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Butts, Oct. 19, 1806. By R. Dickinson, Poem, descriptive of Forest Trees. By Curate. 25. a Lady. Is. 6d.

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The Utility of Academical Institutions to the Church of Christ; a Sermon, preached at Hoxton Chapel, June 26, 18c6, before the Supporters of the Hoxton College, at their Anniversary. By Benjamin Cracknell, A.M. 1s. 6d.

A Vindication of the Unitarians; or, Remarks on a late Publication, entitled a Vindication of the Methodists, &c. By John Hill, merchant, of Hull. In Four Letters to the Author. By W. Severn. 8vo. IS.

Future Punishment of Endless Duration; a Sermon, preached at the Rev. J. Knight's Meeting-house, Collyer's Rents, Southwark, &c. Dec. 11, 1806. By R. Winter. IS.

POETICAL.

Miscellanies, in Prose and Verse; containing the Triumph of the Wise Man over Fortune, according to the Doctrine of the Stoics and Platonists, the Creed of the Platonic Philosopher, a Panegyric on Sydenham, &c. By T. Taylor. 3s. 6d.

Eulogies; or, Political Characteristics. A Pocm. By the Author of Hezekiah, a Sacred Poem.

A collection of Songs; Moral, Sentimental, Instructive, and Amusing. Selected and revised by the Rev. J. Plumptree, A. M. 2 vols. 145.

The Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus; translated into English Verse, with the Latin Text and Notes, 8vo, 7s. 6d. Royal, 10s.

Admonition. A Poem. On the Fashionable Modes of Female Dress. By G. Ogs. Foolscap 8vo. 5s

Beechy Head, and other Poems. By Charlotte Smith. Foolscap 8vo. 5s.

An Evening Walk in the Forest; a

The Slave, and other Poetical Pieces; being an Appendix to Poems. By the Rev. J. Mant, M. A. 2s. 6d. Legendary Tales. By E. Smith. 45. Turf House; a Poem. 8vo. 4s. 6d. Poetical Translations. Collected by Robert Anderson, M. D. Vol. iii. containing Francis' Horace, Garth's Ovid's Metamorphoses, &c. and Dervis's Thebaid of Statius. Royal 8vo. Il Is.

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A New Method of Brewing Malt and Liquor in small quantities, for domestic use. By J. Rawlinson, Is.

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History of the Rise and Progress of the Belgian Republic, until the Revolu tion under Philip II. From the German of Schiller. By T. Horne. 4s. 6d.

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A New, Easy, and Complete Grammar, of the Spanish Language, By J. E. Mordenti, 12mo. 5s. bound. Tales from Shakespear. Designed for the Use of The Life of Geo, Washington, Com- Charles Lamb. mander in Chief, &c. &c. Compiled 2 vol. 12mo. 8s. under the inspection of the Hon. Bushrod Washington, from Original tural Philosophy. From the French of Papers. By John Marshall, Chief M. Ozanam and M. Montucla. By Judge of the United States. 5 vols. Charles Hutton, L. L. D. and F. R. S. 4 large vols. 8vo. 96 4to. Plates. 31 35.

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CORRESPONDENCE.

The Friendly Letter of the "Accidental Discoverer" did but lately reach us. We have taken all possible means of making the Monthly Repository known. If this Correspondent or any other person wish to assist us in increasing its publicity, he may be supplied with any number of copies of the Prospectus at the Publishers. The Treasurer and Secretary of the Unitarian Fund are, Joseph Holden, Esq. Lombard-street, and Rev. Robert Aspland, Hackney; the Treasurer and Secretary of the Unitarian Book Society are, Ebenezer Johnston, Esq. Bishopsgate-street Within, and Rev. Jeremiah Joyce, Glocester Place, Camden Town; of whom accounts may be readily had of both those Societies.

We are not able to give our Correspondent the information he requests concerning the Unitarian Academy at York, the only one, we believe, in the kingdom: but some of our readers may possibly lay before the public, through the means of our Magazine, a particular account of this Institution. The "Accidental Discoverer" expresses a desire of subscribing to the York Academy, and the two Unitarian Societies, before named,

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MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF DR. JAMES

FOSTER.

(Concluded from Page 6. Vol. II.)

N 1748, Mr. Foster received from the University of Aberdeen a diploma, conferring on him the degree of Doctor in Divinity, accompanied with letters from Dr. Thomas Blackwell, the Principal, and from Professor David Fordyce. The former wrote to him thus :-" I rejoice in an opportunity of shewing my regard for your person and character. For this end, I chose that a diploma, creating Mr. Foster Doctor of Divinity, should be the first deed and instrument I should do and sign as Principal of this University. It is the amiable character to which I have there attempted to do some justice." The latter addresses him in this honourable strain" We beg you will be so good as to accept of the diploma, as a small mark of the sincere veneration we have for you, and of the sense we entertain of the eminent services you have done the cause of liberty, religion, and virtue, by your writings as well as public instructions.' In another letter, the date torn off, in answer to a letter from Mr. Foster, of the 26th of November, 1748, int which he appears to have refused the diploma, the Professor says: "I am glad that by our dispatch of what ought to have been dispatched long ago, we prevented Mr. Foster's declining what so well becomes him to receive and us to confer. I assure you sincerely we rather seek to reflect honour on ourselves than to do you honour, by rightly placing the academical dignity, the principal value of which is the being at once highly merited and entirely unsolicited. Our Society means, by the just compliment inserted in the body of the diploma*, rather to express their esteem of the modest preacher, than to do full justice to

* Eaque mente virum vere egregium Jacobum Foster, dignum Evangelio ministrum, ingenio, doctrina, eloquentia insignem, virtutis et veritatis amicum, libertatis tam civilis quam Christiana vindicem, vitaque quam scriptis probatissimia licet clariorem, insigni honoris titulo promeritis decorare volentes, S.S. Theologiæ Doctorem creavimus.

