had been difficult to draw it away from Cæsar. He therefore takes another ground. -Having granted that the prophecy was fairly alleged by the opposite party from the Sibylline books, he attempts to overthrow the credit of the prophecy by a general attack on the credit of the books in which it was found. He affirms that these Sibylline oracles were no prophecies. His argument is, that in the writings of the Sibyl no marks are to be found of phrenzy or disorder, which the heathens conceived to be the necessary state of every prophet's mind while he prophesied, because the prophets of their oracular temples affected it. But these books, he says, carried such evident marks of art and

study, particularly in the regular structure of the verse, as proved that it was the work of a writer who had the natural use and possession of his faculties.

"Let us then, says he, adhere to the prudent practice of our ancestors; let us keep the Sibyl in religious privacy; these writings are indeed rather calculated to extinguish than to propagate superstition.' This testimony is above all exception. Tully, as augur, had free access to the book in question. It cannot be doubted that he would improve his opportunities; for he was a man of an exquisite taste, of much learned curiosity; and, with these endowments, of a very religious turn of mind. It is certain therefore that he speaks upon the best information; and he is the more to be credited, as this frank confession fell from him in the heat of a political debate in which he took an interested part. And from this testimony we may conclude, that the ancient fathers, whatever judgment is to be passed upon their pretended quotations from the Sibylline books, were not mistaken in the general assertion, that the worship of the one true God, the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, and of a future retribution, were inculcated in these writings; which it seems, in Tully's judgment (and a competent judge he was) were proper weapons to combat idolatry: and by what weapons may error be more successfully combated than by the truth?"

Having thus discussed the subject of the Sibylline oracles his lordship next adverts to the writings of Virgil. This celebrated Roman poet flourished in the court of Augustus no long time before the birth of Christ. Virgil had a friend of the name of Pollio, a nobleman in Rome, to whom he addressed a congratulatory poem, in the year of his consulship. The poem anticipates the birth of some child in whose fortunes Pollio was nearly interested. But what is most worthy of remark is the description which the heathen poet gives of the extraordinary person that he expected;

of his origin, his achievements, and the happy results of his appearance; which is such, that if any person was to hear this poem read in an exact translation, omitting the names of the heathen deities, and the allusions to profane mythology, which occur in a few passages; if he had not been previously apprised that it was the work of an heathen author, he would without hesitation pronounce it to be a prophecy of the Messiah, or a poem at least upon that subject written in express imitation of the style of the Jewish prophets.

But it deserves

particular remark that Virgil in the poem refers to the oracles of the Cuman Sibyl as the source from which he drew these predictions. And in this lay the whole force of his compliment to Pollio-That the child whose future greatness was the object of Pollio's ambition, would prove to be that personage whom the Cumaan Sibyl had announced as a deliverer of the world from physical and moral evil. Having remarked the clear testimony which Virgil here furnishes, that the oracles of the Sibyl contained a prophecy, his lordship thus proceeds,

"The object of the Sibylline oracle, as well as the Messiah of the Jews, was to be of heavenly extraction--the high offspring of the gods, the great seed of Jupiter. He was to strike an universal peace, and to command the whole world; and in this universal government he was to exercise his father's virtues. He was to abolish all violence and injustice, to restore the life of man to its original simplicity and innocence, and the condition of man to its original happiness. He was to abolish the causes of violent death; and all death, considered as a curse, is violent. He was to kill the serpent, and purge the vege table kingdom of its poisons. The blessings of his reign were to reach even to the brute creation; for the beasts of the forest

were to lose their savage nature, that the ox might graze in security within sight of the lion.

"It is evident, therefore, that the Jewish prophecies and the Sibylline oracles announce the same person, and of consequence, that the Sibylline oracles contained a prediction of the Messiah. Nor is it to be wondered, that the images of sacred prophecy should abound in this treasure of the heathen temples, if it was composed of adulterated fragments of true cable upon any other supposition. prophecies, The thing seems inexpli

"Thus it appears, that the Romans at least, in the ages of their worst idolatry, were in possession of a book which they

Kidderminster, pastor of the church to which Mr. Williams belonged. How often it has met the eye of the public since that time, we are unable to say; but from a preface to the present edition we learn, that "time having released from any farther obligation to privacy, many articles which, in the opinion of Mr. Fawcett, it was then necessary to omit," the work now appears be

ment of their divine original.

