But is it poffible that laws can be understood in a metaphorical fenfe? Again, Precision in their meaning is the purpose of all laws, because the purpose of all laws is to be a determinate rule of action; but it is of the very nature of metaphorical language to be indeterminate. Can then determinate conduct, which is the defign of ALL law whatfoever, follow from words of uncertain meaning, that is from indeterminate commands? For who can fet precife bounds to a metaphor? And then can laws have more fenfes than one? And if there are not more fenfes than one, of what use is this diftinction of a SPIRITUAL fenfe? And if there are more fenfes than one, what are those other fenfes to which this piritual fenfe is opposed? Mr. Newton tells us, that while St. Paul was ignorant of THIS fpirituality of the law, he affirmed himself to be alive, but when the commandment came, that is, according to his notion, when the Spirit explained and enforced the commandment, in its full extent, as reaching to the thoughts of the heart, and requiring an obedience abfolutely perfect, Paul fays, " Sin revived, and I died." Of what law is Mr. N. here fpeaking? Of the Mofaic law certainly; For he fays, St. Paul was never ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT the LAW. To be fure not. For if he had, he muft abfolutely have been an heathen. But in truth, Paul had no notion, whatever Mr. N. might have, that himself was ever without any part of the law, much lefs without the whole of it. Hear his own account of this matter. He calls himself an Hebrew of the Hebrews-equal, if not fuperior to the most zealous of his countrymen, in his attachment to the Mofaic difpenfation, in his obfervance of what he elsewhere calls a carnal commandment. In which, if any other man could have confidence, Faul thought, and perhaps justly too, that himfelf might have more. For he was circumcifed the eighth day, of the ftock of Ifrael, of the tribe of Benjamin; brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, of whofe traditions he was exceedingly zealous, fo that he profited in the Jew's religion, above many of his equals. Yet when he frankly confeffed his jewish faults, and acknowledges himself a blafphemer, and a perfecutor, and injurious, he mentioned not one word of his ignorance of the Spiritual fente of the law; a fault one fhould think he would by no means have omitted. But in truth he feems to have confidered himself, both before and after his converfion, to have had all poffible knowledge of the Mofaic law, whatever might have been his attention to the prophets; for he affirms that he was not only brought up, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law, but that he alfo lived after the moft Arict feat of it. It can fcarcely therefore be supposed that fo good a Jew as Paul rauft have been could have known nothing of the tenth commandment, which fhews that the Jewish law reaches farther than the regulation of the outward condu&t, that it extends to the internal ftate of the mind. And it is fecely to be fuppofed that fo ftri& an obferver of the Jewish worship fhould be ignorant that Mofes (whofe writings were read in the fynagogue every Sabbath day) pronounces every one accurfed, who continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law, to do them. But had this extent, or if you please this fpirituality of the law, made a neceffary part of the Jewish religion, when at the fame time, accor ding to Mr. N's. affertion, it could only be attained by immediate revelation; the Jews would have been no more blameable, for their ignorance of this fpirituality of their own law, than they were for their ignorance of Chriftian redemption.

(To be continued.)

REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Friendly Addreffes of a Minifter to his People, on feveral folemn occafions. Extracted from various writers. By a Prefbyter of the Church of Eng-A Word Spoken in due feafon, how good is it." pp. 98.

land. 46 12mo.

WE E know not how we can better introduce this little work to the knowledge of our readers, than by giving the Editor's preface at

large.

"The reader, if he derives either improvement or fatisfaction from the following pages, is indebted for it to the following circumftance:

"That the late Rev. Herbert Mayo, D. D. Rector of Saint George in the East, was one of the most exemplary Parish Minifters in the Metropolis, was demonftrated, during a space of more than half a century; and is a circumitance well known to all that were acquainted with one of the most truly refpectable characters in his own or any other profeffion.

