THE

LONDON MAGAZINE.

JANUARY, 1735.

A View of the Weekly ESSAYS and DISPUTES in this Month.

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B

leifure. N. B. If the Party be too weak to
take the Pill himself, any able-bodied Attor
ney, or robuft Counfel learned in the Law,
may take it for him, and it will fucceed as
well, or rather better. 2. Phyficians, Surge-
ons and Apothecaries will appear much oftener
at Church this Year than ufual. 3. A Bill
will pass this Seffion, to exclude all Perfons A
from the Benefit of the Pill, unless they
qualify themfelves according to the Teft-Act.
4. Upon this the Diffenters will all conform
to the Church of England, except one Apo-
thecary with a very thort Neck-cloth. This
fully anfwers that fcandalous Infinuation
in the Daily Courant fome Time ago. 5.
There will go to Heaven this Year, more
than the laft, three thousand one bundred B
Seventy and one Souls. As the Year will
prove in other Respects very finful, it is pro-
bable, as many Thoufands more than ufual
would have gone the contrary Way, were it
not for the charitable Labours of this truly
pious Phyfician.

I am, Sir, yours,
Ifaac Bickerstaff.
To this were fubjoined the following Verfes.
Ad Milobium.

Pertæfum vitæ fi forte infamia terret,

Cum tibi fat laques, glande, vel enfe mori ;
Illæfa fama, reà te ducet ad Orcum
Pillula cum gutta, quas tibi Wardus habet.
Englished.

Thou wilt not live, yet would'ft not die,
Under a brand of infamy,

Felon or lunatic declar'd,

Juft as a jury are prepar'd;
But undiftinguifh'd get away
Among the croud from hated day!

I'll tell thee, friend, what thou shalt do
Take pill and drop; and down thou'lt go
With decency, to fhades below.

Free Briton, Jan. 2. No 269.

Reflections on the Growth of Popery, and the
Increase of Popijo Converts.

HE 'Practice of feducing his Majesty's

Tsubjects to Popife Superfition, in the

I knew a Gentleman of Learning who gave himself the Trouble to become acquainted with the Haunts of thefe Popish Emisjaries, and to attend many of their Lectures. He procured himself to be introduced by fome of their Pupils, who went thither for Inftruction; and as foon as the Reverend Seducers had read their Differtations, he plied them fo hard with Objections and Remarks, that he diffolved feveral of their Societies, and carried off their Followers in Triumph; till at laft fome of thefe unfortunate Miffi onaries were feverely cenfured by their Superiors, and even put to Silence, for their Prefumption, in fuffering the high Points of Popifh Orthodoxy to be profanely difputed.

Of thefe Superiors, not to mention Apoftolical Commiffaries here, subject to the Nuncios refiding at Paris or Bruffels, there are a moft curious Set of Succeffors to the Apostles, who are, by the Pope's Appointment, Archbishops and Bishops of every Diocese in England and Ireland, and, accordingly, claim Episcopal Jurifdiction throughout thefe Kingdoms. It may move the Reader's Mirth, but it is true, that, as the Pope hath one Set of Prelates for the Government of the British Dominions, the Pretender hath another Set of his own Appointment; and that, as the former acknowledge the Pope's Supremacy, the latter acknowledge the Pretender, tho' a Papift, to be the fupreme Head of their Church, which derives itself from the deprived Bifhops, who fell D under Incapacity at the Time of the Revolution, for not taking the Oaths to the Government, and calls itself the primitive apoftolical nonjuring Church of England.

When we confider that there is a third Set of Prelates, deriving their Appointment from the Laws of the Land, and actually in Poffeflion of the feveral Bishopricks, we may admire the fingular Situation of this CounE try, where every Cathedral Church is said to have as many Heads as Cerberus, and to every one of thefe Heads an indelible Character by Divine Right is attributed; tho' it is happy for those who are in Poffeffion, that they have a legal Title, outweighing the heavenly Pretenfions, both of their Popif and their Nonjuring Competitors.

capital City of his Kingdoms, and even in
the Neighbourhood of his royal Refidence,
hath long been obferved with Indignation. F
There is fcarcely a petty Coffee-Houfe in any
Quarter of the Town, where there is not a
Popish Lecture read on Sunday Evenings, to a
Set of Apprentices, and fuch Sorts of Perfons
who are drawn together to be inftructed in
the great Myfteries of Popery; the Infallibi
lity of St. Peter's Chair, the uninterrupted
Succeffion of Popes, the Schifmatical Separa-
tion of the Proteftant Churches, and the facri
legious Nature of the Oath of Supremacy,

By this Computation there are at leaft 78 Prelates, either poffeffing, or pretending

to, the feveral Mitres in South Britain, befides fuffragan Bijbops, as well Popish as Nonjuring, without Number. It may not improperly amufe us, to indulge the Suppofition of a very diftant Profpect, and to imagine the Pretender's long folicited Reftoration at laft taking Effect: what a jostling of divine Rights there must be on fuch anOccafion? The Nonjurors would firft take the Mitres from the Heads of the prefent Poffeffors; and the

Popish

Mr. Ward in bis Advertisement fays, The Bills of Mortality for 1734, are decreased 3ħpt:"Some are good natur'd enough to fay, I bave not a little contributed to that Diminution, Sesi

Popish Sett would next demand them, to the Exclufion of both. What a Charge of Schifm muft go round from one to the other? The Revolution Clergy damn'd as Schifmaticks by their Nonjuring Rivals; and both the Revotutioners, and Anti-Revolutioners, branded as Hereticks, by their Papiftical Enemies.

