branches of learning, Dr. Laurence has before fo much distinguished himself,) muft render this little tract a most valuable addition to the library of every biblical Critic. In addition to the argument, deduced from a confideration of the Hebraical form of fpeech, the Dr. alfo very ably fhows, that fince the Apoftolical writings were chiefly addreffed to Gentiles, the facrificial terms ufed, must have conveyed the idea of a proper expiation by blood, according to the prevailing notions of the Gentiles themfelves, acknowledged by all Socinian writers of eminence, Dr. Prieftley excepted; whom he properly ftyles, "The acute, but theoretical, and in many points, fuperficial Priestley." How perfectly wrong Dr. Prieftley was in venturing to entertain the contrary opinion, has been lately proved in the moft ample and fatisfactory manner by the very learned profeffor Magee of Dublin, in his difcourfes and differtations on Atonement and Sacrifice, of which we are happy to fee a third edition lately announced. With fuch fupporters and defenders as Dr. M. and Dr. Laurence, the orthodox doctrine of atonement may well defy the boldeft affaults of modern Socinians.

ART. 28. A Sermon preached in the Cathedral Church of Lincoln, on Sunday, August 5th, 1810, before the Honourable Mr. Juftice Grofe, and the Honourable Mr. Baron Thompson, Judges of Affize. By the Rev. Charles Turnor, A. M. F. S. A. Vicar of Wendover, and domeftic Chaplain to the Right Honourable Lord Carrington. 4to. 15 pp. Lincoln; Brooke. 1810.

The Preacher has happily chofen a text, which deferves efpecial attention in these times; Pfalm xxii. 28. "The kingdom is the Lord's, and he is the governor among the nations." We are ftrongly exhorted, to reflect " upon the animating and confoling. doctrine, of the fuperintending and all-directing providence of God::a doctrine, as reviving to the heart of man, as it is confeffedly awful and fublime." "This doctrine, of the general. providence of God, is not confined to the affairs of individuals, but difcovers itself in a peculiar manner in the public concerns of communities at large." Proofs of this doctrine are brought from ancient hiftory; and then, from the times in which we live. The admonition, at p. 1o, fhould be continually prefent to the mind of an Englishman "Amid this general convulfion of nations; let us be thankful, that we are ftill (undefervedly, we acknowledge) under the protection of our most gracious and almighty Benefactor. The many bleffings, that we ftill enjoy, ought to awaken every grateful fentiment within us, and make us thankful to him from whom they flow. What are we, that God fhould fo regard us! Do we teftify our love and gratitude towards him, by dutiful obedience to his will? Do we discover, in our lives, thofe virtues and graces that ought to distinguish and adorn the difciples of Jefus ? We must all be confcious, if we

M m 2

examine

examine our hearts with fincerity, that we are but too often defi. cient in the discharge of thefe various duties. If other nations have been chaftifed for their impieties; what right have we to expect any exemption? While other great and powerful kingdoms are bleeding under the iron hand of a defpot, the most merciless and fanguinary that was ever fent by Heaven as a fcourge to the fpecies; let us turn our eyes to the manifold advantages fecured to this our country; and thank our God, that we have been born and educated in this happy and enlightened kingdom. What juft caufe then have we to rejoice, that "the Lord reigneth, and that he is the governor among the nations." The bleffings which (under Providence) we ftill poffefs, are then fet forth; namely, 1ft," that pure and reformed Religion established in thefe dominions; but tempered at the fame time with that divine fpirit of toleration, which allows full liberty to others, to worfhip their Maker in that way which they deem moft acceptable to him. Next; that civil liberty which we all enjoy, and which is equally removed from the two extremes, of licentiousness on the one hand, and flavery on the other; and those Laws, fo admirably calculated to promote the best interefts of fociety, and fo impartially enforced by men of tried ability, integrity, and learning; that we are bound to efteem them, what the legiffature intended them to be ;-the guardians of our property, and the fecurity of our lives and perfons. At that tribunal, no wealth or power, however great, can fcreen the criminal against the offended laws of his country; and there, the meaneft fubject of the state will find protection and redrefs." P. 11.

