prince, whom his warmeft advocates cannot pronounce faultless, and of whom his own fon, Charles II. on being reproved for fwearing, did bear this teftimony:." Your martyr fwore more than ever I did." The members of the Houfe of Commons did certainly exprefs the fenfe of the majority of their conftituents, by paffing this day over unobferved; but the Lords fpiritual and temporal, for reafons we will not attempt to investigate, did not choose to let the royal martyr go without his accustomed honours. Nor can we repine at their obfervance of the day, fince it has given birth to a very elegant and well compofed difcourfe. But the fentiments it contains will not juftify the conduct of Charles, nor prove his death a martyrdom. Our learned Bifhop, from the words, Let every foul be fubject to the higher powers, does not undertake to maintain, as fome have formerly done, that it is the duty of the subject to submit to the will of the fovereign in all cafes whatsoever; nor on the phrafe, the ordinance of God, does he attempt to fet up fuperftitious ideas of the regal character; but very candidly confeffes, that cafes may happen, in which the powers ufurped by the magiftrate may be fo exorbitant, fo contrary to the truft repofed in him by the people, and, if fubmitted to, fo ruinous to all their dearest rights and privileges, that the bond of civil fociety may by this means become not barely loofened, but diffolved. Such a cafe, we all know, happened to ourfelves, now near a century ago; which occafioned that memorable æra of our hiftory we call the Revolution. The avowed defigns of the king were in direct contradiction to the eftablished laws, and abhorrent from the spirit and principles of our conftitution: the antiquated claim to a difpenfing power, which had hung like the rufty armour in fome trophy'd hall, as an harmless enfign of former glory, was taken down and furbished again for ufe; and that prerogative, which fome of his ancestors had principally employed for an ornament of speech, or as the decoration of an harangue, he was preparing to exert in fober fadnefs against his people: the yoke that was meant to be thrown upon our necks was popery and arbitrary power and by the fignal goodness of Providence, a remedy was at hand, and within our reach, to which we could, and to which we did, with fuccefs, thank God! apply, to remove the calamities which then oppreffed us. When we labour again under the like malady, the like methods may again be lawfully used for our recovery,'

The Sermon opens in a manner which may induce the reader to expect a different doctrine; and we think Dr. Hallifax has not fo fully explained the Apostle's argument, as to fet in a clear light the conclufion, though a true one, which he draws from it, that it was altogether befides the Apoftle's intention to ftate and afcertain what are the bounds and limits of civil authority, on the one hand, or of civil fubjection, on the other.' For a more complete difcuffion of this fubject, we refer our readers to Mr. Paley's Moral and Political Philofophy, b. 6. c. 4. which treats exprefsly Of the Duties of civil Obedience, as fated in the Chriftian Scriptures.

After taking a review of the caufes and confequences which preceded and followed the event of the day, our Right Reverend Author deduces from it the following instructions: ift, The folly of

refining

refining too much, and endeavouring to attain an imaginary prefection in any human inftitution, whether of government or religion. 2dly, The neceffity of an establishment. 3dly, The ufe and equity of a teft-law, by way of fecurity to the church established *. 4thly, The proneness of human nature to run into extremes of doctrine. And, laftly, that the history of the day should teach us to watch, with a jealous eye, the unruly workings of that fpirit (improperly called the fpirit of reformation), which, under pretence of preventing and correcting abufes in our religious polity, and, never fatisfied with things fettled, would, too probably, were the vifionary schemes propofed attempted to be realized, be followed with the most ruinous effects.

Objections might be made to feveral things advanced under thefe heads of inftruction; but few will be difpofed to controvert the obfervations with which the Sermon concludes:

Liberty itself cannot be fupported without authority; nor can authority be maintained without fubjection to law. Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to defolation : it is either overturned at once by the invafion of a neighbouring power, ever on the watch to take advantage of its confufions; or elfe, after long languifhing under public want and private luxury, dies away, like rivers that are loft in the fands. The knowledge of fuch events, held out to our contemplation in the faithful monuments of paft ages, fhould ftimulate us, as we value the bleffings of our free conftitution, to cultivate in ourselves and others, that duty and affection to our Sovereign, that reverence and refpect for magiftracy, that fobriety of deportment, and above all that virtuous fimplicity of manners, which diftinguished the manly character of our forefathers. And then the civil and religious distractions, which have formerly weakened us at home, and rendered us contemptible abroad, will return no more; and amity and concord being at length restored, and our angry paffions fubdued by the correcting influence of religion, we may afpire, with well-grounded affiance, to the continued protection of that Almighty Being, in whofe hand all events, whether natural or civil, become proper inftruments of reward or punishment to his rational fabjects, who with one nod controuls and pacifies the tumults both of the phyfical and moral world, and filleth, with equal eale, the raging of the fea, and the madness of the people ‡.' II. The Advantages of Knowledge, illuftrated and recommended, April 30, 1788, at the Meeting-house in the Old Jewry-to the Supporters of a New Academical Inftitution among Proteftant Diffenters. By A. Rees, D. D. F. R. S. 8vo. Is. Cadell. No one can be better qualified for illuftrating and recommending the advantage of knowlege than Dr. Rees, who (as Johnson would