The Impudence of there Popib and NonJuring Factions, in excommunicating the Clergy of this Kingdom, ordained and acting according to Law, is, to me aftonishing; not that they should practise it, but that it should never have been treated with juft Refent ment; and it is wonderful, that our Reformers never excommunicated the Pope in as ample a Manner as he excommunicated this Kingdom. The Parliament indeed have B done this in fome Meafure; and I fhould be of Opinion, that it ought to have a greater Effect than it hitherto feems to have obtain ed. The Law hath declared it bigh Treafon to reconcile any one, or to be reconciled to the Church or See of Rome; and for my own Part, I fhould be apprehenfive, that, to acknowledge that Church to be a true Church, is reconciling ourselves to it in the most treafonable Manner.

If any one within Great Britain, having received holy Orders by the Ordination of the Romish Church, hall abjure Popery, and renounce the Church which gave him that Character, it is to me an incomprehensible Thing, how he can be in Orders after fuch Abjuration! Or, were it proper to give him D Preferment, how he can be legally capable of receiving it, unless he fhall be ordained accord ing to Lazu! I never conceived any Thing to be fo inconfiftent with the Honour and Authority of our Conftitution, or fo injurious to the National Church and Clergy, as the Pretenfion that Prifs of Foreign Extraction entitled to all the Privileges of Priests or dained in Purfuance of the Larus of England; And, confidering that it is a Compliment which the Popish Clergy never would allow to the Clergy of this Nation, it is to be ad mir'd at, that any amongst us have ever been fo tame, fo unjust to themselves, and their Country, as to allow that Pepih Priests are Apoftolically ordain'd; when thefe never would allow the English Clergy to have a valid Ordination.,

are

the Papils themselves would laugh at it. Now, fince it is recommended with great Prudence and Propriety, that we should learn what are the Arguments in Favour of the Church of Rome which make the greateft Impreffion on the Minds of their new Converts; I think my felf free to declare, that the common Affent to their Claim of being a true Church, the general Agreement that their Ordinations are valid, and the fatal Conceffion that Men are to be faved within the Pale of their Church, whilft they fo ftrenuoully infift that all who are out of it cannot be faved Thefe are the Arguments which have made the greateft Impreffions on the Minds of the People; and I never faw them routed or baffled but when they were denied; and whenever I have heard them denied, I never knew the fubtleft of their Clergy able to perfuade the lowest Understandings that they had any Foundation. But this I will venture to affirm, that whift any Conceffion is made which enfnares Men into Belief of great Hazards of Damnation in the Proteflant Church, whilft there are none of thefe Hazards amongft Papifts, it will be an invincible Argument to make the Vulgar believe that Popery is the fafeft Side of the Question.

There are two Points which must undoubtedly ftrengthen the Church of England against her Popish Enemies, and add Luftre to the Reputation of the Clergy in all the Proteftant Parts of Europe: The one of thefe is to deny the Claim of the Church of Rome's being a true Church, feeing it is as repugnant to Senfe as to the Laws of the Kingdom: The other is, that the Clergy fhew themfelves cordial Friends to all their Proteftant Brethren; who, tho' diffenting from particuIar Forms, yet agree with them in their fundamental Doctrines, and most of all in their Right of Separation from the Church of Rome; for it is an irrefiftible Argument in the Mouths of all Papifts, that if the Church of England condemns Separation from herself, fhe is as much to be condemned for her own Separation from them. Nor is it poffible to avoid the Force of this, but by allowing to every Man the Right of judging for himself F in the Affair of his own Salvation; and accordingly cherishing all who agree in the common Separation, from the Corruption, SuperAition, and Idolatry, of the Church of Rome. It hath been the Merit of the Proteftant Dienters, that they never did allow the Church of Rome that impudent Claim of ber being a true Church: And I defy the whole World to bring together two fuch abfurd Ideas, as a true Church and an idolatrous Church, Terms which agree no better together, nor mean any Thing elfe, than reconciling the Worfop of God, to the Worship of Idols; and, however they have obtained, could

It hath been afferted, in a very juft and ftrong Manner, That they have groly cor rupted the Faith and Doctrine of Chrift,' and that They have introduced much Superftition and idolatry into the Chriftian Worship. (Bishop of London's circular Letter, fee Vol. III. p. 658.) If any Man G were to affirm, that a Church which is compounded of grofs Corruptions, Superftition, and Idolatry, is nevertheless, at the fame Time, and will continue to be, a true Church, it would make all Mankind and aghast; even

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could have their Original from none of the beft Intentions.

