144 Scheme to purchase Impropriations. able to diftinguish their characters from their circumftances. It is to be wifhed, therefore, that we might enjoy thofe quiet times, when our governors, inftead of racking their heads in the purfuit of their feveral fchemes of government, might have their minds wholly engaged to propofe fuch means, as might make the church of God fbine with the greateft luftre among which it is evident that a tax to purchase the tithes from the impropriators, and refore them to the church, would be of the greatest confequence. This would prevent the progrefs of popery and fchifm. And the body of the nation have no reafon to object against it; for, as the generality will be better provided for in the great concerns of their fouls; fo they will thereby open a larger profpect for the provifion of the younger fons of the gentry; who would come in for a fhare in the advantages of it. So that by purchafing the tithes, gentlemen provide for their families, as well as for the welfare of the church. Many other happy regulations might be made upon fuch a bleed conjuncture, as would very much tend to the glory of God; and good of fouls." This lay-gentleman's love, fo eminently fhewn for the gates of Zion, cannot pass without making great impreffions on ferious minds-its flames muft penetrate, and warm the breasts of its governors in the glorious purfuit of a work, fo momentous in the article of religion, and recommended with fo many (one would think quite irrefiftible) arguments. The fathers of the church are always ready to ferve the ftate and the fate cannot but be on all important occafions as well difpofed to promote the interefts of the church. It should be the grand concern of the ftate to do so, according to the memorable obfervation of a celebrated prelate of the last century-who fays "Kings and ftates, when they appear to have been remarkably protected (as it often happens) by the hand of God, and delivered from great dangers, may understand what bleffing they have by a church planted in their fate. The church bringeth the blefling to March the ftate; because God regardeth them that are faithful to him; and for their fake blefleth the whole." Mr. Nelfon proposes the raising of a taxtowards purchasing the tithes of impropriators; but there will be little or no neceflity for this measure. The favings in hand from the fund of the firft fruits and tenths, and the annual produce of it, with the aid and concurrence of well-wishers to the plan, will be very fufficient to compass the noble defign-and in no huge length of time. The refpectable lift of benefactors to the augmentations, as not made, may be found in Mr. Ecton's book on the fubject; and will give pleasure to the curious enquirer but what numbers may be expected on this much greater and more extenfive fcheme— of difcharging the debt (Lord Bacon makes due to the church-by restoring to it her ancient patrimony---her endowments, tithes, and all her rights as alfo of removing the fcandal of its continuing to long unpaidand what Mr. Lambard in his celebrated book, Perambulation of Kent, so warmly complains of. "An appropriation, fays he, is one, among many, of thofe monstrous births of covetouinefs, begotten by the man of Rome in the dark night of fuperftition; and yet fuffered to live in this day light of the golpel, to the hindrance of learning, the impoverishment of the ministry, and the infamy of our profeffion." The Reverend Dr. Burton, in his excellent Commentariolus, intimates to us, and gives the ftrongest and most moving reafons for it also, that the late archbp. of Canterbury was a wellwither to fome fuch reformation in the church, and had it greatly at his heart; which makes me more particularly honour his memory, and look upon his grace as the cervus ad fontes anhelans. And this very defire mult yield fome pleasure to every man, who has any true regard for the religion of his country. It may be fairly prefumed, that many other learned and good prelates may have the very fame concern with Dr. Secker for repairing the breaches, and building up the walls of I prefume this fund may be capable of doing much greater fervice; and that the reafons for its being applied this way are even stronger now than when Mr. Neljen wrote his addrefs. Jerufa 1769. Thoughts on Christ's Afcenfion- Body. Dr. Burton's own words on the occafion may be expected—and they are—Sed nec illud prætereundum reor, in quo cernitur vera animi magnitudo, cleri inferioris, cujus minifterio ut plurimum res ecclefiaftica tranfigitur, curam plane paternam. Cupiit quidem ille, quoad temporum iniquitas patiebatur, omnia in ordinem priftinum revocari. His Grace must be well apprized that the additions made to fmall livings by the prefent application of the royal