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tRACTSFOk THE TIMES.

TRAqXNo. 4.

On the Voluntary Principle.

BY THE AUTHOR OP TRAOTS Nob. 1, 2, 8.

«» te?'°Vn.*'""1.*'r*'° "**^*'' «». tlHit tho undoratandinK and tho heart
re totally dillcront in a Hcason of paHsion. and a sonson of nuiot • that
there" arc pmodswhiMimiKcr and error are opidouiical -Xni tho
iaoat mon forurot tUo plainost rulo«.-whcn it is liec^^ V Su them
wk loudly ami Urmly to llrat olomout8."-Sri>i.BY MMir'Vr - ^ '"®™

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TiraSB TBACT8 ABB EA11NB8TLT BEOOHMBirDBD TO TUB PBBVBAI,
OB TUB MBMBEHa OF TUB VSITBD CHUBOH OB KBOlABD ABD
IBBLABB BY THE AUTBOB.

PRICE ONE SHILLING.

dHotitrfsl:

\ J"^=° BY JOHN LOVKL^ ST. NICHOLAS flfHlBC.

1854. ^' ■

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P RE F A C J: .

■ * ■

Whbn a religious subject is thrust into the
^ arena of political strife, it becomes every man
to be doubly cautious how he acts or thinks
respecting it. We are well aware that « Helt'.
gi(m must have its politics)'^ but when party
feeling, or sectarian bitterness prescribe the
pontics, then every religious man should be on
his guard. In such cases we are in danger of
learning our principles from the intriguing poU-
tician, instead of from the sober teaching of the
Word of God. The subject, whiclg|^-propose
to review^ in this Tract, is " TWVoluntary
Principle^'l^Xhia being the idol before which
it is intended that the Christianity of the Province
'Mil fall prostrate. We shall briefly examine
this principle, and see what it has to recom-
mend it. In aoing sb, we hope to apeag plainly
and tfitthfully, as the time demands,

Perth,

0. W, Sept. 2», 1864.

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THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE.

-■-,'■- V . ,.

' *~ — '-"*• I

A PEEP AT HOMt.

It WM toward* evenihg; and in the study of the

Rer. ^ two olergymon of ability and influence wve

diacuBBing a principle which they had both adopted in
the heat of oontroverey ; they had gone with the ouiw
rent, charmed with the popularity of a principle which
led the multitude. Clergymen are prone to err. as well
as other people; though we must hoM their errors are
more from the A«arf than the A«ar<., The error I aUudd
to at present is only from the head, but as it, may lead'
to the most deplorable results, it becomes every man to
examine for himsejf, to free his mind^rom the clam-
our of faction and party ; and, in these days pf novelty
and experiment, to admit no principle as sound, unless
it has stood" the test of experience and scriptural pre-
cedent The two clergymen whom I have introduced to
the reader had espoused the principle of « voluntaryism *»
exacUy five years previous to thJ ^conversation In the
stuc^y. On tlii| occasion they met by mutual agree-
ment, to discuss the subject from experience of its
working. A change had oome over the spirit of one

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of them, and thus he expressed himself: "Whatever
" is worth having, is worth supporting; and whatever
*< is worth supporting, should have the best method
• adopted to secure that support Now, religion is the
** most excellent/of all excellent things, and requires a
^* certain ^nfel outlay,iin order to secure both church
" and minister from the neglect aihd indiflference of the
" world. But, should we have adopted, through haste
" or animositjr, a wrong principle in securing a support
" for religion, then the sooner we lay it aside the better.'*
While the speaker waited for a reply to this observa-
tion, his wife entered the study, and presented him with
a bUl thkt had just .been left at the door, at the bottom
of which was written «^o be settled as soon as/
possible." " . 7

" Mary," said thd excellent man, ••» with all our hxj-
** gality and parsimony, I have received within the lait
'** few days other bills similar to this ; but I haveTo
*« means whatever to ifteet these demands. %min/is
" ponsiderably distressed on this subject ; indeed, ^en
" my reading hours are interfered with ; and I
" latelj begun to think" (turning to his friend)
*^ great principle will not work. It toust be

*♦ If our debts are eompuhory, surely the

« depend on to liquidate ttiem should be so too.^

**0h I do'^^ndtsay so," said his wife ; « wha^uld be
" morejj^BcccHance with the Gospel, thai^^at all who
" preach the Goapel should cast themselvW on God's
" I?9opl« for support ; He will move their hearts volun-
« tarily to^give, rei&emb^ring ♦the labourer is worthy
*^«f his hire; '^^ : ■: ^.r.^.- :;-• •\.. -'.v^ ^ ... .;':/.. ■.^A.:.,.' '

5M^

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" Whatever
d whatever
est method
ligion is the
requires a
>oth church
rence of the
rough haste
g a support
the better."
lis observa-
)d him with
the boitoia
is soon as

kll our
lin the lai^t
I have 110
^Y min^ is
deed, ^en

00.;
li/could be
lat all who
on God*s
irts voluQ-
is worthy

Tree, Maiy," interrupted her husband ; « buL
jwollect, «//we preach to are not God»8 people in
reahty, neither are their hearts moved by His influ-
ence to give of their substance. Few, comparative-
- ly, are thu» affected,— /<w are free from that covet-
ousness which interferes with our voluntaryism ; but»
^^ were aU influenced, so as to be « God's people ' in real-
1^, thm voluntary support woul^ind^ |^piffi.

\^ "But^ saidhis wiffe, "yott have dlieady dedaiid
your decision,— you hav<e some time taken- Vonr
atand, and now you cannot change. What wiU th«
"world say f"

"Alasi Marjr,»» said Eer husband, >thi8 is th«
^^ rum of many. When convinced of an error, they
are unwimng to renounce it, through fear of the
world. Obstinacy is a ruling principle of our poor
hearts, and as « the.world » seems to approve of 11^
must we. But* the world; in either case, win have
J^methmgtosay. If I remain as I am, dependmg on
^^ the uncertam support of voluntaryism, then the world
mu pomt at me, when in poverty and debt ; and if I
cons6ient,ouslyabandon a principle which, after afair
tnal, I find erroneous, the world will then say, «h«
changed his views for want of money 1»" V

If Jhe reader can fancy a well-built manse, exlubitinir
much of the style of modem architecture, situated n^

many miles from the City of , he then wiU havt

before hmi the identical house where the scene which
I have descnbed took place.. This buUding was erected
at a considerable expense, when, a few yeaia ap^i; h>^

■^i •

■■/. . 8 • V .

, and hearts were quite alive with the fresh impulse of

"voluntaryism." Novelty and outward opposition

added new vigour to the movement, and then schism,

feelmg that th.e eye oi the world was upon it, not only

bore with losses and CBosaes, but, greedy of praise and

popularity, erected costly manses and church'es for their

ministers, in order to eclipse those erected by "State
Provision."

These were the motives that built-up voluntaryisk,.
then, and gave it such a charm, and, as long as these
charms continued, unthinking proselytes were made
to the cause. But, there was something to be don©
which the world could not see ; the occupants of these
manses were to be permanently provided for; in
accomplishing this task, the world's praise could not be
•ecured ; the impelling motive was therefore lost, and
now the poor occupants of these buildings afford a
lesson of splendid poverty ; they can only furnish, one-
half of the buildings, and are obliged to shu^up tho
other half; the wind, mournfully rushing through th/
key holes of the vacant rooms, reminds them of Jeru-
salem's desolation, or of "the house divided against the
house." We oouW have told « the voluntaries," had
they only consulted % that went before them, that
it is much ealner to build churches, and erect costly
parsonages, thaV to secure & permanent supply for their
ministers. In erecting a church, or building a manse,
volunli^ryism is quite at home, its caprices are pan- !
deM to, and the kovelty of the undertaking supplies suf-
fident motive ;l!>ut, in supporting a minister, there is'
/iomething pen^nent and constant^ something ihat

»!• t ■■

sh impulse of
rd opposition
i then schism,
ti it, not only
of praise and
pch'es for their
d by « State

voluntaryisn*
long as these
I were made
? to be don©
ants of these
ided for; in
could not be
fore lost, and
ogs afford a
furnish, one-
shut up tho
through thd
lem of Jeru-
1 against tl^e
itaries," had
I them, that
erect costly
ply for their
ng a manse,
les are pan-
supplies suf-
ter, there is
Btlting ihat

«Ai«?wf,of compulsion, M, by its regularity of abpMcft*
tion deprives voluntaryism of its impelling motive: the
world sees; not the extent of the offering, and novelty
io^eg tUr charms by repetiiion.

^ if there is any country^under Heaven, which Inirfit
. be ejipected to afford a fair trial for « pure voluntaryism,'*
It surely ought to be the country which has recently
sent forth champions in its defence ; there, the land was
christianized, and each congi^egation had sufficient of
Gods people » (one would think) to respond fully to
the principle. Scotland has enjoyed the sunshine of
the Reformation, and for generations has brought up
her chiWren in the principles of Holy Scripture. B^
neaUi the fostering care of the State Provision afforded
to the country, the Established Church of Scotland has
attorned to its present efficiency, and procured for her-
self an imperishable record; but, the present generation
(a portion of them at least) being more keen sighted '
thantheir fathers, saw (or supposed they saw) agreviou*
evil m receivmg any assistance from the State : this thev
accounted "bondage," and "gathering" the christum
jrutts, of people brought u^ and sustained by « State Pro-
nsion, together into their schism, spoke as confidently of
We heard how the parent was pnused one week as

h^n h 'rh'^Tn^ itwasregardias^-ia.'^L
than heathen darkne8s,»> and as "the ph^ue spot of*
the country,'>-and why? not because the oiionenr«iw
^j/undamental^rroT in doctrine or in diiipline, but
mer^y bei^use the way in which « pound/ s^i™
and pence Wflro r o coived, 4id nofc please I *^ ^^

.,.''

the pronioters of this scheme professedWeat etilight-
fenment, civilization, and Christianity: we cc uld have ask*
<Jd them, where they obtained all these excillent gifts of
God ? was it when th^' Were in « the heathen darkness
of the parent ?" when receiving « the accjursed thing,'*
" State Provision r If we were inclined to ^e inquisitive,
we might ask many guestiom of this naiUre, but we
have sufficient evidence of their error Iwithout any
enquiry. .

