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    ( 1 S 4—189 . ) and Mr . B . remarks that to the latter of these extremes there is , ia the present age a peculiar tendency . " There is , sometimes ** he says , in mind , a . n inertia similar to that of matter . When it has once taken a direction , it is with difficulty stopped . " lie adds" To believe nothing , all that is necessary is not to think , nor to inquire about any thing : and I have no doubt , that » scepticism is much more frequently the , result of indolence or inattention , than of inquiry . One thing , however , is -elfevident : that unbelief is not

    knowledge . "— ^ Mr . B . proceeds to state the nature , importance and difiicuHy , of the question discussed in this sermon :

    € < What are the best means of > ecu "ing to every individual h ; s own gr ^ ates ^ uitijnate felicity ? " ( i 8 |>—191- ) And he informs us tiiat for this purpose , it is necessary to attain

    correct jioUons concerning tha existence , the character and the government of God , the evidence of a future life , and the most efficacious means of obtaining the divine favour both at present and

    hereafter . ( iplO Under ( he second of these heads the preacher takes occasion to enlarge on the ; unspeakable value of the Christian revelation , as the only solid basis of bur immortal hopes .

    "The whole passage is particularly deserving of perusal : but we cannot quote it , without exceeding our proper limits . ( 198—201 . ) This discourse , the ablest and

    jnost original in the volume , exhibits ' the reasoning and spirit of the J > cst philosophy , and , ( hough addressed immediately to young persons ., may be read , in general , with fid vantage and delight . On the whole , notwithstanding

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    Mr . B . has entitled his vrork , " \ summary view of the evidence and practical importance of the Christian revelation / ' it contains an assemblage of information and ar * guments which we have rarely seen brought together in so small a compass ; and , in truth , it is more ample , profound and satisfactory , ^ than many larger treatises on the same subject . Nothing of main importance appears to be omitted : nothing is discussed carelessly and superficially . If no notice is taken

    of some collateral and subsidiary points of reasoning , ( and , under this class , we should have been , happy if the author had favoured us with his opinion , tespecting the famous passagefound in Josephus ) it is evidently because it was

    inconsistent with the limited , scope of the publication . ^ By no qualities , however ^ is this volume mora honourably distin , guished than bythespiritof candour » and ingenuousness which it uiii-f formly breathes . Objections are fair- , ly represented : concessions , when

    concessions are thought to be called for , are readily and handsomely made . Those bitter invectives ^ those intolerant denunciations , those hateful insinuations which disgrace ixiany professed advocates of revelation have no place in these pages . f lhe author is a firm .

    but , at the same-time , he is a libe * ral , defender of the gospel . His manner bespeaks his sincerity and benevolence ; and we trust that ,

    combined with his theological information and intellectual ability , it will effectually recommend this summary , &c . to the attention of unbelievers . We hope to take early notice

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    386 Eelsham ' s Summary View .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1807, page 386, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2382/page/46/