and to imprefs on others, the fimplicity that is in Chrift. The first part of this paffage refers to what he had before mentioned, Some things may be wrong (meaning, we. fuppofe, in the ecclefiaftical establishment) which the legiflature only can rectify;' to which it is added⚫ favourable opportunities may perhaps arife, in future time, when a few things, which are now rather offenfive, may be brought nearer the fimplicity of the gospel.'-He fpeaks cautiously, we fee; as on a tender fubject; but this gentle acknowlegement fufficiently indicates the rectitude and candour of his mind.

Art. 74. The Revelation of St. John confidered as alluding to certain Services of the Jewish Temple, according to which the Vifions are ftated, as well in refpect to the Objects reprefented, as to the Order in which they appeared. 8vo. 7s. Boards. Payne. To give a diftin&t account of this volume, and compare it attentively with the works of others in the fame department, would require more time and attention than we can allow, and would form a larger article than our limits will admit. The fuppofition of this author is ingenious, that the fcene of the vifion which St. John beheld is laid in the Jewish temple; that it is introduced in conformity to the appearance which the High Prieft made immediately after having performed the folemn fervices on the great day of atonement, and that it proceeds in agreement with the observances of the feveral days of the feaft of tabernacles. The writer appears to be well acquainted with history and literature fuitable to fuch an enquiry, and alfo to have inveftigated his fubject with great care. far he is right in his explications, it is not for us to determine: in fome inftances, no doubt, he is fo, as others have been; and in fome we may conclude him miftaken In the first part, which finishes with the eleventh chapter of the book of Revelation, he feems pretty much to correfpond with Lowman and others, in the application of events, except fome variation in point of time, as he fixes thofe to one period, which former writers have diftributed to the preceding or the following. His account of the living creatures (or beafts, as they are improperly termed in the English translation), is furely incongruous, if not abfurd, when he imagines them to be a representa tion of Deity, or of Three Divine Perfons, and founds or fupports this conjecture by fome fancied meanings of Hebrew words.-This is Hutchinfonian.

The

The fall of a great ftar from heaven, Rev. viii. 10. which rendered the waters bitter, and occafioned the death of many who drank of them, has been understood by fome to point at the doctrine of Arius. But this method of interpretation feems to be rafh, and what might be retorted with no great difficulty. Prepoffeffions of this kind fhould not be brought to fcriptural enquiries. It cannot be imagined, that mere fpeculative opinions, where the mind is candid, ingenuous, and fincere, fhould draw down the judgments of Heaven. Mr. Lowman had, with probability, explained the above emblem of the star, of those ravages in Italy which fucceeded the taking of Rome by Alaric, &c. The prefent writer, with great appearance of reason, while he turns off this emblem from the prevalence of Arian principles, directs it to the growing pretenfions and prefumptions of the Roman church, which became more defpotic about this period, as was evidently manifefted under the pontificate of Gregory the Great. With him (fays this author) the darkness arofe (See Rev. viii. 12.) which overfpread, and in time eclipsed the glory, of the Sovereigns of the Weft, and which is yet but partially difperfed.' The two witnesses, Rev. ii. 3. our interpretor apprehends to be the Jewin and Chriftian churches, and offers fome proper confiderations in anfwer to an objection which may be made to the first of thefe. By the woman having on her head a crown of twelve ftars, Rev. xii. 1. he alfo conceives is meant the Jewish church, and by the Man-child the offspring of the woman, Chrift and his church: in which he feems to differ from moft writers on the fubject. For the number of the beaft, he appears to incline to the Greek letters which form the word Lateines, which had been. fixed on by Irenæus, who lived in the fecond century. He writes fenfibly on this as well as other fubjects, and his book merits more attention than we can allow to it. In the appendix, which confifts of many pages, is added a differtation on the prophecies of Daniel, comparing thofe parts which correfpond with the Revelations of John; and alfo a differtation on the rife of that power in the church, which John hath fignified by the IMAGE of the Beast, which he, very properly as it thould feem, underltands to fignify the papal Spiritual dominion. The Pope,' fays he, was long the Image of the Beat (that is, we fuppofe, of Heathen Rome), before he became the eighth head of the Bealt, by the donations of Pepin and Charles the Great.'-All we can farther fay, is, that this author fpeaks handfomely of the late Mr. Lowman; in which relpect we think fome others have failed, who have, nevertheless, been indebted to his judicious remarks, and learned labours.

