The National Register. — London, England, 1816-06-16 00:00:00

I I.tsee& 1‘" 1 0. her No. 1.36.—V0i.. IX. kunbap Antitcs'ementg. ANCIENT PULPIT ELOQUENCE. Na 11. REIGNS ON EDWARD 111. AND RICHARD 11. DURING the latter part of the reign of Edward the Third, and the beginning of that of Richard the Second, the principal persm who attained any celebrity for his ta lents as a preacher, was the well known John Wiclife, or DeWicliffe, so called from the place of his birth, anobscure village near the town of Richmond, in Yorkshire. Endowed with powers of mind infinitely supetior to those of all his contemporaries, with the most undaunted courage, and with indetistigable zeal, this wonderful man was the first who sought to 'teak the chains which au perstition, and an hypocritical policy, had imposed upon the world. Despising all the power of his formidable antagonists, he boldly attacked them at every assailable point, and, with such extraordinary success, that the ef fects of his preaching were accounted little less than mi raculous. Baffled 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 out an equal. Knighton, one of their own historians, assures us, that, in the course often years, " almostevery second person in England had become a convert to his doctrines." _ . ►ohn Wicliffe rose f:om an humble rank of life, and, before he was forty years of age, had attained the high est distinctions 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 a4dition to his talents, in fixing his celebrity. Atter Weelife had opiiNtrffebtred Willie*" the chavt pion of reform, the clergy in their alarm appealed to the Sce 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 tint his heretical opinions ; but, protected by the Duke of Lancaster, and by others of the nobility, no cen sure was passed upon him, either at this, or at any time afterwards, durin" , his whole life ; and at length, in the year 184, he died of a paralytic affection, at his rectory 4)1 Luttcrworth, in the county of Leicester. Of the writings of Wiclifle there are few extant, ex cept those which he drew up itgainst the papists, and of which the principal was on the subject of the sacrament, and published at Nurenburg, in 1546, under the title of " A Treatise on the Sacrament," called " WYCKLIFFF:'`z VYCKETT, tvhich he made ix the Days of Richard II." He translated the New Testament into English, which has lately been republished. Amongst the Harlelan MSS. in the British Museam, No. 1730, there is a quarto MS. on vellum, of about 196 pages, entitled " Postik" These consist of a collection of sermons fin. every Sunday in the year: and, although many works have erroneously been ascribed to Wickliffe, this MS. appears to contain internal evidence of its authenticity. In the same collection, No. 2585, are his notes on the Pater nester or Lord's prayer ; and sonic other discourses. We shall insertan extract from the latter. DPTY TO GOD AND OPIt NEIGHBOITIL " Thou shalt love the Lord thy . God of all thine heart, of all thy life, and all thy mind, and of all thy strength or raight ; and thy neighbour as thypN. On this: two commandments hengeth all the law and prophets.•• Then, thou lo .est God of all thine• heart, that is to ray, of all thy understanding ; wken tho•t she; est all thine understanding principally to know the endless might and righteausnesa—the endless wilsiom, and -charity, and mac) , of thy Gnu ; how God is ready, and willing, and kormin, (able) to ienge sin, and punish wicked men, that widen (will) not I.:ace their sin ; aid how God is merciful and konnin (abl:•) and .mighty to forgive them that have very rcpentence of their wicked sins. And, for this undererriding of thy God, thou must flee and desert sin of all thy power and thy wit; and keep and teach the oommandments of God. and maintain righteou.soess, and good liking, and clarity. Also then Invest God of thy life, when thou sits's:stall thy life, both in youth and age, and in prosperity and adversity, to the• worship of God, in cleanness and bolyne•ss, hearing and praising thy God, for all his 1.71 We, and podness, and mercy, and for all disease.. and tribulation •that he sendeth to the• in this life. Airs) !.west God of all thy mind when thou shapes; all th y mind.