Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

Cover

with regard to the above-mentioned fashion may induce persons to doctrines. I found that they were really their's with artificial colour. Time, howdoctrines of the New Testament. By ever, which is the test of all things, ever degrees I discovered more and more conducts men at last back to the sintheir material influence in improving, plicity and beauty of nature. In like ennobling, and felicitating the human manner, though not so rapidly, yet as soul; and thus gradually, and impercep- surely in the event, the mind of man retibly, but on that account with fuller turns back to the unsophisticated and conviction likewise, and steadfastness, I wholesome lessons of truth. The em became a follower and asserter of those bellishments of fallacy are cancelled by distinguishing tenets of the protestant time: while the decisions of truth receive system of religion. from it a more secure establishment,

As a teacher of christianity, I have never lost sight of the duty of reading and discussing its doubts and difficulties. I have made myself acquainted with the most important writings, not only of the unbelievers and scoffers of religion, but likewise especially with those, in which even protestant divines dispute the common tenets of christianity. I have found much contained in them, and have received much information from them; as well in regard to the better explanation of many passages o. the New Testament, as to the cleares comprehending of the spirit of the Old Testament, and to establishing a more satisfactory developement of several doctrines. But all the inquiries which I made upon the subject, or with a view to it; and again, more particularly the daily devotional use of the New Testament, have led me to the firmest conviction in the truth of Christ's miracles, and of those of his apostles, of the supernatural miraculous origin of the books of the Bible; and likewise in the truth of the doctrines of the eternal divinity of the Redeemer, and Holy Ghost, of the meritorious satisfaction of it,&c.&c. And at the end of these inquiries, this at least I can assert with perfect safety, that my religious belief, manifold and weighty as its defects certainly are, is notwithstanding as unbiassed and unbigotted, as that of any other indifferent person, not appointed to the office of christian minister.

I know that most of the arguments in this work are no longer fashionable: and perhaps will be despised and rejected by many as untiquated and discarded. But simple remedies are no less effectual, though not fashionable, and the naturally red healthy cheeks of unimpaired innocence, are still really beautiful, although

There is great propriety in the expression "verlegene waare" as applying to goods, which have lost a sale by staying long in a shop.

In addition to all this, I protest before the Almighty, that no hours of my whole life have been productive of greater happiness to me, than those which I have spent in an intercourse with christianity, and in the more faithful and happy prac tice of it. The more intimate my acquaintance with it, the more deeply was my heart affected by its majesty, and sublinity. And the more I was able to conform my life and soul to its doctrines and precepts; the more confidently did my intnost feelings assure me, that I was respectable, elevated, andhappy. The latter years of my life have been full of afflic tions: some of them the most severe : but I have had none more distressing than those which proceeded from the neglect, and violation of pure christianity. While I continued perfectly faithful to this, in the midst of the most painful sufferings, I was tranquil, serene, clate, and cheerful. The pleasures of my life were far more numerous than its afflictions; but none were more sensibly felt by me, than those which arose from the practice of christianity. Or rather, without this, the most exquisite joys were weak and insipid. This alone seasoned every earthly pleasure; and the hours passed away with real happiness, when I thought and acted in imitation of Christ.

If then this confession, drawn from me by gratitude to Christianity, and this work, which proceeded from the botton of a sensible heart, filled with thankful ness and reverence, may awaken and conduct the reader to similar veneration and love towards this religion; I intreat hum to pray to God, that in every one of my remaining days, Christ may dwell more and more in me.

Göttingen, April 6, 1785.

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

SIR,

HE publishing, in your Magazine,

THE
the following account of

my suc

cess in obtaining spring water, may in

duce

reform.

1. Repeal of the Septennial; which of course revives the Triennial act.

duce many others to obtain so necessary at present settled among the friends of and desirable an article of life, in a part of Middlesex where the inhabitants have been deterred from the attempt, under an idea that it could not be procured at a less depth than between 2, and 300 feet.

