Retrofpect of Ratiefite Literature—Theology and Morals. 
occafion : in this honorable employment 
Mr. Maltby has enrolled himfelf a coad- 
jutor. In undertaking to illuftrate the 
truths of the Chriitian religion, Mr. 
Maltby does not undertake to bring for- 
ward all the minutiaz of direét evidence 
which the fubje& is poffeffed of ; this tafk 
has been abiy and repeatedly performed by 
others, and Mr. Maltby contents himfelf 
with commenting on the evidence already 
adduced, and with placing it in anew 
and ftriking light. Thework is divided 
into eight chapters, in which the follow- 
ing fubjeéts are fucceffively difcufled ; the 
internal evidence of the genuinenefs and 
authenticity of the books of the New 
Teftament ; the proofs ariiing, from the 
prejudices of the Jews; the conduct of the 
difciples of Chrift ; the miracles wrought 
by the difciples during the life of our 
Lord ; the Gofpel {cheme ; the charaéter 
of Jefus ; Mr. Godwin’s -mifreprefenta- 
tions of this character in his Enquirer ; 
and, laftly, the detects of the evidence in 
favour of the Mahometan religion. In 
this Is{t chapter, Mr. Maltby after having 
expofed the pretenfions of Mahomet, fhews 
in how great a degree the evidence pre- 
ponderates in favour of Chriftianity, which 
appeared in a moit enlightened age, at- 
tragted the notice and challenged the feru- 
tiny of the acute and intelligent 5 yet in 
the face of eighteen centuries, no one de- 
cifive mark of fraud has been fixed upon, 
as aifecting the conduct or dodtrines of its 
founder, Ina ftrain of pious eloquence, 
our author continues, °* If the revolution 
.of fo many ages has failed to reveal one 
indubitable trace of fallacy in the origin 
of our holy religion; if the labours of 
fo many intellects have been baffled in 
the attempts to ftigmatife it, as indebted 
to fraud or enthufiafm for its fucce(s ; is it 
probable than a few more ages rolling on 
fhail unfold the hitherto undifcovered {e- 
cret of its human birth? Are the frges 
yet unborn, who fhall probe to the quick 
the latent wound, which has fo long 
rankled, without betraying one fymptom 
of unfoundnefs?”  I'wo exercifes-are an- 
nexed to this volume, containing a great 
deal of elegant latinity. | 
“* Lectures on the Gofpel of St. Mat- 
thew; delivered in the Pavith Church of 
Sf. James’s, Weitminiter, in the years 
* 1798, 1799, 1800, and 1801. by the Rt. 
Rev, Beiusy Portreus, D.D. Bithop 
of London.” The object of thefe le&tures 
is refiftance to the progrefs of infidelity ; 
the feafon feleéted for the delivery of them 
was Lent ; and the place—a felection more 
Montury Mac. No, 96. : 
conformable to. reafon—the parifh church 
of St. James’s, Weftminfter; where it 
was pre{umed that a fafhionable audience 
might be convened, an audience probably 
very little habituated to hear the evidences 
of Chriftianity examined, or its dottrines 
inculcated. It’ is highly honorable to the 
Jearned and pious prelate, that he fhould 
voluntarily take upon himfelf the labour 
of delivering a public courfe of leCtures, 
and that he fhould not bave fhrenk from 
bearing his full proportion of that burden, 
which the minifters of the Chriftian go!pel 
undertake to fhare among themfelves. 
The bafis of thefe leures, as the title. 
page. indicate, is the gofpel of Sr. Mat- 
thew, ‘and his lordfhip  ftates himfelf, to 
have the following objeéts principally in 
view :—firft, to explain and_ illuftrate 
thofe paflages of holy writ, which are in 
any degree difficult and obfcure. Secondly, 
to-point out, as they occur in the facred 
writings, the chief leading fundamental 
principles and doctrines of the Chri@ian re- 
ligion. Thirdly, to confirm and ftrengthen 
your faith, by calling your attention to 
thofe ftrong internal marks of the truths 
and divine authority of the Ciriftian reli- 
gion, which prefent themfelves to us in 
almoft every page of the gofpel. Fourths 
ly, to lay before you the great moral. prea 
cepts of the gofpel, to prefs them home , 
upon your con{ciences and your hearts, 
and render them effegtual to the important 
ends they weré intended to ferve; namely, 
the due government of your pafiions, the 
regulation of your conduét, and the at- 
tainment of everlafting life.’ If there 
are fome doétrinal points, on which the 
orthodoxy of the learned bishop may. be 
tog fevere and unyielding ; the work has 
altogether a moft beneficial tendency, and 
is executed with great elegance and abi- 
lity. 
the requeft of the clergy of bis diocefe, 
the “‘ Charge”? which he delivered to them 
at bis primary vifitation.. It is a very fui- 
table and well-written difcourfe. 
he Articles. of the Church of Eng- 
land proved not to be Calvinifticai, by 
Tuomas RipLtine, D.D. &c.” And 
this, the doctor feems to imagine, can 
only be effected by branding the doétrines - 
of Calvin as blafphemous, and ftigmatifing 
whomicever preaches them as the greateft 
peit of civil foctety! Neither is this high 
churchman fatished with general cen- 
-fures; no, truly he muft have fome in- 
dividual to pour out his coarfe and un- 
chriftian reviling on. Mr, Overton, and 
45 a wiiter 
a79 » 
The Bithop of Oxford has publithed,at. 
ah 
. “ ! 
