The Sun.
London, England, 1821-02-05 00:00:00

WEEKLY RI, cao,t,PECT.

To a stranger, unacquainted Aith the genius cf
our Constitution, or with- oar Party Politics, it
might often appear as if OPPOSITION were ac-
tually engaged by :MINISTERS to play vrconiffirldle
in the Grand National Concert ; and, by :their

queslions, sometimes well, and sometimes ill-
timed, to afford opportunities of making answers,
by which the latter may, with a better grace,
dis play to the public their capability of managing
. .•
the affairs of-a
powerful Empire, than if they

were without apparent necessity, to start up and

boast of their oa-n pow-ers in buMble imitation of
• the who possess that talent, at least, of
the number which they unblushingly claim !
The past weck has afforded more than one in-
stance of these unfortunate questions, the answers
to-xi:kb have been the completest TRIUMPHS that
any Ministers -could-possibly wish for.
To allay the fears Of the OUTS as to ceitr
Fo-
r.Fiov POLICY, Lords LITERPOOt and CASTLE-
REAGH have presented them with a diplomatic
circular, which, whether-We regard it in a prac-
thalatheoretical, or even abstract point of view,
is one of, if not THE par excellence,.the
clearest, most mode:ate, constitutional, liberal,
and manly-STaTt PAPERS 'that have ever issued
•• from a Ministerialaoth'eari ! •
It, in all points, fully adheres to that Divine
precept; to which all the pages of mere. human
philosophy cannot produce- an equal—" to do
unto othersaas we wish them to do unto us."
—having the right and power of internal legis-
lation to-foreign States, and, expressly guarding
against any. -.foreign interference in -our own,
whilst it allows, nay maintains, upon the prin-
ciple, that Self Defence is the first law of nature,
and of nations, the right -of interference, when
Fever the proceedings-of other States shall threaten
the welfare- of theirneighbours. .
La reference to this, it is worth remarking that
BRITAIN stands distinct from all the rest of Ea-
ROPE! Let what will happen internally in'Eng-
land, even to Rebellion or Revolution, it can
never assail the political liberties of other States,
;though such an event, by bringing on us general
rain, must undoubtedly- be to them of great im-
portance ; but notso,- on the Continent, where Re-
volution in one state cannot fail to affect its
neighbours politically,• and thence to affect us
commercially, striking-at the root of our greatness,
s though not absolutely -destructive of our general
welfare.—ln comparison with other powers, then;
we have at least an equal right of interference ;
whilst they have really less with regard to us :
but, as to the exercise of that-right, we can have
no fears either cif eager hostility, or dull apathe-•
tic forbearance, whilst the SCEPTRE and TRIDENT
'of Britain are -swayed and directed by a SOVE•
• REIGN and NimsTrns, who are capable of form-
ing such high resolves with such judicious mode-
-ration, acid of expressing them in terms so digni-
fied, so decisive, yet so conciliatory !
Such then, notwithstanding all the fears and all
the jokes of Opposition, has been our policy at
Troppau, and such will it be at -Laybach; and
thence may we readily account for the reiterated
stories of personal quarrels between LORD
STEWART and the Austrian Minister, which,
-though totally unfounded in• fact, were so sedu-
lously spread, no doubt in hopes of producing
something like coolness between those high
viduals. But, on that subject, we- shall now be
- silent, as the Opposition Papers themselves have
been shaMed into a denial of their own lucubra7
lions, and forced to put on record that the BRITISH'
-MINISTER employed in that arduous diplomacy,
has already received from home a complete tip-
prove! of his conduCt by his Sovereign and the
Cabinet ! The second question whiCb has drawn
forth a forcible ministerial expose, was in regard
to the internal policy of BRITAIN, especially on
the point of finance. But what did it produce?
why ! information -that there is a surplus on the
past year's revenue—that no new loan is necessary,
nor even new taxes--unless indeed the Wines
can force us into a war about Napaes—that,
with peace, we may now -look forward to years
of progressive improvement-a--that the Sinking
Fund is again in activity.equal to that of 1792
that no funding will take place this year, be-
cause there is no more • Government paper
oat than what is absolutely necessary for circula-
tiona-nay, that more paper, Bank or Eichtzquer,
may soon be wanted, although money is plentiful,
because that at three ports, alone; of the -empire,
the last six- months exports have exceeded those
of the preceding corresponding period, in the sum
of THREE MILLIONS AND' .AN HALF!
Let us add, in regard to other events and intel-
ligence of the week, that the Law Courts are al-.
mostelear of causes, which we hope arises rathee
from an increase of good sense than a decrease of

money ; and that if it Were not for the time lost
In retitioni;:g, the.Pook would now be. able .to
earn thekotivn livelihood without calling on the
officeis.