. Before we speak of the Voluntary Principle in refer-
ence to this county, we must complete olir " peep at
home." Let wjirst mark its Working. /A<r«,— does it
work ? Voluntaryism would require a rich country,
the people should be advanced in the knolwredge and
practice of Christiany, and should be in live with the
principle, be/ore we could expect sucd^t. Well, at
home, in its "own country," it had surelyiall this,— all
things were in its favor; how then does! it work? In
answering this question, we must only/ admit such
evidence as comes from voluntaries themielves, as this
surely will be unsuspecting, and as noiJe others can
know fully the working of the principle but themselves*
So we shall introduce the reader to a. letter which
recently appeared in the organ of " The Free Church"
Edinburgh Witness." The writer thus proceeds :-^.
" The more I refledt upon the subject, the more deeply
** am I convinced of the necessity of something being
" done immediately, to avert the many dangers which
" threaten the welfare, if notice rery existentie, of out
"beloved Church,, in conseduence ot thd uncertain
^* fluctuating and altogether ibadequate stipetid "paid

x .

•

j,-"^ TFf^ ■■

^cjuld have ask'
Calient gifts of
uhen darkness
pursed thing,'*
pe inquisitive^
aiure, but we
without anjT

iciple in refer-
oiir " peep at
^r«,— does it
rich country-j
iohirledge and^
l<^ve with the
Well, at
all this,— all
it work ? In
admit such
lelves, as this
e others can
[t themselves^
letter which
rree Church"
proceeds :-**•.
more deeply
ething being
ngers which
ttemlej of ouf
Id uncertain
tipeiid paid

,--■

■;■ " ■ - ■■■" il .- ' .:

"to our ministers, npt only last year, buteVeryyca*
« since the disruption 1" This is a telling sentence ; it
whispers the needlessness of the « disruption," -as well
as the failure of all the Jtne promtMt of voluntaryism*
Again,— it proceeds :—« It can be proved tjiat the
*' health of many of our estimable ministers in the
« country is breaking down, and they are becoming
" unfit for the discharge of the duties fequired of them ;
»* aud no wonder 1 Without means ip give a proper
« ^ucation to their children ;— inde^, I feel a great
"delicacy in attempting to describe the painful pri-
** vations to which these ^ men, their wives, and
" their families must evidently subiiit: fancy them
«' shut up in one^^r perhaps two of their appartments
« which is all he has yet been able jo f«mish,— of a
"manse, the external apUaranc^^ of i which giv^s not
« the slight^t indicatiol of the painful privations
« of the occupants, called upon to paly various taxes:
« is it anyMin^ else thab might haVe been expected,
"that the he^th of the^ wortl^y fen should give
"way under such an a|cumulatio4 ^^ anxieties f»>
This evidence is true, untvkpeeiing-^iven hy a /rimd
andfollower.^Ui voluntafees, then, jbeware of conse-
quences: they may brini such Miseries on thew
ministers as may «Aor^ theBr days ; tji«y may teach a
lesson, not easily to bo eril^cated ^om a natio?--a
lesson of ingratitude iowari
friends; and they may standi
ening tibe days of He^Ven's
th^ failure of voluntaryism

now, let us see howl it holds its gSpund as aPMHcW

their test guides and

[ilty bejere God of short-

«i So fiup, for

" lown dear land:**

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12 . : ..^

in de8cril)iflgf its further wretchedness, the same xtritcf
thus appeals to his brethren :— " Dcaqons of the Free
" Church I the much honoured and much valued fel-
" low labourers in the Lord's vineyard, permit m© most
" respectfully to press more earnestly than ever upon all
** our people the paramount claims of the Sustentation
" Fund of our Church, as the one which, ^rfbove all
** others, li^e the Sheaf in Josephfs dream, should stand
"in the centre, while all the other schemes of our
" Church standing '^und her should bow their heads,
** and make obeisance to her,— this is the place which
** I claim for the Sustentation Fund of the Free Church
•* of Scotland !» On reading this sentence, « knowing" the
assumptions of^jwrc voluntaries, we cried out in amaz-
ment, « What ! Voluntaryism adopting a Fund! kyQ \
and a fund, too, from whence the writer, further on in
his appeal, would claim for each minister " ] SO pounds !
or 200! or2S0 pounds per annum !" Has even a
generation passed, ^ since we were told, « Religion
•hould be free I" Ministers should freely give, as they
receive I « God will take care of them." « Funds are
detrimental!^ and shem a want of faith / " All these
arguments ha^o had their day; a few years poverty
have brought these champions to their senses,— they
now have a J^awt? /— and « all things else must do
obehaac^ to this Fund !" Aye !' verily, we believe it>—
Both ministers and people ! and through fear that this
" Sustentation Fund? should be^nder the influence pl^
voluntaryism, ,a fix^ stipend Ji 'advocated for the
minister, 160, or 200,^ or 250 pounds guaranteed there-
from. V «

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■ 'fTT * ■*»'«»'^ 'I

!, -smi

'■f

Iio same Mfiiiet
DS of tho Free
ch valued fel-
ennit m© most
n ever upon all

Sustentation
ichj^itbovo all
1, should stand
iliemes of our
V their heads,
le place which
e Free Church
' knowing" the

1 out in amaz-
1 Fund! Aye \
, further on in
" ISO pounds!

Has even a
d, " Religion
give, as they

" Funds are
L'" All these
jrears poverty
senses, — they
else must do
believe it-^
fear that this
J influence of-
ated for the
anteed there-

But finally, how is it proposed to,raise this " Susten-
tation Fund ?"--tbo writer further observes, " My Lords
" and Gentlemen ! permit me, the humblest in rank
" and talent of your number, t6 beseech you to raise \
^^ your powerful voice in behalf \of our minietera^ and
" that without delay I" Ho appeals to " the Lor^s and
Gentlemen" to raise then: powerful voice I — ^ this is a
gentle hint, that they should do it in the most powerftil
manner, and in iho place of power^ " the Rulers of the
World," after all, are appealed to,— their assistance would
he received by the consistent voluntaries: a few years
ago, they spurned these said " Lords and Gentlemen ;"
now, the ship sinking I they would invoke their
aidl alas! for Voluntaryism I for the sake of your
champions we could have wished you to have lived a
little longer, but you are too pure for earth, you have
come to a prenmture end in the very cradle of your
existence. The Mp is ready, put it on the criminal,
and let us whisper in his ear,-^your " disruption" was
needl^, — your sin exhibits its consequence even in this
life, ^tomn^r ministers, — and people not able to act
up to their professions I ! \ -

But, should it be asked, what have we to say to this f
How can it affect us, whether these voluntaries prosper ,
, or perish ? We do not admit their principle, we have
prospered and increased, and enjoyed God's blessing,
while using the support providentially furnished by the
State, and the benefits thereby accruing to Christi-
anity have been acknowledged by the best and wisest
The great Chalmers thus writes on this subject : —
"There are many who look with an evil eye to the

"■■■•A

.11

l#-

14- ,_

"*" , KM

Vondowments of the English Chuwh, and to the indo-
^ lence of her dignitaries, but to that Church the
* theological literature of our naUon stands indebted
for her best acquisitions ; neither can we grudire her
"the wealth of all her endowments, when we think
" how well, under her venerable auspicoa the batUes of
" orthodoiy h^ve been fought, that, in this holrwarfnre.
they mo her sons, and her soldiers, who have been
ever foremost in the field, ready at all times to face
" the threatening mischief, and, by the might of their
" ponderous erudition, to over^ar it." Such testimony
from the prince of divines, in these latter days, may well
overbalance any assertions or petty jealousies from our
voluntaries. But, although we feel and know GutrkS
^ tion invulnerable, yet, be it remembered, a da^oQ^
party have crossed the waters, ofishoots from nhe^#
I niption » at home, carrying, as their gospel, to Canada,
thw new doctrine, and, although voluntaries, yet they
are determined to use compulsion in enforcing their
doctrine: they find the Church of England prosperiuir
and extending her ministrations; this they might bear:
but « the Kirk," the Church that brought them up "m
darkness- they owe her a grudge, and feetXesirous to
teach her a httle of f the voluntary." How do they
proceed ? they approach « the Lords and Gentlemen »
the temporal rulers! a power they denounced as vol Jn-
tanes at home, and whose interference in Church matters
vxxs deemed the heaviest curse, the most fearful of all
bondage 1 yet thU v«ry ^oip^ they «ee^ Aer*, they im-
portune it to interfere in the management of other
ehurchee, to plunder their property! thus, instead of

./.

teHdhing our « Senators wiidoln," they teach them
sacriloge. The hue and cry is raised, and the now sect,
glorying in the navM of freedom, seeks to teach the
Province Christianity and the blessings of voluntaryism,
But how do they seek to teach us? Is it by the pure
and elwating voice of the pulpit f la it by any of thoat
hallowed meant which scripture authorises in teaching
the sinful ? Is it by the Church not « of this world f '»
No ! DUT BT THE WORLD ! i)y its ruUrs, its penodicahi
its demagogues, some of whom, had they been taught
the meaning of honesty, justice, and sacrilege, never
would have lent themselves as instruments to such an
unrighteous cause. ?^

