the fpirit with which his letters are written, and warmly recommends and supports the evidence and reafoning which they contain in favour of Christianity. Mr. Swain in his examination of "The Objections of Mr. David Levi to the Miffion, Conduct, and Doctrine of our Lord Jefus Chrift," befide endeavouring to remove the general prejudices of the Jews, is particularly employed in reconciling their minds to the reception of the doctrine of the Trinity. How far his labours will be ferviceable to the interefts of the gofpel, we will not take upon ourselves to decide. "Jefus Chrift the true God, and only object of fupreme adoration, in 2 vols. by J. Hodfon M. D." is a work which appears to have been written under a strong conviction of the truth and importance of the doctrine for which he contends. In the first vol. he endeavours to eftablifh his opinion, which he thus explains: That the felf exiftent Deity is unapproachable; that the fon, or glorified humanity, is the medium by, through, or in which we worship the father, or divinity; that in worshipping the Lord Jefus Chrift, we worship the one true and only God, in whom is a Trinity of nature, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, united in one glorified perfon." In the 2d. vol. he confiders the objections which may be brought against his hypothefis; and concludes it by an appendix, containing obfervations on an examination of Mr. Robinfon's plea. If our author has not brought forwards any powerful critical abilities in aid of that fide of the question which he favours, he has convinced us, nevertheless, of his acquaintance with the belt arguments which are ufually adduced, and of the commendable view with which he has published them. Mr Parkhurst, in his demonflra tion from feripture, of "The Divinity and pre-existence of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift; ia anfwer to Dr. Prielley's Introduction to his Hiftory of Early Opinions, &c." refts a confiderable part of his proof on the plural termination of the word elohim, which he endeavours to fhew, implies that there is more than one perfon in the godhead. This reafoning he fupports by his explanation of the language of the New Teftament, and, particularly, by that of the Evangelift John. In a poftfcript he defends the conclufions which he draws from the plural termination in the name of God, against the critical obfervations of Mr. Gilbert Wakefield. Whatever claims Mr. Parkhurst may have to learning and ingenuity, we do not think that he has been more fuccefsful than others who have gone before him, in defence of his favourite fubje&t. His reafonings are not new; the paffages of Scripture to which he makes an appeal, are fuch as have again and again been difcufled by the writers in this controverfy: and as to any additional illumination we have not received it from the treatife before us. Dr. Geddes in his "Letter to Dr. Priestley attempts to prove, by one prefcriptive Argument, that the divinity of Jefus Chrift was a Primitive Tenet of Chriftianity." The argument which our author fixes on is, the decifion of the first general council of Nice. Their teftimony, fuppofing them to be men of common fente, and common integrity, together with the difputes between the Homoufians and Homoioufians, who agreed in receiving the doctrine, but differed in their manner of explaining it, he confiders to be decitive of the queftion. It would be foreign to the nature nature of our work, to enquire into the credit due, in this debate, to the determination of a number of men, in the fourth century, who were called together by Conftantine, for the exprefs purpose of condemning Arius and his followers, and of eftablishing, by an authoritative decree, the orthodox doctrine. We cannot but obferve, however, that the argument does not lofe any of its weight in our author's hands. His letter difcovers him to be poffeffed of extensive knowledge, and equal ingenuity; and is written with a fpirit and temper that add credit to his character as a man, and as a Chriftian. Mr. Madan's "Letters to Dr. Priestley, &c." are employed in fupporting the arguments in favour of the Trinity, which are drawn from the Old Testament; and in defending the character of Paul against the alledged mifreprefentations and attacks of that writer. If Mr. Madan hoped for fuccefs and fame from entering the lifts against the great champion of herefy, he has taken the most effectual measures to defeat his own wishes; as the moft grofs illiberality, and total want of all proper decorum, are the moft prominent features in his publication. Dr. Priestley's Letters to Dr. Horne, dean of Canterbury; to the Young Men who are in a Course of Education for the Chriftian Miniftry at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; to Dr. Price; and to Mr. Parkhurst, on the Subject of the Perfon of Christ," are intended, partly, to defend the Unitarian doctrine, and his former labours in the fupport of it, against the advocates for Athanafianifm and Arianifin; and, partly, to excite in the minds of the ftudents in divinity in the univerfities, a fpirit of enquiry into the truth of thofe doctrines which they are called. upon to subscribe. In this work our author manifefts his ufual acutenefs and address as a polemic, and fuccefsfully vindicates himself against the infinuations which had been thrown out, refpecting his deficiency in the knowledge of the learned languages. The last publication was foon followed by an angry Address to the Candidates for Orders in both Universities, on the fubject of Dr. Pricftley's Letters to them," in which