cellation of war, crimes, oppreffion of puinces and kidnappers, a ruinous and hazardous trade, deftructive of feamen, partial to the French fettlements, &c. 13. The Abolition of the Slave Trade confidered in a Religious Point of View: A Sermon preabed before the Corporation of the City of Oxford at St. Martin's Church, on Sunday February 3, 1788. By Wiliam Agutter, M. A. of St. Mary Magdalen College. A warm addrefs to the paffions of the Citizens of Oxford, that they may come forwarder with a petition to Parliament than the Univerfity are inclined to do,. if we believe their Reprefentative. The fifter Univerfity's petition has been prefented by the Premier, and, with all others hitherto prefented, is ordered to lie on the table. 19. Morfels of Citicism; tending to illuftrate feme few Pallages in the Holy Scriptures upon Pbilofs bical Principles, and an enlarged View of Things. By Edward King, Efq. 4to. IN this extraordinary volume we are at a lofs whether to admire moft, the extraordinary title, the extraordinary dedication, or the extraordinary view of things contained in it. It is dedicated to the prefent Bifhop of London, though lefs known to the author than other excellent perfons on his Lordship's Bench. "But the very truth is, thefe fheets were "begun to be written immediately after, "and almoft folely in confequence of a very defuitory converfation the fummer "before laft, in which his Lordship ex"preffed a wifh, that fome few obferva"tions then made on the true render"ing of the Greek text of fome parts "of Scripture fhould be further pre"ferved, and be communicated to the "publick.” The reader will naturally be furprifed at feeing fo much authority paid to the GREEK version of the HEBREW verity. For, after all the authority that Dr. Owen has given to that version, he does not venture to deduce conclufions of high import from the reading of any one fingle verfe in any one particular copy of the LXX. Without pretending to an acquaintance with the Hebrew lan guage ourselves, we cannot help think ing it a counteracting Dr. Kennicot's laudable and ftupendous undertaking, of collating its various copies, not to apply to it, in the firft inftance, for a correct underftanding and tranflating of the Old Testament. But leaving this * Mr. K. fays, p. 90, "If any one does to the reflection of 'fuch as do understand that language, we proceed to follow Mr. K. ftep by step. He fets out with a new tranflation of the Lord's Prayer, principally, indeed, in one word, the heavens, plurally, for heaven, fingularly, understanding it of the many heavens wherein dwelleth the Father Almighty, and manifefteth his glory, one of which is prepared for good mcn. Mr. K. is not content with a pofitive affurance that we have fuch a retreat in profpe&t, but fets out in search of the precife (pot "Calum non animum mutant qui "trans mare currunt." This our heaven, our future manfion, is the -SUN. The Incas of Peru, it feems, claimed a lineal defcent from this luminary, as their father; but Chriftians, who are fons of GOD, are to take up their eternal refidence in this planet. We cannot follow our author through his chain of philofophical and chemical reafoning; but muft beg leave to differ from him in his illuftrations of his grand pofition, as we conceive all the deferiptions of divine glory in Scripture, however, borrowed from the moft fplendid allufions, to be very inadequate reprefentations, and by no means intended to lead us to that luminary as a fountain or manfion of glory or happinefs. However, in order to qualify it for this purpose, our ingenious author has thought proper to divett it of its fuppofed fiery properties. Surely Mr. K. need not be under any apprehenfion for our Lord's veracity in his promifes about the future glory, power, and exiftence of the Saints, without placing them in the fun and fixed stars. For, if the prefent heavens and earth are to be annihilated, and give place to a new heaven and a new earth, which is the exprefs language of Scripture, we can have no ground for expectation of being tranflated to any planet which we now behold, or which future Herfchels, with all the eyes of Argus or Lynceus, may find out for us in the prefent fyftem. And as the heavens and earth will be as new in themfelves, as they will be new to our conceptions, fo alfo will our bodies undergo a change, which we can have no conception of, in order to be fitted for them. To thefe "not approve of the LXX verfion, he is at "liberty to make a better and more rational one from the Hebrew, if he can ;" and, P. 545, he perfifts in doubting the correctnefs of the Hebrew text. 66 glorious glorious immortal bodies we, for our EV fenger, John Baptift, the forerunner of Chrift, was a real Angel born in the left, who lived on earth, antecedently, as Elijah, and will come a third time before Chrift, at the general refurrection. This he infers from Matt. xviii. 