many Papifts, in the fame time, may not have changed theirs. In fome respects the change is lefs to Papifts than to them. The divine right of monarchical government on the Patriarchal plan, as it is called, and confequently the indefeafible, hereditary right of the abdicated family to the crown of these realms, is no principle of Popery. The attachment of Papirts was a perfonal attachment, or at molt a confequence of their attachment to the caufe for which that family fuffered. But in regard to forms of government, or particular governors, their religion leaves them at full liberty. A Papift may be a republican, or a friend to monarchy, abfolute or limited. In these matters he is no way confined by his religion. And that he fhould change in an attachment not founded in principle, is nothing extraordinary. He may be convinced, that prefcription takes place in government, and, for the peace of fociety, ought to take place, as well as in other matters; that, without admitting this principle, there would be few or no legal rulers now exifting in the world, as most fovereignties may be traced backwards to manifeft ufurpation. Whatever judge ment therefore he may form of the Revolution, there is no inconfiftency in his being a loyal fubject to the prefent royal family. And in regard to fuch as fhall take the oath prefcribed by the act of parliament for England, or the like oath propofed for Papifts here, I fhall only fay, that it would be extremely uncha sitable to fuppofe them all perjured. But it is faid, The dispensing power of the Pope, his infallibility, the principle, That no faith is to be kept with heretics, all ferve to invalidate their promifes and oaths, especially when given to thofe whom they regard as here. tics." That the Popes have claimed fuch a difpenfing power in loofing the obligation of the most folemn vows and contracts, and that many people have been blind enough to credit this most arrogant and impicus claim, it would be to give the lie to all history, even the moft authentic, to dery. Such alfo is the power they have claimed and exercifed of depofing kings and emperors, and of loofing their fubjects from their allegiance. Such alfo are their pretenfigns to infallibility, their corrupt max.ims fubverfive of faith given to heretics; in all which they have Leen fupported by hireling and prostitute writers among the clergy, friars, canonifts, and expectants of preferment in the church. But to fay thus much is one thing, and to say that thefe points are received universally as doctrines of the church, is another. We ought to be juft even to enemies. But i In regard to the laft of the above maxims, That faith is not to be kept with heretics, though it was never afferted, in fo many words, by any council, it is unqueftionable, that the council of Conftance came fo near giving it their fanction, in the decree they pronounced for the cafe of the Emperor's confcience whom they had feduced to act a me perfidious part, as well as in the whol of their infamous proceedings with re gard to Hufs, that though it can not be called an established principle o their religion, it has received that coun tenance from the fpiritual powers amon them, which furnishes but too good. handle for the clamours and jealoufies o Proteftants. And I will acknowledge u paffing, that as I could put no confi dence, where religion is concerned, it the faith of a man who would vindicat a procedure fo fubverfive of that fecurity in engagements which is the most effen tial bond of society, so I can never con fider that man as dangerous, who, it this age and country, has the egregiou folly to attempt the vindication. general, when recourfe is had to expe rience, I am fatisfied, there is no groun to confider it as a maxim so prevalent i that party as to deftroy all faith in thei promifes. If its prevalence were fo great what hindered them, in England from taking the oath of fupremacy, or th formula in Scotland? Thefe would hav fecured them against many inconvenien cies to which their religion exposed them And if there be fome inftances of the fwearing falfely, from the temptation c intereft, can we fay that perjury is abfo lutely unexampled amongst ourselves? It is well known, that in England Papis had it in their power to relieve themfelves, by means of certain oaths, before the paffing of the late aft. But thofe oaths were different from that now enacted. Now, a man who thinks he may take oaths, and be under no obligation, or who thinks he has it in his power to obtain a difpenfation from that obligation, has no reafon to make any distinction between one oath and another. The difpenfing power ferves equally for all. New Now that those in England, who, on no confideration, could be induced to take the oaths formerly required, do not hefitate to take that required by the late act, is evidence fufficient to a