their works have been more numerous, and their subjects more generally interesting and important. The present publication is not more valuable than the last edition of his poems; although it contains several Latin and English compositions which are not found in its predecessor. It is rather an advantage to the reputation of Bourne that these were omitted, and is a proof of the judgement exercised in the selection. The Latin poems which are now published from the original quarto, in addition to those contained in the last edition, are evidently inferior to the rest; written in the earlier part of his life when his style was not so elaborate, and chiefly on subjects not easily susceptible of poetical ornament, or calculated to allure and hold the attention of the reader. The world is not eternal-The relations of good and evil are eternal and immutable-The ebbing and flowing of the tides depend on the attractions of the Sun an! Moon-are subjects of no great promise, for one who seeks to amuse himself with poetical beauties; and will not readily admit of that neatness of versification, and that easy and unexpected turn of expression, for which Bourne is eminently distinguished. As an illustration of this reinark, we will cite the beginning of the Poem intitled "Mundus non fuit ab eterno," and then produce the first verse of the Translation of Gay's BlackEyed Susan. Dum Patrios alii lætantur volvere fastos, Autoremque suæ venerandum exquirere gentis, In statione fuit classis, fusisque per auras Cum avem ascendit Susanna; O dicite, nautæ, Agminibus vestris num Gulielmus inest? Our classical readers must clearly perceive, that we have not taken the best lines of one performance and the worst of the other; but that these specimens shew the spirit and manner of the respective pieces to which they belong. The few English compositions serve to exemplify the re mark made before, that extraordinary strength of genius is not essential for writing Latin poetry. They remind us of Voltaire's remark respecting Cardinal Polignac, that he who astonished and charmed the world by his Anti-Lucretius, was unable to write a single good verse in his own language. However, as there is no omission, in the present republication, of any thing contained in the last, and Bourne's Poemata was become rather a scarce book, it is a public accommodation that they are again sent from the press. Art. XII. Memoirs of the Rev. John Newton, late Rector of the United Parishes of St. Mary Woolnoth, and St. Mary Woolchurch Haw, Lombard-street; with General Remarks on his Life, Connexions, and Character. By Richard Cecil, A. M. Minister of St. John's, Bedfordrow. 12mo. pp. 330. Price 4s. bds. Hatchard, 1808. AS the principal occurrences, in Mr. Newton's most eventful and extraordinary life, are very well known to the world, through the medium of two works, the "Narrative," and the Letters to a Wife," published long before his death, it will not be necessary for us even to enumerate his various adventures and situations. And as his character beams very distinctly through these and his other writings, we should probably add little, by any 'regular observations on it, to the idea which the reader has formed of him, as a man of warm affections, of great benevolence and kindness, of sound and active mind, of innocent humour, of genuine candour, and of heartfelt piety. We therefore must forego the pleasure we should find in sketching his biography, and refer to this interesting and cheap performance for satisfactory information. Nearly all the narrative part of these memoirs was prepared before Mr. Newton's death, and had the benefit of his corrections; and the remainder, in which his character is delineated, has every claim to the public confidence, from being drawn up by an old and intimate friend, of unquestioned intelligence and integrity. The life of Mr. Newton is of itself a sufficient answer to the charge of licentious tendency which has been alledged against evangelical doctrine; his name is a spell which should confound the fluency of all its calumniators, and will explode and dissipate all their sophistries, as often as it is applied. Mr. Newton was a prodigy of audacious and extravagant wickedness; he embraced the genuine principles of Christianity, and the profligate, ferocious, and blasphemous infidel became a pattern of moral excellence, which the most virtuous might cordially admire and imitate. Such is the impressive lesson for cavillers at his religious principles. For Christians, his life affords much valuable instruction; and none more so, than the caution not to consider aggravated horrors of compunction, and a certain assignable time of finding confidence and delight in the sense of divine favour, as essential, in all cases, to true Christian experience and a real change of heart, The death of Mr. N. was in the same view remarkable; it was a departure in peace, attended with no strong emotions or glowing language. Though the greater portion of fact, which this volume con tains, has already been communicated to the world, there are many additional anecdotes of Mr. Newton, illustrating both his life, and his character. The following is one of them: We cannot wonder (says the biographer) that Mr. N., latterly, retained a strong impression of a particular providence, superintending and conducting the steps of man; since he was so often reminded of it, in his own history. The following occurrence is one of many in stances. Mr. N., after his reformation, was remarkable for his punctu ality I remember his often sitting with his watch in his hand, lest he should fail in keeping his next engagement. This exactness with respect to time, it seems, was his habit while occupying his post (of tide-surveyor) at Liverpool. One day, however, some business had so detained him, that he came to his boat much later than usual, to the surprise of those who had observed his former punctuality. He went out in the boat as heretofore, to inspect a ship, but the ship blew up just before he reached her; it appears that if he had left the shore a few minutes sooner, he must have perished with the rest on board.' pp. 126, 127. Many conversations and apophthegms are also preserved, which are highly characteristic. In reference to a milder and more cautious style of preaching which he sometimes thought it prudent to adopt, he is related to have said, "I became, says the apostle, "all things to all men; but observe the END, it was in order to gain some. The fowler must go cautiously to meet shy birds, but he will not leave his powder and shot behind him. I have fed you with milk, says the apostle; but there are some, that are not only for forcing strong meat, but bones too, down, the throat of the child. We must have patience with a single step in the case