,transcribed from the #ahcc ,j4 ,h4 ,parker edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,,national ,,apostasy ,,considered ,,in ,a ,,sermon ,,preached ,,in ,,st4 ,,mary',s1 ,,oxford1 ,,before ,,his ,,majesty',s ,,judges ,,of ,,assize1 ,,on ,,sunday1 ,,july #ad1 #ahcc4 ,,by ,,john ,,keble1 ,m4 ,a4 ,,fellow ,,of ,,oriel ,,college1 ,,and ,,poetry ,,professor ,,in ,,the ,,university ,,of ,,oxford4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,oxford1 ,,printed ,,by ,s4 ,,collingwood1 ,,printer ,,to ,,the ,,university1 ,,for ,j4 ,h4 ,,parker4 ,,sold ,,also ,,by ,j4 ,g4 ,,and ,f4 ,,rivington1 ,,st4 ,,paul',s ,,churchyard1 ,,and ,,waterloo-,,place1 ,,london4 ,,mdcccxxxiii4 ,,advertisement4 ,,since the following pages were prepared for the press1 the calamity1 in anticipation of which they were written1 has actually overtaken this portion of the ,church of ,,god4 ,the ,legislature of ,england and ,ireland1 7the members of which are not even bound to profess belief in the ,atonement17 this body has virtually usurped the commission of those whom our ,,saviour entrusted with at least one voice in making ecclesiastical laws1 on matters wholly or partly spiritual4 ,the same ,legislature has also ratified1 to its full extent1 this principle2--that the ,apostolical ,church in this realm is henceforth only to stand1 in the eye of the ,state1 as one sect among many1 depending1 for any preeminence she may still appear to retain1 merely upon the accident of her having a strong party in the country4 ,it is a moment1 surely1 full of deep solicitude to all those members of the ,church who still believe her authority divine1 and the oaths and obligations1 by which they are bound to her1 undissolved and indissoluble by calculations of human expediency4 ,their anxiety turns not so much on the consequences1 to the ,state1 of what has been done1 7they are but too evident17 as on the line of conduct which they are bound themselves to pursue4 ,how may they continue their communion with the ,church established1 7hitherto the pride and comfort of their lives17 without any taint of those ,erastian ,principles on which she is now avowedly to be governed8 ,what answer can we make henceforth to the partisans of the ,bishop of ,rome1 when they taunt us with being a mere ,parliamentarian ,church8 ,and how1 consistently with our present relations to the ,state1 can even the doctrinal purity and integrity of the ,,most ,,sacred ,,order be preserved8 ,the attention of all who love the ,church is most earnestly solicited to these questions4 ,they are such1 it will be observed1 as cannot be answered by appealing to precedents in ,english ,history1 because1 at most1 such could only shew1 that the difficulty might have been raised before4 ,it is believed1 that there are hundreds1 nay thousands of ,christians1 and that soon there will be tens of thousands1 unaffectedly anxious to be rightly guided with regard to these and similar points4 ,and they are mooted thus publicly1 for the chance of eliciting1 from competent judges1 a correct and early opinion4 ,if1 under such trying and delicate circumstances1 one could venture to be positive about any thing1 it would seem safe to say1 that in such measure as it may be thought incumbent on the ,church1 or on ,churchmen1 to submit to any profane intrusion1 it must at least be their sacred duty1 to declare1 promulgate1 and record1 their full conviction1 that it is intrusion2 that they yield to it as they might to any other tyranny1 but do from their hearts deprecate and abjure it4 ,this seems the least that can be done3 unless we would have our children's children say1 8,there was once here a glorious ,church1 but it was betrayed into the hands of ,libertines for the real or affected love of a little temporary peace and good order40 ,july #bb1 #ahcc4 99 99 99 99 99 #a ,,samuel xii4 #bc4 ,as for me1 ,,god forbid that ,i should sin against the ,,lord in ceasing to pray for you3 but ,i will teach you the good and the right way4 ,,on public occasions1 such as the present1 the minds of ,christians naturally revert to that portion of ,holy ,scripture1 which exhibits to us the will of the ,sovereign of the world in more immediate relation to the civil and national conduct of mankind4 ,we naturally turn to the ,old ,testament1 when public duties1 public errors1 and public dangers1 are in question4 ,and what in such cases is natural and obvious1 is sure to be more or less right and reasonable4 ,unquestionably it is a mistaken theology1 which