A hint this to the Diffenters, that they must look up to other Lords, for the repeal of the teft-aft, than the Lords Spiritual. But they, perhaps, will fay, even allowing the neceffity of a teft (for which there is no more reafon here than in Ireland or Scotland), ought this teft to be the facrament? ought this to be forced on every Deift? ought this to be made (as one expreffes it) a picklock to a place? † Matth. xii. 25. · 1 Pfalm lxv. 7.

term

term it), by the completion of his new edition of Chambers's Cyclopædia, has made a Lord Anfon's voyage of universal science.

mon on fuch a fubject, from fuch a writer, will be deemed worthy of attention; nor will the perufal of it difappoint the reader. Ít abounds with judicious obfervations, clothed in nervous language. What he has here advanced on the importance of knowlege, in general, and of religious knowlege, in particular, claims the moft ferious confideration of all parents, guardians, and thofe entrusted with the education of youth. As the NEW ACADEMICAL INSTITUTION among Proteftant Diffenters (to recommend which is the chief object of this difcourfe) is principally intended for the education of perfons defigned for civil life; the learned preacher makes it his chief object to ftate the benefits of knowlege in this point of view. We are particularly pleased with that part of his difcourfe where he reprefents the neceffity of mental improvement, to enable the fuccessful and opulent trader to retire from the hurry of bufinefs, to the calm fcenes of rural life. Retirement foon becomes a gloomy folitude to the illiterate. While there is novelty in the fcene, the uneducated citizen, retiring from trade to fome sequestered villa,

otium et oppidi

Laudat rura fui

but when the charm of novelty is over, and he is obliged to draw upon himself for amufement, he will exclaim with the lady in Pope's Satire, O odious, odious trees! and

mox reficit rates

Quaffas, indocilis fegnitiem pati.

The Doctor obferves, that at a period, when the judgment is approaching to maturity, and before it has contracted any improper bias and prejudices, it is of great importance to direct and aid it in forming juft fentiments of the principles, obligations, and evidences of religion. We moft heartily fubfcribe to this, and we were a little furprized (feeing that the noble feminary, over which he is appointed to prefide, is in a great measure intended for the education of gentlemen's fons) to find Dr. Rees omitting to enforce the neceffity of this, as the only antidote against the common effects of foreign travel. The omiffion of this, is a lamentable defect in the common education of our young nobility and gentry, and we wish this new academical inftitution may be a means of remedying it. As the fashion of the prefent time is, our youth are fent abroad to affociate with the difciples of Voltaire, on the continent; and being unable to give a reafon of the hope that is in them, are foon converted into fceptics and libertines; but had they been led to form just fentiments of the eternal principles of religion and morality, they would not confound the errors of popery with the doctrines of Chriftianity; nor conclude, as our travelled men of fashion generally do, that because the former are ridiculous, the latter must be falfe.

Toward the conclufion of the fermon, fome ftrictures are naturally introduced, on the conduct of our universities, in requiring all who come to receive the benefits and honours of a univerfity education to fubfcribe the 39 Articles. To infift on fubfcription to a fyftem of doctrine previous to the poffibility of examining it, muft ftrike every

perfon

perfon as a glaring impropriety. It has, however, been fo for a long time; and this, perhaps, is the only argument which can be offered for its continuance; but then, is not this like the reasoning of the old farmer againft turnpike roads: Our forefathers went through the dirt, and why should not we?

III. Preached at Chrift Church, Middlefex, for the Benefit of the Humane Society, March 30; and at the Parish-church of Wandsworth, April 27, 1788. By the Rev. Robert Pool Finch, D. D. Prebendary of Westminster, and Rector of St. John the Evangelift in that City. 8vo. 25. Dilly, &c.

