Sacrifice is confidered; and it is proved that bare Repentance is not fufficient to obtain Pardon. The divine Appointment of the Sacraments is evinced; the Nature of them fet forth, as alfo the Obligation we lie under to partake of them, the Benefits that accrue by a devout Participation, and the Dangers incurr'd by their Rejection or Neglect. The Univerfality of Redemption is enquired into; the Nature of the Sin against the Holy Ghoft is difcovered, and the Commiffion of it is fhewn to be impoffible till after the Time of our Saviour.

WE

ARTICLE XXII.

E are defired to reprint the following, being the Conclufion and Poftfcript to the last Reply of Philalethes Cantabrigienfis to Dr. Pemberton, publifhed in our Hiftory for July.

But, fince this difpute, which began upon matters of science well worthy the confideration of the Reader, is now degenerating into perfonal altercation and empty cavil, UNLESS Dr. Pemberton fhall think fit to revive it by giving his fo long demanded explication, I fhall not judge it worth while to take notice of what he may hereafter write upon this Subject; but fhall leave him to enjoy that inward fatisfaction, which must neceffarily attend his candid and ingenuous purfuit after truth, and that reputation, with which the Publick, fo much enlightened by his labours, and fo greatly edified by his uncommon fincerity, cannot fail to reward him.

Quam pulchrum digito monftrari, & dicier hic eft!

P S.

As Dr. Pemberton is now free from the apprehenfion of any farther answer from me, poffibly, in his

reply

li

reply to this, he may think fit to take ftill greater berties in quoting my words, and in reprefenting the fense of them, than he and his friends have yet done. But in this cafe, I hope from the Juftice of the Reader, that he will give no fort of Credit to what may be alledged against me, unless, upon DUE EXAMINATION, it appear to be juft.

We are likewife defired to infert the two following Queries.

Query 1. Whether, in Dr. Pemberton's laft Obfervations, pag. 126. lin. 16. after the words, (but not in a finite time.) inftead of making a full ftop, we ought not to put a comma, and to read the paffage thus, but not in a finite time, as it ought to do by the FOURTH SUPPOSITION. See Rep. of Letters for Novemb. 1735. pag. 375. lin. 24.

Qu. 2. Whether, instead of the word SOME in the fame Obfervations, pag. 127. lin. 13. we are not to read, fome finite time, that either happens to be determined in any particular cafe, or else may be propofed and affumed AT PLeasure. See Rep. of Letters for Novemb. 1735. pag. 371. lin. 24.

ARTICLE XXIII.

Medulla Poetarum Romanorum; or, The most beautiful and inftructive Paffages of the Roman Poets. Being a Collection (difpofed under proper Heads) of fuch Defcriptions, Allufions, Ċomparifons, Characters and Sentiments, as may beft ferve to fhew the Religion, Learning, Politicks, Arts, Cuftoms, Opinions, Manners and Circumstances of the Ancients. With Tranflations of the fame in English Verfe, by Mr. Henry Baker. London: Printed for D.

Midwinter,

Midwinter, A. Bettefworth and C. Hitch, J. and J. Pemberton, R. Ware, C. Rivington, F. Clay, J. Batley and J. Wood, A. Ward, J. and P. Knapton, T. Longman, and R. Hett. 1737. 2 Vols. Octavo.

A

S no better Account can be given of thefe Volumes than that which the Compiler has prefix'd to 'em, it is inferted here in his own Words, for the Information of the Reader. The Claffic Writers have with great Juftice (as he fays) obtained the Applause of their Co-temporaries, and preferved the Admiration of fucceeding Ages. Whatever Discoveries may have been made in the Knowledge of Nature, whatever Improvements in the Productions of Art, they are confeffedly the Standard of all that regards the Beauty of Sentiment, or the Delicacy of Expreffion.

Conscious of this, the most admired Moderns have wifely contented themselves with borrowed Honours, and recommended their Performances by an happy Imitation, or an ingenious Improvement of their Predeceffors: Proud rather to fhare than rival their Fame, they have generally built upon the fame Plan: and even where they would be thought Originals, frequently condefcend not only to copy, but tranflate.

In darker Ages they were fometimes able to conceal the Theft, and ufurp the Credit which belonged to their Benefactors; but the inquifitive World is now fenfible to whom we are indebted for every thing that is great in Defign, and agreeable in Execution.

A Relish for the Ancients is therefore neceffary to a polite Tafte; and an Acquaintance with them to form a true Judgment of Compofition. Nor will it by any means abate the Pleasure which a modern Production gives, nor diminish our Efteem of it, to know from whence the feveral Materials which adorn it are collected, it will yield a new Delight to trace the original Strokes; and an Author, happily animated by the Spirit of a great Mafter, that adapts his Senti

ments,

ments, and judiciously connects them with his own Defign, will have the Honour of a skilful Architect, who poffefs'd of any venerable and beautiful Remains of Antiquity, inferts them in his Plan in fuch a manner, as to make them appear only defigned for it.

With this view the following Collection is prefented to the Reader, which contains a Compendium of what is valuable in the Poets, and has reduced the most beautiful and inftructive Paffages of the best Writers, and the accurate Defcriptions which they have left us of their Cuftoms and Manners under proper Heads, in fuch a Method, that they may upon every Occafion be readily applied to.

Those who are already converfant with the Authors, and to whom nothing valuable can be pointed out which has escaped their Observation; will however be pleased with an Index that may refresh their Memory, and fave them fome Trouble, when they are at a lofs to find a particular Expreffion, or a favourite Thought.

But these are not the Perfons for whom the Editor has undertaken this Work: They are rather the Judges, to whofe Cenfure he fubmits himself in the Execution of his Performance.If he has judiciously collected the feveral Parts, they will be his Advocates to those whofe Benefit he intends, and bear witness to the Usefulness and Advantage of the Design.

To such as have a good natural Genius, but whose Understanding is not yet arrived at maturity, it will be of Service, to mark the Beauties, which they will taste and relish as foon as their Attention is engaged: though without this Help, many of them might be paffed by, undiscovered, or unremarked.

The Tranflations will enable those who have made but a moderate Progrefs in the learned Languages, to preferve at least, if not improve what they have obtained. What was Labour and Fatigue in the Schools, they will now find an agreeable Amusement and an useful Diverfion, and will be allured to recover what they have loft, or to fupply what they want.

To

To the Ladies who have frequently the most delicate Taste of what is polite, thefe Tranflations will fupply what partial Education robs them of: thofe of the other Sex, who only wanted a liberal Education to cultivate and improve a fine Genius, will have the fame Advantage.

The Inftructors of Youth will find their Account in a Manual, which contains a Repofitory of the moft beautiful Sentiments finely expreffed: without trouble to themselves, they will always have Subjects at hand, proper to exercife the Understanding, and enrich the Memory, of those who are committed to their Care.

Upon the whole, we propofe this Advantage to Readers of every Degree, that a ferious Hour may be ufefully employed, or a vacant Minute agreeably filled up. We have therefore earefully examined the original Authors, and if we have not been able, in fo narrow a Compafs, to comprife all that is valuable in their Compofition, flatter ourselves, that we have felected what have been moft diftinguifhed by the concurrent Approbation of the beft Judges.

The Tranflations, where they have been done by eminent Authors, and come near the Spirit and Letter of the Originals, the Editor has chofe to borrow from thofe Authors: He has fupplied what was wanting, and fometimes taken the Liberty to alter what he thought might be render'd more exact.