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is partly critical, partly controverfial, and partly practical. Mr. Shepherd's critical and controvercifed in defence of the doxology, fial abilities are particularly exerand Athanafian creed, and in eluci dating the fenfe of abfolution. How fuccefsful he has proved, his readers muft determine for themfelves. His ftyle and language, in general, are correct and perfpicuous.

tion. The Theophilanthropists alfo have forms for the celebration of the births of children, of marriages, and of burials. parts, we cannot but confider the For our eftablishment of fuch an inftitution in France, where we understand it is daily gaining numerous converts, to be an important era in ecclefiaftical 'hiftory. It has already greatly contributed to ftem the torrent of irreligion and immorality. And it is preparing a foil, in Dr. Glafs's" Courfe of Lectures which the fimple and pure princi-cal Remarks on each, and Exhoron the holy Festivals, with practiples of Chriftianity, now when it will have free access to the reflections of ferious and thinking men, will take root and flourish vigoroufly. It would be injustice to its divine origin and excellence, were we not firmly to entertain fueh a pleafing conviction.

Mr. Shepherd's "Critical and practical Elucidation of the Morning and Evening Prayer of the Church of England," is a work of confiderable merit, from which the orthodox member of the church will receive much edification, and readers who may differ widely in opinion from the author, curious information and The object of it is, to establish the entertainment. fuperior excellence of our national liturgy over all other liturgies, for promoting the purposes of devotion, and to aflift the churchman to enter into the full fpirit of its exhortations, prayers, creeds, &c. purfuing that object, the author has In fhown himself to be poffeffed of an abundant fhare of ecclefiaftical information, great ingenuity, and, on the whole, a becoming impartiality and candour. The introduction contains a minute and accurate hiftory of the church fervice, from the Primer of Henry VIII. in 1535, to the laft revifion under Charles II. in 1661. The reft of the work

1797.

tations to a more devout and folemn Obfervance of them," is drawn up in the form of fermons, in popular and elegant language; and was undertaken by him with the defign of reviving that religious zeal, which he conceives to have fuffered inattention to the days fet apart for a lamentable abatement from an the commemoration of thofe faints and martyrs, whofe names our English reformers chose to retain in their calendar. His plan has been, comprehenfive view, the lives, the "to lay before the reader, in a very characters, the. writings, and the fufferings, of thofe eminent ferpractical reflections as may be ufevants of God," and to deduce fuch ful to Chriftians in general. The outline of this plan was fuggefted to him by Mr. Nelfon's well known book, and he has drawn his information from the fame fources with improved, in point of felection and that author; but he has materially application, on the labours of his predeceffor.

But how much fomend the manner in which Dr. ever we may be difpofed to comGlaffe has executed his work, or to honour him for the piety of his more than doubtful of the utility of motives in engaging in it, we are the object which he had in view, as far as the interefts of genuine

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breathes throughout a fpirit of ardent piety, and manifefts the author's unquestionable and zealous attachment to what he conceives to be the genuine interests of religion. We wish we could add, that his piety were unalloyed by enthusiasm, and his zeal for godlinefs undebafed by dogmatifm and uncharitablenefs. That there is too much ground for the author's complaint of a laxity, or an indifference, in principles and manners, in the claffes mentioned in the title-page, few, we apprehend, will attempt to deny; although many will differ widely from him in their ideas refpecting the extent of the evil, its caufe or caufes, and the methods proper to be pursued to effectuate a cure. For according to his views of real Christianity, not only infidels and the immoral, but the greater part of profeffed Chriftians, even thofe who lead a fober, righteous, and godly life, if they are deftitute of certain affections and feelings which Mr. Wilberforce and the select clafs with whom he affociates imagine they experience, and ftill more fo if they are unhappily tinctured with Unitarianifm, which in the abundance of his candour and spiritual humility he denominates" a fort of half-way house" to infidelity: all these numerous defcriptions of perfons are directly or indirectly profcribed by him, as in a ftate of alienation from God, and, confequently, in the broad road to perdition. After having reprefented the evil to be fo enormous, he finds its cause in a "mistaken conception entertained of the fundamental principles of Chriftianity," and employs a confiderable part of his work in endeavouring to illuftrate that fact. The neceffary cure for this evil Mr. Wilberforce defines to be vital Chriftianity, or fuch a ftedfaft be

