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 t^ROTESTANT DISSENTER.^I, 
 
 
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 .til iiiiniiii II i 
 
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 i 
 
 KINGSTON, t.C. 
 
 Printed and publislied (for ffcc author) bj 
 
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 To the 
 
 < V /# /{ 
 
 /■ 
 
 ■¥■> 
 
ADDRESS, &c. 
 
 I 
 
 IVif CiiaiSTIASI BUETHRIIH, 
 
 I rejoice to think that we live in a 
 day of unexampled liberality among the disciples 
 (if Christ. This has been greatly promoted by 
 their having discovered that there are certain 
 points in which they can come into contact — cer- 
 tain measures in which we can co-operate in order 
 to disseminate the knowledge of (iivine truth. — 
 Hut while we most cordially hail such a spirit of 
 Christian liberality, we ought to guard against 
 losing sight of any of those principles which we 
 are convinced are founded on the word of God. 
 The object of the following pages is to remind 
 you of those principles, in which, as consistent 
 dissenters, we are united, and to which, so far as 
 we see them supported by scripture, we ought con- 
 ycientiouslv to adhere. 
 
 First, in the observations that follow, you are 
 requested always to distinguish between systems 
 and individuals, and not to suppose that any argu- 
 ments that are brought against the former are to 
 be interpreted as personal attacks on the latter. 
 We may often see a particular point, in which 
 one whom we higly esteem, misapprehends (as we 
 think at least) a part of the tiuth of God.' But 
 while this should never prevent us from vindicat- 
 ing that part of divine truth, such a vindication 
 should never be viewed a personal reflection on 
 the individual who holds sentiments, which on 
 
 i; 
 
p*^^,. . 
 
 
 v*?5' 
 
 u 
 
 
 To tl 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 tUat particular -^^^^1^::^^::^^'^- 
 «houW it be supposed ncon^^^^^^ ^^^ 
 
 ceiving, and ^^/"^ chee tu ly ^^^^^^%^ those 
 
 the excellency that ex J sinu-u Leander Van 
 who differ from us. ^^^^^^^^J^^^^^f Rome, should 
 
 Ess being ^^^^^nd maS u b^^n^ to the evilsof 
 not on the one hand make us d ^^^.^^ ^-^^^ 
 
 the catholic faith, ^0'^.^^^^^^;';/^^ other, from ad- 
 such a system f^f!^^\^Vr the diffusion of the 
 miring tl- J^den^ zeal fr the d.^^ 
 Scriptures by which he ^.^^^ ^^ 
 guished. V^ e siouivi <,t^ndard of the word 
 
 bring every senUmen ^^^^ careful ap- 
 
 nifest and confirmed, f ^^ tlut error, wne_ 
 luvks, is to be detec ed : a,id we an. nat ^^^ ^^ 
 ed by the true «r^^^r;tf^;;^?,^VYf\ve nadvertently 
 desirous that om ^^^^^f'^'^^'^'l^" those of others, 
 hold any) be brought « ^^f fjf^f t ^ «Pi"t, our 
 If we are under tbe n^ueuce y^^ ^^^^ 
 
 single aim will be to ^^^^^^^^^ ^ ^Ve will thu. 
 that we may reduce ^t to Pract ce f^^merly 
 
 be prepared to ^enounce whatever^ inconsistent 
 held, the moment t ^^^ shewn ^,^^ 
 
 with this will,and to ^ece^^e wnar v ^^^^^^^ 
 
 ^^•:?^ "l -It'normTch 0^ ?eal^^^^^^^^^^^ a jeaUsy 
 ""Z'^' ' Jn UttleTersonal characters; a fear ot sur- 
 ol our owniittie persona i„ffvii;bilitv, bv ac- 
 
 rendering our ovvn implied intall^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 knowledging that we ^^"^^f JfJi^/disco^Wies 
 dread of the consequences otcertam ^^^ 
 
 to our own little personal mtere^^^^^^^^ ^J^ 
 
 from seeing the force f.^eTceHev would feel 
 it not for such a kind of mtluence, uit,y w 
 
 '" HcT Stt'r'iloUect th.t U U an exp.es. com-. 
 
;n'Oi;eous;noi 
 with our pev- 
 owledging all 
 racter of those 
 
 Leander Van 
 Rome, should 
 
 to the evils of 
 annexion with 
 )ther, from ad- 
 iffusion of the 
 inently distin- 
 
 be willing to 
 ard of the word 
 and careful ap- 
 to be made ma- 
 or, wherever it 
 re not influ^nc- 
 ^f we are not as 
 'e inadvertently 
 those of others. 
 ■ this spirit, our 
 ae will of God, 
 We will thui. 
 rex we formerly 
 
 be inconsistent 
 I we formerly op- 
 lat it corresponds 
 lA that a jealousy 
 ers; a fear of sur- 
 allibility, by ac- 
 vere wrong; or a 
 rtain discoveries, 
 Its, prevents many 
 jnts, which, were 
 B, they would feel 
 
 s an express com- 
 
 mand of the Lord Jesus that we call no man Fa- 
 ther on earth, (t. e. acknowledge no man's autho- 
 rity in matters of religion;) for one is our master, 
 who is Christ. We profess to be his disciples, and 
 we are to learn his will from himself— trom the 
 revelation which he and his apostles have left uf. 
 On this principle, while we ought to admire the 
 image of Christ, wherever we lind it, we are im- 
 peratively called to guard against allowing any 
 le-vec of antiquity, any veneration for great 
 names, any piety or respectability of character m 
 individuals, to prevent us from trying things by 
 the infallible standard of Divine trvith. We are 
 not indeed to treat the sentiments of any good 
 man with the tone of supercilious contempt, but 
 wc are not to allow the mere circumstance of theit 
 being his sentiments to be in any measure tha 
 ground of our receiving them. This is violating the 
 lnw of Christ, by calling that man Father on earth. 
 We are patiently to examine how far he supports 
 his sentiments from the word of God, and we ought 
 to feel grateful to anv one who shall throw the 
 smallest additional light on the meaning of any 
 part of that word. But we are at all times to re^ 
 collect that this is the only authorised standard: 
 that we are accountable for the use we make of it: 
 that the word which Jesus hath spoken, (and which 
 
 must be considered as including that which was 
 spoken by inspiration by his apostles) is that by 
 which we are to be judged in the last day. John 
 xii. 4S. To the law and the testimony, then, let us 
 ever appeal. 
 
 With respect to the external arrangements ot 
 the church of Christ, men are apt to run in oppo- 
 posite extremes. Some are apt to lay inordinate 
 (Stress upon these—to rest in a mere outward con- 
 formity to certain rules', losing sight of one most 
 
 I 
 
To t: 
 
 1 
 
 li 
 
 a 
 
 ianportaut P'^^^^^^M' e, that cvc^ something else 
 merely a means toi ^^J;< ^ ^.^^lis is to promote 
 -that the ^^-'^^^y^.^jtZt^e editicltion of 
 the conversion of ''"^"f/^^"! ' ytiects '..re not 
 .aints; and ^^^^X^ ^ff outward ar- 
 
 •^^^^«^"Pl'^i^:^:^;.fi^,Sd to attain, is entirely lost 
 rangements aie "\\^^"'^ " , ^^ji^g that is not 
 
 Otirers are apt to ^^:^^r^n are to be 
 
 essential, and t,^,f\"\%^^^^^^ arrange- 
 
 found among « J^^^f ^^J^^ ^ f^.^, a subject alto- 
 
 ments of the '^"^^^^.f*,) -V" -ird We cannot but 
 gather unworthy otheiix^^^^^^ ^ ,ery perni- 
 
 yicwthis "« ^";^ ''^^^f und tl^t some of these 
 cious one. It win oe y ,A,,^.Ay connected with 
 autward institutions are cosily cm ^^. ^^^^^^ 
 
 r^rSS:t^er^^t. advent 
 'T^^ here forbear .uothi, on this si^e^ 
 ,,,,uage of a respect-a^j e dergv ma. ot^t^^ ^^^^ g^. 
 
 lish Church. I '^'^^f^l'^^^^f^^ .^„thor of the com^ 
 the well-known ^"f,f ^^l ^f p^i ,ge occurs in a 
 nientarvoiyheBible^^^l^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 «ote «PP;:;^tn .rs ''There is scarcely an error," 
 ly valuable letters. / "^* ^^at is employ- 
 
 Jys he, '' more Vr^^:i,::^.y than thi«: 
 ed with greater eikHt m ^^le P^t . ^ ^ ^^^ 
 
 Various denominations oi ^-^^^^J,^, sequence, ta 
 essentials, therefore it jsot n i^^^^ ^^.^^^ 
 
 .vhich we attach "W'^^^rf ' -/i^^^}^; importance, 
 i^ not essential to salvation i is c ^^^^ 
 
 at least of no -^te ml import ai^ce^^^^^^^^^^ ^ ^, 
 
 has but a head and ^^^^,^[Jf„*'^'J^ent.''* 
 an arm, or an eye, is of U tie mome ^ ^g. 
 
 I liave known some, ^^'^o, wm e J ^^^^j^ 
 ncrant of the manner m which public 
 
p 
 
 ;j^ extcvuivl IS 
 )mething else 
 is to promote 
 edification of 
 bjects arc not 
 li outward ar- 
 sentireljrlost. 
 ing thut is not 
 men are to be 
 irual arrange- 
 a subject alto- 
 tVe cannot but 
 , a very perni- 
 some of these 
 onnected witii 
 o some of these 
 advert. 
 
 this subject the 
 an of the Eng-. 
 hn Scott, son ot 
 ,hor of the com- 
 iutre occurs in a 
 : his father's tru- 
 trcely an error,' 
 ! that is emph>y- 
 lit day than this: 
 
 lans all agree m 
 consequence to 
 
 t is, if any thing 
 
 f no hnportance, 
 at all. If a man 
 
 vanting a leg, oi? 
 
 aent."* 
 
 ile altogether ig- 
 
 >ubUc instrurtiDa 
 
 i. conduciea among <lissenters, were apt to sui>. 
 nrsethat the preacher very ircquestiy dwells on. 
 Line of the peculiarities of his sect. You howey-. 
 !r know that the very reverse ol this is the trutii, 
 .ml that it is seldom indeetl that any observation 
 occurs from which it could be discovered to wliat 
 navicular denomination he belongs. But as every 
 rhristian should be ready to give a reason not od- 
 Iv of the hope that is in him, but of every part o4 
 Sfi'ouduct asadisciple of Christ, it is proper that 
 every member of a dissenting church shouuld di*. 
 tiuctly understand the grounds of dissent, and the 
 minciples on which, if he act consistently with 
 Kese he could not be a member ot any .National 
 l,:,tab'lishment. To remind the more advanced 
 uif-mbers of the society of these prmciples, and ^ 
 nL-cially to make younger ones, acquainted wiUl 
 them is the design of this Pastoral Address. 
 
 In mv foUowing observations, I shall first state 
 the ueneral ground on which I think we are.justi- 
 fcd in separating from any National church. I 
 do this the more readily, as some popular works 
 on this subject have almost an exclusive reterence 
 to the Establishment of a particular country, with- 
 out placing tthe argument for separation irom all 
 such institutions upon what appears to me a sulh- 
 ciently broad basis. Nay, one writer, whose jjub- 
 licaticin has long been considered quite a standard 
 book on this point, so far from stating the argu- 
 ment in that general form in which it is equa ly 
 Slable to every Establishment of Christianity 
 pulinly intimates that if some ot the evils ot the 
 English Hierarchy were done away, there would 
 be,"in his opinion, no serious objection to Dissen- 
 ters conforming to it. t-** * 
 Thus Mr. Towgood, in Ms Letters on Dissent, 
 •speaking of the pni^^'l whi^n so many excellent 
 
 
 kaMTV^'t* «•»•«'»•• •••^ 
 
 ^JJUKI 
 
To 
 
 1 
 
 * 
 
 ,,,,,er« of the T^^^t^:^:^:':^:^'^^! 
 
 separation Iro.n t\';;; ^ '^^ ^ Sl.m which, as it 
 lenclinR m these l^H ,'•;/>'], a jmt principles, so 
 Vras fou.ukMl upon <-»^V.tt/Ml nmier Kteat worldly 
 it has rnarvelonsly ;;;:;';^;;^',,f ^upheld, we 
 dis.-..ur.S7"^^'^t:'; Jf , ^^^.^'^f God: and hy the 
 trust, hy the '»'«»\^yi;?r,';'^ II still be upheld, 
 
 m hi^ mercy «/^"'^'^'''/'''' /t «rcL •« «?ai«."* 
 
 r' 't^^zX^i^^'^ rs:f^:^orn>roc^ 
 
 ^ow such lansua^c w i^otcntef in- 
 
 that the -^'^^^Z^M^^ t'qnally ap- 
 t*. those general vtiu<il>^^^^^^ , , ^i^,^,„^,„t of 
 
 pli(ablo to every Natumal 1^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ 
 Lhristianitv, ami vv^^V'-^ .^""^^^^^^^^ .J ^nernUer 
 
 «ny onu wl>o «\1*'P\^; ^^^ ^ '^^^ e^cr mlj;ht be its 
 
 ilication it might yxist. ^ s« 1% 
 
 , V,ave been much f^^^i^^f^^'Z^.. 
 
 of Chvistianity, the v"y » "<; ^l^' ^^^^^^ j„ „,„ 
 
 the principles f, ''l^.^rc? B« vs tlis'iemark 
 invpstiiration 01 tir.u. i^uuji tt. ■"" „..^•|,^n ir- 
 
 jnvcsu},.n.i . . . 1 come explanation, ac- 
 
 cept of the i^' \\oj V^^, f t^ue philosophy, of oi 
 Who I. called the f^f ;,^" i,,j.\nith, W who 
 the proper method ''f/^ ^^^X^^ i^s ead of con- 
 went by the name J^^P^i^^^^,'^; observation of 
 fining themselves ]« the ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ 
 
 tacts, in a^^^>^"^t";^t^"L f t'hdr own imae;ination, 
 indulged in mere fictions ot t'^^>'^"^\" ",> .i... ^^,1 
 So solid or satisfactory discovery could ^^ ^j^'J^ 
 fult of this. In opposition to tUis plan, Lotd 13acQa 
 
 « Towgoo* Oft Di«»ent, p. 161. 
 
