WATSON'S MISSIONARY SERMON. nitions, and patiently submit to their censures? Ought you not to consult their happiness in every step you take, and accommodate yourselves even to their humours? Ought you not, when they are in the decline of life, to afford them all the assistance in your power-to watch their looks with assiduity and attention-to bear their pains with them-to soothe their ruffled passions-support their feeble steps-make their bed in their sickness— and, if you cannot hold back death from them, yet, by your sympathy and prayers, disarm him at least of some of his terrors? Gratitude for a thousand kind offices you have received demands all this at your hands." Vol. II. 148-150. Following the discourses on domestic duties stand a series of six sermons on the Parable of the Sower, Matt. xiii. 3-9. After a discourse on parables in general, and the leading ideas of this in particular, the different classes of hearers referred to in the text are considered as the inattentive-the enthusiastic-the worldly-minded-and the sincere. Of these discourses we must only say, that they shew the same knowledge of the human heart, discrimination of character, and warmth of feeling which are universally manifested in the volumes before us. The third volume is Miscellaneous; and includes eight Discourses on the Inspiration and Uses of the Holy Scriptures, with the Duties that as Christians we owe to them-Funeral Sermons for Dr. John Gill, GEORGE II., John Howard, Esq., Dr. Caleb Evans, and the Rev. Samuel Burford-A Sermon delivered at the Ordination of the venerable Abraham Booth, and a number of others, which we have not room to particularize together with a very ingenious article entitled "A Trip to Holyhead in a Mail Coach, with a Churchman and Dissenter, in the year 1793," in which the political principles of the dissenters are candidly stated and vindicated-and then follow a collection of his Hymns and Poems. We must not stay to point out any more of the good Ductor's excellencies; and as for defects, there are as few of these as in most works that have passed under our notice. The work is well got up: the paper is good, and the printer has performed his task with neatness, and general correctness. We would, however, beg that he will no more use letters of the same size as the text for the purpose of 351 reference. A small letter or figure, placed rather above the line, is preferable to the plan pursued in this instance. The Religious Instruction of the Slaves in the West India Colonies advocated and defended. A Sermon preached before the Wesleyan Missionary Society, in the New Chapel, City Road, London. By RICHARD WATSON, One of the Secretaries of that Institution. 8vo. pp. 36. pr. 1s. London: Butterworth and Son, Fleet Street, and Kershaw, Paternoster Row. 1824. THE struggles which the champions for justice and benevolence have made for abolishing the abominable traffic in slaves would, of itself, form a most interesting history, and open a view of human nature, as pleasing on the one side as it is disgusting on the other. The successes attending those efforts have varied almost with each successive year. At one time hope has stimulated to new exertion, and then again been baffled with unexpected obstacles. For a season the voice of legislators has recognized the claims of the oppressed -and then again has dashed away the pleasing prospect, by the stale and thread-bare exclamation,-"The time is not come." Latterly, however, the claims of the poor oppressed African have been legally acknowledged any farther importation has been prohibited and several important steps have been taken to mitigate the severities of slavery where it does exist. But, "The news that's welcome like the snail comes creeping, While tales of sadness fly with wings of lightning.” The relief provided for the poor slave, as yet, only exists in Acts of Parliament, and Decrees of the State. They have not reached the object for which they are intended, but are intercepted by the cupidity and wickedness of the local authorities through which they must necessarily pass. At one time those authorities pretend to be so consummately stupid as not to understand the orders transmitted, and time must be given for procuring an explanation. On another occasion, a pretended appeal is made to the source of law, and nothing can be done till that appeal is heard. Shortly afterward, some self-laid plot is discovered threatening the extermination of the white inhabitants, and ne their reports hereafter will necessarily be received with a limitation and suspicion very galling to their proud and haughty spirits. At the time the Sermon before us was delivered there was a high degree of interest felt on this subject; and the announcement that Mr. Watson was ap thing in mitigation of severity can be adopted till the slaves are reduced to a more peaceable condition. All this, however, is mere maneuvering, to gain time, and to wear out the patience and energies of the friends of emancipation; --and had not that patience and energy been grafted upon the best of principles, and supported by the assurance of ulti-pointed to preach specially on the occamate success, they would surely, ere sion was anticipated with much pleanow, have