188 
“through the various departments of 
morals, history, logic, rhetoric, poetry, 
criticism, metaphysics, (so far as to pre- 
serve him from materialism, with which, 
in the opinion of the author, atheism 
appears to be necessarily connected) 
the study of the Old and New Testa- 
ments, with the Jewish and Christian 
revelations, the history of the reforma- 
tion, and Christian ethics. ‘The authors 
mentioned under each of these heads 
are, no doubt, important and valuable ; 
they would form, however, but a scanty 
library for an enlightened student of mo- 
dern times, and many writers, of equal, 
and in some of these branches of superior 
importance, are omitted. Under the 
first stx of these classes no modern works 
are mtroduced. As the author has not 
confined himself to the recommendation 
of studies strictly theological, we cannot 
perceive why natural philosophy and 
history are excluded from his catalogue, 
since on these sciences are founded our 
best demonstrations of the fundamental 
doctrines of religion, the being and pro- 
vidence of God. 
We hope that the period will] not soon 
arrive when classical literature shall be 
THEOLOGY AND ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS, 
lightly prized; and Mr. Banister hag 
discovered for it a claim upon our re- 
gard, which has not perhaps before — 
occurred to many of its votaries. He 
believes, in short, that it constitutes one 
of the great bonds of order in society, 
arid best preservatives against the mise- 
ries of anarchy. “ By the neglect of 
classical learning in France,” he says, 
“ an opening was made for the frothy 
impiety of Voltaire, the daring at)cism 
of Helvetius, and the hypocritical cant, 
perverse sophistry, and paradoxical scep- 
ticism of Rousseau.” 
“‘ The principles of these writers,” he 
continues, “ gave rise to the late revolu- | 
tion in that country, and guided their 
leaders through those scenes of rapine, 
bloodshed, perfidy, and impiety, which 
we have all beheld with horror, and the 
effects of which will probably be felt for 
many generations.” 
This little tract, consisting of 22 
pages, would in other times have form- 
ed a four-penny pamphlet ; by the help 
of hot-pressed paper, and other articles 
of decoration, it is now made a hand- 
some book, at the price of two shillings, 
Arr. LXIII. 4 Sermon, preached at St. Andrew's Church, Plymouth, at the Visitas 
tion of R. Barnes, M.A. Archdeacon of Totness, May 27, 1803. 
B.A. 8vo. pp. 29. 
THIS is a sensible, liberal, and well- 
composed discourse, on the importance 
of the ministerial office, and the duties 
and character incumbent on those by 
whom it is discharged. The text (from 
2 Pet. i. 12.) appears to have been ap- 
plied by Mr. Bidlake, not so much to the 
subject of his sermon, as to his own si- 
tuation, with reference to the audience 
to which it was addressed. He first 
examines the moral situation of the 
Christian world, and attempts to mvesti- 
gate the causes to which the imperfect 
operation of Christian principles is to be 
traced, expressing at the same time a 
charitable, and, we believe, just opi- 
nion, that notwithstanding the acknow- 
ledged prevalence of vice, its whole 
amount may be less, and the sum of 
virtue greater in the character of man- 
kind, than we are at first sight ready to 
suppose ; and that the actual influence 
of Christianity, on the moral state of 
society, is real and important, if not all 
that we might expect or wish. He con- 
eludes, therefore, that neither the mora- 
list nor the divine ought to be discou- 
By J. Biprakty 
raged; but may be assured, that their 
labours are productive of much good. 
He then proceeds to some reflections 
on the mode of rendering the office of 
public preaching more efficacious than 
it is; for which purpose, as the founda- 
tion of rational piety, removed from the 
extremes of superstition and enthusiasm, 
he directs the Christian minister to im- 
press his mind as much as possible, with 
enlarged conceptions of the nature and 
character of the Deity, as the founda- 
tion of all subsequent opinion, and a 
preservative from many dangerous er- 
rors. Into controversial topics he advises 
the preacher rarely to enter, and when 
employed, to treat them with temper ~ 
and caution. Condemning a zeal that is 
without knowledge, he still recommends 
a necessary degree of earnestness, and 
the practice of every innocent art of 
composition and delivery, which may 
tend to render public discourses attrac- 
tive; above all, to enforce doctrine by © 
sustaining such a character in life as may 
give power to instruction, and win by a © 
conciliating conduct. He then vind ~ 
