HINTS on Sunday Schools and Itinerant Preaching, in a Letter to the Bishop of Rochester, by J. TOWNSEND, 8vo. pp. 91. 25. Matthews, &c. AN APOLOGY for Sunday Schools. The fubftance of a Sermon preached at Surry Chapel, for the benefit of the Southwark Sunday Schools, with incidental Remarks on the Bishop of Rochester's late Charge. By Row. HILL, A. M. 800. pp. 44. 15. Williams. HAVING paid fo much attention to my Lord of Rochester's charge in our former reviews, it is the lef's neceffary to give a particular account of these answers. Mr. Townsend takes up the Bp.'s accufations as applied to the great body of Diffenters, and very ably and fatisfactorily vindicates them from the fuppofition of difaffection to the government, and conftitution of the country. Mr. Hill goes one step farther, and contends particularly that thofe, by his Lordfhip filed non defcripts, and by others Methodists, are, in general, no more inimical to the church than to the ftate. To one charge, however, both thefe refpectable advocates are conftrained to plead guilty; namely, that of bribing the children that attend their schools, for it appears that the good people of Surry Chapel reward their's with penny pieces; and the kind ladies of Rotherhithe have actually gone fo far, as to treat the poor children with plumb-pudding and oranges. Our readers, however, muft not suppofe the above Sermon merely controverfial; it is both practical and favoury: the animadverfions on the Right Rev. Prelate being chiefly in the notes, and in a respectful dedication to the Sunday School Society. A great part of Mr. T.'s pamphlet being devoted to ferve the great utility and importance of itinerant preaching, it has, fo far, a diftin& ob. ject from the Sermon; and where the general object is the same, there is a fpecific difference, with fuch a variety in the ftyle and train of argument, that they may be read together, not only without tautology, but with advantage. AN Efay on the Police of the Metropolis, by P. Colquhoun, Efq. 600 pages. IOS. 6d. Mawman, 1801. THE Bishop of Rochelter is very furious against Sunday schools and Itinerant preachers. Let him, however, view the state of lociety, as this refpectable magiftrate reprefents it (he is no methodift); and he muft hesitate at leaft, for it is fo dreadful, that the heart of every one who reads the book muft thrill with horror: fuch an immenfe mass of iniquity is more than enough to make a Sodom of our country. Society feems ready to fall to pieces from the prevalence of vice, and of selfishnefs fetting no limits to its cupidity, and breaking through all bounds, human and divine, in order to obtain the gratification of its wishes. That fome extraordinary methods are neceflary to reform men, and purify the fprings of action, and likewife to give fecurity of perfon and property, we have only to read Mr. Colquhoun's book, in order to be fully convinced. The reader will fee, at the fame time, that they are the best friends of their country, who are ufing the means of divine appointment to fanctify the hearts and lives of men. A variety of remedies the zealous magiftrate propofes for the growing evils, with which he appears to be very feriously alarmed, and they inay have their use. But we will venture to fay, that a hundred funday fchools in the metropolis and its vicinity, and a hundred itinerate preachers to go into the high ways and hedges and lanes of the city, where the vicious refort, will more effectually promote the reformation of mankind, and of confequence the good of fociety, than all of them, and a thousand more of a fimilar a fimilar kind. While a large quantity of evil humours is in the fyftem they will branch out in one form or another, and in one place or another. Preventatives will not avail; if you' purify the body from them, they will give no more uneafinefs; and the perfon will become healthy and vigorous. Instead of listening to the biflop's proposals, to hinder these extraordinary attempts for the welfare of our country, by extending the influence of moral principles, we cannot but think, that able enlightened statefinen, and a British legislature will fee the propriety and neceffity of obferving an oppolite conduct; and instead of filencing thofe who would inftruct the young, and reform the old, will ftretch out to the teachers of funday schools, and to itinerant preachers, the field of their protection, and give them all the encouragement in their power. THEOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS IN MARCH. Works of Dr. Watts, vol. 3. 