Art. 75. Practical Obfervations on the Book of the Revelations, intended to point out the many ufeful Inftructions it contains, independent of its prophetical Meaning. 12mo. Is. Rivington. This author justly remarks, that every part of the facred books is not of equal ufe. The book of Leviticus, fays he, for example, though neceffary to the Jewish religion, yet cannot certainly be thought fo fit to be frequently read as the Proverbs of Solomon; nor is the book of the Revelations of fo general ufe as the gospel of Matthew: but does it follow that they are unfit to be known and read at all? On fuch principles, therefore, he has confidered it as a duty to fhew the

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young

young and ignorant what advantages he himfelf has found from the perufal. Though he profeffes not to explain the prophecy, he could not avoid giving a general plan, which he does by a fort of analyfis; concerning which he obferves, the plan I have offered, I believe, to be right on the whole, yet I am chiefly induced to recommend it, because I take it to be harmless, whether right or wrong, and hope it may be useful.' His principal intention is of a practical kind, and he accordingly prefents feveral very pertinent reflections and obfervations of this nature, which may be attended to with advantage. He is not a rhapfodical, or merely fanciful author, but appears to be a man of fenfe, who has an acquaintance with his fubject; and what explications or hypothefes he advances, are propofed with a becoming modefty and piety. His fentiments, in fome respects, may be of the orthodox ftamp, or what are deemed fuch; but of this, little is difcovered. One of his inferences is, the doctrine of free-will, and the confequent neceffity of diligent application; and - another, the unity of God. Notes, and an Appendix, are added. Art. 76. On Marriages in Heaven; and on the Nature of Heavenly Conjugal Love. Extracted from the Writings of the Hon. Emanuel Swedenborg. 12mo. pp. 37. 6d. Chalklen. 1789. conjux ubi priftinus illi

Refpondet curis, aquetque Sichæus amorem. VIRG. Æn. l. 6. This has been long efteemed a very falfe and heterodox account but it now comes out, that Dan Virgil knew much better how things were managed in the other world than felfish divines are difpofed to allow; who (to their fhame be it spoken) exhibit fuch dull, un amufing pictures of heaven, as if they meant to keep all its rapturous delights fnug to themfelves. But it is high time to expofe these concealers of the truth. Know then, gentle reader, that heaven is a very sprightly place, abounding with fuch diverfions and entertainments as men of pleasure would be happy to riot in. Baron Swedenborg, who, no doubt, has been there, and knows every thing about it (for he speaks in the most confident manner poffible), affures us, that all the inhabitants of heaven are men; the married angels are male and female; the tendency towards union, implanted in the fexes at the creation, exifts in the fpiritual bodies of the angels, as in the material bodies of the men of this world. The angels of the two fexes are always in the highest degree of beauty, youth, and vigour; it follows therefore that they enjoy the laft pleafures of conjugal love, which with them are more exquifite than is poffible with mortals, because the fenfes of a spiritual body are infinitely more perfect, and from the nature of their frame and conftitution, admit not of wearinefs or difguft.'

But to increase and multiply is not Heaven's command in heaven. The female angels are not to have their happiness interrupted by groanings, and by the mewling and puking of children in the nurse's arms. Love is to have no fuch termination there. From thefe unions (adds the author) children are not produced, but fpiritual fruits of love and wisdom.'

Shouldst thou wish to know how this honourable gentleman got to heaven, where he has made all these very fine difcoveries, we think it will be fufficient to remove all doubt from thy mind to inform

thee,

thee, that he performed his journey in that fafeft and moft expeditious of all vehicles, A VISION.

THANKSGIVING SERMONS continued: See our laft.

XXV. On the happy Recovery of his Majesty, &c. Preached in the Chapel of Mile-End New Town, Stepney, April 23, 1789. By John Cottingham, late of Edmund Hall, Oxford. 8vo. pp. 42. 6d. Matthews, &c.

