Exeter, on Wednesday, the 17th Day of August, 1805. By the Rev. W. Gregor, M.A. Rector of Creed. Published at the Request of the Right Reverend the Bishop of Exeter. 4to. Is. 6d. Rivingtons. We do not wonder that the publication of this fermon was requested by the diocefan at whofe vifitation it was preached. It is a moft eminently feasonable, ufeful, and folid difcourfe : and it fo abounds with matter and argument, that we find fome difficulty in prefenting to our readers a proper abstract of it. The preacher begins, by offering fome juft and ftriking remarks upon the conduct of St. Paul towards thofe whom he wished to gain, and to fecure as converts to his doctrine. Some cafes are then fet forth, in which Chriftian minifters may apply to themfelves the example of St. Paul, as defcribed in the text: "I am made all things to all men." I. In their general deportment, and intercourse with the world. II. By paying a due regard to the cafe and circumftances, the wants and weaknesses, the peculiar modes of life and habits of thinking of those whofe fpiritual welfare is intrufted to their charge. III. In regard to thofe who may be opposed to them in difcipline and doctrine. A fhort review is here taken of the claims of regular minifters of our church. The preacher then notices "the accufations which have been publickly preferred against minifters of the Gofpel, that they preach not the Gofpel; and that, whilft they complain of dif fentions from our church, they are the real Diffenters from that church, whofe doctrines they have folemnly pledged themfelves to maintain." Many excellent remarks follow, concerning the Calvinistic fenfe which fome perfons afcribe to the articles of our church. A Note, fubjoined to the fermon, fhows the impropriety of the term "moderate Calvinifm." But we cannot refrain from fetting before our readers the affecting conclufion of this dif courfe. Having dwelt upon the parting fcene, betwixt St. Paul and the elders of Ephefus, the preacher adds, "May we strive, in fome degree, to refemble this great and good man; fo that we, alfo, may finish our courfe with joy! may the confolation of our confciences, and the teftimony of thofe whofe feet we have directed in the way of peace, accompany us at our departure from this our fcene of trial!-and when age or disease fhall have overtaken us, and weakness and decay become visible in our countenances; may thofe, whofe fouls have been intrufted to our care, follow us with anxious eyes, and watch our footfteps with forrowful forebodings of the time, when we shall be feparated from them! and when, at the clofe of all earthly things, they fhall attend to pay the laft folemn token of regard and re verence towards us, may they bear a grateful re ord "what manner of perfons we have been with them, at all feafors!" May the teftimony of the heart appear in every countenance; and the tear tear of fincerity in every eye prove their forrow, that they fhall fee the face of their fpiritual guide, and earthly friend, no more!" ART. 23. A Sermon preached on the Day of the General Thankf giving, December 5, 1805, in the Parish Church of Kells. By the Mft Rev. T. L. O'Beirne, D. D. Lord Bishop of Meath. Published at the Defire of the Sovereign and Corporation of Kells, and the Officers of the Yeomanry Corps who were prefent. 8vo. 55 PP. 2S. Dublin. Rivingtons and Hatchard, London. 1805. The example of the Pfalmift is here adduced by the Bishop of Meath, as that on which every pious King should act, in ascrib. ing to God the favourable events with which his government is bleffed. He ftates what is to fuch a Monarch a legitimate caufe for war, and applies it to the cafe of our own. He then enquires into the fentiments and feelings with which our national thanksgiving, on the late occafion, required to be performed. The particular precept of the text (Pfalm ii. 10, 11.) is, "to rejoice with trembling, and ferve God with fear;" which is here explained and applied. The Bishop next ftates the duties of the time, and expatiates more particularly on the nature of the deliverance received. When it becomes neceffary to advert to the unfortunate lofs of our heroic commander, the Bishop of Meath expreffes himself with all piety and refignation, and then extending his reflections, he fays, Such is the vanity of all human things! Of fuch ftuff as this is all human glory! We are met to rejoice, to rejoice with the joy of Chriftians, for an event that