 \t 
 
 
 ■ — — •*<■■" 
 
I 
 
 re vjci'ted for 
 c rise of that 
 'hich I am <!<!- 
 1 which, as it 
 principles, 80 
 
 (Zjrcut worldly 
 1 \ipheUl, w(; 
 I; and hy the 
 till be upheld, 
 ! of our hrrtkc- 
 
 isfactory proof 
 (i not entc^f in- 
 re t'cpially ap- 
 ;\hlishment of 
 i-tually preveiit 
 linR II memUer 
 M ml{;ht be its 
 wbiitever mod- 
 
 observe, m I>t. 
 
 n the Evidences 
 il application of 
 hilosophy to the 
 It as this remark 
 explanation, ac- 
 ird liacon'stimo, 
 )hilosophy, or i>f 
 truth, those who 
 s, instead of con- 
 te observation of 
 aranccs of nature, 
 own imagination, 
 IT could b^ the re- 
 plan, Lord 13acQa 
 
 Wu] down the two foUowinf!; rules as essenliaT fo 
 ;, . .Hscovery of truth. 1 • That before any thii.^? 
 < . n be introduced as a cause to explain any parti- 
 ■nlir fict or appearance in nature, it must be ma- 
 uiU that that cause exists. 2. It must be .apa- 
 e i.f accounting for that particular fact or appear- 
 „,e which it is brouglit t.. explain.-rhe .ntro- 
 ;' ., ion of these simple and obvious rules, pare* , 
 ,.,,. enduiries of pliilosophers on (piite a new luuj- 
 d vtioii, and, in the room of mere conjecturcN suV 
 «t tnted genuine knowledge in every d(n)artmeat 
 Of nature U> which they were applied. St was, iB 
 narticular, hy carefully adhering to these rules of 
 !nvestigatiou,that Sir Isaac Newtonj^'as enabled 
 to make those splendid discovenes by which bw 
 name is so well known to be distinguislied. 
 
 It 19 evident then that where the NewT«^?i- 
 went is admitted to possess the characte^r of » IJJ- 
 vine Revelation, the samc^ principles of accurate 
 induction rnav with the strictest propriety be ap- 
 nlied to the ilupiiry how far any particuhir fltH> 
 rine which it is alleged to contain, is actually t«- 
 vcaled in it. On this supposition this book mu^ 
 be viewed, like external nature, as a part of the 
 works of God, while the clear testhnonhs «f reve- 
 lation in the one case, correspond with well au- 
 thenticated facts in the other. And as sound ph^^- 
 losophv looks with a stern and .lealous eye on the 
 mos ingeous conjectures, in what relates to the 
 natural world, and will admit of jo conclusions 
 which are not established by iair .observation an* 
 experiment; so in the department ,,f reve ation no 
 deductions are in sound reasoning admissible^ 
 which are not supported either by the plain gener- 
 al principles, or by some express testimony o4 le- 
 vea' id truth. But if Wii lind a particular conclii, 
 won, instead of being confixwed toy tuch evidence. 
 
 i 
 
 :.,|| .H 
 
10 
 
 Tot 
 
 I 
 
 [i 
 
 
 J 
 
 obvious variance ' 
 
 : the one of these or 
 
 S 
 
 nt\i. either 
 the Cher, U must at once be a^.g»ea " -e^ ..- 
 
 gion of mere conjecture »n'l "J^^ aepartment 
 S,„„„gthesoundmerFctat.omo^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 „f the works of t."''— ' '."' V' ftj the con- 
 ^gumentaUon to the .-Uon.^l.^ f ^^^^ 
 
 r;ll elbthSof the C.«U'ian faUK ^^^ ^^ 
 
 In reasoning, then, °" ,rii';^^"opositions:- 
 
 allowed to .^'^f^tl-'v/SinVom God-that, 
 ThatChristianity.sateveat.on r ^ ^^^^^ 
 
 as such, 1 must take t as .t standi t ^^ 
 
 ""''""''^'TKfrecdie its own account of the 
 ,t, P'°«nv^V'\.'?„"be supported and propagated 
 way m wli.ch It isto >e H ^^^ji^^^jhe adm.s- 
 iiithe world. You win '..,!„ narrows 
 ri„„ of these simple Propos. K-ns S'^^'^f ^^^,^„e- 
 ,he Held of our m"''l XVcU on this sub- 
 ous matter which is often '"'^"'''Ji'^Yhus 1 have 
 •''=^'' l^i't wtt\X'gJne"'A inquiTy v:inch re- 
 "a as tie" ol S expfdioncy of a govc.nmen_t 
 ?r,;p^;ing'reUgionasane>rg,neo^^^ 
 
 Ceitain P^'f^"' ^"f Smatn ItodosLo, and 
 ting the '<^l'S'°"°'^''„rr, "certain political 
 tliere may be, m like manner, a jjiahomet 
 
 accordance """^ecn the uoctrines ^ 
 and the civil est'^bUshment of the bablnn 
 
 ^"="ltsi:et:era; s''cSS-"-'='^"°» 
 3tr'"w;iUfG'atoman;..du,jJ.^ 
 
 consider as totally irrelevant. 
 
)ne of these or i 
 led to the re- • 
 have no place 
 lis department 
 y this mode of 
 vv far the con- 
 mtenance any 
 I faith. 
 
 ect, 1 must be 
 propositions : — 
 om God— that, 
 3— that I must 
 5 and submit to 
 account of the 
 and propagated 
 that the admis- 
 greatly narrows 
 )f that extrane- 
 ced on this sub- 
 f. Thus, I have 
 iquiry which re- 
 f a government 
 1 of the State.-— 
 ained by institu- 
 Hindostan, and 
 certain political 
 les of Mahomet 
 e Sublime Porte, 
 erm. My inqui- 
 iiy as a revelation 
 unless it appear, 
 r particular pre- 
 supportedin the 
 ent, or, in other 
 1.1 magistrate, any 
 xpediency I must 
 
 n 
 
 In settling the ground of the following argii- 
 ►nent there is another point to which I must call 
 vour 'attention; I mean, the essential distinction 
 between 2)ersMasion and /orce, between acting un- 
 der the impulse of personal conviction and actnig 
 from the authority of the civil power. Nay, 
 these two principles are not only different, but 
 directly opposed to each other. Thus where con- 
 viction exists, force is excluded; there is in this 
 case no room for its operation. On the other 
 hand, the applie^ition of force implies the absence 
 of conviction. Its aid can only be needed where 
 conviction, as a principle of action, is not to be 
 found. But it is this power which properly be- 
 longs to the civil magistrate. He does not depend 
 on the influence of persuasion. It is no doubt 
 well when he can show the reasonableness of his 
 requisitions, but the sword is his proper and legi- 
 timate weapon. Whatever be the state of the 
 mind, he comes clothed with authority, to enforce 
 immediate compliance with whatever he de- 
 mands. . , 
 
 To this distinction a popular writer of the pre- 
 sent day plainly refers, when he says, " The es> 
 tablishment (of the church of England) remem- 
 bers that man is fallen, /orces him to provide the 
 means, (of religious instruction,) and trusts that 
 the conversion may follow."* Here it is admit- 
 ted that force is first employed, in hope that that 
 which must be the result of conviction, and which 
 force cannot accomplish, may be attained. But 
 this author must certainly have calculated on ad- 
 dressing a very superficial classof readers, if he 
 thought them capable of being imposed upon by 
 such a statement, without the shadow of an argu- 
 ment to support it. This assertion would do ex- 
 
 • Velvet Cushion, p, 8d^ 
 
 1 ; 
 
 I 
 
 
 'i 
 
To i 
 
 m 
 
 m. 
 
 Ife 
 
 ' 
 
 WW 
 
 13 
 
 n ^f rntistantinopl*^., because tlie 
 U-emcly ^^.\^,f ,^Xof MaLn\^ bein.i^ 
 
 Koran ^f ^^V^iy^^t^Jl^^^ the sword. Nay, it 
 supported and P'^«PJg^{;j^^ 11^^,^ Vatican, as with 
 would not be out of P^^^^^^ ^{^J^^^ ^^ ^^ i^ ,n and 
 
 the l^^^'^^^^^'^'fthat system without liesitation, 
 the supporters of^l^^^^'^f^X the aid of the 
 
 avow the prniciple ot f^'^P/^y?"!^^^,^. Rut if 
 avil power to jna-t-^^ ^^,,^ 
 
 Christianity be tht reiigio" ^^^^^.^j^ 
 
 and if, as J^^t'^W^^ ^>' 
 
 is to me ot no avail unless i m ^ i 
 
 the Bible, I at on- dejnur and c^^^^^^^^ ^^J 
 
 ;iSirrch?n inrm:M^in itssuppoal If 
 
 establishment of chrsti ^^^ ^^, 
 
 jtitution by wmcn me S"' certain authorised 
 employ. it-"*«^,XnK To thUeflnition 
 
 whatever '"^"^"'^th^tno ?oS^^^^^ ^ 
 
 the Rovernment, « '"""^"^'j^ ^^i, „„st general 
 
 domman fcct "j" V\„,titutions that I ob ect, 
 and simple view "f ^u™ 'n^"' , ■ -^ ^.^u ,s 
 
 as ineonsistent "''^,f ?SH=SnBevelatior.. 
 
 *?,?f''lt?kS he New Testament, I there 
 
 and conscience; I fV''/X interestin;; to every 
 
 most -?f 4"lJf™U pEf^^^^^^^^ "?-«- 
 ^'T^^ctTon'Srin ividual who embraces them; 
 :;^ £:i "S .enerjl a^seminatmi. c. 
 iy calculated to tege^^cratc the \, orM. 
 
 1 1 
 
 I, 
 
o 
 
 13 
 
 because tlie 
 staiiism being 
 vord. Nay, it 
 atican, as with 
 sail in all, and 
 DUt liesitation, 
 the aid of the 
 lence. Rut if 
 lichhe speaks, 
 L of the church 
 t supported by- 
 all for the pre- 
 (i allow the ap- 
 its sUpportl If 
 
 , I define a civil 
 5? It is that in- 
 tntofa country 
 jrtain authorised 
 'o this definition 
 enters into the 
 ;al establishment 
 their forms, and 
 nay be given by 
 mected with the 
 tiismost general 
 ons that I object, 
 spirit as well as 
 ;tian Revelation, 
 estament,! there 
 he understanding 
 iths to be of the 
 teresting to every 
 } the most benefi- 
 10 embraces tiiem ; 
 nination. evident- 
 vorM. But I alw 
 
 r.;? 
 
 «^^ thit this religion is entirely spmtual, that 
 eftbi^a e to be produced, by tlie truths which it 
 contains obtaining access to the understand nigs 
 Ivnd consciences of men. Thi.- however they can 
 only do by persuasion; by an address to the un- 
 Sanding and th. hort. No other kind of m- 
 flaence is admissible here. The moment you 
 have recourse, in any shape to civi authority, you 
 act upon a totally opposite principle, & such as ap- 
 pears altogether unscriptural: You employ a 
 Sower in this service which is quite incompatible 
 S the genuine influence of a spiritual religion. 
 The application of force to this religion of the 
 conscience, tends at on.e to paralyze it, and to de- 
 stroy its native character. It resembles the eliect 
 of touch on the sensitive plant, which instantly 
 shrinks, however cautiously applied and the 
 Z<rev must be completely , removed before th s 
 delicate production can again expand its leaves. 
 ;!nd present to the eye of the beholder its native 
 
 '"U is'^r^nciple in the christian faith t. re- 
 uuire truth in the inward parts, and every specie** 
 of hypocrisy it most pointedly condemns as quite 
 renagnant to its whole spirit and character. But 
 it must no less condemn any kind of mhuence by 
 which, so far as it operates, nothing else but hypo- 
 crisy can be promoted. Now this is quite the ef- 
 fect of the application of civil power in religion. 
 I say so far as it operates; because if you suppowj 
 a person, from conviction, either ^^n^^racing Chris- 
 tianity or supporting it, no "PFl^wtion of uviJ 
 power is requisite. If it be only by the applica- 
 tion of this power he does either the one or the 
 other, this provcr, the absence ot conviction, and 
 hence that lie acts under the influence either ol 
 avowed con»tfaint or Uitcct hypociwy. 
 
