ages had defiled its worship." These were topics upon which Mr. Erskine expatiated with great eloquence, and produced a most powerful effect on every part of the audience.*

Lord Kenyon then, in addressing the Jury, among other important things; said, "I sincerely wish that the author of the work in question may become a partaker of that faith in revealed religion, which he has so grossly defamed, and may be enabled to make his peace with God for that disorder, which he has endeavoured to the utmost of his power to introduce into society. We have heard to-day, that the light of nature, and the contemplation of the works of creation, are sufficient, without any other revelation of the divine will. Socrates, Plato, Xenophon, Tully-cach of them in their turns professed they wanted other lights; and knowing and confessing that God was good, they took it for granted the time would come when he would impart a farther revelation of his will to mankind. Though they walked as it were through a cloud darkly, they hoped their posterity would almost see God face to face. This condition of mankind has met with reprehension to-day. But I shall not pursue this argument; fully impressed with the great truths of Religion, which, thank God, I was taught in my early years to believe, and of which the hour of reflection and enquiry, instead of producing any doubt, has fully confirmed me in."

He that feels not conviction enough from these reasonings and authorities to make him pause, at least, in his deistical courses, is out of the reach of all ordinary means of conviction, and must be dealt with in some more fearful manner. I pray God that his conscience may be alarmed as with thunder-that the arrows of the Almighty may stick fast within him→→ that his soul may feel the terrors of hell following hard after him-that, like the unhappy person just mentioned, he may be made a monument of divine justice in the sight of all men—and that, like the celebrated Rochester, he may be finally snatched as a brand from the burning by the power of sovereign grace! May that blood which speaketh better things than the blood of Abel, and on which he now profanely and insolently tramples, be applied to his soul by the energy of the eternal Spirit. And may there be joy in the presence of the angels of God at his conversion, and heaven's eternal arches resound with hallelujahs at the news of a sinner saved!

Reader!

The author of this book, which is here put into your hand, cannot help being extremely alarmed for the safety of his friends in this day of abounding Infidelity, when he considers this declaration of Christ, that, Whosoever shall be ashamed of him, and of his Words, in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

It is impossible to add any thing to the weight of these words. The heart that is unappalled by them is harder than the nether mill-stone, and incapable of religious melioration.

When you have carefully perused the book two or three times over, if you think it calculated, in ever so small a degree, to impress the mind with conviction; have the goodness to lend it to your unbelieving neighbour, remembering the words of St. James: Brethren! if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his ways shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Though I greatly admire the defence of Mr. Erskine in this oration, I am not clear that the prosecution can be justified upon the genuine principles of Christian liberty.

B

If you are dissatisfied with what is here advanced, in favour of Religion and the Sacred Writings, by no means give up the cause as desperate; but do yourself the justice to procure Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, in answer to Thomas Paine, and his Apology for Christianity, in answer to Mr. Gibbon. They are books small in size, but rich in value. They discover great liberality of mind, much strength of argument, a clear elucidation of difficulties, and vast superiority of ability on this question to the persons whom he undertook to answer.

The best edition of the Apology for the Bible, which is the more popular and seasonable work of the two, is four shillings; but an inferior one may be had from any of the booksellers at the reduced price of one shilling.

Considering the sceptical spirit of the present age, and the danger young and inexperienced people are in of being seduced into the paths of irreligion; this, or some other antidote, ought to be in every man's hand, who has any serious concern, either for his own felicity, or that of his friends and neighbours.

MACCLESFIELD, Sept. 12, 1797.

DAVID SIMPSON.

ADVERTISEMENT

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

Tais second edition of the Plea for Religion is enlarged with a considerable quantity of fresh matter, and is more than double the size of the for

mer.

The whole of the first edition is retained, with some trifling alterations, and several of its parts enlarged and improved.

The anecdotal additions are many and important, and, it is hoped, will be found to furnish a good degree of profitable amusement.

Remarkable deistical conversions, with instances of unhappy and triumphant dissolutions, are here also more numerous.

