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LIBRARY 


UNIVERSITY   OF   CALIFORNIA. 

GIF^  OK 


v---- 


'd 


/deceived  .S&pteml)er-, iS85. 

Accessions  No.    jLy'/xa         Shelf  No. 


—SO 


A 

PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 


AND  THE 


ADDRESSED    TO 

THE  DISCIPLES  OF  THOMAS  PAINE, 

ANJ> 

i)  'A  VERJNG  CHRISTIANS  OF  EVERY  PERSUASION. 


CONTAINING  THE  AUTHOR'S  DETERMINATION 

■TO  HAfTE  RELINQUISHED  HIS  CHARGE  IN  THE  E^ABLISHED  CHURCH, 

AND  THE  REASONS 

ON    WHICH    THAT    DETERMINATION    WAS    FOPNDKI). 


BY  THE  LATE  REV.  DAVID  SIMPSON,  M.  A. 

MIMSTER  or  CHRTiX  CHURCH,    MACCLESFIELD. 


He  that  believeth  shall  be  sccved ;  but  he  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned. 

JESUS    CHRIST. 


FIFTH   ED'ITION. 


LONDON 


PRINTED    FOR    AV,    BAYNES,    PATERN'0-STEn-RO W, 

By  William  Nicholson,  Warner  Street, 

l.SOS. 


*<  Ok^i: 


y/f/oc 


^  jr>  ~  ^  t 


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7?'0 


\iww^ 


PREFACE. 


It  hath  been  said  by  the  late  excellent  Bishop  HoRNE,  that, 
"  in  times  when  erroneous  and  noxious  tenets  are  diffused,  all 
men  should  embrace  some  opportunity  to  bear  their  testimony 
against  them."  It  will  be  allowed  by  every  dispassionate 
observer,  that,  if.  erroneous  and  noxious  tenets  Mere  ever  dif- 
fused among  men  in  any  age,  they  are  eminently  so  in  the  pre- 
sent. I  am  so  far,  however,  from  considering  this  in  the  light 
of  a  misfortune  to  the  general  cause  of  truth,  that  I  am  per- 
suaded purposes  of  the  most  important  nature  are  to  be  an- 
swered by  it,  in  the  course  of  Divine  Providence.  But 
notwithstanding  this  persuasion,  1  have  thought  it  my  duty,  iu 
the  following  pages,  to  bear  a  decided  testimony  against  some 
of  the  most  pernicious  of  those  errors  which  prevail  among  us, 
and  to  stand  forward  as  an  advocate  in  behalf  of  Religion  in  se- 
neral,  and  the  Sacred  Writings  in  particular.  If  the  foundar. 
tiuns  be  destroyed,  zchat  can  the  righteous  do  ^ 

One  might  suppose,  prior  to  experience,  Infidelitj/  was  a 
thing  of  so  gloomy  and  uncomfortable  a  nature,  that  no  man  of 
the  least  decency  of  character  could  be  found,  who  would  em- 
bark in  the  desperate  scheme.  But  when  we  consider  the 
many  awful  ihreatenings  recorded  in  the  Bible  against  persons 
of  a  certain  description,  the  numerous  passages  apparently 
liable  to  very  serious  objections,  the  natural  darkness  of  the  hu- 
man understanding,  the  perverseness  of  the  human  will,  and 
the  imperious  calls  of  contending  passions.  M'e  need  not  be  sur- 
prised that  a  large  proportion  of  irreligious  characters,  who 
have  little  to  hope  from  divine  mercy,  and  much  to  fear  from 
divine  justice,  should  be  induced  to    embark    in    any  scheme. 


vi  PREFACE. 

that  is  calculated  to  afford  them  present  indulgence,  and  free^ 
them  from  apprehensions  of  future  danger.  Thomas 
Pa  ink's  dei&tical  principles  may  buoy  up  the  minds  of  persons 
of  this  character,  while  health  and  prosperity  smile  upon  them, 
but  they  will  generally  fail  us  in  seasons  of  adversity,  and  espe- 
cially in  the  views  of  approaching  dissolution*.  Give  me  a 
Kelicr'wn  that  will  stand  by  me  at  all  seasons,  in  prosperity 
and  adversityj  in  sickness  and  health,  in  time  and  eternity.  I 
would  not  give  a  rush  for  Religion,  which  will  only  serve  my 
turn  when  the  sunshifie  of  worldly  favour  illumines  my  steps^ 
and  fail  me  when  I  stand  in  the  greatest  need  of  its  support. 
Tliis  is  the  case  with  Deism,  as  many  have  found  to  their  ex-' 
treme  sorrow,  when  the  eternal  world  drew  near,  and  dawned 
upon  their  astonished  sight.  More  than  one  of  the  unhappy 
Mutineers,  who  have  lately  been  executed  oh  board  his  Ma- 
iestu's  ships  of  war,  found  themselves  in  this  awful  predicament, 
as  their  fate  approached.  Corrupted  by  Paine's  Jge  of 
Reason,  when  they  conceived  themselves  free  from  danger,  they 
gloried  in  their  shame ;  but  w  hen  the  Kii/g  of  Terrors  came  to 
stare  them  in  the  face,  they  saw  their  folly,  repented,  believed, 
and  trembled  in  the  views  of  the  eternal  world.  Difl^rent,  in 
deed,  was  the  conduct  of  many  other  of  these  unhappy  men, 
some  of  whom  were,  apparently  at  least,  equally  regardless  of 
life  or  of  death.  So  we  read  of  multitudes  of  our  fellow  crea- 
tures both  in  our  own  and  in  a  neighbouring  country,  who,  set 
free  from  the  salutary  restraints  of  Religion,  and  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Divine  Being,  by  a  daring  and  uncontrouled 
spirit  of  Infidelity,  destroy  themselves,  and  rush  into  the  presence 
of  the  Almighty  without  dismayt. 

*  "  You  have  been  used,"  said  good  Mr.  M.  Henry,  a  little 
before  his  death,. to  a  friend,  "  to  take  notice  of  the  sayings  of  dying 
men.  This  is  mine,  that  a  life  spent  in  the  service  of  GoD,  and 
eommunion  with  him,  is  the  most  comfortable  and  pleasant  Hfe  that 
any  one  can  li\e  in  this  world." 

+  The  general  practice  of  duelling,  among  the  higher  orders  of 
society  iii  this  country,  is  a  sure  indication,  that  a  spirit  of  Infidelity 
is  alarniinglv  none  abroad.  A  Christian  figlit  a  duel  ?  Impossible  ! 
True  valour  forbids  it.  And  to  mend  the  matter,  upon  the  Lord's 
dav  too!  Still  more  impossible!  Every  principle  of  his  religion  pro- 


I>RErACE.  vii 

More  rcasonuble  and  bcconiing  surely  is  tlje  conduct  of 
those  who,  when  brought  to  a  sense  oi'  their  sin  and  folly,  (cm 
and  tremble  before  this  Dread  Sovereign.     This  scluis  to 

have  been  the  case  with  the  late  Lord  P .     This  Noui.e- 

MAN  after  he  turned  Deist,  took  every  opportunity  to  shew 
his  contempt  of  Religion.  The  clergyman  and  parishioners  of 
the  place  where  his  Lordship's  seat  in  ^Northamptonshire  stood, 
usually  passed  in  sight  of  the  house  in  their  way  to  church. 
At  the  time  of  going  and  returning,  he  frequently  ordered  his 
children  and  servants  into  the  hall,  fjr  tlie  vile  purpose  of 
laughing  at  and  ridiculing  them.  He  pursued  this  course  for 
some  time,  but  at  length  drew  near  the  close  of  life.  Upon 
his  dying  pillow  his  views  were  altered.  He  found,  that,  how- 
ever his  former  sentiments  niigiit  suit  him  in  health,  they  ro;i!d 
not  support  him  in  the  hour  of  dissolution  ;  when  in  the  cold 
arms  of  Death,  the  terrors  of  the  Almighty  were  heavy  upon 
him.  Painful  remembrance  brought  to  view  ten  thousand 
insults  offered  to  that  God,  at  whose  bar  he  was  shortly  to 
stand;  and  conscience  being  strongly  in^.pvcssed  with  the  solem- 
nity of  that  day,  he  but  too  justly  feareii  that  the  God  he  had 
insulted  would  then  consign  hiin  to  de5jMCtion.  With  his 
mind  thus  agitated,  he  called  to  a  person  ni  the  room,  and  de- 
sired him  "  to  go  into  the  library,  and  fetch  the  clrsi: d 
BOOK,"  meaning  that  which  had  made  him  a  Deist.  He 
went,  but  returned,  saying  he  could  not  tind  it.  The  Noblf- 
MAN  then  cried  with  veliemence,  that  '^  he  must  go  again,  and 
look  till  he  did  find  it,  for  he  could  not  die  till  it  was  de- 
stroyed." The  person  having  at  last  met  with  it,  gave  it  into 
his  hands.     It  was  no  sooner  committed  to  him,  than  he  tore  it 

hibits  the  impious  AetA. —  Kow  much  pain  of  mind  did  not  the  con- 
duct of  a  certain  most  respectable  character  give,  to  all  tlie  seiiuu^ 
part  of  the  nation,  on  a  l;;te  unhappy  occusiou  of  lliis  sort  ?  Reli<iioi', 
good  morals,  souutl  policy,  true  patriotism,  all  iorhad  the  unciiii^- 

tian   rencounter. — Stake   hk  lite  against  the   life  of  a ! 

Were  we  t<»  act  thus  in  common  life,  a  state  of  coiwfinement  would 
be  thought  essentiahy  necessary  lor  our  welfare,  and  ti.c  public 
good.-T-Can  nothing  be  done,  no  measures  taken,  to  put  a  stoj)  to 
this  infamous  practice,  this  national  opprobriiiuj  ? — L^t  tliosc  whom 
it  concerns  consider. 


viil  .PREFACE. 

to  pieces  with  mingled  liorror  and  revenge,  and  committed  it  to 
the  flames.  Having  thus  taken  vengeance  on  the  instrument  of 
his  own  iuin,  he  soon  after  breathed  his  soul  into  the  hands  of 
his  Creator*. 

Affecting  as  this  example  is,  that  of  a  William  Pope,  of 
Bolton,  in  Laucaehire,  is  much  more  so.  At  this  place  there 
is  a  considerable  number  of  dcislical  persons,  who  assemble  to- 
gether on  Sundays  to  confirm  each  other  in  their  Infidelity, 
The  oaths  and  imprecations  which  are  uttered  in  that  meeting 
are  too  horrible  to  relate,  while  they  toss  the  IVord  of  God  upon 
the  floor,  kick  it  ronnd  the  house,  and  tread  it  under  their  feet. 
This  W  ILLIAM  Pope,  who  had  been  a  steady  Methodist  for 
some  years,  became  at  length  a  professed  Deist,  and  joined 
himself  to  this  hellish  crew.  After  he  had  been  an  associate  of 
this  company  for  some  time,  he  was  taken  ill,  and  the  nature  of 
his  complaint  was  such,  that  he  confessed  the  hand  of  God  was- 
upvon  him,  and  declared  he  longed  to  die,  that  he  might  go  to 
hell ;  many  times  praying  earnestly  for  danmation.  Tw  o  of  the 
Methodist  preachers,  Messrs.  Rhodes  and Barrowclough, 
Mere  sent  for  to  tall<  to  and  pray  with  tlie  unhappy  man.  But  he 
was  so  far  fiom  being  thankful  for  their  advice  and  assistance, 
that  he  s^pit  in  their  faces,  threw  at  tjiem  whatever  he  could 
lav  his  hands  upon,  struck  one  of  them  upon  the  head  with  all 
his  might,  and  often  cried  out,  when  they  were  praying,  Lord 
do  not  hear  their  prayers !  If  they  said.  Lord,  save  his  soul! 
He  cried.  Lord  damn  mij  soul !  often  adding,  My  damnation 
is  sealed,  and  1  long  to  be  in  hell !  Li  this  way  he  continued, 
sometimes  better,  and  sometiu:es  worse,  till  he  died.  He  was 
freqwently  visited  by  his  deist ieal  brethren  during  his  illness,  who 
would  fain  have  persuadeclthe  public  he  was  out  of  his  senses  ; 
Mliich  was  by  no  means  the  case.  The  writer  of  this  account 
saw  the  unhappy  man  once,  but  never  desired  to  see  him  again. 
Mr.  Rhodes  justly  said.  He -zcas  as  full  of  the  devil  as  he 
could  hold.     This  melancholy   business  happened  in  the  course 


*  See  Evan.  Mas;,  for  June  17P7,  where  it  is  declared  this  anec- 
dote may  be  deijended  upon,  as  it  came  from  the  hps  of  a  person 
wiio  was  piesent  at  the  scene. 


PREFACE.  k 

of  the  present  year,  and  made  a  great  noise  in  the  town  and 
neighbourhood  of  Bolton^. 

These  are  shocking  instances  of  the  dreadful  effects  of  Iiifi^ 
dellty  upon  the  minds  of  our  fellow  creatures,  in  those  seasons, 
Mhen  we  stand  in  most  need  of  support  and  consolation.  l( 
living  witnesses  to  the  truth  and  importance  of  Religion  and  the 
Sacred  JVi if ifigs~\-  m'l^ht  have  uny  consideration  with  such  of 
my  readers  as  are  dtisticallj/  inclined,  1  could  produce  many  of 
the  first  characters  of  the  age,  from  among  all  the  contendjng 
denominations  of  Christians.  The  late  Jacob  Bryant,  Esq. 
who  was  unquestionably  one  of  the  deepest  inquirers  into  the 
original  of  things,  and,  NO  PRIEST,  hath  not  only  written  a 
treatise  professedly  to  prove  the  authenticity  of  the  Xtrc  Testa- 
ment, but  hath  also,  in  another  of  his  learned  investigations, 
made  the  following  declaration  in  favour  of  these  incomparable 
and  invaluable  writings : 

"  This  investigation"  (a  work  written  to  prove  that  Troi/ 
never  existed)  "I  more  readily  undertook,  as  it  affords  an  excel- 
lent contrast  with  the  Sacred  Writins:^.     Tlie  more  we  search 


*  Mr.  Rhodes  has  since  published  an  account  of  the  sickness 
and  deatli  of  tins  unhappy  man  in  the  Methodist  Mao;azine,  for  Au- 
gust 179^)  \\hich  is  or.e  of  the  most  atJectins  on  record. 

t  It  becomes  every  objector  to  the  Sacred  JVriiins;s  to  reilecip^ 
that  "  the  moral  and  natural  evils  in  the  world  were  not  introduced 
by  the  Gospel ;  why  then  must  the  Gospel  be  called  upon  to  account 
for  them,  rather  than  any  other  Rtli^ion,  or  sect  of  philosophy  ?  If 
there  never  had  been  an  Old  Teatair.tnt,  never  a  J\V(/>  one,  mankind 
would  have  been  at  least  as  corrupt  and  miserable  as  they  are  at 
present.  What  harm  then  have  the  Old  and  ^ew  Testament  done 
to  you,  that  you  peri>etually  challenge  them  to  account  to  you 
for  the  evil  you  sufl'er  ?  You  dislike  perhaps  the  story  of  Adam  and 
Eve,  and  can  by  no  means  digest  the  account  of  the  .SVr/^c^fV  tempt- 
ing, and  prevailing  against  our  first  parents :  yeiy  well;  let  liiis  ac- 
count be  laid  aside,  and  what  are  you  now  the  better?  Is  there  not 
the  same  Evil  remaining  in  the  world,  whether  you  believe,  or  believe 
not  the  story  of  the  Fall  ?  And  if  so,  what  account  do  you  pretend 
to  give  of  it  ?  For  if  you  pretend  to  any  Religion,  \on  are  as  liable 
to  be  called  to  this  account,  as  any  profe^'or  or  teacher  of  the  Gospel. 
No  body  is  exempt  in  this  case,  but  the  Atheist ;  and  his  privilege 
comes  from  hence,  that  he  has  no  account  to  give  of  any  thing;  for 
all  difficulties  are  alike  upon  his  scheme." — ^n^v^i^oCK  on  Prophecy, 
p.  233. 


X  PREFACE. 

ittto  the  very  ancient  records  of  Rorne  or  Greece,  the  greater 
darkness  and  uncertainty  ensue.  None  of  them  can  stand  the 
test  of  close  exaniiiuition.  Upon  a  minute  inspection,  all  be- 
comes dark  and  doubtful,  and  often  inconsistent :  but  when  vve 
«ncou)iter  the  Sacred  Folnme,  even  in  parts  of  far  higher  anti- 
quity, the  deeper  we  go,  the  greater  treasure  we  iind.  The  va- 
jrious  parts  are  so  consistent,  that  they  aftord  mutual  illustration ; 
and  liie  more  earnestly  we  look,  the  greater  light  accrues,  and 
cyiise  I  leutiy  the  greater  satisfaction.  So  it  has  always  appeared 
to  me,  who  have  looked  diligently,  and  examined;  and  1  trust  I 
have  not  been  mistaken*." 

Various  similar  testimonies  hav€  been  adduced  in  the  course 

'■'  "  When  I  was  in  camp  with  the  Duke  of  Marlborough*^ 
sajs  ihi.-;  trjily  learned  and  respectable  man,  in  another  place,  "an 
olhcer  of  my  acquaintar.ce  desired  me,  upon  my  making  a  short  ex- 
clusion, to  lake  him  with  me  in  my  carriage.  Our  conversation 
wasraliicr  desultory,  as  is  usual  upon  such  occasions;  and  among 
other  things,  he  asked  me,  rather  abruptly,  Vvliat  were  my  notions 
about  Religion.  ,1  answered  evasively,  or  at  least  indeterminately, 
as  liJS  enquiry  seemed  to  proceed  merely  from  an  idle  curiosity  ; 
«ad  I  did  not  see  that  any  happy  consequence  could  ensue  from  an. 
^explanation.  Hov.ever,  som.e  time  ai'terwards  he  made  a  visit  at 
mv  house,  and  stayed  v>ith  me  a  few  days.  During  this  interval, 
one  eveuijig  he  put  the  question  to  me  again  ;  and  at  the  same  time 
■added,  that  he  should  be  really  obliged  if  I  would  give  him  my 
uioughls  in  general  upon  the  subject,  l^pon  this  I  turned  towards 
him,  aiid  aflcr  a  short  pause  told  him  that  my  opinion  lay  in  a  small 
compass:  and  he  should  have  it  in  as  compendious  a  manner  as  the 
subject  would  j'ermit.  Religioit,  I  said,  is  either  true,  or  false. 
This  is  the  alternaiive:  there"  is  no  medium.  If  it  be  the  latter — 
merely  an  idle  system,  and  a  cvnniugbi  devised  fahle,  let  us  eat  and 
drinl\  for  io-morroiv  we  die.  The  world  is  before  us,  let  us  take  ail 
^\\\t  advantage,  and  choose  what  may  seem  best:  for  we  have  no 
prospect  of  any  life  to  come;  much  less  any  assurances.  But  if 
ficligicn  be  a  truth,  it  is  the  most  serious  truth  of  any  with  which  wc 
<-an  possibiy  be  cKgaged ;  an  article  of  the  greatest  importance. 
Jt  demauffs  our  niost  diligent  enquiry  to  obtain  a  knowledge  of  it: 
flnd  a  fixed  resolution  to  abide  by  it,  wlien  obtained.  ¥or  Religion 
teiiclic!.  ii,s,  tir.it  this  life  bears  no  projjortion  to  the  life  to  come. 
You  see,  then,  my  good  friend,  that  an  alternative  of  the  utmost 
TonsequciK'c  lies  beibre  you.  Make,  tlierefore,  your  election,  as 
you  may  .judge  best;  and  fiEAVEN  dire,<L-t  you  in  your  determi- 
dnation!— lie  told  nie  tliut  he  was  much  aflected  witii  the  crisis,  to 
which  I  hi  ought  the  object  of  enquiry  :  and  I  trust  that  it  was 
att«Mfded  \^  iib  happy  consequences  afterwards/' 


PREFACE.  xi 

of  the  follovviug  work.  Mr.  Erskine's  name  is  there  men-' 
tioned  with  honour.  But  as  he  hath  since  come  forward  in 
a  manner  more  direct  and  full  in  behalf  of  Religion  and  the  Sa- 
cred Writings,  I  cannot  do  the  religious  reader  a  greater 
pleasure,  or  render  the  deistical  one  a  more  important  ser- 
vice, than  by  presenting  him  in  this  place,  with  the  sub- 
stance of  the  Speech  which  this  celebrated  Orator  deli- 
vered upon  the  trial  of  Williams,  in  the  Court  of  King's 
Bench,  for  publishing  Thomas  Paine's  Age  of  Reason j^ 
the  24th  of  June  1797,  before  Lord  Ken  yon  and  a  Specmt 
Jury. 

''Gentlemen!  the  Defendant  stands  indicted  for  having 
published  this  book,  which  I  have  only  read  from  the  obliga- 
tions of  professional  duty,  and  from  the  reading  of  w  hich  I  rose 
with  astonishment  and  disgust. — For  my  own  part,  Gen- 
tlemeNj  I  have  been  ever  deeply  devoted  to  the  truths  of 
Christianity,  and  my  tirm  belief  in  the  Holy  Gospel  is  by  no 
means  owing  to  the  prejudices  of  education  (though  I  was 
religiously  educated  by  the  best  of  parents,)  but  arises  from  the 
fullest  and  most  continued  reflections  of  my  riper  years  and  un- 
derstanding. It  forms,  at  this  moment,  the  great  consolation 
of  a  life,  which,  as  a  shadow,  must  pass  away ;  and  without  it, 
indeed,  I  should  consider  my  long  course  of  health  and  prospe- 
rity (perhaps  too  long  and  too  uninterrupted  to  be  good  for  any 
man)  only  as  the  dust  which  the  wind  scatters,  and  rather  as  a 
snare  than  as  a  blessing. 

*'  This  Publication  appears  to  me  to  be  as  mischievous  and 
cruel  in  its  probable  effects,  as  it  is  manifestly  illegal  in  its  prin- 
ciples ;  because  it  strikes  at  the  best,  sometimes,  alas !  the  only 
refuge  and  consolation,  amidst  the  distresses  and  aflHictions  of 
the  world.  The  poor  and  humble,  whom  it  affects  to  pity,  may 
be  stabbed  to  the  heart  by  it.  Iliey  huve  more  occasion  for 
tirm  hopes  beyond  the  grave,  than  those  who  have  greater  com- 
forts to  render  life  delightful.  I  can  conceive  a  distressed  but 
virtuous  man,  surrounded  by  children  looking  up  to  him  for 
bread  when  he  has  none  to  give  them,  sinking  under  the  last 
day's  labour,  and  unequal  to  the  next,  yet  still  looking  up  with 

b 


xu 


PREFACE. 


confidence  to  the  hour  when  all  tears  shall  be  wiped  from  the 
eyes  of  affliction,  bearing  the  burden  laid  upon  him  by  a  myste- 
rious Providence  which  he  adores,  and  looking  forward  with 
exultation  to  the  revealed  promises  of  his  Creatoe,  when  he 
shall  be  greater  than  the  greatest,  and  happier  than  the  happiest 
of  mankind.  What  a  change  in  such  a  mind  might  not  be 
wrought  by  such  a  merciless  publication  ?" 

'  But  it  seems,  this  is  an  Age  of  Reason,  and  the  time  and 
yijie  person  are  at  last  arrived,  that  are  to  dissipate  the  errors 
llifch  have  overspread  the  past  generations  of  ignorance. 
The  believers  in  Christianity  are  many,  but  it  belongs  to  the 
few  that  are  wise  to  correct  their  credulity.  Belief  is  an  act 
of  reason,  and  superior  reason  may,  therefore,  dictate  to  the 
weak.' 

"  In  running  the  mind  along  the  long  list  of  sincere  and  de- 
vout Christians,  I  cannot  help  lamenting,  that  Newton  had 
not  lived  to  this  day,  to  have  had  his  shallowness  filled  up  with 
this  new  flood  of  light. 

^'  But  the  subject  is  too  awful  for  irony.  I  will  speak  plainly 
and  directly.  Newton  wvlh  ?i  Christian !  Newton,  whose 
mind  burst  forth  from  the  fetters  cast  by  nature  upon  our  finite 
conceptions — Newton,  whose  science  was  truth,  and  the 
foundation  of  ^hose  knowledge  of  it  was  philosophy:  Not 
those  visionary  and  arrogant  presumptions  which  too  often  usurp 
its  name,  but  philosophy  resting  upon  the  basis  of  mathematics, 
which,  like  figures,  cannot  lie — Newton,  who  carried  the  line 
and  rule  to  the  utmost  barriers  of  creation,  and  explored  the 
principles  by  which,  no  doubt,  all  created  matter  is  held  together 
and  exists." 

'  But  this  extraordinary  man,  in  the  mighty  reafch  of  his 
mind,  overlooked,  perhaps,  the  errors  which  a  minuter  inves- 
tigation of  the  created  things  on  this  earth  might  have  taught 
him,  of  the  essence  of  his  Creator.' 

''  What  then  shall  be  said  of  the  great  Mr.  Boyle,  who 

looked  into  the  organic  structure  of  all  matter,  even  to  the  brute 

*  inanimate  substances,  which  the  foot  treads  on?    Such  a  man 

may   be  supposed   to    have    been  equally  qualified    with   Mr. 


PREFACE.  xiii 

Paine  to  look  up  through  Nature  to  Nature's  God.  Yet 
the  result  of  ull  his  contemplation  was  the  most  confirmed  and 
devout  belief  ill  all  wjiicli  the  other  holds  in  contempt,  us  des- 
picable and  drivelling-  supejstition." 

'  But  this  error  might,  perhaps,  arise  from  a  want  of  due  at- 
tention to  the  foundations  of  human  judgment,  and  the  structure 
of  that  understanding,  which  God  has  given  us  lor  the  iuvestioa- 
tion  of  truth.' 

"  Let  that  question  be  answered  by  Mr.  Locki:,  who  was 
to  the  iiighest  pitch  of  devotion  and  adoration,  a  Christian: 
Mr.  Locke,  whose  office  was  to  detect  the  errors  of  thinking 
by  going  up  to  the  fountains  of  thought,  and  to  direct  into  (he 
proper  track  of  reasoning,  the  devious  mind  of  man,  by  slicvvin* 
him  its  whole  process,  from  tlie  lirst  perceptions  of  sense  to 
the  last  conchisions  of  ratiocination,  putting  a  rein  besides  up- 
on false  opinion,  by  practical  rules  for  the  conduct  of  human 
judgment." 

*  But  these  men  were  only  deep  thinkers,  a.»l  lived  in  their 
closets,  unaccustomed  to  the  traffic  of  the  world,  and  to  the 
laws  which  practically  regulate  mankind.' 

"  Gentlemen  !  in  the  place  where  we  now  sit  to  admi- 
nister the  justice  of  this  great  country,  above  a  century  ao-o,  the 
never-to-be-forgotten  6V/- Matthew  Hale  presided;  uhose* 
faith  in  Chrlstiaiiiti/  is  an  exalted  commentary  upon  its  truth 
and  reason,  and  whose  life  \\as  a  glorious  example  of  its  fruits 
in  man,  adnjinistering  liuiiuin  justice  with  a  wisdom  and  puritv 
drau  n  from  tlie  pure  fountain  of  the  C/n  istian  dispensation 
which  has  been,  and  w  ill  be,  in  aii  ages,  a  subject  of  the  hi~hest 
reverence  and  admiration." 

'  But  it  is  said  by  the  Author,  that  the  Christian  Fable  is 
but  the  tale  of  the  more  ancient  superstitions  of  the  world,  and 
may  be  easily  detected  by  a  proper  understanding  of  the  mytho- 
logies of  the  Htatlicus.' 

"  Did  Milton  understand  those  mythologies.^  Was  he 
less  versed  than  Mr.  Paine  in  the  super-ttions  of  the  woSd .? 
No;  they  were  the  subject  of  his  immortal  song;  aid  ihou^h 
shut  out  froiu  ail  recurrence  to  them,  he  poured  them   fonh 


xiv  PREFACE. 

from  the  stores  of  a  memory  rich  with  all  that  man  ever  knew, 
and  laid  them  in  their  order  as  the  illustration  of  that  real 
and  exalted  faith,  the  uu(|uestionable  source  of  that  fervid 
genius,  which  cast  a  sort  of  shade  upon  all  the  other  works  of 
man : 

"  He  pass'd  the  bounds  of  flaming  space, 
Where  Angels  tremble  while  they  gaze; 
He  saw  till  blasted  with  excess  of  light. 
He  clos'd  his  eyes  iu  endless  night." 

But  it  was  the  light  of  the  body  only  that  was  extinguished ; 
the  celestial  light  shone  inward,  and  enabled  him  to  justify  the 
ways  of  God  to  man.  The  result  of  his  thinking  was  neverthe- 
less not  the  same  as  the  Author  s.  The  mysterious  incarnation 
of  our  Blessed  Saviour  (which  this  work  blasphemes  in 
words  so  wholly  unlit  for  the  mouth  of  a  Christian  or  for  the 
ear  of  a  Court  of  Justice,  that  I  dare  not  and  will  not,  give 
them  utterance)  JNIilton  made  the  grand  conclusion  of  the 
Paradise  Lost,  the  rest  from  his  finished  labours,  and  the  ulti- 
mate hope,  expectation,  and  glory  of  the  world : — 

"  A  Virgin  is  his  Mother,  but  his  Sire, 
The  prower  of  the  Most  High  ;  he  shall  ascend 
'  The  Throne  liereditary  and  bound  his  reign  * 
With  Earth's  wide  bounds,  his  glory  with  the  Heav'ns." 

Mr.  E.  next  entered  most  forcibly  and  deeply  into  the  Evi- 
dences of  Christianity,  particularly  those  that  were  founded  on 
that  stupendous  scheme  of  prophecy,  which  formed  one  of  the 
most  unanswerable  arguments  for  the  truth  of  the  Christian 


■"   "  Piety  has  found 
Friends  in  the  friends  of  science,  and  tnie  prayer 
Has  flow'd  from  lips  wet  witli  Castalian  dews. 
Such  was  thy  wisdom,  Newton,  childhke  sage! 
Sagacious  reader  of  the  it'orks  of  God, 
And  in  his  Word  sagacious.     Such  too  thine, 
Milton,  whose  genius  had  angelic  wings. 
And  fed  on  manna.     And  such  thine,  in  whom 
Our  British  Themis  gloried  with  just  cause, 
Immortal  Hale!  for  deep  discernment  prais'd, 
And  souud  integrity  not  more,  than  fam'd 
For  sanctity  of  nianuers  uudefird." 


PREFACE.  XV 

Religion.  "It  was  not,"  he  said,  "  the  purpose  of  God  to 
destroy  free  agency  by  overpowering  the  hun)an  mind  with  the 
iiTesistible  light  and  conviction  of  revelation,  but  to  leave  men 
to  collect  its  truths,  as  they  were  gradually  illustrated  in  the 
accomplishment  of  the  divine  promises  of  the  Gospel.  Bred 
as  he  was  to  the  consideration  of  evidence,  he  declared  he  con- 
sidered the  prophecy  concerning  the  destruction  of  the  Jewish 
nation,  if  there  was  nothing  else  to  support  Christianity,  ab- 
solutely irresistible.  The  division  of  the  Jexcs  into  tribes,  to 
preserve  the  genealogy  of  Christ;  the  distinction  of  the  tribe 
of  Judah,  from  which  he  was  to  come;  the  loss  of  that  distinc- 
tion when  that  end  was  accomplished;  the  predicted  departure 
of  the  sceptre  from  Israel;  the  destruction  of  the  temple  of 
Jerusalem,  which  imperial  munificence  in  vain  attempted  to  re- 
build to  disgrace  the  prophecy;  the  dispersion  of  this  nation 
over  the  face  of  the  whole  earth  ;  the  spreading  of  the  Gospel 
throughout  the  world;  the  persecutions  of  its  true  ministers, 
and  the  foretold  superstitions  which  for  ages  had  defiled  its 
^vorship."  These  were  topics  upon  which  Mr.  Erskine  ex- 
patiated with  great  eloquence,  and  produced  a  most  powerful  ef- 
fect on  every  part  of  the  audience  *. 

Xo;tZ  Kenyon  then,  in  addressing  the  Jury,  among  other 
important  things,  said,  "  I  sincerely  wish  that  the  author  of  the 
work  in  question  may  become  a  partaker  of  that  faith  in  re- 
vealed religion,  which  he  has  so  grossly  defamed,  and  may  be 
enabled  to  make  his  peace  with  GoD  for  that  disorder,  which  he 
has  endeavoured  to  the  utmost  of  his  power  to  introduce  into 
society.  We  have  heard  to-day,  that  the  light  of  nature,  and 
the  contemplation  of  the  works  of  creation,  are  sufficient,  with- 
out any  other  revelation  of  the  divine  will.  Socrates, 
Plato,  Xenophon,  Tully— each  of  them  in  their  turns 
professed  they  wanted  other  lights;  aiid  knowing  and  confessing 
that  God  was  good,  they  took   it  for  granted  the  time  would 


*  Though  I  greatly  achiiire  the. defence  of  JMr.  Erskine  in  this 
oration,  I  am  not  clear  that  the  prosecution  can  he  justiiied  upon  the 
genume  principles  of  Christian  liberty. 


xvi  PREFACE. 

come  when  he  would  iir>pait  a  farther  revelation  of  his  will  to 
manl.iud.  Though  they  walked  as  it  were  through  a  cloud 
darkly,  they  iiopcd  their  posterity  would  almost  see  God  face 
to  face.  This  condition  of  mankind  has  met  with  reprehension 
to-day.  But  I  shall  not  pursue  this  argument;  fully  impressed 
with  the  great  truths  of  liehgiou,  which,  thank  God,  I  was 
taught  in  my  early^  years  to  believe,  and  of  which  t!ie  hour  of 
reflection  and  enquiry,  instead  of  producing  any  doubt,  has  fully 
coniirmed  me  in." 

He  that  feels  not  conviction  enough  from  these  reasonings  . 
and  aulhorities  to  make  him  pause,  at  least,  in  his  deistical 
coiuses,  is  out  of  the  reach  of  all  ordinary  means  of  conviction, 
and  most  be  deiilt  with  in  some  more  fearful  manner.  I  pray 
God  that  his  conscience  may  be  alarmed  as  ^^ith  thunder — that 
the  arrows  of  the  Almighty  may  stick  fast  within  him — that 
his  soul  may  feel  the  terrors  of  hell  following  hard  after  him — 
that,  like  the  unhappy  person  just  mentioned,  he  may  be  made 
a  monument  of  divine  justice  in  the  sight  of  all  men — and  that, 
like  the  celebrated  Kochestee,  he  may  be  finally  snatched  as 
a  brand  from  the  burning  by  the  powti  of  sovereign  grace! 
May  that  blood  which  speaketh  better  things  than  the  blood  of 
Abel,  and  on  which  he  now  profanely  and  insolently  tramples, 
be  applied  to  his  soul  by  the  energy  of  the  eternal  Spirit. 
And  may  there  bej?Oj/  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of  Gob  at 
his  conversion,  and  heaven's  eternal  arches  resound  with  hallelu- 
jahs at  the  news  of  a  sinner  saved  1 

Reader: 

The  Author  of  this  book,  which  is  here  put 
into  your  hand,  cannot  help  being  extren.ely  alarmed  fcr  the 
safety  of  his  friends  in  this  day  of  abounding  Injideliti/,  when 
he  considers  this  declaration  of  Christ,  that.  Whosoever  shall 
he  ashamed  of  him,  and  of  his  IVords,  in  this  adulterous  and 
sinful  generation;  of  him  al<o  shall  the  Son  of  man  be 
ashamed,  zihen  he  cometh  in  the  glory  q/Vi/s  Father  with  the 
holy  angels. 


PREFACE.  xvii 

It  is  impossible  to  add  any  thing  to  the  weight  of  these  Avord?. 
The  heart  that  is  unappalled  by  them  is  liarder  than  the  nether 
mill-stone,  and  incapable  of  religious  melioration. 

When  you  have  carefully  perused  the  book  two  or  three  times 
over,  if  you  think  it  calculated,  in  ever  so  small  a  degree,  to 
impress  the  mind  with  conviction;  have  the  goodness  to  lend  it 
to  your  unbelieving  neighbour,  remembering  the  words  of  .St. 
James:  Brethren!  if  a/ii/  of  i/ou  do  err  from  the  tnith,  and 
one  convert  Iiitn,  let  him  knozc,  that  he  zcho  converteth  a  sinner 
from  the  error  of  his  zvays  shall  save  a  soul  from  death,  and 
shall  hide  a  multitude  of  sins. 

If  you  are  dissatisfied  ^ith  what  is  here  advanced_,  in  favour 
of  Religion  and  the  Sacred  Writings,  by  no  means  give  up  the 
cause  as  desperate ;  but  do  yourself  the  justice  to  procure  Bishop 
Watson's  Jpologt/  for  the  Bible,  in  answer  to  Thomas 
Paine,  and  his  Jpology  for  Christianity,  in  answer  to  Mr. 
Gibbon.  They  are  books  small  in  size,  but  rich  in  value. 
They  discover  great  liberality  of  mind,  much  strength  of  argu- 
ment, a  clear  elucidation  of  difficulties,  and  vast  superiority  of 
ability  ou  this  question  to  the  persons  whom  he  undertook  to 
answer. 

The  best  edition  of  the  Jpologi/  for  the  Bible,  which  is  the 
more  popular  and  seasonable  work  of  the  two,  xsfour  shillina-s; 
but  an  inferior  one  may  be  had  from  any  of  the  booksellers  at 
the  reduced  price  of  one  shilling. 

Considering  the  sceptical  spirit  of  the  present  age,  and  the 
danger  young  and  inexperienced  people  are  in  of  being  seduced 
into  the  paths  of  irreligion ;  this,  or  some  other  antidote,  ought 
to  be  in  every  man's  hand,  who  has  any  serious  concern,  either 
for  his  own  felicity,  or  that  of  his  friends  and  neighbours. 


DAVID  SIMPSON 

Macclesfield, 
Sept.  12,  Ijy?. 


ADVERTISEMENT 

TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 


1  HIS  second  edition  of  the  Plea  for  Religion  is  enlarged 
w  ith  a  considerable  quantity  of  fresh  matter,  and  is  more  than 
double  the  size  of  the  former. 

The  whole  of  the  first  edition  is  retained,  ^vith  some 
trifling  alterations,  and  several  of  its  parts  enlarged  and  im- 
proved. 

The  anecdotal  additions  are  many  and  important,  and,  it  is 
hoped,  will  be  found  to  furnish  a  good  degree  of  profitable 
amusement. 

Remarkable  dehtical  conversions,  with  instances  of  un- 
happy and  triumphant  dissolutions,  are  here  also  more  nu- 
merous. 

This  edition  is  also  considerably  extended  in  the  religious 
and  practical  part,  and,  the  author  trusts,  not  without  advantage, 
as  a  lively  and  experimental  sense  of  divine  things  upon  the  hu- 
man mind,  is  vindicated  from  the  charge  of  enthusiasm,  and  the 
vile  aspersions  of  a  zcorld  that  lieth  in  zcickcdness. 

The  prophecies  concerning  Christ,  and  his  church  in 
these  latter  days,  are  treated  pretty  much  at  large,  with  a  view 
to  demonstrate  the  divine  authority  of  the  Sacred  IVritincts. 

Odier  arguments  fur  the  truth  and  auUienticity  of  the  Scrips 
turts*  are  suggested,  the  most  commoo  objections  stated   and 

*  Consult  Simpson's  Kssoy  on  tlie  Authenticity  of  tiie  New 
Testament,  in  answer  to  VoLNEY  and  EvANSON;  but  more  espe- 
cially Jones's  New  and  Full  .Method  of  settling  the  canonical  Au- 
thority of  the  New  Testament,  3  vols,  octavo:  a  most  learned,  able, 
valuable,  and  decisive  work,  just  reprinted  by  the  University  of 
Oi ford,  though  written  by  a  JJis.<ienting  minister:  an  instance  of 
.liberality  not  always  to  be  met  with.  Can  any  good  thing  come  out 
of  (Jalilee? 


sx  ADVERTISEMEiNT. 

answered,  and  the  whole  rendered  as  concise  and  satisfactory  as 
may  be. 

M/'.  Paine's  ol)jections  to  the  Bible  are  particularly  consi- 
dered, and  brief  answers  returned.  His  abuse  of  the  Sacred 
Writers  is  also  noticed  with  the  severity  it  deserves,  and  his  ig- 
norance and  malignity  exposed. 

!Many  extiacts  from  our  most  celebrated  Poets  are  inter- 
spersed. This  will  be  considered  as  an  excellence  by  some,  and 
an  imperfection  by  others.  The  literary  reader  will  call  to 
mind,  that  seveial  of  the  most  valuable  authors  among  the  an- 
cients have  written  in  the  same  manner. — 

"  A  verse  may  catch  liim,  wlio  a  sermon  flies. 
And  turn  delight  mto  a  sacrifice." 

A  compendious  account  of  the  present  state  of  Church- 
preferments  is  introduced,  besides  a  general  view  of  the  Dissent- 
ing congregations  in  this  kingdom. 

The  present  state  of  the  Methodist  societies  in  Great  Bri- 
tain, Ireland,  America,  and  the  TFest  Indies  is  likewise  no- 
ticed, with  some  account  of  the  rise  and  meaning  of  that  deno- 
mination of  Christians. 

Some  shameful  instances  of  non-residence,  patronage,  and 
pluralities  of  livings,  now  in  existence  among  the  Bishops 
and  Clergy  of  the  land,  are  here  detailed,  and  strongly  repre- 
hended. 

The  Articles  and  Canons,  the  Liturgy,  and  other  Public 
Offices  of  our  church  are  reviewed,  and,  in  some  respects,  re- 
proved. At  the  same  time,  most  of  the  defects  in  our  ecclesi- 
astical frame  are  confn-med  by  the  opinions  of  some  of  our 
most  learned  and  respectable  writers. 

If  the  author  is  thought  severe  upon  the  episcopal  and  clerical 
■  orders  of  men,  let  it  be  remarked,  that  he  esteems  them  all  very 
1ii<rhlij  in  lore  for  their  office'  sake,  because  he  is  persuaded  it 
is  of  divine  appointment;  and  that,  if  at  any  time  he  has  given 
wav  to  his  indignation,  and  expressed  himself  in  strong  terms 
ao-ainst  these  orders,  it  is  never  intended  to  aifect  any  but  the 
culpable  part  of  them ;  and  that  both  the  Prophets  under  the 
Old  Testament  dispensation,  and  Christ  with  his  Jposths. 


ADVERTISEMENT.  xxi 

under  the  New,  have  done  the  same.     We  cannot  follow  Letter 
examples. 

"  But,  in  a  Plea  for  Religion  and  the  Sacred  JVritings, 
where  is  the  propriety  of  exposing  the  imperfections  of  the 
Church,  with  her  Bishops  and  Clergy  T' 

Because  the  undisceruing  world  in  general,  and  our  deistical 
fellow  creatures  in  })articular,  constantly  unite  them  together, 
and  uoiind  the  pure  and  immortal  religion  of  Jesus  Chuist, 
and  the  Holy  Scriptures,  through  their  sides :  whereas  they 
"Ure  things  essentially  different.  Wiiat  has  the  character  and  gos- 
pel of  Christ  to  do  with  the  treachery  of  Judas,  the 
cowardice  of  Peter,  the  ambition  of  James  and  Joiik,.  die 
lukewarmness  and  worldly  spirit  of  our  Bishops  and  Clergy,  or 
with  the  superstitious  and  secular  appendages  of  the  Church  of 
Home,  the  Church  of  Engla/id,  or  any  other  human  establish- 
ment under  heaven  ?  They  are  things  perfectly  distinct.  And 
if  we  mean  to  defend  the  Gospel  to  any  purpose,  it  must  be  the 
Gospel  alone,  independent  of  every  human  mixture  and  addition 
Corrupt  churches  and  bad  men  cannot  be  defended. 

The  best  part  of  the  book,  in  the  opinion  of  the  author,  i^ 
that,  where  he  has  enlarged  upon  the  excellence  and  utility  of 
the  Sacred  II  ritings.  He  confesses  he  is  anxious  to  recom- 
mend them  to  the  daily  perusal  of  every  man  ;  because  he  is  per- 
suaded that  both  our  present  peace  and  future  welfare  very  much 
depend  upon  the  practice.  He  trusts,  therefore,  if  all  the  rest 
of  the  book  be  rejected  with  contempt,  this  will  be  attended  to 
with  peculiar  seriousness. 

The  reduction  of  the  national  religion  to  the  pure  standard 
of  the  Gospel,  and  the  moral  and  religious  reformation  of  all 
orders  of  men,  are  repeatedly  insisted  on,  and  w  ith  singular  ear- 
nestness; as  what  alone,  in  his  judgment,  can  save  us  from 
impending  ruin.  This  is  done,  because  he  is  firmly  persuaded, 
there  can  be  no  general  spread  of  evangelical  principles  and 
practices,  while  the  Hierarchy  is  in  its  present  contaminated 
state,  and  the  Bishops  and  Clergy  continue  in  a  condition  so 
generally  depraved.     The  good  of  his  country  is  what  he  ha.i 


sxii  ADVERTISEME^'T. 

exceedingly  at  heart,  ho\vever  much  he  may  be  mistaken  in  tiie 
means  he  tiiinks  necessary  to  promote  that  end. 

The  missions  to  the  Heathen  are  here  spoken  of  \Aith  zeal 
and  approbation.  These  noble  efforts  for  the  salvation  ot  man- 
kind, he  believes  to  be  one  reason  among  others,  uhy,  in  the 
midst  of  abounding  iniquity,  our  fate,  as  a  nation,  is,  for  a 
season,  suspended*. 

The  extravagances  of  the  French  governors  are  incidentally 
touched  upon,  and  the  vileness  of  their  conduct,  both  towards 
their  own  people,  and  the  neighbouring  nations  exposed -f. 


*  Is  it  not  an  instance  of  tlie  most  unaniiiible  bigotry  that  ever 
was  exhibited  in  a  Christian  countn,  that  when  sucli  generous,  dis- 
interested, and  noble  efforts  have  been  making  for  two  or  tluee 
vcars  past,  by  vv.ricuis  denonuiiations  of  men,  for  the  civilization 
and  chribtiauii:ation  of  the  Sotiih  Sea  islands,  \\liich  are  situated  in 
tlie  centre  of  some  hundreds  of  millions  of  gross  idolaters,  scarcely 
one  Bishop  o  r  dignijied  CIers:ymaH  oft  he  Chinch  oi  England;  scarcely 
one  Arian  or  Socinian  congregation,  those  more  opulent  bodies  of 
I}isse>ittrs;  scarcely  one  Nobleman,  and  but  very  few  rich  Com- 
moncrs  appear  to  ha\c  contributed  a  single  shilling  out  of  their 
ample  revenues  towards  promoiing  this  expensive  and  god-like  de- 
sign ? — The  honour  and  blessedness  of  the  glorious  attempt  is  left 
to  the  poor? — Is  not  such  u  conduct  among  our  great  Ones  speak- 
hkg  in  the  strongest  of  all  language,  tliat  it  is  better  the  poor,  miser- 
able, benighted,  f  ha  then  nations  should  continue  iu  their  j)resent 
deplorable  condition,  than  that  they  should  be  broufjht  out  of  dark- 
ness into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of  God,  in  any  other 
way  than  that  prescribed  by  them?  Oh!  shame  to  these  several 
Orders  of  men.  V»hat  a  curse  has  not  bigotry  ever  been  to  man- 
kind?— Master,  we  saw  one  casting  ont  devils  in  thy  name,  and  we 
forbad  him,  because  he  followed  not  vs,  said  the  seltish  and  party- 
spirited  Apostles.  Forbid  him  not,  replied  the  benevolci.t  and  libe- 
ral-minded Saviouij,  /"or  thtre  is  no  man  that  can  icorlc  a  miracle  in 
my  name,  who  will  lightly  speak  evil  of  me. — I  add,  w  ith  the  Apostle, 
Jf  Christ  is  preached,  and  souls  saved,  /  therein  do  rejoice,  yea, 
and  will  rejoice,  whoever  is  tlie  instrument. 

t  The  ditlereuce  between  the  Ejiglish  and  French  iu  point  of 
piety  is  more  than  once  noticerl  in  the  following  pages.  I  observe 
here  still  further,  in  lionour  of  the  brave  Admiral  Lord  NelsOX, 
that  tiie  very  next  nioniirg  after  the  victory,  August  '2,  17P8,  while 
all  naist  ha\e  been  \et  hurry  and  confusion,  he  issued  the  following 
Memorandum  t(»  ail  the  Caploi'-s  of  his  Sijuadron: 

"  Al-MIGUTY  Cod  lic<vi:ig  blessed  his  Majesty  s  ^rmswiih  vnc- 
torv,  tlie  Admiral  iiitends  returning  Public  Thanksgiving  for  the 
san'ie  at  two  o'clock  tliis  day,  and  he  recommeuds  every  ship  do- 
iu"  the  same  as  soon  as  eonveiiient." 


ADVERTISEMENT.  xxlii 

He  lias  taken  the  libert)- of  mentioning  a  variety  of  books  up- 
on different  subjects.  Some  of  these  he  lias  particularly  re- 
commended; others  are  only  inserted  among  those  of  the  same 
class.  Young  readers  may  iliid  their  advantage  in  this  part  of 
Ills  Treatise. 

Both  believers  and  unbelievers,  he  trusts,  will  meet  with 
something  or  another  that  will  be  useful  to  them.  Whatever  is 
conceived  to  be  pernicious,  they  will  do  well  to  reject,  remem- 
berinfT  that  we  are  enjoined  by  a  very  high  authority,  to  prove  all 
tinners,  and  hold  fast  that  uhkh  is  good. 

Several  other  miscellaneous  matters  are  interspersed  through 
the  whole,  which  he  wishes  may  be  both  protilable  and  pleasant: 
—utile  dulci. 

If  auv  of  his  clerical  brethren  are  so  far  offended  at  the  free- 
dom he  has  taken  with  his  own  order,  or  the  established  re- 
ligion of  his  country,  as  to  make  a  reply,  he  shall  think  himself 
at  liberty  to  return  an  answ  er,  or  otherwise,  as  he  may  judge  ex- 
pedient. So  far  as  the  moral  and  religious  conduct  of  th» 
Clergy  is  concerned,  the  best  answer  to  his  charges  w  ill  be,  to 
correct  and  amend  what  is  amiss.  So  far  as  the  durability  of 
the  ecclesiastical  constitution  of  the  country  is  in  question,  he 
would  refer  his  indignant  reader,  to  the  prophetic  declarations 
of  St.  John  of  the  Old  Testament. 

Some  repetitions  will  be  found,  and  some  mistakes  discover- 
ed. The  reader  will  have  the  goodness  to  excuse  the  former, 
and  correct  the  latter. 

Two  Appendixes  are  subjoined,  the  former  of  which  con- 
tains some  farther  thoughts  on  a  national  reform,  and  the  latter, 
the  author's  reasons  for  resigning  his  preferment  in  the  religious 
Establishment  of  the  country,  and  declining  any  longer  to  offici- 
ate as  a  Minister  in  the  Church  of  England. 

To  the  whole  is  added  a  copious  Index,  whereby  every 
thing  most  important  may  be  turned  to  without  loss  of  time. 

Public  thanks  were  accordingly  returned  at  the  hour  appointed. 

This  solemn  act  of  Gratitude  to  Heaven  seemed  to  make  a  very 
deep  impression  upon  the  minds  of  several  of  the  French  prisoners, 
both  officers  and  men. 


xxiv  :       ADVERTISEMENT. 

If  the  author  has  advanced  any  thing  that  is  wrong,  unchari- 
table, unchristian,  or  unbecoming  his  station,  in  the  course  of 
these  strictures,  he  is  heartily  sorry  for  it,  and  wishes  it  unsaid. 
Let  him  not,  however,  accept  any  mmis  person,  neither  let 
him  give  flattering  titles  unto  man;  for  he  knozcsnot  to  give 
Ji ottering  titles;  in  so  doing  his  Maker  zcould  soon  take  him 
nxiay.  It  has  been,  therefore,  his  desire  to  speak  the  phiin  ho- 
nest truth,  as  it  appears  to  him,  without  courting  any  man's  fa- 
vour, or  fearing  any  man's  displeasure  *.  He  makes  no  question 
but  a  large  number  of  good  men  are  to  be  found  both  in  the 
church  established  and  out  of  it.     Even  the  most  despised  of 

Seetarists,  he  conceives,  are  not  wholly  destitute.-f-.     And,  in  his 

— I, 

*  iiTirt^  George  II.  who  was  fond  of  the  late  Mr.  Whiston, 
happened  to  be  walking  Avith  liim  one  day,  during  the  heat  of  his 
persecution,  in  Hampton  Court  g;tudeus.  As  they  were  talking  uj)- 
on  this  subject  his  Alajest)/  observed,  that  "  ho\\'ever  right  he 
might  be  in  liis  opinions,  it  would  be  better  if  he  had  kept  them  to 
himself." — "  Is  your  Majesty  really  serious  in  your  advice?"  an- 
sweretl  the  old  man.  "  I  really  am,"  replied  the  King. — "  Why 
then,"  said  WhistoIv,  "  had  Martin  Luther  been  of  this 
way  of  thinking,  where  would  vour  Majesty  have  been  at  this 
tiine?" 

"  But  why,"  rejoins  the  impatient  reader,  "  \yhy  speak  so  freely 
and  openly  upon  all  these  public  abuses,  at  a  time  so  critical  as  the 
present \" 

Because  I  may  never  have  another  opportunity,  and  it  is  proper 
that  somebody  should  speak.  For  the  public  abuses  specified  in 
these  papers,  he  conceives  nuist  either  be  removed  by  the  gentle 
hand  of  reform,  or  Divine  Providence  will  take  the  matter  in- 
to its  own  hand,  and  subvert  them  by  the  rough  hand  of  a  most  im- 
placable enemy.  I  speak  these  things  under  correction,  and  with 
tl>e  most  benevolent  wishes  for  the  prosperity  of  my  King  and 
Country,  and  the  universal  spread  of  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 

t  The  wise  ones  of  this  world  would  do  well  to  call  to  mind,  who 
it  is  that  hath  said,  That  which  is  highly  esteemed  among  men  is  abo- 
mination in  the  sight  of  God.  Luke  xvi.  15.  Compare  1  Cor.  i.  '26 
— 2S).  Men,  sects,  and  parties,  \vhich  are  held  in  the  highest  esti- 
mation by  the  world,  are  usually,  j)erhaps  generally,  held  in  the  low- 
est estimation  by  CjOD;  and,  on  the  contrary,  men,  sects,  and 
parties,  which  are  held  in  the  lowest  estimation  by  the  world,  are 
usually,  perhaps  miiversally,  held  in  the  highest  estimation  by  the 
Almighty. 

The  way  to  heaven  prescril)ed  by  the  Scripture,  and  the  way  to 
heaven  prescribed  by  worldly-iaiiided  men,  are  as  opposite  to  each 


I 


ADVERTISEMENT.  xxv 

opinion^  one  such  character  is  infinitely  more  estimable  than  a 
million  of  immoral  ParsonSj  those  most  mJseEaJikL  and  con- 
^^temptible  of  all  human  beings,  \\ ho  contaminate  every  nei<^h- 
bourhood  where  they  dwell ;  or  ever  so  large  a  body  of  mere 
literary  Clergyman,  however  extolled  and  caressed  by  the 
world,  who,  bloated  with  pride  and  self-importance,  are  a  dis- 
grace to  the  lowly  spirit  of  the  Saviour  of  mankind.  To 
every  truly  pious  and  consistent  Christian,  literate  or  illite- 
rate, he  would  give  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  and  bid 
him  god-speed  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  wherever  he  is 
found.  Clerical  bigots,  however,  of  every  description,  he 
most  cordially  pities  and  despises.  They  are  despicable  ani- 
mals. Swollen  with  an  imaginary  dignity,  they  are  wise  in  their 
ozcn  eyes,  and  prudent  in  their  oun  sight,  lording  it  over  the 
poor  of  Christ's  flock,  and  binding  heavy  burthens  upon 
them,  and  grievous  to  be  borne,  which  they  themselves  will 
not  move  with  one  of  their  Jingers.  Such  characters,  whe- 
ther found  among  Episcopalians,  Presbyterians,  Methodists, 
Quakers,  or  any  other  denomination  of  men,  are  the  Scribes 
and  Pharisees  of  the  day,  to  whom  the  great  and.  inflexible 
Judge  of  the  world,  in  just,  but  terrible,  language,  exclaimed, 
Ye  serpents,  ye  generation  of  vipers,  how  can  ye  escape  the 
damnation  of  hell?     To  the  author  of  these  papers  the  praise 

other  as  the  east  to  the  west.  The  former  saitli,  Strait  is  the  gate 
and  narrow  is  the  way  which  leadeth  unto  life,  and  few  there  be  that 
find  it.  The  latter  say,  Wide  is  the  gate  and  broad  is  the  way  that 
leadeth  unto  life,  and  many  there  be  which  go  in  thereat.  Persons  of 
this  character  are  usually  secure  and  confident,  determined  and  re- 
solute,  merry  and  jovial,  and  perceive  little  or  no  danger  even  when 
they  are  dancing  blind-fold  on  the  brink  of  destruction.  I  remember 
somewhere  reading  of  a  genius  of  this  sort,  who,  turning  all  serious 
godliness  into  ridicule  and  contempt,  declared  there  was  no  need  of 
so  much  ado,  for  if  he  had  but  time  to  say  three  words,  "  Lord 
save  me,"  he  did  not  doubt  but  he  should  go  to  heaven.  Not  long 
after,  this  same  confident  Gallki  was  riding  a  spirited  horse  over 
a  bridge,  upon  wliich  he  met  a  flock  of  sheep;  the  horse  took  fright, 
leaped  over  the  battlement  into  the  river,  where  his  rider  was 
drowned,  and  the  last  three  words  he  was  heard  to  speak  were, 
Devil — take— all. — ^Tis  dangerous  to  provoke  a  God? 

d 


PLEA  FORJLEUGION,  &c. 


FRIENDS    AND   CO 


There  are  few  ages  of  the  world,  but  have 
produced  various  instances  of  persons,  who  have  treated  the 
Divine  dispensations,  either  with  neglect  or  scorn.  Of  these> 
some  have  persisted  in  their  folly  to  the  latest  period  of  their 
earthly  existence;  while  others  have  discovered  their  mistake 
in  time,  and  both  sought  and  found  forgiveness  with  God. — 
In  most  ages  too,  there  have  been  some,  who  have  piously 
observed  the  manifestations  of  Heaven;  who  have  cordially 
received  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  a  revelation  from  on  high ;  and 
who  have  built  their  everlasting  expectations  upon  the  salva- 
tion which  is  therein  revealed.  The  hopes  of  such  persons 
have  never  been  disappointed.  If  they  have  lived  up,  in  any 
good  degree,  to  their  religious  profession,  they  have  always 
been  favoured  with  peace  of  mind,  and  strong  consolation  in 
life;  firm  confidence  in  Christ,  usually,  at  the  hour  of 
death ;  and  have  frequently  gone  off  the  stage  of  time  into 
eternity  rejoicing  in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God,  with  unspeak- 
able  and  triumphant  joy.  Examples  of  this  kind,  even  among 
illiterate  men,  women  and  children,  might  be  produced  in 
numbers  very  considerable.  —  But  how  extremely  different, 
most  commonly,  is  the  last  end  of  those  persons,  who  have 
denied  and  scorned  the  revelations  of  Heaven;  who  have 
rejected  the  Sacred  Writings;  and  treated  serious  godliness  with 
sneer  and  contempt? — Nay,  it  has  frequently  been  known, 
that  the  first  rate  geniuses,  and  greatest  men  of  their  times, 
have  left  the  world  under  much  darkness  of  mind,  full  of 
doubts,  and  fearful  apprehensions  concerning  the  Divine  fa- 
vour, owing  to  their  being  too  deeply  immersed  in  secular, 
or  literary  pursuits;   to  their  living  beneath  their  Christian 


2  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

privileges ;  and  spending  too  small  a  portion  of  their  time 
in  devout  retirement,  and  religious  exercises.  Nothing,  in- 
deed, can  keep  the  life  of  God  ligoiousl^  alive  in  the  soul, 
but  these  exercises.  Where  they  are  either  wholly  neglected, 
or  frequently  interrupted,  there  the  po^er  of  religion  lan- 
guishes. Faith  and  hope,  peace  and  love,  joy  in,  and  confi- 
dence towards  God,  grow  weak;  doubts  and  fears,  dis- 
quietude of  mind,  and  scruples  of  conscience  prevail.  The 
sun  goes  down,  and  sets,  to  this  world  at  least,  under  a  dark 
and  cheerless  cloud. — But  where  the  humble  Believtr  in 
Christ  Jesus  (the  eyes  of  his  understanding  being  enlighten- 
ed, and  his  fears  alarmed  with  a  sense  of  danger,)  lavs  aside 
every  spiritual  encumbrance,  and  the  sin  by  which  he  hath  been 
often  too  easily  overcome ;  where  he  resolutely  breaks  through 
every  snare,  and  lives  to  the  great  purposes  for  which 
we  were  all  born;  where,  with  the  illustrious  philosopher 
and  physician,  Boerhaave,  and  the  eminent  statesmen. 
Sir  John  Barnard,  the  Duke  of  Or:mond,  and  Lord 
Cap  EL*,  he  spends  a  due  proportion  of  every  day  in  private 

*  It  was  the  custom  of  three  of  these  great  men,  to  spend  an  hour 
every  moming,  m private  prayer  and  reading  the  Holy  Scriptures', 
and  of  the  fourth,  to  meditate  half  an  liour  every  day  u}X)n  eternity. 
Tills  gave  them  comfort  and  vigour  of  mind  to  support  the  toil  and 
fatigue  of  the  day.  Nay,  we  arc  told  in  the  JJje  of  the  Duhe  of 
Ormond,  that  "  he  never  prepared  for  bed,  or  went  abroad  in  a 
nionung,  till  he  had  withdrawn  an  hour  to  his  closet," 

\\e  niiirlit  mention  a  considerable  number  of  similar  instances. 
John  Lord  Harrington,  who  died  A.  D.  l6l3,  at  the  age  of  22 
years,  was  a  young  nobleman  of  eminent  piety,  and  rare  literary 
attainments,  ile  was  an  early  riser,  and  usually  spent  a  considerable 
l>art  of  the  moniing  hi  vrivntt  prayer,  and  reading  the  Sacred  IVrit^ 
ingx.  The  same  religious  exercise  was  also  pursued  both  in  the 
ev^rJng  and  at  mid-day. 

Sir  Habbottle  Grimstone,  Master  of  the  Rolls,  an  eminent 
lawyer,  a  just  judge,  and  a  person  of  large  fortune,  who  lived  in  the 
last  fenturs',  "  was  a  ven.'  pious  and  devout  man,  and  spent  everyday 
at  least  iin  hour  in  the  morning,  and  as  much  at  night,  in  prayer-  and 
meditation.  And  even  i?:  winter,  wiien  he  was  obliged  to  be  very 
early  on  the  bench,  he  took  care  to  rise  so  soon  that  he  had  always 
the  command  <>(  that  time,  which  he  gave  to  those  exercises." 

This  biicgs  to  my  mind  tlie  case  of  the  late  Colonel  James  Gar- 
diner, who  was  slain  at  the  battle  of  Preston  Pans,  A.  D.  1745. 
This  brave  man  useti  constantly  to  rise  at /oi/r  in  the  morning,  and 
to  spend  "  his  time  till  six  in  the  secret  exercises  cf  devotion,  reading, 
nieditation,  and  prayer.     And  if  at  auy  time  be  was  obliged  to  go 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  3 

•prayer,  meditation,  and  reading  the  Sacred  Volume;  iherCj 
with  these  truly  valuable  men,  he  usually  hath  large  enjoy- 
ment of  the  consolations  of  religion,  and  abounds  in  peace, 
and  hope  through  the  poicer  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  He  goes 
through  life,  if  not  smoothly  and  usefully,  at  least  con- 
tentedly and  happily.  AVhile,  in  the  eyes  of  those  persons, 
who  boast  of  their  superiority  of  understiuiding,  and  freedom 
from  vulgar  prejudices,  the  Redeemer  of  the  world  becomes 
daily  more  and  more  contemptible;  and  in  the  eyes  of  the 
lukewarm  Christian  less  and  less  desirable;  in  the  estimation 
of  the  devout  and  lively  Believer,  who,  by  waiting  upon  the 
Lord,  renews  his  strength,  the  Son  of  God,  in  his  penon, 
ojlices  and  work,  appears  with  encreasing  affection,  the 
chiefest  among  ten  thousand,  and  altogether  lovely.  Being 
convinced  of  sin,  and  justified  by  faith,  he  has  peace  zcith 
God  through  our  Lor  d  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  love  of  GdD 
is  shed  abroad  in  his  heart  by  the  Holy  Ghost  zchich  is  given 
xtnto  him.  He  is  strengthened  with  might  by  his  Spirit  in 
the  inner  man,  and  Christ  dwells  in  his  heart  by  faith. 
Being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  he  comprehends  with  all 
saints,  what  is  the  breadth,  and  length,  and  depth,  and  height, 
and  he  knows  the  love  of  Christ;  tliough  indeed  it passeth 
knowledge.  He  is,  moreower, filed  with  all  the  communicable 
fulness  of  God,  and  a  peace  passing  understanding  keepcth 
his  heart  and  mind  throu2.h  Christ  Jesus. 

A  Christiar\  dwells,  like  Uriel,  in  the  sun: 

Meridian  evidence  puts  doubt  to  flight; 

And  aideut  liope  auticijiates  the  skies." — YoUNG. 

The  language  of  the  soul  is,  Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but 
fhee,  O  God!  and  there  is  none  upon  earth  that  1  desire  in 
comparison  of  thee.  To  do  unto  others  as  he  would  have 
them  to  do  imto  liim,  is  the  great  law  of  his  life,  in  all  his 
dealings   between  man   and  man;   and  whereinsoever  he   falls 

out  before  six  in  the  morning,  he  rose  (iroportionably  s<)oiu'r;  so 
that  when  a  journey,  or  march,  has  recjuirod  him  to  he  <»u  horse- 
back by  four,  he  would  be  at  his  devotions  at  farthest  by  two." 

The  same  holds  true  of  General  Sir  William  Waller,  who 
was  as  devout  in  tlie  closet  as  he  was  valiant  in  the  held. 

Let  the  reatler  mark  \s  ell,  that  none  of  these  religious  j)ersons  were 
cither  iMonks  or  Pardons,  but  men  of  ^'reat  consiiK-ratiou  in  the 
world,  who  were  engaged  in  the  most  active  scenes  ol"  life. 

B  *l 


4  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

short  of  a  full  compliance  with  this  roygl  statute,  he  laments 
and  bewails  his  folly;  makes  satisfaction  according  to  the 
nature  of  the  case ;  flees  to  the  blood  of  sprinkling  for  pardon ; 
and  returns  with  renewed  vigour  to  the  path  of  duty.  Giving 
all  diligence,  he  adds  to  his  faith,  virtue;  and  to  virtue, 
knozoledge ;  and  to  knowledge,  temperance ;  and  to  temperance, 
patience;  and  to  patience,  godliness;  and  to  godliness,  bro- 
therly kindness,  and  to  brotherly  kindness,  charity.  With 
zealous  affection  he  cultivates  the  holy  tempers  which  were  in 
Christ;  bowels  of  mercy,  lowliness,  meekness,  gentleness, 
contempt  of  the  world,  patience,  temperance,  long-suffering, 
a  tender  love  to  every  human  being,  bearing,  believing, 
hoping,  enduring  all  things.  He  submits  himself  to  every 
ordinance  of  man  for  the  Lord's  sake;  whether  it  be  to  the 
KING,  as  supreme;  or  M»fo  governors,  as  unto  them  that 
are  sent  by  him  for  the  punishment  of  evil  doers,  and  for  the 
praise  of  them  that  do  well.  He  pays  all  due  respect  unto 
men  of  every  rank  and  degree.  He  loves  with  peculiar  affec- 
tion the  whole  brotherhood  of  Believers  in  Christ  Jesus, 
He  so  fears  God  as  to  depart  from  evil,  and  so  honours  the 
King  as  to  be  ready,  on  every  proper  call,  to  sacrifice  his  life 
for  the  good  of  the  public.  He  endeavours  to  acquit  himself 
with  propriety  in  every  station,  whether  as  niaster,  servant, 
parent,  childj  magistrate,  subject,  teacher,  learner.  In  short, 
whatsoever  things  are  true,  whatsoever  things  are  honest, 
whatsoever  things  are  just,  whatsoever  things  are  pure,  what' 
soever  things  are  lovely,  whatsoever  things  are  of  good  report, 
to  these  he  attends  with  the  utmost  diligence  and  assiduity.  This 
is  the  Christianity,  which  the  Son  of  God  taught  unto  the 
world*.  And  he  that  is  of  this  religion  is  my  brother,  my 
sister,  and  my  mother,  by  what  name  soever  he  is  distinguished 
and  called. 

*  Dr.  PtOBERTSON,  our  celebrated  Historian,  tells  us,  that 
"  Chrialianiti/  is  rational  and  sublime  in  its  doctrines,  humane  and 
beneficent  in  its  precepts,  pure  and  simple  in  its  worship."  And 
even  Mr.  Paine  is  constramed  to  confess,  that  "  Jesus  Christ  was 
a  virtuous  and  an  amiable  man ;  that  the  morality  which  he  preached 
and  practised  was  of  the  most  benevolent  kind ;  that  though  similar 
systems  of  morality  had  been  preached  by  Confucius,  and  by 
some  of  the  Greek  philosophers  many  years  before,  and  by  many 
good  men  in  all  ages ;  it  has  not  been  exceeded  by  any." — Import- 
ant concession!    Where  is  the  propriety  then  of  endeavouring  to 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  5 

I  do  not  say,  however,  that  this  is  the  religion  of  the 
great  body  of  persons  who  call  themselves  Chrhtians.  INIuch 
otherwise.  Many  who  are  so  called  are  extremely  immoral. 
Others  are  guilty  only  of  some  particular  vice.  Some  are 
decent  in  their  general  conduct,  and  pretty  attentive  to  religi- 
ous observances;  but  yet  total  strangers  to  inzcard  religion. 
Great  sticklers  for  their  own  party,  be  it  w  hat  it  may,  they  har- 
bour a  strong  aversion  to  all  who  dare  to  think  for  themselves, 
and  presunie  to  dissent  from  them  in  principle  or  practice.  So 
remote  are  they  from  the  character  and  experience  of  the  above 
evangelical  requirements,  that  they  consider  them  as  delusive 
and  enthusiastic.  Something  of  the  form  of  godliness  they  have 
gotten,  but  t/iei/  dtni/,  and  sometimes  even  ridicule  the  j^o^^'^f' 
Be  this  as  it  may,  true  religion  is  still  the  same;  and  the  above 
is  a  scriptural  sketch  of  it,  rchethcr  roe  will  hear,  or  rvhether 
Zi^e  nill  forbear.  So  far  too  are  real  Christians  from  being 
ashamed  of  this  gospf /-method  of  saving  a  lost  world,  that  they 

explode  the  Gospels? Thou  art  condemned  out  of  thine  own 

mouth ! 

Lord  BoLiNGBEOKE  has  made  confessions  similar  to  this  of 
Paine: — "  No  religion,"  says  he,  ••  ever  appeared  in  the  world, 
whose  natural  tendency  was  so  much  directed  to  promote  the  peace 
and  happiness  of  mankind  as  Christianity.  No  system  can  be 
more  simple  and  plain  than  that  of  natural  religion,  as  it  stands  in 
the  Gospel.  The  system  of  religion  which  C heist  published,  and, 
his  Evangelists  recorded,  is  a  complete  system  to  all  the  purposes  of 
religion,  natural  and  revealed.  Christianity,  as  it  stands  in  the 
Gospel,  contains  not  only  a  complete,  but  a  very  plain  system  of 
religion.  The  Gospel  is  in  all  cases  one  continued  lesson  of  the 
strictest  morality,  of  justice,  of  benevolence,  and  of  universal  cha- 
rity." 

These  are  strange  concessions  from  a  profest  Deist!  And  yet, 
strange  as  they  certainly  are,  much  the  same  have  been  made  by 
Blount,  Tindal,  Morgan,  Toland,  Chubb,  Rousseau, 
and  most  of  our  other  real  or  pretended  Unbelievers. 

The  truth  is,  all  these  deistieal  gentlemen  could  approve  the  mo- 
rality, or  some  parts  of  the  morality,  of  the  New  Testament,  but  they 
could  neither  understand  nor  approve  the  grand  scheme  of  redemp- 
tion therein  exhibited.  Why?  Because  /Ae  NATURAL  manreceiveth 
not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God  ;  they  are  foolishness  unto  him; 
neither  can  he  know  them,  because  ihcy  are  spiritually  discerned. 
1  Cor.  ii.  14. — They  were  blind  to  all  the  glories  of  the  Gospel 
scheme.  They  neither  saw  nor  felt  their  need  of  such  redemption  as 
is  therein  exhibited.  What  wonder  then  if  th<^y  spent  their  lives  ia 
opposing  its  gratious  design? 


6  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

make  it  their  boast  and  song  all  the  day  through  in  the  house  of 
their  pilgrimage. 

"  I'll  praise  my  Maker  with  my  breath; 
And  when  my  voice  is  lost  in  death. 

Praise  shall  employ  my  nobler  pow'rs: 
My  days  of  praise  shall  ne'er  be  past. 
While  life,  and  thought,  and  being  last. 

Or  uumortality  endures." 

They  experience  its  effect  in  raising  them  from  the  ruins  of 
their  fall.  They  lament  with  sincere  contrition  the  sins  and  follies 
of  their  unregenerate  state.  They  discover  nothing  but  condem- 
nation, while  they  remain  under  the  covenant  of  works.  They 
flee  for  refuge  to  the  only  hope  of  sinful  men :  and  consider 
themselves  as  the  happiest  of  God's  creatures,  in  having 
this  plank  thrown  out,  on  which  they  are  permitted  to  escape 
safe  to  land.  In  the  mean  time,  they  feel  this  religion  makes 
them  easy,  comfortable,  happy;  and  seems  adapted  with  consum- 
mate w  isdom  to  their  state  and  circumstances. 

"  Soft  peace  she  brings,  wherever  she  arrives. 
She  builds  our  quiet  as  she  forms  our  lives; 
Lays  the  rough  j)aths  of  peevish  nature  e\'u. 
And  opens  in  each  breast  a  little  heav'n." 

This  is  the  portion  of  happiness,  which  the  Gospel  yields 
us  while  we  live,  and  we  have  not  the  smallest  fear  that  it  will 
fail  us  when  we  die.  On  the  contrary,  a'C  know,  that  our 
fight  (liHiction,  in  this  world,  which  is,  comparatively,  but  for 
a  moment,  uorketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal 
ueight  of  glory ;  and  that,  if  our  earth'y  house  of  this  taber- 
nacle nere- dissolved,  ne  have  a  building  o/'GoD,  a  house  not 
made  nith  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens*. 

*  "  If  there  is  one  condition  in  tiiis  life  more  ha})py  than  another," 
says  a  great  author,  "  it  is,  surely,  that  of  him,  who  founds  all  his 
hopes  of  futurity  on  the  promises  of  the  Gospel ;  who  carefullv 
endeavours  to  confonn  his  actions  to  its  precepts;  looking  upon  the 
great  God  Almighty  as  his  protector  here,  his  rewarder  here- 
after, and  his  everlasting  preser\  er.  This  is  a  frame  of  mind  so  per- 
fective of  our  nature,  tliat  if  Christianity,  from  a  belief  of  which 
it  can  only  be  derived,  was  as  certahily  false  as  it  is  certauily  true, 
one  could  not  help  wishing  that  it  might  be  universally  received  in 
the  world.' 

Mr.  Pope  has  a  declaration  to  Bishop  Atterbury  to  the  same 
purport,  which  is  worthy  of  ir.eniorial.  "  The  boy  despises  tlie  infant, 
the  man  the  hoy,  the  phihsopher  both,  and  the  Christian  ALL," 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  7 

•'  Nothing  on  earth  we  call  our  own. 
But,  stratiijers,  to  tiie  world  unknown, 

We  all  their  goods  despise: 
We  trample  on  their  whole  delight. 
And  seek  a  coiuitn*'  out  of  sight, 

A  countrj'  in  the  skies." 

If  then  the  religion  of  Jesus  Cukist  be  a  delusion;  it  is, 
at  least,  a  happy  delusion;  and  even  a  wise  man  would 
scarcely  wish  to  be  undeceived.  He  w  ould  rather  be  ready  10 
say  with  the  great  Roman  Orator,  when  speaking  of  the  im- 
mortalit}  of  the  soul: — "  If  in  this  I  err,  I  willingly  err;  nor, 
while  I  live,  shall  any  man  wrest  from  me  this  error,  with 
which  I  am  extremely  delighted*." 

If  we  wished  to  exemplify  these  observations,  it  would  be 
no  difficult  matter  to  produce  various  very  striking  instances 
of  persons,  as  well  from  the  Sacred  Writings,  as  from  the  his- 
tory of  these  latter  ages,  whose  conduct  and  character  have 
been  conformable  to  the  above  representations.  But  as  the 
Bible  is  in  everv  one's  hands,  and  may  be  consulted  at  plea- 
sure, we  will  call  the  attention  of  the  reader  to  a  few  instances 
of  persons,  who  have  been  eminent  in  their  way,  during  these 
latter  ages  only,  and,  some  of  them,  even  in  our  own  time*?. 
These  may  be  Dying  Infidels — Penitent  and  Re- 
covered Infidels — Dying  Christians,  who  have  livtd 
too  much  in  the  spirit  of  the  uor/d — and  Christians  dj/ing, 
either  Kith   great  composure    of  mind,    or,    IN    the    full 

assurance  of  FAITHf. 

*  "  Si  in  hoc  erro,  lubenter  erro;  nee  mihi  hunc  erroreni,  quo 
delector,  dura  vivo,  extorqueri  volo." 

Mr.  Addison  also  veiy  proj)erly  saith,  when  speaking  of  the  im- 
mortality of  the  soul; — *'  If  it  is  a  dream,  let  me  enjoy  it;  since  it 
makes  lue  botJi  the  happier  and  the  better  man." 

Spectator,  No.  186. 

+  "  There  is  nothing  in  history,"  says  this  elegant  writer  in  anotJier 
place,  "  which  is  so  improving  to  the  reader  a-s  those  accounts  which 
we  meet  with  of  the  deaths  of  eminent  persons,  and  of  their  Ijeha- 
\iour  at  that  dreadful  season.  I  may  also  add,  that  there  are  no 
parts  in  history,  which  affect  and  please  the  reader  in  so  sensible  a 
atanner." — Spectator,  No.  2b9. 


A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

I.— EXAMPLES  OF  DYING  INFIDELS. 


Tlie  uicked  is  driven  away  in  hii  own  u-ickedness Piot.  xiv,  32. 

*'  Horrible  is  the  end  of  the  unrighteous  generation.".. ..Wis.  iii.  19. 


1.  Mr.  HoBBES  was  a  celebrated  Tujidel  in  the  last  age, 
who,  ill  bravado,  would  sometimes  speak  very  unbecoming 
things  of  God  and  his  Word.  Yet,  when  alone,  he  was 
haunted  with  the  most  tormenting  reflections,  and  would 
awake  in  great  terror,  if  his  candle  happened  only  to  go  out 
in  the  night.  He  could  never  bear  any  discourse  of  death, 
and  seemed  to  cast  off  all  thoughts  of  it*.  He  lived  to  be 
upwards  of  ninety.  His  last  sensible  words  were,  when  be 
found  he  could  live  no  longer,  "■  I  shall  be  glad  then  to  find  a 
hole  to  creep  out  of  the  world  at."  And,  notwithstanding 
all  his  high  pretensions  to  learning  and  philosophy,  his  uneasi- 
ness constrained  him  to  confess,  when  he  drew  near  to  the 
grave,  that  "  he  was  about  to  take  a  leap  in  the  dark." — The 
writings  of  this  old  sinner  ruined  the  jE«r/o/' Rochester,  and 
many  other  gentlemen  of  the  iirst  parts  in  this  nation,  as  that 
NobIema7i  himself  declared,  after  his  conversion. 

2.  The  account  which  the  celebrated  Sully  gives  us  of 
young  Servin  is  out  of  the  common  way.  "The  beginning 
of  June,  1 623,"  says  he,  "  I  set  out  for  Calais,  where  I  was 
to  embark,  having  with  me  a  retinue  of  upwards  of  two  hun- 
dred gentlemen,  or  who  called  themselves  such,  of  whom  a 
considerable  number  were  really  of  the  first  distinction.  Just 
before  my  departure  old  Servin  came  and  presented  his  son 
to  me,  and  begged  I  would  use  my  endeavours  to  make  him 
a  man  of  some  worth  and  honesty;  but  he  confessed  he  dared 

*  What  an  amiable  character  was  the  Heathen  Socrates,  when 
compared  with  this  Tnji  del-Philosopher^  Just  before  the  cup  of  poison 
was  brought  him,  entertaining  his  friends  with  an  admirable  discourse 
on  the  inuuortality  of  the  soul,  he  has  these  words :  "  Whether  or 
no  God  will  approve  my  actions,  I  know  not;  but  this  I  am  sure 
of,  that  I  have  at  all  times  made  it  my  endeavour  to  please  him, 
and  I  have  a  good  hope  that  this  my  endeavour  will  be  accepted  by 
him." 

Who  can  doubt,  but  the  merits  of  the  all-atoning  Lamb  of  God 
were  extended  to  this  virtuous  Heathen?  How  few  professed  Chris- 
tians can  honestly  make  the  same  appeal ?— Besides,  SocRATES 
seems  to  have  had  as  firm  a  laitli  in  a  Saviour,  then  to  come,  as  many 
of  the  most  virtuous  of  the  hraelitiah  nation. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITING£^«^^^•  9.  ' 

not  hope,  not  through  any  wan  t  of  understanding  or  capacity 
in   the  young    man,   but  from    his   natural   incHnation   to  all 
kinds  of  vice.     The  old  man  was  in  the  right:  what  he  told  me 
having  excited  my  curiosity  to  gain  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
young  Servin,  I  found  him  to  be  at  once  both  a  wonder  and 
a  monster;  for  I  can  give  no  other  idea  of  that  assemblage  of 
the   most   excellent   and  most   pernicious   qualities.     Let  the 
reader  represent  to  himself  a  man  of  a  genius  so  lively,  and  an 
understanding  so  exstensive,   as  rendered  him  scarce  ignorant 
of  any  thing  that  could  be  known;  of  so  vast  and  ready  a  com- 
prehension, that  he  immediately  made  himself  master  of  what 
he   attempted;  and  of  so  prodigious  a  memory,  that  he  never 
forgot  what  he  had  once  learned;  he  possessed   all   parts  of 
philosophy  and  the  mathematics,  particularly  fortification  and 
drawing.     Even  in  theology  he  was  so  well  skilled,  that  he  was 
an  excellent  preacher,   whenever  he  had  a  mind  to  exert  that 
talent,  and  an  able  disputant  for  and  against  the  reformed  re- 
ligion indifferently.     He  not  only  understood   Greek,  Hebreiv, 
and    all   the   languages   which    we  call   learned,  but   also   the 
different  jargons   or  modern   dialects.     He  accented  and  pro- 
nounced  them    so    naturally,    and    so    perfectly    imitated    the 
gestures  and  manners  both  of  the  several  nations  of  Europe, 
and  the  particular  provinces  of  France,  that  he  might  have 
been  taken  for  a  native  of  all  or  any  of  these  countries;  and 
this   quality    he    applied    to    counterfeit   all    sorts    of  persons, 
therein  he  succeeded  wonderfully.     He  was,    moreover,   the 
best  comedian  and  greatest  droll    that  perhaps  ever  appeared; 
he    liiid    a    genius  for    poetry,    and   wrote    many    verses;    he 
played  upon  almost  all   instruments,  was  a  perfect  master  of 
music,  and  sung  most  agreeably  and  justly.     He  likewise  could 
say  mass:  for    he   was   ef  a  disposition  to  do,    as   well  as  to 
know,    all  things;   his  body  was   perfectly  well   suited  to  his 
mind,   he   was  light,  nimble,    dexterous,   and  fit   for  all  exer- 
cises; he  could  ride  well,  and  in  dancing,  wrestling,  and  leap- 
ing, he    was  admired;    there   are   no    recreative  games  which 
he    did    not    know:    and    he    was   skilled    in    almost    all    the 
mechanic  arts.     But  now  for  the  reverse  of  the  medal :  here 
it  appeared  that  he  was  treacherous,  cruel,  cowardly,  deceit- 
ful ;  a    liar,   a   cheat,  a  di  unkard  and  glutton ;    a   sharper    in 
play,   immersed  iu    every   species   of   vice,    a  blasphemer,   an 
■    atheist:   in  a  word,  in  him  might  be  found  all  the  vices  con- 


10  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

r 
trary  to  nature,  honour,  religion,  and  society;  the  truth  of 
which  he  himself  evinced  with  his  latest  breath,  for  he  died  in 
the  flower  of  his  age,  in  a  common  brothel,  perfectly  cor- 
rupted by  his  debaucheries,  and  expired  with  a  glass  in  his 
hand,  cursing  and  denyiag  God." 

It  is  evident  from  this  extraordinary  case,  that  "  with  the 
talents  of  an  angel  a  man  may  be  a  fool."  There  is  no 
iiecessai-y,  connection  between  great  natural  abilities  and  reli- 
gious qualifications.  They  may  go  together,  but  they  are  fre- 
quently found  asunder. 

3.  The  /?o»o?/rfl6/e  Francis  Newport,  who  died  in  the 
year  1692,  was  favoured  both  with  a  liberal  and  religious 
education.  After  spending  five  years  in  the  University/,  he 
was  entered  in  one  of  the  Inns  of  Court.  Here  he  fell  into 
the  hands  of  hijidels,  lost  all  his  religious  impressions,  com- 
menced Injidel  himself,  and  became  a  most  abandoned  cha- 
racter, uniting  himself  to  a  club  of  wretches  who  met  toge- 
ther constantly  to  encourge  each  other  in  being  critically 
wicked.  In  this  manner  he  conducted  himself  for  several 
years,  till  at  length  his  intemperate  courses  brought  on  an 
illness,  which  revived  all  his  former  religious  impressions, 
accompanied  with  a  inexpressible  horror  of  mhnd.  The 
violence  of  his  torments  was  such,  that  he  sweat  in  the  most 
prodigious  manner  that  ever  was  seen.  In  nine  days  he  was 
reduced  from  a  robust  state  of  health  to  perfect  weakness ; 
during  all  which  time  his  language  \\as  the  most  dreadful  that 
imagination  can  conceive.  At  one  time,  looking  towards  the 
fire,  he  said,  "  Oh !  that  I  was  to  lie  and  broil  upon  that  fire 
for  a  hundred  thousand  years,  to  purchase  the  favour  of 
God,  and  be  reconciled  to  him  again!  But  it  is  a  fruitless 
vain  wish:  millions  of  millions  of  years  will  bring  me  no 
nearer  to  the  end  of  my  tortures,  than  one  poor  hour.  O  eter- 
nity! eternity!  who  can  properly  paraphrase  upon  the  words 
— -for  ever  and  ever!" 

In  this  kind  of  strain  he  went  on,  till  his  strength  was  ex- 
hausted, and  his  dissolution  approached;  when,  recovering  a 
little  breath,  with  a  groan  so  dreadful  and  loud,  as  if  it  had 
not  been  human,  he  cried  out,  "  Oh !  the  insufterable  pangs 
of  hell  and  damnation!"  and  so  died;  death  settling  the  visage 
of  his  face  in  such  a  form,  as  if  the  body,  though  dead,  was 
sensiUe  of  the  extremity  of  torments. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  U 

It  may  he  much  questioned,  whether  a  more  affecting 
Nanative*  was  ever  composed  in  any  hinguage,  than  the  true 
history  of  this  unhappy  gentleman's  last  sickness  and  death.  It 
is  greatly  to  be  desired,  that  men  of  all  denominations  would 
give  it  a  serious  perusal. 

Mr.  William  Emmerson  was,  at  the  same  time,  an 
Itifidel,  and  one  of  the  first  mathematicians  of  the  age. 
Though,  in  some  respects,  he  might  be  considered  as  a  wor- 
thy man,  his  conduct  through  life  was  rude,  vulgar,  and  fre- 
quently immoral.  He  paid  no  attention  to  religious  duties, 
and  both  intoxication  and  prophane  language  were  familiar 
to  him.  Towards  the  close  of  his  days,  being  afflicted  with  the 
stone,  he  would  crawl  about  the  floor  on  his  hands  and  knees, 
sometimes  prayiwg,  and  sometimes  sicearing,  as  the  humour 
took  himi'. — W  hat  a  poor  creature  is  man  without  Religion  ! 
Sir  Isaac  Newton  died  of  the  same  disorder,  which  was 
attended,  at  times,  with  such  severe  paroxysms,  as  forced  out 
large  drops  of  sweat  that  ran  down  his  face.  In  these  trying 
circumstances,  however,  he  was  never  observed  to  utter 
any  complaint,  or  to  express  the  least  impatience.  What  a 
Striking  contrast  between  the  conduct  of  ,thc  Irijidel  and  the 
Christian! 

5.  Monsieur  Voltaire,  during  a  long  life,  was  con- 
tinually treating  the  TIolj/  Scriptures  with  contempt,  and 
endeavouring  to  spread  the  poison  of  Infidelity  through  the 
nations.  See,  however,  the  end  of  such  a  conduct.  In  his 
last  illness  he  sent  for  Dr.  Tiionciiin;  who  when  he 
came,  found  Voltaire  in  the  greatest  agonies,  exclaim- 
ing with  the  utmost  horror — /  am  abandoned  by  God  and 
man.  He  then  said,  Doctor,  I  zcill  give  you  ha  If  of  ichat  I 
am  ivorth,  if  you  zcill  give  me  six  months  life.  The  Doctor 
answered,  Sir,  you  cannot  live  six  tcceks.  Voltaire  replied, 
2'he)i  I  shall  go  to  hell,  and  you  zcill  go  icith  me !  and  soon 
after  expired. 

This  is  the  Hero  of  modern  Injidels !  Dare  any  of  them 
say, — Let  me  die  the  death  o/*  Voltaire,  and  let  my  last  end 

*  It  has  l)een  sometimes  called  tlie  Second  Spira. 

"t  Tills  extraordinary  man,  by  way  of  justiiyini;  his  own  irrelij^ious 
conduct,  drew  up  his  objections  to  the  Sacred  Writings  nmcli  in  the 
same  way  as  Thomas  I'aine;  but  it  does  not  appear  that  they 
were  ever  laid  before  the  public,  as  Thomas  Paint's  have  been. " 


12  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

be  like  his'?  Wonderful  infatuation!  This  unhappy  gentleman 
occupies  the  first  niche  in  the  French  pantheon !  That  he  was 
a  man  of  great  and  various  talents,  none  can  deny:  but  his 
want  of  sound  learning,  and  moral  qualifications,  will  ever 
prevent  his  being  ranked  with  the  benefactors  of  man- 
kind, by  the  wise  and  good.  Such  a  Hero,  indeed,  is  befit- 
ing  a  nation  under  judicial  infatuation,  to  answer  the  wise 
ends  of  the  Governor  of  the  world.  If  the  reader  has  felt 
himself  injured  by  the  poison  of  this  man's  writings,  he  may 
find  relief  for  his  wounded  mind,  by  perusing  carefully  Find- 
ley's  Vindication  of  the  Sacred  Boohs  from  the  Misrepretent- 
ations  and  Cavils  of  Voltaire;  and  Lefanu's  J.eiters  of 
certain  Jeics  to  Voltaire.  The  hoary  hifidel  cuts  but  a 
very  sorry  figure  in  the  hands  of  the  Sons  of  Abraham. 

Since  the  publication  of  the  first  edition  of  this  little  work, 
we  have  had  an  account  of  the  last  days  of  this  extraordinary 
man  by  the  Abhe  Barruel,  author  of  The  Histoiy  of  the 
French  Clergy.  And  it  is  so  extremely  interesting,  that  I 
will  lay  it  before  the  reader  in  a  translation  of  that  gentleman's 
own  words,  taken  from  his  History  of  Jacobinism,  by  the 
editor  of  the  British  Critic. 

"  It  was  during  Voltaire's  last  visit  to  Paris,  Mhen  his 
triumph  was  complete,  and  he  had  even  feared  he  should  die 
witli  glory,  an^/idst  the  acclamations  of  an  infatuated  theatre, 
that  he  was  struck  by  the  hand  of  Providence,  and  made  a 
very  different  termination  of  his  career. 

In  the  midst  of  his  triumphs,  a  violent  hemorrhage  raised 
apprehensions  for  his  life.  D'Alembert,  Diderot,  and 
Mar  MO  NT  el,  hastened  to  support  his  resolution  in  his  last 
moments,  but  were  only  witnesses  to  their  mutual  ignominy,  as 
well  as  to  his  own. 

Here  let  not  the  historian  fear  exaggeration.  Rage,  re- 
morse, reproach,  and  blasphemy,  all  accompany  and  cha- 
racterize the.  long  agony  of  the  dying  Atheist.  His  death, 
the  most  terrible  ever  recorded  to  have  stricken  the  im^ 
pious  man,  will  not  be  denied  by  his  companions  in  im- 
piety. Their  silence,  ho\\ever  much  they  may  wish  to  deny 
it,  is  the  least  of  those  corroborative  proofs,  which  might  be 
adduced.  Not  one  of  the  Sophisters  has  ever  dared  to  mention 
any  sign  given,  of  resolution  or  tranquillity,  by  the  premier 
chief,  during  the  space  of  three  months,  which  elapsed  from 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  13 

the  time  he  was  crowned  in  the  theatre,  until  his  decease. 
Such  a  silence  expresses,  how  great  their  humiliation  was  in  his 
death! 

It  was  in  his  return  from  the  theatre,  and  in  the  midst  of 
the  toils  he  was  resuming  in  order  to  acquire  fresh  applause, 
when  Voltaire  was  warned,  that  the  long  career  of  his  im- 
piety was  drawing  to  an  end. 

In  spite  of  all  the  Sophislers,  flocking  around  him,  in  the 
first  days  of  his  illness,  he  gave  signs  of  wishing  to  return  to  the 
God  whom  he  had  so  often  blasphemed.  He  calls  for  the  priest, 
who  ministered  to  Ilim,  whom  he  had  sworn  to  crush,  under 
the  appellation  of  the  Wretch*.  His  danger  increasing,  he 
wrote  the  following  note  to  the  j4bbe  Gualtier: — You  had 
promised  me,  Sir,  to  come  and  hear  me.  "  1  intreat  you  would 
take  the  trouble  of  calling  as  soon  as  possible." — Signed  Vol- 
taire.    Paris,  the  26th  Feh.  \77S. 

A  few  days  after  this,  he  wrote  the  following  declaration,  in  pre- 
sence of  the  same  Abbe  Gualtier,  the  ylhbe  Mignot,  and 
the  Marquis  de  Villevieille,  copied  from  the  minutes  de- 
posited with  JMr.  Mo  met,  notary  at  Paris: 

"  I,  the  underwritten,  declare,  that  for  these  four  days 
past,  having  been  afflicted  with  a  vomiting  of  blood,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-four,  and  not  having  been  able  to  drag  myself  to  the 
church,  the  Kcv.  the  Rector  of  St.  Sulp^ce,  having  been 
pleased  to  add  to  his  good  works,  that  of  sending  to  me  the 
j^bbe  Gualtier,  a  priest;  I  confessed  to  him;  and  if  it  please 
God  to  dispose  of  me,  I  die  in  the  Hofi/  Catholic  Church,  m 
which  I  was  born ;  hoping  that  the  divine  mercy  will  deign  to 
pardon  all  my  faults.  If  ever  I  have  scandalized  the  Churchy 
I  ask  pardon  of  God  and  of  the  Church.  Second  ©f  March, 
1778."  Signed  Voltaire;  in  presence  of  the  J b he  Mig- 
NOT,  my  nephew,  and  the  Marquis  de  Villevieille,  my 
friend." 

After  the  two  witnesses  had  signed  this  declaration,  Vol- 
taire added  these  words,  copied  from  the  same  minutes: — 
^' The  Abbe  Gualtier,  my  confessor,  having  apprized  me, 
that  it  was   said  among    a    certain  set   of  people,   1  '  should 

*  It  had  been  customary  during  many  years,  for  Voltaire  to 
call  our  blessed  Saviour — The  Wretch.  And  he  vowed  that  he 
«  ould  crush  him.  He  closes  many  of  his  letters  to  his  j;j/iWf/-friends 
with  the  same  words— Ov/sA  the  Wretch! 


14  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

protest  against  every  thing  I  did,  at  my  death;'  I  declare  I 
never  made  such  a  .speech^  and  that  it  is  an  old  jest,  attributed 
long  since  to  many  of  the  learned,  more  enlightened  than  I 
am." 

Was  this  declaration  a  fresh  instance  of  his  former  hypo- 
crisy? for  he  had  the  mean  hypocrisy,  even  in  tiie  midst  of  his 
efforts  against  Christianihf,  to  receive  the  sacrament  regularly, 
and  to  do  other  acts  of  religion,  merely  to  be  able  to  deny  his 
infidelitif,  if  accused  of  it. 

Unfortunately,  after  the  explanations  we  have  seen  him 
give  of  his  exterior  acts  of  religion,  might  there  not  be  room 
for  doubt?  Be  that  as  it  may,  there  is  a  public  homage  paid 
to  that  religion  in  which  he  declared  he  meant  to  die,  notwith- 
standing his  having  perpetually  conspired  against  it  during 
his  life.  This  declaration  is  also  signed  by  that  same  friend 
and  adept  the  Marquis  de  Villeviei lle,  to  whom,  eleven 
years  before,  Voltaire  was  wont  to  write,  "  Conceal  your 
inarch  from  the  enemy,  in  your  endeavours  to  crush  the 
wretch!" 

Voltaire  had  permitted  this  declarAition  to  be  carried  to 
the  Rector  of  St.  Sulpice,  and  to  the  archbishop  of  Paris,  to 
know  whether  it  would  be  sufficient.  When  the  ylbhe  Gual- 
tier  returned  with  the  answer,  it  was  impossible  for  him  to 
gain  admittance  to  the  patient.  The  conspirators  had  strained 
every  nerve  to  hinder  the  Chief  from  consummating  his  re- 
cantation ;  and  every  avenue  was  shut  to  the  priest,  whom 
Voltaire  himself  had  sent  for.  The  daemons  haunted  every 
access;  rage  succeeds  to  fury,  and  fury  to  rage  again,  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life. 

Then  it  was  that  D'Alembert,  Diderot,  and  about 
t  went  J/  others  of  the  conspirators,  who  had  beset  his  apart- 
ment, never  approached  him,  but  to  witness  their  own  igno- 
miny; and  often  he  would  curse  them,  and  exclaim:  "  Retire! 
It  is  you  that  have  brought  me  to  my  present  state !  ,  Begone  1 
I  could  have  done  without  you  all ;   but  you  could  not  exist 

without  me !    And   what  a  wretched  glory  have  you  procured 

I" 
me! 

Tlien  would  succeed  the  horrid  remembrance  of  his  con- 
spiracy. They  could  hear  him,  the  prey  of  anguish  and 
dread,  alternately  supplicating  or  .blaspheming  that  God, 
against    wlionj    he   had   conspired;     and   in   plaintive    accents 


•  AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  U 

he  would  cry  out,  "  Oh  Christ  !  Oh  Jesus  Christ  !"  And 
then  complain  that  he  was  abandoned  by  God  and  man.  The 
hand  which  had  traced  in  ancient  writ  the  sentence  of  an  im- 
pious and  reviling  king^  seemed  to  trace  befoie  his  eyes. 
Crush  then,  do  crush  the  Wretch.  In  vain  he  turned 
his  head  away;  the  time  was  coming  apace  when  he  was  to  ap- 
pear before  the  tribunal  of  Him  whom  he  had  blasphemed ;  and 
his  physicians,  particularly  Mr.  Tronchin,  calling  in  to  admi- 
nister relief,  thunderstruck,  retire,  dcclniiitg  that  the  death  of 
tht  impious  man  zcas  terrible  indeed.  The  pride  of  the  conspi- 
rators would  willingly  have  suppressed  these  declarations,  but  it 
was  in  vain.  Tlie  JSlareschat  de  Richelieu  flies  from  the 
bed-side,  declaring  it  to  be  a  sight  too  terrible  to  be  sustained; 
and  Mr.  Tronchin,  that  the  Juries  of'  Orestes,  could  give 
but  a  faint  idea  of  those  o/"  Voltaire*." 

6.  Mr.  Addison  mentions  a  Gentleman  in  France,  who 
was  so  zealous  a  promoter  of  ht^idelity,  that  he  had  got  together 
a  select  company  of  disciples,  and  travelled  into  all  parts  of  the 
kingdom  to  make  converts.  In  the  midst  of  his  fantastical 
success  he  fell  sick,  and  was  reclaimed  to  such  a  sense  of  his 
condition,  that  after  he  had  passed  some  time  in  great  agonies, 
and  horrors  of  mind,  he  begged  those  who  had  the  care  of  bury- 
ing him,  to  dress  his  body  in  the  habit  of  a  Capuchin,  that  the 

■  Diderot  and  D'Alembert  also,  his  friends  and  conipauions 
in  Injideliti/,  are  said  to  have  died  with  remorse  oi  conscience  some- 
what similar  to  the  above. 

This  account  of  the  unhappy  end  of  ^'oLTAIRE  is  confirmed  by  a 
letter  from  .17.  de  Luc,  an  eminent  philosopher,  and  a  man  of  the 
strictest  honour  and  probity. 

Let  the  reader  consult  D'Alembert's  account  of  the  death  of 
^'OLTAIRE  in  a  letter  to  the  Khii^  of  Prussia,  and  his  Eidogium  at 
Berlin,  where  it  is  partly  denied;  but  denied  in  such  a  way  as  to  irive 
strong  reason  to  suppose  his  end  was  without  honour.  See  King  of 
Prussia's  Works,  vol.  12,  p.  130 — 1.52;  and  vol.  13,  ]).  olj. 

iMr.  Cow  per,  in  his  Poem  on  Truth,  has  alluded  to  the  above 
circumstances  hi  the  character  of  this  Arch-'uifidtl: 

"  The  Frenchman  hrst  in  literary  fame, 

(Mention  him  if  you  please — Voltaire? — ^^fhe  same.)" 

With  sj^irit,  genius,  eloquence  supplied, 

Liv'd  long,  wrote  much,  laugh'd  heartily,  and  died; 

The  Scripture  wai>  his  jest-book,  whence  he  drew 

Bon-niots  to  gall  the  Christian  and  the  Jrw. 

An  Injidel  in  health;  but  what  when  sick? 

Oh  then,  a  text  would  touch  him  at  the  (juick!" 


16  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

Devil  might  not  run  away  with  it:  and,  to  do  furtlier  justice 
upon  himself,  he  desired  them  to  tie  a  halter  about  his  neck>  as 
a  mark  of  that  ignominious  punishment^  which  in  his  own 
thoughts,  he  had  so  justly  deserved. 

7.  The  last  days  of  David  Hume,  that  celebrated  Infidel, 
were  spent  in  playing  at  whist,  in  cracking  his  jokes  about  Cha- 
ron and  his  boat,  ami  in  leading  Lucian,  and  other  ludicrous 
books.  This  is  a  comiimmatum  est  worthy  of  a  clever  fellow, 
Zihose  conscience  xcas seared  as  u'ith  a  hot  iron !  Dr.  Johnson 
observes  upon  tbis  impenitent  death-bed  scene — "  Hume  owned 
he  had  never  read  the  Nexv  Testament  with  attention.  Here 
then  was  a  man,  who  had  been  at  no  pains  to  enquire  into  the 
truth  of  religion,  and  had  continually  turned  his  mind  the  other 
way.  It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  the  prospect  of  death 
should  alter  his  way  of  thinking,  unless  God  should  send  an  an- 
gel to  set  him  right.  He  had  a  vanity  in  being  thought  easy." 
Di\^s  fared  sumiituoush/  c-ien/  da//,  and  saw  no  danger:  but-~ 
the  next  thing  we  hear  of  him  is — In  hell  he  lifted  up  his  eyes, 
being  in  torments* ! 

*  It  is  much  to  be  lamented  that  a  man  of  Hume's  abilities 
should  have  prostituted  his  talents  in  the  mam  er  it  is  well  known  he 
did.  With  all  his  pretensions  to  philosophy,  lie  was  an  advocate  for 
adultery  and  suicide.  Tlie  reader  will  liud  a  sufficient  answ  er  to  his 
sophistry  in  Horne's  Letters  on  Infidtlity,  Beattie's  Essay  on 
the  Nature  and  hnmntahility  of  Truth,  in  Opposition  to  Sophistry 
and  Scepticism,  and  Campbell  on  the  Miracles  of  Christ.  See  also 
some  very  just  and  striking  retlections  coucemuig  Hume,  in  the 
Eclectic  Review  for  February  1S08. 

Mr.  Gibbon  was  one  of  the  most  resi>ectable  Deists  of  the  pre- 
sent age,  and  more  like  Hume,  in  several  respects,  than  any 
other  of  the  opposers  of  Christ  iamty.  Very  sufficient  reasoriS,  how- 
ever, may  be  given  for  his  Infidelity,  witliout  in  the  least  impeach- 
ing the  credit  of  the  evangelical  system.  Mr.  PoRSON,  in  the  preface 
to  his  Letters  to  Mr.  Archdeacon  Travis,  after  giving  a  very  high, 
and,  indeed,  just  character  of  ISIr.  Gibbon's  celebrated  history, 
seems  to  account  for  his  rejecting  the  Gospel  in  a  satisfactory 
manner,  from  the  state  of  his  mind.  "  He  shews,"  says  this  learned 
Gentleman,  "so  strong  a  dislike  to  Christianity,  as  visibly  disqua- 
lifies him  for  that  society,  of  which  he  has  created  Ammianus 
Marcellinus  president.  I  confess  that  I  see  nothing  wrong  in 
Mr.  Gibbon's  attack  on  Christianity ■\.  It  proceeded,  I  doubt 
not,  from  the  purest  and  most  virtuous  motive.  We  can  only  blame 
him  for  carrving  on  the  attack  in  an  insidious  manner,  and  with 
improper  motives.  He  often  makes,  when  he  cannot  readily  find, 
an  occasion  to  insult  our  religion;  which  he  hates  so  cordially  that 
■f  This  seems  a  culpable  excess  of  candour  amounting  almost  ta  indifference. 


AND    THE  SACRED  ^VRITIXGS.  1? 

Mr.  Gibbon   says,  '*  He    died    the    Death  of  a  Philoso- 
pher*!" liravo!  Bravo!   If  Philosophers  die  in  such  a  man- 
ner, may  it  be  my  lot  to  die  like  an  old-fashioned  and  enthu 
siastic  Christian ! 

S.  Of  all  tlie  accounts  which  are  left  us,  of  the  latter  end 
of  those,  Nvho  are  gone  before  into  the  eternal  state,  several 
are  more  horrible,  but  few  so  affecting  as  that  which  is  given 
us,  by  his  own  pen,  of  the  late  all  accomplished  Hari  of 
Chksterfield.  It  shews  incontestibly,  what  a  poor  crea- 
ture man  is,  notwithstanding  the  highest  polish  he  is  capable  of 
receiving,  without  the  knowledge  and  experience  of  those  com- 
forts, which  true  religion  yields;  and  what  egregious  fools 
all  those  persons  are,  who  squander  away  their  precious  lime 
in  what  the  world,  by  a  strange  perveision  of  language,  calls 
pleasure. 

"  I  have  enjoyed,"  says  this  finished  character,  "  all  the 
pleasures  of  this  world,  and    consequently  know  their  futility, 

he  might  seem  to  revenge  some  petsonal  injury.  Siidi  is  ])is  eager- 
liess  in  the  cause,  that  he  stoops  to  tlie  most  despicable  pun,  or  to 
the  most  aw kward  perversion  of  language,  for  the  pleasure  of  turn- 
ing Scripture  into  ribaldry,  or  of  calling  Jesus  an  impostor.  A 
rage  for  iyidecenci/  jiervatles  the  whole  work,  but  especially  the 
last  volumes. — If  the  history  were  anonymous,  I  should  guess  that 
these  disgraceful  obscenities  were  written  by  some  debauchee,  who, 
having  from  age,  or  accident,  or  excess,  sinvived  the  practice  of 
lust,  still  indulged  himself  in  the  luxury  of  speculation;  and  exposed 
(he  impotent  imbeciUty,  after  he  had  lost  the  vio^our  of  the  passions.'.' 

■^  Such  are  the  opposers  of  .Iesus  and  his  Gospel ! — Let  us  see  how 
this  sneering  antagonist  of  Christianity  terminated  his  own  mortal 
career. 

Eager  for  the  continuation  of  his  present  existence,  having  little 
expectation  of  any  future  one,  he  declared  to  a  friend  about  twenty- 
four  horns  ])revi()ns  to  his  departure,  in  a  How  of  self-grdtulation,that 
he  thought  himself  a  ijt)od  life  for  ten,  twelve,  or  perhaps  twetiti/ 
years. — And  during  his  short  illness,  it  is  observable,  that  he  never 
gave  the  least  intimation  of  a  future  state  of  existence.  This  iiiseu- 
sibility  at  the  iiour  of  dissolution,  is,  in  the  language  of  scejiticism, 
dying  like  a  clever  fellow,  the  death  of  a  Philosopher! 

See  Evans's  Attempt  to  account  for  the  Infidelity  of  Edward 
Gibbon,  Esq. 

Among  all  the  numerous  volumes  that  Mr.  GiBBON  read,  it  docs 
not  appear  that  he  ever  i)eru>ed  any  able  defence,  or  judicious  ex|)li- 
cation  of  the  Christian  religion. — Consult  his  Memoirs  and  Dian/ 
w ritten  by  himself.  His  conxersion  and  re-conversion  terminated  in 
Deism ;  or  rather,  perhaps,  in  a  settled  inditiereuco  to  all  rt^ligion. 
He  never  more  gave  himseli"  much  concern  about  it, 

D 


IS  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

and  do  not  regret  their  loss.  I  appraise  them  at  their  real 
value,  which,  in  truth,  is  very  low ;  whereas  those  who  have 
not  experienced,  always  over-rate  them.  They  only  see  their 
gay  outside,  and  are  dazzled  with  their  glare ;  but  I  iiave  beeiv 
behind  the  scenes*  It  is  a  common  notion,  and  like  many 
common  ones,  a  very  false  one,  that  those  who  have  led  a  life 
of  pleasure  and  business,  can  never  be  easy  in  retirement; 
whereas  I  am  persuaded  that  they  ar«  the  only  people  who 
can,  if  they  have  any  sense  and  reflection.  They  can  look 
back  oculo  irretorto  (without  an  evil  eye)  upon  what  they  from 
knowledge  despise;  others  have  always  a  hankering  after  what 
they  are  not  acquainted  with.  I  look  upon  all  that  has  passed 
as  one  of  those  romantic  dreams  which  opium  commonly  occa- 
sions •  and  I  do  by  no  means  desire  to  repeat  the  nauseous- 
dose,  for  the  sake  of  the  fugitive  dream. — When  1  say  that  I 
have  no  regret,  1  do  not  mean  that  I  have  no  remorse  ;  for  a 
life  eithei-  of  business,  or,  still  more  of  pleasure,  never  was 
and  never  will  be,  a  state  of  innocence.  But  God,  who 
knows  the  strength  of  human  passions,  and  the  weakness  of 
human  reason,  will,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  rather  mercifully  par- 
don, than  justly  punish,  acknowledged  errors.  I  have  been  as 
wicked  and  as  vain,  though  not  so  wise  as  Solomon  :  but  am 
now  at  last  wise  enough  to  feel  and  attest  the  truth  of  his  reflec- 
tion, that  all  is  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit.  This  truth  is 
never  sufficiently  discovered  or  felt  by  mere  speculation :  expe- 
rience in  this  ease  is  necessary  for  conviction,  thougli  perhaps  at 
the  expense  of  some  morality. 

"  My  health  is  always  bad,  though  sometim-es  better  and 
sometimes  worse;  and  my  deafness  deprives  me  of  the  com- 
forts of  society,  which  other  people  have  in  their  illnesses. — 
This,  you  must  allow,  is  an  unfortunate  latter  end  of  my  life, 
and  consequently  a  tiresome  one;  but  I  must  own  too,  that' 
it  is  a  sort  of  balance  to  the  tumultuous  and  imaginary  plea- 
sures of  the  former  part  of  it,  I  consider  my  present  wretched 
old  a"-e  as  a  just  compensation  for  the  follies,  not  to  say,  sins  of 
my  youth.  At  the  same  time  I  am  thankful  that  I  feel  none 
of  those  torturing  ills,  which  frequently  attend  the  last  stage  of 
life ;  and  I  flatter  myself  that  1  shall  go  oft'  quietly,  but  I  am 
sure  with  resignation.  My  stay  in  this  world  cannot  be  long  : 
God,  who  placed  me  here,  only  knows  when  he  will  order  me 
out  of  it;  but  whenever  be  does,  I  shall  willingly   obey  his 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  19 

command.  I  wait  for  it,  imploring  the  mercy  of  my  Creator, 
and  deprecating  his  justice.  The  best  of  us  must  trust  to  the 
former,  and  dread  the  latter. 

*'  I  think  I  am  not  afraid  of  my  journey's  end  ;  but  will 
not  answer  for  myself,  when  the  object  draws  very  near,  and  is 
very  sure.  For  when  one  does  see  death  near,  let  the  best  or 
the  worst  people  say  what  they  please,  it  is  a  serious  conside- 
ration. The  divine  attribute  of  Mercy,  which  gives  us  com- 
fort, cannot  make  us  forget,  nor  ought  it,  the  attribute  of  Jus- 
tice, which  must  blend  some  fears  with  our  hope. 

"  Life  is  neither  a  burden  nor   a   pleasure  to   me;    but  a 
certain  degree  of  ennui  necessarily  attends   that  neutral   state, 
which  makes  me  very  willing  to   part  with  it,  when  He  who 
placed  me  here  thinks  fit  to  call  me  away.     When   I  reflect, 
however,  upon  the  poor  remainder  of  my  life,  I  look  upon  it  as 
a  burden  that  must  every  day  grow  heavier  and  heavier,  from 
the  natural  progression  of  physical   ills,  the  usual  companions 
of  increasing  vears.     My  reason  tells  nie,  that  I  should  wish 
for  the   end   of  it;    but   instinct,    often  stronger   than  reason, 
and  perhaps  oftener  in  the   right,  makes    me   take  all  proper 
methods  to  put  it  off.     This  innate  sentiment  alone  makes  me 
tear  life  with  patieiKe ;  for  I    assure  you  I   have  no   farther 
iiopes,  but,  on  the  contrary,  many  fears  from  it.     None  of  the 
primitive  Jnachorites  in  the  Thebais  could  be  more  detached 
from  life  than  I  am.     I  consider  it  as  one  who  is  wholly  un- 
concerned in  it,  and  -even -when  I  reflect   upon  what    I  have 
seen,  what  I  have  heard,  and  what  I  have  done  myselfj  I  cau 
hardly  persuade  myself  that  all  that  frivolous  hurry  and  bustle, 
and  pleasures  of  the  world,  had  any  reality,  but  they  seem  to 
have   been  the  dreams    of   restless    nights.     This   philosophy, 
however,  I  thank   God,  neither  makes  me    sour  nor  melan- 
cholic :  I  see  the  folly  and  absurdity  of  mankind  without  indig- 
nation or  peevishness.     I  wish  them  wiser,   and  consequently 
better  than  they  are*." 

*  Miscdlaneous  Works,  vol.  iii.  passim.— The  Letters  of  this  ce- 
le)>rated  yobkmun,  which  he  wrote  to  \m  Son,  contain  positive 
rcvidence,  that,  with  all  his  honours,  learning,  wit,  and  politeness, 
lie  was  a  thorough  bad  man,  with  a  heart  full  o( deceit  and  uncleanness. 
Those  Letters  have  been  a  pe>t  to  the  yoiHig  JSohility  and  Gentry  of 
this  nation.  It  may  be  questioned  wliether  Rochester's  Poems  c\ex 
did  more  harm.  This  celebraled  nobleman  was  accounted,  not  only 
the  most  polite  and  well-bred  man,  but  the  greatest  wit  of  his  time. 


20  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

This  is  the  life,  these  are  the  mortifying  acknowledgmentsr* 
and  this  is  the  poor  sneaking  end  of  the  best  bred  man  of  the 
age!  Not  one  word  about  a  il/ef/Za^o/- /  He  acknowledges,  in- 
deed, his  frailties;  but  yet  in  such  a  way  as  to  extenuate  his 
offences.  One  would  suppose  he  had  been  an  old  Ifeathen 
philosopher,  who  had  never  heard  of  the  name  of  Jesl's; 
rather  than  a  penitent  Christian,  whose  life  had  abounded  with 
a  variety  of  vices. 

How  little  and  how  poor  is  man,  in  his  most  finished  estate, 
without  religion  !  Let  us  hear  in  what  manner  the  lively  Believer 
in  Jesus  takes  his  leave  of  this  mortal  scene  : — /  am-twrc  ready 
to  he  offered,  and  the  time  of  mi/  departure  is  at  hand.  I 
have  fought  a  good  fight ;  I  have  Jinished  my  course ;  I  have 
^  kept  .the  faith ;  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  cromn  of 

Various  Jeux  d'  Esprit  are  accordingly  handed  about,  as  having  pro- 
ceeded from  him,  on  different  occasions.  The  two  follov  ing,  which 
contain  an  alhision  to  the  Sacred  Writings,  I  will  take  the  liberty  of 
presenting  to  the  reader. 

Chesterfield  being  invited  to  dine  with  the  Spanish  ambassa- 
dor, met  with  tiie  JMinister  of  France,  and  some  others.  After  din- 
ner, the  Spaniard  proposed  a  toast,  and  begged  to  give  his  Master 
under  the  title  of  the  Sun.  Tlie  French  ambassador's  turn  came  next, 
Tvlio  gave ///*  under  the  description  of  the  Moon.  JL.or</ Chester- 
field being  asked  for  his,  replied,  "Your  Excellencies  have  taken 
from  me  all  the  greatest  luminaries  of  heaven,  and  the  stars  are  too 
small  for  a  comparison  with  my  royal  Master;  I  therefore  beg  leave 
to  give  your  Excellencies,  Joshua!" 

The  other  instance  is  still  more  pertinent.  The  Earl  being  at 
Brussels  was  waited  on  by  VoLTAiRE,  who  politely  invited  him  to 

sup  witii  him  and  Madame  C .     His  Lordship  accepted  the 

invitation.     The  conversation  happening  to  turn  upon  the  affairs  of 

England,  "  I  think,  my  Lord,"  said  Madame  C ,  "  that  the 

Parliament  of  England  consists  of  five  or  six  hundred  of  the  best  m- 
formed  and  most  sensible  men  in  the  kingdom  ?"■ — '*  True,  Madame ; 
tliey  are  generally  sui)posed  to  be  so."^-"  What  then,  my  Lord, 
can  be  the  reason  that  they  tolerate  so  great  an  absurdity  as  the 
Christian  religion?" — "  I  suppose,  Madame,"  replied  his  Lordship, 
it  is  because  they  have  not  been  able  to  substitute  any  thing  better  in 
its  stead  ;  when  they  can  I  don't  doubt  but  in  their  wisdom  they  will 
readily  accept  it." 

To  have  entered  into  a  serious  defence  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ^ 
with  such  a  pert  and  flippant  lady,  would  have  been  the  height  of 
folly :  but  such  an  answer  as  this,  was  better  calculated  to  silence 
her,  than  a  thousand  demonstrations,  which  she  would  neither  have 
been  able  nor  willinij  to  understand. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGj 


^>'l-     07 


•P0»^ 


21 


righteonsuesK,  zchkh  the  Lord,  the  righteous  J^ogr,  zcill 
give  rnc  at  that  day. 

9.  The  sad  evening  before  the  death  of  the  noble  Alta- 
MONT,  I  was  with  him.  No  one  was  there  but  his  physician, 
and  an  intimate  friend  ^vhomhe  loved,  and  whom  he  had  ruined. 
At  my  coming  in,  he  said  ; 

"  You  and  the  physician,  arc  come  too  late, — I  have  neither 
life  nor  hope.  You  both  aim  at  miracles.  You  would  raise  the 
dead!" 

Heaven,  1  said,  was  merciful.— 

"  Or  I  could  not  have  been  thus  guilty.  What  has  it  not 
done  to  bless  and  to  save  me?— I  have  been  too  strong  for 
Omnipotence!  I  plucked  down  ruin!"  I  said,  the  blessed  Re- 
deemer— 

"  Hold  !  hold!  you  wound  me!— This  is  the  rock  on  whicli 
I  split — [  denied  his  name." 

Refusing  to  hear  any  thing  from  me,  or  take  any  thing 
from  the  physician,  he  lay  silent,  as  far  as  sudden  darts  of 
pain  would    permit,    till  the  clock  struck.     Then  with  vehe- 

•  mence ; 

"  Oh,  time  !  time !  it  is  fit  thou  shouldst  thus  strike  thy  mur- 
derer to  the  heart.— How  art  thou  tied  for  ever! — A  month  ! — 
Oh  for  a  single  week  !  I  ask  not  for  years ;  though  an  age  were 
too  little  for  the  much  I  have  to  do." 

On  my  saying,  we  could  not  do  too  much  :  that  heaven  was  a 

blessed  place — 

*'  So  much  the  worse.     'Tis  lost !  'tis  lost !— Heaven  is  to 

me  the  severest  part  of  hell!" 

Soon  after  I  proposed  prayer. 

"  Pray  you  that  can.  1  never  prayed.  1  cannot  pray — 
Nor  need  I.  Is  not  heaven  on  my  side  already?  It  closes 
Mith    my   conscience.      Its    severest  strokes  but  second    my 

own." 

His  friend  being  much  touched,  even  to  tears,  at  this, 
(who  could  forbear?   1  could  not;)  with   a   most  affectionate 

look,  he  said: 

«  Keep  those  tears  for  thyself.  I  have  undone  thee.— 
Dost    weep    for    me?    That's    cruel.      What   can    pain    me 

more?" 

Here  Jiis  friend;  too  much  affected,  would  have  left  hun: 


22  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

*'  No,  stay.  Thou  still  mayest  hope.  Therefore  hear  mr. 
How  madly  have  I  talked  ?  How  madly  hast  thou  listened 
aad  believed  ?  But  look  on  my  present  state,  as  a  full  answer 
to  thee,  and  to  myself.  This  body  is  all  weakness  and  paui ; 
^ut  my  soul.,  as  if  strung  up  by  torment  to  greater  strength  and 
spirit,  is  full  powerful  to  reason:  full  mighty  to  suffer.  And 
that  which  thus  triumphs  within  the  jaws  of  mortality,  is  doubt- 
less, immortal. — And,  as  for  a  Deity,  nothing  less  than  aa 
_<^/;72?'o7/^j/ could  intiict  what  I  feel," 

I  was  about  to  congratulate  tliis  passive  involuntary  confessar, 
on  his  asserting  the  two  prime  articles  of  his  creed,  extorted  by 
the  rack  of  nature ;  when  he  thus,  very  passionately  : 

"  No,  no!  let  me  speak  on.  I  have  not  long  to  speak. — My 
much  injured  friend!  my  soul^  as  my  body,  lies  in  ruins ;  in  scat- 
tered fragments  of  broken  thought:  remorse  for  the  past,  throws 
my  thoughts  on  the  future.  Worse  dread  of  the  future,  strikes 
it  back  on  the  past.  I  turx),  and  turn,  and  find  no  ray.  Didst 
thou  feel  half  the  mountain  that  is  on  me,  thou  wouldst  struggle 
with  the  martyr  for  his  stake,  and  bless  heaven  for  the  flames; — 
that  is  not  an  everlasting  fiame :  that  is  not  an  unquenchable 
fire." 

How  were  we  struck  !  Yet  soon  after,  still  more.  With 
Tvhat  an  eye  of  distraction,  what  a  face  of  despair,  he  cried  out : 

*'  ]My  principles  have  poisoned  my  friend ;  my  ^extravagance 
lias  beggared  my  boy ;  my  unkindness  has  murdered  my  wife! 
And  is  there  another  hell  r — Oh  !  thou  blasphemed  yet  most  in- 
dulgent, Lord  God  !  Hell  itself  is  a  refuge,  if  it  hides  me 
from  tliy  frown." 

Soon  after  his  understanding  failed.  His  terrified  imagination 
uttered  horrors  not  to  be  repeated,  or  ever  forgotten.  And  ere 
the  sun  arose,  the  gay,  young,  noble,  ingenious,  accomplished, 
and  most  wretched  Altamont  expired*. 

It  is  not  easy  for  imagination  itself  to  form  a  more  affect- 
ing representation  of  a  death-bed  scene,  thaa  that  of  this  noble 
youth. 

10.  "  Sir, 

I  was  not  long  since  called  to  visit  a  poor 
gentleman,  ere  while  of  the  most   robust  body,    and  of  the 

*  See  YouNG^s  Centaur  not  Fabulous^ 


AKD  THE  SACRED  \VR1TL\G5.  <xs 

gayest  temper  1  ever  knew.  But  wlien  I  visited  him ;  Oh  ; 
how  was  the  glory  departed  from  him !  I  found  liim  no  more 
that  sprightly  and  vivacious  son  of  joy  which  lie  used  to  be ;. 
but  languishing,  pining  away,  and  withering  under  the  chas- 
tening hand  of  God.  His  limbs  feeble  and  trembling;  hi& 
countenance  forlorn  and  ghastly ;  and  the  little  breath  he  had 
left,  sobbed  out  in  sorrowful  sighs  !  His  body  hastening  apace 
to  the  dust  to  lodge  in  the  silent  grave,  the  land  of  darkness 
and  desolation.  His  soul  just  going  to  God  who  gave  it: 
preparing  itself  to  wing  away  unto  its  long  home ;  to  enter 
upon  an  unchangeable  and  eternal  state.  When  I  was  come 
wp  into  his  chamber,  and  had  seated  myself  on  his  bed,  he 
first  cast  a  most  wishful  look  upon  me,  and  then  began  as  well 
as  he  was  able  to  speak. — *^  Oh  !  that  I  had  been  wise,  that  I 
had  known  this,   that  1   had  considered  my  latter  end.     A\x  I 

Mr. ,  death   is    knocking   at    my    doors:    in    a    few 

hours  more  1  shall  draw  my  last  gasp;  and  then  judgement, 
the  tremendous  judgement !  how  shall  I  appear,  unprepared, 
as  I  am,  before  the  all-knowing,  and  omnipotent  God  .^ 
How  shall  I  endure  the  day  of  his  coming!'  When  I  men- 
tioned among  many  other  things,  that  strict  holiness  which 
he  had  formerly  so  slightly  esteemed,  he  replied  with  a' hasty 
eagerness  :  "  Oh  !  that  holiness  is  the  only  tiling  I  now  long 
for.  1  have  not  words  to  tell  you  ho\v  highly  I  value  it.  I 
would  gladly  part  with  all  my  estate,  large  as  it  is,  or  a  world  to- 
©btain  it.  Now  my  benighted  eyes  are  enlightened,  I  clearly 
discern  the  things  that  are  excellent,  \\hat  is  there  in  the 
place  whither  1  am  going  but  God.  Or  what  is  there  to  be 
desired  on  earth  but  religion?" — But  if  this  God  should  re- 
store you  to  health,  said  T,  think  you  that  you  should  altcF 
pour  former  courser — "I  call  heaven  and  earth  to  witness," 
said  he,  "  I  would  labour  for  holiness,  as  I  shall  soon  laboui- 
for  life.  As  for  riches  and  pleasures,  and  the  applauses  of 
men,  I  account  them  as  dross  and  dung,  no  more  to  my  hap- 
piness than  the  feathers  that  lie  on  the  jfloor.  Oh!  if  the 
righteous  Judge  would  try  me  once  more;  if  he  would 
but  reprieve,  and  spare  me  a  little  longer ;  in  what  a  spirit 
would  I  spend  the  remainder  of  my  days !  I  would  know  no 
other  business,  aim  at  no  other  end,  than  perfecting  myself 
in  holiness.  Whatever  contributed  to  that;  every  means  of 
^race;    every   opportunity   of    spiritual    improvement,    should 


£4  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

be  dearer  to  me  than  thousands  of  gold  and  silver.  '  But  alas ! 
\vh}-  do  I  amuse  myself  m  ith  fond  hnaginatious  r  The  best  re- 
solutions are  now  ingiguiticant,  because  they  are  too  late.  The 
day  in  which  I  should  have  worked  is  over  and  gone,  and  I  see 
a  sad  horrible  night  approaching,  bringing  with  it  the  black- 
ness of  darkness  for  ever.  Heretofore,  woe  is  me!  when  God 
called,  1  refused ;  when  he  invited,  I  was  one  of  them  that 
made  excuse.  Now,  therefore,  I  receive  the  reward  of  my 
deeds;  fearfulness  and  trembling  are  come  upon  me;  I  smart, 
and  am  in  sore  anguish  already ;  and  yet  this  is  but  the  begiu- 
ing  of  sorrows  !  It  doth  not  yet  appear  what  I  shall  be ;  but 
sure  I  shall  be  ruined,  undone,  and  destroyed  with  an  everlast- 
ing destruction !" 

This  sad  scene  I  saw  with  mine  eyes ;  these  words,  and  many 
more  equally  affecting,  1  heard  with  mine  ears ;  and  soon  after 
attended  the  unhappy  gentleman  to  his  tomb*. 

11.  il/;-.  CuMBEKLAN  D,  in  the  Observer,  gives  us  one  of 
the  most  mournful  tales,  that  ever  was  related,  concerning  a 
gentleman  of  Ijifidt  I  principles,  whom  he  denominates  An Ti- 
THEUS.  "  I  remember  him,"  says  he,  "  in  the  height  of  his 
fame,  the  hero  of  his  party ;  no  man  so  caressed,  follow- 
ed, and  applauded.  He  was  a  little  loose,  his  friends  would 
own,  in  his  moral  character,  but  then  he  was  the  honestest 
fellow  in  the  world.  It  was  not  to  be  denied  tliat  he  was 
rather  free  in  his  notions;  but  then  he  was  the  best  creature 
living.     1    have  seen   men  of  the  gravest   characters    wink    at 

*  Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Mr.  Hervey  to  Beau  Nash, 
Esquire,  at  Bath. 

If  tlie  stings,  lashes,  twinges,  and  scorpions  of  a  guilty  conscience 
are  so  horrible  wliile  we  continue  in  the  body,  what  must  they  be  when 
we  are  dislodged  by  death,  and  find  that  our  damnation  is  sealed  bv 
the  Judge  Supreme!  Let  the  lost  soul  in  Shakespeare  speak 
some  little  of  future  woe : 

*'  But  that  I  am  forbid 

To  tell  the  secrets  of  my  prison-house, 

I  could  a  tale  unfold,  whose  lightest  word 

Would  harrow  up  thy  soul ;  freeze  thy  wann  blood  ; 

iNIake  thy  t\\  o  eyes,  like  stars,  start  from  their  spheres : 

Thy  knotted  and  (•(>m]>iired  locks  to  part. 

And  each  particular  hair  to  stand  on  end 

Like  quills  upon  the  fretful  porcupine : 

But  this  eternal  blazon  jnust  not  be 

To  ears  of  flesh  and  blood." 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  <ij 

his   sallies,  because  he  was  so  pleasant  and  so  well  bred,  it 
was  impossible  to  be  angry  with  him.     Every  thing  went  well 
with  him,  and  Antitheus  seemed  ta  be  at  the  summit  of  hu- 
man prosperity,   when  he  was  suddenly  seized  witli   the  most 
alarming  symptoms.     He  was  at  his  country  house,  and  (which 
had  rarely  happened  to  him)  he   at  that  time  chanced  to  be 
alone;  wife  or  family  he  had  none,  and  out  of  the  multitude 
of  his  friends  no  one  happened  to  be  near  him  at  the  tim6  of 
his  attack.     A  neighbouring  ^^//j/s/f/fl/?  was  called  out  of  bed  in 
the  night,  to  come  to  him  with  all  haste  in  this  extremity.     He 
found  him   sitting  up  in   his  bed,  supported  by   pillows,   his 
countenance   full    of  horror,  his  breath    struggling    as    in   the 
article  of  death,  his  pulse  intermitting,  and  at  times  beaiing 
with  such  rapidity,  as  could  hardly  be  counted.     Antitheus 
dismissed  the  attendants   he  had  about  him,    and  eagerly  de- 
manded of  tlie  physician,  if  he  thought  him  in  danger.     The 
physician  answered  that  he  must    fairly  tell    him    he    was   in 
imminent  danger.-^"  How  so!  how  so!  do  you  think  me  dying r" 
— He  was  sorry  to  say  the  symptoms  indicated  death. — "  Impos- 
sible! you  must  not  let   me  die:   I  dare  not  die:   O  doctor! 
save  me  if  you  can." — Your  situation.   Sir,  is  such,  that  it  is 
not  in  mine,   or   any    other  man's   art   to    save   you;    and    I 
think  I  should  not  do  my  duty  if  I  gave  you  any  false  hope  in 
these  moments,  which,  if  1  am  not  mistaken,  will  not  more 
than  suffice    to    settle    any   worldly  or  other  concerns    which 
you  may  have  upon  your  mind. — "  My  mind  is  full  of  horror," 
cried  the  dying  man,  '^  and  1  am  incapable  of  preparing  it  for 
death." — He   now    fell    into    an   agony,    accompanied    with    a 
shower  of  tears;  a  cordial  was  administered,  and  he  revived 
in   a    degree;    when    turning   to    the  physician,    who    had  his 
fingers  upon  his  pulse,  he  eagerly  demanded  of  him,  if  he  did 
not  see  that  blood  upon  the  feet  curtains  of  his  bed.     There 
was  none  to   be  seen  ;  the  phi/sician   assured  him,  it  was  no- 
thing but   the   vapour  of  his  fancy. — "  I  see  it  plainly,"  said 
Antitheus,  "  in  the  shape  of  a  human  hand:   I  have  been 
visited  with  a  tremendous  appajition.     As  I  was  lying  sleepless 
in  my  bed  this  night,  I  took   up  a  letter  of  a  deceased  friend  to 
dissipate  certain  thoughts   which  made  me  uneasy.     I  believed 
him  to  be  a  great  philosopher,  and  was  converted  to  his  opinions : 
persuaded  by  his  arguments  and  my  own  experience,  that  the 
disorderly  aifairs  of  this  evil  world  could  not  be  administered 

E 


26  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

by  any  wise,  just,  or  provident  being;  [  had  brought  myself  to 
think  no  such  being  could  exist,  and  that  a  life,  produced  by 
chance,  must  terminate  in  annihilation.  This  is  the  reasoning 
of  that  letter,  and  such  were  the  thoughts  I  was  revolving  in  my 
mind,  when  the  apparition  of  my  dear  friend  presented  itself 
before  me;  and  unfolding  the  curtains  of  my  bed,  stood  at  my 
feet,  looking  earnestly  upon  me  for  a  considerable  space  of  time. 
!My  heart  sunk  within  me;  for  his  face  was  ghastly,  full  of  hor- 
ror, with  an  expression  of  such  anguish  as  I  can  never  describe. 
His  eyes  were  fixed  u})on  me,  and  at  length,  with  a  mournful 
i^iotion  of  his  head — Alas,  alas  !  he  cried,  we  are  in  a  fatal 
error!  and  taking  hold  of  the  curtains  with  his  hand,  shook 
them  violently  and  disappeared. — This,  I  protest  to  you,  I  both 
saw  and  heard;  and  look  !  where  the  print  of  his  hand  is  left  in 
bleod  upon  the  curtains!" 

Antitheus  survived  the  relation  of  this  vision  very  few 
hours,  and  died  delirious  in  great  agonies. 

^V  hat  a  forsaken  and  disconsolate  creature  is  man  without  his 
God  and  Savjour! 

1'2.  RoussKAU  has  the  honour  of  the  second  place  in  the 
French  Pantheon.  He  was  born  at  Geneva  ;  and,  at  a  pro- 
per age,  was  bound  an  apprentice  to  an  artist.  During  his 
apjuenticesliip  he  frequently  robbed  his  master  as  well  as  other 
persons.  Before  his  time  was  expired  he  decamped,  and  fled  into 
the  dominions  of  the  king  of  Sardinia,  where  he  changed  his 
religion  and  became  a  Catholic.  By  an  unexpected  turn  of 
fortune  he  jjecame  a  footman;  in  which  capacity  he  forgot  not 
his  old  habit  of  stealing.  He  is  detected  with  the  stolen  goods; 
swears  they  were  given  him  by  a  maid  servant  of  the  house. 
The  girl,  being  confronted  with  him,  denies  ihe  fact,  and,  weep- 
in;^,  presses  him  to  confess  tb.c  truth;  but  the  i/oung  philosopher 
still  persists  in  the  lie,  and  the  poor  girl  is  driven  from  her  place 
in  disgrace. 

Tired  of  being  a  serving  man,  he  went  to  throw  himself 
on  the  protection  of  a  lady,  whom  he  had  seen  once  before^ 
and' who,  he  protests,  was  the  most  virtuous  creature  of  her 
sex.  The  lady  had  so  great  a  regard  for  him,  that  she  called 
him  her  little  darling,  and  he  called  her  mamma.  Mamma  had 
a  footman,  who  served  her  besides,  in  another  capacity,  very 
much  resembling  that  of  a  husband  ;  but  she  had  a  most  tender 
aJlection  for  her  adopted  son  Rousseau;  and,-  as  she  feared 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  27 

he  was  forming  connections  with  a  certain  lady  who  might 
spoil  his  morals,  slie  herself  out  of  pure  virtue  took  him — to 
bed  with  her ! — This  virtuous  effort  to  preserve  the  purity  of 
Rousseau's  heart  had  a  dreadful  eflect  on  the  po'>r  foot- 
man, and  so  he  poisoned  himself. — Rousseau  fell  sick,  and 
mamma  was  obliged  to  part  with  little  darling,  while  he  per- 
formed a  journey  to  the  south  of  France,  for  the  recovery  af 
his  health.  On  the  road  he  dines  with  a  gentleman,  and  lies 
with  his  wife.  As  he  was  returning  back,  he.  debated  with 
himself  whether  he  should  pay  this  lady  a  second  visit  or  not: 
but,  fearing  he  might  be  tempted  to  seduce  her  daughter  also, 
virtue  got  the  better,  and  determined  the  little  darling  to  fly 
home  into  the  arms  of  his  mamma  ;  but,  alas !  those  arms  were 
filled  with  another.  Mamma's  virtue  had  prompted  her  to  take 
a  substitute,  whom  she  liked  too  well  to  part  with,  and  our 
philosopher  was  obliged  to  shift  for  himself.  The  reader 
should  be  told,  that  the  little  darling,  while  he  resided  with 
his  mamma,  went  to  make  a  tour  with  a  young  nuisiciau.  Their 
friendship  was  warm,  like  that  of  most  young  men,  and  they 
were  besides  enjoined  to  take  particular  care  of  each  other 
during  their  travels.  They  went  on  for  some  time  together, 
agreed  perfectly  well,  and  vowed  an  everlasting  friendship  for 
each  other.  But  the  musician,  being  one  day  taken  in  a  fit,  fell 
down  in  the  street,  which  furnished  the  faithful  Rousseau 
w  ith  an  opportunity  of  slipping  off  with  some  of  his  things,  and 
leaving  him  to  the  mercy  of  the  people,  in  a  town  where  he  was 
a  total  stranger. 

We  seldom  meet  with  so  much  villainy  as  this  in  a  youth. 
His  manhood  however  was  worthy  of  it.  He  turned  apostate 
a  second  time,  was  driven  from  within  the  walls  of  his  native 
city  of  Geneva,  as  an  incendiary,  and  an  apostle  of  anarchy 
and  infidelity;  nor  did  he  ft)rget  how  to  thieve. — At  last  the 
philosopher  marries;  but  like  a  philosopher;  that  is,  without 
going  to  church.  He  has  a  family  of  children,  and  like  a  kind 
philosophical  father,  for  fear  they  should  want  afti-r  his  death, 
he  sends  thtin  to  the  poor-house  during  his  life-time! — To  con- 
clude, the  philosopher  dies,  and  leaves  the  philosopher  ess,  his 
wife,  to  the  protection  of  a  friend ;  she  marries  a  footman,  and 
gets  turned  into  the  street. 

This   vile  wretch  has  the  impudence  to  say,    in  the  work 
written  by  himself,  vhich  contains  a  confession  of  these  his 

E  2 


'i8  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

crimes>  that  no  man  can  come  to  the  throne  of  God  and  say, 
/  am  a  better  man  than  Rousseau*. 

Notwithstanding  the  above  unworthy  circumstances,  it  must 
be  owned  that  Rousseau's  writings  have  great  literary  merits 
but  then  they  contain  principles  which  might  be  expected  from 
such  a  person.  He  has  exhausted  all  the  powers  of  reasoning, 
and  all  the  charms  of  eloquence  in  the  cause  of  anarchy  and 
irreligion.  And  his  writings  are  so  much  the  more  dangerous, 
as  he  winds  himself  into  favour  with  the  unwary,  by  an 
eternal  cant  about  virtue  and  liberty.  He  seems  to  have  as- 
sumed the  mask  of  virtue,  for  no  other  purpose  than  that  of 
propagating,  with  more  certain  success,  the  blackest  and  most 
incorrigible  vice. 

This  was  the  man  and  the  writer  whom  the  Constituent 
Assembly  held  up  to  the  imitation  and  even  adoration  of  the 
poor  deluded  French  populace.  He  and  Voltaire,  who  never 
could  agree  in  life,  are  placed  by  each  other's  side  in  death,  and 
made  the  standard  of  French  principles  and  religion  to  all  future 
generations. 

We  have  seen  how  Voltaire  terminated  his  earthly  career, 
we  shall  find  Rousseau  expiring  with  a  lie  in  his  mouth,  and 
the  most  impious  appeal  to  the  Divine  Being,  that  was  ever 
made  by  mortal  man. 

"  Ah:  my  dear,"  said  he  to  his  wife,  or  mistress,  just  before 
he  expired:  "  how  happy  a  thing  is  it  to  die,  when  one  has  no 
reason  for  remorse,  or  self-reproach  !" — And  then,  addressing 
himself  to  the  Almighty,  he  said,  "  Eternal  Being  !  the 
soul  that  I  am  going  to  give  thee  back,  is  as  pure,  at  this 
moment,  as  it  was  when  it  proceeded  from  thee :  render  it 
partaker  of  thy  felicity  !" 

These  twelve  examples  are  such  as  to  give  but  little  encou- 
ragement to  any  person,  who  has  a  proper  concern  for  his 
own  welfare,  to  embark,  either  in  the  atheistic  or  deistic 
schemes.  In  those  cases,  where  conscience  was  awake,  the 
unhappy  men  were  fillied  with  anguish  and  amazement  inex- 
pressible. And  in  those  cases,  where  conscience  seemed  to  be 
asleep,  there  appears  nothing  enviable  in  their  situation,  even 
upon  their  own  supposition,  that  there  is  no  after-reckoning. 

*  The  above  account  of  this  strange  man  is  taken  from  his  own 
Confessions,  Peter  Porcupine's  Bloody  Buoy,  an(\  the  accounts 
published  of  his  death. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  29 

If  to  die  'ike  an  ass  be  a  privilege,  I  give  ihem  joy  of  it!  much 
good  may  it  do  tliem !  May  I  die  like  a  Christian,  havin'r  a 
hope  blooming  rciih  immortal  expectations! 

Let  us  turii  from  these  horrible  instances  of  perverted  reason, 
and  take  a  view  of  some  more  promising  scenes. 


II.—EXAMPLES  OF  PERSON'S  RECOVERED  FHOM  THEIR 
INFIDELITY. 


"  If,  sick  of  folly,  I  relent,  he  •Cfrites 
"  My  name  in  heav'n." 

13.  Charles  Gildon,  author  of  a  book  called  the  Oracles 
of  Reason,  v/as  convinced  of  the  fallacy  of  his  own  arguments 
against  religion,  and  the  danger  of  his  situation,  by  readin<» 
Leslie's  Short  Me^iod  with  a  Deist.  He  afterwards  wrote 
a  defence  of  Revealed  Religion,  entitled  The  Deist's  Manual, 
and  died  in  the  Christian  faith, 

14.  The  late  Lord  Littleton,  author  of  the  History  of 
Henri/  the  Second,  and  his  friend  Gilbert  West,  Esq.  had 
both  imbibed  the  principles  of  Lnbe/itf,  and  had  agreed  to^^e- 
ther  to  write  something  in  favour  of  Injidelify.  To  do  this 
more  effectually,  they  judged  it  necessary,  first  to  acquaint 
themselves  pretty  well  with  the  contents  of  the  Bible.  By  the 
perusal  of  that  book,  however,  they  were  both  convinced  of 
their  error:  both  became  converts  to  the  religion  of  Christ 
Jesus:  both  took  up  their  pens  and  wrote  in  favour  of  it  * ; 
the  formei',  his  Observations  on  tht  Conversion  of  St.  Paul; 

*  Athenagoras,  a  famous  Athenian  philosopher  in  the  second 
century,  iia<i  entertained  so  unfa*  ounib're  an  opinion  of  the  Christian 
religion,  thai  he  was  determined  to  write  against  it ;  but  upon  an  inti- 
mate enquiry  into  the  facts  on  which  it  was  supported,  in  the  course 
of  his  collecting  niaterials  for  his  intended  publication,  he  was  con- 
vinced by  the  blazt:  ■£  evidence  in  its  fi'vour,  and  turned  his  designed 
invective  into  an  elaborate  apo!(»gy,  which  is  still  in  being. 

The  above  Mr.  West,  writing  co  Dr.  Doddridge  on  the  pub- 
lication of  his  Memoirs  of  Co/o.-.i/ Gardiner,  ascribes  his  own  con- 
version from  a  state  of  Infidelity,  into  whicli  he  liad  been  seduced,  to 
tlie  care  his  motJior  had  taken  in  Iris  education.  "  I  cannot  help  takiii" 
notice,'  says  lie,  «'  of  your  remarks  upon  the  advantage  of  an  earli/ 
education  in  the  principles  of  religion,  because  1  have  myself  most 
happily  experienced  if;  sinre  I  owe,  to  thefar/y  f  erf  of  a  most  excel- 
lent woman,  my  motlier,  that  bent  and  bias  to  religion,  which,  with 
tbe  co-operating  grace  of  doD,  halh  at  length  brought  me  back  to 


30  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

the  latter^  his  Observations  on  the  Resurrection  of  Christ; 
and  both  died  in  peace. 

those  paths  of  peace  from  whence  I  might  have  othenvise  been  in 
danger  of  deviating  for  ever!"  ' 

Dr.  Johnson  tells  us,  that  "  Lord  Littleton,  in  the  pride  of 
juvenile  confidence,  with  the  help  of  corrupt  conversation,  enter- 
tained doubts  of  the  truth  of  Christianity;  but  he  thought  after- 
wards it  was  no  longer  fit  to  doubt,  or  believe  by  chance ;  and  there- 
fore applied  himself  seriously  to  the  p-eat  questioyi.  His  studies 
being  honest,  ended  in  conviction.  He  found  that  Religion  was  true, 
and,  what  he  had  learned,  he  endeavoured  to  teach,  by  Observations 
on  the  Conversion  of  St.  Paul;  a  treatise  to  which  Lifidelitj/  has 
never  been  able  to  fabricate  a  specious  answer."  Two  days  previous 
to  his  dissolution,  this  great  and  good  man  addressed  his  Physician 
in  these  memorable  words:  "  Doctor,  you  shall  be  my  confessor. 
When  I  first  set  out  in  the  world,  I  had  friends  who  endeavoured  to 
shake  my  belief  in  the  Christian  religion.  I  saw  difficulties  which 
staggered  me,  but  /  kept  my  mind  open  to  conviction.  The  evi- 
dences and  doctrines  of  Christianity,  studied  with  attention,  made 
me  a  most  firm  and  persuaded  believer  t)f  the  Christian  religion,  f 
have  made  it  the  rule  of  my  hfe,  and — it  is  the  p'ound  of  my  fu- 
ture hopes." 

The  conversion  of  the  Rer.  John  Newton,  late  Rector  of  St. 
Mary  IVoolnoth,  in  London,  Is  also  extremely  remarkable.  He  was 
born  of  religious  parent-,  and  brought  up  in  his  younger  years  in  a 
religious  manner.  The  impressions  of  this  kind  seemed  to  be  strong 
and  deep.  At  length,  however,  the  admonitions  of  conscience,  which, 
from  successive  repulses,  had  grown  weaker  and  weaker,  entirely 
ceased;  he  commenced  Infidel;  and  for  the  space  of  many  months, 
if  not  for  some  years,  he  does  not  recollect  that  he  had  a  single  check 
of  that  sort.  At  times  he  was  visited  wilh  sickness,  and  believed 
himself  near  to  death;  but  he  had  not,  like  Mr.  Paine  in  the  same 
situation,  the  least  concern  about  the  consequences.  He  seemed  to 
have  evei-y  mark  of  final  impenitence  and  rejection;  neither  jud"- 
nients  nor  mercies  made  the  least  impression  on  him. 

In  this  unhappy  condition  he  contintied  a  ntnnber  of  years,  all  the 
time  improving  himself  under  very  unpropitious  circumstances,  in 
classical  and  mathematical  learning.  At  the  age  of  about  twenty-three 
or  twenty-four,  however,  it  pleased  God  to  call  him  by  his  grace;  07tt 
of  darliness  and  delusion  into  his  marvellous  light,  and,  in  due  time, 
into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  children  of  God.  He  has  lived  now 
for  many  years  under  the  power  and  influence  of  religion,  and  has 
been  an  eminent  instrument  of  good  to  many  thousands  of  souls  by 
his  preaching  and  writings. 

It  is  remarkable,  that,  in  this  case,  also,  a  religious  education 
seemed  to  be  the  remote  means  of  his  conversion,  after  all  his  wan- 
derings from  the  path  of  duty. 

An  account  may  be  seen  at  large,  in  his  Letters  to  the  Reverend 
Dr.  Haweis,  of  this  ven,'  extraordinary  business.  The  Narrtttice^ 
is,  at  the  same  time,  useful  and  entertaining. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  31 

15.  Sir  John  Pringle,  one  of  the  first  characters  of  the 
present  age,  though  blessed  with  a  rehgious  education,  con- 
tracted tlie  principles  of  Injidelity,  when  he  came  to  travel 
abroad  in  the  world.  But  as  he  scorned  to  be  an  implicit  Be- 
liever, he  was  eqiially  averse  to  being  an  implicit  Unbeliever. 
He  therefore  set  himself  to  examine  the  principles  of  the  Gos- 
pel of  Christ,  with  all  caution  and  seriousness.  The  result 
of  his  investigation  was,  a  full  conviction  of  the  divine  ori- 
gin and  authority  of  the  Gospel.  The  evidence  of  Revela- 
tion appeared  to  him  to  be  solid  and  invincible ;  and  the 
nature  of  it  to  be  such  as  demanded  his  warmest  accept- 
ance. 

16.  SoAME  Jenyngs,  Esq.  Member  of  Parliament  for 
Cambridge,  by  some  means  had  been  warped  aside  into  the 
paths  of  hfideliti/,  and  continued  in  this  state  of  mind  several 
years.  Finding  his  spirit,  however,  not  at  rest,  he  was  in- 
duced to  examine  the  grounds  upon  which  his  Unbelief  was 
founded.  He  discovered  his  error;  was  led  to  believe  in  the 
Saviour  of  mankind;  and  wrote  a  small  treatise  in  defence 
of  the  Gospel,  entitled,  A  vieu:  of  the  internal  Evidences  of 
Christianity ;  a  work  worthy  the  perusal  of  every  man  who 
wishes  to  understand  the  excellency  of  the  religion  he  pro- 
fesses. 

17-  Doctor  Oliver,  a  noted  Physician  at  Bath,  was  a 
zealous  Unbeliever  till  within  a  short  time  of  his  death.  Being 
convinced  of  his  error,  and  the  danger  of  his  situation,  he 
bewailed  his  past  conduct  with  strong  compunction  of  heart, 
and  gave  up  his  spirit  at  last,  in  confident  expectation  of  mercy 
from  God,  through  the  merit  of  that  Saviour,  whom,  fur 
many  years  he  had  ridiculed  and  opposed.  "  Oh  !"  said  he, 
that  I  could  undo  the  mischief  which  1  have  done !  I  was  more 
ardent  to  poison  people  with  the  principles  of  irrehgion  and 
unbelief,  than  almost  any  Christian  can  be  to  spread  the  doc- 
trines of  Christ." 

18.  General  Dykern  received  a  mortal  wound  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Bergen  in  Germany,  A.  D.  1759.  He  was  of  a  noble 
family,  and  possessed  equal  abilities  as  a  minister  in  the  closet, 
and  a  general  in  the  field,  being  favoured  with  a  liberal  edu- 
cation. Having  imbibed  the  principles  of  hfidelity,  by  some 
means  or  other,  he  continued  a  professed  Deist,  till  the  lime  he 
received  his  fatal  wound.      Duriug  his  illness,  however^  a  ureal 


32  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

and  effectual  change  was  wrought  upon  his  mind  by  the  power 
of  divine  grace,  and  he  died  in  the  full  assurance  of  faith,  glory- 
ing in  the  salvation  of  Jesus,  and  wondering  at  the  happy 
change  which  had  taken  place  in  his  soul  *! 

