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TtMlT 
 
 PRESENT 
 
 CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 
 
 AND 
 
 ^ ^u^"^ (^w sr^sMiiisriissis^ 
 
 CONTENDING 
 
 IN 
 
 A DIALOGUE. 
 
 "Not by might, nor by power, but by mt Spirit, saith the 
 Lord of Hosts."— Zach. iv. 6. 
 
 "Thk weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty 
 through Gop.'— 2 Cor. x. 4. 
 
 tfj" It is designed that any Profit arising from the Sale of this 
 Pamphlet, after all necessary deductions, shall le duly contributed 
 to the strvice of the "British and Foreign Bible Society." 
 
■ )- ;■• 
 
'*■ 
 
 Sucii as aro unacquainted witb the still rough p.nd rudo manners of some of the 
 Highland? of" Scotland, even at tliis day of evident reform, may bi- apt to suppose 
 the following little work as partly but ciiimencal and romantic ; or to think, at 
 least, that in n long degree, some of its characters are drafted at random, destitute 
 of truth, or past all moderation of description. 
 
 The Author, therefore, though purposely laid under a very, light and tedious 
 restraint of feelings, in order to give no unnecessary offence, sets to his account to 
 suffer sad and sound reflections (jn tliis point, from different quiuiers; especially 
 from those ignorant of his very high ground ; or such as feel too far interested 
 regarding sentiments or condiu't hy him condemned or exposed ; or are too conceited 
 of their own light and knowledge, and so stand opposed to any religious measures 
 intended for their conviction or correction beyond the line or limits of theii ordinary 
 means of information. O Controversy! How dangerous and dolorous! Though 
 often unavoidable and sometimes profitable ! "Outof tlio eater came out meat." 
 "The wounds of a friend are belter than the kisses of an enemy." 
 
 The drift of the ensuing Dialogue being deemed of utmost importance to those 
 more immediately concerned, and not of uidifierence to any others, it is thought 
 but just thnt, before any presume to pass upon it a sentence of death, they should 
 give it a patient perusal. 
 
 Wliether the perforniiince may claim any credit, or not, from its real or intrinsic 
 merit, in the estimation of the judicious and the serious in general, it can hardly fail, 
 in some of its bearings, to touch the vein of the humorous and the curious, though 
 not so much from the intent of the speakers, as by the novelty of the subject. 
 
 Zealous defence of sacred Irutii, or exposure of errors and misconduct, without 
 undue severity of temper, and free froti] deficienco and redundance of evidence, 
 particularly under keen provocation, and ungrateful reproaches, requires a rare and 
 radiant talent, which the writer hereof sincerely approves and ardently admires in 
 others; though, at the same time, and with equal sincerity, he desires to admit and 
 lament his own sad and sore insulRcience on this tender and taunted ground. 
 
 THE AUTHOK 
 
 Cane Breton, :5Glh October, 1841 
 
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 Rev. 
 
.y 
 
 *-, -^r' 
 
 RELIGIOUS SOPHISTRY EXPOSED; 
 
 OR, THE PRESENT RELIGIOUS STATE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 DEFENDED AND CONDEMNED, 
 
 IN A DIALOGUE 
 
 BETWEEN FOUR SCOTTISH SETTLERS IN CAPE-IiRETON, VIZ 
 ANGUS, BRUCE, CHARLES, AND DONALD; 
 
 AT A MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE ASSEMBLED, 
 
 AND FOUNDED ON 
 
 THE TWO FOLLOWING LETTERS. 
 
 Broad Cove, 24th September, 1840. 
 Reverend Sir, — We, the undersigned, form the only Pre&byterial, and 
 the highest constituted ecclesiastical authority, acknowledged by the 
 Established Church of Scotland, in this Island, and in that capacity pos- 
 sess jurisdiction over ail the members, prohatioiiers, and ministers of that 
 Church, residin;T within the limits of Cape Breton. We have learned 
 that yon claim the Status of a Minister of that Church. Therefore we, 
 in the exercise of the jurisdiction competent to us, call u,)on you to 
 ^^ produce, at our bar, or before our Moderator, within forty days of 
 
 this date, the documents on which you found your claim. We add 
 that, in the event of no satisfactory credentials being within that time 
 produced, we may, at the expiration thereof, feel ourselves called upon 
 to take more public measures in reference to the claim you advance. 
 
 We are, Rev. Sir, yours. &c. 
 
 JAMKS FRASCR, Moderator. 
 DUG \I,I) M. KICHAN, Presby. Clk. 
 ALKXR FA RQUH ARSON, 
 PETKK MA(JLIiAN, 
 JOHN GLNN. 
 Rev. Norman McLeod, ' 
 
 St. Ann's, Cape Breton. 
 
St. Anw's, C. B., blh October, 1840, 
 
 Reeerend Sir, — Your letter of t*io 21th tilt., Hif^riud -xi liroad Cove, by youraolf 
 ftnd the rest of your R«vere'icl bruthrcu in this Island, I received this morning; to 
 which I hcgf to ;in;>\ver, thiit I ft.'el it requires a piece of sclf-deninl in rnc to tnko 
 nriy nolifi; of such a fulminating farce : but the sacreil proverb says, " Answer a 
 fudl iiccordiu;! t') his i'oily, ii-st he be wise in his own conceit ;" and of all fooln 
 I Bi'rionsiv I riiisiH(^'- rc^lij^i'ius fon!.-), at the pinn.iclo of profession, to be tlie mo.st 
 dangerous to flea! wit!) ; whose minds and consciences are so s/uliy and shamefully 
 scared up to every mode of conviction of their own religious miscarriage, l latly 
 deny having ever claimed tiie "Status of a Minister of tiie Church of Scotland," 
 and in all humility and sincerity desire to bless Heaven for having enlightened 
 my mind to dread and abhor that status. I have certainly from timi; to time 
 prof'cesed myself', as in mv own e?limatiou, a poor and an unworthy member of the 
 once venerable and glorious t,"liur''h of Si.'otland ; but the nieagre, the jjitiful, and 
 fiegciierate tiling that passes now undi.'r the pompons and b()a.:ted sanction of that 
 name, I utterly and indigriantly disclaim, with all its alarming "bar" and awful 
 "authority," in the most open and unreaerved maiuier possible; so that you, or 
 any others, cannot mi!<e this avowal more p:il)lic than I freely allow. And without 
 dowr.right and wilful misrepresentation, 1 openly defy all the information in the 
 countrv to riubstantiate any thing beyond the scope of l!iis pi<iin declaration against 
 me on the subject. I feel no dilHtlenco on this stable ground ; and since ever I 
 arrived at my concl'jsions on these points, I iiave never felt desirous of evading 
 any candid and dis|»assiounlo investigation of them. I do not wish to excite your 
 anger, which is, alas I but too manifestly dominant on the least occasion; but in 
 consideration of your dangerous and wilful extravugn.iioe, especially regarding the 
 va;-ant, wild, and fatiatici'.l (^hanges, undei' the name of conversion, woikiul up by 
 tiie silly, sly, and disgustful art of some of y(,u, and fostered by almost all of you, 
 together witli your openly profane and indiscriminate administration of the most 
 solemn and sacred ordinances, exclusive ol'niany other similar me-.nsof conviction, 
 in tiio obvious tenor and ttMidfmcy of your conversation and conduct, I cannot but 
 infer, — without contradicting all scriptural reasoning on the poitit, — that the Church 
 which gives p'ace and support to the like of your ciiaracters, in her highest office, 
 must, in fact, be any other thing than a living Ciiur:;h of Jesus Christ; which haa 
 been my most serious and deliberate view on the subject, for the long space now 
 of forty years together; and every day, if possii)le, confirms me more and more 
 on thin grievous though unavoidable determination. 
 
 Ol the vast privilege and rare benefit r,f "forty days' "' suspense and respite I 
 In fine, I heartily regret that your unfort.tnate, olfensive, and confirmed inso- 
 lence and pride, so conspicuous in your letter, as a fn-;-o specimen of your general 
 disposition and conduct, as Ministers, towards afl who dare object to your measures, 
 render it morally impossible fen* inc to answer you in a more agreeubie stylo. 
 " W'itli the froward thou wilt show thyself fVoward."— Psalmist. 
 
 1 am, Ivov. Sir, 
 
 Yours. &e. 
 
 jNOitMAN McLEOD 
 Rev. James Frrsrsr, 
 
 Boulurderie Ijiand. • 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 <! 
 
i 
 
 Angus. — After tho perusnl of these letterb, I wish yoti, neighbor 
 Bruce, to puss your opinion upon them, in some remarks, in the audience 
 of this rneetiiifr. 
 
 Bruce. — Though I have my opinion, on many topics, in common with 
 the generality of our neighbors, I may vary from the most of them on 
 this ground; and therefore would rather hear than pass remarks on 
 that sul)ject. 
 
 Avgub. — And do you fear to declare your seniiments on public points, 
 which make so much butitle thrijugh nil tiu> ueijriiborhood ? 
 
 Bruce. — I do not fear the light, but only cho()!<e not to be unnecessa- 
 rily drawn into dispules, howpvcr imporliiiit in tliems^c'Ivei; : The points 
 in question are bolli tough ami lender, as well as weighty. 
 
 Angus. — I am surprised that om- clergy have not published these 
 letters, which would show to the world thi; audacity of their correspond- 
 ent, and at once discharge them from any imputalion, on the score of 
 their opposition to him and his adherents. 
 
 Bruce. — Perhaps they do worse, on the subject of these letters, than 
 pul)lisliiiig them, for they arc said to have, directly or indirectly, mis- 
 represented, to as many of their people iis have no chance to know other- 
 wise, the real drift of their contents. 
 
 ^w^//s.— Could you believe our Ministers cap^ ne of such meanness 
 as would justify your suggest '0:1 ? 
 
 Bruce. — I am sorry there is no great mystery in the view of the sun 
 on that ground; the remembrance of which makes my very heart begin 
 to sicken. 
 
 Angus. — There is nothing that J foel more proud of than the recent 
 enlargement and improvement of our (Uuirch, and the piety of her 
 Clergy, botii at home and abroad. Her "General Assembly" in Scot- 
 land, I hear, maintain a cordial correspondence with her sacred majesty 
 our Queen ; who consequently deigns to bestow on tiiem special benefits 
 and favors according to their applications. How, then, durst any petty 
 single man write or sneak so contemptuously of our good and' grand 
 ecclesiastical order ! 
 
 L Bruce. — 1 am afraid the said correspondence, part of which I have 
 
 read, is wholly for the Church; and, on the part of the General Assem- 
 bly, little intended for the benefit of .ler Majesty, but to flatter her into 
 a conceit of her own exalted merits, and prospects, for time and eter- 
 nity. I see worldly privileges and preferments, politics, and political 
 strife and contention, under the mask of religious zeal, very like to 
 eat up, and drain oif all the very natural afiec'tions of professors and 
 Ministers, not to speak of the power of religion. 
 
 Angus. — To whom do you apply your last remark; do you mean any 
 particular religious community? 
 
 Br«ce.— My remarks are indeetl of a very general application; and 
 your party is far from exempted; especially when T find you so much 
 priding yourself upon false grounds. 
 
 } 
 
^^yi^^S^^- 
 
 8 
 
 Angus. — Do you ihen waive any reflection upon the original gtound 
 of our reasoning? 
 
 Bruce. — I chink it sufficient, in the mrsan time, to say that that cor* 
 reflpondence pa)9 itself; for, if the one letter is foolishly authoritative in 
 its spirit, the other is keenly independent. A certain person of general 
 credit for discretion and talent, after the perusal of ihe two copies, remark- 
 ed that the first was more like a " Popish t)uH" than sny thing of the 
 kind evt'r read hy him between Protestants, and that, as to the reply, 
 he would make none, but return the " inperative mandate" inclosed to 
 its authors. But perhaps, if he knew better ill the circumstances of the 
 case, he would think that measure very doubtful, if not very dangerous; 
 for silence on tli^l score would be triumphantly construed into a weak- 
 ness of cause. 
 
 Angus,-']s it candid to in.'"';r from that " imperative mandate" that 
 the rest of the authors' doctrine an-J conduct may not have been 
 found agreeable to tlie standard of truth, notwithstanding that "Popish 
 
 bull'" 
 
 Bruce. — Without change of mind by sincere penitence on their 
 part, th inference supposed may not only have been, but must still be, 
 during i;ll their future life on earth, liot'.i just and reasonable. For they 
 are mTuufestly (a.- beyond the bouiids of modesty in their ecclesiastical 
 authority; which is quite agreeable to the rest of their administration. 
 
 Anirii. . — Whatever you say of their conduct, is not their doctrine 
 orthoc'ox and scriptural? 
 
 .Brwcr.— Not seldom the very reverse, even to merited ridicule; or 
 which m::v be far worse, the consternation and contusion of silly and 
 unsettled minds. For example, one of the chief instruments in oiir 
 iamous r(viva!, in addressing upwards of a thoisand hearers beforj their 
 dismission at a late sacramental meeting, among other stuflf of the same 
 nature, C5'p''«=^sed himself in the following strain:— "O people! you came 
 out under Uie curse; but if you please, you may go home under the 
 blessing." On another occasion, the same preacher said to some of his 
 audience, ''Fare ye well I you inhabitants of the 'Rhuichin,' (i.e. points 
 or headlands) I see you bound and burning in hell," tfcc. As the people 
 thus addressed did not honor and humor his reverence, like the rest of 
 his adherents, he wished to frighten them to submission ; some of whom 
 instantly fainted ; and have not indeed to this day recovered their former 
 sense or steadiness; especially some weak females. But you will observe 
 all this must be named a revivr.l ! Deny the quotations, if you can ; for 
 the strength of the evidence is undeniable. 
 
 An'Tiis. — Though I should wish otherwise, I believe it is needless to 
 contradict you on°that score. But these inadvertencies are indeed so 
 harmless in my view, and likewise so solitary, that I really think any 
 .nan stands a-tiptoe that makes such a bustle about them. 
 
 Bruce. — The points in question are neither so indifferent, nor so 
 solitary as you choose to describe them. 1 can produce some more 
 examples of the same kind, from a sermon of another of our preachers; 
 who is also instrumental in our sounding revival; and for which I have 
 
Ihc same otreugth of ef.dence to challenge contradictjou :-" Mow. wtt 
 
 punwhmfeol for the conjm.ssioii of one crime." - Mary Mnadal^rie wa. 
 a harlot •. And that " Temperance Societies ,re founded on MZmrt 
 InT ,"«*'"'■ .'^"^' 'i;!'*'"S in his preaching of the general Zl- 
 ftation ol Satan m this world, he naserted thai '<it is by the instijjat^n 
 of this «.v,l sp.m tha the Kulls are in the habit of covering their mate* 
 on the Lord s day." But enough of :his disagreeable stiff^ Mere deH* 
 cacy of fcehngs. regarding both myself and mher., should make m« 
 entirely waive tlm last quotation, but for my sincere ieai that Te Lo^d 
 wou d please u. his sovereign mercy, to open the min.ls of ny of niy au- 
 d lor., to consider the awful depth of shan.eles. idiotism, at whidi some 
 
 vXe'd 1^ "'. ''''''' ' "^'^ " ^^ ^^^''°^^^^^'P °^^^^'^'' ^" of them^: 
 
 . "oived. It Js by no meansin order to excite lightness, or lauehter that 
 
 expose the folly of our Ministers, For. if I wire sur^ thrraea would 
 
 charge of heaven • " to speak evil of no .nun ;" &,c. Tit. iii 2 
 
 ,h«.!^T'"^ ^'l'"*' ''"^ '"'" *""" '^^r'i'y transgress that scripture moro 
 
 others ' "'" "''"■ "'''' ^""^"^ '"'^'^'^« '^'•'^ ^"'^^"S '"^"1'™ i'h 
 
 Bruce.-l hope you can i .ii.guisii between speakine evil of men and 
 speaking necessarily of their evil. ^ ^ meMna 
 
 Angus.~l suppose their evil, or erroneous, doctrine cannot kill vou. 
 
 i?n/^e._>I should thank Providence on that ground ; for I have bv'4'e 
 some sound evidence that one of your Clergymen said in a ate coivrr! 
 satioi, among some of h:. associates, " Were it not from fe.- of theTivil 
 law. I would break the skull of neighbour Brace." But ^ have o Z 
 sure ,n bemg so personal and pa.tiaiia; ; 1 would, themiore rathir^waiv* 
 JUS now this branch of the subject, and enter upon sonieo h po S 
 moie general and open to the view of the wur\d 
 
 nf «5f nT'T"^*^"^- '''' ye.^^hink then of the present state of the Church 
 Pf Scotland, as to ner religiou- life and reforml ^^"urcfi 
 
 von;^PlTh~V''i''' ^'^ '° recoil the queslio- . and first to enquire of 
 yourself how far do you rest satisfied as to the general account given of 
 htr flourishing state by her own admirers and supporters, and parUcuTarry 
 through her chief organ in this country, " The Guardian '" ^^ 
 Ang^s—l cannot for a moment hesitate to believe that the gross ani? 
 copeof the statements, from time to time, giv.n iu that very mfdiu.n ot 
 founTd' '"^*^'"'^^'-°"' ^^h'^h you have jus't mentioned, miJisT be weU 
 
w 
 
 5«^t'r h'''"i "°a 'i*"/ ^'^^ J"^'''^^ °''y°" inference. 
 
 f.i.hlK;i;;::.r :jus "rfhrst: '°of":r 'r '"'""■ "■• 
 
 reforming c„„di,i„„ „f „„, emi„Lt ChuJc" e°'pe„il° whTt,"^ """ 
 IS corro )orated by tlie inlelliomr. ,„h ,„ especially when the same 
 unexceptionable LaL oSSon """P"""™" "' "•»"? "l-r 
 
 c.atf^"~' "' "'""" "'"■ ""' "'"''• '■y ■"? W' fact,, prove to the 
 
 J3rMce.-I must, tili you show me better proof to the contrary • fnr T 
 
 something worse-tenacious and wilful nreiudicl" H .!i „„ . . ' ''? 
 or heard any thing of the reform of no JnSon, of "e law ofThn'^ch 
 extension-the erection and endowment of new c'hapels-'he woi7ul 
 
t 
 
 i 
 1 
 
 
 11 
 
 of which are some general and vi8ibll tr n. "''^ k«»gdom; the re„.lii 
 if not openly p.ofafe yet iithou nHn "''' '" '"'"^ P'^'^" ''"*>"*«. 
 ofeternityim^relldran^re/lrL^^^^^^^ "' '^^ "^^eri 
 
 more attachment to. a nVimparfia re^ud t"'»'h°" ^'^^ "^^'^ ^^ K'ace- 
 «uide3, as well as fervent affec bn for^'th. I ' 'J '^'"*!''^ P'^'^" «°** 
 fellow christians-zenimis «nH n ^ association and conference of 
 
 solemn ordircUnieLo^tZpTr r:"nr^r'«'^ ^"^ 
 seen , of revival not fp^Pr c 1 P?. . ^'^'^ Kilsyth, the principal 
 
 cants attend^d'C of n'T atro'sbn %T '"."''k^' *^''""'""'- 
 might be shown on thi^T,,* 1 • ,^r "^" ' ^^^^e^a' other =ns.ances 
 
 Ire^uently of tU%::e nlt'caTrtem """" "'^""^^^' "^^'-"^h not 
 
 by your uJg'oVerufa^^dlu p io nrtiS'Ts^^^ """ ''*''1''"« 
 tn order to limit yoar ground of evasion rnnl/ ?™^ "^"^' *^°'"« 
 
 to the estimate of the faithful Guard aT-and^^'^/r".:^ ^^T^'"^ 
 
 improvements and flourishitiir PYttn.iLl ? 7 ^'^^ '*""^" religious 
 far beyond those of all ot^"*'^''"' ^'"'"'^'^^ ^'•"••«". '-^"d that 
 
 -New Bruns vick. but ilsorvetau'!^'" '''"«"'' ""' °i''^ '" '''' ^^'^"''^'^ «"^ 
 where the Gospel of our Lonn -^ ^'' ^•^'^^»\«»'J particularly at Pictou 
 ascendency and nfllence onL ^^'''''^'' ?'' S"'"«^ «"^h gracious 
 of the genLa?iiy of our people US'- 7'' '''" -'"da and conversation 
 not seldom hear! from ime to til t» '"^^''t'''^'^'^*"^^. ^hat you will 
 sacramental meeUng^rmol^To^iS^ri ;?;tir:s ra'^tr^l* 
 
 I can strike st.ll closer to o. J doors^ "'"^'^^' '"^P^"*"^ °" *''« «»»^j««t. 
 
 e^:::::^:^^- ii^Xi^^cl'S;^;-^ ^-^ p^'- -«- »^r .om 
 
 my hesitation hereii is nl/re v for In^,. 'T^'T^' "°'' '•"''^^•" «'"«« all 
 mode ofreasoningXwnrfomvour^rnn- ''"''!'' '''''''y ""^^ 'Captious 
 prepossession. For 3 nThp ?."'°'"«"« disposition, and dangerous 
 
 virulence, could p^evrnt your flTtiP^' ''"* y"""* '^'^^'^ ''"^^ ^"'i '^^'^'^ 
 me, and every other toodmnt ^^"^""""''^ '^"^ ^"''^'a'ity with 
 
 the great goodVelslf g^'aTil "0^;;"^ th Z^'-'^^^^ 
 
 prising, and. in several iJt.n.l P?^^^^' *".« ^oro in the sudden, sur- 
 
 have existed and aHr^^^^^^^^^ ^'^«"g«« ^'"ch. of late. 
 
 seem to be suspic oua on the sa""VSlc'"'' ^'^P'^' ^?^ ''^°"«*^ ^o" 
 the facts. su'.ect, I think you cannot be ignorant of 
 
IS 
 
 labor and adIninistrMion ? """'""""^ "« '•"= ""mediate reSuU of their 
 
 in«^r;:„7uS,|","'r1i:'','''r'r'''''' ""-' "O"-'™"" •'•■ ^-rd. 
 .ubjects. ^' «<l«an.ag, and ,pi,u„al benefit of their 
 
 »4Erod'°„^°tht%"";i:,r„it'„«'L' '" '"'"^'p™"* "" - "■■' 
 
 bushel ; for whatever obiBMi„„l^„ , ^'°'' "' ° «''"<"« •""'« « 
 
 MdraaMerJ'a aditSe .C,r,.?'''K,°''°°'' '" ""'»?«■>" '".en 
 eve» to extreme_,o .e„;%^' \ ^Ho aoi! I'T'V' ■^""'^'"P'iWy obati,,.,, 
 
 own favor, ,„„„o„t.,,l",^Alira°br;fa"?S' "'■°'' '" ""' '" ^""' 
 
 f »™~? n Lr'",' r' f r " P^'-'i™''"^ on that head. 
 
 .t W^eoclhlXl'itl?el?°'r"'r\'"'' "<>"''"'•'■' °P"»'i''» 
 ren>ari;ofsoroeof^U,eleaHi„„i , • *"'' "','"°''' >«0'ding to the apt 
 
 likeaon,eofrhe extrao dn "f e:SroT'L°H''" 'l^""" ""'''•'' "•»" 
 the day of Pentecost thai, nn^LT,^^ ?"'•' Gh»»t's descent on 
 
 histor/of the 8"°?. ' '"'""^' """ "»" "« •''"'■"l *" •" <!>« 
 
 «ffn«p;~JnrI«'rdTlo'ri»'"f',™ •'f"j."8 '-^ ''^'°''''' '"O""' 
 
 c.lfyThrmTv'L'?o*;"rin:i;°,'Y^r;"^!r"°"' '' '" ""''"^ -'l-- 
 .0 rSnch on sYch a'publi';. subfec' ""' "'"■ '" P"''"« """ '-="'« "" 
 
 eont:st;:f„';i;renZerr.b"''<l?'r;- " r " ^^'v''' ^o"' ^-" =>-' 
 
 confute your positiMs and anL^^^ ,"":'° '" """ '"'"^^ '"'Wed to 
 »incerel/and Cy believe luffh.' "■^J'"' "P"" """ "'""«. ' "'«' 
 be dangLonsIy falX,':;;d":;o:",y tfouK'^ '""'"'"' '''"""'""'■ =° 
 
 on, TorJe^^^IS^nL ^? CL^'^lr'SoV^of'Tr T ="" "^ '^'■^■■ 
 upon so serious and dciic-,ir,„„;!.. *^ .i! ' """^"' mis-statements, 
 nit, and the salvation of™^;'^'"' "' ""= ™°""="'»"» concnrns of eter-' 
 
 imfc^rupTn ttmsdv^'L'dS'"' "'^',"!'-'"'"=^'^'' "- "•"? "-'y 
 .«re is am'ply exp"','.: tl'l ^'r":;" '^''«'°"= ''""'"-^ -O "-e Scrip'- 
 
 a4ThaK.r flatly Td'erturrn 'r'li'^ ' ""P" ^°» -" ""' ■"« 
 
 •ndpower of i„vel4","itVas I :";°Vliti:% 
 
 digression from the subject about !„ 1^.1 • T' ''^'°" O"' """"»' 
 
 fciortd neighborhood ^' "°"''° '" "" "=»" "f <»" bighly 
 
13 
 
 AnlurT'^''''^ ^u'^^'l circumlocution, then pray proceed 
 Angus. -I rwume then that the sudden sumrisina «n,i J; . .u 
 
 alarming changes which we have to observeTom thh^' tnr'J "' "'" 
 
 me to surpas. the power of delusion :-peo;ie o? ev^y aVe . ' 't^'hll? 
 
 . iiiiitiiiii 
 
 nud irr H. "Y''~J''="'"<=^'' '" ""^ meantime, of either their 
 
 meT^n'; tn.t " "''^ "° '■''■•'y' ""^«'- tl^eministry of our favored 
 
 J^d t to^'rand rrT' ^"^ °^-' religious meeting at once exc'edl 
 
 cpen'trnth Tf'thl ^y^^elr """= '"™'"' —'"'""'he plain and 
 
 ..t'r7,Ie^Lr:it:.;l:/re^:!;I;^';;'::^!;;^:^^°„7^a•■?"'"""^ 
 
 sentiments is about the spirit of the work ^ ' <'''r<"<^"« "■ 
 
 Jehovah. ^™'"' "''"'='"»"'« Prerogative of the Omniscient 
 
 he^tTof mh'I?.' '" "? ''?'■ ^'' ■ ""'"g'> "«' "e ""=We to know the 
 
14 
 
 in other words, by the conversation and conduct ; for, accord inff to a trite 
 metaphor, tue tree is known l.y its fruit. rmngioatrite 
 
 Angus.~l see nothing in the disposition, or conduct, of these converts 
 contrary to their supposed regeneration and religious profession : nay but 
 9U heir devotional behaviour generally corresponds with the intensily of 
 
 Thl /„?''""' T'"''°"' ''''^. '^' "°^°^'^^y °f their merciful releLe 
 n\.hv '^ ;^^" "! P"'««r-t»'eir frequent conferen<je and christian sym- 
 Sr I'^^'r '^^ ^''^ '•^^' "•'t'^^^''' «"endance on the ministry of their 
 fnd ^rt~ '•'^'^'■'".^tion of their general habits.-and their holy hatred, 
 Rnd at imes, even the.r grinning disgust of :he wretched 'natural man ' 
 especially If any wise found opposed to. or suspicious of their own rdi- 
 gious confidence, or of the extraordinary graces and wisdom of the bless- 
 
 nnh hV 'T'"'' "^ '^''" ^*^«"" ^^'^'^t''^" =-»" these things, J say are 
 publicly known to every impartial spectator. And if you take the account 
 
 the subj^a? ' "'' ''"•'' ^ ^'« ^° '"°"' ^^"'^ >'°" «^P^^t upoil 
 
 »»,.^r'%"~'J'^'^"°'!°"ht of the justness of your narrative regarding 
 
 for som. r^''""°r'' ^"^' •" * ^^S^^^' the civil reformation th t haf 
 for some time existed at the places in our neighborhood to which you 
 have referred ; but I must still tell you that my ideas are the very reverse 
 mv^sprf7;rP''*'"? [•'' ""'"'^' ''''the whole scene. I freely acknowledge 
 rthiVvtr T '" ^P^^tators and auditors, who, you say, are ofTendfd 
 oJ.^J-'^'V P^'-t^'-hation which, for some time, has genfc.ally 
 existed in some of your religious meetings'—offended did I say • nav 
 wiiVS '^h^ '"'' completely disgusted to hear those fanatic fifs! and 
 ^^ lid freal s-the genuine result of deranged intellects and diswitted brains 
 --origina ed, countenanced, and confirmed by the sly art, and unhaoDV 
 
 eT'flm'"'' ""^^' Reclaimers; who, under the Lsk'of pious mJS 
 ters, fatally impose upon the credulity, and work upon the blood and 
 passions of the.r ignorant and timid auditories, bv their tautological ha- 
 lin.fr'fir' *^r '"^»"-P'^^/ •■«'""k«, vociferated wtth the terrific expres- 
 sions fire and furies-damnation and devils;' accompanied by the 
 ghastliest possible grimaces : I say that to see and to hear the.se and 
 smilarrnean tricks, under the solemn anu sacred name of • Gospel ' 
 dZfj ^ "V '"■°"u'"' preachers, and so received by their foolish and 
 deluded converts, in the manner now described by us both, although 
 under quite different views, cannot be felt by me, in common with many 
 o hers around hut with the sincerest regret,'the ;trongest aversion, and 
 the utmost abhorrence. ' 
 
 Angus.— I really abominate to hear you talk of any 'regret' in the 
 case, if you mean so to treat the whole subject as, by such sweepinir ar- 
 guments, to deal your death-blows both to the far-fam^ed labor of Sur^best 
 ministers, and its gracious results and influence upon the minds and 
 manners of their people. But I have, I think, as good a right to insist 
 on your descending to detail the grounds of your objectionsf as you had 
 to demand my enumeration of the hopeful impressions, and happv signs, 
 of our notable revival :-upon what foundation can you then be so l^l 
 tive m your sad and fearful conclusions on this .score ? 
 
1 
 
 of your dangerous errors, that I rather fear von win '"^.r""^.'"^ ^°" 
 
 hear .nr Intended detection of the ground esresTofvo.^'" P?*'«"<=« »« 
 
 in the first place, besides what I have in^nprTf. M^ opinions. For 
 
 you deeply 'mistaken on the score ofThaTvoTerm''^ '"^^^^^^^ ^"^ 
 
 ost state by natnre, and therefore of theirentirene.'d"T''r ''^'^'''' 
 
 I answer, ihat they are convinced of .either is th.K ^'^^Saviour;" 
 
 all their fatal delusion ; and th« Lnifes' en; .L ^"^ '"? • """^ °^ 
 
 of their imagination and va^ar ierover tV.?/'^^ i '"'^ P.^""'^"' ^^^'^i«« 
 
 ence are most visible to everv i?H?.;l i ""'^erstand.ng and consci- 
 
 impressions and da^ly conTu/t ^"fcL^^^^ '» «" th^'ir 
 
 and general tern.s ; aVd of the SaTio7k atllrrf? ^"'^ '» very vague 
 sorrow and smirkv iov arp hnfh ni i • ^..''^' ''andom :~their gloomy 
 gentle spirit of the GospH The 103""' f ^^'^^.^^le to the livfly and 
 own attainments in spTritual kTowLdJy "a^ '''"'''*''^ '^"""Shis of their 
 their supposed ' releaslfrom Zl f '"'^/^P^nence immediately after 
 to all but such a re undeTthe sar/'^' °^'^' '"IT'' """^^ ^^ ^•«/"«t''" 
 themselves. What ^ou arP pleased to^c"„M«?r- 'l^ ^1!'^"' •""«'°" ^'^^ 
 but proud contempt Jf a^thotTo t he r n ^ d 'l^h^elJ"' '• " "^^'j"^ 
 gust' of any opposed to their measure, vn. VS' .if ^^'r. g""n>ng d»s- 
 8tyle;-_their temnorarv ze»l fnfrl^ ' ^ '^•'*'^' ^'''^"fe^^ inadvertently. 
 
 contr'ol, at learr^mrtl'r "ef rZ ^ Tfh"'°r^'^"' «"^ ^"^^ 
 profane habits are but circumstnnpl! ,^ ^ °f *^®"" ^""''"«'" wild or 
 immediately after the real TZ? ^'"°" *« ^''""^t every persuasion, 
 zeal of these, under remark ihrih"''"'°" ^'^ '^' '"'^'^'^^^ »"* the 
 
 reformation if many of them al^ead^^^^^^^^^^^ '«"?"''^' ' ^"<^ the 
 
 inconstant. Even Ihe meekest chrlSn r *^«,'"erely nominal and 
 
 dence. or not professedry of hlif ^Trty SnuZTo '' 't'" ''^'' ««"«- 
 named; and, if within their grZ not les^T, T^ ""^ ^'^'"'^ "'^^^ 
 
 ed. In fact their clutch Inf 2b are a. ^pT'''"^ ^ P""""'' °'' "^^"^"'t- 
 their clamorous tongue at "he name nn^ T^' "' ^?''.^* ^^^^ <^heek. or 
 reflect on their folly^or falsehoor n " '"''^'' ""^ '^^ "'«" ^^^o dares 
 
 newly-buoyant cotU ot rnd eonfi^en::" X^ 't^"^ -'^ 
 
 guides. But ^e must kiow that alfthl fl •?^'^''? '"^ ^^^'' ^''nd 
 must, in their own sense L now sncfonedS ^"^^'^PPf-^'^wing 
 now religious, it must of coursp hp ml ' ^^eir whole conduct being 
 are passed aw'ay, and behold a Ith^nrslTr^''^''^ ' ^°' '^' ^'^ *»•'"§» 
 
 and circumstu/c'e, with them\ shall hfe" new nT^^^ ^n"^ ''''^'' 
 
 name; in some degree consonant inth^^ .T u '® ^^ "^ell as a new 
 
 think that he doeth Goo service ' i worn' n "^ fT ''"■ '^'"^^'^ ^^^ ">" 
 integrity told me lately, that bei:;. af the Tmp «"^^1' '"'"'^"^^^ «"d 
 among her numerous b ood rSfn, nf th T^""'^ ^^ '°^« ^'^^^^ess, 
 to lean., by sad experience h.t Jf I ^'"^^-^ '" ^"^^'*'o"' «he had 
 
 as of disease, she cS ha'd v eV^^^^^^^ ""•? '° d.e of destitution, as well 
 because the poor b^W d nvJiid wa "TX "^'^'l '^°'^ ^«^^- ^V ? 
 This is by no^.eans a sol^a;" ;tt;ro"t[il'U;;,:^T "'^'^'^'^ ''-^' 
 ^cr, lo avoid prolixity; which I defy any to disprove.' """" "' ^ *"'"" 
 
u 
 
 Angus— My heart begins lo beat, and mj very spleen l« Uul • Do 
 you think— for a few fibs or foibles— to consign the whole remarkable 
 work to worse than oblivion— to derision and execration. Is it possible 
 that any reasonable men would, or could have themselves so worked up 
 by their owri power or effort.s as lo impose, at such a rate, upon the eafs 
 and eyes and understanding of so many of their judicious and intelliaent 
 le low creatures ; and especially tl.eir critical and impartial Teachers? 
 Without some celestial agency. I think, it hardly conceivable, how such 
 rnental, physical, and moral operation should be effected, so far beyond 
 the ordinary course of nature. 
 
 Bruce.~l will not attempt to deny that there is indeed something ex- 
 traordmary in the case; nay I strongly suspect, though quite far from 
 your view, that ft least some of the subjects of this spurious revival are 
 in a de^:ree affected, not only with lunacy, or delirium, but in some 
 strange instances possibly by demons. Biit, to whatever influence or 
 agency, we may -mpute these abhorrent wild freaks and deranged notions 
 whether animal or mental, I think it next to blasphemy to father them 
 upon the Holy Spirit of God. And it is principally in order to discharge 
 the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ from such disgraceful, and abomi- 
 nable imputation that 1 indeed thus humblv endeavour to expose this 
 un ortunate, shameful, and obstinate delusion, or wilful ignorance; espe- 
 Cially of Ministers on the subject. For the purbUnd congregations for 
 the most part, according to known experience, would be cured at once 
 ot these sorry whims, fnlmonary excitement, and proud extravagant pre- 
 tences, if they were any wise properly dealt with according to Scriptural 
 reason by their religious guides. 
 
 ^H^ws.— Do you not fear the just displeasure and judgment of Heaven 
 lor your most ungenerous charges and rash conclusion ! Don't you allow 
 any space ot probation or trial to show the progress and subsequence of 
 these doubtful, if not hopeful beginnings? 
 
 Bruce.~l need not a moment ; for 1 have known, in my day, a hundred 
 scores ot similar extravagance, without one instance of favorable tendency 
 or prohtable consequence ; besides that these, and such foolish and un* 
 scriptural antecedents, carry in their very front the very index of their 
 necessary and unavoidable results; except to those who are either wo- 
 lully Ignorant, or wilfully blind. 
 
 Angus— Why should you have so long concurred with me in demon- 
 strating ttus revival as so very novel or strange, if its nature and operation 
 nave long been so very familiar to you ? 
 