"That they were drawn from the Jewish prophecies is improbable: for the books of the Cumaan Sibyl fell into the hands of the Romans, if we may credit their historians, in a very early age, when they were an obscure inconsiderable people, without any connexions in the East, and long before any part of the Old Testament was extant in the Greek language. And yet after the first settlement of the Jews in Canaan, I am persuaded that true pro

phets were nowhere to be found but in the

Jewish church. These prophecies then, that were current in the Gentile world in later ages, since they were neither forgeries of the heathen priests, nor founded on the Jewish prophecies, must have been derived from prophecies more ancient than the Jewish. They were fragments (mutilated perhaps and otherwise corrupted), but they were fragments of the most ancient prophecies of the patriarchal ages." The author is thus brought to investigate a subject of no small difficulty, namely, to shew by what means fragments of the prophecies of the patriarchal ages might be preserved among idolatrous nations-a highly interesting inquiry, and managed by Dr. Horsley with consummate skill; but as we cannot afford room to do any thing like justice to the subject in this place, we must beg a truce with our readers till next month, when we hope to finish the article.

The Diary, Meditations, and Letters, of Mr. Joseph Williams, of Kidderminster; with Notes Biographical and Explanatory; to which are annexed some original Letters, from Ministers, &c. occasioned by his death, and an Index. A new edition, greatly enlarged by a Series of Extracts, and embellished with a Portrait. By B. HANBURY, a descendant of the author. London. Taylor, Hatton Garden. 1815. pp 536. 8vo. 14s. bds.

THE work before us was first pub lished in 1779, edited by the well

who has undertaken the editorship and improved form." Mr. Hanbury of the present edition, is a greatgrandson of Mr. Williams, and having made himself completely master of all the systems of short-hand which he could obtain, he thereby qualified himself for decyphering his revered ancestor's papers with complete suc

cess.

the work, the names of the several To give additional interest to parties alluded to, which prudence might require the compiler of the first edition to omit, are now generally introduced. Several biographi cal Notes are also added, and Letters and Extracts from the writings of some of Mr. Williams's cotemporaries are introduced, which serve to shew how highly he was esteemed by those who personally knew him.

Mr. Williams evidently appears to have been an amiable and pious man, animated by a strong solicitude for the spiritual welfare of his own children and of the rising generation in general, many of whom he was made the instrument of awakening to a serious concern about the salvation of their souls. The " Diary" has been pronounced by Messrs, Bogue and Bennett, in their History of Dissenters, 66 one of the most useful books which a christian tradesman can read." Mr. Hanbury adds to this eulogium-" or which can be read by a Christian in any situation of life." Though we cannot ourselves subscribe to the justice of either of these commendations, and think them both highly exaggerated, yet we are far from thinking the book of little value. There is much in the example of Mr. Williams to encourage the faith and hope of the people of God, and to excite their love and zeal in his service. His last letter, addressed to his wife, and entitled

66

Dying Comforts," written from Windsor, Dec. 7, 1755, while upon a

*

AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETIES. THE Anniversary Meeting of the HEREFORDSHIRE BIBLE SOCIETY took place on Thursday, August 30th. Colonel Money, the Chairman, opened the business of the Meeting in a most able address, in which he regretted the absence (from severe illness,) of Col. Foley, M. P. for the county, and of Col. Symonds, M. P. for the city, who were both the warm patrons and supporters of the benevolent objects of this Society. The Annual Report was then read by the Rev. Mr, Money, which set forth the success that had attended the Institution throughout the county şince its first establishment, and concluded with a statement of the receipts and expenditure of the last year. The Report was received with general satisfaction, and was, on the motion of Mr. Hereford, seconded by Mr. K. Evans, unanimously agreed to be printed.