This edition is also considerably extended in the religious and practical part, and, the author trusts, not without advantage, as a lively and experimental sense of divine things upon the human mind, is vindicated from the charge of enthusiasm, and the vile aspersions of a world that lieth in wickedness.

The prophecies concerning Christ, and his church in these latter days, are treated pretty much at large, with a view to demonstrate the divine authority of the Sacred Writings.

Other arguments for the truth and authenticity of the Scriptures* are suggested, the most common objections stated and answered, and the whole rendered as concise and satisfactory as may be.

Mr. Paine's objections to the Bible are particularly considered, and brief answers returned. His abuse of the Sacred Writers is also noticed with the severity it deserves, and his ignorance and malignity exposed.

Many extracts from our most celebrated Poets are interspersed. This will be considered as an excellence by some, and an imperfection by others. The literary reader will call to mind, that several of the most valuable authors among the ancients have written in the same manner.--

"A verse may catch him, who a sermon flies,

And turn delight into a sacrifice."

A compendous account of the present state of church-preferments is introduced, besides a general view of the Dissenting congregations in this kingdom.

The present state of the Methodist societies in Great Britain, Ireland, America, and the West Indies is likewise noticed, with some account of the rise and meaning of that denomination of Christians.

Some shameful instances of non-residence, patronage, and pluralities of livings, now in existence among the Bishops and Clergy of the land, are here detailed, and strongly reprehended.

The articles and canons, the liturgy, and other public offices of our church are reviewed, and, in some respects, reproved. At the same time, most of

Consult Simpson's Essay on the authenticity of the New Testament, in answer to Volney and Evanson: but more especially Jones's New and Full Method of settling the canonical Authority of the New Testament, 3 vols. octavo, a most learned, able, valuable, and decisive work, just reprinted by the University of Oxford, though written by a Dissenting minister: an instance of liberality not always to be met with. Can any good thing come out of Galilee'

the defects in our ecclesiastical frame are confirmed by the opinions of some of our most learned and respectable writers.

If the author is thought severe upon the episcopal and clerical orders of men, let it be remarked, that he esteems them all very highly in love for their office' sake, because he is persuaded it is of divine appointment; and that, if at any time he has given way to his indignation, and expressed himself in strong terms against these orders, it is never intended to affect any but the culpable part of them; and that both the Prophets under the Old Testament dispensation, and Christ with his Apostles under the New have done the same. We cannot follow better examples.

"But, in a Plea for Religion and the Sacred Writings, where is the propriety of exposing the imperfections of the Church, with her Bishops and Clergy?"

Because the undiscerning world in general, and their deistical fellow creatures in particular, constantly unite them together, and wound the pure and immortal religion of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Scriptures, through their sides; whereas they are things essentially different. What has the character and gospel of Christ to do with the treachery of Judas, the cowardice of Peter, the ambition of James and John, the lukewarmness and worldly spirit of our Bishops and Clergy, or with the superstitious and secular appendages of the Church of Rome, the Church of England, or any other human establishment under heaven? They are things perfectly distinct. And if we mean to defend the Gospel to any purpose, it must be the Gospel alone, independent of every human mixture and addition. Corrupt churches and bad men cannot be defended.

The best part of the book, in the opinion of the author, is that, where he has enlarged upon the excellence and utility of the Sacred Writings. He confesses he is anxious to recommend them to the daily perusal of every man; because he is persuaded that both our present peace and future welfare very much depend upon the practice. He trusts, therefore, if all the rest of the book be rejected with contempt, this will be attended to with peculiar seriousness.

The reduction of the national religion to the pure standard of the Gospel, and the moral and religious reformation of all orders of men, are repeatedly insisted on, and with singular earnestness; as what alone in his judgment, can save us from impending ruin. This is done, because he is firmly persuaded, there can be no general spread of evangelical principles and practices, while the Hierarchy is in its present contaminated state, and the Bishops and Clergy continue in a condition so generally depraved. The good of his country is what he has exceedingly at heart, however much he may be mistaken in the means he thinks necessary to promote that end.

