PERAMAS-LANGSDORFF. [Cruelties inflicted on the Negroes at Cay 61 There happened not know what it means. [Extremes meet :- Protestant Mission Persecution.] enne, and apologetic Reasoning.] "By the French laws, if a negro at Cayenne ran away, and the master denounced him to the Greffe, he was on being retaken to have his ears cut off, and he burnt on the back with a fleur-de-lis! for the second offence to be hamstrung! and hanged for the third. On ne scauroit doutes, says P. Fauque the Jesuit, que la severité de ces loix n'en retienne le plus grand nombre dans le devoir. Where did he find his notions of duty? He says also, il n'y a guere d'es-mitted adultery!"-p. 2. perance pour le salut d' un negre qui meurt dans son marronnage.' Lettres Edifiantes, tom. 8, pp. 8, 10, edition 1781. His arguments when he got among the Marroons are curious enough. Souvenez-vous, mes chers enfans, que quoique vous soyez esclaves, vous étes cependant Chrétiens comme vos Maítres! Quel malheur pour vous si, après avoir été les esclaves des hommes en ce monde et dans le temps, vous deveniez les esclaves du demon pendant toute l'éternité. Ce malheur pour-love of alternate exercise in fishing and tant vous arrivera infailliblement, si vous ne vous rangez pas à votre devoir, puisque vous êtes dans un etat habituel de damnation, car, sans parler du tort que vous faites à vos maîtres en les privant de votre travail, vous n'entendez point le messe les jours saints: vous n'approchez point des Sacramens; vous vivez dans le concubinage, n'etant pas mariés devant vos legitimes Pas'eurs.'" p. 20. How triumphantly might the negro have replied ! [Peramas' instructive Story on the Seventh Commandment.] "PERAMAS relates an odd and instructive story of Vergara in his childhood. Being piously disposed and born of pious parents, Le was taught to give an account of the sermons which he heard. In thus repeating the substance of a discourse upon the Commandments, when the boy came to the seventh, Thou shalt not commit adultery, he said, we must pass over this, for I do "NOTWITHSTANDING they are much more free from cares in their natural state, an irresistable desire of freedom sometimes breaks out in individuals. This may probably be referred to the national character. Their attachment to a wandering life, their hunting, and entire indolence, seem in their eyes to overbalance all the advantages they enjoy at the mission, which to us appear very great: the consequence is, that every now and then attempts at escape are made. On such occasions, no sooner is any one missed, than search is immediately made after him, and as it is always known to what tribe the fugitive belongs, and on account of the enmity which subsists among the different tribes, he can never take refuge in any other, (a circumstance which perhaps he scarcely thought of beforehand), it is scarcely possible for him to evade the researches of those who are sent in pursuit of him. He is almost always brought back again to the mission, where he is bastinadoed, and an iron rod of a foot or a foot and a half long, and an inch in diameter, is fastened to one of his feet: this has the double use of preventing him from repeating the attempt, and of frightening others from imitating him."-LANGSDORFF, vol. 1, p. 171. New California. 62 GUMILLA-HERRERA-RANDOLPH. [Bloody Religion of the Mexicans.] "A SPANIARD observing a Mexican not long after the conquest remarkably punctual in his attendance at mass, asked him how it was that he could so thoroughly have forsaken the belief in which he had been bred up. The Mexican's reply is remarkable: 'The religion of our fathers,' said he, was so bloody and so cruel, and burthened us so grievously, that to rid ourselves of such a yoke we should gladly have recourse not merely to your law which is so holy a one, but any other whatsoever.'". GUMILLA, C. 17. 6 me began to sing one of my old country songs, It is time to go home ;-when Bess say to me--Cambo, why you sing so for?Me say, Me no sick, me no sorry, why me no sing? Bess say you better pray to your blessed Lord and massa to have massy on your soul. Me look round, me look up, me see no one to pray to: but de words sound in my ears, better pray to your Lord and massa. By 'm bye me feel bad,-sun shine sorry, birds sing sorry, laua look sorry; but Cambo sorrier dan em all. Den me cry out, massy, massy Lord! on poor Cambo! By 'm bye water come in my eyes, and glad come in my heart. Den sun look gay, woods look gay, birds sing gay, laun look gay, but poor Cambo gladder dan em [Their Predisposition thereby to receive the all. Me love my massa some: me want to love him more." "—Evangelical Magazine, October, 1812, p. 389. Christian Faith.] "No nations in the Indies," says HERRERA (5. 4. 7), "have received the Gospel better than those who had been most subordinate to their Lords, and had laboured under the greatest burdens of tribute and of diabolical ceremonies. Thus the dominions of the kings of Mexico and of the Ingas have advanced the most in Christianity, and there is least difficulty there both in spiritual and temporal government, for the insufferable yoke of the laws of the devil had wearied them, and that of Christ therefore appeared to them just and easy; and the difficulty of believing such high mysteries was facilitated because the devil had taught them things still more diffi cult." This is not the less true because it is expressed in mythological language and it would prove as true in Asia, as it did in America. [Simoniacal Corruptions.] "WILL you buy any parsonages, vicarages, deaneries or prebendaries?" says RANDOLPH's Pedlar, in the Shew; "The price of one is his lordship's crackt chambermaid; the other is the reserving of his worship's tithes, or you may buy the knight's Lorse three hundred pounds too dear, who, to make you amends in the bargain, will draw you on fairly to a vicarage. There be many tricks; but the downright way is three years purchase. Come, bring in your coin! Livings are majori in pretio than in the days of doomsday book: you must give presents for your presentations: there may be several means for your institutions, but this is the only way to Induction that ever I knew." PERCIVAL STOCKDALE-BISHOP SMALRIDGE. 