up at a lamp-post !-Pretend liberty of con-not come up to the standard of former chamscience, and then banish the parsons only for pions in the cause of truth, it becomes us to do being conscientious!-Cry out liberty of the what we can, where we cannot do what we press, and hang up the first man who writes his would. J. N.] mind-Lose our poor laws !-Lose one's wife perhaps upon every little tiff!—March without clothes, and fight without victuals !-No trade -No bible !-No sabbath nor day of rest!-No safety, no comfort, no peace in this world—and no world to come!—Jack, I never knew thee tell a lie in my life.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1832.

the

senses.

France.

[Price 1 d

No. XIII.) did all he could to bring in the dressed him up; one gave him a coat, and Are for the most part very gloomy; but there same notions amongst us as the French had waistcoat, another a pair of breeches, another are a few streaks of light in the dark cloud, got; and wrote a book to try to prove that the a hat, &c. &c. : then the ladies helped to fit him So don't let us despair. One of the worst Bible isn't true, and another book to try to out; one made him a shirt, another a necksigns is, that whilst bad men are in high fea- make people think that 'twas a very bad thing cloth, another a tri-colour cockade to put in his ther and encouraging one another in their to be governed by a king, and that they never hat. Well, when all was ready, and the day wickedness, good men are chopfallen and slink would be happy till the people were made the appointed came; all the town came together into corners; Oh! I hate to see men turn tail rulers.* Well this was a very tempting scheme, to see Tom carried to the place of execution. upon an honest canse, and give up all for lost, and Tommy was no bad hand at the game, I Having dressed him out in his fine suit of merely because the enemies of truth and godassure ye-a much shrewder fellow than some clothes with his cockade in his hat, they put liness talk big; when if they would but be that are gulling the poor ignorant people in him into a cart sitting up, supported by Jack zealous for their God, one man should chase a present day. But our fathers were Ketch, and carrying in his hand his own inthousand of such infidel scoffers. 'Twas MEN, and wouldn't be bamboozled out of their fidel book called The Age of Reason.-Well, very different in my honoured father's time. There I well recollect the burst of indigna- having seated him in the cart, they drove him were giants in those days; and they used to tion which was produced by the publication slowly toward the public market place, amidst hunt down the vile snakes and reptiles of seof Tom Paine's infidel writings.. I verily be- the groans and hootings of the populace. When dition and blasphemy, and run 'em through lieve the people would have torn him in pieces, they got to the place of execution, there was a with the Pitchfork of Truth; and then hold if they could have got hold of him, but he very great high gallows erected, and the cart being 'em up writhing and twisting to the derision prudently hopped the twig, and got over to hauled under the gallows, Jack Ketch did his and contempt of all the world! office. The noose was fastened to Tom's neck, And not only were there great and good However, though the wretched man himself and up he was hoisted amidst a general yell of men who stood forward manfully in defence thus escaped the effects of the people's indig-execration. After making him kick about a of the cause of religion and social order, but nation, they managed to show their detesta- while, they let him hang, and kindled a great the people were most of them on the same side; tion of his principles, in a manner which con- fire at the foot of the gallows, which burned till and took part with the friends of truth, and vinced him that in attempting to lead Jolin the gallows being burned off at bottom fell, and helped to hunt down infidelity. It was said in Bull into the mazes of jacobinism, he had got Tom fell also into the fire, the people renewing my first number, that the times we live in are the wrong pig by the ear. What d'ye think their shouts and hootings, and taking pains to very much like the times in which my honoured they did? Why history tells us, "All over keep the fire up till every bit of Tom was confather lived and laboured; and so they are in England he was carried about in effigy with a sumed, and then they kicked the ashes to the many respects: as for example, there had been pair of stays under his arm; and the populace four winds. The wicked book had previously a revolution in France, and the people there amused themselves not a little with ridiculing been committed to the flames by the hangman. had upset religion and abolished the Sabbath, the impudent attempts of a staymakert to These are the general particulars of what I and turned the whole state topsy-turvy, and overturn their government." Now I must tell witnessed of the burning of Tom Paine in effigy, they were trying all they could to put our you that I very well recollect this. I saw it people up to the same rigs, and sent their emis-done myself. I'll tell you how they did it in saries over here to endeavour to set the Eng- the town where I happened to witness it. lish people together by the ears; and then First, some gentlemen got a wooden figure as now, there were some Englishmen wicked made to represent Tom Paine, then they enough to second their designs, especially that * We tried this form of government for two or three poor wretched fellow Tom Paine (whose mi- days and nights here last October.-How did ye like it? serable end was related in a former number, + Paine was bred a Stay-maker.

