pure gold which remained into a new form, matters of faith, in which concern they yieldfitted at once to interest, and edify the pub-ed to none of their contemporaries, they inlic mind?

It is worthy of observation, that in all reforms, whether civil or religious, wise and good men prove themselves to be such, by this infallible criterion, that THEY NEVER ALTER FOR THE SAKE OF ALTERING, but in their zeal to introduce improvements, are conscientiously careful to depart no further from established usages, than strict duty and indispensable necessity require.

Instead, therefore, of its being any stigma on our church service, that it was collected from breviaries and missals, it adds substantially to its value. The identity of true Christian piety, in all ages, being hereby demonstrated, in a way as satisfactory to the judgment, as it is interesting to the heart In such a procedure, Christian liberty was united with Christian sobriety; primitive piety with honest policy.-A whole community was to be attached to the new mode of worship, and, therefore, it was expedient to break their habits no more than Christian purity demanded. They only, however, who actually compare those of our prayers which are selected from Romish formularies, with the originals, can form a just idea with what discriminative judgment the work was executed, and what rich improvements are often introduced into the English collects, so as to heighten the sentiment, yet, without at all impairing the simplicity. Indeed, the wisdom and moderation of the founders of our church were equally conspicuous in the whole of their proceedings; never strenuously contending for any points, not even in that summary of Christian doctrines, which was to be the established standard, but for such as affected the grand foundations of faith, hope and charity.

termingled a charity in which they have excelled them all. And, in consequence of this radical and truly Christian liberality, a noble spirit of tolerance has ever been the characteristic of genuine Church of England divines: of those, I mean who have cordially agreed with the first reformers, and wished no deviation from their principles, either in doctrine or in worship; desiring neither to add to, nor diminish, the comely order which they had established in the public service; nor to be dogmatical where they had been enlarged; nor relaxed where they had been explicit yet ready at all times to indulge the prejudices of their weaker brethren, and to grant to others that freedom of thought, of which, in their own case, they so fully understood the value. Our first reformers were men of eminent piety, and, happily for the interests of genuine religion far less engaged in controversy than the divines of the continent Even those of their own nation, who differed from them in lesser points, and with whom they did debate, were men of piety also, and entirely agreed with them in doctrines. Hence, the strain of preaching in our Church of England divines, became less polemical and more pious and practical, than that of the clergy of other churches. To this end the book of Homilies was highly conducive, being an excellent model which served to give the example of useful and practical preaching. In this most important particular, and in that of deep and conclusive reasoning, we may assign the decided superiority to English divines, above all those of the continent, though the latter may perhaps, in some instances, dispute with them the palm of eloquence.

From divines of the above character, hapHow honourable to our reformers, and to pily never wanting in any age, our national the glorious work in which they so success- establishment has ever derived its best fully laboured, that in the very first forma- strength at home, and its honour and credit tion of the English church, that care to dis- in foreign countries. These have made the tinguish between essentials and non-essen- Anglican church looked up to by all the tials should be so strictly exercised, which churches of the reformation. Their learnthe brightest philosophical luminary in his ing has been respected, their wisdom has Own, or perhaps in any age, some vears after, been esteemed, their liberality has been lovso strongly recommended, and so beautifully ed and honoured, their piety has been reillustrated. We see Moses,' says lord Ba-vered, by all of every protestant communion con, when he saw the Israelite and the who were capable of discerning and improvEgyptian fight, he did not say, why strive ve? ing excellence; nay, even in the Romish but drew his sword and slew the Egyptian. communion, they have sometimes excited a But when he saw two Israelites fight, he said, degree of estimation, which nothing could you are brethren, why strive you? If the have called forth but the most indisputableTM point of doctrine be an Egyptian, it must be superiority. slain by the sword of the spirit; but if it be an Israelite, though in the wrong, then. why strive you? We see of the fundamental points Christ penneth the league thus: he that is not against us is for us.' But of points not fundamental thus,--he that is not against us is with us.

To the eternal praise then of our reform ers, as well as with the deepest gratitude to God, be it said, that in their concern for

Lord Bacon on the Advancement of Learning, book second.

But, it is not only in the clerical order that the kindly influences of the English establishment have been manifest; they appear in the brightest point of view, in those illustrious laymen whose labours have contributed not less to raise the British name, than the achievements, unexampled as they have been, of our armies or our navies. On account of these men, we have been termed by foreigners, a nation of philosophers; and, for the sake of their writings, English has become not so much a fashionable as, what is far more honourable, a kind of learned lan

guage in almost every country in Europe. Yet, in no writers upon earth, has a sense of religion been more evidently the very keystone of their excellence. This it is which gives them that sobriety of mind, that intellectual conscientiousness, that penetrating pursuit, not of subtlety, but of truth; that decorous dignity of language, that cordiali y as well as sublimity of moral sentiment and expression, which have procured for them, not merely the suffrage of the understanding, but the tribute of the heart.