"Always intent on making full proof of his ministry,' and defirous of speaking what was good to the ufe of edifying, that it might minifter grace and improvement to his hearers,' he drew up a number of thort, pious, and affectionate Addreffes, which it was his practice to deliver to his people, on different occafions: -thefe he put into the hands of the Editor, not without an intimation, that if, at fome future time, they should be thou ht likely to be useful to others, they might be made public; but, with that humility which formed a principal feature in his amiable character, he wished them not to appear in his life-time.-He is now re ceiving the reward of his well-directed labours, through the merits of that Saviour in whom he trusted, for the acceptance of himself and them; and has left us at li berty to avail ourselves of his pious induftry and attention to his duty and we are permitted to enable him, even after his deceafe, to fpeak to others in his own peculiarly affecting language; in which the Father, addreffing himself to his children, as well as the Minifter to his people, is reprefented in the most lively manner.

"The Editor, to whofe hands the papers of this excellent man were entrusted,. not pretending to the fame fimplicity, and fingular happiness of addrefs, which dif tinguished his revered Friend, having fome other fhort occafional compofitions in his poffeffion, and hoping that they might be reudered fubfervient to the faine good end, with the genuine manufcripts of Dr. Mayo, has ventured to fubmit to the public eye fuch as he has been able to collect; not doubting that the judicious reader will as easily diftinguish the original from the additional Addreffes, as if they had the initials of his name fubjoined. It is confeffed, that the ftyle of his excellent Friend is attempted to be imitated, but not always with fuccefs there are some subjects which did not fall within the courfe of his miniftry; but which, it is prefumed, might be not altogether unworthy of attention, on occafions fimilar to thofe which produced them.

"If any benefit fhould arife from this publication, the Author wishes, that the whole credit of it may be given to that truly venerable Perfon, whofe name will be holden in the higheft eftimation, as long as unwearied affiduity, firm attachment to the doctrines and difcipline of the Church of England, a ftedfaft belief of all the articles of the Chriftian faith, and a cheerful conformity (as far as human frailty will admit) to all the precepts of the Gofpel, fhall diftinguish the character of the or the exemplary Clergyman."

real Chriftian,

The Editor, if we mistake not, is a very eminent Divine of our Church who, though a scholar of the higheft form, has often ere now condefcended to write in terms adapted to the edification of the young and the unlearned. Happy combination of talent and humility! Bleffed exemplification of the Vol. IV. Churchm. Mag. Jan. 1803.

F

Chriftian

Chriftian character! Our Lord and Master, "in whom were hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," deemed it no difgrace to "preach the gofpel to the poor."

We think the Addreffes drawn up by Dr. Mayo terminate at the 51ft page. The next page presents "an Addrefs to Prifoners, as well thofe under conviction, as thofe committed for trial." This, we conceive, is the work of the Editor; who, if we conjecture rightly, has deserved very highly of the county of Middlesex in his character of magiftrate.

There is no table of contents in the volume; we shall therefore give the titles of the feveral Addreffes, by which our readers may form fome judgement of the nature of this interesting tract. 66 1. An Addrefs to newmarried perfons. 2. To godfathers and godmothers, after the baptifm of infants; and to all the congregation prefent. 3. To a woman, on com ing to give thanks, after her fafe deliverance in child-birth. 4. To the congregation, on the baptifm of two grown perfons. 5. On vifiting the fick. 6. To the attendants on a fick-bed. 7. To the attendants on a funeral. 8. At the funeral of an infant. 9. To attendants behaving improperly at the funeral of a perfon of immoral character. 10. On the interment of a black. 11. To prifoners, &c. mentioned above. 12. To the parishioners on the opening a new Church in June 1790. 13. A fecond Addrefs on the first anniversary of opening the Church. 14. On the second anniversary. 15. On the third anniversary. 16. On the fourth anniversary. 17. A fhort exhortation to an holy obfervance of the Lord's day. 18. Bishop Beveridge's addrefs to his audience on Good-Friday." We fubjoin two fpecimens; one, as we conceive, compofed by Dr. Mayo, (now with God); the other by the truly pious Editor.

"A fhort Address on the interment of a black.

* Men and Brethren,

"Let me befpeak a few moments of your attention, whilft I deliver to you the word of exhortation and inftruction, not without a mixture of reproof, for which your behaviour gives me but too juft occafion.

