.

bees condere examina; which is, indeed, condere gentem. It is not un worthy of remark that, in the Hebrew language, the word which signifies to build a house signifies also to rear a family; which is perfectly analagous to condere gentem; and, perhaps, our own word build originally signified to imagine, contrive, design, frame, &c.

On the whole, then, we see no reason for believing that the verse is an interpolation, picked out of Ovid by some anonymous poetaster; nor that there is aught in either the measure or phraseology of the line that indicates its spuriousness.-In truth, if we were to reject every verse in any antient writer, which some modern critic might think fit to arraign as not agreeable to his taste or to his ear, we should soon see the borse's tail made bare indeed.

Art 58. An Illustration of the present great Occurrences, by the prophetical Word of God; and a Display of the Events which will shortly come to pass, and succeed the present important Era. In Four Treatises. Translated from the German, in which it was written and published in 1794, by a Prelate of the Lutheran Church. 8vo. Matthews. No Price mentioned.

Every pious man, says the editor of this production, is now looking forwards to the accomplishment of those great and absolute promises which are yet in store for Israel, the Lord's own antient people Israel; when the Gentiles shall convey them back into their own land as an offering unto the Lord, out of all nations, upon. horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to Jerusalem.' A glorious prospect, this, for the worthy inhabitants of Duke's Place and Jew's Row!

This book, we are told, is sent from Germany as the work of the Rev. Magnus Friederick Roos, counsellor to his Serene Highness the Duke of Wirtenberg, and prelate at Anhausen on the Brentz.' The British nation will doubtless be duly sensible of the favour of this communication concerning the seven-headed beast, the twohorned beast, and the great whore, the great antichrist, the false prophet, and the ten kings: but really they have been expounded to us so often and so learnedly by our own prelates, deans, archdeacons, and the plebeian clergy; and we are doomed, for our sins, to hear so much of their application to a profligate, atheistical, diabolical neighbouring nation, and from our own pulpits; that we would not farther intrude on the time and labours of this dignitary of the German Lutheran church, this follower of Dr. John Albert Bengelius,' (worthy himself to be followed by as great a man,) but leave him the due and entire application of both to the counselling af his Serene Highness the Duke of Wirtenberg, and the edification of his flock at Anhausen.

We will not, however, dismiss the article without giving one extract; by which the reader will see that, in regard to the subject of it, Dr. Roos nearly coincides in opinion with the generality of our greatest divines:

The characters of the great whore are these; that she has nei ther sword nor armour, neither a throne nor a crown, but that she is pompously arrayed and has whorish enticements, that the kings

of

1

of the earth commit fornication with her; or, in other words, they are attached to her with their love and admiration, in a sinful manner delighting in her, and doing a great deal to please her, and that those that dwell upon the earth are heated by the wine of her forni cation. In this manner, and not by arms, she has obtained the empire over the kings of the earth, and has prospered to that degree that she sits upon many waters; or, in other words, that she rules over many people and multitudes, and nations and tongues; but she is also cruel, and becomes drunk with the blood of the saints, and as a city she is built upon seven mountains.'

If, courteous reader, thou art not satisfied with this little extract, buy and peruse the whole pamphlet: it contains but one hundred and thirty-six pages; and long evenings are come.

Art. 59. The true Knowledge of God and Man; of the great Sabbath on Earth; and of the Restoration of all Things; with some essential Remarks on the Duty we owe to our Creator. 8vo. pp. 189. No Price mentioned.

The title-page to this publication is in the form of two triangles; the superior containing the words above transcribed, and the other the information that it is printed in Walbrook, No. 22, and may be had of any bookseller in the world. Against two of the sides of the former are the words: This is the light which is promised shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea."

In the preface, we are told that this book contains such great secrets as the world was never favoured with before;' a declaration which we found the more surprising, as Mr. Brothers was some time ago so obliging as to present us with several very great predictions, though of a less exalted nature, as they related chiefly to the events of this poor crazy world. The work before us, it seems, as well as that of Mr. B., is a divine revelation, and contains a considerable variety of information on subjects that have hitherto been thought of a somewhat puzzling nature, as well as others that far surpass the powers of unassisted reason. A specimen of both kinds may be seen

in a few short extracts.