The condition of other nations is then contrafted with our own; and a spirit of devout thankfulness to the Almighty, and obedience to his commands, is the leffon justly drawn and strongly inculcated by the preacher.

Inftruction like this is now feafonable, from any pulpit; and not least to, before an audience prepared to witness, in these days, an uprightnefs never furpaffed, in adminiftering the Laws of this er of any other country.

JUBILEE SERMONS.

ART. 29. 4 Sermon preached at Bishop-Wearmonth Church, in the County of Durham, on the 25th of October, 1809, the Anniversary of the Acceffion of our gracious Sovereign to the Throne, upon bis Entrance into the 50th Year of his Reign. By Robert Gray, D.D. Re&or of Bilhop-Wearmouth, and Prebendary of Durham, and of

Chichefter. 8vo. 20 PP. Is. 6d. Sunderland, printed.

Rivingtons, London. 1809..

If they whofe occafional difcourfes we may happen to overlook, knew how many reafons of public feeling, and private regard called upon us to notice the prefent, which, nevertheless, has been de

layed

layed a twelvemonth from its publication, they would readily ac quit us, at leaft, of wilful neglect.

Dr. Gray confines his celebration of our excellent Sovereign principally to three points: 1. His fteady and uniform regard to religion. 2. The firm fteadinefs with which he has fupported the caufe of morality. 3. The regard he has always fhown to the "independent and upright adminiftration of juftice." Thefe principal topics, with their collateral illuftrations, comprehend a large part of the Sovereign's character; allufion, however, is afterwards made to his private and domestic virtues, in a strong, but not adulatory ftyle of commendation. The topics are thus ably fummed up.

"From the acceffion, then, of our Sovereign to the prefent period, during a reign commenced under the happiest aufpices, and carried on with great profperity, under difficulties of peculiar embarraffment; though dependent colonies have revolted from the parent state, and a revolution of unprecedented magnitude hath overturned many of the empires of the world, our Sovereign has maintained his steady and unaltered principles; has exhibited in his character a mild yet firm ferenity, blending the qualities of a patriot king, with the virtues of a religious and amiable man, and living in the affections of his people, as in the bofom of his fa. mily." P.17.

Dr. Gray alludes to a former difcourfe, on a fabject connected with this, which we, (with many others) fhould have been glad to fee printed with it. No London bookfeller is mentioned in the title page, which poffibly is the reafon why we did not early ob tain a copy.

We have put in the name of our own publisher at a venture, prefuming that it may be there procured.

ART. 30. A Sermon preached in Tunbridge Wells Chapel, on Wednesday, October 25, 1809, being the fiftieth Anniversary of his Majefty's Reign. By Martin Benson, A. M. 8vo. 16 PP. IS. Tunbridge Wells, printed; Rivingtons, London. 1809.

If a few Sermons of this clafs have continued to this time, overwhelmed by larger compofitions, let them be confidered as applicable to the Anniverfary fo lately paffed, and they will be come new again.

He

Mr. Benfon is careful to avoid any thing like an adulatory ftrain, or the style of warm panegyric, but he produces a fenfible and edifying difcourfe, well adapted to the occafion. first takes up the defence of fuch celebrations in general; which he very properly handles; he then commends our excellent King, chiefly by contrafting him with thefe infatuated fovereigns, who in other countries have brought on their own ruin: and he laftly confiders fuch an effufion of public gratitude as an admirable leffon

M m 3

for

for any future Sovereign. The following paffage relating to the conftant endeavours that are used to excite difcontent in this country, in fpite of all its advantages, is juitly conceived and admirably expreffed.

"It is too much the fashion of the day, that certain political incendiaries periodically deal forth their felf-fufficient opinions, to regulate or rather pervert, thofe of the country at large the general tenor of whofe inflammable poifon is to fhew that every thing is wrong; to difguft, with a hope of creating confufion. If we liften to thefe theorists, all not only is wrong, but actually is loft: every defign has originated in a bad motive; and every event, though oftenfibly fuccefsful or useful, is accompanied by misfortune and difgrace. In a word, they would perfuade us, that our country is loft; the conftitution impaired or ufelefs; and the near approach of our generous enemy rather to be defired than dreaded. It is not a little difgraceful that Englifhmen fhould liften with apathy to fuch peftilential libels, But happily their conduct proves that they are not very exten fively feduced; as the loyal effufions of this day, (the object of ridicule and hatred with thefe writers) fufficiently prove." P. 14.

