Sonnets, Odes, and other Poems. By the late Mr, Charles Leftley, with a short Account of his Life and Writings. To which is added, a Poetical Collection of Elegies, Ballads, and Sketches, on various Subjects, &c. By William Linley, Esq. late in the Civil Service of the East India Company. 8vo. 73. 6d, Cona, or the Vale of Clwd, and other Poems. 12mo. 7s. 6d.

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Jack Junk, or the Sailor's Cruize on Shore; a humorous Poem, in four Cantos, with a Glossary. Ry the Author of the Sailor Boy, &c. 12mo. 5s.

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The Mount of Olives; or the Resurrection and Ascension, a Poem, in Continue ation of Calvary. By Mrs. Dixon. 4s.

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Al Kalomeric, the Son of Maugraby, an Arabian Tale, now first faithfully translated; discovered since the taking of Paris by the Allied Powers of Europe, &c. 2s. 6d.

Duty: by the late Mrs. Roberts, Author of Rose and Emily. Interspersed with Poetry, and preceded by a Character of the Author. By Mrs. Opie. 3 vols.

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The Confessions of Sir Henry Longueville. By R. P. Gillies. 2 vols. 12mo, 10s. 6d.

The Spanish Guitar. By Eliz. Isabella Spence. 3s. 12mo.

Batchelor's Miseries. By an Old Maid of Distinction, 4 vols. 12mo. 11. 4s The Velvet Cushion. 5s.

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An Essay on Genius: or the Philosophy of Literature. By John Duncan.

England's Triumph; being an Account of the Rejoicings, &c. which have taken place in London, and elsewhere. Containing several original Documents. 8vQ, 75.

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1

Kunopodia a practical Essay in breaking the English Spaniel or Foiter, with Instructions for attaining the Art of Shooting Flying. By the late William Dobson, Esq. of Eden Hall, Cumberland.

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WORKS IN THE PRESS.

A Digest of the Custom Laws, compiled by Mr. Jickling, a Barrister, in one large quarto volume.

A short Excursion in France in the present Year, with En gravings of the Venus de Medici, &c.

The Exile, a Russian Poem, written in England, and translated from the original MS. of the Author, who fell in the battle before Dresden.

A Memoir detailing the Military Operations of the Expedition employed in the Conquest of Java, with thirty-four Maps and Views, and including a Survey of that Island, and of the other parts of the Oriental Archipelago.

Some Account of the Life, with original Letters, of the Rev. T. Robinson, late of Leicester, by the Rev. T. Vaughan, of the same place.

The second Volume of the History of the English Church and Sects, with an Account of the Sect who have adopted the Delusions of Johanna Southcott, by the Rev. Johnson Grant.

The Physiognomical System of Doctors Gall and Spurzheim, founded on an Anatomical and Physiological Examination of the Brain, as indicative of the Faculties of the Mind. By Dr. Spurzheim. Illustrated with Plates.

The Codex Alexandrinus, printed in Fac-Simile, by order of the House of Commons, at the public expence.

A History of Hampshire, by the Rev. William Bingley. Mr. Nichols is printing Indexes, compiled under his inspection, to complete his History of Leicestershire.

A new Edition of Bishop Beveridge's Sermons, in 8vo. to be published in Monthly Volumes.

3

THE

BRITISH CRITIC,

FOR SEPTEMBER, 1814.

ART. I. Sermons on important Subjects; to which is added, a Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Diocese of Meath. By T. L. O' Beirne, D.D. Lord Bishop of Meath. 515 10s. 6d. Rivingtons. 1813.

pp.

THE number of sermons, single and collected, published in the English language, and chiefly by the clergy of our own church, is immense; and they stand eminently distinguished for sound learning, acute criticism, profound research, and able argument. But in elegance, and in ornament; in the tinsel shew of fine writing, and in the warm glow of impassioned eloquence, the clergy of England must yield to those of other countries, certainly to those of France, at least in her better days: but in all the solid acquirements of sound and sober theology they will certainly stand pre-eminent, and their worksdeclare it. There is scarcely a subject in the wide field of theological research, and scarcely a question of curious or important Scripture criticism which we may not find ably discussed, and either partly or completely elucidated in that vast collection of sermons with which our language abounds. Yet sermons are successively appearing every year, single and in volumes, occasional and general, though they can, in most cases, contain nothing at once new and important. They must, however, be partially read or they would not continue to be published; and it is gratifying to think that the public taste gives such encouragement to this species of writing. Several advantages result from it. It has a natural tendency to urge the clergy to more than ordinary care in composing their discourses, because their hearers are rendered, by this sort of reading, pretty competent judges of what a sermon should be; and it thereby excites a laudable ambition to acquire professional excellence. Absolute novelty no wise man will, at this time of day expect, either from the pulpit or the press. New arrangements of old matter there may be of considerable importance, with some novelty of