19.  John,  Earl  of  B,o chest er,  was  a  great  man  every  way; 
a  great  wit,  a  great  scholar,  a  great  poet,  a  great  sinner,  and  a 
great  penitent.  His  life  was  written  by  Bishop  Burnet,  and 
his  funeral  sermon  was  preached  and  published  by  Mr.  Par- 
sons. D;-.  Johnson,  speaking  of  Burnet's  Life  of  this 
Nobleman,  says,  "  The  crilic  ought  to  read  it  for  its  ele- 
gance, the  philosopher  for  its  argument,  and  the  saint  for  its 
«  piety." 

His  Lordship,  it  appears,  had  advanced  to  an  uncommon 
height  of  wickedness,  having  been  an  advocate  in  the  black 
cause  of  atheism,  and  an  encomiast  to  Bethebub.  He  had 
raked  too  in  the  very  bottom  of  the  jakes  of  debauchery,  and 
had  been  a  satyrist  against  religion  itself.  But  when,  like  the 
prodigal  in  the  Gospel,  he  came  to  himself,  his  mind  was  filled 
with  the  most  extreme  horror,  which  forced  sliarp  and  l)itter 
invectives  from  him  against  himself;  terming  himself  the  vilest 
wretch  on  whom  the  sun  ever  shone ;  wishing  he  had  been  a 
crawling  leper  hi  a  ditch,  a  link-boy,  or  a  beggar,  or  had 
lived  in  a  dungeon,  rather  than  have  offended  God  in  the  man- 
ner he  had  done. 

Upon  the  first  visit  of  Mr.  Parsons  to  him  on  May  26th, 
1680,  after  a  journey  from  the  (f(s^,  he  found  him  labouring 
under  great  trouble  of  mind,  and  his  conscience  full  of  terror. 
The  Earl  told  him — "When  on  his  journey,  he  had  been 
arguing  with  greater  vigour  against  God  and  Religion,  than 
ever  he  had  done  in  his  life-time  before,  and  that  he 
had  been  resolved  to  run  them  down  with  all  the  argument 
and  spite  in  the  world;  but  like  the  great  convert,  St.  Paul, 
be  found  it  hard  to  kick  against  God."  At  this  time,  how- 
ever, his  heart  was  so  powerfully  affected,  that  he  argued  as 
much  for  God  and  Religion,  as  ever  he  had  done  against 
them.  He  had  such  tremeudpus  apprehensions  of  the  Divine 
Majesty,  mingled  with  such  delightful  contemplations  of 
his  nature  and  pefections,  and  of  the  amiableness  of  religion, 


*  See  this  extraordinary  case  more  at  large  in  De  Coetlogon's 
Divine  Treasury,  p.  27. 


AN'D  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  33 

diat  he  said, — ''  I  never  was  advanced  thus  far  towards  hap- 
piness in  my  life  before :  though  upon  the  commission  of 
some  extraordinary  suis,  I  have  had  some  considerable  checks 
and  warnings  from  within;  but  still  I  struf^gled  with  them, 
and  so  wore  them  otf  again.  One  dav,  at  on  atheistical 
meeting  in  the  house  of  a  person  of  quality,  I  undertook  to 
manage  the  cause,  and  was  the  principal  disputant  against  GoD 
and  lieligioji;  and  for  my  performances  received  the  ap- 
plauses of  the  ^^hole  company.  Upon  this  my  mind  was 
terribly  struck,  and  I  immediately  replied  thus  to  myself, — 
'  Good  God,  that  a  man  who  walks  upright,  who  sees  the 
wonderful  works  of  God,  and  has  the  use  of  his  senses  and 
reason,  should  use  them  to  the  defying  of  his  Creator!' — 
But  though  this  was  a  good  beginning  towards  my  conver- 
sion, to  find  my  conscience  touched  for  my  sins,  yet  it  went 
off  again:  nay,  all  my  life  long  1  had  a  secret  value  and  reve- 
rence for  an  honest  man,  and  loved  morality  in  others.  But  I 
had  formed  an  odd  scheme  of  religion  to  myself,  which  would 
solve  all  that  God  or  conscieiKe  might  force  upon  me ;  yet 
I  was  never  well  reconciled  to  the  busi*iess  of  Christ ianiti/; 
nor  had  1  that  reverence  for  the  Gospel  of  Christ  which 
I  ought  to  have  had." 

This  state  of  mind  coiitinued,  till  the  fifty-third  chapter  of 
Isaiah  was  read  to  him,  together  with  some  other  parts  of 
the  Sacred  Scriptures ;  when  it  pleased  God  to  till  his  mind 
Avith  such  peace  and  joy  in  believing,  that  it  was  remarkable  to 
all  about  him.  Afterwards  he  frequently  desired  those  who 
were  with  him,  to  read  the  same  chapter  to  him;  upon 
which  he  used  to  enlarge  in  a  very  familiar  and  atJ'ectionate 
manner,  applying  the  whole  to  his  own  humiliation  and  en- 
couragement. 

"  O  blessed  God,"  he  wouM  say,  "  can  such  a  horrid  crea- 
ture as  I  am  be  accepted  by  thee,  who  have  denied  thy  being, 
and  contemned  thy  power  ?  Can  there  be  mercy  and  pardon  for 
me?  Will  God  own  such  a  wretch  as  I  am?" 

In  the  middle  of  his  sickness  he  said  still  farther : — *'  Shall 
the  unspeakable  joys  of  heaven  be  conferred  on  me  ?  O  mighty 
Saviour,  never  but  through  thine  infinite  love  and  satisfaction  ! 
O  never  but  by  the  purchase  of  thy  blood !"  adding-^^'  that 
with  all  abhorrence,  he  reflecteti  upon  his   former  life — that 

F 


34  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

from  his  heart  he  repented  of  all  that  folly  and  madness  of  which 
he  iiad  been  guilt}." 

He  had  a  strong  and  growing  esteem  for  the  Sacred  Scrip- 
tures, and  evidenuY  saw  their  divine  fulness  and  excellency  ; — - 
"  For  having  spokcu  to  his  heait,  he  acknowledged  that  all  the 
seeming  absurdities  and  contradictions  fancied  by  men  of  corrupt 
and  reprobate  judgments,  were  vanished  ;  and  the  excellency  and 
beauty  oi  them  appeared  conspicuously,  now  that  he  was  come 
to  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it." 

Durmg  his  illness  he  had  a  hearty  concern  for  the  pious  edu- 
cation of  his  children,  v.ishing,  <'  his  son  might  never  be  a 
wit,  one  of  those  wretchtd  creatures  who  pride  theinselves  in 
abusin'?  God  and  Religion,  denying  his  Being  or  his  Provi- 
dence; but  that  he  might  become  an  hoJiest  man  ;  and  of  a 
truly  religious  character,  which  only  could  be  the  support  and 
blessing  of  his  family." 

One  of  his  companions  coming  tq  see  him  on  his  death-bed, 
he  said  to  him: — "  O  remember  that  }ou  contemn  God  no 
more.  He  is  an  avenging  God,  and  will  visit  you  for  your 
sins :  and  will,  I  hope,  in  mercy  touch  your  conscience,  sooner 
or  later,  as  he  has  done  mine.  Yoii  and  I  liave  been  friends 
and  sinners  together  a  great  while,  therefore  I  am  the  more  free 
with  you.  We  have  been  all  mistaken  in  our  conceits  and  opi- 
nions ;  our  persuasions  have  been  false  and  groundless ;  therefore 
I  pray  God  grant  you  repentance." 

When  he  drew  towards  the  last  stage  of  his  sickness,  he  said, 
"  If  God  should  spare  me  yet  a  little  longer  time  here,  I 
hope  to  bring  glory  tQ  his  name,  proportionably  to  the  dis- 
honour I  have  done  to  him  in  my  whole  past  life;  and  parti- 
cularly by  my  endeavours  to  convince  others,  and  to  assure 
them  of  the  danger  of  their  condition,  if  they  continued  im- 
penitent; and  to  tell  them  how  graciously  God  hath  dealt 
with  me." 

And  when  he  pame  within  still  nearer  views  of  dissolution, 
about  three  or  four  days  before  it,  he  said,  "  I  shall  now  die: 
but,  Oh !  what  unspeakable  glories  do  I  see !  What  joys,  beyond 
thought  or  fxpression  am  I  sensible  of!  I  am  assured  of  God's 
mercy  to  me  through  Jesus  Christ!  Oh!  how  1  long  to  die, 
and  to  be  with  my  SavlourI" 

Foj  the  admonition  of  others,    and  to   undo   as    much  as 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  35 

was  in  his  power,  the  mischief  of  liis  former  conduct,  he  sub- 
scribed the  following  Recantation,  and  ordered  it  to  be  pub- 
lished after  his  death : 

"  For  the  benefit  of  all  those  whom  I  may  have  drawn  into 
sin,  by  ray  example  and  encouragement,  I  leave  to  tl:e  world 
this  my  last  declaration ;  which  I  deliver  in  the  presence  of  the 
great  God,  who  knows  the  secrets  of  all  hearts,  and  before 
whom  I  am  r.ow  appearing  to  be  judged;  That  from  the  bfiUom 
of  my  soul  I  detest  and  abhor  the  whole  course  of  my  former 
wicked  life;  ibat  1  think  J  can  never  sulhciently  admire  the 
goodness  of  God,  who  has  given  me  a  true  seniC  of  my  perni- 
cious opinions  and  vik  practices^  by  winch  \  luive  hitherto  lived 
without  hope,  and  without  God  m  the  world;  have  bten  an 
open  enemy  to  Jesus  Christ,  doing  the  utnnost  despite  to  the 
Holy  Spirit  of  grace:  and  that  the  greatest  testimony  of  my 
charity  to  such,  is,  to  warn  them  in  the  Name  of  God,  as  they 
regard  the  welfare  of  their  immortal  souls,  no  more  to  deny  his 
being  or  his  providence,  or  despise  his  goodness  :  no  more  to 
make  a  mock  of  sin  or  contemn  'he  pure  aiiii  eisc -lleiU  religion 
of  my  ever-blessed  Redeemer,  through  whose  merits  alone, 
I,  one  of  the  greatest  of  suiners,  do  yet  hope  for  mercy  and  for- 
giveness.   Amen.*" 

20.  We  have  an  account  of  the  conversion  of  another  de- 
termined Deist  to  the  faith  of  Christ,  m  six  letters,  from  a 
Minister  of  the  Reformed  Church  abroad,  to  John  Newton, 
late  Rector  of  St.  Mary  JVooInoth,  London.  He  was  born 
of  religious  parents,  was  brought  up  at  school  and  university 
for  the  ministry,  became  eminent  for  his  literary  attaiiiments, 
but  lost  all  his  religion,  and  commenced  Deist.     Proud  of  his 

*  The  case  of  Sir  Duncomb  Colchester,  a  magistrate  in  ihe 
county  of  Gloucester,  towards  the  close  of  tlie  1  7th  ccr.tury,  was  some- 
what like  this  of  Rochester.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  exceiient 
parts,  a  generous  spirit,  and  undaiuited  courage.  Havins,  however, 
spent  maiiy  years  in  sundry  extravagancies,  he  was  at  leugrh,  by  a 
long  and  paintul  sickness,  brought  to  a  very  serious  sense  of  the  ex- 
cellency of  Religion,  and  of  his  own  great  sin  and  folly  in  the  neglect 
and  contempt  of  it.  He  accordingly,  by  way  of  making  some  small 
reparation  for  the  mischief  he  had  done  by  his  v  ickedness,  drew  up 
an  address  to  his  friends  and  the  public,  somewhat  like  to  the  above 
of  Rochester,  signed  by  divers  witnesses,  and  caused  it  to  be  read 
in  two  neighbouring  churches,  and  spread  abroad  among  all  his 
friends  and  neighbours  through  the  comity,  as  extensively  as  he  was 
able. 

f2 


3Q  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

abilities  aiid  attainments,  and  trusting  solely  to  his  reasoning 
powers,  he  disdained  to  think  with  the  vulgar,  and  was  too  wise 
in  his  own  esteem  to  be  instructed  by  Diviue  Revelation. 
But  while  he  was  unacquainted  with  God,  he  was  guilty  of 
secret  impurities,  and  a  stranger  to  peace.  Like  a  ship  in  a 
storm,  without  rudder  or  pilot,  he  was  hurried  along  by  tumul- 
tuous! piissions,  till  he  grew  weary  of  life.  In  such  a  state  of  soul, 
and  at  such  a  crisis,  the  light  of  heavenly  truth  broke  in  upon  his 
mind.  The  Lord  spake  and  it  was  done.  The  sti  rm  was 
hushed.  The  man  was  powerfully  and  unexpectedly  changed. 
The  servant  of  sin  became  the  servant  of  Christ;  and  he  now 
preaches  with  energy  and  success,  the  faith  he  befoie  laboured 
to  destroy*. 

21.  Captain  John  Lee,  who  was  executed  for  forgery,, 
March  4,  1784,  became  an  Injidel,  through  reading  the  ele- 
gant, but  sophistical  writings  of  David  Hume.  Deeply, 
however,  did  he  repent  his  folly,  when  he  came  to  be  in  dis- 
tressed circumstances.  "  I  leave  to  the  world,"  said  he,  in  a 
letter  to  a  friend  the  night  before  his  execution,  "  this  mournfut 
memento,  that  however  much  a  man  may  be  favoured  by  per- 
sonal qualifications,  or  distiiiguished  by  mental  endowments; 
genius  will  be  useless,  and  abilities  avail  but  little,  unless  accom- 
panied by  a  sense  of  religion,  and  attended  by  the  practice  of 
virtue." 

22.  Another  Gentleman,  whose  name  is  concealed  out 
of  delicacy  to  his  connections,  w  as  descended  of  a  noble  and 
religious  family.  His  life  was  extremely  irregular  and  disso- 
lute, but  his  natural  parts  and  endowments  of  mind  so  extraor- 
dinary,, that  they  rendered  his  conversation  agreeable  to  per- 
sons of  the  highest  rank  and  quality.  Being  taken  ill,  he  be- 
lieved he  should  die  at  tlie  very  beginning  of  his  sickness.  His 
friend,    with    whom    he   had   frequently    disputed  against   the 

*  Similar  to  this  instance,  in  some  respects,  is  the  case  of  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Scott,  late  Chaplain  to  the  Lock  Hospital  in  London. 
"  I  feel  myself  impelled  to  declare,"  says  he,  "  that  I  once  was  not 
much  more  disposed  to  credit  the  Scriptures  than  3Ir.  Paine:  aud 
having  got  rid  of  the  shackles  of  education,  was  much  flattered  by 
my  emancipation  and  superior  discernment.  But  twenty  years,  em- 
ployed in  diligently  investigating  the  evidences  and  contents  of  the 
Bible,  have  produced  in  me  an  unshaken  assurance  that  it  is  the 
Word  0/  Go»." 

Amu'^r  to  Paine's  Age  of  Reason,  p.  CJ. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  37 

existence  of  God  and  the  truths  of  revealed  religion,  came  to 
visit  him  on  the  second  day  after  he  was  seized.  He  asked  him 
how  he  did,  and  what  made  him  so  dejected  ? 

**  Alas !"  said  he,  "  are  you  so  void  of  understanding,  as  to 
imagine  1  am  afraid  to  die  ?  Far  be  such  thoughts  from  me. 
.  I  could  meet  death  with  as  much  courage  as  1  Lave  encoun- 
tered an  enemy  in  the  field  of  battle,  and  embrace  it  as  freely 
as  I  ever  did  any  friend  whom  I  entirely  loved :  for  I  see  no- 
thing m  this  world  that  is  worth  the  pains  of  keeping.  I 
have  made  trial  of  most  states  and  conditions  of  life.  I  have 
continued  at  home  for  a  considerable  time,  and  travelled 
abroad  in  foreign  parts.  I  have  been  rich  aud  poor.  I  have 
been  raised  to  honour  and  reversed  in  a  high  degree.  I  have 
also  been  exposed  to  scorn  and  contempt.  I  have  been  wise  and 
foolish.  I  have  experienced  the  difference  between  virtue  and 
vice,  and  every  thing  that  was  possible  for  a  man  in  my  sta- 
tion: so  that  I  am  capable  of  distinguishing  what  is  really 
good  and  praisc-\\ orthy,  and  what  is  not.  Now  I  .see  with  a 
clearer  sight  than  ever,  and  discern  a  vast  difference  between 
the  vain  licentious  discourse  of  a  Libtitine,  and  the  sound  ar^ 
giimcnt  of  a  true  Believer:  for  though  the  former  may  express 
himself  more  finely  than  the  latter,  so  as  to  puzzle  him  with 
hard  questions  and  intricate  notions,  yet  all  amount  to  no  more 
than  the  fallacy  of  a  few  airy  repartees,  which  are  never  af- 
fected by  sober  Christians,  nor  capable  of  eluding  the  force 
of  solid  reason.  But  now  I  know  how  to  make  a  distinction  be- 
tween them ;  and  I  wish  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart  1  had 
been  so  sensible  of  my  error  in  the  time  of  my  health;  then  I 
had  never  had  those  dreadful  foretastes  of  hell  which  I  now 
have.  Oh  !  what  a  .sad  account  have  I  to  give  of  a  long  life 
spent  in  sin  and  foily !  I  look  beyond  the  fears  of  a  ttmporal 
death.  All  the  dread  that  you  perceive  in  me  arises  from  the 
near  approach  1  am  making  to  an  eternal  death;  for  I  must  die 
to  live  to  all  eternity." 

This  unhappy  Gentleman  continued  m  this  manner  ta 
bewail  his  past  folly,  atheism  and  infidelity,  for  forty  days, 
and  then  expired.  His  friend  however,  took  much  pain^. 
with  him  to  encourage  his  repentance,  faith,  and  return  to  a 
proper  state  of  mind;  the  particulars  of  which  would  be  too 
tedious  to  record  in  this  place.  At  last,  however,  he  was 
brought    to  entertain    soine   hope,    thai   the   REDtEME»  of 


33  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGIOxV 

mankind  would  take  pity  on  Lis  deplorable  condition,  pnrdon 
his  .sins,  and  rescue  him  from  that  eveiS-islinu  destructjou 
%vhich  awaits  ail  such  characters.  He  told  his  friend,  there- 
fore, that  if  he  departed  \^'ith  .  a  smilt,  he  might  hi»pe  for  ihe 
be-st  concerning  him;  but  if  he  should  be  seen  giving  up  the 
ghost  with  a  fioicit,  there  would  be  reason  to  fear  the 
worst. 

This  was  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  he  lived 
till  four  the  next  niurniug.  A  little  before  he  expired  he  was 
heard  to  speak  these  words  softly  to  himself — "  Oh !  that  I  had 
possession  of  the  meanest  place  in  htuven,  and  could  but  creep 
into  one  corner  of  it."  Afterwards  he  cried  out  four  several  times 
together — '■  O  dear.'  dear!  dear !  dear!" — and  near  a  minute 
before  he  expired,  his  friend  perceiving  him  to  look  full  in  his 
face,  with  a  smiting  countenance 

There  we  leave  him  till  the  resurrection  morn*. 

23.  When  Count  Struensee,  Prime  Minister  of  the 
kingdom  of  Denmark,  had  been  disgraced  and  imprisoned 
by  his  Sovereign  for  certain  misdemeanors  of  ^  which  he 
had  been  guilty,  he  was  brought  from  a  state  of  Injidelitj/, 
to  a  serious  sense  of  his  situation.  He  then  declared,  "  The 
more  I  learn  Christianity  from  Scripture,  the  more  I  grow 
convinced  how  unjust  those  objections  are  with  which  it  is 
charged.  I  find,  for  instance,  that  all  what  VoLXAirtE  says 
of  the  intolerance  of  Christians,  and  of  blood-shedding  caused 
by  Christianity,  is  a  very  unjust  charge  laid  upon  reli- 
gion. It  is  easy  to  be  seen,  that  those  cruelties,  said  to  be 
caused  by  religion,  if  properly  considered,  were  the  produc- 
tion of  human  passions,  selfishness  and  ambition,  and  that  re- 
ligion served  in  such  cases  only  for  a  cloak, — I  am  fully  con- 
vinced of  the  truth  of  the  Christian  religion,  and  I  feel  its 
power  in  quieting  my  conscience,  and  informing  niy  senti- 
ments.    1  have  examined  it,  during  a  good  stale  of  health,  and 

*  It  is  impossible  for  any  man  to  say  with  certainty  whether  the 
change,  which  seems  to  pass  upon  the  human  mind,  upon  these  me- 
lancholy occasions,  is  real  and  saving,  or  only  apparent  and  delusive. 
We  have  known  various  distances,  where  ever)'  svmptoni  of  genuine 
repentance  has  been  exliil)ited  upon  a  sick  bed,  but  no  sooiicr  Iras 
health  returned,  than  llicy  have  returned  to  folly  with  accelerated 
speed ;  fulfilling  the  old  Popish  distich  ; 

"  When  the  Devil  was  sick,  the  Devil  a  Monk  would  be: 
When  the  D«w7 •rot  well,  the  devil  a  Mo.'j/t  was  he!" 


AND  THE  SACRED  ^VRITINGS.  39 

with  all  the  reason  I  am  niaster  of,  I  tried  very  argument, 
I  felt  no  fear,  1  have  taken  my  own  time,  and  I  have  not 
been  in  haste.  I  own  with  joy  I  find  Chrhtianity  the  more 
amiable,  the  more  I  get  acqujiinted  with  it.  I  never  knew  it 
before.  I  believed  it  conirtsdicted  reason,  and  the  nature  of 
man, whose  religion  it  \vas  designed  to  be.  I  thought  it  an  art- 
fully contrived  and  ambiguous  doctrine,  full  of  incompre- 
hensibilities. Whenever  I  formerly  thought  on  rcligicni  in  some 
serious  moments,  1  had  always  an  idea  in  my  mind  how  it 
ought  to  be,  which  was,  it  should  be  simple,  aud  accommo- 
dated to  the  abilities  of  men  in  every  condition.  I  now  lind 
Christianity  to  be  exactly  so;  it  answers  entirely  that  idea 
which  I  had  formed  of  true  religion.  Had  I  but  formerly 
known  it  was  such,  I  should  not  lia\e  delayed  turning  Christ  inn 
till  this  time  of  my  inipnsonment.  But  1  had  the  misfor- 
tune to  be  prejudiced  against  religion,  first  through  my  own 
passions,  but  afterwards  likewise  by  so  many  human  inven- 
tions, foisted  into  it,  of  which  I  could  see  plainly  that  they 
had  no  foundation,  though  they  were  styled  essential  parts  of 
Christianity.  1  was  offended  when  God  was  always  repre- 
sented to  me  as  an  augry,  jealous  judge,  who  is  much 
pleased  when  he  has  an  opportunity  of  shewing  his  revenge, 
though  I  knew  he  was  love  itself;  and  am  now  convinced,  that 
though  he  must  punish,  yet  he  takes  no  kind  of  delight  in 
it,  and  is  rather  for  pardoning.  From  my  infancy  1  have  known 
but  few  Chiisti'ins  who  had  not  scandalized  me  by  their  en- 
thusiasm and  wickedness,  which  they  wanted  to  hide  under  the 
cloak  of  piety.  I  knew  indeed  that  not  all  Christians  were 
such,  or  talked  such  an  affected  language;  but  I  was  too 
volatile  to  enquire  of  better  Christians  after  tlje  true  spirit  of 
religio;i.  Frequently  1  heard  sermons  in  my  youth,  but  they 
made  no  impression  upon  me.  That  without  Christ  there 
was  no  salvation  was  the  only  truth  which  served  for  a  subject 
in  all  sermons;  aind  this  was  repeated  over  and  over  again  in  sy- 
nonimous  expressions.  But  it  was  never  set  in  its  true  light, 
and  never  properly  proved.  1  saw  people  cry  at  church.,  but 
after  their  tears  were  dried  up,  1  found  them  in  their  actions  not 
in  the  least  better,  but  rather  allowing  themselves  in  every 
transgression,  upon  the  privilege  of  being  faith  iul  believers. 
— He  said  he  ohserved  in  .SY.  Paul  a  great  genius,  much 
wisdom,  and  true  philosophy.     The   apostles   write  extremely 


40  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION. 

well,  now  and  then  inimitably  beautiful,  and  at  tlie  same  time 
with  simplicity  and  clearness. — The  Free-thinkers  extol  the 
fables  of^sop,  but  the  parables  and  narrations  of  Christ 
will  not  please  them ;  notwithstanding  they  are  derived  from  a 
greater  knowledge  of  nature,  and  contain  more  excellent  mo- 
rality. Besides,  they  are  proposed  with  a  more  noble  and  artless 
simplicity  than  any  writings  of  the  kind,  among  ancient  or  mo- 
dern authors." 

24.  Count  Brandt,  the  companion  of  Struenser  in 
guilt  and  misfortunes,    with  great  freedom  owned    before  me 

■  and  others,  that  his  imprisonment  was  the  means  of  setting 
his  soul  at  liberty  ;  and  he  found  his  chains  so  little  troublesome 
to  him,  that  he  would  oftentimes  take  them  up  and  kiss  them." 
"  For,"  said  he,  '''  when  I  believed  myself  to  be  free,  I  was  a 
miserable  slave  to  my  passions;  and  now  since  I  am  a  prisoner, 
truth  and  grace  have  set  me  at  liberty."  He  pitied  the  mi- 
serable condition  of  those  who  were  under  the  yoke  of  unbe- 
lief and  sin,  which  he  himself  had  worn,  and  kept  himself  in  it 
by  reading  deistical  writings.  He  mentioned,  among  the  rest, 
the  works  of  Voltaire,  to  whom  he  owed  very  little  that 
was  good.  He  said  he  had  spent  upon  his  travels  four  days 
mih  this  old  advocate  for  unbelief,  and  had  heard  nothing 

from  him  hut  what  could  corrupt  the  heart  and  sound 
morah.  He  was  very  sorry  for  all  this,  but  was  much  pleased 
that  he  had  found  a  taste  for  the  true  Word  of  God  ;  whose 
efBcacy  upon  his  heart,  since  he  read  it  with  a  good  intention, 
convinced  him  of  its  divine  origin*. 

It  is  usually  said,  that  example  has  a  more  powerful  effect 
upon  the  mind  than  precept.  None  can  deny  that  these  are  re- 
spectable ones.  They  are  such  as  every  Deist  and  Sceptic  in 
the  kingdom  should  well  consider,  before  he  ventures  his  sal- 
vation upon  the  justness  of  his  own  principles.  If  equal  danger, 
or  if  any  danger  attended  our  embracing  the  Christian  scheme, 
the  Unbeliever  would  be  in  a  certain  degree  justified  in 
with-holding  his  assent  to  that  scheme  ;  but  as  all  the  hazard 
h  on  his  side  of  the  question,  and  none  on  the  other,  lan- 
guage furnishes  no  other  words  to  express  the  extreme  folly 
of  treoiting  religion  with  levity,  much  less  with  ridicule  and 
contempt. 

».       ..     ^  ■■-■  •    ■  -  ■ —  -   -     -  ■  -  ■ 

*  See  Dr.  Hee's  History  of  Count  Enevold  Brandt. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  41 

III.— EXAMPLES  OF    DYING  CHRISTIANS  WHO  HAD   LIVED 
IN  THE  SPIRIT  OF  THE  "WORLD, 


This  shal!  ye  have  of  my  hand,  ye  shall  lie  down  in  sorrow. — Isaiah  i.  11. 


25.  Hugo  Grotius  is  said  to  have  possessed  the  brightest 
genius  ever  recorded  of  a  youth  in  the  learned  world,  and  was 
a  profound  admirer,  and  a  daily  reader,  of  the  Sacred  IVrit- 
i/igs;  yet  after  all  his  attainments,  reputation,  and  labour  in  the 
cause  of  learning,  he  was  constrained  at  last  to  cry  out,  "  Ah !  I 
liave  consumed  my  life  in  a  laborious  doing  of  nothing! — I 
would  give  all  my  learning  and  honour  for  the  plain  integrity  of 
John  Urick!"- 

This  John  Urick  was  a  religious  poor  man,  who  spent 
cigiit  hours  of  the  day  in  prayer,  eight  in  labour,  and  but  eight 
in  meals,  sleep,  and  other  necessaries*. 

Grotius  had  devoted  too  much  of  his  time  to  worldly  com- 
pany, secular  business,  and  learned  tritles  ;  too  little  to  the  exer- 
cises of  the  closet.  This  is  forsaking  the  fountain  of  living 
Tcaters,  and  hexing  out  to  ourselves  broken  cisterns  that  can 
hold  no  zcater. 

26.  When  Salmasius,  who  was  one  of  the  most  consum- 
mate scholars  of  his  time,  came  to  the  close  of  life,  he  saw 
cause  to  exclaim  bitterly  against  himself.  "  Oh !"  said  he,  "  1 
have  lost  a  world  of  time  !  time,  the  most  precious  thing  in  the 
world!  whereof  had  1  but  one  year  more,  it  should  be  spent  in 
David's  Psa/ws  and  Paul's  Epistles'." — Oh!  "  5Vrs,"  .said 
he  again  to  those  about  him,  ""  mind  the  world  less,  and  God 

I" 
more  1 

27.  Dr.  Samuejl  JoiiNSONf,  whose  death  made  such  a 
noise  a  few  years  ago,  was  unquestionably  one  of  the  first  men 
of  the  age,  and  a  serious  Believer  in  Jesus  Christ  for  many 
years  before  his  death.    Mixing,  however,  too  much  with  men  of 

*  Alfred  the  Great,  King  of  England,  who  fought  fifty-six  bat- 
tles with  the  Danes,  m.uiy  of  w  liicli  were  gained  by  iiis  own  personal 
courage  and  great  example,  dodicatfd,  with  strict  punctuality,  eight 
hours  every  day  to  acts  of  devotion,  eight  hours  to  public  affairs,  and 
as  many  to  sleep,  study,  and  necessary  refreslnnent. 
"  t  Dr-  Johnson's  Eife  by  Bos  well  ai)pears  to  mo  one  of  the 
most  entertaining  narruti\es  in  the  English  language. 

c; 


42  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

no  religion^  his  mind  was  kept  barren  of  spiritual  consolation, 
and  he  was  grievously  haunted  with  the  fear  of  death  through  his 
whole  life.  "  The  approach  of  death,"  said  he  to  a  friend, 
"  is  very  dreadful.  I  am  afraid  to  think  on  that  which  I 
know  1  cannot  avoid.  It  is  vain  to  look  rouml  and  round 
for  that  help  which  cannot  be  had.  Yet  we  hope  and  hope, 
and  fancy  that  be  who  has  lived  to-day  may  live  to-morrow." 
To  anotlier  friend  he  said,  "  He  never  had  a  moment  in  which 
death  was  not  terrible  to  him,"  On  another  occasion  he 
declared  in  company  at  Oxford,  "  1  am  afraid  I  shall  be  one 
of  those  who  shall  be  damned — sent  'to  hell,  and  punished 
everlastingly."  When  this  great  man,  however,  actually 
approached  dissolution,  '*  all  his  fears  were  calmed  and  ab- 
sorbed by  the  prevalence  of  his  faith,  and  his  trust  in  the 
merits  and  propitiation  of  Jesus  Christ,"  He  was  full  of 
resignation,  strong  in  faith,  joyful  in  hope  of  his  own  salva- 
tion, and  anxious  for  the  salvation  of  his  friends.  He  par- 
ticularly exhorted  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  on  his  dying  bed, 
*'  to  read  the  Bible,  and  to  keep  holy  the  Sahbath-day" 
The  last  words  he  was  heard  to  speak  were,  "God  bless 
you!" 

£8.  Baron  Halle  R,  a  famous  Swiss  Physician,  the  delight 
and  ornament  of  his  counti^,  was  at  the  same  time  a  great 
philosopher,  a  profound  politician,  an  agreeable  poet,  and 
more  particularly  famous  for  his  skill  in  botany,  anatomy,  and 
physic.  Dining  his  last  sickness  he  had  the  honour  of  a  visit 
from  Joseph,  the  late  Emperor  of  Germany.  Upon  his 
death-bed,  owing  probably  to  the  variety  of  his  literary  pur- 
suits, the  multiplicity  of  his  engagements,  and  the  honours 
heaped  upon  him  by  the  world,  he  went  through  sore  conflicts 
of  spirit  concerning  his  interest  in  the  salvation  of  the  Re- 
deemer. His  mind  was  clouded,  and  his  soul  destitute  of 
comfort.  Li  his  last  moments,  however,  he  expressed  renewed 
confidence  in  God's  mercy  through  Christ,  and  left  the  world 
in  peace. 

29.  Sir  John  Mason,  on  his  death-bed,  spoke  to  those 
about  him  in  the  manner  following: — "  I  have  lived  to  see  five 
princes,  and  haye  been  privy-counsellor  to  four  of  them.  I 
have  seen  the  most  remarkable  things  in  foreign  parts,  and 
have  been  present  at  most  state  transactions  for  thirty  years 
together;  and  1  have  learnt  this  after  so  many  years  experU 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  43 

ence — That  seriousness  is  the  greatest  wisdom,  temperance 
the  best  physic,  and  a  good  conscience  the  best  estate.  And, 
were  I  to  live  again,  I  would  change  the  court  for  a  cloister; 
my  privy  counsellor's  bustle  for  a  hermit's  retirement,  and  the 
whole  life  I  have  lived  in  tije  palace  for  an  hour's  enjoyment  of 
God  in  the  chapel*." 

30.  Philip  the  Third,  King  of  Spain,  when  he  drew  near 
the  end  of  his  days,  expressed  his  deep  regret  for  a  careless 
and  worldly  life  in  the  following  emphatical  words: — "  Ah! 
how  happy  would  it  have  been  for  me  had  I  spent  these 
twenty-three  years,  that  I  have  held  my  kingdom,  in  a  retire- 
ment!" 

31.  Cardinal  Mazarine,  one  of  the  greatest  statesmen 
in  Europe,  cried  out  a  little  before  his  death  with  astonishment 
and  tears: — "  Oh!  my  poor  soul!  what  will  become  of  thee? 
Whither  wilt  thou  go  r  Were  I  to  live  again  I  w  ould  be  a  capu- 
chin rather  than  a  courtier." 

32.  George  Villiers,  the  younger,  Duke  of  Buckinsr- 
ham,  was  the  richest  man,  and  one  of  the  greatest  wits  in  the 

*  James  Earl  of  Marlborough,  who  was  killed  in  a  battle  at  sea 
on  the  coast  of  Holland,  A.  D.  l665,  having  a  kind  of  presentiment 
of  his  own  death,  wrote  to  his  friend  Sir  Hugh  Pollard  a  letter,  of 
which  tlie  following  is  an  extract :  — "  I  will  not  speak  aught  of  the 
vanity  of  this  world;  your  own  age  and  experience  will  save  that  la- 
bour; but  there  is  a  certain  thing  that  goetli  up  and  down  the  world, 
called  Religion,  dressed  and  pretended  fantastically,  and  to  puiposes 
bad  enough,  which  yet  by  such  evil  dealing  loseth  not  its  being. 
Moreover,  God  in  his  infinite  mercy  hath  given  us  his  Holy  Word,  in 
which,  as  there  are  many  things  hard  to  be  understood,  so  there  is 
enough  plain  and  easy  to  quiet  our  minds,  and  direct  us  concerning 
our  future  being.  I  confess  to  God  and  you,  I  have  been  a  great  neg- 
lector,  and  I  fear,  a  despiier  of  it.  GoD,  of  his  infinite  mercy,  par- 
don me  the  dreadful  fault.  But  m  hen  I  retired  myself  from  the  noise 
and  deceitful- vanity  of  the  world,  I  found  no  comfort  in  any  other 
resolution  than  what  I  had  from  thence.  I  commend  from  the  bottom 
of  ray  heart,  the  same  to  your  happy  use.  Dear  Sir  Hugh,  let  us  be 
more  generous  than  to  believe  we  die  as  the  beasts  that  perish;  but 
with  a  Christian,  manly,  brave  resolution,  look  to  wh;A  is  eternal.  I 
will  not  trouble  you  further.  Shew  this  letter  to  my  friends,  and  to 
whom  you  please.  The  only  great  GoD,  and  holy  GoD,  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  direct  you  to  a  happy  end  of  your  life,  and 
send  us  a  joyful  resurrection. 

So  prays  your  true  friend, 

"  Marlborough." 

G  2 


14  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

court  of  Charles  II.  ;  and  yet  such  were  his  vices  and  extra- 
vagancies, that,  before  he  died,  he  was  reduced  to  poverty 
and  general  contempt.  In  this  situation,  however,  he  seems 
to  have  been  brought  to  a  sense  of  his  folly,  and  the  danger  of 
his  condition,  from  the  letter  which  he  wrote  to  Dr.  Baelow, 
of  whom  he  had  a  high  opinion*,  on  his  death-bed;  and 
which  is  well  worth  the  attention  of  every  man  of  pleasure  and 
dissipation. 

**  Dear  J3octor, 

'^  I  always  looked  upon  you  as  a  man  of  true  virtue; 
and  know  you  to  be  a  person  of  sound  judgment.  For,  how- 
ever I  n)ay  act  in  opposition  to  the  principles  of  religion,  or 
the  dictates  of  reason,  I  can  honestly  assure  you  I  had  always 
the  highest  veneration  for  both.  The  world  and  I  may  shake 
liands,  for  I  dare  affirm  we  are  heartily  weary  of  each  other.  O 
Doctor,  what  a  prodigal  have  I  been  of  the  most  valuable  of  all 
possessions, — Timt!  [  have  squandered  it  away  with  a  persua- 
sion it  was  lasting:  and  now,  when  a  few  days  would  be  worth  a 
hetacomb  of  worlds,  I  cannot  flatter  myself  with  a  prospect  of 
half  a  dozen  hours. 

"  How  despicable  is  that  man  who  never  prays  to  his  God, 
but  in  the  time  of  his  distress!  In  what  manner  can  he  suppli- 
cate that  omnipotent  Being  in  his  affliction  with  reverence, 
\\honi,  in  the  tide  of  his  prosperity,  he  never  remembered  with 
dread?  Do  not  brand  me  with  injidelitj/,  when  I  tell  you  I  am 
almost  ashamed  to  offer  up  my  petitions  to  the  throne  of  grace; 
or  of  imploring  that  divine  mercy  in  the  next  world  which  I 
have  so  scandalously  abused  in  this.  Shall  ingratitude  to  man 
be  looked  on  as  the  blackest  of  crimes,  and  not  ingratitude  to 
God?  Shall  an  insult  offered  to  the  king  be  looked  on  in  the 
most  offensive  light ;  and  yet  no  notice  taken  when  the  King  of 
kings  is  treated  with  indignity  and  disrespect? 

^<  The  companions  of  my  former  libertinism  would  scarce 
believe  their  eyes,  were  you  to  shew  them  this  epistle.  They 
would  laugh  at  me  as  a  dreaming  enthusiast,  or  pity  me  as  a 
timorous  wretch,  who  was  shocked  at  the  appearance  of 
futurity.     They  are  more  entitled  to  my  pity  than  my  resent- 

*  This  ap]^ears  in  a  very  strong  light  from  the  a?iecdote  which  is 
recorded  oncernisig  the  Doctors  preaching  before  King  Charles 
the  Second,  and  the  iJukes  severe  address  to  him. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRrnNG»i>r"  ^'^^ 

ment.     A  future  state  inuy  very  well  sliike  terror VJ<d  any  mftn   ^  '      i' 
who  has  not  acted  well  in  this  life;  and  he  must  \wve  an  un- 
common share  of  courage  indeed,  who  does  not  smimk  at  the 
presence  of  God.  -^\^ 

"  You  see,  my  dear  Doctor,  the  apprehensions  of  death  wilt- 
soon  bring  the  most  profligate  to  a  proper  use  of  their  under- 
standing. I  am  haunted  by  remorse,  despised  by  my  acquain- 
tance, and,  r  fear,  forsaken  by  my  God.  There  is  nothing  so 
dangerous,  my  dear  Doctor,  as  extraordinary  abilities.  I  can- 
not be  accused  of  vanity  now,  by  being  sensible  that  I  was  once 
possessed  of  uncommon  qualifications;  as  I  sincerely  regret 
that  I  was  ever  blessed  with  any  at  all.  ]My  rank  in  life  still 
made  these  accomplishments  more  conspicuous;  and,  fasci- 
nated with  the  general  applause  which  they  procured,  1  never 
considered  about  the  proper  means  by  which  they  should  be 
displayed.  Hence,  to  purchase  a  smile  from  a  blockhead, 
whom  I  despised,  I  have  frequently  treated  the  virtuous  with 
disrespect;  and  sported  with  the  holy  name  of  Heaven,  to  ob- 
tain a  laugh  from  a  parcel  of  fools,  who  were  entitled  to  no- 
thing but  my  contempt. 

"  Your  men  of  w  it,  my  dear  Doctor,  look  on  themselves  a^ 
discharged  from  the  duties  of  Religio?t  :  and  confine  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Gospel  to  people  of  meaner  understandings;  and 
look  on  that  man  to  be  of  a  narrow  genius  who  studies  to  be 
good.  What  a  pity  that  the  Flolj/  Writings  are  not  made  the 
criterion  of  true  judgment!  Favour  me,  my  dear  Dor/or,  with 
a  visit  as  soon  as  possible.  Writing  to  you  gives  me  some  ease. 
I  am  of  opinion  this  is  the  last  visit  I  shall  ever  solicit  from 
you.  !My  distemper  is  powerful.  Come  and  pray  for  the  de- 
parting spirit  of  the  unhappy — Buckingham*." 

*  This  Xobleman  is  described  to  have  been  a  gay,  capricious  per- 
son, of  some  \\  it,  and  great  vivacity.  He  was  the  minister  of  riot, 
and  counsellor  of  infamous  practices;  the  slave  of  iutenijxirance,  a 
pretended  Alheiat,  witJiout  honour  or  principle,  ceconomy  or  discre- 
tion. At  last,  deserted  by  all  his  fVieads,  and  despised  i)y  all  tie 
world,  he  died  in  the  greatest  want  and  obscurity.  It  is  of  him  liial 
IMr.  Pope  says: 

"  In  the  worst  urn's  worst  room,  with  mat  half  imng. 

With  floor  of  plaister,  asid  tlie  walls  of  dung — 

Great  Villiers  lies:  Alas!  how  chung'd  from  him; 

That  life  of  pleasure,  and  that  soul  of  whim ! — 

No  w\i  to  flatter  left  of  all  his  store! 

No  fool  to  laugli  at,  wliich  he  valued  more! 


46  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

33.  We  have  also  an  ancommon  alarm  given  us  in  a  Letter 
from  another  Nobleman,  but  whose  name  is  concealed  from 
motives  of  delicacy,  on  his  death-bed^  to  an  intimate  cpmpa- 
nion ;  which  no  man  can  seriously  read,  and  not  tind  himself 
deeply  affected.     I  v^iil  produce  it  at  length. 

**  Dear  Sir, 

"  Before  you  receive  this,  my  final  state  will  be  deter-- 
mined  by  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth.  In  a  few  days  at  most, 
perhaps   in  a   few  hours,  the  inevitable  sentence  will  be  past. 

There,  victor  of  his  health,  of  fortune,  friends 
And  fame,  this  Loi'd  of  useless  thousands  ends." 

Mr.  Dryden  describes  this  Nobleman  as  being — 

"  A  man  so  various,  that  he  seem'd  to  be 
Not  one,  but  all  mankind's  epitome  : 
.Stiff  ill  opinions,  always  in  the  wrong ; 
Was  every  thing  by  starts,  and  nothing  long; 
But,  in  the  course  of  one  revolving  moon, 
Was  chymist,  fidler,  statesmaji  and  buffoon: 
Then  all  for  women,  jiainting,  rhyming,  drinking ; 
.    Besides  ten  thousand  freaks  that  died  in  thinking.'' 

W^ENT  WORTH  DiLLON,  Earl  of  RoscommoTi,  contemporary  with 
Buckingham,  was  also  a  man  of  considerable  learning  and  abilities, 
but  a  man  of  dissipation  and  licentious  principles.  He  addicted  him- 
self immoderately  to  gaining,  by  which  he  was  engaged  in  frequent 
quarrels,  ant!  brouglit  into  no  little  distress.  But,  however  we  may 
be  disposed  to  play  the  devil  wiieu  we  are  in  no  apparent  danger,  there 
is  a  tiu-.e  coming,  when  we  shall  all  see  things  in  a  more  serious  point 
of  ^iew.  Accordingly,  we  are  told,  at  the  moment  this  meri^  Noble- 
man expired,  he  was  constrained  to  utter,  with  an  energy  of  voice, 
that  expressed  the  most  ardent  devotion — 

"  My  God,  my  Father,  and  my  Friend, 

Do  not  forsake  me  in  the  end!'' 

Sometliing  like  the  case  of  Buckingham  and  Roscommon 
likewise,  was  the  last  scene  of  .ToHN  Sheffield,  Duke  of  Bucking- 
ham, who  died  in  the  reign  of  George  the  First,  if  we  may  credit 
the  lines  inscribed  by  his  own  order  on  his  monunient — 
"  Dubius,  sed  nou  improhus  vixi. 
Incertus  morior,  non  perturbatus. 
Kuniaiuun  est  nesciie  et  errare. 
Christum  adveneror,  Deo  confido. 
Ens  Entium,  miserere  mei!" 

Sir  Richard  Steel  hatli  given  us  another  affecting  confession 
of  a_d%ing  [nfidel,  in  No.  LXXXI.  of  the  Guardian;  and  a  humorous 
account  of  two  other  gentlemen  of  the  same  cast  in  Nos.  CXI.  and 
CXXXV.  of  the  Tatkr,  whicii  the  reader  may  consult  at  his  pleasure. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  47 

that  shall  raise  me  to  the  heights  of  happiness,  or  sink  me  to  the 
depths  of  misery.  AVhile  you  read  tiiese  lines,  I  shall  be  either 
groaning  under  the  agonies  of  absolute  despair,  or  triumphing  in 
fulness  of  joy. 

"  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  express  the  present  disposition  of 
my  soul — the  vast  uncertainty  1  am  struggling  with !  No  words 
can  paint  the  force  and  vivacity  of  my  apprehensions.  Every 
doubt  wears  the  face  of  horror,  and  m  ouk!  perfectly  overwhelm 
me,  but  for  some  faint  beams  of  hope,  which  dart  across  the 
tremendous  gloom!  What  tongue  can  utter  the  anguish  of  a  soul 
suspended  between  the  extremes  of  intinile  joy  and  eternal 
misery f  1  am  throwing  my  last  stake  for  eternity,  and  tremble 
and  shudder  for  the  important  event. 

"  Good  God!  how  have  I  employed  myself!  what  enchant- 
ment hath  held  me?  In  what  delirium  has  my  life  been  past? 
What  have  I  been  doing,  while  the  sun  in  its  race  and  the  stars 
in  their  courses,  have  lent  their  beams,  perhaps,  only  to  light  me 
to  perdition. 

"  I  never  awaked  till  now.  1  have  but  just  commenced  the 
dignity  of  a  rational  being.  Till  this  instant  I  had  a  wrong 
apprehension  of  every  thing  in  nature.  I  have  pursued  sha- 
dows, and  entertained  myself  with  dreams.  I  have  been  trea- 
suring up  dust,  and  sporting  myself  with  the  wind.  I  look 
back  on  my  past  life,  and  but  for  some  memorials  of  infamy 
and  guilt,  it  is  all  a  blank — a  perfect  vacancy!  I  might  have 
grazed  with  the  beasts  of  the  field,  or  sung  with  the  winged 
inhabitants  in  the  woods,  to  much  better  purpose  than  any  for 
which  I  have  lived.  And,  Oh!  but  for  some  faint  hope,  a 
thousand  times  more  blessed  had  I  been,  to  have  slept  with  the 
clods  of  the  valley,  and  never  heard  the  Almighty's  fiat;  nor 
waked  into  life  at  his  command! 

"  I  never  had  a  just  apprehension  of  the  solemnity  of  the  part 
I  am  to  act  till  now.  1  have  often  met  death  insulting  on  the 
hostile  plain,  and,  with  a  stupid  boast,  detied  his  terrors;  with  a 
courage,  as  brutal  as  that  of  the  ^\  arlike  horse,  1  have  rushed 
into  the  battle,  laughed  at  the  glitterring  spear,  and  rejoiced  at 
the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  nor  had  a  thought  of  any  state  beyond 
the  grave,  nor  the  great  tribunal  to  which  1  must  have  been 
summoned ; 

Where  all  my  secret  guilt  had  been  reveal'd, 
Nor  the  minutest  circumstance  conceal'd. 


48  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

It  is  this  which  arms  death  with  all  its  terrors;  else  I  could 
still  mock  at  fear,  and  smile  in  the  face  of  the  gloomy  mo- 
narch. It  is  not  giving  up  my  breath;  it  is  not  being  for  ever 
insensible,  is  the  thought  at  which  I  shrink:  it  is  the  terrible 
hereafter,  the  something  beyond  the  grave  at  which  I  recoil. 
Those  great  realities,  which,  in  the  hours  of  mirth  and  vanity, 
I  have  treated  as  phantoms,  as  the  idle  dreams  of  superstitioiis 
beings;  these  start  forth,  and  dare  me  now  in  their  most  terri- 
ble demonstration.  My  awakened  conscience  feels  something 
of  that  eternal  vengeance  1  have  often  deiied. 

"  To  what  heights  of  madness  is  it  possible  for  human  nature 
to  reach  ?  What  extravagance  is  it  to  jest  with  death !  to  laugh 
at  damnation !  to  sport  with  eternal  chains,  and  recreate  a  jovial 
fancy  with  the  scenes  of  infernal  misery  ! 

"  Were  there  no  impiety  in  this  kind  of  mirth,  it  would  be 
as  ill-bred  as  to  entertain  a  dying  friend  with  the  sight  of  an 
Harlequin,  or  the  rehearsal  of  a  Farce.  Every  thing  in 
nature  seems  to  reproach  this  levity  in  human  creatures.  The 
whole  creation,  man  excepted,  is  serious:  man,  who  has  the 
highest  reason  to  be  so,  while  he  has  affairs  of  infinite  conse- 
quence depending  on  this  short  uncertain  duration.  A  con- 
demned wretch  may  with  as  good  a  grace  go  dancing  to  his 
execution,  as  the  greatest  part  of  mankind  go  on  w  ith  such  a 
thoughtless  gaiety  to  their  graves. 

"  Ohl  my  friend,  with  what  horror  do  I  recall  those  hours 
of  vanity  we  have  wasted  together  ?  Return,  ye  lost  neglected 
moments !  How  should  I  prize  you  above  the  Eastern  trea- 
sm-es!  Let  me  dwell  with  hermits;  let  me  rest  on  the  cold 
earth;  let  me  converse  in  cottages;  may  1  but  once  more  stand 
a  candidate  for  an  immortal  crown  and  have  my  probation  for 
celestial  happiness. 

"  Ye  viiisi  grandeurs  of  a  court!  Ye  sounding  titles,  and 
perishing  riches!  what  do  ye  now  signify!  what  consolation, 
what  relief  can  ye  give  me?  I  have  a  splendid  passage  to  the 
grave;  I  die  in  state,  and  languish  under  a  gilded  canopy;  I 
am  expiring  on  soft  and  downy  pillows,  and  am  respectfully 
attended  by  my  servants  and  physicians:  my  dependants  sigh, 
my  sisters  weep ;  my  father  bends  beneath  a  load  of  years  and 
srief!  my  lovely  wife,  pale  and  silent,  conceals  her  inward 
anwuish;  wvj friend,  who  teas  as  mij  ozcn  soul,  suppresses  his 
5i"hs,  and  leaves  me  to  hide  his  secret  grief.     But,  oh  !  which 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  49 

r,f  these  will  answer  my  summons  at  the  high  TrihunaV^ 
Which  of  them  will  bail  me  from  the  arrest  of  death?  Who 
w  ill  descend  into  the  dark  prison  of  the  grave  for  me  ? 

''  Here  thev  all  leave  me,  after  having  paid  a  few  idle  cere- 
monies to  the  breathless  clay,  which  perhaps  may  lie  reposed 
iu  state,  while  my  soul,  my  only  conscious  part,  may  stand 
trembling  before  my  JudgE; 

"  My  afflicted  friends,  it  is  very  probable,  with  gteat  solcm- 
nitv,  will  lay  the  senseless  corpse  in  a  stately  monument,  in" 
scribed  with. 

Here  lies  the  Great 

But  could  the  pale  carcase  speak,  it  would  soon  reply; 

False  marble  where? 
Nothing  but  poor  and  sordid  dust  lies  here ! 

While  some  flattering  panegyric  is  pronounced  at  my  inter- 
ment, I  may  perhaps  be  hearing  my  just  condemnation  at  a 
superior  Tribunal;  where  an  unerring  verdict  may  sentence  me 
to  everlasting  infamy.  But  I  cast  myself  on  his  absolute 
mercy,  through  the  infinite  merits  of  the  Redeemer  of  lost 
mankind.  Adieu,  my  dear  friend,  till  we  meet  in  the  world 
of  spirits!"  **** 

Nothing  is  so  well  calculated  to  convince  us  of  the  vast 
importance  of  living  zvhoUy  under  the  power  of  the  Gospel,  as 
seeing  great  and  valuable  men  dying  in  such  a  low,  sneaking, 
and  unworthy  manner,  as  many  of  the  first  characters  of  our 
world  have  been  known  to  do.  The  cases  of  Grotius  and 
Salmasius,  of  Johnson,  and  Haller,  are  mortifying 
instances.  Great  talents,  great  learning,  great  celebrity,  are 
all  utterly  insufficient  to  constitute  a  man  happy,  and  give  him 
peace  and  confidence  in  a  dying  hour.  W^e  know  the  promises 
of  God  are  z\\  yea  mid  amen  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  but  if  the 
promises  are  sure,  and  strongly  animating  to  the  proper  objects 
of  them,  the  threatenings  of  God  are  not  less  infallible,  and  at 
the  same  time  art  extremely  alarming  to  the  proper  objects  of 
them.  Nothing  within  the  compass  of  nature  can  enable  a 
man,  with  the  eyes  of  his  mind  properly  enlightened,  to  face 
death  without  fear  and  dismay,  but  a  strong  conscious  sense^ 
founded  on  scriptural  evidence,  that  our  sins  are  pardoned,  thai 
God  is  reconciled,  and  that  the  Judge  of  the  world  is  become 
our  friend. 

H 


50  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

IV.  EXAMPLES  OF  PERSONS  LIVING  AND  DYING,   EITHER  \V1TK 
CONFIDENCE,  OR  IN  THE  FULL  ASSURANCE  OF  FAITH. 


Precious  in  the  sight  of  the  LORD  is  the  death  of  his  saints.  Psalm  cxvi.  15. 

Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  endle  like  his.  Numb.xxiiit  \0 


34.  Joseph  Addison,  Usq.  uas  a  very  able  aiid  elegant 
advocate  for  tlie  Bible,  in  life  and  death.  Just  before  his  de- 
parture, having  sent  for  a  young  ISobleman  nearly  related  to 
hiui,  who  requested  to  know  his  dying  commands — his  answer 
w  as — "  See  in  m  hat  peace  a  Christian  can  die !" 

He  spake  with  difficulty,  and  soon  expired. — Through  grace 
divine,  how  great  is  man !  Through  divine  mercy  ho\v  stingle&s 
death! 

"  He  taugljt  us  liow  to  hve ;  and,  oh  I  too  high 
A  price  for  knowledge,  taught  us  how  to  die*." 

So.  Dr.  John  Leland,  after  spending  a  long  and  exem- 
plary life  in  the  service  of  the  Gospel,  closed  it  with  the  follow- 
ing words : — "  I  give  my  dying  testimony  to  the  truth  of 
Christianity.  The  promises  of  the  Gospel  are  my  support  and 
consolation.  They,  alone,  yield  me  satisfaction  in  a  dying  hour. 
I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  The  Gospel  of  Christ  has  raised  me 
above  the  fear  of  death;  for  /  kiio-v  that  my  Redeemek 
Uveth:' 

SQ.  Monsieur  Pascal  was  a  great  man  in  everyway,  and 
one  of  the  most  humble  and  devout  believers  in  Jesus  that 
ever  lived.  The  celebrated  Bayle  saith  of  his  life,  that '^  a 
kundred  volumes  of  sermons  are  not  worth  so  much  as  this  sin- 
gle life,  and  are  far  less  capable  of  disarming  men  of  impiety. 
The  extraordinary  humility  and  devotion  of  Monsieur  Pascal 
gives  a  more  sensible  mortification  to  the  Libertines  of  the  age, 
than  if  one  was  to  let  loose  upon  them  a  dozen  of  Missionaries. 
They  can  now  no  longer  attack  us  with  their  favourite  and  dar- 
ling objection,  that  there  are  none  but  little  and  narrow  spirits, 
who  profess  themselves  the  votaries  of pieti/  and  religion:  for 
we  can  now  tell  them,  and  boldly  tell  them,  that  both  the 
maxims   and    practice   thereof  have    been    pushed   on   to    the 

'  See  Dr.  Young's  Coni<:ctures  on  Oriorinal  Composition. 


AND  THE  SACREP  WRITINGS.  51 

strongest  degree,  and  carried  to  the  greatest  height,  by  one  of 
the  profoundest  Geometricians,  by  one  of  the  most  subtil 
Metaphysicians,  and  by  one  of  the  most  solid  and  penetrating 
Geniuses  that  ever  yet  existed  on  this  earth*." 

37.  Olympia  Fulvia  Morata,  was  one  of  the  earliest 
and  brightest  ornaments  of  the  Reformalion.  She  could  de- 
claim in  Latin,  converse  in  Greek,  and  was  a  critic  in  the  most 
difficult  classics.  But  after  it  pleased  God  by  his  grace  to 
open  the  eyes  of  her  mind  to  discover  the  truth,  she  became 
enamoured  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  above  all  other  books  iu 
ihe  world,  and  studied  them  by  day  and  by  night.  And  when 
<lissolution  approached,  she  declared  she  felt  nothing  but  "  an 
inexpressible  tranquillity  and  peace  with  God  througii  Je^sus 
Chrisi." — Her  mouth  was  full  of  the  praises  of  God,  and 
she  emphatically  expressed  herself  by  saying, — "  I  am  nothing 
l)Utjoy." 

38.  William  Lord  Russel,  delivered  himself,  just  be- 
fore his  execution,  in  the  strongest  terms  of  faith  and  coai- 
lidence.  Besides  many  other  things,  he  said: — "  Neither  my 
imprisonment  nor  fear  of  death  have  been  able  to  discompose 
me  in  any  d.gree.  On  the  contrary,  I  have  found  the  assurances 
of  the  love  and  mercy  of  God,  in  and  througii  my  blessed 
Redeemer,  in  whom  I  only  trust.  And  I  do  not  question 
but  I  am  going  to  partake  of  that  fullness  of  joy,  which  is  in  his 
presence ;  tlie  hopes  of  which  do  so  wonderfully  delight  me, 
that  I  think  this  is  the  happiest  time  of  my  life,  though  others 
may  look  upon  it  as  the  saddest." 

39.  Charles  the  Fifth,  Emperor  oi  Germaiiif,  King  oi 
Spain,  and  Lord  of  the  Netherlaitds,  after  having  alarmed 
and  agitated  all  Europe  for  near  fifty  years,  retired  from  the 
world,  and  enjoyed  more  complete  contentment  in  this  situa- 
tion than  all  his  grandeur  had  ever  yielded  him.  "  I  have 
tasted,"  said  he,  ''  more  satisfaction  in  my  solitude,  in  one  day, 
than  in  all  the  triumplis  of  my  former  reign ;  and  I  find  that  the 
sincere  study_,  profession,  and  practice  of  the  Christian  reli- 

*  '  This  {ireat  man,  during  some  of  tlie  latter  years  of  his  life,  spent 
his  whole  time  in  prayer,  and  in  reading:  tlie  Iloli/  Scripturta ;  and 
in  this  he  took  incredible  delight.' — J  esu  p's  Life  of  Pascal. 

In  his  Thoughts  on  Rtligion  tiiere  is  a  tine  expostulation  uith 
Unbelievers,  which  ought  most  seriously  to  be  uUoiideU  to  by  e\t'ry 
person  of  tliut  description. 

u  C 


52  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

gion,  hath  in  it  such  joys  and  sweetness  as  courts  are  stran- 
gers to  *." 

40.  OxENSTiERN  Avas  ChanctUor  of  Sutden,  and  one  of 
the  most  able  and  learned  men  of  his  time^  and  yet  he  was 
not  too  great  and  too  wise  to  be  above  being  taught  by  the 
Sacred  Writing<i.  "  After  all  my  troubles  and  toilings  in  the 
world,"  says  he,  "  1  tind  that  my  private  life  in  the  country  has 
afforded  me  more  contentment  than  ever  I  met  with  in  all  my 
public  employments.  I  have  lately  applied  myself  to  the  study 
of  the  Bible,  wherein  all  wisdom,  and  the  greatest  delights  are 
to  be  found.  I  therefore  counsel  you  (the  llnglish  ambassador) 
to  make  the  study  and  practice  of  the  Word  of  God  your 
chief  contentment  and  delight :  as  indeed  it  will  be  to  every  soul 
who  savours  the  truths  of  God,  which  infinitely  excel  all 
worldly  things." 

41.  Mr.  Selden,  the  famous  Lawyer,  whom  Grotius 
calls,  "  the  glory  of  the  English  nation,"  was,  as  Sir  Mat- 
thew Hale  declared,  "  a  resolved  serious  Christian,  and  ^ 
great  adversary  to  Hobbes's  errors."  He  was  generally  con- 
sidered as  one  of  the  most  eminent  philosophers,  and  most 
learned  men   of  his   time.     He  had  taken  a  diligent  survey  of 

*  Louis,  one  of  the  late  Dukes  of  Grleant\  expressed  the  delight 
he  found  in  piety  and  devotion  in  the  following  terms,  which  are  some- 
what similar  to  the  above  of  Charles:—"  I  know  by  experience, 
that  sublunary  grandeur  and  subhinai-j-  pleasure  are  deceitfiil  and 
vain,  and  are  always  infinitely  below  the  conceptions  we  form  of  them, 
But,  on  the  contrary,  such  happiness  and  such  complacency  may  be 
f.  und  in  devotion  and  piety,  as  the  sensual  mind  has  no  idea  of." 

GusTAVus  Adolphus,  the  renowned  King  of  Sweden,  was  also 
eminent  for  his  piety  towards  God,  and  has  been  known  to  spend 
hours  together  in  religious  retirement.  So  too  our  excellent  Al- 
fred. 

It  is  said  likewise  of  his  late  Majesty  King  George  II.  that 
during  war  time,  he  would  constantly  be  in  his  closet  bet^veen  five 
and  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  winter  and  summer,  prayuig  for  the- 
success  of  his  fleets  and  armies. 

A  remarkable  instance  of  attention  to  the  blessing  of  the  Divine 
Being  we  have  also  in  the  conduct  of  the  present  truly  valiant  Ad- 
miral  Lord  DuNCAN.  Previous  to  the  late  action  on  the  coast  of 
Holland,  during  the  awfiil  moments  of  preparation,  he  called  all  his 
officers  upon  deck,  and  in  their  presence  prostrated  himself  in  prayer 
before  the  GoD  of  Hosts,  committing  himself  and  them,  with  the 
cause  they  maintained,  to  his  sovereign  protection,  his  family  to  his 
care,  his  soul  and  body  to  the  disposal  of  his  Providence;  then,  rising 
from  his  knees,  he  gave  command  to  make  the  attack. 


.  AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  5 J 

all  kinds  of  learning,  and  had  read  as  much  perhaps  as  any  man 
ever  did  ;  and  yet,  towards  the  latter  end  of  his  days,  he  declared 
to  ylrchbhhop  Usher,  that  notwithstanding  he  had  been  so  la- 
borious in  his  enquiries,  and  curious  in  his  collections,  and  had 
possessed  himself  of  a  treasure  of  books  and  manuscripts  upon 
all  ancient  subjects  ;  yet  "  he  could  rest  his  soul  on  none,  save 
the  Scriptures^." — This  is  a  perfect  eulogium  on  the  Sacred 
f^ohnne. 

42.  3Ionsieiir  Claude  was  a  very  considerable  man  among 
the protestauts,  who  were  driven  out  of  France  by  Lewis  the 
Fourteenth.  When  he  was  taken  ill  he  sent  for  the  senior  pastor 
of  the  church,  to  whom  in  the  presence  of  all  his  family  he  ex- 
pressed himself  thus  : — ^'  Sir,  I  -was  desirous  to  see  you,  and  to 
make  my  dying  declaration  before  you.  I  am  a  miserable  sinner 
before  God,  I  most  heartily  beseech  him  to  shew  me  mercy 
for  the  sake  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  I  hope  he  will 
hear  my  prayer.  He  has  promised  to  hear  the  cries  of  repent- 
ing sinners.  I  adore  him  for  blessing  my  ministry.  It  has  not 
been  fruitless  in  his  church  ;  it  is  an  effect  of  God's  grace,  and 
I  adore  his  providence  for  it." 

After  pausing  awhile,  he  added,  "  I  have  carefully  examined 
all  religions.  None  appear  to  me  worthy  of  the  wisdom  of  God, 
and  capable  of  leading  man  to  happiness,  but  the  Christian  reli- 
gion. I  have  diligently  studied  Popery  and  the  Reformation. 
The  protestant  religion,  I  think,  is  the  only  good  religion.  It  is 
all  found  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  the  Word  of  God.  From 
this,  as  from  a  fountain,  all  religions  must  be  drawn.  Scripture 
is  the  root,  the  protestant  religion  is  the  trunk  and  branches  of 
the  treo.     It  becomes  you  all  to  keep  steady  to  it." 

About  a  week  before  he  died,  with  true  patriarchal  dignity, 
he  sat  up  in  his  bed,  and  asked  to  speak  with  his  son  and  family. 
''  Son,"  said  he,  tenderly  embracing  him,  ^'  I  am  leaving  you. 
The  lime  of  my  departure  is  at  hand."  Silence  and  sobs,  and 
floods  of  tears  followed,  each  clasped  in  the  other's  arms.  The 
family  all  came  and  asked  his  blessing.  "  ]Most  willingly,"  re- 
plied he,  ''  will  I  give  it  you."  Mrs.  Claude  kneeled  down 
by  the  bed-side.  "  My  wife,"  said  he,  "^  I  have  always  tenderly 

*  This  is  equally  true  also  of  that  great  philosophic  soul,  Mar- 
CILIUS  FlciNVS,  who  was  as  learned  u  man  as  Ifali/  ever  produced. 
After  he  had  rea.d  all  good  authors,  he  restid  in  the  Bibff.is  the  only 
book. 


54  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

loved  you.  Be  not  afflicted  at  my  death.  The  death  of  the 
saints  is  precious  in  the  sight  of  God.  In  you  1  have  seen  a 
sincere  piety.  I  bless  God  for  it.  Be  constant  in  serving  hini 
with  your  whole  heart.  He  will  bless  you.  I  recommend  my 
son  and  his  family  to  you,  and  I  beseech  the  Lord  to  bless 
you."  To  his  son,  who,  with  an  old  servant  was  kneeling  by  his 
mother,  he  said,  among  other  things.  *'  Son,  you  have  chosen 
the  good  part.  Perform  your  office  as  a  good  pastor,  and  God 
will  bless  you.  Love  and  respect  your  mother.  Be  mindful 
of  this  domestic.  Take  care  she  wants  nothing  as  long  as  she 
lives.     I  give  you  all  my  blessing." 

He  afterwards  said,  at  several  times  :  "  I  am  so  oppressed  that 
I  can  attend  only  to  two  of  the  great  truths  of  religion,  the  mercy 
of  God,  and  the  gracious  aids  of  his  Holy  Spirit." 

"  /  knoiv  whom  I  have  believed,  and  I  am  persuaded  he  is 
able  to  keep  that  which  I  have  committed  unto  him  against 
that  da  J/. — 

"  My  whole  recourse  is  to  the  mercy  of  God.  I  expect  a 
better  life  than  this. — 

''  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  my  only  righteousness." 

Thus  died  the  venerable  and  inestimable  John  Ci.aude,  in 
the  sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  A.  D.   1687. 

43.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Walker,  of  Truro  in  Cornwall, 
was  a  minister  of  no  ordinary  rank  in  the  church  of  Christ. 
His  excessive  labours,  however,  ruined  his  constitution,  and  he 
died  at  the  age  of  forty-eight.  When  his  dissolution  drew  near, 
after  much  former  darkiiess,  but  the  most  assured  contidence  in 
God,  he  broke  out  to  his  nurse  in  this  rapturous  expression: — 
"  I  have  been  upon  the  wings  of  the  cherubim!  Heaveu  has  iu 
a  manner  been  opeiied  to  me!  I  shall  soon  be  there!" — Next 
day  to  a  friend  who  came  to  see  him,  he  said,  with  a  joy  in  his 
countenance  more  thai*  words  can  utter  : — "  O  my  friend,  had  I 
strength  to  speak,  I  could  tell  you  such  news  as  w  ould  rejoice 
your  very  soul !  I  have  had  such  views  of  heaveu !  But  I  am  not 
able  to  say  more." 

44.  The  Rev.  James  Hervey  is  well  known  to  have  been 
an  elegant  scholar,  and  a  believer  in  the  Bibla,  with  its  most 
distinguished  truths.  When  he  apprehended  himself  to  be  near 
the  close  of  life,  and  stood,  as  it  were,  on  the  brink  of  the 
grave,  with  eternity  full  in  view,  he  wrote  to  a  friend  at  a 
distance  to  tell  him  w  hat  were  his  sentiments  iu  that  awful  situa* 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  55 

tion.  "^  I  have  been  too  fond,"  said  he,  *^  of  reading  every 
thing  valuable  and  elegant  that  has  been  penned  in  our  lan- 
guage, and  been  peculiarly  charmed  with  the  historians,  orators, 
and  poets  of  antiquity :  but  were  I  to  renew  my  studies,  I 
would  take  my  leave  of  those  accomplished  trifles :  I  would  re- 
^n  the  delight  of  modem  wits,  amusements  and  eloquence, 
and  devote  my  attention  to  the  Scriptures  of  Truth.  I  would 
sit  with  much  greater  assiduity  at  my  divine  Master  s  feet,  and 
desire  to  know  nothing  in  comparison  of  Jesus  Christ,  and 
him  crucified." 

After  this,  when  his  dissolution  drew  still  nearer,  he  said  to 
those  about  him: — "  How  thankful  am  I  for  death!  It  is  the- 
passage  to  the  Lord  and  Giver  of  eternal  life.  O  welcome, 
■welcome  death !  Thou  mayest  well  be  reckoned  among  the 
treasures  of  the  Christian;  To  live  is  Christ,  but  to  die  is 
gain!  Lord,  nozo  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace, 
according  to  thy  most  holy  and  comfortable  Word -^  for  mine 
eyes  have  secji  thy  precious  salvation." 

45.  Dr.  Leechman,  late  Principal  of  the  College  of 
Glasgozc,  at  the  close  of  life,  thus  addressed  the  son  of  a 
worthy  Nobleman,  who  was  designed  for  the  Church,  and  the 
early  part  of  whose  education  had  been  much  under  the  Doc- 
tor s  eye. 

'*  You  see  the  situation  I  am  in :  I  have  not  many  days  to 
live  :  I  am  glad  you  have  had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the 
tranquillity  of  my  last  moments.  But  it  is  not  tranquillity  and 
composure  alone ;  it  is  joy  and  triumph ;  it  is  complete  exulta- 
tion."— His  features  kindled,  his  voice  rose  as  he  spake.  */  And 
whence,"  says  he,  '^  does  this  exultation  spring? — From  that 
Book  (pointing  to  a  Bible  that  lay  on  a  table) — from  that  Book, 
too  much  neglected  indeed,  but  which  contains  invaluable  trea- 
sures !  treasures  of  joy  and  rejoicing !  for  it  makes  us  certain 
that  this  mortal  shall  put  on  immortality.'^  . 

46.  The  late  Rev.  William  Rom  aine  was  a  zealou>  and 
successful  preacher  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus,  and  adorned  it  by 
a  suitable  character  above  fifty  years.  In  his  last  illness  not 
one  fretful  or  murmuring  word  ever  escaped  his  lips.  "  I 
have/'  said  he,  "  the  peace  of  God  in  my  conscience,  and  the 
love  of  God  in  my  heart.  I  knew  before  the  doctrines  I 
preached  to  be  truths,  but  now  I  experience  them  to  be  bles- 
sings,    ^^sus  is  more  precious  than  rubies^  and  all  that  can  be 


56  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

desired  on  earth  is  not  to  be  compared  to  him."  lie  was  m  fidl 
possession  of  his  mental  powers  to  the  last  moment,  and  near 
his  dissolution  cried  out,  "  Holi/,  holy,  holy,  Lord  God  A l- 
MIXJHTY  !  Glory  be  to  thee  on  high  tor  such  peace  on  earth, 
and  good  will  to  men*." 

These  are  glorious  instances  of  the  power  of  religion  upon 
the  human  mind,  in  the  most  trying  circumstances  of  nature.  I 
know  it  is  fasliionable  for  Inke-vvarm  and  pharisaical  Chris- 
tians, who  have  a  form  of  godliness,  but  deny  the  -power,  and 
for  philosopkistcrs  of  every  description,  to  treat  all  such  death- 
bed scenes  as  delusive  and  fanatical.  1  am  not,  however, 
ashamed  to  say,  that  dissolutions  of  the  above  description  ap- 
pear to  me  honourable  to  religion,  and  desirable  above  all 
the  enjoyments  of  the  world.  If  this  be  enthusiasm,  may  I  be 
the  rankest  enthusiast  that  ever  existed.  Such  enthusiasts, 
thanks  be  to  GoD,  have  appeared,  more  or  less,  in  every  age 
of  the  Gos/?e/-dispensation.  They  are  increasing  now  in  a 
considerable  degree,  and  they  shall  abound  more  and  more, 
maugre  all  the  oppositions  of  Infidelity,  and  the  cool  moral 
harangues  of  a  secular  and  luke-warm  Clergy.  Large  num- 
bers of  examples  might  be  produced,  of  a  similar  kind,  from 
those  who  lived  before  the  rise  of  both  methodism  and  purita- 
nism,  besides  these  we  have  mentioned  ;  but  the  only  one  I  shall 
introduce  here,  by  way  of  contrast  to  the  death-bed  scenes 
of  Chesterfield,  Voltaire,  Rousseau,  and  the  other 
unhappy  characters  we  have  recorded,  shall  be  that  of  the  learned 
and  excellent  Bishop  Bedell,  that  scourge  of  ecclesiastical 
corruption,  that  admirable  pattern  for  prelates  and  clergymen^ 
and  that  glory  of  the  Irish  hierarchy. 

47.  After  a  life  spent  in  the  most  laborious  service  of  his 
Divine  Master,  when  he  apprehended  his  great  change  to 
draw  near,  he  called  for  his  sons,  and  his  son's  wives,  and  spake 
to  them,  at  several  times,  as  he  was  able,  as  nearly  as  could  be 
recollected,  "in  the  following  words  : 

"  I  am  going  the  way  of  all  flesh :  I  am  ready  to  he  of- 
fered up,  and  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand.  Knowing, 


*  The  Editor  recommends  to  the  reader's  serious  attention  and 
perusal,  the  life  of  the  late  Rev.  J.  Newton,  written  by  Mr. 
Cecil;  and  also  of  the  i?ei'.  Cornelius  Winter,  written  by 
Mr.  Jay. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  57 

therefore^  tliat  shortltf  I  must  put  off  this  taberno.cle,  eve7i  as 
our  Loud  Jesus  Christ  hath,  shewed  me.  I  know  also,  that 
if  this  my  earth]  i/  house  of  this  tabernacle  were  dissolved,  I  have 
a  building  of  God,  a  house  7iot  made  with  hands,  eternal 
in  the  heavens,  a  fair  mansion  in  the  "Sew  Jerusalem,  zahicfi 
cometh  down  out  of  heaven  from  my  God.  Therefore,  to 
tne  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain;  zchich  encreaseth  my 
desire  even  now  to  depart,  and  to  be  icith  Christ,  which  is  far 
^e//f/- than  to  continue  here  iu  all  transitory,  vain,  and  false 
pleasures  of  this  world,  of  which  I  have  seen  an  end. 

"  Hfearken,  therefore,  unto  the  last  words  of  your  dying 
father,  /  am  no  more  in  this  world,  but  ye  are  in  the  worlds 
I  ascend  to  my  Father  and  t/our  Father,  to  my  God  and 
your  God,  through  the  all-sufficient  merits  of  Jesus  Christ 
my  Redeemer;  who  ever  lives  to  maJce  intercession  for  me; 
who  is  a  propitiation  for  all  my  sins,  and  washed  me  from 
them  all  in  his  own  blood;  who  is  worthy  to  receive  glory ^ 
and  honour,  and  power ;  nho  hath  created  all  things,  and  for 
whose  pleasure  they  are  and  were  created. 

"  My  witness  is  in  heaven  and  my  record  on  high,  that  I 
have  endeavoured  to  glorify  God  on  earth;  and  in  the  minis- 
try of  the  GOSPEL  of  his  dear  Son,  which  was  committed  to 
my  trust,  /  have  finished  the  zeork  zchich  he  gave  me  to  do,  as 
a  faithful  ambassador  of  Christ,  and  steward  of  the  mysteries 
of  G  o  D .  I  have  preached  righteousness  in  the  great  congrega- 
tion, lo!  I  have  not  refrained  my  lips,  O  Lord  .'  thou  knozo- 
est.  I  have  not  hid  thy  righteousness  within  my  heart ;  I  have 
declared  thy  faithfulness  and  thy  salvation;  I  have  tiot 
concealed  thy  loving-kindness  and  thy  truth  from  the  great 
congregation  of  mankind.  He  is  near  that  justijieth  me,  that 
/  have  not  concealed  the  words  of  the  Holy  One;  but 
the  zoords  that  he  gave  to  me,  I  have  given  to  you,  and  ye  have 
received  them. 

"  I  had  a  desire  and  resolution  to  walk  before  GoD  in  every 
stage  of  my  pilgrimage,  from  my  youth  up  to  this,  day,  in  truth 
and  with  an  upright  heart,  and  to  do  that  which  was  upright, 
in  his  eyes  to  the  utmost  of  my  power;  and  zchal  things  reere 
gain  to  me  formerly,  these  things  1  count  now  loss  for  Christ: 
yea,  doubtless,  and  I  count  all  things  but  loss,  for  the  excel- 
lency  of  the  knozeledge  o/"Jesus  Christ  my  Lord  ;  /or  rchom 
I  have  suffered  the  loss  of  all  things :  and  I  count  them  but 

I 


58  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

dung,  that  I  may  zcin  Christ,  and  he  found  in  him,  not  ttaving 
my  own  righteousness,  rchiclt  is  of  the  law,  but  that  which  is 
through  the  faith  of  Chuist, the  righteousiiess  which  is  of  God 
by  faith:  that  I  may  know  hint,  and  the  power  of  his  resur- 
ruction,  and  the  fellowship  of  his  sufferings,  being  made  con- 
formable to  his  death.  I  press,  then  fore,  towards  the  mark, 
J'or  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  Gob  in  Christ  Jesus. 

"  Let  nothing  separate  you  from  the  love  of  Christ,  7iei- 
ther  tribulation,  nor  distress,  nor  persecution,  nor  famine, 
nor  nakedness,  7ior  peril,  nor  szcord ;  though,  as  we  hear  and 
see,  for  his  sake  zee  are  killed  all  the  day  long,  zee  are  accounted 
as  sheep  for  the  slaughter;  yea,  in  ail  these  things  we  are 
more  than  conquerors,  through  Him  thai  loved  us :  for  I  am 
persuaded^  that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  princi- 
palities, nor  powers,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor 
height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  creature  shall  be  able  to  separate 
me  from  the  love  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus,  my  Lord. 
Therefore,  love  ziot  the  world,  nor  the  things  of  the  world: 
but  prepare  daily  and  hourly  for  death,  which  now  besieges  us  on 
every  side;  and  be  faithful  unto  death,  that  we  may  meet  to- 
gether joyfully  on  the  right  hand  of  Christ  at  the  last  da}-, 
nm]  follow  the  IjAUB  Zi:hithei soever  he  goeth:  with  all  those 
that  are  clothed  in  white  robes  in  sign  of  innocency,  and  palms 
in  their  bauds  in  sign  of  victory ;  which  came  out  of  great  tri- 
bulation, and  have  washed  their  robes,  and  made  them  zchite 
in  the  blood  of  the  }^AUJi.  They  shall  hunger  no  more,  wor 
thirst,  neither  shall  the  sun  light  on  them;  nor  any  heat ;  for 
the  Lamb,  that  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne,  shall  feed  them, 
and  shall  lead  them  unto  living  fountains  of  waters,  and  God 
shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes. 

"  Choo.se  rather,  zcitli  Moses,  to  suffer  affliction  zcitli  the 
people  oj  God,  than  to  enjoy  t  fie  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season; 
which  will  be  bitterness  in  the  latter  end.  Look,  therefore, 
for  sufferings,  and  to  be  niaile  p4rtakers  of  the  suffering  of 
GiiKiST  :  to  Jill  up  that  zvhich  is  behind  of  the  affliction  of 
Chris  I"  inyourjlesh^for  his  body's  sake,  zckieh  is  the  church. 
What  can  you  look  for,  but  one  woe  after  anotlier,  while 
the  Man  of  fin  IS  thus  suffered  to  rage,  and  to  make  havoc 
of  God's  people  at  his  pleasure,  while  men  are  divided 
about  trilks  that  ought  to  be  more  vigilant  over  us,  and 
careful   of   those   who.-se   blood   is  precious   in   God's    sight, 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  59 

though  now  shed  every  where  like  water.  If  }/e  suffer  for 
righteousness  sake,  happy  are  j/e ;  be  not  afraid  of  their  terror , 
neither  be  ye  trouhkd ;  and  be  ye  /;/  uotJiing  terrified  hii  t/our 
adversaries;  zchich  is  to  them  an  evident  token  of  perdition, 
but  to  i/ou  of  salvation,  and  that  o/'God.  For  to  you  it  is 
given  in  the  beha /J' of  Curist,  not  only  to  believe  on  him,  but 
a/so  to  suferfor  his  sake.  Rejoice,  therefore,  inasmuch  as  ye 
are  partakers  of  Christ's  sufferings,  that  rchen  hii  glory 
shall  be  revealed,  ye  may  be  glad  also  with  exceeding  jot/. 
And  if  ye  be  reproached  for  the  name  q/'CmusT,  happy  are 
ye;  the  Spirit  of  glory  and  of  Cun]sr  resteth  on  you ;  on 
their  part  he  is  evil  spoken  of  on  your  part  he  is  glorified. 

"  God  will  surely  visit  you  in  due  time,  and  turn  your  cap- 
tivity as  the  rivers  of  the  south,  and  bring  you  back  again  into 
your  possessionnn  this  land:  though  note  for  a  season,  if  need 
be,  ye  are  in  heaviness  through  manifold^  temptations ;  yet  ye 
.;hall  reap  in  joy,  though  now  ye  sozi)  in  tears;  all  our  losses 
shall  be  recompensed  with  abundant  advantages;  for  tny  God 
zciil  supply  all  your  need,  according  to  his  riches  in  glory,  bt/ 
Jests  Christ,  who  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  for 
us,  above  all  that  zee  are  able  to  ask  or  think." 

After  that,  l>e  blessed  his  children  and  those  who  stood 
about  him  in  an  audible  voice,  in  these  words :  ''God  of  his  in- 
linite  mercy  bless  you  all^  and  present  you  holy  and  unblamt- 
ablc,  and  irre})roveable  in  his  sight,  that  ye  may  meet  toge- 
ther at  the  right  hand  of  our  blessed  Saviour  Jesus  Christ 
zcilh  joy  unspeakable  and  J^ull  of  glory.  Amen!"  To  which 
he  added  these  words  :  "  /  have  J'onght  the  goodfrrht,  I  have 
Jinished  the  course  of  my  ministry  and  life  together,  Tiiough 
grievous  wolves  have  entered  in  among  us,  uot  sparin<r  the 
fock ;  yet  I  trust  the  great  Shephkrd  of  l^is  flock  zcUl  save 
and  deliver  them  out  oj' all  places  where  they  Imve  been  scattered 
in  this  cloudy  and  dark  day:  and  they  shall  be  no  more  a  prey 
to  the  heathen,  neither  shall  the  beasts  of  the  land  devour  them; 
but  they  shall  dzcell  safely,  and  none  shall  make  them  afraid. — 
O  Lord,  /  have  awaited  for  thy  salvation  f  And  after  a  little 
interval,  he  said,  /  have  kept  the  faith  once  given  to  the 
saints ;  for  the  which  cause  I  have  also  suficred  these  things  ; 
but  /  am  not  ashamed,  for  I  knoro  zohom  I  have  believed,  and 
am  persuaded  that  he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I  have  com-' 
mitted  to  him  against  that  day." 

I  2 


60  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

After  thisj  the  good  Bishop  spake  little  more.  His  sick- 
ness increased,  his  speech  failed,  and'  he  slumbered  the  re- 
mainder of  his  time  away,  till  his  discharge  came. 

Let  incredulity  itself  now  say,  if  this  was  not  an  admirable 
close  of  so  laborious  and  useful  a  life  as  this  excellent  man  is 
known  to  have  lived. 

One  may  defy  all  the  sons  of  injidelitij  to  shew  us  an 
example  among  their  brethren,  of  a  life  so  useful,  and  a 
death  so  great,  so  noble,  so  glorious,  as  this  of  the  good 
Bishop*. 

Now,  MY  Friends  and  Countrymen,  these  are  all  so 
many  well-attested  matters  of  fact.  Most  of  the  persons  men- 
tioned were  of  the  first  reputation  in  iheir  respective  spheres 
of  action.  It  would  be  prudent  to  review  the  whole;  to  com- 
pare the  several  instances ;  and  weigh  thoroughly  the  issue : 
for  though  it  is  not  our  province  to  determine  the  final  fates 
of  men,  we  may,  from  such  comparison,  see  clearly  whose 
situation  is  most  eligible  at  the  close  of  life,  and  whose 
case  stands  fairest  for  future  felicity.  Extremely  weak, 
therefore,  would  it  be,  to  let  any  man  sneer  us  out  of  our 
Bible,  our  Redeemer,  and  our  Salvation.  Did  we  ever 
know  a  person  lament,  when  he  came  to  die,  that  he  had 
taken  too  much  care  to  serve  his  Creator,  and  save  his  soul 
alive  ?  Did  we  ever  hear  of  a  Deist,  w  ho  gloried  in  his  de- 
parting moments,  that  he  had  been  favoured  with  success,  in 
making  converts  to  the  principles  of  hifidelity'^  Or  did  we 
ever  see  a  sound  scholar,  who  was  at  the  same  time  a  chaste, 
temperate,  moral,  and  conscientious  man,  that  lived  and 
died  an  Unbeliever -f?     Instances  of  a  contrary  nature  we  have 

*  Be  it  observed  too,  what  use  this  admirable  man  makes  of  the 
Sacred  Writings: 

"  They  know  not 

That  Scripture  is  the  only  cure  of  woe : 
That  field  of  promise,  how  it  flings,  abroad 
Its  odour  o'er  the  Christian's  thorny  road; 
The  soul,  reposing  on  assur'd  relief. 
Feels  herself  happy  amidst  all  her  grief. 
Forgets  her  labour  as  she  toils  along, 
Weeps  tears  of  joy,  and  bursts  into  a  song." 

Cow  per's  Poein  on  Truth. 
t  Lord  BoLiNGBROKE  was  a  man  of  considerable  talents,  and 
lived  and  died  an  Injidel.     But  when  we  reflect,  that  he  was  at  the 
same  time  a  libertine,  and  much  addicted  to  women  and  wine,  we  shall 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  Gl 

knonn  rnany,  but  rarely  one  which  comes  up  to  this  descrip- 
tiou.  Persons  ot"  au  affected  liberahty  of  niiud,  indeed,  are  fre- 
quently found,  uho  fjcctor,  domineer,  and  $peak  great  swelling 
rcords  ofvariifi/,  while  health  and  prosperity  smile  upon  them; 
but  they  generally  lose  their  comage,  and  appear  to  infinite 
disadvantage,  wlicn  death  and  judgment  stare  them  in  the 
face.  If  their  souls  are  not  harroweil  up  with  horror,  as  in 
the  cases  of  Voltaire,  Newport,  Altamont,  and  odiers; 
at  best  they  are  sullen,  gloomy,  disconsolate,  like  IJobbes 
and  Cmesterfiei.u  ;  or,  having  their  coiiscieiices   seated  as 


cease  to  wonder  that  he  rejected  Christianity,  notwilhslariding   the 
liigh  compliments  he  sometimes  thought  proper  to  pay  it. 

Sir  William  Temple,  too,  "was  a  person  of  t  ue  judi^nent 
in  civil  ailairs,  and  very  good  principles,  with  relalioii  '-.  govei  .nneat; 
but  in  nothing  else.  He  was  a  vain  man,  much  blovv-i  up  in  iiis  own 
conceit,  which  he  shewed  too  indecently  on  all  occasions.  He  seemed 
to  think,  that  things  were  as  they  are  from  all  eteriii-y;  at  least  he 
thought  Religion  was  tit  only  for  the  mob.  He  was  a  great  admirer 
of  ihe  sect  of  Con  FU  CI  us  in  China,  who  were  Atheists  theuisehes,  or 
left  Religion  to  the  rabble.  He  was  a  corrupter  of  all  that  came  near 
him,  and  he  delivered  himself  up  wholly  to  study,  ease,  and  pleasure." 
— Burnet's  Own  Times,  A.  D.  1674.. 

Sir  Anthony  Ashley  Cooper,  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  was  ''a 
man  of  various  talents,  but  a  Deist  at  best,  in  iiis  n;ligion.  He  had 
the  dotage  of  astrology  hi  him  to  a  high  degree.  He  fancied,  that 
after  death  our  souls  lived  in  stars.  He  had  a  general  knowledge  of 
the  slighter  parts  of  learning,  but  understood  little  to  the  bottom:  so 
he  triumphed  in  a  rambling  way  of  talking,  but  argued  slightly  vvhen 
he  was  held  close  to  any  point.  He  had  a  wonderfid  faculty  at  op- 
posing, and  running  things  down;  but  had  not  the  like  force  in  build- 
ing up.  He  had  such  an  extravagant  vanity  in  setting  himself  out, 
that  it  was  very  disagreeable," 

Sir  George  Saville,  afterward  Viscount,  Ear!  nml  Marquis 
o(  Halifax,  v,,xs  "a  man  of  great  and  ready  wit;  full  of  life,  and 
very  pleasant ;  much  turned  to  satire.  He  let  his  wit  run  much  on 
matters  of /?c//g,wj;  so  that  he  passed  for  a  bold  and  determined 
Atheist;  though  he  often  jjrotested  he  was  not  one.  He  confessed  he 
could  not  swallow  down  every  thing  that  Divines  imposed  on  the 
world.  He  was  a  (7<r/«^/a«  by  submission;  he  believed  as  much  as 
he  could. — In  a  fit  of  sickness,  I  knew  him  very  much  touched  with 
a  sense  of  religion.  I  was  then  often  with  him.  He  seemed  full  of 
good  purposes;  but  they  went  oft' with  his  sickness."  BuRNETsOn-n 
Times. 

This  is  a  specimen  of  the  general  characters  of  those  who  reject  the 
Gospel  of  Christ,  Gray,  the  Poet,  serms  to  have  had  an  ophiion 
of  Shaftesbury  equally  low  with  the  above  of  Bishop  Burnet. 
See  Johwson's  Lives  of  the  English  Poets,  vol,  iv.  pp,  45"4,  46S. 


62  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION      ^ 

with  an  hot  iron,  they  are  insensible  to  the  vast  realities  of  tlie 
invisible  world,  brave  it  out  and  sport  blind-fold  on  the  brink 
of  destruction,  after  the  manner  of  Seuvin,  Hume,  Emmek- 
SON,  and  several  of  the  late  French  philosophers.  But  surely  a 
conduct  of  this  kind  is  highly  unbecoming  men  of  wisdom, 
even  upon  their  own  supposition  that  death  is  an  eternal  sleep. 
Is  annihilation  so  small  a  matter,  that  a  reasonable  man  can 
look  upon  it  with  complacency?  Hume's  conduct  was  inil- 
nitely  unnatural.  It  was  the  effect  of  pride  and  sophistical 
philosophy.  "  He  had  a  vanity  in  being  thought  easy,"  as 
Dr.  Johnson  justly  observes. 

"  That  must  be  our  cure. 
To  be  no  more.     Sad  cure !  For  who  would  lose 

this  iutellectual  being, 

Those  thoughts  that  wander  through  eternity. 
To  perish  rather,  swallowed  up  and  lost . 
In  tlie  wide  womb  of  uncreated  night. 
Devoid  of  sense  and  motion  T 

It  will  be  the  concern  of  every  wise  man,  therefore,  to  take 
warning  in  time,  to  be  cautious  how  he  gives  credit  to  the  repre- 
sentations of  Unbelievers,  and  consider  well  what  the  end  of 
our  present  state  of  trial  will  be.  It  is  an  easy  business  to  revile 
and  stigmatize  the  Bible.  Few  things  more  so.  Any  smatterer 
in  learning,  who  hath  got  a  wicked  heart,  a  witty  head,  and 
a  comfortable  How  of  scurrilous  language,  is  competent  to 
the  task.  Examples  of  this  kind  we  meet  with  in  every  neigh- 
bourhood. Profound  scholars,  however,  and  modest  men,  have 
always  been  incapable  of  such  conduct.     What  hord  Bacon* 

*  Lord  Bacon  was  a  serious  believer  in  the  Gospel  of  Christ, 
and  hath  given  us  his  Creed  at  some  length,  which  is  worthy  the  at- 
tention of  the  Reader.  The  above  passage  is  taken  from  his  Essays, 
Xo.  I(). — In  a  prayer  which  he  wrote  ujion  a  certain  occasion,  lie 
addresses  the  Almighty  by  saying — "  Thy  creatures  have  been  my 
books,  but  thy  Scriptures  much  more.  I  have  sought  thee  in  the 
courts,  fields,  and  gardens;  but  I  have  found  thee  in  thy  temples." 

Sir  Richard  Steel  gives  us  a  tine  character  of  this  extraor- 
dinai-v  person.  He  says,  "  He  was  a  man  who  for  greatness  of 
genius,  and  com}iass  of  knowledge,  did  honour  to  his  age  and  coun- 
try; one  miglit  almost  say,  to  human  nature  i.tself.  He  possessed  at 
once  all  those  extraordinary  talents  which  were  divided  among  the 
greatest  authors  of  antiquity.  He  had  the  sound,  distinct  comprehen- 
sive knowledge  of  Aristotle,  with  all  the  beautiful  lights,  graces 
andembelhshmeuts  of  CiCERO.     One  does  not  know  which  to  admire 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  63 

saith  of  J  theism  is  equally  true  of  Deixm :  ''  A  little  philo- 
saphy,  inclineth  man's  mind  to  AthtUm  ;  but  depth  in  phi- 
losophy bringelh  men's  minds  about  to  Rtligion  /''  Our 
great  moral  Pod,  too,  will  teach  us  the  same  lesson : 

"  A  little  learning  is  a  dangerous  thing; 
Drink  deep,  or  taste  not  the  Pierian  spring. 
There  shallow  draughts  intoxicate  the  brain. 
And  drinking  largely  sobers  us  aguin*." 

What  then  if  Thomas  Paine,  uho  is  well  known  to  be 
both  illiterate  and  immoral,  insolent  and  satirical  (ill  qualifi- 
cations for  the  discovery  of  moral  and  religious  truth,  which 
consists  in  purity,  modesty,  humility,  sobriety,  and  goodness) 
though  otherw ise  a  man  of  good  natinal  understanding,  is  an 
unbeliever  in  the  divine  mission  of  the  Son  of  God:  It  may 
be  some  consolation  to  remember,  that  the  first  characters, 
who  ever  adonied  our  world,  in  every  department  of  human 
life,  have  not  been  ashamed  of  the  Gospel  q/' Christ.  Every 
man  would  do  well  to  retlect,  in  these  days  of  abounding 
licentiousness,  by  way  of  supporting  the  mind  against  the  ridi- 
cule of  professed  Deiits,  that  the  Divines,  Butler,  and  Bent- 
ley,  and  Barrow,  and  Berkley,  and  Cud  worth,  and 
Clarke,  and  Sherlock,  and  Doddridge,  and  Larder, 
and  Pearson,  and  Taylor,  and  Usher,  and  a  thousand 
more,  were  heUevers-\:  that  the  Poets,  Spencer,  and  Waj- 

nrost  iu  his  writings,  the  strength  of  reason,  force  of  style,  or  brightness 
of  imagmatioa." — Tuthr,  No  ZGj. 

*  "The  Chriaiicn  Relipon,"  says  another  great  writer,  "has 
notliirg  to  apprehend  from  the  strictest  investigation  of  the  most 
learned  of  its  adversaries ;  it  suffers  only  from  the  misconceplious  of 
sciolists,  and  silly  pretendeis  to  superior  wisdom,  A  httle  learning 
is  far  more  dangerous  to  the  faith  of  those  who  possess  it  than  igno- 
rance itself." 

t  It  has  been  conceived,  through  mistake,  that  the  author  intended 
iji  this  place  to  vouch  for  the  genuine  piety  of  evei-y  iudi\idual 
of  the  long  list  here  enumerated.  But  this  was  by  no  nieaiis 
necLSsarv  to  his  argument,  however  favourably  he  might  have 
conceived  of  the  generality  of  these  chaiacters.  He  is  arguiiig 
simply  here  for  the  Truth  of  the  Scriptures;  and  the  drift  of  Lis 
^  argument  is,  that  they  have  approved  themselves,  respecting  their 
veracity,  to  the  understandings  of  the  greatest  and  most  enlightened 
geniuses ;  and  withstood  the  scrutiny  of  the  most  deep  and  critical 
im  estigation.  This  is  precisely  the  argument  adopted  by  Lord 
Chancellor  Erskine,  when  cotmsel  in  the  prosecution  against 
Williams,  referred  to  m  the  Preface.     Our  Author  knew  too  well 


64  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

i.iiR;,  and  Cowley,  and  Prior,  and  Thompson,  and  Gray, 
and  Young,  and  Milton,  were  believers:  that  the  Statts- 
meti,  Hyde,  and  Somers,  and  Cullen,  and  Pulteney, 
audi  Howard,  and  King,  and  Barrinoton,  and  Little- 
ton, with  nurnbcilcss  more*^  were  bcUevcrs:  that  the  Moral- 
ists, Steel,  and  Addison,  and  Hawksworth,  and  John- 
son, were  believers:  that  the  Pki/sicians,  Abbuthnot,  and 
Cheyne,  and  Brown,  and  Boeuiiaave,  and  Princle, 
and  Hartley,  and  Haller,  and  Mead^  and  Fothergill, 
were  believers:  that  the  Lawyas,  Hale,  and  Melmotii,  and 
Forbes,  and  Hailes,  and  Pratt,  and  Blackstone,  and 
Jones 'f-,  were  believers:  that  the  Philosophers,  Pascal, 
and  Grotius,  and  Ray,  and  Cotes,  and  Ferguson,  and 
Adams,  and  Locke,  and  Euler,  and  Newton,  were 
believers'^.  Where  is  the  great  misfortune,  then,  to  the  in- 
terests of  religion,  if  lake-worm  Christi-fuis  of  every  persuasion 
betray  the  cause  they  pretend  to  espouse;  and  if  Unbelievers 
of  every  description  imagine  a  vain  thing  against  the  Re- 
deemer of  mankind,  and  the  Book  which  he  hath  caused 
to  be  written  for  our  instruction.  Nothing  less  than  demon- 
stration  on    the  side  of  hrfidelitif  should  induce  any  man  to 

the  difference  between  the  mere  assent  of  the  understanding  to  the 
truth  of  the  Scri]>tures,  and  their  savmg  influence  on  the  iieart,  to 
make  any  confusion  between  them.  A  man  may  be  a  true  believer  m 
the  autlienticity  of  the  Scriptures,  while  he  is  a  very  intidei  as  to  the 
obedience  he  pays  to  them. — Editor. 

*  Washington  was  lately  a  living  character,  and  generally 
allowed  to  be  one  of  the  fust  of  warriors,  the  lirst  of  politicians,  and 
worthiest  of  men.  This  same  gentleman  is  the  delight  of  "  an 
admiring  and  astonished  world,"  and  yet—  hear  it,  O  ye  miimte 
philosophers  of  degenerate  Europe he  was  a  Christian! 

t  [t  is  a  pleasure  to  hear  such  men  as  the  honourable  Thomas 
(now  Lord)  Erskine,  one  of  the  fnst  orators  of  the  age,, 
come  boldly  forward  in  favour  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus.  "No 
man  ever  existed,"  says  he,  "  who  is  more  alive  to  every  thing  con- 
nected with  The  Christian  faith  than  I  am,  or  more  unalterably  nn- 
pre.?sed  with  its  truths." — Vieic  of  the  Causes,  Sfc,  p.  56'. 

I  We  are  well  aware  that  the  truth  of  Christianity  camiot  be 
estaJjlislied  by  authority.  But  if  ifs  truth  cannot  be  so  established; 
neitiier  can  its  falsehood.  Indeed  no  man  can  be  a  competent  judge, 
either  of  the  truth  or  folsehood  of  the  Gospel,  who  has  not  turned  his 
attention  to  it  tor  a  considerable  time  with  ail  seriousness  of  mind, 
snd  villi  a  considerable  share  of  literary  information.  We  may 
experienct:  its  saving  power,  but  we  are  ill  qualified  to  defend  its 
veracity. 


AND  THE  SACRED  ^VKITINGS.  05 

resist  the  momentum  that  these  venerable  names  give  in 
favour  of  the  Gospel.  Many  of  them  were  the  ornaments 
of  human  nature,  whether  we  consider  the  wide  range  of 
their  abilities,  the  great  extent  of  their  learning  and  know- 
ledge, or  the  pietv,  integrity,  and  beneficence  of  their  lives. 
These  eminent  characters,  B  a  c  on,  X  f.  wto  n,  Lo  c  k  i:,  Boyle, 
DiTTON, Addison,  Hartley,  Littleton, Woodward, 
Pringle,  Haller,  Jones, BoERiiAAVE,  Milton, Gro- 
TiL'S,  Barrincton  and  Euler*,  in  particular,  firmly  ad- 
hered to  the  belief  of  C/iristianih/,  after  the  most  diligent  and 
exact  researches  into  the  life  of  its  Founder,  the  authenticity 
of  its  records,  the  completion  of  the  prophecies,  the  sublimity 
qf  its  doctrines,  the  purity  of  its  precepts,  a^d  the  arguments 
of  its  adversaries.  Here,  you  will  remark,  was  no  priest-craft. 
These  were  all  men  of  independent  principles,  and  the  most 
liberal  and  enlarged  minds.  They  investigated  the  pretensions 
of  the  Gospel  to  the  bottom ;  they  were  not  only  satisfied  with 
the  justice  of  its  claims,  but  they  gloried  in  it  as  a  most  be- 
nevolent  and  god-like   scheme  f;    and    they  all   endeavoured, 

*  It  is  said  of  this  great  Christian  philosopher,  in  the  General  Bio- 
graphical Dictionary,  ti)at  few  men  of  letters  have  written  so  nuich 
as  he.  His  menion,  shall  endure, continues  his  oiographer,  till  science 
herself  is  no  more,  "No  geometrician  has  everenibraced  so  many  objects 
at  one  time,  or  has  equalled  him,  either  in  the  variety  or  magni- 
tude of  his  discoveries.  He  had  read  all  the  Latin  classics,  could 
repeat  the  whole /Enf/W  of  Virgil  by  heart;  was  perfect  master 
of  ancient  mathematical  literature:  had  the  bistort'  of  all  at;es  and 
nations,  even  to  tlie  minutest  facts,  ever  ])reseiit  to  his  nind ;  was 
acquainted  with  pby^ir,  botany,  and  chemistry  ;  was  possessed  of 
everv'  qualification  that  could  render  a  man  estimable.  Yet  this  man, 
accomplished  as  he  was,  \\as  filled  with  respect  for  Relis:ion.  His 
pietv  was  sincere,  and  his  devotion  full  of  fervour.  He  went  through 
all  his  rA?-/,vf/fl7i  duties  with  the  greatest  attention.  He  loved  all 
mankind,  and,  if  ever  he  felt  a  motion  of  indignation,  it  was  against 
the  enemies  of  ReUs:iov,  particularly  against  the  declared  apostle*  of 
Injideliti/.  Against  the  objections  of  these  men  he  (leten<Ied  Revela- 
tion in  a  work  published  at  fierlin,  in  1747- 

t  Dr.  Disney  Alexander,  a  physician  now  livinii,  was  fa- 
voured with  a  religious  education,  and  brought  up  with  a  \\cw  to  the 
church.  By  mixing  with  the  world  as  he  advanced  in  life,  he  lost  his 
religious  impressions.  At  this  time  he  began  to  read  the  writings  of 
MeMsrs.jEnn,  LiNDSEY,and  Priestley,  and  became  a  confirmed 
Socinian.  In  this  '^tate  of  mind,  he  met  with  the  writings  of  HeLve- 
Tius  and  Voltaire.  He  read  them  with  avidity,  and  it  w;is  not 
Ions  before  he  connuenced  Deist.   In  this  state  of  mind  be  continued 


K 


66  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

if  not  by  their  oral  discourses,  yet  by  their  immortal  writings^  |o 
recommend  it  to  the  general  reception  of  mankind.  It  was 
their  study  in  life,  and  tlieir  solace  in  death. 

AVhy  then  are  so  many  of  our  fellow-creatures  found  to 
oppose,  with  such  malignant  virulence,  what  tliese  great  men 
have  so  successfully  loboured  to  establish?  The  reason,  in 
most  cases,  is  obvious.  They  will  not  have  this  man  reign 
over  them,  because  he  is  not  to  their  taste.  And  they  oppose 
the  Bible,  because  it  condemns  their  practice.  For  if  Jesus 
is  indeed  the  only  Saviour  of  mankind,  and  if  the  declara- 
tions of  Scripture  are  at  all  to  be  regarded,  their  situation  is 
desperate,  and  they  cannot  escape  the  condemnation  which 
is  therein  denounced  against  all  such  characters.  Other  rea- 
sons, however,  may  be  given  for  such  a  preposterous  con- 
duct. Abundance  of  men  are  so  neglected  at  first  in  their 
religious  education,  and  when  grown  up  to  maturity  are  so 
immersed  in  the  pleasures  and  pursuits  of  life,  that  they  never 
give  themselves  leisure  to  examine  into  the  foundation  of  re- 
li<yion.  They  are  as  inattentive  to  it,  as  if  it  was  none  of 
their  concern.  This  seems  to  have  been  the  case  with  the 
learned  Dr.  Halley.  For  when  he  was  throwing  out,  upon 
a  time,  some  indecent  reflections  against  Christian  it]/,  his 
friend  .S'/r  Isaac  Newton  stopt  him  short,  and  addressed 
him  in  these,  or  the  like  words,  which  imply  that  this  great 
astronorher  had  employed  his  life  in  studying  only  the  book  of 
nature  : — "  Dr.  Halley,  1  am  always  glad  to  hear  you,  when 
you  speak  about  astronomy,  or  other  parts  of  the  mathematics, 
because  that  is  a  subject  you  have  studied,  and  well  under- 
stand :  but  you  should  not  talk  of  Christianity,  for  you  have 
not  studied  it :  I  have;  and  am  certain  you  know  nothing  of  the 
matter*." 


some  vears,  applauding  his  own  superior  discernment,  and  triumph- 
ine  in'his  boasted  freedom  from  the  shackles  of  tlie  Gospel.  Nec- 
ker's  book  on  the  Importance  of  Religioim  Opinions^  however,  fall- 
ing accidentally  into  his  hands,  the  fame^of  the  author  induced  him  to 
read  it.  Here  his  InfideUty  received  a  shock  ;  his  mind  undenvent 
another  change  ;  and  he  was  partly  brought  back  to  Religion.  Some 
mouths  after  this  again  Paley's  Evidences  of  Christianity  were  re- 
commended to  him.  He  bought  the  book.  He  read  it  eagerly 
twice  over  in  a  little  time  with  great  care.  He  was  convinced — and 
is  now  a  zealous  and  happy  Christian.  This  is  his. own  account  pub- 
lished in  the  Arminian  Magazine. 

*  See  the  Life  of  Mr.  Emlyn  for  this  anecdote.     There  is  a 


i\ND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  C7 

Many  other  persons,  possessed  of  some  discernment,  ob- 
serve the  hypocrisy  of  several  of  the  greatest  pretenders  to 
religion :  tltey  see  them  no  better,  and  scarce  even  so  good 
as  some  who  make  less  pretensions ;  and  this  becomes  an 
insuperable  offence  to  them.  If  these  discerning  men,  how- 
ever, would  attend  more  to  tlieir  own  conduct,  and  less  to  the 
misconduct  of  others,  it  would  be  much  happier  ftDr  them, 
and  more  to  their  honour.  Can  any  thing  be  more  unrea- 
sonable than  that  the  Gospel  should  be  made  answerable  for 
all  the  weaknesses,  vices,  and  follies,  of  its  advocates?  Will 
Philosophy  endure  to  be  tried  by  this  test  ?  The  fact  is,  truth 
is  a  stubborn  thing,  and  does  not  fluctuate  with  the  varying 
whims  and  opinions  of  men.  Every  person  must  give  an 
account  of  himself  unto  Goo.  Hypocrites  have  no  encou- 
ragement from  the  Bible.  Why  should  any  man,  therefore, 
make  their  hypocrisy  an  objection  to  that  Bible  'i  Let  the 
blame  fall  where  it  belongs.  The  fate  of  such  persons  is  tixed 
by  the  Judge  of  the  world  himself.  Tlieir  false  ])retensions 
are  utterly  disclaimed  by  him.  'Not  everij  one  that  saith  unto 
me.  Lord,  Lord,  shall  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven ; 
hut  he  that  doeth  the  will  of  my  Father  tchich  is  in  heaven. 
Many  shall  say  unto  me  in  that  day,  Lord,  Lord,  have  zee 
not  prophesied  in  thy  name,  and  in  thy  name  cast  out  devils^ 
and  in  thy  name  done  many  zoonderful  works ;  but  then  will  I 
profess  unto  them,  1  never  knew  you  ;  depart  from  me,  all  ye 
that  zeork  iniquity. 

The  weakness,  folly,  and  enthusiasm ;  the  noise  and  non- 
sense of  the  Zealots  *  among  all  the  denominations  of  Chris- 
tians, is  another  cause  of  the  Infidelity  of  the  age.  Unbe- 
lievers see  the  absurdity  of  their  pretensions  and  proceedings, 

sufficient  account  of  the  reasons   for  Dr.  Halley's  Infidelity  in 
Goadby's  British  Biogruphy,  vol,  viii.  p,  37. 

*  The  extravagancies  of  some  of  the  German  Anabaptists,  the 
French  Prophets,  the  English  Quakers,  Puritans,  and  Methodists, 
have  given  great  and  just  offence  to  many  sensible  and  well-disposed 
people,  and  been  iustriunental  in  drivuig  no  small  number  into  down- 
right ijidifference  to  all  religion  ;  while  others  have  contracted  the 
most  inveterate  principles  of  Infiddiiy.  But  shall  the  follies  of  a  few 
mistaken  individuals  subvert  the  nature  of  things,  and  the  laws  of  ever- 
lasting truth  ?  Because  some  me:)  arc  weak,  silly,  entliusiastic,  and 
euflametl  with  spiritual  pride,  shua  ,v(^  take  upon  us  to  say,  there  is 
no  such  thing  as  sound  rcligioa  and  good  sense  i-.i  tlie  world  ?  Tliis 
would   be  to  make  ourselves  as  weak  and  culpable  as  those  we 


68  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

and  they  are  undistinguishiiig  and  illiberal  enough  to  compre- 
hend them,  and  the  pure  Gospel  of  Christ,   in  one  general 

take  .ipoii  ustocondcmn. — Ail  revivals  of  religion  have  been  attended 
with  excesses;  all  sect;  and  parties  have  had,  and  will  have  among 
thein,  men  of  warm  imaguiations  and  feeble  intellects :  and  wherever 
persons  of  this  description  become  strongly  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance of  religious  truths,  they  seldom  fail  to  disgrace  the  party  to 
which  they  belong.  There  is  no  remedy  for  such  unfortunate  cases, 
but  to  use  our  best  endeavours  to  restrain  and  keep  them  within  the 
bounds  of  moderation.  This  however,  is  usually  extremely  ditlicult; 
for  all  such  persons  are  most  commonly  iviser  than  ten  men  that  can 
render  a  rea.son.  They  are  blown  up  w ith  self-importance,  consider 
themselves  as  the  peculiar  favourites  of  Heaven,  and  under  the  im- 
mediate teachings  and  leadings  of  the  Divine  Spirit.  WJiile  this 
persuasion  continues,  they  treat  the  directions  of  Scripture  as  a  dead 
letter,  and  in  vain  you  attempt  to  reduce  them  to  order,  and  the  sober 
dictates  of  reason  and  connnon  sense  [f]. 

[t]  The  IVelxh  Methodints,  among  whom  there  is  doubtless,  much 
real  piety  and  goodness,  exceed  most,  if  not  all  others  of  the  present 
day,  in  their  extravagancies.     Regular,  and  for  the  most  part  exem- 
plary in  their  private  deportment ;  in  their  religious  assemblies  thev 
resemble  rather  the  frantic  ravings  and  violent  distortions  of  the  an- 
cient heathen,  than  the  sober  conduct  of  the  disciples  of  Christ. 
Little  are  the  well  meaning  ministers  who  encourage  these   irregn- 
Jarities,  aware,  how  sensibly  they  injure  the  cause  they  would  pro- 
mote, and  widj  how  iniamiable  an  aspect  they  represent  our  lovely  re- 
ligion.  Who,  unaccustomed  to  these  wild  scenes,  can  behold  them 
without  miiigled  })it\  and  disgust?  Even  little  children  are  taught  to 
express  by  their  vociferations  and  gesticulations  the  same  emotions 
w  hith  agitate  the  rest  of  the  body.    There  are  a  few  things  in  this  bu- 
siness \v()rthy  the  consideration  of  the  reflecting  part  of  these  societies. 
1 .  How  is  it,  if  these  extacies  are  really  the  production  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  as  would,   no  doubt,   be  contended,  that  the  ministers  them- 
selves, are  rarely,  if  ever,  the  subject  of  them.     It  is  not  uncommon 
to  see  them  sit  in  their  pulpits,  enjo\ing  with   apj)arent  self-compla- 
cence, the  eifects  w  liich  their  preaching  has  produced ;  but  they  seldom, 
it  is  believed,  minule  with  the  tlirong  in  the  exj)ression   of  their  ex- 
tatic  feelings.    2.  How  is  it  that  this  efi'ect  should  be  confined  to  one 
sniall  spot  in  Christendom,  and  that  all  other  parts  of  the  Christian 
world  should  join  in  considering  it  as  a  delusion.     We  have  known 
Chri>tians  of  the  most  fenent  and  exalted  piety  in  other  countries, 
who  were  never  the  subjects  of  such  high-flow n  extacies.     If  these 
emotitms  are  really  the  operation  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  and   the 
pledge  of  his  love   to  his  greatest  favourites,  whv  were  not  tlie  ex- 
cellent  Watts,  the  pious  Hervey,  the  seraphic  Rowe  favoured 
witli  them.     3.  How    happens  it   that  a  Welshman  transported  into 
any  other  countr\,  loses  all  this.*  A  Welshman,   who  had  been  a 
jumper  in  his  own  country,  came  to  settle  in  a  situation   near  the 
writer  of  this  note,   but  never  afK-r  that  was  he  so  afiected.     His 
fi.a^iter,  a  serious,   but  sober  Christian,  once  ventured  to  ask  him  the 


AND  THE  SACRED  \VRITINGS.  69, 

sentence  of  reprobation.  Such  a  conduct  is  surely  uncandid, 
and  highly  unbecoming  the  character  of  men  uho  would  be 
thought  lovers  of  wisdom.  Where  we  see  integrity  and  good 
intention  at  the  bottom,  we  should  make  all  requisite  allowance 
for  the  intirmities  of  men.  The  best  and  wisest  are  eniou)- 
passed  with  darkness,  and  know  but  in  part.  One  grain  of 
piety  and  moral  excellence  is  of  more  worth  than  the  highest 
attainments  in  the  arts  and  sciences,  without  those  moral  and 
religions  qualifications. 

Others  again  take  offence  at    the  absurd   doctrines    of  the 
several  religious  Establishments*  in  Christcudovi.     They  dis- 


reason  of  this,  to  which  the  man  replied,  that  in  England  there  was 
nothing  worth  jumping  for.  I'oorlionest  fellow !  This  remark  surely 
contained  too  just  a  reflection  on  the  liikewarmness  and  want  of 
energy  in  many  of  our  Euglish  preachers ;  but  how  is  it  then  that  the 
Welsli  preachers  do  not  produce  these  effects  in  congregations  in 
England,  or  even  in  the  \Velsli  among  them.  Of  tJiis  there  is  not, 
we  believe,  a  solitary  histance.  We  have  lately  witnessed  the  trntli 
of  this  remark  on  a  remarkable  occasion.  A  celebrated  and  very 
excellent  Welsh  preacher  lately  addressed  a  most  numerous,  pious, 
and  zealous  congregation,  on  one  of  the  most  animating  subjects  con- 
ceivable; but  we  do  not  hear  of  a  suigle  effect  of  this  kind  being  pro- 
duced ;  whereas  that  same  gentleman  perhaps  neve*-  addresses  an 
ordinan.  Welsh  congregation  without  it.  I  need  not  mention  that  I 
allude  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Charles,  preaching  to  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety. The  result  can  leave  us  no  room  to  doubt  but  this  is  a  local 
enthusiasm,  encouraged  first  by  some  well-meaning,  but  iu  this 
respect  weak  leader,  and  now  perhaps  not  easily  remedied,  and  that 
Satan  has  taken  advantage  of  it  to  }>roraote  two  of  his  most  tiesired 
pur])oses,  namely,  to  delude  professors  of  religion  into  an  attention  to 
these  violences  to  the  neglect  of  spiritual  religion;  and  to  prevent 
other  men  from  embracing  religion,  by  a  consideration  of  the  extra- 
vagancies which  attend  it. — Editor. 

-  *  "  It  is  the  corrui)tion  of  Establishments,  ten  thousand  times 
worse  than  the  rudest  dominion  of  tyranny,  which  has  changed  and 
is  changing,  the  lace  of  the  mofleni  world." 

Mr.  Erskine's  Pfimphht  on  the  Causes  and  Consequences  of 
the  present  Uar,  from  which  tlicse  words  are  extracted,  contains  a 
number  of  important  political  truths,  but  seems  to  me  by  no  means 
satisfactory  in  spoakiog  on  the  Causes  of  the  war.  Let  any  man 
read  with  sober  consideration  the  Collection  of  addresses  transmitted 
by  certain  E»o;Hsh  clubs  and  Societies,  to  the  Aafional  Convention 
of  France — ^lILE'3  Conduct  of  France  towards  Great  Britain — 
G\vvokd'%  Letter  to  the  Earl  of  Lauderdale — D'Ivernots's 
Account  of  the  late  Revolution  in  Geneva — icith  Bowles's  Real 
Grounds  of  the  present  War  with  France.     This   little  pamplJct 


70  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

cover  in  them  certain  peculiarities  which  they  conceive  to  be 
irrational.  They  confound  the-  doctrines  of  these  human  in- 
stitutions (which  were  formed  in  the  very  dawn  of  the  Refor- 
matiuii,  while  men's  eyes  were  yet  scarcely  open  enough  to 
discover  truth)  with  genuine  Christianity.  Not  being  at  the 
pains  to  examine  matters,  to  the  bottom,  and  distinguish  ac- 
curatelyj  they  suppose  them  to  be  alike,  and  hence  contract  a 
rooted  indifference,  if  not  an  unconquerable  aversion  to  all 
rehgion. 

Some  there  are  again,  ^^  ho,  seeing  the  pomp  and  pride 
of  many  of  our  Bishops  and  dignifitd  Clergy,  how  they,  in 
direct  opposition  to  the  whole  spirit  of  the  Gospel,  the  exam- 
ple of  primitive  clerks,  as  well  as  their  own  holy  profession, 
scramble  for  emolument,  and  heap  together  from  two  to  half 
a  score  lucrative  places  of  preferment,  while  several  thousands 
of  their  brethren  are  destitute  of  the  ordinary  comforts  of  life, 
without  further  examination,  natuially  suppose  that  Religion 
is   all    priest-craft    and    self-interest,    honour    and    conscience 

is  sufficiently  satisfactory.  Lord  Mornington's  Speech  before 
the  House  of  Commons  is  to  the  same  purpose  with  the  above. 
Harper's  Observation  on  the  Dispute  bttueen  the  united  States 
and  France,  is  a  decisive  little  work.  The  designs  of  the  French 
are  therein  completely  developed.  Nothing  can  be  clearer,  than  that 
they  were  the  aggressors  in  the  present  contest-  He  that  cannot  see 
this,  when  the  evidence  is  so  plainly  laid  before  him,  must  be  blinded 
by,  and  given  up  to,  parly, 

"^  In  addition  to  w  hat  has  been  advanced  by  these  several  authors, 
I  beg  leave  here  to  add  a  declaration  of  Loi-d  Auckland,  Jan.  9, 
1798,  in  the  House  of  Lords,  in  reply  to  Lord  Holland.  Speak- 
ing on  the  causes  of  the  war,  he  said,  "  It  was  a  war  of  necessity  and 
not  of  choice;  for  he  himself  at  the  time  was  sent  with  full  powers  to 
preserve  peace,  if  it  could  be  done  consistently  with  the  honour  and 
mterest  of  this  country.  He  was  to  have  met  Dumolrier  on  the 
subject ;  but,  before  the  time  appointed  for  that  interview,  a  confi- 
dential officer  cajue  and  informed  hun,  that  tlie  Directory  had  de- 
clared war  against  England;  thus,  by  this  pretended  negociation 
taking  the  opportunity  to  seize  upon  our  shipping."'— Lorirfott  Chro- 
nicle, Jan.  9— i-^,  '^798- 

Tlie  above  several  publications  coutaiii  the  whole  merits  of  the 
cause  concerning  the  authors  of  the  war.  And  let  it  terminate  as  it 
may,  they  will  convince  us  that  it  could  not  have  been  avoided  on 
any  principle  of  honoin-  or  s:\fety.  lu  expectation  of  subverting  the 
government  of  the  counti7,  the'  French,  encouraged  by  dissaffected 
persons  in  this  khigdoin,  plunged  ioto  the  war.  Indeed,  it  is,  properly 
sneaking,  the  war  of  EnaUsh  Jacobins.    If  the  French  had  not  been 


AND  THE  Si\CRED  WRITINGS.  71 

having  nothing  to  do  in  the  business. — It  may  be  of  use  to  state 
this  more  at  hirge. 

It  is  veil  known  then,  that  there  are  about  18,000 
Clergymen  in  England  and  JVa/ex  of  the  cstahlhhed  reli- 
gion,  and  nenr  10,000  parishes.  The  Jiectorks  5098;  tlie 
I'icarages  S()S7  ;  the  Livinga  of  other  descriptions  2970;  in 
all  ll,7o5. 

Twenty  or  thirty  of  those  Livings  may  be  a  thousand  a 
vear  and  upwards :  Four  or  five  hundred  of  them  500  pounds 
a  year  and  upw  ards :  Two  thousand  of  them  200  pounds  a 
year  and  upwards:  Five  thousand  of  them  under  100  pounds 
a  year.  The  average  value  of  Livings  is  about  140  pounds  a 
year,  rockoning  them  at  10,000. 

As  these  things  are  not  very  generally  understood,  we  will  be 
a  little  more  particular. 

in  the  year  1714,  when  Queen  Awe's  Bounfi/  began  to  be 
distributed^  there  were 

J  071   Livings  not  more  than  10  pounds  a  year. 

I4G7     -     -^ 20 

1120 30 

1149 40 

884 50 

In  all  5697   Livings  not  more  than  50  pounds  a  year  apiece. 

All  the  10<md  20  pound  Livings  have  now  been  augmented 
by  the  abovfe  donation. 

This  bounty  is  about  13,000  pounds  a  year,  clear  of  deduc- 
tions, and  is,  therefore,  equal  to  65  augmentations  annually,  at 
200  pounds  a-piece  *. 

The  whole  income  of  the  Church  and  two  Universities  is 
about  1,500,000  pounds  a  year.  There  are  26  J3/ shops,  whose 
annual  income  is  72,000,  or  according  to  another  account 
92,000  pounds :  Each  Bishop,  therefore,  has  on  an  average 


stimulated  by  persons  here,  there  had  been  no  \\  ar. — Let  us  not, 
however,  mumiur  aiiainst  men — the  whole  is  of  God.  Great  and 
good  purposes  aie  to  be  answered  by  it,  in  the  due  order  of  Divine 
Providence. 

*  The  Clergy  are  indebted  to  Bishop  BuRXET  for  this  applica- 
tion. The  money  itself  arises  from  tlie  first  fniits  and  tenths  of 
fhurcii-livings,  above  a  certain  value,  whicli,  before  the  time  of 
llfiNRY  tiie  Villth,  used  to  go  to  the  Pope  of  Rome. 


72  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

G,770  or  3,538  pounds  a  year,  supposing  lie  had  no  other  pre- 
ferment.— There  are  28  Deaneries  and  Chapters,  whose  income 
is  abont  5000  pounds  a  year  each,  making  together  about 
140,000  pounds. — The  income  of  the  two  Universities  is 
together  about  180,000  pounds  a  year.  The  10,000  Clergy* 
have  together  about  1,108,000  pounds  a  year  among  them, 
M'hich  is  Uttle  more  than  100  pounds  a-piece.  The  whole 
body  of  the  Clergy  and  their  families  make  near  100,000  souls, 
that  is,  about  an  eightieth  part  of  the  nation.  And  reckoning 
the  population  of  England  and  Wales  at  eight  millions  of  peo- 
ple, every  Clergyman  would  have  a  congregation  of  444  per- 
sons to  attend  to,  in  the  same  way  of  calculation. 

There  are,  moreover,  28  Cathedrals,  26  Deans,  60  Arch- 
deacons, and  544  Prebends,  Canons,  S)C. — Besides  tiiese,  there 
are  in  all  about  300  in  orders  belonging  to  the  different  Cathe- 
drals,  and  about  800  Lay-officers,  such  as  singing  men, 
organists,  &c.  who  are  all  paid  from  the  Cathedral  emolu- 
ments;  so  that  there  are  about  1700  persons  attached  to  the 
several    Cathedrals    who   divide    among    them,    the     140,000 

*  The  Dissenters  in  England  and  Wales  are  said,  by  tlie  late  Mr. 
Robinson,  of  Cambridge,  to  make  about  a  fifth  part  of  the  nation, 
consisting  of  near  1400  congregations.  The  Quakers  are  numerous, 
being  about  50,000,  but  the  Baptists  are  still  more  numerous  than 
either  flie  Quakers,  or  the  Presbyterians,  or  Independants,  or  Mo- 
ravians. 

To  these  should  be  added  the  Methodist  Preachers  of  the  Gos- 
pel. The  regular  circuit  Preacho's  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland, 
in  the  year  1 807,  were  about  56"0,  and  the  local  Preachers  are  sup- 
posed to  amount  to  near  '2400. 

In  addition  to  these,  they  have  about  3^0  Preachers  in  America, 
Ix'sides  local  assistants.  The  number  of  3Iissionaries  in  tlie  West 
Indies  is  30,  besides  50  Negro  Preachers.  Hence  it  appears,  that 
the  Avlio!*^  number  of  ])ersons  who  preach  the  Gospel  to  the  poor  in 
the  Methodist  connection  at  present,  is  upwards  of  4000;  of  which 
number  2<)00  are  stationed  in  Great  Britain,  and  the  adjacent 
Islands. 

The  number  of  persons  belonging  to  the  societies  of  the  late 
Perercnd  .ToHN  Wesley  was  about  118,500  in  this  country; 
24,500  in  Ireland;  157,000  in  America  and  the  }]'est  Indies:  in  all 
about  300,000.  The  number  of  poor  Blacks  on  the  continent  of 
America,  belonging  to  the  Methodist  societies,  and  in  the  West 
Indies,  m<^ke  together  about  28,000,  who  have  renounced  their  he- 
s^i'tting  siii — polygamy;  and,  in  the  main,  live  as  becomes  the 
GospeL 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  73 

pounds  a  year,   making  upon  an  average  near  83  pounds  a  year 
a-piece*. 

The  whole  income  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland  was  in  1755, 
abr)ut  (18,500  pounds  a  year.  This  was  divided  among  944  Mi- 
nist  ITS, and  on  an  average  made  72  pounds  a-piece  per  annum. 

Upon  a  general  view  of  these  matters,  when  it  is  consi- 
dered, that  all  the  BisJtoprics,  Prebaidaries,  Deaneries, 
Headships  of  Colleges,  and  best  Church  JJvings,  are  occupied 
by  a  smaller  number,  in  all  probability,  than  an  eighteenth 
part  of  these  Clergy ;  what  a  deplorable  situation  must  a  large 
share  of  the  remaining  seventeen  thousand  Ministers  be  in, 
especially  under  the  present  advanced  price  of  most  of  the 
common  necessaries  of  life?  And  then,  it  is  curious  enough, 
that  these  Church  Dignitaries,  who  are  in  possession  of  seve- 
ral thousands  a  year  per  man,  have  made  laws,  directly  con- 
trary to  the  practice  of  St.  Paul,  that  the  inferior  Clergy, 
who  are  destitute  of  all  the  elegancies,  and  many  of  the  com- 
forts of  life,  shall  not  be  permitted  to  follow  any  other  calling, 
whereby  to  improve  their  condition,  and  get  bread  for  their 
families !  Would  there  be  any  thing  inconsistent  with  the 
character  of  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  if  the  poor 
Rectors,  Vicars,  and  Curates  of  the  country,  should  make  a 
common  cause,  and  associate  together  in  one  body  against 
their  unfeeling  oppressorsf?    Could  there  be   any  impropriety 

The  followers  of  the  late  Reverend  George  Whitefield,  and 
Lady  Huntingdon,  are  said  to  consist  of  nearly  an  equal  number 
in  Great  Britain,  though,  I  should  suppose,  this  calculation  is  rather 
exaggerated. 

Tt  appears  from  Dr.  Whitehead's  Zaesof  the  Wesley  family, 
that  tiie  name  of  Methodist  was  first  bestowed  upon  Mr.  Charles 
Wesley,  in  1728,  at  Oxford,  for  the  exact  method  and  order  which 
he  observed  in  spending  his  time,  ;uk1  regulating  his  conduct.  An 
origin  surely  truly  honourable,  and  of  which  uo  wise  man  need  be 
ashamed ! 

And  then,  what  a  highly  respectable  compliment  do  the  "  blind 
mouths "  of  this  world  pay  the  Methodists,  in  calling  every  man  by 
that  name,  whose  conduct  is  moral,  whose  piety  is  fervent,  and  whose 
affections  are  set  upon  the  things  above  ? — Good  men  in  all  ages  have 
been  what  the  foolish  world  now  call  Mtthodists. 

*  See  an  Essay  on  the  Revenues  of  the  Church  of  England. 

t  Every  man  is  an  Oppres>^or  who  holds  that  which  ought  to  be 
in  the  hands  of  anotlnr.— it  does  not  appear  to  me,  that  we  can  justly 
blame  any  man  fur  being  a  Deist,  while  the  great  body  of  "*,  the 
Bishops  and  Clergy,  conduct  ourselves  in  the  mduner  Me  usually  do. 

L 


74  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

in  their  conduct,  if  they  should  peaceably  and  respectfully 
address  the  King,  who  is  temporal  Head  of  the  Church,  or  the 
Legislature  of  the  land,  to  take  their  circumstances  into 
serious  consideration?  One  man — not  a  whit  better  than  his 
4)rethren — shall  enjoy  20,000  pounds  a  year— another  15,000; 
another  10,000 — another  5000— another  3000 — another  2000  ; 
and  another  1000.  One  shall  heap  Living  upon  Living,  Pre- 
ferment upou  Preferment — to  a  vast  amoiuit — merely  because 
he  has  got  access — too  often  by  mean  compliances — to  some 

The  spirit  of  our  Hierarchi/  seems,  in  various  respects,  in  direct  op- 
position to  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel.  A  conscientious  Deist,  if  such 
can  be  found,  who  worships  GoD  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  is  infinitely 
preferable  to  a  proud  haughty  pompous  Bishop  or  dignified  Clergy- 
man, who  trades  in  livings  and  souls;  and  his  condemnation  will  be 
far  less  s-evere.  Whatever  Bishops  and  Clergymen  of  this  descrip- 
tion may  profess,  they  are  Infidels  at  botttjm.  They  believe  nothing 
of  the  spirit  of  Christianity.  Religion  is  their  trade,  and  gain  witli 
them  is  godliness.  They  live  in  the  spirit  of  the  ancient  Seribes  and 
Pharisees,  and  they  may  expect  to  share  in  the  tate  of  the  Scribes 
and  Pharisees. — Compare  Isaiah  Ivi.  9 — 12. 

Let  the  clerical  reader  return  to  the  Conclusion  of  Bishop  Bur- 
net's History  of  his  Own  Times,  and  he  will  find  the  neghgent 
Bishops  of  the  land  very  justly  and  smartly  reprehended  for  their 
improper  conduct. 

Mr.  OsTERVALD,  in  his  excellent  Treatise  concerning  the  Caifses 
of  the  preyent  Corruption  of  Christians,  attributes  that  corruption 
chiefly  to  the  Clergy.    His  words  are  the«e  : — "The  cause  of  the  cor- 
raj)tion  of  Christians  is  chiefly  to  be  found  in  tiie  Clergy.     I  do  not 
mean  to  speak  here  of  ail  Churchmen  indifteleutly.  We  must  do  right 
to  some,   wiio  distinguish  themselves  by  their  talents,  their  zeal,  and 
the  holiness  of  their  li\es.     But  the  number  of  these  is  not  conside- 
rable enough  to  stoj)  thccomse  of  t'.iose  disorders  which  are  occasioned 
in  the  Church,  by  the  vast  multitude  of  remiss  and  corrupt  pastors. 
These pulld«nvnwiiattheothersendeavourto  build  up."— P.  \i.  Caused. 
I'iie  inslaiices  of  extreme  blame  which  attaches  to  the  higher  orders 
of  the  English  clori^y,  are  very  numerous.    A  certain  gentleman,  not 
a  hundred  miles  from  my  own  neighbourhood,  whom  I  could  name, 
is  possessed  of  ubnnt  a  tiionsand  a  year  private  fortune.     He  is  a 
married  man,  bur  without  any  children.  He  has  one  living  in  Cheshire, 
of  the  value  of  more  than  400  pounds  a  year:  another  in  Essex,  and 
another  clsewheve,  the  three  together  making   a  thousand  a  year 
more  or  less.    He  is,  mtneover.  Chaplain  to  a  Company,  and  private 
Tutor  in  a  Xolhmans  fi.inily.     But  what  is  nu)st  culpable,   is,   he 
resides  ui)on  none  of  his  livings,  and  verj-  seldom  comes  near  them, 
t}iouf:h  a  lusty,  healthful  man.     Can  that  Church  be  faultless,  which 
pcrnuts  such  li'>vrible  ;:buses?    the   Bishops  themselves,  however, 
beins^  generally  guilty  o.^  lioidinji  a  variety  of  preferments,  and  of  most 
hiexcusable  non  resideiice,  are  disposed  to  connive  at  every  thing  of 
the  kiir.l  among  the  superior  Ciergy  who  are  imder  their  inspection. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  75 

great  man — m  hile  his  more  worthy  brother  is  almost  iu  want 
of  bread  for  liis  chiklren.  The  late  Dr.  Law,  Bishop  of 
Car/isle,  if  my  memory  do  not  fail  me,  was  possessed,  at 
the  time  of  his  decease,  of  ten  or  more  ditferent  Prtfermcnts. 
He  was  Bishop — Head  of  a  College — Prebend — Rector — 
Librarian,  &c.  &c.  &c.  and  all  this  bestowed  upon  him — not 
because  he  was  a  more*  holy,  useful,  and  laborious  man,  than 
ordinary ;  though  a  man  of  merit  and  talents ;  but  because  he 
wriggled  himself  into  favour  with  certain  great  persons,  who 
had  influence  with  men  in  power.  Instances  of  this  kind  are 
not  uncommon.  They  are,  however,  unjust,  impolitic,  and 
unchristian.  No  wise  Legislature  ought  to  permit  such  abuses, 
Keligion  being  out  of  the  question.  They  are  inconsistent 
with  every  thing  decent  and  proper,  while  so  many  valuable, 
learned,  laborious,  humble,  modest  men,  are  pining  in  want. 
I  know  well,  that  reflections  of  this  nature  are  calculated  to 
disoblige  those  who  are  interested ;  but  regardless  of  conse- 
quences, zcithout  the  least  dislike  to  any  man  living,  or  the 
smallest  vierc  to  any  one  individual ,  or  a  zci^k  to  have  any 
iking  better  for  myself,  and  actuated  only  Kith  a  love  to  truth, 
and  the  advancement  of  our  common  Christianity,  I,  for  one, 
protest  in  the  face  of  the  sun  against  all  xuch  abuses.  And  I 
moreover,  solemnly  avow,  that  the  spirit  of  the  present  times 
is  such,  that  unless  these  and  similar  disorders  are  rectified 
by  the  wisdom  of  the  Legislature,  the  ecclesiastical  fabric 
in  this  country  will,  ere  long,  be  as  completely  overturned 
as  that  in  France  has  been  *.  Nothing  can  prevent  it  but  a 
speedy  and  thorough  reformation.  If  the  Bishops  of  the  land 
as  first  indignity,  would  be  first  in  this  grand  work:  if  thcv 
would  make  a  merit  of  necessity,  and,  like  Bishop  Wilson,  re- 
sign voluntarily,  what  they  cannot  long  possess  in  safety:  If  they 
would  make  an  oflfer  to  their  King  and  Country  of  withdraw- 
ing from  the  Upper  Ilousef;  resigning  ail  their  secular  honours, 

*  The  church  of  France,  before  the  Revolution,  consisted  of  IS 
archbishops,  118  bislmps,  306,2t>-l' clergy,  regular  and  secular,  ^^ho 
together  enjoyed  a  revenue  of  al>out  five  millions  sterling.  The  king- 
dom was  divided  into  34,49S  parishes,  besides  4,6'44  annexed  pa- 
rishes; in  all  39,14C  parishes. 

t  This,  I  believe,  is  an  abuse  unknown  in  anv  other  protectant 
church  in  Europe,  and  would  never  hav«  been  subniittecl  to  in  the 
purest  ages  of  Christianity.  Would  to  (Jod  our  (juveruors  in 
Church  and  State  couhl  see  jt  right  to — l»ut  what  shall  I  sav  ?  WJjv 

L  2 


76  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

and  commence  genuine  ministers  of  the  Gospel :  Or,  should  this 
be  too  much  to  expect ;  if  they  would  renounce  their  several 
pluralities*,  and  quietly  retire   into   their  respective  dioceses, 

should  I  desire  changes,  every  thing  but  impossible? — It  is  because  I 
wish  as  well  as  any  man  in  England  to  my  Kirig  and  Country,  that 
I  desure  every  thing  to  be  removed  that  may  provoke  (he  Divine  dis- 
pleasure against  us,  as  a  nation  and  people,  and  bring  on  the  total 
dissolution  of  the  political  frame  of  things.  The  wishes  of  an  ohsnire 
clergj/nian,  however,  will  be  less  in  the  scale,  than  the  small  ditst  upon 
the  balance,  when  weighed  against  the  vast  body  of  archbishops, 
bishops,  deans, prebends,  cano}is,  archdeacons,  rectors,  vicars,  curates, 
lecturers,  commissaries,  chancellors,  proctoi's,  surrogates,  iS;c.  &c. 
with  which  our  church  abounds.  We  Clergymen  should  do  well  fre- 
quently to  study  the  34th  chapter  of  Ezekiel.  It  might  do  us  much 
good.  The  following  address  of  Cow  per  is  also  worth  our  attention; 

"  Ye  Clergy,  while  your  orbit  is  your  place, 

Lights  of  the  world,  and  stars  of  human  race; 

But  if  eccentric  ye  forsake  your  sphere. 

Prodigious,  ominous,  and  view'd  with  fear  ; 

The  comet's  baneful  influence  is  a  dream. 

Yours  real  and  pernicious  in  th'  extreme." 


"  Oh  laugh,  or  mouni  with  me,  the  rueful  jest, 

A  cassock'd  huntsman,  and  ajiddlins[  priest ; 

He  from  Italian  songsters  takes  his  cue, 

Set  Paul  to  music,  he  shall  quote  him  too. 

He  takes  the  field ;  the  Master  of  the  pack 

Cries,  Hell  done,  Saint ! — and  claps  him  on  the  back. 

Is  this  the  path  of  sanctity  ?  Is  this 

To  stand  a  way-mark  ui  the  road  to  bliss  ? 

Himself  a  wand'rer  from  the  narrow  way, 

His  silly  sheep,  what  wonder  if  they  stray?" 


"  The  sacred  function,  in  your  hands  is  made. 
Sad  sacrilege !  no  function  but  a  trade." 

P^rogress  of  Error. 

*  It  is  no  uncommon  thing  for  the  Bishops  of  our  Church  to  hold 
such  preferments  as  are  utterly  incompatible  with  each  other.  The 
late  Dr.  Hinchcliffe  was  at  the  same  time  Bishop  of  Petei'-- 
borough,  and  Master  of  Trinity  College  m  Cambridge.  As  Bishop, 
he  ought,  by  every  law  of  honour,  and  conscience,  and  the  gospel, 
to  have  been  resident  in  his  diocese  among  his  clergy  and  people.  As 
Master  of  Trinity,  his  presence  could  not,  in  general,  be  dispensed 
with. 

We  have  had  others,  who  enjoyed,  at  the  same  time,  several  in- 
compatible preferments — ^Bishopric — a  Headship  of  a  College — a 
Prebendary — a  Rectory — and  other  emoluments.  As  Bishop,  a  man 
ought  to  be  in  his  own  diocese ;  as  Head  of  a  college,  he  must  be 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  77 

never  appearing  in  the  great  Council  of  the  nation,  bnt 
nhen  absolutely  wanted:  If  they  would  come  among  their 
Clergy  —  converse    with    them     freely,     and    treat    them    as 

roidcnt ;  as  Prebind,  certain  duties  are  due;  as  Rtctor  of  a  parish, 
his  absence  caunot  be  dispensed  wilh.  And,  I  niiirht  add,  as  a  Lord 
of  Parlionunt,  his  preseuce  is  frequently  and  ju.>>tly  recjuircd.  ^^hat 
account  their  Lo)dshfj}s  can  ?ive,  cither  to  God  or  man,  for  sucli  of 
the  prefcnnenti  as  are  absolutely  incompatible  one  with  another,  it 
bdioM's  tlifui  ^^cll  to  cousider.  Such  examples  ha\c  a  deadly  efi'cct 
upon  the  interests  of  religion.  Were  they  to  preach  like  St.  Paul, 
who  «  oidd  regard  them,  w  ho  sees  tiiat  they  do  yot  believe  their  own 
professions  ?  No  rank,  no  talents,  no  learning,  no  good  sense,  no  re- 
spectability can  excuse  such  a  conduct. — We  arc  continually  liearing 
of  the  rapid  spread  oi  ItiJidtUfy.  The  Bishops  oi'  Lonc/ou  and  Dur- 
ham, in  their  late  excellent  Charges,  are  loud  in  their  compiainfs. 
But  what  appears  surprising  to  me  is,  that  they  and  others  should 
sj>eak  so  strongly  of  the  overthrow  of  Christiauih/  in  Fraiicc.  By 
tlicir  leave,  and  with  all  due  submission,  it  is  not  Christianity  winch 
has  experienced  a  subversion  there.  It  is  the  doctrine  ot'  Antichrist ; 
and  its  sub\  ersion  w  ill  ultimately  prove  one  of  the  greatest  blessings 
God  could  bestow  upon  the  nations. — But  who  is  to  blame  for  the 
spread  of  Itifidelity}  The  Bishops  and  Clergi/  of  the  land,  more  than 
any  other  people  in  it.  We,  as  a  body  of  men,  are  almost  solely 
and  exclusi\ely  culpable.  Our  negligence,  luke-w armness,  wurldiy- 
mindedness,  and  inunorality  will  ruin  the  whole  country.  And  v,  hen 
the  judgments  of  God  come  upon  the  land,  they  \\ill  fall  peculiarly 
heavy  u}K»n  the  heads  of  our  order  of  nien. 

One  word  upon  the  situation  of  the  unhapj\v  Irish.  We  ci-y  out 
against  them  tor  their  rebellious  conduct :  and  to  be  sure  thej  arc 
extremely  to  blame  in  many  respects.  Is  there  not,  however,  a  cause, 
an  apparent  cause,  at  least,  for  their  dissatisfaction?  The  grie\ anceii 
of  tlie  Prottstant  part  ot  the  people  are  many  and  considerable.  The 
late  Lord  Bristol,  for  mstance.  Bishop  oi  Derry,  whose  Bishopric 
is  said  to  ha\e  been  lj,000  pounds  a  year,  was  rambhng  over  Eu- 
rope, and  did  not  set  ibot  u\  his  diocese  for  several  vears ;  some 
have  reported,  for  t\\enty-four  [']. 

This  is  a  specimen  of  the  treatment  which  Churchmen  meet  with. 
Can  we  wonder,  if  they,  as  well  as  the  Catholics  and  Dissenters, 
fcliould  nmrnun-  ?  Ireland  would,  in  all  probability,  have  been  lost  to 
England,  had  not  the  nmd  and  bloody  zeal  of  tlie  Catholic^,  tljose 
hellish  wretches,  united  the  Protestants  in  their  own  defence,  for  the 
protection  of  their  lives  and  properties. 

There  are  twenty-two  Bishops,  who  preside  over  the  es);il>lished 
church  in  Ireland,  at  the  expence  of  7^,000  pounds  a  year;  which  is 
at  the  rale  of  3,36S  pounds  per  annum  a  man,  besides  all  their 
otiier  preferments.  Some  of  them  are  known  to  be  very  woithy  cha- 
racters; but  others  like  the  one  just  mentioned,  are  extremely  to 
blame,  though  surely  not  in  the  same  degree.  While  such  are  the 
^epkerds,  no  wonder  if  the  Sheep  go  a.stray.     Ought  we  to  be  sur- 


?8  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

brethren :  if  they  would  go  about  doing  good,  in  all  condes- 
cension and  humility,  through  their  several  districts,  preach- 
ing  the   IVord  of  life,   in  an   evangelical  strain,  among  the 

prised  if  Catholics,  Dissenters,  and  Methodists  succeed  in  making 
converts  ?  if  Infidelity  abound  and  run  like  wild-lire  among  the  jieo- 
ple?  if  thev  complain,  wish  to  overturn  such  a  system  of  corruption, 
and  rise  in  rebellion  for  the  purpose?  Nothing  but  true  religion,  or  a 
sense  of  the  impolicy  of  the  measure,  can  restrain  them. — I  do  afhrm 
again  and  again,  that  the  slothful  and  temporising  Bishops  and  Clergy 
of  Europe,  are  the  main  authors  of  the  present  miseries  of  jE«;-o//e,  and 
we  may  justly  and  infallibly  expect.  Divine  Providence  will  ere 
long  kick  us  off  our  perches,  as  has  been  the  case  in  other  countries, 
and  give  our  offices  and  emoluments  to  those  w  ho  are  more  ^^  ortliy  of 
them.  Nothing  can  save  us,  unless  we  turn  over  a  ne«"  leaf,  and  be- 
come alive  to  the  interests — not  of  the  Church  as  a  secular  institution 
— but  to  the  interests  of  pure,  disinterested,  evangelical  religion. 
What  might  not  the  1 8,000  Clergymen  ui  this  country  do,  were  we 
all  zealously  concerned  for  the  honour  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  the 
salvation  of  the  people  committed  to  our  caie  ?  The  face  of  things  in 
every  moral  point  of  view  at  least,  would  be  extremely  diiferent. — 
What  a  horrible  hell  shall  we^  Parsons  have  when  we  leave  our  present 
beds  of  down?  How  will  the  devils  exult  over  myriads  of  full-fed 
■bishops.  Doctors,  and  dignified  Dons,  who  have  rioted  upon  the 
spoils  of  the  Church,  and  neglected  or  abused  their  holy  charge? 

I  add  further,  that  among  other  causes  of  complaint  in  our  sister- 
kingdom,  many  of  the  bishoprics  me  tilled  up  by  the  Viceroy  from 
among  the  English  clergy,  and  the  best  livings  are  possessed  hy Eng- 
lishmen. Hence  a  verv  frequent  non-residence.  Every  impartial 
person  must  consider  this  as  a  real  grievance.  The  Irish  clergy,  in- 
deed, are,  taking  them  with  some  few  honourable  exceptions,  in  a 
state  truly  deplorable,  and  the  great  mass  of  tlielaitv'  not  less  so,  con- 
sidered in  every  religious  point  of  view.  What  wonder,  if  the  people, 
left  to  perish  by  their  ministers  for  lack  of  knowledge,  should  rise  up 
and  cut  the  throats  of  those  ministers?  This  is  a  just  re-action  of  Pro* 
vidence.  We  talk  of  the  wild  Irish,  and  speak  of  them  as  being  little 
raided  above  a  state  of  savage  nature.  Let  it  be  considered  who  is  to 
blame  for  all  this.  The  Bishops  and  Clergy,  I  vow.  But  the  fault 
is  greatly  in  the  ecclesiastical  part  of  the  constitutions  of  the  two 
coimtries,  \a  hich  will  permit  the  clerical  order  of  men  to  recei\  e  the 
emoluments  of  the  church,  without  j)ei-forming  the  business  for  which 
we  are  paid.  No  man  cau  surely  say  that  a  reform  here  would  do  us 
any  harm !  But  if  a  reform  in  church-matters  is  never  to  be  brought 
about  till  the  Bishops  and  Clergy  themselves  embark  m  it,  there  is 
much  reason  to  fear,  the  event  is  at  no  little  distance.  I  must,  how- 
ever, do  my  own  order  the  justice  to  observe,  that,  in  fonner  periods, 
whatever  reformations  in  religion  have  been  brought  fonvard,  some 
of  the  Clergy  have  been  the  most  active -and  effective  instruments. 
God  send  us  again  a  few  more  WirKLlFFS,CRANMERS,LATiMERS, 
Ridleys,  Hookers,  and  Gilpins,  to  deliver  us  from  the  remain- 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  79 

people,  after  the  example  of  the  great  Shepherd  and  Bishop 
of  souls,  and  his  Apostles  :  If  they  would  renounce  their 
pomp  and  splendour,  and  set  their  faces  in  good  earnest 
against  all  monopolies  of  livings;  &^^mst  tion-resiflcnts ;  against 
all  immoral,  disorderly,  and  irreligious  Clergi/men:  If  they 
would  be  the  zealous  and  avowed  friends  and  patrons  of  labo- 
rious pastors,  in  particular,  and  of  good  men  of  every  descrip^ 
tion,  in  general :  Then  would  the  Church  of  England  soon  be- 
come, more  than  ever,  the  glory  of  all  churches,  and  the  Bishops 
of  that  church  would  be  the  glory  of  all  Bishops. 

It  is,  however,  not  to  be  doubted,  that  men,  possessed  of 
the  loaves  and  fishes,  will  laugh  at  all  this  as  visionary  and 
enthusiastic. 

"  I  know  the  warning  song  is  sung  in  vain. 
That  few  will  hear,  and  fewer  heed  the  sti-ain." 

Be  it  so. — I  have  only  to  reply — Look  at  the  Bishops  and 
Clergif  of  France  I — They  now  think  themselves  hardly  treated. 

ing  dre<;s  of  Popish  superstition  which  cleave  to  us,  that  the  throne 
of  our  excelleut  King  may  be  j^rmanent  as  the  days  of  heaven,  and 
the  British  churches  become  the  glon.  and  en\"^•  of  the  whole  world! 

"  Triumphant  here  may  Jesus  reign. 
And  on  his  vineyard  sweetly  smile; 
Wliile  all  the  virtues  of  his  tram. 
Adorn  our  church  aiid  bless  our  Isle  !" 