—t. think on the goodness of God how he made all things of noeght, not for his own need, ne (nor) ad vantage, but of Lis its n prxines.:, and for pmfit of his true creatures, .as le ;rood angels and gout' mat ; atti to have taint: (meditate) of Christ's atonal( rePLtt try+ Our Win, e'ontitution anb SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 1816. wilful and p sinful passion, that dial not for his own sin, but for our great aim ; and to hav: mind on the drwulful day of dome, and on the end!ess bliss in !leaven to good m:n ; and on the endless strong pains in Hell to wicked men that wolle never amend their life. Also thou locest God of thy strength or might when thou spendest all the niights of thy seul ant body in serving of God, and algutis (always) that they will he subje::t to reason, and in all things confitrined to thewill of God; and that thou ne waste not the strength of thy body in vanities and idle ness of sin; but k:ep it in good measure, to do good deeds to worship of God, anti 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 despise sits, awl maintain truth with all thy power, konnin (ability), and great desire of righteousness; and then thou lovcae well God of all thy strength. Theft lovest thy neighbour as tkieflf, when thou wiliest him good and charity, assist him. And be thou glad and joyful help him therein : and, and sorrow therefore, and thereof by devout prayer, by of thine own good life; and purgatory, and in , and by comfort of the t that by God's mercy and life. If he be 4! welfare ) goods, with true life. _ glad thereof, and help e (no) manner of good of this world. If he be at mal ease of body or full of need of worlilliche chattels, so help him as thou wouldest be holpen thyself. if thou nett in the same disease, and algatis (always) as thou shosiblest wilne to he relieved by God's law of other mighty men. And, net only love this thy neighbour at home, that is. thy friend, but a strange mon and thy enemy t for all we hen brethren in kind, and so neighbours, and we ben holden by charity to being men into good life with all out konnin and might. both ia body anisoul; as thou shralclst, by ch if thy tiaighbour be in good life toward God, I thereof, and nourish him, comfort him, and I if he be in sinful life, have great compassion an of thy tannin and Might, bring him out thereo lady counselling and seoehing. and ensesuple a by Areal of rest pains, both in this world. , Roll; by on** of the swat mercy of God endlsesbliss er bow t non be may get tl very remain* and snnending of his wicked lif of body, and pinspenty of worldliche (worldly] keeping God's hestis (commandments), be 1. him therein, and spare him not for ne (no) m PARISH CHARITY SCHOOLS. --.181.-- Thursday being the Anniversary Meeting of the Charity Children educated in the Parish School. , within the 3letropoli; and its suburbs, they went in procession to St. Paul's Cathe dral. A more exhilarating spectacle to the eye of sensibility this capital does not produce. The day being fine, it was de lightful to behold upwards 01 10,000 children of both sexes, all healthy looking, and clad in homely, but decent and coin fortable raiment, each school headed by their respective mas ters and mistresses, and each parish preceded by their beadles in full lar•ed liveries, with their batons, marching like rei t % merits in grand solemn procession, along the streets leading to the Cathedral, where seats were erected for their accommoda tion. The ' , light was such as must impress the contemplative mind with feelings that monarchs might city, and of which the votaries of dissipation, whose gratifications arc bounded by sensuality, can have no conception; their minds rescued from the trammels of ignorance, many of whom might, but for these iastitrtions, have become pests of that society of which there is now a fair expectation of their being useful, and some of them, perhaps, ornantental members. The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, in their state carriages; the Recorder, and several of the Aldermen, accompanied by their Ladies, in their carriages; tke City Marshals, in full uniform, on horseback ; Marshalmen, street-keepers, and constables, on font, arrived in grand pro cession from the Mtutsion-Howse. The Chat ch sea. extremely crowded, and a most excellent charity sermon was preached by the very Rev. Dean of Chester. 