the ministry". And a commissioner for haye acted right in opposing his tyranny, and likewise in bringing him to the block, by the staunch partymen of each side respectively. No wickedness is owned, no errors are acknowledged on the one part, nor is there any such thing to be granted as wisdom or honesty on the other. These are the men that often turn the world upside down, and spirit up mobs, tumults and seditions, till at length they become quite contemptible, and perhaps undergo the fate allotted to folly and villany. 12 One of the triers for the ministry.] These were men appointed by Cromwell, to try the abilities of all entrants into the ministry, and likewise the capacity of such others, as were presented, or invited to new places. Butler, according to his manner, has represented their business in a ludicrous light in the following lines: "Whose business is, by cunning slight, To cast a figure for men's light; To find in lines of beard and face, The physiognomy of grace; And by the sound and twang of nose, If all be sound within disclose; HUDIB. CANTO III. However, jesting apart, it must be owned, the thing in itself was good enough: but instead of examining those who came before them in languages, divinity, and more especially morality, things of the highest importance, one should think; they used to ask them, whether they had ever any experience of a work of grace on their hearts? And according as they could a How's Life, by Calamy, p. 21. Lond. 1724. 8vo. answer hereunto, were they received or rejected. How much more intelligible would it have been, to have enquired, whether they were " blameless, husbands of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach, not given to wine, no strikers, not greedy of filthy lucre, patient, not brawlers, not covetous? Whether they ruled well their own houses, and had a good report of them which were without" ?" I say, how much more intelligible and important would these questions have been, yea, how much easier and more certainly determined, than that abovementioned? But it is a very long time ago, that these were the qualifications required and expected from clergymen: for ages past, subscription to doubtful articles of faith, declarations very ambiguous, or most difficult to be made by understanding minds, or the Shibboleth of the prevailing party in the church, have been the things required and insisted on. Whence it has come to pass, that so many of our divines, as they are styled, understand so little of the scriptures, and that they know and practise so little of pure, genuine Christianity. I would not be thought to reflect on any particular persons; but hope those, in whose hands the government of the church is lodged, will consider whether they are not much too careless in their examinations of young men for ordination? Whether very many of them are not unqualified to teach and instruct, through neglect of having carefully studied the word of God? And whether their conversation be not such as is unsuitable to the character conferred on them?It is with uneasiness one is obliged to hint at these things. But, surely, it is more than time that they were reformed, and St. Paul's rules were put in practice. 1 Tim. iii. 27. amending the laws", though poorly qualified for it. A wise, virtuous, prudent clergy is the glory and happiness of a community, and there cannot be too much care taken to procure it. But if triers neglect the means of doing this, and admit all who are presented to a curacy to orders, if so be they will make use of the terms in vogue, whether they understand them or no, they deserve censure, and are answerable for all the sad consequences which flow from ignorance, folly and vice. 13 Commissioner for amending the laws, though poorly qualified for it.] He as good as owns this in the following passage: "When I was a trier of others, I went to hear and gain experience, rather than to judge; when I was called about mending laws, I rather was there to pray, than to mend laws: but in all these I confess, I might as well have been spared b." This is modest, and very ingenuous: but such a confession, as few of our gentlemen concerned in such matters, would choose to make. They frequently boast of the great share they have in business; though many of them may well be spared.-Let us confirm the truth of Peters's confession, by Whitlock: "I was often advised with by some of this committee, and none of them was more active in this business, than Mr. Hugh Peters the minister, who understood little of the law, but was very opinionative, and would frequently mention some proceedings of law in Holland, wherein he was altogether mistaken."-The ignorance and inability of the man, with regard to these matters, we see * See Hutchinson's Introduction to Moral Philosophy, B. III. Ch. 8. Sect. 1. Peters's Legacy, p. 109. Whitlock, p. 521. с are as plainly described here, as in his own words; though how to reconcile his opinionativeness and activity in it, with his going to the committee rather to pray than to mend laws, I confess, I know not. Perhaps he had forgot the part he had acted.-This "committee were to take into consideration what inconveniences were in the law, how the mischiefs that grow from delays, the chargeableness and irregularities in the proceedings of the law may be prevented, and the speediest way to prevent the same." In this committee with Peters, were Mr. Fountain, Mr. Rushworth, and sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, afterwards earl of Shaftesbury, and lord high chancellor; besides many others of rank and figure. No great matters followed from this committee, by reason of the hurry of the times, and the opposition which the lawyers made to it. But the parliament had a little before' passed an "act that all the books of the law should be put into English; and that all writs, process, and returns thereof, and all patents, commissions, indictments, judgments, records, and all rules and proceedings in courts of justice, shall be in the English tongue only." This act or ordinance (to speak in the language of the times of which I am writing) does great honour to the parliament, and is an argument of their good sense, and concern for the welfare of the people. It is amazing so good a law should not have been continued by proper authority after the Restoration! But it was a sufficient reason then to disuse a thing, though ever so good in itself, that it had been enacted by an usurped power. Of such fatal consequences are prejudices! But thanks be unto God! we have seen the * This committee was appointed Jan. 20, 1651. Whitlock, p. 475. Oct. 25, 1650. He is accused of great vices; but whether justly, or not, is a question". time when this most excellent ordinance has been again revived, and received the sanction of the whole legislature. How much were it to be wished, that a committee of wise and prudent persons were once more employed to revise, amend, and abridge our laws! that we might know ourselves how to act, and not be necessitated to make use of those, who (we are sensible) live on our spoils. This would add greatly to the glory of our most excellent prince; and would be the best employment of that peace, which his wisdom has procured for us. But much is it to be feared, that our adversaries will be too hard for us, and that we shall be obliged, for a time at least, to submit to their yoke. But whenever the spirit of true patriotism shall generally possess the breasts of our senators, I doubt not, but that they will apply themselves to our deliverance in good earnest, and bring it to perfection (as it was long ago done in Denmark, and very lately in Prussia) in as much as the happiness of the community absolutely depends thereon. 14 Accused of great vices; but whether justly, or not, is a question.] I will transcribe Dr. Barwick at large. "The wild prophecies uttered by his (Hugh Peters's) impure mouth, were still received by the people with the same veneration, as if they had been oracles; though he was known to be infamous for more than one kind of wickedness. A fact, which Milton himself did not dare to deny, when he purposely wrote his apology, for this very end, to defend even by name (as far as was possible) the very blackest of the conspirators, and a Barwick's Life, p. 155, 156. |