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tween genuine faith in this gospel and final salvation.

From the illustration of these reasons, the author, who powerfully felt his subject, draws the following just and spirited reflection:

"How base and criminal is their con duct who accommodate to the prevailing taste their manner of professing the gospel! The plain simplicity of the gospel, or its sublime mysteries, or the strictness and spirituality of the laws which it teaches us to doey, are opposite to their taste who are esteetned, or who affect to be called, Men of Wisdom; and, to preserve a reputation among them, or to banish from religion an unfashionable air, they are meanty relinquished or disguised. But let those who allow themselves to be influenced by such considerations, remember the awful words of our Lord Jesus:"Whosoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sin. fol generation, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he cometh, in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels." To resolve that the sentiments and manners of the times shall direct and limit our profession of the doctrines, or our practice of the duties of Christianity, is to give them up to be directed and limited by a world which lieth in wickedness; and are those who are led captive by Satan, at his pleasure; or is Satan, their Jaster, entituled to say, "Hitherto shall your faith and holiness go, and no farther?" Do important truths become empty or insignificant speculations, because they are so accounted by men, whose eyes the God of this world hath blinded? Are holiness of heart and circumspect behaviour the same things with being righteous overmuch, because they are represented by those whose carnal minds are enmity both against the nature and the laws of God?"

Sermons, and other Miscellaneous Pieces, by the late Henry Hunter, D. D. To which are prefixed, a Biographical Sketch of his Life, and a Critical Account of his Writings. 8vo, Truo Vols. 185.

DR. HUNTER was born at Cul ross, in Perthshire, in 1741; entered the college of Edinburgh at thirteen years of age; was licensed to preach, 1764; was ordained minister of South Leith, 1766; and took charge of the congregation at London Wall in 1771. Before he

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entered upon the ministry of the relinquishing his theological studies gospel, he entertained thoughts of for a military life, seemingly from an apprehension of inadequate stedfastness of character. His talents hood, and excited general attention were conspicuous from his childfrom the commencement of his public services. He appeared as an author in 1784; when the first two volumes of his Sacred Biography were published; and five riods. more were added at successive pe

In 1795 he collected the into two volumes. His other pubsermons he had occasionally printed, lications were mostly translations from French authors; some of which are omitted in the Memoir and Critique written by a pupil of Dr. Hunter's, and prefixed to this selection from his written dis

courses.

The first volume contains sevendresses and Prayers; all upon sacrateen Sermons, with several Admental occasions. The second volume comprizes an equal number of Sermons on various subjects; with some Addresses, chiefly at funerals. In a posthumous collection of discourses, many of which appear to have been delivered during the earlier part of Dr. Hunter's ministry, the same degree of polish, as in his own publications, could not be expected; but we doubt whether the serious reader will not judge this deficiency to be more than compen sated by the simple and manly eloquence which characterizes most of the Sermons and Addresses now printed. They have, in general, the additional recommendation of a more evangelical strain than that of many Sermons, published by piety. We regard the first of these persons of avowed orthodoxy and

volumes, as one of the most valuable companions to the Lord's Table that have appeared. Two kind, might, we think, have been prayers, offered on occasions of that omitted. They are unequal to Dr. Hunter's usual exercises in public devotion, which were marked by a happy choice of scriptural lans guage.

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We add, as a specimen of the style, a brief extract from the ninth Sermon, un Luke xxii. 19, 20:

"Do this then, O Christian, in remembrance of the meek and lowly, the selfdenied and patient Jesus! And, when thus employed, suppose him once more addressing thee in such terms as these:"How ill does pride become thee, O my disciple and my friend, when thy Master was pleased so to debase himself! Was he so poor? Blush then, to think that thou wert ever ashamed of poverty, and anxious to avoid it. Did I condescend to wash my servants' feet? - And dare you reckon the meanest office of charity, and meekness, and self-denial beneath you Did I assume or affect state and magnificence ? and can you be vain of costly furniture, or apparel, or equipage? When you behold me ascribing all the glory to God, will you covet, and seek, and delight in the applause of men? If Christ pleased not himself, do you deserve the name of his disciples, if your only, or your great study be how to please yourselves? Did the most outrageous insults and in juries excite my compassion, not my an ger and shall every trifling piece of disrespect, every little injury, every insignificant affront, blow up my servant into a flame? Did I drink off tay cup of unmixed bitterness without repining-and shall the smallest drop of gall cause thee

to murmur and complain? Why? O why has the example of your Master so little influence upon you? Remember

me, and be humble, and patient, and mortified to self and the world." Vol.I.177.

