of the Lord." I am confident, that, the more minutely the investigation is made respecting her, the more light there will be thrown on this ancient edifice; not only more clearly exhibiting her many prominent beauties, but also discovering those latent excellencies, which are, perhaps, unnoticed by the less observing passenger. There are, indeed, many parts of the building, which had, no doubt, a peculiar fitness in the eyes of the workmen who reared the edifice, but which, it is to be feared, are not now sufficiently known and valued by the modern observer from whence it happens, that in this day of reform and innovation, many may be found, who would, under colour of improving and modernizing the building, remove a great part of the foundation to the endangering of the whole. It is desirable, therefore, that such reformers and refiners should pause and consider well, before they rashly undertake to alter what has stood the test of years, and outlived various calumnies from various quarters. Let them consider, that as a few ignorant men, may in a few days pull down and destroy a palace, which required all the skill of the wisest architects to plan, and all the labour of the most able artificers to execute; so some may find it a much easier task to overturn, than to plan and erect such an edifice as the Established Church of these realms. However, before they enter on

such an undertaking, "let them walk round about our Zion, and tell the towers thereof, and mark well her bulwarks;" let them particularly and patiently examine her Articles, her Homilies, and her Liturgy, those great fundamentals of our Church, and observe how strongly they "are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Nor let them, for a trifling flaw, or an apparently ill arranged stone, seek to overturn the whole of the venerable fabric. No; let them rather pause and consider ;-let them carefully and impartially examine the foundation and the constituent parts, and they will, I am convinced, find a beauty, an order, a regularity, and a fitness in the whole, bespeaking the wisdom of the founders, (I would say, under God,) and a general conformity of the work to the Divine pattern.

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For my own part, having been ever attached to the Established Church, perhaps formerly from what might be called the prejudices of education, I can honestly declare, that I am now more and more so every day, from principle; that I venerate her doctrines as being purely scriptural; that I love her Liturgy, in which I discover new beauties continually; which has been well described as being "venerable for its antiquity, admirable in its style, being a model of simplicity, combined with dignity, and replete with

doctrines truly evangelical:" and that I admire the apostolic simplicity and sober decency of her forms and ceremonies; and particularly so, when I consider her ministration of baptism, her form of solemnization of matrimony, her consecration and ordination services, and her order for the burial of the dead. Note (z.) In truth, there appears throughout these, a sobriety of devotional piety, if I may use the expression, removed from every appearance of enthusiasm, which does not appear to be surpassed by any professing church in the present day; and which is only exceeded by that spirit of Christian love and forbearance which she professes, and which is evidently breathed forth in many parts of her services, towards those who differ from her, and even towards her enemies and persecutors. We may remark this spirit in her "prayer for the whole state of Christ's church militant here on earth;" where, after acknowledging the obligation of the apostolic precept, "to make prayers and supplications, and to give thanks for ALL men," she prays for "the UNIVERSAL CHURCH, that IT may be continually inspired with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord; and that ALL who confess God's holy name, may agree in the truth of his holy word, and live in unity and godly love:" and she goes on to pray, "that God would defend ALL Christian kings, princes, and governors." In her collect for Good Friday, with what a spirit

of Christian tenderness and compassion does she pray to that God," who wouldeth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live;" that he would have mercy

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upon all Jews, Turks, infidels, and heretics ; and take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of his word; and so fetch them home to his flock, that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites; and be made one fold, under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord." In truth, she appears in this very Christian supplication, to have in view the several prophecies which relate to the establishing of Christ's church and kingdom, throughout the world; and particularly that period, when, according to our Lord's declaration and promise, he shall so bring in all his sheep, that, "there shall be one fold, under one shepherd."—Yes, in a believing view of this promise, she seems to pray continually for its accomplishment; and accordingly, instead of persecuting those whom she would proselyte to the true faith, she commends them in prayer to the God of Truth, beseeching him, "that he would bring into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived:" and, following the example of the great Head of the Church, who has taught his disciples to " pray for such as despitefully use and persecute them," she has instructed her members, in their supplications to God, to pray

thus: "That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts."

As a spirit of Christian charity is thus breathed forth in her prayers, so a spirit of sound wisdom appears to pervade her other formularies: her Catechism, her Creeds, her Articles, and her Homilies, all bespeak this. As to her Catechism, it is indeed a "form of sound words;" and I think we might challenge any existing Church in the present day, to produce a more scriptural, more comprehensive, and, at the same time, more concise summary of the Christian faith and profession. Her Creeds, and one in particular, have been objected to; but I believe, if the principles of the objectors were fully known, their very objections would furnish the strongest proof of the utility of such creeds: and it would appear, that as they were adopted, so they are admirably calculated to oppose heresy in every way. Her articles present us with a concise but complete view of the leading and fundamental doctrines of the Gospel, which we find admirably illustrated in the Homilies of the Church. Have we not then every reason to thank God for such a structure, which it hath pleased him in so marvellous a manner to establish and protect? And while contemplating it with mingled affection and admiration, I would ask, in the words of an animated writer, "of what sort were our Re