:

fenfelefs, and ideal forms of a diftempered imagination :-in fome, who, through fear, worshipped the DEVIL; and among the ancient DRUIDS of this iland, who are faid to have immolated human victims to appease the fury of their angry Deities, we behold established fuftems of religion, differing indeed in form, but agreeing in the point for which we here contend. In Heathen GREECE and ROME, we know that the established religion was moft jealously guarded, and most tenaciously preferved from all innovation and SOCRATES, for having expofed fome of their abfurdities, and spoken of other religious principles than thofe profeffed by the ftate, was condemned to death. What an extraordinary fyftem of national religion is that of the impoftor, MAHOMET, which was firit propagated by the fword, and continues to be upheld by the arm of power; and how jealous are its profeffors of the smallest matters relating to it. What a miraculous, civil, and religious polity, was that of the Jews, which was fenced about with fuch fingular laws and cuftoms as effectually preferved it from being deftroyed, though not always from being contaminated by the furrounding corruptions of Heathen Idolatry. And even in the difpenfation of CHRISTIANITY, to which the JEWISH was introductory, we have different eftablifhed modes of it in the GREEK and ROMAN CHURCHES, and in that pure and reformed part of it profeffed by us, who have the happiness to belong to the CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

Are not the above inftances fufficiently ftrong and numerous to convince any reasonable and impartial enquirer after TRUTH, (and with unreasonable or prejudiced men we defire not to hold an argument) of the neceffity of fome national establishment of religion, fince nations differing fo widely in cuftoms, in the time of their exiftence, and in their ftate of civilization, all uniformly concur in the practice of this one remarkable and important fact? Let us now, therefore, add a few words, in proof of that fecond pofition we laid down, the UTILITY of these established national forms.

Since the opinions of men are scarcely more different than are the features of their faces, it seems indifpenfably neceffary, that, in RELIGION as well as in POLITICS, fome certain standard fhould be reforted to, by which to determine the agreement or difagreement of any particular opinion, or fet of opinions, with TRUTH and with the Word of God. This certain ftandard, the reform'd Proteftants of this kingdom have agreed to refort to in the DOCTRINES of the CHURCH of ENGLAND; and the utility of having fuch a rule, it will not be very difficult to prove. The page of hiftory, in innumerable inftances, impreffes on our minds this awful truth, that religious quarrels have thed more human blood-fince the beginning of the world, than almost any other cause that can be mentioned: and from what has already fo frequently happened, it is fair to argue, that, whenever two religious parties are fo equally pois'd, that they can contend upon equal terms with each other, they will again decide their controverfy by an appeal to the fword. Now, if any one. fyftem of religious opinions is adopted for a national religion, if it be encouraged and defended by the State, all others muft of neceflity bow before it, and thus the poflibility of thefe violent appeals will effectually be prevented. This advantage hath appeared fo great to fome writers, that they have afferted, a national eftablished religion was fo ufeful in this point of view, that even a falfe religion had better be established than none at all. Without inveftigating the truth of the above pofition, which would carry us out into a long difcuffion, we may congratulate ourselves on not being obliged to use this Vol. II, Churchm. Mag. April 1802.

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argument

argument respecting the established religion of the land. The numerous gainfayers and oppofers of every defcription, who, at different times, have made their attacks on almoft every doctrine which we profefs, have caused fuch able and unanfwerable defences to be drawn up by learned men, as have placed the TRUTH and CONFORMITY of them with the word of God, in the most confpicuous point of view, and by that means have confirmed the profeffors of this pure and holy religion in their principles.

"that

If any further arguments were neceffary to prove, both the UTILITY and NECESSITY of Religious Eftablishments, the recent events which have taken place on the Continent moft fully confirm this important fact. REVOLUTIONIZED FRANCE, which, on the overthrow of the late monarchy, not only deftroyed the national religion, POPERY, but alfo denounced every fpecies of religion whatsoever; abfolutely denying the existence of a GOD, and of a FUTURE STATE, and publicly proclaiming themfelves to be a nation of ATHEISTS; hath found that fociety could not be kept together, in any tolerable ftate, without 'admitting fome kind of religion, and that alfo a national one. A recent elegant writer, fays, the French nation has been compelled to confefs that RELIGION, and even a NATIONAL CHURCH are effential to the peace of fociety."* This writer adds, in a note, that" although the ROMAN SEE be at this time but an inftrument in the hands of BONAPARTE, yet 'tis no small triumph, which religion has obtained, by the acknowledgment of a people lately attempting to be ATHEISTS, that it is necessary to the existence of fociety."-Ib. p. 56. "A Triumph" indeed, this writer may juftly denominate it, worthy, he might have added, to be had in remembrance by the lateft pofterity. However uniformly the example of all former ages had attefted this awful truth, that," a nation of ATHEISTS" could not exift, yet the ILLUMINATI of the present times were deftined to prove it; all former times had quef tion'd it, and no nation had ever rifen to that enormous pitch of wicked. nefs to venture on the experiment. In France it has been made, and the impoffibility of it proved. For though they did indeed, for a fhort time, continue in this horrible state, yet, by their very recent reftoration of religion, and again opening their churches, they have demonftrated the abfurdity, the wickednefs, and the impoffibility of their attempt. God grant that, with the return of a National Religion, a legitimate form of Government may likewife return and with RELIGION and PEACE true liberty and true happiness may also be restored to them. Surely the events which have happened within the last twelve years in France, and the experiments which in that interval they have made, will at length open the eyes of that deluded people, and discover, to their juft hatred and indignation, the true features of that difgufting Monster, JacoBINISM, which hath confpired to overturn all governments, and all religions, and which hath deluged the world with blood; this will guard them from its direful and impious attempts from this time to the end of the world.

