The National Register. — London, England, 1816-06-17 00:00:00

. .1 fiationat .1U tiny iling, tonsltitution anti if.al3oo, No. 436.—V0L. IX. ANCIENT PULPIT ELOQUENCE. No. 11. REIGNS OF EDWARD 111. AND RICHARD DURING the latter part of the reign of Edward the Third, and the begiuning of that of Richard the Second, the principal person who attained any celebrity fur his ta lents as a preacher, was the well ki,own JJkli Wichtfc, or DeWiclilfe, so culled from the place of his birth, an obscure village near the town of Richmond, in Yorkshire. Endowed with powers of mind infinitely superior to those of all his contemporaries, with the most undaunted courage, and with indefatigable zeal, this wonderful man was the first who sought to break the chains which su perstition, and an hypocritical policy, had imposed npon the world. Despising all the power of his formidable antagonists, he boldly attacle4 them at every assailable point, and, with such extraordinary success, that the ef fects of his preaching were accounted little less than mi raculous. Raffled at all points, the Monkish writers themselves were compelled, even in their own defence, to express their astonishment at his talents,—to state to the world, that in philosophy he was second to none ; and that, in the depths of scholastic reasoning, he was with oat an equal. Knighton, one of their own historians, sersures us, that, in the course of ten years, " almost every second person in England had become a convert to his loctrinca." _ _ John Wicliffe rose from an humble rank of life, and, ' befire he was forty years of age, had attained the high est distinctiow that the University of Oxford, in which he was educated, could bestow. He had been succes sively elected Master of two Colleges, one of which was under the immediate patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury. In his own conduct he is said to have been distinguished by a peculiar austerity of life and manners; which operated, in addition to his talents, in fixing his celebrity. After Wicliffe had openly declared himself the cham pion of reform, the clergy in their alarm appealed to the See of Rome ; and, a short time prior to the death of Edward the Third, he was cited to appear before the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishop of London, to account for his heretical opinions; but, pmtecsed by the Duke of Lancueter, and by others of the nubility, no cen sure was passed upon him, either at this, or at any time afterwards, during his whole life ; and at length, in the year 1384, lie died of a paralytic affection, at his rectory of Lutterworth, in the county of Leicester. Of the writings of Wicliffe there are few extant, ex cept those which he drew up against the papists, and of which the principal was on the subject of the sacrament, and published at Nurcnburg, in 1546, under the title of " A Treatise on the Sacrament, - called " Wvext.isse's Wvcarrr, which he made in Me Days of Richard II." He translated the New Testament into English, which has lately been re-published. Amongst the Harleian MSS. in the British Museum, No. 1730, there is a quarto MS. on vellum, of abont 106 pages, entitled " Wickliffe's Postils." These consist of a collection of sermons for every Sunday in the year: and„, although many works have erroneously been ascribed to Wickliffe, this M. appears to contain internal evidence of its authenticity. In the same collection, No. '2385, are his notes on the Pater nester or lord's prayer ;and some other discourses. We shall insertan extract from the latter. ON DUTY TO GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOUR. " Thou sh.dt love th.e Lord thy Gud of idl thine heart, of all thy life, and all thy mind, and of all thy strength sr might.; and thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hangeth all the law and prophets." Then, thou locoed God of all thine heart. that is to say, of all thy understanding ; warn thou shapest all thine understanding principally to know the eiciless might and righteousness—the endless wisdom, and charity, and mercy of thy God ; how God is ready, and willing, and kunnin. (able) to venter sin, and punish wicked men, that wolcn (will) not leave their sin; and how God is merciful and konnin (able) aril mighty to forz , ,ive them that have very repentenne of their wicked sins. And, for this understanding of shy God, thou most flex and desert tin of all thy power and thy wit ; and keep and teach thecoinniandments of God, and maintain righteou ',less, and good living, and charity. Also thou locest God