plan of man's redemption, which he cannot contemplate himfelf; nor is he willing that his readers thould have more enlarged notions of it than his own of what he is himself ignorant, he would have others equally fo; and actuated by a malignity, peculiar to himself, he would deny others that good, which he perverfely rejects; the comforts of the Chriftian religion, and the pleafures of devotion he cannot feel, and therefore he would banifh them from the world. In this, doing his utmoft to promote the infernal views of the German Illuminati. If the members of oppofition, the avowed patrons of the Morning Chronicle, think with its conductor on religious, as well as political, fubjects, it is an additional and an infinitely weighty reafon, why every Chriftian, and every friend to our Government, in Church and State, fhould ftrenuously refift fuch men ever coming into power, as fervants of the Crown.

Well was it faid, by the wife and unknown author of the Purfuits of Literature, that upon literature, well or ill conducted, depended the very falvation of this country. If this be so, Mr. Editor, of what infinite importance is it, that the productions, exhibited on our Theatres, fhould be narrowly and critically examined by men of fufficient learning and found religion.

The number of ill informed perfons, and the number of our youth who frequent thefe places of public amufement, are furely fufficient confiderations to induce thofe, who have the means, to adopt fome meafures, which, in this refpect, may prevent the encouragement of vice, and the diffemination of erroneous and wicked principles.

At this momentous period of the world, when every calamity is to be dreaded, which can be brought upon this happy country by the fuccefsful wickedness and profligate talents of her foreign and domeftic enemies, inftigated by the deepeft malignity and cunning of which the human mind is capable, there exifts not a confideration, which so much engages, and which fo much deferves, the attention of good men as the education of our youth. Upon that, depend interefts of the very laft importance, which, in every way, affect us, as individuals and as a nation. On this fubject I may Jome day take the liberty of troubling you more at large, and of Communicating fome facts, with regard to public fchools, which demand attention.

To return to the Theatres, little obfervation will evince that they require the attention of able and good men. The flimfy nonfenfe

to fay the leaft of it) of most of our own play writers has been fucceeded by a deluge of German errors, German inconfiftencies, German politics, and German blafphemies; no trifling evils have been done to this country by this importation and acting of Ger man plays; and the applaufe beftowed upon the repeated performances of thefe miferable productions, is at once a lamentable proof of our depravity in tate, fenfe, and virtue; and when it is confidered, that one of thefe German productions (I mean Pizarro) has employed fo many tranflators, has been so often per

formed

formed with the greatest applause, has exercifed the talents of a British Senator, and has run through fo many editions in the prefs, what can be thought of our progrefs in tafte, fenfe, or virtue?

That the immortal bard of Britain fhould give place, on our Theatres, to the mad effufions of fitch diffempered heads as Kotzebue, Schiller, &c. &c. is a moft mortifying reflection to: every Briton, capable of appreciating the merits of literary productions; and I hefitate not to pronounce this play of Pizarro, one of the worst fpecimens of German literature itself ; and, at the same time, I cannot hesitate to pronounce Mr. Sheridan an enemy to learning, and the beft interefts of his country, in facrificing fo much to temporary applaufe, and temporary gain, in exerting his talents to fo bad a purpofe as garnishing a dith, which, otherwife could not have fuited the palates of his countrymen; its noxious, its poifonous qualities, would have fickened them from further tolerating the importation of German food.

The repeated appeals to the great and glorious God and Redeemer of the world, upon the flighteft occafions, muft hurt the minds of good and thinking men, it proves its blafphemous tendency. Its fentiments, as delivered by Rolla, muft excite the indignation of every Chriftian, for the doctrines and morality of Peruvian Heathens, are not only mentioned with applaufe, but most falfely and unnaturally are even put in competition with the doctrines and morality of the Gofpel; gracious Heaven!!! is this the play that exercifed the talents of a British Legiflator; and commanded the applause of a British public ?

Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis.”

When plays, fuch as this, are exhibited, it indeed becomes a ferious queftion how far a good Government fhould interfere. When evils of great magnitude, the remedies to be applied must be in proportion.

