at Nismes, for otherwise the idea would not have been started of banishing Protestant worship out of the city. By whom this spirit was excited, to whom the long existence of the evil is to be attributed, may be a matter of doubt. They who would make it a merely civil question will have to account for the singularity of the circumstance, that during the Revolution and throughout the whole despotism of Buonaparte the Protestants enjoyed equal liberty of worship with the Catholics. Many have been the civil dissensions, but they never took this turn, till the Bourbons were re-established, and not till the Duke of Anguouleme had made his appearance in the South of France. It is now asserted, and no one can feel a pleasure in its being otherwise, that the cabinet of France are entirely disposed to grant religious liberty to the Protestants. Happy shall we be to learn that this is the case: but the exertions in England will be found to have been very useful. The strong and decisive mauner in which London, Exeter, Glasgow, Hull, Newcastle, Plymouth and other places have declared their sentiments, do honour to this country. Even if they had merely met to express their abhorrence of persecution in general their meetings would have been beneficial for even in a country, Protestant like our own, this sentiment is not, we fear, as yet, universal. It cannot be too often impressed upon Christians, that persecution is alien to their religion: they are under the law of love; and no one, who taketh upon himself the name of Christ, must dare to condemn his neighbour or insult and revile him for a difference of religious opinion. To his own master he standeth or falleth, and in religion no one upon earth has a right to call himself lord or master. This says the Saviour, is the case in other communities; but it shall not be so in mine. The name of the Duke of Wellington has been brought forward upon this occasion, in consequence of a letter written by his Grace to the Protestant Society. In this much is attributed to the state of parties in the South of France, and the disposition of the French government to religious liberty is strongly maintained. But as to the facts themselves they are not attempted to be denied, and it does not by any means appear, that the Duke of Wellington had better means of information than might be had in London. In the circles, in which his Grace moves, it cannot be expected that the situation of Protestants would be the subject of much attention; and the state of France is such, that their complaints would be very much stifled, before they reached the capital. The Protestant ministers have also lately appeared with addresses to the court, from different places, and letters to the societies in England. But besides that the representation of the quiet state of Protestants in one place is no argument against persecution in another, these addresses seem to have been got together as in England some. times, when compliments agreeable to the court are procured from various places, and the little dependence to be placed upon them is proverbial. It was not to be expected, that an attack upon the Protestants would begin in Paris. The attempt to excite such a measure might be attended with dangerous consequences: for, if the Protestants are few in number, the Catholics themselves are far from being a considerable body; and they, who have no religion at all, might involve in common ruin both the parties. The horrors that have taken place are to be traced up to a remote source, to the revocation of the edict of Nantz, by the infamous Louis the XIV.; whose name we are glad to see not quoted, when an attempt is made to cast a lustre upon that of Bourbon, Henry the IV., Louis the XII., and St. Louis are spoken of, but the great hero is Henry the IV., who was a Protestant, and for political purposes having changed his feligion, his name is tarnished in one of his descendants, who became a faithless persecutor. The conduct of Louis the XIV. has been beyond measure ruinous to France. In the first instance it banished from the country a very great proportion of its arts, sciences and literature. At the time of the revocation of the edicts, the Protestants possessed a very learned clergy, and several schools and universities. There was great emulation between the learned of the two sects, and the Ca State of Public Affairs. ` tholic clergy were kept in order by Policy might have taught the An advantageous match may occur for sons and daughters, and to abstain from church or customary visits, exposes to the imputation of singularity. A variety of similar circumstances, will be suggested to the mind of the reader, and lead him to reflect on our Saviour's words: "hard is it for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven:" and perhaps it is one of the hardest trials of a parent to reflect upon the changes that may