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to cenfure. And as to the gentleman principally concerned, it is added, he abhors the thought of wantonly placing his character in an unfavourable light.' He apprehends the story here related is very interesting to our universities, and that it may be of use, in cases of difcipline and academical controverfies, to have the circumstances rightly flated and recorded in the method here chofen. Should this advantage in any degree arife, he hopes to ftand the more readily excufed to the world for the publication of it. It is not requifite for us to add any thing farther on the subject.

Art. 38. A Letter to the Hon. and Rɩv. Shute Barrington, Lord Bishop of Llandaff. By Richard Edwards, Clerk. 4to. I S. Swan. 1773

About a year ago Mr. Edwards published a narrative of his hard cafe, in a letter addreffed to John Hanbury, Efq; whom he confiders as the efficient caufe of his diftreffes. The prefent letter contains the Author's correspondence with his diocefan Bishop, to whom he had applied for redrefs, with regard to his arbitrary difmiffion from the curacy of Trevethin. This the Bishop declined, not apprehending himself to be legally empowered to interfere in the affair; but Mr. Edwards being of another opinion, what was at first a matter of fupplication, became a fubject of controverfy in the courfe of which his Lordfhip happened to fall into one or two miftakes, or inaccuracies of expreffion. Of these Mr. Edwards has taken advantage, and has treated the Bishop with a good deal of afperity: for which, however, he thinks he has had fufficient provocation. Be this as it may, the poor man is certainly much to be pitied for his fufferings; efpecially if they have really fprung from no other fource than his having prefumed to difpofe of his vote, at his own option.

Art. 39. The Chinele Traveller. Containing a Geographical, Commercial, and Political Hiftory of China. To which is prefixed, the Life of Confucius, the celebrated Chinese Philofopher. Collected from Duhalde, Lecompte, and other modern Travellers. Adorned with a Map of China, and other Plates. 12mo. 6 s. Dilly. 172.

This epitome may be very acceptable to thofe who are not poffeffed of the original works from which it is compiled, Accounts of the manners, customs, arts, &c. of a nation fo characteristically different from all others, and efpecially from the Europeans, can never fail of gratifying that curiofity which prompts us to read books of travels with greater avidity than any others,

Art. 40. Letters from Lyfander; or, Amusement for the Good

humoured. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. W. Davis, &c. 1773.

Lyfander profeffes to have intended thefe letters for publication, and as he only afpires to amufe the good-humoured, it would be an evidence of ill humour to prejudice his intention, by fcrutinizing too minutely into their literary merit. They have a moral tendency, and in fome of them the Writer attempts to be witty at the expence of the good citizens of London.

See Review, vol. xlvi. p. 617.

Art. 41. Remarks on the prefent Mode of Education in the Univer-" fity of Cambridge: To which is added, a Propofal for its Improvement. By the Rev. John Jebb. M. A. late Fellow of St. Peter's College. 8vo. 6d. White, &c.

Thefe Remarks are modett, judicious, and fuch as might be expected from the worthy Author. His intention is to offer, in few words, his fentiments on the courfe of fudy, prescribed to the candidate for the first degree in Arts, by the cultom of the University of Cambridge, and to fuggeft, what appears to him, a practicable fcheme for its improvement.

A fyftem of education, he obferves, very justly, cannot be complete, in which the spirit of EMULATION is either partially indulged, or improperly directed. But in the University of Cambridge, the major part of the ftudents have no opportunity of exerting their abilities under the influence of this generous paffion. And in thofe inftances, wherein it is fuffered to manifelt its power, its force is expended in the acquifition of a fpecies of learning, which neither prepares the ftudents for a creditable entrance upon those particular profeffions, to which the highest honours and emoluments are annexed in civil life, nor tends immediately to fit them for a general commerce with the world.

In order to remedy the defects of the prefent courfe of education, Mr. Jebb proposes the establishment of annual examinations, and his model of improvement, as far as we are able to judge, is an excellent one.

Art. 41. Memoirs of Jonathan Splittfig; or, the Bankrupt turned Squire 8vo. 1 s. Allen. 1773.

Some years ago an ufeful pamphlet was published, called, 4 Prefent for an Apprentice; which contained many wholefome precepts for the conduct of young tradesmen: thefe Memoirs are indeed of a different nature, and by giving a ftriking picture of imprudence, well contrafted, by the appofite conduct of two brothers; may infinuate inftruction more forcibly than dry admonitions. There cannot, therefore, be a better prefent made to any young man on his first engaging in bufinefs, than this twelvepenny pamphlet. Art. 43. Woman's Wit; a Jest-Book for the Ladies. Confifting of an amazing Variety, &c. &c. 12mo. 1 s. Allen, &c. The old trumpery hath'd over again; with the addition of fome new trash, worfe than the old.

RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIAL. Art. 44. A Treatife on the Nature and Conftitution of the Chriftian Church; wherein are fet forth the Forms of its Governm.nt, the Extent of its Powers, and the Limits of our Obedience By á Layman. 8vo. Is. Robinfon, &c. 1773.

This publication looks like an attempt to revive fomething of the high notion of church power, the divine right of epifcopacy, the inherent fanelity of the priesthood, &c. about which to much noife was formerly made, and by which to much confufion was produced. It is given to the world as the work of a Layman, which may be really the cafe; or the character may be artfully affumed, to procure the Ff2

piece

piece à more facile reception. The Author, however, (whether a black-coat or brown) informs his Readers that the piece is chiefly extracted from archbishop Potter's excellent difcourfe concerning church government;' which difcourfe we have not at hand, to

turn to.

Among other things, in which, on the principles of reafon, and Chriflianity, we cannot concur with him, we are furprized to hear him affert that Bishops and Prefbyters alone are Priefts in the Chriftian fenfe of the word;' we rather apprehend that the Christian revelation knows nothing of this term, as appropriated to any distinct order; and not to mention any thing farther, if we at all understand St. Peter's writings, he speaks of the whole body of Chriftians as a royal priesthood, by whom Spiritual facrifices are to be offered to the fupreme Being This Writer has not thought proper to give a definition of the word, Church: It were eafy to ask him what idea a plain and fenfible man would form concerning it, by reading the New-Teftament? it would not, we imagine, be an idea very con formable to fuch an establishment as that for which this Author pleads. We might alío afk, whether arguments brought from the peculiar conftitution of the Jewish church, or from the authority and conduct of men who were endowed with miraculous powers and, received an immediate commiffion from heaven, for the purpose of propagating the gospel, can have real weight at a time when fuch powers, and fuch exprefs commiffion, have long fince ceased? But we leave fuch reflections to those who are more directly concerned in

them.

Art. 45. An Apology for the Renewal of an Application to Parlia ment by the Protejant Diffenting Minifters. Addreffed to the thirteen Ministers who protelted against it. In which the Evidence and Force of their Reafons are fairly examined, and the Application is fhewn to be neither inconfiftent with the Principles of Orthodoxy or Loyalty. By Samuel Wilton. 8vo. I s. 6d. Buck

land. 1773.

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We recommend this Apology to the attentive perufal of the thirteen Diffenting Minitlers. It is written in a very candid, liberal,, and judicious manner, and with a temper and fpirit becoming a Chriflian Divine.

Art. 46. A Collection of the feveral Papers relating to the Application made to Parliament in 1772 and 1773, by fome of the Proteltant Diffenters, for Relief in the Matter of Subfcription, &c. 8vo. I S. Wilkie.

Thefe papers were diftributed during the time when the Diffenters' aflair was before the houfe. The prefent publication feems chiefly intended to circulate, more at large, the reafons offered by thirteen Diffenting Miniflers, againft the application, &c.' Art. 47. Objections against the Application to the Leifture for Relief for Protefiant Denting Minifters, and Diffenting Tutors and S.bioimagers, difpaffionately confidered, and obviated.-By Thomas Gibbons, D.D. Svo. 6 d. Buckland. 1773.

The title-page lays, very truly, that the objections, &c. are here dip Menarely confidered, and obviated. Dr. Gibbons has particu

larly

larly answered the objections made by fome inconfiftent and, we are afraid, intolerant Diffenters, against fuch of their brethren as have, with great propriety, and good reafon, lately (but unfuccessfully) applied to the legislature for relief in the affair of fubfcription, &e. The Doctor argues the point with a degree of moderation and candour, which does him honour in the opinion of every confiderate and impartial reader.

Art. 48. Another Letter to the Lord Bishop of London; containing a Project for effectually fatisfying the Petitioners for Relief in the Matter of Subfcription; and perpetuating the Peace of the Church. 4to. 1 s. 6d. Davis. 1773.

