quent prayer, we have also an admirable instance of applying individually, and to our own particular situation and circumstances, that general form of absolution, which the priest alone is entitled to pronounce with authority, and the people to hear with silent reverence, a want of attention to which, so generally marks this part of our public service. The expressions of abasement and humiliation which are introduced in the CONFESSIONS, tend to shew that state of mind, which was exercised by their venerable author, and may be applied with equal advantage and success to the particular circumstances of each of those, who thus avail themselves of so excellent a form of sound words, to their great and endless comfort, both in this world and the next.

A penitentiary office is so necessary for men, whose manifold sins and infirmities recur every day of their lives, that each of us should most thankfully embrace the inestimable benefit of being permitted to present such petitions at the throne of grace, and make them an essential part of our daily devotion; for as an elegant author has expressed it, "Even piety is sometimes afraid of finding too many weaknesses for the divine indulgence*."

although, "whoever is free from the abandoned guilt of voluntary crimes need not doubt to find acceptance with him whose merits have made satisfaction for the involuntary and inseperable frailties of human nature, yet, "to expect favour from an object which he voluntarily offends, is an insult which MAN only practises on his God:"" for" in the act of repentance let it ever be remembered that the ESSENTIAL part cfit, is the relinquishment of sin§.”

To him therefore, who is the Father of comfort, and the God of all consolation, let us not fail to offer such an acceptable service, as should influence the whole of our lives, and practise what our prayers teach.

In my next, I shall (with your permission) transmit that beautiful weekty service which the Archbishop bas composed and selected for the devotions of each day. I am, Sir, Very respectfully,

August, 1806, Newington Butts.

Your obliged

JUVENIS.

*Langhorne's Sermons. Serm. 16, On Repentance, v. ii. p. 66. † Ibid. p. 67. Ibid. p. 90. § Ibid. p. 83. These fascinating volumes of the elegant Langhorne, need only be perused to ensure being admired. EXTRACT.

FOR THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM BISHOP WARBURTON TO DR. BIRCH.

M

[From the Original in the British Museum.]

ILTON'S moral character as a member of society, was certainly the most corrupt of any man's of that age. I do not say so on account of his being either a Presbyterian, an Independent, a Republican, for the Government of one (for many honest men are in every one of these ways), but because he was all these in their turn, as they came uppermost, without (from any thing that appears to the contrary) a struggle or a blush. Imagine to yourself a thorough time-server, and you could not put him upon any task more completely conformable to that character, than what Milton yoluutarily underwent. It is true he was steady in one thing, namely, his aversion to the Court and Royal Family; but I suspect it was because he was not received amongst the wits there favourably; he, who was so far superior to them all. I take this to have been owing to the stiffness of his style and manner, so contrary to that of the court wits, who were enervating themselves on the model of France.

The virulency of his pen against his adversaries is certainly another blemish to that great man, which in an apology for the people of England was abominable, as violating and degrading the character he sustained.

His English prose style has in it something very singu lar and original; it has grandeur, and force, and fire, but is quite unnatural; the idiom and turn of the period being quite Latin. It is best suited to his English history, this air of the antique giving a good grace to it. It is wrote with great simplicity, contrary to his custom in his prose works; and is the better for it.

But he sometimes

rises to a surprising grandeur in the sentiment and expression, as at the conclusion of the 2d Book, Henceforth we are to steer, &c. I never saw any thing equal to this, but the conclusion of Sir. W. Raleigh's History of the World.

He is the author of three perfect pieces of poetry; his Paradise Lost, Sampson Agonistes, and the Mask at LudVol. XI. Churchm. Mag. Sept. 1806. Dd

low

low Castle. The two Dramatick pieces separately possess the united excellencies of this famous Epick Poem, there being in the last all the majesty of sentiment that ennobles the Tragedy, and all the sweetness of description that charms in the Mask.

It is said that it appeared by a MS. in Trin. Col. Camb. that he intended an Opera of the Paradise Lost. Voltaire, on the credit of this circumstance, amongst a heap of impertinency (Essay on Epick Poetry, p. 120) pretends boldly that he took the hint from a Comedy he saw at Florence called Adamo. Others imagine too he conceived the idea in Italy; now I will give you good proof that all this is a vision. In one of his political pamphlets, wrote early by him, I forget which, he tells the world he had conceived a notion of an Epick Poem on the story of Adam or Arthur. What then, you will say, must we do with this circumstance of the Trinity College MS.? I believe I can explain that matter. When the Parliament got uppermost, they suppressed the Play-houses; on which Sir John Denham, I think, and others contrived to get Operas performed. This took with the people, and was much in their taste; and religious ones being the favourites of that sanctified people, was, I believe what inclined Milton at that time, (and neither before nor after it,) to make an Opera of it.

