&az((U PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FENNO, No. 4:, BRC&D.STREET, NEAR THE EXCHANGE, NEW-YORK [No. 43, C f Vol. 11. j philosophical reflections ON THE LATE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE, and thi conduct or f P r >mitive church re vi ve, and the present raci THE DISSEN TERS IN ENGLAND. of diflenters are the objedis of this wrath. Sucl concluded. pious fervency was never equalled, ?xcept by th< 11 experiments in every branch of medical phi- orthodox zeal of the planters at Jamaica, who a l lofophy were pursued on a liberal and com- bout a century ago, petitioned King Willian ireheniive plan, new fot\rces ofknowledge would "to bani/h the Jews from that i and, becau(< be opened lor our contemplation, and the evils they were the descendants of the ci acifiers of oui of life greatly alleviated. The late Dodor John Lord." ion's (peculations on this fubjedt were new and " will to the eftablifhtnent,' mult in al curious, {remember when tin " hemr of fend- ' belong to r r* . if he be ar ing Swilstrowp* to tbe i%a.i indit3 »>"•** uiik.-CT^i, 1 u v*" l " 'r l ' -jjsjaie ; " th< a person in conversation censured it, bfcaufe on n,an himfelt all the while belie- -.j he is doinj; foreign service they are liable to the malaite du God and his country service, ani! the harm h< pays, and often languish away their lives, unless n,a y d o under this notion, will be only so mucl they are permitted to return home. The Docftor t ' l f more, the greater we suppose his virtue ant asked, whether there were any Scotch regiments abilities.'' This impressive truth (. :nnot buthavc in India ?On being anfweredin the affirmative, S ,ta t weight with the public, wlmto the mora <* Let the Switzers, then," said he, "be inocula- character of the diflenters is confi: ered ; if the} ted with the Scotch, and, rely on't, the disease were vicious and profligate, then would be lef wiJl never reach them." danger. But, Sir, notwithstanding the strong symptoms ' c was confidently, indeed, alfe'ted in debate of our approaching ruin, 1 rejoice to lee a revi- by Mr. I 1 ox, that "it was neither ast nor candic ■val of our ancient spirit. The corporation and to charge the diflenters with defi -ns which botl test adts have not been repealed ; tife infurrec- their condudt and profeflions com adict. Onthi; tion,irrelfgion, and anarchy, would have been the fallacious ground," fays he, " e\.?ry species ol conlequence. 1 hole acts are our defence against persecution, from the maftacre ofS .Bartholomew the encroachments of non-conformity i they are down to the corporation and test a»it, may be jufti the shield ofonr faith,which protedts us against the fied. Such arguments are clea !y erroneous, darts of fanaiicifm. What is the pre'byterian yet they are alwaysfct oft by this fubdolous ora plea of merit ? The ftorin that overturned the tor with such delusive ability, en.-tgy of expref state was raised by you ; otherwise we fliould fi° n > an d imposing candor, that they too ofter have enjoyed at this moment the blefled calm oi* make a fatal imprellion on the house. Hence his arbitrary power ; for it was a meritorious device powers of deception s his pofitiotis being frequent in the clergy to convert, by a species of political 'X admitted as true, even on point' Of law and the tranfubftantiation, that implicit obedience they practice of the courts, though contrary to th< owed the pope, into an unlimited allegiance to opinion ol the moll eminent lawj Trs, who gene the king : " And thus," fays the sarcastic Dodtor neglect or disdain to answer him. Yet, ir Kurd, " arose in the church that) pernicious defiance oi thjs logic, 11 .11 fay, that tlx fyfleni of divine indefealiblc right, broached in- protestant diflenters have entere into a 1 oleum deed by the clergy, but no: from thafe corrupt 'eague and covenant to deltroy o: r civil and ec and temporary views to which it has been impu- clsnaltical establishment j oecauf. I would do fc led." Sir John Maynard betrays the vimlencc of ' l! a himlar situation ; therefore ■, hate and per a whitr, in his answer This apology," fays ' ec Ote them, perfectly convince' I fliould merit «e, it I.uUI Le mudc ?c. * treatment- wyWf* kit this ftridtly but when one considers the baneful tendency of I tonilting tuac divine prec*j>c,o« d«in-tv^l tliofe doctrines which were calculated to enslave what I would they should do unto me ? T"! 