The National Register. — London, England, 1811-03-10 00:00:00

T 1 IE PULt-um - AL DISCUSSION'S.. • • Devotions self shall steal a. thought from Heaven, One human tear shall drop, and be forgiven.—Purr.. • • P lONA He is wise who is wise unto salvation ; but amid the discord . of opinions and the. confusion of paths which lead to eternal bliss, it is not a little presumptuous in any individual to pro rounce his own exclusively the best; yet such is the temerity of • many, that each undertakes to affirm he has found the oniy one which is right. It is indeed to be deplored, that Polemical discussion has esta blished devotion into a science in which the heart and the under- standing are forbidden to interfere. Certain rules are arranged for our use which we are to adopt under penalty of eternal ' prediction ; and the voice of man dares to pronounce the sen tence of a supreme Judge. Charity,. the sweetest, the most ex tendol, the most% siiblime emotion of the human breast is no viAtft as an impulse of the soul—its only stamp of merit is the signet of And good deeds which raise the oppressed, which dry up the tears of sorrow; which make glad the heart of the widow and the orphan; which, draws humble virtue from . the shade; which dispenses mercy like heaven itself, arc written in water, whilst the rigid orthodox of a harsh and unfeeling be li.2-vt,r are inscribed in brass. That religious forms, • rules, and regulations positive in them vivcs, and enforceable by law, are essential to the well being of society none can dispute. There are doubtless men who have no hearts to feel, or no understanding for in \ estigation, or who, if they had, are too much occupied by the avocations of life to , model thtir own opinions : who are therefore glad to he told _ - what is right ; and are content to believe that the adoption of this right is the security of .their everiatting welfare. But it is dangerous to the cause of religion, and has for ages proved fatal to the lives of millions, that the inculcation of one doctrine is the denuncialion of all others; and that ignorance which knows not • how to &seriminate, is pi - mitred to steep the rod of his creed In ' 0 the bitterness of a narrow and vindictive spirit, that there with he may scourge his neighbour. Instead of com passionating 7 the errors of principle (for such they must be termed) and en- - deavouring by examples of kindness and humanity to make pro se!rtes of the supposedly condemned; they point at them the fi . sger of scorn, the fire of wrath, or the arrow of ridicule. If the hated object is well in the world, he is the favourite of Satan ; if unfortunate, it is his just punishment How inconsistent, how wavering in his legislature do they make the God of all Good . ness ! His word is the organ of their passions ! Ills decries are announced by their voice ; and reasonable beings see, hear, and believe them ! That the controversies on faith and grace are altogether unin- • tiligible to enlightened minds is peculiarly to be lamented, be cruse conscience is a barrier which if overleaped by one vice, a tho. - 4,sand others may uninterruptedly follow. The prepossession of his beinz, , a faro ured saint, thus makes him become a har- 'kneel sinner, whilst those who have less presumption are liar • ras . .seci by fears that render them continually uncertain whether they are right or wrong : their reliance on Divine protection, • and their hope of future glury being in a manner taken from them and intricate systems amicontradictory impressions substituted in their steadi These controversies, in principle and in effect, affirm, that to be good is not to be holy, nur to be holy is not. to bc good. Could we take our precept and example from the u 6ciipture alone, all would be well; for where can we find S l 2th ZiS the Apostles and their Master present to our view -14 and hait - ition ; that meek, that forliving spirit which said " go and sin ru iuote !" '!'hat warm and humane zeal which aban doned ail the goods Qf this world that they might guide their felluw creatures to a better. The enthusiasm of devotion ex ' CeeLls all ()tiller .entlitasiasmn—it enwraps the heart—it raises us abov: th , .