"I have obferved with no fmall concern, the brutish, disorderly, and unkind behaviour of fome of our own complexion towards perfons of the fame colour and caft with him whofe remains lie here interred. It hath frequently hurt my feelings; and every such inftance of cruelty, or even of neglect, is a reflection and reproach to our national character, the generous character of the British people.

"What! Did not he that created us, make him alfo? Is not that Almighty Being, the GOD of the fpirits of all flesh, the LORD and Father of us all? Is He not the GOD of Jews, Gentiles and Chriftians? Yes, furely for with him there is no diftinction of perfons; but in every nation, he that feareth GOD and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The grand diftinction hereafter will be-not between high and low-not between rich and poor-not between those of a white and thofe of a black complexion--but between the righteous and the wicked, between him that ferveth GOD, aud him that ferveth Him not; in the day when GoD fhall judge the fecrets of all hearts by Jefus Chrift.

"With respect to our departed Brother (I call him Brother, inasmuch as he was a child of God even as we are); I visited him in his laft illness, with much fatisfaction, as I have visited others of the fame complexion; and I would to GOD I could say the fame of many, who think themselves much better, that I can fay of

him.

"Remember that we have no right to value ourselves upon the outward privileges which we enjoy; which will only prove bleffings to us, when we lead our lives in a manner worthy of thofe privileges; otherwife, they will only rife up in judgment against us, and condemn us. Hear attentively what the author of our falva

tion

tion faith to thofe who content themselves with being mere nominal Chriftians, without fuffering the precepts of the Gofpel to have their proper influence on their hearts and lives. 'Not every one that faith unto me, LORD, LORD, fhall enter ⚫ into the kingdom of Heaven, but He that doth the will of my Father, who is in

• Heaven,'

"It is not the colour of the skin, but the purity of the heart, a lively faith in Christ, and a virtuous converfation, which, through the merits of Him that died and rofe again for us, and is gone into Heaven to prepare manfions for his faithful fervants, will render us capable of a place at GoD's right hand, among his faithful fervants out of every nation under Heaven.

"A fecond Addrefs, on the firft anniversary of opening a Church, June 24, 1791. "My dear Friends,

"The return of this Feftival neceffarily reminds me of what paffed in our parish a year ago: it was on this day in the last year that our New Church was confecrated for divine fervice. Accommodation was then provided for the reception of you all, that high and low, rich and poor, might offer your devotions to Almighty GOD; implore the pardon of their fins, the affiftance of divine grace, and whatever elfe is needful for your fouls and bodies; that you might give thanks to GOD for all his mercies; that you might hear his holy word read and explained; and that you might publicly declare, that you acknowledge Him to be the LORD your God, and yourselves to be His faithful fervants.

"More than fifty Sabbath-days have paffed over you, fince the church has been opened to receive you. I beseech you ferioufly to confider, how many of those days have been fuffered to pafs either wholly unemployed, or only partially spent by you in the public duties of religion.

"I flatter myself, that you think I know my duty :-if I did not, I should, indeed, be very unfit to inftruct you in yours. You will, perhaps, then pay fome attention to what I fay, when I declare to you, I truft with no degree of vanity or arrogance, or affectation of more than ordinary piety, that if I were ever to abfent myfelf from the public worship of GOD on the Sabbath-day, unless prevented by fickness, or by fome indifpenfable act of charitable attendance on others, I should think I was guilty of a great fin, and fhould feel myfelf very unhappy at the end of the day I fhould think I had offended my GOD, and I fhould not expect to profper in the fucceeding week: or, if GoD fhould be pleafed to withhold from me the tokens of his wrath and difpleasure now, I should be doubly apprehenfive of the feve rity of His judgment in the World to come.

"Now, why thould not you have the fame fcruples of confcience that I have in this matter? I am not fo conftant in my attendance at church, merely because I am a clergyman; I do not pray for hire; I do it, because I can truly fay with the Pfalmift, that I love the habitation of GOD's Houfe, and the place where His Honour dwelleth; and therefore, I am glad when they fay unto me, Let us go into the Houfe of the LORD. I do it, because, I hope, I am a Chriftian; and because I know it is my duty, not only as a Chriftian, but as one that ought to live in obedience to the laws both of GOD and of his country. The law of GoD bids me remember to keep holy the SABBATH-DAY; and the laws of men have commanded me to do it, under penalties for profaning it.