would debar ,christian nations and statesmen from the instruction afforded by the ,jewish scriptures1 under a notion1 that the circumstances of that people were altogether peculiar and unique1 and therefore irrelevant to every other case4 ,true1 there is hazard of misapplication1 as there is whenever men teach by example4 ,there is peculiar hazard1 from the sacredness and delicacy of the subject2 since dealing with things supernatural and miraculous as if they were ordinary human precedents1 would be not only unwise1 but profane4 ,but these hazards are more than counterbalanced by the absolute certainty1 peculiar to this history1 that what is there commended was right1 and what is there blamed1 wrong4 ,and they would be effectually obviated if men would be careful to keep in view this caution3--suggested every where1 if ,i mistake not1 by the manner in which the ,old ,testament is quoted in the ,new3--that1 as regards reward and punishment1 ,,god dealt formerly with the ,jewish people in a manner analogous to that in which ,he deals now1 not so much with ,christian nations1 as with the souls of individual ,christians4 ,let us only make due allowances for this cardinal point of difference1 and we need not surely hesitate to avail ourselves1 as the time may require1 of those national warnings1 which fill the records of the elder church3 the less so1 as the discrepancy lies rather in what is revealed of ,,god',s providence1 than in what is required in the way of human duty4 ,rewards and punishments may be dispensed1 visibly at least1 with a less even hand2 but what tempers1 and what conduct1 ,,god will ultimately reward and punish1--this is a point which cannot be changed3 for it depends not on our circumstances1 but on ,his essential1 unvarying ,attributes4 ,i have ventured on these few general observations1 because the impatience with which the world endures any remonstrance on religious grounds1 is apt to shew itself most daringly1 when the ,law and the ,prophets are appealed to4 ,without any scruple or ceremony1 men give us to understand that they regard the whole as obsolete3 thus taking the very opposite ground to that which was preferred by the same class of persons two hundred years ago2 but1 it may be feared1 with much the same purpose and result4 ,then1 the ,old ,testament was quoted at random for every excess of fanatical pride and cruelty3 now1 its authority goes for nothing1 however clear and striking the analogies may be1 which appear to warrant us in referring to it4 ,the two extremes1 as usual1 meet2 and in this very remarkable point3 that they both avail themselves of the supernatural parts of the ,jewish revelation to turn away attention from that1 which they1 of course1 most dread and dislike in it3 its authoritative confirmation of the plain dictates of conscience in matters of civil wisdom and duty4 ,that portion1 in particular1 of the history of the chosen people1 which drew from ,samuel1 the truest of patriots1 the wise and noble sentiment in the text1 must ever be an unpleasing and perplexing page of scripture1 to those1 who would fain persuade themselves1 that a nation1 even a ,christian nation1 may do well enough1 as such1 without ,,god1 and without ,his ,church4 ,for what if the ,jews were bound to the ,almighty by ties common to no other people8 ,what if ,he had condescended to know them in a way in which ,he was as yet unrevealed to all families of the earth besides8 ,what if1 as their relation to ,him was nearer1 and their ingratitude more surpassing1 so they might expect more exemplary punishment8 ,still1 after all has been said1 to exaggerate their guilt1 in degree1 beyond what is supposed possible in any nation whatever now1 what can it come to1 in kind and in substance1 but only this2--that they rejected ,,god8 that they wished themselves rid of the moral restraint implied in ,his peculiar presence and covenant8 ,they said1 what the prophet ,ezekiel1 long after1 represents their worthy posterity as saying1 8,we will be as the heathen1 the families of the countries40 #aj 8,once for all1 we will get rid of these disagreeable1 unfashionable scruples1 which throw us behind1 as we think1 in the race of worldly honour and profit40 ,is this indeed a tone of thought1 which ,christian nations cannot fall into8 ,or1 if they should1 has it ceased to be displeasing to ,,god8 ,in other words1 has ,he forgotten to be angry with impiety and practical atheism8 ,either this must be affirmed1 or men must own1 7what is clear at once