cafion, viz. to fetch a young Gentleman from thence as from a houfe of ill-fame, and that all the relations of that young Gentleman are at this time in great friendship with him. This is the fubftance of what is advanced by Bower's Country Neighbour; and we fhall leave our Readers to their own reflections upon it.

XV. Geographical, Hiftorical, Political, Philofophical, and Mechanical Elays. No. II. By Lewis Evans. 4to. Is. 6d. DodЛley.

In the Review, vol. XIV. p. 29, feq. we gave fome account of the first part of Mr. Evans's ingenious, public spirited, and ufeful work; which we are truly forry he did not live to compleat. This fecond part is employed in refuting a Letter published in the New-York Mercury of January 5, 1756; containing objections to thofe parts of Evans's General Map and Analysis, which relate to the French title to the country on the north-weft fide of St. Laurence river, between Fort-Frontenac and Montreal, &c. and reprefenting, alfo, the impropriety of fending forces to Virginia;, the importance of taking Frontenac; and that the prefervation of Olwego was owing to General Shirley's proceeding thither. To all thefe particulars our Author replies, with the appearance of much folidity of argument, as well as honefty of intention. He was, certainly, a fenfible man, a good geographer, (fo far, at least, as concerns that part of the world he treats of) and a true friend to his country; fo that his death may justly be deemed a public lofs.

XVI. Reasons for Building Barracks; Difincumbering the Inn keepers and Publicans; reftoring Difcipline to the Army; and a right Understanding between the Soldiers and the People; with fome cafual Remarks on the Nature, Genius, and Aptitude of a British Milita, 8vo. Is. Cooper.

It is very well known, that, in this land of liberty, foldiers as well as other fubjects, when not on military fervice, have no other obligation to good behaviour than the fear of incurring the penalties affixed to any, and every, infringement of the laws of their country. It is equally true, that they are always deemed inconvenient, and expenfive to the public-houfes; where, from the neceffity of their being in fome manner provided for, they are quartered. The prevention of future offence, the removal of fome just complaints, and a propofal to render thefe difciplined gentlemen of fomewhat more ufe to the community, are the reafons affigned for this publication: the author of which feems not inadequately acquainted with his fubject.

XVII. The Sham-fight; or Political Humbug. A State Farce, in two Acts; as it was acted by fome Perfons of Diftinction in the Mdn, and elsewhere. 8vo. 1s. Sold 'at Hogarth's Head, Fleetstreet.

This Political Humbug is comprized in feveral miferable buffoon dialogues; and is, on the whole, a more wretched catch

5

penny

penny than many of the common ballads, on the subject of our late misconduct in the Mediterranean, &c.

RELIGIOUS and CONTROVERSIAL.

XVIII. Comparative Theology: or, the true and folid Grounds of pure and peaceable Theology: a Subject very necessary, tho' hitherto almost wholly neglected. First laid down in an University discourse, and now tranflated from the original Latin. 12mo. IS. Printed for Cadell, Briftol, and fold by Cooper, London.

This is a new edition of an excellent tract, written originally in Latin, by Dr. James Garden, who was Profeffor of Divinity in the King's college, Aberdeen, for several years before the Revolution; but, after the establishment of Prefbytery in Scotland, was deprived of his profefforfhip, for refufing to fubfcribe the Westminster Confeffion of Faith, and the Formula. In the preface we have a fhort account of the Author, and of the work itself, which, we are told, was an introductory oration to one of the annual courses of divinity lectures. There have been several editions of it, both in Latin and English.

XIX. A Reply to Mr. Abraham Bourn's Free and Candid Confiderations, fhewing the Impropriety and Incompetency of that Work, &c. With a Preface addreffed to the Gentlemen of the Presbyterian Persuasion, especially in Liverpool. By Peter Whitfield. 8vo. Is. Liverpool printed, by R. Williamson, and fold by Hitch, &c. in London.