given way. But no believer sure. The subject was exactly suited in revelation, and, indeed, no infidel to his masculine and independent mind, who narrowly watches the movements and the impression produced by its deof public opinion and feeling, and the livery exceedingly powerful. To us it course of events as they are transpiring appears, however, that the sermon as in the world, can hesitate for a moment written scarcely does credit to the sermon to predict the utter extinction of slavery as it was preached. There certainly were in every kingdom and colony where the parts expressed in more vivid and forcible Bible is recognized as the standard of language; and the soul of the preacher, religion and morals. Such a book, and which occasionally burst forth in lansuch a state of society are an utter in- guage and imagery bold and nervous to compatibility. Either slavery must en- the highest degree, is in the sermon as tirely eradicate the authority of the printed cramped and pinioned by rule Bible, or the Bible, when laid open, and measure. This may perhaps conwill frown away the oppressions of sla- tribute to the accuracy of the author's style, but it necessarily diminishes from the effect. very. There is great danger that the interest which the religious public have, for many years, taken in this subject may, for a time, subside. An individual can do little or nothing; and the feeling of that insufficiency will lull many into listlessness and inactivity. But this must be guarded against, and every man, who has either a tongue or a pen, must employ them in arousing his own energy, as well as that of those on whom he may have any influence, that the cry of the country may be so loud, and so incessant, as to give fresh impulse to the benevolent intentions of government, and urge them to new advances in the path of justice and mercy. The sympathy of almost all the religious public has been excited in behalf of Mr. Smith, the West Indian Martyr; but it may, with some confidence, be stated, that there has been no event within the memory of man so pregnant with favourable consequences to the poor Negroes as the death of that good man. In a degree he may be said to have" died for the people." His death, and the cause by which it was procured, will necessarily have the effect of opening the eyes of government to the real state of things in the colonies;-that men so deeply drenched in prejudice, and who can, on so slight a pretence, set aside the whole authority of law and justice, are not fit to be trusted; and We will, however, no longer detain the reader from the gratification he will have by a few extracts. The preacher's text is, Honour all men. He proves the title which Negroes have to the character of man, principally by the fact of their capability of the principle of love to God. In this way the preacher has determined who are men, by determining who are capable of that universal and exclusive law to man, the love of God. "To honour,' as the word signifies, is to estimate the value of any thing, and to proportion our regards to the ascertained value. Apply this rule to man. Estimate his value by his Creator's love, and by his Redeemer's sufferings-by his own capacity of religion, of morals, of intellectual advancement, of pleasure, of pain-by his relation to a life and to a death to come; and you will then feel, that to honour man is to respect him under these views and relations-to be anxious for his welfareto contemplate him, not only with benevolence, but even with awe and fear, lest a prize so glorious should be lostlest a being so capable should be wretched for ever." The preacher directs his readers to the objects of our Christian sympathy and care-to their civil condition-to the effects of past exertion-and to circumstances which may encourage WATSON'S MISSIONARY SERMON. 353 future zeal and perseverance. Under our own?-that they are the offshoots, the first he remarks,— wild and untrained, it is true, but still the offshoots of a stem which was once "In touching this subject, allow me one principle, and I desire no more, in be-proudly luxuriant in the fruits of learning half of this class of our fellow-men. Allow and taste, whilst that from which the me, that, if, among the various races of Goths, their calumniators, have sprung, human kind, one is to be found which has remained hard, and knotted, and barren? been treated with greater harshness by the For is Africa without her heraldry of rest, from its possessing in a less degree science and of fame? The only probable the means of resistance-one whose history account which can be given of the Negro is drawn with a deeper pencilling of in- tribes is, that, as Africa was peopled, jury and wretchedness,-that race, where- through Egypt, by three of the descendever found, is entitled to the largest share ants of Ham, they are the offspring of of the compassion of the Christian Church, Cush, Misraim, and Put. They found -and especially of those Christian nations Egypt a morass, and converted it into the most fertile country of the world; they which, in a period of past darkness and crime, have had the greatest share in in- reared its pyramids-invented its hieroflicting this injustice,—and you concede glyphics-gave letters