which the people did to shew how they thought the man himself deserved to be treated, and this sort of representation was acted over in almost every town of any note in England. I don't say that 'twas the most christian-like way of shewing their detestation of his character and writings, because christians should rather mourn over such characters and pray for them, than do

any thing like wreaking vengeance on 'em ; nevertheless, it had a very good effect, for it shewed to the infidel and jacobinical party, both here and in France, that Englishmen were united, and would not give up their bibles nor their Constitution. Now, to come back to what I set out with, there is this great and grievous difference between the present times and those of my honoured father, that whereas the people then were for the most part very angry against the Infidels, so that the Infidels could have made no hand at all of it, hadn't it been for the French emissaries that heartened them up and supported 'em in their wicked designs; now, on the contrary, the people are taking the side of the Infidels. Mind, I don't say that they mean to take the side of Infidelity-but they support infidel men, and let infidel men rule them; and take their political notions from men who don't believe the bible.

which my honoured father lived; namely, know it. I may think Mr. Pitt should have
because the people then were mostly on the done so and so, and may blame him for this
side of religion and order, and against the step or that ;-yet if I saw his reasons, and
infidels; but now they side too much with the knew all that he knows, I might see that he
infidels. I verily believe that if Tom Paine did the very best that circumstances would
were alive now, instead of being burned in allow, in these very steps which I condemn.
effigy, he would be made chairman of one of It is a great thing, in all concerns, to be able
the political clubs, and be looked up to as an to come to some point to rest on, so that a
man can have satisfaction in his own breast.
oracle.
But as I said at the beginning, though there Now, if I am to wait to see perfection in human
is a dark cloud over us, yet thank God there affairs, or to see all things just in my own
That our way, I may fret and pine and murmur to my
are a few bright streaks of light.
king should have called upon the nation to dying day. But when I consider, that I ought -
humble itself before God, and that the season to obey those whom providence has set over
was so reverently, and I may say devoutly ob- me, that I am commanded to be subject to the
served by the great mass of the people, not-higher powers, and to pray for all in authority,
withstanding the efforts made by the infidel then I come to a point. If I follow these com-
party to turn it into ridicule and contempt; mands, then, whether my rulers be right or
these are the brightest of these bright streaks, wrong, I know that I am right myself. And
and may be hailed, I trust, as the first glimmer-
ings of the dawn of a happier day for England.
God grant it may be so!

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.*

the way to have things right without is to set all right within. Oh! if the time that has been spent in reproaching governors, had been spent in praying for them, and reforming ourselves, how much better might all our affairs have been at this day!

"A christian indeed is

the best subject, whether his prince be good or bad. He obeyeth not his rulers only for his own ends; but in obedience to God; and not only for fear of punishment, but for conscience

sake. He looketh on them in their relations

as the officers of God, and armed with his authority, and therefore obeyeth God in them. He permitteth not dishonourable thoughts of them in his heart, much less dare he speak dishonourably of them.