[*]  It  is  not  a  little  remarkable,  that  the  late  act  for  *'  Enforcing 
*'  the  residence  of  sj^.iritual  persons  on  their  li\  ings,"  contains  an  ex- 
press exemption  in  favour  of  the  Bishops,  who  are  tlierefore  placed  by 
it  under  no  obligation  of  residing  even  on  their  dioceses,  a  provision 
which  some  may  think  not  without  its  utility.  The  pruicipal  part  of 
tlie  provisions  of  the  act  are  calculated  to  facilitate,  and  even  licence 
non-residence;  an  abuse,  which  if  we  may  credit  Bishop  Burnet, 
was  not  even  tolerated  in  the  ciiurch  of  Rome,  (see  the  conclusion 
of  the  histoiy  of  liis  oicn  times) ;  and  so  little  has  been  the  operation 
of  this  act  in  enfbrcinc  residence,  that  the  Editor  has  been  told  bv 
persons  well  informed,  that  in  the  diocese  of  London  itself,  there  are 
scarcely  six  instances  of  clergy  who  have  been  compelled  to  reside 
under  it.  It  is  observed  by  Selden,  (Table  Talk  139)  that  "  the  peo- 
ple thought  they  had  a  great  \"ictory  over  the  clergy,  when  in  Hexry 
the  VIII ih's  time  they  got  their  bill  passed,  '  that  a  clergyman 
should  have  b^t  two  livings.'  It  will  be  well  if  the  late  acts  be  not 
found  to  estsblish  certain  ])rinciples,  which  in  the  result  will  make 
both  the  cler;:y  and  the  people  sensible  that  they  have  lost  a  great 
victor}-  in  being  deprived  of  the  advanta-,'f s  of  a  Common  Law  Tri- 
bunal.—Editor. 


so  A  PLEA  rOR  RELIGION 

But,  as  a  body,  they  bad  been  excessively  to  blame ;  and  their 
present  sufferings  are  proportionate  to  their  former  culpability. 
Happy  will  it  be  for  us,  if  their  negligence  and  misfortunes 
make  us  w  ise  and  cautious !  The  fate  of  the  Jervish  clergy  of 
old,  and  of  the  French,  Dutch,  Flemish,  Italiati,  and  Szi'iss 
Clergy  of  our  own  times,  comes  like  a  peal  of  thunder,  preach- 
ing Reform;  real,  and  effectual,  and  speedy  Refokm,  to 
the  Clergy  of  every  country. 

You  see  then,  isiY  Countrymen,  that  I,  for  one,  give  up 
all  these  abuses  as  indefensible.  Every  man  of  common 
sense  and  observation,  whose  eyes  are  not  blinded  by  preju- 
dice, and  whose  mind  is  not  closed  by  sinful  habit  and  self- 
ihterest,  mnst  see  that  they  are  wrong.  But,  be  it  remem- 
bered, tliat  whatever  means  Divine  Providence  may  use 
to  correct  them— ;/br  corrected  in  due  time  they  must  be — the 
Gospel  of  Christ  is  not  to  be  blamed  for  them.  It  gives 
them  no  countenance ;  it  predicts  their  rise,  their  continu- 
ance, their  downfall:  and  it  denounces  nothing  less  than  the 
most  extreme  condemnation  against  all  those,  who  pervert  the 
F>ivine  Ordinances  to  secular  and  self-interested  purposes. 
It  is  neither  Emperors,  nor  Kings,  nor  Popes,  nor  Jrch- 
bishops,  nor  Bishops^  nor  Clergymen  of  any  inferior  descrip- 
tion, that  shall  escape  the  just  sentence  of  the  universal 
Judge.  He  will  make  no  distinction.  He  knows  no  differ- 
ence between  man  and  man,  but  what  moral  and  religious 
qualifications  make.  Whatsoever  a  person  sozceth,  that  shall 
he  also  reap.  Mighty  sinners  shall  be  mightily  punished. 
Eminently  good  and  useful  men  shall  be  eminently  rewarded. 

To  this  head  let  it  further  be  added,  that  discerning  men, 
observing  the  conduct,  character,  and  precepts  of  the  Saviour 
of  the  world,  and  comparing  them  with  the  conduct  and 
manners  of  our  Church-Dignitaries,  cannot  help  seeing  a  very 
striking  contrast.  His  kingdom  was  not  to  be  of  this  world : 
but  the  conduct  of  our  Bishops,  is  in  a  great  measure  secular. 
His  meat  and  drink  was  to  do  the  will  of  him  that  sent  him. 
He  literally  zcent  about  doing  good.  He  preached  every  where, 
and  to  all  descriptions  of  men.  A  genuine  patriot,  he  was 
never  weary  of  contributing  to  the  happiness  of  his  country. 
He  was  frequently  in  the  temple,  but  never  in  tlie  palace, 
unless  when  dragged  thither  by  force.     Our  learned  Prelates*, 

*  A!i;K>Tig  the  Bi.shops  of  the  Church  of  England  may  be  found  a 
considerable  number  of  duirattcrs  the  most  respectable   for  every 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS^^^^ 


however  are  so  occupied  in  the  great  Council  of  tli^ 'MaHoTl ; 
ill  dancing  attendance  at  Court;  m  guarding  their  ^tecswl^ 
emoluments  from  Maste;  in  visiting  the  nobility  and  genti^;'  of 
the  land;  and  in  otht-r  worldly  engagements  of  various  descrip- 
tions;  that  they  have  but  little  time  left,  either  for  reading 
the  Scriptures,  for  private  retirement,  or  for  preaching  tha 
Go>y;t7  to  the  poor  of  the  tiock,   in  their  respective  districts*. 

niorui,  liti-ntrv,  and  relijuious  attainment ;  and  the  country  is  under 
the  utmost  uL)!ii:aiion  to  iheni  tor  their  exertions  at  ditierent  periods  of 
our  history.  But  were  any  individuals  among  them  ever  so  desirous, 
they  have  it  not  in  their  power  to  rectitA-  abuses,  and  reform  what  they 
m.iy  conceive  to  be  amiss.  The  system  is  too  compact  and  well 
uijiesteil.  Their  hands  are  tied  behind  them.  The  prejudices  of  some, 
the  interests  of  othei-s,  the  supineness  of  not  a  few,  and  the  fears 
of  distiirliing  tlie  long  established  order  of  things,  in  most,  fonii  an 
iiisiijierable  Itarrier  auainst  e\ery  reform;  insomuch  that  nothiiisr,  it 
is  to  be  feiued,  ciui  accomplish  any  considerable  change  for  the  better, 
but  a  convulfion.  If,  indeed,  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury/,  and  the 
u-/iof('  Bench  of  Bishops,  had  discernment,  and  humility,  and  public 
spirit,  and  self-denial  enough,  to  come  fonvard  of  their  own  accord, 
and  w  itli  one  consent  desire  an  anieiionited  state  of  things,  there  might 
be  some  hope.  But,  that  six  and  twenty  interested  men  should  be 
brought  to  concur  in  a  business  of  this  sort,  seems  next  to  an  impos- 
sibility. The  sacririce  is  too  great !  Human  nature  is  too  frail  to 
make  it. 

^  Bishops  ought  assnreilly  to  reside  in  their  dioceses  among  their 
ilergi/,  \ni^Ai:\nnii  in  season  and  out  of  season  ;  countenancing  and 
enci  uragiiig  the  good ;  repiovh)g,  exhorting,  warning,  punishing, 
the  unworthy  and  innnoral  part  of  their  Cters^y.  The  contrarv  to  this, 
ho«e\er,  is  very  frc<|uent!y  the  case.  If  a  man  happens  to  have 
got  a  little  more  zeal  than  ordinary,  and  laboms  more  diligently  to 
do  good  than  the  generality  -of  his  brethren,  immediatelv  they  are  all 
in  lunis  agahi-t  him.  Ai.'l  nothing  is  more  connnon,  than  for  his 
ecclesiastical  superiors  to  irmMi  upon  him,  to  stigmatize  him  as  a  J/c- 
thodist,  and  to  oppcjse  his  interests  in  every,  wav  they  can  contri\e. 
W  hf  reas,  a  Clergifnuin  may  be  a  man  of  pleasure  and  dissipation;  gay, 
foolish,  silly,  tritliiig;  he  may  s}>end  his  time  in  the  diversions  of  the  - 
held;  drink,  swear,  and  live  as  foolishly  as  the  most  foolish  of  his 
tiick,  and  yet  no  harm  shall  happen.  He  is  no  Methodist,  and, 
therefore,  every  fav(^ur  shall  be  shewn  him  which  he  can  desire.  Me' 
ihodism  is  like  the  sin  against  the  Holy  Ghost;  it  is  neither  to  be 
forgiven  hi  this  world,  nor  in  the  woild  to  come! 

Be  it,  liowe\er,  obser\ed,  that  the  increase  of  Dissenters,  and 
the  alarming  spread  of  Methodism,  are  both  entirely  ow  ing  to  the 
luke-\\arnuiess,  or  negligence,  or  disorderly  conduct,  or  bigotrv,  or 
pcrsecuthig  spirit  of  tlie  Clergy  in  the  Establishment.  And  tJiere  is  no 
uay  under  heaven  of  preventing  tlie  most  mischievous  consequences, 
but  by  adoj)tiug  new  meiisures,  reforming  whatis  aiiiiss,  and  •ut- 

M 


«'.J?^ 


■V. 


82  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

To  hear  a  Bishop  preach,  is  a  sort  of  phoenomenon  in  the 
country.     And,  if  any  of  that  truly  respectable  body  of  men 

preaching,  out-labouring,  and  out-living  all  our  ojiposers.    The  pride 
of  office  lias  injured  us  extremely.     Tlie  disdain  frequently  expressed 
by  us  against  the  several  Sectarists  has  been  highly  impolitic,  and 
sometimes  unchristian.     Has  not  every  man  living  the  same  right  to 
worship  God  accorfliug  to  tUe  tlictates  of  his  own  conscience,  tliat  we 
have?     To  his  ot^u  u. aster  each  one  must  give  an  account.     He  that 
worships  God   most  spiritually,   and   obeys  him  most    universally, 
believing  ii>  the  name  of  his  only-begotten  Son,  is  the  best  man,  -and 
■  most  acceptable  to  the  Divine  Being,  whether  he  be  found  in  a 
Church,  in  a  Quaker's  meeting-house,  in  a  Dissenthig  place  of  wor- 
ship, of  any  other  description,  or  upon  the  top  of  a  mountain.     Hove 
long  sliall  we  be  carried  away  by  weak  and  superstitions  distinctions? 
In  ereru  nation,  and  ainongall  denominations  of  men,  he  that  feareth 
God,  afid  u'orketh  righteousness,  is  accepted  with  him.    And  if  God 
will  accept,  why  slwuldnot  man?    Tlte  Saviour  of  the  world  him- 
self hath  given  us  an  infallible  deiinition  of  a  Gospel -chwrch:    Where 
tu'o  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  mi/  name,  there  am  Jin  the  midst 
of  them.     Let  any  man  consult  Locke  on  Toleration,  and  he  can 
have  no  doubt  on  his  mind  concerning  the  liberality  of  the  genuine 
Gospel  of  our  blessed  Saviour.     It  has  been  the  custom  of  the  Estab- 
lished Clergy  of  all  countries,  for  many  ages,   to  arrogate  to  them- 
selves a  kind  of  infallibility.     Nay,  I  might  add,  there  is  scarcely  a 
Parson  among  us  all,  whether  Churchman,  Methodist,   Quaker,  or 
'  Dissenter  of  any  other  description,  that  has  not  got  a  church,  a  chapel, 
©r  a  meeting-house  in  his  bellj-.     We  are  all  Pojjes  m  our  o\ni  way ; 
at  least,  evei-y  denomination  has  its  imperious  and  over-bearing  dic- 
tators.    Let  no  man,  however,  think  the  worse  of  the  Neiv-Testa- 
ment-religion  because  of  the  different  hobby-horses  which  we  Parsons 
think  proper  to  ride.     Our  Order  lias  had  its  day ;  and  a  pretty  long 
day  it  has  been !  The  Pope  has  ridden  the  Bishops,  the  Bishops  have 
jidden  the  Priests,  and  the  Priests  have  ridden  the  People.     The 
tables,  how  ever,  are  now  turning,  though  late  ;  and  we  Parsons  must 
be  contented  to  be  ridden  by  the  People.     But  if  the  People,  in  their 
zeal  for  freedom,  sliould  proceed  to  cast  off  the  Divine  yoke — and 
there  is  some  danger ! — if  they  should  insolently  reject  the  authority 
of  Jesus  Christ,  our  ouly  Lord,  and  Master,  and  Saviour,  he  tcill 
visit  their  offences  ivith  a  rod,  and  their  siji  with  scourges.     He  ha5 
a  right  to  our  services.     We  are  not  our  own,  but  are  bought  with  a 
price,  and  no  man  sliall  refuse  him  subjection,  and  prosper.     Eveiy 
thinking  person   nmst   feel   that   he   is  a  dependent   creature,   and 
insufficient  for  his  own  happiness ;  a  sinful  creature,  and  incapable 
of  atoning  for  his  own  transgiessions. 

I  have  said  above,  that  among  the  Bishops  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land may  be  found  a  consiflerable  number  of  characters  the  most 
respectable  for  eveiy  moral,  literary,  and  religious  attainment.  I 
add  too,  again,  that  several  of  the  Bishops  and  Clergy  of  the  Irisl^ 
church  h^ve  been  also  highly  respectable,  as  well  as  many  of  the  infe- 


.AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  83 

—some    of   whom    are  both  great  and  good  men,  and,  iude- 
pendent    of    such    considerations,     I    hope    ever   to    reverence 

rior  orders  of  our  own  Cltr^i/.  So  Hkewise  have  been  many  of  tlie 
Hishops  and  Clers^t/  of  the  i-ivwcA  church.  Usher,  the  Irinh  Arch- 
bia/iop,  for  instance,  was  not  only  a  pious  niiin,  but  even  a  walking 
library,  in  point  of  learning:.  The  late  Archbishop  NE^vcoME  wasa 
character  of  the  most  resptctabU;  litcnu->  kind.  Bishop  Warbuk- 
.TON,  no  mean  judije,  used  to  say  o{  Bishop  Taylor,  "  he  had  no 
conception  of  a  gieater  genius  upon  earth  tlian  was  that  holy  man." 
— Where  too  was  there  ever  a  more  admirable  character  tiian  the 
author  of  Telemachus  ?  or  learned  men  than  Calmet,  Du 
I'l  K,  Mo  XT  FAU  CO  N,  and  others  among  tlie  French  clergy  I  Our  own 
Cotes,  though  but  a  private  clcrg\man,  and  yoiuig  m  ■s'Cvui  at  the 
time  of  his  decease,  is  said  by  Bishop  Watson  to  ha\e  been  second 
to  none  but  Newton  in  sublimity  of  philosopliic  genius.  But  as  the 
learnmg,  pitty,.  genius,  and  amiable  manners  of  Fenelon  and 
his  brethren,  couUl  not  excuse  and  make  tolerable  the  corruptions 
of  the  church  of  France ;  so  neither  can  tlie  leanmig,  genius,  and 
piety  of  tlie  Bishops  and  Clertyy  of  England  and  Ireland  excuse 
and  make  justitiable  the  more  tolerable  corruptions  of  the  churches  of 
these  two  countries.  We  must  either  sunplitS'  and  evangelize  our 
ecclesiastical  constitutions,  or  they  must  fall.  I  speak  this,  not  from 
any  personal  pique  or  disappointment,  not  fiom  a  love  of  novelty  and 
change,  but  upon  the  authority  of  the  Prophetic  Scriptures — with  a 
view  to  the  near  completion  of  the  1  '2t)0  mystical  years — and  from  a 
solemn  and  aw ful  contemplation  of  the  revolutions  which  are  so 
rapi<lly  taking  place  through  all  Europe.  England  may,  and,  I  trust, 
will  be  protected  by  Divine  Providence  for  a  time;  the  iniquitif 
of  the  Aniorites  may  not  yd  he  full;  but  the  Great  Aation,  as  they 
vain-gloriously  call  themselves,  must  ultimately  succeed  in  their 
designs,  unless  a  radical  refonnation  should  engage  the  Lord  on  our 
side,  and  prevent  our  national  ruin. 

Great  tenderness,  however,  ought  to  be  exercised  cowards  our 
Goitrnors  both  in  Church  and  State,  upon  this  delicate  subject ; 
because,  w  henes  er  a  Ki?is:  succeeds  to  the  throne  of  these  lands,  he 
swears  to  maintain  the  Church  in  its  present  state;  because  ail  im- 
portant changes  are  attentled  with  serious  danger  to  the  very  existence 
of  society — witness  the  revolution  in  France — and  because  Judge 
Blackstone,  in  his  Commentaries,  delivers  it  as  his  ojiuiion,  tliat  iio 
alteration  can  take  place,  eitlier  in  the  Constitufion  or  Liturgy  of 
the  Church  of  England,  consistently  with  the  Act  of  Union.  —Intro- 
duction, sect.  4.  [*] 

But  if  this  be  the  case,  tlui  Act  of  Union  was  unwisely  managed. 
^^  hat  right  has  any  one  generation  to  Legislate  for  all  future  genera- 
tions ?  and  esi)ecially  to  tie  up  their  hands  from  making  changes  and 
improvements  adapted  to  the  ta.-te  oCthe  revolving  ages  ?  Upon  this 
principle  Christianity  itself,  and  e^en  the  present  coustitution  of  Eng- 
land, is  an  unproper  innovation  on  the  wisdom  of  former  ages. 

Jt  is  evident  from  the  opposition  of  the  late  Bishop  of  JiQchfS-i 

m2 


84  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

them  for  their  office  sake — do  vouchsafe,  once  in  a  way,  as  an 
extreme    favour,    to    indulge    the    people    of   theu-   dioces'e, 

ter  to  the  aboHlion  of  Holidays,  that  we  may  not  expect  fioiii  tJie 
Bench  of  Bishops  tiie  smallest  concession  towards  a  reformation  in  the 
ecclesiastical  part  of  our  Constitution,  To  nie,  however,  ^^llat  we 
usually  call  lioiuldys  appear  in  the  light  of  very  serious  evils  to  tlie 
community.  Ltt  a  man  conscientiously  .obsene  the  Lord's  dav; 
and  I  will  excuse  him  every  other  holiday  in  the  calendar. 

[*]  Though  it  was  certainly  stipulated  at  the  time  of  the  Union 
that  no  alteration  should  ever  afterwards  tiike  place  in  tlie  doc- 
trine, discipline,  worship  or  government,  oi  \\\c  Church  of  Ernrland  ; 
yet  on  two  recent  occasions  the  legislature,  yielding  perhaps  to 
the  force  of  the  suggestion  contained  in  our  author's  next  note,  has 
thought  fit  to  break  through  this  restriction,  at  the  solicitations  of 
the  Bishops,  and  for  the  purpose  of  augmenting  IJieir  jjowers.  See  a 
}>aniphlet  on  the  recent  extension  of  the  powers  of  their  Lordships 
the  Bishops,  pubhshed  by  Longman  and  Co.  Dut  whatever  might 
be  the  occasion,  we  may  draw  from  the  circumstance  a  most  cheering 
conclusion,  which,  could  it  have  had  its  force  oii  the  excellent  niind 
of  our  Author,  would  have  dissipated  much  of  the  gloom,  with  which 
on  this  subject  it  was  evidently  oppressed,  namely,  that  the  Parlia- 
ment now  no  longer  considers  itself  as  bound  down  by  the  strict 
conditions  of  the  Union,  but  at  liberty  to  make  any  alterations  it  may 
deem  conducive  to  the  advantage  of  the  Church.  From  this  begin- 
ning we  may  doubtless  augur  the  most  happy  consequences,  no  less 
than  a  full  and  thorough  (tho'  perhaps  gradual)  revision  of  the 
whole  of  our  eccle^iaslieal  constitution.  The  old  and  mouideriiig 
fabric  Mill  doubtless  undergo  a  complete  re])air,  tlie  decayed  or 
faulty  materials  taken  down,  the  goo<l  preserved  and  strengthened, 
the  rubbish  cast  away.  The  revenues  of  the  Clergy  w  ill  be  more 
equalized,  the  powers  of  the  Bishops  moderated  and  defined,  the 
liberties  and  rights  of  the  inferior  Clergy,  as  a  necessary  consequence, 
more  regarded  and  better  secured;  our  ecclesiastical  courts,  those 
remaining  badges  of  our  spiritual  bondage,  either  totally  abolished, 
or  greatly  reformed,  their  proceedings  no  longer  enveloped  in  the 
mystery  of  darkness,  but  regularly  pubhshed  like  those  of  oiu'  other 
Courts;  the  canon  law,  or,  at  least,  that  sore  and  grievous  burden  to 
clerical  consciences,  the  mystical  oath  of  canonical  obedience,  entirely 
done  away.  The  cases  of  collegiate  and  clerical  subscriptions 
candidly  reconsidered.  In  short,  whatever  may  exist  in  our  church 
matters,  incapable  of  abiding  the  test  of  reason  and  scripture,  will 
doubtless  (now  the  passiige  is  free  and  open,)  by  our  excellent 
government  and  present  enlightened  administration,  be  rectified. 

As  to  the  Coronation  Oath,  its  purport  appears  to  have  been 
misconceived.  According  to  the  old  construction  of  it,  nothing 
could  have  amounted  to  a  more  direct  violation,  than  the  acts  of 
Parliament  to  which  I  have  above  alluded;  but,  according  to  the 
present  construction,  it  does  not  appear  to  extend  to  2i\\y parliamentary 
proceedings;  where  the  /v7//^  acts  only  m  compliance  with  the  wish 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  85 

where  they  happen  to  spend  a  little  time,  they  usually  affect 
so  much  pomp  and  dignity  in  their  manner,  and  their  dis- 
courses are  so  dry  and  uHevangelical ;  so  stiti',  so  cool,  so 
essaical,  so  critical,  so  elhicai,  so  heathen-like,  that  tJie 
poor  of  the  flock  can  receive  little  or  no  benefit  and  edifica- 
tion. 

Tliese  learned  Gentlemen  are  so  horribly  afraid  of  ap- 
proaching too  near  the  Methodists*,  both  in  their  doctrines, 
and  manner  of  preaching,  that  their  sermons  are  most  com- 
monly cast  more  in  the  mould  of  Seneca  or  Epictj^tus,  than 
in  that  of  S^  Paul;  and  delivered  with  all  the  apathy  of  an 
ancient  philosopher. 

of  the  nation,  expressed  by  its  two  great  representative  bodies.  And 
this  is  the  view  in  which  of  late  years  it  has  been  regarded.  See  a 
letter  to  a  nobleman,  by  C.  BiiTLER,  Esq. — Editor. 

*  Methodist  is  a  term  of  reproach  which  has  been  made  use  of  for 
many  years,  in  this  country,  to  stigmatize  all  the  most  serious,  zea- 
lous, and  li\  elv  professors  of  religion.  It  is  not  confined  to  any  one 
sect  or  party;  but  is  common,  more  or  less,  to  all  who  are  pecu- 
liarly animated  in  the  concerns  of  religion.  In  the  ( 'hurch  of  Ens:Ifind, 
as  by  law  established,  all  those  Dlimsters  and  people  are  called 
Methodists,  who  believe  and  preach,  and  contend  for  the  doctrines 
of  the  thirty-nine  Arti  les  of  religion.  And  Jrians,  Soeiiiians,  Arwi- 
jj/flfjs,  and  i-orw/fl/Zi/s  of  every  description,  who  continue  to  attend 
public  worship  in  the  Establishment,  are  considered  by  the  undisceru- 
ing  world  as  her  only  true  members.  In  short,  all  who  embrace,  with 
a  Uitly  and  zealous  faith,  the  doctrines  of  the  said  thirty-nine  Articles, 
among  all  the  denominations  of  Christians,  are  by  way  of  ignominy 
denoiuinated  Methodists.  To  be  zealous,  in  the  most  important  of 
all  concerns,  is  to  be  held  as  a  proverb  of  reproach !  You  may  be  a 
zealous  philosopher,  a  zealous  politician,  or  a  zealous  sciolist  of 
almost  e\ev\  descri|)tion,  and  you  shall  meet  with  approbation  and 
praise ;  but  if  you  discover  any  considerable  degree  of  w  annth  and 
zeal  for  the  grand  peculiarities  of  the  Gospel,  and  vital,  practical,  ex- 
perimental religion,  then  the  de\  il  and  all  his  industrious  servants  w  ill 
stignratize  you  w  ith  e\  ciy  name  ',\  liich  they  consider  as  opprobrious  and 
disgraceful.  Indeed,  Methodist,  is,  in  the  nineteenth  century,  w  hat  Pu- 
ritan was  in  tjie  seventeenth.  After  the  Restoration,  people,  to  shew 
their  aversion  to  the  Puritans,  turnedevery  appearance  of  religion  into 
ridicule,  and  from  the  extreme  of  hypocrisy,  tlew  at  once  to  that  of 
prnfligacv;  so  now  abundance  of  people  are  so  alanne.".  at  the  idea  of 
being  thought  Methodists,  that  they  absolutely  give  up  the  peculiar 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  and  become  as  lukewarm,  and  indift'erent  to 
all  religion,  as  though  it  was  no  part  of  their  concern.  And  yet  these 
Wiseacres,  in  the  true  spirit  of  the  ancient  Scribes  mid  Pharisees,  keep 
roaring  out,  Church  and  Kins:-'  the  Church!  the  Church!  the  Temple 
of  the  LoKp!  the  Temple  of  the  LoRD  are  we! 


86  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

*'  How  oft,  when  Paul  has  serv'd  us  with  a  text. 
Has  Epictetus,  Plato,  Tully  preach'd!" 

Hence  these  learned  Prelates  are  found  to  do  but  little  good. 
Such  preaching  never  was  of  much  use  to  the  Christian  church. 
Chkist  crucified,  alone,  is  the  power  of' Gob  unto  Salvation. 
Now  and  then,  indeed,  in  the  course  of  three,  four,  five,  six, 
or  sometimes  even  ten  or  twelve  years,  these  Shepherds  of 
Christ's  flock  parade  through  the  country,  paying  their  res- 
pects to  the  Great,  and  holding  Confirmations ;  but  where  is 
the  spirit  of  a  Peter  and  a  Paul  to  be  discovered  ?  Or,  to 
come  nearer  to  what  might  be  expected,  where  is  the  spirit 
of  a  Burnet*,  a  Leighton^,  a  Beveridge,  a  Hall^, 
a  Ken,  a  Bedell,  a  Reynolds,  or  a  Wilson,  to  be  seen? 
Our  Confirmations,  and  I  may  add,  even  our  Ordinations'^  for 

*  "  This  excelleut  man  w  as  extremely  laborious  in  his  episcopal 
office.  Every  summer  he  made  a  tour,  for  six  weeks  or  two  months, 
through  some  district  of  his  bishopric,  daily  preaching  and  confirm- 
ing from  church  to  church,  50  as  in  the  compass  of  three  years, 
besides  his  triennial  visitation,  to  go  through  all  the  principal  livings 
of  Ills  diocese." — See  Biograph.  Brit.  art.  Burnet,  by  Kippis,  vol. 
iii.  p.  29. 

t  Leighton  was  a  most  exemplaiy  character,  both  in  his  private 
and  public  capacity.  The  life  and  writings  of  few  men  are  more 
worthy  of  imitation  and  perusal.  He  laboured  hard  to  bring  about 
some  reformation  in  the  state  of  things  in  his  own  day,  and  when  he 
found  all  his  efforts  ineffectual,  he  quietly.,  withdrew,  resigned  his 
preferment,  and  lived  in  private.  What  Burnet  says  of  him  can 
never  be  too  often  repeated,  and  too  generally  known — "  He  had  the 
•greatest  elevation  of  soul,  the  largest  compass  of  knowledge,  the 
most  mortified  and  heavenly  disposition,  that  I  ever  yet  saw  in  mor^ 
tal.  He  Jiad  the  greatest  parts,  as  well  as  virtue,  w  ith  the  most  perfect 
humility  that  I  ever  saw  in  man ;  and  had  a  sublime  strain  ju  preach- 
ing, with  so  grave  a  gesture,  and  such  a  majesty  both  of  thought,  of 
language,  and  pronunciation,  that  I  never  once  saw  a  wandering  eye 
where  he  preached,  and  I  have  seen  whole  assemblies  often  melt  in 
tears  before  him;  and  of  whom  I  can  say  with  great  truth,  that  in  a 
free  and  frequent  conversation  ^vith  him  for  above  two  and  twenty 
years,  I  never  knew  him  say  an  idle  word,  that  had  not  a  direct  ten- 
dency to  edification ;  and  I  never  once  saw  him  in  any  other  temper, 
but  that  which  I  wished  to  be  in,  in  the  last  moments  of  my  life." 

Mr.  Locke  gives  us  a  similar  account  of  Dr.  Edward  Pococke, 
"  I  can  say  of  him  what  few  men  can  say  of  any  friend  of  theirs,  nor  I 
of  any  other  of  my  acquaintance ;  that  I  don't  remember  I  ever  saw 
in  him  any  one  action,  that  I  did,  or  could,  in  my  own  mind  blame, 
ox  thought  amiss  in  him." — Letter  to  Mr.  Smith  of  Dartmouth. 

X  Bishop  BuKNET  took  large  pains  in  preparing  young  people  for 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  87 

the  sacred  ministry,  though  good  in  themselves,  appointed  by 
the  highest  authority,  and  calculated  to  serve  the  interests  of 
rehgion  in  no  small  degree,  and  dwindled  uito  painful  and 
disg'usting  ceremonies,  as  they  are  usually  administered,  to 
serbus  and  enlightened  minds.  Besides,  is  it  to  be  supposed, 
that  the  whole  of  a  Bishops  business  is  to  ordain  ministers 
and  hold  confirmations,  to  spend  their  time  in  secular  ea- 
gasrements,  and  to  attend  their  place  in  the  House  of  Lords  ^ 
Is  it  for  thest:  purposes  solt^ly  they  are  each  of  them  paid  by 
the  pubhc  from  two  to  twenty  thousand  pounds  a  year  ? 
"  Good,  ray  brother, 

Do  not,  as  some  ungracious  pastors  do ; 

Shew  me  the  steep  and  thorny  way  to  heaven, 

\Vhil5t,  like  a  careless  libertine, 

Himself  the  primrose  patii  of  dalliance  treads." 

Can  we,  or  ought  we  to  be  surprised^  that  many  of  our 
worthy  countrymen  should  be  drawn  aside  into  tlie  paths  of 
Injiddity,  when  it  is  considered  what  is  the  general  conduct 
of  our  spiritual  Superiors,  and  how  the  above  sacred  ordi- 
nances are  frequently  administered.?  Is  it  possible  the  Scrip- 
tures should   be    true,   and  our  secular   and   luke-warm,   our 

Conjiniiaiion,  and  used  even-  mean  in  his  power  to  encourage  and 
excite  candidates  for  Ordination  to  come  with  due  qualifications.  He 
complains,  however,  in  the  most  aft'ecting  terms,  of  the  low  state  in 
whicii  thev  usually  appeared  before  hun.     See  the  Pre/ace  to  his 
Pa.it oral  Care;  the  third  edition.     The  state  of  things  is  not  much 
improved  since  that   great  Prelates  day.     We  have  at  this  time, 
indeed,  a  very  considerable  number  of  men  in  the  Establishment,  of 
the  utmost  lespectabihty  both  for  learning,  piety,  and  diligence  in 
l^ir  calling;  but,  when  we  consider  that  the  Clergy  of  this  country-, 
independent  of  Scotland  and  Ireland,  are  supposed  to  make  as  before 
noted,  a  body  of  18,000  men,  the  number  of  truly  moral,  religious, 
and  diligent  characters,  is,  comparatively,  small.     Tliis  is  one  main 
reason  of  tlie  prodigious  increase  of  Methodism ;  and  for  the  same 
reason  Injideliti/  is  at  this  moment  running  like  wild-fire  among  the 
great  body  of  the  connnon  people.     There  never  was  a  time  when 
there  was  a  greater  need  of  zeal,  and   humility,  and  condescension, 
and  piety,  and  diligence,  and  attention  to  the  grand  peculiarities  of 
the  Gospel  in  our  Bishops  and  Clergy,  than  ui  the  present  day.     If 
we,  as  a  great  body  of  men  paid  by^the  State  for  the  purpose,  rouse 
not  speedily  from  our  supuie  condition,  and  come  boldly  and  uian- 
fallv  tbnvaid — not  in  a  fiery  persecuting  spirit,  but  in  the  spirit  of 
our'DiviNE  Master— we" shall  neither  have  churches  to  preach  in, 
nor  people  to  preach  to.     Let  the  Bishops  and  Clergy  of  England 
look  at  their  brethren  iu  France — and  arise — set  out  on  a  new  plan 
— QX  be  for  ever  fallen ! 


83  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

negligent  and  iinpreaching  Bishops  be  in  favour  with  the 
Divine  Blcing?  If  they  are  in  safety  for  a  future  state, 
surely  religion  must  have  changed  its  nature.  Their  episcopal 
conduct  is  the  reverse  of  St.  Paul's  injunctions  to  Timothy, 
and  the  Bishops  of  the  churches  of  Asia ;  to  give  themselves 
wholly  to  the  work  of  the  ministri/,  and  to  take  heed  to  all  the 
jiock,  over  icliich  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made  them  overseers; 
to  Jeed  the  church  of  God,  zehich  he  hath  purchased  Ziith  his 
own  blood.  The  Lord  of  the  invisible  world  bath  said,  and 
he  who  hath  the  keys  of  death  and  of  liell  hath  said  :  Strive 
to  enter  into  the  strait  gate,  for  many  shall  seek  to  enter  in 
and  shall  not  be  able:  Wide  is  the  gate  atid  broad  is  the  rcay 
that  leadeth  to  destruction,  and  many  there  be  zehich  go  in 
thereat:  because  strait  is  the  gate,  and  narrozo  is  the  icay, 
zehich  leadeth  unto  life,  and  feie  there  be  that  find  it.  If 
commands  and  declarations  like  these  are  true,  then  woe ! 
woe!  woe!  to  the  Bishops  of  England!  May  we  not  say  of 
them,  with  too  general  an  application,  but  with  some  few 
iionourable  exceptions  indeed,  as  good  old  Bishop  Latimer 
si^iid  of  his  most  reverend  and  right  reverend  brethren  in  his 
day  : — "  There  is  a  gap  in  Hell,  as  wide  as  from  Calais  to 
Dover,  and  it  is  all  filled  with  unpreaching  Prelates*!" 

*  Latimer's  nordsare: — '•  O  that  a  man  might  have  the  con- 
templation of  iiell,  that  the  devil  would  allow  a  man  to  look  into 
hell,  to  see  the  estate  of  it: —  if  one  were  admitted  to  view  hell  thus, 
and  beholding  it  thoroughly,  the  deviJ  should  say:  On  yonder  side  are 
pmiished  nnpreuchi7ig  prelates ;  I  think  a  man  should  see  as  far  as  a 
kenning,  and  perceive  nothing  but  unpreaching  prelates;  he  might 
loot  as  far  as  Calais,  I  warrant  you." — Sermon  8,  vol.  i.  p.  155. 
Lond.  171)1. 

I  will  mention  another  anecdote  to  the  same  purpose: — A  learned 
Friar  in  Italy,  famous  for  his  learning  and  preaching,  was  com- 
manded to  {)reach  before  the  Pope  at  a  year  of  .Jnhilet:  and  to  be 
the  better  furnished,  he  repaired  thither  a  good  while  before  to  Romt, 
to  see  the  fashion  of  the  Conclave,  to  accomodate  his  sermon  the 
better.  Wiien  the  day  came  he  was  to  preach,  having  ended  his 
pfayer,  he,  looking  a  long  time  about,  at  last  cried  with  a  loud  voice 
three  tunes — St.  Peter  was  a  Fool! — St.  Peter  was  a  Fool  ! 
—St.  Peter  w  as  a  Fool! — Which  words  ended,  he  came  out  of 
the  pulpit.  Being  afterwards  convented  before  the  PoPE,  and  asked 
why  lie  so  carried  himself?  He  aviswered,  Surely,  Holy  Father,  if  a 
priest  raay  go  to  heaven  uboundmg  in  wealth,  honour  and  preferment, 
and  liv^^  at  ease,  never  or  seldom  to  preach,  then  surely  St.  Peter 
WAS  A  iFool,  who  took  such  a  hard  way  in  travelling,  in  fasting,  in 
preachiii  ?,  to  go  thither. — ^AVhiston's  MemQirs  of  liis  own  Lile, 
p.36'2.  " 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  89 

Let  not  tlie  reader  suppose  that  I  have  any  prejudice  against 
a  Bhhop  or  a  Ckrgi/man,  as  such.  There  are  some  whose 
learning,  pi-tv,  dili-zence,  zeal,  and  talents,  I  prodigiously  ad- 
mire; and  f  myself  am  of  the  clerical  order  by  the  most  consci- 
entious choice*;  but  I  cannot  prevail  upon  myself  to  call  things 
bv  wrong  names,  and  to  give  tiattering  titles  where  it  is  plain 

Most  of  our  Enfrlish  Bishops  are,  at  tJiis  day,  in  a  very  strong 
sense,  tnipreaching  Prelates.  The  Bishop  of  London,  however,  and 
some  few  more,  are  exceptions  to  this  general  rule.  If  the  present 
times,  and  tlie  awful  predicament  in  which  every  Clergyman  now 
stands,  w  ill  not  rouse  us  to  a  sense  of  danger,  and  a  greater  degree  of 
zeal  and  diligence  in  our  calling,  we  sliall  richly  deserve  our  ap- 
proaching, inij)ending,  hievitable  fate,  unless  prevented  by  a  speedy 
and  effectual  return  to  evangelical  prhiciples,  and  practices.  The 
Gospel  is  either  true  or  it  is  false.  If  it  be  folse,  let  us  cast  off  the 
mask,  and  appear  in  our  true  colours.  If  it  be  true,  let  us  conduct 
ourselves  as  though  we  believed  it  to  be  so;  and  leave  no  stone  un- 
turned, no  means  untried,  to  promote  its  spread,  and  influence  among 
the  world  in  general,  and  among  the  people  committed  to  our  care 
in  particular. 

*  How ,  it  may  be  asked,  can  this  declaration  be  reconciled  w  ith 
the  result  as  contained  in  the  second  Appendix ?  Were  we  at  liberty 
to  consider  the  expression  "  clerical  ovder,"  as  referring  to  the  minis- 
terial office  at  large,  uncontined  to  the  particular  denomination  of 
the  Church  of  England,  the  solution  would  not  be  difficult,  since  the 
Author  himself,  who  w  as  not  of  the  Daubenian  school^  in  that  Appen- 
dix has  made  the  obvious  distinction  between  being  a  Minister  of  the 
gospel  in,  and  out  of,  the  establishment :  for  after  having  declared 
that  he  did  not  see  how  he  could,  "  either  in  honour  or  conscience 
continue  to  officiate  any  longer  as  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel,  in  the 
establishment,"  he  afterwards  declares,  "  I  think  it  necessary  to 
say,  that  the  doctrines  I  have  preaclied  for  six  and  tweni^r"  years,  I 
still  consider  as  the  truths  of  God. — I  mean  to  preach  the  same 
doctrines,  the  Lord  being  my  helper,  during  the  whole  remamder 
of  my  life,  w  heresoever  my  lot  may  be  cast."  Yet  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted that  the  w  ord  "  clerical,"  either  in  its  strict  and  accepted  use, 
or  in  the  j>resent  connection,  will  scarcely  bear  this  construction. 
We  must  therefore  suppose,  that  w hen  this  sentence  was  written  in 
the  tirst  edition,  the  Author's  scru  les  had  not  then  o|ierated  so  pow- 
erfully as  to  lead  him  to  the  conclusion  of  renouncing  his  clerical 
character;  and  that  when  h  -  revised  this  in  the  second  edition,  which 
is  know n  to  have  been  a  considerable  time  before  he  wrote  the  appen- 
dix, either  he  overlooked  it,  which  as  his  mind  was  so  occujjied  w ith 
the  subject  is  not  improbable,  or  he  then  continued,  on  the  whole, of 
the  same  sentiment,  which  was  only  altered  by  the  gradual  proce-ss  of 
mature  retlection,  aided  bv  firm  integrity,  and  a  sense  of  the  pro- 
priety of  a  consistency  of  conduct;  and  this  best  accords  with  the 
view  with  which  the  second  Appendix  begins. — EDITOR. 

N 


90  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

they  are  not  deserved.  Gravely  and  seriously  speaking  then,  I 
do  conceive,  that  the  number  of  clerical  characters,  who  will 
be  received  with  approbation  by  the  Shepherd  and  Bishop 
of  souls,  in  the  great  day  of  final  retribution,  will  be  small, 
comparatively  speaking,  extremely  small. 

I  am  sure  appearances  at  present  are  against  us.  And  I  con- 
ceive all  this  is  strongly  implied  in  our  Saviour's  very  solemn 
discourse  to  the  Bishops  and  Clergy  among  the  Jews  in  the 
twenty-third  of  St.  Mathcw,  just  before  he  left  our  world.  In 
short : — 

The  Clergy  of  every  country  in  Christendom  have  been, 
at  the  same  time,  the  bane  and  the  hulzcark  of  religion:  the 
bane,  by  their  pride,  misconduct,  superstition,  negligence,  and 
spiritual  domination;  and  the  bulwark,  by  their  piety,  excellent 
learning,  and  admirable  defences  of  the  doctrines  of  religion,  or 
the  outworks  of  Christianity. 

The  fact  is,  the  Popish  clergy  have  preached  and  written  so 
much  in  defence  of  the  tripal  tyj-ant.  and  the  superstitions  of  their 
religion,  that  scepticism  and  injidelity  almost  universally  prevail 
among  ihuiking  men  of  that  denomination.  The  more  eagerly 
the  Clergif  contend,  the  more  mischief  they  do  to  their  cause; 
for  really  the  things  for  which  they  contend  are  not  defensible. 

"We,  of  the  English  establishment,  too,  have  so  long  boasted 
of  the  excellence  of  our  church  :  congratulated  ourselves  so 
frequently  upon  our  happy  condition  ;  paid  ourselves  so 
many  faie  compliments  upon  the  unparalleled  purity  of  our 
hierarchy ;  that  a  stranger  would  be  led  to  conclude,  to  be 
sure  we  must  be  the  holiest,  happiest,  and  most  flourishing 
church  upon  the  fate  of  the  earth  :  Whereas,  when  you  go 
into  our  most  stately  and  magnificent  cathedrals  and  other 
sacrtd  edifices,  you  find  them  almost  empty  and  forsaken. 
At  best  ail  is  deadness  and  luke-warmness  both  with  priest 
and  people*.     In  various  instances,  there  is  little  more  appear- 

*  Bishop  Burnet  says,  "  I  have  lamented,  during  my  whole  life, 
that  I  saw  so  little  true  zeal  among  our  Clergy.  I  saw  much  of  it  in 
the  Clergii  of  tiie  Church  oi  Rome,  though  it  is  both  ill  directed  and  ill 
conducted.  I  saw  much  zeal  likewise  throughout  i\\&foreign  churches. 
The  Dissenters  have  a  great  deal  among  them:  but  I  must  own,  that 
the  main  body  of  our  Clergy  Las  alw  ays  appeared  dead  and  lifeless 
to  me;  and,  instead  of  animatuig  one  another,  they  seem  rather  to  lay 
one  another  asleep." — Conclusion  of  the  History  of  his  Own  Times. 

Let  any  discerning  man  take  a  candid,  yet  impartial  survey  of 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  gl 

ance  of  devotion  than  in  a  Jen's  synagogue.  Go  where  you 
will  through  the  kingdom,  one  or  the  other  of  these  is  very 
generally  the  case,  except  where  the  officiating  Clergyman  is 
strictly  moral  in  his  conduct,  serious,  earnest  and  lively  in  his 
manner,  and  erangelical  in  his  doctrines.  Where  this,  how- 
ever, happens  to  be  so,  the  stigma  of  Mtthodism  is  almost 
universally  affixed  to  his  cliaracter,  and  his  name  is  had 
for  a  proverb  of  reproach,  in  proportion  to  his  zeal  and  useful- 
ness, by  the  sceptics  and  injideh  all  around,  in  which  they  are 
frequently  joined  by  iherich,  the  fashionable,  and  the  goj/,  with 
the  Bishop  and  Clergy  at  their  head.  How  many  such, 
"  For  their  bellies  sake, 

Creep,  and  intrude,  and  climb  into  the  fold? 

Of  other  care  they  little  reck'ning  make, 

Than  how  to  scramble  at  the  shearer's  feast. 

And  shove  away  the  wortliy  bidden  guest: 

Blind  mouths!  that  scarce  themselves  know  how  to  hold 

A  sheep-hook,  or  have  learn'd  aught  else  the  least 

That  to  the  faithful  herdsman's  art  belongs! 

Wiiat  recks  it  them  \     What  need  they  J    They  are  sped  ; 

And  when  the\  list,  their  lean  and  flashy  songs 

Grate  on  their  scrannal  pipes  of  wretched  straw. 

the  Clergy,  for  a  circuit  of  sixty  miles  round  his  own  neighbourhood, 
and  then  let  him  say,  whether  the  matter  is  mended  since  the  time 
in  which  this  good  Bishop  wrote  these  words.  Let  him  attend  the 
dissenting  ordinations,  and  clerical  meetings;  the  Methodist  confer- 
ences, and  district  meetings;  let  him  next  proceed  to  our  church 
confirmations,  ordinations,  and  visitations ;  and  then  let  him  say,  on 
which  side  is  to  be  found  the  greatest  appearance  of  evangelical  reli- 
gion. Be  it  as  it  may  with  others,  it  is  well  known  that  our  Confir- 
mations, are  frequently  a  burlesque,  our  Ordinations  disorderly,  and 
our  Visitations  riotous  and  intemperate.  These  are  melancholy 
facts.  The  Parson  and  his  Wardens  must  have  a  good  soaking  to- 
gether once  a  year  at  least. 

I  obserAe,  too,  that  for  a  circuit  of  many  miles  round  our  two 
English  universities,  a  greater  degree  of  ignorance  and  stupidity 
pre\  ail  among  the  common  people  than  in  most  other  parts  of  the 
country.  This  is  a  strange  circumstance,  but  easily  accounted  fur 
irom  the  improper  conduct  of  abundance  of  the  Clergy  and  Gentle- 
men  of  those  two  seminaries  of  learning. 

It  holds  equally  true,  that,  all  through  the  kingdom,  wherever 
there  is  a  Cathedral  and  a  greater  number  of  Parsons  than  ordinai-v, 
Hiere  is  usually  the  least  appearance  of  real  religion  among  the  peo- 
ple. The  general  lukewarmness  of  the  Clergy  is  a  curse  to  every 
neighbourhood  where  they  abound!  It  is  the  same  in  Catholic  coun- 
tries,  and  must  be  so,  hi  the  nature  of  tilings,  through  every  country, . 
unless  we  live  in  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel. 

N  a 


93  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

The  hungry  sheep  look  up,  and  are  not  fed, 

But  s\\oirn  with  wind,  and  the  rank  mist  they  draw. 

Rot  inwardly,  and  foul  contagion  spread: 

Besides  what  the  grim  wolf  with  privy  paw 

Daily  devours  apace ;  and  nothing  said. 

But  that  two-handed  engine  at  the  door, 

Stands  ready  to  smite  once,  and  smite  no  more.'' 

These  words  of  Milton  are  certainly  severe,  but  yet  not 
more  so  than  the  occasion  deserves.  If  they  were  applicable 
in  his  day,  it  is  to  be  feared  they  are  not  less  so  in  the  present. 
As  a  body,  w'e  are  of  all  men  in  England  the  most  inexcuse- 
able.  The  great  mass  of  the  people  are  going  headlong  to  the 
devil  in  their  sins;  the  nation,  because  of  its  transgressions,  ia 
absolutely  verging  towards  destruction ;  and  yet  a  vast  majority 
of  the  18,000  Parsons  are  insensible,  both  of  the  temporal  and 
eternal  danger,  to  which  we^  our  people,  and  our  country  are 
exposed.  If  this  censure  seem  intemperate,  let  any  man  prove 
that  it  is  not  just.  I  sincerely  wish  it  were  wholly  undeserved, 
I  know  some  goodj  useful,  laborious,  and  honourable  men, 
among  the  Clergy;  men,  the  latchet  of  zohose  shoes  I  am  not 
"isorthy  to  unloose ;  but  I  know  also  there  is  a  very  considerable 
number,  who  are — what  shall  I  say? — Tell  it  not  in  Gath, 
publish  it  not  in  the  streets  of  Asktlon;  lest  the  sons  of  I)ifi- 
deliti/  rejoice;  lest  the  disciples  of  Thomas  Paine  triumph 
— they  are  exactly  like  the  Parsons  described  by  the  Prophet^ 
a  little  before  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem.  His  watchmen 
are  blind:  they  are  all  ignorant ;  they  are  all  dumb  dogs,  they 
cannot  bark;  sleeping,  lying  down,  loving  to  slumber.  Yea, 
they  are  greedy  dogs,  zihich  can  never  have  enough;  and  they 
are  shepherds  that  cannot  understand:  they  all  look  to  their 
onn  zc-ay,  every  one  for  his  gain  from  his  quarter.  Come  ye, 
say  they,  I  ze.i,ll  fetch  nine,  and  we  will  fill  ourselves  tfith 
strong  drink  ;  and  to-morrow  shall  be  as  this  day,  and  much 
more  abundant. 

I  have  no  pleasure,  I  say  again,  in  exposing  the  nakedness  of 
the  established  religion  of  my  country,  or  in  exciting  agamst 
myself  the  indignation  of  my  clerical  brethren ;  but  the  times 
are  alarming;  the  great  Head  of  the  church  is  evidently  dis- 
pleased with  us  ;  and  there  is  now  no  mincing  the  matter  any 
longer.  We  ought  to  examine  the  ground  upon  which  we 
stand.  If  it  be  in  any  respect  found  untenable,  we  should 
chan<^e  our  measu:es,  follow  the  determinations  of  Heaven  ; 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  93 

and  by  complying  uith  its  hi^h  behests,  put  ourselves  under  the 
guardian  care  of  God.  If  without  looking  forward,  ur  giving 
ourselves  any  concern  what  is  right  or  what  is  wrong,  we  are 
determined  to  defend,  through  thick  and  thin,  whatever  in  for- 
mer acres  has  received  the  sanction  of  law,  and,  in  cur  own  day, 
.the  force  of  custom,  we  must  take  the  consequences.  W  0  shall, 
most  assuredly,  in  due  time,  share  in  the  general  wreck  of  the 
nations.  I  have  no  more  doubt  of  this,  than  1  have  of  the  au- 
thority of  the  Sacred  irritings. 

The  animosity  and  uucharitableucss,  which  have  evermore 
prevailed  among  the  different  denominations  of  Christ/a;]^,  is 
another  cause  of  the  growing  Infideiiti/  of  the  present  age. 
It  is  not  said  now,  as  in  the  days  ot  old,  "  See  lunv  these 
C/iristians  love  one  another:" — but — "  See  how  these  C/iris- 
tians  hate  one  another."  Catholics  damn  Prx)tcstanls,  and 
Frotestafits    revile    Catholics*.       One   sect    of    Protcsfaiits 

"  \Miat  a  hitrriljle  curse  has  Puptry  been  to  Chrhtindo  n  in  puint 
of  population!  Frauve  alone,  we  have  seen,  beiore  the  Rt'olution, 
contained  upwards  of  J00,OOU  secular  and  regular  Clergy,  besides  an 
iiinnensc  uuniber  of  ?\nns.  Tins  vast  body  of  males  and  tln-iales  weie 
all  enjoined,  by  the  laws  of  the  church,  to  contuuie  in  a  state  of  ce- 
libacy. In  the  w hole  of  Christendom  there  were  no  less  tlnm  'i2a,444 
monasteries  about  a  century  atro.  How  much  greater  the  number 
before  the  Reformation?  Now,  reckon  only  twenty  persons  to  one 
uKfUasteiT,  there  must  be,  iii  these  several  siiiks  of  sin  and  pt)Uution 
(see  Gavins  Master  Key  to  Popery)  upwards  of  4,5G0,()0O  souls 
debarred  from  all  the  comtorts  of  the  married  state,  and  living  in 
direct  opposition  to  the  great  law  of  nature— //uvtca^  and  ^luUiply. 
Hasten  the  completion  of  the  ICOO  years,  O  God!  which  thou  Iiast 
determined  for  the  reign  of  the  Man  of  Sin;  and  whatever  it  may 
cosf  us,  let  us  see  his  destruction  witii  our  own  eyes;  so  will  we  praise 
thy  name,  and  shout,  HuUelujtdi!  }J(dIeh:jah  !  Babylon  is  J cuhn  ! 
is  fallen!  with  concordant  hearts  and  voices! 

When  \\'lLLTAM  the  Conqueror  came  over  into  England,  he 
found  about  a  third  j)art  of  fhe  lands  in  the  possession  of  the  Clirzy. 

Upwards  of  three  thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty  religious 
houses  were  suppressed  by  Henhy  Vill.  and  his  jnedecessors. 

It  is  computed  that  tifty  thousand  |iersons  w  ere  contained  in  these 
several  religious  houses. 

In  some  respects  theie  religious  institutions  were  useful,  in  othei-s 
extreniely  pernicious. 

Such  a  number  of  persons,  living  in  a  state  of  celibacy,  when  the 
country  did  not  contain  more  than  three  or  four  millions  of  uiliabi- 
tants,  if  so  many,  must  have  had  a  most  pernicious  eiicct  upon  its 
population. 

The  5<iin  total  of  tiie  clear  vearlv  revenue  of  tiie  several  religious 


94  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGIOxV 

anathematizes-  another  sect;  every  one  holding  forth  the 
peculiar  doctrines  of  their  own  party  as  the  truths  of  God,  in 

houses,  at  the  time  of  their  dissolution,  of  which  we  have  any  account, 
seems  to  have  been,  140,7851.  6"s.  aid.  And  as  the  value  of  money 
is  now  seren  or  eight  times  what  it  was  in  the  days  of  Henry  VIII. 
we  cannot  reckon  the  whole  at  less  than  a  million  sterling  a  year. 

Besides  this,  there  were  many  other  religious  foundations  dis- 
solved, of  which  we  have  no  account.  The  plate  and  goods  of  dif- 
ferent kinds,  which  came  into  the  hands  of  the  king  at  the  same  time, 
were  of  immense  value. 

A  good  general  view  of  all  these  matters  may  be  seen  in  an  ex- 
tract from  Bishop  Tanner's  Notitia  Monastka,  in  JMr.  Justice 
Burn's  Ecclesiastical  Laic,  under  the  article  Monasteries  [  *  ]. 

[  *  ]  It  cannot  fail  of  being  entertaining  to  the  reader  to  be  pre- 
sented with  the  preamble  of  the  statute  for  the  dissolution  of  the 
smaller  3Ionasteries,  Q7  Hen.  VIII.  c.  28,  as  extracted  from  the 
Parliament  Roll,  by  Mr.  Gwillym,  (vide  his  Treatise  on  Tithes, 
p.  23.)  especially  as  it  is  not  usually  printed  in  our  statute  books. 

"  Forasmuch  as  manifest  syune,  vicious,  carnal  and  abominable 
living,  is  davly  used  and  conmiitted,  commonly  in  such  little  and 
small  abhei/s,  priories,  and  other  religious  houses  of  monks,  canons, 
and  nuns,  where  the  congregations  of  such  religious  persons  are  un- 
der the  ninnber  ef  twelve  persons,  wliereby  the  governors  of  such  re- 
ligious houses  and  their  convent,  spoyle,  destroye,  consume,  and  utterly 
waste,  as  well  their  churches,  monasteries,  priories,  principal  houses, 
farms,  granges,  lands,  tenements  and  hereditaments,  as  the  orna- 
ments of  their  churches,  and  their  goods  and  chattels,  to  the  high 
displeasure  of  Almighty  God,  slander  of  good  religion,  and  to 
the  great  infaniv  of  the  king's  highness  and  the  realm,  if  redress 
should  not  be  had  thereof.  And  albeit  that  many  continual  visita- 
tions have  been  heretofore  had,  by  the  space  of  two  hundred  years 
and  more,  for  an  honest  and  creditable  reformation  of  such  unthrifty, 
carnal,  and  abominable  living,  yet  neverthelesse  little  or  none  amend- 
ment is  hitherto  had,  but  their  vicious  living  shamefully  increaseth 
and  augmenteth,  and  by  a  cursed  custom  so  rooted  and  infected, 
that  a  great  multitude  of  the  religious  persons  iu'such  small  houses, 
do  rather  choose  to  rove  abroad  in  apostacy,  than  to  conform  them- 
selves to  the  observation  of  good  religion  ;  so  that  without  such  small 
houses  be  utterly  suppressed,  and  the  religious  persons  therein,  com- 
uiifted  to  great  and  honourable  monasteries  of  religion  in  this  realm, 
where  they  may  be  compelled  to  live  religiously,  for  reformation  of 
their  lives,  the  same  else  be  no  redress  nor  reformation  in  that  behalf. 
In  consideration  whereof,  the  king's  most  royal  majesty,  being  su- 
preme head  on  earth,  under  God,  of  tlie  church  of  England,  dayly 
studvirig  and  devvsing  the  increase,  advancement,  and  exaltation  of 
true  doctrine  and  virtue  in  the  said  church,  to  the  only  glory  and 
honour  of  GoD,  and  the  total  extirping  and  destruction  of  vice  and 
sin,  having  knowledge  that  the  premisses  be  true,  as  well  by  Xha 
accompts  of  his  late  visitations,  as  by  sundry  credible  informations, 
considering  also  that   diverse  and  great  solemn  monasteries  of  thii 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  93 

opposition  to  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  those  who  differ  from 
them.  It  is  needless  to  specify  particulars.  We  have  all 
been  to  blame.  Instead  of  turning  our  zeal  against  the  immo- 
ralities of  the  age,  we  have  frequently  turned  it  against  men, 
who,  in  ev^ry  moral  and  religious  point  of  view,  were,  per- 
haps better  than  ourselves.  A  spirit  of  infallibility,  in  a 
greater  or  less  degree,  pervades  all  parties.  In  this  unchris- 
tian strife,  the  pure  spirit  of  the  Gospel  has  been  banished 
from  the  great  bodies  of  professors,  and  has  taken  up  its  abode 
among  a  few  solitary  individuals,  dispersed  through  the  seve- 
ral churches  of  Christendom.  Men  of  discernment,  seeing 
this  to  be  the  state  of  things  through  a/l  denominations,  arc 
led  to  suppose  that  there  is  no  truth  among  an^  of  them. 
The  fact,  however,  .is  directly  the  contrary.  They  have  all 
gotten  the  saving  truth,  if  they  would  hold  it  but  in  piety,  charity, 
and  righteousness.  They  all  believe  in  the  Saviour  of  the 
world.  Let  them  only  observe  the  moral  and  religious  pre- 
cepts of  his  Gospel,  and  I  do  not  see  what  more  is  necessary 
to  entitle  them  to  our  Christian  regards.  They  may  not 
come  up  to  ihe.  full  orthodox  belief  of  the  Gospel;  but  they 
are  such  characters  as  our  Saviour  himself  would  not  have 
treated   with    severitv.     And  until  religion  is  reduced  to  the 


realm,  wherein  (thanks  to  GoD)  relii^ion  is  right  well  kept  and  ob- 
served, be  destitute  of  such  full  nuniber  of  religious  persons,  as  they 
ought  and  may  keep,  hath  thought  good,  that  a  plain  declaration 
should  be  made  of  the  premisses,  as  well  to  the  lords  spiritual  and 
temporal,  as  to  other  liis  loving  subjects,  the  conunons  in  this  pre- 
sent Parliament  assembled :  whereupon  the  said  lords  and  coinnious, 
i)y  a  great  deliberation,  finally  be  resolved,  that  it  is,  and  shall  be 
much  more  to  the  pleasure  of  Almighty  God,  and  for  the  honour 
of  this  his  realm,  that  the  possessions  of  such  small  religious  houses, 
now  being  spent,  spoiled,  and  wasted  for  increase  and  maintenance 
of  sin,  should  be  used,  and  committed  to  hettrr  uses :  and  tiie  un- 
thrifty religious  persons,  so  spending  the  same,  to  be  compelled  to 
reform  their  lives:  And  thereupon  most  humbly  desire  tJje  king's 
highness  that  it  may  be  enacted,  6:c." 

It  is  singular  that  so  very  religious  a  prince,  could  in  so  short  a, 
lime  after  this,  consent  to  the  total  suppression  of  all  those  "  great, 
honourable,  and  solemn  monasteries,  wherein  (thanks  to  God; 
religion  was  so  right  well  obsened."  With  so  nmch  pure  and  dis- 
interested zeal  for  true  religion,  and  so  little  regard  to  his  own 
interest,  how  can  we  account  for  this  conduct .'  ^^'hy,  it  seems,  all 
these  monasteries,  weary  of  their  existence,  humbly  implored  their 
own  destruction,  and  IIexry,  poor  man,  what  alternative  had  lie, 
but  to  consent  that  it  should  be  ;'s  they  required.— Editor. 


0(5  A  PLC  A  FOR  RELICJION 

simple  form  in  whic'i  he  left  it,  there  never  will  be  an  end  to 
the  bickerings  and  uncharitablcness  of  party,  uad  h/Jidt/ity  will 
of  course  prevail. 

The  general  wickedness  and  immoral  condnct  of  Chrhtinn^ 
so  called,  is  anotiicr  grand  cause  of  Injidclif)/.  For  let  men 
profess  what  they  will,  they  never  can  peisnudo  any  thinking 
person  they  believe  their  own  principles,  while  they  are  seen  to 
transgress  every  rule  of  mural  and  religious  obligation,  and,  in 
various  of  their  transactions  between  man  and  man,  conducting 
themselves  in  a  manner  of  whkh  abimdaiice  of  the  IhatluUy 
both  ancient  and  modern,  would  be  ashamed. 

All  these  circumstances,  with  others  of  a  similar  kind,  are 
the  causes  why  so  many  persons  arc  now  found,  who  reject  the 
divine  mission  of  Jf.sus  Christ*. 

But,  MY  Countrymen,  can  we  justly  argue  from  the 
a buac  to  ilie  disuse'^  Is  .Jf.sus  the  most  moral  and  divine  of 
characters,  an  impostor,  because  many  of  his  ministers  and 
servants  have  proved  unfaithful  and  treacherous?  Were  the 
other  e\evei1  jdposth'S  all  knaves  and  rascals,  because  Judas 
was  a  traitor?  Are  the  eternal  truths  of  tlic  Gospcf  to  be  ex- 
ploded, because  men  have  been  presumptuous  enough  to 
adulterate  them  with  the  profane  mixtures  of  human  ordi- 
nances-j-?  Or  doth  oiir  obstinacy  alter  the  nature  of  evi- 
dence and  render  the  situation  of  Unhelicvers  more  securer 
The  course  of  things  is  Used  and  unchangeable.  The  sun  will 
shine,  the  tire  will  burn,  water  will  drown,  the  wind  will  blow, 
'  lime  will  lly,  the  tides  will  iiow_,  UKUigrc  all  the  scepticism  of 
Fhilosophcrs.  ' 


*  Sir  Isaac  Newton  is  reported  to  have  said,  tiiat  InfideHtif 
will  overrun  Europe,  before  the  nulleunial  reign  of  Christ  com- 
mences. The  conuptions  of  religion  in  all  tlie  Chrislian  EsiahUsh- 
mcnts  cannot  easily  be  pureed  away  in  any  other  manner.  They 
must  be  subverled  by  violence  and  blood.  There  is  much  reason 
to  fear  it  will  be  impnssiblo  to  remove  them  in  any  other  way.  See 
Whiston's  Esyaii  oiiihf  Reidalion  oi St.  John,  p.  321,  e.iit.  1744. 
Dr.  Hartley  also  seeuis  to  liave  been  of  the  same  opiinon  re- 
spectiiig  the  spread  of  Infiddity  as  Sir  Isaac,  in  his  Observations 
on  Mun,  Fart  ii.  sect.  81*. 

t  "  Wiio  that  ever  really  professed  the  Chrisiian  religion,  from 
the  times  of  t/ie  apostles  to  the  jiresent  ntomerit,  ever  considered  it 
as  a  human  estajjiishnuut,  the  work'  of  particular  men  or  nations,  sub- 
ject to  decline  with  their  chunk's,  or  h\  perish  with  Ihoir  falls]" — 
Lrskine,  p  5 'J. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  97 

The  moral  relations  of  things  are  not  less  invariable ;  and 
our  being  inconsiderate  enough  to  deny  those  relations,  and 
the  obligations  that  arise  from  them,  will  neither  destroy 
them,  nor  render  our  situation  more  secure.  My  being  so 
foolish  as  to  reject  tlie  existence  of  God,  and  so  infatuated  as 
to  appose  there  is  no  Redeemer,  no  Sanctifier,  no 
Heaven,  no  Ihll,  no  Devil,  no  Soul,  nt»  ylngel,  ho  Spirit, 
and  that  the  Bible  is  all  a  grievous  imposition  upon  mankind, 
doth  not  prove,  either  that  there  is  no  God,  or  that  t^iere  is 
no  reality  in  the  representations  made  by  the  Gospel*.  Every 
man  must  allow,  I  tliink,  that  it  is  possible  for  the  Al- 
mighty to  reveal  his  will  to  the  world,  if  he  thinks  proper 
so  to  do.  It  will  be  further  granted,  I  suppose,  that  some  re- 
velation seems  desirable  to  allay  the  fears,  and  confirm  the  hopes 
of  men.  If  then  it  ever  should  be  made,  what  stronger 
evidence  could  be   produced   of  its  coming  from  God,  than 

*  If  the  various  opinions,  sects  and  parties,  which  prevail  among 
Cliristians  are  considered  by  Unbelievers  as  an  objection  to  the  Gospel 
itself ;  let  them  call  to  mind,  that  there  is  not  a  smaller  number  of 
contradictory  opinions  prevalent  among  those  who  reject  Christianity. 
This  may  be  seen  with  strong  conviction  in  Stanley's  History  of 
Philosophy,  and  in  the  Posthumous  J  Vorks  of  the  late  King  of  Prussia, 
— The  author  of  the  Connoisseur  hath  thrown  together  a  few  of  the 
Unbelin'tr's  tenets,  under  the  contradictory  title  of 
THE  UNBELIEVERS  CREED. 

"  I  believe  that  there  is  no  Gad,  but  tliat  matter  is  God,  and 
God  is  matter ;  and  that  it  is  no  matter  whether  there  is  any  God 
or  not.  1  believe  also,  that  titt  world  was  not  made  ;  that  the  world 
made  itself;  that  it  had  no  beginning ;  that  it  will  last  for  ever, 
world  without  end. 

■*'  I  believe  that  a  Hia»  is  a  beast,  that  the  soul  is  the  body,  and 
the  body  is  the  *oul;  and  that  after  death  there  is  neither  body  nor 

S<^)Ul. 

"  I  believe  there  is  no  religion ;  that  natural  religion  is  the  only 
religion;  and  that  all  religion  is  unnatural.  I  believe  not  in 
Mo3£s;  I  believe  in  the  first  philosophy:  I  believe  not  in  the 
Evangelists;  I  believe  in  Chubb,  CoLLiNS,  Toland,  Tindal, 
Morgan,  Mandeville,  Wooloston,  Hobbes,  Shaftes- 
bury; I  believe  in  Lord  Bolingbroke;  I  believe  not  in  St. 
Paul. 

"  I  believe  not  in  revelation ;  I  believe  in  tradition ;  I  believe  in 
the  Talmud;  I  believe  in  the  Alcoran;  I  believe  not  in  the  B,ble ; 
I  believe  in  Socrates;  I  believe  in  Confucius;  I  believe  in 
Sanconiathon;  I  believe  in  Mahomet;  I  believe  not  in 
Christ. 

"  Lastlv,  I  believe  in  all  unbelief." 


98  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

that  with  M'hich  the  present  Sacred  Writings  are  attended  ? 
The  very  errors  of  professors,  and  the  corrupt  state  of  religion 
in  every  Christian  country,  are  the  literal  accomplishment  of  se- 
veral prophecies,  and,  of  course^  so  far  are  they  from  being  any 
just  objection  to  the  Oospel,  that  they  are  a  strong  proof  of  the 
Divine  Mission  of  its  great  Author. 

But  could  it  even  be  solidly  evinced,  that  Jesus  was  an 
impostor,  that  the  Virgin  Mary  was  a  bad  woman,  that  the 
Scriptures  are  false,  and  that  the  scheme  of  redemption 
therein  contained  is  all  a  cunningly  devised  fable  of  thes^ 
arch-deceivers,  the  Priests ;  yet  still  it  is  found  true  in  fact,  that 
si  lively  Believer  m  Christ  Jesus,  who  hath  done  justly, 
loved  mercy,  and  rcalked  humbly  with  his  God,  is  much 
happier  than  the  most  accomplished  Infidel  that  ever  existed, 
both  in  life,  and  at  the  approach  of  death.  Turn  back  your 
attention  to  that  complete  man  of  the  world,  Earl  Chester- 
field: in  him  you  see  a  finished  character,  all  that  rank, 
honour,  riches,  learning,  philosophy  can  make  us.  But  was  he 
happy  ?  Read  his  own  account,  and  be  confounded.  And 
are  you  more  at  rest  in  your  spirit?  What  is  your  life? — 
You  eat,  and  drink,  and  sleep,  and  dress,  and  dance,  and 
sit  down  to  play.  You  walk,  ride,  or  are  carried  abroad. 
You  labour,  toil,  transact  business.  You  attend  the  masque- 
rade, the  theatre,  the  opera,  the  park,  the  levee,  the  draw- 
ing-room, the  card-table,  the  assembly,  the  ball,  the  club, 
the  tavern.  In  what  manner  do  you  spend  your  time  at  any 
of  these  places  ?  Why  sometimes  you  talk ;  make  your  obser- 
vations; look  one  upon  another;  dance,  play,  trifle  like  the 
rest  of  the  triflers  there.  And  what  are  you  to  do  again  to- 
morrow ?  The  next  day  ?  The  next  week  ?  The  next  year .? 
— You  are  to  eat,  and  drink,  and  sleep,  and  labour,  and 
dance,  and  transact  -  business,  and  dress,  and  play,  engage 
in  small    talk,    walk,    ride,  and    be  carried    abroad   again*. 

*  The  man  of  fashion  is  well  described  by  a  late  poet  in  the 
following  humourous  manner: 

"  What  is  a  modem  Man  af  fashion? 
A  man  of  taste  and  dissipation : 
A  busy  man  without  employment, 
A  happy  man  without  enjoyment. 
Who  squanders  all  his  time  and  treasures. 
On  empty  joys  and  tasteless  pleasures; 
Visits,  attendance,  and  attention, 
,\nd  courtly  aits  too  low  to  meution. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  99 

And  is  this  all?  Was  it  for  this  immortal  faculties  were  be- 
stowed upon  us  ?  Miserable  round  of  secular  pursuits,  and 
empty  dissipation !  If  faith  in  the  Bible  be  a  deception,  it 
hath  at  least  the  merit  of  being  a  comfortable  and  beneficial 
one.  It  rescues  us  from  this  pitiful  way  of  spending  our  time 
and  money ;  it  enables  us  to  abound  in  zt'orks  of  faith  and 
labours  of  lovt ;  it  excites  us  to  live,  in  some  degree,,  worthy 
of  our  high-raised  expectations,  and  prepares  us  to  die  with 
a  hope  full  of  immortality.  We  quit  the  stage  of  life  without 
a  sigh  or  a  tear,  and  we  go  wind  and  tide  into  the  haven  of  ever- 
lasting rest*. 

In  sleep,  and  dress,  and  sport,  and  play, 
He  throws  his  worthless  life  away  ; 
Has  no  opinion  of  his  own. 
But  takes  from  leading  Beaux  the  ton; 
With  a  disdainful  smile  or  frown 
He  on  the  rif-raf  crowd  looks  down: 
The  world  polite,  his  friends  and  he. 
And  all  the  rest,  are  Nobody  ! 

Taught  by  the  Great  his  smiles  to  sell. 
And  how  to  write  and  how  to  spell ; 
The  Great  his  oracles  he  makes. 
Copies  their  vices  and  mistakes ; 
Custom  pursues,  his  only  rule. 
And  lives  an  ape,  and  dies  zfool!" 

*  Not  many  men  ever  trifled  more  agreeably,  and  at  the  same 
time  more  perniciously,  than  Lawrence  Sterne,  the  author  of 
Tristram  Shandy.  Among  the  various  b.autiful  and  pathetic  pas- 
sages which  occur  in  his  volumes,  he  administers  }>oison  in  a  mamier 
the  most  imperceptible  and  bewitchmg.  Few  writers  ever  more  cor- 
rupted tlie  public  taste.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable,  but  i>eculiar 
talents,  making  great  pretensions  to  sympathy,  wit,  and  benevolence, 
but  with  a  heart  in  no  small  degree  depraved.  And  as  he  had  lived 
with  the  reputation  of  a  wit,  he  was  determined  to  die  as  such,  even 
tliough  he  should  sacritice  every  api)*arance  of  Christian  piety  and 
decorum.  Accordingly,  when  this  clerical  buffoon  came  to  be  in  dy- 
ing circumstances ;  perceiving  death  to  make  his  advances  upwards, 
raising  liimself  and  sitting  up,  he  is  said,  either  in  a  real  or  pretended 
rage,  to  have  sworn  at  the  sly  assassin,  that  he  should  not  kill  liimyet. 

This  remarkable  circumstance,  tliough  not  mentioned  in  his  life, 
is,  I  believe,  strictly  true.  It  is  only  observed  in  general  in  the 
account  prefixed  to  his  works,  that  "  Mr.  Sterne  died  as  he  lived, 
the  same  indiiFerent,  careless  creature ;  as,  a  day  or  two  before,  he 
seemed  not  in  the  least  affected  with  his  approaching  dissolution." 

This  briugs  to  mind  the  case  of  another  unhappy  man  who  was  a 
professed  Atheist.  Dr.  Barraby,  an  emuient  physician  in  London, 
was  intimately  acquainted  wi^^  him :  hisuamewas  .»      Str — T,  Esq, 

o  2 


100  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

"  Wkh  us  no  melancholy  void. 

No  period  lingers  uneuiploy'd. 
Or  uniraprov'd  below; 

Our  weariness  of  life  is  gone. 

Who  live  to  serve  our  God  alone, 
And  only  him  to  know." 
No  raan,  however,  can  prove  the  falsehood  of  that  hiesti- 
mable  Book.  Difficulties,  many  and  considerable,  we  know 
it  contaii.s.  ^^  e  are  not  disposed  to  conceal  them.  It  Mould 
be  very  surprising  if  a  book  so  circumstanced  did  not*.  But 
its  foundation  is  built  upon  the  pillais  c^  everlasting  truth. 
Conscientious  Unhelievers  should  examine  those  difficulties 
with  calmness  and  patience.  The  whole  collective  evidence 
of  the  Gospel  is  very  considerable,  and  requires  time  and 
application  t-     It  is  expected  that  they  attend  to  the  consistency, 

After  some  time,  he  was  seized  with  a  violent  fever,  and  sent  for  the 
Doctor;  who  came,  and  prescribed  several  medicines,  but  none  of 
them  took  effect.  At  length  he  told  him  plainly,  "  Sir,.  I  know  no- 
thing more  that  can  be  done  ;  you  must  die."  Upon  this,  he  clenched 
his  fists,  gnashed  his  teeth,  and  said  with  the  utmost  f\xry,  "  GoBf 
God!  I  won't  die!''  and  immediately  expired. 

*  "  It  would  be  a  miracle  greater  than  any  ^ye  are  instructed  to 
believe,  if  there  were  no  difficulties  in  the  Sacred  Writings;  if  a  be- 
ing with  but  tive  scaaty  inlets  of  knowledge,  separated  but  yesterday 
from  his  mother  earth,  and  to-day  sjnkhig  again  into  her  bosom,  could 
fathom  the  depths  of  the  wisdom  and  knowledge  of  the  Lord  God 
Almighty."^ 

All  arts  and  sciences  al>ound  w  ith  difficulties,  and  a  perfect  know- 
ledge of  them  is  not  to  be  attained  without  considerable  labour  and 
application ;  why  then  should  we  expect  that  Theology,  the  first  of 
sciences,  and  that  to  wbich  all  others  ought  to  be  subser^•icnt,  should 
be  without  it*  abstrusities,  and  capable  of  being  understood  without 
labour  and  appfication  of  mind  ]  Nay,  even  that  practical  religion, 
which  is  required  of  the  humblest  followers  of  the  Redeemer,  re- 
quires a  high  degree  of  attention.  Agonize  to  enter  in  at  the  strait 
gate,  is  the  command  of  the  Son  of  God.  And  did  ever  any  labour 
more  in  the  cause  of  Nirtue  than  Christ  and  his  Apostles? 

t  There  are  four  grand  arguments  for  the  truth  of  the  Bible.  The 
first  is  the  miracles  it  records,  2.  The  precedes.  3.  The  goodness 
of  the  doctrine.     4.  The  7noral  character  of  the  penmen. 

The  miracles  flow  from  Divine  power;  the  prophecies,  from 
Divine  understanding;  the  excellence  of  the  doctrine,  from  Divine 
goodness ;  and  the  moral  character  of  the  penmen,  frooi  Divine 
purity. 

Thus  Christianiti/  is  built  upon  these  four  immoveable  pillars,  the 
yoM'fr,  the  understanding,  the  goodness,  and  \\\e  purity  of  God. 

I  add  further; 

The  Bible  must  be  the  mvention,  either  of  good  men  or  angels, 
bad  men  or  devils,  or  of  God. 


AND  THE  SAGRED  WRITINGS.  101 

harmony,  and  connection  of  all  its  various  parts;  the  long 
chain  of  prophecies  undeniably  completed  in  it;  the  asto- 
nishing and  well  attested  miracles  uhich  attend  it ;  the  perfect 
sanctity  of  its  Author;  the  purity  of  its  precepts;  the  subli- 
mity of  its  doctrines ;  the  amazing  rapidity  of  its  progress ; 
the  illustrious  company  of  confessors,  saints,  and  martyrs, 
who  died  to  confirm  its  truth ;  the  testimony  of  its  enemies ; 
together  with  an  infinite  number  of  collateral  proofs  and  sub- 
ordinate circumstances,  all  concurring  to  form  such  a  body 
of  evidence,  as  no  other  truth  in  the  world  can  shew;  such 
as  must  necessarily  bear  down,  by  its  own  weight  and  mag- 
nitude, all  trivial  objections  to  particular  parts*.  They 
should  consult  the  best  books  upon  the  subject,  and  call  in 
the  assistance  of  learned  and  disinterested  men,  who  have 
made  theological  subjects  their  study.  They  should  apply  to 
them  as  tluey  would  to  a  Lazc'i/er  about  an  estate,  or  a  Physi^ 
cian  about  their  health.  And  they  should  make  the  investi- 
gation  a  matter   of  the  most   diligent  enquiry  f.     Religion  is 

It  could  not  be  the  invention  of  good  men  or  angels,  for  they 
neither  would  nor  could  make  a  book,  and  tell  lies  all  the  time  they 
were  writing  it,  saying,  77/ m*  saith  the  Lord,  when  it  was  their  own 
invention. 

It  could  not  be  the  invention  of  bad  men  or  devils,  for  they 
would  not  make  a  book,  which  commands  all  duty,  forbids  all  sin, 
and  condemns  their  souls  to  hell  to  all  eternity. 

I  therefore  draw  this  conclusion. — ^The  Bible  must  be  given  bv 
Divine  inspiration. 

*  See  Bishop  Porteus's  Sermons,  vol.  i.  p.  41,  42. 

t  Bishop  \\".-4tson's  Apology  for  Christianity,  in  answer  to  Air. 
Gibbon;  and  Im  Apology  for  the  Bible,  in  answer  to  Thomas 
Paine,  before  mentioned,  are  admirably  well  calculated  to  remove 
a  considerable  number  of  difficulties  attending  the  records  of  our 
salvation.  Bishop  Horne's  Letters  on  Infidelity  are  wisely  suited 
to  the  same  purpose.  But  he  that  is  able  and  willing  to  examine 
thoroughly  the  grounds  of  his  religion,  should  have  recourse  to  Bishop 
Butler's  Analogy  of  Religion,  natural  and  revealed,  to  the  Consti- 
tution and  Course  ^  Nature :  a  work  well  adapted  to  give  satisfaction 
to  enquiring  minds,  upon  the  most  important  of  all  subjects.  Reli- 
gion. I  need  not  say,  that  Grotius  on  the  Truth  of  Christianity, 
is  an  excellent  AY^/«  work.  Doddridge's  three  Sermons,  on  the 
Eeidenoe  of  Christianity,  seem  better  suited  to  the  understandings 
of  common  readers  than  almost  any  other.  Lardner's  Credibility; 
MiCHAF.his's  Introduction  to  the  New  Testament;  and  Paleys 
Vieiv  of  the  Evidences  of  Christianity,  arc  all  works  of  high  repu- 
tation. Beattie's  Evidence  of  the  Christian  Religion,  is  a  valu- 
able small  work.     Baxter  on  the  Trttth  of  Christianity,  is  not  to 


102  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

3  serious  thing.     It  is  either  all  or  nothing.     A  few  pert  ob- 
jections, started  in  mixed  company,    or  hi  a  circle  of  friends 

be  answered.  Ebwards  on  the  Authority,  Style,  and  Perfection  of 
Scripture,  is  very  vahiable.    Gildon's  Deist's  Manual — Kidder's 
Demotistration of  tkeMESsi AS — Stii.li'SGVL'EEt's  Origines Sacr^e 
— Hartley  on  the  Truth  of  the  Christian  Religion — Bryant's 
Treatise  on  the  Authenticity  of  the  Scriptures — Jortin's  Discourse 
concerning  the  Truth  of  ilte  Christian  Religion — Delan y's  Revela- 
tion examined  with  Candour — Paschal's  Thoughts  on  Religion — 
Young's  Night  Thoughts,  and  Centaur  not  Fabulous — Ditton  on 
the  Resurrection — Cure  of  Deisin — Foster's  Usefulness,  Truth,  and 
JExcellency   of  the   Christian  Revelation — Clarke's   Truth  and 
Certainty  of  the  Christian  Revelation — L  ally's  Principles  of  the 
Christian  Religion — Pale  y's  Ho7-<v  PauUncB—- Bishop  Squire's 
Indifference  for  Religion   Inexcusable — Locke's  Reasonableness  of 
Christianity — Murray's  Evidences  of  the  Jewish  and  Christian 
'Revelatio7is — Chandler's  Plain  Reasons  for  being  a  Christian — • 
Addison  ort  the  Truth  of  Christianity — Bishop  Watson's  Two 
Sermons  and  Charge — Sykes's  Essay  upon  the  Truth  of  the  Christian 
Religion-AW  AYiBV  rton's  Divine  Legation  of  Moses-Dr.Gu'EGonY 
Sharpe's  Two  Arguments  in  Defence  of  Christianity — Leslie's 
Short  Method  ivith  Jews  and  Deists — Bishop  Berkley's  Minute 
Philosopher — Dr. R andolps's  FiVjro/'o?/;' Saviour's  Ministry — 
^/sAo/?  Clayton's  Vindication  of  the  Histories  of  the  Old  and  Neiv 
Testament — Z>?'.  Bell's  Enquity  into  the  Divine  Missio7is  of  John 
ihe  Baptist  and  Jesus  Christ — Lively  Oracles,  by  the  Author  of 
iheWhole  Duty  of  Man — Boyle  on  the  Style  of  the  Holy  Scripture 
— Macktjight  on  the  Gospel-actions  as  probable — West  on  the 
Resurrection — Lorrf Lyttleton  on  the  Conversion  of  St.  Pavi. — 
Le  Pluche  on  the  Truth  of  the  Gospel — SociNus's  Argument  for 
the  Authority  of  Holy  Scripture — Bishop  CHA'SJih^R's  Defence  of 
Christianity — Priestley's  L^/f^rsfo  a  Philosophical  Unbelievei — 
Priestley's  Evidence  of  Revealed  Religion. — These  are  all  works 
of  some  reputation.    Several  of  them  are  unanswerable,  and  all  con- 
tain more  or  l«ss  matter  upon  the  truth  of  the  Scriptures,  that  is 
useful   and  important.     Many  others  have  written  upon  the  same 
subject,  but  these  I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  perusing,  arid  cau 
recommend  them  every  one,  as  containing  much  that  is  valuable. 
There  is,  hou-ever,  one  very  small  work  more,  which  I  would  take 
the  liberty  of  recommending  to  the  common  reader,  because  it  is  so 
plain,  satisfactoiy,  and  concise;  and  that  is  Dr.  David  Jenmng's 
Appeal  to  Reason  and  Common  Sense  for  the  Truth  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures.    For  the  compass  of  it,  this  is  a  ven>'  satisfactory  performance. 
The  whole  is  contained  in  two  sermons  of  moderate  length,  and  may 
be  obtained  for  a  veiT  trifling  sum.  To  these  may  be  added  Lel  and's 
Deist  ical  Writers  ;  a  work  of  high  and  desened  reputation — Leslie's 
Truth  of  Christianity   Demonstrated— Bishop   Taylor's  iMoral 
Demonstration  that  the  Religion  of  Jesus  Christ  is  from  God. 
Writings  on  these  subjects  of  such  universal  importance  are  verj* 
numerous,  and,  indeed,  it  is  scarcely  possible  tliey  can  be  too  much 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  103 

over  the  tolas',  are  indecent  and  despicable.  Shameful  herein 
is  the  conduct  of  many  vain  babblers.  They  should  be  ex- 
cluded society.  When  the  ancient  philosopher  Anaxagoras 
had  expressed  in  one  of  his  books  a  doubt  concerning  the 
existence  of  God,  the  book  was  burnt  by  a  public  decree  of 
his  fellow-citizens,  and  he  himself  banished  his  countr}-. 
These  were  Heathens  and  Republicans.  What  would  they 
have  said  to  the  Pfiilosophisters  of  the  present  day  ?  No 
person,  we  may  venture  to  say,  ever  honestly  examined 
the  u-hole  of  the  evidence  for  the  truth  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, who  did  not  find  it  satisfactory.  Indeed,  the  Gospel 
itself  is  so  pure  *,  that  no  decent  man  can  reject  it.  Henoe 
we  find,  it  has  ever  been  the  custom  of  Unbelievers  to  attack 
the  corruptions  of  religion,  which  more  or  less  prevail  in 
all  cuuutries ;  and,  through  the  sides  of  those  human  ap- 
pendages, to  wound  the  cause  of  truth  itself.  These  arts, 
however,  are  inconsistent  with  honour,  and  no  person  of  the 
least  integrity  of  mind  can  be  capable  of  them.  Modest 
men  too,  who  have  not  thoroughly  examined  the  arguments 
for  and  against  Scripture,  will  be  silent.  If  they  cannot  be- 
lieve  in  Jesus,  they  will  be  extremely    cautious  upon  what 

so.  It  may  be  much  questioned  whether  any  objection  whatever  has 
been  made  to  the  great  truths  of  Religion  aud  the  Sacred  Writings. 
which  has  ni>t  been  fairly  and  houestly  answered  in  one  or  another  of 
the  above  autliors.  But  no  writer  has  taken  so  much  pains  to  state 
and  answer  Objections  to  the  Scriptures,  as  Mr.  Stackhouse  in 
his  yew  History  of  the  Holy  Bible.  If  the  serious  Reader  finds 
himself  pressed  u  itli  dithculties,  h?  will  do  well  to  apply  to  tliat  grtat 
work,  where  he  will  find  them  exhibited  at  lengtli,  with  such  answers 
as  are  generally  satisfactory. 

To  these  it  may  be  recommended  to  the  serious  reader  to  add 
Knox's  Christian  Philosophy,  where  he  will  find  the  internal  t\\- 
deuce  of  Christianity  iusisted  on  pretty  much  at  length.  The  work, 
however,  does  not  appear  to  me  altogether  unexceptionable,  thou2:h 
highly  valuable.  He  seems  to  set  the  external  and  internal  evidences 
of  the  Gospel  too  much  in  opposition  one  to  the  other.  There  is, 
moreover,  an  asperity  and  superciliousness,  on  some  occasions,  in  his 
expressions,  which  ill  become  the  subject  on  which  he  writes,  and 
which  he  very  justly  condemns  in  the  I'dte  Bishop  Warbveto}^  and 
others.  The  work,  however,  I  trust,  will  do  much  good,  by  calling 
the  public  attention  to  inward  religion. 

*  The  reader  may  see  the  purity  of  the  Gospel  drawn  out  at 
length  in  New  combe's  Observations  on  oitr  Lord's  Conduct; 
Hunter's  Observations  on  the  History  o/"  Jesus  Christ;  4ud 
Harwood's  Life  o/"  Christ. 


104  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

ground  they  reject  him.  They  will  remember  that  Newton 
examined  the  evidence  of  his  divine  mission,  and  was  satis- 
fied; that  Locke  examined,  and  died  glorying  in  his  salva- 
tion. They  will  recollect  that  West,  Jenyngs,  Littleton, 
and  PRiNGLE,  were  all  at  one  time  Unbelievers;  all  under- 
took, like  wise  men,  to  examine  tlie  grounds  of  their  /«- 
fidelity;  were  all  convinced  that  they  had  teen  danger- 
ously mistaken ;  all  became  converts  to  the  religion  of  the 
Son  of  God;  and  all  died,  declaring  their  belief  in  him, 
and  expectations  from  him.  Thomas  Paine,  therefore,  and 
his  humble  followers,  may  abuse  and  misrepresent  the  facts 
and  doctrines  contained  in  the  Sacred  Code,  as  Boling- 
BROKE,  and  other  deistical,  but  immoral  men,  have  frequently 
done,  with  learning  and  ability  greatly  superior;  they  may 
nibble  at  it,  like  the  viper  at  the  file  in  the  fable ;  but  they  only 
display  their  own  malignity,  and  want  of  solid  information. 
It  is  not  every  dabbler  in  science  that  is  qualified,  either 
to  vindicate  or  oppose  the  Bible  with  eKex:t.  Deep  and 
■various  learning  are  necessary  for  this  purpose.  The  expe- 
rience of  past  ages  might  convince  any  man,  that  it  will  be 
found  hard  to  kick  against  the  pricks,  and  to  resist  the 
evidence  with  full  satisfaction  of  mind.  Ail  bitter  sarcasms, 
therefore,  with  which  Itijidels  so  unmercifully  load  the  best 
of  books*,  are  unbecoming,  and  should  be  suspended, 
lest  they  recoil  upon  their  heads.  It  hath  stood  the  rude 
shocks  of  learned  Jews  and  Heathens,  Heretics  and  U7t- 
believers,  of  former  ages,  and  it  is  not  about  to  receive  its 
death-wound  from  the  feeble  assaults  which  the  present  nu- 
merous set  of  Deists  are  capable  of  making  upon  it.  We 
challenge  all  the  Unbelievers  in  Christendom  to  account,  upon 
cn\f  merely  human  principle,  for  the  scriptural  prophecies 
concerning  the  kingdoms  of  Israel,  Judah,  and  Egypt ;  or 
concerning   the    cities   of  Tyre,    Nineveh,  Babylon,  and   Je- 

*  For  most  of  the  learning  that  is  now  in  the  world  we  are  in- 
debted to  the  Bible.  To  the  same  book  likewise  we  are  indebted 
for  all  the  morality  and  religion  which  prevail  among  men.  Nay,  even 
the  absurd  tales  and  fables  whicli  we  read  in  the  writings  of  the  an- 
cient Greeks  and  Romans  ■axe.  nothing  more  than  per\'ersions  of  the  se- 
veral histories  and  characters  recorded  in  the  Old  Testament.  See 
Jortin's  First  Charge,  vol.  vii.  of  his  Sei'mons.  Gale's  Court  of 
the  Gentiles:  and  Bryant's  Mythology.  Consult  too  D^yden's 
Pre/ace  to  his  Religio  Laid. 


ANi)  THE  SACREt)  WRITINGS.  105 

fusalem.  Nay,  not  to  take  so  large  a  compass,  but  to  bring 
the  matter  to  one  point,  we  defy  any  man,  on  simple  human 
principles,  to  account  for  tlie  present  state  of  tlie  Jexcs. 
AVould  we  give  ourselves  time  soberly  to  compare  the  twenty- 
eighth  chapter  of  Deuteronoini/  with  the  history  and  disper- 
sion of  that  extraordinary  people,  we  could  not  fail  of  having 
our  minds  strongly  impressed  with  conviction.  This  owe 
argument  is  invincible,  and  not  to  be  fairlij  got  over  by  all 
the  wit  of  man,  as  the  late  accomplished,  but  irreligious, 
Chesterfield,  was  honest  eirough  to  declare*. 

But,  if  we  turn  from  these  prophecies  to  those  which 
respect  human  redemption,  and  the  Saviour  of  mankind, 
we  shall  fmd  they  are  extremely  remarkable  and  minute, 
and  absolutely  conclusive  for  the  Mfssia/is/iip  of  Jesus 
Christ,  the  son  of  Mary.  We  will  consider  the  predictions 
and  fultilments  at  some  hnigth,  and  boldly  appeal  to  the 
common  sense  and  reason  of  the  most  prejudiced  man  upon 
earth,  whether  there  be  not  something  far  beyond  the  mere 
powers  of  nature  in  these  strange  coincidences. 

1.  It  was  predicted,  many  centuries  before  it  came  to 
pass,  that  Messiah  should  come  into  the  world  for  the  re- 
demption of  human  beings. — Messiah  did  come  into  the 
world,  four  thousand  years  after  the  iirst  prediction  was 
uttered  f . 

2.  Messiah  is  frequently  prophesied  of  under  the  character 

of  him  that  was   to  come Jesus   Christ    is   several  times 

described  in  this  form  by  the  writers  of  the  New  Testament^ 

*  See  Jones's  Life  of  Bishop  Horne,  p.  332. 

t  (Jen.  iii.  15;  Isa.  ix.O",  7;  Matt.  i.  18 — 25.  7>r.  Eveleigh 
in  his  .Sermons  says  very  justly,  "The  great  object  of  the  prophecies 
of  the  Old  Testament  is  tlie  redemption  of  mankind.  This,  as  soon 
as  Adam's  fall  had  made  it  necessary,  the  mercy  of  God  was 
pleased  to  foretel.  And,  as  the  time  of  his  accomplishment  drew 
nearer,  the  predictions  coucerning  it  became  gradually  so  clear  and 
determinate,  as  to  mark  out  with  historical  precision  almost  eveiy 
circumstance  in  the  life  and  character  of  infinitely  the  most  extraor- 
dinary Person/igr,  that  ever  a|)peared  among  men.  Any  one  of  these 
predictions  is  suHicient  to  indicate  a  prescience  more  than  human. 
But  the  collective  force  of  all,  taken  together,  is  such,  that  nothing 
more  can  be  necessary  to  prove  the  interposition  of  Oniriiseienee,  than 
the  e-^tablishmentof  tluir  authenticity.  And  this,  even  at  so  remote 
a  period  as  the  present,  is  placed  beyond  all  doubt." — Sermon  vi. 
p.  210.  ' 

X  Compare  llab.  ii.  3,  4;  Psalm  cxviii.  2o;  Isa,  xxxv.  4;  Ux,  20; 

p 


10(3  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

3.  Ill  ancient  times  there  were  four  monarchies  in  th^: 
world,  one  succeeding  another,  more  famous  than  all  the 
rest.  It  was  foretold,  that  Messiah  should  appear  under  the 
last  of  them. — Christ  was  born  after  the  destruction  of  the 
three  first,  and  while  the  fourth  was  in  all  its  glory*. 

4.  Messiah  wasto  come  among  men  before  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  second  temple. — Jesus  Christ  preached  in  that 
temple ;  and  it  was  totally  destroyed  within  forty  years  after- 
wards f. 

.5.  Messiah  was  to  come  into  the  world  before  the  domi- 
nion of  the  Jews  was  taken  away.— Christ  was  born  that 
very  year  when  Augustus  Cjesar  imposed  a  tax  upon  the 
Jewish  nation,  as  a  token  of  their  subjection  to  the  Romun 
government  %. 

6.  When  Messiah  should  make  his  appearance  among 
men,  it  was  to  be  a  time  of  general  peace,  after  dreadful 
wars  and  convulsions. — When  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the 
world,  the  Roman  wars  were  just  terminated,  the  temple  of 
Janus   was  shut,   and  universal   peace  reigned   through    the 

empire§. 

7.  Messiah  was  to  make  his  appearence  among  men,  at  a 
time  when  there  should  be  a  general  expectation  of  him.: — When 
Jesus  Christ  came  into  the  world,  all  nations  were  looking 
for  the  advent  of  some  extraordinary  person  ||. 

Ixii.  11;  Dan.  ix.  26;  Zech.  ix.  9;  Mai.  iii.  1;  Matt.  xi.  3;  John 
i.  30;  iv.  25  ;  xi.  27 ;  Acts  xix.  4,  See  Chandler's  Dejhice, 
ch.ii.' sect.  1.  p.  160—167. 

*  Conqwre  Daniel  ii.  and  vii.  with  Luke  ii.  and  iii. 

f  Compare  Haggai  ii.  7,  with  Matthew  xxi.  23.     See  JoSEPHUS. 

X  Compare  Genosis  xlix.  10,  with  Luke  ii.  1 — 7- 

§  Compare  Haggai  ii.  6,  7,  9,  >vith  the  Roman  History  of  this 

period.  ..  1,1- 

'    \\  Compare  Haggai  ii.  7—9,  with  Matthew  n.  1  —  10,  and  Jolm  1. 

19 — 45. 

The  Heathens,  as  well  as  tlie  Jews,  had  a  firm  persuasion,  that 
some  extraordinai-y  person  should  arise  in  the  world  about  the  time 
of  our  Saviour's  birth.  Suetonius  says,  "There  was  an  old 
and  fixed  opinion  all  over  the  East,  that  it  was  decreed  ])y  heaven, 
that  about  that  time  some  person  from  Jtidea  should  obtain  the 
dominion  over  all." 

Tacitus  mentions  the  same  prophecy,  and  almost  in  the  same 

^octjs: "  IMost  of  the  Jews  had  a  persuasion,  that  it  was  contained 

in  the  ancient  books  of  their  priests,  that  at  that  very  tune,  the 
East  should  grow  powerful,  and  some  person  from  Judea  should 
gain  tlie  dominion," 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  107 

8.  Messiah  was  to  have  existed  with  God  before  tlic 
foundations, of  the  world  were  hiid, — Jesus  Ciiiiist  was  iu 
the  beginning  with  God,  and  by  hiin  the  worlds  were  made*. 

9.  Messiah  was  to  be  one,  who  had  been  the  fellow, 
the  equal  and  the  companion  of  the  Almighty.— Jests 
'Christ  Ihoughl  it  not  robber ij  to  be  equal  with  God,  and 
was  with  him  from  eternit\  +. 

10.  Messiah  was  to  be  the  Son  of  God. — Jesus  Christ 
^vas  confessedly  the  only-begotten  Son  of  GoDif:. 

11.  Messiah  was  to  have  had  an  eternal,  and  ineffable 
•generation. — Jesus  Christ  was  the  Son  of  God,  prior  to 
his  being  born  of  the  virgin  Mary,  in  a  way  not  to  be  ex- 
plained by  mortal  man§. 

IQ.  Messiah  was  also  to  be  the  Son  of  Man.  Jesus 
Christ  sustained  this  character,  and  seemed  to  have  a  pleasure 
in  being  called  by  that  name||. 

13.  Messiah  was  not  to  be  born  according  to  the  ordi- 
nary course  of  nature,  but  to  descend  from  a  pure  I  irgin. — 
Jesus  Christ  was  born  of  the  virgin  Mary**. 


To  tiiese  testimonies  of  the  Scriptures  and  Heathen  writers  we 
may  add  that  of  Josephus,  who  says  in  his  History  of  the  Jnvish 
War,  b.  vii.  c.  1'2.  "That  ^vhich  chietly  excited  the  Jews  to  the 
war  against  the  Romans,  was  a  dubious  oracle,  found  in  their 
Sacred  Writings,  that  about  that  time,  one  of  them  from  tJieir 
parts  should  reign  over  the  \\orld." 

See  this  subject  drawn  out  more  at  large  by  Mr.  Charles 
Leslie,  in  his'.S'^or^  and  Kusy  Method  with  the  Jews,  and  again  in 
liis  Truth  of  Christianity  demonstrated.  This  last  treatise,  together 
with  his  Short  and  Easy  Method  nith  the  Deists,  are  absolutely  con- 
clusive in  favour  of  the  Gospel.  One  may  defy  the  most  subtile  Deist 
in  the  world  to  refute  those  two  treatises".  They  are  indeed  unanswer- 
able, except  bv  sneer  and  sarcasm. 

*  Compare"  Proverbs  viii.  22,  23,  with  John  i.  1—3;  Colossians 
i.  16,  17. 

t  Compare  Zechariah  xiii.  7,  with  Phil.  ii.  6,  and  John  i.  1. 

I  Compare  Psalm  ii.  12;  Proverbs  xxx.  4;  Hosca  xi.  1;  Mat- 
thew iii.  17 ;  xvii.  5. 

§  Compare  Micah  v.  2,  with  John  i.  1. 

Ii  Daniel  vii.  13  ;  Matthew  viii.  20. 

**  Compare  Genesis  iii.  15  ;  Isitiah  vii.  14;  and  Jeremiah  xxxi. 
22 ;  with  Matthew  i.  22,  23. — It  would  be  well  if  the  opposers  of 
the  supernatural  incarnation  of  our  Saviour,  would  soberly  read 
over  Dr.  Clakke's  verv  sensible  discourse  on  the  miracxdous  Birth 
of  Christ,  in  the  jth  volume  of  his  Sermons.  My  own  Essay  on 
the  Authenticity  of  the  Mew  Testament  too  may  be  con.<:ulted,  e<;pe- 
cially  the  Addenda. 

p'2 


108  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

14.  Messiah  was  to  be  the  son  of  Abraham,  the  father 
of  the  faithful,  and  the  friend  of  God. — Jesus  Chuist  was 
sprung  from  that  illustrious  Patriarch  *. 

lo.  Messiah  was  to  be  the  son  of  Isaac,  and  not  of 
IsnMAEL. — Jesus  Christ  was  sprung  from  Isaac,  and  not 

from  IsHMAELf. 

16.  INIessiah  was  to  be  the  son  of  Jacob,  and  not  of 
Esau. — Jesus  Cninsr  did  descend  from  Jacob,  and  not 
from  his  brother  Esau  J. 

17.  Jacob  had  twelve  sons.  Messiah  was  not  to  spring 
from  any  other  of  the  twelve,  but  from  Judah. — Jesus 
Christ  claimed  Judah  as  his  ancestor  in  a  direct  line§. 

18.  Messiah  was  to  be  sprung  from  Jesse,  the  father 
of  David_,  king  of  Israel. — Jesus  Christ  was  his  de- 
scendant If. 

19  Jesse  had  eight  sons.  Pavid  was  the  youngest. 
From  none  of  the  seven  elder,  but  from  David  alone  was 
Messiah  to  derive  his  origin. — Jesus  Christ  was  the  sou 
of  David**. 

20.  Messiah  was  to  be  born  in  a  poor  and  mean  con- 
dition, when  the  family  should  be  reduced  to  a  very  low 
estate. — Jesus  Christ,  both  on  his  father  and  mother's  side> 
was  of  very  low  and  mean  appearance,  though  descended  from 
such  illustrious  ancestors -f"!-. 

2  I.  Messiah  was  to  have  a  messenger  going  before  him, 
to  make  ready  a  people  prepared  for  the  Lord. — Christ 
had  a  messenger  going  before  him,  who  fully  bare  witness  to 
his  pretensions IJ. 

22.  The  forerunner  of  Messiah  was  either  to  be  Elijah 
himself,  or  one  in  the  spirit  of  Elijah. — John  the  Baptist, 
the  forerunner  of  Christ,  was  altogether  in  the  spirit  of  that 
great  Prophet  ^^. 

*  Compare  Genesis  xxi.  1  —  12,  with  Matthew  i.  1 — 16. 
i  Compare  Genesis  xvii.  l6" — .21,  with  Matthew  i.  1  — 16. 

I  Compare  Genesis  xxv.  24—34;  xxvii.  27—29;  xxviii.  13,  14; 
with  Matthew  i.  1 — 10\ 

§  Compare  Genesis  xlix.  8 — 12,  with  Matthew  i.  1 — 16. 

II  Compare  Isaiah  xi.  1,  with  Matthew  i.  \  —  l6. 

**  Compare  1  Samuel  xvi.  1—13;  2  Samuel  vii.  12—15;  Psalm 
Ixxxix.  19— 37;  Matthew  i.  l—i6. 

ft  Compare  Isaiah  liii.  2;  Luke  i.  48,  52;  ii,  7,  24. 

IX  Compare  Malaclii  iii.  ],  with  John  i.  19 — 34.  and  iii.  26 — 36. 

§§  Compare  Malachi  iv,  5,  6,  with  Mark  i.  1—8. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  109 

Cj.  The  forerunner  of  Messiah  was  to  preach  in  the 
wilderness,  and  to  prepare  the  n)inds  of  the  people  for  his 
coming. — John  the  Baptist  did  preach  in  the  wilderness  of 
Judca,  and  professed  himstlf  to  be  sent  to  prepare  the  Jercs 
for  the  advent  of  Christ*'. 

24.  The  forerunner  of  Messiah  was  to  be  considerably 
successful  in  his  office. — John  the  Baptist  was  treated  with 
great  respect  by  his  countrymen,  and  made  large  numbers  of 
disciplesf . 

25.  Messiah  was  not  to  be  born  at  Jerusalem,  the  ca- 
pital of  liis  kingdom,  but  at  Bethlehem^  an  obscure  country 
village. — Jesus  Christ  was  born  at  Bethlehem,  by  a  very 
peculiar  providence;!;. 

26.  Messiah  was  to  go  down  into  Egypt,  and  to  be 
called  out  from  thence. — Jesus  Christ,  went  down  into 
Egypt,  soon  after  his  birth,  and  was  called  out  from  thence 
by  an  angel  of  the  Lord§. 

27.  Messiah  was  to  be  a  preacher  of  the  law  of  God 
to  his  countrymen  in  the  great  congregation. — Jesus  Christ 
was  indefatigable  in  his  public  ministrations,  both  in  the 
temple,  and  in  all  other  places,  where  the  people  were  dis- 
posed to  hear  hiin|}. 

28.  The  tribes  of  Zebulon  and  Naphthali  were  first 
to  be  greatly  distressed,  and  afterwards  highly  honoured  and 
exalted,  by  the  appearance  of  Messiah  among  them. — These 
tribes  principally  suffered  in  the  irtrst  u4sxyria?i  invasion  under 
Tig  lath  Pilezer,  and  were  afterwards  among  the  first  that 
enjoyed  the  blessing  of  Christ's  preaching  the  sospel,  and 
exhibiting  his  miraculous  works  among  them**. 

29.  Messiah  was  to  converse  and  preach  the  gospel  in 
tlie  region  of  Galilee. — Jesus  Christ  lived  and  conversed 
so  long  in  that  obscure  and  despicable  part  of  the  land  of 
Israel,  that  he  was,  by  way  of  contempt,  denominated  the 
GolUean-\-\. 


*  Compare  Isaiah  xl.  3 — 5,  \\ith  Matthew  ill.  1 — 6\ 

t  Compare  Isaiah  xl.  3 — 5,  with  Luke  iii.  21. 

X  Compare  Micah  v.  2,  with  Matthew  ii.  2. 

§  Compare  Hosea  xi.  1,  with  IMatthew  ii.  13-^23.  See  too 
AVhiston  on  Prophecy,  pp.  12  and  52. 

II  Compare  P-alni  xl.  9,  10,  with  the  four  gospels,  passim. 

**  Compare  Isaiah  ix.  1 — 4;  2  Kings  xv.  29;  1  Chron.  v.  25, 
and  Matthew  iv.  12— 16\ 

tt  Compare  Isaiah  ix.  1,  2,  with  Matthew  ii.  22,  23;  and  Matt 
iy.  23,  2o. 


r/ 


ilO  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

SO.  Messiah  was  to  have  a  temple  to  -which  he  should 
come,  when  he  made  his  appearance  in  hunian  flesh. — 
Jesus  Christ,  as  the  Son  of  God,  claimed  the  temple 
of  Jerusalem  as  his  own,  in  a  sense  which  uo  mere  mortal 
could  presume*. 

31.  Messiah  was  to  be  the  servant  of  God,  whose  name 
is  the  Branch. — Jesus  Christ  was  emphatically  the  Servant 
of  God,  and  the  Daif- Spring  from  on  high'f. 

32.  Messiah  is  spoken  of  by  the  ancient  Prophets  under 
the  characters  of  an  ^in^el — a  Messenger — a  Redeemer — an 
Interpreter — One  of  a  thomand — a  Plant  of  renown — a 
Captain — the  Beloved  of  Goti — the  tru€  David. — Jesus 
Christ  was  all  these,  and  whatever  else  was"  peculiar  to  the 
character  of  that  august  Being ;  as  will  more  fully  appear  from 
the  following  instances  i. 

33.  Messiah  was  .to  be  the  Messenger  of  the  Covenant 
between  God  and  his  j>eople. — Jesus  Christ  ^\as  that 
Messenger^. 

34.  INIessiah  was  to  sustain  the  office  of  a  Prophet, 
when  he  came  to  redeem  mankind. — Jesus  Christ  sustainc?d 
that  office  in  all  its  extent ||. 

35.  Messiah  was  also  to  sustain  the  office  of  a  Priest 
%Then  he  appeared  upon  earth. — Jesus  Christ  \\as  a  Priest, 
and  offered,  not  indeed  the  blood  of  bullocks  and  of  goats, 
but  his  own  most  precious  blood**. 

36.  Messiah,  though  a  Priest,  Mas  not  to  be  of  the 
tribe  of  Levi,  and  after  the  order  of  Aaron,  but  after  the 
order  of  Melchizedec. — Jesus  Christ  was  of  the  tribe 

*  Compare  Malachi  iii,  1,  with  Luke  ii.  49;  and  Matthew  xxi, 
12,  13. 

+  Compare  Isaiah  iv.  2 ;  xi.  1 ;  Jeremiah  xxiii.  5 ;  Zechariah  iii. 
S;vi.  12;  Isaiah  xlii.  1;  Matthew  xii.  IS;  and  Luke  i.  78. — It 
should  be  observed  here,  that  the  word  translated  Branch  signifies 
also  the  East,  or  Day-Spring. 

X  Compare  Genesis  xlviii.  l6;  xxxii.  24 — 30;  Hosea  xii.  3,  4; 
Exod.  xxiii.  20 — 23;  Malachi  iii.  1  ;  Job  xix.  25;  xxxiii.  23;  Ezek. 
xxxiv.  23,  24,  25 ;  Joshua  v.  13,  14;  Isaiah  xlii.  1;  Rev.  i.  1; 
Matthew  iii.  17;   Hebrews  ii.  10. 

§  Compare  Jeremiah  xxxiii.  20,  21:  Malachi  iii.  1;  Isaiah  Ixiii. 
<?;  Hebrews  viii.  7 — 13;  x,  9;  xiii.  20,  21. 

II  Compare  Deuteronomy  xviii.  15,  18;  Acts  iii.  22;  Luke  xxiv. 
15 ;  Matthew  xxiv. 

**  Compare  Zechariah  vi.  13;  Hebrews  ix.  11 — 14. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  iii 

of  JuDAH,  and  had  an  everlasting  priesthood,  after  tiie  order  of 
Melchizedec* 

37.  Messiah  was,  moreover,  to  sustain  the  office  of  a 
King,  when  he  took  on  him  human  nature  for  the  salvation 
of  his  elect. — Jesls  Christ  was  a  King,  even  while  upou 
earth;  and,  now  that  he  is  in  heaven,  his  dominion  extends 
ovev  all  worlds  i*. 

38.  Messiah  was  to  be  a  ri«;hteous  King,  and  empha- 
tically the  P/7'«ce  q/"  Pfflce. — Jesus  Christ  was  eminently 
distinguished  as  a  righteous  person,  and  the  great  peace-maker 
both  on  earlh  and  in  heaven  J. 

39.  The  kingdom  of  Messiah  was  to  be  universal  and 
everlasting. — Jesus  Christ  has  a  kingdom,  that,  in  due 
time,  shall  be  luiiversal  in  its  extent,  and  eternal  in  its 
duration  §• 

40.  Messiah  was  to  be  the  San  of  Righteousness,  who 
^hould  arise  upon  the  world  with  salvation  in  his  ravs. — 
Jesls  Christ  was  the  Light  of  the  world,  who  illuminatcth 
every  7nan  that  comcth  into  it. 

Messiah  was  also  to  be  the  East,  or  JSIorning  Star. — 
Jesus  Christ  is  called  the  Day-spring  from  on  high,  and 
the  bright  and  Morning  Star\\. 

41.  ^Messiah  was  to  be  emphatically  the  Just-One.-^- 
Jesus  Christ  not  only  answered  the  description,  but  i& 
repeatedly  called  by  that  name*"^'. 

42.  Messiah,  to  whom  belonged  the  land  of  Jude-V 
was  to  be  denominated  Emmanuel. — Jesus  Christ  was  the 
proprietor  of  that  holy  land,  and  was  expressly  called  by  the 
name  of  Emnianuel'\-\. 

*  Compare  Genesis  xiv.  IS;  Psalm  ex.  4;  Hebrews  vi.  20;  vii. 
1—28. 

t  Compare  Psalm  ii.  6;  Zechariah  vi.  13;  ix.  i) ;  with  Luke  i.  32. 
33 ;  John  xxiii.  30,  3/  ;  and  Rev.  xix.  16". 

I  Compare  Isaiah  xxxii.  1;  Psalm  xlv.  1  — 17;  Ixxii.  L — IP; 
Jeremiah  xxiii.  5;  Zechariah  ix.  Q;  Isaiah  ix.  6";  Luke  ii.  14;  Ephes. 
ii.  4—22. 

§  Daniel  vii.  27;  Luke  i.  32,  33;  Rev.  v.  12 — 14. 

II  Compare  Malachi  iv.  2 ;  John  i.  5,  9;  viii.  12;  ix.  5 ;  xii. 
35,  46";  Isaiah  Ix.  1,2;  Luke  i.  78;  and  Rev.  xxii.  l6. 

**  2  Sanmel  xxiii.  3;  Isaiah  xi.  5;  Acts  iii.  14;  vii.  52;  xxii. 
14. 

ft  Compare  Isaiali  vii,  14;  riii.  8;  Matthew  i.  23;  and  John 
1.  11. 


in  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

43.  Messiah  was  to  be  a  great  Shepherd,  and  to  l;iy 
down  his  life  for  the  sheep. — Jesus  Christ  was  the  grerft 
and  good  Shepherd,  and  shed  his  blocd  in  defence  of  his* 
flock*. 

44.  Messiah  was  not  only  to  be  a  righteous  King,  and 
execute  judgment  and  justice  in  the  earth;  but  his  name 
was  to  be  Jthovah  our  righteousness. — Jesus  Christ  is 
made  of  God  righteousness  to  every  one  that  believes  in  his 
nanie'l'. 

45.  Messiah  was  to  be,  like  the  lion,  which  is  the  king 
of  animals,  of  a  noble  and  generous  spirit. — Jesus  Christ 
was  the  lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah;};. 

46.  Messiah  was  to  be  anointed  with  the  Holy  Ghost 
in  a  larger  degree  than  any  other  man  ever  was. — Jesus 
Christ  was  favoured  in  this  respect  beyond  all  other  persons 
that  ever  lived §. 

47.  Messiah  was  to  be  of  a  meek  and  lowly  disposi- 
tion, humbling  himself  for  the  redemption  of  the  world. — 
Jesus  Christ  was  meek  and  lowly  in  mind,  and  answered 
the  proplietic  description  in  €very  respect  l|. 

48.  ISIessiah  was  to  teach  mankind  the  doctrines  of 
salvation  without  ostentation  and  noise. — Jesus  Christ  was 
quiet  and  unambitious  in  all  his  public  as  well  as  private  de- 
portment**. 

49.  Messiah  was  to  be  endowed  with  a  peculiar  degree 
of  wisdom  and  understanding. — Jesus  Christ,  his  enemies 
being  judges,  ijpake  as  never  man  spake,  and  taught  a  more 
pure  and  excellent  doctrine  than  ever  had  been  received  among 
mankind  before -f-j-. 

50.  The  doctrine  of  Messiah  was  to  be  of  the  most 
healing,    encouraging,    and    consolatory    kind. — llie    doctrine 

*  Compare  Zechariah  xiii.  7 ;  Isaiah  Ix.  11;  and  Ezek.  xxxiv.  23, 
24:  with  John  x.  1 — 18. 

t  Compare  Jeremiah  xxiii.  5,  6,  witJi  1  Corinthians  i.  30. 

J  Compare  Genesis  xlix.  9;  and  Rev.  v.  5. 

§  Compare  Psalm  xlv.  7;  Avith  Matthew  iii.  16,  17;  and  John 
iii.  34. 

II  Compare  Zechariah  ix.  9;  Matthew  xi.  28,  29;  John  xiii. 
1 — 17;  2  Corintiiians  viii.  p. 

**  Compare  Luiah  xiii.  1 — 4;  Matthew  xii.  14 — 21. 

it  Compare  Isaiah  xi.  1—5;  Johtt  vii.  46';  Matthew  xiii. 
54 — 08;  Matthew  v.  vi.  and  vii.  eh. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  113 

of  Jesus  Christ  was  singularly  adapted  to  the  healing  of 
Mouuded  minds*. 

51.  The  doctrioe  \vhich  Messiah  should  preach  wa?  to 
have  a  powerfully  transforming  influence  upon  the  minds  of 
men. — The  Gospel  of  Christ  had  all  this  effect  upon  the  dis- 
positions and  conduct  of  every  one  of  his  genuine  disciplesf. 

51.  Messiah  was  to  be  peculiarly  kind  and  affectionate 
to  young,  distressed,  and  tender-spirited  persons. — Jesus 
Christ  was  singularly  attentive  to  all  such  characters  J. 

53.  In  confirmation  of  his  divine  mission,  Messiah  was 
to  display  many  wonderful  works  among  the  people. — Jesus 
Christ  wrought  abundance  of  miracles  in  confirmation  of  his 
pretensions,  and  the  doctrines  he  taught  §. 

54.  ^Iessiah  was  to  have  but  little  success  in  preachiu"- the 
gospel  among  his  countrymen  the  Jt?is.  — Jesus  Chuist  was 
almost  universally  rejected  by  thera||. 

55.  The  minds  of  the  Jczcs  were  to  be  so  veiled  that  they 
should  not  know  their  ^Iessi  ah  when  he  came  among  them.— ■ 
The  minds  of  the  Jews  were  so  sealed  up,  and  enveloped  in 
prejudice  against  Jesus  Christ  when  he  appeared,  that  he 
was  treated  by  them  as  an  impostor  and  deceiver**. 

5Q.  Messiah  was  to  be  the  chief  corner  stone  in  the 
building  of  his  church,  elect,  precious. — Jesus  Christ  was 
the  chief  corner  stone,  elect,  and  precious  ff. 

57.  Messiah  was  to  be  rejected  by  the  builders,  but  yet 
made  the  head  stone  in  the  corner. — Jesus  Christ  was 
almost  universally  rejected  by  the  great  men  of  his  nation;  but 
yet  he  was  made  both  luOrd  and  Christ  %\. 

38.  Messiah  was  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor,  and 
to  be  embraced  by  a  considerable  number  of  that  description. 

*  Compare  Isaiali  Ixi.   1 — 3;   Matthew  xi.  28 — 30;  John  xiv. 
1—3. 
t  Compare  Isaiah  xi.  6 — 8;  with  Acts  ii.  41 — 4'. 

I  Compare  Isaiah  xi.  11;  Iv.  1 — 3;  Ixi.  1—3;  Matthew  xii.  20; 
and  Mark  x.  13— -16. 

§  Compare  Isaiah  xxxv>  5,  6;  with  Matthew  viii.  and  ix.  chapters, 
and  John  xxi.  15. 

II  Compare  Isaiah  liii.  1 ;  xlix.  4;  Rom.  x.  1 — 3,  21. 

**  Compare  Isaiah  vi.  9—13;  xxix.  9 — 14;  2  Cor.  iii.^5 — 18. 
+t  Compare  Isaiah  xxviii,  16;  Acts  iv.  11,  12;  1  Peter  ii.  6 — 8. 
XX  Compare  Psalm  cxviii.  22;  Isaiah  viii.  13,  14;  John  vii.  48; 
Matthew  xi,  25,  26;   1  Corinthians  i,  26 — 31 ;  1  Peter  ii.  7,  8, 


114  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

—Jesus  Christ  preached  the  gospel  to  the  poor,  and  various 
of  that  rank  believed  in  his  name  *. 

59.  Messiah  was  to  be  despised  and  rejected  of  men; 
a  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief. — Jesus  Chkist 
was  despised  and  rejected  of  men ;  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  ac- 
quainted with  grieff. 

60.  Messiah  was  to  be  seen  riding  into  Jerusalem,  sit- 
ting upon  a  young  ass,  as  a  token  of  the  humility  of  his 
mind. — Jesus  Christ  answered  this  prediction,  as  well  as 
every  other  that  went  before  concerning  him,  in  the  most 
minute  circumstance ;{:. 

61.  \Vhen  Messiah  should  enter  Jerusalem  in  this  meek 
and  humble  manner,  great  crouds  of  the  common  people 
should  welcome  him  with  shouts  and  rejoicings. — \Vhen 
Jesus  Christ  rode  into  that  proud  metropolis  in  low  dis- 
guise, the  general  cry  of  the  mob  was,  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of 
David;  blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  : 
Hosamm  in  the  highest  %. 

62.  Messiah  was  to  be  actuated  with  such  a  burning  zeal 
for  the  house  of  God,  as  even  to  be  endangered  by  it.-— Jesus 
Christ  displayed  that  zeal  upon  various  occasions||. 

63.  Messiah  was  to  be  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  his 
enemies  by  the  treachery  of  an  intimate  friend. — Christ  was 
betravcdby  one  of  the  disciples  whom  he  had  chosen**. 

64.  Messiah  was  to  be  sold  for  thirty  pieces  of  silver. — 
Jesus  Christ  was  sold  for  the  sum  predicted ff. 

65.  Messi.\h's  price,  tlie  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  was  to 
be  cast  to  the  potter  in  the  house  of  the  Lord. — ^All  this  was 
done  when  Judas  betrayed  his  Master  j:|:. 

6(j.  Messiah  was  to  be  condemned  in  judgment,  and 
suffer  death    under    the    colour    of    public   justice. — Jesus 


*"  Compare  Isaiah  Ixi.  1;   Luke   iv.   18;   Matthew  xi.  5;   James 


n.  0 


t  Co;npare  Isaiah  liii.  with  Matthew   xxvi,  and  xxvii,  chapters 

and  Phil,  ii.  7,  8.     See  too  Chandler's  Dtfcnce.,  p.  178—194. 
I  Compare  Zechariah  ix.  9,  witli  Matthew  xxi.  1  — 11. 
§  Ibid.     See  Chandler's  Defence,  p.  102—107. 
1!  Compare  P^alm  Ixix.  9;  John  ii.  17. 

**  Compare  Psuhu  xli.  9:  Iv.  \2,  13;  Matthew  xxvi.  47—50. 
tt  Compare  Zechariah  xi.  12;  Matthew  xxvi.  14 — 16. 
♦t  Compare  Zechariah  xi.  13;  MattJiew  xxvii.  3 — 10. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  115 

Christ  underwent  a  mock  trial,  was  declared  innocent  by  his 
ver)^  ju'^ge,  and  yet  delivered  over  to  be  crucified*. 

67.  The  followers  of  ^Iesstah  were  all  to  forsake  him 
in  tlie  time  of  his  greatest  need. — When  Jksus  Christ  was 
apprehended,  and  put  upon  his  trial,  all  his  disciples  forsook 
him  and  fled  f. 

68.  Messiah  was  to  finish  his  public  employment,  in 
confirming  the  covenant,  iu  about  three  years  and  a  half. 
— Jesus  Christ  began  his  public  office  at  thirty  years  of 
age,  and  was  put  to  death  at  thirty-three  and  a  half;};. 

69.  Messiah  was  to  be  igiiominiously  scourged  by  his 
persecutors. — Jesus  Christ  was  treated  in  this  manner§. 

70.  Messiah  was  to  be  smitten  on  the  face  in  the  day 
of  his  humiliation. — Jesus  Christ  was  basely  buffeted  by  the 
hands  of  vile  slaves  \\. 

71.  Messiah  was  to  have  his  face  befouled  with  spittle. — 
Jesus  Christ  condescended  for  our  sakes  even  to  this  in- 
dignity without  complaining**. 

72.  Messiah  was  to  be  wounded  in  his  hands,  even  by  his 
own  friends. — Jesus  Christ  had  his  hands  nailed  to  the 
cursed  tree  by  his  own  countrymen  -f-f-. 

73.  Messiah  was  to  be  so  marred  and  disfigured  in  his 
visage  by  the  ill  treatment  he  should  receive,  that  his  friends 
would  scarce  know  him. — And  was  not  Jesus  Christ  so  dis- 
figured and  dispoiled  ;}:t  ? 

*  Compare  Isaiah  lix.  8,  .9;  Matthew  xxvii.  chapter. 

t  Compare  Zechariah  xiii.  7;  l!<aiah  Ixiii.  5;  Matthew  xxvi.  56. 

J  Compare  Daniel  ix.  "27,  with  the  period  of  our  Lord's  ministry 
in  the  four  Gospels.  On  this  remarkable  prediction  of  Daniel, 
consult  Maclaurin's  Essai/on  the  Prophtcies,  p.  I03[*],  and  Sir 
Isaac  Newton's  Observations  on  Daniel,  chap.  x.  II. 

[*]  This  excellent  work  may  be  purchased  at  a  cheap  rate  at 
Baynes's,  Fater  Noster-row. 

§  Compare  Isaiah  1.  6',  with  Matthew  xxvii.  C6\ 

II  Compare  li-aiah  1.  6;  Hi.  14;  Micah  v.   1;  and  Matthew  xxvi. 

**  Compare  Isaiali  1.  6;  Matthew  xxv.  67. 

tt  Compare  Zechariali  xiii.  6,  with  John  xx.  17. 

X\  Compare  Isaiah  lii.  14,  with  Matthew  xxvii.  29,  30. — If  it 
should  be  objected  that  several  of  these  circumstances  are  trifling 
and  unworthy  of  the  Spirit  of  prophecy  to  reveal,  it  may  be  very 
justly  answered,  that,  "The  more  minutesomeoftjiese  circumstances 
are  in  themselves,  the  greater  and  more  convincing  is  the  evidence 
of  diviuc  fore-knowledge  iu  the  prediction  of  them;  because  the 

Q2 


116  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

74.  Messiah  was  to  be  oppressed  and  afflicted,  and  yet  not 
open  his  mouth  in  complaint.  He  was  to  be  brought  as  a  lamb 
to  the  slaughter^  and  as  a  sheep  before  her  shearers  is  dumb,  so 
he  was  not  to  open  his  mouth. — Jesus  Christ,  the  Lamb  of 
God  that  taketh  auaj/  the  si7is  of  the  world,  before  Pilate 
held  his  peace,  ytnd  zchen  he  was  accused  of  the  chief  priests 
and  elders,  he  answered  nothing^. 

75,  ISIessiah  was  to  be  taken  up  with  wicked  men  in 
his  death. — Christ  was  suspended  on  a  cross  between  two 
thieves +. 

couformity  between  the  prediction  and  the  history  is  so  much  tlie 
more  circumstantial." 

See  INLaclaurin  on  the  Prophecies,  p.  63. 

*  Compare  Isaiah  liii.  7,  with  3Iatthew  xxvi.  63,  and  xxvii, 
12—14. 

+  Compare  Isaiali  liii.  .9,  with  Matthew  xxvii.  3S,  60. 

See  on  this  whole  chajTter  Apthorp's  seventh  discourse  on  pro- 
phecy, and  Dr.  Gregory  Sharp's  Second  Argument  in  defence  of 
Christianity,  p.  222 — 27-1.  A  comparison  of  this  .53d  chapter  of 
Isaiah,  with  the  account  given  in  the/owr  Evangelists  of  ihe  suffer- 
ings of  Christ,  was  made  the  iristrument  of  convincing  the  witty 
and  wicked  i-.flr/ o/"  Rochester.  The  narrative  given  of  this  re- 
markable transaction  by  Bishop  Burnet,  is  worth  insertion  in  this 
place: — Rochester  said  to  Bishop  Burnet,"  3Ir.  Parsons, in 
order  to  his  conviction,  read  to  him  the  o3d  chapter  of  Isaiah,  and 
compared  that  with  our  Saviour's  passion,  that  he  might  there  see 
a  prophecy  concerning  it,  written  many  ages  before  it  was  done ; 
Mhich  the  Jews  that  blasphemed  Jesus  Christ,  still  kept  in  their 
hands  as  a  book  divinely  inspired.  He  said  to  me— that,  as  he 
heard  it  read,  he  felt  an  hiward  force  upon  him,  which  did  so  en- 
hghten  his  mind,  and  convince  him,  that  he  could  resist  it  no  longer  : 
for  the  words  had  aii  authority,  which  did  shoot  like  rays  or  beams 
in  his  mind,  so  that  he  was  not  only  convinced  by  the  reasonings  he 
had  about  it,  which  satisfied  liis  understanding,  but  by  a  power, 
which  did  so  effectually  constrain  hijn,  that  he  did  ever  after  as 
firmly  believe  in  his  Saviour  as  if  he  had  seen  him  in  the  clouds. 
He  had  made  it  to  be  read  so  often  to  hun,  that  he  had  gotten  it  by 
heart ;  and  went  through  a  great  part  of  it  in  discourse  with  me,  w  ith 
a  sort  of  heavenly  pleasure,  giving  me  his  reflections  upon  it.  Some 
few  I  remember;  IVho  hath  believed  our  report?  Here,  he  said,  was 
foretold  the  opposition  the  gospel  was  to  meet  witli  from  such 
wretches  as  he  was.  He  hath  no  form  or  comeliness ;  and  when  ive 
shall  see  him,  there  was  no  beauty,  that  we  should  desire  him.  On 
this  he  said,  the  meanness  of  his  appearance  and  person  has  made 
vain  and  foolish  people  disparage  him,  because  he  came  not  in  such 
a  fool's  coat  as  they  delight  in.  What  he  said  on  tlie  other  parts,  I 
do  not,  says  the  Bishop,  well  remember."  Sharpe's  Second  Ar-> 
gument,  p!  238—240. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  I17 

76.  Messiah  \vas  to  be  buried  in  the  sepulchre  of  a 
rich  man. — Christ  was  buried  in  the  tomb  of  a  rich  coun- 
sellor*. 

77-  jNIessiah  was  to  be  put  to  death  at  the  end  of  490 
years,  from  the  time  when  a  commandment  should  go  forth  to 
restore  and  to  build  Jerusalem. — Now  it  is  remarkable,  that 
from  the  seventh  year  of  Artaxerxes  Longimanus,  kino- 
of  Persia,  from  whom  Ezra  received  his  commission,  eh.  vii. 
S,  to  the  death  of  Jesus  Christ,  there  are  just  490  yearsf. 

7S.  Messiah  was  to  be  presented  by  his  enemies  with 
vinegar  and  gall  during  his  sufferings. — In  this  manner  was 
Jesus  Christ  treated,  as  he  hung  upon  the  cross];. 

79.  The  persecutors  of  Messiah  were  to  pierce  his  hands 
and  his  feet. — So  did  the  bloody  Jeus  and  Konia?is  treat  the 
Redeemer  of  mankind §. 

80.  The  enemies  of  Messiah  were  to  laugh  him  to  scorn, 
and  to  taunt  and  reproach  him  with  satyrical  language. — So 
did  the  Jezcs  conduct  themselves  towards  Christ  in  the  day 
of  his  distress  [|. 

81.  When  Messiah  was  put  to  death,  his  enemies  were  to 
part  his  garments  among  them,  and  for  his  vesture  they  were  to 
cast  lots. — V\  hen  Christ  was  crucified,  these  transactions  took 
place**. 

82.  When  the  Messiah  should  suffer  death,  not  a  bone 
of  his  body  was  to  be  broken. — When  Christ  was  crucified, 
not  a  bone  of  him  was  injured -j-f-. 

83.  When  Messiah  should  be  put  to  death,  his  side  was, 
by  some  means,  not  declared  to  be  pierced. — When  Jesus 
Christ  was  crucified,  his  side  was  pierced  with  a  spear 


+4- 

++• 


*  Compare  Isaiah  Jiii.  g,  with  Matthew  xxvii.  38,  60. 

t  Daniel  ii.  '^4.  See  Sykes's  Essai/  on  the  TrutJi  of  the  Chris- 
tian Religion,  p.  i^O.  And  for  the  times  of  tlie  birth  aiid  passion  of 
Christ,  consult  the  lith  chapter  of  Sir  Isaac  Newton's  Obser- 
rations  upon  the  Prophecies  0/ Daniel. 

:  Compare  Psalm  Ixix.  21,  with  Matthew  xxvii.  34,  and  John  xix. 
28—30. 

§  Compare  Psalm  xxii.  l6,  with  Matthew  xxvii.  35. — Crucifixion 
%vas  a  thing  not  known  among  the  Jews  in  the  time  of  David,  nor 
for  many  ages  afterwards. 

|l  Compare  Psalm  xxii.  7,  8,  with  Matthew  xxvii.  39 — 44. 

**  Compare  Psalm  xxii.  18,  with  Matthew  xxvii.  35. 

■ft  Compare  Exodus  xii.  45,  and  Numbers  ix,  12,  with  John  xvi. 
31—36. 

j;  Compare  Zechariah  xii,  10,  with  John  xix.  34,  37. 


119  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

84.  It  was  prophesied  of  Messtah,  that  he  should  make 
intercession  for  transgressors. — Jesus  Christ  interceded  with 
God  for  his  very  murderers,  and  now  ever  liveth  at  his  Fa- 
ther's right  hand  to  plead  the  cause  of  the  sinful  children  of 
men*. 

85.  Messiah  was  to  be  cut  off,  hut  not  for  himself. — 
Jesls  Christ,  who  teas  holy,  harmless,  undefihd,  and  sepa- 
rate from  sinners,  was  cut  off  by  the  hands  of  wicked  meUj  to 
reconcile  God  to  his  rebellious  creatures-]-. 

86.  When  Messiah  should  come,  there  was  to  be  a 
fountain  opened  to  the  house  of  David,  and  to  the  inhabit 

tants  of  Jerusalem,  for  sin,  and  for  uncleanness. — When 
Christ  came,  he  appeared  to  put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of 
himself,  and  by  the  shedding  of  his  blood  once  for  all;j:. 

87.  ^Iessiah  was  to  make  atonement  for  the  iniquities, 
tiansgressions,  and  sins  of  the  world. — Jesus  Christ  was  a 
propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  zvorld^. 

SB.  Messiah  was  to 'make  this  atonement  in  the  last  of 
Daniel's  seventy  weeks. — Jesus  Christ  was  crucified  ia 
ihat  very  week  |[. 

89.  Messiah  was  to  abolish  the  old,  and  introduce  a  new 
dispensation. — Jesus  Christ  abolished  the  ceremonies  of 
the  Law  of  MosEs,  and  brought  in  a  more  perfect  and  ra- 
tional oeconomy*[. 

1)0.  The  blood  of  Messiah   was  to  be  the  blood  of  the 

-  Compare  Isaiah  liii.  12 ;  Hebrews  vii.  25. 

+  Compare  Daniel  ix.  26':  Isaiah  liii.  S;  Matthew  xxvi,  and 
xxvii,  chapters. 

X  Compare  Zechnriiih  xiii.  1 ;   and  Hebrews  ix.  and  x.  chapters. 

§  Compare  Isaiah  liii.  5;  Daniel  ix.  24;   1  Johnii.  1,  2. 

\\  Daniel  ix.  27.  See  tliis  remarkable  prophecy  of  Daniel  illus- 
trated at  lar^e  in  Pride Aux,  p.  1,  b.  v.  Consult  also  the  fourth 
and  fifth  of  Apthorp's  Discourses,  and  Chandler's  Defence,  p. 
332 — 150. "  The  doctrine  of  atonement/'  says  Bishop  Sher- 
lock, "  is  that  which,  together  with  the  principles  on  which  it  is 
founded,  and  the  consequences  naturally  flowing  from  it,  distinguishes 
the  Christian  religion  from  all  other  religions  whatever.'' 

Sermons,  vol.  iv.  dis.  iii.  p.  SS. 

Tlie  present  excellent  Bishop  of  London  alto  tells  us,  "  It  is, 
without  dispute,  the  great  distinguishing  character  of  the  Christian 
dispensation,  the  wall  of  partition  between  natural  and  revealed 
religion,  the  main  foundation  of  all  our  hopes  of  pai-don  and  accept- 
ance hereafter.'' 

1[  Compare  Jerfemiah  xxxi.  31 — 34,  with  Hebrews  viii.  6 — 13. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  119 

covenant,  zchich  should  bring  prisoners  out  of  the  pit  Zihere 
there  is  no  water. — The  blood  of  Jesvs  Christ  was  the  blood 
of  the  new  covenant-dispensation,  which,  whosoever  disregards, 
shall  bear  the  blame  for  ever*. 

91.  JNIessiah  was  not  to  lie  in  the  grave  and  be  tunied 
to  corruption  like  other  men. — Jesus  Christ  did  not  continue 
in  the  grave,  nor  did  he  see  corruption  like  the  rest  of  man- 
kind f. 

92.  Messiah  was  to  be  raised  from  the  grave  on  the 
third  day  after  his  interment. — Jesus  Christ  was  buried  on 
the  Friday,  and  rose  from  the  dead  on  the  Sunday  nioniiu"- 
following:};.       ' 

93.  AVhen  Messiah  should  arise  from  the  dead,  he  was 
to  bring  some  tokens  with  him  of  his  victory  over  the  infer- 
nal powers. — When  Jesus  Christ  eaitered  the  state  of  the 
dead,  he  led  captiviti/  captive,  unloosed  the  bands  of  death, 
and  raised  many  bodies  of  the  saints,  which  were  confined  under 
his  dominion  |. 

9^'  Messiah  was  to  ascend  up  into  heaven,  and  reign 
ihere  at  his  Father's  right  hand,  invested  with  universal 
dominion. — Jesus  Christ  did  ascend  up  into  heaven  in  the 
sight  of  many  witnesses,  and  took  his  place  at  the  right  hand  of 
power,  invested  with  universal  dominion  1|. 

95.  When  jMessiah  ascended  into  heaven,  his  ascension 
was  to  be  attended  with  the  ministers  of  heaven,  to  usher 
him  into  his  Father's  presence. — When  Jesus  Christ 
ascended  up  into  heaven,  two  men  stood  by  the  Apostles  in 
white  apparel,  and  addressed  them  on  the  joyful  occasion**. 

96.  Messiah  was  to  send  down  from  heaven  the  gift 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  a  tok^i  and  pledge  that  he  was 
exalted,  and  that  his  Father    was    pleased    with    what    he 

*  Compare  Zechariah  ix.  11,  with  Hebrews  x.  29;  xiii.  20. 

t  Compare  Psalm  xvi,  10,  with  Matthew  xxviii.  0. 

X  Compare  Hosea  vi.  2;  Matthew  xx.  19;  Matthew  xxvii.  1—7; 
1  Corinthians  xv.  4. 

§  Compare  Psalm  Ixviii.  18,  with  Matthew  xxvii.  52. 

II  Compare  Psalm  xvi.  11 ;  Ixviii.  18;  Isaiah  ix.  6,  7;  Luke  xxiv. 
50,  51;  Acts  i.  9;  and  Matthew  xxviii.  18. 

The  excellent  TiLLOTSON  observes,  that  "  all  things  which  the 
Prophets  had  foretold  concerning  the  Messiah  were  punctually 
made  good  in  the  person,  and  actions,  and  sutlerings  of  our 
Saviour." — Scrman  104. 

**  Compare  Daniel  vii.  13,  14,  with  Acts  i.  10,  11. 


120  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGIOxN: 

had  done  upon  earth  for  the  redemption  of  his  people.— 
Jesus  Christ  sent  down  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost^  in 
the  most  conspicuous  and  miraculous  manner*. 

97.  The  doctrine  of  Messiah  was  to^begin  to  be  preached 
at  Jerusalem,  and  from  thence  to  spread  itself  through  the 
nations. — The  gospel  of  Christ  Mas  first  preached  in  that 
city,  and  actually  dispersed  itself  through  all  the  neighbouring 
Cf)untries  in  the  course  of  a  few  years -j-. 

98.  Though  Messiah  was  to  be  generally  rejected  and 
despised  in  his  life-time ;  after  his  death  the  pleasure  of  the 
Lord,  in  the  conversion  and  salvation  of  mankind,  icas  to 
jn'osper  in  his  hand. — How  exactly  these  circumstances  agree 
with  the  history  of  Jlsus  Christ,  is  well  known  to  every 
Christian  '^. 

Qi).  The  followers  of  Messiah  should  meet  with  great 
and   severe    trials  and  persecution    for  their  adherence  to  his 

*  Compare  Psalm  Ixviii.  18;  Joel  ii.  28—32,  with  Acts  ii.  1 — 4, 
and  Ephes.  iv.  8 — 12. 

"  V/hen  our  Lord,  after  liis  resurrection,  heginning  at  MosES 
and  ALL  the Prophtts,  had  expounded  unto  his  Apostles  in  all  the 
scriptures  t  he  things  concerning  himstlj,  and  opened  their  understand- 
ing, that  they  might  understand  the  scriptures:  Luke  xxiv.  27,45; 
then  they  saw  plainly  (and  any  one  now,  who  will  trace  the  whole 
thread  of  the  Old  Testament,  may  plainly  see)  that  there  is  a  conti- 
nued series  of  connexion,  one  unifonn  analogy  and  design,  carried  on 
for  many  ages  by  divine  prescience  through  a  succession  of  prophe- 
cies ;  which,  as  in  their  proper  centre,  do  all  meet  together  in  Christ, 
and  in  him  only ;  however  the  single  lines,    when  considered  apart, 
may  many  of  them  be  imagined  to  have  another  direction,  and  point 
to  iijiennediate  erents.     Nothing  is   more   evident,  than   that  the 
whole  succession  of  prophecies  can  possibly  be  applied  to  none  but 
Christ.     Nothing  is  more  miraculous,  than  that  they  should  all  of 
thtni  be  capable  of  being  possibly  applied  to  him.     And  whatever 
intermediate  deliverances  or  deliverers  of  God's  people  may,  seem- 
ingly or  really  be  sjioken  of  upon  particular  occasions ;  nothing  is 
niore  reasonable  than  to  believe   (in  the  Apostk's  certainty,  who 
conversed  personally  with  our  Lord  after  his  resurrection,  nothing 
could  be  more  reasonable  than  to  believe)  that  the  ultimate  and  ge- 
neral view  of  the  prophetic  SPIRIT  always  was  fixed  on  him,  of  whom 
in  some  of  the  ancient  prophecies  it  is  expressly  affirmed,  that  God's 
servant  David  shall  be  the  Prince  over  his  people  for  ever;  that 
bis  dominion  shall  be  an  everlasting  dominion,  which  shall  not  pass 
away;  and  his  kingdom  that  which  shall  not  be  destroyed." 

Clarke's  Sermons,  vol.  v.  ser.  1. 

i  Compare  Isaiah  ii.  1—4;  Micah  iv.  1 — 4;  with  Acts  2d  chap- 
ter, and  Romans  x.  18. 

J  Isaiah  liii.  10—12. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  121 

cause^- — ^Tlie  followers  of  Jesus  Christ  had  the  whole  world 
in  arms  against  them  for  several  ages*. 

100.  The  rejecters  of  Messiah  should  be  rejected  of 
God,  and  his  followers  called  by  another  name. — Tlie  Jews, 
who  would  not  have  Christ  to  rule  over  them,  were  rejected 
by  him,  and  his  followers  were  called  by  another  name,  through 
divine  appointment,  as.  it  should  seem,  to  accomplish  this  pro- 
phecy-f-. 

101.  Messiah  was  to  be  opposed  by  kings,  and  persons  in 
authority,  with  great  vigour  and  resolution.  Jesus  Christ 
was  very  generally  opposed,  through  the  whole  of  his  public 
ministry,  by  the  great  Ones  of  the  world,  and  all  the  power  of 
the  Roman  empire  was  in  opposition  to  his  cause  and  people 
for  upwards  of  three  hundred  years  ;J;. 

102.  Notwithstanding  the  opposition  of  the  kings  and 
princes  of  the  world  for  a  season,  the  time  was  to  come  when 
kiugs  should  be  nursing  fathers  to  the  church,  and  queens 
nursing  mothers. — Most  of  the  governors  of  the  nations  of  Eu- 
rope have  been  protectors  of  the  cause  of  Christ  now  for 
many  centuries  §. 

103.  It  was  upon  a  great  variety  of  occasions  predicted,  that 
Messiah  should  enlighten  the  Gentile  nartions  with  the  know- 
ledge of  the  true  God. — Jesus  Christ  gave  particular  com- 
mandment to  his  Apostles,  on  longer  to  confine  their  minis- 
trations to  the  Jeivs,  as  he  had  done  during  his  life-time ; 
but  to  go  out  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature\^. 

104.  Messiah  was  to  destroy  the  covering  of  the  face 
which  zcas  cast  over  all  people,  and  the  vail  which  zcas  spread 
over  all  nations. — When  Jesus  Christ  appeared,  he,  by  his 
IVord,  Spirit,  and  yjpostles,  enlightened  the  minds  of  men, 
and  effected  a  most  surprising  change  in  all  the  nations  where 
his  gospel  was  received  •[. 

*  Compare  Isaiah  Ixvi.  5.  and  Malachi  iii.  1 — 3,  with  Matthew  x. 
16 — IS,  and  1  Corinthians  iv.  9. 

t  Compare  Isaiah  Ixii.  2  ;  Ixv.  lo,  with  Acts  xi.  26. 

I  Compare  Psalm  ii.  2;  ex.  5,  6;  Luke  xxiii.  S — 12.  Sv-e  the 
History  of  the  Ciiurch  for  the  First  Three  Centuries. 

§  Isaiah  xhx.  23;  Ix.  3. 

II  Compare  Isaiah  Ix.  with  Mark  xvi.  15. 

U  Compare  Ivaiah  xxv.  6" — 8;  Acts  ii.  1 — 1 1  ;  xxvi.  17,  is. 

B 


12a  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

105.  To  Messiah  every  knee  was  to  bow,  every  tongue  to 
swear,  and  every  heart  to  submit. — The  whole  Christian 
vi'orld,  professedly  at  least,  pay  this  obedience  to  Jesus 
Christ,  the  Redeemer  of  souls,  and  to  no  other  being 
whatever.  And  in  due  time  all  opposing  power  shall  be  ever- 
lastingly annihilated*. 

106.  It  was  predicted,  that  all  the  enemies  of  Messiah 
should  be  ashamed  and  confounded. — Jesus  Christ  has 
already  made  an  awful  example  of  his  enemies,  the  Jezos ; 
first,  in  the  destruction  of  their  city  and  temple ;  secondly,  in 
their  present  dispersion :  and,  in  the  proper  season,  every  op- 
posing power  shall  be  brought  into  subjection -f-. 

107.  It  was  predicted,  that  Messiah  would  make  a  great 
and  visible  difference  between  his  believing  and  unbelieving 
countrymen. — When  the  Romans  besieged  Jerusalem,  near  two 
millions  of  unbelieving  Jezas  perished,  while  every  single  be- 
liever fled  out  of  the  city,  and  escaped  in  safety  to  the  moun- 
tains J. 

108.  Messiah  was  to  appear  in  the  world  at  the  consum- 
mation of  the  ages,  to  raise  mankind  from  the  dead,  and 
judge  the  human  race  in  righteousness. — Jesus  Christ 
is  the  resurrection  and  the  life,  shall  appear  again  at  the 
close  of  nature,  and  decide  the  final  fates  both  of  men 
and  angels  §. 

109.  Messiah  was  to  destroy  death  itself,  triumph  over  the 
grave,  and  create  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth,  w  herein  Ishould 
dwell  universal  righteousness. — Jesus  Christ  is  he  who  alone 
is  equal  to  the  mighty  undertaking,  and  is  divinely  appointed  to 
that  office  |(. 

This  is  a  concise  view  of  the  predictions  contained  in  the 
Old  Testament,  concerning   the  nature,   birth,  life,   doctrine, 

*  Compare  Psalm  ex.  i ;  Isaiah  xlv.  25 ;  1  Corinthians  xv.  24 — 28 ; 
and  Philij)pians  ii.  10,  11. 

t  Compare  Psalm  ii.  9 ;  Psalm  ex.  1 ;  Isaiah  xlv.  24 ;  Ijv.  1 7 ; 
Ix.  12;  with  Matthew  xxiv;  2  Thess.  i.  7 — 9;  and  the  History  of 
the  Jews. 

t  Compare  Malachi  3d  and  4th  chapters,  with  the  History  of  that 
remarkable  siege. 

§  Compare  Job  xix.  23 — 27;  Isaiah  xxv.  8;  Daniel  xii.  1 — 3; 
Hosea  xiii,  14;  Micah  ii.  13;  Matthew  xxv.  31— 46";  John  xi.  25 ; 
Acts  xvii.  30,  31 ;  1  Corinthians  vi.  3 ;  2  Corinthians  v.  10. 

II  Compare  Hosea  xiii.  14;  Isaiah  Ixv,  17;  Ixvi.  22;  1  Corin- 
thians xv.  54,  55;  Revelations  XX.  14;  xxi.  4. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  103 

suffering,  death,  resurrection,  ascension,  and  kingdom  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  respecting  the  priority  of  the  predictions  to  the  birth  of 
Christ,  because  it  is  well  known  by  every  person,  who  is  at 
all  conversant  in  these  matters,  that  the  Old  Testament  was 
translated  out  of  Hthrcw  into  the  Greek  language,  and  dis- 
persed over  the  world,  many  years  before  Christ  came;  and 
that  the  latest  of  the  predictions  was  upwards  of  three  cen- 
turies before  the  birih  of  the  Redeemer  of  mankind.  Such 
a  variety  of  circumstances,  therefore,  predicted  concerning  one 
man,  so  many  years  before  he  was  born,  of  so  extraordinary  a 
nature,  and  under  such  convulsions  and  revolutions  of  civil  go- 
vernments, all  accomplished  in  Christ, and  in  no  other  person 
that  ever  appeared  in  the  world,  point  him  out,  with  irresistible 
evidence,  as  the  Saviour  of  mankind.  I  call  upon,  and  chal- 
lenge the  most  hardened  infidel  in  Christendom  to  refute  the 
conclusion. 

