at the House advised his Majefty: But if I had not, yet as it is, by the Advice of Parliament, and, by the Crown's puriaing that Advice, become the Mealure of my Country, I fhou'd now A have thought it indifpenfably my Duty to contribute to my Country's Succefs in it. Such was the Maxim of that People,who hewld the most Publick Spirit, and whos kept their Liberty the longeft. They, after the warmeft Difputes in the Senate, always concluded, unanimously, with that candid and generous Expreffion, Quod bene vertat Reipublice And as all Nations agree in that Maxim, I hope we shall now put it in execution →→→ B C enter immediately upon. War; but I mult be excused from joining with them in that, and fhall continue my View of preferving and fecuring, by amicable Means, all our Rights, agreeable to the Advice we our selves gave his Majelly I do not think, Sit, the Confideration of the Convention it felf, to be of fo extenfive a Nature, as it may firit appear, I will therefore confine my felf very clofely to it, that I may not ticipals too long upon the Indul-p gence of the Houle, which I have fo often experienc'd, and of which I fhall always retain a moft grateful Senfe; and as it is a Point entirely national, I will exclude all Confiderations, but what are National: Neither Friend- But, Sir, not to waste more of your Lip, nor, what is yet more powerful, Time, I will proceed to the Conven its Contrary, nor any of the narrow tion it felf, but will take it up no highs Views of Party, fhall find the least Ad- er than the laft Seffion of Parliament, mittance. The Opinion I fhall deli- which gave Birth to it, and will avoid ver you, will be that of a plain Coun- bewildering my felf, either in the Las try Gentleman, who lives upon his brinth of Treaties, or Accounts, rohe Rents, and being fatisfied his Rents D In the laft Seffion of Parliament, depend on the Trade of the Nation, the moving Relations which the Mer wil be careful no way to injure that chants gave you of their Loffes, the Trade, upon which his own Revenue compaffionate Sense you exprefs'd of depends And as that is to be the them, and the juft Indignation that Cafe of all Landed Men, we ought to arofe in every Man's Breaft, induced be very cautious in our Proceedings, E this Houe to address his Majefly, to avoid every Thing that may any That he wou'd endeavour, by amicable way obftruct that good Succefs in this Means, to procure Reparations of their Negotiation, which it is fo particular- Lofles, and Security for their futurer ly our Duty to further and advance, Trade; and that, if thofe Meatures and to which any rath or unadvifed fhou'd fail, we would fupport him sin Step may prove very detrimental; for fuch as he fhou'd then find neceflary.. all foreign Courts give great Attention F Here, Sir, give me leave to obferve, to our Parlamentary Proceedings, e. that we aflured him of our Support: fpecially thofe who are at variance in the former Measure, as well as with us, and perhaps much more to in the latter, and not only fo, but in the Proceedings of the leffer, than of the the former, preferably to the latter greater Number. But upon this Head, which Affurance I hope we fhall make and that of Treaties in general, I fhall G good.gbila ti ya gant bogi only repeat the Words of Sir William Tempe, a Perfon well verfed in Nego. tiation, who writing of a Circumflance of Time, much refembling ours, fays, "it will be always Labour in vain, "to make 1 reaties and carry on Ne, gotiations Abroad, unless there is at "Home an Union to fupport them." Sir, I laft Year gave my poor Confent to this Measure for Peace, to which H In Confequence of this our Advice Negotiations were entered into, and a Convention or Agreement figned, by which a certain Sum was ftipulated for Reparation of our Loffes, and a certain Time limited (a Circumftance not to be over-look'd) in which all other Matters in difpute are to be difcuffed, and fettled according to the Treaties now in Being, and all Power of Treat ing to determine at that Time: This B fons. The first and greatest Objection made to the Convention, is, That the Ministers have not begun with the proper Article, nor in a proper Manner. think, Sir, that that Method must be undoubtedly the beft, which leads moft readily and fafely to the defired End, and to me it does plainly appear that the Method, which fome Gentlemen think ought to have been taken, wou'd have entirely difappointed and defeated it. The Gentlemen on the other fide are pleafed to fay, that the Negotiations ought to have begun with the Point of Search, and with declaring to Spain, that if She wou'd not, at once, inftantly give up that Point to us, tho' 'tis the principal one in difpute between C us, we wou'd not treat at all with them. Surely, Sir, fuch an abrupt and arbitrary Proceeding cou'd have had no other Effect, but that of putting an End, at once, to all Thoughts of peaceable Measures; fuch a Method as that, no one, even in private Life, wou'd have fubmitted to; that, Sir, wou'd have been Acting