What the worthy Origen only wished is here roundly declared: Satan will likewise be restored; but this will be chiefly by the operation of nature-though the mercy of Christ is likewise intermixed.' After the judgment is past, men that could not be redeemed during the Sabbath, will with the devils be confined in the fiery pit, there to remain throughout the olam olamim, that is, from the times into the times. This fiery pit will then be closed up by a crusts there will be no more chimnies as at present by the fiery mountains; all the fire and smoke will remain there for tormenting the spirits-as one might see some spirits of wine in a glass drove about from one part to another, if it were possible for us to make a fire in it.'

·

The mystery of the Holy Trinity is easy to the meanest capacity; being explained, p. 77. by the three joints in one finger: the same by the three joints of our arms,' &c. with a great number of equally curious particulars; such as that the sins which we can possibly commit are 4900 in number; that our bodily illnesses are 490; and that there are as many spirits in man, for directing every motion.

Bb 2

The

The state of the author's mind is now sufficiently apparent to our readers, and he seems to have been involved in it by the weight of misfortune. We heartily wish that the Emperor Paul Petrovitch may happen to pay the whole, or some part, of the author's demand of 7000 rubles for having taught music to his former consort, who died in 1775; but, if he should, we fear that the author will not have the opportunity which he expects of testifying the receipt of it in another edition of his book; as, from what we can gather of the signs of the times, they are not remarkably favourable to prophets, evangelists, and mystical triangular title-pages.

Art. 60.

Warm Water; or popular Expositions of the learned Motto on the Grand Pump-Room in the City of Bath, AP12-ON MEN YAOP: asserting the peculiar Felicity of that sublime Scrap against all the contemptible Cavils of carping Criticism; thus appropriately translated:

"Of all the liquors that men do drink,

WATER IS FAR THE BEST, I think."

ΣΓΕΡΝΩΛΔ και ΟΠΚΙΝΣ,

By an Idolater of Greek and Water. 8vo. IS. Robinsons. This author's wit figured very well piece-meal in the St. James's Chronicle and other newspapers, and it may still amuse some readers as it is concentrated in this pamphlet. The subject is sufficiently intimated in the title-page, and the author has made the most of it. Art. 61. Abrégé de l'Histoire universelle sacrée & profane, depuis le Commencement du Monde jusqu'à Jesus Christ. Par Guillaume Marie, Prêtre François. 8vo. 5s. London, Boussonnier and Co. 1797. The design of the author, in this compendium, has been to bring together such events of universal history as every one ought to know; at the same time briefly tracing the origin and progress of the several states and empires of the period to which he limits his inquiries. Pere Marie seems to have bestowed time and pains on the work he is accurate in regard to dates, and methodical in his arrangement of facts; and his publication is ingeniously calculated for the use of young persons. We might have been more warm in our commendations of his book, if we had not perceived it to be tinctured throughout with the particular tenets of a religious persuasion long since exploded in our seminaries.

Art. 62. Valuable and Interesting Communications. 4to. PP. 27. 7s. 6d. Macpherson, &c. 1796.

If any of our readers are disposed to pay three half-crowns for a whimsical collection of hints, projects, &c. some sensible enough, some silly, and written in a strange incorrect manner, we would not diminish their curiosity by anticipating the bill of fare. Some good creation might probably be formed from this chaos.

Art. 63. A Summary of the History, Doctrine, and Discipline of Friends: written at the Desire of the Meeting for Sufferings, in London. Sixth Edition. 12mo. PP. 32. 3d. Phillips. 1797. Our readers will immediately perceive which is the denomination of Christians who wish to be known as Friends,-though they unre

luctantly

luctantly yield to the other appellation of Quakers.-It is observed in this pamphlet that, from several causes, the principles of this respectable people are even at this day either misunderstood, or misrepresented. Some books, published by authors of their own profes sion, are more diffuse than may be suitable to every reader's leisure and inclination; and others, so compendious as not to include every particular which they may wish to know. For such reasons, it has been judged expedient to present, to those who desire to be rightly informed, this little tract, which may give the reader a true though general representation of the subject; after which, he may be induced to render his knowlege more exact and particular, by having recourse to the publications of Fox, Penn, Barclay, &c. The author adds and to those who may be thus led to inquire into our principles, we would also recommend the example of the Bereans, who examined the Holy Scriptures to find if " those things were so."-We are unwilling to pass by the paragraph which immediately followsIt may, however, be remarked, that the gospel, which we believe to be the highest as well as the last dispensation of God to man, can never be so well understood, as when it is considered as having the boundless love of the Great Creator for its cause, and the salvation of the whole human race for its end and aim.'-It is unnecessary for us to say more than that the pamphlet is very well adapted to its professed design; and that the perusal of it may prove beneficial, at least in the respect of awakening and increasing charity and good-will to our fellow Christians of different denominations:—which is surely not an unimportant purpose.

