was in high esteem with the great mass of her

people.

At length it appeared, that God had not forgotten to be gracious, but that He had a purpose of love towards her; and that she should emerge from the cloud of apathy by which she had been so long obscured, and shine with renewed lustre. For a little season, those who were honoured by being instrumental in directing the attention of their flocks to first principles; and that of their brethren in the ministry, to the solemn vows which were upon them, were regarded as disturbers of the Church; as dividers of the brethren; as courtiers of vain popularity; and as weak minded persons, who imposed upon the credulity of the simple; but the reproach has dwindled into very narrow dimensions, and now in every diocese, there are men to be found "valiant for the truth," because they have felt the power of it upon their own hearts; devoted to the work of the ministry; and "Scribes well instructed unto the kingdom of heaven.” Flocks that were then scattered, are now ga

thered; ordinances that were either altogether neglected, or attended to irreverently, are now approached with humility, and prayer and faith; Sunday Schools, which were literally unknown, are established in vast numbers, and carefully attended to by the families of Noblemen, Prelates, and Gentry, who cheerfully mingle with, and carefully instruct the rising generation.

The cause of God in Ireland is mainly upheld by the devoted servants of Christ, within the pale of the Establishment; and it is much to be desired, that all who name the sacred name of the Redeemer, departed from iniquity. "One sinner destroyeth much good;" and all professing Christians, especially those who minister in holy things, ought to be careful to preserve consistency; to "abstain from all appearance of evil;" and to live no longer unto themselves, but unto him who died for them and rose again. Sound doctrine, coupled with unholy practice, is as great an anomaly as unscriptural doctrine combined with external morality; and is alike. destructive of the soul's eternal happiness. It

is a very gratifying reflection that, notwithstanding the general prevalence of infidelity, daring as it is-and the sad instances of fanaticism which have latterly appeared; there is a steady progress of "pure and undefiled religion;" an humble inquiry after revealed truth; and a noble disinterestedness, in sacrificing the tempting offers of the world: evinced by multitudes in every grade of society, almost from the throne to the cottage. This is the work of the Lord, and it is marvellous in our eyes.

A few years ago, interruption was given to our religious meetings; mobs attempted to overawe; chosen and well drilled champions entered the lists, and filled the air with their threats and their boastings; but as the proud and mighty Goliath was slain by a stone from David's sling, so these proud boasters were soon put to flight by the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." If such an attack had been made upon the church in Ire.land, fifty, or even twenty-five years before, the result, to say the least of it, would have

been doubtful in the extreme; for then the arrows in the quiver of error were just as sharp and pointed as they now are, while the

Christian armour lay by unbuckled, and the Christian sword sheathed. A great change has indeed taken place, and the circle of it is widening daily; so that we may hope that the little leaven will leaven the whole lump. It may however be useful to turn our thoughts to the few following subjects of consideration. 1. The present state.

2. The present duties.

3. The present prospects, of the Church in Ireland:

A church to which I was from my earliest days attached by strong associations, but for which I now feel the cordial regard that results from sober and lengthened reflection.

1. Her state is a suffering one. Enemies with rude hands are endeavouring to spoil her, and to treat her as the wild boar of the forest would the tender vine. Many of her appointed watchmen are still asleep, and appear to ex

pect that "to-morrow will be as this day, and much more abundant." They-seem as if they thought that error will correct itself; that apathy will become zeal; that opposition will exhaust its own strength; and that ordinary means will defeat, extraordinary plans of destruction. There is a sad want of union even among those, who are agreed upon all essential points of doctrine and practice; but among the Clergy as a body, there is no union at all; and for want of this, they appear as weak in purpose as in effort. Self-interest causes many in the better class of Society, to join in the popular cry against the Church: while they are perfectly satisfied to have no teachers at all; or, if they have any, that they should be unpaid, at least by them. While therefore, there is no instance of a poor Protestant being convicted of joining illegal associations; there are instances, and these not a few, of Protestants in a higher class, giving their countenance to those associations, in the most decided manner. It is to be deplored also, that the custom