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the lectures and the notes. Such a concentrated body of argument and illuftration, we do not remember to have met with before. To theological ftudents this work must be of vaft utility; and, indeed, let a man's ftock of information, or his literary ftores, be ever fo extenfive, he will find much in the prefent work for his inftruction and entertainment.

A Sermon preached at the Anniversary Meeting of the Sons of the Clergy, in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, on Thurfday May 14, 1807. By the Rev. WILLIAM COXE, F. R. S. and F. A. S. Archdeacon of Wilts, and Canon Refidentiary of Sarum. 4to. pp. 25. Rivingtons.

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FTER a brilliant view of the fpirit and effects of primitive Christianity, the archdeacon gives the following ingenious and elegant sketch of our religious and civil establishment.

"We live under a constitution grand without terror, mild without weakness, giving dignity to the crown, respect to virtue, security to persons and property, protection to indigence. We enjoy a code of jurisprudence, the envy and admiration of the world, and conspicuous for wisdom and justice, and of which the godlike attribute of mercy is the predominant and vital principle.

"Where shall we look for a parallel to these admirable, these blessed institutions? Not in the records of antient times, which rather excite wonder that systems so imperfect should ever have existed, than that they should have fallen into decay: not in the delirious dreams of modern philosophy, the effects of which it is impossible to contemplate without horror, or to describe in language suited to this place and this occasion. Whence then can be derived such an inestimable blessing, but from that "perfect law of liberty," promulgated by the Saviour of mankind; whence but from the institutes of God himself, in the Gospel of truth and salvation?

"To our ecclesiastical establishment, and its intimate union with the civil government, we owe a purity of morals, a spirit of general benevolence, of public probity and private sincerity, which illustrate our nation beyond every other of the habitable world. From these sources we draw our domestic happiness, our pre-emi

James ii. 25.

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nence in every art and science, our unwearied industry, our unrivalled prosperity, our confidence at home, our influence abroad, and above all, that union and native energy which have braved the storms of civil commotion, and repelled the fury of hostile agres

sion.

"For these manifold blessings, under the protection and guid. ance of Providence, we are greatly indebted to the zeal and labours of our Protestant clergy. They have been in all times the lights of science, the champions of truth, and the triumphant opposers of infidelity. They have investigated and fixed the principles of natural and revealed religion, on the only permanent basis, the Being and Attributes of a God, the Redemption of fallen man, and the state of rewards and punishments in the world to come. In science and in art, in every branch of profound or elegant literature, the members of our Church have always held an eminent place among their contemporaries;. and more especially they have cultivated every branch of Scripture learning with signal success, fulfilling the promise of God himself by the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah: "I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."

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"Fortunately for the instruction and improvement of those who profess the Christian faith, the actions and precepts of our blessed Lord were not consigned to uncertain tradition; but the memorial of his acts and doctrines was preserved by the holy Evangelists, themselves the faithful witnesses and historians of his life, death, and resurrection. Therefore to the existence of these sacred records of divine truth we owe the Reformation, next to the promulgation of Christianity, the greatest blessing ever bestowed by a merciful Providence on fallen man."

The caufe of the charity is thus ably pleaded, and pathetically enforced;

"If our constitution be dear to us; if our laws, founded on the Gospel and matured by consummate wisdom, merit our affection; if our political arch, the wonder of Europe, excite our pride and admiration, let our religion, the keystone of that arch, be our first and principal concern. The numerous race of spiritual builders, whose unceasing exertions will endear them for ever to a grateful country, again rise before your view. By your bounty to their descendants, you may at once display your gratitude, and contribute to the stability of our establishment in church and state. Recollect the exhortation of our blessed Lord. Give then, if it be but a cup of water to these little ones in distress; "inasmuch as ye give it to the least of these, ye give it unto me." Consider the

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cause which you are defending; consider the interest and extension of the Christian Religion; consider the force of your example. Reflect on the encouragement with which you will cheer the pious pastors, who either confine themselves to the care of their humble flocks, or devote their talents to the instruction of mankind, when they see that their children, born or left in poverty, find a certain protection in the generosity of that public to whose service they have consecrated their lives and labours.

"One necessary, though painful duty yet remains. Notwithstanding the increasing benevolence of the times, I observe with the deepest concern, that the general amount of the contributions has lately declined. The funds of the society are inadequate to fulfil the liberal views with which it was founded; and the relief of numerous petitioners is reluctantly postponed to the event of future and precarious contributions.

"The bare mention of this failure, we trust, is sufficient to effect its remedy. This nation, so generous in its rewards, so bountiful to the necessitous, so liberal even to its enemies, will not turn a deaf ear to the cries of the indigent members composing that Church, which has so essentially contributed to the advancement of knowledge, the increase of prosperity, the preservation of tranquillity, and the aggregate of public and domestic happiness.

"May then this Anniversary become a new era in the records of this blessed institution. May all hearts unite, not merely in augmenting their benefactions for the relief of temporary pressure; but may the feeble appeal which has now been made to public gratitude, public justice, and public benevolence, lead to the formation of a permanent institution for the education and establishment of those helpless children, whose parents, "the servants of the Most High, have shewn unto you the way of salvation."