 /irurc— Because 1 have chosen rather to treat of the direct and imme- 
 diate tenor of Us principles, and the texture of its tendency, than of the 
 simiiar.ty of its features and complexion ; lest your ignorance, or prejudice 
 might prompt your suspicion of my distant comparisons. For thoueh we 
 are unhappily at such variance on the subject, yet I heartily wish your 
 beneht by my mode of reasoning, as well as the due support of my own 
 argument. •' 
 
 ^w^M.s.— I regrat to find ample scope for suspecting your benavolencer 
 ior when I see you so wantonly delight to roll and riot in cnruage and 
 
 
Jl'^T-''" }" *^*/*7 '^f"^*' ■"'* burial-ground of the best and ^raati^fc 
 characters. I can freeJy dispense with your Irieaaship ; nay. I n,u^t utter- 
 ly desp.se ,t But when you talk .o often of the self-inter^at an^ 
 wilfulness of M.n.sters, and other good christians, on the score of revival, 
 and reforms m the Church, pray what motives can you impute tp them 
 M the bottom of your charges? For though I am liverlsick of your 
 Slanderous reflections, I cannot so soon relinquish my ground 
 
 Bruce.— The foundation of my remarks on that head though mysterious 
 JO your prejudiced mind, is otherwise very simple and unobscure :-Our 
 ftlihisters in the first place, are at the nurseries of their theological studies 
 Offered and received in the gro.s. without the least due discrimination ai 
 to their religious character. When their regular course in divinity as 
 they terra It IS past, our, swarms of young dolLdivines, after a tedioua 
 training, and suspensive waiting, are let loose upon the world like locusts • 
 bent and prepared for nothing but the, Church :-^them?elves and their' 
 friends see no further bar but to meet an opening for their comfortable 
 •nd permament support. This they must have by fatal destiny, right or 
 vrong, foul or fair, at home or abroad. Now that they have the emolu- 
 ments, the shelter, and good credit of the Church, it ig^ut pious gratitude 
 that they would prove themselves her true sons, and faithful soldiers if 
 not her famous champions. And whether they love her or not—but wliv 
 not love their dear, and tend,eF andchenshing,(flother !-itia,their interest 
 as well as their duty to keep clpae-at hor,side^-to admire and magnifr 
 erery possible, feature of her beauty, and to applaud and exaggerate everv 
 supposable item of her merit. And since /numbe.' is strenSth 'and 'that 
 etrength IS sway they endeavour by every practicable, means 'to e.xtend 
 her number, and to establish her authority. , And one of^ihe likeliest 
 modes to thit, purpose, is to endeavor to make thq world in general nar- 
 ticularly her own suspicious members, believe that the Church ia n omt ' 
 as well as at any former period, the special, if not the peculiar favoriti 
 ot Heaven :— a position most untenable in her present general degene- 
 racy and her visibly barren state, without some extraordinary efforts 
 lod plam of disguise; some of which are seei? pow in active operatioa 
 ana process, as already partly observed, viz.— By the law of Church'ei-' 
 tension and reform, in its various and numerous branches— of which not 
 1* va ff^y complex in their texture and tendency ; or are. dexterous- 
 ly qualihed for their respective ends ; such as the augmented appointment 
 and support of Missionary labours, i.i Colonial and Foreign* Countriesr- 
 «f extraordinary, J nd circular preaching,— the re-admission of Seceder^ 
 —the eager attempt, and plausible struggle now at work, in ord^r. 'Q 
 grasp the monopoly of superintending and governing all seminaries and 
 schools, particularly under the miraculous Normal System fortheeduca- 
 tionofyonth, which are iu the slightest sjiafiow or de<rr^ a^y mi® 
 
 ;^"K};n:l!»», 
 
 >' "'"^ T::i(.i 
 
 : lit -M) 
 
 ^ *«It is not meant to detract from Foreign Missipris, espeqially where tWBiBL- is 
 olliorwiso unknown. ^ f j •yeinpuEia 
 
 t Vide - Old Rooster and, ' Bantam"' in n late Mo. of ' The Novascotian.' 
 
ft«>lf, that th. p.°W ,,Sh: "'^r/ <"!"«"r ""Pl-"ctiO,He «rf t«« )„ 
 
 or regeMema^n "^''^'^'^^^^ ; And so. beyond the power of imitJtiott 
 
 ^giittst my own a»rmem, n r • '*' '' "i"^'"^ '" y««r favour, ot> 
 
 fe,tra.,Lry;co';:ped-^ 
 
 Jitid thw is tf]| that I .-nean to a«Jil7 ? • *^^ body of of the mind'; 
 
 opportunity to know T««:!h uV'-^' ^^T °" ^^^ «"«J«Ct. I have ful 
 
 e&taordir^LJ in aJlYe Liva^nr^^V: '^""'^*' ^*^^' ^'^^'^ ^^ «^»hmg 
 
 BorhoV^d, as al eadv remarked h.7 ^^' J^ f ?" '^^ ^"''^^ '« «*"«• "''igh! 
 
 itiWness or. vha'is frworsf'ft^ ^^ kmd of wild fits of deliriumV 
 
 And that in a word theTefs 'not th'' '^ ""^ and delusion ofe.il spirits .- 
 
 ih the w^ole bustlin; scene R. t « ^t "^" ''^**^^ 'P'^"* "^^t''^ GospeJ 
 
 ^bj^cts themselves °orof-;eir,iiCf «<^^^* 
 
 atty ofthem are absolutely, or dTect'v cata^ h.''T\r-^'' '''^''' "'' 
 
 Of p»-bducinff such effects nU^m^^f/K- ^^P?*^'®' ^y a" their art or aim; 
 
 e^hibit^-alfhough iSio^^^^^^^^^ ^"^ ^^'^F'^"« operation 
 
 bat that when the T opn Tk ^ -^ '' ^" from oat of the question :-^ 
 fling whi Ws nd tud^o ton" toTo^sr fn'^'^T^ ' Per.nits'these shuf. 
 t(irried are relatively cuSPe TtT *^^'""^)«<^'«^ both parties con- 
 «yf their Jifeaching is likelv to nT^J T' ''^^^^^e the drift or style 
 
 ftature than unrefsonabl^ dre«H T "^'^"•^ "'"'"^ correspondent to its 
 foolish concom tar t^ and hat^^ terror, with aH its wild and 
 
 or to see their sem derancrtd ro/ / '''''''' **" ^^ corrected themselves ; 
 or rectified n the r manners ''^'^^^^^^ '" '^"''' *^''"''°"' 
 
 and ..Z ...J^tr^ t^-^TC^^:-'ziTlS^ 
 
»1J tn\\4v 
 
 I sfey Iw 
 :e, thaft if 
 icdording 
 reproach 
 
 presiftne 
 uing hei* 
 
 therwisiEl 
 f base ini 
 ydeviife^ 
 by U'hM 
 «,' fcfow^ 
 1," could 
 already 
 iftny in* 
 nitaciohr 
 
 Pfliriary' 
 ictiotitti: 
 our, OP 
 session, 
 I mind- j 
 ive full 
 lothing 
 neigh- 
 Urn or 
 pirits ;■ 
 Grospel 
 actba) 
 ler, or 
 r aim; 
 ration 
 on;—. 
 i' shuf. 
 s con- 
 style 
 to its 
 d and 
 iiwea:; 
 sions, 
 t that 
 rable 
 'di(% 
 
 iftAr 
 
 19 
 
 Jbr L^J '"'^''*;*'r ""''^ '^^^'^y "tand on.th, .lippery ipse dixit of 
 XQuan;;.'l^tTh'"''^'7'^'^^^ «P^" '" co'n^Tc^tirfr';n 4 
 
 y.irS;;;^2::«S,' "'"^^ e^;tV;il^3atUiw^on .p„ a n,,n of 
 w^Id fain tn L »J»P«'-t«nt subject, yet after all your wranS t 
 
 r^J ^/"'''^^'■"'"e.,<*# the same instant, n savinir conversion*, i« 
 
 *uati dfij. saun raul. ' What indiffnation-' Arr 2 n^r «;;ii a -^ 
 
 i4a?m 'Rpflu r^^^ righteousness and hatest wickedness ' &c 45 
 4s4lm BehoJd.the severity and gooduess of God 'St Paul • THp 1 J^ 
 
 -fKeTonh^'K'" "^L^"' '^^^ - ^" his wofks ' 'p al JClv ^ 
 . Itie zeal of thy l^ouse hath eaten me ud ' Mvs<,iah R„t iT ' 
 
 ^^^.^^^l^^pr^ innaruorM, particulars. ani^v.rinn«"l,1r'V!f 
 .h..v^...o^ th^,^j^^ order, to be perfectly holy; and so"no7only mS" 
 
2e 
 
 capable of bein^fuMy satisfied with the fellowship and fruition of the 
 Lord, but also of serving and satisfying Him forever ; without the galJtnir 
 yoke of sin -of heart or habit-life or lusting. The communion of 
 Haints m the next place— which is so exhilirating and nouris'iingtothe 
 real chnsti^«!i, even in this world of vomit and woes, of imperfection and 
 corrupi.un— must be superlatively glorious in the heavenly Kingdom: 
 and therefore earnestly desired, and longed for by him ; according to thi 
 
 S'3^ "Ik- ''7'"f "^.^'' S'""'^'- ^'"'^«"*' »^°"«h n.oderate, and re- 
 sgheff.w^h.ng for dentft and judgment, is one of the true concomitant 
 si^ns To all them that love his appearing.' 2 Tim. iv, 8. ' Lookine 
 lo; and hasting to the coming of the day ofGon.' 2 Peter iii, 12 — ' Earn- 
 estly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.' 
 ^„ f 1 >hJ^ rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with 
 the Lord. 2 Cor. 5 chap ' To die is gain.' St. Paul. The association 
 1 u ^ angels IS also well worthy of being desired by the true convert ; 
 although here below so ignorant of their imconceivable excellence -read 
 Hebrew 12, 22. & 23. On the other hand the apprehensions of the sound 
 believer is not only excited on account of the undescribably awful and 
 eternal suffering or torment to which the bodtH^of lost sinners will be 
 exposed u, the next world, terrifying past alltlfought as it is, but also, 
 and chiefly, for the mo.o desperate misery of the soul ; for as the latter 
 18 tar the more glorious p>vt of man, its eternal happiness or wretchednese 
 rnust accordingly be greater. ' Some shall come forth to shame and con- 
 fusion. Daniel. ' Hide uh from the face of the Lamb.' Revel. ' Mv God 
 my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?' Christ. The utmost wickednesi 
 and desperate blasphemy of damned humanity, are things in themselves, 
 exclusive oftheircorrespohdtnt punishment, to be awfully dreaded bf 
 any moralf generous minds ; bi.t especially such as ever have experienced 
 the gracious love and joy of the Spirit of God ; but little regarded by 
 tho-e who ave ^11 their fear of damnation, or their wish for alory mere- 
 y in their dominant imagination, or ungoverned fancy. From the scrip- 
 tural principles just now stated must flow, or upon them will be attendant 
 ,as^some of their necessary and unavoidable results and connections, the 
 .ollowing: As first, self-difiidence. with dread and disgust of religious 
 pride and self conceit of heart and life, to which gracious souls general- 
 K f if n ^^'^"^^6'^,^^ ^^»^'y exposed, not long after their conversion. 
 INext, humble concern for, and sympathy with their fellow-creatur^^s • 
 especially their nearest relations and associates ; particularly tho^e of tl 
 natural, or moral good and amiable disposition, who are yet under the 
 Clear, and sad marks of an unconverted condition; as well as a special 
 raoderate, modest fixed attachment to, and regard for all who appear to 
 them-as far as their acknowledgedly partial, and limited discernment 
 reaches— to be the happy subjects of regeneration. ' When the command- 
 rnent CTime sin revived and i died.' ' We know that we have passed 
 Irom death unto life, because vve love the brethren,' ' We know not 
 what We should pray for as we, ought,' &c. St. Paul. ' I have great hea- 
 vmess and continual sorrow in ray heart * * * for my brethren, my kins- 
 , .- . ,^o, Qu-u, oj. 4 au5. ^-sgissn ine irue confeft 
 
ion of the 
 the galHng 
 mudion of 
 'iingtothe 
 fection and 
 Kingdom ; 
 ding to the 
 te, and re- 
 )ncomitant 
 
 ' Looking 
 5.—' Barn- 
 n heaven.' 
 •esent with 
 isitociation 
 5 convert ; 
 nee —read 
 fthe sound 
 awful and 
 rs will be 
 
 but also, 
 
 the latter 
 stchedrieM 
 e and con- 
 ' My God, 
 nckednesa 
 hemselves, 
 readed by 
 :perienced 
 garded by 
 ory, mere- 
 
 theacrip- 
 attendant, 
 tions, the 
 r religious 
 Is general- 
 hdversion. 
 creatur«>8 ; 
 hose of t» 
 under the 
 a special, 
 
 appear to 
 scernment 
 command- 
 ve passed 
 know not 
 great hea- 
 , my kins- 
 le conrert 
 
 21 
 
 will feel afraid of undue and vicious anger and resentn^-nf n^H*. «».* 
 
 Ztwlrr TV •"' ''' ^"^ "'"«^ '^''^«^" •'nownl Tno hett well 
 as m himself, and also sinners as such. ' You know tint wh«. 1, r 
 
 J.p.rits you are of.' aaid C„«.st to bis rashly ze„Z dtiple "SZll 
 hate them, O Lonn that hate thee V A-c. PMalm cxxxix 21 aT 2Q a ^T 
 prominent trait in the character of a tru y rJlwed , ' '^' ^ .L^ i !* 
 prudent beneficence, as well as benevoleVc^ ".^co d ^i to ITir "rm. 
 stances, but more particularly to • the household o Lh •• >^i « ,h. 
 ZZ '"u' T'"' ''"'*^ appearance of favouritism, and needless^par a Jj 
 
 t^rer He' t' '" "T r^ '''''' "" '"""'^'"^ "« his frieids Tnd b e- 
 thren. He is accordingly m«st desirous, from the verv bottom of wL 
 
 heart, to be at peace with all men. as far 'as it lieth tn I is^wer a-^^^^^ 
 noi no., quote. 1 his is a proline and grand subject ;— and mv verv soul 
 .8 0.,; but must sorely curtail it. before your patience is muXed 
 yet I beg to be indulged a liule farther till I offer some remTrks u^n 
 
 Km .1 ! ^ ""^ °'^*^^'^' °' «''"''" tokens, among all your convert, 
 
 bu he very reverse ; as I have already partly observed ; relig ous pr S 
 -"-self-confidence-noisy clamor, and san^uin.ry resentment^ u,!der he 
 mask of godly zeal; without any self-reflection/No l.rt!!l.compu[nt-! 
 no groan, under the wiles, or violence of the still remain ng body Ts^ 
 or of us original autl.or-the arch-adversary, emphatically styled the 
 wicked one ; unless they talk at random, or in mere imit^^ on I ke i iota 
 or parrots; of sins and duties-of vices and virtues-o ^ea en anS ^ 
 without any coherence in th.ir sentiments, or consistency in their conl 
 
 a ": yre^e" S'andr"."' '''""^' ' ""^^ ""^ pass 'because it is of 
 a very recent date, and of certain notoriety, as well as that it has fallen im 
 
 o"s"fLXorh!ldr rrr^- '- ^' ^ ^^^^ -dow hanng^n^um:: 
 InH .ho 7 Children, had for some successive years been used now 
 and then to visit het large circle of acquaintances and relations at LA 
 where -he had ;iever failed to muster something to her need and to an 
 swer the known destitution of her circumstance^ particS; in the ar 
 tide of wool: but unfortunately this year, the needy woman went thither 
 
 effect Why^.'Sr"';'^' '"t '2' ^'^ ^"'"^ P"^P°-' but ala' 1 o'ni 
 enect. Why? Because, forsooth, her friends there are now either all 
 
 converts to the new faith, or are so far under the influence of^he genera 
 
 Ob igation^f chanty, or common friendship; for the poor widow vou 
 must understand. IS not exactly at present of their religious vieu's' in 
 
 ea:i"n :hirsutcr\h''"\'° '''''' seriously-which 1 1^'nd it not alwa s 
 TZfT "^Ject—this short story tells a great deal to my point- and 
 
 1 defy you and all your supporters to falsify it 1 John iii, 17 '^ ! ' 
 
 Iil,o!^M T r'"'.*^?''*"'**^*''*'^"^h3sa'"'0'*t absorbed my thouffhts 
 like a Mohammedan in his abstracted contemplation ; but I remark Iwo 
 
 fh ? V" V"! J*""'' \" '""^^ ^''^ ''^"'^ ^•"'ther reasoning : The first Ts 
 that though I do not choose unon ih/. u.h«i. f^ a:.„^.a.1. _ _.® , _ "' 
 
 S yet i cannot rest quite 'aati^ "with the'api^iS^^^of^ro? 
 
 «] 
 
yoDrwripural quotation wlt.ch.bomgpi,-g|yfij,urMive, nwy be thouttlu 
 
 Of either doubUul, or Uouble rneRfiiag; and especially .«bec dr»w^i frow 
 
 dar,k propechy, or aubiiuie revdatio,»s: Such an you .hnve taken f»o«i 
 
 f^T 1 "tt Apocalypse in your treatinj? of the final mieery x>f the 
 
 vvidc«»». The other point is tlmt wbere J do iiotidiffer from yoJ on the 
 
 pri*n:t.ve acceptation of other Scripture, you b»ye haudkd, J never 
 
 thought that atier.generntions. CBpeciuUy in our latter days of mofeirene- 
 
 »a» ight, and tarthef extended .:,eanH o! leligious knowledge, we/e, .p 
 
 apply them to themaelvea :-Or. in other word«, I ora far from aingular 
 
 m holding that the san.e hi^h standard of reJij?ion« attainment. ,n chril 
 
 «ian experience and self-denifll, is neither expected nor exacted from uo 
 
 now, 08 It was in the apostolic, and the in-nediately aucceedin? are; or 
 
 indeed dt an, posterior titr.es even of extrao.^inary revivals, orr-^lliriciw 
 
 revo utions. You have, for instance, apoken in the lofty atraio of , the 
 
 ?r r'" fr "^"T^T'T^r'' ""^ ''PP''^^ '^^" '^'^''^^ aspirations 
 and saced longing for death--forjudgment-^and eternal gipry, to the 
 «rdi«ary chnstiajia of our day. I believe, with the generalit/of good 
 «^ea mat many have ^veH-foundH hope in the Gospel. r.ud holdcredita- 
 be^^taud.ng m al' the office, of the Church, without ever otMse dreaming 
 
 ynnH»"TTr"'''^ '.""^ "^^ '° say.-auch arrogant acquisition a? 
 you have, I think, very dangerously and presump UQuaJy. auggJed on 
 he subject. I say. my good neighbor, the Lohd in hlsmm^y coFreotyo^, 
 in^the time of his long.su«Vnng and f jrbearaiice ; for there.is herJly such 
 a thmg, as you pretend to treat of. in a Country, or in « K.ir,gdo,p • jf 
 you ,n reality pretend to it. in your own person ; for I rather tbif:!- ^oq 
 make the application at random, in ord«r to sublimate the strain of vour 
 pre«chmem ; and 1 venly believe thct the best of our Ministers, and the 
 brightest of_our Doctors m Divinity, would think you^aelf on this ground 
 by tar more fanciful, or frantic than those you have the hardihoo -^ {(y »tvle 
 by .such ungenerous epithets. ,, ,j,, , , .: ^ 
 
 L ^'"!i^'*' ''^ '^ ^''' ''''^°"'' '^""^'^^^ J heartily wisl3'thcre"i«re'tj> 
 •greater difference beisyeen us on the whole subject ; and it should be well 
 -for US both t,. oe tendor and docile, and not hardy and bead strong thro' 
 tall ourJite; on such co-ecrated ground. And all I would cay rmw in 
 my own defence on that score, is. that when the texts in question may 
 very.hkely ,have their meaning applicable to the punishment of the whole 
 «ian-soul and body ; and that probably some of them mayt-as many 
 good'cr:tics a.serts-have a sl.giit degree of their lulfil.;.eal pven in this 
 ■lite ; yei, that ai the same time, there was nothing started onrthe case any 
 .^Kse dangerous or stumb ing of itself to either of us; pr, 1 shoqld hope, 
 to any other. But regarding the last of your objection^ it is boih fa 
 more^rions and extensive. When I admit, what is most dear a- " vl 
 deniable, that though the Apostles and other men of extraordioc , J*^s 
 ■ are not to be imitated now, in tl.eir inimitable talents, yet they Rr^'for 
 our express example and imitation in their ordinary graces and conduift. 
 Wor do I mean to.presume upon the degree of their ordinary piety in the 
 , variety ot Its extent And this romarj, ,, might extend also regarding Jll 
 »*mmcnt:chacacters living in tim'.sof extroardinarv and i.rar.iou« revivals 
 
he tliQutftu 
 
 taken ifoqi 
 eery />f the 
 you <>fl th^ 
 d, J. never 
 
 ;e, weje, up 
 in ^ingwlor 
 i(, in chritt- 
 ad from W9 
 RSf 8ge J oir 
 )r,r'?ligicM/i 
 'ain of. the 
 appiratiops 
 )ry, to tl»e 
 !y of good 
 ld:prediti«- 
 i drenming 
 ilisitjon as 
 fgested on 
 irreot yo^, 
 srJly fiiKsh 
 ij,'donp; if 
 tiii;:I: yon 
 in of your 
 '3, and the 
 lis ground 
 >-^ tp style 
 
 B were uo 
 Id be well 
 ong thro' 
 y now in 
 ition may 
 the whole 
 -as n?ar»y 
 ;n in this 
 5 c>i6e any 
 \ld hope, 
 bo>h far 
 r,3' " vn- 
 
 r ar^ for 
 conduct. 
 3ty in ti^e 
 irding 9II 
 revivals. 
 
 your opifibn For ^a ni»v ««, ! I °^**.'^'*'*'. ''"t not accord nif t« 
 
 anrf without th^rrinfcbfe.nH ft. '*^ '^* ^^«'«« »h« brttar; 
 
 nature of d.e re aft d ? h ulme^aT.S ^ """1 '".'"'^"^ ' ""'^ '^' "^ 
 lb all tme bellevera in t"L QoS S J'«J eternat redemp- ..., ia common 
 clflrfriQ f./., «Xk P®' *^ '*'"'**''« Chrjst. For 8t Paul mi. 
 
 ciQTOs, not only his correartnn/<ent brflthr^n «♦•«»,- .• l . . '" 
 
 &*n.ral in the word* ' unto alMhl tbo th^ L^^ b„i christians in 
 
 rour objections on this itrounifal' t- tthl^^^^^ "^^.T "L^ •'' ^'''«* 
 d<ing<jrou8, if not fatally de«trMtive to von «nH n!l »»»«"; be,„g ^^^ 
 er of the same error. The Z ri.tl./^ , ' *^.*'^" ""^*'' **'« P"** 
 
 in quertion if ttiaflife^ erirfSm frol^ [ 7 ^PP''*'"'^" o^t^^*^ quotation. 
 6f ih« aame iri.pSr j^Im!. «!f^^ °»^' «cri,>turea, flilly 
 
 on the earth' Cot Hi 2 ' C w' '° k' '"' '*''"^'' '^''''' "« °° ^f^'ng* 
 .eek one to c'!^ne.' Heb ,in4 Tn Z^ ."^ '"T '^'"« ^"^^ ^-* ^« 
 »nt.,rotv and the subrranoe of the gL^I '« h*?,,"' '^'' P''"^*P'« '^"^^^^ 
 of the teh commandment., wh ch S o Onn 'J"^ «nd.maWe sum 
 this love rules the heart or rn«l,. ?J ^°"^«"^ "^^"^ f^^ where 
 will necessarily, acoo 1 '.g to it" strenttH '" '^-^ ^f * °^ ^''^ •">»^' '« 
 Wthb'Tery tendency Taki . tfeTlJ/nr^'f ^''"'^''^ '*•'' ^-iTect «i,d 
 ^Ife; who happens to have her worhv h,^L "7 I '"*'^'"'"' " »^' '''*"» 
 hears. ..d receives -CTonate TeS from h^ f T' *^'*-'"^ ^^"«"«'y 
 —bepfodureH. or obtains anlli!!!? T ^^^ her grreat satisfaction 
 «alut<rt-y and'oonUient in .1? exceedingly more valuable and grand; 
 hi«d-Ld am'nrfTrmoreaS^^^^^^ what' he 4 het 
 
 10 his dear ^ousf tharriSds t !n^n " '"*^ "^^ociates-he «.rrtes 
 her, end for ttiy friends LTcomn^nJonTr I'' T'""'^"'' to send, for 
 with her.: befo J herotrslryTe rn 1 'tr^'T,';^: ^*S" f ''^ 
 
 s*m friend, to send^oJ leT:n%t,tl^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 of her intended fo^l Sart«reT &.h°?? '^ '° ^'•^' ^^"^ '^' '»^*^*"™ 
 f^irtt and weak, yet in Us aDDnrnnl .^\ [' companion is but very 
 ti.e unvailed,ahd^,mme?.te-£^^ 'Pf ^"1^^*^ Are the^l 
 
 ety of Angels, and of the soi itl7ft?» of God ar»d of CHE,sT-the K,ci. 
 th'e resurrition of their bSsltrflJIf". T'^' P^^^^f-eyen before 
 from s.n and thraldom and dl.t" hi redemption of our own souls 
 
 t.eir concomitants and con±uencefT^'"°'^ ,1"^ ''''''''''^ ^'^'^ «'f 
 objects so chimerical neutral^ or Ih J ""^ '" ^^''^ ^'^«» «"*^ ^^^nd 
 thi possible asplSa^r flection »I'^'',r '\^' ""^^^^^ ^'^ «" 
 christians; who by Seirver-, nam. ^, 1' ,7"" .1' *''^ contemplation of 
 to the worldthirt tl. , Ire noro^J'thlS- '', '^u" P^^««i°"» declare 
 dren. the momUrs anVve^ wlsnnn ^'?*^ '^' friends and chiK 
 -^oriou^L^ 
 
 1 nrs §«)»pei 
 
 ioctrine « now openly ot,po.e.f from the pulpit^in Cape Br^tonT" 
 
24 
 
 lord of Lords 1 By your uofortunute and feeble attempt to unhinge, or 
 discard these sound and essential principles, and to substitute some grin- 
 ning and gloomy forms— and some sorry and sapless ritet, famished pver 
 by the gloss of religious sophistry, and upheld by the power of trick- 
 display, you plunge yourself and your supporters into very hard difficuU 
 ties, and endless inconsistences; if not into a most destructive labyrinth. 
 If the ground of our dispute were unimportant to the concerns of eteroity, 
 I would be sadly sorry and ashamed not to have it long resigned over to 
 «ome tippling wranglers, or religious sophists, who are interested m argu- 
 msnt, in order to feed their own spleen, or to display the fruitfulness.of 
 their intellectual spawn. , 
 
 Angus.— Yon have taken unworthy advantage of my arguments, and 
 in a degree fight your own shadow. I did not mean to maiFitain that 
 the ordinary gTfts or graces of the Gofepe! are not in any measure neces- 
 sary to salvatToa now as wt^ll as at former periods of the Church ;, for the 
 scriptures are express to that effect : * Except a man be born again, he 
 cannot enter into the Kingdom of God,' said Christ to Nicodemns. 
 'Without me ye can do nothing;' saith the same author of truth. We 
 have a train of sacred texts to the same import. My meaning therefore 
 is this, that we should make vast allowance for the marked difference of 
 circumstances between the Apostolic age, &c., and our present, or simi- 
 lar days. In the former, you must observe that the Christians before the 
 time of their conversion to Christianity ware, at least for the most part, 
 either heathen, or pagan idolaters, or unbelieving Jews— for very few oi, 
 the Hebrew nation were good men at the time of our Saviour's incarna- 
 tion. On this undisputed supposition therefore, it was bat quite natpral 
 
 as in fact it happened— that the Gospel dispensation, which was so 
 
 surprisii gly novel in all its bearings and administration, should bring a- 
 long with it so great and remarkable a revolution in the minds,and nian- 
 nersof all concerned, according to their various and flifferent stations 
 and circumstances, motive and opinions ; so that the opposition and per- 
 secution to which tlie christians were then exposed, for their new religion, 
 could not be possibly er^dured with so much fortitude, meekness, and 
 patience, without gr&cious supplies and supports answerable to their ex- 
 traordinary and unavoidable state of affliction and adversity, for it i«» 
 written—' As thy day so shall I g thy strength.' Now our peaceful and 
 happy times are in many weighty particulars the very opposite of thosQ 
 under remark, and of any similar days, whether subsequent or antecedent. 
 We, Heaven be praisedj suffer no persecution, at least, of any extent or 
 consideration. Every one of us may sit unmolested under his own religi- 
 ous vine, or fig-tree. From the preceding premises I infer two brief co-? 
 Tollaries :— In the first place, that the Christian subjects of any Christian, 
 or pacific Government, being free from religious persecution, need not 
 expect such abundant succours and supplies of grace from the hand of the 
 Lord as when placed in opposite circumstances. Secondly, that people, 
 in the aforesaid circumstances; i. e., without persecution, and trained 
 UD from their youth in the Christian religion, under the pious example of 
 parents and teachers, may have the operation of their gospel graces sa 
 
M 
 
 latent and unnoiay, under the 
 
 ....... uw^ u.i„u.»,, unuer me amiable mask of morul virtues afi to h» 
 
 who ly unknown, or hardly discernible. You see now th t hcJh I stUl 
 thmk .t dangerous for believers, of this day. and in our Stries to 
 presume upon be.ng l.ke the good and great men of former thnesnsnU 
 ntual talents, yet that I do, by no means, deny, as yrwoJldS." me 
 ihe necessity of saving taith to the salvation of all the rXmed -^ onlv 
 under some mod.fic.uion. different from the soaring flights anTloftvore 
 tensions of some folk, who nmst lord it over the ne^cK Iheir huS' 
 modes .unpresuunng fellow Christians. And my good iend To be 
 plain, tremble to hear high conceits of one' self, and such contempt of 
 other honest souls, though not of so lifted noses, or .ou d iirsUarns - 
 Even the great prophet Elias was corrected by the Loui, whe f he thmml^ 
 
 hnd'oft' r"V° '^ *f''"' *" "^^-" ^-^ himseff Tlo iV I fhe 
 housa H o hi' w7r" *•'' "'"["'^"^ ^°" ^^"^^^he vast number of seven 
 
 ti.ousaud of his hidden ones, where that good man could not oick nnt 
 
 one associate. I guess that that rebuke •''had taught' thfprTpheraJod 
 esson all tiie remaining days of his life ; for we d^ no find him nyTr^ 
 her.n such aruffle m himself, nor so distrustful of other good neoole 
 
 two things often together-till the day of his Jeati -poh -Tshodd'^sr 
 he day of his translation. ' The Loun was here,' said good old Jacob' 
 and did not know it.' • Judge not, that ye be not judS J And whv 
 
 beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye bul cons=dorest not 
 
 S;^^ a^zs: =^ ----i-rfSS 
 
 pose I m.ght ea.,ly quote the Ph.risee and the PubTic'r.n the Gore ' 
 and, „a,,y Cher parallel te«,_but .he.e I hope, in .h"a' ."eluU^oTare 
 
 to™rc;;^;t;ti.::!:;'-.r';£trhrfeT:;i'^'°T'-.^^ 
 
 «er your shuftling. and exL„,e/' Hoi f J 'g ^ „!• ale I, M" 
 ever rcconcde ,our strong noo„u.„» of suih tlnfnder; o iva s beb» DoT 
 s.bly necessary ,„ your blessed land o.' christian quiet ,I,d neaie^ C 
 
 ;rt^i"r„u and' ^ ^o"^ In-^rer i-^Tir^ fr^^^ 
 
 d^'c^rS e •• T I ■? .'="°<=='ll^<l 'S 10 be ■ wholly unknown, or hardly 
 
 are™ ;rcy of'.onuin 'ror' U r's^:;' '" "'"' "■= "S'^™-' '"^ 
 a ■ ■. r',-1 -"' s^""J'"i' moral virtues to the saviiur crrarps! nf th«. T-T/^I., 
 
 ttTbl^'nl; "'T"" -'^,^-'"«. "-.' nre ne've"rr:rilc ^ 
 uiey ootn ijow ion the same divme Author : for, " evprv frood aift La 
 every perfect g.it is from above ;" &c. St. Jame. But when 1 1 leartilv 
 
 "This is but a limb of r«liBiniig ( r^^,.i;„.,.- - /- , , ■ . , ^ 
 
 jaining ground in our dayr'°"" —-'••='i« —a laUi prinoipie springing up, np4 
 
! 
 
 If I'i 
 
 !^i' 
 
 rij 
 
 26 
 
 wise beyond their due estimate ; and especially, in admittinff thera tofh.* 
 uperror stat.on of the divine and renovating graces of t lospeT- Be^ 
 
 iuiTtnl / °'i''' ^'"'^' '^''' ^*^" ^^°"'^ slyly insinuate these moral vir 
 ues to be found among your nominal Christians in far more abundance 
 
 lo«"r ITJ"'" f ^ """'^ ^^°""^ ^"^ ' «'"^^ ^''« ^^^^^t m.joritro these 
 
 fn thfr ""'y T'/'^^' ^"* ^•'^ P'-^'^'y ^""^^^ to be sadiv defective 
 
 n these venerable and desirable intellectual endowments. You m Jt 
 
 Sr^r Lhnh ttrf i.'' ''T "^"^^ ''' "^^^^^'^y of your^'romprn; 
 revivals or admit the fallacy of your exaggerated estimate of ^he morality 
 of our Conntry ,n our times. I say further, were we to grant fo the 
 sake of argument, what should be very desirable, that ma^re r^'orals or 
 external Christian instruction would gain ground so far in the woHd as 
 to supersede the shameful visibility and notoriety of vicious habts it 
 would not follow, as a necessary consequence, according to your nfe 
 ence. that spiritual graces should be so masked or dis.uised^ as to be 
 e her unknown or hardly perceptible, through the influence of mere mc^ 
 
 ther^' ForT"' ^^?*"" "^^'■"*=*'°" ' '' °^ ^^- ^^'^th these put'ogr. 
 f.nl" f ? ^^ °"P"''' ^^ ^•''^^'^ corruption of the human mind in L 
 fallen state, is so desperately deep-rooted, powerful, and opeT^v; even 
 under the greatest natural and moral possible advantages, t^hat he sP rh 
 of the Gospel ; or in other words, the Spirit of Goo and o Chp'st w 
 meet with so much violence and dire opposition to His divine aaenc^ 
 to His converting and sanctifying influences, in all the Cy sS^^^ 
 his p^eat change (infants and idiots excepted) as to rende it inpossi^ble 
 in all ordinary cases, not to be known by experience, in Ties orre\te; 
 degree, ,n a manner very perceptible, to the persons thLLelves- ^3 fn 
 some measure to all others concerned. I say knomZ not in al "f 
 hem by assurance of faith and salvation ; for that isnot mv menninrbu 
 by hope, which IS one of the genuine results and accom^an melof al 
 evangelical experience. Rom. v, 4 & 5. My sense will pro ab^ be 
 pbmer, if I say whether the renewed man is sure of his savin'l change or 
 not, he cannot be ignorant of a certain change havina taken nlace if. h^, 
 views and feelings; and in some degree in his conversa on nd conduc 
 n all ordinary circumstances ; whatever his former character may have 
 etrnorthe't;? rT -«^h-; -— t. "Butthenatura^manYeceiv! 
 eth not the things of the Spirit of Gon : for they are foolishness to him • 
 
 rCor'ir?/' TV'"' 'f ^ i'.'' "« 'P''-'^-"^ dis^eried "T-: 
 1 l.or. II, 14. Let no man deceive himself. If any man amomr vo., 
 
 wiL'-'ts ui Ts" •" wh ^"'''.'^' "^'""''^'-^ ' fool ;hatr"^/b 
 
 wise Ibid HI 18. Where is the wise ? where is the scribe ? where is 
 
 ofthiror7d°r.' ';^''^ ^•'? ^"^^^ ^°"^'«^"- the i' :„ 
 
 ter nd c Im.inn """ ""^ Pf ' '"' '''''' '"^'"^^ ^" the charac 
 
 under rllf T . ' ^^"^^^'^'^^^ regarding the ch.-^..ter of the person 
 under remark I do not mean to say more than that, in the lowest ordi- 
 nary degree of his supposed real Christianity, he must Lt Lpear so 
 
 '::^Vr.!:::-!:^i;-'-^^!^ - his^mora. conduct :srpr: 
 
 , a.. ip,^u v.eoii lo hiui, or nopea oi him as a true, though 
 
hera to the 
 spel : Be- 
 moral vir- 
 ibundance 
 ' of these 
 ' defective 
 fou must, 
 pompona 
 e morality 
 t, for the 
 norals, or 
 world as 
 habits, it 
 :)ur infer- 
 as to be 
 mere mo- 
 put toge- 
 id, in its 
 ive, even 
 the spirit 
 RIST will 
 ijgency — 
 ibjects of 
 ipossible, 
 •r greater 
 ; and in 
 tn all of 
 ling, but 
 Its of all 
 )ably be 
 hange or 
 ce in his 
 londuct, 
 lay have 
 n receiv- 
 to him ; 
 ned."— 
 )ng you 
 may be 
 where is 
 wisdom 
 charac- 
 asure of 
 i person 
 St ordi- 
 pear so 
 to pre- 
 though 
 
 t7 
 
 ureak belie, .r, upon the fair estimate of the word of God. But I sincere- 
 ly wish thai your revival-converts on the one extreme, and your 'hidden 
 ones' on the other, would bear the measureof my very moderate standard 
 on the subject ; which, I must believe, it is dangerous to lower beyond 
 perception ; either to the man himself, or to any around him. As to your 
 feigned shrinking humility, and farcical trembling at my supposed un- 
 lenderness, as well as your misapplication of so many sacred texts to that 
 effect, you may please to understand that all your silly tricks, and artful 
 airs of that sort do not startle me a single hair ; for I have lon<r since 
 been aptly inured to such paltry treatment from kindred spirits. It is all 
 but a mere sham in order to evade the point of my argument, to which 
 your wilfulness would not submit; and which your conscience could not 
 discard. But it was basely wanton of you to aim your blow at me throiigh 
 the side of the prophet Elijah. 
 
 Angus— Long before you have stopt i observed with secret tielight 
 that your thoughts were wavering and vampering : not from any malevo- 
 lence of disposition on my part ; for I bless Heaven I bear no man on 
 earth a grudge without a good cause— but that it is just from the hand 
 of Providence when folk presume to grasp at things above their line, or 
 to treat of subjects beyond their limits— I say just, and perhaps merciful 
 too, to leave them so far to their own errors and inconsistency; or may 
 be to such vapidness of mind, and flatness Of expression, as to correct 
 their pride, and rebuke their insolence, in the very presence of those 
 over whom they would aim to lord it. Many a once eloquent orator, 
 elevated teacher, and elegant preacher, by assuming superiority, and as- 
 piring to dignity, flowing from 4he lurking vanity of their own minds, 
 under the guise of serving their friends, improving their Country, or 
 showing to sinners the way to eternal glory by Jesus Christ ; who yet, 
 by their pt -voking the Most High, who marks the latent motions and 
 most hidden motives of the hearts and reins of the children of men, have 
 been left to flag in their spirits, to waste in their talents, and to dwindle 
 in their name , and in that stale and startling state abandoned, as it were 
 ^)y heaven and earth, airi buried alive for the remainder of their days, to 
 be a lasting beacon to all others, of that abominable thing pride, when 
 once fostered, especially in eminent stations ; whether on civil, or what 
 IS far more hateful, on religious grounds, in the view and estimation of 
 OoD and all good men. A great deal of your harangues consists in 
 sweeping argun:ents without evidence— tedious reflections devoid of ap- 
 plication— or the rising of vapors and the collecting of fumes by long 
 and unnecessary digressions, in order some-how like the cuttle-fish, to 
 conceal your fallacies from detection, and to divert your antagonist from 
 his persecution. But though I scorn to imitate your example in general, 
 I am. notwithstandi:>g, necessarily pressed to remark one unpardonable 
 omission in the last paragraph of your reflections, viz : That, when you 
 have given me a good sly elbow-push— according to your own expression 
 —through the side of the prophet Elijah, you did neither once, as you 
 certainly should, acknowledge the propriety of my application on that 
 tcore ; nor attempt lo disprove it : Nor am I in the lea'st surprised ; for 
 
Ii^ 
 
 lill 
 
 II 
 
 5»- 
 
 gr-p. li i. Ltd a Ivep ''?;,:."„;■,;„"■",'' ';-r ■; ^°r '•°'"^^' 
 
 ssrvice-wliich I l,„ve never ve see, flil ?^ ',l" "^ <='""'^»"'' S""""! 
 pro.bc,io„ ; „„d .h,. ought to^lld e in e e ; ^^^iX ""■ ""■ "'"" 
 and to brand sh over the hiimhtv .,...u j , '' "xigency ; 
 
 wickedly scorn to keen theTrIp ol^ ^Z 'f '^"''*^ '^"'' "'' «" ^''^^^ thn 
 and to dive beLntSo^xl l. fhi. 1'^" '""f presume to sonr aloft. 
 
 all the arc.na of turHot to kin^^^^^ ''"^ ^^•'^"' -'^'' 
 
 and unpretending fell^^ Ch . "an t rkr 't^'"''^: "^'^'^^'^ ''"'"^'J^. 
 ah-ogate tb them^elvesThe^^ W^^^^ Cl,nst,.ns, I say, thoujrh they never 
 or t^ Vresun^Z^^,^^';:!^^ revei.tions, 
 
 tiFesofothers:asgoodas or f^r ben? H..n f T ""'^ ^'"'""^ '"''- 
 and injurious and l.n,4ouscclSjl''" ''"""'^"' '^^ ^"^'^ '^^' 
 
 willing that he shoud share v^^^ '^"''^T "^ "^'"^' ^ =»'" ^^^'^^tily 
 
 the subject fron, ilt leTd n 'no n , '"" "'"' '"''' "P"" '»''" *« divert 
 
 intrusion, or long speeches ^ ' ' '" '"^'^"^^ ^^" ^^"^ indulgence by 
 
 ma^";'u'';ilTnrrer"o^ '^'''"'"' "" ^'^^^^^^ ^^^"^ "^^ ^^ n.akeanyre- 
 finished his lai; SXr" " "■^^""""^^' '^ "'^ '^''^^ Dialoguist'has 
 
 as^:^i "St "j^:^,;::: ^""^ "^"' ^^ '^^-^ ^^- ^-^'^ ^i'-- 
 
 cZtr^n^ ""''' ^'^'^''^' ^l^«'^'^ y^"-- "^i"d freely. 
 
 same tm;^, it is Leed ^Ih s^onJ^e 1^ ;:S:c;:;fc; ^'"r"'' ='^ ^^^^ 
 for It IS generally very easv to i\,jZX^ «» reluctance and coucern; 
 
 possess talents super or t7e the of vo.-' '" / ^'^' rr'"'''' ^''''^'^^ '^ 
 hut that 1, like ofh .rs o^'n.^r !nL ^ . ,' '" '^'"^^^^^^Jg^ or experience; 
 
 hurry, heat, or height of disputation- No. is t so r^rrn ''' .'" '''" 
 Bume to correct, or amend .hp«^ r.,.u ■ ^ " '"> '"'" ^'^ P'"''- 
 
 as far as possible foyo o cor ct'rh"' ''T''1' ^^ "^^^ vo'^'-^lves, 
 argument; you have tf.e '. , ."m; i^; t 'exceeded". 1^^^""'"' 'f ^'^"^ 
 of a colloquy, in the lensth of sevi n nf ''''''^'^''^' ^''^ P^^P^^r boun.is 
 Jitter part^l'the ,^^t ^T'onr Lll 'Jh^^fc" '"' ^ ^"""{ '" ^''« 
 wovenwithadecrreeoftechnicalilv ^m?n'^ I '"^ "■""'^''' ''^>'^' 
 
 r.nd respect h.rdly avo d\h ^ r. ~ ''''"^ ■ '^''"^"^ '" some measure 
 nnd therefore less i,rrS^ the subject a liule unintel'igible. 
 
 >t gifted with your ittle cfan. of^ ^'^ T' "'''^' ^'"" '^"^^^ "° 
 
 and'am enjoined brevity In u^t no. "(J^^- .^'^ ""^^ ^ recomn^end. 
 
 ..!._.. j^ ^„j opinion On ine mentor demerit of any 
 
 
 ^ ^■-'a, JJIJ ■ lu«-A»" 
 
8» 
 
 part of the subject in its drift, or tendency, I will not at present stop you 
 further from your original design. ^^ 
 
 Bruce.— Vor my own part, thouffh you were far severer, I would sin- 
 ceroly thank you lor your very just and timous reflections; for when I am 
 perfectly conhdent of the goodness of my cause, and could not hesitate to 
 challenge the world to subvert it, J feel most diffident of my own talents 
 to maintain and defend it properly ; or to batter sufficiently the falsehood 
 of my opposite. 
 
 Angu,.—Mnny a fond fool that finds fault wiih an eagle's eye- and 
 vainly criticises what himself could never attain— far less surpass 'if we 
 get no belter praise than saucy reflections *** enough of them. Neigh- 
 bor Bruce, answer my last suggestions, on our main dis-;ne, or acknow- 
 ledge your defeat; otherwise 1 shall immediately resign the subject in 
 triumph. '^ J * ••* 
 
 Bnicc. -Though I wish to enter with caution upon your boasted rea- 
 soning on the case of Elijah, J see your application very inapplicable. 
 
 ^«^r„s.— Pray, do you explain or prove that assertion. 
 
 ^r«a'.-l told you formerly in general that I had been long since in 
 the habit of hearing such silly abuse of the sacred Scriptures, as to make 
 it wearisome to me to answer it ; but, since you, and so many scores of 
 your kind, insist unweariedly and forever on that common.place text ; and 
 that you misapply it grievously with all your poor triumph; I say that 
 when I was treati.ig of matters of stubborn facts, that is judging of men 
 according to their open and ordinary conduct and conversation agreeable 
 to the rule of truth you then either thought or pretended to think it simi- 
 lar to the case of Elijah. 
 
