12. JOHN MILTON'S IMMORTAL OFFERING. But it is said by Mr. Paine, 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 mythologies of the heathens. Did Milton understand those mythologies? Was he less versed than Mr. Paine in the superstitions of the world? No; they were the subject of his immortal song; and though shut out from all recurrence to them, he poured them forth 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 unquestionable 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, 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, nevertheless, not the same as Mr. Paine's. The mysterious incarnation of our blessed Saviour, which the "Age of Reason" blasphemes in words so wholly unfit 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, Milton made the grand conclusion of Paradise Lost," the rest of his finished labors, and the ultimate hope, expectation, and glory of the world: A Virgin is his mother, but his sire 66 The power of the Most High; he shall ascend The throne hereditary, and bound his reign With earth's wide bounds, his glory with the heavens. The immortal poet having thus put into the mouth of the angel the prophecy of man's redemption, follows it with that solemn and beautiful admonition, addressed in the poem to our great First Parent, but intended as an address to his posterity through all generations: This having learned, thou hast attained the sum Grey's Ode on the Progress of Poetry. All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works, Thus you find all that is great, or wise, or splendid, or illustrious among created beings-all the minds gifted beyond ordinary nature, if not inspired by their universal Author for the advancement and dignity of the world, though divided by distant ages, and by the clashing opinions distinguishing them from one another, yet joining, as it were, in one sublime chorus to celebrate the truths of Christianity, and laying upon its holy altars the never-fading offerings of their immortal wisdom. 13. ADHERENCE TO DOCTRINES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WOULD BANISH WICKEDNESS FROM THE WORLD. Against all this concurring testimony, we find suddenly, from Mr. Paine, that the Bible teaches nothing but "lies, obscenity, cruelty, and injustice." Did the author or publisher ever read the sermon of "Christ upon the Mount," in which the great principles of our faith and duty are summed up? Let us all but read and practice it, and lies, obscenity, cruelty, and injustice, and all human wickedness, would be banished from the world. 14. RELIGION AND MORALITY ALONE CONSTITUTE THE SAFETY OF THE STATE. Gentlemen, there is but one consideration more, which I cannot possibly omit, because, I confess, it affects me very deeply. Mr. Paine has written largely on public liberty and government; and this last performance has, on that account, been more widely circulated, and principally among those who attached themselves from principle to his former works. This circumstance renders a public attack upon all revealed religion, from such a writer, infinitely more dangerous. The religious and moral sense of the people of Great Britain is the great anchor which alone can hold the vessel of the State amid the storms which agitate the world. If I could believe, for a moment, that the mass of the people were to be debauched from the principles of religion, which form the true basis of that humanity, charity, and benevolence that has been so long the national characteristic, instead of mixing myself, as I sometimes have done, in political reformations, I would rather retire to the uttermost corners of the earth to avoid their agitation; and would bear, not only the imperfections and abuses complained of in our own wise establishment, but even the worst government that ever existed in the world, rather than go to the work of reformation with a multitude set free from all the charities of Christianity, who had no sense of God's existence but from Mr. Paine's observation of nature, which the mass of mankind have no leisure to contemplate; nor any belief of future rewards and punishments to animate the good in the glorious pursuit of human happiness, nor to deter the wicked from destroying it even in its birth. But I know the people of England better. They are a religious people; and, with the blessing of God, as far as it is in my power, I will lend my aid to keep them so. I have no objection to the freest and most extended discussions upon doctrinal points of the Christian religion; and, though the law of England does not permit it, I do not dread the reasoned arguments of Deists against the existence of Christianity itself, because, as was said by its divine author, if it is of God it will stand. 