But  to  render  the  investigation  more  simple,  and  to  bring 
the  enquiry  within  a  narrower  compass,  let  any  man,  who  is 
sceptically  inclined,  take  the  fifty-second  and  fifty-third 
chapters  of  Isaiah,  and  .compare  them  seriously  with  the 
twenty-sixth  and  twenty-seventh  chapters  of  St.  Matthew's 
gospel,  and  then  let  him  deny  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  true 
Messiah,  if  he  can.  Rochester,  and  many  others  have 
made  the  experiment,  and  found  it  the  power  of  God  unto 
the  conviction  of  their  minds,  and  the  salvation  of  their  souls. 
That  all  these  extremely  minute  circumstances  of  time,  place, 
character,  and  the  like,  should  concentre  in  Christ,  and  in  no 
other  person  that  ever  appeared  in  human  nature,  is  truly  re- 
markable, and  absolutely  demonstrative  of  his  Mesaiahship. 
Indeed,  that  he  should  be  born  at  such  a  time,  in  such  a  place, 
and  under  circumstances  of  poverty ;  that  he  should  suffer, 
and  be  opposed  by  those  who  were  strangers  to  his  character, 
and  be  finally  put  to  an  ignominious  death :  these  thmgs 
were  all  common  to  him  with  many  more  of  our  fellow-crea- 
tures. But,  that  he  should  profess  to  be  the  Saviour  of 
mankind — that  he  should  be  described  as  one  who  was  to 
come — be  born  under  the  fourth  monarchy — while  the  second 
temple  was  yet  standing — before  the  dominion  of  the  Jens 
was  entirely  taken  away — in  a  time  of  profound  and  univer- 
sal peace — when   there   was   a  general   expectation  of   some 

R  2 


1-24  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

extraordinary  person: — that  he  should  have  existed  with 
God  before  the  foundations  of  the  world  were  laid — been  the 
companion  of  the  Almighty — been  sprung  from  the  Deity 
by  an  iuetiable  generation — been  the  son  of  God — the  son  of 
man — begotten  of  a  pure  virgin  by  divine  energy,  and  not 
by  carnal  copulation — that  he  should  be  the  son  of  Abra- 
ham  Is  A  A  C J  AGO  B J  U  D  A  H J  ESS  E D  AVI  D —  bom  in 

mean  condition — yet  having  an  illustrious  herald  preceding 
him — in  the  spirit  of  Elijah  preaching,  not  in  Jerusalem, 
but  in  the  wilderness — and  successful  in  his  office  : — that  he 
should  be  born  in  Bethlehem — go  down  into  Egypt — be  a 
preacher  of  the  gospel — exercise  his  ministry  in  Galilee — 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Zehulon  and  Naphthali — yet  be  the 
proprietor  of  the  temple  in  Jerusalem  : — that  he  should  be 
emphatically  the  servant  of  God,  whose  name  is  the  Branch 
— a  plant  of  renown — the  messenger  of  the  covenant — a  pro- 
phet— a  priest;  not  of  the  tribe  of  Levi,  and  after  the  order 
of  Aaron,  but  after  the  order  of  Melchizedec — a  kino- — 
a  righteous  king — the  prince  of  peace — having  a  universal 
and  everlasting  kingdom: — that  he  should  be  the  sun  of 
righteousness — the  East — the  Just  One — Emanuel — the  shep- 
herd- --Jehovah  our  righteousness — the  lion  of  the  tribe  of 
Judah: — that  he  should  be  anointed,  not  with  oil  to  his 
offices,  but  with  the  Holy  Ghost: — that  he  should  be  of  a 
most  meek,  patient,  and  humble  disposition — teaching  man- 
kind the  doctrines  of  salvation  without  pomp  and  noise — 
endowed  with  a  peculiar  degree  of  wisdom  and  understand- 
ing—and speaking  the  most  healing  words  to  tender  minds 
and  afflicted  consciences — changing  thereby  all  the  powers  of 
the  soul : — that  he  should  contirm  the  reality  of  his  mission 
and  the  divinity  of  his  doctrine  by  a  variety  of  benevolent 
miracles  —and  yet  that  the  principal  persons  among  his  coun- 
trymen should  not  submit  to  his  pretensions — be  the  chief 
corner  stone  of  his  church— and,  notwithstanding,  rejected  by 
the  builders — though  embraced  by  many  of  the  common 
people: — that  he  should  be  despised  and  rejected  of  men, 
a  man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted  with  grief — seen  riding 
in  humble  triumph  into  the  capital  of  his  kingdom — the 
people  crying  hosannah  to  the  son  of  David  : — that  his  zeal 
for  the  honour  of  God  should  transport  him  almost  to  ex- 
cess:— that  he  should  be  betrayed  by  a  friend — sold  for  thirty 


r 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  125 

pieces  of  silver : — that  these  pieces  should  be  thrown  do\Mi  in 
the  temple — and  applied  to  the  purchase  of  a  potter's  tielJ: 
— that  he  should  he  condemned  in  judgment — forsaken  by  all 
his  friends  in  his  greatest  need — finish  his  public  office  in 
three  vears  and  a  half — be  ignominiously  scourged — smitten 
on  tlie  face — befouled  with  spittle — wounded  in  his  hands — 
bv  his  friends — marred  and  disfigured  in  his  countenance — 
patient  and  silent  under  all  his  ill-treatment — suspended  with 
wicked  men — buried  in  the  tomb  of  a  rich  man — put  to  death 
exactly  at  the  end  of  490  years  from  a  particular  period — 
presented  with  vinegar  and  gall — wounded  in  his  hands  and 
feet — laughed  to  scorn  under  his  sufferings: — that  his  gar- 
ment should  b€  parted  among  his  keepers  :-— that  lots  should  be 
cast  for  his  seamless  vesture: — under  all  his  distresses  that 
not  a  bone  of  his  body  should  be  broken  : — that  his  side 
should  be  pierced : — that  he  should  make  intercession  for 
transgressors — be  cut  off',  though  imiocenl : — that  a  fountain 
should  be  opened  to  wash  away  sin — atonement  made  fur  the 
iniquities  of  the  world — in  the  last  of  Daniel's  7O  weeks — 
the  old  covenant  abolished — a  new  one  introduced — the 
blood  of  Messiah  being  the  seal  of  the  covenant  : — that, 
though  he  should  be  buried,  he  should  not  see  corruption — 
but  be  raised  from  the  grave  on  the  third  day  : — tiiat  he  should 
bring  from  the  dead  some  tokens  of  his  victory — ascend  into 
heaven — attended  with  angels — take  his  place  at  the  right 
hand  of  God — and  send  down  the  Spirit  upon  his  followers  : 
— that  the  gospel  should  be  lirst  preached  in  Jtrusalem—muhi- 
tndes  converted  to  the  faith — great  persecutions  endured  bv 
those  who  embraced  it — the  Jezcs  rejected — and  the  church 
called  by  a  new  name: — that  the  gnspel  should  be  generally 
opposed  bv  the  kings  and  governors  of  the  world — yet  aftr-r 
some  time  they  should  become  favourable,  and  give  it  encou- 
ragement:— -that  the  Gtntile  nations  should  be  enlightened 
and  called  :--that  every  soul  should  submit  to  Messiah — 
those  who  reject  him  being  confounded — and  those  who  em- 
brace him  being  protected : — that  he  should  finally  be  the 
judge  of  the  world — destroy  death — and  crov^n  Lis  faithful 
people  with  everlasting  joy : — that  all  these  things  should  be 
predicted  of  some  one  person,  several  hundreds,  or  even 
some  thousand  years  asunder  from  each  other  ;  and  that  they 
should  all  receive  accomplishment  in  Jesus  Christ,  without 


Vi6  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

any  one  exempt  case,  and  in  no  other  person  that  ever  ap- 
peared upon  earth  :  if  under  such  circumstances  Jesus 
Christ  were  not  the  person  intended  in  the  divine  councils, 
and  the  Messiah  whom  all  the  Prop/iets  were  inspired  to 
predict,  it  would  be  one  of  the  greatest  of  miracles.  Pro- 
phecy would  be  of  no  use.  All  evidence  would  be  rendered 
precarious,  and  mankind  left  to  roam  at  large,  without  any  sa- 
tisfactory guide  to  direct  their  steps  in  pursuit  of  truth  and  sal- 
vation. I  think  then  we  may  say,  with  unshaken  confidence,  in 
the  words  of  St.  Philip  to  Nathaniel;  JVe  have  found 
him,  of  zchomMosEs  in  the  Lazv,and  the  Prophets  did  write f 
Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  son  of  Joseph. 

But,  if  we  turn  from  these  prophecies  to  those  which  more 
immediately  respect  the  condition  of  the  Christian  church  in 
these  latter  days,  we  sliall  find  they  also  are  extremely  remark- 
able, and  absolutely  conclusive  for  the  divine  authority  of  the 
Sacred  Writings. 

Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon,  invaded  the  land  of 
Israel  about  600  years  before  the  birth  of  Christ,  and 
carried  into  captivity  a  considerable  number  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  country.  Among  others,  led  captive,  were  Daniel 
and  his  three  companions,  Sh ADR ach,  MESHACH,and  Abed- 
NEGo.  In  the  second  year  of  his  reign,  he  had  a  remarkable 
dream,  which  made  a  strong  impression  upon  his  mind,  but 
which  he  was  not  able  to  recollect.  He  sent  for  all  the 
wise  men  of  Bahi/Ion,  and,  however  unreasonable  the  injunc- 
tion, insisted,  that  they  should  make  known  his  dream,  together 
with  the  interpretation  thereof,  upon  pain  of  death.  After  some 
time,  the  king's  determination  was  revealed  unto  Daniel. 
He  requested  a  little  respite  might  be  allowed  him,  before  the 
decree  should  be  put  in  execution.  This  being  granted,  he 
went  to  his  three  religious  companions,  and  desired  them 
to  join  with  him  in  fasting  and  prayer,  to  entreat  the  Lord 
to  discover  unto  him  the  king's  dream,  and  the  interpre- 
tation thereof.  The  Lord  was  intreated  of  Daniel  and 
his  three  friends,  and  the  whole  matter  from  first  to  last, 
was  revealed  unto  him,  to  the  full  satisfaction,  and  even 
astonishment  of  the  king.  The  introduction  to  the  dream  is 
extremely  beautiful.  See  Daniel  ii.  1 — 30.  The  dream  is 
this,  Dan.  ii  SI — 35.  The  interpretation  runs  thus:  Dan. 
ii.  37 — 45.     The    king  was    so    affected    with  the   wonderful 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  127 

manifestation  of  his  inmost  thoughts,  that  he  was  quite  over- 
come, forgot  his  own  dignity,  and  fell  into  an  act  of  idolatry. 
Dan.  ii.  46—49*. 

The  dream  is  so  distinct,  the  interpretation  of  it  so  satis- 
factory, and  the  whole  so  perfectly  conformable  to  lljc  history 
of  the  world,  as  far  as  the  several  ages  have  hitherto  pro- 
ceeded, that  no  thoughtful  man  can  help  being  exceedaigly 
Ktruck  with  the  accuracy  of  the  divine  foreknowledge. 

The    dream  itself  was  the   tigure  of  an  image  in   the  form 
of  a  man,  made  principally  of  metal,   but  yet  the  metal  was 
of  different  kinds.     Tlit  head  zca^  of  gold.     This  was  an  em- 
blematical   representation   of    Nebl  chadnezzar    and    the 
7}fl//j//o//?V/?i  empire  over  which  he  presided.     The  breast  and 
the  arms  of  the  image  xcere   of  silver.     This  was  an  emble- 
matical representation   of  the  empire  of  Persia,  which  was  to 
subvert  and  succeed  the  Babi/lunian.     Nebuchadnezzar 
waSj    at    that   time,    the  most  powerful   monarch    in   all    the 
earth,  and  made    Babylon,  the  capital    of  his  kingdom,  the 
wonder    of    the   world.      Within    sixty    years,    however,    the 
empire  was  overturned,  and  Babylon  itself  taken  by  Cyrus 
the  Great,  afterwai-ds  king  of  Pe/-s/a. — The  belly  and  thighs 
of  the  image  uere  of  brass.     This  represented  a  third  empire 
which  was  to  succeed  the  Babylonian   and  Persian.     Accord- 
ingly, about  200  years  after  the  establishment  of  the  Persian 
empire,  Alexander,  king  of  Macedonia,  a  small  state  in 
the  upper  part  of  Greece,  marched  against  Darius,  king  of 
Persia,  defeated  him  in  three  pitched  battles,  and  totally  sub- 
verted   the    second   of  the   four  empires.     The  Grecian  then 
became  the    third.     The   fourth   was  represented   by    legs  of 
iron,  and  feet  part  of  iron  and  part  of  clay.     This   is  the 
Roman;  for  it  was  these  people,  who  subdued  the  four  suc- 
cessors of  Alexander,  and    reduced    their    kingdoms   into 
Roman   provinces,   and   particularly    Greece  and  Macedonia, 
which  were  subdued  by  them   ISO  years  after  the  conquest  of 
Persia  by  Alexander    the  Great,  and  200  years  before 
the  birth  of  Christ.      The    Roman   empire   then    was    the 
fourth  and  the  last.     It  vvas  represented  in  this  image  by  iron 
legs,  and  feet  of  iron  and  clay.     Thou  sazcest,  says  Daniel, 

*  Let  tlie  Reader  take  his  Bible,  turn  to  these  several  passages,  and 
consider  them  well,  before  lie  proceed*  to  the  observations  which  fol- 
low. 


128  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

to  tlie  King,  till  that  a  stone  teas  cut  out  ziithout  hands,  which 
smote  the  image  upon  his  feet,  that  were  of  iron  and  clay,  and 
brake  them  to  pieces.  Then  zvas  the  iron,  the  clay,  the  brass, 
I  he  silver,  and  the  gold,  broken  to  pieces  together,  and  became 
like  the  chaff,  of  the  summer  threshing  floors ;  and  the  icind 
carried  them  auay,  that  no  place  zvas  found  for  them  :  and 
the  stone,  that  smote  the  image,  became  a  great  mountain,  and 
filed  the  whole  earth. 

The  four  empires  were  all  to  be  destroyed,  and  a  fifth 
was  to  succeed,  which  was  to  be  different  from  all  that  had 
gone  before.  The  fourth  too  was  to  be  unlike  the  three 
former  in  several  respects.  The  image  had  iron  legs.  This 
iniplied,  that  the  enipire,  represented  by  them,  was  to  be 
more  pow eriul  than  any  of  those  which  had  gone  before.' 
But  then  the  feet  and  toes  of  the  image  were  part  of  iron  and 
part  of  clay.  This  was  to  denote,  that  the  latter  ages  of  the 
Roman  empire  were  partly  strong  and  partly  weak.  The  ten 
toes  too,  upon  the  feet  of  the  image,  were  designed  to  repre- 
sent ten  kingdoms  into  which  the  Roman  empire  was  to  be 
divided,  just  as  t!ie  two  feet  of  a  human  creature  are  split 
into  ten  ramitlcatioiis.  This  is  expressed  by  the  prophet  in 
the  manner  following  :  JVhereas  thou  sazcest  the  feet  and  toes, 
part  of  potters  clay  and  part  of  iron;  the  kingdom  shall  he 
divided ;  but  there  shall  be  in  it  of  the  strength  of  the  iron  ; 
forasmuch  as  thou  saxcest  the  iron  mixed  with  miry  clay  ;  so 
the  k/)i2;dom  shall  be  parr  fit/  strong  and  partly  broken.  And 
whereas  thou  sawest  iron  mixed  with  miry  clay,  they  shall 
mingle  themselves  with  the  seed  of  men,  but  they  shall  not 
eleave  one  to  another,  even  as  iron  is  not  mixed  with  clay. 
The  meaning  of  which  seems  to  be,  tiie  rulers  of  the  ten 
kingdoms,  into  which  the  Roman  empire  will  be  divided, 
5hail  form  marriages,  alliances,  and  contracts  one  witli  another 
from  time  to  time,  for  supporting  each  other's  interests ;  but 
uoue  of  their  schemes  and  alliances  for  obtaining  universal 
empire  shall  stand.  They  shall  all  be  broken  and  come 
♦  to  nought.  No  universal  empire  shall  ever  exist  upon  earth 
again,  till  the  spiritual  empire  of  Jesl's  Christ,  over  the 
hearts,  mind^,  souls,  consciences,  and  lives  of  men  takes 
place.  Jksus,  maugre  all  opposition,  shall  be  an  universal 
monarch,  and  the  only  universal  monarch,  who  shall  ever 
exist  again. 

It   is   not,   however,    expressly  asserted  in    the   prophecy 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  ]29 

before  us,  that  the  Roman  empire  should  be  split  into  ten 
kingdoms.  It  is  only  said  the  kingdom  shall  be  divided. 
But  though  it  is  not  asserted  in  so  many  words,  it  is  stron<Tlv 
intimated  by  the  ten  toes  of  the  two  feet  of  the  image.  And 
the  wliolc  is  more  fully  explained  in  Daniel's  vision,  re- 
corded in  the  seventh  chapter,  where  the  beast,  which  is 
symbolical  of  the  Roman  empire,  is  represented  with  ten 
horns,  as  here  the  iniage  with  ten  toes.  And,  indeed,  it  is 
necessary  to  the  full  understanding  of  this  dream  of  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, that  we  should  compare  it  with  the  vision  of  Daniel, 
which  signities  the  same  thing  under  different  images,  with  some 
additional  circumstances.  This  vision  of  Daniel  was  near 
fifty  years  after  the  dream  of  Nebuchadnezzar.  The  first 
part  of  the  vision  is  in  Dan.  vii.  1 — 8. 

After  this,  the  prophet  had  a  representation  of  the  ever- 
hisliiig  Father  of  the  universe,  with  his  eternal  Son,  the 
blessed  Jesus,  passing  sentence  upon  the  little  horn  in  these 
verses.  A  horn  is  a  symbolical  representation  of  govern- 
ment, power,  dominion.  The  government  signified  by  this 
little  horn  was  to  be  utterly  destioyed,  and  Jesus  is  to  erect 
his  universal  empire  upon  the  ruins  of  it.  See  Dan.  vii. 
9 — 14.  This  is  the  same  glorious  and  universal  kingdom  of 
Messiah,  which  is  described  in  Nebuchadnezzar's  dream. 
Compare  Dan.  ii.  35 — 44. 

When  Daniel  had  beheld  the  judgment  of  the  little 
horn,  he  did  not  understand  the  meaning  of  it.  He  was, 
therefore,  greatly  troubled,  and  very  desirous  of  knowing 
what  the  whole  signified.  After  a  little  time,  he  took  courat^e, 
and  went  up  to  one  of  the  glorious  Beings,  who  stood  by,  to 
enquire.  Whereupon  the  happy  Spirit,  that  was  in  the  train  of 
^Messiah,  laid  open  to  Daniel  the  outlines  of  the  whole 
history  of  the  corruptions  of  the  Christian  church — their  rise — 
their  progress — their  amazing  enormity— their  subversion — and 
their  total  demolition:   See  Dan.  vii.  13 — C8. 

These   are    wonderful  predictions*,   in   which   we    are   all 

*  The  reader  will  find  these,  and  other  predictions  of  Daniel, 
ably  explained  by  the  late  Bishop  Newton  in  liis  Dissertations  on 
the  Prophecies.  Few  of  our  most  able  w  riters  on  the  prophecies, 
however,  seem  to  nie  to  have  any  idea,  that  they  apply  to  the  Pro- 
testant establishments,  as  well  as  to  the  Catholic  kingdoms.  All 
these  things  are  against  us,  and  we  are  usually  extremely  backward 
to  believe  what  we  do  not  wish  to  be  true. 

s 


130  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

most  nearly  concerned;  becaase  the  awful  times  of  which 
they  speak,  we  have  reason  to  believe,  are  just  at  hand ;  and 
none  of  us  know  how  soon  we  may  be  involved  in  the  dis- 
tresses which  are  here  foretold.  The  Roman  empire,  we 
have  seen,  was  to  be  broken  np,  and  divided  into  ten 
kingdoms.  Sometime,  soon  after  the  formation  of  these  ten 
kingdomsy  which  are  denominated  horns,  there  was  to  arise 
one  little  horn,  one  small  dominion,  underneath,  or  from 
behind,  ^/<ree  of  the  ten  horns,  or  kingdoms,  into  which  the 
empire  should  be  divided.  This  little  horn  was  to  conquer 
and  subdue  three  of  the  ten  horns,  and  to  usurp  their  domi- 
nion. After  this,  it  was  to  go  on  and  encrease  more  and 
more  till  it  had  obtained  a  pecuhar  kind  of  power  and  juris^ 
diction  over  all  the  seven  other  horns.  This  one  little  horn, 
which  was  become  so  great  and  powerful,  was  also  to  grow 
proud,  and  vain,  and  cruel,  and  bloody,  and  tyrannical,  and 
idolatrous,  and  a  vile  persecutor  of  the  true  servants  of  the 
living  God.  This  horribly  bloody  and  tyrannical  power, 
was  to  be  aided  and  assisted  in  its  oruelties  towards  the  ge- 
nuine followers  of  the  Lamb,  by  all  the  other  seven  kingdoms, 
over  which  it  had  obtained  an  unbounded  influence.  Thi» 
wicked  and  cruel  dominion  was  to  continue  a  time  and  times 
-  and  half  a  time.  A  tiine  here,  in  prophetic  language,  signi- 
fies a  Jeziish  year,  which  consisted  of  only  S(iO  days.  The 
times  then  will  signify  twice  360  days;  and  half  a  time  will 
signify  half  of  360  dnys,  or  180  days.  But  a  daj/,  in  the 
language  of  pi  ophecy,  is  put  for  a  ^ear.  If,  therefore^  we  add 
these  numbei.s  together,  they  wil"!  be  thrice  360  years,  and 
180  years,  or  exactly  12()0  years,  for  the  continuance  of  this 
bloody  and  tyrannical  power;  at  the  end  of  which  period  it  is  to 
be  completely  and  everlastingly  destroyed. 

Now,  let  us  look  back  and  see  whether  all  diese  strange  pre- 
dictions of  DxVNiEL  have  ever  been  accomplished. 
/       The  Roman  empire  was  to  be  destroyed.     It  was  so,  in 
(    the  fifth  and  sixth    centuries.     It  was    to    be  divided  into   a 
\  number   of   small    kingdoms :    It   was  so    in   the   fifth,  sixth, 
)  seventh,  and  eighth   centuries.     A  little  horn    was    to    arise, 
,  unperceived,  and  subdue  three  of  the  teJi  horns.     The   Bishop 
'  of  Rome,  in  a  sort  of  secret  and  imperceptible  maimer,   did 
.arise   to    temporal    dominion,    and    subdued,    by   the  help  of 
/Pepin,  king  of /Vfl/u't',  three  of  those  ten  states,  into  which 
\the  empire  had  been  divided;  the  senate  of  Rome,  the  king- 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  131 

dom  of  Lombardy,  and  the  exarchate  of  Ravenna;  threes 
governments  all  in  Italy.  And,  it  is  extremely  remarkable, 
that  upon  becoming  master  of  these  three  estates,  the  Bishop 
<y(  Rome  assumed  a  trip/e  crown,  which  he  hath  worn  ever 
since,  and  which  he  continues  to  wear  at  tliis  very  day! — This 
is  wonderful ! 

Now  the  Bishop  of  Ro7ne  was  to  retain  his  poner  over 
these  three  states,  and  his  bijiuence  over  the  seven  other 
kingdojTis  1260  years.  If  we  knew  exactly  when  to  begin 
to  reckon  these  years,  we  should  know  precisely  when  the 
destruction  of  Antichrist  would  take  place*.  Some  begin 
to  reckon  from  the  year  G06,  when  the  proud  Prelate  of 
Rome  was  declared  Universal  Bishop.  Others  begin  from 
llie  year  666,  the  apocalyptic  number;  and  others  from  the 
year  756,  when  he  became  a  temporal  prince.  If  the  first 
period  be  right,  then  the  Pope  of  Rome,  the  undoubted 
Antichrist  of  the  yciv  Testament,  will  be  completely  de- 
stroyed, as  a  horn,  about  the  year  1866.  If  the  second 
period  be  intended  by  the  Spirit  of  Prophecy,  then  his  end 
will  be  near  the  year  1926.  But  if  the  third  period  be  the  time, 
then  Antichrist  will  retain  some  part  of  his  dominion  over  the 
nations  till  about  the  year  2016-t'. 

Most  evident  it  is,  that  he  is  rapidly  falling.  There  is  a 
great  deal,  however,  yet  to  be  done.  But,  rchen  God  works, 
U'ho  shall  let?  Much  has  been  already  done,  and  all  will  be 
Accomplished  in  due  time.  Not  one  word  shall  fall  to  the 
ground  of  all  that  the  Lord  hath  spoken. 

Nay,  not  only  shall  Antichrist  be  overthrown,  but  even 
Rome  itself,  the  place  and  city  where  he  hath  carried  on  his 
abominations  for  so  many  ages,  shall  be  everlastingly  destroyed. 
The  language  of  scripture  is  extremely  strong,  and  seems  suf- 
ficiently clear  and  precise;};. 

*  Tlie  tenipoml  po\Ner  of  the  Pope  is  already  gone:  what  furtlier 
T'^niains  to  be  done,  a  little  more  time,  a  few  more  deeting  years,  per- 
haps months,  will  shew.     How  eventful  is  the  present  i[>enotl! 

t  The  number  of  Bishopn,  whom  we  usually  call  Popes,  who  have 
presided  over  the  Romish  church  from  its  fir  t  institution  by  the 
Apostles,  is  about  two. hundred  and  fifty  or  sixty;  they  iiave,  there- 
fore, presided  only  about  seven  years  apiece  upon  an  average. 

I  It  is  granted,  that  all  the  passages  ui)on  this  subject  are  figurative 
and  prophetic,  and  therefore  must  be  inteq^retel  with  caution;  but 
yet  they  seem  so  strong  and  precise,  that  we  c-iunot  well  understand 
them  in  any  more  moderate  sense.  The  Reader  will  compare  tliem 
together,  and  form  liis  own  judgment. 

s  2 


132  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

Thus  Daniel: — /  beheld  then  because  of  the  voice  of  the 
great  nords  xchich  the  horn  spake :  I  beheld  even  till  the  beast 
was  slain,  and  his  body  destroyed  and  given  to  the  burning 
FLAME.  Thus  too  St.  Paul,  where  he  is  probably  speaking 
of  Antichrist : — The  Lord  Jesus  shall  be  revealed  from  hea- 
ven zcith  his  mighty  angels,  in  flaming  Jire,  taking  vengeance 
on  them  that  knozc  not  God,  and  that  obey  not  the  Gospel  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  :  who  shall  be  punished  zeith  ever- 
lasting destruction  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and  from 
the  glory  of  his  power. —  And  again  in  another  place  in  the 
same  Epistle,  where  he  is  certainly  and  professedly  speaking 
oi  Antichrist,  he  sailh: — And  then  shall  that  Wicked  bt  re- 
vealed, whom  the  Lord  shall  consume  with  the  spirit  of  his 
mouth,  and  shall  destroy  with  the  brightness  of  his  coming. — . 
Thus  too  St.  John  : — The  Beast  goeth  into  perdition. — 
Again: — Her  plagues  shall  be  in  one  day,  and  she  shall  be 
utterly  burnt  with  fire. — The  kings  of  the  earth  shall 
bewail  her,  and  lament  for  her,  zcken  they  see  the  smoke  of 
her  BURNING,  standing  afar  ojf  for  fear  of  her  torment,  say- 
ing, Alas!  Alas!  that  great  city  Babylon,  that  mighty  city! 
for  in  one  hour  is  thy  judgment  come. — In  one  hour  so 
great  riches  are  come  to  nought! — They  shall  see  the  smoke 
of  her  BURNING  ! — And  a  mighty  angel  took  up  a  stone  like  a 
great  millstone,  and  cast  it  into  the  sea,  saying,  Thus  with 
VIOLENCE,  shall  that  great  city  Babylon  be  thrown  down, 
and  shall  be  found  no  more  at  all.  And  the  voice  of 
harpers,  and  musicians,  and  trumpeters,  shall  be  heard  no 
more  at  all  in  thee.  And  no  craftsman,  of  whatever  craft  he 
be,  shall  be  found  any  more  in  thee;  and  the  sound  of  a  mill- 
stone shall  be  heard  no  more  at  all  in  thee ;  and  the  light  of  a 
candle  shall  shine  no  more  at  all  in  thee;  and  the  voice  of  the 
bridegroom  and  of  the  bride  shall  be  heard  no  more  at  all  in 
thee. — Immediately  after  these  words,  all  the  inhabitants  of 
heaven  are  represented  as  rejoicing,  and  saying.  Hallelujah! 
And  her  smoke  rose  up  for  ever  and  ever. 

It  will  be  allowed,  that  these  are  very  strong  expressions,  and 
imply  a  punishment  extremely  severe.  It  is  remarkable  too, 
that  all  the  country  about  the  city  of  Rome,  is  a  kind  of  bitu^ 
men,  or  pitchy  substance.  And  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  SO, 
a  fire  burst  out  from  beneath  the  ground,  in  the  middle  of 
the  city,  and  burnt  four  of  the  principal  Heathen  temples, 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  133 

with  the  sncred  buildings  of  tl'.e  Capitol,  Italy,  indeed,  is  a 
storehouse  of  fire.  And  when  the  1260  years  are  expired. 
Home  itself,  with  all  its  magnificence,  will  be  absorbed  in  a 
lake  of  fire,  sink  into  the  sea,  and  rise  no  more  at  ail  fur 
ever*. 

It  was  this  grand  Antichiht'ian  apostacyf,  of  which  we 
have  been  speaking,  that  St.  Paul  unquestionably  alludes  to 
in  2  Thess.  ii.  1 — IC;  in  1  Tim.  iv.  1 — 3;  and  in  £  Tim.  iii. 
] — 5.  St.  John  sipeaks  of  tiic  same  thing,  1  John  ii.  18, 
2.1;  and  in  the  book  of  Revtfation  he  hath  described  the 
abominations  of  the  Church  of  Ttome  at  considerable  length, 
but  in  language  highly  figurative!.  If  we  will  be  at  the  pains 
to  lay  all  these  predictions  together,  and  compare  them  with 
those  of  Daniel,  before  mentioned,  we  cannot  fail  seeing  to 
whom  all  the  characters  belong,  and-  how  awful  the  destruction 
is,  which  awaits  this  mother  of  abominations. 

"  But  what  is  all  this  to  us :  Have  we  not  long  ago  re- 
nounced the  errors  and  delusions  of  the  Church  of  Home, 
and  declared  ourselves  professors  of  the  genuine  doctrines 
of   the    Redeemer    of    mankind?     May    we    not   expect^ 

*  Being  persiiadcfl  of  the  destmctiou  of  this  metropolis  of  the 
Chrhtlau  world,  one  cannot  help  feeling  pleasure  that  the  French 
have  remo\ed  many  of  the  tiiiest  pieces  of  art  from  this  vast  repository 
of  curiosities  []. 

[*]  The  great  regret  is,  tliat  tlie  French  should  have  obtained 
these  valuable  acquisitions,  in  a  maimer  which  proves  tiiat  they  are 
totally  unworthy  of  them,  and  are  so  little  capable  of  properly 
estimating  their  value.  What  a  source  of  wealth  and  sjileudour 
misht  nf»t  such  monuments  have  procured  to  an  honourable  j^eople. 
Di>tini;ui.>hed  foreigners  of  all  nations  attracted  by  thein,  would  have 
poured  into  the  French  metropolis  to  be  gratified  with  the  sight. 
But  the  despot,  now  ruling  France,  hits  given  to  them  such  a  wani- 
inii  in  his  equally  unjust  and  impolitic  detention  of  the  English,  that  all 
foreigners  w  ill  regard  his  ]Metro{)olis  in  the  light  of  a  Bastile,  emd  his 
dominions  as  the  land  of  cruelty,  of  blood,  and  f)f  death. — Editor. 

t  Alexander  Pope,  Esq.  though  a  Catholic,  as  is  supposed, 
to  the  day  of  his  death,  was  convinced  that  the  Church  of  Rome  had 
all  the  marks  of  that  Antichristian  power  predicted  in  the  writings  of 
the  New  Testament.  And  though  he  had  not  courage  to  profejs 
himself  a  Protestant,  he  was  finuiy  persuaded  of  the  truths  of  Chris- 
tianitif.     R u  ffh e  a d,  p.  542. 

I  The  seven  seals  in  this  hieroslyphical  book  refer  to  Rome  m 
her  PflSi-fl/i  state;  the  seven  trumpets  to  the  Roman  empire  in  its 
Christian  state ;  and  the  seven  \  iaU  to  the  same  Roman  empire, 
broken  iuto  ten  kijigdoms,  in  its  Popish  and  Antichristian  stat^. 


134  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

therefore,  to  be  delivered  from  those  judgments,  which 
have  aheady  fallen  upon  France  and  other  countries,  and 
uhich  .shall  assuredly  fall  on  all  the  Antichristian  states  in 
Europe,  ^hich  formerly  made  a  part  of  the  Roman  em- 
pire '" 

The  te7i*  kingdoms,  before  spoken  of,  we  know,  are  all 
to  fall  J  at  the  end  of  the  said  1260  years,  from  the  time  they 
owned  the  dominion  of  the  little  horn.  Now,  England  is 
universally  allowed  to  be  one  of  the  ten.  If  wc  begin  to  reckon 
the  1260  years  from  the  time  when  Gregory  tlie  Great, 
Fope  of  Home,  sent  over  Austin,  and  his  companions,  to 
preach  the  goi-pel  to  our  idolatix>us  ancestors,  there  are  a  few 
vears  vet  to  expire,  before  our  doom  shall  be  sealed  in  the 
courts  above  -f-.  The  French  can  have  no  power  against  us  till 
the  commission  is  signed  by  the  Goverxor  of  the  world. 
The  times  and  the  seasons  he  hath  reserved  in  his  own  hand. 
Nations  do  not  rise  and  fall  by  chance. 

'^  But,  is  there  no  possibility  of  preventing,  or  avoiding, 
the  universal  subversion   awaiting  both   us,    and  all  the    other 

\  kingdoms  of  Europe,  which  constituted  parts  of  the  ancient 
empire?" 

There  seems  to  be  one  way  \.,  and  but   one,    in  the    nature  . 

/  of  things.     And  what  may  that  be.'     I   am  sorry  to  say  it  is 

''  *  T}ie>c  ten  kingdoms  began  to  talce  their  rise  about  the  year  of 
our  I^rd  450,  aud  proceeded  more  and  more  towards  permanency 

J  for  many  yen rs.     The  revolutions  and  couvidsions  of  those  ages  were 

/'   horribiy  cruel,  bloody,  and  distressing. 

■  ■\  There  is  some  reason,  from  the  present  appearance  of  things, 
to  suppose,  that  the  I'^GO  prophetical  years  nuist  be  calculated  from 
a  period  souiev\  hat  earlier  than  the  commencement  of  the  seventh 
<-entury.  The  year  of  our  Lord  538  accords  with  the  downfall  of 
the  Pope's  temporal  dominion,  A.  D.  1798. 

X  i  am  led  to  think  there  is  still  a  pof'sibilifi/  of  avertuig  our  un- 
happy doom,  from  tlie  case  of  Ainereh  in  Jonah;  and  that  oiJe- 
rumliriH  in  Jeremiah,  particularly  ch.  xwi.  1 — 8.  It  were  happy 
tor  us,  if  the  possibility  amounted  to  a  probubility.  Compare  Jer. 
xviii.  1 — 10.  Our  safety  by  no  moans  tlepends  upon  our  more  fre- 
quent rej>etitioH  oi pharisaical  forms,  and  superstitious  ceremonies, 
but  upon  correcting  what  is  amiss  in  our  morals,  and  un-evan^elical 
in  our  doctrines  and  ecclesiastical  constitution.  Was  not  the  preseut 
Pope  of  Rome  dethroned  at  tlie  very  moment  he  w  as  surrounded  by 
his  cai'dinals,  and  celebrating  his  own  exaltation  to  the  Papal  chair  ? 
Was  there  ever  a  more  worthy  anfl  religious  Pope,  titan  his  present 
Holiness  ?  Were  the  ancient  Jews  e\  er  more  strictly  aud  sujierstiti- 
tmsly  religious,  tlian  when  they  crucified  the  Lord  oi  G lor  1/ ?  or, 
than  when  their  temple  and  nation  were  destroyed  ? 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  135 

one,  vvliich  is  by  no  means  likely  to  take  place, —  It  is  a  tho- 
rough refoiniation  both  in  theory  and  practice ;  in  Church 
nwA  State ;  a  geficral  reformation  in  the  moral  and  religious 
conduct  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  country.  For  these  pur- 
poses, must  not  religion  be  reduced  to  gospel  purity  and  sim- 
plicity*? must  not  the   Church   be  totally  unconnected   with, 

*  Consult  Dr.  Hartley,  in  his  Observations  on  Man,  for  a  more 
particular  account  of  the  fall  of  the  Establishments  in  Christendom. 
Our  ecclesiastica/  go\enwYS  would  do  well  to  weigh  seriously  what  that 
learned  Physician  hatli  said  upon  this  subject,  \\hile  yet  thei-e  is  time. 
See  Part  2.  Prop.  S'2. — But  what  can  Ue  expect  from  men,  who  are 
surromided  with  worldly  honours,  entitled  to  a  vast  patromige  of 
livings,  and  tempted  with  near  100,000  pounds  a  year,  to  let  things 
continue  as  they  are  ?  He  must  be  almost  more  than  man,  whose  \\v- 
tue  rises  above  such  seducements.  TiLLOTSON,  Burnet,  ajid 
others,  will  complain  all  is  not  right;  will  profess  they  wish  things  to 
be  altered;  but  how  seldom  do  «e  find  a  Bishop  or  dignified  Clergy- 
man, who  believes  the  Scriptures  so  firmly,  as  to  renomice  all  the 
riches  and  honours  of  this  world,  and  to  walk  accordi)»g  to  the  un- 
adulterated Gosyoe/ of  the  Saviour  of  nrmkind?  \V hen  a  man  is 
made  a  D.  D.  does  not  the  spirit  of  a  D.  D.  usually  come  upon  him? 

and  when  a  B p,  the  spirit  of  a  B p?     Tiiough  he  had  been 

ever  so  eager  for  the  removal  of  abuses  bef(.>re,  does  he  not  usually 
endeavour  to  lull  conscience  to  rest,  and  even  become  an  advocate 
for  the  continuance  of  things  in  their  present  state  ?  To  be  sure,  he 
has  much  to  losej  and  little  to  gain,  by  any  chai:ge  that  can  take 
place;  and  "  a  bird  in  the  hand  is  worth  two  in  the  bush."  When  a 
man  has  subscribed  an  ind'^fin.jte  nu.nber  of  times  to  a  set  of  propo- 
sitions, some  ofwiiich  he  doubts,  and  others  of  which  he  disbelieves, 
it  is  a  thousand  to  one,  but  he  goes  on  to  the  end  of  the  chapter,  and 
sinks  at  last  hito  eternal  perdition,  as  a  base  prevaricator  with  God 
and  conscience.  If  in  such  a  case,  we  can  be  in  a  state  of  safety  for 
eternity,  I  am  clearly  of  opinion,  religion  is  all  a  farce,  and  it  is  of 
little  consequence,  with  respect  to  the  future  world,  whether  we  be 
Christians  or  Heathens,  Jews  or  jMahometans. — God  requiretk 
truth  in  the  imcard  parts! 

It  should  seem,  that  the  civil  part  of  the  British  constitution  is 
also  capable  of  considerable  unprovement.  Every  thing  of  both 
kinds,  however,  miglit  easily  be  accomplished  by  the  enhghtened  en- 
deavours of  our  present  legislature.  Do  not  the  cr/»i/nfl/ laws  of  the 
country  likewise  stand  in  need  of  revisal?  Let  any  man  judge  of  the 
truth  of  this,  when  it  is  con'sidered  that  we  have  upwards  of  1 60 
oftences  punishable  v>ith  death. 

The  Jurisprudence  also  of  the  country'  seems  to  want  reform  in  a 
variety  of  resjiects.  The  court  of  chancery  in  particularis  enormously 
tedious  and  e\pensive['].  Do  not  other  dej)artments  of  the  law  too 
need  much  reform  I  In  the  count)-  of  Middlesex  alone,  in  the  year 
1793,  the  numljer  of  bailable  writs  and  executions  fd^r  debts,  from 
ten  to  twenty  pounds,  amounted  to  no  less  than  oJV2,  and  tlie  ag- 


136  A  PLEA  rOR  RELIGION 

and  separate  fiom,  the  Civil  Constitution?  This  is  the  opi- 
nion of  some  respectable  men.  Must  not  our  Bis/tops  and 
Clergy  be  reduced  to  the sc/vy^i //;•«/ standard?  Jesus  Chuist 
left  sole  king  in  his  own  church?  and  human  ordinances,  in 
things  sacred,  give  way  to  divine  prescriptions  ?  Without 
these  great  moral  and  religious  changes,  can  ve  expect  to  be 
preserved  from  the  general  wreck  oi  Europe?  And  whether 
these  changes  are  likely  to  take  place  among  us,  let  any  cool 
and  impartial  observer  judge.  Should  not  our  learned  Bis/iops 
and  Clergy  see  these  things,  and  zealously  attempt  a  reforma- 
tion in  themselves,  in  the  eeeleaicntical  part  of  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  country,  and  among  the  great  body  of  the  people  ? 
Should  they  not  universally  cry  aloud  and  not  spare;  and 
iound  the  trumpet  in  God's  holy  mountain?  Should  we  not  all 
set  ourselves  in  good  earnest  to  stem  the  torrent  of  iniquity, 
which  overflows  these  happy  lands,  and  threatens  to  involve 
us  in  one  general  calamity?  The  time  is  come.  God  hath 
sent  forth  the  sword  among  the  nations,  and  it  is  Retorima- 
TiON  or  Ruination  *.     Without  this  it  may  be  declared  by 

gregate  amount  of  the  debts  sued  for,  to  81,791  pounds — ^Tlie  costs 
of  these  actions,  althougli  made  up  and  not  defended  at  all,  would 
amount  to  6S,7'2S  pounds. — Antl,  if  defended,  the  aggregate  ex- 
poiice  to  recover  81,7J)1  pounds,  must  be  no  less  than  285,920 
pounds!  being  considerably  more  than  three  times  the  amount  of 
the  debts  sued  for  or  defended. — At  present,  the  rule  is,  to  allow  the 
same  costs  for  forty  shillings  as  for  10,000  jtounds. — Why  are  these 
abuses  permitted  to  continue?  Is  not  the  rase  but  too  clear?  la 
short;  the  whole  head  is  sich,  and  the  whole  heart  faint :  from  the 
sole  of  the  foot  even  unto  the  head  there  is  no  soundness  among  us, 

The  B s  play  into  the   hands  of  the  C — — y ;  the  L s  into 

the  hands  of  the  A s;  the  V s  into  flic  hands  of  the  A s, 

&.C.  Uc.  ike.  thus  the  world  goes  round.  There  is  more  truth  in 
^Ir.  Pope's  observation  than  at  hrst  appears;  that  "an  honest 
man's  the  noblest  work  of  God."  \ idc  Treat ise  on  the  Police  of 
London. 

[*]  The  Editor  is  credibly  inforjned  that  there  are  causes  in  this 
court  which  have  been  in  prosecution  above  a  century. 

*  It   is   not   enough    that  such   men   as   P s,   B n, 

W -n,  H y,  P ^ — y,  and  others,  should  contend  in 

favour  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  while  they  themselves,  are,  by  their 
conduct,  the  grand  suj)))ortcrs  of  our  ecclesiastical  hierarchy,  with  all 
its  corruptions.  If  they  wi-h  eilectually  to  serve  their  country,  and 
the  cause  of  humanity,  they  should  apply  their  rare  abilities,  to  re- 
duce the  national  religion  to  the  pure  standard  of  the  Gospel.  But 
what  can  we  expect,  when  men's  eyes  are  blinded,  and  their  hearts 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  137 

tlie  authority  of  the  JVord  of  the  Lord,  that  as  soon  as  ever 
the  predicted   1260  years  are   accomplished,  we  shall  be  Suept 

bribed  by  worldly  honours  and  prelennents  ?  Abundance  of  persons 
in  the  Church  of  Rome  have  seen,  and  do  now  see  the  abuser  and 
corruptions  <»f  that  Church — father  I'AUL,  for  instance,  in  the  la^t 
age,  Dr.  (iEDDES  and  3//-.  Berrington  in  the  present— but  they 
Ciinnot  prevail  upon  themselves  to  quit  their  statio.s:  Rev.  xiv. 
0 — 11,  should  l.'c  co!isu!tcd  : — so  souie  persons  vitli  us  have- lone 
seen  the  abuses  aiid  unv.'\augoIi<al  traits  of  our  own  Church,  and\et 
they  make  theniseh.es  easy,  by  writing  iii  defence  of  the  imniortaJ 
cau:.e  of  Chrisiirmifjj,  while  the  vessel,  in  which  they  themselves  are 
embarked,  is  in  danger  of  being  dashed  <- gainst  the  rocks.  If  one 
man  has  a  right  to  prevaricate,  and  subscribe  v.hat  he  does  not  be- 
lieve, why  has  not  another  ?  Though  of  a  sentiment  in  religion  very 
dillercnt,  I  must  say,  that  Lindsey,  Jebf.,  Hammond,  Disney, 
and  others,  who  have  sacriticed  their  preferiiient  to  the  peace  of 
their  own  minds,  are  honourable  men,  deserving  of  all  praise.  But 
can  we  say  the  same  of  those  Clergymen,  who  go  on  subscribing  and 
swearing  to  various  jnirticuiar  propositions,  v,  hich  they  well  know  or 
believe  to  be  wrong  ] 

There  is  son.e  reason  to  suppose  Mr.  Chillincavorth's  con- 
duct has  had  a  considerable  effect  in  reconciling  the  Clers^y  to  sub- 
scribe to  doctrines,  wluch  they  avowedly  do  not  believe.  For  this 
great  man  declared,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Sheldon,  that,  "  if  lie  sub- 
scribed, he  subscribed  his  own  damnation,"  anfl  vet,  in  no  long  space 
of  time,  he  actually  did  subscribe  to  the  Articles  of  the  church  again 
and  again!  Lord!  ivhat  ismcinf 

Vide  Biog-.  Brit,  by  Kippis,  vol.  iii.  p.  5l6. 
The  salvo  by  which  he  and  some  other  Clersrymen,  highly  respec- 
table, get  over  their  scruples,  is,  to  subscribe  the  3£)  Artichs  as 
articles  and  terms  of  peace.  This,  however,  ajijiears  to  me  a  shame- 
ful evasion,  and  inconsistent  with  common  honesty.  At  this  rate,  a  , 
inaii  in  l!ali/  nvay  sub>cribe  Pope  Pius's  Creed;  in  Tiirkei/  the  A'o- 
ran  of  .>iAHOMET  ;  or  in  a  Jeicixh  govermnent,  the  Talmud  of  the 
Rabhinsl^]. 

Since  the  above  was  written,  I  have  been  struck  with  a  similar 
sentiment  in  the  Hrst  part  of  J/>-.  Painf/s  Age  of  Reason;  and  here    / 
at  lea^t  I  have  the  pleasure  of  agreeing  with  that  celebrated  Debt,  < 
though  we  ditter  toto  cfeio  upon  almost  every  thing  where  the  Sacred  \ 
U  ritiiiscH  Are  concerned; — "It  is  impossible,"  says  he  ven  justU,    '    \^ 
"  to  calculate  the  moral  mischief,  if  I  may  io  express  it,  that  mer.tal , 
lying  ha=;  produced   in   society.     "\\  lien  a  man  has  so  far  corrupted    , 
au<l  prostituted  the  chastity  of  liis  mind,  as  to  subscribe  his  profes- 
sional belief  of  things  he  does  not  beiieve,  he  has  prepared  hiniseif 
for  the  conmiission  of  every  other  <  rime.     He  takes  up  the  trade  of 
a  Priest  for  the  sakeof  gain,  and  in  order  to  qualify  himself  fvjr  that 
trade  he  begins  with  a  perjury.     Can  we  conceive  aiiy  thing  more 
destructive  to  morality  than  this?" 

This  subject  is  considered   in    a  very  serious  point  of  view  bv 
Bishop  Burnet  m  his  PaUoral  Care,  3d  edit.  p.  S'6 — 99,  onlv  h'e 

T 


13^  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

with  the  besom  of  desfructioffi.  For  thus  saifh  the  iufallibfe 
Oracle. — Then  was  the  iron,  the  clay,  the  brans,  the  silver,  and 
the  gold,  brohen  to  pieces  together,  and  became  like  the 

CHAFF  OF  THE  SUMMER  THRESHING  FLOORS,  ANDTflE 
WIND  CARRIED  THEM  AWAY^  THAT  NO  PLACE  WAS  FOUND 

FOR  TUEIM.    The  four  empires  and  ten  kingdoms,   as  they  are 

applies  it  to  our  declaiiiig  we  are  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to 
preach  the  Gospel. 

A  certain  res|HTtable  Clerg}/nian  of  our  Church,  wliose  writings 
on  some  sul)iects  have  fev,'  equals,  hath  said — "  If  any  one  asks  what 
the  expressions  in  Scripture,  regenerate — born  of  the  Spiuit — new 
creatures,  mean? — We  answer,  that  they  mean  nothiiis; !  nothing 
to  us! — nothin<T  to  be  found,  or  sought  for,  in  the  present  ciicum- 
stances  of  Christianity." — This  gentleman  well  knows,  that  these 
declarations  of  his  are  extrenie'y  different  from  the  doctrines  of  the 
Church  oi  England,  and  yet,  sii.ce  he  published  these  sentiments,  he 
has  subscribed  more  than  once,  and,  as  far  as  appears,  would  sub- 
scribe again  and  again,  if  two  or  three  more  good  preferments  should 
fall  in  his  way. 

My  indignation  compels  me  to  say,  that  a  body  of  Clergi/  of  tbat 
description — however  learned,  ingenious,  and  worthy  they  may  be  in 
other  respects — deserve  extiipating  from  the  face  of  the  earth;  and, 
if  there  be  a  judgment  to  come,  our  doom  w  ill  be  uncommonly  severe. 
The  Scripture  declares,  all  lyars  shall  have  their  part  in  the  lake  that 
hurneth  withjire  and  brimstone.  And  what  more  solemn  lie  can  there 
be,  than  subscribing  our  rames,  that  we  believe  a  number  of  j)ropo- 
sitions,  which  in  our  consciences  we  judge  to  be  false  ?  unless  it  be 
that  other  declaration,  we  "  trust  we  are  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
to  preach  the  Gospel,"  when  we  fio  not  believe  there  is  any  Holy 
Ghost,  but  laugh  at  every  pr«.>tcusion  of  tlie  sort  as  Mtlhodism  and 
enthusiasm  I  If  the  Lord  /*•  a  (tOD  of  knowledge  bif  ivhom  actions 
are  weighed,  we  pi-evaricating  Pardons  shall  have  a  sad  account  to 
give  another  day.  We  may  keep  up  our  hearls  a  few  years  now,  while 
in  possession  of  two  or  three  good  livings,  and  the  ^A  oi  Id  smiles  upon 
us,  but  the  day  of  <iarkness  is  at  no  great  distance,  when  nothing  but 
integrity  and  conscious  Uj)rightness  will  stand  us  in  any  stead.  If 
once  the  Clergy  become  generally  prevaricators  with  their  solemn 
'   subscriptions,  the  fate  of  the  English  church  is  determined. 

[*]  Cc]  tain  it  is,  that  if  a  man  may  lie  and  prevaricate  in  order  to 
insure  his  own  peace,  or  even  the  peace  of  the  nation,  lie  may  Avith 
equal  propriety  commit  any  other  cnmewifh  the  same  view,  be  it 
theft,  adultery,  murder,  or  what  not.  But  let  men  take  heed  that  by 
these  prevarications  they  lose  not  that  j)eace  which  is  of  all  others 
the  most  valuable,  the  most  easily  lost,  and  the  most  hardly  acquired, 
namely,  peace  ot  conspience,  or  the  testiu-ony  of  their  conscience 
that  they  please  fiOD.  And  what  a  dreadful  reflection  does  this  sen- 
timent convey  on  Government  by  some  who  would  probably  be 
thought  its  best  friends,  that  it  allows  of  peace  only  on  terms  vvilU 
Tihich  no  conscientious  man  can  comply. — Editor. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  1:39 

now  constituted,  shall^  aloiij;  wit!;  the  IVhore  of  Bahijlon,  be 
swept  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  he  known  no  more  at 
all,  ill  their  present  fon/is.  And  m  hat  >hall  he  the  issue  ?  Af- 
flictive as  the  chaiiije  may  be,  the  end  shall  prove  glorious. 
In  the  days  of  these  kings  shnil  the  God  of  heaven  set  np  a 
kingdom^  which  shall  never  he  destroyed,  and  the  kingdom  shall 
not  he  left  to  other  people,  but  it  shall  biirak  IxN  piecfs, 
AND  coNSLTME  ALL  THESE  KINGDOMS,  and  it  shall  Stand for 
ever.  All  people,  nations,  and  language?,  shall  serve  the  Re- 
deemer of  mankind  in  the  true  spirit  and  power  of  his  reli- 
gion. His  dominion  is  an  everlasting  douiinion,  zihich  shall 
not  pass  nicay,  and  his  kingdom  that  whieh  shall  not  be  dp:- 
STROYED.  The  kingdom  and  elominion,  and  the  greatness  of 
the  kingdom  under  the  zchole  heaven,  shall  he  given  to  the  peo- 
ple of  the  saints  of  the  Most  High,  zchosc  kingdom  is  an 
everlasting  kingdom,  and  all  dominions  shall  serve  and  obe  1/ 
him. — Then  shull  the  icolf  dzcell  Kith  the  lamb,  and  the  leo- 
pard shall  lie  doivn  Toith  the  kid ;  and  the  calf,  and  the  young 
lion,  and  the  fat  ling  together,  and  a  little  child  shall  lead 
them,  yjnd  the  coio  and  the  bear  shall  feed ;  thJr  young 
ones  shall  lie  dozen  together,  and  the  lion  shall  lat  strata  like 
the  ox.  And  the  sucking  child  shall  play  on  the  hole  of  the 
asp,  and  the  weaned  child  shall  put  his  hand  on  the  eoekatrice- 
den.  Tiie  followers  of  Jesus  shall  never  hurt  or  destroy  one 
another  again,  but  shall  heat  their  sze^ords  into  plough  shares; 
and  their  spears  into  pruning  hooks  :  nation  shall  not  lift  up 
szcord  <i gainst  nation,  neither  shall  thei/  learn  tear  am/  more  ; 
for  the  earth  shall  befall  of  the  knonUdge  of  the  Lord,  as 
the  ivaters  cover  the  sea*. 

"  But  still,  it  is  not  easy  to  discern,  why  a  Protestant  na- 
tion should  share  the  common  fate  of  the  Catholic  countries, 
even  upon  the  principles  of  ihe  prophetic  Scriptures'^" 

Possibly: — But  have  you  reflected  upon  the  fate  of  Hol- 
land, Geneva,  and  the  refornud  Cantons  of  Switzerland  ? 
They  were  zr holly  Protestant,  and  made  their  boast  of  being 
more  pure  than  most  other  churches  of  the  reformed  rehgion ; 
and  yet  they  have  undergone  the  same  changes  as  the  Catholic 
states,   though  with  infinitely  less  blood  and  slaughter.     And  1 

*  Tlie  reader  may  consult  and  compare  other  prophecies  of  a 
similar  kind  with  the  above;  particularly  JsaiahW.  l—5,'Mv\Mi' 
cah  iv.  1 — 5. 


T  2 


140  A  PLEA  POR  RELIGION 

strongly  suspect,  that  though  the  Pope*  and  Church  of  Rome 
tnai/  he,  and  certain!}/  are  at  thfe  head  of  the  grand  1260  years 
deiiision^  yet  all  other  churches,  of  whatever  denomination^ 
\vhether  established,  or  tolerate/1  ^  or  persecuted,  whicii  paiiake 
of  the  same  spirit,  or  have  instituted  doetrineg  and  ceremoiiies 
inimical  to  the  pure  and  nnaduJteralcd  Gospel  of  Christ, 
shall  sooner  or  later  share  in  the  fale  of  that  iuiuiense  fabric  of 
human  ordinances. 

That  we  have  various  things  in  our  ecclesiastical  Esta- 
blishment, which  cannot  be  defended^  upon  the  pure  principles 
of  the  Son    of  Gon,    seems  to  many    unquestionable.     Our 

*  Tlie  Pope  of  Rome  may  be,  and  probably  is,  a  v  orihy  and  re- 
spectable private  character.  Tiiere  have  been  inauy  such  in  a  course 
of  a"es.  But,  because  he  is  at  the  head  of  the  great  aposiaci/  from 
the  genuine  Go  y;?/ of  Christ,  he  shall  go  into  perdition,  let  his  own 
moral  conduct  be  Avhat  it  may.  So  tbe  late  Kirtg  of  France  was  a 
worthv  man,  and  had  many  and  considerable  virtues ;  yet,  because 
he  was  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  ten  antichristian  kingdoms  which 
gave  its  power  to  the  support  of  ti)e  Beast ;  and,  because  the  1260 
prophetical  years  in  tliat  kingdom  were  exjiired,  he  v.ent  into  perdi- 
tion, in  a  manner  the  most  attlictive  that  can  be  conceived  [*]. 
Kiv^  George  too,  is  a  most  worthy  character,  and  his  successors, 
we  trust,  will  be  tlie  same,  but  unless  there  shall  be  piety  and  wis- 
dom enough  in  the  government  of  the  countn* ,  civil  and  religious,  to 
reform  radically  the  (  onstitufion,  and  render  it  consistent  with  the 
true  spirit  of  JDivine  Revelation,  there  is  reason  to  tremble  for  the 
conse«pience.  Private  worth,  it  is  evident  from  a  thousand  examples, 
will  never  protect  public  and  general  depravity,  from  the  punishment 
due,  and  the  destruction  denounced.  All  that  can  be  said  for  it,  is, 
that  the  fate  of  a  nation  may,  for  a  season,  be  suspended,  till  the 
Noahs,  the  Daniels,  the  Jobs,  and  the  Josiahs,  are  taken  out 
of  the  way. 

Consult  the  pamphlet  entitled  Reform  or  Ruin,  for  some  useful 
hints.  That  pamplilet,  however,  though  containing  valuable  matter, 
as  far  as  it  goes,  leaves  the  constitutional  defiects  of  the  country  un- 
touched, and  seems  to  take  for  granted  ail  is  there  pretty  near  as  it 
should  be. 

[*]  Tis  somewhat  singular  that  the  learned  author  should  no 
where  have  noticed  tlie  celebrated  work  of  Mr.  Ilemin'g.  That 
this  CTcntleman  should  in  so  remarkable  and  express  a  manner  ha\e 
foretold  the  vear  of  the  French  Revolution,  and  the  extreme  degra- 
dation of  the  French  ^Monarchy,  is  surely  a  circumstance  deservuig 
'  of  f^reat  attention.  His  whole  work  is  mterestiug,  but  it  is  much  to 
be  hoped  that  his  conjecture  respecting  the  general  prevalence  of 
Popery  is  not  equally  w  ell  founded.  The  modesty  and  piety  of  the 
performance  carrj  with  tliem  a  great  recomjneudation.— Editor. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  N^,  Ul 

excellent  Reformers*  did  great  things,  considering  how^jidx 
had  been  edncated,  and  the  age  iu  wliich  they  lived.  They 
were  good  men,  and  proceeded,  in  their  regenerating  work, 
much  l"arther  than  miglit  have  been  expected;  but  their  suc- 
cessors have  not  foUo\\ied  the  noble  exan-.iile  set  before  them, 
of  reducing  the  7e/igiuus  EHtablhhinctit  of  the  coimtry  to  pri- 
tiiitive  purilj/,  and  evungelical  simpliciti/f.     ^^  e  have  been 


•'  It  has  been  the    opinion  of  many  disinterested  persons,  that 
several   of  oin-  church   appendages  are  not  only  unnecessary,  but 
penndou^.  Archbishop  Cr  x'!\yJ¥.K  in  particular  speaks  in  strong  terms 
yoainst  some,  which  he  ^^as  obliged  from  the  necessity  of  circum- 
stances to  retain.     In  a  letter  to  Lord  Cromwkll  he  says:  "  Hav- 
ing had  experience,   both  in  times  past,  and  also  in  our  days,  how 
the  sect  of  Prebendaries  have  not  only  spent  their  time  in  nuich  idle- 
ness, anfi  tlicir  substance  in  superfluous  belly-cheer,  i  think  it  not  to 
be   a  convenient  state  or  degree  to  be  maintained  and  established. 
Considering,  first,  that  conmionly  a  Prebindarij  is  neither  a  learner, 
nor  a  teaciier,  but- a  good  vianiler.     Tlien  by  the  same  najne,  they 
look  to  be  chief,  and  to  bear  all  th.e  whole  rule  and  pre-eminence  in 
the  college  v,  here  they  be  resident ;  by  means  whereof,  the  younger 
of  their  o\\n  nature,  given  more  to  pleasure,  good  cheer,  and  jxisthue, 
than  to  abstinence,  study,  and  learning,  shall  easily  be  brought  from 
their  books  to  follow  the  appetite  and  example  of  the  same  Preben- 
daries, bei'.-g  their  heads  and  rulers.     And  the  state  of  the  Preben- 
daries hath  been  so  excessively  abused,  that  v.  hen  learned  men  have 
been  admitted  into  such  room,  many  times  they  have  desisted  from 
their  good   and    godiy  studies,  and  all  other  virtuous  exercise  of 
preachii}<i  and  teaching."  BlontJdy  Mag.  for  Mai/,  1798. 

t  "  There  are  njauy  prophecies,  which  dechire  tlie  fall  of  the 
ecclesiastical  \)o\\ei-i  of  the  Christian  world.  And  though  each  church 
seems  to  flatter  itself  with  the  hopes  of  being  exempted;  yet  it  is  very 
plain,  that  the  prophetical  characters  belong  to  all.  They  have  all 
left  the  true,  pure,  sisnple  religion  ;  and  teach  for  doctrines  the  com- 
mandments of  men.  They  are  all  merchants  of  the  earth,  and  have 
set  up  a  kingdom  of  this  world,  abounding  in  riches,  tempoial  power, 
and  external  pomp.  They  have  all  a  dogmatizing  spirit,  and  perse- 
cute such  as  do  not  receive  their  own  mark,  and  v  orship  the  image 
which  thev  have  set  up. — It  is  very  true,  that  the  Church  of  Rome  is 
Babylon  Xhe  Great,  and  tlie  J/of/jfr  oj  harlots,  and  of  t he  abomina- 
tions of  the  earth:  hut  all  the  rest  have  copied  her  example." 

Hartley's  Observation.i  on  Man,  p.  2.  §  82. 
Be  it  observed,  that  Hartley  was  no  Dissenter,  but  a  most  se- 
rious, learned,  and  candid  Churchman ;  and  wrote  near  fifty  years 

If  my  memory  does  not  failure,  Dr.  Downham,  sometime  since 
Bishop  of  Derry  in  Irduhd,  reckoned  up  000  gross  errors  iu  the  sys- 
tem of  Popery. 


142  ^  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

contented  to  suffer  our  religious  Constitution,  our  doctripes, 
znd  ceremonies,  and  forms  of.  public  uorship,  to  remain,  nearly 
in  the  same  unpurged,  adulterated,  and  superstitious  state,  in 
which  the  original  reformers  left  them  *.  At  least,  the  altera- 
tions which  have  been  made  since  Edward  VFs.  tiuje  have 
been  few  and  inconsiderable.  And  the  very  last  improve- 
ments, which  took  place  in  our  ecclesiastical  frame  of  things, 
were  in  the  reign  of  that  haughty,  persecuting,  wavering,  and 
yet  tyrannical  bigot  James  i.  who  would  bear  no  contradic- 
tion, but  establish  every  thhig  just  according  to  his  own  plea- 
sure -f. 

If  any  person  \\'ill  seriously  consider  the   low  and  superbtitious 
state  of  the  minds  of  men  in  gejieral,  in  the  time  of  James  I.  much 
njore  in  the  reigns  of  his  predecessors,  he  will  not  besiirprised  to  find, 
that  there  are  various  matters  in  our  ecclesiastical  constitution,  which 
require  some  alteration.     Our  forefathers  did  great  tilings,  and  we 
cannot  be  sufficiently  thankful  for  their  labours  ;  but  much  more  re- 
mains to  be  done ;  and  it  will  be  found  a  task  of  no  ordinary  diffi- 
culty, peaceably  and  quietly  to  reduce  things  to  a  pure  evangelical 
state.     This  never  can  be  done,  indeed,  but  by  a  strong  concurrence 
of  providential  circumstances.    The  apj)robation  of  his  Majesty,  with 
a  majority  in  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament,  might  easily  effect  every 
thing  that  is  de-irable.     This  v.ould  render  a  reformation  practicable, 
without  dajiger  to  the  Throne.     But  it  should  seem,  that,  with  dan- 
ger, or  without  dangerj  the  prophecies  of  Daniel  being  true, such  a 
change  )uust  take  place,  sooner  or  later.     This  power  of  reforming 
whatever  is  amiss,  is  one  of  the  peculiar  excellencies  of  the  Bi'itish 
constitution. — Consult  Simpson's  Key  to  the  Prophecies,  in  a  note 
on  the  last  sheet,  for  some  thoughts  on  this  subject. 
^      *Cranmer,  Bucer,  Jewel,  and  others,  never  considered  the 
"reformation,  w  hich  took  place  in  their  o^vn  time,  as  complete.    They 
did  what  they  could,  and  what  the  humours  of  men  would  then  bear, 
and  left  to  their  successors  to  accomplish  what  was  still  lacking, 
)  Vide  Neal's  History  of  the  Puritans,  vol.  i.  ch.  ].  and  2.  where 
/  evidence  for  these  assertions  is  produced  at  some  length.     And  now 
'  that  I  have  mentioned  this  Work,  I  beg  leave  to  recommend  it  in  the 
warmest  terms,  as  containhig  abundance  of  the  most  important  and 
authentic  information  concerning  the  history  of  the  English  churches, 
from  the  time  of  the  Reformation,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  to 
-    the  Revolution  under  William   III.  in  the  year  i68S.     The  last 
/  edition,  enlarged  by  Dr.  Toulmin,  is  by  far  the  best.  No  Clergy ' 
'    man  of  the  Establishment  should  be  without  these  valuable  volumes. 
It  is  the  interests  of  truth  alone  which  we  should  wish  to  advance. 

t  Wdc  the  Conference  at  Hampton-Court  for  the  over-bearing 
conduct  of  this  pedantic  king,  and  the  fulsome  flattery  of  court- 
bishops.  Several  persons,  moreover,  were  put  to  death,  in  this  reign, 
for  their  religious  opinions.  Is  not  this  one  of  the  infallible  marks  of 
the  Beast? 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  143 

Indeed,  to  many  we  l-informed  persons,  it  seems  ex- 
tremely questionable,  wlietiier  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ 
admits  of  any  civil  establisfimcnc  at  all.  They  rather  suppose, 
it  is  inconsistent  with  the  very  nature  of  it,  and  that  it  was 
never  dcsigutd  to  be  incorporated  with  any  secular  institution 
whatever*.  Certain  it  is,  that  it  made  its  way  at  lirst,  not 
only  without  human  aid,  but  e\en  in  opposition  to  all  laws, 
both  civil  and  religious--,  which  then  prevailed  in  the  Iio}na?i 
empire.  This  was  the  state  of  it  for  upwards  of  300  years. 
It  seems  too,  to  be  the  intention  of  Divine  Providence  to 
reduce  it  again  to  the  same  s.niple  and  unconnected  state. 
j4  tut  til  a  hath  set  the  example.  I')  a  nee,  Itali^,  liollaud,  and 
Sicifzerland  are  going  the  same  way.  And  it  is  highly  pro- 
bable that  ali  the  other  states  in  Europe  will,  in  due  time,  follow 
the  same  steps.     As  things  now  are  in   this   country,  the  reli- 

The  next  serious  effort  for  refonnation  in  our  church,  was  soon 
after  the  Rcsf oration.  Charles  II.  behaved  handsomely  at  first 
ujioii  the  occasion  ;  but,  acting  under  the  coiitroul  of  a  number  of 
bii^oted  arid  high-priestly  Bishops,  whose  minds  were  still  sore  with 
resentment,  he  afterwards  forfeited  all  his  merit,  as  tlie  guardian  of 
relii;ious  liberty,  and  became  a  vile  and  cruel  persecutor.  Is  not  this 
too  au  indubitable  mark  of  the  Biast  f 

After  this  a<3;aiu,  a  very  serious  attempt  was  made  to  remove  the 
things  objected  to  in  our  church,  ioou  after  the  Revolution,  under  the 
auspices  of  those  excellent  men,  Tii,LOTSON,  Patrick,  Tennison, 
Kidder,  Stillingfleet,  Burnet,  and  others;  but  being  opposed 
by  a  larger  number  of  old-wifely  Bishops,  all  their  efforts  came  to 
nothing.  Thoy  had  been  accustomed  to  read  nmmpsimns  all  their 
hves,  and  mumpsimnn  it  shottid  be,  they  were  determined  ;  and  the 
two  Houses  of  Parliament  were  disposed  to  acquiesce  in  their  papis- 
tical and  .superstitii)us  views.  We  shall  rarely  have  again,  at  one 
time,  such  a  constellation  of  learned,  pious,  and  liberal  minded  ■ 
Bishops  as  then  adorned  the  English  church. 

*  It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  lately  brought  to  light,  that  the  im- 
mense empire  of  China,  which  is  said  to  contain  .333  millions  of  in- 
habitants, has  no  established  religion.  And,  in  the  opinion  of  many, 
the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  will  never  liave  its  full  and  proper 
elfect  upon  mankind,  till  it  is  completely  disentangled  from  every 
human  institution.  Leave  it  to  itself;  let  it  have  fair-play  ;s,  clog  it 
not  with  civil  paius  and  penalties;  let  it  stand  or  fall  by  its  own  in- 
trinsic worth ;  let  neither  kings  or  bishops  lay  their  officious  hands 
upon  it ;  and  then  see  how  it  will  make  its  way  among  men.  The 
greatest  po  sible  motive,  by  which  man  can  be  animated,  is,  the  .sal- 
vation of  iiis  own  .soul.  If  this  will  not  move  us,  nothing  ebe  will  be 
of  imy  avail.  These  are  the  sentiments  of  some  very  sensible  and 
well-iuformed  persons.  Whetlier  they  are  right  in  this  respect,  I 
leavo  others  to  judge.     To  me  there  seems  so2j;e  weight  in  them. 


144  A  PLEA  FOR  RELlGIOxN 

gioii  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  was  not  only  not  to  he  of  this 
zoorld  *,  but  in  direct  opposition  to  it  -\,  is  certainly  in  a  great 
degree,  a  temporal,  worldly,  civil  institution.  At  least,  it  is 
a  strange  mixture  of  things,  secular  and  religious  if.  Jt  is 
nearly  as  much  so,  as  it  is  in  the  Ca/Ao/Zo  countries. 


*  See  John  xviii.  36',  S",  whur-c  Christ  claims  a  kitigdom. 

f  Compare  Mat.  v.  3 — 12,  niiere  he  asserts  the  nature  of  that 
kingdom,  and  the  quahiications  of  his  suhjects. 

X  One  of  oiu-  Eiit^rish  Fuets,  who  was  even  a  bigot  of  the  church, 
hath  expressed  himself  on  this  subject  hi  the  manner  following: 

"  Iijvci;ti(iiis  added  in  a  fatal  hour, 

Human  appendages  of  ponp  and  power, 

Whatever  shines  in  outward  grandeur  great, 

I  give  it  up— «  crcainre  of  the  State. 

Wide  of  tlie  Church,  as  lieli  from  heav'n  is  v>\<Xq, 

The  blaze  of  riches,  and  the  glare  of  pride. 

The  vain  desire  fo  be  ciititled  Lord, 

The  worldly  kingdom,  and  the  })rince!y  sword. 

But  should  the  bold  usurj)ing  spirit  dare 

Still  higher  climb,  and  sit  in  Moses'  chair, 

Pow'r  o'er  my  failJ;  apid  consiience  to  maintain. 

Shall  I  submit,  and  suffer  it  to  reign  ? 

Call  it  the  CJmrch,  and  darkness  put  for  light, 

Falsehood  with  truth  confound,  and  ^vroug  with  riglit? 

No;  I  dispute  the  evil's  haughty  claim. 

The  spirit  of  the  world  be  still  its  name. 

Whatever  call'd  by  man  'tis  ]>uie}y  evil, 

'Tis  Babel,  Antichrist,  and  Pope,  and  Devil." 

^  It  is  a  curious  circumstance  in  the  history  of  Religion  m  the  pre- 
sent day,  tliat  while  light,  and  knowledge,  and  liberality  of  sentiment 

!  are  rapidly  diiiusing  themselves  among  mankind,  a  res{.t'ctabie  clergj/- 

j  man  should  be  found  among  us,  v. ho  cuts  off  from  saltation  most  of 
the  forei<fn  Protestant  churciies,  and  the  \\  hole  body  oi'Di.s.'^enfers  of 
every  description  in  this  countiy,  but  by  the  uncoveira-.ittjd  mercies 
of  God.  This  is  a  most  serious  aiid  important  consideration.  Yet 
this  hath  been  done  by  Mr.  Daubejjy,  in  his  Guide  to  the  i  hnrch; 
and  seejningly  too  with  the  full  approbatictn  of  the  Editor  of  the 
British  Critic  ["].  It  certainly  is  hicumbent  upon  Dissealers  of  all 
denominations  to  consider  well  wiiat  Uiis  learned  gentlemaji  has  ad- 

[  vanced,  and  either  to  refute  the'  force  of  his  arguments,  or  conform  to 
the  established  religion  of  the  country.  Sir  Richard  Hill,  id  his 
Ajwlogy  for  Brolhrrly  Love,  has  given  suth  unAnsirer  to  Mr.  Dau- 
beKy's  G'«.vV/e  as  that  gentleman  will  not  be  easily  able  to  refute. 
It  the  doctrine  of  the  Guide  be  right,    1  do  not  see  how  we  can  be 

:  fiiirly  justiHcd  in  leaving  the  Chinch  of  Rome.  Tiie  capital  mistake 
of  the  whole  seems  to  be,  a  sub.^titation  of  the  Church  oi  England, 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  145 

As  to  the  King,  or  Queen,  of  any  country,  as  the  case  is_,  ^- 
being  Head  of  the  Church,  and  having  tlie  appointment  of 
JBi'ihops,  and  the  nomination  to  church-l'nings,  it  is  conceived 
by  many  to  be  utterly  inconsistent  with  the  very  essence  of 
■the  etan^elical  dispensation,  and  the  unahenable  rights  of  man- 
kind. They  will  tell  us,  that  neither  his  Majesfi/  —  whom 
God  preserve !-^nor  the  I.urd  Chancellor,  nur  his  Majestifs 
Ministers,  have,  or  can  have,  any  coiicern  in  ihe  government  of 
the  Church,  or  the  appointment  of  officers  in  it,  or  to  it, 
directly  or  indirectly,  according  to  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel, 
but  only  in  their  private  capacities  as  individual  members  of 
the  Chinch.  No  man  upon  earth,  as  it  seems  to  them,  is  en- 
titled to  any  such  power.  They  scruple  not  to  suy,  it  is  one 
of  the  very  worst  traits  of  Popin/,  and  an  infallible  criterion  of 
an  (inti-chi  istian  ussuming.  Mat.  xx.  20 — 28,  and  xxiii. 
1—12,  are  usually  referred  to  upon  this  occasion.  . 

As  the  law  now  stands  in  this  country,  the  King  is  abso-/— ^ 
lute  Head  of  the  Church,  and  the  fountain  of  all  ecclesiasticai 
power;  but,  so  far  as  the  j9fl^/o// age  of  benefices  goes,  this  is 
more  nominal  than  real ;  for,  in  truth,  there  are  as  many  heads 
as  there  are  patrons  of  livings.  A  drunken,  swearing,  libertine 
Lord  Chancellor,  who  is  living  in  open  fornication  or  adultery, 
contrary  to  every  law  human  and  divine,  if  such  chance  to  be 
his  character,  as  sometimes  is  the  case,  has  the  appointment  ta 
a  large  number  of  livings.  A  corrupt,  vile,  unbelieving,  immoral, 
wicked.  Minister  of  Slate,  if  such  happens  to  be  his  character, 
has  the  nomination  to  abundance  of  others.  A  Roman  Catho- 
lic, or  some  of  the  most  immoral  of  the  Nohiliti/  or  Gentry  of 
the  land,  veiy  frequently  have  the  patronage  of  others.  In  not 
a  few  instances  Ladies  have  the  presentation  to  church  prefer- 
ments. These  are  all  virtually  and  substantially  so  many  Heads 
of  the  Church;  while  the  King  or  Queen  is  only  nonsinally  and 
partially  so.  I'his  is  surely  a  lamentable  state  of  things.V  Can 
any  man  wonder  at  the  spread  of  infidelity  and  irreligion  ?  Can 
we  justly  expect  other  than  the  downfal  of  such  a  s}stem  of  cor- 
rupt, worldly  policy?  It  is  Wi;ll  known  how  harsh  and  disagree- 


for   the  Church   of  Cht?isT,  exactly  in  the  same  manner  as  the) 
Cathofics  substitute  the  Church  of  Rome  for  the  Church  of  Christ.  / 

[**]  The  Editor  begs  leave  to  refer  to  the  masterly  review  of  this 
author?  writings  m  the  Clnistian  Observer. 

/^  /.',.    /  /  -.      ^  y  ■     -.    tj     /    -   ,  >^.-<   ^^^-   d^.M*»- 


o-,.^    /t  £-,«.*— ^r^  i^Ci-e^  ^'t*-*^  J,     ^L.<-**.     iri^* 


4^4u  U^:^4^ 


146  '      A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

able  tliese  melancholy  truths  will  sound  in  the  ears  of  inter- 
ested men,  and  men  who  swallow  every  thing  as  gospel,  to 
w  hich  they  have  been  long  accustomed ;  but  I  affirm  it  with  all 
possible  seriousness,  again  and  again,  that,  as  I  understand  the 
Scriptures,  a  radical  reform,  and  the  removal  of  all  these  secu- 
lar circumstiMiccs  alone,  can  save  us,  for  ani/ length  of  time, 
from  natioiial  disirtss.  I  refer  our  Bis/tops — and  beg  they  will 
seriously  consider  the  awful  declaration — to  Dan.  ii.  35,  44,  be- 
fore mentioned.  Is  not  the  time  for  its  accomplishment  fast 
approaching,  and  near  at  hand  ? 
X  I  have  spoken  above  of  the  patronage  of  church  livings. 
Some  of  my  readers  may  be  in  a  great  degree  strangers  to  the 
state  of  it.  I  have  taken  some  pains  to  inform  myself  upon  the 
subject,  and  I  find  that  it  stands  nearly  in  the  following  propor- 
tions. I  speak  generally,  but  yet  accurately  enough  for  the 
purposes  of  common  information.  It  is  well  known  then,  that 
the  church  livings  of  England  and  JVciles  make  together,  speak- 
ing in  round  numbers,  about  ten  thousand.  Of  these,  near  a 
thousand  are  in  the  gift  of  the  King.  It  is  customartfy  however, 
for  the  Lcrd  Chancellor  to  present  to  all  the  livings,  under  the 
value  of  twcnti/  pounds,  in  the  Kings  Book,  and  for  the  Minis- 
ters of  State  to  present  to  all  the  r£st.  Those  miekr  twentt/ 
pounds  are  about  780,  and  those  above,  near  180.  Upwards  of 
l600  pieces  of  church  preferment,  of  different  sizes  and  de- 
scriptions, are  in  the  gift  of  the  26  Bishops :  more  than  600  in 
the  presentation  of  the  two  Universities:  about  1000  in  the 
gift  of  the  several  Cathedrals,  and  other  clerical  institutions  : 
about  5,700  livings  are  in  the  nomination  of  the  Nobility  and 
Gentry  of  the  land,  men,  women,  and  children:  and  50  or  60 
there  may  be  of  a  description  different  from  any  of  the  above, 
and  nearer  to  the  propriety  of  things.  These  are  all  so  many 
Heads  of  the  Church,  in  a  very  strong  sense  of  the  words,  the 
Kiriff  or   Queen  of  the  country  being  a  kind  of  Arch-head* , 

jA ■ ~ ■ • — 

*  Bishop  Jewel,  in  a  Letter  dated  May  22,  1559,  writes,  "  that 
the  Queen  (Elizabeth)  relused  to  be  called  Head  of  the  Church; 
and  adds,  that  title  could  not  be  justly  given  to  any  Mortal,  it  being 
due  only  to  Christ  ;  and  that  such  titles  had  been  so  nmch  abused 
by  Antichrist,  that  they  ought  not  to  be  any  longer  continued." 
Bishop  BuRNKTs  Travels,  Let.  1.  p.  52. 

Cardinal  Woi.sey,  under  Henry  VIII.  was  head  of  the  English 
dmrch,  and  one  of  the  greatest  tyrants  over  the  consciences  of  men 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  147 

Moreover,  the  Bishops  of  the  Establishment  are,  contrary  to  ' 
all  ancient  usage,  chosen  by  the  civil  power,  the  Clergy  and  | 
People  over  wlioin  they  are  to  preside,  not  having  the  least 
Hecrntive  upon  their  election.  When  they  are  chosen  too,  they 
take  their  seats  in  the  upper  house  of  parliament,  and  act  in 
most  respects,  like  unto  the  temporal  Lords.  I  will  not  say, 
that  this  may  not  be  good  human  policy,  supposing  the  king- 
dom of  Christ  to  be  a  mere  zcor/dli/  sovereignty ;  but  it  ap- 
pears to  me  utterly  inconsistent  with  the  spirituality  of  our 
Saviour's  empire,  and  has  had  for  many  ages  a  most  unhappy 
effect  upon  the  interests  of  his  religion  in  the  world*.  Their 
emoluments  are  of  such  a  nature,  their  worldly  engagements  so 
numerous,  and  the  temptations  to  the  pleasures,  honours,  and 
amusements  of  life  so  strong,  that  their  minds  become  secula- 
rized, and  they  lose  all  lively  rehsh  for  die  peculiar  duties  of 
ministers  of  the  Gospel ;  which  they,  therefore,  very  generally 
commit  to  the  inferior  orders  of  the  Clergy.  They  are  nearly 
as  much  officers  of  the  crown  as  the  Judges  and  Magistrates 
of  the  land.  They  are  chosen  by  the  civil  power,  they  are  vir- 
tually paid  by  the  civil  power  alone,  the  clergy  and  people  not 
possessing  the  least  controul.  And  then,  as  to  the  titles,  by 
which  thev  are  designated,  they  appear  to  carry  die  most  indis- 
putable marks  of  the  ajiti-christiaji  ajiostacy.  His  Grace, 
THE  Most  Reverend  Father  in  God,  William,  by 
Divine  Providence,  Lord  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
Bi :r"v  ! — The  Right  Reverend  Fatiier  in  God,  John, 
BY  Divine  Permission,  Lord  Bishop  of  London! — 
"What  is  there  in  the  titles  of  the  Pope  of  Romef,  that  is  more 
maiinificent  than  the  sound  of  these  words  r  How  unhke  is  all 


that  ever  existed.  Blessed  be  GoD  for  the  Reformation!  and  the 
present  liberty  we  enjoy! 

*  If  the  Gospel  of  Christ  gave  encouragement  to  such  a  state 
of  things  as  this,  much  as  I  now  admire  it,  I  would  reject  all  its  pre- 
tensions, as  a  divine  scheme,  with  indignation.  I  do  not  wonder  that 
the  world  abounds  with  Infidels z\\A  Injidelity !  Wliat  pity,  however, 
men  will  not  di-.tinguisli  between  the  useoi  \hc  Gospel,  and  the  alntse 
of  it  ?  between  tiie  Gospel  itself,  and  the  additions  which  have  been 
made  to  it  by  interested  men? 

t  Mr.  Paine,  speaking  of  the  Reformation,  says  sensibly  enough, 
"  A  inuki}>li(ity  of  uatif)nal  Popes  grew  out  of  the  do\\  nfall  of  the 
Pope  of  Christendom." — .\nd  I  add,  Rome  itself  scarce  ever  had  a 

u  2 


143  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

tliis  to  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel,  and  ihe  character  aiid  conduct  of 
■the  lowly  Saviour  of  mankind?  Mat.  xi.'23 — 30;  sxiii. 
1 — 12.  Hjw  much  calculated  are  such  high  sounding  titles  to 
swell  the  pride  of  frail  mortals?  Popes,  and  Bishops,  and  Far-* 
SOWS' are  made  ef  like  stuff  with  other  men  ? 

And  then,  what  shall  we  say  to  the  secular,  and  lukewarm 
condition  of  the  generality  of  the  Clergy  of  tlie  land? — -to  the 
patronage  of  benefices  before  mentioned  ? — to  tlie  common  and 
abominable  sale  of  livings  ?•— to  our  simoniacal  contracts? — our 
sinecures,   pluralities,   non-residences*? — to    our  declaring  we 

«iore  bloody,  libidinous,  and  detestable  bead  of  the  clunch,  than  was 
Henry  VIII.  the  self-created  Pope  of  our  own  ecclesiastical  consti- 
tution. Shew  me  a  worse  man  among  all  tliat  abhorred  race,  or  a 
more  consummate  tyrant  over  the  cor.scieuces  of  men. 

*  The  Curates  of  our  church,  in  many  cases  are  as  culpable  with 
respect  to  non-residence,  as  the  £i.s/iops,  and  Rectors,  and  Vicars. 
In  my  own  neighbourhood,  and  mostly  in  my  own  parish,  we  have 
upwards  of  twelve  chajicls,  where  there  is  no  resident  Clergyman. 
It  is  much  the  same  in  other  parts  of  the  kingdom. 

7 he  Reader  will  find  several  of  these  defects  of  tlie  CA?/rcA  of 
i^nglavd  touched  u  nm  by  BuRNET  in  the  Conclusion  of  the  His- 
tory of  his  Gun  Times. — I  add. 

My  Lord  S — H  has  got  a  Mistrrss,  of  whom  he  is  grown  weary. 
On  condition  the  Rev.  A.  B.  will  marry  her  and  make  her  an  houest 
woman,  he  shall  be  Rector  of  such  a  living  in  the  gift  of  his  Lord- 
ship. 

The  living  of  C — h  is  in  the  gift  of  Mr.  G>*-T;  he  has  got  a 
daughter;  if  the  Rev.  Ch.  P swill  marry  her,  he  shall  be  pre- 
sented to  tlie  church. 

Mr.  G— N  has  a  son,  who  is  neither  fit  for  law,  physic,  or  the 
army.  He  has  such  a  living  in  his  patronage.  This  rip  of  a  son  shall 
be  trained  to  the  church,  and  be  the  incunibeut  of  the  family 
Hectory. 

My  Lord  D N  has  got  four  sons;  one  shall  enjoy  the  title 

and  e  tate;  another  shall  go  into  the  army,  and  be  made  a  general; 
another  shall  go  to  sea,  and  become  an  admiral ;  the  fourth  shall  be 
trained  for  the  church,  and  be  promoted  to  a  bishopric. 

Sir  P— R  P— R  has  in  his  gift  a  /?cc/or//,  of  the  value  of  2000 
pounds  a  year.  The  Rev.  G.  \V.  agrees  to  give  him  live  thousand 
pounds  in  hand,  and  five  hundred  a  year  for  ten  years. 

In  this  manner  are  daily  barteied  t/'ie  souls  of  men,  like  sheep  ia 
a  market!— Is  it  piobabie  that  such  a  state  of  things  should  be 
maintained  for  many  ages  or  years  long<?r  ?  Surely  the  Legislature  of 
the  country  ougl.t  to  take  these  abuses  into  consideration,  and  en- 
deavour to  remove  them.  If  there  be  a  God,  who  judgeth  the  earth, 
he  cannot  look  upon  such  abominations  with  indifference.     Abuses 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  149 

aro  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to  preiich  the  Go^pel^ 
when  we  are  moved  by  nothing  more  than  a  desnc  to  obtain  a 
good  livvis,  and^  {)Lihap'>,  even  dtny  thut  ther«'  is  any  Holy 
GhostT — to  our  reading  one  species  of  doclrinqs  in  the  desk, 
aiid  pK^ching  directly  opposite  in  the  pulpit? 

Abundance  of  persons,  moreover,  object  to  several  things  in 
the  39  AiticLs  of  Rt/igion  ~lo  fc\e\iil  things  in  the  book  of 
flomi/iis — and,  nbove  all,  to  the  imposition  of  stihscription  to 
any  human  creeds  and  explications  of  doctrines  whatever  *. 
No  man,  or  set  of  men  upon  earth,  as  it  seems  to  them,  lias  a 
right  to  demaarl  any  such  thing  of  a  fejlow  Cliiisna)/. 

of  a  similar  kind  have  broivgut  deslruLtion  upon  other  countries,  and 
shall  E?iglan(i  alone  be  |>eiiiiitted  thus  to  play  the  devil,  and  no 
notice  taken  of  us  by  the  moral  Governour  of  the  world  ?  Such 
things  are  iudeleasible,  aiid  make  one  blush  for  the  church,  in  which 
it  is  possible  they  shtai'd  take  })lace. 

The  valuable  prefern:eiit>  in  our  Church,  are  almost  universally 
obtained  by  nu»iiey,  or  by  interest;  merit  having  ill  tie  or  nothiu2  to 
do  m  the  business.  There  are,  however,  several  exceptions  to  this 
general  lale,  under  the  government  of  his  present  Majesty.  But, 
my  indignation  constrains  me  to  add,  that  Maurice,  the  present 
worthy  author  o(  Indie. ?i  Antiquities,  &c.  (Sec. — O  i>hame  to  a  vcDal 
age! — is  left  to  starve  upon  a  distant  and  laborious  curacy  of  fifty 
pounds  a  year.  See  his  own  account  in  the  Hiiiory  of  Hindostun, 
vol.  i.  p.  119,  120,  quarto. 

"  Ye  bards  of  Britain,  break  the  useless  lyre, 

'  And  rend,  disdainful,  your  detested  lays; 
Who  now  shall  dare  to  letter'<!  fame  aspire. 
Devotes  to  penury  hi»  hapless*  days." 
See  Maurice's  tine  t-legiac  Poem  on  the  death  of  Sir  Wm.  Jones. 

*  It  may  be  farther  observed,  that  subscription  to  the  39  Ariicles 
hath  kept  many  a  good  nran  out  of  the  church,  but  not  many  bad 
ones. 

"  The  requiring  subscription  to  the  thirty-nine  articles,"  Bishop 
Burnet  says,  "  is  a  great  imposition." 

I  ren'ember  an  Anecdote  concerning  the  fanioiis  William 
Whiston  and  Lord  Chancellor  King,  which  is  not  foreign  to  our 
purpose.  WiiiSTON  being  one  day  in  discourse  with  the  (  hanceUor, 
who  was  brought  up  a  Dimnier  at  Ejiefer,  but  had  conformed,  a 
debate  arose  about  signing  articles  which  men  do  not  believe,  for  the 
sake  of  prelerment.  This  the  i  hcncellor  openly  justified,  "  because," 
said  he,  "  we  must  not  lose  our  usefulness  for  scruples."  Whiston, 
who  was  quite  of  an  opposite  opinion,  asked  his  Lordship,  "  If  in 
his  court  they  allowed  of  such  prevaricatioii  V  He  answered,  "  We 
do  not."  "  Then,"  said  Whiston,  "  suppose  GoD  Almightx 
should  be  as  just  in  the  next  world,  ai  my  Lord  Chancellor  is  in  this, 
>here  are  we  then  \" 


150  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

Can  any  tWng  in  the  whole  absurd  system  of  Popery  be 
more  improper,  than  to  make  every  young  man,  without  excep- 
tion, subscribe,  when  he  becomes  a  member  of  either  of  our 
English  universities,  he  believes  from  his  soul,  ex  animo,  that 
every  thing  contained  in  the  Articles,  Hoiiiilies,  Common 
Prayer,  and  offices  of  Ordination,  is  agreeable  to  the  Word  of 
God?  when  in  all  ordinary  cases,  he  has  never  seriously  and 
attentively  read  either  one  or  another  of  them?  How  is  it  likely, 
that  a  boy,  raw  from  school,  should  be  competent  to  such  a 
task?  And  if  he  is  to  subscribe  upon  the  faith  of  others,  on  the 
same  principle  he  may  subscribe  to  the  jMass-BooJx,  the  Koran, 
or  any  other  book  whatever. 
X  After  a  careful  exam'ination,   I,  for  my  own  part,  am  con- 

i    strained  to  object,  pede  et  ?nanu,   to  several  things  in  the  141 
■    Canon,  and   consider  the   requirement,  on  oalh,  of  canonical 
.  obedience  to  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese  where  we  officiate,  as 
!  one  of  the  most  detestable  instances  of  antichristian  imposition 
i  that  ever  was  exercised  over  a  body  of  Clergy  *.    And  yet,  after 
we  have  gotten  our  education,  at  a  considerable  expence,  pos- 
;  sibly  at  the  expence  of  our  whole  fortune,  we  must  take  this  06- 
horred  oath,  or  renounce  the  profession  to  which  mc  have  been 
trained,  after  our  fortune,  with  which  we  should  have  begun 
\  business,  is  gone,  and  the  proper  time  of  life  expired.     These 
things  ought  not  so  to  be. —  Let  it  be  observed,  however,  that 
this  is  not  the   fault   of  the  Bishops,  but  of  the  Constitution. 
/-It    is  one    of    the    existing    laws    of  the  Establishment,  and 
cannot  be   dispensed    with    as    things    now    stand ;    and   the 
j   Bishops  are  as  much  bound  to  administer  the  oath,  as  we  are  to 
\^  take  it. 

Moreover,  there  are  not  a  few  persons  again,  who  object  to 
some  things  in  the  Baptismal  office — in  the  office  of  Con- 
firmafion — in    the    office    for  the   Sick — in   the    Communiotv 

*  The  4th,  5th,  6th,  /th,   8th,  9th,  10th,  11th,  V2\h,  27th,  2Sth, 

I  29th,  38th,  58th,  72d,  139th,  140th,  and  141st,  C«no»^,  are  most  of 

them  peculiarly  objectionable.     Prior  to  experience,  it  would  apjiear 

highly  incredible,   that  conscientious  and  liberal-minded  Clergymen 

should  be  able  to  swear  such  kind  of  obedience.     The  good  LoKD 

pardon  his  servants,  for  we  surely  consider  not  what  we  do. 

\    N   Let  any  man   seriously   read,  and  soberly  consider  these  several 

1  Canons,  and  then  judge  of  their  tendency.     They  contain  the  very 

worst  part  of  j30j3erj/,  that  is,  a  spirit  of  intallibility.     They  proceed, 

at  least  upon  the  infallibility  of  onr  own  church,  while  we  disavow 

that  infallibility,  and  condemn  the  pretension  in  the  chureh  of  Rome^ 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  151 

office— in  the  Ordination  office — in  the  Burial  office — iu 
the  Common  Prayer — in  the  Litani/ — in  Athanaiiuss  Creed 
—in  the  Calendar  —  in  our  Cathedral  worship  —  in  our 
Spi/itual     courts  —  in    ihe    management    of    our     Briefs* 

*  Many  persons  ha%e  an  objection  to  contribute  any  tiling  to- 
Briefs,  because  they  suppose  a  principal  part  of  the  morKy  collected 
goes' into  the  hands'of  improper  persons.  The  usual  charges  attend- 
i!ig  them,  with  the  collections  thereupon,  will  be  best  understood 
from  the  instance  given  in  Eurne's  Ecclesiastical  Law. 

For  the  parish  church  of  Ravemtondale,  m  the  county  of  West- 
moreland. ^'  *•  "• 
Lodging  the  ceiliticate    -----0     76 

riat^and  signing --1942 

Letters  patent -  21    18  2 

Printing  and  paper     ------lO'OO 

Teller  and  Porter       -.----     0     5  0 

Stamps 13   12  6' 

Copy  of  the  brief 0     5  0 

Portage  to  and  from  the  stampers       -     0     5  0 
Mats  for  packing  -------040 

Portage  to  the  waggons     -     -      -      -     0     4  0 

Carriage  to  the  undertaker  at  Stafford  1  1 1  6 
Postage  of  letters  and  certificate  -  -  0  4  8 
Clerks  fee 2     2  0 

Total  of  the  Patent  charges  -  -  -  76  J  6 
Salary  for  99S6  briefs  at  6'd  each  -  -  -  -249  13  0 
Additional  salary  for  London      -----      oOO 

Tlie  whole  charges £330  iG  6 

Collection  on  9Wo  briefs"-    -  of 6 14  12  9 
Charges 330  l6  6 

Clear  colled  iou  -     -     -    -     -  £283  K)  3 

The  expence  of  a  brief  for  St.  Mary's  Church,  in  Colchester,  is 
stated  in  the  Gmtleman's  Mag.  for  Feb.  178S,  at  54ol.  I9s.  lOd. 

Thus  we  see,  that  according  to  the  more  moderate  of  these  cases, 
if  ten  Briefs  are  issued  m  the  course  of  a  year,  there  would  be  col- 
lected upoii  them  the  sura  of  6 1401.  Js.  6d.  of  wluch  33081.  5s.  is 
expended  in  clearing  283SI.  2s.  6d.  for  the  ten  charitable  purposes. 

But  if  we  take  the  more  extended  of  these  cases,  the  exi)ence  of 
collecting  ten  Briefs  would  be  546'9l.  18s.  4d.  which  is  within 
67 6\.  9s.  2H.  of  the  whole  money  in  the  former  case  collected  I 

There  is  a  deduction  of  a  similar  kind  from  public  money  hi  St. 
Michael's  Chapel  in  this  town.  Fifty  pounds  a  year  are  order-ed  by 
royal  grant,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  Exchequer  to  the  Mat/or  of  the 
Corporation,  for  tiie  time  being,  for  the  use  of  the  Mitiister,  without 
fee  or  reward.  Instead  of  tifty,  however,  he  never  receives  more 
than  three  and  thirty.  Seventeen  pounds  are  deducted  for  lees  of 
otiice.     So  much  for,   "  without  fee  or  reward!"    Charitable  conci- 


15Q.  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

—  in  the  Test  and  Corporation  Acts'*  —  in  our  Tithe 
laws  •^. 

There  tre  some  agaiJi,  who  earnestly  deplore  our  total 
\vant  of  discipline,  and-our  incomplete  toleration  that  our 
Church  holds  out  other  terms  of  communion  than  tlie  Scrip- 
ture hath  enjoined- — and  that  she  is  a  mighty  encowrager  of 
ambition  Among  the  superiour  orders  of  the  Clergy,  by  the 
seve-al  raul;s,  degrees^  honours,  and  emoluments,  \\hich  prevail 
among  us. — They  are  firmly  persuaded,  that  the  people  of  every 
age  and  country  have  an  unalienable  right  to  choose  their  own 
ministers;  and  that  no  king,  no  ruler,  no  bishop,  no  lord,  no 
gentleman,  no  man,  or  bodv  of  men  upon  earth,  has  any  just 
claim  whatever,  to  dictate,  who  shnll  adujinisler  to  them  in  the 
concerns  of  their  salvation ;  or  to  say — You  shall  think  this,  be- 
lieve that,  worship  here,  or  abstain  from  worshipping  there. 

tions,  of  «nery  kind,  sliould  be  reduced  as  little  as  possible  by  those 
through  -',4  hose  hands  they  must  naturally  pass.  An  undue  deduc- 
tion is  a  sort  of  sacrilege,  aud  must  be  accounted  for  as  such  before 
the  JuDfJE  Supreme. 

The  niinibcr  of  Church  and  Chapel  Wardens  in  England  and 
Wales  must  be  cousiderablY  above  '20,000.  Every  one  of  these 
takes  a  s<  tlenui  oath  when  he  enters  upon  his  office.  And  who  will 
undertake  to  prove  that  nine  in  ten  of  these  church-officers  are  not 
perjured?  Certain  it  is,  that  the  oath  is  of  such  a  nature,  it  is  next 
to  aji  inij  lossibility  to  keep  it  inviolate.  Very  few  of  those  gentlemen 
ever  attei  npt  to  fuiril  their  engagements.  I'hey  make  no  efforts  ta 
avoid  the  grievous  sin  of  perjury. 

*  "  Hast  thou  by  statute,  shov'd  from  its  design, 

Th  e  SAViouRs'fea-t,  his  own  blest  bread  and  wine. 

And  made  the  symbols  of  atoning  grace 

Ai  1  ottire-key,  a  picklock  to  a  place, 

That  Infidtis  may  prove  tlieir  title  good 

Piy  an  oath  dipp'd  in  sacrameutal  blood  ? 

/k'blot  that  will  be  still  a  blot,  in  spite 

Of  all  that  grave  ajiologists  may  write, 

A.nd  tljough  a  Bishop  toil  to  cleanse  the  stain. 

He  wipes  and  scours  the  silver  cup  in  vain." 

Cow  fee's  Poems,  vol.  i.p.  1^2, 

See  Dr.  Sherlock,  Dan  of  Chichester,  in  favour  of  the  abov« 

two  .  4cts,  and  Ho  adly.  Bishop  of  Bangor,  in  answer  to  Sherlock. 

This  celebrated  Bishop  used  to  say,  *'  Our  liturgical  forms  ought 

to  b  8  revised  and  ainenderl,  only  for  our  own  sakes,  though  there 

were  no  Dissenters  in  the  land." 

t  See  the  article  lithe  in  Burn's  Ecclesiastical  Law:  whence  it 
appe;  us  that  Tithes  were  not  paid  in  England  till  the  eigthth  century, 
and  v  /ere  then  given  to  the  Clergi/  by  an  act  of  tyrannical  power  aiid 
usurj  aiion,  by  two  of  our  Popish  and  superstitious  kiugs;  and,  in 
one  V  f  the  instances,  as  a  comniutatiou  lor  murder. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  153 

For  mucli    znore    than    a    thousand    years,    the     Christ  Ian  ^ 
world  was  a  stranger  to  reHgious    liberty.     Even    Toleration  '\ 
was  unknown    till   about  a   centuiy^ago.     The   Clergy,  espe- 
cially,  have  usually  been  unfriendly^'to  religious  liberty.     And 
when  the  Act  of  Toleration  was  obtained  in  Kitig  William's 
time,   great   numbers  of  men  were  much  against   it. — It   ap- 
pears  to    me,    however,   that   both   the   name   and    thing    are 
inconsistent  with  the  very  nature  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 
For,  have  not  I   as  much  right  to  controul  you  in  your  reli-  v 
gious    concerns,  as  you   have   to   controul    me  ?     To    talk  of    l 
tolerating,    implies    an    authority    over    me.     Yet,    who    but 
Christ  has  any  such  authority:     He  is  a  tyrant,  a  very  pope, 
who  pretends  to  any  such  thing. — These  matters  will  be  better 
iniderstood  by  and   bye.     The  whole   Christian  world  lay  in  ) 
darkness,    upon    this    subject,    we    have    observed,    for   many  V^ 
ages.     Dr.  Owen  was  the  first  I  am  acquainted  with,  who  ) 
wrote  in  favour  of  it,  in  the  year   1648.     Milton  followed  '. 
him  about  the  year   l65S,  in  his  Treatise  of  the   Ciiil  Power   ) 
in  Ecclesiastical  Causes.     And  the  immortal  Locke  followed 
them  both  with  his  golden   Treatise   on   Toleration,  in   1689' 
But  notw ithstanding  these,  and  many  other  works  which   have 
since   been  written  on  the   same  subject,  much  still  remains  to 
be  done  in   this   country.     Locke's   book   has  not  yet  been 
generally  read   and    understood.     Though    we    have    had    the 
honour   of  being  among  the  first  of  the  nations,   which  ob- 
tained a  large  portion  of  civil   and  religious   freedom,   others 
are  now   taking  the  lead   of  us,   on   the  rights  of  conscience. 
And   it    does    not    appear   to    many,    that  we   ever   can  be   a 
thoroughly   united  and  happy  people,  till   every  good  subject 
enjoys  equal  civil   privileges,   without  any  regard  to  religious     i 
sects   and  opinions.     If  a    man    be   a   peaceable,   industrious, 
moral,  and  religious  person,   and   an  obedient  subject  to  the 
civil  government  under  which  he  lives,  let  his  religious  views 
of  things  be  what  they  may,  he  seems  to  have  a  just    claim  to 
the  enjoyment   of   every    office,  privilege,  and  emolument  of 
that  government.     And  till  this  is  in  fact  the  case,  I   appre- 
hend,   there  nes^r  can   be    a  settled  state   of  things.     There 
will    be   an   eternal   enmity    between   the  governing   and   the 
governed;   an  eveHasting  struggle  for  superiority.     But  when 
every    member    of   society    enjoys    equal    privileges   with   his 
fellow    members,    the    bone    of  contention   is  removed,   and 
tiiere   is   nothing   for    which    they  should    any    longer    be    at 

X 


154  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

enmity.  Equal  and  impartial  liberty;  equal  privileges  and 
emoluments,  are,  or  should  be,  the  birth-right  of  every 
member  of  civil  society;  and  would  be  the  glory  of  any 
government  to  bestow  upon  all  its  serious,  religious,  and 
morally-acting  citizensj  without  any  regard  to  the  sect  or 
party  to  which  they  belong.  Talents  and  integrity  alone 
should  be  tiic  sine  qua  noiis  to  recommend  any  man  to  the 
notice  of  people  in  power.  This,  it  should  seem,  would  make 
us  a  united  and  happy  people. 

As  we  have  been  speaking  on  the  subject  of  the  Patronage 
of  Livings,  it  may   be   worth   while    still  farther   to    observe* 

that  the    Bishop    of enjoys  very    considerable   privileges 

of  this  nature,  which  have,  on  a  late  occasion,  been  shame- 
fully abused.  Not  less  than  130  presentations  belong  to  him! 
A  certain  episcopal  Gentleman  of  that  diocese,  knowing  the 
extensive  emoluments  he  was  likely  to  be  possessed  of  in  this 
way,  brought  his  son  up  to  the  church ;  and,  when  he  came 
of  proper  age,  bestowed  first  one  living  upon  him,  and  then 
another,  as  they  became  vacant,  to  a  very  considerable 
amount,  which  this  son  enjoys  at  this  day.  He  is  now  one 
of  our  dignijied  Clergymen ,  and  in  possession  of  a  very  un- 
reasonable number  of  valuable  preferments,  to  most  of  which 
he  pays  extremely  little  personal  attention.  He  takes  care, 
however,  to  secure  the  fleece,  the  devil  may  take  the  flock. 
Johnx.  1—18. 

Another  Son  of  Aaron,  in  a  neighbouring  district,  which 
xnight  be  named,  possesses  preferments  in  the  church,  by 
the  procurement  of  his  episcopal  father,  to  the  amount  of 
2000  pounds  a  year.  He  has  for  a  long  season  been  ex- 
tremely attentive  to  his  tithes ;  but  hardly  ever  man  paid  less 
attention  to  the  salvation  of  the  souls  of  his  people,  and  the 
sacred  duties  of  his  oftice.  Seldom,  indeed,  does  he  appear 
among  the  former,  less  frequently  still  does  he  attend  the 
proper  duties  of  the  latter.  Fifty  or  sixty  pounds  a  year  he 
reluctantly  pays  to  a  journeyman  Parson^  |o  supply  his  own 
lack  of  service;  but  like  master,  like  man ;  they  are  a  miserable 
couple  together;  the  one  is  penurious,  the  other  dissolute. 
What  must  the  cojidition  of  the  flock  be,  under  the  care  of  two 
such  wretcbe^.  shepherds  ? 

I  will  mention  a  third  curious  instance  of  clerical  sagacity. 
A  certain  Rectorj/  not  fifty  miles  from  this  place,  is  said  to 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  156 

be  of  the  value  of  near  '2000  pounds  a  year.  A  kind  young 
lady,  \^hose  friends  have  sufficient  interest  uilh  the  pation, 
falls  in  love  with  a  wicked,  swearing,  dashing  officer  in  the 
army,  and  marries  him.  That  a  co^ifortable  maintenance 
may  be  secured  for  the  happy  pair,  it  is  agreed,  that  the 
gentleman  shall  change  the  colour  of  his  clothes,  apply 
himself  to  the  attainment  of  a  smattering  of  Latin  and 
Greek,  and  admit  himself  a  member  of  one  of  our  famous 
U)iiversities.  There  he  actually  now  is,  qualifying  himself 
to  take  possession  of  the  bouncing  Benefice.  The  incumbent 
being  dead,  a  pliable  parson  is  put  in  for  a  time  as  a  locum 
tenens.  And  when  the  quondam  officer  has  obtained  his 
proper  credentials,  this  worthy  Levite  must  resign  all  hhfat 
pigs  in  favour  of  this  son  of  ^[ars.  The  white  washed  officer 
will  then  come  forward,  and  declare  in  the  face  of  God  and 
man,  with  a  lie  in  his  mouth,  that  "  he  trusts  he  is  moved  by  the 
Holy  Ghost  to  preach  the  Gospel." 

If  these  were  solitary  instances  of  improper  proceedings 
in  church-matters,  it  would  not  be  Morth  while  to  notice 
them  in  this  manner.  But,  alas !  they  are  only  specimens 
of  what  is  by  no  means  uncommon,  where  valuable  livings 
are  concerned.  O!  were  the  business  of  private  Patronage 
and  Presentation  thoroughly  investigated,  and  laid  before 
the  public,  the  picture  would  be  highly  disgusting  to  every 
serious  mind,  and  call  for  reformation  with  a  tone  not  easy  to  be 
resisted. 

It  is  remarkable,  tliat  the  ecclesiastical  and   civil    parts    of  ) 
our  constitution  are,  in  some  respects,  in   opposition  one  to  '' 
the  other ;  for  the  former,  in  the  book  of  Homilies,  especially, 
holds  forth  the  doctrine  of  passive  obedience  and  non-resistance,  j 
while  the  latter  is  founded,  by  the  compact  at  the  Revolution,  \ 
on  the  reciprocal  rights  of  King  and  People.     In  this  respect,  •' 
therefore,  as  well  as  in  several  others,  a  reformation  is  highly 
desirable.     Every  Clergyman  particularly  should-  see  and  feel 
this,  who  is  obligpdrto  subscribe  ex  animo,  that  all  and  every 
thing  contained  in  the  book  of  Common  Prayer,  &c.  is  agree- 
able to  the  Sacred  )Vritins,s. 

I  add  a  second  circumstance,  which  seems  a  hardship 
to  the  enlightened  and  conscientious  part  of  the  Clergy. 
When  we  baptise  children,  we  thank  God  "that  it  hath 
pleased   him  to  regenerate  them   with   the    Holy    Spirit, 

x2 


156  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

to  receive  them  for  his  own  children  by  adoption^  and  to 
incorporate  them  into  his  holy  church."  When  the  .same 
children  are  presented  to  the  Bishop  for  confirmation,  he 
also  addresses  the  Divine  Being  as  having  "  vouchsafed 
to  regenerate  them  by  water  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
as  having  given  unto  them  the  forgiveness  of  all  their 
sins;"  while  many  of .  them  are  as  vile  young  rogues  as 
ever  existed.  Then,  when  we  come  to  bury  them,  we  dare  do 
no  other  than  send  them  all  to  heaven,  though  many  of  those 
we  commit  to  the  earth  have  been  as  wicked  in  life  as 
men  well  can  be  on  this  side  hell.  This  surely  is  a  great  hard- 
ship. Yet  we  have  no  remedy.  We  must  do  it,  or  forfeit  our 
roast  beef  and  plumb  pudding. 

But  what  1  mean  to  infer  from  this  view  of  the  matter 
here,  is,  that  if  the  doctrines  of  baptismal  regeneration  and 
final  perseverance  be  true;  every  member"  of  the  clHuch  of 
England  is  as  sure  of  heaven  when  he  dies,  as  if  he*  %ef6 
already  there.  I  leave  those  whom  it  may  concern  to  draw  the 
natural  inference.  How  is  this  consistent  with  the  17th 
Article  of  Religion  ? 

There  is  another  circumstance  in  our  public  offices,  which 
seems  to  affect  the  credit  of  our  church,  and  the  comfort 
of  its  ministers.  The  morning  service  formerly  consisted  of 
three  parts,  which  were  used  at  three  different  times  in 
the  forenoon.  These  are  now  thrown  into  one,  and  all  used 
at  the  same  time.  Supposing  each  service  taken  singly 
to  be  ever  .so  unexceptionable;  the  conjunction  of  them 
renders  the  whole  full  of  repetition.  By  this  absurd  union, 
the  Lo  11  d's  prayer  is  always  repeated  ^'re  times  every  Sunday 
morning,  and  on  sacrament  days,  if  there  happen  to  be  a 
baptism  and  a  churching,  it  is  repeated  no  less  than  eight  times, 
in  the  space  of  about  two  hours.  Use  may  reconcile  us  to  any 
thing,  how  absurd  soever  it  be — witness  the  popish  ceremonies. 
Now  let  us  suppose,  that  any  of  the  Sectaries  of  the  country 
should,  in  their  public  devotions,  be  guilty  of  the  same  tautology, 
what  should  we  think  and  say  of  them  ?  Should  we  not  con- 
clude they  were  mad.'' 

By  the  same  absurd  conjunction  of  the  three  ancient  ser- 
vices into  one,  we  are  obliged  by  the  laws  of  our  church  to 
pray  for  the  King,  no  less  than  ^Ve  times  every  Lord's  day 
morning;    and    even   six   on   communion  day.     If  I   were  a 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  157 

Bishop,  or  a  rich  Pluralist,  or  a  fat  Rector,  my  eyes,  for 
any  thing  I  know^  might  be  so  far  blinded  with  gokl  dust, 
that  1  should  not  see  these  imperfections  of  our  public  service; 
but,  as  it  is,  I  do  see  them,  and  feel  them,  and  groan  under 
them  every  sabbath  day  of  my  life.  They  may  love  such 
things  that  will,  I  confess  I  do  not. 

Some  of  the  objections,  which  are  usually  made  to 
several  parts  of  our  ecclesiastical  code  of  doctrines  and 
laws,  it  will  be  grunted  by  every  candid  person,  are  of  no 
great  consequence  in  themselves ;  but  as  they  respectively 
constitute  a  part  of  the  general  system,  and  are  connected 
with  other  things  of  a  more  serious  and  objectionable  nature; 
and  as  we  are  compelled  to  swear  obedience  to  all  the 
Canofisl^,']  and  subscribe,  ex  animo,  to  all  and  every  thing 
contained  in  the  Common  Prayer,  See.  as  being  agreeable 
to  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  the  least  deviations  from  those 
Scriptures  become  great  and  weighty.  And  though  there 
can  be  no  solid  objection  to  the  doctrines  and  ceremonies 
of  the  Establishment,  in  general;  yet,  seeing  there  are  S07ne 
things,  which  certainly  are  reprehensible,  and  those  too  of 
no  very  indifferent  nature,  the  imposition  of  them  in  a 
manner  so  solenm  is  an  extremely  great  liardship,  and  not 
to  be  justified  upon  any  principle  of  expedience  whatever. 
There  is  not  a  Bishop  in  England  who  does  not  continually  , 
transgress  one  or  more  of  the  141  Canons;  and,  I  am  per- 
suaded also,  there  is  not  an  episcopal  character  in  the  nation,  ) 
who  can  lay  his  hand  upon  his  heart,  and  appeal  to  heaven,  ( 
that  he  believes  all  and  every  thing  which  he  subscribes.  Why  . 
then  not  strive  to  repeal  what  is  faulty  ?  \Miy  not  ease  the 
labouring  consciences  of  those  ClergynitJi,  who  are  upright 
in  the  land  ? 

These,    and  some  other  matters,   which   might  be  brought 

[*]  Tills  hardly  appears  to  be  the  true  construction  of  this  cele- 
brated oath,  the  words  of  which  are  "I,  A.  B,  do  swear,  that  I 
will  perform  true  and  canonical  obedience  to  the  Bishop  of  C.  and 
his  successors,  in  all  things  lawful  and  honest :"  the  meaning  of 
which  may  possibly  be,  tliat  the  juror  shall  obey  the  Bishop  in  all 
those  points  where  the  canon  law  may  require  such  obedience,  so  far 
as  is  consistent  with  the  rules  of  the  common  law,  and  the  dictates 
of  common  honesty.  Were  the  oath  of  that  latitude  contended  for 
by  our  author,  there  would  certainly  not  be  a  clergyman  in  the  king- 
dom exempt  from  the  sin  of  most  deliberate  perjury;  yet  the  terms 
of  the  oath  are  obscure.    Editor, 


158  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

forward  more  at  large,  seem,  to  many  very  well  informed 
and  respectable  persons,  truly  objectionable,  and  strong  in- 
dications, that  we  are  not  so  far  removed  from  the  old  mere- 
tricious lady  of  Babylon,  as  we  would  willingly  have  the 
world  to  believe*.  Among  the  several  Protestant  establish- 
ments, we  must,  they  fear,  be,  at  least,  considered  as  the  eldest 
daughter  of  that  first-bom  of  wickedness *f-. 

That  I  am  not  singular  in  supposing  there  are  several 
things  wrong  in  the  Church-Establishment  of  this  country, 
is  evident  from  the  words  of  Bishop  Watson  in  his  reply 
to  il/r.  Gibbon  :  "There  are,"  says  this  able  advocate  for 
regenerated  Christianity,  "  many  worthless  doctrines,  many 
superstitious  observances,  which  the  fraud  or  folly  of  mankind 
have  every  where  annexed  to  Christianity,  especially  in  the 
Church  of  Rome,  as  essential  parts  of  it.  If  you  take  these 
sorry  appendages  to  Christianity  for  Christianity  itself,  as 
preached  by  Christ,  and  by  the  Apostles — you  quite  mistake  its 
nature  % 
^  Many  of  our  Bishops  and  Clergy  will  complain  in  this 
manner  in  private,  and  some  few  in  public,  that  various 
things  are  wrong  and  want  mending;  but  there  are  exceed- 
ingly few  who  will  speak  out,  remonstrate,  and  use  their 
influence,  that  things  may  be  put  upon  a  more  defencible 
footing.  We  keep  reading  what  we  do  not  approve, — the 
damnatory  seutences  in  Athanasius's  Creed  for  instance, 
— professing  what  we  do  not  believe,  subscribing  what  we 
know  or  suspect  to  be  wrong,  and  swearing  to  observe  laws, 
which  are  truly  horrible  in  their  tendency,  all  our  lives  long, 
for  the  sake  of  a  little  paltry  food  and  raiiiient,  and  a  moiety 
of  worldly  honour. — Is  this  the  way  to  glory,  and  honour, 
and  riches  everlasting? — If  Wickliffe,  and   Luther,   and 

j       *  See  the  doctrines  of  the  Church  of  Rome  pretty  much  at  large, 

in  the  17th  Sect,  of  Simpson's  Key  to  the  Prophecies. — The  cruelty 

.   of  that  church  is- horrible.     Joseph  Mede  reckons  up  1,200,000 

!    of  the  Vallemes  and  Alhigenses  put  to  death  in  30  years !     The  same 

intolerant  and  persecuting  spirit  prevailed  in  our  church  also  for  many 

years  after  the  Reformation,  and  is  not  yet  perfectly  done  away*. 

*  See  The  Prisoner's  Defence  against  the  Rev,  George  Mahkham  ;  a  well 
written  pamphlet.  Brother  George  cuts  but  a  poor  figure  in  the  hands  of  these 
Quakers. 

t  That  Man  of  Sin — the  Son  of  Perdition — that  Wicked.  2Thess. 
ii.  3,  8. 

X  Apology  for  Christianity,  Let.  6. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  159 

Cranmer,  and  Ridley,  and  Latimer,  and  the  glorious 
army  of  Marti/rs,  had  acted  in  the  manner  we  do,  no  re- 
fonnation  liad  ever  taken  place.  We  should  have  been 
Popisii  priests  at  this  day.  The  same  spirit  which  keeps  us 
quiet  in  our  several  snug  Protestant  preferments  now,  would 
have  kept  us  quiet  in  our  several  snug  Popish  preferments 
then,  if  such  had  been  our  situation.  It  is  much  more 
easy  to  fawn,  and  cringe,  and  flatter,  with  Erasmus, 
than  face  a  frowning  world,  with  Luther,  and  his  noble 
companions. 

From  the  foregoing  short  view  of  these  two  classes  of 
predictions  concerning  the  Saviour  of  mankind,  and  the 
condition  of  the  Christian  Church  in  the  world;  every  candid 
and  sober-minded  man,  I  think,  may  see,  without  the 
smallest  room  for  deception,  that  there  is  something  far 
more  than  human  in  the  Prophetic  Scriptures,  It  is  im- 
possible to  account  for  all  these  strange  coincidences,  upon 
any  principles  of  nature  or  art  whatever.  Here  is  a  long 
series  of  predictions  running  through  all  time,  partly  fulfilled, 
partly  fulfilling,  and  partly  to  be  fulfilled.  Let  any  man 
account  for  it,  without  supernatural  interposition,  if  he  can. 
If  he  cannot,  then  the  Scriptures  are  of  divine  original ; 
Jesus  is  the  Saviour  of  mankind;  all  the  great  things  fore- 
told shall  be  accomplished ;  Infidels  and  Infidelity  shall  be 
confounded  world  without  end ;  and  sound,  practical  be- 
lievers in  Christ  Jesus,  of  every  denomination,  shall  stand 
secure  and  joyful,  amidst  the  convulsion  of  nations,  the  sub- 
version of  churches,  "  the  wreck  of  matter,  and  the  crush 
of  worlds.*' 

"  Such,  in  that  day  of  terrors,  shall  be  seen 

To  face  the  thunders  with  a  godlike  mien. 

Tiie  planets  drop;  their  thoughts  are  fix'd  above: 

The  centre  shakes:  their  hearts  disdain  to  move." 
Are  not  abundance  of  these  predictions  fulfilling  at  this 
very  day  before  our  eyes  ?  Is  not  the  religion  of  Jesus  dif- 
fusing itself  far  and  wide  among  the  nations  of  the  earth  ? 
Did  not  the  corruptions  of  it  commence  at  a  very  early 
period?  Did  not  the  Church  of  Rome  assume  a  universal 
spiritual  enipire  in  the  seventh  century,  and  temporal  domi- 
nion in  the   eighth*?     Is  it  not  expressly  predicted,   that  the 

*  It  is  remarkable,  that  Mahomet  began  his  inaposture  in  the 
very  year  that  the  Bishop  of  Rome,  by  virtue  of  a  grant  from  the 


160  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

illegitimate  empire  of  that  Church  should  continue  the  precise 
period    of   1260  years?     Does  it  not  seem  that   those    1260 
years    are    upon    the    point    of    expiring?     Were    not   great 
changes    to    take    place    among  the  kingdoms,  into  which  the 
Boman  empire  was  to  be   divided,    about    the    expiration   of 
the  said  term  ?     Have  not  great  changes   already   taken   place 
i  ih   those    kingdoms  ?     Were    not   the   nations,    which,    for   so 
/  many  ages,  had   given    t^ieir  power  unto   the   Beast,   to    turn 
/    against  that   Beast,   and   use  means  for   its  destruction*?     Is 
V  not  this  part  of  the  prophecy  also,   in  a  good  degree,  fulfilled 
)  at  the  present   moment  ?     Have   not  all  the   Catholic   pow  ers 
/  forsaken  his  Holiness   of  Rome  in  the  time  of  his  greatest 
Uieed?     And    is    not    He,    who,    a    few    ages   ago,    made    all 
'  Europe  tremble  at  the  thunder  of  his  voice,  now  become  weak 
like   other   men  ?     Are  not  the  claws  of  the   Beast   now   cut, 
and  his  teeth  drawn,  so   that  he  can  no  longer   either  scratch 
or   bitef?     Is  he  not  already,  in  our  oini,day,    and  before  our 
own   eyes,    stripped    of  his    temporal    dominion  ?     And    doth 
not   the    triple   crown,    even  now,    dance  upon  his   head  ?    or 
rather,  has  he  not  for  ever  lost  all  right  and  title  to  wear  it  ? 
Is  it  not  extremely  remarkable,  and  a  powerful   confirmation 
of  the  truth  oi  Scripture  p^'ophecy,   that  just    1260  years  ago 
from    the   present    1798,    in   the   very    beginning  of  the  year 
538,  Belisarius  put  an  end  to  the  empire  of  the  Goths  at 
Rome,  leaving  no  power  therein   but  the   Bishop  of  that   Me- 
tropolis'^ 

wicked  tyrant  Phocas,  first  assumed  the  title  of  Universal  Pastor; 
and  thereon  claimed  to  himself  that  supremacy,  which  he  hath  been 
ever  since  endeavouring  to  usurp  over  the  church  of  Christ.  This 
was  in  the  year  60(i,  when  Mahomet  retired  to  his  cave  to  forge 
his  impostures ;  so  that  Antichrist  seems  at  the  same  time  to  set 
both  his  feet  upon  Christendom  togetlier;  the  one  in  the  east,  and 
the  other  in  the  west.— Prideaux's  Life  o/Mahomet,  p.  13. 

A  valuable  Correspondent,  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  pro- 
phetic Scriptures,  gives  it  as  his  opinion,  that  we  are  now  in  the 
second  period  of  the  seventh  vial.  Rev.  xvi.  17—21.  "  The  battle 
of  the  great  God  has  been,  and  is  fighting.  Tlie  sacknig  of  the 
fmtions  is  come.  The  Man  of  ■'■in  who  has  been  sitting  in  the  tem- 
ple of  God  1'260  years,  all  but  a  few;  whom  God  hath  been 
consuming  with  the  spirit  of  his  mouth  since  the  Reformation  ; 
whom  he°  is  now  ready  to  destroy  with  the  appearance  of  his 
presence,  we  see  is  ready  ior  the  blmv." 

*  Consult  the  seventeenth  cliapter  of  Revelation. 

t  See  the  treatment  which  the  present  Pope  of  Rome  haiJ  received 
from  the  French.  They  even  took  the  ring  from  his  finger,  and  de- 
prived him  of  his  snufi'!  "^Ungenerous  Frenclunm!  Cruel  conquerors! 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  l6l 

Read  these  things  in  the  prophetic  Scriptures* ;  compare 
them  coolly  with  the  present  state  of  Europe,  and  then,  I  say 
again,  deny  the  truth  of  Divine  Revtiation,  if  you  can.  Open 
your  eyes,  and  behold  these  things  accomplishing  in  the  face  of 
the  whole  world.   This  thing  is  not  done  in  a  corner. 

It  would  be  well,  my  Countrymen,  if  ye  would  seriously 
consider  still  further,  that  the  opposers  of  the  Gospel  are 
no  other  than  tools  and  instruments  in  tlie  hands  of  that  Re- 
deem ERf,  whom  ye  so  cordially  despise,  and  rashly  reject. 
He  sitteth  in  heaven  ^at  the  right  hand  of  power,  and 
laugheth  at  all  your  puny  and  malicious  efforts  to  impede  the 
interests  of  his  kingdom  :j:.  He  permits  his  w  ord,  however,  to 
be  tried  like  as  silver  is  tried.  But  the  more  it  is  opposed, 
the  more  completely  will  it  be  refined.     The  more  it  is  scru- 

*  There  is  an  astonishing  chain  of  prophecy  in  the  Sacred  Writings;  r 
and  the  argument  from  tlience  is  invincible.     Sir  Isaac  Newton,  i 
Bishop  Newton,  and  several  other  writers,  have  treated  upon  thera  ^ 
with  effect.     The  prophetic  scheme  may  be  ridic  uled,  but  it  can  never 
be  answered.    Consult  Simpson's  Kei/  to  the  Prophecies,  for  a  con« 
cise  view  of  this  indissoluble  chain. — Bishops  HuRD,  Hallifax,  ' 
Clayton,  and  others,  have  written  with  ability  upon  these  abstruse 
parts  of  Sacred  Writ.    Dr.  Apthorp,  3l7:  Maclaurin,  and 
Brown,  have  thrown  pretty  nuich  light  upon  them.     But  of  all 
who  have  treated  upon  the  book  of  Revelation,  none  seems  to  , 
me  to  have  excelled  Low  man.  1 

t  See  this  matter  discussed  at  large  in  Dr.  G  ER  AR  d's  Dissertation, 
entitled  Christianity  Confirmed  by  the  Opposition  of  Infidels. 

X  Would  the  reader  be  at  the  pains  to  compare  the  second  and 
hundred  and  tenth  psalms  with  the  history  of  those  persons  who  in 
the  several  ages  have  set  themselves  to  oppose  either  the  Jewish  or 
Christian  dispensations;  he  could  not  fail  of  receiving  strong  convic- 
tion of  the  truth  of  these  two  prophetical  compositions.     We  may,  > 
indeed,   deny  any  thing,    and  turn  into  ridicule  every  prophetical  / 
accomplishment;  as  Josephus  informs  us  the  Jews  did  in  the  last 
dreadful  ruin  of  his  unhapi)y  countrymen.     It  was  familiar  witli 
them  "  to  make  a  jest  of  divine  things,  aufl  to  deride,  as  so  many  »; 
senseless  tales,  and  juggling  impostures,   the  sacred  oracles  of  their  \ 
prophets;"  though  they  were  then  fulfilling  before  their  eyes,  and  \ 
even  upon  themselves.  "  ^' 

If  the  reader  is  disjwsed  to  examine  another  prophecy,  I  will 
refer  him  to  the  ninth  chapter  of  Daniel.  The  late  eminent  Phi- 
losopher and  INIathematician  Ferguson  has  written  a  Dissertation 
upon  it,  which  he  concludes  in  these  words:  "  Thus  we  have  an  astro- 
nomical demonstration  of  the  trutli  of  this  ancient  prophecy,  seeiu" 
that  the  prophetic  year  of  the  Messiah's  being  cut  off,  was  the  vei-y 
same  with  the  astronomical."     Astronomi/,  p.  373 — 377. 

V 


^ 


162  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

tlnized,  the  more  it  will  be  approved.  The  severity  of  your 
criticisms  will  serve  the  cause  it  is  intended  to  overthrow. 
Your  assistance  is  advantageous  to  us,  though  infinitely  danger- 
ous to  yourselves.  Ye  are  co-operating,  unintentionally  indeed, 
with" all  the  zealous  servants  of  Christ,  in  carrying  forward  the 
designs  of  heaven,  in  like  manner  as  JuDAS,  with  the  Jews  and 
Romans,  contributed  to  the  fulfilment  of  the  ancient  prophecies, 
and  the  salvation  of  the  world,  in  betraying  the  Lord  of  glory. 
The  greater  the  learning,  the  more  rancorous  the  hatred ;  the 
stronger  the  opposition,  the  more  brilliant  the  talents  of  its  an- 
tagonists; the  faster  will  the  kingdom  of  Messiah  come  for- 
ward, and  the  more  complete  and  honourable  will  be  the  vic- 
tory*. The  Gospel  never  triumphed  more  gloriously,  in  the 
first  ages,  than  when  Celsus  and  Porphyry  drew  their  pens, 
DiocLESiAN  and  Julian  their  swords,  vowing  its  annihila- 
tion. Truth  fears  nothing  more  than  inattention.  It  is  too 
important  to  he  treated  with  indifference.  Opposition  calls 
forth  and  sharpens  the  powers  of  the  human  mind  in  its  de- 
fence. The  cause  of  the  Gospel  hath  ever  gained  by  investi- 
gation. Credulity  is  the  bane  of  it.  Sound  policy  in  the 
Deists  would  let  it  alone,  and  leave  it  to  itself.  It  was  by  op- 
position from  all  the  world  that  it  was  originally  propagated. 
When  that  opposition  ceased,  and  the  great  ones  of  the  earth 
smiled  upon  and  fostered  it,  a  worse  than  Egyptian  darkness 
of  i'a-norance  and  delusion  overspread  Christendom  -f .      It  is  by 


*  "  Christianity  may  thank  its  opponents  for  much  new  light, 
from  time  to  time,  thrown  iu  on  the  sublime  excellence  of  its  nature, 
and  the  manifestation  of  its  truth.  Opponents,  in  some  sort  are  more 
welcome  than  its  friends,  as  they  do  it  signal  service  whhout  running 
it  in  debt ;  and  have  no  demand  on  our  gratitude  for  the  favours  they 
confer.  The  stronger  its  adversaries,  the  greater  its  triumph :  the 
more  it  is  disputed,  the  more  indisputably  will  it  shine/' — Young. 

t  In  the  middle  ages,  such  thick  clouds  of  barbarity  and   igno- 
rance had  ovenvhelnied  all  schools  of  literature,  that  the  maxun 
then  current  was — Quanto  eris  meiior  grammaticus,   tanto  pejor 
theoloo-us.    EsPENCtEUS,  who  was  one  of  themselves,  acknowledges, 
that  amongst  their  best  authors,   Grace  nosse  suspect  urn  fuerit,  He- 
l  braice  proprit  hcereticum.     ZuiNGLlus  and  CoLLlNUS  had  like  to 
7  have  lost  their  lives  for  meddling  with  Greek  and  Hetnew.     To  give 
(  the  derivation  of  the  word  Hallelujah  racked  the  wits  of  whole 
^  universities.     Doctors  of  Diviniti/  were  created,  and  pronounced 
r  most  sutficient,  who  had  never  read  the  Bible.     Erasmus  says, 
\   Divines  of  SO  years  of  age  were  all  amazement  at  hearing  any  thing 


AND  THE  SACRbD  WRITINGS.  163 

a  revival  of  that  opposition,  and  probably  too,  by  a  revival  of 
the  persecution  of  its  most  zealous  advocates,  even  unto  death, 
that  it  must  be  purified,  refined,  and  restored  to  its  primitive 
beauty  and  simplicity.  Philosophical  Unbelievers,  as  uell  as 
intolerant  Christians,  will  proceed  per  fas  atque  nefas  to  carry 
a  favourite  point.  Human  nature  is  the  same  in  all,  however 
modified,  and  whatever  our  pretensions.  The  pure  Gospel  of 
Christ,  too,  never  had  more  determined  and  well-furnished 
enemies  in  these  latter  ages,  than   Lewis  the  Fourteenth*, 

quoted  from  St.  Paul,  and,  that  Preachers  of  50  years  standing, 
had  never  seen  the  Xew  Testament.  MuscULUS  assures  us,  that 
multitudes  of  them  never  saw  the  Scriptures  in  their  Uves.  Am  AMA 
tells  us  of  the  Archbishop  of  Menfz,  that  opening  the  Bible,  he  said. 
In  truth,  I  do  not  know  what  this  book  is,  but  I  perceive  that  every 
thing  in  it  is  against  us.  Cardinal  Hosius's  persuasion  was,  that  , 
t7  had  been  bes^  for  the  Church,  if  no  Gospel  had  been  icritten. 

The  Clergi/  of  the  Church  of  Rome,  all  through  Europe,  in  the 
last  and  pre^ut  ages,  though  much  su}>erior  to  those  in  the  middle 
centuries,  are  still  in  a  situation  truly  deplorable.  They  have  had, 
indeed,  some  verv  considerable  individuals,  esj^ecially  among  the 
Jesuits;  but,  taking  them  as  a  body,  there  has  been  a  most  melau- 
cholv  deficiency  of  literarv  attainments.  The  Frerich  Clergy  seem 
to  have  excelled  those  of  most  other  countries,  which  profess  the 
Romish  faith. 

Bishop  Bl'RNEt's  Travels  will  afford  the  reader  considerable  in- 
formation upon  the  state  of  Popery  in  the  close  of  the  17th  century, 
and  Dr.  John  Moore's  t'iew  of  Society  and  Manners,  in  Italy, 
w  ill  furnish  us  with  a  tolerable  knowledge  of  its  present  state. 

If  it  had  not  been  for  the  Reformation,  most  of  the  riches  of 
Christendom  would  at  this  day  have  been  in  the  hands  of  the  Clergy. 
The  revenues  of  the  present  Archbishop  of  Mexico  are  said  to  be 
70,000  pounds  a  year!  The  bishopric  of  Durham  is  said  to  be  now 
20,000  pounds  a  year.  Winchester  also  is  very  coasiderable,  and 
some  others  are  the  same. 

*  It  is  calculated,  that  the  Roman  Catholics,  since  the  rise  of 
persecution,  in  the  seventh  or  eighth  century,  to  the  present  time, 
have  butchered,  m  their  blind  and  diabolical  zeal  for  the  Church,  no 
less  than  fifty  millions  of  Protestant  Christians  of  different  descrip- 
tions. Curled  be  their  anger  for  it  was  fierce,  and  their  wrath  for 
it  teas  cruel.  A  righteous  Providence  is  now  taking  vengeance  on 
them  for  their  horrible  transactions!  It  is  about  300  years  since  the 
Spaniards  discovered  America  and  the  West  Indies.  The  Govee- 
NOUR  of  the  world  has  a  quarrel  with  them  also  for  tlieir  dreadful 
cruelties  towards  the  poor  unoflending  inhabitants.  Twelve  millions, 
it  is  calculated,  they  butchered  on  the  Continent,  besides  the  many 
millions  who  fell  in  the  Islands.  Arise,  O  God,  and  plead  the 
cause  of  these  thy  creatures  ! 

Y2 


'     164  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

JJoLiNGBROKE,  and  Voltaire  ;  never  more  true  and  power- 
ful friends.     The  sword  of  the  first,  the  philosophy  of  the  se- 

^^^     And  is  England  less  guilty,  with  respect  to  her  trade  in  human 
beings  [*]?    In  ages  to  come,  it  will  scarcely  meet  with  credit,  that 
we,  who  boast  ourselves  of  being  the  most  free  nation  upon  earth,  the 
most  rehgious  people  in  Europe,  and  the  purest  and  best  constituted 
Church  in  the  world,  should  have  been  capable  of  buying  and  selling 
annually,  upon  an  average,  6o,000  souls.     If  there  were   no  other 
cause,  this  is  enough  to  bring  down  the  severest  of  the  Divine  judg- 
ments!    No  political  motives  whatever  can  justify  the  diabolical 
traffic.     And  is  it  not  strange,  that  when  the  abolition  of  this  trade 
had  passed  the  5o8  members  of  the  House  of  Commons ,  it  should 
not  be  able  to  pass  the  House  of  Lords,  where  are  assembled  26 
Shepherds  and  Bishops  of  souls  ?  Blessings  on  the    head  of  those 
few  worthy  Prelates,  who  pleaded  the  cause  of  humanity,  and  stood 
forth  as  the  advocates  of  universal  freedom! 
-      We  have  long  enjoyed  a  large  share  both  of  civil  and  religious 
(    liberty-    We  have  made  our  boast  of  this  privilege,  sometimes  very 
'\  insolently  insulting  other  nations,  because  they  did  not  enjoy  the  same. 
]  And  yet  we  have  the  impudence,  the  inhumanity,  the  crueltj,  the 
horrible  villahiy,  to  enslave  6"0,000  poor  helpl^s  souls  every  year  ! 
O  England! 

"  Canst  thou,  and  honour'd  with  a  Christian  name. 

Buy  what  is  woman-bora,  and  teel  no  shame] 

Trade  in  the  blood  of  innocence,  and  plead 

Expedience  as  a  warrant  for  the  deed? 

So  may  the  wolf,  whom  famine  has  made  bold 

To  quit  the  forest  and  invade  the  fold ; 

So  may  the  ruffian,  who,  with  ghostly  glide. 

Dagger  in  hand,  steals  close  to  your  bed-side ; 

Not  he,  but  his  emergence  forc'd  the  door. 

He  found  it  inconvenient  to  be  poor." 

Cowper's  Poems. 
Without  being  carried  away  with  the  violence  of  any  party  what 
ever  on  this  great  question,  I  think,  it  is  clear,  upon  every  Christian 
principle,  and  on  every  principle  of  sound  policy,  that  the  importation 
oi fresh  slaves  into  the  islands  should  be  absolutely  prohibited;  and 
that  every  proper  mean  should  be  used  to  meliorate  the  condition  of 
those  who  are  already  imported.  Much  wisdom  and  experience 
would  be  necessarj  to  enable  any  man.  to  determine  what  means 
would  be  most  proper  for  these  purposes. 
r-^  It  is  to  be  feared  we  have  also  a  long  and  dreadful  account  to 
settle  with  Divine  Providence  for  our  rapacious  conduct  in  the 
East  Indies.  This  wonderful  country  has  at  the  same  time  enriched 
and  ruined  eveiy  nation  which  hath  possessed  it.  So  the  Spaniards, 
by  a  just  re-action  of  a  righteous  Providence,  have  been  enriched  and 
ruined,  by  the  possession  of  Mexico  and  Peru. .  Every  man  who  goes 
to  the  Edist  Indks,  with  mercantile  views,  goes  to  make  his  f  rtune. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS!^  IG5 

cond,  and  the  ridicule  of  the  third,  have  aheady  liad  very  consi- 
derable effects.     The  French  themselves  at  this  moment,  though 

This  is  frequently  done,  and  too  often  in  \\aYS  the  most  dishonour-  1 
able.     In  the  year  1709  thiee  millions  of  the  natives  of  Bengal 
perished  for  want,  tJirough  the  avarice  and  rascality  of  a  fewEngJi^U- 
men! 

"  Hast  thou,  though  suckl'd  at  fair  freedom's  breast. 

Exported  slavVy  to  the  conquer'd  East, 

Puird  down  the  tyrants  India  serv'd  with  dread. 

And  rais'd  thyself  a  greater  in  their  stead, 

Gone  thither  arni'd  and  hungry,  return'd  full. 

Fed  from  the  richest  veins  of  the  Mogul, 

A  despot  big  with  power  obtained  by  wealth. 

And  that  obtain'd  by  rapine  and  by  stealth] 

With  Asiatic  vices  stor'd  thy  mind, 

But  left  their  virtues  and  thine  ou-n  behind. 

And  having  truck'd  thy  soui,  brought  home  the/ec,  , 

To  tempt  the  poor  to  sell  himself  to  thee?"  .r^J^^f^.^,  <^^*--  '^ 

Cowpek's  Poe)7}s. 

For  numerous  re-actions  of  Providence,  consult  the  2i)th  and  30th 
sections  of  Simpson's  Key  to  the  Prophecies. 

By  way  of  softening  our  resentment  against  the  traders  in  hmnan 
creatures,  it  may  be  here  observed,  tliat  the  most  polislied  of  the 
ancient  nations  were  over-run  with  slaves  of  the  most  oppressed  kind. 
Every  person  acquainted  with  profane  history  knows  well  the  miser- 
able condition  of  the  Helots  in  Sparta. 

Even  in  Athens,  where  slaves  were  treated  with  less  inhumanity, 
they  found  their  condition  so  intolerable,  that  20,000  of  them  de- 
serted during  one  of  the  wars  in  which  they  were  engaged. 

About  the  year  310  before  CuRlST  the  small  state  of  Attica 
alone  contained  400,000  slaves. 

Slavei-y  greatly  abounded  in  the  Roman  empire  also.  Among 
them,  slaves  were  frequently  mutilated  in  their  youth,  and  abandon- 
ed in  their  old  age.  Some  whom  age  or  infirmities  had  rendered  un- 
fit for  labour,  were  conveyed  to  a  small  uninhabited  island  in  the 
Tiber,  where  they  were  left  to  perish  with  famine.  In  short,  all  sorts 
of  pmiishments,  which  the  w  ickedness,  w  antonness,  cruelty,  or  capricx? 
of  their  owners  could  inflict,  were  frequently  made  use  of.  The  Ro- 
man writers  are  full  of  horrid  tales  to  this  puiport. 

Such  has  been  the  general  practice  of  mankind  in  every  age  pre- 
ceding the  introduction  of  the  Gospel!  And  it  is  the  introduction  and 
profession  of  that  Gospel,  which  render  the  dealing  in  slaves  so  enor- 
mously wicked  !  A  Christian  buying  and  selling  slaves !  A  nam  who 
professes,  that  the  leading  law  of  his  life  is,  to  do  as  he  would  be  done 
bi/,  spending  his  tune,  and  amassing  a  fortune,  in  buyhig  and  sclliuij 
his  fellow -men ! 

"  Is  there  not  some  chosen  cur«e. 

Some  hidden  thunder  in  the  stores  of  heaven. 


>/. 


IG6  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION" 

ready  to  overturn  heaven  and  earth  to  banish  the  Saviour  out 
of  the  world  he  created  by  his  power,  redeemed  by  his  blood, 
and  governs  by  his  wisdom,  are  but  tools  in  his  hand,  to  bring 
forward  his  designs ;  to  purge  the  Gospel  of  its  contracted  im- 
purities ;  to  manifest  to  mankind  the  truth  of  ihe  prophetic  Scrip' 
tares ;  to  punish  the  khigdonis  for  dieir  abominations;  to  rouse 
them  from  their  long  sleep  of  guilty  security;  to  remove  all  the 
rubbish  of  superstition  and  human  ordinances  out  of  the  way ; 
and  to  bring  in  the  reign  of  universal  righteousness,  when  con- 
tending nations  shall  learn  zear  7w  more.  Much  is  to  be 
done,  and  they  are  suitable  instruments,  admirably  adapted  to 
answer  these  purposes  of  Divine  Providence.  They  are 
made  with  this  view.  A  virtuous  nation  would  not  be  fit  for  the 
business.  In  the  mean  time,  there  is  great  reason  to  apprehend, 
there  will  be  no  small  degree  of  human  misery  throughout  the 
several  countries  professing  Christianity ,  before  these  halcyon 
days  come  forward. 

It   is   a  melancholy  circumstance,   that  before  the   present 

French  war  broke  out,  there  were  fought,  in  little  more  than  a 

century,  a  hundred  bloody  battles  by  land,  besides  what  were 

,  fought  by  sea,  between   the  several  Christian  governments  of 

•  Europe.     This  state  of  things  is  awful.     It  is  the  pouring  out 

the  vials  of  God's  wrath  upon  the  churches.     The  time,  how- 

j  ever,  is  fast  approaching,  when  these  miseries  shall  have  an  end. 

/  The   Beast   shall  be  destroyed,  and  his  dominion  taken  away. 

The    several   kingdoms    which    have   supported   him   shall  be 

\  overturned.     False,  superstitious,  and  idolatrous  doctrines,  rites, 

I  and  ceremonies,  shall  all   be   swept  off,  and  the  pure,  simple, 

\  unadulterated   Gospel  of  Jesus  shall  spring  up.      The  present 

,t   bloody  war  is  of  God,    The  French  are  God's  rod,  to  scourge 

!:_,.-_ ^ ^ 

Red  with  unconnnon  wrath,  to  blast  the  man," 
Who  gains  his  fortune  from  the  blood  of  souls  1 
[*]  England  will  have  great  reason  to  exult  in  the  accomplish- 
ment of  that  long-wished-for  eveut,  namely,  the  total  abolition  of  this 
most  abominable  traffic.  Those  faithful  men,  who  industriously  and 
per^everingly  promoted  it,  should  be  liailed  amongst  the  greatest 
benefactors  of  mankind,  and  posterity  shall  eternally  bless  their  me- 
mory. The  greatest  statesmen  of  ancient  or  modern  times,  the 
most  celebrated  heroes,  the  most  enlightened  literati,  historians,  poets, 
and  philosophers,  environed  with  all  the  splendour  of  their  various 
works  and  atchievemeuts,  shall  be  eclipsed  and  almost  vanish  when 
put  into  competition  with  these  illustrious  patriots  and  philan- 
thropists.— Editor. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  l(i7 

the  nations  of  Europe  for  tlieir  unchristian  abominations. 
They  are  God's  besom,  and  intended  to  sweep  the  Christian 
church  of  its  filth,  and  nonsense,  and  superstition,  and  idolatry. 
It  is  true,  they  have  no  such  intention.  They  mean  no  good  to 
the  Gospel.  But  when  the  Lord  has  acconjplished  his  whole 
work  upon  the  corrupt  Christian  nations  and  churches,  then  he 
w  ill  lay  them  aside,  cause  the  indignation  to  cease,  and  pure  un- 
defiled  religion  shall  spring  up.  This  can  never  be,  till  the  rub- 
bish is  removed.  The  superstitions  of  Pope?]/  must  iirst  be 
done  away.  One  generation,  or  perhaps  two  or  three^  must 
first  be  swept  otF,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  centuries,  those, 
who  shall  then  live,  will  see  more  peaceable,  more  happy,  and 
aaory  glorious  days.  But  it  will  be  long  'ere  the  nonsensical 
superstitious  doctrines  and  practices  oi  Antichrist  can  be  rooted 
out  of  the  several  popiih  countries.  And  it  is  exceedingly 
probaWe,  that  Injidelitt/  must  first  become  almost  general 
among  the  several  orders  of  the  people,  before  pure,  genuine, 
purged  Christianiti/  can  prevail.  We  Protestants  who  live  in 
England,  and  have  never  been  abroad,  can  have  no  proper  idea 
of  the  poor,  low,  silly,  superstitious  state,  in  which  the  minds  of 
the  common  people  are  kept,  by  the  mummery  and  art  of  the 
Priests,  in  all  the  catholic  countries [*].  In  Naples,  which- 
contains  only  about  300,000  inhabitants,  there  are  ."00  churches, 
120  convents  of  men,  and  40  of  women.  The  mother-church 
is  dedicated  to  St.  Janijarius,  and  when  any  calamitous 
events  arise,  this  St.  Januauius  is  applied  to,  his  image  is 
carried  about  in  procession,  and  thousands  of  prayers  are  offered 
up  to  this  supposed  Patron,  for  deliverance*.  Processions  of 
a  similar  kind  are  extremely  common  at  Pome,  and  all  over 
Italy,  and,  indeed,  all  through  the  catholic  world.  At  Madrid, 
the  capital  of  Spain,  the  Virgin  Mary,  it  seems,  is  the  most 
favourite  Protectress,.  Abundance  of  ceremonies  are  here  con- 
tinually carrying  on  in  honour  of  the  mother  of  our  Lord.     In 

[*]  The  late  treacherous  occupation  of  Portugal  by  the  modern 
Carthaginians,  however  lamentable  in  its  iiinnodiate  consequences, 
will,  as  in  other  cases,  ultimately  benetit  mankind :  as  their  work  aj)- 
pears  to  be  the  destruction  of  Papal  tyranny ;  or,  as  they  call  it, 
"  the  melting  down  of  superstition."  Spain  will  probably  share  a 
•imilar  fate  very  speedily.     What  will  become  of  uniiappy  Ireland? 

Editor. 

*  See  a  droll  account  of  this  pretended  Saint  in  Moore's  View 
of  Society  and  Munnett  in  Italy,  vol.  ii,  p.  274 — 2£)l. 


163  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

all  Madrid  not  a  single  street  or  house  is  to  be  found,  which  is 
not  decorated  with  a  portrait  or  bust  of  the  Virgin.  Incredible 
is  the  annual  consumption  of  flowers  made  use  of  in  Spain  for 
crowning  the  Virgin  s  image;  incredible  the  number  of  hands, 
which  are  coutinually  employed  from  moniing  till  night  in 
dressing  her  caps,  turning  her  petticoats,  and  embroidering  her 
ruffles.  Every  Spaniard  regards  the  Virgin  in  the  Hght  of  his 
friend,  his  confidante,  his  mistress,  whose  whole  attention  is  di- 
rected to  himself,  and  who  is  perpetually  watching  over  his  hap- 
piness. Hence  the  name  of  Mary  hangs  inces-santly  upon  his 
lips,  mixes  in  all  his  compliments,  and  forms  a  part  of  all  his 
wishes.  In  speaking,  in  writing,  bis  appeal  is  always  to  the 
Virgin,  who  is  the  guarantee  of  all  his  promises,  the  witness  of 
all  his  transactions.  It  is  in  the  name  of  the  holy,  blessed 
Virgin,  that  the  ladies  intrigue  with  their  gallants,  write 
billet-doux,  send  their  portraits^  and  appoint  nocturnal  assig- 
nations. 

The  funeral  pomp  and  parade  which  characterize  the  Spa- 
niards at  their  burials  of  the  dead,  is  inexpressibly  great.  Up- 
wards of  a  hundred  carriages,  five  or  six  hundred  priests,  and 
monks,  with  at  least  2000  flambeaus,  form  the  ordinary  appen- 
dage of  a  common  funeral*. 

These  things  are  deplorable,  and  shew  the  vePt'low,  degraded^ 
and  superstilious  state  of  that  nation. 

The  use  of  the  Inquisition,  however,  in  that  pope-priest- 
ridden  country  is  still  more  skocking  than  all  their  other  super- 
stitions put  together. 

What  a  curse  have  the  Priests  of  Ckrisicndom  been  to 
Christendom!  How  many  precious  souls  have  been  led  into 
the  pit  of  destruction  by  an  ungodly,  superstitious,  and  ido- 
latrous priesthood!  I  was  almost  going  to  say,  that  we  Par- 
sons  have  been  the  means  of  damning  more  souls,  than  ever 
we  were  a  mean  of  saving!  From  our  profession  it  is,  that 
iniquity  difTuses  itself  through  every  land!  God  forgive  us! 
we  have  been  too  bad  !  instead  of  being  a  blessing,  and  spread- 
ii^  health  and  salvation  through  the  nations,  as  is'  the  un- 
doubted design  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  and  the  Christian 
ministry,  we  have  been  playing  into  each  others  hands,  have 

*  Vide  Monthly  Magazine  for  Feb,  1798. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  169 

erected  a  huge  fiabric  of  worldly  dominion  for  ourselves  [*], 
and  have  brought  down,  and  are  at  this  moment  bringing 
down,  the  Divine  jiitlgments  upon  every  coinitry,  where  we 
have  erected  our  standard.  We  Protestants  will  be  ready 
enough  to  allow,  that  this  hath  been  the  case  in  the  Catholic 
states:  but  it  is  also  true,  if  I  mistake  not,  of  the  Protestant 
Bishops  and  Clergi/.  We  will  not  sacrifice  one  inch  of  the 
secular  dominion  we  have,  tlirough  the  weakness  and  folly  of 
men,  obtained;  no  not  to  save  the  kindgom  from  destruction! 
The  secular  and  superstitious  conduct  of  the  Heathen  Priest- 
hood brought  ruin  upon  the  Pagan  nations ;  the  secular  and 
superstitious  conduct  of  the  Jezcish  Priests  brought  ruin  upoa 
the  Jcziish  nation;  the  secular  and  superstitious  conduct  of 
the  Catholic  Priests  hath  brought  ruin  upon  the  Catholic  na- 
tions ;  and  the  same  kind  of  secular  and  superstitious  conduct 
of  our  Protestant  Bishops  and  Clergy  will  involve  us  in  simi- 
lar destruction.  Nothing  can  prevent  this  but  the  ecclesias- 
tical reform  so  frequently  mentioned  and  alluded  to  in  these 
papers !  ^^  hat  reason  is  there  to  be  given,  why  a  wicked,  care- 
less, lukewarm,  and  secular  Protestant  Priesthood  should  not 
be  punished  as  well  as  those  of  other  denominations  r  As  our 
light  and  privileges  are  the  greater;  we  may  justly  expect 
our  punishment  will  be  the  more  severe.  If  there  be  a  God 
in  heaven,  who  regards  the  actions  of  men,  and  who  respects 
the  completion  of  his  own  predictions,  we  may  be  assured  the 
day  of  darkness  is  coming,  unless  prevented  by  a  change  in  our 
conduct.     See  Jeremiah  xviii.  1 — 10. 

Surely  at  the  present  dread  period,  we,  of  all  people, 
ought  to  take  the  alarm,  and  use  every  endeavour  to  remove 
whatever  may  subject  us  to  divine  judgment.H.  My  daily 
prayer  is,  for  the  safety,  welfare,  and  .prosperity  of  my  King 
and  Countri/.  But  when  I  look  around  me,  I  cannot  help 
being  exceedingly  affected  at  the  present  melancholy  state 
pf  most  of  the  neighbouring  nations.  The  sun,  moon,  and 
stars,  are  all  darkened;  and  tlie  powers  of  heaven  are  shaken. 
Is  not  the  sun  set  and  perished  in  France  and  Poland?  Are 
not  Holland,  Flanders,  Switzerland,  Geneva,  Genoa,  Sardinia, 
Savoy,  Treves,  Cologne,  Venice,  Home,  the  Italian  dominions 

[*]  It  is  painful  to  contemplate  that  the  Bishops  should  be  dis- 
covering an  active  disposition  to  increase  the  extent  of  their  worldly 
dominion. — Editor. 