One of our most able writers on history and civil society,* is perpetually inculcating that no political constitution, no laws, no provision made by former ages, can ever secure the actual enjoyment of political happiness and liberty, if there be not a zeal among the living for the furtherance of these objects. Laws will be misconstrued and fall into oblivion, and ancient maxims will be superseded, if the attention of the existing generation be not alive to the subject.

Surely it may be said, at least with equal truth, that no excellence of our religious establishment, no orthodoxy in our articles, no, nor even that liturgy on whose excellencies we have delighted to expatiate, can secure the maintenance of true religion, but in proportion as the religious spirit is maintained in our clergy; in proportion as it is diffused among the people; in proportion as it is encouraged from the throne.

And let it be attentively inquired, how they came by this rare qualification? how it hap pened, that in them, so much more strikingly than in the learned and philosophical of perhaps any other nation, increase of knowledge did not generate scepticism, nor the consciousness of their mental strength inspire them with contempt for the religion of their country? Was it not, that that religion was so modified, as equally to endear itself to the If such then be the value, and such the revivid sensibility of youth, the quick intelli- sults of the English ecclesiastical establishgence of manhood, the matured reflection of ment, how high is the destiny of that personage and wisdom? That it did not, on the age whom the laws of England recognize as one hand, conceal the beauty and weaken its supreme head on earth! How important the sense of vital truth, by cumbrous and un- is it, that the prince, charged with such unnecessary adjuncts ;-nor on the other hand, exampled trust, should feel its weight, should withhold from it that graceful drapery, with- understand its grand peculiarities, and be out which, in almost all instances, the ima habitually impressed with his own unparal gination, as it were, instinctively, refuses to leled responsibility To misemploy, in any perform its appropriate function of conveying instances, the prerogative which this trust truth to the heart!-And further, have not conveys, is to lessen the stability, and counthe above invaluable effects been owing to teract the usefulness of the fairest and most this also, that the inherent spirit of christian beneficial of all the visible fabrics, erected tolerance, which has been described as dis- in this lower world! But what an account tinguishing our communion from every other would that prince, or that minister have to national communion in the world, by allow-render, who should systematically debase this ing to their minds every just claim, has ta- little less than divine institution, by delibeken the best possible method of preventing rately consulting, not how the Church of intellectual licentiousness? In fine, to what England may be kept high in public opinother causes than those just stated, can we ion, influential on public morals, venerable ascribe it, that this country above all others, through the meek yet manly wisdom, the unhas been the seat of philosophy, unbounded affected yet unblemished purity, the enerin its researches, yet modest in its assump-getic yet liberal zeal of its clergy;-but, tions, and temperate in its conclusions ? how it may be made subservient to the trivOf literary knowledge, not only patiently ial and temporary interests of the prevalent pursued, and profoundly explored, but wise- party, and the passing hour? ly digested and usefully applied?-Of religion, in its most rational, most influential, most christian shape and character;--not the dreary labour of superstition, not the wild delirium of fanaticism, but the infallible guide of reason, the invincible guard of virtue, the enjoyment of present peace, and the assurance of future happiness?

Besides the distribution of dignities, and the great indirect influence which this affords the prince, in the disposal of a vast body of preferment; his wisdom and tenderness of conscience will be manifested also in the appointment of the chancellor, whose church patronage is immense. And in the discharge of that most important trust, the appointment of the highest dignitaries, the monarch will not forget, that his responsibility is proportionably the more awful, becanse the exercise of his power is less likely to be controuled, and his judgment to be thwarted, than may often happen in the case of his political servants.

But, whatever providential causes have hitherto contributed among us to restrain infidelity and profaneness, have we no reason to fear that their operations are growing less and less powerful? And should we not bear in mind, that it is not the form of our church establishment, incomparable as that is, which can alone arrest the progress of danger, if Nor will it, it is presumed, be deemed imthere should arise any declension of zeal in pertinent to remark, that the just administrasupporting its best interests, if ever there tion of this peculiar power may be reasonashould be found any lack of knowledge for bly expected as much, we had almost said zeal to work with. The character also of even more, from a female, than from a mathe reigning prince will always have a pow-narch of the other sex. The bishops chosen erful effect either in retarding or accelera-!

ting the evil.