In the Review for March last, p. 258, we just mentioned Mr. Bourn's pamphlet, which was an answer to a tract of Mr. Whitfield's, occafionally written in vindication of the Author's conformity to the church of England, contrary to the principles of his education. This tract (which was only the preface to a book not yet published*) we had not then feen; but it hath fince fallen in our way. The Author, who is a perfon in trade, appears to be a man of good fenfe, confiderable learning, and extenfive reading; and is by no means a contemptible Controverfialist. Mr. Bourn, his antagonist, is alfo a lay-man, and a man of business, with the advantage of a liberal education: however, both these champions have given rather too much way to farcafms, and fneers at each other; as is too often the custom in literary, as well as other, debates. But this practice is both.

Entitled,The Chriftianity of the New Teftament; or a fcholaftic Defence of the Scripture Doctrines of Redemption, • Propitiation, &c. From a Comparison of the original meaning of those terms in the Hebrew of the Old Teftament, and the • Greek Verfion of the fame, with their Ufe and Application in the Writings of the New Teftament, against the Infidels and Libertines of this Age.'

ment,

314

unbecoming, and impertinent. It has nothing to do with argu ment, especially on religious subjects; and rather feems to indicate the party's defire to mortify his opponent, than to afcertain a

Truth.

As to the points in debate between Mefirs. Whitfield and Bourn, we leave them to fettle matters between themselves, as well as they can; for controverfies of this nature, are neither very entertaining, or improving, unless when treated in the most masterly manner, indeed; i. e. with the utmost candour and decency; with learning fully adequate to the subject; and a thorough knowwithout which Revelation itself will lege of human nature: not be fo completely understood, as it ought to be, by thofe who fet up for its Commentators and Expounders.

XX. A Reply to a Quare concerning Confirmation, in a Letter to a fcrupulous Friend. By a Prefbyter of the Church of England. 8vo. 6d. Rivington.

The queftion, to which an antwer is here given, is this:In cafe any perfon has received the holy Communion before Confirmation, is it neceflary for him to be confirmed afterwards?

But

In regard to this, our Author is of opinion, that the receiving the Lord's Supper prior to confirmation, cannot in the leaft fuperfede the neceffity of receiving the latter, when a proper opportunity offers. For if the Lord's Supper could convey to us all the benefits which confirmation does, there would then, he fays, be no occafion for Confirmation at all; and our Church, as well as the primitive one, would be to blame for appointing two ordinances to effect that which may as well be effected by one. a fpecial that the Church of Chrift in all ages has apprehended difference between the Graces and Effects of thefe two ordinances, he thinks evidently appears from the diftinction, which has ever been obferved between the Officer adminiftring the one and the other. All in Priests orders, and fometimes even Deacons, have a power to confecrate and adminifter the elements in the holy Eucharift; whereas the office of Confirmation has ever been referved to the Epifcopal order. In a word, he is of opinion, and he is certainly in the right, that a BISHOP can confer fome peculiar graces, which an ordinary Prieft cannot.

He tells us further, that the gift of the Holy Ghoft is generally the effect of Confirmation; that the Fathers of the Church alone have the power veiled in them of conferring, by impofition of hands and prayer, the manifold gifts of the Holy Ghost; that in the Sacraments of Baptifm and the Lord's Supper, the Holy Spirit communicates fuch myftical virtue to the outward figns as cleanfes the foul from fin, and produces the fpiritual life; but in Confirmation he communicates himself, fanctifies our perfons, takes up his refidence in our fouls, and makes our bodies to become his temples. If it be neceffary for Christians to be furnished with Brength against their fpiritual enemies, with divine graces to render them acceptable to God, and (in a word) to receive the Holy

Ghoft,

Ghoft, how can we depend, he aks, on any means for procuring fuch ineftimable benefits, but thofe which God has appointed in Confirmation?

Notwithstanding all that is faid of the ineftimable benefits derived from Confirmation, many very serious and fenfible persons are of opinion, that this ceremony, as it is at prefent appointed and practifed in our church, is fo far from conducing to the purpofes of piety and virtue, that it tends to cherish in mens minds falfe and prefumptuous hopes, and to delude them into wrong notions as to the fafety of their state, and as to the terms of acceptance and favour with God; whether this be fo or not, certainly deferves the ferious cenfideration of those who are concerned for the interefts of religion, or for the honour of our church.

XXI. No Proteftant Popery. A Letter of Admonition to the Rev. Mr. Samuel Pike. Occafioned by fome very offenfive Paffages in His Affembly's Catechism analized, explained, &c. which are animadverted upon, and the fole Authority of the facred Scriptures defended. By Caleb Fleming, Author of the Scale of Principles, &c. 8vo. 6d. Noon.