to Greece and to me the ground of a strong appeal in Rome, and, through them, to us. The their favour. That appeal I make for the everlasting architecture of Africa still Negro race, the most unfortunate of the exists,-the wonder of the world, though family of man. Abundantly has it multi- in ruins. Her mighty kingdoms have yet plied, but only to furnish victims to the their record in history. She has poured fraud and avarice of other nations. From forth her heroes on the field-given bishops age to age its existence may be traced upon And, for Negro physiognomy, as though to the Church-and martyrs to the fires. its own sunburnt continent; but ages, which have produced revolutions in fa- that could shut out the light of intellect, vour of other countries, have left Africa go to your national Museum-contemplate still the common plunder of every invader the features of the colossal head of Memwho has had hardihood enough to obdurate non, and the statues of the divinities on his heart against humanity-to drag his which the ancient Africans impressed lengthened lines of enchained captives their own forms, and there see, in close through the desert-or to suffocate them resemblance to the Negro feature, the in the holds of vessels destined to carry them away into hopeless, foreign, and interminable captivity. It has been calculated, that Africa has been annually robbed of one hundred and fifty thousand of her children. Multiply this by the ages through which the injury has been protracted, and the amount appals and rends the heart. What an accumulation of misery and wrong! Which of the sands of her deserts has not been steeped in tears, wrung out by the pang of separation from kindred and country! What wind has passed over her plains without catching up the sighs of bleeding or broken hearts! And, in what part of the world have not her children been wasted by labours, and degraded by oppressions! "To oppression has been added insult: they have been denied to be men; or deemed incorrigibly, because physically, embruted and immoral. The former I shall not stay to answer. Your Missionaries have determined that: they have dived into that mine from which we were often told no valuable ore or precious stone could be extracted, and they have brought up the gem of an immortal spirit, flashing with the light of intellect, and glowing with the hues of Christian graces." "And yet, will it be believed, that this contemned race can, as to intellect and genius, exhibit a brighter ancestry than mould of those countenances which once beheld, as the creations of their own im- rable sermon without extracting nearly Christian instruction of the Negroes, | that arise in endless succession, we dare indirectly points that out as the most effective plan for ultimately accomplishing their emancipation. The advocates for slavery in the Colonies appear more terrified at the sight of a Missionary than at an Act of Parliament: the latter they can keep to themselves, or let it fall silently to the ground without ever being known or heard by the degraded beings for whom it was made but the former necessarily associate and mix with these outcasts-they impart to them the greatest blessing of God to man, and the wonderful success which has already attended their labours, carries with it a conviction of the divine approbation-the greatest encouragement to continued labour and the surest pledge of ultimate triumph. Richmond and its Vicinity; with a glance at Twickenham, Strawberry Hill, and Hampton Court. By J. EVANS, LL.D. Embellished with Views of the Bridge, and of the Palace at Richmond, und of the Pagoda in Kew Gardens; together with Thomson's House and Alcove. Richmond, Darnill; and Simpkin and Marshall, London; pp. 280, 18mo. 4s. bds. "Brevis esse laboro," says Dr. Evans, in the entrance to his present volume, and we give him full credit for the truth of his assertion. His mind is so fertile, and his pen so prolific, that we verily believe it costs him some pains to restrain his imagination and compress his narrative. We have no doubt that he could write a folio, on any given subject, such as the volume before us, with as much ease as we could manufacture a humble duodecimo! But the mystery to us is, how he manages to make his books so very entertaining as they are. We could not indeed trust him as a safe guide in the all-important concerns of religion, for here we think him very heterodox; but on general topics of life and manners, in matters of taste and literature, in descriptions of local scenery, and for an inexhaustible fund of biographical anecdote, we scarcely know a more pleasant companion. Richmond, which, in the volume before us he has undertaken to describe, is the British Garden of Eden; and its praises have employed the pens of many a favourite of the muses. The subject is a prolific one, and amid the multiplicity of objects say that Dr. Evans found his greatest difficulty to lie in selecting such as were most interesting. We accompany him with a melancholy pensive pleasure through the church, "one of the neatest in the kingdom," and in surveying its monuments in the chancel, nave, and aisles of the church, where so great is their profusion, that it should seem these memorials of art alone could