berty. 3. Becaufe he is endued with fo many perfonal virtues. 4. Because many national bleffings have been conferred on ús, and continued to us in this reign. But it may be afked, have we not experienced many national calamities This is granted, but it is anfwered in a juft and manly ftyle, that they cannot be attributed to our fovereign.,

There is not, in the whole difcourfe, more than one fentiment to which we fhould object, and as even that is dubious, we fcorn to feek a cause for cavil, where fo much deferves our approba tion.

ART. 31. Leners, respecting the Restrictions laid upon. Diffenting Teachers, the Qualifications required of them, and the Privileges granted to them. Written and fent to the Right Honourable Lard A B. C. D. E.F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R.S.T. U.V.W.X.Y.Z. by the Rev. William Hett, M. A. Preben dary of Lincoln 8vo. 71 pp. Rivingtons. 1810.

This work is dedicated to the King, in a ftyle truly patriotic and loyal. In Letter II, it is stated, "that there are two, and only two circumftances, which demand our confideration refpect ing diffenting teachers. The one is, That they be effectually prevented from doing any injury to the Conftitution in Church and State, as by law eftablished: The other, That they be duly qualified to inftruct their hearers in thofe facred Truths of the Chriftian religion, which they adopt and acknowledge." The Author then proceeds to enquire, "in what manner, and to what degree, thefe two objects, of doing no harm, and of doing much good, have been provided for by the Act of Toleration, and by a fubfequent Act." He proceeds to prove, by facts, that Diffenters in general, how much or how little foever they may differ from the Eftablished Church, or from one another; in a variety of circumstances, are of the fame mind in one; that is, an unfriendly difpofition towards the Constitution in Church and State, as by law eftablifhed; and an unremitted and inceffant endeavour to obtrude into it their own changes and amend ments at the leaft, if not utterly to overthrow and to destroy it." To obviate this danger, the Author propofes an Act of Parliament, fome of the provifions of which are here ftated; but we apprehend, that the offence to be punifhed is too generally defcribed.

In Letter III, the other circumftance, refpefting Diffenting teachers, is confidered; "that they be duly qualified to inftruct their hearers in thofe facred truths of the Chriftian religion, which they adopt and acknowledge." In the following fenti. ment, churchmen and diffenters will all, we hope, concur: "It is the duty of every Chriftian Legislature, from time to time às the variation of circumftances may demand, to make fuch laws and regulations, as may fecure, as far as it is practicable, the

welfare,

welfare, temporal and eternal, of every clafs of thofe individuals, which are placed under its care and management. The Legifla tore views all its children with the fame paternal folicitude, and wifhes, and endeavours to make them all, as far as their jarring interefts and wayward paffions will admit, equally happy, and equally comfortable; equally unmolested in the poffeffion of the good things of the prefent world, and equally provident respect. ing the felicity of the next." It is then fhown, how defective is the prefent provifion by law, concerning the age, and the moral and literary attainments of diffenting teachers; a boy, or a man who can neither write nor read, may now demand a li cence to preach, on paying one fhilling. Some further provi fions are then fuggefted; for which we must refer our readers to the book itfelf. Whatever we may think of travelling Preach. ers; the Author's with "utterly to prohibit them," would doubtlefs be refifted by every Methodist in the kingdom; fince all the followers of Whitfield as well as Welley feem to agree with the latter teacher, that "itinerancy is the life and foul of methodifm."

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At p. 28, the Author does juftice to confcientious, and faithful diffenting teachers; from whom he would not withhold any privilege which they now enjoy. And at p. 31, he fpeaks of Baxter, Lardner, Doddridge, and Watts, in a manner profoundly. and juftly refpectful." But what are the Hills, and the Stylefes, and the Burders, and the Collyers, of the prefent day, when compared with these?"