An Advertisement, prefixed to the first volume, announces the design to publish a selection of Letters, chießy by members of Dr. Hunter's family, pursuant to a plan which he had formed. In this view, the Editors deprecate the charge of an attempt to draw further upon the fund of private friendship, That they may be fully acquitted of such a charge, it seems necessary, however, that the proposed publication should be sold cheaper than the present.

Four Sermons preached in London, at the Tenth General Meeting of the Missionary Society, May 9, 10, 11, 1804. By the Rev. Wm. Thorp, London; Rev. J. Bennet. Romsey; Rev. D. Dickson, Edinburgh; and Rev. T. Scott, Aston - Sandford.

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THE first of these Sermons, which was delivered at Surry chapel (entitled The Universe Jehovah's Temple) is founded on that memorable passage (1 Kings xviii. 36, &c.) in which Jehovah, at the request of Elijah, proves his superiority to Baal by fire. Mr.T. enquires first into the nature of the controversy between Ahab, the patron of Idolatry, and Elijah, the servant of the living God; and, secondly, Shews the importance of the controversy, or the aspect it bears to the entire scheme and ultimate design of divine revelation. Under the first particular, he traces the steps of Jeroboam, who had imbibed the principles of idolatry in Egypt, and introduced them into Israel, to detach the people more effectually from the family of David. He considers Baal as the representative of the solar fire, which, proceeding from its central body, extends its influence to the extre mities of the system; and, returning back upon a principle of mechanical circulation, gives life and motion to all things in its course. Supposing the frame of nature to be intelligent, and independent of the hand that formed it, it became the object of love, of confidence, and of

terror.

"But who is this that cometh in the name of the Lord, with his credentials in his hand, and all the powers of nature under his controul! He comes to assert, and not only to affert but prove, by the most indisputable evidence, the sovereignty of the God whom he worships, over the heavens and the earth which he created."

The author points out, under the second head of his discourse, the importance of the controversy, &c. and shews that the law, committed to writing by Moses, restored by Elijah, and completed by Messiah, was designed to establish the wor. ship of God upon the ruins of idelatry, to prescribe the nature of that worship which is acceptable in his sight, through the mediation of Christ, and to reclaim the universe from the power of Satan, who has usurped the dominion over it, and restore it to its primary use as a temple sacred to the true God.

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Mr. T. enlarges on each of these positions with great energy and in glowing language, of which the following passage is a specimen:

"Friends, and followers of Immanuel, I congratulate you.

... If angels in the temple above are spectators of what passes here below, however they may look down with pity and contempt on the elevations of human pride, the uneasiness of ambition, the misery of covetousness, the rage of envy, the torment of lust, the noise of drunkenness, the madness of infidelity, and all the votaries of the god of this world, whether in Heathen or Christian countries; they must behold you with peculiar approbation; they bend from their thrones of glory to explore the mysteries of human redempe tion; they learn from the churches of Jesus the manifold wisdom of God at tending your Missionaries through every chime; they perform the kind office of ministering spirits to the heirs of salvation, converted to the true God by your instrumentality; and, hovering round your Society, they sing in strains of heavenly harmony as you proceed," Glory be to God in the highest, on earth peace, and good-will towards men."

The second sermon, by Mr. Bennet, of Romsey, was delivered at the Tabernacle, on Wednesday evening. The subject of this discourse is, •Messiah's Success proportioned to his Merits. The text, "Be. hold, my servant shall deal prudently, &c. Isa. lii. 13-15. -The author proposes this subject to the Missionary Society, as pointing

out a basis as broad as their most comprehensive plans, and firm as the weight of their structure can demand. "You learn here," saith he," that missionary exertions rest on this unshaken rock; that the justice of the Divine Government will bestow on Messiah honours and rewards equivalent to his unparal leled sufferings.' -"Look back, then, and sympathize with your Savionr in his unparalleled sufferings,

his visage was so marred, &c.

"Look forward, and anticipate his destined honours,-My servant be exalted, c.

