Systems

ral Modern Systems cleared from the wrong Opinions of fome Divines; confirmed by the Authority of the Holy Scriptures, and perfectly confonant to the Articles of the Church of England. To which is added a fhort Difcuffion of the chief Theological Controverfies, collected from Several Authors for the Ufe of Students, each of which is inferted in its proper Place. By LAURENCE FOGG, D. D. I. and Dean of Chefter. London 1712. in 8vo. Pagg. 461.

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THE Reverend Dr. Fogg, Dean of Chester, is the Firft English Divine, who has published a full Syftem of Divinity. Being fenfible, that Books of that Nature, compofed by the Foreign Proteftants, contain fome Opinions difproved by the Church of England, he thought it neceffary to pur into the Hands of the English Students a Course of Theology perfectly agreeable to the Thirty-nine Articles. The Author's Syftem is fhort, perfpicuous, and very methodical. All needlefs Questions have been laid afide: The Objections are propofed, and anfwered in a few Words: The most important Controverfies are interfperfed through the whole Work, and treated with great Clearness.

This Syftem confifts of XIII Chapters.

In the Ift, The Author treats of the Nature of Theology:

In the IId, Of the Holy Scripture:

Vol. IV.

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In

In the IIId, Of God and his Attributes:

In the IVth, Of the Holy Trinity :

In the Vth, Of the Internal Works of God:

In the VIth, Of his External Works :

In the VIIth, Of his actual Providence:

In the VIIIth, Of the Government of Men after the Fall.

In the IXth, Of the new Covenant of Grace, and its Mediator :

In the Xth, Of the Sacraments of the New Co

venant.

In the Xlth, Of the Application of Redemp tion:

In the XIIth, Of the Church.

In the XIIIth, Of Regeneration, Juftification, San ctification, and Eternal Life.

I fhall only take notice of Two Paffages. 1. The Author makes fome Obfervations upon fome Verfes of the IXth Chapter of the Epiftle to the Romans. Those Obfervations are entitled, Annotationes in Commata quedam Cap. IX. ad Rom. quæ dum multi ad Prædeftinationis Doctrinam minus congrue applicant, dure fonant, & conceptus haud Deo dignos mentibus noftris ingenerare apta funt.

2. He advises young Students to read the Fathers with Judgment, becaufe they frequently differ in their Notions of the Words Subftance, Hypoftafis,

and

and gía. Cum judicio legendi funt Patres, qui non raro fententiis diffident in ufu vocum, Subftantiæ, Hypoftafeas, rias, ut patet ex Hieron. ad Dardan. Aug. Lib. V. de Trin. Cap. vIII, p. 1x, Socrat. Hift. Tri. Lib. VI.

This Compendium of Divinity is written with great Judgment: It contains a great deal of Matter in a little Compafs, and is perhaps the moft fubftantial Abridgment in that Kind that ever was publifhed. The Author fays, it would have been more perfect, had it not been for his great Age, and the Weakness of his Sight,

A REMARKABLE Paffage concerning the Trials of Witches, (which I bould have inferted above,) taken from M. Leibnit's Effay † upon the Goodnefs of God, the Free-will of Man, and the Origin of Evil, pag. 216,

217.

M.

LEIBNITZ having mentioned a Book of Father Frederick Spee, a Jefuit of a Noble Family in Weftphalia, goes on thus:

"The Memory of that Excellent Man ought to be dear to all Learned and Judicious Perfons, be

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I have given an Account of that Effay.

"caufe

"cause he is the Author of the Book intituled, Cau “tio Criminalis circa proceffus contra Sagas *, which "made a great Noife, and has been tranflated into

66

66

many Languages. I have been informed by the "Illuftrious Elector of Mentz, John Philip de Schon"born, Uncle of his prefent Electoral Highness "who glorioufly follows the Steps of his Worthy "Predeceffor, That Father Spee, who happened to "be in Franconia, when the pretended Sorcerers "were burnt apace, having attended many to the "Place of Execution, and found out by his Inqui"ries, and their Confeffions, that they were all innocent, was fo moved with it, that tho' it was a dangerous thing to fpeak the Truth, he refolved to write that Book (without putting his Name "to it,) which had a very good Succefs, and made "fuch an Impreffion upon that Elector, who was "then only a Canon, and fince Bifnop of Wurtsburg, "and at laft Archbishop of Mentz, that he put an "End to the Burning of any Body on Account of "Witchcraft, as foon as he came to the Regency. "Wherein he was followed by the Dukes of Bruns"wick, and at laft by most of the Princes and States "of Germany."

That is, A Caveat about the Proceedings against Witches.

ARTICLE

ARTICLE LXIV.

JOH. FRID. HOMBERGK TZU BACH Juris in Acad. Marburg. Profefforis, Parerga Sacra, feu Obfervationes quæ dam ad novum Teftamentum Domini Noftri JESU CHRISTI. Traje&ti ad Rhenum, ex Officina Gulielmi vande Water, Typographi Academiæ. M DCC XII.

That is,

OBSERVATIONS upon the New Te ftament by JOHN FREDERICK HOмBERGK TZU BACH, Profeffor of Civil Law in the University of Marpurg Utrecht. 1712. in 4to. Pagg. 366. Sold by Paul Vaillant in the Strand.

WE
Wings upon the New Teftament; and it were to

E have now a vast Collection of various Read

be wished that fome Modeft and Judicious Criticks would make ufe of them, to clear feveral obfcure and difficult Paffages. None but a Man of great Sagacity can fucceed in fuch an Attempt. The LearnCc 3

ed