S

VOL. II. SEPTEmber, 1814.

style

style and manner, and with some influence of name and authority, so as to suit the temper of the times, so as to interest the feelings of the public, and to attract new attention to subjects which would remain utterly neglected in the forgotten-volumes of former days. Many of the sermons which have been published, both singly and in volumes, of late years especially, have attained little celebrity, and have probably not merited much more than they have attained: but they are not, on that account, useless. They have attained a certain circulation among the friends, the followers, and the acquaintances of the author, from transient feelings and local influence; and in that circle they have doubtless done good; they have been read with profit by many, who but for this new call upon their attention, would probably have troubled themselves very little with any sacred subject.

It sometimes happens that sermons of very meagre merit obtain a temporary reputation and extensive sale by art or accident, while sermons of the most solid excellence fall, as it were, deadborn from the press, and are known only to a few curious and solitary students. Such cases every clerical scholar must have known. The first reputation and sale of sermons furnish no absolute criterion of their merit. But we are not so fastidious as to require that every sermon, or volume of sermons which an author may be induced by his friends, or may think proper of himself to publish, should possess distinguished merit; or in point of learning should rival Bishop Bull, or in argument and stile should equal Bishop Sherlock. A man may be an able divine and a useful writer, though he be far inferior in talents and acquirements to men who would stand distinguished among the greatest of every age.

A stronger example of this sort of writing cannot be adduced, than the volume now before us. It is sent into the world without preface or advertisement, with the purpose, we are persuaded, of doing good, and we trust this purpose will be attained. The Bishop of Meath appears to be a man of competent professional knowledge, serious and sincere in his pro fession, and anxious to promote the influence of true religion according to the sober system sanctioned by the Church, in which he holds an office of high rank and authority. He displays a considerable portion of that liveliness of expression, and of that warmth of feeling which so remarkably distinguish his country.men. His style, though not always correct, nor always chaste, is generally nervous, and would be more impressive, did it ap pear less laboured. We have heard, and can easily believe, that the Bishop of Meath is a powerful and impressive preacher. But it is one thing to hear a sermon, and another to read it coolly in the closet. The time, the place, the person, the voice,

the

the manner, a variety of accidents concur to affect and interest us in the delivery, which are totally removed and lost in the solitary perusal. These sermons, however, may be read with advantage, and we shall be happy to hear that they attain a general circulation. If they are not of distinguished excellence they are all of a useful tendency. They are much longer than sermons usually are in this country. This too we believe is an Irish custom, which we do not blame, but dare not imitate, as our national taste would, we fear, be unable to endure it.

There are twelve sermons in the volume. The first from St. Luke ii. 12. is a Christmas sermon. The humble circumstances of the Saviour's birth are described in a style of imagery, and with a portion of scenical representation, which are certainly striking, although to this sort of composition we, in this country, are little accustomed. The practical and consolatory results of this remarkable humiliation of the Son of God partly appear in the previous description, without being expressly enforced. In order to answer the cavils of infidelity, and to combat the scorn of carnal wisdom, the bishop introduces, without much regard to unity, various topics, which might more properly and with better effect have formed the subject of another discourse. He enquires into the nature, importance, and necessity of an atonement for sin; he illustrates his enquiry, and enforces his argument by a reference to the Mosaic institutions. In trembling dependence on the sacred records of revelation he exhibits the heavenly victim as a man different from other men only in the spotless perfection of his nature, in that he was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners." This relation of a common nature gives confidence to the race which he came to save. The bishop further contends, on the same scriptural grounds, that a creature could not make the requisite atonement, and exhibits the amazing mystery of God made man, and the amazing interest which this astonishing condescension is calculated to excite, contrasted with the darkness, severity, and comparative imperfection of the Jewish law. There is a considerable portion of striking imagery in this part of the discourse, which would probably produce a powerful effect in delivery, but it combines too much for the subject and the occasion. It carries us from Bethlehem to Calvary, not in reference merely, but in detail, to the previous scenes; to the actual crucifixion; to the sepulchre; to the resurrection; to the ascension and intercession in heaven. All this is well, but out of place, and interrupts rather awkwardly the subject of discourse, to which, however the bishop returns; and he at length displays, with sufficient propriety, the important lessons which the obscurity and meanness of the Redeemer's birth afford to