
1796. | 
tioning names, that we may avoid the 
imputation of partiality. 
In theology, a wonderful revolution 
has happened in this country. ‘The 
principles of Calvin, which were once 
commen to Prefbyterians and Epifcopa- 
lians, are now exploded by both; and 
Arminianifm has had a complete triumph 
over the gloomy fyftem of Gomarus. 
—There were fome few Socinians in 
the days of Charles IJ, and in every 
fucceeding reign; but they were indivi- 
duals, who had no public conventicles, 
nor oftenfible communion. At prefent, 
they are a numerous and refpectable 
body ; and are daily increafing. The 
acrimonious oppofition, which they have 
met from the eftablifhed church, and 
the obftinate refufal of government to re- 
peal the seff and corporation acts, have 
not a little contributed to this increafe. 
Sanguis martyrum femen fanétorunt, is an 
axiom that will always be found to be 
true; whatfoever be the principles of 
the perfecuted—We fay perfecuted; be- 
_caufe we are thoroughly convinced, that 
every fort of reftraint, in matters merely 
religious, is a {pecies of perfecution ; al- 
though it be not perfecution unto death. 
This latter, indeed, is happily abolifhed; 
or, at leaft, gone gradually into difufe.— 
We no longer hang a Popith prieft for 
faying mafs; nor bore the tongue of an 
Unitarian with a hot iron, for denying 
the trinity. The times will not bear 
fuch feverities; yet we have no hefira- 
tion in afferting, that as long as a fingle 
Briton is, om account of his religious 
tenets, excluded from any place which 
he is capable of filling, genuine liberty he 
does not enjoy.— To oblige men, by 
penal laws, to think alike, is to renew 
the bed of Procruftes; which philofo- 
phy ought to have broken in pieces for 
ever.—Diiference in opinion is as natu- 
ral as difference in complexion ; and one 
may be as jultly perfecured for being 
black, brown, or fair, as for being of 
this or thar religious perfuafion.—The- 
ological knowledge is promoted by divi- 
fions ; every party exert their talents 
and fagactry, to feck and draw, from the 
common arfenal of controverfy, arms to 
fupport their own caufe; and from the 
clath of arms meeting arms, fome fparks 
of unqueftionable truth are now and 
then elicited.—In one point of divinity, 
we feem almoft agreed, namely, that the 
fcriptures, our common rule of fairch, 
have not been handed down to us in 
Hiftery of Literature.’ 
37 
their original purity; and both the 
orthodox and diffenter have acknow- 
léedged the expediency of correCting them 
by the canons of found criticifm. —The 
collation of the Mss of the New Tefta- 
ment, by Mills, and of the Old Tefta- 
ment, by Kennicott, does honour to the 
Univerfity of Oxford; and, from the 
fame feminary of learning, we expeét, 
with avidity, a collation of the mss. of 
the moft ancient and valuable Greek 
verfion, known by the name of Septua- 
gint. Wo doubt, the other more ancient 
verfions, particularly the Syriac and 
Latin Vulgate, will, in time, be alfo col- 
lated ; and each of thefe collations will 
contribtte to remove from the facred 
Books, the grubs and ftraws that have 
ftuck to their amber, in the courfe of 
time. 
But, if Biblical criticifm have receive 
ed great improvement, we cannot fay fo 
much for polemic and didaétic theology. 
Our modern controverfialifts have gene- 
rally forgotten the rules of good breed- 
ing, and our preachers the rules of 
Chriftian charity. The pulpit is now 
more than a drum ecclefiaflic; it is a 
military drum in the ftriéteft fenfe ; and 
the minifters of the gofpel of peace, 
beat the war-alarm with uncommon 
vehemence.— May God, in his mercy, 
forgive, and bring them back to their 
clerical duty ! 
The fine arts have flourifhed in Eng- 
land fince the commencement of this 
century ; and particularly fince the in- 
ftitution of the Royal Academy. The 
late Prefident, both by precept and ex- 
ample, infpired our painters with a 
{pirit of emulation, which has produced 
as many good artifts, as, perhaps, any 
other nation, during the fame period. 
We have alfo {culptors, who do honour 
to the nation; and our engravers are 
equal to any that France or Italy have 
produced. 
At prefent, there is a dearth of im- 
portant publications ; but this, we truft, 
like the dearth of provifions, is only a 
temporary evil. ‘The fierce Bellona 
has ever been at variance with the gen- 
tle Mufes; although the has often been 
the fubject of their fong.—But the flame 
of war cannot rage for ever; and learn- 
ing and fcience muft again revive in the 
foftering lap of peace. Ah! may fhe 
foon unfold that lap, and may fcience 
and learning acquire new vigour in her 
warm embraces ! 
MONTHLY 
I 