Happy should we be indeed if that unhappy
qns-irkift Were at rest—that it is not- so, we con-
c:,•i've no impartial .person .will deny-, is owing to
the grhigs! 'Tis true they object not to the
larger sum proposed for &certain individual, even
when the,Mernher for Surrey gave them au oppor-
tunity. Perhaps they have. thought better of it,
since a former occasion, when 15,0001. was given
up as a sacrifice to their popularity ! The wise
Alderman of Hammersmith, indeed, -like the
wise " Hammerm. en of Perth," hammers on upon
the subject, and candidly confesses that I[EI
EST Y, and no -doubt her trusNfallozaers also, cares
not about her income,. as long as she has enough to
reward them ! Tuts too acknowledged in open con-
clave of Common Council :or Common Hall !
But is the nation to be taxed to pay them? No !
let us know what HER MAJESTY requires for her elf, and 'let her,have it—but, for the rest, if they
have not made enough by their bets and their
,Peer, let thern draw upon .their own boasted dis•
interestednesS, and wrap themselves up in their
furred and silken gowns, keeping themselves
quiet for the '.good of the nation !

I. G. N.

POR THE SUN,

HOLY ORDERS.—[No. XI

'MAP. vill.-,---ItEgOVUTION: •
The ;treat -differencein7contest here beNtcen
his Lordship and his opponent, is: respecting con-
version as to its':origin and its ettects. The for-
mer contends that in -general it ales place at
baptiSm,.-and at no other period, which haS been
sufficiently 'demonstrated- iii
that though we are thus become regenerate
(Q. 1). the infirmity of our naturstitl requires:
that we,should be daily renewed by the sante
ipiritthat the effect is cominonly- not intanta-
!teens or-sO'peilect as to have no longer need of re-'
novation (Q. 7.) but that, though there may have
been such extraordinary' instances of conversion
in- former ages, or such may arise in ages..to Conte,
yet they are called for by as extraordinary cir-
ctimstanceswhich demand • our supernatural
interposition--brit that the •common method of
the new birth, is more like the Work of nature,
gradual and- still going on, but never arriving .at
perfection in this life.. •
" At Baptism we receive the first element of
grace, which N the'free gift of God, and would
be received in vain, if we did not pray to be daily
renewed by the •same spirit—that we may bei
strengthened with might in the Inner man, and
sealed unto the day of redemption."
If the operation of grace were instantaneous,
it would be perceptible; as a flash of lightning
may be • distinguished from the 'cOmmotr'stream of
light, which is constantly flowing from its foun,-
tain.

Now, whatever our adversary may boast of
.a
" perceptible enjoyment and •experienCe of the
influence Of the Holy Spirit,"-to- the common
. apprehension of Christians, who have as much
right to the name, there Is no perception of
grace within .them, distinct from the operation of
their own understanding.
The Holy Spirit enlightens our-,minds to per,
ceive the truth,and animates our perception into life
and-action, by revealing to us in the clearest light,
the hope of our calling, and the glorious inheri,
tance.of the saints in Heaven ; but their. percep-
tions and -.motives, strong and clear as they may
be, are still left like the others in the order,of
nature, to the free and unrestrained' operation
of our own facUlties, that are still allowed to
chose or. refuse according to their own arbitrary
dictates. ,
As Cod adminigters-the world by general laWs,
so he permits his dispensations to Alan, whether
of mercy -or of judgment, to take the common
course, and-acts in general by.the instrumentality
of natural causes,. with the exception- from the
general rule, when the, instance may appear to
call for it, as in the case of Paul the Apostle,
..and other eminent Converts in the first ages.
But yet even -the greatest people,,as one of the
early Fathers observes, notwithstanding his hea-
venly vision, and • impulse of the Spirit, does
not so magnify Divine Grace, as to invalidate
human Free Will, and though 1)e properly refers
all to the-. Grace of God, as the One Spring and
Fountain of every Good, yet he goes, forth, -to
the discharge of his, duty, by employing these na-
tural faculties; which 'the Holy Spirit came not
to destroy but to illuminate and encourage.
But whatever may have been done in the ex-.
traordinary inStance of an Apostle, there -appears
`to be now no call for any such an interposition in
us,who are not called like him to the natural and
general means of conviction, and ,persuasion may
be now left tooperate by the helpof thelfoly Spirit,
not addressing itself, to our.. senses, but enligh-
letting the eyes of our understa?ding,and writing
his laws upon our hearts, by an influence upon us,
not to be discerned from the operation of our on I)
tonscience.
It is quite a mistake to suppose that the Spi
rit cannot interpose in the work of Grace withou
a perceptible miracle to the sense,

