seat of Christ. This event, too, whenever it shall take place, will surely be another most amazing miracle, brought about by no rules or laws that are made known to us, or ever fell within the limits of our observation and experience. Yet we believe it; and live, or should do, under the influence of this persuasion. The same Scripture to which we give credit, while it records past miracles, is equally entitled to our assent, when it predicts, as in this instance, miracles to come. Suppose, then, the Scriptures were to acquaint us that there are miracles performed at this present time, but either at such a distance from us, or else in such a latent manner, that we could not know by experience whether they were wrought or no; still there could be no room to doubt; a ready assent must be yielded to such a revelation by all who believe the Scripture. Now, if the Gospel teach us doctrines from which the existence of these miracles may be inferred, or if it command duties in which these interpositions of providence are supposed or implied, it does enough to prove the reality of them though we see them not, any more than we see yet the resurrection of the dead; or, than we did ever behold any of those miracles which were performed by our Lord when he was here on earth. There appears to be no difficulty in this matter to those who believe that any miracles were ever wrought, that is, who believe the Scriptures to be true; nor any inducement or occasion to put ourselves to trouble in giving hard interpretations of texts, or forced and unnatural explications of any part of our duty, in order to avoid what can be no impediment in the way of a Christian, the acknowledgment of God's government and providence, his particular interposition, and continual operation; as it is written, my Father worketh hitherto, and I work.' 6 How magnificent is this idea of God's government! That He inspects the whole and every part of his universe every moment, and orders it according to the counsels of his infinite wisdom and goodness, by his omnipotent will; whose thought is power, and his acts ten thousand times quicker than the light; unconfused in a multiplicity exceeding number, and unwearied through eternity! 6 How much comfort and encouragement to all good and devout persons are contained in this thought! That Almighty God, as He hath his eye continually upon them, so He is employed constantly in directing, in doing what is best for them. Thus may they be sure, indeed, that all things work together for their good.' They may have the comfort of understanding all the promises of God's protection, in their natural, full, and perfect sense, not spoiled by that philosophy which is vain deceit. The Lord is truly their shepherd; not leaving them to chance or fate, but watching over them Himself, and therefore can they lack nothing. What a fund of encouragement is here, as for all manner of virtue and piety, that we may be fit objects of God's gracious care and providence, so particularly for devotion; when we can reflect that every petition of a good man is heard and regarded by Him who holds the reins of nature in his hand. When God, from his throne of celestial glory, issues out that uncontrolable command to which all events are subject, even your desires, humble pious Christians, are not overlooked or forgotten by Him. The good man's prayer is among the reasons by which the Omnipotent is moved in the administration of the universe. How little is all earthly greatness! how low and impotent the proudest monarchs, if compared with the poorest person in the world that leads but a good life! for their influence, even in their highest prosperity, is only among weak men like themselves, and not seldom their designs are blasted from Heaven for the insolence of those that formed them. Is not this great Babylon, that I have built by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the King's mouth, there fell a voice from Heaven, saying, the Kingdom is departed from thee.' But the poor man's prayer pierceth the clouds; and, weak and contemptible as he seems, he can draw down the host of Heaven, and arm the Almighty in his defence, so long as he is able only to utter his wants, or can but turn the thought of his heart to God. THE CHRISTIAN COTTAGER. From Cowper. [William Cowper, a truly Christian poet, was born at Berkhamstead, in 1731. He was educated at Westminster School. He died 25th April, 1800. His principal works are the Task, and other moral poems; and a valuable translation of Homer.] YON Cottager, who weaves at her own door, Receives no praise; but, though her lot be such, Just knows, and knows no more, her Bible true— O happy peasant! O unhappy bard! * Voltaire. The British Patriot; NO. I. LIFE AND CHARACTER OF ALFRED THE GREAT, THE name which the general voice of mankind has placed first on the list of those men of England, in whose glory the humblest as well as the highest of their countrymen may feel an honest pride, is Alfred. History, with peculiar truth, has styled this prince the Great. His right to this title, and his claims to the gratitude of every English heart, even after an interval of nine hundred years, are best proved by the following mention of his actions:-He freed his country from a foreign invader, who had long plundered and harassed his people; he overcame the universal vice which had arisen out of these disorders and miseries;-he rendered the administration of justice certain and impartial, instead of confused and corrupt;-he laid the foundations of Trial by Jury, and of many other Institutions which are our most valued inheritance at this day ;-he discerned and shewed the worth of that Naval force, which has ever since been Britain's best bulwark;-he endeavoured to correct the ignorance of his subjects, by encouraging useful learning of every kind;-and, last of all, he made his great Victories instruments of the noblest good, by winning over his enemies to embrace Christianity as the price of his friendship; whilst, by exhibiting to his subjects the fruits of that Religion in his diligent example, he completed the perfection, by manifesting the sincerity of his character. All these things this great prince did, at a period when the natives of England were universally dwelling in an ignorance, of which we, in these times, have no adequate conception; and when the duties of Government, and the happiness of society, were so imperfectly understood, that it required the utmost virtue, genius, and perseverance, to compel the people, whether freemen or slaves, (for in those days two thirds of the nation were born vassals) to perceive the value of the benefits which this King bestowed upon them, and to acknowledge the extent of his love and the greatness of his mind. Alfred was born