! brigiæ may send forth a host of such preachers, and many such discourses, and this will tend more to support the real interest of church and state, than all the declamations of ethics, or the bitterness of bigotry. Sacred Politics; or an impartial Inquiry into the Doctrine of the Sacred Scriptures, and especially of the New Testament, respecting Civil Government. By a Lover of Truth. 32 pages. Price 9d. Chapman. 1796. ON every subject which is intimately connected with the practice of moral duties, the Christian will be anxious to know what is the decision of the sacred Scriptures. When God declares his will, all controversy is at an end. For some years past, politics have engaged the public attention to a degree unexampled in the annals of the world. But with that science we have no concern. The writer of this pamphlet has, however, pushed the theme into our hal lowed domains. With serious professions of reverence for the divine authority, he opens the gate of the evangelical temple; and, approaching the most holy place, he solemnly inquires, What is the mind of the Spirit of God in respect to forms of civil government? and what is the measure of a Christian's duty in reference to the powers that be? After consulting the sacred oracle, he takes a view of all the passages in the New Testament relating to the subject, and explains them as he goes along. The inference he draws is, that there is no one form of government prescribed in the Christian Scriptures. He then examines what form of government is most congenial to the spirit of the Gospel, and decides the abstract question by an assertion which very many will controvert, viz." That the Scriptures incune strongly in favour of a well ordered democracy.” We do not profess to be adepts in political science; and we there fore merely announce the pamphlet. We love the Scriptures; and we wish to understand their meaning, and to submit to their dic tates on every doctrine and duty. The passages relating to political obedience have been often quoted and urged; but we never before in cur time recollect to have seen so particular a scrutiny of all the texts in the New Testament, and so attentive an examination of the scriptural doctrine of civil government. The pamphlet is written in a very lively manner, with considerable brilliancy, savouring, we think, of youth, yet with great acuteness. We can truly say that it will give us unfeigned pleasure to announce and review a well-written answer to Sacred Politics. Truth has always gained by controversy; and it is owing to this, that many important subjects are now more clearly understood than in former ages. Should the theme before us be fully investigated, and employ the thoughts and pens of two or three able men on each side, this happy consequence will result from it; that Christians will perceive the duties that they owe to society and to civil governors, and the principles on which they are founded, more clearly than they ever did before, and of course perform them better. POETRY. POET R Y. Jehovah's nature can express, Essence infinite, unknown! God rides the rapid whirlwind's wing, He smiles, and countless beings sing; His frown obscures the skies. Who can in glory equal God? Resemble him in might? No being can his search evade, The bright stupendous orbs on high He bids the swelling ocean sleep, He nods, and from the boiling deep Gay blooming health at his command He sends diseases round the land, And sickness reigns again. By him the fields and woods rejoice, Adores her God and King. And therefore shall be prais'd. The great Creator ev'ry where His praises vibrate in the gale, In wild and artless notes they rise In the dark dungeon of his ire And horror to their chains. With all the majesty of woe His being fills the place, To him th'enraptur'd hosts above In Salem ev'ry holy tongue Adores the great I AM, And swells the sweet triumphant song Of Moses and the Lamb. The fov'd-star'd vessel sweeps the sea, O for an all-propitious gale! A speedy voyage be made: See how she ploughs the lashing main, Eager the southern shore to gain, Her cargo to unlade. Behold! the ocean claps her hands, A world enriching store; Old Satan now with tenfold rage, Would all his fiends and force engage Her passage to annoy; Would trouble ocean, wind, and tide, Thou, who trod the stormy sea, O bid the winds and waves combine, To waft a cargo so divine Safe to the destin'd shore! L. T. ON THE DEATH OF N INFANT. "Vitam prospexit et egressus est." R ESCU'D from gloomy scenes of care and woe, [and tears, Snatch'd early from this world of sin With all the num'rous ills of man below, From all his agonies and all his fears, To happier climes hath fled this infant blest; [never come; To climes where death and pain can Regions of bliss by earth and hell confest, The weary pilgrim's everlasting home. O envied babe! methinks I see thee now, Hymning thy joyful song with heav'nly choirs; [bow, And praising him to whom archangels to sleep? O earth, what hast thou in thy gayest hour To charm the heart, or lull our cares [flower, Ah! what is life? at best a drooping And what is man, who only lives to weep? Say, what is hope, but a delusive dream, Pursuit is ardent, but possession cloys; What once we lov'd ere long we nobly deem Mere bubbles of the moment,idle toys; Then onward rush, new objects to explore, [can find! Content our view, but that how few Poor thankless men ne'er cease to call for [behind. And blame these trifles they have left O happy babe! short sojourner below, Now freed alike from earthly hopes or fears, [tals know, Nor spar'd to drink that cup which morNor share the growing cares of rip'n-` ing years. more, A CONSTANT READER. ISAIAH, lxiii. 1. HAT mighty Hero comes from WHA far, Laden with all the spoils of war? Adorn'd with each becoming grace! And ev'ry town a triumph yields. RELIGION. And saints departed tune their goldenRELIGION's solace sooths the trou lyres. mind, [find. And on this prop a sure support we When ills assault us, and when troubles |