ftone, might be much hardened and preferved for a much longer time than has been ufual, from the injuries of the weather, by being washed and brushed over by water, in which is infused a folution of iron. And perhaps even the fofter kinds of stones might have been preferved by this means; and the venerable remains of that fine pile of building Henry the VIIth's chapel might have been faved from that deftruction with which we now fee it ready to be overwhelmed.

"It is very probable, moreover, that common fea fand, with a very small admixture of a folution of iron, may at length, withcut any great expence, be converted into a moft ufeful fpecies of ftone, and be applied to the purpofe of covering the fronts of houfes even more durably, and in as beautiful a manner as fome of the late invented ftuccos; and even thofe ftuccos may be improved by means of the fame mixture.”

Thefe obfervations are worthy their author, and have been already applied, in fome meafure, in this country to use; but in Germany, particularly in Pomerania, they have lately made large quantities of artificial ftone from common fand (not fea fand) and fome other mixture, which promises to be of the greateft utility, as it is very cheap, and can be made in molds into any fhape. Very large pillars have been made there entire of this ftone, without the aid of fire; and we truft fome of our ingenious countrymen will fhortly be able to excel in this, as well as in most other arts, as we know fuch are now engaged in the enquiry.

(To be continued.)

Lectures on the universal Principles and Duties of Religion and Morality. As they have been read in Margaret-Street, Cavendifh Square, in the Years 1776 and 1777. By the Rev. David Williams, 2 vols. 4to. 11. Is. boards. Dodfley.

That the Chriftian religion came down from heaven, and that its extraction is divine, we may be convinced by a fair and impartial enquiry. Let us only perufe the holy fcriptures with diligence and attention, and an boneft heart, and then, if we be guided by the dictates of reafon, we must without hesitation acknowledge the truths afferted in the divine volume. For fo conclufive are the arguments, and fo convincing the evidence relative to the nativity, life, death, refurrection, and afcenfion of our bleffed Lord and Saviour, that the reality of every individual circumftance attending them, ought to be affented to by every rational being, as it

appears

apears to be void of the leaft fhadow of doubt. Had they not been fo cogent and powerful, perhaps, the erroneous notions of cavilling infidels might have fubverted the genuine belief of faithful Chriftians, and have ufurped the prerogative fo far over them, as to ftagger their refolutions in heavenly purfuits. But thanks be to God, this is not fo; for the arguments produced by the Infidel party, are all, comparatively speaking, but trifling and tranfparent, and are frequently a confutation of themfelves. Whereas thofe of Chriftian advocates are fixed on a solid basis, even upon the foundation of the apoftles and prophets, Jefus Chrift himself being the chief corner tone,' fo that they are capable of withstanding and refifting the moft impetuous attacks of their adverfaries; and they appear the more conclufive, the more they are cavilled at by oppofing mifguided difputants. Marcet fine adverfario virtus, fays Seneca, which fentence is conformable to the affertion of the apoftle, that there must be herefies.' The reafon is annexed. 'Tis that they which are approved may be made manifeft. From this oppofition the Chriftian religion fhines with redoubled luftre. As the fun after an eclipfe appears brighter, fo the luftre of the gospel of the 'Sun of Righteoufnels, though obfcured for a time by oppofition, is encreafed, and its benign influence more extenfively diffufed. This fhould be fufficient, any reafonable perfon would imagine, to dart conviction into the minds of arrogant fons of infidelity, and to make them fenfible of the weakness of their efforts to fubvert Chriftianity. But alas! their minds feem to be fteeled against conviction. They refufe to hear, like the deaf adder, the voice of the charmer, let him charm ever fo wifely.

They are fo defperately befotted, as to treat the lively oracles of God, contained in the gofpel, with contempt; which have had fuch an undeniable confirmation, by miracles from heaven. It is demonftrably true, that this wicked difpofition originates from perverfe wilfulnefs, and an incorrigible obftinacy, and not any want of fatisfactory evidence. It is an impoffibility to ftrike thofe with conviction, who are refolutely fixed to admit of no evidence. If they are capable of refifting the powerful and convictive proofs, that have been already produced in favour of Chriftianity, they would undoubtedly reject all other means, in cafe any fhould be offered, for their conviction. Nay, fhould the God of Heaven vouchfafe to fend them a meffenger from the dead, they would ftill perfevere in their infidelity. To this purpofe the following fentence is definitive. If they hear not

Mofes

Mofcs and the Prophets, neither will they be perfuaded tho' one rose from the dead.'

We heartily wifh. (according to what Bishop Sherlock fays) that every man, who argues against the Chriftian religion, would take this one ferious thought along with him; that he must one day, if he believe that God will judge the world, argue the cafe once more at the judgment feat of God; and let him try his reafons accordingly. Do you reject the gofpel, becaufe you will admit nothing that pretends to be a Revelation? Confider well; is it a reason that you will juftify to the face of God? Will you tell him, that you had refolved to receive no pofitive commands from him, nor to admit of any of his declarations for law? If it will not be a good reafon then, it is not a good reafon now; and the ftouteft heart will tremble to give fuch an impious reafon to the Almighty, which is a plain defiance to his wisdom and authority.'