It is inconceivable with what good Views it could ever be fuggefted, that a Church may become a Part of the Conftitution, without deriving itself from the Laws; and the fenfelefs Reproach, that our Church is a Creature of the State, because it is founded in A the Laws of the Realm, ought rather to make Men laugh at their contemptible Adverfaries, than to confound them with the Difficulties which attend it: For it is an ilJuftrious Acknowledgment that they exercife their Powers and Functions by the willing Choice of Mankind, without ufurping on the Rights of Nations, or advancing of Claims against the Authority of the Laws; than B which no Church or Clergy can urge a more powerful Recommendation to the Love and Efteem of a People; nor can they ground their Rights in a more certain Manner, than by appealing to the fame Laws which are the Rule of every other Right, and the Refort of all contending Parties.

On thefe Principles, that every Chriftian, C and every Community of Chriftians, have a Right of declaring their own Religion, and of appointing their own Minifters of Religion, Popery is moft eafily to be kept out of this Country: But if we are fo fond of Corruption, Superftition, and Idolatry, as to imagine that a corrupt, fuperftitious, and idolatrous Church, can be a true Church, its Orders valid, and its Acts equally of Effect with D thofe of our own Clergy; if we allow that they can fave Souls, whilft they maintain that all in our Communion must be loft; if we give up the Right of our own Separation, by condemning the Right of others to feparate from us, or difcourage our Proteflant Bretbren profeffing Christianity under the Protection of the fame Liberty which we claim E for ourselves; we fhall do that Difhonour to our Church, that Injuftice to our Clergy, and that Service to Popery, which will be of the most dangerous Confequence. It must multiply Papifis beyond Measure, to fee Proteflants treating each other with this Want of Charity; and Popish Priests muft urge it as the strongest Objection against a Proteftant Clergy: So that any Pretence of fhewing F lefs Favour to Diffenters on Account of the Growth of Popery, muft, if it obtain, be a lafting Reproach on those who allow it, and a general Deceit upon the good People of England.

Prompter, Jan. 3. No 16.

Of Partiality to ourselves, in paffing Cenfures on others,

OTHING is more clearly conceiv'd

Nthan the Meaning of Morality, in ge

neral; nothing more loosely confider'd than the Application of its particular Duties. There are few publick Converfations, wherein cenforious Reflections are not caft on Qualities or Practices, which fome of the Company know to be chargeable on the very Perfon who paffes the Cenfure. Now, as it is impoffible a Man fhould chufe to make fo ridiculous a Figure as he does on fuch an Occafion, this Weakness can only arife from too blind a Partiality, in Favour of ourfelves."

It would be ufelefs to prompt particular Of fenders, with regard to the general Folly, for the fame Reafon that would make it a very ridiculous Civility to offer a dry Pair of Gloves, toward fhifting a wet Friend, who had accidentally been plung'd in a Horfepond. It is the Guilt of the whole People, in all Nations; and practis'd so infenfibly, that it is to be found, like our Bones, in every Part of us all, and yet we have none of us any Feeling of it. It was but the other Day when happening to ftep into a Coffee-Houfe, I heard an angry old Fellow, declaiming himself into a Fever, against the Baseness of a Valet, who, he faid, had the Impudence to get himself married to a rich young Heirefs. (See Vol. III. p. 666.) But as I was acquainted with the private Hiftory of this firi Moralift, it gave me fome Surprise, that it fhould never all the while fo much as glance upon his Thoughts, that he had himfelf been a broken Shopkeeper, built into a Gentleman, by Effect of 10,000l. which he drew to him with a Girl, whom he was known by most of the Company to have courted and married from a Boarding-School, under the Name of a Baronet, who was only his diftant Relation.

The Greek and Roman Hiftorians abound with Inftances of this immoral Narrowness of Heart, miftaken for a publick Virtue, and difguifed under the Appearance of Humanity. Where-ever they are defcribing their Inroads upon Countries, they flide infenfibly over Murders and Robbery, and fanctify their own Butcheries with the finer Name and Pretence of civilizing Barbarians, and reducing favage Nations under the Protection of their Empire. But when thefe Barbarians, in Return, invaded

with a like. Succefs, the Provinces of their Oppreffors, it is pleafantly provoking to ob ferve with how malicious an Energy the partial Orators declaim, in Deteftation of the Perfidy; as if Actions, which on their Side were Valour, Juftice, and Humanity, had chang'd Colour with their Change of Par Gy, and become, when put in Practice against themfelves, Violation, Gruelty, and Rapine!

To bring this Reflection nearer bome, the fame Violation of moral Reasoning is diftinguishable every where in the Chronicles of our crun Country, Not an Eye but is turn'd

up