ART. 33. A Sermon, preached April 26th, at New-Court, CareyStreet. By Richard Winter. Published by Request. 8vo. 6d. Buckland. London, 1789. In this ferious little difcourfe the author fhews the propriety of, and proves from fcripture, our authority for praying to God for kings; that is, for the government, be it fettled as it may. ART. 34 In this fenfible and modeft difcourfe the author points out the advantages of trufting to the power and goodness of the Almighty in all worldly affairs. In this part he fhews the various bleffings this nation has received, and the judgments it has experienced. In the fecond part he confiders what it becomes us as a nation, and as individuals, to do that we may still have God for our refuge and ftrength. Here our author adverts with much propriety to the great want of political faith between nations, and afcribes most of our public calamities to that fource. This leads him to a confideration of the fources of private vices, againft which he is equally urgent and judicious. Proper applications are interfperfed of the late apprehended calamity, without that mixture of party we have too often had occafion to cenfure. ART. 35. A Country Curate's Addrefs to his Parishioners: or, a Sermon preached 23d April. Dedicated to the King. 4to. Is. Printed for the Author. Goadby, Sherborne; Baldwin, London. 1789. As we doubt not the beft intentions in this country curate in publishing his fermon, we wish he may difpofe of copies enough to indemnify his expences. ART. 36. A Thanksgiving Sermon, preached April 23d at the Parish Church of Olney, in the County of Bucks. By James Bean, Vicar ef Olney. 8vo. is. Johnfon. London, 1789. A modeft, fenfible difcourfe on the various obligations we are under to the Fountain of all good; with fome fuitable reflections on the fubject of the day. ART. 37. Some men think they never can have too much of good things, nor too often introduce as many of them as poffible. Mr. Newton having flightly glanced at the king's recovery, proceeds to fhew the glory of the future coming of the Lord himfelf, the good fhepherd, &c. and, left any thing fhould be omitted, the fermon concludes with fome proofs of the divinity of Chrift. And this is not all; for a hymn of thanksgiving is annexed on his majesty's happy recovery. ART. 38. A Sermon on the King's Recovery, preached at the Cathedral Church of Ely, by Cefar Morgan, Minor Canon and Preacher at that Church. 8vo. cd. Merril, Cambridge; Cadell, London, 1789. A fenfible discourse, equally free from enthusiasm and coldness, on the advantages a conftant impreffion of the divine prefence produces on a Christian temper. Some remarks are interspersed well suited to the occafion. ART. 39. A Sermon on his Majefly's Recovery, preached 23d April, 1789, at St. Laurence's Church, Southampton, by James Scott, M. A. Redor, and Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majefly. 4to. 18. Baker, Southampton; Bew, London. 1789. In this calm, rational, and well-intended difcourfe the reverend author endeavours to cultivate a fpirit of candour to the failings of others, and a determination always to act in fuch a manner as may enable us to judge with impartiality. This leads him to confider in what manner the affairs of government fhould be canvaffed by individuals. Here he takes great pains to distinguish between that open difcuffion which our conftitution not only admits, but by which it is in fome measure supported ; and that too general clamour which arifes from party difcontent or other bad paffions. The whole concludes with obfervations and exhortations well fuited to the day. ART. 40. The Confiftency of Man's Free Agency, &c. in a Difcourfe preached at Great Yarmouth, 23d April 1789, on his Majefty's Recovery. By S. Cooper, D. D. 4to. is. Downes, Yarmouth; Robinfons, London. 1789. Dr. Cooper endeavours to reconcile the prefcience of God with the free-agency of man, on the principles of Dr. Fofter and fome other divines, viz. by analogy with the knowledge men have of each others probable future actions, on any given occafions. As we are not convinced of the propriety of entering into fo laboured a difcuffion on fuch an occafion, fo neither fhall we weary our reader with any opinions on this fubject. The conclufion of the fermon may be very just, but has too great a mixture of party language for the pulpit. ART. 41. Sermon on the Day of Public Thanksgiving, preached at St. Margaret's Church, Wfimin er. By Samuel Hay, A. M. late Senior Uber of Wefiminfter-School. 4to. IS. Cadell. Lon don, 1789. In this fermon the reverend author begins by arguing the corrupted ftate of our nature from the readinefs we fhew in complain. ing of every little difquietude, and the unthankfulness with which we live in the enjoyment of numberless mercies. He then proceeds, on general principles, to argue in favour of a particular Providence, and to point out the peculiar obligations Chriftians owe to the Almighty. This leads him to a confideration of the bleffing we derive from liberty in this ifland, and the happiness we experience from the virtuous example on the throne, which the ingenuity and malignant zeal of envy have in vain endeavoured to fully.' For ONTESQUIEU has obferved, That to regulate and reftrain is wisdom and power; but that to change and fubvert is weakness and tyranny.' Sir John Davis, again, a philofopher, a wit, and ftatefman, high in reputation as well as office, in the reign of James the First, in difcourfing on the state of Ireland fays, that as it is neceffary to break and fubdue the foil before it is capable of receiving feed and bringing forth corn and fruit; fo, in the grand business of legislation for rude and barbarous kingdoms, the power of petty tyrants is to be broken, and evil customs and habits to be quafhed and abolished in the first place, and good laws and just government to be substituted in their room, in the second. These maxims, though apparently contradictory, are nevertheless, in certain circumstances, both of them true. Innovation, in general, is neither to be condemned nor approved. It is to be condemned where it is the mere effect of wanton levity and humour, and, as fuch, muft naturally lead to still farther change and revolution: it is to be approved where it forms a part of a juft and wife fyftem, founded on that moral code which is immutable and eternal. To change and fubvert the conftitution of