they are likely to meet with, whether they are much, if at all the wiser for it."

Another reason assigned by many for frequenting conventicles, is that "it is a good method of spending the Sunday evening:" to obviate this, Mr. Pearson properly suggests that persons would be "more profitably employed both for their own edification, and that of their families, in reading some portion of the plainer parts of Scripture, or of such other approved books, as are adapted to afford religious instruction, or cultivate religious sentiments." In pursuance with this advice he subjoins a list of books well adapted for family in

struction.

We here close our account of these little pamphlets, which do great credit to the abilities, piety, and condescension of the worthy author; and we earnestly recommend them as extremely well calculated to produce good by a judicious distribution.

Discourses on various Subjects and Occasions. By the Rev. CHARLES DAUBENY, Archdeacon of Sarum. Volume the second 8vo. pp. 427. Rivingtons.

D

(Concluded from page 147.)

ISCOURSE the ninth of this collection is a Visitation Sermon on 1 Cor. x. 15. "I speak as to wise men, judge ye what I say." Mr. Daubeny enforces and explains with great energy, the principles to be inculcated and the conduct to be pursued by the clergy in the present times, which are characterized by an undissembled irreligion, and a notorious licentiousness both of opinion and practise, which actually lead to an impatience of restraint, and a settled opposition to establishments." On the prevalence of sectarianism, and the course rse to be adopted to check its progress, we have the following excellent advice:

"To prevent our flocks from going astray after those ignorant and selt-appointed teachers, who too often disgrace the cause they take in hand, two things seem necessary to be attended to. In the first place, it ought to be an object with every christian minister, with the view of giving that respectability to his ministry, suited to the dignity of its appointment, and in a degree essential to the success of it; to enable his people to forin some

proper judgment with respect to the nature of the christian church, the office of its priesthood, and the use of its sa craments; that they may thence be led to conclude, that schism is a sin of deeper cast, and more offensive to God than they are aware of; because it not only disturbs that regular plan, upon which he was pleased to establish his church in the world; but, tends, more than any thing else, to the breach of that charity, which the christian communion was designed to animate and preserve. In the next place, but above all, his object must be to take away all just reason for the desertion of his ministry, by giving full proof of his evangelical commission. With the apostle he must be able to say to his hearers, " I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men; for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." -To this end, whilst he is guarding against the fatal error of Antinomianism on the one hand, he must at the same time take care that Seneca does not occupy in his church the place of St. Paul. In a word, he must endeavour to give to every part of the Gospel covenant its due weight and consequence. In conformity with our articles and homilies, the misery of fallen man, salvation by Christ, the christian faith, and good works, as the fruit of the christian tree, must constitute the summary of his doctrine. For in a matter of this importance, men will take the liberty to judge for themselves; and if they have reason to think that they are not fed with the true bread of life within the walls of our churches, they will unquestionably seek for it, where they fancy it may be found, either in fields or in conventicles.

In this dicourse there are some judicious observations upon political preaching; which, but for the length, we should be glad to extract. They deserve, however, very serious consideration. The two next discourses are on I John ii. 8. "Every one that hath this Hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure."

These may justly be called evangelical and animated discourses on the objects, ground, and consequences of the Christian's Hope: and unite sound scriptural reasoning with that eloquence which the French writers have emphatically called Onction. The whole scheme of redemption is laid down with admirable perspicuity, and the promises and consolations of the gospel, are so clearly, and so warmly displayed in these two sermons, that we could wish to see them printed in a small and cheap form for general distribution.

As a specimen of Mr. Daubeny's devotional eloquence, we quote with pleasure the concluding prayer of the last

sermon.

Ff2

"May

"May these considerations apply themselves home to your hearts and consciences, and produce their correspondent effect 'on your lives!-To this end, we beseech thee, Lord, to reveal to the hearts of this people some of that glory, which Thou hast prepared for them that love Thee; together with that blessed hope of a christian's calling, which may not fail to stir up in them a desire and longing after a glorious immortality. Set before their eyes the exceeding great and precious promises which thou hast made in Jesus Christ; and so baptize them with thy Holy Spirit and with fire, that all their dross and filthiness being purged away, their present régenerate condition may prove the earnest of that glorious purity, to which, in this case, they may expect to be advanced in a better world; where they shalk see Thee as thou art, being made like unto Thee, being "purified as Thou art pure."

The twelfth discourse was delivered before their Majesties at Weymouth, Sept. 16 1804, and from Ps. exxii. 1. " I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the House of the Lord;" treats first of the religious character of David, and next of the necessity and advantages of "unity in religious worship."

The subjects of the next sermon is the Christian Warfare on 1 John v. 4. "This is the Victory that overcometh the World even our faith."

