HORTICULTURE.

Art. 70. The Gardener's univerfal Guide: or experimental Art of Gardening. Containing plain and familiar Inftructions, founded on Experience, for performing every Part of that pleafant and ufeful Art, both for Ornament and Pleasure, &c. &c. By Andrew Ferguson, Gardener, at Brentford. 8vo. 5s. bound. Cooke. Miller's Gardener's Dictionary, a work too expenfive for fome gardeners, and too fcientific for others, even in its abridged forms, is the chief root from which many practical books on gardening have fprouted: Mr. Fergufon's compilement feems to be of this number; though fome original remarks may have been introduced.-The Publisher can beft account for its having been advertised as a new work in the year 1787; but many paffages in the book show that it muft have been written, if not first published, near twenty years ago; of which the following is an instance:

Among a number of pine-apples raised two years fince in the ifland of Antigua, there appeared one of an extraordinary fize and form; covered as well as crowned by its new offspring. This was brought into England, preferved in a kind of pickle, and prefented to her Royal Highnefs the Princess Dowager of Wales, who is pleased to honour these studies with her moft gracious protection and regard.'

From a variety of circumstances, but more especially from the ftyle of the book, and the recollection of several facts, we fufpect that the late indefatigable Dr. Hill's plan has been ufurped by the Brentford gardener; if any fuch gardener can there be discovered.

THEOLOGY, &c.

Art. 71. Prælectio ad Actum Publicum habitum Cantabrigiæ, 8vo. Id. Mart MDCCLXXXVII. Auctore Gulielmo Cooke, in Academia Cantabrigienfi Græcarum Literarum Profeffore Regio. 4to. Is. Cadell.

The question difcuffed in this academical differtation is, Whether the infpiration of the New Testament extends to individual words? The Orator maintains the affirmative. In fupport of this pofition, after fome general remarks on the writings of the Evangelifts, he infifts on several expreffions of our Saviour, which he judges to have comprehended a fublime meaning, far beyond their literal fignification; and concludes with remarking, that fcarcely any words proceeded from the lips of the Bleffed Jefus, which were not fpiritual and mystical, and defigned to form within us that fpiritual and mystical character, which is Chrift in us the hope of glory;' and that this fpiritual meaning can only be perceived by thofe, whofe ' understandings he hath opened that they may understand the fcriptures.'-A doctrine, which, furely, opens a wide door to fanaticifm.

Art. 72. A Letter to Samuel Johnson, LL. D. on the Subject of a Future State. By John Taylor, LL. D. Prebendary of Weftminfter, &c. 4to. I S. Cadell. 1787.

We began the perufal of this letter with fome degree of curiofity and expectation; but must confefs, that we have been not a little

* Dr. Hill's plan was to multiply books under fictitious names.

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difappointed, to meet with fo indiftinct an account of the grounds on which the ancients believed the doctrine of a future ftate; and fo incomplete a view of the natural and moral arguments, by which modern writers have fupported it. The language of Christian theologians is put into the mouths of Heathen philofophers; and abfolute certainty is given to conclufions drawn from merely probable premifes.

Upon the most steady contemplation and investigation of matter, philofophers,' fays our Author, established this truth, that as matter is incapable, by any power of its own, either of action, or fenfation, that therefore the foul is independent of the body, and therefore immaterial, and confequently immortal. Here you fee, that natural religion alone proves, beyond a doubt, the immortality of the foul, confequently the abfurdity and folly of annihilation.'

1 rue philofophers feldom ftep forward in their reafonings thus haftily, or affert their deductions with fo much confidence.

Art. 73. Sermons on various Subjects, and preached on several Occafions. By the late Rev. Tho. Francklin, D. D. Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majefty, and Rector of Brafted in Kent. Vol. III. 7s. Boards. Cadell. 1787.

This volume of Difcourfes is of the fame character with the two which preceded it; in matter, plain and practical, without any particular pretenfions to originality; in ftyle, natural and easy, in fome places rifing into elegance, in others finking into negligence and inaccuracy. Notwithstanding their defects, they will generally be read with pleasure, and, if it be not the reader's own fault, with profit.

Art. 74. Two Sermons on a hopeful Youth falling fhort of Heaven: extracted partly from Dr. Watts's Sermons on the fame Subject. Izmo. 4d. Symonds. 1787.