of My life, when thou ehspest all thy life, both in youth and age, and in poaperisy.ald adversity, so the sisislaip of God, in c7etinniss and holyeess, hearing praising thy Gud, for all his grace, anti gash:was. Lid mercy, and for all diseases and tribulidion that he sendeth to thee in this life. Also Thou loveA God of all thy mind when thou shapest all thy amid,—totbink on the goodness of God how he made all tliin!es if nought, not fur his own need, ne (nor) ad vantage, but of his own goodness. and the profit of his true creatures, as be gesidatv,eels andgood men ; and tohave mina (uisslitate) virtu/4CA MONDAY, JUNE 17, 1816. wilful and painful passion, that died not for his own sin, but for our gc:.at sins ; and to have mind on the dreadful day of dome, and on the Imdless bliss in Heaven to good men ; and on the endless strong pains in Hell to wicked men that wolle never amend theii life. Also thou Iw:est God of thy strength or might when thou spende,t all the 'nights of thy soul and body in serving of God, and algatis (always) that they will be subject to reason, and in allthings conformed to thewill of God; and that thou ne waste not the strength of thy body in vanities and idle- ness of sin : but keep it in good measure, to do good deeds to worship of God, and help of other Christin men ; that thou spend well thy fine wits, as sight, hearing and smelling, tasting and touching, and speak ing; and that thou , ),cvise sin, and maintain truth with all thy power, ko: (a'Jility), and great desire of righteousness ; and then thou barest well God of alithy strength. Thou lowest thy neighbour as thyself, when thou wiliest him good both in body and soul ; as thou shouldst, by charity, assist him. And it' thy neighbour be in good life toward God, be thou glad and joyful thereof, and nourish hint, comfort him, and help him theeeia : and, if he lee in sinful life, have great compassion and sorrow therefore, and of thy losemin and might, bring him out thereof by devont prayer, by holy counselling and teaching, and easample of thine own good life; by dread of great pains, both in this world, and purgatory, and in ; by comfort of the great mercy of God ; and by comfort of the endless bliss of heaven : how soon he may get that by God's mercy and very repentance and amending of his wicked life. If he be at welfare of body, and prosperity of worldliche (worldly) goods, with true life, keeping God's hestis (commandments), be glad thereof, and help him therein ; and spare him not for ne (no) manner of good of this world. If he be at mal ease of body or full of mod of worldreche chattels, so help him as thou worthiest be holpen thyself, if thou wert in the same disease. and al_fatis (always) as thou shouldest wilily to be tylieved by God's law of other mighty men. And. net only love this thy neighbour at home, that is, thy friend, but a sere man and thy enemy ; for all we ben brethren in kind, and so net. boors, and we ben holden by charity to bring men into good life all our koanin and might. PARISH CHARITY SCHOOLS. Thnrsday being the Anniversary Meeting of the Charity Children educated in the Parish Schools within the Metropolis and its suburbs, they went in proce,ssion'to St. Paul's Cathe dral. A more exhilarating spectacle to the rye of sensibility this capital does not produce. The day being fine, it was de lightful to behold upwards of 10,000 (+Miro' of L.ith sexes. all healthy looking, and clad in homely* but decent and com fortable raiment, each school headed by their respective mas ters and mistresses, and each parish preceded by their beadles in full laced liveries, with their batonsonarching like regi ments in grand solemn procession, along the streets lending to the Cathedral, w here seats were erected for their aggositnioda ' Con. The sight was such as most impress the contemplative mind with feelings that monarchs might ems y„ anti of which the votaiies et' di•sipatiun, whose gratifications urebovided by sensuality, can have no conception; their minds sltteithil from the trammels of ignorance, niany of whom mien, bftt for these institutions, have become pests of that society *C which there is now a fair expectation of their being 'garfish and some of them, perhaps, ornamental members. The Lnd Mayor and Sheeitle, in their state carriages; the Recorder, and several of the Ulm men, accompanied by. their ladies, in their carriages; the City Marshals. in tnll uniform, on horseback; Marshalmen, street-keepers, and eonstahles, on foot, arrived in grand pro cession from the Mansion-House. The Chinch was extremely crowded, and a most excellent charity sermon was preached by the very Rev. Dean of Chester. 