Let me reason with you, my honoured readers of the operative class. Mind I'm not going to say one word about politics, which side is right or which side is wrong :-I've nothing to do with that; but be assured of this, that man I have seen a book written by that good old can't be a fit person to direct your minds on any I have been desirous to give you a few reminister, Richard Baxter, about 130 years subject who doesn't believe the bible. Let the marks on several subjects, which I hope may He did not live in such times of liberty man's political principles be what they will, be useful at this time, and some of them at all ago. Reformer or Conservative-Tory, Whig, or times. You will find that I speak in plain as these ;-in those days, ministers were sent Radical, if he doesn't believe the bible he isn't terms, and indeed a man must speak plainly to prison for preaching contrary to the rules of to be trusted. Why it stands by reason that that means to do good. My design is neither the established church. Yet hear his opinion about his duty to such a man cannot possibly be a fit man to to flatter one, nor offend another, but, as far judge of the government of a christian nation. as lies in my power, to profit all. And why governors, in this very book which he dates A christian nation must have christian laws; should an honest man be afraid of speaking from his prison. He thus describes a true but how can a man that disbelieves the bible truth and reason, in order to serve his country christian's character. form any fair opinion of what agrees with Come then, call up common sense and judgment, christianity, or what does not.-He doesn't and give a candid hearing. If but one point care a rush about religion-he calls it all be set right, your labour and mine will not be "humbug." Well then, if you really wish the lost; and if we find the road to peace and christian religion to be kept up, 'tis madness safety at last, better late than never. to be guided by those who despise christianity I have before said, there were many things and are bent on pulling it down. Therefore I would be glad to see reformed;—and I can let me beg of you, if you must have spouting say, that were our public dangers over, I would clubs and the like-though you had a great be as ready to give my voice for every change deal better mind your own business, and leave that can be made for public good, and that is the politicians to mind their's; but if you consistent with public safety, as I now am to every soul must be subject to the higher powers, must have spouting clubs, why let me beg rouse you to meet the threatened danger. But and not resist, and that there is no power but of of you to make this a rule, that no man shall you must be sensible, that this must be a work God. Therefore in all things lawful he obeyeth be a member, and especially that no man shall of care and consideration, not of rashness and them; and though he must not, and will not, be a speaker, and above all that no man shall violence; for the government of a great nation obey them against God, yet will he suffer be a chairman in such clubs, who does not cannot be taken in pieces, and put together patiently where he is wronged by them; and not only forbear resistance by arms, or violence, believe in the bible as the word of God, and again, like a lathe or a steam engine. as that by which our actions are to be governed. In the mean time, let me caution you against but also all reproachful words; as knowing, I think this is no unreasonable proposition to making your comfort or your conduct to de- that the righting of himself is not so necessary make; and I'm sure that if 'twere acted upon, pend on any expected changes in public affairs. to the public order and good, as the honour of I mean, if no man were suffered to lead the We are too apt to begin at the wrong end; his rulers is." Such was this good man's view of these debates, or to preside in a political club, but to puzzle ourselves about what is the duty of those that believe the bible, 'twould make a our rulers, rather than to think what is our things. My fellow-men, my fellow countryvery favourable alteration presently in the state duty to them; and to fret about the defects men, if any of you have not considered this of things. Again I say tis most reasonable; which will attend all human institutions, matter rightly; I beseech you, for your own for what have infidels and pagans got to do instead of being thankful for the blessings of comfort, now to lay it to heart. O! let us with talking politics to christian people? Let 'em government. What a foolish plan is this; for join hearts and hands, while there is a season Come, the time go and attend the Palaver meetings in King it is of far more consequence to me to know left to help our country. Bobo's land if they please, and attend the levees what is my own duty, than to know that of my may be short, yet better late than never. of Queen Nicumbo; but don't let 'em insult a rulers; and besides, it is far easier to me to christian people, with their heathenish trash. This article was published in Birmingham I've now told you one principal reason why towards the close of the last century, under the sigI think the present times worse than those in nature of "a Manufacturer,”

He knoweth that

But there are various persons, who though they dare not deny their duty to their rulers, yet dare not, or at least will not, perform it. They may not themselves abuse their governors,

But you love quietness ;-aud so do I.There is not, I believe, on earth, a greater friend to peace than myself.-Yet if we see certain danger approaching, should we not use all means to prevent it? If it comes, should we not resist it? And if we must fall, let us fall on the side of duty, and be buried in the ruins of our country, rather than contribute to its destruction.