Now, with respect to the voluntary principle, we re-
gard it as a subsidiary, as an assisUnce to more perma--
nent support. In this light our church has ever followed
and taught it, but, as an exclusive support, we utterly
deny its adequacy, arid. in this view all are in realtty
agreed, even the voluntaries themselves, though they do
not confess it. If our |>pponent8 were consistent, they
should have no existing fund, no « Sustentation Fund,"
no matter Ijow that fund is procured, whether from the
State or from theinselv^ts ; any fund for religious sup*
portMn existence amount them, will prove that they
fear ihepurely voluntary ^stem as much as wedo, and
that, to guard its deficiencies, TfiKY REQUIRE a fumd«
But, will^t besaid "we dislike any fund from the State j
"it may restrict ouroperations, and control ourohurchesr
Even here too, we can shew, that n6 improvement
is made in this respect by the adoption of volun-
taryi8m,~80 called,— and that the State may be just as

.■i'

*1'

good A paymaatoms othors. How many instances liko
the following have we all read of ?— An active and ex-
emplary minister is appointed to. a congregation, he has
a certain stipend promisecj him from the people, there
are in the congregation a few rich fatoilie^ or a rich
deacon, the burden of the minister's salary falls chiefly
on these, the prominence this gives to " the few" is felt
by both minister and people ; at length, an occasion offers
to shew the dangers of such pay makers, the minister
preaches, for instance, on the love of God in Christ, ho
is somewhat astray, however, either in magnifying this
love, or in diminishing it, whether right or wrong, it
does not please "the prominent few," thepaymal^; the.
minister is warned, he does, not heed their teinons*
trance, a few sabbathV more tell the whole tale,— the
doors are closed! and wo might post iip the placard
outside, " the beauties of voluntaryism 1" Now, in
such cases, we ask, which is the most unholy paj^master f
the State, or the few t the St*te would not imjiose such
a burden, there is assuredly more of the inquisitiim about
"the deacon" and " the^ew," than oveV the State,
could manifest. Or, again; suppose, in the instance
adduced, which may ofj0n happen, the minister yields;
he fears thov consequence of losing the support of- the
orthodox; few :^then we have the Church and minister
pandering to the few, in " bondage of her own chil-
dren 1 " This exceeds any abuse from the State. We do
not for a moment say, that the State may nojt act injur-
iously towards the Church, and abuse its power; we admit
It may, and ba8*\ but^we maintain, that, ^s power
must exist somewhere, the State ia just «s likely U> use it
■■ ' ■ ■ ■ - ■'// ■■*■- . - ■ ,' '. • ■ '

* 't ■

!•. ". ^ • .wr

.**^

' instaneos liko
activo and ox*
Bgntion, ho has
) people, there
ilieii or a rich
ry falls chiefly
iio/<?ti»" is felt
occasion offers
, the n^nistor
1 in Christ, ho
iflgnifyiog this

or wripng, it
iymalSr8;the.
their toinons*-
olo tale,' — the
p the placard

I" jNow, in
ly pajj^master f
t-imjiiosesuch
[Uisiti^ about
eV the State .

the instance
linister yields;
lipport of- the
1 and minister
her own chil*
3tate. We do
nojt act injuf
iver;ive admit
at, ^s power
ikely tp use it

with discretion and justice, as the " orthodox few,** and,
we believe, wo have (greater proofs on our side, that the
State will, and cnn so act, than any which our oppo-
nents can offer. The CHiirchcs of England and Scotland,
for instance, have oxiated as at present for many goner^
ntions; their faith 'has not been interfered with by the
State ; their creeds, their confessions,* their articles, are
the same through each age, and so.far from the State
interfering with these, it has been, on the contrary, their
greatest defbnco and guardian. But can voluntaryism
furnish proofs like these? can it prove its faithfuliiess
to its charge during many generations, as the Churchy
which they suppose to be in " bondage of State pro-
vision ? " what sect has ever been a nation's instructdr f
what bulwarks Jiave all our voluntaries thrown up
against the vice ^nd infidelity of a nation ? what mon-
uments of their work could they bequeath to posterity,
were they now about to give up their account ?

It would be difficult to shew, in. any o/ne inaUmeef
wKerein *'lthe voluntaries " obtain a single advantage
over their opp^n^. Even in the appointment of a
Mnister to a congregation, just as improper an appoint-
ment may be sanctioned by the congregation as by the
State. How many instances might we recall to our
own memory when an appointment was made under the
most favourable circumstances, when the applicant
went through' his ordeal in the most flourishing mannj
when the audience were captivated by an exhibiti<
the powers of eloquence, required as a qualificatif "" *
calL" Ho w popular the appointment 1" never wt^ -
like him 1" But, a few short years, perhaps nv)r^ ^ ^^^

\ .

E:I,

/ »

,./

a diffef^irt Me; the preacher h»4 his Hei-mona ready for
th« oocaaioit, y 4*livered thorn " memoriter"— npt from
'tho heart; and, ini.tead of being the delight and com-
fort of the congregation, ho bocomca their wourgo and
curao, to the dingraco not only of the congregation, but
oven of Christianity itself, and strango to sav, thai
witliout going farther than 25 milea from the locafity
in which I now write, an instance of very recent date,
iimilar to what I describe, might be adduced, and yet
joluntoryism glories in the face of such instances, as if
it were imrrt^cuiate, as if its evils wore unknown to any
but thomselyos ! Wo are well awaro of the abuses of
patronage, or the hereditament right of presentation to
a church or benefice, but we are also aware of the evils
arising from this right vested in volui^Ass, and in
view of the evils on both sides, we aro saffied that the^
presentation vested in the people from the 'voluntary
system, is just a« liable to intrigue and abuse, and
therefore wo cannot but regard the present movement,and
tho fine speeches that ^re made respecting its imaginary
results, as sgything better than a restless desire of
ovey-heatedXf^onaries, to throw off tho evils incident
to their condito in this lifo,^vils which cannot be
avoided, but shojild bo borne with in tho s|^t of pray^
er and submission. . - ^

But, so fiir, w0 have spoken of voluntaryism as a

/»^'«^fe,7-wej|aj« seen. how, by tho oxistence of a

'^d OT {und^^.m^j^ithAi^ pay their ministers, and

>tho nominatfi^lll^fa^galarji, no matter how it

^^W%d, ifon|m|^ be J^mised as certem,

-'^'^^PP^ whol#|^iple of volun-

■ ^am^^ M

^liiK ^jS&JlfH&ML^ %^

/ *

Jf9

"■^aona ready for
-iter"— not from
olight and com-
loir ficourgo and
>n^ogation, but
:o to say, that
om tho locafity
>ry recont date,
duced, and yet

instances, as if
inknown to any
f tho abuses of
presentation to
are of tho evils
'jfM^s, and in
ttsfie^ that the'

the voluntary
id abuse, and
movement, and
f its imaginary
loss desire of

evils incident
ick cannot be
fif^t of pray>

itaryism as a
pxistence of a
ninisters, an^
natter how it
ed as certain^
pie of volun-

>»r^

''■%

^^A

_ M _ ^^^i'
'^l ^

taryisra is forfeited ; moreover, wo Jmvo shewn how th« ♦
vexed abuses from patronage aro just as rife under tli^
working of the system fll.ei^ whore. Now, let us con- '
aider, whether ^^^^^tSht^ency in the working of
the principlo,T-«Bffcir HW" pure voluntaries " are
Batisfied witlLAKe mi^^t they receive, and whothet it
is sufficfentMp ■'* /

— •In^tho workinjf^qf the tystem, we should tee no
eompuUion whatever; but can this be said of our
voluttUrios? If a Church is to be built, or a minister's
•alary is deficient, or improvements to be carried oi|t,
what plans do they adopt? Do they trust to their
principle! No I assuredly not,— they are well aware, aa
we are, of its inadoquaay 1 and, therefore, we bear of
" Bazaars 1" " Soirees !" to which . « the public," (not
their "dear brethren, the voluntlaries," but " the public")

♦ " TT* tkouldMe no eompu/Mon."— Instanoofl of this oompul-
8ion aooidcDtally come before ub, — recontly, when visiting ui a
neighbouring pariah, ^o called at the house of a school master,
who, i^,the oourao of cooversation, observed, that, amongst his
pumhr, he had a young man, who was preparing for " tho Free (I)
church ministry.^ We begged of tho school master to sound his
^upilon the subject of voluntaryism, and to ask him, whether.
IB i»ad suflScient confidence in such a system for support f Ima-
9ur amaumgnt wbeiKihis candidate fur " freedom (!)" assur-
schooUKter, that "he had no fears on that subject,"

i, the system adopted was,— for, " /Ww Freeholders, fyorutt
and good, to enter into a bond for tho payment of t^e minister's
salary;" at the same time, giving as an instance, the neigh-
bouring Free (f) Church mimster, who WM thus secured. On
hearing this, our feelings may be better imagined than described,

disgust, when, Pharisaie preteiuiont, are convicted of su«h
barefaced mconsistency. ^ > « '

h^^^Mm

fvi- '

Y-

'^ X:

•^

•are respectfully^ invited.— Nay, Ven compulsion is
^used: — for instance, when a bazaar or tea party for
the object contemplated k announced,' "we read as
follows:—" Gfrand Soireel"^*' The public are I'espect-
" full/informed, that a Soiree will come off in the Free
/" Church (or Methodist, or wherever our voluntaries
/«" fall short,)— the proceedings will be enlivened by a
7 "band of music !" This extract w taken from one of our
/oca/ Newspapers, and is similar to all notices of the
kind, L^t us, then, ittend to it for a few moments —
V. fira^tJiey invite « the public"— that is, other assistance
besides their own,— and, througfi^fear of « the voluntary
fedings" of the public, not being sufficiently imbued
with theit principle, they name a tgmpuliory fee for
entrance ! " Is. 3d." is demanded /—what now becomes
of the principle ? It comes to naught-^proc^tcaZ/y, and
the « State Churches," with all their « bondage," have
the advantage— the voluntaries take their Is^, 3d. from
'a public, for aught they know, non-reliffioX^ « the
State Churches" receive theirs, from a government
PBOFESSEDLT Christian. But, again, « the public "mtust
be amused,— Christianity will not attract tjie assistance
required ; something to see or hear must be procured
for « the public,"— a " band of music I" is in readiness I
Oh I angelic voluntaries ! after all your vauntings you
are more wordly than your opponents; you have
spngs!— the world's praise!— and the world's music 1
resounding in buildings set apart for the solemn wor-
ship of Almighty God, buildings meant onfy to resound
to the Creator's praise; and, moreover, " caifeM " and
"^ tea " inside of a church! the worid's feastings 1 Were '