8vo. 6s. 6d. Fine copies, royal. 8s. Chapman, Button, Williams, &c. THE Poole's English Annotations (to be completed in 4 vol.) vol. 2, 4to. 15s. Williams. Supplementary Continuation of Calmet's Dictionary and Fragments, part 1 & 2, at 5s. each. C. Taylor. N. B. The price of Calmet's Dictionary (as announced in our last) fhould be as follows:-Common paper, 64 numbers, at is. each. Fine paper, 20 parts, at 5s. part 21, 78. The Controverty between Mrs. Hannah More and the Curate of Blagdon. By the Rev. T. Bere, M. A. 8vo. 3s. Jordan. Thoughts on the Sabbath and Private Prayer, 1s. Rivingtons. The Gospel worthy of all Acceptation. 2d. edition, with an Appendix. By. A. Fuller. 12mo, zs. Button and Son. Remarks on 2 Sermons, by Mr. Horne, of Yarmouth, in a Letter from Gains to Crifpus. 12mo. 4d. Button and Son. Hiftory of the Otaheitan Islands, for the aid of Miffions. 38. Ogle. Sketch of the Denominations of the Chriftian World, by J Evans, A.M. 5th edition, corrected and enlarged, 3s. 6d. Crosby and Letterman, Sermons on the Parables, by J. Farrer, A. M. 8vo. 8s. Rivingtons. Advice to a Minister of the Go pel, by J. Napleton, D. D. 2s. 6d. Sael. Sermons on various Subjects, by Stanhope Smith, D. D. Pref. of New Jeríey Colleg .8s. Mawman. [Single Sermons in our next.] LITERARY NOTICES. The Rev. S. Burder, of St. Albans, has prepared for the prefs, to be published by fubicription, a thick 8vo. volume, intitled "Illuftrations of the facred Scripture." This work will comprize a complete abridgement of Mr. Harmer's Obfervations, with a great number of additional articles, partly taken from celebrated traveliers, and partly from the most eminent critics: the whole arranged in the order of the Bible. R. Tomlinfon, Esq. has announced a like volume, entitled "An Attempt to rescue the Holy Scriptures from the Ridicule of Infidels," &c. by a new translation of the texts objected to, with critical obfervations. The New Tranflation and Commentary on the Song of Songs, by Mr. T. Williams, is nearly printed off, and will be ready in a few weeks. The New Suppleme t to Watt's Pfalms and Hymns, by Dr. Williams, and Mr. Boden; and the Abridgement of Wat s's Pfalms and Hymns, by Mr. Little; are both expected in town the beginning of this month. MISSIONARY RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. MISSIONARY ANNUAL MEETING. The general Annual Meeting of the Society will be held as follows: On Wednesday morning, May 13, Rev. HERBERT MENDS, of Plymouth will preach at Surry Chapel. At three in the afternoon, the Society will meet for bufinefs. Mr. ROBY, of Manchetter, will preach at Tabernacle in the evening. On Thuriday, the Society will meet for business, from ten in the morn ing, to three in the afternoon. In the evening, Mr. COOKE, of Maidenhead, will preach at Tottenham Court Chapel. On Friday morning, the Rev. W. TYLER, Rector of Braytoft, Lin. colnshire, will preach at Chrift Church, Newgate Street. The Society will meet again from three to fix o'clock. The morning Services begin at half paft ten, and the evening at fix. All the meetings of the Society on bufinefs, will be held at Haberdafher's Hall, Staining Lane, Wood Street. The RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY will meet at feven o'clock, on Thurfday morning, at St. Paul's Coffee Houfe. The Anniversary Sermon will be preached for the benefit of the PROTESTANT UNION, for relief of the Widows and Children of deceased Minifters of the Gofpel, by the Rev. W. B. WILLIAMS, B. A. of High Wycombe, &c. at St. Leonard's, Shoredich, on Sunday evening, the 17th inft. Service to begin at half past fix. Collections and Donations from 25 March, to 25 April, 1801. From Kelfo Society, North Britain, £ II 4 6 Rev. Mr. Lambert and Congegation, Hull. ة 40 19 The Directors of the Miffionary Society have received interefting intelligence from various parts of the world, the fubftance of which we have the pleasure to lay before the Public. Several of the articles will be found highly interefting and encouraging. In Europe, in Afia, in Africa, and in Afne rica, it will be feen God is ftill affording demonstrations of the power of his grace, and animating our hopes to look forward for greater things than thefe. GERMANY, TRANSLATION of a Letter from the Rev. C. S. STRACKE, Paftor of To the Directors