63 preach in the camp. Lord George replied, engage him thereby to visit the place; Make my compliments, Smith, to Mr. where hearing the gospel, he might have Whitfield, and tell him, from me, he may been enlightened, converted, and eternally preach any thing to my soldiers that is not saved.' But, added he, the end to be contrary to the articles of war."-PERCI- answered, being frustrated by his death, the VAL STOCKDALE's Memoirs, vol. 1, p. 440. means to secure it were no longer needful.'"-QUERE? WESLEY. [The Methodist Dog.] "In the early days of Methodism, about fifty years ago, meetings for preaching and prayer, though not near as frequent as at the present period, were, however, somewhat regular; and about Bristol, usually well attended. The people who frequented the meetings at that place, had repeatedly observed a dog that came from a distance; and as at the house to which he belonged, the Methodists were not respected, he always came alone. "At that time, the preaching on the Sabbath began immediately after the service of the church concluded: and as this remarkable animal, on those occasions, invariably attended, he acquired the name of the 'Methodist Dog.' Being generally met by the congregation returning from the church, he was constantly abused and pelted by the boys belonging to the party. "His regular attendance had often been the subject of public debate: and merely to prove the sagacity of the animal, the meeting, for one evening, was removed to another house. Whatever were the thoughts entertained concerning him, surprising as it may seem, at the proper and exact time, he made his appearance! "A few weeks after this, his owner returning intoxicated from the market at Leeds, was in a narrow, shallow stream, unfortunately drowned: and astonishing to relate, the faithful dog no longer attended the preaching. "Diversity of opinions may prevail on this subject, but good John Nelson used to say concerning it, 'The frequent attendance of this dog at the meeting, was designed to attract his master's curiosity, and [How a Moderate Person is to avoid the Imputation of being Lukewarm.] "WOULD a moderate person avoid the take care that he be moderate only in such imputation of being Lukewarm, he must and where consequently there is room and things, where there is danger of excess, commendable, he must neither fly too high, occasion for moderation; where a mean is nor creep too low, but in those things, in which it is laudable to excel, he must not affect moderation; about things in their nature, in their use, and in their conseindifferent, or not much concerned; but he quence altogether indifferent, he may be should neither be, nor desire to be thought a moderate lover of piety and virtue, of peace and order; one that hath a moderate concern for the laws and liberties of his country, for the welfare and prosperity of his church, for the honour, safety, or life First Charge, p. 18. of his prince." - BISHOP SMALRIDGE'S [Religious Prudence, or, Let not your Good be evil spoken of.] "THERE have been consultations in the last convocation, whether it might not be proper to extend that canon against frequent resorting to taverns, and alehouses, and playing at dice, cards and tables, to other instances of the same or like kind; which though not wholly unlawful, nor in the laity disallowable, yet in the clergy are of evil fame, and tend to the diminution of their character; but whether any such enlargement of the canon shall be thought expedient, or not, every prudent and grave 64 BISHOP SMALRIDGE-BISHOP YONGE. [Superstition and Enthusiasm-Evils of.] clergyman will make it a rule to himself, with but too much justice. Nor do we from which he will not lightly swerve, to ourselves want the same experience of the abstain from all actions, however innocent, vanity of all those groundless jealousies which have the semblance to evil: and if consequent upon the great and glorious rethere be any other places, the resorting to volution, our ancient establishment having which may be of as ill fame as the frequent- been protected and encouraged by all the ing taverns or alehouses, or any other games princes who have sat upon the throne since or sports, as improper for a clergyman to that happy event, as it will most undoubtindulge himself in, as those specified in the edly continue to be protected by our precanon, or any other actions of any kind sent most gracious sovereign. Popery inwhatsoever, which may give offence to so- deed is said to be gaining ground in the ber-minded Christians, and bring a scandal kingdom; how truly it is said I know not upon his ministry, he will be as careful to with certainty; but we all know, that as keep at a distance from all such actions, as the zeal of that persuasion is not easily subif they were in the canon expressly and by dued; so the civility always paid to foreign name forbidden."-BISHOP SMALRIDGE's ministers gives it room to exert itself within First Charge, p. 21. the metropolis. Yet are the laws so strongly framed against it; and so powerful is the just authority of government, that it cannot make great inroads upon us without giving such an alarm as will possibly be fatal to itself. This is our case in these respects. But what can learning, or moderation, or authority itself do with fanaticism? It disregards and derides learning, and will not enter the lists with it, how capable soever some few of its leaders, certainly not many of its votaries, may be to use the unhallowed weapons of the schools. All Europe, about the time of the Reformation, experienced its want of moderation in itself, and there is no probability of its regarding it in others. As it pretends to inspiration and immediate communications with Almighty God, it must of course exalt itself above all earthly ordinances. And thus it cannot be convinced by learning, softened by moderation, or easily controlled by authority."