Having perused Mr. Middleton's Survey of Middlesex, and collected all the information I could, as to wells sunk at Paddington, Kingsbury, and other places adjoining the parish of Wisden, I determined to sink a well at Neasdon, a pleasant rural village in that parish, and situated on an eminence between the Edgeware and Harrow Roads. Having engaged George, the well digger, he began on the 13th of March last, and on the 12th of May instant, at the depth of 166 feet, he bored six feet into a bed of gravel, which produced water that rose gradually for five days, and now stands 104 feet deep in the well. The water is excellent and rather soft. stratas were as follow:

[blocks in formation]

The

Many shells and other curious things were found in the clay, and at 84 feet deep a large piece of wood was taken up, which, at first, appeared like silver, but, upon being exposed to the air, turn ed black and cracked into small pieces.

The inhabitants of Wilsden may now be encouraged to render water-tanks, chalk drains, and filtering stones, useless, by sinking wells in certain districts of the parish at a joint expence, which would fall very easy upon individuals, and tend greatly to benefit their healths at all times, and especially in a dry season of the year. Your's, &c. Boswell-court, London, JAMES HALE. 18th May, 1809.

P. S. George sunk a well last year for Mr. Waters, at Kingsbury Green, 128 feet deep, which now stands 60 feet in water, rather hard but excellent water. Kingsbury Green is about two miles from Neasdon.

For the Monthly Magazine. REFORM IN PARLIAMENT of the REPRE

I

SENTATION of the COMMONS. BELIEVE you may take the under written as a correct outline, as far as

2

11. All male freeholders paying to assessed taxes, to exercise the right of suffrage.

III. The worst of the Boroughs to be done away, by compulsory payments to be settled by Parliament, (and not as under Mr. Pitt's plan, by encreased biddings); and their share in the represen tation to be transferred to the unrepresented towns, Stratford on Avon, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, &c. so as that the number of the Members remain as at present.

I think that it cannot be denied, that this plan of reform brings us back much nearer than we are at present to the spirit of the antient English constitution, and to the time principle of representation. I wish the idea therefore to be circulcated in your Magazine, which is so extensive a medium of intelligence.

That the plan is temperate, cannot, I think, reasonably be disputed. That it would be very considerably beneficially, and permanently efficacious, I strongly hope.

Neither this, nor any plan can succeed, unless the public mind, extensively, deliberately, and upon due information adopt it, and express that adoption in public meetings, and by numerous signatures. And if this be done, from a conviction of its necessity and utility, I have little doubt of its then, but not always, making its way in Parliament,

I should hope, that as to the second and better class of boroughs, where there is a regular corporation, but a small number of voters, as at Bury St. Edmunds, Stratford, &c. that the representation there will be improved by adding the Freeholders of the borough town, for the election of representatives to the corporate C. LOFFT.

voters.

[blocks in formation]

tians of Jerusalem have sent to his relief a monk of Libanon, distinguished for medical skill. The tender attentions of Sittah to her brother, recall those unsurpassably beautiful scenes of Euripides, in which Electra watches the perturbed Orestes. During a pause of fever, Saladin is desirous of seeing Nathan. Nothing can be more equitable than the manner in which the poet paints the emptiness and impotence of those consolations, which the sceptic has to offer over a death-bed, to the troubled conscience. From an unpublished version of the poem, this striking interview shall be given.

Scene: the apartment of Saladin, who reposes on a sofa in an alcove.

SALADIN, pushing aside the curtain.

Abdallah, Come nigh, and wipe my forehead. Ah! how weary!

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

ness

o'er my consenting heart; it seem'd to close at once the mouth of each precipitate intolerant decider. Ah! indeed some strength of mind is needful to withstand,

particularly when-excuse me, Nathanfrom lips of praising thousands, by the name the teacher has been first announced to us, of the wise man. I took it as thou gavest it; and little thought, O Nathan, that so soon the judges thousand thousand years for me would have an end. Now I must die. And then

in this uncertainty, and with my ring O! Nathan, how, if I have been deceiv'd? alone, am summon'd up before the judge.

NATHAN,

And, Sultan, how, if all have been deceiv'd?

SALADIN.

There lies the sting. Thus would, with all his love,

thy father be a cheat-have given, for truth, to his own son, who languish'd after light, mere error. Nathan, how can God, our father,

have given illusion, error, to mankind?