•ir,-%''r r~ f^ri^Tf

Q eompulston is
or tea party for
ced; "we read as
public are I'espect-
me off in the Free
r our voluntaries
•e enlivened by a
t from one of our
ill notices of the
few moments —
8, other aasistance
[)f " the voluntary
ifBciently imbued
mpultory fee i[or
hat now becomes
-poetically, and
" bondage," have
heir Is. dd. from
religiom^ ** the
1 a government
the public " must
ict t|ie assistance
mat be procured
' is in readiness I
ir vauntings you
ehts; you have
> world's music I
the solemn wor*
I; onfy to resound
er, " cakes " and
feastings I Were '

•■•■;■ 21 ■■ ■

Saint Paul to visit the scene, he would say, as of old,
*^ What I have ye not houses to eat and drink in, or
despise yo the Church* of-Ood I" Cor. xi, 22. But,
this evil will not stop here ; it engenders a contempt for
sacred things, and, hence, we are not surprised to find
tljat people, who are thus taught to violate the sanctity
of their own places of worship, should deny the existence
of such a sin as sacrilege. In Walker's dictionary, we'
find, that « sacrilegious" is « to violate things sacred,"
this, we conceive, is literally done, by the exhibition of
"a Soiree "iNSiDB of a church I— whUe the deed of
sacrilege, according to the same author, is "to ap-
propriate to one's self, what is dmted to reUgiop, ;" this
sin is probably soonU>\^ perpetrated, in depriting reU-
gion of its support,— in the alienation of its property to
common or " Mcti^ctr purposes."

We are not surprised at the ^norance of those who
seek to commit this sin, notwithstanding all their pro-
fessions of enlightenment, for, they who trifle on such
subjects, always are sent a delusion or blindness ; thus,

♦ The same feeling which Saint Paul manifests in the sen-
tenoe referred to, may be gathered from onr Lord's conduct.
When he entered the temple, he not only cleansed it from the
mora open acts of desecration, bnt St. Mark tell us « he would
hot »j^r that any mm thould carry any vetul through the tempk,"
and then gives as his reason, « My house shall be caUed of all
fia^ton* the house of prayer," Are im to learn nothme from this
transaction t Is there no lesson, for« all hations" here?— •'The
houseof prayer" should be ke|>t sacred from tecular or com-
mon transactions, m order to secure the respect of" all nations."
rbB master filtjo, and the master iamfhi so^ and this is
sufficient for our Church, notwithstanding the diflforent teaohinff

•XI

S{Ji«V»*

[I:

^ -

5 r

22 ■;■■■■:■

the people of the Jews, though committing this sin of
sacrilege, Icmw it not; they we^ led hy me step to
amtlusr.m they were not aware of their error, and'
the prophet is sent to remonstrate, " Will a man rob '
God? yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein
have we robbed thee ?"

In ^ncing at those penodicals in the province
which fSmpet forth the praises of voluntaryism, and
advo^te sacrilegious measures in order to compel all
to foUowthem, we find one unblushing * champion in
the field, who seeks to raise himself to political impor-
tance by this principle; and so confident \k he in his
position, that he invites even the Clergy of the Church
of England, and all others whom he supposes as ignorant
as himself in Church affairs, to cast %mselve8 for
support on this voluntaryism: w^ll! let us see the
facts which are published in order to win our confi-
dence antt approbation. We find the pyoceedings of
« the Free Church Synod" thus reported in "the Gospel
Tribune;" the salaries of 13 ministers are given, and
from the list we shall select a few, as a specim^ •
— ^*Markham £80, Madoc £76, Saltfleet £84, $outh
Gower £80,Owen Sound £V0, Spencerville £68, St
Therese £43, Osnabruck £30 P Now, we ask ai^y
one to consider the prices of labour and provisions, and
then look at th<^e salaries, and let him tell us what he
thinks of voluntaryism? If the minister is not io be
« a hewer of wood, and drawer of water," he must have
a servant man, and if he is to fulfil the office of Mini-

* The Editor of the ♦♦ Globe."

-— 4--^— -

:.^^

emitting this sin of
led by one step to
)f their error, and
' Will a man rob '
t ye say, wherein

in the province,
voluntaryism, and
ier to compel all
3g * champion in
io political impor-
dent ^ he in his
pgy of the Church
pposes as ignorant
8t tj^emselves for
I let us see the
to win our conlS-
e pix>ceedings of
ed in « the Gospel
■8 are given, and

as a specin)^ :
fleet £84, $outh
cerville £68, St.
>w, we ask ai^y
d provisions, and
n tell us what he
ter is not io be
)r/* he must have '
e office of Miati-

onary-^hich the country requtree^ihen, he must
have a /horse; welll what will the wages and board
of a servant man cost? as well as the expenses of a
horse, during th^ year, at the present price ? We
answer, without fear of contradiction, from experience,
these will cost not less than £66, per annum! now
deduct this^m from the %A«»< salary adduced!
and whaUi^pke minister and his family left to live
on ? Su^l^ need no conmient, but must have the
efiect on eteiy serious and well disciplined mind, of
exciting pity, and commiseration for thosr unfortunate
u^dividuals, 'who aUow sectarian animosity and party
feelmg to warp their better judgment

In considering the Government of a Christiaii country
^adopting such measures as voluntaryism proposes, we
have a sad spectacle presented to the mind ; for, who are
the main stay and support of aU ^at is valuable in a
Christian community? Who? we ask, if the Clergy
are not» To whom is the government of a Christian
country indebted for muoh^ts good oi^dteand moral-
ity. If not to the Clergy? Aye, and we may assert
without fear of contradiction, that the Clergy are far
pore usefulto the government^ than all the officials -
^ey employ, either in jails^prisons, or courthouses.
When a government, therefore, turns adrift the Clergy
for support elsewhere, it wffl treat its best and truest
supporters with the basest iijgratitude. It will appear '
to the worid, as not caring for,, or valuiDg,.the labors
of those who are forming their subjects for the high- .
Mt and holiest aims; and will teach a lesson which
the Sceptic and the Infidel will not f.,-i *. f«^ t-r thdr

own advantage, viz:—" all tilings else are deserving of
a permanent and certain support, save religion /"

There are, moreover, many services, of a " secular"
nature, which the Clergy, frequently render Ito the
Government, and society. If a doubt is entcitained
i^especting the character of an individual who s^ks an
office or employment, the Clergy are appealed to. If
statistical information is required on points Affecting
the general welfare of the community, the Clergy are
appealed to ;— indeed, they are even compelled to draw
out ainnual Ij^ta of marriages, hirths, or burials;— and
all these offices they are willing to fulfil, but they expect,
at least, gratitude in return, and think it fair that they
should be protected in their rights, as other men.

There are quite sufficient evidences before us, that
the Government of this country are not indulgent
towards the Clergy, without any necessity of perpetrating
the further act of spoliation of their property. Sufficient
evidence, that no mitigation with respect tQ taxation
will be adopted towards the Clergy, wh6n even the
small stipend that they receive from a charitable
society at homej is taxed I and the only ceremony for
which the Clergy receive any fee, even there the Go-
vernment is be/orehandy and exacts its dues. How
frequently I on marrying a poor couple, does the
Clergyman, on asking for his fee, hear tiiis excuse:—
" Sir ! we are too poor to pay yoitr charge, the License
has cost us £l 10s., and we cannot afford any .more I"
this case frequently happens, but whenever it does, we
cannot help remarking, how liberal the Government!
first, to drain onr poor people, and then send us beg^

■:: T-»'-'

18 are deserving of
e religion pi
es of a " secular"
itly render /to the
ibt is entmained
iual who s^ks an
e appealed to. If
n points affecting
Yt the Cljbrgy are
compelled to draw

or burials; — and
U, but they expect,
b: it &ir tiiat thej

other men.
B before us, that
re not indulgent
ity of perpetrating
roperty. Sufficient
spect tQ taxation
, wh^n even the
om a chafitahle
Illy ceremony for
en there the Go-
\ its dues. How
bouple, does the
vt this excuse:- —
arge, the License
fford any .more I"
jiiever it does, we
the GoTemment !
len send us b^

25'

ging from their voluntary fedingg I To he coniUteLt

in our teaching, we should practise what we preaih.

•The Government may soon teach us; Oh I- -The volln-

^ taries cannot teach us their principle to be « jth«

Gospel," but the Government willMp them fX-i\i\iJih%

law is going to teach us the Gospel I— weU,[if the 1 jw is

to be consistent in its teaching, let us see fhtt itiust

do : it must not tax the Clergyman ; Jo \eofkpul'

9im " towards him !— he should be free of dverjr roLd in

Canada, his income should not be taxed,]and\ viujN-

TART GRANTS should be made to him wheieveri]

into difficulties, or needs to build a chur(

and more too, is but little to expect froto a

ment that seeks to deprive, religion of its suppoi

plea that " voluntaryism" is sufficient.

