therein were not only applicable to the times in which they were first written, but were also prophetic, and equally applicable to all fucceeding, parallel occaions. In difcourfing therefore on the words of my text, I thall firft, fhow on what account the prophet Ifaiah pronounced them. Secondly, how far they were verited; and laftly, point out how applicable they are to the prefent people, and the prefent circumfiances of this wide extended branch of the Britith empire.

In the reign of Kehobcam, the son of Solomon, under pretence that the taxes were too heavy, great numbers of his fubjects withdrew themfelves from his government, and established a separate dominion under the rule of an ufurper, Jeroboam, the fon of Nebat, forming the kingdom of Ifrael; and it is to be obferved, although God, for his wife purpofes, permitted this divifion, yet it was not approved of by him, but this revolt was filed in the holy fcriptures, a rebelhen, notwithftanding the plaufible excufes the people made for this defection from their duty. For the infpired writers of the first book of Kings, and the iecond book of Chronicles, expreffy fay, Ifrael rebelled against the boufe of David. The immediate confequences of this rebellious erection of a new fovereignty, were of the last importance, and ought to alarm every one again fo great a crime: for the ufurper Jeroboam, knowing if the people obeyed the dictates of religion, they would foon return to their duty to their lawful ruler, he betrayed them into idolatry; he prevented their having recourfe to the eftablished worship of the people of God, and fet up two golden calves in Dan and in Bethel, telling them thofe idols were the gods that had deliyered them in every former diftrefs.

He fought alfo, a fit fet of preachers for fuch an irreligious worship. The true and regular clergy, which were of the tribe of Levi, and lawfully ordained to the priesthood, remained firm in their duty, and quitted their poffeffions to join with their God and their king; as did alfo out of all the tribes of Ifrael, fuch as fet their hearts to feet the Lord Godt, but the ufurper made priefs of the lowest of the people, the weavers, the taylors, and the tinkers of thofe days were the preachers and the offerers up of the prayers of the people.

Notwithstanding the Almighty permitted this rebellion, he continued to fhow evident marks of his difpleasure against the rebels, and their ufurping leaders. The hand of Jeroboam was withered in the midst of his irreligious facrifices. Ahijah the prophet denounced the curfe of God against him and his race—I will bring evil on the boufe of Jeroboam-and will take away the remnant of the house of Ferchoam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone-bim that dieth of Jeroboam in the city, shall d gs eat; and him that dieth in the field, jbull the fowls of the air eat, for the Lord baib spoken it -five hundred thousand of the rebel troops were flain in one battle against Abijah the true and lawful king, and even the death itself of Jeroboam is mentioned with a particular mark of horror; It is not said simply that he died, or that he flept with his fathers, but it is thus expreffed. The Lord strook bim, and be died §.

As the vengeance of God purfued Jeroboam and his rebellious adherents, fo did it alfo feveral of his fucceffors. His fon Nadab, was rebelled against in his turn by Baafha his fervant, who flew Nadab and all that remained of the house of Jeroboam. Thus was one rebellion made the punishment of another. Baafha, inttead of returning to his duty, followed the fteps of Jeroboam, and a like prophetic curfe was denounced againft him by Jehu the fon of Hanani¶. Elab, fon of Baasha was killed, with all his family by Zimri, captain of his chariots. Zimri was attacked by Omri the general, and burnt himself in his palace; half of the people fet up for king, Tibni, the fon of Ginath, and the other half followed Omri, who on the death of Tibni, became the fole ufurper, and was fucceeded by Ahab, who was killed at the battle of Ramoth Gilead. Ahaziab, his fon, died of a fall after two years rein. He was fucceeded by Jehoram, his brother, who was killed by his fervant Jehu, as was one of his fucceffors, Pekahiah, by Pekah, who reigned in his room, and in whofe days were spoken the words of my tex: by the prophet Isaiah.

