did not interfere, most steadily pursued them, had a clear view, (as Elizabeth also had before him, who might be ranked next to him in the capacity of governing,) of the eminence to which England might attain, by becoming the head of religion, and the chief promoter of piety throughout the earth; and his project in furtherance of this desirable end, as Burnet remarks, "was certainly a noble one. He resolved to set up a council for the Protestant religion, in opposition to the congregation de Propaganda Fide at Rome. He intended it should consist of seven counsellors and four secretaries for different provinces. These were the first, France, Switzerland, and the Vallies; the Palatinate and the other Calvinists were the second; Germany, the North, and Turkey, were the third; and the East and West Indies were the fourth. These secretaries were to have five hundred pounds salary a-piece, and to keep a corre spondence everywhere, to know the state of religion all over the world, that so all good designs might be by their means protected and assisted. They were to have a fund of ten thousand pounds a-year at their disposal for ordinary emergencies, but to be further supplied as occasion should require it." Yet what individuals have in their power at present is far superior to what Cromwell had at his disposal. Instead of ten or twenty thousand a-year, upwards of three hundred thousand is annually contributed for the promotion of religion at home and abroad. The power of voluntary association, which combines the efforts of all who are favourable to the great cause, is mightier in its ultimate results than any power which a single monarch could put forth, and the agents who might now be obtained are better qualified for the work, and might proceed upon more enlarged principles. The only want at present is the want of will, the want of a resolution of making efforts proportioned to the end to be obtained; and the great mistake is the aiming at the end without sufficiently adapting the means which are requisite for its attainment, and the not undergoing the preparatory processes which are necessary to insure success. "Ne soyons pas avares de Tems;" the maxim which Necker applied to civil revolutions, is equally true in moral changes. What is of long growth is also of slow decay, and the inveterate evils of many ages cannot be eradicated "within the hour-glass of one man's life." (K) But though it may seem long to those whose bodies must moulder in the grave before it arrives, the time is brief when compared with the past dur ation of the world, until the era shall commence, when the vail shall be rent, which is spread over the face of all people. According to the sure word of prophecy, allowing for the variety of interpre tation, before the oak which was planted yesterday shall have reached its full maturity, the whole earth shall have become the garden of the Lord. The fulness of the Gentiles, in every sense, is at hand. The earth will soon be full of people, and full of knowledge; the desert is beginning to bloom, and the darkness to disperse, and the minds of men are ripening for, and expectant of, the greatest change which as yet has passed over the earth. Numbers are ready to join in the sublime supplication of Mil ton. "Come, therefore, O thou that hast the seven Stars in thy right hand, appoint thy chosen priests according to their orders and courses of old to minister before thee, and duly to dress and pour out the consecrated oil into thy holy and ever-burning lamps. Thou hast sent out the spirit of prayer upon thy servants over all the earth to this effect, and stirred up their vows as the sound of many waters about thy throne. Every one can say, that now certainly thou hast visited this land, and has not forgotten the utmost corners of the earth, in a time when men had thought that Thou wast gone up from us to the farthest end of the heavens, and hadst left to do marvellously among the sons of these last ages. O perfect and accomplish Thy glorious acts; for men may leave their works unfinished, but Thou art a God, Thy nature is perfection." "The times and seasons pass along under Thy feet, to go and come at Thy bidding; and as Thou didst dignify our fathers' days with many revelations, above all their foregoing ages since Thou tookest the flesh, so Thou canst vouchsafe to us, though unworthy, as large a portion of thy spirit as Thou pleasest: for who shall prejudice Thy allgoverning will? Seeing the power of Thy grace is not passed away with the primitive times as fond and faithless men imagine, but Thy kingdom is now at hand, and Thou standing at the door. Come forth out of thy royal chambers, O Prince of all the kings of the earth; put on the visible robes of Thy imperial majesty, take up that unlimited sceptre which Thy Almighty Father hath bequeathed Thee; for now the voice of thy bride calls Thee, and all creatures sigh to be renewed.” PART FIFTH. Tendency of the Age. I. Voluntary and Involuntary Changes. II. Philosophy of Charity. III. Augmented Power of Moral Instruments. IV. Increasing improvement of Society. V. Improvement of Governments. VI. Revolution in Opinion. VII. Classic Republics. VIII. Gothic Kingdoms. X. Public Opinion. XI. Europe. XII. America. XIII. Universal prevalence of Religion and Know ledge. |