to plain unsophisticated readers17 that this first overt act1 which began the downfall of the ,jewish nation1 stands on record1 with its fatal consequences1 for a perpetual warning to all nations1 as well as to all individual ,christians1 who having accepted ,,god for their king1 allow themselves to be weary of subjection to ,him1 and think they should be happier if they were freer1 and more like the rest of the world4 ,i do not enter into the question1 whether visible temporal judgments are to be looked for by ,christian nations1 transgressing as those ,jews did4 ,surely common sense and piety unite1 in representing this inquiry as1 practically1 one of no great importance4 ,when it is once known for certain that such and such conduct is displeasing to the ,,king of kings1 surely common sense and piety concur in setting their mark of reprobation on such conduct1 whether the punishment1 sure to overtake it1 come to-morrow1 or a year hence1 or wait till we are in another world4 ,waving this question1 therefore1 ,i proceed to others1 which appear to me1 ,i own1 at the present moment especially1 of the very gravest practical import4 ,what are the symptoms1 by which one may judge most fairly1 whether or no a nation1 as such1 is becoming alienated from ,,god and ,,christ8 ,and what are the particular duties of sincere ,christians1 whose lot is cast by divine ,providence in a time of such dire calamity8 ,the conduct of the ,jews1 in asking for a king1 may furnish an ample illustration of the first point3 the behaviour of ,samuel1 then and afterwards1 supplies as perfect a pattern of the second1 as can well be expected from human nature4 ,i4 ,the case is at least possible1 of a nation1 having for centuries acknowledged1 as an essential part of its theory of government1 that1 as a ,christian nation1 she is also a part of ,christ's ,church1 and bound1 in all her legislation and policy1 by the fundamental rules of that ,church1 the case is1 ,i say1 conceivable1 of a government and people1 so constituted1 deliberately throwing off the restraint1 which in many respects such a principle would impose on them1 nay1 disavowing the principle itself2 and that1 on the plea1 that other states1 as flourishing or more so in regard of wealth and dominion1 do well enough without it4 ,is not this desiring1 like the ,jews1 to have an earthly king over them1 when the ,,lord their ,,god is their king8 ,is it not saying in other words1 8,we will be as the heathen1 the families of the countries10 the aliens to the ,church of our ,redeemer8 ,to such a change1 whenever it takes place1 the immediate impulse will probably be given by some pretence of danger from without1--such as1 at the time now spoken of1 was furnished to the ,israelites by an incursion of the children of ,ammon2 or by some wrong or grievance in the executive government1 such as the malversation of ,samuel's sons1 to whom he had deputed his judicial functions4 ,pretences will never be hard to find2 but1 in reality1 the movement will always be traceable to the same decay or want of faith1 the same deficiency in ,christian resignation and thankfulness1 which leads so many1 as individuals1 to disdain and forfeit the blessings of the gospel4 ,men not impressed with religious principle attribute their ill success in life1--the hard times they have to struggle with1--to any thing rather than their own ill-desert3 and the institutions of the country1 ecclesiastical and civil1 are always at hand to bear the blame of whatever seems to be going amiss4 ,thus1 the discontent in ,samuel's time1 which led the ,israelites to demand a change of constitution1 was discerned by the ,unerring ,eye1 though perhaps little suspected by themselves1 to be no better than a fresh development of the same restless1 godless spirit1 which had led them so often into idolatry4 8,they have not rejected thee1 but they have rejected ,me1 that ,i should not reign over them4 ,according to all the works1 which they have done since the day that ,i brought them up out of ,egypt even unto this day1 wherewith they have forsaken ,me1 and served other gods1 so do they also unto thee40 #ad;a ,the charge might perhaps surprise many of them1 just as1 in other times and countries1 the impatient patrons of innovation are surprised1 at finding themselves rebuked on religious grounds4 ,perhaps the ,jews pleaded the express countenance1 which the words of their ,law1 in one place1 #ad;b seemed1 by anticipation1 to lend to the measure they were urging4 ,and so1 in