The National Register. — London, England, 1812-06-21 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REcasTEn. tide pulpit, SERMON PREACHED AT LINCOLN'S-INN ON THE OCCASION OF TILE ASSASSaNATION OF MR. PEItCEVAL. When virtue is suddenly snatched from this probationary scene, and recalled to her native sky, the earth mourns, but Heaven rejoices. This different affection, produced by the same event on human and cc kstial minds, clearly displays their various degrees of purity and per fection. Man, whose in t e llectual vision is dimmed by perishable clay, and whose soul is chiefly moved through the medium of bodily tierises, cannot penetrate deeply into the mysteries of Providence. But, if his views be limited , the violence of his passions is unbounded, and even when most restrained by discipline and judgment, it stains with a particular dye the current of his thoughts, and gives a decided bias to his feelings. Hence he dares intrude in things passing his knowledge, and from the bosom of the dust whence he sprung, arraigns the mercy and wisdom of his Creator. Self mingles in his best affections. He love ti virtue, not for herself alone, but for the benefits she su plenteously yields, and when he sees the good man plucked in the fulness of his excellence, he laments that God should have so glorious a light, to quench it in its-brightest blaze—like the traveller, who long rejoicing in the splendour of the sun, regrets that it should set to beam on another . world. This egotism springs from our nature, not our will. As long as we remain in this imperfect state, it cannot be eradicated from our hearts. It is fixed there by so many ties of feeling, interest, and affection, that its removal would disorganize the whole system of our being, and can only be, effected by that total change in our nature, which takes place when we are called to a higher state of existence. Celestial minds alone, whose happiness is centered in their God, whose unclouded eye beholds the whole extent of his purposes, are equally exempt from selfishness and grief. The death of the righteous is to them an accession of bliss, as it is an increase of their numbers, and they view our graves, so dark, so dreary to our sight, as doors of glory opening from earth into Heaven. After having proved the existence of that spirit of selfishness, which 'repines at the fancied loss, but the real advantage of the good, It remains to be shown that, as by cultivation, the most barren land may bear so by proper discipline, a feeling, in itself inconsiderate, if not wrong, may change its nature, and become a source of moral improve ment and religious virtues. For this purpose, we shall advert to an ex cellent Sermon preached on Sunday, the 31st of May, at Lincoln's Inn ,Chapel, and since published by the Rev. WILLIAM VAN M!LDERT, h. M. Preacher to the Society, and Rector of St. Mary-le-Bow, on the occasicn of the Assassina•ion of Mr. PERCF.VAL. In this discourse, written with the elegance and energy of a classical and strong mind, the expression of a feeling heart, and the spirit of a true Christian, we. fre rightly taught how to lay to heart the death of the Righteous, " affords at all times, and under all circumstances, the most solid agrouncls of hope and consolation;" for " their removal, however sudden or violent, is not to be regarded as ;he act of Divine Wrath, or judg . merit upon ihemse.lves. The chastisement, if it be such, is inflicted, not an Meat, buto:i those that survive them." The loss of just men is then considered in a national point of view, and the following pertinent re ' -marks are, made on the importance of the virtues, as well as the talents of public servants:- 4 ' The value of such becomes still more apparent, when they are . placed 1.1 statiens of high authority and responsibility; when they are • e n d ow ed with distinguished abilities and attainments, when they arc called to time (ace of conducting public :Hairs in difficult times, and at a period when, to a more than usual extent, " iniquity abounds," and " the. overflowings •of ungodliness make us afraid.' Under these cir - cemstances, it is to the virtues, and nut to the talents only of those who guide the helm of state, that we must look for success. The kof these their excellent qualities is then especially felt; not only from the lustre of tbeir good example, making vice abashed, and encouraging the well clispesed ; nor merely from our confidence that they will no t pursue measures injurious to pure religion or sound maxims of policy; but from the persuasion we are led to cherish, that foe the sake of such person- the Almighty himself may be more favourably disposed towards us. and ,fze:itimes eosin rid the judgments which would otherwise be intleted upon a clieibedient. and gahisaying people. They may prevail with God ; t exercise long-suffering and forbearance. '1 ht y may stay the hand of up ifted justice ; and thus be instrumental in the way, which of all others, is least considered or thought ut by mere political obses4ert, to the w elfare and Fens vationt of the state:." . JUN