9-13, and particularly from Matt. xi. 14; but in this laft text it is hard to fay, why dμedλwvegxelas should not be tranflated as by us at prefent, who' was for 19 come, or "venturus erat;" and why Malachi iv. 4, 5, is to be extended to a third coming of Elias. As to the conformity of perfon between Elias and the Baptift, if we are to adhere uniformly to the LXX, the defcription of Elias, 2 Kings i. 8, must be applied to his body, and not to his cloaths; for in this fenfe Jacob, Gen. xxvii. 11, was ame daouç. All the reft of the comparifon is the exertion of a fine imagination. The text in John means, that a man was born under a divine commiffion. Section V. is a comment on the words of Chrift to Nathanael, John i. 51, explaining the communication between our heaven, the fun, and earth, to take place at a certain period; though nei ther Nathanael nor Philip, the peg to whom it was addreffed, did fee it.-in this comment Mr. K. fuppofes the Angel who appeared to Gideon communicated additional ftrength to him by looking at him; and that this is implied by T ισχυε σου ΤΑΥΤΗΝ. We rather think Taury means thy prefent ftrength; and fo, as in St. Paul, the divine ftrength would be made perfect in his weakness; nor is this inconfittent with Hebrews xi. 34; or, perhaps, Mr. K. had in his mind the ftrength with which Minerva infpired Diomed in Homer. In Section II. Mr. K. proceeds to examine and illuftrate the Mofaic account of the Creation. He conceives that the earth was now ex reduced to a confused mafs. It was generally, before, fuppofed, that the earth, which E agxn originally was chaotic, was now, when Mofes begins his recital, made thapely, and beautifully adorned. Mr. K. goes on to fhew that, after the feparation of the fubtil fluid of fire or heat, the firft element on earth, the atmopherical air was formed, which the LXX, he fays, exprefs fo much more happily by the term sea, than our tranflation by firmament, which, in our conception, is a word of like import. Mofes gives the name of heaven to this firmament. Mr. K. fays, only because heaven is feen through it. He is of opinion, the fun was formed before the light; and that on the fourth day the funtions on the fecond coming of Chrift, as Section VI is occupied with obferva(the greater light, illuminator, or lumi foretold by him felf, which it fuppofes nary, or efficient caufe of light,) was only rendered visible, while the moon (the teffer luminary), as well as the ftars, were then created.-What our tranflation renders after its kind, applied to trees and plants, as botanists do genus and fpecics, Mr. K. refers to a pattern of thefe things in fome pre-existing world, as man was created after the the likeness of pre-exifting fpirits. In Section III. Mr. K. offers a new tranflation of 1 John iv. 2, 3, whofo be. Jieveth that Jetus is the Chrift come in fleth, and the contrary. In Section IV. Mr. K. conjectures that the Alpeños, by us tranflated Mef *See, particularly, p. 81. ftruction of Jerufalem, Chrift's Second to refer to three diftin&t events, the DeComing properly fo called with his holy Angels, and the Deftruction of this Earth: the time of the two first are pofitively determined by our author, but that of the third declared to be too diftant to be known by any man. Thefe three events are implied in the question put to him by the difciples, Matt. xxiv. 3, and his as diftinct answers. Section VII. is a new translation of the parable of the Unjuft Steward. Mr. K. fuppofes it addreffed to unbelievers, and particularly to the publicans and finners, the fcribes and pharifees, all of of them faithlefs ftewards, but who are advised, by fome acts of kindness, to make friends of those who embrace the truth, and will be fons of GOD, and heirs of the kingdom, that, when they are left out, they may remember them, and receive them into their bleffed habitations in the next state. To fupport this conftruction, Mr. K. imagines an interval