was placed in the Index Expurgatorius, as a prohibited book; -for certainly it is the work of a protestant, though of one remarkable for his charity towards others, whether papist or puritan:—but it does indeed excite contempt as well as indignation, to know that a work whose "every page displays the fervour of his piety, and the docility of his belief,” should have induced any man to rank its author among infidels and atheists. Let it pass however; the present object is to edit the work, not to offer either eulogy or criticism; those, who do not perceive that it contains its own vindication, are referred to the eloquent and conclusive observations of his great admirer and biographer, Dr. Johnson.

To some readers it may not be unacceptable to notice such. works, as have appeared similar in title to Religio Medici, and and in some instances avowedly imitations of it. This preface shall therefore conclude with the following list of them.

The first to be noticed1 is Lord Herbert's treatise,

De Religione Laici, first published in 1645, at London, with the third edition of his De Veritate.-It was intended to shew, that the people can never attain to any satisfaction, as to the truth and certainty of any particular religion, and had better therefore be content with that which his Lordship had marked out for them, in his last-mentioned work. His

De Religione Gentilium 5 was published after his death, in 1663, 4to. It was written to prove that his five leading principles of Natural Religion were inscribed by the Almighty, as common notices on the minds of all men, and had been acknowledged universally in all nations, ages, and religions. It was reprinted several times, and published in English, in 1705.

Religio Jurisconsulti: London, 1649.-This curious little book is No. 453 of the 12mo. Tracts, in the Royal Collection of Pamphlets in the Museum, in volume 252. The day of its publication is marked as usual by the collector's hand, "Nou." 9" on the titlepage. A 2 contains his address "To the Readers," A 3 a curious dedication, and summary of subjects, together with some Latin

4 In hunting through Watt, I meet with the following article: Religio patiens, Cologne, 1566.-A Latin tragedy, by Andrew Fabricius, a learned popish Divine, born at Liege.

5 Once purchased from a catalogue in which it was described as "Lord Herbert on the Religion of a Gentleman!"

mottoes. The work then follows in 69 pages, with "Sic cogitavit J. Botrie" subscribed, and half a page of “ Errata." W. H. B.6 Medici Catholicon, London, 1657, 12mo.-A curious little Book, written evidently in imitation of Browne. J. C.

Religio Philosophi Peripatetici discutienda, authore P. F. Francisco Davenporto, vulgo, a Sancta Clara. Duaci, Anno 1662, 8vo. 162 pp. besides Indexes.-This tract was written on occasion of a miracle performed by the Virgin Mary in the year 1640. A man's leg had been amputated, and his friends, as well as himself, were one morning exceedingly surprised to find it had been restored to him, and that he had two legs instead of one. The book is written to shew, that this could not have happened by natural means, and that neither astrology, nor chemistry, nor melancholy, nor witchcraft, nor imagination, nor the Devil himself could do such a thing as this:ergo, concluditur esse miraculum. It is a curious book, full of digressions, and odd stories. J. C.-The author, Christopher Davenport, alias Francis a S. Clara, alias Francis Hunt, alias Francis of Coventry, (for by all these names he was known,) was descended from an ancient Cheshire family, and born at Coventry, at the close of the 16th century. After spending some time at Merton College, Oxford, he passed into the communion of the Church of Rome, and entered the order of the Franciscans at Ypres. Afterwards he returned to England, as a Missionary, and was made one of the Chaplains of Henrietta the Queen of Charles the First. During the protectorate, M. de S. Clara absconded; but returned after the restoration, and became theologist to Catherina of Portugal, consort of Charles the Second. The greater parts of his works were printed at his own expence, in 2 vols. fol. at Doway, an. 1665.

The Religion of a Physician; or, Divine Meditations on the Grand and Lesser Festivals, by Edmund Gayton, or De Speciosa Villa. Lond. 1663. 4to. Watt.

Religio Stoici, with a friendly addresse to the Phanaticks of all Sects and Sorts. Edenburgh, 1665, very small 8vo. pp. 144 and 24 of prefaces, &c.—This quaint, but spirited little work, was written by Sir George Mackenzie. It was afterwards reprinted amongst his Essays on several Moral Subjects. Its object may best be described in the author's own words. See p. 141. "My design, all alongst this Discourse, butts at this one principle, that Speculations in Religion are not so necessary, and are more dangerous than sincere practice. It is in Religion as in Heraldry, the simpler the bearing be, it is so much the purer and the ancienter." It was also published in London under the following title:

"The Religious Stoic; or, a Short Discourse on Atheism, Superstition, the World's Creation, Eternity, Providence, &c. &c., by Sir G. M. Lond. 1685."

