Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Essays On Subjects Connected With History And Classical Learning.
popery was for centuries upheld;—* but the doctrine and the despotism were buried in the same grave , and may now sleep together Sill the trumpet of ignorance , superstition , and bigotry shall sound their resurrection . ' * Taking it for granted , that some strong measures were then necessary for our security , that some barrier was absolutely requisite to prevent the encroachments of regal prerogative and the
subversion of the laws , we shall approach the discussion of William ' s character without prejudice and without partiality . —Can we shew , that his ends were noble and generous , his means wise and just , and his motives honourable and virtuous , I doubt not but we shall be easily able to obviate the objections to his character , to establish the rectitude of his principlesand to justify the propriety of his conduct .
, The Revolution ' was the child not of choice , but necessity . ' * By what other means could its benefits have been obtained ? Without it what indemnity would there have been for the past , what security for the future ? The calm dispassionate reasonings of philosophy are unable to effect those changes , which alone can rectify an highly disordered state of government . During the reigns of the
four Stuarts a continued fever had lurked in the domestic administration , which sometimes broke out into the most violent convulsions , and at length produced a delirium , whose frequent and violent paroxysms could be removed only by the application of a desperate remedy . Without a Revolution , slavery and superstition would have been inevitably entailed upon ourselves and our descendants . The obstinate bigotry of James would never have acceded to a
compromise—never would he have made sufficient concessions to the wishes or-the wants of his people . A reformation , like an anodyne , might indeed have afforded a temporary suspension to the pain , but could riot have removed the cause of the malr ^ ty . There was- no alternative , but the banishment of their sovereign , or the ruin of their independence ; yet ' such is the influence of established government , so averse are men from beginning arduous enterprizesthathad not
, , an attack been made from without , affairs might long have remained in that delicate situation , and James at last have prevailed in his rash and ill-concerted projects . ' They who had seen the first glorious and regular efforts of liberty against Charles the First , were long since deceased . The survivors , who had been witnesses to the events of the latter part of that unfortunate monarch ' s reign , had only
beheld the private ambi ion and anarchy of the pretended advocates for civil and religious freedom . Hence the spirit of liberty was destroyed ; her votaries were intimidated ; and but for the assistance of the Prince of Orange , aided by their apprehensions for religion , our ancestors had been inevitably enslaved . William interfered not in the affairs of England till solicited by James ; nor afterwards resumed his interference till the liberties of the people required it . So general were the invitations he received , so great the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Essays On Subjects Connected With History And Classical Learning.
popery was for centuries upheld;—* but the doctrine and the despotism were buried in the same grave , and may now sleep together Sill the trumpet of ignorance , superstition , and bigotry shall sound their resurrection . ' * Taking it for granted , that some strong measures were then necessary for our security , that some barrier was absolutely requisite to prevent the encroachments of regal prerogative and the
subversion of the laws , we shall approach the discussion of William ' s character without prejudice and without partiality . —Can we shew , that his ends were noble and generous , his means wise and just , and his motives honourable and virtuous , I doubt not but we shall be easily able to obviate the objections to his character , to establish the rectitude of his principlesand to justify the propriety of his conduct .
, The Revolution ' was the child not of choice , but necessity . ' * By what other means could its benefits have been obtained ? Without it what indemnity would there have been for the past , what security for the future ? The calm dispassionate reasonings of philosophy are unable to effect those changes , which alone can rectify an highly disordered state of government . During the reigns of the
four Stuarts a continued fever had lurked in the domestic administration , which sometimes broke out into the most violent convulsions , and at length produced a delirium , whose frequent and violent paroxysms could be removed only by the application of a desperate remedy . Without a Revolution , slavery and superstition would have been inevitably entailed upon ourselves and our descendants . The obstinate bigotry of James would never have acceded to a
compromise—never would he have made sufficient concessions to the wishes or-the wants of his people . A reformation , like an anodyne , might indeed have afforded a temporary suspension to the pain , but could riot have removed the cause of the malr ^ ty . There was- no alternative , but the banishment of their sovereign , or the ruin of their independence ; yet ' such is the influence of established government , so averse are men from beginning arduous enterprizesthathad not
, , an attack been made from without , affairs might long have remained in that delicate situation , and James at last have prevailed in his rash and ill-concerted projects . ' They who had seen the first glorious and regular efforts of liberty against Charles the First , were long since deceased . The survivors , who had been witnesses to the events of the latter part of that unfortunate monarch ' s reign , had only
beheld the private ambi ion and anarchy of the pretended advocates for civil and religious freedom . Hence the spirit of liberty was destroyed ; her votaries were intimidated ; and but for the assistance of the Prince of Orange , aided by their apprehensions for religion , our ancestors had been inevitably enslaved . William interfered not in the affairs of England till solicited by James ; nor afterwards resumed his interference till the liberties of the people required it . So general were the invitations he received , so great the