THE VALUE OF AN ESTABLISHED CHURCH, AS THE DEPOSITORY OF GOSPEL TRUTH, AND AS OUR RESTING-PLACE IN TIMES OF CONFUSION AND ERROR. The doctrines of our own church I may, at least, for argument sake, suppose to have been, in the first instance, settled on the sure basis of scripture; having been so settled they are embodied in a brief and intelligible confession of faith, which from that time has become the standard of scriptural interpretation for all its public instructors. The church herself may, from time to time if it is necessary, institute anew a comparison between the word of GOD and the construction that is put on that word, to make the agreement between the two, if possible, more to meet its ends. Now, it is not, and ought not to be left to the judgment or caprice of individual members, so long as they choose to continue to be its ministers, to depart one hair's breadth from that standard: or, to teach inconsistent and opposite doctrines on points which are of necessity to salvation. This uniformity might indeed be attained to a certain extent by the church, if it were not established; but it would not present the same means of enforcing on the part of its teachers a compliance with the solemn engagement into which they have entered, rightly to divide the word of truth. The proof of this is, that, in many parts of the kingdom, places of worship, which were endowed more than a century ago with competent provision for ministers, who were to preach those doctrines commonly known by the name of Calvinistic, have now, almost without any exception, been converted into schools of unitarian, not to say deistical opinions. From such a descent into the depths of error-from such a passage out of light into thick dark ́ness, an establishment, and an esta blishment only, under the providence and guidance of God, has preserved and will preserve us; and not only ourselves who are the members of the established church, but even the great body of those who differ from us. For, however reluctant they may be to admit it, the truth is this, the articles, and liturgy, and homilies of our church, are the standard by which the orthodoxy of the great body of dissenters has been insensibly upheld against the pressure of those causes of disunion and change, which are inherent in their doctrines and systems. This permanent and durable character, with which the church is distinguished as a depository and pillar of the truth, makes it, as I have said, the resting place for many who, having tried the different modes of worship and instruction which are regulated only by the judgments and tastes of individual teachers, and having found no rest for the soles of their feet, have at length taken shelter in the ark of her ancient ordinances, her scriptural confession and liturgy, her apostolical discipline; and have acknowledged “that GÓD is not the author of confusion, but of peace." But the strongest argument for OUR ESTABLISHED CHURCH remains yet to be stated, it is this—that it IS THE ONLY, OR, AT LEAST, BY FAR THE MOST EFFECTUAL INSTRUMENT OF INSTRUCTING THE PEOPLE IN THE DOC TRINES, AND HABITUATING THEM IN THE DECENCIES AND PRECEPTS OF RELIGION,-in a word, oF CHRISTIANIZING THE LAND; AND THAT IN NO OTHER WAY IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE A THOROUGH PROVISION FOR THE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION AND MORAL INPROVEMENT OF the people at larGE. If any impression is to be made on the mass of ignorance and irreligion, which prevails wheresoever large bodies of men are congregated in uniform standard of doctrine, or ferone locality, and indeed in every vency of devotion, and supported place where the work of christian only by the voluntary offerings of instruction has not been long and those who, if they are to be made sedulously carried on, that impression wise unto salvation, must be made to must be made by men specially ap- hear many unpalatable truths, and to pointed for the task, stationed at bear rebuke and reproof, as well as intervals throughout the country, and encouragement and consolation. I secured by a competent provision would ask-is it possible to estimate from servile dependence on the peo- too highly the moral influence which ple whom they are to teach. It is, is exercised by a well-educated and unhappily, too certain that the great pious man stationed in the midst mass of mankind, if left to them- of a poor unenlightened population, selves, would never think of seeking labouring solely for their good, and / for religious instruction, or at least expecting no return from them but would never put themselves to much their attachment, and advancement trouble or expense, to obtain it; the in godliness, admonishing, warning, appetite for it does not exist in the and comforting them, moving amongst unconverted man, but must be first them as the messenger of light and excited, and then supplied. But this love, penetrating the obscurest recan never be effected by the efforts cesses of indigence and ignorance; of casual teachers, unconnected by enquiring with tenderness and delilocal associations, and sympathies, cacy into their wants and sorrows, with the flock, of whom they can devising methods for their assistance; scarcely be said to have the over- superintending, perhaps conducting, sight; nor in any other way than the education of their children; conthe systematic instruction of stated triving and facilitating methods of ecoministers, residing among their peo-nomy and humble independence; miple, diligently sowing the word of nistering to them the blessings of reliGOD, not merely at certain fixed | gion, at most interesting and solemn times, but at every opportunity that