 B 
 
 ;j/,n it t » mm 
 
I"^"* 
 
 J** 
 
 Toil 
 
 i 
 
 4: 
 
 ^ 
 
 i%~ 
 
 i 
 
 u 
 
 As well may you attack a citadel with motive. 
 AS well may y human heart with 
 
 i-allmtHeaicioieA ,• -gn. In both cases, 
 
 there lb an ci"' "J , „j„n(,se,i to bo attamcil by 
 !!"" '"Thrrci^^p™nCM.HUtmctiou between 
 
 *''^"'i ,v.^rer as be nsswho have at last to tender 
 our '^l'»"'=*"''p„fS o-Jr character as members 
 ^JcrvUso"\eW Unto the fom>er aspect wc arc 
 
 :': untable only to God fo-""f P^-.r ,, 
 1 v,i;f«rpb(» wrong in these, ii IS oiuy i>j 
 
 here that the power ohhu eiv.l govervment ,^ 
 
 f'ffi'lfXlTht infer, from the general .-I-a. 
 ,rErot Christ anityasa spiritual religion addrcs- 
 L^lhtn erst§<Un,a^^^^ 
 it does not ''''"'' "Vlmoie fully confirmed in 
 ^ el'cuS by-mTomJspecilc declaration, 
 this concmsimi uy ^^^^^ speaking of 
 
 hi^s'kt^l'in S a tvay as expressly exclude. 
 «re application of i-cc in it. defeuce,^r m a^^ 
 vancin^ its interests m the world My K ng 
 Ar.m " Tavs he " is not of thw world. It my kin^ 
 aom' wer^e of thi world then would my servants 
 
 ««»;ti qfi The kinsjdom oli.Hnsi i>w^iuk»"v w» 
 S"'Wd. i»te« aUtinctly im.«4«ced t»a rea- 
 
 I 
 
 SOU 
 
 ploy 
 
 ploy 
 
 both 
 
 the 
 
 or da 
 
 to h 
 
 stroi 
 
 laws 
 
 in li 
 
 the 
 
 acti 
 
 din} 
 
 fere 
 as il 
 of i 
 knc 
 Hue 
 this 
 iuo1 
 Foi 
 the 
 str{ 
 
 \ 
 
 a r 
 noi 
 lea 
 pa: 
 la^ 
 ed 
 th 
 Tl 
 ce 
 
 ,«!•*• "»»•*" 
 
 lainMSWKINMWS^Sii^'^' 
 
 :>•■%. tL" 
 
 iiTfvrTZ'^* « • 
 
15 
 
 ?1 with motives 
 an heart with 
 h as great prcj- 
 loy the pulley 
 r vegetation, as 
 promote the in- 
 In both cases, 
 igruity between 
 obe attained by 
 Inction between 
 at last to render 
 cter as members 
 er aspect we arc 
 religious princi 
 ;se,it is only by 
 can be put right, 
 other kind of in- 
 are amenable to 
 •onduct, and it is 
 il govcrument is 
 
 he general char- 
 ,1 religion addres- 
 D conscience, that 
 ion of civil autho- 
 uUy confirmed in 
 icific declarations, 
 fesus speaking of 
 jxpressly excludesr 
 defence, or in ad- 
 orld. " My king- 
 orld. Ifmyking- 
 vouldmy servants 
 reredto th« Jews; 
 from heiK'c." John 
 hrist Wing not ot 
 nttoUucedasa rca- 
 
 whv the use of the sword was not to be ern- 
 nloved in supporting it. Force is necessarily em- 
 Ce inthek of this world. They are 
 
 both extended and defended by it. 1 he power of 
 the magistrate implies the exercise of it. He is 
 nr liined of God to use the sword. His power is 
 to be employed in defending the weak against the 
 strong, and in punishing those who violate the 
 "laws ojf the kingdom over which he presides. And 
 n like manner, temporal honours and rewards ar» 
 the inducements held out to those who are most 
 active iu defending these kingdoms, or in exteiv 
 cling their boundaries. , 
 
 But as the kingdom of Christ is essentially dif- 
 ferent in its nature from all worldly kingdoms 
 as it consists in the reign of principle in the hearts 
 of its subjects— in the communic?.tion ot uivme 
 knowledge to the understanding, and m tlic m- 
 fluence of truth on the conscience and character; 
 this kind of spiritual kingdom can only be pro- 
 moted by instruction, by argument and persuasion. 
 Force can never be a method at all htted to attani 
 the end of imparting conviction. It may con- 
 strain the body— it may inihct punishment ; ?.nd 
 bv the terror of punishment, it may make a man 
 a hypocrite by professing to believe what he doe« 
 not believe: but it cannot influence his mind or 
 lead him to embrace truth. If I understand this 
 passage aright then, the principle which our Lord 
 lays down fs that external force, which is employ, 
 ed in defending and extending the kingdoms of 
 this world, is not to be employed m his kingaom. 
 This view of the meaning of the passage is, 1 con- 
 ceive, fully confirmed by the context. 
 
 It seemstohave been the design of the Un* 
 fifuage here used to show Pilate, that if he felt any 
 jealousy ie»pectmg themtmstsot Cesar, he bad 
 
 ;i 
 
 fi^StW^'*^'" 
 
 

 Toil 
 
 4 
 
 1 1' 
 
 I 
 
 m, 
 
 -acHHKTiAot^iB 
 
 10 
 
 nothing to 
 
 ^-f^-^-;:^!;|rran^r^ 
 
 He was not 
 
 Roman govennncnt 
 
 a v>..j " — -- , - T3„t this could only be said 
 nny ground of alaim.i:^^^"^ ^^,._^^ ^^^^^ ^^ 
 
 .pontheprmcipl^ha ex^ n ^^. ^ 
 
 be employed m tie luuh . ^|,g ^^^cst 
 
 since it has been introduced It has g ^^ ^^^^ 
 
 serious cause of ^ -no vne^^Kir^g^^ ^^^ ^^ 
 
 world, and has been im^ .^volutions which the | 
 some of the most eventtulrcvoiuu ^ a 
 
 p.ge of history .records Does not ^^ .^ 
 
 iho'w, that the ^r. roductmn J -^^^^]^ f,,,,res 
 Ilf^lS^Sn^V^-extAhiskin^ 
 
 /• 1 u,r .>tt<Mif1in" to one express*"" 
 conhnncd by attcnuui^ Vn,i..P '' The true reli- 
 
 Eion, as it eM'^it.a umici v peculiar 
 
 ^as embodied i., .He ■™\';"; f^.° ,^ efed 'vith a 
 P'Plf • '^lit needed ?o be defolded by fou-e,- 
 
 ly connected with ^ny.oie people^ ^t w. ^^.^_ 
 entirely spiritual, consisting i the ^^i i 
 
 ,iple in the hearts of ^^^^;^^^^'^^;^t^^^^^,se werl 
 existed over the face of tU eaxt^ ^ territory, 
 thu'^ to be found, not cofined to . ^i .^ 
 
 but intermingled among "^«^Vl . nrt ee tegat- 
 Our Lord's declaration mtlus V^-^lf^^^''^ 
 
 aing the spiritual -^^.«V,^^J;^;^^'^^ 
 
o 
 
 IS 
 
 r tlie character 
 (lis kingdom in 
 .n governmcTU 
 lid only be said 
 orce was not to, 
 Christ. Kvt'i^ 
 given the most 
 ngdoms of the 
 ,n of producing 
 ions which the 
 lot this clearly 
 ich a power 
 3 grand features 
 t, this kingdom 
 
 ion Rccms further 
 pression— " N»w 
 ' Thetnie reli- 
 iier dispen:'ation, 
 softhe peculiar 
 ■onnected with a 
 indedby foioe.-- 
 r.inaied the king- 
 d on a diiTerent 
 r, to be exclui-ive- 
 )le. It was to be 
 the reign of prin- 
 s, wherever they 
 fth. These were 
 .,in' one territory, 
 'allnalions. 
 is passage, regar- 
 is kmpdom, very 
 t,guuge>othc wo- 
 ♦♦'Pelieveme, the 
 ither in this moun- 
 orbhip the Fathet, 
 
 (\ exclusively.) But the hour cometh, avul 
 ^ow is when the true worshippers shall vvorship 
 he FatTier in spirit and in truth.'' But bemg 
 uL worshippers, and being the subjects of this 
 lincdom, arc manifestly expressions of the same 
 Sr? All then possess this character, nnd they 
 
 Xne wh» t^^^^ ^^'^'^^^'^P ^^'^ Father in truth 
 
 Let us again commit this part of the sacred nar- 
 rative with the manner in which our Lord follows 
 UP the^xpression " now is my kingdom not from 
 hence," and we shall observe a striking comci- 
 dene between them. " Pilate then said unto 
 im Art thou a Kingtheii'? Jesus answered, Thou 
 shyest that I am a King, (i. e yes, it is true.) To 
 thi? end was I born, and for this cause came nto 
 Ihc world, that I should bear witness to the truth. 
 Et'crv one that is ofiM truth hearcth my voice. - 
 Here is a most explicit testimony to the spiritual 
 nature of this kingdom. They only are to be con- 
 sWeredand treated as belonging to this kingdom 
 ^t hear the voice of Christ, and thus give evi- 
 dence that they arc his true subjects. 
 
 When I read the regulations of this kingdom, 
 and the history of its progress, as recorded m the 
 Kev Testament, I find every thing perfectly to 
 iorrespond with the abov3 mentioned general des- 
 ^dpti.n of its character given by the great law- 
 :S himself. Every act of obedience must be 
 voluntary. The laws of the kingdom so far re- 
 gulate the motive as well as the action, that what- 
 ever is not offaithissin. Those who enjoy the 
 benefit of the public ministry of the gospel, are 
 commanded to support by voluntary contribution 
 ;^ has teach them. " Let him that is taught in 
 t word communicate to him that teacheth m all 
 lood thinecs '' Gal.vi.6. Now I ask ; vyas thw 
 S sSr .criptvire.. intended for the direcU.n 
 
 . 
 
 I 
 
To t 
 
 W 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 18 
 
 yf Christians at every 
 a'l important point is 
 show that those w*^^ 
 
 h 
 
 )ft"r.cf;osp 
 
 period of the worlu ? If so, 
 
 ■ here cfetKblishcl. Ihcy 
 
 d li:.:iri vcito the 
 
 devote 
 were 
 (try contr 
 
 todr.ive 'f eir sup- 
 
 juiiuns 
 
 hose 
 
 ministry 
 
 port iwmi\\cv(Humu..j ;;;•;"--. ^.^., .vh.cre 
 
 chnrttauity put this on a^-'^^'V ;';.':';. .e'l 
 
 ff'toi wL vis"™ S t\,is .re..int..o,a C ,;. to 
 II lutic vv J" ^ , establish tlat Jt 
 
 "Vi;;^ 'jo::;!?;^^ hSt<? wisLraii this is ic.t 
 
 TtMt .m~^^ lhisir..tit.mon is 
 
 Quisled al^^vhich substitutes tl.o ^^m of povver 
 in he oon of the voluntary extrtk.r.s of the d s- 
 11 tuc looiu "1 I support of those who 
 
 tamed, inisia j ^ ^ sunpuse the 
 
 moment m this ai^.imcui. ^ .apvo-mfn 
 
 best understanding pve^•alls bc^ceu '^^^^V^^^^;^ 
 ind his parish oners; that tuey pa^y tLc. ..--xs 
 mo t cheerfully; nav, that, in addition to hi;-, the 
 ^otei^nie aimits of the most unlimiU'd t^iera- 
 tlon-sSlthe «o«Hr ofdmandinp; ti; naymc.t of 
 of these tthe/exists: and it is the same pov. cr it 
 rlht never to be forgotten, which at one p.nod 
 can ckmandapartoC my' goods to support uie 
 
 "^Tam aware it in?y fee saM that tbU b nrt a 
 
 I 
 
iworlo? If so, I 
 blishc.l. Thi,y 
 .»;ir i; vci to the 
 .Ive '..' oil* sup 
 uns -t those to 
 in c?:er-. \vh.cri' 
 vn.thuacaabled 
 
 ^taulisl^n.put of 
 lieiont fc'.;du{);; 
 c li; ,;uirote to 
 'ii-tu'.iy miUify 
 ,i;? kii >,;.-loii' it. to 
 L nifcvin? 'OX re- 
 IS of liisf nj'>''"i-3. 
 iutiucv\t,('. "ii'l to 
 estaVilish tliU -it 
 1 all this is lcj>t 
 his ir.;-l.itution is 
 tho Aiin of power 
 rtijusofthe dis- 
 rt of those who 
 lishincnt r.ot vol- 
 raint. The civil 
 lion of this power 
 ipporr. can be oh- 
 howc :.r i:-of no 
 hall supii-ihe the 
 ,vcoua clersyrnf.n 
 rpay their- -itlies 
 dditiontothi-, the 
 unlui»ii''d t)iera- 
 n<ri\i nayrrcwtof 
 he san\e pov. cr,^ it 
 liich ut one period 
 ids to support the 
 
 that ihij h nrt a 
 
 19 
 
 ,o1Jaion of the state, that at another could impri- 
 
 «tXn another quarter of Christendom, could drag 
 mebeforethe tribunal of thelnquisit.on tcatone 
 ?o?the errors of my faith, by the sacrifice ot my 
 me The power is radically the same though 
 theie are various forms and degrees in which it is 
 
 '""Heret^hen, it should never be forgotten, that 
 whatever misery has arisen from persecution for 
 TonSce sake, among professing cbnstians the 
 root of all this evil, the existence of tbe capabili- 
 Uto inflict 80 much misery on the world must be 
 traced to the introduction of civil power into tae 
 kingdom of Christ. 
 
 fair statement, that no one's goods are demanded 
 to suppor^the religion of the ttate: that the tithes 
 leloiS to the church, and that the landlord pur- 
 
 cha3^ his estate, and the .^««^f.^^f %\^? *"',^ 
 distinctly under this consideration While all 
 SSs is readily admitted, it must be remarked that 
 in whatever way the tithing system was at first in- 
 ?oduced, in England at least, and still more m 
 Ireland, it is well known to be attended with the 
 same baneful effects as if it were a regular tax for 
 the support of the clergy. In Scotland, indeed, 
 this bSnessis conducted in a far better manner 
 and by the ministers stipend being usually paid 
 by the landed proprietors, no such pernicious ef- 
 fects on the minds of the people, in general, txe 
 produced. The above observations, then, muit 
 not be considered as implying that any »niu«t»c» 
 is done to the individuals by the exacting of th«e 
 tithes; but they are designed to shew the evil 01 
 
 introducing a power into the ^^ngf ^"1 .°V • JS 
 iu whatever way it has originated, whicli » not 
 
 B 
 
 \\ 
 
 
20 
 
 To 1 
 
 \M 
 
 I't 
 
 i". ' 
 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 Let nobtne 
 
 ftced clergytr^n, tben>^"PP^^ 
 
 for 
 
 dissenter feels the 
 
 , moment that a consnetun^^^^^ contemplate. 
 
