theatrical experience, and knowledge of dramatic effect. Mr. King has been fo long in the fervice of the comic mufe, with credit to himfelf, and the general esteem of the Public, that a better advifer, in all that regards the cunning of the feene, could not be found upon any theatre. The advantage of having fuch a critic, contributed, most probably, to the great propriety, and, indeed, brilliancy, with which the piece appeared in the reprefentation. The fame effect cannot be expected in the clofet. To judge of a First Floor, it muk be feen; and fo it is with the piece before us. It does not aim at fuccefs by the production of thofe foibles, or humours, which conftitute character. Mrs. PATTYPAN's love for TIM TARTLET is not diftinguished by any kind of peculiarity. Mr. Baddely, by the happinefs of his clofe and natural style of acting, gave distinctive features to OLD WHIMSEY, but his countenance and tone of voice cannot be printed. The Author intended to divert by incident, and frequent turns and counterturns of the bufinefs. In this he has fucceeded fo well, that we shall not object to him the want of probability, with which many circumstances are brought forward. OLD WHIMSEY brings his daughter to town, to keep her fafe from MONFORD: he is to have the use of his fon's lodging. YOUNG WHIMSEY is turned out of his lodging, and this does not feem to be well managed. MONFORD happens to take that very lodging, and OLD WHIMSEY goes thither with his daughter. This premifes well; but the very man, whom the father wishes to avoid, is too foon difcovered; and, for the fake of carrying on the plot, OLD WHIMSEY IS made to believe that a match will be concluded between MONFORD and Mrs. PATTY PAN. In this notion he is confirmed by liftening to a converfation, every word of which he mifunderftands, and turns his own way, Mr. COBB has a fertile invention, and has had the addrefs to make a number of incidents grow out of one another. That an upholsterer fhould furnish apartments for a man he never faw, is not within the ftrict rule of probability; it feems, however, to make room for the whimfical adventure of the father's being fuppofed to be the fon in the difguife of an old man. Under that miftake he is arrested, and the fcene is carried on with pleafantry. A good ufe is made of the window curtain, and the doors that lead to different apartments. From the agreeable jumble of all together, the refult is a pleasant farce, of that kind, which is called by the critics Comedy of Intrigue. Mirth is excited, and, as Horace fays, eft quædam tamen hæc quoque virtus. But we prognoflicate from the vivacity and natural turn of the dialogue, that Mr. Corn will, at a fatare period, give the Public fomething of higher value. In the mean time, every friend who takes a prep at the First Floor, will beour it quith his approbation.

THEOLOGY.

Art. 47. Sermons on Religious and Practical Subje7s. By the Rev. A. Blackstone Rudd, M. A. late of University College, Ox. ford, Vicar of Diddlebury, in the County of Salop, and Reader at Ludlow. 8vo. Ludlow, printed. 1786. No Price mentioned, nor London Bookfeller.

The fubjects of thefe difcourfes are the following: I. The defign and object of Chriftianity, Prov. iii. 17. 11. The divinity of Chri

N 2

afferted

afferted by the evidence of the Centurion and his attendants at the crucifixion, Matth. xxvii. 54. III. A fixed belief in the divine attributes the true fupport of man in the prefent life, Pfal. lviii. 10. IV. End and defign of baptifm, Colof. ii. 11, 12. V. Chriftian warfare, Matth. xxiv. 42, 43. VI. Divine juftice appeafed by contrite guilt, Luke xv. 10. VII. Importance of an early virtuous education, Prov. xxii. 6. VIII. Benefits of general infirmaries, Prov. xiv. 31. IX. John, i. 17. The law came by Mofes, &c. X. Funeral fermon, from 1 Theff. iv. 13, 14. XI. Sacrifices of the law figurative of the death of Christ, John, i. 45. XII. Double fenfe of prophecy, Pfal. ii. 8. XIII. Caution of Chrift, in not declaring himself to be the Meffiah, ftated and accounted for, Mark, XV. 2, 3, 4, 5. XIV. Elijah triumphant, 1 Kings, xviii. 21. XV. Day of judgment, 1 Cor. xv. 24. The eighth of thefe difcourfes has been before publifhed, and is taken notice of in the 67th volume of the Review, p. 160. The fecond feems to affert the divinity of Chrift's doctrine, rather than what has been generally understood by the phrafe, the divinity of Chrift. The twelfth fermon, On the double fenfe of prophecy, is followed by fome pages of notes, giving a fhort account of the moft confiderable authors who have written on the fubject, together with an abstract of fome of the Pfalms which chiefly refer to our bleffed Saviour.'

