of authority; and, on examining the he is really competent to discuss the letters of Paul to Timothy and Titus, subject; and if he dreads the promulga concerning the conduct of a Bishop to- tion of such doctrines as those taught wards a Fresbyter, we cannot discover by MR. STONE; we lament only that on what part of the Scriptures the he did not enter first, as the church preproceedings against MR. STONE are scribes, into an amicable discussion on founded. the points, on which they are at variance, but has taken a course which assuredly excites suspicion that punishment, not the conversion of an aged brother, is the object of his pursuit. It is a singular thing also, that a proctor should enter upon such a cause. Does he act for himself or for others? He has already employed three doctors. The question is of great importance to the clergy. We shall continue our remarks upon this curious cause as it goes on, as well as on a similar subject among the DisSENTERS; among whom one of their clergy has started a doctrine similar to that of MR. STONE, and some of bis bearers were for censuring instead of examining bis opinions!! So biassed are most people in all ages in favour of opinions, with which the chance of birth has filled their heads! so true is the remark of Gibbon, that it was an even chance at one time, whether the cross or the crescent should be fixed on the walls of Oxford." JUNE, 1807.

"There is a place in London called DOCTOR'S COMMONS; a place behind St. Paul's, to the south of that church, inhabited by gentlemen called Doctors and Proctors. Here is a court of a good size well suited for the hearing of causes, but for some reason or other this court is used for mere forms, and the greater part of the business is transacted in an adjoining parlour, where are seldom other persons present besides those whom sad necessity or the business of the court cons rains to be there. MR. STONE has been cited, it seems, to appear in this court, for maintain ing doctrines contrary to the Church of England, and against an old law made in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. To this citation MR. STONE appeared by his proctor, and protested against a cause of this kind being discussed by Doctors and Proctors, before a Doctor who is a Knight; and the education of all of them seemed very unlikely to lead them to a knowledge of the Scriptures, which the Church of England professes to make the ground of its faith. The protest however was in vain, for the judge has declared himself to be a competent judge of the controversy, and the accuser is to bring in his charges.

"We promised in our last to notice the proceedings in another place relative to the church, and to lay before our readers the state of the prosecution against MR. STONE an aged Presbyter of the church of England, with a large family. The prosecutor, it may be re"It is to be recollected that MR. collected, is a Mr. Bishop, a proctor STONE preached a Sermon by desire of in the place called DOCTORS' COMMONS, the Arch-Deacon, before a body of being the same in civil law to a Doctor clergy. The reader might expect then that an Attorney is to a Counsellor. This to hear that some of this body were the Mr. Bishop is a rare theologian; a accusers. No such thing! The clergy sound Salamanca divine; for, he is have not accused him; nor has the bishop bringing a poor parson into trouble, from called him to account. It is a private a knowledge of the subjects on which the individual, a Mr. Bishop. Not a bishop; parson has preached, or, he is bringing but a Mr. Bishop; and, what is more him into trouble without knowledge of singular, this Mr. Bishop is a Proctor, the subjects on,which the preachment has and this Mr. Bishop is not only a Proc- heen. Be this as it may, this Mr. Bitor, but the King's Proctor; and what shop having read the sermon which Mr. is very extraordinary, this Mr. Bishop STONE preached before the Arch-Deacon did not bring bis accusation for word, till and his clergy, and which the Arch-Deaju t t after the late Ministry were dis- con and his clergy neither refuted nor remissed, and the cry of " No Popery" was primanded; this Mr. Bishop has drawn rai-ed. Now, if this Mr. Bishop has up twenty articles against MR. STONE, really at heart the good of religion; if contained in five sheets of foolscap paper, he has really studied the Scriptures; if written on both sides. Our readers

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

A Complete List of Books on Theology and Morals, for Aug. 1807.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Mr. Belsham's seven:b Letter is unavoidably postponed to our next, as are also several Articles of Obituary.

We believe the account of the Wiltshire Conference last Easter never came to hand; if it were received, it has been unfortunately mislaid.

