Chriftians. It is not our business to decide on the truth of their theological fyftem. But they had that merit which all can judge of founded on univerfal principles, and directed to the common interefts of religion and morality. Dr. Enfield juftly confiders the good work of reformation as having been chiefly retarded in its progrefs by two causes: “ First, The appointment of fubfcriptions to articles of faith, as the term of admiffion into every national church; and fecondly, The propenfity which hath always prevailed among the vulgar, to prefer a religion, which either captivates the fenfes and imagination, or agitates and enflames the paffions, to one which is immediately addreffed to the understanding and the moral prin/ciple, and hath no other object than to make men wife and virtuous.' To the former may be referred every species of hierarchical domination, with their mischievous effects in enflaving the minds of men, and producing an illiberal timidity in the priefts, and a blind fubmiffion in the people-to the latter may be traced up all the various abfurdities which have been generated between folly and fancy-myfticifm with its "moping melancholy," and enthusiasm with its moon-ftruck madnefs." The Doctor congratulates his brethren on the prospect of the advancing power of "pure and undefiled religion." He mentions fome aufpicious appearances of its progrefs; and kindling with his fubject, he gives full fcope to the generous wishes of his heart, till what he wishes he imagines he forefees. • Yes (fays he), I will foretel (and may it pleafe the great Lord of Nature to fulfil the prediction!) that the cloud which was once "no bigger than a man's hand" fhall at length spread over the whole heavens, and water every region of the earth with the dews of heavenly wifdom :-and that the whole earth fhall be one holy temple confecrated unto the Lord.' The fecond Difcourfe, by Mr. Godwin, contains a variety of judicious reflections, and breathes an amiable and truly Chriftian fpirit. The zeal which he recommends is perfectly confiftent with the charity he profeffes; and both are happily allied with that "wisdom which cometh down from above, which is first pure and then peaceable; gentle and full of good fruits." The Author hath nothing of that little spirit and those low views of party which would confine all truth and all virtue to its own circle. His objects are equally liberal and important. He wishes to excite his brethren to that manly zeal which waftes not its force on those theological trifles and abfurdities which have fo long difgraced the controverfies of the Chriftian Church, but which directs its influence to the most important and effential interests of mankind, and would restore the Christian religion to to its primitive fimplicity, unencumbered with needlefs ceremonies, and unobfcured by incomprehenfible myfteries The bigots to Puritanifm will think he hath fketched the picture of the old Nonconformists with too free a pencil, and will accufe him of a want of duty and natural affection to his forefathers, by exhibiting them with such a barsh outline, and with fuch unpleafing features. The diligent and impartial inquirer, however candid, muft acknowledge that the Proteftant Diffenters, in lefs time than even half a century paft, were in general auftere in their temper and manners; that they painted religion with a gloomy afpect; betrayed a fpirit of fingularity and oppofition in trifles; were exceffive and almost indifcriminate in their invectives against pleasure; laid too much ftrefs upon modes and opinions; made too little allowance for human infirmities; fixed too high a value on long and frequent retirements for the fake of devotional exercifes in private; placed as much too low the ftandard of the moral virtues, thofe efpecially which are humane, generous, and of all others the most engaging; confined almost all their approbation and good-will to the people of their own fect; difcovered an over-weening conceit of their own spiritual attainments; and-what is ftill worfe than all the reft!-that there were undoubtedly inftances of those who put on the femblance of rigorous piety to atone for, conceal, and give fuccefs to heinous immorality.It is with all readiness acknowledged, that there are upon record many exceptions to this heavy charge; but the above-mentioned may, I think, be exhibited as fome of the principal outlines in the character of those who were, or affected to be, amongst the best and moft religious perfons of the laft age. Nay, further, if a diligent and impartial inquiry were now made into the prevailing temper of large bodies of Proteftant Diffenters in feveral different parts of this kingdom, it would be found that something of the same spirit is ftill remaining amongst us.'