between the beginning of the day of judgment, or firft refurrection, and the final confummation of all things, and deftruction of this earth by fire; i.e. during the reign of Chrift on earth, or what is commonlycalled the Millennium; in which he prefumes many perfons who left this life without having acquired the happy lot of being numbered with the redeemed, yet are far from deferving torment, and therefore have a fecond chance of recovering themselves, and being faved. This, to us, favours a little too much of purgatory new modified, and contrary to the exprefs words of Scripture, Eccl. xi. 3, that, as the tree falls, there it must lie, and hardly reconcileable with the divine juftice and mercy. The text rather is a recommendation of wifdom equal to that of the worldly wife, but in a better caufe. When Mr. K. fuppofes, p. 315, the Eastern compliment, "O King, live "for ever!" implies a perfuafion that thofe who could obtain favour through the promised Meffiah would really live for ever, he forgets the extravagance of Eaftern flattery and hyperbole. And when he adopts, p. 319, the LXX's verfion of Deut. xxxii. 8, allotting the feveral nations of the world, according to the number of the angels, he forgets that Mofes is merely fpeaking of the appropriation of the promifed land to the children of Ifrael according to their tribes. Nor has he, in our poor opinion, better, if fo good, authority, p. 329331, for the different fates of man after death," that fome remain fhut up in "the pit (as), in a state of fuffering "and fearful expectation-fome are al"lowed to reft and fleep in inactivity"fome go to a place where they find "themselves in a fituation affording both peace and comfort, (concerning "which place we may perhaps form very probable gueffes and conclufions, "though I name them not here,)-and "fome even afcend to heaven, to par "take of glory with their Lord, and "wait till they fhall again defcend with "hum to judge the world." 66 Section VIII. explains the General Judgment of the last day, in a fenfe entirely new, our author fuppofing that the fentence of that day is so far from final, that, though the number of elect, or immédiate fervants of, and believers in, Jefus Chrift, be comparatively small, yet "at laft, for the fake of those who are thus firft perfected, and by their means, and because of kindness fhewn "unto them, multitudes of others,-in "fhort, all who have manifefted real "fincerity of heart, fhall at laft find a means to escape." Now, though we have little doubt of the final falvation of all truly good men, of every age and nation, we cannot comprehend this progreffive account of the operation and time of that falvation, any more than we can a fucceffron of time called aionian, or ages of ages, or of all ages, diftin&t from eternity. In Section IX. Mr. K. enters upon the bold attempt, in which fo many have been foiled, of explaining the Revelations. He confiders the seals as relating to that period wherein the fame fyftem of government continued that prevailed at the time of the prophecy the trumpets, as marking the changes after the great civilifed part of the world had departed from that state and/ form of things, and had affumed the badge of Chriftianity; and the vials, as defcribing changes that should enfue, more particularly in the Weft, during the prevalence of fome of the other events defcribed as happening in the Eaft, and contemporary with them, and therefore to be defcribed by themselves, in a fort of Appendix. He fuppofes the two first feals have been misunderftood from miftranflation. The first feal relates to the conquefts of Trajan among people remarkable for the use of the bow; the fecond feal was not to take away, but to receive, peace from the earth; i. e. to eftablish it as in the peaceful reign of Adrian, and yet leave men to flay one another; the third feal characterifes the juft and righteous reign of Antoninus Pius; the fourth, that of Aurelius, and his fucceffors, to Maximus, which were one fcene of plague, famine, and flaughter, except the reign of Alexander Severus; the fifth refers to the eighth perfecution of the Chrif tians in the fucceeding reigns of Decius, Gallus, and Valerian; the calamities of the fixth are emblematic reprefentations of the fhaking of the Roman govern-' ment, ment, as from the fetting up of the 30 tyrants to Conftantine, accompanied, indeed, with remarkable phænomena in the natural