presents itself; promoting and superintending the christian education of the young; conciliating respect to their office and counsels by kind and friendly, though not obtrusive, attention to the personal interests of their hearers; and recommending themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of GOD, by a daily exemplification, in their own conduct, of the sanctifying blessedness of christian principles. From such a provision as this, when faithfully applied to the objects for which it is intended, results may be expected which cannot possibly be produced by the mere periodical teaching of persons unconnected with the place where their ministry is exercised, bound to no moments of this life; admitting their children to the church, preparing them for a profitable participation in its ordinances; blessing, in GoD's name, those whom he has joined together, interceding for them, and consoling them in the hours of sick. ness; praising God for his mercy towards them when they are raised from the gates of the grave; and, at last, when their earthly course is finished, and the joys and troubles of their pilgrimage are over, commending their souls into the hand of the merciful Saviour, and restoring their bodies to their kindred dust with solemn words of valediction. Suppose a person of this description stationed in every neighbourhood, and we have a right in arguing the - which are left them out of the spoils of a far greater church, and you will shut up not only the church and the parsonage, but the school and the dispensary, the sanctuary and shrine of knowledge, and charity, and sympathy, and order, in every country parish and you will leave the people without any antagonist principle at all, to counteract the workings of a corrupt nature, acted upon at every moment by all the elements of disorder and confusion, driven to and fro by gusts of wild Such are the mere outlines, and nothing more than the outlines, of that argument by which we prove the necessity of our established church, as a security for the maintenance and propagation of true religion; and as an instrument more potent and effective, than any other instrument, in diffusing amongst the people the knowledge of those truths, and a respect for those principles, which is the only sure basis of morality, the only efficient motive to uprightness and charity, and, therefore, the only sure pledge of national peace and safety. question to assume that state of things which the church intended, and which, if it were possible, it would bring to pass, suppose, I say, the whole of this country be thus sentinelled, as it were, with faithful, able, exemplary watchmen of GOD, and this can only be done by means of an established church, then ask yourselves whether any thing could make amends for the loss of such a powerful and effective machinery, for improving both the moral and civil condition of men. There is one fact which has been proved by the example of America-opinion and fanatical error. there the great body of the people are left to provide and maintain their own religious teachers, and the consequence is, millions are without any teachers at all; whole districts are, to all appearance, rapidly sinking into heathens no public honor paid to God's holy name; no sabbath observance; no solemn forms of worship; no stated expositions of Scripture; no ministerial oversight nor guidance, not for want of persons, who are ready to enter on the field of ministerial labour, however unpromising, if subsistence were provided for them because the people will not be at the cost of their mainteSuch being the case, it follows, as nance, nor churches for them to an obvious consequence, that the preach in. And such, my brethren, church should be continally enlarged we are verily persuaded, would be to its means of usefulness, by extendthe state of things to which this ing its appliances to meet the spiritual country would gradually, and not necessities of a growing population. very slowly, verge, if its national Surely, my brethren, surely there is church were subverted. And this, a voice to be heard amidst the moral surely, is a state of things, the bare desolation of our thronged towns and possibility of which will inspire a cities, and from the highways and dread of such an experiment, in the hedges of the Lord's vineyard:minds of those who desire the happi- Enlarge the places of thy tent, ness and prosperity of their country. and let them stretch forth the curI am persuaded, without religion, tains of thy habitations: spare not, that is, without Christianity, no peo- lengthen thy cords, and strengthen ple can be really, nor permanently thy stakes; for thou shalt break prosperous or happy. Deprive the forth on the right hand and on nation of her regular clergy, take the left, and thy seed shall inherit from them the moderate endowments the Gentiles, and make the desolate 66 cities to be inhabited." And the go- | the abiding and sanctifying spirit, vernment of this Christian country even unto the end: but the spirit will did well to hearken to that call, and not be found there, unless you seek him with earnestness and diligence, to supply, however inadequate, the means of erecting additional places from a deep conviction of your own of worship, places intended to pro- helplessness and ignorance; and an mote the honour of GOD and the edi- ardent desire to obtain his enlightfication of his people; and it is a ening and purifying influence, in the work deserving the bountiful aid of faithful use of all those means which all who desire the peace of Jeru- are of his own appointment, and salem. And we humbly thank GOD which, therefore, he may be expected that he hath put