the Spaniard indeed, and too much in their Style, nor could any Thing but Confufion have attended it. But now what Difadvantage can come to us by per I think to be the State of the Convention, and do think the Convention to be agreeable to our Advice: what is Pofitive in it, is unquestionably Rights, what is undetermined, and left to be difcuffed by the Plenipotentiaries, no one cani fpeak of with certainty. All therefore that shall say on that Subjeft, is, that I moft heartily with, the Event may be the procuring us Secu rity for all our Rights, and particularly for that of an uninterrupted Navigation, free from all Search; but as the Event is in the Breast of Time, which no one can fathom, and as I ought to hope the beft, I can by no means give my felf leave to think of making fo rafh, fo defperate a Step, as at once to break thro' all Measures for Peace, taken by our own Advice: Nor can any Thing be more unwarrantable than to refufen to let thofe Measures, so advised by ourselves, be try'd to the End ofiches no long Time, to which they arel confined, and inftead of that to plunge Timmediately into a War, which is the Tendency of all the Arguments om the other fide of the Question. And now, Sir, that I have mention'd War, I cannot but beg Gentlemen to reflect, that if our Rights can be pre-mitting our Right to be debated ? ferved without War (and no one can take on himself to fay that is impoffible) what a Load of Blood will he draw on his own Head, who fhall engage his Country in an unneceffary War! Now the Convention ftanding thus, it agrees perfectly with the Advice we gave the Crown, and does fully warrant the Address we are moved to make; and in which I could nots but imagine we should all have united; fince by it our Right of free Navigation, without Search, which fome were jealous was to be given up, is fo fully afferted and fecured. n Here I would willingly conclude; but then, Sir, I fhould feem not to give due Attention to the Arguments and Objections of Gentlemen of the contrary Opinion: I must therefore beg your Patience, whilst I acquaint you, why I cannot furrender my felf to their Rea F ན་ which is the Objection. Why,, it is fay'd, that by suffering it to be debated, it is weaken'd, and brought in Doubt. Surely, no, Sir, but, on the contrary, it is thereby ftrengthen'd and freed from all Doubt: A good Title always receives Advantage from Examination none but a bad one flies the Light; and had we refused to let ours be examined, wou'd not that have fhewn a Doubt of it, even in our felves? But further, as to fubjecting our Right to Examination, do not the G Spaniards, by fubjecting likewife their Pretenfions, equally weaken them? They certainly do; what Advantage do they then get by ic? None at all. But we do get a manifeit Advantage by it; for whoever confiders the Claufe in the Addrefs propofed, relateing to Freedom from Search, must agree, that our Plenipotentiaries cannot now H C give that up: We have then this Ad- firft appear; for in confidering of the vantage by permitting our Title to be feveral Things, in order to make this examined, that our Right cannot fuf- Convention, moft of the Points in differ any Diminution, but may receive pute muft neceffarily have received a Confirmation by it. Thus, Sir, it fuch a Degree of Difcuffion, as will appears plainly, that the Method fome prepare them for a more eafy Determi Gentlemen think ought to have been A nation. I cannot therefore think, that taken, wou'd have been fucceßlefs; either the Time or the Money has been and undeniably plain it is likewife, that fo mifpent. In the Light, therefore the Methad pursued has been attend that I fee the Convention, and the Obed, not only with the Succefs of pro- jections made to it, I cannot but think curing Reftitution for our Loffes, but the Addrefs propofed (which is the at the fame Time, and thro' that, with B Point in Debate) to be a very proper the further Advantage of drawing from one." It gives me, Sir, infinite Pleathe Spaniard, at least an imply'd Ad- fure, as, conceive, it will the King f miffion of our Right and they who dom great Satisfaction, by the Decla-". deny that, and treat it with the ut ration in it against all Search :: The moit Slight, cannot however difpute, People have been blown up into an but that it furnishes us with a new Ar- Imagination, that their Right of Na gument, and does open and make vigation free from all Search, was to plain the Way to a more formal Re- be given up, and facrificed and a very cognition: It therefore appears to me great Ferment has been raised in the to have been evidently the more pre- Nation by it, which I hope 'will fubferable Methodust fide, when they fee, by our Address, how little Foundation fuch a Report Dhad; and that they will now reft affured, that if we cannot fucceed in our well intentioned Endeavours, of faving them from that Increase of Taxes, which a War muft unavoidably lay upon them, and that a War fhall prove unavoidable, their Rights; will, in cafe of a War, be