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648 
therto deferibed, fuch as the Hamfter of 
Georgia, the Wild Sheep of California, 
the Mammoth of New York, &c. 
THEOLOGY, SERMONS, &c. - 
Under this head the firft place ought to 
be affigned to the late Rev. Dr. Prirst- 
LEY's ‘* Notes on all the Books of Scrip- 
ture ; for the Ule of the Pulpit and Pri- 
vate Families,”’ in three volumes o&avo. 
If additional proof were wanted of the 
diligence and zeal of this eminent divine, 
in defending revelation againt the attacks 
of infidelity, and unfolding the doctrines 
which he believed to form the bafis of re- 
ligious truth, fuch proof may be abun- 
dantly found in this performance. The 
author’s aim feems to have been rather to 
furnifh a practical work to the devout and 
ferious reader, than to exhibit himfelf in 
the light of a fcholar and critic. The or- 
thedox, indeed, will juftly complain thst 
he feizes every opportunity to vindicate 
and recommend the Unitarian opinions ; 
and his moft partialadherents cannot deny 
that this appears to have been one of his 
leading objects. It isno part of our prefent 
purpofe to touch the merits of the con- 
troverfy between the ‘Trinitarian and 
Unitarian polemics.. There is, however, 
no ground to believe, that the view of the 
fubjeCt prefented’ in this work will -add 
any new force to the arguments which Dr. 
Prieftley had repeatedly urged in former 
publications. It is probable this work 
would have been long fince laid before the 
public, if the Vandalifm of therioters at Bir- 
mingham had not deftroyed a confiderable 
portion of the manufcript, which the au- 
thor had laborioufly prepared for the 
prefs. Itis difficult to fay whether we 
ought more io admire the moderation and 
forbearance with which he fpeaks of: the 
treatment received on that occafion, and 
which can fcarcely be believed to have 
taken place in the face of a civilized 
community, or the petfevering and un- 
conquerable fpirit which enabled him to 
begin the work anew, and profecute it to 
its completion. In his Preface many 
things may be obferved which muft give 
a deep imprefiion of the moral excellence 
of Dr. Prieftiey’s charaGier. While he 
defcribes himfelf as finking under the in- 
firmities ofage, and advancing rapidly to 
the termination of his earthly career, he 
reprefents his views of approaching death, 
and of the fcenes which are to fucceed, in 
a manner which no ferious perfon, what- 
ever may be his creed, can fail to admire. 
By a large majority of the Chriftian 
world, his theological opinions undoubt- 
edly will be confidered as falfe and dange- 
Retrofpect of Anterican Literature.—Theolizy, Sermoris. 
rous ; but who will deny his moral puri- 
ty, hisrefignation, his piety, or his zeak ~ 
and fincerity in the purfuit of truth ? 
éé The Works of the late Rev. Dr. 
Wittitam SMirH, Provoft of the Col- 
lege of Philadelphia,” in two voluines 
-oétavo, -have been lately prefented to the 
public. 
The chara&er of Dr. Smith, as an elo- — 
quent and polite writer, ftands high in 
the United States. This collection con- 
fits chiefly of fermons, orations, and fome 
{maller fugitive pieces, many of which are 
of anature too temporary and local to 
intereft the genera] reader. 
A lady in the ftate of Maffachufetts, 
Miis Hannay ADAMS, in a publication 
entitled «¢ The Truth and Excellence of - 
the Chriftian Religion,’* has rendered an 
acceptable fervice to the public. 
Though this work mui be confidered 
as chiefly a compilation, it is executed in 
{fo judicious a manner as to do credit to the 
author, and to convey muchufeful inftruc- _ 
tion to every clafs of readers. 
«An Ecclefiaftical Hiftory of New 
England,” &c. by the Rev. Mr. Bacxk- 
us,-of Maffachuf-tts, feems to be chiefly 
defigned to exhibit the progrefs of the fo- 
ciety of Baptifts, to which he belongs, 
and the grievances they have fuffered in 
many parts of New England. 
The reader who looks for more tha te-. 
dious details in the treatment of fubje&s, 
which are generally local and temporary, 
as well as deititute of intereft, will find 
himéelf difappointed in the perufalof this. 
performance. 
Dr. Youns difplays much benignity 
of mind and heart in a publication which - 
he intitles ** The univerial Reftoration 
of all Men, proved by Reafon, Scripture, 
and Common Senfe ;? without removing 
any of the difficulties which involve the 
fubje&, or fhedding on it any new light. 
It is not defigned to be a fyfematic 
work, nor to treat thé controverfy in a 
comprchenfive manner. Tise author is 
therefore defeltory in his manner of writ- 
ing, and wacts the connection and com-— 
pactnefs neceflary to impart vigour to his 
regfonings, or to enforce conviction oa the | 
reader. j 
The Rev. Mr. HosarT, in * A Com- 
panion to the Altar,” has prefented to 
the public a work intended to affift the 
underftanding and approaching the Lora’s 
Supper. 
This manual comprifes a great deal of 
important inftruction, delivered in a plain, 
forcib'e, and unaffected manner. The 
author difplays a {pirit of ferioufnefs and 
piety 
. 
x 
‘ 
