erend author of the election sermon, that it is not the only source; for in that case, however unintelligible, he might have enjoyed the credit of producing a most sublime performance.

Pope observes, that, true, no meaning puzzles more than wit'; and we must fairly acknowledge, that no offspring of the press, which we have yet perused, has been involved in such impenetrable obscurity as this sermon. The poetry of Lycophron is clear and intelligible, compared with the prose of Mr. Bentley. We have read it, and re-read it; we have transposed and analyzed its sentences. But in vain.

-ibi omnis

Effusus labor.
Ipse diem noctemque negat discernere
cœlo,

involvit caligine cœca Prospectum eripiens oculis."

Mr. Bentley early obtained, and had long enjoyed, the reputation of a great scholar. He had holden a distinguished rank among the American literati; and a democratick congress considered themselves as paying a compliment to learning, when they chose for their chaplain the Minister of the second

church in Salem. But whence was this fame derived? What evidence have the world ever received of the superiour talents of Bentley? This question is not easily answered. The reputation for great, parts is very oddly acquired in this country, where all our geese are swans, and our swans, alas! too often turn out geese.

Had Mr. Bentley been satisfied with the literary character, which ignorance and credulity bestowed on him, he might still have passed, with those who do not know him, for, what the English style, a very clever fellow. He might still have

preached and prayed, in the second church of Salem, before his own enlightened congregation, without having his abilities called in question. But in an evil hour he resolved to publish. Vanity urged him on, he appeared in print, and the world were undeceived. His pen produced the opposite effect of Ithuriel's spear, and caused this literary giant to shrink, from his imaginary bulk, into a contemptible dwarf, inferiour in dimensions to the most diminutive of mortals.

But let us proceed to the ser. mon of this great scholar. The text is to be found in Deut. xxxii. 3. The sermon begins thus :

'We refer to the Hebrew scriptures for political, united with religious reflections, as their government combined these two objects, which the christian scriptures do not.'

Pray, Mr. Bentley, what is the government of the Hebrew scriptures? The great scholar proceeds,

'The religious sentiments of all ages, and the nature of all religious establish ments, as well as the example of the primitive settlers of New-England, have concurred in recommending the appropriate devotions of this day."

Here is a discovery! The re ligious sentiments of all ages, past and present, and the nature of all religious establishments, that is, the religious establishment in Judea, and the religious establishment in England, and the religious establishment in France, before and since the revolution, and every other religious establishment, in whatever part of the world, have concurred in recommending the appropriate devotions of this day. What day? Why the day of general election in Massachusetts, to be sure. The sentence can have

no other possible meaning, and the discovery does infinite honour to the ingenuity of the reverend ora

tor.

Such is the truth, which is accepted from the words of the lawgiver of the Hebrews.' p. 7.

Instead of accepted, he should have written received, or more forcibly still, contained in the words, &c. The great scholar is reminded, that we do accept truth, as a child accepts an orange or a piece of gingerbread, or a young lady a présent from her lover.

Speaking of the first settlers in our country, he says,

They possessed in ship-building the knowledge, which the French had communicated, and which a late English artist has rendered familiar to his countrymen.' p. 12.

men, who are fond of riddles, enigmas, and conundrums, humbly acknowledging our utter inability to comprehend it, and firmly believing, notwithstanding the author is minister of the second church in Sclem, that he will never be hanged for a witch.

ART. 38.

The Christian Monitor, No. IV. ; containing nine discourses on relative duties, and reasons for believing the truth of divine revelation. 12mo. Boston, Munroe & Francis.

IT is impossible for us to view with indifference any exertions of A society for the promotion of christian knowledge, piety, and charity.' As believers in the gospel, we ardently wish the success of every endeavour which is made to extend it; and heartily approving of the views and spirit, with which the Christian Monitor is conducted, we cordially recommend it to the pious, as well adapted for edification, and to the rich and liberal for distribution.

