f LECTURES то LORDS SPIRITUAL; OR, AN ADVICE TO THE BISHOPS, CONCERNING Religious Articles, Tithes, and Church Power, WITH A Discourse on Ridicule. BY THE REV. JAMES MURRAY, "I will fight against them with the sword of my mouth," PRINTED BY AND FOR W. HONE, 67, OLD BAILEY, THREE DOORS FROM LUDGATE HILL. AD DOMINOS SPIRITUALES. DOCTISSIMI, PRESTANTISSIMI VIRI, CUM vestram dignitatem in Ecclesiâ Anglicanâ Veri Spiritui oppositam magis magisque cogitemus, nostri animi mirando stupefacti sunt, quo pacto Illustrissimi Viri a Sacris Literis erravissent. Vox Sacra videntibus a prejudiciis liberatis est tam manifesta, ut nulli, nisi capti oculis, sed eam intelligere possent. Siquidem vis lucri vestros animos inquinati obruit poscendum veniam Deum de hoc horrifico malo. CICERO, Domini, declaravit, quæ vestris præcordiis sunt digna, "Nemo enim justus esse potest, qui mortem, qui dolorem, qui "exilium, qui egestatem timet, aut quæ his sunt contraria, equi"tati anteponit. Maximeque admirantur eum, qui pecuniâ non "movetur: quod in quo viro perspectum sit hunc dignum spec"tatu arbitrantur." Decet omnes Episcopos CICERONIS sententias animis considerare. Melius esset, si mente alta Dы leges in dies revol vissent. PREFACE. IT is a commandment of our Saviour, to" preach the gospel to every creature." I am afraid that I have transgressed this rule. Our Saviour undoubtedly meant God's creatures; but whether my audience, in their exalted station, are such, is somewhat problematical. But though God did not make them Bishops, or Lords Spiritual, he has made them men; in this sense they are his creatures. Perhaps a few Sermons may do them good; they are welcome to the following, whatever may happen. There is a period to come, when we shall all be upon a level, which men of rank, as well as others, would do well to remember. Their Graces and Lordships cannot be the worse of being put in mind of their latter end. It is but seldom their Chaplains make so free with them. I heartily wish they may all arrive safely in the kingdom of Heaven, though their mitres in this world should be laid in the dust. I expect no reward for the small service I have done them; they may read these Discourses, or not, as they please. They have read better; and perhaps worse; but such as they are, they are welcome to peruse them. If they will be so kind as to set us free from the Articles of the Church, and the Penal Laws connected therewith, I shall promise never to preach to them any more. |