books of divinity, or attacks on the faith of their neighbours, by writings or invectives.'

This writer appears to be a firm friend to liberty; he reprefents Germany as very happy in refpect to religious freedom: On the whole, he obferves, the empire may now be faid, though at the expence of infinite bloodshed and flaughter, to enjoy more liberty of confcience than any other free ftate in Christendom. In other kingdoms while there is only one eftablished church, whose members partake of offices of truft and emolument, every clafs of diffenters enjoying nothing more than private toleration, excluded from all lucrative or honorary employments, either civil or military, we find in the Empire that fuch are divided between the three general perfuafions above-mentioned (Roman-catholic, Lutheran, and the Reformed or Calvini), which take in a large field of religious toleration, difembarraffed of creeds, or particular articles of religion, and afford a fatisfactory extenfion to the mind, rendering every clafs of fubjects happy, without any reftraint on delicate confciences, who might be induced to become occafional conformifts, to partake of benefits which are fo eagerly fought after even in the most opulent kingdoms.'

In another place, fpeaking on this fubject, our author laments, with a laudable humanity, that, The poor Jews indeed were left out, and forgot in this tolerating age, as if indulgence towards them formed no part of the character of a chriftian, though in oppofition to the fentiments of the most learned and good in all ages, a treatment which rendered their obdurate hearts ftill more inflexible and averfe to the chriftian faith; but the great Jofeph II. has extended his charitable hand towards this diftreffed part of mankind, and granted them many privileges; it being referved to the modern Titus, to relieve them from the vexations which they have experienced from fo many chriftian Emperors.'

The prefent Emperor, we believe, merits all the praife which he receives in this work; and for which the writer hopes he cannot be charged with adulation. He gives Jofeph this brief character: His Imperial Majefty has already made great alterations for the advantage of his fubjects, to whofe profperity he attends with the most unrelenting affiduity. His univerfal toleration and fingular protection of the proteftants, though a Roman Catholic prince; his abolition of useless convents of both fexes; his extenfive views of commerce; and attention to the political interests of his States; his indulgence to the Jews, relieving them from many vexations which do no credit to the name of a chriftian; all befpeak greatnefs of mind, and unparalleled magnanimity: If to thefe bright examples we may add his perfonal virtues, moderation, temperance, frugality, contempt of pomp, a confummate knowledge of affairs of ftate, as well as the

military

military department,-and that all thefe qualities are poffeffed by an amiable prince, affable in converfation, with great gentleness of manners, and easy addrefs-Whether this forms a true picture, I muft leave to the impartial and difcerning public to pronounce ! We have diftinguished the word unparalleled by Italics, because it is undoubtedly too ftrong, and borders on that adulation which this writer profeffes his defire to avoid.

According to the account here given, which the author is faid to have collected with care, when he was abroad a few years ago, the Emperor's military establishment, in his hereditary domininions, is computed at about 250,000 men ready for action. Particulars are here enumerated; and on the whole it is remarked, The prefent lift of his army may be fufficient, to give a tolerable idea of his confequence in Europe at this critical juncture. This young prince, as yet, has never experienced the mutability of fortune in the tremendous day of battle, or the accidents which have caufed the laurel of victory to waver, many in fpite of the most perfect difcipline, innate valour, and intrepidity. He will therefore naturally form great expectations, from this formidable phalanx, and a little time will probably fhew more clearly his defigns, and exhibit to the world the favourite object, on whom the fickle hand of fortune intends to bestow her capricious favours.'

We could make other extracts from this work which might amufe the reader: but we fhall here finifh the article with obferving, that though our author's ftyle is not on the whole, fo defective as to merit total condemnation, it is commonly negligent; the fentences, in fome inftances, are too long, and rather imperfect; but on the whole his book furnishes useful informa tion, and rational amusement.

ART. XIV. Lectures on the Exercise of the facred Miniftry. By the late J. F. Oltervald, Profeffor of Divinity, and Paftor of the Church of Neufchatel in Switzerland. Tranflated from the French, and enlarged with occafional Notes. By Thomas Stevens, M. A. Vicar of Bumpfled-Helion, Effex, 8vo. 5 s. bound. Rivington. 1781

HE name of Oftervald deferves to be remembered with

Tefean as long as way regard to piety and virtue remains

in the world. He has acquired great and juft reputation for his talents, his learning, and especially for his prudent, charitable activity, and zeal as a Christian and a minifter. Perfons of dif ferent churches, and particularly a French biographer in the Romish communion, have united to fpeak of him in refpectful and honourable terms. Several of his works have been tranf lated into other languages, and into our own. Thefe Lectures have not appeared before in English. Mr. Stevens has now tranflated

tranflated them, efteeming the performance calculated for edification, efpecially for young minifters, to whom he dedicates the volume.

The Tranflator, in his preface, manifefts a warm defire to rescue the church of England from thofe objections and cenfures which have been raifed against particular parts of its forms and orders, and the manner in which they are conducted. He has an eye, in particular, to what has been advanced, with a blameable afperity, by Mr. Robinfon of Cambridge; we muft fay a blameable afperity, becaufe, however folid and cogent his principal arguments may be, his manner, and different reflections, ́expofe him too juftly to the charge of dealing in invectives, brought against him by this writer. If Mr. Stevens feels any refentment, he appears to check it in his writings; and he certainly discovers a greater degree of candour and liberality than his opponent.