"We feel perfect confidence that our pious monarch will continue to shed the rays of his bounty on that Church of which he is the supreme head, and of which he has ever proved himself the true and zealous defender. We rely on the support of that illustrious personage,* who has a second time set the bright example of greatness, in patronizing this beneficent institution. We trust, that the flame of Christian Charity kindled at the foot of the throne, will spread to the distant extremities of the kingdom, and warm the heart of every friend to genuine liberty and true religion.

"God will not forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed towards his name; in that ye have ministered, and do minister, unto the saints."

* His royal highness the Prince of Wales, who has twice condescended to be one of the stewards. In imitation of the heir apparent, the other princes of the royal blood have graciously testified their willingness to fill the same office a second time, and we gratefully record, that the Annual Meeting of January 17, 1807, was honoured by the presence of six of the royal princes.

Sermons Controverfial and Practical, with Reflections and Tracts on interesting Subjects, heretofore published in Ireland only, by the late Rev. Philip Skelton, and republifhed by the Rev. S. CLAPHAM, M. A. Vicar of ChriftChurch, Hants, and Reclor of Guffage St. Michael, Dorfet. Volume the ft. 8vo. pp. 519, 9s. Rivingtons.

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HE editor fays, in his dedication to the bishop of St. Afaph "these fermons have both enlightened his mind and edified his heart, and he perfuades himself that he is doing an acceptable fervice to the learned and the religious world, by re-publishing them." He gives the following character of their author. • Skelton's excellencies are rare, and ⚫ indeed peculiar to himself. He unites what, perhaps, can be found in no other author, original fentiment, found argument, genuine piety, and animated perfuafion. In his reafoning, he is as clear as Sherlock; in his warnings as folemn as Secker; in his piety as engaging as Porteus; in his exhortations as vehement as Demofthenes; for it would be impoffible to find an English author, with whom he can, in this effential quality of an orator, be compared.'

However exalted may be Mr. Clapham's opinion of his author, we acknowledge ours to be equally favourable.

This volume confifts of twenty fermons on very interesting fubjects; a Reply to the bishop of Wincheffer's Plain Account of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and twentyone Reflections.

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Mr. C. has, we obferve, for we have been favoured with a fet of Skelton's Irish edition, changed the titles of many of the fermons. The first fermon is entitled by Skel ton The Birth and Growth of Faith'; by his editor, The Origin of Faith': the third Right Reafon faith believe in God'; by Mr. C. Belief in God dictated by Reason': the fixth, The Thinker fhall be faved,' here called The Benefit of Meditation': the eighth, The Good Few require but a Narrow Road,' entitled The Efficacy of Example: the ninth, A Crowd muft have a Broad Road' more appropriately filed, On Conformity to the World' tenth, Folly wifer than Wifdom,' On the Wisdom of the World' eleventh, The Scorner fcorned,' 'The Punishment of Profligacy': twelfth, Beware of Falfe Teachers,' On the Seductions of Arianifm': fifteenth, How to chufe a good Husband or Wife,' On Marriage': fixteenth, How to be Happy though Married,' How Happiness is to be attained in Marriage.'

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Our readers fhall judge how far Mr. C. is justified in extolling Skelton as fuperior to other writers. The firft fermon is an admirable illuftration of faith in the Gospel: the author confiders the evidence of faith, firft, as rational, human, and hiftorical; next, as efficacious and divine; and then concludes in this mafterly manner.

"It is faith that cleanses our affections, raises them from things on earth, and sets them on things above, by discovering to us their real natures, and teaching us how to chuse on the comparison: though an unbeliever may by experience perceive that the enjoyments of this world are uncertain and unsatisfactory; yet he can hardly think any thing else of much consequence to him. But if he ever becomes a convert to Christianity, how is he surprised to see by the light of this faith, himself, and every thing about him, so very different from what they did before! to see the size, the weight, the colour of every thing changed! to see gain and loss, good and evil, happiness and misery shifting sides on his apprehension and judgment to see the true cause of his former mistakes, his imagination, passion, appetite, custom giving splendor to infamy, and contempt to merit! He is amazed to see how the things of this world are, by these artists, tinselled for the vain, gilded for the covetous, and aggrandized for the ambitious; and more amazed still, when he perceives into what a despicable meanness they are sunk again by that prospect of immortality and eternal life, which true faith sets before him!

"It is this faith which turns our very infirmities into virtues ; our fear (God being made its object) into wisdom and strong confidence; and our sense of shame into humility, chastity and honesty. This derives redoubled vigour on the mind and conscience even from our falls, at once demonstrating and making perfect the strength of God in our weakness. This sweetens and sanctifies correction. This gives calm within when all is tempest without. This makes daylight in the mind when there is night only in the world, confusion in the pursuits of men, and mystery in the schemes of Providence. This clearly shews us our path, or safely leads us by the hand through that we cannot see. This when the means of useful knowledge are afforded, rouses our attention, opens the eyes of our understandings; and this when the nature of God's works, the drifts of his providence, or the depths of his religion become in any i stance unfathomable to the scanty line of our reason, this faith, this evidence of things unseen, shuts the eyes of the soul again, and lays it to rest on a downy resignation, and in the fortress of a comfortable trust, that all is right or will be well.'• Behold here that tree of life, to which all may come, striking its roots deep into the rock of God's promises, rising towards heaven with a strong and lofty stem; defying the blasts of persecution in one age, of sophistry in another, and of ridicule in all; sheltering virtue and civil society under its extended branches; feeding the Christian to the stature of a saint, with its fruits of hope, charity,

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