but they are willing to hear others throw con- struggle, that, by the help of providence, we tation of the great plague in London, in the tempt on them. These are a cautious people; may preserve the light of the gospel in our year 1665, described in so lively a manner by they may probably think the times are coming land, and send it to all the nations upon earth. that celebrated writer De Foe. The scourge to some difficulty, and it is best to keep as fair There are some however, (tho' I hope but still hangs over us, and while it has pleased as one can, till it appears which is the strongest few) to whom these things are of little concern; God to remove the disease from some parts of side. Away with such mistaken policy.-If who, awful to tell! openly despise christi- the kingdom, and to abate its violence in others, you would be safe, be upright; take the right anity, and in a world where they must have it has spread over a wider surface, and has side, and you help to make that the strong trouble, whether they will or not, refuse the fallen with greater severity on the metropolis; side. I do not advise a hot party spirit, nor only balm that can cure it. Alas! I would where the last bills of mortality state the to abuse others with insulting names; but weep over such persons while I tremble for number of new cases at 120, the deaths at 46, avoid giving an ear to what would draw you their state; but there is little hope of saying and the total since the commencement of the from your duty; and give your voice, your any thing to touch them. A man that can disease in London, new cases 1485, deaths 788. countenance, and your help in every proper look into the bible, and then look into his own This is a very small number indeed in compaway, in support of that government, which heart and the state of the world around him, rison with the ravages of the cholera in other under providence protects you. This is the and behold that wonderful connexion there is countries, or the fury of the plague in London, way for us to be a firm and united people; betwixt the Word of God and the order of his near two hundred years ago. But it will be and is one of the likeliest means to hasten that Providence, each beaming forth with rays of observed the disease is very malignant, more peace, which we all so much long for.* truth and glory on the other; A man, I say, than one-half the persons infected having died. who has all this before him, and yet denies the Why we have been so long free from a return of divine original of that blessed book, is not the pestilence, and why it has visited us now, in likely to be affected by any thing from me. a less terrible form, are points which cannot be Yet I would not leave such without a word-satisfactorily accounted for, by any thing known Oh seize the precious moment; open those of the plague in 1665, or the cholera in 1832. eyes which you have closed, to that Light of For it must be confessed that all our skill and heaven, which still shines in mercy upon you, precautions have been able to effect but little ere it be gone for ever: even to you I say, in discovering the cause of these diseases; in better late than never. checking their progress, and in saving the lives Be roused then from your ruinous indiffer- My last advice, though not least in conse- of those attacked by them. It is right that ence.-Your safety depends, perhaps more than quence, is to entreat men of every class, to ex- whatever human means can do, to mitigate or you are aware, on your hearty union at this amine how their minds are prepared to risk to cure, ought to be attempted: but it is of crisis. Much time has been lost, but now act liberty, property, and life itself. Some may the nature of a pestilence, that ordinary means like men; and remember, better late than never. think, that the times give us too much of other should prove of little efficacy; that men may There are others who seem to think, that subjects to allow much thought about religion. be made to feel and acknowledge the hand of because the French have pulled down popery But if ever religion is needful or valuable, surely God; and to ascribe it to his mercy, that they so greatly, their cause must be good, and it is at such a season as this. When states are not consumed,-that they are beaten with favourable to the spreading of christianity. and empires shake to their foundations, and all few and not with many stripes. After the What events are to follow their revolution, we earthly possessions tremble around us, are we plague of London had reached so dreadful a know not; but we are sadly out of our depth, not called upon to examine what hopes we height, that in the five weeks from the 22nd of when we make any surmises on these things to have of things that are unchangeable and eter- August, to the 26th of September, the deaths, be a rule for our own conduct. Our business nal? Is this a time for trifling and vanity, for according to the bills of mortality, (which it is with plain command, not with the secret excess and merriment? Enquire then, are is believed, fell considerably short of the designs of providence; with present duty, not you helping to build up your country by your truth,) had mounted up to thirty-eight thousand with future events. Now it is plain that the prayers, or to pull it down by your sins? Have one hundred and ninety-five-they began sudFrench system not only destroys popery, but you, amongst all other matters, attended to the denly to decrease. strikes at the root of christianity itself. And grand reform of your own heart and life? If shall we presume to encourage the doing of not, for your own sake and your country's, beevil, from some uncertain idea that good may gin to-day, and of this great work it may be come of it. Consider; in our land, tho' alas! said, better late than never. But if this work abounding with wickedness, there is a national is done, and your peace made with heaven, in and outward regard to religion, and we trust, that happy way the bible directs, then " Fear much true religion. And is the christian not them who kill the body, and after that have cause likely to be promoted, by a people who no more that they can do." Whatever happens, have rejected the christian sabbath, and cut off you will have a liberty and property which all the very name of our Lord from the date of the the storms of human revolutions cannot affect; year, as if to root out his remembrance from -You will be a citizen of that kingdom which the earth? Consider how many societies and shall endure, when all the kingdoms and replans we have, for spreading the gospel and publics of this globe shall have vanished as a sending missionaries to distant parts. And dream.have we not cause to dread the dominion of the French, as the most ruinous event that could happen to the prosperity of these good and glorious plans? Let us make a noble

"Death will invade us at the time appointed,
"And we must all bow to the king of terrors;
"Nor does it matter, if I am prepared,

"What shape he comes in."