modern times1 when liberties are to be taken1 and the intrusive passions of men to be indulged1 precedent and permission1 or what sounds like them1 may be easily found and quoted for every thing4 ,but ,samuel1 in ,,god',s name1 silenced all this1 giving them to understand1 that in ,his sight the whole was a question of motive and purpose1 not of ostensible and colourable argument2--in ,his sight1 ,i say1 to whom we1 as well as they1 are nationally responsible for much more than the soundness of our deductions as matter of disputation1 or of law2 we are responsible for the meaning and temper in which we deal with ,his ,holy ,church1 established among us for the salvation of our souls4 ,these1 which have been hitherto mentioned as omens and tokens of an ,apostate ,mind in a nation1 have been suggested by the portion itself of sacred history1 to which ,i have ventured to direct your attention4 ,there are one or two more1 which the nature of the subject1 and the palpable tendency of things around us1 will not allow to be passed over4 ,one of the most alarming1 as a symptom1 is the growing indifference1 in which men indulge themselves1 to other men's religious sentiments4 ,under the guise of charity and toleration we are come almost to this pass2 that no difference1 in matters of faith1 is to disqualify for our approbation and confidence1 whether in public or domestic life4 ,can we conceal it from ourselves1 that every year the practice is becoming more common1 of trusting men unreservedly in the most delicate and important matters1 without one serious inquiry1 whether they do not hold principles which make it impossible for them to be loyal to their ,,creator1 ,,redeemer1 and ,,sanctifier8 ,are not offices conferred1 partnerships formed1 intimacies courted1--nay1 7what is almost too painful to think of17 do not parents commit their children to be educated1 do they not encourage them to intermarry1 in houses1 on which ,apostolical ,authority would rather teach them to set a mark1 as unfit to be entered by a faithful servant of ,,christ8 ,i do not now speak of public measures only or chiefly2 many things of that kind may be thought1 whether wisely or no1 to become from time to time necessary1 which are in reality as little desired by those who lend them a seeming concurrence1 as they are1 in themselves1 undesirable4 ,but ,i speak of the spirit which leads men to exalt in every step of that kind2 to congratulate one another on the supposed decay of what they call an exclusive system4 ,very different are the feelings with which it seems natural for a true ,churchman to regard such a state of things1 from those which would arise in his mind on witnessing the mere triumph of any given set of adverse opinions1 exaggerated or even heretical as he might deem them4 ,he might feel as melancholy1--he could hardly feel so indignant4 ,but this is not a becoming place1 nor are these safe topics1 for the indulgence of mere feeling4 ,the point really to be considered is1 whether1 according to the coolest estimate1 the fashionable liberality of this generation be not ascribable1 in a great measure1 to the same temper which led the ,jews voluntarily to set about degrading themselves to a level with the idolatrous ,gentiles8 ,and1 if it be true any where1 that such enactments are forced on the ,legislature by public opinion1 is ,,apostasy too hard a word to describe the temper of that nation8 ,the same tendency is still more apparent1 because the fair gloss of candour and forbearance is wanting1 in the surly or scornful impatience often exhibited1 by persons who would regret passing for unbelievers1 when ,christian motives are suggested1 and checks from ,christian principles attempted to be enforced on their public conduct4 ,i say1 8their public conduct10 more especially2 because in that1 ,i know not how1 persons are apt to be more shameless1 and readier to avow the irreligion that is in them2--amongst other reasons1 probably1 from each feeling that he is one of a multitude1 and fancying1 therefore1 that his responsibility is divided4 ,for example3--whatever be the cause1 in this country of late years1 7though we are lavish in professions of piety17 there has been observable a growing disinclination1 on the part of those bound by ,,voluntary ,,oaths1 to whatever reminds them of their obligation2 a growing disposition to explain it all away4 ,we know what1 some years ago1 would have been thought of such uneasiness1 if betrayed by persons officially sworn1 in private1 legal1 