fatisfaction of a thoughtful mind. That degree of knowlege which is generally fufficient for this purpofe, is not difficult to be attained. But thoroughly to investigate and maintain the cause, in oppofition to those who so ftrenuously and tenaciously labour for its overthrow, is a work which requires attention, learning, and ability. This bas been done in former years; and more lately, feveral smaller tracts have been offered to the public, which may feem adequate to common inftruction and benefit; but a full difcuffion throughout all the windings and difficulties to which the opponents lead, has not been, as we recollect, very recently attempted: We must therefore acknowlege ourselves pleafed to fee the prefent performance, which, we think, reflects honour, in different refpects, on its author. It is probable that his fentiments, in fome inftances, are confiderably distant from ours; nor need we profefs entirely to accord with him as to every thing he has advanced on the immediate topic of his work; but this is an inferior confideration for we regard it as the production of a fenfible and judicious writer, who unites learning and industry with piety and charity. A greater number of pages are employed on the nature and defign of baptifm than appears requifite to us; but, if he feems at all prolix in the other parts of the volume, we incline to confider it as little or nothing more than what is almost unavoidable and necessary in a controverfial treatife, which, to be exact, calls for frequent explications, and fometimes repetitions. The late publication by Mr. Booth is more directly noticed by this author; but he alfo attends to the most plaufible arguments and objections advanced by Dr. Gale, Dr. Stennett, and others, on which account he fays, he has ventured to give the refult of his enquiries the title of Antipadobaptifm Examined, not fo much as a counter-title to that of Mr. Booth's book, as to intimate, that the Antipadobaptift Syftem at large is the fubject of inveftigation.' From an attentive perutal, we must give our vote in favour of the performance. It may, however, be infufficient for the conviction of any one of the contrary opinion, fince, where a perfuafion is fixed, all that remains is to give fome anfwer to what feems to oppofe it. But it will doubtless prove fufficient to affure each party of the neceffity of moderation and forbearance, The validity of baptifm, by the immerfion of adults, if it has not been before received, is not difputed; but it is infifted, from reafon, fcripture, the meaning of words, from analogy, and ancient practice, that the affufion or fprinkling of infants in teftimony of their admiffion to the Chriftian church, is at leaft equally valid, and agreeable to the method of Divine difpenfations to mankind. Mr. Wil liams fhews his acquaintance with fubjects of learning, particularly of that kind which is fuited to the topic before us. When fpeaking of John's baptizing the numbers who reforted to him, which might probably be performed by placing them in ranks on the edge of the river, he has very happily introduced fome lines from Virgil. They are taken from the defcription which is given of the funeral rites performed for Mifenus, which were clofed by a kind of lustration or Sprinkling: ** Idem ter focios purá circumtulit undâ LUSTRAVITQUE VEROS, dixitque noviffima verba." The author is, occafionally, fmart and lively; and at the fame time, we think, he preferves his character for candour; though, as oppofition is fharp-fighted, his antagonists may poffibly fometimes imagine they make a different difcovery. We could not refrain from a fmile, when, after having mentioned Dr. Gill's affertion, or doctrine, as he terms it," that there is no washing but by dipping," he adds, This ftrange ipfe dixit needs no other argument to confront it than a clean face.' Art. 35. A Vindication of the Doctrine of the Pre-existence of Chrift, confidered in a practical View; humbly recommended to the Attention of the Serious. By Jofeph Cornish. 12mo. pp. 49. Is. Robinsons. 1789. This treatife is intended to anfwer an objection which naturally offers itfelf to fome perfons, and has been not unfrequently mentioned. It is this: If Chrift exifted in glory before he came into this world, his mind must have been fo fuperior to its trials of every kind, that his victory over them could, confidering the difference of circumstances, afford no encouragement to Chriftians in their virtuous efforts and endeavours. Mr. Cornish attempts, on the other. hand, to prove that the pre-exiftent glory of Chrift renders his example efficacious beyond any other confideration. He obferves that neither natural firmness of mind, nor extraordinary degrees of genius, nor even divine inspiration, alter our nature as men; and if an angel fhould become an inhabitant of an human body, that would render him fubject to our feelings and infirmities, and confequently entitled to praife, if in his condition he-fhould act a worthy part. Further, he infifts concerning Chrift, that the confcioufnefs which he had of his high dignity, rendered his humility, his felfdenial, his meeknefs, his benevolence, and his refignation, fo much the more illuftrious.