I have been thus circumftantial in relating the fate of feveral of the defcendants of Jeroboam, in order to fhow what are the evil confequences of reNOTE S. Kings, xiv. 10, 11. 2 Chron. xiii. 17. Ibid. verfe 20. 1 Kings, xvi. 3, 4.

bellion,

bellion, when undertaken on even the low-fubjects. Gird yourselves and ye moft fpecious pretences. And it is very fhall be broken in pieces, although ye ftand common that thofe who unlawfully affume up ftrongly, and gird yourselves for war, fovereign power, make alliances and af- yet ye fhall be difcomfited, nay the profociations with the moft bitter enemies phet energetically repeats what he had of their country, in order to maintain faid, Gird yourselves and ye shall be brotheir ill gotten power. So it was with ken in pieces. He adds, Take counfel tothis Pekah, the ufurper of the govern- gether and it shall come to nought. Your ment of Ifrael. Notwithstanding that traiterous meetings, and unlawful affeuthe Syrians were idolaters, and the kings blies will be fruitlefs, for all your reof that nation had frequently opprefied folves therein, contrary to your duty to and flain the true worthippers of God, God, your king, and the country from yet Pekah made a league with them, and which you originally fprung, shall come called Rezin, king of Syria, to his af- to nought.-Speak the word and it fhall fiftance, in a rebellious attack he made not fland, All your menaces, and your on the property and fubjects of the lawful orders fhall fall to the ground. For God king of Judah. Such was the inveteracy is with us. The prophet here affigns of the rebels against the defcendants of the reason why what he fays fhall come their fore-fathers, that they aided the to pafs; because God is with them who Syrians to feize and poffefs a part of the adhere to their duty and loyalty. kingdom of Judah; they took the city of Elath; and in the pride of their hearts intended even to fubdue the capital city, even Jerufalem itfelf.

But thefe defigns did not escape the eye of the Almighty. The measure of iniquity of the rebellious Ifraelites was nearly full. The prophet Ifaiah was ordered by God to prophefy against them. He admonished the people of God not to fear the multitude of their enemies, nor their affociations either amongit themselves, or with the foes of their religion and nation. He faid unto them, Fear not, neither be faint-hearted, for the two tails of these smoaking firebrands (Syria and Ifrael) because they have taken evil counfel against thee, jaying, Let us go against Judah and make a breach therein for us-adding, it jhall not ftand, neither fall it come to passt: And it is remarkable that on this very occafion was given to the king of Judah that prophecy of Chrift, that a virgin fhould conceive and bear a fon. But to the rebels and their affociates Ifaiah pronounced the words of my text. He fays, affeciate yourfelves, O ye people, and ye shall be "broken in pieces. Your affociations with each other, and your calling in the affiftance of other powers, will not prevent your difunion, for the bands thereof fhall be broken to pieces, as founded in iniquity. And give ear all ye of far countries, let every furrounding nation hear that the Lord will defend his anointed, and the people who are dutiful and obedient to his lawful commands, from the defigns of their rebellious felNOTE S.

* Ifaiah, vii. 4, 5, 6. + Ibid, verfe 7.

Ifaiah proceeds to announce the autho rity on which he prefumes to speak; he declares he only utters the words which the Lord had fpoken; For the Lord Spake thus to me, with a ftrong hand, he spoke with power to execute what he faid, and inftructed me not to walk in the way of this people. It was the inttruction of God himself that Ifaiah (and through him all other good fubjects and religious men) fhould not walk in the step, trod by rebels. The confequences of which iniquity he fays fhall be-Many among them fhall ftumble and fall, and be broken, and "be jnared, and be taken 1.

This leads me to my fecond point, how far the prophecy of Ifaiah, in the words of my text were verified.

The rebellious Ifraelites under Pekah thought themfelves fufficiently strong by their affociations, and by the foreign af fiftauce which they had called in; and that they fhould be able entirely to defeat their lawful king of Judah, but they were mistaken. The confederate king of Syria, was overcome and flain at Damafcus, by Tiglath Pilefer king of Affyria, whom the Lord had raised up against this unnatural affociation; and who took from the rebels feven strong cities with all Galilee and the land of Napthali, and carried the inhabitants thereof captives to Affyria, and Pekab himself was killed by Hoihea, one of his officers. But this rebellion did not go long unpunished, for in nine years after, Shalmanefor king of Affyria, who had fucceeded Tiglath Pilefer, took the capital city of the rebels, bound Hofhea, the ufurper in chains, and carried the whole people of Ifrael capNOTE. Ifaiah, viii. 15.

tives

tives into Affyria and Media, fo that it was no more a nation. Thus in eleven years after the prophecy was uttered by Ifaiah, was it completely fulfilled.

dered themselves obnoxious to all the evils which fell upon them.

