1 Alcides, ftupeat paribus te ferre lacertis Gallia quam fubito trepidaverit excita motu, We will only add, that as the young Gentleman appears to have made an early acquaintance with the Mufes, we do not doubt but that a growing intimacy with those agreeable Ladies will improve his genius, and lead him to that point of Fame to which his young Ambition afpires. R-d Art. 11. A Poem on the Pomfret Statues. To which is added, another on Laura's Grave. 4to. 6d. Oxford printed for Danl Prince. Sold alfo by Rivington and Fletcher in London. The Verfes on the Statues, (fays an Advertisement prefixed to them) were to have been spoken in the Theatre, at Oxford, at the • Commemoration which the Countess of POMFRET honoared with her prefence.In the year 1756, another copy of Pomfret Verfes appeared in print, with a like Advertisement at their head. We have obferved nothing extraordinary in either publication. * See Review, vol. XV. p. 202. MEDICA L. Art. 12. The Virtues of Wild Valerian in Nervous Diforders. With directions for gathering the root, and for chufing the right kind, when it is bought dry. Shewing, that the uncertainty of effect in this valuable medicine is owing to adulteration, or ill management. By John Hill, M. D. Illuftrated with figures, exhibiting the true and false root, and the entire planis. 8vo. Is. Baldwin. In no cafe is it more neceffary to guard against impofition, than in whatever relates to the health of the human body. The efficacy of the wild Valerian in the cure of many diforders, particularly in nervous affections, has long been acknowleged; but the utmost circumspection is neceffary in the choice and application of it; and this more especially, if we reflect how little confidence ought to be repofed in the knowlege or integrity of the perfons generally employed to collect and furnish the fhops with this truly valuable medicine. To detect intended or accidental impoftures, with refpect to this root, and to determine the genuine characteristics of its feveral varieties, is the defign of this pamphlet; a defign really useful, and, as it appears to us, us, fo well executed, that we moft fincerely recommend it to the attention of dealers in drugs, under all denominations, throughout the kingdom. RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERTIAL. น Art. 13. Natural and Revealed Religion at variance: a curious controverfy between the Bishop of London, and Dr. Thomas Sherlock, found in the fourth volume of feveral difcourfes preached at the Temple-Church, by the late Master of the Temple. 8vo. 6 d. Fenner. This little piece contains fome fmart remarks upon the fourth volume of the Bishop of London's Difcourfes; the Author points out, with fpirit and freedom, feveral inconfiftencies and contradictions in his Lordship's reafonings, efpecially in his difcourfe upon Phil.in 6-11. R Art. 14. The Holy Jerufalem; or, an Enquiry into thofe myfterious prophetic Systems, which declare the feveral ages and fucceffions of the Church of God, from its firft creation and pilgrimage, to its entrance into God's holy reft, the ever glorious kingdom of Chrift, now near at hand. With annotations on feveral of the Pfalms of David, c. and Solomon's Song. By the Author of the New Explanation of the Revelation. 8vo. 4 s. Ofborn. If poffible, a ftill more whimfical and more stupid performance than the Author's New Explanation of the Revelation *, but much in the fame stile. D *See our account of that strange performance, Rev. Vol. XVIII. p. 5021 Art. 15. A Letter to the Reverend Dr. Free. By John Welley, M. A. 12mo. 1d. Trye. Printed at Bristol. . Dr. Free having lately entered into a controverfy with the Methodists, (fee Review for May laft, p. 499, and alfo laft Appendix, p. 634, Art. 28.) is like to have work enough upon his hands before he gets rid of it, and them: for their name is Legion.-The Doctor, has taken fome notice of this little piece, in the preface to a late ferSee Single Sermons, at the end of this number. mon. Art. 16. Military Devotion: or, the Soldier's Duty to God, his Prince, and his Country. Containing fourteen fermons, preached at the Camps near Blandford and Dorchester, A. D. 1756 and 1757. With an Appendix, containing Reafons for a concife Form of Prayer for our Army in Camp, as in other Proteftant countries in time of war, especially Pruffia and Sweden. Addreffed to our pious legiflature; with pfalms, leffons, and collects felected: alfo prayers for fick in hofpitals, wounded in the field, or for a foldier under fentence of death by a court martial. By the Rev. Mr. William Agar, Chaplain to his Majesty's twentieth regi ment ment of foot, and Rector of South Kelfey St. Mary's, and Bifkerthorpe, in Lincolnshire. 8vo. 5s. Dodfley, &c. Notwithstanding the good defign that appears to have animated the pious Author of this work, we can fay little more in its commendation. Mr. Agar feems to have a warm head, as well as a warm heart; and, upon the whole, we cannot but think he would do well to drop his acquaintance with the prefs, and confine his inclinations to do good, within the limits of his Majefty's twentieth regiment of foot, and the rectories of South Kelfey St. Mary's, and Bifkerthorpe, in Lincolnshire. SINGLE SERMONS. ULES the Discovery of falfe Prophets; or the dangerous Rimpofitions of the People called Methodis detected at the Bar of Scripture and Reafon. Preached before the University at St. Mary's in Oxford, on Whitfunday, 1758. With a Preface in vindication of certain Articles propofed to the ferious confideration of the Company of Salters in London: And an Appendix, containing authenic Vouchers; from the writings of the Methodists, &c. in fupport of the Charge which has been brought against them. By John Free, D. D. Vicar of Eaft Coker, in Somersetshire, Thursday-Lecturer of St. Mary-Hill, London, and Lecturer of Newington, in Surry. 