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cefter, occafioned by his Strictures on Archbishop Secker and Bifhop Lowth, &c." which was noticed in our laft volume.

The "Profpectus, with Specimens of a new Polyglott Bible, in Quarto, for the ufe of English Students, by Jofiah Pratt, M. A." gives us the expectation of an undertaking which promifes to be of great importance in biblical literaure. The very commendable object of the author is, to furnish the tudent with the combined advantages refulting from a comparative view of the original and the moft ancient and beft verfions of the facred books, as well as the Englith, and the labours of Kennicott, De Roffi, Holmes, Mill, Griefbach, &c. in order that he may facilitate his acquaintance with the feriptures, and enable him to develope the whole fyftem of truth which they contain from the ftudy of the fcriptures themselves, and not from fyftematic interpretations. His plan is, to give the Old Teftament in five columns, containing the Hebrew text of Vander Hooght, from the Amfterdam edition of 1705; the English from the Oxford edition of 1769; the Septuagint from the edition of Sixtus V.; the Vulgate from the edition of Clement VIII.; and the Chaldee paraphrafe, confifting of the Targums of Onkelos, and Jonathan, on the Pentateuch, and the prophets, the anonymous one in Walton on the Hagiographa, and that on Chronicles from the Erpenian manufcript. Under thefe colums will be given the Samaritan Pentateuch, in Hebrew characters, and a copious collection of various readings. The New Teftament will be given in four columas, containing the Greek text from Mill's edition; the common

English tranflation; the Syriae verfion from the Vienna edition of 1555, in Hebrew characters, and with the deficiencies in the Pethito fupplied from the editions of Pococke and De Dieu; and the Latin Vulgate. Under thefe columns will be collected a vaft body of various readings from Mill, Bengelius, Wetstein, Birch, Mathæi, Griefbach, &c.; references to the Coptic, Sahidic, Arabic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Perfic, Gothic, Sclavonian, and Anglo-Saxon verfions; and quotations from the fathers and ecclefiaftical writers. It appears that Mr. Pratt has been employed for a confiderable time on this work; and that a part of it may foon be expected from the prefs, if he meets with encouragement from a competent number of fubfcribers. We heartily with him that fupport which fhall prove an abundant compenfation for his arduous labours.

In our Regifter for the year 1793, we introduced to our readers "Differtations on the Prophecies of the Old Teftament, in 2 Parts, Vol. I. by David Levi." We have fince met a fecond volume of that work, which is a continuation of the 1ft part of the author's plan, in which he has undertaken the elucidation of such prophecies as are applicable to the coming of the Meffiah, the reftoration of the Jews, and the refurrection of the dead, whether fo applied by Jews or Chriftians. In the volume now before us, with commendable diligence, and ingenuity whetted by polemical practice, he pursues his original plan, and, as may be expected, deduces the fame general conclufion. Our opinion, however, remains the fame as formerly refpecting the importance of his labours in biblical criti

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cifm, and as they are intended to affect the evidence in favour of the claims of Chrift to the character of the Meffiah. But as they fupply us with the interpretations given by the Jews to their own prophetical writings, they are, at leaft, objects of curiofity, and deferving of encouragement.

Partly for the above-mentioned reafon, and, it were injuftice were we not to add, on account of the ftrength of argument which it frequently evinces, the "Defence of the Old Teftament, in a Series of Letters addreffed to Thomas Paine," by the fame author, is worthy of respectful notice. Much of what he fays in confirmation of the divine miffion of Mofes, we confider to be irrefragable; and his obfervations on the prefent ftate of the Jews, compared with the predictions of their legiflator, are important and interefting. In other parts of his defence, when he endeavours to repel the objections of his opponent drawn from the command to extirpate the Canaanites, or when he contends for the literal acceptation of fome parts of the Old Teftament narrative, or attempts to reconcile the alleged incongruities in the Jewish hiftorians, he is not equally fuccefsful. ̧

In our laft volume we introduced to our readers Dr. Priestley's "Obfervations on the Increase of Infidelity," originally published at Northumberland, in America. To a third and enlarged edition of that work the author added "Animadverfions on the Writings of feveral modern Unbelievers, and efpecially on the Ruins of Mr. Volney." In these animadverfions, with indignant, but not unjuft feverity, he expofed the unbecoming temper and difingenuoufnefs of the authors whom he quoted; and ridiculed

