網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

Perhaps the mode which, in my situation as minister to the Unitarian Congregation at Lynn, I adopted to make them known, may not have suggested itself to some equally anxious with myself to arouse the attention of those with whom they are connected with your permission, then, I will briefly state it for their consideration.

After perusing, with considerable pleasure, a copy of the Report, my next desire was that all the friends to the cause connected with us at Lynn, should also know what was in progress and what had been done. Could I have given a copy to each, I concluded want of time, or of inclination, or even in some, want of ability, might have prevented perusal; had I requested the attendance of the congregation on a week night to hear the contents of it read, business and various engagements might have kept many away. I therefore determined to incorporate what I regarded as the most interesting portions in my usual service on the evening of a Sunday. In consequence, I read to the congregation, with a few introductory and occasional explanatory remarks, the proceedings of the Committee, the extracts from the Missionaries journals, the correspondence of Messrs. Adam and Roberts, and the proceedings of the friends to our cause in British India. With the plan thus pursued several expressed themselves pleased, and whatever may be the effects of the endeavour, I feel satisfaction in having endeavoured to arouse the attention of my friends to this important institution; or whatever may be the conduct of those of them who are able to support it, at any rate, ignorance of its existence, its objects, or its means, cannot be their excuse.

My proceeding will of course be differently viewed by different people; they who, like myself, feel the necessity for all classes in our body being interested in our success, will, perhaps, see nothing in it to disapprove, while some may adopt a similar plan. And if any regard such a plan as intrusive, injudicious, and unlikely to be productive of good, I only beg of them to be fully assured, that nothing but an ardent desire for the success of the "British and Foreign Unitarian Association," and, as I firmly believe, through that, for the happiness of my fellow-creatures, the kingdom of Christ and the glory of God, led to its adoption, by

WILLIAM SELBY,

The late Major Cartwright.

THERE are multitudes who know the character of this gentleman as a Parliamentary Reformer, but few probably who are acquainted with his exemplary domestic and social virtue and his truly Christian piety. These are brought before us in his "Life," just published by his Niece; * brought before us, not in declamation and panegyric, but by a series of facts, and by extracts from the correspondence of more than half a century.

66

Major Cartwright, though bold and adventurous, as became his profession-that of a seaman-was naturally of a serious disposition. He writes, for example, in 1773: I have met with few works better calculated to promote the cause of religion than Locke's "Reasonableness of Christianity as delivered in the Scriptures." I never once heard it quoted or spoken of; but I think it the most satisfactory book of the kind I ever met with in my life, and the best key to the inspired writings of the New Testament." Vol. I. p. 50.

[ocr errors]

About the same time, he expressed himself as follows: My friend *** could not have flattered me more successfully than by attributing to me a disposition for making the best of every thing, as I take it to be one of the essentials in religion of every one who believes in a Providence, and of a Christian in particular; for I have no doubt but that it is our business to turn every hour and every minute in life to our advantage, whether it be prosperous or otherwise. I have always thought it extreme impiety to repine at the evils of life.

I. 51.

His amiable and sensible biographer says, (I. 64, note,) that he always affirmed in conversation as well as in his writings, that both the Jewish and Christian dispensations were (when not perverted by the inventions of men) so remarkably favourable to human liberty, that there scarcely needed any other proofs of their divine origin."

He gave a signal proof of integrity in refusing to accept an appointment in Lord Howe's fleet, offered to him by his Lordship, when the American war broke out: he was on many accounts extremely anxious to be engaged in actual service, but believing the Americans to be right in

* The Life and Correspondence of Major Cartwright. his Niece, F. D. Cartwright. In 2 vols. 8vo. Colburn.

Edited by 1826.

their resistance to England, his conscience forbade him to lift up his hand against them. His numerous pamphlets in favour of the Americans procured him an offer of com mand in the American navy; he told his American friends, however, that though he would never consent to bear arms against the liberties of America, he considered that nothing could absolve a man from the duty he owed his own country, and that he would stick by the old ship as long as there was a plank of her above water. I. 80, 81.

The American war, so base in its origin, so corrupt in its management, and so obstinately continued by the late King against the sense of the country, led Major Cartwright to see the supreme importance of parliamentary reform, and henceforward he devoted his talents, his property, his body and his soul to the cause of his country. Not in passion, not in spleen, but in soberness of mind, and under a solemn sense of Christian duty, he commenced and continued a Reformer. The following prayer was found amongst his papers at his decease, penned at the beginning of his career in the work of reform, and designed as a religious dedication of himself to the service of his country:

Suffer, O Lord, this much-offending nation to be reclaimed from its guilt and recalled to a knowledge of the things which belong to its peace. It hath been equally regardless of thy law and its own liberty. It is hurrying to destruction, and knows not what it does. Give me and others, O Father of mercies, understanding and strength and zeal to stand in the gap between its offences and thy wrath; between its errors and its destruction; let our labours and anxieties, and let the prayers of all virtuous persons, plead in its behalf, and be thou entreated in its favour.