If we trace what is commonly called free-thinking at this period, by a ftrange and prepofterous perverfion of language, we fhall difcover that it doth not arife from any diftinguished fuperiority of understanding, or brilliancy of parts, but the preponderance of corrupt affections. On this account, we hope, we fhall not be accufed of uncharitablenefs, if we apply to the infidels of the prefent age, the obfervation of our bleffed Lord himself, originally addreffed to the infidels of his age. This is the condemnation, that light is came into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Mankind are powerfully influenced in their choice, actions, and pursuits, by all prejudices and prepoffeffions. Vicious habits muft neceffarily be productive of prejudices of the most inveterate, kind, and as they intereft the paffions, they are fubdued with the utmost difficulty.

Here we fhall take the liberty to tranfcribe a very beautiful paffage from a Poem, entitled An Effay on Human Nature,' written by the late Lord Paget.

Inured to falfehood, we ourselves deceive,
Oft what we wish, we fancy, we believe;
We call that judgment which is only will,
And as we act, we learn to argue ill.'

There is an amazing propenfity in men to argue from what cuftom has led them to adopt. For the above mentioned author farther obferves;

Cuftoms or intereft govern all mankind,
Some bias cleaves to the unguarded mind.

Through

Through this, as in a false or flatt'ring glass
Things feem to change their natures as they pass.
Objects the fame, in different lights appear,
And but the colours which we give 'em wear.
Error and fraud from this great fource arife,
All fools are modifh, and all knaves are wife.
Who does not boast fome merit of his own,
Though to himself perhaps 'tis only known
Each fuit rewards to his own fav'rite vice,
Pride has its crowns, and luft its paradife.'

Vice deemed odious in itfelf, and when viewed in its proper light and genuine colours, would appear fo to all; yet when the partial prejudices of the heart have obfcured the mind, its deformity is rendered fcarcely vifible. From a natural abhorrence of it, we proceed to view it with indifference, and growing familiar with its form, we begin to approve of it. From an inferior degree of approbation, we proceed to higher, and from a trembling step towards it, we eagerly rush to embrace it.

Thus the prepoffeffions in favour of vice, from the continued practice of it, will naturally excite a dread and abhorrence of that light, which hath an immediate tendency to rectify the prejudices of the Infidel, and fhew how falfe his fcale of judgment is. Sin is univerfally oppofed, and dreadfully threatened by the gopfel of Chrift. Now, either vice is hateful in itfelf, and dangerous in its effects, or the gofpel must be false and fictitious. This confequence is unavoidable. As a truly good man would wish to fee the gofpel confirmed by every argument that reafon can advance, or facts illuftrate, because his intereft is deeply concerned in its truth, fo on the contrary, a bad man's love for his iniquitous deeds, will naturally lead him to indulge a wish to the prejudice of the gospel; and nothing could afford him higher fatisfaction, than to fee that which fo much condemns and threatens him, on account of his infidelity and vicious courfes, prove to be a fiction and a mere impofture. For he cannot proceed in his wicked courses with quite fo much ease and content, whilst he entertains the moft diftant idea of the certainty of a book which flashes his guilt and danger fo often in his face. Could he abfolutely induce himself to believe it to be the cunning ftratagem of art, or the trick of prieftcraft, and vifion of fancy, or the glare of enthusiasm, he might then continue in his fin without remorfe, and leave confequences to implicit fools, at which they may startle and recoil, A man in this fituation is prepared to receive with great eagerVOL. XI.

M

nefs

nefs every infidel argument that tends to overthrow the gofpel; but the arguments of the advocates in its behalf, he is difpofed in his callous and hardened heart to reject as toon as ever they are offered; or at leaft if they, by their fuperior evidence force themselves on his mind, he mightily strives to ftifle the conviction, by vain and fophiftical quibbles, and refufes to give fuch arguments their due weight and influence. He dares not purfue the evidence, left he should be reduced to this difagreeable alternative, to believe the gospel of Christ, and fo live in perpetual uneafinefs, at the awful confequences of his evil ways; or abandon his beloved and bofom fins, and turn his feet to the teftimonies of God.

God forbid, that we should rafhly condemn any, but we are induced to believe that most of the Deifts in our land, reject the gospel on those principles, which we have now mentioned. Those who arrogate the name of Free-Thinkers, are generally rendered fo by free-living. This metamorphofis fuits their tafte and inclinations.

We were led into the above reflections from the work unider confideration. And as the caufe of divine truth is weighty and important, we hope, our moft earnest and zealous endeavours in its defence need no apology.

Mr. Williams's excentricity hath already engaged our attention; and we have delivered our fentiments on fome of his former productions. The Lectures now before us (which Mr. W. we fuppofe, eftimates as his opus palmarium) are replete with poifon; poifon of the moft noxious quality. They are defigned to lull into a lethargy that better part of man, his immortal foul. Perhaps this doctrine may quiet Mr. Williams's apprehenfions, for the prefent, and footh his pride with flattery-but dreadful! a day of reckoning will moft affuredly come, when every individual must be accountable for his thoughts, words and actions.

Our author, it must be confeffed, is endowed with no inconfiderable share of fenfe, but alas! it is employed for the worst of all purpofes, even an avowed contempt and denial of his bleffed Lord, and moft gracious Redeemer. This is liferally running into the fire, with open eyes, when the fun is in his meridian fplendor. He may with propriety apply to himfelf the following words of the comic poet :

Prudens, fciens,

Vivus, videnfque Pereo.

* Vid. 3d. and 9th. vols. of the London Review.