The Author of thefe fermons has fhewn, in their compofition, much good fenfe and ingenuity. His style is generally correct; but what is most important, his difcourfes are all directed to practical and ufeful purposes. Sometimes, perhaps, while attentive to his language, he may not fo thoroughly investigate the fentiment. One inftance of hafte, however, candour will not allow us wholly to pafs without notice; it is in the laft fermon, when the preacher is difcourfing on the refurrection and future life,-here he breaks out into an apoftrophe what then shall we fay to a fellow who calls himfelf a philofopher, and tells us that he is convinced that the foul of man is material.'-This is a kind of language unworthy of the pulpit, and unfuitable to the fcholar and the Chriflian; befide which it is to be confidered, that the Author to whom most readers will fuppofe a reference is made in the above paffage, is as firm an advocate for Chriftianity, and a life to come, as Mr. Rudd, and though he may be mistaken in his opinions, is not deftitute of ability to maintain them. This remark we think due to juice, and we are perfuaded it will be fairly and candidly interpreted, by every moderate and impartial reader. As to the opinions or cenfures of zealots and bigots, of whatever denomination, we give ourfelves no concern about them.

Art. 48. Sacra Privata: or private Meditations and Prayers of Bifhop Wilfon, accommodated to general Ufe. 12mo. 2s. 6d.

Bound. Dilly. 1786.

The motive affigned by the Editor, for this publication, is to render this part of Bifhop Wilfon's works more extenfively useful. Locked up in the large voluminous edition, they can have, comparatively, but a limited circuit. In the prefent fize they may fall into many other hands. Thofe meditations and prayers, which are more peculiar to the Bishop's flation and office, are here omitted. It is

well

well known that the Author, although fomewhat confined in his religious fentiments, was exemplary for piety and charity; and this part of his writings may contribute to affift and ftrengthen the fame excellent difpofitions in others.

Art. 49. A Difcourfe upon Repentance.

By Thomas Scott, Morning Preacher at the Lock Hofpital. 12mo. Is. Johnfon. 1786.

This is one of thofe ufeful tracts, which, without entering into learned difquifitions, apply acknowledged and important truths to the heart, in the way of plain and affectionate addrefs. It is written in a style adapted to the understandings of the common people, and is a very proper book to be diftributed among them.

Art. 50. Strictures on Two Difcourfes, by S****1 C****r, D. D. occafioned by the Death of his Eldest Daughter. 12mo. 15. Kearly, &c. 1787.

Our brother Reviewer is too perfonal. Whatever may be the merit of his criticisms on Dr. C****r's Sermons, it is abforbed and loft, in the farcafms and feverity of his ftrictures on their Author. Surely there must have been fome private pique in the cafe !-But be that as it may, the manner of attack, from whatever motive, is certainly il Liberal.

Art. 51. A Difcourfe on the Nature and Design of the Lord's Supper, with the Advantages which may be reafonably expected from a regular and ferious Attendance on it. By Robert Gentleman. 12mo. 4d. Shrewibury, printed, and fold by Buckland, &c. in London. 1786.

A plain and practical treatife on the fubject propofed, intended principally for the poor and the young, but adapted alfo to the fervice of all others.

Art. 52. Six Letters to a Friend, on the Establishment of Sunday Schools. By Philip Parfons, A. M. Minifter of Wye, in Kent: Author of Dialogues betwixt the Dead and the Living. 12mo. 1s. 6d. Becket. 1786.

The nature and defign of Sunday fchools is now pretty generally understood. This gentleman is a warm advocate in their favour; a rational advocate, who confiders them as justified and recommended on every principle of piety, humanity, juftice, and even interest. He has fucceeded in his endeavours of establishing one in his own parish; and he labours, in thefe letters, to promote an attention to the fcheme, in all other parishes, and to answer the objections which are fometimes raised. To the letters is added, a short and fuitable addrefs to the parents and children at Wye, who do, or may reap the benefit of this inftitution. As this publication is properly adapted to the purpofe, we are glad to find that it has been difperfed among the families in that parish. The letters are well written; and we have been much pleafed with the perufal of them. The Author appears to be one of thofe worthy patriots who are zealous to promote the plan of Sunday fchools from principle, and who have exerted themselves, doubtleis, with heart-felt fatisfaction, in their Jaudable endeavours to carry it into execution.

SERMONS.

SERMONS.

1. Preached at St. Thomas's, Jan. 1, 1787, for the Benefit of the Charity School in Gravel-Lane, Southwark. By Abraham Rees, D. D. F. R. S. 8vo. 6d. Longman. 1787.

Dr. Rees confiders the teftimony recorded in the text, O God, thou baft taught me from my youth; and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works,' as the declaration of a perfon who, in the review of his life, valued himself on account of the many advantages he enjoyed, and who, in his addrefs to God, recognizes it, as the highest privilege conferred on him, that he had been taught from his youth. Our Author, availing himself of this evidence, given by a perfon in advanced life, enumerates, with great propriety, the principal circumftances that ferve to evince the benefit of early inftruction in religion.