-On thefe topics, he defcants in a plain, yer fenfible and judicious manner;-but the tract has chiefly a practical intention. We could not help remarking the phrafe which he uses concerning Socinianifm, when (after a learned friend) he terms it the frigid zone of religion. Art. 36. The Spiritual Body: Being a humble Attempt to remove the Charge of Abfurdity from the Doctrine of the Refurrection. By the Author of Simple Truth, or a Plea for Infants; and, The Liberty of the Human Will. 8vo. pp. 39. 18. Buckland. 1789. This writer hopes to render the above doctrine more the object of a rational faith, and less a fubject of fncer to fceptics. He asks, is there not a point where matter and fpirit divide? and where fo likely, as the Spiritual Body? which, as it belonged to this world, is most likely to be the very lowest degree of fpirit, and having been incorporated with matter, may retain feveral of the fame properties when feparated from it.-Again, he fays, if matter receive all its fymmetry from its incorporation with fpirit, if fpirit form the limbs, difpofe difpofe the features, proportion the organs, give life to the eye, and vigour to the countenance, no doubt these may remain when the matter which is interwoven with it is all dropt.-Further, he obferves, we learn from St. Paul, that thefe bodies of ours are not all earth, but interwoven with fpirit, and this spirit being the effence, is denominated the body, and this is what will be raised from its bed of earth a real fpirit, although inferior to fome more fublime, and varying in kind from that invifible, confcious, reasoning principle which we call foul, as a beast differs from a man, or a fith from a bird. These passages may give the reader fome view of this author's opinion. It correfponds with what many have thought and faid on the fubject. Yet in the conclufion, when he tells us, that he has done with every defign of farther publications, he adds, I have wrote, I hope, as God enabled me; but of this I am fure, I could get no affiftance from man. Such a declaration we conceive to be fomewhat extraordinary; fince, though it is true that commentators and critics often perplex rather than enlighten, yet when a man offers his thoughts to the world, efpecially on a difputed or difficult point, It argues too great a degree of felf-confidence not to have had fome recourse to writers of ability who have gone before him; or, if we are to understand, that on fuch application he received no kind of benefit, it is furely a contemptuous and opinionated manner of expreflion. Art. 37. Sermons for Children; being a Courfe of Fifty-two, on Subjects fuited to their tender Age, and in a Style adapted to the Understanding of the rifing Generation. By the Rev. Mark Anthony Meilan. 12mo. To be comprized in 3 Vols. * 95. Author, Dartmouth-street. Sermons, however plainly written, do not appear to us to be compofitions fuited to children, especially such as Mr. Meilan defcribes, who know not what learning is, and can scarcely read a little of God's word (p. 8. of fermon xviii.); we cannot therefore approve of this attempt to convey inftruction into the infant mind. The difcuffion that a fermon implies, requires a degree of reflection that children do not poffefs. They can neither enter into nor feel the reafoning. They ought to be fed with milk, which is eafily fwallowed down, and not with meat, which must be firft mafticated. We should almost as foon expect to fee Geometry for Children, as Sermons for Children. Mr. M. merits great praise for his intention, but we cannot fay fo much for the plan and execution. Books calculated for children, are fuch as contribute to ftore their memories with plain truths and ufeful maxims. Appeals to their judgment are ridiculous. Mr. M. in his fermon on the dearness of children to God, the only one we have yet feen, tells the little ones, to whom it is addressed, that by the power of God (p. 13.) they are kept alive; and were he to withdraw his hand that every moment upholds them, then they would fall into as many pieces as a brittle bit of glass dashed violently by a giant's hand against the pavement.' We have only feen the ift vol. It will puzzle little children to conceive how God's withdrawing his hand can produce the fame effect as a giant's violence. A kind of fyllabus of the fermons intended to be published by Mr. M. is printed, in which he describes the style of them to be between the folemn and the playful. Quere? Is the paffage which we have extracted to be confidered as a specimen of this folemn, playful ftyle? Among fermons for children, who would think of meeting one On improper Marriages (Serm. xxxiv.). This (fays the author in his abstract, p. 26.) conjures the rougher portion of the rifing generation to refrain from flattery in courtship, and points out its mifchievous effects on women after they are married.' To please rich old folks, Mr. M. has added, Inequality of fortune fhould be thought a rational impediment to wedlock;' but young ladies and gentlemen will beg leave to differ from Mr. M.; and, to say the truth, were all marriages forbidden but those in which there was an equality of fortune between the parties, the wealth of individuals would increase beyond all bounds, and the world be brought to end long" before its time:" as the faying is. Befide, fome of our corps are unmarried; and we cannot, in our confciences, fpeak well of a publication that endeavours to diffuade the rich ladies of Great Britain from conferring their favours, fhould they be fo difpofed, on poor old bachelors. Art. 38. A Prayer for a Family, taken nearly verbatim from the Holy Scriptures. By the Author of an Abridgment of the New Teftament, in Question and Answer, lately published. 