* Ferguson.

by those three judicious queens. Elizabeth, Mary, and Caroline, were generally remarkable for their piety and learning. And let not the writer be suspected of flattering either the queen or the bishop by observing, that among the wisdom and abilities which now adorn the bench, a living prelate high in dignity, in talents, and in Christian virtues, is said to have owed his situation to the discerning eye of his present majesty.

What an ancient canon, cited by the judicious Hooker, suggests to bishops on the subject of preferment is equally applicable to kings.-It expressly forbiddeth them to be led by humun affection in bestowing the things of God.*

CHAP. XXXVIII.

Superintendence of Providence manifested in the local circumstances and in the civil and religious history of England.

AMONG the various subjects on which the mind of the royal pupil should be exercised. there is none more appropriate, than that which might, perhaps, be most fitly denominated, the providential history of England That it has not hitherto engaged attention, in any degree suitable to its importance, is much more an apology for its being, in the present instance, specially adverted to, than reason for its being any longer neglected.

seems incumbent on such communities as appear to have been thus signally favoured. What advantage, for instance, has the whole civilized world derived from the philosophizing turn of the ancient Greeks! How widely extensive, and how durable has been its influence.

Of what importance are the benefits, which the politic spirit of the Roman empire diffused among the countries of Europe, most of which, to this day, acknowledge the hand that reared them from barbarism, by still retaining those laws which that hand transcribed for them, as if Rome were allowed to do that for men's circumstances, which Greece was permitted to effect for their minds !

But a third instance is encumbered with less difficulty,-the designation of Judea to be the local source of true religion. In this small province of the Roman empire, what a scene was transacted, and from those transactions, what a series of consequences have followed, and what a system of influences has been derived, operating, and still to operate on individuals-communities-nations, in ways, and with effects, the happiest, or most awful, as they are embraced or rejected; and leading to results, not to be calculated even as to this world,--but wholly inconceivable, as to that future world where all the deep purposes of God are to have their perfect consummation.

But, if such has been the method of Providence in those great designs, which have The marks of divine interference, in the heretofore been carried on in the world, can general arrangement of states and empires, we suppose that the same plan is not substanare rendered so luminous by the rays which tially pursued in his present arrangements? Scripture prophecy has shed upon them, as Are not blessings still to be conferred on soto strike every mind which is at once atten- ciety? Blessings, yet in general unknown, tive and candid, with a force not to be resist- and greater measures of those which are aled. But, while this indisputable truth leads ready in part attained?-How rare, for exus necessarily to infer, that a like superin ample, has been hitherto the blessing of comtendence to that which is over the whole, plete civil government-of such a political acts likewise respecting all the separate system, as combines the apparent contrarieparts; the actual tracing this superinten ties of public security with personal liberty! dence, in the occurrences of particular na. An object aimed at by the wisest legislators tions, must, in general, be a matter of diffi of earlier times, but regarded by thein as a culty and doubt, as that light of prophecy, beautiful theory, incapable of being realized! which falls so brightly on the central dome Still more-How limited is the attainment of of the temple, cannot reasonably be hoped religious truth of well weighed, well-digestfor, when we turn into the lateral recesses. ed religious belief-and of well-conceived, There are instances, however, in which well-regulated divine worship! Christianity God's providential works shine so clearly exists in the Scripture, like virgin gold in the by their own radiant light,' as to demon- mine; but how few, comparatively, have strate the hand which fashioned, and the been able to extract it without loss, or to skill which arranged them. And though bring it into public circulation without deothers are of a more doubtful nature; yet, plorable alloy! How erroneous, in most inwhen the attainments of any one particular stances, are those modes and exercises of it, nation become matter of general influence, which are adopted by states and governments; so that what was, at first, the fruit of mere- and how seldom does it seem rightly apprely local labour, or the effect of a peculiar hended. even by the most enlightened indicombination of local circumstances, be-viduals! To suppose things will always recomes from its obvious utility or intrinsic ex- main in this state, is little short of an imputacellence an object to other surrounding countries, and grows at length into an universal benefit-in such a distinction, we can hardly forbear to trace something so like a consistent plan of operations that the duty of observing and acknowledging it,

The Ecclesiastical Polity

tion on divine wisdom. But, in the mean time, how disastrous are the consequences to individuals and to society!

