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of England, as by law eftablished. The Author is thoroughly orthodox, a ftrict trinitarian, and a zealous maintainer of the divine inftitution of epifcopacy. No church, he fays, can be reputed true, proper, perfect churches, nor can be exempted from the guilt of notorious and inexcufable fchifm; that refufes epifcopal government, where it may be had, and where it is duly established.-This point we leave to be fettled, at leifure, between this anonymous Author and the dissenting gentleman to whom the public is indebted for the next-mentioned performance.

Art. 11. Epifcopacy. A Letter to the Rev. Mr. Fofter, the Author of a late Pamphlet, entitled, Two Letters from a late Diffenting Teacher; with an Answer to the former, and Animaduerfims on the latter.' By Thomas Howe. 8vo. 2s. Dilly.

We flightly mentioned Mr. Fofter's performance, in our Review for July 1764, p. 73. To enter more into the merits of Mr. Howe's Reply, might be deemed unfair; and therefore we fhall only fay, that the prefent letter to Mr. F. contains a notable defence of the Diffenters, with regard to their rejection of the epifcopal scheme.

Art. 12. A-Letter to the Jews; wherein their religious Syftem is confuted; the Reafon affigned of their being fo long excluded from the Land of Canaan; and a Method pointed out, through the Obfervance whereof, they may be infallibly affured of being restored. To which is added, a feafonable Admonition to the Public. By Thomas Goddard, A. M. 8vo. 6d. Baldwin.

The Jews have Moses and the prophets: if they hear not them, neither will they be perfuaded-by Thomas Goddard.

Art. 1. An Antidote for the Rifing-age, against Scepticism and Infidelity. Being a collective View of the Argument in Proof of a divine Revelation. In a Series of Epiftles from Credens to Stepticus. 12mo. 2S, Longman.

Rather an antidote against popery, than againft fcepticifm. It is true, the Author does not entirely overlook the infidels, but he feems to be not half fo much at enmity with them, as he is with the papists. Indeed, he looks upon the church of Rome, and we believe very juftly, as the great nurfing-mother of infidelity; and therefore, his main view is, firft, to demolith her. In proportion, fays he, as the French, Italians, or other catholics, make ufe of their reason, and venture to judge for themselves of the nature of evidence, popery cannot do otherwise than become the subject of ridicule; infomuch that in what degree foever they may have been led, by that fuperftition, to entertain contemptuous opinions either of the Jewish or Chriftian revelation, it could only be occafioned by thofe mifreprefentations which have been given of them by popery. There is no doubt a great deal of truth in this remark; which may be extended to fome other denominations of Chriftians.

There is, however, nothing very extraordinary in these letters, which are ftrangely eked out with quotations from various un-named writers. The good intention of the Author is what he is chiefly to be commended We must alfo acknowledge the candor of his difpofition; and

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the friendly regard which he expreffes for the free and rational exercife of the human underftanding, on religious fubjects.

Art. 1. Epiftola ad Doctiffimum Virum Robertam Lowthium, S. T.P. In qua nonnulla, quæ ad nuperæ fuæ de Sacra Hèbræorum Porfi Prælectionum Editionis calcem habet, expenduntur. A Thoma Edwards, A. M. Aul. Clar. Cantab. nuper Socio. 8vo. Is. Hooper.

This letter contains fome obfervations on what Dr. Lowth has advanced, in the fecond edition of his Prælections, in regard to Bishop Hare's hypothefis concerning the Hebrew poetry, which Mr. Edwards calls a happy discovery, and which he endeavours to defend. As to the merit and value of the difcovery, the learned, in general, are pretty well agreed; and as to our Author's manner, our Readers may judge of it from the following fpecimens:

-Frivola prorfus et futilia profers, vir doctiffime, et te indigna, Inanem eorum, quæ in prima editione contra metricam Harianam differueras, repetitionem lectoribus tuis propinas: objectiones, nimirum, quibus jam fatis, nifi omnia me fallunt, in meis prolegomenis refponfum erat, denuo in medio ponis, et ad naufeam vfque iteras.

-Profecto vix a me impetrare poffum ut non putem, te a metrica Hariana animo jam olim abhorruiffe, eamque adeo quo jure quaque injuria damnare et peffundate tibi decretum effe.'

-Quoufque tandem, vir doctiffime, petitione principii nos obtundes, et Crambe tua ad naufeam ufque repetita miferos occides ?