12mo. pp. 12. Baldwin. 1789. All lovers of fimple, rational piety, will be pleased with this little prayer, which may be used either by an individual, a family, or a congregation. The expreffions being for the most part taken from Scripture, cannot be objected to; but we recommend to the author to confider, whether the apostrophe to the foul, in p. 6. though the words of David, may be fo proper in a prayer as one continued addrefs to the Supreme Being? It would be lefs poetical and more fimple thus: Above all, we bless thee, O Lord; our fouls, and all the powers within us, would bless thy holy name, &c.' We notice this little circumftance, as we are great admirers of Simplicity in prayer, and wish to discountenance all rhapsodical and preaching devotion. Some conductors of extemporary prayer are continually telling the Deity what he knows; and others, ftill more difgufting, interweaving into their addreffes to Heaven ftrokes and reflections on fome of their fellow-creatures. It would be more for the credit of public worship, and more edifying to their hearers, were they to take this little prayer, and follow it as a model. N. B This prayer is not fold, but given to fuch perfons as have been, or may become, purchasers of the ABRIDGMENT*, which is fold by R. Baldwin, &c. For an account of which fee Rev. vol. lxxv. p. 319. . MISCELLANEOUS. Art. 39. Thoughts on the Difqualification of the Eldeft Sons of the Peers of Scotland, to fit from that Country in Parliament. With Obfervations on the Civil Polity of the Kingdom. The Second Edition. By Alexander Lord Saltoun, Advocate, and F. S. S. A. 8vo. pp. 265. 3s. 6d. Boards. Cadell. 1789. The noble author of this excellent performance has introduced into this fecond edition, many new and important obfervations on the nature of the ancient conftitution of this country, and the civil polity of the kingdom; which throw great light on that intricate fubject. They will be read with pleasure by every candid inquirer; particularly thofe who wish to obtain an idea of the ancient conftitution of Scotland, which is here, from the nature of the subject, more particularly developed. The public are much obliged to Lord Saltoun for the pains which he has bestowed on this work.-For our account of the first edition, fee Rev. vol. lxxix. p. 266. Art. 40. The Philofophical Principles of the Science of Brewing; containing Theoretic Hints on an improved Practice of Brewing Malt Liquors; and Statical Eftimates of the Materials for Brewing; or, a Treatife on the Application and Use of the Saccharometer+; being new Editions corrected of thofe Treatifes, with the Addition of the Ufe of the Saccharometer fimplified, &c. By John .. Richardfon. 8vo. 75. Boards. Robinsons, &c. 1788. The two treatifes above fpecified, were duly noticed by us at the respective times of their publication; and the accounts then given of them are referred to below: of courfe we have little to add on their prefent united appearance. We turned, however, to the article Hops, in the contents of the former, and in the index to the latter, to fee whether the author had remarked any difference between boiling them in wort, or in fair water, for obtaining a full extract of their virtue; a point that deferves the attention of the intelligent brewer, as it may very probably be found that wort, a liquor already faturated and rendered mucilaginous by a sweet extract from malt, may not be the best menftruum for extracting the virtue from any other ingredient. Should this doubt be verified on trial, it may be added, that, as Mr. Richardfon affirms, fixty pounds weight of hops imbibe a barrel of wort, the faving of the wort thus abforbed, would, under fuitable management, fully compenfate the addition of fresh liquor impregnated only with the bitter extract from hops. If, however, any thing has occurred to him on this fubject, he has not mentioned it. Among his experiments ‡, he does not indeed boil balf a pound of hops, in fucceffive portions of water, to discover how much they imbibe, and what degree of denfity they add to the decoctions; but it is not from any fuch motive; for he applies the refults, rather inaccurately, as we apprehend, to fimilar effects in wort, though the menftrua are diffimilar, and though he flighly hints at the greater facility with which water may extract the diffoluble • See Rev. vol. Ivii. p. 322. ↑ Vol. lxxiii. p. 48. P. 196. parts |