17a  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

of  the  House  of  Austria,  and  the  little  sea-girt  empire  of  the 
Kiiwhts  of  Malta,  are  not  all  these  revolutiouized  and  fallen  I 
Do  not  the  Kings  of  Prussia,  Naples,  Spain,  and  Portugat^ 
and  even  the  Emperor  himself,  at  this  moment  tremble  on 
their  thrones  ?  And  doth  not  the  same  power,  which  hath  ac- 
complished, is  accomplishing,  and  will  accomplish  similar 
changes  in  ail  the  continental  states,  denomice  tlie  most  com- 
plete destruction  to  the  British  empire?  What  then  can  save 
us  from  the  threatened  calamity?  Nothing  under  heaven,  but 
a  national  reformation,  by  which  we  may  engage  tlie  d'ivine 
protection.  Hitherto  the  Lord  hath  wondevfullj/  helped  us; 
and  I  pray  God  effectually  to  help  us  in  time  to  come:  bsat 
this  we  have  no  solid  reason  to  expect,  for  any  great  number 
of  years,  unless  the  rubbish  of  human  ordinances  shall  be  rc- 
ijioved  out  of  Christ's  kingdom,  the  church,  and  a  very 
general  moral  and  religious  change  take  place  among  us. 
Oh !  that  I  could  sound  an  alarm  into  the  heart  of  our  excel- 
lent King,  and  into  the  hearts  of  our  Princes,  Nobles,  Bishops, 
Clergy,  Gentru,  Tradesmen ;  and  into  the  hearts  also  of  all 
the  inferior  orders  of  society!  lih  reform,  op  ruiti!  The 
1260  prophetical  years  are  expiring!  Reduce  the  Redeemer's 
religion  to  its  primitive  purity  and  simplicity,  or  he  will  eome 
in  judgment,  and  plead  his  own  rights*.  Let  any  man,  any 
Bishop,  any  Clergyman,  say  and  prove  that  these  things  are 
not  so,  and  I  will  openly  retract  all  that  is  here  advanced. 
T!he  Popish  constitution  is  overturned  in  Rome  this  very  year; 
and  1260  years  from  this  time  the  Roman  Pontiff  began  his 
secular  dominion  in  that  proud  and  idolatrous  metropolis  of 
the  Christian  world,  through  the  expulsion  of  the  Goths  by 
Belisarius  the  Roman  general -j-! — Jlljiesh  is  as  grass,  and 


*  The  propagators  of  Infidelity  m  France,  before  the  Revolution, 
raised  among  themselves  and  spent  no  less  a  sum  annually  than 
900,000  pounds  sterling,  in  purchasing,  printing,  and  dispersing  books 
to  corrupt  the  muids  of  the  people,  and  prepare  them  for  desperate 
measures.  And  similar  moans  are  at  this  moment  can-ying  forward 
in  this  country,  in  no  small  degree,  to  accomplish  the  same  purposes. 
While  we  Parsons  are  asleep,  crying  peace  and  safety,  the  enemy  is 
sowing  his  tares! 

t  I  mention  the  Goths  and  Belisarius  again  in  this  place,  be- 
cause I  wish  to  draw  the  Reader's  attention  to  this  remarkable  ac- 
complishment of  Scripture  prophecy. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITIN 

all  the  glorij  of  man  as  ihcjlozcer  of  grass.  The  g"Hfli«  teither- 
tth,  and  the  fioTcer  f hereof falleth  azuai/ :  but  the  zrhr^^Jtke 
Lord  eudurtth  for  everi  '"*  — 

Aad  shall  we  be  so  blind  and  selfish  as  to  suppose,  tiiat  all 
the  rest  of  the  nations  shall  fall,  and  we  alone  be  preserved  ? 
Amen!  Ameui  May  my  King  and  my  Coujitry  live  for 
ever! 

We  readily  grant,  tiierefore,  you  .see,  MY  Countrymen, 
that  the  corruptions  of  Christ'uuuty  shall  be  purged  and  done 
away4  »«i  "«e  are  persuaded  the  wickedness  of  Christians,  so 
calleol,  the  lukfcw<irmness  of  professors,  ar»d  tiie  reiterated  at- 
tacks of  hijideh  upon  the  Gosptl,  shall  all,  under  the  guidance 
of  irkfinile  wisdom,  contribute  to  accomplish  this  end.  Tlte 
lofty  Jotxks  of  lordly  Prelates  shall  be  brought  low;  the  s^-- 
percilious  airs  of  doze  hi/  Doitors  and  peijured  Pluralists  shall 
be  himibled;  the  horrible  sacrilege  of  Nu?i-rtsidtn.ts,  wb^ 
siiear  the  fieece,  and  leave  the  flock  .t=lius  despoiled  to  tlie 
charge  of  uninterested  hijelings  ttat  care  not  tor  tiiem,  shall 
be  avenged  ■on  their  impious  heads.  Intemperate  Priests^ 
<ivaricioMS  Clerks,  and  buckish  Parsojis,  those  curses  of  Chris*' 
tendom,  sliall  be  confounded.  All  secular  Hierarchies  in  the 
Church  shall  be  tumbled  into  ruin;  lukewarm  Formalists,  of 
everj  denomination,  shall  cull  to  the  rocks  and  moimtains  to 
hide  them  from  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb.  Infidek,  seeing  the 
prophecies  accomplished  before  their  eyes,  shall  submit  them- 
selves to  the  long-resisted,  but  gentle  yoke  of  the  Gospel. 
JVicked  and  openly  ptofane  men,  Men  of  Ii<uik,  especially, 
those  corrupters  and  dehauchers  of  the  lower  orders  of  so- 
ciety, shall  be  converted,  and  become  righteous,  or  &wept  from 
the  earth  zcith  the  besom  of  destrucUon.  The  invidious  disdain  of 
illiberal  Sectarists  shall  he  succeeded  by  -equal  j>nd  .universal 
benevolence^  and  the  Loud  Jes>us  Christ  alojie  shall  be 
exalted  in  that  day*.     The  Bible,  my  Countrymex,  the 

*  It  mav  be  \'er\'  much  questioned  whether  tiie  united  >\isdoni  of 
jnen  be  equal  to  such  an  <;tfectual  reformation  in  Church  and  Stat^ 
as  may  be  thought  jncrfectiy  consister>t  withthe  purity  and  simplicity  of 
the  Gospt-L  In  civil  matters,  it  may  be,  there  is  no  government  de- 
vised by  Imnian  wisdom,  better  calculated  to  promote  the  liberty, 
jirosperity,  and  hapi)inessof  a  country  than  our  own,  by  King,  Lords, 
and  Commons,  supj)osiug  all  abuses  displaced.  Nor  do  I  sec  any 
valid  objection  to  the  three  r>rders  in  the  Church,  of  Bishops,  Priests, 
vittd  Deacons.    It  is  certain  thev  have  prevailed  from  the  dajs  of  .the 

'-Z2 


^ 


172  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

liible,  stripped  of  every  human  appendage,  shall  rise  superior 
to  all  opposition;  and  shall  go  down  with  the  revolving  ages 
of  time,  enlightening  the  faith,  enlivening  the  hope,  enkindling 
the  love,  enflaming  the  zeal,  and  directing  the  conduct  of  men, 
till  the  world  shall  be  no  more. 

"  The  cloud-capt  tov»'ers,  the  gorgeous  palaces. 
The  solemn  temples,  the  great  globe  itself. 
Yea,  all  which  it  inherits  sliall  dissolve. 
And,  like  the  baseless  fabric  of  a  vision. 
Leave  not  a  wreck  behind:" 

But  the  promises  and  threatenings  of  the  Tfoh/  Writings 
shall  be  receiving  their  awful  completion,  upon  Be/ievers  and 
Unhelievers,  throughout  those  never  ending  ages,  which  shall 
commence  when  the  present  scene  of  things  shall  be  fully  ter- 
minated.    Let  MY  Countrymen,  therefore. 

Apostles,  in  some  form  or  other.  But  here  we  have  abundance  of 
things  to  be  removed,  which  are  inconsistent  with  the  scriptural  mo- 
del. And  if  our  Governors,  ecclesiastical  and  civil,  are  determined  to 
hold  fast  what  they  lla^  e  gotten,  and  suffer  no  abuses  to  be  rectihed  ; 
the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  it  may  be  fully  expected,  will  arise, 
ere  long,  and  plead  his  own  cause  in  slaughter  and  blood.  It  is 
morally  impossible  that  the  present  degenerate  state  of  things  should 
continue  another  century.  Without  a  thorough  reformation,  both  in 
civil  and  religious  concerns  (and  even  such  a  reformation  is  big  with 
danger)  a  much  shorter  time  must  subvert  the  present  order  of  things, 
not  only  through  Europe  in  general,  but  in  England  particularly. 
God  grant  we  may  have  wisdom  to  do  that  of  our  own  accord,  which 
must  otherwise  be  done  by  constraint.  When  the  iniquity  of  the 
Amorites  is  full,  their  enemies  will  receive  commission  from  above  to 
enter  their  land,  and  to  kill  and  destroy. 

The  charges  and  denunciatiDns  against  the  several  culprits  men- 
tioned in  the  above  page  may  seem  too  severe  to  some  gentle  spirited 
persons,  who  can  call  evil  good  and  good  evil ;  but  in  my  opinion, 
they  fall  greatly  below  the  propriety  of  the  case.  The  offending  Clergy 
are  the  curse  and  the  bane  of  the  country,  and  the  wrath  of  God  shall 
smoke  against  the  faithless  shepherds  of  Christ's  flock. — Men  of  rank 
likewise  are  sometimes  uncommonly  blameable.  I  myself  ha\e  known 
some,  who  have  corrupted  and  debauched  the  whole  neighbourhood 
where  they  lived.  The  late  L — d  S — h  w  as  a  pest  in  this  way.  The 
late  S--r  "\\  — m  M — h  also  did  much  mischief  among  the  young  men 
and  women  all  around  the  place  where  he  resided  for  several  miles. 
No  young  person,  of  more  decent  appearance  than  ordinary,  could 
well  escape  his  allurements.  Boys  and  girls  were  equally  his  prey. 
W^e  have  many  now  living,  also,  who  are  extremely  culpable ;  and 
when  the  scourge  of  Heaven  visits  the-  land,  it  shall  fall  peculiarly 
heavy  upon  such  characters. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  173 

"  Eead  and  revere  tlie  Sacred  Page,  a  Page 
Where  triumphs  iinmortality;  a  Page 
Which  not  the  wliole  creation  could  produce; 
Which  not  the  conflagration  >hall  destroy; 
In  nature's  ruins  not  cue  lett  r  lost." 

In  the  mean  time,  be  persuaded  also  to  reflect  upon  our 
respective  situations.  Sujtpose  that  we  vho  believe  in  the 
Saviour  of  mankind  are  mistaken?  Upon  your  own  principles 
we  are  safe.  But  suppose  you  are  mistaken  r  Your  loss  is 
immense.  For  zihat  is  a  man  profited,  if  he  shall  gain  the 
xchole  zvorld,  and  lose  his  oun  soul?  ur  xchat  shall  a  man  Pive 
in  exchange  for  his  soul?  You  know  who  it  is  that  harii  said 
too — He  that  belicveth  oil  the  Son  hatli  everlasting  life :  and 
he  that  btlieveth  not  the  Son  shall  not  see  life,  but  the  zcrath 
of  Gob  abideth  on  him — he  is  condemned  already! — IVhoso- 
eter  shall  fall  on  this  stone  shall  be  broken :  but  on  rchomso- 
eier  it  shall  fill,  it  uill  grind  him  to  pozcder.  Is  there  no 
danger  to  be  apprehended  from  these,  and  similar  declara- 
tions, with  which  the  Sacred  Writings  so  largely  abound? 
We  are  persuaded  there  is  danger,  and  such  as  is  of  the  most 
serious  kind  which  can  befal  a  rational  creature. 

"  Know'st  thou  th*  importance  of  a  soul  immortal? 

Behold  the  midni:;ht  glory:  worlds  on  worlds! 

Amazing  pomp !  lledouble  this  amaze  ; 

Ten  thousand  add;  add  twice  ten  thousand  more; 

Then  weigh  the  «hole;  one  soul  outweighs  them  all; 

And  calls  th'  astonishing  magnificence 

Of  unintelligent  creation  poor." 

Treating,  with  just  contempt,  therefore,  the  scoffs  and 
.  sneers  (for  solid  arguments  we  know  they  have  none)  of  the 
whole  unbelieving  body  of  our  countrymen,  whether  amon_g 
the  nobility  and  gentry  of  the  land,  or  among  the  ignoble 
vulgar,  the  beasts  of  the  people;  our  determination  is,  whatever 
we  gain  or  lose  beside,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  secure  the 
salvation  of  this  immortal  part.  No  harm  can  happen  to  us  in 
so  doing.  We  are  secure  in  every  event  of  things.  If  the 
four  sore  scourges  of  the  Almighty,  the  sword,  famine,  noi- 
some beasts,  and  pestilence,  should  receive  their  commission 
to  run  through  the  land,  we  are  yet  assured  it  shall  be  well 
with  them  that  fear  God.  Sound  religion,  rational  piety^ 
solid  virtue,  and  a  lively  sense  of  the  divine  favour,  will  in- 
jure no  man.     They  will  render   us  respected,  at  least  by  th« 


174  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

wise  and  good,  while  we  live,  and  be  a  comfortable  evidence 
of  our  felicity  when  we  die*.  In  the  mean  time,  if  it  be 
enquired  where  present  happiness  is  to  be  found?  May  we  not 
say  witii  confidence, 

*•  No  doubt  'tis  in  the  human  breast, 
When  clam'rous  conscience  Ues  at  rest, 

Appeas'd  by  love  divine : 
>Vhere  peace  has  fix'd  her  snow-white  throne. 
And  faith  and  lioly  hope  are  known. 

And  grateful  praise  erects  her  shrine." 

After  all,  suppose  there  should  be  no  future  existence — 
what  do  we  loser — But,  if  there  should  be  zl  future  stated — 
"  and  that  there  is,  all  nature  cries  aloud  through  all  her 
works" — then  Mhat  shall  become  of  the  philosophic  Infidd; 
the  immoral  Christian;  and  the  mere  nominal  Professor'^  If 
the  righteous  scarcely  be  savedf  where  shall  the  ungodly  and 
the  sinner  appear? 

*'  What  can  preserve  my  life f  or  what  destroy ! 
An  angel's  arm  can't  snatcli  me  from  the  grave: 
Legions  of  angels  can't  contine  me  there." 

Reflect  then,  my  Countrymen,  upon  your  situation.- 
Be  the  Scriptures  true  or  false;  be  Jesus  Christ  a  vile 
impostor,  or  the  only  Saviour  of  the  world;  yet  we  are  un- 
deniably reasonable  creatures,  and  under  the  moral  govern- 
ment of  God.  This  is  no  mere  notion,  that  may  be  trne  or 
false;  but  a  plain  matter  of  fact,  which  every  man  may  be 
sensible  of  by  looking  into  his  own  bosom.  Natural  religion, 
therefore,  at  least,  must  be  binding  upon  us.  And  that  also 
requires,  on  pain  of  the  highest  penalties,  tliat  we  should  deny 
vngodliness,  all  impiety  and  profaueness — and  worldly  lusts, 
all  irregular  secular  pleasures  and  pursuits — and  lire  soberly, 
chastely,  temperately; — righteously,  doing  strict  justice  in  all 
our  dealings,  between  man  and  man,   and  shewing   mercy  to 

*  When  that  fine  writer,  and  pious  author,  3Ir.  William  Law, 
came  to  die,  he  seemed  to  enjoy  the  full  assurance  of  faith :  "  Away 
with  these  filthy  garments,"  said  the  expiring  Saint ;  "  I  feel  a  sacred 
fire  kindled  in  my  soul,  which  will  destroy  every  thing  contrary  to 
itself,  and  bum  as  a  flame  of  divine  love  to  all  eternity." 

This  learned  man,  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  degenerated  into 
all  the  fooleries  of  mysticism ;  and  there  is  some  reason  to  suppose, 
his  extravagant  notions  might  be  one  ipean  of  driving  the  celebrated 
CriBBON  into  a  state  of  infidehtv. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  175 

everv  child  of  distress  to  the  utmost  of  our  power — and  godlilij, 
religiously,  piously,  worsliipping  the  Divine  Being  con- 
stantly and  conscientiously  in  public  and  in  private,  and 
zealously  endeavouring  to  please  him  ia  every  part  of  our 
conduct.  Deism,  as  well  as  Christiamty,  requires  all  this. 
We  gain  nothing  then,  but  lose  a  great  deal,  by  rejecting  the 
merciful  dispensation  of  the  Gospel,  and  having  recourse  to  the 
religion  of  nature*.  For  natural  religion^  equally  with  rc- 
rfa/r(7,  condemns  all  2/?2Wo;*«/ men;  under  the  penalty  of  in- 
curring the  utmost  displeasure  of  our  Maker. 

**  But  then  you  have  the  satisfaction  to  think  there  is  no 
Devil:  by  rejecting  the  Bible  you  have  at  least  got  clear 
of  this  bug-bear,  with  which  we  frighten  children  aiKl  old 
women!" 

If  we  should  ask,  how  you  know  there  is  no  such  fallea 
spirit?     You   can    give   no    rational    answer.     Are    you    ac- 

*  What  a  picture  does  A'oltaire  draw  of  the  condition  of  man? 
and,  indceil,  thouirh  it  is  very  melancholy,  it  is  very  just,  upon  his  own 
principles,  that  the  way  of  salvation  n.-vealed  in  ll.e  Gospel,  has  no 
foundation  in  tnith. 

"  Who  can  without  horror,"  says  this  sophist er,  "  consider  the 
whole  earth  as  the  empire  of  destruction  ?  It  abounds  in  wonders; 
it  abounds  also  in  a  ictims ;  it  is  a  vast  field  of  carnr.ge  and 
contagion! — Every  species  is  without  i^ity ;  pursued  and  torn  to 
pieces,  through  the  earth  and  air  and  water!  In  man  there  is  more 
wretchedness  than  in  all  other  anin^als  put  together.  He  smarts 
continually  under  two  scourges,  which  other  annuals  never  feel; 
anxiety  and  listlessness  in  appetence,  which  make  him  weary  of  him- 
self,— He  loves  life,  and  yet  he  knows  tliat  he  must  die.  If  he  enjoy 
some  transient  good,  for  wb.ich  he  is  thankful  to  heaven,  he  suflers 
various  evils,  and  is  at  last  devoured  by  worms.  This  knowledge  is 
his  fatal  prerogative;  otlier  animals  have  it  not.  He  feels  it  every 
moment,  rankhng  and  corroding  in  his  breast.  Yet  he  spends  the 
transient  moment  of  his  existence,  in  diffusing  the  misery  that  he 
suffers;  m  cutting  the  thror.ts  of  his  fellow- creatures  for  pay;  in 
cheating  and  being  cheated;  in  robbing  and  being  robbed;  in  serving 
that  he  may  command;  and  in  repenting  of  all  that  he  does. — The 
bulk  of  mankind  are  nothing  more  than  a  croud  of  wretches,  equally 
criminal  and  unfortunate;  and  the  globe  contains  rather  carcases 
than  men.  I  tremble  upon  a  review  of  this  dreadful  p  cture,  to  fmd 
that  it  implies  a  compkuit  against  Providence;  and  I  wish  that  I 
had  iieiei-  been  born .'" 

Let  any  man  consider  well  this  declaration;  aftem^ards  proceeti 
to  take  a  view  of  the  last  three  months,  and  dying  scene  of  VoL- 
taire,  and  then  let  him  say  what  this  old  Sinner  ever  gained  by  liis 
boasted  Infidelity  and  Philosophy. 


176  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

quainted  with  all  the  secrets  of  the  invisible  world?  Your 
ipse  dixit  will  go  no  further  than  ours.  We  say  there  is  such 
a  Being,  and  we  appeal  to  all  history ;  especially  to  the 
writings  of  the  Old  and  Nero  Testaments,  the  evidence  of 
which  is  such  as  no  man  ever  did,  or  ever  can  fairly  answer. 
The  Son  of  God,  the  Messenger  from  the  invisible  state, 
hath  taught  us  this  doctrine*;  and  we  are  firmly  persuaded, 
it  is  acting  a  more  lalional  part  to  give  credit  to  his  informa- 
tion, concerning  the  invisible  world,  than  to  trust  to  the 
vague,  uncertain,  and  contradictory  lights  of  a  vain  philo- 
sophy. What  have  you  to  reply  r — "  There  is  no  such  Being 
in  nature." — And  so  your  afhrmation  or  negation  is  to  be  the 
standard  of  truth! — A  little  more  modesty  might  become  you 
well:  certainly  it  would  make  you  the  more  amiable  men,  and 
not  less  comfortable  m  your  own  mind. 

But,  suppose  there  be  no  Devil;  what  do  you  gain? — 
Still  man  is  a  rational  creature,  and  you  are  under  the  moral 
as  well  as  the  natural  government  of  the  Divine  Being. 
And  if  you  have  been  dexterous  enough  to  get  clear  of  one 
enemy,  you  have  two  yet  left,  the  world  and  your  ozcn  nature 
— your  lusts  and  passions  within  you,  and  the  allurements  of 
visible  objects  without  you.  Can  you  deny  the  existence  of 
these?  And  are  you  perfectly  sure,  that  you  shall  be  able  to 
wage  a  successful  warfare  with  two  such  potent  adversaries? 

You  see  then,  my  Countrymen,  that  when  you  have 
hooted  the  Bible  out  of  the  world,  proved  the  Virgin  Mart/ 
to  be  a  bad  woman,  Jesus  Christ  to  be  an  illegitimate, 
child,  and  annihilated  the  Devil — wonderful  feats!  worthy 
of  all  praise ! — you  must  not  stop  here.  There  is  no  safety 
for  you,  till  you  have  also  annihilated  the  Maker  and 
Governor  of  the  world.  Atheism  must  be  your  dernier 
resort "fi     For  if  there  be   a   God,    every  immoral  man   will 

*  Tlie  Bible  is  full  of  the  doctrine  of  fallen  angels.  See  espe- 
cially Matt.  X.  1.— Ibid.  xxv.  41. — Mark  v.  8,  9. — John  viii.  44. — 
2  Cor.  xi.  14,  15.— James  ii.  19. — 2  Peter  ii.  4. — 1  John  iii.  8. — 
Jude  6. 

t  Antiphanes,  a  very  ancient  Poet,  who  lived  near  a  hundred 
years  before  Socrates,  hath  strongly  expressed  his  expectation  of 
future  existence:  "  Be  not  grieved,"  says  he,  "above  measure  for 
thy  deceased  friends.  They  are  not  dead,  but  have  only  finished 
that  journey  which  it  is  necessary  for  every  one  of  us  to  take.  We 
ourselves  must  go  to  that  grtat  place  of  reception  in  which  they 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  177 

be,  ere  long,  a  miserable  man.  You  must,  therefore,  to  be 
consistent,  and  obtain  composure  in  your  irreligious  courses, 
plunge  headlong  into  the  gulph  of  Atheism*. — But  then, 
what  will  you  do  with  reason  and  conscience,  those  trouble- 
some inmates  of  the  human  bosom  ?  Can  you  bring  your- 
selves calmly  to  believe,  that  this  beautiful  frame  of  nature, 
which  displays  so  much  intelligence,  wisdom,  power,  good- 
ness, justice,   art,    design,    is    the     work     of   chance?    That 

are  all  assembled,  and,  in  this  general  rendezvous  of  mankind,  live 
together  in  another  state  of  being." 

Spectator,  No.  289. 

*  Books  proper  to  be  consulted  against'^^Amm  may  be  these  that 
tbUow: — NiEUWENTYTS  Religious  Philosopher — Adams's  Lec- 
tures on  Aaiural  and  Experimental  Philosophi/—ChAYikE.'s  Dis- 
course concerning:  the  Being  and  Attributes  of  God — Baxter's 
Matho — Necker's  Importance  of  Religions  Opinions — Bishop 
Cumberland  on  the  Laws  of  Nature-  Bentley's  Boyle's  Lec- 
tures—B-Ay's  Wisdom  of  God  in  the  Works  of  Creation— Woll\s- 
ton's  Relis[io7i  of  Nature — Wesley's  Survey  of  theWisdom  of  God 
in  the  Creation — Derham's  Physico  and  Astro-Theology — Cud- 
worth's  True  Intellectual  System-— Bishop  \VlLKll<iS  on  Natural 
Religion — Stithm's  Reflections  on  the  Works  of  GoJ) — Spectacle  de 
la  Nature,  J^LePluche — and  Fenelon's  Demonstration  of  the 
Existence,  Wisdom,  and  Omnipotence  0/ God,  drawn  from  the  know- 
ledge of  Nature,  paiticularly  of  3Ian,  and  fitted  to  the  meanest  ca- 
pacity.— This  is  a  fine  little  work,  and  worthy  of  its  great  author. 
To  these  may  be  added  also  Swammerdam's  Book  of  Nature. — 
Bo  Tenet's  Philosophical  Researches,  and  Pierre's  Studies  of  Na- 
ture, abound  with  much  ingenious  matter  in  proof  of  the  Divine 
Existence  [*]. 

I  transcribe  the  names  of  such  a  variety  of  authors  both  here,  and 
on  former  pages,  not  out  of  any  vain  and  foolish  ostentation;  but,  to 
inform  the  less  cxi)erienced  reader,  to  what  books  he  may  have  re- 
course, if  he  find  it  necessary  for  the  peace  and  satisfaction  of  his 
omi  mind.  But  there  is  no  proof  of  the  existence  of  GoD,  and  the 
truth  of  Christianity,  so  consolitary,  as  the  experimental  and  heart- 
felt knowledge  of  God,  and  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ.  Indeed,  all 
otiier  proofs,  witfiout  this,  are  to  little  purpose,  and  this  is  inde- 
pendent of  every  other  argnment ;  for  though  it  cannot  with  pro- 
priety be  adducert  for  the  conviction  of  Unbelievers,  it  is  calculated 
to  yield  more  satisfaction  to  our  own  bosoms  than  the  most  laboured 
arguments  that  reach  the  understanding  only.  Poor  j>eople,  whose 
minds  have  taken  a  religious  tuni,  usually  rest  their  salvation  upon 
tins  experimental  cotJviction  alone, 

[*]  Great  as  are  the  evils  tliat  PaleY  has  brought  on  us,  by 
teaching  the  clergy  the  art  of  prevarication,  the  christian  world  is 
certainly  much  indebted  to  him  for  his  able  treajises  on  the  Evidences 
of  Christianity,  and  Natural  Theology ;  whieb  cannot  be  too  wannly 
recommended.— Editor. 

A    A 


178  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

admirable  piece  of  mechanism  your  own  body,  tlie  meanest 
insect  that  crawls  upon  the  ground,  nay,  the  very  watch  in 
your  pocket,  will  confute  the  supposition.  You  must,  there- 
fore, you  see,  come  back  to  and  embrace  the  Religion  of 
Jesus  with  us  Believers.  You  cannot  find  rest,  upon  the 
principles  of  sound  reason^  in  any  other  system.  For  though 
the  Gospel  is  nltended  with  various  and  great  difficulties,  as 
every  view  of  both  the  natural  and  moral  world  unquestion- 
ably is;  yet  it  is  attended  with  the  fewest  difficulties,  and 
none  but  such  as  are  honestly  superable ;  and  is,  at  the  sanie 
time,  the  most  comfortable  and  happy  institution  that  ever 
was  proposed  to  the  consideration  and  acceptance  of  reason- 
able creatures.  Nothing  was  ever  so  pure,  so  benevolent,  so 
divine,  so  perfective  of  human  nature,  so  adapted  to  the 
wants  and  circumstances  of  mankind.  To  live  under  the  full 
power  of  it,  is  to  have  the  proper  enjoyment  of  life  *.  To 
believe  and  obey  it,  is  to  be  entitled  to  a  crown  that  fadeth 
not  away. 

Upon  the  supposition,  that  the  person,  whom  we  call  the 
Saviour  of  the  world,  had  no  commission  from  heaven  to 
make  the  will  of  God  known  to  mankind,  would  it  not  be 
one  of  the  greatest  of  miracles,  that  he  and  his  twelve  fol*^' 
lowers,  poor,  unlettered,  and  obscure  men,  should  have 
brought  to  light  a  system  of  doctrines  the  most  sublime,  and 
of  morals  the  most  perfect?  that  Jesus  and  the  Fishermen 
of  Galilee  should  have  far  surpassed  Socrates,  Plato, 
Cicero,  and  all  the  greatest  men  of  the  most  enlightened 
period  of  the  world?  that  every  thing  they  advanced  should 
perfectly  agree  both  with  the  natural,  civil,  and  religioiLs 
history  of  mankind?  that  their  discourses  should  still  be 
capable  of  improving  and  delighting  the  most  learned  and 
profound   geniuses   of    these  latter   ages-f?    that    all    modern 

*  *'  There  is  not  a  single  precept  in  the  Gospel,  witliout  excepting 
that  which  ordains  the  forgiveness  of  injuries,  or  that  which  com- 
mands every  one  to  possess  his  vessel  in  sanctification  and  honour, 
which  is  not  calculated  to  promote  our  happiness." 

Sir  Isaac  Newton  has  given  us  a  demonstration  of  the  exist- 
ence and  intelligence  of  the  Divine  Being,  in  the  close  of  his 
Principia,  which  the  atheistical  reader  would  do  well  to  consider  at 
his  leisure.  And  io  the  above  books  against  yiM«s?«  should  be  added 
a  very  excellent  and  satisfactory  Discoursehy  ArchbishopTiiuhOTSon 
on  the  Wisdom  of  being  Religious. 

t  Newton  accounted  the  Scriptures  the  most  sublime  philo- 
sophy, and  never  mentioned  the  word — God — but  with  a  pause.  See  ; 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  179 

^wcoveries  should  bear  witness  to  the  truth  of  the  facts  re- 
corded in  the  most  venerable  of  alt  Volumes?  and  that  every 
book  in  the  world,  sacred  or  profane.  Christian,  Jevcish, 
Pagan,  or  Mahometan,  instead  of  lessening,  should  estabUsh 
the  credit  and  authority  of  the  Bible  as  a  revelation  from 
heaven  * ! 

Bishop  Watson  s  Two  Sfvmons  and  Charge,  p.  9,  where  this  I^ 
asserted.  The  saipe  thint^  is  recorded  of  the  Honourable  ROBERT 
Boyle,  by  Bi»hop  BuRNET.  How  different  the  conduct  of  our 
Minute  Philosophers? 

*  3//-.WH1STON,  in  his  Astronomical  Principles  of  Religion,  gives 
«s  a  short  view  of  tlie  reasons,  «hich  mduccd  liim  to  believe  the 
Jewish  and  (  hristian  revelations  to  be  true.  The«e  reasons  are  the 
following : 

1.  "  The  revealed  religion  of  tiie  Jm-^  and  Christians  lays  the 
law  of  nature  fur  its  foundation  ;  and  all  along  supiwrts  aid  assists 
natural  rclij,^on ;  -as  every  true  revelation  ought  to  do. 

2.  "  Astronomy,  and  the  rest  of  our  certam  mathematic  sci- 
ences, do  couhrm  the  accounts  of  Scripture,  so  fiar  as  they  are 
concerned. 

3.  "  The  most  ancient  and  best  historical  accounts  now  known  do, 
generally  sjieaking,  conlimi  the  accounts  of  Scripture,  so  far  as  they 
are  concerned. 

4.  "  The  more  learning  has  encreased,  tlie  more  certain,  in  ge- 
neral, do  the  Scripture  accounts  appear  ;  and  its  difficult  places  are 
more  cleared  thereby. 

5.  "  There  are,  oV  have  been  generally,  standing  memorials  pre- 
served of  the  certain  truths  of  the  principal  historical  facts,  which 
were  constant  evidences  for  the  certainty  of  them. 

6.  "  Neither  the  Mosaical  law,  nor  the  Christian  religion,  could 
possibly  have  been  received  and  established  witliout  such  miracles  as 
the  sacred  iiiston*'  contains. 

7.  "  Although  the  Jews  all  along  hated  and  persecuted  the  pro- 
phets of  God;  yet  were  they  forced  to  believe  they  were  true 
prophets,  and  their  writings  of  divine  inspiration. 

8.  "  The  ancient  and  present  state  of  the  Jewish  nation  are  strong 
arguments  for  the  trutli  of  their  law,  and  of  the  Scriptuie  prophe- 
cies relating  to  them. 

y.  "  The  ancient  and  present  state  of  the  Christian  church  are 
also  strong  arguments  for  the  truth  of  the  Gospel,  and  of  the  Scrip- 
ture prophecies  relathig  thereto. 

10.  "  The  miracles,  whereon  the  Jeui^h  and  Christian  religion 
are  founded,  \\  ere  of  old  owned  to  be  true  by  their  very  enemies. 

11."  The  sacred  \\  riters,  w  ho  lived  in  times  and  places  so  re- 
mote from  one  another,  do  vet  all  carry  on  one  and  the  same  grand 
design ;  namely,  that  of  the  salvation  of  mankind,  by  the  worship 
of,  and  obedience  to,  the  one  true  GoD,  in  and  through  the  king 
Alessiah :  which,  without  a  divine  conduct,  could  never  have  beea 
done. 

A  A  2  ■ 


ISO  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION      - 

This  IS  more  extraordinary  still,  when  it  is  considered  that 
the  object  of  our  Saviour's  religion  is  new,  the  doctrines 
new,    his   personal    character   new*,    and   the    religion   itself 

12.  "  The  principal  doctrines  of  the  Jewish  and  Christian  religicm 
are  agreeable  to  the  most  ancient  traditions  of  all  other  nations. 

13.  "  The  diliiculties-relating  to  this  religion  are  not  such  as  affect 
the  truth  of  the  facts,  but  the  cocduct  of  Providence :  the  reasons  of 
which  the  sacred  writers  never  pretend  fully  to  know,  or  to  reveal  to 
mankind. 

14.  "  Natural  religion,  which  is  yet  so  certain  in  itself,  is  not 
wthout  such  difficulties  as  to  the  conduct  of  Providence,  as  are  ob- 
jected to  Revelation. 

15.  "  The  Sacred  History  haS  the  greatest  marks  of  truth,  ho- 
nesty, and  impartiality  of  all  other  histories  whatsoever;  and  withal 
has  none  of  the  known  marks  of  knavery  and  imposture. 

1 6.  "  The  predictions  of  Scripture  have  been  still  fulfilled  in  the 
several  ages  of  the  world  whereto  they  belong. 

17.  "  No  opposite  systems  of  the  universe,  or -sclieir.es  of  diviiie 
re\elation,  have  any  tolerable  pretences  to  be  true,  but  those  of  the 
Jeivs  and  Christians. 

"  These  are  the  plain  and  obvious  arguments,  which  persuade  nie 
of  tlie  truth  of  the  Jewish  and  Christian  rcAelations,  which  I 
earnestly  recommend  to  the  farther  consideration  of  the  inquisitive 
reader." 

*  "  The  four  Evangelists,"  of  whoui  such  contemptuous  things 
have  been  spoken  by  Mr.  Paine  and  otiiers,  "  have  done,  without 
appearing  to  have  intended  it,  what  Mas  ne\er  performed  by  any 
authors  before  or  since.  They  have  drawn  a  perfect  human  character, 
without  a  single  flaw  I  They  have  given  the  histor\'  of  one,  whose 
spirit,  words,  and  actions,  were  in  ca  ery  particular  what  they  ought 
to  have  been ;  who  always  did  the  \ ery  thing  which  v^as  proper,  and 
in  the  best  manner  imaginable ;  who  never  once  deviated  from  the 
most  coi>summate  wisdom,  purity,  benevolence,  com|>assion,  meek- 
ness, humihty,  fortitude,  patience,  piety,  zeal,  and  every  otljer  ex- 
cellency ;  and  who  in  no  instance  let  one  virtue  or  holy  disposition 
entrench  on  another ;  but  exercised  them  all  in  entire  harmony  and 
exact  proportion!  The  more  the  liistories  of  the  Evangelists  are 
examined,  the  clearer  will  this  appear;  and  tlie  more  evidently  will 
it  be  perceived,  that  they  all  coincide  in  the  view  they  give  of  their 
Lord's  character.  This  subject  challenges  investigation,  and  sets 
Jnjidelity  at  defiance !  Either  these  four  men  exceeded  in  genius  and 
capacity  all  the  writers  that  ever  hved,  or  they  wrote  under  the 
special  guidaiKc  of  divine  inspiration;  tor  without  labour  or  aft'ec- 
tation  they  have  effected,  wliat  hath  baffled  all  others,  w  ho  have  set 
themselves  purposely  to  accomplish  it. 

"  Industr*',  ingenuity,  and  malice  liave,  for  ages,  been  employed,  in 
endeavouring  to  prove  the  Evangelists  inconsistent  with  each  other; 
but  not  a  single  contradiction  has  been  proved  upon  tlian." 

This  quotation  is  taken  from  the  Rev.  T.  Scott's  Answer  to 
Paine's  Age  of  Reason,    The  whole  forms  a  satisfactory  antidote 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITING^.  I8l 

superior  io  all  that  was   known  among  men.     These  are  con- 
siderations which  ought  to  have  nuich  weight  with  every  man 

against  the  poison  of  that  virulent  Deist's  pubhcation,  and  may  be 
had  at  the  very  nicMj«,iate  price  of  One  ShilHng. 

Witli  this  may  be  compared  the  line  accoiuit  that  Rousseau  has 
given  us  of  the  Gospel,  which  is  tiie  more  remarkable,  as  it  is  from 
the  pen  of  an  enemy. 

"  I  will  confess  to  you,"  says  he,  "  that  the  majesty  of  the 
Script urrs  strikes  me  with  admiration,  as  the  purity  of  the  Gospel 
hatli  its  intluence  on  my  heart.  Peruse  the  works  of  oar  philoso- 
phers with  all  their  pomp  of  diction:  how  mean,  how  contemptible 
are  they,  compared  witli  the  Scripture  !  Is  it  possible  that  a  book, 
at  once  so  simple  and  sublime,  sliould  be  mereh  the  work  of  man  ? 
Is  it  possible  that  the  sacred  personage,  who.-e  history  it  contains, 
should  be  himself  a  mere  man  J  Do  we  tind  that  he  assumed  the 
tone  of  an  enthusiast  or  ambitious  sectary  ?  What  s\\  ectness,  what 
purity  hi  his  manner  J  What  an  affecthiif  gracefulness  in  his  delivery  I 
What  sublimity  in  his  maxims?  What  profound  wisdom  in  his  dis- 
courses! What  presence  of  mind,  what  subtilty,  \>  hat  truth  in  hi? 
replies !  How  great  the  command  over  his  passions !  Where  is  the 
man,  where  the  philosopher,  who  could  so  live,  and  so  die,  « irhout 
weakness,  and  without  ostentation  ?  When  Plato  described  his 
imaginary  good  man,  loaded  \\'ith  all  the  shame  of  guilt,  vet  merit- 
ing the  highest  rewards  of  virtue,  he  describes  exactly  the  character 
of  Jesus  Christ:  tljc  resemblance  was  so  striking,  that  all  the 
Fathers  perceived  it. 

"  What  prepossession,  what  blindness  must  it  be,  to  compare  the 
son  of  SoPHRONicus  to  the  son  of  Mary?  What  an  uifinite  dis- 
I)roportion  there  is  between  them  ?  Socrates,  dymg  without  pain  or 
ignominy,  easily  supported  his  character  to  the  last ;  and  if  his 
death,  however  easy,  had  not  crowned  his  life,  it  might  have  been 
doubted  whether  Socrates,  with  all  his  wisdom,  \\as  any  thing 
more  than  a  vain  sophist.  He  invented,  it  is  said,  the  theory  of 
morals.  Others,  ho\\  ever,  had  before  put  them  in  practice  ;  he  had 
only  to  say  therefore  what  they  had  done,  and  to  reduce  their  ex- 
amples to  precepts.  Aristides  had  been  just  betbre  Socrates 
defined  justice ;  Leomfjas  had  giyen  up  his  hfe  for  his  countrs-  be- 
fore Socrates  declared  patriotism  to  be  a  duty;  the  Spartans  were 
a  sober  people  before  Socrates  recommended  sobriety;  before  he 
had  even  dehned  virtue  Greece  abourided  in  vutuous  men.  But 
where  could  Jesus  learn,  among  his  competitors,  that  pure  and 
sublime  morality,  of  \\  hich  he  only  hath  given  us  both  precept  and 
example.  The  greatest  wisdom  was  made  known  among  the  most 
bigoted  fanaticism,  and  the  simplicity  of  tiie  most  heroic  virtues  did 
honour  to  the  vilest  people  upon  earth.  The  death  of  Socrates, 
peaceably  philosophizing  with  his  fiiends,  appears  the  inost  agree- 
able that  could  be  wished  for;  that  of  Jesus  expiring  in  the  midst 
of  agonizing  pains,  abused,  insulted,  and  accused  by  a  whole  nation, 
is  the  most  horrible  that  could  be  feared.  Socrates  in  receiving 
4he  cup  of  jxM'son,  blessed  indeed  the  vse^pijig  executioner  who  ad- 


182  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

who  calls  himself  a  Philosopher,  and  wishes  to  be  deter- 
mined in  his  judgment  only  by  the  reason  and  nature  of 
things*. 

"  But,  is  it  possible,  any  reasonable  man  should  be  so 
weak  as  to  suppose  the  book,  called  the  Bible,  can  be  the 
Wordo^GonV' 

No  intelligent  Christian  will  distinguish  it  by  that  name, 
without  a  large  restriction  of  its  contents.  All  we  assert  re- 
specting it,  is,  that  it  is  a  collection  of  writings,  containing  a 
history  of  the  divine  dispensations  to  our  world,  and  that  the 
proper  lVord-\  oi  God,  with  numberless  other  particulars,  is 
interwoven  all  ihe  way  through  these  most  ancient  and  inva- 
luable writings. 

"  Is  it  to  be  conceived  by  any  man,  who  hath  the  least  pre- 
tension to  common  sense,  that  the  several  simple  relations 
recorded  in  the  books  of  Moses,  Joshua,  Judges,  and 
those  which  follow,  can  be  founded  in  truth?" 

muiistered  it;  but  Jesus,  in  the  midst  of  excruciating  tortures, 
prated  for  iiis  merciless  tormentors.  Yes,  if  the  life  and  death  of 
Socrates  were  those  of  a  sage,  the  life  and  death  of  Jesus  are 
those  of  a  God,  Shall  we  suppose  the  evangelic  history  a  mere 
fiction  1  Indeed,  my  friend,  it  bears  not  the  marks  of  fiction ;  on 
the  contrary,  tlie  history  of  Socrates,  which  nobody  presumes  to 
doubt,  is  not  so  well  attested  as  that  of  Jesus  Christ.  Such  a 
supposition,  in  fact,  only  shifts  tlie  difficulty  without  obviating  it; 
it  is  more  inconceivable  that  a  number  of  persons  should  agree 
to  write  such  a  history,  than  that  one  only  should  furnish  the  sub- 
ject of  it.  The  Jewish  authors  were  incapable  of  the  diction, 
and  strangers  to  the  morality  contained  in  the  Gospel,  the  marks  of 
whose  truth  are  so  striking  and  inimitable,  that  the  inventor  would  be 
a  more  astonishing  character  than  a  hero." — Emilius. 

*  It  is  truly  remarkable,  and  liighly  satisfactory  to  the  seriouSu 
Christian,  that  all  modern  discoveries  are  so  far  from  proving  un- 
favourable to  the  truth  of  the  Sacred  Writings,  that  they  strongly 
tend  to  the  illustration  and  confirmation  of  them.  All  voyages  and 
travels,  into  the  East  especially,  are  particularly  useful  in  this  point 
of  view.  Bruce's  Travels  throw  light  upon  many  biblical  circum- 
stances. Mauri ce's  Indian  Antiquifies,and  History  of Hindostan, 
are  singularly  valuable.  Harmer's  Obsei-vations  on  divers  passages 
of  Scripture  is  a  work  sup'^'or  to  eveiy  thing  of  the  kind,  as  it  con- 
tains a  selection,  from  a  vMiety  of  voyages  and  travels,  of  such  cir- 
cumstances as  have  a  tendency  to  illustrate  the  meaning  of  a  large 
number  of  obscme  passages  in  the  Sacred  Writings.  [A  new  edi- 
tion of  this  work  is  just  published,  with  numerous  additions,  by  D?-. 
Adam  Clarke.] 

■^  See  this  matter  set  in  a  very  proper  light  in  the  fourth  Letter  of 
£isA(>pWAi$0N'6  Apology  jor  ihe  Bibh. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  183 

Most  of  ouF  misapprehensions  of  this  kind  arose  from  not 
duly  considering  the  infant  state  of  the  world,  the  progressive 
nature  of  civil  society,  and  the  diiferent  manners  of  the 
several  ages  and  countries  of  the  earth.  The  customs  of  the 
eastern  nations,  where,  the  Bible  was  originally  written,  were 
then,  and,  indeed,  are  at  this  day,  extremely  different  from 
our  own ;  almost  as  much  so  as  between  the  manners  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  south-sea  islands,  and  those  of  this  coun- 
try. And  while  we  are  wondering  at  the  simplicity  of  their 
customs,  they  are  entertaining  themselves  with  the  novelty  of 
ours  *. 

^'  But  then,  what  occasion  was  there  for  a  Mediator'^  Is 
not  God  the  wise  and  good  parent  of  all  his  creatures?  and 
cannot  he  pardon  our  offences,  and  make  us  happy  in  the  fu- 
ture state,  without  the  interposition  of  any  other  being  what- 
ever r" 

AVhat  Go  I)  can  do,  Nvbat  he  hath  done,  and  what  he  will 
do,  are  very  different  considerations.  If  it  were  equally  con- 
sistent with  his  \^  isdom  and  goodness  to  save  mankind  with- 
out a  Mediatoj',  we  may  be  assured  it  would  have  been  done. 
But  as  the  Divine  Being  hath  thought  proper  to  institute 
the  mediatorial  scheme,  we  may  be  assured  diere  are  the  best 
reasons  for  the  appcuitment;  though  we  may  be  incapable 
of  discovering,  and  even  comprehending,  what  all  those  rea- 
sons are.  Indeed,  even  in  this  state,  few  of  the  blessings  of 
Providence  are  conveyed  to  us,  except  by  the  intervention 
of  mediators.  The  whole  plan  of  the  world  is  carried  for- 
ward   by   the   assistance    of   others.       How    many    mediators 

*  This  objection  is  well  answered  in  tlie  first  Letter  of  Bishop 
Watson's  Apologif. 

The  character  of  Moses  and  his  writings  is  very  amply  and  satis- 
factorily vindicated  from  all  the  usual  objections  of  Infideh  in  the- 
first  of  Bishop  Newton's  Dissertations  on  some  parts  of  the  Old 
Testament.  Little  more  either  need  qr  can  be  ad<!e<l  to  what  this 
learned  man  hnt!)  advanced.  If  tJie  reader  is  disposed,  he  may  add 
Gray's  Kei/  *o  tlie  Old  Testnment.  After  reading  such  authors,  it 
is  scarcely  possible  to  avoid  entertaining  an  oj^nion  extremely  con- 
temptible of  Thomas  Paine. 

Mr.  Hervey's  Remarks owLord'Zoi.i-SG-Q-R.O'K.TS.'s Letters oxitloA 
Study  and  Use  of  History  contain  many  pious  and  saiisfactory  ob- 
servations on  the  History  of  the  Old  testament^  especially  on  tit? 
Nvritiags  of  Moses. 


184  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

must  there  be,  before  we  can  be  supplied  with  our  daily 
bread*? 

'*  If  a  revelation  must  be  made  to  mankind,  why  was 
it  delivered  in  die  historic  form  ?  Why  was  it  not  ratlier 
given  in  some  set  and  regular  composition,  worthy  of  its 
authorr" 

The  reason  of  lliis  must  be  resolved  into  divine  wisdom. 
He,  that  best  knew  the  nature  of  man,  chose  this  method  in 
preference  to  every  other;  and  there  is  no  reason  to  ques- 
tion, but  that  the  variety  of  compositions,  of  which  the  Bible 
is  formed,  is  nuich  better  adapted  to  the  circumstances  of  the 
great  bulk  of  mankind,  dian  any  set  and  regular  discourse  in 
the  didactic  fornvj-. 

"  The  books  of  Moses  are  thought  by  many  to  have  been, 
written  some  ages  after  his  timeij:?" 

The  authenticity  of  these  books  is  unquestionable,  and  has 
been  amply  vindicated  by  men  every  way  furnished  for  the 
enquiry  §. 

'  '  '       .  I ...  1 1     II     I      I      .1    .1(1     I        .  Ill     IP  . 

*  See  SoAME  Jenyng's   View  of  the  internal  Evidence  of  the 
Christian  Religion,  and  Butler's  Analogy,    passim,  where  the     «i 
doctrine  of  the  mcdiatorship   of  Messiah  is  considered  at  large, 
with  unanswerable  evidence. 

t  Let  the  reader  consult  Mr.  Wakefield's  Evidence  of  Chris' 
tianity,  where  he  will  iind  a  number  of  remarks  well  adapted  to 
display  the  excellence,  recommend  the  purity,  illustrate  the  character, 
and  evince  the  authenticity  of  the  Christian  religion.  See  too  CoB- 
bold's  Essay  on  the  Historic  form  of  Scripture. 

X  Le  Clerc  was  of  this  opinion  in  his  younger  days  ;  but  after 
more  reading  and  a  better  informed  judgment,  he  changed  his  mind, 
and  wrote  in  defence  of  their  genuineness  and  authenticity. 

"  The  first,  and  truly  original  historians,"  says  another  learned 
man,  "  are  those  of  the  Hebrew  Scriptures.  The  sacred  writers,  to 
the  unequalled  dignity  of  their  subject,  unite  a  nrajestic  simpli- 
city and  perspicuity  of  stile  and  narration.  MosES,  the  most 
ancient,  is  the  most  perfect  of  historians.  His  stile  is  copious,  even, 
and  clear.  Like  a  deep  river,  he  bears  his  reader  with  a  calm  and. 
majestic  course.  It  was  his  purpose,  to  give  a  body  of  laws,  as 
well  as  a  thread  of  history;  and  by  interweavhig  them  together, 
he  has  authenticated  both:  for  it  is  impossible  to  forgf;  the  civil  and 
religious  policy  of  a  great  nation." 

The  ingenious  reader  will  find  much  entertainment  and  instruc- 
tion, and  various  dithculties  ob\iated,  in  Bryant's  Observations  on 
the  Plagues  of  Egypt. 

.  §  See  Prideaux's  Connection,  b.  6;  Kidder's  Commentary 
on  the  Books  of  Moses ;  WiTSii  Miscellanea  Sacra;  Marsh's  Dis- 
courseon  the  Authenticity  of  those  Books,  and  Du  Pin's  Biblioth^ca. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  185 

"Though  some  parts  of  the  books  of  Moses  are  written 
•with  great  beauty  and  simplicity;  yet  many  of  his  laws  are 
trirting,  aivJ  unworthy  of  a  great  legislator?" 

This  objection  arises  from  a  want  of  due  attention  to  the 
state  of  the  people,  for  whon»  those  laMs  were  enacted.  When 
the  c;rcunist:iiices  of  the  Jezcs  are  jiroperly  considered,  the 
Mosaic  iiistiiutions  will  appear  to  be  adapted  with  liie  most 
consuniniaie  propriety  to  those  circumstances*.  It  is  ex- 
tremely liaid  ihat  the  Bible  should  be  made  accountable  for  our 
ignorance. 

"  The  character  and  conduct  of  David,  who  is  called 
a  man  ajttr  God's  onn  hea/t,  can  never  be  defended  by 
any  person  who  has  the  least  regard  to  truth  and  moral 
excellencv  r" 

it  is  not  the  business  of  these  papers  to  enter  into  a  mi- 
nute defence  of  alt  those  parts  of  the  Bible,  which  may  seem 
objectionable.  The  character  of  David,  however,  stands 
high  in  our  eslinialion,  except  in  the  case  of  Uriah;  and 
as  it  has  been  virulently  attacked  by  some  considerable  men, 
so  it  has  been  no  less  ably  defended.  And  to  such  defence, 
we  beg  leave  to  refer  those  readers  who  find  themselves  con- 
cerned-f. 

*  Consult  Lowman's  Dissertation  on  the  Civil  Goiernnient  of 
the  Hebrews,  and  Dr.  Randolph's  Excellency  of  the  Jewish 
Law  vindicated.     See  too  Forbes's  Thoutrhts  on  ReH"-ion. 

t  Delany's  Historical  Account  of  the  Life  and  Reign  of  Y)  win 
is  valuable. — Bishop  PoRTEUs's  Sermon  on  the  Character  of  D avid 
abounds  with  just  remarks. — But  Chandlers  Critical  History  of 
the  Life  of  David  enters  at  large  into  the  subject,  and  is  particu- 
larly satisfactory.     Another  learned  man  says: — 

"  If  we  consider  David,  in  the  great  variety  of  his  fine  quali- 
fications; the  ornaments  of  his  person,  and  the  far  more  ilhiNtrious 
endowments  of  his  mind;  the  surprising  revolutions  in  his  foitune; 
sometimes  reduced  to  the  lo\^est  ebb  of  adversity ;  sometimes  riding 
upon  the  highest  tide  of  prosperity; — his  singular  dexterity  in  ex- 
tricating himself  from  ditficulties,  and  peculiar  felicity  in  ac<ommo- 
dating  himself  to  all  circumstances;— the  prizes  he  won,  as  a  youthful 
champion;  and  the  victories  he  gained,  as  an  experienced  general; 
his  masterly  hand  upon  the  harp,  and  his  inimitable  talent  for.poetry; 
— the  admirable  regulations  of  his  royal  govennnent,  and  tlie  incom- 
parable usefulness  of  his  public  writings; — the  depth  of  his  reper>(- 
ance,  and  the  height  of  his  devotion ;— the  vigour  of  his  faith  in  the 
tjivine  promises,  and  the  ardour  of  his  love  to  the  divine  Majesty  : 
— If  we  consider  these,  with  several  other  marks  of  honour  dud 
grace,  which  ennoble  the  history  of  his  life;  we  shall  see  such,  an 

B  B 


186  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

"  The  characters  and  manners  of  the  ancient  Prophets 
were  uncouth,  and  unworthy  of  the  God  who  is  said  to  have 
sent  them  r" 

In  general,  they  were  moral  and  religious  men;  and 
their  manners  were  in  perfect  conformity  to  the  times  in 
■which  they  lived,  and  the  people  among  whom  they  con- 
versed. Btbidcs,  it  is  not  essential  to  the  character  of  a 
prophet  of  the  true  God,  that  he  should  be  a  good  man. 
Balaam  is  an  instance  to  the  contrary.  God,  indeed,  in 
the  course  of  his  providence,  frequently  uses  bad  men  as 
instruments  to  accomplish  his  own  purposes. 

"  But  there  are  many  actions  ascribed  to  the  servaots  of 
God  in  the  Old  Testament,  which  very  nuich  wound  the 
feelings  of  every  good  man.  Noah  was  guilty  of  intoxi- 
cation; Abraham  of  dissimulation;  Jacob  of  lying;  Aaeon 
of  idolatry;  Jael  of  treachery  and  murder;  David  of  adultery 
and  murder;  Solomon  of  idolatry  and  lewdness;  and  many 
ethers  of  crimes  of  several  kinds  ?" 

The  relation  of  all  these  instances  of  wickedness  in  the 
servants  of  God,  is  a  proof  of  the  disinterestedness  and 
impartiality  of  the  sacred  historians;  and  these  crimes  are 
recorded,  not  for  our  imitation,  but  for  our  admonition. 
If  we  attend  to  the  consequences  of  these  several  transgres- 
sions, we  shall  see  no  good  reason  to  imitate  them.  It  is 
not  any  where  recorded,  that  these  faulty  parts  of  their  conduct 
met  with  the  approbation  of  Heaven. 

''  How  may  the  horrible  destruction  of  the  nations  of 
Canaan  be  reconciled  with  the  principles  of  mercy  and 
goodness  ?" 

Just  as  pestilence,  famine,  storms,  tempests,  and  earth- 
quakes may  be  reconciled  with  those  lovely  perfections.  The 
Moral  Governor  of  the  world  is  at  liberty  to  destroy 
offending  nations  and  individuals,  in  any  manner  he  judges 
meet*.  We  see  this  to  be  the  constant  course  of  Divine 
Providence. 


assemblage  of  shining  qualities,  as  perhaps  were  never  united  in  any 
other  merely  huiiiaa  character." 

*  See  tlli^  vindicated  in  Bryant's  Treatise  on  the  Saipturrs  ; 
in  the  first  Letter  of  Watson's  Apology ;  and  in  almost  every  otlier 
author  who  has  treated  upon  subjects  of  this  nature. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  187 

"  But,  you  should  like  to  hafe  been  eye-witnesses  of  the 
mighty  works  wrought  by  Moses*  and  Jesus  Christ r" 

So  should  we.  Has  not  every  man,  in  every  age,  and  in 
every  country  under  heaven,  the  same  right  to  expect  this  in- 
dulgence ?  Miracles  must,  therefore,  be  wrought  at  all  times, 
in  all  places,  and  before  every  individual  of  mankind.  And 
what  would  be  the  consequence?  Miracles  would  cease  to  be 
miracles,  and  the  whole  course  of  nature  would  be  thrown  into 
contusion  and  disorder.  So  unreasonable  are  the  demands  of 
wayward  men! 

"  Many  parts  of  the  Old  Testament  are  extremely  dull,  un- 
interesting, and  even  unintelligible  r" 

*  The  writings  of  Moses  have  received  much  confinnation  and 
elucidation  from  the  learned  labours  of  the  late  .S7/-  William  Jones, 
and  the  j)iesent  Mr.  Maurice.  All  the  leaduig  circumstances  of 
the  Mo-.fiic  historv  are  found  detailed,  with  various  degrees  of  corrujv 
tion  and  ))erversion  among  the  writings  of  the  East  Indies.  The 
followiiig  account  of  Noah  and  his  three  sons,  from  Mr.  Mau- 
rice's Siinscreet  Fragments,  is  very  remarkable,  and  strongly  corro- 
borative of  the  Mosaic  history. 

1.  "  To  Satyavarman  that  sovereign  of  the  whole  earth,  were 
born  three  sons,  the  eldest  Sherma;  then  Charm  a;  and,  thirdly, 
Jyapeti,  by  name. 

2.  Tf.ey  were  all  men  of  good  morals,  excellent  in  virtue  and 
rirtiious  deeds,  skilled  in  the  use  of  weapons  to  strike  with  or  to  be 
tlirown;  brave  men,  eager  for  victory  in  battle. 

3.  But  Satyavarman,  being  continually  delighted  with  devout 
meditation,  and  seeing  his  sons  tit /or  dominion,  laid  upon  them  the 
burden  of  government. 

4.  \\  hilst  he  remained  lionouring  and  satisfying  the  gods,  and 
priests,  and  kfaie,  one  day,  by  the  act  of  destiny,  the  king,  liaving 
drunk  mead, 

.5.  Became  senseless,  and  lay  asleep  naked.  Then  was  he  seen 
by  Char  MA,  and  by  him  were  his  t\vo  brothers  called: 

6.  To  ivhom  he  said,  ^^'hat  has  now  befallen  ?  In  what  state  is 
this  our  sire?  By  those  two  was  he  hidden  with  clothes,  and  called 
to  his  senses  again  and  again. 

7.  Having  recovered  bis  intellect,  and  perfectly  knowing  what 
had  passed,  he  cursed  Charm  a;  saying,  Thou  shalt  be  servant  of 
servants ; 

8.  And,  since  tliou  wast  a  laughter  in  their  presence,  from  laughter 
shalt  thou  acquire  a  name.  Then  he  gave  to  .Sherma  the  wide  do- 
main on  the  south  of  the  snowy  mountains. 

9.  And  "to  Jyapeti  he  gave  all  on  tlie  north  of  the  snowy 
mountains;  but  he,  by  the  power  of  religious  contemplation,  attained 
eupreme  bliss." 

Asiatic  Researches,  vol.  iii.  p.  467,  and  Mr.  Maurice's  Sanscreet 
Fragments,  p.  4*. 

B  B  2 


188  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

Considering  the  ages  in  which  it  was  written;  the  differ- 
ent manners  which  prevailed;  the  frequency  of  allusions  to 
ancient  customs  and  circumstances  no  longer  known;  con- 
sidering too  that  we  generally  read  it  in  one  of  the  most 
literal  of  all  translations;  and  that- many  hundreds  of  places 
are  really  inaccurately  translated;  it  is  truly  wonderful  that  it 
should  be  so  intelligible  as  it  is,  and  appear  to  so  much  ad- 
vantage. Most  of  our  objections  to  those  admirable  writings 
are  founded  in  our  own  ignorance*.  Before  vve  set  up  to 
be  critics  upon  the  Bible,  let  us  make  ourselves  thorough 
masters  of  the  three  languages  in  which  it  is  written,  and  of 
the  customs  which  prevailed  in  those  countries,  and  in  those 
ages  when  it  was  written.  An  avo\yed  Injidel,  with  these 
qualifications,  I  believe,  is  not  this  day  to  be  found  in 
Ungland.  No  person  of  a  serious  cast  of  mind,  of  pure 
morals,  and  a  competent  share  of  learning,  can  be  an  liijidel. 
Shew  us  the  mavi  of  this  description,  who  professedly  rejects 
the  divine  mission  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  we  shall  thmk  the 
cause  of  Iiijidtlity  less  desperate. 

"  But  are  there  not  many  contradictions,  absurdities,  and 
falsehoods  in  the  books  of  the  ISiero  Testdmeut,  such  as  no 
man  can  reconcile?" 

We  deny  that  there  is  either  contradiction,  absurdity,  or 
falsehood,  in  this  inestimab/e  f  o/ume-f.     There  are,  we  grant, 

*  It  is  no  inconsiderable  proof  of  the  truth  of  some  of  the  his- 
torical books  of  the  Old  Testament,  that  the  ten  tribes  of  Israel^ 
which  were  carried  captive  by  Shalmaneser,  king  of  Assyria, 
upwards  of  2500  years  ago,  and  which  had  been  supposed  to  be  lost 
and  swallowed  up  among  the  nations  through  which  they  were 
scattered,  are  now  found  to  exist  as  a  distinct  people,  in  the  eastern 
parts  of  the  world,  under  the  name  of  Afghans.  Their  traditions 
are  little  more  than  a  mutilated  and  perverted  history  of  the  ancient 
Jews.  See  the  second  volume  of  the  Asiatic  Researches  for  a  fuller 
account  of  these  people. 

+  "  Holi/  Scriptures  are  an  adorable  mixture  of  clearness  and  obr 
scurity,  which  enlighten  and  humble  the  children  of  God,  and  blind 
and  harden  those  of  this  world.  The  light  proceeds  from  GoD  and 
blindness  from  the  creature." 

This  is  an  observation  of  that  admirable  Divine,  Dr.  Wilson, 
late  Bishop  of  SoDOR  and  Man,  whose  works  contain  a  rich  maga- 
zine of  pious  and  useful  observations.  If  all  our  Bishops  and  Clergy 
had  lived,  and  preached,  and  wrote  in  the  spirit  of  this  good  man, 
there  would  have  been  few  Infidels  this  day  in  England. — Bishop 
Wilson,  though  entitled  to  the  honour,  always  declined  sitting  in 
the  House  of  Lords,  saying,  "  That  the  Church  should  have  nothing 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  189 

certain  apparent  blemishes  of  tliese  kinds,  but  not  even  one 
that  is  real.  Learned  men  have  vindicated  it  from  these 
charges  with  all  reasonable  evidence.  Can  \\c  suppose  that 
such  a  man  as  Locke  would  have  said,  that  "  it  is  all  pure, 
all  sincere;  nothing  too  much,  nothing  wanting,"  if  such 
charges  cou'd  be  made  good  against  it?  But  supposing  the 
'Nczii  Testameut  did  abound  with  both  contradictions,  absur- 
dities, and  ialsehoods,  this  circumstance,  though  less  honour- 
able in  itself,  vvotdd  by  no  means  render  null  the  divine 
mission  of  .1  [:;sus  Christ.  He  might  be  tl;e  true  Messiah 
notwithstanding.  Impartial  men  should  weigh  this  well,  before 
they  make  the  real  or  supposed  blemishes  of  :Scripture  a  ground 
of  their  rejecting  the  Saviour  of  the  world 

"  Why  was  so  severe  a  penalty  as  everlasting*  punishment 
denounced  against  sin  in  the  Gospel'?  This  stems  hard,  and, 
indeed,  inconsistent  with  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  the 
Divine  Being:" 

Guilty  man  is  an  improper  judge  in  this  matter.  Infinite 
wisdom  hath  seen  good  to  denounce  such  punishment  against 
incorrigible  transgressors,  and,  therefore,  we  may  be  well 
assured,  it  is  consistent  with  infinite  goodness  and  mercy.  If 
the  denunciatron  of  eternal  torments  v\  ill  not  restrain  men  from 
sin,  much  less  would  a  shorter  duration  have  done  it. 

to  do  with  the  State.     Christs  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world.'    See 
his  Works,  vol.  i.  p.  34,  quarto  edit. 

The  public  is  greatly  indebted  to  the  late  Archbishop  Newcome, 
an  Irish  Prelate,  for  iiis  learned  labours  on  biblical  subjects.  This 
sound  scholar  declares  his  opinion  to  be,  that  "  every  genuine  pro- 
position in  Sc7-ipture,  whether  doctrinal  or  historical,  contains  a  truth 
when  it  is  rightly  understood;  and  that  all  real  ditticulties  in  the 
Gospels  will  at  length  yield  to  the  etiorts  of  rational  ci  iticisni," 

See  his  Harmony. 

Though  Dr.  Mill  has  enumerated  more  than  30,000  variations 
in  the  manuscri|)ts  and  versions  of  the  Neiv  Testament,  it  is  very 
remarkable,  and  highly  satisfactoiy,  that  they  do  not  when  all  put 
together  atl'ect  any  thing  essential,  either  in  tlie  doctrines  or  precepts 
of  the  -; .  ospel. 

*  In  the  35th  of  yirc/i&fs/to/' Tillotson's  Sermons  everything 
is  said  upon  the  eternity  of  the  torments  of  hell  that  can  be  known 
with  any  certainty.  It  is  a  discourse  well  worth  the  serious  atten- 
tion of  the  reader,  esi>ecially  in  the  present  time  of  relaxed  divinity, 
and  more  relaxed  morality. 

Some  very  considerable  men,  among  whom  may  be  reckoned  the 
late  Binhop  Newton  and  Dr.  David  Hartley,  have  been  of 


190  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGlON^ 

''The  Gospel  of  Christ  bears  too  hard  upon  the 
pleasures  of  mankind,  and  lays  us  under  too  severe  re- 
straints r" 

Does  it  then  rob  us  of  any  pleasures  worthy  the  rational 
nature?  It  restrains  us,  indeed,  but  it  only  restrains  us  from 
things  that  would  do  us  harm,  and  make  us  and  our  fellow 
creatures  miserable.  It  admits  of  every  rational,  manly, 
benevolent,  and  humane  pleasure.  Nay,  it  allows  every 
sensual  enjoyment  that  is  consistent  with  the  real  good,  and 
true  happiness,  of  the  whole  compound  nature  of  man.  It 
enjoins  every  tiling  that  can  do  us  good,  and  it  prohibits 
every  thing  that  will  do  us  harm,  under  penalties  of  the  most 
alarming  kind.  Could  a  Being  of  infinite  benevolence  and 
perfection  do  better,  or  act  otherwise,  consistently  witli. those 
perfections: 

"  How  can  we  at  this  distance  of  time  know,  that  the 
writings  contained  in  the  Bible  are  genuine.-  May  they  not 
have  been  corrupted,  and  many  additions  made  to  them  by  de- 
signing men  in  after-ages*.'" 

opinion,  that  eternal  punishment,  properiy  so  called,  is  no  where 
denounced  in  Scripture,  If  so,  the  objection  is  of  Jio  force  in  any 
point  of  view.  Consult  Scarlett's  Neu'  Testament  on  Universal 
Jiestitution.  We  may  be  assured,  however,  in  every  event  of  tilings, 
the  Judge  of  all  the  eitrih  will  do  right. 

*  Theie  are  several  circumstances,  as  we  have  already  in  part 
observed,  still  in  existence  strongly  corroborati\  e  of  the  truth  of  the 
Bible.  The  JSIosaic  history  of  the  creation  is  confirmed  by  the 
present  appearance  of  things;  Noah's  flood  by  a  variety  of  natural 
phjenomena,  and  the  general  history  of  the  world:  The  destruction 
of  Sodom,  by  the  face  of  the  countiT  around,  and  the  ruins  which 
have  been  discovered:  the  passage  of  the  Israelites  through  the 
wilderness,  by  the  rock  that  sup])lied  them  with  water,  which  is 
still  m  existence,  and  visible  to  the  curious  enquirer,  besides  the 
names  of  places,  and  the  traditions  of  the  present  inhabitants :  the 
history  and  prophecies  concerning  Nineveh,  Bahylom,  Tyre,  Egypt, 
Jerusalem,  and  other  cities  and  countries  are  all  confirmed  by  the 
present  state  of  tho.se  places  and  countries:  the  birth  and  resur- 
rection of  Christ  are  established  by  the  existing  circumstances  of 
the  Christ iaii  church;  and  it  is  remarkable,  that  the  cleft  in  the 
rock,  which  is  said  to  have  been  made  by  the  earthquake  at  the 
crucifixion  of  Christ,  is  still  visible,  and  bears  witness  to  the  pre- 
ternatural concussion.  Let  the  curious  reader  consult  Shaw  and 
Maundrell's  Travels,  together  with  Bryant's  Dissertation  on 
the  Divine  Mission  q/"  Moses,  and  his  Observations  on  the  Place  of 
Residence  given  to  the  Childtrn  of  Israel  in  Egypt,  and  their  Do 
parture  from  it,  for  several  of  tlie  abo\  e  particulars. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  191 

Never  were  auy  writings  conveyed  down  with  so  good 
evidence  of  their  bein^  genuine  as  these.  Upon  their  first 
publication,  the  books  of  the  Neto  Testament,  in  particuhir, 
were  put  into  all  hands,  scattered  into  all  nations,  trans- 
lated into  various  languages.  They  have  been  quoted  by 
innumerable  authors,  appealed  to  by  all  parties  of  Clirktiam, 
and  made  the  standard  of  truth  in  every  question  of  moment. 
AVe  can  trace  them  back  through  every  age  to  the  period  in 
which  they  were  written.  And  extremely  remarkable  and 
consolatory  is  the  consideration,  that  notwithstanding  the 
innumerable  times  they  have  been  copied,  and  the  various 
errors,  sects,  and  parties  which  have  arisen,  the  corruptions 
which  liave  prevailed  in  the  church,  and  the  revolutions  and 
convulsions  which  have  taken  place  among  the  nations,  the 
Bible  has  continued  fundamentally  the  same ;  insomuch  that 
from  the  very  worst  copy  or  translation  in  the  world,  we  may 
easily  learn  the  genuine  doctrines  oT  Christiayiiti/.  The  divi- 
sions and  squabbles  of  men  have  been  wonderfully  overruled  to 
the  establishment  of  God's  truth.  The  gates  of  hell  shall  not 
prevail  against  it*. 

"  But,  notwithstanding  all  the  boasted  advantages  of  the 
Gos/)f/,  are  not  many  who  profess  to  believe  in  Christ,  and 
who  attend  the  ordinances  of  religion,  the  arranlest  knaves 
upon  earth?*' 

Granted.  Do  you,  therefore,  infer  that  the  Gospel  itself 
is   an   imposture?     This    argument    is   good   for   nothing.     It 

Noah's  ark  is  fomid,  by  the  most  accurate  observations  of 
modem  gconietricidiis,  to  ha\e  been  contrived  after  the  very  best 
form  for  the  purposes  for  which  it  was  intended ;  and  its  dimensions 
perfectly  well  suited  to  receive  the  burden  desiu'ied  for  it.  It  has 
been  calculated  t(»  contain  upwards  of  72,000  tons  burden. 

Consult  Doddridge's  Lectures  for  Heathen  Testimonies  to  the 
facts  ot  the  Old  Testament. 

*  See  Lardner's  Credibility  pas.sim;  Simpson's  Essay  ou  the 
Authenticity  uf  the  Neiv  Testament,  whce  the  evidence  is  brought 
into  one  short  view ;  and  Z.o/rf  Haile's  Disquisitions  concerning 
the  Antiquities  of  the  Christian  Church. 

The  celebrated  Philosopher,  Bonnet,  of  Geneva,  assures  us 
atjter  a  very  serious  and  accurate  examination  of  the  subject,  that 
there  is  no  ancient  history  "  so  well  attested,  as  that  of  the  Mes- 
senger of  the  Gospel:  that  there  are  no  historical  facts  sui)ported 
by  so  gioat  a  number  of  proofs;  by  such  striking,  solid,  and  various 
proof-,  as  are  those  facts  on  which  the  religion  of  Jesls  Christ  is 
founded." 


192  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

proves  too  much.  Some  professors  of  natural  religion  are 
bad  men;  therefore  natural  leliujion  is  an  imposture;  there 
is  no  God.  Some  great  pretenders  to  Philosophy  are 
knaves;  therefore  Philosophy  is  all  an  imposition  upon  man- 
kind. Some  deists  are  immoral  men;  therefore  the  principles 
of  Deism  are  for.nded  in  error  and  delusion.  Was  it  ever 
known  that  any  mun  grew  more  moral,  pious,  virtuous,  and 
heavenly  minded,  after  rejectipg  the  Gospel?  I  could  pro- 
duce you  a  thousand  instances  wiiere  men  have  become  better 
by  cordially  embracing  it;  and  we  may  defy  you  to  produce  one 
instance  wheie  any  man  br^came  worse. 

"  Can  any  man,  of  an  enlightened  and  liberal  mind,  embrace 
the  mysterious  doctrines  of  Christianity?  What  must  such 
an  one  think  of  tlie  J'rinity,  the  Jtonement,  the  Incarnation, 
and  those  clher  unaccountable  peculiarities  of  that  institution, 
which  have  been  a  stumbling  block  to  many  persons  in  every 
age  of  the  church*?" 

And  are  there  not  also  many  strange  and  unaccountable 
thingt  in  the  book  of  nature,  and  in  the  admini-itration  of 
Divine  Providence,  the  design  and  use  of  which  we 
cannot  seef?     xSay,  are   there  not  even  some  things  which  to 

*  Cousult  SiMPSox's  Apology  for  the  Doctrine  of  the  Trinity, 
on  this  objection,  where  the  subject  is  treated  at  large. 

It  appears  to  me  indubitable,  that  all  the  real  doctrines  of  re- 
ligion, as  contained,  not  in  this  or  the  other  human  institution,  but 
in  the  ?\eiv  Testament,  are  defensible  on  the  purest  principles  of 
reason,  witliout  sacrificing  any  o)ie  of  its  mysterious  doctrines.  There 
is  no  need  that  we  should  can-y  our  candour  and  complaisance  so  far, 
to  gain  tlie  approbation  of  any  man,  or  set  of  men  whatever. 

The  mysterious  doctrines  of  religion  have  caused  some  sceptical 
men  to  reject  tho^e  scriptures  in  which  they  are  contained ;  others 
have  explained  and  retiued  tiieni  away.  So,  because  the  doctrines 
of  religion  have  been  abused  to  superstition  and  folly,  abundance  of 
our  fellow  creatures,  without  due  consideration,  are  disposed  to  cast 
off  all  religion  whatever.  Ill  judging  liien !  What  is  human  nature, 
without  religion?  How  horrible  the  state  of  the  world  without  re- 
ligion] Let  Cicero  speak  its  importance  to  lunnan  happiness: 
Religione  sublata,  perturbatio  vitre  sequitur,  et  magna  coufusio. 
Atque  baud  scio,  an  pietate  adversus  Decs  sublata,  fides  etiam  te 
societas  huinani  generis,  ct  una  excelientissima  virtus,  justitia, 
toliatur.     De  Nat.  Deo.  1,  2. 

How  strongly  has  this  been  exemplified  in  the  state  of  France  for 
some  years ! 

t  What  if  there  should  be  some  incomprehensible  doctrines  in 
the  Chriniian  religion ;  some  circumstances,  which  in  their  causes, 
or  their  consequences,  pass  the  reach  of  human  reason ;  are  they  to 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  193 

U9  seem  wrong  and  ill-contrived  ?   Yet  we  own  the  world  was 
created  by    God,  and  that   he   is  the  Governour  thereof. 

be  rejected  upon  that  account  ? — "  Weigh  the  matter  fairly  ;  and 
consider  whether  Revealed  Religion  be  not,  in  this  respect,  just 
upon  the  same  footing,  with  every  other  object  of  your  contem- 
plation. Even  in  mathematics,  the'  science  of  demonstration  itself, 
tljough  you  get  over  its  tii-st  principles,  and  learn  to  digest  the  idea 
of  a  point  without  parts  a  li»e  without  breadth,  and  a  surface 
without  lliickness,  yet  you  will  tind  yourselves  at  a  loss  to  com- 
prehend tlie  perpe'tuaf  appro\iniation  of  Unes,  which  can  never 
meet;  the  doctrine  of  incommensurables,  and  of  an  iuii.  ity  of 
infinities,  each  infinitely  greater,  or  infinitely  less,  not  only  than 
any  finite  quantity,  but  than  each  other.  In  physics,  you  cannot 
comprehend  the  primary  cause  of  any  thing;  nor  of  the  light,  by 
which  you  see ;  nor  of  the  elasticity  of  the  air,  by  which  you  hear ; 
nor  of  the  fire,  by  whicli  you  are  warmed.  In  phi/siologi/,  yo\x 
cannot  tell,  what  first  gave  motion  to  the  heart;  nor  what  continues 
it ;  nor  why  its  motion  is  less  voluntary,  than  that  of  tlie  lungs ; 
nor  why  you  are  able  to  move  your  arm,  to  the  right  or  left,  by  a 
simple  volition ;  you  cannot  explaui  the  cause  of  animal  heat ;  nor 
comprehend  the  principle,  by  which  your  body  was  at  first  formed, 
nor  by  which  it  is  sustained,  nor  by  which  it  will  be  reduced  to 
earth.  In  natural  religian,  you  cannot  comprehend  the  eternity  or 
omnipresence  of  the  Deity;  nor  easily  understand,  how  his 
prescience  can  be  consistent  with  your  freedom,  or  his  innnutability 
with  his  government  of  moral  agents ;  nor  why  he  did  not  make  all 
his  creatures  equilly  perfect ;  nor  why  he  did  not  create  them 
sooner:  iu  short,  you  cannot  look  into  any  branch  of  knowledge, 
but  you  will  meet  with  subjects  above  your  comprehension.  Tlie 
fall  and  the  redemption  of  human  kiiid  are  not  more  uicomprehen- 
siblc,  than  the  creation  and  the  conservation  of  the  universe;  the 
infinite  Author  of  the  works  of  providence,  and  of  nature,  is 
etjually  inscrutable,  equally  past  our  finding  out  in  them  both.  And 
it  is  somewhat  remarkable,  that  the  deepest  inquirers  into  nature 
have  ever  thought  with  most  reverence,  and  spoken  wiUi  most  diffi- 
dence concerning  those  things  which,  in  revealed  religion,  may  seem 
hard  to  be  understood  ;  they  have  ever  avoided  that  self-sutticiency 
of  knowledge,  which  springs  from  ignorance,  produces  indifference, 
and  ends  in  IiiJidelUy. 

**  Plato  mentions  a  set  of  men,  who  were  very  ignorant,  and 
thought  themselves  extremely  wise  ;  and  who  rejected  the  argument 
for  tiie  being  of  a  God,  derived  from  the  harmony  and  order  of  the 
universe,  as  old  and  trite.  There  have  been  men,  it  seems,  in  all 
ages,  who  in  affecting  singularity,  have  overlooked  truth :  an  argu- 
ment, however,  is  not  the  worse  for  being  old;  and  surely  it  would 
have  been  a  more  just  mode  of  reasoning,  if  you  had  examined  the 
external  evidence  for  the  truth  of  Christianity,  weighed  the  old 
arguments  from  miracles,  and  from  prophecies,  before  you  had 
rejected  the  whole  account,  from  the  difficulties  you  met  with  in  it. 
You  would  laugh  at  an  Indian,   who  in  peeping  into  a  history ^of 

€  c 


194  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

And  why  then  shall  we  not  allow  that  the  Scriptures  may  be 
from  God,  notwithstanding  these  diflScuhies,  and  seeming 
incongruities ?  Indeed,  a  revelation,  which  we  could  fully 
comprehend,  would  not  appear  the  production  of  an  infinite 
mind:  it  would  bear  no  resemblance  to  its  heavenly  author ; 
and  therefore  we  should  have  reason  to  suspect  it  spurious. 
It  is  extremely  probable,  that  the  three  grand  volumes  of 
nature,  jjrovidence,  and  grace,  should  all,  in  some  respect 
or   other,  bear  the   stamp  of  their    bein";   ueiived   from   one 

England,  and  meeting  witli  the  mention  of  the  Thames  being  frozen, 
or  of  a  shower  of  hail,  or  of  snow,  should  throw  the  book  aside,  as 
unworthy  of  his  further  notice,  from  his  want  of  ability  to  comprehend 
these  phoenemena/* — Bhhop  Watson's  Apology  for  Christianity. 

The  observations  of  tliis  learned  prelate,  in  his  Apology  for  the 
Bible,  are  equally  striking,  p.  1 15. 

"  You  are  lavish  in  your  praise  of  deism :  it  is  so  much  better 
than  atheism,  that  I  mean  not  to  say  any  thing  to  its  discredit ;  it 
is  not  however  without  its  difficulties.  What  think  you  of  an  un- 
caused cause  of  e\er\'  thing?  Of  a  being  who  has  no  relation  to 
time,  not  being  older  to-day  than  he  M'as  yesterday,  nor  younger 
to-day  than  he  will  be  to-morrow  ?  who  has  no  relation  to  space, 
not  being  a  part  here,  or  a  part  there,  or  a  whole  any  where?  What 
think  you  of  an  omniscient  being  who  cannot  know  the  future 
actions  of  a  man?  or  if  his  omniscience  enables  him  to  Ijnow 
them,  w  hat  think  you  of  the  contingency  of  human  actions  ?  And 
if  human  actions  are  not  contingent,  what  think  you.  of  the  morality 
of  actions,  of  the  distinction  between  vice  and  virtue,  crime  and 
innocence,  sin  and  duty  ?  What  think  you  of  the  infinite  goodness 
of  a  being  who  existed  through  eternity,  without  any  emanation  of 
his  goodness,  manifested  ia  the  creation  of  sensitive  beings?  Or,  if 
you  contend  that  there  has  been  an  eternal  creation,  what  think 
you  of  an  effect  coa^val  with  its  cause,  of  matter  not  posterior  to  its 
Maker  ?  What  think  you  of  the  existence  of  evil,  moral,  and 
natural  in  the  work  of  an  infinite  being,  powerful,  wise,  and  good  ? 
What  think  you  of  the  gift  of  freedom  of  will,  when  the  abuse  of 
freedom  becomes  the  cause  of  general  nn'sery  ?  I  could  propose  to 
your  consideration  a  great  many  other  questions  of  a  similar  ten- 
dency, tlie  contemplation  of  which  has  driven  not  a  few  from 
deism  to  atheism,  just  as  the  difficulties  in  revealed  religion  have 
driven  yourself,  and  some  others,  from  Christianity  to  deism.  For 
my  own  part,  I  can  see  no  reason  why  either  re\'ealed  or  natural 
religion  should  be  abandoned,  on  account  of  the  difficulties  which 
attend  either  of  them.  I  look  up  to  the  incomprehensible  Maker  of 
Heaven  and  earth  with  unspeakable  admiration,  and  self-aimihila- 
tion,  and  am  a  deist. — 1  contemi>Iate,  with  the  utmost  gratitude  and 
humility  of  mind,  his  unsearchable  wisdom  and  goodness  in  the  re- 
demption of  the  world  from  eternal  death,  through  the  intervention 
of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  am  a  christian." — Editor. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  JQS 

source.  Many  things  in  the  volumes  of  nature  an^l  provi- 
dence far  exceed  our  highest  powers  to  comprehend*;  it  is 
not  improbable,  therefoie,  that  the  volume  of  divine  grace 
should  be  under  a  similar  predicament>  What  doth  the 
wisest  n)an  upon  earth  know  of  the  nature  of  God,  but  what 
the  Scripture  hath  toll  him  ?  Extremelj  little.  It  may  be 
questioned  whether  we  should  have  known  any  thing  of  iiim,  had 
it  not  been  for  some  original  revel-tiion. 

*'  If  Christ  \vas  so  necessary  to  the  salvation  of  the 
world,  why  was  he  seut  no  sooner?  Why,  even  according  to 
your  own  account,  were  four  thousand  years  suffered  to  elapse 
before  the  Su  n  of  righteousness  arose  r" 

Very  sufficient  reasons  may  be  given,  and  have  a  hundred 
times  been  given,  for  this  wise  delay.  It  mav,  however,  be 
retorted,  if  P/iihsophy  be  medicmal  to  a  foolish  world,  why 
wereTnALKs,  Solon,  Pythagoras,  Aristotle,  Zeno, 
Anton  IMS,  Seneca,  and  other  ancient  Heathens,  born  no 
sooner,  but  men  suffered  to  continue  so  many  ages  in  pro- 
found ignorance,  little  superior  to  the  beasts  that  perish? 
Answer  this  with  respect  to  them,  and  you  are  answered  with 
respect  to  the  Messiah.  I  add,  moreover,  Christ  was 
the  Lamb  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  rtor/d.  Tlie 
efficacy  of  his  death  extends  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of 
time.  He  is  an  universal  Saviour.  When  we  any  of  us  be- 
stow a  favour  upon  a  fellow-creature,  we  alone  are  to  determine 
the  time  and  circumstances  of  doing  that  favour. 

"  If  the  Gospel,  and  our  natural  passions f,  both  come  from 
one  source,  why  doth  the  former  oppose  the  latter  ?" 

It  is  well  known,  that  while  the  inferior  powers  of  human 
nature  assume  dominion  over  the  superior,  no  man  can  be 
happy.     The   intention    of   the    Gospel  is,  therefore,   not    to 

*  The  dispensations  of  Divine  Providtnce  are  ably  vindicated  from 
the  objections  of  Sceptics  and  Infide's  by  Ur.  Sherlock,  in  his 
valuable  Treatise  on  that  subject.  The  reader  will  also  find  a  very 
pleasing  j  aper  in  the  Spectator  to  the  same  purport,  which  he  would 
do  well  to  consult.     It  is  No.  237,  in  the  third  volume. 

t  See  a  must  remarkable  deliverance  from  the  dominion  of  in- 
dulged and  long  continued  lust,  in  the  case  of  Colonel  Gardiner, 
sect.  37,  38,  oi  his  Life  by  Dr.  Doddridge.  Every  man,  who  is 
living  under  the  tyrannical  dominion  of  his  lusts,  and  wishes  to  ob- 
tain deliverance,  should  not  fail  to  consult  this  extraordinary  emaiici- 
patioiu     Nothing  is  too  hard  for  divine  grace  to  accomplisfa. 

0  C  2 


19^  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGIOxV 

destroy  the  affections  of  men,  but  to  regulate,  and  restore  tliem 
to  due  order  and  harmony,  and  so  to  promote  the  felicity  of 
human  life.  And,  wherever  it  hath  its  proper,  full,  and  /ta- 
tural  effect,  there  it  always  forms  a  virtuous,  respectable,  and 
happy  character.  The  grand  intention  of  it,  however,  is  to 
train  mankind  for  glory  and  injmortality  m  a  future  state  of 
existence. 

"  If  the  human  race  are  all  sprung  from  one  original  pair, 
and  if  the  several  species  of  animals,  insects,  and-  birds, 
were  produced  in  the  garden  of  Eden,  as  the  Bible  seems 
to  insinuate,  how  is  it  possible  they  should  be  found  dis- 
persed into  the  several  countries  of  the  world  at  an  im- 
mense distance,  and,  in  many  cases,  separated  by  extensive 
oceans  *  f^ 

If  we  refuse  to  believe  in  God,  till  we  understand  all  the 
difficulties  attending  his  existence,  and  in  Jesus  Christ,  till 
ve  are  acquainted  with  all  the  mysteries  of  Providence  and 
Grace,  we  must  continue,  not  only  Unbelierers,  but  Jtheists 
to  eternity.  How  often  must  it  be  repeated,  that  our  compre- 
hension is  not  the  standard  of  truth  r  The  evidence  for  the  ge- 
nuineness and  authenticity  of  the  Sacred  Records  must  be  the 
measure  of  our  faith. 

*'  Is  it  at  all  probable,  that  we,  and  the  several  kinds  of 
black  men,  should  be  sprung  from  the  same  parents,  as  the 
Bible  affirms  all  human  creatures  were  r" 

At  first  view,  this  is  a  considerable  difficulty,  but  has  been 
accounted  for  upon  principles  perfectly  satisfactory,  which  we 
cannot  stop  here  at  length  to  detail  f. 

"  Why  is  the  Gospel  attended  with  so  many  difficulties?  and 
why  did  not  infinite  wisdom,  if  infinite  w  isdom  had  any  concern 
in  the  business,  take  care  to  make  every  thing  plain  and  easy  to 
the  meanest  capacity  J  r" 

*  See  Stackhouse  on  this  ditficultv. 

t  Consult  Mr.  Bryant's  Treatise  on  the  Christian  Relig^ion, 
p.  267 — 277.  See  the  same  work  too  for  answers  to  several  otlier 
objections.  But  for  a  solution  of  the  greatest  number  of  difficul- 
ties, I  repeat  again,  turn  to  Stackhouses  large  work  on  the 
Bible. 

X  The  religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  any  more  than  the  dispen- 
sation of  MosES,  was  never  mtended  to  be  free  from  difficulties. 
It  was  rather  designed  to  be  a  touchstoiie  for  ingenuous  and  curable 
dispositions.     If  we  are  honest  enquirers  after  saving   truth,  and 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  ig? 

It  IS  answered,  wilh  triumphant  gratitude,  every  thing  jieces- 
sary  to  sahalioii  is  plain  and  easy  to  the  most  common  appre- 
hension, if  we  are  humbly  disposed  to  submit  our  wills  and  un- 
derstandings to  the  will  and  understanding  of  God.  And  if 
there  are  some  things  in  the  Sacred  IVritiiigs,  and  in  the  scheme 
of  redemption,  difficult  to  comprehend,  it  is  not  less  so  in  the 
course  of  nature,  and  in  the  principled)  of  unrevealed  religion. 
But  if  the  Gospel  of  Christ  were  attended  with  abundanily 
more  difficulties  dian  it  is,  still  there  could  be  no  solid  objec- 
tion against  substantial  proof.  A  poor  illiterate  man,  in  a  dark 
corner  of  the  earth,  has  preached  a  scheme  of  doctrines  and 
morals  superior  to  all  human  wisdom,  and  calculated  to  make 
all  mankind  happy,  if  all  mankind  would  submit  to  its  authority- 
This  he  hath  spread  abroad  to  the  ends  of  the  world,  in  oppo- 
sition to  all  the  powers  of  earth  and  hell.  Let  any  man  account 
for  this  phcenomenon,  on  principles  raeiely  human,  if  he  can. 

"  Has  not  tlie  Gospel  been  the  cause  of  the  greatest  misery 
and  destruction  to  the  human  race,  upon  various  occasions,  al- 
most ever  since  it  was  introduced  r" 

It  has.  And  tliis  is  among  the  proofs  that  it  came  from 
above.  The  Author  of  it  predicted  that  so  it  should  be.  But 
the  Gospel  itself  was  no  otlierwise  the  cause  of  misery  and  de- 
struction to  the  human  race,  than  as  Philosophij  has  been 
the  cause  of  misery  and  destruction  to  the  inhabitants  of 
France.  As  in  the  latter  case,  it  was  not  Philosophic,  but 
the  abuse  of  it,  which  has  done  so  much  mischief;  so  in  the 
former,  it  was  not  the  Gospel,  but  a  most  wicked  perversion 
of  its  pure  and  benevolent  doctrines,  which  has  produced 
so   much    havock    among    mankind*.      And    though    it    has 

persevere  in  our  pui"suit,  we  shall  not  be  disappointed.  What  we 
know  not  to-day,  we  shall  know  to-morrow.  That  is  a  fine  anecdotr 
which  is  given  us  by  Jacob  Bryant,  Esq.  in  the  above  Treatise 
on  the  Christian  Religion,  concernins;  the  Queen  and  the  Princess 
Mary.  See  that  Work,  and  Simpson's  Essai/  on  the  Neiv  Testament, 
p.  123. 

*  See  this  difficulty  answered  in  Bonnen's  Interesting  View  of 
Christianitjf,  p.  230 — 237,  and  still  more  fully  in  the  first  vol.  of 
Bishop  PoRTEUs's  Sermons,  Discourse  the  twelfth. 

The  Roman  emperors  of  the  three  first  centuries  after  the  birth  of 
Christ  are  somewhere  said  by  St.  Jerome,  if  I  remember  right, 
to  have  martyred  5000  Christians  a  day  every  day  in  the  year, 
except  one ;  that  is,  they  put  to  death  at  different  times,  during 
those  centuries,   1,820,000  souls! — These  Heathens,  however,   ac. 


198  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

not  done  all  the  good  that  might  have  been  -desired  or  ex- 
pected, yet  it  has  already  accomplished  great  tilings  for  the 
world.  To  the  Bible  we  owe  all  the  best  laws  in  our  best 
civil  institutions.  To  the  Bible,  Europe  is  indebted  for  much 
of  the  liberty  which  it  now  enjoys;  and,  little  as  we  may 
think  of  it,  the  Bible  too  was  the  mean  of  preserving  the 
small  share  of  learning  which  was  cultivated  during  the  dark 
ages  *.  We  may  close  these  observations  in  the  words  of 
that  great  French  writer,  Montesquieu — "  To  assert  that  re- 
ligion has  no  restraining  power,  because  it  does  not  always  re- 
strain, is  to  assert,  that  civil  laws  have  likewise  no  restrain- 
ing power.  He  reasons  ft^lsely  against  religion,  who  enu- 
merates at  great  length  the  evils  which  it  has  produced,  and 
overlooks  the  advantages.  Were  I  to  recount  all  the  evils 
which  civil  laws,  monarchical  and  republican  govern nients, 
have  produced  in  the  world,  I  might  exhibit  a  dreadful  pic- 
ture.— Let  us  set  before  our  eyes  the  continual  massacres  of 
Greek  and  Roman  khigs  and  generals  on  the  one  h:!ud,  and 
on  the  other  tiie  destruction  of  cities  and  nations  by  those 
very  kings  and  generals;  aTiMUR  and  a  Jencizkan  ra- 
vaging Asia ;  and  we  shall  see,  that  we  owe  to  religion  a  cer- 
tain political  law  in  government,  and  in  war  a  certain  law  of 
nations  ;  advantages  which  human  nature  cannot  sufficiently  ac- 
knowledge "f.'* 

*'  If  the  Gospel. he  such  a  blessing  to  mankind,  why,  in  these 
ages,  has  it  not  been  published  in  every  nation  f" 

It  is  answer  sufficient,  that  God  giveth  account  of  none 
of  his  matters,  and  every  man  shall  be  judged  according  to 
tlie   privileges   he   hath    enjoyed,  and   not  according    to   those 

cording  to  this  calculation,  were  not  half  so  bloody  as  the  Roman 
Catholic  Christums  have  been. — The  infidel  Philosophers  of  FroncCf 
who  are  evermore  charging  the  Gospel  with  cruelty  and  murder, 
though  it  prohibits  every  thing  of  the  kind  under  the  most  awful 
sanctions,  by  a  most  tremendous  retaliation,  have  turned  their 
arms  one  against  another,  and  have  n;urdered  upwards  of  two 
millions  of  tlieir  own  countrymen  m  the  course  of  seven  years ! 
Hence  it  appears,  that  your  vain  glorious  Philosophers  have  ieen, 
and  are  now,  at  least  as  bloody,  illiberal,  and  intolerant  as  the 
most  bloody,  illiberal,  and  intolerant  of  us  Parsons  !  What  has  the 
rejection  of  Christianity,  and  the  introduction  of  Philosophy  done 
for  that  enslaved,  yet  triumphant  country  ? 

*  See  this  proved  by  Jortin,  ^ol.  7-  p.  Z5^—377- 

t  Spirit  of  Laws,  book  24.  cli,  2,  3. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  199 

with  which  he  has  not  been  favoured.  No  nation  hath  any 
right  to  the  blessing.  God  is  a  sovereign,  and  may  dispense  his 
favours  as  his  own  wisdom  shall  direct.  Moreover,  all  tlie  na- 
tions of  the  earth  shall  be  blessed  with  it  in  the  due  course  of 
Divine  Providence. 

"  Jesus  shall  reign  \\here'er  the  sun 
Does  Ills  successive  journeys  run ; 
His  kingdom  stretch  from  shore  to  shore, 
"nil  suns  shall  wax  and  wane  no  more*. " 

"  But  if  God  was  the  original  author  of  the  Jezsish  and 
Christian  dispensations,  why  were  they  permitted  to  centiact 
such  a  mass  of  ceremonial  corruptions  ?" 

The  fault  lay  not  in  either  of  the  institutions,  but  in  the  low 
and  superstitious  state  of  human  nature.  The  institutions  were 
good,  but  the  folly  of  men  hath  perverted  them  to  unworthy 
purposes.  Is  the  fountain  to  be  blamed,  because  the  streams 
have  been  polluted  by  the  feet  of  men  f 

"Be  it  so;  but  why  was  man  created  in  so  low  and  de- 
. graded  a  state  ?  or  rather,  why  was  he  permitted,  by  the  bene- 
volent and  all  powerful  Creator,  to  sink  down  into  such  an 
idolatrous  and  superstitious  condition  r" 

This  is  a  difficulty,  be  it  observed,  which  affects  natural  as 
vyell  as  revealed  religion,  Deism  as  well  as  Christianity.  There 
is  no  end  to  questions  of  this  nature.  With  equal  propriety 
may  we  ask  why  man  was  not  created  an  angel,  a  seraph,  a 
Qod  = 

*'  Presumptuous  Man !  the  reason  wouldst  thou  find. 
Why  fomi'd  so  weak,  so  little,  and  so  blind  ? 
First,  if  thou  canst,  tJie  harder  reason  guess, 
Why  form'd  no  weaker,  blinder,  and  no  less." 

"Can  you  say  that  Thomas  Paine  f  has  not  brought 
mauy  verv  heavy  charges  against  the  writings  both  of  the 
Old  and  'Sew  Testaments,  and  such  as  cannot  easily  be 
answered  r" 


*  The  reader  may  consult  the  90th  section  of  Simpson's  Kej/ 
to  th£  Prophecies,  for  a  coucise  view  of  the  millennial  reign  of 
Christ. 

t  Paine's  book  against  the  Bible  can  never  stagger  the  faith  of 
any  man,  who  is  well  informed  upon  the  subject  of  religion  ;  yet 
thev  will  have  great  effect  upon  all  our  immoral  and  lukeitarm  pro- 
^ssors  of  the  Gospel.     But  where  is  the  difference  between  a  wicked 


200  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

We  grant  tliis  objection  in  all  its  force.  He  is  a  man  of 
shrewd  abilities,  and  has  a  method  of  setting  difficulties  in  a 
strong  point  of  view.  But,  if  you  yourself  are  a  person  of 
any  discernment,  you  cannot  help  seeing,  that  he  discovers 
great  pride  of  understanding,  much  rancour  and  malignity  of 
heart,  and  most  invincible  ignorance  of  the  subject  upon 
which  he  writes.  His  intention  in  his  Rights  of  Man  was 
plainly  to  subvert,  as  far  as  in  him  lay,  the  civil  government 
of  tiiis  country ;  and,  in  his  Ji^e  of  Reason,  he  meant  no 
other  than  to  convert  the  common  people  of  England  to  a 
state  of  Infidditij,  and  so  to  overturn  the  religious  govern- 
ment of  the  country;  and,  in  both,  he  evidently  meant  no 
other  than  to  involve  us  as  a  nation  in  civil  and  religious  de- 
struction. To  men  of  s^nse,  moderation,  and  information, 
there  is  no  danger,  either  from  his  political  or  religious 
efforts ;  but  there  is  danger  to  every  reader  of  his  writings, 
who  is  not  possessed  of  these  qualifications.  Bishop  Wat- 
son's Jpology  may  perfectly  satisfy  any  man  that  Thomas 
Paine  is  by  no  means  qualified  to  write  against  the  Bible-. 
Any  fool,  indeed,  may  sneer,  revile,  abuse,  and  ridicule, 
the  most  valuable  objects  in  nature.  The  late  atheistical 
King  of  Prussia  has  had  the  impudence  to  treat  the  Deity 
himself  in  this  manner.  But  what  shall  the  end  be  of  them 
that  know  not  God,  and  obey  not  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord 
Je^ijs  Christ  ? 

If  the  audacity  of  this  scurrilous  Infidel  were  not  equal 
to  his  ignorance,  he  never  would  have   attacked   the  Clergy 

Injidel  and  a  wicked  Christian  I  Immoral  men  are  incapable  of 
happiiie>s  under  any  dispensation  of  religion  whatever.  They  must 
be  changed  or  perish.  And  it  is  of  little  consequence  whether  a 
man  goes  to  hell  as  a  Deist  or  a  Christian ;  only,  it  is  presumed,  the 
lost  Christian  will  perish  under  greater  aggravations. 

A  letter  now  lies  before  me,  which  I  this  day,  July  20th,  1798, 
received  from  a  Correspondent,  who  was  intimately  acquainted  with 
Thomas  Paine  before  he  went  to  France,  and  in  whose  house  he 
spent  pretty  much  of  his  time,  which  assures  me,  "  that  Air.  Paine, 
notwithstanding  his  superior  powers  of  natural  reason,  was  a  prey  to 
chagrin,  and  apparent  disappointment — that  he  was  never  at  rest  in 
his  mind,  but  truly  like  the  troubled  sea,  throwing  up  mire  and 
^Ith." — This  gentiemau  further  adds — and  I  have  seen  tlie  saine  in- 
formation in  the  public  prints — "  I  now  understand  that  Mr.  Painb 
is  lost  to  all  sense  of  decency  in  Pari»,  being  intoxicated  from  morn- 
ing till  night/' 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  201 

on  the  score  of  literature,  as  he  does,  when  he  insinuates 
they  are  acquainted  with  little  more  than  a  b  ah,  e  b  eh,  and 
hie,  Iiac,  hoc.  Where  does  he  find,  in  any  period  or  country 
of  the  world,  men  of  more  deep,  various,  and  exteniive 
learning,  than  are  large  numbers  of  the  Clergy,  among  the 
several  denominations  of  Christians^  Abundance  of  names 
are  to  be  found,  with  whom  he  is  no  more  fit  to  be  com- 
pared, than  a  dwarf  with  a  giant.  One  does  not  wonder, 
indeed,  to  hear  him  explode  an  acquaintance  with  languages, 
when,  according  to  his  own  confession,  he  is  a  stranger  to 
all  but  the  English.  To  see  such  an  Ignoramus  prate  about 
the  science  of  astronomy,  and  the  properties  of  triangles,  is 
enough  to  sicken  any  man,  who  has  even  a  smattering  of  know- 
ledge. Let  this  empty  and  vain  glorious  boaster  call  to  mind 
a  small  number  even  of  Priests,  who  have  been  an  honour  to 
human  nature,  in  point  of  mathematical,  philosophical,  and 
literary  attainments,  at  least; — and  then  let  him  blush,  if  he  is 
capable  of  blushing,  at  his  own  vile  perversions  of  Scripture, 
and  misrepresentations  of  the  characters  of  the  friends  of 
Religion.  Whatever  faults  some  of  the  Clergy  may  have 
been  guilty  of,  or  whatever  defects  there  may  be  in  the  jEc- 
clesiastical  constitution  of  this,  or  any  other  country,  a  large 
number  of  clerical  names  will  be  handed  down  with  honour, 
as  the  benefactors  of  mankind,  while  his  shall  be  damned  to 
fame,  as  a  base  calumniator  of  the  Sacred  Writings,  and 
the  characters  of  men  much  better  than  himself.  What  shall 
we  say,  when  such  scholars  as  Barrow,  Cudw  orth,  Wil- 
KiNs,  Peauson,  Derham,  Flamsteed,  Hales,  Bent- 
ley,  BocHART,  Desaglliers,  Mede,  Baxter,  Chil- 

LINGWORTH,  ClARKE,  BeRKLEY.  BuTLER,  WaRBURTON, 

Watts,  Doddridge,  Lowman,  Jortin,  Lardner, 
Witherspoon,  Robertson,  and  a  thousand  others,  both 
living  and  dead,  are  involved  in  the  censure  of  this  scurrilous 
Sciolist? — It  is  true,  the  church  has  had  a  very  long  and 
dark  eclipse.  Priests  have  been  highly  to  blame  on  many 
occasions.  But  no  age  can  be  produced  when  they  have  not 
been,  at  least,  as  learned  and  religious  as  any  other  body  of 
men.  There  was  a  time,  indeed,  when  Vigilius  was  con- 
demned to  be  burnt  for  asserting  the  existence  of  the  Anti- 
podes; and,  even  so  late  as  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  Gallileo,  who  discovered  and  introduced  the  use 
of  telescopes,   instead  of  being  rewarded  for  his  pains,  was 

D  D 


202  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

imprisoned,  and  compelled  to  renounce  his  opinions  result- 
ing from  such  discoveries,  as  damnable  heresies.  These  are 
lamentable  facts,  and  the  Priests,  concerned  in  the  perse- 
cution, deserved  to  be  hanged.  But  I  will  take  upon  me  to 
aver,  that  even  in  this  enlightened,  literary  and  philosophi- 
cal age,  at  the  very  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  Thomas 
Paine  himself  hath  submitted  to  the  view  of  the  world  a 
nuiiiler  of  as  palpable  instances  of  ignorance,  or  malicious- 
ness, or  both,  as  ever  an  insulted  public  was  cursed  with  in 
any  one  person,  who  pretended  to  write  for  the  improvement 
of  mankind.  The  Jge  of  Reason,  as  applied  to  this  vain 
man's  pamphlets,  is  a  burlesque;  it  is  an  insult  upon  common 
sense;  it  ought  rather  to  be  called.  The  J^e  of  Falsehood — 
The  Jge  of  Infidelity — The  Jge  of  Igyiorancc — The  Jge  of 
Calumny — The  Jge  of  Manianism — or,  in  short,  The  Jge  of 
any  Thing,  but  that  of  Reason. 

I  will  give  the  reader  a  few  specimens,  and  leave  him  to 
judge. 

1.  Mr.  Paine  alledges,  that  Moses  could  not  be  the 
author  of  the  five  books,  which  go  under  his  name,  because 
they  are  frequently  written  in  the  third  person, 

-■-   Xenophon  and  Cesar  will  answer  this  difficulty. 

2.  Mr.  Paine  confounds  mathematical  with  historical 
evidence. 

Any  novice  in  science,  however,  knows  the  difference. 

3.  Mr.  Paine  confounds  also  a  book  that  is  genuine  with 
one  that  is  authentic. 

He  ought  to  have  kn^wn  that  the  difference  is  extremely  great 
and  important. 

4.  He  declares  that  the  prodigies  recorded  by  Livv  and 
Tacitus  are  attended  with  as  good  evidence  as  the  miracles  of 
Christ. 

No  man  of  any  information  can  justify  such  an  assertion. 

5.  He  asserts,  that  miracles  admit  not  of  proof. 

Let  the  reader  turn  to  Campbell  on  the  subject  and 
judge.  The  testimony  of  500,  or  50,  or  even  10  credible 
persons  is  sufficient  to  establish  the  validity  of  any  of  the  scrip- 
tural miracles,  where  there  is  no  counter  evidence. 

6.  Mr.  Paine  assures  us,  there  is  no  affirmative  evidence 
that  Moses  is  the  author  of  the  Pentateuch. 

No  books  in  the  world  ever  had  more  affirmative  evi- 
dence.    Bishop   Watson   has  brotight  it  into   one   view. — 


AND  THE  SACRED  ^VRlTINGS.  203 

Abundance  of  the  most  respectable  authors,  who  have  written 
since  the  lime  of  Moses,  give  their  testimony  to  his  wriimgs. 
The  books  of  Joshua,  Judges,  Samuel,  Kings,  ClirunUles, 
and  most  of  those  which  follow,  all  bear  witness  to  them, 
besides  several  of  the  Heathen. 

7.  He  asserts,  that  the  genealogy  from  Adam  to  Saul 
takes  up  the  first  nine  chapters  of  the  first  book  of  Chro- 
uicles. 

Now  any  man  may  see,  that  the  descendants  of  David 
to  four  generations  after  Zerubbabel  are  found  in  the 
third  chapter;  and  the  succession  of  the  high  priests  till 
the  captivity,  in  the  sixth  chapter,  with  various  other  similar 
matters. 

8.  Mr.  Paine  considers  the  books  of  Clironicles  as  a  re- 
petition of  the  two  books  of  Kiugs. 

It  is  easy  to  be  convinced,  however,  that  this  is  a  very 
erroneous  representation. — Tlie  first  book  of  Kings  contains 
an  account  of  the  old  age  and  death  of  David,  with  the 
succession  and  reign  of  Solomon;  the  history  or  Reho- 
boam,  and  division  of  the  kingdom;  Jeroboam's  reign» 
and  several  of  his  successors  in  the  kingdom  of  Israel  till  the 
death  of  x\iiab.  It  contains,  moreover,  some  account  of  Asa, 
Jehosaphat,  and  other  kings  of  Judah,  so  far  as  connected 
Mith  the  contemporary  kings  of  Israel.  The  history  of  Elijah 
is  also  interwoven  in  the  same  book  prett)'  much  at  length,  with 
some  notice  of  Eli sh a. 

The  second  book  of  Kings  finishes  the  history  of  Elijah, 
and  carries  forward  the  history  of  Elisha  to  some  extent, 
with  a  kind  of  joint  history  of  the  kings  of  Israel  and  Judah, 
and  those  with  whom  they  had  war,  till  the  captivity  of  the 
king  of  Israel  by  Shalmaneser,  and  of  the  king  of  J«^a/i 
by  Nebuchadnezzar. 

Let  us  now  examine  the  contents  of  the  two  books  of 
Chronicles. 

The  first  book  contains  the  genealogies  before  mentioned, 
and  the  history  of  David,  with  the  setdement  of  the  temple 
service. 

The  second  book  of  Chronicles  contains  the  history  of 
Solomon,  Rehoboam,  x\bijah,  and  all  the  succeeding 
kings  of  Judahy  pretty  much  at  large,  till  the  Babi/lonisk 
captivity. 

From  this  short  review  of  these  four  books,  it  appears,  that 

D  D  2 


204  A  PLEA  FOR  KELIGION 

the  reigns  of  Solomon  and  Rehoboam,  with  some  small 
variations,  are  common  to  the  books  of  Kin^s  and  Chro- 
nicles; but  that^  in  most  other  respects,  they  are  entirely 
diflfereut. 

9.  Mr.  Paine  says,  the  book  of  JEsra  was  written  im- 
mediately after  the  Jews  returned  from  Babylon. 

He  should  have  known,  hoM  ever,  that  it  was  near  fourscore 
years  after. 

10.  M)-.  Paine  says,  Ezra  and  Nehemiaii  wrote  an 
account  of  the  same  affairs  in  the  return  of  the  Jcks  from 
captivity. 

He  is  as  much  mistaken  here  as  he  was  concerning  the 
four  books  of  Kings  and  Chronicles;  for  Nehemiah  relates 
few  or  none  of  the  same  events  with  Ezra. 

1 1 .  He  says,  Satan  is  no  Avhere  mentioned  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment but  in  Job. 

Let  any  man  consult  2  Sam.  xix.  22;  1  Kings,  v.  4; 
S  Chron.  xxi.  1  ;  Psalm,  cix.  6;  Zech.  iii.  1  :  and  other  places, 
and  say  what  dependance  can  be  placed  on  this  mistaken  man's 
assertions. 

12.  He  pretends  to  prove  that  the  book  of  Job  is  the  work 
of  some  Heathen  writer,  from  the  words  Pleiades,  Orio7if 
and  Arcturus,  which  are  found  in  our  translation.  See  chap. 
ix.  9;  xxxviii.  SI,  32. 

In  the  original  Hebrew,  however,  the  words  are  UnSj  Chesil 
and  Kima.     Where  then  is  his  argument? 

13.  He  says,  the  Heathens  were  a  just,  moral  people,  not 
addicted  to  cruelty  and  revenge,  neither  were  they  worshippers 
of  images. 

This  assertion  is  in  direct  opposition,  not  only  to  the  Bible, 
but  to  the  general  strain  of  universal  history. 

14.  3/r.  Paine  makes  himself  merry  with  supposing  that 
we  Priests  are  of  opinion  all  the  Psalms  were  written  by 
David,  and  that  he  must  therefore  have  composed  some  of 
them  after  his  death. 

3ut,  where  does  he  find  any  ipaii  of  character,  that  asserts 
they  were  all  written  by  David?  Jhe  titles  to  the  Psalms 
anight  convince  him  to  the  contrary, 

35,  He  says.  Priests  reject  reason, 

As  a  universal  proposition,  this  is  utterly  false.  There  are 
none  more  reasonable  men  upon  earthy  than  many  of  the 
Christian  priests. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  G05 

16.  He  savs,  '■'  almost  the  only  parts  in  the  book  called 
the  Bible,  that  convey  to  us  any  idea  of  God,  are  some 
chapters  in  Job,  and  the  19th  Psalm.  I  recollect  no 
other." 

Very  possibly.  But  then,  is  he  not  a  very  fit  man  to 
write  against  the  Bible'i  What  thinks  he  of  the  8th  psalm, 
the  ISth.  the  '2ith.  the  CQth.  the  83rd.  the  34lh.  the  36th. 
the  40th.  the  47th.  the  oOih.  the  6jth.  the  93rd.  the  96th. 
the  98th.  the  103rd.  the  104th.  the  I07th.  the  I,^9th.  the  145tli. 
and  a  vast  variety  of  other  passages,  which  speak  more  or  less 
of  the  existence,  perfections,  and  government  of  the  Divine 
Being? 

17.  He  says,  ''some  chapters  in  Job  and  the  19th  psalm 
are  true  £Zf/i/?co/ compositions,  for  they  treat  of  the  Deity, 
through  his  works.  They  take  the  book  of  creation  as  the  Tcord 
of  God;  they  refer  to  no  other  book;  and  all  the  inferences 
they  make  are  drawn  from  that  volume." 

This  declaration  is  so  far  from  being  true,  that  one  half  of 
the  19th  psa/m  itself  is  occupied  in  celebrating  the  perfection 
ofthe  Laji;of  Moses! 

18.  He  says,  the  Jts's  never  prayed  but  when  in  trouble. 
That  this  is  a  vile  slander,  see  1  Kings  iii.  6 — 9;   1  Kings  viii. 

23 — 53;  and  a  variety  of  the  psalms,  which  were  composed 
upon  joyful  occasions. 

The  man  who  can  thus  wickedly  slander  a  whole  nation, 
is  admirably  well  suited  to  declaim  against  the  iniquity  of 
priests  and  prophets!  Bolingbroke  and  Voltaibe  were 
tolerably  expert  in  perversion  and  defamation,  but  Thomas 
Paine,  I  think,  excels  them  both  in  these  estimable  qualifi- 
cations ! 

19.  He  says,  king  Ahaz  was  defeated  and  destroyed  by 
Pekah. 

This  is  utterly  false;  he  was  defeated,  but  not  destroyed. 
He  died  a  natural  death;  and  the  promise  of  the  prophet  Isaiah 
was  literally  fulfilled. 

20.  He  says,  the  book  of  Isaiah  is  "  bombastical  rant, 
extravagant  metaphor,  such  stuff  as  a  school-boy  would  have 
been  scarcely  excusable  for  writing." 

Better  judges  than  Thomas  Paine  are  of  a  very  diffe- 
rent opinion.  And  to  go  no  farther,  I  challenge  him,  and 
»U    his    friends,    to    produce,    from    any    book,    ancient  of 


206  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

modeiTi,  an  oration  equally  eloquent  with  the  first  chapter 
of  this  despised  book,  or  any  poem  more  sublime  than  that  in 
tlie  fourteenth. 

21.  He  says,  the  prophet  of  Judah  was  found  dead  by  the 
contrivance  of  the  prophet  of  hrael. 

Where  does  he  find  his  evidence?  He  can  prove  no  such 
thing.  There  is  an  old-fashioned  book  of  high  authority, 
which  saith — }\  hen  the  Devil  speaheth  a  lie,  he  spcaketh  of 
his  ozi'N  ;  for  he  is  a  liar,  and  the  father  of  it. 

22.  Solomon  had  his  house  full  of  wives  aiid  mistresses  at 
the  age  of  one  and  twenty. 

Let  him  produce  his  e%idence.     Where  is  it  recorded  ? 

23.  The  hifants  were  not  butchered  by  Herod,  because  the 
baptist  was  not  involved  in  the  destruction. 

Mr.  Paine  ought  to  have  known,  that  the  parents  of  the 
Baptist  did  not  live  at  Bethlehem  ;  but  at  Hebron,  which  was 
at  a  good  distance. 

G4.  He  hitimates,  that  Christ  had  in  view  the  deliverance 
of  his  country  from  the  Roman  yoke. 

Assertions  are  not  proofs;  where  is  the  evidence? 

2.5.  He  says,  Christ  was  not  much  known,  when  he  was 
apprehended. 

Where  did  he  learn  this?     Produce  the  evidence. 

26.  He  affirms,  Christ  did  not  intend  to  be  apprehended 
and  crucified. 

This  is  in  direct  opposition  to  the  GospeU,  from  whence  all 
his  evidence  arises. 

27 •  He  asserts,  that  Peter  was  the  only  one  of  tlie  men 
called  Apostles^  who  appears  to  have  been  near  the  spot  at  the 
crucifixion. 

It  is  very  plain  from  this,  that  Mr.  Paine  knows  very  little 
about  what  he  is  so  abusive.     Where  was  John? 

28.  Mr.  Paine  calls  Luke  and  Mark  apostles. 

Let  any  person  consult  the  list  of  these  twelve  honour- 
able men,  and  see  if  he  can  find  these  two  names  among  tiiem. 

29.  He  says,  it  appears ^;-o;?z  the  Evangelists,  that  the  whole 
time,  from  the  crucifixion  to  the  ascension,  was  apparently  not 
more  than  three  or  four  days. 

This  assertion  shews  the  most  consummate  ignorance  of  the 
subject  upon  which  he  writes. 

30.  He  says,  all  the   circumstances  of  Christ's  conduct. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  207 

between  the  resurrection  and  ascension,  are  reported  to  have 
happened  about  the  same  spot. 

Some  happened  at  and  near  Jerusalem,  others  in  Galilee, 
which  was  upwards  of  Jiff  i/  miles  from  Jerusalem. 

31.  He  afHrms,  that,  according  to  Matthew,  Christ  met 
his  disciples  in  Galilee  on  the  dai/  of  his  resurrection. 

There  is  a  plausibility  in  this  assertion,  of  which  many 
of  the  others  are  destitute,  but  it  is  without  due  considera- 
tion. 

30..  Mr.  Paine  insinuates,  that  Christ  appeared  only  once 
after  his  resurrection. 

Read  the  Gospels,  and  judge  uliat  credit  is  due  to  such  a 
writer.     He  appeared  upon  various  occasions.- 

33.  He  asserts,  that  we  have  only  the  evidence  of  eight  or 
nine  persons  to  the  resurrection  of  Christ. 

Such  afthniations  merit  nothing  but  contempt.  Were  not 
the  twelve  Jposflcs  witnesses  of  this  event?  And  what  does 
he  make  of  the  500  witnesses  mentioned  by  Paul? 

34.  He  sav?,  there  was  nothing  miraculous  or  extraordinary 
in  the  conversion  of  St.  Paul:  he  was  struck  down  with 
lightning. 

This  is  the  apostle  of  infidelity!  What  strange  credulity  is 
necessary  to  make  a  complete  Deist? 

35.  Mr.  Paine  affirms,  that  ,S7.  Paul's  di^scourse  on  the 
resurrection  is  "  doubtful  jargon — as  destitute  of  meaning  as 
the  tolling  of  the  bell  at  the  funeral." 

Well  done,  Tommy  Paine,  thou  art  a  clever  fellow — 
worthv  of  a  seat  in  the  French  convention !  We  shall  ex- 
pect, ere  long,  to  hear  thou  hast  obtained  one  of  the  most 
honourable  niches  in  the  national  Panlheon,  as  a  benefactor  of 
mankind  ! 

36.  Mr.  Pai  N  e  has  the  audacity  repeatedly  to  call  St.  Paul 
a  fool. 

Mr.  Locke,  Lord  Littleton,  and  Mr.  Palev,  will 
aenh  the  nydttcv  of  ihe  Apostle's  foolishness  with  this  doughty 
champion  for  unbelief. 

After  all  these  instances  of  ignorance,  falsehood,  nialicious- 
7iess,  or  inivepresentation,  will  any  person  undertake  to  say  that 
Mr.  Paine  is  a  zrise  man. 

37.  Mr.  Paine  roundly  asserts,  '^^  that  there  was  no  such 
book  as  the  New  Ttstament  till  more  than  300  years  after 
Christ." 


S08  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

1(  priests  and  prophets  are  such  "  lying  rascals,  that  there  is 
no  believing  any  thing  they  say/'  I  close  this  long  catalogue  of 
strange  assertions,  by  asking — IVho  is  the  liar  now'^ 

The  principal  books,  of  which  the  'Sew  Testanuiit  con- 
sists, were  in  existence,  and  read  as  sacred  writ,  from  the  time 
they  were  first  composed  by  the  authors  whose  names  they 
respectively  bear.  I  defy  Mr.  Paine  or  any  other  man  to 
disprove  this  assertion*. 

1  give  these  as  so  many  specimens  of  the  false,  ignorant, 
or  malicious  representations  of  this  vain-glorious  man.  It 
were  an  easy  matter  to  encrease  the  number.  These,  how- 
ever, may  suffice.  It  can  be  of  little  use  to  enlarge  the 
selection.  From  the  whole,  it  appears,  that  misapprehen- 
sion, misrepresentation,  false  wit,  empty  declamation,  scur- 
rilous language,  and  bitter  invective,  are  the  sum  tetal,  that 
the  keenest  capacity,  and  most  virulent  enmity  can  produce 
against  the  Sacred  Writings,  I  have  examined  his  books 
repeatedly,  and  with  scrupulous  attention,  and  I  declare, 
ijpon  my  salvation,  that  it  does  not  appear  to  me,  he  has 
made  good,  and  fairly  substantiated,  any  one  objection  to 
the  Sacred  Volume,  that,  in  the  smallest  degree,  affects  the 
business  of  human  redemption,  or  the  credit  of  the  Divine 
Records.  He  has,  indeed,  done  his  best.  The  book  and  the 
authors  whom  Milton,  Locke,  Addison,  Boyle,  Hal- 
LER,  EuLER,  and  N  Ew  ton  had  in  reverence,  almost  to  adora- 
tion, this  ignorant  and  conceited  man  hath  treated  with  all 
possible  indignity  and  contempt.  We  have  given  the  reader  a 
few  specimens  of  his  ignorance ;  we  will  produce  a  few  instances 
of  his  insolence. — Among  other  malignant  things,  with  which 
his  pamphlets  abound,  he  says:  ^*  The  books  of  Moses  were 
written  by  some  very  ignorant  and  stupid  pretenders  to 
authorship." — ''  Moses  wa.s  one  of  the  most  vain  and 
arrogant  of  coxcombs." — ''  Genesis  is  but  an  anonymous  book 
of  stories,  fables,  and  traditionary  or  invented  absurdities, 
or  of  downright  lies." — •''  Among  the  detestable  villains 
that  in  any  period  of  the  world  have  disgraced  the  name 
of  man,  it  is  impossible  to  find  a  greater  than  Moses." — 
"  The  Bible  is  such  a  book  of  lies  and  contradictions,  there 
is   no   knowing  which   part    to   believe,    or   whether   any." — 

♦  See  Simpson's  Essay  on  tlie  Authenticity^  of  the  New  Testament, 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  ^09 

"  The  book  of  Ruth  is  an  idle,  bungling  story,  foolishly 
told,  nobody  knows  by  whom,  about  a  strolling  country  girl 
creeping  slvly  to  bed  to  her  cousin  Boaz." — "  Wriuckled 
fanalicism." — ''  Priestly  ignorance." — "  Studied  craft  of  the 
s.cripture-makers."— "  Cant  phrase  of  all  the  prophets."— 
"  Barefaced  perversion." — "  The  lying  prophet  and  impostor 
Isaiah,  and  the  book  of  falsehoods  that  bears  his  name." — 
"The  traitor  Jeremiah."— '^  Stupidity  of  the  Bible." — 
"  A  stupid  book-maker,  under  the  name  of  Jeremiah." — 
"The  prophets  are  impostors  and  liars." — "  Jeremiah,  an- 
other of  the  lying  prophets." — "  The  poetical,  musical,  con- 
juring, dreaming,  strolling  gentry,  the  prophets." — "  Elisha 
was  a  conjuror." — "The  prophets  Mere  famous  for  l\ing." — 
"  Some  of  them  exulted  in  cursing." — "  Frantic  writing,"  of 
the  prophets. — "  The  vicious  and  malignant  character  of  a 
Bibh  prophet,  or  a  predicting  priest." — "  The  cant  language 
of  a  ii/i/e-prophet."— "  This  lying  book  the  Bibh:'— "The 
virgin  Mary  %vas  debauched  by  a  ghost." — "Matthew  was 
a  dashing  writer," — "  The  writer  of  the  book  of  Matthew 
was  an  exceeding  weak  and  foolish  man." — "  The  sum  total  of 
a  parsons  learning." — "  Priests  and  conjurors  are  of  the  same 
trade." — "  It  is  better,  far  better,  that  we  admitted,  if  it  were 
possible,  a  thousand  devils  to  roam  at  large,  and  to  preach  pub- 
licly the  doctrine  of  devils,  if  there  w  ere  any  such,  than  that  we 
permitted  one  such  impostor  or  monster  as  Moses,  Joshua, 
Samuel,  and  the  B/6/t'-prophets,  to  come  with  the  pre- 
tended Word  of  God  in  his  mouth,  and  have  credit  among  us." 
— '/  What  is  it  the  Bibh  teaches  us  ?" — "  Rapine,  cruelty,  and 
murder." — What  is  it  the  Testament  teaches  us? — "  To  be- 
lieve that  the  Almighty  committed  debauchery  with  a  woman, 
engaged  to  be  married ;  and  the  belief  of  this  debauchery  is 
called  faith." — "  Fragments  of  morality  are  irregularly  and 
thinly  scattered  in  the  books  of  the  New  Testa?ncnt." — ^'  The 
obscurity  and  obscene  nonsense  of  the  Testament" — "  Faith 
hath  its  origin  in  a  supposed  debauchery." — "  The  descent  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  is  such  absurd  stufY  as  is  fit  only  for  tales 
of  witches  and  w izards." — "  The  grovling  tales  and  doctrines  of 
the  Bibh  and  the  Testament  are  fit  only  to  excite  contempt." 

These   are  some  of  the  jiozcers  of  Mr.  Paine's   Jge  of 
Reason.     I  have  not  one  word  to  reply.     If  any  one  of  my 

£  K 


210  A  PLEA  rOR  RELIGION 

readers  find  a  stomach  for  such  stuff,  he  is  very  welcome  to 
it.  I  envy  not  his  taste.  If  he  v.ould  give  himself  the 
trouble  to  read  over  IMshop  Watson's  Apology  for  the  Bible, 
he  will  see  most  of  these  scurrilities  handsomely  chastised. 
I  shall  only  apply  the  "words  of  one  of  these  B/6/e-writers  as 
he  contemptuously  calls  them,  to  the  case  in  hand:  Why 
boas,test  thou  thystlf  hi  iuhchief,  O  mighty  mon? — Thy 
tongue  deviseth  mischief;  like  a  sharp  razor  working  deceit- 
fulli/.  Thou  loiist  all  devouring  zcords,  O  thou  deceitful 
io?igue  !  But  God  shall  destroy  thee  for  ever,  he  shall  take 
thee  away,  and  pluck  thee  out  of  thy  dwelling  place,  and  root 
thee  out  of  the  land  of  the  living.  The  righteous  also  shall  see, 
and  fear ,  and  shall  laugh  at  him.  Bo,  this  is  the  man,  that 
made  not  God  his  strength — but  strengthened  himself  in  his 
wickedness.     Psalm  lii. 

To  proceed  to  other  considerations: 

*'  Some  men  of  great  ingenuity  have  very  seriously  called 
in  question  the  very  existence  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  have 
contended,  that  there  never  vas  any  such  person  upon 
earth." 

Those,  that  will  call  in  question  whether  there  ever  existed 
upon  earth  such  a  person  as  Jesus  Chbist,  may  uith  much 
greater  reason  question  the  existence  of  Alexander,  Cesar, 
PoMPEY,  and  ail  the  other  heroes  of  antiquity. 

"  Others  there  have  been,  who  have  presumed  to  reject  the 
authority  of  the  New  Testament.'^ 

Those  \\ho  will  undertake  to  deny  the  genuineness  and 
authenticity  oi  iXvafonr  Gospels,  with  the  writings  of  Peter, 
Paul,  James,  and  John,  may,  with  much  more  appearance 
of  truth,  denv  the  authenticity  of  the  writings  of  Homer  and 
Hesiod,  of  Plato  and  Xenophon,  of  Horace  and  Vir- 
gil; seeing  there  is  much  more  evidence  for  the  authenticity  of 
the  former,  than  of  the  latter. 

'^  Does  it  not  appear  unaccountable,  that  the  whole 
Jetc-ish  nation  should  eutertaui  such  a  warm  expectation 
of  their  Messiah's  appearance,  and  that  they  should  reject 
Christ  when  he  actually  did  come,  if  he  had  not  been  an 
impostor.'" 

It  is  well  known  that  many  thousands  of  the  Jezi's^aud 
religious  proselytes  were  at  first   converted    to    the    faith    of 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  211 

Christ.  This  sufficiently  proves,  that  the  ver)-  general  rejec- 
tion of  Christ  was  not  owing  to  a  want  of  evidence  concerning 
his  mission,  but  to  causes  of  a  different  nature. 

Lt'  it  be  enquired  what  tho^e  causes  were;  it  may  be  re- 
plied— Many  false  Messiahs  arose  about  that  time.  Tliis  cir- 
cumstance was  calculated  to  perplex  the  minds  of  simple 
people,  and  leave  them  undetermined  which  was  the  true. 
The  meanness  of  our  SAViorR's  parentage;  his  dwellhig  hi 
Galilee;  his  rejecting  all  worldly  honour;  the  simplicity  of 
his  life  and  doctrine;  the  ignominy  of  his  death:  the  sublime 
language  of  the  prnphcts  concerning  his  kingdom;  but, 
above  all,  the  general  wickedness  of  the  generation  in  which 
he  appeared ;  these  seem  to  be  sufficient  causes  for  the  rejection 
of  the  Messiah,  without  considering  him  in  the  light  of  an 
impostor. 

Besides;  by  the  infidelity  of  the  Jens,  we  gain  a  large 
number  of  unsuspected  witnesses  to  the  truth  of  the  Old 
Testament;  and  by  their  dispersion  into  all  countries,  they 
are  God's  witnesses,  and  as  a  seed  sown  for  the  future  con- 
version of  the  nations :  by  their  infidelity  too  are  fulfilled 
abundance  of  prophecies :  it  is,  moreover,  a  great  advantage 
to  the  Gospel  to  have  been  first  preached  in  a  nation  of 
unbelievers:  it  is  a  means  of  making  the  prophecies  more 
attended  to  and  more  studied:  it  serves  to  shew  that  God 
did  not  chuse  the  Jezcs  from  among  the  nations  for  their  own 
sakes :  it  is  a  warning  to  us  to  beware  of  the  same  infidelity : 
we  are  taugiit  by  it  likewise,  that  it  is  not  being  of  any  par- 
ticular nation  or  church  which  saveth  a  man:  aiwl,  lastly,  it 
is  well  calculated  to  correct  a  vain  opinion,  which  every  one 
is  apt  to  entertain,  that  had  we  lived  in  the  times  of  our 
Saviour,  and  conversed  personally  with  him,  we  should  have 
been  better  Christians,  and  obeyed  without  doubt  and  without 
reserve. 

"  Say  what  you  please,  you  shall  never  persuade  me  to  be- 
lieve abundance  of  things  contained  in  the  book  called  the 
Bihkr 

Very  good.  Take  your  owu  way.  I  wish  not  to  force 
your  conviction,  contrary  to  evidence.  Only  weigh  the  mat- 
ter seriously  and  conscientiously,  and  niay  the  Author 
of  your  being  direct  your  determination ! — But,  suppose  you 
feel  yourself  incapable  of  receiving  the   Af.v    TiStamenl  a.-  » 

K  E  '2 


212  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

religions  system^  founded  in  truth,  cannot  you  receive  it  as  a 
system  of  morals,  founded  in  policy r  This  will  not  make 
you  a  religious  man  indeed,  but  it  may  make  you  a  good 
subject,  and  a  respectable  member  of  civil  society.  It  is  well 
known,  that  the  ifnportance  of  Religion,  to  the  well-being 
of  every  civil  community,  is  a  point  on  which  the  greatest 
politicians,  no  less  than  the  most  respected  moralists,  have 
been  generally  agreed;  and  it  is  an  undisputed  fact,  esta- 
blished in  the  page  of  history,  that,  in  proportion  as  the 
influence  of  Religion  has  declined  in  any  country,  in  that 
same  proportion  the  state  itself  has  tended  to  its  dissolution. 
Is  not  this  an  unanswerable  argument,  founded  in  universal 
experience,  if  not  for  the  truth,  yet  for  the  utility  of 
Religion. 

"  But,  suppose  I  should  be  convinced  of  the  fallacy  of 
my  own  opinions,  and  the  truth  of  Christianity,  what  must 
I  do?  How  shall  [  know,  among  all  the  uncharitable  and 
contending  denominations  of  Christians,  who  is  right,  and  who 
is  wrong,  and  to  whom  I  should  unite  myself  in  Christian 
fellowship?" 

Take  the  Nero  Testament  into  your  hand;  read  it  dili- 
gently, call  upon  the  Lord  fur  direction  iailhfully,  and 
follow  \vliitliersoever  it  leads  the  way.  Take  nothing  upoji 
trust;  pin  your  faith  upon  no  man's  sleeve;  to  the  law  and 
the  testimony*.     Believe  in   Christ,   as  the    Word  teaches; 

*  Few  of  the  Sectarists  of  the  present  day  have  departed  farther 
from  tlie  scriptural  \'\e\v  of  things  than  the  Aeiv  Church.  The  lorni 
of  baptism  in  their  Liturgy  is  this: — "I  baptize  tliee  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  at  once  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Spirit."  Their  confession  is  this: — "  Dost  thou  believe, 
that  God  is  One  both  in  essence  and  in  person,  in  whom  is  a  divine 
trinity,  consisting  of  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit;  and 
that  the  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  is  He?  I  do."  The 
Holi/  Supper  is  thus  admhiistered: — "The  Body  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  which  is  the  divine  good  of  his  divine  love,  nourish  and 
preserve  you  inito  eternal  life.  Take  and  eat  this,  in  remembrance 
that  the  Lord  glorified  his  human,  and  thereby  became  the  God  of 
heaven  and  earth." 

Enough  !  One  is  grieved  and  surjirized,  that  any  set  of  people 
should  take  such  liberties  in  altering  the  Sacred  IVrifings.  To  our 
own  master,  however,  we  must  each  of  us  stand  or  fall. 

Some  time  since  there  was  a  Letter  written  and  addressed  to  the 
Clergy  in  behalf  of  Swedenborg's  TlieologicalWorks.   The  Letter 


AND  THE    SACRED  WRITINGS. 


213 


put  your  whole  trust  and  confidence  in  him;  obey  his  precepts; 
woiship  God  publicly  and  privately  with  sincerity  and  zeal; 
do  justly,  love  mercy,  and  walk  humbly  with  your  Makeu;  and 
look  for  his  mercy  through  CiiuisT  Jesus  unto  eternal  life: 
and  be  assured  all  shall  be  well. 

"  Be  all  these  things,  however,  as  they  may,  the  religion 
of  Jrsus  is  a  thing  of  which  you  do  hot  approve.  He 
might  be  a  very  good  sort  of  man,  but  his  doctrines  are 
not  to  your  taste.  If  you  could  only  get  clear  of  the  Bible, 
and  these  d — d  Priests'^,  of  every  denomination,  as  the 
French  have  done,  you  then  flatter  yourselves  we  should  see 
happier  days? ' 

is  admirably  well  written,  and  in  an  excellent- spirit,  whoeN'er  was  tiie 
author.  Bat  surely  a  man  of  his  sense  nmst  see  the  lallaciousness 
of  his  own  reasoning  on  the  13th  page  of  the  small  edition,  where 
he  gi^es  his  reasons  wliy  the  writings  he  wis'ies  to  recommend  should 
be  receiveil.  The  whole  force  of  his  rcconunendation  rests  upon  the 
reasons  there  given  in  favour  of  .SwedenboRg's  divuie  conmiission, 
and  yet  those  reasons  are  altogeth.er  without  any  sound  and  legitimate 
foundation.  What  will  not  iiioenious  men  say,  and  how  far  w  ill  they 
not  so,  to  establish  a  favourite  hypothesis  ? 

*^  It  is  greatly  to  be  lamented,  that  the  C/trgi/,  in  most  ages  of 
the  Chrixiiuii  Church,  have  been  very  generally  unfriendly  toToleiTt- 
lion,  and  that  they  should  iiave  been  the  instruments  of  calling  for, 
or  stirring  up,  the  civil  power  to  persecution.  Every  good  and  liberal 
minded  man  must  confess  and  bewail  this  misfortune.  This  spirit, 
however,  has  not  been  conlined  to  ministers  of  the  FMablishmcnt. 
Jtwn,  ikathens,  and  Mnhometunt,  Praahijtnians,  Ltdcpi/irhnty,  aiid 
Bftpthts,  have  all,  in  their  turns,  Avhen  the  power  Ir.us  come  into  their 
hands,  been  guilty  of  the  same  intolerant  conduct t.  It  is  human 
nature,  and  a  part  of  its  di-ease.  But  the  Gospel  itself,  all  {.nre, 
and  perfective  of  reasonable  beings,  is  {Wm;  from  tlie  bloody  charge^ 
Jesus,  the  author  of  it,  was  the  most  generous,  humane,  and  amiable 
of  characters.  But,  alas,  we  have  sadly  forgotten,  or  per\'erted  his 
institutions.  Persecution  and  blot)dy  deeds  are  the  infullibh'  marks 
of  Jntichri.sl.  Rev.  xvii.  6.  That  the  Profrsta/it  churches  should 
have  imitated  tlie  Beast  in  this  worst  part  of  his  conduct,,  ran  never 
be  suihcientlv  bewailed.  Every  reign  almost  from  the  Reformation 
to  the  Revolution  was  stained  wifli  tlie  blood  of  souls — Henry  VIII. 
who  contrivctl  to  remove  the  Pope  of  Romi:  froni  being  Head  of  the 
English  clnirch,  and  put  hiinself  in  his  place,  was  a  vile,  lyramhcal, 
libidinous,  and  bloody  wretcl).  A  considerable  number  of  peisons 
were  put  to  death  in  his  reign  for  conscience  sake.  Nay,  even  the 
excellnt  young  King,  Edward  VI.  was  a  persecutor  in  some  cases 
unto  deatii,  being  over  persuaded  by  those  about  him,  particularly  the 

t  See  the  PampUel  entitUd,  A  Look  to  the  Last  Century ;  or  the  Diisentm 
vreighcd  in  their  own  Scales.     An  instructive  j^itcc  I 


214  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

The  Bib/e,  and  the  persons  appointed  by  that  book  to 
minister  in  holy  things,  are  unquestionably  great  restraints 
upon  the  passions  of  men :  and  blameable  as  our  Order  has 
been,    and    bad    as  the  world   is,    there  is  no  little  reason  to 

good,  but  mistaken  Cranmer.  Mary  and  Elizabeth  shed 
Biudi  blood  on  account  of  religion.  James  and  Charles  were 
not  innocent.  Th^y  stained  their  hands  in  blood  on  the  same  ac- 
count. Cromavell,  and  the  prevailing  parties  during  the  Rebellion, 
made  dreadful  havoc.  After  the  Resfuration,  it  is  computed,  that 
not  less  than  8000  persons  perished  in  prison,  and  the  sum  of  two 
millons  of  money  was  wrested  from  the  sullerers.  Sixty  thousand 
persons  are  said  to  have  suft'ered,  in  one  way  or  other,  from  the  Res- 
toration to  tlje  Revolution,  which  was  only  a  period  of  about  thirty 
jearsv. 

Let  the  reader  consult  Dr.  Doddridge's  excellent  Sermon, 
against  t!ie  damnable  spirit  of  persecution. 
^-X.  j  Indeed,  all  national  religions,  whether  Pa  grin,  Jewish,  Turkish,  or 
Qoy}  {  Or/s/iV,'»,  have  ever  hitherto  been  national  tyrannies.  The  last  beg-an 
with  CoNSTANTlNK,  the  first  Christian  emperor,  and  continues  to 
this  day,  our  own  Estahlishmrnt  not  excepted.  And  of  what  pliable 
stu^'we  Parsons  are  made  has  been  tried  upon  various  occasions  in 
this  country.  When  Henry  VIII.  discarded  the  Pope  of  Rome, 
'  and'  made  Iiiniscif  Po/?c  in  his  place,  the  great  boily  of  Bishops  and 
t'lergi/  followed  the  example;  very  few,  confparatively,  suifered 
death  for  refusal.  When  Edward  VI.  rejected  n.ost  of  the  remain- 
mg  rubbish  oi Poptry,  anr'  became  Protestant,  almost  all  tlie  Bishops 
and  Clergy  again  followed  liis  example.  Then  when  Mary  after- 
wards undid  idl  that  Edward  had  done,  a!id  introduced  Popery 
again,  near  3000  were  turned  out  of  their  lAvings,.  but  not  more 
than  four  or  five  hinufred  both  of  the  clergy  and  laity  sufiered  for 
refusal  to  johi  her.  And  then,  once  more,  when  Elizabeth  re- 
jected Popery,  the  Clergy,  very  generally,  imitated  her  conduct. 
Not  more  tlian  COO  gave  up  tiseir  prefcrn.-eiit.  All  these  changes 
took  place  in  the  course  of  forty  years.  But  whoever  prevailed. 
Papist  or  Protestant,  they  were  steafty  to  theii-  purpose  of  persecut- 
ing those  who  refused  to  comply  with  their  tyrannical  injunctions. 
Nay,  even  Caia'IN  persecuted  Servet.us  unto  death;  and  the 
gentle  Melancthon  approved  of  v>h.it  Calvin  had  done.  Cran- 
.  MER*  hv'.d  his  victims;  and,  what  is  worse,  the  laws  of  England, 
in  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  cenlury,  contain  bl<»ody  statutes  in  full 
force.  Eloo'dy  laws,  however,  on  account  of  religion,  though  of 
no  force,  through  the  liberality  of  the  times,  ought  to  be  repealed, 
if  it-  were  only  for  the  honour  of  old  England;  but  there  is  a  higher 
reason  which  should  influence  the  professors  of  an  unpersecuting 
Master. 

*  Cranmer  was  concerned  in  puttins;  five  or  six  persons  to  death  for  their 
religious  opinions,  and  he  himself  was  at  last  put  to  death  by  queen  Mary  for  the 
«atue  cause.    A  just  retaliation  f 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  215 

suppose,  it  would  be  much  worse  without  that  Order.  It  is 
probable  you  have  not  well  considered  what  the  consequence 
would  be  of  removing  these  grievances  out  of  the  way.  A 
successful  invasion  from  the  I'rciuh  would,  in  all  likeliiiood, 
enable  you  to  obtain  these  ends,  for  a  considerable  time. 
Had  we  not,  however,  "  better  bear  those  ills  we  have,  than 
fly  to  others  that  we  know  not  ofr"  Reformation  of  the 
decayed,  impolitical,  and  unevangelical  parts  of  the  British 
constitution — not  surely  the  destruction  of  the  whole — should 
be  the  ardent  wish  of  every  true  friend  to  liis  country,  and  to 
human  nature.  Perfect  liberty,  civil  and  reiigioits,  is  tlie 
birth-right  of  man.  \\  hatever  of  this  nature  is  still  wanting 
in  this  happy  land,  might  be  easily  obtained  from  the  vmy 
i^ature  of  our  government.  No  mau,  therefore,  who  is  a 
friend  to  his  country,  could  desire  to  see  it  involved  in  poli- 
tical ruin,  for  the  sake  of  obtaining  what  he  may  conceive  to 
be  some  considerable  advantages.  Enlighten  the  public  aiiinci, 
and  it  will  not  be  long  before  all  remaining  abuses  shall  be 
rectified. 

Delenda  est  Carthago'*-  is  the  uniform  language  of  French- 
men. What  the  meaning  of  that  phrase  will  be,  we  ;maj 
form  a  pretty  good  idea,  from  tlie  history  of  Cart  ho  ge,  and 
the  treatment  which  Lj/ons^  one  of  iheir  own  cities,  received, 
when  it  refused  to  con) ply  with  the  decrees  of  the  Convention. 
It  is  worth  while  to  state  this  at  some  lenlh,  as  a  useful  lessoa 
to  my  Countrymen. 

By  the  new  constitution  of  France,  it  was  decreed,  that  the 
King  could  not  be  dethroned,  unless  found  at  the  head  of  an 
army  against  his  country.  This  was  to  be  regarded  as  the 
highest  crime  he  could  possibly  commit,  and  even  ibr  this 
he  could  be  punished  no  otherwise  than  by  being  dethroned. 
*'  No  crime  whatever,",  says  the  conslifnlion.  "  shall  be  con- 
strued to  affect  his  life.  This  constitution  every  French- 
man had  sworn  "  to  obey,  and  maintain  widi  all  his  might.'^ 
\Vhen,   therefore,    it  was    proposed  to  the  people   of  Lyons, 

*  The  city  of  Carthage  v.as  taken  and  plundered  by  the  Romans 
14-1  years  before  the  birth  of  Christ.  Ic  was  tweiity-four  miles  in 
compass,  aiul  the  biani.  g  iji  it  continued  seventeen  days  together- 
Cato  was  the  author  of  llie  sentence,  Dehi-da  est  Carihairo,  and 
Scipio  put  it  in  execution,  with  inhnite  horror,  blood,  and  si«ught^ 
See  the  lioinan  iiiittory  I'ur  the  account  at  large. 


216  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

by  the  emissaries  of  til;?  National  Convcution,  to  petition  for 
tlie  death  of  the  King,  they  replied,  ahiiost  \\ith  one  voice, 
''  No:  We  have  swoni,  with  all  Fraitce,  to  maintain  the 
new  comtitulion  with  all  our  might.  That  constitution  de- 
clares, th.at  no  crime  whatsoever  shall  affect  the  life  of  the 
King.  For  any  thing  we  have  yet  seen  or  heard,  we  believe 
him  innocent  of  every  crime  which  has  been  laid  to  his  charge. 
The  mode  of  his  trial  is  nnprecedented  in  the  annals  of  in- 
justice, the  Convention  being  at  once  accuser,  evidence,  and 
judge.  \\'c  believe  him  perfectly  innocent;  but  whether 
he  be  or  not,  the  co//s/itiitio)i  that  we  have,  by  a  solemn 
oath,  bound  ourselves  to  maintain  with  all  our  might,  de- 
clai-cs,  that  no  crimp  whatever  shall  be  construed  to  aflfcct  his 
life:  that  life,  therefore,  we  cannot,  we  will  not  demand. 
The  rest  of  the  nation  may  sport  with  engagements  which  they 
have  called  the  i\L mighty  to  witness;  they  may  add  the  crime 
of  assassination  to  that  of  perjury ;  they  may  stain  themselves 
with  the  blood  of  their  innocent  and  unfortunate  prince;  the 
Lyoncse  never  will." 

This  was  an  answer  full  of  good  sense,  justice,  piety,  and 
hoiiour. 

What,-  however,  was  the  consequence?  The  Convention 
immediately  vowed  vengeance.  A  numerous  army  waS 
prepared.  Siege  was  laid  to  the  city.  Ten  thousand  of  the 
inhabitants  defended  it  for  sixty  days  against  fifteen  times 
their  number,  though  it  had  neither  magazines  nor  fortifica- 
tions. Thirty  thousand  men  were  slain  without  the  city. 
Provisions  failed  within.  A  capitulation  was  proposed  by  the 
besieged.  The  besiegers,  however,  knowing  the  extremity  to 
which  the  city  was  reduced  for  want  of  bread,  would  grant 
them  no  terms  whatever,  without  putting  to  death  indiscri- 
minately all  those  who  had  taken  up  arms  within  the  city. 
Seeing  no  hopes  of  capitulation,  the  besieged  determined,  to 
cut  their  w  ay  through  the  enemy,  or  fall  in  the  attempt. 
The  besiegers,  knowing  all  that  passed  from  their  partizans 
within  the  city,  were  prepared  to  receive  them;  insomuch 
that  out  of  near  four  thousand  persons  who  made  this  desperate 
effort,  the  whole  were  either  killed  or  taken,  except  about 
fitly*. 

*  Tlie  French  have  always  been  a  brave  and  warlike  people.  In 
no  war,  however,  did  they  ever  tight  with  such  desperate  and  fero- 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  217 

After  this  the  victors  shewed  such  mercy  as  might  be  ex- 
pected from  them.-  Not  content  with  butchering  their  prison- 
ers in  cold  blood,  they  took  a  pleasure  in  making  them  die  by 
inches,  aud  in  insulting  them  in  the  pangs  of  death.  Placing 
several  together,  they  killed  one  of  them  at  a  time,  to  render 
death  more  terrible  to  the  rest.  Neither  sex  nor  age  had  any 
weight  with  them.  Above  two  lumdied  women,  thirty  of 
whom  had  children  at  the  breast,  whom  conjugal  love  had  led 
to  follow  their  husbands;  more  than  fifty  old  men,  whom  filial 
piety  had  snatched  from  the  assassin's  stab,  were  all  most  sa- 
vagely butchered.  The  death  of  Madame  de  Visague  de- 
serves particular  notice.  This  young  lady  was  about  seventeen 
years  of  age,  and  very  near  her  time  of  delivery.  A  party  of 
the  democrats  found  her  behind  a  hedge,  to  which  place  she 
had  dja«n  her  husband,  who  was  mortally  wounded.  When 
they  discovered  her,  she  was  on  her  knees,  supporting  his  head 
with  her  arm.     One  of  them  fired   upon  her  with  a  carabine, 

cious  courage  as  in  the  present.  On  the  first  of  June  against  Lord 
Howe,  aud  in  the  other  more  recent  actions,  they  displayed  the 
most  determined  resolution.  The  Dutch  did  the  same  iu  the  late 
action  against  Admiral  Duncan.  But  if  the  French  and  Dutch. 
displaced  such  feats  of  braven,  what  must  the  English  have  done? 
By  land  too,  as  well  as  by  sea,  the  English,  in  tlie  course  of  the 
present  unhappy  struggle,  have  discovered  very  eminent  superiority. 
We  usually  say,  Facts  are  stubborn  things.  Let  the  following  then 
speak  tiie  language  of  honest  tnith :  At  Lincdle,  1 1 00  British  Guards 
stormed  a  formidable  work,  defended  by  six  times  their  number, 
completely  routed  the  enemy,  aud  made  themselves  masters  of  the 
artillery. — In  au  action  near  Cateau  ISGO  British  Cavalry  defeated 
their  army  of  '25,000  men,  pursued  them  to  the  gate  of  Cambrai/y 
took  their  general  prisoner,  and  upwards  of  fifty  pieces  of  cannon. — 
At  the  battle  of  Tournay,  a  sniali  BritiJi  Brigade,  under  the  com- 
mand of  general  Fox,  drove  back  general  PiCHEGRU's  left  wing, 
and  deci^led  the  \ictory,  till  tliat  moment  doubtfiil, — At  a  sortie  from 
Kimeguin,  six  British  Battalions  marched  out  in  the  middle  of  the 
day,  threw  themselves,  without  firing  a  shot,  into  the  enemy^s 
trenches,  dispersed  the  troops  that  guarded  them,  and,  after  being 
in  possession  of  them  two  hours,  and  completely  destroying  the 
works,  returned  in  periect  order  to  the  town,  without  the  enemy 
daring  to  harrass  them. — What  feats  did  not  Sir  Charles  Grey 
perform  in  the  iVest  Indies.^ — What  has  become  of  the  French  East 
India  possessions  ? 

See  Le  Messurier's  Thoughts  on  a  French  Invasion,  and 
WiLLYAMs's  Account  of  the  Camj/aign  in  the  West  Indies  m  the 
year  179-^- 

F  r 


218  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

another  quartered  her  with  his  hanger,  while  a  third  held  up  the 
expiring  husband  to  be  a  spectator  of  their*  more  than  hellish 
cruelty. 

Several  wounded  prisoners  were  collected  together,  and 
put  into  a  ditch,  with  sentinels  placed  round  them,  to  prevent 
them  from  killing  themselves,  or  one  another;  and  thus  were 
they  made  to  liiigt  r,  some  of  them  two  or  three  days,  while 
their  enemies  testified  their  ferocious  pleasure  by  all  the  insult- 
ing gesticulations  of  savages. 

