world by William Innes, Dundee." 8vo. Mr. Innes appears to be a more violent enemy to human authority in matters of religion than Mr. Dewhirst; and openly avows his belief that every such obtrusion, whether in regard to discipline or ceremony, however sanctioned by ancient usage, venerable names, or apparent utility, is not only void of obligation, but a needless and presumptuous infringement on the prerogative of the great author of our salvation. Yet we bave seen nothing in the course of this little volume to support so high sounding a denunciation. There is too much general deficiency in it to expect that Mr. Innes will put any established church into danger of innovation.

"The Works of the Rev. John Newton, late Rector of the United Parishes of St. Mary, Woolnoth, and St. Mary, Woolchurch Haw. Published by direction of his executors, 10 vols." 12mo. More than half the matter contained in this collection has been long before the world, and a fair estimate has hence been formed of its general merits and defects. The new matter shews in every characteristic its family alliance with the old and proceeding from the same source, it is impregnited with the same spirit. The friend of Cowper, and a friend esteemed for his talents, as well as for his moral goodness, must necessarily bring with him no small recommendation even to the republic of letters. The style of Newton is less polished than that of Cowper, but we can often perceive twinklings of the same genius; the same independency of spirit; the same originality of thought; the same benevolence and milk of human nature. There are few letters more interesting than

those now before us: and especially than such of them as appear to have been addressed to the author of "The Task," though the name is concealed under asterisks. With the peculiar train of Mr. Newton's religious tenets we do not interfere: they have long been known to the public, and, whether right of wrong, appear to be making daily inroads amongst us. We will only add, that his mode of supporting them is his own; and that we have seldom seen them supported so plausibly.

Classical

Elocution: or an

Essay on the Delivery of Sermons, and the Performance of Public Prayer, &c. by the Rev. W. J. Rees, M. A. Rector of Cascob, Radnorshire, &c." 12mo. It is a very high recommendation of this tract, that it was originally written by the society for promoting christian knowledge and church union in the diocese of St. David, and that it is published with their approbation, and under their sanction. But it is necessary that the reader should in some measure become acquainted with the origin and nature of the society we now allude to. When the present most excellent and learned bishop of St. David's, Dr. Burgess, was first appointed to this prelacy, instead of forming a determination to hold it only till a richer see could be ob tained, as has been the uni form practice of his predecessors for a century or two past, he resolved, at once, notwithstanding it is the poorest prelacy in the hierarchy, to unite himself to it fx life; to labour with all his might to render the clergy in his owa diocese respectable in regard to education; and to suppress, as far as example and argument might weigh, that absurd and frantic sect

of religionists, that, under the name of jumpers, thus called from the extravagance of their motions and gesticulations, so largely infringed on his diocese, and drew so many of the poorer and more ignorant inhabitants after them. To effect this benevolent and useful purpose was instituted the society here referred to the direct objects of which are, to distribute bibles and common prayer-books at reduced prices among the poor; and to distribute gratis a variety of the most useful and popular religious tracts both in Welsh and English: to establish libraries for the use of the clergy of the diocese: to facilitate, by public subscription, the means of education to young men intended for the established ministry in the same diocese, the education to be within the said boundary to encourage the establishment of English schools, and of Sunday schools. The essay before us is intended to promote that part of this general plan, which consists in properly preparing young men for the ministry of the established church: the observations it contains are for the most part highly important and relative: and the very estimable author appears to have entered into the full spirit of his benevolent and right reverend patron upon this momentous subject. We ought not to close this article without hinting, that Dr. Burgess, with true primitive consfancy to the charge first committed to him, has refused and still continues to refuse, the offer of advancement to more lucrative posts; being inflexibly resolved to spend and be spent, to live and die amongst them, as their pastor and ecclesiastical guide.

"Zeal without Innovation: or the present State of Religion and

Morals considered: with a View to the Disposition and Measures required for its Improvement. To which is subjoined an Address to young Clergymen, intended to guard them against some prevalent Errors." 8vo.

"Zeal without Bigotry: or an Antidote to the Aspersions of the Author of "Zeal without Innovation." 8vo.

We unite these together, as antagonist publications. The author of the first is extremely alarmed at the want of "life and effect" with which he charges the general state of the ministry in our parish churches, and at the appearance of "half-empty pews," instead of a "crowded auditory, hanging on the preacher's lips," which is the natural result of this lifelessness. Hc is next extremely indignant at the means taken by Dissenters in general, and especially by those who are called the evangelical clergy, in order to fill up their own places of public worship at the expence of the parish churches; and seems to regard the train of measures pursued as a kind of ecclesiastical poaching, for which the culprits ought to be publicly called to account, and severely branded. He is more especially angry at the success of these opposers of the established church, and particularly of the Methodist or evangelical branch, from their paucity of all rational claim to popularity and reverential esteem.

