opulent, so pious, so moral a body of men, to tremble for this vast, and venerable establishment, as if it were a little sickly { heresy, that had sprung up yesterday in the brain of some distempered enthusiast? Do the names, and the writings of the English clergy go for so little? do time, and habit produce such trifling effects upon the minds of men? is property of such little avail? have learning, and argument such shallow resources, that the church cannot endure the slightest extension of freedom to those out of its own pale, though it did exist a whole century before the freedom of these men was in the slightest degree diminished? Those who have lively, and irritable feelings for the safety of the church, must admire that for which they fear so much; their admiration is wise, and just, but how is it consistent with their belief in its rapid frailty, and decay? The truth is, it is not frail, and not perishable. If "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it," it will never be dashed to pieces against the rock of justice. It is strong enough to suffer all men to be free, and to disdain all other aid than that

which it gains from teaching, and from acting well.

The last twenty years of an history have been honorably distinguished by the innumerable laws of persecution they have repealed, and the comparative freedom they have extended to every description of Christians. At every stage of toleration, the destruction of the established church has been foretold; which never was more powerful, or more justly respected, than at this moment. Is there any human being who wishes to put religious toleration on the same footing it was at the beginning of this period, and to deprive us of all the advantages of that liberal policy which has distinguished the present reign? The moment the restriction is thrown down, all men wonder that it was ever reared up, that it was continued so long, or deemed so important. When persecution is put an end to, it is represented as useless, or cruel: while it exists, it is praised as wise in its policy, and wholesome in its consequences.

It is the duty of every member of the

establishment, before he gives his assent to the continuation of such penal laws, to take care that he is not led away by inflammatory names. All names by which sectaries are denoted, are become terms of passion, and reproach; and the very expressions of papist, catholic, and presbyterian, are, in the majority of instances sufficient to decide opinion. These bad, and hurtful notions are imbibed so early, and sink so deep, that the subject of religious difference is that of all others where a man of principle ought the most to suspect his own reason. The tenets of the catholic faith are,

I must say, in many instances, such as common sense revolts at; but many of the greatest, and best men that ever lived, have been catholics; the common endearments of life go on with them as with us; great, and civilised nations have, under the auspices of that religion, carried the arts of life to the highest pitch of refinement: Blaming that religion cordially, dissenting from it totally, wishing to inspire them with our better, and purer knowledge of the gospel, it is impossible to cry down its followers as men unworthy to be trusted by the state;

and as unfit for all the offices of civil life; it is impossible to pour forth one sweeping clause of anathema, and proscription against the greater half of the civilised world, and to contend that we only are the infallible judges of error, and of truth. The establishment is not guarded by such practices as these; but disgraced, and humbled, in the estimation of those reflecting persons, who ought to be cultivated as its best, and warmest friends.

I must add, that nothing can be more injurious to the true interests of the church, than to mingle its name with the political factions of the day, and to lend its authority to any purpose of individual ambition : If it is done by one party in politics, it will soon be imitated by the other; we shall then become a mere tool, to answer the purposes of two opposite factions; and the dearest interests of mankind will be sacrificed to the vilest of all purposes. This is the true way first to disgrace a church establishment; and then, (when it has incurred universal contempt,) to destroy it.

Some feelings of generosity we might display towards other sects, from the recóllection that we are the strongest, that we are endowed, that we are protected; that we have the favour of the great mass of the people, and the countenance, and support of the law. It would be charitable to remember, that these things must be galling to those who have as firm a conviction in the truth, and superiority of their creed, as we can possibly have of ours. The beautiful spirit, and the true policy, is, to allay the little jealousy our advantages must occasion, to soften these mortifying distinctions by every amiable concession, and by every charitable judgment: not to inflame a painful sense of inferiority into a furious hatred; not wantonly to insult other Christians, or needlessly to depress them; but cheerfully, and eagerly to impart to them every advantage with which the security of the establishment can possibly be rendered compatible.

Piety, and honesty are always venerable, with whatever degree of error they happen to be connected: Far from con