in this country, who loft to reafon and fenfibility, impiously proclaim their fhame in their rejection of a Deity. Yet these beings profefs rationality, and claim the title of philofophers. Alas! how, in the eighteenth century are reafon and philofophy prostituted?

Mr. Hall is already known by his excellent anfwer to Mr. John Clayton, and his able Apology for the Freedom of the Prefs. He now appears in the more appropriate character of the Divine, and has acquitted himfelf with fingular ability. Our little work, indeed, is not profeffedly theological; but we fhall, neverthelefs, bring forward any publication, which tends, in an eminent degree, to advance the cause of Chriftianity. The interefts of religion and fociety are clofely interwoven, one golden band unites them together, nor will the real friend of humanity attempt their feparation.

We fhall transcribe one extract, which cannot fail to strike the reader-on the tendency of Modern Infidelity-the paffage fpeaks for itfelf:

"Two confequences, the most difaftrous to fociety, will inevitably follow the general prevalence of a fyftem of infidelity; the frequent perpetration of great crimes, and the total abfence of all great virtues.

"1. In thofe conjunctures which tempt avarice or inflame ambition, when a crime flatters with the profpect of impunity, and the certainty of immenfe advantage, what is to restrain an Atheist from its commiffion? To fay that remorfe will deter him, is abfurd; for remorfe, as diftinguished from pity, is the fole offspring of religious belief, the extinction of which is the great purpose of the infidel philosophy.

"The dread of punishment or infamy from his fellow creatures, will be an equally ineffectual barrier, because crimes are only committed under fuch circumstances as fuggeft the hope of concealment; not to fay that crimes themfelves will foon lofe their infamy and their horror, under the influence of that fyftem which deftroys the fanctity of virtue, and converts it into a low calculation of worldly intereft. Here the sense of an ever-prefent Ruler and of an avenging Judge, is of the most awful and indifpenfible neceffity, as it is that alone which im

preffes

preffes on all crimes the character of folly, fhews that duty and interest in every inftance coincide, and that the most profperous career of vice, the most brilliant fucceffes of criminality, are but an accumulation of wrath against the day of wrath.

"As the frequent perpetration of great crimes is an inevitable confequence of the diffufion of fceptical principles, fo to understand this confequence in its full extent, we must look beyond their immediate effects, and confider the disruption of focial ties, the destruction of confidence, the terror, fufpicion and hatred, which must prevail in that state of fociety in which barbarous deeds are familiar. The tranquillity which.. pervades a well-ordered community, and the mutual good offices which bind its members together, is founded on an implied confidence in the indifpofition to annoy, in the justice, humanity and moderation of those among whom we dwell; fo that the worst confequence of crimes is, that they impair. the stock of public charity and general tenderness. The diead and hatred of our fpecies would infallibly be grafted on a conviction that we were expofed, every moment, to the furges of an unbridled ferocity, and that nothing but the power of the magiftrate preserved us from the daggers of affaffins. In fuch a ftate, laws deriving no fupport from public manners, are unequal to the tafk of curbing the fury of the paffions, which, from being concentrated into selfishness, fear and revenge, acquire new force; terror and fufpicion beget cruelty, and inflict injuries by way of prevention; pity is extinguished in the ftronger impulfe of self-preservation; the tender and generous affections are crushed, and nothing is feen but the retaliation of wrongs, the fierce and unmitigated struggle for fuperiority. This is but a faint sketch of the incalculable calamities and horrors we must expect, should we be fo unfortunate as ever to witness the triumph of modern infidelity.

"2. This fyftem is a foil as barren of great and fublime virtues as it is prolific in crimes. By great and fublime virtues are meant, those which are called into action on great and trying occafions, which demand the facrifice of the dearest interefts and profpects of human life, and fometimes of life itself; the virtues, in a word, which by their rarity and splendour draw admiration, and have rendered illustrious the character of patriots, martyrs, and confeffors. It requires but little reflection to perceive, that whatever veils a future world,

and

and contracts the limits of existence within the prefent life, must tend, in a proportionable degree, to diminish the grandeur and narrow the sphere of human agency.

"As well might you expect exalted fentiments of justice from a profeffed gamefter, as look for noble principles in the man whofe hopes and fears are all fufpended on the present moment, and who takes the whole happiness of his being on the events of this vain and fleeting life. If he is ever impelled to the performance of any great atchievements in a good caufe, it must be solely by the hope of fame; a motive which, hefides that it makes virtue the fervant of opinion, ufually grows weaker at the approach of death, and which, however it may furmount the love of existence in the heat of battle, or in the moment of public obfervation, can seldom be expected to operate with much force on the retired duties of a private ftation.