reasonable perfon, that they confider this as what they may, with a good confcience, take, but not the former. "But how is it poffible," fome will object," that they can confcientiously abjure fo many high prerogatives of the Sovereign Pontiff, the fucceffor of St Peter, and vicar of Jefus Chrift; fuch as, his difpenfing power, his fupremacy in temporals, and his infallibility; fince it unquestionable that these prerogatives be bas both claimed, and pretended to exercife?" To this I can only anfwer, That it is a known fact, that RomanCatholics themfelves are not unanimous In regard to the juftice of those claims. For example, it is a tenet univerfally led by them, That the church is infalHble; but in the explanation of this te met they differ exceedingly, as well as in the directions they give where we ought to feck for her unerring oracles. Some fend us to the Pope, with whom alone, according to them, this amazing privilege is lodged; fome to the Pope and Ecumenical Council acting in conjunction; fome to the Council though with out the Pope; fome to the Church Univerfal, that is, to whatever opinions univerfally obtain in thofe they term Catholic countries. So notorious it is, that even among Papifts there are that are more, and there are that are lefs, Papistical. According ly fome even of their writers denominate thofe Pontificii Papists, by way of diftinction, who defend ail the exorbitant claims of the Papacy. Nay, fo certain it is that the Romanifts themselves are greatly divided on this head, that the famous council of Conftance above referred to, as well as the council of Pisa, that preceded it, afferted its own fuperiority a bove the Pope in the most exprefs terms, and indeed acted in an entire conformity to this doctrine. It is not juft, there fore, (for our religion does not permit us to fpeak deceitfully even for God), to talk of the Pope's infallibility, difpenfing power in refpect of oaths, and the lawfulness of perfidy to heretics, as doctrines univerfally received in the church of Rome. These, and feveral other fuch abfurdities, will be found, from a proper attention to ecclefiaftic history, to have ebbed and flowed, in that church with knowledge and ignorance. In proportion as knowledge increased, thofe opinions loft credit; as ignorance increafed, they gained credit. Whatever influence authority may have on weak minds, in making fpeculative dogmas, however nonfenfical, be received with veneration, there is a principle in human nature, which, till the mind is wholly immerfed in fuperftition and darkness, will effectually prevent fuch moral abfurdities from being generally affented to. Nay, a principle of honour, as well as a fenfe of right, go far to check the progrefs of thofe difgraceful maxims. I fhall only add to the above remarks, that even in regard to those whofe conformity to the civil establishment may not be so cordial as could be wifhed, it will ftill have this good effect viewed in a political light, that it will be a check both on their actions and on their converfation. Principles openly and folemnly abjured, it may be fuppofed that men, efpecially thofe of a facred character, will, for their own fakes, not be forward to avow, and still lefs to inculcate. There is therefore here a real acceffion of ftrength to the civil establishment, without the fmalleft prejudice that I can perceive to the Protestant interest, But the incompetency even of the Britifh parliament for making fuch a change in the laws wherein religion is concerned, has been boldly afferted. The establishment of the present Presbyterian church of Scotland was declared, January 1707. a fundamental article of the union of the two kingdoms, not to be altered afterwards even by the joint legislature of both. In the act declaring this, there is a claufe perpetually confirming the 5th act parl. 1690, which was the act establishing Prefbytery, and ratifying the confeffion of faith. In this there is a general ratification of all former acts made against Popery. But the acts now propofed to be in part repealed, could never be comprehended in that claufe, because they were not former but pofterior acts. The writers of the Short View argue in a way entirely their own. "The acts," fay they, "directly relating to this one, and confequently ratified with it, and unalterably established, are chiefly three, act 2. parl. 1700, act 3. 1702, act 2. 1703." Now that thefe acts are related to act 5. 