115 m " the fouls and consciences of men, and, by advanc- * erllal convidhan, (as Hobbes finely observes) ine princes into the rank of gods, to juftify their from the very constitution of human nature, inult tyranny, one cannot help feelinga strong refe.it- °P era « Wronger on me than either the condudl inent against the teachers of them, however they or profeffions of the diflenters. Allow me to elu themfelves might be imnofed on by fcveral color- c,date t,ns , b X , 3 fat ! l,ha, J inft f l,c *, 5 .— I L " us su P" -ible pi eteuies * pole a criminal arraigned at the Old Baily ; may ' 'it is my boali, Sir, to have already demonftra- "oc thejuryconfcieniioufly conclude, that if thej ted the eHernial benefits resulting from despotism I,ad been |» situation with the pnfoner and persecution, and to havefliewn the hierarchy ould committed the/<«r # came ; and in a true light, confidently laboring to promote therefore find hnn guilty though contrary both both: I therefore trull thole unfounded afper- to fa«a and evidence, and notmthftand.qg tb« fions which have unguardedly dropt from the culprit sfolemnaffcve.ation of his innocence, pen of the Bishop of Worcester, will have little this principle I joi» .(Tue withiMr. Fox, and weight with the candid reader. Let us how ad- Wlth him that the fame orthodox argumen. vert to the conduct of the dilfenters at that criti- Ojecies of perfecot.or ; therefore cal period—lt is thus described by Mr. Hume, 1 have niade " the f°«»dation ofallmy reafon with whiggifh rancour, and fanatical partiality : "•«<"» th ' s misrepresented and mistaken fubjetf " Any or writing which tended towards The example of Ireland has been alledged, a« heresy, schism, or sedition," lays he, « was pun- a triumphant instance of no bad conference, ifhed by the high commiflioners, or any three of havi "S ensued from a repeal of the tell ad ; bui them. They alone were jadgespf whatever ex- '«> a fatisfadtory answer has beengivet pveflions hnd thou tendency ; They proceeded not the ,f u^ or of f th < C '{' f ht . D f" bv information, but upon rumour, suspicion, or ' Jhe repeal of the Ir.fh test a«ft in . 779 according to their own fancy! The puritanical was probably, fays he, occasioned by th< party, though disguised [men of clofi ambition,] dr r ea< ! ° f f S Pf n,fn mvafion But what is the tru, ,1 „ . ■ nle of Ireland s example i Eleven years are 1101 had a very sireat authority over the kingdom ;— r r j and many of the leaders among the commons had >'« P assed °! er h the „ e P eal ook P lac f/ .I; embraced the tenets of that fe«ft. All these were the «P cal c . f l . he test art J uft ' fie . d as . a P°. ht,ca disgusted with the court, both by the prevalence ; " eal " rc . °/ ,S ' t "° t \ by h T e P Prr r e h fent fi ( i aat, ° n 0 of civil liberty tfntial to their party, and on ac- thechurch and kingdom ? Let the question sleep c 1 ! a Lui~u its difcuflion mient be more unpleasant than i count or the teitraints under which they were c D ,/*> * o ■ ' » •.111 . /1 » T/i j u* . , »» tu -lu- could be prontable. Jaut let Ureat tfrttatn aware. held by the eftabhfhed hierarc. y rhus hev.r- e J tremel lad that Dwftor H . has boldb tuous aufter.ty of ArchbiJoP■ Laod, "d the no- n , y al ,J e | tQ the treasonable negocia iha en attar line 1 5 P P. -. tion carried 011 between Spain and the Diflenter; fatally counteracled by the rebelliousdiipoiition rr7lA • u r r V, J »-\r . 1 > r n 14, r . 1 ofUlfter, in 1770, as the Iriih feClaries are ven of the diflenters ; otherwise we fliould have had . . 9 j i- . j • n-i w ' irritable, and fore on this tender point. Tin jin holy mquifitorial tribunal to tfratch over our - . 