The project here propofed is, ift, That all ecclefiaftical benefices and employments be immediately fold by public auction. zdly, That the Monies arifing from fuch fale be divided among the members of the affociation at the Feathers Tavern. 3dly, That the or thodox clergy be shipped off and tranfported to his Majefty's plantations, to be there employed as labourers and flaves, during the term of their natural lives. And, 4thly, That a new fet of parfons be fabricated, confifting of wood, lead, iron, ftone, &c. (flesh and blood only excepted) and, after being in all refpects fuitably habited, to be diftributed into the feveral parishes and benefices, void by the promotion of the late incumbents.

The Author aims at being witty. If he had attained his purpose, we might have read him with pleasure, even though he writes in the caufe of abfurdity and bigotry.

Art. 49. Confiderations on the Act of Parliament, commmly called the Nullum Tempus Act. With fome Reasons why fuch a Statute of Limitation ought not to be extended to ecclefiaftical Perfons. 4to. s. 6d. Lockyer Davis. 1773.

This is a calm and well written performance, in which the Au thor produces many arguments against extending the Nullum Tempus-Act to the clergy. Whether his reafonings will stand the reft of a clofe and critical examination, we fhall not pretend abfolutely to determine; but feveral of them appear to us to have confiderable force, and we fhould be glad to fee them fairly and accurately difcuffed. We are not favourable to any undue degrees of ecclefiaftical power or wealth, and we are hearty friends to fchemes of reformation, both civil and religious. But, at the fame time, we think it highly neceffary, that every project of improvement be maturely confidered, and thoroughly digefted, before it is finally carried into execution.

Art. 50. A brief State of the Principles of Church Authority. 8vo. I S. Bowyer. 1773.

There is fo much good fenfe in this little tract, and the principles it lays down are, in feveral refpects, fo reasonable and liberal, that we are fomewhat furprised at the conclufion drawn from them, which is-the rigid right the established church hath of explaining to its minifters what doctrines it holds, and of permitting none to minifter in it who do not profefs the fame belief with itfelf. The Author feems to have been too hafty in deducing this conclufion from his pre

mifles,

miffes, in confequence of his falling into the common error of not diftinguishing between the cafe of a number of private Chriftians entering into a voluntary fociety for the purposes folely of religious worthip and edification, and the cafe of a public national establishment. What right fach an establishment can give, upon the grounds of true Christianity and Proteftantifm, to promote a certain fet of doctrines by exclufive honours and rewards, is a matter of ferious confideration, which we beg leave to refer to the farther examination of the ingenious Writer of the prefent effay.

Art. 51. Prayers for the Use of Families, and Perfons in private. With a Preface, coptaining a brief View of the Argument for Prayer. By John Palmer. 12mo. 3s. Dilly. 1773.

Prefcribed forms of devotion are become much more rational, in this age of general improvement, than the compofitions of the fame kind which were given to the public in former times. They are better adapted to thofe honourable and exalted ideas which we ought to entertain of the Supreme Being.-Of the prefent forms it may be fufficient to say, that they are neither fanatical nor tedious.

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SERMONS.

L. The Condemnation pronounced against all mere external Pretences to Religion. Preached at the annual Vifitation of the Bishop of Wincheiter, at Bafingstoke, September 14, 1769. By John Duncan, D. D. Rector of Southwarmborough, Hants. 8vo. 6d. Reading, printed; fold by J. Dodiley, &c. London,

This very fenfible difcourfe has, by fome means, till now, efcaped our particular notice. It is founded on Matthew v. 20. and aims at giving a juft view of religion as diftinguished, on the one hand, from a political and interested regard to articles and forms, which men utterly deftitute of piety or virtue may plead for; and on the other, from that bigotted and uncharitable attachment to them which is the attendant on enthusiasm or fuperftition. The Author, in a judicious manner, reprefents the nature of religion, and laments that hypocrify, which, he obferves, fo capricious is the heart of man, with all its affected rigour and fenfelefs formality, is in general more countenanced than fincere and rational religion.'

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Dr. Duncan pleads, earnestly, but with caution, for fome alterations in the modes and requifitions of the church; of which he appears to be a steady and confcientious member; at the fame time that he fpeaks of the Diffenters with becoming moderation and tendernefs.

II. Preached at the Affizes holden at Chelmsford, March 16, 1773.
Before the Honourable Mr. Baron Perrot. By the Reverend
Stotherd Abdy, M. A. Archdeacon of Effex.
4to. 6d. Ba-

thurst. This is a well-written, and well-timed difcourfe; and we should be inclined to speak greatly in its favour, were it not for one or two objections, which we apprehend will occur to the thinking and judicious

reader,

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