-Verum, ut vides, cum animo ftatutum habes viam, quam inftituifti, tenere; hoc eft, quod non probe expendifti, neque adeo fatis intelligis, oppugnare:

Servatur ad imum,

Qualis ab incepto procefferat, et fibi conftat.'

• ➡Sed apage petitionem principii! jum diu mihi naufeam creat.' R. Art. 14. A Harmony of the Four Gofpels, fo far as relateth to the Hiftory of our Saviour's Refurrection, with a Commentary and Notes. By Richard Parry, D. D. 4to. IS. Whifton. The Hiftory of our Saviour's refurrection having been ftrangely embarraffed, both by friends and enemies, Dr. Parry thinks it neither unfeasonable nor unneceffary to review it; in order, if poffible, he fays, to fatisfy the one, and to filence the other. And for this purpose, little more is requifite, he apprehends, than to lay before the Reader, at one view, the feveral accounts of this important tranfaction, as we find it recorded by the Four Evangelifts. This he does by dividing the page into four columns, and affigning a feparate column to what is faid upon the fubject by each Evangelift.

According to his Harmony, the whole evangelical account of our Saviour's refurre&ion, he tells us, is plain and eafy; the feveral narrations are perfectly confiftent with each other, and every fubfequent relation naturally arifeth from the preceeding.

The Harmony is followed by a Commentary, wherein the Doctor gives the hiftory of the refurrection in one continued narration, at the

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clofe of which he confiders an objection, that may be drawn from St. Matthew, to the uniform faith of the apoftles. It is in his account of the appearance in Galilee, where, having told us, that the ELEVEN faris Jefus, and worshipped him, he immediately addeth, of de do, which our tranflators, the Doctor fays, have very improperly rendered, BUT Jome, that is, fome of the eleven, doubted. Ch. xxviii. 16, 17. If the particle was away, we are told, there would be no difficulty'; the conftru&tion being, Και ίδοντες αυτόν, οἱ εδίσασαν, προσεκύνησαν αυτῷ. Why then fhould that harmlefs particle, he afks, which is fo frequently pleonaftical, occafion any?-After producing several paffages, where the particle d is pleonaftical, he tells us, that the paffage in St. Matthew may be thus rendered:-When they (the eleven) who HAD doubted, (of his refurrection) faw him, they worshipped him.

The Commentary is followed by Notes, which the Doctor introduceth thus If, notwithstanding the foregoing Harmony and Commentary, any doubt fhould still remain in the reader's mind, he may poffibly find a folution in the Notes. But he must not expect from me a particular refutation of fuch convict impertinencies, as differences under the name of inconfiftencies, and variations under the name of contradictions. Every thing, however, that feemeth to have the appearance of a real difficulty, fhall be fully and impartially confidered.'

We fhall only add, that the judicious Reader will find fome juft and pertinent criticisms in the Notes, but nothing that is new.

POLITICA L.

R Art. 16. Political Logic difplayed: Or, a Key to the Thoughts on Civil Liberty, Licentioufness, and Faction. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Newbery.

Mr. Pope, in his Effay on Criticism, obferves, that there are certain writers, who,

Having ftore of wit

Yet want as much again to manage it.

The Author of the pamphlet before as appears to be one of this ftamp; his witticifms and criticifms being fo prepofterously blended together, that it is with difficulty the Reader can diftinguish when he is in jeft or in earneft, ferious or comical, or even his own thoughts from thofe of his opponent. From his title-page we are led to expect a key to Dr. Brown's Political Cabinet: on looking farther, however, we find that he hath either broke this pretended key in the lock, or fo entangled it in the multiplicity and tortuofity of the various wards, as not to be able to open the door or get his key fairly out again. In a word, this Antagonist feems much too young and unexperienced to encounter so practifed a veteran as Dr. Brown. He hath one advantage indeed, which redounds however but little to his honour, and this is, the Doctor's having been already fo heartily mauled by others. There is yet after all, one thing more to be confidered, viz. the fuperior force of the Entimator to withstand the attacks of his adversaries. Not that either his ability to offend others, or defend himself, is the formidable part of his character; but the patience, the perfeverance, the happy indifference with which he hath learned to bear a beating, as effectually baffle the defigns of his opponents, as if he were clad in an iron doublet. It is

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doubtless the consciousness of this, his forte, that makes him lay himself fo notoriously open: for to thofe who can fo magnanimously support a defeat, it is of little confequence who gets the victory.