 ,mallestBtirnugs ^^f^^^^^^^^^y which is derfved 
 
 that superior «*'^^««.;"^° ^^n oP^lent Hierarchy 
 froni bcin'^ connected ^ithan I .^^^^^^^^^ ,^,iu 
 
 or when he hears of t'^^ ^J«P^°„ ^^^^,^,, the name 
 which it is endowed No man a ^^^^^^^,.,^^ 
 
 of a dissenter, or at leasi he at ^^^^^^^^ 
 
 the true P^'^-lP^.^Jn^'if he d el not feel, a full 
 
 such an -^PPt^^flu uvrh the hirli^'^*. dignities oi 
 oonvictiou ^hat hough the ^ig revenues, were 
 
 the church, and Us '"^''^^.^/^"'/^.V any account, 
 lid at his ieet. »- ."^'^^^'^^J^^.e oVr. His 
 partake e.ther o ^^^^"^'^^'[..^ust be completely 
 Ciewsof the ki^;^dom of Jesus n .^^ ^^^^ ^^p_ 
 
 altered betoie ^^" '^,". l^^'/f believ^ be deroga- 
 port of V>ri^7.o is Divine Muster, by intro- 
 fory to the l^^^'^,.*^ "V^^\ uingdom which he ex- 
 
 pressly coaderr.ns argument, vou observe 
 ^. ^ • v;^.vor.! as well as the dangerous 
 
 of discussion, i^^'^^ ^'\ 4lf^\'!i;';' -^ portion 
 
 jrovernment to "'^PPr^PV^^^, ^ ',^ ' ,t of a l articu- 
 lahe public property o^^^^^^u^^^^^^^^^^ by, 
 
 Xar form oiteh^^n^^^^^ ^,^^ ^,^y ot 
 
 jio meanr, umvcirsaliy ;l^P-.';'i.5;i,ely a question ot 
 rhccommunxty. l^^S^^^ ,,!Sency howcv-cr 
 
 political ^,^'^"^n;pnl-tm"ch i^tianity wi'th the 
 'kthis mode «/,r rP^J^^'=^,, altogether a separate 
 
n, suppose for 
 ntcr feels the 
 contemplates 
 ch is dertved 
 ?nt Hierarchy, 
 aiuments with 
 jrvcs the name 
 ot understand 
 should assumo 
 ot feel 11 full 
 jsl dignities of 
 revenues, were 
 i any account, 
 be other. His 
 It be completely 
 part in the sup- 
 ;s to be deroga- 
 »lasier,by intro- 
 rn which he ex- 
 
 ent, vovi observe 
 las «jft<;" been so 
 
 IS the dangerous 
 , that power has 
 
 tima(1cii subject 
 rs wii-xl -m in any 
 isiderable portion 
 .port of a particAi- 
 if that form is by^ 
 of by the body ot 
 irely a question ot 
 if,istency however 
 i.otianity wi'th the 
 oi;ether a ticparate 
 t of every ^^ther. 
 
 •21 
 
 nlinslbly said in support of the advantage resul- 
 ting from the independence of the clergy; oi the 
 cower which a cuns-jientious man possesses in re- 
 proving sin without the fear i.f consequences 
 when his living does not depend on the good 
 vvishe^s and cannot be aff'ected by the caprices of 
 his hearers. I might even here, perhaps, sale y 
 refer to the histcry of every national establisli- 
 ment, as affording a fiir answer to this argument, 
 so far as it regards the general cdcci ot the sysium. 
 Good men, in estimating the advantagts of Ec- 
 clesiastical establishments, often iix their eyes on 
 a few excellent characters altathed to them, 
 while they entirely overlook the greatly ptepoU- 
 dering majority of such as they themselves ac 
 knowledge are manifestly inflnenced by no other 
 principle than a regard to their own worldly 
 rmclument, and who of course must help to mis- 
 lead and pervert the minds of their peop c. Hut 
 if we rc'lect that all the persecutions ot the faith- 
 ful servants of God, whether by Popish or Trotes- 
 ant governments, h.ve originated in ihe connex- 
 ion between the church and thestate;— if to this 
 we add the multitudes that have in every ago 
 been deluded by the mere profession ot Christiani- 
 ty by those false teachers, who have been under 
 every establishment, introduced into the church, 
 as the natural result of political patronage;— if 
 we farther consider the opposition that h?.s been 
 given in every age by such teachers to any ettorts 
 made bv others to diffuse the knowledge ofdivine 
 truth, as well as the temptation thrown in the 
 way of christians to omit these efrorts, even where 
 the grossest ignorance prevailed, from the idea 
 that some means of instruction are enjoyed wher- 
 ever an establishment exists— wc shall have a 
 
 ■^wir^Bn 
 
w 
 
 
 To t 
 
 \i 
 
 effected by conscientious men wne^^^^^^ 
 
 found. ^^^ ^^^'^f.^ir'^^^^^^^^ in 
 
 we further reflect ^^^a the^^^^^^ .^ ^^e goih 
 any establishment are "*°".^"J;,Jfoje by far the 
 Li out oflove to »^».*^t^^^^'be Employed in this 
 
 greater P^^F^ °^^ »"jJ,re^nioved '^^^^^^^ '"^ 
 
 fervice. whether they enjoyed ^^^^^ ^^^^^ 
 
 establishment ^r ^^'^V, i i^xDediencv much may be 
 
 on the score of g«"«'^^.f ^3 t^e qae«»»°"- ^''' ^ 
 .aid on the negative .deot»^^^^^^^^ ^^^.tied to 
 
 repeat it, I ^o J^^ f^"'^ X^^ere : Every one 
 discuss the P"J"S7^^Pt be proved that a thing is 
 ra^\urbefJr"r,te.tioL'of expediency can 
 
 look \^''\l':ZTxoZ%hl we have a 
 
 work '^^"^^,J,^i^'"the nue«^^*>'^ respecting any 
 divine «yt;"' Revelation embraces, is not. 
 point which that re^euiio ^^^^^ 
 
 h^' )'^?;;w TestaLnfallo^ application 
 
 Does the New J^^"7,",:_;oni My posiuon w 
 of force in matter* ^^ thft the power which is 
 that itdoesnct;-and th-^th^^^^^^^ ^^^ 
 essentially involved in every ^^^^^.^^ ^^ 
 
 Bient of Christianity ,» a po^^^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 which is tota ly ;"?r^j7;X^^^^^ position 
 
 kingdom of Christ. JilM"^^^^^^^^ to the word of 
 fairTy overthrown ^y^^/l^Pf^^^^g allowed to 
 
 God; nay, w^*^^!. '"f^,®''T 'ee every thing in 
 auppose this practicable J/^^^^^^^J^ding^nd 
 Christianity ^^dres^ed to tnc un ^^ ^^^^i^g 
 
 ii^^ 
 
 4 
 
23 
 
 Lhc expediency of introducing snch power here in 
 nn other light than that of making myself vyiser 
 ihin God. Under the influence of these pnnci- 
 nU then, I must consider every civil usublisw- 
 S of chrislanity as inconsistent w.th th.t ex- 
 Susivcand supreme authority which the g.e.t 
 lawgiver under the christan dispensation claims i\\ 
 
 his kingdom. , ,.„ . ^ 
 
 While I have adverted to the difference be- 
 tween the kingdom of Christ .ind the kingdoms 
 of this world, and remarked the exclusion nt llio 
 use of force in supporting the former, I must here 
 add that this is no way inconsistent with our 
 steadily maintaining the obligUion of submission, 
 in every thing not interfering with divine autho- 
 ritv m the civil government of the country in 
 which we live. This appears from various pas- 
 sages to be clearly a precept of the christian faith 
 If again, we are at any lime called by ihe civil 
 authority to violate the injunctions of the word 
 of God, the recorded example of the apostles 
 Peter and John, when placed in such a siluation 
 affords a decisive rule for the regulation ot our 
 conduct. When they were prohibited l)y the 
 council of Jerusalem, in direct opposition to the 
 command of their master, to preach ^''y \n<>rf »'^ 
 his name, they respectfully answered," Whether 
 it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto 
 > you more than unto God, judge ye."-I trust my 
 ■ brethren, you kiiow Well how to appreciate botli 
 vour civil and religious privileges. Allow mo 
 then to add that while the above general princi- 
 ples appear to me to furnish ample ground for 
 dissenting from the Ecclesiastical establishments 
 of our own country, we ought never to forget 
 the nuculiar calls we have for the exercise of the 
 * most lively gratitude to the Author of our mer- 
 
 d2 
 
■ II iW 
 
 Tot 
 
 m~ 
 
 * 
 
 1 
 
 it"; 
 
 i. 
 
 to enjcy. «„Mnfle rov observations on thi« 
 
 I might now conclude roj g ^ t^^.es con- | 
 subject, having «newn O^a the^^^ F^ ^^^.^^^^ | 
 demn that exerc «e of cmi P^^^^ ^^^^^^ „^. 
 
 which enters into \^* X- ,:^ity. But as there 
 tional establishment of ^^'{f^^^ll^.y,^ arguments 
 issoinethingpausible at least ^" institutions, it 
 
 that are "'^g^? »" ^\°;"t \o the"^ ; and farther, 
 rw'^or,^^rr;e ^^eUk principle. 
 
 authority for Ecclesiastica esia ^^^ ^^^ 
 
 New Testament, they ague that u ^^^^^ .^ 
 
 aenied we ^.^^^a^rthe jS^^^^g^ ^^^^'''^ 
 the OH; and that as tne J divine appro- 
 
 the most decided expi^essions pjomotmg 
 
 bation for e^^P^X^Iible t^o be viewed as one 
 true religion, as th^^ ble is^^^^^ ^^^^^ i^con- 
 continued revelation, It cannot OB^ ^ 
 
 ^'5^^ answer to -ch ^ a^.^^^^^^^^^ ,1^! 
 
 Jews were under a d'^pen^a^^^^^^ that some thingi 
 
 liar, and, as it IS a^^"°X lawfu but matter of 
 
 weie ^''^'^^^'^^tZloZZUov^^o with- 
 
 express <».fyv^„^^*^,^J New Testament that we 
 
 out s n. It 18 f'Xcasfs their conduct, though 
 must learn in ^hat cases tne,r i^it^tion.- 
 
 approved, ^"^"^^^,^,^",^^1/^/ to extir- 
 
 Thus they were ^ Jf^^'J ^ J^_to put idolaters to 
 
 .-St.:* J!,, , 
 
25 
 
 nd excellent 
 happiness to 
 are permitted 
 
 rations on th\« 
 criptures con- 
 r in religion 
 B of every na- 
 . But as there 
 the arguments 
 institutions, it 
 »; and farther, 
 tied principles, 
 
 tt we have no 
 ishments in the 
 t it will not De 
 iple of them in 
 kings received 
 he divine appro- 
 er in promoting 
 le viewed as one 
 e thought incon- 
 christian magis- 
 n the same way 
 
 ent is this. The 
 altogether pecu- 
 i that some things 
 al,but matter of 
 not now do witb- 
 estamentthat we 
 conduct, though 
 r our imitation.-— 
 nmanded to extir- 
 •to put idolaters to 
 ^iBbmenton tbcw 
 
 who'did not hear the priest; and they received the 
 divine approbation in thus also punishiag such as 
 did not seek God: Deut. vii. i.j xvii. 2— 12; 2 
 Chron.xv. 13. . 
 
 N.^w if it is allowed that these are exercises of 
 power which in a christian magistrate would be 
 exceedingly improper, because the New Testa- 
 ment does not authorise them, is not this an ac- 
 knowledgment that it is from the New Testa- 
 ment we are to learn what applicatior of civil 
 power is lawful in matters of religion? This, 
 however, is precisely the point for which I con- 
 tend. The argament, then, from the divine ap- 
 probation of the conduct of the Jewish kings, if 
 admitted, would prove a great deal too much, and 
 must therefore be considered a? proving nothing. 
 Or perhaps this argument may be mere shortly 
 stated thus. In order to introduce and support 
 the Jewish theocracy, it was absolutely neces- 
 sary the Jews should fight. But the Lord Jesus 
 expressW declares that, from the nature of hit 
 kingdom, his servants were not to ftght in its sup- 
 port. When I meet with this pointed discrepan- 
 cy I cannot adopt the principle of the former dis- 
 pensation respecting the application of civil 
 power, without violating the spirit and injunc- 
 tions of the latter. If then the New Test, ment 
 is to be my rule as a christian, I must consider 
 the conduct of the Jewish kings, though marked 
 with the divine approbation under that economy, 
 as never intended for the imitation of christian 
 magistrates under the gospel. 
 