it into many of your to bless. And let not your public hearts, following the example of him service in the sanctuary, however who has the spiritual charge over publicly and devoutly performed, you, to aid so truly christian a work constitute the whole of your religious of love, and we pray, and we doubt offering to GOD. If you would derive from them all the comfort and not that you will find a suitable recompence in witnessing the growth of improvement, which they are intended christian principle, and an improve- to convey, it is indispensably necesment of christian practice in this sary that your souls should be kept neighbourhood, which will henceforth in a posture of devotion, and in a be, as it were, a distinct integral por- state of spiritual expectation, by a tion of our church, and blessed with diligent reading of God's word-by additional privileges, and enlarged secret communion with the Father of opportunities of knowledge, and spirits in the privacy of your retirement-by the daily exercise of praise growth in grace. and thanksgiving, offered in behalf of your assembled household, on every domestic occasion. A spirit of piety, thus exercised and fanned into a brighter and more glowing flame by the holy emulation of public worship, will urge you to zealous co-operation in every work of christian life, the education of poor children in the bosom of our church, the systematic visiting, not only of the sick, but of the wretched, and ignorant, and sinful which are to be found in every parish of this metropolis; the distribution of God's word, and such helps to the understanding and improvement of that word, as are proAll this envided by the church. tered upon under a sense of the obligations laid upon those who have received grace to minister the same to others as good stewards of the manifold grace of GoD-this, I say, will fill up the picture of a christian The building in which we are now assembled, has been set apart with solemn rites for the noblest of all purposes the glory of GoD, and the building up of his people in the faith of Christ. You are now, my brethren, members of one flock under the guidance of an authorised pastor. I beseech you to bear in mind the duties which will arise from that relation-I beseech you to bear in mind the object of that provision which is made for all in the established church; and for you in this division-even the salvation of your souls. Do not rest in the outward privileges which you possess, as members of a scriptural church; nor imagine that the mere formal use of her ordinances, and means of grace, will be available to the great end of her institution, as far as you, yourselves, are concerned. Her divine founder has graciously promised the indwelling of his spirit, neighbourhood, and present a practical exemplification of the benefits which an establishment is intended to produce. A faithful and affectionate pastor leading forth a teachable and united flock along the green pasture, which lies within the pale of the christian church, nourishing them with the aliments of heavenly doctrine, guiding and encouraging their steps along the paths of charity and holiness, in which he leads the way himself, following the track of Him who is the great shepherd of the sheep in humble anxious hope, that, at his appearance, he may be able to present them perfect in Christ Jesus. A Sermon, DELIVERED BY THE REV. J. W. NIBLOCK, D. D. AT THE CHAPEL of ease, hoOLLOWAY, SUNDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 15, 1833, (IN AID OF THE FUNDS OF THE TRINITY CHURCH INFANT SCHOOLS.) Proverbs, xix. 2. "That the soul be without knowledge, it is not good." to the tempest-tossed marriner in the ocean of life, in a night of darkness, the blazing torch of revelation; and thereby keeping his frail and shattered bark from grounding on the quick-sands of a false dependence, or running against the rock of heresy and schism, guiding in the middle way of peace, truth, and safety. Among the means which the members of our church have adopted, for the welfare of her junior sons and daughters, may be reckoned the IT is the leading characteristic of a false religion that it keeps its votaries in a state of mental blindness,-lest, their eyes being opened, and they being acquainted by the ordinary aids of information, with the vices of its priests and patrons, and convinced of the folly of that degradation, and prostration of intellect, which its creed requires before it can be believed, should be led to dispute their pretensions, deny their creed, forsake their ministrations, disrespect their persons, and expose their infirmities-establishment of Infant and Sunday which could not fail of proving injurious to its authority and influence, and ultimately, of bringing into contempt the defective system itself. How different is the conduct of the church of England! She, the oldest daughter of the reformation, built on the rock of ages, illuminated by the rays of the divine word, instead of shunning the light, invites and courts inquiry; and like a beacon erected in the bosom of the trackless deep, defying alike the tempest's fury and braving the winter storm, lifts aloft school institution. These, as grand as they are simple, by a sort of reaction, benefit both the giver and the receiver, illustrating and confirming the truth of that observation of our blessed Lord, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." In behalf of one of these seminaries for piety and virtue, in a district of this large parish, I stand up before you this evening; and may he who took young children in his arms and blessed them, saying, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven," bless our en |