In fpite of all these efforts the very great majority, of intelligent and valuable fubjects, rejoice in fuch celebrations, and, at this moment anxioufly and fervently pray that they may have many more to celebrate, after the removal of the present anxiety.

ART. 31. A Sermm preached in the Parish Church of Blunham, Bedfordfire, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 1809. By the Rev. Robert Porten Beachery, 4.M. of Oriel College, Oxford, and Rector of Blunbam. 8vo. 21 pp. 1s. Rivingtons. 1809.

We go on to clear our repofitory, of what it ought long ago to have difmiffed, the fermions printed on the firft day of Jubilee.

Mr. Beachcroft is one of thofe who have made excellent ufe of the occafion, by inculcating the found and true principles of a British patriot and divine. He fhall fpeak for himself.

Surrounded by his family, fitting under his own vine, fheltered by his own fig-tree, the Englishman is able to comprehend the true meaning of the word liberty! his fervice both to his King and to his God may, and ought to be, a fervice of perfect freedom. Whilft other nations are flying before the fword of the deftroyer; our country is preferved as a refuge for the oppreffed fugitive; an afylum for fuffering kings and banished princes.

But why are we thus fignally honoured of God?" the Lord did not fet his love upon us, nor choose us, because we were more in number than any people (for comparatively fpeaking we are the feweft of all people) but because the Lord loved us." O may the Lord ftill continue to love us; may he ftill uphold us by the right hand of his power. Of this we may be affured, that nothing but our fins and repeated tranfgreffions will induce the God of

mercy

mercy to caft us off. But then the queftion comes with too much force, Are not our fins great; are not our iniquities grown up, reaching to the heavens? we have too much reafon to apprehend that they are. It would, however, be foreign to the business of this day to particularize; but we must all be fenfible, that the fins of individuals compofe what is called national guilt, which, if it be not repented of, will moft affuredly bring down national punishment.

"With the best conftituted form of government; with the pureft mode of worship; with every civil and religious opportu. nity of adorning our chriftian profeffion, if we forget ourselves, our country, and our God, we fhall need the rod of chantifement to bring us back to a proper fenfe of duty. The God of all pity and of all confolation, delights in the welfare and profperity of his people; but then he requires that his people fhould delight in him. "Delight thou in the Lord. and he will give thee thy heart's defire." P. 15.

There is nothing in the plan of the difcourfe that particularly requires an analyfis.

ART. 32. A Sermon, preached at the Parish Church of Dorking, in the County of Surry, on Wednesday, October 25th, 1809: in Commemoration of his Majefty's entering the fiftieth Year of his Reign. By the Rev. J. Warneford, M. A Fellow of Fejus College, Cambridge, and Curate of Dorking. 8vo. 18 pp. Is. Rivingtons. 1809.

This preacher, like fome others whom we have met with, begins with an account of the Jewish Jubilee; he then proceeds to confider the grounds which we have for gratitude, under three or four principal heads. The first of thefe is the actual bleffings we enjoy; the fecond, being free from the great vifitations of God; the third is our prefervation from civil tumults and diforders. Here we fhall cite the words of the preacher.

"But thirdly, as we have mentioned our gratitude due for freedom from the horrors of the fword, freedom alfo from either the peftilence or the famine, fo have we abundant cause to praise God for deliverances wrought for our nation, through many eventful circumftances, operating on us as a body politic, at home. It is hardly to be expected in times and circumstances like those which have marked the prefent reign, wherein we have been rifing to the greateft height of commerce, the neceffary attendant on which is luxury; fituated alfo as we are in the midft of rival and powerful nations, whofe arts and intrigues of every fort have been exerted to deprefs our political grandeur, but that, in fo free a nation, partial tumults fhould have been excited. At different times of his prefent Majesty's reign, fuch partial dif turbances have confequently occafionally arifen; but with no de gree of danger comparable with that which has attended the inM m 4

fidious