Enthusiasts are very apt to take up this subject, and strange work they never fail to make of it upon the minds of their weak and credulous hearers. Phantoms of the most hideous forms are conjured up, and their imaginations are filled with unaccountable fears or unreasonable exultations. Whoever, taking the pains to read the journals of Whitfield and Wesley, will find abundant instances of this and those strange men, particularly the last, who by the way was not void of reason, relate such stories as proofs of conversion, and a state of grace as are only calculated to frighten children and old women.. The writings of the Puritans also abound with relations of imaginary conflicts, with the spirits of darkness; and, it is recorded in the last moments of the pious Mr... Harvey, author of the Meditations, that he expressed a concern about the contest which he was about to have with Satan, and that after meditating some time he exultingly exclaimed, "now the last conflict is over."Such things only serve, in our opinion, to make pious Christians superstitious and fearful; and therefore subjects of this kind cannot be too sparingly introduced into

the

the pulpit, nor too cautiously handled. We mean these observations for general application, and not as suited-to Mr. Daubeny's discourse, which is very judicious. The confession of Lord Chesterfield on the world's vanity is well contrasted with that of Solomon. The wise man and man of wit are excellently opposed to each other.

The fourteenth discourse is an earnest exhortation to a religious life in due season, from Isaiah lv. 6. "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found." After adducing a number of scriptural examples of the long-suffering of God, and the consequences of neglecting the means of grace held out by him, a close application is made of the subject to this nation, and individually to the members of this Church.

The following extract will shew the peculiar value of this sermon;

"To bring these words home to christians, 'I would apply them thus: You are called on as Christians, to seek the Lord; not only while he may be found, but also in the way in which he is to be found; as a neglect in either case may prove fatal to your search. There is one point then in which all christains are agreed; that God is to be sought only through the medium of his incarnate Son, For we are told by Christ himself, " that no man cometh unto the Father but by him." This being a point on which there can be but one opinion in a christian congregation; the next enquiry is, in what manner members of the christian church, who profess to approach to God through Christ, may seek him, so as not to be disappointed in their search.

"It must be remembered then in the first place, that "God is not the author of confusion, but of order and peace, as in all churches of the saints*." Consequently, whoever professes to seek God, must seek him in the ways of God's appointment, if he would attain his desired object. The making use of wrong means for the sake of a good end, is but doing evil that good may come; which is both a dangerous and a deceitful practice. This consideration places the words of the Psalmist before us in their full force; "I have respect," says he, "unto thy ways." Let the member of the christian church then conform to the plan of salvation laid down for him, by living in the constant and faithful use of the appointed means of grace; considering, that these open the only revealed road of communication between

earth and heaven. Let him seek God in the services of the church, and seck him faithfully; and his labour will not be in in in the Lord." "For no sound member of Christ is without *1 Cor. xiv. 33.

the the grace of Christ; which is conveyed with his blood, by the sacraments and other ordinances, to quicken and animate the whole body of the church, as the vital heat is diffused through the arteries, to support and invigorate all the parts of the body, of a man. The spirit and blood of Christ, are as necessary for the life of the church and her members, as the vital heat and natural blood are for the life of the body and its members. When therefore all flesh, Gentile as well as Jew, became incorporated in the church which is the body of Christ, the Lord poured out of his spirits upon all flesh, and there was no age, sex, condition, or nation, that did not partake of the fountain of life freely, which flowed from the heart of Christ pierced on the cross; and which, when circulated in the church, as the blood is in the body, wherever it came, brought life and health, and salvation with it to all flesh. In no place was its way manifested upon earth, by the preaching of the word, and the institution of the ordinances, but there was manifested at the same time, "its saying health unto all nations;" all being "one body in Christ Jesus, and every one members one of another*."

"By those therefore who faithfully seek the Lord in his appointed ordinances, he will be found both in Prayers, in the Lessons, in the Sermons, and in the Sacraments. It must be your own fault, consequently, if in them you find him not. For the prayers of our excellent Church being all addressed to God, through the name of his incarnate Son, must have access to the throne of grace, provided they come not forth from feigned lips. "Whatsoever ye ask in my name," says Christ, " that will I dot."

The Lessons which are read, being the inspired word of God, must lead you to an acquaintance with God, if you are not wanting to yourselves. The word of God, we are told, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect‡."

"These Sermons, if they are, what they always ought to be, bo and what, we trust, they in general are, the faithful interpretation of the word of life; cannot, if properly attended to, leave you in ignorance with respect to the important object you have in pursuit, and the manner in which it is to be secured.

"Whilst the Sacraments, if approached in faith, with a just sense of sin, and the consequent necessity of a Saviour to take it. away, cannot fail to bring you to the end of all christian search; for they bring you near to God, through the body and blood of his crucified Son: by the faithful receiving of which, you become " one with Christ and Christ with you." And my brethren, if you are "one with Christ," there remains nothing in this world worth your seeking.

"In such case, you are happily arrived at the summit of all *Horne John xiv. 13, 12 Tim, iii. 16. earthly