The Rev, Mr. Burn, Vicar of St. Mary's, Birmingham, in a most eloquent and impressive speech, then addressed the Assembly, pointing out the truly Christian principles of the Institution, and its benefits, not merely to the people of this kingdom, but to the inhabitants of all nations, with whom the charitable and benevolent exertions of this country were now held in the highest estimation, Thanks were next moved to the presidents, F. Foley, Esq., and Col, Money, by the Rev. Mr. Phillips and Mr. Fallowes, when the latter gentleman, in a forcible speech, ably vindicated the ob jects and principles of the Society, the purity of its views, and its tendency to promote Christianity aad inculcate morality throughout the world.

The Rev. Mr. Hughes, one of the Secretaries of the Parent Institution, next rose and addressed the meeting. He dwelt, at considerable length, on the benefits which the Bible Societies had already conferred on human nature, and after adverting to the increasing reputation in which they were unanimously held, and noticing their general establishment throughout this kingdom, and in almost every civilized country, he concluded a very able and eloquent speech, with a warm eulogium on the promoters of this Institution, its principles, and important objects,

Thanks were then moved by Mr. Ben bow and Mr. Gwillim, to the vice-presidents, and by the Rev. Mr. Money and Mr. Kearney, to the treasurers, secretary, and committee,

The Rev. Mr. Money, in an elegant and appropriate speech, stated the increased pleasure and gratification he felt at the progress the Bible Society had made, the best proof that could be adduced of the high estimation in which it was universally held. The reverend gentleman then adduced many instances

of the beneficial effects of its exertions, and expressnd himself perfectly satisfied with the purity and general tendency of its truly Christian principles; upon which a resolution, expressive of the satisfaction of the meeting at the progress of the British and Foreign Bible Sooiety, was moved by the Rev. Mr. Stillingfleet and Mr. Hoskyns, and unanimously carried. On the motion of Mr, Armitage and Mr. Harvey, thanks were moved to the Rev. Mr. Burn, and the Rev. Mr. Hughes, and carried with marked applause. These gentlemen acknowledged the approbation of the meeting in appropriate speeches. Thanks were also moved by the Rev. Mr. Williams and Mr. Purchas, to those ladies who honoured the meeting with the influ ence of their presence, and carried with the greatest applause. Thanks were then proposed by the Rev. Mr. Jennings, and the Rev. Mr, Phillips, to the Bible Associations of the county: and to Col. Money, by Mr. Newman and Mr. Fallowes, for his able conduct in the chair, both of which were carried unanimously, and the Colonel in quitting the chair, expressed himself highly gratified to receive their approbation of his conduct,

The assemblage was numerous and most respectable, and had it not been for the regret occasioned by the absence of two such distinguished supporters of this Institution as Mr. Foley and Col. Symonds, the satisfaction would have been most complete. It is with much pleasure, however, that we learn, that both these gentlemen are considerably better.

ON Wednesday, August 31st, a very numerous and highly respectable Meeting of the STAFFORDSHIRE AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY was held at the Shire Hall, Stafford, The Crown Court was crowded to excess by persons from all parts of the county. In consequence of the indisposition of Viscount Anson, by whom the Chair was expected to be occupied, John Lane, Esq. was called to preside. This Gentleman opened the business of the day in an appropriate and animated speech. The Report, which will shortly be published, appeared to have been drawn up by a masterly hand. The Rev. T. Cotterill, of Lane End, followed next, with a most eloquent and elaborate speech, in which he canvassed a pamphlet of very general circulation, conveying the objections of a learned prelate (the Bishop of Lincoln) to the Bible Society. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Sleigh, of Newcastle; the Rev. Mr. James, of Birmingham; the Rev. Mr. Cooper, of Hamstall Ridware; and by several other gentlemen, who severally contributed to render the meeting the most interesting of any that have preceded in that county.

THE ABERYSTWITH AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY held a Meeting on the 2d Sept.

