tish Church. On the subject of the sacraments, which is next introduced, we can only say, that Dr. Hill's interpretation of the doctrine of his Church agrees, in the main, with that received in our own. The following sections, "on Lecturing on the doctrinal Part of Preaching; on the Choice of the Subjects of Preaching; on Diligence in the Composition of Sermons; on Imitation; on the Peculiarities of the Preacher's Genius; on Personalities in Sermons; and on Delivery;" contain instruction of great importance to candidates for the ministry, and to young divines. They are likewise, as may be inferred from the subjects, of general concern. The two remaining sections are, on the private Luties of the pastoral Office, and on the Character which becomes the Ministers of the Gospel."

At pp. 401 and 405, Dr. Hill expresses himself on the subject of a death-bed repentance, in terms, which we regard as altogether unwarrantable. A death-bed repentance must always, perhaps, be a dubious one; but unquestionably the most powerful considerations of duty and humanity urge a minister "to sound an alarm in the ears" of the impenitent, "who are approaching to their last agonies," in the hope (however slender that hope may be) that God may give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.

The last section, on the Character which becomes the Ministers of the Gospel, discovers a serious conviction of the important duties belonging to the sacred office, and can hardly fail to be read with profit. No order of men ought to be more severe in judging themselves, to whatever indulgence, on the ground of the arduous nature of their office, they may be entitled from others. If the reader wishes for more information on this important subject, he may be referred to Bishop Burnet on the Pastoral Care, Mr. Gisborne on the Duties of the Clergy, the admirable, but almost obsolete work of Herbert, entitled, A Priest to the Temple, &c. and Witsius's Oratio de vero Theologo, in his Miscellanea Sacra.

In a work entitled to so much general praise as that which we are now dismissing from our examination, it would have given us pleasure to have observed a more marked and auxious attention to that inter

nal religion, which constitutes the very essence of the Christian character, and is peculiarly necessary in a Christian minister. Without this, the most correct system of theological truth must be extremely defective.

CXXXIV. Britain's Duty on the Prospect of a French Invasion, a Sermon preached August 11, 1803, in the Parish Church of St. Mary-le-port, Bristol, at the opening of a weekly Evening Lecture, on the Perils and Duties of the present Times. By the Reverend RICHARD HART, A. M. Vicar of St. George's, Gloucestershire, 8vo. pp. 23. Price One Shilling. RIVINGTON.

A SERIOUS and well written discourse, in which a regard to the solemn call of Divine Providence to repentance, as well as the duty of preparing for the common defence of the country is impressively enforced. The author is well known by an able Defence of the Church of England, in answer to Dr. Gill's Reasons for Separation.

CXXXV. A Sermon preached at the

Parish Church of Great Messenden, Berks, Sunday, June, 19, on occasion of the Death of the Reverend Jeremiah Newell, Vicar of Great Missenden, and Perpetual Curate of Lee; published by special request, for the Benefit of his Widow and Children. By THOMAS SCOTT, Rector of Aston Sandford, Bucks, late Chaplain of the Lock Hospital. To which is added a Memoir of the deceased, 8vo. pp. 55. Price 1s. 6d. London, Seely, 1803.

THE humane intentions of those who requested the publication of this discourse, have not only preserved a useful sermon from oblivion, but have brought to light a character which ought to be known beyond the bounds of the late Mr. Newell's parish.

Our author's text is, Phil. i. 24. To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain; a sentence which appears well adapted to express the devotedness, and the happy termination of his labours, whose memory the sermon was intended to honour.

The pious author has handled this

subject with his accustomed seriousness and strength of expression, and we recommend the perusal of this discourse to all who wish to see the text ably elucidated, or the important lessons which it is calculated to convey impressively enforced.

Having gone over those topics of general edification which his subject afforded, our author turns to the congregation, for a testimony that their late

pastor, during a residence of fifteen years among them, afforded unequivocal evidence of his being habitually influenced by those high motives which are implied in the text. The following appeal to the flock over which he watched, will appear a stronger commendation of him than the most laboured panegyric could have conveyed.

"You, my Christian brethren, have no need of my commendations of him: you are his best commendation: "the seals of his ministry are ye in the Lord.' May your fature lives, conformed to his scriptural instructions and his edifying exam

do.

ple, recommend his memory, and all his words and actions, to your children, your families, and all with whom you have to Remember him that was guide over you, who spake to you the word of God; whose faith follow; considering the end of his conversation,' and his happy entrance into the joy of his Lord. You best know his excellency-Oh copy his example, and more and more reduce to practice his instructions, that by well doing ye may put to silence those who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ." (p. 27, 28,)

And then addressing himself to those who had not effectually profited by the labours of the deceased, he adds,

"Oh that his death may be made more useful to you, than his life has been! I

perso

appeal to all present, who have had nal knowledge of our deceased friend, that bccommended himself to your consciences in the sight of God.' You knew him to be an upright, peaceable, kind hearted, and pious man! You knew his life was consistent with his profession, and the instructions and admonitions which he gave to others. You are conscious that he would have done you good, if he could; and that, had you followed his counsels and example, you would at this time have been far better men than you are. You. are sensible, that even his reproofs, and warnings, and opposition to your sins, were the dictates of love to your souls. Yes He sought not your's but you,' CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 25.