 Angus.— And do you pretend to be more infallible in your judging of 
 men .ban that great prophet I J J a 'g "» 
 
 Bruce.— The cases are quite diiferent : the prophet it seems had not 
 had suf icient means of information concerning those seven thousand good 
 men till the Lord communicated it to him in an extraordinary manner- 
 since extraordinary revelation is not necessary when ordinary means may 
 serve; and by the account we have of that time of dangerous and dread- 
 ful persecution, it appears that the people in qu -tion were either com- 
 paratively or completely concealed from all public notice and inspection • 
 w.iidi made it impossible for Elijah, in his own persecuted and limited 
 circum.stances to know them by any visible character. And they had a 
 particn.ar mark of goodness, ti.ough ,^iven under a negative description : 
 1 hat they bowed not the knee to Baai.' And lastly, it was the prophet 
 •Mmself that gave to the world the fir.t account of them; otherwise it is 
 not likely that we should ever, in this world, have the story ; and at the 
 worst there was more weakness, from immediate and sore temptation, 
 than from vanity and wilfulness in his ignorance ; so that you, or others 
 ot your cast of mind, need not brag and boast so much over his mistake. 
 I\ow there IS nothing similar to these uncommon circumstances in the 
 manner ol judging, of which you so triumphantly, and yet so groundlessly 
 
 = " T~ tV . "•' ' •■■ j='ii;c iionu i.iruicr man to ihink and s|>eak of 
 them, when I find it so my duty, according to their public character ; and! 
 

 30 
 
 c'o„ls.r^:i':!5'e'o"„3™r"A"iT",fi'oro.',''?r 't^ "" "•'"'"y 
 
 either judge wronalv o, „ a w ,v nr„n , """' ?" """"'■ J"" """' 
 
 lemma ^ P"^' ^°'' ^'" ^°" '^^^^'^ yourself from that dU 
 
 whlTe^Te^reinhr"^^'*^""^ ^"^^*'*'" '"^^^ <>" this head: 
 
 gam;7:uToX""KiriK^^^^^^^^ yourself the pleasure of -he 
 
 your n^ana.uv;:?tote : S : ^-'l "P ^^h 
 
 the world who professedly chTmVtn h Vr r u .T " ^"^ ''"^ '"''»" '" 
 decision; and t'o /h I havtZa ri [uTo^^ ^"^ 
 
 assume it, till he re''siirns , I li ' -if *''"'"' ^ '^^ ""^ mean to 
 have knovln II alon^tl at I oncJl^7V"^,f" ^°"^^^"«d, what you may 
 profession of anrquflity or medTum'of k ." h"'^ '^"^.-^"^ ^^^^^* *^'^ 
 judgingofourfdlowcLmr^rhrn.^ knowledge, or discernment in 
 
 truf cListians/ilT^rsreTen ritstctlnTL^^ '^""""", ^^ ^" 
 open to all who takp th^ .n.L '^^spect, in a less or greater deffrees 
 
 wisdom 4 ririud' 1 o XJ , "" '•'''' '"'"""•y •'"' »"'l«""l 
 well inr„,„,ed m, Xc^' ly he Se'^fh """'"""'f- ""''''^^'"- "' 
 verted, provide.! I,e si, cerelv ci,',, i.L, ,h!~ ^° "' "'" """= ""™"- 
 a shallow, siomie oZftrmod;,,!l,L '■'''""'"'''' '")' f^O'-'i'lrip 
 Leaned e ,nver" K,.l ,,,,'■; '^'' ° '"J" "P"?'" »"'' S»<>d- 
 
 iibitr;o7r'vrs^;.oi"rVt°,i!: ■'" ""'"""' ■" -""" '^'"'"""'. ="<' - f^'i- 
 
 jB™«.-So I Sol Not „ Inl , ° .'I'P""" ■nconsistencies? 
 
 logic i..deed. A e the e not i? rT^ """« '1,'" l">ow nothing. Fi„e 
 
 n.ft,e,, certain .x", „T ° : J,^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "^ in ethics and mathe- 
 
 positions, from which cerni , „fl. ' "'"' "'"">■ P™'i'»es, or pro- 
 
 as den,onstrTMri the o V , 1, '"'■'"""""'•'''^"''''''"''y I"* ■)<=''''=«■". 
 
 out admitti g of ."1 'ch' "^ „"! "turn' l"!'"'"T'"'' P™'''""' *''"■ 
 believers. """ ""'" f^hgioua sceptics, or uu- 
 
 - 'vP^'^»"c iroiii the irue t/hristian? 
 
 ■(^ 
 
31 
 
 Bruce.— in all ordinary circumstances, Christianity doeB net raaice that 
 knowledge necessary, farther than to keep the church and her members 
 free from the intrusion of error, and pollution of imposture ; which may, 
 by principles, or practice, more wound than advance pure religion. But 
 while hypocrites talk and walk like good Christians, for my pal-t, till we 
 can get better men, let the world swarm with them, among every class, 
 and in every quarter. My concern, on that ground, in the fear of the 
 Lord, which produces true humility and meekness, as well as correspon- 
 dent fortitude and zeal, is to be preserved from the known corruption 
 and errors of others, especially wicked men of high sounding religious 
 profession; and particularly of that class. Ministers of the gospel-— if it is 
 indeed proper at all to bestow upon them that glorious title— who are 
 unquestionably, to all intents and purposes, either directly or obliquely, 
 personally or relatively, or even both put together, as is not a rare case ; 
 who, I say, are the very last dross, and uttermost dregs of all mankind! 
 Angus.— Oh, turmuW] Now again fume and foam, burn and boil,' 
 What secret scorpion stings your flesh whenever you tread this fatal 
 ground 1 You are comparatively sober at any other time : Was a preach- 
 er, prithee, thy dear mother's murderer ! 
 
 Brvce.~\ take you at your word ; in your very wanton banter, sir, you 
 have fairly, though inadvertently hit the mark : the thing is just a^ said ; 
 although it may otTend some of our hearers — as kind neighbor C. has 
 remarked — to deal so much in metaphor, I can hardly heip it : It is in 
 truth the neutrality, unfaithfulness, and wickedness of preachers that 
 have, either in a long degree, or with a high hand, murdered my spiritual 
 mother the Church of Scotland; and in plain terms, that is the very se- 
 cret scorpiou. which so stings my very flesh as to excite my just and 
 merited indignation, against you and your guilty supporters, in your 
 wretched defence of those spiritual murderers. 
 
 Angus.—kh, my stars ' your mother ! This sort of play chills my very 
 blood more than fair fighting. Who is the murderer, he that honestly 
 defends, or he that betrays and tramples without mercv or remorse? 
 Would any generous son deal thus with a mother ! I have hardly suffici- 
 ent breath to style you by your proper name, you staunchest and sturdi- 
 est dis-dissentcr ! ! 
 
 Bruce. — I feel myself now too ponderous to lose my balance with a 
 feather; or to blow away as a bladder, by the old bugbear the sound ofdi?- 
 
 benter—you must get some new scarecrow not so very familiar ; for 
 
 Ckarhs.— -Come, come, if you go on at this rate, my jjood friends, 'tis 
 better for us to dismiss; for I guess we may as well expect to find the 
 source of the Nile as the end of your dispute. 
 
 Brtice.— True, very true, my good neighbor ; your gentle correction 
 IS most seasonable; for my own part, though I feel, with regret and shame, 
 that I am of myself as apt to err as a wealher-cock is to change, yet I 
 bless Heaven that I pm not fatally shut to conviction ; especially when it 
 comes in a friendly channel. 
 
 Angus. 
 
 -Let him that never ofTpnds oresume to dictate 
 
 
 been most graciously brushed, on the black score and crime of metaphor, 
 
irony, &,c. dtc. ; and lo I tJie faithful 
 
 W 
 
 I 
 
 dimpl 
 
 ful orifjiti, into his baiite 
 
 !e mates, does not scruple to srart the Nilo, with its dark or d 
 
 conaor, sitting a-kimbo among his 
 
 niiir speech, in order to di?p|yy 
 
 bt- 
 
 ou 
 
 earmog. But I oefy either the nimblesf orator. or'th/pl.-.ineJ us ic 
 the Province, to fin., ha three-minutes' di.cour«; without never dfn ire 
 Bu s.nce we , oust e.ther pursue, or drop our n.ain subject. I ask e e u 
 by leavnig the case of our revivals and ministers of th s place Ibr the 
 present, .n suspense; or, rather under your lash. How do you form your 
 estimate of those at a distance ; or, in other words, of the prese ev 
 
 vnf ?'T"~' humbly think that I have a very good opportunity to puzzlo 
 you and your favontes on that point; for I will allow you, in the fir t 
 p ace to take your cho.ce in adnmting whether the present eviv I her^ 
 and that .n Scotland are of the san.e nature and spirit, or tla tl y are 
 not. lor .f you acknowledge the for.ner; that is to say, that they are of 
 he same tendency : then I have sufficiently answered you aire dy^ For 
 the fanatical operation which goes on here under the name of conversion 
 
 Miniir'l '^'7'" 'V^^ 'f'^''''' P^ofe.s-^on;.ud some of your own 
 M n.sters here-I speak ,t so far to their credit-do not countenance bTit 
 rather condemn it. And. on the other hand, if it is not tl/fs n e ^ork 
 
 one cf the most important points connected with their office-the nature 
 ofconversion— the subject of revivals. »"« nature 
 
 crniili^M-'":^" '^ '"^ ^u^ surprising, or unprecedented, that good men or 
 good Ministers would be divided in their sen iments on the sub.^ct of 
 great and remarkable revivals? J^unjeci oi 
 
 cnffl '•"'';""^°"' ?"''^'''" ^'' "°^ "'"^h ^°^t'"g '» this case; for there is 
 sufficient space of time now given for consideration, nvesti J on and 
 comparison; and, also, the v^'ork itself is of such notoriety as must ex- 
 clude suspense on the principal points of concern in the cLe of coler- 
 
 ful acceptation of Cnuisr as the only foundation of a sinner's hope tml 
 the only supply to answer all his need and all his desires, according a 
 the main spring of the gospel. These things must be conspicuously con- 
 nected with every evangelical revival, from its very first con mencen' n"- 
 till ' h' ''''• "^"'' ""' be doubtful in itself, or \o those who are at anJ 
 time the happy instruments in the work ; whatever failino-s in .r inn^ 
 
 v.duals; who for a time may make appearances, and connect themselves 
 by mere profess:on with the true converts. And since our revf al re 
 
 TJ'T'' P'''"'' ^^"''l'^ '"^'y of Pentecost,' in the open account of 
 Its chief instruments, none but wicked mockers, or a sceplicil Gann i^ 
 can ever doubt of hs Christianity, in the mo.t and main oT '^'or o7 ,1 
 o her hand the work according to its publicity must be notoriously fie 
 as the case is past all doubt in reference to our mock-revival ; so tha no! 
 thing as was already largely remarked, but mere self-inte est or h^ 
 height of rehg.ous ignorance and folly, or ev.n both together can eve 
 
3 amon^ his 
 k, or doubt- 
 cr;i(i" of his 
 'St rustic ill 
 CTiil fiijures, 
 1 asii, even 
 t^e, for the 
 • fortri your 
 sent reviv;:| 
 lioin, under 
 
 y to puzzlo 
 in the first 
 ^^vival herp^ 
 It they are 
 they are of 
 :ady. For 
 onversion, 
 your own 
 nance, but 
 ame work 
 livided on 
 the nature 
 
 )od men or 
 subject of 
 
 or there is 
 ition, and 
 must ex- 
 >f conver- 
 ;, and joy- 
 lope, and 
 ording to 
 )usly con- 
 iicement ; 
 are at any 
 in minor 
 1 in indi- 
 lemselveg 
 ival here 
 'count of 
 Gamaliel 
 )r on the 
 5ly false ; 
 » thatno- 
 ;, or (he 
 ;an leave 
 
 any Minister, for a moment silent, from pronouncing far worse than tekel 
 on the v/nole rantipole work. And such Ministers are certainly more a 
 plague than a blessing to any place. 
 
 i4n;g'U5.--Whalever is the private judgment of our IWinisters on this 
 point, no more than one of them ever yet in this Island, has sboken a 
 word publicly in any serious manner against our revival. But you seem 
 to have made the number more than one, by your remark, 
 
 ^ruce.^l meant no more than you admit, only perhaps adopted the 
 plural for the smgular number; a mode not unfrequently used without 
 any impropriety. But that same is a serious division of judgment in a 
 matter of so much importance, between Ministers of the same class and 
 society. 
 
 Angus.— Vfe never have thought Ministers perfect more than other 
 goou christians : You know Paul and Barnabas once differed and dis- 
 puted sharply between themselves. 
 
 Bruce.— Yes, but lot about the merit of religious revivals; nor any 
 other point of so serious importance.— I have thought it long since as a 
 symptom of formal and false professors to sanction their own sinful divi- 
 sions and wilful declensions, by that and similar examples of the lulines 
 of good and great men. It is a fearful sign of spiritual judgment, when 
 we find the m:nds of men addled under a load of sacred truths on their 
 memory. 
 
 ^w^«5.— iryou have no other standard of the revival and Ministers in 
 bcotland than what is in this Island, are you not in danger of passing a 
 rash judgment. '^ * 
 
 Bruce.— I have much more opportunity of deciding in this case than 
 by what merely passes immediately before me here ; for I had had a lonff 
 and particular acquaintance of those concerns, and their direct similarity 
 m that kingdom before I left it. I had witnessed several revivals of the 
 very same symptoms and appearances, in their commencement and pro- 
 gress; and similar m their nature, all come to nothing; and in many in- 
 stances to a far worse end. These things are clear to the sun. And it 
 IS a particular point of remark, that some of the instruments of former 
 revivals are found, by name, to be among the very chief Ministers who 
 are instrumental in the present noisy awakening in that country, without 
 any reference to, or reflection on their former public disappointment • as 
 It It were included in their ordination -now that they must be refractory 
 during the rest ot their life. And another point, not less notable, is that 
 the main tool in our own pseudo-reform here was a particular subject of 
 the most fanatical revival that has ever yet existed in Scotland amonir 
 Presbyterians And as he still retains his original fanatic confidence 
 sines the fatal date of his ideal conversion, is it but most natural that 
 l?oth his ministry and his converts would ronkJy smell of the ranter f Be- 
 sides these remarks, I had known before I left my native country, various 
 other grievous and glaring extravagance of clergymen existing and con- 
 tinuing from year to year without any remorse, on their own part or any 
 ccrreetioa irom their breihien ; of which 1 do not now intend to speak 
 Jiut again, do you think that we cannot pretty correctly infer from th« 
 
If 
 
 r 1 
 
 I 
 
 34 
 
 open character of our cJerffv here what Rnr» ,^^ «,«^ u t • . . 
 
 sent ihem to us 1 Where is the drrHf..? ""^^ ^'^^e authorised and 
 
 tuea ? T KL !h ^*'^5'^1'''««; «"<J far out-shini .g them in moral vir- 
 
 cho,.c.., of ,„e„ h.ve .h'e, ^^t .'olTs tefh I^^i:^:," Si^Jf 
 
 ries or Miiuslers, but such as have the index of socuhrii; Lh ? r 
 
 nant nature of fallen humanity, w thout the ar-^n^ »f r^.. ^ • " ,"'" 
 
 po^:th:«rt;"X;r=r 
 
 ast ' General Assembly' of the Church of ScotlaLi at home '^where anv 
 reader may .ee the rancorous, and indecent proceedings aL disputuion^ 
 
 n many instances, existing among that higl.V renounced body^ aid n 
 some cases exited to a pitch next to boxing. And what wonder' eno 
 
 Angus.— That ligation is not so binding in this country ■ for our Mi 
 
 .nV ' -T? '? ?PP"^*'^ ^^ '^'''' ''^P''^'^ auditorie rand yet alear 
 to c. jrish both tbp «arii«» "oo^ fp^i:„„- „ . , . '. """ J'tJi <»ppear 
 
 iccfings, and ecclesiastical attachment 
 
 
uthorised and 
 
 imong themselvP. as where the Clergy are dependent on the State, 
 airaln t mT;i f " u"."*'^- "^ y°"' «'g"ment ; a.id yet it proves nothing 
 \fZ 1 'a '" 'Tl ""'n" °'' '=«""'''^ti"n. both here and ih Scot- 
 
 land, as already noticed, has all its good feelings founded upon very su- 
 perfic.al and worthless grounds, utterly unworthy of their high Sous 
 profeH3.or t is well known, beyond any contradiction, even W.oS 
 neighborhood, that some of our Ministers do not acknowledge faith in thS' 
 fl^rrl !""''"= '"/^ ^'' '" °'^" »° strengthen one another in thtfif' 
 
 cnnTrv /''^''?"°"''. "■°'" ''""' '° *''"«' ^° ««<^'«»'«« « home, for p/. 
 
 Derform.",! inn" V" """'l'" 'a r^"'''^.'^" '^^^*^^^« ^'^ ?'««^ '^^^ors neJfer 
 performed, and of moral and religious improvements which never existed 
 they must corroborate each other's reports, to give them ZZTtSi 
 view ct their s.lly transatlantic benefactors : and also sinceThe^u k of 
 their supporters here have been brought up as members o?the far-fimed 
 
 frjhtful the name of d:ssenters ; so that you see a sort of compact on tMs 
 po nt, however paltry or brittle, is still a most necessary piece of worldlv 
 wisdom ; otherwise not a pig would one of these pious preachers 2 
 
 itr iTT-r ^.r^u^'P^ t"- '^'' '''y '^^^ •■''« °f hi, fellows. 
 
 .4w^«5.-I think 1 no 111 thought to believe that, if you could command 
 It you would give a ' pig ' and a boar for the death of every one of S 
 good messengers of salvation, when you should once preJume ?6 tS 
 them in so contemptible a manner. 
 
 Bruce.— I have never pretended to calculate what indeed mov be the 
 proper pnce of either the life, or the death of this kind of men -but 1 
 ell you, and all concerned, that I would most heartily wi«h tTgive more 
 than you have named for the sudden death of all the official service oT^he 
 Ministers of this place, and of that of all their brethren of the s rs^amp 
 and similarly c.rc^umstanced ; and at the same time quite ser ou"rcr7e 
 the blessing of Heaven on the bargain. ^ 
 
 C/mr/6'^.-I am afraid that some of your hearers may feel offended at 
 the low style, anc unguarded phraseology so marked in some of vour 
 speeches, especially the last of them, whfn treating of the life and deTh 
 
 trv of t le . '^ ll'"'" 7 "" ^T^""^'^'" ''"^ ^"^^"^'^ ' charge as the minis! 
 try of the uospel as also at the sarcastic vein so manifestly played through 
 
 m to'tl'irr '"" "'?'^- '"P"^" «°"^ vvell-mean L'g fJik may le 
 . pt to think, that every religious sub ect ought to be handled only under 
 t!.e open appearance of serious features, in 'all its sacred bearings^ 
 
 l,.t mTir. '"""'' K '' r''''"" '"^ "°'' '^^^y «^>'« ^«" ^^"•'^ y«"r turn : 
 M men in a serious bustle must not be curbed with frivolous items I 
 iu ly approve however of the handsome remark you offer upon the Toiem. 
 n.ty and sublimity of the pastoral function ; which the abuses of my JS 
 pos.te l.ave rendered indispensably necessary. I sadly w Jh his dariTj 
 e"am;r;."'' ""'""^ ""^ '"^'" ^^^'^'^^^^^ by your c'haste and caniii 
 
 edt"m;~re^"iL'T:ii^Tj„!„^f^p!- ^j^y^r' "^^"'°" '"*^"^'- 
 
 vocables can be screed ^i^U ^^^;;:;^ ^.^nl^:^: ^^ o^ 
 
y ' 
 
 Clergy; and, that, if 
 
 fro 
 
 iictioriuri 
 • name ol 
 
 r.T' ';°Lr /^«? «f »''' -hy not 
 
 lem 
 
 expung 
 ■ .- .V, »c.iv;ii mougrii without exprension 
 
 -n uan»p,ant uby the word ^Tfru^if i'°l tVT?"' °" ^*''^ P°'"'' ^ 
 ■ame sound ; and not a iot behiT. I m!^^ I of Jettera, and next the 
 
 licate 'adieaLwhenevSr^hun, l-rlXrT. "^"^^ ''^"^ ^''"^ ^"^ ^«- 
 good creatures, well p.epared -^ if at L •'"°'' "''^"' "^' °' ^^'^ ^he.e 
 ^•th their dear dents; and that withou A '"T '""*' '" P'^P^' «°»^«<^t 
 And I know also, by blithe or bT^ltv ^ d.scr.m.nation or disgrace : 
 ence in a syllable' raV ward off ^trv^r'T'' ''V '^' «%htes/d.ffer. 
 -t'Kma; as for instance, a Rev^renJ nnm? fiu"' ^'P' '''^^^ « «°^« 
 Chance« and changes, and whhin th^ rL ' ? '" ''/'"« '" ^^''^ *^o''d of 
 ing once pinched by he relent 1 It ^ff^^^"*^ '"°'*'^'" ^'^"'^»'- l**' 
 mous crime of • biffamv'»7hif,iH?h \^ ''"'• "" "'^•^°""» o^ «he enor- 
 
 tution of either thfwo?d 'd tamv'or w' '"":'''> ^'« "'"^^ «"bst L 
 in the lurch ! '*^'""^ °' ""'«» "/ J a»d so left his opponent 
 
 dentfh:i;;pXri:tyn?no't tlZ^TT ""*' ""'^ '^^^'--^ ^--n, 
 isters, and their sacP^d office the hro,.-l^ of refusing to Mini 
 
 them? Don't vou rlaH ?j7o ' " "^^ ''"'' honorable epithets due to 
 
 Paulon thi^gru .d ;'he fh'^Zr ^t""t-^^-;-"of?he great Saint 
 
 ofArnias.rd"ors;e"rrar;raiftb^"'t^^°/.^^ 
 
 or acknowledged thereTn an .r nr k ^"^ ^ ^"' ^"*^ ""*^^ ^'n the point, 
 to the judicious exSn!^. 'oa idson': Z? '^"^ '' I ''^'' ^^^^ ^' '«'» 
 my own part 1 do not knowingly a i^^'df to vin"/^' t''l ""' ^'' 
 of Ministers, or their most ho,nr„u "'/^^'♦^to^'"'-')' either the persons 
 which I seriously v^LTaTe 'd esl^ 'r "^ '""V^ °^*^^ «" '' '« *" "«elf; 
 as far superior ,o^ any oTher cL^fo^.^'m '^' T^ ^""°'" ^^ "'J' ^eart 
 I can express my thuuXrproS and n ^ ? '^^ ^"'^*^ = «"* whether 
 S".cerr im i« t.f oxpos'e wh'atTpp 'ar. to met r/hV"";''^ P""^' ^^ 
 degrading, and that in a very hiX decree L.h.h" ^'^^^'^^^ «nd 
 of these, otherwise, very revere fdrnpn?' ^! character and conduct 
 «1 '«e of their offic; and nc t nt nllT ' ^ -^ ". '''" ^*'''^'"^f»' ^^^^ «Pen 
 arwl degrade. I am'deepi; sensible o? "J^"" "'"'J' '''"^ ^ "'^'^ *« ^'^^'^^^ 
 >ate and responsible. ^ ^""^ ^''^''"^ ^^'"g ^oth very deli- 
 
 yo-Ti'e^ul\2:^^^^^ *" your profession, why would 
 
 and circumspectionTron our 0.^0?'''''.'." " "'^^ more'reserve 
 found somehow deficient! . t S o^^T T '''"''*"'"'^ '"^i' have been 
 charge them of euh^ mmo ! ' ^^'°"' "^^r^^-^^"-' ' hope none can 
 
 would accordin.Wyexperollenrv?;?""''''^ ?"'^"^^' ^°^ ^^hom I 
 manner of handiuig. ^A n Z ^r \^^^^^^^^^ '«•• beyond your rough 
 
 out defiance to facfs ar^^ reason ^ ' '"'"'"' °" ^'^'^'' P°'«^. ^^il 
 
 <ten7'SetS'ki;'t'"' "''*"''^' '° ^^« some of .his sorry Bigamist's f.is^d^ still 
 
. / y 
 
 expunge (hem 
 it exprewioni 
 1 this point, I 
 * and next the 
 that ver)- de- 
 or both these 
 roper contact 
 or disgrace : 
 ighies. differ- 
 away a Bore 
 ;hi8 world of 
 Church, be- 
 of the enor- 
 niere substi- 
 his opponent 
 
 ous evasion,, 
 sing to Min- 
 hets due to 
 J great Saint 
 -in a diare^ 
 
 St? 
 
 e in the case 
 'n the point, 
 
 you herein 
 ce. As for 
 the persons 
 s in itself; 
 •f my heart, 
 ^ut whether 
 ' point, my 
 ^erous and 
 id conduct 
 I and open 
 to disclose 
 
 very deli- 
 
 vhy would 
 re reserve 
 have been 
 none can 
 r whom I 
 our rough 
 )int, with. 
 
 friende still 
 
 n 
 
 befoumlT:' ^''* "'^''•V™""^ «° "«^t t'-al «o glarinff immorality is Ko 
 be lound ftu.ong us. as elsewhere on thi*. ground '; ;.,id I say further that 
 I know so much already of the effrontery of d.-rgyuen unCt ho mask 
 
 th. Itri'lr '"'L' P'--'"'-."- '« --»« '''y circumsp tio o, 
 thw score ; and to make me speak ail along with a good degree of reserve t 
 
 fhrrX rr'" "">'1^"« - '""«' i f- tiLe is s^o^eth g mori 
 than a mere deficiency m their religious character: of which I do not 
 now intend to treat. But as to flattery, falsehood.' ar^d duplic ty I do 
 not know what names w.li you choose to give them ; or to so te wrath 
 
 It^nTt eoL'r T ^«"*-t""\'' ^^^"^ »^»^ without anTrealpt: 
 vocation on the one hand ; or on the other any sorrow or sharne 1 will 
 mark one instance which is fa from solitary :_A very generous a.^d 
 
 M^' i^ltlo^e '"^h"h"^ "';^" ''""^^' ^"^ '«^«'y invS two'of'ou; 
 fllmisters o lodge with him, and t- enjoy the best eomforts of his ^ milv 
 
 nateSVett'I/n U?e'^'\"' "^ t't' ■ ^ '^'^P"'^' '» the mean°[im:. oHgi'- 
 r'!\r!i , ^ •?"*'^"= "'^'^''' '" ^^^ circumstance of information 
 
 depended mainly, ,f not solely, on the knowledge of the kinJ ho^ bui 
 
 1 in the cTrtrv" "'^)Tt ^'"^^^"^"' «'' P"^^P» ^^^^ ^^^ ^t 
 «ion-'' Yr« i ^V' p/Vk' ^^r"^'''" ''»"^'^'^' •" a most frantic pa.. 
 fCl^biJrrrh /!'' The other Clergyman was not implicated «n 
 
 DiunUer ot his brother, he did not show any more regret, or discrust of 
 
 to oTof the n^n^^^^^ '" f '''"^ ^^ P^^' ''' '*"»'* "-^^^^^^ «< ^hem. 
 
 etUef en for ^hP r''"°:;''''%'''r''?"'^^^ '^^''' '«'"*!^ «^ ^^at part of the 
 To mav tell ml ,h remainder of their «top, till their, departure. Now 
 bu S rn " T ""^^'"2 '^' "" '^^"-^ °<' ^f'i^'i the civil law takes 
 
 mannerly, lu all this; or any ways unworthy of the character of the dear 
 and^pubhc servants of Jesus Chk.s. ; ,„d \ .efy you Sif; tie scope 
 
 «ihtTseTe^w!uldlrhr"* ^""^ '^' ^r' '^"*^'"^^ ^«« « ""•< '^i^^enter; 
 verence for whl^h? f ''"^^ "' P'"''"'"" to dispute it with hisRel 
 V^nd thVirnroIA ^^^V^'f """'' P'"'""^ ^° ^^eology and mystery be- 
 
 Tve a XTn! '' ''^"" *° °"^ "^'^^^ P^«^^' and heavenly concordl 
 
 i>iever a worse plague arrests a country than divinity arro/ancp nr.H 
 
 ii oirLTv^f '"^" 'T' ''!■ p^^p'^ against ;;::^Vi3ruid:sl 
 
 mouth to tren in"ir ''"''^'''"^'"^ '"^^^>' ^as appointed, as His owo 
 
 h is a loor rp ' M ^'^'' "'"/' ^"^ *''« ^^^'«hed children of Adam, 
 
 of lav ireachln; n^d'f 7 ""'''^ ^'^'* '^ "^^ better than the dissension 
 VI lay preacnment, and plebeirm rantisra < 
 
 in mie" tto7l»s r '"'''S',''^ = '"' '" '^^"<^^"'ed l:now that the gentleman 
 ^f her mos^ ,ni 5" "^''''"' '""'^^^'" ^^ ^'^^ Church, and a partaker 
 
 w t . slight too'.:!; nf H- '"r-" '■ ^"l ^ ^''' '^y^ "^y ^'^'^ ^•'"-' h-' «« tinged 
 with a slight touch of dissidence, when he finds men enioving the bene- 
 
 serv 1 t's a"d M^!""' Tr "^""'"^ '''' ^'-^"^ ^'"- of^the puX 
 serv^ants and Ministers of Christ, wantinff ordinary decenr.v of m»nn.r». 
 
 a... men eccje.iast.cai superiority exempted ibem from theVhack'les'of 
 
n 
 
 11 ! 
 
 / ; 
 
 ! f 
 
 .)! 
 
 3§ 
 
 s::;::;.tS;s::;;;:::;;:;;rLi:"^^ -"-fi?^- =" t»- ^-nen fu.., 
 
 prbmpt them. A irwhetl c 1 n^''"'""'" '" '"'^''.'^ '"^''"P^ "''^"^^ "^^r 
 ^egardin. h« reli^ous sentimem -^^'.T ^,""^^"'^^ '"'gl'^ Sethis or that, 
 ence on This ground rnT^^'^-'l'^ J'"^^' '^. '"'^^es but iit.le differ: 
 
 very uncertain sou ul The ^ " ^ ?^ ' ''^''^'' ^''"'^'''y ' " '« but a 
 mong all s6rt8 ofS ,0.?^;^ / '^S^^'f^iy, or some kind of rule a- 
 
 me that a band ofdemmis Ta Linn nV^'^ ^''■'^''' ^^''^^ ^^*" P^*^^^ «« 
 their own way ? Theae;^ tul ^ " of dev.Is, are not most regular in 
 worse. There i^ a Minfstfr n ^^?"'^'-';> '" error and wickedness, the 
 was educated, IitS,e J aid '"/"^ T"' Y?"^ °^*''''"'^^ Edward, 'who 
 ry regulation irt reLtabfisS Chl7" r «^' T'T^^''^ ^° ^^^^ "^d'"^" 
 several years a regular R^,' 1^1 of Scotland; and has been for 
 
 the word'; and ToCrted in a reX "^ ^ acceptation of 
 
 «andofsoberpeople^o be lerv wi M v ^TT"' '^''^''''' t*^^" « thou- 
 selves, inour nev! re iv hS !mn' ^^"'" ^'''''"''' ^"^ «'« have our- 
 cast J thou-rh as vet of an int • f ""u ''°"'''^*^' ^ ^^t of the same 
 rors 'and obstinacy 'and' n tl.TJ-^'^"' ' ^"^'''" ^^ •"^^'^'" '" their er! 
 ceivefromtt,eirreg I'rM r^^^^ encouragement they re- 
 
 «ien concerned onlhe s,,S ' o.'.l) v '^"^ J^i-cous and impartial 
 as in the. presence of IS ^^^e f Th^r''"".''^ '""^ ^"'^'"'^ ^^^oose. 
 try would be left to U.2J ' • u ""^^^^^''^ the world, that our cour- 
 
 ^'^-.-pii:: ",: " s^;h':^::;;i^:;^'^?v^- Regu,a.Minis;j . 
 
 havd never heard. Where ZZr thTl u '"'"S^^g^e and ideas. I 
 fophy ! is the, World therHeft at r.tl ' 5''" Z"" ^'"'"'"^ '^'' Philo- 
 
 like Photon's horses? Or ilet^^^^ ^"'« ''^ ^^'-. 
 
 wrong, regular and irregular Or f th^L^ '"'\^''"'''" '''^^'' '^^ 
 your strange theory, dofs i^ co resist / ' ^''"^ "^^"■''"' according to 
 
 mer;:::;;f^,?;^:^;"^;f ^-^tend with ^^^ - -'7 othVrs Hbout the 
 
 impo- -nee ; and esp;c ■ U in hV ' "''"■'^' "" P"'"^^ ^^ ^^'^'g^t and' 
 -y '-.^..d. after ac E!^, ^.'^^^ -ernity.^ Now. 
 
 may be found necessary for a Minis rohfr' "?"^^^,'«^g«. ^'hich 
 
 possesMedofsuchnatura'tal , 1 fl^ ^ '''"^ '"'^ "''^"" ^« '« 
 as are proper to his offi(^^e then ;• """J'i^^t'on with that knowledge 
 
 of heart and life. Tl^s in Je " l'^ "^ ^''''y ''^ '^y ^'^^ Pi^ty 
 
 And the cieartest abt c^ of ll o '.1' "" '''V''''^ "^ '-^"Vv dispute! 
 i«. in my own view/th prhe '^ Z" h'"! "''"^^''^ ' ^^"'""g "''^ ^'^--gv, 
 tion on fhe subject althoS lis T "' '"'' ':'"'''"^ ^^^^''^ and reflfc: 
 tuting positive is we riVa iv.^ "'' 'V!.^' understood as consti- 
 -und truth, whatevery'u. orm 3 n^i.;;;'. ';'"-^^"*'"-- This is 
 When, therefore, any Min ste^s rLr ? -'7^"'r "^'""^'"^ °'" "'''tives. 
 most necessary point fre a d ' t ri^ f'^r^ ".^'''" appearance of this 
 nsm or contradictio : n terns Forln""' ^ *" ' *' ^ "^^ ^ '"^^^ «'>'«- 
 other words, how can thef ^.k accord nlt'^h "^'^, '^\>:^g"'••'^• or in 
 'nderstand, viz. the rule nfiC a ^- ^^'' '"'^ ^'^ich they do not 
 'uence of the holy ^ "t r/ct": t f "ICS.^f ' ""^^ ^^e gracious in- 
 
 ■'uencp nftu^ I I I "^ sacrea scriptares, u 
 
 Jence of the holy spirit of God in their souls? 1" 
 
 
 Oaii uncon- 
 
h.s client, not to pervert the r 'hS ; " fl?^'"^ '^'' ""J"«t cause of 
 nuthonse*! rule-than for any •.'",! m^ .r""''-^,-^^^" '^ is his 
 Minister of the Gospel : How fa ill " l^? ''^''"^ *" ^^ ^ regular 
 
 virtues, and mere ci i .,a ^s ? rr/r"-^" ""^ ^^^'^^''ve in a.ora 
 I asked him could l,c adr ,i tl e f J h w ""^ ^''^'^ "'^h a poor papist, 
 r^^^s are open!, .u^^J^rl^Z^l tE^J::d:cl""^'"^^^^'i 
 HI the affirinntive: 1 then innnir,.,! i.^ . ," 5^°"°"ct : He answered 
 
 f>y.the oific.al services i^rio^ me, '7^^;^^ ^f ^^P/^* »« be benefited 
 fcipate, that the ' Priest tou .h Tnholi f^'"^' ^' ^ ^^^ '^««°" to an- 
 oflicc' This is but re^u r f P ; ; ^ '"r '? ^T''' '' ^'^ ^'''^ '" ^i, 
 ansmg among the neighbo s of an . h;. . ' t'^"'"' "'^^ '*>"/ «i"ce. 
 merits of Clergymen, one of the Ln-*' ««tllement concerning the 
 would rather haVe a £lterthTci.rr''r«'^^^^ '^''"''^' that he 
 tute of the least appearance o It. g^'Siu .^,7/^^ ^^«ti. 
 
 of any other denomination. Now you see h^ jhe most gracious one 
 the good Protestant are not so d^£ent fn t lir ^'f''''^ Romanist, ^nd 
 the.r names would pronounce then tn L xT "^"tjments, at times, as 
 cation, this last true stiry is a ouni nr V ' -"^P'.' ^''t'^°"t further appli- 
 the thing is quite reg Ia7, ccordini C^T\ '" ^'°"'" ^^" ' ^'<^^-^^ 
 Illustrate it to a very grent lermth but / ^""f"'^' " ^"^ ^ could 
 your patience. Bu{ I^" . in fri 'f th . " '''"'^^ ^^' too tedious for 
 faces; and that a pai ne7 or nstant u"''" ''' ^ '^^'""^ ^« "«'"«'. or 
 imitates the face of a Bhdw-ltr's^^ regular, at least, when'he 
 a Gabriel ; so that you see Lerv th 'n^is I'i '"'"''"i '''" '"^^^"^^ of 
 
 Angus.--U it possible for y/u tHi pr^,^t/at''n f "f '' "^ '"'^• 
 men. but hypocrites, and even profan?M ni er ' ''"'^ T'^ '"^^^I 
 sovereign hand, prove beneficial^to rimp olemlt ^^' '" "^! ^""^^'^^ 
 conversion of others? Instance I.„ « 'J"P':°^^"^en , or say to the savings 
 the Apostles. Others >erhed CHirnf"^ "" ^^'^^'''^ ^'''^ ''^^ ^««t of 
 ^nd St. Paul seemeth 'to re oi!e U,cr n kn'""'^ - 'Y'^'' ^^'''P '• I^. 
 siilvation :' &c And hmv Z i ^"""'^ ".' knowing it should tuin to his 
 
 regular ' as an adjective t„ anv "uWep '• '''"' ""= ""'P^J ""'d 
 
 ■livine revelation gives us the n f, .1 m T™""'' '"J' '"">><" '»>»» 
 
 enterprise of the A™' I " J, das c hi! T''''' ''"'"^"°"' The name and 
 
 - great and glori Ju't, ' t 'l fte' ^ Si:;',',, ,",' ''7^'" ''^™'"» 
 "feminence and prominence in Vhl i- > ""' '''^'8'". ^mongnien 
 
 [■ope l.e shall soon^ ,° cr |,oot'and on, 1,"'°"^'^''''''='' "^ Scotland, That I 
 he_r__confe.ions and trantc'lL^s^r^^ret^'r'la^l.'Je' t'^T'^. '"- 
 
 Home. For the 
 
 famous St. Jud 
 
 he Church of 
 
 ^standard of excellence and"perfection'"TfT"^^^ ^'T' "''''''^' ^"'^ high 
 
 •u periection. If I dare object to the fatal mea- 
 
H i^" 
 
 r -li" 
 
 Iff 
 
 Hi 
 
 40 
 
 sures of M.uislers— Why ! They arc as good as Judas : Let me find fault 
 With the enormity of communicants- -Tush ! Judas was at the Lord's 
 Supper at its prime and original, under the immediate administration of 
 l^HRisT himself : When I advert to the wildness and falsity of r-evivals— 
 Ah ! the Lord rebuke me for my rashness : for in the best reform on earth 
 there wanted not a Judas I But for all this I wish neither to overrate nor 
 undervalue the merit of this famous Apostle ; and say therefore that I 
 heartily choose all our clergy and communicants were so far reformed as 
 to gain, at least, the tacit or negative account of the goodness of Judas 
 among the disciples, before his detection on the score of the box of oint- 
 ment. And as to the preachers of ' envy and strife,' St. Paul, like all 
 other good Christians, in similar circumstances, made a merit of neces- 
 sity on that point ; for he had no choice to make. And regarding the 
 word • salvation ' I take it, with other sound divines, to mean only the 
 release of his person from confinement ; which was quite contrary to the 
 intent of those envious preachers. The betrayers and murderers of our 
 Saviour, and the noted Judas among the number, in like manner indi- 
 rectly, and in the Lord's overruling providence, have proved themselves 
 as some of the best friends and benefactors of mankind ; and yet na 
 Jhanks to their office or intention. The mere sovereign permission of 
 Heaven is far different from its positive injunctions, examplary precedents, 
 and imperative mandated. ^ ., r » 
 
 ^ft^Ms.— Would not Judas's participation of the Eucharist, after his 
 exposure by Christ, be rather a precedent than a mere permission ? 
 
 Bruce.— I challenge you and all the world first to prove that ever he 
 received it. And I tremble to live at a time which has brought your doc- 
 trine on the subject into vogue. 
 
 Angus.— 1( you think to charge me on that dot, and the several other 
 points in the course of my argument connected with it, you will involve 
 many a good and great man in the same charge; and indeed I heartily 
 persuade myself to believe that so insignificant a thing as you, csnnot h& 
 in earnest in your attempts lo expose to contempt and ridicule oui far- 
 famed and most reverend Ministers and Doctors at home. I should dread 
 the very ground on which you stand, and abominate your very appear- 
 ance and breath, could I fullj be sure that you have no more foith than 
 you profess, in the wisdom, iutegrity, and sanctity of Presbyteries. Synods 
 and General Assemblies. ' ./ > 
 
 Bruce.— Do not then deceive yourself any further o» that .around; for 
 1 tlunk the si. ject too grave and important to tease or tar. iHze you on 
 Us bearings : 1 am as serious as the weight of the points in question caft 
 make me, according to my best knowledge of them. 
 
 Charles.— Mmy of your hearers are apt to think that either, or at 
 times both of you fight it but for the mere victory of argument, regard- 
 ess of the true merit of the suKject ; because-you do to often, as I former- 
 Ij remarked, sprout and strout in such satiric and bombastic a style as 
 would, by some, be thought improper upon serious points. 
 