Such  was  the  fury  of  the  triumphant  democi'ots*,  that  the 
deputies  from  the  Cunventiott  gave  an  order  against  burying 
the  dead,  till  they  had  been  cut  in  morsels.     Tollet,  the  infa- 

*  The  world  has  now  existed  near  6000  years ;  and  we  who  live 
in  the  present  period  are  favoured  with  the  experience  of  all  former 
ages.  During  those  ages,  every  kind  of  govermnent  has  been  tried. 
And  it  is  found  by  experience,  that  every  kind  of  government  has 
its  peculiar  advantages  and  disadvantages.  To  guard  against  the  in- 
conveniences peculiar  to  each,  the  wisdom  of  Tacitus  conceived, 
that  a  mixed  fonn  of  government,  consisting  of  King,  Lords,  and 
Commons,  if  it  were  practicable,  woidd  be  the  most  perfect ;  but  yet 
he  could  not  conceive  such  a  government  to  be  possible.  His  words 
are:  "  Cunctas  nationes  aut  Reges,  aut  Primores,  aut  Populus  rex- 
**  erunt,  dilecta  ex  his  et  consociata  Reipublicje  forma  laudari 
*'  facilius  quam  evenire ;  aut  si  eveniat,  non  diuturna  esse,  potest.** 
Tact.  Ann.  1. 

The  British  government,  however,  has  long  reduced  this  idea,  by 
him  deemed  impossible,  to  practice :  and  it  should  really  seem,  not 
only  from  our  own  experience  in  this  country,  but  from  the  conduct 
of  the  Americans  in  forming  their  constitution,  and  from  the  conduct 
of  the  French  in  forming  theirs,  that  three  estates,  to  act  as  checks 
one  upon  another,  forms  the  most  perfect  system  of  government  hu- 
man wisdom  can  contrive  for  the  happiness  of  man.  The  Americans 
have  two  houses  and  a  president,  who  is  the  same  as  our  king,  only 
called  by  another  name  :  and  the  French,  during  their  late  sangui- 
nary revolution,  had  t\vo  estates,  and  five  directors,  who  occupied  the 
place  of  our  king  and  his  privy  council.  So  that  after  all  their  ex- 
perience, convulsions,  and  blood,  the  British  government  was  at  last 
the  model  tliey  are  constrained  to  follow.  This  consideration  ought 
to  induce  us  Englishmen  not  only  to  be  contented  with,  but  to  glory 
in  our  const  tution,  as  a  most  finished  model  of  human  wisdom. 
We  may  change,  but  it  is  impossible  we  can  change  for  the  better. 
All  that  we  should  desire  is,  that  every  thing  may  be  removed  from 
it,  which  is  inconsistent  wilh  its  purity  and  perfection.  Our  present 
Legislature  is  com  etent  to  the  correction  of  every  abuse. — See  a 
just  account  of  the  excellence  of  the  British  constitution  in  Mon- 
tesquieu's Spirit  of  Laws,  b.  xi.  c.  6. 


AND  THE  SACRED  ^VRIT1XGS.  219 

mous  apostate  priest  of  Trevour,  went,  blood-hound  like,  in 
quest  of  a  few  unhappy  wretches,  who  had  escaped  destruc- 
tion ;  and  when,  by  p'erfidious  promises,  he  had  drawn  them 
from  their  retreats,  he  delivered  them  up  to  the  daggers  of  their 
assassins. 

Of  the  little  army  that  attempted  the  retreat,  six  hundred 
and  eighteen  were  brought  back  in  chains ;  some  of  them  died 
of  their  wounds,  and  all  those  who  were  not  relieved  from  life 
this  way,  were  dragged  forth  to  an  ignominious  death. 

Prior  to  these  misfortunes  there  was  an  infamous  assembly 
in  Lyons,  which  took  the  name  of  the  democratic  club.  In 
this  club  a  plot  was  laid  for  the  assassination  of  all  the  rich 
in  one  night.  Their  oath  was — "  We  swear  to  exterminate  all 
the  rich  and  aristocrats ;  their  bloody  corpses  thrown  into 
the  Rhone,  shall  bear  our  terrors  to  the  affrighted  sea." 
This  plot  was  happily  discovered  in  time  to  prevent  its  effects ; 
and  the  president  Challier  with  two  others  were  condemned 
to  die.  This  Challier  was  looked  on  as  a  person  of  infa- 
mous character  before  the  revolution ;  and,  since  the  revolu- 
tion, he  had  imbrued  his  hands  in  the  blood  of  his  own 
father ! 

After  the  capture  of  the  city,  the  above  democratic  elub 
was  re-organized,  and  Javogues,  the  deputy  from  the  CoH' 
vent  ion,  became  its  new  president.  After  having  represented 
Challier  as  a  mart\r  to  the  cause  of  liberty,  he  addressed 
himself  to  the  assembly  in  nearly  these  terms : — *'  Think," 
said  he,  "  of  the  slavery  into  which  you  are  plunged^  by 
being  the  servants  and  workmen  of  others ;  the  nobles,  the 
priests,  the  proprietors,  the  rich  of  every  description,  have 
long  been  in  a  combination  to  rob  the  democratSy  the  real 
sansculotte  republicans,  of  their  birth-right.  Go,  citizens; 
take  what  belongs  to  you,  and  what  you  should  have  enjoved 
long  ago.  Nor  must  you  stop  here ;  while  there  exists  an 
aristocracy  in  the  buildings,  half  remains  undone.  Down 
with  those  edifices,  raised  for  the  profit  or  pleasure  of  tlie 
rich ;  down  with  them  all :  commerce  and  arts  are  useless 
to  a  warlike  people,  and  the  destruction  of  that  sublime 
equality,  which  France  ih  determined  to  spread  over  the  \\hole 
globe."  He  told  this  deluded  populace,  that  it  was  the 
duty  of  every  good  citizen  to  discover  all  those  whom  he 
knew  to  be  guilty  of  having,  in  thought,  word,  or  deed,  cou- 

F  F    2 


SCO  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

spired  against  the  republic.  He  exhorted  them  to  fly  to  tlie 
oflSces  open  for  receiving  such  accusations,  and  not  to  spare 
one  lazcyer.,  priest,  or  nobleman.  He  conchided  this  harangue, 
worthy  of  one  of  the  damned,  with  declaring,  that  for  a  man 
to  accuse  his  own  father  was  an  act  of  civism  worthy  a  true  re- 
publican, and  that  to  neglect  it  was  a  crime  which  should  be 
punished  with  death. 

The  deeds  which  followed  this  diabolical  exhortation  were 
such  as  might  be  expected.  The  bloody  democrats  left  not  a 
house,  not  a  hole  unsearched ;  men  and  women  were  led  forth 
from  their  houses  with  as  little  ceremony  as  cattle  from  dieir 
pens.  The  square  where  the  guillotine  stood  was  reddened 
with  blood  like  a  slaughter-house ;  while  the  piercing  cries  of 
the  surviving  relations  were  drowned  in  die  more  vociferous 
howlings  of  Vive  la  Republique. 

Soon  after  this,  orders  were  given  from  the  Convention  for 
the  demolition  of  the  city.  A  hundred  houses  were  destroyed 
per  day.  All  the  hospitals,  manufactories,  banks,  &.c.  Sec. 
were  destroyed,  without  exception.  Before  the  revolution,  the 
city  contained  above  150,000  inhabitants.  It  was  the  second 
town,  with  respect  to  population,  in  France,  and  the  first  ma- 
nufacturing town  in  all  Europe.  It  does  not  now  contain 
70,000  inhabitants,  and  those  are  all  reduced  to  beggary  and 
ruin.  As  for  trade,  there  is  no  such  thing  thought  of.  The 
last  report  to  the  Contention,  respecting  Lyons,  declares  the 
inhabitants  without  work  or  bread. 

It  is  diflicult  to  stifle  the  voice  of  nature,  and  to  stagnate 
the  involuntary  movements  of  the  soul;  yet  even  this  was 
attempted,  and  in  some  degree  eff'ected,  by  the  deputies  of  the 
Convention.  Perceiving  that  the  above  scenes  of  blood  and 
devastation  had  spread  a  gloom  over  the  countenances  of  the 
innocent  inhabitants,  and  that  even  some  of  their  soldiers 
seemed  touched  with  compunction;  they  issued  a  mandate, 
declaring  every  one  suspected  of  aristocracy,  who  should 
discover  the  least  symptom  of  pity,  either  by  his  words  or  his 
looks! 

The  preamble  of  this  mandate  makes  the  blood  run  cold : 
*'  By  the  thunder  of  God  !  in  the  name  of  the  representatives 
of  the  French  people ;  on  pain  of  death  it  is  ordered,  &c. 
&c."  Who  would  believe,  that  this  terrific  mandate,  for- 
bidding men  to  weep,   or  look  sorrowful,  on  pain  of  death. 


,  AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  221 

ooncliided  with,  Vive  la  Libert?— Liberty  for  ever!  Who 
Avoiild  believe  that  the  people,  who  suffered  this  matulatc  to  be 
stuck  up  about  their  city  like  a  play-bill,  haj  szcorn  to  Ike  free 

or  die  *  ? 

In  spite,  however,  of  all  their  menaces,  they  still  ^ound, 
that  remorse  would  sometimes  follow  the  murder  of  a  friend  or 
relation.  Conscience  is  a  troublesome  guest  to  the  villain, 
who  >et  believes  in  a  hereafter.  The  deputies  therefore  were 
resolved  to  banish  this  guect  from  the  bosoms  of  their  partizans, 
as  it  had  already  been  banished  from  their  own. 

With  this  ol>ject  in  view,  they  ordered  a  solemn  civic  festi- 
val in  honour  of  Ch  a  llieR.  His  image  was' carried  round 
the  citv,  and  placed  in  the  churches.  Those  temples  which 
had,  many  of  them,  for  more  than  a  tliousand  years,  resounded 
with  hoscifinas  to  the  Supreme  Being,  were  now  profaned 
by  the  adorations  paid  to  the  image  of  a  parricide. 

All  this  was  but  a  prelude  to  wliat  was  to  follow  the 
next  day.     It  was  Suiidai/  f,  the  day  consecrated  to  the  wor- 


*  Under  the  most  extravagant  professions  of  liberty,  the  Freirch 
are  now  become  the  greatest  slaves  iu  Europe.  Wherever  they  go, 
thev  pretend  to  ofler  the  people  liberty;  but  no  sooner  do  the  silly 
folks  listen  and  believe,  than  they  find  themselves  .plundered  and 
enslaved, 

t  The  French,  before  the  Revolution,  were  extremely  inattentive 
to  the  sanctification  of  the  sabbath;  and  by  a  most  striking  retaliation 
of  Providence,  they  are  now  entirely  deprived  of  the  sabbath  f 
Many  in  this  country,  especially  the  nobility  and  gentry,  are  almost 
universally  treading  in  the  same  steps ;  and  have  we  reason  to  sup- 
pose we  shall  not,  erelong,  be  treated  in  the  same  maimer?  Were 
I  an  Jiifidtl  in  principle,  I  would  observe  the  sabbath  day,  for  the 
sake,  of  example.  For  if  religion  could  be  proved  to  have  no  foun- 
dation in  trutli,  it  must  be  allowed  to  be  extremely  convenient  for 
the  purpose  of  keepmg  mankind  in  order.  "  I  go  to  church  some- 
times," said  the  late  infidel  Earl  of  O\ford,  "  in  order  to  induce 
mv  servants  to  go  to  chnrch.  A  good  moral  sennon  may  instruct 
and  benefit  them.  I  only  set  them  an  example  of  Ustening,  not  of 
believing.'  And  v\hat  injury  would  his  Lordship  have  sustained,  if 
he  had  both  listened,  believed,  and  obeyed  ?  All  hypocrites  are  base 
and  contemptible  ciiaracters,  whatever  specious  attainments  they 
mav  possess  of  a  hterai-y,  philosophical,  or  jiolitical  kind.  It  does 
not  appear  that  his  Lordship,  any  more  than  Heme  and  Frank- 
lin, ever  gave  Christianity  a  serious  and  conscientious  investiga- 
tion. They  were  all  too  busy  m  life,  and  had  little  inclination  to 
religions  pursuits.  The  carnal  minds  of  a  N»bltmwn  and  a  Phiioso- 
pher  are  equally  tit  emuity  against  God. 


222  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

ship  of  our  blessed  Redeemer.  A  vast  concourse  of  demo- 
crats, men  and  women,  assembled  at  a  signal  agreed  on,  formed 
themselves  into  a  sort  of  mock  procession,  preceded  by  the 
image  of  Challier,  and  followed  by  a  little  detached  troop, 
each  bearing  in  his  hand  a  chalice,  or  some  other  vase  of  the 
church.  One  of  these  sacrilegious  wretches  led  an  ass,  co- 
vered with  a  priest's  vestment,  and  with  a  mitre  on  his  head. 
He  was  loaded  with  crucifixes  and  other  symbols  of  the 
.Christian  religion,  and  had  the  0/d  and  Nfzy  Testaments  sus- 
pended to  his  tail.  Arrived  at  the  square  called  the  Terreaux, 
they  then  tbrew  the  two  Testaments,  the  crucifixes,  &c.  into  a 
fire,  prepared  for  the  purpose,  made  the  ass  drink  out  of  the 
sacramental  cup,  and  were  proceeding  to  conclude  their  dia- 
bolical profanations  with  the  massacre  of  all  the  prisoners,  to 
appease  the  ghost  of  Challier,  Avhen  a  violent  thunder-gust 
put  an  end  to  their  meeting,  and  deferred  the  work  of  death 
for  a  few  hours. 

The  pause  was  not  long.  The  deputies,  profiting  by  the 
impious  frenzy  with  which  they  had  inspired  the  soldiery  and 
the  mob,  and  by  the  consternation  of  the  respectable  in- 
habitants, continued  their  butchery  with  redoubled  fury. 
Those  who  led  the  unhappy  sufferers  to  execution,  were  no 
longer  ordered  to  confine  themselves  to  such  as  were  entered 
on  the  list  of  proscription,  but  were  permitted  to  take  whom- 
soever the}/  themselves  thought  worthy  of  death  !  To  have  an 
enemy  among  the  democrats,  to  be  rich,  or  even  thought  rich, 
was  a  sufficient  crime.  The  words  nobleman,  priest,  lawyer, 
merchant,  or  even  honest  man,  were  so  many  terms  of  pro- 
scription. Three  times  was  the  place  of  the  guillotine  changed ; 
at  every  place  holes  were  dug  to  receive  the  blood,  and  yet 
It  ran  in  the  gutters !  The  executioners  were  tired,  and  the 
deputies,  enraged  to  see  that  their  work  went  on  so  slowly,  re- 
presented to  the  mob,  that  they  were  too  merciful,  that  ven- 
geance lingered  in  their  hands,  and  that  their  enemies  ought  to 
perish  in  mass  ! 

Accordingly,  the  next  day,  the  execution  in  mass  began. 
The  prisoners  were  led  out,  from  a  hundred  to  three  hundred 
at  a  time,  into  the  out-skirts  of  the  city,  where  they  were 
fired   upon,    or   stabbed  *.     One  of  these  massacres  deserves 

"^^  '■      ■■■'■'■  I  ■■■■■■■..  -^m  ■■■  -  II-  ■  .1,  I.  ■■■  ,„  ■        I  .        ■■■    11,    ,.    ,1  ■■■■■■—■  .■■.   I  n- 

*  See  much  more  to  the  same  purpose  in  Peter  Porcupine's 
BloQdy  Buoy,  and  in  Babru£I^'s  History  of  the  French  Clergy^ 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  S23 

particular  notice.  Two  hundred  and  sixty-nine  persons, 
taken  indiscriminately  among  all  classes  and  all  ages,  were 
led  to  Brotteau.v,  and  there  tied  to  trees.  In  this  situation 
they  were  fired  upon  with  grape  shot.  Numbers  of  these  un- 
fortunate prisoners  had  only  their  limbs  broken  by  the 
artillery;  these  were  dispatched  with  the  sword  or  the  musket. 
The  greatest  part  of  the  bodies  were  thrown  into  the  Rhone, 
some  of  them  before  they  were  quite  dead.  Two  men,  iu 
particular,  had  strength  enough  to  swim  to  a  sand-bank  in 
the  river.  One  would  have  thought,  that,  thus  saved  as  it 
were  by  a  miracle,  the  vengeance  of  their  enemies  would  have 
pursued  them  no  farther ;  but  no  sooner  were  they  perceived^ 
than  a  party  of  the  diagootis  of  Lorraine  crossed  the  arm  of 
the  river,  stabbed  them,  and  left  them  a  prey  to  the  fowls  of 
the  air. 

Among  others,  who  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  democrats, 
was  Mons.  Chapuis  de  Maubourg.  one  of  the  first  engineers 
in  Europe.     They  offered  to  spare  i.:is  life,  if  he  would  serve 


Carrier  alone,  deputy  from  the  Convention,  put  to  death  at  A^antx 
and  other  places  in  the  south  of  France,  more  than  40,000  persons, 
including  men,  women,  and  children. 

Such  men  are  to  be  considered  in"  the  light  of  Jehus,  who  are 
appointed  to  execute  tlie  Divine  vengeance  upon  tliose  persons  and 
places,  which  have  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  Almighty. 
Nantz  contained  the  richest  merchants  in  the  kingdom,  and  carried 
on  a  very  considerable  trade  in  the  blood  of  human  creatures. 

Bishop  Bdrnet  was  in  France  at  the  time  of  the  horrible  perse- 
cution of  tlie  Protestants  under  Lew  IS  XIV. 

"  I  do  not  think,"  says  he,  "  that,  in  any  age,  there  ever  was  such 
a  violation  of  ail  that  is  sacred,  either  with  relation  to  God  or  man; 
and  what  I  saw  and  knew  there  from  the  first  hand,  hath  so  con- 
finned  all  the  ideas  that  I  had  taken  from  books,  of  the  cruelty  of 
that  religion,  that  I  hope  tlie  impression  which  this  hath  made  upon 
me,  shall  never  end  but  « ith  my  life. — From  the  circumstances,  it 
may  be  well  termed,  The  Act  of  the  whole  Clergy  of 
France."  Travels,  Let.  5.  p.  246,  247. 

If  we  would  see  other  accounts  of  what  may  be  expected  from 
a  succes^ful  invasion  of  this  country  by  the  French,  we  may  be  amply 
gratified  by  Anthony  Aufrere's,  Esq.  Warning  to  Britain 
against  French  Perjidi/  and  Cruelty  towards  the  Peasants  of  Si/abia  ; 
by  Peter  Porcupine's  Democratic  Principles  Illnstrated;  and 
by  Anrcdofes  of  the  conduct  of  the  French  in  Franconia.  To  these 
may  be  added  Turk e A u's  History  of  the  Fendean  War;  Lava- 
TER's  Remonstrance  with  the  French  Directory:  and  a  work  called, 
A  Rapid  Vieiv  of  the  Oveithrow  of  Switzerland, 


224  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

in  the  armies  of  the  Convention.  They  repeated  this  offer, 
with  their  carrabints  at  his  breast.  "  No,"  replied  this  gallant 
man,  "1  have  never  fought  but  for  my  God  and  my  King: 
despicable  coN^ards  !  fire  away  *  !  " 

*  The  dying  behaviour  of  various  of  the  victims  was  very  noble 
and  animated.     Wliere  so  ivsaiiv  luerit  praise,  it  is  difficult  to  select. 

The  King  acquitted  hiniseif  extremely  well  in  the  last  trying 
scenes  of  his  Hie ;  but  he  was  a  main  support  of  t!ie  Beast ;  and 
though  he  died  piously,  he  died  a  determiaed  catholic  ;  not  know- 
ing tJiat  this  was  one  of  the  main  causes  of  his  destruction. 

It  is  but  justice  to  hla  character  to  observe,  wlnit  I  believe  is  not 
generally  known,  that  it  was  the  late  Queen  of  France's  *>arty, 
which  forced  on  the  Kiyg  the  treaty  with  America,  in  the  view  oi" 
depressing  Great  Britain.  Louis  consid<  red  it  as  an  unffiir  mea- 
sure, and  threw  away  the  pen,  when  urged  to  sanction  it  with  his  sig- 
nature. But  in  an  evil  iiour  for  himself  and  his  family,  he  relented, 
on  repeated  importLniiy  "  he  signed  the  fatal  instrument  which  in- 
volved both  heniispheres  in  the  1  r;irc»rs  of  war;  and,  in  so  doing,  he 
remotely  signed  the  wanantj ''foi'  his  own  execution.  Wn it  a  lesson 
is  this  to  men  of  all  ranks  to  be  just  and  honourable  in  their 
dealings ! 

The  princess  of  Lambai.le  was,  after  the  royal  family,  one  of 
the  most  ilkistrious  victiuis  of  that  bloody  period.  She  was  first 
confined  in  the  Temple,  and  was  afterwards  sent  to  the  prison  of 
La  Force,  where  the  massacre  began  early  in  the  morning.  At 
t/iree  o'clock  she  was  Avitness  to  the  preparations  making  for  her 
destruction.  At  seeen  she  was  dragged  by  the  hair  of  her  head  into 
tlie  coiirt  where  the  victims  waited  their  final  sentence.  Here  she 
continued,  in  a  standing  posture,  to  witness  all  the  horrid  proceed- 
ings till  nine  o'clock,  when  she  herself  was  called  before  the  bloody 
tiibunal.  They  asked  lier  a  few  questions ;  all  which  she  answered 
with  firmness.  They  charged  her  with  certain  crimes  ;  all  which  she 
denied.  Being  in  a  very  short  time  condemned,  without  any  proof  " 
of  guilt,  she  was  dragged  to  the  gate  ;  and  from  the  gate  conducted 
through  a  double  line  of  assassins  to  the  place  of  execution,  through 
a  variety  of  insults  and  reproaches.  By  the  side  of  a  pile  of  dead 
bodies,  she  was  commanded  to  kneel,  and  ask  pardon  of  the  nation. 
Firmly  she  replied,  "  I  have  not  injured  the  nation  ;  and  will  not  ask 
pardon!" — Your  release  is  the  price  of  your  obedience.  "  I  expect 
no  favour  from  the  hands  of  ruiiians,  who  dare  to  call  themselves 
the  nation." — Once  more,  obey;  kneel  down,  and  ask  pardon,  if 
you  wish  to  live. — "  No:  I  will  not  bend  my  knee — No:  I  will  ask 
no  pardon,  no  favour  from  you." — Kueel  down  and  ask  pardon, 
was  re-echoed  by  a  thousand  voices ;  but  in  vain.  She  remained 
superior  to  fear.  Two  ruiiiiins  seized  her  by  the  arms,  and  were 
ready  to  tear  her  in  pieces.  V/ilh  ail  the  strength  she  could 
gather,  she  exclainied,  "  Go  on,  ruffians,  I  will  not  ask  pardon." 
Being  enraged  at  her  firmness,  the  fellow?  rush  on  her  with  drawn 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS^  225- r^  V     ^ 

The  murder  in  mass  did  not  rob  the  guillotine  oi\its  prey ; 
there  the  blood  flowed  without  intermission.  Deaff»  itself 
was  not  a  refuge  from  democratic  fury.  The  bodies  of  the 
prisoners,  who  were  dead  of  their  wounds,  and  of  those,  who, 
not  able  to  support  the  idea  of  an  ignominious  death,  had 
given  themselves  the  fatal  blow,  were  carried  to  the  scaffold, 
and  there  beheaded,  receiving  thousands  of  kicks  from  the 
snns  culottes,  because  the  blood  would  not  run  from  them. 
Persons  from  their  sick  beds,  old  men  not  able  to  walk,  and 
even  women  found  in  child-bed,  were  carried  to  the  murder- 
ous machine.  The  respectable  Mans.  Lauras  was  torn 
from  his  family  of  ten  children,  and  his  wife  big  with  the 
eleventh.  This  distracted  matron  run  with  her  children,  and 
threw  herself  at  the  feet  of  the  brutal  depnty  Collet 
D'Herbois. —  No  mercy!  —  Her  conjugal  tenderness,  the 
cries  of  her  children,  every  thing  calculated  to  soften  the 
heart,  presented  themselves  before  him ;  but  in  vain.  "  Take 
away,"  said  he  to  the  officious  ruffians  by  whom  he  was 
surrounded,  *'  take  away  the  she-rebel  and  her  wke/ps."  Thus 
spurned  from  the  presence  of  him,  who  alone  was  able  to 
save  her  beloved  husband,  she  followed  him  to  the  place  of 
execution.  Her  shrieks,  when  she  saw  him  fall,  joined  to 
the  wildness  of  her  looks,  but  too  plainly  foretold  her  ap- 
proaching end.  She  was  seized  with  the  pains  of  child-birth, 
and  was  carried  home  to  her  house.  But,  as  if  her  tormentors 
had  shewn  her  too  much  lenity,  the  sans  culotte  commissary 
soon  after  arrived,  took  possession  of  all  the  effects  in  the 
name  of  the  sovereign  people,  drove  her  from  her  bed  and 
her  house,  from  the  door  of  which  she  fell  dead  in  the  street! 

About  three  hundred  women  hoped,  by  their  united 
prayers  and  tears,  to  touch  the  hearts  of  those  ferocious 
deputies;  but  all  their  efforts  were  in  vain  as  those  of  J]/. 
Lauras.     They  were  threatened  with  a  discharge  of  grape 

swords,  lay  open  her  body,  cut  off  her  Jiead,  take  out  her  heart, 
bile  it  with  their  teeth,  put  it  in  a  basou,  lift  the  head  on  a  pike, 
and  carry  them  about  the  streets  of  Paris.  Her  body  was  stripped, 
and  exposed  naked  to  the  populace.  —  For  a  fuller  account  see 
Barruel. 

This  lady  was  a  person  of  the  most  amiable  manners  and  be- 
nevolent heart;  faithful  to  her  friend,  and  kind  and  liberal  to  all. 
During  tlie  whole  time  she  passed  in  the  prison  of  La  force,  she  \ 

supported  all  the  poor  who  happened  to  be  there. 

G   C  'i 


•226  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

shot.  Two  of  tliem,  who,  notwithstanding  the  menaces  of 
the  democrats,  still  had  tlie  courage  to  persist,  were  tied  during 
six  hours  to  the  posts  of  the  guillotine;  their  o"»"n  husbands 
were  executed  before  their  eyes,  and  their  blood  sprinkled 
over  them !  "* 

M.  Servan,  a  lovely  joimg  woman  of  about  eighteen 
years  of  age,  v\as  executed,  because  she  would  not  discover 
t^ie  retreat  of  lur father !  "  What,"  said  she  nobly,  to  the 
democratic  comunttee,  "What!  betray  my  father!  impious 
villains  !  how  dare  you  suppose  it  t" 

M.  CocHET,  a  lady  equally  famed  for  her  beauty  and 
her  courage,  was  accused  of  having  put  the  match  to  a 
cannon  during  the  siege,  and  having  assisted  in  her  husband^s 
escape.  She  was  condemned  to  suffer  death.  She  declared 
herself  with  child;  and  the  trutk  of  this  declaration  was  at- 
tested by  two  surgeons.  In  vain  did  she  implore  a  respite. 
In  vain  did  she  plead  the  innocence  of  the  child  that  was  in 
her  womb.  Her  head  was  severed  from  her  body,  amidst  the 
death-howls  of  the  democratic  brigands! 

To  this  long  account  of  horrible  villanies  must  be  added 
another,  if  possible,  still  more  detestable — libidinous  brutality  I 
Javogues,  one  of  the  deputies  from  the  Convention,  opened 
the  career.  His  example  was  followed  by  the  soldiery  and 
the  mob  in  general.  The  wives  and  daughters  of  almost  all 
the  respectable  inhabitants,  particularly  of  such  as  had 
emigrated,  or  who  were  murdered,  or  in  prison,  were  put  in 
a  state  of  requisition,  and  were  ordered,  on  pain  of  death, 
to  hold  their  bodies — I  spare  the  reader  the  term  made  use  of 
in  the  decree — in  readiness,  for  the  embraces  of  the  true  re- 
publicans!— Is  or  were  they  content  with  violation:  the  first 
ladies  of  the  city  were  led  to  the  tree  of  Liberty — Of  Liberty  ! 
and  there  made  to  take  the  hands  of  chimney-sweepers  and 
common  felons'*. 

If  to  these  deeds  of  blood  committed  at  Lyons,  we  add 
the  murders  perpetrated  in  other  parts  of  France — at  Nantz, 
27,000;  at  Paris,  150,000:  in  La  Vendee,  300,000;  and, 
in  short,  through   the   whole   extent  of  that  unhappy  country, 

*  The  facts  here  related  are  taken  from  Mr.  John  Philips's 
small  pamplilet  on  the  subject,  as  his  is  extracted  from  a  French 
treatise,  and  Peter  Porcupine's  Bloody  Buoy. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  227 

tx\o  millions  of  persons,  within  six  or  seven  years;  among 
whom  are  reckoned  250,000  women;  230,000  children; 
besides  those  murdered  in  the  womb;  and  24,000  chris- 
tian priests*;  it",  moreover,  we  consider,  in  what  man- 
ner the  French}  without  just  offence,  have  treated  llie  small 
independent    state   of   Gcneva-\,   and  how   many  of  its   most 

*  The  serious  Christian  will  retueiiiber  these  are  the  days  of 
vengeance  for  the  innocent  blood  which  was  shed  in  that  wide-extended 
kingdom,  under  the  predecessors  of  the  late  unfortunate  Kin^-. 
The  doctrine  of  retaliation,  though  littie  attejidcd  to  in  jjencral,  is 
an  undoubted  law  of  God's  kingdom  in  the  government  of  tlie 
world.  A  moral  governour  nnist  be  morally  ']\xs\..  f  'e  that  shcddtth 
man's  blood  hy  fnan  shall  his  blood  be  shed.  Coiisult  Simpson's  Key 
to  the  Prophecies,  for  a  large  number  of  instances,  wherein  the  re- 
taliating providence  of  God  is  visible  to  the  most  inattentive 
observer.  Barruel's  History  of  the  French  Clerg;y  during  the 
Revolution,  and  Peter  Porcupine's  Bloody  Buoy,  contain  an 
awful  counterpart  to  Claude's  Complaints  oJ  the  Protestants  of 
Frame.  The, French  Philosophers  have  scarcely  been  more  cruel  to 
tlie  Clergy  of  France,  during  the  Revolution,  than  the  Clergy  of 
France,  at  different  periods,  have  been  to  the  Protestants  of  France. 
We  are  all  crying  out  against  the  wickedness  and  cruelty  of  the 
present  govcrnours  of  that  great  kingdom,  but  we  forget  that  the 
Kings,  Biihops,  Clergy,  Aobles,  and  Gentry  of  the  land  played  the 
same  game,  and  acted  the  sanje  tragedy,  not  ven*-  many  years  ago. — 
It  is  the  Lord's  controversy  for  tlie  blood  of  his  ser\'ants. — ^Tlie 
above  two  millions  is  the  number  of  persons  murdered,  besides  those 
who  have  fallen  in  battle, 

t  "  Let  the  mal-contents  in  every  nation  of  Europe  look  at  Hol- 
land, and  at  Belgium.  Holland  was  a  hive  of  bees;  her  sons  flew 
on  the  wings  of  the  wuid  to  every  corner  of  the  globe,  and  returned 
laden  with  the  sweets  of  every  climate.  Belgium  was  a  garden  of 
herbs,  the  oxen  were  strong  to  labour,  the  fields  were  thickly 
covered  with  the  abundance  of  the  harvest.  UiLha|>py  Dutchmen  ! 
\e  will  still  toil,  but  not  for  your  own  comfort;  ye  will  still  col- 
lect honey,  but  not  for  yourselves;  France  will  seize  the  hive  as 
often  as  your  industry  shall  have  filled  it.  Ill-judging  l?t-/^- /</«*.'  ye 
will  no  longer  eat  in  security  the  fruits  of  your  own  grounds;  France 
will  find  occasion,  or  \Aill  make  occasion,  to  participate  largely  in 
your  riches;  it  will  be  more  truly  s.iid  of  yourselves  than  of  your 
oxen,  ye  plough  the  fields,  but  not  for  your  own  profit." 

See  Bishop  Watson's  well-timed  Address  to  the  People  of  Great 
Britain,  for  the  above  extract.  I  exceedingly  approve  of  tlie  sijirit 
of  the  whole,  but  I  much  question  whether  Mr.  Wakefield's  ob- 
jections to  two  particulars  may  not  be  just,  viz.  the  comparison 
between  200  pounds  a  year  and  the  2000/. ;  and  the  similitude  con- 
cerning the  gradual  sinkitig  of  the  several  parts  of  a  large  structuret 


228  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

wealthy  inhabitants  fell  a  sacrifice  to  satisfy  the  rapacity 
of  the  deputies  from  the  Convention ;  we  shall  obtain  a  pretty 
clear  idea  of  what  we  may  expect,  if  they  should  succeed 
in  their  designs  against  us.  We  should  not  only  see  Bibles  and 
Priests  removed  out  of  the  way,  an  event,  as  some  affect 
to  think,  devoutly  to  be  wished,  but  the  country  must  undergo 
every  possible  calamity.  Great  Britain  and  Ire/and 
%yould  become  either  a  province  of  France,  or  be  divided 
into  two  or  three  small  contending  republics,  like  HoUand, 
dependent  upon  them.  Our  navy*  would  be  conveyed 
into   their   ports.     London-\,    and    all    our   great    mercantile 

Most  of  the  other  parts  of  3/r.  Wakefield's  pamphlet  are  ex- 
tremely unworthy  of  his  talents. 

We  may  now  also  call  the  attention  of  the  mal-contents  of  every 
nation  of  Europe  to  the  situation  of  Italy,  Rome,  Malt  a,  Naples, 
but,  above  all,  to  the  brave,  yet  unoftcnding  Swiss. 

The  learned  Bishop,  however,  forgets  in  his  Address  to  take  into 
his  estimation  the  state  of  religion  in  this  country.  In  my  judgment, 
the  corrupt  state  of  the  Established  religion  is  the  grand  and  original 
cause  of  much  of  our  innnorality ;  and  these  two  together  are  the 
only  true  and  genuine  sources  of  our  national  distress.  Let  us  re- 
move out  of  the  way  every  unevangelical  stumbling  block,  and  turn 
unto  God  in  good  earnest,  and  he  will  soon  make  our  enen)ies  to  be 
at  peace  with  us.  Could  this  be  done,  the  throne  of  King  George 
should  be  as  the  days  of  Heaven! 

The  French  revolution  is  a  most  amazing  and  tremendous  event, 
and  \\  ill  probably  be  a  means  of  new-modelling  tlie  face  of  Europe, 
if  not  of  the  whole  world.  The  extraordinary  efforts  which  people 
are  making  in  the  arts  and  sciences,  are  as  vigorous  as  those  they 
are  making  in  war.  The  Governour  of  the  universe  lias  formed 
them  for  great  purposes,  both  of  judgment  and  mercy  ;  of  judgment 
to  the  present  race  of  men ;  of  mercy  to  the  generations  which  shall 
follow.  This,  however,  we  know,  in  every  event  of  things,  it  shall 
be  well  with  them  that  fear  the  Lord. 

*  In  the  year  1 693,  the  royal  navy  of  England  consisted  of  1 1 1 
ships  of  40  guns  and  upwards.  In  the  year  1 7^3  it  consisted  of 
upwards  of  300  ships  of  w  ar,  from  tlie  first  to  the  sixth  rate,  besides 
near  200  sloops,  &c. 

t  London  is  now  what  Tyre  was  in  ancient  times.  One  cannot 
help  entertaining  strong  apprehensions  of  its  sharing  the  same  fate. 
The  trade  and  riches  of  it  are  innnensely  large,  and  the  corruption 
and  iniquity  of  the  place  are  m  like  proportion.  See  the  account  of 
Tyre  in  the  Prophets. 

This  metropolis  is  unparalleled,  in  extent  and  opulence,  in  the 
whole  habitable  globe,  except,  perhaps,  Pekin,  in  China,  Jeddo,  in 
Japan,,  and  Houssa,  in  Africa,  which  are  all  said  to  be  larger. 

It  comprehends,  besides  London,  Westminster,  and  Southivarh, 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS. 


229 


towns*    would  be   exiiausted    of   their   riches.       Our   foreign 

no  Icjis  than  forty  Jive  liUns^fs,  of  considerable  extent,  independent 
of  a  vast  accession  of  buildm^s  upon  the  open  tieids  in  the  vicinity. 
Its  length  is  nearly  ei^ht  miles,  its  breadth  three,  and  its  circum- 
ference twenty  six.  It  contains  above  J>,000  streets,  lanes,  alleys, 
iuid  courts,  and  more  than  0'5  different  squares  Its  houses,  ware- 
houses, and  other  buildings  make  16'2,()U0,  besides  '24-a  churche5 
and  chapels,  £07  meeting-houses  for  Dissenters,  -JS  chapels  for 
Foreigners,  and  0"  synagogues  for  the  Jews ;  which  in  all  make  502 
places  of  public  worship.  The  nundjer  of  inhabitants  during  the 
sitting  of  ))arliaine'.it  is  estimated  at  1, '250,000.  Among  these  are 
found  about  5(J,000  connnon  prostitutes,  and  no  loss  than  00,000 
thieves,  cohicrs,  and  other  bad  persons  of  all  desc-qnions.  The 
nnnual  depredations  on  the  public,  by  this  numerous  body  of  pil- 
ferers, are  estin-.ated  at  the  sum  of  2,100,000  sterling,  in  tills  vast 
city  there  are,  moreover,  upwards  of  4000  seminaries  for  e<luca- 
tion — 8  institutions  for  promoting  morality — 10  institutions  for 
promoting  the  arts — 122  asylums  for  the  indigent — 1?  for  the  sick 
and  lame —  \o  dispensaries  —  704  charitable  institutions  —  58  courts 
of  justice — 7>040  professional  men  connected  v  ith  the  various  de- 
})arlments  of  the  law. — There  are  13, 500  vessels  trading  to  the  river 
Thames  in  the  course  of  a  year;  and  40,000  waggons  going  and  re- 
turning to  the  metroj)olis  in  the  same  peiiod,  including  their  repeated 
voyages. — The  amount  of  exports  and  imports  to  and  from  the 
Thames  is  estimated  at  60,811, 93*21.  sterling  annually;  and  the 
property  floating  in  this  vast  city  every  year  is  170,000,000  pounds 
sterling.  These  circumstances  may  be  sufficient  to  convince  us  of 
the  amazing  extent  and  importance  of  the  capital  of  the  British 
empire.  See  these  things  detailed  more  at  large  in  an  excellent 
Treatise  onithe  Police  of  the  Metropolis  by CoLoroHoy,  Esq. 

And  is  all  this  national  opulence  and  gi-audeur  to  be  buried  in  one 
gcnei"al  ruin,  througli  the  tiansgression  and  growing  depravity  of  the 
people? 

*  About  the  year  1 700,  the  town  of  Manchester  contained  only 
one  church,  and  in  1717  the  inhabitants  were  8,000.  The  uumbeV 
of  churches  and  chapels  of  the  establishment  of  Manchester  and 
Salford  is  now  twehe,  and  about  the  same  number  of  dissenting 
chapels  of  various  descriptions.  The  inhabitants  are  between  60 
and  70,000. 

In  1700,  Liverpool  bad  only  5,145  inhabitants.  In  17.00,  it 
had  70,000.     In  1709  it  had  S4*sliips;  in  1792,  it  had  584. 

Several  other  town^  in  this  country  are  encreased  nearly  in  the 
same  proportion.  O  happy  England,  if  thou  did.>>t  but  know  thy 
hapi>iness!  The  ingratitude  and  rebellion  of  the  country,  however, 
aganist  the  laws  of  the  Divixe  Being  nnist  terminate  in  our  severe 
chastisement.  The  wickedness  of  the  inhabitants  is  inconceivably 
great.  Compare  the  lives  of  the  Clergy — the  Lawyers  and  Attorniex 
—  the  Medical  class — the  Soldiery  —  the  Sailors — the  Common 
people — with  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  how  alarming  the 
contrast!     The  Aobies  and  Gentry  of  the  land,  witli  some  few  ex- 


230  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

possessions  would  fall  into  their  hands.  Our  trade*  would 
be  annihilated  ;  our  real  estates  -f-  change  masters ;  our  per- 
sonal property  be  swept  into  France  :  our  poor  would  languish 
and  die  in  the  streets   for  want  of  bread,   none   having   it  in 

ceptions,  are  become  incnrably  imnioral,  as  well  as  irreligious.  The 
trading  part  of  the  nation  are  all  set  upon  their  gain.  Serious,  uni- 
form, and  conscientious  godliness,  is  only  found  among  a  few  soiitary 
individuals.  The  sabbath-day  is  fashionably,  and  very  generally, 
prostituted  to  secular  purposes.  The  ptfblic  ivonhip  of  Almighty 
God  is  grievously  neglected  by  all  ranks  of  men.  The  Sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper  is  very  thinly  attended,  and  this  only  oc- 
casionally, and  not  as  a  serious  duty  and  privilege.  In  short;  the 
stgiis  of  the  times  are  such  as  to  give  the  most  serious  apprehension 
to  every  well-wisher  to  his  Khig  and  Country.  In  London  there  are, 
I  believe,  near  a  million  of  souls,  including  childjen,  who  seldom  or 
never  attend  public  worship  under  any  denomination! — Manchester 
contains  near  seventy  thousand  inhabitants:  and  between  forty  and 
fifty  thousand  of  them  absent  themselves  totally  from  evei-y  place  of 
public  worship  on  the  sabbath-day ! 

Birmingham  is  said  to  contain  about  70,000  inhabitants.  There 
are  five  churches,  and  fourteen  meeting-houses,  of  different  de- 
scriptions. It  is  not  supposed  that  more  than  5,000  persons  attend 
any  place  of  public  worship  on  any  one  day;  not  more  than  10,000 
attend  any  public  worship  at  all;  so  that  there  are  60,000  souls  in 
that  town,  who  may  be  said  not  to  have  any  religion  at  all;  that 
is,  about  one  in  seven,  or  seven  to  one.  This  is  a  very  afiiscting 
consideration. 

Macclesfield  and  its  environs  contain  9  or  10,000  people.  We 
have  two  churches  and  five  meeting-houses.  Not  more,  however, 
than  3,000  of  the  nine  attend  pubfic  worship,  in  all  the  places  put 
together.  So  that  here  are  6,000  souls,  including  children,  who 
may  be  considered  as  Infidels  in  principle,  or  practice,  or  botli,  the 
same  children  being  exempt  from  the  charge. 

*  In  1700,  EnglandhnA  2,281  trading  vessels,  carrying  36' 1,222 
tons  burden.  In  1792,  Englandhad  10,423  do.  carrying  1,168,468 
tons. 

In  1692,  Scot la?id  had  S,6l8  tons  of  shipping.  In  1 792,  Scot- 
land had  2,143  ships,  carrying  1 62,274  tons. 

In  179^>  the  trading  vessels  of  the  British  dominions  were 
36,329,  niamied  with  118,932  sailors,  and  carrying  1,564,520 
tons. 

History  furnishes  us  with  nothing  equal  to  this  account. 

+  The  quantity  of  land  cultivatctl  in  England  and  Wales  is  about 
32  niillioiis  of  acres.  The  gross  produce  of  the  same  is  about  75 
millions  of  pounds  sterling  annually ;  and  the  neat  rental  about  24 
millions. 

The  average  annual  gross  produce  of  the  kingdom,  arising  from 
land  and  animals,  stands  nearly  according  to  the  following  esti- 
mate: 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  231 

tlieir  power  to  relieve  them*.  We  should  be  involved  in  all 
the  miseries  that  human  nature,  in  a  civilized  state,  is  capable 
of  undergoing.  And  from  being  one  of  the  first,  most 
powerful,  and  happy  nations  upon  the  face  of  the  earth, 
we  should  become  one  of  the  lowest,  weakest,  and  most 
wretched  kingdoms  in  Eurcrpe.  And  could  any  man,  for 
the  sake  of  ridding  the  coimtry  of  these  bugbears,  the  Bible 
and  the  Priests-\,  wish  to  see  ail  this  evil  come  upon  us  I    If 

Ten  millions  of  acres  of  w  heat,  rye,  kc.  at  41.  per  acre  40,000.000 

Four  millions  of  acres  of  hay,  clover,  &c.  at  50s.  per  do.  10,000,000 

Eight  thousand  tons  of  hops,  at  501.  per  ton 400,000 

One  million  of  beeves  fattening  ?0  weeks  at  ISd.  p.  week  1,500,000 

One  million  of  sheep  fattening  13  weeks  at  6"d.  per  week  1,950,000 
Two  millions  of  milch-cows,  40  weeks  milk  at  2s.  6d.  per 

week 8,050,000 

Wool    . 3,200,000 

Ten  miUions  of  lambs,  when  w  eaned  at  5s  per  lamb    .  .  S,,;00  OOO 

Two  millions  of  calves  at  20s.  per  calf 2,000  000 

Four  millions  of  pigs  at  5s.  per  pig    1,000  COO 

Fruits  and  vegetables  for  8,000,000  of  people     4,500  000 

Poultry,  eggs,  &c.  &c.  tx.c 

75,100,000 
*  The  public  and  private  charities  of  Lcndon  amount  to  750,000 
poun.'s  annually;  and  the  j>oor-rates  of  E.iglartd  and  Malts  altoge- 
ther, make  the  enonnou ,  sum  of  2,200,000  pounds  a  year,  besides^all 
private  charities  and  unday-schoois,  Arthur  VouXG,  Esq.XfAU 
us,  in  his  Letter  to  Mr.  \Vilber force,  that  the  amount  of  what 
is  paid  for  labour  of  all  sorts  in  England  is  not  less  than  one  hundred 
millions  sterling  —  poor-rates  and  charities  of  every  sort  cannot 
amount  to  less  liian  seven  millions. 

t  It  is  a  melancholy  rellection,  that  among  all  the  cler<n'  in  this 
countiy,  there  were  nut  (juite  200  wlio  sacrificed  tlieir  interest  to 
principle  in  the  reign  of  Queeji  Elizabeth.  See  Gray's  Sermons 
at  the  Bampton  Lecture,  p.  238.— In  Charles  the  Second's  time 
however,  there  v. ere  upwards  of  2000  clergymen,  wJm  sacrificed 
their  inteiests  to  pruitiple,  besides  a  considerable  number  of  con- 
scientious men,  it  is  to  be  presumed,  who  continued  in  their  places^ 

Bigotiy  and  persecution  generally  defeat  tlieir  own  purposes' 
What  a  consequence  did  not  liiis  inad  measure  give  to  the  dissenting 
interest  in  England f  The  same  foolish  gdiue  was  plaved  by  the 
Bishops  and  Uergy  in  the  present  century.  Instead  of  eiicoura"Lin£r 
motleratuig,  and  regulating  the  pious  zeal  of  a  lew  young  men  iiI 
Oxford,  by  gentle  and  lenient  measures,  tliev  sliut  tiieir^'ciiurches 
against  thein,  and  compelled  them  to  go  out  into  the  high-ways  and 
hedges  to  preach  to  tliose  w  ho  were  inclined  to  hear  them  •  and 


252  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

any  person  approves  not  of  religion  and  its  ministers,  he  is 
at  perfect  liberty,    in    this    free    country,    to    decline   paying 

though  they  were  tiieo  but  a  small  band,  they  are  now  become  a 
goodly  company,  and  have  already  overspread  Ep.s:i(tnd,  Scotland, 
Ireland^  America,  and  the  West  Indies. — All  this  weight  too  is  thrown 
mto  tlie  dissenting  scale !  A  few  more  such  imprudent  measures, 
and  do\vn  goes  Mother  Church  ! 

We  have  spoken  oo  a  former  page  on  pluralities  and  non-residence. 
The  former,  indeed,  in  all  ordinan/  cases,  implies  the  latter.  We 
scarce  ever  read  an  account  of  deaths  in  the  periodical  publications, 
but  we  find  an  account  of  one  or  more  insta.  ces  of  this  nature. 
The  poet  Mason  is  a  point  in  hand.  Though  a  worthy  man,  and  a 
character  highly  respectable,  he  had,  it  appears,  accumulated  several 
preferments  in  the  church  at  the  same  time.  And  it  is  well  known 
to  be  the  custom  of  great  numbers  of  the  Clergj/  in  the  Establishment 
to  procure  as  many  as  their  interest  will  reach.  This  we  call  good 
management,  pmdent  foresight,  taking  care  for  a  family  and  the  like. 
If  there  be  no  God,  it  is  all  very  well.  But  if  we  are  accountable 
creatures,  and  are  to  exist  m  a  future  state,  our  present  trading  in 
Livings  and  Souls  will  not  yield  us  satisfaction  another  day.  It  is 
popery,  rank  poperi/,  the  worst  part  oi popery,  under  the  highest  pre- 
tensions to  being  the  most  pure  and  refonned  part  of  Christ's  holy 
catholic  ciiurch.  I  remember  an  anecdote  apposite  to  the  subject  in 
hand.  Bishop  Burnet,  in  his  Charges  to  the  Clergy  of  his  Diocese, 
shewed  a  great  deal  of  disinterested  integrity,  by  vehemently  ex- 
claiming against  pluralities,  as  a  most  sacrilegious  robbeiy.  And,  in 
his  first  visitation  at  Salisbury,  he  urged  the  authority  of  St.  Ber- 
nard, who  being  consulted  by  one  of  his  followers,  whether  he 
might  accept  of  t\\  o  benefices,  replied — And  how  will  you  be  able  to 
serve  them  both  ?  I  intend,  answerd  the  priest,  to  officiate  in  one  of 
them  by  a  deputy. — If///  your  deputy  be  damned  for  yon  too  1  cried  the 
.saint.  Believe  me,  you  may  serve  your  cure  by  proxy,  but  you  must  be 
damned  in  person.  This  expression  so  affected  Mr.  Kelsey,  a  pious 
and  worthy  clergyman  then  present,  that  he  immediately  resigned  the 
rectoi7  oiBenierton  in  Berkshire,  ^^'orth  200  pounds  a  year,  which 
he  held  then  with  one  of  greater  value.  See  Bp.  Burnet's  Life, 
by  T.  Burnet,  £a^. 

We  have  observed,  that  all  the  bulk  of  church-prefermeut,  m 
this  country,  is  engrossed  by  about  one  thousand  clergymen,  out  of 
the  eighteen  thousand.  I  do  not  pretend  to  be  accuiatc  in  this  state- 
ment; but  I  should  suppose  it  is  not  far  from  the  truth.  Whereas 
the  emoluments  of  the  Establishment  are  capable  of  providing  for 
10,000  persons  in  a  comfortable  way,  by  abolishing  plui-alities, 
without  disturbing  the  present  order  oi  tlirngs.  Let  every  Bishop 
retire  within  his  diocese,  and  d\\  ell  amoi:g  bis  dergy',  as  a  father  in 
his  familv.  Let  eveiy  i'lergymon  reside  upon  his  li\nig,  superintend- 
ing his  people,  as  a  shepherd  his  flock.  And  let  no  man  be  promoted 
to*the  first  Livings  in  tlie  kingdom,  merely  because  he  is  related  to 
or  connected  with  some  great  personage ;  but  let  the  most  active. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  Q5S 

lliem  any  attention.     He  may   think  and  act  according  to  his 
own  pleasure.     Why   then  should   any   man  desire  to  see  his 


useful,  and  Ia!)orious  ministers,  especially  when  the  infiniiities  of  age 
come  on,  be  accounted  worthy  of  double  honour,  by  being  rewarded 
for  their  extraordinary  services  with  the  best  Livings  which  the  country 
affords. 

All  this,  I  too  well  know,  is  visionary.  It  is  a  plausible  theory, 
but  never  will  be  reduced  to  practice.  If  it  should  please  God, 
however,  to  p\it  an  end  to  the  present  inihappy  war,  and  favour  us 
once  more  with  a  settled  state  of  things,  I  think  it  might  be  well  for 
tiie  great  body  of  the  poor  Rectors,  Vicars,  and  Curates  of  the 
country,  to  petition  Ciovernmentto  take  their  distressed  circumstances 
into  consideration.  If  it  should  have  no  other  efl'ect,  it  would  call  the 
attention  of  the  public  to  the  horrible  monopolies  of  preferments  which 
prevail  among  the  Bis/iopsm\(\  higher  Orders  of  the  clergy.  I  would 
recommend  that  Committees  should  be  formed  in  every  district 
through  England  and  Wales,  to  correspond  with  a  grand  and  super- 
intending Committee  in  London.  Let  them  investigate  the  business 
of  church-preferments  thoroughly,  and  drag  to  broad  day-light  all 
the  great  ottieuders  in  this  pretended  spiritual  commerce.  See  a  book 
called  the  3Iiseries  and  Great  Hardships  of  the  Inferior  Clergy,  for 
some  useful  infonnation. 

Out  of  the  1 8,000  Clergymen  belonging  to  the  Establishment  of 
this  country,  there  are  several  hundreds  of  zealous  and  lively  men 
(and  the  number  is  much  upon  the  increase)  who,  properly  speaking, 
are  the  only  true  members  of  the  Church  of  England.  They  believe, 
and  preach,  and  live  her  doctrines.  These  conscientious  men,  how- 
ever, are,  as  we  have  already  observed,  almost  universally  dubbed 
Methodists,  in  a  way  of  contempt,  by  the  majority  both  of  Bishops 
and  Clergy.  This  is  shameful  treatment,  but  so  it  is.  Those  "  downy 
doctors,  that  recumbent  virtues  preach,"  who  will  swear  any  thing, 
and  subscribe  anything,  no  matter  whether  they  believe  it  or  not,  for 
the  sake  of  a  good  bishopric,  or  fat  rectory,  are  among  the  hrst  to 
exclaim  against  their  more  zealous,  useful,  and  pious  brethren. 
Master,  so  saying,  and  so  doing,  thou  condemnest  us. —  Woe  unto 
you,  ye  scribes,  Pharisees,  hypocrites  !  for  ye  shut  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  against  men  :  for  ye  neither  go  in  yourselves,  neither  sniffer  ye 
them  tht  are  entering  to  go  in  !  Sec  Ez.  xxxiv.  chap. 
"  \Mien  nations  are  to  perish  in  their  sins, 
Tis  in  the  Church  the  leprosy  begins." 

"  The  priestly  brotherhood,  devout,  sincere. 
From  mean  self-interest  and  ambition  clear. 
Their  hope  in  heav'n,  servility  their  scorn. 
Prompt  to  persuade,  expostulate  and  warn. 
Their  wirdom  pure,  and  giv'n  them  from  above. 
Their  usefulness  insur'd,  by  zeal  and  love, 
H    H 


254  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

native    land   involved    in    a   destruction    so     complete  ?       Be 
assured,  M'henever  it    comes,   it    will  be  promiscuous.     The 

As  meek  as  the  man  Moses,  asid  withal 

As  bold  as  in  Agrippa's  presence  Paul, 

Should  fly  the  world's  contaminating  touch. 

Holy  and  luipoUuted — are  tiiine  such  ]* 

Except  a  fev.  with  Eli's  spirit  blest, 

HoPHNi  and  i'HiNEAs  may  describe  the  rest," 

*  O  England.  Cowper's  Expostulation. 

As  a  body  of  men,  the  established  Clergy  of  this  country  are 
by  no  means  deticient  in  talents,  or  in  learning  of  any  description. 
So  far  is  this  from  being  th^  case,  tliat  it  is  probable  there  never 
existed  a  body  'f  men  of  the  same  number,  who  possessed  equal 
natural  and  acquired  qualifications ;  but,  we  are  deficient  in  humility, 
in  self-denial,  in  piety,  and  in  zeal  for  the  honour  of  God  and  the 
salvation  of  souls.  S\e.  want  a  more  serious  attention  to  the  grand 
peculiarities  of  the  Gospel:  we  are  deficient  in  various  of  those 
qualifications  which  are  requisite  to  make  us  successful  in  winning 
souls  to  Christ.  To  our  shame  be  it  spoken,  with  half  our 
literal^  attainments,  we  sulfer  the  3Iethodit!ts,  and  several  of  the 
Dissinters,  to  out-do  us  exceedingly  in  real  and  positi\  e  usefulness  to 
mankmd.  We  let  the  cause  of  Christ  suft'er  and  lose  ground  in 
our  hands.  A  large  party  of  our  Order  is  inattentive  both  to  religious 
and  literary  pursuits.  They  are  mere  men  of  the  world.  Another 
part  is  so  occupied  with  literary  and  philosophical  studies,  that  they 
have  neither  time  nor  inclination  to  attend  to  the  peculiar  employ- 
ment of  ministers  of  the  Gospel.  There  is  a  third  class  of  our 
Ckrgi/,  which  is  highly  respectable,  but  whose  ministerial  labours 
are  so  cool  and  languid,  and  whose  public  discourses  are  so  merely 
moral  and  so  wholly  unevangelical,  that  mankind  are  made  neither 
much  wiser  nor  bttter  by  tlieir  feeble  exertions.  In  the  primitive 
ages  the  divine  heralds  carried  the  soiuui  of  the  Gospel  throughout 
all  lauds,  from  "  the  British  isles  to  the  banks  of  the  Ganges,"  in  a 
verv  short  space  of  lime.  But  we  ha\  e  suffered  Heathenism  to  return 
again  into  some  countries,  DIahometanism  to  over-run  others,  and 
Infidelity  to  tlift'use  itself  among  all  orders  of  society.  And  it  is  not 
improbable,  but  in  the  course  of  a  tew  more  years,  the  Gospel  of 
Christ,  THROUGH  our  neglect,  luke-avarmness,  and  su- 
perstition, will  be  in  a  great  degree  banished  from  Christendom, 
We  must  either  awake  from  our  letiiargic  state,  and  return  to  evan- 
gelical principles  and  practices,  or  all  is  lost.  Most  of  the  higher 
ranks  of  society  in  this  country  both  among  the  clergy  and  laity  have 
forsaken  the  Gospel  scheme  of  saving  a  ruined  world  ;  and  it  is  ex- 
ceedmgly  probable  the  supreme  Head  of  the  church  will  ere  long 
remove  our  candlestick,  lay  aside  the  great  body  of  us  Parsons,  as  a 
useless  set  of  men,  and  deprive  us  of  those  means  of  grace,  which  we 
have  so  long  erijoyed  to  so  liitie  purpose.  The  neglect  of  the  Son 
and  Spirit  of  God  is  the  master  sin  of  Christendom. 

I  could  wish  the  Reader  would  give  huaself  the  trouble  to  con« 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  235 

generation  then  living;  will  be,  in  every  temporal  sense,  at 
kast,  totally  ruined:  and  no  man  shall  be  able  to  extricate 
himself  from  the  general  calamity,  in  that  case,  and,  in- 
deed, in  every  other  possible  case,  the  Gospel  of  Christ 
affords  the  only  sure  refuge.  It  is  calculated  for  both  worlds, 
Tkc  Lord  God  h  a  sun  and  shield;  the  LoRn  zciil  give 
grace  and  glory  :  no  good  thing  will  ht  zsithlield  froin  than 
that  xcaik  uprightli/.  Those  that  live  in  the  entire  spirit,  and 
under  the  full  intiuence  of  this  Divim  Religion,  have,  even 
ROW,    large   enjoyment    of   its    comforts*.     And    whether  we 

sider  well  what  Mr.  Wileer force  has  written  upon  this  subject,  iji 
his  Practical  View  of  the  prevulUmr  religious  system  of  Professed 
Christians,  in  I  he  higher  and  middle  classes  in  this  country/,  con- 
trasted with  reulChridiunitif.  If  we  had  a  number  of  such  able  and 
foitiiful  labourers  in  the  cause  of  Christianiti/  among  llie  laiti/,  much 
good  might  be  expected  lo  result  from  their  endeavours.  In  my  opi- 
nion, men  of  this  de-xriptiou  are  peculiarly  called  upon  in  the  present 
day,  wiien  lujidelifi/  is  makini;  such  rai)id  advances,  and  the  Clergy 
are  in  such  di>grace,  to  exet  t  themselves  in  every  possible  way  to  stem 
the  torrent  of  Iniquity,  which  is  ready  to  bear  all  dowu  before  it. 

See  some  useful  t!i  iughts  on  the  necessity  of  new  measures,  in  the 
Dean  of  Middlehams  Political  and  Moral  Consequences  of  a  reli- 
gious education,  and  its  reverse. 

*  Turn  back,  and  consider  well  the  cases  of  Lord  RussEL, 
MoRATA,  Claude,  Walker,  Hervey,  Leland,  Romaine, 
Bedell,  and  Leechm  an.  Instead  of  this  small  number,  we  could 
liave  produced  some  hundreds  of  characters  of  a  like  happy  kind,  if 
it  had  been  consistent  with  our  design. 

Bishop  Burnet's  declaration  alone  we  will  here  transcribe,  as  he 
was  a  man  of  piety,  and  of  large  exjierience  of  men,  and  things,  and 
because  he  delivers  it  as  his  last  dying  speech,  and  the  sum  of  all  his 
exj)erience : — 

"  True  religion,"  says  he,  "  is  the  perfection  of  human  nature, 
and  the  jov  and  delight  of  every  one  that  feels  it  active  and  strong 
within  him. — Of  this  I  write  with  the  more  concern  and  emotion, 
because  1  have  felt  this  the  true,  and  indeed  the  only  joy  which  runs 
tJiruugh  a  man's  heart  and  life.  It  is  that  which  has  been  for  many 
years  my  greatest  suj)port.  I  rejoice  daily  in  it.  I  feel  from  it  the 
earnest  of  that  supreme  joy,  which  I  pant  and  long  for.  I  am  sure 
there  is  notiiing  else  can  atford  any  true  or  complete  ha])piness.  I 
have,  considering  my  sphere,  seen  a  great  deal  of  ail  that  is  most 
shuiing  and  tempting  in  this  w  orld.  The  pleasures  of  sense  I  did 
soon  nauseate.  Intrigues  of  state,  and  the  conduct  of  afl'airs  have 
something  in  tliem  that  is  more  sj>ecious ;  and  I  was  fur  some 
years  deeply  immersed  in  these,  but  still  w  ith  hopes  of  reforming  the 
world,  and  of  makuig  mankind  wiser  and  better.  But  I  have  found, 
'Piai  which  is  crooked  cannot  be  made  straight.  I  acquainted  myself 

H  a  2 


236  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

are  cut  off  according  to  the  common  course  of  things,  or  hur- 
ried out  of  the  Morld  by  the  violence  of  wicked  men,  still  we  are 
fully  persuaded  it  shall  be  well.  They  may  destroy,  but  they 
cannot  hurt  us.  They  will  only  send  us  to  our  iworivpfible, 
niidejihdy  and  unfading  inheritance  a  little  before  the  time 
allotted  by  the  course  of  nature. 

You  see  then,  my  Friends  and  Countrymex,  it  is  our 
firm  determination  to  adhere  to  the  Bible,  and  the  truths  therein 
contained,  at  the  risk  of  every  thing  that  is  held  dear  among 
men.  ^^  e  have  counted  the  cost,  and  hesitate  not  a  moment  in 
saying.  It  is  our  glory  and  joy  ;  deartr  to  us  than  thousands 
of  gold  and  silver. 

"  I  swear,  and  from  my  solemn  oath 

Will  never  start  aside, 
That  in  God's  righteous  judgments  I 

Will  steadfastly  abide. 
The  world's  contempt  of  his  commands. 

But  make-:  tl.eir  value  rise 
In  my  esteem,  who  purest  gold 

Compar'd  ^^  itli  them  despise." 

Sincerely  pitying,  therefore,  and  ardently  praying  for,  the 
whole  generation  of  those  unhappy  persons  among  our  Coun- 
trymen, who  have  forsaken  the  only  fountain  of  living 
uaters,  and  hercn  out  to  themselves  broken  cisterns  that  can 
hold  no  nater  ;  with  the  great  Lord  Bacon  we  declare, 
"  There  never  was  found  in  any  age  of  the  world,  either 
philosophy,  or  sect,  or  religion,  or  law,  or  discipline,  which 
did  so  highly  exalt  the  public  good  as  the  Christian  faith." 
With  jS/r  Thomas  Brown,  "  We  assume  the  honourable 
stile  of  Christian^  not  because  it  is  the  religion  of  our  comitrvj 
but  because,  having,  in  our  riper  years  and  confirmed  judg- 
ment, seen  and  examined  all,  we  lind  ourselves  obliged  by 
the  principles  of  grace,  and  the  law  of  our  own  reason,  to 
embrace  no  other  name  but  this,  being  of  the  same  belief  which 
our  Saviour  taught,  the  Jpostles  disseminated,  the  Fathers 


with  knowledge  and  learning,  and  that  in  great  variety. — This 
yielded  not  happiness. — I  cultivated  friendship.  But  this  also  I  liave 
found  was  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit,  though  it  be  of  the  best  and 
noblest  sort. — ^The  sum  is.  Vanity  of  vanities,  all  is  vanity,  besides 
fearing  God,  and  keeping  his  commandments."  See  the  Conclusion 
of  the  History  of  his  own  Times. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  237 

authorized,    and  the    Martyrs   confirmed."     With    the    noble 
Pic  us  MiRANDULA,  we  rest  in  the  Bible  "  as  the  only  book, 
therein    is   found    true  eloquence  and  vvisdon)."       With   Dr. 
Robinson,  the  natural  philosoplier,  we  say,  ''The  Scriptures 
of  the   0/d  and    New  Testament  contain  a  system  of  human 
nature,  the  grandest,   the  most  extensive  and   complete,  that 
ever  was   divulged  to  mankind  since    the    foundation    of   na- 
ture."    With    the    excellent  physician   and    philosopher     Dr. 
Grew,   we  profess,  tiiat  *'  The    l^ible   contains  the    laws  of 
CjOd's  kingdom    in  this  lower  world,  and    that  religion  is   so 
far    from   being  inconj^istt-nt    with    philosophy,   that    it  is    the 
highest  point  and  perfection  of  it."     With  the  no  less  excellent 
physician  and    phiiusoplier   Dr.    David  Hautley,  we  say, 
that  "  No  writers,  from  the  invention  of  letters  to  the  present 
times,  are  equal  to  the  penmen  of  the  books  of  the   0/d  gnd 
New    Ttstmneuts,  in    true    excellence,    utility,    and    dignity." 
With    the   very  celebrated  French    poet    Boileau   we    say, 
"  Every  word  and  syllable  of  the  Bible  ought  to  be  adored : 
it  not  only  cannot   be  enough  admired,  but  it  cannot  be  too 
much   admired."       With    the    very    pious    and    excellent    Sir 
Matthew  Male  we  are  clearly  of  opinion,  "There  is  no 
book    like    the    Bible,    for   excellent    learning,    wisdom,    and 
use."     With  the    celebrated  Boyle,  we    consider   it  as  ''  A 
matchless  volume,"   and   believe    that    "  It  is  impossible   we 
can  study  it  too    much,   or  esteem   it    too   highly*."      With 
the  incomparable  Newton,  "  We  account  the  Scriptures  of 
God  to  be  the  most  sublime  philosophy."     With    Milton, 
we  are  of  opinion  "  There   are    no   songs  comparable  to  the 
songs  of  Si  on,  no  orations  equal  to  those  of  the  Prophets, 

*  Tliis  great  Philosopher  says,  "  Deists  nnist,  to  maintain  their 
negative  creed,  swallow  greater  improbabilities  than  C/iristians,  to 
maintain  the  positive  creed  of  the  Apostles.  And  they  nmst  think  it 
fitter  to  believe,  that  chance,  or  nature,  orsuperslition,  should  perform 
wonderful,  and  hardly  credible  things,  than  that  the  great  author  of 
nature,  God,  .should  be  able  to  do  so."  ]VorkSy\o\.  5.  p.  Oai. 

John  Enrloi  Orrery,  relation  to  the  above  Mr.  Robert  Boyle, 
is  also  said  to  have  been  a  lover  of  truth,  even  to  adoration.  "  He 
was,"  says  the  writer  of  his  life,  "  a  real  Christian,  and,  as  such,  he 
used  to  say,  he  constantly  hoped  for  a  better  life,  there  trusting  to 
know  the  real  causes  of  those  eft'ects,  which  here  struck  hhn  with 
wonder,  but  not  with  doubt." 


238  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

and  no  politics  like  those  which  the  Scriptures  teach."  With 
Rousseau,  every  ingenious  man  may  say,  "  I  must  confess  to 
you,  that  the  majesty  of  the  Scriptures  astonishes  me,  and  the 
holiness  of  the  Evangelists  speaks  to  my  heart,  and  has  such 
strong  and  striking  characters  of  trutli,  and  is  moreover  so  per- 
fectly inimitable,  that  if  it  had  been  the  invention  of  men,  the 
inventors  would  be  greater  than  the  greatest  heroes."  With  the 
justly  renowned  Seldon  before  mentioned,  after  having  taken 
a  deliberate  survey  of  all  the  learning  anjong  the  ancients,  we 
solemnly  profess,  "  There  is  no  book"  in  the  universe,  ^'  upon 
which  we  can  rest  our  souls,  in  ad3-ing  moment,  but  the  Bible.'* 
And  we  therefore  boldly  declare,  before  the  face  of  all  the 
unbelieving  and  disobedient  Morld,  in  the  words  of  the  immortal 
Chillingw  ORTH,  "  Propose  to  me  any  thing  out  of  the 
Bible,  and  require  whether  1  believe  it  or  not;  and  seem 
it  never  so  incomprehensible  to  human  reason,  I  uiil  sub- 
scribe it  with  hand  and  heart ;  as  knowing  no  demonstration  can 
be  stronger  than  this — "  God  hath  said  so,  therefore  it  is 
true."  And  may  we  not,  finally,  exhort  and  admonish  the 
sceptical  reader  in  the  glowing  language  of  the  seraphicT 
YoUiNG  .? 

"  Retire,  and  read  thy  Bihie,  to  be  gay. 
There  truths  abound  of  sov'reign  aid  to  peace  ; 
Ah  !  do  not  prize  them  less,  because  inspii  'd. 
As  thou,  and  thine,  are  apt  and  proud  to  do. 
If  not  inspir'd,  that  pregnant  page  had  stood 
Time's  treasure  !  and  the  wonder  of  tiie  wise !" 

After  these  declarations,  the  warmth  of  which  may  seem 
to  need  some  apology,  you  cannot  wonder,  O  my  Country- 
men, if  we  should  treat  all  your  stale  cavils,  which  have 
been  a  hundred  times  repeated,  and  a  thousand  times  con- 
futed, with  the  contempt  they  deserve,  and  say  with  the 
royal  Psalmist  (no  favourite  of  your's  by  the  bye,  but  whom 
we  Believers  esteem  one  of  the  bravest  of  warriors,  sublimest 
of  poets,  greatest  of  prophets,  most  seraphic  of  musicians, 
and  worthiest  of  men>,  2'he  law  of  the  Lord  is  perfect,  con- 
verting ike  soul  :  the  testimony  of  the  Lord  is  sure,  making 
Zi^ise  the  simple:  the  statutes  of  the  Lord  are  right,  rejoicing 
the  heart:  the  commandment  of  the  I^o^u  is  pure,  enlightening 
the  eyes:  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is  clean,  enduring  for  ever ! 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  239 

the  judgments  of  the  Lord  are  true  and  righteous  altogrether^ 
more  to  be  desired  are  they  than  gold,  yea  than  mucii  fine 
gold  :  szceeter  also  than  honey,  and  the  choice  droppings  of  the 
honey-comb*. 

You  will  excuse  tlie  freedom  of  this  address,  and  be  as- 
sured it  proceeds  from  a  heart  deeply  concerned  for  the 
■welfare  of  his  fellow-men.  We  wish  to  be  happy  otrselves, 
and  we  wish  You  to  be  partakers  <^f  the  same  felicity.  Many 
of  you  are  endowed  with  talents  of  no  mean  account.  We 
lament  the  misapplication  of  them.  Are  your  spirits  per- 
fectly at ,  rest  in  your  present  state  of  mind  ?  And  do  you 
feel  satisfied  with  your  future  prospects  ?  Give  me  leave 
to  answer  for  you,  and  be  not  offended  if  I  say,  "  No  ! 
— Far  from  it ! — My  lusts  and  passions  lead  me  captive ! 
I  am  a  slave  to  evil  desires! — Of  the  proper  fear  of  God, 
which  effectually  restraineth  from  sin,  I  know  but  little! — ■ 
To  the  genuine  love  of  GoD  I  am  an  utter  stranger ;  I  scarcely 
know  what  it  means ! — The  favour  of  God  1  have  no  reason 
to  expect,  in  my  present  state  of  moral  attainments,  be 
the  Bible  tiue  or  be  it  false ! — With  all  my  pretensions 
to  virtue,  in  my  coolest  moments,  I  feel  condemned  in 
my  own  conscience  ! — That  Zihich  I  do,  I  alloiv  not  ;  but 


*  Other  great  kings  have  been  of  the  same  mind.  Robert, 
King  of  Sicily,  declares  of  himself,  "  The  Holy  Books  are  dearer 
to  me  than  my  kingdom,  and  were  I  under  any  necessity  of  quitting 
one,  it  should  be  my  diadem."  And  even  the  haughty  Lewis  the 
XlVth.  "  sometimeb  read  his  Bible,  and  was  of  opinion  it  is  the  finest 
of  all  books." 

It  is  recorded  too  of  cur  Edward  VI.  that  upon  a  certain  occa- 
sion, a  paper  which  was  called  for  iji  the  council-chamber  happened 
to  lie  out  of  reach  ;  the  person  concerned  to  produce  it^  took  a  Bible 
that  lay  by,  and,  standuig  upon  it,  reached  down  the  paper.  The 
king,  observing  w  hat  v.  as  done,  ran  himself  to  the  place,  and,  taking 
the  Bible  hi  las  hands,  kissed  it,  and  laid  it  up  again.  This  circum- 
stance, though  trilling  in  itself,  implies  in  his  Majesty  great  reve- 
rence for  and  much  atfection  to  that  best  of  books. 
'  More  lately  btill,  "  William  111.  king  of  England,  not  only 
believed  the  truth  of  the  Christian  religion  veiy  firmly,  but  was  most 
exemplarily  decent  and  devout,  in  the  public  exercises  of  the  worship 
of  God.  lie  was  an  attentive  hearer  of  sermons,  and  was  constant 
iji  bis  private  prayers,  and  in  reading  the  Scriptures. 

Burnet's  Own  Times,  vol.  v.  p.  71. 


C40  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

zchat   I  would,   that    do    I  not ;  for    rchat    I   hate,    thai 

do  ir 

"  My  reason  this,  my  passion  that  persuades ; 

I  see  the  right,  and  i  approve  it  too, 

Condemn  the  wrong,  aiici  yet  the  ivrong  pursue." 

O  Tcretched  man  that  I  am,  nho  shall  deliver  me  from  the 
*'  unhappiness  1  frer-ueiitiy  feel,  and  the  misery  I  have  too 
much  reason  to  fear  ? — I  ^vould  gladly  be  a  thorough- 
paced Unbeliever ;  but  for  the  life  of  me,  1  cannot  get  clear 
of  the  terror  of  deatli,  the  a[(j  rehension  of  a  future  reckon- 
ing, and  an  unaccountable  foreboding  of  something  terrible  to 
come  !" 

No,  MY  Countrymen  !  nor  will  you  ever  find  either  solid 
consolation  in  life,  or  a  just  confidence  in  the  hour  of  death,  till 
you  shake  off  the  chains  of  those  sins,  \\hich  have  well  nigh  led 
you  into  the  gulph  of  perdition,  and  obtained  redemption  in  the 
blood  of  that  Saviour,  of  whom^  in  your  present  state  of  mind, 
you  make  so  little  account. 

Solomon,  you  know,  has  the  honour  of  being  reputed 
the  vvisest  of  men.  But,  notwithstanding  his  extraordinary 
wisdom,  he  was,  for  many  years,  at  least,  guilty  of  extreme 
folly.     He  souglrt  for   happiness    in    the   gratification    of  the 


*  Dr.  Doddridge,  in  his  Life  of  Colonel  Gardiner,  informs 
us,  "  That  his  fine  constitution,  than  whirh  perhaps  there  hardly 
ever  was  a  better,  gave  him  great  opportunities  of  indulging  liimself 
in  excesses ;  and  his  good  .spirits  enabled  him  to  pursue  his  pleasures 
of  every^  kind,  in  so  alert  and  sprightly  a  manner,  tliat  multitudes 
envied  him,  and  called  him  by  a  dreadful  kind  of  compliment,  The 
happy  Rake.  Yet  still  the  checks  of  conscience,  and  some  remain- 
ing principles  of  so  good  an  education  as  he  had  received,  would 
break  in  u})on  his  most  licentious  hours  ;  and  I  particularly  remember 
he  told  me,  that  when  some  of  his  dissolute  companions  were  once 
congratulating  iiim  on  his  distinguished  felicity,  a  dog  happeiiing  at 
that  time  to  come  into  the  room,  he  could  not  forbear  groaning  in- 
wardly, and  sayicg  to  himself,  Oh  that  J  u-ere  that  dog  ! — Such 
was  then  his  hapi.iness !  and  such  perhaps  is  that  of  hundreds  more, 
who  bear  themseh  es  highest  in  the  contempt  of  Religion,  and  glory 
in  that  infamous  Sertitudt-  which  tliey  call  Libert i/."— Reader  !  how 
isit  with  vou  in  this  respect?  Tru;t  a  pr&phet  SLud  a  priest  for  once — 
77ie  u-icktd  are  like  the  troubled  sea,  ichich  cannot  rest,  whose  icaters 
cast  up  mire  and  dirt.  There  is  no  peace,  saith  my  God,  to  tlu 
li'icked. 


AXD  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  241 

body,  its  appetites  and  passions,  to  the  neglect  of  God,  and 
religion,  and  the  care  of  his  immortal  part;  but  substantial 
happiness  could  no  where  be  found.  He  run  through  the 
uhole  circle  of  worldly  and  sensual  pleasures  ;  happiness 
however,  and  ease  of  mind  still  fled  before  him,  and  eluded 
}jis  pursuit.  And  after  having  made  a  large  number  of  ex- 
periments for  a  long  season,  and  to  no  manner  of  purpose, 
he  stops  and  looks  back  upon  what  he  had  been  doing; 
and  the  book  of  Ecciesiastes  contains  his  experience.  Wish- 
ing to  warn  his  fellow^  creatures  against  the  mistakes  which 
he  himself  had  committed  in  life,  he  turns  preacher,  and 
gives  us  a  sermon  upon  the  insufticiency  of  worldly  things  to 
make  us  happy.  The  text  of  the  discourse  seems  to  be: 
J'anity  of  xanilies,  vanitij  of  vanities;  all  is  vaniti/. 

He  begins  his  sermon  by  shewing,  that  all  human  courses 
and  pursuits  are  vain,  and  do  not  yield  full  satisfaction  to 
the  mind.  All  things,  says  he,  are  full  of  labour:  man 
cannot  utter  it :  the  eye  is  not  satisfied  uith  seeing ;  nor  the 
ear  filed  uith  hearing. 

From  this  general  assertion  the  royal  preacher  proceeds 
to  shew,  that  wisdom,  and  knowledge,  and  learning  could  uot 
make  him  happy. 

/  the  preacher  zcas  king  over  Israel  in  Jerusalem  :  and  I 
crave  my  heart  to  seek  and  search  out  by  aisdom  concerning 
all  things  that  are  done  under  heaven  :  this  sore  travail  hath 
God  given  to  the  sons  of  man  to  be  exercised  thereuith.  I 
have  seen  all  the  rcorks  that  are  done  under  the  sun;  atid, 
behold,  all  is  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit.  That  which  is 
crooked  cannot  be  made  straight  :  and  that  zchich  is  wanting 
cannot  be  numbered.  I  communed  zcith  mine  own  heart,  say^ 
trig,  Lo,  I  am  come  to  great  estate,  and  have  gotten  more 
wisdom  than  all  they  that  have  been  before  me  in  Jerusalem : 
yea,  my  heart  had  great  experience  ofzcisdom  and  knowledge. 
And  I  gave  my  heart  to  know'  wisdom,  and  to  know  mad- 
ness and  folly:  I  perceived,  that  this  also  is  vexation  of 
spirit. 

Not  finding  rest  for  his  soul  in  the  pursuits  of  knowledge 
and  learning,  tiie  wise  man  deserts  them  to  try  if  the  plea- 
sures of  drinking,  planting,  building,  music,  and  dancing 
could  make  him  happy,  and  afford  him  that  satisfaction 
which  he  had  hitherto  sought  for  in  vaiu.     I  said  in  mine  heart f 

J  I 


24^  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGIOxV 

go  to  noWf  I  will  prove  thee  with  mirth;  therefore  evjoij 
pleamre  :  and,  behold,  this  also  isvaniti/:.  I  said  oj  laughter. 
It  is  mad:  and  of  mirth,  What  ooeth  it'^  I  sought  in  mine 
heart  to  give  myself  unto  wine,  ytt  acquainting  my  heart  Kith 
wisdom,  and  to  lay  hold  on  folly,  till  I  might  see  what  was 
that  good  for  the  sons  of  men,  zvhich  they  should  do  under  the 
heaven  all  the  days  of  th^ir  life.  I  made  me  great  works ; 
I  builded  me  houses-,  I  planted  me  vineyards \  I  made  me 
gardens  and  orchards,  and  planted  trees  in  them  of  all  kind 
of  fruits :  I  made  me  pools  of  zcater,  to  water  tJterewith  the 
wood  that  bringeth  forth  trees:  1  got  me  servants  and 
maidens,  and  had  servants  born  in  my  house;  also  I  had 
great  possessions  of  great  and  small  cattle,  above  all  that  were 
in  Jerusalem  before  me:  I  gathered  me  also  silver  and  gold, 
and  the  peculiar  treastue  of  kings  and  of  the  provinces  :  /  gat 
me  men-singers,  and  women-singers ;  and  the  delights  pf  the 
sons  of  men,  as  musical  instruments,  and  that  of  all  sorts^ 
So  I  teas  great,  and  increased  more  than  all  that  were  before 
me  in  Jerusalem:  also  my  wisdom  remained  with  me.  Jnd 
whatsoever  mine  eyes  desired  1  kept  not  from  them ;  I  with- 
held not  my  heart  from  any  joy ;  for  my  heart  rejoiced  in  all 
my  labour ;  and  this  teas  my  portion  of  all  my  labour.  Then 
I  looked  on  all  the  norks  that  my  hands  had  zcrought,  and  ott 
the  labour  that  I  had  laboured  to  do;  and,  behold,  all  was 
vanity  and  vexation  oj^  spirit,  and  there  nas  no  profit  under 
the  sun. 

After  making  many  other  observations  upon  human  life, 
and  human  pursuits,  and  shewing  1k)w  utterly  insufficient 
they  all  are  to  constitute  any  of  us  truly  easy,  content,  and 
happy;  the  royal  preacher  tinishes  his  excellent  sermon  by 
pointing  out,  in  a  few  words,  what  is  the  state,  the  duty, 
and  the  true  interest  of  man:  Let  us  hear  the  conclusion  of 
the  whole  matter :  Fear  God,  and  keep  his  commandments ; 
for  this  is  the  whole  duty  of  man.  For  God  shall  bring 
every  work  into  judgment,  with  every  secret  thing,  whether 
it  be  good,  or  whether  it  be  evil. 

This  is  the  sum  of  Solomon's  experience  and  know- 
ledge of  men  and  things;  and  this  is  the  experience  of  all 
the  world.  Religion  is  always  our  last  resource.  We  must 
come  to  it  one  time  or  other,  or  we  are  undone  for  ever,  and 
had  better   never  have   been  bom.     Nothing   can   supply  its 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  24S 

|>lace.     Tlie  fear,  the  love,  the  service  of  God,  can  alone  make- 
US    happy.     All    other    things;    all   other    pursuits;    all   other 
pleasures;    all    other    enjoyments,    leave    us    restless,    uneasy, 
tlisconteut,  unhappj'. 

*'  Tlie  soul  uneasy,  and  confin'd  from  home. 
Rests  and  expatiates  in  a  world  to  come." 

If,  to  this  scriptural  sketch,  we  were  disposed  to  add  still 
more  instances  from  among  our  own  countrymen,  of  re- 
ligious wisdom,  amidst  all  the  honours,  kixurv,  and  hurry  o€ 
public  station,  we  might  observe,  that  Lord  Chancellor 
Parker,  Earl  of  Macclesfield,  and  William  Pultney 
Earl  of  Bath,  devoted  many  of  tlieir  leisure  hours  to  prayer 
aeading,  and  studying  the  Bible,  and  afterwards,  died  zcith  a 
hope  full  of  immortalitij. 

I  might  call  your  attention  here  likewise  to  a  character 
much  more  splendid  in  life,  but  much  less  honourable  in 
death.  You  recollect  the  extorted  and  affectin"-  declaratioa 
of  the  degraded,  and  almost  expiring  Cardinal : 

"  Had  I  but  sen  'd  my  God  with  half  tl>e  zeal 
I  serv'd  my  king,  he  w  ould  not  in  mine  a^e 
Have  left  me  naked  to  mine  enemies." 

Take  warning  by  all  these  examples,  my  Countrymen  : 
and  if  by  any  means  you  have  been  led  astray  from  the  paths 
of  virtue  and  i-eligion,  be  sensible  of  your  folly,  and  turn  back 
witli  all  speed  into  the  way  of  piety.  It  may  be  old-fashioned 
but  it  is  safe  and  honourable.  Keep  iiinocenct/  in  future,  and 
take  heed  to  the  thing  that  is  right,  for  that  aloi>e  zcill brincr  a 
man  peace  at  the  last.  If  you  make  ten  thousand  efforts  to 
find  rest  for  your  mind  in  any  other  way,  they  will  all  disappoint 
you.  This  is  the  experience  of  the  whole  world.  And  is  it  not 
your  experience  also .'' 

"  What  nothing  earthly  gives,  or  can  destroy. 
The  soul's  calm  sunsliine,  and  tlie  heart- felt  jov. 
Is  Virtue's  prize." 

Reflect  \\\)0\\  the  workings  of  your  own  hearts,  in  the 
tliffcrent  periods  and  circumstances  of  life,  and  say  what 
your  feelings  have  been.  Was  it  not  better  \^ith  you,  when 
you  were  humble  minded,  and  went  after  the  commandments 
delivered  by  the  Lord,  than  it  is  now?  Making  allowance 
for  th£  ditfereuce  of  station,  may  not  you  say  Mith  the  cele- 


244  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

brated  Madame  cle  Maintenon:  "  Oh!  that  I  could  giv? 
you  all  my  experience;  that  I  could  shew  you  the  heaviness 
which  preys  upon  the  spirits  of  the  Great*,  and  how  hard 
they  will  find  it  to  put  out  their  days!  Don't  you  see  that  I 
pine  away  with  melancholy,  in  the  midst  of  a  fortune,  that 
one  could  hardly  have  imagined,  and  which  nothing  but  God's 
assistance  keeps  me  from  sinking  under  it  ? — [  protest  to  you, 
that  all  stations  leave  a  frightful  void,  an  uneasiness,  a  weari- 
ness, a  desire  to  know  something  else,  because  in  all  icorhUtf 
attainments  there  is  nothing  which  gives  full  satisfaction.  AVe 
iind  no  rest  till  we  have  given  ourselves  to  God. — Then  we 
find,  that  there  is  nothing  farther  to  be  sought ;  that  we  have 
attained  to  that,  which  is  the  only  good  thing  in  this  world. 
-  We  meet  with  vexations,  but  we  have  af  the  same  time  a 
solid  consolation  and  peace  of  heart  in  tlie  midst  of  the 
greatest  afflictions  f." — If  this,  or  any  thhig  like  this,  be  your 
experience,  why  will  you  any  longer  spend  your  money  for 
that  zohich  is  not  bread,  and  your  labour  for  that  zvhidi 
satis/ieth  not'^ 

"  In  vain  we  seek  a  heav'n  below  the  sky; 
The  world  has  false,  but  flatt'ring  charms: 
Its  distant  joys  shew  big  in  our  esteem, 
But  lessen  still  as  they  draw  near  the  eye ; 
In  our  embrace  the  visions  die, 
And,  when  we  grasp  the  airy  forms. 
We  lose  the  pleasing  dream." 

But  the  grand  objects  which  Religion  holds  forth  to  our 
acceptance  are  adequate  to  the  largest  desires  of  the  human 
mind.  They  are  calculated  as  well  for  the  present  as  the 
future  world.  We  may  be  as  happy  here,  in  spite  of  all  the 
ills  of  life,  as  is  for  our  real  good,  and  hereafter  our  happi- 
ness shall  know  neither  measure  nor  end.  Be  not  like  the 
people  then  described  by  the  weeping  Prophet: — Thus  saith 

*  An  anecdote  to  this  purpose  occurs  to  my  mind,  concerning  one 
of  our  present  Nohkmen,  who,  being  in  conversation  with  a  certain 
gentleman,  said,  "  Oh !  liow  weary  am  I  of  this  d — d  attendance 
upon  Court !  Had  Providence  cast  my  lot  among  peasants,  I  had 
been  a  happy  man !" 

'*  Beware  what  earth  calls  happiness ;  beware 
All  joys,  but  joys  that  never  can  expire." 
i  Letters  of  Madame  de  Maintenon,  and  otlier  eminent  per- 
sons. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  24.5 

the  LoEDj  Stand  rje  in  the  xcayx,  and  see,  and  ask  for  the  old 
paths,  Where  h  the  good  zc-oi/,  and  zvalk  therein,  and  ye  shall 
find  rest  for  your  soiih. —  thit  they  said,  We  will  not 
VsALK  THEUEiN. — Aho  I  Set  Tcatchmen  over  yon,  saying. 
Hearken  to  the  sound  of  the  trumpet, — But  they  said,    We 

AVILL   NOT   HEAIiKEN. 

Laugh  not  at  tliis  simjilc  relution,  neither  despise  the  warn- 
ing given.  Stop  rather  tor  one  moment,  and  consider  upon 
Avhat  foundation  you  are  building  your  future  expectations. 
Tiiough  you  reject  Christianity,  I  should  hope  you  are 
not  so  far  gone  as  to  disbelieve  a  state  of  future  rewards  and 
punishments,  of  some  kind  or  other*.  Your  master,  Tho- 
mas Paine,  and,  indeed,  most  other  Deists,  profess  thus 
much  at  least.  Take  then  into  your  serious  con^-ideration, 
Avhether  you  think  your  actions,  tempers,  and  state  of  mind 
such,  as  will,  upon  your  oun  principles,  stand  the  test  at  the 
great  day  of  account.  It  can  do  you  no  great  harm  to  reflect 
upon  your  condition,  to  be  serious  for  a  season,  and  to  suspect 
you  may  be  wrong.  Consider,  that  you  diflfer  essentially 
from  some  of  the  greatest  and  best  men  that  ever  lived. 
You  stake  your  eternal  all  upon  the  justness — Of  what? 
> — Your  opinion  : — an  opinion,  in  confutation  of  which  mul- 
titudes have  sarriliccd  their  lives,  and  which  many  of  the  first 
characters  now  upon  earth  would  controvert  with  the  last 
drop  of  their  blood  !  This  should  stagger  your  confidence. 
M}riads  of  the  most  learned  and  moral  persons  of  all  ranks 
and  degrees,  and  of  all  sects  and  denominations,  would 
this  moment  burn  at  a  stake  in  coniirmation  of  the  truth  of 
the  Bible,  and  the  divine  mission  of  Jesus  Christ.  Are 
they  all  deceived  ?  Are  you  the  only  wise  n)cn  upon  earth? 
And  would  you  this  moment  burn  at  a  stake  in  proof  of 
Christ's  being  an  impostor?  Nothing,  surely,  but  the  most 
palpable    demonstration   in  favour  of  Injidelify  should  suflfer 

*  For  the  natural  and  philosophical  arguments  in  favour  of  a  fu- 
ture state  see  Bishop  P.utler's  Analogy,  part  1 .  Biahop  Portetjs 
has  brought  them  into  a  very  striking  point  of  ^ievv  in  three  dis- 
courses on  the  subject  in  the  first  volume  of  liis  Sermons.  th\ 
Craven,  too,  Pvqfessor  oi  Arabic,  and  Master  of  .S/.  John's 
College  in  Cambridge,  has  pui)lished  eight  discourses  on  the  evidence 
of  a  future  state  of  rewards  and  punishments,  which  are  worth  the 
-attention  of  all  who  have  any  doubt. 


U6  A  PLEA  rOR  RELIGION 

you  to  sleep  one  night  more  in  your  present  state  of  scepti- 
cisiu  and  unbelief.  If  you  are  mistaken,  Sirs!  Should  you 
be  mistaken !  The  very  possibility  is  enough  to  over\\helm  the 
hnnian  mind ! 

*  My  hopes  and  fears 
'  Start  up  alarm'd,  and  o'er  life's  narrow  verge 
'  Look  down — on  what?  A  fathomless  abyss. — 
'  A  dread  eternity  !  how  surely  mine  !  " 

Everlasting  existence  in  misery ! — Under  the  frown  and 
displeasnre  of  the  best  Being  in  the  universe,  without  end  ! 
Debarred  of  light,  and  the  society  of  happy  spirits! — The 
associates  of  lost  souls,  and  miserable  angels,  throngh  end- 
less ages! — Tlie  lake  zchich  huificth  icithjire  and  brimstone'. — 
The  norm  that  jiever  dies! — The  fire  that  never  shall  be 
quenched  ! — Everlasting  jjuniskment  I — Eternal  destruction 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and  from  the  glory  of  his 
power! 

"  Ah !  could  I  (to  use  the  words  of  a  great  author)  re- 
present to  you  the  different  states  of  good  and  bad  men : 
could  I  give  you  the  prospect  which  the  blessed  martyr  St. 
Stephkn  had,  and  shew  you  the  blessed  Jesus  at  the  right 
hand  of  God,  surrounded  with  angels,  and  the  spirits  of  Just 
men  made  "perfect ;  could  I  oj)en  your  ears  to  hear  the  never- 
ceasing  hymns  of  praise,  which  the  blessed  above  sing  to  Him 
that  teas,  and  is,  and  is  to  come ;  to  the  Lamb  that  was 
dain,  but  liveth  for  ever;  could  1  lead  you  through  the  un- 
bounded regions  of  eternal  day,  and  shew  the  mutual  and 
ever-blooming  joys  of  saints  who  are  at  rest  from  their  la- 
bours, and  live  for  ever  in  the  presence  of  God!  or  could 
1  change  the  scene,  and  unbar  the  iron  gates  of  hell,  and 
carry  you,  through  solid  darkness,  to  the  fire  that  never  goes 
out,  and  to  the  worm  that  never  dies:  could  1  shew  you  the 
apostate  angels  fast  bound  in  eternal  chains,  or  the  souls  of 
wicked  men  overwhelmed  with  torment  and  despair:  could  I 
open  your  ears  to  hear  the  deep  itself  groan  with  the  con- 
tinual cries  of  misery;  cries  which  can  never  reach  the 
throne  of  mercy,  but  return  in  sad  echoes,  and  add  even  to 
the  very  horrors  of  hell  !  could  I  thus  set  before  you  the 
different  ends  of  Religion  and  Infidelity,  you  would  want  no 
other  proof   to  convince  you,    that   nothing  can   recompense 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  G47 

the  hazard  men  run  of  being   for  ever   miserable  through  Un- 
belief." 

We  too  well  know  you  will  make  yourselves  merry  with 
these  representations  * ;  but  you  should  not  laugh  where  you 
ought  to  be  serious;  vaunt  where  you  should  tremble;  or 
sneer  where  you  should  argue.  In  thetic  respects  you  are  un* 
questionably  to  blame.  If  any  thing  in  nature  is  of  im- 
portance, it  is  surely  bow  we  may  "escape  the  death  which 
never  dies/'  and  attain  the  end  of  our  creation.  Walsing- 
II  AM  judged  like  a  man  of  sense,  when  he  said  to  the  merry 
Courtiers  laughing  on  every  hand  of  him: — "Ah!  while  we 
laugh,  all  things  are  serious  round  about  us ;  God  is  serious, 

*  When  the  Duke  of  Buckiisgham  was  once  talking  profanely 
before  King  Charles  II.  Edmund  Waller,  the  Poet,  ropnnod 
him  very  properly,  by  saying,  "  My  Lord,  I  am  a  great  deal  older 
than  your  Grace,  and,  I  believe,  have  heard  more  arginneiits  foi- 
Athttsm  than  ever  your  Grace  did  ;  but  I  have  lived  long  enough  to 
see  there  is  nothing  in  them,  and  so  I  hope  your  Grace  will." 

We  have  an  account  in  the  Gentleman's  Mug.  for  June  l/.QS,  of 
a  Man  of  very  distiiiguislied  talents,  well  known  for  the  laxity  of  his 
principles,  and  the  licentiousness  of  his  conduct,  who  died  ia  the 
course  of  last  year  at  a  very  advanced  age.  He  bore  the  advances 
of  dissolution  tolerably  well,  while  death  seemed  at  some  distance ; 
but  wl:ep.  tleath  drew  near,  his  atheistic  principles  gave  way,  and  he 
was  atHictcd  with  the  most  excruciathig  mental  pangs.  When  he 
came  to  stand  on  the  brink  of  eternity,  all  his  resolution  forsook 
him.  Though  fioe  from  pain,  he  became  restless  aud  disturbed. 
His  last  hours  were  spent  in  the  agonies  and  liorrors  of  remorse.  He 
cried  for  mercy  to  that  God,  whom  he  had  wantonly  denied ;  and 
— there  let  hiu)  rest — till  the  day  of  account! 

I  could  wish  tlie  dcisiical  reader  would  turn  to  the  seventh  section 
of  Dr.  Prikstlf.y's  Obhervations  on  \\\e  Increase  oi  Injidelity, 
where  he  will  lind  the  spirit  of  Infidelity  exemplified  in  the  C'dfhf- 
spondence  between  Voltairk  and  D'Alembhrt.  The  resolution 
of  these  two  Dtisfs  v>  as  to  live  and  die  laughirig.  That  thev  lived 
laughing,  is  partly  true ;  but  how  did  these  gentlemen  die?  The 
tune  was  changed ! 

This  too  was  the  case  with  the  witty  and  facetious  Thomas 
Brown,  who  used  to  treat  Reffgion  very  lightly,  and  would  often 
say,  that  he  understo(jd  the  world  better,  than  to  have  the  imputation 
of  Righleousness  laid  to  his  charge.  Nevertheless,  upon  the  approach 
of  death,  Jiis  heart  misgave  him,  and  he  began  to  express  sentiments 
9f  remorse  for  his  past  life.  Thus  we  see,  liowe\er  xnen  may  bully 
and  defy  the  de\il  at  coffee-houses  and  taverns,  they  are  all  the  while 
secretly  afraid  of  hi)n,  and  dare  scarcely  ventme  themselves  alone  in 
the  dark,  for  fear  he  should  surprise  them  with  his  cloven  feet.  Se« 
the  Gen.  Biog,  Dictionary,  Article  Brown. 


243  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

who  preservelh  us,  and  hath  patience  towards  us;  Christ  is 
serious,  who  sl.ed  iiis  blood  for  us;  the  Holy  Ghost  is 
serious,  when  he  striveth  with  us ;  the  whole  creation  is 
serious  in  serving  God  and  us;  they  are  serious  in  hell  and 
in  heaven ;  how  then  can  we  laugh  and  be  foolish  ? "  We 
believe  these  denunciations  of  Scripture  to  be  the  words  of 
eternal  truth ;  and  till  you  have  demonstratid  them  to  be 
certainly/  false,  you  are  not  wise  to  treat  them  with  dis- 
regard. 

"  \Vliat  none  can  prove  a  forg'iy,  may  be  true  ; 

What  none  but  bad  men  wish  exploded,  must." 

You  know  what  pain  of  body  is,  and  you  are  no  stranger 
to  a  greater  or  less  degree  of  uneasiness  of  mind.  Experi- 
ence, therefore,  teaches  us,  that  we  are  capable  of  such  un- 
comfortable sensations.  The  goodness  of  God  is  not  of 
that  nature  to  prevent  human  misery.  The  present  state 
largely  abounds  therewith.  Now,  as  pain  and  misery  are 
permitted  here,  it  is  not  improbable  but  they  will  be  the  same 
in  the  future  state  of  existence.  Wben  only  your  head,  or 
toothaches;  when  the  gout,  stone,  or  gravel,  seize  you;  or^ 
when  a  burning  fever  makes  your  moisture  like  the  drought 
in  summer;  do  you  then  despise  pain  and  anguish  ?  We  have 
been  told,   that  when  Mirabeau  *,   the    elder,    was  seized 


*  Mirabeau  has  frequently  been  stiled  au  fnjidel.  I  dare  not, 
however,  suppose  that  he  was  any  ether  than  a  Christ  inn,  in  the 
latter  part  of  his  time,  though  possibly  of  a  peculiar  cast.  If  one 
inav  judge  from  his  Sprec/i  pronounced  in  the  National  Assembly  of 
France  op  the  14th  of  January  17yi,  concerning  the  civil  Constitu- 
tion of  the  Clergi/,  he  was  certainly  a  believer  in  the  Saviolr  of 
mankind,  and  a  most  powerful  advocate  for  regenerated  Christianity/. 
It  is  probable,  indeed,  he  would  have  carried  it  no  further  than  a 
sort  of  pure  system  of  moral  philosophy. 

Speaking  of  this  extraordinaiy  genius  brings  to  my  mind  a  re- 
markable Paper,  which  was  published  in  the  Complete  Magazine 
for  the  montli  of  October  1764-,  ou  the  Causes  of  the  Decline  of 
the  French  Nation.  The  whole  Paper  is  curious,  but  the  laitcr 
part  is  so  extremely  applicable  to  the  present  state  of  Europe,  th?.t 
one  can  scarcely  consider  it  as  any  other  than  prophetic.  The  close 
runs  thus : 

"  The  parliaments  of  France  are  obliged  to  conceal  the  strong 
spirit  of  liberty,  with  which  they  are  enflamed,  under  the  mask  of 
loyaltv,  and  of  attachment  to  the  monarchy.  They  remonstrate  with 
force  and  elevation  against  every  measure  which  tends  to  the  prejudice 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  219 

with  his  last  illness,  he  found  himself  so  distressed,  that  be 
desired  his  Phi/sician  to  dispatch  him  by  poison.  His  voice 
having  failed  him,  he  wrote,  "  Would  you  think  that  the 
sensation  of  death  proves  so  painful  r"  His  speech  liaving 
returned,  he  said,  "  My  pains  are  insupportable.  I  have  an 
age  of  strength,  but  not  a  moment  of  courage."  A  convul- 
sion ensued.  It  was  followed  by  a  loud  Scream — and  he 
expired ! 

Thus,  you  see,  how  this  famous  Froich  hero  roared  out 
under  the  anguish  of  his  disorder.  While  he  was  in  health 
he  might,  probably,  be  as  full  of  courage  as  you  now  feel. 
When  the  hand  of  God  comes  to  be  upon  the  stoutest  of  us, 
we  are  soon  taught,  that  all  our  boasted  sticngth  is  perfect 
weakness,  and  all  our  vaunted  courage  perfect  cowardice. 
We  may  be  permitted  for  a  time  to  carry  on  the  war  against 
God  and  his  Christ ;  but  it  will  not  do.  A  sick-bed,  or  a 
dying  pillow,  will,    in  all  likelihood,  bring  us  to  our  senses  *. 


of  the  provinces  they  protect.  Tliey  can  go  no  further ;  but  they 
await  the  moment  to  strike  tlie  blow  that  shall  lay  the  fabric  of 
despotism  in  ruins.  When  this  blow  is  stnick,  the  efiects  of  it  \\  ill 
be  equal  to  those  of  magic.  The  cottage  will  be  put  on  a  level  with 
the  palace;  the  peasant  with  the  pruice.  Ranks  shall  be  con- 
founiled ;  titles,  distinctions,  and  birth,  shall  tumble  into  an  undis- 
tinguished heap  of  confusion.  A  new  moral  creation  shall  strike  tbe 
view  of  an  admiring  universe;  and  France,  like  old  Rome,  in  her  first 
fliglits  to  empire,  shall  appear  with  the  sceptre  of  universal  dominion 
bourgeoning  in  her  hands.  Out  of  universiil  confusion  order  shall 
arise:  the  G/Y<7i  of  nature's  creating  will  assume  their  places;  and 
the  Great  by  title  and  accident,  will  drop  despised  into  the  common 
mass  of  the  people." 

*  A  more  extraordinary  instance  of  iui|>enitency  I  have  not  read, 
than  that  of  a  William  Williams,  who  died  in  the  parish  of 
Tarvin,  near  Chester,  in  April  1791.  and  was  buried  at  Great 
Acton  i'hurch,  neaiv  Xanticich,  by  the  i?f  ji.  iVr.  Wilson.  If  my 
information  be  right,  and  I  have  no  reason  to  call  it  in  question, 
but  from  tiie  bornbleness  of  it,  this  unhappy  man  had  been  extremely 
wicked  all  his  life.  When  he  drew  near  his  end,  being  about  seventy 
years  of  age,  he  determinefl  to  make  his  will,  and  leave  all  he  had 
from  his  wife  and  children,  alledi/ing  that  the  latter  were  none  of  his. 
But  thougli  he  bade  fifty  pounds  as  a  reward,  no  i)ersons  could  be 
found  who  would  sign  as  witnesses.  He  desired,  when  he  died,  that 
a  pair  of  clog  shoes  should  be  put  into  his  coffin,  that  he  might  pound 
devils  and  damned  souls  w ith  them  in  hell.  Being  reproved  for  his 
swearing  and  wickedness,  he  told  those  who  reproved  him,  that  he 
neither  regiuded   them,   nor   their  ntiv  God;  he  would  curse  and 

K  K 


250  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

Or  should  these  be  so  unfortunate  as  to  fail,  a  day  of  judg- 
ment will  assuredly  do  the  business,  which  they  had  left 
undone. 

"  To  die ;— to  sleep  i  — 


To  sleep !  perchance  to  dream !  ay,  tl}ere's  the  rub ; 
For  in  that  sleep  of  death  what  dreams  may  come. 
When  we  have  shuffled  off  tliis  mortal  coil. 
Must  give  us  pause." 

If  man  be  a  reasonable  creature,  there  is  a  Hereafter. 
And  if  there  be  a  Hereafter,  it  must  be  a  state  of  retribu- 
tion. A  moral  Goveknor  must  deal  with  moral  agents 
according  to  their  moral  conduct.  The  perfection  of  his  na- 
ture requires  it.  I  swear  by  the  ETERNAL,  therefore,  all 
the  denunciations    of  Scripture   shall  have   their   acconiplish- 

swear  so  long  as  he  had  breath. — He  did  so. — He  ordered  his  body 
to  be  drav.n  in  his  own  cart  to  be  buried. —  It  was  so. — He  charged 
that  five  shillings  should  be  spent  at  every  public-house  on  the  road. 
— Some  of  it  was  so. — He  desired  he  might  be  laid  at  the  corner 
of  the  church-yard  next  the  public-house,  that  he  might  have  the 
pleasure  of  hearing  the  company  curse  and  swear. — He,  moreover, 
requested,  that  every  one  of  his  companions  would  drink  a  health 
standing  upon  his  grave  after  it  v  as  filled  up. — They  did  so ;  and 
continued  to  drink  and  make  merry  over  his  grave,  for  near  two 
hours  after  the  interment. 

This  shews  us  there  are  cases  to  be  met  with  of  persons,  who  are 
so  hardened  in  their  sin,  and  so  totally  given  up  of  God,  that  neither 
sickness  nor  death  can  make  any  impression  upon  them.  I  remember 
one  of  this  unhappy  description  in  the  coimty  of  Essex,  whom  I  both 
visited  during  his  illness,  and  hiterred  after  he  was  dead.  He  was  a 
clever  fellow,  and  of  a  good  family,  but  so  totally  depraved,  that 
when  one  of  his  bottle-companions  m rote  to  inform  him,  that  he  was 
about  to  die  and  go  to  hell,  and  desired  to  know  what  place  he  should  ' 
bespeak  for  him  there,  he  sat  doM)),  and  gave  him  for  reply,  that  he 
did  not  care  where  it  was,  if  there  was  only  brandy  and  rum  enough. 
Thus  he  hvcd — and,  soon  after  this,  died  a  martyr  to  spirituous 
liquors — cursing  and  blaspheming,  notwithstanding  all  that  could  be 
done  to  bring  him  to  a  better  mind. — Being  possessed  of  two  bank 
bills  of  the  value  of  ten  pounds  each,  which  was  all  the  little  pro- 
perty he  had  left. — "  Now,"  said  he  to  a"  person  who  stood  by, 
"v\hen  I  have  spent  these  in  brandy  and  rmn,  I  shall  be  contented  to 
die  and  go  to  hell ! "  He  sunk,  ho\\ever,  before  they  were  ex- 
pended, and  left  just  eiiough  to  bury  him. 

These  are  shocking  instances  of  obduration,  which  seem  to  vie 
with  Pharaoh  himself,  and  ought  to  warn  every  man  how  he  trifles 
with  the  convictions  of  liis  own  mind,  and  causes  the  Spirit  of 
God  to  withdraw  from  hun. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  231 

meat  upon  you,  if  you  prevent  it  not  by  a  compliance  with 
the  gracious  and  equitable  demands  of  the  Gospel. 

It  surely  is  a  very    astonishing  consideration,  that  a  being 
such   as   man,  placed   on    a   small  globe    of  earth    in  a  little 
corner  of  the  universe,  cut  off  from   all  communication  with 
the    other   systems,    which    are    dispersed    through    the    im- 
mensity of  sjjace,  imprisoned  as  it   were,  on  the  spot  where 
he  happens  to  be  born,  almost  utterly  ignorant  of  the  variety 
of    spiritual     existences,    and    greatly    circumscribed    in    his 
knowledge    of    material    things   by    their   remoteness,    magni- 
tude,  or    minuteness,    a   stranger    to  the    nature    of  the    very 
pebbles    on   which   he  treads;  unacquainted,   or  but  very  ob- 
scurely informed  by  his  natural  faculties  of  his  condition  after 
death ;   it   is   wonderful    that    a    being,    such    as    this,    should 
reluctaullv  receive,  or  fastidiously  reject  the  instruction  of  the 
Eternal  God!    Or,  if  this    be  saying  too   much,  that  he 
.should  hastily,    and   negligently,    and   triumphantly   conclude, 
that  the    Slpreme   Being    never  had  condescended    to  in- 
struct the    race  of  man.     It   might    properly   have   been   ex- 
pected, that  a   rational   being,  so   circumstanced,  would  have 
sedulously  inquired   into  a  subject    of   such  vast  importance; 
that  he  would  not  have  suflfered  himself  to  have  been  diverted 
from  the  investigation,   by  the  pursuits  of  wealth,   or  honour, 
or  any    temporal    concern ;    much   less  by  notions    taken   up 
without    attention,    arguments   admitted  without   examination, 
or  prejudices  imbibed  in  early  youth  from  the  profane  ridicule, 
and  impious  jestings  of  sensual  or  immoral  men  *. 

It  is  customary  with  you  Gentlemen,  who  reject  the 
Scriptures,  to  consider  every  believer  of  them  as  Zieak  and 
credulous  -f.  T  would  recommend  it  to  you,  ho\^fever,  to  suspend 
vour  censures,  and  to  reconsider  the   matter  before  you  form 

*  Bishop  Watson's  Culltction  of  Theological  Tracts,  vol.  i.  p,  9. 
preface,  from  whence  this  paragrajth  is  taken,  \\\l\\  soiiie  trifliii" 
alteration. 

t  Let  the  more  solid,  rational,  and  inquisitive  Deist,  who  is  in  pur- 
suit of  moral  and  leliijious  truth,  and  wishes  to  have  his  mind  satisfied 
in  the  great  things  w  iiich  concern  human  happiness,  have  recourse  to 
Lhr.  Samuel  Clarke's  Book  on  the  Truth  and  Certai?:ti/  of  the. 
Christian  Religicn ;  and  tlien  let  him  say,  w  hether  tdl  whu  believe  in 
the  Saviour  of  the  wurid,  are  weak  and  credulous  persons.  Per- 
haps a  piece  of  more  rational  and  conclusive  arjrunienti'.tion  was  never 
presented  to  the  consideration  of  mankiuJ. 

K  K   2 


'252  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

a  final  judgment. — Do  you  seriously  think,  tlien,  that  a  man^ 
who  believes  in  God,  that  he  is  the  Creator  and  Governour 
of  the  world,  and  a  Rewarder  of  them  that  diligently  seek 
him : — that  a  man  who  embraces  the  Gospel  as  a  dispensation 
of  mercy,  and  conducts  himself  according  to  the  letter  and 
spirit  of  it^  is  a  zceak  and  despicable  character?  Can  you, 
in  the  sober  fear  of  God,  esteem  all  the  great  men  among 
Christians  to  have  been  unreasonable  and  deluded  persons  ? 
and  that  Thomas  Paine  and  yourselves  are  the  only  men 
upon  earth,  who  have  found  out  the  true  wisdom  ?  Is  it 
probable,  that  men  of  your  description,  -who,  in  general, 
have  never  turned  your  tlioughts  seriously  and  conscientiously 
that  way,  and  who  are  neither  more  moral,  more  sensible, 
more  learned,  more  philosophical,  nor  more  inquisitive  than 
large  numbers  of  Christians  are  found  to  be,  should  have 
made  the  wonderful  discovery,  that  Religion  is  all  a  cheat, 
and  the  Bible  a  ridiculous  tale,  trumpt  up  by  the  Priests,  to 
delude  and  amuse  mankind,  while  many  of  our  great  philo- 
sophical characters  of  all  professions  make  it  the  study  of 
their  lives  to  comply  with  the  former,  and  spend  a  consider- 
able proportion  of  their  time  in  the  investigation  of  the 
latter?  And  then,  it  is  of  no  little  importance  to  ask.  Does 
your  Unbelief  make  you  more  moral,  pure,  chaste,  tem- 
perate, humble,  modest,  thankful,  happy?  Are  You  more 
amiable  in  your  manners  than  we  Ciiristians  usually  are, 
better  masters,  servants,  husbands,  wives,  children,  friends, 
neighbours  ? 

Besides,  my  Countrymen,  (permit  me  to  speak  plainly), 
are  not  you  the  most  ungrateful  of  all  human  Beings,  in 
that  you  have  derived  the  whole  of  your  present  peculiar 
light,  information,  ov  philosophy  (call  it  which  you  will)  from 
the  writings  of  the  Old  and  jVew  Testaments,  and  then  make 
use  of  that  light,  if  formation,  or  philosophy,  to  discredit 
those  JTritings,  and  to  make  them  ridiculous  among  man- 
kind ?  If  we  want  to  know  what  pure  nature  can  teach,  we 
must  divest  ourselves  of  all  our  present  ideas,  collected  from 
the  writings  of  the  Sacred  Code,  and  learn  our  religion  from 
the  P^gofi  page  alone.  The  most  emment  of  them,  how- 
ever, saw  and  lamented  their  want  of  what  you  now  so 
fastidiously  reject. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  '253 

"  Pure  Plato!  liow  had  tliy  chaste  spirit  hail'd 

A  faith  so  fitted  to  thy  niorai  sense! 

What  hadst  tliou  felt,  to  see  the  fau-  romance 

Of  high  iniasination,  the  bright  dreaiu 

Of  thy  pure  fancy  more  than  reahzed ! 

O  sweet  enthusiast!  thou  hadst  l)less'd  a  scheme 

Fair,  good,  and  perfect.     How  had  thy  raj)t  soul 

Caught  tire,  and  burnt  with  a  diviner  llaiiie! 

For  e'en  tliy  tiiir  idea  ne'er  conceived 

Such  plenitude  of  love,  such  boundless  bliss. 

As  Deity  made  visible  to  sense." 

Should  you  not,  as  men  of  sense,  review  the  history  of 
the  several  ancient  nations  of  the  world,  and  compare  their 
religion  and  morals  with  the  religion  and  morals  of  your  own 
couatry,  where  the  Gospel  has  been  preached  for  so  many 
years?  Common  sense,  and  common  equity  seem  to  require 
this  of  vou,  before  you  commence  apostates  from  that  reJigiou 
in  which  you  have  been  educated.  You  will  peruiit  me  iiere 
to  call  to  your  remembrance  a  few  facts  culled  out  of  the 
history  of  mankind.  ^lake  what  use  of  tliem  you  please. 
Only  give  them  a  patient  consideration,  and  a  fair  comparison 
with  the  religion  of  Jesus,  as  exhibited  in  tlie  'Seio  Testanunf, 
and  then  act  as  you  judge  meet. 

The  Habyloniam  are  said  to  have  introduced  the  un- 
natural custom  of  human  sacrifices.  The  Stphaivites,  pro- 
bably a  branch  of  that  people,  burnt  their  children  in  lire  to 
Adrammelech  andANAMMELECH,  the  gods  of  Scphartaitiif 
2  Kitigs  xvii.  31. 

Among  the  Phanicians,  a  father  did  not  scruple  to  im- 
molate his  only  child;  a  husband  to  plunge  his  knife  into  a 
heart  as  dear  to  him  as  his  own,  to  avert  some  public  misfortune. 
PORPHYR.  1.  2. 

In  Carthage,  the  children  of  the  nobility  were  sacrificed 
to  Saturn.  The  calamities,  which  Agathocles  brought 
upon  that  city,  were  believed  by  the  inhabitants  to  be  a 
punishment  for  the  substitution  of  ignoble  blood;  and,  to 
appease  the  Mrath  of  God,  they  immolated  200  children  of 
noble  blood  in  one  sacrifice.  Pllt.  de  iiujjerstit. — Diod. 
Sic.  1.  20. 

The  ancient  Germans  also  sacrificed  human  victims. 
Their  priestesses  opened  the  veins  of  the  sufferers,  and  drew 


254  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

omens   from   the   rapidity   of  the   stream    of  blood.      Tact. 
Ge?/7i.  9. — DioD.  Sic.  1.  5.  20. 

The  ancient  .Britons  likewise  were  equally  cruel  and 
superstitious. 

The  sacrifice  of  strangers  and  prisoners  of  war  seems  to 
have  been  general,  even  among  the  ancient  nations  which 
were  more  civilized. 

Achilles,  in  Homer,  immolates  twelve  Trojans  to  the 
manes  of  Patkoclus.     II.  23.  175. 

And  even  in  the  o32d  year  of  Rome,  two  Greeks  and  two 
Ganls   were   buried  alive   in   a   public   place    of  the  city,   to 
satisfy   the    superstitious   prejudices    of    the   populace.       Liv. . 
1.  22.  c.  57. 

Though  the  Greeks  do  not  appear  to  have  offered  human 
sacrifices,  yet  whole  states  were  at  times  reduced  to  slavery, 
and  their  lands  confiscated,  and  their  prisoners  of  \yar 
massacred  in  cold  blood. 

Conjugal  infidelity  among  the  Athenians  was  become  so 
common  in  the  time  of  Pericles,  that  almost  5000  of  their 
citizens  were  illegitimate.     Plut.  in  Pericl. 

If  at  any  time  a  man  became  eminent  among  them  for 
virtue,  he  was  generally  sentenced  to  some  kind  of  punish- 
ment, either  to  imprisonment,  banishment,  or  death. 

Dark,  however,  as  the  picture  of  the  Athenians  is  ex- 
hibited, it  is  sunshine  when  compared  to  that  of  the  Lace- 
dtjcmonians.  See  their  history.  By  the  laws  of  Sparta,  a 
parent  was  permitted  to  destroy  a  weak  or  deformed  child. 

The  llomans,  though  great  and  successful,  were  equally 
far  from  being  a  virtuous  nation.  They  were  the  murderers 
and  plunderers  of  the  world.  We  might  instance  their 
whole  history;  but  it  will  suflSce  to  have  observed,  that  the 
celebrated  Julius  Cesar  boasted  he  had  taken  SOO  towns, 
vanquished  300  states,  fought  three  millions  of  men,  of 
^^hom  one  million  had  been  ciiher  slaughtered  or  reduced  to 
slavery. 

The  number  of  men  slain  at  different  periods,  even  for 
their  diversion  and  entertainment,  was  immense! 

A  creditor  could,  at  the  expiration  of  thirty  days,  seize 
an  insolvent  debtor,  who  could  not  find  bail,  and  keep  him 
bixt}'  days  in  chains.  During  this  time,  he  was  allowed  to 
expose  him  three  market  days  to  public  sale,  for  the  amount 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  255 

of  liis  debt,  and,  at  the  expiration  of  a  third,  to  put 
him  to  death.  If  there  were  many  creditors,  they  were 
permitted  to  tear  and  divide  his  body  among  tliein.  It 
was  customary,  however,  to  sell  the  debtor,  and  divide  tlie 
money. 

A' father  had  the  right  of  hfe  and  death  over  his  children, 
and,  by  the  laws  of  Rome,  was  permitted  to  expose  his  child 
to  peri>h. 

The  husband  was  the  only  judge  and  arbiter  of  his  wife's 
fate.  If  a  wife  \vas  convicted  of  committing  adultery,  or 
of  drinking  wine,  her  husband  had  a  right  to  put  her  to 
death  without  the  formality  of  a  public  trial;  while  she  was 
not  permitted,  on  any  provocation,  to  raise  her  linger  against 
him  *, 

To  these  several  facts,  add  a  careful  perusal  of  the  first 
chapter  of  St.  Paul's  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  and  then  you 
will  have  had  a  view  of  the  religion  and  morals  of  the 
Heathen  world  before  the  advent  of  Christ.  If  there  be  a 
difference  between  us  and  them,  it  is  what  the  Gospel  has 
made.  The  Heathens,  indeed,  excelled  greatly  in  the  arts 
and  sciences."  Excellence  of  composition  may  be  produced 
from  their  writings,  in  rich  abundance;  but  we  call  upon 
you  to  shew  us  any  thing  fit  to  be  compared  with  various  of 
the  compositions  contained  in  the  Bible.  You  have  no 
History  so  ancient,  so  important,  so  instructive,  so  enter- 
taining, so  well   wiitten-f-;    no   Poetry  so  sublime;  no    Elo- 

*  See  a  learned  Sermon  of  Dr.  Valpy,  where  these  testimonies 
to  the  depraAed  state  of  the  Heathen  nations  are  detailed  more  at 
larire. 

+  One  of  the  finest  and  most  important  passages  in  all  Heathen 
antiquity  is  that  of  Plato,  where  he  introduces  Socrates  speak- 
ing of  some  divine  teaeher  of  whom  he  was  in  expectation,  and  of  the 
mist  which  is  naturally  upon  the  mind  of  man,  wliiii  was  to  be  re- 
moved by  that  teacher.  "  He  is  one,"  says  Socrates,  "  who  has 
now  a  concern  for  us." — "  He  is  a  person  that  has  a  wonderful 
readiness  and  willuigness  to  take  away  the  mist  from  the  mind  of  man, 
and  to  enable  us  to  distinguish  rightly  between  good  and  evil."  See 
his  second  Alcibiades. 

Bishop  Hall  says,  "  I  durst  appeal  to  the  judgment  of  a  carnal 
reader,  (let  him  not  he  prejudicetl)  that  there  is  no  history  so  plea- 
sant as  the  sacred;  for  should  we  even  set  aside  the  majesty  of  the 
Inditer,  none  can  compare  with  it  for  magnificence,  and  the  antiquity 


256  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

qnence  so  noble  and  persuasive;  no  Proverbs  so  laconic,  so 
divine,  so  useful ;  no  Morality  so  pure  and  perfective  of 
human  nature;  no  System  of  the  intellectual  world  so  ration- 
al. We  challenge  you,  my  Countrymen,  we  dare  you 
to  come  forward,  and  shew  us  any  thing  of  equal  excellence 
in  all  the  authors  of  antiquity,  or  among  all  the  stores  of 
modern  refinement  *.  You  ought  then  to  be  ashamed  of 
your  conduct,  in  treating  with  such  indignity  and  sovereign 
contempt,  Avritings  which  were  never  excelled,  never 
equalled;  and  which,  it  is  probable,  you  have  never  given 
yourselves  thne  thoroughly  to  understand.  Your  conduct 
herein  is  extremely  culpable,  and  what  cannot  be  justified, 
either  on  the  principles  of  religion  or  philosophy.  Any  man 
possessed  of  one  grain  of  modesty,  and  gratitude  to  heaven, 
could  not  help  seeing  the  impropriety  of  it  A  timely  at- 
tention to  one  of  Solomon's  jf5^s*f-  might  do  all  such  per- 
sons everlasting  good: — Judgments  are  prepared  for  scor}iers, 
ond  stripes  for  the  hack  of  fools!     ''  I  can  write,"  says  Mr. 

of  the  matter;  the  sweetness  of  compiling;  and  the  strange  variety 
of  memorable  occurrences." 

"  I  am  very  confident,"  saith  Sir  Richard  Steel,  "  whoever 
reads  the  Gospels,  with  a  heart  as  much  prepared  in  lavour  of  them, 
as  when  he  sits  down  to  Virgil  or  Homer,  will  tind  no  passage 
there  which  is  not  told  with  more  natural  force,  than  any.  Episode  in 
either  of  tiiose  wits,  who  were  the  chief  of  mere  mankind." 

Mr.  Locke  somewhere  observes,  "  that  morality  becomes  a 
gentleman,  not  barely  as  a  man,  but  in  order  to  his  business  as  a 
gentleman ;  and  the  morality  of  the  Gospel,"  says  he,  "  doth  so 
excel  that  of  all  other  i>ooks,  that  to  give  a  man  full  knowledge  of 
true  morality,  I  should  send  him  to  no  other  book  but  the  Neio 
Testament. 

"  If  any  person,  who  takes  xxp  this  book,  v.- ishes  to  be  informed 
where  he  m«Y  find  the  literary  beauties  of  Holy  Scripture  pointed 
out  to  hini,  let  him  know,  that  Boyle  on  the  ^"^7//*'  of  Scripture — ■ 
Blackw all's  Sacred  Classics — and  Bishop  Lowth's  Preclec- 
f loves,  are  all  very  valuable  in  this  way. — Hervey's  Works  contain 
many  beautiful  s|)ecimens  of  sacred  criticism. — Smith's  Longinus 
— Blair's  i.ec//«T5— Rollin's  Belles  Letires — Weald's  Chis- 
lian  Orator~-?ind  the  second  volume  of  the  Adventurer— -aW  contain 
several  good  illustrations. — Some  instances  of  the  same  kind  will  be 
metwitii  in  the  Spectator  and  Guardian.— Maay  of  these  illustra- 
tions of  the  beauties  of  Scripture  are  collected  into  one  view  in  the 
second  vol.  of  Simpson's  Sacred  Literature. 

t  Thomas  Paine,  by  way  of  shewing  his  wit,  calls  Solomon's 
Proverbs,  ajest  Book. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS,  257 

Paine,  *' a.  better  book  than  the  Bible  myself,"  We  grant 
this  gentleman  every  merit  to  which  he  is  entitled;  but  1  can- 
not help  recommending  to  his  attention,  and  that  of  his 
friends,  another  of  this  Jewish  king's  witfi/  sayings:  Seest 
thou  a  man  wise  in  his  own  conceit'^  There  is  more  hope  of  a 
fool  than  of  him!  Many  other  jests,  uttered  by  this  sagacious 
monarch,  are  equally  funnj/  with  these  two,  and  not  less 
applicable  to  such  characters  as  Mr.  Paine,  and  our  other 
vaunting  Philosopisthers;  but  these  niay  suffice  as  a  speci- 
men. The  reader  might  be  abundantly  gratified  with  others 
of  a  similar  kind,  by  having  recourse  to  the  jest-hook  itself, 
to  which  1  would,  therefore,  recommend  him  with  all  speed 
to  apply,  A  serious  application  to  a  book  of  such  admirable 
humour  could  not  fail  of  yielding  most  exquisite  enter- 
tainment! Let  us,  however,  proceed  to  other  considera- 
tions. 

How  diflferent  are  the  opinions  of  your  Mas^fr  Thomas 
Paine,  and  .S7/'  William  Jones*,  concerning  the  Sacred 

*  Before  this  iUustrious  scholar  went  to  India,  he  was  by  no 
means  free  from  a  scepiical  bias.  But  when  he  resided  in  Asia,  he 
investigated,  with  minute  and  rigid  attention,  all  those  intricate 
theological  points  which  had  occasioned  his  doubts ;  and  the  result 
was,  not  only  his  own  most  complete  conviction,  but  the  conviction 
of  several  eminent  scholars,  who,  till  then,  had  but  slightly  attended 
to  the  proofs  for  the  verity  of  the  Mosaic  writings.  These  gentle- 
men, from  that  time,  renounced  their  doubts  and  errors,  and 
became,  like  Sir.  William  himself,  not  only  almost,  but  altogether 
Christians. 

See  this  subject  corfsidered  more  at  large  in  the  British  Critic  for 
Feb.  1798. 

The  above  declaration  of  this  excellent  man  is  said  to  have  been 
written  in  one  of  the  blank  leaves  of  his  common  reading  Bible.  He 
has  advanced  the  same  sentiments  more  at  large  in  the  third  volume 
of  the  Asiatic  Researches,  p.  402,  "  Theological  inquiries,"  says 
he,  "  are  no  part  of  my  present  subject;  but  I  cannot  refrain  from 
adding,  that  the  collection  of  tracts,  which  we  call  from  their  ex- 
cellence The  Scriptures,  contain,  independently  of  a  divine  origin, 
more  true  sublimity,  more  exquisite  beauty,  purer  morality,  more 
important  history,  and  hner  strains  both  of  poetry  and  eloquence, 
than  could  be  collected  within  the  same  compass  from  all  other 
books  that  were  ever  composed  in  any  age  or  in  any  idioin.  The 
two  parts,  of  which  the  Scriptures  consist,  are  connected  by  a  chain 
of  couipobitions,  which  bear  no  resemblance  in  form  or  style  to  any 
that  can  be  produced  from  the  stores  of  Grecian,  Indian,  Persian, 
or  even  Arabian,  learning.     The  antiquity  of  those  compositions  no 

I.  !• 


258  A  PLEA  FOR  RELlGIOxN 

Writings  ^  The  former,  who  has  betrayed  the  most  paTpafjK^ 
ignorance,  says  all  manner  of  evil  against  them;  while  the 
latter,  who  was  an  all-accomplished  scholar,  seems  at  a  loss 
how  sufficiently  to  express  the  sense  he  had  of  their  im- 
portance. "  1  have  regularly  and  attentivdi/  read  the  Holy 
Scriptures,"  says  this  great  Lawyer,  *'  and  am  of  opinion 
this  volunie,  iiidependeut  of  its  divine  origin,  contains 
more  sublimity  and  beauty,  more  pure  morality,  more  im- 
portant history,  and  finer  strains  of  poetry  and  eloquence, 
than  can  be  collected  from  all  other  books,  in  whatever  lan- 
guage or  age  they  may  have  been  composed." 

And  is  it  not  strange  that  these  contemptible  writers,  as 
Thomas  Paine  affects  to  consider  them,  should  excel  all 
mankind  in  every  sort  of  composition  ?  They  must  have  been 
extremely  dexterous  impostors!  Christ,  the  most  pious  and 
moral  of  men,  the  most  ingenious  of  deceivers!  His 
Apostles,  the  most  ignorant  and  illiterate  of  mortals,  the 
wisest  and  most  admirable  of  writers!  What  paradoxes  a  man 
must  embrace  before  he  can  become  a  finished  Injidel! 

If  then,  MY  Countrymen,  such  are  the  superior  ex- 
cellencies of  the  Bible;  though  you  find  yourselves  incapable 
of  receiving  it  as  composed  by  divine  assistance  for  the  in- 
struction and  salvation  of  mankind,  you  will  do  yourselves  a 
very  serious  injury  by  exploding  it  in  every  other  point  of 
view.  Read  it,  at  least,  if  it  is  only  as  a  collection  of  com- 
positions more  ancient,  more  curious,  more  excellent,  more 
entertaining,  and  more  important,  than  any  other  extant. 
This  is  a  merit  you  must  allow  it  to  possess,  if  your  mind  be 
ever  so   little  improved  in   literary   attainments.     And  if  this 


man  doubts;  and  the  unstrained  application  of  them  to  events  long 
subsequent  to  their  publication  is  a  solid  ground  of  belief,  that  they 
were  genuine  predictions,  and  consequently  inspired." 

Note,  that  the  last  hour  of  the  life  of  tins  illustrious  character 
(who  was  particularly  eminent  for  his  attainments  in  astronomy, 
chronology,  antiquities,  languages,  music,  botany,  and  the  laws  of 
England,)  was  marked  by  a  solemn  act  of  devotion.  Finding  his 
dissolution  rapidly  approaching,  he  desired  his  attendants  to  carry 
him  into  an  inner  apartment,  where,  at  his  desire,  they  left  him. 
Returning  after  a  short  interval,  they  found  him  in  a  kneeling 
posture,  with  his  hands  clasped,  and  his  eyes  fixed  towards  heaven. 
As  they  were  removing  him,  he  expired. 

See  M.\u rice's  elegiac  Poem  on  the  death  of  this  admirable  man. 


AND  THE  SACRED  AVRITINGS.  --59 

Wn^tion  \ou  are  ill  qualiiied  to  judge  of  the 
be  uot  your  -^^^^"^  ^^^^^  ,.  l,h  ,ast  antujuit^,,  and 
trulii    or    falsehood   ot    a   Dook     j 

1  ■  1     i..;n,«  .-iprlvat  on    rom  heaven.      N>  e  nave  kuunyu 
^viuch  cl;nmb  denvauon  ^nrr^d  Code,  as  we  esteem 

sin«-  Nvilh  our  Epic  Bard: 

* "  Yet  not  the  more 

Cease  I  to  wander,  ^vhere  tlie  Muses  haunt 
Clear  spring,  or  shady  grove,  or  ^"""v/;;;  ' 
Smit  Nvith  the  love  oUacredsonr.  but  chief 
Thee   Sion,  and  the  flow'o  brooks  beneath 
That  Vlsh  thy  halloWd  feel,  and  warblmg  flow, 
Niahtlv  1  visit."  j       •  „ 

This' book,   «hich  you  ave  unUnppy  enough    to    desp.se, 
abou  r°ve  have  already  seen,  «Uh  all  ihe  var.ous  beau,  es 
o(Te   Gr,ek   and   Roman   classics,  and  m  a  much  h.gher 
d  »    e  of  pe,fec.,o„.     I.  cons.s.s.  not  merely  of  a  collecuon 
„f%hapters,    and    vcses,    and    d,stn,ct   "Pho--    -   "^^    f 
.ubiects    as  too  many  are  apt  to  conceive;   but  is    as  it  «ere 
one    »ra„d   Ep,c   composuion,    forming   s.x.y-s..  books,  of 
unequtllengths,  and  various  importance.     As  the  sun  .noon 
nhnets     and    comets,    make   o.ie    systen.     and   are   ead,   ot 
decessa.T  to  the  l.arnrony  of  the  xvhole;  so  the  different 
books  of  he  Sacnd  Code,  though  separately  considered,  and 
,akt    out    of   their    connection,    may    appear   unimpoitant 
:t    s  p  Its  of  one  large  and  ccnnpUca.ed  system    they  are 
ill  necessary,  useful,   or  convenient  to  the  perfection  of  the 

inss  are  beyond  all  praise.     " ,''  ,  "  *  .i-e  standard  of  good  taste, 

^'^'1^/'1v£<;':stiusV  "d -^^^^^ 

"k  H  I;^,  «h  nuine  ou  s,«cime,is  ,.f  noble  co.nposit.on  m  the 
S  m™I  o.-a«  t^nlhtio...  lJ.t  luiy  man  judge  .hat  tlioy  n.ust  be 
in  the  original!  ^ 


O60  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

vhole.  And  though  the  time  be  longer  than  is  usually  ad- 
mitted in  compositions  of  the  Epic  kind,  its  beginning  being 
■with  the  birtii,  and  its  end  with  the  close  of  Nature  itself; 
yet  it  should  be  remembered,  that  even  this  circumstance  is 
perfectly  consistent  with  the  rest  of  the  adorable  plan;  a 
thousand  years  being  icith  the  Lord  an  one  day,  a)td  one  dai/ 
as  a  thousand  yea?  s.  The  Action  of  it  too  is  one,  entire,  and 
the  greatest  that  can  be  conceived.  All  the  Beings  in  the 
universe,  of  which  we  have  any  knowledge,  are  concerned  in 
the  Drama.  The  design  of  it  is  to  display  the  perfections  of 
the  adorable  Creator;  to  rescue  the  human  race  from  total 
misery  and  ruin;  and  to  form  us,  by  example,  to  glory,  ho- 
nour, and  immortahty.  The  Epic  opens  in  a  mild  and  calm 
sublimity,  with  the  creation  of  the  world  itself.  It  is  carried 
on  with  an  astonishing  vaiiety  of  incidents,  and  unparalleled 
simplicity  and  majesty  of  language*.  The  least  and  most 
trivial  episodes,  or  under  actions,  w  hich  are  interwoven  in  it, 
•are  parts  either  necessary,  or  convenient,  to  forward  the  main 
design :  either  so  necessar),  that  without  them  the  work  must 
be  imperfect,  or  so  convenient,  that  no  others  can  be  imagined 
more  suitable  to  the  place  in  which  they  are.  And  it  closes 
\\ii\i  a  book,  or,  to  keep  up  the  figure,  with  a  scene,  the  most 
solemn,  majestic,  and  sublime,  that  ever  was  composed  by  any 
author,  sacred  or  profane -f-. 

**  The  human  mind,"  saith  one  of  the  best  of  judges,  "  can 
conceive  nothing  more  elevated,  more  grand,  more  glowing, 
more  beautiful,  and  more  elegant,  than  what  we  meet  with 
in  the  Sacred  Writings  of  the  Hehrerc  bards.  The  most  in- 
effable sublimity  of  the  subjects  they  treat  upon  is  fully  equalled 
by  the  energy  of  the  language,  and  the  dignity  of  the  style. 
Some  of  these  writings  too,  exceed  in  antiquity  the  fabulous 
ages  of  Greece,  as  much  as  in   sublimity  they  are   superior   to 

*  One  of  the  best  judges  of  the  age  observes,  that  "  the  graceful 
negligence  of  nature  pleases  beyond  the  truest  ornaments  that  art  can 
devise.  Indeed,  they  are  then  truest,  when  they  approach  the  near- 
est to  this  negligence.  To  attain  it,  is  the  very  triumph  of  art.  The 
wise  artist,  therefore,  always  completes  his  studies  in  the  great  school 
of  creation,  where  the  forms  of  elegance  lie  scattered  in  an  endless 
variety;  and  the  writer  who  wishes  to  possess  some  portion  of  that 
sovereign  excellence,  and  simplicity,  even  though  he  were  an  Itifidelf 
would  have  recourse  to  the  Scriptures,  aud  make  them  his  model." 

t  See  Dryden's  Essays  ou  the  Belles  Letters. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  26l 

tlie    most    linislied    productions   of  that   celebrated   people*. 
Moses,  for  instance,  stands  unrivalled   by  the  best  of  ihem 
both  as  a  Poet,  Orator,  and  Historian^\-:  David  as  a  Poet% 
and    Musiciaii:   Solomon   as  a   Moralist,    Naturaiist,   and 
Pastoral  writer:  Jeremiah,  Ezekiel,  Nahum,  Joel,  and 
some  other  of  the  Minor  Prophets,  as  Orators,  or  Poets,  or 
both:  Homer  and  Virgil  must  yield  the  palm  to  Job§  for 
true  sublime:    Isaiah   excels  all  the  world  iu  almost  every 
kind    of  composition  11 :    the    four   Evaugelists  are  eminent  as 
Orators   and    Historians:   St.  Peter  and  St.  James,   St. 
Luke   and   St.  John,  as  authors   of  no   ordinary  rank:    and 
St.  Paul  as  the  most  sublime  of  Writers  and  eloquent  of  0/<i- 
tors**.     All    these    eulo-iunis    upon  the    sacred   penmen  are 
spoken    of  them   merely    as   Authors,    without   the  least  view 
to  their  higher  order  as  inspired  writers,  and  messengers  of  the 
Lord  of  Hosts  tt-     If  this  lust  consideration  be  taken  into 
the  account,  and  added  to  the   former,  what  an  all-important 
book  must  the  Bible  be?  what  a   blessing  to  mankind!      Lan- 
guage cannot  express  the  value  of  it.     If  the  exhortation  of  a 
late  noble  author,   as  improperly  applied  to  the  Grecian  bard, 
were  applied  to  this  inestimable  volume,  it  would  be  used  with 
the  strictest  propriety  and  decorum! 

*  Lowth's  Prrelectiones. 

t  LoNGlNUS,  the  best  critic  of  the  Heathen  world,  speaks  of 
Moses  as  no  ordinary  writer,  and  cites  his  account  of  the  creation 
as  an  instance  of  the  true  subhnie. 

I  Mr.  Addison  says,  "  After  perusing  the  book  of  Psalms,  let  a 
judge  of  the  beauties  of  poetry  read  a  literal  translation  of  Horace 
or  Pindar,  and  he  will  Hnd  in  these  two  last  such  an  absurdity  and 
confusion  of  style,  with  suoh  a  comparative  poverty  of  imagination,  as 
will  make  him  sensible  of  the  vast  superiority  of  Scripture  style." 

§  The  Rev.  George  Costard,  famous  for  oriental  learning, 
considers  Job  as  an  exalted  and  regular  piece  of  eastern  poetry,  of 
the  dramatic  kind,  consisting  of  five  acts.  The  three  first  end  at  the 
32d  chapter;  from  the32dtothe  38th  is  the  fourth  act;  from  thence 
to  the  end  is  the  fifth  act. 

II  Let  the  reader  consult  Bishop  Lowth's  Proilcctiones  f(»r  the 
character  of  the  several  prophets  of  the  Old  Testament,  w  here  he  will 
find  much  useful  information. 

**  The  above  LoNGiNUs  ranks  Paul  o( Tarsus  among  t|iemost 
famous  orators. 

tt  Madame  Daci  RR,  the  celebrated  French  Critic,  in  the  Preface 
to  her  translation  of  Homer,  assures  us,  that,  "  the  books  of  the 
Prophets  and  the  Psalms  even  in  the  Vulgate,  are  full  of  such  pas- 
sages, as  the  greatest  poet  in  the  world  could  not  put  into  verse^ 
without  losing  much  of  their  majesty  and  pathos." 


*62  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

"  Read  God's  Word  once,  ynd  you  can  road  no  more; 
For  all  books  else  appear  so  mean,  so  poor, 
Verse  wiil  seem  prose,  but  still  {>ersist  to  read, 
And  God's  JVurd  will  be  all  the  books  you  need." 

In  short,  my  Countrymen,  the  Bible  abounds  with  a 
vast  variety  of  matter,  a  confused  magniticence  above  all 
order;  and  is  the  fittest  book  in  the  world  to  be  the  standard 
of  doctrines,  and  the  model  of  good  writing.  "S\  e  defy  all 
the  Sons  of  lufidtlity  to  shew  us  any  thing  like  it,  or  second  to 
it.  "Where  will  you  meet  with  such  a  number  of  instructive 
Proverbs — fervent  Prayers — sublime  songs — beneficent  Mi- 
yacUs  —  apposite    Parables  —  infallible     Prophecies^  —  affec- 


*  A  valuable  Correspondent,  s^edikmooiihe  prophetic  Scriptures, 
expresses  himself  in  the  fullowiiig  manner: — "Next  to  Astronomy, 
feAv  subjects  expand  the  human  mind  more,  than  the  view  which 
prophecy  opens  to  us  of  the  government  of  the  Great  King.  To 
see  the  vast  mass  of  materials,  kingdoms,  and  centuries,  in  motion, 
onlv  to  the  accomplishmen.t  of  his  purposes:  to  see  refractory  man 
eniploved  to  preserve  the  harmony  of  his  designs;  and  the  disorderly 
passions,  while  apparently  working  solely  in  their  own  narrow  circle, 
ignorantly  advancing  the  fullilment  of  his  determination!  This  is  a 
study  delightfully  interesting,  and  ^^llich,  in  connnon  with  the  con- 
templation'of  all' the  Great  Creator's  doings,  elevates  the  mind 
above  the  oppression  of  human  cares  and  sorrows,  and  seems  to  leave 
her  in  that  serenity  of  admiration,  ^^hicll  one  may  imagine  an  imper- 
fect foretaste  of  part  of  the  employment  and  happiness  of  angels." 

Abraham  Cowley  tells  us,  that  "  all  the  b(»oks  of  the  Bible  are 
either  aheadv  most  admirable  and  exalted  pieces  of  pcetrj-,  or  are  the 
best  materials  in  the  world  for  it." 

Sir.  Richard  Blackmore  says,  that  "for  sense,  and  for  noble 
and  sublime  thoughts,  the  poeti-al  paits  of  Scripture  have  an  intinite 
advantage  above  all  others  put  together." 

Matthew"  Prior,  Esq.  is  oi  rijinion,  that  "the  writings  of  6b- 
lomon  afford  subjects  for  fi::er  poems  in  evei-y  kind,  tlian  ha\e  yet 
appeared  in  the  Greek,  Lntni,  of  ai.y  modern  language." 

Alexander  Pope,  JtV^.  assures  us,  that  "  the  pure  and  uoble, 
the  graceful  and  dignified  simplicity  of  language,  is  no  where  in  such 
pei-fection  as  in  the  Scripture  and  Homer;  and  that  the  uhole  book 
of  Job,  with  regard  both  to  sublimity  of  thought  and  morality, 
exceeds  beyond  all  comparison  the  mo-t  noble  parts  of  Homer." 

Mr.  Nicholas  Rowe  too,  the  F"et,  after  having  read  most  of 
the  Greek  and  Roman  histories  in  thei;  original  languages,  and  most 
that  are  written  in  English,  French,  Ita  iun,  and  Spanish,  was  fully 
persuaded  of  the  truth  of  Revealed  Religion,  expressed  it  upon  all 
occasions,  took  great  deliiiht  in  di\  inity  and  ecclesiastical  history,  and 
died  at  last  likeli  Christian  and  Philosopher,  with  an  absolute  resig- 
natiott  to  the  will  of  God, 


ANIJ  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  203 

tionate    Epistles — eloquent   Orations — instructive   Histories — 
pure    Lazes — rich-  Promises — awful     Deniuiciations — useful 

There  are  few  anecdotes  of  our  celehrated  English  Poets  which 
have  given  me  more  pleasure  than  that  of  poor  Collins,  who,  in  the 
latter  pai-t  of  his  mortal  career,  "with.dvew  from  study,  and  travelled 
with  no  otJier  hook  than  an  English  Testament,  such  as  children 
carry  to  school.  When  a  Iriend  took  it  into  his  hand,  out  of  curiosity 
to  see  what  companion  a  Man  of  Letters  had  chosen — /  have  only 
ane  book,"  said  Collins,  "but  that  is  the  best." — See  Johnson's 
Lives  of  the  Poets,  vol.  iv. 

I  must  own  that  such  an  anecdote  as  this  knits  my  heart  to  Col- 
lins more  than  all  the  excellencies  of  his  poetry.  Sick  and  intirm, 
in  the  spirit  of  Mary,  he  sits  at  the  divuie  Redeemer's  feet,  Hs- 
tening  to  tlie  words  of  eternal  life.  In  such  a  state  of  body  and 
mind,  one  single  promise,  from  his  gracious  and  infallible  lips,  is  of 
more  real  vahie  and  importance  than  all  the  pompous  learniiig  of  the 
most  celebrated  Philosophers.  This,  mdeed,  will  ne\er  be  properly 
felt  and  understood  till  we  come  to  be  in  similar  circumstances. 
When  Dr.  Watts  was  almost  worn  out,  and  broken  do^^T^  by  liis 
inlirmities,  he  observed  ui  conversation  with  a  friend,  "  he  remem- 
bered an  aged  minister  used  to  say,  that  the  most  learned  and  know- 
ing Cbiistians,  m  lien  they  coine  to  die,  have  only  the  same  plain  pro- 
mises of  the  Gospel  for  their  support,  as  the  coimiion  and  nnle-amed: 
and  so,  said  he,  I  rind  it.  It  is  the  plain  promises  of  tlie  Gospel  tirdt 
are  my  support;  and  I  bless  God,  they  are  plahi  promises,  that  do 
not  require  nnuh  labour  and  pains  to  understimd  them,  for  I  can  do 
nothing  now,  but  look  into  my  Bible  for  some  promise  to  support 
me,  and  hve  upon  that." 

This  was  likewise  the  case  with  the  pious  and  excellent  J/?-.  Her- 
VEY.  He  writes  about  two  months  betV)re  his  death: — "  I  now 
speiKl,"  says  he,  "  almost  my  whole  time,  in  reading  and  praying 
o\er  the  Bible." — And  again,  near  the  same  time  to  anoliier  friend : 
— "  I  am  now  reduced  to  a  state  of  infant  weakness,  and  given  over 
by  my  physician. — ^ly  grand  consolation  is  to  meditate  on 
Christ;  and  I  am  hourly  repeathig  those  heart-reviving  lines  of 
Dr,  Young: 

"  This — only  this  subdues  the  fear  of  death: 

And  vhat  is  this? — Survey  the  wond'rous  cure; 

And  at  each  step  let  higher  wonder  rise! 

1.  Pardon  for  inlinite  otTence! — '2.  And  pardcu 

Through  means  that  speak  its  value  infinite! — 

3.  A  })ardon  bouglit  with  blood! — 4.  Willi  blood  divine!— 

5.  With  blood  divine  of  him  I  made  my  fue! 

6'.  Persisted  to  provoke! — J.  Though  woo'd  and  aw'd, 

Bless'd  and  chastis'd,  a  llagrant  rebel  still! — 

8.  A  rebel  ')nidst  the  thunders  of  his  throne; — 

9.  Nor  I  alone! — 10.  A  rebel  universe!  — 

J  I.  My  species  up  in  arms! — 12.  Not  one  exempt:— 


264  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

Emomples,  as  are  set  before  us  in  this  richly  fraught  magazine 
of  ail  true  excellence  in  matter  and  composition,  the  Holt/  Biblt'f 
We  may  say  with  Propertius,  on  another  occasion, 

Cedite,  Romani  scriptores;  cedite,  Graii*: 

And  recommend  to  the  Gentleman^',  the  Scholar,  and  the 
Phi'osuplur,  as  well  as  to  the  illiterate  Christian,  the  daily 
perusal  or  the  Bible,  with  nrfinitely  greater  propriety,  than 
ever  Horace  did  to  the  learned  Romans  the  study  of  the 
Grecian  models. 

Nocturna  versa  te  manu,  versate  diurnat. 

There  is  another  circumstance,  my  Countrymen,  I  besr 
leave  to  submit  lo  your  consideration,  which  is,  that  though 
there  are  several  of  your  Unbelieving  brethren,  who  are  men 
of  considerable  natural  abilities,  of  some  learning,  and  of  de- 
cent morals,  yet  there  are  not  a  few  among  yon,  as  among  ns, 
who  are  profane  and  debauched  in  no  small  degree;  and  who, 
therefore,  are  not  capable  of  being  reasoned  with  upon  any 
religious  topic  whatever.  These  are  a  disgrace  to  any  cause. 
And  the  more  zealously  they  avow  their  party,  the  less  ho- 
nourable it  is  to  that  party.     Such  men  are  little  raised  above 

1 3.  Yet  for  the  foulest  of  the  foul  he  dies ! 

14.  Most  joy'd  for  the  redeem'd  from  deepest  guilt! — 

15.  As  if  our  race  were  held  of  highest  rank; 
And  Godhead  dearer,  as  more  kind  to  man." 

We  have  just  read  Godwin's  Memoirs  of  3Irs.  Godwin,  other- 
wise Mrs.  Mary  Wollstonecroft.  She  was  a  woman  of  con- 
siderable powers,  but  of  a  lewd  character  in  life,  living  with  a  3Ir. 
Iml AY,  as  a  wife,  and  having  a  child  by  him:  and  then  when  for- 
saken by  him,  living  with,  and  being  pregnant  by  Mr.  Godwin,  who 
afterwards  manied  her.  I  mention  these  circumstances,  because 
they  were  both  professed  Philosophers  and  Unbelievers,  and  as  a 
constrast  to  the  above  pious  Christians,  -  She  attended  no  public 
worship,  and  during  her  last  illness,  no  religious  expressions  escaped 
her  philosophic  lips. 

*  Let  both  the  Greek  and  Roman  authors  yield  the  palm  to  the 
Sacred  iVrifings. 

f  Dr.  South  observes,  that  "  he  who  would  not  read  the 
Scripture  for  fear  of  spoiling  his  style,  shewed  himself  as  much  a 
blockhead  as  an  atheist,  and  to  liave  as  small  a  gust  of  the  elegancies 
of  expressi'rn,  as  of  the  sacredacis  of  the  matter."  Sermons,  vol.  iv. 
p.  32. 

I  Read  therein  by  day,  meditate  by  night. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  2/55 

the  brutes  that  perish,  being  earthli/,  sensual,   devilish.     Let 
them  but  eat,  drink,  sleep,   and  indulge  the  baser  passions  of 

the  human   frame,  they  ask  no  more,  they  look  no  higher. 