bounty (though under the best management it is capable of) cannot be fup. pofed to be of any very material fignification with respect to the grand confiderations, that offer themselves fo naturally to our view on the fubject before us-I mean towards fupporting the character, the office, and family of a parish-priest, in the way and manner as ought to be agreeable to the honour and dignity of his function. But by the other propofal the excellent and noble defigns of founders, with regard to refidence, &c. would be all most happily revived. The church would be feen as coming afresh out of their hands with all its endowments, privileges, and emoluments, fully and perfectly; and the plan fraught with every bleffing that could be defired. And forely you will with with your fincere friend and fay---fiat! fiat! R. C. 145 I confidered the human body in its embryo-ftate, as an animalcule imperceptibly fmall, and all the acceffiong of matter which give it bulk or magnitude, as foreign and perpetually changing, and hence was led to confider the refurrection-body, as rendered rare and spiritual, from its being divested by the hand of power, of all that perishable enlargement of the original ftamina.And although I do fuppofe Jefus Chrift did rife with the fame body in which he suffered, yet, it does not appear, to me, that after his refurrection it was any longer fubject to the mechanical laws of this fyftem; it was not fufceptible of pain or of injury, from the hand of violence, or accident; and it was, in all respects, under the abfolute command of his volition; fo that when he had quitted his perfona! converfe with his difciples, and did actually afcend into the heavens, he took with him no natural, nor terreftrial body, but a fpiritual and celeftial one. The following negative ideas I have formed of the refurrection body. First, That it cannot be a body compofed of flesh and bones, of which I have affurance, because neither flesh nor blood can inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor.xv. 50. Neither, fecondly, can it be a body of the fame structure with the prefent perishing body, nor have the same configuration; for though meats are for the belly, and the belly for meats; yet God hall deftroy both it and them. 1 Cor. vi. 13. Neither will the refurrection-body retain the distinction of fex-for they who fhall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the refurre&ion from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage---but are as the angels---Lukė A Letter, in the London Magazine xx. 35, 36. for February, remarks on my letter of November laft.. The remar ker has mistaken by imagining it my defign either to defend the fourth of the thirty-nine articles, or Bishop Burnet's Expofition. I thought indeed that the Country Curate had not read the Bishop, and that he might have had more light from him, upon the article, than he seemed to have. But I never thought myself obliged either to defend the article, or the Bishop's Expofition of it. March, 1769. And, again, they must be impaable bodies, that are refurrection-bodies; forafmuch as they who serve God in the heavenly temple, shall hunger no more, nor thirf any more-and God ball wipe away all tears from their eyes. Apoc. vii. 16, 17. From this New Teftament account fo fully given of the refurrection body, I prefume it will be evident, that tho Chrift did truly rife from the dead with that body in which he fuffered, and though he remained forty days T converfible A bumane Proposal. 145 From thefe fhort trictures it may appear, that the City Minifter is not justly chargeable with fuppofing the Bishop to mean, "That tho' Chrift's body has no more modifications of flesh and blood, yet that it ftill has the modifications of flesh and blood: and that though the glory of the celeftial body is of another nature and texture than that of the terreftrial, yet that it is of the fame nature and texture with the terreftrial." I fhould fufpect the mind that could draw this abufive conclufion, may be capable of very bad things for the fpirit and defign of my former letter could give no ground of offence to any man, who has reafon to hope for a refurrection-body. A CITY MINISTER. To the PRINTER, &c. SIR, HE wonderful encouragement March John's defign, is, the facility with which near one hundred boys have been taken from mifery, and made. immediately ufeful to their country, and happy to themfelves. The Magdalen and Afylum are amongst the many public charities in this city that do honour to humanity. But the poor little girls that are now left upon our streets, are equally numerous as the boys, and expofed to feel a feverer degree of distress from the tenderness of their nature. I prefume to fuggeft to the confideration of the public, and particularly