The conclusion of Memoirs of beunet, P.'s second Letter on the "Physical and Metaphysical Inquiries," and the Review of Collyer's Lectures will appear in our next Number.

In answer to several inquiries, we beg leave to state that the First Volume of the Monthly Repository, or any single numbers of the First or the present Volume, may be had of the publishers, or of any booksellers. We take the liberty also of recommending such of our friends as may not have completed their sets of the Repository to do it immediately, as some of the early numbers are very scarce and will soon be out of print there having been a very rapid demand for them during the present year. Our readers will partake with us of the satisfaction we derive from this circumstance, which has but lately come to our knowledge.

A REVIEW OF THE LIFE, WRITINGS AND CHARACTER OF THE REV. BENJAMIN BENNET, OF NEW

MR

CASTLE UPON TYNE.

(Concluded from page 345.)

own

R. BENNET was distinguished not only as a preacher in the pulpit, and as a pastor in the circle of his congregation; but his name had a celebrity, and his exertions in the cause of religion, an extensive influence, as an author. His writings bore testimony to his spirit as a Christian, to his abilities as a scholar, to his devotion and zeal as a minister, to his liberal sentiments on the principles of religious liberty as a Protestant, and to his true patriotism as a Briton.

His first publication appears to have been "Six Discourses against Popery," in 1714. The subjects discussed in this volume were the human doctrines, the hypocrisy and pharisaism, the immorality in practice, the persecution and cruelty, the policy and arts of the church of Rome.

An octavo historical work, was the next that came from his pen; a second edition of which, with additions, was published in 1721. It was entitled, "A MEMORIAL OF THE REFORMATION chiefly in England, and of Britain's deliverance from popery and arbitrary power, since that time to the year, 1719. Wherein is contained some account of the apostacy in its rise and progress, till popery was established in the world; The state of the reformation under King Henry VIII. Edward VI. and Queen Elizabeth; with the principles and endeavours of those that have from time to time, stood for a further reformation, as a short history of nonconformity: A particular relation of all the plots and conspiracies of papists

VOL. II,

and others against the reformation, and civil liberties of the land; some short memoirs of the civil wars in King Charles Ist's time; and a distinct answer to the question, Who cut off the KING'S HEAD?".

"The design of this work," says the author, in the preface, "is not so much to give a history of the reformation itself, as of Providence in beginning and defending it; and this not for the use of the learned and curious, but the more common readers, that have not access to larger volumes, nor leisure to peruse them. And if nothing else, the variety of the matter, greater than is ordinarily to be found in such a compass, may, I hope, afford entertainment." The volume extends to 534 pages.

It is dedicated in a handsome but not flattering address, which breathes a manly and liberal spirit, to Lord Barrington, the celebrated author of the "Miscellanea Sacra," and father of the present Bishop of Durham; as to a gentleman of known zeal for the liberties of his country both civil and religious, and holding a principle of peculiar importance in the character of a legislator, viz. "That he was against any laws that would fetter the consciences of Christ's disciples, but would leave them in a free and undisturbed subjection to their own master." His lordship was then a candidate to represent in parliament the town of Berwick. An opposition was made to him, and prejudices were created and fomented against him, on account of the healing part he had taken, and the pacific measures he had urged in the debates on the doctrine of the Trinity, which were about that time violently agitated. in London and in the West of England.

The reflections of Mr. Bennet on this subject do much honour to his liberal mind, are just in themselves, and may with propriety be applied to the odium that has lately been cast on some, by the senseless outcry against popery. On these grounds I am inclined to transcribe them in this connection.

The charge of ARIANISM, advanced against your Lordship, and so industriously spread in this part of the country, with design to prejudice you in an affair depending, has, I apprehend, two great faults in it; it is not true, which I can say upon good authority, having heard your Lordship declare, you was in your settled judgment against Arianismi: And it is nothing to the purpose, if true; doth not at all concern the merits of the cause it is brought to influence. We do not choose parliament men to make or correct creeds, but to be guardians of