of the Miffionary Society, in England, TWO years are now elapied fince I had the pleasure of commencing a correfpondence with you through the medium of our very dear, but recently departed brother, Dr. Burckardt. Your excellent letter, fent hither to excite the German brethren to a cordial co-operation with you in carrying on the work of the Lord among the heathen, was put into my hands, with a particular request that I would get it printed, and circulated through Germany; which I willingly undertook, and, to the utmost of my ability, accomplished. This epiftle evidently proceeding from the pure love of Chrift, and printed and circulated at your own expence, had a vast influence in awakening the attention of many of the faints in Germany; and of establishing them in that precious faith which, by the fingular providence, and especial grace of God, they have obtained. For which reason, we who refide in thefe parts, and are partakers of the faith, moft cordially thank you for your kindness, and hope we fhall ever VOL. IX. retain Gg retain a fenfe of the obligation. For in this province, as in many other parts of the circle of Wett phalia, as foon as your call was heard, a folemn agreement was entered into, as you have already been informed, between several minifters of the word of Ġod, in conjunction with the faithful among the laity, in which they mutually pledged themfelves to unite with you, to the utmost of their power, in cafting the gofpel net among profane idolators. Then--O heavenly fight! pious Chriftians of every denomination, Lutherons and Calvinitts, were feen ftretching out their hands with fincere affection, and mutually embracing each other. Smaller focieties of the fame kind, as you have been apprized, were established alfo at Elberfeld and Frangkfort. But as every commencement has its difficulties, fo alfo thefe finall beginnings appeared to be furrounded with obstacles. It could not, indeed, he expected otherwife by judicious chriftians, who know by experience, the wickednefs of the world, and the machinations of the prince of dkness, the god of this world, not only against, but even among the flock of the Lord. The first obftacle to out attempt, arofe from the prejudice of authority, and the diverfity of opinions rejecting falvation, and the modes of divine worship, which prevail in Germany, more perhaps than in any other part of the world. Belides, our country is divided and subdivided into divers provinces, districts and cities, under the peculiar government of as many petty princes and lords; a circumftance which is always found greatly to impede and fetter undertakings, or inftitutions, which require a general co-operation of the people. In England things are the very reverfe. Nor let me conceal what it will be more candid to acknowledge, that the profpect of poverty terrifies the German brethren as often as they look at England, and turn their eyes towards the brethren who inhabit that flourishing ifland, which God has bleffed with fuch abundant riches. They likewife confefs before the Lord, with unfeigned tears, that they are not fo devoted to him with their whole heart as they perceive you, dear brethren, are; nor do they glow with fuch ardent love to him, nor burn with fuch fervent zeal of ferving him alone, as you experience. And, finally, to many perfons in Germany, new intitutions feemed to be fuperfluous o at leaft, that they were precluded by the incomparable inftitution of the Moravian brethren, and that at Halle, which may, and ought to be confidered as the parent of all similar focieties which have arifen in the courfe of the past century. Nevertheless, Jehovah- Jefus, of his infinite power and boundless love towards our wretched race, feems willing to add a third inftitution to the two former with which he has already favoured Germany. For Baron Von Schirnding, of Dobriluck, in Saxony, a beloved disciple of our Lord, and long fince known to you, began this work to which I ailude. He folicited an eminent fervant of the Lord, in the Lutheran church at Berlin, whofe name is John Jænicke, a man of a truly apoftolical fpirit, to procure and inftruct some evangelical perfons for the service of the heathen. Seven young men, of about twenty-three to twenty-nine years of age, of various mechanical occupations, foon voluntarily offered themfelves for this fervice. Thefe candidates for the ministry, defigned to ftorm the camp of