kerville and Sir Henry Moreton", that of 460 pages, fcarcely 20 are devoted to them. She is very good and very pretty, and he is brave and handsome; but as to character, they have none at all. The Honourable Mr. Pellet, and the Reverend Doctor Dash; the rich Juftice at p. 139, of vol. i. Doctor Anapelt, Tom Vortex, and Lord Shuffle; the English Naval Officer at p. 115; and the notable dinner-party at p. 139. &c. of vol. ii. thefe are the real heroes of the piece; and they are fo egregiously foolish and vulgar, that we doubt whether any of thefe characters exift, except in the author's wild imagination,

ART. 20. The Eve of San Pietro, a Tale, in Three Volumes. 12mo, 10s. 6d. Cadell and Davies. 1894.

This feems an imitation, and by no means an unfuccessful one, of Mrs. Ratcliffe's manner. A good deal of imagination and contrivance are exhibited; but it may perhaps be objected, that this Tale is fomewhat too complicated. It is written by a lady, and is probably a first attempt; in this cafe it does the writer much credit.

MEDICINE.

ART. 21. The London Diffector, or a Compendium of practical Anatomy; containing a Defeription of the Muscles, Veffels, Nerves, and Vifcera of the Human Body, as they apppear on Diffection; with Directions for their Demonftration. 8vo. 293 pp. 6s. Murray. 1804.

This is one of the numerous anatomical compendiums defigned for the ufe of ftudents. A fault common to most of thefe books is, that the defcriptions are too concife; hence fome omiffions now and then occur. Thus, in the prefent volume, when treating of the connec tions of the ftomach with the adjacent parts, the author has not mentioned that it is connected by its upper orifice with the cefophagus, and by its lower orifice with the duodenum. The mufcles belonging to the eye, with its blood-veffels and nerves, are defcribed; but no notic is taken of the invernal tracture of this important organ. Under the diffection of the thigh it is obferved, that "you may occafionally perceive the lymphatic veffels running like lines of a reddish colour to enter the inguinal glands; they are more numerous on the fore-part than on the outfide of the thigh". The valvular structure, and ufes of this fet of veffels should have been noticed here, as we do not find them noticed in any other part of the book. It may, how ever, be of fome ufe to the anatomical student in the diffecting-room.

ART. 22.

DIVINITY.

On Chriff's Defcent to Hell, and the intermediate State. A Sermon on Peter iii. 18, 19, 20. By Samuel Lord Bishop of St. Ajaph. 410. 18 pp. Hatchard, &c. 1804.

This difcourfe, we understand, is not feparately published. It is annexed to the fecond edition of the Bishop's Hofea, and is otherwife

fold

fold only to the purchafers of the first edition. Whether we fhall find reafon to fpeak further of the verfion*, cannot yet be ascertained, but we can by no means deny ourselves the fatisfaction of speaking in proper terms of the excellent Sermon before us.

The fubject is the defcent of Chrift into Hell, and his preaching there, (a momentous fubject, and the exprefs topic of the third Article of our church); and it is here illustrated with the acuteness and vigour which are always confpicuous in the writings of this learned prelate.

The point confidered is the place to which Chrift defcended, which is denominated Hell; and this is proved to be the place beneath the earth where the fouls of the righteous reft in hope: and the Bishop particularly oppofes by argument "the extravagant affertion," as he juftly calls it, of Calvin," that our Eleffed Lord actually went down to the place of torment, and there fuftained, horrible to think or mention, the pains of a reprobate foul in punishment." P. 8. He reminds his reader alfo that this is the proper ufe of the English term Hell, though unfortunately it has become more known as equivalent to Teewa, or the place of torment. Neither this explanation nor illuftration are indeed new, but they are here illuftrated and confirmed with peculiar ability.

From the words of Chrift to the penitent thief upon the cross, the Bishop argues that the place to which he defcended might also be called Paradife: and the words of St. Peter in his text, that he there "preached unto the fpirits in prifon, which fome time were disobedient, when once the long-fuffering of God waited in the days of Noah," he explains to allude to the antidiluvian penitents, who died indeed in the flood, but died in a state of repentance, and faith in the Redeemer to come. The illuftrations of this particular interpretation we cannot here detail, though well deferving of it. We fhall only mention that by in prison, he understands merely in fafe cuftody. The ufe of thefe enquiries and arguments will beft be ftated in the Bishop's own appropriate expreffions.

