tion; particularly he has produced evidence to fhow, that inftead of polluting the blood, and occafioning ulcers, and other foulnesses of the skin, as has lately been pretended, it has in numerous instances been employed, and with fuccefs, in the cure of fuch complaints. This fhort account, will, we prefume, be fufficient to recommend his addrefs to the notice of the public.

ART. 24.

DIVINITY.

A View of Religions in three Parts. By Hannah Adams. 12mo. PP. 500. Button and Son. 1805.

This book we are told in the Preface has paffed through feveral editions in America, the prefeat being printed from the third which appeared in October 1801, and was dedicated to Prefident Adams. We must confefs we have derived great entertainment and Inftruction from the perufal of it, and think we may fafely recommend it as an excellent work of reference for an account of the many different fects and perfuafions to be found in the world. We heartily lament there are fo many, but can only confider it as a proof of man's blindness and infatuation, and by no means, as arifing from any invincible obfcurity in the written word of God. As a proof of which we need only cite the article Gainians, a fect which conceived that becaufe Cain in killing his brother, obtained the victory over him, he must have been produced by a birtue fuperior to that which produced Abel; and upon the fame perverfe principle they came to entertain a high veneration for the worst characters in the facred writings, fuch as, the inhabitants of Sodom, Efau, Corah, Dathan, Abiram; and even Judas Ifcariot.

We have carefully examined thofe articles that have reference to the most important controverfies, and differences of opinion among believers, and we muft fay, they feem to us to be drawn up with great impartiality and correctnefs, and the book is cer tainly valuable in admitting the reprefentations of fectarists them. felves; thus the article Quakers, we are told, was drawn up by a Friend or Quaker, for the purpofe of correcting former mifrepre sentations. This is fair and proper. There is mention made of fome modern fects we were wholly unacquainted with, fuch as the Bereans of Scotland, the Hopkinfians of America, and the Shakers of Albany. We cannot refrain from tranfcribing one paffage from the Preface by the Editors, which we think very fenfible and important. Some parts of the accounts, given by the author, of the Eastern Pagan nations we have omitted, confidering the authorities on which they are founded as fufpicious. close attention to fact in thofe nations with which Europeans have lately been in the habits of the most familiar intercourfe, we have been compelled to diftruft much of the panegyric bestowed upon them by former writers, and to confider it as one of thofe in

By a

direct methods by which deiftical hiftorians, geographers, and travellers have thought fit to affail the religion of Jefus." We cannot conclude without again expreffing how much fatisfaction we have derived from the perufal of this fmall volume, which contains more than we could have expected to find in it. The Three parts into which it is divided are thus diftinguished:

Part 1. Containing an alphabetical compendium of the denominations among Chriftians.

Part 11. A brief account of Paganism, Mahomedism, Judaism, and Deifm.

Part 111. A View of the Religions of the different nations of the world.

To the whole is prefixed an Effay on Truth, by Mr. Andrew Fuller.

ART. 25. A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of Grantham, on Saturday, May 25, 1805, at the Vifitation of the Rev. the Archdeacon of Lincoln and in the Parish Church of St. Martin, in Leicester, on Wednesday, June 19, 1885, at the Vifitation of the Rev. the Archdeacon of Leicester. By George Gordon, B. D. Precentor of Exeter, and Rector of Sedgebrook, in the County of Lincoln, and of Gumley, in the County of Leicester. 4to. 1s. 6d. Hurft, Grantham. Rivingtons, London.

26 pp. 1805.

A found, and very feasonable admonition (from Coloff. ii. 8.) against the enemies of religious eftablishments; who are, 1. the advocates for natural religion, exclufively of revealed: 2. thofe, who account all fyftems of religion to be equal and indifferent: 3. the patrons of liberal fentiment, as it is called; who would perfuade us that, fo long as we do not abandon the doctrines of chriftianity altogether, it is of no confequence, where or how we profefs them; whether as churchmen, or fectaries, under the gui dance of a regular, or irregular ministry: 4. thofe enemies to the church, (fome of whom are even within it) who have lifted up their voice aloud against it; averring, that the gospel is not preached by the generality of its minifters; nor by any but themfelves. Against each of these enemies of the Church of England, the clergy (in particular) are exhorted to oppose them. felves, meekly, but firmly; not favouring intolerance and per. fecution; nor, on the other hand, mistaking indifference for can dour, and indolence for moderation.