 Angus.— Am sure every body of common sense and reason, who hear.* 
 me, wUi give me the credit of having so goo4 and boaorable a cause, that 
 
ances. •* wntiever, ne will make generous qllow- 
 
 paiilful day; I have therefore buUhT 0°"' 7k ^- ' ''"''*^^"' "'S^t and 
 ing my hearers anv wi»Jt m„ r °P^' °^''^'"« ^'^P^^'e of impress- 
 
 prfnci^les at r , dom aVd hold S T'"'"' P^^P^^.^^^P^ ^^eir relfgious 
 external circum tan^^^ Thev do T. f ' 't"' ^^^cor^ing to accidents, and 
 ject worthy of ra i3 r.in/u "^^•'"'^^a^e religion as the only sub- 
 volving in^it he awfu ' on^^^^^^^ everlasting beings; and as in- 
 
 eternaf ThrcoLeouentlv h. '. '""^ '^^t difference of life and death 
 however righ^and reasonaWe ser^^^^^^ and dende any thing or thought, 
 
 t\ ^<:::tS{::;^z::':^Tti.':'^': --roMs';ivrcaj; 
 
 ground; for it is hLdIv worth fnll ^^''"t ^'^'"^'''^vv on his own 
 
 subject under any aefou^ap^^^^^ 
 
 who Ws not th^at a man ^Sy^S^uitet^e?, un^ i^^^^S 
 
 w^;^^^--- very disdain.!,, 
 
 of SisTute 'fc'l""."'^""^ '" "l)" "'«»'"■■■-' =i"« 'h'' commencement 
 be-, of the fe.'abHhed Church o?!''!? "!f"/",."" """''"» ^"l ™« " 
 
 .-mSyT^hoirl^hlt^keenTvf ""'"',''"' "^ ^'" "°'»™" 
 
 ,of s:r„T/a''m:.;tom°t.i,;..".' ■"""' 's ""' r *» "■» "-h. 't 
 
 letel, absconded f/„m°ti;L W:'„d™?™er"c"Varib '''""'"'"« 
 
 rare m Scot and amonir the Cl^^av ™^9"^"ce ^t tippling; a vice not 
 
 my assertion. My own Minister^^fAr .» °"^ not hanging merely on 
 
 was but a half idioVandTmerc;ofn »''''"' ^^'^ '""« «^°^^ °^ /^«rs, 
 
 of vagary, ^nd th'; :aL%TancTe °'^^^^^^^^^^ »>"" 
 
 in our two adjacent narishPQ »,u\.l '. j "'e same time, served a.' pastors 
 
 their long livis^oi^irthat o^le of Z '^^P"^.'^'^"- «' suspension during 
 
 ministration, as a rne^e ffrce Y^^^^^^ interrupted in his public aot 
 
 of them are publicly char 'd with in v"" ^"^ '^' successors of two 
 
 which one of them id thfr'nnn '"^^'^•"'''^^^'ssues. in pursuance of 
 
 der the black stLma of a m^rr i^ ' '"^ '^^ °^*'"' '^ «^'" officiating un- 
 
 own honorrthS the crTme !«?'"'" ' ^it"^'' ^«^'"'*» *>'« «»d her 
 
 GorroK J \""ugn ine crime was committed before her marr:»„o . ..a 
 
 o.r ,b.,„..u ., ,ucfl Circumstances as have been aufficiemlysat' "lit^r; 
 
'<5 
 
 l\ 
 
 m 
 
 ta all concerned, but the clergy and their implicit adherents These afp 
 but mere specimens of what might be far extended ; and pttly of a far 
 
 la&our TJ'^'Tr '' °"^ ""''''' ^"^ ^'^-^ families,'in7he Higt 
 lands of our dear and dangerous native country. If you have not fhl 
 
 humduy or honesty of mind to acknowledge tLsenotoriouftcts I al 
 low you to pubhsh them against me to the four winds AsTo frol okint 
 fidj^hng, tipplmg and dancing in manses, or the houses of Cle^mei ft' 
 13 but a very familiar, and ordinary point to hear, or to sneak o^thp' 
 from time to time in different parts of our native kingdom ^^al.n" 
 whhVdr' ^''^n^y "ext neighbors, D. M. the piper,'' who, poor fellow 
 
 cou„.ry bear none of your m„„sLu?ctr?cfe",\rL^ "f:dl;.'"„ e ' 
 keck, on that score, till your stomach is vacated " "" 
 
 n>y'';;ie^Ts"!uh1:c^^r„tr'::;■s,rtt7&'Sei^^^ 
 
 tural fook nr,^ .1 f ®^°^'^"^ ^^^ a dispensation on this around - Na- 
 I?e n Si irtt"lt^"hV'-'' ^^ 'W'y «-•— in her ministry as they 
 thatThe e n. ^?m! ' ' ,? u ''''' '^'f^^- ^"^ ^^ ««^*°"« ^ruth I believl 
 
 Clerffv for Ih^v 1 n ^'''' ""' "' ^^^''' '^'^ '"°«^ harmless among our 
 
 Clergy, for tfiey can impose unon nnp« h.,t ♦h«: i.. . ^^ 
 
 1 -'» «!i\,ii unij p-ctuijur casi. iiut 
 
nts. These are 
 partly of a far 
 , in the High- 
 have not the 
 ious facts, I al- 
 s to frolicking-, 
 f Clergymen, it 
 speak of them 
 - I happen to 
 >, poor fellow, 
 tnessta dread- 
 twice, in par- 
 , as a piper, in 
 )ath day-light ; 
 le of removing 
 and stilfsfept 
 worship; and 
 I happened 
 ih other extra- 
 3 Reverence's 
 ction. None 
 rnly wilful oh 
 
 mtidote along 
 jymen in this 
 t a distance : 
 that no such 
 )int however 
 !, within the 
 an never un- 
 
 hinking that 
 much plea- 
 ying that my 
 
 once prove 
 It of reform : 
 few of those 
 )ver all the 
 lad abscond- 
 Jies, leaving 
 ul conduct, 
 igious carri- 
 h on earth, 
 •ound : Na- 
 stry as they 
 th I believe 
 
 among our 
 r cast. But 
 
 what have I said I I am sadly mistaken; for some of the most cunninff 
 and sagacious in political and civil concerns are among the rankest fools 
 in the world in religious ai>d spiritual things. Why else could such 
 swarms of these idiots win at all to this sacred office, througij the finaers 
 of so many quite the reverse of them, in native intellects! And why sup- 
 ported through their functionary life by men of superior talents, but upon 
 the same ground ! "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee. 
 U J^ather Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things 
 trora <or disclosed them not to) the wise and prudent, and hast revealed 
 l* ^o babes. Even so Fathers for so it seemed good in thy siarht" 
 Mat. XI 25 and 26. " Where is the wise ! Where is the scribe !'' ' 
 
 Angm.— Where is your boasted discernment when you don't notice 
 your own flatly contradictory statement ' How should any Clergyman 
 abscond unless he was aware of the just rigor of his brethren against his 
 dehnquency ? ° 
 
 Bruce.— It is not so easy for you to prove any coritradiction or incon- 
 sistency m my statement on that score as you pretend to suppose There 
 are other reasons for the abscondence of individual delinquent Ministers 
 rather than the rigid morality of their official brethren : As first the 
 suspension of support, in a less or greater degree, by their offended'sub- 
 scribers : Or secondly the intolerable reflection of other religious deno- 
 minations, among whom they may happen to be placed; in the same 
 manner that Popery is never so degraded in superstition and immoraljty 
 while It is open to the inspection of Protestantism as otherwise : And 
 thirdly, more -^specially, when the delinquent, in addition to his other 
 offences, proves insolent and refractory to his presbytery. These three 
 points were remarkably combined in the case of the Pictou absconder. 
 
 ^rt^MS.— Such solitary instances but faintly serve your purpose to de- 
 grade the ministerial character; and your memorial of them proves rather 
 your own greedy catch than the offence of your objects. 
 
 Bruce.— The paucity of my examples is more the result of my reserve 
 than the poverty of my subject : And, therefore, to take another instance 
 upon the same local ground: Another of your late Clergymen at Pictou 
 being as a man so pampered-like, and as a Minister so torpid that he was 
 but unsufficiently supported by his congregation, when he had taken the 
 maggot of electioneering as a civil, though unsi cessful candidate; who 
 after surviving his political defeat, and remaining as a religious incubus 
 upon his ecclesiastical adherents for a time, at length paid the debt of 
 nature. But, behold, the whole Church, if not the whole country, must 
 mourn in sackcloth for the trumpeted loss of the good and great champion 
 of the faith: Nay any sensible and serious publisher of a Journal mu.««t 
 have all its extremities duly phylactered on the occasion, as the sable 
 symptom of our awful .eligious bereavement ! This must not be all the 
 marks of gratitude of the living to the memory of the dead; but somethincr 
 more durable and substantial; a subscription for a monument to stand 
 the test of future ages ; that the generations yet unborn may see, as well as 
 hear of the lofty vist^ag^es, and solemn signs of the ardent piety, and sur- 
 passiiig ejnuiation of ihcir auoesiors. Bui what do you think of me, who 
 
'I » 
 
 I ' 
 
 It I 
 
 \\i 
 
 f\l 
 
 believe thai I m'wht w\th «►/.». 
 
 this occasion, by Vecoifd?n /^ ^^^^'^ J"d« en 
 
 J'ven to the poor ;" espectaX "L poor chifd p"' r?'^"''^ " '^ ^« '«^her 
 or could you deem it any d Jecr.tion or nr 'r ""^'T''^ Clergymen ; 
 fiilJy aware that people once rVli ' 1 . 'i • P/^^^^^n^^'on ? Although I an 
 -uch a heigh: ofSotageTe in Tar?^"! f"'""'''^' ''"'^ '«''» of hLv^n to 
 v.ction, or shame; yel t is possiblTtJit F^ '"""P"^'* of ««her con- 
 
 'Xn^at:b "n^ i'^^^of ^ '^^^ ^^-'"^ ^^ 
 
 every lore; or'rXrtwrp^Zr^xtlf.r'''^^'^''^*'* *« -"'« on 
 gayest flowers, and the verrsweet^st hlrh, • n ^ P^'""" '"'^'^ ^^e very 
 «ppare„t. or ideal defects o^f he cL' v ' - • '"^ '"^J'"' '^"^ '^"^ 
 
 jour dreams by niaht^ Pr J f '^^ '^'^^P^ ^o"' thouirhts by dav or 
 
 revelation. and^Kuitful r/sut^^lf"'* "''^ '"'"^ '"^^^ of'your graciius 
 
 ■»ri/ce.-I heartily w h vof. nn.L ^''"'' ^"'""«"'bulation ! ^ 
 remark* are too well grou/ded o be reS"' "."'^ ''^^'"'"^ ^ ^"^ >"/ 
 cannot .nvalidate thei? force t is Jo .m '/"l^"""" ^^"^ering evasio J 
 are profaned. i„ so fearful a manner and dl'"' ^""'^ J'^''^ ordinances 
 administration of the characters of such.«^^^' ""^''" ^''^ desecrated 
 Shock.ng. but to callous hen tTand sealed ^r '" *^"'*^'""- ^' ^''"'^ ^e 
 of the flushed and fuddled faces of cLr'!"'"'^ ''' ''''' "' '« ^ear 
 
 frequently in some places in ScoulnH ?T '"^^ ^'^'^^ '" ordinary, but 
 country, at the verv solemn momln'fi'^ ''•'""'« ""'^^ ^•«il>'y i" thi. 
 For my own part rhadk^own of h^^''^"''"''*"''"« 'f'^ Lord's Supp^^^^ 
 "«nt» and con%equen 1. "espe'iaW in f'T'""/,^'^^^' "'^'^ '^^^on^eSm: 
 mun.cants, and Church merbers U, ^ ""'"''" °" ^''^ '^om- 
 
 very soul for the space o^a Tong roLd numh?'?'"'"'^'^ ''^^^"^^ ^y 
 An^s.-Whenyou speak of ih^ri^' ""^ ^^^"^ together. ^ 
 
 ./jeaning extend : bo you Sclf.de a^!?^ '" ^'''"'' ^''^^'^ ^"^« your 
 Wished Church of Scotland nl^ ^ denominations beyond the Esta 
 your " black-book r ^nd don'tVou" tr''."'^ "'^ ''^ her ^Ministers from 
 upon the whole, as r^oral and^e li^us s t v'";^ ^'^ '' ^«««^ «"d 
 
 suasion on earth ? religious as any other community or per- 
 
 partieMToTiot ?nduie al' o?tLm'in aH '''^' '' '^"S'«" ^'^ «" other 
 
 scnption : And I do not i/tend in Jv h ^ ^"""' ''^fl^^tion. o, de- 
 
 any particular comparison on h; ub^e'cf^/r''' ^'"/-^^ ^"^«' "P«" 
 
 the errors, o- misconduct of other Tr !nvl T' '^^'^"*^'>' ^'ow at 
 
 ests~as certainly and sincerely I dA if^ ^i^e desire their best inter- 
 
 ground of my argument w . Ton Vnd llth^'^ 1"/'^'^ ^^''P^' '^^ ^" ^^e 
 
 to include all her Ministe.sin the same err '^"^ ^ "I" "'''' '^ "'^^ «» 
 
 but ,n a high degree in the reverse yet loTn ""'"°"'"y or misconduct, 
 
 ••'tency, exclude any of them from ll?„: ??'' '" '"^ scriptural con' 
 
 a^ ul, degenerate. aJd dngerous state ^'fL''' '"''^^^V"'"^' '» « ^ery 
 
 real public piety* i„ all her comLtnity o [Vn.-'.^' '^"' ^' ''"'« 
 
 Scotland, or in all this country. ""'^^' or administration, either in 
 
 «y i« her, taken in its limited 
 
 eence. 
 
ostle Judas en 
 I " to be rather 
 ed Clergymen ; 
 Although I ani 
 ft of heaven to 
 of either con- 
 ;e Wurning by 
 
 ht to settle on 
 '"rom the verj 
 ibject but the 
 ;hts by day, or 
 
 your gracious 
 
 i! 
 
 ng: But my 
 iering evasion 
 d ordinances 
 le desecrated 
 It would be 
 ee, or to hear 
 ordinary, but 
 sibiy in this 
 Rd's Supper. 
 1 its concoiri- 
 on the coni- 
 ickened my 
 ther. 
 
 ar does your 
 >d the Esta- 
 nisters from 
 t ieast, and 
 lity or per- 
 
 'f all other 
 tion, 01 de- 
 enter upon 
 lly blow at 
 best inter- 
 and on the 
 so mad as 
 isconduct, 
 tural eon- 
 I, in a very 
 'e is little 
 either in 
 
 45 
 
 rA«r/#s.— Many a poor sincere soul that may deplore the sneering 
 sm.rk on the one hand, and fear the bold stroke on the othir that ca^ 
 not yet dec.de between you on this most interesting argument. And lor 
 
 7.£?: i- '''" '^T^'^. '' '"""'"'-' ''^ ^''^'^"'^^ -" ^^''gi^"« Hnts, either 
 ler of otherf. '" ''""'^' ""' conden.ning too freely, the reli^^ous 'charaC 
 
 Angus.^l rather rejoice to see a man who abandons moderairon run 
 hnnself aground ; 1 should otherwise, by this time, feel perfectly stunned 
 s.up.fied. or distracted. Let them be allowed to commit themselves who 
 delight ,n exposing others. I would scorn to be inquisitive where 1 Tel 
 no suspens^e. but merely in order to tease malevolence • 'Tis ni" every 
 ol'a tj;!plef"' "" '^''' "^ '^^^ '' '''' '^^^ of a demon, on the pInS 
 
 on^vonr''7! T"'"* ""' n^""'^' ""'s'^''"" ^' ^" '"«'^« «"y ^^'^'^ ^^'n^^ks 
 ^hJ. \ ^^'^''eve-well-mean.ng suggestions : but I must say in general 
 that a .s not every sort of tenderness, nor even religious tenderneL. that 
 n'..^ Ti7rf^'* 'r "'.""'^J^'^t. The sympathy of some folk is unim- 
 proved all the days of their life : there is more of mere animal good na"u?e 
 d^rZlTJr" benevolence in their good feelings; like one^of my eJ! 
 fnlJ! J"""^'/ ""''^ ^'^'^ "^•ver unshaken look at any of three follow- 
 
 7a thlTrnd'ir'L^','" '■ 7'^ ^?^='"« "•■'' cross childi-the conviction 
 of a th...f-and the killing of a snake : But as to the triumph of my chief 
 
 h^nS'athrto" r ''''-'' ''-'' •^^•^ ^-^-' ^'- '•"'« --- - 
 
 InhlS'V ''^^^/'- ^°"/ ingenuity to disentangle yourself from the 
 labyrmth of your daring, foolish, and random assertion: That there is 
 no* piety in the Church of Scotland ! Where in the world can you ^.ce 
 
 whnt f' '^r' ""'''' "?.^'" ^"'' ^°'''''' »"d Professors in Divinity ; 
 whose fame for piety and learning, as well as number, rings about to h^ 
 four corners of the Globe I Upon my word I never h^lve m^et your ma ch 
 
 vet in JheUlH fr'''\'''^- ^"^""^ sceptics, infidels, or atLists ; nor 
 yet m the wildest bosom of a dissenter ! My stars ! this is nothing but 
 he very purest Ignis- atuus of Normanism; which surpasses all he^>os 
 s.ble limits and bounds of reason and moderation ! Now. my fe lows at 
 jny elbows we shall hear great and marvellous things ! At i glance- 
 briefproof, or resignment! ^ ^-^i « giance 
 
 r^rfp'rT'Tf^^ "'^ ""^ """^ disputing about nomenclature, but real cha- 
 coJld win thpT"*"' n«nies, and scoring numbers, and sounding titles 
 rrsk for . th ^' ""■ *^,^"J'*i'7«'"t. I '^oufess your cause would?un no 
 risk , tor all these you have duly on your side; but " the race is not il- 
 
 who would nnfTrr*^ ^''l^' " 'r'"^^ '"^ of a certain schoolmaster, 
 
 - ir.rnf on "".;' ^T ^••' P"P'' '^^ proof of a long question in the 
 oUhlZ^^ TT^ multiplication," unless both were given on one side 
 of the slate, which could not contain them. Were you as open to con! 
 v.ction as you are prepossessed in favor of the mere name, aSd religious 
 
 III I — -, - ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 - Brace ...d .'little piety" instead of » „„ piety.'^o^d^^^i^T^.inst carping. 
 
[I I 
 
 46 
 
 .dv.„«d. I, i, „ II i^„,r„|/,''V' J^ ^''P"»« "-"eope of wh« h., been 
 vinced against their srain - '.Wh„, ."° l"''" """" """ >>^ eon- 
 
 believe rf, aid the p'ari °e.s,„l'j ,7", ^ ' 'h°" »h°» - .ha. we may 
 of miracles already in onlcr .n „ " "*^', ^"^^ ^"^ performance of a train 
 
 no. completely otllZZXlJilZiTr^'VI::" '''"''■■ '''."'^^ """ 
 gree, is the case with vou LJZZ J' . ^^"^^' '" ^ fearful de- 
 
 the other side of the sfa^e • or in n,h'"'°"'' j""^ '^"'^'^°'"" P'^'V- ''^ok on 
 talogue I have given o the di ,race'fu/7 '' °" '^' i^"^ «"^ »^'«*^k ca- 
 community; and then try hot c^an '^^ h"T""V^^°"' ^'^W and 
 't to the state of any Church on p"?L' t^ l^^ ^"""^ ""^ ^°»' reconcile 
 Jioi you must be held to my ass^^^^^^^^^^^ To^'^'" "°^ "V^°"^ P"'^''- P'^^y. 
 P'ety; for l deternune not to S ' dirl.». '•'! ''"^ ''"'« •'^"l Public 
 or concerns. And scores of ties hnv.r^ "" '"^ ''"'''" characters 
 of the «' best and o^ the wo? t'' "harac er o?'"'"' J"^ '^'^P ^^^^«*' ^^'"^ 
 country and in our native kir^rn vvhinh/ ^'"''''"' ^""'^ '" »»^i« 
 s»tt,ngand administering to^olSrat the mtf'^''' ""T"'^ ^'''^^^' 
 Gospel. And when the sottish .Irn ! J'o»t solemn ordinances of the 
 
 the Church, wher asr ler re^^ ^" ^^^ outward privileges of 
 
 of the sacred scripture.? P"''''" P'"'^', according to the rules 
 
 raii?eTt;;L't:Car:^^^^ 
 
 the arguments brought ^ga" ? him^ and that th'' '''"'?"' ^° ^'«P-^<^ 
 soning IS both discreditable to his o'w, cause 'tT"""'"'^- ""^^^ "^ ^«^- 
 instruction; for it has n.anifestlv an e iMnfl ' '"^ ^«T"J"nous to our 
 of his opponent, leading not eldom to s h roifr f'' '''''' ^"^ ^*^'« 
 unnecessary digressions, that I beain .A ^^"^^ °^ xcitement, and 
 
 our subject in s^moke , .nd fi„ ,h i? i h IZ '"T'' ^"'^ ' ^'^^^ ^''^ °f 
 thPn might have been anticio" ted An ^'' ''''''•°" «"^ satisfaction 
 mand of his temper; and TnSurislfe/h' \"^'"' '^''' ^" ^''^ "° '^m. 
 bantering, and i.'ide^ent re action instead if "^'''^r'' ^^"^ °"'^ ^^'''^ 
 arguments. And in my humble ooiiiofn .^1°P^ V'^"''^'''^" «"d «°""d 
 now and then, drawn a^siderom h, m n "t^'" ^^"^\'^' >" « ^^^^^e 
 r.val ; 1 would therefore humbly propose hr^r '? " '^' '''''' ''^' ^''' 
 competent neighbor would be allmn V ' °'' "'her any other more 
 ■remainingpnrt"oftl.e debate to i^^ ^- the whole 
 
 less sarcasm, and more mod^ratir^n ,f '! -"^Z"^'^'^- ^^•^ ^^'thout 
 auditory. nioderation, I tlnnk u high time to dismiss the 
 
 sufel-ilL^int'tt' J^ie^im? rbonr'T ?"""* "^^y '^^^ "P ^he 
 meet its merits,\nd to lash he insoL.^ r^' "^"'//"^^ '" ^^^ '"^^'^"g to 
 smartly than myself I am fully sS^^^^ °f^^^«^« ^"tagonist more 
 
 ;n the view of /very sensib e and Crtnl in';''.°"f Jf^''^^'^ '"^ «^"«-' 
 I am as invincibly Unconvinced nZlhl ' "'' ^^ "^^ ""^'^"'^^ ^ fo-" 
 
 the censorious oratory and vicious refll.t "," ''^P"' '^ ^'* ^"^^". ^y all 
 and pious Church, as when Tmoved T' '^ 
 grand topic. ' " ^ '"'*'^^ ^^^ very first quesfiqn on this 
 
 v^ 
 
'e amply given 
 what has been 
 lever be con- 
 i that we may 
 ice of a train 
 ; if they were 
 1 a fearful de- 
 rty. Look on 
 ind black ca- 
 r clergy and 
 D, reconcile 
 public piety, 
 real public 
 te characters 
 regret, some 
 both in this 
 rd freedom, 
 nces of the 
 privileges of 
 to the rules 
 
 Vngusgene- 
 to disprove 
 ode of rea- 
 ious to our 
 it and style 
 ;meiit, and 
 ood deal of 
 latisfaction 
 e no com- 
 1 only wild 
 and sound 
 1 a degree 
 are of his 
 ther more 
 the whole 
 )r without 
 smiss the 
 
 ke up the 
 leeting to 
 fiist more 
 ny cause, 
 ence; for 
 'n, by all 
 it famous 
 on this 
 
 47 
 
 Bruce. — I feel certainly released to have my first opposer down : .4nd 
 I welcome you my moderate Charles, or any other of your temper that you 
 may choose to substitute ; for whatever is our difference of sentiments 
 on the subject, I heartily wish to avoid the fatal ibstinacy and tempting 
 scurrility of neighbor Angus; who has the same wisdom now as at the 
 very first outset of our dispute. And I freely acknowledge that he may 
 have drawn me into heats and digressions beyond my intention and set- 
 tled inclination, by his manner of opposition ; of which some of my hear- 
 ers might take notice sooner than myself; although by this humble admis- 
 sion I am not aware of having advanced any statement of facts, in the 
 least degree, contrary to my very knowledge, or real belief. And yet you 
 see it was as easy to convince a Romanist of the absurdity of transub- 
 stantiation, as a bigot Protestant of the error of his own religious system, 
 or the misconduct of his party. Neighbor A. is as infallible in his own 
 view, as " His Holine.ss" in his. It is by this wretched conceit that some 
 in these latter days pretend to leave St. Paul's spiritual attainments far 
 behind them, in professing sinless perfection ; when it is hardly possible 
 to mark a darker sign of the perfect reign of ignorance and pride in their 
 hearts and minds, whatever is the varnish of their conduct. It is like the 
 application of the rite of confirmation without a shadow of the grace of 
 regeneration, which is now very ordinary in the world. 
 
 Charlea. — Neighbor Donald is here offering his service with the appro- 
 bation of the meeting, as well as with my full consent. 
 
 Donald. — Though I, and the rest of my friends here present, cannot 
 disapprove of the disposition and conduct of neighbor Charles as an as- 
 sociate in private and civil circumstances, we must not trust our religious 
 debate to a man of his facility, and hollow charity, of which the. honest 
 Christian has already given us some sound specimen. And though I do 
 not pretend to possess the fire and faculty of Mr. Angus, I shall not yield 
 to him or any other in the meeting the palm of zeal and sincerity in the 
 sacred cause in which we are engaged ; when I still wish to show due 
 moderation, which, 1 can assure you, is not an easy task, while an honest 
 mind is pinched on a religious favorite point. When many of our audi- 
 tory may think with me that there is ample space for investigation on the 
 partially beaten path; yet for brevity's sake, as far as possible, I do not 
 choose to retrace it ; but to enter upon some unoccupied ground. And 
 after these short preliminaries, I ask Mr. Bruce, in the first place, How 
 far do you say that the indiscriminate union of the Clergy, especially at 
 solemn ordinances "has an evil influence on the habits of the people, 
 particularly communicants and Church members ?" 
 
 Bruce. — As my patience is already so far exhausted by the unreason- 
 able and stubborn contradiction and illusions of your predecessor, I beg 
 to enquire of yourself first, Do you admit that any of your Clergy h«re, 
 or at home, are profane or scandalous in their open conduct, according 
 to my foregoing description? For if you either flatly deny, or slily evade 
 all my suggestions and remarks on these grievous heads, I tell you freely 
 and at once that I deem it not worth my pains to trouble either you, or 
 myself with any further reasoning upon the subject. 
 
H 
 
 that such^enorrnities :; e com e^:!': ': ^dej '''l? ---'y thought 
 
 nd fference or rieutralit- "3"-''"^. -^"PersttJed ; whatfver might be ilie 
 
 of theol^trbe orofl' f charoctt 8 still remaining unpurged 
 
 the new. ' °^ "''''* P""'"^' ""^ ^'^ P""»«^e«. creeping in Lo% 
 
 batter such a sort of re,l / ' ^ut m LVr"^, ^. agreeable tusk to 
 premise that I made a half slio in n\li I J ^°'"" ^l^^^'^' ' '""«' 
 
 people" and "Church memb ' s " ^^ In" iJct IL?:" h"!,:*^"' " l'^^ 
 tmct.on on this ground, in the Churc of V.n. ' i 5'"''^^-^ '"^ ^"^ 
 
 fashion among ain.ost every dencHnii^i"!/nfrM^"^ "^"^ !' '' ^"' the 
 
 weight Ldsolem'nU^^nheOrdM.:::;" '"'""""''' °""""»''''' '° "'« 
 e.e'^Tn^cIlrytf'/kavrnt;!:!' bT ""'l '''"'' 1 » -"«'»- f"'-. -d 
 
 the LoRD'Jsup^ ' A ,d low 2 1 "T"'?.'^ ""' »"' "-'"S »orthy of 
 
 lings. " PriaslTd peol ■To'h a ike? C""!? ^'T'". "'"" ''°"''- 
 wish ID learn wliere 1, n,.r « . u ■ "" ""' ""i^' ''="<'. ' would 
 
 tion bet, ee .he ubiec", .fll;''?,'"? """"""* '''" ""''''"8 »"cb' distinc 
 is our precedent or K'l'„:u "'"''- "?''P''"g 'Childhood, Where 
 
 the New Tesirment ihl ,S' "P^^^ly or b, fcir dedoction, in 
 
 baptism for themseivel o S ^h-'n "' '""I ' "«'" '" ">» »""'""« "f 
 •ime, to the benrfifof th^ ESch^ri 'jT' ""*""" ""^ "'"™' " ""« -">« 
 
 fro™'';e''";^o„'' to '!:,",:'«!„'=" :ir' '."""^i" '^^ """' "^ »- ^horch, 
 
 that the practice mifht be ° ced o^ L"h '"^"'"^ ■?" ""'^ S™""'' ■ »"■' 
 I can answer that fenpr^ll 1 ,° ^^"°"»'"' '' "" '"'"-ied. But 
 
 but the tre:&:Z2ZltZ\ the lu' "^ T." ""'r^' "^ "«•>'• 
 of their Ministers, hat makes SediffAln •■ ' '■«">»^l™s, and not 
 a general and fixed sei^tren. .h=! " .'''^ >" q"est,on. But it is still 
 
iout a score of 
 liter, it would 
 but happy uc- 
 ommenced of 
 ■ the au.spici- 
 erely thought 
 r might be the 
 ing unpurged 
 >ii)g in unioHg 
 
 »'J:riI»sion of 
 (eabJe task to 
 ^uery, I inust 
 etweeii " the 
 rdly any dis- 
 it is but the 
 liiu the range 
 he influence 
 tors or a!ten- 
 
 of the words 
 wise ; either 
 
 iipti zed, they 
 1 selection of 
 examination 
 rable to the 
 
 s farce, and 
 ill that silly 
 g worthy of 
 mere world- 
 nd, I would 
 ich distinc- 
 »od. Where 
 iduction, in 
 dinance of 
 U the same 
 
 ur Church, 
 ound ; and 
 ^aded. But 
 ce of right, 
 IS, and not 
 t it is still 
 mmunion" 
 lildren. 
 entiments, 
 
 Rtf>d with 
 
 40 
 
 .ome difference:/.;;.;, y^' h° ^f b^u " !d tT TJelV'' ""' t" 
 questions on the sacrament/; where ^ou ™y 6n^d if v^ AT '" 'S' 
 requisites for the adullsubiectsof eithV-r nf ,?, k.?i:'.J ^? . "'"""*> ""« 
 
 .0 be beyond the power o/",;:elwed"p°e ^ '"' " Br;.! m" 1'T°" 
 a good consc ence townrd rSY^ri " <« D ... °^P"Sfn — to answer 
 
 believeth and is ba^ti ed shaU be safed'" ■'B„rf.,f'''";r.''" u" ?= ""' 
 -that we also should walk in .lewnlss of lif. " '^"'"'.'"r ^' '"'P''''" 
 md discernment— faiih «n,l „r..^ , ' , *'P'"tual knowledge 
 
 ritual nourishment aid 'owhrnL,ac';~rr7 '"f ""' "^«l'»"'=^-«Pi- 
 
 boldness and uurcse?vedness °f lon^ ""P"sed and offended at the 
 
 pose, however. Tust blunt ,h'„H 'P?''"'""" ""'' ^"""'"sion. I sup- 
 That even bapt sm t^e Ire '"'' ^''^ "' J'"'" ='™"V. "hen we observe 
 .. not en.lre'Jy ad'ml'nirre/relXL^^^^^^^ 
 
 s?;°/^»!-- ""p-"-. A»d it:::: b];-.oS™:th?r "b':; -It! 
 
 j_ logemer, and likelji man;r of them are so still to ihij 
 
 < 11 
 
 i '1 
 
» /I 
 
 ft :'f 
 
 I > I" 
 
 wy day- Atjd all of them of th« denomination of our Chureh And 
 mustyou not make due allo.va„ce for :hc^ circumstance/? 
 
 Bruce.-^l freely admit that these things are exceptions worthy of bF- 
 lownnces .f you could turn them to any account. But Jou have nof told 
 
 ZZT. ^A^dTo'llabl"' 'T --.^l»'"PP-«d, eitheJ as t^n-ea st 
 T I . probably you know neither, nor wish to know them • thev 
 
 tt 'e-Upll^^^^^^^^ ^°"' ''''-'' ' '^^ ^- - 1-0^"- t^e re-i o^f 
 
 -ome of their nomin.l adherents, or from ih^/ gold improvern^of the 
 hity, as a .heck upon the irregularity of some of their paTo^ and th^ 
 one or the other will argue some remaining spirit and iC he Church 
 beyond your cruel and fearful calculation. ^"urcn. 
 
 Bruce.-jAs to "ignorance or profanity," being a bar to any oerson.. 
 desirous of baptism for the.r children, it may happen in very ^aVc?^ 
 bu on y as a mere matter of form, till the ignorant learn by rote a fei 
 of the leading quest.o.s in their Catechism mi the subject ; and be pro^ 
 fane, such as adulterers, fornicators, pass a latle fonnal ceremony f^ a 
 few sabba hs. with little real shame or remorse, and then both SseTveJ 
 
 Zi^ \"''''^' '"' '' ^''^'^y ^^""'"^^ ^'^'"^^h members as ^y Chr^ 
 tians in the country; yea. farther, have the surest preference in this 
 case, to the n.ost sober and intelligent dissentient in the kinoSom /as I 
 
 sTref p^rl;t or '°. r'^ "^^ ^ '^^^«'> ^^^^ might tthVo/rh^ 
 
 sacred privilege. Do not fear I run aground when I tell you that I oer- 
 sonally saw a kind husband, a generous neighbor, a soberCbject ^^1 
 hope, a sincere Christian, return with his child unbaptized in the C of 
 Its tender mother, nt the distance of 2 dreary scores oLiilecLrl'^nd 
 mountain, because h:s conscience would not permit h.m to Iprto; sot 
 -a wrangler~a bankrupt-an idiot of a parish Minister; when at the 
 same time the very flint.fronted harlot had her numerous unhal owed 
 MThelps solemnly " chn.tened ;" because she hnd no conscience of d',. 
 crimination. 1 .aw a schoolmaster, of the said good description, expe 
 
 iobb.d nn? • ' ' i'* '^r'i '^' «^^'" °^ ^' kind employers! Snd 
 robbed of his won salary, for the same reason, and a public drnnka d set 
 
 '^Jl7uT' ^^T '''r' ''^''^'y '"«'«'^^^' nor ceae such yet from 
 tlieir full force. As to the case of th. Isle of Skye. it would be foo tedi^ 
 ous to enter upon any detaded account of it in this debase In const 
 3^^''^' k'nd of revival, lately in that quarter, under the superintend 
 dence of . zealous poor blind man. who. in consideration of the shameful 
 indolence, frivolity, and profanity of the clergy of that IsbndtnST/h 
 dreadful influence of thei^ cond/ct upon theT/ity beg/n t^^^ 
 and 10 endeuvor alarming all around him on the suUc xSe ah.se 
 and profanatK,n of the sacraments being prominent among he e rmHes 
 against which he witnessed, it had the effect-with the assistance of one 
 young Mi„„ter-of producing that change which you have mention^ 
 
 "" ^■-^''•~ wuiuji siirrea ail ocuirand for a time 
 
 
91 
 
 he had been at Im threatened, not aniy to be auspeodid. but deooiad 
 .ad ejected, m unworthy of bi*office ^vy further in " the Church ''w^ 
 
 ihich'^tt ' '^°«"^»"«»' •>" •'*'' P"t. before the General As emblyt 
 which he - poor stray 8heep " was at length compellf , to yield though 
 1 •» ^,« '«ved. w.th a little st.tch of conscience. But a la. ! the ioHd^b 
 • m,gh y lure. Fow instead of your 1000. you can hardly ^e' its second 
 decanal; and l,ke y soon not an unit of that number f,^Skye~mo,a 
 than elwwhere -of unbaptized subjects. uer in oKye mord 
 
 ^JiT^f"^ "'"' ""V»"«"'P» 10 "'ontradict the main part of your /art 
 
 n the Highlands of Scotland, as in this country. But I still think your 
 
 nference too severe and awfully dangerous; as for instance St^noJ 
 
 If a ^}ZT' "'*'" ^^^^f'''^^ «o "'"Oh from his brethren. oracco^S 
 
 of a good conscience, before he yielded to their measures, be still a Zua 
 
 ?n th.'rh "r r "i '"' "'^'""' ""^ 'f '•• -"'ght. why not many o^hcJJ 
 HI the Church, placed in similar cir<:um8tance8. though overborne bv« 
 
 rsrresT' '^^""'^ ""^^"^ '-^ ^^ .^f ;!'--• ^^-^^^^ t^GeneU 
 
 hnfm!H!;~'^'''T»'' ^"°' " ''"Sle Ministe"; in the Church of Scotland i\ at 
 
 wh«rn? !"'''^"'^ '"^ """^ ^^'''fi^S'^ «« ^f'« «"* in question. And 
 when men act contrary to the dictates of their consciences, or. "n o^"er 
 words contrary to their acknowledged light and duty, without „ we^ab e 
 ufaU;;.?H'7°'f^ ^^ correspondent behaviour. 1 cannot see ^1^80'^^ 
 tural ground for trusting ..ther in their piety, or religious usefu ies " "^^ 
 
 borrt;rnr''"^.'^""S''^ '•'? " ^"« ^''« independent manner of n^igh- 
 borA. that provoked your mind to draw your former hard eductions 
 but I see hat my lenity works no change on your sentime.its You se"n> 
 o conclude that it is impossible for a gracious Minister co live In ?e lov^ 
 ship and connection at this day. with the Church of Scotland J be ire 
 also that since 20. 10. or 5 years, there has beer, no ground for such se! 
 me reflection*. Have you any recent or late instances conduoive ta 
 J:i::;";oSr' "^"" ^-^^ ^^ '^^^ ^^^ "-- -ngdom-any.TTea:: 
 «rMcc.-I heartily thank you for your moderation ; and you are riaht 
 m believing it will have no effect on my sentiments^- althZh ft m^^ 
 a ittle ipon my present feelings. But I have never said positlvelv S 
 
 y^ur'cHtch -"CtlTt '" ' f "'^" '*'"'^^^' '^ "- in coZSi :^ 
 n^nLku : K * '" '''•'J'na''y circumstances, it is at present an im- 
 
 probable point; because there is no real public piety to beseenin »n hi 
 oftcial transactions of the Clergy of the E'stabHsCUurcVof Sco i/ 
 
 ^n ? VaTvu^ *'.'"S^°'"' °^ '" *'"« '^onnt'-y- I still avow this nTv 
 most settled deliberation; and I think it little worth to reason v^th any 
 •nan that sees not. at least, a degree of my good ground by whaTi V«v« 
 
 tL^/enf rr:!f/\*!'?fir^= '^"'- he'ca. dlprove\hescopeo :; 
 ..U tement oi facts, which. I ohailenge the world to falsify. Bu J have 
 
 Si LvoTcT'fr'orstaf' T "';?'°"^ J^^^^^«' ^''°- aulhenUcit; l': U 
 3 ?1T. i.^?!" «l^"nch members of the Church of Scotland, who, 
 . -.-.V .., .»= vvjr«;« ui inat iwiiig^iiuiij J naming, among other similar ac 
 
i 
 
 63 
 
 fT»^/l'^'i"M ''i"^ particulars, to some of their families settled here: 
 
 i, nf ,h!f ^^ '" '°"'' ''^^^^ '^'^ '"^^^'^^ encourage me and the 
 rest of the family to emigrate to your place, it is now the just period. Our 
 Clergy are go.ng to perfect confusion, in ceaseless wrangling among 
 themselves~and awful to say, the Lord, in his sovereign will leave! 
 rnany of them as a beacon for warning. Four Ministers; of late, in this 
 part of the kingdom, cut their own throats to death. If any religious 
 tenderness is left ,n the bosom of any of them, it must be hidden there, 
 or meet with such opposition from their wild and worldly brethren as 
 must makr their lives bitter to themselves, without any prospect of ira- 
 proving t! ir opposers, but to be turned out of their office, or borne 
 down at : i ecclesiastical meetings, by a wicked and warlike majority. 
 Ihere is, i believe, as much real unity and agreement among the " Priesfs 
 of the altar as between our Ministers, unless they wfre, like beads upon 
 a string, nominally bound together by the mere cord of Church Establish- 
 ment, on the ground of patronage and Staie endowment. I have no 
 reason to complain so much of my own dear pastor, if he could act ac- 
 cording to his own mind, but he cannot. His reverence has lately endea- 
 voured to discourage and discontinue our long established mode of 
 tippling, frolicking, and dancing, the bane and plague of our wretched 
 country; but without success. Our land proprietor, being our chief elder, 
 has taken offence at innovation, as he is nleased to style any moral or 
 religious improvement, and in a sad storm left our session, and carried 
 away our other seven elders in his eddy, but one poor old man, who hag 
 more honesty than influence." The other correspondent from another 
 parish of the kingdom thus writes : " My dear brother,— You desired me 
 to intorm you concerning our revival : but I am much at a less what to 
 say on that subject. There is no doubt a great deal of religious din. 
 stir and talk all over this part of the country. And many are helievini 
 that we begin to have a new era. And if we had not seen, for the spaci 
 of severa, successive years before, some movings and rousings, and even 
 cryings of the same appearance, dying away without any good issues, we 
 might be taken with these specious beginnings as well as others. A kind 
 and young Mmister, a native of Inverness, goes round here now under 
 whose preaching many fall down under manifest exitations, especially 
 the youth and female My cm^ wife, and two of my daughters happej 
 to be among the number of these nominal converts. But when I in rnv 
 own humble way, endeavor to examine them on their experience ' I find 
 they have ne.the: sorrow nor joy under all their apparent excitement 
 But 1 would rather indeed to enquire than to inform on this serious point' 
 
 'Phi R *'T Z^ ^^"tT^ ""'^^ '" °"'" ««""ding reforms and revivals! 
 The Rev Mr. M at H— had a young handsome woman in his service 
 of whom his mother got suspicious; and accordingly endeavored to set 
 them separated ; but to no purpose ; for when he knew the result of his 
 forbidden intercourse with his maid to be near past the control of con- 
 cealment, they both absconded-made for Glasgow, where they privately 
 
 CT?"^' ,«"? ITJ"^^ P'y^'^' '' '* ^^ ^^''«^^d' f°r Canada.^ ^And we 
 have but a selfish half-drunkard in his stead. Ynu kPQx« noo- ni . V 
 
53 
 
 where ';tft7::'red°b?soZ''7 "T^"' '"' "'= ""^' '"'" ' -"-" '"^l 
 through a b?ck':-llrg''^^be"„'it.'™,;rhU"' """'"''' r ""T 
 
 charKs^n h- nf h f""^'* =»=0<='»'e» "ith the mos. exceptionable 
 
 ari^afraid t wiirU ''"""'] "^ >"' <""" f"'her, which the contractors 
 "a, of ai rll pay them, unleaa the, arrest hia .alary by a pro- 
 
 M niste then i, th?^'"' 1""°'' Tf '.'f ^""^^ y" ''"■ "=• "bout our best 
 miiiibier men in the country old Mr W r^^*k« d • u /• m 
 
 got his only daughter Mi.s P 4fi i; ^^ °^*'^^ Parish of T , who 
 
 nephew Dr H who L!i I ^^'■' °^ ^^^' '"^'""^^ *« ^is young 
 
 man-O vJhn :. M ^r ^" ^°""^ ^vveethearl in Glasgow. But the old 
 
 co~?; tth^rfil^^^^^ ^°^*°^ -"•^' by •'^bricated 
 
 then ";;;«« han dead Th '^''J^^.^.^^ ^'^^ : but O, falsehood ! she was 
 H lo Ih s wife tft K 7 r""'^ ''^■"'^ ^"^ ^ ^'"'^ »« he miserable. Dr. 
 childbed n!.h/^ ^^' "^'^'"^'y' ""^ ^'^^ ^ still-born child, in her first 
 thou.lf o^i; 2^^^^ ^''' ""''''"''' ^y <^«n«"mption. And his own headl 
 ec f Lrev^ ,^^'"h"""" V ''''"^''' ^"''"^^ °" ^ «"dden, as ail might 
 
 yearf now C u^nl J h' ^''.^^P^ ^^e younger Mr. W.. who/ for some 
 
 As nZ'J '^'^ the mmistenal place of his father." 
 thp.nrnf""''''"^^"^ ''"'"•''" hair's changing color merely from 
 If my ne Ihb'rtT""'"?^ of its subject, accfrdu.g to t'l ":Se.s Uo" 
 thon^h r r u^^^'P"""^^"*' ^ '^«*'e its Whole merit to 'he faculty 
 he ct monTeonr ""' ''T''' "l"''' P^^^^^ S^^"' and strong amo^ 
 fandTrn 'y:;P':„:i::,^i ^^^^^ ^'^ -« P-^ •^^ ^^e Highlands^of Scot? 
 
 you?rtrll7^?nrfi!rn'f '^'^ ^'"'^ ^'" ^^" ^" y°"^ ^^-"^ the test of 
 yousarabm;ttheC^;;/h'rr?''"T'"/^'' ground? Or. what will 
 of Asia in tl e Ann; ' '^^^^^""th, and some of the Seven Churches 
 
 Chur2eso LcT ?^^^^ ^^'^^^ ^hey not the true 
 
 t^hurches of the Gospel, wuh all their wrangling and defects, wherein 
 
 '" O i ,,ox, quam ionga c«, qua. faci, una senem ."'quoted by" the Spectator. 
 
r 
 
 Ii:| 
 
 l| i 
 
 ¥ I 
 
 M 
 
 wou d ,„„ b„a a p,o«, MinUter in the Chnrch of Scotland do mTo» 
 would you have h,m act, at the preatnt juncture, when you maiill ,Z 
 
 hi. teS :'ti:rr:iX^r' ■" ^--^^ "■- ""'■'"°"' "'^-o"-" " 
 
 b,i^''r.°^l7^°'" iwerrogatory, though reasonahle, ia too prolix for anv 
 ort^^H 1°"^" "■"''■"» ••»'">i">er great patience for m»det^7 
 or be .atisfied with a summary answer. Buf as to the last branch nnkl 
 
 ..ority of ,1 e Clergy would not for a day endire any Minister in ih^^ 
 CrTkJ^C " T»""« :=''"""•«»»■=»». •vho should freely and L"".erredl, 
 ft h.\ ''"' ""K—" 'f'"' '"* '•> ""'"-i" preaching and "an^ole^ 
 
 Sir F r ? '-— ^^^^ -: 3:-d f^ B • 
 
 •..vVal^ii^To';,."' '" ■"'' '""• " P"P" »''«"a.ion. and I also cho„« ,„ 
 rea^,'l7«:he tu^diubt'' rr'.r''bV""L"'"' ""'"""'W^ ! »« I can 
 
 But as to the rp,. „r ,,. ^^ ''°""°' ""« ^"^ ""^ mammon." 
 