"Look up, and adore the equity which maintains a due proportion between his rewards and merits,"

On these points Mr. B. enlarges with considerable ability, and with much warmth of evangelical piety; and concludes with an animating address to the Society; from which we transcribe the following paragraph:

"Every encouragement surrounds us to rouze us into action. Science and commerce have gone before, as the pioneers, and prepared the way for the noble army of Missionaries. The extensive territo ries which Britain holds in the most distant climes, afford the greatest facilities for us to enter in and occupy the fields which are white already to the harvest. The concentrated force which the unparalleled union of Christians in this cause has produced, may enable us to grasp what others would singly have wished for in vain. Without presuming to obtrude my advice with regard to proper plans and fields of labour, let me only ask, what more distinguished mark of eminent religion than ardent zeal for the glory of God in Christ? Was not this the stamp of peculiarity conspicuous on the forehead of Paul, of Luther, of Calvin, of Edwards, Brainerd, and Whitfield. On this ground I tread with reverence; for I feel beneath my feet the ashes of the holy man by whose zeal this building rose. I see his apostolic spirit bending from the skies, while, as he hovers over the favourite spot, his Heaven acquires new relish, to behold his tabernacle thus filled with a Society, formed to accomplish the object for which he preached and travelled, laboured and suffered, lived

and died.

"I hear again the voice which so often shook this place. Lord my God be upon you. "The blessing of the Let thy work appear, O Lord, unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children, and let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon them, and establish thou the work of their hands upon them." Make them wise to win souls, that they may with me" shine as the brightness of the firmament." May they "tura many nations to righteousness, and be as the stars for ever and ever." "Let the whole carth be full of thy glory." My prayers are ended." Now welcome eternal praise!

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[To be concluded in our next.]

The Powers of Genius, a Poem, in
Three Parts. By J. B. Linn, A.M.

MR. (now Dr.) Linn, of Philadelphia, lately distinguished himself as the antagonist of Dr. Priestley, in America. The learned soSee the Note, p. 67.

He shall sprinkle many nations, &c.

cinian instituted a comparison between Socrates and Jesus, giving the palm of excellence to the latter; but considering both in the same light, as eminent philosophers and philanthropists. Mr. Linn and his brethren were grieved to see the Son of God thus degraded, by placing him on the parallel with a Heathen philosopher, who, though eminent in the schools, was by no means a spotless character; whereas Jesus, even in his human nature, was holy, harmless, and undefiled." Dr. Priestley, in his reply to Mr. Linn, says, The reading of your poem on Genius, when I was at Philadelphia, led me to form a high opinion of your ability, though out of the line of your profession."

Widely as we differ from the theological opinions of Dr. Priestley, we pay a high respect to his li terary talents, and have the pleasure, in the present instance, to agree perfectly with him. The subject of this poem, indeed, would not have brought it before us in a theological review, being rather moral and literary than religious. It is throughout, however, perfectly consistent with the character of the writer; and the notes subjoined are equally instructive and entertaining. But some of the additional poems are decidedly religious, particularly the Midnight Hynin; from which we shall extract a few lines as a specimen of the author's man

ner:

"O hasty traveller thro' the vale of tears, O stay thy step, and weep o'er wretched man!

Weep o'er those honours fall'n, fall'n so
Jow;

Talk not of dignity, but humbly look
On him who died, that man might live
again.

Away, thou folly of an empty world, Thou airy bubble gilded by the sun! Come to my heart, thou sov'reign hope of Heav'n,

Reign o'er my actions and my wandering My bed of death illuminate; and lead thoughts;

A son of sorrow to his tather's home.

O what is life without the love of God,
Without the arm of mercy to support
A sinner without strength! Eternity,
Thoy ocean boundless, where the thought
is lost,

Our years and ages are to thee unknown,
Thy moments are eternal! Time was not,
Thou didst exist; and thou shalt still move
When Time shall sweep his iran scythe no

on

more.

O then receive me to thy arms, my God!"

Hora Lyrice: Poems chiefly of the
Lyric kind, in Three Books. By I.
Watts, D.D. To which are added,
English Translations of the Latin
Pieces. By T.'Gibbons. 2d edit.
Foolscap Suo, 6s. 6d. boards; Demy
18m0, 45. 6d. boards.

THE works of Dr. Watts cannot need our encomiums; but we have these pieces worthy of the author; a pleasure in announcing editions of and which are rendered particularly interesting to English readers by the addition of Gibbons's Translations

of the Latin Poems. A very neat portrait (by Chapman) is prefixed.