II. Preached, Sept. 20, 1786, at the Meeting of the THREE CHOIRS, of Hereford, Gloucefter, and Worcester. By Hugh Morgan, M.A. Canon Refidentiary of the Cathedral Church of Hereford. 4to. 1s. Evans.

An elegant compofition, well adapted to the occafion.

III. Preached at the Lock Chapel, April 30, 1785, on the Death of the Rev. Dr. Conyers of Deptford. By Thomas Scott, Morning Preacher at the Lock Chapel. 8vo. 6d. Johnson.

The earneftness and ardour with which Mr. Scott has recommended, to his hearers and readers, a due preparation for death and judgment, are very fuitable to fubjects of fuch great folemnity; and fince the preacher's defign is evidently to do good, we cannot but with him fuccefs.

IV. Preached at St. Mary, Whitechapel, on the Sunday following the Funeral of the Rev. Robert Markham, D. D. late Rector of Whitechapel, and Chaplain to his Majefty; containing a Summary of his Character. By the Rev. Edward Robfon, Curate. 4to. Is Bayley. 1786.

An excellent character is here given of the deceased, and we have no reason to question its being a juft one. The preacher particularly remarks, that Dr. M. did not live on the revenues of a church whofe tenets he could not approve.' The fubject of the difcourfe is PATIENCE, a virtue which, on Chriftian principles, is here very properly and forcibly recommended. The text is, James, i. 4. Let patience bave its perfect work; words, we are told, frequently ufed by Dr. Markham in his laft illness. This fermon is printed at the request of the parishioners.

V. In the Parish-church of Hardingftone, in the County of Northampton, Oct. 8, 1786. Supplemental to a Sermon preached there on the Establishment of a Sunday School. By the Rev. Robert Lucas. 4to. 18. Robfon.

An excellent difcourfe, recommending, from Ephefians, vi. 1, 2, 3, 4, the mutual duties of parents and children; and well adapted to promote the great end propofed by a Sunday School, by rendering the inftitution not merely a matter of form, but productive of effects likely to be permanent, and really beneficial to the community at large, as well as to the more immediate objects of the charity.

VI. At the Chapel in Stonehoufe, near Plymouth, Devon, on the 22d of October 1786, before the Subfcribers to a Sunday School, lately established in that Place. By John Bidlake, A. B. Mafter of the Grammar School, Plymouth. 4to. IS. Law.

Another good fermon, on a fubject which at prefent feems fo laudably to occupy the public attention. Whatever profits may arise from the fale of it are to be applied to the fund of the charity which it immediately recommends. The text of this difcourfe is Matthew, xxv. 40. From which inftructive paffage this philanthropic preacher confiders, and enforces in a judicious and eloquent ftrain, the duties and pleafures of benevolence; particularly that moft ufeful exercise of it on which the prefent difcourfe is founded.

VII. Sunday Schools recommended, before the affociated Diffenting Minifters in the Northern Counties, at their Annual Meeting at Morpeth, June 13, 1786. To which is added, an Appendix concerning the Formation, Conduct, and Expence of thefe Schools. By the Rev. William Turner, jun. 8vo. 1s. Newcale printed, London, fold by Johnfon.

This difcourfe must take place among the best of thofe which have appeared on the fubject of the Sunday charity. The Author rejects, with juft difpleafure, the Mandevillian and tyrannical argument against the inftruction of the Poor, and urges, with fenfe, reafon, and piety, an attention to the practice which has happily fo much prevailed in many parts of this country; and at the fame time he anfwers objections that may be raised against it. The little hiftory of thefe fchools, and the conduct of them, added to the difcourfe, may be ferviceable to thofe who are engaged in the fame defign. The benevolent Mr. Raikes of Gloucefter, the first mover of thefe inftitutions, is mentioned with deferved refpect; and, among other things, a letter of his concerning them is inferted.

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the AUTHORS of the MONTHLY REVIEW. N your Review for November laft, you notice two publications by William Matthews, and inform your Readers the Author is a Quaker.

IN

Without at all entering into the merits of his publications, or the peculiar tenets with which you fay they are tinctured, I wish to inform you and your readers, that William Matthews, in confequence of differing from the Quakers in fome points deemed by them effentials, is difowned by them, and as fuch cannot properly be called a Quaker. This is a circumftance that I wonder did not occur to your recollection, as it is not very long fince you reviewed his explana tory appeal to his brethren, wrote in confequence of their difowning

him.

Your candour will perceive the neceflity of ftating this matter truly, that the fociety of which he was once a member may not be held answerable for any peculiar opinions in thefe, or in any future publications from the fame pen. Before I conclude, I would ob

• The circumftance had, indeed, efcaped our recollection.