Welcomes it soon. Her Nobles, Merchants, and accomplish'd Fair There England's King and Queen, Till, by their Bounty bless'd, he issues forth, The subject of this poem is briefly but comprehensively stated in the first three lines: The Spiral Hop, high mantling, how to train -No common care to Britain's gen'rous sons, Lovers of "nut brown ale"-sing, fav'ring Muse!' In two books, the author pursues this design; pointing out the aspect and situation of the Hop Garden; what soil is most congenial to the Hop; the management of different kinds of soil; seasons for planting; time and method of planting; directions concerning Poles; troops of Hop-pickers delineated; the vintage described, &c. &c.-A Sequel Poem' treats, for the most part, of the liquor in which Hops are a constituent ingredient;' branching out into a variety of illustrative remarks and descriptions; and concluding with an exhortation to Sobriety. 1 We shall copy the description of a day's labour during the Hail, joyous Season! with auspicious smile And aid its future need.-From bin to bin The gen'ral work ;-commends, instructs, reproves— That has for many a season lent her [qu. bis?] aid, • The The blossoms, newly pick'd, behold convey'd By Summer's fervid pow'r. O Planter! now By slow degrees when parch'd to th' inmost core— A welcom'd journey to the neighb'ring mart *.' The story of Emma and Osmund in the second book seems. to be a copy from Celadon and Amelia in Thomson's Seasons; and we cannot say that the comparison is favourable to the imitation. As the author describes the following instance of generosity in a soldier as founded in truth, it deserved to be recorded in the pleasing and impressive manner in which he has related it: Beside a path, worn bare by frequent feet, * The method of bagging the Hops is this: a hole being made in an upper-floor large enough to receive the mouth of a bag or pocket (as it is usually called) a handful of hops is tied in each lower corner, to serve as holdings; the mouth is then fastened securely round the hole; when the hops are thrown in by one person, while another continues to tread them down till the bag is full,' A knap. A knapsack o'er his belted shoulders lay, And thus him instant hail'd: "Well pleas'd, brave Youth! Which that poor Suff'rer's Wants more urgent need Swift, as if marching to the battle's call, away To hear the voice of praise. Unknown, he fled, Him in the martial ranks which Freedom's Isle * To heav'n's high chancery, delighted, bore; In glorious characters of living light, Bright as the sun, and purer than his fires.' We must now finish our remarks on this poem; of which a judgment may be formed from the quotations that we have made. On former occasions, we have expressed a favorable opinion of Dr. Booker's poetical talents, which is not lessened. by the perusal of the present work t. The accusing Spirit, and recording Angel mentioned by Sterne will not fail here to occur to the mind of the reader.' An account of Dr. B.'s poem descriptive of Malvern will be found in our Review for December 1798. The volume before us forms a kind of supplement to that publication. ART, ART. XV. E The Pastoral Care. By the late Alexander Gerard, D. D. F. R. S. E. Professor of Divinity in the University and King's College of Aberdeen, and one of his Majesty's Chaplains in Ordinary for Scotland. Published by his Son and Successor, Gilbert Gerard, D. D. 8vo. PP. 427. 7s. Boards. jun. and Davies. 1799. Cadell an XPERIENCE demonstrates that those whose peculiar profession it is to instruct the rest of mankind, in the duties of religion, have themselves often need of improvement, admonition, and reproof; and early in the history of the Christian church, works designed for this purpose were deemed expedient and ne-cessary. Among the most eloquent compositions of the eloquent Chrysostom, are his six books on the Priesthood; and the Cura Pastoralis of Gregory, called the Great, is inferior to none of his other writings. In latter times, particularly in France, incredible number of volumes have been published, in various forms and under various titles, on the same subject: which has not been neglected by the writers of our own country, although those who have professedly written on the duties of a Pastor are not very numerous: unless we take into the account the many Episcopal Charges which are almost yearly given by our vigilant and zealous Prelates. Among these, the chatges of Secker hold a distinguished rank; and, with the Pastoral Care of Burnet, and the Ecclesiastical Cases of Stillingfleet, form a good body of pastoral instructions, adapted to our established system of religion, and to the situation of the English clergy. The posthumous volume before'us is chiefly calculated for the situation of the Scottish clergy: but, as the editor observes, it may not be unprofitable to those also of other persuasions; who will find it throughout breathing a spirit of rational and elevated piety, and marked with that candour and moderation which distinguished the character of the writer.'-To this we willingly subscribe, after we have read the whole volume with attention; and it is with pleasure that we now sit down to give a more particular account of its contents. It is divided into Three Parts; of which the first treats on the Importance of the Pastoral Office, -the second on the Duties of the Pastoral Office,—and the third on the Requisites for performing those Duties. All these subjects are discussed in a plain, easy, methodical manner; and although the style is neither animated nor elegant, it is never embarrassed nor obscure: two defects which are far from being uncommon in the writings of the present day. The Importance of the pastoral office arises from two circumstances; its dignity and its difficulty. By some, the dignity of this sacred office has been displayed in all the pomp of elo quence, and exaggerated by an accumulation of the boldest figures but the present age would give no indulgence to that sort of declamation. To raise the dignity of the pastoral station above the naked truth is indeed not only useless but hurtful also, in the apprehension of our author: what has real dignity" and importance stands not in need of exaggeration...a simple exposition of its intrinsic moment is sufficient for procuring it that degree of honour which it merits, and will most effectually procure it.' The Christian ministry, according to Dr. Gerard, is truly an holy office, but only in this sense that it is occupied about holy things. In every case, the dignity of an occupation depends, in a great degree, on its end; and in this view the Christian ministry possesses the greatest dignity: for the pastoral office is concerned not about the temporal fortunes of men, but about their immortal souls. Not only from the sublimity of its end, however, but also from the nature of its functions, it derives honour and weight. It is the business of ministers to inculcate the noblest truths; and to form the souls of men to that divine temper, which will fit them for the everlasting society of God. The real dignity and importance of the pastoral office, therefore, ought to impress, both on those who occupy it and on those who aspire to it, sentiments which are truly and uniformly becoming it. By setting out with a high sense of the dignity and importance of their profession, and constantly maintaining that sense, they will best preserve themselves from thinking or acting beneath it, will-refine and elevate their views and aims in choosing, in undertaking, and in executing it; and add spirit to all their endeavours,' in all these respects. -From the people, also, the nature of the pastoral office de mands respect. A value for the office itself, and esteem for those who worthily exercise it, are inseparable. Every instance of disregard to the functions of a minister betrays a defegt in men's value for their office, and every failure in improving by their functions shews some perversion in the manner of conceiving the importance of their office.' Such is the subject of the first three sections of ch. 1. In sect. 4. the Doctor treats On the Contempt of the Clergy: which spirit shews itself in different ways. Sometimes it breaks out against the office itself. In establishments, where it leads to riches or political pre-eminence, it is reproached as prostituted to worldly views; and in others where it can scarcely raise the occupiers above poverty, it is despised as low and unreputable, by artfully confounding its natural and primary tendency, with the abuses of it, after this tendency has been resisted and defeated. |