give the right hand of fellowship to all whofe life and converfa, tion defervedly engage our esteem and affection.

We learn from this difcourfe one, thing which is exceedingly to be regretted, that the population of Hull and its neighbour hood comprehends fo lefs than 40,000 fouls, and that for the fpiritual accommodation of this immenfe number there are only five parish churches, of which two are small, and only one ca pable of containing a great number.

The preacher appears to be an able, zealous, and confcien tious minifter of our church, and we unite with him in the wif that in this and fimilar infances the government of our country would interpofe, and by fome application of public property in the erection of churches, exclude one avenue to nonconformity, and fchifm.

ART. 28. A Serious Admonition to a profeffed Chriftian suho has violated his Marriage Vow by living in Adultery, and the finful. and deftructive Tendency of evil Communications. 8vo. Wilfon! 1809.

Far be it from us to withhold our commendations from the author of the present pamphlet, fincerely believing that his pen was folely prompted by good intentions. The foundnefs of his doctrine no one will prefume to deny, fupported as it is through. out by fcriptural quotations.. We willingly add our names to his prefcription, though we doubt its efficacy. We could have wifhed that a little more attention had been paid to the rules of grammar in the title-page.

ART, 29. The Credibility of the Jewish Exodus, defended, against fome Remarks of Edward Gibbon, Efq. and the Edinburgh Re. viewers. By the Rev. W. Cockburn, A. M. Chriftian AdvoTate in the University of Cambridge; late Fellow of St. John's College; and Morning Preacher at Woburn Chapel. Crown 8vo. 93 pp. 35. 6d. Hatchard, &c. 1809.

We have been accustomed to commend the productions of Mr. Cockburn, and we think him ftill entitled to the fame attention, The prefent tract is written by way of anfwer to an objection, made by Gibbon, against the Mofaic Hiftory, which by fome had been confidered as unanswerable.

The objection is in substance this. That it is not credible, that the Jews fhould have beheld with indifference the miracles recorded in their early hiftory; ard that it is very ftrange that the latér Jews fhould have been convinced by miracles, which failed to per fuade thofe to whom they were actually difplayed. To this Mr. C. replies, firft by fhowing that the miracles in question (those of Mofes and Jofhua), were by no means beheld with indifference by the Ifraelites, which he proves, to our apprehenfion, with con.

clufive force. 'He fhows the effects they really had, and enume rates the inftances of tranfgreffion recorded of that people; proving, at the fame time, that they by no means fubjected them to the imputation of being at all indifferent to the miracles. Secondly, by Thowing that the fecond part of the objection fo far as it depends on the firft, falls of courfe with it: and that fo far as it depends upon the affumption, that the later Jews believed only in confideration of the miracles displayed to their fore fathers, it is alfo unfounded. He inftances particularly in prophecies; on which, in truth, much more ftrefs might be laid. For it is evident that the prophecies of the captivity before it happened, and of the fubfequent restoration of the people, given during the captivity, muft have had a much more powerful ef fect upon the minds of the Jews then living, and their defcendants, than a mere reference to the recorded miracles of Mofes and Joshua.

That these replies are found and conclufive, cannot, we think, be denied. The author has, indeed, in his preliminary obferva. tions, faid, perhaps unneceffarily, though very truly, that mi racles would not, in the age of Mofes, be deemed fo conclufive proofs of divine miffion, as they would at this day; but this, whether required or not, affects not the validity of his other arguments, which, as fuccefsfully oppofed to a very feductive and popular objection of infidels, ought not, we think, to be lowered in their effect by any extraneous confiderations. Nor ought Mr. Cockburn to be denied the commendation which we give him very cordially, of having taken arms with vigour and effect against the enemies of Christianity.

ART. 30. A Sermon preached in the Tron Church, Edinburgh, 30 April 1809, being the Sunday immediately following the Funeral of the Rev. Andrew Hunter, D. D. one of the Minifters of the Tron Church, and Profeffor of Divinity in the University of Edinburgh. By Sir H. Moncrieff Wellwood, Bart. D. D. 8vo. 29 PP. 15. 6d. Edinburgh, printed; Hamilton, London. 1809.

