hardly be believed by charity | taken in its original and strictest herself, that those who make use sense, or unless regard be had to of them do not see their fallacy. the particular kind of comfort Does Pædophilus really believe which it was designed to comthat the principles of Baptists municate, I beg leave to propose are inconsistent with love? I the following query to the readers cannot for a moment suppose it. of your valuable miscellany, wishBefore I conclude I shoulding that some of them may discuss the subject. `wish, with all meekness, to call the attention of Pædophilus to one or two passages of the word of God: "Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is thine own eye?" Or, how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye, and behold a beam is in thine own eye? I much fear the want of candour, and the rashness and bigotry of which he accuses the Baptists, are too plainly exemplified in his epigram. Again it is written, "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth." I think Pædophilus has yet to learn the meaning of this passage. As to Mr. Hall, I have not the pleasure of his acquaintance; I am of his opinion respecting what is termed free communion: but I should be very sorry to charge those Baptists who differ from me, or even those who, according to my firm conviction, altogether mistake the nature of the ordinance of baptism, of baptism, with " pride," "infallible conceit," and "want of love." Edinburgh, Dec. 5, 1818. SIGMA. To the Editors of the Baptist Magazine. Yours respectfully, QUERY. REBECCA. Is that consolation which is derived from misapplied passages of scripture real or imaginary A CONSTANT reader of your Magazine, who has lately had his mind much exercised with respect to a general and particular providence, is very desirous of calling the attention of some of your worthy correspondents to the subject, through the medium of your useful publication. QUERY. Is there not only a general, but a special and particular, providence over the Lord's own redeemed people? To doubt a special providence appears to the writer to strike at the faith, hope, aud comfort, so necessary to support the Christian in times of severe trial. Yours, &c. W. P. W. P. would be obliged to any of your correspondents for a description of the editions in 1527 and 1530 of Tindal's New Testament, mentioning the size; the kind of title page; the diviA JUDICIOUS and useful mi- sion into chapters; the references nister of Christ having suggested or notes; the heads of the proto me in the course of conversa-logues; and whether embellished tion, that no passage of scripture with wood cuts, and of what decan afford real comfort, unless scription. Sept. 19, 1818. Juvenile Department, HISTORICAL ESSAYS. No. XI. On the Corruption of Christianity during the Reign of Richard I. A. D. 1189-1199. ALTHOUGH human depravity is evidently universal, yet it is manifested in very different ways, according to the varied tastes, dispositions, constitutions, and circumstances of men. Every individual is found to possess some darling passion, some favourite propensity, which he is particularly anxious to indulge the gratification of which will be mischievous in proportion to his influence in society. The conduct of Richard I. forcibly illustrates these remarks, and should induce the reader frequently and resolutely to look into his own heart, to detect its ruling passion, watch its operations, and guard against its triumphant ascendency. The youth who possesses such a knowledge, and acquires such a habit, will have lasting reason to be thankful, for he will have regard to that fine scriptural admonition, " seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth easily beset us." SO ness of his people, were the objects of his reign. Such is the prolific nature of sin, such is the close connexion of the vices, that it does not appear possible to commit a single sin. It is not therefore surprising, that in the encouragement of a characteristic propensity, its unhappy subject should be hurried into numberless crimes that stand in the way of its indulgence. For a prince to gratify his thirst for military glory, money is indispensable, and the theatre presented to Richard for its display, remote as it was from home, as well as the rudeness of the age in which he lived, when riches were not abundant, and public credit was unknown, required no ordinary resources. These he was determined to obtain, and in their acquirement what a catalogue of iniquity was exemplified! How true it is, whatever may be the circumstances or motive of the individual, " he that maketh haste to be rich, shall not be innocent!" He possessed 100,000 marks, the treasure of his father, which, though a considerable sum at that period, was far inferior to his wants; he, therefore, only regardful of the present moment, shamefully put to sale the revenues of the crown, as well as offices of the greatest trust and power; he even suffered those who had repented of their vows to engage in this holy war, made in a moment of enthusiasm, to purchase the liberty of violating them, and remain at home; and, lost to all sense of virtue, and even decency, when a faithful mi The love of military glory, or in undisguised language, pride, was the ruling passion of this monarch. His elevated circumstances, in connexion with the superstition of the age, favoured its indulgence, and led to all the extravagance and iniquitynister cautioned him against this exattending the crusades; indeed so completely had this passion gained the ascendency in his mind, that it seemed as if the delivery