 Again, it is argued, that though we have no 
 example ot national establishments of chnstianir 
 ty in the apostolic age, as, from the external 
 situation of the church during that period, no 
 ftuch institutions could exist; it does not follow 
 
 1 
 
 « 
 
 m 
 
 :■% 
 
 J 
 
Hi ^ 
 
 To t 
 
 I 
 
 Iw 
 
 
 s i; 
 
 i'# 
 
 ,' * 1 f.,1 Nav it is asserted that, 
 
 Ihat they ave ^^^^^^^^^^ ^'general principle, 
 according.to °^^«f^^^,tch teaches every man to 
 of revelation that wlncn ^^^^^^-^y^ ,t is no 
 do good to all as ne nab ^„^ 1^^^,^^^ 
 
 only lawful, but a ^^J^^^'^^'f^Z^ and support 
 at the head of a 87^^",^^''.;" ^ent is put thus; 
 .such establishments. I he^'^g .^ -^ ^Uow- 
 
 The diffusion of e^J^^f ^" ^^^^^'^ .rational happi- 
 cd, is eminently h ted t°PT«™oi .^.^^^j^aged, 
 
 „e8« nnd Pro«Pe"ly;.f^^PP°f Convinced ,f this, is 
 that a ehristiairmagist ate 1 (:on ^^^ . 
 
 it not most natmal and praise ^^^^.j^^,^^^ ^^^ 
 not his bounden f^ll'^lJ^^Cige of a system so 
 power to P'^°'^f^f)^K improvement, the pros- 
 ^uch connected with the JP[%^,^^^j,ity1 Can 
 
 neritv, and the ^^^PP^^f^^^.l^g the power with 
 ^ny one object to his emp o>mg e p^^^^ ^^^^^^ 
 which he is invested in so go«) j^-^^i ais- 
 
 •-^^^'^t'fthe'b:stt^^^^^^^^ 
 government rntr^due^^^ 
 
 ^Sfyouaskme,whereisthefaIkc^l;^e^ 
 
 ■ how do I meet this -gJ^^Lri^s aUhmen 
 If the advocates of ^^^^,"1^^^^^^ 
 admit that they ea^^^ J^ Plead i»J^« ^ in their 
 
 j>recept or e-vm^jb buV^^^^^ , ,^^^ ,11 
 
 favour,, on certain general f^ bound to show, 
 ^iU allow that they are, J^Jf ^^tftulioUB neither 
 in sound reasoning, that bueU msuiuv 
 
 I" 
 
 I ; 
 ill 
 
 ^ 
 
 :#♦■ 
 
 i' 
 
 * 
 
,s asserted that, 
 eral principle;^ 
 } every man to 
 inity. His not 
 ,n those placeu 
 )rm and support 
 ^ent is put thus; 
 
 dge, it is 
 
 allow- 
 
 national happi- 
 tjnitisalledged, 
 vincedof this,is 
 
 rthv, «ay» '^^J} 
 lU the aid m his 
 ■eofa system so 
 ?ement, the pres- 
 to mmvinityl Can 
 r the power with 
 od a cause ; nay, 
 tha criminal dis- 
 ose over whom he 
 
 use itt 
 substance of the 
 
 called a christian ^ 
 maintaining thei 
 
 ianity; and though! 
 faiinto some de-: 
 
 . useful simply to i 
 
 principles bear on 
 
 B fallacy here, and 
 » my reply is this, 
 ical :pstablishments 
 
 1 their behalf either 
 le argument in their 
 inciples, 1 think all 
 ast, bound to show, 
 
 institutions neither 
 
 27 
 
 reauire a violation of the general spirit Christi.m. 
 itv nor set aside any of its injunctions. But if 
 it appear that they cannot exist without both these 
 evils being necessarily involved in them, it will 
 follow that their inconsistency with the tenor of 
 Revelation must be considered as clearly estab- 
 
 lished> • 
 
 Now it is allowed that evciy Christian magis- 
 trate will be convinced of the importance of dif- 
 fusing Christian knowledge among the peoplei 
 that this is the most effectual way of promoting 
 public morals and national prosperity. But th| 
 simple question recurs. How is this to be done 1 
 Is he at liberty, from whatever motive, to intro* 
 duce into the kingdom of Christ a power whicji 
 the great Lawgiver not only does not acknowl- 
 edge, but expressly disapproves t Is he at liberty 
 to form any arrangement by which, while the 
 maintenance of those who preach the gospel is de- 
 rived from quite a different source from that mst»« 
 tuted in the New Testament, one of its exprert 
 precepts is virtully abrogated t Is he to attempt 
 to disseminate the knowledge of Christianity by 
 means which it condemns 1 Are its precepts and 
 spirit to be violated tnat its influence may be pro. 
 motedl In short, is the magistrate permitted to 
 do evil that good my come, and thus be chargeable 
 with disregarding one of the plainest injunction* 
 of revelation by the very act by which he profet. 
 ses to respect and support its authority. 1 
 
 T!»ere is an argument which has been frequent^ 
 ly brought forward of late in support of Ecclesf 
 astical Establishments, and which, though only% 
 branch of that abready stated, yet, ai it possessed 
 considerable plaasibility. deserve* particular n# 
 tice. It » put thus.— Thougli acwidiog «o tn» 
 
 1^ 
 
I 
 
 Tot 
 
 
 ]t'' 
 
 *) 
 
 ivU 
 
 
 'an 
 
 
 %\ 
 
 rience of the want ^^ ^"^ Jf^^^.e is therefore no 
 always produce a suPPlY' ^^^^^^ ^^.^i^h this aup- 
 
 necessity for giving ^ P^^ ^^^^^^.^^^^h regatd to re i- 
 ply, yet the case IS d ftcrcni ^ \ ^^^ feltj 
 
 gion. Here t^^^^^^^^' u^ the 1^^^ 
 
 Say, the greater t^^e wanUs me .^ ^^ „^^^^^ 
 
 the greater a man's ^^^^IV^ less is he disposed to 
 
 «ible of it, a^^^^.^^^^.^.'^'i^ve it removed. An ag- 
 xnake any exertion tc>^a^^^^^ ^^^ ignorance 
 
 g-rcssive operation Y^^^^^Jl, ^^i^j-e. Others must 
 
 «,itted to he J^^^t-^i^Xnce tla surrounds us; 
 to hieak in upon the ^g"°[^f^\V^ At no peri- 
 'pnd yet the conclusion ml W^^ ^J^^^^ 
 
 od,vvherevergenumcC^^husUam^ye^^^^^ ^^1 
 
 •^g,ressiveope^ionn«^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 is involved ^'^ the very na ,^^^ ^ ,y,tem of 
 
 tern Itself. ^1"':'''"4 system of bcr ^volcnce. 
 prosclytism because a sj^te^ ^^ ^^^ 
 
 Wmanxvhohas fct th.; ^^ ^^.^^^,,^. ^nd 
 himselt cannot ^^^^^^\%l princrples, he must 
 while, from the ^^^^^f^, ' po lunity, he must be 
 do good to all, as he hf^s J>Pr; {^'^^ others to 
 aisp'osed to u^e ^-ery ^x^^^^^^^^^^^ ^,, though the 
 partake of the ^^^V^?/''^; ,^ the necessity of 
 
 propriety, the ."tiV^V' J' .^Jthe question recurs, 
 ^uch an ope^i^tf ^i^*^;Svt ed i bv the rulers of 
 bv whom is It to ^e. '^""'^'^'^^^^f^Ii^vinff their civil 
 }L kingdoms of this w- <i e np^^^j^S th ^^^^^^i 
 
 "kuthority in carrymg \t on, 'g oy *^ Aggressive 
 exertions of the dwcipks of CWiai. x*6B j 
 
 I ' 
 
 11 
 
29 
 
 my, the cxpe- { 
 laT article wiU 
 s is therefore no 
 urniah this aup- 
 1 regard to reli- 
 3al, is not tell; 
 ess it is felt: i.e. 
 ,e less is he sen- 
 is he disposed to 
 noved. An ag- 
 Ihis ignorance, 
 ce. Others must 
 r the voluntary 
 itility of an Ec- 
 untry, by which 
 
 tionsmayljc ad- 
 
 e ojf endevourws 
 ;hat surrounds us; 
 
 iUow. At no peri- 
 y existed, has this 
 
 'oing forward. It 
 ;d spirit of the sys- 
 
 ttially a system of 
 , of bcr^volcnce. 
 Inc of the gospel 
 r.is brethren; and 
 irincrples, he must 
 tunity, he must be 
 , to lead others to 
 ,s. But though the 
 [\ the necessity of 
 the question recurs, 
 [ 1 by the rulers of 
 nploying their civil 
 by the voluntary 
 hfiatt Aggressive 
 
 ind what was the effect 1 It was such as corres- 
 ponded with the nature of the agency employed. 
 It diffused over Europe, and extended to foreign 
 inds a system of worldly policy and ecclesiasti- 
 cal domination, altogether regardless ot the spir- 
 itual good of those among whom a merely nomi- 
 TTil Christianity v^as disseminated. But with these 
 we are happily uble to contrast other aggressive 
 operations which have of late years been carried 
 on by various voluntary associations ot *^^^^f' 
 ans,^and what has been the effect 1 . It too has 
 corresponded with the nature cf the mstrumeut 
 employed. Let the success of the Moravian mis- 
 ^ion^the slcricus effects of the gospel on the in- 
 habitants of the South Sea Islands, as well as the 
 marvellous change produced m Western and 
 Southetn Africa, and various other PfJ^,^/^*^« 
 o-lobe, accomplished by the agency of Chnstiaa 
 Missionaries, be admitted ar. unquestionable evi- 
 dence of what the voluntary exertions of Christ- 
 ians are capable of eftecting. It is particularly 
 worthy of notice, that no National Establishment, 
 as such, has given any countenance to these be- 
 nevolent labours. Nay, we may safely say that 
 the greater part of the clergy, mall the National 
 Establishments in Europe, have done what they 
 could to discourage such exertions. 
 
 But respecting these aggressive operation* on 
 the world, whether at home or abroad, let us a- 
 -ain refer to the book. Has the great Head of the 
 church made any provision for this, and to whom 
 has the important service of spreading the know- 
 ied'-o of his gospel iuthe world been committed T 
 She givcu thk smaUest bir-t that, it i'^ to the ru- 
 
 o 
 
 I 
 
 i^-il 
 
 m 
 
Tot 
 
 
 M 
 
 I*. 
 
 1:1 
 
 u 
 
 lersofthelangd.^«ofthis^^ 
 committed it to his churcH . 1 1 F operation, 
 first instance were the agents ^^ ^' . ^ ^^^^0- 
 They again emp oyed>^^^^^^^^ Sothy, who 
 tion, others m this ^^rjice, ^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^, 
 was one pi ^^^ese, was ^^o should be able 
 
 same service to faithtui J^^"' ^. ministry was 
 to teach others also. .^,/,^^'^^^^^^^ in it 
 
 thus appointed; and while^t^^^^^^^ ^^^ 
 
 are the <^o««^V^^,\^*^. '^^S bv whom were they 
 knowledge of Divine truth ^X w^^^^^^ ^^ , , 
 
 to be assisted in carrying "" , i „:^j^ sounded 
 
 While fto-f »f '^^-torl irSceXnia and all 
 out the word ot tlie i^*"^" * PhiUiDDi are com- 
 Achaia-while t^^^^.^^^^^^^'^n ?^^^^^ at 
 
 mended for supporting Paul when ^P .^ 
 
 Rome for the cause of the g^^^^^^^^ ^[ ^^^^^,^^ 
 commended for helping torwara x Q^^tiles 
 
 this operation was carr^d on ^^^^^^^^^ ^,h „,ar- 
 
 centuries, and then it wab v changed, 
 
 vellous success. . y^^^^^",^^^^^^^^ 
 
 and this aggressive operat on wa^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ 
 
 into thehands of the rulers 01 I ^^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 under the Christian «f^f.' ^J^J^t ^^ ^^pidly as U 
 genuine Christianity decided just as rap y 
 
 lad previously ^f^^^^^^^J^^^^ 
 
 fop;, E 
 
 stautin 
 
 was al: 
 
 tries i 
 
 ouolhc 
 
 beauty 
 
 rupted 
 
 deface 
 
 can th 
 
 then ! 
 
 times 
 
 to be 
 
 spread 
 
 to whi 
 
 od. i 
 
 sancti 
 
 Itv 
 
 thoug 
 
 is agri 
 
 that V 
 
 to ha^ 
 
 nothi 
 
 whicl 
 
 panie 
 
 offal 
 
 acha 
 
 langv 
 
 Weii 
 
 culty 
 
 cver^ 
 
 is col 
 
 an ii 
 
 and 
 
 ^ 
 
 -*,i«j*,i^;3Si^*!Ktt^ 
 
or has he not 
 ostles in the 
 lis operation. 
 Divine direc- 
 rimothy, who 
 ) commit the 
 should be able 
 
 ministry was 
 iugaged in it 
 
 spreading the 
 om were they 
 ibour of love 1 
 onica sounded 
 edonia and all 
 lippi are com- 
 i imprisoned at 
 -while Gaius is 
 those brethren 
 of the Gentiles 
 a proof, that it 
 of the disciples 
 )eration on the 
 
 r this means that 
 ng the three first 
 panied with mar- 
 jm was changed, 
 s professedly put 
 iswoild though 
 r one knows that 
 .St as rapidly as it 
 this subject, the 
 ity of the Gospel 
 ut three hundred 
 s, without the aid 
 ;hority, the christ- 
 paitof Asia, E'> 
 
 5W 
 
 fop;, and Africa, and at the accession of Con _ - 
 stuutine, and convening the council of Nice, it 
 WIS almost every where throughout those coun^ 
 tries in a nourishing condition. In the space of 
 n 110* her three hundred years or a little more, th^i 
 hr^iutv of the christinn religion was greatly cor- 
 rupted, in a large p.rt of ttiat extent, its glory 
 defaced, and its li^lU almost extinguished. What 
 ran this be so much owing to, as to the measure* 
 ♦hen set on foot, and followed in succeeding 
 time's -i"* This fact speaks volumes. How is it 
 to b-.' accounted fori The proper agency for 
 ciKcading the gospel, thus appointed by God, an! 
 to which his blessing wa:i annexed, wasabancion- 
 -d Another was adfvpted which had no dmne 
 sniction, and the result was manitest.t 
 
 It would be a bold conclusion then to say, tut* 
 though an aggressive agency is to be employed, it 
 Tagreeable to the divine will for us to abandon 
 that vvhich was appointed at the beginning, and 
 to have recourse to another, in support of which 
 nothing can be quoted from the word ot God, but 
 which Saturally involves, and has ever been accom- 
 panied with the introduction «f/,'^"^^^ J3.\"^^^!' 
 of false teachers into the professed church of Chris c , 
 a character against which the scriptures speak in 
 language of the most unmeasured condemnation*. 
 We must not endeavour to escape from this difih- 
 cultv by saying, this is an evil mseperable from 
 cverv JhericTiowever excellent m itself which 
 
 is conducted by fallible and «^f '\^^^, ^^Vviou. 
 an incidental evil, but one which »« ^i^^^.^^^/J?^ 
 and natural result of the scneiac itself, of the 
 
 *Lardner's Works. 4to. Vol. II. F- 353. 
 t Afpeii<lix, No. I. 
 
 t", 
 
 '■ 
 
 V 
 
■,#F^S^ 
 
 L^ 
 
 r 
 
 m' 
 
 To t 
 
 .1 1! 
 
 iiiit 
 
 32 
 
 politics of this world being avowedly mtroduced 
 in professedly supporting tlie spiritual kingdom 
 of Jesus Christ. ^ . . 
 