defended with that Resolution which always attends Sedatenefs of Counfel, and is never found to accompany rath Measures." Indeed, Sir, I think that, in the prefent Circumftance of Things, no other Refolution can reasonably be taken by the Houfe, but that contained in the Addrefs. I can have no Intereft to injure my Country and did I not think this Addrefs tended to advance the Good of my Country, my own, as well as the G publick Intereft, wou'd difincline me to it: But as I do most fincerely think it for the Good of my Country, it must have my Approbation. F The next Objection, which has any Show of Weight in it, is, that a great Sum of Money in fitting out a Fleet, and a great deal of Time have been wafted, and had no Effect. As to the one, the Effect of the Fleet, I defire the Gentlemen to confider, how little Spain is (according to their own Ac E counts) difpofed to do us the leaft Juftice, and then I leave it to them to determine, what Influence our Fleet must have had. And as to the Time fuppofed to have been wafted, I must obferve that lefs Time will ferve indeed to do a wrong, than to do a right Thing The Minifters had Time enough to plunge us into an unneceffary War; but as to what Time is required to adjust and fettle the numerous and jarring Interests of two great Nations, who have Pofle lions in all Parts of the World, they who are leaft Mafters of 'fuch Affairs, will be mot apt to think it an eafy Task, and to require but little Time. But further, as to the Time, I muft obferve, that, befides the Reftitution of our Loffes, and the, at H leaft imply'd, Admiffion of our Right to be free from all Search, more has been done in the Time, than does at 191 [The Account of PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES will be continued in our next. And any genuine Speech shall be inferted as communicated.] A Let A Letter to a Friend; occafion'd by the Rev. Dr Stebbing's Sermon against Religious Des lufion, and by Dr Trapp's four Sermons Dear Sir, TH 1 HAT the Generality of the Clergy of the Church of England have departed A from the Doctrines of the Reformation, is a Truth too notorious to be deny'd. In our Day is that fulfilled which was long fince foretold by the Apostle Paul, The time will come when they will not endure Sound Dorine, The great and fublime Doctrines of the Gospel are not only disbeliev'd, but every where violently oppofed, and loudly fpoken againft. Par-B ticularly the Doctrine of Three Perfons in the Unity of the Godhead is difcarded as irrational; the true Deity of our bleffed Saviour in openly decry'd, and the foolish and abfurd' Notion of a created dependant God embraced, and that by Men who would Monopolize Reafon to themfelves. The Doctrine of original Sin, and the Imputation of Adam's Tranfgreffion to his Pofterity, is caft by with C a Sneer, and reckon'd too grating to the Ears of a polite, modern Auditory; ༈ whilft the Dignity and Perfection of human Nature are extoll'd, and painted in lovely Colours. The Election of particular Perfons to Salvation and Glory, and the palling by of others, is traduced as uncharitable, tho' I think plainly revealed in the Word of God. Salvation by the free Grace of God, and the imputed Righteouf nefs of Chrift is decry'd, and our own virtubos Performances and good Works cry'd up as the meritorious Caufe of all we enjoy here, and hope for hereafter. The Neceffity and Irrefiftibility of divine Grace in Converfion is treated with Contempt, and Man's free Will extoll'd and carefs'd; tho' we have no Arguvent to convincing to the contrary as what thefe very Men themselves. For Why do they not let us know that they have a Power as well as Will to do that which is good? We are very pompously told by thefe Gentlemen, that they can convert themfelves, and torn themfelves from Sin to Holi- F nefs, without the Aids of the Spirit; but we do not find that they do fo, and exert that Power they fay, is in them. Thefe Doctrines, to inftance in no more, are now too often made the Object of Ridicule and Scorn by the wife Men of this Generation, tho' univerfilly, profeis'd with Reverence by the pinus Reformers from Popery, and our holy G Ancestors in the last Age. Let us, Sir, but Jook back on thofe Times, and we fhall foon fee what a Spirit of Love and Unity breath'd in thofe Days; how Religion flourish'd, and how Vice was opposed and difcountenanced. And what is the prefent Corruption of Prac tice and Manners but the Refult of loofe Principles? How does Iniquity abound in the midst of us! And how has the Love of many waxed cold! The Name of God is openly profan'd, and taken in vain by leud and filthy Jefters and Pretenders to Wit. The Lord's Day is broken, and made a Day of Plenfure to ferve the Lufts of the Fleth. Publick Worship is forfaken, and the private Duties ment. we derive E of the Family and the Clofet are too frequently neglected. Deifm daily encreases and every where prevails, and fome of the Clergy themselves have lately Apoftatiz'd to Atheifu itself. And what muft all this