But we do not expect this practice, thJugh t4 do the
teaching; we see qui|e sufficient to convince us, that the
Clergy will be proscribed, if possible ^at thP
fession will be totally prostrate, through fear of ij
and vice receiving any check : the deion of;
is in allthis, and the misfortune is, thai people proi
CAmftan are following its evil teachilg.

We are prepared to hear of a sebt^ folli^wliig any
dangerous and ruinous principle, and pertinaLouslj
adhering to it, the more they aro warned and opposed;
but, it sorely puzzles our experiSnce to find— or Ven to
read of—the Government of a country, containing (aa
one should suppose) '' liiQ collective wisdm bf our
colony 1" sancaoning a measure advocated bymen<tf
overheated imagination, goaded on by the surj^es of

9ir

pro-
torance
Idelity

w^.

^ I'i'SiiMifftil^r'i'i'toiii -if iit'"i''r' ■

■i:.-.

■h

■■•^

•;

religious discord and strife. WKen the Goverhment* of
a Christie country, casts^ rejfgion upon the voluntary
support Of tho people, i/ ^ases from that ra6ment to
legislate for the subject ^ he is, for wliat is the nature
of the subject? Is it noi to value most tho things he
sees and feels? Is I^ not'' moved and excited almost
exclusively by present temporal goods? But, religion f
has no charms to. draw forth these feelings. If the
subject regard religion at all, it is with indifference,
and, most ffenerally, with dislike. Such is man as we
Jind him, and, therefore, the Government should sd

* Since writing the above, the net of spoliation has been pe^,
petrated. Ab a/urther proof of the contempt for all religioni/
the spoliation, we would mention the foUowing fact. In order
to apply the funds thus seized on, to other purposes than reli-
gion, a Bill was introduced, thus headed—" for the beiler appro-
priation/ of the monies derived from the ea!e of the lands
called Clergy Reserves. " These monies "had been appUed to
the extension of r<^ligion in the Province,~no«i, they are to be
better appropri<^ted /" though for building bridges, wiilroads, 4c
assuredly the jperpetration of this awful deed if bad enough—'
but,to follow it up by such a triumph as Ws, manifests the
height of blasphemy and impiety. "The how of darkness » but
mce, natimaily equalled this,— the deed of/calvary I

t Dr. Paley, with his usual force and clearness, alludes to this
•object—" What surrounds us, (be writ^,) is this world,— what
« addresses our senses and our passion^ is this worid,— what is
"at hand, what is in contact with vd, what acts upon us, what
" we act upon, is tliis worid. Religion, therefoie, which Strives
"with sen^e. strives for things absent,— that it may not ba
« overborne, that it may not sink under th^e powerful causei
'• Bhould have every eupport that can be given to iV'Ser-
nunu oniiarioue mUfjeeti.

.\ / /■■•

-/}■

heQoverhment* of
ipon the voluntary
n that radment to

what is the nature
lost the things he
md excited almost
is? But, religion f
30 feelings. If the

with indifference,
?wcA is man as we
rnment should s6

tliation has been pety
jpt for all religion iff
wing fact In order
r purposes than reli-
"for the better appro-
je eale of the lands
had been applied to
-now, th93r are to be
ridges, railroads, <fec.,

eed ie^ bad enough

J th^s, manifests the

oui' of darkness " but
/Calvary 1

rness, alludes to this
is this world,— what
his world,— what is
t acts upon us, what
^efme, which strives
bat It may not b«
^e powerful causes,
given to it"— ^er-

•\..

legislate for Wm. It should, protect his chief good
frdW^n indiffefieiit and inadequate support. It should
^ see that, whatever is entrusted to an uncertain and
ca|iricious support, religion should not ,But, we have
the reverse of all this now taught use :— taxation,, and
/compulsion are enforced 16 secure the rights arid pri-
vileges, which man naturally values, and which, (if left
to himself,) ho will provide,^ while religion, for which
he naturally cares little, is intrusted to his indifference
and neglect ! Had England leari^ed this preposterous
principle, who would have heard of the noble cham-
. pions whose works now adorn the scienle of theology ?
How could she care 9k her millions of poor souls, or
send out laboui;ers in heatLen lands or infant colonies ?
How could her « Kings and Queens be regarded as
nursing fathers and. mothers of the Church of God?"
If they had proscribed religion and its ministers, and
sent it begging for support amongst "fch^ careless and
indifferent? We must not overlook either, the delete-
rious effects, which this injurious treatment towards
reh'gion anc^ its ministers must have on the rising
generation. What young man of independent mind will
T^^sh to consign himself to such a hhmiliating position ?
Or, what father will wish to educate his son,, for an
office which does not remunerate himself, and may
consign his son to starvation and beggiary ? Let it not
be said that these motives should not interfere in such
a high matter, we think, under the reign of" volun-
taryism " they should, and, whether they should or not,
theywill^ they must ; for, the present state of society
demands an expensive education: as society advances

i-f

■ V

so much the more nocewary will it be to raise the sUnd-
ard of education for candidates for the ministry, and the
office, when enterd on, in order to obtain for it the
proper influence and respect must be secured in its
. position. So that, if means are essential to the due
exercise of the office, it becomes the duty of the father,
before he advises the son, and of the son, before
he decfles, to look weU to the consequences, ere he
entrusts his character and reputation to the whimsical
and merciless feelings of voluntaryism.
^But, it is time to seek for Scriptural authority for
thitf doctrine of voluntaryism ; for, after all, this must
be onr mam ffuide in any matter affecting the interests
of the Church of God, The only instance of pure
volmitaryism affording sufficient support, and practised^
eonststently, we find menUoned in Acts ii. 32. The faith
and unity of the congregation are thus described, « and
themultitude of them that believed were of one heart
and of one soul, neither said any of them, that aught
of the thmgs whi<Jh' he possessed was his own, but they
had all things common : " there was a imiversality in
feelmg, godliness and faith in this congregation, which
rendered voruntaiyism far different from any thing that
has appeared on earth since ; and yc< this voluntaryism
might be abused,— imposition might be practised,— it
was attempted,— the attempt, too, would have succeeded,
^re It not for the miraculous powers vested in the*
officers of the Church. However, on examining more
closely this extraordinary instance of voluntaryism, we
find It was not too pure to establish a fund-^a common
fund^BB a safety against any deficiency, and, hence, it

,-^

'^^
"^"

to raise the stand.

mioistrj, and the
obtain for it the
»e secured in its
ntial to the due
uty of the father,

the son, before
equences, ere he
to the whimsical

ral authority for
ter all, this must
ting the interests
istance of pure
•rt, and practise
ii.32. The faith
described, " and
ere of one heart
lem, that aught
is Own, but they

universality in
regation, which

any thing that
is voluntaryism
e practised, — it
tiave succeeded,

vested in the
(amining more
luntaryism, we
nd—acomrMm
, and, Aence, it

followed that " nom IcuJced among them, for as lilanj
as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and
brought the prices of the things sold, and laid them at
the Apibstles' feet, and cff«/rt&tif ton (from the fund) waa
made to every man, as he had need :" this fund existed
for some time, and others were appointed instead of the
Apostles to take charge of it. Acts vi. 1-7. A fund,
therefore, to meet the wants and exigencies of the
Church, did exist in the purest age of Christianity, and
thus, the uncertainties and short-comings 'of pure
voluntaryism were obviated.

It was wise, prudent, and necessary, for the Infant
Church to establish such a fund, although no jMzr^y, now-
a-days, adopts the method employed m raising the
fund ; the only question, then, which remains to be
considered, is whether mch a fund should^ be ramd,
from Believers or Unkelievers^from Heathens or Chris-
tians f This, however, is a question that may be soon
answered. We all agree that such a fund should not
be sought from Heathens^ and that Chrktians should
support their own religion, and, if any fund is to be
kept or set apart, or established, for the support of
Christianity, believers in Christianity should be ihe per-
sons to whom the Churches of God should look for
that support. This heiruf admitted, then we ask. Is not
our country Christian ? Does it not profess Christianity f -
Are not our rulers, both at home and here, to be
regarded as Christian by profession?— Assuredly,
th^y are.

If,^then, a Christian country or j^vemment, ' set
apart a fiind for the maintenance of the Christian

V *i

'^mf^a^^

nf"'w(p*^

religion, is not this adopting the principle, " Christianity
^l^ld support itself r-W, do not ndvocato .tithes,
behoving such a system not only impracticable, but
without any warrant whatever from the teaching of '
Christ and Ills apostles: but, Vo say, it is the botfhden
I duty of Christians, to have an established fund fas

the primitive Church,) for the support of religion, and if '
-- any Christians, in a country are responsible to Ood
more than others, for the existence of this fund it
surely must be those whom Providence hath placed in
such a high positibn, as to legislate for Christians in
temporal things. So far, therefore, from our .rulers ■
being induced to alienate a fund wh^ich they find pro. iL^^
videntially existing, for the purposes alluded to, they '¥'
should on the contrary, were such a fund not in ekis- "
tence, be the first in the country to agitate for it
till it was procured.

