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Sermon preached at the Ordination, held at Christ Church, Nov, 21, 1779, by John Lord Bishop of Oxford. By John Ran dolph, M. A. Student of Chrift Church, 4to. is, Fletcher, Oxford; Rivington, London.

The duty of a minifter of the Gofpel is weighty and ime portant. It fhould not be entered on rafhly, but with due confideration. Exemplary morals, and confiderable attainments in knowledge are effentially requifite to discharge this facred office "decently and in order." But how few, if we enter into a ftrict fcrutiny, fhall we find of this valuable ftamp?

Tempora mutantur nos et mutamur in illis.

That too many are honoured with this title, without troubling their beads about neceffary ftudies, is too noto rious to be denied. This fafhionable aμabia 66 want of fcience" contributes greatly to bring the clergy into contempt.

The difcourfe before us is fuitable to the occafion on which it was delivered; in which Mr. Randolph fpeaks of profane learning as fubordinate and introductory to that which is facred. To fet which argument in a clear light, he gives us a plain enumeration of particulars: fuch as, a knowledge of languages, the fcience of criticifm, hiftory, the inferior fciences of geography and chronology, the philofophical sciences, and even (fays he) "the elegant arts fhould not be neglected."

After treating concifely on the above particulars, and pointing out their utility with refpect to the ftudy of Theology, Mr. Randolph thus concludes his fenfible difcourse :

A mind thus ftored and prepared would certainly come with great advantage and ability to religious ftudies; befides, the mere technial knowledge thus acquired, by frequent exercife, and by having taken fuch a compafs, it would be much enlarged and Strengthened.

"Nor is experience wanting to confirm this notion. Superftition, enthufiafm, and infidelity have always had their foundation in ignorance. The fuperftitions of the Roman Catholic religion arofe and took root in times when good literature was loft to the world. The modern enthufiafts are ufually those who have come to the study of facred learning with minds ill-prepared for its reception, and have built their errors upon mifinterpretation, or upon that common mistake of arguing from detached paffages feparated from the context. It is the fame with modern infidelity, however it may plume itself on its fuperior talents; ftill it has its foundation in grofs ignorance, and often in'an ignorance of plain る

elementary

elementary principles: there may, perhaps, be fomething plaufble at first fight; there may be a fuperficial glare fufficient to engage and perplex weak, minds; but I am perfuaded, if we had had more found learning amongst us, the most popular of thefe compilations, whether they pafs under the name of philosophy or of history, would never have rifen to eminence. It may be faid, that fome of them are the work of ingenuity and of bright parts; perhaps fo, though this to attribute to them more than most of them deferve, ftill they are, founded in ignorance, while men vainly prefume to fcan what is beyond their reach, and afpire at once to thofe things which are not to be attained but by degrees and by cautious fteps. There is one fure way of ftriking at the root of this evil, and that not fo much by defultory attacks, as by fpread ing wide the influence of better principles and of founder knowledge.

Thus, I think, from the inftitutions of our church, from the history and experience of past and prefent times, and from the nature of the thing itself, we may eatily difcern a strong connexion between the caufe of learning in all its feveral branches and that of religion; and I would be understood to fpeak at present of human learning not as valuable in itself, but as fubfervient and fubfidiary to fomething of higher importance; as preparing the way and opening the mind for the reception of greater truths, as tending to form that great character which fhall embrace all these parts of learning as fecondary and fubordinate to that which is its principal ftudy, and fhall then apply the whole with united force to the promoting the knowledge of Chriftian faith, and the exercife of Chriftian charity: cafting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Chrift.'

"It may be urged that all this is within the reach of few, be it fo; perhaps of none; but by holding forth that which is perfect as a model, we shall be able to approach nearer to it. Some portion at leaft is in every man's power. And it is an undeniable confequence, that if these gifts may be applied to fo good purposes, they call for our most earneit endeavouring; and on the other hand, we may be affured, that if our endeavours are earnest and fincere, the gracious affiftance of God will not be wanting in this, and all our other labours. Then may we apply to ourselves with confidence those most comfortable words of our Saviour Chrift to his apostles, and through them to his church: And lo I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

* Mathew, c. 28, v. 20.

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Thoughts on the Treaty now agitating between Government and the Eaft India Company, fhewing the conceived Defects of the Propofitions drawn up by the Court of Directors; and containing a new fet of Propofitions, perhaps more advantageous to the Public, to the Eaft India Company, and the oppreffed Inhabibitants of Hindoftan. By Archibald Mitchell, late Major of Engineers, belonging to the Eftablishment of Fort St. George. 4to. 2s. 6d. Donaldfon.

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It is an old faying, that it would be happy for the arts if none but artifts prefumed to judge of them. We tend the obfervation, and affirm, that it would be happy for the interefts of knowledge and learning in general, if none prefumed to write, nor even to talk of any thing but what they understood. And, yet, how widely do men deviate from this excellent rule? How many tours of England have been written by those who were never out of the found of Bow bell? And how many travels thro' foreign countries have been compofed by thofe who were never out of Great-Britain? This habit, indeed, of talking of things we do not understand, feems to be an old difeafe of mankind. The pedant, who prefumed to inftru&t Hannibal in the art of war, tho' he had never feen the face of an enemy, appears to have been of this family. Major Mitchell is of a very different lineage. He talks of nothing of which he is not a perfect mafter; for having refided long in the Eaft Indies, he cannot but be supposed to be intimately acquainted with the subject of which he treats, and which, we inuft own, he handles in a very rational and ingenious manner. Inftead of a charter for ten years, he proposes that the company fhould have a charter for thirty years; and that the public and the company fhould equally fhare in the profits, and in the collection of the revenues, and the direction of the government.