or commercial life4 ,if there be any subjects or occasions1 now1 on which men are inclined to judge of it more lightly1 it concerns them deeply to be quite sure1 that they are not indulging1 or encouraging a profane dislike of ,,god',s awful ,presence2 a general tendency1 as a people1 to leave ,him out of all their thoughts4 ,they will have the more reason to suspect themselves1 in proportion as they see and feel more of that impatience under pastoral authority1 which our ,,saviour ,himself has taught us to consider as a never-failing symptom of an unchristian temper4 8,he that heareth you1 heareth ,me2 and he that despiseth you1 despiseth ,me40 #ah;a ,those words of divine truth put beyond all sophistical exception1 what common sense would lead us to infer1 and what daily experience teaches2--that disrespect to the ,successors of the ,apostles1 as such1 is an unquestionable symptom of enmity to ,him1 who gave them their commission at first1 and has pledged ,himself to be with them for ever4 ,suppose such disrespect general and national1 suppose it also avowedly grounded not on any fancied tenet of religion1 but on mere human reasons of popularity and expediency1 either there is no meaning at all in these emphatic declarations of our ,,lord1 or that nation1 how highly soever she may think of her own religion and morality1 stands convicted in ,his sight of a direct disavowal of ,his ,sovereignty4 ,to this purpose it may be worth noticing1 that the ill-fated chief1 whom ,,god gave to the ,jews1 as the prophet tells us1 in his anger1 #ah;b and whose disobedience and misery were referred by himself to his 8fearing the people1 and obeying their voice10 #ah;c whose conduct1 therefore1 may be fairly taken as a sample of what public opinion was at that time supposed to require1--his first step in apostasy was an intrusion on the sacrificial office1 #ai;a as the last and greatest of his crimes was persecuting ,david1 whom he well knew to bear ,,god',s special commission4 ,,god forbid1 that any ,christian land should ever1 by her prevailing temper and policy1 revive the memory and likeness of ,saul1 or incur a sentence of reprobation like his4 ,but if such a thing should be1 the crimes of that nation will probably begin in infringement on ,apostolical ,rights2 she will end in persecuting the true ,church2 and in the several stages of her melancholy career1 she will continually be led on from bad to worse by vain endeavours at accommodation and compromise with evil4 ,sometimes toleration may be the word1 as with ,saul when he spared the ,amalekites2 sometimes state security1 as when he sought the life of ,david2 sometimes sympathy with popular feeling1 as appears to have been the case1 when violating solemn treaties1 he attempted to exterminate the remnant of the ,gibeonites1 in his zeal for the children of ,israel and ,judah4 #ai;b ,such are the sad but obvious results of separating religious resignation altogether from men's notions of civil duty4 ,,ii4 ,but here arises the other question1 on which it was proposed to say a few words2 and with a view to which1 indeed1 the whole subject must be considered1 if it is to lead to any practical improvement4 ,what should be the tenor of their conduct1 who find themselves cast on such times of decay and danger8 ,how may a man best reconcile his allegiance to ,,god and his ,church with his duty to his country1 that country1 which now1 by the supposition1 is fast becoming hostile to the ,church1 and cannot therefore long be the friend of ,,god8 ,now in proportion as any one sees reason to fear that such is1 or soon may be1 the case in his own land1 just so far may he see reason to be thankful1 especially if he be called to any national trust1 for such a complete pattern of his duty1 as he may find in the conduct of ,samuel4 ,that combination of sweetness with firmness1 of consideration with energy1 which constitutes the temper of a perfect public man1 was never perhaps so beautifully exemplified4 ,he makes no secret of the bitter grief and dismay1 with which the resolution of his countrymen had filled him4 ,he was prepared to resist it at all hazards1 had he not received from ,,god ,himself directions to give them their own way2 protesting1 however1 in the most distinct and solemn tone1 so as to throw the whole blame of what might ensue on their wilfulness4 ,having so protested1 and found them obstinate1 he does not therefore at once forsake their service1 he continues discharging all the functions they had left