The prefent State of Europe compared with Antient Prophecies; A SERMON, PREACHED AT THE GRAVEL PIT MEETING IN HACKNEY, FEBRUARY 28, 1794, Being the Day appointed for a General Fast. By JOSEPH PRIESTLEY, LL.D. F. R. S. &c. WITH A PREFACE; CONTAINING THE Reasons for the Author's leaving England. THIRD EDITION. B. Quo fugis? Expecta. Liceat condifcere caufas Pafcua. P. Parce, Parens, damnare tuum.-Tibi latior annis Tunc animus fuerat. Nunc intractabilis, afper. Petrarch on taking leave of his patron, the Cardinal Colonna. Nos patriæ fines, nos dulcia linquimus arva. Virgil. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON, NO. 72, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD. 1794. [Price ONE SHILLING. English 10-23-33 27834 PREFACE. THIS difcourfe, and thofe on the Evidences of Divine Revelation, which will be published about the fame time, being the last of my labours in this country, I hope my friends, and the public, will indulge me while I give the reasons of their being the last, in confequence of my having at length, after much hefitation, and now with reluctance, come to a refolution to leave this kingdom. After the riots in Birmingham, it was the expectation, and evidently the wifh, of many perfons, that I should immediately fly to France, or America. But I had no confcioufnefs of guilt to induce me to fly my country*. On the contrary, I came directly to London, and instantly, by means of my friend Mr. Ruffell, fignified to the king's minifters, that I *If, inftead of flying from lawless violence, I had been flying from public juftice, I could not have been purfued with more rancour, nor could my friends have been more anxious for my fafety. One man, who happened to see me on horseback on one of the nights in which I efcaped from Birmingham, expreffed his regret that he had not taken me, expecting probably fome confiderable reward, when, as he faid, it was fo eafy for him to have done it. My friends earnestly advised me to disguise myself as I was going to London. But all that was done in that way was taking a place for me in the mail coach, which I entered at Worcester, in another name than my own. However, the friend who had the courage to receive me in London had thought it neceffary to provide a dress that fhould difguife me, and alfo a method of making my efcape, in cafe the house should have been attacked on my account; and for fome time my friends would not fuffer me to appear in the streets. |