"The great ufe of it (this doctrine) is, that it is a clear confutation. of the difmal notion of death as a temporary extinction of the life of the whole man; or what is no le's gloomy and difcouraging, the notion of the fleep of the foul, in the interval between death and the refurrection. Chrift was made fo truly man, that whatever took place in the human nature of Chrift may be confidered as a model and example of what muft take place, in a certain due proportion and degree, in every man united to him. Chrift's foul furvived the death of his body. Therefore fhall the foul of every believer furvive the body's death. Chrift's difembodied foul defcended into Hell. Thither, therefore, fhall the foul of every believer in Chrift defcend. In that place, the foul of Chrift, in its feparate ftate, poffeffed and exercifed active powers. In the fame place therefore fhall the believer's foul poffefs and exercife activity. Chrift's foul was not left in Hell. Neither fhall the fouls of his fervants be there left, but for a feafon. The

See vol, xviii. p. 569, and xix, p. 171.

2

appointed

appointed time will come, when the Redeemer fhall fet open the doors of their prifon-house, and fay to his redeemed, "Go forth." P.18. We have feldom been fo much gratified as with the perufal of this curious, and moft able difcourfe.

ART. 23. A Sermon, preached at the Anniversary of the Royal Humane Society in St. George's Church, Hanover Square, on Sunday April 15, 1804. By the Right Rev. Thomas Burgejs, D. D. Bishop of St. David's. To which is added, an Appendix of Mifcellaneous Obfervations on Refufcitation. By the Society. 8vo. 44 Pp. Rivingtons, Hatchard, &c. 1804.

A few of the moft ftriking of the arguments, which prove a creating Providence from the evidence of the works of nature, form the principal fubftance of this valuable difcourfe. The Bishop particularly dwells on the machinery by which animal life is fupported, the dittinction between the material and immaterial principles of life; and, as the occafion particularly required, on the fufpenfion and reftoration of powers of mind, by the obftruction or re-excitation of its bodity organs. After confidering the methods by which Providence directs men to that use of their natural faculties which is most beneficial to them, which he might intend as witneffes of himself, the Bifhop thus compares the analogous proceeding of God in the Redemption of man.

"We learn from the evidence of the most authentic records, that God ordained, that the fins of the world fhould be propitiated by the death of his own fon. For this purpofe He, (who, as the fon of God, was God, and equal with God) was to become man, that he might, by his death, offer himself an atonement for the fins of mankind. The incarnation and death of Chrift were to be the means of man's falvation. And how was this great purpose made known to the world ? By God's choice of a particular people, tribe, and family, in which Chritt was to be born; by the appointment of a particular time, when he was to be born and fuffer; by a series of types and prophecies, through a long fucceffion of ages, defignating a remarkable perfon, who was to come into the world; and at length by the appearance of fuch a perfon, who by his life, miracles, death, and refurrection, verified the types, and fulfilled the prophecies. In this process of God's providence we fee the fame ufe o: fucceffive and connected expedients, as in the phenomena of nature, the fame accumulared evidence of probable and accountable means, all tending to one conclufron, that God's government of the natural and moral world is conducted by progreffive means and expedients; and that he affords a witness of himself in both by fuch a manifeftation of the means, as is best fuited to the capacities of imperfect, but rational creatures."

To affift the reader in following the chain of the argument, the dif course is analyzed in a fhort table of contents prefixed, which proves it beyond a doubt to be a found and well-conducted compofition.

ART.

ART. 24. A Sermon, preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at the Church of St. Margaret, Weftminster, on Friday, May 25, 1804, being the Day appointed for a general Faft. By William Jackfon, D.D. Canon of Chrift Church, Oxford, and Preacher to the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn. 4to, 27 PP, Is. 6d. Payne and Mackinlay. 1804.

