The National Register.
London, England, 1816-03-10 00:00:00

No. l'27.—Vw,. VIII.

SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 1816.

~• '

Piticic 9 )31

9DunDa7 Anuiscmcnto.
"Divide SUIMAI from the Week.--Smmesoreoits!

heape,l with the victims of his atrocious ambition, issued
orders to his clergy to demonstrate the benevolent sup-
port of God in the victories which he had gained, and to
direct towards hint the tribute of natural gratitude.
We do not as; nor do we mean in the most distant man-
ner, to insinuate that the _victories of our country have
been gained in the cause of injustice, or that any of our
clergy would have eulogised them if they had been so
beat. We object to this habit of interpreting authorita-
tively the will of Heaven from particular events; be-
cause, if allowed to one set of men, it cannot be retlised
to another; and because, while we cannot determine the
exact degree of wisdom and principle that would render
it innocent, it is liable to much abuse as commonly ex-
ercised by the i;,morant and the prejudiced, leading some
pious men to presnmptuous enthusiasm, and continuing
the seolfer and the infidel in their wretched impiety. If
we draw a certain inference with regard to Gods will
from the result of a particular scheme, what is to hinder
our neighbour from exercising a critical judgment that
maw lead him to conclusions quite the reverse of ours; and
who shall decide which of us is the right, but a being equally
liable to error with ourselves? •Suue of the Britons in the
time of Cromwell indulging this habit, though pious men,
proceeded to such a height of presumption, as in their ad-
dresses to their Maker, to direct him how he should pro-
ceed in particular circumstances; and to tell him, if he did
not set according to their suggestiow, he would show a
disregard to his own interests. Let us not theretbre
presume to offer ourselves as 'interpreters of the will of
God in particular aspects of things ; let us not decide
what are his intentions, from our narrow views ; and,
above all, let not worldly politic, or the passing tupiei
of the day, be mixed up with the great interest of our
eternal salvation ; or detailed from the pulpit, along with
the doctrines, precepts, and promises of the oracles of
truth.. We have before us a sermon addressed to Ferdi-
nand VII. in the Royal Chapel at Madrid last year, by
•a Divine, whose titles till a greater space than our Church
Creed. In this- courtly composition, a passage of which
we shall translate, the preacher shows the perversion
of his moral judgment, by praising Philip 4. the most

ebe !petrol geonttor.

_
NUMBER IV.
W.V. POPULI 111/PI22A IST LSI.

WATERLOO SERMONS.

EXTRACT OF A SERMON LATELY TRENCHED ARTORE
FERDINAND VII. OF SPAIN.
WE, last Sunday, made a few observations on the
tendency which discourses delivered on the occasion of
our victories, or discourses which, having fur their pri-
mary object to recommend charity to those who suffered
by them, dive/1,4d into eulogiums 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 un attempt to encourage it and
the legitimate duties of a Christian minister. We have
another objection, equally strong, to the general tenor
of sermons composed on occasions of national vListitude,
whether of a prosperous or adverse kind, and delivered on
days of authoritative convocation. They are almost al-
ways full of polities, prognostication, and prejudice.
They degrade religion, by fireing it into an unnatural
alliance with subjects of temporary interest ; they dis-
honour Providence by converting present appearances im-
perfectly understood, or, perlmps, culpably perverted, into
a comment upOn the eternal designs or unsearchable ways
of Heaven ; . and they scatetimes outrage the moral
nature of the Deity, by making human jrasisions the in-
terpreters of his will, and inferring his approbation or
disapprobation from events that afiect partial interests, or
gratitY deceitful propensities. In short, they sometimes
convert the pulpit into a hustinv, where the preacher
becomes a political haranguer, instead of a religious in-
etructor.