of the holy land, and the welfare of the eastern Christians, instead of the prosperity of his own kingdom and the happi VOL. XI. travagance, he replied, he would sell London itself, if he could but find a purchaser. He gave up the fortresses of Roxborough and Berwick, those great acquisitions of his father, together with the vassalage of Scotland, for the paltry sum of D 10,000 marks. Still more unlike the father of his people, the noblest character of a prince, he oppressed his subjects by exactions; extorting from the timid by menaces, and borrowing from the most wealthy what he had not the least prospect of being able to return. and, on account of the unfriendly disposition of the inhabitants through whose territories they had to pass, very dangerous, which induced Richard, and Philip of France, to determine on taking their forces by sea. The plains of Vezeley, on the borders of Burgundy, were the place How powerful is the force of of rendezvous. Here these mighty example! The zeal of Richard monarchs found themselves at the against infidels had displayed it-head of 100,000 men, well equipped self even at his coronation, and the | and provisioned. Here they uttered Jews, to whom thousands were in- expressions of the most ardent atdebted, (as they were the chief tachment, and bound themselves money-lenders,) were the first to and their principal barons and prefeel its effects: not only were they lates, by the most solemn oaths, not massacred without distinction in to interrupt the harmony and prosLondon, but also in other cities, and perity of each other's dominions particularly at York, where 500 of during the crusade. The French them, to escape the cruelty of their fleet being appointed to assemble persecutors, shut themselves in the at Genoa, and that of Richard at castle, and finding themselves inse- Marseilles, they then separated, cure, killed their wives and chil- and marched to the respective dren, threw their bodies over the ports. They soon put to sea, but walls on the multitude, and then from unfavourable weather were perished in the flames their own obliged to take shelter in Messina, hands had purposely kindled. where they were detained the whole winter. During this long leisure, so great a multitude found many occasions of disagreement, which more than once threatened the waste of those resources, in hostilities between themselves, instead of their employment in the objects for which they were collected. A solemn treaty having terminated their differences, they again set forward. It too often happens, even in our own times, that with the greatest zeal for the externals of a religious establishment, is connected the most irreligious conduct; this will a little moderate our surprise, that in this dark age there should be found individuals who, while they were shocked to think that infidels possessed the tomb of the Saviour, exceeded in impiety the very unbelievers whom they were so impiously anxious to extirpate. Amongst these we have already seen that Richard was conspicuous, and in the execution of this horrid design, he was to be a leader. Indeed so notorious was his immorality, that Fulk, a preacher of the crusades, ventured to advise him first to forsake his vices, particularly his pride, his avarice, and his voluptuousness. "You counsel well," said the King," and I hereby dispose of the first to the templars, of the second to the Benedictines, and of the third to my prelates;" which, while it showed the impiety of the monarch, reflected strikingly on these orders. Former adventurers to Palestine, as well as the Emperor Frederick, who had just arrived there, found the road fatiguing to their troops, But Richard's squadron was again exposed to a furious tempest, and several of his vessels were wrecked on the coast of Cyprus. The king of that island, pillaging the vessels, and imprisoning the crews, incurred Richard's furious displeasure, and was imprisoned in return. The English army at length reached the place of its destination, in time to assist at the memorable attack on Acre: two years had already been employed in the siege by the Christians of the East, and the numerous adventurers from Europe under the Emperor Frederick : so obstinately was it defended by Saladin, and the Saracens under his command. The arrival of the European monarchs with their forces, inspired the assailants with new courage, and Philip and Richard glowing with emulation, entered with spirit into the design, alternately conducting the attack, or guarding the trenches. This exemplary conduct, however, did not continue: the characters of these princes were dissimilar, and Richard's romantic and furious disposition pre-eminently distinguished him, which was not beheld by Philip with indifference; nor was there wanting an occasion of manifesting their mutual dislike. The family of Godfrey of Bouillon, who was chosen King of Jerusalem, at the close of the first crusade, terminating in a female, the needless title was disputed, and it happened that these monarchs espoused the pretensions of different individuals; in which they were necessarily followed by their respective dependants. Although these disputes could not but obstruct their progress, they produced less disorder than might have been expected; and at length the wretched garrison, reduced to the last extremity, surrendered, stipulating in exchange for their lives, the restoration of the Christian prisoners, and the delivery of the wood of the true cross. These trivial ad-giance; in which base design he vantages were the only reward of so profuse an expenditure of wealth, strength, and