There was fomewhat peculiarly decent and engaging in Dr. Watts's manner. A degree of refemblance is preferved in this publication, faid to be partly extracted from his difcourfes, which, perhaps, are not very confiderably altered; one paffage we do not recollect in the original: it relates to pride, calumny, and ill-temper, and is as follows: Some people, with a greater regard for Speculative than practical religion, have faid wittily, and in order (as it fhould feem) to palliate this vice among the coarse and lowest claffes of mankind, that " Grace fometimes grows on a crab-tree*." Unfortunate faying! defigned to veil an eafy befetting fin, and to make wickedness tolerable. Not fo faid the apostle James; when he reafoned about the fame matter, he argued thus; Doth a fountain fend forth at the fame place fweet water and bitter? &c. The natural behaviour which arifes from Chriftianity, is diftinguished by decency and loveliness; and it produces in men, not only the things which

* We remember to have heard, long ago, of fomewhat like this fhrewd faying; which was then afcribed to the late celebrated Mr. (commonly styled Tom) Bradbury, an eminent Diffenting Minifter. Speaking of those four Chriftians who make religion look ugly, he [if B. was the man] pleasantly, but farcaftically faid, "Aye, we do, fometimes, fee grace grafted on a crab-flock."

are

are true, honeft, and pure, but the things which are lovely and of good report. The Editor feems to fuppofe, that Dr. Watts's origi nal fermons were compofed more directly for his own fociety, whereas thefe, it is faid, are defigned unlimitedly for all young people: Sunday-fchools are particularly mentioned, or any other inftitutions for promoting Chriftianity.' It is very probable that this little tract may prove beneficial to young minds.

Art. 75. A Charge delivered at an Ordination in London. By John Clayton, Minifter of the Gospel. 8vo. 9 d. Buckland.

This Author profeffes to publifh merely from the motive of felf.. defence. Some parts of what he delivered * had given rife to fome objections, or mifreprefentation. We are entire ftrangers both to him, and to the objectors or objections which are said to have arifen. He feems to be an acute and fenfible man. We were rather furprifed by fomething like humour on fuch an occafion, when, at the entrance of his Charge he tells his brother, I came not from our diffenting Athens: I came from Nazareth. A note informs us that he was educated at a feminary at Trevecca, under the patronage of Lady Huntingdon. He was alfo intended for the established church; but meeting with Towgood's Letters, they effectually frustrated that purpose. We cannot fay that we obferve much of a methodistical caft in the performance. One part of his advice that has occafioned difguft, is, when he recommends it to us to fecure and improve folitude. This teftimony [it is faid in a note alluding to what follows] against the conviviality of the age, has been confidered as highly criminal. I am not hoftile to convivial intercourfe under due regulations, though I view it not in that light which thofe perfons do who think it neceffary, in order that a ftudent or minifter may become acquainted with the world. Alas! a knowledge of the world does not confift in creeping up into fashion, as to drefs and addrefs, or in being allowed to dine at the hofpitable board of a tradefman in the city, nor can it be obtained even by tours to Margate and Brighthelmftone.' There is fome allufion in this remark with which we are unacquainted. But furely Mr. Clayton forgets himself; as we learn from the beginning of his preface, that he had made a tour to Bath, at which place he was when he was urged to engage in the fervice that occafioned this charge. However, the advice he gives, feems (on the whole) adapted to the office in which he appeared: we think it very probable, that he may too hastily or too warmly have attended to little animadverfions which fhould rather have been filently paffed over.

Art. 76. A Letter to the Jews: with occafional Remarks on a late Address to them from Dr. Priestley. By a Layman. 12mo. 6 d. Walter. 1787.

R. W. whoever he is, feconds Dr. Priestley's benevolent attempt, although, as to fome principles, he diffents widely from him. According to the teftimony,' he obferves, of three Evangelifts, Matthew, Luke, and John, to be a real Chriftian in doctrine, without admitting that Jefus Chrift is the begotten Son of God only,

• We fuppofe at the place in which the late Dr. Gibbons officiated.

appears

appears wholly impoffible.'-But, he afks,-Is the foundation of general truth at all fhaken or disturbed, becaufe fallible men differ in their opinion even on the most effential points, or because they are blinded by prejudice, or influenced by perverfenefs?-This Author, however, applauds Dr. Priestley's Addrefs, notwithstanding, as he apprehends, its notorious departure, in fome inftances, from the Chriftian faith. He tells the Jews, it lays before them as great a body of evidence and weight of reafoning, to prove the gospel a divine revelation, as could be contained in the compafs of the Letter, and well fuited to awaken the attention of every man acceffible to entreaty and alarm. His activity, he adds, in fo great a caufe, calls loudly for inftant imitation. This Writer appeals principally to the prefent ftate of difperfion, and at the fame time of distinction, in which this people have been for ages, and yet continue; and in this connection he exhorts them, particularly the more learned of their community, to enquire for themselves and fearch the Scriptures that they may difcover the truth. He preffes them to it with great earneftnefs: and concludes with requefting their examination of a few authors on the fubject, fuch as Newton on the Prophecies; Butler's Analogy; Lardner's Credibility; Sherlock on a future State; Priestley's Evidences; Lyttelton on the Converfion of St. Paul; and laft of all, which we did not much expect, comes Soame Jenyns on the internal Evidence of the Chriftian Religion.-Such is this pamphlet. Should it be objected, that the people to whom it is addreffed, are too much engroffed by very different objects to yield it a fair attention,-ftill, however, the defign is laudable: and as our Letter-writer obferves, every Chriftian may righteously hope, and diligently contend, for that poffible fuccefs which has good for its object.'