Religio Clerici, 1681, 12mo. pp. 231, with a frontispiece, by Van Hove, of Christ saving Peter from drowning.-The intent of

5 Communicated by Mr. W. H. Black, of the British Museum.

7 Communicated by James Crossley, Esq., of Manchester.

VOL. II

b

this work, which is written by a Clergyman, is to defend the established religion against the Romanists and Schismatics-to shew "that we never shall have peaceable days, as long as bulkers and coblers are preachers, and couranters." J. M.S

Religio Laici; or, A Layman's Faith. An Epistle, by John Dryden, 8vo. Lond. 1682.-A second edition was published, in 1683, which is very rare. In the same year appeared

Religio Laici, by Charles Blount, Esq., son of Sir Henry Blount of Staffordshire. He has inscribed it to his "much-honored friend, John Dryden, Esquire," to whom he says, in the Epistle-dedicatory, "I have endeavoured that my discourse should be only a continuance of yours; and that, as you taught men how to believe, so I might instruct them how to live."9 Leland, however, says 1 that this work is "little more than a translation of Lord Herbert's treatise of the same name. The additions and improvements he has made are so few, and of such small moment, as not to deserve a distinct consideration." Dryden's change of faith, after his publication of Religio Laici, called forth an attack in the following pamphlet, in which his title is turned against him.

Religio Laici, or a Layman's Faith touching the supreme and infallible guide of the church, by J. R. a convert of Mr. Bayes. In two letters to a friend in the country. Licensed June 1, 1688.-It is said to be replete with the grossest insolence, brutality, and ignorance.

Religio Jurisprudentis: Or the Lawyer's Advice to his Son. In Counsels, Essays, and other Miscellanies. Calculated chiefly to prevent the miscarriages of youth, and for the orthodox establishment of their morals in years of maturity. Per Philanthropum. Lond. 1685. W. H. B.-This is an anonymous treatise, but has a portrait of the author, with his coat of arms, which are those of the Hildesley family. The author was, as I have been told, Mark Hildesley, mentioned in an epitaph which is to be found in Butler's Life of Bishop Hildesley. T. R.2

Religio Militis: or The Moral Duty of a Soldier, shewing how he ought to behave himself towards God, his King, and country. London, 1690. W. H. B.-This seems to have been republished in 1695, 4to., and is said by my friend Mr. Crossley to have been written by-Morgan.

The Layman's Religion: humbly offered as a Help to a Modest Enquiry for every Man into his own Heart; both as being the only means to judge and save himself, and the best way to unite us all against our Common Enemies. The Second Edition, London, 1690.-38 pp. in small 4to. W. H. B.

The Second Part of the Lay-man's Religion: as an Appendix to the First. The Second Edition, London, 1690.-" To the Reader," 2 pp. and 15 pp. besides, small 4to. W. H. B.

8 Communicated by the Rev. J. Mitford, of Benhall, Suffolk.

9 Malone's Dryden, vol. iii, p. 310.

1 View of Deistical Writers, letter 4.

2 Communicated by Mr. Thomas Rodd, Bookseller, of Newport-Street.

Religio Bibliopola, by Benjamin Bridgewater, Gent. 1694, 12mo. Of Mr. Benjamin Bridgewater, who was one of Dunton's hacks, Dunton thus speaketh in that strange rhapsody, his Life and Errors, p. 177. "He was of Trinity College, Cambridge, and M. A. His genius was very rich, and ran much upon poetry, in which he excelled. He was in part author of Religio Bibliopolæ. But alas! wine and love were the ruin of this ingenious gentleman." Dunton, in 1704, enlarged and published the work under the following title: Religio Bibliopola: The New practice of Piety, writ in imitation of Dr. Browne's Religio Medici; or the Christian Virtuoso, discovering the right way to Heaven between all Extreams. To which is added, a Satyr on the House of Lords, for their throwing out the Bill against occasional Conformity, 1704, 12mo. 70 pp., besides Dedication and Preface."-There are several additions;-a long rambling Dedication, and a preface and introduction and conclusion, all evidently by Dunton, and which are none of them in the former, nor in the reprints of it, in 1728, and 1750, 8vo. The Dedication is to Mr. Locke, author of the Essay upon Human Understanding. The oddest part of the story, about this book, is that it is nothing else but an entire piece of patchwork, from the beginning to the end. In a copy of mine, I once took the pains of restoring by references one half of the book to its proper owners, Whether it was the ingenious Mr. Benjamin Bridgewater, or the ingenious Mr. John Dunton, who was guilty of these literary larcenies, I know not, but certainly a more extraordinary and flagrant case I never in the course of my reading met with. Glanville is the plaintiff in several instances, so is Howell, and Norris, and Boyle. J. C.— Another edition appeared in 1705, 12mo. with a portrait of Dunton prefixed. And in 1728, a reprint in 8vo. of the former work, first published in 1694, 12mo.-its title runs thus: "Religio Bibliopola or the Religion of a Bookseller: which is likewise not improper to be perused by those of any other calling or profession. Lond. 1728," 8vo. 111 pp. besides 8 pp. of title, preface, &c. This was again reprinted in 1750.

