ON MR. BOWLES'S "VIEW OF THE MORAL STATE OF SOCIETY," &c.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE.

GENTLEMEN,

HAV

WAVING been called to the Metropolis by business, I felt myself inclined to indulge that turn for ob servation on men and manners which hath now almost grown into a fixed habit with ine. I had heard much and read much of the dissipation and irreligion which prevailed in the heart of the British empire, and I was anxious to learn from my own personal observation if the accusation was founded in truth or not. My connections and business enabled me to observe the manners which prevailed in the higher and middle ranks of life; and from such intercourse. it gives me pain to say, have had frequent opportunities of remarking that the above accusations are too much founded in truth. In a commercial city like this, which commands the traffic of every part of the civilized world, wealth engenders luxury, extravagance, and dissipation; and in no long time this becomes the character of the people throughout the empire. The waste of time, or more correctly speaking, the real and positive misemployment of it, which is generally perceived in cities abounding in population and wealth, where ten thousand allurements are held out to draw men from serious thought and reflection, tends to unnerve and relax the minds of men, and thus prepare them for the admission of opinious, which, before such mental relaxation, they would have spurned with indignation and contempt. We perceive the truth of this principle fully verified by the wonderful change of public opinion which has taken place in our own time. The NEW PHILOSOPHY, which has made so rapid a progress within the last few years in these kingdoms, would, we may venture to assert, by no means have had so wide a spread as we see it possesses at this moment, had the same strict manners and deep-felt sense of true religion pervaded our minds, which imbued the minds of our fathers. By endeavouring to inculcate the maxim, that this world is the whole of man's existence, Vol. VI. Churchm. Mag. June, 1801. Ddd and

and that the future prospects which religion holds out, are mere creatures of the imagination, it holds forth present gratification as the bait to catch the unwary, and ensnare the innocent and unguarded. Upon this principle it is that the far greater part of the minions and favourites of FORTUNE seem uniformly to act; and they must be allowed the praise of acting with more consistency upon their plan, than the professors of religion do upon that which they have laid down for the rule of their actions..." The children of this world, it is certain, are far wiser (or more consistent) than the children of light." But to what point does all this aberration from the rule of righteousness, ultimately tend? Under the semblance of pleasure and delight, it leads them on to wretchedness in this world and eternal misery in the next. We have the experience of the wisest man that ever lived to assure us that the pursuits of vice and irreligion tend only to "VANITY and VEXATION of SPIRIT," and yet, notwithstanding this true description, we daily see thousands pursuing the fleeting phantom of temporal happiness and worldly felicity, which when unaccompanied by virtue, ever does, and ever must, elude their utmost vigilance.

I have lately met with a new edition of Mr. Bowles's pamphlet, intitled, "A View of the Moral State of Society at the close of the 18th Century, &c." in which the subject abovementioned is treated with that deep reflection and profound insight into the human character for which that gentleman is distinguished. There has not appeared any thing of late years which contains so much genuine good sense as the above little tract; nor is there any which is more deserving of the serious regard of all to whom virtue and religion are dear. Let me intreat every individual to read it over and over again, and not only read it, but practise also those invaluable precepts which it contains. The excellent author well recommends to his countrymen, as the only means of stemming effectually the daring progress of the vice and immorality of the times, a revival of the spirit of true religion, (viz. the religion established in these dominions)-a careful attention to educate their children religiously—and to set them such an example of virtue and goodness (almost diametrically opposite to the example they now do set them) as may make the rising generation good subjects and good men. This, he well observes, is the only line

of

of conduct which can counteract the full tide of irreligion and vice, by which we are at present overwhelmed; and prevent this nation from sharing the fate of other rich and luxurious states, which have been swallowed up by that nation which hath threatened to exterminate us, and wipe out our name from the records of mankind.

If these few observations can but persuade one of your numerous readers to peruse with serious attention and regard one of the best publications on this subject, which I have seen; and having perused to recommend it others, it will afford the most heart-felt pleasure to one of your constant readers and hearty well-wishers, as well as an occasional contributor to your excellent Miscellany, London, March 15, OBSERVATOR.

1804.

SUNDAY DRILLS.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE.