'Jr Deana, dobilote Leo, the Cornqati.ifi Anthem, I landel's 'Grout/ Choeux, the Lord oar Golf, 6:e. %% ere 6111Iff by the Gentlemen of the Choir; who also eltannted the Psalms, the children joining in the eborusses. The children also song the tooth, 101 th, and 113th Psalms, in admirable style-- and u Hymn, pouring forth thanks to their common Father, and imploring blessings on their earthly benefactors. In n word, the whole was exerntt•d iit a manner that reflerted the highest credit nn the condor. r or c. Among the company present we particularly noticed their Roy 11 Itiglinesses the Doke and Otichess of Cumberland. ECLIPSE. In an observation made on Sunday evening last, the truth of the existence of the paraselene was clearly ascertained, for one was disceruible by the naked eye. The sky was so en tirely clear, and the moon itself so free from any halo at the commencement of that shadow passing, that a very lit von ruble opportunity was afhirded for pativat remark. A paraselene, or mock moon, width ill S 01111: tespCcts resembles the second rainbow in its faintness and instability, was, ftw some time before the shadow touched the moun's phase, visible rather lower than usual, an nearer to its opposite or western side. 'the calculations in all the hooks were pros eil to b, strirtls correct, mid to correspond with the time; for it enninienced precisely at 30 mins. as secs. after 11, mid crossed precisely at :it mins. after 3 in the morning; but the clouds collected, and rendered 4 except to great glasses, the latter part of the eclipse obscure to the naked eye,. It was observable at the same time at Cambridge and Royston. The eclipse is accurately deli nested h 3 astronomers, but they do not in the least allude to these airy appearances called paraselem s; probably un ac count of their varying progress mid their oneertaMty; yet, as they are so bitimately connected a ith the planets. and arise front their great strength of light and magnitude, they deserve much elucidation so as to clear them from any fanciful de •cription. It appears, that this eclipse was calculated to be visible to all the states of Europe and Africa, to the western perts of Asia, and the east of :tmerita. lint in Siam, China. Clinton. Tartary, and the east of Asiu, the forepart only wouki be visible, as the moon would set with them before the eclipse would tenni:tate. And the reason why it was its visible hi our latitude is, that at the beginningshe was %erica! over us at mid - night tinder 23.5. south, lat. and ti. 14.!. east long from London ; and at the lime of the middle she was vertical under 23. 19. south, in longitt:.49. west from London : at the end, likewise v ertical, watle23,2ll.soutla, iu long. 11. 13. wrA from London. PP.ICE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, Mon 9A Y, Jurte 10. The Duke of St. Alhan's took the malls and kis seat. No busiui.o of interest liras transacted. 'cur.%nsv, Jury 11. The Earl of DONOUGHMOHE pi esenteil a Petition (roils tho Catholics of Ireland, and..Ead Oliry presented one from the Catholics of England, praying that tho civic desahilities under which they labour may be rentoye , l. fh. Petitions wkie ordered to be taken into consideration en Friday ae`onight. On th motion far the second reading of the Alien Bill, Fort Ftrzwii.totAst moved, that the Bill be read a second lino! hs day six mouths. On this question a long debate took place I but the Bill was read a second time; the numbers en the disk. mien being v —For the second readlag 54—Against it 17. WEIMESDA V, JVNE 12. The Judges being in attendance, Lurd Holland moved, that a question be Fait them, whether a person horn in any Colony of Great Britain should not be considered a native boon. stilkicet (and not an Alien), whenever he shonld choose to reside in this country; nithough the territory in a hich he was hour, should have been ceded by treat) to another State, or other wise separated from the liine's dominions. On this motion debate took place; but it was negatived without a division. The Alien lilt then went through a Committee, and was or dered to be read a third time on Tuesday. CLERGY BILL. The Archbishop of CAISTeRBURY, in calling the attention of the House to a measure he considered necessary for tits welfare of the Clergy, lamented the absence of Bishops who for the most part supported the Bill. The consequence was, that it had fallen to Isim to present to their Lordship• this Bill, and to state the purpose for which it was intended. Ihe lust and principal object of the Bill was, to bring under one Act the many Statutes in the Matsu: Book respecting the go