If our voluntaries, who advocate' the principle, that'
Christianity should support itself," were consistent in
their position, they should prove that the country ii
Heathen, and the rulers too!- But, as they have not
favoured us with any arguments of this kind, we
would remind our voluntaries, that.our country is still
regarded as Christian, and our rulers likewise, and any
provision made by them for the support' of religion
may be just as hallowed and sacred, as any aflbrded
by their deacons or people, an^, as we have already
seen "the bondage," that ^arises in either case, may
eve^be greater, and more detrimental to the faith

when the funds are raised by "the elect'" -of a congre-
gation, ©

I \

0, " Christianity
iclvociito «tithe8,
pincticnblo, but
lio teaching of
is tho boift]dcn
shed fund, (as
religion, and if
msiblc to Ood^
this fund, it
hath phiced in
' Christians in
iin our .rulers ,
they find pro- ji^;
luded to, they ^"
id not in oxis-
agitato for it,

principle, that
J consistent in
10 country is
hey have not
'lis kind, we
untry is 8TILL
ivise, and any
t' of religion,
any aflbrded
have already
r case, may
to the faith,
'•of acongre-

It is nojv time, that wo speak of volui^taryism as
ufe have ever followed it, that is, as an auxiliary to an
existing established fund. In this sense wo admit, ro-
t:eivo, and teach the principle, and much, both at homo
tfhd a broad, has our Church accomplished by tho
„v<}6mtary otferings of her children.
;^J^hat wo should support religion, and consider our-
imm as sto^vords of tho temporal blcstdngs which God
hos'given us, is a principle which tho members of our
Church "have not now to loam. It is an important
part of the teaching of our Church ; ovory collection we
take up, and, espetyally, every communion w© receive,
reminds us of our duty in this respect, by 4ho reci-
tal of the most appropriate sentences from Holy" Scrip-
ture. Thoro is no feeling of the soul which should be
evoked in religion, b^t our Church endeavours to excite
and 6all forth, ai^, foremost among those feelings, is
tho frfie will, or voluntary offering to Almr^fhty God of
a part of our substance, and through fear,Tthat in the
giving of this part, covetousuess might interfere, we are
faithfuHy warned in the Prayer Book sentences selected
from Scripture, that " he who giveth sparingly shall
reap sparingly."

. It is triie, indeed, the way in which we work the
principle, might be improved on, and it was for this
objecti that the Church Society was established : that
Society contemplates the various wants of the Church
as a Missionary Church, and, adapting itself to the
country, calls forth a periodical attention of our peopUr
to the wants of the Churcji. The time has at length
arrived when the Parent Church tells us to leam to

^ --

' •*" .

•4-

c-^

dtptnd upon oaniolvM, «nd,.thjnce. every miatlooliM
now not ODiy to re«|)ond to tlio^Jhurcli Society cUiins,
but also to guarantee a corUin amount of salary to tho
Clergyraan. Soon, we fear, the whole support will be
demanded from tho iwoplo, and then, tho fearful mis-
eiies of pure voluntaryism (or pure wretchedness)
will be upon us. At present, however, only one-half
it exacted of the people; some more efficient stepr
should be taken, than we see at present, to collect thia
portion of the minister's salary, which the people are,
or should be, responsible for. Various plans might be
devised infinitely preferable to what at present existo in
this matter: in fact, at present, no plan exists— no one
■eems responsible—while the minister must suffer from
any deficiency. Wheii the ofllccr of Rural Dean was
appointed, it was very generally supposed that foremost
•mong thd duties of said office, would bo a yearly
•nquiry from each parish respecting this portion of the
minister's salary, and in case of any deficiency in any
pairish, a vestry should be convened Igr order of the Dean
for the purpose of making this debt a parochial debt,
4nd forthwith to raise it either by private or public col-
lection as the Dean should order: an investigation of
this nature would soon rectify the present abuses and
riiortroomings in the salaries of the Clergy, and would
protect them from that humiliating position now* of ne-
eWBitj{dt,o{collecting their own debts/ Now, although
the dffico of Rural Dean might thus be rendered truly
useful to our missions, and especially to our poorer ones;
yetjit is more^than probable, no movement in this mat-*
t«f.lwill engage the attention of our Deans ; if »o, we

's-

*^l

muifc looktio the Church Society, and porhap« tliii l«
the moiit iogitimAto quarter to look to ; and why wo
should think the Society interested id such a grave
matter, we shall state — for. instance — neither iar it an
imaginary case^Whero the Clergyman, witl^ a large
family, i^cquircs half his salary from a poor people,
Ourt the Church Society demanda tliat quarterly col-
lections should be taken up in all Churches and station!^
and likewise, that parochial associations should be
formed, whereby -each* member of tlie Church it
canvassed for a yearly sutwcription towards the Churclji
Society. Where a people, the majority of whom are poor
and struggling, have such frequent calls made upon
them by the Church Society-*-" quarterly " — and " year*
ly "—as well as local improvements te attend to, — when ,
the Clergyman comes to seek his portion of salary,' he
often hears such excuses as " w^ have given all we
could afford this year, and cannot meet your demanda I'*
This, be it remembered, is no imaginary statement ; it
is the state of the case as we find it, and if it should be
said, " this is a poor specimen of liberality I we answw,
" we adnait it:*' but let the Church Society suffer fronot'
the saB specimen, and not the poor laborious mission*
ary. When the Society does something to rectify thiiKT
state of things, then, perhaps, we may admit its d^ima
more willingly. If the Society/for instance, took under
its charge the voluntary portion of the missionary**
salary, and enacted such laws and regulations in each
mission, as would protect the missionary from the*
present system, then all wbuld be right A propel
arrangement migbt be entered iotOi whereby each pariah

f4'

I!
If

iii

., • "'

!■

Vtould becoitiG responsible to the Church gociofy,Yoi'

. tlie transmission of its voluntary portion of salary, the

Society would thus become, as it were," the treasurer^

• upon whom, at certain dates, the missionary would
be entitled to draw. An instrumentality like this, if it
were only put in motion, woijld not only work well^
but would render the Societyj far more usefuj, and I
may say popular, jlhan it is iiow : thus alone it can
expect to enlist the /m/^ enerffij of the Clergy in its
behalf. We venture to speak plainly on this subject^
because we feel confident that, as long as the Society
pays no attention to this matter, 'it will" fail to enlist
that full energyof zeal and action among both Clergy
and laity, whicli it needsj and which it never yst

]^J0YED. . *i -v

The evils--I may say horrors— which follow, from
the present system of collecting the Clergyman's salary

* ih our missions, are numberless, and must continue so,
as long as no power out^de bur parishes take the mat-
ter in hand. Many who mom; subscribe to " the Cler- '
gyman's list," at the end of the year, change their
minds ; few ever feel that it is not to tho.'<Jlergy man as
an individual they. subscribe, but to theif Church,^ and
the present system of collecting fosters this evil, so that
we are teaching a principle ruinous to the Church. It is
supposed to he' a personal favour conferred on the
Clergyman, a sort of a bidding for the', talent hud
ability of the minister, just as we bid for the bone, and
Bi|iew,and wind of a race-horse. We had the mis^
fortune more, than once to be placed in this unplea-*
Bant and humiliating position. It was necessary to

35 .-■ "■; ■

uhihit our ware, before it was sold. Of such things w»
heard amongst dissenting congregations, but, iii our
church, never, till recently': well, we passed the ordeal I
the bidding went hiffh in one church, low in ano-
ther, according to the notions of the umpires ! Altoge*
ther, we came oflf favourably when compared with our
predecessor ; we felt, however, no way superior to him,
only we had novelty on our side to recommend ua, our
predecessor had worn that out : all, however, goes well,
till the day of payment, then one will say, « I only
subscribed for a year ;" another, (whose superfluities
may cost him ten pounds a year,) will say, 'VI cannot
, afibrd to pay any thing ; " another, " I did; not like
this, or that:" after a round of applications "to such
pure voluntaries we have to receive three lists as pay*
ment: — one list — " paid!"— amounts to one-fourth of the
salary ; the other list,— « to be paid when convenient;'*
and the last list -consists of" excuses, and fault find*
ing." THIS IS VOLUNTARY ISM 1 and>-if this happens
when we only seek one-Aa?^ of our salary from the peo*
pie, what will it be when we come to seek the whole I
Let parents consider (his well, before they entail such
mental suflering (not to tfay bodily) upon their chtt^
dren,^ — ^before they educate their sons for -an offii^
which the law may not protect from scorn and indiffer*
ence — an office^ which^ though the highest and most
important on earth, yet may be rendered useless and
time, serving, by the wickdness of man. When a
Christian land assumes this position towards the tainis*
try of God, then it denies the doctrine laid down by
ourLerdf^'the workman is worthy of his meat.** « The

■■'■*

^ —

-X - ■

— ' 7 :

;■ "■-

V^.'-

'■ •'■'

•-

• U

■ •;» ■

" I

* .,

^^^ft

x4'-

■4

S6 ■

B<««e or c»7y- (St. Matt X. n to /so ^hich aw^^^^
this position towards the ambassadors of God is guilty
of proscribing the ministry, and refusing the mUaffe '
and the action of the ministry in such a case is'
« depart out of thit house or citt, shake off the dusl
of your feet ; verily, I say unto you. It shall be more
tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomerrha, in
-the day of judgment than for that city." Let this
passage be read, let it be considered ; we do not write
for scholars or subtle theologians, we mean our remarks
for simple Bible-reading Christians ; and w? say, he who
reads this p^age will find the same duty laid down for

_a c»/y as for « a Aou^Vin providing for the ministiT.
Here we find, that one of the chief inarks of reception
of our Lord's disciples, by « a hous, or city, was to
extend to them their « bieat as workmen." Is « the citv "
or nation to teach on« thinff, in this matter, and « the
house » another ? Is « the house " to receive,' and « S^

T, J. f ^ ?T"'^' ^'""^ ''^ ^^y 5 rerily ! both houle
and My should, (according to the passage,) ;,roi;. their
r^^/jon^of the Gospel by providing 4eVorkman'I
meat. Such u the voluntaryism, we teach, and suet
19 NOT the voluntaryism of our puris voluntaries:
they seek to b^ wiser than God, and to legislate for
angels not for n^an as he is, and as God regards him ;
thejr seek to bring our nation and our promising >
country, to an mfidel rejection of the Gospel ; they pr^' ^
mse ^freedom 'Vas a reW for perp^tralingTch
inckedness, but the word of God^„ounces wrath, "It
Aall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and
%»nftrriia m the day of judgment, t han for fh.f w^.»

