516 => Retro/peft of Domeftic Literature—Theology....Poetry. ye [Sur. | 
the Original reading of 1 Samuel, chap. 
vill, ver. 1," has ditplayed a confiderabie 
degree of critical fagactty : an enquiry 1s 
annexed “into the duration of Solomon’s 
yeign, interfperfed with notes on various 
patlages of fcripture.” ‘“ Debitum fit 
D abolo—G'ive the Devil his due,” is the 
motto of a pamphlet entitled * A Difpu- 
tation in Logic, arguing the Moral and 
Religious Ufes of a Devil,” by Mr. Ley- 
cefter, of Oxford. Mr. Leyceiter, how- 
ever, has aitorded no proof that he is 
ether fo logical or fo humorous, as he 
gives himfeif credit. fer. He announces a 
fecond . part. 
Elements of Geography, and the Univer- 
fal Gazetteer, has afforded the public a 
‘Hiteral tranflation of the * Manual of the 
“Eheoph:lanthropes.” Voluntarily affociat- 
ed; the members of thefe focieties afem- 
ble on the fir day of the week, and on 
the decades, for the worfhip of ONE ONLY 
Gop. The exifience of this Supreme 
Being, and the immortality of the foul, 
are the only dogmas they admit: the 
aflembly fits to hear leétures on morality, 
when the principles of religion, of benevo- 
lence, and wniverfal toleration, are incul- 
ested ; the turbulent fpirit of profelytifm 
is cheeked, and the introduétion of cere- 
monies, ornaments, and holidays, is dif- 
couraged. Jt ought to be obferved, that 
the affemblies of the Theophilanthropes 
multiply rapidly, and are exceedmgly 
erowded.. Dr. Hey, as Norrifian Pro- 
feffor in the Univerfity of Cambridge, has 
delivered a courfe of ** Le€tures m Divi- 
nity :’’ the doétor has fulfilled the duties 
of his firuation with very confiderable 
ability : bound by the fetters of an effa- 
blifbed {yftern, he muft, of neceility, have 
felt himfelf reftricéted in any range of 
tpeculation, which he might have been 
difpofed to indulge. -The Profeffor, how- 
ever, has brought tmto his leéture-room, 
goed fenfe and great ingenuity, combined 
with the refulr of extenfive reading; and 
on the fubjeéis of polemical divinity, the 
qualities of a eontroverfalift, and the va- 
rious ways of miffing the quefiion, much 
candour and fenfble obfervation are united. 
If Mr. Pariy’s ‘* Enquiry into the Nature 
and Extent of the Inipiration of the 
Aipofties,”” &c. contains but few novel re- 
ficGtions, his arguments are at leaft ftated 
with ,erfpicuity, and- defended with can- 
dour and liberality. Dr. Burckhardt has 
atrempted “ A Sytem of Divinity for the 
Ufe of Schools ;” he offers this-ly{tem as 
difencumbered from ceentroverted doc- 
rines, and embraciog only fuch plain and 
effential points of religion, as are univer- 
Mr. Walker, author of . 
fally acknowledged to be indifpurable. 
‘In attempting to fimplify this fyfiem of 
divinity, however, Dr. Burckhardt has 
fubftitured affertions for proofs; and in 
omitting the evidences of the divine autho- 
rity of the Mofgic and Chriftian revela- 
tions, he inculeates a ftupid credulity, 
rather than a defire. of inveftigating the 
grounds of religious knowledge. The 
bifhop of Offory’s ‘“Charge to the Clergy 
of his Diocefe,” is a pious, learned, and 
dignified difcourfe, containing many va- 
luable admonitions refpe@ting the general 
demeanor of his clergy. Ifa pulpit orator 
were to adopt the precife * Manner in 
which the Common Prayer was readin pri- 
vate by Mr. Garrick,” his audience would 
fancy themfelves rather in a theatre than 
a place of religious worlfhip: notwith- 
ftanding which, fome good hints may un- 
doubtedly be derived from a perufal of this 
pamphlet. An enumeration of the long 
and tedious catalogue of fingle fermons 
which have been publifhed within the laft 
fix months, would be an unneceflary bur- 
“den to our readers, and an unneceflary 
trouble to ourfelves. A few of the belt 
are Dr. Foulmin’s “ On the Injofiice of 
claffing Unitarians with Deifis and In- 
fidels ;’ Dr. Newcome’s “ On the Duty 
of Clerical -refidence ;” Dr. . Law’s 
« Charge delivered to the Clergy of Ro- 
chefter ;” Dr. Gregory’s. fermon on 
“ Suicide, delivered at an Anniverlary of 
of the Royal Humane Seciety ;” Mr. 
Stone’s difcourfe “ On the Nature of 
Truth and Falfehood in general, and 
againft each particular Species of Lies, 
the pernicious, the jocofe, and the officious 
Lie.” A good fermon on * Untyerfal Be- 
nevolence,” by Mr. Turner, who repro- 
bates the favage praétice of bull-baiting, 
and warmly enforces mercy to the brute 
creation. After all thefe, it muft not be 
omitted, that .a prebendary cf Chicheiter, 
Mr. Fearon, has preached a fermon ‘* On 
occafion of laymg the Foundation itone 
of Free-Mafons-Hall.” High encomiums 
are paffed on the parrioti/m and loyalty of 
the free mafons. What would Profeffor 
Robifon or the Abbé Barruel have faid, 
if either of them had formed a part of the 
congregation ? : 
POETRY. ; 
Under the head of Oriental Literature, 
we have already. mentioned Mr. Fox’s 
“© Tranflation of the Plaints, Confolations, 
and Delights of Achmed Ardebeili ;” nor 
have the Mufes of this weftern hemifphere 
hung up their harps in filence. The 
‘‘ Englith Lyricks” are not vulgar effu- 
fions; they are charaéterifed by a delicacy 
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