 We arc met, then, at every turn of the aigu- 
 ment, by the oru;inal question, What kind ot in- 
 lluence does this religion say may be lawfully cm- 
 ployed in its support ? if Christianity be acknowl- 
 edged to be a revelation from God, it must regu- 
 late the conduct of those placed ut the head oi a 
 government as well as others. In this character 
 it speaks with tlic same commanding tone to the 
 king and to the subject. If, then, it avowedly 
 disclaim the power of the magistrate as such; it| 
 it decline, in his public character, his aid or co- 
 operation: tlien, instead ot promoting its mfau. 
 ence, he in effect pours contempt on Us authority, 
 . if that power is interposed. 
 
 Let a christian magistrate, then, in his private 
 capacity as a member of the community, give ev- 
 erv encouragement to those who are endeavour- 
 ini to ditfuse the knowledge of what he beheven 
 to be a system of divine truth, and eminently lit-| 
 • ted to promote humon happiness : Let him sup- 
 port it by tlie inlluence of his example : Let him| 
 contribute as liberally as he pleases of his proper- 
 ty to carry into the most extensive operation the 
 divinely appointed plan for disseminating this 
 knowledge, by the public preaching o christian 
 faith and morals : Let him, in his public charac- 
 ter protect those who are thus engaged, l^rom 
 him, as a magistrate, they want no more; nay. 
 consistently with the book which contains their 
 principles, they can receive no more. Any t irther 
 aid they must, according to that standard, deci- 
 dedly reject. The moment a magistrate professing 
 Christianity employs civil authority to promote it, 
 he discovers the melancholy inconsistency of at,- 
 
)f the argu- 
 kind of in- 
 aw fully cm- 
 be uck no wU 
 t must regu^ 
 \e, head of a 
 iiis character 
 r tone to the 
 it avowedly 
 i as such ; if ' 
 lis aid or co- 
 la; its iufiu- 
 its authority, 
 
 in his private 
 lity, giveev- 
 e endeavour- 
 it he believes 
 eminently lit- 
 jet him sup- 
 ple : Let him 
 of his proper- 
 operation the 
 ninating this 
 g of christian 
 public, charac- 
 ^aged. From 
 o more; nay, 
 contains their 
 Any f irther 
 tandard, deci- 
 rate professmg 
 to promote it, 
 jistency of at- 
 
 38 
 
 lempting to support a religion from a professed 
 ree: ird lo its divine origin and beneficial ehects, 
 Willie the very way in which that attempt iscon- 
 duclcd betrays cither an avowed disregard of 
 what it enjoins, or complete ignorance of one of 
 its leading features as a religion addressed to the 
 understanding and ttie heart. 
 
 i have thus sugge;;teda few Innts winch enter i 
 conceive, into the very piAh and rnarrow of the 
 'vr<^'iment respecting National Establishments of 
 tlfristiauily. Mv ohject has been to state pnnci- 
 pies rather than enter into det;vil; but the above 
 outline you will be able to fill up by your own re- 
 flections. The principles I have stated appear to 
 furnish a very powerful argument against every 
 form, except that of extending its protection, m 
 which the civil power is introducpd to support the 
 christi.in faith. 
 
 Sach reasoning as I have employed can only be 
 expected to induence those, who, considering 
 the bible, and the bible alone, as the religion of 
 protestants, feel themselves bouiH to try every 
 ouciition by ils authoritv, and to abide by its de- 
 cision. But do not suppose from this that I charge 
 evory one as destitute of respect for this authori- 
 ty uho does not acquiesce in these conclusions. 
 Iknow well that the best of men have entertain- 
 ed diflerent views on this subject. We also know 
 the effect of earlv prejudice, and how apt men are 
 to be biassed in their views of particular subjects, 
 who, in other respects, show the most sacred re- 
 gard for the testimony of the inspired word. VV e 
 are all creatures of habit and outward circum- 
 stances, and the longer we live W'» shall feel the 
 less surprise at the different, nay Gppo:;ite views 
 which good men take of the same subject. But 
 still there is a standard; and a considerable point 
 
 M^::<» 
 
I 
 
 *'# 
 
 To t 
 
 i> ! i 
 
 «4 
 
 J. ffainfed when men ar brought so far practically 
 ^,?TnovvleclKe this, as to admit, thut while the 
 
 ;s; m in wi^ch they have been educate^ is not 
 necessarilv free from error, it is their happiness 
 
 dX t^ns error, if it exist, by comparing the 
 viJ^^'thiv entertain with ,the only intalible 
 vicvNb iu*-Y nnclicc — the word ot God. 
 
 ^^^^ •; t^^nSll" above reasoning to 
 be tr^.e^ and I »haU eonc!tIde my observations on 
 ^i m t of my subjeet, by repeating once more 
 
 ^r ss y refus n^^^^^^ employ force in his kingdom, 
 and by M apostles resting the support and propa- 
 Sion of the gospel in the world on the volunta- 
 .^Ixertions nuA 'contribations .0* those who e- 
 lieve it— the 'application of cwil power m sup- 
 porting this religion is the application of an in- 
 rume1.t manifeSly incon^stent wf )-^ -^[^ 
 character and spirit, and the use oi vJnch trie 
 •^reat Author of the christian faith expressly dis- 
 
 "^m^ general argument against the union of the 
 church and the world appears to me founded on 
 scr Diure and till I can see how it can be set a- 
 . df I shouhl feel myself constrained on princi- 
 ple (0 be a dissenter. I know, however, there 
 a e some who, while they admit many evils in 
 estlbH hments Is they at present exist (•anno go 
 ihis lenirth, but conceive that a civil estabhb 1- 
 m nt o?'christianitv may be so formed as not only 
 to be unobjettionable, but highly beneficial to 
 the community. It is of no use to discuss th. 
 
 ■ ^^pfBiKmssw^'*"" ■ 
 
ir prjxctically 
 at while the 
 luccitcd is not 
 L'ir happiness 
 jinparini; the 
 ly infallible 
 word of God. 
 ! reasoning to 
 iservations on 
 ig once more 
 tiunity is en- 
 to do with the 
 , can only at- 
 rough the ine- 
 lis view of its 
 r our Lord ex- 
 
 his kingdom, 
 art and propa- 
 n the volunta- 
 those who bc- 
 
 power in sup- 
 xtion of an in- 
 ivith its whole 
 
 of which the 
 
 expressly dis- 
 
 ic union of the 
 ao founded on 
 it can be set a- 
 med on princi- 
 however, there 
 t many evils in 
 ixist, cannot (j;o 
 :ivil establish- 
 ned as not only 
 \f beneficial to 
 to discuss this 
 
 35 
 
 merits of ideal systemB of this nature, whicb 
 never had any existence. But looking at thing, 
 rrthev are, I remark that in addition to the above 
 rea'^'^ning, there is to me an insurmountable ob- 
 iection to all the Ecclesiastical establishments, 
 it least with which I am acquainted, and that is, 
 ?hat some ofm laws of Jesus Christ cannot be ofe- 
 Zvodin them. These ettablishments, .t is well 
 known, generally proceed upon the pr'Jiciple of 
 treating the body of the community as christians. 
 In some of them, the people at large are consi- 
 Jercd as having a vivil right to those ord.nances 
 which are a mark of the christian profess.c ,, and 
 though perhaps, in the laws of some estahlish- 
 ments, a regard to christian discipline is recog- 
 S, it will 1 believe, be. very generally a lowed 
 that it is impossible to reduce these laws to prac- 
 tice * This .lust be the case whin those to whom 
 the ultimate appeal is made are not injlum^ed bytn^ 
 authoritif of Christ. But this is just what may be 
 rxpected, Whether the appeal lies with an indivi- 
 dual or the majoritvof a general ho.ly, if that 
 individual, or that majority, depends tor Ecclesi- 
 astical preferment, not on personal character, but 
 on political influence. It is not necessaiy , surely, 
 to go into particulars here. For whatever infla- 
 ence may insensibly bias the minds of good men 
 from the circumstances in which they are placed 
 vet that it 16 agreeable to the will of the great 
 lawgiver that the affairs of his church should be 
 under the control of those whose who are en- 
 tirely indebted for the situations they occupy to 
 the politics of this world, is a proposition which 
 few or none will attempt coolly to defend. 
 Evangelical ministers of all denominations, It 
 
 I- 1 ■ ' ' ' 
 
 * Appendix^ Note IL 
 
To t 
 
 L^ 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 I 
 
 
 ^i*^UL 
 
 38 
 
 I, well known, arc'nccnstomed frequently to 
 dwell on that most important do. tnue of Scrip- 
 ture th t f v^ny man b. in Christ he is a new 
 cra'ture; t at U imphes a great change of hoart 
 ' Kl c ara -^ ai.d though we cannot look into 
 h h art as we can see the t;-^"-, O^j. hfe hey 
 will withont hesit.U.on, declare that ,f a man * 
 llvi gin the violation of some ot the phu>| and 
 nek owlcdged law. of Christ, he can with no 
 mopneiy be viewed as one of his d.sciples. But 
 whfu this doctrine is clearly taught, can it be 
 de red hat multitudes of this description are 
 pub y acknowledged as d'- I>^f ' ^^ ^^:"'^,t'^: 
 ,Sed ?o those ordinances which directly imply a 
 ch stian profession? Now, we say either to 
 preachinfT \, wrong here or the prachcc vs 1 o 
 
 Standard is in the one placed t'^^>;»'f Vlh . til m 
 other too low. Why alarm men by telling tncrn 
 that a certain character is essentially ^^^^^^^Jf^^}^ 
 their being christians, if it be noti and it it be, 
 why deceive them by treating them as christians, 
 when you are satisfied they give decided evi- 
 dencethat they are stranger, to thit character T 
 Can an V thing be more fitted to mislead then to 
 ^ake tLt esLnlial to the christian cdiaracter 
 which is deliberately dispensed with in the chris- 
 tian profession] , _ 
 
 Let no one be deceived by a mode -f expres- 
 sion often used here, that we '^^^^^''l^ J'V'^%**^^, 
 hrart, and that we should judge charitably of our 
 brethren. To judge the heart is what no one pre- 
 tends to do. i3ut we shouUl never forget, that 
 that is the truly charitable kind of ludging whuh 
 islgulated by the laws of Jesus Cht ist. If chari- 
 tv means \ove,'it is in this way wcrnu^t effectually 
 slow our love to our brethren. Fut these aw 
 dor.ot leave it at our option to judge oi men -.t 
 
D 
 
 31 
 
 piently to 
 J of Scrip- 
 is a new 
 ;e of lioart 
 L look inlo 
 le life, they 
 if a Ttiaii i* 
 1 plai'i and 
 n with no 
 iples. But 
 ;, can it be 
 :ription aru 
 n' bi'iiiK ad- 
 cily imply a 
 eiihcr (ho 
 ice is. Tho 
 1), or in the 
 ellinp; them 
 uGccfesary to 
 iml if it be, 
 as christians, 
 decided cvi- 
 t character T 
 lead then to 
 ^n character 
 in the chris- 
 
 le r>f expre?!- 
 )t j'ulge the 
 ritahly of our 
 it no one pre- 
 • for{::;et, that 
 Klp;inp; which 
 list. Ifchari- 
 ist effcctuaily 
 tit these laws 
 jc ol men -n 
 
 not as we choose: they expressly require of us to 
 
 however, will be 
 
 ludge 
 ^ This 
 
 i them by their fri 
 
 'higpart of our argume . 
 more clearly stated by selecting a particular case. 
 T et us take the injunction of the Apostle, to sepa- 
 rate from a christian conamunlty one who is 
 living in sin. "But them ihat are without God 
 judgeth. Therefore put ^^oay from among your- 
 selves that loicked person."* " This knoxo also 
 that in the last days perilous times shall come. For 
 men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, 
 boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, 
 unthankful, unholy, loithout natural affection,truce- 
 hreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despi- 
 sers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high- 
 minded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 
 having a form of godliness, but denying the power 
 thereof: from such turn away.''* In these pas- 
 sa'^es we have an express command of an apos- 
 tle" of Christ repeatedly inculcated. It is a com- 
 mand in which we see much of the divine wisdom 
 and goodness. The observance of it is likely to 
 be of material benefit to the individual who is the 
 Bubiect of discipline, because of all things it is 
 most calculated to bring him to repentance. It 
 is of much importance to the community with 
 which he is connected, on the plain principle 
 that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump; 
 and it tends to remove the stumblingblock which 
 is thrown in the way of the world, by one being 
 acknowledged as a christian who is living m 
 
 known iniquity. _ 
 
 We ask, then: Are the injunctions addressed to 
 the apostolic churches intended for our direction, 
 
 * 1 Cor. v. 13. 
 » 2 Tim. iii. 1--5. 
 
 i i 
 
 M 
 
 -lAndk^JC:^^^ 
 
To t 
 
 ' 
 
 i 
 
 : 
 
 L 
 
 
 
 mm 
 
 
 V,e do, we w a thank any on .^^^^^^^^^ „^ ^ 
 
 disposUion to find fa^^^^^^^ ^^om we, are 
 
 regard to the aumor y ^^^3 constrained 
 
 bound to obey, that we lee command of 
 
 here to act as we <io- . " V^'?. -J ^^ feel that we 
 
 ?"fd re I^r^garTnTl^-^^^^^ ^^ ^.^^^ ^^ 
 should be disregarmng community those 
 
 separating t^^o"^ \Vf ^"; ^^^^i^ deliberately ac- 
 who are living in sin, ^^ snoum , -^^i^gthem 
 knowledge them as ^5^^^^^^"' ^^i^^^^^^^^^ ^.vhich , 
 
 ence to tnis P'^"* *-",„ ^ -. L „ regard to his au- 
 ^^"t*\-. .f knwpver be supposed, that it is only 
 
 ,he "n''''"H''°»nSVf there be no obstacle in Ih. 
 be observed- and if there J« ^ „;„;. 
 
