We degrade our nature, as well as dishonor our Maker, if we reject revealed religion. The prime and especial mark of our superiority over the beasts that perish, is our knowledge of God. Well knowing the motive which is illiberally attributed to every clergyman who writes in defence of an Established Church, I shall speak of it but briefly. I consider it as a sacred citadel, not only politically set up, but as absolutely necessary to preserve the spirit of religion in the country. It is a beacon, to which the truly wise will look up with respect, and on which both they and the poorer and the less educated will depend for their best hope and consolation. It is a citadel of refuge from worldly troubles and agitations: the bulwarks which are placed around it are merely of a defensive nature; its first principle is toleration, so consistent with the mild doctrines of its blessed founder, and in a minor degree arising from the freedom of our happy constitution. Re

flecting minds are well aware of the blessings which arise from a Church Establishment. The jealous, the thoughtless, and the indifferent, look with an eagle-eye at its imperfections, and aggravate them by their misapprehensions and misstatements. The Establishment, though wise and necessary, is human, and consequently imperfect. But, though the serious and the good see the errors as to worldly regulations, errors which it is more easy to see than to amend, yet they look upon them only as spots upon the disk of the Others magnify the spots to such an extent, as if they totally obscured the Church's glorious and beneficial influence. This conduct, however to be lamented, would not be so unhappily prejudicial, if it did not tend to mix up in confusion the Divine Doctrines held by that Church, with the unavoidable errors of some parts of its political formation. Worldly combatants attack the Doctrines openly, while they secretly mean

sun.

to undermine the foundations of the citadel, and overthrow the Church. They, in fact, dare to strike at God, when they seem only to attack the errors of man. I have done with this part of my subject, but request those, who are dissatisfied with the present state of this kingdom as to religion and government, to look back to the earlier periods of our history, to reflect, both on the political tyranny of the rulers in those times, and still more to reflect on the blind bigotry and inhuman barbarities of the Roman Catholics.* If, then, they are not ready to fall on their knees, and return thanks to God for their having been born in this later period, they little merit the bless ings which they enjoy. When knowledge has been so much increased, and the world has been so much enlightened by that beneficial diffusion, there is no fear of bigotry ever again, in countries

* Vide the recently published" Book of the Church."

where Christianity is in any form professed, raising its serpent-head in all its horrors. Mild concession is the best mode of lessening, if it cannot banish, error; and opponents will ever be more ready to listen to argument, when there are no partial and exclusive circumstances of which they can complain. The great enemy of religion is indifference. Let us but see a wish to be right, a desire of understanding the truth, then there is a field open, on which argument can be displayed, and by an impartial comparison of one part of the Scripture with the other, and a duly humble spirit of mind, the revealed purpose of God may be known; but, if no research is made, if no reflection is exercised on the grand and material subject, a Socinian, a Jew, a Quaker, a Roman Catholic, or even a Mahometan, may be held in equal estimation, and be equally approved; and the only and best name that can be given to a man who professes this kind

of indifference, is that of Deist. But as all, who acknowledge the truth of Scripture, must be assured that the only name by which we can be saved, is that of the Lord Jesus Christ, the contention, as to the right faith, is drawn into a narrower compass: wishing rather conciliation than offence, I shall speak neither of Quakers, nor Roman Catholics. Experience proves, that in both are to be found good subjects and good men, and fully equal in moral conduct and good intentions with the members of the Established Church, who differ from them in opinion: such, also, I allow to be the case with Socinians; but here is not a variation of opinion on minor points, here is a total overthrow of the whole system of the Bible: however, therefore, the hand of charity ought to be held out to them as fellow-men and members of society; it would be a palpable dereliction of our religious duties, if we neglected to controvert their errors; it is