of an infant, and there are one-step books and sermons which are good in their place. Christ taught his disciples, as they were able to bear, and it was upon the same principle, that the apostle accommodated himself to prejudice. "Now," continued he, "what I wish to remark on these considerations is, that this apostolical principle, steadily pursued, will render a minis ter apparently inconsistent; superficial hearers will think him a trimmer. On the other hand, a minister, destitute of the apostolical principle and intention, and directing his whole force to preserve the appearance of consistency, may thus seem to preserve it; but let me tell you, here is only the form of faithfulness, without the spirit." pp. 178, 179. The following sentences are selected from a pleasing part of the work, intitled, "Remarks made by Mr. Newton in familiar conversation:" few men have been more eminent for giving a penetrating form to their thoughts, and for the inge. nious simplicity of their illustrations. I should have thought mowers very idle people; but they work while they whet their scythes. Now devotedness to God, whether it mpws or whets the scythe, still goes on with the work.' 'My principal method of defeating heresy, is by establishing truth→→→ One proposes to fill a bushel with tares; now if I can fill it first with wheat, I shall defy his attempts.' Many have puzzled themselves about the origin of evil: I observe there is evil, and that there is a way to escape it, and with this I begin and end.'. Apollos met with two candid people in the church; they neither ran away because he was legal, nor were carried away because he was eloquent.' I can conceive a living man without an arm or a leg, but not without a head or a heart: so there are some truths essential to vital religion, and which all awakened souls are taught.' Mr. Cecil has introduced three very interesting episodes, if we may so term them, or short sketches of the characters of three eminent men with whom Mr. N. was intimately connected; these are John Thornton, the poet Cowper, and the present venerable Mr. Scott. He justly contends and demonstrates that Cowper's religion, so far from being the cause, as its enemies have laboured to represent, was to a great degree the cure of his insanity. The only additional quotation we shall allow ourselves, refers to the princely philanthropist already mentioned: Mr. Thornton left a sum of money with Mr N. to be appropriated to the defraying his necessary expences, and relieving the poor. "Be hospitable," said Mr. Thornton, "and keep an open house for such as are worthy of entertainment-help the poor and needy: I will statedly allow you 2001. a year, and readily send whatever you have occasion to draw for more." Mr. N. told me, that he thought he had received of Mr. Thornton upwards of 30001. in this way, during the time he resided at Olney. pp. 142, 143. 'In order to execute his beneficent designs, he observed frugality and exactness in his personal expences. By such prospective methods, he was able to extend the influence of his fortune far beyond those who, in still more elevated stations, are slaves to expensive habits. Such men meanly pace in trammels of the tyrant custom, till it leaves them scarcely enough to preserve their conscience, or even their credit, much less to employ their talents in Mr. Thornton's nobler pursuits He, however, could afford to be generous; and while he was generous, did not forget his duty in being just. But with all the piety and liberality of this honoured character, no man had deeper views of his own unworthiness before is God-to the Redeemer's work alone he looked for acceptance of his person and services: he felt all that he did, or could do, was infinitely short of that which had been done for him, and of the obligations that were thereby laid upon him. It was this abasedness of heart towards God, combined with the most singular largeness of heart toward his fellow-creasures, which distinguished John Thornton among men.' pp. 140, 141. The latter part of the volume, to the extent of a hundred pages is occupied with a review of Mr. Newton's character, in specific reference to his literary attainments, his ministry, his family habits, his writings, and his familiar conversation. Under these divisions, as also in various parts of the narrative, Mr. C. has introduced a variety of serious and useful observations. The attractions of his work, indeed, are of the best kind; inasmuch as rhetorical ornaments and a captivating style are far less important than the faithful display of character and the judicious introduction of evangelical sentiment. It value, we hope, will be recognised, not merely as conducing to the gratification of Christian readers in general, but, according to his own suggestion, as an addition to the scanty class of books which tend to promote the best interests of the young while contributing to their amusement. We fear, indeed, that it will be considered as his legacy to the juvenile race; for most of our realers have probably been grieved to hear of his total confinement from active duties by a paralytic affection. The complete edition of Mr. Newton's works, with some original additions, and a fine engraved portrait, is just ready for publication. Art. XII. Sermons on Various Subjects. By John Bidlake, Chaplain to their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duke of Clarence. 8vo. pp. 300. Price 7s. 6d boards. Murray, 1808. IT Tis still ominous, we suppose, to stumble in limine; for though we have attempted all through the Volume to recover ourselves from the shock of the first Sermons, we have done no better than stagger on, to the very last page. The Volume opens with four discourses on the seasons of the year, which appeared to us very like an aukward attempt to imitate Sturm's Reflexions. Indeed we could scarcely have been convinced that the preacher had not relieved himself from the labour of original composition, by turning one of these Re-. flexions into a Sermon at the easy rate of tacking on to it a text of Scripture, had we not painfully felt the want of Sturm's graceful simplicity and useful application. In a sermon, short appeals to the works of creation are not merely allowable and sanctioned by scriptural precedents, but they are eminently beautiful and useful. When the whole time, however, which is allowed to religious instruction is spent in giving lectures on natural history, inflated with rapturous admiration of lines of beauty, elegance of tints, and fragrance of odours; we ask indignantly, Has the preacher never noticed the disgraceful and ruinous ignorance of religious truth, which prevails. in all ranks of society?-and has he never reflected, that men who have no just acquaintance with the doctrines of Scripture |