If there be then a country, long and signally distinguished in both these important instances-in the former, so as to have been the object of universal admiration ;-in the latter, so as to have been looked up to by all

the most enlightened parts of the christian France, as Holland, Swisserland, or the Ausworld. If there be such a country, can we trian Netherlands, we might perhaps have help regarding its superiority to other coun- been involved in the same calamities. But tries as the result of a providential destina- we cannot stop bere. The entire series of tion, as clear as that which allotted philoso- our history, as a nation, seems in a great phy to ancient Greece, and civil polity to an- measure to have been derived from this cient Rome-And may it not even be ad- source; and every link in the chain of our ded, as really divine, though not miraculous, fortune bears some significant mark of our as that which gave true religion to ancient local peculiarity. Without this, where would Judea. have been our commercial opulence or our

If England be this community, if England maritime power? If we had not been disbe the single nation upon earth,—where that tinct as a country we had not been distinct checked and balanced government,-that as a people. We might have imbibed the temperament of monarchic, aristocratic, and taints, been moulded by the manners, and popular rule. which philosophic statesmen, immerged in the greatness of our more pow in ancient times, admired so much in theory, erful neighbours It was that goodness which has been actually realized—If it be also dis- made us an island, that laid the foundation of tinguished by a temperament in religious our national happiness. It was by placing concerns little less peculiar, is not every us in the midst of the waters that the Althinking member of such a community bound mighty prepared our country for those provto acknowledge with deepest gratitude, so extraordinary a distinction? And what employment of thought can be more interesting, than to trace the providential means by which such unexampled benefits and blessings have been conferred upon our country!

idential uses to which it has served and is yet to serve in the great scheme of his dispensations. Thus, then, we behold ourselves raised as a nation above all the nations of the earth by that very circumstance which made our country be regarded, two thousand years ago, only as a receptacle for the refuse of the Roman empire!

To enter at large into so vast a subject, would be an impracticable attempt, on such an occasion as the present. It would itself To this, evidently, it has been owing, that furnish materials for a volume rather than amongst us, the progress of society, from for a few pages ;* and to treat it with justice barbarianism to high improvement, has not would be a task, to which the best informed only been more regular, but more radical and and profoundest mind would alone be compe- entire, as to all the portions and circumstantent. A few scattered observations, there- ces of the body politic, than in any instance fore, are all that we can pretend to offer, not with which we are acquainted. Shut in however without hope, that they will excite from those desolating blasts of war which to a deeper and more extended investigation. have ever and anon been sweeping the conWe are told by St. Paul, that he who made tinent, the culture of our moral soil has been of one blood all nations, fixed not only the less impeded, and the seeds which have been time before appointed (the epochs of their sown have yielded ampler, as well as maturrise and fall) but also the bounds of their hab- er harvests We have had our vicissitudesitation.' The result of this created arrange- but in a manner peculiar to ourselves. They ment, respecting the greater divisions of the seem clearly providential, and not fortuitous; earth, Europe, Asia, and Africa, separated, since it is certain that the agitations which yet connected by that inland ocean the Med- we have experienced, and the apparent caiterranean Sea, have been already noticed lamities which we have suffered have been, But, nothing has been more pregnant in its in almost every instance, signally conducive consequences in this general plan than the to our advancement. When England beinsulated situation of Great Britain, with res- came possessed by the Saxons, she appeared pect to our national circumstances.-If we only to be sharing the fate of other European are at this day free, while so many neigh- countries; all of which, about that period, bouring nations are enslaved If we stand or soon after, became the prey of similar erect, while they are trampled on-let us not hordes of invaders. But a difference of reentirely attribute it to any superiority in sult, in our particular instance, arising chiefourselves, of spirit, of wisdom, or strength; ly from our insular situation, after some but let us also humbly and gratefully ascribe it to that appointment of the Creator, which divided us from the continent of Europe. Had we been as accessible to the arms of

*The train of thought pursued in this and the following chapter, as well as some of the thoughts themselves, both here, and in one or two former passages, may perhaps be recognised by the Rev. and learned Doctor Miller, late fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, as a-kin to those views of providential history, which he has given in a course of lectures in that college. The author gladly acknowledges having received, through a friend, a few valuable hints from this source, of which it is earnestly hoped the public may in due time be put in full possession.

time, presents itself to us, as already marking that happy destination with which Providence intended to favour us.