15. INFERIOR OBJECT AND CAPACITY OF PAINE'S WORK. An intellectual book, however erroneous, addressed to the intellectual world upon so profound and complicated a subject, can never work the mischief which this indictment is calculated to repress. Such works will only employ the minds of men enlightened by study in a deeper investigation of a subject well worthy of their profound and continued contemplation. The powers of the mind. are given for human improvement in the progress of human existence. The changes produced by such reciprocations of lights and intelligences are certain in their progressions, and make their way imperceptibly, as conviction comes upon the world, by the final and irresistible power of truth. If Christianity be founded in falsehood, let us become Deists in this manner, and I am contented. But this book hath no such object and no such capacity; it presents no arguments to the wise and enlightened. On the contrary, it treats the faith and opinions of the wisest with the most shocking contempt, and stirs up men without the advantages of learning or sober thinking to a total disbelief of everything hitherto held sacred, and, consequently, to a rejection of all the laws and ordinances of the State, which stand only upon the assumption of their truth. Gentlemen, I cannot conclude without expressing the deepest regret at all attacks upon the Christian religion by authors who profess to promote the civil liberties of the world. For under what other auspices than Christianity have the lost and subverted liberties of mankind in former ages been reasserted? By what zeal, but the warm zeal of devout Christians, have English liberties been redeemed and consecrated? Under what other sanctions, even in our own days, have liberty and happiness been extending and spreading to the uttermost corners of the earth? What work of civilization, what commonwealth of greatness has the bald religion of nature ever established? We see, on the contrary, the nations that have no other light than that of nature to direct them, sunk in barbarism, or slaves to arbitrary governments; while, since the Christian era, the great career of the world has been slowly, but clearly, advancing lighter at every step, from the awful prophecies of the Gospel, and leading, I trust, in the end, to universal and eternal happiness. Each generation of mankind can see but a few revolving links of this mighty and mysterious chain; but, by doing our several duties in our allotted stations, we are sure that we are fulfilling the purposes of our existence. You, I trust, will fulfill yours this day! The evidence was very brief. The sale of the book by the prisoner was shown, the notice by the defense to produce the Bible in evidence was read, and the prosecution rested. Mr. Kyd then delivered an address to the jury, to which Mr. Erskine replied. He closed his speech as follows: "I have only, therefore, to remind you, gentlemen, that this indictment was not preferred from any idea that the Christian religion could be affected, in its character or irresistible progress, by this disgusting and contemptible work; but to prevent its circulation amongst the industrious poor, too much engaged in the support of their families by their labor, and too uninformed to be secure against artful wickedness. Of all human beings they stand most in need of the consolations of religion, and the country has the deepest stake in their enjoying it, not only from the protection which it owes them, but because no man can be expected to be faithful to the authority of man who revolts against the government of God." The jury found a verdict of Guilty, without retiring from their seats. SPEECH OF SIR JAMES MACKINTOSH IN BEHALF OF JEAN PELTIER, INDICTED FOR A LIBEL AGAINST NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 'Howell's St. Tr. vol. 28, p. 566.] IN THE COURT OF KING'S BENCH. MICHAELMAS, TERM, 43d GEORGE III, FEB. 21, 1803. POLITICAL LIBEL.-Every publication which has a tendency to promote public mischief by defaming the persons and characters of magistrates, and others in high and eminent situations of power and dignity in other countries, inconsistent with amity and friendship, expressed in such terms and such a manner as to interrupt the amity and friendship between the two countries, is in law a libel.-[Lord Ellenborough's charge in Rex v. Peltier.] ANALYSIS OF MR. MACKINTOSH'S SPEECH. 1. The nominal parties to the record, not the real parties to the issue. 2. The real issue-a conflict between the greatest power in the world, and the only free press in Europe. 3. Reason for the temporary toleration of a free press in the minor European States. 4. How the liberty of the continental press perished, while the press of England alone remained free. 5. Distinction between libel and historyPhilosophy of the law of libel. 6 The Maintenance of justice on the continent essential to the security of Great Britain. 15. The publication cannot represent the opinions of the defendant, who is a royalist. 16. Observations upon the ode. 17. The verses contain no exhortation to assassinate Napoleon. 18. Free discussion the most important interest of mankind. The reign of Elizabeth. 19. Power and importance of the press in preserving the liberties of English men. 20. Louis XIV.-His arraignment by French 21. The invasion of Holland an avowed at- 23. Animadversion of the English press on 24. Influence of newspapers on domestic and foreign politics. 25. Arraignment by the press of the crime against Poland. 26. The invasion of Switzerland.-England an asylum for its oppressed heroes. 27. The reign of Robespierre.-Illustrations to show the fallacy of the theory of the prosecution. |