THE UPLIFTED SCOURGE.

At the time this was written we were threatened with invasion by the French. Thank God we have It is more than a month since I offered not that peril to dread now. But it is a serious question whether we are not more in danger from French some remarks on the pestilence, with which infidelity and Frencz liberalism, than ever we were the nation is now visited, as compared or from French bayonets.-J. N. rather as contrasted with the far heavier visi

"The circumstances of the deliverance," De Foe

says, were indeed very remarkable, and particnlarly the dreadful condition which we were all in when we were, to the surprise of the whole town, made joyful with the hope of a stop of the infection. Nothing but the immediate finger of God, nothing but omnipotent power could have done it; the con tagion despised all medicine, death raged in every corner; and had it gone on as it did then, a few weeks more would have cleared the town of all and every thing that had a soul: men every where began to despair-every heart failed them for fearpeople were made desperate through the anguish of their souls, and the terrors of death sat on the very faces and countenances of the people.

In that very moment, when we might very well say, vain was the help of man-I say in that very moment, it pleased God, with a most agreeable surprise, to cause the fury of it to abate, even of itself, and the malignity declining, as I have said, though infinite numbers were sick, yet fewer died; and the very first week's bill decreased 1843, a vast number indeed.

"Nor was this by any new medicine found out, or new method of cure discovered, or by any experience in the operations which the physicians or surgeons attained to; but it was evidently from the secret, invisible hand of Him that had at first sent this disease as a judgment upon us; and let the

atheistic part of mankind call my saying what they great agony; and the buryers immediately gathered
please; it is no enthusiasm; it was acknowledged about him, supposing he was one of those poor de
at that time by all mankind: the disease was lirious and desperate creatures that used to pre.
enervated, and its malignity spent, and let it pro- tend, as I have said, to bury themselves! he said
ceed from wheresoever it will, let the philosophers nothing, as he walked about, but two or three times
search for reasons in nature to acccount for it by, groaned very deeply and loud, and sighed as he
and labour as much as they will to lessen the debt would break his heart.
they owe to their Maker; those physicians who
had the least share of religion in them, were obliged
to acknowledge that it was ali supernatural, that it
was extraordinary, and that no account could be
given of it."

Tho' some timbers, from age or from rot, be unsound,
With good Heart of Oak we'll replace them so ready,
And our building restor❜d, and secur'd all around,
For ages will stand, erect-stately—and steady.
Then be it our care,
With skill to repair,

ocean."

And be this our toast,
And Albion's boast,

When the baryers came up to him, they soon found he was neither a person infected and despe- Not pull down a building so fine and so clever; rate, nor a person distempered in mind, but one oppressed with a dreadful weight of grief indeed, having his wife and several of his children all in At such a moment the people could not con- the cart that was just come in with him, and he May LIBERTY-LOYALTY-flourish for ever. ceal their joy which appeared in their very followed in an agony and excess of sorrow. He countenances, and those who a little while be-mourned heartily, as it was easy to see, but with a When our foes were elate with ambition so high, kind of masculine grief that would not give itself That to conquer old England they had a great notion: fore, had shut themselves up in their houses, vent by tears, and calmly desiring the buryers to Brave Britons united, and soon made them fly, and shunned the approach of their fellow- let him alone, said he would only see the bodies And "Freedom and Peace crown'd the land in the creatures, now threw open their windows, call-thrown in, and go away, so they left importuning ing out the good news from house to house, him; but no sooner was the cart turned round, and the bodies shot into the pit promiscuously, but he and went forth into the streets again, and could cried alond, unable to contain himself. I could not not refrain from shaking hands with those hear what he said, but he went backward two or But nought can oppress us if true to each other; three times, and fell down in a swoon; the buryers they met. ran to him and took him up, and in a little while he came to himself. He looked into the pit again as he went away, but the buryers had covered the bodies so immediately with throwing in the earth, that though there was light enough, for there were lanterns and candles in them placed all night round the sides of the pit, upon the heaps of earth, seven or eight or more, yet nothing could be seen.

