Wesley Corpus

If any writes on that head, presently the cry is raised, “O, he only writes for pay !” But, if he does, do not those on the other side too?. Which are paid best I do not know; but doubtless both are: paid, a very few old-fashioned mortals excepted, who, having nothing to hope, and nothing to fear, simply consider the good of their country. “But what do you think the end will be?” It is easy to foresee this. Supposing things to take their natural course, they must go from bad to worse. In stipulam veluti cum flamma furentibus Austris Incidit, aut rapidus montano flumine torrens Eriit, oppositasque evicit gurgite moles.* The people will be inflamed more and more; the torrent will swell higher and higher, till at length it bursts through all opposition, and overflows the land. The consequences of these commotions will be (unless an higher hand interpose) exactly the same as those of the like commotions in the last century. First, the land will become a field of blood; many thousands of poor Englishmen will sheathe their swords in each other’s bowels, for the diversion of their good neigh bours. Then either a commonwealth will ensue, or else a second Cromwell. One must be; but it cannot be determined which, King W , or King Mob. “But that case is not parallel with this.” It is not, in all particulars. In many respects it is widely different. As, First, with regard to the King himself. Few will affirm the character of King Charles, even allowing the account given by Lord Clarendon to be punctually true in every respect, to be as faultless as that of King George. But other passions, as well as love, are blind. So that when these are raised to a proper height, especially when Junius has thrown a little more of his magic dust into the eyes of the people, and con vinced them, that what are virtues in others, are mere vices ân him, the good patriots will see no manner of difference Between a King George and King Charles, or even a Nero. The case is also widely different, Secondly, with regard to the ministry. King George has no such furious drivers about him as poor King Charles had.