But if the Lord did not hold the Ifraelites excufable for their rebellion, the I am now in the third and laft place, people who are now in arms against their to point out how applicable this history and parent country, and a lawful governthis prophefy is to the prefent affairs of ment are ftill lefs excufable. The regal this continent; in doing of which, i could dignity over the Jews was but juft effawith I had a voice that would reach to blifhed. Saul, David and Solomon were the moft diftant provinces of this land, the only kings they had had. The powand aided with all the power of perfua- er of the crown was not wifely circumfion, that thereby a fadly deluded people fcribed by wholesome and equitable laws. might be induced to return to their duty, Their kings were abfolute, and fome fears and efcape the evils which fell on the might be reasonably entertained of an unchildren of Ifrael, in confequence of their due exertion of an unfettled prerogative. mifdoings, as pointed out in the prophe- But the cafe is widely different with us, we cy contained in the words of my text. live under a mild and gracious governBut fince that is impoffible, I think it ment, where the fovereign power is fully my more immediate duty, to ftrengthen afcertaine.i; and where a constitutional fuch as may hear me in their obedience means may be found against any improto their true and lawful king, and prove per ufe of the lawful authority of any to them that in fo doing they act uprightly branch of the legislature. Have our inin the fight of him by whom kings reign. furgent brethren fought these means, in a Far be it from me to enter into that manner that fhewed they would abide by much agitated queftion relative to the them? Their best friends cannot fay they rights of taxation. This is not a place have. They have no Rehoboam to opfor fuch difquifition, and ill would it be pofe, who has threatened to make his come a minifter of the gospel to make little finger thicker than his father's loins the house of the Lord a scene of political to add to their heavy yoke, and to chajdebates. I fhall only proceed on the tize them with fcorpions. No, they have firm grounds of fcripture. It is enough a gracious king who hath done nothing that a number of our fellow fubjects, concerning them but by the advice of his defcended from the fame forefathers with parliament. Where then is their preourselves, are up in arms against that fo- tence for rebellion? The lords and com vereign, who in all their declarations mons of their n other country, of the land they confefs to be their rightful prince. to which they were all born fubjects, From all which I have faid already, it and to which they all owe fealty, have is evident that even the dreaded oppref- thought proper to make them bear a part fions of Rehoboam could not juftify the of a general burthen. In contradiction defection of the ten tribes; and it is as evi- to this, they have run into cobweb difdent that after their feparation they were putes; but can thefe difputes, even aldeemed as rebels in the fight of God. lowing they were well founded, authoThey had many convulfions in their newly rize an effufion of human blood, a fuberected government, and at laft were fubftraction from that government which carried away into the moft grievous and themselves acknowledge to be lawful, and abject flavery. Thus it was that what an ufurpation of the known and eftafell upon them in confequence of their blifhed rights of fovereignty-furely rebellion, was manifoldly worse than no. It is impiety to affert it, or to think what they could dread from the greatest that a fubverfion of all order, can be the oppreffion of their lawful prince. means of establishing tranquility.-But of this no more-things now are fo, and all our prefent enquiry muft be, how thofe who are faithful to their king and the laws of their country, are to act in this trying circumftance. The anfwer is eafy, it may be given in the words of Mofes, Only rebel not ye again the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land, for they are bread for us, their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us-fear them not, and thofe who do their duty NOTE. Numbers, xiv. 9.