It has been observed by historians, that when an army of those northern invaders took possession of any country, they formed their establishment with a view of self-defence, much more than to civil improvement. They knew not how suddenly they might be attacked by some successful army of adventurers; and therefore says Dr. Robertson, 'a feudal kingdom resembles a military es tablishment, rather than a civil institution.' 'Such a policy,' adds the same historian, was well calculated for defence, against the assaults of any foreign power; but its

6

provisions for the interior order and tranquility of society, was extremely defective; the principles of disorder and corruption being discernible in that constitution under its best and most perfect form.**

To this feudal system,' however, the newly established potentates of the continent seem to have been impelled by necessity; but an inevitable consequence was, that that taste for liberty, which had animated their followers in their native forests, could no longer be cherished, and was of course doomed to extinction.

Is it not then remakable that, when such a concurrence of favourable circumstances existed in that very sequestered spot should arise an individual, so precisely fitted to turn them to, what appears, their allotted purpose? Had there not been an Alfred to accomplish the work, all these capabilities might soon have vanished, and our national happiness never have been realized. On the other hand, had Alfred lived without his appropriate sphere of action, he would no doubt have been a successful warrior, a gracious prince, and clearly, as far as the state of men's minds admitted, a friend to letters, and such rude arts as were then in use; but he would not have been venerated, at the distance of a thousand years as the founder of the best scheme of laws, and the happiest system of government, that the world ever saw. Such a correspondence, then, of so distinguished an agent to so apt a sphere of action, and attended with results so permanent, so beneficial, and so widely influential on human society, was surely far above fortuitous coincidence. Was it not, on the contrary, an adaptation so self-evident, as can only be ascribed to the special interference of overruling Providence?

In Britain alone such a necessity did not exist. The possession of the country being once accomplished, its tenure was comparatively secured by the surrounding ocean Defence was not to be neglected; but danger was not imminent. Thus no new habit was forced on the new settlers, so as to expel their original propensities; and accordingly whatever means of safety they might have resorted to against each other, during the multiplicity of these governments, we see at the distance of four centuries, Alfred, turning from successful warfare against invaders, to exercise that consummate wisdom, with which bis mind was enriched, in systematizing those very aboriginal principles of It is true, that, by the Norman conquest, Saxon liberty. A civil polity was thus erect- the benefits derived from this wise and haped, which was not only in its day the most py establishment appeared for the time overperfect scheme of government that had yet whelmed by a threefold tyranny,—regal, existed, but it also was formed of such mate- feudal, and ecclesiastical. But this, on an rials, and established on such a solid founda- attentive view, will appear no less to have tion, as never after to be wholly demolished; been over ruled for good. To repress for until at length, it has been gradually wrought the purpose of excitement, and to employ into that magnificent fabric, which, through gross admixtures, in order to higher purifithe blessing of heaven, is at this day the glocation, are procedures congruous with all ry and the defence of our island. the laws of nature.

In these rudiments, then, of the first En- In a constitution formed in so dark an age, glish constitution, let us gratefully recognize and adapted to so rude a people, there could the first most striking indication of a partic- be little more than the crude elements of nlar providence presiding over our country. such a political system, as more advanced A genius, the first of his age, is raised in a times would require. Yet had the enjoy remote and insulated part of Europe, ment of those earlier privileges remained where, at first view, it might be thought his undisturbed, nothing better might have been talents must be destitute of their proper aimed at! and instead of that progressive sphere of action. But in what other Euro- advance, with which we have been blessed, pean country could his enlarged views have our nation might, at this day, have only been been in any adequate degree realized? distinguished by a blind and stupid attachWhere the feudal government was establish- ment to some obsolete forms of liberty, from ed, such wise and liberal arrangements as which all substantial worth had long since those of Alfred were necessarily precluded; departed. For the prevention of such an at least they could not have been introduced, evil, human foresight could make no proviswithout stripping such a government of its ion; and we may now look back with wonessential characters; Alfred's system being der, on the wisdom, as well as efficacy, of as strictly civil, as the other was military. the process. The original plan was guarded He provided sufficiently for external safety, by the same gracious hand, until the habits but it was internal security and tranquility induced by it were fixed in the minds of to which his exquisite policy was peculiarly Englishmen;-then it. was suspended, that directed. And from its correspondence with they might struggle to regain it; and by the right reason, with the native spirit of the activity thus excited, and more and more people, and with the local circumstances of the country, it so rooted itself in the English soil, as to out-live all the storms of civil discord, as well as the long winter of the Norman tyranny.

elicited by new competitions, they might at length attain to the highest civil and political happiness, which has been enjoyed in this imperfect state of being

But on a yet more enlarged view of our national progress, shall we not be led to conRobertson's View of the State of Europe, pre- clude, that something more than the improve

fixed to Charles V. Sect. 1.

ment of our political constitution was in the

VOL. II.

16