the writer is fo warm and virulent, as to injure rather than ferve the caufe which he efpoutes. Inftead of pitying his opponent for his mistaken views of divine truth, he roundly charges him with impiety and blafphemy; and doubts not, that if he had lived in the time of our Saviour, he would have been among the foremost of thofe, whose detestable hands were lifted up to deftroy the God of their life, the author of their eternal fal vation." The Letter to the Rev. Dr. Priestley, by an Under-graduate," contains an attack on the addrefs of that gentleman to the ftudents of the two universities, fuftained with much fhrewdness and humour; and occafionally animadverts on the auxiliary labours of Mr. Lindsey in the Unitarian controversy. A Declaration of my last Sentiments on the different Doctrines of Religion, by the late Pierre François le Courayer, D. D." tranflated from the edition published in French from the MS. of the author, by Dr. Bell, prebendary of Westminster, is a pub lication that reflects great honour on the memory of that worthy man, from the unaffected spirit of liberality and candour which it breathes. Notwithstanding that he lived and died in the communion of the Roman Catholic church, le was far from from approving many of the opinions and fuperftitions which have been introduced into it. Against thefe he delivers his proteft with Christian freedom and fimplicity. But the most striking part of thefe last fentiments explains the view which he entertained refpecting the perfon of Chrift. This is fo clear and fimple, and fo happily illuftrat ed by the language of the New Teftament, that it highly deferves the attention of thofe who are engaged in the difpute refpecting the Trinity. The Thoughts on the Progrefs of Socinianifm; with an enquiry into the Caufe and Cure, &c." appear to be the production of more than one perfon, anxious to prevent the spread of what is deemed a dangerous and growing herefy. Thefe Thoughts are addreffed to minifters of all denominations, who are earnestly exhorted to unite their zealous efforts in this good work. We can have no doubt of the ferioufnefs and good intention of the authors of this pamphlet; but we cannot well understand from it what particular mode of oppofition they would recommend, or what particular doctrine refpecting the perfon of Christ they would adopt in the room of the Socinian. To thefe Thoughts is added a letter to Dr. Price, on his late Sermons on the Christian Doctrine, in which the authors blame him for not giving fome more favourable views of the doctrine of the Trinity, as well as for being filent refpecting the Holy Spirit. Dr. M'Gill's "Practical Effay on the Death of Chrift," is divided into two parts; the firft of which treats of the Hiftory, the fecond of the Doctrine and Death of Christ. The fentiments of our author are liberal and rational; they are delivered in perfpicuous and nervous language; and appear to be the conclufions of a pious and well informed mind, after a diligent and honeft enquiry after truth. The treatife on "The Liberty of the Human Will; or Salvation attainable to all within the Sound of the Gospel," is a modeft endeavour to prove that the doctrines of predeftination and reprobation are inconfiftent with the natural and juft feufe of fcripture. In the Appendix, the author offers his thoughts on the divine prefcience, in which, while he allows of the poffibility of that attribute, in the most extenfive fenfe, which has ever been admitted, he thinks it reafonable to conclude that God did not exercife fuch a forefight, as fuch an exertion appears inconfiftent with infinite wifdom, becaufe contrary to order; as laying a refraint on infinite goodnefs and mercy, which are free and unconfined, and contradicting all the rules of moral government.' Mr. Cornifh's "Brief Treatife on the Divine Manifeftations to Mankind in general, and to fome in particular," is a ferious, plain, and. ufeful little work; calculated to imprefs the mind with juft and en couraging views of the divine adminiration, and to excite the e motions of rational piety. The Lectures fuppofed to have been delivered by the Author. of a View of the Internal Evidence, of the Chriftian Religion, to a felect, Company of Friends," contain an ingenious and plaufible defence of methodistical principles, by a ftudent in the fchool of the late Soame Jenyns. The fubjects of them are, faith in Chrift, as fomething widely differing from, and fuperior to a rational conviction of the truth of Christianity; the caufes of infideli. ty', ty, among which are enumerated the candour, and rational refinements of modern divines; the neceffity of revelation; the afcenfion of Chrift; the credibility of revealed religion; the importance of revelation; and humility. The language in which thele Lectures are written is, in general, accurate and elegant and the talents of the author appear fo refpectable, that we could wish to fee them employed in a more rational fervice. By thofe, however, who can relish the doctrines of the Tabernacle, this performance will be held in high etti mation. In mentioning the fermons of the year 1787, we fhall, in the first place, announce the publication of a third volume of Sermons on various Subjects, and preached on feveral Occafions, by the late rev. Thomas Franklin D. D. Chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, &c." The fubjects of thefe difcourfes are plain and practical; and the execution of them is fuch as will justify the hope of the editor, that they will be found"not lefs intereft ing, or lefs worthy of patronage than those of the