"In affirming that infidelity is unfavourable to the higher clafs of virtues, we are fupported as well by facts as hy reafoning. We should be forry to load our adversaries with unmerited reproach; but to what hiftory, to what record, will they appeal for any traits of moral greatnefs, any facrifice of intereft or life, any inftances of daring heroic virtues exhibited by their difciples? Where fhall we look for the trophies of ir fidel magnanimity, or atheistical virtue? Not that we mean to accuse them of inactivity; they have recently filled the world with the fame of their exploits; exploits of a different kind indeed, but of imperishable memory and difatterous luftre.

"Though it is confeffed, great and splendid actions are not the ordinary employment of life, but muft, from their nature, be referved for high and eminent occafions, yet that fyftem is effentially defective which leaves no room for their cultivation. They are important, both from their immediate advantage and their remoter influence. They often fave, and always illuftrate, the age and nation in which they appear. They raise the standard of morals; arreft the progrefs of degeneracy; and diffuse a luftre over the paths of life. They are noble monuments of the greatnefs of the human foul; and prefent to the world the august image of virtue in her sublimeft form, from whence ftreams of light and glory iffue to remote times and ages; while their commemoration, by the pen of hifto

rians and poets, excites a noble emulation, and awakens in distant bofoms the sparks of kindred excellence.

"Combine the frequent and familiar perpetration of atrocious deeds, with the dearth of great and generous actions, and you have the exact picture of that condition of fociety, which completes the degradation of the fpecies; the frightful contraft of dwarfish virtues and gigantic vices, where every thing that is good is mean and ftunted in its growth, and every thing evil is rank and luxuriant; a fickening uniformity prevails, and the foul afferts its native grandeur only in volcanic eruptions of anarchy and crime."

We wish that this pamphlet may be extenfively circulated and attentively perufed. In charity to many unbelievers, efpecially of the younger clafs, we may apply, in the true fpirit of our religion, the inimitable prayer of its author for his enemies-Father, forgive them, THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO !

Natural History for the Ufe of Schools, founded on the Linnean Arrangement of Animals, with popular Defcriptions, in the Manner of Goldsmith and Buffon, illuftrated by Thirty-eight Copperplates, repre Jenting One hundred and Fifty of the moft Curious Obje&s. By William Mavor, L. L.D. Hurft. 4s. 6d.

THE fubject of natural hiftory is well adapted to open the understandings and imprefs the hearts of the rifing generation. Amidst the innumerable objects prefented to us in the works of creation, it is proper that the most curious fhould attract the attention. This is the object of the prefent work, and we are of opinion that the object is attained.

The plates are tolerably well executed, but the defcriptions are too laconic. After all, we confefs, that Goldfmith's Animated Nature is one of the best books for fchools. As for Mifs More's squeamish remarks

on

on that work, we pronounce them unjuft; for when we read that publication we were ftruck with its me rit, and do not recollect any observations which might offend the moft refined delicacy.

The predicted Stability and Permanence of Chrif tianity, illuftrated by Hiftoric Teftimony, a Sermon delivered at Salter's Hall, November 3, 1799, to the Supporters of the Sunday Evening Lecture at that Place, and published at their Requeft. By Thomas Morgan. Johnson. is. 6d.

HE author has here taken an ample furvey of

THE

the page of hiftory in favour of the Chriftian religion. Several important facts are detailed ; and judiciously improved. No unprejudiced mind can read this excellent difcourfe without feeling his hopes derived from the Chriftian religion, enlivened and invigorated. In these times fuch views of the fubject are highly neceffary; they demonftrate that our religion is not a cunningly devised fable, but that it proceeds from, and is every way worthy of the Supreme Being. For want of enlarged fentiments we are often difpofed to cavil at thofe very difpenfations of Providence which are conducive to our best interests and most permanent profperity. The great feries of events, however unpromifing in its aspect at particular periods, is still, and ever will be, operating towards our ultimate felicity.

The Balnea, or an impartial Defcription of all the Popular Watering Places in England. By George Saville Carey. Second Edition, confiderably enlarged. Weft. 2s. 6d.

WE E cannot deny the praise of variety to this volume, for it contains a sketch of Margate, Ramfgate, Tunbridge Wells, Brighton, Little Hamp

ton,