"'The wind bloweth when .it listen), and thou
canst not tell whence it cometh, or whither it
goeth."
All agree in believing that " in God we live,
move, and have our being ;" yet pone can trace
life, motion, or existence to any sensible Divine
Interposition. It is like the air, without which
we can neither live nor move ; we every hour
feel its'effects, but we kncimminot whence it cometh
or whither it goeth. So is every one that is born
of the Spirit. -
Its common, operation is like the silent and
imperceptible progress of nature in our heart,
4ipii.g us on our way, but not impelling us
ir-
resistibly by any preternatural motives, but urg-
ing us by consolations and admonitions, and by
all those motives that so naturally command our
attention, and will lead us- onward through all
the dangers of this our state of probation, till we
arrive at that state. of righteousness which the
saints enjoy in 'Heaven. All this kind assistance
may co-operate' with our own conscience, and yet
we ourselves remain alto"ether unconscious of its,
co-operation.

,We do not expeet, therefore, as our Adver-
sary allows, " the Holy Spirit to display itself,
as "the,days of miracles, under the appearance
of a door, o; in cloven tongue of five—nor should
we admit such appearances, however real and sen-
sible, to b,e any sure indication of the piety of
those to whom they were vouchsafed--nor do we
approve the 'notion of sen-sible impulses in any
unscriptural sense," says our Author—but we
maintain that there is nothing of Scripture in
those impulses—a term very " convenient; as he
admits _himself for fanatics . to abuse, while they
are indulging their own fancies"—but which we
maintain still . further is a term not to be sanc-
tioned by any paissag,e or incident in the sacred
wrielngs, as applied to any other but the most ex-.
traordinary instances—and even then, scarcely
to be distinguished from the impulses of con-
science. For all other instances they are not to
be expected in the present state of Christianity.
Doubtless in the first ages, when so many were
miraculously converted—these impulseS might be
sudden and sensible at .the- time—being accom-
['allied 'with a miracU., the impression might be
supernatural—but now' that the age of miracles
has ceased, together-with the necessity for them,
why should we suppose enYmore of these impul-
ses,. now that the light of the GoSPel is fully

