number are either absolutely disagreeable or are incapable of affording amusement for an afternoon; of the rest one is clever but he is ignorant, another is learned but he is dull; a third has mind and knowledge, but he has beside a taciturn disposition, and when dinner is over and the cloth is removed, and we begin to look for the joke, and the pun, and the tale, and the argument, he is indisposed to talk, and the afternoon passes in a painful silence, now and then interrupted by a forced question, and a short answer, a half repressed yawn, and a whiff from the tobacco pipe.Such are the amusements of the greater number of our days and our years. The average happiness of the world is rather freedom from pain than the enjoyment of pleasure, rather ease than delight: and yet for the attainment of such happiness what crowds toil from the school room to the coffin! ART. XVIII. Memoirs of the Rev. Samuel Bourn, for many Years one of the Pastors of the United Congregations of the New Meeting in Birmingham and of the Meeting in Coseley,with an Appendix consisting of Various Papers and Letters and Biographical Notices of some of his Contemporaries, and a Supplement containng Specimens of his Historical and Catechetical Exercises. By JOSHUA TOULMIN, D.D. 8vo. pp. 374. FEW persons appears to be better acquainted with the history of English Dissenters than Dr. Toulmin-who, on many occasions, and through a variety of channels, has communicated to the public much valuable information relating to the history of this highly respectable body of men. The obligations which they who seek for such information owe to this industrious and useful writer, will be increased by the work now before us. They may indeed consider the insertion of some things in it as unnecessary, and regret that in some instances more is not made known-but they will still find much to amuse and instruct them. The Rev. S. Bourn, the princi. pal subject of this work, was the son of an eminent minister, and born at Calne, in Wiltshire, in the year 1689. He received his acadeHe received his academical education under Mr. Chalton and Mr. Coningham at Manchester. He was first settled at Crook, near Kendall, in Westmoreland-and there amidst many discouragements freely investigated religious truth and from being a professed Atha. nasian--became a believer in the scheme of Dr. Clarke-which about that time was the subject of warm controversy-From Crook he removed to Tunly-a small place near Wigam-and thence to Chorley in the same county-and lastly settled with the united congregations of Birmingham and Cosely. His connection with these congregations continued twenty-two years when it was dissolved by his death, which happened in 1754. He was the author of several works many were of the catechetical kind-some devotional others polemical and miscellaneous. To these must be added a few sermons. After his death a volume of twenty sermons was published. Of his works Dr. Toulmin speaks thus: "A catalogue merely of Mr. Bourn's works will shew the views that governed his studies and the spirit which guided his pen. The titles will not create an expectation of a display of depth and extent of learning; nor raise a suspicion that he sought literary fame, or meant to enrol his name in the annals of knowledge. But though they do not exhibit sical scholar, they place him in a very him the man of genius and the clas-, respectable and useful point of view as a Divine and a Minister; condescending ly to Mr. Abraham Bourn and conto instruct youth, and solicitious to ex- tain nothing peculiarly interesting. cite, animate and diffuse the spirit of devotion." Mr.Bourn had nine children-the second of whom-who bore the same name as his father-was also a dissenting minister and settled in the year 1754-in Norwich. He is well known as the author of several volumes of excellent sermons. Some short notices of the other sons are added to these memoirs. The contemporaries of Mr. Bourn of whom biographical notices also occur-were Mr. Mattershead of Manchester-Mr. Willets of NewCastle-under-line. Mr. Platts who died at Ilkeston in DerbyshireMr. E. Brodhurst of BirminghamMr. T. Pickard of the same place. Mr. Joseph Wilkinson of the old meeting Birmingham-Mr. Samuel Blyth of the new meeting, during ten years colleague with Dr. Priestley Mr. George Flower first pastor of the congregation of Protestant Dissenters formed at Stourbridge in 1698-Mr. John Edge his successor--and Mr. James Hancox of Dudley.-These notices will be found to add something useful to the history of nonconformity. The letters were addressed chief The catechetical lectures consist of portions of scripture history related in Mr. Bourn's own wordsto which are subjoined observations designed to point out very fully all the instruction which the narrative contains-and these are succeeded by questions adapted to them, with the answers provided. It appears to us that these lectures would be much more useful if the questions were omitted and it were left to the discretion of the teacher to put such as he should think proper to his catechumens. Although this volume does not contain all the information which we expected to find in it--we can recommend it to the attention of those who love to contemplate the character of such a christian-the zealous friend of truth and virtuethe able and active minister of the gospel-or who pay any respect to the memorials of men who though they have been generally treated with suspicion, and even contempt, have contributed in no inconsiderable degree to preserve or improve