his diócesc, every two or three years, which is in fact as much a visitation of the clergy as if he regularly held his court. So much for this author's faculty of misrepresentation. At the same time we doubt not but that certain abuses in some of his certain churches do really exist, perhaps even to the most gratifying extent. We must however mortify him a little in return, by expressing our strong conviction of the imperious necessity of a reformation. As lovers, as friends of our English Church, we are not disposed to connive at such abuses, we can call with a voice more powerful than the snarl of peevish malignity, upon those within whose jurisdiction they happen, to come forward and apply the due remedies of ecclesiastical discipline. Let the accusation be first referred to the proper tribunal, with the proper specification of names and places; and if due cognizance is not taken of the charge, then let it be brought in its proper shape before the public. We approve not of the garbled statements and anonymous accusations of anonymous personages by an anonymous author. Never were the body of the clergy more animated and zealous in the performance of their duties than at the present moment: long may they continue faithful ministers of the Gospel; they owe it to themselves, to their country, and to their God. There are still a few among the clergy, as among every other body of men, to whom some other stimulus must be applied; if upon these the fear of shame and exposure should so far operate as to recall them to a sense of their neg lected duties, and to deter them from similar offences hereafter, we shall not regret that such a pamphlet as the present has been published. The clergy cannot be too narrowly watched in the discharge of their sacred office, and fortunately for them, they will ever find a number of malignant spirits, who through pure love of reproach, will eagerly drag every error into public notice. This race of creatures we consider to be far from useless in the present state of human nature, for though dirty and disgusting in themselves, like their fellow reptile the toad, they cleanse and purify the reservoir of waters in which they are cast. ART. 9. Family Instructor, or a regular Course of Scriptural Readings, by J. Watkins, L.L.D. 3 vols. 12mo. Hatchard. 1814. The author has assigned a scriptural subject to every day in the year, and has accompanied it with suitable explanations aud reflections. Those in the two first volumes are taken from the Old Testament and the Prophets, while the third volume is dedicated 3 dedicated entirely to the New. Upon some of these Dr. Watkins has expatiated with good sense and well directed zeal, while upon others there is too great a tendency both in sentiment and style to what is usually denominated "cant." We also object to the general neglect of all exhortation upon Christian duties z the Sermon on the Mount, for instance, is passed over in only three short chapters; besides which, they are very little to the purpose. It surely cannot be conformable to the plan of a man who professes to present the reader with a Christian manual, or general reflections upon the most striking parts in the holy Scriptures, to make so glaring an omission. It seems to be wilfully kept out of view by preachers and writers of a certain party in religion, that man has any duty to perform towards his Maker, or that the Almighty has laid any injunctions upon his obedience. When therefore in three volumes dedicated to the explication of the holy Scripture we find the performance of duty very lightly insisted upon, and very few exhortations upon Christian conduct, we must confess that such au omission in our view considerably Jowers the estimation of the work, inasmuch as it is an unfaithful representation of the doctrines of those Scriptures, by all of which, and not by select parts and doctrines, we are to be saved. At the same time it is fair to say, that on many points the re flections of our author are sufficiently useful, and may be productive of much good, although from such an omission we cannot recommend these volumes as a whole; although in particular portions we approve of their tendency. The following is part of a very sensible and useful comment upon tribute paid by our Saviour to the Roman government. "Remembering that they are placed here in a state of probation, they studiously avoid giving offence, except where the laws of Christ are at direct variance with the customs of the world; in which case they have no hesitation about the course to be adopted, being resolved in all matters that affect the rights of conscience, to obey God rather than man. But while they so determine to follow the line of duty, they are at the same time careful to respect the institutions of human society in all things which do not affect their religious principles, nor lead to the encouragement of improper practices. Our Lord, therefore, having taught his disciples, that in his community there are no unreasonable impositions nor invidious distinctions, but that all the members are one and the same body in Christ Jesus, expressly signified, that, as his kingdom is not of this world, his subjects must submit to the regulations of the countries where they dwell, in all points that are of a mere temporal concern, and do not by example or otherwise tend to the injury of his religion. In conformity with this rule he ordered the tribute to be paid, though, so great was his poverty, that a miracle was to be performed for the purpose. Thus, from the highest of all all possible