 .ho., nf / ■ T 5^""' ''""'' ""nwf ning the Church of Corinth and 
 
 cor„i4«r,:rreZro:s;:.:rTon"r.i':;L°:'r.ne;i'^ 
 
 a f uyiMiiM i i 
 
Isu choose to 
 
 tOTlKMier; with eiach an one no hot to *»»• " &^Ar .i.^ * • . 
 
 as th. immediate messenger or medium of Chr.^/ no^T' '\^' ^"*^' 
 
 reproves them, but threatens to take Twa. ^he can3resti"ck'o7''"'' ""^ 
 
 come as a thief unknown, to the terror of others-to a £ 
 
 sickness, and punish with Jpath «r.^ umers lo ainict and kill with 
 
 pentance, to snurthe Laod r.Tn "^ ''"' '""^^^^ '"^ reasonable re- 
 
 mediate instruments were extraord.narv ,l» n fh 'V?*^ ^^^^ '^^ '•"- 
 
 could permanently securnrorthod^x; 'o uractT//-^'"' "°'" *'°^'' 
 4he Church without proper discb ine J^d h is on h ""P'«^«™«"t of 
 the authority and pietv of the Innl^L ,i . 7 ^^'l »*°'"^ '^^ ^^^ that 
 
 ousand^advLtage'ousmanner wC kinZ?^^^^^^^ '^vr"^* ^'^"^P'°"- 
 selves were in the very sieht of r/ln M n '"*^ ^I'nisters them- 
 
 Heaven. Public piet^aXrooerdir^nf' '' ""'" '' '" '^^ estimation of 
 
 at any period of t^n'^in'the^cTJctTT d'vi?: ^a" ^t J it' ^" '^"'' 
 sible, according to the cospel sv.5tPm thu! *u i . . '* '^ ""P"8- 
 
 " If you love nfe keep mylonlTl^^^^^ ""' ^^'if'^-^' 
 
 ther, unfess tiiev are aerLl " u wT ^^'''^ ^«" ^"'o walk toge. 
 
 ness!" •' Purgl oo't ledd leavfn '' ' "^"^r'l '"^''^^* ^^^^ ^^-k- 
 «ood." "The'companion of fooTshall be destrZd '• "1^"' ""^'^ 
 pany with him (the unruly brother^ t hi k! '^^'^^^^y^^ ^lave no com- 
 hfe hear not the Church le^ h m be excim '"'^ ashamed." '• And if 
 sinner." And regardinrthe L.noih; .^^^ '^ f P"^''^«"' ^' ^ 
 
 Heavfen. saying. Come out of her ^ p ' , '"''* ""^^'''^'^ ^°'^« f^"'" 
 proper means f^il) my people h 't ye be'nL ^^?Y''' ^r'r '^ "''^" «» 
 that ye receive n^t Jr Lr^plaguesy-lRev xv?"f '" "^ '^^^ ^•"^' '^^ 
 
 pitrof4"^rac^rtSi:^dt rs^^eiCdt"^^^ ^-^^ ^^'-^ ^^ ^•^-^ 
 
 the ChristoTBabylonian, or Papil Chnrrh H I f"^ "'."^ compared to 
 80 as to be left by the Lo d^^^ peode ccordrj'..'^ '" ^ Apocalypse. 
 Bruce.-l do not see reason to InL??^ ^"^ ^°"'' ^^'* ^^^^^^'ons ? 
 any farther than Ihave a| efd; observed' ThT'h"'°r °" ^^'^ ground, 
 Clergy, or of a Congregation cannot hJ ""^^^ ^^"^ '"'"^''''^ ^^^ ^^e 
 
 «. A from essent'aSor.'or iCoVtam T^^"'' '^«='-'" the 
 
 to walk accordinrr to the die atL^.h " '"'^'^on^uct; nor are allowed 
 
 clearruleoftheGospdInanvChur.h °"'" <^°"«<='e'^<^e«. under the 
 goi,^ together-theTlghrtl^epa^^^^^^^^ '" ^" °^f ""3" eases 
 
 maintain their spiritual peace to «vnH\h ^ r'l'^"'' "*''^'" "^sort to 
 

 If 
 
 ■ = 
 
 M 
 
 nation, or epithet their adversaries may please to serre them; or the re- 
 verse with which the wicked majority may choose to magnify themselves. 
 
 Donald.— What may be the essential, or important errors, or miscon- 
 duct with which, HI particular, you charge our Church at this time? 
 
 Bruce— Do you mean to drag me to needless and sapless reflections: 
 or have I not already sufficiently satisfied our auditors on that score In 
 the course of our dispute, I have included the more important points in 
 question, under the three following heads, viz : profanity of conversation 
 and conduct, abuse of the Sacraments, and desecration of ecclesiastical 
 ordination. And this baneful Hood of open transgression has run and 
 swollen, for some successive scores of years now, without any correspon- 
 dent correction, or reform ; or even so much as any serious acknowledge- 
 ment, on the part of those transgressors. 
 
 Donald.— Have you heard of the suspension, or deposition of the 
 Strathbogie Ministers ? Is not their ejection a good beginning of reform 
 and a favorable omen of better days in advance? * 
 
 Bruce.— I have narrowly examined the question, from authorised do- 
 cuments of the Church, and find nothing in the whole struggle savoring 
 of any real piety on either side of the argument. But the scene is worthy 
 of the present spirit of the Clergy. 
 
 Donald.— Do you seem then to allow no merit to either major or minor 
 members : What is your meaning or definition of opposition, suiTering 
 and forsaking, il you make no account of them on either side, when thev 
 thus lake place? ' 
 
 -^i;"^'^— 1^ '^ "^^ ^^^ "'""®' *'^® ^^'^P^' "O"" **ie degree of opposition 
 or affliction that we must consider in the main place; but first the good- 
 ness of the cause; and then the rectitude of the principles, and the wis- 
 dom of the measures by which that cause is maintained. 
 
 Donald— I wish neither you nor the rest of our auditory to mistake 
 my apparent unconcern, on these serious topics, for indifFerence ; for I 
 smartly feel the boldness of your assertions, and the incongruity oVyour 
 conclusions; but I hope that the whole is like to do littie eecution • its 
 general strain being too abstruse for vulgar minds; and its vagueness 
 and illogical texture, cannot miss its due contempt from all the Intelli- 
 gent part of our meeting. See for instance, your incoheraice by the 
 following syllogism : , "^ 
 
 The description and the doom of the great whore in the I7th and 18tb 
 chapters of the Apocalypse, are only applicable to the Church of Rome 
 according to all sound C xninentators and Divines : *' 
 
 My antagonist applies the sins and dangers of the said whore to the 
 Church of bcotland, by his quotation from the said Book and Chapters- 
 
 i^rgo, I he application of my antagonist is false and danaerous 
 
 1 trust I may safely challenge you, or any man to discharge you from- 
 your own scrape. 1 he assembly sees, I am happy to learn by its general 
 aspect, that you are completely entangled. 
 
 ■ Briicc—Yovx have but poor grounds of t.-iumph. An Ahab could say 
 Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that Dutte*h 
 il on. \om sophistry will not serve you so successfully as you iriiagine 
 
itn ; or the re- 
 ify ihemselves- 
 Ts, or miscon- 
 this time? 
 is reflections; 
 hat score. In 
 taut points in 
 f conversation 
 ecclesiastical 
 1 has run and 
 iny correspon- 
 acknowledge- 
 
 )sition of the 
 ing of reform, 
 
 7th and 18tb 
 ch of Rome,. 
 
 lb could say, 
 
 that putte*.h 
 
 r'ou imagine. 
 
 67 
 
 doom of the mystic whore rquest on ar^^^^ °"i^^ the description and 
 your sense, does it follow in he ^^ ' f ^"'^ 'P?''"'^ according to 
 Bubordinati, or comoaSe mI»nJ Tk '"^ """^ '"'^ '"^"' ^^at, in a 
 on earth, gJilty of "rpart of tSe^^ "''^ "°^ 'PP'^ ^° ^"^^ ^^"^ch 
 
 degree I ire tie noJorfou insolenrand Sf'^h' ''°"^' '" ' ^'^ '''' 
 and shameless abuse of holv nr?linnn P"de-the open mtemperance, 
 sacred offices by firaml f"! k .T"*';'^ unreserved assumption of 
 worldly. anTpe7sec»t1„?l rU ^'^ ""'[^ and w.cked men-the dominan 
 under a divinfd spSon ' nH '*^ *"'' ^^ '^' P*'"^^'^ °^ Scotland- 
 dare apply to he scand lou's and T ""'"k^''"" ^^ '^°°'"' «° ^^at none 
 any of the threateninatrn? ^''^'"'naljle sins, and oflfei»si»« abuses 
 Churches and s^ner/s'^^:^^ '» ^"« -ord of God against othe^ 
 
 Heaven and ear K"bv lour Loir '"^ '""''f P^o^»<^»tion3 against 
 
 have no Ihreatening fromTbove Cf ''' '^' ^^"'"^'^ "^ ^^^^'^"^ <^«« 
 expressly in the "cVd ScHp^ur^s^^ htfeforr '' "'* •"•'"f^i^tely, and 
 transfer all her guilt and c^reTo \hfc.KcnrR:^^^^^^^^^ *^'- 
 
 or any other you choose But aUu i u I "'''' °'' ^^ ^''^ Jews, 
 
 immunity will involve ?er ex^L. '^'^"^J"«^ been suggested, the same 
 almost monopo ize a„7dL^';f •°".«.V^ *^^ ««j=^^d promises which she 
 from her fatal feUowship TZJ • ^^^ "^"'^""^ble sin" to escape 
 crv, at this day o^r „ Tiui 'P''? '* '"^"^ seriously, there is no hue-and- 
 in'the view of mhe s-i su.T'T^ Tl''' «"y/'"«-however notorious 
 dreadful and stZJeT;! ,, ih r'*^^"' ^''""^ «« ^ "dissenter." O. 
 tion. and then if fossP.ll ' ^'"^' ^y,^^''^kedness, compels to dissen 
 
 and absorbs in»n ;.= • ^'^^tract. which involves in its very texture 
 
 every other e?,", ir.reTJY'T''''''''' ^^^ "^"^°^^ ^"''^ «"d ?a of 
 and lenitn and not tf 1 '^ g"'le-every craft and crime-are venia 
 
 leviathan!l!;his mo, strous birtS "T' " ^''^/-"P-i-" of this birk 
 mon of our latteT Umes f tI f '^t-and-nnd. this top.and-toe de- 
 
 whichisno othLrsemee^forr"'' '"^^''r^'V'^"^"^ ^^*« '"^^^f"! »ame. 
 go through •• t rChur^^^^^^^^^ Yf.' ?'"^^'^"' ^""^ ^^^ ^^^ 
 
 esteem, it her official or or v^ ? i. 'u'^ °^"'*' ^'""^' ^'**» the greatest 
 tical ci'rcumstance td Tt he s „:?'"' '^""^1"^ *" ^*^"' «««'««ias. 
 about your guilty neck wi.hn.f, """** ^''"^" ^^ve the hangman's halter 
 
 h„f^"'',^':.-'^f'«^.'">' D""'!-! tell, .na he ha, ,1^ .o H..„,,. :. .:. 
 
h 
 III 
 
 k . 
 
 :ti 
 
 I 
 
 58 
 
 illness flows from regret or repulse, despair or disguat. or from all these 
 
 oar 
 
 put together. I caDnoi positively determine. , .. ...., ,... -„„„ ,,„ or 
 
 intend to dispute the subject with vou ; nor do I think that any of oar 
 
 auditory here present is, ,n the mean time, disposed to supply the place 
 
 of your resigned disputants: But before we dismiss the meetin<» I would 
 
 be glad to ask, in a quiet and modest manner; and to hear, without any 
 
 heat or hatred, what would you choose to offer in answer to the two fol- 
 
 owing questions: First, How far do you estimate the (Jhurch of Scot- 
 
 Jand to have been, at some former period, equal to, or different from what 
 
 She now is, in reference to her intrinsic worth and piety ' Next Whv 
 
 wooid you so fall foul of her, ja a manner so exclusive of other Churches 
 
 which are certamly in no better, if not in a worse condition than sfie i» 
 
 at tins time, in a religious point of view ? 
 
 Bruce.— Since you are so tender, my dear Charles, I will heartily en- 
 
 tTL? T^'f r^Tu' °°"'^'*' '""""^''' *^^"gh «' '»»« s*"*** time. I 
 wish to be brief; for I begin to weary ; not that my former subject is 
 
 exhausted but that my opponents are incorrigible ; and that, thou A they 
 cannot defend their tottering cause, thay have not the grace nor discie- 
 !iZ Vh T .?"V'' *"" your reasonable queries, I answer to the fiJst of 
 t^lrJ V ''""V^'y *^" *i'.ffr«»^ of her state now and some time 
 torraerly. For, without any wish to give needless offence to any other 
 religious denomination, I believe the numerous martyrs of that Church 
 who suffered not like fools, in their name, property, and life, ou<rht to be' 
 alone, a sufhcieut monumental testimony on this head. I feel 1 cannot 
 speak with due respect and veneration, tenderness and admiration, of 
 these httle angels under the terrible and tearing rod and rack of persecu- 
 ^on ; supported, refreshed and at times buoyed up to heavenly triumphs 
 by heavenly graces, beyond the power of hellish tormentors, to overcome 
 their courage, or to diminish their joy. In short I have no views on this 
 point, or concerning the character of those generally called the Reform- 
 ers any wise different from those of their greatest admirers. But since 
 she bepn to be a persecuting Church of some of her own best Ministers, 
 at the time of the excellently bold and pious " Erskines," she has never 
 recovered what she then lost, by her pride, rashness, and daring impiety : 
 which deeply wounded the very heart and spirit of all her pious Ministers 
 and Members at that crisis ; whether they seceded, or remained : among 
 SinnfJh!.''' of ^hich was the great and good, and justly famed Boston 
 Since that notable period she has by gradual steps declined, till she has 
 wofully arrived at the fearful pitch of degeneracy, and spirilual lethargy 
 which IS now visible to all but herself, or any others who are miserably 
 asleep with her under the same fatality. The works of several of those 
 worthies, among whom are the need John Brown of Haddington, the 
 J^rskin6s, and the celebrated said Boston, show us something fJr a com- 
 parison between our woful day and the period contrasted. And as to 
 your second question, I do not think many other religious branches to 
 be in a niuch better condition than the dwindled Church under remark : 
 and few Protestant denominations, can be in a far worsR *taf^ M„ «..! 
 8«ut intention, however, is neither to flatter nor to offend other parties 
 
98 
 
 dmg to the teetinmny of our Saviour, in Ma' vii 13 H '^S' "T-" 
 hu-nbly trust, my said Heavenly Father, in his IKovTdenie^ hath c£ me 
 
 ln»!. 'f I J "' P"'"' ' '■="■"'' '" ""is work is in paie Ist as fol 
 
 m 
 
 -— X, „„ «uiuu 1 enterea 'in w/»atno=<. „„j ;„ r • • 
 
 wiog, Jat (.or. 11. 3., which was ray text on Sabbath the 21st." 
 
 and in much trem- 
 I take 
 
Mf 
 
 P 
 
 «0 
 
 Ilia application of thia sacred text to be verv farrml • f^, ,u .u . 
 ing fast asleep to the soiritual ntltlnZ a^ ^ . ' J^^ ^^^ ^"^^O' ^• 
 experience any proper con", nf^h"^" ""^ '^'f ^*'"'"^^' *'*^"'** "«» 
 engagement. 1 coSL thatll ""P«'-t»nce of his own ministerial 
 
 congfegation. iXZet^^.l^^^^^^^^^ ° P?"'"- 
 
 a little abashed, from animal ILkn^TlL . ^ . ^'' • ''^ ""^'" '^'^^ 
 appearance. If he t^usie?L rrfrrZ: "'*""' *'""''''^' '■" ^'^ fi^«» 
 at missina some of h,s Imd 1? '"'"'"'>' '*^°' ''^ ""^'^t tremble 
 
 supply the drctLe^e^s^a^d 'v^v^ ^^^^ ''^"P"^ 
 
 thy than jud-rment I haniZ!!i!. f "^^ ^* '^'''^ '""""e '')""Pa- 
 
 «tanding, .ass offthe LTin' r "? 'T ' P/°''-^'i«"^'- i" a si.r.lar 
 
 and appi ,is' esoeciaHv ff'r li • "","? ^'' ""'^ '"'"^ ^^^"^ approbation 
 
 tares cSuld'hrnreTo^iffl't? °''' T^'"" '''^e simple kind crea- 
 
 bling. and tho e of S^P nf n.. ^ ''"" '"'' '^'"' weakness, and trem. 
 
 Mr.%urns,n his very fntluc 1 '.! '' T '"'!""''' ^''' ''''' ^^en 
 
 ofhimself.'andofKrrtDuHic^rvt h'K°"'' ^'' '^^^^'^'"' '^'""""^« 
 
 to his nar;ative of a re Sou" ivival' ^;f°;b"//«''g'0"«<'ools would trust 
 
 trembling, accordinVto!4 pS h!I u ^f ''''}^^''> «nd fear, and 
 
 like himfwhich vcfuJ make liLUn m ''? ""derstnn.J. and believe 
 
 ful state if the cleTr Id of nl?. ''' '' ''T '^^^ *''"'^^' ^'^ '^e fear- 
 
 a state of which he iho" hl^ZfT't ■" ^'"''''^' ''''' "" ^^e kingdom ; 
 
 the work he hows nouhe l.a t , '"''^T''''''- ^^'* '" '^' P^«?^^«« ^f 
 
 religious charrctJrs and Jnl^^^^ «" »he score of 
 
 erifwelcome^-Zuttc'pt.^^^:^^^^^^^ 
 
 The conversion of the cleriv U =,lraoI i • *''^^'''' '^ excellent. 
 
 The same page J' I Lw7h^ ' . 'l .T^^,'''"^ T"'" ""' °* *^'« question- 
 
 •round' Iheni A, d L forTcob'"" ^"""' u'="' "'"' "•" Sodomites 
 
 j;»o„, .„e «odo.„ue'VLXt:irjri'.*:r.eCi^ttt 
 
 Ja.^b^T^M'^'u^f.'irr- """ "™""', "'"■ n^--. "k. good 
 
 ParUh, accordW to the commT /,'.,"',.??'' 8'""' ma" i" the 
 and pe'r^eo.o^i.ttara^^'lhrLarl'r'- "'^"^ "= '"^ '-""■"» 
 
 hav* bee,; more k"^7.hrn the receiZ" '" '" T/^' '^""''"S '='"'l<' 
 
 If .l.l« did no. come f,o„, sue, a hbh Zh^lT '" '7 ""„""=' '•"""■''■" 
 filasgoM-, I ,TOuid .hint i. v.rl 1 ^ an.horily as the Presbytery of 
 
 .« see .be words " ha.e been ° in.id %VJ"':!^. ."""""}?' '!"P"""8 
 
 1, o. vc, paoB u^- suon naiids J lor it 
 
he author be- 
 ch, could not 
 vn miniaterial 
 •nt a populous 
 le might feel 
 Yf at bis first 
 •ight tremble 
 very happily 
 more sym pa- 
 in a similar 
 t approbation 
 le kind crea- 
 », and trem- 
 text. When 
 il ignorance 
 3 would trust 
 ind fear, and 
 , and believe 
 , of the fear- 
 le kingdom ; 
 s progress of 
 he score of 
 ^ery preach- 
 is excellent, 
 question — 
 t of Sodom, 
 •lance to it 
 I Lots, yea 
 3f the lime 
 ;heir neigh- 
 Lot was in 
 Sodomites 
 aving been 
 father was 
 
 Minister's 
 hing could 
 lasses and 
 I rounds." 
 ibytery of 
 notice of 
 surprising 
 lis ; for it 
 
 I 
 
 ^M certainly at the same time or tense that the kind reception was aiven 
 and rece.ved But. alas! this is hut a trivial mistake in comp^3to 
 the fearful infatuation of both the author ami h.s famous Presbjery n 
 a moral and rehg.ous pent of view. The Rev. iMr Burns-the f'/ored 
 and heavenly instrument of the present extraordinary revival a Ki yth- 
 has rum h.s fir.t ofiici.l commencement to this very day -a perYod of 
 
 tTZT' . '''''''^ !""^ drnommaiions. even in Sodom, according 
 
 rh ;. r ^Tir"i' *'* *^'' P*""***^" "A" 'h'»' ^i" live piously m 
 ^ot or uT''Va .1 7^? persecution."_2nd Tim. iii 12. •' L thlt 
 not for us, said Christ. " is against us." And again. '• Think not that 
 
 hirhed "' Oh"' 'r' °""''^' ' ; ^^' •• '^^^^ -;pent-shairb : 
 
 his heel. Oh, such inconsistency ! Oh, reverend Presbytery of Glas- 
 
 Ketc7rotre:r^h""^?'V^t' ^^ -»'- even your lomL; sense 
 of direct 31„ 'f.' "T'^' P"S" '' '^"^'^ "P ^'»h »he same stuff 
 
 ol direc inconsistency:-" Indication of a spirit of religion -apDalliuff 
 
 -and'fhe I'f ""' "^-^ ?' T'^''""' ''^'^'"^ ^'^ ^^ dfunken l,Lr if 
 ZrlJrLT T^ T^' ^''•''^ ''•" ^'^^ "♦' '"temperance seemed to 
 wit I fl bfs r or" I r''r"' P^"''^««°"«" And yet the good Minister, 
 r^ h! 1 I r""^ Jacobs iH in a perfect calm from all quarters, amids 
 all the clashing elements ! Long extracts froiii pages 4 I 6 •-" It was 
 
 tant^aid Lnd «rh"H^ '""V^ '"^'^' '" Mis.ionary labors in I dis- 
 tant land-and who had preached several times wit., much power during 
 the solemnity-would address the people of Kils-th next day &c Th? 
 sernmn proceeded from Psalm ex S. ' Thy people sha I bj' ^lli„g t 
 han .iL°n ^ ^"""'' Throughout the whole sermon there w m^o e 
 tow^rr.l'';'""'"T '''/ tenderness pervading the hearers; but it was 
 ir.h. J . ; ""^f " ^^P'^^ting the remarkable scene at Kirk of Shoits 
 Tn. if Mr""! ? '?"■-'''' ^o""n"nion there, 1(330. when, under the preach! 
 ng of Mr. John Livingstone, a native of Kilsyth, 500 were converted 
 that the emotions of the audience Ifecame too stron. to be sm,p essed 
 After reciting Mr. Livingstone's text. &c. and when%eLringr the afl 
 fecting and awful state, in which he dreaded the thought of ^leaving so 
 many of them whom he now saw probably lor the last tLe-when ta ,! 
 mul again, as he saw his words telling on'the audience, beseeching ^sn 
 
 "heTilht"ofr"^^ he w^as t 
 
 .he height of nis appeal, with the words 'no cross no crown '-then it 
 
 A TceVe : hid, T'T '' 'i' 7''^"^^ ^^'^ '"-^ powerfully Lxpre:."d 
 A scene which scarcely can be described took place. I have no doubt 
 
 e"c:Lto%tTav?':' '"' '^^'r''^ ^"^ frorn^hevery^tl:roustfer: 
 cb^J of he.r L uP^'fu "" '^' •"^^"'^diate cause of their remarkable 
 the Holv Snirit /'! '^'' '^' <^°"^i"«=ing and converting inHuence of 
 
 ed ZlZVlZ '^'TT' ""^^^ """«"«''y ^"rf remarkably convey- 
 ed, i^or a time the preacher's voice was quite inaudible • a osalm wL 
 
 Bung tremulously by the precentor, and by a portion of 'the "^^udTence 
 
 most of whom were in tears." R^r^,^ t ..«•.. !; l-_ , • . ^"•^•^nce. 
 
 on this Ipnftthu «.,«»n.- T L- r. "• ^ •-'"-» «"j ""»3r Kino oi remarks 
 on this lengthy quotation, I think it duty, though a very low one, to ob- 
 
 ''11 
 
 i 
 
^1 t 
 
 ^: ! 
 
 serve w,otlier «ynUclic blunder, via: "There wm m^» .» . • 
 
 be pedantic 10^1^;. u.e oi or 6^^ "1^ " ""^'"i"' ^'^^^- ^* ^^^"''i 
 of talent, thus to critic • hi '^? -^* "1"* f"""'"''"* '" "«» greet share 
 
 «ient Qfthe extraCH under revlw T fee ' r ""'' 'T ''" '■*'^*^'°"' 
 l>ecnuBc there i« ^oth.na t « ble in'tL ^ h ' ". '^^ *"*"" '" •"'^•• 
 
 ture of what prevailed Leverd,.^ ''"'""^ ^"* '^ S'^""*"^ P»«- 
 
 recollection/over rthe f nJirnr M ^''^'"" '"y «»^» f-'e^h 
 
 good co»«.H uence A vonnl^ • 1 "'"^ ^'^T^' "' ^^^''''"^' ^^i'^out any 
 «tale of the im^'and na l.V l^-'^r"'!' '"'^-^'i'-'^ '« the A.tal spiritual 
 
 neck ; or any other nTa'-.'^nT',. ^^'f-fghteousncs* about his foolish 
 
 atamp to be^hougiro 'chose nt tl^ "' r^'V' ,°''^ ^^ »*^« «"»"' 
 «aving conversioa«%;d;racm st ivah ? 'n^V'' f^'^V -<*'"- "^ 
 mockery of Heaven undnr « Vli """^'"T' '* "oihu.g less than a mere 
 
 circumstances pZt^S out in it^lT l"^""'''' ^'"^'^^•^ '^''' «^^ ^^ver^l 
 provoke puhnona y n«i t ^nAT i' '""''•' ""^^^«^»b»* ^o move ami 
 Missionary. „Uouf o eavl b h" «'"°t.on:-An intended young 
 country, fo^ some distant la„d full or'T"'"''*"'^''' '^^^'i^"^. aud 
 quence, and furewel IrCes il;;;^^^^!^ theological elo- 
 
 tie. and under the nan? ndg iVe of l.^i .'e "f '"''^^'^ ""^ ^" '^' '"^"- 
 striking the tender onJiZ. f ",^^,7 '^';"'^.«»flufince, mercy and love- 
 
 especi^\ thr;verkrr"s:r:v ;;Vo ?dS'"r "' ''? ^r'^ «"'^--' 
 
 black heavenly little auLre of h. rT i / r 'n ^ ^""'^ ^'"' breath after the 
 O for breast fo bt:,' h^ t r^il^rtr'/'r^^'T"''"'^^ 
 and lure cguld n.eet «„d min.M r"v" '• .' ' ' h ' "'"' '''''"' *'^''^ 
 solemn wing of tin.e--all adnurefLnl ^;^ ^ !'^^'^'"f ^''^of, on the 
 fermented auduory atiractino « u' TIfl f^'"'^'"'^' «"'J 'be feminine-^ 
 
 and involving all ^e'SS;'r;e^^^;'::;Sr'ar^ ""T^- "P' 
 the scene for further imDrovempni iE ,t ^""'^"'*^'^®" ""^^^ '"'P*^'* 
 atoue, a nat.ve of K:!:^^::^^^^^^^!^^^"' '' "^^ •^'^''" '-'^'"=- 
 croivn. we learn, concurred to 1^61.1 erihflvT'"''''"^ "'^^^' "° 
 pitch, so as to supersede com, llli .u . ^'^^''en'ent to .ts utmost 
 
 tr^ordinary virt J l^ould 2 '^^ '^^ preacher's voice. But what ex- 
 OB from Ihe lip ^f L Burns mo'r*; ^ T'' ''' )!'''' ""'"^^ ^^ ''''"y«. 
 Mr. Charle? Brucela native of r M T^ "^^r"' "°'"'"^« ^'»««We« ? 
 Qons,ellations_„o cook no quee?,^ ^off/'^""^'^^ ''^ Aricbat-^300 
 for the conversion of signers RmT?h '^''iT' °^ "*i"«' ''"Portance 
 the cas<> is far other v eft; thev I .r ' ^'u"^"' ^^"^ P^'^P'^ «' Kd.yth 
 fmiiiur and dear to I emselve rnusf r' '^'^ 'VT'^ "^"'« «"^ P'«^. 
 words of ideal interest to he rir hi ?"" "''^ '^ ^^""^"" ' ^"^ '^^' ««/ 
 'nedium of the Holy Ghost to the on " "' '"' ,""?'" *^ ^« ^'^^ P^«P«^ 
 «ieem myself no great nrot.U? 11 ?-^";«7ioo and comfort. And I ^lill 
 
 .nan concerned, as'the name of tl: r'p "1^^' "b f ir-" "''^^^ ^^"^'^^« 
 «h04ld positively ,i,d unhe.itatiilJlv o?:n±..'l^^^^ 'i^-L^ weakness;^! 
 
 tate^ 
 
in unuii seri- 
 b. It would 
 
 » greiil fliiaro 
 resbytery of 
 'ting to the 
 iie reJi^iou• 
 vhni to gay; 
 jenuine pic- 
 ' own fresh 
 without jjtiy 
 t»l spiritual 
 lurch, with 
 
 his foolish 
 f the santf 
 medium of 
 >au a mere 
 
 are eeveriil 
 > move arul 
 ided young 
 ctioiQs, aud 
 logical elo- 
 n the man- 
 and love— 
 
 and raw, 
 h after tba 
 and sweet. 
 >)rit, light 
 r, on the 
 Jm,inine-rT- 
 nving up, 
 Dixd ripeu 
 m Living- 
 
 croas no 
 ta utmost 
 ; what ex- 
 3r things, 
 'ocahies? 
 bat— 300 
 portance 
 r Kilsyth 
 id place, 
 
 that any 
 e proper 
 nd I will 
 )uld tgrn 
 sensible 
 lessj-m-I 
 
 ta 
 
 dduBi<«, and dan^rouj stUTtiMing-Uk>«L i.. its nilly aubjects themsefrri., 
 •ttd to the ge„er«|.ty around then.. Why » Have I any right " m l,™iJ 
 tlie Holy U„o ot Israol" iu His means or miuirier of operation ? No • but 
 where He has liinitcd himself, by hia pinm rerela.ion in the sacred scrip- 
 tures. But there is no promise in the whole revealed will of Heaven that 
 Uod w.ll use, as his direct instruments of saving coni-ersions aiid tf»nc»- 
 ous revivals, in a conspicuous ..nd solemn raanuer before llie worhl ativ 
 men lying in their own spiritual Wimloe^ and unconcern j as the Minii 
 •er ot Kilsyth, and his official associates sliow themselves to be by their 
 general religious conduct; and particularly the narrative under remark 
 JJon t mistake me about the commonplace words " no cross no crown •" 
 Jorl think them in themselves very appropriate in a sermon ; but mmr 
 a day 1 have heard them frivolously, ami at random repeated, by mena-d 
 Ministers like our author, without any proper application ; or any reai 
 hnowiedge of the spiritual meaning and import of the cross of Christ or 
 ot the crown of heavenly ^!ory ; but somewhat like the sons of Sceva 
 Acts 19th chapter: " We adjure you by Jesos whom Paul preacheth."' 
 1 he similarity of which, in a manner, has, many a time, most grieved and 
 eisgusted my very inmost soul. Nay further, I need not stop at negatives 
 on this ground ; for there are sufficient positive acripturesto my purpose- 
 either expressly, or by direct, and easy deduction. Read Jer,23dchapl 
 ^^'i c^^}^ ^^^ "^'^ '° ^^'^ end— but especially from the 2»th to the 
 end of 32d verse ; some of which thus runs ;--" Therefore, behold I arm 
 against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from 
 his neighbor. Behold I am against the prophets, saith the Lord that 
 use [or, as the margin-that smooth] their tongues, and say, He saith. 
 1 hat prophesy talse dreams, and cause my people to err by tiieir lies 
 and by their lightness ; yet 1 sent thetn not, nor commanded them • there^ 
 lore they will not profit this people at all, saith the Lord." " And it shall 
 be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth, unto Je- 
 tusalem to worship the king, the Lord of hosts, even upon ihem shall be 
 no ram. Zech. xiv 17. " Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have rob- 
 bed me, even this whole nation." Mai. i.i. 9. The formal and empiv 
 performance of sacred ordinances, to say the least, which is but open a- 
 buse, will not release men on this ground. " Ye are the salt of the earth • 
 but It the salt have lost his savour,— it is henceforth good for nothing "' 
 Matthew v. 13. " Ye cannot serve God aud mammon " " Do men ra- 
 ther grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles 1" - He that is not with me is 
 against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad " "And 
 he did not nfiany mighty works there because of their unbelief" "And 
 If the blind lead the blind, botb shall fall into the ditch." "And Jesus 
 
 of men '^Mark'i^lT ^^ ''^^^' "'^ *'"* ^ ""''*' '"""^^ ^"" '° ''^''""'^ ^'^^^ 
 "Behold your house is left unto you desolate." " Woe unto voo 
 scribes, and pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye compass sea and land to make 
 
 ""k^JTu ^J^L ^""^ ""^^^ ^^ '' '"^^®' y® '"a'^e him twofold more the 
 -.. n.... ..n«,x j^.«,3civc=. iuai. xxin. lo. " .Lei no man despise thv 
 
 youth ; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation. 
 