preceding volumes." For the character of thofe volumes, we refer the reader to our account of the Domestic Literature of the year 1786. Mr. Dupré has, likewise, publifhed an additional volume of "Sermons on various Subjects,' which poffefs many of the fame excellencies, and we with that we were not obliged to add, fome of the fame defects which we noticed in his first volume. His imagination still continues to be more lively than his tafte is correct; and his metaphors are frequently indiftinct and mifapplied. But we do not mean, by thefe obfervations, to detract from our author's real merits. Thefe are discoverable in in the fpirit of chearfu! piety which his difcourfes breathe; and their uniform tendency to promote virtuous moral conduct," To those who read fermons for instruction, and not for amusement; and efpecially to those whofe fentiments, like our author's, are conformable to the articles of our established church, this volume will be an acceptable prefent. A fecond volume of "Sermons by David Lamont, D. D. Chaplain to His Royal Highnefs the Prince of Wales," hath also been publish ed during the prefent year. The first volume, which appeared before the commencement of our annual labours, was remarkable for the author's frequent affectation of pucrile conceits, incongruous metaphors, and a difgutting profufion of meretricious ornaments. The volume before us is a laudable tes, timony to the great improvement which he has made, in taste and in judgment. The style of it is, in general, correct and elegant; the language manly and animated; and the fentiments liberal and juft. Still, however, there is room for improvement: and we would recommend to the author a growing jealoufy of his fondnefs for fplen did imagery, and far-fetched fimilies. By exercifing that attention and care of which he is evidently capable, we should not defpair of feeing Dr. Lamont acquire a very dif tinguished rank among pulpit orators. When we publifhed our account of Domeftic Literature for the year 1786, we had not met with a vo. lume of "Sermons on different Subjects, by the rev. John Hewlett, of Magdalene College, Cambridge, &c." which, otherwife, would have been justly entitled to our notice. Thefe difcourfes afford unquestion-" able proofs of the abilities, liberality and piety of the author The fubjects of them are interefting and Important; their language fimple and elegant; and the uleful and valuable fentiments which they contain are conveyed in a manner that is powerfully adapted to affect the heart, and to influence the conduct. As for thofe trifling defects which a rigid cenfor might point out in this volume, they are abundantly counterballanced by its general and fterling merits. The "Sermons by G. Gregory F. A. S. Author of Elays Hittori cal and Moral, &c." form another valuable addition to the excellent publications of this kind, by which our countrymen have been eminently diftinguished. They are fen fible, ferious, and inftructive. Their style, in general, is correct and energetic; and in their construction, the author hath maintained a hap py medium between the loose effay form of many modern compofitions, and the perplexing arrangment of the fermons of the last century. Their liberal fpirit, likewife, will be a warm recommendation of them to the candid and difpaffionate reader. To thefe difcourfes is prefix ed an effay on the compofition and delivery of a fermon; in which Mr. Gregory has given many excellent obfervations on the fubject, arrangement, and ftyle of fuch compofitions, which are highly deferving of the attention of the younger clergy. In the Difcourfes preached at the Cathedral Church of Winchefer, by James Webiter, B. D. Fellow of St. John's College in Cam bridge," befide feveral useful and practical fubjects, which the author has treated in a plain, fenfible, and judicious manner, we are prefented with an examination of the five 17878 caufes to which the fudden propa gation of Christianity is imputed by Mr. Gibbon; and an enquiry into the rife, progrefs, and doctrines of methodifin. The author's remarks on Mr. Gibbon are by no means deftitute of ingenuity and weight; though they are fometimes delivered in a phrafeology which the friends of that gentleman will complain of, as unwarrantable and illi beral. But the difcourfe relating to the methodists, does not flew the author to be thoroughly acquainted either with the history, or the principles of that party of Chriftians. Of this the reader will want no other proof when he finds Mr. Webster obferving, that we are to look back to the era of John Calvin's miniftry in 1541, for the ori gin of this fect; and that their dif tinguishing principle is the doctrine of predeftination and election. The volume of Sermons by Charles Symmonds, B. D. of Clare Hall, Cambridge," is a publication of confiderable merit, though the author indulges too freely to the fire and luxuriance of youth. M ny of his preliminary obfervations on the compofition of a fermon, and on the frequent ufe of the words of fcripture, meet with our ready concurrence. His illuftrations of fcripture are often natural and beautiful; and his remarks forcible and pious. His arrangement, liked wife, is generally juft and perfpid cuous. We would, however, re commend it to our author, in any fu ture publication, to avoid novel and affected epithets, in which there is more quaintnefs than energy and to labour more affiduoutly after correctnefs. By an attention to this advice, he will be in no dan ger of repreffing the proper warmth and ardour of his compofitions; and may outstrip many of his competi |