Satan, have been now a whole year under a courte of inftruction. Our zealous brother, Jænicke, has been very diligent in improving their minds, and exercifing them in every useful branch of learning. Under his inftructions, thefe excellent pupils, endowed with the gifts of nature and grace, have been taught to form plans of difcourfes on certain texts of fcripture, and after their compofitions have been corrected, to deliver them in a proper manner in public congregations of pious people. He has likewife taught taught them to fing, according to the manner of the Moravian brethren, whofe confeffion of faith he has read over with them, and examined. Befides Mr. Jænicke, they have been under another able preceptor: For the Baron, whofe plan was originally very liberal and extenfive, before our focieties were connected with him had engaged Mr. Brumby, a learned minifter, who about four years ago left his charge at Berlin, and engaged to inftruct them in Latin, Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, English, Dutch, and the grammatical ftructure of their own language, together with the rudiments of Pharmacy, Geography and Hiftory. But, alas! how long a time mult be confumed before fuch young men could obtain a moderate acquaintance with Arabic, Greek, &c. and what vaft expence compared with our ability? Nor does there feem to be any adequate advantage to be expected. It now appears to us, that, befides what brother Jænicke teaches them, it will be fufficient if they acquire the principal rules of learning Latin, that they may thereby the more easily understand English and Dutch. For the remaining part of the time of preparation, therefore, they will learn such things as will be found the moft ufeful. In the mean while, the love of our pupils to Chrift is truly admirable; who, during fo many labours and difficulties, could not be wearied or diverted from their purpose, but with unspeakable diligence have learnt fo many things in fo fhort a space, whereby their faculties and fpiritual ftrength are now alfo the more clearly afcertained and improved. Without doubt, thefe younger brethren will be much esteemed. They acknowledge and continually lament their fins before God; perceive and grieve over the depth of their depravity; know Jefus Chrift, the eternal fon of the eternal Father, in whofe glorious grace, through whofe precious blood, all their hopes are built; whom they fervently love, and whom, by every action of their life, which they spend in the practice of holiness, they defire to obey. Wherefore, to fuch perfons, nothing feems arduous. But that you may ftill know them better, I would mention the following circumstance. Baron Von Schirnding, a few months ago, perceiving that all hope of receiving affiftance from others was vain, and being unable of himfelf alone to fupport the feminary, made an offer of thefe feven candidates to the Danish fociety, by Dr. Knapp, profeffor at Halle. The Doctor, whom you well know, a man of great learning and fincere attachment to our crucified Lord, was inftructed to felect one of the number. He writes on the occafion, to the Rev. J. Hecker, paftor of Trinity Church, at Berlin, a learned prudent man. Hecker examines all, approves and prailes them among his friends; but he felects two of them, Schreyvogel and Langner. These he proposes to Dr. Knapp, who, about two months ago, calls the former to Halle, and immediately fends him to a famous fchool in Saxony, that he might be better inftructed in the art of catechizing. This month he is to go to Copenhagen, and embark for the East Indies, that he may affift the miffionaries on the coast of Coromandel, as a catechift. Sx candidates therefore remain, which are under the patronage of the Societies in Eaft Friesland, with the other countries of Westphalia; and thofe of Elberfeld, Frankfort, and Bafil, in Switzerland, united with the Baron and other Saxon brethren. Thefe, beloved brethren, I am able to offer to you, and that with the unanimous defire of all the united brethren, who have earnestly requested me to embrace the first opportunity of apprizing you of their intention. Baron Van Schirnding, and all the rest of the brethren who have feverally and collectively expreffed their opinion, request with me, that, if you approve of it, our young men may be fent to Africa, to affift Dr. Vanderkemp, &c. among the Caffrees and Bofchemen. This alfo they themselves Gg 1 defire. |