•I 
 
 lljl! 
 
 in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Med 
 give thyaelf wholly to them: that ' 
 
 -itate upon these things ; 
 profiting may tppenr to aii. Tik« 
 
 chap, at the e»d. " Wells without water " '• Th!L ' '^^^ 
 
 feasts of charity, when they (ia« v.rh vou r..r .r '* V '" ^""'' 
 f«.ar : Cloud. th;y are wi ho utl ate earned bn 'I'^r '7''"" ^'*'^°'" 
 fruit withereth, without fruit.'' iTjuSe 12 ver "' »^««»>^''ose 
 
 1 he rest oj the pamphlet is much of a piece with th*. P*tr„.. i i 
 taken, so that I foel no interest in it LVu u i extracts already 
 
 fa....c„ work bei,„ z i;:?" „"r„;" i! "Z'g; r„°f"G:;' °/'",? 
 
 however ,uo.e a few l,„o, here and '.here ,e, before Ifil^h P, ' s".h 
 1 he state of society ts complctelv chamTPH p«i v ^ '"* 
 
 with us. Religion is the onlyCTc^f i^aert't T ' V" '^""'. °^«' 
 other before, are now seen shakZ ban U ■ . ?' ""^ ""'^^ ^"''^^ ^^'^'^ 
 
 engrossing subject." Tl "s may ! ' ery ' ood TZTLf''''n ''' i'^"" 
 must be very ignorant of the Bcriptures ^amrof the re I sJate of^h' *'7 
 g.ous world at any time, who cannot bel eve that the k i .1 n of u '"^'^ 
 loses no more than it m^^y gain by false reiiff or. v., r T . '"'"''* 
 whether you bless or blaspheme sinr or 3 ' ^^^ ^^"'^ '''^'''^ "°^ 
 
 it is still on his own grZd "Vnd U r.rr' ^'"^ ""' ^'°*^' '''°''^'^ 
 er a certain damsel posses ed whh a JraJV"' '' ^^ ^'^"^ '"^ ?">' 
 brought her masters'^.n cl^ain by so:^^^^ -^^ "«. -hich 
 
 and u«. and cned savin,. Aese n^:nlrs'e^ants' Vr^Jo': fec''^^ 
 wh.ch show unto us the way of salvation." Acts xv 16 17 T. a' 
 vil could smg to our Saviour onp of th« „/... \ ^.' *'• ^ ''^ de- 
 Psalm-book. Mat. iv.G '4"„^;irm,rvel for Sn? f""'.;" '^' "'^°''» 
 ed into an angel of light T erXe t I In "" u""'"'*^ " transform- 
 
 also be translLmed aftl. mini" Vf^^h7eo'u^"Ls'''1 Cot" "^1? 
 " Because they received not the love of the truth th-f; ,? ^"': ^'- l"^' ^^' 
 ed-God shall send them (or permit^ s rnnV.. ^^P ""S^* ^^ «'»^- 
 
 believealie."2Thes.iriO iT pL?n.f'"''°"^^'^"» »hey should 
 
 my brethren for their riady'aud efficlnt- se vice's "?b;'»^"""^ ^? 
 other ni-mes in the foreaoinff naires^ " 1 L„ ? (Besides several 
 
 of MiUo, Choreh Gl.^oT^f J^MLnaog Lr^f JTiTy" ^' Mo^"""f 
 Edinburgh, and Mr. Macdonald of Urquhart and M, U m^,."'^ 
 
 ra;z:erre?r,;r:irper^^^^^ 
 
 proceeds moat cerlainW ■ and fro,nT„ ,„ j ^L '" """^ "■= "''"I' 
 ■ Church or such as Zli be s/ eT ■[ : t7r™oi,: Z^fT' '" '"^ 
 of them eccentric nor imaaimtivAKn. '\ermons preached are none 
 
 is not. as formerlv ^tS;"!';'' ^"^-.':'!'"^ ^"^ ^^'-'P'""' ; and there 
 ., ...y to con-,i,aru ana lo assort the merits of 
 
65 
 
 lese thingi; 
 
 oall. T«k« 
 
 for in doiri£^ 
 
 I Tim. 4th 
 
 lots in your 
 
 ves without 
 
 trees whose 
 
 nets alrendjr 
 ; and a de» 
 ranee of the 
 ideniofthi* 
 Jiod, I will 
 
 Page 8th. 
 
 quite over 
 
 passed each 
 
 out the aU- 
 
 But thcjr 
 of the reli- 
 sh iknea» 
 il cares not 
 , provided 
 ■nt to pray- 
 U8, which 
 owea Piiul 
 High God, 
 
 The de- 
 the ..hole 
 transfbrm- 
 ministers 
 xi. 14, 15. 
 [ht be sav- 
 ?y should 
 jations to 
 s several 
 
 Duncan 
 Moody of 
 in Willfl, 
 with Mr. 
 e he had 
 
 II be pe- 
 »ph; and 
 waiting a 
 he work 
 ns to the 
 ire none 
 nd there 
 nerits of 
 
 preacheri, but a hearing in earnest, and for life and death." Here again 
 is a vulgar and deranged sentence : — " The serinoas preached are none 
 of them," &c. Instead of — None of the sermons preached are— or rather 
 is, &c. For "None" as a substitute for not one, according to the plain 
 intent oi t.he author, should be used in the singular number, with a sin- 
 gular \p.rb ; and the pronoun " them " is quite superfluous. But these 
 and othpr defects of the same nature, although yi^ry curious, from so lofty 
 quarters, are of utmost little consequence, in comparison to the religious 
 ignorance, and blind confidence, which clearly pervade the whole rela- 
 tion. We see, in this quotation, Ministers received ond approved, by 
 the narrator, undiscriminat"'-' But when were he and all these good 
 and famous clergymen thenr. ./es converted, to be either likely means, 
 or proper judges of the conversion of others; unless the consecrated at- 
 mosphere of the "Di ■ " Hall," or the sacred palms of their respective 
 Presbyteries at their Oi^^.iation could be effectual to that purpose! The 
 brief and plain truth of the case is, that they all show themselves, by their 
 conduct and writing, to be quite destitute of the knowledge and experi- 
 ence of a saving conversion. This " coM description of professors," of 
 which our author here complains, mufit pear to me to be the most ju- 
 dicious people in the country, on that subject; for they show their good 
 sense by their reasonaLle doubting " Additions to the Church of such 
 as shall be saved." Dreadfully dangerous, and daring confidence on the 
 part of the writer; and a pernicious stumbling-block to the silly, selfish, 
 and fanatic subjects of the revival. Mr. Burns must quote Acts ii. 47, 
 in favor of the spurious and wild conversions st Kilsyth, from the ac- 
 counts of the results of God's extraordinary and gracious operation on, 
 and consequent of the day of Penticost ; and his own Church must no'v 
 run similar to, or parallel with that of Jerusalem in its very mcridir^u 
 light and life, under the superintendence and teaching of the Apostles ! 
 "Great swelling words of vanity I" O disgi'sting foolishness and arro- 
 gance ! " And there is not, as formerly, a tendency to compare and U> 
 assort the merits of preachers." This remark of the aulhr deab indeed, 
 of itself, a death-blow to his whole narrative. ""k again, where are the 
 eyes, and even the common-sense religion of ■.'- '^mous Pr<^ bytery of 
 Glasgow, to be so blind to so glaring a blunder ihe accou r of a revi- 
 val, as to tell us that the converts, according to th".ir improvement in 
 knowledge and experience, become more and more indiscriminat. and 
 bluntly impartial in their choice of preachers ! There can be hardly 
 given me a stronger proof of the wild, fanatical, and unreasonable nature 
 of the work ; and of the religious ignorance of the Mini.siers concerned, 
 than this verv observation of the author. But the account is worthy a 
 revival now in the Church of Scotland ; r.nd fulfils the conimon and tho 
 sacred adage " like people like priest." Hos. iv 9. The very reverse of the 
 remark ir. question would be the necessary result of any gracious conver- 
 sion. Supposing the Ministers wore all good men, which I am far from ad- 
 mitting, they would not be of equal degree of " merits" in the estimation of 
 any intelligent and improved converts. B'lt tlie supposition of our author 
 is SuaiiicsUiiy wrong txuu uungcfous; as s vis coiivefts sirui urst Lci,:- i^i 
 9 
 

 r 
 
 ill! 
 
 I 
 
 66 
 
 n would not be to their^redtt bKscred 1 1'?"'"^'°' ^'' ^'^erwise 
 compare and assort " behind them "But 1' L. ■^'"' " ''"^«"^y '^ 
 
 life and death." «o ! So ! And y^* withon a„v /'"^ '" """^«^' ^"^ for 
 ing. or preachers, but as thev haroen n .1 ^- *^'^*^"'"-'>«tion of preach- 
 grange doctrine indeed ; bu[ it agrees very wVlI "T"'' ^^''^' '^^Y 
 Munsters and converts of Kilsyth^ But Ch.kf V'^ ""^ ^'*'™^'« ^^ the 
 difference of degree in love a^nd" esteem h"^•'' ' '^'°^^^'°P^^ 
 "Now there wa« leaning on Jesus' bosom on r' u""^?^'' P-^niality. 
 Jesus lovec." John xiii. la LoveJ asHs Z/n^'' ^''"'P''^^' ^h°'" 
 rest of his disciples. " But I tJust in } I ' f ."f '^'^"^ «g''e<^d. beyond the 
 shortly unto you,~for I hare n^n an iTkenirnH "' V'""^ Timotheu* 
 care for your state. For all seek 11 ol"^' ""^^ ^'^ ""♦"'"ally 
 tr ?'f '^u ^"* y"» i^now the proofTf hi"°\ *''"^^ ^^^'^^^ ar^ 
 ttt'r' ?' '^'^'^ '^"^^ ™« '" '^'^ gospel'' &c«'R. if ' '°" ""^'^ »he 
 that I also myself shall come shortly vSi «..„^''' V'"'^ ''' '^e Lord 
 send to you Epaphroditus, my brother Li L P''"'"'* '* »^*^« "y »<> 
 feJlow-soldier, but your u essen'er,, d h. U,„?"^^'"'°" '" ^'^^"'' «"<* 
 For he hath longed'after you a^f.-'Vc PbHip "^'HT'l^ '^ ^y wants. 
 I came to Troas to preach Christ'™' ,^"- Furthermore, when 
 l^f the Lord, I had n'o resTin^mTVpifr^b^,:",!'^ 'T "" ''''^' ^" -" 
 brother." 2 Cor. ii. 12, 13. «'I wrhe not Z .k^""' "°' '^""^ "'y 
 tut. as my beloved sons. I warn you Far t u^'T '° '^'^ Yo^. 
 Jnsuuctors iu Christ, ye y< haveTo't m!nv tT^ ^'Z'''" '^" ^^°"««nd 
 1 have begotten you through the nosL7 Vvn ? ' \' '" ^^'''^'^ J^sus 
 ye followers of me ;" &c. f Cor fvff 15 l^'o '/, ' ^'^^^'^'^ y°"' he 
 ger of a reverse of doctrine in a hnH nf ?' l^^^ ^hame and dan- 
 
 Pages 10 and 11. .« But' he boumr/A'VP"''' ^'^' ''"^ ^^'^rning ! 
 permit enlargement. The work l con^ H^f '^'' communicntion will not 
 work. Thelimits of SattnTdoLTnst7e'i:7.r^""\^"^ '"^^^--^ 
 sals, are diminishing daily. The ac"oun nni^ / ' ""'"^"'" °^ hi. vas- 
 s'on IS, that they could not think of S^^^V'^' ^''\*'^'^^''-^°"*^^^^ 
 makmg their es.ape. There is thl nmi Pfy/vhen others were 
 
 the kingdom of Christ by ^kind o iid.r" T^' ^'' '^' '"='«««« of 
 the door be shut." ^ * iaudable jealousy-a pressing in ere 
 
 ^els:d:!ri.^^.:;x^ti^,SfL'^ ^^-gh i 
 
 than Mr. Burns' word thar-'Safa 'sdn' ^ ""'f '"^ ^""^ ^^^tter warrant 
 nishing daily." For, ^,-3 have u JZTV^ T''^' '^''^ "« ^'mi- 
 •n this serious concern. But I take nZV ^'"^ 5'"^ ^"^ « ^^^ry judge 
 tation. I can give him fuU credit vvilh " "' "' ''^" ^^^^ ^^^ the qui 
 Tew give of thefr conver on is th.ul/lT.H'''' "J'^^ ^^^°""t not a 
 prey when others were making the ^eseVp^'' Tl '^""^ "''^^'^^ ^«^t a 
 w.th many scores ofsuch chimerical converts anH ' '" "'^ '^"^' '"e' 
 haps the majoruy of cases in every aL^rrralt'tS^^l^f.^.P-- 
 
«7 
 
 bj inrestigation of the principles and motives of its subjects, be traced 
 to the same origin. Imitation has generally a powerful influence, beyond 
 common conception, in such religious exercises. The corrupt jealousy, 
 or emulation of the human mind arises, on such occasions, from very 
 different, and various motives; and assumes so many shapes and shams 
 of operation that it is not seldom apt to elude not only the notice of others, 
 but also to impose most dangerously upon the subjects themselves. For 
 instance, as I have personally had full and frequent opportunities to ob- 
 serve: A girl, or young woman sees ayoung man, say a Alinister, a Teach- 
 er, or any other religious character — she secretly loves him, perhaps to 
 dotage ; but she is not religious, though he is ; she observes that her ob- 
 ject associates, and familiarizes himself with the religious only; among 
 whom she notices several of her own sex, and shape, and siie ; whose 
 privilege and freedom would be a heaven to her very iflesh and blood : — 
 she must become pious, — she is so already in aflection, — why not ii» 
 mask and motion ! —the least shade or sound from the lips of a preacher 
 will finish the whole : — the dear creature faints and fumes, falls and foams, 
 furls and fulminates; she undresses* and dreams; — she is transformed; 
 she sings and prays; her very life is bound in religion, and it; religious 
 society. She throws away her balls and ballads, her brawls and Lilliards: 
 She learns, by rot j, a few commonplace confessions ; — she is a greof sin- 
 ner, — hardly pardonable: — but at last she finds and feels the power of 
 the great Saviour : — her -^ery heart is weak and warm, with his light and 
 love : — it would be sinful any further to conceal or doubt his gospel mer- 
 cy. She is all Scripture phraseology ; — you must not talk of the dry 
 and dreaiy concerns of this world in her leered ears; — old things navs 
 passed away, —behold all things are become new. Matrimony itself, with 
 all its carnal delights, is a dreadful sound. Christians must be holy in 
 body and in spirit. All her courtship must be now by psalms and pray- 
 ers, holy sighings and faintings, at the knees of her sweet and spiritual 
 brother : — Biother and sister in the LorH they now are. and shall be for- 
 ever. ' nd should this heavenly pair think ever of what the unconverted 
 world ills marriage, it is not lor ihe benefit or privilege of this life ; nor 
 at all f the procreation and spread of their species, — when at the same 
 time their sexual cupidity sucks their very blood, and wastesitheir very 
 marrow; — but for sacred fellowship, perpetuating chastity, as public pa- 
 trons of self-denial, " crucifying the flesh," a; the peril of their health 
 and life; or for raiding up a holy seed to the Church; which must be 
 
 <levoted to the Lord's service before the conception, or at the birth; 
 
 " Jonathan and Joseph, Hannah and Honora :" — the sons to the sanctu- 
 ary, — the fair for the vestry. 
 
 Take the • ext instance in a wife : Her husband is either a religious 
 professor, or he er.trr ms religious people; and in his turn, is favored and 
 favors. Now and then he smiles in the fpce of varnished virgins, and 
 moist matrons; and looks aslant when they pass him. She praises their 
 faces and virtues ;— but is keenly grieved to meet his acquiescence. She 
 sings above but sighs below ;— she sickens. The husband in his tender- 
 ness is not tender enouglj ; fcr she is not religious! He sups and tsieeps ; 
 
! 1 
 
 II 
 
 
 f 
 
 ^1 
 
 68 
 
 «tr,^.rir;rTh: t:^72^ "1 ^•^^^' ^- -^^^-^^ wife! 
 
 in full bJoom :-.he ineltB and^ou 'h^!^ f ^ '^'^'"''^ '^^' «he departs 
 
 their final separation"!!: he rto'e'^ -- • " ^^'- '''"'' '"'°*'"' '''''°^« 
 -•• Heaven and Hades, deuce and H'^v^u° "TV'^' "^^^^^ ^ sermon ; 
 She is stricken with the features fat '^Hf '"^ ^'«'"^"--«" »»>« same 
 she is a wife.-loves as a vS l^he^'v?". for'^h"^ '^r orator.-forgets 
 heavenly orifice.~and believerail her feelings to »' !?'"'' 1'"'"^* °^ ''•• 
 turns and irembJes in Jife and J.ls -.^^^^^^^^ ^' d.v.ne flames. She 
 ed; and returns home a new crer«;e'^ llrT .^fP".'~''^'' is convert- 
 .n h.s turn for a third instance on hsLunS m\u'' ''"^'^^"^ ""«^ 
 treats h.m now in a new strain; and sSs wTh '^"' <=onverted wife 
 expatiates on her own former ignorance »n^ ^ 5 "**' *°"«"e ^-She 
 that the Lord's earth has suffe ?d he ^30 loLZt^r'T P ^"*^ ^^^"^"« 
 less surprised to find that her precJoL knn^^- ?• 'f*^ ''"* ' ^^^^ " "ot 
 of religion, after all his former'^lorZest ovTr T ''"^^^^^e mysteries 
 m her conscience, to bed and board wfth J J^ ' u®^^ '^^^^ «'"'ned. 
 and must not be any further cramneHnlH T '." ^' " "«'""' »«ate;'' 
 desecrated concerns ; but see nn^^ h-t ?"*'"''^ ^^^ »''^ "'o^''*'. or is 
 for she is now formed and frfmeS for "o^? ""Z ^1^°'^'* Ministers 
 hears and feels the full wS of a J ?ht anT'^ •-, ^'L^«°^'^ ^"«»>and 
 endeavors to hold the reins and asJ.Lr' I """'" ''"angues :~he 
 
 ?s^7r : ""'^' S"-'' '^ hL"?m;r2er'a';^^^^ to n/purpose,- 
 
 IS not to be in vassalage to the slavo nf fhJ m ^''f ^'Ord's handmaid" 
 She must have a separate beri^ forL^f. t/"*"^^' ^^^ ^''^> et cetera, 
 and demurs.-feigns seriousness nl ? f^'T""- '^^« ">«« shrinks 
 deep contemplation -0^1?!!;'"^'*"*^" *"'"'«''' O" the floor in 
 |neetstheMLster;\owrom I ;T 'l ^"^ P'«*^« «f ^orshTp,-!! 
 her doubts for resolves. TnZ absence nfh.*''' ^''P^"^"*^^ to tell, and 
 fusion and consternation "Ihis bo^e," b„rn T'' '^ ^''' ^^"'P'ete con- 
 and shame, indignation and revengrlht „;75'\'P'""" bu:.ts;-fear 
 his very soul ! The wife ret..rn?^K ^ ^^ ?^'''' "^ a«d clash, in 
 -3 ;~both go to mee^i^^g ;Ithe Irk b?W„?''""^ '"p?'.^. " J'^'f-nv'eru 
 idem:-the man shakes a\id shivers -^f4'':?~'?: .^J^'^ l"^ P^^^^^her 
 what miJkt he do 10 be saved r' n« r T *f'*'^^ *** ^" face,"— 
 
 safe without a supernatu%rhange;'[:ttrh^e ^f ^"'?^'?^ 
 The preacher attempts to comfort him —or «t 1 f " "^"^ mstaks. 
 
 despair of Gospel mercy: But the Z't7h// ^'-^ '? '^^^P »>''" ^om 
 paat hope,— he fears — L hfi ! *^ V u '^''^'* ^'"'^ '"» '" his own view 
 His dea'r spou:e al^IeMot^^^^^ "the unpardonable sin/' 
 
 " O woman ! I have no rightTo'Tou- *!.''' ^'' °'^' ^"'ai'ning- 
 brutc?-Ah! brute did I say • w Z'tTuJ T ^°" ^^''^'^^^^ »"<^h a 
 ending as that :-gae hame to' . o?r h *;, T. ^ "^''^ '° innocent,-so 
 carcase to it. fatal^destiny o'my souP airth '.h""''^ ''"^ '«-« »»>i» 
 of God are against me! O. goouVeonl! -'» '*':;"«^^"'"g« *" the book 
 vants and children of the Most H!?h ii ' ^ ^"°'^ Ministers.-ye ser- 
 
 the Gospel upon such a wor? efs t'etc'h?' o'^K??^ '''' ''"^'^^'^ <>' 
 But . vain wish will not .eJTZZT!"/. 3 .'^?* l^^^ annihilated! 
 
a better wife ! 
 at she departs 
 s own, before 
 irs a sermon ; 
 alJ the same ! 
 tor, — forgets 
 issues of his 
 lames. She 
 e is convert' 
 usband now 
 nverted wife 
 ngue :--She 
 nd wonders 
 ; and is not 
 e mysteries 
 Is alarmed, 
 ural slate;" 
 orld, or its 
 Ministers ; 
 t)d husband 
 igues :--he 
 > purpose; 
 handmaid" 
 et cetera, 
 an shrinks 
 8 floor, in 
 vorship, — 
 • teJJ, and 
 plete con- 
 5ts ;— fear 
 clash, in 
 f-con vert- 
 preacher 
 face," — 
 might be 
 m-stake. 
 lim from 
 ivn view, 
 iblesin." 
 liming — 
 i such a 
 ent,— so 
 ave this 
 he book 
 -ye ser- 
 I forts of 
 hilated! 
 >od peo- 
 
 «9 
 
 pie, look at a monnment of God's displeasure, and justify his holy law I" 
 The preacher resolves the despairing man's fears as to the unpardonable 
 sin, — but his afflicted conscience dreads no less other alarming articles 
 of faith; such as the day of grace being past, -that he is not elected, or 
 predestinated ; and that therefore all his hapi and hopes are upon the 
 same desperate ground; or if possible, what is still worse, that the Lord 
 has no pleasure in his repentance, amendment, or even his salvation : — 
 Yea that Heaven, from just and holy ends, delights in his confusion and 
 damnation! But after some spiritual bondage of this kind, and a strug' 
 gle between fear and hope, he is induced to hea** another sermon, found* 
 ed upon the following Scripture : " Son, be of good cheer ; ihy sins be 
 forgiven thee." Mat. ix. 2. When, lo! the very reading of the text is 
 the means of release to the poor man's conscience. He feels — he re- 
 joices — he admires ; — all his bonds are at once broken asunder ; he is 
 converted, — he is quite a new creature! He can no more doubt or dis- 
 believe;— Christ is his, — Christ died for his sins; — he is as sure of his 
 iilvation as if already in heaven! This trophy of divine mercy abhors 
 (limself now in dust and ashes; — disclaims his own righteousness as filthy 
 rags ! 
 
 I saw through my pilgrimage hundred instances of similar imitation, 
 and feigned conviction and consolation, without the least reality ; which 
 the event has iully demonstrated; so that I might, if necessary, enlarge 
 very extensively and variously, from personal observation, on the subject, 
 without any exaggeration, or groundless supposition. And in a respect, 
 I therefore rather pity the dangerous ignorance, than upbraid the false 
 confidence of Mr. Burns, and the Presbytery of Glasgow, on the score of 
 their sorry revival. But I fear, it may be too late before either they, or 
 their selfish converts, are convinced of their own serious mistake. 
 
 Page 11. "I have been engaged, and still continue to be engaged" — A 
 needless repetition !■ — " in conversing with new communicants ; and never 
 before have I had such pleasant work in listening to, and marking down, 
 the accounts which the youngest to the oldest give of the state of their 
 minds. We cannot, with a due regard to consequences, give detailed ac- 
 counts of cases and conversations with such as appear f; us to be genuine. 
 Suffice it, mean time, to say, that while some, who seem to be savingly im- 
 pressed, have given a somewhat figurative account of their feelings, yet, 
 in by far the greatest number of instances, they give most Scriptural and 
 intelligible accounts of their convictions, and of the grounds on which 
 they rest their peace." It is sad to observe that our author still perse- 
 veres in his full confidence of the saving genuineness of the great work 
 of revival under his review, without the least hint of false or feigned ap- 
 pearances, or cases of disappointment, after some years of trial and pro- 
 bation. Nor is it less surprising that he gives us not one single specimen 
 in a catechetical dress. I have never read, or heard of such a perfect 
 work of the kind, continuing for several successive years without any 
 account of hypocrisy, delusion, or imitation. The very Apostolic age 
 did not produce a similar reform on this ground : nor ea.ual unexception- 
 able teachers as the Church of Scotland can afford at this day, both in 
 
i "■ 
 
 70 
 
 number and capacity wifhnnt nii«., • i- 
 
 and John, and the re.t ^f theX": ^0^^ ''"^r"?".' ^^'-' •^-n- 
 •'Je...s answered them, and aaid^.Tr j, ve'lv 7 ' ""^ '^'''' "^^'^ ^•"'«' 
 ni« not because ye saw the mirac es 'utC ^' '"/.""''' ^'^"^ :^« ^^ek 
 ""d.were filled." John vi. 26 ''1'' "?""'"'" ^.^.^'^ *^^' "^ the loaves, 
 rejo.ce in his light." John v. 35 ''From Til """'"^ ^°'" ^ «^^«"" to 
 ;vent back, and walked no nore with him -Tr' '"'"^ °** '''« ^'«<='P'es 
 that ye have ai^reed toijethe to t^mnt , « ^'^''" "' <^^- "How is it 
 that he cared fbr the poor b. t h? .' ?P""'^ "^ ^'^^ Lord." " NoJ 
 themselves without U " ' '"fl ou .rtln tt '^n '^f ^'- " *'-^i4 
 ofyuu ,s a devil." '< Whose eyes are ft ,r ^';! V'^ »«erness." " Onf 
 cease from sin." ''Transfur:n ng he e 1 /o if^^^^^^^^^^^ ''"i^ ^^^^ «««"*'» 
 Widows wanton against Christ "''ThTr -^ '"'^ ^»^"«^'«««^ 
 
 . on yo.r lusts." <• 1 ,,,,, ;„ •,„^,,^ ^e k am.ss that ye may consume 
 tnan their beginnino-." " Yn..r „i • ■ ^ he:r end s worse 
 
 the sp.rit -ending in the flesh" ^'" iJ^ " T ^""^•" " ^^S-^-iulTn 
 f pn-.t." " Envy,' .strife, co fusion " " Bu T J^^'^'-^^ withou? 
 "Flatterers." '' Women nJ.ri . "'^> ''"'^•^«' n'>t iabourinT" 
 
 without knowledge ol^he trut f f. 1" "T "'^"•" " Always learnL 
 and fair ^^}>eeches^^ece;vi 4" I ^ J'^ /'- '' H With /ood words! 
 cord.ng to the /ie«h, enenu^s .to he c os of Ch? '' ." ^^"^ *^'^"^ ««' 
 belly— and w'lo glory in th^ir «h. j o'^hrist— whose god is their 
 
 thou knowest. thlt Jl thev iid :^' •;"/;'";! ^"^'"^ »'>-g-" " Th 
 &c, &c. St. Paul. Our Pa n»h I./p! ' ^^ ^"'"^^ «^'«y <*'-o'n me " 
 
 by the intrusion an)ong n fe 21 wT''* "' F?'^^ ^' " ^e are tried 
 «omeofthem. no doulft. mid '^',',^^1; dlV^ ''^'^ ^^ '^^' ^'visions, 
 dangerous teachers are ikely u ofh^ ^ n? '^''L' '''^'^'''' ^"t these 
 connection. For we find our uthorePdrl' .' ""■'^' '''^'' '" "^'"^ "^ 
 «nd 12. m the following .strain w' We h"^^ '"s narrative, in pages H 
 FesoMted to US by my mucl Moved bre.: f T''" P'-^^«i«"« truth 
 frying to be assured, that in conversation w/. "''"'" '* '""^^ ^e gra- 
 been references, I may say toTJhlT- ""f '"^ P«°P'«. there have 
 Prohtabie, as well as acceptaWe and 1 t h.^"^'?'"''^^' '' ^«^'»? been 
 by the.r co-operation, and the Pi'esbwpr 1 '• ^^ ^'T '° ^^«'' supported 
 vve cherish the pleasing hope th 7 ud^^ «^ ^^e subject, 
 
 biessuig of the great Head ortkchuS T"'' ^"'^ ^^^ntiniing 
 
 nmne, but an extensive and perl„e t'v ? '"^ P"*^*'" "°^ ""'^ « ge- 
 t«ng our downward course nl^d 2L\ u~t' ''"'^ "'^«»« ^^ ^Tes- 
 wh.cbthediffusioaofmelintelll? if '^'1 ^'"^^^'^ consummation 
 Pi'sh VViUiam Burns,"M^'f« ;e?oSth "^^''^'^^ ^'' "^^ --- 
 
 bis. reZ'l^ anV?,7e lit:. 'If^S i^" ^^ -^'-'^ '--'o" ^f 
 J'gious con, ^sions and refor^, Zm l!^7 ""'""!' •"^'^"'"ents ol re- 
 fnes than the first ages of the Go nd %"'f l'^''"^^' history of far later 
 prolixity. I must satisfy my eff w Uh Jn'- ^ '" '° ''"'"^ '''"^^''' 
 
 •^^ celebrated Jonafba/El:;^ anV h^ ^.^ '^^ ^^"'" !'- -''-g 
 
 " •••-•'•-= jfoni oincf apeciai 
 
n 
 
 authors, in his Book on " Religious Affections." " Mr. Shenhard " he 
 says, " speaks of in^n's beiiicf cast down as low as hell by sotow and 
 lying under chains, quakini; in apprehension of terror to come and then 
 raised up to heaven in joy, not able to live; and vet not rent from 
 Just: and such are objects of pity now, and are like to be the objects 
 of terror at the great day." In another note from " Stoddard's 
 guide to Christ," he snys, " The way of the Spirit's working, vvhon 
 U does convince men, is by enlightening natural conscience. The 
 bpirit does not work by giving a testimony, but by assistincr natural 
 conscience to do his work." "Nothing," says, Mr. Edwanl's "is 
 more manifest, than that some persons are of such temper and frame 
 that iheir imaginations are more strongly impressed with every thing they 
 are affected with, than others; and the impression on the ima<Tinaiiou 
 re-acts on the affliction; and raises that still higher; and so affection 
 and imagination act reciprocally, one on another, till their affection is 
 raised to a vast height, and the person is swallowed up, and loses all 
 possession of himself. And some speak of a great sight they have of 
 their wickedness ; and many think also they have great conviction of 
 their actual sins, who truly have none." The above said Stoddard in 
 another place, observes, " A man may say, that now he can justify God 
 however he deals with him, and not be brought off from his own righte- 
 ousness ; and that " the same relation of e:;periences may be confmoa 
 to both converted and unconverted men." " Those that are deluded " 
 says hdwards, " with false discoveries and affections, are evermore hiffhly 
 conceited of their light and understanding. Whatever they may pretend 
 i!J ^^« !^°"^';«'"y. by wilful humili- , or feigned self-denials." The same 
 Mr Ld wards in another place, remarks that "The confidence of many 
 of this sort of hypocrites, is like the confidence of some mad men, who 
 think they are kings: they will maintain it against all manner of reason 
 and evidence. And in one sense, it is much more immovable than a 
 truly gracious assurance; a true assurance is not upheld, but by the 
 soul 8 being kept in a holy frame, and grace maintained in livelj exer- 
 cise. If the actings of grace do much decay in the Christian, and he 
 falls into a lifeless frame, he loses his assurance : but this kind of confi- 
 dence of hypocrites will not be shaken by sin; they (at least some of 
 them) will maintain their hope, in the most corrupt frames and wicked 
 ways ; which is a sure evidence of their delusion," page 97. And in his 
 preface to the same Book he observes, " It is no new thing, that much 
 false religion should prevail at a time of great reviving of true religion • 
 and that at such a time multitudes of hypocrites should spring up amoni 
 true saints. In support of which he adduces several cocrent examples 
 quite answerable to my purpose, and as agreeable to my former quota- 
 tions, and mode of reasoning on the subject ; but which I waive merely 
 from fear of being intolerably tedious. And, now that I have done on 
 this ground, whatever may be thought of the apparent severity of mv 
 animadversion on the short narrative under review, I feel that mv very 
 heart aches with sad and sore sympathy with the denlor-ihio ^t^t^ ;.r.«i:_ 
 gio,us Ignorance, and unscriptural confidence under which my author 
 
 
 « 'Rl 
 

 I fi 
 
 I! 
 
 
 'fi 
 
 l:til 
 
 72 
 
 and the Church of which he is a Minister, most clearly and grierouaiy 
 labour, at this day of meridian Scripture light and learning; and possess' 
 ed of so sacred and singular means of information and knowledge. "I 
 beheld the transgressors, and was grieved because they keep rot thy 
 word." Psalmist. 
 
 Charles. — I beg to offer two observations upon your remai''«i on the 
 Kilsyth pamphlt^t : — First, upon your hints on Lot. I regret that, with 
 all his faults and failings, you would Ifjave that good righteous man under 
 so poor and mean a figure in his religious character: For he was not so 
 inoffensive to the Sodomites as your brief account of him appears to re« 
 present the case. Don't you read how his abominably wicked neighbors 
 so severely upbraided, and so violently threatened him; and that, but 
 for the gracious interposition of his heavenly guests, they would likely 
 murder him. Are not all that treatment . stron^r presumption, if not a 
 full demonstration of his moral and religious opposition to them ; or at 
 least, of his non-compliance with their roost hateful manners and mea- 
 sures? His final and timous warning also to some of them, according 
 to the permission and mjunction of hissa'd holy visitors, argues his vir* 
 tuous zeal for their safety, and friendly desire of their escape St. Peter 
 likewise, under the immediate influence of the Divine Spirit, gives us a 
 very favorable description of him : — " And delivered just Lat, vexed with 
 the filthy conversation of the wicked : (For that righteous man dwelling 
 among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous suul from day 
 to day with their unlawful deeds:)" &c, 2 Pet. ii. Is it safe, or exem- 
 plary therefore, good neighbor Bruce; or, is it not rather daring and 
 dangerous to speak contemptuously, or even inditlerently of such charac- 
 ters as the Lord thus manifestly deigns to approve ? We do not learn 
 that the Sodomites of Kilsyth ever have been any wise wild and refrac- 
 tory to Mr. Burns like the ancient Sodomites to Lot. In the one ease 
 it was by a miracle the good man's house and inmates were preserved 
 from wreck and ruin : In the other, nothir^g^ bMt the greatest possible 
 kindness. And consequently I say that your comparison on this score 
 is drawn incorrectly. The righteous man Lot is also recommended by 
 the Holy Ghost for having entertained angels as strangers. Such as are 
 not sufhcieiitly tender in handling the character of God's people, even in 
 their infirmities, are generally left to marked folly, vacancy, or inconsis- 
 tency in their reasoning and reflectioi. on those serious and delicate sub- 
 jects, as a token of the Lord's just displeasure for their untenderness 
 and presumption ; of wKl^sh I have by me a noted instance in the author 
 of "The Political History of the Devil;" who is otherwise very intelli- 
 gent and sagacious. But he must invariably fall foul of the righteous; 
 none of which can hardly escape his hottest and most relentless censures. 
 The following are some of his rigorous remarks on the subject : — " It i» 
 observable, that, as I said above, Noah was silenced, and his preaching 
 at an end, after that one action, so the like may be said of Lot; and in 
 short, you never hear one word more of either of them after it ; as for 
 mankind, both were useless to them, and at to themselves, we never hear 
 of ihcir rcpcritaricc, nox have we much reason to believe they did repent.'* 
 
 E^KSSSS 
 

 73 
 
 My second observation, on your remarks on the Pamphlet in question, 
 is that I suppose you have been too severe in your granimatical correc- 
 tion ; as, for instance, in your first remaric on page 2nd you find fault 
 with, and correct the words of Mr. Burns "Nothing could have been 
 more kind," &c. And you substitute " Nothing could be more kind," 
 d&c. We know certainly that it was at the same time or tense that the 
 kindness was given and received ; but, I ask, might not a comparison be 
 made-^although not perhaps with quite equal propriety of language — of 
 any other time or tense, either antecedent or posterior, as well as of the 
 time present at the giving and receiving of the kindness in question ; 
 which time was past when the author was writing his Narrative? I guess 
 nothing would screen your grammatical criticism from the mortal sting 
 of a swarm of dexterous critics, but your being in the open view of the 
 world such a wretched handle of a scholar, as is not worth any notice on 
 this ground. I am however so far satisfied with the general scope of your 
 remarks that I do not wish to circumscribe your intention regarding any 
 further observation, or additional remark which you may choose to make 
 on the whole subject. 
 
 Bruce, — I will not contradict a word of your generous suggestions ; 
 and your agreeable and candid manner of reflection encourages me, quite 
 beyond my first purpose, to pursue our main subject a little farther, by 
 merely reading some extracts of letters, copies of correspondence, &C., 
 just received since the commencement of our debate: though at the same 
 time, the intended addenda are partly applicable to some other religious 
 persi' jsions, as well as to the Church of Scotland ; although it is certainly 
 for what more directly relates to her that the whole is determined for the 
 consideration of our audience. 
 
 Copy of a Letter deaiifmd some years since for the «• Temperance Recorder." 
 
 Mr. Editor — 
 
 Sir, — Feeling much interest on the subject of Temperance, and find- 
 ing one particular point, though closely connected with it, and in a de- 
 gree sometimes handled among the arguments used in its dispute, which 
 is yet by no means exhausted, J beg to suggest to you thereon some 
 further considerations. The Clergy should be thought a singular set of 
 men, as by their office different from all other mankind, and therefore 
 ought not to be deemed on a level with the rest of the species. Though 
 they are born of women, and of exterior shape and size with humanity, 
 perhaps I do them wrong by calling them men. 1 speak of thcni now as 
 a body, without any distinction as to name or persuasion. If you look 
 to their account in Scripture, and f*ompare it to their action in this lower 
 world, you must, in spile of you, pronounce them to be the best or the 
 pest of the universe, according to their use or abuse of their peculiar 
 function. Read a few of their various description and metaphorical titles, 
 which are here at random extracted from sacred writ. " The salt and 
 the light of the world, — a city built upon a hill, — the chariot and the 
 horsemen of Israel, — watchmen, — fathers, — guides, — the wisdom of ser- 
 pents, without thcsf Btiiig, — the nacckness of lambs, and the harmlesoness 
 10 
 
n 
 
 Qf doves, vvlthout their silliness,— stars,~the moon,— the sun.— the ser- 
 vants of the Lord,— the sons of God,— Saviours,— godi. -Exodus vii 1 
 But when they mistake their station, and abuse their office, their dclineaw 
 tion 18 awful :— Stumbling-blocks,— deceivers,— savourless salt for th« 
 dung-hi I,- ravening wolves, m sheep's clothing,— dumb, greedy, and' 
 msaiiable dog3,-murmurers,— raging waves of the sea,— spots,— clouds 
 without water,— filthy dreamers.- false apostles,— false prophets,— ftlse 
 ^hnms,— synagogue of Satan,— wandering and fallen stars,- vipers — 
 dragons,— dev.ls." Be not then surprised to find in this sort of creatures 
 the greatest possible auxiliaries, or the most powerful and dangerous od- 
 posers. Were the Clergy of a mind to your purpose, it would at once 
 be all in all Nothmg could escape the sweep, nor elude the inspection 
 and grasp of these supernatural beings; like an army of aiants— nav 
 more, like a mighty hurricane, they would clear before them all opposi- 
 tjon. Whether m truth or in pretence omnipotence is at their beck— 
 their influence is incalculable. In the most important concerns the 
 power of life and death hangs on their sleeves. From the king on the 
 throne to the meanest peasant, all are under their control. His Holines* 
 of Rome, and His Grace of Canterbury could alike work miracles. One 
 serious bull from the Popo— a single hearty mandate from the Archbis* 
 hop against the use of alcohol, w^ould prove more effectual, than contrary 
 to them, a thousand sovereign threats, of fire and sword. Tell me what 
 is the power of Kings against the Priesthood? Since the time of chaos 
 did ever you hear the Church overcome by any civil authority on earth ^ 
 One ecclesiastic party may indeed be overborne by a stronger hand ofi 
 the same body, but never otherwise. Let the Clergy be good or bad im 
 their outward conduct; let the Holy Ghost, or the evil angel be their 
 inward guids and counsel, their claim to infallibility, in one sense or an- 
 other IS the same. You have never heard of a Priest brow-beaten • by 
 Lucifer or Gabriel he musi be blush-proof. He has on his thigh the keys 
 of heaven, and hell, and purgatory ! Whatever he bindsor looses below 
 It must be the same above. Ah ! sir, fight any thing but the Clergy' 
 rheir grin or groan,— their smirk or smile, is of more consequence to 
 your cause, than the two houses of Parliament without their approbation. 
 It IS but lost labor any where— it is but mockery and madness to think 
 of any reformation, but under their influence. Their's is the Bible—the 
 parchment of Heaven— the magazine of God to p|v at pleasure. Who 
 but these could ever dream of preaching belief in' miracles beyond, or 
 against all our senses ! But wisdom and folly are all of a piece u^ider the 
 sway of implicit faith in the power of the Church. My friend O'Connell 
 the extraordinary luminary and oracle of Ireland, is as tame and as flat on 
 this ground as .Id John Loolan the abject Indian. His Maiesiy cannot 
 rest in his bedchamber, nor freely breathe in his proud palace but under 
 the auspice of their prayers. He must nbt wage war, or proclaim oeace 
 but at their discretion. Subject to their anathema. He is a lost man : at 
 their benedict.on. He is ne.u a god. What ground then of hope or suc- 
 cess on our subject, but at their nod ? Lords, and Judges, and Generals : 
 1 nysicians. Philosoohers. and Farmpr« arci ^.Ji «^«,«t^'i"- :- *i--; * - j . 
 
75 
 
 btit what are these, and all the world besides, but broken reeds, and frail 
 iirairuinents, without the heaven-born substitutes of the Moat High I Mis- 
 take n>€ not, Mr Editor, these assertions are not fond chimeras, or mere 
 bantlings of the brain. I am surrounded by a raighty chain of stubborn 
 facts; yea, overwhelmed with most dire, and dawning demonstrations. 
 I say dire and dawning ; for though it is gloomy to mark so many of those 
 subHieities, who should most openly and heartily prove the alpha and ome- 
 ga of so benevolent an institution, discountenance or oppose it, either from 
 ignorance, or more shameful motives; it is notwithstanding very cheer- 
 ing to find others in abundance, of this glorious order, most freely and 
 zealously leading the van, and exciting in their rear a numerous and vi- 
 gorous train. Be not, however, surprised in this grand contest between 
 parties so extraordinary, to meet something similar to the war of angels 
 and devils in Milton's " Paradise Lost." Is it any way strange that hell 
 should grimly struggle on this fatal subject \ Next to the powerful spread 
 of the Gospel, no possible scheme in this ge.ieration of extravagant in- 
 temperance, could be framed or adopted more injurious to the designs 
 of the chief adversary of man. Can it therefore, be consistent with the 
 kingdom of darkness, when thus tottering, to offer no opposition through 
 the instrumentality of its blind votaries and subtle agents ; among whom 
 are certainly not a few of the Clergy ? There are, however, two classes 
 of them in this Province, which you shall more particularly find to be 
 the blessing or the plague of any place where they reside, viz : Irish 
 Priests and Scotch Parsons ; especially from the Highlands. For inge- 
 nuity and shrewdness none can exceed them : but I defy you to catch 
 but few of them in your Temperance drag-net ; or find but little of their 
 service in any other mood than leuden neutrality, contradicting sophistry, 
 or barefaced raillery. Whatever may be their conduct they know well 
 how to justify it from " the book of life." Take a range for some evi- 
 dence on this point, over the broad face of Pictou, and by Antigonish, 
 throughout the Island of Cape Breton. In many parts of Ireland and 
 Scotland their main strong-drink, whiskey, is emphatically termed " an 
 t-uisge-beatha," the water of life; and the addiction to drinking it in 
 those places is still deplorable; and the tippling habit of several of their 
 spiritual guides most disgraceful : Some of whom are transformed into 
 almost a mass of idiot, brute, and <lemon ; an unreserved statement of 
 which would make you believe it as a mere fable, or a designed libel 
 
 on humanity. Take however one instance : — The Rev. Mr. J., at B , 
 
 (of the Established Church of Scotland in the highlands of that king- 
 dom) still living, having a Cavorite dog, gives to the animal a lunch, 
 which being swallowed, his reverence, in a kind of soliloquy, interrogates 
 the spaniel thus by its name :— " Nero ! Have you said the grace? No; 
 —you, Nero, would make but a bad Minister; but Oo*^ ' Nero, that's 
 far from my character," dec, &c. It is but truth that I yself was once 
 most sorely tempted to turn infidel to all religion, and revelation, through 
 the negligence and misconduct, but especially the intemperance, of tho 
 Clergy. It could be satisfactorilv nroved that there is no TPint.^r h-sr in 
 the way of the Gospel than the intemperance oi this order of beings. Get 
 
 1 
 
 !■' 
 
 It ii 
 
 \¥//~'-C.'^r "■•5.1 
 
,i I 
 
 f:' 
 
 76 
 
 rhrrnMf"°^^^ w;°'''^''™P''"'"*'"*' ""'^ y«" "« ^'thin the circle of 
 t.lw !;'l;'."l- ^^''«V*'''\yo" expect but to find all tables filled with 
 vom. and filthmesa when the Prie.t and the Prophet err in vision and 
 stumble ,n judgment through strong drink ; and are ou o "he way' be 
 io^t"? TfiJj °^---.J-«h xxviii.7. Whatever is pretended ; Che 
 contrary, I firmly believe in general that the Cleri?y feel no stronger fet- 
 ter against Temperance than their own habitual bibbing. Dd this vice 
 once g.ve place, all thtir other objections would soon, as wind, fly away 
 Intemperance .s not an ordinary vice, but the monstrous head and roo^' 
 and recruiter, of a train of evil. Other vices may kill their housand ' 
 but this Its ten thousands. Think me not severe or envioSi on tLtt 
 fpSin. P^'P'lvi^ ''''T^ .""^ thoughts thereon from fear of oflTence and 
 reflection Did you but know and feel as I do, you should judge me on 
 this point but very tender and sparing. "' ^ 
 
 tJ'^'^hnf ^''^ *f""^'" u ^''^ ^''''^^ *° '"y ^•^^» ""^er the term ' Luna- 
 tic, but, considering the 'smoothness and soothness' of the times I 
 have guessed you would not readily grant it a passport. You ha Tn^w 
 a superficia sketch of my mind on the subject under the ' weight' o"mT 
 
 you'r Sertakr" ^''^'"^ ^°" success according to the full merit o^f 
 your undertaking— j ^^^ gj^^ y^^^^ ^^^ 
 
 Clergy-lover-hater." 
 
