ceived the intelligence of Conchini's death as if it had been a quick exit of the fun's eclipfe, when under a prediction of fome fearful darknefs *. Now under the uncertainty whether the exit of an eclipfe is to produce light or darkness, we can only receive it as darkness vifible. One of thefe elves of fortune +.'Placed much of his fafety in expifcating the clandeftine purposes of his adverfaries . It was generally apprehended, that fome conteft would enfue between them, when confronted in the fame place - The princefs, his widow, who likewife had a fon in tutory, poffeffed of uncommon abilities, and of courage above her fex, did not refile from the alliance of France .' Thefe inftances of unclaffical terms, and ftiff, affected modes of expreffion, might be greatly multiplied; but we deem the fpecimens fufficient: and though we often feel fincere regret to fee labour and abilities fruitlessly exerted; yet the duty required from us by the Public, muft ever take place of our sympathy with unfuccefsful and disappointed writers. ART. XI. Farther Thoughts on the Nature of the Grand Apoftacy of the Chriftian Churches, foretold by the Apoftles: with Obfervations on the Laws again Herefy, the Subfcription to Articles of Human Compofition, and other Subjects of the utmoft Importance to the Religion of Proteftants, and to Christianity in General. By Henry Taylor, A. M. Rector of Crawley, and Vicar of Portsmouth, in Hants; Author of Ben Mordecai's Apology for embracing Chriftianity. 8vo. 3 s. Jobnfon. 1783. Ο UR Readers are no ftrangers to our fentiments concerning this learned, acute, and able Writer; and the pamphlet now before us affords no reafon to alter them. He has one great and important truth in view through the whole of it, viz. That there can be no CENTRE of UNITY among Chriftians or Chriftian churches, but the Scripture only. He clearly fhews, that all the churches, both in the Eaft and in the Weft, have been corrupted; and that the genuine faith which was built upon TRUTH, the teftimony of Jefus, the commandments of God, the Apostles and Prophets, has fuffered an apoftacy from its original and divine ftandard, by joining to them the commandments of men. The whole difference between the Chriftian churches, he obferves, is entirely of their own making, is derived from articles of human compofition; if they would leave thefe, and return to the original rule of faith before they were compofed, that is, the Scripture, their differences would all fubfide, together with all uncharitableness. Their names of diftinction would be loft in the name of Chrift, Chrift, the head of all; and the whole church together (we use the Author's own words) would be Catholic and at unity. To do this, every church, he fays, muft give up fomething; but that fomething is only human, and of the fame nature in them all, and is the only part of their establishments which was never worth the keeping.. This puts Mr. Taylor in mind of a faying of General Wurts, reported by Mr. de St. Evremond (Vol. II. p. 168): When men have once taken out of Christianity what they have foifted into it, there will be but one religion, as plain in its doctrine as pure in its morals.' Whoever reads this pamphlet with attention, and reflects feriously upon what is advanced in it, will, we are perfuaded, be convinced with us, that much of the infidelity of the prefent age, and much of the growing contempt of the clergy, which every difcerning perfon clearly perceives, and which every good citizen fincerely laments, are owing to creeds and articles compofed by fallible men, and containing abfurd and unintelligible doctrines, with which neither the faith nor the practice of -Chriftian have any concern. The evils occafioned by such compofitions are well known to all thofe who are acquainted with ecclefiaftical hiftory; and it would puzzle the ableft defenders of them to point out any real advantages that were ever derived from them. ART. XII. A View of the Laft Judgment. By John Smith, One of the Ministers of Campbletown. 8vo. 5s. bound. Cadell. 