The L'Allegro ed Il Penseroso are certainly masterpieces of the kind.

Of all his English prose tracts, those on divorce are certainly the best reasoned. In his Controversies on the times he is a horrid sophister. But what was fanaticism and cant in the rest of his party, shews itself in him a prodigious spirit of poetical enthusiasm, and he frequently breaks out into strains as subline, or if possible more so, than any in his higher poetry.

His apology for the liberty of the press, is in all respects a master-piece.

The Plan of Education to Hartlib, is a very able one. I am very glad you intend to write Milton's life. Almost all the life-writers we have before Toland and Desmaizeau are, indeed, strange insipid creatures.

EXTRACTS.

EXTRACTS.

A SURVEY of the SEVEN CHURCHES of ASIA, as they now lie in their Ruins.

[From Travels in the East by THOMAS SMITH, B.D. Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford. 8vo. 1678]

(Concluded from page 129.)

PHILADELPHIA.

HIS city, distant from Sardes to the south-east about

TH

mount Tmolus; the streets to a good height lying one above another, which gives it a very advantageous prospect from most parts into the plain both toward the north

and east.

It is called by the Turks Alah Shahr, or the fair city; which must be understood only in reference to the situa ation, for there is nothing of building in it to make it deserve that name. A city formerly of as great strength as beauty, having had three strong walls toward the plain; a great part of the inmost wall yet standing, though decayed and broken down in several places, with several bastions upon it. Defended by them, but more by the valour of the inhabitants, it maintained its liberty, and held out against Ur-chan and Morat the first, when all the lesser Asia besides, had been overrun by the Ottoman forces; but at last in the reign of Bayazid the first, whom the Turks call Yilderim or Lightning, after a long resistance, the Philadelphians having made several sallies, but all in vain, to remove and raise the siege, it was forced to submit to the fate of other cities, and became a prey to the barbarous conqueror, who was not wanting in cruelty to express his revenge and furious rage against the distressed citizens, for daring to withstand so long his victorious arms; there being about a mile and a half out of town to the south, a thick wall of men's bones confusedly cemented together with the stones; in all probability raised by his command; (for sure none but such

Dd2

a bar

a barbarian would have done it) in compliance, perchance, with some rash vow that he had made, when he lay fretting and storming before it. The churches felt the terrible effects of his fury, as well as the inhabitants; most of them being demolished and turned into dunghills; as is that of St. John to the south-east, most probably its cathedral for its largeness, where they throw their rubbish and filth; and the rest made moschs. Southward is the river Cogamus flowing from the hill; abundance of vineyards all along, which the poor Grecks used to cultivate, but at that time deterred from making wine, by reason of the severe prohibition of the Grand Seignior; so that here, as a Greek Pappus told us, they had scarce wine enough for the Sacrament. The city is very populous, there being above five hundred Janizaries in it, who ac cording to their privileges (the government being so much in their favour) can be judged only by their Serdar or captain; the Cady or civil governor having no power over them in the least. Next to Smyrna, Philadelphia has the greatest number of Christians, above the other metropolitical seats, there being above two hundred houses of them there, and four churches; whereof the chief is dedicated to To Ilavania, or the Holy Virgin Mary; the other three to St. George, (a great saint among them) St. Theodore, and St. Taxiarchus.

On the 19th, after three hours riding from Philadel phia, we past over the river Cogamus, whose channel was narrow, but stream deep and full; and leaving the plains. some hours after, we climbed up the Tmolus, which we found in some places steep and rocky; on each side covered with vast numbers of pine and fir-trees: and having gained the top, we entered into a wood very dangerous to passengers, there being that shelter for thieves in it, and that advantage they have, keeping together upon the hills, between which the road lies, to pour their shot upon them; after three hours past out of it, and getting on the other side of the mountain, we came at last to a village called Koch-yenigehkuy, where we lodged that night, having travelled twelve hours compleat.

On the 13th about a quarter of a mile from hence, we went to several ruins, which in all probability by their distance from Hierapolis, must be those of Tripolis; of which nothing is left but huge massy stones lying confusedly in heaps, and the appearance of a castle and theatre: near to which we forded the Mæauder, and about four hours after, we came to

HIERA POLIS.