furpaffes what in the deftinies of Empires has ever occurred moft glorious. But, in the very inftant that its recent fplendor burfts upon our view, death covers it with his fhades, and fits as it were in mockery on all the trophies we raife to commemorate it. The grave in which our deliverer reposes, with all that the enemies of his country had left him of his mortal frame, cafed, as it were, in his own glory*, opens before us, and the scene clofes, like every other earthly fcene, in lamentations, and mourning and woe." Contrafting the haughtinefs of our chief enemy with the Chriftian feelings of our own commanders, his Lordship afterwards introduces Lord Collingwood's general orders after the victory, as a model for fuch an occafion; and concludes with loyal prayers for the happiness of our beloved Sovereign +. "Alluding to his coffin." + We were rather furprised to obferve in the title page, that the chief Magiftrate of Kells is officially styled the Sovereign: this, however, has not deterred the Right Rev. Preacher from applying it alfo to him to whom it belongs, of general and of public right, to the Father of his people ! ART. ART. 24. A Sermon preached in the Parish Church of St. Andrew, on Sunday, January 5, 1806, on Occafion of the Death of the Rev. Charles Barton, M. A. late Relor of the faid Parif. By the Rev. Charles Pryce, M. A. late of Merton College, Oxford; joint Curate of St. Andrew's, Holborn. Published by Request. 8vo. 18 PP. Is. Rivingtons. 1806. On the death of a man highly, and we believe very juftly efteemed in his parish, this difcourfe was preached in which, from the certainty of death, are enforced the great duties of life; religious, focial in general, and private or domeftic; and it is fuggefted in ftrong but proper terms how well these were all fulfilled by the perfon lamented. The Sermon is, without extravagance, or affected emphafis, a teftimony to departed merit, honourable to the writer of it, as well as to him who afforded the melancholy subject. ART. 25. Prudence: A Sermon addreffed to young Clergymen. By Prudence, the preacher means on this occafion," the talent of choofing, among different ways of difcharging our function, that which is moft beneficial in any given circumstances." "This prudence," he obferves," is chiefly exercifed upon three fubjects: first, preaching; fecondly, attention to the flocks of which we are paftors; laftly, our own manners and condu&t.” Under the firft head he recommends proper attention to dignity, both of language and manner. Under the fecond, he lays down fome particular rules for the intercourse of a pastor with his flock. Under the third, he explains in what manner the example of fuch a paftor may be made moft ufeful. With a large and very inftructive quotation from the First Epiftle of St. Paul to Timothy, he then concludes a difcourfe extremely well calculated for the inftruction of young divines, "founded on a thirty years miniftration among them.” ART. 26. A Sermon preached at the Anniversary Meeting of the Sons of the Clergy, in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, on Thursday, May 17, 1804. By the Rev. Robert Hodgson, M.A. 4to. Rivingtons. 1806. A found difcourfe on Phil. iv. 8. "If there be, any vir tue, if there be any praise, think of these things." The preacher laments and obviates the prevailing difpofition to brand the Chriftian Minister's honeft zeal in the discharge of his duty, with the injurious names of monaftic aufterity and precifeness. He, with proper dignity, afferts their claim to refpect from the qualities of piety, loyalty, patriotifm, and fortitude, which have diftinguished diftinguished their conduct among us. From this head he takes fuitable occafion to inculcate the excellence of this particular charity for which he preached, and the peculiar claims of the children protected by this benevolent inftitution. ART. 27. The Dependance and Duty of Man, being a Sermon preached in the Parish Church of St. Andrew, Norwich, upon the Thanksgiving Day, Dec. 5, 1805, for Lord Nelfon's Victory, and published by Requeft. By the Rev. Lancafter Adkin, M.A. of Benet College, Cambridge, and Rector of Belaugh in Norfolk. 8vo. Is. Oftell. 1806. This well-intended difcourfe was doubtlefs heard with complacency and attention by the preacher's congregation, who, perhaps, thought to mark their perfonal attachment, by defiring its publication. Beyond this circle it will not, probably, be read. It is full of texts of fcripture, not always the most happily introduced, and is remarkable for any thing rather than perfpicuity and elegance. 