diforder; fo they marched away. Wee ftay'd till fuch as wer to come over came over, in all about 100 men; then wee marched to a place to dine which I knew not; Sir John was bufie, caufing get horfes taken, to help fome of us in our march; and an honeft gentleman who was prefent, told mee the manner of his parting with the Erle: Argyle being in the roome with Sir John, the gentleman coming in, found confufion in the Erle's countenance and fpeach; in end he faid, Sir John, I pray advise mee what fhall I doe; fhall I goe over Clide with you, or fhall I goe to my owne countrey? Sir John anfwered, my Lord, I have told you my opinion; you have fome Highlanders here about you, it is beft you goe to your owne countrey with them, for it is to no purpofe for you to go over Clide: My Lord, faire you well; then call'd the gentleman, come away Sir; who followed him when I met with him." P. 63.

Comparing the two foregoing paffages, we deem it but candid to believe the circumftantial flatement by Sir P. Hume of his own conduct, in preference to the account given by Mr. Fox from Woodrow; who probably derived it from hearfay alone; and, although it was natural, in the fituation of Argyle, to confider thofe of his friends who had diffented from his meafures as the chief caufe of his misfortune (and we therefore fuppofe the blanks in his letter might be filled with the names of Hume and Cockrane) yet the impartial judgment of pofterity will acquit from the charges of

cowardice, ignorance, and faction," the character of Sir P. Hume," who," (as Mr. Fox, himfelf has stated) "is proved by the fubfequent events, and indeed by the whole tenor of his life and conduct, to have been uniformly fincere and zealous in the caufe of his country."

Although the primary motive of this publication was the defire of vindicating the ancestor of his revered patron and friend, the Author was naturally led by it to a more general examination of Mr. Fox's work, and has difcuffed, in detail, feveral of the leading principles and opinions contained in it. On the favourite doctrine in that work, that the attainment of abfolute power, and not the establishment of his own religion, was the primary object of James the fecond, he agrees entirely with us, and (as we believe) with every one who has attentively and impartially obferved the events of thofe times; nay, even the documents produced by Mr. Fox himfelf. On this part of the fubject, it is not neceffary for us to expatiate further than to fay, that it is (in our opinion) both ably and fatisfactorily treated in the work before us.

We alfo agree with the Author in condemning the fentiments of Mr. Fox, on the execution of King Charles the

firfit, and his acrimonious Philippic on the character and conduct of General Monk; most of his imputations on that reftorer of legitimate Monarchy, refting on ill-conceived opinions, or facts of very doubtful authenticity.

But the fubject on which (we conceive) this author has most evinced his accuracy of conception and foundness of judgment, is that in which he oppofes an opinion of Mr. Fox, very fpecious in itfelf, and derived from the refpectable authority of Black ftone, namely, that "the æra of perfection in the British Conftitution, was during the latter years of King Charles the fecond."-At the commencement of our ftudies in this line we ourfelves were ftartled at this opinion of our revered Mafter. It is eagerly feized by Mr. Fox, as coinciding with his views and principles. But we think Mr. Rofe has shown that it is founded on a partial view of the Conftitution; fince, although many excellent laws had then been enacted, there wanted due fecurities for the obfervance of them. These fecurities confift in the independence of the Judges, and the neceflity which now exifts for the frequent and regular meeting of Parliament.

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To purfue thefe "Obfervations," through all the details into which they are branched, would far exceed our limits. Suffice it to fay, that the work may, upon the whole, be justly characterized as an able, and (we think) an impartial "Review," of Mr. Fox's Hiftory; including much novel and interefting information upon the fubjects which are there difcuffed, and, though adverse to many of the doctrines, and correcting feveral errors, in the work of that diftinguifhed flatefman, invariably treating his memory with delicacy and respect.—Attached to our conflitutional monarchy, the Author proves himself equally the friend of public liberty; nor is he lefs fevere on the tyrannic measures that characterized the two laft reigns of the Stuart family, and the corrupt fubferviency of thofe Monarchs to the views of France, than Mr. Fox himself: although he differs from Mr. Fox's opinion, that both Kings were equally actuated by the fame primary object, the eftablishment of defpotic power. That fome few of the writer's inferences (and thofe of the leaft importance) are fomewhat queftionable, that a more perfect method might have been obferved; that the matter, however important, might have been more condenfed, and the language more accurately polifhed, may perhaps be dif covered by the microfcopic eye of hoftile criticif. But this is not (and we hope never will be) the criterion by which we eltimate a laborious and important work. If the candour and good fenfe of Englishmen are not extinguifhed

in the delightful enjoyments of feverity and fatire, the di gent investigation which this refpectable writer has purfued, and the conftitutional principles which he has maintained, will fecure to him the esteem and applause of his country.

ART. IX. Sermons, and Extracts, by Edmund Outram, D. D. Public Orator of the University of Cambridge, and Rector of Wootton-Rivers, Wilts. I. Two Sermons. 1. On the Increase of Separatists, &c. Preached at the primary Vifitation of the Lord Bishop of Salisbury, 1808, and publifhed by Defire of his Lordship and the Clergy. 2. On laying the Foundation-Stone of Downing Callege. Preached before the University, and published by Defire of the Vice-Chancellor, Heads of Houfes, and other Members of the Senate. II. Extracts; illuftrative of the Opinions, Pretenfions, and Defigns of those who have of late, either wholly or in part, deferted the Established Church; made chiefly from the Writings of Arminian and Calviniftic Methodists. 8vo. pp. 365. 8s. 6d. Deighton, Cambridge; Cadell and Co. London.