1690, as they all relate to religion, no body will difpute; but that they were ratified ratified by an act ten or twelve years before they were made, thefe gentlemen have the whole honour of difcovering. Let it be observed, that these acts, tho' pofterior to the act 1690, were prior to the act 1707 Yet this act for the fecurity of religion at the Union, paffes over thofe more recent acts in relation to Popery, and only declares perpetual an act made fo many years before them; thereby plainly leaving the intermediate acts to the wifdom of the British legislature, to confirm, repeal, or alter, at any time, as they should find expedient, and only giving perpetuity to the act that firft, after the Revolution, established the Prefbyterian form of government, and ratified the confeffion of faith *. The repeal can never do hurt; because it is the repeal of a statute, which feems, even in the judgement of our antagonists, to have done no good. So far from occafioning the decrease of the number of Papifts, they have been, we are told, increafing for many years backwards. And this perhaps is the first inftance in which the inefficacy of a law has been used as an argument against the repeal of it. That act, though fevere, is not fevere enough to exirpate Papifts; at the fame time it is much too fevere, confidering the fentiments and manners of the times, for any but perfons of no character, to affift in executing it. Thus [We infert the claufe, viz. "Her Majefty, with advice and confent forefaid, ratifies, approves, and for ever confirms, the 5th act of the first parliament of K. William and Queen Mary, intitled, A& ratifying the Confeffion of Faith, and fettling Presbyterian church-government, with the haill other acts of parliament relating thereto, in profecution of the declaration of the estates of this kingdom containing the Claim of Right, bearing date the 11th of April 1689; and her Majefty, with advice and confent forefaid, expressly provides and declares, That the forefiid true Proteftant religion, contained in the above mentioned Confeffion of Faith, with the form and purity of wor fhip prefently in ufe within this church, and its Prefbyterian church-government and difcipline; that is to fay, the government of the church by kirk feffions, prefbyteries, provincial fynods, and general affemblies, all established by the forefaid acts of parliament, purfuant to the Claim of Right, fhall remain and continue unalterable; and that the faid Prefbyterian government shall be the only government of the church within the kingdom of Scotland."] it gives Papifts all the advantage of a plaufible plea of fuffering perfecution, without being materially hurt by actual perfecution. In fome other countries, where Romanists, though not of the eftablishment, have enjoyed for centuries a legal toleration, we do not hear of any clamours about their increase, or of any dread of danger arifing from them: why then fhould not this nation, fince we have fo ftron, evidence that feverity will not anfwer, be induced to make the ex periment of what may be effected by the more humane and more Chriftian-like policy of other nations? In many iostances, as has been obferved by the bet writers on jurifprudence, the uncon fcionable severity of laws has rendered them ufelefs, nay made them ferve to promote, instead of checking, the growth of those evils againft which they are pointed. They make thofe very perfons fcreen offenders, who would otherwife affift in convicting them. [To be continued.] EDINBURGH. The Scotch Preacher. Vol. 3. [39.41) 2s. 6d. fewed. Dickfon. This volume contains fixteen fermons, by the following minifters, viz. 1. 2. Andrew Hunter, D. D. Jof. xxiv. 15.;-3. 4. Robert Petrie, V. D. M. Heb. xiii. 15. 16. 17. ; — 5. Thomas Some ville, Matt. xxvii. 54.-6. 7. John M'Farlan, D. D. Rom. xii. 1o;-8. 9. William Macgill, V.D. M. John, xvii. 20. 21. ; — 10. 11. George Campbell, D. D. 1. Cor. i. 25. ;—12. John Ogilvie, D. D. Lam. i. 12.;— 13. Andrew Gray, D. D. Pf. lxxxv. 6.; — 14. John Mac kenzie, V. D. M. Job, iii. 17. 18. 19.;15. 16. William Leechman, D. D. 2. Tim.i. 7. The light in which public calamities ought to be viewed, and the ufe we should make of them: A fermon [from Luke, xiii. 1.—6.) preached in the English chapel at Dunkeld, on the general falt, Feb 9. 1779. By the Rev. James Paterfon, M. D. 6d. Elliot. Britannia: A poem, on the prospect of the approaching campaign. 8d. Dickfon. Scots Anticipation; or, A fummary of 2 debate; containing the fubftance of fome of the principal fpeeches that are to be deliver ed in the G- Ay of the Ch-b of Sd, upon an overture tranfmitted by the P▬▬▬▬▬] S▬▬▬▬d of G and A- relating to Popery. 1 s. 6 d. Creech.—An imitation of a pamphlet published at London in November last before the meeting of the parliament. [40.614.] The Repeal: An occafional poem. Cal culated for the times. 