66

The limits of my paper forbid me to enter fo much at large into the reflections arifing from the topics, handled in this argument, as I could with. Suffice it therefore to fay, that a juft fenfe of the great benefits arifing from National Eftablishments in general, and from our own in particular, should induce us to cherish this great blefling, with that ardour and affection which it fo eminently deferves. May, then, that Almighty Being, who ever hath guarded and protected the true profeflion of his revealed

*See Bowles's Reflections at the Conclufion of the War, &c.

will,

will, overshadow the Proteftant reformed faith with his paternal care: may it be able to withstand all the affaults of its numerous and bitter enemies, who are continually endeavouring to fubvert it; and may the fincere profeffors of it enjoy peace of mind, whilft they continue upon earth h; and when they are removed from hence, may they partake of joys and pleafures unutterable, for ever and ever. Amen. I am, Gentlemen,

I

Your obedient and very humble Servant,
OBSERVATOR,

BISHOP BEDELL'S BIBLE.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE, GENTLEMEN,

BEG leave to return my beft thanks to your incomparable Correfpondent INSPECTOR, for the ready attention which he paid to the request made by Theodofius, Vol. I. p. 479 ;-a requeft, which I took the liberty of referring to his confideration. INSPECTOR, without doubt, has fatisfied Theodofius, as to the evident interpolation of the harangue put into the mouth of Job's wife, in the Septuagint verfion, ch. 2. v. 9. I am fure he has fatisfied me.

I think INSPECTOR has given us to understand, in one of the com. munications with which he honoured your publication, that he lives on the western fide of St. George's Channel. I hope he will allow me to alk his opinion, on a subject which I have long deemed of confiderable importance-I mean the propriety of fetting forth an edition of the Bible in the IRISH TONGUE. Bishop Bedell, long ago, tranflated the Holy Scriptures into that language; and though that moft excellent Bishop did not live to fuperintend the printing and publishing of his great work, it was done by one who was an ornament to human nature, the Hon. Ro bert Boyle. Thofe two great and good men knew the value of time better than to expend it in an unneceffary undertaking. I conclude, therefore, that it was reckoned a defirable thing, in thofe days, to have the Bible put into the hands of the native Irish in their Mother Tongue. Now the venerable Bishop of Kilmore died in the year of our Lord 1642. I wish to know, from the high authority of INSPECTOR, whether a republication of Bishop Bedell's Bible were not a measure likely to promote the knowledge of true religion, at this present time, now that an union between the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland has been providentially effected. If the people, in both countries, are to form one body, fhould they not draw their principles from one fource? Can any thing tend more to the extinction of Popery in Ireland, than a diffusion of fcriptural knowledge? The Papifts publifh tracts in the Irish tongue; fas eft et ab Hofte doceri;-then why should not Proteftants expofe the delufions of the Romanifts, by lighting up the lamp of the word of God. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light to all my paths." A learned writer, the author of THE IRISH PURSUITS OF LITERATURE, a book well known, I am fure, to INSPECTOR (aut Erasmus aut Diabolus!) fays, p. 95. that the 21ft edition of Dr. Butler's Catechism in Irish was printed at Gorcuig, i. e. Cork, in 1792. If the Papifts print in Irish, why fhould not the Proteftants? Dr. Butler's Catechifm I never faw; but I will venture to fay, the Catechifm of the Church of Eng

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land is a better one, and more worthy of being translated into the Irish tongue, and difperfed among the Irish peafantry. This I am certain of, that the Ten Commandments are fet forth ungarbled in our catechism, and each of them keep its place, duly diftinguished, and divided the one from the other, which is not the cafe in Popish Catechifms. I have much to fay upon this fubject; but I fuppress what fhall follow, till our good friend, αγαπητος με εν Κυρίω, fhall favour me with his opinion. April 8, 1802. I am, Gentlemen, your's most respectfully, A LONDON CURATE. P. S. A note, in the Irish Pursuits of Literature, p. 48, fays, "It is a curious fact, that the French ball-cartridges, at the battle of Ballynamuck, Sept. 8, 1798, were lapped in the leaves of the Romish Miffal, or Folio Mafs Book. One of thefe fell into my poffeffion, p. 11. intituled, "Commune Plurimorum Martyrum, or the Services of feveral of the Martyrs;" containing, among other remarkable texts, that moft awful one of Luke 21. 9. 66 Cum audieritis Prælia & feditiones, &c." I too have in my poffeffion an unfilled cartridge, of a nine-pounder, found with many others on board a French fhip captured in the late war; it is made of vellum, and has been part of a Romish Anthem Book. The characters, of text hand, are an inch long, beautifully written, and the mufical notes, which accompany the words, are of an ancient square form. The paffage of Scripture infcribed upon it is this, (a mere fragment indeed, but the last one would have expected to have seen on a cartridge prepared for the ufe of them, who had abjured the Church of Chrift) hac petza aedificabo ecclefiam meam, et portae inf- The French miftook Popery for Chriftianity. The gates of hell fhall not prevail against the Church of Chrift;-part and parcel of which Church is the UNITED CHURCH OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND. Efto perpetua!