-BISHOP YONGE'S Charge, 1763, p. 4. "WITH superstition and enthusiasm we have a kind of civil war. They who are actuated by them are of our own faith in one common Lord and Saviour; but yet destroy every end and design of that faith, by adding to it what doth not appertain to it; or by taking it off from its reasonable foundations; or by seducing mankind to pay little, if any, regard to its moral effects. "The writers against the Gospel have been almost totally silenced, by the superior learning and abilities of those great persons, ever to be remembered with honour, who from time to time have undertaken its defence. The more regular Protestant separatists from the ecclesiastical establishment, whilst they have given no small assistance to the common cause, and acquired no small share of credit in contributing to the vindication of our holy faith, rest satisfied (at least not violently discontented) with that toleration which they claim of common right; and which the moderation of wise and good government will "To this the Publick Liturgy you have never deny them. They have now too the promised to conform, and subscribed your experience of many years to convince them, hands to that promise as also to the 2d of that they are in no danger of those hard-the three Articles mentioned in the 36th ships of which their forefathers complained Canon. That the Book of Common Prayer [The Public Liturgy-The Clergy's Duty concerning.] BISHOP OF LINCOLN. s containeth in it, nothing contrary to the which will remain in the bishops' custody Word of God, and that you yourselves will as a witness of their insincerity."-BISHOP use the Form in the said Book prescribed, in OF LINCOLN's Advice to his Clergy, 1697, publick Prayer, and Administration of the p. 11. Sacraments and none other. Does he make good these subscriptions who reads the Common Prayer very seldom, or not in order, or not the whole, but only some parts and pieces, or if he do read the whole, reads it so hastily, or so slightly and awkwardly as that an impartial hearer might be apt to think that he had no good liking to it? "Whereas a man that is sincere and in good carnest in this part of religious worship would be careful to read it, leisurely, | plainly and distinctly, well remembering that he addresses himself as the mouth and leader of the congregation to that God who knows and who requires the heart in all such services; he would also use his best endeavour to read with such proper and becoming tone and accent as may best excite attention, affection, and fervor in himself and others. "There is indeed a natural indisposition in some men to all kinds of vocal harmony, even to that which consists only in the elevation and depression of the voice in proper places and periods; I call them proper, not only with regard to the art of music, but even to the sense of the words. But I shall not urge this further than the natural capacity of men will bear. There is cer|tainly a felicity in voice and accent, which they ought to make good use of to whom God has given it, and those that want it, can only use their endeavour to attain to such a degree, as to avoid at least all gross, absurd, and ridiculous pronunciation. "But such as do not think this worthy their labouring after, I am sure they cannot excuse themselves in neglecting, omitting or altering any part of the publick offices; and though they read them not with that propriety of utterance and accent which may promote attention and devotion, they ought at least to perform the offices as they are directed and prescribed, for nothing less than this can answer their subscription, [Requisite Caution on celebrating Marriage.] "I AM Sorry there are so many in this Church and some in this diocese who abuse their trust in this matter. It is so presumptuous and so perfidious a practice that it cannot be censured too severely. Such as can be tempted for a little sum of money or a great one to marry any persons that resort to them, without the publication of banns, or licence duly obtained, or with licence at uncanonical hours and in a clandestine manner, either in their own houses or in their churches, are not fit to be intrusted with such a power; they do an illegal and uncanonical act knowingly and wilfully, which they that have any sense of their character, and trust and duty to their superiors would not do: especially such as dare presume to marry those whom they know or have reason vehemently to suspect to be either stolen, or not have the consent of parents, or guardians, or friends. These are the pests and shame of our profession; their greediness of profit has debauched their consciences, and they have no feeling of their own wickedness, nor any regard to the many evil consequences that attend this practice; as the ruine of the branches of noble families; disquieting parents and relatives, and alienating their affections; incouraging disobedience in children; and that indeed which is the least to be lamented, exposing themselves to ignominy, contempt and punishment, not to mention what has sometimes happened, legitimating, as much as in them lyes, incestuous nurtures. One would think that no considering man of conscience and probity, could be prevailed upon for a present benefit to drive on such a pernicious and dishonourable trade, and persist in it with defy. ance of all admonition, censure, and punishment. This I could not forbear to say out F |