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engaged on its fide, but the fimilarity of opinion affords a momentary gratification to the mind.

If we were difpofed to be captious we should object to the title, as feeming to make a distinction between piety and Christianity.

ART. 31.

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A Letter to the Right Rev. Lewis, by Divine Permiffion, Lord Bishop of Norwich, requesting his Lordship to name the Prelate to whom he referred as contending firenuously for the general Excellence of our prefent authorised Tranflation of the Bible.' 8vo. 1s. Johnfon. London, 1789.

Taking it for granted the prelate alluded to is Dr. Louth, the author takes much pains to fhew that the Bishop of Norwich has mifrepresented the meaning of that able Hebraift. That while the latter means only to recommend the ftyle of our vulgar tranflation, the former would lead. us to fuppofe the accuracy of it was admitted likewife. Without entering into the fubject, we fhall quote the Doctor's words, and leave our readers to form their own opinions:

For these reasons, whenever it shall be thought proper to fet forth the holy fcripturès for the public ufe of our church to better advantage than as they appear in the prefent English translation, the expediency of which grows every day more evident, a revision or correction of that tranflation may perhaps be more adviseable than to attempt an entirely new one. For as to ftyle and language it admits of but little improvement; but in refpect of the fenfe and accuracy of interpretation, the improvements of which it is capable are great and numberless.'--Preliminary Differtation, p. lxxii.

The author of this little pamphlet produces other authorities for the propriety of a measure which fhould áfter all be engaged in with great caution.

ART. 32. Parochialia; or, Inftructions to the Clergy in the Discharge of their parochial Duty. By the Right Rev Thomas Wilson, D. D. Bishop of Sodor and Man. 12mo. 25. Cruttwell, Bath; Dilly,

London. 1788.

This valuable little volume was, it feems, originally prefented in manuscript to every clergyman of the reverend author's diocefe. It is now printed feparately from the doctor's great works to render its ufe more general. We fincerely join in wishing it may be as univerfally perused as its merit entitles it to, not fcrupling to affirm there is fcarcely a parochial duty omitted which can ever occur to to the regular clergy.

ART. 33. Sunday-School Dialogue; being an Abridgement of a Work by M. P. entitled The firft Principles of Religion and the Existence of a Deity explained, in a Series of Dialogues adapted to the Capacities of the Infant Mind.' 12mo. 3d. Marshall. London, 1790. This is another ufeful little performance for which the public is indebted to Mrs. Trimmer's induftry; nor is it conducted with lefs address for the clafs it is intended for than any other of her former publications.

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ART. 34. A Letter to the Farmers of Great-Britain on fome Things of Importance; with an Addrefs to the Public. By the Author of the poor Child's Friend. Small 8vo. 3d. Rivingtons. London, 1789.

Much whole fome advice, both for the foul and the body, is contained in this petty performance. The peafantry and laborious part of the community are principally addressed, and the vices to which they are most addicted reprobated in terms ferious and emphatic. Sabbath-breaking, drunkennefs, and fwearing, as not only criminal in themselves, but the conftant concomitants of the moft criminal habits, he earnestly cautions and exhorts the lower orders of the people to avoid. And the principal aim of the performance is to establish a conviction that the great interests of futurity are, in every ftation and condition of human life, intimately connected with the faithful discharge of present duty.

ART. 35. Salvation through the Grace of our Saviour displayed; the Doctrine of Grace illuftrated; and Righteousness in all Manner of Converfation recommended. In feveral Sermons. By Alexander Shanks. 12mo. 25. Laing, Edinburgh. 1789.

The principal aim of these fermons is to vindicate the orthodox fyftem of divinity from the exceptions of those who have adopted the hypothefis of Arminus. The author wants not either ingenuity or eloquence. He often reasons with accuracy, and always declaims with ftrength and effect. His fentiments are generally fair and pointed, and the whole compofition difcovers confiderable ardour and fimplicity. He is one of that description of diffenters from the religious eftablishment of North-Britain among whom the celebrated M'Ewen had his education, This beautiful writer our author adopts as his model; but all imitations are fervile. His writing has not the charm of the original. In genius, tafte, and delicacy, of expreffion, though meriting praife, he is much inferior to his master. ART. 36. Two Sermons, by William Gilpin, M. A. Prebendary of Salisbury, and Vicar of Boldre in New Foreft, near Lymington. 8vo. Is. 6d. Blamire. London, 1788.

These two fermons have no other affinity than that the object of both feems to be a defence of Christianity against enthusiasm on the one hand, and scepticism on the other. Many obfervations are here thrown out which the enemies of our religion and establishment would do well to confider very seriously. The fermons are judiciously written; and we know no readers who may not peruse them with advantage.

ART.

ART. 37. The State of the Nation with respect to Religion and Manners; a Sermon preached at Uxbridge Chapel, Middlesex, Oct. 25th, 1789, being the Anniversary of his Majefty's Acceffion to the Throne. By the Rev. Walter Harper, Affiftant Lecturer. 4to. Is. Evans. London, 1789.

In this discourse there is much good-fenfe and found piety. The preacher enumerates our national advantages, and prefies the proper ufe of them with great fervour. This leads him to state our delinquency in the important duties of piety and gratitude. The picture is fufficiently awful and affecting, and is fufficient to fill us with regret that it is fo very like the original.