He alledges, that neither the directors nor the minifter have chose to speak out their fentiments clearly; but that, if they had done fo, they would have expreffed themselves in the following, or, at leaft, in fomewhat fimilar terms:

"Having adjusted the dividend for the profits on trade, the propofition goes to state the mode, in which the remaining profits of the company, accruing from the territorial revenue, is to be thared between the public and the India proprietors it propofes, that all above eight per cent. fhould be given to the state, until the profits amount to fixteen per cent. When they exceed fixteen per cent. the furplus to be equally divided between the public and company. The plain English of which propofition I take to VOL. XI.

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be this; We (that is adminiftation) will not revolt the proprie tors, by afferting, in direct terms, that every farthing of revenue fhall be ours, but we shall take care to have it fo, by infifting on receiving all up to fixteen per cent. which we are perfuaded, is the utmost extent of probable profit that will accrue from the company's poffeffions. Should, however, the profits, by a degree of good management very unlikely to happen, exceed that proportion, we will then condefcend to admit the company to an equal fhare of this imaginary furplus, this bubble of expectation, never to be realifed. In return for this great condefcenfion on our part, you shall have the honour of being the fole drudges in the management of this bulinefs, because we are convinced, by the wonderful extent of your paft oeconomy, and by the great care you have thewn to provide for the lafting profperity of your poffellions, as well as by the effectual means you have used to fecure all the riches of India to yourfelves, and to let none of them to go into the pockets of your fervants, that you are exceedingly equal to this arduous employment.-Moreover, we will not affront you, by making an offer for paying for one half of the fortifications, buildings, guns, &c. &c. conftructed and provided by you, at an immenfe expence, for the neceffary fecurity of your poffeffions:-you fhall have the merit of making a prefent of all that to the ftate, in return for the honour it does you, by calling you it's partner, and we will content ourfelves with the whole of the profits, without being at a farthing expence, or bearing any of the drudgery."

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If after reading this fair ftate of the propofal, any one will ftill be hardy enough to throw down the gauntlet, as a champion for the justice and moderation of government, I certainly shall not except the challenge, not chufing to fight wind-mills, nor to run my head against ftone walls.

"I now proceed to the laft head of difcuffion, namely to exa mine,

The degree of exclufive controul and management, proposed to be vested in the company, independent of government."

In examining which, I fhall firft confider the demands and expectations of the directors, on this head, in behalf of the company; and then advert to the requifition of the minister on behalf of the state.

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"The directors begin their propofitions, by requiring, Thak all their charter rights and privileges, fhall be preferved to them entire. Had they condefcended to have expreffed this with, with, fome degree of limitation, I conceive, it would have been both more modeft and more juft. For example, had they thought proper to infert the following claufe, namely So far as regards our exclufive trade, and the management of our commerce,' perhaps the requifition would have been more reasonable, as well as more refpectful, than as it stands, at prefent. Their demand may be thus tranflated: We expect, not only the exclufive management of our trade, the fole object of our former charter privileges (in which claim they are perfectly well founded) but we infift alfo on the en

cire administration of the territory-the fole right of Indian legis
flation and the undivided exercife of collecting and employing
the revenues. We are aware that this demand is rather outré on
our part, but fill we will be much obliged to you, if you will
grant it.
We should offend the proprietors if we acted otherwife;
and if you give it us, we will make it up to you in more effential
matters: for we will permit you to pocket the whole revenues, if
you will give us all the power. We muft be, at the least we must
appear to be, the fole governors and treasurers. We must have
the oftenfible difpofal of all places, and have it abfolutely in our
power to enrich our friends and dependents at the expence of the
public. In short, we will do all the bufinefs-take a little care of
the company-a great deal of your friends and our friends, and let
the public at large fhift for themselves. Finally, we infist upon
being great men, in appearance, but you fhall have all the power,
under the rofe?

Gentlemen, replies the minifter, I pardon the prefumption of your demand, on account of the motive from whence I conceive it to have originated, namely, your defire to approve yourselves the faithful guardians of the rights of your conftituents; but I will not fo far degrade your difcernment, as to fuppofe, that your claim to exclufive management of revenue as well as trade, can be juftified by your private opinions, and conviction of it's equity and propriety. Surely, Gentlemen, a participation of revenue neceffarily implies a proportionable fhare, in the management of thofe countries from whence that revenue is to arife. In regard to in fluence, under the rose, it would be highly unbecoming in the mi nifter of this great nation, in the adjustment of fo important a bufinefs as the prefent, to appear to give weight to, or to be actuated by, fuch indirect motives. Befides, neither my time, my inclination, nor the turn of my mind, lead me to court fuch influence. Other ministers, perhaps of lefs official connection with the compa ny, may have courted it, and may have obtained it. The motives of my claim, in behalf of the state, to a fhare of territorial management, however unpopular that claim may be, I am yet not afhamed to own, because I am convinced, it is founded both on justice and expediency; nor has the past management of the company's poffeffions, in the hands of the directors, and of fervants of their appointing, had any tendency to leffen that perfuafion. Partnership (I fpeak to you now as merchants) neceffarily involves in it a fhare of direction. When I fay this, I am at the fame time, perfectly aware, of the degree of unpopularity and jealoufy that will be excited, efpecially in the prefent moment, by the adoption of any measure that tends to increase the power, and to extend the influence of the crown, however juft, however neceffary it may be on the prefent occafion. On that account I am difpofed to wave my claim to oftenfible, domeftic management, and to confine it within the bounds already prefcribed by parliament, of nominating the governor general and fupreme council in Bengal, as being the executive power in the administration of revenue.

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