Exhortations of this kind, refpectfully directed (as this is) to the clergy, by thofe of their own order called upon to addrefs them, are a fulfilling of duty towards that pure and reformed church to which we belong."

66

ART. 26. The Chriftian Hero; or, the Union of Piety and Pa. pristifm enforced; A Sermon, preached in the Chapel of the

Foundling

Foundling-Hofpital, July 31st, 1803: by the Rev. John Hewlett, B. D. Morning-Preacher to the faid Charity, and Lecturer of the United Parishes of St. Vedaft-Fofter, and St. Michael-LeQuerne. Published at the Request of the General Committee. 4to. 23 PP. 15. Johnson, &c. 1803.

"In

We cannot affirm, nor conjecture, by what accident our notice of this fermon has been fo long delayed; and we can only fay, that a want of refpect for its worthy author, or for the charity which he affifts, has had no fhare in the omiffion. The difcourfe (on Prov. xvi. 7.) was highly feasonable and useful, at the time of its delivery; and it is no lefs fo, at the prefent day. From many good admonitions, we fhall felect those which are given to certain perfons who poffefs" tender confciences," of, as we ra ther think, tender heads, and who are averfe to all warfare. order, therefore, that our ways may please the Lord, and that He might make even our enemies to be at peace with us; we are doubtless called upon, by every focial and religious prin ciple, to fhow a grateful fenfe of the many BLESSINGS we enjoy, by an active, vigorous, and determined COURAGE in the De FENCE of them." P. 17. "We have learnt, it is to be hoped, from the lift leffnefs, the defpondency, and want of union among others, the neceffity of timely exertion, and the advantages of CORDIAL UNANIMITY." P. 18. "The times call for fome. thing more than MONEY; and more than can be always bought, or hired. We want, and I truit fhall have in abundance from every clafs of fociety, HANDS that are able, and HEARTS that are willing, to fight their own battles." P. 19.

ART. 27. Reflections on Victory; A Sermon preached in Argyle Chapel, Bath, December 5, 1805; being the Day appointed for a General Thanksgiving, for the fignal Victory obtained under the late Lord Viscount Nelson, over the combined Fleet of the Enemy. By W. By W. Jay. zd Edition. 8vo. 42 PP.

Gye, &c. Bath. 1805.

18

This author truly premifes, that a "Sermon, impreffive in the delivery, is generally lefs interefting in the perufal, having no longer the advantage of a number of auxiliary feelings and circumftances." We recommend this obfervation (though it be not new) to the notice of popular preachers, and we advife them, generally, to refift with firmness all folicitations to printing. We do not approve of a "free and popular ftyle in the pulpit;" but require it to be grave and dignified in a high degree, though not devoid (as it too often is) of animation and vi gour. An oration, more undignified and familiar than this, will hardly be printed on the fame occafion.

ART. 28. The Seventh Day, a Day of Reft for the Labouring Cattle: a Difcourfe preached in the Parish Churches of Staple

and

4

and Bickenhall, in the County of Somerfet. By the Rev. Charles Toogood. 8vo. 40 pp. IS. Vidler, &c. No date,