The Author now explains at fome length, and with a mixture of irony, his with concerning diffenting teachers; "to caufe them to be more orderly, better informed, more humble. minded, and in confequence, far more refpectable, and in fact much more refpected, by their fuperiors in Church and State, than at prefent they are." Towards fuch perfons, Mr. H, expreffes a truly tolerant fpirit; "I cannot fee why, if he carry himself thus peaceably towards all men, he should not be beloved and refpected by all thofe who are of a different perfuafion; and be confidered as a fincere Chriftian, an useful member of the community, a loyal fubject; and be entitled, in the most comprehenfive fenfe of the words, to all the civilities of friendship and good neighbourhood."

At p. 62, we find an Epiftle, "To the whole body of the Reviewers of Great Britain, by what titles foever dignified and diftinguifhed." They are defired to fay plainly, whether the author appears qualified to do good by his writings. We do not hefitate to fay, that he is fo qualified; and that he appears fincerely defirous to do it. He will take it, we truft, in good part; if we re commend fome degree of abridgment, in his arguments and style; a lefs frequent mixture of facetious with ferious topics; and the Comiffion, in a future edition, of the words in the title-page,

03

written

written and fent to A. B. C. &c." which, however explained, have only the effect of giving a ludicrous caft to a work truly ferious.

ART. 32. The British Jubilee. A Sermon preached at the Scots Church, Crown-court, Ruffell-freet, Covent-garden, London, on the 25th of Oftaber, 1809, being the 50th Anniversary of his Majesty's Acceffion to the Throne. By George Greig, Minifter of the jaid Church. Published by Defire. 8vo. 36 pp. 1s. 6d. Hatchard, &c. 1809.

Though we cannot hope even to gain intelligence of every fermon preached and printed on the memorable occafion of the Royal Jubilee, we shall not willingly pafs by any that feem to have reasonable claims to notice. The prefent difcourfe is the composition of a fenfible and methodical writer, and enlarges upon the following topics: First, the inftances of God's goodness to our King, and under him to the people; fecondly, the influence this goodness ought to have upon us. Under the former head, the preacher' fpecifies, 1. that God has caufed him to reign over an enlightened and chriftian people; 2. that he has mercifully preferved and lengthened his life; 3. that he has, in thefe awful times, preserved his crown and kingdom; 4. that he has bleffed his reign, in general, with internal tranquillity; 5. that he has bleed him with firmnefs to maintain his own principles and the rights of his people. To us God has evinced his goodnefs in the religious privileges we enjoy, in civil and religious liberty, in the progrefs of ufeful knowledge, in giving us abundance, in the extenfion of our commerce. The fecond part of the difcourfe recommends joy' and gratitude for thefe bleffings, and concludes with arguments in favour of the Bible Society.

Allowing for a very few points in which the peculiar feelings of an English diffenter appear, we cannot fairly deny to this dif course our general teftimony of approbation,

ART. 33. The Duty of Church-Communion: a Sermon altered and abridged from Dr. Rogers, with additional Paffages interfperfed, By Edward Pearfon, D.D. Mafter of Sidney Suffex College, Cambridge, and Chriftian Advocate in that University.

32 pp.

6d. Hatchard. 1810.

12mo.

The labours of Dr. Pearfon are always judicious and useful, always tend to the diffufion of right fentiments, on the great subjects of faith and Chriftian unity. When fuch a writer condefcends to work upon the ground prepared by another Divine, and that fo able a Divine as Dr. Rogers, the refult must be, an improvement of what was good before, the addition of new and valuable materials, and on the whole, a difcourfe probably as well adapted to its purpose as can be wished or imagined.

On infpecting the Sermon here announced, we fee no reafon to abate any thing of that eftimation which we had thus antici pated. We find it admirably defined, how far Church-Communion is practicable, and how far neceffary; and what are the advantages attending it ;-with occafional references, in a few short : notes, to points on which we principally differ from the leading fchifmatics of the prefent time. The Appendix is taken from Bishops Burnet and Hoadly on the fame fubject. We heartily, therefore, recommend this difcourfe, and with it an extenfive cir .culation.

ART. 34. A few Words on the Increase of Methodism, occafioned by "Hints of a Barrister, and the Obfervations in the Edin burgh Review. 8vo. 23 pp. IS. Miles and Co.

1810.

