which reafon, as far as I can fee at prefent, I fhall, I believe, at all times, think it a very dangerous experiment to repeal the feptennial bill. CHAP XI. LORD LYTTELTON's SPEECH ON THE REPEAL OF THE ACT CALLED THE JEW BILL, IN THE YEAR 1753. MR. SPEAKER, SEE no occafion to enter at prefent into the merits of the bill we past the last session for the naturalization of Jews; because I am convinced, that in the prefent temper of the nation, not a fingle foreign Jew will think it expedient to take any benefit of that act; and therefore, the repealing of it is giving up nothing. I affented to it last year in hopes it might induce fome wealthy Jews to come and fettle among us: in that light I saw enough of utility in it, to make me incline rather to approve than dislike it; but, that any man alive could be zealous, either for or againft it, I confefs I had no idea. What affects our religion, is indeed of the higheft and moft ferious importance. God forbid we should be ever indifferent about that! but, I thought this had no more to do with religion than any turnpike act we past in that feffion; and after all the divinity that has been preached on the subject, I think so still. RESOLUTION and steadinefs are excellent qualities: but, it is the application of them upon which their value depends. A wife government, Mr. Speaker, will know where to yield, as well as where to refift: and there is no furer mark of littleness of mind in an administration, than obftinacy in trifles. trifles. Public wisdom on fome occafions muft condefcend to give way to popular folly, especially in a free country, where the humour of the people must be confidered as attentively as the humour of a king in an abfolute monarchy. Under both forms of government a prudent and honeft ministry will indulge a small folly, and will refift a great one. Not to vouchfafe now and then a kind indulgence to the former, would discover an ignorance of human nature; not to refift the latter at all times, would be meannefs and fervility. SIR, I look on the bill we are at prefent debating, not as a facrifice made to popularity (for it facrifices nothing) but as a prudent regard to fome confequences arifing from the nature of the clamour raised against the late act for naturalizing Jews, which feem to require a particular confideration. Ir has been hitherto the rare and envied felicity of his Majefty's reign, that his fubjects have enjoyed fuch a fettled. tranquillity, fuch a freedom from angry, religious disputes as is not to be paralleled in any former times. The true Chriftian fpirit of moderation, of charity, of univerfal benevolence, has prevailed in the people, has prevailed in the clergy of all ranks and degrees, instead of those narrow principles, thofe bigoted prejudices, that furious, that implacable, that ignorant zeal, which had often done so much hurt both to the church and the ftate. But from the ill underftood, infignificant act of parliament you are now moved to repeal, occafion has been taken to deprive us of this inefti- mable advantage. It is a pretence to disturb the peace of the church, to infufe idle fears into the minds of the people, and make religion itfelf an engine of fedition. It behoves the piety, as well as the wifdom of parliament, to difappoint 1 disappoint those endeavours. Sir, the very worst mischief that can be done to religion, is to pervert it to the purposes of faction. Heaven and Hell are not more diftant than the benevolent fpirit of the Gofpel, and the malignant fpirit of party. The most impious wars ever made were those called holy wars.. He, who hates another man for not being a Christian, is himself not a Chriftian. Chriftianity, Sir, breathes love, and peace, and good-will to man. A temper conformable to the dictates of that holy religion has lately diftinguished this nation; and a glorious diftinction it was! But there is latent, at all times, in the mind of the vulgar, a spark of enthusiasm; which, if blown by the breath of a party, may, even when it seems quite extinguished, be suddenly revived and raised to a flame. The act of last feffion for naturalizing Jews, has very unexpectedly administered fuel to feed that flame. To what a height it may rise if it fhould continue much longer, one cannot eafily tell; but take away the fuel, and it will die of itself. Ir is the misfortune of all the Roman Catholic countries, that there the church and the state, the civil power and the hierarchy, have feparate interefts; and are continually at variance one with the other. It is our happiness, that here they form but one fyftem. While this harmony lafts, whatever hurts the church, hurts the ftate whatever weakens the credit of the governors of the church, takes away from the civil power a part of its ftrength, and fhakes the whole conftitution. SIR, I truft and believe, that, by fpeedily paffing this bill, we shall filence that obloquy, which has fo unjustly been cast upon our reverend prelates (fome of the moft refpectable that ever adorned our church) for the part they took in the act which this repeals. And it greatly concerns the whole commu community; that they should not lose that refpect, which is fo justly due to them, by a popular clamour kept up in oppofition to a measure of no importance in itself. But if the departing from that measure should not remove the prejudice so maliciously raised, I am certain that no further step you can take will be able to remove it; and therefore, 1 hope you will stop here. This appears to be a reasonable and fafe condefcenfion, by which nobody will be hurt; but all beyond this, would be dangerous weakness in govern ment. It might open a door to the wildest enthusiasm, and to the most mischievous attacks of political difaffection working upon that enthusiasm. If you encourage and authorise it to fall on the fynagogue, it will go from thence to the meeting-house, and in the end to the palace. But let us be careful to check its further progrefs. The more zealous we are to fupport Chriftianity, the more vigilant should we be in maintaining toleration. If we bring back perfecution we bring back the anti-chriftian fpirit of popery; and when the fpirit is here, the whole fyftem will foon foll. w. Toleration is the bafis of all public quiet. It is a character of freedom given to the mind, more valuable, I think, than that which fecures our perfons and eftates. Indeed, they are infeparably connected together: for, where the mind is not free, where the confcience is enthralled, there is no freedom. Spiritual tyranny puts on the galling chains; but civil tyranny is called in, to rivet and fix them. We see it in Spain, and many other countries; we have formerly both feen and felt it in England. By the bleffing of God, we are now delivered from all kinds of op. preffion. Let us take care, that they may never return. IN CHA P. XII. PRAISE OF VIRTUE IRTUE is of intrinfic value and good defert, and VIR of indispensable obligation; not the creature of will, but neceffary and immutable: not local or temporary, but of equal extent and antiquity with the DIVINE MIND; not a mode of fenfation, but everlasting TRUTH; not dependent on power, but the guide of all power. VIRTUE is the foundation of honour and efteem, and the fource of all beauty, order, and happiness in nature. It is what confers value on all the other endowments and qualities of a reasonable being, to which they ought to be abfolutely fubfervient, and without which the more eminent they are, the more hideous deformities and the greater curses they become. The use of it is not confined to any one stage of our existence, or to any particular situation we can be in, but reaches through all the periods and circumstances of our beings. Many of the endowments and talents we now poffefs, and of which we are too apt to be proud, will ceafe entirely with the prefent ftate; but this will be our ornament and dignity in every future ftate to which we may be removed. Beauty and wit will die, learning will vanish away, and all the arts of life be foon forgot; but virtue will remain for ever. This unites us to the whole rational creation, and fits us for converfing with any order of fuperior natures, and for a place in any part of God's works. It procures us the approbation and love of all wife and good beings, and renders them our allies and friends. But what is of unfpeakably greater confequence is, that it makes God our friend, affimilates and unites our minds to his, and engages his almighty power in -- our |