LITERARY NOTICES.

Two new editions of Mr. Bogue's Essay (fine and common) are in the press, with very considerable alte rations and improvements.

Mr. Churchey, of Brecon, South Wales (author of an Elegy on Mr. Cowper) is about to publish, by subscription, a new Essay on Man, upon principles opposite to those of Lord Bolingbroke.

SELECT LIST OF RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS.

LECTURES delivered at the Parish Church of Wakefield, 1802, on that part of the Liturgy contained in the Morning Prayer. By T.Rogers, M.A. 2 vols. 12mo.

Sermons on Important Subjects. By the late President Davies. To which are added, three Occasional Sermons, Memoirs of the Author, &c. 8vo, 3 vols. bds. Il. 15.

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1804, before the Society for Missions to Africa and the East, instituted by Meme bers of the Established Church; being their Fourth Anniversary. By T. T. Riddulph, M. A. of Bristol. Also the Report of the Committee, List of Subscribers, &c. 8vo, Is.

A Sermon on Behalf of the Protestant Union, delivered at the Meeting-house in Moorfields, May 13, 1804. By G, Clayton. 8vo, is,

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Extracts from a Journal of a recent Tour through Part of France, Switzerland, &c.

[Continued from page 333.]

On Thursday the 9th of June I left Basle, to proceed to my native country, accompanied by a Christian friend. We passed through several Roman Catholic towns and villages, where the festival of Corpus Christi was celebrating. In the morning all appeared to be devotion; but towards evening they fell to eating, drinking, dancing, and a variety of tumultuous diver sions, which continued through the night, and greatly disturbed my rest. I could not but deeply lament the ignorance of this people; and sighed ardently to the Lord to open their blind eyes, and convert their hearts. Early in the morning we proceeded, on foot, to Schaffhausen, about twelve English miles distant. I felt rather unwell, and it began to rain harder and harder; so that we got thoroughly wet. At the same time I was seized with a lowness of spirits, and felt a disposition to murmur; but soon call ing to mind the hardships which my Saviour endured on his journeys, I revived, all discontent vanished, and a peaceful serenity of mind succeeded. The sky like wise cleared up, and we arrived at Schaffhausen in better condition than we could have expected. We turned in to an aged disciple of Christ, now with his Lord, who received us with cordial brotherly love, and refreshed us both in body and soul.

After dinner we travelled in a post-chaise thirty miles farther, and arrived in the evening at Tuttlin gen, the first town on the borders of Wirtemberg. I cannot express my joy and gratitude of heart, after so long a journey, to tread again my native soil. After spending an agreeable night with a Christian friend, we proceeded in the same manner to Balingen, where we arFived early in the afternoon. Dur

ing this day's journey I grew very ill; and felt greatly concerned at the idea of arriving sick at my parents' house, and turning their joy into sorrow. In this situation I turned to my Saviour, poured out my heart in prayer, committed my ways to him, and found rest, comfort, and peace. I had hardly been two hours in Balingen, when a dear friend of mine hastened from a neighbouring village to meet me ; and, after welcoming me with great cordiality, invited me to preach for him the next morning. I declined it on account of my indisposition; but he would take no denial. Finding him so very urgent, I retired for a while, feli on my knees, and laid my case before the Lord, earnestly praying him to vouchsafe me his direction. After prayer, I felt myself greatly strengthened; and, notwithstanding my weakness, I cheerfully engaged to preach. Having been refreshed by the conversation of some Christian friends, I retired to rest. Although my sleep was disturbed with syniptoms of fever, yet I arose in good spirits, strengthening myself in God, and went to the above village, where I preached with great freedom; and, I trust, not without a blessing. Afterwards, I dined with the wor thy minister and his large family. During dinner-time he related many wonderful instances of the hand of Divine Providence, in protecting and delivering him out of dangers and distresses, which could not but fill me with astonishment. I had likewise the pleasure to converse with some of his children, from ten to twelve years of age, who already experienced the grace of God in their hearts, and live in a blessed communion with their Saviour; often retiring to pour out their hearts in prayer to him in their child like manner.

After dinner I proceeded to the city of Tuclingen, where I had spent five years of my academical course. The recollection of the many blessings bestowed upon me

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