In my addrefs to you last year, when the church was opened, I told you, that nothing would ever make me repent of the fhare which I had had in its erection; but if I were fo unfortunate as to fee it ill frequented, I fhould be tempted humbly and earnestly to beg leave to retire from a fervice, in which my endeavours were neither acceptable nor fuccefsful; and should wish to have my parishioners placed in better and abler hands,

"But I am happy to fay, that I have no reason to be difcouraged at present; I have much more caufe to be thankful, that there are many very exemplary attendants on the fervice of the church, who know it to be their duty, and who feel fatisfaction from performing it. Yet I must be permitted to lament, that there are still many, and efpecially among the lower clafs of my parishioners, that are very negli

F 2

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gent in this refpect. To thefe I particularly addrefs myself at this time; and I do it for this reafon; that if, when we fhall hereafter ftand together before the judg ment feat of Chrift, they fhould then be charged (as they certainly will) with dif obedience to one of the moft folemn commands of GOD, they may not be able to transfer the blame of their negligence to me, by alledging that they never were admonished of their duty in this refpect. On the contrary, I admonish, I exhort, and I entreat you all, to attend conftantly, with as many of every family as can poffibly be spared, both on the morning and evening fervice of the Sabbath-day: and efpecially I exhort you to embrace all opportunities of receiving the Holy Communion; knowing, that with fuch facrifices as thefe, GOD is well pleafed; knowing alfo that thereby your furtherance and growth in grace will be promoted; and truiting in His mercy for a gracious acceptance of your religious fervices, even as I rely on your good fenfe, and kind partiality towards me, for your approbation of my prefent well-meant endeavours to advance your temporal comfort and your eternal happiness.

"P. S. The small portion of livery-fervants that attend Divire Service, and the continual abfence of almost all of them, with fcarce one exception, from the Holy Sacrament, is a matter of ferious concern to me; and, I hope, will engage the attention of fuch masters and mistreffes, as have right notions of their own duty in this particular."

We made choice of THIS Addrefs, by way of specimen of the Editor's part of this work; and on account of the important postscript subjoined

to it.

L. C.

The Articles of the Church of England proved not to be Calviniftic. By THOMAS KIPLING, D. D. Dean of Peterborough, and late Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. 8vo. 1802. Second Edition.

IN N the fupplement to our fecond volume, p. 414, one of our correfpondents had fo fully expreffed our fentiments respecting this treatise, that we did not deem it neceffary to notice it in our reviewing department. We think it right, however, to announce its appearance in a fecond edition, more especially as it is now enlarged by the addition of an Appendix.

The learned author, after premifing, that all the peculiar opinions of Calvin, which are connected with the fubject of his enquiry, may be comprised under the fingle doctrine of predeftination, proceeds to prove, that the doctrines of our Church are not, as has fometimes been afferted, in unifon and correfpondence with those opinions of Calvin. This he does, and in the most fatisfactory manner, ift. by delineating the Calviniftic doctrine of predeftination; and, edly. by comparing this doctrine with the Articles and Liturgy of the Church of England,

He confiders the Calvinistic doctrine of predestination as reducible to the following propositions.

"ift. That omnipotent Being, who has exifted from all eternity, after he had decreed to create man in his own image, and had fore-ordained his fall from original righteoufnefs, by which tall Adam's own nature would be corrupted and depraved, viewed with the eye of prefcience the whole of Adam's offspring as a mass of corruption and perdition.

adly. Among the valt multitude of human beings compofing this mass of corruption and perdition, Almighty God decreed, before the foundation of the world, to bring fome to everlafting falvation and to damn all the reft eternally. This decree or purpofe of God is denominated by Calvin predeftination, fome being thereby predeftined to everlafting happiness, and others condemned by it to everlafting mifery,