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ART. 38. Paffages concerning the Lord's Prayer and its internal Sense. Selected from the Writings of the Hon. Emanuel Swedenborg. Small 8vo. Is. Chalklen. London, 1789.

These extracts breathe all the original and profound mysticism of the works from which they are taken. They inftance, in the most ftriking manner, the creative powers of human genius, at the fame time that they exemplify its extravagancies when abandoned by found difcretion, and directed to no object of general utility. To readers who can forgive occafional obfcurities there are several observations in these paffages that are well deferving a perusal.

ART. 39. Four felect Evangelical Difcourfes. By George Nicholson. 8vo. Is. Forfter. London, 1788.

The language of thefe difcourfes is quaint, and rendered pedantic by various fcraps of poetry and Latin, introduced, for the most part, without use. And it would be difficult, with all the candour we profefs, to affign any other motive for the publication than the vanity of the author.

ART. 40. A Sermon preached in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's,
London, May 28th, 1789, at the yearly Meeting of the Children edu -
cated in the Charity Schools in and about the Cities of London and
Westminster. By the Right Reverend Father in God, Samuel, Lord
Bishop of St. Ajaph. 4to. Is. Rivingtons. London, 1789.

In this fermon the neceffity and advantages of a pious education are ftated and defended on the principles of Chriftianity and true patriotifm. Like all the other compofitions of this eminent prelate, the present performance is diftinguished by tafte and genius. The argument for the difcipline and culture of religion in the early stage of life feems to have ftruck the author in a new point of view; and its propriety derives from his eloquence additional force and illuftration. It is among his laft public fervices in one of the first fituations of our church, which he filled with great primitive refpectability; and in which, had it pleafed God to have prolonged his valuable life, he was well qualified to promote the best interests of the community, both by precept and example.

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ART. 41. A Letter to the Rev. Ethanan Winchefter; in which his theological Tenets and Opinions are fairly and candidly examined and confuted, as inconclufive and fophiftical. By Dr. Sinclair. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Walker. London, 1790.

The author combines in his own all the diffimilar characters of author, wag, and faint. His creed is in the new-fangled infpirations and vifionary system of a Swedenberg; in whose defence, however, he is as dull and formal as any Tabernacle preacher can be. But of the ridicule attached to the extravagant opinions of others, his ideas are juft and laughable. Whoever has heard Ethanan Winchester will readily understand the following paffage: It appears to me that that bold fellow Charon, the ferryman of hell, was figurative or typical of a methodist parfon. He was an ill-grown, fat fellow, fo are most of them; he had a big, thick head, fo have the generality of them; and can it be otherwife, fince lumber and trash more than would fill my friend Mr. G's garret compofe the contents of their pates. He had a bushy grey wig, and beard of the fame colour, which you well know add to the dignity and confequence of a methodist parfon. He had bleared eyes, fo have many of them; and their hearers, from frequently howling and bawling about they do not know what. His rags were representative of their difcourfes. Thus you fee that the prophecy, or account of your old friend Charon is literally fulfilled.'

Our author, however, carries his merriment rather too far in the culpable familiarity he ufes in fpeaking of the worthies whofe memories are preferved to us both in the books of the Old Teftament and the New. Thus he talks of profeffor Nicodemus, of Aaron the parfon; he reckons Sampfon a mere caitiff, Joshua proud, and Elifha ill natured. And we should not have relished his humour the worse, had not his licentious levity betrayed him occafionally into very grofs obfcenity.

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For

For the ENGLISH REVIEW.

NATIONAL

THIS

For APRIL,

AFFAIRS

1790.

HIS month has exhibited a statement of the public revenue and expenditure, or what is commonly called

THE BUDGET.

We continue to enjoy the bleffings of profound peace and flourifhing commerce, the natural refult of the political fituation of our neighbours, and that general mafs of industry and enterprife which fprings from our free conftitution, increased. capitals, and commercial knowledge and habits. Although different opinions are entertained concerning the relation which the public revenue bears to the public expenditure, it is certain that our exports as well as imports, for the laft year, exceeded those of any other year in the annals of Britain. Notwithstanding this circumftance, not one of our taxes is either removed or alleviated; nay, the minifter is obliged to acknowledge that the public expenditure cannot be brought to a permanent balance with the public income without a confiderable reduction of the national expence; and such a balance, we are affured, will be established next year. Let us then give credit to fo pleafing a promise; whether it be well or ill founded a little time, and this only, will fully and incontrovertibly decide. We fay that time only will fully decide the matter in queftion, because disputes concerning the real state of the public expenditure and revenue are maintained in parliament on grounds not more plaufible on the one fide than on the other; and if fuch able calculators as Mr. Pitt, Mr. Dundafs, Mr. Fox, Mr. Sheridan, and Sir Grey Cooper, cannot fettle the matter beyond the power of controverfy, even with the advantage of the public accounts before them, it would be idle in any political speculator, without that advantage, to pronounce a decided opinion on fo complicated a subject.

It appears ftrange, at firft fight, that fuch a diverfity of opinions fhould be entertained by fuch able men on a point that feems capable of being determined with even mathematical precifion. But it is to be confidered that this diverfity is occafioned, not folely by the complication of vaft and various accounts, but partly by the affumption of different principles. Mr. Sheridan, in the average on which he founds his deductions, includes

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