the civil and religious liberties of this country. ART. XIX. Memoirs of the Life and Character of the late Rev. Cornelius Winter, Compiled and Composed By WILLIAM JAY, 8vo. pp. 478. THIS volume consists of three parts. The first contains Mr. Winter's own account of himself. The second the continuation of it by the editor, with remarks upon his character and the third, extracts from his diary and a selection of his letters. The first part, as might be expected,is the most interesting. It exhibits in rather a pleasing manner the progress of a person of moderate talents, from a very low condition in life-to comparative eminence. Mr. Winter was the son of the head porter of Gray's Inn and, losing his parents du ring his childhood, was admitted into the charity school of St. Andrew, Holborn, From the workhouse and the charity school he was removed by a relation, a water-gilder, to his own house, where he was employed, chiefly, in the capacity of an errand boy, and subjected to such constant ili-usage that during twelve years "he often thought it would be better to die than to live." When he was about one and twenty years of age he became a hearer, and in process of time, a friend of Mr. Whitfield. It was soon suggested to him that cessively at Christian-malfordMarlborough-and Painswick-and engaged in the education first of boys, and afterwards of young men for the ministry in his own sect of Dissenters. Of these the author of the volume before us was one. Mr. Winter's own account of himself comes down very nearly to the close of his life, and is in many parts amusing, particularly in that which contains an account of his friend and patron, G. Whitfield. Little therefore is left for Mr. Jay but to delineate his tutor's character. This he does with much feeling; and although we consider his testimony as unavoidably partial, we are very ready to admit that Mr. W. was not undeserving of considerable praise. He was pious, zealous and benevolent. And these are qualities which render a man respectable, notwithstanding the fanaticism with which they are sometimes united. Providence did not intend him for a water-gilder, and after some hesitation he listened to the suggestion, and became a preacher. It was in this character that his intimacy wih Mr. Whitfield began-and he soon became a member of his family. He "slept in the room of his honoured patron-and had the priviledge to sit at his table:" He went over with him to America in his last voyage, and was there employed by him in preaching to the negroes. This service was undertaken chiefly with a view of being recommended home for ordination, which Mr. Whitfield flattered him with the hope of obtaining. The experiment was made after the death of his patron, but without the expected success. The Bishop of London was inexorable. In consequence of his failure Mr. Winter did not return to America, but preached to different congregations in Mr. Whitfield's connection, till in consequence of the writings of Wilton and Toogood he became a convert to non-conformity, and received ordination from the hands of Dissenters. After this he relinquished itinerancy, settled sucART. XX. An Essay on the Life and Writings of Mr. Abraham Booth, late Pastor of the Baptist Church in Little Prescot-Street, Goodman's Fields, London. By WILLIAM JONES, 8vo. pp. 143. MR. Booth was well known, and, we believe, generally respected as a minister amongst that class of Dissenters denominated Particular Baptists. He was born in the county of Derby-of parents in humble life-and for some time followed the trade of a stocking weaver. Some general baptists preaching frequently in the neighbourhood of the place in which he lived, he was induced to hear them, and became a convert and a preacher. Mr. Hervey's Theron and Aspasio produced however another change, in consequence of which he relinquished the liberal opinions he had hitherto professed, The extracts from the diary, and the letters will be read with interest by those only who believe in the system of providential favoritism— and are fond of methodistical smalltalk. adopted the comfortable notions of Calvin, and became a Particular Baptist. After this he removed to London, where, during thirty seven years, he officiated, with much reputation, to a society in Prescot-street. His publications were numerous, and in whatever else they may have been deficient they display his powers as a shrewd controversialist.-This essay, as the author modestly entitles it, is for the greatest part very dull; but occasionally the reader's attention is enlivened by some severe remarks upon Dr. Williamsupon the late Mr. Robinson-and the Socinians. ART. XXI. 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. Second Edition, corrected. By RICHARD CECIL, A. M. Minister of St. John's, Bedford Row. 12m. pp. 322. THE most interesting part of this work is taken with little alteration, from a narrative published many years ago by Mr. Newton himself, and which, allowing for a good portion of enthusiasm mingled with it, is highly curious and instructive. In consequence of the publication of this narrative-of his popularity in the metropolis-and especially of his friendship with the amíable Cowper-the leading events of his extraordinary life are, we apprehend, so well known, that we shall not attempt an abridged account of the work before us. The new matter which Mr. Cecil has published relates chiefly to "Mr. Newton's character with respect to his literary attainments— his ministry-his family habits-his writings and his familiar conversation." We