be owing to, but a too general Defection from the Doctrines of Christianity? Such is the melancholy State of Affairs in our Day, and it becomes us all to lay it feriously to Heart, and fay, Lord! How much have contributed towards this Decay of Religion? And at the fame Time to entreat and beg the Prefente and longer Stay of a departing God, The chief Defign of this Letter, Sir, is to vindicate the Conduct of that good Man the Rev. Mr Whitefield against the falfe Afperfi ons caft on him by the Rev. Dr Stebbing in a late Sermon against Religious Delufion. This I fhall do very briefly, only by making fome Remarks on two or three Paffages towards the latter End of his Performance. In Page 14. the Dr asks, What are the Fruits of the Spirit? To this Enquiry he is pleafed to return. both a negative and a pofitive Answer. Firt he answers negatively, and here he is fired with a blind Zeal, and, I am forry to say it, pays but little Regard to Truth, which fhould be always esteem'd as facred and inviolable. "Not vain and confident Boaftings." Boa Dings! Mr W. with all Chriftians of his Prin- H " Not And fo we fee thefe Marks or Evidences will not ferve the Dr's Turn. I defire the Doctor would fit down and confider what he has been doing; and clofely to examine over again the Pofitions he laid down in his late Sermon. Let him try whether they are agreeable to the Word of God or no, And if upon further Enquiry he finds they are not, let him ingenuoufly own it. And as he has been very diligent in propagating his Tenets, which to me feem erroneous, in that Parish of which he is Lecturer; fo let him as dili gently endeavour to convince thofe whom he has led aftray, of their Miftake. By being thus ingenuous he will bring more Glory to God, and Credit to himfelf in this Life, as well as Comfort in a dying Hour, than by obftinately perfifting in, and adhering to his wrong and falfe Principles. Now for a Conclufion of the whole, I with our Clergy, and private Chriftians too, would confider the Meffage deliver'd to the Church of Ephefus, Remember from subence thou art fal I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy Candlestick out of bis Place, except thou repent, Rev. 2. 5. I with the Doctrines of the Gofpel were preach'd in a plain, feriptural Way: And till this is done I defpair of ever feeing Religion flourish as it did in the laft Age. May you, Sir, always go on to adorn your Profeffion, and live anfwerable thereto; and when Mortality fhall be fwallow'd up of Immortality, may you for ever enjoy the Prefence of God in Heaven. Thefe are the conftant Prayers and Withes of July 11th, 1739 The Dr advances and tells us that Perfons may be deceiv'd in judging by inward Experiences; but, fays he, it is an ealy Matter for a Man to fatisfy himself in fuch Queftions as thefe; Am I fober? Am I chafte? Am I juft and charitable to my F Neighbour? Do I ferve God in the ufe of his Ordinances? Thefe are Points in which nobody can be miftaken who means well,' p. 15, 15. But all this is not fufficient. For we cannot by our Sobriety, Chaftity, Juftice and Charitablen:fs, merit any the leaft Favour at the Hand of God. Nor will the ferving of God in the ufe of his Ordinances avail, for this may be done, and we yet remain in the Gall of Bitterness, and Bonds of Iniquity. All our Works must be entirely renounc'd in point of Juftification, and the Merits and Righteoufnefs of Chrift fubftituted in their room and ftead. And it is very dangerous for any to conclude he is a true Chriftian, and regenerated from Sin to Holinefs, becaufe he is fober, H chafte, &c. for he may be induced to practife thofe Virtues out of fome worldly Confide⚫ration, and would not be willing to woundhis own Character and Peputation, by being an open Drunkard, or an abandon'd Debauchee. ple in fome of the large Congregations which have furrounded the Rev. Mr Whitefield when preaching in the Fields: And as this has occafion'd frequent Difputes, not only among his Followers, but among others of almoft all Ranks and Denominations, fome affirming that Congregation to be no more than five Thoufand, which others have taken to be upwards of fifty Thoufand, I'm inclin'd to believe a near Computation would be very acceptable to the greatest part of your Readers. And that the following is fuch, will evidently appear to all, who will pleafe to give themfelves the Trouble to examine it. On the 29th of July in the Morning, being the last time Mr Whitefield preach'd in Moorfields, before he difmis'd his Audience I made feveral Marks where the outermoft of them ftood, and the next Morning found the Diftance of the fartheft Mark from the Roftrum to be 32 Yards, and that of the neareft to it 28. Of the intermediate Distances, I took that which was 30 Yards, and made it the Semidiameter of a Circle, which Circle must be nearly equal to the Space taken up by the ftanding Congregation, and contains 2827 fquare Yards. In a fquare Yard I have found that 9 Perfons may eafily ftand; and therefore 2327 Yards fquare muft |