to the defigner and promoters of the. plan for the boys, if many of the fe poor helpless girls could not be provided for in fome cheap-rented, convenient house in any part of the town, cloathed and maintained in the plaineft manner; and after they had been habituated to cleanlinefs and works of industry till they were of an age to be received into families (that were known) as common fervants. Two or three women of prudence might give fuch an education to fifty girls at a time; and I believe any lady in this city will allow, that a girl of a tolerable capacity, that had been accustomed for two, three, or four years toge Tthat has already been given, by therra vile early in the morning, the humane and generous, to Sir John Fielding's noble plan for preferving and ufefully employing diftreffed boys, will, in all likelihood, erect a lafting monument to their honour in the hiftory of this commercial country. May every fubfcriber receive an hundred fold for his bounty, and may the worthy magiftrate long live to rejoice in the fuccefs of his plan, and may he be revered and rewarded for it for ever. The rapid progrefs of this generous defign is fo strong a proof, that the rich and noble-minded amongst us are zealous of occañons to do good to their fellow creatures, and to teftify their love to their country, that the writer of this is compelled by his feelings to point out another diftrefs to the public, many inftances of which have ftruck him remarkably fince the publication of Sir John's plan- the number of poor, wretched young girls, who are in the fame deplorable fituation as the boys. What is molt to be admired in Sir tend twice a day on religious duty, and taught to do that part of the work of a family fhe was the fittest for; that fuch a girl might be taken into a family, with a greater dependence on her good behaviour, than the generality of common maid fervants that are now hired. May the benevolent protectors of the boys adopt fome fuch plan for the prefervation of as many of the girls: Pity would even give them the preference in every tender mind; and I have no doubt if the public faw a wife, frugal plan from the fame worthy hand as laid that for the boys, but the charity would become more general; many ladies would be happy to abridge themfelves of fome expence to cloath a boy for the fea, or a girl for the kitchen; and I dare fay there is not a banker in the city of London that would think a little of his clerk's time ill beftowed in receiving donations for both; nor a divine within the bills of mortality but would rejoice to preach a fermon for the benefit of 1769. Proceedings at the King's Arms. this charity: thofe that could fpare a crown, would give it; and they that could give nothing, would wifh it well. CORNELIUS. The following is the Dedication prefixed to a Sermon juft published by the Rev. Mr. Horne. To James Townsend, Efq; Dear Sir, Tand faithlefs defenition of friends, THE faithlefs defertion of friends, the misfortunes of others, need not be reprefented more general than they are, to make a reflecting mind philofophical or religious. Inftances of a contrary conduct and difpofition are rather neceffary to prevent men from becoming unfocial or defperate. The moment and the manner in which you have exerted yourself in the caufe of your country and humanity, whofe common rights have been moft grofsly violated in the perfon of a much injured and oppreffed individual, muft endear you to every heart that is capable of being warmed with public fpirit, or melted by generous compaffion. Í bave, therefore, chofen thus to prefix your name to a publication of this nature, as it's most striking contraft. I have reason to be well perfuaded, that the noble motives from which you act will attend you through life; and that no part of your conduct will ever fet my principle at variance with my private friendship. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the regard and confidence with which you have honoured me; and to profefs myfelf, with the greateft efteem and affection, 147 about fifteen other equally publicfpirited, difinterefted, and refpectable merchants, &c. ftock brokers, produced a parchment containing an addrefs. Some very, confiderable merchants, who refufed to fign it, were ordered by Mr. Dingley to withdraw, which they refused, being invited thither by the advertisement, and having paid their fhilling. The gentlemen affembled began foon to call To the chair! To the chair!