Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Essays On Subjects Connected With History And Classical Learning.
characters of many from whom they came , so manifest the injuries of which they complained , that he indeed must have been deaf to the interests of humanity , who , with the power to rescue them , could have remained a silent , a tame , and an indolent spectator of their approaching calamities . What object then was it likely that William had in view ? Was it to acquire an unlimited authority , or such as Was'inconsistent with the happiness of a free people ? - By ascending
the throne of England , he did not so much gratify a selfish passion for power and fame , as the liberal enthusiasm of the patriot , by adding the pecuniary aud warlike aid of an opulent and mighty nation to a confederacy formed for the defence of civil and religious liberty . * After securing the rights of the English , he hoped-ttifct they would co-operate in the common cause against the insatiable- ambition of
Louis the Fourteenth . The whole tenor of his conduct confirms the supposition . William did indeed refuse a conditional crown ,- an uncertain dignity : to' such he preferred the honour of remaining the Stadtholder of a petty Republic . But Was this from an indifference to the interests of religion ? To the liberties of England , or of Europe ? Did it not rather proceed from an invincible conviction , that , under
the proposed limitations -he should be unable to support , that cause , which was the darling passion of his heart ? A train of thinking , which education had encouraged , philosophy had cherished , and aregular series of action , had rendered habitual , independent of the importance of the right he was defending , had taught him to deem resistance to the arms of Louis the first and greatest obligation .
After he had reduced James to extremities , the proposals which he made by no means required his fli ght ; and were merely such as were absolutely necessary for the redress of grievances and for ' future security . A king of sense and spirit might still have retained his situation . Redress for an injured people , by procuring them the concessions to their future welfare and security ( was
asnecessary , the princess ' s declaration professes ) the sole object of his voga ' ge ; and though William did certainly expect some return for " his generosity , yet had the great body of the people been satisfied with their king , he would have remained content with their favour and co-operation against the common enemy .
The means he adopted were such , and not more violent than the accomplishment of the object required . Necessity , though the tyrant ' s plea , is sometimes too the plea of those who are the champions of freedom . It is upon a balance of good and evil , on a fair calculation of all the consequences and the probability of each , that mankind are bound to act . In great and important changes , upon which the interests of society , and particularly of religion , materially depend , the more real principle a man possesses , with the less reluctance will he neglect and abandon the duties attached to- the relations of private life . The object may be of sufficient importance
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Essays On Subjects Connected With History And Classical Learning.
characters of many from whom they came , so manifest the injuries of which they complained , that he indeed must have been deaf to the interests of humanity , who , with the power to rescue them , could have remained a silent , a tame , and an indolent spectator of their approaching calamities . What object then was it likely that William had in view ? Was it to acquire an unlimited authority , or such as Was'inconsistent with the happiness of a free people ? - By ascending
the throne of England , he did not so much gratify a selfish passion for power and fame , as the liberal enthusiasm of the patriot , by adding the pecuniary aud warlike aid of an opulent and mighty nation to a confederacy formed for the defence of civil and religious liberty . * After securing the rights of the English , he hoped-ttifct they would co-operate in the common cause against the insatiable- ambition of
Louis the Fourteenth . The whole tenor of his conduct confirms the supposition . William did indeed refuse a conditional crown ,- an uncertain dignity : to' such he preferred the honour of remaining the Stadtholder of a petty Republic . But Was this from an indifference to the interests of religion ? To the liberties of England , or of Europe ? Did it not rather proceed from an invincible conviction , that , under
the proposed limitations -he should be unable to support , that cause , which was the darling passion of his heart ? A train of thinking , which education had encouraged , philosophy had cherished , and aregular series of action , had rendered habitual , independent of the importance of the right he was defending , had taught him to deem resistance to the arms of Louis the first and greatest obligation .
After he had reduced James to extremities , the proposals which he made by no means required his fli ght ; and were merely such as were absolutely necessary for the redress of grievances and for ' future security . A king of sense and spirit might still have retained his situation . Redress for an injured people , by procuring them the concessions to their future welfare and security ( was
asnecessary , the princess ' s declaration professes ) the sole object of his voga ' ge ; and though William did certainly expect some return for " his generosity , yet had the great body of the people been satisfied with their king , he would have remained content with their favour and co-operation against the common enemy .
The means he adopted were such , and not more violent than the accomplishment of the object required . Necessity , though the tyrant ' s plea , is sometimes too the plea of those who are the champions of freedom . It is upon a balance of good and evil , on a fair calculation of all the consequences and the probability of each , that mankind are bound to act . In great and important changes , upon which the interests of society , and particularly of religion , materially depend , the more real principle a man possesses , with the less reluctance will he neglect and abandon the duties attached to- the relations of private life . The object may be of sufficient importance