In the absence of the president, Thomas Johnes, Esq. M. P., the chair was filled by John Lloyd, Esq. of Mabws, one of the vice presidents, supported by many clergymen and gentlemen from the upper part of the county. The Report of the last Annual General Meeting having been read by the secretary, the Rev. Mr. Burn, of Birmingham, for the Rev. Mr. Owen, (secretary to the Parent Institution), addressed the Meeting in a most animated speech, in which he detailed the origin of the Parent Society, and its astonishing progress both at home and abroad. He was followed by the Rev. Mr. Hughes, one of the secretaries of the Parent Society, on the same importaut subject. A translation of their addresses was delivered by the Rev. Timothy Evans, and the Rev. John James, for the benefit of that part of the audience not conversant in the English language. The meeting was closed with a resolution of thanks to the Rev. Messrs. Burn and Hughes for their attendance, and also to the chairman for his attention and judicious conduct in the chair, It appeared by the Report, that the donations and subscriptions of this Society, from its first establishment in the latter end of the year 1812, amount to $1362. 16s. 10d., from which the sum of £1041. 9s. 2d. has been remitted to the Parent Society. This Society has, since its formation, distributed 6797 Testaments, and 180 Bibles.

THE Third Anniversary of the SURRY BIBLE SOCIETY was held at Guildford, on Tuesday the 5th ult. The meeting was most numerous and respectable, and by the Report then read, we are happy to state, that this noble Institution increases in prosperity with its duration. The chair was filled by John Thornton, Esq. and the company departed highly delighted with the eloquence of many clergymen and gentlemen who addressed them on this interesting occasion, The address of the Rev. Mr. Owen, one of the secretaries of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and that of Mr. Dudly, of Southwark, were particularly impressive.

THE first Anniversary of the Auxiliary BIBLE MEETING, held on the 5th of Sept. at DORCHESTER, was numerously and most respectably attended. Good sense, learning, eloquence, and piety, pervaded in no inconsiderable degree, the whole of the speeches and proceedings of the day; and with the greatest truth it can be said, that every person departed from the Meeting highly gratified. The friends of the Institution within the county, have the pleasing satisfaction of reflecting, that the Dorsetshire Auxiliary maintains the first rank in the way of pecuniary con tributions to the Parent Society, among no less than thirty auxiliary societies which were founded during the last year.

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING

CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. AMIDST the various Institutions of more modern date, the friends of this Society. will learn with pleasure that its interests have not been forgotten. On Thursday the 31st ult., a District Committee was formed at Sherbourne, for that town and its neighbourhood. The Meeting was very respectably attended, and a resolu tion was adopted which promises a. considerable extension of this ancient and venerable Society; we allude to a letter which we understand was drawn up and signed by the clergy and laity present, to the Archdeacon of the diocese, begging him to take the sense of the clergy upon the propriety of calling a County Meeting, for she purpose of forming a central committee at Dorchester; requesting him also, to ask the Bishop of Bristol to be come the Patron of it, and likewise to address a letter to the Right Hon. Earl Digby, to beg his Lordship to be the Prsident. We understand that resolutions somewhat similar have been passed in the deanries of Shaston and Bridport.

Another Meeting of the members and friends of the same Society, was held at the Shire-Hall Hertford, on Wednesday the 6th instant. The Marquis of Salisbury took the chair, attended by a great number of the most respectable gentlemen in the county. The Annual Report was read by the Secretary, who gave a most gratifying account of the increasing prosperity of the Society, and stated, that since the formation of the district committee in 1812, the members of the Society resident in the county, had increased from 46 to 181, and that the object of the Society had been made known throughout the country, A Committee is about to be established in the deanry of Great Berkhamstead, by the particular desire of the Earl of Bridgewater and the Rector of that parish.

CHAPEL OPENED.

THE Chapel in Church Street Islington being found incommodious and in a state of dilapidation, a new building, on an extended scale, has been erected in the Upper Street, for the use of the congregation under the ministry of the Rev. E. J. Jones, which was opened for divine worship on Tuesday the 19th September; when two sermons were preached, that in the morning by the Rev. J. Slatterie, of Chatham, from Hag. ii. 8, 9, and that in the evening, by the Rev. E. J. Jones, minister of the chapel, from Acts v. 20. The Rev. Messrs. Clayton, sen., T. Lewis, G. Clark, and G. Williams, were engaged in the devotional services. The collections in the whole, amounted to near £140.-The buildiug eminently combines elegance with convenience, and is calcu