A grave and dignified ftyle of expreffion, well fuited to the occafion, and to the place where it was delivered, characterizes the whole of this discourse, which is further marked in various ways as the production of a found and thinking fcholar. The aid, even naturally given, to our powers of exe tion in difficulty and danger, by the inAuence of the religious principle; and the fupport it is capable of affording to the natural duty and feeling of patriotism, are the parti, cular topics employed: which lead alfo to a view of our exclufive advantages as BRITONS, for which we are called upon to exert our valour. Speaking of the natural gratification arifing from poffeffing property, he fays;

But that he enjoys this happinefs, is not becaufe chance or fortone has thrown it in his way, but because he has the privilege of BRITISH BIRTH-RIGHT. That he poffeffes in fecurity alfo what he may thus call his own-this is no cafual good, or circumstance of courfe, but because he dwells where there is TRUE LIBERTY-that is, where law and public authority provide with vigilance, that licentiousness take not the place of liberty, and that the power of violating the rights of others be not made the measure of doing fo, with those who otherwife might be profligate or daring enough to attempt it, If we look further likewise, either to the whole structure of our civil conftitution, or to the various energies of it, though I detain you not with difcuffions which might show how curiously the parts of it are framed together, or with what exquifite contrivance all the powers of it are directed to the advancement of the public good-yet the sum is, that in all which depends upon civil polity, we alone enjoy the happinefs which all others envy." P. 16.

The preacher afterwards recommends prudence in the exertions made for defence, attended with a fober obedience to authority, interweaving fome ftrong words of Thucydides to the fame effect. Without making an oftentatious or improper use of such authorities, Dr. J. has alluded to them very judiciously on two or three occafions.

ART. 25. Two Sermons, preached in the Parish Church of Sutterton, near Bofton, in the County of Lincoln, April the 8th and 15th, upon Inftitution to the Vicarage. By the Rev. George Hutton, B. D. Vicar of Sutterton, and late Fellow of St. Mary Magdalen College, Oxford. 8vo. 48 pp. 15. 6d. Kelley, Boston. 1804.

Impreffed, as it appears, by a ftrong fenfe of the duties attached to his new flation, the preacher addreffes his parishioners with much earneftnefs and affection, In the firft of these Sermons, on 2 Cor. xiii. 5. he dwells at large on that part of the Apoftle's exhortation, "be perfect." Here he teaches what is required of a Chriftian, in

order

order to his being perfect, or going on into perfection; explains the nature of faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghoft; "and flows what that faith requires of us. He mentions the great duries, more immediately incumbent on us as Chriftians; naniely, what we owe to God, our neighbour, and ourselves; and exhorts us to the practice of them in our feveral eftates and conditions of life. He tates that faith and practice are the fum and substance of our religion; and points out the neceflity of both by a familiar illustration, the one being confidered as the tree, and the other as the fruit thereof..

In the fecond Sermon, the preacher fully explains, and frongly enforces, the other exhortations contained in the text; " be of good comfort-be of one mind-live in peace." Having thus given to his hearers a fummary of the doctrines and duties of religion, the preacher exhorts them to a regular attendance on the public worship of Almighty God-to the afe and practice of private, and of family prayer-and to a frequent attendance at the Lord's table.

If, as the prefixed addrefs affords room for fuppofing, the inhabitants of this parish have felt "the intrufion of ignorant and prefumptuous men, who seek to pervert the right ways of the Lord;"-we may reasonably hope that fuch inftruction as is here given, enforced by the correfponding example of a refident paftor, will preferve the flock from fchifm and difcord.

Among many things which highly gratified us in the perafal of thefe difcourfes, the following paffage was fingularly fatisfactory: " and that every individual, in each of your families, may have opportunities of coming to the Lord's table, I propofe to celebrate the holy Communion on the Sunday following each of the great feftivals, as well as on the festival; and I intreat, and folemnly admonish you who are heads of families, to aid my inftructions, by inculcating upon your children and domeftics the duty of partaking of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper."

We have lately, with much pleafure, observed several inftances of this very commendable practice; and we earneftly recommend it to the attention of the clergy in general.

ART. 26. A Sermon, preached in the Cathedral Church of Durham, on Sunday the 6th of November, 1803, before the Delivery of the Colours to the Corps of Durbam Volunteer Infantry. By Reynold Gideon Bouyer, LL. B. Prebendary of Durham. To which is added, An Addrefs to the faid Corps, on the fame Occafion. By Lieutenant-Colonel Fenwick. 410. 20 pp. Is. 6d. Pennington, Durham; Bookfellers in Newcastle, Sunderland, Stockton, and Darlington; Rivingtons, &c. London. 1803.

We regret that this Sermon, and the Address fubjoined to it, did not fooner come into our hands, on two accounts; because their merits entitled them to an early notice; and becaufe any profit, arifing from the publication, is to be added to the fubfcription for clothing, &c. the infantry here addreffed. Let us make fuch amends as we are able.

The