We have read this little piece with great pleasure, as we do every thing that is written in defence of the fundamental principles of Proteftantifm, the facred and unalienable rights of private judgment, which Mr. Fleming vindicates with fpirit, fenfe, and freedom. He animadverts very fmartly, and with a becom-i ing feverity, on Mr. Pike's remarks upon the Affimbly's Cate chifm, and makes fome very pertinent obfervations on the recommendation of that work by the Rev. Fathers Bradbury, Guife, Hall, Rawlin, and King. His principal defign is to vindicate the authority of Scripture, and the rights of Reafon, the first and beft of God's gifts to men. What he fays of the Affembly's Catechifm, appears to be very juft: he is of opinion, that it prejudices the mind against the plainnefs and fimplicity of the Golpel doctrine; that it has contributed not a little to promote the caufe of Infidelity; and that the decay of Religion among us, and a contempt of the Bible, is, probably, much owing to the mifreprefentations therein given of the Chriftian doctrine.-As for Mr. Pike, if there are any of our Readers who are unacquainted with his character, it may not be improper to inform them, that he is Orthodox to the Back-bone: it is a delicious part of his divinity, he tells us, that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, perfonally diftinct from each other, are each of them truly divine, and poeed of all the perfections of Deity.-This fweet, delicious morfel he may enjoy alone for us, unenvied: fuch delicacies may be very proper for weak ftomachs, but we require more fubflantial food.

XXII. Obfervations on the Doctrine of an Intermediate State, between Death and the Refurrection. With fome remarks on

the

the Rev. Mr. Goddard's fermon on that fubject. By Peter Peckard, A. M. late Fellow of C. C. College, Oxford. 8vo. Is. Owen.

Thefe obfervations are written with a view to defend Dr. Law's difcourfe on the Nature and End of Death under the Chriftian Covenant, and the Appendix to it, against what Mr. Goddard has advanced in oppofition to it. It is not Mr. Peckard's defign, however, to write a regular and particular defence, nor to give a formal anfwer to Mr. Goddard's difcourfe, nor to draw up an elaborate treatise upon the subject of an intermediate state, but only to give a short account of the rife and progrefs of the opinion of an intermediate state of fenfibility, to ftate the nature of the queftion in difpute, and to give a concise sketch of fome of the principal confequences attending it, and it's oppofite.

As to the merit of the performance, we fhall only say, that the reader will find in it some just reflections concerning the doctrine of the natural immortality of the foul, and fome very free sentiments, in regard to church authority.

XXIII. Remarks upon a late Treatife relating to the Intermediate State: or, the happiness of righteous fouls, immediately after death, fully proved. 8vo. 6d. Corbet.

The first and laft fentences of this fhort piece, may give the difcerning reader a juft idea of it. Our Remarker fets out thus. - It is the doctrine of the church of England, and has been the doctrine of all true Chriftian churches, fince the apostles time, that righteous fouls, fo foon as they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity.'

He concludes in the following manner. I have faid nothing ⚫ out of an uncharitable fpirit' (this is not true by the bye) or ⚫ ill-will to any man living; but from a well-grounded perfuafion, that no man can believe the doctrine of the foul's fleep⚫ing till the refurrection, unless blinded by his ghoftly enemy; or propagate it, but by the initigation of the fame evil fpirit: fo that my chief view, in writing thefe Remarks, was to ba• nifh an error out of the world that is contrary to the faving religion of the gospel, and naturally tends to corrupt and deftroy

.

the fouls of all that receive it.'

XXIV. True Cenfure no Afperfion: or a Vindication of a late seasonable Admonition, called, A Word to the Hutchinfonians. In a Letter to the Rev. Mr. Horne. By Philologus Oxonienfis 8vo. 6 d. Baldwin.

The author opposes railing accufations, and bitter words, which he calls fiery weapons; and recommends modefty, as having a perfuafive power that does, and will always prevail. In the management of most controverfies of late, the gentle⚫ men who are concerned lay afide the character of minifters of the gospel of peace, and chufe rather to appear with the vi

⚫rulence