take place in his posterity. This, 68 however, should stimulate us to impress most strongly on the minds of our children the importance of scriptural truth, not teaching them to gabble over like parrots catechisms, and creeds, and coufessions of faith, but to exercise their understandings daily in the divine word, that they may esteem the gospel as the precious jewel, to purchase which a man will part with all his substance. The amnesty bill has passed in France, modified from that which was presented by one of the hot-headed royalists, but containing greater severity than that which had the sanction of the court. A considerable degree of discussion took place in the Commons' house, but when it was brought to the House of Peers, it was passed by acclamation, and in a manner, which in England would be deemed most unfitting and indecent. The king's consent soon ratified the deed, which drives away from France a number of the regicides, and exposes to pains and penalties a number of persons involved in the administration, under the three months' reign of Buonaparte. The anniversary of the execution of Louis the XVI. has been kept with great solemity, and by a very judicious regulation, instead of a sermon, by which the passions might have been inflamed, the will of the deceased sovereign, calculated to sooth them down, was read in all the churches. It is to be wished, that this may produce the desired effect; but in opposition, as it were to it, a plan has been struck out, which can but be of a very dangerous tendency. This is to have manifestos in different places, expressing detestation of the crime of regicide, and to these people are invited to subscribe their signatures. It was not considered by the framers of this measure, that more than one half of the present population of France had nothing to do with the sentence on the late king: they were at the time of its passing, too young to enter into the merits or demerits of the case, and it cannot answer a good purpose to compel them now to examine the question. Whether kings may be justly dethroned by their subjects or not, is not a question for the multitude to decide upon. The history of the world proves that, whether right or wrong, the case has frequently oc curred, and will frequently occur again, and in the most despotical kingdoms the occurrences are most frequent. Revolutions cannot always be prevented, even where discretion sits at the helm: the storm may be too great for the most prudent pilot: but, where the laws are good, and are executed with fidelity, the sovereign has, little to fear. Papers and protestations will not support a throne. Its base must be fixed on more solid ground; and the king, who reigns in the hearts of his people, is the most se cure. Among the strange events of these troubled times, may be ranked the seizure, by the French government, of three English officers, on the alleged crime of aiding the escape of Lavalette. One of these gentlemen is a highly distinguished character, and what is more remarkable, one against whom Buonaparte is supposed to have entertained the most decided enmity. Sir R. Wilson, without doubt, gave him just cause, for no one has by pen and sword proved himself a greater foe to his tyranny. It would be improper in the present state of the case to make any comments on this event. These officers, it is said, will be brought to a trial, but Sir Robert, with great propriety, has refused to answer those interrogatories, which it is the custom, and a base custom it is, to put to an accused. We shall see in what manner the French courts conduct themselves upon this occasion, for without doubt care will be taken that they may have a fair trial. The affairs of France occupy at present so large a space in the contemplation of Europe, that little room is left for observations on what is taking place in other parts of the Continent. Prussia's new constitution is not yet fixed. The independence of the two kingdoms of Sweden and Norway under one sovereign is settled. Spain goes on its usual course, and its best men are in prisons and gallies. This does not, however, advance its cause with the colonies. Carthagena is not taken. The independents in Mexico are increasing in power, and Buenos Ayres has fitted out a fleet under the command of an Englishman, which will clear the Pacific of every ship wearing Spanish colours. At home all eyes are directed to the approaching sessions of parliament. The great business of the Continental peace is to come under early discussion, and the state of the landed interest will make a prominent feature in its debates. The corn bill has not answered any of the intentions for which it was designed by its framers. › A temporary distress has been occasioned, and in the attempt to remedy it great care must be taken, lest the evil should be increased. This country's prosperity is owing to its