The cafe of Hezekiah has been cited, and applied, in most of the Sermons that have been published on the fubject of our Sovereign's late illness and recovery; and Mr. C. has, in this plain and popular difcourfe, very properly enlarged on it. He likewife pioufly afferts the doctrine of a particular providence ;-the denial of which he treats as downright atheism: and this divine providence he confiders as having been graciously exerted in favour of our happy country, by continuing to us the bleffings of a good government, under the mild administration of a just and beloved Prince.

XXVI. Two Sermons; the firft preached at the Royal Chapel of his Majefty's Citadel of Plymouth, March 8, 1789, on account of our gracious Sovereign's Restoration to Health ;-the Second, April 23, being the Day of public Thanksgiving for the fame. By the Rev. John Malham, Teacher of the Clafics, Navigation, &c. Plymouth Dock. 4to. pp. 17. 1s. Crowder, &c.

Mr. Malham, likewife, applies the cafe of King Hezekiah's ficknefs and miraculous recovery, to the immediate occafion of his difcourfe. Like Mr. Cottingham, too, he proceeds, in the first of these difcourfes, to place the extraordinary instance of his Majesty's recovery in the light of a fpecial providential interpofition; and he concludes with fuitable reflections.-In the fecond Sermon, he extols the mercies of God, as evinced in the restoration of the King's health; on which grateful theme, he expatiates with becoming zeal and loyalty. The preacher fpeaks [in his prefatory Address] with fo much modefty, and diffidence of his own abilities, that to criticife his Difcourfes, merely with a view to point out defects, would be not only unhandfome, but cruel.-Mr. Malham is likewife the author of feveral useful publications, which have been duly noticed in our Reviews.

The remainder of the Thanksgiving Sermons hereafter.

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the EDITOR of the MONTHLY REVIEW. SIR, PERMIT an admirer of your very valuable Journal to fuggeft what

he humbly conceives would be an improvement to it. In the books you review, where you find it neceffary to make long quotations from them-as in Gibbon's Roman Empire for inftance-Icannot help thinking but if the pages of the book whence the extracts are made, were inferted in the margin, or otherwife, of the Review, it would be extremely advantageous to the readers, and particularly fo to young

13

young ones; as by that help they could, by keeping the Review by their fide, accompany you in their progrefs through any work that comes under your notice, and, by availing themfeives at the inftant of your obfervations and remarks, derive in a great measure the same benefit from fuch references to your opinions, as they would receive from a living tutor at their elbow.

• Your candid confideration of this hint will oblige one who begs to fubfcribe himself with real respect,

SIR,

Your most obliged and very humble Servant,

S. W.'

26 July 1789. The above hint will, in future, be attended to; but this regulation cannot, conveniently, take place, with refpect to thofe numerous Articles that are already drawn up, and which only wait their turn for infertion.

*It would be totally foreign to our plan to enter into the fubject of Mr. Dallaway's letter. In the good opinion which Mr. D. entertains of us, we hope he will not find himself deceived.

+++ R. G. will find the mistake which he has detected, rectified, below, in the Errata.

The article concerning which Omega writes, was drawn up by one of our affociates abroad; and this Correfpondent's letter must be fent to that gentleman, when opportunity offers.

+ The Letter from a very refpectable Gentleman at South Warmborough, has been tranfmitted to the Reviewer to whofe department it bears particular reference; whole prefent refidence is remote from the capital, and whofe obfervations on our correspondent's favour are not yet received.

txt We have, at feveral times, enquired for a comic opera, entitled, "The Cottagers, by Mifs Rofs;" but have not been able to procure it. It was published in April 1788.-If any of our readers will inform us where it may be had, we fhall be obliged to them.

The Letters of fuch Correfpondents as arrived late in the prefent month, will be duly attended to, in our next number.

Errata in our last Appendix.

CONTENTS. Article BoxING, for 551. r. 454.

P. 605. 1. 7. for 55. r. 551.

608. 1. 18. for Signeur,' r. Seigneur.

40. par 5. for Worcester,' read Winchester.

96. Art. VI. 1. 8. for See Rev. for May laft,' read, See Rev.

for May 1788.