seen, and we may safely be left to the exercise of
_those faculties which _God has gifen us to co-
Pperate:with his spirit in gevelation, as we do in
nature, silently, gradually, and imperceptibly. .
as we find, actually was the case in the
earry:dges—when there was no sign or. wonder ;
but only the weaching of the word, and that too,
by the hispired'Apostle.
Some' were not 'converted till after " three
•saldnith days, reasoning with themselves out of
iiirripttires." SC-ad-re-did trot-believe affil they
-had searched-and discoVered whether tai se things
were so; whiffs others waited till they heard- the
wad again ; but' all were converted 'after a
proper time for reflection, and a fair and full ex-
.
arnmation into- the. Scriptureslor themselves.
In 'these instances, which resemble that of the
Apostle More than our own, nothing ,is ever
hinted of any sensible or instantaneous impulse ;
but all -seems to be the,sobey result ofafUll. and
temperate investigation) and a rational submission
to the conscience. (Mee convinced.
. There. may hive occurred some extra-ordinary
cases, when the 'change has been so sudden, and
the occasion so important, as to make one believe
in the. ossibility of such impulses-,i-seven,in a man
who:is not to be classed among Enthusiasts, there
may,havearisen some serious thought) so season-
ably, and-yet- so unaccountablyfleading him from
his sinful Course, in its train, to righteousuess,.that
lie may almost venture to ascribe the holy feel-'
ing.to some other power than his 'own reason,
which-he newer. called upon, and to the influence,
of the 4-1-41 y :Spirit, who promises to enlighten_
the sinney'aCany hour of the day, and all day
long. • ' • •
;And they who have felt this conversion, ishets
they. reflect upon the change of heart which it has
produced, may piously ascribe,. as they. ought,
all that is good and righteous to the grace of
God,impressing itself upon thein in a manner,
which they arc not.able,.neither do they profess
to understand, -but by its practical results, and,
after all, these are the only criteria to which we
can refer of the works of the spirit within us
(Q. 3.) its blessed fruits, of goodness, righteous=
!less and truth. " Against, such there is no law,
though there must he against these visionary inn-
pulses, and sensible experiences to which the 'en-
thusiast is the more subject from the heat of his
imagination, which once kindled, flames into all
sorts of reveries and visions, perfectly. incompa.
tible With the sober spirit of the Gospel..
Ahd, :when* the imagination once abates, as
abate it must,- at some-intervals, owl) in the
wildest fanatic, then darkness begins to cover
him, and. be complains bitterly that God has
withdrawn the light of his countenance ; and so
he:goes on as he is deseribed in the Chapter on
Original Sin, all his-life vibrating- between two
extreMes,- the dizzy heights of presumption, and
the gloorny depths of
.despair. • If then N.. 4.)
we wish to know whether we are assisted by the
Holy Ghost; we must examine whether we 'have
attained to goodness, and righteousness, and truth.
flow can this be, called an almost total rejec-
tion of all infernal religion, and a•substitution of
partial and -fallacious evidence Tin religion ?
indeed, by internal- religion is meant the doc-
trine of infallible. aswrance, and -by evidence in
it, a sensible experience, .as it 'is called, of -the
workof grace:in the heart, or a conviction i•fre-
sistible cCthe spirit's operation, distinct from the
Operation ''of the understanding, the ,objection
may be just,because this' question is directly
• opposed to that doctrine of fanaticism, Which
pretends-to areal assurance of-that which never
can be assured. in "this -life—and boasts of the
spirit's evidence by the ostentation of inward rap-
tures-, and sublime extasies, which so far from
having any foundation in Scripture, are witnesses
the most suspicions that they come from a spirit
diametrically opposite to the spirit •of the God
of truth and'righteousness.
It is true, according to this Author, we are not
"to admit every display of righteousness and
truth, as'evidenee of their real scriptural exis-
tence." •It is not the' display, but the actual
righteousness fully proved by its fruits, 'that ap-
prove theinselves to our minds, and to
.the minds
of all the righteous with WhOin we associate, and
such fruits as arise from faith in the Word of
God. By these we shall know, whether we are
the children of God, and (Q. 5.) if we have not
these 'fruits, it is presumptuous to imagine that
the' spirit of God dwelleth in -us."
"As man.f as-are led by the Spirit of God,
they'are the sons of God," not as many as vainly
imagine that they feel the spirit Within them, and
content with the imagination, advance not a step
farther, but as: many as are led Iv the spirit,
wheresoever He calls'-them,
,guided and directed
by His Supreme in all things.
The best and ,only unexceptionable witness•
that we have of this spirit, is a good conscience,
void of offence to God and. man, not only void of
offence, but refreshed with the fruits of the spirit,
with'" goodness)righteouSness, and truth." This
is n witness that_ shall speak before Kings, and
shall mit be aslotited, but without Which, all bur.
coplide.nce in z itispiration.•from -Heaven must
vain boasting. ,
I would not venture so far as some, to main-
tain universally, that his faith cannot be wrong,
whose life is-in the -right, but this I will say, be-
cause I speak from Divine 'authority, that his life
cannot lie much in the wrong, whose faith is right.
Twill not without hesitation declare, that every
good man must be a "Christian, but this may be
asserted, without fear of contradiction, that every
Christian' must be'a good Titan. -
Not that any man can be called perfectly
good in this life, because there h no one a per,
feet Christian ; hot in proportion to his Christi-
anity will be his goodness, and 'in general
any fault which he may commit, he can easily
trace to his wandering from the -spirit of the
GOspel ; and therefore fQ. 6.) the best of
men require during 'the whole course of 'their
lives, the aid of the Holy-pirit to secure them
from the danger of sin (Q. 7.); at no period of our
lives can' we have become either so perfect or
secure as to have no longer need of renovation.
And whatever may be asserted " of our security
hi or' of holiness, or by patient continuance in
well doing, our security of eternal life," there is
not a word in' -the Scriptures Of this infallible as-

