The National Register.
London, England, 1816-03-11 00:00:00

•

No. 427.—V0L. VIII.

WATERLOO SERMONS.

EXTRACT OF A FERMON LATELY PREACHED BEFORE

FERDC ',ND VII. OF SPAIN.

WE, last week, made a few observations on the
tendency which discourses delivered on the occasion of
spur victories, or discourses which, having for their pri-
mary object to recommend charity to those who suffered
by them, diverged into culogiums on the glory which
we had acquired in arms, had to cherish a military spirit
in the country; and we stated the inconsistency which,
in our opinion, existed between that spirit and the spirit
of the Gospel; between an attempt to encouraw it and
the legitimate duties of a Christ .a minister. We have
another objection, equally strong, to the general tenor
of sermons composed on occasions of national vicissitude,
whether of a prosperous or adverse kind, and &livered on
days of authoritative convocation. They are almost al-
ways full of politics, prognostication, and prejudice.
They degrade religion, by tenting it into an unnatural
alliance with subjects of temporary interest ; they diis-
h►nour Providence by converting present appearances hn-
perfectly understood, or, perhaps, culpably perverted, into
• comment upon the eternal des4rns or unseardiable ways
of Heaven ; and they sometimes outrage the moral
nature of the Deity, by making human passsions the in-
terpreters of his will, and inferring his approbation or
disapprobation from events that affect partial interests, or
gratify deceitful propensities. In short, they sometimes
convert the pulpit into a hustings, where the preacher
becomes a political haranguer, instead of a religious in-
structor.

It is a truth, as certain as it is important and conso-
latory, that every event is under the controul, and every
being at the disposal, of the governing Spirit of the uni-
verse ; that the fate of an insect us well as of a monarch,
the fill of a sparrow as well as of an empire, comes
within the range of his superintendence and direction.
Nothing is so insignificant as to escape his notice, no-
thing so exalted as to resist his power. All our hopes
and expectations of ultimate order, amid partial and
temporary derangement, are derived front this doctrine ;
all our resignation in adversity, and our gratitude for
the blessings of our lots, have a continued reference to its
belief. But though we may rest convinced that the world
is under the guidance of an omniscient and almighty
ruler; though we may feel grateful to him for every
degree of happiness which, in conformity with the moral
principles of our nature, lie permits us to enjoy; though
wemay rely on the wisdom and benevolence that charue-
terise each of his operations, with a reference to the uni-
versal scheme of things; it would be the height ofpresump-
fion in us to decide upon the nature of his intentions in
particular combinations of circumstances as declared by
events, the bearings, tendencies, and connections of which,
must necessarily transcend our limited capacities and im-
perfect knowledge. The aspect of an isolated event,
whether prosperous or adverse, is no test of divine favour
or divine displeasure, nor must we criticis;, the divine
conduct by rules derived from our narrow views of justice
and expediency. To do so, would necessarily lead us to
Oppose our partial interests to the order of the universe,
and to identify the views of our weak understandings, or
the wishes ofour corrupted h cart s, with the plan s ofunerring
wisdom and infinite benevolence. To what monstrous con-
tradictions and impieties has not the indulgostee of this pre-
ramption led? The divine Haler of the universe has been
made a party to the most revolting acts of injustice, and
has been supposed to give his sanction to such conduct in
his creatures, as at once outraged his nature and thoir
own. Malamtet and his followers, by their interintta-
tion of the designs of Providence, hail, UM they believed,
the countenance of heaven in massacrelng millions of
their kilaw-eraaturts, and in degrading and darkening
the minds of a great portion of the human race: for ages,
• which do not vet seem to be drawing to a dose : and in
our time, the tyrant of France from the field of battle,