"Some would return when they said good news, and ask what good news? and when they answered that the plague was abated, and the bills decreased almost two thousand, they would cry out, GOD be praised, and would weep aloud for joy; and such was the joy of the people, that it was as it were life to them from the grave."

"Going one day through Aldgate, and a pretty many people being passing and repassing, there comes a man out of the Minories, and looking a little up the street and down, he throws his hands abroad, What an alteration is here! why last week I came along here and hardly any body was to be seen;' another man adds to his words, 'tis wonderful, 'tis all a dream.' Blessed be GOD,' says a third man, for 'tis all his own doing.' These were all strangers to one another: but such salutations as these were frequent in the street. Every day, and in spite of a loose behaviour, the very common people went along the streets, giving GOD thanks for their deliverance; and I should wrong them" he adds, "if I should not acknowledge that many of them were really thankful; but I must own, that for the generality of the people it might too justly be said of them, as was said of the children of Israel after their being delivered from the host of Pharaoh, when they passed the Red Sea, and looked back, and saw the Egyptians over. whelmed with water, viz., that they sang his praise but soon forgot his works.'

"This was a mournful scene indeed, and affected

Then let us prove true,
Or England may rue,

So this is my toast,
And Old England's boast,
May LIBERTY-LOYALTY-flourish for ever-

May our Patriots all join, and our Country preserve,
From all that might trouble the peace of the nation;
From the Prince to the Peasant may each man
observe

The duties becoming his rank or his station.
May enmity cease,
And good-will increase,

me almost as much as the rest, but the other was
awful and full of terror. The cart had in it sixteen
or seventeen bodies; some were wrapped up in
linen sheets, some in rugs, some little other than
naked; but the matter was not much to them, or And the union of Britons no discord shall sever;
the indecency much to any one else, seeing they were.
all dead, and were to be huddled into the common
grave of mankind as we may call it, for here was
no difference made, but poor and rich went together;
there was no other way of burials, neither was it
possible it should, for coffins were not to be had for
the prodigious numbers that fell in such a calamity
as this."

I cannot dismiss this interesting narrative
without promising your readers another ex-

tract in a future number.

NEHEMIAH.

LIBERTY AND LOYALTY.
TO THE AIR OF

"The Army and Navy of Britain for ever.”
(Communicated by a Correspondent.)

Oh!

Great Britain's our Country, and Willian's
our King,

Well might the people express their joy, and feel as if restored to life from the grave, seeing that the fatal pestilence had made their crowded, busy city like a great churchyard; Recorded for ever be old England's glory ; for, at the height of the disorder, we are told-Then stand up,my brave boys, whilst her parises I sing, The funerals became so many, that people And trust me, I'll tell you a true honest story. could not toll the bell, mourn or weep, or wear black for one another, as they did before; no, nor so much as make coffins for those that died."

And let us agree,
United and free;

Let this be our toast,

Large pits were dug in the churchyards. Can a Kingdom at variance prosper? No never! That in the parish of Aldgate, De Foe describes as about 40 feet in length, 15 or 16 feet broad, and 20 feet deep.

And Old England's boast,

May LIBERTY-LOYALTY-flourish for ever.
In old times our fathers established wise laws,
And a brave Constitution most firmly compacted;
Religion and Justice supported their cause,
Whilst all ranks and orders alike were protected.
Then no wicked band,
With levelling hand,

"I got admittance into the churchyard," says he, "and as I stood wavering for a good while, I saw two links come from the end of the Mino. ries, and heard the bellman, and there appeared a dead cart, as they called it, coming over the streets, so I could no longer resist my desire of seeing it. I went in; there was nobody as I could perceive in the churchyard, or going into it, but the buryers, and the fellow that drove the Shall pull down a building so well put together; cart, or rather led the horse and cart, but when they came up to the pit, they saw a man go to and again, muffled up in a brown cloak, making motions with his hands under his cloak, as if he was in a

While this is our toast,
And Old England's boast,

May LIBERTY-LOYALTY-flourish for ever.