at Wantage, in Berkshire, in the year 849. He was the youngest son of Ethelwolf, a king of the Anglo-Saxons. In his childhood he was distinguished for the vivacity of his temper. His mother, amidst the dearth of knowledge which marked that time, gave the first impulse to the noble and patriotic spirit of her son, by reciting to him the heroic songs of his native bards; and his mind VOL. I. was still further expanded by two visits to Rome, where the magnificent temples and palaces of the people that had once governed the world, might have contributed to fix his attention on the comparative barbarism of his own nation, and to stimulate his desire for their advancement in the arts and conveniences of life. Upon the death of his parents his education was neglected; and most of his acquirements in learning were derived from the labour of his advanced years. He married at the age of twenty. Historians have alluded to his early profligacy. Many such stories of those ancient chroniclers may have originated in unworthy motives. Be that as it may, it is certain that at a later period he manifested a deep impression of religious obligations; and if those chroniclers be correct, it may be inferred that his habitual piety disclosed to him the miseries and degradations of a sinful course, however shielded by the security, or excited by the temptations of power; while in his maturer years it sustained him in that career of undeviating excellence, which has commanded the admiration of all succeeding ages. He ascended the throne in the year 871, at the age of twenty-two. A fierce and remorseless enemy, the Danes, held possession of part of the kingdom ;-the first duty of the young king was to give them battle. His first contest was unfortunate, and he was compelled to purchase a peace of his invaders. The terms of accommodation were not respected by his perfidious opponents; and he was again and again exposed to the attacks of new swarms of adventurers, that poured forth from the North of Europe to seize upon the fertile soil of Britain. These invaders had more the character of bands of robbers, than of regular armies; their warlike habits were directed by the love of plunder, and unrestrained by any pity or compassion. They were heathens. After a variety of good and evil fortune, which he bore with an unchangeable mind, Alfred was at length driven from his throne, by a sudden attack of his enemy. He laid aside the outward marks of Royalty, and, in mean attire, fled to a place of security. This was the most adventurous and romantic period of the monarch's fortune. He entered into the service of a cowherd, and submitted to the most menial offices. History has painted the great founder of the English Constitution, as patiently bearing the illhumour of the peasant's wife, who was ignorant of his quality; and a highly interesting story has been told us of his humility and his nobleness of mind. Alfred the Great, at this period of calamity, was set by his mistress to roast cakes, and received something worse than hard words for suffering them to burn. How true is it that adversity is one of the best means by which the Divine Ruler conducts his creatures to excellence, by subduing our passions, strengthening our reason, and confirming our piety. But if Alfred was thus externally occupied with humble duties, his thoughts were incessantly directed to the perilous task of freeing his country. He had collected around him some few trusty friends, who communicated with many faithful adherents in various parts of the kingdom. His retreat was in the fens of Somerset, in a place since called the isle of Athelney. During this period of his seclusion, a fresh band of invaders assaulted the western provinces, and appeared to shut out all hopes of deliverance. But Alfred was still full of trust and watchfulness. It is said that in the disguise of a harper he penetrated into the Danish camp; and whilst he charmed these barbarians by his music, obtained the secrets of their designs by his sagacity. At this period a chieftain of the Saxons gained a great triumph over the invaders; and the news of this success filled every British heart with fresh courage. Alfred seized upon the opportunity, and dispatched trusty messengers to his friends to meet him in Selwood Forest. On the appointed day the men of Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Somerset, gathered round their king;-the wood rang with the shouts of these brave defenders of their country; and the monarch again appeared as the leader and avenger of his people. The two armies met ;-the shock was tremendous ;-but Alfred, in the end, completely triumphed. This great event happened in the year 879. The terms which the conqueror imposed were as wise as they were noble; it was that the invaders, upon leaving his dominions, should embrace Christianity. Their leader became a sincere convert; and with the outward forms of the Gospel he put on its spirit. He served that peace which enabled Alfred to retain his throne in safety, and to establish those glorious Institutions which were to become the blessings of his own generation, and the foundations of that system of Laws, to which England owes her greatness in deriving from them her freedom. pre The first object of Alfred, after the deliverance of his country, was to re-build his ruined cities; his second, to establish a military force as well as a Navy to preserve his kingdom from future attacks; his third, to perfect the administration of justice; his fourth, to render the punishments of laws less necessary, by diffusing amongst his subjects the principles of sound religion and useful knowledge. In the latter part of his reign he was again disturbed by new bodies of piratical Danes; but he successfully resisted them, and finally established his throne in complete security. In this brief view of the history of Alfred, his qualities of an heroic warrior have been principally displayed. During this eventful period he fought fifty-six battles. But even in this career of danger and hardship he was continually engaged in the cultivation of his mind, and was never seen without a book in his bosom. Upon his restoration to a peaceful throne, the milder graces of his character were principally unfolded, as a legislator, an encourager of science, a diligent student, and a devout Christian, His life was not extended to a great length, and his health was constantly delicate: yet he accomplished the performance of his manifold duties, and made himself master of the learning of his time, with a success that would be truly astonishing, had not the secret been transmitted to us by his historians. He was strictly exact in the arrangement of his business. He usually divided his time into three equal portions: one was em |