Though we are not informed when this difcourfe (on Exodus xxiii. 12.) was pronounced, or printed, yet it is doubtless of a recent date. It inculcates, by very plain and convincing arguments, the duty of fuffering cattle to reft on the feventh day. "It is the boon of Heaven itfelf: it is a small drop of comfort, thrown into their cup of mifery and to wreft from them this privilege, this fweet confolation of their exiftence, is a degree of inhumanity, for which there wants a name; and of which few perfons, (it is to be hoped,) if they could be brought to reflect feriously upon it, would ever be guilty." P. 20. We recom

mend this fubject to the efpecial attention of perfons of three defcriptions: 1. to fashionable perfons, as they account them. felves, but whofe claim we difallow; who feem to think, that if they can travel on the Lord's Day with lefs interruption than on any other day, the violation of human and divine laws is a matter beneath their confideration: 2. to mere men of business; who ac count a day to be loft, that does not bring to them fome gain; which is dearer to them than the welfare of any, or all, of God's creatures 3. to agricultural men; who think it hard, that they may not kill their cattle, by inceffant labour, in the feafons of hay and corn-harveft; and who have lately established the practice of fending cattle (efpecially from the North,) in droves of many hun. dreds, from one market to another, on Sundays; and whofe pro ceedings we strongly recommend to the notice of the magistrates in the feveral neighbourhoods through which thefe droves continually pafs.

LANGUAGES.

ART. 29. Dele&us Sententiarum, et Hiftoriarum in ufum Tironum accommodatus. Septimò accuratiffimè editus. 12mo. 122 PP. Smart and Co, Reading. Longman, &c. London. 1806.

This elegant little school book has paffed through feveral editions without attracting our notice. It leads the fcholar progreffively through the rules of the syntax, with fentences adapted to his proficiency; and has the peculiar recommendation of being formed entirely of claffical fentences. The compiler, (Dr. Valpy) whofe long experience in teaching gives his opinion the greatest weight, has purpofely avoided any arrangement of the fentences as to their fubjects, perfuaded that complete variety will be much more attractive to young minds, than any fpecies of claffification. "In this edition confiderable alterations and additions have been made. The preliminary fentences will be found more fimple, and better calculated to exemplify the firft and most important rules of fyntax. An index has been added, which will greatly

facilitate

facilitate the ufe of the book to the beginner." We must, how. ever, obferve that the index wants much of being perfect; fince, in one fentence, (p. 42.) we find prunum, peregrinus, caries, and rugofus, not at all noticed there. The inftance was not particu larly felected.

ART. 30. A new and eafy Introduction to the Hebrew Language upon the Plan of Grammar in general, defigned to encourage and promote the Study of that Language, by facilitating the Acquirement of its Principles upon a Plan which in no Work of the Kind has been hitherto adapted. By the Rev. James Wil liam Newton, M. A. Minor Canon of the Cathedral Church of Norwich. I 2mo. So pp. 2s. 6d. Longman and Rees.

1806.

The ftudy of the Hebrew language has been attended with con. fiderable difficulties, from the circumftance of there being no grammar of that language constructed upon the model of grammar in general in the prefent work this impediment has been. removed; and the learner will find, that in acquiring a new lan-. guage he has to contend with none of those embarrassments that proceed from encountering a fyftem of grammar entirely new to him; which to those who have been at the trouble of learning the grammar of feveral languages, is an obftacle which is fre quently not to be furmounted.

Inftead of "varying a fingle verb by feven conjugations," the author has arranged the verb regular, and the irregular verbs more conformably to common ufe, i.e. under the active, passive, and middle voice; the potential and fubjunctive moods, &c. and has adopted those terms in general which are found to be as applicable to the Hebrew grammar as to the grammars of other lan guages.

The maforetic points, laborious in the acquirement, and of doubtful authority, are likewife omitted; fo that the work is conducted with a fimplicity and perfpicuity which affords every affiftance to thofe who may be difpofed to become acquainted with the rudiments of the hebrew tongue; and appears particu larly adapted to the ufe of fchools.

BIOGRAPHY.

ART. 31. The Life of Erafmus; with an Account of his Writings. Reduced from the larger Work of Dr. John Fortin. By A. Laycey. 8vo. Cadell and Davies. 8s. 6d. 1806.

The life of Erafmus, by Dr. Jortin, has not only for a long time been remarkably fcarce, but remarkably dear. It was alfo much extended by a confiderable portion of very learned notes, which to a great many readers were of lefs intereft. This wri

Hh

BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXVII, APRIL, 1806.

ter