-This is bold fpeaking in a Diffenting minifter. But truth and integrity beget courage. We have only to remark, that when the wound is deep and dangerous, the probe must not be held with a timid and trembling hand. We can only fpeak in general terms our approbation of Mr. Holland's Difcourfe, having no room for extracts. It may be thought too prolix: but it contains fome excellent and valuable remarks on the great principles of natural and revealed religion, and offers fome important advices to minifters with refpect to their intellectual qualifications and moral character; their private ftudies and public duties. ART. TH Four Elegiac Tales. 4to. 2s. 6d. Flexney. HE Elegiac Tale is a fpecies of compofition in which it is not so easy to excel as at firft view might be imagined. The narrative is required to be not only fimple, but interesting; the verfification, at the fame time that it is familiar and concife, fhould also be elegant and harmonious: and over the whole must be diffused that plaintive tendernefs which flows from native fenfibility. If the poems before us be examined by these rules, they will not be found deftitute of merit. In the choice. of his fubjects the Author has been peculiarly happy.-His narrations are unfolded with ease and perfpicuity, and the fentiments with which they are embellished breathe the true fpirit of elegy. In the conftruction of his verfe alfo, if allowance be made for fome little hardness of manner, he will not be thought ftrikingly deficient. Where he has failed in point of verfification, we attribute the failure in great part to the confinement of his measure; which, notwithstanding fome refpectable attempts, has feldom of late fucceeded. Well as the ftanza of eight and fix fyllables alternately might be adapted to the unadorned fimplicity and nakednefs of the ancient ballad, it leaves not scope enough for that ornament which is looked for in more modern compofitions. To avoid fimplicity (we mean in its lefs refpectable sense) on the one hand, and stiffness on the other, is what few who have adapted this measure to narratives of any length, have ever been able to compass. Of this writer's fuccefs the Reader will form his own opinion from the following extract from Bertram and Matilda, the fecond tale in this collection. "The morning drinks my husband's blood: "Go page (Matilda cries) "Hafte to the holy Anfelm's cell "And bid the hermit rife." He came but when with hands uprais'd, With kindred forrow torn, long time "Say, lady, whence thy grief? and why "The morning drinks my husband's blood: 66° By doom unjust he dies; "Bound in the dungeon's dreary cell, 66 "Yes! lady, take my hermit's dress, Awak'ning, by the glimm'ring lamp, "Oh, father! mourn not o'er the scene, "Mourn, where each length'ned hour of life, Prolongs a widow's woes. 66 "Watch o'er an orphan child, and foothe -Matilda clafps her Bertram's neck! "Thy hour of death is mine!-I come "Oh! by our tender pledge of love, "Our joys were one-one be our fateThy hour of death be mine." 66 At day-break, from his bed, enrag'd No breaft, fave his, a groan, N 3 When When flow, the fad proceffion mov❜d. Came firft; his right-hand bore aloft The hermit next, wrapt in the hood, His arms were crofs'd, low towards the earth, Bareheaded laft, with mien erect "Now ftrike the blow."-Firm on the block Hung trembling o'er his head. "Hence vain difguife," Matilda cry'd, With eager hafte, the inftant caft Down her white breafts, that wildly heav'd, Her hair luxuriant hung; Now ftrike the blow!" o'er Bertram's neck Her fnowy arms the flung. "One death fhall end us both !"—" No, live" (The wond'ring Richard cries) "To life, to liberty, to fame, Thy monarch bids thee rife.". ART. V. An ODE. Pindarum quifquis ftudet æmulari. 4to. 1s. 6d. Dodfley. 1780. R IDICULE has been faid to be the test of truth.-When applied to the principles of those who make use of it, the obfervation is, in fome degree, juft. The province of ridicule is to laugh at vanity, affectation, folly, or abfurdity; and to expofe incongruity and impofture. When, therefore, it is employed in pulling off the mafk from hypocrify, or in detecting the dangerous delufions of fanaticifm, it is then, no doubt, properly directed; but to attack, by the means of this weapon, the foundations of religious obligation, even though religion were a mere human inftitution, is to proceed upon falfe principles, as the attempt then is to deftroy what has the peace of fociety and the happiness of individuals for its object. To ftigmatize the blunders of ignorant ftatefmen, or the pretended patriotism of defigning and interefted demagogues, comes, in like manner, within the province of ridicule; but to reprefent every mode of government as contemptible, and to confider all public virtue as affumed |