England would be weakness and tyranny; to change and fubvert that of France, and to transform it into a free government, is an operation of power and wisdom. But, even in the act of changing and fubverting the defpotisin of the French monarchy, there is the most urgent and indifpenfable neceffity to regulate and reftrain that great body which is now fet in motion, and which cannot be wielded without the rarest and happiest union of talents and virtues. Fortunately this union is found in the National Affembly of France. The æra feems to be restored when the affairs of infant states were arranged by the wisdom of a Lycurgus, a Solon, and a Plato. Never did human genius perform fo great a part, on fo great a theatre, as that which has been referved for the patriots of France! The fate of twenty-four millions of fouls, and of millions of millions yet unborn, depends on their decifions! The of The circumftances and confiderations to be taken into that general estimate which is to form the bafis of the new constitution are many and various. Much time feems to be requifite for the erection of an edifice that must be divided into many compartments, accommodate fo many inhabitants differing from one another in fentiments, views, and pretenfions, and which, if not firmly compacted, and made fit to endure for a long feries ages, muft tumble down and involve the fate of millions in its ruins. Yet, as there is danger of precipitation on the one hand, there is danger of delay on the other. Ficklenefs is natural to the great body of the people in every country; but the levity of the French nation is proverbial. In all great revolutions the people expect fome new and happy order of affairs, that is to be full of profperity and joy, and to drown, in prefent tranquillity and content, the remembrance of paft misfortunes and forrow. They expect they know not what; but fomething good and full of comfort. The momentary importance which they enjoy, in the tumult of revolution, they vainly imagine will be lafting. They are confident that the aufpicious moment has at last arrived, in which a juft Providence has, in their behalf, revenged and atoned for all former inequalities of fortune. A little time destroys the fond illufion. Labour and duft; poverty, want, and corroding care; a thousand anxieties return, in all their wonted force; and, to add to their disappointment and chagrin, fome of their equals have rifen to fituations of opulence and diftinction in the general confufion and feramble. Mortification takes place of joy, disappointment of fanguine expectation. Even old times appear now to be better than the prefent; and a new revolution is wifhed for with all the levity that led to the former, fharpened with the vinegar of vengeance. It is thus that fo many revolutions, happily effected, have been fuddenly overthrown by a reflux in the tempers and tone of the people. This important truth is well illuftrated by the hiftory of the ancient republics of Greece, and that of the ftates of modern Italy. If the ardour of the people of France fhould be allowed time to cool, or be diverted into fome new channel; farewell to all fchemes of reformation! The loyalifts would begin to lift up their heads; they would fpring up, like men from the earth, of whom we read in ancient fables, in incredible numbers. Their party would again prevail. And, as in England, it was matter of wonder, after the reftoration, whence all those men had come, or where they were now to be found, who had oppofed and perfecuted the king; fo in France the found of Vive le Roi! might again be vociferated by every mouth, and there might be reafon to wonder what had become of all the patriots! The The General affembly of France, aware of all this, endeavour to unite dispatch to deliberation. They have begun with a declaration of the natural rights of men. The king, the monarchy, the feudal conftitution, are out of the question, The grand monarque is thrown wholly into the back-ground of the picture. If he appears at all, he appears in the light of a valet de chambre, ftanding behind the chair, and waiting to receive the orders of his mafters. Thus kings ought to ftand, and the majefty of the people to be exalted! The next step to be taken by the French parliament was, to restrain the violence, and, if poffible, to put an end to those bloody profcriptions which difgraced the caufe of justice and freedom. But this was tender ground. It was the irregular, the defultory, and ftern authority of a furious and armed people, that gave fanction and weight to the acts of the new legiflators. How fhall they punish and intimidate the leaders of their conftituents without flying in the face of their own power, or fubverting that spirit of infurrection and refiftance, on which alone it was founded? When a motion was made in the National Affembly for quafhing the fury of the people by an act of legiflative authority, it was overruled by the good-sense of a great majority, who clearly faw that the excefies of the people must be connived at a little longer, if it was intended to bring what they had undertaken to a juft conclufion. The fury of the people has not yet spent its force. Many perfons of rank, property, and character, apprehenfive of popular outrage, continue to make their efcape into other countries. England, which has the glory of being the great patronefs of freedom, and muft accordingly favour the prefent grand revolution, has alfo the glory of affording a secure afylum to the friends and adherents of a fallen monarch. Amidst the distractions that prevail in France, it is a fortunate circumftance that the new police of Paris has been established with fuch expedition, and on ground fo well fortified against the encroachments of tyranny, and fo favourable to the interefts of the people. Other cities and towns will probably adopt the model, and follow the example, that has been fet by Paris. And thus peace and good order will, it is to be hoped, be gradually reestablished throughout the whole of the pro vinces. Among the measures that have been taken by the National Affembly for the deftruction of defpotifin, the establishment of liberty, and the fecurity of property, we find them recognifing the national debt, giving fecurity for public credit, and liquidating parochial tythes. The firm establishment of public credit is a mighty engine in the hands of government DIGRESSION |