To  intt-llectual  and  refined  enjoyments  they  are  strano-ers. 
Of  literary  gratifications  they  know  little.  For  moral  and 
religious  pleasures  they  have  no  taste.  Immortal  expecta- 
tions, which  exalt  and  enoble  the  mind  of  man,  thev  are  wil- 
ling to  forego.  The  language  of  their  sensual  souls,  which 
are  brutalized  with  indulgence,  is  no  other  than  that  of  the  an- 
cient Epicureans  : — Let  us  eat  and  drink ;  for  to-morrow 
■K'e  die.  And  did  they  die  to-morrow,  the  public  would  have 
no  great  loss  of  them :  could  they  make  good  their  hopes, 
that  death  is  an  eternal  cessation  from  sensibility,  they  them- 
selves would  sustain  no  material  inconvenience.  The  best  thev 
can  expect  is,  to  cease  to  be:  a  consummation,  for  such  cha- 
racters, devoutly  to  be  wished  ! 

These  are  the  men,  however,,  who  make  the  greatest  noise, 
and  most  violently  oppose  the  Religion  of  the  Sot^  of  Gou, 
and  the  Sacred  JVritings* ! 

It  is  an  honour  to  that  Religion,  and  those  Writings,  that 
such  men  are  Infidels,  and  avow  their  Unheliefm  the  face  of 
the  world!  May  every  unreasonable  and  immoral  \x\nn  do  the 
same ! 

After  all,  my  Countrymen',  if  every  thing  besides  in  these 
papers  shall  be  despised  by  you,  let  the  several  examples  herein 
recorded  have  their  due  weight  upon  your  minds.  If  there  be 
iinportunce  in  any  thing,  it  is  usually  found  in  the  sentiments 
and  behaviour  of  men,  when  they  draw  near  the  close  of  their 
earthly  existence. 

"  Men  may  live  fools ;  but  fools  they  cannot  die." 

We    may,  indeed,  be  hardened  in  our   sins,  when  that  eveiit 

*  It  is  calculated,  thdt,  when  trade  goes  pretty  well,  there  are, 
upon  an  average,  200,000  n:auuiactureis  in  this  country,  who  con- 
stantly spend  their  working  hours  in  idleness,  drinking,  gambling  and 
debauchei-y.  This  large  body  of  men  uiuy  li'.ewisc  be  considered  as  in- 
fidels in  principle,  aflicists  in  practice,  and  ripe  for  any  wicked  and 
desperate  enterprize  which  may  arise.  They  aiethe  cuise  and  scum 
of  the  country  ;  and  yet  they  are  usually  ex.cessivel\  irise  in  their  own 
fyes,  and  prudent  in  their  oa-n  conceit.  All  the  world  aie  l<jols  be^ 
sides  themselves.  They  are  great  politicians,  gr^at  philosophers, 
sreat  divinen — over  their  cups! — and  wisdom  shall  die  with  them! 

M  M 


266  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

draws  nigli.  We  may  brave  it  owt  against  death-  VVe  mny 
set  at  defja  ice  all  tlie  threats  of  heaven.  But,  usually,  we 
discover  certain  symptoms,  even  here,  of  v\hat  our  future 
destiny  is  like  to  be.  Fear,  horror,  indifferewce,  hope,  trust, 
faith,  reliance,  joy,  \\'\\\  all  more  or  less  prevail,  according  as 
the  state  of  our  minds  shall  be,  in  those  solemn  moments, 
whrn  (Icrlh   is  makmg  his  approach  *.      So  it  was  in  the  seve- 

*  There  is  a  very  atlecting  narrative  just  published  by  a  John 
Cooke,  oi  Maidenhead,  in  Berks,  entitled  Reason  paying  Homage 
to  Revelation,  in  the  Confession  of  a  Deist  at  the  gates  of  death. 
The  gentleman  in  question  was  a  very  respectable  peison  of  the  medi- 
cal profession  in  that  town,  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-three.  He  was 
a  nwn  of  pleasure,  as  far  as  business  would  pennit ;  but  his  favourite 
annisenicnt  was  the  card-fable,  at  which  he  spent  much  time,  and 
would  fiequently  say  to  iMr.  Cooke,  who  seems  to  be  a  dissenting 
minister,  "  I  am  prodigiously  fond  of  cards."  While  he  was  visiting 
one  of  his  patients,  he  was  suddenly  taken  ill.  His  conscience  was 
alamied.  His  dcistical  principles,  of  which  he  had  long  made  his 
boast  while  in  health,  gave  way.  He  lamented  hfs  sad  condition  in 
most  allecting  and  pitiable  accents.  Among  other  things,  he  acknow- 
ledged, with  unutterable  distress,  his  neglect  of  the  LoRi>'s  day,  and 
the  public  u'orship  of  God.  When  he  was  well,  he  could  say,  "  he 
was  easy  without  the  Bible,  he  had  no  fears  for  his  soul — he  believed 
it  would  die  with  his  body— and  he  was  never  disturbed  about  these 
tIjijio;s— he  could  read  profane  history  with  as  much  pleasure  as 
anotlier  reads  his  Bible."  But,  when  he  was  ill,  and  apprehended 
himself  to  be  on  the  brink  of  the  grave,  he  was  thrown  into  such  un- 
ntterable  agoi.y,  as  to  be  bereft,  at  times,  of  his  reason.  In  the  most 
bitter  termriie  bewailed  his  past  folly — mourned  over  his  lost  oppor- 
tunities—declared his  full  purpose,  if  restored,  of  attending  to  the 
<»reat  concerns  of  his  soul— and  solemnly  warned  his  comj)anions  not 
to  follow  his  example  —and  cried  unto  God  for  mercy.  At  length, 
after  luring  lain  for  some  time  in  a  senseless  state,  he  breathed  out 
his  snul  with  a  dismal  groan. 

If  Thomas  Paine  was  as  easy  and  confident  in  bis  deislical  prin- 
ciples under  the  views  of  approaching  dissolution,  as  he  pretends,  and, 
as  I  suppose,  he  really  was,  this  is  by  no  means  a  sure  criterion  of 
those  principles  being  the  only  true  ones.  No  man's  private  persua- 
sion, or  conviction,  can  be  a  "sure  test  of  truth.  For  we  find  men 
fnllv  p.ersuadtd  of  the  truth  of  their  sentiments  under  the  most  vari- 
ous^ and  even  contradictory  opinions.  The  most,  therefore,  that  can 
be  inferred  from  a  declaratRm  of  this  nature,  is,  that  Thomas  Pain  e 
fhci/zlii  his  opinions  were  according  to  truth,  not  that  they  really 
werAo.  BoLiNGBROKE  was  an  immoral  man,  and  yet  he  too  died 
a  iki^t.'  Rousseau  had  been  a  wretch,  and  yet  he  died  avowing 
liis  im  ocencv  even  to  the  Almighty  himself.  Thomas  Paine  is 
bv  no  means  an  excellent  moral  character,  and  yet  he  rejects  every 
id'-a  of  aSAVioUR.  What  tljen  ?  Shall  their  self-righteous  cenviclious 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRlTINGSc  >         (267 

r&l  cases  we  have  recorded  in  these  pages.  And  tfhstime  is 
not  at  any  great  distance   when   we   too,  must   bear  our  final 

be  ihe  standard  of  truth?  If  Thomas  Paine  had  well  read  and 
considered  Sterne's  Sermons  on  the  Abuses  of  Conscience  iu 
Tristram  Shandy^  he  never  would  have  produced  his  beiiiji;  easy  ui 
tJie  views  of  apparent  dissolution,  as  a  proof  tiiat  his  deistical  princi- 
ples are  founded  in  truth.  Conscience  may  be  lulled  to  rest  by  a 
vast  multitude  of  soporilics.  And  there  is  such  a  thing  too  as  hav- 
it  stared  as  ivith  a  hot  iron  ! 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  instances  of  the  po\^  er  of  conscience, 
!  recollect  to  have  read,  is  related  by  Mr.  Fordyce,  in  his  Dialogneft 
on  Education,  vol.  ii.  p.  401 ;  and  inserted  in  the  Encyclopccdia 
JBritannica,  vol.  v.  p.  1 ;  and  in  the  Evang.  Mag;,  vol.  vi.  |).  327. 

If  dying  with  ease,  and  a  conviction  that  our  ow  n  reiiijious  prin- 
ciples are  the  only  true  ones,  were  a  certain  proof  of  truth,  and  that 
we  are  right,  the.i  would  the  most  absurd  and  couti-adictory  opinions 
be  proved  to  be  true.  How  many  Christians  of  the  most  opposite 
sentiments  depart  this  life,  umler  tlie  iirmest  persuasion  of  the  truth 
of  their  principles,  and  the  most  confident  assurance  that  they  are 
going  to  eternal  rest  I  Would  Thomas  Paine  allow  this  to  be  a  just; 
proof,  tliat  their  opinions  are  founded  in  truth  ?  Besides,  Spinoza, 
the  Atheist,  wds  both  a  much  greater,  and  a  much  more  moral  man 
than  Thomas  Paine,  and  he  died  avowing  his  atheistic  ]n-vn€i\)\t^. 
Is  this  a  proof  that  those  principles  are  true  ?  Shall  we  conclude  there 
is  no  God,  Ijecause  a  poor  misguided  man  is  Jiiad  eirough  to  die  in 
that  persuasion?  Because  Bruno  is  such  a  fool  to  bum  at  a  stake, 
in  defence  of  the  same  atheistic  principles,  shall  the  whole  deistic 
scheme  be  thereby  subverted,  and  atheism  considered  as  the  only  true 
doctrine  ?  If  this  be  conclusive  reasoning,  vvliat  becomes  of  Mr. 
Paine's  boasted  principles? 

How  ditlererit  are  men's  convictions  under  the  afflicting  hand  of 
Got!  Thomas  Paine  continues  hardened,  and  resolves  to  die  in 
his  Infidelity.  Casper  Bartholin,  tlie  celebrated  Danish  Phy- 
sician, when  affliction  was  iieavy  upon  him,  made"  a  vow  and  promise 
to  Heaven,  if  he  was  restored  to  liealtli,  tluit  be  would  gi\e  up  his 
medical  pursuits,  and  apply  himself  wholly  to  his  religious  concerns. 
He  was  restored,  and  kept  the  vow  he  had  so  solemnly  made  unto 
God.  Thomas  Paine  is  restored,  aud  rages  more  than  ever 
against  the  Lord  and  his  Christ! 

Priests,  of  every  denomination,  are  objects  of  the  highest  possible 
contempt  to  all  our  deistical  gentlemen.  One  of  that  fraternity  who 
has  since  been  taught  tlie  error  of  his  \\a\s,  in  a  manner  very  much 
out  of  the  conmioft  way,  was  known  to  declare,  "  He  ho}>ed  to  see 
the  day,  when  tliere  would  not  be  a  priest — and  that  he  would  not 
believe  the  Christian  religion  while  lie  had  his  senses." — Though 
then  m  a  good  state  of  health,  within  a  couple  of  hours  he  became 
deranged,aHd  soon  after  made  various  etforts  to  destroy  himself,  wish- 
ing to  be  in  hell  as  soon  as  possible,  that  he  might  feel  the  worst  ofjrts 
<rs(Sf:.   Three  physicians  attended  him  for  some  lime ;   and  tiie  rich 

M  M  2 


'268  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

testimony ;  when  the  scene  of  life  shall  close ;  and  our  eternal 
state  commence.     If  so, 

"  Nothing  is  worth  a  thought  beneath. 
But  how  we  may  escape  the  deatli. 

That  never,  never  dies ! 
How  make  our  own  election  sure. 
And,  when  we  tail  on  earth,  secure 
*A  mansion  in  the  skies." 

If  you  are  hardy  enough  to  reject  the  scriptural  representa- 
tions of  future  misery,  give  credit,  at  least,  to  your  own  Bible, 
rthe  writings  of  the  most  respectable  of  the  Heathen.  They* 
had  their  Elysium  and  Tartarus  as  we  our  Heaven  and  Hell. 
Nor  was  there  ever  any  religious  histitution,  which  held  not 
out  promises  of  reward  to  the  obedient,  and  threatenings  of  pu- 
nishment to  the  disobedient.  Indeed,  every  -government  whe- 
ther human  or  divine,  nujst  naturally  and  necesssarily  do  it, 
or  there  is  an  end  to  all  order.  Every  law  must  have  its  sanc- 
tion. Accordingly,  we  find  Homer,  Plato,  Virgil*,  and 
others,  have  said  every  thing  that  is  horrible  concerning  the  fu- 
ture misery  of  lost  souls.  Our  great  English  Dramatist,  who 
has  copied  from  their  writings,  shall  speak  their  opinions  ; 

"  Ay,  but  to  die,  and  go  we  know  not  where; 

To  lie  in  cold  obstruction,  and  to  rot ; 

This  sensible  \\  arm  motion  to  become 

A  kneaded  clod;  and  the  delighted  spirit 

To  bathe  in  fiery  floods,  or  to  reside 

In  tjirilliug  regions  of  thick-ribbed  ice; 

To  be  imprison'd  in  the  viewless  winds. 

And  blown  with  restless  violence  round  about 

Tlie  pendent  world ;  or  to  be  worse  dian  \\  orst 

Of  those,  that  lawless  and  incertain  thoughts 

Imaguie  howling :   'Tis  too  horrible  ! 

The  weariest  and  most  loathed  worldly  life. 

That  age,  ache,  penury,  imprisonment, 

Can  lay  on  nature  is  a  paradise 

To  what  we  fear  of  death." 

promises  of  tlie  Gospel  being  held  out  to  him,  lie  was  at  length  re- 
stored to  a  sound  mind,  and  is  now  a  happy  witness  of  the  power  of 
redeeming  grace. — Vide  Evang.  Mag.  for  Sep.  1798. 

*  The  reader  will  find  an  account  of  the  rewards  of  the  righteous, 
and  the  punishments  of  the  wicked,  in  Homer's  fourth  and  eleventh 
books  of  his  Odyssey:  in  Vi^ato's  Phcedon,  or  Dialogue  on  the  Im- 
mortality of  the  Soul;  and  in  the  sixth  book  of  Virgil's  Mneid. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  269 

If  tills,  or  any  thing  like  this,  is  to  be  the  future  destiny 
of  a  certain  class  of  our  fellow-creatures,  \vc  shall  gain  little 
by  rejecting  the  Go'ipel  representations.-  We  shall  be  ex- 
tremely unwise  to  suffer  our  probationary  period  to  pass  away 
unimproved.  If  our  race  be  indeed  in  a  state  of  moral  ruin ; 
if  the  Almighty  hath  devised  means  for  our  recovery;  if, 
among  other  messengers,  he  hath  sent  a  person  higher  than 
the  heavens  to  be  our  Redeem  liR*;  we  shall  be  strangely 
wanting  to  ourselves,  if  we  treat  this  glorious  peison,  and  tlie 
doctrines  of  salvation  which  he  hath  taught,  with  neglect  or  con- 
tempt. At  all  events,  therefore,  let  us  examine  well  the 
ground  upon  which  we  stand.  Negiiucnce  in  such  a  cause,  is 
nearly  as  culpable  as  contempt.  And  be  it  never  forgotten, 
that,  on  every  system,  a  strictly  moral,  and  religious  conduct, 
is  the  duty,  the  interest,  the  felicity  of  all  reasonable  Beings. 
What  an  idiot  must  that  man  be,  who  rejects  his  Saviour, 
his  Bible,  and  all  his  immoital  expectations,  because  of  some 
chronological,  or  genealogical,  or  geographical  difficulties  in 
the  records  of  his  salvation,  which  he  cannot  reconcile  to  the 
Rill  satisfaction  of  his  mind .?  I  had  almost  said,  if  the  Bibfc 
were  as  full  of  blunders,  contradictions,  and  absurdities,  as 
the  Koran  of  Mahomet,  yet  might  Jesus  be  a  prophet  sent 
from  God.  The  reality  of  his  mission  does  by  no  means  de- 
pend upon  the  validity  of  the  Scriptures  f,    though  the  Scrip- 

*  For  a  vei-y  clear  and  satisfactory  defence  of  the  doctrine  of  re- 
demption by  Jesus  Christ,  see  the  first  vol.  of  iJ?>//o/?PoKTEus*s 
Sermons,  discourse  the  tenth,  and  vol.  ii.  discotn.scs  the  second  and 
third;  and  that  he  is  the  real  and  proper  Son  of  God,  seethe  ]4th 
discourse  of  the  same  volume.  The  reader  \vho  remains  uncon^  inced 
after  considering  the  various  arguments  advanced  by  the  above  leanied 
and  amiable PrtVafc,  will  probably  resist  every  thing  that  can  he  said 
by  any  other  writer.  If,  howe\er,  he  is  desirous  of  seeing  the  matter 
fairly  argued  between  Christianifi/  and  Deism,  let  him  have  recourse 
to  a  volume  of  Sermons  preached  at  the  Temple  Church  by  Bishvp 
Sherlock.  I  myself  remember  that  this  book  convinced  a  deter- 
mined Deist,  who  is  now  an  eminent  instrument  in  the  hands  of  Pro- 
vidence for  the  conversion  of  others.  I  would,  therefore,  to  all  such, 
use  the  words  of  Augustine — Telle  et  lege;   toUe  et  lege. 

•f  If  we  have  any  doubts  concerning  the  truth  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ,  it  would  be  but  fair  to  examine  carefully  all  the  other  reli- 
gions that  now  arc,  or  ever  were,  in  the  world,  and  compare  them 
impartially — not  with  Christ iuniti/ as  established  in  the  several  coun- 
tries of  Europe —hvxi— with  the  pure,  unmixed  Ciospel,  as  taught  by 
our  Saviour,  and  left  on  record  in  the  Nnu  Testament,  and  then 
give  the  preference  to  that  w  hieh  is  most  excellent.     If  the  reader  is 


27tf  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

iures  are  as  genuine  and  authentic  as  if  all  depended  upon 
them. 

Be  wise,  therefore,  my  Countrymen,,  to  know  the  time 
of  your  visitation.  Make  the  most  of  your  little  span  of  life. 
Seek  Tndh  with  modesty  and  humility,  with  patience  and 
perseverance,  and  follow  wheresoever  it  leads  the  way.  Take 
the  safe  side.  Believe  in  Christ,  if  you  can.  Believe  as 
far  as  you  can.  Examine  every  principle^  Step  by  step.  And 
should  the  evidence  for  Iifjidcliti/  fall  ever  so  little  short  of 
demonstration,  if  you  act  a  reasonable  part,  you  will  believe 
in  Jesus,  because  infinite  danger  presses  on  ^hat  side,  and 
no  danger  whatever  on  the  side  of  faith  and  obedience.  Sub- 
mit then,  to  his  easy  and  delightful  yoke.  His  rcat/s  (make 
hut  fair-  trial  of  them)  you  will  always  find  to  be  rcaj/s  of  plea- 
santness, and  all  his  paths  to  be  paths  o^ peace  *.  Ivi  pur  opi- 
nion, and  in  the  opinion  of  all  wise  and  good  men  of  every  age 
and  nation : 

**  Tis  Religion  that  must  give 

Sweetest  pleasures  while  we  live  ; 

Tis  Religion  must  suppply 

Solid  comfort  when  we  die : 

After  death  its  joys  shall  be 

Lasting  as  eternity  f," 

disposed  to  make  this  survey,  he  will  tiud  some  assistance  in  J.  Ste- 
phens, Esq's,  book  on  the  Principles  of  the  Christian  Religion,  com- 
pared with  those  of  all  the  other  Religions  and  Si/stems  of  Phtloso- 
fhy,  which  have  hitherto  appeared  hi  the  world. 

To  the  books  in  favour  of  Christianiti/,  mentioned  on  a  former 
page,  may  be  added  Dr.  John  Rogers's  eight  Sermons  on  the  Ne- 
cessiti/  of  Divine  Revelation;  Dr.  Conybeare's  Defence  of  Re- 
vealed Religion  ;  Gastrel's  Certainty  and  Necessity,  of  Religion  in 
general,  and  his  Certainty  of  the  Christian  Revelation. 

*  For  a  view  of  the  pleasures  and  cheerfulness  of  the  religion  of 
Jesus,  see  Bishop  Porteus's  Sermons,  vol.  ii.  p.  i. 

t  Though  Infidelity  is  making  its  way  rapidly  among  the  nations, 
and  among  all  orders  of  men,  yet  is  the  cause  of  the  Gospel  by  no 
means  desperate.  The  Europefins  in  the  East  Indies  are  said  to  be 
ahnost  universally  Infidels.  The  state  of  France  is  too  well  known. 
The  same  spirit  is  running  through  America.  Thomas  Paine  has 
sent  over  among  them,  it  is  said,  14,000  copies  of  liis  deisticai  publi- 
ciitions.  But  though  every  possible  effort  is  making  to  establish  the 
reign  of  Infldflity,  there  are  equal  efforts  at  least,  I  think,  making  by 
good  men  of  all  denominations,  for  the  propagation  of  evangelical 
truth.  The  conflict  is  severe.  But  it  is  easy  to  see  how  the  contest 
will  terminate.     Let  every  man  that  is  on  the  Lokd's  side  come  for- 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  Q71 

K,  however,  after  your  most  serious  and  conscientious  en- 
deavours, you  are  not  able  to  find    satisfactory  evidence,   that 

ward,  and  avow  himself  a  friend  of  the  despised  Nazarene,  ia  opposi- 
tion to  all  the  powers  of  earth  and  hell.  Curse  ye  Meroz,  said  the 
Angel  of  the  I.ORD,  curse  ye  bitterly  tlie  inhabitants  thereof;  because 
they  came  not  to  the  help  of  the  Loud,  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against 
the  mighty.  When  one  considers  the  present  situation  of  tlie  great 
bulk  of  mankind,  whose  heart  does  not  bum  within  him  to  contribute 
something  towards  evangelizing  the  nations  ?  The  hihabitants  of  the 
world  are  said  to  amount  at  this  time  to  about  731  mihious;  of 
whom  4i^0  millions  are  Pa^flHs;  130  millions  Mahometans;  100 
millions  Catholics;  44  millions  Protectants;  30  millions  of  the 
Greek  and  Armenian  churches  ;  and  7  millions  Jeics. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Carey,  late  oi  Leicester,  and  now  a  Missionary 
among  the  Hindoos,  says, 

Europe  contains 1 66,932,000 

Asia 3S7,S84,oOO 

Africa 6l,137,'200 

America 116,621,420 

The  World 732,575,120 

Guthrie  makes  the  world  to  contain    ....    933,000,000 

The  medium  number  may  be .     800,000,000 

Christians 170,000,000 

Jews 9,000,000 

Mahometans 140,000,00a 

Pagans 481,000,000 

Total  800,000,000 
Subdivisions  among  Christians  may  be  thus : 

Protestants       ............  50,000,000 

Grtcks  and  Armenians 30,000,000 

Catholics,  \c.       .- 90,000,000 

Total      1 70,000,000 

IsTiot  this  view  of  things  a  loud  call  to  the  friends  of  the  Gospel 
to  use  every  possilile  mean  to  promote  tli<i  spread  of  it  among  tJie 
nations  ] — Jf  any  man  love  not  the  Lord  jEi>i;s  Christ,  let  him  be 
accursed,  is  the  language  of  inspiration.  Are  we  iu  no  danger  then 
from  that  spirit  of  slumber  which  overspn'ads  our  minds  .'  Ought 
not  every  nin  j,  \iho  has  any  concern  for  hLs  own  i'uture  happii^ess,  to 
lend  a  helping  hand  to  promote  the  salvation  of  tlie  many  millions  of 
souls,  who  now  sit  in  darkness,  cjid  in  the  region  and  shadoiv  of 
death?.  The  Moravian?,  abo-.e  v\\  other  peoj»Ie  ujjon  earth,  have 
herein  the  !;reatest  niorit.  That  sinall,  and,  in  soiv:e  respects,  nbicure 
Sect,  have  done  more  to  spread  the  hcuour  of  the  Redeemer^  name 


272  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

Cht.ist    came    from  God;    you   must  allow  at   leasts    Mith 

amoiip  barbarous  nation?,  than  all  tlie  Protestants  in  Christendom. 
Tlicse  wovthv  people  began  their  missions  in  the  year  1732,  and  have 
now,  in  ditleierit  parts  of  the  world,  and  those  several  of  tiiem  the 
most  unnrop^'ious,  no  less  than  2C>  Settlements.  In  these  Settle- 
ments ne<ir  140  Missionaries  are  employed  in  superintending  about 
23,000  converts  fioni  the  Heof/iens! 

A  .Swerf/s/i  mission  '.\iis  undertaken  to  the  Susgruhanah  river  in 
America  in  tlie  year  10.')7,  by  three  j-Kirsons,  but  with  little  success. 

The  King  of  Den.nark  sent  out  two  persons  in  the  year  1705  to 
Tranqvehar  ou  the  coa^t  of  Coromandel,  vhich  mission  has  been  con- 
tinued to  the  present  time,  ^^  ith  considerable  advantage  to  the  cause 
of  Christ  in  that  part  of  the  workl. 

The  Society  for  propagating  the  Go^^pel  in  Foreign  parts,  and  that 
for  promoting  Christian  Know/edge  in  \\ie  Highlands  and  Islands  of 
Scotland,  were  bntli  bc<;un  about  the  year  1701,  and  have  both  been 
extremely  useful  in  spreading  the  knowledge  of  the  Redeemer's 
name.     America  is  particularly  indebted  to  these  two  Societies. 

The  Societi/  for  promoting  Christian  Knoivledge  was  begun  in  the 
year  1098,  and  has  been  carried  forward  with  considerable  spirit  for 
near  one  whole  century.  At  present  they  have  six  Missionaries  in 
the  East  Indies,  and  one  in  the  islands  of  Scilly.  From  these  Mis- 
sionaries some  verv  pleas  ng  accounts  have  been  published  in  the  several 
annual  reports.  The  ciTorts  of  this  honourable  Society  have  been  verv- 
considerable  also  in  tin;  distributi-m  of  i^/ft/f*  and  other  religious  books 
of  various  descriptions.  The  Bibles  sent  out  the  last  three  years 
averaged  .5,'2'^S  each  year  ;  the  yew  Testaments  aud  Psalters  9,333, 
Common  Prayers  9,738,  other  bound  books  10,56"'2,  and  smAWTracts 
6"9,754.  -  A  charity  of  a  most  extensive,  valuable,  and  important  na- 
ture !  But,  a  principal  object  \\\X\\  this  Society,  is  the  education  of 
poor  children.  Aud  in  this,  as  well  as  in  the  distribution  of  books, 
thev  excel  auv  tliiug  that  ever  was  in  the  world.  Let  their  annual 
meeting  at  St.  Paul's  bear  witness.  See  the  Reports  for  an  account 
of  tlieir  extraordinary  exertions  in  the  propagation  of  religious  know- 
led'^e.  See  also  the  Report  of  the  Foreign  Bible  Society  for  3Iay 
1808. 

The  Baptists  in  this  country  have  lately  sent  out  two  persons  to 
the  East  Indies,  the  fri\it  of  whose  labouis  begins  to  ajipear,  though 
the  mission  is  in  its  infancy.  VN'e  are  informed  by  them,  that  the 
Enropeatts  in  that  coimtrs  are  ven."  generally  in  a  state  of  Injidelify. 
This  confirms  what  has  "been  said  by  the  natives  in  broken  Eng- 
lish: "Christian  religion— Devil  religion!  Christian  nmch  drunk 
.—Christian  much  do  wrong,  much  l)eat,  much  abuse  others." — 
The  nati^  es  are  apt  to  say  in  making  their  bargains—"  What, 
dost  thou  think  mc  a  Christian,  that  I  would  go  about  to  deceive 

Ijiep?" <:  It  is  a  sad    sight,"   s?as  one  of  the  first  Missionaries, 

"  to  behold  a  drunken  Christian,  and  a  sober  Indian;  a  temperate 
Indian,  and  a  Christian  given  up  to  his  appetite;  an  Indian 
that  is'just  in  his  dealing,  a  Christian  not  so.  O  what  a  sad 
thin»   it  is  for  Christians,   to    come   short   of    Indians,    even  in 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  273 

KoussEAU,  that  he  was  an  extraordinary  maii;  one  of  the  first 


moraUlies  !  to  come  short  of  those,  who  themselves  believe,  to  come 
short  of  heaven !" 

Considerable  effects  also  may  be  expected  to  arise  from  the  two 
Settlements  on  the  coasts  of  Africa  and  ^.tw  Holland.  The  expec- 
tation will  appear  rational,  if  we  compare  Amfrica  two  or  three  cen- 
turies ago,  with  what  it  is  at  the  present  period. 

Tiie  Methodist  connection,  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Coke,  has  been  considerably  successful  in  winning  souls  to  Christ 
in  the  Uest  Indies.  In  the  year  179-4^,  they  had  upwards  of  a  dozen 
Preachers  employed  in  the  ditierent  islands,  and  near  8,000  Blacks  in 
society,  besides  others  of  different  descriptions*. 

The  Missianari/  Socifti/  in  London  have  taken  up  the  deplorable 
situation  of  the  Heathen  nations  witii  great  spirit  ;  and  present  pros-, 
peots  are  veiA'  promising.  How  far  it  may  please  the  great  Head  of 
tlie  Chuvcli  to  succeed  their  endeavours  in  behalf  of  the  Heathen, 
remains  yet  to  be  jjrovedf.  But  be  this  as  it  may,  the  ))ersoiis  con- 
cerned shall  not  lose  their  reward.  The  attempt  is  honourable. 
Ever}  believer  in  Christ  Jesls  should  throw  his  mite  into  one  or 
other  of  these  treasuries  of  heaven.  More  noble  still,  however,  is  he, 
w ho,  laying  aside  all  party  prejudices,  and  nai low  plans  of  human 
policv,  contributes,  according  to  his  ability,  to  every  scheme  set  on 
fool  for  the  salvation  of  his  fellow-creatures,  and  the  ad\ancement  of 
the  Redeemer's  khigdom.  I  cannot  conceive  how  any  man,  who 
professes  to  believe  in  the  name  of  Christ,  can  be  at  rest  in  his  spi- 
rit, without  making  some  effort  to  advance  the  honour  of  his  name.  It 
is  a  black  mark  iipon  him.  Woe  unto  them  that  are  at  ease  in  Zion 
— that  put  Jar  uivay  the  evil  day— that  lie  upon  beds  of  ivory,  that 
alretch  themselves  upon  their  couches,  that  eat  the  lambs  out  of  the 
flock,  and  the  calves  out  of  the  midst  of  the  stall— that  chant  to  iht 
tound  of  the  viol— that  drink  wine  in  bowls— but  they  are  not  grieved 
for  the  affliction  of  Joseph. 

Thanks  be  to  God,  that  though  a  spirit  of  Infidelity  is  rapidly 
spreading  itself  through  the  old  rotten  churches  of  Europe,  yet  there 
is  a  tiie  kindled  in  the  hearts  of  thousands  that  shall  never  be  extin- 
guislied,  till  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  have  seen  the  salvation  of  our 
God.  a  misiionary  spirit  is  Leginning  to  shew  itself,  all  through 
England,  .Scotland,  Ireland,  Holland,  Sni!-erland,  Germany,  and 
America,  which  shall  finally  diffuse  itself  through  every  natiou  under 
heaven. 

*  See  the  present  state  of  this  mission  on  a  former  page. 

-)•  It  is  a  matter  ol"  great  thankfulness,  that  after  a  voyage  of  more  than  50,000 
miles,  accomplished  in  21  months,  Captain  Wilson  returned  without  the  least 
material  loss  or  injury  to  the  ship  Duff,  in  which  he  took  out  to  the  South  Sea 
Islands  about  30  Missiwiuries.  When  theyarrived  at  Otahtite,  they  were  received 
by  the  natives  with  reverence  and  delight.  They  had  not  one  sick,  person  on 
board  ;  and  now  that  they  arc  returned,  the  crew  of  the  ship  is  in  better  health 
than  when  they  first  embarked  from  England.  AH  this  hat^  GoB  wrought  ia 
answer -to  prayer, 


274  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

characters  that  ever  appeared  upon  earth*.  See  then  that 
you  blasplieme  not  his  name ;  treat  his  cause  and  interest  i« 
the  world  with  respect;  walk  according  to  the  best  Hght  you 
have;  be  virtuous  in  your  own  way,  and  dx>  all  yoi-t  can — not 
to  make  converts  to  Injidelity — (because  vihen  men  com- 
mence Injideh,  they  itsually  become  iminoral)  but  to  lead 
your  fellovv-men  into  the  patl>iy  o£  piety  and  virtue,  under 
some  denomination  or  other.  If,  indeed,  you  canjairli/,  by 
sound  argument,  and  solid  evidence,  explode  the  divine  aiu> 
thority  of  the  Gospel,  we  are  so  far  from  being  afraid  of  con- 
sequences  that  we  call  upon  you   to  do  hf.     Try  then  what 

Why  do  not  our  Unbelieving  countrymeu  form  societies,  and  send 
out  missionaries  to  convert  the  nations  to  pure  Deism  ?  If  they  are 
Ml  earnest,  and  if  they  consider  their  principles  as  the  only  true  and 
important  ones,  they  certaiaJy  ought  so  to  do,  or  else  they  fall  under 
divine  condemnation. 

*  Most  of  the  French  pliilosophers,  those  dabblers  in  science,  al- 
low that  Jesus  Christ  was  one  of  the  greatest  geniuses,  and  most 
extraordinary  man  that  ever  appeared  upon  earth.  Others  deny  his 
very  existence! 

•f  Atheists  and  Unbelievers  have  more  or  less  abounded  iii  every ' 
age  of  the  world,  in  Noah's  time,  the  whole  luunan  race  was  gone 
astray.  In  the  days  of  Davii>,  the  fool  said  in  his  heart.  There  is 
fio  God.  Scoflers  too  appeared  in  the  age  of  the  Apostles,  walking 
after  their  own  lusts,  and  saying.  Where  is  the  promise  of  his  coming? 
I  remember  reading  somcMhere  a  story  of  a  man  in  the  last  cen- 
tury, who  was  as  great  an  enthusiast  againsi  the  Bible  as  Tho-mas 
Paine  himself.  This  clever  fellow,  either  to  display  his  wit,  ox  his 
fanaticism,  proceeded  in  the  following  truly  curious  manner: 

In  the  year  l6'4p,  as  a  3Ir.  Fawcett  was  preaching  in  his  church 
at  Walton  upon  Thames,  towards  the  close  of  the  afternoon,  six  sol-^ 
diers  entered  the  church.  One  of  them  had  a  lantern  in  one  hand, 
with  a  caudle  bmning  in  it:  In  the  other  hand  were  four  candles  not 
lighted.  When  Mr.  Fawxett  had  gone  through  the  sei-vice  of  the 
day,  and  dismissed  the  congregation,  this  man  called  to  the  people  to 
stay  a  little,  for  he  had  a  message  to  them  from  God.  Not  being 
permitted  to  asceud  the  pulpit,  or  to  address  the  people  any  farther 
in  the  church,  he  weut  into  tlie  yard,  where  the  congregation  col- 
lected around  bun.  He  told  them  he  had  had  a  vision,  and  had  re- 
ceived a  command  from  God  to  deliver  his  will  unto  them ;  and 
which  they  must  receive  upon  pain  of  damnation.  It  consisted,  he 
said,  oijive  lights. 

1.  That  the  sabbath  was  abolished,  as  unnecessary  and  ceremo- 
nial.— And  here,  said  the  man,  I  should  liave  put  out  my  first  hghtj^ 
but  the  wind  is  so  high  I  cannot  kindle  it. 

2.  Tythes  are  abolished,  as  Jewish,  and  a  great  burden  to  the 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS. 


L'7a 


you  can  do.  Exert  all  your  talents.  Call  forth  every  latent 
power  of  the  mind.  Bring  out  your  stores  of  ancient  and 
modern  lore.  But — no  ridicule!  no  laughter!  no  sneers! 
'I'he  occasion  is  loo  great  and  serious.  Come  forward,  ratherv 
in  all  the  <iignity  of  good  sense,  in  all  the  majesty  of  consci- 
ous nitegrity,  in  all  the  zeal  which  the  love  of  truth  inspires, 
furnished  with  languages,  knowledge,  experience,  observation, 
and  either  honourably  overthrow  the  cause  of  the  Gospel, 
Aviiich  we  assuredly  deem  the  cause  of  truth ;  or,  like  Jknyngs 
and  Pringle,  openly  acknowledge  that  you  are  convinced  and 
conquered.  This  would  be  manly.  This  would  be  acting  in  a 
manner  worthy  the  character  of  Lovers  oi  truth.  xVnd  on  such 
-men  the  God  of  ^77//^  himself  would  look  down  from  heaven 
well  pleased. 

I  have  already  called  your  attention.  Gentlemen,  to  a 
variety  of  characters  from  among  the  moderns,  some  good, 
others  bad,  some  believers,  olhers  uiabelievers.  1  would  wish 
you,  however,  to  take  ti>e  Bibie  uito  your  own  hands,  and 
read  it  careftdly  and  coolly  over,  as   a  book   of  connnon   his- 

saints  of  God,  and  a  discouragciiient  of  industry  and  tillage. — And 
here  I  should  have  put  out  my  second  light,  ■&«. 

3.  3Iiniste7-s  are  abolished,  as  autichristian,  aiid  of  no  further  use, 
now  that  Christ  liiniseif  descends  into  the  lieurts  of  his  saints^  and 
his  Spirit  enlightens  tl>eni  with  revelations  and  inspirations. — And 
here  I  should  have  put  out  my  third  light.  Sec. 

4.  Magistrates  are  abolishetl,  as  useless,  noAv  that  Christ  liim- 
self  is  in  purity  of  Spirit  come  among  us,  and  has  erected  the  king- 
dom of  the  saints  upon  cartlu  Besides,  they  are  tyrants  and  op- 
]>ressors  of  the  liberty  of  the  saints  and  tie  them  to  laws  and  ordi- 
nances, mere  lumraii  inveaitions- — xVnd  liere  I  should  have  put  out 
my  fourth  light,  6:c. 

5.  Then,  putting  his  hand  in  Iris  pocket,  and  pulling  out  a  little 
Mihle,  he  shewed  it  oj>en  to  the  j)eople,  saying,  "  Here  is  a  book  you 
have  all  in  great  veneration,  consisting  of  two  parts,  the  Old  and 
Am-  Testament.  I  must  tell  you,  it  is  abolished.  It  contains 
l»eggarly  rudiments,  milk  for  babes:  but  now  Christ  is  in  glory 
amongst  us,  and  imparts  a  fuller  measure  of  his  Spirit  to  his  saints 
than  this  can  aftord;  and  tlieiefore  I  am  connnanded  to  burn  it  be- 
fore your  faces." — So,  taking  the  candle  out  of  the  lanlern,  he  set 
fire  to  the  leaves;  and  then,  putting  out  the  candle,  he  cried — "And 
here  myji/th  light  is  extinguished." 

This  is  not  the  only  madman  whom  we  have  known  to  burn  Lis 
liihle.  I'here  are  many  such  now  within  40  miles  of  this  place.  One 
I  have  heard  of,  w  ho,  to  be  more  witty  than  his  saga^  jus  brethcn, 
roasted  his  Bible  before  a  slow  tire ! 

N  N  2 


^70  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGIOX 

tory    only,    without   any   regard    to   its    divine   original  j    and 
then  endeavour  to  form  an  impartial  judgment  what  course 
you  ought  to  take,  and  what  the  event  of  your  present  con- 
duct will  be.     To  bring  the  matter  to  a  short  and  easy  issue, 
turn  to  the  thirty-seventh  psalm,  read  it  seriously  over  half  a 
dozen  times,  and  consider  well  its  contents.     Do  not  be  rash, 
foolish,  headstrong,  and  reject  this,  and  the  other  Sacred  Re^ 
cords,  without  either  rhyme  or  reason;  but  be   cool,  delibe- 
rate, sober,   well-advised,  and  determine  to  chuse  the  side  of 
prudence,   discretion,    and  safety.      Let  the   several   historical 
characters  recorded  in  the  Old  and  Neze   Testament  be  taken 
into    your   most   careful   consideration,    and  judge   calmly    of 
their  comparative  respectability,  and   with  whom  you  should 
like  best  to  die.     Whether  had  you  rather  wish  to  die  and 
have  your  portion  in  eternity  with  Cain,  Balaam,  and  Pha- 
kaoh;  with  Korah,  Dathan,  and  Abijiam;  with  Saul, 
Absalom,  and  Ahitophel;  with  Hekod,  Judas,  Pilate, 
and  all  such  like  characters ;   or  you  w  ould  chuse  to  die  and 
have  your  portion  in  eternity  with  Abel,  Noah,  and  Lot; 
with  Abraham,  Isaac,  Jacob,  and  Joseph  ;  with  Moses  ; 
Aaron,  Joshua,  and  Samuel;  with  David,  Asa,  Jeho- 
SHAPHAT,  Hezekiah,  and  Josiah;  with  Isaiah,  Jere- 
miah,  EzEKiEL,  and   Daniel;  with   John   the   Baptist, 
Jesus  Christ,  the  twelve  Jpostlcs,  the  seventy  Discrples;  and 
all  the  other  excellent  men,   whose  names  are  recorded  with 
approbation  in  the  Jczcish  and  Christian  code?    Can  you  hesi- 
tate one  moment  which  side  you  would  wish  to  take?    Consi- 
der the  matter  well,  and  make  your  election. 

But,  if  you  do  already  see  reason  to  believe  in  the  Son  of 
God;  or  if  at  any  future  period  you  should  find  cause  so  to 
do,  take  heed  that  you  do  imbibe  the  true,  noble,  liberal, 
benevolent,  spirit  of  the  Gospel,  in  all  its  purity  and  ex- 
tent. 

Be  not  ashamed  either  of  its  doctrines  or  precepts.  Its 
doctrines  are  oracles,  its  precepts  are  sanctioned  with  penal- 
ties of  a  nature  the  most  tremendous  that  can  be  conceived. 
Hold  fast  the  former  then,  regardless  of  the  obloquy  of  self- 
righteous  Moralists,  in  all  their  purity  and  extent.  They 
form  one  grand,  well-compacted  system,  far  more  glorious 
than  the  whole  universe  of  visible  created  things.  The  hea- 
vens declare  the  glorj/  of  God,  the  wonderful  variety  of  creu-. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  277 

tures  upon  earth  his  wisdom,  power,  and  goodness;  but  the 
schen)e  of  saving  a  lost  world,  by  the  interposition  of  his 
Son,  outshines  all  the  other  works  of  the  Divine  Being  that 
have  ever  come  wiiliin  the  ken  of  mortal  creatures.  God, 
tclio  at  sundry  times,  xnid  in  diiers  manners,  spake  in  time  past 
unto  thefat/uis  Ity  the  prophets,  hath  in  these  last  day's  spoken 
unto  us  by  his  Son,  <c  horn  he  hath  appointed  heir  of  a /i  things; 
by  xihom  also  he  made  the  worlds;  icho,  being  the  brightness 
of  his  glory,  and  the  express  image  of  his  person,  and  upholds 
ing  all  things  by  the  word  of  his  porcer,  when  he  had  by  him- 
self purged  our  sins,  sat  dozen  on  the  right  hand  of  the 
Majesty  on  high.  This  is  perfectly  in  the  spirit  of  ancient 
prophecy:  Unlo  us  a  child  is  bom,  unto  us  a  son  is  given,  and 
the  government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder;  and  his  name  shall 
be  cfl//fc?, Wonderful, CoLNSELLOR,  The  Mighty  God; 
The  Everlasting  Father/I'iie  Prince  or  Peace.  Of 
the  encrease  of  his  government  and  peace  there  shall  be  no  end, 
upon  the  throne  o/'David,  and  upon  his  kingdom,  to  order  it, 
and  to  establish  it  uilh judgment,  and  zcith  justice,  from  Jience- 
forth  even  f 01  ever.  The  beloved  Disciple  of  our  Lord  dis- 
plays the  original  grandeur  of  this  Mighty  One  more  fully 
than  the  Prophet:  In  the  beginning  teas  the  Word,  and  the 
Word  teas  zcith  God,  and  the  Word  zcas  God.  All  thinvi 
nere  made  by  him,  and  zcith  out  him  zcas  not  any  thing  made 
that  lias  made. — Atid  the  Word  rcas  made  Jiesh  and  dzcelt 
among  us,  and  zee  beheld  his  glory,  the  glon/  as  of  the  onlif- 
begotten  of  the  Father,  Jail  of  grace  and  truth.  This  amaz- 
ing idea  of  the  creating  power  of  the  Redeemer  is  still 
more  expanded  by  the  ^revit  Jpostle  oj^  the  Gentiles:  By  him 
zcere  all  things  created,  that  are  in  heaven  and  that  are  in 
earth,  visible  and  invisible,  whether  they  be  thrones,  or  domi- 
nions, or  principalities,  or  powers:  all  things  weie  created  bu 
him  and  for  him;  and  he  is  before  all  things,  and  by  him 
all  things  consist. — He  being  in  the  form  of  Gov,  thought  it 
7iot  robbery  to  be  equal  zcith  God  ;  and  though  he  zcas  God's 
Tel  LOW,  he  made  himself  of  no  reputation,  and  took  upon 
him  the  form  of  a  servant,  and  zcas  made  in  the  likeness  of 
men,  and  being  j'ound  in  fashion  as  a  man,  he  humbled  himself, 
and  became  obedient  unto  death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross. 
Wherefore  God  also  hath  highly  exalted  him,  and  given  him  a 
name,  zvkich  is  above  everj/  name;  that  at  the  name  o/' Jesus 


•78  A  PLEA  FOK  RELIGION 

tvcry  knee  should  bozo,  of  things  in  heaven,  and   things  in 
earth,   and  things  under  the  earth  ;  and  that  every  tongue 
should  confess  that  J T.'ivs  Christ  is  Lord  to  the  glory  of 
God  the  Father.     So  that,  thougli  all  *  we  have  sinned  and 

*  It  may  be  safely  asserted,  I  ai)prehend,  that  all  truly  serious 
and  reliiiiously  minded  people  are  nearly  of  one  opinion  concerning 
the  ^reat  doctrines  of  the  Gospel.  They  live  in  the  comfort  and  die 
in  the  feith  of  them.  The  Calvifiist  and  Arminian  here  at  least  are 
of  one  mind.  ^Yhen  the  Rev.  John  Wesley  came  to  die,  his  lan- 
guage was, 

*'  I  the  chief  of  sinners  am. 
But  Jesus  died  for  me." 

**  There  is  no  way  into  the  holiest,  but  by  the  bloml  of  Jesus." 
"  I'll  praise  my  Maker  while  I've  breath,"  &c.  [*^] 

The  late  Mr.  ToPLADY  also  appears  to  have  been  greatly  sup- 
ported with  divine  consolations  during  his  last  sickness.  A  few  days 
before  his  deatii  he  said  to  a  friend:  "  O,  my  dear  Sir,  it  is  impossi- 
ble to  describe  how  good  God  is  to  me.  This  afternoon  I  haAe  en- 
joyed such  a  season,  such  sweet  comnmnion  with  God,  and  such  de- 
lightful manifestations  of  his  presence  with,  and  love  to  my  soul,  that 
it  is  impo6sil)Ie  for  words,  or  any  language  to  express  tUem.  I  have 
had  peace  and  joy  unutterable. ' 

To  another  "friend  he  said:  "  The  comforts  and  manifestations  of 
God's  love  are  so  abundant,  as  to  render  my  state  and  condition  the 
most  desirable  in  tlie  world.  I  would  not  exchange  my  condition 
witli  any  one  upon  earth."  . 

The  same  friend  calling  upon  him  a  day  or  two  before  his  death,  he 
said,  with  hands  clasj^ed,  and  his  eyes  lifted  up  and  starting  with  tears 
of  the  most  evident  joy:  "  O,  my  dear  Sir,  I  cannot  tell  you  the  com- 
forts I  feel  in  my  soiil.  They  are  pvist  expression.  The  consolations 
of  God  to  such  an  unworthy  wretch  are  so  abundant,  that  he  leaves 
me  nothing  to  pray  for,  but  a  continuance  of  them.  I  enjov  a  heaven 
already  in  my  soul.     My  prayers  are  all  converted  into  praise." 

At  another  time  he  said: ""  O  how  this  soul  of  mine  longs  to  be 
gone !  Like  a  bird  imprisoned  in  a  cage,  it  longs  to  take  its  flight.  O 
that  I  had  wings  like  a  dove,  then  would  I  liee  away  to  the  reahns  of 
bliss,  and  be  at  rest  for  ever!  O  that  some  guardian  angel  might  be 
commissioned  ;  for  I  long  to  be  absent  from  this  body,  and  to  be  with 
iny  Lord  for  ever." 

At  another  time,  and  indeed  for  many  days  together  he  cried  out, 
•'  O  what  a  day  of  sun-shine  has  this  been  to  me !  I  have  not  words, 
to  express  it.  It  is  unutterable.  O,  my  friends,  how  good^is  God  ! 
Almost  without  interrujition  his  presence  has  been  with  me." 

Near  his  end,  waking  from  a  slumber,  lie  said:  "  O  what  de- 
lights! Who  can  fathom  the  joys  of  the  third  heaven  T  And  again,  a 
liUle  before  his  departure :  "  the  sky  is  clear  ;  there  is  no  cloud ; 
come.  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly." 

[^]  i>/i-.  Wesley  held  the  same  doctrine  for  50  years  preceduig 
his  death.— Editor. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS. 


279 


come  short  of  the  glory  of  God,  we  are  justified  freely  by  his 
grace  through  the  redemption  that  is  f«  Christ  Jesus  ;  whom 


'  The  learned  reader  will  not  be  sorry  to  compare  here  the  dying 
scenes  of  t^vo  or  three  of  tlie  German  Christians  with  the  above  of 
Wesley  and  Toplady.  Musculus's  Soliloquy  before  death  ap- 
pears to  me  in  the  highest  spirit  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 

"  Nil  siipei'ttst  vitae ;  frigus  praecordia  captat: 

Sed  tu,  Christe,  mihi  vita  perennis  ades. 
Quid  trepidas,  Aniuia  ?     Ad  sedes  abitura  quietis; 

En  tibi  ductor  adest  Angehis  ille  tuus. 
Linque  donium  banc  uiiseram,  nunc  in  sua  fata  ruentein, 

Quam  tibi  lida  Dei  dextera  restituet. 
Peccasti? — Scio ;  Sed  Christus  credentibus  in  sc 

Pecciita  expurgat  sang-uine  cuncta  suo. 
Ilonibils  mors  est  I     Fateor :  Sed  proxima  vita  est. 

Ad  quam  te  Christi  gratia  certa  vocat. 
Prwsto  est  de  Satana,  peccato,  in  morte  triumi)hans. 

Christus:  Ad  iIunc  igitur  lata  alacrisque  migra." 

Translated  by  Merrieke. 

My  live  decays,  deaths  damjis  have  seiz'd  my  heart; 

But  thou,  O  Christ,  art  more  than  life  to  me. 
VVliy  tremblest  thou,  my  soul?     To  rest  depart. 

Behold  thy  guardian  angel  wails  for  thee. 

This  wret(;hed  tenement  dissolving,  leave. 

Which  God's  own  hand  will  faithfully  restore. 

Thy  sins  are  many ;  but  on  Christ  believe. 
And  all  thy  sins  his  blood  will  rover  o'er. 

Is  death  ;errific?  Yes  ;  but  life  is  near: 
To  this  the  gracious  words  of  Christ  invite. 

He  con(pieis  death,  sin,  satan ;  banish  fear, 
To  his  dear  presence  take  tliy  joyful  flight, 

Theodore  Zuinger,  a  famous  Gasman  physician,  when^le  Jay 
upon  his  death-bed,  took  his  leave  of  Ihc  world  in  the  followin<r  fiue 
copy  of  verses,  which  is  a  liberal  paraphrase  of  the  l'22d  psalui. 


"  O  lux  Candida,  lux  mihi 

Ljcti  conscia  transitus! 

Per  Christi  meritum  patet 

Vitae  portii  beata;. 
Me  status  revocat  dies 
Augustam  Domini  ad  domum 
Jam  sacra  atherii  premam 

LsetUi  liinina  templi. 


Jam  visam  Solymce  edita 
Coclo  culmina,  et  aedium 
Laitus  angelicos,  suo  et 

Augustam  populo  urbcm: 
Uibem,  quam  procul  infiniis 
Terras  finibus  exciti 
Petunt  Christicder,  ut  Deu.m 

Laudent  voce  perenni: 


280  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION" 

God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith  in  his 
blood,  to  diclarc  his  righteousness  for  the  remission  of  sins  that 
are  past,  through  the  forbearance  of  God — to  dec/are  his 
righteousness,  that  he  might  be  just,  and  the  just  if  er  of  him  who 
believeth  in  Jesus:  Christ  bei/tg  the  end  of  the  law  for 
righteousness  to  etery  one  that  believeth.  These  things  being 
laid  together,  and  duly  consideied,  ma}  Nve  not  exclaim  vkitl)  the 
same  devout  and  admiring  Apostle?  Without  controversy, 
great  is  the  mystery  of  godliness :  God  teas  manifest  in  the 
Jlesh,  justified  in  the  Spirit,  seen  of  angels,  preached  unto  the 
Gentiles,  believed  on  in  the  rcorld,  received  up  into  glory. 

Such  are  the  doctrines  of  Chkist,  of  which  the  Apostle  de- 
clares he  was  not  ashamed,  and  of  which  uo  Christian  ought  or 
need  to  be  ashamed ;  because  they  are  the  pozcer  of  God  unto 
salvation  linto  every  one  that  believeth  in  his  name.  And  we 
may  say  of  them  what  St.  Paul  says  upon  another  occasion, 
Though  zee,  or  an  angel  from  heaven,  preach  any  other  gospel 
vnto  you,  than  that  zchich  zee  have  preached  unto  you,  let 
him  be  accursed.  As  ice  said  bej'ore,  so  say  I  note  again,  If 
any  man  preach  any  other  gospel  unto  you  than  that  ye  have 
received,  let  him  be.  accuised.  Harsh  as  these  words  may 
seem,  they  were  written  in  all  the  plenitude  of  apostolical  au- 
thority, and  apply  to  every  case  where  the  essential  doctrines  of 
the  Sacred  JVritings  are  concerned.  What  those  doctrines  are- 
may  not  be  expedient  for  me  here  to  say ;  the  Scriptures  are  in 
every  one's  hands,  and  no  man  need  continue  m  ignorance  of 
what  the  Lord  God  requires  of  him. 


Jussam  caeiilus  oppi(iis 
Urbem  jus  daie  ceteii  , 
Et  sedem  fnrc  Davidis 

Cuucta  iu  sttcla  beati. 
Mater  nobiiis  urbiam! 
Semper  te  bona  pax  amat; 
Et  te  senipcr  amantibus 

Cedunt  omnia  recte. 


Sen. per  pax  tua  mcenia 
Colit;  semper  in  atriis 
Tuis  copia  dexterd 

Larga  muiiera  fundit. 
Dulcis  Christiadum  domus, 
Civfin  adscribe  novitium; 
Sola  comitata  Caritas 

Spesque  Fidcsque,  valete." 


How  different  is  the  spirit  of  these  dying  scenes  from  those  of  our 
modern  Philosophers,  ^^ho  usually  depait  this  life  like  unto  the  Em- 
pei'or  Adrian,  or  in  a  manner  much  inferior: 

"  AniiU'iu  vagula,  hlandula, 

Hosjies,  ron:e.s<!ui'  corporis. 

Quae  nunc  ahibis  in  loca 

Pallidula,  rigida,  nudula, 

^iec,  ut  soles,  dabis  jocos  V 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  281 

And  liicn,  as  to  the  precepts  of  the  Redeemer's  religion, 
they  aie  such  as  have  been  admired  in  all  ages,  and  as  no  man 
need  feel  himself  ashamed  to  own.  The  substance  of  them  is  : 
fVJiatsuever  yt  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so 
to  them :  A  precept  so  held  in  admiration  by  one  of  the  Roman 
eiiiperors,  that  he  had  it  inscribed  in  various  public  places  to  be 
seen  and  read  of  all  men.  This  excellent  laconic  sentence  is 
more  cxj^anded  by  our  Loud  himself  in  another  place:  I'hou 
shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  icith  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all 
thy  soul,  and  zeith  all  thy  strength,  and  with  all  thy  mind. 
And  thy  iieighbour  as  thyself:  and  still  more  by  St.  Paul; 
The  grace  oj' Goo  that  bringeth  salvation  hath  appeared  to 
all  men;  teaching  us,  that  denying  ungodliness^  and  worldly 
lusts,  we  should  live  soberly,  righteously,  and  godlily  in  this 
present  zcorld,  looking  for  that  blessed  hope,  and  the  glorious 
appearing  of  the  great  God,  and  our  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ;  who  gave  himself  for  us  that  he  might  redeem  iis 
from  all  iniquity,  and  purify  unto  himself,  a  peculiar  people, 
zealous  of  good  zcorks.  May  I  not  then  exhort  you,  my  serious 
readers,  in  the  words  of  the  same  Apostle,  to  jjresent  your 
bodies  a  living  sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable  unto  God,  ze^hich  is 
your  reasonable  service?  and  not  to  be  conformed  to  this 
zcorld :  but  to  be  transformed  by  the  renezcing  of  your  inind, 
that  ye  ma i/ prove  zchat  is  that  good,  and  acceptable,  and 
perfect  zcill  of  Gon  r  Endeavour  to  be  uniformly  and  consci- 
entiously,  inwardly  and  outwardly,  religious  *,     Lay  aside,  as 

*  Tliere  is  need,  in  this  time  of  general  discontent,  to  call  the  at- 
tention of  all  good  men  to  the  obligations  we  are  under,  to  be  dutiful 
and  loyal  subjects.  Tlie  Scripfm-e  is  decisive,  that  as  we  are  to 
fear  GOD,  so  are  we  to  honour  the  King.  But,  setting  duty  aside, 
self-interest,  if  duly  consulted,  would  iirduce  every  man  to  obey  the 
civil  government  of  the  happy  country  in  which  we  live.  We  hnve 
nuich  to  lose,  little  to  gain,  by  any  change  that  might  take  place. 
The  ruin  brought  upon  France  may  satisfy  any  man,  how  dangerous 
a  thing  it  is  to  embark  in  public  contentions,  and  disturb  the  regular 
order  of  tbings.  If  the  experience  of  our  neighbours  will  not  deter- 
mine us  to  peaceable  and  temperate  measures  among  ourselves,  we 
should  do  well  to  look  back  to  the  reign  of  the  first  Charles, 
when  the  three  kingdoms  were  convulsed  for  seven  years  together 
from  one  and  to  auollier.  Besides  the  many  thousands  of  piivate 
men  vhu  tiell  in. the  bloody  fray,  the  many  millions  of  moi.ey  that  were 
spent,  and  the  numerous  iannlies  that  were  ruined,  tliere  were  slain 
17  Earls  and  Lords — 45  Knights  and  Baronets — 55  C'donels— 4,2 
Lieutenant  Colonels — 33   Majors — 138    Captains — 30  Gentlemen 

o  o 


'28^  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

much  as  may  be,  all  other  thoughts  and  concerns,  and  let  the 
pardon  of  your  sins,  the  justification  of  your  persons,  the  purifi- 
cation of  your  natures,  and  the  salvation  of  your  souls,  be  the 
grand  business  and  aim  of  your  hfe.  Every  thing  within  you, 
and  every  thing  without  you,  w  ill  oppose  this  great  regenerating 
process  of  religion.  Remember,  however,  this  is  your  main  con- 
cern in  the  world.  One  thing  alone  is  truly  needful.  Secure 
this,  and  every  thing  beside  is  safe. 

"  This  done,  the  poorest  can  no  wants  endure ; 
"  And  this  not  done,  the  richest  must  be  poor." 

Labour  not  for  the  meat  that  perisheth,  but  that  meat 
which  tndureth  unto  everlasting  life. — -Seek  ye  first  the  ki?tg- 
dom  of  God,  and  his  righteousness,  and  all  necessary  thiitgs 
shall  be  added  unto  you.  If  you  are  ever  so  rich,  great,  wise, 
learned,  honourable;  if  you  are  not  at  the  same  time  experi- 
mentally religious,  you  are  a  miserable  man.  Do  you  want 
proof  of  this  ?  Look  inward,  and  look  forward  to  the  close  of 
life;  or  turn  back,  and  impartially  consider  the  experience  of 
the  several  persons,  whose  declarations  we  have  recorded  in  the 
beginning  of  this  Treatise.  Compare  them,  weigh  them,  dis- 
criminate their  characters;  reject  what  is  base  and  unworthy 
your  attention,  take  alarm  at  the  warnings  of  the  dying  penitents, 
and  resolve,  by  the  grace  of  Goi>,  to  have  a  name  and  a  place 
among  his  people.  Let  others  despise  and  neglect  the  Sacred 
Writings,  as  their  humour  shall  lead,  do  you  be  much  in  the 

Volimteei^s — with  about  30  others,  who  were  either  beheaded  or  died 
in  prison. — ^Tbe  spirit  of  the  times  was  much  the  same  as  hath  for 
these  several  years  prevailed  in  France;  nor  were  the  clergy  treated 
with  nuich  more  humanity,  8  or  1 0,000  of  them  being  turned  out  of 
their  Livings.  See  Walker's  Sufferings  of  the  Clerg\',  p.  ips — 
300.  .  And  if  any  convulsion  should  take  place  again  in  this  country, 
I  do  not  conceive  that  we  should  be  much  more  humane  towards 
each  other,  than  people  have  been  in  cases  of  a  similar  nature.  He 
was  no  inexperienced  man  who  said — The  begintmig  of  strife  is  as 
when  one  letteth  out  water ;  therefore  have  o^'  contention  before  it 
he  meddled  ivith. 

When  the  Almighty  intends  to  punish  us  effectually,  he  will  de- 
prive us  of  wisdom,  and  set  us  at  loggerheads  one  w  ith  another.  Tiie 
consequence  will  be  ruin  to  the  present  race  of  Englishmen.  If 
with  the  above  two  dreadful  examples  before  us,  we  suffer  a  party 
spirit  to  drive  us  to  extremities,  we  shall  deserve  all  we  can  suffer. 
See  the  seventh  chapter  of  EzEKiEL.  Were  we  united  and  religious 
we  might  defy  the  whole  w  orld. 


AND  THE  SACRED  V,  RITIXGS.  283 

perusal  of  them.  Let  them  dwell  hi  you  richly.-  They  will 
make  you  happy  in  yonr  own  soul,  and  wise  unto  salvation. 
Search  them,  dig  in  them,  scrutinize  them,  let  your  daily  delisiht 
be  in  diem.  It  is  the  engrafted  JVord,  and  the  U  ord  of  God's 
grace  alone,  which  is  able  to  build  us  up  in  faith  and  love,  and 
save  our  souls  alive.  Read  it,  therefore,  a*?  the  JVord  of  God. 
Read  it  with  religious  views.  Read  it  with  constant  prayer  to 
Heaven  for  divine  illumination;  and,  as  often  as  convenient, 
get  upon  your  knees  in  secret  *  with  the  Bible  spread  before 
you,  and,  be  assured,  you  shall  experience  sublime  and  ravishing 
delights,  to  which  the  most  happy  and  prosperous  worldly  men 
are  utter  strangers,  and  of  uhich  you  yourselves  can  have  no 
proper  conception,  till  you  have  made  the  experiment.  Could 
I  be  the  happy  instrument  of  inducing  you  to  make  the  experi- 
ment, you  would  bless  me  for  ever.  And  you  will  give  me  leave 
to  say  that  if  you  could  s^peak  Tcitk  the  tongues  of  men  and  of 
angels,  and  possessed  all  knowledge  human  and  divine ;  if  you 
could  perform  wonders  like  Moses,  celebrate  the  praises  of 
God  like  David^  prophesy  like  Isaiah,  write  like  Paul, 
preach  like  Peter,  thunder  like  James  and  John,  and  offer 
up  your  souls  on  racks  and  in  flames  like  the  Maccahean  mother 
and  her  seven  noble  sons;  if  you  had  power  with  God  like 
Jacob,  and  had  the  valour  of  Joshua,  the  strength  of  Sam- 
son, the  beauty  of  Absalom,  the  wisdom  of  Solomon,  the 
zeal  of  Ph  IN  EH  AS,  with  every  otlier  qualification  natural  and  ac- 
quired, that  ever  centered  in  any  of  the  sons  of  men;  vet,  with- 
out a  close,  intimate,  experimental  acquaintance  with  the  Sacred 
Oracles,  and  the  great  truths  therein  contained,  all  will  avail 
nothing;  you  can  neither  enjoy  true  consolation  in  your  spirit 
now,  nor  be  capable  of  felicity  hereafter  when  vou  die.  Were 
I,  therefore,  permitted  to  give  my  last  dying-y  advice  to  the 

*  M.  Dc  Renty,  -d  French  uohlemau,  used  to  read  three  chapters 
a  day  with  his  head  uncovered,  and  on  his  bended  knees;  and  this 
is  the  practice  likewise  of  abundance  of  religious  characters  in  the 
present  day. 

t  Tiie  famous  Sir  Philip  Sidney,  taking  leave  of  his  brother 
Robert,  when  he  died  of  the  wound  he  had  l•ecei^ed  in  the  tield  of 
battle,  said,  "Love  my  memory;  cherish  in\  frieiuls ; — Imt  above 
all,  govern  your  will  and  affections  by  tht-  U'ill  wudJJ'ord  of  vour 
Creator;  in  me  beholding  the  end  of  this  world,  whh  a  if  her 
vanities." 

Sir  Christopher  Hatton,  in  Uke  manner,  a  celebrated 
O    o  2 


284  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

dearest  friend  I  have  in  the  world,  it  \voiild  be  tlie  same  which 
Dr.  Johnson  gave  to  his  friend  5/ ;•  Joshua  Reyn©lds — 
Read   youe  BiBLEf:  I  only  should  add  as  above — Read  it 

statesman,  a  little  before  his  death,  advised  his  relations  to  be  serious 
in  searching  after  the  will  of  God  in  his  Holy  Word:  "  for,"  said  he, 
"  it  is  desen'ediy  accounted  a  piece  of  excellent  knowledge  to  under- 
stand the  law  s  of  the  land,  and  the  customs  of  a  man's  counti^  ;  how 
much  more  to  know  the  statutes  of  heaven,  and  the  laws  of  eternity, 
those  immutable  and  eternal  laws  of  justice  and  righteousness!  To 
know  the  will  and  pleasure  of  the  great  ^Monarch,  and  universal 
King!  I  have  seen  an  end  of  all  perfection,  but  the  commandments 
of  God  are  exceeding  broad." 

t  This  great  man  himself  read  the  Bible  too  little,  and  other  books 
too  much.  This,  and  associating  frequently  w  ith  men  of  little  or  no 
religion,  were  the  main  causes  of  his  great  leanness  of  soul,  and  fear 
of  death  all  through  life.  He  was,  indeed,  an  extraordinary  man, 
and  an  admirable  judge  of  good  writing.  In  the  second  volume  of 
his  Lives  of  the  Poets,  p.  110,  he  speaks  of  Dryden's  Dialogue 
cm  the  Drama,  as  one  of  the  finest  prose  compositions  in  the  English 
language:  and  at  the  152  page  of  the  same  volume  he  says,  Dry- 
den's Poem  on  the  death  of  3/r^.  KiLLlGREW,  is  the  noblest 
Ode  our  language  has  ever  produced.  In  the  third  volume,  p.  02, 
he  tells  us  the  most  poetical  paragraph  in  the  \^  hole  mass  of  English 
poetry  is  in  Congreve's  Mourning  Bride.  And  in  the  fourth 
volume,  p.  181,  he  declares  one  of  the  finest  similies  in  all  English 
poetry,  is  that  of  the  Student's  progress  in  the  sciences  in  Pope's 
Essay  on  Criticism,  lines  215 — 232. 

The  more  religious  people  read  the  Sac7'ed  IVritings,  and  the  less, 
in  general,  they  trouble  themselves  with  the  compositions  of  men, 
the  better.  If,  however,  the  Reader  wishes  to  know  what  books  are 
best  calculated  to  advance  the  spirit  of  religion  in  the  soul,  the  fol- 
lowing have  been  found  singularly  useful;  Scougal's  Life  of  God 
in  the  Soul  of  Man — Baxter's  Saints  everlastiiig  Resf — Dod- 
dridge's Rise  and  Progress  of  Religion  in  the  Soul — Watts  0}i 
the  Love  of  God — Rowe's  Devcut  Exercises  of  the  Heart — 
Young's  Night  Thoughts — Milton's  Paradise  Lost  and  Regained 
— Law's  Se7ioiis  Call  to  a  Devout  and  Holy  Life — and  Thomas  a 
K-EyiFia  on  the  Lnif  at  ion  of  5  Esvs  Christ. — Kempis,  in  parti- 
cular, was  a  great  tavouiite  with  Archbishop  Leighton  and  Bishop 
Burnet.  And  Law's  Serious  Call  has  the  honour  of  being  the 
means  of  the  conversion  of  that  Hercules  in  literature,  the  late  Dr. 
Johnson  ;  which  book  he  used,  therefore,  much  to  commend,  say- 
ina,  "  It  was  the  finest  piece  of  hortatory  theology  in  any  lan- 
guage."—See  Bos  well's  Life,  vol.  1.  p.  p.  29,  34-1. — This  book 
has,  moreover,  extorted  the  foliowiug  eulogium  even  from  the  scepti- 
cal Edward  Gibbon,  Esq.  one  of  the  first  Historians  of  the  pre- 
sent age,  and  an  unquestionable  judge  of  literary  merit, 

"Mr.  Law's  master-work,  the  Serious  Call,  is  still  read  as  a 
popular  and  powerful  book  of  devotion.     His  precepts  are  rigid 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  '235 

dailif  upon  vDiir  knee?.  \vi(!i  fervent  prayer  for  divine  iliiimiiin- 
tion  :  and  rest  not,  tiil  vx'U  liave  imbibed  the  spirit  of  it  into  tl>c 
verv  frame  and  constitntion  of  your  soul,  and  transcribed  the 
precepts  and  example  of  Jesus  into  every  part  of  your  daily 
deportment  in  life. 

This  should  be  the  last  (h/i/ig  advice,  I  say,  Nvhicli  I  would 
give  to  the  tcnderest  friend  I  have  upon  earth.  And,  if  I 
should  have  no  other  opportunity  permitted  me,  1  here  leave  it 
on  record,  in  direct  opposition  to  the  obloquy  of  the  irreligious, 
and  unbelieving  world,  as  a  legacy  to  my  frkuds  and  the  people 
among  whom  I  have  gone  preaching  the  Gospcf,  o(  more  real 
intrinsic  value  than  thousands  of  gold  and  silver.  Read  your 
Bibles,   and  read  till  you   love  to   read.     Pray 

but  they  are  founded  on  the  Gospel ;  his  satire  is  sharp,  but  it  is 
drawn  from  the  knowledge  of  human  life;  and  many  of  his  portraits 
are  not  unwurthy  of  the  pen  of  La  Bruyere.  If  he  rinds  a  s|jark 
of  piety  in  his  reader's  miiid,  he  will  soon  kindle  it  to  a  flame;  and 
a  iibilojopher  must  allow,  that  he  exposes,  with  equal  severity  and 
truth,  the  strange  contradicti;ui  between  the  faith  and  practice  of  the 
Christian  world.  I'nder  the  names  of  Flavia  and  Miranda  he 
has  admirably  described  my  two  aunts — the  Heathen  and  the  CkriS' 
tian  sister." 

Memoirs  of  Gibbon's  Life  and  Writings. 

Tins,  I  think,  is  no  eonunon  praise ! 

To  the  al)ove  books  shoidd  be  added  Bunyan's  Pilgrini^s  Pro- 
gress:  Bishop  Taylor's  Holi/  Livins:  and  Di/ing;  Archbishop 
Leighton's  JVorhs;  and  such  other  Writings  as  are  of  a  lively  and 
evanirelic  nature.  I  remember,  near  thirty  years  ago,  hearing  the  late 
excellent  />r.  Conyers,  o(  Deptford,  say,  that  if  he  were  banished 
into  a  desart  island,  and  permitted  to  take  with  him  onlv  four  books, 
the  Life  of  Mr.  IIalidurtoN  should  be  one  of  the  four. 

This  useful  Life  is  i\ho  the  book  which  that  great  scholar.  Sir 
Richard  EllY-^,  valued  above  all  the  books  in  liis  learned  and  co- 
pious library. 

With  respect  to  the  leading  and  most  important  doctrines  of  the 
Gospel,  I  do  not  know  that  tiiey  are  any  where  more  plainly  and 
faithfully  expoiuided  than  in  tiie  book  of  [Jomilies.  I  have  been  of 
this  opinion  many  years,  and  still  continue  the  same,  making  allow- 
ance for  the  language,  and  certain  circumstanrt s  peculiar  to  the  times 
in  wiiich  they  were  written.  In  this  opinion  I  tind  myself  confirmed 
by  Bisitop  Horsley,  who  says  to  the  Clergi/  in  his  Char^-e  for 
179^ — "  These  discoinses,"  some  of  the  Homilies,  "  I  would  ear- 
nestly recommend  to  your  frequent  study,  as  an  unexceptionable 
summary  of  doctrine  upon  these  important  jwints,  and  an  excellent 
model  of  composition  for  popular  instruction." 


28G  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

DAILY   OVER  THEM,  AND   PRAY  TILL  YOU  LOVE  TO  PRAY. 

Whert  the  Scriptures  m\d  Prai/er  become  delightful,  and  the 
time  spent  therein  seems  soon  expired,  then  may  you  humbly 
suppose  you  have  made  some  proficiency  in  the  divine  life. 
But,  if  you  can  spend  whole  days  together,  without  refreshing 
your  soul  with  some  portion  of  the  Hol^  Writings ;  if  you  feel 
yourselves  cold,  remiss,  and  negligent  in  private  prayer;  or  if, 
when  you  read  the  Scripfures,  and  retire  for  devotion,  you  have 
little  or  no  taste  for  the  heavenly  employ,  but  it  appears  irk- 
some and  disagreeable,  and  the  time  spent  therein  tedious  and 
w earisome,  you  may  be  assured,  let  your  professions  be  what 
they  may,  and  the  sermons  you  hear  ever  so  numerous,  or  ever 
SO  excellent,  your  soul  ig  either  wholly  dead  to  things  divine,  or 
you  are  in  a  backsliding  and  dangerous  conditign. 

If  you  have  never  been  accustomed  to  this  religious  exercise, 
it  is  extremely  probable,  you  will,  for  a  time,  find  much  reluc- 
tance to  it,  a  grievous  struggle  under  it,  and  great  unprofitable- 
ness in  it.  Be  not,  however,  discouraged ;  but  proceed  in  the 
divine  employ  till  you  have  conquered  every  difficulty*.  And  re- 
member, these  are  difficulties  that  are  common  to  man  :  that 
have  been  vanquished  by  multitudes  in  every  age  of  the  church; 
and  that  must  be  overcome  by  t/oh.  Your  present  comfort,  as 
well  as  your  everlasting  welfare  depend  upon  the  victory.  For 
your  encouragement,  call  to  mind  the  Saj/ing  of  Pythago- 
ras, the  ancient  Philosopher : 

"  Let  the  best  course  of  life  your  choice  invite, 
For  custom  soon  will  turn  it  to  delight :" 

And  the  similar  sentiment  of  Hesiod,  the  old  Poet; 
"  The  Gods  have  placed  labour  before  virtue;  the  way  to  her 
is  at  first  rough  and  difficult,  but  grows  more  smooth  and  easy 
the  further  you  advance  in  it."  Infinitely  more  encouraging  and 
authoritative  still  is  the  language  of  the  Apostle  \  Work  out  your 
own  salvation  zcith  fear  and  trembling  ;  for  it  is  God  tliat 
xvorketh  in  you  both  to  zcill  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleasure. 

Various  instances  might  be  produced  of  persons  who,  when 
they  approached  the  close  of  life,  bitterly  lamented  their  neglect 
of  the  Sacred  Volume  f.     And  numerous  are  the  examples  of 

*  See  a  fine  paper  on  this  subject  in  the  Spectator,  No.  447- 
"t  See  the  cases  of  Salmasius,  Hervey,  and  others,  on  the 
foregoing  pages. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  587 

persons  in  all  ages,  who  have  spent  much  of  their  time  in  pe- 
rusing that  most  unparalkkd  Book.  Moses,  Isaiah,  and 
Mai.achi*,  enjoin  it  upon  all  the  Jews,  young  and  old. 
God  himself  commands  the  duty  to  Johsua.  It  was  the 
constant  practice  of  David  -f-  through  life.  And  there  is  reason 
to  suppose  that  Jesus  Christ  spent  most  of  his  leisure  in  this 
manner.     Our  great  Epic  bard  hath  represented  him  as  saying  : 

*'  Wlien  I  was  yet  a  child,  no  childish  play 

To  me  was  pleasing;  all  my  nn'nd  was  set 

Serious  to  learn  and  know,  and  thence  to  do 

What  might  he  public  good  ;  myself  I  thought 

Born  to  that  end,  born  to  promote  all  truth. 

All  righteous  things:  therefore  above  my  years 

The  law  of  God  I  read,  and  fouud  it  sw  cct. 

Made  it  my  whole  delight,  and  in  it  grew 

To  such  perfection,  that  ere  my  age 

Had  measur'd  twice  six  years,  at  our  great /eaiV 

I  went  into  the  temple,  there  to  hear 

The  teachers  of  our  law,  aud  to  propose 

What  might  improve  their  knowledge  or  my  own; 

And  was  admir'd  by  all  J-" 

Both  Christ  and  his  disciple  Si.  Paul  recommend  the 
employ  to  every  Cliristian,  Timothy  was  trained  from  his 
childhood  in  this  way.  And  the  Bereans  are  spoken  of  as 
being  more  noble  than  others,  because  they  searched  the  Scrip- 
tures daily.  The  primitive  Christians  were  intimately  acquaint- 
ed with  the  Sacred  Writings,  and  generally  carried  a  Bible 
about  them,  making  it  their  companion  wherever  they  went. 
And  such  was  their  affection  for  it,  that  many  of  them  have 
been  found  buried  with  the  Gospel  lying  on  their  breasts.  Wo- 
men wore  it  hanging  at  their  necks.  Children  were  trained  up 
from  their  infancy  to  repeat  it  by  heart;  some  of  whom  made 
surprising  proficiency. 

'*  Instead  of  gems  and  silk,"  says  .S^.  Jerome  to  Lceta, 
"  let  your  young  daughter  be  enamoured  with  the  Holi/  Scrip- 
tuns;  wherein  not  gold,  nor  skins,  or  Babylonian  embroi- 
deries, but  a  correct  and  beautiful  variety  producing  faith,  will 
recommend  itself.  Let  her  first  learn  the  Psalter,  and  be 
entertained  with  those  songs,  then  be  instructed  into  life  by  the 
Proverbs  of  Solomon.     Let  her  learn  from  Ecclesiastes  to 

*  Deut.  vi.  6 — 9  ;  Is.  viii,  20 ;  and  Mai.  iv.  4. 

t  Psalm  i.  xix.  cxix. 

i  Milton's  Paradise  Regained,  b.  1. 


28S  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

despise  worldly  things;  transcribe  from  Joh  tire  practice  of  pa- 
tience and  virtue.  Let  her  pass  then  to  the  Gospels,  and 
uever  let  them  be  out  of  lier  hands;  and  then  imbibe  with  all 
the  faculties  of  her  n)ind  the  Jcls  of  the  Apoaths  and  Epistles. 
^Vhen  she  has  enriched  the  storehouse  of  htr  breast  with 
these  treasures,  let  her  learn  the  Prophtts,  the  Pentateuch,  or 
books  of  Moses^,  Joshua  and  Judges,  the  books  of  Kings, 
and  Chronicles,  the  volumes  of  Ezj-a  and  Esther,  and,  lastly, 
the  Canticles. — The  book  of  Revelation  '(-  has  as  many  iiiys- 
teries  as  words;  1  said  too  little  ;  in  every  word  there  is  a 
variety  of  senses,  and  the  excellency  of  the  book  is  above  all 
praise." 

The  Plonks  of  Egypt  daily  learned  some  portion  of  Scrip- 
ture, and  more  especially  made  it  their  meditation  on  the 
Lord's  r/</y;  insomuch  that  many  of  them  became  so  expert 
and  well  versed  in  the  Holy  Scripture,  that  they  could  repeat 
it  by  heart;  which  is  particularly  noted  of  Hilarion,  Am- 
MONiNus,  ^Marcus  Junior,  Eros,  Serapion,  Solo- 
mon, and  others.  And  by  this  means  they  were  qualified  to 
ei^tertam  their -souls  with  spiritual  exercises,  singing  of  David's 
Psalms,  and  repealing  other  parts  of  Scripture,  even  at  their 
bodily  labours. — At  Christ's  little  village  of  Bethlehem  there 

*  .Mr.  Pope,  whom  we  have  before  quoted  on  the  subject  of 
the  Sacred  fJritings,  and  whose. judgment  few  will  call  in  question, 
in  comparing  the  discovery  of  Ulysses  to  Telemachus,  with 
Joseph's  discovery  of  himself  to  his  brethren,  says,  "  It  must  be 
owned  that  Homer  falls  infinitely  short  of  MoSEs:  he  must  be  a 
very  wicked  man,  \\ho  can  read  the  histoiy  of  Joseph  without  the 
iitmost  touches  of  compassion  and  transport.  There  is  a  majestic 
simplicity  in  the  whole  relation,  and  such  an  affecting  portrait  of 
human  nature,  that  it  overwhelms  us  with  vicissitudes  of  joy  and 
sorroM .  This  is  a  pregnant  instance  how  much  the  best  of  Heathen 
writers  is  inferior  to  the  divine  historian  upon  a  pai"dllel  subject, 
where  the  two  authors  endeavour  to  move  the  softer  passions.  The 
same  may,  with  equal  truth,  be  said  in  respect  to  sublunity ;  not  only 
hi  the  instance  produced  by  Longinus,  viz.  Let  there  he  light,  and 
there  ivas  light ;  let  the  earth  be  made,  and  the  earth  was  made ;  but 
in  general,  in  the  more  elevated  parts  of  Scripture,  and  particularly 
ia  the  wliole  book  of  Job,  which,  with  regard  both  to  sublimity  of 
thought  and  morality,  exceeds  beyond  all  comparison  the  most  noble 
parts  of  Homer." 

Notes  on  the  sixteenth  Odyssey. 

t  See  Strictures  on  this  book  in  the  21 — 34  sections  of  Simp-= 
son's  Key  to  the  Prophecies. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  289 

was  nothing  to  be  heard  hut  pstilms :  one  could  not  go  into  the 
field,  but  he  should  hear  the  plowman  singing  his  hallelujahs, 
the  sAveating  mower  solacing  himself  with  hvmns,  and  the  vine- 
dresser tuning  David's  psn/ms.  Thus  the  ancient  JMo/iks 
joined  their  bodily  and  spiritual  exercise  together,  and  made 
their  common  labour  become  acts  of  devotion  to  God.  Their 
limes  of  eating  and  refreshment  were  managed  after  the  same 
manner.  In  some  places  they  had  the  Scriptures  read  at  table. 
At  other  places,  v\hen  supper  was  ended,  they  sung  a  hymn 
and  so  returned  to  their  cells.  Tlius  their  ordinary  refreshments 
were  sanctified  with  the  JVord  ofGoD  and  prayer. — It  is  very 
observable,  that  in  the  primitive  church  not  only  men  and  w  o- 
men,  but  children  were  encouraged  and  trained  up  from  their 
infancy  to  the  reading  of  the  //o/y  Scripturts.  Of  this  we 
have  undoubted  evidence  from  many  eminent  instances  of  their 
practice.  Eusebius  remarks  of  the  great  care  of  Le- 
on ides,  the  Maiti/r,  and  father  of  Origen,  in  the  educa- 
tion of  his  son,  that  he  made  him  learn  the  Scriptures,  before 
he  set  him  to  the  study  of  the  liberal  arts  and  polite  leamino-. 
And  Socrates  makes  the  like  observation  upon  the  education 
of  Eusebius,  surnamed  Emisenus,  who  was  born  of  noble 
parentage  at  Edessa,  a  city  of  Osroene  in  Mesopotamia,  that 
he  was  first  taught  the  Holy  Scriptures  from  his  infancy,  and 
then  human  learning.  And  Sozomen,  in  relating  the  same 
story,  says,  this  was  done  according  to  the  custom  of  the  coun- 
try ;  w  hich  shews,  that  it  was  no  singular  instance,  but  a  gen^ 
ral  practice  to  bring  children  up  from  their  infancy  to  the  use 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Gregory  Nyssene  notes  it  in  the 
life  of  his  sister  Macrina,  that  the  first  part  of  her  instruc- 
tion in  her  infancy  was  to  be  taught  the  easy  portions  of  Scrip- 
ture, which  were  most  suitable  to  her  age.  He  says  also,  she 
did  the  same  for  her  younger  brother  Peter,  taking  him  from 
his  mother's  breasts,  and  instructing  him  in  the  Scriptures,  that 
he  might  have  no  time  to  spend  upon  vain  studies.  It  is  noted 
by  Sozomen  and  Palladius  of  Marcus,  the  Hermit,  that 
he  was  so  expert  in  the  S'c/7p^«/es  when  he  was  but  a  youth, 
that  he  could  repeat  all  the  Old  and  Neti?  Testament  without 
book.  Such  was  the  advantage  which  some  hearers  in  those 
days  reaped  from  the  benefrt  of  having  the  Scripturs  read,  that 
it  is  very  remarkable  what  is  related  of  one  or  two  of  them  ; 
that  being  men  of  good  memories,  they  got  the  Scriptures  bv 

p  p 


290  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

heart,  without  any  knowledge  of  letters,  only  by  hearing  them 
constantly  read  in  the  church  or  elsewhere.  St.  Austin  re- 
marks this  of  St.  Anthony,  the  famous  Egyptian  Monk; 
that  without  being  able  to  read  himself,  he  made  such  a  proli- 
ciency  in  the  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  :as  both  by  hearing 
them  read,  to  be  able  to  repeat  them,  and  by  his  own  prudent 
meditation  to  understand  them.  And  Gregory  the  Great 
gives  a  like  instance  in  one  Servulus,  a  poor  man  at  JR^me, 
who  though  he  knew  not  a  letter  in  the  book,  yet  purchasing  a 
Bible,  and  entertaining  religious  men,  he  prevailed  with  them 
to  read  it  continually  to  him,  by  which  means  he  perfectly 
learned  the  Holi/  Scriptures.  It  is  yet  a  more  astonishing  in- 
stance, which  EuseBius  gives  in  one  of  the  Martj/rs  of  Pa- 
/f8//;«f,  a  blind  man,  called  JohNj,  who  had  so  happy  a  me- 
mory, that  he  could  repeat  any  part  of  the  Bible  as  readily  as 
others  could  read  it.  And  he  sometimes  supplied  the  office  of 
reader  in  the  church;  and  he  did  this  to  so  great  perfection, 
that  EusEBius  says,  when  he  first  heard  him,  he^  was  perfectly 
amazed,  and  thought  he  had  heard  one  reading  out  of  a  book, 
till  he  came  a  little  more  curiously  to  examine  him,  and  found 
tliat  he  did  it  only  by  the  eyes  of  his  understanding,  having  the 
Scriptures  written  not  in  books  or  tables  of  stone,  but  in  the 
fleshly  tables  of  the  heart.  There  are  many  such  like  instances 
in  ancient  history*. 

At  the  time  of  the  Reformation  also,  after  the  Bible  had 
been  buried  under  the  rubbish  of  human  ordinnnces  for  many 
ages,  the  people  in  this  country  were  extremely  eager  to  read 
and  hear  the  Holj/  Scriptures.  They  were  received  with  inex- 
pressible joy.  Bishop  Ridley  and  others  could  repeat  large 
parts  of  tl)em  without  book.  The  learned  Joshua  Barnes 
sometime  afterwards,  is  said  to  have  read  a  small  pocket  Bible, 
which  he  usually  carried  about  him,  a  hundred  and  iioenty  times 
over,  at  leisure  hours.  Beza,  at  upwards  of  eighty  years  of 
ace,  could  repeat  the  whole  of  St.  Paul's  Epistles,  in  the  ori- 
ginal Greek,  and  all  the  Psalms  in  Hebrew. 

Lord  Cromwell,  Ea>l  of  Essex,  ^n  a  journey  to  and 
from  Home,  learned  the  whole  of  the  New  Testament  by 
heart. — The  excellently  learned  Ladi/  Jane  Grey,  though 
executed  al  tlie  age  of  sixteen,  the  night  before  she  died,  be- 

*  See  Bingham's  Antiquities  of  the  Christian  Church. 


I 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  291 

queathed  to  her  sister  a  Greek  Testament,  on  one  of  the  blank 
leaves  of  which  she  wrote : — "  I  have  sent  you,  my  dear  sister, 
a  book.,  which,  although  it  be  not  outwardly  trimmed  with  wold, 
yet  inwardly  it  is  more  worth  than  all  the  precious  mines,  of 
which  the  vast  world  can  boast.  It  is  the  book,  my  only  best 
and  best  behned  sister,  of  the  Lazo  of  the  Lord.  It  is  the 
testament  and  last  will  which  he  bequeathed  unto  us  wretched 
sinners,  which  shall  lead  you  to  the  padi  of  eternal  joy. — It  will 
teach  you  how  to  live,  and  likewise  how  to  die. — If  you  apply 
yourself  diligently  to  this  book,  seeking  to  direct  your  life  ac- 
cording to  the  rule  of  the  same,  it  shall  w'm  you  more,  and  en- 
dow you  with  greater  felicity,  tlian  the  possession  of  all  your 
father's  lands,  and  you  shall  be  an  inheritor  of  such  riciies,  as 
neither  the  covetous  shall  withdray^'  from  you,  nor  the  thief  shall 
steal,  nor  yet  the  moths  corrupt." 

Queen  Elizabeth,  speaking  of  her  own  conducJ:,  saith, 
"  I  walk  many  times  in  the  pleasant  iields  of  the  IIu/i/  Scrip- 
tures, where  I  pluck  up  the  goodlisome  herbs  of  sentences  by 
pruning;  and  lay  them  up  at  length  in  the  high  seat  of  memory 
by  gathering  them  together,-  that  so,  having  tasted  their  sweet- 
ness, I  may  the  less  perceive  the  bitterness  of  ihis  miserable 
life." 

Alphonsl'S,  King  of  Naples,  \\ho  did  not  begin  to  study 
till  he  was  fifty  years  of  age,  read  over  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment, with  their  glosses,  fourteen  times. 

Grotius  too  made  the  Holi^  Scriptures  his  favourite 
study  in  every  period  of  his  life.  They  w  ere  his  consolation  in 
prison;  he  always  devoted  a  part  of  the  day  to  them;  and  they 
were  his  principal  study  during  a  great  part  of  his  embassy 
abroad. 

The  learned  Father  Paul  had  read  over  the  Greek  Testa- 
ment with  so  much  exactness,  that  having  used  to  mark  every 
word,  when  he  had  fully  weighed  the  iuiportance  of  it,  as  he 
went  through  it;  he  had,  by  going  often  over  it,  and  observing 
what  he  had  passed  by  in  a  former  reading,  grown  up  to  that  at 
last,  th?>t  every  word  of  the  whole  Neic  Testament  was 
jnarked ;  and  when  any  new  illustrations  of  passages  were  suo-- 
gested  to  lum,  he  received  them  with  transports  of  joy. 

.Si'/-  Henry  VVotton,  after  his  customary  public  devotions, 
used  to  retire  to  his  study,  and  there  to   spend   some  hours  in 

PP  2 


292  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

reading  the  Bible,  and  authors  in  divinity^  closing  up  his  medi- 
tations with  private  prayer. 

Tlie  excellenr,  .Sz>  John  Hartopp  in  like  manner,  amidst 
his  other  applications,  made  the  Book  of  God  his  chief 
study,  and  his  divinest  delight.  The  Bible  lay  before  him  night 
and  day. 

James  Bonnell,  Esq.  made  the  Holy  Scriptures  his 
constant  and  daily  study.  He  read  them,  he  ineditated  upon 
them,  he  prayed  over  them. 

The  celebrated  WiTSius  was  able  to  recite  almost  any  pas- 
sage of  Scripture  in  its  proper  language,  together  with  its  con- 
text, and  the  criticisms  of  the  best  commentators. 

Mr.  William  Gouge  tied  hnnself  to  read  fifteen  chapters 
in  the  Bible  daily. 

Lady  Frances  Hobart  read  the  Psalms  over  twelve 
times  every  year,  the  Kezv  Testament  thrice,  and  the  other  parts 
of  the  Old  Testament  once. 

Susannah,  Countess  of  Suffolk,  for  the  last  seven  years  of 
her  life,  read  the  whole  Bible  over  twice  annually*. 

*  There  have  been  many  female  characters  highly  eminent  for 
their  piety  and  knowledge  oi'  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  as  well  as  those 
above  meutioned.  I  will  instance  a  few;  Queen  Cathatine 
Parr— Qw^  Mary— Lady  C.  Covrtes— Lady  M.  Hough- 
ton—Larf^/  Cltts— Lady  E.HxsriyGs— Lady  M.Armyne— 
.  Lady  A.  Halket— JLfff/yLANGHAM— L/zf/j/  E.Brooke— Lfl</v 
M.  Vere— 3/rs.  C.  Phillips— 3/rs.  J.  Ratuliffe- 3/r*.  C. 
Bretterg— 3/r*.  A.  Baynard— J/r*.  A.  M.  Schurman — 
Mrs.  E.  Bury— 3/rs.  E.  Burnet— .l/rs.  E.  Rowe,  and  others. 

See  GiBBOiSf's  Memoirs  oi Pious  Ladies  and  Biographium  Foemi- 

neum. 

In  the  reign  of  Henry  V.  a  law  wus  passed  against  the  perusal 
of  the  Scriptures  in  English.  It  enacted,  •'  that  whatsoever  they 
were  who  sliould  read  tiie  Scriptures  in  the  mother  tongue,  they 
should  forfeit  laud,  catel,  lif,  and  gocles  from  theyr  heyres  for  ever, 
and  so  be  cnndempned  for  here  tykes  to  GoD,  enemies  to  the  cro\\ne, 
and  most  errant  traitors  to  the  lande." 

Vide  Neal  s  History  of  the  Puritans,  vol.  1.  p.  7- 
The  above  is  an  honourable  hst  of  female  characters.  We  may 
therefore  place  them  in  the  higher  class  of  Bishop  Aylmer's  ac- 
count of  the  fair  sex;  for  this  good  bishoj),  when  preachuig  at 
court  before  Quern  Elizabeth,  tells  his  audience,  that  "  women 
are  of  two  sorts,  some  of  them  are  wiser,  better  learned,  discreeter, 
and  more  constant  than  a  number  of  men;  bat  another  and  worse 
sort  of  them,  and  the  3)iost  part,  are  fond,  foolish,'  wanton  flib- 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  Gy3 

And  that  the  knowledge  of  Holy  Scripture  was  never  in- 
tended to  he  confnu'd  to  the  C/ergi/,  or  to  Kinvs,  {cinw^d  men, 
and  persons  of  rank,  is  evident,  not  only  from  %vhat  we  have  ob- 
served from  Bingham  and  others,  but  also  from  the  words  of 
Erasmus,  who  contributed  more  perhaps  than  any  other  man 
towards  promoting  the  knowledge  of  scriptural  learning. — ''  1 
would  desire,"  says  he,  ''  that  all  women  should  read  the  Gos- 
pel, and  the  Epistles  of  St.  Paul.  I  would  to  God,  the 
plowman  would  sing  a  text  of  Scripture  at  his  plough;  and 
that  the  weaver  at  his  loom  with  this  would  drive  away  the  te- 
diousness  of  time.  I  would  the  wayfaring  man,  w ith  this  pas- 
time, would  expel  the  weariness  of  his  journt-y.  And,  in  short, 
I  would  that  all  the  communication  of  the  Clnisti(i?i  should  be 
of  the  Sciiptnre." 

If  we  come  to  our  own  time,  it  might  be  made  appear,  that 
abundance  of  the  most  serious  and  valuable  people,  among  the 
ditferent  denominations  of  men,  spend  a  good  portion  of  their 
time  in  this  sacred  exercise.  I  observe  only,  still  farther,  how- 
ever, that  the  late  Rev.  William  Romainl,  before  men- 
tioned, studied  nothing  but  the  Bible  for  the  last  thirty  or  forty 
years  of  his  life. 

Ail  these  examples,  from  ancients  and  moderns,  are  pro- 
duced in  this  place,  to  encourage  the  serious  believer  to  abound 
in  this  divine  employ,  for  the  comfort  and  editication  of  his  own 
mind.  Tlie  more  intimately  we  are  acquainted  with  these  w  ri- 
tings,  the  more  fully  shall  we  be  persuaded  of  their  incompar- 
able excellence.  The  very  learned  Le  Clerc  tells  ns,  "that 
while  he  was  compiling  his  Harrnoity,  he  was  so  struck  with 
admiration  of  the  excellent  discourses  of  Jesus,  so  inflamed 
with  the  love  of  his  most  holy  doctrine,  that  he  thought  he  but 
just  then  began  to  be  acquainted  with  what  he  scarce  ever  laid 
out  of  his  hands  from  his  infancy."  Indeed,  the  scheme  of  re- 
demption therein  exhibited  is  most  worthy  of  acceptation,  ad- 
mirably calculated  to  make  all  mankind  virtuous  and  happv, 
could  all  mankind  see  its  excellence,  feel  its  necessity,  and  sub- 
mit to  its  righteous  requirements.     Far  are  we  from  wisliing  vou 

bergibs,  tatlers,  triHers,  wavering,  witless,  without  counsel,  feeble, 
careless,  rash,  proud,  dainty,  nice,  tale-bearers,  eves-dropj^ers,  ru- 
mour-raisers, evil-tongued,  wor^e-minded,  and  in  every  wise  doltified 
with  the  dregs  of  the  devil's  dunghill." 

Brit.  Bio^.  vol.  3.  p.  23p. 


294  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

to  pay  a  blind  submission  to  every  thing  that  goes  under  the 
name  of  Religion.  Very  far  are  we  fiom  desiring  you  to  be- 
lieve as  we  believe,  or  to  act  iu  every  respect  as  we  think  right 
to  act.  Prize  the  libeity  wherewith  God  hath  providentially 
made  you  free.  Lse  your  ovin  reason,  but  use  it  soberly.  Be- 
ware of  vain  and  spurious  pretensions.  Be  upon  your  gu.  rd 
against  a  sophistical  Philosophy,  the  fasliiun.ible  folly  of  the 
present  day.  To  sound  P/iilosopht/  we  have  no  objection; 
but  v\hen  a  spurious  kind  of  wisdom,  falsely  called  Philosophy, 
would  rob  us  of  our  Bible,  to  which  we  are  ail  more  indebted 
than  we  are  willing  to  confess*,  we  mu^t  say  of  it  as  Cicero 
said  of  the  Tuelve  Tables ;— "  Thouoh  all  should  be  offended 


*  67r  Richard  Steel  says,  "the  greatest  pleasures  with  which 
the  imagination  can  be  entertained  are  to  be  found  in  Saired  Writ, 
and  even  the  style  of  Scripture  is  more  than  human. ' 

Tatter,  No.  233. 

We  have  an  account  in  the  Gentleman's  Mag.  for  June  1798, 
of  a  jV/r.  Henry  V\'illis,  farmer,  aged  SI,  deceased,  who  had 
devoted  almost  evei-y  hour  that  could  be  spared  from  his  labour, 
during  the  course  of  so  long  a  life,  to  the  devout  and  serious  perusal  of 
the  Hcly  Scriptures.  He  had  read,  with  the  most  minute  atten- 
tion, all  the  books  of  tlie  Old  and  XewTedfament  eight  tunes  over; 
and  had  proceeded  as  far  as  the  book  of  Job  in  his  ninth  readuig, 
when  his  meditations  were  terminated  by  death. 

A  still  more  excellent  account  we  have  in  IMiss  Hannah  More's 
Shepherd  of  Salishury-Plain,  which  is  no  feigned  cliaracter,  but  a 
narrative  of  real  facts,  like  the  above.  In  a  conversation  Avitli 
?Jr.  Johnson,  he  gives  tlie  following  pleasing  account  of  himself: 
— "  Blessed  be  God!  through  his  mercy  I  learned  to  read  when  f 
was  a  boy. — 1  believe  tliere  is  no  day  for  the  last  thirty  years,  that 
I  have  not  peeped  at  uiy  Bible.  If  we  can't  tiud  time  to  read  a 
chapter,  1  defy  any  man  to  say  he  can't  tind  time  to  read  a  verse ; 
and  a  single  text,  well  followed  and  put  in  practice  every  day, 
would  make  no  bad  figiiie  at  the  year's  end ;  365  texts,  v ithout  the 
loss  of  a  moment's  time,  would  make  a  pietty  stock,  a  little  goldeu 
ticasuiy,  as  one  may  say,  from  new  year's  day  to  new  year's  day; 
and  if  children  weie  iwoupht  up  to  it,  they  would  come  to  look  for 
their  text^  as  naturally  as  they  do  for  their  breakfast. — I  can  say  the 
greatest  part  of  the  Bilile  by  heart.  I  ha\e  led  but  a  lonely  life, 
and  have  ofren  had  but  little  to  eat;  but  my  Bible  has  been  meat, 
dnnk,  and  company  to  me — and  when  want  and  trouble  have  come 
upon  me,  I  don't  know  what  I  should  have  done  iiideed,  if  I  had  not 
had  the  protuises  of  this  i)ook  for  my  stay  and  support." 

Let  lio  nui'i  liertaffer  pretend  he  cannot  hnd  time  to  read  the 
Sacred  i^Tiiings.  Everj'  person  has  abundant  leisure  for  the  pur- 
pose.    Find  butincliuatiou,  and  you  will  soon  tind  time. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  295 

I  will  speak  what  I  think.  Truly  the  little  book  of  the  Tuelve 
Tables  alone,  whether  we  consider  the  several  chapters,  or  re- 
gard it  as  the  foundation  of  all  our  laws,  exceeds  the  libraries  of 
all  the  Phi/osophers,  as  w ell  in  tlie  weight  of  its  authority,  an 
in  the  extent  of  its  utility*." 

The  principles  of  natural  religion  are  all  solid,  and  founded 
m  the  reason  and  relation  of  things.  The  Gospel  of  Christ  is 
equally  solid  and  rational.  It  takes  in,  unites,  and  confirms 
even-  principle  of  nature,  and  adds  a  number  of  circumstances 
suited  to  the  fallen  condition  of  man.  And  it  calls  upon,  it  in- 
vites, it  challenges,  it  commands  us  to  examine  its  pretensions 
with  all  possible  care,  ac  curacy,  and  severity. 

"  Wrong  not  the  Christian;  think  not  Reason  yours; 
'Tis  Beason  our  great  Master  holds  so  dear; 
Tis  Reason's  injured  riglits  his  wrath  resents; 
'Tis  Reason's  voice  <jbey'd  his  slories  crown. — 
On  Argument  alone  our  faith  is  built." 

If  the  Gospel  had  not  been  agreeable  to  the  most  refined 
principles  of  human  reason,  we  should  never  have  found  the 
soundest  and  most  perfect  reasoners,  that  ever  appeared  upon 
earth,    enlist   under   its   l)anner-f-.     That   it   is   not  universally 


*  "  Fremant  oranes  licet,  dicam  quod  sentio:  bihliothecas  me- 
hercule  omiiiura  philosophorum  unus  raihi  videtur  XII  tabularujii 
libellus,  si  quis  legum  fonteis,  et  capita  viderit,  et  auctoritatis 
pondere,  et  utilitatis  ubertate-superare." 

De  Oratore,  lib.  1.  sect  195. 

I  We  may  add  too,  that  the  more  active,  useful,  and  benevolent 
characters  in  our  <>%vu  more  eniigliteiied  day  have  been  the  firmest 
belie\  ers  in  the  w  ritings  of  the  Old  and  yew  Testaments.  The  late 
John  W  eslky  spent  his  whole  life,  time,  strength,  and  fortune  in 
spreading  the  kuuW'Iedi;2  of  Christ  and  his  Word.  The  late 
John  How  ard,  Esq.  vas  equally  active  in  advancing  the  same 
cause,  in  a  way  as  uupiccedented,  as  it  was  useful.  He  was  a  firm 
believer  in  the  Scriptures,  and  a  very  serious  and  conscientious 
Christian,  of  tt>e  Bup,tst  ]>ersua-ion. 

BoLLiNGBROKE,  i.ideed,  tells  the  world,  that  "  the  resurrection 
of  letters  was  a  fatal  period :  the  Christian  system  has  been  at- 
ta«ked,  and  wounded  too,  very  severely  since  that  time."  Page 
18  2.  He  tells  us  in  another  place,  "  that  Christianity  has  been  in 
decay  ever  since  tl-e  i«";urrection  of  letters."  Pa^e  ISo.  The 
late  Kin^  of  Prus^i  1  us  tiie  same  sentiment :  "  Hobbes,  Collins, 
Shaftesbury,  mm  Dollingbroke,  in  England,  and  their  disci- 


296  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

received,  is  by  no  means  to  be  ascribed,  either  to  its  want  of 
due  evidence,  or  to  its  being  an  irrational  scheme;  but  to 
causes  of  a  very  different  nature.  If  our  Gospel  be  hid,  it  is 
hid  to  them  that  are  lost;  in  zehom  the  god  of  this  world  hath 
blinded  the  minds  of  them  that  believe  not,  lest  the  light  of 
the  fflorious  Gostkl  of  Chrtst  should  shine  unto  them. 
This  view  ought  to  alarm  the  fears,  and  rouse  the  attention  of 
every  man  hving;  but  especially  of  our  unbelieving  and  scepti- 
cal conntnjnicn.  Rejection  of  the  truths  of  religion  is  always 
in  the  Sacred  Writings  ascribed  to  a  fault  in  tlio  heart  and 
will,  rather  than  to  any  defect  in  the  Jiead.  Yc  will  not  come 
unto  me,  that  ye  may  have  lif'. — If  anij  man  will  do  his 
•willy  he  shall  knozii  of  the  doctrine  rchether  it  be  of  God,  or 
fchether  I  speak  of  myself . — The  Kicked  shall  do  wickedly, 
and  none  of  the  wicked  sua-ll  understand,  but  the  wise  shall 
understand. — The  zcays  of  the  Lord  are  right,  and  the  just 
shall  walk  in  them:  but  the  transgressors  shall  fall 
therein.  Say  not  then,  my  Friends,  that  ye  a"o?//J  believe 
if  ye  could.  Deceive  not  yourselves  by  alledging  want  of  evi- 
dence. Tell  us  no  longer  of  the  absurdities  and  contradictions 
of  Scripture.     The  evidence  is  ample*.     The  absurdities  will 

pies,  have  given  religion  a  mortal  blow."  History  of  his  Own  Times, 
vol.  1.  p.  ii'2. 

These  two  great  men  are  mistaken.  They  confound  pure  evan- 
gelical religion  Avith  superstition.  The  latter  we  grant,  and  we 
glory  in  the  truth,  has  received  a  mortal  blow;  but  the  former  is  as 
uushakeable  as  the  throne  of  the  ETERNAL. 

One  of  tiie  most  extraordinary  Philosophers  of  the  present  age 
was  the  late  David  Rittei^holtse,  of  ^/«mc«.  Dr.  Rush,  of 
Philadelphia,  who  is  himself  an  able  PhUosopher  and  a  determined 
Christian,  observes  very  justly,  when  speaking  of  the  decease  of 
the  above  R,ittenhouse,  who  left  our  world  Jan.  26,  179^,  that 
"  it  is  no  small  triumph  to  the  friends  of  Revelation  to  observe,  in 
this  age  of  Infidelity,  that  our  Religion  has  been  admitted,  and 
even  defended ,  by  men  of  the  most  exalted  understandmg,  and 
of  the  strongest  reasoning  power.  The  single  testimony  of  Da- 
vid Ritten house  in  its  favour  outweighs  the  declamations  of 
whole  nations  against  it." 

*  "  Reasonable  Deists  cannot  but  become  Christians,  where  the 
Gospel  shines."  These  several  passages  of  the  Sacred  Writings  ac- 
count suihcienily  \^  ell  for  the  Infidelity  of  our  several  deistical  wri- 
ters. BoLiNGBROKE,  Voltaire,  Gibbon,  Paine,  and  most 
odiers,  of  whom  I  have  had  any  knowledge,  seem  to  have  been 
destitute  of  the  proper  state  of  mind  for  the  investigation  of  reli- 


AXD  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  C97 

raiiisli^  the  contradictions  will  cease,  when  once  your  minds  are 
brought  into  a  humble,  teachable,  and  religious  frame  ;  when  the 
veil  is  taken  from  your  hearts,  aud  the  scales  have  fallen  from 
vour  eves.  Deny  yourselves,  therefore.  Cease  to  live  in 
sin.  Mortify  your  lusts  and  passions.  ]\irt  with  the  pride  of 
false  philosophy.  Live  in  humility,  purity,  and  \irtue.  Be 
good  moral  men,'c^Mi^;,"*^.!ious  worshippers  of  God,  upon  your 
own  principles,  sober  enquirers  after  truth,  praying  for  divine 
direction,  and  it  will  not  be  long  before  you  become  Be/iciers 
in  Jesus  Christ.  No  moral  man  can,  rationa/Ij/,  wish  to 
reject  the  Gospel,  because  it  is  all  purity  and. goodness,  and  the 
most  powerful  means,  with  which  the  world  was  ever  favoured, 
of  making  us  virtuous  and  good. 

"  lu  his  blest  life 


I  see  the  path  ;  and  in  his  death  the  price : 
Aud  in  his  great  ascent,  the  proof  supreme 
Of  inuuortuhty." 

For,  whatever  was  the  cause,  it  is  plain  in  fact,  that  human 
reason,  unassisted,  failed  mankind  in  its  great  and  proper  busi- 
ness of  morality  ;  and,  therefore,  1  repeat  again,  he  that  shall 
be  at  the  pains  of  collecting  all  the  moral  rules  of  the  ancient 
Philosophers,  and  compare  them  with  those  contained  in  the 
Ntrv  Ttstanteut,  will  tind  them  to  come  infinitely  short  of  the 
morality     delivered     by    our    Saviour,    and    taught    by    his 

gious  truth.  "  From  several  couversations,"  says  the  learned 
Beattie,  "  which  it  has  been  my  chance  to  have  with  Unbelievers, 
I  have  learned  lliat  i^uoraiite  of  the  nature  of  our  religion,  and  a 
dishicluiation  to  study  both  it  aud  its  evidence,  are  to  be  reckoned 
among  the  chief  causes  of  J/iJidiliti/." 

Allix's  Rfjicctiona  uptiu  the  books  of  the  Holy  Scripture  cou- 
tain  a  large  number  of  valuable  thoughts,  and  should  be  read  m. 
oppositiou  to  all  the  flimsy  objection:,  of  the  above  Diiats.  Kett's 
SenihOtts  at  tlie  Bampton  Lecture  sutiiciently  invahdate  the  sopiiistry 
of  Gibbon.  Much  satisfactory  light  Ir.is  lately  been  thrown  upon 
the  Plagues  of  Egi/j-t  by  the  learned  Jacob  Bryant.  The  Old 
Testameid  has  been  more  lately  defeuded  against  the  attacks  of 
Thomas  Paink  by  David  Levi,  a  learned  ./ru-,  with  considerable 
ability.  But  of  all  suigle  books,  none,  I  tliiuk,  is  equal  to  the  ad- 
mirable (ou/if  of  Lectures  by  the  excellent  Z)r.  Doddridge  ;  a 
work  which  no  inquisitive  Christian  should  be  without  iii  his  librarv. 
The  Biogruphia  Britannica  asserts,  that Sti lling fleet's  Origirus 
Sacra  is  "  the  best  defence  of  revealed  religion  ever  written." 

0  q 


598  A  PLEA  FOR  RELlGIOxV 

yipostlcs  *.  Add  to  this,  that  no  other  religion,  which  ever  was 
in  the  world,  hath  made  provision  for  pardoning  the  »ins  of 
mankind,  and  restoring  us  to  the  divine  favour,  in  a  wav  con- 
sistent witli  the  perfections  and  government  of  the  Supreme 
Being. 

\ou  will  give  these  reasonings,  O  mv  Countrymen,  that 
weight  which  ve  suppose  they  desei'*^'  ■  If  ye  seriously  and 
conscientiously  think  there  is  nothing  in  them  worthy  of  your 
attention,  by  all  means  reject  them.  If  any  of  you  are  eojtvineed 
by  what  is  advanced,  that  ye  have  hitherto  been  mistaken,  in 
rejecting  Jesus  Christ  and  his  Gospel;  or  if  ye  see  ground 
to  suspect  you  may  be  wrong ;  let  no  considerations  of  shame 
induce  you  to  deny  your  co}iziction&  or  suspicious.  Mauv  men 
have  been  mistaken  as  well  as  you.  I  ni\self,  ye  perceive, 
have   seen   reason  to   change  several  opinions,    which    before 

*  "  Is  it  bigotry,"  says  an  elegant  writer  now  living,  "  to  be- 
lieve the  sublime  truths  of  the  Gospel  with  full  assurance  of  faith  ? 
— I  glor}  in  such  bigotry  :  I  would  not  part  with  it  for  a  thousand 
worlds;  I  congratulate  the  man  who  is  possessed  of  it;  fop  ainidNt 
all  the  vicissitudes  and  calamities  of  the  present  state,  that  man  en- 
joys an  inexhaustible  fund  of  consolation,  of  which  it  is  not  in  the 
power  of  fortune  to  deprive  liim." 

«•  There  is  not  a  boo4i  on  earth  so  favourable  to  all  the  kind, 
and  all  the  sublime  affections,  or  so  unfriendly  to  hatred  and  per- 
secution, to  tyranny,  injustice,  and  every  sort  of  malevolence,  as 
the  Gospel. — It  breathes  nothing  throughout  but  mercy,  benevo- 
lence, and  peace." 

Air.  Paine  reflects  upon  the  Scripture  for  being  deficient  in  mo- 
ral precepts.  I  defy  him,  howe\er,  or  any  other  Deist  in  the 
world,  to  produce  from  all  the  stores  of  Htathcn  w  ritings  any  thing-, 
equal  or  second  to  Christ's  Sermon  on  the  Mount;  to  tlie  12th 
chapter  of  Romans,  or  to  the  13th  chapter  of  the  1st  Corinthians. 
Let  any  man  shew  us  a  system  of  nioraUty  equal  unto  these  pas- 
sages if  he  can. — The  truth  is,  Mr.  Paine  knows  very  little  of  the 
matter. — And,  moreo%er,  what  has/<c  to  do  with  moraliti/?  he  that 
is  so  extreiviely  immoral  in  his  own  conduct  ? — Out  of  thine  own 
mouth  shall  ihou  be  judged,  O  thou  immoral  man  *  ! 

See  the  Life  of  Thomas  Paine  written  by  Francis  Oldys, 
M.  A.  of  the  University  of  Pennsi/lcania,  and  tliat  of  the  same  per- 
son written  by  Peter  Porcupine.  From  these  accounts  it  ap- 
pears, tliat,  \et  Mr,  Paine  talk  about  philosophy  aud  morality  as 
nuich  as  Ise  })lcases,  he  has  been,  at  dilicrent  periods  of  his  life,  a 
very  bad  and  immoral  man,  and,  so  far  as  appears,  contumes  the 
same  unto  this  day. 

*  Let  Mr,  Paine  call  to  mind  the  st9rj-  of  tlie  ten  pounds  at  Dover  f 


AND  THE  S ACllKD  WRITINGS.  299 

I  had  thought  fouiide<l  in  truth,  livery  person,  indeed,  nuist 
naturally  and  necessarily  at  t\ist  be  a  stranger  to  the  Gos/nZ-re- 
deinption.  Our  eftorts,  iheretorc,  should  be  made  to  become 
acq«aiuted  with  it,  and  to  get  into  the  good  and  right  way.  If" 
%\e  look  back  upon  the  l"oreg«iing  pages,  we  sliall  see  that  seve- 
ral of  the  characters  there  mcnlioned  had  been  much  lc<l  astray. 
1  hrough  dift'erent  means,  however,  they  discovered  iJieir  error. 
They  acknowledged  their  fault.  They  lamented  their  sin. 
They  laid  aside  their  prepossessions,  and  sought  for  the  trutti 
with  all  their  skill  and  abilities.  They  were  convinced  in  their 
understandings  *  ;  converted  in  their  hearts  ;  they  beJitvcd  in  the 
Redeemer;  obeyed  his  Go.<;/)t7,-  and,  through  intinite  and  ttn- 
ujerited  grace,  were  eternally  saved.  \\  hy  then  should  not  you 
pursue  the  same  measures,  if  you  have  any  suspicions  that  eveay 
thing  is  not  witii  you  as  it  should  be.'  \ou  must  allow,  if  the 
Gos/W-account  of  things  be  true,  it  is  incouceiveably  important. 
Treat  it  not,  therefore,  with  contempt,  neglect,  hidiffercnce, 
but  examine  the  matter  to  the  bottom.  Follow  the  example 
of  West  and  Littleton,  on  a  former  page,  and  let  no  man 
lead  you  by  the  nose  to  destruction,  or  sneer  you  out  of  salva- 
tion. Examine  the  evidence,  and,  with  all  simplicity  and  hu- 
mility of  mind,  judge  according  to  that  evidence.  And  if  ye 
arc  finally  convinced,  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  act  nobly, 
confess  his  name,  like  Rochester  f,  to  the  teeth  of  his  op- 

*  The  reader  will  fiud  a  ver^  clear  and  concise  account  of  the  true 
foundation  of  all  human  know  le«l<;c  in  the  Letters  of  the  celehrated 
Eller,  the  greatest  mathematician  of  the  present  age,  to  a  Ger- 
vian  Princess,  vol.1.  Let.  11.").  p.  511.  This  extraordinary  man, 
second  to  none  but  tlie  immortal  Newton,  was  a  serious  and  con- 
scientious Christian,  and  avowed  his  belief  in  Christ  upon  all  pro- 
piT  occasions.  And  while  his  great  Master  declared  that  he  found 
"  more  sure  marks  of  authenticity  in  the  BihJe,  than  in  any  profane 
history  w  hatever ;''  he  w  rites  to  the  above  Princess,  that  "  tlie  holy 
life  of  the  Apostles  and  of  the  other  primitive  Christiaus  apjjeared 
to  him  an  irresistihle  proof  ot  the  truth  of  the  Christian  religion." 
Ix-tter  114.  For  the  above  declaration  of  Sir  Isaac  NewtuN, 
see  Bishop  Watson's  admirable  Apology  {or  Christianity  in  answer 
to  Mr.  Gibbon,  I^t.  3.  p.  '2ii. 

+  ^^e  have  another  \ery  resjKct able  and  honourable  instance  of 
this  nature  to  present  to  the  reader,  which  has  just  taken  place, 
and  which  others  of  our  </m//crt/ gentlemen  would  find  their  advan- 
tage in  imitating:  Dr.  Okely,  son,  I  believe,  (.f  the  late  eminent 
iirreh  s(  liohir,  Mr.  Fr  \NCIS  Okely,  who  Ls  now  physician  to  the 
Sorthuiiipton  Injirmary,  some  months  ago,    published  an  octavo 

9  q  2 


300  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

posers,  and  strive  like  him,  to  undo  all  the  mischief  you  may 
have  occasioned  to  others. 

voUimc,  entitled,  "  Pyrolog)f,  or  the  Connect  ion  btfwccn  Natural  (Oid 
Moral  Philosophy,  ivith  a  Disquisition  on  the  Origin  of  Christi- 
anity;"  in  Avhich  it  was  conipietily  exploded,  together  with  the 
doctrine  of  a  future  state.  It  has  pleased  God,  however,  to  shew 
J)r.  Ok  ELY  the  vanity  of  his  }thi!osopiiy,  and  he  lias  done  hhnsclf 
the  honour  to  puhlish  the  following  manly  renunciation  of  his 
errors : 

"  The  Author  of  Pyrology  feels  himself  irresistibly  iinpelled 
to  make  known,  that  he  is  now  thf)ro<!uh]y  convinced  of  the  moral 
government  of  God,  the  iiiimortality  of  the  liuman  soul,  or  future 
state,  and  of  the  truth  of  Christianity  in  its  fullest  extent.  For  his 
involuntary  error  he  contidently  hopes  to  be  pardoned  by  Almighty 
God,  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ;  but  at  the  same  time 
tliinks  it  his  duty,  in  this  j^ublic  manner,  to  solicit  the  pardon  of 
his  readers  for  having,  as  much  as  in  him  lay,  though  he  trusts  hi- 
eftectually,  contributed  to  lead  them  astray." 

Missionary  Magazine. 

We  may  observe  upon  this  subject,  that  there  are  other  conver- 
sions in  the  present  day  from  Deism  to  Christianity,  besides  tliis  of 
Dr.  Ok  ELY,  and  those  we  have  already  mentioned  in  these  papers. 
Dr.  Vanderkemp,  a  Dutch  physician,  was  convinced  and  reco- 
vered from  Infidelity  by  an  alarming  providence,  and  has  devoted 
himself  as  a  Missionary  for  the  con\ersion  of  the  Heathen.  Cap- 
tain Wilson  also  is  another  remarkable  instance,  who,  in  gratitude 
to  God  for  his  goodness  to  him,  undertook  to  convey  the  JMia- 
fionarics  to  the  Southern  Ocean,  and  has  accomplished  the  under- 
taking with  great  and  sui-prisiug  success,  without  putting  the  Society 
to  the  smallest  expence. 

We  are  told  in  the  Walpoliana,  that  Gray,  the  poet,  was  a 
Deist,  though  a  violent  enemy  of  Atheists ;  and  it  does  not  appear 
that  ever  he  was  changed. Month.  Mag.  for  Oct.  1798. 

Henry  Redhead  Yorke,  Esq.  one  of  the  gentlemen  who 
was  sentenced  to  a  long  imprisonment  for  seditious  practices,  may 
be  mentioned  as  another  instance  of  a  person,  wliose  mind  has  un- 
dergone a  great  change  during  his  imprisonment ;  and  he  has  been 
open  and  honest  enough  to  avow  it. 

"  The  \  ices  and  frauds  of  the  professors  of  Christianity,"  says  he, 
•'  have  m)tliing  to  do  with  Christianity  itself.  To  know  what  it  is, 
we  must  look  to  the  only  proper  place.  The  Scriptures.  The 
Christian  religion  is  pecuhar  to  itself;  it  has  nothing  in  common 
with  the  other  systems  of  religion  which  have  existed  in  the  world. 
It  has  CJod  for  its  founder,  and  reason  for  its  basis.  It  is  every 
where  uniform,  consistent,  and  complete." 

See  this  Gentleman's  very  valuable  Letter  to  the  Reformers  for 
more  sentiineuts  to  the  same  purpose. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  301 

**■  Butj  if  we  should  be  so  seriously  relifijious,  as  you  seem 
to  think  necessary,  we  shall  lose  all  the  comioiis  of  life^  and 
become  dull  and  melaiicholv." 

If  this  were  true,  one  hour's  enjoyment  of  the  glory  of  hea- 
ven would  more  than  make  amends  for  all  your  present  loss. 
It  is  not,  however,  true.  The  ways  of  godliness  are  grievously 
belied.  For  there  is  no  ha})piness  like  tiie  happiness  of  religion, 
even  in  the  present  world;  and  no  peace  like  that  of  God, 
Zihich passcth  all  ii?ich}st(iuJing. 

"  The  Men  of  Gract  have  found 

Glory  hesun  below  ; 
Celestial  fruits  on  earthly  jjround. 

From  faith  and  hope  do  grow. 
The  hill  of  Sion  yiekls 

A  thousand  saciod  sweet-s, 
Before  we  reacli  the  heavenly  fields. 

Or  walk  the  golden  streets." 

*'  Cut — I  shall  be  singular!" — This  is  partly  true,  and  partly 
otherwise.  And  suppose  you  are  singular:  how  will  this  in- 
jure you  ?  You  will  have  the  approbation  of  your  own  n)ind. 
You  will  have  God,  and  Christ,  and  ansels,  and  all  good 
men  your  friends.  And  is  not  this  sufficient,  but  you  must  have 
the  approbation  of  the  devil  and  all  his  servants  too,  the  chil- 
dren of  vice  and  folly  ?  Mistake  not,  fond  man ;  the  approba- 
tion of  both  is  incompatible.  You  cannot  serve  (jod  and 
JMamtnon  ;  neither  can  you  have  the  friendship  of  God, 
Christ,  angels,  and  good  men,  and  at  the  same  time  possess 
the  approbation  of  the  devil,  and  his  servants,  whose  portion  is 
in  this  life.  The  thing  is  impossible.  You  may  as  well  at- 
tempt to  reconcile  light  and  darkness,  .fire  and  water,  heaven  and 
hell. — But  suppose  you  should  become  a  convert  of  the  Gospel 
of  Christ,  and  be  truly  in  earne-st  about  the  salvation  of  your 
soul,  and,  of  course,  singular  in  your  way  and  manner  of  life; 
what  inconvenience  would  you  sustain  r  or  what  real  dishonour 
would  you  undergo  r  Was  not  Socrates  singular  among  tlie 
yitlitniansY  Were  not  Enoch  and  Noah  singular  amon^ 
the  j-iiitediluvians'^  Was  not  Abraham  singular  in  Ca- 
7iaan,  and  Lot  in  Sodom'^  Were  not  Elijah,  ElIsha, 
Isaiah,  and  all  the  prophets,  very  singular  persons  in  their 
day?  Our  blessed  Lord,  his  holy  Jposf/es,  and  all  the  pri- 
Hiiiive   Christians,  were  they  not  uniformly   the  same.''    And 


502  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

where  was  the  misfortune  of  all  this  ?  When  we  read  the  story 
of  these  ancient  worthies,  don't  we  admire  their  wisdom,  their 
courage,  their  choice,  and  their  noble  superiority  to  all  those 
poor  creatures  who  opposed  them,  and  cast  out  their  name  as 
evil?  What  man  of  taste  does  not  approve  th*  conduct  of  Ab- 
DiEL  in  Milton  ?  Never  character  was  more  enviable,  or 
more  worthy  of  imitation  : 

"The  seraph  Abdi EL   aithful  found 

Among  the  faithless,  faithful  only  he ; 

Among  innumerable  false,  unmov'd, 

"Unshaken^  unseduc'd,  unterriiy'd 

His  loyalty  he  kept,  his  love,  his  zeal ; 

Nor  number,  nor  example  with  him  \vrought 

To  s\ver\'e  from  truth,  or  change  his  constant  mind 

Though  single.     From  amidst  them  fortli  he  pass'd. 

Long  way  through  hostile  scorn,  which  lie  ^ustain'd 

Superior,  nor  of  violence  fear'd  ought; 

And  with  retorted  scorn  his  back  he  turu'd 

On  those  proud  tow'rs  to  s\\  ift  destruction  doom'd, — • 

Gladly  then  he  mix'd 

With  his  own  friendly  Pow'rs,  who  hini  received 
,  With  joy  and  acclamations  loud,  that  one. 
That  of  so  many  myriads  fall'n,  yet  one 
Ketum'd  not  lost.     On  to  the  sacred  hill 
They  led  him  high  applaudel,  and  present 
Before  the  seat  supreme ;  from  whence  a  voice. 
From  'midst  a  golden  cloud,  thus  mild  was  heard. 
Servant  of  God,  ivell  done,  well  /i ant  thon  f ought 
The  better  ji«;ht,   who  .sitis'le  hast  lualntain  d 
Agolnfit  revolted  multitudes  the  eause 
Of  truth,  in  word  mightier  than  they  in  arms; 
And  for  the  testimoni/  of  truth  host  borne 
Universal  reproach,  far  wor.se  to  hear 
Than  violence ;  for  this  rtus  all  thy  care 
To  stand  approvd  in  sight  of  God,  though  worlds 
Judg'd  thee  perverse." 

From  all  these  considerations  it  is  evident,  that  there  are 
times  and  circumstances,  M'hen  if  a  man  will  be  truly  religious, 
and  preserve  an  unshaken  fidelity  to  his  Creator  and  his  Sa- 
vioun,  he  must  be  singular;  he  must  step  aside;  he  must  beg 
to  be  excuMjd  in  a  variety  of  cases.  He  n)ust  be  singular,  or  lose 
his  soul.  Let  not  the  fear  of  this  odious  imputation,  therefore, 
deter  any  man  from  exem))lary  piety.  I'lie  giddy  multitude,  and 
the  sons  and  daughters  of  pleasure,  falsch/  so  called,  may  pre- 
tend to  sneer  and  deride;  but  yet,  not\\ illistanding,  they  will  se- 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  30;1 

cretly  applaud  your  virtuous  conduct.  There  is  a  certain  dig- 
nity, a  real  nobility,  a  secret  charm,  in  a  consistently  religious 
character,  which  none  can  despise  *.  And,  sooner  or  later, 
the  whole  human  race  will  be  of  one  opinion  concerning  it. 

Instead  of  being  Heroes  in  w  ickedness  then,  or  ring-leaders 
in  the  cause  of  InJidcUli/  (for  there  are  not  a  few  who  make  a 
mock  at  sin,  and  glory  in  their  shame)  let  it  be  your  highest  am- 
bition to  become  Christian  Heroes -f;  Heroes  who  can  forgive, 
and  love,  and  bless  your  enemies;  who  can  conquer  the  world 
and  all  your  own  degenerate  propensities  ;  Heroes,  w  hose  heads 
are  big  only  w  ith  schemes  of  mercy  and  of  kindness ;  whose 
Jiand.s  are  continually  stretched  out  in  prayer  and  acts  of  bene- 
volence! and  who  are  never  at  ease,  but  in  going  about  doing 
good  to  the  bodies  and  souls    of  men;  Heroes ^  in  whom  reli- 

*  Lord  Peterborough,  more  fam'd  for  wit  than  religion, 
when  he  lodged  with  Fenelon  at  Cainhraif,  was  so  charmed  witli 
the  piety  and  virtue  of  the  Archbishop,  that  he  exclaimed  at  part- 
ing :  "  If  I  stay  here  any  longer,  I  shall  become  a  Christian  in  spite 
of  myself." 

t  Sir  Richard  Steel's  Christian  Hero,  Is  a  little  book  worth 
the  atfenti(»n  of  the  reailer,  especially  of  the  reader,  who  is  dis- 
posed to  lejert  the  (iospel.  It  contains  an  arginnent  to  prove, 
tluit  no  piiiici[)U's  hut  those  of  Rr/iirion  are  surticient  to  make  a 
great  man.  In  this  little  hook  we  have  a  sort  of  comparison  be- 
tween tlie  characters  of  Cato  and  Cyi'.sAR,  Brutus  and  CassIUs, 
Jesus  Christ  and  St.  Padl.  These  illustrious  Heathens  nrake 
hut  a  \ery  poor  figure,  when  placed  by  the  side  of  these  Christian 
Heroes. 

X  One  of  the  most  illustrious  I'e.roes  that  England  ever  bred, 
a  nran  equally  celebrated  for  valour,  for  g«niius,  and  tor  learning, 
was  not  asliaiui'd  to  address  his  wife  in  the  views  of  approaching 
dissolution  in  the  following  jiious  strain : — "  Love  GoD,  and  begin 
betimes,  in  him  you  .^hall  hnd  true,  everlastuig,  and  endless  com- 
fort. When  you  have  traxelled  and  wearief  yourself  with  all  sorts 
of  worldly  cogitations,  you  shall  sit  du\^!l  l»y  s.-rrow  in  tJie  end. 
Teach  your  son  also  to  serve  and  fear  GoD  whilst  he  is  young, 
tJiat  the  fear  of  (JoD  may  grow  up  in  him.  Then  will  Goo  be  a 
husband  lo  you,  and  a  talhei  to  him,  a  Imsbaad  and  a  father  tirat 
can  ne\er  be  taken  from  you." 

This  is  true  Heroism!   Such  was  Sir  Walter  Raleigii! 

How  different  is  the  < onduct  of  tlie  French  and  Ent^lirh,  during 
the  course  of  the  i)iesent  unira))jiy  war,  on  the  bubjett  of  Reli- 
gion. It  does  not  appear,  that  the  former  have  ever  ackn<;w!eo<red 
the  government  of  the  Divine  I'kino,  or  ascribed  any  of  their 
successes  to  his  all-sui)erintcnding  Providence;  whereas  the  (icnerah 
and  Admirals  of  the  latter  iiuve  frequently,  if  not  coustautly  ascribed 


304  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION" 

gion  sits^  as  it  were,  in  triumph,  with  all  the  passions  in  subjec- 
tion around  her;  ^ith  ail  the  lustre  that  wisdom,  and  prudence^ 
and  piety,  and  learning,  and  good  sense,  and  good  breeding,  can 
bestow  to  make  yonainiable;  Heroes,  in  short,  whose  daily  en- 
deavour is  to  clothe  the  naked,  to  feed  the  hungry,  to  visit  the 
sick,  to  instruct  the  ignorant,  to  he  a  father  to  the  fatherless,  a 
husband  to  the  widow,  and  a  friend  to  the  friendless  of  all  par- 
all  tlieir  successes  to  his  blessing.  The  gallant  Adniiral  Nelson 
very  properly  introduced  his  account  of  the  victory  with  which  he 
was  favoured  with  the  tremendous  name,  "Almighty  God  has 
blessed  his  Majtuft/'s  arms,  in  the  late  battle,  by  a  great  victory  over 
the  fleet  of  the  enemy."  This  was  ^  cry  proper  ;  this  was  infinitely 
becoming  a  brave  man;  this  was  the  way  to  insure  the  Divine  pn  - 
tection.  Them  that  honour  me,  I  irill  honour ;  hut  the//  that  de- 
spise me,  shall  be  li'^htly  esteemed,  i  Sam.  ii,  30.  If  the  French 
have  been  successful  in  many  of  their  eftorts,  let  it  be  considered 
that  God  cannot  succeed  their  attempts  upon  the  nations  out  of 
any  regard  to  them  as  a  virtuous  peo})le,  but  only  to  answer  his  own 
purposes,  and  to  fulfil  his  own  predictions,  concerning  the  subver- 
sion of  the  seat  of  the  Beast,  and  to  bring  in  the  Messiah's  king- 
dojn  in  all  its  glory.  The  French  are  only  the  tools  and  instru- 
ments in  the  hards  of  God's. indignation.  They  have  yet  a  deal 
of  direful  work  to  do.  When  that  is  accompUshed,  tiiey  shall  be 
laid  aside;  and,  I  hope,  chastised  and  turned  unto  the  God  of  their 
fathers. 

Dr.  Crome,  a  German  writer,  calculates,  that  the  present  hor- 
rible war,  from  1792.  to  the  end  of  1796,  has  cost  the  several 
imited  powers,  232,l6'6',666  pounds,  witli  700,000  men,  and 
France,  32(),y58,332  pounds,  with  1,000,000  of  men!  At  the  same 
period  he  considers  En^;land  alone  as  having  lost  1 50,000  men,  and 
spent  93,333,332  pounds.  Is  it  not  evident  from  hence  that  the  time 
is  come  when  God  is  poining  out  his  ^•ials  of  wrath  upon  the  nations 
which  coinpose  the  seat  of  the  Beast  ? — See  the  IMoitthli/  Mag.  for 
Nov.  1797. 

Some  people  are  extremely  alanned  at  the  consideration  of  our 
national  debt,  which,  being  about  five  hundred  niillions  of  pounds 
sterling,  they  suppose  must  crush  us  to  atoms.  Let  such  j)ersons, 
however,  refiect  for  their  comfort,  that  a  single  ten  per  cent,  upon 
all  the  national  projierty  would  wipe  off  the  whole.  The  j)enna- 
uent  and  immoveable  property  of  the  country,  it  is  sup})osed, 
would  produce  on  fair  sale,  the  enormous  sum  of  2,500,000,000 
pounds.  The  njov<^ablc  or  chattel  property  of  the  country  is  pro- 
bably of  equal  value  at  least.  Here  then  is  a  national  stock  of 
5,000,000,000  pounds  sterling.  If  from  this  we  deduct  the 
500,000,000  we  owe,  there  will  remain  a  surplus  of  four  thousand 
live  hundred  millioi's  of  pounds  sterling ! 

Consult  Chamock's  Letter  on  Finance,  and  on  ISaiional  Defence. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  305 

tics  and  denominations  of  men.  Tf  such  is  your  Heroism,  the 
ear  will  bless  when  it  hears  you ;  the  eye  will  give  witness 
when  it  sees  you ;  the  blessing  of  him  that  is  ready  to  perish 
will  come  upon  you ;  and  the  widow's  heart  will  dance  in 
your  presence  for  joy.  Simple  as  this  account  may  seem,  it 
is  a  Heroism  to  which  few,  comparatively,  ever  attain,  or  have 
any  idea  of.  It  will  require  all  your  fortitude,  and  the  utmost 
stretch  of  your  best  powers.  In  pursuing  such  a  line  of  conduct, 
in  conjunction  with  your  temporal  occupation,  you  will  be  era- 
ployed  usefully  and  comfortably  while  you  live,  and  you  will  be 
training  up  for  the  general  assembly,  and  church  of  the  jfirst 
born,  rchich  are  nrittcn  in  heaven,  when  you  die.  Be  strong 
in  the  Lord,  then,  and  in  the  power  of  his  might.  Put  on 
the  zcJiole  armour  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  '^tand 
against  the  zciles  of  the  devil.  Fight  the  goodjight  of  faith, 
and  lai/  hold  on  eternal  life.  Let  the  well-known  advice  of 
tlie  justly  celebrated  Locke,  which  is  both  wise  aiid  sasonable, 
be  acceptable  in  your  eyes.  It  will  assuredly  do  you  no  harm, 
and,  if  you  pay  due  attention  to  it,  will  do  you  eternal  good. 
He  himself  was  an  example  of  his  own  precepts.  For  fourteen 
or  fifteen  years  he  applied  himself  closely  to  the  study  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  and  employed  the  last  period  of  his  life  hard- 
ly in  any  thing  beside.  He  was  never  weary  of  admiring  the 
grand  views  of  that  sacred  book,  and  the  just  relation  of  all  its 
parts.  He  every  day  made  discoveries  in  it,  which  gave  him 
fresh  cause  of  admiration.  And  so  earnest  was  he  for  the  com- 
fort of  his  friends,  and  the  diifusion  of  sacred  knowledge  among 
them,  that  even  the  day  before  he  died,  "  he  very  particularly  ex- 
horted all  about  him  to  read  the  Holy  Scriptures,  exalting  the 
love  which  God  shewed  to  man,  in  justifying  him  by  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ,  and  returning  him  special  thanks  for  having 
called  him  to  the  knowledge  of  that  Divine  Saviour."  It 
has  been  often  repeated  too,  that,  to  a  person  who  asked  him, 
which  was  the  shortest  and  surest  way  for  a  young  gentleman  to 
attain  to  the  true  knowledge  of  the  Christian  religion,  in  the 
full  and  just  extent  of  it,  he  replied — <*  Let  him  study  the  Holy 
Scripture,  especially  the  New  Testament.  Therein  are  con- 
tained the  words  of  eternal  life. — It  hath  God  for  its  author — 
Salvation  for  its  end,  and  Truth,  without  any  mixture  of 
error,  for  its  matter*." 

*  The  ingenious  and  pious  Lav  AT  ER,  after  prcuictiiig,  like  -Sir 

B  r 


306  A  PLEA  FOR  REtJGION 

This  is  a  noble  testimony,  both  in  life  and  in  death,  from 
this  renowned  Christian  philosopher.  Many  hundreds  of  a 
similar  nature  might  be  laid  before  the  reader,  besides  those  we 
have  already  selected.  And  I  confess,  there  is  no  kind  of  read- 
ing, that  is  so  edifying  to  me,  as  the  final  scenes  of  those  persons, 
who  have  been  eminent  in  their  day,  either  for  their  virtues  or 
their  vices.  A  death-bed  is  usually  a  detector  of  the  heart. 
And  to  see  a  fellow-mortal  in  the  ruins  of  nature,  glorying  over 
the  King  of  Terrors,  m  all  his  most  horrible  forms,  is  to  me  by 
far  the  grandest  spectacle  that  can  be  exhibited  upon  earth.  It 
is,  as  Seneca  observes  of  Cato,  a  sight  worthy  of  God  to 
look  down  upon*.  What  are  all  the  triumphs  of  kings  and  con- 
querors, when  compared  with  the  triumphs  of  abundance  of  the 
children  of  the  Most  High  in  all  ages?  The  Bible  contains 
a  rich  compendium  of  these  religious  Worthies  f.     The   Book 

Isaac  Newton  and  Dr.  Hartley,  the  general  spread  of  Inji- 
delity,  thus  expresses  himself  concerning  tlie  truth  of  the  Gospel: 
"  If  God  has  not  spoken  and  acted  through  Chtist,  then  there 
never  has  been  a  God  who  hath  acted  and  spoken.  If  Christ  is 
the  work  of  chance,  then  man  and  the  whole  world  is  the  work  of 
chance  also.  .If  Christ  did  not  want  the  assistance  of  a  God  to 
the  j^erformance  of  his  wonderful  deeds,  nature  also  can  perform  her 
works  without  the  interference  of  a  God." 

See  Secret  Journal  of  a  Self  Observer,  vol  2,  page  33  S. 

Compare  with  the  above  the  death-bed  scene  of  Garzo,  the  great 
grand-father  of  I'etrarch,  who  was  so  celebrated  for  his  probity 
and  good  sense  that  he  was  frequently  consulted  by  philosophers, 
and  the  learned  of  those  times.  "  After  living  to  the  age  of  104, 
in  innocence  and  good  works,  he  died,  as  Plato  did,  on  the  day 
of  his  birth,  and  iu  the  bed  in  whicli  he  was  born.  His  death  re- 
sembled a  quiet  sleep.  He  exj)ired  surrounded  by  his  family,  with- 
out pain  or  uneasiness,  while  he  \\as  convei-sing  about  God  and 
virtue."  Vide  Memoirs  of  Petrarch. 

*  Ecce  spectaculum  dignum,  ad  quod  respiciat,  intentus  operi  suo, 
Deus  !  luce  par  pEO  dignum,  vir  fortis  cum  mala  fortuna  com- 
positus!  Non  video,  inquam,  quid  habeat  in  terris  Jnpiter  pul- 
chriiis,  si  convertere  animum  velit,  quatn  ut  spectet  CatonEM,  jam 
partibus  nou  semel  fractis,  nihilominus  inter  ruinas  publicas  erectum. 

Sen.  de  Divin.  Prov. 

t  For  tlie  dying  advice  and  last  scene  of  the  Saviour  of  man- 
kind, see  John  xiv. — xix,  chapters — for  good  old  Jacob's,  see  Gen. 
:^lviii.  xlix.  chapters— for  Joseph's,  Gen,  1. — for  Moses's,  Dent. 
xxxii,  xxxiii.  chapters  — for  Joshxta's,  Jos.  xxiii.  xxiv. — for  David's, 
1  Chron.  xxviii.  8,  9;  and  2  Sam.  xxiii.  1 — 9. — Stephen's,  Acts 
vii. — ^and  Paul's,  Acts  xx,  and  2  Tim.  iv.  6' — 8. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  30' 

of  Martj/rs  too  records  a  noble  army  of  valiant  souls,  who  went 
through  fire  and  water,  through  racks  and  tortures,  to  their 
blood-bought  reward.  The  late  iiorrible  transactions  on  the 
Continent  have  added  an  illustrious  page  to  the  records  of  reli- 
gious renown*.  And  if  the  same  diabolical  spirit  should  per- 
vade this  happy  country,  I  doubt  not  but  there  is  a  goodly  company 
among  us,  who,  through  the  power  of  grace  divine,  will  set  at 
nought,  and  bid  defiance  to,  all  the  threats,  guillotines,  and  en- 
gines of  the  most  virulent  Psudo-PhilosopIiera-f  in  the  kingdom. 
So  far  as  I  myself  am  concerned,  whether  it  shall  please  the 
gracious  Ruler  of  the  world  to  call  me  hence  by  a  storm  of 
persecution,  by  the  sword  of  the  enemy,  by  the  enmity  of  secret 
adversaries,  or  in  the  natural  course  ot'  Providence,  1,  above  all 
things  upon  earih,  desire  to  quit  this  mortal  scene  in  a  fiery  cha- 
riot of  divine  love,  and  heavenly  rapture.  It  is  said  that  the 
celebrated  Scaliger  was  so  delighted  with  that  famous  stanza 
of  Stern  HOLD  and  Hopkins  in  the  ISth  Psalm: — 

*'  On  Cherubs  and  on  Cherubims 

Fully  royally  he  rode ; 
And  on  the  wings  of  mighty  winds 

Came  flying  all  abroad:" 

that  he  used  to  profess,  he  had  rather  have  been  the  author  of 
it,  than  to  have  enjoyed  the  kingdom  of  Arragon. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  1  have  seen  so  many'lukewarm  Christians 
quit  the  world  in  such  a  doubting,  timorous,  micomfortable, 
miserable  manner,  that  I  solemnly  declare  I  had  rather,  if  it 
please  God,  take  my  leave  of  this  earthly  tabernacle,  with  my 
faith,  hope,  love,  peace,  and  joy  in  full  exercise,  and  go  with  all 
my  sails  unfurled  into  the  haven  of  eternal  rest,  than  be  made 
emperor  of  the  whole  universe.     I  well  know  professions  like 

*  Vide  Barruel's  History  of  the  French  Clergy. 

t  The  character  of  Philosophers  has  been  much  the  same  in  all 
ages.  Cicero  has  described  it  as  accurately  as  if  he  had  lived  in 
the  present  day.  "  Quolus  enim  quisque  Philosophorum  invenitur, 
qui  sit  ita  moratus,  ita  animo  ac  vita  coiwstitutus,  ut  ratio  postulat  ? 
Qui  disciplinam  suam  non  ostentationein  scientiie,  sed  legem  vitae 
putet  ?  Qui  obtemperet  ipse  sibi,  et  decretis  suis  pareat  \  Videre 
licet,  alios  tauta  levitate  et  jactatione,  uti  his  fuerit  non  (Jidicisse 
melius;  alios  jjecuuiaj  cupidos,  gloria;  noiuiullos,  multos  libidinuffl 
servos,  ut  cum  eorum  vita  uiirabiUter  pupnet  oratio:  quod  quidem 
jnihi  videtur  esse  tiu-i)issinium." 

T'm.t.  Disp.  lib.  ? 


308  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

these  will  subject  me  to  the  charge  of  intemperate  zeal  and  en- 
thusiasm, as  is  observed  on  a  former  page.  Such  charges,  how- 
ever, I  most  cordially  despise,  and  hold  the  philosophic  authors 
of  them  in  as  much  pity  and  contempt,  as  they  can  entertain  for 
the  warm  and  zealous  Christian.  1  want  not  to  quit  the  stage 
of  life  in  the  spirit  of  Bolingbroke,  Hume,  Gibbon, 
Ghestebfield,  Godwin,  and  other  such  like  characters. 
The  feeling,  sensible,  confident,  joyful  approbation  of  Heaven, 
is  above  all  estimation ;  and  the  praise  of  men  of  loose  morals,  or 
Pharisaical  professions,  is  of  little  consideration  in  my  esteem.  I 
wish  them  wiser  and  better,  and  that  they  may  see  their  error  be- 
fore it  is  too  late.  Several  of  those  worthy  persons,  w  hose  names 
we  have  here  recorded,  died  bearing  a  noble  testimony  to  evati- 
pclical  truth.  Their  condition  was  enviable.  To  many  such 
I  mvself  have  been  a  joyful  witness  in  the  course  of  my  poor 
ministrations.  But  the  death-bed  scene,  which  above  all  others 
I  have  either  read  or  seen,  that  seems  to  have  had  in  it  the 
largest  share  of  divine  connnunications  *,  is  that  of  the  Hev. 
John  Janeway,  fellow  of  King's  College,  in  Cambridge, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four,  in  June  1657. 

If  it  should  appear  too  rapturous;  consider,  my  Country- 
men, what  your  feelings  would  be,  should  news  be  brought  that 
you  had  obtained  a  prize  in  the  State  Lottery  of  twenty  or  thirty 
thousand  pounds ;  or  that  you  were  left  heir  to  an  estate  of  im- 
mense value,  which  you  had  but  little  reason  to  expect.  If, 
when  the  Israelites  had  passed  the  Red  Sea  in  safety,  they  saw 
it  right  to  sing  a  song  of  triumph  for  their  deliverance,  and  to 
praise  the  Lord  with  timbrels  and  with  dances :  if  wheii-the 
same  people  were  delivered  from  the  Bahi/lonish  captivity,  they 
went  out  zoithjoy,  and  zoere  led  forth  with  peace,  the  moun- 
tains and  the  hills  breaking  forth  before  them  into  singing, 
and  all  the  trees  of  the  field  clapping  their  hands;  if  then  the 
lame  man  leaped  as  a  hart,  the  tongue  of  the  dUmb  sung,  and 
the  ransomed  of  the  Lord  returned,  and  came  to  Sion  with 
soui^s,  and  everlasting  jotj  upon  their  heads,  joy  and  gladness 

*  The  serious  reader  will  find  the  doctrine  of  the  Holy  Spirit's 
influence  upon  the  mind  ably  defenrled  against  our  modern  luke- 
warm professors  of  religion  from  the  charge  of  enthusiasm,  in  Bishop 
Pearson  on  the  Creed,  Art.  8  ;  a  work  with  which  every  Christian 
should  be  intimately  acquainted,  in  these  times  of  abounding  licen- 
tiousness both  of  principle  and  practice. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS. 


309 


going  before  them,  and  sorrow  and  sighing  fleeing  nzcay  at 
their  advance  :  if  when  king  David  brought  the  ark,  a  symbol 
of  the  Divine  presence,  unto  Sion,  he  danced  before  it  in  all  his 
might  with  shouting,  and  the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  wliile  the 
envious  and  malignant"  Michal  severely  censured  his  pious 
hilarity:  if,  wlien  the,  same  royal  Enthnsiad*  was  only  ba- 
nished from  the  tabernacle  of  God,  he  affectionately  cried  out— 
j4s  the  hart  panteth  after  the  zcater  brooks,  so  panteth  my  soul 
after  thee,  O  God:  7ny  soul  is  athirst  for  God, for  the  liv- 
ing God;  zchen  shall  I  come  and  appear  before  God? — M// 
soul  thiisfethfor  thee ;  my  flesh  longeth  for  thee  ;  my  soul  fol- 
lorcefh  hard  after  thee;  my  soul  gaspeth  after  thee  as  a  thirsty 
land :  and  if,  when  this  same  enviable  Fanatic  came  to  die,  he 
again  cried  out  in  the  full  assurance  of  f;iith — fie  hath  made 
zc'ith  me  an  eter/asting  covenant,  ordered  in  all  things  and  sure; 
this  is  all  mi/  salvation,  and  all  my  desircf:  if,  when  the  lame 
beggar,  who  had  been  healed  by  Peter  and  John,  entered 
with  them  into  the  temple,  ke  zcalhed,  and  leaped,  and  praised 
God,  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees  being  all  in  arms  against  ihem: 
if,  when  Pai  t>  and  Silas  had  been  scourged  and  imprisoned 
for  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  they  prayed  in  the  dungeon 
at  midnight  and  sang  praises  unto  Gon,  for  the  honour  conferred 
upon  them,  and  in  believing  views  of  the  reward  wliich  av\aited 
them  :  and  if,  when  the  Church  of  Rome  is  overturned,  the 
whole  triumphant  host  is  represented  as  crying  aloud — Halle- 
lujah !  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  for  the  Lord  God  O.mm- 
POTENT  r eigne th ! 

If  there  has  been,  and  would  be,  and  ought  to  be,  such  ardent 
desire,  and  such  rapturous  joy  and  triumph  upon  all  these  very 
inferior  occasions;  shall  not  a  man,  who  has  long  been  buffeted 
by  the  world,  allured  and  seduced  by  the  flesh,  and  vilely  tempted 

"^  It  is  a  common  mistake  to  suppose  that  none  but  religious  peo- 
ple are  enthusiasts.  Enthusiasm  is  found  in  every  form  and  species 
of  human  life.  The  orator  and  the  poet,  the  hero  and  the  poHlician, 
the  intolerant  advocate  for  toleration,  and  the  })rojective  defender  of 
Christianity,  may  all  be  enthusiasts.  See  a  hue  account  of  difler- 
ent  kinds  of  enthusiasts  in  Andrew's  Scripture  Doctrine  of  Grace, 
page  93 — 97;  a  passage  which  every  one  should  read  and  well  con- 
sider, who  is  fonvard  in  dealing  out  ilie  charge  of  enthusiasnj  against 
zealously  religious  people  of  all  denominations. 

t  What  must  have  been  David's  feelings  when  he  composed  the 
96th,  145th,  and  five  following  psalms  ? 


310  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

by  the  foul  apostate  Spirit ;  and  who,  notwithstanding,  has  for 
a  good  season  been  living  under  a  strong  and  vigorous  sense  of 
the  knoxcledge  of  salvation  hy  the  remission  of  \i\s  sins,  and  a 
sweet  experimental  union  and  communion  with  God,  the  leather 
of  spirits_,  through  the  infinitely  perfect  obedience  and  all-atoning 
death  of  his  only  begotten  Son,  by  the  communications  of  the 
eternal  Spirit;  shall  not  a  man  so  situated,  I  say,  rejoice  in 
hope  of  the  glory  of  God  with  exceeding  great  and  triumphant 
joy  *,  when  he  is  within  sight  of  land,  driving  with  wind  and 
tide  into  the  haven  of  rest,  just  upon  the  point  of  taking  assured 
possession  of  an  inheritance  incorruptible,  and  undejiled,  and 
that fadeth  not  away'\^^ 

"What  Iieart  of  stone,  but  glows  at  thoughts  like  these? 
Such  contemplations  mount  us ;  and  should  mount 
The  mind  still  higher;  nor  ever  glance  on  man, 
UnrapturVI,  unintlam'd." 