him1 with a true and loyal1 though most heavy1 heart4 8,,god forbid that ,i should sin against the ,,lord in ceasing to pray for you3 but ,i will teach you the good and the right way40 ,should it ever happen 7which ,,god avert1 but we cannot shut our eyes to the danger7 that the ,apostolical ,church should be forsaken1 degraded1 nay trampled on and despoiled by the state and people of ,england1 ,i cannot conceive a kinder wish for her1 on the part of her most affectionate and dutiful children1 than that she may1 consistently1 act in the spirit of this most noble sentence2 nor a course of conduct more likely to be blessed by a restoration to more than her former efficiency4 ,in speaking of the ,church1 ,i mean of course1 the laity1 as well as the clergy in their three orders1--the whole body of ,christians united1 according to the will of ,,jesus ,,christ1 under the ,successors of the ,apostles4 ,it may1 by ,,god',s blessing1 be of some use1 to shew how1 in the case supposed1 the example of ,samuel might guide her collectively1 and each of her children individually1 down even to minute details of duty4 ,the ,church would1 first of all1 have to be constant1 as before1 in ,,intercession4 ,no despiteful usage1 no persecution1 could warrant her in ceasing to pray1 as did her first fathers and patterns1 for the ,state1 and all who are in authority4 ,that duty once well and cordially performed1 all other duties1 so to speak1 are secured4 ,candour1 respectfulness1 guarded language1--all that the apostle meant1 in warning men not to 8speak evil of dignities10 may then1 and then only1 be practised1 without compromise of truth and fortitude1 when the habit is attained of praying as we ought for the very enemies of our precious and holy cause4 ,the constant sense of ,,god',s presence and consequent certainty of final success1 which can be kept up no other way1 would also prove an effectual bar against the more silent but hardly less malevolent feeling1 of disgust1 almost amounting to misanthropy1 which is apt to lay hold on sensitive minds1 when they see oppression and wrong triumphant on a large scale4 ,the custom of interceding1 even for the wicked1 will keep the ,psalmist's reasoning habitually present to their thoughts3 8,fret not thyself because of the ungodly1 neither be thou envious against the evil doers3 for they shall soon be cut down like the grass1 and be withered even as the green herb 4 4 4 ,leave off from wrath1 and let go displeasure3 fret not thyself1 else shalt thou be moved to do evil40 #bb ,thus not only by supernatural aid1 which we have warrant of ,,god',s word for expecting1 but even in the way of natural consequence1 the first duty of the church and of churchmen1 ,,intercession1 sincerely practised1 would prepare them for the second2--which1 following the words of ,samuel as our clue1 we may confidently pronounce to be ,,remonstrance4 8,i will teach you the good and the right way40 ,,remonstrance1 calm1 distinct1 and persevering1 in public and in private1 direct and indirect1 by word1 look1 and demeanour1 is the unequivocal duty of every ,christian1 according to his opportunities1 when the ,church landmarks are being broken down4 ,among laymen1 a deep responsibility would appear to rest on those particularly1 whose profession leads them most directly to consider the boundaries of the various rights and duties1 which fill the space of civilized ,society4 ,the immediate machinery of change must always pass through their hands3 and they have also very great power in forming and modifying public opinion4 ,the very solemnity of this day may remind them1 even more than others1 of the close amity which must ever subsist between equal justice and pure religion2 ,apostolical religion1 more especially1 in proportion to her superior truth and exactness4 ,it is an amity1 made still more sacred1 if possible1 in the case of the ,church and ,law of ,england1 by historical recollections1 associations1 and precedents1 of the most engaging and ennobling cast4 ,but ,i return to the practical admonition afforded her1 in critical periods1 by ,samuel's example4 ,after the accomplishment of the change1 which he deprecated1 his whole behaviour1 to ,saul especially1 is a sort of expansion of the sentiment in the text4 ,it is all earnest ,,intercession with ,,god1 grave1 respectful1 affectionate ,,remonstrance with the misguided man himself4 ,saul is boldly rebuked1 and that publicly1 for his impious liberality in sparing the ,amalekites1 yet so1 as not to