1783. WE E have here another Boanerges, who affects to grafp Ignem fraude malâ gentibus intulit. HOR. The principles on which we founded our chief objections to Mr. Whitaker's Sermons [Vid. laft Month's Review], operate with equal force against the prefent performance. A prolix and ftudied declamation on fubjects that are inexpreffible; a fcenical representation of events which are inconceivable, generally fatigue, and frequently diiguft, the mind. Defcription enervates a magnificent object when it attempts to delineate its component and minuter parts; and though when contemplated in a general view, and left in the majefty of its own incomprehenfibility, it would probably make a very forcible impreffion on the imagination, yet when it is broken into minute divifions, and particularized by familiar circumftances, under the pretence of accommodating it to the conceptions of the multitude, it lofes its folemn Author of the Galic Antiquities, &ċ, &c.`• i.. dignity, ceived the intelligence of Conchini's death as if it had been a quick exit of the fun's eclipfe, when under a prediction of fome fearful darknefs *.' Now under the uncertainty whether the exit of an eclipfe is to produce light or darkness, we can only receive it as darkness vifible. One of thefe elves of fortune +.'Placed much of his fafety in expifcating the clandeftine purposes of his adverfaries .' It was generally apprehended, that fome conteft would enfue between them, when confronted in the fame place §'. The princefs, his widow, who likewise had a fon in tutory, poffeffed of uncommon abilities, and of courage above her fex, did not refile from the alliance of France ||.' - These inftances of unclaffical terms, and stiff, affected modes of expreffion, might be greatly multiplied; but we deem the fpecimens fufficient: and though we often feel fincere regret to fee labour and abilities fruitlessly exerted; yet the duty required from us by the Public, muft ever take place of our fympathy with unfuccefsful and difappointed writers. • Vol. IV. p. 69. § Vol. V. p. 40. + Id. p. 161. † Id. p. 257. ART. XI. Farther Thoughts on the Nature of the Grand Apoftacy of the Chriftian Churches, foretold by the Apoftles: with Obfervations on the Laws again Herefy, the Subfcription to Articles of Human Compofition, and other Subjects of the utmoft Importance to the Religion of Proteftants, and to Chriftianity in General. By Henry Taylor, A. M. Rector of Crawley, and Vicar of Portsmouth, in Hants; Author of Ben Mordecai's Apology for embracing Chriftianity. 8vo. 3 s. Jobnfon. 1783. Ο UR Readers are no ftrangers to our fentiments concerning this learned, acute, and able Writer; and the pamphlet now before us affords no reafon to alter them. He has one great and important truth in view through the whole of it, viz. That there can be no CENTRE of UNITY among Chriftians or Chriftian churches, but the Scripture only. He clearly fhews, that all the churches, both in the Eaft and in the Weft, have been corrupted; and that the genuine faith which was built upon TRUTH, the teftimony of Jefus, the commandments of God, the Apoftles and Prophets, has fuffered an apoftacy from its original and divine ftandard, by joining to them the commandments of men. The whole difference between the Chriftian churches, he obferves, is entirely of their own making, is derived from articles of human compofition; if they would leave thefe, and return to the original rule of faith before they were compofed, that is, the Scripture, their differences would all fubfide, together with all uncharitableness. Their names of diftinction would be loft in the name of Chrift, Chrift, the head of all; and the whole church together (we use the Author's own words) would be Catholic and at unity. To do this, every church, he says, muft give up fomething; but that fomething is only human, and of the fame nature in them all, and is the only part of their eftablishments which was never worth the keeping. This puts Mr. Taylor in mind of a faying of General Wurts, reported by Mr. de St. Evremond (Vol. II. p. 168): When men have once taken out of Chriftianity what they have foifted into it, there will be but one religion, as plain in its doctrine as pure in its morals.' Whoever reads this pamphlet with attention, and reflects seriously upon what is advanced in it, will, we are persuaded, be convinced with us, that much of the infidelity of the prefent age, and much of the growing contempt of the clergy, which every difcerning perfon clearly perceives, and which every good citizen fincerely laments, are owing to creeds and articles compofed by fallible men, and containing abfurd and unintelligible doctrines, with which neither the faith nor the practice of a Chriftian have any concern. The evils occafioned by fuch compofitions are well known to all thofe who are acquainted with ecclefiaftical hiftory; and it would puzzle the ableft de-` fenders of them to point out any real advantages that were ever derived from them. ART. XII. A View of the Laft Judgment. By John Smith, One of the Ministers of Campbletown. 