vernment of the Church ; thus enabling the Clergy at once to understand what the law required of them, instead of cot. letting by piece-meal the various operations of distinct Arts 4 Parlliments. In pursuing that object,and proposam amend ;rents, h 4 Lordship begged to say, that there was no indi vidual more sensible than himself of the ineonvenience arising floe] frequent alterations of the law's; and nothing but a per si.asion of the necessity of the meastwe he had to introduce, ed uld have induced hint to bring it forward. Among the alter ations proposed by the Bill, there were three of a speedic character. There were others, to winch he attached perhaps less importance than belonged to them, The first clause related to spiritual persons holding farm', or benefices. 'fee second, to dissentious, which had occurred with re spect to residence. The third relates to the increase or duties which Curates have to discharge. In parishes where the incumbent is unable to perform the while of We duties, he is to have an assistant. With respect to the holding of ferias, the conditions proposed by the Act of Parliament were formerly such as to render the keeping of glebe perilous, —The Act of the 43d of the King had removed those restrie lions ; but the effect of it was, not to let the clergyman rent any land without the consent of his Bishop. It aas proposed by the Bill then brought in to let a clergyman rent twenty acres without consulting his Bishop; so that the Clergy could not be hurt by that clause. His Grace was anxious to express the fact, because it had been asked whether the intention was to confine clergymen to twenty acres of ground only. lie knew not how that opinion had gone forth ; as one of the first prop SiOaS in the Bill was, that nothing should affect the ocenpatieb of glebe land, let the extent hewhat it may.' Having :Merck-it shortly to the regulation with respect to residence, his lan cattle to the third clause. He ronsidered it almost impu sible for clergymen at all rimes to do the duty allotted them. The feet was, he had made inquiry; and the opinion was, that it is lawful for the Bishop to ascertain, abt titer the duties of the Church are pers'ormed ; and in cast• they are not, to call for i:s sistance. This Bill would enable the Bishop, then the &nits of the parish are not perfurnted, from the extensive population, or other cause, to call on the incumbent to nominate some assist ant, with a sufficient salary, to be settled by the intaimbrtit and the assintiirs curate. If he should neglect to comp's with the cull during three months, it will be in the power of the Bishop to nominate one him-elf, with a stipend not exceedine that al lowed by law. This was the general outline of the Bill; and ha Grace concluded by moving, " That it be read a tirst time, printed, and laid on the Tattle;" nut to be proceeded on, but with a view to resume it next Session. The Earl of HARkOWav approved the Bill, conceiving that it would greatly benefit the clergy, and it was theu re.td a flu thne.—Adjourned. JUNIt 13. Earl ti emir ' , Non entittiredolThoisters whether at illig 0f piddle tiistre , “an l heave tit\ a lion :Aid at thin period of pint:thud peace, there was any i n tention to put as cod to the otriee meeretary, or seeretary for the wur de parto.ent thy &lite+ of which he thout•lst me let be pet foretwd in the offices of the other itteri htrie , , itit vi ry little MialtiOtial ussi-titer,'. Earl BATH ciriT said, no motive induced him to continue the office, as far as he NV.IS com:erned, except the com ice ton that it was aleoilutely nt cessary for the public service. He declared, it itistr ad of being a •ineem e. or an useless office, it was a very laborious. one, from the great increase of our colonies at the time of creating thi- alloc in question, the nninhirs of British colonies did not exert d fifteen, and now th e y were thirty-two. The Earl of [Ay en root evpresseni similar sentiments ; f` iug, that the business of Ins own office at the treasury had in. remised fi%efolil since !SOL • t 4. The Earl of LIVERPOOL hilVillg moved the third reading if the Civil List Bill, . • Ear' GIMSVE.P.Oft at some length opposed its fnrther progresci on the ground of extrav igitnce. in seSerai Or its brim tits his Lordship adverted particielarlv to the diplomatic exp,mcis ; an 4 • N oticed the useless mission of . Mt. it . .lllllillit to LiJbOaj Listing; s . . •