trade, commerce and manufactures; and if the landed interest should injure them, it must participate in their sufferings. CORRESPONDENCE. Our Subscribers will receive with this number, to face the Eleventh Volume, a Portrait of our late venerable friend and correspondent, DR. TOULMIN. A few Proof Impressions have been pulled in Quarto, on fine Paper, price 59., which may be had of the Publishers, as also the Proof Prints, in the same size and at the same price, of DR. PRIESTLEY and SERVETUS. It is particularly recommended to such as wish to preserve a complete set of the Monthly Repository Engravings to supply themselves early; for in a little time the early prints, like the early numbers of the work, will be unobtainable. Owing to the Editor's unavoidable absence from home, various articles intended for the present number, must lie over; particularly some promised articles of Review and some communications of Intelligence. It is intended to make the present Volume a complete Register of the Proceedings on behalf of the French Protestants, and our country Correspondents are requested to supply us with copies of Resolutions, &c., which they may observe to be omitted. We have received Subscriptions from Mr. Jevans and others for the Unitarian Fund; from Mr. Scott, &c. for the Greenock Chapel; and from Dr. Carpenter for Rossendale, all which will be more particularly acknowledged in the next number. The Obituary of the Rev. Francis Blackburne, of Richmond, in Yorkshire, (who we lament to say died on Sunday, the 21st inst.) did not reach us till that department of our work was closed. We intended to press upon the notice of our readers the proposed Edition of Dr. Priestley's Works, by our much-esteemed friend and highly valued correspondent, Mr. Rutt; but we must content ourselves at present with expressing an earnest hope that so useful a purpose will be warmly supported by the Unitarian body. SIR, Bromley, Jan. 28, 1816. THE following early account of The Moravian Brethren, by Dr. Doddridge, so far as I can learn, has never been printed. It came into my possession among some old family papers, and must have been copied at least sixty years ago, probably much nearer the date of Dr. Doddridge's letters. These dates are omitted in the extracts, but from internal circumstances may be safely fixed at 1736 or 1737. It appears from Mr. La Trobe's English edition of Crantz's History of the Brethren, in German, (p. 213,) that Count Zinzendorf arrived in London, Jan. 20, 1787, and there received in August following a congratulatory letter from Potter, Archbishop of Canterbury, ou his having become a Bishop of the Moravian Church. The Latin original and translation are preserved by Mr. La Trobe, in his preface, where he adds, that "Dr. Isaac Watts also gave a testimony to this church, under the patronage of that noble and excellent person, Count Zinzendorf, in a letter, dated Dec. 21, 1738." By a note (p. 240) it appears that this letter is preserved in the Acta Fratrum, App. 56, p. 42, and that Dr. Doddridge corresponded with the Brethren the same year. It would be unjust to the memories of such men as Watts and Doddridge, and indeed of the persons mentioned in these extracts, to introduce them in connexion with such an equivocal character, to say the least, as Zinzendorf, without recollecting that the Count, at the date of these extracts, and, as I apprehend, for some years afterwards, was known in England, only as a very zealous and indefatigable Christian Propagandist. Watts and Doddridge were both deceased before Mr. Rimius, the historian of the House of Brunswick, published in 1753, his Candid Narrative of the Rise and Progress of the Herrnhuters. Mr. Rimius was a German who had frequented their public religious meetings. In his Narrative he has given the German originals and translations of numerous passages from the Count's published Sermons and Hymns, which shew what shocking indecencies, at least in phraseology, he had connected with his theological system. Of these Dr. Maclaine has preserved quite sufficient, to surprise and disgust any reader, in his Translation of Mosheim, Ed. 2nd. (p. 85. Note s.) A larger account is in the Gen. Biog. Dict. 1784 (ix. 327). In 1754, Mr. Rimius added A Solemn Call on Count Zinzendorf, and in 1755, A Supplement to the Candid Narrative. Count Zinzendorf, who lived till 1760, died and made no sign. He could not venture to examine the Candid Narrative. Nor has Crantz, who wrote in 1771, nor Mr. La Trobe his editor, in 1780, and whose sobermindedness, like that of Mr. Gambold, tended to redeem the character of his sect, ever mentioned the name of Rimius or referred to his Charges against Zinzendorf; a sufficient proof of their inability to refute them, though no evidence of their candour, or even integrity as historians. I have added a few notes to explain or confirm some passages in the