IT

GENTLEMEN,

Tis with much concern that I have lately seen in your valuable publication, to which I have constantly subscribed, more than one attempt to justify the irreligious practice of Sunday drills; a practice unnecessary in its beginning, and highly pernicious in its consequences. I have long most earnestly wished that some one more able than myself would have written to you against such proceedings, and have been silent only from a fear lest my misinterpreted efforts might occasion a relaxation of those endeavours, at proper and sufficient times, which our country so much claims and wants at this eventful crisis. But I could not pass by the observations in your last number, of one who signs himself Anti-Fanaticus, lest he might suppose his misapplied remarks unanswerable; or, that worldly expedience is to be set up against the sacred duties of religion, for which he seems not to have much regard, by his sarcastic reflections and signature against the well-meant objections of certainly the well disposed, who differ from him in opinion upon such an important consideration. A cause receives no ad

Ddda

vantage

vantage nor strength from ill-natured reflections. That the practice is unnecessary appears from the Act of Parliament itself, and from the experience of many places in this, and generally in the adjoining, kingdom; where discipline is as perfect, without this encroachment on the duty we owe to God, and to our souls, for we have souls to be saved! The Act of Parliament, if I mistake not, requires only two days exercise in the week. Government pays for one of those days, but justly expects upon the other the efforts of every proper individual, where every thing valuable to himself is at stake. Yet Government, though straitened, will not be oppressive, and is tender in the affair of conscience. If a man will not patriotically volunteer his services upon a part of another day, out of five others still left for wordly concerns, he is allowed, as far as man can act against a pobut sitive divine law, to take some part of the Sabbath ; if, in acting with others, his conscience disapproves of it, he may appoint another day, but without pay, to do the duty required of him by the Act, if he gives notice of his intention to attend upon it instead of the Sunday.

Was the prospect of invasion immediate, and were we totally unprepared, the exercise on the sabbath could not be objected to, if the SEVEN days were REQUIRED; but when only two days are thought to be sufficient, it is trusting too much to the arm of flesh, and neglecting our MOST effectual dependance, the ARM OF GOD, when we turn our backs upon HIм, and upon is sabbath. It is saying, I prefer my own convenience (say, if you please, my worldly welfare, if you suppose that God has no eye upon that) before our duty towards the RULER of the world. But let us put our trust in God (ALSO), for vain is the help of man" without him.

We will stop here for the present, and advert to the Disaffection marks not the arguments of the writer. character of those who are either for or against the Sunday drills, &c. (that is indeed very artfully, not to say worse, introduced); but it must be observed, that a regard for true religion implies a love of our country and of our King."Every opinion of man is not indeed to be followed, as the law of God;" but no man is to dimimish from the law of God when he thinks fit-the path is strait-the words are positive--they have never been abrogated-we are not to turn away to the right hand, or to the left; nor is the going to church alone sufficient

for

for the effectual observation of the fourth commandment, AS GOD EXPECTS, or we can profit by. In working of the ship, as he mentions, there is absolute necessity, and this is not applicable to the present subject: regimental duty has the same plea, and of course the same answer. It is almost too much reflecting on the good sense of every one to give a particular; approbation to the case which he states of nursing children, or of attendance on the sick, the aged, or infirm; he might have added the ox which falls into the ditch, where absolute necessity is clear, [but that approaches too near to an argument from religion]; so also in our defence, when giving battle to the enemy, or marching to oppose him, when ON the coast or IN our country: and I will join issue with him to say that," He does not deserve the name of MAN, or the smallest blessing he enjoys, who would not contend, as long as his existence lasted," for the defence of the dear concerns to which he alludes: but neither does he deserve the name of CHRISTIAN; he at least who constantly, without a manifest and urgent necessity, forsakes or slights a plain and positive religious injunction. For he may in vain pretend to fight for religion, if he does not practise the duties of it. The rest to which he refers was given, to be free from every worldly connection or impediment, that our duty to God might not be interrupted by unnecessary cares, nor our preparation for cternity be insufficient, by withdrawing our thoughts upon that day from those first of all considerations, by which the BODILY rest is no ways injured, but assisted. The reverence due to God, especially in his holy place, would more than any other thing impart and necessitate the indispensible comfort of cleanliness. The earth-embowelled miner rising from his darksome toils to go up to the fair temple of the Lord, would bless the day for the occasion, and welcome the duty in which he was employed, rejoicing in the beauty of holiness. Religion spreads no gloom, but over the guilty or the worldly mind-the religious man is happy in the performance of his duty, is cheerful from his peace of conscience, can take his pleasant walk, if not too far extended, while all the works of God around afford him gladdening contemplations, or supply a profitable conversation. And if at any time tormenting cares or trying circumstances require the aid of friendly counsel, the relief of neighbours' pleasant harmless chat, let not their company break in upon the

duty