PARABLE AGAINST PERSECUTION. THE late Lord Kaimes tells us, that the following Parable against Persecution, was communicated to him by Dr. Franklin, of Philadelphia. The historical style of the Old Testament, his lordship observes, is here finely imitated; and the moral must strike every one who is not sunk in stupidity and superstition. 1. And it came to pass after these things, that Abraham sat in the door of his tent, about the going down of the sun. 2. And behold a man, bent with age, coming from the way of the wilderness, leaning on a staff. 3. And Abraham arose and met him, and said unto him, Turn in, I pray thee, and wash thy feet, and tarry all night; and thou shalt arise early in the morning, and go on thy way. 4. And the man said, nay; for I will abide under this tree. 5. But Abraham pressed him greatly. So he turned and went into the tent; and Abraham baked unleavened bread, and they did eat. 6. And when Abraham saw that the man blessed not God, he said unto him, wherefore dost thou not worship the most high God, creator of heaven and earth? 7. And the man answered and said, I do not worship thy God, neither do I call upon his name: for I have made to myself a God, which abideth always in my house, and provideth me with all things. 8. And Abraham's zeal was kindled against the man, and he arose, and fell upon him, and drove him forth with blows into the wilderness. 9. And God called unto Abraham, saying, Abraham, where is the stranger? 10. And Abraham answered and said, Lord, he would not worship thee, neither would he call upon thy name; therefore have I driven him out from before my face into the wilder ness. 11. And God said, Have I borne with him these hundred and ninety and eight years, and nourished him, and clothed him, notwithstanding his rebellion against me, and couldst not thou, who art thyself a sinner, bear with him one night? 12. And Abraham said, Let not the anger of my Lord wax hot against his servant: lo, I have sinned; forgive me, I pray thee. 13. And Abraham arose and went forth into the wilderness, and diligently sought for the man, and found him, and returned with him to the tent; and when he had entreated him kindly, he sent him away on the morrow with gifts. 14. And God spake again unto Abraham, saying, For this thy sin, shall thy seed be afflicted four hundred years in a strange land. 15. But for thy repentance will I deliver them; and they shall come forth with power, and with gladness of heart, and with much sub stance. THE NEW SPECTATOR, No. 20, June 15, 1784. No. CXXIII. Incorrupta fides, nudaque veritas, HORAT Dear to each muse, to every virtue dear, Where shall we match the faith that warm'd his breast? What good man wept not as he sunk to rest? WHEN a friend told Johnson that he was much blamed for having unveiled the weakness of Pope, Sir," said he," if one man undertake to write the life of another, he undertakes to exhibit his true and real character: but this can be done only by a faithful and accurate delineation of the particulars which discriminate that character." The biographers of this great man seem conscientiously to have followed the rule thus laid down by him, and have very fairly communicated all they knew, whether to his advantage or otherwise. Much concern, disquietude, and offence, have been occasioned by their conduct in the minds of many, who apprehend, that the cause in which he stood forth will suffer by the infirmities of the advocate being thus exposed to the prying and malignant eye of the world. But did these persons then ever suppose, or did they imagine that the world ever supposed, Dr. Johnson to have been a perfect character? Alas, no we all know how that matter stands, if we ever look into our own hearts, and duly watch the current of our own thoughts, words, and actions. Johnson was honest, and kept a faithful diary of these, which is before the public. Let any man do the same for a fortnight, and publish it: and if, after that, he should find himself so disposed, let him "cast a stone.” At that hour when the failings of all shall be made manifest, the attention of each individual will be confined to his own. It is not merely the name of Johnson that is to do service to any cause. It is his genius, his learning, his good sense, the strength of his reasonings, and the happiness of his illustrations. These all are precisely what they were: once good, and always good. His arguments in favour of self-denial do not lose their force, because he fasted; nor those in favour of devotion, because he said his prayers. Grant his failings were, if possible, still greater than these: will a man refuse to be guided by the sound opinion of a counsel, or resist the salutary prescription of a |