"Together with our usefulness let our humility increase; for with thee alone, O Lord, is all power and goodness. The wisdom of the wisest without thee is foolishness the strength of the strongest is of no account; but those who are ordained to do thy will shall have power from above. Let my faith in Christ be imputed to me for righteousness, and let me be kept continually in mind of his spotless and laborious life while on earth, and of thine and his unspeakable affection for the whole race of men, and may he make intercession for me at thy throne !"

Miss Cartwright has properly inserted in the Life some letters of the Major's to a nephew, Captain Cartwright, at his entrance into life. We take a part of one of them, I. 267, 268:"" :-" I have understood that you have sometimes shewn an inclination to the Church. If you really have any serious thoughts of that profession, I wish you to examine well into the nature of the engagement. In order to this, it is necessary to scrutinize the Thirty-nine Articles, and to weigh well the creed you are to teach. If, on due consideration, you can truly and honestly subscribe to those articles, and to all the forms of prayer which arise out of them, you may most conscientiously undertake the ministry of the Church of England. But, if you cannot digest all this, it should seem there are difficulties in your way of more importance than you may have been aware of. To the unprincipled or the dissolute, who can make religion a trade, neither articles, nor creeds, nor subscriptions, will be any impediments: but I persuade myself that you will not make light of these things. If you determine to enter into the priesthood, let it be of that church, or that sect, with whom you really agree in sentiment."

The life of this good man seems to have been modelled by his own maxim, (I. 194,)

"A man who is indifferent to the well-being of his fellow-creatures may be without trouble, but he must also be without virtue."

Occupied always in what he regarded as his public duty, and bearing right onwards towards the mark, the Major lived to the age of 84, preserving his faculties and his cheerfulness to the last. His sufferings were great, and he expressed his surprise that with a frame so exhausted he should find it so hard to die; but he frequently exclaimed in the most emphatic manner, "God's will be done."

When dying, he desired his niece to deliver the following message, remarkable for the calm spirit of wisdom which it breathes, and deserving of remembrance by all that are ambitious of the character of patriots :

"SAY TO ALL INQUIRING FRIENDS, that I HAVE NEVER CEASED TO ENTERTAIN THE MOST CONSOLATORY HOPES OF THE ULTIMATE ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: BUT TO THIS END, THERE MUST BE VIRTUOUS INSTRUMENTS, WHICH, IT IS TO BE HOPED, THE TIMES WILL SUPPLY. II. 282.

[ocr errors]

Almost the last words he ever spoke were, on receiving a message from the Mexican minister that the liberty of

Mexico might be considered as established, "I am glad, I am very glad!" His voice soon after became nearly inaudible, but he was perfectly sensible to the last, and appeared absorded in mental prayer. He died on the 23d of September, 1824.

In his religious opinions, his biographer says, II. 287, 288, he adhered to no particular "sect or party": with regard to party she is right, but with regard to sect, there is one to which all his enemies will consign him, and in which many of his admirers will claim him.

"His favourite authors on theological subjects were Clarke and Jortin.

"He read the Scriptures daily, and drew from them his own conclusions; what those conclusions were, may be seen by the following extracts from a paper which accompanied his will.

[ocr errors]

Speaking of himself in the third person, he says, "The legal doctrines of the state-church not satisfying his judgment, he sought for truth in the Bible, and in reason, equally the revelations of the Almighty.' The opinions in which he at length found rest and satisfaction were these :

"That God is I AM! the eternal! the self-existent ! not powerful, but POWER; not wise, but WISDOM; not good, but GOODNESS. That he is one a spirit without person; for in the idea of person who can exclude either form or limit? But what is the form of ubiquity? Where are the limits of infinity? From the eternity and existence of the Deity, his UNITY cannot be, even in idea, separated.

"That Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the chosen one, the highly favoured of God, the Saviour of men, and their appointed Judge.

"That the proper good and happiness of man is only to be found in piety to God, and virtue towards his fellowcreatures."

INTELLIGENCE.

New Unitarian Church at Salem,* U. S., of America. MAY 5th, 1826, at eleven o'clock, the ceremony of laying the corner stone, of the new church of the First American Con

*There is a Hymn on the opening of the Independent Congrega. tional Church at Salem, in our last Volume, p. 224. Is this the same town? If so, has the congregation opened two Meetinghouses within a few months? Or, are there two Unitarian Churches in Salem? ED.

« 上一頁繼續 »