8vo. 5s. bound. Cadell. 1783. E have here another Boanerges, who affects to grafp the bolt, and dart the lightning of the gospel.' WE Audax Japeti genus, Ignem fraude malâ gentibus intulit. HOR. The principles on which we founded our chief objections to Mr. Whitaker's Sermons [Vid. laft Month's Review], operate with equal force against the prefent performance. A prolix and ftudied declamation on fubjects that are inexpreffible; a fcenical representation of events which are inconceivable, generally fatigue, and frequently difguft, the mind. Defcription enervates a magnificent object when it attempts to delineate its component and minuter parts; and though when contemplated in a general view, and left in the majefty of its own incomprehenfibility, it would probably make a very forcible impreffion on the imagination, yet when it is broken into minute divifions, and particularized by familiar circumftances, under the pretence of accommodating it to the conceptions of the multitude, it lofes its folemn Author of the Galic Antiquities, &c, &c. dignity, dignity, and the end defigned by fuch a reprefentation is defeated and loft. This remark is peculiarly applicable to the fubject before us. The LAST JUDGMENT must be confidered as a scene of such ineffable grandeur and folemnity, that it will not admit of particular delineation. Comparisons fall infinitely fhort of illustration; and allufions, inftead of affifting our conceptions, will only weaken the impreffion of the main object. If the great be mixed with the familiar, the preacher will burlesque what he attempted to exemplify. If he defcends to the minute, and attempts to exalt it by the glitter and pomp of language, he will, in all probability, run into the bombaft: at the utmost he cannot avoid a motley jargon, if he is violently bent on being circumftantial in his reprefentations. Contrary images will blend; and the affociation will fhock us as unnatural, or be laughed at as ridiculous. Mr. Smith, we acknowledge, poflefleth a vigor and fertility of fancy; but his defcriptions are too luxuriant and fantastic for the awful and fublime objects which he undertakes to delineate. He gives scope to his imagination with too uncontrouled a licence, and doth not always perceive how far it rambles beyond the bounds of fenfe, modefty, and decorum. There are undoubtedly very striking and affecting paffages in thefe difcourfes. The images are fometimes very beautiful, and the language, in many places, is remarkably elegant and forcible. Sometimes it is over-ornamented-its luxuriance palls: its glare wearies the eye; and the cant of enthufiafm intermixed with it, too frequently naufeates the reader, whofe tafle is formed on the chafter models of eloquence. But in general the language is eafy, flowing, and perfpicuous. The Author's theological fyttem is compofed out of what Mr. Whitaker calls the Herefy of Calvinifm' and on the dreadful theme of damnation he is as terrible as Mr. Whitaker himself. This work is divided into five chapters. 1. Of the circumftances that fhall precede the Laft Judgment. 2. Of the Procedure of the Judgment. 3. A View of the Bleffed; with fome Obfervations on the Economy of Grace, and the Difpenfation of Providence. 4. A View of the Wicked, and of the Iffues of Judgment. 5. A Review of the Laft Judgment; or fome Reflections on the preceding Chapters. In the fourth chapter Mr. Smith not only delineates the leading features of the damned, and defcribes their characters; but he calls many of them by their names. There is Lot's wife-and Efau, and Pharaoh, and Zimri, and Cofbi, and Balaam, and Saul, and Nabal, and the fons of Eli, and Ahab, and Jezebel, and Herod, and Caiphas, and Pilate, and Judas, and the Nine Lepers, and the Hopeful Youth. They all pafs in rewiew before this fecond fighted man of the North Countrie-furrounded with the dark and livid flames of burning fulphur, emitted |