The Rev. Baronet has felected the preaching and qualifications of Barnabas, as defcribed in Acts ii. 23, 24, for the fubject of this difcourfe. As his exhortation there recorded was made to those who already believed, and tended to confirm them in faith and perfeverance, it affords, as he obferves, a proper example, to all minifters of Chrift. With that powerful, yet unaffected eloquence, which we have before noticed in the difcourfes of this author, he explains both parts of his fubject; and having

See Vol. xxviii. p. 158.

given it ample illuftration in the cafe of Barnabas, he concludes by applying the obfervations to the worthy minifter whom they had loft, appealing to the knowledge of his hearers for the truth of thofe facts relating to his character, which prove him to have been, like St. Barnabas, "a good man, full of the Holy Ghoft and of faith." In whatever community of Chriftians we behold fuch an example, the fight is truly edifying. All fubordinate differences of opinion and difcipline vanith before that power of faith, which, by the grace of God, is made efficacious to fal

vation.

There is a warmth and earnestnefs in the exhortations of Sir H.W. which irrefiftibly convince the reader of his having that fincerity which in this difcourfe is fo admirably defcribed; and the conclufion of which, not having fpace for more, we will lay before our readers.

The moft fincere of the faithful minifters of Chrift are furc. ly far from being perfect, in their adherence to the fpirit of their moft earneft exhortations; and even when their fidelity is greateft, are compaffed about with infirmities. But confcientious fincerity, and known integrity through life, will cover many defects, and fupply the want of many talents. It will give weight and fpirit to the feebleft, when they are affectionate endeavours, to promote the kingdom of God. He who is believed to fpeak from the good treafure of his heart, will be heard with attention and reverence, when a more powerful exhortation, without this advantage, will have no effect. Superior talents, united to unqueftionable integrity, will certainly give ftrength to any admonition. But a good man, earnestly exhorting in the name of the Lord, with the known temper, though not with the gifts, of an apostle, amidst all his infirmities, will ever be regarded as the fervant of the Most High God, who fpeaks with authority' and not as the fcribes, fhowing to men the way of falvation. Even Herod feared John, knowing that he was a juft man, and an holy; and obferved him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.'

Purity of intention, and an integrity beyond all fufpicion, are most important qualifications indeed, for the conviction and converfion of finners, and for the edifying of the body of Chrift. A good man, in the fervice of the gofpel, fpeaks not in word but in power. The hand of the Lord is with him, and the word of God prevails." P. 16.1

In taking one paffage from fuck a difcourfe, we unavoidably omit many of equal or fuperior merit, for which we can make no amends but by advifing thofe who approve it, to procure and read the whole,

ART. 31. A Dialogue between a Minifter of the Church of England, and his Parishioner, on the Subject of Infant.baptifm.

Ee 4

By

By the Rev. Gorge Hutton, D.D. Vicar of Sutherton, and Rettor of Algarkirk cum Fofdyke, near Bofton; and fometime Fellow of St. Mary Magdalen College, Oxford. 12mo. 26 pp. 6d. or 4s. per doz. Kelsey, Bofton, 1809.

In times like the prefent, we trust that the Minifters (in ge neral) of the Church of England are alert and active, in counteracting the prejudices of perfons, who have few or no correct notions of religion, and who fet themselves up, in oppofition to the ufages of our venerable Church. This Dialogue (the fubftance of a fermon delivered by the author in his parish churches) is a very gratifying fpecimen of fuch activity; and effectually convinces the parishioner (whofe neighbours had la boured to mislead him) that infant-baptifm is warranted by Holy Scripture. In many parishes, this work might be dif tributed with good effect. The author's own account of it, being modeft and proper, will recommend it (we think) to many. readers:

"To the learned Divine, and fuch perfons as are converfant in Liturgical writings, nothing is here prefented but what is perfectly familiar to them. Indeed little of novelty can be expected. And they will readily difcover a confiderable portion,. particularly in what relates to the vindication of infant-baptifin, to have been compiled chiefly from two very admirable works, Wheatley's Illuftration of the Book of Common Prayer, and Wall's Hiftory of Infant-baptifm. It has been put into the form of a dialogue, after the manner of Mr. Sykes's three 'Dialogues between a Minifter of the Church and his Parishioner, and thofe of Dr. Gray and Mr. Settle between a Churchman and a Methodist;' as being better adapted, and more likely, to draw the attention of thofe perfons, for whofe inftruction it is intended, and to whofe confideration it is addreffed." P. 6..

ART. 32. A Letter to a noble Duke, on the incontrovertible Truth of Chriflianity. The fecond Edition, corrected. To which. is now added a Poftfcript. Crown 8vo. 117 pp. 35. 6d. Nornaville and Fell. 1808.

If the excellent tract of C. Lellie, entitled "A Short and Eafy Method with the Deifts," can, by being put into a more modern drefs, be made to attract a fresh attention, we fhall be very willing to applaud the ingenuity which gives it that attraction. This is the attempt of the prefent publication; the object of which is to republish that work, "fomewhat abridged and curtailed, fo as to fimplify and concentrate the argument." The editor fays alfo, that it is occafionally a little varied in point of language; efpecially with a view to diveft it of every opprobrious controverfial term, and every irritating expreffion of polemic defiance. The wish of the editor," it is added,

was to give it fuch a form, as may best qualify it to attract and fix the attention of all, while it offends none; fo that it might conciliate, at the fame time that it enforces conviction." p. x.

The prefent editor, relying on an anecdote derived from the family of Mr. Leflie, reprefents the tract as originally written for the firft Duke of Leeds, though in the original edition it was faid to be only a Letter to a Friend. He therefore changes the introductory addrefs from "Sir," to "my Lord Duke;" and offers it to the prefent D. of Leeds; which will certainly give it more weight with fome readers. It appears to us, on com. paring the edition thus altered with the original publication, that the objects propofed by the editor are fufficiently attained; and that the argument of the author is well preferved, while his ftyle and manner are rendered more attractive, and even intelligible, to a modern reader. The alterations are indeed, in general very flight, and only calculated to give fmoothness, and neat connection to the reasoning.

The republifhed tract only occupies 60 pages; then follows a poftfcript, containing "a curfory view of the pofitive evidence, which fanctions and fupports the belief of Chriftianity," taken from Mr. Bigland's Reflections on the Refurrection and Afcen fion of Chrift, published in 1803. In this part of the book, the editor confiders the nature of hiftorical teftimony; he examines the validity of Mr. Hume's boafted argument against miracles, and feveral other topics related to the hiftory of Chrif tianity. In a word, he produces a work altogether very well calculated to please and attract those who are at all likely to waver, and to give a new vigour to the caufe of religion.

ART. 33. Exercifes in Religious Knowledge for the Inftru&tion of Young Perfons. By Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton, Author of Letters en the elementary Principles of Education, Letters to the Daughter of a Nobleman on the Formation of moral and religious Principles, &c. &c. 12mo. 150 pp. 2 fh. Manners and Miller, Edinburgh; Cadell and Davies, London. 1809.

The defign of this little work, as ftated by the author, is not to fuperfede, but to follow up the inftructions conveyed in the Catechifms appointed by the Church. It is to imprefs on the youthful mind thofe truths contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Teftaments, which it is of importance for all men to know. Aware that children, in reading the Bible and in committing to memory the queftions and anfwers of an ordinary catechifm, exerçife their memories only, Mrs. Hamilton has adopted a method of compelling them to exercife their understand. ings and memories at the fame time. Her book may indeed be con dered as a Catechism; but instead of printing the queftions and anfwers in immediate fucceffion, as is ufually done in fuch publi.

cations,