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M. Volney's romantic account of the hiftory and religion of the Hebrews, as well as his explanation of the origin of Chriftianity, without admitting that fuch a perfon as Jefus Chrift ever exifted. voked by the doctor's language, and by the low and mean eftimation in which he appeared to hold his talents, Mr. Volney foon publifhed what he called an "Antwer to Dr. Priestley, on his Pamphlet entitled Obfervations, &c." "containing little argument, but an abundant proportion of petulance, and farcafm, and what we cannot diftinguish from vulgar perfonal abufe. In that anfwer he intimated, indeed, that he could overturn the whole edifice of his opponent's faith; but on account of fome very unphilofophical reafons which he chofe to affign, and other very fabftantial ones referved in his own breaft, after taking up the gauntlet he thought fit to decline the combat with our Chriftian champion. Dr. Prieftley, however, would not quit the field without a few words at parting; and therefore addreffed fome "Letters to Mr. Volney, occafioned by a work of his, entitled Ruins, and by his Letter to the Author." Thefe letters are diftinguished by urbanity and good temper. To Mr. Volney they propofe fome queries on the fubject of revelation, to which, if he were fo difpofed, he would find it a difficult matter to reply, on the principles of that fcepticifm which it is probable he has embraced from the fpirit of levity and indifpofition to theological enquiry fo prevalent among the modern French. They, likewife, offer to readers in general, fome admirable remarks on the fatal effects of infidelity as it influences the human character, and on the evidence in favour of the

being of a God, and the truth of revelation, which we cannot too powerfully recommend to their attention.

The "Effay on the Folly of Scepticifm, the Abfurdity of dogmatifing upon religious Subjects, &c. by W. L. Brown, D. D. principal of the Marefchal College, Aberdeen," is the republication of an excellent treatife, which we had the opportunity of introducing to our readers in our sketch of the Literature of the United Provinces for the year 1787. It defervedly obtained for the author the gold medal, or first prize, annually be ftowed by Teyler's Theological Society, at Haarlem; and its prefent appearance in the author's native country is peculiarly feafonable. In addition to what we have already ftated refpecting the nature and fpirit of this eslay we fhall only remark, that it is divided into three parts that in the first the author takes an hiftorical view of the ori gin and progrefs of fcepticifm, diftinguishing the rational fceptic from different claffes whom he expofes, and judiciously illuftrating the caufes of fcepticism: that in the fecond part he explains the nature, the origin, and effects of dogmatifm; and that in the third he defcribes the true medium to be obferved between the extremes of fcepticism and dogmatifm, and the molt effectual methods of difcouraging the prevalence of either. It is unneceffary to make any obfervations on the practical importance of fuch a treatise from the refpectable pen of Dr. Brown.

The " Remarks on Revelation and Infidelity, being the Subftance of feveral Speeches lately delivered in a private literary Society in Edinburgh, &c." if not entitled to rank high in the lift of methodical

and argumentative productions, are nevertheless deferving of commendation, for the good fenfe which they difcover, and the eafy popular ftyle in which they are delivered. They appear to have been intended, chiefly, to controvert the flatements and reafonings in Mr. Macleod's Examination of Bishop Watfon's Apology," and in another pamphlet entitled "Watfon refuted, by Samuel Francis, M. D." the latter of which has not fallen in our way.

The treatife entitled The Infufficiency of the Light of Nature, exemplified in the Vices and Depravities of the Heathen World, &c." is the production of a wellinformed and difpaffionate writer, and difplays, with confiderable force, the ill effects on the ftate of fociety and manners, which might fairly be apprehended, were the general rejection of Chriftianity as a divine revelation an admissible suppofition. On this ground of reafoning he is its ftrenuous and able defender. He has, likewife, intro duced into his little work fome judicious ftrictures on Paine's Age of Reafon.

The "Three Letters addreffed to the Readers of Paine's Age of Reafon, by one of the People called Chriftians," and the little treatife entitled " Common Senfe, or a Plain Man's Aufwer to the Queftion whether Chriftianity be a Religion worthy of our Choice in this Age of Reafon, &c." appear to have been written with an anxious defire to imprefs on ferious and well difpofed minds a fenfe of the truth and excellence of Chriftianity, when contemplated in its unfophifticated form, its native fimplicity and dignity. On readers of the above-mentioned defcription they are calculated to produce good

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effects, either in checking any tendencies towards fcepticifm, or in confirming their pious belief.,

The "Layman's Proteft against the profane Blafphemy, falfe Charges, and illiberal Invective of Thomas Paine, &c. by J. Padman, Jun." is drawn up with ability and fpirit, and will fecure to the author an honourable mention among the advocates for revelation. Some of its best friends, however, will conceive, that he has fometimes contended for points which had better been kept out of fight in repelling the common enemy.

Our laft remark is applicable to Mr. Scott's" Vindication of the Divine Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, and of the Doctrines -contained in them, &c." and Mr. Fawcett's "Summary of the Evidences of Chriftianity." So far as the authors confine themselves to the general principles of evidence, in which all Chriftians agree, they merit attention, and praife. But the former of these gentlemen appears to lefs advantage when maintaining the doctrine of plenary infpiration, and the tenets of fyftematic theology; and the latter, in the manner in which he explains and defends the miraculous gifts communicated to the apostles.