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]
[merged small][ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

Be it light; be it a quenchless spark of fire etherial; or what you will. So long as night inwraps this light; so long no tone, no ray, no image comes to thy soul, but thro' ear, eye, or nerves;

but what thro' flesh, or bone, or wand'ring juices,

according to the nature and arrangement of thy material part, is modified

into a thought for thee, and thee alone,

which 'could not dwell another human soul: so long must feelings, instincts, passions, form

opinion-error be each mortal's lot,

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

and what seems truth to one stand with whose action and reaction hold together

[blocks in formation]

So many images by all acknowleged,

[blocks in formation]

which strike on one more strongly than permits. Tis, if you will, a whirling car

[blocks in formation]

we boys get in, and shout to our companions proudly: how fast we drive”: but round

and round

[blocks in formation]

NATHAN, And would to God

it never had been, Saladin. The few worthy and noble souls should only act, live after truth, and leave their deeds behind them.

All disputation if and what be truth wastes the fair hours bestow'd so sparingly upon the wanderer, who for his journey has not one hour too much. The lazy man may fling himself along beneath the shade, and with his fellow weigh and ascertain how far he has to go-is this the road? are we come wrong?-but let us with fresh strides

haste to the goal; we then, I ween, shall know

how far it was, and, if we have not chosen the shortest road, our industry at least will have made up for many a round-about.

[blocks in formation]

SALADIN.

No stream can cleanse the conscience of its sin; no flame can purify the sullied heart before the sight of God. How can I know whether, if God is just, to guilt a foe, I too shall be forgiven. O my Nathan, 'tis that, 'tis that, which wounds me, which impels me

to make the dread inquiry, not, as erst, the idle love of dispútation. Death itself is nothing but a step across

a narrow threshold; but à troubled moment, and all is over. The intoxicated

will dare the stride, and boldly spring avaunt, fare as he may without. But there's no art can drug the conscience into bold delirium, sele to the night of death its wakeful eye, and teach it at futurity to sport. Those with a sober.conscience, Nathan. NATHAN.

Sultan,

I would not flatter: but can God above be found less just, less gracious, tian thyself?

SALADIN.

That is not punish with severity, but punish, if he is master of the world. What would become of kingdoms, if mankind might with impunity make sport of law, rob, murder?

NATHAN.

Where the law smites but the guilty, what has the good to fear?

SALADIN.

The good-ay heWhat should the good man fear?-but crimi nals.

NATHAN.

Abandon to the sentence of their judge; and' gaze rejoicing at the glorious harvest, that ripens for the doings of the just in better worlds. The more the soul below is veil'd in darkness, the more full of rap

ture

must be the paffage to the sunny day of shining truth. We here have yet to wander

thro' many a labyrinth on this murky earth: from thee the fetters drop. Soon thy free soul may hail you clearer heaven, and eaglewing'd

soar to her God, the eternal only source of light and bliss. O might I follow, sultanGod be thy guide!

SALALIN.

No; no; that cannot be ; that were unsuitable; my lot is other. Each talks but as he feels; thou canst not tell

how it is here with me.-Just, pious, good, are lovely words; and happy who can speak

them

and feel no dagger digging at his breast! Ah, Nathan, hast thou never stain'd thy life

not with one crime?

NATHAN.

Oh! who is free from faults, my dearest sultan-in the sight of God pure, yet a man!

SALADIN.

Speak'st thou of faults, just man, away! Come not to sully thy white virtue beside a criminal! Off! dost thou know me! dost thou know Saladin ?

NATHAN.

Who knows him not, the generous, the impartial, and the just, the tolerant friend of man? Who knows him not, the pious Saladin?

SALADIN.

The robber too,

the blood-hound, Nathan, too. Know'st thou not him

who has spill'd more of unoffending blood. than thousand murderers, whom the sword of

vengeance

refus'd to spare-who, to rapacious wishes, to wild ambition, sacrific'd his dutyhis conscience-al!? Know'st thou not him?

NATHAN.

« ZurückWeiter »