Art. 64. Mental Improvement: or the Beauties and Wonders of Nature and Art. In a Series of instructive Conversations. Vol. III. By Priscilla Wakefield, Author of Leisure Hours. 12mo. Is. 6d. Darton and Harvey. 1797. The same account which has been given* of the two former volumes of this work will serve for the third. We consider it as a pretty, entertaining, and useful collection. Sometimes the young people appear to express themselves in too formal a manner, or in language raised above their time of life; and sometimes a more particular explication of words and terms might have been wished: but, amid these slight imperfections, the work has real merit. This volume contains a great variety of subjects, and may contribute to inform and instruct many who have passed the years of childhood, or even of youth.

Art. 65. Excerpta Antiqua; or a Collection of Original Manuscripts. 8vo. pp. 112. 2s. 6d. York, printed by Blanchard; and sold by Richardson in London. 1797.

From the dedication of this pamphlet to the Honourable Society of Antiquaries, by J. Croft, F.A.S. we might presume that its contents are of considerable worth; and it must be owned that it contains some things which seem amusing and curious. The first paper, accompanied by a translation, relates to the state of affairs, particularly as to the isle and monastery of Ely, in the time of William the First

* M. Rev. for May, 1796, N. S. vol. xx. p. 111.

*5

with

with extracts from the churchwarden's book, St. Michael's, York, commencing A. D. 1518. When we read such articles as these,1641. Ringing for joy of the triennial parliament, 3s. 6d.-Ringing at the king and prince's coming to York, 3s. 8d.-Ringing the day king William and queen Mary was proclaim'd,'—we were reminded of Matt. Prior's lines:

"Their billett at the fire was found,

Whoever was depos'd or crown'd."

The inventorye of Sir William Fairfax, knight, laite dysessedd, dated 1558, may gratify several readers: he was rich in playte, as also in other utensils and goods of different kinds: his personal estate seems to have been considerable, whatever might be his other possessions. Farther papers are, Sir John Nevill's expence on the marriage of his daughter, 1526-Inventory of jewels, plate, &c. in the cathedral of York in the reign of Edward VI.-Earl of Derby's resolute letter to Oliver Cromwell, 1640-Character of Mr. Hastings, a fox-hunter, 1638-Orders for Lord Fairfax's house at Denton-Account of Ulf's horn, still preserved at York- A pageant play, acted at York, by scriveners, limners, questers, and dubbers, long before 1415;'-ridi culous and absurd enough; we may say profane; for the subject is the resurrection of Christ. Some other articles appear, and all have the character of being taken from original papers, but we are not: thence to infer that they are quite new to the public.

The whole collection is, we think, rather disgraced by the tedious and now very uninteresting detail of the several depositions of the queen dowager, lords, ladies, and others, concerning the birth of the supposed prince of Wales, commonly called the pretender. These depositions were taken in the presence of James II. and his council, and were by his order enrolled in the court of chancery: they occupy upwards of 30 pages of the pamphlet. This narration is followed by an original letter on the death of William III.' dated 10th March 1701; it ought at least to have been 1701-2; as this prince, whose memory is so justly venerated and beloved by all true Englishmen, did not expire till the 8th of March 1702. By whom this letter was written, to whom it was directed, or in what place it is preserved, are circumstances which do not appear; we trust to the editor for its originality: however, though short, it bears the marks of authenticity, and expresses a due regard to the king, deceased: but it may vary in some little circumstances from other relations of his last

moments.

SINGLE SERMONS.

Art. 66. Before the Association for discountenancing VICE, and promoting the Practice of RELIGION AND VIRTUE. Preached in St. Ann's Church, Dublin, May 5, 1796. By the Rev. William Magee, B. D. Junior fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, Member of the Royal Irish Academy, and Cor. Member of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester. 8vo. 15. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1797.

Argument and eloquence are here powerfully combined for the support of religion and virtue, not only by general instruction, and See Rapin's Hist. 8vo. vol. xv. p. 257.

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