• : •

I which assumed
f God, is guilty
g the message J
uch a case is,
ike off the dust
t shall be more

GohMwha, in
^ty." Let this
ve do not vrrite
in our remarks
we say, he who
V laid down for
:>r the ministry*
ks of reception
r city, was to

Is "the city"
ttter, and « the
live, and "the
p the ministry,
ily ! both house
e,) prove their
he workman's
'Chj and suclr

voluntaries ;
► legislate for
•egards him ;
IT promising J^
el; they^o-" '^
trating such
!s wrath, " It "
Sodom and

In considering the working of Voluntaryism in thi»^
country, it will appear evident that, if it prove inade-
quate, and insufficient in the home country, where it
had every thing in its favour, iij must of course prove
a failure in a poor colony. In toi^s and cities it may
work, where the people are numerous and indepen-
dentj but, in our poorer settlements, there it cannot
work : the people in our infant settlements have thtir
. poverty and wretchedness to struggle with, lor a long
period, iand, if to their other claims we Md that of the
ministry, then we shall call upon them for what they
cannot give, though' willing", and the consequence will
be, that at the very period, above all others, wh«n a min*
ister is needed to console the wretched, and to teach
them reiigniation to their lot, to make a stand for
religion while the settlement is new, then we shall b«
PQmpelled to abahdon them, until, perhaps^ evil habits
' have gained the^ mastery, and the ground be preoccupied
by infidelity and irreligion. These considerations
however, are all set aside by the present agitation.

Individuals who never had one hour of experience in
missionary work, will now come forward to teach those
who have grown old in Canadian fissions. Men the
politician, whose ign^ance of the spiritual destitution -
of the country rtiust be notorious,, will, notwithstand*
ing, come forward to teach the peopte on this subject.
W^'lately heard one of these worthies plead his cause
most eloquently; he happened to have just left hismer^
chandize, and with his mind fully bent on " the pounds
shillings and pence," he stood forth as a candidate for
the suffrages of the people I He offered religion for -

« ,

l-iiilroads 1 A sort of merchandize -which he found itt
the market, arid thus he addressed his enlightened sup-
poitersi— "My friends! we have otie common cause^
^ "—to pull down all state churches,— take away their
♦'property, and then one church wilj not outstrip ano^
. "ther; |vhen we get this property, then we can have
" railroads, or anything else we wish. Religion,- if
,»';worth anything; should support itself. I am for
,:** freedom, and I care not how I obtain it, provided I
" can obtain it. The country is now rich and prosper-
« ous i it ca?f affprd to build churches, and sup^rt min.
« isters, and if it will not do this, then it should not
' « h^ve them / "^ On hearing such an orator as this, and
especially on 'hearbg of his sfeccew (for he was « re-
turned J'') I blushed for my adopted country, but I
consoled mystjlf with the hope, that we h^d now arri*
ved at the end of the road—" a long W indeed, which
has no turning ! " This is the boastedUnlightenment of
the 19th century.-To laugh at what our forefathers
trembled at ;— to Jcnow in a moment, what wo never
took time to learn ;~to speak confidently of what we
never saw or experienced ;--to rush onward, while cau-
tion would whisper to hesitate ;^to deride all sacrM
thmgs, be they churches or church property, or burial
grounds : any feelings attached to such things, beyond "
what yre would have for merchandize, is accounted
"superstition" and « priestcraft 1" If they have not
yet arrived at that point where extremes meet, assuredly
they cannot be far from it. We see the mind, now
strained; the door is too widely opened and when it'
•wings back, then we shall see "the Pandora Box "of

\ ■ ■/

''..■■<"■■■*-■
Schism of dissent : other goncralions have seen it, h\xi
wo, not yet fullf/f Wo havo seen, however, the first _
fruits, aye ! oven more : tjie extreme of liberality^
\vhich wo fiavc, seen is now changed into bigotry ; and
that "Religious Toleration" which gave the hand of
fellowship to every vhade of error amongst the creedless.
is now changed into in^nflGerable intolerance. Where
the Bible was siipposj^d to be"<oo severe, there now tho
law and the sword would be used: these and many
more are the extremes, and when they meot, what "shall
we see ? we shall see popery and dissent, /r«i, politically
joined ; thai we do see ! but something more wonderful
awaits us; preachers and ministers venerated with saint- "
like honours; «hurch' architecture ! ahd "Clergymen!"
prepared for Iheir ofiice by A University Education 1" a
little while ago^ tjie only qualification was "ar mouth
speaking out of the abundance of the heart I " but now !
"Puseyite' qualifications" are the fashion! parchments^
degrees, and " man-sent operations!! " The Church now
has to whisper, to dissent, not to think too mucA*of these
things, but to think soberly and moderately. Oh ! how
thankful, we ought to. feel for our Church's faith and
practice ? .^We exhibit the 'happy medium between two
dangerous esitremes, ' popery and , dissent ! Xet our
motto as Church people ever be remembered — "/»
medio tutissimus ibh."* Let this motto more and more
at^p our Bibles, our prayer-books^ and our heartsi
These are the days^ and this the country, for us all

to cling mfore closely to pur Church's practice^

■ ■ ■■--.* ■ ■ . ,■ ■ ft' ' . ♦ .

* See Ifote on '^ Via M«dia, " a^ the end. <

■>>

/ ,

^^^^^^^f 0'AJr%.^^%si<'VJ!^

f^^rr-^ ¥•

( -. I'

• 40 ■

and legitimate teaching. Wo' are indebted to out
Church, under God, for wh,\toyer .lability our^nafion
P"^; and if the teaching .of X,„d or P„sey.
. for ,Aepre«^t, misleads Bon,e, we kno«r the Churchvl
.tandMd» are unchanged, & wheioier came out of « the

. Vo.ce 6f Scripture, ^^.ttered by -'the glorious army of
"Cr^ """^ 'WI^ obeying these »Lda«i;,7fed
.p«.teoted ,n our moW "In medio tuti«imus ibi..-'
Before we concIudc^weVouId offer a few remarks on
yoIunt«7«m m re/erence to our/!hurch. There are
many who belong to ourChurd?in this country, but
who, m con«,uence of neveriavinTcontribnted any-

ctnL r "J" ?l'''8y"'»-'»»"PP0rt in the hom"^,
country, or even m this, till lately, suppose that a haM
lot has oyertdten them in consequence of this Z
demand. Here, however, they are much mistaken ; for
ae t.a,e or taxation, which they had to pay at hLe,
though not „o«i^,j, gi,e„ to the Clergyminf yet mTcI-
• lin- T^ "r"*'"^ ™P«*^ " »">*' to proviie^or tSo
mmishf. Instead, however, of BnchbU^asomet^r!
atonbe,ng,mposedhe,«, therei. only a sm»ll sum,
and that toe voluntarily, eipected fW,m Wh. Now In
^g this support there sh6uld be lib^t^ a„dpj«.
^ observed in the contribution. If oZ firjil^ '
»^^ taught our people (his habit, we should not
nowltape„e,ce the difficulties which we do in this

Uie State, (as our opponents affirm,) but chiefly by a
chantable society in the. mother country, heni out -
oeoole h,v, not been indoctrinated in the principle of

w?T*iS'

Y^-rfPi.

' ■ . " '■ . ' ' ' t^

Mpportiog the ministry as muciv as jure would wish.
As the ^0Ine Societies have long sipce coine to the
decision of mdlthdrawing their support from this province,
and as they have already commenced to do so, we- are
flow compelled to call upon our people for support ; and
we cannot but think thipit it is high, time to make a
beginning. Our people^ however, are. slow in learning .
this jpripciple. We have known many of our farming
population, who 'generally put by, to our knowledge,,
fr^m one to' fwo hundred pounds annually, and yet, to
our amazement, we often find their names on the sub- '
' scriplion list to the minister's support for "one pojind P^

.^ and too often for "ten- shillings 1" and after contribu-
ting fluch a mite,, would look into the faces of their
, fellow churchmen with self-complacent satisfaction, as
if they were worthy to be held forth as wonderful spe-
cimens of liberality. What ! a man blessed of God, by,,
sunshine and shower, protected by a good Providence
from all the casualties^thatumay happen from seed-time
to harvest, vtrith barni^ overflowing, and putting* into
his coffers one to two hundred pounds yearly I — such
a man giving back to his Go<i the <|>altry sum of one
pound I — One pound to tlie ministry, and perhaps twenty
jto his vices ! Though the fields of such a man be fruit-
ful,' his soul must be barren, ana he must be deceiving'
it with the soliloquy of the man in the parable. "Soul,

J thou' hast much goods laid up for many years, take
thine ease ; eat, drink, and be merry.'* But the answer

— of God, like the writipg of the unknown hand, spoils
all, — " Xhou fool, this night thy soul shall be required,
of thee." Be wise, then, in time, Oh, ye covetous I

--J

4S2

Your riches are but dross and dung in comparison to
what we' bring you, — wo bring you a vessel freighted
with heavenly merchandise, and were you to give your-
selves, your houses, and your substance, j^ou could not
purchase anything we ofl'or ! Gifts, such as we bring,
demand your gratitude, and the frui^ of this grfititudb
is, Jlrst, " to give yourselves to the Lord," and then,
your substance ; and, if'you do this, then, we declare to
you, on the authority of God, that even in this life yoUj
shall be gainers, " for every one that hath forsaken
houses, or brethren, or sistere, or father, or mother, or
^fe, or children, or land, for my name's sake, shall
receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting
life." Our holy religion, if practiced Avith that self-
denial M^ich values Christ above all else, confei's " the
promise of the life that is, as well as of that to come.
Thfis is the voluntaryism .we want to see ; but we deny
lat it ever will be taught us by the spoliation of our
/property, or by the political agitation of our purb
voluntaries ! but by the only agency which God has
authorised to instil such principles — by the feaoiful

EXERCISE OF THE MINISTRY OF GoD. ■ '

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j^oTE.— '• Taa ViaMedia," ><fttiM|DDL« "Way.