 ■^TSssnelcto me nVsUonger term) in the 
 STeVbe" of totSociety. if so clear a command of 1 
 
 \Z.A Tf there be a plain law of Christ, wnicu, 
 
 "?S Sri;\7d^-s?^srii 
 
 S^Sdle^l U my i"I'e»t\ve duty to abandon ... 
 
 '-^?i#i^SS«M 
 
e preceptl If 
 form us where 
 >tiousnes3, or a 
 rs, but from a 
 whom we are 
 res constrained 
 \ command of 
 we feel that we 
 ty, if instead of 
 mmunity those 
 leliberately ac- 
 admitting them 
 xnces by which 
 lished. And if, 
 d refuse obedi* 
 houldhave rea- 
 igard to his au- 
 part of our con- 
 ed, that it is only 
 lat this evil is to 
 jpline which the 
 a melancholy 
 But if we are 
 of this discipline, 
 lentally wrong in 
 where it cannot 
 > obstacle in the 
 J must be a crimi- 
 ger term) in the 
 ear a command of 
 
 hesitation, take 
 r of Christ, which, 
 served, it argues a 
 on this principle 1 
 uty to abandon it. 
 
 
 m 
 
 This argument, I know, it is often attempted to 
 turn aside. It is alleged there is no perfection 
 nn earth— that there was a Judas among the 
 !^;\ive— and a perfectly pure society is what we 
 arVnever to expect, but that the tares and the 
 wheat must grow together till the harvest. All 
 this is allowed, and yet none of these assertions 
 touches the case. Judas was not an openly 
 wicked man, but a hypocrite; and though hiB 
 character was known to Christ, no one will say 
 that the omniscience of the Saviour is a rule of 
 tlutv to us. On this principle, we might argue 
 the propriety of appointing a wicked man a 
 minister of the €0SP«^ because our Lord, though 
 he knew the character of Judas, called him to the 
 apostleship. Every one will admit, however, 
 that this would be carrying the argument too tar; 
 but from thiR it is manifest, that no legitimate in. 
 ference can be drawn from Judas being found 
 among the apostles for admitting ungodly cha- 
 racters into the church of Christ.* 
 
 In quoting the parable of the tares and the 
 wheat, we should never forget, that the field is 
 not the c/iwrcft, but the woHd— that the tares de- 
 note, not hypocrites, i.«. those that deceive 
 others by a concealed character, but those who 
 were known by the servants as distinct from the 
 wheat, and as the children of the wicked one..- 
 The parable thus seems to refer to the disciples 
 of Christ and the wicked living together in socie. 
 ty in the present world. If, instead of interpret^ 
 inr it thus, we shall, in opposition to the authori- 
 ty of Jesus Christ, make the field the church, 
 while the tares denote ungodly men, the parable 
 
 j * vSee this subject more fully discussed in the Appendix 
 to Sketches of Htiman Nature. By Wm. Innes, 3d Edition. 
 
 
 
 I. 
 
 ill 
 
 -r^im«. 
 

 
 
 
 To t 
 
 40 
 
 would be inciirectcont^^^^^^^ 
 
 ges of Scnpture It wouW curist/becaus. it 
 
 ail discipline in ^^^^ ^"l^'^y^g^t the tares and the 
 
 criminal. anrietv is what no one 
 
 Again, a V^^^^fy^^^ZiS the inferencel 
 
 expects on earth. ^^"J.r'^' ^ve deliberately 
 
 Because we cannot get this, are jv ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ 
 
 to disobey a command of V^^^^t • ^^^ individual 
 
 we say of one ^^^/'''"^^^f^'ae and say, because 
 character, were thus ^^ a'g" '^ perfection, 1 
 „,ust despair ot attaining abs^^^^^^ ^^^ -^ 
 
 will therefore deliberately nwe ^^^^ 
 
 J^otthis the very reasoiung w^^'-'^ Because we 
 „.en apply to the ^^/"^^^^^^^^^ therefore 
 
 cannot attain ^^^"'^^VX.t of those laws which 
 
 what the gre.t IV^fJl^^^ i one who for- 
 can be attached to ^^ m^^be . » ^ ^,y^,. 
 
 «>erly seemed to walkconsisteniiy p ^^.^ 
 
 ^nte' «^^^^!?-^ClawsoTS^ are not ap- 
 is made manifest, the »awsoi 
 
 P^j^'^- . i^nvupvpr to our principles ai 
 
 * In adverting, l^o/^^^^',' Jk^uH be chargeable 
 dissenters in this ^df^^^^j^^^.t if I did not remind 
 with a verv matenal omiss^ ^^^^ p^,,. 
 
 vou of the deep >mportanc _ ^^ .^. ;,, every 
 licle effect of our P^^cple^ «« ^'^^ ,,^e who 
 part of our conduct. 1 have Kn i^.jpies 
 
 Lbibed strong P^^fJ^'^^^i^f ^o much spirituali 
 of dissent, from not observing so m 
 
 
 ^k 
 
 ^M- 
 
 .-,..««—•♦-«• tl»TJ»-i«^- 
 
 
other pafisa- 
 ily condemn 
 t, because it 
 area and the 
 must grow to- 
 cipline which 
 I be directly 
 
 s what no one 
 be inferencel 
 B deliberately 
 
 What should 
 his individual 
 
 say, because I 
 e perfection,! 
 nsini But ia 
 h in this case 
 1 Because we 
 
 will therefore 
 se laws which 
 rch to approach 
 
 J church is not 
 , i. e. no blame 
 'if one who for- 
 y prove a hypo- 
 ed, if, when this 
 irist are not ap- 
 
 ur principles as 
 Id be chargeable 
 I did not remind 
 iiewing the prac- 
 iristians in every 
 nown some who 
 St the principles 
 , much spirituah 
 
 41 
 
 ty of character, and so much consistency of gena- 
 ral deportment, in those who embraced these prin- 
 ciples, as iu others. Nay, has there not been too 
 much ground for the complaint, that among those 
 who thus separate from others, a spirit of strife 
 and vain jangling has been produced; and that 
 self-complacency and self-confidence, along with 
 an excessive zeal for external forms have usur- 
 ped the place of that humility, self-denial, watch- 
 fulness against sin, fidelity in every duty, and dc- 
 votedness to the glory of God, which are the 
 great ornament of christian character? Others 
 who were once attached perhaps to the princi- 
 ples of dissent, and were satisfied by the argu- 
 ments by which they were supported, have had 
 that attachment shaken, from witnessing these 
 evils, and not observing that superiority, in point 
 of personal character, which they naturally con- 
 ceived correct sentiments regarding any part of 
 divine truth ought to produce. 
 
 Is there not here, brethren, much room fot 
 deep humility and great searchings of heart? 
 Such evils are' surely not the natural or legitimate 
 effects of just views of any part of the truth of 
 God, nor should their existence make us in any 
 measure indifferent whether we understand the 
 directions given us in S,cripture aright or net.— 
 If we be among those who tremble at the word 
 of God, and who believe that all Scripture is 
 given by inspiration, and is profitable for doc- 
 trine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in 
 righteousness, truth, in whatever part of that 
 word, and respecting whatever subject, cjght to 
 be highly valued by us, and we ought to adhere 
 to it with the utmost decision. 
 
 But we pervert divine truth, if we allow atten- 
 liontoone part of it to lead us to neglect ano- 
 
To t 
 
 i*:- K 
 
 lis ■! 
 1 ' 
 
 M 
 
 ,. • « of fhP New Testament is cne 
 ther. The religion of the «ew ^^^^^^^^^^ any 
 consistent ^hf ejand we ^o^^ ^^ e^. 
 
 part of it anght, ^"{f V^^i^ be a maxim indeh- 
 Ion with the rest. It sttom^ constantly pre- 
 bly impressed on our mm^^^ ^,,i of al the 
 sent to them, that the uium ^^ ^^^^.^^ ^^ 
 
 outward r^itutions of the ^"^ ^^^ j^^^^ been 
 the one hand, to br^S '" ^1 to embrace it 
 hitherto «trangers ,^° imotfthe .^-^^^i good of 
 and, on the other, to promote ^^ V ^^^^ ^^^ 
 bis disciples^to keep them un p ^^^ ^^^ 
 world-to lead tt^em to grow m g ^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 Lowledge of their Lord and ^^^^ ^^ ^^.^^^ 
 to prepare them for the inner ^^^.^^^ ^^^ 
 
 in light. None of these m ^gg^Yed,ex- 
 
 p^operly understood and proper y ^^^^^ 
 
 Lpt in so far as t^^es^ ^f ^^^^.^cfour thoughts to 
 But as it is far «^^^^^„\f ^^^d ^^ contro- 
 
 outward arrangements,ana lo J ^^^^.^^nt 
 
 ^ersy. where \^^\.°;^„^^C o mintain in the 
 keeps up the ^^f^Ximal tenor of our conduct 
 closet, and in the j^^^'^^^'j^J^gtian principle i so it 
 
 the genuine f ^"/".^^"ceeding^^^^^^ ^^ 
 
 becomes us to be exce^a^^^^^ speculative views 
 
 substitute e^f ^!'::rASom ^^ ^^ !li? 
 
 of what re ates to the kinguo ^^^.^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 loom of spirituality of mind aji^i^^ „,anifestly 
 „ess. The individual who do^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ 
 living under the most fatal dern^^ 
 
 we see that this is a f^J"« ^^^JJVorms one of the 
 been deceived, and J^fV j[ °„^^^^^^ spiritual ad- 
 B,ost dangerous machmatiomo^^^t^^^ ^on- 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 
 k 
 
 ' 
 
 ' 
 
 V 
 
 
 L^ 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 H 
 
;aTnent is cne 
 derstand any 
 n its connex- 
 Qaxim indeli- 
 instantly pre- 
 ign of all the 
 )f Christ is, on 
 10 have been 
 [0 embrace it, 
 iritual good of 
 >ttedfrotn the 
 ace and in the 
 iour, and thus 
 e of the saints 
 tions then are 
 f observed, ex- 
 ained by them 
 iir thoughts to 
 biectof contro- 
 n of sentiment 
 naintain in the 
 of our conduct, 
 iprincipleisoit 
 ealcus, lest we 
 jeculative views 
 ,f Christ, in the 
 practical godli- 
 80 is manifestly 
 9ion. But while 
 vhich many have 
 forms one of the 
 our spiritual ad- 
 e church be con- 
 the guise of zeal 
 iery with which 
 ;m5elf, by testing 
 
 43 
 
 satisfied without that personal holiness without 
 which no man shall see the Lord. 
 
 If there are members of dissenting churches, 
 who, though not furnishing ground for christian 
 discipline, have reason to fear that they are de- 
 clining in the exercise of personal religion, they 
 ought seriously to recollect, that they are not 
 only in danger of deceiving their own souls, but 
 that if, in acting on the principles of dissent, they 
 are following a part of divine truth, they are 
 materially injuring that part of it, by creating in 
 others prejudices against it. Nothing, on the 
 other hand, tends more to excite a favourable im- 
 pression of any class of principles, than seeing 
 the general body of those who hold them distin» 
 guished above others by personal godliness. If 
 yon truly, value your principles, you will study 
 thus to recommend them; and you will in this 
 way far more effectually do so, than by a thou- 
 sand warm and stormy debates, or even by the 
 most triumphant refutation in argument of the 
 reasoning of those who differ from you. 
 
 I have thus reminded you, my brethren, of the 
 principles on which I trust you are associated.— 
 These have not been taken up rashly, but on con* 
 viction. We are not ashamed to avow them, be- 
 cause we are convinced they will stand the test of 
 inquiry. While we rejoice in the circulation of 
 friendly intercourse, and of mutual affection a- 
 mong all the followers of Christ, let us remember 
 that to maintain this it is not necessary to forget 
 our own principles, or to neglect decidedly to act 
 upon them. If we are convinced thatthoso 
 which we have embraced regarding the king- 
 dom of Christ are agreeable to his word, let us bo 
 consistent. Let us steadily follow them out. Whilo 
 I would wish you to be liberal disgenters,! would 
 
 c3 
 
 -t 
 
To t 
 
 !'■!■ { 
 
 m \ 
 
 I 
 
 %u. 
 
 .L. 
 