human blood. If it be true that we are hereafter to receive according to the deeds done in the body, whether good or evil, how terrific are wars, taken in connexion with the day of judgment! gundy, renewing his oath of not disturbing the King of England's dominions during his absence: an oath from which it is said he sought to be absolved on his arrival in Italy, but Celestine III. was too honourable to listen to so base a proposal. The state of England, however, favoured his designs; the prelates who were intrusted with the government, in the absence of the king, showed by their violent and open dissensions, how little they were concerned for the welfare of the nation, and how impiously regardless they were of the serious oaths they had taken. Longchamp, who ought to have been most exemplary for prudence and piety, seeing he held the legatine commission, in virtue of which he represented his Holiness himself, became the terror of the kingdom, disregarding alike the rights of his fellow-subjects, the requests of friends, and the mandates of the king repeatedly sent home. Philip therefore, notwithstanding his recent oath, availed himself of these disturbances, and endeavoured to tempt Prince John, the king's brother, from his alle To those who are acquainted with the nature of Popery, it would be expected that such a relick as the supposed true cross, would be immediately idolized. Hence we find that it was afterwards taken to the battle of Tiberlade, as a source of protection; and, doubtless, happy was he who could place himself nearest to its guardian influence: but alas! it was lost in that engagement, and its real worth thus ascertained. Philip now tired of so fatiguing a life, and disgusted with Richard's increasing fame, proposed returning home, pleading ill-health; and that he might quit the field of glory with better grace, left 10,000 men under the command of the Duke of Bur was too successful. He even insinuated that Richard was accessary to Conrad's death, who was assassinated by the weak agents of the man of the mountains-a character well known at that time in the East, who possessed the most complete ascendency over his admirers, and by their means generally thus disposed of those who offended him. Richard was less politic, but more sincere and violent than his royal rival; and so far was he from being discouraged by disorders at home, and occurrences abroad, that he entered on the new campaign, if possible, with increasing zeal. The siege of Ascalon was the first object now contemplated, preparatory to an attempt on Jerusalem; they accordingly directed their march along the sea-coast. Saladin, aware of their design, opposed their progress with an army of 300,000 men. determined battle ensued, in which both the wings of the Christian army were broken, and but for the timely aid of Richard, who commanded the A while a herald proclaimed, "This is all that remains of the mighty Saladin, Emperor of the East." He had taken care, by his will, that Jews, Christians, and Mahometans should alike taste the effects of his benevo main body, would have been com- The valour of Richard procured him the appellation of Coeur de Lion, and such was his fame, that one of his historians observes, "The memory of the lion-hearted prince was long dear and glorious to his English subjects; and at the distance of sixty years, it was celebrated in proverbial sayings by the grandsons of the Egyptians and Saracens, against whom he had fought: his tremendous name was employed by the Syrian mothers to silence their infants; and, if a horse started from the way, his rider was wont to exclaim, Dost thou think King Richard is in the bush?'" With reputation as his only reward, he endeavoured to hasten home, where his presence was greatly needed; and as he dared not pass through France, the territory of his greatest enemy, he sailed for the Adriatic, and being unhappily shipwrecked, he put on the habit of a pilgrim, intending to travel secretly through Germany. In that country his own extravagance and imprudence betrayed him, and he had the mortification to be seized by a petty prince, who had served under him at the siege of Acre, Leopold Duke of Austria, who, offended with the Amid the wildness and wicked- kingly conduct of the monarch at ness of these expeditions, it is pain- that time, was pleased with an opful to think of the impression that portunity of resenting it. The Em must have been made of the nature peror Henry VI. may be said to of Christianity on the minds of the have bought the royal captive; and infidel inhabitants. If kindness to transferred to his care, he was cast the distressed, and generosity to the into a dungeon, and insulted with oppressed, he virtues, the Saracens, irons; where, for fourteen months, rather than the Europeans, mani- he had leisure to reflect on the real fested them; for the glory of Ri- worth of human glory. Here he was chard was tarnished by his cruelty, degraded by the form of a trial, particularly after the capitulation of which, however, rather increased Acre, when he ordered 5,000 pri- than sullied his dignity, for deigning, soners to be slaughtered, because as he expressed it, for the sake of Saladin refused to ratify the treaty. his character to make a defence, he Indeed the character of the latter poured forth such a torrent of manly was the more amiable and noble: eloquence, exposing the injustice, before his death, which happened the cruelty, and, considering the soon after, he caused his winding-scenes from which he had returned, sheet to be carried through the city the impiety of so detaining him, |