 Extracts of a Pamphlet lately pvblished in Pictou, JV. S. 
 
 "To THE Reader :~Permit me, to relate briefly some of the trans- 
 
 Sr^hoft^frn'^^^^^^ '"^^ Established 
 
 Church of Scotland, who recently met, both at the West River and New 
 
 ^hesruhc !' WjrT '^?"''^ ^""'"- ^« ^ ^- P'^-"* ^t boTh 
 Presbvt.rv h ,. K .Tm^ "°, '""''°" *^ '"y P'""^ °f '^^ business of the 
 Id^^lU' t "''^^i/^" "n^t' '"y °^" immediate observation; but this 
 I desire_to make public, for the information of those who may be unac- 
 quainted with the motives by which so many respectable members of this 
 
 {o^fhlT'"1 ''r '''T"^^ ^^'^ ^hey refused' to subscribe the bond 
 for the Minister^ stipend ; and why others who were elders or deacons 
 
 golSr R M ^«^^^^«''^^? t Pf^^Vtery of New Glasgow. 801^^ 
 ago Mr. R M. was irregularly admitted to the Kirk Session of this place 
 
 of a rLi;: tToft^r'^ ''""^ ^'T''' '" «PP°«'^-" to the dete 
 ot a majority of the Congregation. Having been once elected, though 
 
 in a sinister manner, he persisted to hold the office of Deacon, not with- 
 
 standing the murmurs and disapprobation of multitudes. Thi disVads- 
 
 faction ceased to be expressed, only when our Church became v can 
 
 entereru'non'h "T ^'^"' V'^l" ''I'' '' ^'^^'^ '' °"' P^«»«»' Mini tJ; 
 hinlirr^ 1^ charge; and this obnoxious member again obtruded 
 of the Ln, l" fZ TV^' congregation. It was to reconcile the minds 
 of the people to this darlmg elder-apparently much beloved by some of 
 
 Wesf Ri'vTtV 1 '^'^''t'^'^jy of Pictou met in our Church at the 
 West River, though no doubt, the avowed purpose of the Meeting was 
 to redress grievances, and to give content to an afflicted and oonfes^.d 
 i.ungrrg«uon. 11 tins were indeed their intention, iei the resolutions 
 
 ^H 
 
Luna- 
 
 n 
 
 passed by them on that occasion tell how well it was accomplished, They 
 excluded from Church Privileges ail who had not subscribed the bond, 
 without deigning to hear the reasons which they offered for their own 
 vindication, but determined at the same time that a share of the Minis- 
 ter's stipend, which indeed they were willing to pay, (without subscribing 
 the bond) should be accepted from them, as well ns from those who were 
 actually receiving such privileges. The principal objection which was 
 and is still maintained, by the non-subscribers, is the incompetency of 
 some of the members of Session, for the sacred office which they hold, 
 and especially the glaring inconsistency there is between the practice of 
 R. M. and that required by God in him who would ' use the office of a 
 deacon well ;' for instead of ruling his own house with propriety, blend- 
 ing kindness and affection, with due authority, he, in a paroxysm of out- 
 rage, to which he is very subject, so abused his wife, that she fled from 
 his house, under cloud of night, and took refuge in the contiguous woods 
 till next day. As might be expected, he exhibits the same turbulent 
 behaviour in the Church of God ihat he does in his family ; for on a recent 
 occasion in the Church, at the W. R., he : '1 his clenched fist to the 
 face of a brother elder, repeating the words 'You liar! you liar!!' But 
 In this he is consistent; if not with the sacred rule, at least with himself. 
 Our worthy Deacon is so intent on all the ways and means of having his 
 portion in this life, and is so greedy of filthy lucre, that he accumulates 
 money by hiring out, for the propagation of its respective species, a male 
 animal of every kind, from the stallion on which he rid^s to the dung-hill 
 cock ; and has fixed a price for the Ram, Boar, Bull, &c. My servant 
 Larry O'Docharty is of opinion, that if in the lapse of time from the days 
 of Noah to the present period, any species of animals has become extinct 
 in other parts of the world, the male at least of such a species may be 
 found with R. M. This member of Session has lately received money, 
 being a small legacy left him in the West Indies, yet we do not pretend 
 to account for the pertinacity with which the Rev. Mr. F. screens him 
 from censure and from expulsion on the hypothesis, that he has received 
 from him some pecuniary a.d." 
 
 "The said Mr. F. declared that though a deacon had committed mur- 
 der SIX years ago, yet there was no law of the C.urch of Scotland by 
 which he might be expelled the Kirk Session, or divested of the elder's 
 office. In short Mr. F.'s speech on that occasion was such as could not 
 then be heard without horror, nor now thought upon without resret. by 
 any pious man." s> > j 
 
 " It is with extreme regret that I advert to the negligence or indiffer- 
 ence with which one of our Ministers, Mr. M. K., has sometimes confer- 
 red the sacred privilege of baptism on persons utteily unqualified to ' 
 receive it. Of this a solitary instance will suffice, and that too without 
 any comment by me. A gentleman recently from the West Indies, and 
 now residing m Pictou applied to this Reverend gentleman to obtain 
 baptism for hiis chdd, protesting at the same time, that he considered it 
 Sfi s rratter of no ujoxuent whether it were periormeu or not, but added 
 withal that his vif^ was desirous of conforming to the customs of the 
 
 I' 
 
 "im 
 
 I 
 
 ; I 
 
 < .1 
 
 
country in which she happened to live. Mr. M. began to interrogate 
 
 him concer:).ng baptism when the gentleman said, " D n vou Hon't 
 
 questmn me I'm no hypocrite,' and forthwith Mr. M I --J.ed hisihild." 
 At the WR. the Presbytery excluded from Oh- 'i P-ivilecea all 
 M^hohad not subscribed the bond, although ..noof ,h> .. for piety and 
 the regulur.ty of thc^r moral conduct, are mo t unexceptionable Jnd 
 buflhL"7,^*'?p'"r'''y'"'shtbegladto. .! ,. u,g a, member, ; 
 but these Church Privilege, are withoni rese ve o. , tat.on confeir* d 
 upon others, who are tainted with the imputation o*" -^very crime ; but to 
 compensate the want of principle and character C ,,rof( „ indeed the 
 
 are de r. r 7 ' P^^j'^S^s are bestowed, and another to whom they 
 ted tuh hi; I^l r '^^^'^l^^.'^'''^''^^ of baptism, J. A. has been admi,- 
 ted with h.s child, tnough he is notorious as a common thief, and accus- 
 ed ot living in open and avowed adultery with a widow woman.-of hav- 
 ing made several attempts to commit murder,-and of deceiving and 
 over-reaching h.s neighbors whenever he can decoy them either by me- 
 n.lTvlI' r""!""" to have any dealings with him. He. indeed, is com- 
 niony believed capable o the most atrocious crimes, and by the frequen- 
 cy of his nocturnal depredations, and the fierceness of his disposition is 
 become no less terrible than odious to all who deem thems^'ves within 
 
 the Church, that 3uch a person is honoured with her privileges? And 
 was It not to a somewhat similar, though not so palpable, a relaxation of 
 discipline n established Churches, ast prolific source. 'that dissenter 
 -ud sectarians, in every age, owed their origin and increr.se.' 
 
 hp i- in \^^ Tr^' V''"'^^ Privileges have been refused to M., though 
 
 he IS justly revered for h.s piety, and esteemed as an upright, her evole^nt 
 
 oronh.t^r7P'?"^v,'' ''' V' '^' '''''^' °*" '^^ I^°^d. conierning the 
 
 mZh .1 '"'''' ^'' P'^P'' '" "•■'•• ' "^ '^'' P""«th not into "their 
 mouths, they even prepare war against him :' Mic iii 5 " 
 
 rnLr^ '"'^'i "'^ F'""'''^ '•? '^'^ P'""^ "^ ^^^ ^^o^'J " i" a languishing 
 condition and Stan Is in need of powerful restoratives, otherwise she wiU 
 not long be able to Mipp.rt herself in this ' region of sterility.' " 
 «;ili hi"."" I- '" '^ oi^^'ious, that the policy of some of our antagonists 
 
 will be to stigmatize oi r rea.sonable dissatisfaction with the present state 
 of affairs in this congrejauc ,, ,s if it were a desire to ' separate' ourselves 
 
 us whh Ziril «"l/"r°'«"« ^P^.'^i^^ «f worship, and perhaps to honor' 
 us wuh the oi.;e terrible but now innoxious appellation of heretics or 
 scn.smatH^s. Nor is tt>ere any need of pretending to the spirit of prophe- 
 
 whom th /'■/', ^T''' ^^" ^'^^ T" "^^ '^''^ an'expedient to rep? those 
 Yet 1 «?-^l I ? ^"^««>-«nd reconcile to their favorite measures. 
 Yet we still cling to that Church, under whose hallowed doctrine and 
 8itnpleceremon.es we first drew breath; notwithstanding, that t^ our 
 nT!l'' T •:^'»°"«t';fn«e« and our prayers, her Ministers in this vici- 
 n ty are a ike inexorable We are excluded, it is true, from any partici- 
 pauon in the privileges she dispenses; but it is only because we ;)ay a 
 ...,c,... .,j;«,.^ ,.^ .,-..- fu,c5, wio.T lo yieid a more implicit obedience to 
 
 
l;>?nr.K ""'?'''' m'"'*"*"^'* \^^**"" ««"''^''"iity «•> the practice ,he en- 
 Eve "" ""'"" '" '^" P'""" '"'" ^" "•<^"''^'>t«. or her people Ta 
 
 le^t' whln'r^r^'l'' *^"* ""ost of the proper name, mentioned in the Pamph- 
 let whence the above quotations were extracted are written fullv and 
 fanr„l.arly m the original, though here given only under the! i3« „ 
 ?itk n 7'Z '«»7«^"«ive. where an? d.s.greeable reflec ion i an', 
 fnor LP ;' ■• • 'k'"' '"«"!'• ?". '^'' ground, is the ancient and degr d- 
 u.g metaphor wh.ch was applied by the prophet Jeremiah to the Jew sh 
 Church m hjH da, ~chap. i.i. 3.-" Thou hadst a whore'3 forehead tZu 
 refusedst to be ash..med." Especially if we should take the pre entWse 
 instead of the past, in our melancholy application I ^ 
 
 Extracts of a Letter Just received from S .■ ^und ; dated at Greenock, QOth March last : 
 
 which read as foUtncM : »'»«, 
 
 ScotI«n1'' Ci"H7 '""* '^"' Anti-patronage was the hue and cry i„ 
 Scotland Indeed, however ccmpjitible patronage is with the Constitution 
 of the Church, .t gets rank now-a-days, and requires a similar ftte with 
 the brazen serpent. To illustrate the point I will give yo? short skrtcK 
 of the Marnoch case from the ' Aberdeen Constitutional/ of tl e 23dJanu. 
 ary last One Mr. John Edwards was presented to their paHsh on tim 
 
 tife The following IS an extract from the Congregation's memorial to 
 Lord Normanby :-' That, when the Presbytery of Itrath^e^Z re- 
 ceiving Mr. Edwards presentation, proceeded to affo.d the parishio" eTs 
 an opportunuy ol subscribing a call to Mr. Edwards to become the r 
 Pastor, the document wac signed by three heritors, not communicant 
 
 ^800^ Th°t %;h'':"^"''i: ^^;'^^;'^ P°P"^^''°" ^^ ^^e parish is abonJ 
 2.800. 1 hat, of the three hundred heads of families on he roll of com- 
 man.cants. not only did the whole (with the above sontary exceptro^ 
 refuse to subscribe the call, but no fewer than P.61 felt themselves^ con 
 strained to appear before the Presbytery, and tender their sotmn protest' 
 against Mr. Edwards being appointed their Pastor. That thereupon t'e 
 
 n:rl'l7^^""h^'•^K^'''^^"•^ '''^''''^ ^'^ «« prese'teeTo he 
 parish of Marnoch agreeably to tue r..Ies of the Church.' After all this 
 
 solemnity against them the Court of Sessions took the case in hand and 
 
 by a BOtor.ou..ly irregular and inconsistent process, accompanied bi an- 
 
 other branch o the Assembly, forced Edwards on th. poor*^ parish ^ On 
 
 the occasion of his induction, the Report savs-' T.ie Moderator's no 
 
 pearance in the pulpit was the signal for an uproar, a^ indlorous as evP" 
 
 disgraced te walls of a Church' Cries of ^insult were m ngeS ^ i 
 
 noises of al! descriptions; and several missiJ- were hurled fron thecal 
 
 ler.es at the Presbytery. This scene lasted io. nearly a coup e of hour ' 
 
 Dur.ng this period, snowballs, pieces of wood torn Lm the s°.f and 
 
 other missiles were thrown at the Ministers, and opprobrious epithe,^ 
 
 were uttered by severd persons. At length when peace was resto?ed by 
 
 the rural police, Mr. Thomson took for his text 1 Cori„thinn» 7.K A-!^ 
 
 181 and ^„d verses. What audacity to take such a text "underpre Jnt 
 
 If'" 
 

 '% 
 
 80 
 
 circumstances ! To show some of the natural consequences of such 
 proceedings in the minds of very large bodies in Scotland even now, I 
 will just give another extract from a ver> hot but fair letter in the same 
 periodical : — ' The Church of Scotland may, no doubt, retain the services 
 of some — for old asssociations are not unhinged at once -*slie may col- 
 lect mob meetings to hear the ravings of unbridled passior — she may 
 prevail on one or two bigoted gentlemen to preside on her platforms — 
 she may rouse a red-hot fanatic to gallop on her services from Banff to 
 Blairgowrie, and from Dornoch to Dumfries ; but there is x)fi one day 
 at present which does not witness a secession from the numbers of her 
 people^ and a blush on the visage of many who remain. She will admit 
 of no concession. Retract! No, not a hair's breadth. She cannot err* 
 it seems. In short she is infallible. From the Vatican itself, this claim 
 was never put forth more boldly. The Doctors of Edinburgh, the Pres- 
 byteries of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the Clergy of Aberdeen, are 
 supreme as ever was the Bishop of Rome. The Church of Scotland must 
 not forget that, if men are to choo ,e between infallibilities, that of Rome 
 has at least something more of attraction (from age and the immense 
 majority of her adherents) than the Scottish Popes of the Commission, 
 even with Dr. Chalmers at their head. The pretence that all this assump- 
 tion is only for the * people's good,' has lost its power. The Lord Advo- 
 cate himself has been compelled to denounce the very idea of fu'. .her 
 power to the domineering Priesthood ; and the feelings of the times are 
 about to seal the death warrant of oar Scottish Establishment, if the 
 raging epidemic is not speedily and effectually abated by the diseased 
 themselves. Even the raptures of the insane Revival people will only 
 endure for a day, and only affect a few silly women.' You may likely 
 think these relations and extracts rather tedious, but I feel a great deal 
 of interest in them. This probably occurs from their being fresh to me. 
 It is evident however, upon the whole, that Scotland is indeed now at an 
 extremely low ebb of spiritual life." 
 
 " And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judali, judge, I 
 pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done 
 more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it ? wherefore, when I look- 
 ed that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?"— 
 Isaiah V. 3, 4. " Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit 
 before a fall. "Proverbs xvi. 18. 
 
 The following paragraph is quoted from the ^^Cape Breton Advocate," of the \ith July i 
 " The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has adhered to the 
 motto of No surrender,' and stands gallantly by its guns while the Kirk 
 is scuttled with interdicts from the Court of Sessions, without once rais- 
 ing a fmger towards the flagstaff to lower the ensign of defiance. The 
 great controversy of the Strathbogie case has been pushed to the ex- 
 treme ; the seven Mmisters of the State Church, who obeyed the law of 
 the State and proceeded with the induction of the presentee Mr. Edwards, 
 to the living of Marnoch, have been deposed ; and the Assembly have 
 declared the further interdicts which they have drawn upon themselves 
 
81 
 
 a shocking intrusion. They seem not only to have disregarded all com- 
 mon calculations of prudence, but in the course of headlong bat lin^Tj 
 have thrown as.de even their own advantages of intelligence and educa^ 
 non as mere encumbrances in the fight; like a fine old warrior, who 
 when he began to be d.zzy and blinded with the sweat and dust and bTood 
 running into h.3 eyes dashed away his shield that he might grasp the 
 sword with both his hands in a last random blow or two." ^ ^ 
 
 "But the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wick-d shall 
 understand ; but the wise shall understand."~Daniel xii. 10. 
 
 Mstractofaricent correspondence between a ymtnir man in the Highlands of Scotland 
 £ Tm"'"' Cape Breton; the origin'aL of wluck i. certZyautL^^^^^^^ 
 
 Jl?"""'' UNCLE,--We have now a kind of a new era in this country- 
 week Fetching and religious meetingg_a notable revival in many places 
 A young itinerant Mmis.er-one Mr. A. of whom you might havfheard 
 --1S the chief instrument-a very pious young preacher lately licensed 
 1 he first thing he usually does when he 'enterl any house is^o seek a 
 closet, or any private place for secret devotion-he has a very affecting 
 and singular tone ,n his religious exercise, especially his prayerVflow c? 
 I imnk, from his uncommon concern and earnestness. We ha e wi hin 
 a very short time about twenty new converts in our own villape~a 
 women, and mostly young. I feel sorry and surprised to see noS our 
 own sex among the number-and although not to the same de^?ee iHs 
 certainly the case in a great measure over all the country. If you Ju d 
 favour me w,th your thoughts and remarks on this strange and serfous 
 ubject It would be highly obliging. I shall expect also to hear ome 
 account of the success of the Gospel in that place; and of our own 
 Church in particular; ns also of any opposition^o her interest in Z 
 Island, or over the Province at large, especially of late years." 
 
 I am, dear Uncle, yours, &.c., ****** *#*#*• u 
 
 RF-I'I.V. 
 
 " Dear N YHEw,~-In answer t.* your letter of the 15th January I am 
 sorry o say that any remarks upon it from me are not likely t o h e ver^ 
 acceptable to you. or to the generality of our friends in that quarter Bu^ 
 u, my view there are two certain reasons for the disparity of the numbe 
 of conversions on the ground of the difference of sei :-As first we n.er 
 "! "r^-^ ''^^^'' more callous and frigid constitution and 'ten^e a" 
 ture the. cue opposite gender; and consequently not so easiiy wrought 
 upon by the inauence of devotion. But again we have our sad^drsadv! 
 ^E:J!aT^ ""fe ""u ^'"^ '^'"^ ^' preachers. Could the Church but be 
 
 ar.cs n the track of all your male Teachers, I .houid fondly anticipate 
 and fully insure their proportionate success among our sex! you could 
 ^e then sure to find here and there twelve or twenty masculine converts 
 without one converted woman ; and it is with me past all doulns^lp^ 
 
u w 
 
 i' 
 
 82 
 
 the safest grounds, that this supposed sort of ..onveraron would be •,« 
 sound and salutary us under any lat. or present revival over aH the kin^! 
 tu'.. y^-" P'?" r"''^ P'-ove. not a metaphorical, but a era) fJ 
 well as a rel.g.ous fulfilment of the sicred text-' As for my neon e** * 
 womeu rule over them.' Isaiah iii. 12. 1 ought to be veryJeS on this 
 
 Te wVerhe^t!;?:! VnJ" !'"^ ''-^"n ^"^^^^•^^' ^^ ^ 'pecial a^^logy 
 oeiween the natural and religious influence of sexuality of which nnHor 
 
 Z'W ^''f.""'?' f °"; ^""'^ ^'^'■gy ''^ "«t sufficiently aw e' not so 
 rntinn iT '^''' '««k of learning as Irom that of reflection. haIn"ost as 
 
 "pr 'ca^L'".s'r.^- ''"' """'""" '" ^^^ ^"'"'^' ^^'^ without ua 
 reciprocation as rp'.^ru,:,s conversion amon? tho male of our soecie^— 
 
 according to the ordinary .oirit of our revivals-withouTsexual comm7 
 
 cJ'J '''''"'? '" '^f- ^'"'"''y- I ^^^"««t'y wish to see all you vT nt 
 Chapels properly supplied, and the half of your pulpits immedia pIv n^ 
 cupied by she-preachers. according to my forego'^n/ hon ^scr bt L of 
 them; since I am confident the result wonid Kp Ir.oT ^ ■ -^ • 
 fairly balancing, if „ot amply pre^TudVrat ^ eS ^f' et"^ !„" 
 favour of our sore and sadly neglected gendfr on *his^ro,nd T?^k 
 
 ITi at St JS^d '''' ''-'''' neglectr rW^li^r quJ: i : : 
 cause of the dirP f5 l^"'"' f,'''Sred^ent, if not the very course and 
 
 eTorsi;^a;/rc.fe?t:t.^rcrln^ct?tiL^^^^^^^ 
 
 ;r» ^n*-" ^i T* . advantages and disadvantages under remark 
 
 of view, our men are in a far worse condition than w^re ,he fenubHr of 
 njales in the neighborhood of the Ama2ons, in their civVconrenis For 
 
 unnatural that malea o oand t.uel fleLe ,nH '"""' ''»"f'"""^h 
 
 jhouM be any wa, a„ rea^rfl^cl^r^^rp;:. lo r^^'aS'l"'::; 
 time as to fall under the appellaJive of cnnvU»« th.i f '^^''^''^'^^ ?'. o" 
 
 position; on the part of the i„atrument,*!hr'.„; ,1 '"S"''™'"- '«- 
 
 Emmmmm 
 
 fe 
 
ould be as 
 11 the king- 
 literal, as 
 lople • * * 
 ous on this 
 al analofjv 
 ich, under 
 re; not so 
 s almost as 
 out sexual 
 specie? — 
 il commu- 
 3ur vacant 
 liately oc- 
 ;ription of 
 arioup, in 
 neracy in 
 For who 
 jestion is 
 )urse and 
 50 conspi- 
 sequently 
 of which 
 ?r remark 
 ach other 
 ; to wit: 
 »r to con- 
 >us point 
 jublic of 
 rns. For 
 nth their 
 hear one 
 very soul 
 aratively 
 ititution, 
 3 of our 
 ositively 
 subjects 
 ire, and 
 lain im- 
 or ordi- 
 owledge 
 3s some 
 f 'truth 
 ie such 
 ' men — 
 reason ; 
 [Ive you 
 
 
 S3 
 
 persuasion nor her services ever stntmnn/ n..* t . ^"„i"u» 
 
 -.ain ol^ection i. the cas/^^^Se^ Zhi.^ \L""^irSn;: 
 
 you cou d Ixoe^ to 2; ^' "' ^'"; P"'*"""" ^^'^"''^ ^' '''^'^''^^ beforf 
 R,, ^i?i ^4 P . ^^ ^ ^'■^^" J''^^ turned probationer for the Church 
 
 No m^f Sch'f ^ '^"7 °^'^^^^ ^y '^' extraordinary powers of the 
 mero our own ^W "^ T.^' ^ ^"PP^' '" ™°^^ P'^^^ ""^er the go ern! 
 ^.r?I« i f ?'^'.^^- ^''° 'P^^^ ''^^ ^ew months in one of these serai- 
 
 hough prevcusiy laboring u.der special disadvantages yerhavr/iased 
 a short season in one of thosp ^rhnr.ic .^f r\ ^ u ^- "^^'"S passed 
 
 capable of wb t nnt t Ho '^''''r'f' ''t Glasgow, he is now perfectly 
 odpameoi wi t not! He can calculate and tell you the courses Hi/ 
 
 "t^rEn"un;n'"H""rr°'''."P'^^^' U"""^' ^'^ «'-.-"- S 'treat' 
 Ini i^^r /''^ Hemispheres, and the twelve sigifs of the Zodiac 
 
 raid o E.r"' <^1 '"' mummies-of the ruins of gabel and tt nyra^ 
 the -es ^ •'^ nTrt^ "'"" 'V "'^ r'^ verb is a word ;' and so of^H 
 tne .est e parts .. speech ; which must prove a vast improvement in 
 
 tl ... ■ "'"' ^'•^^"fng system ! as also ' 4 times 5 is 20 :'-' No but 4 
 icotllr^whi^h''"'' '" '^-"i ^y ^^^ '^^^P °^ -«P« -d shapes from 
 
 ca^ te ' n?nV?.P°:;'P°"'-^^ '"'P'^"'^^ *" h'« school-house, Smcrk^ 
 can tell ..s pupils the disposition of a tiger by phvsJojmom and thl 
 
 o?dr;i7 'r'r^/r "^p^^^^ '^^^^ ^^' •"'- if phSog; "nd : 
 
 all the rest of wild beasts-as well as of birds, and bats and buLrs-» 
 « XeT'^r". ^^^^P'»g things! 'Myster;, raysti s, mythXU 
 ^^ir'il'te, ,i,ay be all traced to the same root or pr mitive • and iheo o!v' 
 th^omachy, theopatby, tbeosophy ; and perha'ps, th":dic;, theogon'y'; 
 
 1^1 
 
84 
 
 
 ', I 
 
 theorbo, and therapeutics might be ranged 
 of ana VKi« • n «li»..„u ^u. . °, ■•g^" 
 
 of analy 
 
 th 
 
 sis ; although the two Jast word 
 
 under the same or similar law 
 
 s are diflerent from the rest 
 
 respective terminations 
 «nd to exercise the mental powers";nH7nr°Tr^ T"" ^"^' «"^ ^''^' 
 though useful animals To svTincrnnH T'' ^''"'"'' ^^ '^^^^ «*"'?'«• 
 
 «IJ this rare and evemnlarv am !r r''"" "' '^ J'^^'^ ^"'^ '^«"g'« 5 ''"^ 
 the benefit nnd -^^p^oveZ^^^^ '" 'i" ''"\^' ''^ ^^« ^^^'P^nd for 
 
 you must know sCeTf iL in^r ^ ??^ I^'"'^ '^^ ^'« ^^^'^l^'-^. ''•'•e. 
 Normal Teache' But nulrnn^'^'''''^'^^"''*^'^ '''"'^ ^^^'"'"g «f the 
 ficial. scientific and fantn^.T.?.'' ^'^''' T^ ^narvellous .xs are the arti- 
 yet tl e most seHous ben2 'V''"?^"' "' ^'^"^' ""^^^^^^^ of edur-tion, 
 
 and .ehgioussSn transit'"" P''"'' '' ^''^ '^'^^ 
 
 either sef undergoes when r'; /^^'^^ 'T^ Pup.l,-««/a /..«./_of 
 
 inhales the sacre^d a m5"eV V ,1T:^ ^^e happy creature 
 
 nariesin view esoeciallv in Lr ^''*^ '''"' °^ ^''« consecrated semi- 
 Instance here' ou? own^ dVa ' SmeT'f"' '^?''^-'T '"^"^ ^^'"^"^gh ! 
 Reverend Clergy had sent him to SolV . "r^ ^"u' ' ^^''^l^' ^^'^^^ 'ur 
 and under the -sDic/nAh.r?^!'"'^''^^^ ^'^^ P"^P°se in debate; 
 hold ! what-l' s ba's been iu t tuL'd ''?'^"', ^"'"^' ^'-ciation : Bel 
 but rather a miracle of LrC Hw 7"'^' """'^ ' P"*"^''^"' ^" ^^^••ni"g, 
 return him to Tr bis ed 'it'nd f aZ ''T^'^ T"^'' '^' "^^ ^y^'^^ 
 number of weeks or davsnrl^ 7, ""^ vvhy might not even the same 
 I say returned with ^ ^ ?" '''*" '''"^ "'" ^^•"^''3'- effects !-Smerkv 
 
 not Lutle ;:^.' or myTerwir: He"; ^ ^'f. '^^'^"'^^"^ ^ ''"'" "-^' 
 for the public journ Js of Tou ow^k I' 7 '' '^''' .^ ^^^'•- '^h^''^^'^^^ ^ 
 portsofthiscoinlry haveCsZ^J^^ "^'^r^l ^^ '''« ^^^'^l *^«- 
 
 and above all, their'ieli Lt'^rreV'Cv"^ t^l xt'^ '^'^''1' 
 
 have the same pood look unrJpr *h« ^I ' ^^ ^ ^^^'^ "otP*^' 
 
 slatterns, your p^rudes and neacock Unorder ^^^^^ '"^ ^""•" ^'"^« ^"^ 
 are, according to creneral onininn « u *" become proper preachers, 
 
 ment as your doveC nd |ob ' d^^^^^^^^^^^ ""^-^^^^^^y improve! 
 
 l^now, the most of our Cler.v ;' .^''"^!f«^<^'l«'-«clers from which, you 
 
 I hop; ,o„ »..ppi:"o?]e^:fL°r[;r,:;iie^„rrr?i;,r/^r,.''L''''' '™'- 
 
 which IS so suhservi-f t to vour rpvi^.u T , ^"^'' ^'^" ^''^te, 
 
 who is otherwise fit f r 1 preacher ''.VT'^ *'"' "° >'"""^ "'°">^" 
 lification, in a few da/s of anv so nnJ h u ''''' '^ '^^"'''^ ^^'^^^ qua^ 
 
 Mr. A. h m«elf. On h'e sco I of 7^. ^^ '" '^' T""'""^ = '^ "°^ «»' ^^^r 
 most important subjecrvvh ch T i? 7 '"''' ^'""^ ^^'^ country' the 
 although cl.s«enterstl\1;i:u'rn\m rrnrtrira?e'rh::^^^ ''' '''' 
 
r similar law 
 the rest in 
 
 ;s and cats^ 
 hese simple, 
 Jangle; ntid 
 elp, and for 
 holars, are, 
 "ing of the 
 ire the arti- 
 edur-tion, 
 llie moral 
 bene ! — of 
 •y creature 
 ated semi- 
 idinburgh ! 
 when our 
 in debate ; 
 tion : Be- 
 I learning, 
 w system, 
 the same 
 — Smerky, 
 but J need 
 character ; 
 fficial Re- 
 iry, ^roral, 
 ive noted, 
 sluts and 
 preachers, 
 improve- 
 'hich, you 
 this time, 
 
 hinger of 
 I and glo- 
 ; terrible 
 o» wrote, 
 I woman, 
 that qua- 
 •t of your 
 intry the 
 , is, that 
 g on oui 
 soon ex- 
 irrogates 
 Uains in 
 possible, 
 ilship is, 
 
 85 
 
 ^uidetheir^n^ea.url.'^ra^rr^ira' rd^etofh'otl '""^ ^"^"n' ^"'^ 
 -y own humble opinion, I regret o^st'e t hu whiirr ^"' '" 
 Government of Britain remains unH/^r fT ; V . supJ-enie 
 
 ground of hope ever to see ts for" n? ^^'T-^'^y^ '^^'^ i« l^'U little 
 
 themiselvos into the favor of onr ZTr. ' " ?'^^' ^"^ uisinuate 
 
 profound loyalty in a7orrn U ^^1^^'::', ^^ acknowledging their 
 
 other Church in the Provir'ce To l?v. ^''""^"ly' '" advance of any 
 Divinity here accordinT n th". ^ ^"" ' specimen of our polen.io 
 bve the vast r.nl.r^'^"^!^ '^''^'"' ^"^ to show you, bv the 
 
 difference of a ne„al He Dre^v td (h/ ?","^ "'" '"" "■""' ''" ""^ 
 
 with io„, .ndsir„;r;,,?eifnkr., Ge°:r'' : L"':iit'°^p'^ - 
 
 of ffood men-Iiheh! ?T r? "'°"'' ' »'"fp4''<'i'»</'(»—lover3 
 
 i.sir™T;"o„,:siro" 'or ,.:'"„" :."";!," •;^,"""' "■""™^ "•"-• 
 M^,^:Sro;;:— rJ'l%£^TT 
 
 !.i.d wicked accusers or d'v'- '"°t"°"'' u"' '"?' »f them-rfmWoi-fnIse 
 
 *«6»/o., a vocajrrjhL^, 7«r„i;^Te ; ■ "oV:„rt;r'""""'''" 
 
 our rev val here than anv «♦!,«, ^t;neve, is of more subservience to 
 
 morn, is pou^rful : st r^h " o^'td b r' "'r'' """' ^^^'P^"^^^' ^^^ 
 these last remarks are d Less^ors tv'Il r'"^ -""«t,tution. But 
 
 sense, and sound most wonde ?u] J aJreel. h' ""■' ' ''" '*'^'™'"' 
 will perhaps tell me th-,t V" ,f,„ ''>'. "S"^^^ ' ' ^^^ g'ven quotations. You 
 vou, to prfde mv elf a d\r r^ "" ' ' tedious jargon in order to puzzle 
 t'hat'is yourm^ ke for i b^H "''"" l^' '^T'"'' "'" "t^^*-^^" = ^^^ 
 teachiuL and p reaching a" w'e o"h 2 ' "J"''" ""'^ "' ^^^^°"'"^' 
 ascendancy over th^ n fnds md ni I r .^ ^'^'''' '" ^'^'^ "'C'^'-'sed 
 
 here in politicl ZZT •'"^P'^''''^g«« "f^'he rest of our neighbours 
 
86 
 
 l! 
 
 i 
 
 i » 
 
 fall to cJK'credit, ^f not to disgrace. In short, and between ourselves, I 
 fondly expect that our Reverend Synod may shortly gain ground in favor 
 of our system, though it must be by imperceptible m^anner and means— 
 so as to obtain an Act of the Legislature in favor of myself and Mr. 
 Smerky; or rather— according to slavish custom— Mr. Smerky and my- 
 self, in order to be appointed superintendents and examiners of all teach- 
 ers and professors, schools and seminaries of education in the Province. 
 What will become then of all Methodists, Baptists, Antiburgers, and 
 every other species of wild Independents and Dissenters ! And I fondly 
 wish, we could include the formal Church of England ; and at once con- 
 vert Her Majesty Victoria from dominant aad Tory Episcopacy, to simple 
 and sound Presbyterianism. 
 
 I am, dear Nephew, 
 
 Your loving Uncle, 
 
 ******* «*«*#* II 
 
 Although the foregoing reply of itself contains a considerable degree 
 of apparent incoherence, and tedious absurdity, and that the intended 
 abstract is much curtailed to avoid needless prolixity; yet the ground- 
 work of the whole, and the motives producing the narration of it, on the 
 part of the writer, would, I think, justify the ridiculous garb in which 
 his reflections are mostly conveyed, in the view of all intelligent and im- 
 partial men, who should have equal access with him, to know the extra- 
 ordinary fatality of religious duplicity, idiotcy, and audacity, which 
 clearly pervade and guide all the measures of the ecclesiastical leaders 
 concerned; and the miserable uncommon error, and blindness of the 
 generality of their adherents. The Normal schools, whose real merit I 
 by no means wish to detract, might prove of some more benefit, and 
 much less disappointment, did they not foolishly, proudly, and even de- 
 ceitfully promise to accelerate and extend improvements fa-- beyond their 
 power of performing: quite more like the unexpected sudden blaze of 
 meteors, than the continued and steady light of the fixed stars. And 
 what we have in this Island under the name of " the Gospel ministry " 
 is, at least tor the most part, as little calculated to answer the real pur- 
 poses of edification, in substance, manner, or method, as the very sup- 
 posed divinity boasted of in the antecedent communication. I seriously 
 believe that we have now in Cape Breton the very "tag and tail" of 
 preaching, either for the want of any ordinary utterance, or the absence 
 of proper exordium and arrangement: but the worst of all are shameful 
 incoherence and dire mi.sapplication ; just as it may happen to accord 
 with humor or interest; agreeably to the theology of the preceding cor- 
 respondence. As to the proposed plan of female preaching, could any 
 man of ordinary common sense, in a land of scripture light' without wil- 
 ful neglect, or woeful prejudice, once be ignorant of the dangerously 
 doubtful nature of revivals, descriptive of such a character as that of 
 which the young Scotch Highlander informs his uncle, on the disparity 
 of sexes among the new converts in his own village, and through all the 
 country m general I Whether the Bibie does, or does not favor the de- 
 
 / 
 \ 
 
\ 
 
 81- 
 
 Men and women not a fe«r."-AcTs xvii. H, jo ^^^ 34 
 ^^ ^«^J.nac Extracts from the Rejoinder of the JVephei to his Uncle 
 
 ever end in such a wild and violen smoke did Z't^^ ^f'^l' ^^°"'^ 
 miserable conduct of the sorry converr.hl. i ^^ "melancholy and 
 
 the subject. My own young/r trsi^te s h J r.' ^''' '' ^"" ^'^^"^ °" 
 fondly hoped to have been sound r^'ne ion huT^rV'u'' ^' °'"^^ 
 serious before their appatent chnn^ Tho ' *^.°"^^ ^^^>' ^^^re not 
 
 even giddy than for.'n'eHy!!tht •'d;.^ J/'nrLr \'- "" ''^'^^ ''"^^ 
 .vrangling disputes, and ot'her such so^ry ?4 oi^o'thd^'d"^^ •'^"'^ 
 have become much more exiravaannt a.;. ""^ ^ , "'^'r "'sposition, 
 And they are but a tru spe mef of alUhe'r/st'"/^'" ,^'^^ ^°"^^^''-- 
 tures.' The extraordinary s rcastic st le of v^ T' '''" ' "'^ •^^««- 
 would have certainly offe.fded'nd Te^ ^Le'^ s'" UheT t'^'h "IT' 
 more correspondence with you, or to write ^onlnlw .''°''' "'^ 
 
 able, unless I saw the truth of your dTm in h.?'"^ '"""^ ^''^^ree- 
 unfortunate converts But naJlL.^' r "P^" P^ctice of our 
 reflections, as both rustlfmeriTeV a'n'^'lil.^tim/j ^°"^ ''''' '^' ^^^^ 
 
 sound u, Cape Breton, iZjll' Un'dt.'Jc^^.'i:.;; "'^ ^"' 
 
 coun?r;:we'lr;~';;:riln'':ia7:oSl.r'"/^P°^^^^ '^^^'^ ^-- ^hat 
 for som^ time been aVve y sTd va i nc?nn f°"'" ^'''"^ ^'' ^^' ^''^ 
 my own part, I feel no su7pr se on the 'ubiec f ""' ^^'■°""^.^- ^« f^"" 
 feared and expected such a 0^^ Bnt^' 1 ^"' '"'"^ " ^^^ ^ave I 
 the objections' made by se^^r "f my ne ' hl^rl onT' """''" '°'"^ «^ 
 beg. if agreeable tayoir mind, to eLlvl from • ", '^^^ ''T'. P°''"'' ^ 
 earliest convenience, a candid statemeni of ttT ^^"'°^» ^^n^, at your 
 difference, whether ^n the s o of sentim nts^ror' 'T'' °'^°"^ 
 whether he has religious adherents nf 1 ^ conduct ; as also 
 
 "pen and final rupt^e o, S^r he hLTn'^'^r"'' '"'^ ^""^ '"°^« 
 party or peruasion t "^ '"^/ ^"^ °^^^'' religious 
 
 t J 1 urtbion. lam, yours &c. ****##**#*„ 
 
 REPLY. 
 
 "Dear Friend,— Your Letter, though verv reasnnnhl« a i 
 me a very we ghty duty It wmilH ho \! ^ reasonable, devolves on 
 another to ansLr you than for .1 V ''""^ f'^P"*^''' ^" «»«ier for 
 subject of your Tqitry as ?o be n h7 T '° ''?f I^ *^°"'=^'-"^d on the 
 
 *l 
 
88 
 
 II J 
 
 Is I 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 purposely endeavor tc avoid remorking any points which are either se- 
 cret, complex, or too ofiensive for public notice ; and to be as summary 
 and brief as possible. 
 