extracts, and remain, Sir, Yours, 66 Dr. Doddridge's Account of the Moravian Brethren. ago. I need not tell you, Sir, how well the names of the Moravian and Bohemian Brethren were known, long before Luther's time, for I doubt not but you are much better acquainted than I with those sin gular footsteps of Divine Providence by which the beginning of a reformation was raised among them, as it had been long before among the Waldenses, from whom, nevertheless, I cannot find that doctrine or discipline was derived; though there was a great resemblance between them. Those churches, throughout all the succeeding ages, have remained, in part at least, a distinct body, neither incorporated with the Lutherans, nor Calvinists, nor any other sect in Germany; and in cousequence of that, together with the remarkable strictness of their discipline, though in doctrine they have indulged to a great latitude; they have been continually exposed to persecution not only from Papists but from Protestants too. I think it now about fifteen years since five of them, flying from the violence to which they were exposed at home, took refuge in a wood at Herrnhut, which was a part of the celebrated Count Zinzendorf's estate. That pious nobleman, returning from the Court of Dresden, weary of their impieties and immoralities, and fearful of hazarding his salvation by a longer con * Benjamin Ingham, in the same ship with John and Charles Wesley, accompanied to Georgia in the spring of 1735, the third colony sent out by the Moravians. "Ingham, in conjunction with the Bohemian brother Rosa and his wife set up a school for the Indians, not far from an Indian village." In 1738, Mr. Ingham, with John Wesley, accompanied from England a "Moravian brother," into Germany, which Mr. I. appears soon to have left, and become a very popular preacher in Yorkshire. See La Trobe's History, pp. 194, 226, 228. Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg, À.M. of the University of Halle. He united himself to Count Zinzendorf at Herrnhut in 1733, was in Georgia, and afterwards at Philadelphia in 1736, but not consecrated Bishop till 1744. He finally returned to Europe in 1762, and was commissioned in 1764 to write the Life of Zinzendorf. Id. pp. 182, 258, 310, 531, tinuance there, happened to pass through that wood, and saw a little hut lately raised, and perceiving a smoke in it, had the curiosity to alight and go into it, where he found these five refugees who, in a very respectful manner, owned themselves trespassers on his ground, and discovering their religion and circumstances implored his protection. This he readily granted, and entering into some religious discourse with them, was so much impressed that he invited, and encouraged their frequent visits, and soon set up, first weekly, then daily preaching, exposition and prayer, in his family, to which any one that pleased to come was admitted.‡ The number of the congregation soon grew considerable, and one of the Moravians was dispatched to carry the agreeable news into his native country: but, either in his journey or return, he was seized by the Roman Catholics, whipt from town to town like a felon, frequently threatened with immediate death, all the intimations of which be received with the most heroic resolution, and at last died of their repeated ill usage. Nevertheless The five refugees from Moravia were brothers, named Neisser, who had joined Christian David, a carpenter. He began the settlement at des Herrn Hut or the Watch of the Lord, by striking his axe into a tree, and exclaiming, Here hath the sparrow found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself; even thine altars O Lord of Hosts. Count Zinzendorf "even in the 10th year of his age, had formed the resolution of being a preacher of the gospel," though in 1721," in obedience to his grandmother he had accepted a post in the administration at Dresden." That year, however, he became acquainted with Christian David. Yet he does not appear to have been apprized of the settlement at Herrnhut till 1722, when he was returning from Ebersdorf, where he had married the Countess Reuss. "On the 21st of December, he was conducting his Lady to Hennersdorf; and having descried from the road a house in the wood, he signified his surprise, but also his satisfaction; went in to these Moravians, and, bidding them welcome, fell with them upon his knees and prayed. Soon after, he moved into his newly-erected mansion at Bertholdsdorf." Id. p. 94-101. No account agreeing to this appears in Crantz's History or La Trobe's Notes. It appears that in 1723, "Christian David set out again for Moravia," where "his conversations occasioned a great emo, tion," and roused the zeal of Melchior Nitschmann, who was confined "a long time in prison, and was there treated most unmercifully, but was at length set free with derision." Another of the same name |