SINGLE SERMON S.

I. Preached before Lord Viscount Mount Edgecumbe, and the Amphibious Lodge of Free and Accepted Mafons, on laying the Foundation-ftone of St. George's Chapel, in Eaft Stonehouse, Devon. By J. Bidlake, A. B. Chaplain to the Earl Ferrers. 4to. Is. Law, &c.

1787.

This is a very fenfible difcourfe, from 1 Cor. ch. iii. v. 11. For other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jefus Chrift. From these words, well adapted to the occafion of erecting a new chapel for Chriftian worship, the preacher, after infisting on the evidences that establish the truth of the Chriftian religion, proceeds to infift on the amiable tendency of its precepts; which must ever endear it to the virtuous and benevolent, in its actual, undeniable, and visible, effects on the temporal happiness, and moral improvement, of mankind.'

But, in the title-page, this fermon is recommended to us as being preached before a Lodge of Free Mafons, though there is not a word concerning free-mafonry in it; and the omiffion was prudent, as it would have required fome ingenuity in the preacher to adapt his text to a denomination of men who profefs to build their principles of charity and benevolence on another foundation! He does, indeed, once refer to them, when he adds, But I need not longer expatiate

on principles fo quell understood by the refpectable Society which I now have the honour to addrefs:' yet it may be imputed to our ignorance of the inftitution, if, on the credit of this difcourfe, we take it for granted, that the Amphibious Lodge might have understood thofe principles as well in the plain character of good Chriftians, without any farther pretenfions.

11. Shebbaxxar and bis Mafons: delivered at Bethel Chapel, Sheernefs, at the Request of the Mafter and Lodge of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free Mafons, on the 24th of June 1787, and published at their Request. By W. Shrubfole. 8vo. 9d. Terry, Pater-nofter-row, London.

If the beauty of holiness, with the obligations of moral duties, under a contemplation of prefent advantages and future expectations, carry no pofitive conviction with them, but derive all their recommendation from catching the fancy by fimilitudes; then Mr. Shrubfole appears to have been a very energetic and edifying preacher. He informs us, in a prefatory addrefs, that he is not a member of the honourable Society of Mafons; nevertheless, being requested to, preach before them on the evening of St. John's day *, the conveniency of becoming all things to all men, prevailed on him, for that evening, to become an occafional conformist, and put on the character of a brother; and, in this affumption, he acquitted himself fo well to the fatisfaction of his audience, that the fermon is published at their defire. Indeed he has fhewn fome dexterity in deducing a good exhortation to Chriftian piety from a defcription of the feveral parts, and furniture, of the temple of Jerufalem, with their dimenfions in Hebrew cubits; firft carefully premifing, that dropping all fractional parts, he takes the cubit at twenty-one inches of our meafure!

III. Preached at St. Mary, Ipfwich, June 25, 1786, for the Benefit of a Charity-school. By Edward Pearfon, M. A. Fellow of Sidney-Suffex College. 8vo. 15. Rivingtons. 1786.

The charity-fchool confifts of boys and girls, clothed and educated chiefly by voluntary contributions; and the profits of this publication, it is faid, if any arife, will be applied to the fame purpose. We also find that the children are employed in fome kinds of work. The fermon principally confiders the measure and the manner of diftributing; which fubject is pursued in a judicious and rational style, likely to produce the conviction, and obtain the affent of the reader. The text is 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18. Charge them that are rich, &c. IV. Occafioned by his Majefty's late Proclamation for the Encou. ragement of Piety and Virtue, &c. By Edward Pearfon, M. A. Fellow of Sidney-Suffex College, Cambridge. 8vo. 15. Dilly, &c. 1787.

A fenfible, practical, and useful difcourfe, adapted to the defign and occafion. The text is Prov. xiii. 34. Righteoufness exalteth nation, &c.

Poffibly no clerical brother was within hail. We understand from the difcourfe, that his text, Ezra, ch. v. 16. was recommended to him.