dishonour him in the presence of the people4 ,even when it became necessary for ,,god',s prophet to shew that he was in earnest1 and give the most effectual of warnings1 by separating himself from so unworthy a person2--when 8,samuel came no more to see ,saul20 #bd--;even then1 we are told1 he still 8mourned for him40 ,on the same principle1 come what may1 we have ill learned the lessons of our ,church1 if we permit our patriotism to decay1 together with the protecting care of the state4 8,the powers that be1 are ordained of ,,god10 whether they foster the true ,church1 or no4 ,submission and order are still duties4 ,they were so in the days of pagan persecution2 and the more of loyal and affectionate feeling we endeavour to mingle with our obedience1 the better4 ,after all1 the surest way to uphold or restore our endangered ,church1 will be for each of her anxious children1 in his own place and station1 to resign himself more thoroughly to his ,,god and ,,saviour in those duties1 public and private1 which are not immediately affected by the emergencies of the moment3--the daily and hourly duties1 ,i mean1 of piety1 purity1 charity1 justice4 ,it will be a consolation understood1 by every thoughtful ,churchman1 that1 let his occupation be1 apparently1 never so remote from such great interests1 it is in his power1 by doing all as a ,christian1 to credit and advance the cause he has most at heart2 and what is more1 to draw down ,,god',s blessing upon it4 ,this ought to be felt1 for example1 as one motive more to exact punctuality in those duties1 personal and official1 which the return of an ,assize week offers to our practice2 one reason more for veracity in witnesses1 fairness in pleaders1 strict impartiality1 self-command1 and patience1 in those on whom decisions depend2 and for an awful sense of ,,god',s presence in all4 ,an ,apostle once did not disdain to urge good conduct upon his proselytes1 upon the ground1 that1 so doing1 they would adorn and recommend the doctrine of ,,god our ,,saviour4 #be ,surely1 then1 it will be no unworthy principle1 if any man be more circumspect in his behaviour1 more watchful and fearful of himself1 more earnest in his petitions for spiritual aid1 from a dread of disparaging the holy name of the ,english ,church1 in her hour of peril1 by his own personal fault or negligence4 ,as to those who1 either by station or temper1 feel themselves most deeply interested1 they cannot be too careful in reminding themselves1 that one chief danger1 in times of change and excitement1 arises from their tendency to engross the whole mind4 ,public concerns1 ecclesiastical or civil1 will prove indeed ruinous to those1 who permit them to occupy all their care and thoughts1 neglecting or undervaluing ordinary duties1 more especially those of a devotional kind4 ,these cautions being duly observed1 ,i do not see how any person can devote himself too entirely to the cause of the ,apostolical ,church in these realms4 ,there may be1 as far as he knows1 but a very few to sympathise with him4 ,he may have to wait long1 and very likely pass out of this world1 before he see any abatement in the triumph of disorder and irreligion4 ,but1 if he be consistent1 he possesses1 to the utmost1 the personal consolations of a good ,christian3 and as a true ,churchman1 he has that encouragement1 which no other cause in the world can impart in the same degree3--he is calmly1 soberly1 demonstrably ,,sure1 that1 sooner or later1 ,,his ,,will ,,be ,,the ,,winning ,,side1 and that the victory will be complete1 universal1 eternal4 ,he need not fear to look upon the efforts of ,antichristian powers1 as did the ,holy ,apostles themselves1 who welcomed the first persecution in the words of the ,psalmist3 8,why do the heathen rage1 and the people imagine a vain thing8 8,the kings of the earth stand up1 and the rulers take counsel together1 against the ,,lord1 and against ,his ,anointed4 8,for of a truth against ,thy ,holy ,child ,jesus1 whom ,thou hast anointed1 both ,herod and ,pontius ,pilate1 with the ,gentiles1 and the people of ,israel1 were gathered together1 8,,for ,,to ,,do ,,whatsoever ,,thy ,,hand ,,and ,,thy ,,counsel ,,determined ,,before ,,to ,,be ,,done40 #bg ,,footnotes4 #aj ,ezek4 xx4 #cb4 #ad;a #a ,sam4 viii4 #g1 #h4 #ad;b ,deut4 xvii4 #ad-bj4 #ah;a ,luke x4 #af4 #ah;b ,hos4 xiii4 #aa4 #ah;c #a ,sum4 xv4 #bd4 #ai;a #a ,sam4 xiii4 #h-ad4 #ai;b #b ,sam4 xxi4 #b4 #bb ,psalm xxxvii4 #a1 #b1 #h4 #bd #a ,sam4 xv4 #ce4 #be ,titus ii4 #aj4 #bg ,acts iv4 #be-bh4