7e Dem, Jubilate Leo, tho Cormintinn Anthem, Handel's Grand Choews, I aiklyjab.,fer the' Lmd our God, &v. were sung by the Gentlemen of the Choir; who also chatinted the Psalms, the children/ joining in the eleartisses. 'l'he children also sung the 10Pth,10tth, and 113th Psalms, in admirable style—and a Hymn, pooling forth thanks to their common Father, and imploring blessings on their earthly benefactors. In a word, the whole was executed in a manner that reflected the highest eretht en the conduc tors. Among the company present we rarticularly noticed their Royal Highnesses the Mike and Duchess of Cumberland. ECLIPSE. To an observation made yesterday se'rmigitt, the trnth of the existence of the paraselene was clearly ascertained, for one was discernible by the naked eye. The sky was so en tirely clear, and the moon itsr If;pio free from any halo at the commencement evf that shadow passing, that a very favourable opportunity was afforded for tuition remark. A paraselene or mock moon, which in some respects reset bks the airmail rainbow in its fairrtuess and instability, was, tbr some time before the shadow touched the moon's phase. visible rather lower than usual, and nearer to its apposite or weswn side. The calculations in all the books were proved to b7Mrietiv correct, and to correspond with the time; foe it commenced precisely at 30 mins. 18 sees. after 11, and crossed precisely at 31 is. after 3in the mining: but the clouds collected, and rendered, except to great glasses, the latter past of the eclipse obscure to the maker! eye. it was observable at the same time At Candreidge and linyston. Thee eclipse is accurately deli neated by astronomers, had they do not in the least allude to these sissy appearance* called paraselems; probably on ac count of their varying psogress and their uncertainty; yet, as they arc SO intimately connected with the planets, and arise from their treat streugth of light and magnitude, they deserve nitwit eliwidation so as to clear Orin from ,any fanciful de scription. It appears, that this eclipse was calculated to be isible to all the states of Europe and Africa, to the western parts of Asia, and the east of America. Hat in Slain, China, Chinese Titulary, mid the east of Asia, the forepart only would be visible as the worms would set with deem before the (these would terminate. And the reason why it was SO visible In our latitude is, that at the beginning she l\jkli ventral over us at mid• night undue 23. h. sumach, iat. and 6. gg. east king from London; and tit Ile ui ne of the middie She was vertical nudes' 23. 19. south, in lone. N. 49. west from Loudon : at the end, likewise I tical, mufti 23.2 d. 50 wit, in long. 44. 1.,. et eNt Lwailuu. Yom. W+ Palcz 9 d- IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. -r HOUSE OF LORDS, MORDA V, June 10. The Duke of St. Alban's took the oaths and his seat. bisi business of interest was transacted. Tuesnav, *ILLY 11. The Earl of DoNouc HMORE presented a Petition from the Catholics or Ireland. and Earl GREY presented one from the Catholics of England., praying that the chic disabilities under which they labour may be removed.. T4he Petitions were ordered to be taken into consideration on Friday se' 'Olt. On the motion for the seetmd reading of the Alien Bill, Earl FITZWILLIAM moved, that the Bill be read a second time this day six months. On this question a long debate took place;; bet the Bill was read a second time; the numbers on the divi sion being.—For the second reading 34—Agaiust it 17. WRDNESDAY,jB.I4I6 11E. The Judges being in attendance, Lord Holland moved, that a question be put diem, whether a person born in any Colony el Great Britain should not be considered* native-born subject (and not an Alien), whenever he should choose to reside in this country; although the territory in which he was born, should have been ceded by treaty to another state, or other wise separated front the king's dominions. Ou this motion a debate took place; but it was negatived without a division. The Alien Bill then went through a Committee, and was or dered to be read a third time on Taesdt►v. CLERGY BILL. The Archbishop of CANTIRSVR v, In cella; the *trinities t of the House to a measure I.e considered necessary for the welfare of the Clergy, lamented the absence of Bishops who • fur the most part snpported the Bill. The corsi•quetico was, that it hall fallen to him to present to their Lordships the. Bill, and to state the purpose