The missions to the Heathen are here spoken of with zeal and approbation. These noble efforts for the salvation of mankind, he believes to be one reason among others, why in the midst of abounding iniquity, our fate, as a nation, is, for a season, suspended.*

*Is it not an instance of the most unamiable bigotry that ever was exhibited in a Christian country, that when such generous, disinterested and noble efforts have been making for two or three years past, by various denominations of men, for the civilization and christianization of the South Sea islands, which are situated in the centre of some hundreds of millions of gross idolators, scarcely one Bishop or dignified Clergyman of the Church of England; scarce, ly one Arian or Socinian congregation, those more opulent bodies of Dissenters; scarcely one Nobleman, and but very few rich Commoners appear to have contributed a single shilling out of their ample revenues towards promoting this expensive and god-like design?--The honour and blessedness of the glorious attempt is left to the poor?--Is not such a conduct among our great Ones speaking in the strongest of all language, that it is better the poor, misera

The extravagances of the French governors are incidentally touched upon, and the vileness of their conduct, both towards their own people, and the neighbouring nations exposed.*

He has taken the liberty of mentioning a variety of books upon different subjects. Some of these he has particularly recommended; others are only inserted among those of the same class. Young readers may find their advantage in this part of his treatise.

Both believers and unbelievers, he trusts, will meet with something or another that will be useful to them. Whatever is conceived to be pernicious, they will do well to reject, remembering that we are enjoined by a very high authority, to prove all things, and hold fast that which is good."

Several other miscellaneous matters are interspersed through the whole, which he wishes may be both profitable and pleasant-utile dulci.

If any of his clerical brethren are so far offended at the freedom he has taken with his own order, or the established religion of his country, as to make a reply, he shall think himself at liberty to return an answer, or otherwise, as he may judge expedient. So far as the moral and religious conduct of the Clergy is concerned, the best answer to his charges will be, to correct and amend what is amiss. So far as the durability of the ecclesiastical constitution of the country is in question, he would refer his indigpant reader, to the prophetic declarations of St. John, of the Old Testament.

Some repetitions will be found, and some mistakes discovered. The reader will have the goodness to excuse the former, and correct the latter.

Two Appendixes are subjoined, the former of which contains some farther thoughts on a national reform, and the latter, the author's reason for resigning his preferment in the religious establishment of the country, and declinug any longer to officiate as a Minister in the Church of England.

To the whole is added a copious Index, whereby every thing most important may be turned to without loss of time.

If the author has advanced any thing that is wrong, uncharitable, unchristian, or unbecoming his station, in the course of these strictures, he is heartily sorry for it, and wishes it unsaid. Let him not, however, accept any man's person, neither let him give flattering titles unto man; for he knows not to give flattering titles; in so doing his maker would soon take him away. It has been, therefore his desire to speak the plain honest truth, as it appears to him, without courting any man's favour, or fearing any man's displea

ble, benighted, Heathen nations should continue in their present deplorable condition, than that they should be brought out of darkness into the glorious liberty of the children of God, in any other way than that prescribed by them? Oh! shame to these several Orders of men. What a curse has not bigotry ever been to mankind?--Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and we forbad him, because he followed not us, said the selfish and party-spirited Apostles. Forbid him not, replied the benevolent and liberal minded Saviour, for there is no man that can work a miracle in my name, who will lightly speak evil of me. I add, with the Apostle, if Christ is preached, and souls saved, I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice, whoever is the instrument.

*The difference between the English and French in point of piety is more than once noticed in the following pages. I observe here still further, in honour of the brave Admiral Lord Nelson, that the very next morning after the victory, August 2, 1798, while all must have been yet hurry and confusion, he issued the following Memorandurn to all the Captains of his squadron.

"Almighty God having blessed his Majesty's arms with victory, the Admiral intends returning Public Thanksgiving for the same at two o'clock this day, and he recommends every ship doing the same as soon as convenient." Public thanks were accordingly returned at the hour appointed.

This solemn act of Gratitude to Heaven seemed to make a very deep impression upon the minds of several of the French prisoners, both officers and men.