13. ART. 28. The Divine Vifitations; confidered in a Sermon preached on the Faft Day, February 20, 1805. 8vo. 23 PP. Collins, Bristol; Hazard, Bath; Hatchard, &c. London. 1805. It is not important to a reader, where or by whom a fermon was preached yet it is defirable that thefe circumstances should be noticed; that preachers may be the more careful what they commit to the prefs. We approve of many things in this fermon; particularly of fuch paffages as thefe: "Notwithstanding my defire to draw your attention to the subject of the divine vifitations, abftracted from every political connection; I cannot omit to exprefs my full conviction of the dire neceffity we are under of combating our enemies with every lawful means to prevent their fubjugating Britain to the fame unjuft and arbitrary yoke under which they have reduced other countries." P. 4. "Have we not juft caufe on this day for bleffing God, that amidst the many evil tokens, he has not left us deftitute of fome good ones? That our gracious and religious King has been fo long continued upon the throne of the British empire, fhould infpire us with gratitude to the King of kings, and with the moft devout interceffions for his majesty and the whole royal family. The feats of public justice are filled with men of integrity and abilities, always ready to adminifter impartial juftice to the rich and poor. Among the noble and great are a few [we truft not a few] who efteem the praife of God more than the praife of men. The fpirit of active benevolence confpicuous among all ranks, is no little teken for good." P. 16. In the following fentences there is, perhaps, a latent meaning: What a favourable fign would it be, were all minifters the faithful ambaffadots of God, and examples to the flocks over which they are fet. God be praised, there are fome among the different orders in the fanétuary," &c. P: 16: "Their number, (the number of faithful stewards of the myfteries of God) in the established church, and among the Chriftian denominations, is on the increase." P. 19. Perhaps evangelical teachers (as fome perfons, exclufively and most prefumptuoufly, ftile themfelves) are here intended. From this vain affumption, however, one good effect may flow: it may imprefs upon the minds of our clergy, with additional force, the neceffity of being well and accurately acquainted with the genuine doctrines of the gofpel which they preach. ART. 29. A brief and impartial View of the two most generally received Theories of the Fall of Man, and its Confequences; in a Difcourfe preached at Doncafter, April 21, 1805. By the Rev. P. Inchbald, A. B. late of Univerfity College, Oxford. To which are added Explanatory Notes and References to the most eminent Divines who have written upon that Subjeɛ. 4to. 1s. 6d. Sheardown, Doncafter; Johnlon, London. 17 PP: 1805. There is fomething very peculiar in the plan of this difcourfe. It diftinctly states the two principal theories refpecting the Fall of Man, without deciding in favour of either. The author wishes, he fays, "to be confidered rather in the light of an hiftorian of opinions, than as the abettor of either fyftem, to the entire exclufion of the other." P. 9. His conclufion therefore is, "that the abettors of either fyftem are furnished with arguments in defence of their opinions, which fhould challenge the confideration of every unprejudiced inquirer after theological truth."? It will appear perhaps, he adds," that, in the violence of con troverfy, and the zeal of fectarianifm, both parties have carried their notions to an extreme; but having particularly delineated the tenets of each, it remains with you (the hearers) to exercise your own judgments, and follow the decifions of your own un derstanding." P. 17 A difcourfe fo completely deliberative may undoubtedly be of ufe in the clofet, by referring the reader to the authorities on both fides of a question, which he may feel it important to exa. mine. But, in the pulpit, fo doubtful a ftatement could apparently have no tendency, but to unfettle the minds of the hearers, without materially affifting their enquiries. To do juftice to the author, he really feems to have ftated the two theories with an uncommon degree of impartiality; nor can ૨૧ BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXVII. MAY, 1806. it |