• littleness of earthly cares, yet recuncilos us to !tardily Rri 1 ~,..r duties, as the TER . fulfilment of all we hopes—of all we desire ! Fanaticism is the subvertion of devo tiln—it is the bitterest of all human passions—it stings the spirit with fiery--it envenoms' hatred towards all mankind—it levels ail that is great and tramples on all that is humble—it persecutes talents and virtue—it strews the world with thorns—it sets up self as the sot,: dictator of the human - racc. If a being, actuated by this horrible principle, should :ever stoop " from his iniagi " nary elevation to confer a benefit,. it is but to mortify the *al)- " ject of it. His pity is so cruel and insulting, his justice is so " rigid, his charity so severe, his zeal so bitter, his contempt sts " much like hatred, that even the insensibility of-the rest of the " world is less cruei than his compassion. His love 'for Heaven " serves him for an excuse for loving nobody on earth, nor does 46 his whole life afford one instance of a s:iicere triendship or " affection. 'File more detached he affects to he from the world, 46 the more he expects from it; and one would think his self de " dication to God is but a pretext to exercise authority over his " creatures." FIDELIS. SPII AG- TLE. Monday a very large concourse of Agriculturists assembled in Mr. Sadler's yard, in Goswell-street, to examine the many fine animals which were exhibited for his Lordship's Prize Cups and Implements of Agriculture, &c. THE DlNNER.—Tuesday Mr. Sadler's yard was most mime. rously and respectably attended by Noblemen and Gentlemen, and Agriculturists from all parts of the kingdom. About five o'clock near 400 persons sat down to a most excellent dinner, given by Lord Somerville, in Freemasons' Hall. His 'Lordship in the Chair, supported by the Duke of Ledford, and a numeroua body of Noblemen and Gentlemen. As soon as tfilitloth was drawn, his Lordship gave-- " The King."---" The Prince Regent," which was received with much applause.—" The Plough worked by good Oxen.' " Associates in esent and Friends absent." His Lordship then rose and said, that having among them a man who had done more to benefit his country in the article of fine wool than any other, he could not do less than give the health of 44 Dr. Parry, ' " which was received with much ap plause ; and the Doctor, in a neat and short speech, returned thanks. " The Navy and Army"—" The Fleece covering a good frame, with sufficiency of fat."—" The Land of Cakes, and Sir John Sittelair." The Duke of Bedford ; Earls, Thanet, Darnley, &c. ' • Lords, Somerville, Castlereagh, Dundas, Elliott, &c.; Sirs, William Curtis, John &bright, Cotterell, Sac. • J. C. Curwen, Esq. John M. Cripps, Monritue Bur g oyne, Baker, John Fane, f. Greg, Robert Byng, Thompsonßonar, and a foreign Lady of distinction, Thamas Mellish, William Northey, Mony Hill, &c.; Hon. Drummond I4urrell, Rev. Dr. Bate Dudley, &c. Lord Somerville exhibited a pair of seven - year old Devon Oxen, which had been shewn last March in a barren state from plough, and weia lied at that time, their weigh became 150 st. 71b. and 150 st. after having worked 101 days each ;: since which they have been grazed on.his Lordship's farm, uear Cobham, and since travelled twenty I nitles . to the Show.—`(key were on Mon day weighed again, by Shepherd's Portable . Cattle. Machine, engaged by his Lordship for the purpose ; and their weights now proved, in the presence of a large circle of spectators, 20ist. 61h. and 209 st. 11b. In the afternoon they were sent out of the yard to he slaughtered ; and yesterday their carcasses were exhibited and weighed, and an exact account rendered of their ofials. This thorough and satisfactory kind of information his Lordship in tends to furnish to the Public, respecting the Oxen to be shown in future at his Show. Lositi Somerville shewed a pair of five-year old Devon Oxen, now in work, and which_ drew his Lordship's waggon with sheep to the Show, which were examined and weighed in the yard, viz. Pretty 191st. 51h. and Broad 163 st. 51b. his Lordship also chewed a pair of seven-year old Dever. Oxen, from work, which weighed as follows, viz. Truelove 176 st. ab. and Merry 185 st. 4th. Mr. Henry King, jun. slim% d a pair of seven-year old Devon Oxen, bred by Lord Somerville, and worked 101 days by his Lordship, which travelled seven miles to the Show. Mr. Warren, jun. shewed a pair of Devon Oxen, bred, worked 60 days, and fed by him, which travelled 17 mile* , to the:Shove/a Mr. Lucas, a pair of Devon Oxon, bred by Mr. Bindon, and fed by himself, travelled 107 miles. The Duke of Bedford shewed a pair of seven-year Old Here., ford Oxen, bred, and worked 1.. a) dayi, and f a d by him; travelled I: 42 Milt's. migg, r • L