for which it was ietended. The first and pi incipal object of the Bill was, to bring ender one . Act the many Statutes in the Statute Book respecting the go vet ument of the Church; thus enabling the Clergy at sue to iniderstand what the law required of. then), instead of col lecting by piecemeal the various operations of ilisteuct Acts of Parliaments. In pursuing that object, and proposing amend molts, his Lerdship begged to say, that there was nu indi vidual more tensible than himself of the inconvenience arising. from frequent alterations of the laws; sad nothing but a pet - suasimi of the necessity of the measure be bad to introdure, . could have iuduced him to bring It forward. Atnoeg the alter ations proposed by the Bill, there were three of a specific - character. There were others, to which he attached perhaps lea importance thou belonged to them. The first clause related to spiritu a l persons holding farms, 'sir becellosat.. The second, to dissentlions, which had occurred with. K• sped to residence. The third relates to the increase or etnies which Curates have to discharge. In parishes wbes'a the incumbent is unable to perform the whole of the duties, . hr is to have an assistant. With respect to the holding of farms, the conditions proposed by the Act of Parliament were formerly sacs as to render the keeping of, glebe perilous.. —The Act of the 43d of the King had removed these rester , alone; but the effect of it was, not toiet the clergy rent' any land withont the consent of his Bishop. It was proposed by the Bill Uses brought in to let a clergyman rent twenty acres without consulting his Bishop ; se that the Clergy.could not be 'hart by that clause. His Grace •was- anxious to express the tact, because it had been asked whether the intention was to confide clergymen to twenty.sseres of ground only. He knew wirtdrestr that opinion badges* forth; as nue of Ibis first prut•i &ions in the Bill was, that nothing should affect the occupation . of glebe land, let the extent heroine it may. Having adverted shortly to the regulation with respect tereeidence,his Lotdship came turtle third clause. He considered it almost.latiposeilma for clergymen At all times to do the dotty allotted them. This fact was, he had made iuquivy; and•the opinion was, that it is lawful for the Bishop to ascertaiu, whether the duties of the • Church are performed ; and in case they are not, to call for as sistance. lids Bill would enable the Bishop, when the duties of the parish aft met performed, from the extensive population, dr other cause, to call ou the incumbent to nomivate some ant, with a sufficient salary, to be settled by the incumbent and the assisting curate. If he should neglect to amply• with the call during three months, it will be ia•the power oiling Bishop • to no/innate one himself, with a stipend not exceeding that al lowed by law. This was the geuerafoutloie of the Bill; aud his • Grace concluded by. ~slag, " That it be read a first time, printed, and laid us the Table ;" not to.•be proceeded en, bet with a view to remote it sett Session. The Earl of HARROWBV approved the. Bill, conceiving that it would greatly benefit the clergy, and it was thee read a Bust Lime.—Asbuutned. THURSDAY, JOVE IL Earl Gaosvitoon enquiredof Ministers, whether at this semen of public distress and heavy taxation and expenditure, and at this ,period of profound peace, there was any intention to put AM end to the office of third seeretary,or secretary for the war tk pertinent? the duties of which be thought might be perfurincil • in the offices of the other secretaries, with very little additional assistance. Earl Barittftursaid, no motive Induced hint to continue the • office, as far as be was concerned, except the conviction that it was absolutely necessary fur the public service. He declared, that instead of being a sinecure, or an useless office, it WiSkil very laborious one, from the great iocreasc• of our colonies ; at the time of creating the office in question, the numbers of British colonies did nut exceed fifteen, and now they were thirty-two. The Earl Of LIVERPOOL expressed sentiments ; add. log, that the business of his own office at the treasury bad in creased fivefold since 1861. The Earl of Lavotwout baring moved the third madiug of the Civil List Bill. Earl 6 ROSY F SUR at some length opposed its farther progress, on the ground of extravagance in several of its branches ; hie Lordship adverted particularly to the diplomatic expenses, aed noticed (Ito useless mission of 111 r. Lamming to Lisboa, Went's,