Evangelium Medici, a Bernardo Conner, Lond. 1697, 8vo.- A work of very curious speculation; though not properly an imitation of Religio Medici. The most extraordinary part is that in which he considers the resurrection, and how it is to be accomplished; he goes through the different parts of the body, and decides which will and which will not find a place in our bodies when glorified. He has gone more minutely into this than Henry More, or Burnet of the Charter-House. J. Č.

The Religion of a Prince; shewing that the precepts of the Holy Scriptures are the best Maxims of Government, by William Nichols, D. D. London, 1704, 8vo.-Against Machiavel, Hobbes, &c. Watt.

3 Watt dates it 1691. He also gives the following, which seems to be a part of Dunton's Athenianism :-" Dunton's Creed, or the Religion of a Bookseller, in imitation of Browne's Religio Medici, dedicated to the Stationers' Company.— Without date.

.

A Gentleman's Religion: in Three Parts.-The first contains the Principles of Natural Religion. The second and third the Doctrines of Christianity, both as to Faith and Practice. With an Appendix, wherein it is proved, that nothing contrary to our reason can possibly be the object of our belief: but that it is no just exception against some of the doctrines of Christianity, that they are above our reason. The Fourth Edition. London, 1710. pp. 301. -Communicated by an ingenious and reverend friend, who adds, "This is a volume of small pieces, constituting the 5th volume of Archbishop Synge's Works, small 8vo." W. H. B.-The first edition was published, anonymously, at London, 1698, and the last edition at the Clarendon press, Oxford, in 1800, with the name of the author, "The most reverend Edward Synge, D. D. Archbishop of Tuam."

Religio Libertini, 8vo. 1715.-by Berridge. J. C.

The Religion of the Wits at Button's refuted; &c. In a dialogue between a Politician and a Divine. Lond. 1716, small 8vo. 72 pp. An attack on some of the infidel Wits of the day.

Lady's Religion: in two parts, London, 1748. 8vo. Watt.-The same, in 12mo. without date. T. R.

Religio Philosophi: or, the Principles of Morality and Christianity illustrated from a View of the Universe, and of Man's Situation in it. By William Hay, Esq. The Fourth Edition, London: 1771.-232 pp. besides the first half sheet. Of this excellent work, the author says in a short preface, that "his great end is, by rectifying men's ideas, and by removing vulgar prejudices, to fix religion on a firm basis." In the elegant edition of his Works, (2 vol. 4to. 1794,) this Essay occupies pp. 171-300 of the 1st vol. I find that the first edition was in 1753; the second in 1754; and the third may have been that mentioned by Watt, in 1760. I know not whether the reprint in his Works was the last or not. W. H. B.

Religio Laici: Second Edition, Lond. 1768, 8vo. 98 pp.-No author's name, but written by Stephen Tempest, Esq., of Bracewell in Craven, Yorkshire. The very sensible tract of a very sensible country gentleman. Vid. Whittaker's History of Craven, p. 88, who praises it, but not more than it deserves. J. C.-It obtained a new title-page in 1772, calling it, "Third edition."

Fragmentum Isaaci Hawkins Browne, Arm. Sive anti-Bolingbrokius; Liber primus, translated for a Second Religio Medici, by Sir Wm. Browne, late President, now Father of the College of Physicians, and F. R.S., 1768, 4to. Fragmentum Isaaci Browne completum, 1769, 4to.-Hutchinson's Biographia Medica, 1799, vol. i, p. 163. E. H. B.1

The Religion of a Lawyer, a Crazy Tale, (in Four Cantos ;) analytical of the Kentish Story of Brookland Steeple. London, 1786, 8vo. 80 pp.-This poem is indeed," a crazy tale."

Religio Clerici, a Churchman's Epistle.-The Second Edition, corrected. London, John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1818.-On

4 Communicated by Edmund Henry Barker, Esq. of Thetford.