1 12ip6itit6t • art

It is a truth, as certain as it is
latory, that every event is ;ender the controul, and every
being at the disposal, of the governing Spirit of the uni-
verse ; that the thte of an insect as well as of a monarch,
the 11111 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 from this doctrine ;
all our resignation in adversity, and our gratitude for
the blessings of our lots, have a continued reference to its
belief. Rut though we may rest convinced that the world
is under the guidance of an omniscient and almighty
ruler ; though we may feel gratefill to him fur every
degree of happiness which, in cunformity with the moral
principles of our nature, be permits us to enjoy; though
wemay rely on the wisdom and benevolence that chortle-
turise each of his operations, with a reference to the uni-
versal scheme of things; it would be the height ofpreaunir-
4ion in us to decide upon the nature of his intentions in
particular combieations of circumstances us 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 fheour
or divine displeasure, nor must we criticise the divine
conduct by rules derived from our narrow views of justice
and expediency. 'l'o do so, would necessarily lead us to
oppose our partial interests to thc.order of the universe,
and to identify the views of our weak understandings, or
the wishes of outs corrupted hearts, with the plunsofttnerring
wisdom and infinite benevolence. To what monstrous con-
V•adietions anti impieties has not the induloace at this pre-
sumption led? The divine ruler of the universe lets been
mat. a party to the most revolting acts of injustice, and
been impposed to give his sanction to such conduct in
his creatures, as at once outraged his nature and their
oven. Iltahontet and his followers, by their interpreta-
tion of the designs of Providence, had, as they believed,
the animal:owe of heaven in mnsaocre'u)g trillions of
their tidlow-creatures, and in degrading and darkening
the minds of a great portion of the human race: for ages,
which do not yet seem to be drawing to a close: and in
our time, the t, rant of Vrance from the field of battle,

successor, the present occupier of the Spanish throne, the
course of polities %Irbil+ he ought to pursue ; not as being
wise and expedient, but as being dictated by Heaven, or,
what in his opinion is the same thing, by the Spanish
priests. " If you doubt my word, Sire, listen to the great
Teresa of Jesus, my mother, the glory of Spain, and
the joy of the celestial Jerusalem. This enlightened vir-
gin was tenderly and passionately attached to the throne
of St. Ferdinand, which you now worthily till. She en-
tertained a lrtrtiettiar love to, and maintained a particu-
lar intercourse with, your immortal ancestor, the
,just and
Me prudent Philip 11. ; nn I distressed to see him sur-
rounded by so manv courtiers, who concealed from him
the truth, she resolved, from affection, to declare it to
him, saying within her own compassionate heart, that it
was better that she should undertake a task that seemed
above her, than that the King and the kingdom should
be ruined. She could not ascend this chair to preach,
because, though she was a doctor (doctora) of the
Church, her sex forlsule her. But as embassadress of the
Eternal King, she communicated to him, in two lines of
a letter, as much as I have mid, and desire to sty, in this
sermon. The tidlowing arethe words, 'lleinein'ter, Sire,
Neal Soul was an elect and anointed King,. Upon the
reading of this paper, that grevt Prince bethought him-
self a little, and then recognized the warning of God,
through the mouth of that celestial heroine. He repaired
certain errors that endangered his throne ; he watched
over and secured Me happiness of his kingdom ; and at- '
Mined such a store of perieetion, that in a short time after
his death, Santa Estephania of the Apoidles, the daughter
of Sta. Terestytiw trim depart triumphantly from the tri-
bunal of God, favoured by the most May virgin, (Marv)
to whom he had performed signal so-viers. I, Sire, do
not possess the fervor of spirit which distinguished Santa
Teresa of Jesus, but I yield to no one is my love towards
you, in my desire to promote your ftlicity, and that of
your kingdom. You know my sentiments, because I love
you ; I do not flatter you ; I tell you the truth ; I repeat
to you, along with my holy mother, " Remember. 0 im-
mortal Ferdinand, that Saul was a King, that he wits
anointed by his prophet, that in the end he was rejected
by God, that Le lost his life, his soul, and his kingdom.
for not fitltilling his obligations."--Such are the threats
by which that lusieificant cresture is directed t,) submit
to the asce and to oppress his sub-
jects at 7 is one of the dangers of