The fafety and preservation of a country are its virtues; the virtues of a country are compofed of the virtues of individuals; the virtues of individuals demand the attention of good Governments, to protect and fofter them; the virtues of individuals greatly depend, in thefe days, upon the productions of the prefs, which is a moft powerful engine for good or bad purpofes; when palpably, exerted for the latter, the interference of Government becomes neceffary, becaufe Government is bound in duty to protect the interefts of its fubjects.

That the prefs in this country has been moft palpably exerted for the worst of purposes, the German plays, and various other publications, fufficiently evince. The Government of this land has not interfered effectually; will it never interfere effectually?

This question I feriously recommend to the confideration of Mr. Sheridan, and the other managers of our Theatres, as alfo, to the authors of blafphemous publications, and to the editor of the Morning Chronicle, and its con-temporaries. It deferves their attention as they regard their own interefts. They may find that

there

there is a line drawn, beyond which they will not be fuffered to país.

The friends of religion, and good government, and true learning may be few, but they are united. They may be defpifed by the profligate world, but they will be fupported. Their caufe may be threatened and endangered by the perverseness of men, but it will finally triumph by the affiftance of God.

That caufe, which has had the glory of God and the good of man for its object, has ever ultimately triumphed. That caufe, which has had the extenfion of the dominions of the Prince of Darkness for its object, and, in purfuit of fuch object, has fcrupled not to violate every law of God, and the laws and perfons of men, may have triumphed for a moment, but it has only triumphed to receive the greater fall.

Thofe, who moft fhamefully accuftom themselves to rejoice at, and admire, the fuccefsful profligacy of the French Conful and his tyranny, would do well to acknowledge the truth of this, and conduct themfelves accordingly.

Buonaparte, the idol of the Infidel and the traitor, may trample upon the liberties of France; Buonaparte may trample upon the liberties of Europe; Buonaparte may become the tyrant of the world, but he cannot deftroy the truth: and he fhall not filence, but with death, the voice that utters it, at leaft, that of, Mr. Editor,

Lincoln's-Inn, О. 8, 1800.

Your humble fervant,

JUVENIS.

Copy of a Letter to a QUAKER, on reading " Beavan's Refutation of fome of the more Modern Mifreprefentations of the Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers; with a Life of James Nayler; alfo (by Permiffion of the Meeting for Sufferings) a Summary of the Hiftory, Doctrine, and Difcipline of Friends."

FRIEND S.

HAVE read the book entitled as above, &c. &c. In judging of the merits of their performance, it is neceffary, in the firft place to examine fome of the principles of the established Church of England, and compare them with the doctrines of Jefus and bis Apoftles; and then, to see how far the principles profeffed by the fociety of Friends, and other focieties, juftifiable, in the differences they have affumed on certain points of the fame doctrines. In doing this, I have no intention of entering into religious controverfy, nor of feeking for aid from the writings of any learned men whatever; I fhall be guided by the Scriptures them felves.

ift. On infpiration.-I find we both agree that it is a Divine gift, and that it makes known what could not have been known by any common powers of the human understanding; but herein we differ as follows: the infpiration of the Propbets and Apoftles, not only filled them with perfections as to the matter of which they either spoke

.or

or wrote, but also as to the manner in which it was done or delivered; being in its nature free from error; for whatever comes from God must be perfect and it is from these Divine fources, that all buman learning, all the embellifbments of the mind, all the graces of writing and elocution fpring; which the Society of Friends defpife; but their infpiration bas never yet fince they began to feel its ef fects (which was not till the 16th century after the establishment of Chriftianity) been able to add any thing to the light of that Gofpel, which they profefs to preach: for the truth is, that man bad been fufficiently enlightened already, for his eternal falvation; and continues fo, and will continue fo to the end of the world, as long as he is governed by the doctrines and difcipline of that church which Chrift eftablished, which I take to be the established Church of England. The Society of Friends juftifies its contempt of learning, by faying that the Difciples of our Saviour, were ignorant and illiterate men ; I agree that they were fo, previous to their being called, but from that moment we are told they were fo no longer; their ftyle was always juft, and fuitable to their fubject; their language bigbly convincing; and their manners peculiarly impreffive; thefe were the proofs and effects of infpiration; but fuch effects, or fuch proofs I have never witnetfed in any of your most infpired Speakers or writers; and the "Book of Refutation," row before me, is a lamentable proof of it; for it is not the language of refutation, in the firft place, (which is ever clear, perfpicuous, and decided,) nor is there the leaft glimmering of light in any part of it from beginning to end, where it attempts

to refute.