I: 'll , , 'These observations naturally introduce the lamented loss of one, whose private virtues shed as much .honour on humanity, as his public talents yiekled advantage to his country, and whose character is drawn in the following extract, ss ith a fidelity of description and excellence of style which, while they du justice to the departed Statesman, can not fail to gratify the heart and mind of every man of feeling and taste. " They who have been accustomed to attend this sacred place, cal bear testimony to the genuine, unostentatious piety, the strong devotionsl feelings of the mind, inanitested in his habitual attendance on the p u bli c service of the Church, in his frequent participation of the Holy Commie. Mon, and in his stedfast adherence to the pure apostolical docniue and ' discipline of our venerable Ecclesiastical Establishment. And in proof that these indications of piety were not assumed for mere outward slim, or tor secular interests, we find him carrying the substance as well as th e form of religion into his daily occupations and concerns ; intent Keel the examination of its proof and evidences; finding leisure, even in the midst of his laLorious public duties, for the pursuits of a contemplative student; not only attentive to the word of GOD, as a part of the ordi nary duty of a practical Christian, but occasionally extending his re searches into the more ditfisult departments of biblical inquiry ; incul cating also its sacred truths, and its perfect rules of conduct, on all within the sphere of his influence ; fearlessly avowing its principles in public ; and modelling his domestic and personal habits in conformity with its injunctions. 46 From the religious principles thus deeply rooted within him, sprang also that pure benerolence, which is its proper fruit, and which in the full and genuine acceptation of the term, may be considered as almost exclusively a Christian virtue. If, indeed, any one virtue shone, in this exalted character with more distin b uished lustre than another, it Stillli to have been that of charity, in its more enlarged sense ; an unbound:l and ever active charity, exercised in humble imitation of that all perftet Patt e rn, who " makethl his sun to rise on the evil and the goose and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust." m To seek for and to relieve the indigent and distressed, and even to anticipate applications to him for their relief, were among the labours and the purest pleasures of his life ; and though worth and virtue were more especially sure to find in him a strenuous friend ; yet were not his kindnesses refused to those whose claims upon his bounty might seem to be forfeited by their mis conduct, and even by their injurious treatment of himself. Nor was !his truly Christian spirit discernible only in the almost unparalleled exteet of his daily charities, but also in every species of prompt assistance, of advice, of kindness, affection and good-will, that an extensive intercourse with mankind, and a constant inquiry into their various exigencies could suggest. Here, too, every thing was done with that Christian grsce, which doubly enhanced the value of the benefit ; in a way so modest, i so unobtrusive, so little desirous to be seen of men, that oftentimes it . i I might with truth be said, " the left hand knew not what the right hand did ." t " In the same unaffected and unassuming manner, Was exercised tbat most difficult, perhaps of all Christian attainments, sell-controul, the mastery over the turbulent and unruly affections of the mind,w hich furmi another conspicuous feature in his character. Daily eneaged ire public business; perpetually called into conflict with keen and powerful opps. nents ; ever at his post of duty ; shrink tug not from personal toil or personal obloquy ; we yet find his very assailants acknowledsi!el:3 candour, his gentleness, his never failing equanimity, under every i.e• vocation." • Matthew v. 45.' t Niatth. vi. 3. MR. PERCTI',IL. Among the fusions of admiration and esteem that have been pomel forth to the memory of the ever-to-be-deplored. Pk:RCS:VAL, the " TRIBUTE TO THE 1\ lEMORY OF THE HONOURABLE SPENCER PERCEVAL," • BY A FR:END, appears to us triumphantly to bear away the palm. But let:the followirg extract from the above beautiful little Poem serve as the tent I.;s assertion " Yet not for thee—Oh SPENCFIO. not for thee Doth gAitle pity mourn—for thou, though tuna In life's meridian —suddenly, Ahts ° num all the world deems fair, bast but exchanged A poor, a pt rishable teneintnt, For joys, that to the heart of man surpass Conception—that the eye hath not beheld The ear not heard—eternal! intinite!— No—'tis thy country's loss we thus deplore; Fur thee, sad widow, and thine offTritig, Oita Bereft, these tears are shed.—for _ye, Alas ! This stroke hath sorely smitten ; and this stom Bath, with a whirlwind's fury, y o ur support, r • The source of all your tairest hopes, laid low. Ye tender ohjcets of his fond regard, 'Who mourn thus deeply for a father's loss, Ye who were wont to tevi his ii,uarcliati