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lief of thofe doctrines refpecting the corruption of human nature, Spirit, which the church of Engour Lord Jefus Chrift, and the holy land teaches in her articles, her homilies, and liturgy, united to certain exercises of the affections and paffions arifing from that belief, and not unconnected with an obedience to the practical precepts of the gofpel. All his expectations of the restoration of public and private virtue, of the falvation and permanence of our ecclefiaftical establishment, and of the British conftitution, he founds on the reception, and triumph of his fyftem over unbelief, heretical pravity, and a dry unanimated religion. Under the influence of these impreffions, he is earnest and eloquent in his exhortations to the claffes for whom his work is principally intended, to

of their religion," that they may lay afresh the whole foundation prove down on their country the bleffings "inftruments of drawing of fafety and profperity." Such is the purport, and fuch is the fpirit of Mr. Wilberforce's treatise, which is in every part of it more declamatory than argumentative. To thofe who entertain fimilar views of Chriftianity with the author, it will prove highly acceptable; but it is neither calculated to make any good impreffion upon infidels, nor to meet with the approbation of fome of the most enlightened and best friends to ferious religion, among orthodox, as well as heterodox believers.

Mr. Gilbert Wakefield, in his efq. on the Subject of his late Pub"Letter to William Wilberforce, lication," expofes in brief, but ftrong and pointed terms, the inconfiftency of that gentleman's religious principles with the fyftem of the gofpel; and vindicates the latter from the fufpicion of inculcating

02

fuch

fuch enthufiaftic, gloomy, degrading, and irrational notions as Mr. Wilberforce had confounded with it. But the main object of his letter, as he informs us, is to impeach Mr. Wilberforce at the bar of religion, reafon, and humanity, of the high crime and mifdemeanour of fupporting with cordial concurrence, with a confidence unlimited, and with all the influence of his reputation, the versatile and pernicious politics, and above all, the complicate and deftructive warlike fyftem of the present minifter, in direct and flagrant oppofition to the genius of that gofpel which he profeffes to love, and to the spirit and temper of that crucified Redeemer in whom he avows his truft. Mr. Wilberforce will prove himself an able cafuift, if he out-argues his fevere, but at the fame time refpectful antagonist.

Mr. Ludlam's "Four Effays off the ordinary and extraordinary Operations of the holy Spirit, on the Application of Experience to Religion, and on Enthusiasm and Fanaticism," are well written, difpaffionate, and frictly logical productions, which we recommend to the repeated and ferious perufal of tl st clafs of Chriftians to which Mr. Wilberforce and Dr. Watkins belong. They appear to us to be admirably calculated to check the growth of fanaticifm, and to give to religion that fober dignified afpect which cannot fail of recommending her to the rational enquirer. In the firft and fecond effays he ably maintains, in oppofition to the favourite fentiment of thofe who have modeftly affumed the name of evangelical or gofpeł preachers, that what are called the extraordinary operations of the fpiDr. Watkins's treatife, entitled "A rit, have ceafed fince the apoftolic Word of gentle Admonition to Mr. age, and gives a rational explanaGilbert Wakefield, occafioned by his tion of the ordinary operations, or Letter to William Wilberforce, efq. the doctrine of divine affiftance. In &c." is mifnamed by the well-mean- his third effay he analizes the opiing, but not judicious author. In- nion of the fame clafs of men reftead of being gentle admonition, fpecting experience in religion, and - either in fpirit or language, with re- plainly thews, that they miftake spect either to direct or infinuated the confidence of expectation for cenfure, it is at least as fevere as the certainty of experience, the poMr. Wakefield's letter, without be- fitiveneis of opinion for the convic ing recommended by the clatlical tions of reafon." Mr. Ladlam, in polish and candour towards the cha- his fourth ellay, defines enthufia.m racter and intentions of his oppo- to be "an unfupported elim to nent, which that gentleman's publi- immediate and fenfible intercourfe cation displays. Dr. Watkins's fe- with God," and clearly points out verity, however, is to be found in his the weaknets or the difhonefty of choice of phrafcology, and bitter- pretending to it in the prefent age of nefs of atièrtion, not in the energy the church. To the whole he has and application of his argumenta- prefixed an accurate and important tive talents: and whether his treatife differtation on the nature of clear be confidered as an apology for Mr. ideas and the advantage of diftinct Wilberforce's political conduct, or knowledge. a vindication of his theological opinions, when weighed in the balance of impartial criticitim it will be found wanting.

The Apology for Human Nature, by the late reverend an! learned Charles Belkie," was found among the manufcripts of the auther,

fairly transcribed from his short hand of the imputations on his fairness as a difputant, and on his impartiality and candour as an enquirer after truth, which fuch allegations import.