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his character. For my part, Sir, it gives me a sincere pleas sure to have contributed my small mite to do justice to the merit of one, who has so often contributed to exalt my devo tion, and confirm my attachment to virtue."

Dr. Foster obtained a merited fame by various publications. In 1720, he published "An Essay on Fundamentals," to which was affixed, "A Sermon on the Resurrection of Christ proved and vindicated." These were re-printed under the direction of the Rev. Charles Bulkley, in 1750. The principles which he attempts to establish in the tract are, that no doctrine is a fundamental article of Christian faith but what is so plainly and distinctly revealed, as that no ordinary Christian, sincere in his inquiries, can miss the knowledge of it; and which is not also made an express term of happiness in the Sacred Writings. He then examines whether this proposition, "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are the one God," be so clearly and plainly revealed, and made an express term of happiness in the New Testament. The conclusion of this essay deserves to be quoted, to shew the spirit and views of the author,

"I hope I can appeal to the All-wise Searcher of Hearts, for the sincerity of my intentions in publishing the foregoing essay. I call him to witness, that it is my sincere aim to restrain that licentious and malignant spirit of censure and excommunication which has prevailed so mightily of late, and to revive decaying charity (that excellent, though neglected grace) which is the distinguishing mark of a disciple of our Lord, the bond and cement of the Christian society. If I offend any, I can only say it was far from my design, which was not to exasperate, but to edify. Let no one say, that the reason why I condemn reviling, hereticating, and anathematising is," because all the thunder and vengeance is levelled at men of my prin. ciples; for if I know any thing of my own heart, I am disposed to censure equally every degree of intemperate heat in each of the con tending parties. I always had, I bless God, ever since I began to understand or think to any purpose, large and generons principles, and there never was any thing either in my temper or education which might incline me to narrowness and bigotry; and I am heartily glad, of the opportunity which now offers itself, of making this public serious profession, that I value those who are of a different persuasion from me, more than those who agree with me in sentiment, if they are more serious, sober, and charitable."

The excellent spirit and just sentiments expressed in the preceding paragraph could not screen the author from obloquy, This piece raised him a large number of enemies: the poisoned arrows of detraction and calumny flew thick at him. He himself was stigmatized as a deceiver and antichrist, and

Curse was denounced against Mr. Houlton, his patron, for taking him into his house, and bidding him God-speed, in a virulent pamphlet, supposed to have been written by a clergyman.

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In 1731, Dr. Foster published a valuable defence of Christianity, "generally and justly acknowledged," says Dr.. Leland," to be an ingenious performance and written with great clearness of thought and expression." It was entitled, "The Usefulness, Truth, and Excellency of the Christian Religion, defended against the Objections contained in a late Book, entitled, Christianity as old as the Creation."" VA second edition, with the addition of a postscript, followed the first impression, within the year. This performance, which excelled in solidity and precision, and in a freedom from every thing of which the opponent could take advantage, did the author great honour, as worthy of the subject. Even Tindall himself is said to have spoken of it in terms of particular respect.

In 1733, there came from the press a volume of Dr. Foster's Sermons on divers subjects. A foreign literary journal spoke of them in high terms, as amongst the best sermons which England had produced, displaying piety, candour, and moderation; strong reasoning, and a care to advance nothing but on the incontestable principles of reason and natural interpretations of Scripture. "The reputation," says the writer, "which the Preacher has acquired, and which attracts a crowded auditory from all parties, has lost nothing by the publication of these sermons: solid excellence and real beauties are independent of the graces of delivery*.". A late celebrated writer, not partial to divines, or even to Christianity, speaks of Foster's sermons as "always moderate and judicious ;" and, on the perusal of the article we have quoted, he says: "I have finished the 16th volume of the Bibliothèque Raisonnée: it contains Foster's Sermons. Wonderful! a divine preferring reason to faith, and more afraid of vice than heresy †!"

One of these sermons, on the subject of heresy, drew on the author the animadversions of Dr. Henry Stebbing, a Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty, and Preacher to the Hon. Society of Gray's Inn, and gave occasion to a controversy which extended through several publications that excited much attention; the titles of which were, 1. "A Letter to Mr. Foster on the Subject of Heresy, 1735:" 2. "An Answer to Dr. Stebbing's Letter on the Subject of Heresy; in a Letter to the Doctor; by James Foster, 1735 :" 3. "A Second Letter to Mr. Foster on the Subject of Heresy, in Answer to his First; by

Bib. Raison. Amsterdam. Vol. XVI. 1736, pp. 42.
Gibbon's Life. Vol. II. pp. 107. 142.

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