We rather suspect, that the great scholar is mistaken in supposing that the French at that period excelled in ship-building, nor do we know to what English artist he refers. Sir Walter Raleigh,many years before, had written a treatise on this art, which is still extant; nor was it long before the peace of 1763 that the French built any ships of superiour excellence. The Courageux, captured by the Monmouth, a short time previous to that peace, was the first evidence, which the English received of the superiority of French naval archi-pressed a very clear and satisfac

tecture.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth of these discourses are selected from the sermons of Francklin, and the eighth and ninth from those of Riddoch. The rest were never before published. A prayer and a hymn is affixed to each discourse. In a very small compass is com

tory view of the duties of aged men, and of aged women; of husbands, of wives, and of parents; of children to parents and to each other; of superiours, and of inferiours. It is the lowest praise of a work, expressly intended to aid the progress of piety and virtue, that it is written with elegance; and the pious author, who consecrates his labours to this best of

purposes, will derive no pleasure from such commendation, compared with that, which is ex cited by the tendency of his efforts to accomplish the good, which he designed. Yet he, who is deliberating to what he shall direct his attention, may feel the balance in his mind to be turned by this consideration; and such we, would inform, that with a frequent glow of ardent piety, is united in these discourses a correctness and beauty, which will often gratify a fastidious taste.

We offer to our readers a single extract, by which they may form for themselves a judgment of the work.

The arguments against polygamy and concubinage conclude with greater force against adultery. Fidelity in marriage is so primary and important a duty, that a violation of it destroys at once both root and branch of domestick felicity. There is no prospect nor chance for matrimonial happiness, where either party is unfaithful to its vows. Infidelity in either man or wo man, is probably the basest falsehood, the most inexcusable folly, and the blackest injustice that, in a christian .community,can be committed. In this case the hymeneal bands become like flax, which the flame has scorched. To this fidelity, husbands, you are as ́strongly obliged as your wives. Though the consequences of their infidelity are more horrible to society, than those of similar wickedness in you, yet remember, that you make the same promises, which are obligatory on them. If you break these promises, in the view of God and good men your infidelity is as criminal as theirs, and is justly deserv. ing of the same damnation. Are you a son? What would be your feelings if the husband of your mother should live in adultery! Are you a father? How would your indignation rise, if the man, to whose arms you consigned a virtuous and unoffending daughter, should wander from her bed! Such, in kind, but much sharper in degree, are the miseries, which you prepare for an innocent wife, when you are false to your vows. You wound her feelings.

You make her uncomfortable in herself,
and an object of suspicion and reproach
to the world. More: You are your
own enemy. You take the direct me
thod of alienating her affections from
you, and yours from her, and thus of
The
rendering yourself wretched.
love of your wife cannot alone make
you happy; she also must possess yours.
It is mutual kindness that softens the
heart, and refines, sweetens, and bless-
es the relation. Let parents receive
ever so much obedience and honour
from their children, they must never-
theless themselves love their children
to be happy in them. We, cannot in-
deed be at ease in this world, unless
the people with whom we associate,
perform their duties to us; but our prin-
cipal felicity will ever spring from the
conscientious performance of our duties
to them. If this remark is true with
respect to other relations, it is especi-
ally so in regard to the married state.
Were religion, therefore, out of the
question, fidelity to your wife is your
highest wisdom and best policy.'.

ART. 39.

The Duties of Children. A sermon, delivered on Lord's day, April 12, 1807, to the religious society in Federal-street, Boston. By William E. Channing, A.M. minister of said society. Boston, printed by Manning & Loring. June, 1807.

It

THE style and sentiments of this sermon bespeak the seriousness and experience of age, the faithful. ness, the sincerity, and piety, of a genuine teacher of Jesus Christ. There is no parade, no ostentatious display of brilliancy. comes clad in the meek simplicity which characterises the language of that holy book, which the weakest understandings may comprehend. Addressed to children, it is pure and nourishing as the milk from which they were lately wean. ed, as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountain of Zion,

CATALOGUE

OF NEW PUBLICATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES,
For JUNE, 1807.

Sunt bona, sunt quædam mediocria, sunt mala plura.-MART.