THE BRITISH CRITIC, FOR JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, M DCC XCIX. Non refert quam multos libros, fed quam bonos habeas. SENECA. VOLUME XIV. London: PRINTED FOR F. AND C. RIVINGTON, NO. 62, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD. 1799. PRINTED BY T. RICKABY, PETERBOROUGH COURT, FLEET-STREET, PREFACE. “IT T matters not," fays Seneca, "how many books you have, but how good they are*." We are clearly of the fame opinion, and therefore make a regular felection for our readers; from which, if they felect again, according to their various purposes, the advice of the old Stoic will be fufficiently obferved in their purchases: their fhelves will not be loaded by number, but graced by value; and, for the chafms left upon them, it would be better that they should be filled for a time by the carpenter, than too precipitately supplied by the dealers in paper and ink. DIVINITY, If an aufpicious beginning were, in truth, as important as it was esteemed by the ancient world, we hould felicitate ourfelves on being able to open our prefent Preface with the mention of a work fo useful, and in all respects fo valuable, as the Elements of Chriftian Theology, lately published by the Bishop of Lincoln. To the ftudent in Divinity it offers that clear and right introduction, which will throw a light on all his future labours; and as every member of the Church of England is, or ought to be, in fome degree a ftudent of that kind, it stands ready as a faithful * See the motto to the present volume. + No. V. p. 465; VI, p. 610. a 2 guide guide to all. Very pleafing is it to obferve, that, by the exemplary diligence now exerted for fmoothing every avenue to facred knowledge, grofs ignorance of it will be foon without excufe; we hope, almost without example. Dr. Hey's Lectures in Divinity*, may be confidered as a fimilar undertaking, on a more extended plan; but we forbear to characterize them further, till our account of them shall be completed. In the publication entitled Hora Biblicat, we fee with fatisfaction an eminent lawyer (Mr. Butler) holding out the torch to thofe who would explore the paths of biblical literature; and holding it with a hand fo fteady and judicious, as almoft to remove an obsourity, which till then had baffled all but the profounder students of Theology. To the fame clafs of facred works belongs alfo, in a great measure, Mr. Kett's Interpreter of Prophecy; of which the first 300 pages contain fo excellent an abstract of the Prophecies, as far as the deftruction of Jerufalem, that they would alone form a cheap and most useful manual, feparately printed, for thofe whom more obz fcure enquiries might deter. The remainder offers matter well-worthy of contemplation to the theologian, but is lefs formed, excepting the conclufion, for general ufe. Two fets of Sermons at the Bampton Lecture, by Mr. Halls and Dr. Barrow, contribute to enforce and illuftrate the evidences of religion; the former, by explaining the fulness and the fitness of the time when our Saviour appeared on earth; the latter, by difcuffing many topics which have been frequently thought pregnant with doubt or difficulty. When we affigned the first place in this divifion to the Bishop of Lincoln's excellent book, to which we have fubjoined fuch others as feemed more immediately to clafs with it, we did not forget or un * No. V. p. 496. See alfo vol. xiii, p. 600. + No. VI. p. 617. dervalue the Collation of the Septuagint, by Dr. Holmes: But original works feemed to claim the preference, efpecially as no more than the book of Genefis* has yet appeared. May the indefatigable and meritorious editor proceed with equal fuccefs in the enfuing parts of his tafk! There are still fome important publications which demand our notice in this clafs: among which, we muft by no means omit to mention the Sermons of the venerable Dr. Maclainet, the tranflator and judicious annotator of Mofheim. The fubjects are important, whether general or temporary, and the manner in which they are treated evinces the united powers of an able writer and a powerful reafoner. The Supplement of Mr. King, to his Remarks on the Signs of the Times, itfelf an edifying example of pious investigation, into a fubject of general moment, gave occafion to the more profound and elaborate Difquifitions of the Bishop of Rochester§, where controverly appears difarmed of all its feverity, and reconciled with politenefs and friendship. Another work, in which the state of the times is particularly confidered, and a fuitable difcipline in religion prefcribed, is the Chriftian Monitor, by the Rev. J. Owen. In this the author labours diligently, and pleads ably, to recal the knowledge and the practice of the early periods of our national church; and as fo many efforts are now confpiring towards the fame end, it is reafonable to hope that they will produce a happy éffect. Among the less extended productions in Divinity, the valuable Charge of the Bishop of London may justly claim the foremost place: the character of practical utility ftrongly recommends it to the reader, while the spirit of genuine piety challenges his veneration for the writer. Never to be mentioned No. III. p. 217. 5 lb. 130. + No. IV. p. 386. No, VI. p. 660. No. II. p. 127. No. III. p. 242. without |