Mr. John Jones's "Vindication of the Bifhip of Llandaff's Apology for the Bible, in a Series of Letters addressed to Mr. Macleod," we cannot clafs among the able and judicious treatifes which have appeared in this controverfy. For it contains too much irrelevant matter, and too little polemical dexterity.

Mr. Evans, in his " Attempt to account for the Infidelity of the late Edward Gibbon, Efq. founded on his own Memoirs, &c." infifts on the neglect of that gentleman's religious education, the difguft

which he received from obferving the corruptions of Chriftianity, and the love of eminence by which his mind was heated and inflamed, as the immediate caufes of his fcepticifm. Refpecting the powerful operation of the first and second caufes, we entirely coincide in opinion with the author, while we do not conceive that he has fatisfactorily illuftrated the operation of the third. But be this as it may, we think that the manner in which Mr. Evans has executed his attempt, on the whole, does him credit as an advocate for rational Chriftianity: and we recommend, to the ferious enquirer, the reflections which accompany it, on the beft means of checking the present alarming progrefs of fcepticism and irreligion, including an account of the converfion and death of the right hon. George lord Lyttelton."

Mr. Roberts's "Obfervations on the Principles of Chriftian Morality and the Apoftolic Character, occafioned by Dr. Paley's View of the Evidences of Christianity," confift of ftrictures on that work, chiefly originating in the author's zeal for his own peculiar views of Chriftian doctrine, and of apoftolic infallibility. They difcover, however, but little force, or precifion; and, in our eftimation, leave the principal merit of the archdeacon's performance unimpeached. For we must ever confider it as a most important recommendation of Dr. Paley's plan, that he carefully preferved the feparation between evidences and doctrines, as inviolable as he could, and made it his grand object to offer a defence of Chriftianity, which every Chriftian might read, without feeing the tenets in which he had been brought up attacked or decried.

Mr. Cobbold's "Effay, tending

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to fhow the Advantages which refult to Revelation, from its being conveyed to us in the Form of Hiftory," obtained for the author the honour of the Norriffian prize, in the university of Cambridge, and is published in purfuance of the directions in the will of the donor. As an academical exercife it was not unworthy of that diftinction: but it would probably have done the author more credit, had he attended to the obfervations of preceding writers on the fame fubject. An enlarged edition of this effay, after Mr. Cobbold has digefted their remarks, might prove a very uleful employment of his leifure hours.

Mr. Jerram's" Effay, tending to fhew the Grounds contained in Scripture for expecting a future Restoration of the Jews," was rewarded with another of the Norriffian prizes. In this effay the author contends, that the covenant of God with the Hebrews, the true meaning of their prophet'c writings, and the progreffive nature of the Chriftian difpenfation, all concur in establishing the probability of their return to the feats of their ancestors, after their reception into the Chriftian pale. And he fupports his hypothefis with ingenuity, and commendable modesty.

The "Manual of the Theophilanthropes, or Adorers of God, and Friends of Men, containing the Expofition of their Dogmas, of their Morals and their religious Practice, &c." is a curious and interesting publication, if we examine the circumftances which occafioned its production, or the confequences with which the inftitution to which it belongs will moft probably be followed. Among the former we may reckon, the temporary chaotic state with respect to religious fub

jects, to which the mass of men's minds in France had been reduced on the overthrow of their tyrannical and fuperftitious religious eftablishments; the victory which good fenfe and the remains of informa tion derived from Chriftianity gradually obtained over atheism and irreligion, enforcing a conviction of the neceffity of morals and piety to the well-being of ftates as well as individuals; and the voluntary. affociations which subsequently took place in Paris, and afterwards in other parts of the republic, for fupporting the worship of God on a plan which fhould not oppose the dogmas of any fect, and for the diffemination of virtuous and useful knowledge. The creed of the Theophilanthropes, or rather Theo. philanthropifts, confifts of two articles only: the firft declaring their belief in the doctrine of the exiftence of God, the fecond in that of the immortality of the foul. Their moral fyftem, which is borrowed from Chriftianity, inculcates the love of God, and of man; the rational obligations of piety, and the outlines of thofe duties which the gofpel chiefly infifts on and recommends. The fanctions and motives, however, by which they enforce them are, comparatively, cold and unimpreffive. Their manual, befides the expofition of their principles and morals, contains a collection of hymns, a liturgy for every decade of the French year, and a felection of moral leffons from the fcriptures as well as other ancient and modern writings, which are read at their meetings by each head of a family in his turn. At fuch meetings, likewife, occafional moral difcourfes, in the ftyle of fermons, are delivered, after having been fubmitted to the previous infpection of a committee of direc

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