I would not be thought an advocate for oppreffion, God forbid, but I would obferve that the oppreffion the ten tribes fled from, had not come upon them: it was the threat only of a young king, fwayed by unfaithful counfellors, and it might have pleafed God to have turned his heart to his people. But the Ifraelites would not wait for that; they would not ftay till their fears were realized, but having their minds over-heated by ambitious and factious men, they at once broke off from their due allegiance, and ren

in

To the Editor of the Hibernian Magazine.
SIR,

IN
N your Magazine for October, 1775,
you publifhed,
The Oath of Alle
giance and Abjuration, framed in the laft
Seffion of parliament, with The Koman
Catholics Reajons against taking it."

By thefe latter words you have innocently led the public into error, which your well known candor and impartiality will rectify in the next publication of your agreeable monthly entertainment.

The refpectable body of Roman Catholics who have already complied with the kind proposals of government, and the ftill greater number that will take the oath at a proper time, fufficiently evince that the reafons against the teft are far from being the Catholic fenfe of the na

tion.

The teft, fir, is already vindicated by

a fteadfast member of the church of Rome:

And the vindication of it (which you will find publifhed by Mr. Williams, book feller, in Skinner-row, and to which I beg leave to refer you) is grounded on the united evidence of reafon, common

sense, divine and human law; confequently the arguments against taking the oath, which have been clandeftinely conveyed into your Magazine, can be nothing elfe but the offspring of private opinion, emboldened by indifcretion.

Your inferting this ftricture in your next Magazine will much oblige a great number of your friends, particularly

Your conftant reader, CATHOLICUS. At the Requeft of a great Number of our Correfpondents, we lay before our Readers the following Vindication of the New Oath, &c. referred to in the above.

A Vindication of the New Oath of Allegiance propofed to the Roman Catholics of Ireland. By a Steadfaft Member of the Church of Rome.

But do thou speak the things that become found Doctrine, that the word of God be not blafphemed.-The word found and NOTE.

§ 2 Samuel, viii. 28.

irreprehenfible, that be which is on the
contrary part may be ashamed, having
no evil to jay of us.

Paul to Titus, 2 Ch. V. 1, 5, 8.
HILST the flames of difcord and

W jealoufy are raging through many

parts of his majetty's American dominions,
and whilft the horrid found of rebellion
is tingling in our ears, it cannot be thought
improper, ufelefs, or unfeasonable, to
hold forth to public view the real fenti-
ments of every true Roman catholic fub-
ject, whom God has bleffed with found
reafon, and the knowledge of chriftian
doctrine; in hopes of preventing on one
fide the ignorant and unwary from catch-
ing the infectious breath of faction and
fedition, and of guarding on the other
fide the honeft and well meaning Roman
catholics of Ireland, against thofe politi-
cal errors or evils into which they may
be led, even by good men, whose pro-
fellion and pleasure it is to teach the
truth, but whom an exceffive delicacy of
confcience, or a too fanguine attachment
to private opinion, often betrays into rash
cenfures and bold animadverfions on the
matter contained in the new teft; by
which hobgoblins are raised in the ima-
ginations of the people, dreffed up in
the frightful fhapes of heresy and schism.

For more than a century past, an accurfed brat, the very offspring of Hell, has been laid at the door of the Roman

catholic church, I mean the execrable
doctrine of King killing, Infurrections,
Perjury, &c. &c.. The outcry prevailed
Majacres, Gunpowder Plots, Rebellion,
fo far as to lead government itself into
a belief that the Roman catholic religion
(not barely fome wicked individuals of
that perfuafion) was the real parent. In
confequence of those repeated mifrepre-
fentations, the Roman catholics of thefe
kingdoms, from their fuppofed religious
principles, were judged to be difqualified
and dijabled to take an oath of allegiance,
as it was currently believed that credit
could not be fafely given to a papift, un-
der a proteftant government. (See War-
ner's and Leland's Hiflories of Ireland)
But there is fome room to hope, that in
this humane and enlightened age, the
long drawn fword of flander has loft its
edge, and that the real principles of
Roman catholics, as well as their diftreff-
ed condition, have been taken into ferious
and impartial confideration; for, by an
a&t paffed in the last feffion of parliament,
thofe fubjects who before were disabled,
are now enabled to take an oath of alle-
giance, which virtually imports a relaxa-
tion of the fevere laws made against

them