blessings, either civil or religious, have been abused, they have been withdrawn ; -yet we do from our hearts encourage the hope that there is no just ground for the extremity of this fear; we firmly believe that that pure and Protestant Church of which we are members, is "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; * and that against this, "the gates of hell will never be permitted to prevail." At present, however, for argument's sake, let us suppose that our Zion, our Church, is in danger, like the ark of old, between the contending armies of Philistia and Jacob; and as attached, anxious members of that Church, let us endeavour, with honesty and candour, to ascertain wherein the danger consists, and by what available means, under the Almighty, it may be removed. Of one thing there can be no doubt,—our Church does not hold its proper exalted position amongst

* Eph. ii. 20.

† Matt. xvi. 18.

us; neither does it possess that salutary, attractive, and sanctifying influence over its members, which it formerly has done, and never should lose. If it were so, her enemies would not have surrounded her in power and authority on every side; there would be no nervous cry throughout the land, and no evil anticipation of a general revival of the unscriptural authority and corrupted doctrine of the Church of Rome.

At one time, in the history of our Church, few sermons were addressed from the pulpit which did not contain strong representations of the claims of the Church, and as strong exhortations on the subject of her discipline as well as her doctrine; but that good and beneficial custom, it is to be regretted, has almost passed away and, in these days, which, in a comparison on this point, may be characterized as days of more presumption, but less profit and praise-a sermon which has these objects in view, comes

forth to the world in a language, and exemplifies a spirit, which, speaking generally, cannot or will not be understood.

If it be true that popery is again threatening to undermine the structure of that purest branch of Christ's universal Church, established amongst us, where shall we seek the cause? Is it to be found in the superior purity of Romanism, and its greater claim to divine protection? Can we suppose that the arm of the Lord is outstretched to save that branch of his Church, to destroy ours? Is a religious infection, as it were, brought to our shores by every fresh arrival from the coast of Italy-the atmosphere of the Vatican? Some small share of success may, and no doubt does, attend the exertions of those who come to this country in a spirit of proselytism-to increase the number of Roman Catholics here; but it is not to this cause we would attribute the insecure position of our Church, (supposing it to be so) and the spread of papal power.

The fault, my brethren, lies with us, and not with them; and is moreover chargeable upon us, in proportion to the influence we command, and the position we occupy in the vast society of the world. Believing that their religion is the true one, the Roman Catholic's next step is to endeavour to make others believe the same; but would their efforts be successful, if our Church were properly valued and guarded? Could the citadel be taken if the sentinels were at their post, or the city be surprised unless the watchmen sleep? No it is that the strong man has left his house, and his goods are no longer in peace. It is to a want of zeal on the one hand, and to an excessive zeal, not according to knowledge on the other, as found amongst the great body of churchmen, that the real cause of the fear we have mentioned is to be attributed.

And again, a powerful auxiliary cause may also be found, in the proneness of so large a portion of mankind, to reject the

guidance of long established opinion-to withstand the authority (in matters of religion, we might say the sacred authority) of ancient usage-to adopt, under the sanction merely of individual judgment the feelings and fancies of any zealous and excited mind; and, on foundation thus unwarranted and insecure, to attempt the establishment of new schools of theological teaching-novel systems of ecclesiastical

order.

How much this evil tendency-this constitutional weakness of man's mind, has gained ground, will be easily seen in the later periods of Church history, and in the present state of the Church, either in relation to her primitive characteristic discipline, or in relation to the many murmur, ing streamlets of dissent, by which she is now so abundantly surrounded. This system of the right of private judgment in religious matters, whether of doctrine or discipline, is indeed fraught with incalculable danger to the interests and well-being