In favour of our established English liturgy, he produces fome teftimonies of foreign divines, and reformed churches abroad, to which he unites the declaration of Mr. Baxter, that almoft every church on earth, in which a liturgy is used, has a worfe than ours. He is particularly pleafed with fome marks of approbation which it received from Mr. Oftervald. But though this may be very agreeable to us, as members of the church of England, it will hardly be allowed, when all circumftances are confidered, to have any great weight. As to many parts of the English liturgy, they have real excellence; and, in feveral refpects, no forms of devotion, we apprehend, can be better compofed, or more happily adapted to the purpose of public worship. Yet, after fo just an acknowledgment, the objections to our liturgy, to its being im pofed, to being confined by it, without the fmalleft deviation or addition, to particular paffages or fentiments in it, and to the orders and obfervances it enjoins; thefe, and other objections, to which few perfons, who read, and reflect, are ftrangers, retain their force, as is generally allowed by fenfible, ferious, and candid men, whether they continue with, or diffent from, the establishment.

The Editor of this Work expreffes farther fatisfaction from finding, that Mr. Oftervald was an advocate for the rite of confirmation. The judgment of a wife and a good man, in this or any other inftance, deferves regard; but it affords no authority for establishing a practice, which has at beft but an uncertain bafis, and is liable to much abufe. Confirmation, fimply confidered, may be harmlefs; and, properly conducted, might be useful. But fpectators of this rite, in our church, have often expreffed their apprehenfions, that it promotes ignorance and fuperftition.

Many

Many members of the eftablishment incline to think that it is rather pernicious than useful.

While we join with Mr. Stevens, and others, in lamenting that negligence which has prevailed to fo great a degree, with refpect to properly directing and affifting youth, that they mightbe well qualified for the difcharge of minifterial duties; we alfo partake with him in the pleasure he expreffes, from obferving, that public lectures in divinity have been given gratis at Oxford to a large number of ftudents, for the laft fifteen years,: and that they at length have gained fome fimilar advantage at Cambridge.

We fhall now take fome farther notice of the Work itself; for a general view of which, we may tranfcribe the following fhort account given by the Tranflator:

Mr. Oftervald was eminent for zeal in training up pupils; and I hope these Lectures will be efteemed a fufficient proof of the profeffor's abilities, as well as zeal, in that arduous and important province; but as they were not prepared, or perhaps intended by himself for the prefs, to which they were committed without his knowledge, probably by fome affiduous pupil who attended them, they are entitled to a more candid allowance for any imperfections that occur in them. We must not expect all that neatnefs and accuracy of ftile or method, which they would doubtlefs have poffeffed, had they been finished for the prefs by the profeffor himself; there feem, however, fufficient ftrokes of his matterly judgment and pious zeal, to render the Work truly valuable; and I am willing to hope it will prove a very acceptable and useful performance to thofe gentlemen, for whose fervice I have been en ouraged to tranflate it, our younger clergy and candidates for orders, especially thofe of the university of Cambridge.'

Thefe Leaures are divided into three parts. In the firft, which is by far the principal, after fome preliminary remarks on piety, natural gifts, and diligence, the author largely confiders the fubject of preaching, and exhibits a variety of inftruction for the compofition and delivery of a fermon. His obfervations are very judicious, ufeful, and well deferve the careful attention of those who are immediately called to this employment. They ought to take advantage of every affiftance of this kind, though, after all, they are not to confine themfelves too ftrictly to rule, but must allow fomewhat to their own fenfe and genius. the fubject of fermons and preaching, is added a rational inftructive lecture on catechisms. We have perufed this Author's obfervations on these topics with great fatisfaction, because we do not perceive that he proceeds on any narrow or bigoted plan. He writes like a man of knowledge, of understanding, and of warm

To

piety;

piety; and he confiders preachers and their hearers as rational beings, who are to be treated accordingly.

The fecond part treats of church-government, which, by means of the paffions and ill-judgment of men, and ftill more through interested artifice and ambition, has caufed fuch great contention and mifchief. Yet the fubject itself is fimple, plain, and of no great extent. To preferve order and decency, so as to fupport and recommend divine worship, and contribute to the great purposes of piety and virtue, appears to be the whole of its claim. The fame good fenfe is manifeft in this part of the volume as in the other, together with an extenfive knowledge of mankind, and a hearty regard to their best interests. Several useful obfervations are here delivered as to the measures which minifters may purfue for the advancement of real religion. But the Author principally refers to thofe forms which are observed in the Chriftian focieties of Switzerland, or of Neufchatel. We fhall difmifs this fubject by adding, that there is a neceffity of keeping a guard over confiftories, fynods, and assemblies, as well as over convocations and bishops courts.

The laft part of this volume relates to the vifitation of the fick; an office which, if attended to at all, is frequently, indeed, too generally obferved as a mere form, infomuch, that a stranger might fometimes think it was expected that a few words, pronounced by the minifter, would operate as a charm, fomewhat like the incantations used on fome occafions among poor ignorant Indians. Widely different from this are the directions and obfervations offered by Mr. Oftervald: they difcover great piety, wisdom, and goodness of heart.

The laft fection of thefe Lectures contains very pertinent advice for proper attendance on criminals. The profeffor appears here, as every where else, like the man of fenfe and religion, full of that benevolence which the principles of Chriftian truth are fo peculiarly adapted to inspire and ftrengthen.

We may, with great propriety and fatisfaction, recommend thefe Lectures, especially to the attention of those who are engaged in, or intended for, the minifterial office, under whatever denomination. The Tranflator has observed, that they are in a lefs finished state than they probably would have been, had the Author himself prepared them for the prefs; they appear fometimes as hints or fketches, on which he enlarged to his pupils; but, notwithstanding this imperfection, they merit the careful regard and attention of every well-difpofed reader,

REV. Jan. 1783.

F

ART