shall select a few good sayings from many recorded by his biographer for the purpose of illustrating the last article in his character. "If an angel were sent to find the most perfect man, he would probably not find him composing a body of divinity, but perhaps a cripple in a poorhouse, whom the parish wish dead, and humbled before God with far lower thoughts of himself than others think of him." open "What some call providential ings are often powerful temptations; the heart in wandering, cries, here is a way opened before me, but, perhaps, not to be trodden, but rejected." "Young people marry as others study navigation, by the fire-side. If they marTy unsuitably, they can scarcely bring things to rule, but like sailors they must sail as near the wind as they can. I feel myself like a traveller with his wife in his chaise and one; if the ground is smooth, and she keep the right pace, and is willing to deliver the reins when I ask for them, I am always willing to let her drive." "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." the care of a congregation, I was reading "I remember, in going to undertake as I walked in a green lane," Fear not, Paul, I have much people in this city." But I soon afterwards was disappointed in finding that Paul was not John, and that Corinth was not Warwick." "The generality make out their righ. teousness, by comparing themselves with some others whom they think worse; thus a woman of the town who was rotting in the Lock hospital, was offended because she had never picked a pocket." at a minister speaking to her as a sinner, nishes a very pleasing trait in his The following anecd o fur character: "I remember to have heard him say, when speaking of his continual interruptions," I see in this world two heaps of human happiness and misery; now if I can take but the smallest bit from one heap and add to the other, I carry a point. If, as I go home, a child has dropped a halfpenny, and if, by giving it another, I can wipe away its tears, I feel I have done something. I should be glad indeed to do greater things, but I will not neglect this. When I hear a knock at my study door, I hear a message from God; it may be a lesson of instruction, perhaps a lesson of patience; but, since it is his message, it must be interesting." Mr. Newton is not happy in his tunate circumstance for his memobiographer; and we esteem it a forTy that having published his own ry narrative-and communicated to his biographer, in writing, such additional matter as he thought necessary, he had left Mr. Cecil comparatively little to do. CHAPTER VII. THEOLOGY AND ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS. EDITIONS AND TRANSLATIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES. ART. I. Novum Testamentum Grace. Textum ad fidem Codicum, Versionum et patrum recensuit, et lectionis varietatem adjecit D. Jo. Jac. Griesbach. Editio secunda, emendatior, mulloque locupletior. Londini apud Petr. Elmsley, et Halæ Sax. apud Jo. Jac. Curti hæredes. 1796 et 1806. DURING the long interval which elapsed between the publication of the first and second volumes of this edition, its completion was expected with impatience by every biblical student who was apprized of its excellence, and justly estimated the nature and importance of sacred criticism. The learned and venerable editor has at length brought it to a conclusion, and has thus performed for theological literature one of the most valuable services which have been rendered to it since the revival of letters. The merit of this important and laborious undertaking is enhanced by the consideration, that while it met with the applause of the enlightened few, it had necessarily to encounter the bigoted hostility of the many, who acting implicitly if not professedly on the maxim that ignorance is the mother of devotion, regard with suspicion and jealousy every attempt, however sober in itself, however moderate and irrefragable the principles on which it is conducted, to improve the state of religious knowledge. Such was the prejudice which in the last century deterred Bentley from the noble project of a new edition of the Greek Testament which he had formed, and for which he had made very laborious and expensive preparations; such is the prejudice which still operates to prevent any public revisal of the received version, a work indeed of great merit, but necessarily in many respects defective and erroneous, and inadequate to the present improved state of. biblical literature. We have however to congratulate both doctor Griesbach and the age, that he has lived to see the former of these prejudices, which acted with considerable force at the commencement of his undertaking, now nearly extinct. Every man of the least pretensions to literature would be ashamed to avow it, and it relates to an object which scarcely falls within sphere of the multitude. the The received text of the Greek Testament, lately regarded in Europe with the same kind of reverence as the received version now in England, is that published by the Elzevirs in 1624. The little claim which it possesses to that estimation, will be apparent from a brief review of the sources from which it is derived. The veneration in which the Latin version was held through the Romish church, rendered the Greek originals, when on the revival of literature the language in which they were composed became again accessible to the western nations, an object of comparatively little interest. Accordingly the attention of scholars was at first directed almost exclusively to the classic au |