. We regard our Church ns the " Via M|oJ>'*" hotwccn two
dangerous extreme^— popery- and dissent I We Are aware thot ^
some sincere members of our Church disputju thi^ position. One,
party maintains that there is no medium, And/that popery and
dissent are similar ! Another party, on iU cbti\x^t% Bupposet :^
that dissent is tho medium I Now, wo feel cfertain ihot.a. very J
shghtconsiderationwili prove both these bartiea Wrong, uxO:
that our Church is '*The Via Media." Wo /dsk then,
in the first, place, what is popery f A systdm of ejixB^ doc-
trines. What is dissent? 'A system ot^opjkQt^fJ doctrine
Here surely there must be a medium, a plkce for truth. For
instance, popery teaches absolution by the priest, irrespective
of the fitness or unfitness of the recipient 1 jdissent, aroUsed to
indignation at such a doctrine, rushes to the ither extreme, and
denies any power in the nifbister j beyond thatjof a mere layman'
Our Church, on the contrary, appeals to Scribture ; her minU- '
try fearlessly take the ground Sssigned to thetk as « ambassadors
for God, who speak in His name and tteadh and to all who
obey tho conditions of the Qospel/we pronounce to txxcWbeing
penitentr the forgiveness of sins. Such authority belongs not
to laymen, it is intrusted ta " the ministry of reconciliation."—
See 2 Cor. v. 20; John xx. 28 ; Matt, xvi. 19.1 :

Again, .popery teaches the "opiis operiAum'? eystefe of
sacraments, insomuch, that grace is conferred alike on all by their
reception: baptism secures salvation irrespective of conditions,
and the Lord's Supper becomes a charm, irrespective of the fit-
ness or unfitness of the recipient 1 At this, diskent is horrified,
rushes to the other extreme, levels all sacramenls, and preaches
fexclusively of repentance and faith. Here thb Church takes
her ground again between these two dangerous fextremes. She
^ teaches, thatwpentance and faith, these mighty feifts, cannot be
procured and strengthened without all Uie meahs, and that aU

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Jho loo^for •alratU by Chrirt nmH 1„««t,, th«,o me.n,.
^ K?.!!: ' , "'' 'P'"* "'^ J°^°*''* ^J^ °"^ Saviour.-" unlc a

.X.t ^™ X '"''" '"'^ *^° "P'"^" ^•"'«"' ^^"•d havo the
W Wy. and popery tho water; but the happy medinm i.

•d^ water aud the .piri," " What God has joiued togeTh
lotjot man put aaundor." In the instruction of her7eoplo.
pojiery beheves that "ignorance is bli..;» and accordingly. i„
the instruction of Ifer youth, she would dole out «.raps of super-
•Ution under tho form of religipn, and, if possible, would exclude
-^ My progress-m sciences or literature. Dissent fires at this,
rushes impetuously to the otlier extreme, and declares, that
religion tramels tho human mind, and hinders the process of

Bhould be kept/ree / At once a war is waged against sciool.

W^ ? Rel.giouseducationisM.n/^tocha?ce.and«.ecu.
lar education is the blessing!" Here again the Church t.^.
her middje and Scriptural ground. Sh: would remind poplry
that religion «nMo«/ education produces superstition andTesl

reSL " ^^^-^-d dissenVthat education. ^JmoJ^

religion gives a crop of infidelity. Both of these danger, the

Church protects us from, by establishing itfall lands. sZob«id

umversiUes. where religiohlind education go hand in hand, in

where the evils that might arise fromtheone, are counterl/te

by the salutary and restraining influence of the.^ther. /a

a further instance of the battle between these two extremis

I°r "«f '°\-P0P«'7 hangs its boasting and hopes Ip'o,

un ty. Although human tradition may not eaUsfy .0 Jof Zm,

yet It ,s endured for the sake of unity. They would prefer to

go td hell in unity.^th«i to heaven by separation. Diw^i -ees

thij^ and. rushes headlong, as usu^. to the other extreme.

Bchism IS a blessing r "unity a curse I-'-a creature of the

f^/^^. ^il""'"^'*!'-" ''"^ ^''■^^ ^^'^'"^^^^ popery,
and /W./ore to be avoided I Our Church again takes thV" v£

Media; she pronounces unity a blessing, if it can be maintained

™ ^ ♦f T'' "^ >"'**'^«' truth. She breathes after
umty as the Sayipu^-« Fiber, I will that they may be one

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e?en m we are one." Our Ohurcl< batci conteotioo, atid bating
•elected Apoitolio docirino and discipline, ae the primitive
Oliurcbos taught, she givoa no occasion for schi«m, and, as the
Apoiitles, " marlM those who cause divisiorfs, and aVoids them.".
Again, popery prays, exclusively with the missal ; a form of
prayer is gone through, and grace conferred by its repetition,
the spirit need not accompany, the heart need not bo engaged ;
if the mouth speaks, all \% right t Dissent sees this awful
extreme, and with ferered imagination wages a warfare against
allformt, — ** these are injurious to piety I" Thus, while popery
prays 0«c/iiMWy with a form, dissent must pray txilunvely
mthovt one I JBoth fatal extremes ! Poperr, by its extreme,
builds up a castle of formality, and Dis8ent,%y its extreme, a
castle of enthusiasm I Here, again, our Ohurclji comes to our
rescue, and)>Iace8 our feet on the " Via Kedia." She honours
forms, if Ap6tt^ic and Scriptural, remembering Uiat thVSible
itself comes under this definition. She prays in a form, remem-
bering the example of our Lord, who taught hh diadplee to do
so, and composed a fbrm for their use ; and she foUowi the early-
infant church in the use of forms, as it would appear tliat tile
JirMtpraytr they ever offered up as, an ataembly, was of necn-
uty a form prwioutly known by them,--.>Jc/« ii. 24, 30,— com-
pared with the Second Psalm. In the use of forms, then, tha
Church would teach us to^ray with th0 undtrttanding and th$ ,
fpirit. Popery teaches' prayer with the understanding, but not
the spirit ; and dissent teaches prayer with the spirit, but not
the understanding. The Ohurch's plan, being scriptural, is the
only safe one, and is the middle path. Once more,— In tha
bosom of popery « allure safe 1" there is " the kingdom of Hea-
ren 1" Saints and sinners hare the same hopes, and assurances,
and pardons. ** "What difference beiueen ]»inn«r and mnngr in
the si^ht of Him who is of purer efea than to behold iniquity V*
Dissent at once forges it» extreme. Oo considering suoh hUia^
phen^ they would at onee separate *<the deui from the
Wiol^a^." A perfect communion run muUhxre. Sinner* must,
flee from the angelci,— chaff from t&e wheat 1 Here again tha'
Ohnroh takea the middle ground. She learns tnm the Satioor

■ , ' t

thflt " butli wheat nnd taraii mutt grow together till the h«r*
vest,"—" pluck not up the tares, lost ye root up the vthvat nUo."
Let not man usurp tho prerogative of Got). Popery does to
in announcing all to bo whont, and safo. Dissent does to in
distinguisliiiig her saints. But tlio Cliurcli tonchas, wait till
'• the hurvost,"— "judge notliing before tho time."

In tho latter case, however, wo have nn instance of the
extremuR meeting, and some othcru might bo adduced, such aa
when dissent pronounces the immediate pardon of a sinner OQ

this penitent bench, it ^neete jMipory wlien pronouncing pardon in^^
the confessional. Dissent, when it tells of its wonder-worliing, ,
and toundi it$ own praite, meet$ popery in canonizing its saintp, ^
and praotising " pious frauds." Dissent, when it finds a popu-
lar preacher, will hang its opinion upon his individual opinion,
and thun'meetn popery in following a i>ope. Such instances,
however, are the exceptione to the general rule ; and even though
here, we may have but one extreme to avoid, yet a middle path
must be taken, as a channel may bo dangerous, though it have
on]^ one treacherous ooast.

But, notwithstanding these casual meetings of diuont and
popery, still, there is qyito sufficient left in dissent to pronounce *,
it an extreme— an extreme, too, which holds its principles with -
the same pertinacity as popery, for instance,— to recapitulate >—

Popery gives to the ministry the power of God 1

Dissent gives it NO power I

Popery makes saviours of sacraments ! '

Dissent makes not/<tn^ of them I

popery would worship bells, rags, and bones 1
7^ Dissent would have no higher feeling for churches, chureh
. property, or burial grounds, than for dwelling houses and
merchandise!

Popery makes everything a form 1

Dissent would have no form I
' Popery makes marriage a sacrament !

Dissent would make it a mere civil bargain, and would banlA
'^' prayer from its performance I

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I'uper/ would teach lA« mii$al d/on« in bor univtrtitUt I

DUsent would banith «v«n tho Diblo Ihorcfrom I

Popory cBcapoM Hell by uuity I

DiiMoiit gainii Ileavon by noparation 1

Mniiy Huch inBtancfid might bo adduced to provo tho battle
botwoon thoBO two uxtromcti, but iu looking t«riou»ly at them,
wo would maintain, that auptrttitim, or popery, ii one
•xtrome, and ivjUtlily, or diuaont, is the other. There aurt'ly
muatbe a place for truth amidst these two contending systems.
Aye, verily 1 uw belifve it, thia i» "the Via Jtfcrfio,"— the
middle path,— where our Church has over struggled, no way
terrified by these two extremes, whether they me*t or keep
uparate. Then sho stands, as a venerable matron, giving Jjier
lessons of experience to her children, watching over " the oar-
row path;" and, in viewing tho frowning cliff* on either side,
•he teaches, " turn not \» the %-ij^t or lejt,*'--

*^iv4tk\

DIO TUTIISIMUS IBIS."

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