 44 
 
 * Vip decided, conscien- 
 at the same tit^e wishyo^^^^^ gonal 
 
 tious, Sf consistent d^ent^^ withevery thing we 
 conviction, must be mingle^ subjects of Clmsta 
 do in religion, if we are tne j^^ ^^^.^^ ^^^^ 
 
 spiritual kingdom. Let^u^^^ ^^^ consequen- 
 avowing our P"""ples, wu ^^^^ ^f Pis- 
 
 ces ma? be. In fJ^J^^f Sl?k\asbionable on. 
 sentcr, I am well awa^e^s ^^^^^^pt 19 apt to 
 A certain degree ^^ J^'J^'^jJ^ti.ere were one name 
 be attached to it. But »^ ^ ^^^.^ban another, I 
 that would incur more reF° ^^^.^^.^^ ^ single 
 should blush at the tho^gni ^e a command of 
 
 iofa from what I ^tolltJt reproach. lH dxA, 
 Christ, in order to ^^^^f ,\^^Vthat I was essenti- 
 ^y conscience w^^J^^.f^^;,"^" my I^ord and Mas- 
 ally deficient \"/,^Vf ,^^seif o^emhelmed, when 
 
 ter, and I ^^f ^/f, Iness a? t^e recollectu^n of 
 laid on the bed of sicRness d ^ ^^ ^^ j^ ahrink- 
 
 iuch a conduct. I ^^^j^^^J^^^f^efused to confess 
 ing from that ^^P'^^'^^^.'^^J^Vre^^^^ need not 
 Jesus before "^f ;, J V^'jSful consequences of 
 be informed f.^^^^^^^^^^^^ which 
 
 doing SO' ^VVri the m'nd of that man who 
 
 must overwhelm .\»«. ^''^'^kback to the smallest 
 .hould have occasion to looKD , , 
 
 approach to this guilt, ^.*^^^^' f^^aracter is ust 
 
 about to be made manitesi, 
 an opening eternity. . g^^iedto confess his 
 
 Every disciple otJesusiH vvhatishis 
 
 Mtlr^y conscientiously nqu ring, w^.^^ . 
 
 will in all things, and.by steamiy a 
 
 practice those discoveries wbch^e ^^^ 
 
 S patient and impartial e^amn^^^^^^^^ .^ I 
 
 what others feel, but li^onte^si^^^^ ^^^| 
 
 . ^ ..-»<^- 
 
 -. -»* *» 
 
a, conscien- 
 le, personal 
 ry thing we 
 I of Christ'a 
 jhrink from 
 . consequen- 
 name of dis- 
 lionableone. 
 apt 19 apt to 
 e one name 
 n another, I 
 ting a single 
 command of 
 .ch. in did, 
 [was essenti- 
 ,ord and Mas- 
 lelmed, when 
 ecollection of 
 lad, in ahrink- 
 sed to confess 
 iron, need not 
 ,nsequenccs of 
 nfusion which | 
 that man who 
 to the smalieBt | 
 >ry disguise is 
 haracter is just 
 I in the light of 
 
 d to confess his 
 ring, what is his 
 
 y following in 
 are the result of I 
 on. I know not 
 1 consider it a 
 n where no one I 
 Christ and saj. 
 
 45 
 
 there is an acknowledged part of revealed truth 
 which you cannot obey. I«etus, my brethren, 
 prize our privileges, and act consistently with 
 them ; and may we enjoy, at the great day of 
 trial, the testimony of our conscience, that in 
 simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly 
 wisdom, we have had our conversation in tha 
 world. 
 
 r 
 
 .MMl 
 
To t 
 
 MM 
 
 M0i K 
 
 APPKNDIX, No. I- 
 
 lowing observauons^ he remarks, " Their o- 
 Speaking of ^^^^^^tifcW^nts is founded on rea- 
 pinion respecting ^^^f^^l^l^'^^'^hty and solid, 
 sons which ^PP^f ^^J.^^t^'^ tSe4 first and pu- 
 They 1^- VXt^Vi,^^^^^^^^^ was a stranger to 
 rest ages of ^^^If^^^^^^^^^^S^ that far from 
 
 any alliaiice with ^^^^^^^^^^ flourished so 
 
 needing their ^l^l^l''f^^^^:,ned to suppress it; 
 much as when they fere comD .^^^^i j^. 
 
 that the protec ion of ^^^f.^^^r^^fty ^ore than it 
 tended, diminished from its puriiy 
 added to it& splendour. ..• Christianity 
 
 "The only Pretence for uniting ^^^ 
 
 with civil government IS the support t y ^^ ^^.^ 
 the peace and good order ot soaeiy 
 benefit will be derived from i at le^^stn g 
 a degree without ^^^^tablishmen aswitn ^^^_ 
 ligiol, »f ithavea^yj^ower j^^^^^^^ ^^^.^^ 
 
 science of men. *^^f ''^A ^^.^ ^fo^ its object the 
 invisible realities, and havinf^^^ 
 
 good and evil of ete^^^^^ human sanctions, 
 
 tional weight or soiemmiy ^ uponhal- 
 
 but will appear to the mosj^ advantag ^ F ^^^^^^^ 
 
 lowed grf^^dv^'^^r/nirbe imagined that a dis- 
 of worldly policy. paj.^J.^^ Nation does not 
 senter who believes in divine ^^velation 
 feel the same moral res mnts as il ne ^^^^^^ 
 ed his religion fr^^^rhSni^y butcan nev- 
 
 SoVTitTSdtn^^^^^^^^^^^ r^^^^^^- 
 
ablishment, 
 has the fol- 
 
 ; Christianity 
 rt it yields to 
 ety. But this 
 ast in as great 
 s with it. Re- 
 ;es on the con- 
 i the belief of 
 its object the 
 ierive no addi- 
 man sanctions, 
 age, uponhal- 
 ise and tumults 
 ined that a dis- 
 lation does not 
 he had receiv- 
 of parliament. 
 ity but can nev- 
 add nothing to 
 I force, 
 r, had civil es- 
 
 47 
 
 tablishments of religion been wsfiicss only instead 
 of being productive )f the greatest evils But 
 where Christianity is established by law, it is re- 
 r^, is e to give the preference to some popular sys- 
 Im and as the magistrate is no better judge of 
 reHeionthan others, the chances are as ereat of 
 his binding his sanction to the false as to the true. 
 Snlendour and emolument must likewise be in some 
 degree attached to the national church ; which are 
 a strong inducement to its members to defend it. 
 Lit ever so remote from the truth. ^ Thus error 
 becomes permanent; andtbatset of opinions which 
 happens to prevail when the establishment is 
 formed, continues in spite of superior light ajid 
 Irovement to be handed down without altera- 
 ^n from, age to age. Hence the di^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 \ns out ol tne very nature ui an i»v..»*v."j, --— 
 
 not likely to be remedied before it brings the cler- 
 
 kal character into the utmost contempt Hence 
 
 the rapid spread of infidelity in the various parts 
 
 of Europe; a natural and never failing conse- 
 
 quence of the corrupt alliance between church 
 
 2nd state. Wherever we turn our eyes we shall 
 
 perceive the depression of religion is m propor- 
 
 do theelevationof the hierarchy n France 
 
 where the establishment had obtained the utm..t 
 
 splendour, piety had utterly decayed; m Eng- 
 
 K where the hierarchy is less splendid, more 
 
 remai^ of the latter; and in Scotland whose na- 
 
 tional church is the poorest mthe world, agrea - 
 
 er sense of religion appears among ^^^^^^^'^ 
 
 ants than in either of the former. It must like- 
 
 wte be plain to every observer that piety flourish. 
 
 Tsmuchmore among dissenters than among the 
 
 members of ar.y establishment whatever. This 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 l|l| 
 
 ifi 
 
Tot 
 
 '* 
 
 wim 
 
 ., of thlncrs is 80 natural that nothing seems 
 progress of thmgs w so nai thinking part 
 
 wanting many country ^^ r^^^^^^gndid Establish- 
 
 rc7cha^arti\'in^^^^^ - '-^^^'^^^ 
 
 ^^^^.S^S:::<!^tZ■^ EstabUshea 
 
 attachment toabuses a F ^ ^ ./^^ ^^at accompa- 
 
 ions in question is '^J"^ ?^^Saraeu a 
 
 that is felt for the splendour, opulence, ana i^uvv 
 
 Sdonn^rablc though m>.^^ 
 
 ^0 that they' "^o are ai.aUsh.«l w..h thc^-, 
 
 must be «n/'»'.«?,\° '^^eCtJ„ ta which Chuich 
 
 that seems "ifPjf /'rj^'^'ktn.^^ ^.e Estab! 
 Ushrem were o moreTon'^q^ence than the so,. 
 
 any man 
 ferent re 
 complex 
 ration, i 
 those CO 
 from the 
 rope to i 
 toleranc 
 
lothing seems 
 thinking part 
 [id Establish- 
 lase the cleri- 
 in discipline 
 
 ,n Established 
 ( assembly for 
 1 corporation, 
 as usually dis- 
 nnovation, an' 
 to tyranny and I 
 i that accompa- 1 
 th of the opin- 
 nidst the desire I 
 nee, and pow- 
 Lipporting. To 
 civil power, it' 
 ents a chaos of 
 religious opin- 
 sn calm and si- 1 
 
 ;he alliance be- 
 the least that it I 
 s having some 
 riou3 connexion; 
 I with the one,! 
 nr very language 
 I which Church I 
 ith an arrogance 
 Wolsey's " Ego\ 
 ' as if the Estab- 
 icethanthesove-l 
 ve majesty of the I 
 civil power be I 
 )f sects will sub- 
 flame it, nojt will 
 
 40 
 
 ,,^T«an suspect his neighbhur for being of a dif- 
 fer eMrelgion, more than for being of a different 
 
 .mnlexion from himself. The practice of tole- 
 ration it is true, has much abated the violence of 
 Jhose convulsions which for more than a century 
 from the beginning of the reformation, shook Eu- 
 rope to its base, but the source and spring of m- 
 tolerance is by no means exhausted." 
 
 M'f U' 
 
To t 
 
 
 r 
 
 ■*• 
 
 K- 
 
 i 
 
 APPENDIX, No. li- 
 
 In confirmation of the i^P°»f ^^j^y /^L^^S 
 inff Christian discipline in the Church of England, 
 Irlfer the reader to the following extract from 
 X ConderTvaluable work on Protestant Non- 
 
 conformit^^ Canon provides that notorious 
 offenders shall not be admitted to the Cornmumon- 
 u. exclusion which is generally considered as a 
 <;ser excommunication^ But the way m whic^^^ 
 the minister is instructed to^P-^f ^^t^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 fr^SbTy^vS It''^S^^^r,J who 
 arebou d byoathto present to their ordinaries 
 all such public offences as they ^^^^ P^'^ticularly 
 rhaS to enquire of in their several parishes; m 
 nart& m the cases of such as are openly 
 rnowntoliveinsin notorious without repentance 
 or wTo have maliciously and openly contended 
 with their neighbours, f-^ have not been r^^^^^^^^^ 
 oiled- their said oath and their faithful discliarg 
 Infof them, being the chief means, according to 
 hlexpreS language of the Canons, whereby 
 'publk sin! and olenles may be reforrned and pun- 
 ished It is unnecessary to remark that this part 
 of the Church-warden's office is never attempted 
 ?o be discharged; and for this simple reason, the 
 thinV s inolally impossible. It would only be- 
 Smf f ^ttemp^ed, the source of endless vexa- 
 tion and dispute, and the means of exercising a 
 petW tyranny over every village; while the office 
 Swould become identified in ignominy with 
 that of a common informer. 
 
 "May not, then, the minister himself, in the 
 conscientious discharge of his sacred function, ex- 
 
 I ; 
 
 i,i 
 
 ^h 
 
 '■*Mr.<t 
 
 
y of observ- 
 i of England, 
 extract from 
 testant Non- 
 
 lat notorious 
 Communion- 
 )nsidered as a 
 way in which 
 d renders the 
 ; of the parish 
 wardens who 
 eir ordinaries 
 e particularly 
 il parishes; in 
 as are openly 
 lut repentance, 
 nly contended 
 ot been recon- 
 thful discharg- 
 3, according to 
 ions, whereby 
 )rmed and pun- 
 i that this part 
 ;ver attempted 
 lie reason, the 
 vould only be- 
 [ endless vexa- 
 of exercising a 
 while the office 
 ignominy with 
 
 limself, in the 
 jd function, ex- 
 
 51 
 
 elude from christian communion the notorious of- 
 fender? In the church of England, as by law es- 
 tablished, he has no such power. If he refuse to 
 a Iminister the sacrament in the church to the 
 most infamous person, the man may appeal to the 
 Ecclesiastical court, and there, if he can secure the 
 favour of the lay-chancellor, he may securely set 
 both the minister and the bishop at defiance : nay, 
 the minister, should he persist in refusing, is lia 
 ble to be suspended, and even excommunicated 
 for his contumacy. And in the court of Arches, 
 bishops themselves are subject to the sentence of 
 the chancellor. 
 
 « In the case, however of an individual who 
 comes to demand participation of the Lord's sup- 
 per, as a qualification for an office in the army or 
 the fleet, it is at the peril of incurring a suit at 
 law, that the clergyman resists the application.—- 
 The church to which he has attached himself has 
 obtained from the state the boon that all persons 
 previously to admission hito such posts, shall sub- 
 mit thus to qualify themselves; and the state, in 
 its turn, exacts from the church, as the price or 
 condition of this grant, that all persons seeking 
 to become thus qualified' shall be admitted. And 
 is this any thing more than what is jusf? In the 
 event of refusal on the part of the church, though 
 the matter be spiritual, a temporal damage is sus- 
 tained by the individual; for this, accordingly, an 
 action would be maintainable in the civil courts, 
 and tlie defendant, if unable to bring legal proof 
 of the fact on which he grounded the refusal 
 would be liable to damages.* Revolting as this 
 gross profanation of the Lord's supper must be to 
 
 * Seethe opinions of Mr. Sergeant Hill and others, in 
 Towgood's letters to White.— Appendix, page 309. 
 
 KIM 
 
To t 
 
 f 
 f 
 
 6^ 
 
 • . «,;,i,i and intolerable as the predica- 
 every pious "^"^^'.^usE^ some- 
 
 '""'^^ K^^^fnnnTXnbe fiSds himself compelled 
 in^o't ituHhe rymb"ok of the body and blood of 
 rh^Lf to per ons who, he knows, are eating and 
 Christ to persoi ' jj^j^nation, -still, the 
 
 drinking t^^^ ^^.^^^Jasno ridit to stand between 
 minister o/^^^f ^^^^^.^'n^terests -to deprive him 
 
 "'^=;\\?dXSg that 'the ^itef shouW 
 
 to be made a condition of secular benef.t,-if he 
 be h" sinner, who is the .tempterl Surely t^ 
 church has no right to punish him for the crime 
 -Which it in a manner necessitates. 
 
 I 
 
 U ,1 
 
 ■I 
 
he predica- 
 1 must some- 
 f compelled 
 and blood of 
 ( eating and 
 ^—still, the 
 and between 
 deprive bim 
 ce, — hishon- 
 jd pension.-— 
 nan's mortal 
 the country 
 ward. Were 
 , to offer him- 
 rd's table, it 
 nister should 
 Llinghimjbut 
 e Legislature, 
 has procured 
 enefit,— -if be 
 1 Surely the 
 for the crime 
 
 D O