IN

VINDICATION OF ARCHBISHOP LAUD.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE. GENTLEMEN,

the third Volume of that crude compilation, falfely intituled, "An Impartial Hiftory of the Church of Chrift," the writer (Dr. Haweis) has had the affrontery to charge those two illuftrious fufferers for the church of England, King CHARLES the First, and Archbishop LAUD, with having been Popifhly inclined. The enemies of monarchy and epifcopacy, have often urged the fame fenfelefs accufation, but in no one inftance has it been backed by any thing like a proof. As to the excellent king's religious principles, they appear in the moft brilliant colours, in the advice which he gave to his children, and in his declaration on the scaffold. If he had been even of a wavering mind, his doubts would have appeared in fome way or other, during the interval between his trial and martyrdom. But his faith was clear and strong, and he evinced the closest attachment to the doctrine and difcipline of the Church of England. If he could have brought his confcience to confentto the abolition of epifcopacy, there is every reason to believe that his life would have been faved.

But I with rather to notice the charge as it affects the archbishop. The libeller of the church, and champion of fectarianifm, whofe work has occafioned my troubling you with these remarks, has the audacity

to

to call this great prelate " half a Papift," and " a bitter Arminian,”terms which, in his wife judgment, are fynonymous. That the archbishop favoured Arminianifm, in feveral particulars, cannot be questioned, but it was obviously for this reason, that the bitter puritans of that day ran into all the extravagances of high Calvinifm. It does not, however, appear, that the archbishop was, in the ftrict fenfe of the term, an Arminian, any more than he was a Calvinift; for it can be proved from his letters, that, in fome respects, he did not coincide with Arminius or Epifcopius; and it is a certain fact, that he patronized men of Calviniftic fentiments, as well as thofe of a more liberal turn of mind. That he was "half a Papist," is as falfe as the other bare-faced declaration which follows it-that he "was conftantly endeavouring to enlarge the ritual, and to bring it to a greater conformity with Rome." Let me afk this defamer of the dead, if he has ever read the archbishop's account of his conference with Fisher the Jefuit-a book which the bleffed martyr recommended to his children, as being an unanswerable defence of the Proteftant Religion? If the archbishop was fo fa◄ vourable to Popery as this writer pretends that he was, it must be confeffed that he took very ftrange methods of fhewing it, or for the accomplishing his aim of changing the National Religion. The Papifts knew the man better, and were well perfuaded, that nothing was to be gained from him, in favour of their pretenfions. It is well known, that he frequently incurred the queen's displeasure, by his exertions in checking the efforts of her chaplains to make converts to their religion. Let me aik another queftion of this impartial hiftorian, and that is, whether he has ever read the immortal work of the great Chillingworth, entituled, "The Religion of Proteftants a fafe Way to Salvation?" To whom is the world chiefly indebted for that mafterly performance, but to this very archbishop, by whofe means, and through whofe patronage, the author was firft reclaimed from Popery, and then fet upon writing this book?

Dr. Haweis has, in another place, loaded the archbishop with the most opprobrious names he could devife, and to fupport his accufations, he retails a falfehood, which, if he had read Fuller's Church Hiftory, a book favourable enough to the Puritans, he would hardly have ventured to relate. He fays, that when Dr. Leighton's fentence was pronounced in the ftar chamber, the archbishop pulled off his cap, and, lifting up his eyes to Heaven, gave thanks to God, who had enabled him to behold this vengeance on his enemies!" The impartial historian does not condefcend to tell us where he picked up this precious anecdote, and therefore, a flat denial is as good as a flat affertion. The anecdote, however, is as falfe as it is foul, and it does not become a Clergyman of the Church of England to retail the abominable calumnies of her moft inveterate enemies. For the prefent, I have done with this pretended impartial hiftorian, whose work is one continued apology for fchifm, and is in many respects a grofs libel upon our venerable establishment. Should thefe ftrictures thereon find a place in your excellent Magazine, I may hereafter trouble you with a few more animadverfions on this delectable performance, fo much praised in fome of the Reviews, and extolled to the tkies, either by the Doctor himself, or by fome of his affociates, in the Evangelical Magazine. Before I conclude, let me afk, whether the Gentlemen, who promifed the world fome years ago, an ample life of Archbishop Laud, has aban· doned