9 r , , , K Ar , «I 1 u«#ijr 1 • fad: is, that a synod, denominated the Northen - and regulate our conlcicnces, at this day. . Ja . D^ir a n A r -r i u ' • ij • r Ai\nciatton, was allembled at Belfalt, and fom< flnoraia, then, that you are held in ab r. ' A „ , c , Is k Airpr.ii.. "-vnuaries of thechurch .' They propofit.ons actually moved, for delivering n, horrenceby tl.e - heir lethargy ; the- no tUe P rov ' nee and llnen mam^ u , re 10 S P a,n ( lvave been roused from c ' ' / jf government any longer opposed the repeal oi longer (lumber in their flat.- '" - l ' cen t he tdft It is reported, that Mr. Fletcher, convened " from the four quarters Qt tne nea- vhQ reccnt l y saved the church and state, by dif ■vens" to stigmatise your proceedings. Ll«e tne ]oling the J rea dful conspiracy of the diflenting Tewifli priests of old, who enjoyed the exciunve miniftersat Boston, in Lmcolnfhire.) was provi irivilegeofblowingthefacred trumpet, Ur.H.nas dentially a mem ber of the Inlh synod ; and fe founded an alarm from Mount S/o«, and gather- withdrawing iiimfelf fro V the allembly ed the eleift together, to avenge themlelves or he too k po st, arrived in a few hours at Dublin their enemies. castle, and laid this alarming intelligence before a .Quo uon pracftantiunahus |# the Lord Lieutenant. —A council was fuddenlv I crtM, the tods of a bill <!,»«» up and »■ WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1790. with yeuranceftors ? and do you ndt Well ilefei ve a similar treatment ? I fee the geifffiue spirit he pr ; - i " excellent law beingtiien in force) and tranfinitted to England, for a repeal ot the telt art.—A copy wasdifparched to the fynod,en treating them at the fame time to break oil all ne gociation with Spain. After some debate their requelt was complied with, and the motions of the combined fleets in the channel became very languid, as Count d'Orvilliers' proje<sts were ut terly disconcerted by this wife and judicious mea sure. The original papers, and the whole of the correspondence between the prefiderit of the sy nod and the Marqnif del C , I hear, will be publiftied by Do<ftorH, as an appendix to his next: addition of " A Review of the Cale." Mow; Sir, permit me to ask you a plain ques tion : Does not the church let an example to the? diflenters how they should conduit themselves on cafuiftica! difficulties ? Is it not perfedtly un derstood, that numbers of the clergy ardently wifti to be relieved from fubfeription. to the thir ty-nine articles, and foine years ago stated their reasons, with great force and precision, in a pe* ticion to the house of commons Yet as the legi slature did not think proper to comply with their requcft, they submit patiently, and consider the. coercion of the subsisting law as an ample juftifi cation for their involuntary acquiescence. Tliey conceive obedience, and holding,their living, to be their priipary inclifpenfableduty, even on the tenure of fubfeription to articles which they do not believe. Yet theyftill maintain their confci. entious objections in theory, and exhibit a lau dable ingenuity, by reconcilingunfullied princi ple with worldly \wifdoin. Oaths are taken, and their obligation examined by them, with the fame candor and fcbcrality, on the incontrovertible maxima of moral and political philosophy, Co ably illustrated by Arch deacon Palcy, who ftuewdly t»bfervs, u that members of Colle ges, and other ancient foundations, are full required to swear to the oblervance of their refpe&ivc statutes ; which observance :s become in some cases unlawful, in others impYatticahUi in others ujelefiy in others inconvenient.