'He was willing to spend and be spent for you' Indeed it seems probable that he wore himself out prematurely by his incessant labours, and chiefly for your salvation. And I am confident, that there is he should die this night, would not secretly scarcely one present, who, if he thought wish, and even be ready to say, 'Oh that i may go to be where Mr. Newell is! This is the highest commendation: and this you cannot withhold from him." (p. 28.)

The death of a well informed, zea

lous, and exemplary pastor, is indeed And to improve this event to the bea very calamitous event to a parish. nefit of those who had ceased to be the objects of his care, was an imsuch an occasion; and Mr. Scott has portant part of a preacher's duty on discharged it in the conclusion of his discourse with becoming solemnity. We pray that his exhortations may have their due effect.

The memoir of Mr. Newell's life, though short, is interesting; as it serves to develope the character of a man of great simplicity, humility, and benevolence. He is said to have united, with an earnest zeal for the genuine doctrines of the Church of England, a modesty of character which prevented his being much known beyond the circle of his charge, and a peaceableness of conduct, which rendered him beloved, even by those, who, before they witnessed how blamelessly he lived, entertained some prejudices against him.

This account affords a striking instance of the blessing of God on maternal instruction; a circumstance which we hope will be particularly attended to by pious mothers. It is well observed by Mr. S. "that the pious endeavours of the grandmother and mother of Timothy, in bringing him

when a child acquainted with the Holy Scriptures, laid the foundation of all his subsequent eminence and usefulness, in which he was inferior to none but the Apostles themselves. It is probable," continues he, "that while they were teaching the child to read and treasure up in his memory the oracles of God, they little thought what a harvest in future life would spring from the seed thus sown." Thus, as the writer observes in a preceding page, pious mothers may be useful not only to children who are to move "in very inferior stations but even in forming the minds and G

principles of such as may eventually fill the most useful stations in the Church and in the community."

Mr. Newell, like many others who have been eminent for piety, was trained in the school of affliction. Besides some affecting details of the loss of children, we learn, that his income was always slender. The only means he had of supporting himself and his family, till the year 1797, were the profits of his vicarage, the actual receipt of which was less than 801. per

annum.

When the perpetual curacy of Lee was first added to Mr. Newell's resources, it yielded but a trifling sum. By the operation of Queen Anne's bounty, however, it at length improved, and his two parishes produced 1201. per annum. Had it pleased God to continue his life a few years longer, his children might have been provided for, and with his frugal habits, the necessity of receiving assistance from others might have been precluded. But he lived only two years after the income of his curacy was thus augmented! His wife and three children, therefore, are left without any provision for their future support. To render the widow's case still more affecting, she expects, ere long, to be the mother of a fourth fatherless child.

CXXXVI. Observations upon some Passages in Scripture, which the Enemies to Religion have thought most obnotions, and attended with Difficulties not to be surmounted. By JACOB BRYANT. Mawman. 4to. pp. 256. 1803.

IN evincing the truth of christianity, we may take our point of starting from the present time and present phenomena. It cannot be disputed, that there is a considerable number of persons now existing, who profess this religion; and, proceeding in a retrogressive direction, we find that about an equal number of their immediate ancestors did the same. We trace back this society for a few generations, when we find ourselves, all on a sudden, involved in a thick and increasing cloud of darkness; and were this

to proceed to total obscurity, we should have a perfect picture of the ancient superstitions of mankind. But amidst all this darkness, sufficient light breaks in upon us from various quarters, to preserve the succession from being interrupted, or which, with regard to evidence, is the same thing, from being rendered invisible; so that we can yet discern, although but faintly, the object of our research, till at length, being brought again to open day, the same family of the professed followers of Christ appear in their native garb and splendour, and we soon find them in immediate contact with that generation, upon whose authority they received their faith. The existence of this generation is to be accounted for: and here we find ourselves all at once embarked upon the almost boundless ocean of the evidences of the truth of christianity. But to proceed upon such an inquiry is, in the present instance, impracticable, and would be impertinent. Wę think it, nevertheless, of importance to remark, and we are fully persuaded of the justice of the remark, that, in the whole range of recorded history, there is not a single instance of imposture, which approaches to the most distant parallel with the evidence upon which christianity is founded. General resemblances, in all instances of similar pretensions, between those which are true and those which are false, may and ought to be expected: but in the distinguishing evidence, in the kind and mass of evidence upon which christianity challenges the acceptance of mankind, it stands an event, or combination of events, perfectly singular and perfectly distinct from all that lay elaim to the same origin. The evidence of our religion is a body, consisting of various parts, harmonizing with and establishing each other. With such evidence, however, it is very consistent that partial difficulties should exist; difficulties which, in themselves considered, we find it impossible to surmount. But what are such difficulties, even when allowed to their utmost extent?-what are they to the great body of evidence which still remains entire? This representation of the matter we insist upon the more strongly, because the enemies of our faith, who seem to be more sensible where its strength lies than many of its friends, are very as