the secret cause, are at least anxious to ascertain the laws
of its operation.
in my last paper, I deprecated the too common, but
unnecessary. interference in slighter etees of catarrhs, or
colds, as a neasure likely to be attended with more injury
than benefit. I repeat the prohibition ; although I ant
aware, that it may be objected to me, as is frequently
done to all medical precepts, that experience contradicts
my reasonieg, and that many people do actually pursue
the measures I forbid, and get rid of the complaint. I
admit the fact, but not the inference ; I consider it as an
additional proof' that the salutary operations of the lie
medicatrix, of which I have beft.sre spoken, are, in ordi—
nary cases, not to be diverted by the most preposterous
intethrence ; but it should be recollected, that the con.
duct which in a robust constitution, and at a vigorous
period of life, may he adopted with impunity, will per..
haps, in a more wealened state of the system, or when
the seeds of disease are already lurking in the habit, be
f: Mowed by irreparable mischief: There is not, howevett,
the mine reason fbr abstaining from preventive means,
previous to the exposure of a person to the exciting causes
of disease, cold, and moisture. When it is known, that
these are to be encountered, it may be proper, not only
to protect the surface of the body from their influence, by
warmer clothing, but also to fortify the system against
their temporary action, by increasing vascular excitemeni;
and with this view alone can the taking some stimulating
drinks be allowable. A glass of wine, or some diluted
spirits, may, under such circumstances, be uselid ; and
the custom of guarding ageing the cold and damp night
air by these mauls, after having been shut up in a warm
aistrtment, is not so liable to reprehension as that against
which I before exatiined. It is genendly according as
any measure is well or ill-timed, that it becomes salutary
or prejudicial.
The MONITOR has an opportunity of seeing disease
in all its variety and under all its lirms ; in its simple
anti natural condition, and in what may be call, d its
manufactured gate, when the ill-judged and officious in.
terferenee of btmgling artists has so olecored the natural
character of a complaint, as to render it almost impossible
to be recognized, t•xcept by an experienced eye. Of the
fruits of these ft.trantages he intends the public to parti.
eipate. Ile not nuftrequently becomes dernier
especially to persons in' the poorer class." of society,
after repeated a:mliotti..ns to, and fruitless trials
practitioners, either their money or their pa

-uarrying

, . ' - ' • ':,- li
• .
, , • , 4.1. -t.
,
!cif
.41 t
•
~ ~ .• ..,
.. . ~
. „i•• .
, ...
.......4,. 4,,, 434041riv+. •.. ).-,,, ~..,. . • ..
_.,
i._,.. .
'• - . , .f
Intir Bing, tonititutton anD 11,41D0. -,,,,. ....„ •..... .
,1

NO considerable variation has taken place in the rela-
tive proportion of diseases, during the last week ; so fie
:is any can be noted, rheumatic affections seem to be ra-
ther on the increase. The high winds and the rceurrance
of sharp frosts, which we have lately experienced, may,
in dome measure, account ihr this ; since it is well batten,
that the sk.litest changes of temperature will sometimes
aggravate Chronic rheumatic pains ; cyst M so griat a
degree, that those pertams affected with them, posses., is
the variation of their feelings, a tolerably cc:preset berome.
ter, and are not unfrtsquently able, before they arise from
their bed, to tell from what quarter of the compass the
wind blows. Some cases of acute rheumatism, with cone
siderable febrile affection, have lately occurred, in which
it was necessary to employ bleeding and other means-of
lowering the system: Not only has the disease-baen met •
with in adults, but also in younger subjects : two girls
about twelve years of age were each seized with sympe
toms of fi.wer ; a severe cold, chill, mid the consequent
stage of re-action, followed by pains and swellings of the
larger articulations, the wrists, knees, and ancles. Smart
purging, and the usual febrifuge medicines, were effectual
in combating the disease. Both of these patients were ir►
a humble walk of life ; and the exposure to cold and damp
during their customary employments, may have been the
cause of the febrile determination to the extremities,
which, under other circumstances, might have seized upon
some internal organ. In very young subjects, febrile dis-
onlers have been accompanied with considerable affection*
'of the head ; and some few have been carried oaf; either
by inflammation of the brain, a the consequent effusios
of water into the ventricles of that organ. In some cases
of pulmonary disease, not:only in old people, in whom
such a cireumstance is frequent, but in persons of middle
age, after the infkunmation had been subdued, an affection
of the head, to a very considerable degree, took place.
This fact of the conversion of diseases, is a very curious
land a very important one, -
attention of medical men,

.

.1!0,

rendancv of the Church
its it, siich
•LOit.
' . .
• •
tt • •.. .\,)r
-__••
•

rvre.v4.
Dre
V 1
* /eV
. _