inscribed them to Bishop Horsley, as no less profoundly skilled in every branch of Human Learning, than well affected to every doctrine of the Christian Faith. To this was added, a Letter to the Editor of the British Critic for October 1793, expostulating with him after a friendly manner, for having, in his Review of the Trinitarian Analogy, so slightly noticed and thrown. aside as a trifle, an argument so plainly founded on Divine Revelation, and supported by evidence old and new from every quarter, expressing a wish, likewise, that the Reviewer had shewn his readers, in as few words as possible, what the argument was, what the design of it, and to what sort of persons more particularly addressed, as an argumentum ad homines, and concluding with a little seasonable advice for his future government. Unimportant as the subject might appear in the eye of the British Critic, it is, as this Author truly observes, the most fruitful in the whole compass of Literature, and deserves the consideration of every scholar; but it should be examined, as he has done, with reverence and caution. It opens a new and striking alliance between the theology of Scripture, the constitution of Nature, and the mythological mysteries of Heathenism, as every one must surely be convinced, who pays the least attention to what is here offered to his notice. It connects and reconciles all learning and religion, and renders the study of antient authors more profitable and entertaining to those who delight in reading them. And successful as Mr. Maurice has been in his Dissertation on the Oriental Trinities, in bringing the Pagan triads of Deity to bear witness to the truth of Revelation (as counterfeits afford proof to realities) and to defend and illustrate the Mosaic and Christian systems of Theology against against the attacks made on them, through the imagined antiquity of India and its sciences (for which he merits the highest commendation) he might have derived some useful information from a perusal of the Trinitarian Analogy, as, unhappily, he is not always so correct as could be wished. For, after allowing that the Brahmins in their religious rites practise the Sabian superstition, the worship of Fire, he says, "still the acknowledged object of their worship is the GREAT FATHER OF ALL, adored with an endless variety of rites in every age and région of the world," as if there was no difference between Jehovah and Baal; and the GREAT FATHER OF ALL could be the acknowledged object of their worship, who worship Fire, the creature instead of the Creator. And in speaking of the Cherubim, he observes, on the authority of Calmet and Prideaux, that those which were immediately over the ark were naked figures in a human form; when, on the authority of Scripture, and as described in the vision of Ezekiel, mentioned too by himself, we are assured of the contrary; that instead of naked figures in a human form, they had four faces, the face of a man and the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle. These Ezekiel knew to be the Cherubim; they are the Cherubim of glory, spoken of by St. Paul, as overshadowing the Mercy Seat,-and as Moses was admonished of God, when about to make the tabernacle, to see that he made all things according to the pattern shewed to him in the Mount; is it not inadvertent to say, that "this mode, however, of representing the Cherubim in sculpture was not adhered to in those which were immediately over the ark?" And possibly he might have been led to see, see, more clearly than he appears to do, in the Brahmian System of Theology, and that of the Grecian Philosophers, the physical Deity of the Poet All are but parts of one stupendous whole, On the death of Bishop Horne, in 1792, this his afflicted Chaplain, out of dutiful and affectionate regard to the memory of the venerable prelate, his dear friend and patron, undertook the task, (I may add the painful task,) of recording his Life; for the worthy Biographer must have felt what another friend would have done, had it fallen to his lot; who having been amused with the Life of Seth Ward, Bishop of Salisbury, written by his intimate friend and companion Walter Pope, used to say to him, "When you are a Bishop, I shall like to be your Walter Pope, in every particular except one, that of living to write your life. Past scenes the fancy wanders o'er, And sighs to think they are no more. It was published in 1795, and the second edition in 1799, with a new preface, containing a concise but clear exposition of the leading opinions entertained by Mr. Hutchinson on certain interesting points in theology and philosophy. Some how or other, it has been the fashion with some people to speak slightingly of the work; but for what reason, who can guess? It was industriously reported indeed, that the Bishop had long renounced Hutchinsonianism; and, perhaps, the retailers of the report are induced to depreciate the performance, being displeased to see it proved in the Life, that his sentiments on this important subject were were unchanged-" thus saying, thou reproachest us." Though why there should be any wish to take away the good Bishop from the Hutchinsonians, one cannot tell, unless allowing him to be one-a character no less wise and great, than good and piousshould seem to imply, as it really does, that the thing if" every where spoken against" (as christianity itself was at first) is spoken against falsely. However, as concerning the life; if through evil report lies the road, it lies through good report also; for a gentleman, writing to a friend on reading it, says, "It is exe"cuted with more skill, more talent, more address, " and more feeling than can be described; and if there was only one Horne, it may really be said, there was only one Jones fit to paint his picture." And in a Letter from a worthy Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Scotland, is the following passage, "I have perused "the Life again and again with increasing pleasure. 66 Acknowledgments are likewise due, not only from 66 me, but from the whole society with which I am connected, to the worthy Biographer, for the very "favourable terms in which he has mentioned the "principles and situation of the Scotch Episcopal "Church. It may be hoped, that the description he "has given of both will have the designed effect, in '' 46 making us better known, and more respected, among those who were either ignorant of us, or "prejudiced against us. I am much delighted with "Mr. Jones's account of the good Bishop's Hutchin"sonianism, which is just what I expected, not a 66 66 precarious hypothesis, founded on doubtful etymologies, but a clear and well grounded belief of the "grand scheme of redemption, as exhibited in that "marvellous system of creation, wherein the works " of of grace, "of nature bear witness to the economy "and the material heavens declare the glory of the redeeming God, graciously manifested as the Light 66 " and Life of the world. Such was the faith of the worshippers of the true God from the beginning of "the world, and such the Faith in which Bishop "Horne lived and died, who, being dead, yet speak"eth. In pace requiescat, in gloria resurgat.”— To the objectors (for some such it seems there are). against publishing the essays and thoughts on various subjects at the end of the Life, the following observation of a judicious friend, who read them in manuscript, will be a sufficient answer: "The perusal of the work "has amused me highly: if it be not an undertaking "in which strong exertions of talent are to be ex"pected, yet it is in my opinion a very entertaining, "and in many places a very instructive miscellany. "The most obvious feature of the whole, is, I think, "the surprising manner in which the truly pious. "Author has applied all kind of reflection, and all "kind of reading, history, philosophy, anecdotes, "poetry, to the great purpose of religious edification, " and the amendment of thought and conduct." The life of a private country clergyman is not expected to abound with incidents. "One day telleth another." And happy the uniformity, when it consists in doing good. Such was that of the Minister of Nayland, who, to all his other knowledge, added the knowledge of medicine, to the benefit and comfort of his people, the sheep of his pasture. As Physician both of body and soul," he bound up the brokenhearted, he gave medicine to heal their sickness""he went about, doing good." But though the incidents to be related were few, his life was not with out |