K-n-k Art. 16. A Dialogue in the Elysian Fields, between two D-k-s.

Folio. 6d. Hooper.

The Dukes here meant, are their late Graces of Dev-n-re and B-l--n; who are both reprefented as owning themselves to have been the dupes of party and faction. The pamphlet is a very infignificant performance.

Art. 1. A Letter to the E-of B-. 8vo. 1s. Is. Wilkie. Arraigns the political conduct of his lordfhip; fets forth the odium of being a favourite, and concludes with the following piece of advice: If any thing contained within thefe fheets, my Lord, fhould be fo fortunate to ftir within your breaft fome faint emotion, whether of remorfe, fear, fhame, or a fenfation compounded perhaps of all together; cherish, my Lord, the gracious inftinct; ripen it into virtue, and endeavour, in fome measure, to repair the injuries you have done your country, by voluntarily absenting yourfelf from it for ever.'

POETICAL.

Art. 14. Churchill, an Elegy. Bristol, printed by S. Farley; and fold by Baldwin, in London. 4to. 6d.

Sweet,
Wit.

Pen,
Again.

Quill,
Feel.

Liberty,
He.

The above are fpecimens of this Author's rhimes: we have obferved nothing more remarkable in his poem.

Art. 19. The Will of a certain Northern Vicar: Carefully copied from the Original, depofited in his own Cabinet at N

upon T―.

4to. 6d. Bunce.

Here are rhimes and couplets infinitely tranfcending any contained in the foregoing elegy:

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With many others, equally curious. Perhaps the humourous Author thought fuch barbarisms allowable in a burlefque performance; but we fhould imagine them intolerable to every ear accustomed to harmony. If a writer profeffes to entertain his readers with rhime, he fhould, certainly, give them rhimes; and not couple his lines with words that have no fimilarity of found. Such ridiculous verfe-tagging,, reminds us of the publican who, fucceeding another, that had kept the fign of the Robin Hood, to which had been affixed a proper rhime taken from yeomen good; thus altered the couplet :

Since Robin Hood is dead and gone,

Come in, and drink with-Simon Welfter,

As '

As to the defign of this pamphlet, entitled The Will of a certain Northern Vicar, we know nothing of the perfon here attempted to be held up to public ridicule. The last paragraph will let our Readers as much into the fecret as we have been from a perusal of the whole:

But as to all my flock of wealth,

By G.-, I'd keep that to myself.--
Sign'd, feal'd, deliver'd, in SIXTY-ONE.

By me, the Vicar of B-d---g--n.

B-d---g--n is, probably, fome vicarage in the neighbourhood of New castle upon Tyne.

Art. 29. An Ode to the People of England. 4to. 6d. Longford.

The common-place objection against the new miniftry, as, that it is compofed of young, inexperienced men,' with other depreciating cir cumftances, are here thrown into the form of an ode; and the ftanzas are fmart enough: as for example:

See here a knave,and there a fool,
With many a boy, juft come from school,
Grim fages old as Priam ;

A motly tribe, you'll fay to rule,
The best of them, to B― a tool,

Or fame doth much belye 'em.

This, however, is rather abuse than wit; and merits only cudgel

criticism.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 21. The Chinese Spy, or Emiffary from the Court of Pekin, commiffioned to examine into the prefent State of Europe. 6 Vols. 18 s. Bladon.

12mo.

Having offered our opinion of this work in general, on the appearance of the French original, there remains nothing for us to fay farther on the subject, than to give our Readers fome fpecimen of the tranflation; which is full as fpiritlefs and inelegant as the original is quaint and infignificant. It must be owned, indeed, that the pertnefs and vivacity of style in the French feemed better adapted to the fuperficial, common place fentiments of the work, than the dullness and frigidity of expreffion, generally made ufe of by the Tranflator.

In Letter 56 of the third volume, our fuppofed emiffary gives the following account of Purgatory:

There was formerly a terrible circumftance in the Chriftian religion. Believers, who had finned, though but flightly, were condemned to eternal burnings: this was very hard for those who had not finned on purpose. After many deliberations, about an expedient for preventing fach numbers of well-meaning finners from being hurled down to hell for ever, purgatory was hit on.

I wish I could explain to you what this fame purgatory is. The Europeans, who are full of fictions in all things, have a fable of the

* See our Appendix to Review, Vol. XXXI. p. 534.

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