The Gipsies' Advocate: Or, Observations on the Origin, Character, Manners, and Habits of the English GipsiesCrabb, James
Religion
The Gipsies' Advocate: Or, Observations on the Origin, Character, Manners, and Habits of the English Gipsies
Crabb, James
Romanies -- England
To the magistrates the author would make a most ardent appeal on behalf
of the despised members of the Gipsy family. Most respectfully and most
earnestly does he entreat them to pity their destitute condition, when
brought before them as vagrants, and from which they have been so often
made to suffer; for, sooner would the wild creatures of the forest be
tamed, than those branches of the human family be brought, through
coercion, to dwell in houses and follow trades, who were born under the
hedges, and have, through life, made unfrequented solitudes their homes.
Much better would it be for the magistrates to encourage the education of
their children, with the view to improve and reform the rising
generation. The author hopes and prays that they may. _Blessed are the
merciful_, _for they shall obtain mercy_.
If we all felt the importance and necessity of discharging our Christian
duties as the sailor and the soldier do in their different stations, no
difficulties would deter us; but God expects every _Christian_ to do his
duty. A celebrated commander once called his officers together, and
said, "We must carry such a garrison." The officers said, "It is
impossible; the attempt would be vain." The general replied, "It can,
and must be done, for I have the order in my pocket." Oh! ye ministers
of Christ! you have the order lying on your table, and in your desks, at
this moment; read it in the Bible:--_Go ye into the highways and hedges_,
_and compel them to come in_, _that my house may be filled_. Luke xiv.
23. The duty is ours: have we done it? Have we done it as opportunities
have presented themselves? Have we done it as we ought? Yea, more; have
we sought for opportunities to instruct souls? Our adorable Master did
so. He came from heaven to earth, to seek and to save them who were
lost. Private Christians! you also have your order from the high throne
of heaven, in your houses, perhaps unnoticed; or, it may be, you have not
rightly interpreted these orders to their full extent. Others may have
acted the coward's part, and thrown these orders aside. Would a soldier
or a sailor thus serve his king and country? If you saw your countrymen
perishing on your shores by shipwreck, or likely to be destroyed by fire,
would you not be anxious to assist both the virtuous and the wicked?
Gipsies are perishing around you; hear their cries, ere they are plunged
into eternity; and attend to these orders from the King of Kings:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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