1809.

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F the many difcourfes which have come before us, on the fubject of our prefent Ecclefiaftical divifions, we have not seen any one, which, in our opinion, more usefully confiders that important fubject than the first of the two Sermons here announced. Dr. Outram attributes the peculiar views of fome of thefe contending parties, to a propenfity very prevalent among men," to dwell upon fome particular texts, in preference to the reft of the facred volume;" a propenfity fufficiently accounted for by the peculiarities of principles, fentiments, and tempers belonging to different men: peculiarities, which are either natural, or derived from circumftances and fituations. His inftances are fo chofen as to fhow both the excefs, or partial view, and the correction of that excefs or partiality, on most of the points at iffue between the Church of England, and thofe who feparate from her. He proves, by due comparifon, that the texts which affert our falvation by Grace alone, ought not to make us forget those which demand our active co-operation. He fhows, in like manner, how, from "a mistaken notion of the extent of human depravity, occafioned by an overftrained interpretation of Rom. iii. 14, 15, has arifen the falfe idea that the Holy Spirit salls men

He

by an irrevocable deftiny, and without regard to any natural difpofition, qualification, or co-operation." points out the dangerous errors of the Papifts, with regard to works, the oppofite errors of fome reformers in oppofing them, and the moderation of our Church between both, which he exemplifies from her prayers and offices.

Nothing can be clearer than the whole of thefe statements and deductions, which are followed by an explanation of the points, in which the principal feparatifts of this day depart from this fober doctrine of the Church; an explanation which is confirmed, at every step, by reference to the extracts from their writings, collected in the latter part of the volume.

"Seventy years," he fays, "have now elapfed, fince thefe opinions began to be inculcated with unwearied diligence, and unquestionable fuccefs. There was nothing new in the opinions themselves (for there is fcarcely a precept or doctrine of Chriftianity, which had not before been carried beyond its proper bounds) but the manner in which they were brought forward and propagated was new. For they were brought forward and propagated by men, who not only were regular Clergymen of the Etablished Church, but profeffed the utmoft veneration for her Liturgy, and the ftrictest conformity to her Articles: by men, who having thus obtained the confidence of their hearers, that were ftill attached to her interefts, infused into their minds per fuafions hoftile to her minifters, and irreconcileable with her doctrines; urged them to thofe extremes of difcontent, or of error, where a feparation from her walls, whether approved or difcountenanced by themfelves, became inevitable; encouraged them in their difaffection, or feceffion, by undisguised violations of her difcipline, and ufurpations of her authority; inftructed them to make new converts among her members, by introducing themfelves, as friends to her profperity; and to undermine her ftrength, by cautiously diftinguishing between her ancient vene. rable inftitutions, and her fuppofed modern corruptions; between her people, whom they were every where to commiferate, and her priefts, whom they were loudly to condemn. It is our duty to fpeak with candour and correctness of all men, and more espe cially of those who differ from us on points of religion. But it was not poffible for the generality of the clergy to view thefe proceedings in the favourable light of fair and open hoftility; or to expect, that the conduct, either of the men themselves, who had thus marked their career, or of those who might teach under fuch aufpices, would not abound with the strongest features of fectarian animofity, and ambitious zeal. Accordingly, we find them adopting every expedient that could be devifed, for the purpose of increafing their own influence, and degrading other

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teachers

teachers of religion in the opinion of the multitude. Arranging their followers in companies, committed to the care of leaders, who were themselves accountable to their fuperiors in authority; they enjoined a rite of confeffion, which, if viewed as a bond of union, or in relation to the afcendancy, that it gave the more enterprifing over the fears or affections of the reft, differed nos from auricular confeffion. They laboured to attrst and allure by every novel mode of expreffion and gefticulation, by harangues and invectives addreffed, not to the reafoning faculty, but to the fenfes and the paffions; by reprefentations of the new birth, and exhibitions of its pangs, often painful to the feelings of humanity, or difgufting to common decency and common fenfe."

P. 24.

We cannot accompany the learned author through the whole of this accurate picture, which is every where confirmed in the margin, by reférences to the writings of thefe teachers, as collected in his extracts; but we do moft earneftly defire thofe of our readers, who wish to see the subject properly treated, to have recourfe to the fermon, and the accompanying authorities. We only regret that the amiable

Village Dialogues" of the indefatigable Rowland Hill have not been made one of the fources of felection; fince they would have furnished, if we miftake not, fome of the ftrongest inftances in the whole collection. The conclufion of this friking picture we cannot omit, fince the truth of it must be fo firongly confirmed by the recollection of every individual.

"They" (the methodists) loaded with pious eulogies the more active patrons of their fcheme: they confecrated the memory, or pourtrayed the endless joys of those who died in their faith. They reviled the Clergy, and all who ftill adhered to them as nominal Chriftians, as ignorant profligates, and uncon. verted hypocrites. They placed engines of terror every where in their paths. They defcribed their purfuits as devices of the father of evil; their afflictions as judgments; and their diseases as preludes to eternal fufferings. They fpared not even the filent grave: they infulted the afhes of the dead." P. 29.

Very wifely and truly does the author add.

"If the care of the establishment fhould ever be intrufted to teachers of this defcription, it may ftill furvive in name. But that spirit of benevolence and toleration, by which it has so often protected even its bittereft enemies, and fo happily affimilated itfelf to the mild form of our conftitution in ftate, IS GONE FOR EVER." P. P. 30.

The