If  ever  mortal  lived  the  life  of  an  angel  upon  earth,  Mr.  Jan  e- 
WAY  seems  to  have  been  the  man.  How  far  do  the  enjoyments 
even  of  lively  Christians  fall  short  of  those  lengths,  and  breadths, 
and  heights,  and  depths  of  the  love  of  Christ  with  which  he 
was  favoured?  To  evince  this,  1  will  present  the  reader  with  a 
short  sketch  of  his  dying  scene,  and  leave  him  to  judge,  whether 
he  ever  saw  or  perused  any  account  of  an  exit  so  far  beyond  th& 
common  run  of  Christians.  And  yet,  by  the  grace  of  God, 
and  a  diligent  use  of  the  divinely  appointed  means,  this,  or  some- 
thing like  this,  might  be  the  attainment  of  all. 

Mr.  Janeway  was  born  in  the  year  l633,  at  TyUy'm 
Hertfordshire.  At  about  twelve  years  old,  he  had  made  a  con- 
siderable proficiency  in  mathematic  science,  and  in  the  study  of 
astronomy,  and  other  parts  of  useful  literature.  At  seventeen  he 
was  admitted  to  Kings  College  in  Cambridge.     At  eighteen- it 


*  \\  hy  may  not  a  man,  who  makes  it  his  main  concern  in  fife,  to 
serve  God  and  save  his  soul  alive,  expect  peculiar  manifestations  of 
the  divine  favour?  It  is  certain  that  the  promises  of  Scripture  to 
this  piirpose  are  exceedingly  strong  and  numerous,  and  the  example^ 
not  less  50.  I  believe  I  speak  considerably  within  compass  when  I 
say,  that  there  are  in  the  Bible  upv»ards  of  a  hundied  of  these 
?pecial  manifestations  to  the  servants  of  GoD  recorded. 

-t-  Dr.  Priestly  considers  theses/ rang-  consalciions,  hi  the  view 
of  approaching  dissolution,  us  enthusiasm.  See  his  O her t'af  ions  on 
?he  Increase  of  Injidelit}/,  p.  2J. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  311 

pleased  God  to  enlighten  his  understanding,  and  to  give  him  thft 
knowledge  and  experience  of  evangelical  truth.  Mr.  Baxter's 
Sawts'  Everlasting  Rest  became  his  tuvourite  book.  This  he 
read,  studied,  imitated.  Now  he  knew  that  astronomy,  with 
which  he  was  so  delighted,  surveyed  but  a  dunghill  in  compari«« 
son  of  that  s\slem  of  things  which  the  religion  of  Jesus  con- 
templates. Stars,  about  which  Mr.  Pa  INF.  makes  such  a  po- 
ther, are  but  dirty  clods,  when  compared  with  that  glory  which 
lies  beyond  the  reach  of  the  highest  human  contemplation.  He 
was  now,  therefore  wholly  occupied  with  divine  contemplations, 
and  tasted  so  much  sweetness  in  the  knowledge  of  Christ,  that 
it  was  discernable  in  his  very  appearance,  and  he  counted  evcri/ 
thing  hut  dross  and  dung,  iit  comparison  of  the  knowledge  of 
Christ,  and  him  crucified.  Not  that  he  looked  upon  human 
learning  as  useless :  but  when  fixed  below  Christ,  not  im- 
proved for  Christ,  or  set  in  opposition  to  Christ;  he  looked 
upon  wisdom  as  folly,  upon  learning  as  madness,  and  upou 
genius  as  a  curse,  w  hich  would  make  a  man  more  like  the  Devil, 
more  tit  for  his  service,  and  put  a  greater  accent  upon  our 
misery  in  another  world. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  he  was  admitted  a  Fellozv  of  his  Col- 
lege. Still,  however,  he  went  on  with  his  religious  contempla- 
tions, and  became  so  mighty  in  prayer,  and  other  sacred  exercises, 
that  he  forgot  the  weakness  of  his  body,  and  injured  his  health. 
He  studied  much,  prayed  much,  and  laboured  much  in  every 
way  he  could  contrive  to  be  of  use  to  mankind,  and  to  promote  the 
honour  of  the  Divine  Being.  Sickness  coming  on,  he  was 
never  permitted  to  preach  but  twice.  His  disorder,  which  was 
of  the  consumptive  kind,  encreased  rapidly  upon  him,  but  yet 
with  some  intervals  of  relief.  During  the  greatest  part  of  his 
sickness,  however,  he  was  so  filled  with  love,  and  peace,  and  jov, 
that  human  language  sinks  under  what  he  saw  and  felt.  Durin-- 
the  greatest  pai  t  of  his  illness,  he  talked  as  if  he  had  been  in 
the  third  heaven ;  breaking  out  every  now  and  then  into  extasies 
of  joy  and  praise.  Not  a  word  dropped  from  his  mouth  but  it 
breathed  of  Christ  and  heaven.  He  talked  as  if  he  had  been 
with  Jesus,  and  come  from  the  immediate  presence  of  God. 
At  one  time  he  said  ; — "  O  my  friends,  stand  and  wonder;  come, 
look  upon  a  dying  man  and  wonder.  Was  there  ever  greater 
kindness?  Were. there  ever  more  sensible  manifestations  of  rich 
grace?    O^  why  me.   Lord?  why   me?    Sure   this  is   akirj  to 


312  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

heaven.  And  if  I  were  never  to  enjoy  more  than  this,  it  were 
uell  worth  all  the  torments  which  men  and  devils  could  invent. 
If  this  be  dyings  dying  is  sweet.  Let  no  C/tristiau  ever  be  afraid 
of  dying.  Oh  !  death  is  sweet  to  me!  This  bed  is  soft.  Cii  Ri  st's 
arms,  his  smiles,  and  visits,  sure  they  would  turn  hell  into  hea- 
ven !  Oh !  that  you  did  but  see  and  feel  what  I  do  !  Come,  and 
behold  a  dying  man,  more  cheerful  than  ever  you  saw  any 
healthful  man  in  the  midst  of  his  sweetest  enjoyments.  O  Sirs  ! 
worldly  pleasures  are  pitiful,  poor,  sorry  things,  compared  with 
one  glimpse  of  his  glory  which  shines  so  strongly  into  my  soul. 
Oh!  why  should  any  of  you  be  so  sad,  when  1  am  so  glad!  This, 
this  is  the  hour  tiuit  I  have  waifed  for." 

About  forty-eight  hours  before  his  dissolution,  he  said  again: 
— "  Praise  is  now  my  work,  and  I  shall  be  engaged  in  that 
sweet  employment  for  ever.  Come,  let  ns  lift  up  our  voice  in 
praise.  1  have  nothing  else  to  do.  I  have  done  with  prayer, 
and  all  other  ordinances.  I  have  almost  done  conversing  with 
mortals.  I  shall  presently  be  beholding  Christ  himself,  that 
died  for  me,  and  loved  me,  and  washed  me  in  his  blood.  I 
shall  in  a  few  hours  be  in  eternity,  singing  the  song  of  Moses, 
and  the  song  of  the  Lamb.  1  shall  presently  stand  upon  mount 
»S'/o>/  zcith  an  wtiumcrable  company  of  angek,  and  the  spirits 
of  just  men  made  perfect,  and  Jesus  the  Mediator  of  the  new 
covenant.  I  shall  hear  the  voice  of  much  people,  and  be  one 
amongst  them  v\ho  s^y—llallelnjah!  Salvation,  glorif,  and 
honour,  and  poiccr  be  n)ito  f//t'.  Lord  our  God!  And  again 
we  say.  Hallelujah  !  Methinks  I  stand  as  it  were  one  foot  in 
heaven,  and  the  other  on  eaitli.  IMethinks  I  hear  the  melody  of 
heaven,  and  by  failh  I  see  the  angels  waiting  to  carry  my  soul  to 
the  bosom  of  Jesus,  and  1  shall  be  for  ever  v\ith  the  Lord  in 
glory.     And  who  can  choose  butrejoice  in  all  this  r" 

In  such  a  rapturous  strain  as  this  he  continued,  full  of  praise, 
full  of  adniiralion^  full  of  joy,  till  at  length,  with  abundance  of 
faith  and  fervency,  he  cried  aloud j — "■  Amen!  Amen!"  and  soon 
after  expired  *. 

Mr.  Jane  WAY  arrived  at  these  high  attainments  in  the  divine 
life,  by  a  cen-^tunt  j  erusal  of  his  Bible;  a  frequent  perusal  of  Mr. 
-Baxter's  SaiuVs  Everlasting;  Rest,  a  book  for  which  multitudes 
will  have  cause  to  bless  (lOD  for  e\er;  and  by  spending  a  due  pro- 
portion ol"  every  d;»y  in  secret  prayer,  and  devout  contemplation. 

The  Earl  <  f  Mirandola  and  Concordia,  who  died  in  the  flower  of 
his  age,  about  the  year  1494.,  after  he  had  for  some  time  quitted  all 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  313 

And  now,  my  Friends   and  Countrymen,  with  senti- 
ments of  the  mast  benevolent  and  affectionate  regard,  both  for 

his  great  eniployuients  under  Charles  Xhojifth,  emperor  of  Ger- 
inany,  was  esteemed  the  most  beautilul  person  of  that  age,  and  a 
man  of  the  most  exalted  genius ;  and  yet,  after  liaving  read  all  that 
could  be  read,  and  learned  ever\'  thing  that  could  then  be  learned, 
wrote  to  his  Nephew,  an  officer  in  tiie  army,  in  a  style  worthy  of  tlie 
above  example  of  Janeway: — "  I  make  it  my  humble  request  to 
you,"  says  he,  "  that  you  would  not  fail  to  read  the  Holj/  Scriptures 
night  and  morning  with  great  attention;  for  as  it  is  our  duty 
to  meditate  upon  the  Law  of  God  dai/  and  night,  so  nothing 
can  1)6  more  useful ;  because  there  is  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  a  ce- 
lestial and  efficacious  power,  inflaming  the  soul  with  divine  fear  and 
love." 

Our  celebrated  Spencer,  though  a  man  of  dissipation  in  his 
youth,  in  his  more  advanced  years  entered  into  the  interior  of  religion, 
and  in   his  two  Hymns  on  Heavenly  Love,  and  Heavenly  Beauty, 
hath  expressed  all  the  height  and  depth  of  J  anew  ay's  experience; 
"  Then  shalt  thou  feel  thy  spirit  so  possest. 
And  ravisht  with  devouring  great  desire 
Of  his  dear  self,  that  shall  thy  feeble  breast 
Intiame  with  love,  and  set  thee  all  on  fire 
With  buniing  zeal,  through  every  part  entire. 
That  in  no  earthly  thing  thou  shalt  delight. 
But  in  his  sweet  and  amiable  sight. — 
Then  shall  thy  ravisht  soul  inspired  be 
With  heavenly  thoughts,  far  above  human  skill, 
And  thy  bright  radiant  eyes  shall  plainly  see 
Th'  idea  of  his  pure  glory  present  still 
Before  thy  face,  that  a\\  thy  spirits  shall  fill 
With  sw  eet  euragement  of  celestial  love, 
Kindled  through  sight  of  those  fair  things  above." 
Spencer's  religion,  we  see  from  the  above  extracts,  is,  like  that 
of  the  Quaker's,  "  a  religion  of  feeling."     This  too  is  unquestionably 
the  religion  of  the  Bible.     Whom  having  not  seen  ye  love  ;  in  ivhom, 
though  now  ye  see  him  not,  yet  believing,  ye  rejoice  with  joy  unspeak- 
able and  full  oj  glory.     See  tliis  subject  coiisidered  at  some  lent^th 
in  Mr.  Wilberforce's  Practical  J'ieiv,  chap.  3,  sect.  2d  and  3d. 

The  same  devout  and  heavenly  spirit  breathes  strongjy  iu  all  the 
old  ascetic  authors.     Augustine  is  famous  for  it;  so  were  several 
others  of  the  ancient  Fathers  of  the  Church.     Thomas  a  Kempi3 
is  excelled  by  none  in  this  way.     St.  Bernard  is  \erv  pious.     His 
hymn  on  the  name  Jesus  is  in  a  high  strain  of  this  kind. 
"  Desidero  te  niillits, 
MiJEsUs!  quando  venies ? 
Me  laetum  quando  facies! 
Me  de  te  quando  saties  V' 
St.  Augustine's  hymn,  which  begins, 

s  s 


314  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

You,  and  every  human  being,  whether  Jew,  Turk,  Infidel^ 
Heretic,  or  Christian,  I  submit  these  reflections,  concerning 
Religion  and  the  Sacred  Writings,  to  your  most  serious  con- 
sideration. W  liat  impression  they  may  make  upon  your  minds, 
is  known  only  to  the  God  of  the  spirits  of  all  flesh*.     My 

"  Ad  perennis  vitaj  fontem 
Mens  sitivit  arida ;" 
is  iu  the  same  strain ;  and  has  been  imitated  in  that  favourite  old 
hynni  recortled  in  the  Pilgrim's  Guide : 

"  Jerusalem,  my  happy  home, 

O  that  I  were  in  thee. 
O  would  my  woes  Mere  at  an  end. 
Thy  joys  that  I  might  see  !  <S:c.  Sec." 

Almost  eveiy  thing  of  this  kind,  however,  which  has  been  left  us 
by  our  forefathers  is  written  in  a  style  higldy  depraved,  and  is  usually 
equally  devout  and  superstitious.  The  pious  reader,  tlierefore, 
will  be  upon  his  guard  in  the  perusal  of  such  authors,  and  take  the 
good,  and  cast  the  bad  away.  The  Bible  alone  is  free  from  human 
weaknesses. 

*  If  the  reader  should  find  himself  dissatisfied  with  the  Plea  for 
Religion  and  the  Sacred  Writings,  which  is  here  put  into  his  hand, 
let  him  by  no  means  give  up  the  cause  as  desperate,  but  rather  let 
him  lay  it  aside,  and  have  recourse  to  those  more  able  and  exj)licit 
Treatises,  which  I  have  occasionally  recommended  in  the  Notes. 
Or,  if  he  thinks  himself  capable  of  rendering  a  more  eftectual  service 
to  the  cause  of  evangelical  truth,  let  him  take  up  his  own  pen,  and 
confoiuid  the  enemies  of  religion.  Learned  Laymen,  especially, 
should  come  forward  in  vindication  of  the  Gospel ;  since  every  tiling, 
which  proceeds  from  the  Clergy  on  religion,  is  supposed  to  spring 
from  a  self-interested  source.  Mr.  Wilberforce  has  done  him- 
self much  honour.  He  is  a  bold  and  able  advocate  for  a  much  in- 
jured cause.  Nor  less  so  is  the  excellent  il/m  Hannah  More. 
She  is  a  credit  to  her  sex,  and  a  blessing  to  her  country.  It  is  scarce- 
ly possible,  however,  for  authors  on  this  subject  to  be  too  numerous. 
We  are  not  wanting  in  clerical  writers ;  but  tliose  who  have  treated  on 
subjects  purely  religious,  among  the  other  ranks  of  society,  are  com- 
paratively, few ;  and  ejspecially  among  the  Princes  and  Aobles  of 
the  land.  3Ir.  HoRAt^E  Walpole  has  given  us  a  catalogue  of 
the  Royal  and  Noble  auXhors  of  England,  Scotlarid,  and  Ireland, 
since  the  Conquest ;  and,  1  think,  he  produces,  during  all  those  ages, 
only  10  E7iglish  Princes,  92  Peers,  and  14  Peeresses.  To  these  he 
adds  24^  Scotch  royal  and  noble  authors,  with  11  Irish  Peers:  In  all 
about  150;  a  small  number,  when  it  is  considered  that  they  are 
usually  the  best  educated  men  in  the  country. 

In  Germany  have  been  published  in  the  course  of  six  years,  from 
178  J  to  1790,  no  less  a  number  than  27|372  books,  on  the  following 
subjects,  and  hi  these  proportions: 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  315 

earnest  request  to  you,  is,  that  you  will  give  thetn  a  fair  and 
dispassionate  hearing,  and  seek  truth,  at  least,  with  as  much 
warmth  and  assiduity,  as  we  usually  employ  in  our  secular  pur- 
suits. No  man  ever  succeeded  gieatly  in  life,  who  did  not  em- 
bark zealously  in  its  concerns.  No  man  ever  became  a  good 
scholar,  without  much  time  and  application.  And  no  man  ever 
made  any  considerable  proficiency  in  things  divine,  till  all  the 
leading  powers  of  his  soul  were  engaged  therein.  Permit  me 
then  to  exhort  you  to  be  in  eajnest  in  your  religious  enquiries. 
Apply  your  minds  with  zeal  and  impartiality  to  the  investigation 
of  sacred  wi^^dom.  This  is  the  concern,  the  duty,  the  privilege, 
the  glory  of  every  human  being.  The  most  ancient  and  sublime 
author  in  the  woi  Id  hatli  exhausted  all  the  trea.s<.ires  of  nature  to 
express  its  intrinsic  value:  Jlfiere  shall  Wisdom  be  J'ound? 
4ind  zchert  is  the  place  o/X"nderstanding  ?  Man  knozceth 
not  the  price  thereof;  neither  is  it  found,  in  the  land  of  the  liv- 
ing. The  depth  mith.  It  is  not  in  me;  arid  the  sea  saith,  It 
is  not  with  me.  It  cannot  be  gotten  for  gold,  neither  shall 
silver  be  rseighed  for  the  price  thereof.  It  cannot  be  veilutd 
with  the  gold  of  Ophir,  zcith  the  precious  onyx,  or  the  sapphire. 
The  gold  and  the  chrj/stal  cannot  equal  it :  and  the  exchange 
of  it  shall  7iot  beforjeoiels  offne  gold.     No  mention  shall  be 


1  General  Literature     ------___-_.-      ^g 

2  Philology     .--.. .__.  1527 

3  Divinity .- 486'3 

4  Jurisprudence     --      -      -      ------»-_  22  oS 

5  Medicine  and  Surgery     -       ----._.,.  1898 
^  Metaphysics  and  5L  Philosophy     -----___     905 

7  Education -      ----___     506' 

8  Politics  and  Finauce     ---      --_..___  i8S5 
.   9  Military  Sciences     ----      -      ---_.._]  54, 

10  Physics  and  Natural  History     ------_._  1729 

J  1   Arts  and  Manufactures     --------_..]  ]  00 

2  2  Mathematics     --      -      -      ---_--_._     531 

13  Geography  and  History     ----      .      -_.__  4779 

3  4  Belles  Lettres     -----      -      -------  3793 

1 5  History  of  Literature     ----      _-___--     7()'o 

J  6  MisceHaneou*     -__.-      .      ---_-_.     689 

Gent.  Mag.  Feb.  1796,  p.  147. 
From  the  Monthly  Mag.  for  June  1798,  it  appears,  that   the 
average  number  of  books  published  in  Germany ^  from  1785  to  tlve 
<;lose  of  the  year  1797,  is  5,300  annually. 

s  s  2    ' 


316  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

made  of  coral,  or  of  pearls ;  for  the  price  of  Wisdom  is  above 
rubies.  The  topaz  of  Ethiopia  shall  not  equal  it,  neither  shall 
it  be  valued  with  pure  gold.  Whence  then  comet h  Wisdom? 
aiid  where  is  the  place  q/"  Understanding? — Behold,  the 
FEAR  of  the  Lord,  that  is  Wisdom;  and  to  depart  from 
evil  is  Understanding. 

If  such  is  the  vahie  of  Wisdom,  the  search  will  undoubtedly 
repay  the  labour..  But,  have  we  any  assurance  that  the  inestima- 
ble treasure  may  be  found?  The  Wisest  of  men  will  answer 
to  our  satisfaction :  Mi/  Son,  if  thou  zoilt  receive  my  words; 
and  hide  mi/  commandments  with  thee ;  so  that  thou  incline  thy 
ear  unto  Wisdom,  and  apply  thine  heart  to  Understand- 
ing: yea,  if  thou  criest  after  Knowledge,  and  liftest  iip 
thy  voice  for  Un  d  e  rsta  n  d  i  n  g  :  if  thou  seekest  her  as  silver, 
and  searchest  for  her  as  for  hid  treasures;  then  shali  thou  un- 
derstand the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  fnd  the  knozoledge  of 
God — thou  shalt  understand  righteousness,  and  judgment,  and 
equity;  yea,  every  good  path.  All  this  implies  the  greatest 
possible  attention  to  our  religious  concerns. 

With  these  fine  sentiments  I  take  my  leave,  commending  you 
to  God,  and  to  the  Word  of  his  grace,  which  is  able  to  build 
you  up,  if  you  will  submit  to  its  authority,  and  to  give  you  an 
inheritance  among  all  them  that  are  sanctifed.  Jf  you  are 
right,  in  your  present  state  of  mind,  may  you  continue  in  the 
right  way  to  the  end  of  your  days,  and  increase  and  abound  there- 
in more  and  more.  I  think,  however,  you  should  be  extremely 
cautious  how  you  contradict  and  blaspheme  what  so  many  wise 
and  good  men  esteem  the  truth  of  God,  lest  that  come  upon 
you,  which  is  spoken  of  in  the  Prophets — Behold,  ye  despisers, 
and  wonder,  and  perish! — Speaking  modestly,  your  situation  is 
not  altogether  without  danger.  It  is  impossible  you  should  he 
perfectly  satisfied  that  all  is  as  you  could  wish*. 

"  Since  then  we  die  but  once,  and  after  death 

Our  state  no  alteration  knows. 

But  wlien  we  liave  resign'd  our  breath 

Th'  immortal  spirit  goes 

To  endless  joys,  or  everlasting  woes; 

Wise  is  the  man,  who  labours  to  secure 

That  mighty  and  important  stake, 

*  He  was  no  inconsiderable  man  who  said,  "  To  doubt  of  the 
Gospel  is  folly :  to  reject  it  is  madness." 

Jortin's  Sermons,  vol.  4.  p.  111. 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  317 

And  by  all  methods  strives  to  make 

His  passage  safe,  and  his  reception  sure." 

As  to  myself,  I  am  tiioroughly  satisfied  with  that  God,  tliat 
Redeemer,  and  that  Sanctifier  which  the  Chrhtian 
Scriptures  hold  out  to  the  view  and  acceptance  of  mankind. 
1  am   perfectly  pleased  with  those  Scriptures  f,  and   with  all 

Let  the  sceptical  reader  consult  Dr.  Robertson,  the  Hiiitoria7i's 
very  sensible  Discourse  on  the  .Situatio?i  of  tiie  If  or  Id  at  the  Time  of 
Christ's  Appearance,  and  its  Connection  with  the  Success  of  his 
Religion.  A  conscientious  reader  cannot  fail  of  being  edified  by  such 
a  discourse. 

t  When  I  have  spoken  above  in  such  strong  terms  of  the  volume 
of  Revelation,  it  is  by  no  means  intended  to  cast  any  slight  upon  the 
volume  of  Xature.  While  we  daily  study  the  former,  we  shall  do 
well  to  pay  all  due  attention  to  the  latter,  according  to  our  oppor- 
tunities of  investigation.  To  an  enlightened  observer,  they  both 
carry  indubitable  marks  of  tlieir  great  original.  The  heavens  declare 
the  glory  of  GoD,  and  the  earth  is  full  of  his  riches.  The  most 
perfect  catalogue  of  stars,  before  the  present  ingenious  and  indefa- 
tigable Dr.  Herschel  appeared,  did  not  contain  quite  3,000;  but 
by  the  vast  superiority  of  his  glasses,  lie  hath  discovered  44,000 
stars  in  a  few  degrees  of  the  heavens  *;  and  by  the  same  proportion, 
it  is  supposed,  that  75,000,000  are  exposed  in  the  expanse  to  human 
investigation  f.  AH  these  stars  are  of  a  fiery  nature,  and  conjec- 
tured to  be  so  many  suns  with  their  systems  of  j^lanets  moving  round 
them.  We  know  the  sun  to  be  the  centre  of  our  system.  It  is  ac- 
companied with  19  planets,  besides  about  450  comets.  What  an 
amazing  idea  does  this  give  us  of  the  works  of  God!  And  if  such  is 
the  Work,  what  nuist  the  Workman  be  ! 

Every  part  of  nature,  moreover,  with  which  we  are  acquainted,  is 
full  of  living  creatures,  with  stores  of  every  kiiid  to  supply  their  ne- 
cessities. This  little  globe  of  ours  is  known  to  contain  within  its  bowels 
a  great  variety  of  valuable  minerals,  and  to  be  covered  with  about 
20,000  different  species  of  vegetables,  3,000  species  of  wormsj 
12,000  species  of  insects,  200  species  of  amphibious  animals,  550 
species  of  birds,  2,600  species  of  fish,  and  200  species  of  quadru- 
peds. How  immense  then  must  be  the  number  of  indi\iduals! 
One  tiy  is  found  to  bring  forth  2000  at  a  time,  and  a  single  cod-fish 
to  produce  considerably  more  tlian  three  millions  and  a  half  of 
young.  Nay,  Leewenhoek  tells  us,  that  there  are  more  animals 
in  the  milt  of  a  single  cod-fish,  than  there  are  men  upon  the  Avhole 
earth.     Over  all  these  creatures  preside  upwards  of  730  millions 

*  See  tlie  Disserlations  of  Dr  Herschkll,  relative  to  this  brilliant  portion  of 
the  heavens,  in  the  Philosophical  Transactiom. 

t  Jerome  De  Lalande,  Direclor  oiihe.  French  Olservalofy ,  supposes  that  a 
glass  of  Herschel's  powers  may  discover  90  millions  of  stars  in  the  whole  sur- 
face of  the  heavens,  and  that  even  this  number  is  but  small,  in  comparison  of 
what  exists.— itfo«f/i/i/  Mag,  for  Oct»  1798.  p.  26 j. 


3i8  A  PLEA  FOR  RELIGION 

the  divine  dispensations  therein  recorded.  Our  God  hath 
done,  is  doing,  and  will  do  all  things  well.  It  is  altogether  fit 
he  should  govern  his  own  world,  and  bow  the  rebellious  nations 
to  his  sway.  The  present  degenerate  state  of  Christendom  is 
too  disgraceful  to  his  government,  to  be  permitted  to  continue 
beyond   the  predicted  period.     He  will,   therefore,  arise  and 

of  human  beings.  Such  is  the  family  of  the  Great  Father  here 
upon  earth !  And  when  it  is  considered,  that  the  earth  itself,  with 
all  its  furniture,  is  no  more,  when  compared  with  the  whole  system 
of  things,  than  a  single  grain  of  sand,  when  comjiared  with  a  huge 
momitain,  we  are  lost  in  the  immensity  of  God's  works,  and  con- 
strained to  ci-y  out.  Lord,  u'hat  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of 
kirn,  or  the  son  of  man,  that  thou  visifest  him!  And  if  to  this  im- 
mensity of  the  works  of  creation,  we  add  the  admirable  structure  of 
the  whole,  and  the  exquisite  perfection  of  every  part,  we  shall  not 
fail  of  being  exceedingly  affected  with  the  inetl'able  wisdom  of  tlic 
Divine  Architect.  To  bring  this  consideration  more  within  the 
grasp  of  human  comprehension,  let  us  take,  as  it  were,  to  pieces,  and 
examine  the  several  parts  of  any  07ie  creature  which  God  hath  made; 
and  we  shall  find  a  fierfectiou  among  its  several  powers,  and  aii 
adaptation  to  its  situation  in  the  grand  scale  of  existence,  far  surpass- 
ing hmnan  skill.  Let  the  most  perfect  anatomist,  that  ever  existed, 
make  bis  observations  upon  the  human  frame;  let  liim  examine 
with  the  greatest  possible  attention  the  totit  ensemble  of  the  struc- 
ture ;  then  let  him  proceed  to  the  several  parts,  of  which  the  micro- 
cosm is  composed;  first,  the  powers  of  the  mind;  the  understand- 
ing, the  will,  the  memory',  the  conscience,  and  the  various  aft'ections: 
next  the  five  senses;  the  touch,  the  taste,  the  smell,  the  hearing, 
and  the  sight:  afterwards  let  him  proceed  to  the  several  fluids  of  the 
body ;  and  then  to  the  300  bones,  the  40  different  sorts  of  glands, 
tlie  466  muscles,  tlte  40  pair  of  nerves,  the  fibres,  the  membranes, 
the  arteries,  the  veins,  the  lympiucducts,  the  excretory  vessels,  the 
tendons,  the  ligaments,  the  cartilages;  and  let  him  explore  the 
whole  and  every  part  with  the  greatest  degree  of  accuracy,  know- 
ledge, and  judgment,  that  ever  centered  in  man;  and  then  let  him 
honestly  say  whether  be  could  suggest  the  smallest  improvement  in 
any  one  respect.  If  he  were  an  Atheist  before  such  investigation, 
like  the  celebrated  Galen,  he  would  be  converted  to  the  belief  of 
the  Divine  Existence,  would  compose  a  hymn  in  praise  of  the 
CiiEATOE  of  the  world,  and  sing  with  the  great  Progenitor  of  mau- 
khid : 

"  These  are  thy  glorious  works.  Parent  of  good; 

Almighty,  thine  this  universal  fr^me,  ^ 

Thus  wondrous  fair;  Thyself  how  wondrous  then! 

Unspeakable !  who  sitt'st  above  these  heav'ns. 

To  us  invisible,  or  dimly  seen 

In  these  thy  lowest  works ;  yet  these  declare 

Thy  goodness  beyond  thought,  and pow'r  diving* 


AND  THE  SACRED  WRITINGS.  319 

plead  his  own  cause,  and  all  the  wickedness  of  jnen,  and  the 
convulsions  and  distress  of  nations,  shall  wind  up  to  his  eternal 
credit.  TJte  Lord  u  King,  be  the  people  never  so  impatient ; 
he  sitteth  betzceen  the  Cherubim,  be  the  earth  never  so  unquiet. 
His  Gospel  is  no  other  than  the  plan  devised  by  infinite  wisdom 
for  the  melioration  of  mankind.  The  immortal  seed  is  sown; 
the  principle  of  life  has  vegetated;  the  little  leaven  is  diffusing 
itself  far  and  wide.  INJuch  has  been  done ;  much  is  doing ;  much 
shall  be  done.  Millions  of  reasonable  creatures  have  already 
found  eternal  rest  in  consequence  of  the  Redeemer's  dying 
love:,  multitudes  of  souls  at  ihis  moment  are  happy  in  their  own 
bosoms  under  a  sense  of  the  divine  favour:  and  innumerable 
myriads  of  men  shall  arise,  believing  in  his  name,  trusting  in  his 
mediation,  and  rejoicing  in  his  salvation,  maugr*  ail  the  oppo- 
sition of  fallen  Christians  and  apostate  spirits.  \Vise  and  gra- 
cious is  the  DiviN  E  Being  in  all  his  ways,  and  I  rejoice  that  he 
is  the  'GovERNOUR  among  the  people.  To  his  service  I 
avowedly  devote  my  feeble  powers,  as  long  as  he  shall  vouch- 
safe me  the  exercise  of  them ;  nor  will  I  cease  to  speak  the  ho- 
nours of  his  Majesty  while  the  breath  continues  to  actuate 
this  mortal  frame.     And, 

"  When  even  at  last  the  solemn  hour  shall  come. 
And  wing  my  mystic  thght  to  future  worlds, 
I  cheerful  will  obey;  there,  with  new  powers, 
Will  rising  wonders  sing:  I  caimot  go 
Where  Universal  Love  not  smiles  around. 
Sustaining  all  yon  orbs,  and  all  their  suns. 
From  seeming  Evil  still  educing  Good, 
And  Better  tiience  again,  and  Better  still,  ^ 

In  infinite  progression. — But  I  lose 
Myself  in  Him,  ux  Light  Ineffable! 
Come  then,  expressive  silence,  muse  His  praise." 


AFFENBIX 


The  Rtformotion  contended  for  in  these  papers  is  a  peace- 
able reform,  begun  and  carried  on  by  the  wisdom  of  the  three 
branches  of  the  Constitution,  as  far  as  the  Constitution  is  con- 
cerned;  and  by  tlie  Bishops  and  Clergy,  of  every  denomina- 
tion, so  far  as  the  moral  and  religious  conduct  of  the  people  is 
concerned.  The  absolute  necessity  of  such  reformati<.>n  is 
founded  on  the  prophetic  declarations  of  Daniel  before  re- 
peatedly mentioned.  The  nature  of  the  reformation  which  I 
conceive  to  be  necessary  to  our  lasting  preservation  as  a  kingdom, 
is,  that  whatever  militates  against  the  genuine  spirit  of  Christ's 
religion  in  the  Establishment  should  be  removed;  and  that  all 
orders  of  clerical  characters,  especially,  should  set  themselves, 
with  the  utmost  zeal  and  determination,  "first  to  reform  them- 
selves, and  then  to  stop  the  torrent  of  iniquity,  which  threatens 
to  involve  the  country  in  the  most  complete  destruction.  The 
Dissenters  and  Methodists  are  moving  heaven  and  earth  to  pro- 
mote the  cause  of  religion  in  their  respective  ways.  If  the 
18,000  Clersri/men  in  the  Establishment  would  exert  them- 
selves  for  the  good  of  souls  m  ith  equal  zeal  and  fervour,  the 
Established  Church  would  not  only  be  the  safer,  as  an  Etnblish- 
ment,  but  the  divine  protection  would  be  more  effectually  en- 
gaged on  our  behalf.     Righteous  nations  never  fall*.     Unfor- 

*  Among  other  uulavourable  signs  of  the  times,  the  vast  num- 
ber of  bankruptcies  in  this  kingdom  is  none  of  the  least.  I  suppose 
we  average  six  or  seven  hundred  every  year,  beside  all  the  cojupo- 
sition  businesses,  which  are  still  more  numerous.  But  what  I  here 
chiefly  refer  to,  as  a  proof  of  depraved  morals,  is,  that,  of  all  the 
instances  of  defraud,  intentional  or  otherwise,  practised  upon  the  • 
public,  an  instance  of  afttr-paynient  is  rarely  recorded ;  and, 
w henever  such  an  instance  occurs,  it  is  always  spoken  of  w ith  asto- 
nishment, as  a  thing  not  to  be  expected.  If  a  man  goes  upon 
the  high  road,  or  breaks  into  your  house,  and  robs  you  of  a 
few  |K)unds,  he  is  infamous ;  and  if  he  can  be  caught  and  arraigned, 

T  T 


323  APPEXDIX  I. 

tunately,  liowever,  numbers  of  our  Order  of  men  are  the 
grentest  enemies  to  the  country  and  to  religion.  We  pro- 
mote the  interest  of  Satan  more  effectually  by  our  indolence, 
Moridly-niindedness,  lukewarmness,  and  misGonduct,  than  all 
the  wicked  and  immoral  characters  in  the  khigdom  put  to-^ether. 
Only  think  !  Eighteen  thousand  men,  led  on  by  six  and  twenty 
Bis/t->ps,  all  tiiied  with  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  with  an 
ardent  love  to  Jesus  Christ,  and.\.  ith  a  judicious,  but  warm 
and  affectionate  zeal  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  paid  by  the 
State,  and  sent  out  into  every  corner  of  the  land  to  preach  the 
everlaslhig  Gospel!  What  a  glorious  consideration!  How 
should  we  make  the  ungodly  and  profane  skulk  into  corneis,  and 
hide  their  impious  heads  !  But,  alas  !  how  is  the  gold  become 
dim!  hozc  is  the  inost  fine  gold  changed !  for  from  the  pro- 
phets of  Jciusalem  is  profaneness  gone  forth  into  all  the  land. 
Dissenters  are  encreasing,  Methodists  are  multiplying,,  U  icked- 
ness  is  spreading,  our  Churches  are  emptying,  Infdelity  is 
pervadiiig  all  orders  of  society,  and  the  daughter  of  Zion  is 
like  to  be  left  as  a  cottage  in  a  vincijard,  as  a  lodge  in  a 
garden  of  cueunibcrs,  as  a  besieged  city.  ^^  e  may  look  at  the 
neighb<iuring  nations,  and  learn,  at  their  expence,  what  our  own 
fate  will  assuredly  be  ere  long.  AA  ho  is  so  blind?  who  is  so 
ignoranl  r  who  is  so  selfish  and  securer  who  is  so  unread  in 
liistory  ?  \\\\o  is  so  unacquainted  with  the  prophecies,  as  not  to 
see,  that  the  salvation  of  Hurope  is  suspended  on  its  wisdom,  in 
correcting  what  is  amiss  in  its  morals,  and  unevangelical  in  its 
ecclesiastical  constitutions  ? 

It  should  seem,  however,  notwithstanding  the  growing  im- 
morality of  the  age,  and  the  other  alarming  symptoms  of  onr 

.  and  the  thing  proved,  he  atones  for  his  ollence  at  the  expence  of 
his  life.  But  a  man,  in  a  way  of  trade,  shall  cheat  you  of  hun- 
dreds and  thousands,  shall  {>ay  you  ten,  live,  or  even  only  two  shil- 
lings in  the  j.ound,  yet  he  is  a  good  fellow,  a  man  of  honour.  He 
begi  :S  aguin,  keeps  it  up,  cuts  a  dash,  cracks  again,  and  all  is  well, 
lie  never  cheams,  that  upon  eveiy  prineiiile  of  justice,  honour,  and 
conscience,  he  is  as  nuich  a  <lebtor  for  ail  his  dcliciencies,  as  though 
the  law  had  never  acquitted  hini.  Vi  iuit  an  accunuihition  of  guilt 
is  u})v'tn  this  land  on  these  accounts?  Of  the  many  thousands  in 
this  country,  who  fall  short  in  their  payments,  how  few,  how  ex- 
tremely few  do  we  meet  with,  or  hear  of,  who,  aftenvards,  like  the 
most  worthy  Reyner,  call  their  creditors  together,  and  pay 
them,  Avhat,  indeed,  is  justly  due,  but  what  they  never  could  de- 
mand ? 


APPENDIX  L  323 

nation,  that  the  GovEUNorn   among   the    armits  of  heaven^ 
and  the  iuhubitants  upon  earth,  halJi   still  a  favour  to  dear  old 
Knulaiid.     He  is  loath  to  give  us  up.     The  wise  and  vigorous 
measures    pursued  by  the    King   and   his    j\li//isttrs  are  surely 
tokens  for  s«od  to   my  country.     The    late  very   splendid  vic- 
tories are  propitious  signs.     The  j4cts  too,  for  excludmg  suspi- 
cious  foreigners,    and   arming   the    whole    nation,    are   master- 
pieces of  sound   policy.      Hitherto    assuredly    the    Lord    hath 
helped  us.      He  hath  given  us  a  patriotic  Ki/ig,  ^hle  Ministers, 
skilful  Gcfioa/s,   brave  Soliliers,    unparalleled  Jdmirahy   and 
gallant  Sailors:  above  all,  he  hath  poured  out  a  spirit  of  wrest- 
ling prayer  upon  large  numbers  of  religious  people.     These  are 
symptoms   of  the   most   propitious  kind.     But,  with   all  these 
advantages,  since  God  usually  works  by  means,   how  is  it  pos- 
sible for  any  country,  ilutt  is  not  in  a  constant  high  state  of  pre- 
j)aration,  to  resist  such  a  mighty  armed  and  growing  republic  as 
Fiauct  Z   If  the  people  in  this  kingdom  will  not  very  generally 
come  forward  and   qualify   themselves   for  resistance,    we  must 
ultimately  fall.     But,  if  we  should  share   the  fate  of  the  other 
nations,  there  will  be  no  just  reason  to  accuse  the  Goveuimtnt. 
The  war  was  inevitable  on  our  part.    It  w  as,  moreover,  ordained 
of  God  for  the  subversion  of  the  seat  of  the  Beaxt  *.     They 
have  been  extremely  vigorous  in  their  measures,   and  have  done 
what  men  ia   their   situation   could   do.     Let   the   people  re- 
member, that  we  live  in  a  period,  when  one  of  God's  great  and 
afflictive  providential   dispensations   is   coming  upon  the  wurld  • 
a  dispensation  predicted  for   some  thousands  of  vears ;   and  let 
them  second  the  eueleavours  of  their  Governofs,  and  come  for- 
ward, man,  woman,  and  child,  to  defend  themselves  against  the 
common   enemy,    as    they    would  against   an    army   of  bears 


*  It  has  been  noticed  on  a  former  page,  that  the  Pope  and  Ma- 
homet rose  in  or  about  the  same  year.  'J  he  former  is  driven  from 
his  seat  exactly  at  the  end  of  I2o0  years.  And  is  it  not  a  circum- 
stance extrenielv  remarkable,  that  the  very  same  man,  iu  the  verv 
same  year,  should  iuvade  the  empire  of  the  latter  during  a  state  of 
profound  peace,  seemingly  without  any  reason?  We  kiow  the 
Turk  is  to  fall,  and  we  have  some  cause  to  suppose  the  period  of 
that  catastrophe  will  be  at  no  great  distance  from  the  subversion  of 
the  Pojjex  secular  dominion.  I  fear  we  shall  be  on  the  wrong  side 
of  the  question,  if  we  attempt  to  support  either  him  or  the  remaiij- 
ing  pojjith  states,  and  shall  sutler  for  our  intermeddling;. 

T  t  '2 


3'24  APPENDIX  I. 

wolvesj  and  tvgers ;  and  we  shall  be  safe  under  the  divine  pro- 
tection, while  that  protection  is  afforded.  But,  in  my  opinion, 
every  remaining  popish,  secular,  and  superstitious  circumstance, 
which  is  calculated  to  offend  the  Majesty  of  Heaven,  and 
to  oppose  the  interests  of  Christ's  kingdom  *,  should  be  re- 
moved from  the  ecclesiastical  part  of  our  Constitution,  and  no- 
thing should  be  left  undone  to  engage  his  continued  favour 
and  protection. 

The  Dissenters  and  Methodists,  I  have  observed,  are  mov- 
ing heaven  and  earth  to  promote  the  interests  of  religion  in 
their  several  ways,  and  to  oppose  the  torrent  of  vice  and 
infidelity,  which  is  overspreading  these  happy  and  heaven- 
favoured  lands.  A  kind  of  association  has  been  formed 
among  some  of  the  established  Clergy  at  Manchester,  to  ^ 
preach  a  w  eekly  lecture  in  each  others  churches ;  which, 
no  doubt,  will  be  attended  with  good  effect.  This  is  a 
laudable  effort,  and  shews  a  proper  attention  to  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  times  •\,  and  should  be  followed  in  all  po- 
pulous towns.  We  ought  every  one  to  step  out  of  the 
routine  of  our  accustomed  methods  of  doing  good,  and  strive 
with  peculiar  energy  to   save  our  people's  souls  from  death, 

*  What  can  be  more  inimical  to  the  iuterests  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ  in  the  world,  than  the  damnable  monopoly  of  Church 
Livitigs,  so  extremely  common  among  all  the  higher  orders  of  the 
Clergy  in  this  country  ?  More  than  one  instance  of  this  nature  is 
given  in  the  foregoing  papers.  To  these  may  be  added  the  follow- 
ing. A  certain  clerical  character,  whom  I  could  name,  is  at  this 
time  in  possession  of  700  pounds  a  year  private  fortune.  He  is  a 
tippling  humoral  person,  with  little  or  no  family,  besides  his  wife. 
One  living  he  has  got,  at  a  good  distance,  of  000  pounds  a  year, 
besides  two  rectories,  one  of  jOO,  the  other  of  350  pounds  a  year. 
At  the  same  time,  he  has  obtained  a  Prebendary  of  considerable  va- 
lue in  one  of  our  magnificent  cathedrals.  Will  any  wise  man  un- 
dertake to  say,  that  a  Clergyman  of  this  description  believes  the 
(jospel  of  Christ?  All  such  characters  are  undoubted  infidels 
in  disguise,  do  an  infinite  deal  of  harm  to  the  iuteiests  of  religion  in 
the  world,  and,  in  a  well-ordered  state  of  things,  would  be  degraded 
from  their  pretended  sacred  ofiice.  Such  men  may  ci-y  out  as  loudly 
as  they  please  against  Thomas  Paine  and  his  deist ical  brethren — 
their  craft  is  in  danger ! — but  they  themselves  arc  much  more  to 
blame,  and  shall  be  condemned  vyitli  ten-fold  conflisiou.  ToM 
Paine  is  a  saint,  when  compared  with  such  fellows. 

t  Something  similar  to  tliis  has  likewise  been  practised  for  some 
jears  by  several  pious  and  respectable  clergymen  in  the  metropolis. 


APPENDIX  I.  325 

atid  our  beloved  ccuntry  from  ruin.  An  association  of  Pro- 
testant Dissenters,  of  different  denominations,  has  also  been 
formed  at  Bedford  *.  About  thirty  ministers  in  that  neigh- 
bourhood are  already  engaged  to  co-operate  in  spreading  the 
knowledge  of  the  Gospel  through  all  the  towns  and  villages,  in 
that  vicinity,  upon  the  most  liberal  plan.  The  same  kind  of 
associations  are  forrbed  also  in  Kent,  Dorsetshire,  Surry, 
Suffolk,  Lancashire,  Cheshire,  Derbyshire,  Northumberland, 
and  will  probably  in  a  little  time  pervade  the  whole  of  the 
three  kingdoms.  This  is  good  news  to  ail  who  wish  well  to 
the  cause  of  religion,  without  regard  to  sects,  parties,  and  opi- 
nions; and  may  convince  us,  that  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  wants 
nothing  but  fair  play ;  and  that  human  establishments,  and  great 
worldly  emoluments,  are  not  essentially  necessary  for  its  pro- 
pagation and  support.  The  Puritans  were  frov,  ned  on  by  the 
government  from  the  time  of  the  Reforntalion  to  the  days  of 
Charles  I.  and  yet  they  encreased  to  such  a  height  as  to  over- 
turn both  Church  and  State.  The  Dissenters  have  been,  ju 
some  respects,  frowned  on  again  from  the  Restoration  to  the 
present  time;  yet  they,  and  the  Methodists,  who  are  in  the 
same  predicament,  are  much  more  upon  the  increase  f,  than 
we  of  the  Establishment,  who  are  fostered  by  the  government 
attended  by  the  nobles  and  gentry  of  the  land,  and  supported  bv 
the  State,  at  the  expence  of  near  two  millions  a  year.  When 
shall  it  once  be,   that  the  Great  Ones  of  the  world  will  be  ca- 

*  CousuU  /*//.  Greatheed's  Sermon  at  Bedford  on  General 
Union :  a  valuable  discourse. 

t  It  is  said  that  the  Methodists  have  increased  many  thousands  of 
late  years.  Tiiis  brings  to  my  mind  an  anecdote  that  is  related  of  the 
late  Rev.  George  Whitefield,  in  the  reign  of  A7«^  George  II. 
which  is,  that  when  a  certain  i?/.v^o/>  was  coniplaininu  (o  the  A"; wo- 
of .1//-.  Wh/tefield's  great  and  eccentric  labours,  and  advisin^^ 
with  him  what  steps  «ere  best  to  be  taken  to  put  a  stop  to  his 
preaching,  his  Majesty  very  shrewdly  replied,  "  My  Lord,  I  can 
see  no  other  way  but  for  us  to  make  a  bishop  of  Inin.  This  will 
stand  a  good  chance  of  stopping  his  wild  career."  If  this  he  a 
recipe  for  curing  a  Clergi/man  of  an  excess  of  public  preaching,  the 
following  prescription,  given  by  a  valuable  author  about  fortv'vears 
ago,  would  have  no  little  etiect  in  preventing  the  growth  and  in- 
crease of  Methodism,—"  Let  the  Oergi/  live  more  holily,  pray 
more  fenently,  preach  more  heavenly,  and  labour  more  difigentiv, 
than  the  Methodist  nihiisters  appear  to  do:  then  wiU  Chriaf inn's 
flock  to  the  churches  to  hear  us,  as  they  now  flock  to  the  meBtin^rs 
to  hear  them,"  " 


saG  ,i\PPEXDIX  I. 

pable  of  seeing,  that  oppression,  of  every  kind  and  degree,  for 
conscience'  sake,  always  produces  an  effect  directly  contrary  to 
the  wishes  and  intentions  of  the  oppressor  ? 

The  villages  in  Ei/g/and  alone,  besides  cities  and  market 
towns,  are  about  30,000.  AU  these  call  upon  us  for  evei7  ex- 
ertion to  evangelize  them,  and  to  save  the  peoples  souls  alive. — 
A  bianch  oft"  from  the  Mef/wdists  has  likewise  spread  far  and 
wide,  under  the  direction  of  the  late  Mr.  Alexander  Kil- 
II  AM.  At  present  they  have  about  seventeen  circuits,  twenty 
preachers,  and  upwards  of  5,000  persons  in  society,  and  are  in- 
creasing considerably  each  year.  Shall  zee  then,  zce^  the  eighteen 
thousand  Ckrgifmen  of  the  Entabliahment,  who  are  under  such 
superior  obligations,  many  of  whom  are  paid  by  tlie  State,  at 
the  rate  of  some  hiuidreds,  and  others  at  the  rate  of  some  thou- 
sands a  year;  shall  ice  be  all  asleep,  sit  still,  and  pursue  no  pe- 
culiarly vigorous  measures,  each  one  in  our  own  sphere,  or  vari- 
ous of  us  in  concert,  till  destruction  come  upon  us  to  the  utter- 
most *  ?  Is  not  the  time  nearly  arrived  for  the  subversion  of  the 
nations  ?  And  can  any  thing  under  heaven  prevent  our  sharing 
in  the  common  fate  of  Christendom,  but  a  speedy  and  effectual 
return  to  fr«//£(f//rfl/ principles  and  practices  ?  Is  not  our  sister 
kingdom  already  deluged  with  blood?  And  is  not  the  alarm  of 
war  in  our  own  borders !  Does  not  the  miu-derous  sword  draw 
nearer  and  nearer  every  year  ?  And  shall  we  Clcvs^ymen,  who 
above  all  men  in  the  kingdom  are  devoted  to  the  most  assured 
destruction,  be  indifferent  to  circumstances  r  Let  the  very  laud- 
able cunduct  of  the  several  zealous  bodies  of  Christians  in  this 
nation,  before  mentioned,  not  excite  our  rage  and  envy,  but  ra- 
ther let  it  provoke  the  great  body  of  h&,  the  established  Ciergi/, 
to  jealousy  and  emulation.  If  ever  there  was  a  time  when  it 
was  necessary  to  awake  out  of  sleep,  and  be  alive  to  the  interests 
of  the  Gospel,  surely  it  is  now.  If  our  most  reverend  and  right 
reverend  the  Jrchbishops  and  Bishops  are  indisposed  towards 
a  meliorated  state  of  the  ecclesiastical  part  of  the  constitution, 

*  It  is  related  of  the  /?f  r.  John  Carlyon,  L.  L.  B.  in  the 
Genthmans  Mag.  fur  Oct.  I79S,  that  when  his  health  would  not 
permit  liini  to  reside  upon  the  valuable  Living  of  BradwtU  in  Essex, 
he  resolutely  gave  it  up,  arid  would  not  serve  it  by  -a  Citrate,  though 
entreated  by  the  Bishop  so  to  do.  There  was  not,  however,  in  this 
case  that  close  trial  of  conscientious  integrity,  w hich  we  have  known 
in  some  others;  because  Mr.  Carlyon  was  a  person  of  consider- 
able private  fortune. 


APPENDIX  r.  327 

let  them  at  least  lay  aside  their  aftectation  of  pomp  and  show, 
come  among  tlieir  clergy  and  people,  and  set  us  an  example  of 
a  warm  and  judicious  zeal  *  in  preaching — not  merely  a  letined 
moral ity— but  the  great  and  glorious  truths  of  the  everlasting 
Gospel  f,  in  such  a  way  as  we  can  all  inuhrstaud  and  Jcel. 
This  would  have  a  strong  tendency  to  animate  and  encourage 
the  pious  part  of  the  Ciergi/  in  their  ministerial  labours  for  the 
good  of  mankiiid,  and  to  discountenance  and  overawe  the  li- 
centious and  profane,  those  dreadful  pests  of  every  neigh!)(iur- 
hood,  which  has  the  misfortune  to  be  cursed  with  their  ex- 
ample %.  Such  a  reformation  as  this,  is  within  the  power  of 
every  Bhhop  upon  the  bench,  whose  age  and  health  will  admit 
of  exertion  :  and  no  one  need  wait  for  the  concurrence  of  his 
brethren.  As  matters,  however,  are  now  n\anaged,  a  large  pro- 
portion both  of  our  llh/iops  and  Ctttgi/  are,  in  a  very  consider- 
able degree,  a  useless  buriicn  upon  Uie  public.  We  not  only  do 
little  or  no  good,  but  we  do  a  great  deal  of  harm.  While  we 
continue  dead  to  the  iiUerests  of  religion  ;  subscribe  w hat  we  do 
not  believe;   read  what  we  do  not  approve;    and  set  the  pulpit 

*  See  Bisli op  Gibson  on  the  Evil  and  Danger  of  Lnkcivarmness 
in  Religion. 

t  Consult  the  Charge  of  Bishop  HoRSLEY  in  1 7<)0,  on  the  Truths 
of  tl»e  Cospd. 

For  the  vaiiaus  efforts  which  have  long  been  making,  and  are  at 
this  moment  still  niakiiig,  for  the  destruction  of  all  the  churches 
and  goveninients  in  (liristendom,  see  those  two  very  curious  and 
interesting  works,  Hobinson's  Proofs  v.i'  aConspiraci/  against  all  the 
Religions  and  Guvcrnincnts  of  Europe,  'Aud  li.VKRU  el's  Memoirs  of 
Jacobinism. 

iJi.^hap  Nkw  TON,  in  his  tince  admirable  volumes  on  the  Pro- 
phecies, which  were  iirst  published  about  hfty  vears  ago,  hath 
spoken  in  terms  nearly  as  .strong  as  any  of  the  f(»reg>)i!)g,  concerning 
the  danger  which  the  country  is  in  because  of  riUtional  hii(|uities. 
See  vol.^L'.  p.  23.9. 

Jjish  p  IloHNE  also  hath  expressed  his  fears  to  the  same  purport, 
at  the  162  page  of  his  Siifeeu  Sermons;  to  which  two  able  writers, 
I  beg  leave  to  reconnr.end  the  readci'. 

X  -Bishop  lit  R NET  speaks  on  this  subject  with  great  concern. 
"  1  say  it  with  i^reat  regret,"  says  he,  "  I  have  obst-rved  the  Clerg}/ 
in  all  places  through  which  I  have  travelled,  Papists,  LulheriDis, 
Cahinists,  and  Dissenters;  but  of  them  all,  our  Clergy  are  the  most 
remiss  in  their  labours  in  private,  and  the  least  severe  in  their  lives. 
— Unless  a  better  siriiit  p«^sscss  the  CVt-r^//,  arguments,  and  what  is 
more,  laws  and  authority,  will  not  pro\e  strong  enough  to  preserve 
the  church." — Own  Times,  vol.  iv.  p.  411,  430. 


S28  APPENDIX  1. 

and  reading  desk  at  loggerheads  one  with  the  other:  while  our 
doctrines  are  unevangelical ;  our  spirit  lukewarm  ;  our  minds  se- 
cular and  worldly ;  our  studies  merely  literary  or  philosophical ; 
and  our  conduct  inimoral ;  far  better  would  it  be  that  the  nation 
were  without  us_,  and  all  our  preferments  sequestered  to  the  pur- 
poses of  the  State,  as  they  respectively  become  vacant,  and  the 
people  left  to  provide  at  their  own  expence  for  ministers,  as  it  is 
among  all  denominations  of  Dissenters.  In  this  case,  ministers 
in  general  w  ould  both  be  better  provided  for,  the  people  would 
be  better  served,  the  Govervment  would  gradually  obtain  consi- 
derable sums  of  money  to  aid  them  in  their  efforts  to  save  the 
country,  and  all  the  dumb  dogs,  the  useless  and  immoral  part  of 
the  Clergy,  would  be  sent  a  packing,  one  to  his  farm,  and  ano- 
ther to  his  merchandize  *.  Can  any  rational  man  say,  that  this 
would  be  a  misfortune  to  the  nation  ?  At  least,  were  I  in  the 
Prime  Minister's  \)\-diCe,  and  wanted  to  raise  money  for  the 
salvation  of  the  kingdom,  as  it  is  well  known  he  must  do,  I 
should  certainly  turn  my  attention  to  the  property  of  the  Church. 
^^  hat  need  is  there  that  a  Bishop  should  enjoy  public  money  to 
the  amount  of — from  two  to  tw  enty  thousand  pounds  a  year  I 
and  for  what?  Where  is  the  necessity  too  that  a  private  Clergy- 
man should  hold  a  living  or  livings  to  the  amount  of  one,  two, 
or  three  thousand  pounds  a  year?  1  protest  my  sagacity  cannot 
discern  either  the  necessity  or  propriety  of  these  things  -f-.  If  1 
might  be  permitted  to  speak  froni  my  own  feelings,  1  can  truly 

*  Dr.  South  very  justly  somewhere  says,  if  my  memory  fail 
me  not,  that  "  many  a  man  has  run  his  head  against  a  palpit,  who 
would  have  cut  an  txcelient  figure  at  a  plough  tail," 

t  The  ingenious  Montesouiku  tells  us,  that  "  the  prosperity 
ef  religion  is  diH'erent  from  that  of  civil  go^  ernnient,  A  celebrated 
author  says,  that  reiiuion  may  be  well  in  an  aihicted  state,  because 
affliction  is  tlie  true  state  of  a  Chrisiiav.  To  which  we  may  add, 
that  the  huniiiiution  and  dispersion  of  the  C'Am/tA,  the  destruction 
pf  her  temples,  and  the  persecution  of  her  martyrs,  are  the  dis- 
tiugiiislnng  times  of  lier  gloiy.  On  the  contrary,  \\lien  she  appears 
ttiiniphant  in  the  eye  of  the  world,  she  is  generally  sinking  in  ad- 
Tcrsity."     De  la  (irap.d  ct  hi  Decwl  des  Ronwitis. 

Agreeably  to  this.  Bishop  Newton,  jn  his  learned  Dissertations 
en  ll  e  Prophecies,  speaking  of  Constantime's  open  profession  of 
Christifmify,  sa\s,  "  Though  it  added  much  to  the  temporal  prospe- 
rity, yet  it  contributed  little  to  the  spiritual  graces  and  virtues  of 
fhristians.  It  eiilarged  their  revenues,  and  increased  their  endow- 
mL'uts;  but  proved  the  fatal  means  of  corrupting  the  doctrine,  and 
relaxing  the  discipline  of  the  Church."-'      ■  Vol.  II,  p.  l6'4. 


APPENDIX  1.  329 

say  I  never  look  more  pains  in  the  ministry^  than  when  I  had 
only  sixty  pounds  a  year.  Since  I  have  been  married  and  had  a 
familvj  my  income  from  the  church  has  never  amounted  to  a 
liundred  and  twenty  pounds  a  year.  Notwithstanding  this,  I 
have  been,  thank  God,  not  only  content,  but  happy.  I  have  la- 
boured hard,  studied  hard,  and,  probably,  have  been  as  useful, 
and  well  satisfied  with  my  condition  as  the  fattest  rector  in  all 
the  diocese  of  Chester.  If  any  person,  in  the  mean  time,  had 
bestowed  upon  me  a  living  of  five  hundred  or  a  thousand  pounds 
a  year;  to  be  sure  1  should  have  been  under  great  obligation  to 
""such  persons,  but  I  very  much  question  whether  I  should  have 
been  made  either  a  more  happy  man,  or  a  more  useful  minister 
of  the  Gospel*.  It  is  much  more  likely  I  should  have  been 
very  seriously  injured,  should  have  composed  myself  to  rest,  and 
cried  with  the  rich  fool,  Soul,  thou  hast  much  goods  laid  up  for 
many  years;  take  thine  ease,  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry.  The 
Clergy  with  large  preferments  are,  generally  speaking,  the 
<lrones  of  society.  Tiiey  neither  write  any  thing  to  good  pur- 
pose, nor  do  they  take  any  serious  pains  in  their  vocation  of 
preaching  the  Gospel.  If  they  do  write,  it  is  usually  something 
foreign  to  their  profession !  and  if  they  do  sometimes  hold  forth 
from  the  pulpit,  it  is  in  such  a  way  as  is  calculated  to  do  nei- 
ther much  good  nor  much  harm.  Not  being  truly  in  earnest 
for  their  own  salvation,  they  have  but  little  zeal  for  the  salvation 
of  others f.     A   reduction  of  some  of  our   church-livings,  an 

*  This  brings  to  my  recollection  a  story  of  one  of  the  Popes  of 
Rome,  who,  seeing  a  large  sum  of  money  lying  upon  his  table,  said 
to  one  of  tlie  Cardinals,  "  The  Church  can  no  longer  say,  Silver  and 
gold  have  I  none." — "  No,"  answered  the  other,  "  nor  can  the  Church 
anv  longer  say,  Take  up  thy  bed  and  walk." 

^  lad  here  the  account  which  Dr.  Hartley,  one  of  the  wisest 
ami  best  of  men,  a  serious  member  of  our  church,  gives  of  the  state 
of  the  Clergy,  in  the  year  1749. 

"  I  choose  to  speak,"  says  he,  "  to  what  falls  under  the  obser- 
vation of  all  serious  attentive  persons  in  the  kingdom.  The  supe- 
rior Clergy  are,  in  general,  ambitious  and  eager  in  the  pursuit  of 
riches;  flatterers' of  the  great,  and  subservient  to  party  interest; 
negligent  of  their  own  particular  charges,  and  also  of  the  inferior 
Clergy,  and  their  innnediate  charges.  The  inferior  Clergy  imitate 
their  superiors,  and,  in  general,  take  little  more  care  of  their  parishes 
than  barely  what  is  necessarj'  to  avoid  the  censure  of  the  law.  And 
the  Clergy,  of  all  ranks,  are,  in  general,  either  ignorant,  or,  if  they 
do  apply,  it  is  rather  to  profane  learning,  to  philosophical  or  po- 
litical matters,  tlian  to  the  study  of  the  Scriptures,  of  the  oriental 

V  u 


330  APPENDIX  I. 

increase  of  others,  with  a  prohibition  of  pluralities,  where 
they  are  above  a  certain  value,  would  have  some  good  effect; 
but,  in  my  opinion,  a  still  better  thing  for  the  real  interests  of 
religion  would  be,  to  grant  the  use  of  our  churches  to  the  peo- 
ple in  the  several  districts  of  the  country,  to  sequester  all  the 
emoiunicnts  to  the  uses  of  the  State,  after  the  death  of  the  pre- 
sent incumbents,  and  to  leave  the  people  to  provide  and  pay 
their  own  ministers.  This  would  make  us  look  about  us.  But 
can  any  man  suppose,  that  the  Gospel  of  Christ  itself  would 
be  a  sufferer  by  such  a  measure? 

Itjuguages,  of  the  Fathers,  and  ecclesiastical  authors,  and  of  the 
writings  of  devout  men  in  dift'ercnt  ages  of  the  church.  I  say  this 
is  in  general  the  ca=e;  tliat  is,  far  the  greater  part  of  the  Clergy, 
of  all  ranks  in  tliis  kingdom,  are  of  this  kind." 

Observations  on  Man,  Vol.  II,  p.  450. 
Notwithstanding  what  Iliavc  observed  above,  and  what  is  here 
advanced  by  this  learned  man,  we  have  had,  in  the  present  age,   a 
few  noble  exceptions  to  the  general  rule. 


AFFENBIX    II, 


Aftek  ^^hat  has  been  said  in  the  foregoing  Papers,   I  do  not 
see  how  I  can,  cither  in  honour  or  conscience,  continue  to  ofti- 
ciate  any  longer  as  a  MinisUr  of  ihe   Go$ptl  in  the  Estahlisli- 
mcut  of  mj  native  country.     It  appears  to  nie,  in  my  coolest  and 
most  considerate  moments,  to  be,  with   all   its  excellencies,  u 
main  branch  of  the  otiti-cli/istian  system.     It  is  a  strange  mix- 
ture, as  hath  been  already  observed,  of  what  is  secular  and  what 
is  spiritual.     And  1  strongly  suspect,  the  day  is  at  no  very  great 
distance,  when  the  whole  fabric  shall   tumble  into  ruins,   and 
the  pure  and  immortal  religion  of  the  Son    of  God  rise  more 
bright,  lovely,  and  glorious   from   its  subversion*.     The  seve- 
ral warnings  of  the   Sacred  OracJes  seem   to  be  of  vast  im- 
portance, and  necessary  to  be  observed :  F/ce  out  of  the  midst 
of  Babylon,  and  deliver  every  man  his  soul;  be  not  cut  off  in 
her  iniquity  ;  for  this  is  the  day  of  the  Lord's  vengeajicc ;  he 
7i)ill  render  unto  her  a  recompenee.  Jer.  li.  0. — We  would  have 
healed  Babylon,  hut  she  is  not  healed ;  forsake  her,  and  let  us- 
go  every  one  unto  his  ozc'n  country.  Ibid.  li.  y. —  If  hen yc  shall 
see  the  abomination  of  desolation,  spoken  of  by  Daniel,  the 
prophet,  stand  in  the  holy  place,  then   let  them  which  be  in 
Jiidea  fee  to  the  mountains.     JNIatt.  xxiv.  15,  16. — These  are 
only  remotely  applicable  to  the  business  in  hand.     The  follow- 
ing is  more  directly  so. — /  heard  a  voice  from  heaven,  saying, 
Come  out  or  her,  my  people,  that  ye  be  not  par- 
takers OF  her  sins,  and  that  ye  receive   not  or 
HER  plagues.     Rev.  xviii.  4. 

■^  In   this  hai>j)y  country  we  sceju  to  have  many  and    stronii 
symptoms  of  political  decay:  for 

"  States  thrive  or  wither  as  moons  wax  and  wane, 
Ev'n  as  God's  will  and  God's  decree  ordain; 
Wliile  honour,  virtue,  piety,  bear  sway, 
'I'hey  floniish  :  and,  as  the^e  decline,  d<Tay." 

Co wpKKs  Expostulation . 
V  U  'i 


332  APPENDIX  11. 

In  obedience  to  these  injunctions,  and  under  a  strong  disap- 
probation of  the  several  anti-christian  circumstances  of  our 
own  Established  Church*,  the   genekal   doctrines   of 

^VHICH    I    VERY     MUCH     APPROVE     AND     ADMIRE,     I    nOW, 

therefore,  withdraw ;  and  renounce  a  situation,  which,  in  some 
respects,  has  been  extremely  eligible.  I  cast  myself  again  upon 
the  bosom  of  a  gracious  Providence,  which  has  provided 
for  me  all  my  life  long.  .Hitherto,  I  must  say,  the  Lord  hatli 
helped  me.  I  have  never  wanted  any  manner  of  thing  which  has 
been  necessary  to  my  comfort.  And  though  I  neither  know 
what  to  do,  nor  whither  to  go,  yet 

"  The  world  is  all  before  me,  where  to  choose 
My  place  of  rest,  and  Providence  my  guide," 

This  extraordinary  step  the  sacred  dictates  of  conscience  com- 
pel me  to  take.  I  am  truly  sorry  for  it.  To  me  few  trials  were 
ever  equal.  I  have  loved  the  people  among  whom  I  have  so 
long  lived  and  laboured.  And  I  have  every  reason  to  be  satis- 
fied with  their  conduct  towards  me.  Neither  hath  the  great 
Head  of  the  church  left  us  without  seals  to  our  ministry.  The 
appearance  of  fruit,  at  times,  has  been  large.  And  there  are 
some,  no  doubt,  among  the  people  of  our  charge,  who  will  be 
our  joy  and  crown  in  the  great  day  of  the  Redeemer's  coming, 
^ly  friends  must  consider  me  as  called  away  by  an  imperious 
Providence;  and,  I  trust,  they  will  be  provided  with  a  Siic- 

*  Thomas  Paine  observes,  that  "  all  national  institutions  of 
churches;,  whether  Jewish,  Christian,  or  Turkish,  apj^ear  to  me  no 
other  than  human  inventions  set  up  to  terrify  and  enslave  mankind, 
and  monopolize  {)ovver  and  profit." 

Tlic  Jeivixh  institution,  at  least,  ought  to  have  been  excepted 
in  this  cesisure.  It  was  unquestionably  divine,  and  was  appointed 
for  the  most  inqiortant  purposes,  and  attended  with  the  most  in- 
disputable evidence. 

Another  author,  much  more  capable  of  judging  than  Mr.  Paine, 
liath  said,  in  peifect  conformity  with  my  own  opinion,  that  "  A"«- 
fional  Churches  are  that  hay  and  stubble,  which  might  be  removed 
Vvithout  difHcuUy  or  confusion,  from  the  fabric  of  religion,  by  the 
^eutlt  hand  of  reformation,  but  which  tiie  infatuation  of  Ecclesias- 
lies  will  leave  to  be  destroyed  by  tire.  1  Cor.  iii.  12,  13.  Na- 
tional ( iuirches  are  that  incrustation,  whicli  has  enveloped,  by  gra- 
tluul  concretion,  file  diamond  of  C7/r/.«f?«?i//y;  nor  can,  I  fear,  the 
geiniine  lustre  be  rcstoretl,  but  by  such  violent  efforts  as  the  sepa- 
ration of  substances  so  long  and  closely  connected  must  inevitably 
requiic." 


i\PPENDIX  11.  S33 

cessor  more  than  equal,  in  every  respect,  to  their  late  affec- 
tionate pastor.  I  think  it  necessary  to  say  in  this  place,  that  the 
doctrines  which  I  have  preached  unto  them  for  six  and  twenty 
years,  1  still  consider  as  the  truths  of  God.  1  have  lived  in 
them  myself,  and  found  comfort  from  them.  I  have  faithfully 
made  them  known  to  others,  as  thonsinds  can  bear  me  witivessj 
we  have  seen  them  elTectaal  to  the  pulling  down  the  strong  holds 
of  sin  and  Satan,  in  a  variety  of  cases;  and  I  hope  to  die  in  the 
same  faith,  and  to  find  them  t/it  pozv^r  of  God  unto  the  saha- 
//o«  of  my  own  soul  in  eterti;il  glory  by  Christ  Jesus.  I 
mean  to  preach  the  same  doctrines,  the  Lord  being  my  helper, 
during  the  whole  remainder  of  my  life,  wheresoever  my  lot  may 
be  cast.  I  am  not  weary  of  the  work  of  the  sacred  ministry,  f 
have,  indeed,  often  been  weary  in  it,  but  never  of  it.  I  pray 
God  my  spiritual  vigour,  life,  and  power,  and  love,  and  useful- 
ness may  abound  more  and  more  to  the  end  of  my  Christian 
warfare. 

"  Awake,  my  dormant  zeal!  for  ever  flame 
With  gen'rous  ardor  for  immortal  souls; 
And  liiay  my  head,  my  tongue,  my  heart,  my  all. 
Spend  and  be  spent  in  service  so  divine." 

^'  But,  if  you  had  so  many  objections  to  the  Esf^.'olished 
Church,  why  did  you  enter  into  it?  Why  did  you  continue  to 
officiate  so  long  in  it.^  And  why  did  you  not  decline  it  lon"^ 
ago.^" 

I  will  tell  you  honestly. — All  my  habits,  and  the  prejudices  of 
my  education  ran  in  favour  of  the  Church.  My  father  and 
friends  were  in  the  same  habits.  During  my  younger  days,  I 
took  for  granted  that  every  thing  was  right,  nor  had  I  any  suspi- 
cions to  the  contrary.  If  I  had  so  seiiously  considered  these 
things  thirty  years  ago,  I  humbly  hope  1  should  have  acted  a^^ree- 
ably  to  my  convictions.  1  recollect,  indeed,  about  that  time, 
to  have  had  my  fearj;  that  some  things  amons:  us  were  not  as  lliey 
should  be.  I  saw  with  my  own  eyes,  that  almost  all  the  CVt/oy, 
Nvith  whom  I  was  acquainted,  were  practically  wrong  at  least. 
Between  them  and  the  precepts  of  the  Gnspf/  there  seemed  u 
perfect  contrast.  My  mind,  however,  was  then  but  little  informed 
upon  religious  subjects.  1  was  distrustful  of  my  own  judgment, 
and  thought  it  prudent  to  be  guided  by  the  judgment  of  those, 
of  whose   piety  I  had  a  good  opinion.     Few  youtig   persoiw 


334  APPENDIX  IL 

think  deeply  and  solidly,  and  fewer  still  have  reading  and  expe- 
rience sufficient  to  enable  them  to  form  an  accurate  estimate 
upon  such  intricate  questions.  Iiideed,  most  men,  in  the  earlier 
stages  of  life,  are  led,  as  I  was,  by  the  prejudices  of  education, 
and  the  example  of  those  wilh  whom  they  converse.  There 
is,  moreover,  so  much  that  is  excellent  in  the  Articles,  Ho- 
milies, and  common  Forms  of  our  Church,  that  it  cannot  be  a 
matter  of  wonder,  if  unenlightened  and  inexperienced  young 
men,  who  are  either  careless  about  all  religion,  or  whose  desires 
are  good,  and  intentions  simple,  should  comply  wilh  what  they 
hear  spoken  of  in  terms  of  high  approbation,  and  see  practised 
every  day  by  their  superiors  both  in  age,  rank,  and  learning. 
The  idea  too,  that  we  have  left  the  Church  of  Rome  because  of 
her  delusions,  and  are  members  of  a  Reformed  and  Prote&tarrt 
community,  Ikis  no  little  weight  with  the  larger  part  of  candi- 
dates, for  the  sacred  ministry. 

I  am  well  aware,  that  many  of  the  most  serious  and-useful  of 
my  clerical  brethren  are  of  an  opinion  very  different  from  me, 
respecting  the  Established  Religion  of  this  country.  It  is  not 
long  since  a  Clergyman  of  this  description  told  me,  in  a  manner 
extremely  emjihatical,  that  '^  our  Church  is  all  pure  and  without 
fr'pot*'."  1  Mas  surprised  at  such  an  assertion,  from  a  consci- 
entious man;  but  I  have  no  material  objection  to  any  person's 
enjoying  his  own  sentiments  in  peace.  1  claim  the  same  liberty, 
aud  desire  nothing  farther.  Eurnestly  wishing  success  to  the 
ministerial  labours  of  every  good  man,  whether  in  the  Establish- 
ment or  out  of  it,  and  without  either  condemning  or  approving 
one  denomination  or  another,  I  obey  the  painful  dictates  of  my 
own  mind.  Po5;sibly  I  am  mistaken.  If  1  am,  it  is  to  be 
lamented,  because  [  prefer  my  present  situation  to  most  others 
I  know  of  in  England.  If  I  had  been  disposed  to  leave  it,  I 
have  not  been  without  opportunity.  Twenty  years  ago,  the  late 
John  I^hoi'. nton,  Esq.  of  Clopham,  near  Eondon,  vohin- 
tarihj  offered  to  procure  me  better  preferment,  if  1  would  ac- 
ce)>t  of  it;  but  I  told  him,  after  expressing  my  gratitude,  that 

*  Tills  brings  to  my  mind  a  reniark  which  Mr.  \Vhiston  used  fre- 
quently to  make  upon  the  very  learned  and  excellent  Bishop  GlB- 
s^'N,"  That  he  seeined  to  think  the  Church  of  England,  as  it  just 
then  happened  to  be,  establisiied  by  modern  laws  and  cu>toms,  came 
duwa  from  heaven  will;  the  Athanaslan  creed  in  its  hiind." 

Biog.  Diet.  Axi,  Qmso'S, 


APPENDIX  II.  S35 

Divine  Providence  seemed  to  have  placed  me  where  I  was, 
and  I  could  not  think  of  quitting  my  station,  merely  for  the  sake 
of  a  better  living;  till  the  time  should  come  vvhen  the  same  Pro- 
viDENCE  should  call  me  away.  That  time  seems  to  me  to  be 
now  come;  since  I  cannot  any  longer  keep  my  church  and  retain 
my  honour,  in  obeying  the  dictates  of  conscience.  In  my  opinion, 
this  is  ^providential  call  to  quit  my  station,  though  I  never  ex- 
pect to  he  so  jiappily  circumstanced  again.  1  know  well  what 
pain  such  a  determination  will  give  my  dear  people;  but,  with 
all  due  regard  to  the  feelings  of  my  friends,  1  must  consider,  that  I 
am  amenable,  in  the  lirst  place,  to  the  great  Head  of  the  Chunk 
for  my  conduct;  and  must,  on  the  highest  considerations,  endea- 
vour to  conduct  myself  agreeably  to  his  pleasure.  After  a  thou- 
sand defects,  both  in  my  public  ministrations  and  private  con- 
duct, I  can  almost  say,  I  have  done  my  best  to  promote  as  well 
the  temporal  as  spiritual  interests  of  the  town  of  Macclesfield; 
and  I  heartily  v  ish  my  Successor  may  be  more  acceptable,  more 
heavenly  minded,  more  laborious,  more  useful^  and  more  suc- 
cessful in  winning  souls  to  Christ. 

'*  To  all  this,  I  am  aware,  it  will  be  objected,  that  I  am 
taking  a  very  disreputable  step,  and  that  a  vast  majority  of  the 
men  of  sense  and  learning  around  me  are  of  a  different 
opinion." 

VeiT  true.  I  admit  every  thing  which  can  be  said  on  this 
score,  in  the  utmost  latitude.  But  a  passage  or  two  of  our  Sa- 
viour's discourses  is  a  sufficient  support  against  ail  obloquy  of 
this  nature.  These  monopolisers  of  sense  and  learning  muet 
answer  for  themselves,  and  I  must  give  an  account  unto  God 
for  my  own  conduct.  I  consider  myself  as  a  shadow  that  pass- 
eth  away.  I  feel  the  infirmities  of  nature  coming  on,  and  death 
stands  ready  at  the  door  to  summon  me  before  the  bar  of  my 
Redeemer.  It  is,  therefore,  of  consequence  that  we  act  now 
as  we  shall  wish  we  had  acted  then.  At  that  trial,  no  man  can 
be  responsible  for  his  brother: — Every  one  that  hath  forsaken 
houses  or  brethren,  or  sisters,  or  father,  or  mother,  or  zcife,  or 
children,  or  lauds,  for  my  sake  and  the  Gospel's,  shall  re- 
ceive a  hundred  fold  norc.  rcith  pcjsecufions,  and  in  the  ziorld 
to  come  tternul  Ife.     Matt.  xi.\.  C9.     jSlark  x.  CQ,  .>0. 

IVhosoever  shall  be  ashamed  of  MY.  and  of  my  wokds,  in 
this  adulterous  and  sinful  generation,   of  liirr<  aLir>  <hall  the 


SS6  APPENDIX  II. 

Son  o/Man  be  ashamed,  when  he  shall  come  in  the  glory  of 
his  Father  with  the  holy  angels.     Mark.  viii.  38. 

"Why  are  you  so  squeamish  in  little  matters?  Why  not 
make  yourself  easy,  and  conduct  yourself  like  the  rest  of  your 
clerical  brethren  r" 

To  tell  you  the  truth,  candid  reader,  whosoever  you  may  be, 
1  have  long  and  earnestly  endeavoured  to  quiet  my  conscience, 
and  to  reconcile  it  to  my  present  situation,  I  have  used  every 
method  in  my  power  for  this  purpose.  I  have  pleaded  the  ex- 
ample of  others,  great  men,  good  men,  useful  men:  I  have 
soothed  it;  1  have  desisted  from  reading,  thinking,  examining; 
I  have  pleaded  the  wishes  of  my  friends,  the  usefulness  of  my 
ministerial  labours;  the  disagreableness  of  changing  my  situa- 
tion, and  forming  new  connections;  the  extreme  inconvenience 
of  giving  up  my  present  income;  &,c.  &c.  but  after  all  I  can  do, 
conscience  follows  me  from  place  to  place,  and  thunders  in  my 
ear.  What  is  a  man  projited,  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world, 
mid  lose  his  own  sout^  or,  zihat  shall  a  man  give  in  exchange 
for  his  soul'^ — He  that  loveth  father  or  mother  more  than  mc, 
is  not  worthy  of  me:  and  he  that  loveth  son  or  daughter  more 
than  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me:  and  he  that  taketh  not  his  cross 
and  foUoweth  after  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me.  He  that  findeth 
his  life  shall  lose  it,  and  he  that  loseth  his  life  for  my  sake  shall 
Jind  it. 

How  would  you  conduct  yourself  in  such  a  case?  Accord- 
ing to  the  thirty-sixth  Canon  we  are  willingly  and  ex  animo  to- 
subscribe,  that  the  book  of  Common  Prayer,  and  of  ordering 
of  Bishops,  Priests,  and  Deacons,  containeth  in  it  nothing  con- 
trary to  the  Scriptures;  and  that  we  acknowledge  all  and  even/ 
the  thirty-nine  Articles,  besides  the  Ratif  cation,  to  be  agree- 
able to  the  iVord  of  God*. 

*  As  to  y>/r.  Pa  ley's  scheme  of  suhscribing  the  thirty-nine  Ar- 
ticles, as  articles  of  peace;  it  is  all  sophistry,  and  such  as  an  honest 
man  should  be  ashamed  to  avow.  I  admire  the  abilities  of  the  man, 
but  detest  his  recommending  prevarication  to  the  Clergy.  .See  liis 
very  able  and  popular  work,  entitled,  Moral  and  Political  Philosophy, 
b.  3.  p.  ].  chap.  21.'.  p.  ISO.  edit.  1. 

31r.  Paley  is  very  justly  reprehended  by  the  excellent  Mr. 
GiSBORM  E.  •'  The  opinion  which  Mr.  Paley,  maintains,"  says  he, 
"  appears  to  me  not  only  unsupported  by  argument,  but  likely  \o  be 
productive  of  consequences  highly  pernicious. — That  subscription 
may  be  justified  without  an  actual  belief  of  each  of  the  Articles^ 


APPENDIX  IL  337 

God  of  my  fathers  !  v\  liat  a  requirement  is  tins  ?  Can  I  lift  up 
iny  hand  to  heaven  and  swear  by  Him  that  livsth  for  ever  and 
erer,  that  I  do  xiiJlingli/  and  ex  animo  subscribe  as  is  legally 
required?  And  can  any  man  living  thus  subscribe,  who  has 
thoroughly  considered  the  subject?  We  must  shuffle  and  pre- 
varicate in  some  things,  say  and  do  what  we  will.  I  myself 
strongly  approve  the  general  st;ain  of  the  doctrines  of  our 
Church;  but  then  here  is  no  choice.  It  must  be  wiUiiKrly  and 
tx  avi'iiio  all  and  every  thing!  There  is  no  medium. 

And  can  I  (among  other  things  which  are  to  lie  subscribed) 
believe  from  my  soul,  before  the  Searcher  of  hearts,  who  re- 
quireth  truth  in  the  inwarJ  parts,  and  in  the  face  of  the  whole 
Christian  world  declare,  that  "  whosoever  doth  not  hold  the 
**  Catholic  faith"  as  explained  in  the  jlthatiasinn  creed — "  and 
keep  it  whole  and  undehled,  shall,  zcitkout  doubt , perish,  ever- 
lastingli/ ?"  This  hellish  proposition  we  are  enjoitied  not  only 
to  believe  ourselves,  but  to  affirm  that  we  do  zcillingli/  and  ex 
animo  subscribe  to  it,  as  being  agreeable  to  the  IVord  of  Gon ; 
and  then  we  must  openly  profess  our  faith  in  lijourteeii  times 
every  year.  I  am  not  unacquainted  that  various  manoeuvres  are 
made  use  of  to  render  thcKC  harsh  expressions  palatable;  but 
all  illustrations  and  modifications  of  these  damnatory  sentences, 
appear  to  me  illusive.  Bishop  Burnet  has  said  all  that  well 
can  be  said  upon  them,  but,  in  my  opinion,  to  very  little  pur- 

as  I  understand  Mr.  Paley  to  intimate,  is  a  gratuitous  assumption. 
On  this  point  let  the  Articles  speak  for  tjieniselves.  Whv  is  an 
Article  continued  in  its  place,  if  it  be  not  meant  to  be  htlieved?  \ 
li one  may  be  signed  without  beii  g  believed,  why  not  all?  I'v  what 
criterion  are  we  to  distinguish  those  which  may  be  subscribed  by  a 
}  erson  who  tln'nks  them  false,  from  those  Axliicli  niav  not?  Is 
not  the  present  mode  of  subscription  virtually  the  same  as  if 
each  Article  were  separately  ottered  to  the  subscriber!  And  in 
that  case,  could  any  man  be  Justified  m  subscribing  one  which  he 
disbelieved?" 

"No  circumstance,"  he  adds,  "could  have  a  more  direct  ten- 
dency to  ensnare  the  consciences  of  the  Clerir)/;  no  circumstance 
«ould  afford  the  enemies  of  the  established  church  a  more  advanta- 
geous occasiou  of  charging  her  ministers  with  insincerity,  than  the 
-admission  of  the  opinion,  that  the  Articles  may  safelv  be  subscribed 
without  a  conviction  of  their  truth,  taken  severally,  as  well  as  col- 
lectively. That  opinion  I  have  seen  maintained  in  publications 
of  inferior  note,  hut  I  could  not,  without  particular  sur})rize  and 
concern,  behold  it  avowed  bv  a  writer  of  such  aulhuritv  as  JMr. 

I'ALEY." 


S3S  APPENDIX  II. 

pose.  Honestly,  ihereiore^  did  J rchbishop  Tillotson  de- 
clare to  him,  **  The  account  given  of  yllhammuss  creed  seems 
to  me  in  no  wise  satisfactory.  I  wisii  we  were  well  rid  of  it." — 
And  so  do  I  too,  for  the  credit  of  our  common  Chrhtianitt/. 
It  has  been  a  mill-stone  about  the  neck  of  many  thousands  of 
worthy  men.  To  be  sure,  declarations  like  these  descended 
out  of  the  bottomless  pit,  to  disgrace  the  subscribing  C/ergi/, 
to  render -ridiculous  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  to  impel  the 
world  into  infidelity,  and  to  danm  the  souls  of  those,  who,  for 
the  sake  of  filthy  lucre,  set  their  hands  to  \\hat  they  do  not  ho- 
nestly believe.  The  truth  is,  though  I  do  believe  the  doctrine 
of  the  Trinify,  as  revealed  in  the  Scripture;  yet  iam  not  pre- 
pared, openly,  and  explicitly,  to  send  -to  the  devil,  under  my 
solemn  subscription,  every  one  who  cannot  embrace  the  yitha-^ 
■nasian  illustration  of  it.  In  this  thing  the  Lord  pardon  his 
servant  for  subscribing  in  time  past.  Assuredly  I  will  do  so 
no  more.  Those  who  can  do  it  are  extremely  welcome  to  the 
best  bishoprics  and  livings  in  the  kingdom.  I  should  like  to  re- 
tain what  .1  have  already  gotten,  but  not  upon  the  conditions 
required.  As  an  honest  man,  and  a  man  under  expectations 
of  salvation,  I  must  renounce  my  present  situation,  and  the 
little  emoluments  which  arise  therefrom.  There  is  no  other 
alternative  *. 

*'  But  you  are  acting  a  part  extremely  imprudent,  on  account 
of  your  family." 

True ;  but  then  I  am  obeying  the  dictates  of  conscience,  and, 
of  course  the  commands  of  God.  And  you  know  where  it 
is  written: — By  faHh  Abrau am,  when  he  mas  called  to  go 
out  into  a  place  which  he  should  after  receive  for  an  inherit-,. 
a)ice,  obeyed;  and  he  went  out,  not  knowing  whither  he 
went.     By  faith  he  sojourned  in  the  land  of  promise,  as  in  a 

I  *  I  have  for  some  years  made  myself  tolerably  easy  under  the 
I  <laranatory  clauses  of  the  Athanasian  creed,  by  omitting  to  read  it 
)  at  the  times  appointed.  But,  to  an  upright  mind,  this  is  not  per- 
fectly  satisfacton';  because  we  solemnly  declare  ^nd  subscribe  our 
:  names  before  the  Bishop,  that  we  will  conform  to  the  LHurgi/  of 
l'  the  Church  of  England  as  by  law  established.  Now  every  time  we 
\  omit  to  read  the  said  creed,  or  any  other  part  of  the  service  of  the 
/'  church,  >vhen  appointed  by  law  to  be  read,  \\e  are  guilty  of  a 
(  breach  of  engagement.  So  that,  whether  we  read  the  creed  in  ques- 
)  tion,  or  neglect  to  read  it,  we  are  culpable,  if  wc  do  not  ex  animo 
(  approve  of  it. 


APPENDIX  II.  339 

■sfran'U  count rj/,dccelliug  in  tabernaclea  with  Isaac  and  Ja- 
cob, the  htin  with  him  of  the  same  promise  :  for  he  looked 
for  a  city  ichich  hath  foundation^,  whose  builder  and  maker 
is  God. 

Bif  faith  Moses,  tchen  he  tvas  come  to  years,  refused  to  be 
called  the  son  0/ Pharaoh's  daughter;  choosing  rather  to 
snjfer  affliction  idth  the  people  of  God  than  to  enjoy  the 
pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season;  esteeming  the  RiiP roach  of 
Chuist  greater  riches  than  the  treasures  in  Egypt  ;yb;-  he 
had  respect  unto  the  recompense  of  the  reward'^. 

•■*  You  are  already  in  the  Church,  and  have  got  over  the  bu- 
siness of  Subscription.  You  nniy  contiuue,  therefore,  in  your 
present  station  without  being  called  upon  to  repeat  the  same 
painful  ceremony." 

1  have  many  years  been  determined  never  to  subscribe 
again,  agreeably  to  the  requirement  of  the  36th  Canon,  what- 
ever oflers  of  preferment  might  be  made  me.  But,  when  1 
retlect  seriou'^ly  and  closely  upon  the  subject,  this  does  not  sa- 
tisfy me.  I  cannot  help  considering  my  holding  a  church,  and 
complying  with  all  its  rites  and  ceremonies,  as  a  silent  acquies- 
cence in,  and  a  tacit  approbation  of,  all  the  unevangelical  traits 
of  the  Church  of  England  as  by  law  established.  While  such 
IS  my  situation,  I  certainly  constitute  a  part  of  the  grand  system 
of  the  antichristian  apostacy,  which,  as  I  understand  the 
prophetic  Scriptures,  is,  in  due  time,  to  undergo  a  total  sub- 
version. 

"  You  are  quitting  a  situation  of  uncommon  usefulness." 

Cirantcd:  ^Vith  my  views,  however,  I  cannot  honourabli/ 
and  saflij  do  otherwise.     I  believe,   and  fear,  and  tremble  at, 

*  I  do  not  recollect  reading  or  hcariiig  of  any  instance  so  like  un- 
lo  this  of  INiosKS  as  that  of  the  iMaripaia  of  Vico  in  Italy,  who  died 
A.  D.  1592,  at  tlie  age  of  74.  \Vhen  lie  was  come  to  years,  and  the 
knowledge  of  .J ESL'S  Christ,  he  refused  to  be  called  the  son  and 
heir  to  a  Marquis,  a  cup-bearer  to  an  Kmperor,  nephew  to  a  Pope, 
and  chose  rather  to  suHer  atfliction,  j)ersccution,  hanislnncnt,  loss  of 
land:-,  livings,  wife,  children,  honours,  and  preferments,  tiian  to  en- 
joy the  shifiil  pleasures  of  Italy  lor  a  season;  esteeming  the  reproach 
of  Christ  greater  riches  than  all  tlie  honours  of  the  most  brilliant 
connections,  and  all  the  enjoynients  of  the  most  ample. fortune;  ior 
lu"  iiad  respect  unto  the  reconipence  of  the  reward. 

See  iiis  Life  at  large,  wrhten  by  Mr.  Samuel  Clark,  which  ]<, 
extremely  well  worth  the  attention  of  every  man,  w!io  is  in  unv  ri - 
■ipect  a  sufl'erer  for  the  sake  of  a  good  conscience, 

X  \  2 


346  APPENDIX  II. 

-the  JVord  of  the  Most  High.  Besides,  God  can  do  as  welt 
without  my  labours  as  with  them.  And  if  he  should  tiiink 
proper,  by  this  step  to  cust  me  quite  aside,  as  a  broken  vessel 
no  longer  of  use,  1  will  endeavour  to  acquiesce  in  the  Divine 
deternunation. 

"  God  doth  not  need 
Either  man's  work  or  his  own  gifts;  who  best 
Bear  his  mild  >oke,  they  serve  him  best:  his  slate 
Is  kingly;  thousands  at  his  bidding  speed 
And  post  o'er  land  and  ocean  without  rest; 
They  also  serve,  who  only  stand  and  wait.'' 

If  the  Church  of  England  retains  much  of  the  sp/'rzV,  and 
some  of  the  superstitions  of  the  Church  of  Rome*,  what  is  u 
conscientious  man  to  do,  and  how  is  he  to  act,  under  such  a 
persuasion  ?  Let  any  person  weigh  thoroughly  the  meaning  of 
the  following  declarations,  and  then  let  him  say  in  what  manner, 
I  ought  to  act: — And  the  third  Angel  followed  them,  saving 
with  a  loud  voice.  If  any  man  worship  the  beast  and  hi% 
image;  and  receive  hi%  mark  in  his  forehead,  or  in  his  hand, 
the  same  shall  drink  of  the  wine  of  the  wrath  of  God,  zehic/t 
is  poured  out  without  mixture  into  the  cup  of  his  itidigna- 
tion  ;  atid  he  shall  he  tormented  with  f  re  and  brimstone  in  tht 
presence  of  the  holy  angels,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  Lamb  ; 
and  the  smoke  of  their  torment  ascendeth  up  for  ever  and 
ever:  and  they  have  no  rest  day  nor  night,  who  zvorship  the 
BEAST  and  his  image,  and  whosoever  receiveth  the  mark  of 
his  name  f.     Rev.  xiv.  9 — 11. 

*  The  lute  Lord  Chatham,  in  a  celebrated  speech,  which  he 
made  in  the  house  of  Lords  in  favour  of  the  Dissenters,  said, 
"  We  have  a  Popish  liturgy,  a  Cahinistic  creed,  and  an  Arminian 
clergy." 

t  Dr.  Doddridge  observes  on  this  paragraph  of  scripture, 
"  When  I  seriously  reflect  on  this  text,  and  liow  directly  the  force  of 
it  lies  against  those,  who,  contrary  to  the  light  of  their  consciences, 
continue  in  the  connnunion  of  the  Church  of  Rome,  for  secular  ad- 
vantage, or  to  avoid  the  terror  of  persecution,  it  almost  makes  me 
tremble;  and  I  heartily  wish,  that  all  others,  who  connive  at  those 
things  in  the  discipline  and  worship  of  Protestant  churches,  which 
they  in  their  consciences  think  to  be  sinful  remains  of  Popish  super- 
stition and  corruption,  would  seriously  attend  to  this  passage,  which 
is  one  of  the  niost  dreadful  in  the  whole  book  o/'GoD,  and  weigh 
its   awful  contents,   that  they  may  keep  at  the  greatest  possible 


APPENDIX  ir.  341 

Are  not  these  words  enough  to  n)ake  the  hair  "  stand  on  end 
like  quills  upon  the  fretful  porcupine?"  We  all  read  them,  and 
have  r  jad  them  many  times  for  many  years,  and  yet,  from  our  ge- 
neral conduct,  it  would  seem  that  no  such  passage  might  be  found 
in  the  Sacred  H  riti/igs.  We  Protestants  are  almost  universally 
of  opinion,  that  they  apply  directly  to  the  Members  of  the 
Church  of  Rome.  The  Members  of  that  Church  read  them 
as  well  as  we  Frotestauts,  and  yet  we  hardly  ever  hear  of  a 
Catholic  becoming  a  Protestant,  any  more  than  of  a  Jew 
becomuig  a  Christian.  They  have  eyes,  and  see  not ;  ears,  and 
hear  not ;  hearts,  and  understand  not.  The  Lord,  in  judg- 
ment, hath  sent  them  strong  delusion  that  they  should  believe 
a  lie.  The  words  are  extremely  plain,  and  inexpressibly  alarm- 
ing ;  but  the  force  of  them  is  always  evaded,  by  applying  them 
to  any  thing,  rather  than  to  their  own  church. — We  Protes- 
tants too  read  them,  and  make  ourselves  easy  under  the  awful 
denunciation,  by  applying  them  exclusively  to  the  Church  of 
Home ;  never  dreaming,  that  they  are,  at  least,  in  a  secondary 
sense,  equally  applicable,  not  only  to  the  English,  but  to  every 
Church  Establishment  in  Christendom,  which  retahis  any  of 
the  marks  of  the  Beast.  To  me  this  admits  of  no  doubt.  If 
I  am  mistaken,  it  is  my  very  great  misfortune.  My  judgment 
Jias  not  been  biassed  by  interest,  by  connections,  by  inclination, 
or  by  any  human  considerations  whatever.  I  have  thought  much 
upon  the  subject;  read  on  both  sides  of  the  question  whatever 
jias  fallen  in  my  way;  conversed  with  various  persons  for  the 
sake  of  information  ;  suffered  the  matter  to  rest  upon  my  mind 
for  some  years  undetermined ;  have  never  made  my  fears,  sus- 
picions and  dissatisfaction  known  to  any  man  ;  and  now,  when  t 
bring  near  to  myself  the  thought  of  quitting  one  of  the  most 
commodious  churches  in  the  kingdom  erected  on  purpose  for 
my  own  ministrations ;  leaving  interred  by  it  many  a  precious 
deposit,  who  will,  I  trust,  be  my  joy  and  crowti  in  the  great  day 
of  die  Loud  Jesus,  besides  a  mother,  a  zcij'e,  two  children, 
and  a  sister ;  and  giving  up  various  kind  friends,  whom  /  love 
as  my  own  soul,  together  with  a  large  body  of  people,  that,  /'/' 
it  utrc  possible,  zaould  have  plucked  out  their  ozc/i  eyes,  and 
have  given  them  to  me : — What  shall  I  say  ? — All  that  is  affec- 
tionate within  me  recoils,     1  am  torn  with  conflicting  passions ; 

distance  from  this  honihie  curse,  \vhich  is  sutHcient  to  i/u.hx  the  ears 
of  every  one  that  heara  it  to  tingle." 


342  APPENDi:^^  If. 

and  am  ready  to  say  with  the  uiposlh,  I  could  icish  iJiat  myic/f 
zfere  accursed  from  Christ  fur  mi/  friends  and  brethren, 
whom  I  love  in  the  bowels  of  Jesus  Christ. 

But  then,  various  passages  of  Scripture — (ill  understood, 
some  will  say) — urge  me,  oa  the  most  momentous  considera- 
tions^ to  renounce  a  situation,  which  I  cannot  any  longer  retain 
■with  peace  of  mind.  Pertiaps  it  is  my  own  fault;  certainly  it 
is  my  very  heavy  misforlune.  I  bewail  it  exceedingly.  1  iiave 
received  no  altront;  conceived  no  disgust;  formed  no  plans; 
made  no  connections;  consulted  no  friends;  experience  no 
^veariness  of  the  ministerial  office ;  the  ways  of  religion  are  still 
pleasant ;  I  have  been  glad  when  duty  called  me  to  the  house  of 
God;  his  /Jo;f/ hath  been  delightful ;  the  pulpit  has  been  aw- 
fully pleasing  :  the  table  of  the  Lord  hath  been  the  joy  of  my 
heart ;  and  now  that  Providence  calleth  me  away,  with  some 
degree  of  reluctance  it  is  that  I  say.  Lord,  here  I  am.  Do 
•with  me  what  seemeth  thee  good.  Let  me  stay  where  I  am, 
I  gladly  stay.  Send  me  where  thou  wilt.  .  I  will  endeavour  to 
submit.     Only  go  with  me,  and  thy  pleasure  shall  be  mine. 


-"  I  argue  not 


Against  Heav'n's  hand  or  will,  nor  bate  a  jot 
Of  heart  or  hope;  but  still  bear  up  and  steer 
Rislit  onward." 


ADDENDA   et   CORRIGENDA. 


(jrll  AY  is  spoken  of  in  the  6 1st  page  as  a  hclu'ter,  and  on  the 
:J0(3th  page,  a«  a  ilei^t.  His  character  seems  to  have  been  am- 
biguous. He  was  an  ingenious,  but  M'himsical  man,  yet  a  poet 
of  no  onlinary  rank. 

The  i^lcthodhts  are  mentioned  in  several  parts  of  the  fore- 
going pages;  particularly  on  the  7-d  there  is  a  general  account 
of  the  state  of  tiieir  societies.  I  add  here,  that  Aikins  in  his 
Tour  through  'North  Wales,  page  148th,  has  paid  tliai  body 
of  people  a  very  high  compliment.  Nor  has  3/r.  Paley  done 
less  in  his  Evidences,  vol.  i.  page  38th,  uhere  he  says, — "  After 
men  became  Christians,  much  of  their  time  was  spent  in  prayer 
and  devotion,  in  religious  meetings,  in  celebrating  the  eucharist, 
in  conferences,  in  exhortations,  in  preaching,  in  an  aftectionate 
intercourse  with  one  another,  and  correspondence  with  other  so- 
cieties. Perhaps  their  mode  of  life,  in  its  form  and  habit,  was 
not  very  unlike  the  Lnitas  Fratrum,  or  of  modern  Me- 
thodists." 

Mr.  Cecil,  in  his  pleasing  Memoirs  of  the  honourable  and 
reverend  W.  B.  Cadogan,  pp.  C9 — 36,  has  given  a  pretty  fair 
account  of  this  body  of  people,  which  is  every  where  spoken 
against;  and  has  honestly  and  ably  defended  them  from  the  ob- 
loquv  which  is  usually  cast  upon  all  seriously  religious  charac- 
ters by  the  world.  'J^he  single  circumstance,  of  their  being  ge- 
nerally, I  mighfahnost  say  universally,  reviled  and  abused  by 
all  other  denominations  of  professing  Christians,  is  to  me  a 
certain  sign,  that  there  is  something  peculiarly  good  and  excel- 
lent among  them.  The  criterion,  whereby  to  judge,  which  our 
Saviour  has  given  us,  is,  If  ye  neve  of  the  zcorld,  the  zcorld 
zcouJd  love  its  oxen ;  but  because  ye  are  not  of  the  zcorld,  hut 
J  have  chosen  you  out  of  the  zi:orld,  therefore  the  zcorld  hateth 
you.  ■  John  xv.  19. 

It  is  said,  on  the  MCd  page,  that  ^'  the  very  last  improve- 
rnents  which  took  place  in  our  ecclesiastical  frame  of  things, 
were  in  the  reign  of  James  I." 


344  ADDENDA  ET  CORRIGENDA. 

This  is  not,  strictly  speaking,  true.  Hiere  were  some  few 
useful  alterations  and  additions  made  in  our  public  forms  of 
worship  during  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  uhich  should  have 
been  noticed  in  their  place,  but  which  were  overlooked  there. 

On  the  1.30th  page,  it  is  said,  "  Every  young  man,  without 
exception,  subscribes,  when  he  becomes  a  member  of  either  of 
our  Eiiglish  universities,  he  believes  from  his  soul  ex  animo, 
that  every  thing  contained  in  the  j4rticles,  Homilies,  Common 
Prayer,  and  Offices  of  Ordination,  is  agreeable  to  the  Word 
of  Godr 

This  assertion  too  is  not  accurate.  Some  alterations  took 
place  in  this  respect  at  Cambridge  upwards  of  twenty  years  ago. 
But  in  Oxford,  subscription  continues  as  it  was,  I  believe,  to 
this  day.  Every  person  there,  who  has  attained  the  age  of 
twelve  years,  subscribes  the  Articles  of  Failh  and  Religion, 
when  he  is  matriculated. 

Page  151,  line  2.  "  Spiritual  courts," — add  the  words  of 
JBishop  Burnet,  who  was  well  acquainted  with  these  matters. 
And  be  it  remembered,  that  every  Bishop  in  England  and  Ire- 
land has  a  Court  of  this  description;  and  that  the  less  true  re- 
ligion prevails  in  any  diocese,  the  greater  and  more  frequent  are 
the  abuses  of  these  Courts. — The  Bishop's  words  are :  "  As  for 
the  Ecclesiastical  jurisdiction,  it  has  been  the  burden  of  my  life 
to  see  how  it  was  administered:  our  Courts  are  managed  under 
the  rules  of  the  Canon  Law,  dilatory  and  expensive;  and  as 
their  constitution  is  bad,  so  the  business  in  them  is  small :  and 
therefore  all  possible  contrivances  are  used,  to  make  the  most 
of  those  causes  that  come  before  them ;  so  that  they  are  univer- 
sally dreaded  and  hated." — Conclusion  of  the  Hist,  of  his  Own 
Times. 
j^  Before  the  reader  too  severely  condemns  the  author  of  this 
Plea  for  Religion,  because  of  his  leaving  the  Church,  and  the 
various  reflections  he  has  made  upon  the  Bishops  and  Clergy; 
he  requests  tha.  this  work  of  the  good  Bishop,  namely,  the 
Conclusion  of  the  History  of  his  Own  Times,  may  be  tho- 
roughly read  and  considered.  The  Bishops  and  Clergy  of  the 
land  should  be  extremely  familiar  both  with  that  and  his  ad- 
mirable little  book  on  the  Fastoral  Care.  It  is  high  time  to 
awake  out  of  sleep. 

The   number   of   persons   who   declined    officiating   in    the 
Church  of  Egfand,  upon  the  conditions  required,  in  the  17th 


ADDENDA  ET  CORRIGENDA.  345 

«eiitury,  was  upwards  of  two  thousand.  Milton  was  brought 
ijp  and  sent  to  the  university  with  a  view  to  the  Church  ;  but 
when  he  caine  seriously  to  consider  the  conditions  upon  which 
he  must  e«ter.  He  declined  the  sacred  office.  "  To  the  church/* 
says  he^  "  h\  the  intentions  of  my  parents  and  friends,  I  was 
destined  tsf  a  child,  and  in  mine  own  resokitions,  till  coming  to 
some  maturity  of  years,  and  perceiving  what  tyranny  had  nivaded 
the  ckurch,  that  he  who  would  take  orders  must  subscribe, 
«lav€,  and  take  an  oath  withal;  which  unless  he  took  with  a 
conscience  that  would  retch,  he  must  either  straight  perjure,  or 
split  his  faith  ;  I  thought  it  better  to  prefer  a  blameless  silence 
before  the  sacred  otiice  of  speaking,  bought  and  begun  with  ser- 
vitude and  forswearing." 

There  have  been  some  respectable  persons  in  our  own  day, 
who  have  declined  entering  into  the  Church  of  England,  froru 
objections  entertained  to  our  oaths  and  subscriptions  ;  others 
have  complied  w  ith  all  our  forms  and  ceremonies,  but  have  been 
obliged  to  strain  and  shuffle,  and  have  never  known  what  peace 
of  mind  and  good  conscience  afterwards  meant;  and  several 
others  have  been  so  pressed  and  wounded  in  their  minds,  that 
thev  have  given  up  their  situations,  after  they  have  been  aheady 
ordained.  The  late  Mr.  Archdeacon  Blackburn e  was 
never  properly  at  rest  in  his  spirit;  the  present  Dean  Tucker 
gives  up  several  things  among  us  as  wrong;  Dr.  Robert  son, 
Measrs.  Dyer,  Evanson,  and  Wakefield,  all  resigned 
their  letters  of  orders;  or  at  least  have  ceased  to  officiate  as 
ministers  in  the  Establishment. 

There  may  be  other  mistakes  in  point  of  fact  or  history, 
which  have  escaped  my  observation.  If  such  should  be  dis- 
covered, by  any  friendly  hj^nd,  they  shall  be  acknowledged  an4 
corrected. 


THE    END. 


Yy 


INDEX. 


A. 


Addis  OK,    Joseph,  Esq.    quotations 
from         Page  7,  176 
account  from,  of  an  infidel 
in  France        -         15 
pleasing  death  of       -     50 
prefers  the  Psalms  to  Pin- 
dar and  Horace     261 
Adolphus,  Gustavus,  spent  much  time 
in  prayer         -        -        -         -    52 
Adrian,  address  of,  to  his  soul  at  death 

280 
Africa,  inhabitants  of         -         -    271 
Aikins's  favourable  account  of  the  Me- 
thodists        -         -         -    Addenda. 
Alexander,  Dr.  Disney,  conversion  of, 
from  Deism        -        -         -         65 
Alfred,  King,  great  diligence  and  de- 
votion of        -        -         -      41,  52 
Allix,  reflections  of,  ton  Scripture,  re- 
commended        -         -         -      297 
Alphonsus,  King,  read  the  bible  four- 
teen times  over        -  -         291 
Altamont,  an  infidel,  affecting  death  of 
21,22 
America,  example  of,  on  religious  li- 
berty        -          -          -         -  143 
inhabitants  of         -         271 
Anatomy,  !iketch  of        -         -      318 
Animals,  amphibious,  species  of    317 
^Anonymous,  author,  quotations  from, 

6 
gentlefnan,affectihg  death, 
in  despair,  of  an   22,  24 
deist,  conversion  of  an  35 
gentleman,       wickedness, 
conversion  and  death  of 
36,  39 
Antitheus,  an  infidel,  unhappy  death 
of        -  ...         24,  26 

Antiphanes,  an  ancient  author,  on  a  fu- 
ture state        -         -        .        .  176 
Apostacy,  antichristian         -       -    129 
Archdeacons,  number  of  -         7a 

Arguments,  four  main,  for  the  truth  of 
scripture        -         -         -        -  joo 
Ark,  Noah's  Cpnt«nts  of        -        101 


Asia,  inhabitants  of  -  Page  271 
Association,  of  clergymen,  at  Man- 
chester -  -  -  .  324 
Associations,of  dissenting  ministers,!^. 
Atheism,  books  against  -  177 
Atheists   have  appeared  in  every  age 

274 
Atheist,  shocking  death  of  an   99,100 
Augustine,  for  a  devout  spirit,  noted 
313,  3i« 
Aukland,  Lord,  quotation  from  speech, 
of        -        -        -        ..      70 
Authors,  ascetic,  devout  but  supersti- 
tious        -         -        _        .         315 
royal  and   noble,  since   the 
conquest        -        -      314 
Aylmer,  Bishop,  on  the  character  of 
women        .        .        -       .    392 

B. 

Babylon,  prophecies  concerning,  con- 
clusive       -        -        -        .       127 
Bacon,  Lord,  thought  of,  on  deism  6S 
some  account  of    -    62 
declaration   of,   on   the 
gospel       -         -    235 
Bankrupts,  seldom  afterwards  pay  theic 
creditors      -  -         -  -      321 

Baptism,  office  of,  a  hardship  on  th« 
clergy  '      -         -         150,  153,  156 
Barnes,  Joshua,  read  his  small  bible 
120  times  over        -         .         .   290 
Bartholin,  Dr,  awakened  to  seek  God 

267 
Barnard,  Sir  John,  eminent  for  devo- 
tion        -         -         -        -         -     2 
Barruel,  on  Jacobinism        -  313 

on  the  French  Clergy      222 
Bath,  Earl  of,  devoted  his  leisure  to 
prayer  and  the  bible         -         -  243 
Beauties,  of  Scripture,where  found  25S 
Beattie,  Dr.  on  the  causes  of  infidelity 

297 
a  fine  quotation  from  298 
Y  2 


INDEX, 


Beings,  huiftan,  numbnr  ©f^  P^es  3 17 , 

318 

Belisarius,  began  the  t^o  years  of 

scripture         .         -         ^    160,170 

Belgium,  unhappy  concfition  01      227 

Bernard,  St.  hymn  ©f,  on  tht  name 

Jesus         -         -         -        .        313 

Beza,  intimately  acquainted  with   the 

bible        _        -         -         _        290 

Bible  shall  be  coexistent  with  time 

171,172 
confirmed  by  all  other  books  and 
discoveries    -         -     178,  179 
"^       danger  of  rejecting  it        -     260 
account  of  one  who  burnt,  and 
another  who  roasted  it       275 
a  chief  mean   of    the    present 
learning  and  liberty     104,198 
shocking  profanation  of  the  222 
Iread  with  various  views  255,  204 
abounds  with  all  kinds  of  beau- 
ties       -        -        .        -    ib, 
one  grand  Epic         -         -    2^9 
should  be  read  in  classical  schools 
for  its  beauties  -  ib, 

alone  free   from  human   weak- 
nesses        -         -         -        314 
exhortation  to  the  reading  of  the 
262,  285 

how  to  be  read  with  profit  2S3, 

285 
books  of,  how  classed  as  com- 
positions       -         -     291,  263 
Bingham,  on   the  ancient  Christians 
love  to  the  bible    -         -     289,  289 
Birds,  species  of         -         -        -    317 
Birmingham,  some  account  of       230 
Bishops,  conduct  of,  a  main  cause  of 
infidelity         -         -        77 
income  of         -        -         77 
negligent,  reprjjved  by  Bur- 
net       -         -         -       '9 
increasing  their  worHly  do- 
minion        -        -         169 
without  secular  dominion,  in 
the  first  ages  75,  143 

English,  frequently  hold  in- 
compatible prefeVraents  76, 
77 
unpreaching  prelates  90 

should  reform  169,  232,  233 
should    come   among  their 
clergy         -  -         319 

JrisU,  number,  and  income  of 
77 
and  clergy  of  Europe,  a  main 
cause  of  its  misery    77,  "8 
duty  of        -         -         76, 82 
English,  some  of  the,  worthy 
characters     81,83,86,87 
some  of  the,  a  useless  burden 
3-27 


Bishops,   should    encourage    zealous 
clergymen     -      Page   327 
should    preach    boldly   and 
faithfully         -  ib, 
conduct  of,  one  main  cause 
of  the  increase  of  sectarists 
82 
in  most  ages  intolerant     213 
English,     names     of,     very 
pompous        -        -     147 
Blackstone,  Judge,  on  the  constitution 
of  England     -         -         -         -     84 
Blackmore,  Sir  Richard,  opiHion  of,  on 
the  bible         -         .         _         .    og2 
Boerhaave,  Dr.  eminent  for  devotion  2 
Boileau,  M.  a  great  admirer  of  the  bi- 
ble      237 

Bollingbroke,  Lord,  speaks  favourably 
of  the  gospel         -     5 
egregiously  mistaken  295, 
296 
an  immoral  man  60,  61 
died  a  deist         -         266 
Bonnell,  James,  Esq.  made  the  scrip- 
tures his  daily  study  -  29* 
Bonnet  of  Geneva,  on  the  facts  of  the 
New  Testament        -        -  191 
Books,   in   favour  of  the  Jewish  and 
Christian  religions    101,  102 
to  promote  the  spirit  of  religion, 
recommended           284,  285 
number  of,  published  in  Ger- 
many       -        -        -      315 
Bounty,  Queen  Anne's         -         -  71 
Boyle,   Hon.   Robert,  enterjained  an^ 
awful  sense  of  God     -     179 
high  esteem  for  the  bible     237 
on  the  unreasonableness  of  deists 
il. 
Brandt,  Count,   conversioo  of,   from 
infidelity          -        -         -         -     40 
Britain,  Great,  shipping  of        -     230 
Briefs,  Church,  some  account  of    151 
Brown,  Sir  Thomas,  a  firm  believer, 

236 

Thomas,  lived  laughing,   but 

died  groaning  -         247 

Rev.  John,   on  the  prophecies 

161 

Bruno,  burnt  for  an  atheist,      -     267 

Bryant,  Jacob,   Esq.  quotation  from 

pref.  9,  10 

treatise  of,  on  the  Christian 

religion         -         195,  I97 

observations  ofjOn  the  plagues 

ofEgjpt         -  184,297 

Bucer  wished  for  farther  reformation 

142 
Buckingham,  Duke  of,  reproved   by 
Waller  -         24  5 

pathetic  letter  from  44,4? 
fais  deserted  and  miser- 
able state    -        -    K-. 


INDEX. 


Burnet,  Bishop,  obtained  the  bounty 
from  Queen  Anne  Page  7 1 
great  diligence  of  -  8  7 
opinion  of,  concerning-  the 
clergy  -  -  -  90 
attempted  a  reformation  143 
considers  subscription  as  an 
imposition  -  -  14a 
travels  of        -  -  163 

on  pluralities  -  -  232 
on  the  corruption  of  our  cler- 
gy -  -  -  327 
on  the  Athanasian  creed  337 
dying  declaration  of  235,  236 
Butler,  Bishop,  on  a  future  state    245 

c. 

Calvin,  John,  3  persecutor        -     214 
Canons,  oath  of  obedience  to  the,  ex- 
tremely wrong      -         150 
not  a  bishop  in  England  com- 
plies with  the  whole       157 
oath  relating  to  -  U: 

Capel,  Lord,   eminent  for  devotion     2 
Carrier,  and  his  accomplices,  murder- 
ed 40,000  persons         -         -      223 
Carthage,  some  account  of  the  destruc- 
tion of        -         -         -         -       215 
Carlyon,  Rev.  John,  resignation  of  326 
Cathedrals,  29,  income  of    -     72,  73 
Catholic  nations, superstitioncf  167,163 
Catholics  present  to  church  livings  143 
hellish  cruelty  of      158,163 
number  of,  in.  the  w^orld  27 1 
Charles  I.  great  slaughter  in  the  wars 
of         -         -         -         -      281,  292 
Charles  II.  a  persecutor         -         143 
Chancellor,   Lord,   presents  to  many 
livings         -         -  -       145,  146 

Chancery,  court  of,  tedious  and  expen- 
sive        -         -         -        -   135,  136 
Chatham,  Lord,  considered  our  liturgy 
as  popish  -  -         -         340 

Chapnis,  M.  noble  end  of     '  -       223 
Chamoclc,  on  the  national  debt       304 
Chesterfield,  Lord,  sickness  and  death 
of        -         -         -        -         17,  19 
some  account  of  the  letters 
of        -        -        -       19 
two  anecdotes  concerning 
20 
convinced  by  the  present 
state  of  the  Jews        105 
China,  empire  of,  said  to  contain  333 
millions  of  souls         -         -         143. 
Children,  present  to  church  livings  146 
23C,000  murdered  in  France 
227 
Chillin^orth,  solemn  declaration  of, 
on  the  bible         .        -         -      238 


Chillingworfh,  on  subscription  to  the 
39  articles         -  -         Page  137 

Christ,  why  not  sent  sooner      -      195 
prophecies  concerning  105,  122 
kingdom  of,  extremely  glorious 
139 
Chtistianitj-,  absurdities  of  establish- 
ments in         -         -    69 
mysterious  doctrines  of,  no 
just  objection  to  it  192, 
193,  194 
Christians,  corruption  of,  much  owing 
to  the  clergy     74,  76,  77 
knavery  of,  no  valid  objec- 
tion to  Christianity,     96, 
191,  192 
animosities  of,  causes  of  in- 
fidelity -  93,95 
number  of,  in  the  world  2"! 
"  Church  of  Christ,  supposed  incapable 
of  a  temporal  head     -      145 
of  England,  iucome  of  71 
supposed   incapable  of  civil  es- 
tablishment        -         -       I4S 
Church  of  England,    defects   of  the, 
pointed    out    by 
Burnet     -       148 
preferments  of  the, 
by  money  or  In- 
terest    148,  149 
objections  to        il. 
Church-livings,  monopoly  of,  a  curse 
to  the  countr)'         -         -         -   324 
Church-wardens,generallyperjuredl52 
Cicero,  M.  T.  quotations  from  Adv.  25 
7,  192,  294,  295,  307 
Claude,  Mon.  edifying  death  ot  53,54 
Clarke,  Dr.  Samuel,. book  of,  on  Chris- 
tianity, recommended       251 
sermon  of,  on  the  incarnation, 
recommended         -           107 
quotation  from,  on  the  prophe- 
cies         -         -         -         120 
Clayton,  Bishop  on  the  prophecies  161 
Clergy,  of  the  establishment,   in  Eng- 
land, character  of     90,  234, 
327 
immoral,  do  much  harm,    70, 

77,  78,  168,322,  327 

income  of    -         -         -         71 
an  eighteenth  part  of  the,  en- 
joy all  the   best  preferments, 
73,  232 
superior,  extremely  to  blame, 

7?,  89, 233 

the   18,000  might  do  wonders 

321 

non-residence   of,  a  great  evil 

77,  78, 79 

negligence  of  the,  main  cause 

of  the  increase  of  sects       82 

misconduct  of        -        90,  01 


INDEX. 


Gospel  challenges  investigation 

Pages  143, 2g5 
in  this  country  a  civilinstitution 
143, 144 
should  distinguish  between  use 
and  abuse  of       -         -     147 
opposers  of,  its  very  good  friends 
161 
intention  of        .         -         19§ 
difficulties  of  the,  no  valid  ob- 
jection to  its  truth         -  197 
cause   of    misery    to   mankind 
answered    -         -      197,  193 
why  not  published  to   all  na- 
tions        -         -        19s,  199 
why  permitted   to  be  corrupted 
199 
Gouge,  Mr.  William,  read  15  chapters 
of  the  bible  daily         -         -        2gi 
Gray,  the  poet,  a  deist     -         -     300 
had  a  mean  opinion  of 
Shaftesbury     -      61 
Rev.  Mr.  Key  of,  recommended 
183 
Gregory,  a  Missionary,  an  account  by 

167 

Grey,  Lady  Jane,  dying  present  of,  to 

her  sister         .         -         -         -   oqq 

Greatheed,  Rev.  Mr.  Sermon  of  the, 

lecommeiided         -         -         -   325 

Greeks  and  Armenians,  number  of,  in 

the  world     -         -         -         -     271 

Grew,  Dr.  a  great  admirer  of  the  bible 

237 

Grimstone,  Sir  Harbottlc,  eminent  for 

devotion   -         -        -         -         -  2 

Grotius,  Hugo,  a  great  lover  of  the 

%ibie        -        -        -         -         291 

death  of    -        -     41 


H. 


Hatton,  Sir  Christopher,  dying  advice 
of         -         -  -     Pages  283,  284 

Hell,  Heathen  description  of  268 

Henry,  Matthew,  dying  declaration  of 
Pref.  d 
Heroism,  true,  wherein  it  consists  303 

3f  ■?»  30s 
Herbert,  quotations  from  Advert.  20 
Hervey,  Rev.  James,  glorious  death  of 

5* 
answer  of,  to  Eolingbroke  I83 
spent  his  Lst  days  in  praying 
over  the  bible        -         2O3 
Herschel,  Dr.  vast  discoveries  of    317 
Hesiod,  fine  seruiment  from  286 

Hill,  Sir  Richard,  Apology  of  144 

Hoadley,  Bishop,  wished  much  for  a 
reformation         -         »         -        1 52 
Hobbes,  Mr.  some  account  of  his  life 
and  death         -         -         -         -      8 
Hobart,  Lady  Frances,   read  the  bible 
daily     -         -         -    '    -         -    292 
Holidays,  worse  than  useless      -      84 
Holland,  unhappy  condition  of       227 
Homilies  in  opposition  to  the  revolu- 
tion        -         -  -  -         I5J 
recommended    by     B'shop 
Horsley         -         -       265 
Horace,  quotations  from    264  Adctrt, 

26 
Home,  Bishop  on  the  iniquity  of  the 
country  527 

quotation  from,    Pref.  5 
Houses,  religious,  suppressed  b>  Hen- 
ry VUI.        -        -        -        -     93 
Howard,  John,  Esq.  serious  believer 

295 

Hume,  David,  Esq.  merry  death  of  G 

an  advocate  for  adultery  and 

suicide      _         -         -         ib, 

authors  who  have  opposed    16 

never  examined  Christianitv22.l 


Haller,  Baron,  death  of        -        -   42 
Halley,  Dr.  a  deist  through  inattention 

G6 
Hall,  Bishop,  a  quotation  from       260 
Hale,  Sir  Matthew,  a  great  admirer  of 
the  bible         -         -         -         -537 
Haliburton,  Life  of,  strongly  recom- 
mended        -         -         -"        -     285 
Hammond,  Mr.         -         -         -    137 
Harrington,  Lord  John,  eminent  for 
piety         -  -  -         -         -    2 

Hartopp,  Sir  John,  made  the  bible  his 
daily  study         -         -         -  292 

Hartley,  Dr.   on  the  fall  of  religious 
establishments         -    141 
against  the  eternity  of  future 
misery         -         189,  I9Q 
a  great  admirer  of  the  bible 
237 


Ignorance,  extreme  of  the  middle  ages, 
162, 163 
Infidelity  mostly  owing  to  the  Bishops 
and  Clergy    -         -         77 
spread  of,  predicted  by  New- 
ton        -         -        -       96 
danger  of        -  173,  l"* 

books  against     07,  98,  269, 
270,  297 
spreading  rapidly        -      270 
two  causes  of        -  297 

Infidels,  of  France,   spent  large  sums 
in  spreading  thpir  principles 
1-0 
and  wicked  Christians  much 
alike         -  199}  -°=* 


INDEX. 


Infidels   very  unhappy  and  self-con- 
demned     -         -        Pages  239,  240 
Infidel,  enthusiastic,   curious  account 
of  an  -  -         274,275 

Insects,  species  of  -  -  '  ^^Z 
Ireland,  state  of  -  -  -  77>  7° 
Israel,  prophecies  concerning,  conclu- 
sive -  -  -  -  104,  105 
Italy,  a  store- house  of  fire         -       133 


Kenyon,  Lord,  testimony  of,  to  religion 
Fagc  Pre/.  1 5 

Kett,  Bampton  Lectures  of,  recom- 
mended        .         -         -         -     297 

Kidder,  Bishop,  endeavoured  reforma- 
tion        -         -  -         -  143 

Kilham,  Alexander,  societies  of      326 

King,  in  this  country,  absolute  in  the 
church         .         -         -         -       145 

Kingdoms,  ten,  all  to  fall  at  the  end  of 
1'260  years     -         -         -         -      13* 


James  I.  a  superstitious  bigot  142 

Janeway,  John,  triumphant  death  of 
310,  312 
Jenyns,  Soame,  Esq.  conversion  of  31 
Jerusalem,  prophecies  concerning,con- 
clusive         -         -  lo-*'  10' 

Jerome,  St.  directions  of,  for  reading 
the  scriptures        -         -     287, 288 
Jesus  and  his  Apostles,  surpassed  all 
the  ancients  -         -       178 

Jewel,  Bishop,  wished  for  farther  refor- 
mation    -         -         -        142 
says  Queen  Elizabeth,  refused 
to  be  head  of  the  church  146 
Jews,  present  state  of  the,  a  full  proof 
of  religion        -         -         105 
number  of,  in  the  world  271 

Johnson,  Dr.  exhorted  Sir  J.  Reynolds 
to  read  the  Bible     42,  284 
Life  of,  by  Boswell,  very  en- 
tertaining    -         -    41,  42 
suffered    by   neglecting    the 
bible     .        -        -      284 
on  the  death  of  Hume        16 
a  good  judge  of  fine  writing 
2S4 
convinced  by  reading  Law's 
Serious  Call         -  284 

death  of   -         -         -        42 
Jones,  Sir  William,  an  unbeliever,  and 
convinced        -         257,258 
sentiments  of,  on  the  bible  257, 
258 
pious  death  of        -        -  Il^id. 
Asiatic  Researches  of,  quotation 
from        -         -         -       187 
Jones,  Jeremiah,  on  the  divine  Canon, 
recommended     -         -     Advert.  19 
Josephus  on  the  wickedness  of  the  Jews 

161 
Judah,  prophecies  concerning,  conclu- 
sive       .  -  -         -         104 

K. 

Kclsey,  Rev.  Mr.  resigned  a  rectory  of 
200I.  ayear        ...        232 

Kempis,  Thomas  k,  famous  for  a  de- 
vout spirit         -         »        -        813 


Ladies,  present  to  church-livings    145 

of  eminence,    who   loved   and 

read  the  bible         -  292 

Laity,  seriously  called  upon  to  defend 

religion  .  -         -     i34,  235 

Lamballe,  Princess  of,  noble  death  of 

224 
Latimer,  Bishop,  on  unpreaching  pre- 
lates        -        -        -         -      88,  ?9 
Lauras,  Mons.  death  of  -  225 

wife,  horrible  treatment 
of         -         -        U'id. 
Lavater,   remonstrance  of,   with    the 
French  Directory      -     223 
predicts  the  general  spread  of 
infidelity         -         3'- 5>  308 
a  firm  believer   in    Christ 

Ibid. 
Laws,  English,  need  improvement  135 
Law, Bishop,  ot  Carlisle,  a  monopolizer 
of  preferment         -         -        75 
William,  dying  speech  of         174 
Serious  Call  of,    strongly   recom- 
mended by  Johnson  and  Gib- 
bon        -         -  -    284,285 
Le  Clerk  on  the  authenticity  ot  the 
books  of  Moses        -     184 
a  great  admirer  of  the  Gospels 
293 
Lee,  Captain  John,  a  Deist,  execution 
and  penitence  of    -         -         -      36 
Leechman,  Dr.  dying  advice  of        55 
Leighton,  Archbishop,  excellent  cha- 
racter of        -        -        "         -      86 
Leiand,  Dr.  John,  happy  death  of    50 
Leslie,  Charles,  books  of,  against  infi- 
delity recommended  -  107 
Lewis  XIV.  an  admhrer  of  the  bible  239 
Lindsey,  Rev.  T.  resignation  of       137 
Lyons,  in  France,  shocking  treatment 

of  -  -  -  *•  216,  22€ 

Littleton,  Lord,  conversion  of  29,  30 
Liverpool,  some  account  of  -  229 
Livings,  church,  general  account  of  7 1 
Locke,  John,  Esq.  anecdote  of  Advert. 
25,26 
an  advocate  fox  toleration      1 5  3 


z  z 


INDEX. 


'  Locke  on  the  morality  of  the  Gospel, 
Pages -J  5  6 
serious  d?'  laration    of,  on    the 
NewTebtanient         -        305 
edify  in, ^  deati'  of         -         Ibid. 
London,  brief  account  of         22S,  229 
Bishop  of,  an   exception   to 
most  other  prehnes  89 

Longinus,  praises  Moses  and  Paul  261 
Loid's  prayer,   frequent   repetition  of, 
•  wrong         -         .         -         .        i^Q 
Lovvman,  Moses,  on  Revelation,   re- 
commended        -         -         -        161 
Lowth,   Bishop,  on  the  excellence  of 
the  Prophets         -         -         -      26i 
Luc,  M.  de,  confirms  the  bad   end  of 


Voltaire 


15 


M. 


Macclesfield,  some  account  of        230 

Earl  of,  devoted  himself  to 

prayer         -  -      243 

Maclaurin,  on  the  Prophecies,  quoted 

115 

Madrid,  superstitious  state  of  167,  168 

Magazine,    Gentleman's,   records  the 

death  of  an  atheist       -         -       247 

•  Mahomet  and  the  Pope  rose  the  same 

year        -        -         -        .  j^g,  jgo 

Mahometans,  number  of,  in  the  world 

271 

Maintenon,  Madame  de,  experience  of 

244 

Ma'inwaring,  Rev.  John,  on  the  gran- 
deur of  scripture   ,      -         -         260 

Malachi,  fine  passage  of,  on  religious 
conversation  -  -     Jdvert.  26 

Man  nf  Fashion,  character  of     98,  99 

ManchL-ster,  some  account  of  229 

Manufactuieis,  200,000,  always  drink- 
ing        -         -  -  -  265 

Marlborough,  James,  Earl  of,  penitent 
letter  of        _      .  -         -         -       43 

Markham,  Rev.  G,  smartly  treated  by 
the  Quakers         -         -         -       158 

Mason,  Sir  John,  dying  declaration  of 

42,  43 

Maurice,   Rev.   Mr.    neglected  by  his 

superiors     149 

quotation   froni 

Ibid. 

Mazarine,  Cardinal,  dying  lamentation 

ot 43 

Mede,  Joseph,   on  the  Cruelty  of  the 

Catholics        -        -        -        -   158 
Mediatorship  of  Christ,  doctrine  of 

IS3,  184 
Melancthon,  a  persecutor  -  214 
Men,   black,   no    valid    objection    to 

scripture   -         -         -•         -         196 
2vlessiah,  divine  mission  of,  proved 

105--I26 


Methodist,  a  term  of  reproach  for  reli- 
gious people         -  Pages  85,  86 
Methodists,  number  of        -        -     7a 
making  great  exertions    321 
upon  the  increase  of       326 
how  to  check  the  Hid. 
account  of,  by  Cecil  Adden. 
Welch,  imprudence  of,  68, 
69 
Mexico,  Archbishop  of,  possesses 

70,0001  a  year         -         -         -     163 
Middleham.  Dean  of,  on  education  235 
Mill,  Dr.  enumerates  30,000  variations 
in  the  New  Testament         -        189 
Milton,   John,  a  noble  champion   for 
toleration     '    -       153 
a  devout  admirer  of  the 
bible         -         -    237 
quotations  from,  62,  91, 
92,172,259,287,3*2, 
3'^.    3i9>    33^,    340, 
342,  Advert.  26 
Minister,  prime,  presents  to  many  liv- 
ings          146 

Mirandula,  Picus,  a  great  lover  of  the 
bible         -        237 
advice  of,  to  his  ne- 
phew       312,313 
Mirabeau,  Mons.  affecting  death  of 

..•    •  ^'^^'  ^49 

Missions,  carried  on  chiefly  by  the  poor 

Advert.  22. 
some  account  of      271 — 273 
Montesquieu,  Mons.  quotations  from 
198,320 
Monastries,  curious  preamble  to  statute 
for  aboli-hing         -      94 
value  of,  when  abolished 
93,  94 
Monopolizers  of  livings,  infidels  in  dis- 
guise        -         -         .         .  324 
Moore,   Dr.   John,  on  the  manners  of 
Italy         -         -         -         .  167 
More,  Miss  Hannah,  quotations  from 
253,  270,  294 
an   ornament   to 
her  sex,  and  a 
blessing  to  her 
country      314 
Moses,  character  of,  vindicated       183 
books  of,  authentic  and  genuine 
184 
confirmed  by  the  his- 
tory of  the  East   In- 
dies      -         187,  188 
Musculas,  soliloquy  of,  before  death 

279 
Mutineers,  some  account  of      Pref.  6 


N. 


Nantz,  murders  at 


zz6 


INDEX. 


Naples,  superstition  of     -     Page   167 
Nations,  of  Canaan,  destruction  of  the, 
▼indicated         -         -        186 
of  Europe,  already  subverted 

169, 170 
Nature,  volume  of,  to  be  studied    317, 

-iS 

Nelson,  Admiral  Lord,  piety  of.  Advert. 

iJ,  504. 

Newcome,  Archbishop,  high  opinion 

of,  on  the  Scriptures     189  . 

an     high    literary   character 

83 

Newport,  Hon.  Fran,  miserable  end  of 

10 
NcJvtonjSir  I'^aac, painful  affliction  and 
patience  of         -  -       11 

fine  anecdote  of    -         -       66 
on  the  prophecies       -  161 

accounted  the  bible  the  rnost 
sublime  philosophy         237 
entertained  an  awful  sense  of 
God         -         -         -       178 
found  the  strongest  marks  of 
truth  in  the  bible         -    299 
Newton,  Bishop,  Dissertations  of,'  re- 
commended    -         -        I83 
on    the    eternity    of    future 
misery         -         -         -  I89 
on  the  rich  endowments  of  the 
church         -  .  328 

on  our  national  iniquities    397 
Newton,    Rev.   John,  wickedness  and 
conversion  of        -         -         -        '0 
Nineveh,  prophecies  concerning,  con- 
clusive        -         -  -       104 
Nobleman,  affiecting  letter  from  a 

46—49 

mortifying  declaration  of  a 

244 


o. 


Objections,  to  the  scriptures,  with  an- 
swers   -  -    1S2 — 200 
some  of  the  lesser,  to  the 
common  prayer         157 
Okely,  Dr.  recants  his  deisiical  princi- 
ples         -          -          -  -   209,  300 
Oldys,  Fran,  writes  the  life  of  T.  l^aiiie 

29S 
Oliver,  Dr.  conversion  and  death  of  31 
Olympia,  F.  M.  joyful  death  of         31 
Oxford,  Earl  of,   an  infidel  and  hypo- 
crite        -         -  -         -  "2  21 
Orleans,  Duke  of,  declares  in  favour  of 
piety         -         -         -         -         -  52 
Ormonde,  Duke  of,  eminent  for  devo- 
tion        -         -         -          -         -       2 
Orrery,  Earl  of,  a  firm  believer        237 
Ostervald,  attiibutes  great  blame  to  the 
clergy         -        -         -         -        74 

Z 


Owen,  Dr.  John,  an  early  advocate  fir 
toleration         -         -  Page  153 

Oxtnstiern,  Chancellor,  found  rest  in 
the  bible  alone    -         -         -         52 


Pagans,  number  of,  in  the  world     271 
Pame,  Thomas,  opinion  of,  on  the  gos- 
pel        -        -        -        -     4 
illiterate  and  immoral     63,  293 
on  na'ional  cnurches         -   333 
Age    of  Reabon    of,    quotation 

from         .        .         -         137  . 

challenged   to    produce  morals 

equal  to  the  New  Testament 

298 

on  national  Popes         -         I47 

a  man  of  yome  natural  talents 

200 
an  i=;no'-ant  a:id  malignant  per- 
son        -  -         200,  201 
insolently  attacks  the  clergy  on 
their  learning  200 — 202 
37  objections   of  to   the   scrip 
ture.  ansvvered  20-:; — 208 
sf>ecimens  of  the  insolence  of 

'iO-i — 210 

jests  of  Solomcn  recommended 

to  -  -  256,  257 

persuasion  of,  that  he  was  right, 

no  proof         -  -  266,267 

Paley,  Rev.  Wlliam,  on  subscription  ' 

336 
teaches  prevarication  -  177 
account  of  the  Methodists  by 

Addenda 
Parishes  in -E-  gland  and  Wales  71 

Parsons,  of  all  descriptions,   too  papis- 
tical -  -         -         -      82,  83 
Paris,  murders  at         -         -'        -  226 
Paschal,  spent  his  whole  time  in  prayer 
and  the  bible  -  50.  51 
Patronage  of  livings,  brief  view  of   I46 
sad  abuses  of  the       1  fl,  154 
Patrick,   Bishop,  endeavoured  at  a  re- 
formation        -         -          -  143 
Paul,  St    triumphant  death  of  20 
Father,    a   great   student    in  the 
scriptures          -         -           29I 
Persecution,  a  sure  mark  of  Antichrist 

213 
sketch  of,  in  England  213, 

214,  2'!l 

Peter,  St.  a  curious  aaecdote  of  'Sp 
Peterborough,  Lord,  Eulogium  of,  on 
Fenelon  .  -  .  _  303 
Philosophers,  French,  of  various  senti- 
ments ....  274 
Pluralities  of  livings,  very  common 

232,233 
Pomfrcfs  Poems,  quotation  fiom    31G 
z  2 


INDEX. 


T*ococke,  high  character  of,  by  Locke 
Page  87 
Pope,  Alexander,  Esq.  declaration  of  6 
quotations  from  45,  46,  I9  ,  34.3, 
262,  288 
a  believer         -         -  -       133 

Pope,  of  Kome,  duration  of        -    131 
anecdote  of        -       329 
cruelly    treated  by    the 
French         -         160 
Popes,  of  Rome,  number  of,  in  all  13I 
however  virtuous  to  go  into  per- 
dition        -  -         -       HO 
Poperv,  a  grievous  curse  to  Christen- 
dom        -           -         -         -  03 
600  ^ross  errors  in         -        I4I 

P 1,  Lord,  infidelity  and  death  of 

P,./.  7,8 

Pope,    William,   infidelity   and   awful 

death  of        -         -         -     Prp/.  8-9 

Porcupine,  Peter,  Bloody  Buoy  of  2  >2, 

226 
democratic  principles 
illustrated,  by  217 
writes   the  Life  of  T. 
Paine         -  49S 

Person's  account  of  Gibbon's  history 
16,  17 
Porteus,  Bishop,  quotat'on  from,  on 
the  Atonement         -     II8 
Discourses  of,    on   Redemp- 
tion, recommended       269 
on    a  Future    State,    recom- 
mended -  -     245 
Prayers  for    the  King,   too  frequently 
repeated        -         -         -         -     136 
Prebends,  Canons,  &c.  some  account 
of        -----        72 
Preferment,  large,  Hot  necessary  to  our 
usefulness     -         -    328 
church,  instances  of  shock- 
ing abuse  in         -       148 
Predictions,  scriptural,  conclusive   159 
concerning     the    Pope    of 
Rome         -  -     16Q 
Prior,  Matthew,  Esq.  quotations  from 

6 
opinion  of,  on  the  books  of  Solo- 
mon   -  -  -  .      -  262 
Pringle,  Sir  John,  conversion  of     .  31 
Priestly,    Dr.  considers   all  lively  reli- 
gion as  enthusiasm         -         -     310 
Piiests,    by    their  folly    the   curse    of 
Christendom            -          -      168,  169 
Priests,  24,000  of,  m.urdered  in  France 

227 
Priesthood,  in  danger  of  being  subvert- 
ed       -  -         -         -         -     169 
Protestant  states,  to  fall      -         -    139 
Protestants,  number  of,  in  the  world 

271 
Prophets,  ancient,  vindicated  I85,  I86 


Prophecies,  a  wonderful  chain  of,   m 
scripture       -       Page  I61 
a  remarkable  one,  concern- 
ing the  French     24S, 249 
Propertius,  quotation  from       -       264 
Prussia,  Frederic,  King  of,  egregiously 
mistaken         -         -         -         -  295 
Psalmist,  a  great  adnftirer  of  the  law  of 
Moses  -  -  -         -     238 

Puritans,  History  of,  by  Neal,  recom- 
mended -  -  -  '142 
Pythagoras,  excellent  precept  of     286 


Q. 

Quadrupeds,  species  of 


317 


Pv. 


Raleigh,  Sir  Walter,  dying  advice  of 

303 

Rank,  men  of,  sometimes  the  pest  of  a 

neighbourhood         -         -         -  172 

Reasons,  the  Author's,  for  resignation 

-       33i>34a 
Rectories,  number  of       -         -         7I 
Reformation,  prevented  the  clergy  from 
amassing  the  wealth  of 
Europe  -  163 

of  England,    essential  to 
the    salvation    of    the 
■  country     75 — 81,  135, 
146 
attended  with  some  dan- 
ger        -  171,  172 
nature  of  that  contended 
for          -          321, 330 
Reformers,  excellent  men,  and  noble 
examples         -         -        -        -  141 
Religion,  short  sketch  of        -         3,4 
happiness  of    -         -         30 1 
singularity  in,  no  disgrace  301 
302 
the  highest  honour      -    302 
alone,   can   make  us  happy 
243,  244 
attended  with  safety  1-7,178 
Religions,  of  the  world  should  he  com- 
pared        .          -         -  269, 270 
Renty,    Mons.  de,  read  three  chapters 
daily  on  his  knees         -         -       283 
Repentance,  death-bed,  very  dangerous 

37 
Reyner,  a   bankrupt,   afterwards   ho- 
nourably paid  his  debts         -       322 
Ridley,  Bishop,  able  to  repeat  much  of 
the  bible      -         -  -         -      29O 

Rittenhouse,  David,  a  philosopher,  yet 
a  believer         -         -  -  296 

Robertson,  Dr.  opinion  of,  on  Chris- 
tianity .       -         -        -    4 


INDEX. 


Robertson,  Dr.  sermon  of,  recom- 
mended        -         -         _     Page  ",17 

Robinson,  Dr.  a  great  admirer  of  the 
bible       -----   037 

Robison's  Proofs  of  a  Conspiracy     3 1 9 

Robert,  King  of  Sicily,  preferred  his 
bible  10  his  kingdom         -  239 

Rochester,    Earl   of,    conversion   and 

wickedness  of        32 — 35 

Bishop  of,  against  all  reform 

«4 

Rome,  d.struction  of,  predicted     131, 

132 
Romakie,  Rev.  William,  read  nothing 
but  the  bible  for  30  years 
293 
glorious  death  of  55,  56 

Roscommon,   Earl   of,  passage  from, 
applied  to  the  bible        -         -    262 
Rowe,  Nic,  Esq.  died  in  the  faith    26j 
Rousseau,  extraordinary  life  and  death 
of        -         -         -  26,  ;8,  266 

fine  quotations  from,  on  the 
gospels  isi,  192,  23S 

Rush,  Dr.  a  philosopher,  yet  a  Chris- 
tian        -        .        -        .        .  2^6 
Russel,  Lord,  happy  death  of    -       51 


s. 


Sabbath,  profaned,  and  lost       -      221 
Salmasius,  dying  lamentation  of       41 
Saville,  Sir  George,  some  account  of  61 
Scaliger,  a  fine  stanza,  admired  by  3O7 
Scarlett,  New  Testament  of,    for  uni- 
versal restitution         -         -         I90 
Scott,  Rev.  Thomas,  conversion  of  36 
answer  of,    to  T.  Fame,   quota- 
tion from       -  -         -  180 
Scotland,  kirk  of,  some  account  of   73 
shipping  of      -  -     230 
Scriptures,  law  against  their  being  read 

292 
Seldon,  John,  dying  declaration  of  52, 
53.  238 
Seneca,  fine  passage  from,  on  Cato  3 06 
Servin,  the  atheist,  life  and  death  of 
8—10 
Servan,  Mons.  noble  death  of         220 
Shakespeare's  account  of  purgatory  24 
quotations  from   88,  172, 
250,  268 
Sheffield,  Duke  of  Bucks,  lines  on  the 
death  of         -         -         -         -       46 
Sherlock,    Bishop,    quotations    from 
Pref.  0 
a  fine  passage  from 
246 
Sermons  of,  recom- 
mended     -     269 
a  passage  from,  on 
the  Atonement  izs 


Sherlock,Dr.  on  the  Test  Act  Page  I5i 

on     Divine    Providence, 

recommended  195 

Shepherd,  of  Salisbury  Plain,  read  his 

bible  daily  for  30  years         -        294 

Sidney,  Sir  Philip,  dying  advice  of  288 

Slavery,  in  ancient  times  common  and 

cruel       .         -         -         -         -   165 

Slave  trade,  in  England,  inexcusable- 

ness  of        -  -        -       164,  165 

honour  due  to  those  who 

under  God  effected  the 

Abolition    -      165,  166 

Socrates,  short  account  of    -     8,  255 

Societies,  for  promoting  religion    27a, 

273 
Solomon,  Sermon  and  experience  of 

24  r,  242 
South,  Dr.  two  declarations  of  264,  328 
Spain,   King  of,  penitent  lamentation 
from         -           -          -          -         43 
Spaniards,  horrible  cruelty  of,  in  Ame- 
rica          163 

Spencer,  Edmund,    fine  sentiments  of 

Spectator,  No.  237,  on  Providence  I95 
Spinosa,  died  an  atheist  -         267 

Spirit,  Holy,  operation  of,  defended  by 
Bishop  Pearson     -         -         .      30}} 
Stars,  number  of,  discoverable         317 
Stackhouse.  Rev  T.  on  the  objections 
to  the  bible         -         -         -        196 
Steel,   Sir  Richard,   on   the  death  of 
three  infidels    46 
greatly  delighted  with 
the  scriptures    256, 
294 
Christian  Hero  of,  re- 
commended      303 
Sterne,  Lawrence,  Sermon  of,  on  Con- 
science     -        _        _    267 
curious  dissolution  of    -         99 
Stillingfleet,  Bishop,  endeavours  refor- 
mation        -         -      143 
Origines  Sacra?  of,  strongly 
recommended       -     2  7 
Struensee,  Count,  conversion  of  38,  40 
Subscription,  to  the  59  Articles,  a  great 
hardship     -     149,  158 
when    we  go  to  College, 
very  wrong        -       150 
is  there  a  Bishop  in  Eng- 
land who  believes  fully 
his  own  subscription .' 
157 
Susannah,  Countess   of  Suffolk,  jead 
the  bible  over  twice  a  year  292 

Swedenborgh,  strange  errors  of       212 
letter  in  defence  of,  falla- 
cious       -        -    213 
Switzerland,  overthrow  of        -      223 


INDEX. 


Tacitus,  on  the  three  States  in  a  Go- 
vernment       -         -         Page  218 
Taylor,  Bishop,  a  rare  character        83 
Temple,  SirWilliam,  Burnet's  account 
of        -        -        -        -        -        61 
Tennison,    Archbishop,    endeavoured 
reformation        ...         143 
Testimonies,  Heathen,  to  the  birth  of 
Christ         -         -         -         .         106 
Theology,  difficulties  in         -  100 

Thompson,  James,  quotation  from  319 
Tiilotson,  Archbishop,  quotation  from 

119 

endeavoured  reformation  143 

on    the    eternity    of    future 

misery  -         -  189 

reprobates     the    Athanasian 

creed         -         -         -   338 

Tithes,  originally  a  usurpation         132 

Toleration,unkno\vn  for  many  ages  153 

clergy  often  unfriendly  to 

213 

Toilet, an  apostate  priest,a  blood-hound 

21s,  219 

Toplady,  triumphant  death  of         278 

Tribes,  ten  of  the  Jews,  nov/  in  the 

East  -         -         -  -         188 

Tronchin,  Dr.  confirms  the  bad  end  of 

Voltaire       -  -         -         -  15 

Turk,  fall  of         -         -         -  323 

Turreau's  history  of  the  Vendean  war 

223 
Tyre,  prophecies  concerning,  conclu- 
sive     -----      104 


u. 


Unbelievers,  creed  of  -  -  97 
Union,  Act  of,  should  be  no  hindrance 

to  reformation  -  -  -  S4 
Universities,  English,  income  of  71 
Urick,    John,    great   diligence   of,    in 

prayer         -  -         -         -         41 

Usher,  Archbishop,  a  v^-alking  library 

83 


Vanderkemp,    Dr.     converted    from 
deism         -         -        -  -       300 

Vegetables,  species  of  -  -  317 
Vendee,  La,  murders  ih  -  -  226 
ViaL  the  seventh,  now  pouring  out  160 
VigS,  Marquis  of,  like  unto  Moses  339 
Vicarages,  in  England  and  Wales  71 
Villages  of  England,  No.  of  -  320 
Visague,  Madame  de,  barbarously 
treated        -        -         -         -       217 


Voltaire,  unhappy  end  of,   at  some 

length        -      Pages  11,  15 

lived  laughing,  but  how  did 

he  die?         -        -  247 

dark  picture  of    the   present 

state  of  man  by        -      175 

W. 

Wakefield,  Mr.  on  Bishop  Watson's 

Address         -        -     227 

Evidences    of    Christianity 

by,  recommended        182 

on  National  Churches     324 

Waller,  Sir  William,  eminent  for  piety 

3 

Walker,    Rev.   Samuel,    transporting 

death  of        -        -        -        -       54 

Walsingham,  serious  reproof  of     247, 

24.8 
War,  authors  on  the  causes  of  the  pre- 
sent       -        -         -        -       69, 70 
Washington,  General,  a  serious  Chris- 
tian        -  -  -  -  63 
Watts,  Dr.  dependance  of,  on  the  pro- 
mises of  God          -         -     263 
quotations  from             6,  199,  263 
Watson,  Bishop,  quotations  from    63, 
378,  246,  251 
entertains    objections  to    the 
church         -         -         158 
on  the  mysterious  doctrines 
of  religion      192,   193,194 
apologies  of,    recommended, 
Pref.  17 
West,  Gilbert,  Esq.  conversion  of  29, 

30 
Wesley,  Rev.  John,  spent  his  whole 
life  in  doing  good  295 

comfortable  death  of         27s 
Wesley,  Rev.  Charles,  quotations  from 
7,  100,   144,  174,  268 
Whiston,  William,  re2isons  of,  for  the 
truth  of  the  bible  1-9,180 
anecdotes  concerning       149, 
■!,li\.— ^Advert.  23,  24 
Whitefield,  Rev.  George,anecdote  con- 
cerning        -     '    -         -         -      325 
Wilson,  Bishop,  declined  his  seat  in  the 
House  of  Lords  75, 
188 
Works      of,     recom- 
mended        -     188 
Wilson,  Captain,  some  account  of  the 
con\  ersion  and  voyage  of     2*3,300 
Wilberforce,  Wm.  Esq.  an  able  advo- 
cate for  religion  235,  313,  314 
Williams,   William,   wickedness    and 
death  of        -         -         -     2:9,  250 
William    III.    constant  in  prayer  and 
reading  the  bible  -  -     2';9 
Willis,  Henry,  a  farmer,  read  the  bible 
eight  times  over        -         -        294 


INDEX. 


Witsius,  Herman,  intimately  acquaint- 
ed with  the  bible        -         Page  292 
Wolsey,  Cardinal,  affecting  declaration 
of         -----     243 
a  tyrant  over  the  church  147 
Women,   number    of,    murdered     in 
France     -         -  -        -        -227 

Word  of  God,  what  meant  by  the  1 82 
Worms,  species  ofjWhat  number  of  317 
World,  depraved  state  of  the,  before 
Christ         -         -         25'3,  255 
men  of  the,  ill  judges  of  what 
is  pleasing  to   God     Advert. 
23,  24 
inhabitants  of  the,   how  many 
271 
Worlding,  death  of      -        Advert.  25 


Wotton,  Sir  Henry,  a  devout  reader  of 
the  bible    -        -        -        Page  29 -2 

Y. 

Yorke,  Henry  Redhead,  Esq.  views  of, 

changed  in  prison  -         -      300 

Young.Dr.  quotations  from  3,162,173, 

174,  238,  243,  263, 295,  297, 310 

z. 

Zealots,  in  religion,  noise  and  nonsense 
of,  causes  of  infidelity         -  67 

Zuinger,  Theodore,  soliloquy  of,  at 
death        -        -        -        -        279 


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