bestow immortality. We shall, while here, treat our readers with one of the thousand poetical gems with which these pages are strewed. When life as opening buds is sweet, How awful then it is TO DIE! Ah! then how easy 'tis TO DIE! When faith is strong and conscience clear, And words of peace the spirit cheer, And visioned glories half appear, 'Tis joy, 'tis triumph then TO DIE! When trembling limbs refuse their weight, And films slow gathering dim the sight, And clouds obscure the mortal light, 'Tis Nature's precious boon TO DIE! Barbauld. Among the worthies who lie interred in Richmond church, are several of the family of the Wakefields; and in mentioning one of them, the father of the late Gilbert Wakefield, the following anecdote occurs, which is worth recording: The Rev. GEORGE WAKEFIELD was minister of this parish, as well as vicar of Kingston. The Rev. Mr. Bailey, of Langley, Derbyshire, gave him the livings, assigning this reason to his friend, who reproached him for not taking them himself, "No," says he, "I am satisfied with my present situation. Now were I to go to Richmond, the KING would be my parishioner: I must consequently go to court. Then I shall be looking forward, of course, to a prebend or a canonry. As soon as I am settled in a stall, I shall for a translation to a better. In due time grow uneasy for a bishopric, and then eager LAMBETH will be the fond object of my wishes, and when I am stationed there, I must be miserable because I can rise no higher! Had I not then better be quiet BIOGRAPHY OF MR. HINTON.PROCRASTINATION. in my present condition, than be always wishing, always obtaining, but never satisfied!" This anecdote is perhaps not to be paralleled in the annals of clerical preferment. The worthy divine was a truly Apostolic Bishop, having learned the lesson of Christian contentment. But we must not indulge further in extracts. We were not a little amused with the quotation from a modern critic, which occurs, in p. 107, on the subject of the beautiful prospect from Richmond Hill. According to that connoisseur, "the principal ingredient in this ful charm is the river, the beautiful river; for the hill seems much overrated;but there is no overrating the river, clear, pure, and calm as the summer day. Certainly the Thames is the pleasantest highway in his Majesty's power dominions." This reminded us of a remark which we had formerly met with on the same subject in Simond's Tour through England, vol. i. p. 197, and for the curiosity of the thing we quote it. "The Thames is no doubt a pretty little stream, a narrow ribbon or silvery snake, twisting along the green meadows; but if it were dried up, and its muddy bed filled and sodded over, I do not think the prospect would be materially injured." So true is the maxim, " De gustibus non est disputandum." Before we take a final leave of this very amusing volume, we must apprise Dr. Evans of a typographical error which occurs in Miss Aikin's elegant lines on the death of Gilbert Wakefield, p. 83, line 7. 355 way that reflects considerable credit on his own talents and virtue. We candidly confess that when we first saw an intimation of the publication of an octavo volume on the subject, we trembled for the consequences; and though we should have been much better pleased with the work had some parts of it been withis contained in p. 25-45, and 112—126, held from the public, particularly what with some others which we could mention; yet still we must admit that upon the whole it is a very respectable perthat are of an interesting nature, several formance. It contains many things very affecting particulars, and some excellent admonitions which are worthy of the serious attention of Christians in general. Mr. Hinton was not a profound theologian, but he was an interesting preacher, and we never heard him but of a slight acquaintance with him, and with satisfaction. We had the pleasure have still in possession several of his letters; but they were too carelessly interesting to render them fit for pubwritten, and on subjects not sufficiently tion whatever of printing them. One lication-of course, we have no intenof them, written from Cheltenham, fills yet the good man forgot to sign his four pages of foolscap paper in folio, and name to it! We had the misfortune on one occasion to make him very angry, and also some others of his family; but we hope he forgave us before he died, mend to them a different line of conduct. and if he neglected to do it, we recomIn the portrait prefixed to the volume, we are unable to recognize one single feature of the original! Procrastination; or the Vicar's Daughter. A Tale. London, Burton and Smith, pp. 236, 5s. 1824. Ir is a circumstance not a little singular, that perhaps every religious periodical has for a number of years, been writing against Religious Novels, Tales, &c. They have shewn their tendency to enervate the mind, and divert it from more important studies, and yet have seldom condemned any one of them, or estimated the extent of evil they have actually produced. When this little volume fell into our hands, we resolved to glance over its contents, and then elaborate an article on the evils arising from such publications. But whether it arises from the degree of |