6d. Gray. lit punctum qui mifcuit utile dulci. Me. While Ignorance, regardless of his moan, Nor feels foft Pity's generous throes, [day! lelights to fhield the wretched from all harms. She adds more ftrength to Heaven's high Virtue's aid more profelytes fhe draws; To labour for the weal of humankind. rally afcribed to Lord Hervey, was more probably written by Lady, M. W. Montague. Yours, &c. EUGENIO. Say, thou dear poffeffor of my read, O, where that heart I fondly thought my own! more; Unmov'd I hear them speak, or fee them fair,` And could I fpeak with eloquence and ease, James Hammond, Efq; the fecond fon of a good family, was introduced to the Earl of Chefterfield in 1728, being then about eighteen; and, from a happy and fingular conformity of character, manners, and inclinations, foon became particularly attached to his Lordship. His father, Anthony Ham While IGNORANCE, swoln with wealth and mond, Efq; one of the commiffioners of the navy, pride, The tender feelings may deride, felefs, alone, the may on felf depend, Vithout one heart-felt joy, or faithful friend, ive unregarded, and neglected die: er her no bofom heaves a tender figh; or her no tear drops from a grief-fwoln eye; Her memory like the body dies, ad all the was in dark oblivion lies. VIRTUE to immortal realms of light Wings confident her ardent flight, Confcious, in rectitude of mind, She leaves a deathlefs fame behind. WM AUGUSTUS WILLIS, M. D. 21. 1779. The young gentleman was no fooner relieved, with a noble spirit he relieved two debtors from finement, and faved their families from ruin. Mr URBAN, April 1779. THE following admirable "Elegy to Mifs DASHWOOD, in the manner of OVID," Mr HAMMOND, hath not yet found a ace among his works. In Dodsley's Collection re is an answer to it, which, though geue• See the note on wext column. was accounted a good Speaker in parliament, and had the name of "filver-tongued Hammond" given dowed with a confiderable share of fenfibility as well to him by Lord Bolingbroke.. Born a poet, and enas delicacy, James was particularly happy in imitating thofe great masters of antiquity whofe writings contain the most faithful representations of the bu man beart; and, in particular, the poet who in this refpe has excelled them all, Tibullus. - His beart was a most friendly one; and he enjoyed every opportunity of obliging in a manner peculiar to bimfelf. Lord Chefterfield loved him, with all his fingularities, which in fome measure were his own. Their intimacy grew to a very great degree, and fhewed itself even after the death of the poet. He teftified his regard and efteem for this amiable companion, by taking care of what he left behind him, his Delia and his works. Thefe, confifting of elegies, written in the true ftyle of Tibullus, had been intrufted to his care; and they were published by him, ennobled by a preface, expreffive of his feelings, and worthy of his pen. Mr Hammond, at the time of his death, which happened June 7. 1742, was equerry to the Prince of Wales, and reprefen tative in parliament for Truro. Loft Loft were my words, and fruitless all my pain, And now (for more I never must pretend) HA KEPPEL triumphs o'er his foes; Fraud nor Cunning could prevail, Truth did all her powers oppofe. Virtue pleaded warm his caufe, Juftice fat at KEPPEL's bar; Falfehood there could prove no flaws, Honour clear'd her fav'rite tar. See him now with glory crown'd, Envy hangs her fnaky head; Malice ftrews with foam the ground, Slander's tongue is tipt with lead. Like the fun, just clear'd from clouds, He now difpels the cheerless gloom; Whilft circles of admiring crowds Rejoice to hear their KEPPEL's doom. Fame his triumph shall refound, Loud as Neptune's ftormy voice; Angels fhall repeat the found, Heaven and Earth fhall both rejoice! Tune each inftrument of joy, Which rag'd his glory to destroy. His honour free from spot or stain; Oppreffion rous'd his country's love, Whilft Malice fhot her fhafts in vain. Thus Juflice triumphs in the end, And Virtue fmiles, tho' fore opprefs'd; Thus KEPPEL finds a real friend In evly worthy, fioneft breast. STYLE and CONDUCT. Rome faw, by Cæfar's rapid ftyle, The ruling paffion of his mind; From WOLFE's, the boast of Britain's We knew he would not lag behind. One whom the Mufe difdains to name, Whofe ftyle was fluggish as his fword, Would figure in the field of Fame, By av'rice, not by glory 'lur'd. While Diffipation led the van, Low-timid Caution clofed the rear; Whores, fiddlers, fops, enjoy'd the plan, But ev'ry vet'ran dropt a tear. BRITANNIA wifh'd to touch his heart, But love of country was not there; She kneel'd-fhe claim'd a parent's part But to the winds he gave her prayer, O hadft thou, in the natal hour, Sunk harmlefs to the fhades below, Thofe ills which time can never cure, Had never mark'd thee Britain's foc. Faction may spread her motley wing, To fcreen thee from the eye of law; But hope not to elude the fting, Which neither time nor ait can draw Far from the focial haunts of men, The tyrant hid his guilty head, Yet confcious that he fled in vain, In caverns howl'd his inward dread. Shunn'd, by the public voice confign'd To cool contempt, and biting fcorn, What refts to cheer thy guilty mind? The curfe of millions yet unborn. Abbot's Inch. • Tiberius. F. D |