authority, believers of every description may learn the indispensible obligation which lies upon them to obey the superior powers, and that no excuse is sufficient to palliate either a disre gard of civil institutions or an evasion of legal demands. Disaffection to government is not only sinful, as betraying a want of trust in Providence, but it is extremely dangerous to the general interests of mankind, by leading to sedition and anarchy, in which humanity and religion are sure to suffer. It is no light offence to treat that state with contempt by whose laws we are protected, and it is an injury to our neighbour to elude the payment of those taxes which are required for the public welfare; since, if the revenue is deficient in one quarter, it must necessarily derive a supply from another; so that the industry of men less able or willing to practise deception, may be oppressed to make up for our fraud. The example of our Saviour is so decisive upon this point, that it is suprising how any men, who call themselves his disciples, can reconcile their profession and practice together, when they endeavour to loosen the bonds of society, by withholding any part of their contribution to the maintenance of that polity, without which they could not subsist. That which is expedient for all who value their comfort and security in this world, becomes an absolute rule of action to the Christian, whose religion must so shine in his works, that others may be induced to glorify his Father who is in heaven. As, therefore, we do not live for ourselves alone, let us be punctually careful to "render to all their dues; tribute, to whom tribute; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour, to whom honour." Rom. xiii. 7." P. 215. POETRY. ART. 10. Congratulatory Odes to the Prince Regent, the Emperor of Russia, and the King of Prussio. By Robert Southey, Esq. Poet-Laureat. 32 pp. Longman. 1814. 4to. Whatever proceeds from the pen of Mr. Southey on so triumphant an occasion, is delivered as it were ex cathedra, and commands attention and respect. We are not disposed with many of our cotemporaries to hold dulness as an essential prerogative of the laurelled head, nor to believe that the genius of Southey, like the breath of Clarence, will be overwhelmed in a butt of Sack. Whatever he has sent forth into the world since the Royal bays have been conferred upon him, has partaken of the same genius, and the same faults, which are so eminently conspicuous in all his former poems. It is not our intention at the present moment to enter into any discussion upon the ресиliar style of Mr. Southey's poetry, but merely to examine the poemis before นะ as the feu de joie of the favored hard on the ar rival of these mighty sovereigns within the British realins. There are three Odes, addressed separately to each of the allied sovereigns. The first, dedicated to the Prince Regent, is perhaps the most common-place of the three, it has little that will arrest attention, nor has it much to boast beyond the ordinary burst of triumphant exclamation. The apostrophe to that de parted statesman, to whose invincible courage and irresistible talent we owe all the national honour that we now enjoy, is finely conceived. "Forget not him, my Country, in thy joy! The tomb of Perceval. The ark of Britain in her darkest day His meed of lasting praise." P. 12. In the second ode to the Emperor Alexander there is displayed a larger portion of poetical fire. In contemplating the feeling of vindictive joy that might have burst forth, had Paris fallen a victim to that desolation and destruction which it so richly had deserved, the poet breaks out into the following animated strain. "Who should have blamed the Conqueror for that deed? Have risen from Elbe to Nile, The Germans in their grass-grown marts had met Holland's still waters had been starr'd From every town and tower; The Iberian and the Lusian's injured realms, From all their ravaged fields, From cities sack'd, from violated fanes, Had pour'd that pious strain, How How is the Oppressor fallen! Thou Zaragossa, from thy sepulchres Hadst join'd the hymn, and from thine ashes thou, The blood that calls for vengeance in thy streets And that which from the breach And widows would have wept exulting tears, The conclusion of these ideas is too finely expressed to be ⚫mitted. "Raise, Russia, with thy spoils, A nobler monument Than e'er imperial Rome Built in her plenitude of pride and power! For future ages stands→ Paris subduED AND SPARED." P. 21. In the third Ode to the king of Prussia there are some spirited and almost sublime passages. After a description of the so. lemn thanksgiving of the allied Sovereigns to the Almighty on the field of battle after the victory of Leipsic, the poet adds, "It was a moment when the exalted soul After that high-wrought hour." P. 28. A spirited eulogy on the venerable Blucher follows, and the Ode is closed by a happy allusion to thes word of Frederic, which was rescued from the usurper's grasp, which, together with his own, the Monarch is called upon to replace on the tomb of the great Frederic. These Odes the reader will have observed to be monostrophic, in the strict sense of the word. Mr. Southey has disdained the shackles of rhyme, in some passages with much success, but in others, where the spirit flags, and the poet falls into his accustomed error of approaching too nearly to prose, we regret its absence. We approve highly of the strain of piety which per vades these songs of triumph, it adds a grandeur and dignity to VOL. II. JULY, 1814 H the |