What a mercy to be protected in our civil and religious privileges! God be praised for a Protestant king and parliament, and for the excellent laws of our land. Amen and amen,
Yours, J. C.
LETTER XXVI.
“And thou shalt go even to Babylon, and there shalt thou be delivered.”—Micah, iii. 9 to close.
To —
The painful business was now to be brought to a final issue. I judged, before-hand, how it would terminate—as these words followed me wherever I went—“And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came to him.” The decision was appointed for the 6th of November; but, in consequence of the death of the much-lamented Princess Charlotte, it was postponed. A more gloomy month, I think, I never knew, especially the 18th when the solemn church bells minutely tolled for that amiable character’s funeral.
On Sunday morning, the 23rd, I preached my farewell sermon, on Micah, vii.—“Rejoice not against me, Oh, mine enemy; though I fall, I shall rise; though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light unto me.” I bade an affectionate farewell to my friends, nor did I prove a false prophet, as thousands have witnessed. Samson’s locks have grown again, and John the Baptist has risen from the dead.
The next day, in God’s strength, I went to Westminster-hall, and received my sentence. I had provided many things to address the court with, and could have put in fifteen affidavits, but I was advised by counsel not to speak a word, but quietly submit to the sentence, which I did; and, as soon as it was passed, my heart was at liberty, which it had not experienced for one year and three months before.—Newspapers and scribblers have asserted, it was pronounced to the great joy of the court, and gave great satisfaction;—but, if a rude rabble can be called a court, I am mistaken. And, alas! what is noisy breath! the applause of such mortals! when only about three weeks after, the same rabble had the daring impudence to hiss the very judge, on the same spot, in the matter of Hone! As in days of old, when the public cried “Hosanna!” one day, and in four days more, “Crucify him, crucify him!” So much for public applause or resentment.
In some cases we may truly say—
Careless, myself, a dying man,
Of dying man’s esteem;
Happy, O God, if thou approve,
Though all the world condemn.