surance of salvation, oven in the most righteous
of men. • ,
I f of any cliriStian, it
,might r.drely be recorded
of the '.great Apostle, that he was -Perfectly
secure not
.only of holiness' but of e4it!rlasting
e
life. Yet yeil he W7as.farfrom flattering hith-
,self • that he' ..was holy or good 'etiO4gli for the
'kingdom of Ileaven. "Not,'°:Says-heas thotigla
had airody attained.either, were alrey perfect,
lint,' folly ,after Nit t 4441 may qipprikliend
for which 1 also am apprehended 'Christ. Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehend-
ed, but but this one thing I do, forgetting'
these things which are behind, preaching forth
unto these things which are before,. I press to-
wards the mark for the prize of the 'high calling
.of God in Christ Jesus." • •
Even in the regenerate; (Art. 9.) the In-
fection of nature cloth remain, and therefore
there must remain in the purest it'd best of men,
some grountt. of apprehension.
And they that rejoice most in the testimony of'
a good conscience are ever the most anxious with
this Apostle to work out their salVation with fear
and trembling, not regarding so much the space
they have left behind, as what still is before
them, to, call forth all their powers. MI that
they have done, to them appears nothing, com-
pared with what they have left undone. • They
linciW that the Gospel, by whose laws they .pro-
fess to live, requires them to be perfect even as
God himself is perfect; and as to this perfection,
1 they can. advance but .by degrees, and can
never hope actually to attain it in this life ;
there can
,be no period of their ,day irs
which they.may be allowed to .stop, rto fixed
pOint in the career of morality.- or religion, in
which their Lord bids them stand still, as se-
cure of their holiness, and infallibly assured of
salvation. 'They fear not that they sh-ould ever
he too righteous for the kingdom of the. saints,
but rather,. when that kingdom comes, to which
now they aspire with such ardent hope, Jest they.
shouladot.be found_righteous edough."
.The nearer, therefore, they :advance, to The,
goal„-the more zealously they strive, and withal!.
their hearts, to finish their course in joy. Still
pressing.forward, with this Apostle., without
patience on the one :or a false security on
the other, towards-the mark, for the prize of the
high sailing in Christ Jesus.

THE LATE NHL TUT FEN'S LIBRARY. •
TO BE SOLI) BY AUCTION,
By Afr. SOTHEBY, ht House, Wellinzton-St-reci. Wa:
terloo-Bridv, Strand, on NIONDAY, February 12th, and
,
Eleven fottotv'ing I)a., (Sunday excei;ted),, at l'welvo
o'Cloek,

TII.E remaining very . select e/ernt7 -and. va.k , •
lualde LIBRARY of the late J. F. '.l' FrEN, FAq. of.
p,,,,, lane, Ansoag which will hr found, a splendid Collection
of Chinese Drawings, as Elegant .Etrviscati Vase, &c.
. Catalogues (price ts.).tu be bad at the place .0f.,,.5a1e.5 •

ou CANNOT POSSIBLY LOSE more
than Eighteen shining, On a Whole Ticket, and Two
Shillings on a Sixteenth r. Shares in proportion) if vow
boy before VALENTINF:S DAY; the 14th of this Month.
fFehrnary) and retorna yonr • Nomber by FRIDAY, 2811 of
February, giving the positive Chance of all the Capital,
di awn on that Day fur a trifle, and the absoltite,certaitay stf
THREE Prizes of -2,0001. Consols, being gained in the First-
Five Minutes, forNOTIIING! as each Prize of 2,0001. NV:11
hare an [indrawn Ticket in addition,,.which would ,cost
least as touch as was given for the firat Ticket. Scheme con-
tains, in COnsoiS arid nrouy, SIX Pi i2es. of 21,0001.. &e &c:,
Tickets and Shares are selling by _T. BISH, Stock .Broker,
Cornhill, and 9, Ch;Arlog cross_, Loudon, and by his Agl•nt, in the Country, who sold io the., Lt-t Clonleaels.
'21,0501.--5,(A5, 10,000, Sec. ' 1