He describes them as possessed of "vanity, effrontery, coarseness, of the want of that affectionate spirit which should breathe through all the ministrations of a Christian teacher;" and as "commonly appearing before a congregation with an objurgatory aspect." He describes their sermons as contemptible in the ex

treme :

treme: we are disgusted," says he, "by the violation of all the rules which the common sense of mankind teaches them to expect the observance of, on the occasion. It is true indeed, that something is heard about Christ, about faith and repentance, about sin and grace: but in vain we look for argument or persuasion, or suavity, or reverential demeanour." Finally, he censures their powers of authorship, as severely as those of preaching; and is sorely grieved at being compelled" to see, as is frequently the case, the blessed truths of the Gospel degraded, by being associated with newspaper bombast, with impudence, with invective, with dotage, with drivelling cant, with buffoonery, and scurrility! Who," says he, "can read these despicable publications, without thinking contemptuously of all who abet them?" He offers many important remarks on the causes that have conspired to bring the established church into its present state of disrepute, and many valuable regulations by which it may gain the ascendancy it ought ever to possess.

In opposition to this writer, the, author of "Zeal without Bigotry," contends, that salvation is not confined to the pale of any particular church-that" all that Christianity requires of the civil magistrate is to let it alone:" that "toleration ought not to be solicited as an indulgence that it is a right to which all religionists have an equal claim, and no government can withhold the exercise without a breach of duty; that the terms clergy and laity are entirely of Popish origin; and that Christianity knows of no such chartered distinctions."

We have no hesitation in stating, that the first of these two writers,

in the midst of many shrewd remarks, and much valuable infor mation, deals his blows rather too hardly, and indeed too indiscrimi nately against the numerous sects which he opposes. But whilst we say this we cannot express our astenishment at the total ignorance of all ecclesiastical history, which characterises most of the positions we have extracted from the pamphlet of his opponent. One could be almost tempted to believe, that he had never heard of a hierarchy under the law, or of the selection of apostles or evangelists, as a distinct class of spiritual guides, upon the first promulgation of the Gos pel. As to the rest, we freely confess that we think the church in far less danger than is generally conceived: we believe that some twenty years ago it was indeed at a miserable, if not at an alarming ebb; but the very efforts, the zeal and animation which have been evinced by various sectaries, who perhaps would like to witness its overthrow, have been caught, and if we mistake not, will soon be rivalled, so far as they deserve to be rivalled, by the regular clergy; our parish churches have been proportionably filled, and both the universities are at this moment boasting of a greater number of divinity students of a serious cha racter than they have known for some centuries past. In the tide of human events, evil is thus edueing good, and the providence of the Supreme Arbiter continues to interpose with its protecting ener gy, and to effect its own end by its own means, and in its own way.

We proceed to enumerate, for we cannot examine at length, the sermons and discourses of the

period before us. Among these the Posthumous Sermons on several Subjects, by the late Rev. W. Paley, D. D. &c." are entitled to our foremost attention. These were partly prepared for printing by this excellent writer a short time before his decease, and by a codicil to his will, were directed to be revised and printed by the Rev. Mr. Stevenson, at the expense of the testator's executors, to be distributed gratis among the poor of his own parish. They have been published, however, to prevent a surreptitious sale. The Sermons are thirty-five in number: they evince a truly benevolent and Christian spirit, and are characterized by all the writer's originality of thought and manner.

"Two volumes of Sermons: by the Rev. Sydney Smith, A. M. &c." Svo. Many of these have been for some years before the public, but they appear to have been retouched. The rest are miscellaneous, and pretty generally evince the writer's political tenets-some of them indeed full as much as his theological.

He

is a friend to toleration in its utmost extent; and shews peculiar anxiety to liberate the Catholics of Ireland from all their political disabilities.

"Practical Sermons: by Abraham Rees, D. D. F. R. S. &c. 2 vols." 8vo. These Sermons are fifty in number: they seem studiously to avoid all doctrinal points, and as the title-page expresses, are almost exclusively confined to practical topics. Many of these topics are of the utmost moment: the style is clear and well modulated, argumentative rather than persuasive, and elegant rather than oratorical. By those who unite in Dr. Rees's religious sentiments, we

have no doubt they will be read with attention, and with profit.

By

"Six Sermons on the following subjects: Baptism: Confirmation: the Vows of Baptism and Confirmation: the Lord's Supper. John Scott, A. B. Vicar North Ferrity, &c." 12mo. The extent of this title renders it unnecessary for us to say more than that the author has fulfilled what he has undertaken with seriousness, and an affectionate concern for the best interests of man. His style is plain, and little ornamented: but his object is praiseworthy, and we wish him success.

"Sermons and other Discourses: by the late Rev. Samuel Lavington, of Bideford," Svo. These Sermons are selected from a large portfolio of the remains of a worthy dissenting minister. They are written upon the Calvinistic system, and not always with classical correctness of style: but they discover much earnestness and fervour of heart; and are tesselated with passages of considerable pathos and spirit.

"Discourses on the Miracles and Parables of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: by the Rev. William Dodd, LL. D." The author of these Sermons has long been known to the public by an ignominious death for forgery.What could be the reason for dragging him once more into noon-day we know not the Discourses have little more than ordinary merit, and do not appear to be judiciously selected.

Of the single sermons of the year, we perceive a considerable number, and by far the best, in point of composition, directed to the subject of propagating Christianity in India. Such is Dr. Buchanan's very admirable and spirited "Star