莱尔主教upper_room-第92节
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when to loosen them；how to select the right men to fill vacant
posts；how to deal fairly and justly with all ranks； sorts； and
conditions of men； attending impartially to all and neglecting
noneall these are difficulties which the poor fallible occupant of a
throne has to face every week of his life。 Can we wonder if he makes
mistakes？ Well might a poet of our own say …〃Uneasy sleeps the head
that wears a crown。〃
Think of the immense responsibility of a king's office； and the
tremendous issues which depend on his decisions。 A single error in
judgment in managing a negotiation； a want of temper in dealing with an
ambassador； a hasty reliance on erroneous informationany one of these
things may involve his subjects in a war attended by fearful bloodshed；
losses abroad； discontent at home； heavy taxation； and； finally
perhaps； revolution and deposition from his throne。 And all may e
from one man's mistake。'
Yes！ we may well be exhorted to 〃pray for kings。〃 If we could only
believe it； of all the children of Adam they most deserve our daily
intercessions。 Raised above their fellows by their position； they find
themselves； like the Alpine traveller who scales the Matterhorn；
fearfully alone。 In the nature of things； they can have no equals with
whom to exchange hearts and sympathies。 They are surrounded by those
who are tempted to be flatterers and sycophants； and to make things
pleasant to royal ears。 They seldom hear the whole truth。 They are only
human beings like ourselves； needing the same Christthe same Holy
Spirit。 Yet they are expected never to err； and are blamed if they do。
Yes！ we may well 〃pray for kings。〃 It is easy to criticise and find
fault with their conduct； and write furious articles against them in
newspapers； or make violent speeches about them on platforms。 Any fool
can rip and rend a costly garment； but not every man can cut out and
make one。 To expect perfection in kings； prime ministers； or rulers of
any kind； is senseless and unreasonable。 We should exhibit more wisdom
if we prayed for them more； and criticised less。
III。 Let me now invite your attention to the special subject which
calls us together this day； viz。 the celebration of the Royal English
Jubilee。 This very day our gracious Queen Victoria pletes the
fiftieth year of her reign。 I ask you to e with me and look back on
the half century which is just concluded。 My aim is to show you as
briefly as possible some of the great reasons why we ought to be a very
thankful people this day。 In a fallen world like ours there always will
be many unredressed evils； and murmurers and plainers will be found
in every quarter。 For myself； I can only say that； on a calm retrospect
of the last fifty years； I see so many causes for national
thankfulness； that I find it hard to know what I should select； and
where to begin。 Let me； however； try to name a few。
（a） First and foremost among the reasons for thankfulness； let me
mention the stainless and blameless personal character which our
gracious Sovereign has borne during the long fifty years of her reign。
In all the relations of life as a mother and a wifein the high moral
standard which she has maintained in her Court and householdin her
scrupulous and diligent discharge of the countless daily duties which
her high office entails upon her in her boundless sympathy with the
sorrows of her humblest subjectswhere； in the long roll of English
sovereigns； will you find one who can be pared with our good Queen
Victoria？
I believe we do not realize sufficiently the immense importance of a
Sovereign's personal character in the present day。 The character of a
ruler； like the insensible pressure of the atmosphere on every square
inch of our bodies； will always have a silent； quiet influence on the
conduct of subjects。 The lives of sovereigns are an open book which all
can read； and the example of a crowned head often does more than legal
enactments。 There can be no doubt that the enormous immorality of the
French Court in the eighteenth century was the true cause of the first
French Revolution； and the Reign of Terror。 During the last half
century the foundations of not a few governments in the world have been
rudely shaken； and some have been pletely overturned。 Nothing； I
suspect； had contributed so largely to the stability of the British
throne as the high character of the Royal Lady who has occupied it。 A
revolutionary spirit； we all know； has been frequently in the air
during the last fifty years； and a disposition to pull down all
established institutions； and substitute new…fangled schemes of
government； has repeatedly shown itself。 The rise and progress of
Chartism and Socialism have often made many afraid。 Nothing； I firmly
believe； has kept the ship of the British State on an even keel so much
as the inner life of our beloved Queen。 If that inner life had been
such as the lives of some of the Plantagenets； Tudors； and Stuarts； I
doubt extremely whether the royal standard would have been flying at
Windsor Castle this week。
（b） In the next place； let us be thankful for the singularly long
period of time during which God has permitted our gracious Sovereign to
sit on the throne of her ancestors。 Of all the kings of Judah who
reigned in Jerusalem； Uzziah and Manasseh were the only two who held
the sceptre for more than fifty years； and even David and Solomon's
reigns were only forty years long。 Our own kings； Henry the Third；
Edward the Third； and George the Third； each reigned more than fifty
years。 But； since the world began； we know of no female sovereign in
historic times； on the face of the globe； who has worn a crown so long
as our good Queen Victoria。 I am sure we are not sufficiently grateful
for this。 Even under a constitutional monarchy like oursin which
everything does not depend on the whim of an imperial
autocratfrequent changes on the throne are calculated to have a
disturbing influence； and a new sovereign's views of his power and
duties may not always coincide with those of his predecessor。 There is
a deep meaning in Solomon's words…。〃 For the transgression of a land
many are the princes thereof〃 （Prov。 28：2）。 In early English history；
the bloody wars of the Roses swept away the flower of our nobility； and
struggles between the rival houses of York and Lancaster frequently
shook the throne； and desolated the realm。 At a later date； the unhappy
monwealth struggle overturned for a time our long…established
institutions。 Happy is the land in which there are few changes on the
throne。 〃 Grant our Sovereign a long life；〃 and 〃God save the Queen；〃
should be the daily prayer of every British patriot。
（c） In the next place； let us thank God for the enormous growth in
national wealth and prosperity by which the half century of Queen
Victoria's reign has been distinguished。 It is a simple matter of fact；
that in no preceding fifty years of English history has there been
anything like it。 To use a well…known phrase； the capital or ine of
the country has moved on 〃by leaps and bounds。〃 In spite of occasional
cycles of bad times and mercial depression； in spite of bloody and
expensive wars； such as the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny；in
spite of providential visitation； such as cholera and the Irish potato
famine；the progress of the nation and the increase of wealth have
been something astounding。 The waves on the shore have seemed to e
and go； to advance and retire； but on the whole the tide has been
steadily rising every year。 In 1837； the sums of money deposited in
Savings Banks were only 14 millions。 They are now 90 millions。 In
1843； when the ine tax was first imposed； each penny in the pound
brought into the National Exchequer �772；000。 In 1885； each penny
produced �1；992；000。In 1843； the assessable value of lands and
tenements was only 95 millions。 In 1885； it was 180 millions。 The
assessable value of trades and professions in 1843 was only 71
millions。 In 1885； it was 282 millions。…The population of the United
Kingdom was 25 millions in 1837。 It is now； in spite of the Irish
famine and a ceaseless emigration； 37 millions。 In our own city of
Liverpool； the population in 1837 was only 246；000。 It is now；
including suburbs； 700；000。The tonnage of shipping at our port in
1837 was only 1；953；894。 It is now 7；546；623。The number of ships
entering was 15；038。 It is now 21；529。In 1837； Liverpool had 9 docks；
with a frontage of two miles and a half to the river。 There are now
fifty docks and basins with a frontage of six miles。In 1837；
Liverpool dock dues were 。！�173；853。 They are now �694；316。 Surely
we ought to be thankful… This is the finger of God。 It is 〃the blessing
of the Lord that maketh rich。〃〃 Both riches and honour e from Him〃
（Prov。 10：22； 1 Chron。 29：12）。 ＇32＇
（d） In the n
