the good effects I expected from it. Since that time attempts have been made to introduce bills to prevent all such enormities by increasing the penalties upon them. But it was found, that no such bills would be suffered to pass: and it was with the utmost difficulty that an act was obtained a few years ago to empower the bakers in London and Westminster to refuse baking on Sundays after one o'clock, that they might at least be able to go to church one part of the day. At this moment I am myself endeavouring to suppress some new profanations on the Lord's day, and applying to the magistrates for that purpose, but very much suspect I shall not be successful. "I mention these few facts merely to show, in a very strong case, that what appears to be highly reasonable and essentially necessary for the support of religion, cannot always be accomplished, even by the most strenuous efforts. "I am, Sir, with great regard, "Your most faithful and obedient servant, "Dear Sir, "I return you many thanks for the communication of your letter to the archbishop of Canterbury, which I have repeatedly perused with great attention, and heartily wish that the practicability of the measures were equal to the importance of the object. I fear the depravity of manners is in many circumstances beyond the reach of law. The maxim, "Quid leges sine moribus vanæ proficiunt," is of a deeper import than at first appears. Laws will be of no effect, and of less effect, I am persuaded, in proportion as they are severe, when the manners are such that the general sentiment holds the object of that severity of the law in no abhorrence. The courts of justice are now enforcing the laws against gaming with some success. However general the practice of gaming may be, there are hardly any of those who practise it that are not ashamed of it; and for this reason, that it creates a suspicion of poverty. Laws, therefore, will be successful against this practice; because, however general, it is reprobated by the public mind. But against adultery laws will not be successful, because adultery is not reprobated by the public mind. I doubt whether a new statute upon the subject could be carried. Certainly not one that should make the punishment corporal. I think a law restraining the delinquent party from forming a new marriage before the death of the former consort, might have a good effect. serve serious consideration, whether such a restraint might not be a temptation to private murthers. The Jewish lawgiver found it necessary to accommodate his laws, upon this very point, to the hardness of the hearts of the people. But yet it would de "I hope that the Curates' act will promote the residence of the parochial clergy; and their residence seems the most likely means to revive the attention of the laity to religious ordinances. "I remain, dear Sir, "With great esteem, "Your very faithful and obedient humble servant, "S. ROCHESTER.” Deanery, Dec. 8, 1796. To these letters, both of which are characteristic of the writers, Mr. Bowdler replied in a manner equally marking his own character. It may be sufficient to quote from his answer to the latter: Being fully persuaded that human laws are inefficient, when the divine law has become obsolete, and the morals profligate, my idea was, by some striking public measures, to open the eyes of the people, and draw their attention to the immoralities of the age, and by every possible means to revive the knowledge of the divine law, and the regular practice of the externals of religion; and then to call in the aid of the civil power, and coerce by penalties those whom better motives could not influence. Every check of gaming must give pleasure to all honest minds. But, I fear, what has yet been done can avail little it does not go to the root of the evil. We cannot expect our servants to abstain from these vices which we practise. If gaming be permitted in St. James's, it is in vain to attempt to abolish it in St. Giles's. "With regard to adultery, as it was punished capitally by the Jewish law, some think it ought to be so punished among us. But milder penalties may suit these days better. I wish they were such as tended to render the guilty parties contemptible or infamous; for certainly they can avail little, unless the public mind be impressed with a sense of the heinousness of the vice, and of its pernicious effects. But surely such a sense does exist and might be strengthened, if those who have the greatest influence would show a marked disapprobation of this crime. "I remain, with great respect, Another subject soon after presented itself to Mr. Bowdler's attention, and he pursued it diligently for some time. The able and indefatigable N author of the "Guide to the Church" having been assailed somewhat rudely by Sir Richard Hill, in what the worthy Baronet was pleased to call an "Apology for Brotherly Love," Mr. Bowdler addressed a letter to the former, which led to a short but friendly correspondence. The object of this letter was partly to testify the writer's assent to the principles maintained in the "Guide to the Church" and partly to recommend the publishing of an abridgement of that work, in order to procure for it a more general perusal. But the correspondence led to a suggestion, that an useful publication might be put forth in the form of an "Address to those sincere and pious Christians commonly called Methodists, occasioned by Mr. Wilberforce's View of professed Christians, Mr. Daubeney's Guide, and Sir Richard Hill's Apology; stating the true notion of the church, and proving it shortly from Scripture, the primitive fathers, the best modern divines, and the liturgy, &c. of our church; showing how exactly this notion agrees with Mr. Daubeney's book, and how it differs from the two others, particularly the last from thence proceeding to do the same by the doctrines of justification, faith, &c., proving by a collation of texts from all parts of the Bible, that all our sectaries err by taking up peculiar notions from some one favourite part of Scripture, and not attending to the true scope and meaning of all its parts fairly compared and fully considered; which, when so compared and considered, prove to demonstration, that repentance, faith, and obedience are the terms on which God has promised to man pardon and salvation." This subject did not pass away with the hour which suggested it. It occupied much of Mr. Bowdler's attention, and he drew out at greater length the heads of such a publication as he had proposed, under the title of "Prevailing Errors and pure Religion." The separate heads or contents were these: "On Atheism, Deism, Natural Religion, Morality: "CHAP. II. "On Conscience, Enthusiasm, Superstition, and Church Authority. "CHAP. III. "Of the Romish Religion, or Popery; the Greek Church; and the Protestant, or Reformed Religion. "CHAP. IV. "Of partial Christianity :- Unitarians, Socinians, Arians. "CHAP. V. "Of the different Sects among Protestants: - Quakers, Anabaptists, Independents, Presbyterians, Moravians, Methodists. "CHAP. VI. "Of the Old and New Testaments; Tradition; Church Unity, Government, and Establishment. "CHAP. VII. "Of Gospel Christianity." |