I am," fays this writer, "neither a follower of Whitfield any of nor Welley. My religious opinions do not accord with the hundred and fourfcore fchifms, which Moreri informs us, had their rife from the Apoftolic age to that of Luther, nor with any of the innumerable ones that have had their rife fince:"-no, Sir; but it is perfectly plain what you are. A Roman Catholic; who extol the Methodists, chiefly for the fake of depreciating the Established Church; which you do often very unfairly.,

Let us take one example :- "Who," enquires this Author, "diffeminate, at their own expence, tracts well calculated to promote focial virtue The Methodists.". P. 20.

It is evidently meant to be implied, that the eftablished Clergy and Laymen do not fo. Yet did this writer never hear of two extenfive Societies which have been exercifing this benevolence for more than a century, and are compofed entirely of Church? Other questions are equally uncandid. We cannot hesitate therefore to fay of the tract, that it is an infidious attack, probably from the quarter above-mentioned, or from a Deist.

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MISCELLANIES.

ART. 35. A Hiftory of the Ancient Town of Shaftesbury, from the Founder Alfred the Great, partly felected from Hutchins. Containing an Account of the Abbey, Churches, Nuns, Clergy, -Also Reprefentatives in Parliament, Recorders, Mayors, c. of the Eminent Perfons who have refided in the Toron and Neigh !bourhood. Published by T. Adams, Shaftesbury. Crown 8vo. 221 pp. 5s. Scatcherd and Co. 1809.

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The ufe of thefe minor publications of local history is confiderable; they are of eafy purchase, and they afford to the cafual vifitor all the information he can well require, without the labour of examining bulky volumes, which befides are not always 42 doul do alisin to

to be met with. Being eafily reprinted, they may alfo be cons tinued from time to time, fo as to keep pace with alterations improvements, and other mutable circumftances; but a plan of the place fhould always accompany them, which in this inftance is wanting. Anecdotes of eminent perfons are among the most pleafing materials of fuch compilations; and the following is we believe bat little known.

The Rev. James Granger, author of the celebrated Biogra phical Hiftory of England, was a native of this town; he was the fon of a heel-cutter. When a little boy he often carried out the monthly publications for a Mr. Woolridge, bookfeller; as a reward for his trouble, his requeft was the loan of the Gentleman's Magazine, and one penny to purchase a candle to read it." P. 67.

Such were the literary beginnings of Granger, of whom we are glad to fee it mentioned alfo, that he kept up a friendly correfpondence with Mr. Woolridge to the day of his death. The beautiful lines of Mr. Bowles," on leaving a place of refidence," refer to Barton-hill in this town, which was inhabited and embellished by his Father; they occur in the first volume of his poems, p. 125. That an infcription fubjoined in this book, as be Jonging to the fame place, was not there originally, appears from vol. ii. p. 17. W. Lifle Bowles is certainly one of the names which Shaftesbury will continue to record.

ART. 36. A Selection of curious Articles from the Gentleman's Magazine. In three Volumes. 8vo. 11. 16s. Longman.

1809.

The Gentleman's Magazine now extends to almost a hundred volumes. It commenced in Jan. 173r; in 1783 the plan was confiderably enlarged, and fince that period every volume has been divided into two parts. Nothing can be more notorious than that this series of volumes contains a great number of articles of fubftantial literary value, and the adoption of a plan like this now executed, has often been fuggefted, as well by Mr. Gibbon, whofe letter to Mr. Nichols on the fubject, is introduced in a note to the preface, as by other diftinguished cha racters,

Thele volumes are thus divided. The firft contains hiftorical and antiquarian refearches. The fecond, ancient and modern lite. ature, criticifm, and philology. The third, letters to and from eminent perfons, with mifcellaneous articles, anecdotes ufeful projects and inventions. It is impoffible that fuch a compilation Thould not contain a prodigious fund of folid and interefting -information, as well as of amufement. The copious fubject of Ibiography is omitted, as well as that of topography, for both which articles the Gentleman's Magazine has always been celebrated, and not undefervedly.

Criticism on fuch a publication is out of the queftion. The

particular