—Mr. Boehm and Mr. Muilman declined the chair. Mr. Vaughan was then defired to take it, to which he conferted. On this motion there arofe a mok indecent contention. The gentlemen who brought the addrefs were violent against any order or regularity, and would not fuffer Mr. Vaughan, or any perfon whatever, to take the chair. They infifted, that there should be no debate, and that there fhould be no other alternative, but either to fign the addrefs, or to withdraw. Mr. Dingley, Mr. Andrew Thompson, and Co. defended the chair with sticks and fifts, and many blows were given. Mr. Dingley was the firft, and truck Mr. Reynolds in the face with his fift; Mr. Reynolds, in return, knocked Mr. Dingley down. However, after a fhort difpute, Mr. Vaughan was feated; and Mr. Dingley went off with the addrefs. About ten or twelve of the addrefsgentlemen ftill remained, and, with much noife and clamour, prevented the chairman, or any other perfon, from being heard. At laft Mr. Willis, an eminent merchant, was fuffered to speak, who faid "it was well known he came there with an intention to fign the proposed addrefs, but that what he had seen of the behaviour of thofe gentlemen who produced it, and the indecent, unfair, and diforderly manner in which they meant to it meant to carry it, had determined 148 RESOLUTIONS THERE. tions, unless, indeed, they would and if lo, a fhip that arrived yesterday in the river from any country might add to London a number of fresh inhabitants, and of courfe a number of fresh members to this affembly. He declared, that he came with an intention to fign the addrefs: it was true, he had not been permitted to fee or hear the addrefs; but he could guess pretty well what the fubject of it must be. It mutt be fomething that concerned in common the merchant, trader, and other inhabitants. He faid he had long been confidering of the matter, but could not difcover any objects more proper for the notice of every inhabitant of London than the following, which he therefore fuppofed were intended to be the bufinefs of that meeting, and recommended, that, 1. Inftructions be given to the different fcavengers of this metropolis to keep the streets cleaner. 2. Directions to the feveral beadles to clear them of vagrants. Thefe things affect equally every inhabitant, from whatever country he may come, for whatever purpose; whether as a stock-jobber, to make his fortune of our diftrefies, or as a fmuggler, to ruin our manufactories. He concluded with obferving, that most of the addrefs gentlemen, being foreigners, though fome of them had been naturalized, could not surely take upon them to interfere in any conftitutional point, being excluded therefrom by the fame laws which permit them to live and grow rich in this nation." A committee was then appointed of eight principal merchants to confider what might be proper to lay before this affembly, and they adjourned to Friday, March the 10th, at the fame place. It is very extraordinary that the first diforder or indecency that has happened at these meetings, thould be March committed by the gentlemen who exclaim fo loudly against riot and tumult; and that they fhould come armed with fticks for the fake of quiet, and give blows to keep the peace, (See p. 136.) King's Arms Tavern, March 10, 1769. a general meeting of the merchants, traders, and principal inhabitants of the city of London, purfuant to their adjournment on Wednesday laft, the following refolations were unanimously agreed to, and ordered to be printed in all the public papers, viz. That the means which have been used to obtain an addrefs to his majefty, were fallacious and arbitrary. That the producing an addrefs already figned, the attempting by noite and tumult to prevent the appointment of any chairman, and refufing to take the opinion of the general meeting on the propriety of their addrefs, were measures never before adopted by the merchants, traders, and principal inhabitants of the city of London, and evidently inconfiftent with their dignity and character. That the merchants, traders, and principal inhabitants of the city of London, have always acted, and do now act, with fo much loyalty to his majefty, affection to his illuftrious family, and zea! for our prefent moit happy conftitution, that any renewed declarations of such their attachment, in this time of full national credit and profound peace, would have been abfolutely unneceffary, had not fome perfons, from finifter views, artfully mitreprefented thofe of their fellowfubjects who oppofed their arbitrary proceedings, and refused to enter into all their measures, as difaffected to his majefty's perfon and government therefore we do, in this public manner, declare our moft fincere and inviolable attachment to his royal perfon, illuftrious family, and the happy fettlement in his auguft houfe, which we are ready to defend with our lives and fortunes, against all their open and fecret enemies; being firmly per fuaded they are the only fecurity (un der God) for the continuance of our liberties, both civil and religious. JOHN MILLS, chairman, |