2d. The epifcopal inftitution is clearly proved to have been of the earliest date, in the primitive Church of Chrift; for Timothy was Bishop of Ephesus; and he is the first we know of: he became bead of that Church about the fixtieth or feventieth year of the Chriftian æra variations from the original establishment have doubtless crept in, in the course of eighteen hundred years; but thefe have been only incidental, from local and political caufes; that is to fay, from the difference of climates, countries, and Governments, where our religion has prevailed; and fuch are infeparable from all human inftitutions (or more properly speaking, from the inftability of all things in this tranfitory world, as decreed by an all-wife and omnipotent God)-but the Bifbops, Priefts, and Deacons, of our Eftablished Church, are effentially the fame as they were in the times of the Apostles; and bave all along been, in every thing regarding their general functions and principles: for proof of this, the early Christian and primitive fathers, in fpeaking of the Holy Sacrament, for instance (a rite on which fo much difference of opinion has obtained) continued to hold the fame explicit language concerning it which was taught by our bleffed Saviour himself to his Difciples, to whom he delegated all his earthly commiflion, with full powers to teach it to all nations; and from whom it has lineally defcended to the rulers and teachers of English Church at this day, by the powers of confecration and ordination, originally vefted by Chrift in his Difciples at that ceremony: not that they confider bread and wine thus confecrated, as the

APPENDIX, VOL. VII.

Na

real

real body and blood of our Lord; but by the word "facrament," mean the mystery, the type, the figure, the fymbol, the commemoration thereof. Now the Society of Friends confider forms as obstructions to pure worship, which divert the attention from the Secret influence of the holy one; it is evident, however, that our Saviour thought differently, in his ceremonial of the laft fupper, for he therein eftablifhed a form not fo likely to divert as to attract the mind.

3d: Baptifm with water is another fubject, wherein the Church of England does but follow the primitive rules of Chrift's practise; for be bimfelf, by fubmitting to the baptifm of Jobn, fanctified that ceremony as an initiation to the true religion, and as a preparation to his holy communion: elfe, for what purpose was the baptism of water ufed by John? Does the Society of Friends look on it only as a mockery? Now, I believe that the ordained Clergy of the Established Church, have the power of baptizing (in the fulleft sense of the word) by the type or fymbol of fprinkling with water; and that that power (amongst others) has been tranfmitted to them, and is tranfmiffible from them to others, in the fame manner as are other divine gifts that have been handed down to us by Chrift, through the Apoftles, Saints, Bifhops, and others, holy men: if our Saviour thought the baptifm by water neceffary, I fee not any reafon to depart from it, that can compenfate for the internal fatisfaction of following bis Divine example; and really, in all difputed points of the ceremonials and forms of religion, my confcience dictates, that it is Jafer to abide by fo unexceptionable an example, as nearly as I can, from the inftructions of Scripture, than to be guided by the interpretations of fectaries of any defcription.

4th. Tythes is a fubject of fuch general altercation, that it is hard to fpeak on it, without giving offence to fome party or other; I fhall therefore only remark at present, that men who devote themfelves to the miniftry of the Gospel (and confequently give up all worldly pursuits) are certainly entitled to refpect, protection, and fuitable fupport, to the dignity of their holy office; (an office which furpaffes all others.) Such men, fo protected, maintained, and refpected, are rendered the most capable of any description of men whatever, to pay due attention to the ftudy of Divinity, and to execute the duties committed to their charge, in a pious and Chriftian like manner: however the word tythes" may be altered, its meaning is the fame, with regard to the fupport of religious inftructors, or devout perfons of all perfuafions, and fo it ever has been from the time of Chrift bimfelf in the New Teftament, and of Mofes in the Old. Such perfons must be fupported, or they muft beg; it is fo with the Society of Friends; and if that is praife-worthy, how much more fo is it not, when a whole nation unites in the payment of a regular fund for their preachers!

66

Thefe four points are the moft confiderable, on which the Society differs from the Established Church. The "juftification" allowed by the meeting for fufferings, to be printed by Friend Bevan, in his Summary," ought rather to be called an Expofition," for although the moral and internal regulations of the Society are very cre

ditable