** But, if the ast you fwcar to per form be absurd and impratticable, you are, ipfo JaEla. abfoived at the moment you take it. So, if the cause for prescribing the oatft originally no longer exiils, you are equally akfolvcd, as the effetfc neceirarily ceases with the cause. If the fpccific a£ts enjoined arc impra&icablc or absurd, you virtually and truly comply with the genuine spirit of the oath, as far as you pollibly can ; which is the utmost you could do, evco if ycu ftriflly arul literally fulfilled tbev were neither absurd or impracti cable. It may be iiivi4ioufly tfketi, then, is the utility of such a solemn appeal to heaven ? Aod whether it would not b« better either to form pra&icible oaths, or dispense with impra&j* cable ones? My conllant answer is—the danger to be aporehen ded from any innovation. Bcfides, one principal use of an univerfit) education would be loft; which is, to inspire our in genious youth with a due veneration for the reverend founders of colleges, who framed both the statute and the oath. By this students are also early acquainted with the refinement* of logic, and the fubtilty of moral diflin&ions, and rendered Jcfs scrupulous on trivial points, which might otherwise impede their progreflive fortunes m life. Thus, Sir, animated with the raoft ardent zeal for the pros per ity and glory of Britain, I have exerted my utmofl efforts to in spire my countrymen with a true spirit of obedience, fubmiHion, and loyalty. The church is in danger ; the conflitution is mena ced ; a puritanical iavagenefs of manners spreads among the peo ple; the desponding seriousness of fanaticifm has contaminated their hearts and infefled the land, Athcifm and democracy have formed a new family-compact, and this new and formidable alli ance will be our ruin : I fee nothing but clouds and darkness in the air; for despotism has alraoft finifhed his splendid course, and. scarce emits one refrsftcd ray, to cheer the impending gloom, and prolong the twilight of his reign. Liberty, as every true Englifliman knows, can only appear " profufe of blik and pregnant withdelight," when seated on her throne, with the crown and mitre in conjun&ion, on her head, adorned in the sumptuous robes of the peerage, with the ted ast in one hand, and the excise laws in the other. You will tell me, perhaps, with republican enthusiasm, that you can admire her dressed up in rustic simplicity, amidst the bleak mountains of Switzerland, by a hardy peasantry ot soldiers, ferti lizing the rocks, and turning the very (tones into bread. You will tell me, that you can admireher in naked roving amidfk the boundless forefts of America, diffufing her own spirit of at traction through distant regions, and uniting them by its divine energy ; where confcicnce is not shackled b/ bigotry ; where to leration is profenbed, as only implying a suspension of petfrcu tion ; where obedience to the laws is the test of allcgience, and the virtue of the man does not stigmatize the citizcn. You wiU tell me, that you can admire this favorite goddess of vour's, where flic reduces all ranks, and levels all invidious diftinftions, by re-« ftorin r man to his natural equality, dignified alone by those fuper lor talents bellowed on him by the Divinity ; where all the bril liant traits of the human mind, unsubdued by the uniform glare and wide effulgence of monaichy, are displayed in their true aud original colors. I know you will tell me, that your eye it not microscopic enough to discern the minute spots in the fun of liberty that has lately r'jen in France ; which has deigned to revisit the deserted shore otCorfiea, and, in its glorious progress, has illumined the whole political atmosphere of Europe. But, Sir, I fit down contented, and (hall enjoy theconfcious fa tistadlion ot having performed my duty. I have painted the ca lamities of France ; I have forewarned Britain of her danger.-.- The sceptre trembles in the hands of kings ; the (lability of every throne is lhaken, by the late political convulsion; the (hock is not confined to France ; it afls like " the electrical returning ftroke,i which often produces fatal effects at a vafl distance from the place where the lighting falls." I hope. Sir, you will cxrufe the freedom with which I haro t 'US publicly addressed you, and be prrfuaded, that I can admite; he celebrated philosopher in Doctor Prießley, though I have the nu >itunc to differ from him so eiTemially on religion and poli te ' I am, Sir, vour's, &c. J. COURTNAY. London, April 26) 1790. [Whole No. 147.]
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