GILPIN’S 
. be produced, and which no well- 
rmed ear can tolerate. Thrice, at 
Teast, the term concerning occurs as a 
participle: the concerning truth of a fu- 
ture judgement, page 81, a short axiom 
concerning in its substance, page 125; 
and in page 187, we read, “in a sorry 
manner indeed, would the ministers of 
the gospel fulfil the concerning duties of 
their profession, &c.” 
In page 165, we are told, “ that we 
must be content to sit down in disap- 
pointment, though not in disconsolation;’’ 
and, in another place, “ the cottage of 
the labourer is the residence of disconsola- 
tion and want.”’? If we had not met with 
such an unusual application of words, we 
should have supposed mortal to have 
been inserted in the following passage 
by some mistake on the part of the prin- 
i “ Ts it not criminal in him to make 
is difference a plea for withdrawing 
‘from his brother mortal love and cha- 
mity?? 
Having, in the faithful discharge of 
our duty, thus freely censured, we turn 
to the more pleasing part of our office. 
| We ean sincerely recommend this vo- 
hime, as containing a brief, but well ar- 
ranged, and ably executed view of some 
| of the leading proofs of the divine ori- 
| gin of the gospel. Notwithstanding the 
Occasional blemishes which we have no- 
| ticed, these discourses are upon the whole 
| well written, and contain many pas- 
sages very forcible and eloquent. The 
volumé is composed of nine sermons. 
| The frst is introductory to those on the 
| evidences of christianity ; the second is 
on the evidence arising from prophecy; 
the third on the evidence arising from 
miracles; the fourth on the internal cha- 
|racter of christianity ; the fifth on the 
evidence arising from the propagation 
and establishment of christianity ; the 
‘sixth on the necessity of practical reli- 
on; the seventh on the christian spirit; 
the eighth a fast sermon preached during 
the last war; and the ninth a thanks- 
giving sermon on peace. 
8vo. pp. 456. 
NO style of composition is attained 
vith more difficulty by a man of learn- 
ing, than that which prevails in the 
work now before us; yet no one is of 
qual importance to those who are situ- 
SERMONS, 165 
As a specimen of the information and: 
pleasure to be derived from these dis- 
courses, we present our readers with the 
following: 
«« But the beneficent character of our Sa- 
viour’s miracles is not the only attestation of 
an heavenly origin with which they are im- 
pressed, and of the consequent truth of the 
system which hetaught. Their number and 
their magnitade point’to the same conclu- 
sions. They inclined the thinking party, 
even amongst the Jews, in spite of their ge- 
neral erroneous notions respecting the Mes- 
siah, to hesitate whether our Saviour might 
not be considered as that promised personage. 
*‘ When Christ cometh,’ say they, ¢ will he 
do more miracles than this man hath done?’ 
And if impartially investigated and seriously 
attended to, they must have the same effect 
ie every reflecting mind of the present 
day. 
‘* Turn to the sacred pages which record 
the wonders that he worked, and behold all 
nature subject to his power. The winds of 
Heaven fly to do his pleasure, and the raging 
of the sea subsides at his command. He 
wills the change, and immediately the sim- 
ple element is converted into wine; and 
plenty is produced in the barren wilderness. 
He says, let there be light in those eyes which 
have been blind from their birth, and there is 
light. He says, let the tongue be untied 
whéh nature had bound down in silence, 
and instantly it is unloosed, and sings hosan- 
nahs to the Son of David. Thedevils them- 
selves tremble at and obey the voice of 
Christ; at his word the evil spirit relinquishes 
the object of his malice; ‘ind the poor pos- 
sessed wretch who was lately writhing un- 
der the agonizing paroxisms of demoniacal 
phrensy, is now seen in his right mind, sit- 
ting at the feet of his compassionate deliver- 
er, and listening to the gracious words that 
fall from his mouth. Even the dead hear 
the command of the Son of God, and awaken 
from their deep repose. At his omnipotent 
word the last enemy disgorges his prey ; the 
daughter of Jairns feels the genial tide of life 
return; the son of the widow of Nain, res- 
cued from the cold embrace of death, is again 
testored to his weeping mother; and Laza- 
rus, starting from the bed of corruption, ac- 
knowledges the power and beneficence of the 
Lord and Giver of life.” 
ea 
4 
hs 
Arr. XXIX. Sermons preached to a Country Congregation. To which are added, a 
few Hints for Sermons, intended for the Use of the younger Clergy. By Wirviamw 
— Gitpin, M. A. Prebendary of Salisbury, and Vicar of Boldre, in New Forest. Vol. 111. 
ated asMr. Gilpin is, or indeed to preach- 
ers in general. Plain, yet not inele- 
gant; level to the meanest capacity, and 
yet pleasing to a person of most culti- 
vated taste; adapted to a congregation, 
2 