world; the feventh feal comprehends all the reft of the prophecy, the events defcribed on founding the feven trumpets, and in the little additional book, after which no space of time is left for the accomplishment of any events defcribed by the feven vials; confequently they must be contemporary with fome part of the events of the feven trumpets. The filence between the opening of the feventh feal and founding the first trumpet denotes the peaceful reign of Conftantine, for 25 years; the hail-ftorm with fire and blood, of the first trumpet, the calamities confequent on his death. The fecond trumFet forefhews the facking of Rome by Alaric and his Goths; the third, the ravages of Alaric and Genferic, and the introduction of Arianifm; the fourth, the conquefts of the Vifigoths, to the extinction of the Roman empire in the dukedom of Ravenna. Some dreadful event, to happen on the founding of the feventh trumpet, is announced by the eagle or angel (for the MSS. differ) flying through the midft of heaven, and crying thrice Woe. Bp. Newton's explanation of the fifth and fixth trumpets is adopted by Mr. K. with the addition of a few general remarks. Among thefe is that which difcovers the ufe of firearms and ordnance predicted and firft ufed in the Turkish armies. The feven vials are agreed to have been poured out on the corruptors of Chriftianity; and, in his illuftration of them, we cannot help thinking Mr. K. has been very happily comprehenfive. He profeties humfelf not pretending to prophecy; yet, by comparing events, he gives at leaft as good, if not better, reafons for his explanation as any of his predeceffors. Contemplative minds, that turn their thoughts to thefe fubje&ts, will always find fcope to exercife their conjectures. The feveral predictions are meant to be strongly imprefled on ferious minds: "Come and fee;"-and in this fpirit of reverential inveftigation, our author is led to offer his conjectures for the conclufion of the whole in the courfe of the enfuing century. We are forry our limits do not permit us to tranfcribe the paffage at large from the notes, p. 328-391. In Section X. Mr. K. proceeds to ilJuftrate the Little Horn of the He Goat, defcribed in Daniel, viii. 8-25; which Sir Ifaac and Bishop Newton fuppofe reprefented the Roman empire; but which Mr. K. refers to the Mahometan power, which fprung out of the Syrian, as that did from Alexander, the great goat of the Grecian empire. This opi nion he fupports with great ingenuity and plausibility; and when he follows this power from its rife to the commencement of its decline by the interference of Ruffia, he difcovers a difcernment of the figns of the times that we do not remember to have traced in any other expofitor. This reference to the Mahometan power is further refumed in Section XI. from Daniel xi. 40-453 where the Kings of the North and South are explained to mean the Turks and Saracens, who firft contended with each other, and afterwards united to overrun Judea. Greece, Afia Minor, Egypt, and Africa, yet could not wreft from many of the Arabs their independency; and fhall at last be overthrown by the Raf fians in the North and in the Eaft, or China, India, and Perfia. Section XII. holds out a new con ftruction of the account given, A&ts v, of the Community formed by the Apofof Ananias and Sapphira were intended tles; which Mr. K. fuppofes the deaths fuch feparate inftitutions among Chrif to put an end to, and, thereby, to all tians in future, and of courfe to monkish eftablishments. This he deduces from understands forming a compact, inthe word nonacbai, ver. 12, which he "violable property, by an entire union "of property and intereft." But furely the obvious meaning of verfes 12 and in Solomon's porch, and of the reft durft 13 is, that the Apoftles kept all together had juft happened, but the people at a no man join them through fear of what diftance magnified them. Section XIII. clearly vindicates Jude iv. from the idea of predeflination, (the perfons there treated of being polifaMevo, profcribed, rather than predeftinaled;) and farther illuftrates the whole verfe, as alfo.Rom. iii. S. Section XIV. contains proofs of the word un being ufed in Scripture for mere animal spirit, probably rendent in the blood. In an Appendix Mr. K. takes up fome conclufions, "not fo fully and po"fitively fupported from Scripture" as his former. The firft is the prophecy of St. Peter, 2, iii. 