8vo. 6d. Sandby. 2. At the Confecration of Philip, Lord Bishop of Bristol, June 28, 1758. at Bow-church. By James Backhouse, M. A. Fellow of Trinity-College, Cambridge. 4to. 6d. B. Dod, &c. 3. The principal Work, Difficulties, and Supports of faithful Minifiers of the Gofpel. Preached before the Synod of Aberdeen. By William Hay, A. M. 8vo. 6 d. Keith. 4. The Reasonableness and Advantage of allowing Minifters to deli ver their Sentiments with Freedom. Preached at the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Caleb Rotherham, at Kendal, on the 26th of August, 1756. By S. Lowthion. 8vo. Is. Waugh. 5. The glorious first of Auguft, or the Bleffings of the Revolution compleated, by the Proteftant Succeffion, in the amiable and illuftrious Houfe of Hanover. Preached at Salter's-Hall, Auguft 1, 1758, to the Society that fupport the Lord's Day Morning Lecture at Little St. Helen's. By George Benfon, D. D. 8vo. 6d. Waugh. 6. The Wisdom of God in the Gospel Revelation. Preached at the opening of the General Affembly of the Church of Scotland, in May 1758. By Dr. William Leechman, Profeffor of Divinity in the Univerfity of Glafgow. Svo. Is. We would recommend Dr. Leechman's Sermon to the attentive' perufal of every one converfant with religious Enquiries, and efpeci ally every Minifter of the Gofpel. It is, indeed, an excellent Difcourfe; contains many folid and ufeful reflections; difcovers great compafs of thought; and is written in the true fpirit of Chriftianity R 1 THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For SEPTEMBER, 1758. Confiderations upon War, upon Cruelty in general, and religious Cruelty in particular. Aljo an Attempt to prove, that everlasting punishments are inconfiftent with the Divine Attributes. In feveral letters and effays. To which are added, Effays on divers other fubjects, and an Oration in praife of Deceit and Lying. 8vo. 5 s. Ofborne. HE principal defign of fome of thefe Effays, we are told, in the preface, is to fet the vice of Cruelty and unneceffary War, fo nearly allied to it, in such a deteftable light, as 'vices which are the great scandal of human nature, and bane ⚫ of human happiness, deserve to be placed.' A defign which, our Author hopes, will be well received, especially as the manner in which it hath been executed, may have fomewhat of novelty to recommend it. But whatever weight the motive to this performance may have with the humane, or the novelty of it with the curious Reader, we much doubt its meeting with a like reception from the judicious. The manner is clumfy throughout, the ftile and language very inaccurate, and the sentiment rarely juft, where it is not quite trite and common; and the Author fhews a great affectation of learning, and acuteness of judgment, without ability to fupport his pretenfions to either. He first gives two letters to Mr. J. M. in which the fubjects of the following differtations being started, it was judged proper to affix them as a kind of introduction; though the Author himself, in the reafon he affigns for publishing them, VOL. XIX. Р feems . feems to think fome apology for it neceffary. The occafion of writing the two letters that precede thefe Effays will appear by the letters: but it may be neceffary to give a reafon whythey are here inferted. Nothing more was at firft defigned to be wrote by the Author on Cruelty and War, than would have been comprized in two or three epiftles, which were not intended for the public: but the worthy person to whom those above mentioned were addreffed, dying foon after they were written, the fubjects of them made fuch an impreffion on the • Writer, and were thought of fo much concernment to mankind in general, that he has added largely to his first defign. Thefe letters therefore having occafioned the following differtations, and being moftly on the fame fubject, it was thought proper they fhould be published with them.' The two firft effays treat on Cruelty and War in general. The following fentiments, containing the fubftance of his fhort introduction to them, prefage no very bright reflections, or agrceable entertainment, to fuch as are difpofed to think favourably of their own fpecies. When we denominate pity and compaflion, humanity, becaufe, as we fay, they are qualities belonging or effential to man, do we not rather compliment our fpecies, or at least the bulk of them, with what they ought to be, than truly describe what they really are? Whoever takes an impartial view of the behaviour and actions of the greater part of mankind, muft allow, that tenderness and compaflion are much lefs their true characteristics, than hard-heartedness and cruelty. But our being obliged to acknowlege this truth, ought not to render thofe vices lefs odious to us, or flacken * our endeavours to eradicate, or suppress them?' Effay I. is divided into four fections; in the firft of which the Author is at great pains to fhew, that there is a natural propensity to cruelty in great numbers of our fpecies. This he thinks is evident from the pleafure people take in beholding not only animals, but human creatures alfo, in pain and mifery and his proofs are drawn from fuch inftances as a Nero, a Caligula, a Domitian, or a Muley Ifmael; from the many barbarous diverfions amongst us, as hunting, racing, cock-fighting, boxing, &c. from the extreme fondnefs of the antient Romans for the barbarous fpectacles of beafts fighting with beafts, men with beafts, and men with men; though he owns, to the honour of the Greeks, that there never were any fuch fpectacles as these among them, till Greece was conquered by the Romans. The judicious Reader will eafily difcern, that this dark conclufion is drawn from a partial and confined view of human nature, |