An eloquent and well-adapted difcourfe; to which the learned preacher has prefixed an addrefs to the Reader, containing a particular eulogium on this charity; and very properly taking notice, that although in Germany, at Venice, at Paris, and in fome other places not only of Europe but America, fimilar inftitutions have happily taken place; yet, he adds, that it may be faid, without a boaft, that the fulleft difplay both of skill and fuccefs, has been made in England: where fuch a fyftematic courfe of medical ftudy, ftill in improving progrefs, is eftablished, as is entitled to the highest praife, and fhould excite the emulous encouragement of all ranks of people.'

The appendix contains fome felect accounts of recovery, in various cafes of fufpended animation; with the methods of treating fuch cafes, whether from drowning, fuffocation by damps, hanging, fits, intenfe cold, noxious vapours, or ftrokes of lightning. Alfo lifts of directors, contributors, affiftants, &c. &c.

IV. Occafioned by the Death of the late Rev. Michael Pope, who departed this Life February 10, 1788, in the 79th Year of his Age. With an Address delivered at his Interment, by Thomas Jarvis. 8vo. Is. Buckland,

The character here given of the worthy Mr. Pope, who was long and well known in our metropolis, is juft, and not overcharged: The addrefs at the grave is what fuch orations, in general, fhould be, not fo much a panegyric on the deceased, as a pathetic application to the audience,-calculated to excite fuch proper reflections in the mind, as tend to a fuitable conduct in life.

CORRESPONDENCE.

OUR Roman Catholic Correfpondent, P. C1, who fometimes talks to us about religious prejudices in a style which almoft makes us conclude, that he deems thofe of his own perfuafion alone free from them, has fent us the following remark on the death-bed declaration of F. Courayer," that he died a member of the church of Rome +;" which we infert as a proof of our poffeffing that libe

Is it not rather inaccurate to fay for the benefit of the Humane Society? Would it not be proper, in future, to fubftitute the word Inftitution?

+ See Rev. for January laft, p. 37.

rality and candour which this Correfpondent expects from us. following is an extract of his letter:

The intention of this address, is only to rectify, what I rather chufe to think a mistake, than the effect of a malevolent fpirit. P. Courayer, dying with the fentiments afcribed to him, did not die a Catholic-could not die a Catholic, with any other opinion of the perfon of Chrift, than what St. Athanafius has recorded to be the avowed belief of the faithful from the origin of Christianity to his own time; and which continues to be the belief to this day; and must continue, of neceffity, in virtue of the promise, and under the immediate direction, of Jefus Chrift, to the end of the world.

Let this addrefs, alfo, inform you, and, by your means, the uninformed reader, that a member of that church is distinguished by his cross, by the commanded fignal of the Lord, by the teftimony he bears to all its doctrines; and that that qualification does no more depend on his own bare ipfe dixit, than Rouffeau's calling himself a Proteftant, or Voltaire a Catholic, entitles either of thefe infidels to the name of Chriftian; which neither of them renounced formally, but either ridiculed or reafoned against the principles of Chriftianity. For, as by our finful departure from the grace of God, we are no longer protected by its diftinctive influence; fo, by a departure from the prefcriptive rules of the Catholic church, the fallen member is no longer acknowleged. But, if the benighted only mistook his way, and did not forfake it through perverfenefs, or a fondness for novelty or deviation; with the anxious folicitude of a regretful parent for the apparent lofs of a strayed child, fhe configns him to the mercy of her all-wife Director, who alone knows the springs that govern the actions of his creatures, and the rewards due to their efforts; but, in nowife, is the warranted to ensure that crown of glory, which awaits the faithful fervants of the Lord, through the preparation of his church upon earth'

We have inferted the above ftricture, partly to oblige our Correfpondent, but more efpecially from our regard to the facred caufe of truth (a caufe infinitely fuperior to the party interests of any church on earth), if that caufe can be any way affected by the subject of his letter. For the reft, we abide by our declaration against all theological controverfy with this writer: See Rev. for May last, p. 448..

** Mr. Samwell's Letter, and Adolefcens, with fome others, are under confideration.

ERRATA in the last Appendix.

P. 577, 1. 2, for cool,' r. calm; and in the next line, for "calm," r. cool.

588, 1. 11 from bottom, dele an."

654, 1. 32, for 'dédaignanant,' r. dédaignant.

In the Index, Article Selinus, for rains,' r. ruins.