7, &c. refpeding the deftruction deftruction of the prefent earth by fire, which, on a comparifon with fimilar paffages in Ifaiah and Revelations, Mr. K. inclines to think means the reduction of our planet to a comet. In the paffage from Ifaiah we apprchend auto bear the fame fenfe as in all the profane writers, the babitable earth, not the whole folar fyftem; and we doubt much how human fpirits, if by them Mr. K. means evil-difpofed fpirits, incapable of any good exertions, can be qualified to inhabit a comet. What the LXX characterife as particular fowls, or monfers of the beaft kind, Mr. K. comprehends under the general appellation of foul infels, borrible damoniacal beings, and borrid animals. Ilive, a crazy journey man printer, placed hell in this earth; and Mr. Swinden, in the fun; and each wrote a book about it. As our author fet out with finding heaven in a new place, fo, in the lait fection of the Appendix, he inclines to fix, not only our hell in the centre of our earth, but the hell of every other planet alfo in the centre of that planet. It is to be feared, that the inference drawn to this effect from Pfalm lxiii. 10, and other paffages, is not authorifed by the feveral contexts. In the Pfalm particularly the Pfalmift is only expreffing his confidence in Pro vidence, and his little apprehenfion of danger from his enemies, who would, fooner or later, come to an untimely end, and be put out of the way; which by no means implics his wishing this to happen. There is, perhaps, no lefs uncertainty about the place of ans, whether it does not mean the Grave in general. Mr. K. vindicates the hiftory of Jonah's being fwallowed by a great fith, and ends with a fummary of the Con "clufions ventured into the world in "thefe fheets, trufting that there is ftill "further fo much candour, and fuch a "fpirit of philofophical enquiry to be "met with, that he fhall not be deemed "a madman, nor have the whole of "what he has written wantonly scoffed "at." We alfo here clofe this long review of his 622 quarto pages with this remark, made, we truth, in the fpirit of candour and impartiality, that, in all ages, good men, of the beft intentions, have done more harm to the caufe of Revelation by their fpeculations, however modeftly hazarded, than the whole body of fceptics who object without knowledge or reflection. GENT. MAG. February, 17837 20. Doctor and Student; or, Dialques between a Doctor of Divinity and a Student in the Laws of England, curaining the Grounds of thofe Laros, with Qtors and Cafes concerning the Equity shereof. The Seventeenth Edition. Corrected and improved by William Michell, Gent. 1787. 8vo. THE author of this book was Chrif topher St. Germain, of the Inner Tem ple, barrifter, fuppofed, in extenfive knowledge in the laws of his country, to be equal to moft men of his time.Soon after this was firft published, in 1518, he was engaged in a smart controverfy with a ferjeant at law, relative to a point of doctrine advanced by him in the 12th chapter of the Ift Dialogue; Mr. Hargrave's Collection of Tracts, the particulars of which may be feen in Vol. I. He clofed a long life of piety, fefulness, and integrity, in his 80th year, and was buried in the church of St. Alphage, near Cripplegate.-This work is mentioned with particular refpe&t by Sir William Blackstone, in his Commentaries; Sir William Jones, in his lay on the Law of Bailments; and Mr. Reeves, in his Hiftory of the English Law. and references to illuftrate the fubjectTo the prefent edition are added notes matter, and to fhew how the law has been altered by acts of parliament and judicial decifions. 21. The Controverfiad; an Epifle to a Learned Friend, exbibiting a Sketch of the Controverfy between Dr. Priestley and his Opponents; fome Allufions to the Controverfial dicks on the Rev. C. W. Hawkins and bis Wife, by Father O'Leary, and others. 8vo. WHATEVER becomes of the feve ral Controverfies here treated of, which feem to be lulled afleep for the prefent, our poet will hardly revive them.Poet, did we fay? rather Poctafter, for who can hammer fuch lines as the following, and claim a feat even at the foot of Pindus ? Reafon's garo is rent by those who fould [found." Text, note, and felves, they mangle and cons Priestley, "Though he owns no wILL, Will try the day; All, all must ftand the flame, or pass the flill” We have heard of palling the Styx irrevocably; but never, till Dr. P. fet up for |