 "The first and general ground of our variance has been his untenderness 
 and uncircumspection, as ?. religious professor, up from his manhood to 
 this day : And more particularly his known pride and worldliness ; the 
 the want of any due command over his family, including his wife, his 
 children, and other domestics — either by precept or example ; so that 
 his, and their general conduct has been a public discredit to his moral 
 and religious character, in every place of his residence during all his 
 religious life. An ungoverned tongue in him and them, as far as under 
 his rule and control ; and a high degree of lordliness over their neighbors, 
 whether inferiors or equals in circumstances, have been, and arc still but 
 well-known marks in the forehead of their daily habits. Alternate wrath 
 and flattery to extremes, according to the tide of his temper, are not less 
 conspicuous than the foregoing signs on this ground. Falsehood of 
 toncrue, and want of common integrity and rectitude in his general deal- 
 int,s and transactions, where mere necessity, or self-interest does not in- 
 terpose, are no mystery to any ituimate on this point. The keenest eye 
 to detect, and the sharpest tongue to correct the foibles of others, wlien 
 clashing with his own humor or interest, when, at the same time, both 
 blind and dumb to his own and his family's flagrant ofiences, have also 
 been for many years quite visible trails in his character, But perhaps 
 one particular example of his conduct towards myself as his religious* 
 brother, for the space of thirty years, may tell more in a small compass 
 than much more upon other grounds; for though the case is something 
 tender, it is yet very public here among our neighbors : — On account of 
 the proud, foolish, and offensive conduct of his family, I could never have 
 brought myself to choose or allow any matrimonial connection taking 
 place between his and my children ; but he being of a different mind on 
 this point, and knowing both my own and my partner's inclination, to 
 be the reverse of his, had secretly labored to impose upon the mind of 
 my daughter in favor of one of his sons ; making her believe that he had 
 Scriptures to that purpose from the Lord ; and that by degrees her parents 
 would acquiesce, till be was on the point of nearly tempting the poor 
 girl to consent to elopement with his son ; and all this without my family's 
 most distant knowledge, till one of my good neighbors, who was connec- 
 ted with his family told me of the plot; which was immediately overset. 
 Let it now be observed that my religious f.iend, the subject of this short 
 narrative, had been during all the period of this clandestine wooing, in 
 the closest apparent friendship with me and my partner ; embracing and 
 kissing me from time to time with the sincerest seeming affection ; and 
 also praying, and singing psalms, and religiously conferring with me 
 from week to week, and from Sabbath to Sabbath; till on the discovery 
 of his deceit and hypocrisy, he was brought to a public trial, where his 
 own letters on the subject, besides other means, were sufficient and irre- 
 sistible evidence against him. On this shameful detection, and when 
 all bis insinuating and evasive arguments could not serve him, he sobbed 
 
ither se- 
 summary 
 
 ■nderness 
 tihood to 
 less ; the 
 wife, his 
 ; so that 
 lis moral 
 g all his 
 as under 
 eichbors, 
 
 still but 
 ate wrath 
 enot less 
 ehood of 
 eral deni- 
 es not in« 
 lenest eye 
 ;rs, wlien 
 me, both 
 have also 
 L perhaps 
 
 religious* 
 compass 
 omething 
 ccount of 
 ever have 
 on taking 
 t mind on 
 lation, to 
 ! mind of 
 
 1 at he had 
 Br parents 
 
 the poor 
 y family's 
 s connec- 
 y overset, 
 this short 
 ooing, in 
 aciiig and 
 tion ; and 
 with me 
 discovery 
 where his 
 t and irre- 
 jnd when 
 he sobbed 
 
 89> 
 
 and hankfu heart, ,n fond expectation of his moral and reli. ious mp?o e 
 ment, as weU as physical restoration. He recovered by'de" ers~wa« 
 restored to all h.s former privileges; but soon, alas ! by sim!far deTr^ 
 
 StrTu^' '"'''"°''' '"'^ '"°'^*' desperate Big^s of his^real"npenitfn^ 
 after all his seeming repentance, for the now remarked and the rest of 
 the offences of h,s past life, he showed his principle and aft^r our suf 
 
 ZJJTu '""^ '"f ^^'°"* ^•"'^' ^y ^ «eaLless repcU?^. ofL7o I es 
 and in fully npened and sad despair of his amendment we ariast VeS 
 
 nrXttffe"^^^^^^^^^^ ^frf'P^ tUI after some^rsi^igs'TandK 
 he had disi. ted «nH ? '^u '^^'"'"""'l^ «*" ^i'e Church from which 
 
 sZ7 ''\^^'r'^^' ^^'-«y. -ho'm'h"'h\;r^ ^offe Id Vdten! 
 sion, he pretends to be now convinced of hi«. ^rrJ ;« k • ^ °'f 6"" 
 
 opposed their measures; but he harnttihe Teat^ peTra^J o'f rT^^^^^^^^ 
 or shame, for either h:s present or past conduct. But as ?o ' the cZrch • 
 you know, she ,s so w.de-throated. that but for some feigned and farcical 
 hesuat.on on the score of his character, in a soundingTuffor "wr?ron 
 ortZ;' '^'•^;^^' °'^«" ^'T^<^^> «he has swallowed tLs cam 1 of in un 
 fortunate and offensive professor; and is now about to set him on a oro 
 m.nent pomt in her service ; though she may at the same tiLnrl.oni 
 to strain at a gnat of a Dissenter ! ^ I couKas 1 enlarge to a coSer- 
 
 lo oe too tedious. What I have written I think is more than sufficient 
 
 Lart°?T'/'" 'J \^'?'^ S-""""*^ «^ "'y ^^P^r^^'o"- And ?or my own 
 accounf '"' ^"' '^' '^'"^ "'"^^ ^" J"^SeV>f the truth of this gHevou" 
 
 I am, yours, &,c., 
 
 .JJ'^ ^'ofegoing reply needs but little comment. It is however a glarinr 
 
 ^ZTZZnder'^^^^^^^ of the character in question ale d: 1' 
 
 Tad merk^ Thl L ^-Tu^^t ^'"'^' ^^' ^^'°^ ^^«'' '^^^ "S'y nature 
 Wush for K- ^° ''"*" ^'' ''"^^" ^'■°^S' ^^"hout the shtdow of a 
 
 blush for hi. present or past conduct, sits now quietly under the wfn.s 
 
 al^ nnn T* '^'. '''T'''''' °^ ^^^^^ communit/ he has so l,^ng desltfd 
 «ad opposed: and when expelled by his former religious associates f^r 
 
 i 
 
 ■'r ■ ■ ■■ ■ i_ 
 
90 
 
 his private and open misconduct, he is now, without any change on his 
 part, but the mere name, re-admittcd by the proud Mirsionariea of the 
 fore8aid Church ; in whom, all candid persons concerned, know he has 
 no confidence, not only for piety, but even for common integrity and 
 discretion. 
 
 " But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The 
 dog is turned to his own vomit again ; and the sow that was washed to 
 her wallowing in the mire/'— -2 Pet. ii. 22. 
 
 Some tkort anecdotes by a recent emigrmnt from Scotland, who has been a respectable 
 Elder for aeceral years in the Eaiabliaked Church of that kingdom ; and an eye 
 and ear witness of what he seriously, and sorrowfully relates this moment to me, 
 as partly the cause for which he left his native land with sincere regret and disgust ; 
 and whose selection of facts is, as he says, but a mere specimen of what is now 
 most ordinary from day to day in the majority of places, among the Clergy all over 
 that now unhappy country. 
 
 Ist. " I went," he says, " in April last, as Elder to attend at a Pres- 
 bytery consisting of six Ministers, and an equal number of Elders, in- 
 cluding myself; when I expected to find at least the form of family wor- 
 ship, where we lodged together at night ; but alas 1 no such thing — not 
 the mere sound ! And finding myself thus disappointed, I spoke to J. M. 
 one of our Elders, that we should speak Mr. C, my own Minister, in 
 order to get private worship at least at night ; but when the proposal was 
 made the next evening after supper the Ministers' derided it; two of 
 whom went immediately to bed, and the other four sat up drinking whis- 
 key toddy to a shameful excess through the most of the night; and all 
 of them continued the same rout and round during the remainder of our 
 stay at that solemn meeting !" 
 
 2nd. " On another late occasion, Mr M. T., Minister of K., held the 
 sacrament, when, on the Monday evening after the Communion, he kept 
 a drunken ball for the entertainment of his profane rich parishioners, 
 who continued the revel till they found themselves alarmed by the com- 
 bustion of the Manse about their ears." 
 
 3rd. " In the last Spring an Elder, having in the mean time his 
 
 parish Minister, Mr. , at his house, compelled his servant to go — with 
 
 a horse and cart loaded with turnips — the distance of two miles, on the 
 Lord's da_v, in a business connected with neither necessity nor mercy !" 
 
 4th, " Mr. H. M., Minister of A , after being generally suspected 
 
 — on the strongest presumption— of disinterring and selling human bodies, 
 left that parish for that of D., where he lately dined on a Sabbath-day 
 with an extraordinary wicked man, and from whose association returning 
 home intoxicated the next day, and his gig tumbling, he fell out of it, 
 and broke his neck to death !" 
 
 5th. " In the parish of R , its Minister, Mr. M., being lately con- 
 fined to bed for a time, his Church had been mercifully supplied by the 
 neighboring Clergymen, who most earnestly had prayed to Heaven for 
 the restoration of their dear brother to health; but after his recovery it 
 was satisfactorily proved by the Patron that, during the said and sad 
 confinement, these kind snd prayerful brethren had, in r keen competi^ 
 
 
ge on his 
 iries of the 
 iow he has 
 egrity and 
 
 rerb, The 
 washed to 
 
 1 respectable 
 and an eye 
 nent to me, 
 Aid diagutt ; 
 jhat is now 
 rgy all over 
 
 at a Pres- 
 llders, in- 
 imily wor- 
 blng — not 
 etc J. M. 
 inister, in 
 tposai was 
 t; two of 
 Ling whis- 
 ; and all 
 ler of our 
 
 ., held the 
 1, he kept 
 ishioners, 
 the com* 
 
 time his 
 go — with 
 ;s, on the 
 mercy !" 
 suspected 
 in bodies, 
 )bath-Jay 
 returning 
 )ut of it, 
 
 itely con- 
 id by the 
 javen for 
 icovery it 
 and sad 
 competi-! 
 
 01 
 
 In «fl-^*'*i VP'^'^i*** *'•'" ^°' ^^« expected vacancy ; at which he was 
 
 none oftt'T""*^'"" ,**'•*';" ^^' '"'' °'' »*>« "'^"^ Minis te '. dea^ 
 Th J.*'J,'^yP?°V'"l"PP'''""'" ^''"'^ *"" succeed on that subject"' 
 13 have for « of A " u '""'"' ?'^*''* ''"'* *^^'*' '' commonly reported 
 loml!' « ?'.'*""^«'«^''« ^"ne, kept a joung woman in his house as a 
 common prostuu e, with whom he would be frequently seen from dav to 
 day, going secret y to the very Church, the house of GoTforTe black 
 purpose of actual pollution. And one of his brothers al^raMinistti 
 under the Royal bounty, ha. lately absconded in disgrac^ tving S 
 him an unmarried woman pregnant with child." * 
 
 7th " Why " said a friend to a Minister, Mr. D. S. of G "do 
 
 you choose to live with the wild and wanton Presbytery of B--- i'„ ore 
 ference to others which are far more pious-like, when^our situa ,0^; 
 not of any necessity, but mere option?" ^ situation is 
 
 Answer; " Your objection is the very ground of my choice • becausa 
 the open w.hlness, and religious unconce.n of our PreLytery eientnt me 
 from esteeming its members as pious Ministers; but ^ur prSt,"e 
 
 ZJLrZT T\"' ^\' ^'''y «^^"'°''"' '^'^ -^ holding a Tod^J 
 members those who have a hypocritical show of piety as a co4rto pri^ 
 
 r;'irofi7rrb;Te;;r ' ' -" ^°"^' ^'^" ''-' -^--^ '^^--p- 
 
 v.«t^' " '*'';^"g5. ^""^ religious revivals in ScoUand prove, from year to 
 year a complete disappointment, yet kw of -either Ministe s. or peop e 
 
 here are much wiser on that account; like the implicit faith of PapTts 
 u. the pretended miracles of their own Church. We ba*^ seen tfee lat! 
 famous work of this sort at Kilsyth dwindle ^^, .i«d de To nouffi? 
 like a dream ; except a few .^razy sld -w«me« thk still make some nofsy 
 bowlings; but yet «oack««wMgm^t of undue credulity or 81^13 
 '"9 r "^L"*'* P^-t-f-ther the instruments, or tL^su^" ^ 
 
 yth. f here is a particular point of solemn regret to anv tender 
 
 SiThettd''"^"' ^"^ ""r'^^' • ^^ "•^' '^' universality oTparUcI' 
 pating the Lord s Supper, on the part of all adults, in several oari^he, in 
 ^«r «at.ve country. I know places where there i hardly „ fnd v duaT 
 •rnved at what is termed the years of discretion, withoiu beinLrTcom: 
 
 rh:rhoi;'ia:d."'" "° ^'-^-^ ^"^ -"^-' -' •-- ig-arp^,:pn 
 
 hri.?!h; r^fll' f"''^*"^ misconfidence among our Clerrry have 
 brought about the late shameful ' Interdict ' of which you cannof byVhis 
 
 o or.n.r*''""'; .^° **'"'''^'' °f *^^ Church now dare take .po7hii? 
 to preach uninvited beyond the limits of his own parish • although dis 
 senters as yet could not have been brought to obey'^ h is liw may ^1 J 
 you^some curious instances on this gro.fnd. when Vhara llttTe'nfd;: 
 
 nprmlll;^ '.' Catechists and Gslic Schoolmasters, who are of late years 
 
 VriT. . A A I ' ^''® '"°'^ •ntolerable, with religious vanity and 
 
 Tvlhiri"? ""^^ V""' '"»^'"'^*«' ''" ""^^^ «o thanlhe regula ^C er- 
 gy thet«selve3 :-A3 for example-Little M. M., in J. S., rearfd ?or him- 
 
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 self a lofty earthan chair in his school-house, which has also been the 
 meetiiig-house for public worship in- thai quarter for a number of families : 
 The ascent to the sa^d seat is by 7 or S^teps, so as to place the feet of 
 pigmy M. far above the heads of all his audience ; and O, the self-import- 
 ftnc?j and the authoritative gestures and toneof that puny creature, when 
 haranguing, with the book of heaven in his hand! As to the awful words 
 *God' and 'Devils,' this sort of people hardly know how to use any other 
 terms about these solemn and interesting names; as if the Scriptures 
 gave us no alternative, to the manifest disgust of all tender minds." 
 
 12th. " Some years back," says my narrator, " I happened to go on 
 business from home to the parish of A., and in my way called upon the 
 assistant Minister, Mr. J. K., at his residence, who met me at the door, 
 wid shook hands with me ; and after sitting down in his room, asked my 
 news, to which I answered that the only news current in our parish, for 
 8om« days past, has been the death of Mr. S., our Minister ; when Mr. 
 K. abruptly rose from his seat, and shook his hand with mine the second 
 lime, through excessive excitement at my intelligence, in full expectation 
 of supplying our vacancy himself; of which sftoation he had prophesied, 
 according to the manner of the times ; although it pi-ovtd afterward^} to 
 be but the operation of a fond and foolish imagination. A disappoint- 
 ment that had worked so deeply on his constitution as to effect a tempo- 
 rary delirium , which augmented rather than diminished his prophetic 
 impulses during all tue remaining part of his life." 
 
 'K see no cause to remark on any of the foregoing authentic accounts, 
 except the last of them. But many a day before I left that kingdom, my 
 very soul had been sadly sick of such pretences to predictions and pro- 
 phesying. None must be of any repute for religious attainments, through 
 the Highlands of Scotland, without some extraordinary gift or other ; but 
 knowledge of future events, and the virtue of intercession are, of all, the 
 most common. Some of the vulgar are there so superstitioasly credulous 
 of the wonderful knowledge and power of 'spiritual men' — as it is gene- 
 rally phrased — that a fearful opportunity is given, on this ground, lo 
 religious pretenders, to impose on the minds of their adherents. A short 
 tirne before 1 left my native country, W. B., a silly creature of ibis sort, 
 said lo me one day, when d«ing some business together, " Such is my 
 belief, neighbor Bruce, in your influence with Heaven, that did you but 
 choo?e to exercise it in my behalf, you could get me.into the election of 
 grace !" Another person, a lay preacher in this Island, told me some 
 years since, in great seriousness, that — ^lor the space of fifteen year^-^ 
 there has been no event or occurrence but what he could foretell ; of 
 whom, atJer reasoning against his foolish pretence in vain, I a»k«d lo 
 tell me how many pigs, with their respective genders, would compwse 
 the brood of a certain -jw then before us about to litter; at which he, 
 and soine of his religious adherents raged, and almost struck me. With- 
 out eiiuim'rating instancfis-- which might readily be given at great length 
 ~ nf ilie dungerous and offensive, foolish and vain pretences of our reli- 
 jrioHs conTuryinen, iii our injo»ber Ghurcl), in our day, 1 sbail condlnje 
 
 w 
 
> been the 
 )f families: 
 :he feet of 
 elf-import- 
 ture, when 
 wful words 
 I any of her 
 Scriptures 
 inds." 
 d to go on 
 upon the 
 ; the door, 
 . asked my 
 parish, for 
 when Mr. 
 ihe {lecoitd 
 xpectation 
 rophesied, 
 erward^f to 
 iisappoint- 
 % H tempo- 
 prophetic 
 
 accounts, 
 
 igdom, my 
 
 i and pro- 
 
 s, through 
 
 other ; but 
 
 of all, the 
 
 credulous 
 
 it is geue- 
 
 jround, to 
 
 ). A short 
 
 r ibis sort, 
 
 ich is my 
 
 d you but 
 
 ilection of 
 
 me some 
 
 n yearf-t- 
 
 )retell ; of 
 
 aiftk'ed 4io 
 
 conipirise 
 
 which he, 
 
 ne. With- 
 
 ent length 
 
 f our reli- 
 
 conducje 
 
 93 
 
 cannot be take: wth h!;ndf:°B r^an'ra 'ZflToYc^ 
 be fenced with iron, and the staff of a s"p:L;'^ot m;rxni. 6 7 ""' 
 ^ <luotation/rom a skort JVote latel. jcritten hy a famous JVormal Teacherl to anotktr 
 
 ""»«. WAtcA reads asJ'oUows : '^ner, to anotlur 
 
 ^ " I Wish you to give the book to Mr. J. M., which will deliver it to me." 
 A highly reputed Normal Schoolmistress sells needles -—fiv*. for » nn, 
 
 of /hL? : religious and literary attainments of these descriotiont. 
 
 nn.t if ?i T account of whose known blunder, and rarest Srd! 
 
 S C tf'""?^' ^' ''' ^'' ^^''-' S'oun6. for exposure anTm 
 iiaiion . out hereon I must rr>>rriiii<v * "urLj .^ j- •. man mi 
 
 Zt e_ ite alshlhpT/' ^r""'' ^J becoming -with his crook and 
 
 the present open stru<rgle in the Church of i^cotland ' 
 
 an^Vou!S'ina'X"VK'T7 '"^ ^''"^^'^ '" the Church of Scotland, if 
 either na?vT ^u" ^ ^^ "^P^^^^ ''^« «.otive« and proceedings of 
 
 either party ; I answer thnt where there is no real differenre thJrl ^.r! 
 
 , s«-rr«»y< jpeaKing, tne most popular Mmiatws laowr 4»jf 
 

 94 
 
 ire the greatest stumbling blocks to the foolish and fond congregations 
 that 80 zealously choose them ; and thai therefore, it may fare far worse 
 <viih parishes which are supplied with preachers according to the fanciful 
 '"hankering of the majority cf the people, than for such as may be served 
 i»R the very degrading-like manner of Mariioch, under the violent and 
 wounding obtrusion of Mr. Edwards, as the origin of the disagreeable 
 contest of Strathbogie, with all its fierce and furious consequence. 
 
 Here take a short and sharp simile'. — A fond and fanciful young wo- 
 man sets her amorous eye upon one of he dandiest sparks in the country 
 —have him she must, right or wrong; for by swing and song, smirk and 
 smile, dream and dress, toast and toddy, tug and toy, fondness, farce, 
 •and 'fasoinatioii, he pleases her most mightily ; — and as a guardian angel, 
 ker twirled and tender parent, like some of our generous patrons, freely 
 indulges her darling's choice : — in a word they are spliced ; — but alas ! 
 as is not seldom tl;e issue in such matters, the match eventually proves 
 but unhappy. Will it not rather rake and rack than crush or cure the 
 misfortune that the misguided wife has boast it was all her own maggot- 
 option, without any constraint or intrusion ! Apply the case not in a 
 merely ecclesiastical, but a purely spiritual and eternal point of light 
 and comparison. 
 
 Fortfce preference of the generality of professors in the Church of 
 ScotJawd, at this day, in tHeif selection of Ministers, appears to me quite 
 similar to the foregoing supposition ; a preference which, in the mean 
 time, manifestly allures their own souls into still deeper delusions ; and 
 that awfully threatens to aggravate their guilt, and accelerate their end- 
 less confusion. 
 
 Some brief Remarks on Foreign Missione^iti tended aa a Jn'ote upon the former hint of 
 
 Bmce upon the subject. 
 
 If it were asked upon what ground do I make any tacit exception in 
 the case of Ministers of the Church of Scotland serving in Foreign Mis- 
 sions from the generality of their brethren, both in Britain, and here in 
 our British Colonies, I reply that I do not presume to make any positive, 
 but only a possible, or probable exception ; because in the former in- 
 stance, Ministers being but very few in number, and generally stationed 
 at a considerable local distance from one another, they may as individu- 
 ally, or collectively, act more freely, according to the dictates of their 
 own consciences, and without so much exposure to censure; since they 
 are placed in a high degree beyond the particular and immediate control 
 and inspection of their numerous, formal, and wicked brethren at home. 
 Nor have they ordinarily so much inducement by secular benents or 
 or prospects to incite them to their olBce and undertaking, as those in 
 contrast ; and their dangers, disadvantages, and privations, are usually 
 far more numerous and unavoidable ; so that without some better motives 
 than the common rate and rout of our Clergy, these under remark might 
 be expected to hesitate more upon the subject than in the latter example. 
 And lastly, the accounts from time to time received, of both their senti- 
 ments and conduct, as well the fruit of their ministerial labors, indicate 
 
 
95 
 
 gregations 
 ; far worse 
 he fanciful 
 
 be served 
 iolent and 
 sagreeable 
 nee. 
 
 puug wo- 
 le country 
 smirk and 
 ;ss, farce, 
 lian angel, 
 )ns, freely 
 -but alas I 
 lly proves 
 
 cure the 
 n maggot- 
 : not in a 
 It of light 
 
 Dhurch of 
 ine quite 
 the mean 
 ions; and 
 heir end- 
 
 rmer hint of 
 
 ;eptton in 
 ■eiffu Mis- 
 id here in 
 y positive, 
 brmer in- 
 ' stationed 
 I individu- 
 I of their 
 since they 
 ite control 
 ) at home, 
 lenents or 
 I those in 
 re usually 
 St motives 
 lark might 
 r example. 
 Iieir senti- 
 ), indicate 
 
 
 compTrlson.'^'^ '" '^"'' ^''''' °" '^" ^"^^ '""^ T'^^"i"« ground of 
 
 ^SrS f J!fA''"\'"'"",-wY//'i.l"'oy.'^''*"^''''''' inscribed to the Udit, Assoeia. 
 
 Ties cf Ca«rn7f ' "'^'''^f r*" FH^f ^"fi"'""- ' ""' '^ crumb for the Mis.iL. 
 rtes cj tape Breton ;" and under the following motto : "•«*••/«» 
 
 "The sacred function in your hands is made- 
 Sad sacriioge ! no function, but a trade •" 
 
 [Cotoper's Progress of Ernr. 
 
 ^tAOIARMM, PAGEANTRY, AffD HEAN DISGDJ81!. 
 
 To mount his stage of fame from darkness won— 
 
 Surveys with lofty mien the gazing crowd 
 
 Adorned with tassels of the rustic drill ; 
 
 Shuffles the sacred leaves, as gamesters roll 
 
 Their packs of cards, with pedantry profane 
 
 And hurry too— exp-essive of his mind, 
 
 That hates the dull employ, and hastes it o'er. 
 
 A psalm, as prologue to the studied course 
 
 With treble peals of melody, ac'ite 
 
 For mean coiijunctien with the humble base. 
 
 Revolves through weasands of the strongest form. 
 
 As if the Deit^ on clamorous calls 
 
 And lofty strains were wont to lavish smiles. 
 
 So did idolators of old betray 
 
 Their frail reliance on the sleeping god. 
 
 Or god of chase with yelling orisons. 
 
 Till Israel's queen her bleeding prophets mourn'd. 
 
 Succeed the borrowed drops from ai)cient rills— 
 
 Doddridge and Tillotson; Baxter and Brown, 
 
 And Scott and Boston their various stores 
 
 Supply the modern sycophant, that prides 
 
 In stolon plumes extracted to impose. — 
 
 Grand source, for lazy preachers, of thdr all ! -, ' 
 Yet, fearful to expose their nimble fraud. 
 
 Cut their detached scrawls in lengthened slips 
 
 To interleave their duodecimos. 
 
 Whoso kidskin-covers serve as famous screens, 
 
 Held vertically to the silly throng ; ^ 
 
 (iaze with affected honesty beyond > 
 
 The burdened pews ; the ceiling canopy 
 
 Engrosses their attention in the round. 
 
 But mark the squinting glance ;— a.-* magnet poiqts 
 
 Ihe frigid pole, and trembles disengaged, — 
 
 As often fronts the Northern blast as eased ; 
 So pilfered scraps attract the ken morose. — 
 
 •Lids quivering prone to view, disclosure dread,— 
 
 Keep always on the treacherous at rt, 
 
 To guard from critics ready to resolve 
 
 Unguarded gestures to their native source. 
 
 No sooner nods the earnest listener 
 
 'i'han crafty vigilance improves the chance, 
 
 And perches on the implements of fame 
 
 With pinions spread to save a quick retreat." 
 
 VFILED AVARICE, rEIONEB SYHPATHr, AND H?r JRITkCAL IXIIORTATIOK. 
 
 "My friends," the charitable saint proceeds, 
 
 " The times «re hard and crops but wondrous low, 
 
 I 
 
96> 
 
 Yet, strange to flay, thou§ii low, exceeding scarce ; 
 And cattle few and meagre — scarcer coins 
 Seldom or never meet each end required. 
 With warmest s^'mpathy my boweL yearn 4 
 But crave cooipasiiion of the source Divine. 
 Fain would I answer every urgent call, 
 And better your condition to my means. 
 But miuk, my friends, no sinecurv my sebt ; 
 Curtail my income, my respect endures^ 
 A keener smart that pierces consequents 
 Of highest moment to your needy aouls." 
 
 TFE POVERTY AMD 
 VIOLENT 
 
 ABSENCE OF PREACHINa TALENTS MV8T 
 BLOWS, JERKS, AND PRANCINO OV THE 
 
 BE SUPPLIED BT TBS 
 PRCACUER. 
 
 m 
 
 As for the crowding minstrel of your band. 
 
 Transformed to every feature that allures 
 
 His siiaNow intellect inured to rest, 
 
 With praise^ tli« sly crtteriontrawm -vogues ; 
 
 Vice could not crave a slighter bdr^ier 
 
 To meet her treble fangs; A sounding tramp 
 
 Heard in the rostrum from an iruned boot, 
 
 Renewed at every vacancy of ibought, 
 
 Anon lattondcd with a dreadful b!ow 
 
 Upon the suliering volume with hix iist^ 
 
 Distinguisbos'-his gambols 'from the grave 
 
 And modest attitudes of zealous worth 
 
 To beautify the soul-absorbing theme. 
 
 His not the Huent pour of ^itvoury speech 
 
 In those theatric fits of frigiitful glare ; 
 
 Three words exalted wholly ftkm the charge 
 
 Between each longer caret, till: the bi^ath 
 
 tie fully settled for nnotiier yeli 
 
 Of idem quantity and furious jerk. 
 
 The d'lll effect too clearly proves the uatise 
 
 As no authoritative voice from High ; 
 
 A voice that mjithor fires the liorfliant soul 
 
 To Hove of virtue, sold without a price ; 
 
 Nor spurd the disregarded Lpar.to sound 
 
 Its dread denunciations in the ears 
 
 Of senses, wallowing in the latent fihh 
 
 Of stagnated depravity ; the rude 
 
 lodulger of his feelings in the cauve 
 
 That most dishonours nature ; only fawrts ; 
 
 Afkl wags his hand with lively specimens 
 
 Of boorish complaisance, whene'er the frown 
 
 Of piety should spurn his foul embrace, 
 
 And viee«poiluted favours, to relax 
 
 The cBed it-caused displeasure, which at once 
 
 Gives way to th' irresistible devicet. — 
 
 Then ^in at pleasure, acquiescing swain ; 
 
 Nor druod tba* any time acltnowledgment 
 
 And sorrow need reflect the follies past. 
 
 On thy existing happiness in trains 
 
 Of consonant delights ; if thou but prove 
 
 Thyself the jycophantas well as then. 
 
 The money lavished on these Gospel-drones, 
 
 Applied to better purpose, might relieve 
 
 The mental dpo'jghi throughout our di^eary wildtf 
 
 More than can be conceived from any view 
 
 Of this expenditure. *» » • 
 
 COHM 
 NUI 
 
 vnt 
 
ISO By TBS 
 
 u 
 
 97 
 
 P«ep through the thickened irloom turn »„ .1 
 
 3ee yonder antic n.etcor thafglow, '° "'* "'"'' 
 
 High o'er thu favoured channel of l» n 
 
 And shoots its rays across t hi .«»f "^"^e, 
 
 Even to the dark^/eelS of^.' [ ''^^^ ' ""'' 
 
 If circumstances ever be dirined, 
 
 You must presume that vice a kennel seeks 
 
 or erudition st^:;tX';,iror^'"« "^- 
 
 To view the dark recesses of the soul 
 Zeal vigorously flourishes its rays 
 
 Will, lattercd .h„d, of <l.,k„e„, veil of crim« " 
 Who heed illaminaUon, „„i„,„i j 
 
 Defin a haughty Lrvi:,Si:ti^3a^;[;-^'=» '''*"• 
 
 If definitions can asstime the scale :' 
 
 Or If your prudish mimicry expands 
 
 Ja,r^ I''*^?"fic from entan^ed wit 
 
 Joul con rndiction ! that the Lred^Odes 
 
 ?s Jn-M"' f.^^'^'j^^^'f^r less, insinuate 
 
 As emblematic of a moral guide : 
 
 Ee^tToLln^'k^ir^L^^^^^^^^^^ 
 The effluvia of menta: torpitude, 
 
 Thih li^ l''^'P'"* ^°n''«»<=ending soothes 
 
 COMMOKPLAC2 AND TRArrrAt ^^ 
 
 o7^lik*'wh-Kr«. '"°n '"^""""^ »*^««'"» 
 
 A- holy water oW ti"' '''°' ^'y^'"''' '''^ P««". 
 P..«j v.? ]t . ° '^'^ '"« swooning crowd 
 
 AmS h **' ""?" f *''« «°'y Ghost, 
 
 Am,d the vocal whirlwind ./ Hark! th. voice 
 
 13 
 
 RELtOIOUS rtSVlVAtS. 
 
■f" 
 
 mm 
 
 98 
 
 : I 
 
 Tr«nM>Rdoufl nnd terrific, poorin^ forth 
 
 The horrers of the damnod — the livid siare* 
 
 Uf yawning e&veii of sulphur, reddened pilf 9 
 
 ()f 'ever-fleined bitumen, yelling fiend*, 
 
 Reproaching spiritn, utter darhneu, death 
 
 Fanged with the various schentes of Beelzehub, 
 
 To plunge hit) victims in a d«eper gulpli 
 
 Than wo extreme : — These and a tnounand more 
 
 Uf catalogues of chilling terrors fraught 
 
 With ever-flrowning cloom and ftncj-fotmed 
 
 Cunceptions of the bTockevt miirery, 
 
 With rorce gigantic shouted, ring the place 
 
 Of worship. These the hai'bingers of sighs. 
 
 And groans, and screams, and beating hearts, and Bwoons. 
 
 Conversions • ah ! conversions, now they dread 
 
 The fiery wrath to cone, the frown of God ! 
 
 No ; those convaisions are but nervoos starts, 
 
 Imaginations frightened, fiincy ibrced. 
 
 To shrink from nier own bred deformities. 
 
 In fine but half unconscious, half inclined 
 
 To cherish this device to gain renown 
 
 For piety built on the lappt baoe 
 
 Uf these emotions ; every lump of sin, 
 
 And carnal dowdy, prattling brat and boor, 
 
 Vies with each other in the sad abase 
 
 Of their already scanty stock of sense. 
 
 The more they find confusion in their pulse, 
 
 And dizziness assumes their loftiest seat 
 
 Of silly thoughts, the more they hail the change. 
 
 With glowing raptures, as a proof diviae 
 
 Of th' efficacy of their second birth.- - 
 
 Anon, the solemn preacher cries Amen ! 
 
 Though all hia feint Beem« spe<;iou9 to the dunce. 
 
 And promising of future happiness 
 
 To every foaming convert that relies 
 
 Upon those sufl'erings as a cure 
 
 To all the sad diseaseti of the sou), 
 
 No conscience shares the glory of the change. 
 
 Nor urges aught the noisy penitence, 
 
 Or need of meditation for the crimes 
 
 Already ushered to the final bar. 
 
 How could it else partake, when he that guide* 
 
 Presides with Ail) avowal of the stir 
 
 As genuine and sound ; nor e'er displays 
 
 The sweet, attractive essencels of trtith ; 
 
 The merits of a Saviour, love of God, 
 
 The beauties of his grace, and blis««fHl smiles ; 
 
 Aspiring hope, not with preMimption soiled ; 
 
 But meek, though earnest, and ttie peace divine 
 
 Infused beneath a lively sense of sins, 
 
 l^epented of devoutly, and forgiven. 
 
 These subjects of delight, that serv? the theme 
 
 Of every true proclaimer, from the throne 
 
 Of the £t«i««l, «f good will and peace 
 
 To lost iiMtBkind ; a«r e'er p&rtnaiy his charge 
 
 To his converged flock, noc show in aught 
 
 Their lineaments in these itminod«8t fits. 
 
 Should this "strong Wind" ofKwttung gospel temA 
 
 The rocks and mountuins, nor the Lord is there ; 
 
 I 
 
 hr 
 
' w' i? **** earthquake of convuUioh find 
 W« Him ; nor is the firo offntwy eoai«a 
 S " still small voice ;" alu ! it fbllowa not 
 
 'V^?!.''!?'. ^*' '''^"^ *''°" '•«"' ■ " ""'J t«"»«:'i the guide 
 Vv horn to anoint as servant to hin Lord ■ 
 
 1 And (how the kneen unbended to a god' 
 
 Of wood or stone. Let fancy cease to muse 
 
 I lie tender theme in accente wild and fierce. 
 
 And leave It wholly if not managed else. 
 
 Religious fruit not very oft adjoins 
 Oaxelted blossoms : when the press imprints 
 On each ephemeral sheet the showy stamp 
 Of universal sanctity ; and shouts 
 These specious works that rival those of old, 
 
 «y sacred scribes recorded, postback home 
 
 I o every dusty spectacle-bestrid. 
 
 Profane, or envious hornbook smatterer, 
 
 The times are glorious, or the dearth of life— 
 
 As life indeod— is fatal and extreme. 
 
 Then have your choice :-the former, you observe. 
 > . Xr- "PP^^^noe. bears some scripture proof 
 
 onts existence :— «« Let your light so shine 
 ♦ Before men that they may see your good works." 
 
 Grand stimulus of «• Guardians !" "Tyfen may see • 
 
 And glorify," whom .' Glorify the Father 
 
 1 hrough the Church. Just so ; but who's the Church > 
 
 Her members : Now the idol I detoct; 
 
 The secondary object of devotion ; 
 
 In fact the first. Ay, membqrs with a name ! 
 
 loo well, no doubt, in general deserved ' 
 
 A name enough, to reach the Heavenly climes ! 
 
 1 was not the sound of characters but •« light" 
 1 h« Saviour urged to follow : Nor his own 
 Example sanction'd, nor his servants' aught 
 T his use of selfish leaven : «• Let it shine," 
 Is the injunction, not on parchments, mind 
 But in your lives, which bear a frUe record 
 Of those intrinsic beauties, of tAe fdith 
 You earneirtly prof,i«s, that fills your soul 
 With joy surpassing all that ffUo^wt worlds 
 And praises of Cfeation can besfow. 
 rhe faithful preacher is, of all mankind. 
 The most desOTvrng of our trtte t-egard : ' 
 
 But he whose oflRde other ta*el4 designs 
 Than love of bomU, is the mfwt abject wretch 
 ' u L '"'®**^®« '*»« common blessings of his race :— 
 He hovers round pll pastures to compare 
 Their soil, and choose the fattest ; tfiere, of course 
 Alights, Joofc* big, and bfegs his annual fee, 
 t or snuffing, sleaping, yawning, and fiiraoolh, 
 * noting your mmoTlal wreck to hall ! 
 1 hen tell me what you benefit in lieu 
 Or loss of money, reason, and your soul ? 
 I lay my pen, arid foofscap on the desk, 
 To Jtnint you time to answer me at lar«p 
 
«m 
 
 i 
 
 100 
 
 ih„'. iV' ."T" '? """"^. "P"" "•« "■"'■'' of "«»e l"l extract, but 
 Ik«A ^Vf, , ""'" r'""""' ""'"ion, or altera.io,, from li.e roush 
 6k«c„ of the aulLor ; who subscribe. him,ell " Juvenis ;•• and at I "f.,. 
 
 from h,, knowledge and experience of a long and direful train of the 
 «p.r.tual Ignorance levity, formality, imtenderneas, profanity nd ml 
 ZZfn"^ Scott'sh Clergymen, young and oldj-ind not af'aHasT^ 
 perfections or infirmitieH but a, the very texture of their disposition a.Td 
 the governing principle of their conduct ; whatever mixture of ° "tu al 
 good qualaies might be found to Mend with their vices,iTe ^ouirno 
 
 en e so t' 2L^Tl ""l^ '""J- ''' '^"'"P'^^^'^ ^''^'^^"^^ «"d hi. consci- 
 ence so far alarmed, by his tedious intercourse with them that at his 
 
 last departure from the spacious walls of our metropolitan Sniverity 1 i. 
 
 bowels were so impressed, ,and his thoughts so far agitated hat as' e 
 
 well remembers to this very day, he lifted up his mirfd o lie en in the 
 
 nights. I would bless tiee for all thy unmerited mercies to me, both 
 U JaTJ ^'""''^^T'^' I am thought by mont people strangeTy 'singu- 
 lar ; and by some others, deeply fanatical ; because I will not and d re 
 
 and?ZrnrVn'd"^'''M'^^'- ^ - i^'^ged brutish ; nay rl'tl^r proud 
 and nsolent; and insensible to benefit!, and favors: because I cannot 
 
 thou knowest, O searcher of hearts, that were it enjoined by thee as n"v 
 
 most cheerfully bow down and wash the feet, not ony of n,; surr^or 
 and benevolent friends, but of my very prejudiced and^malevole.u'^ eTe 
 That ha?T nn"" U *'''f«'^?' of "flection, I take the Heavens to witness 
 that had I no alternative, I should at once prefer being chained to 'he 
 West India slave, enjoying full liberty of conscience.%o hein. oined 
 with the Scottish Clergy, in ail their enjoyment, under he pre em power 
 o heir disposition, and the actual spirit if thei'r administration." "You 
 will please to observe that the writer speaks here of the Clergy as a body 
 a^tr'^ "°J';'d"«»y ;/oy he has no reason, on this head, to treat of the 
 tZTVJ'"'! P"fC"'ar, or respective characters. He blesses Heaven 
 hat he does not choose to judge of one man, or of a set of men by ano- 
 her. but so far as the features of their char'acter, and the channds of 
 
 'noH'" 'V"' K'r'y '*'"""• "^ ^^"*"y ^'^hes to love and es eem 
 .i good man by whatever name or epithet that man may by some be de- 
 noaunated." «' Is u now impossible that a poor Dissenter, or even a ten- 
 
(tracts, but 
 1 tlie rough 
 i that I si!i- 
 irnents, and 
 Mc with the 
 
 lister in Bri' 
 tJ himself in 
 
 ced people 
 Bclare, that 
 ain of the 
 , and mis- 
 all as im- 
 »sition. and 
 of natural 
 could not 
 his consci- 
 that at his 
 i^ersity, his 
 hat, as he 
 Ten in the 
 .vith Edin- 
 I days aiid 
 me, both 
 jely singu- 
 , and djre 
 ther proud 
 I cannot 
 nee. But 
 hee as my 
 , I would 
 y superior 
 3lent ene- 
 o witness 
 ed to the 
 njr joined 
 ent power 
 1." "You 
 as a body, 
 Jat of liie 
 js Heaven 
 n by ano- 
 annels of 
 rid esteem 
 tie be de- 
 ^en a ten- 
 
 101 
 
 of Rome! when you cannot expect any truth, or connnon nense, from 
 any opposer of your dangerous errors, or flagrant misrule." "For J 
 series of years now your humble correspondent has fully beUeved the 
 sad proft.nnt.on and undeniable abuse of solemn and sacred o ii .ances 
 especially the Lord's Supper, by Ministers and people in genera It o be 
 a crying and provoking sin over all Scotland, aLd Sow-i?. aSfd de- 
 gree-.n our America ; for which cause incensed Heaven clearly permiis 
 hardness of heart, judxial blindness of mind, wilful prejudices, ^aLdlly 
 hof/nF iT"'!!'^ "."7"' '»"'"'* ""^ •"««"« of conviction, to take fata^ 
 sound of these and similar texts in the writer's mind :—' Whosoever 
 hnH ''Vk!' ^I'i^rf J''"!^ ^his cup unworthily, shall be gSof tl^ 
 eatelh'^l r'^^J'^.l''! ^°''*^ • ^^ ^^ ^'"'^ ''^'''^ ""^ drinketh'tnworTh ly! 
 the Lord's bod"v -"'^ o'""''7 [^^udgement] to himself, not discerni.fg 
 honi r r 7" , ^r'°" f ""^^ ^ ^"""^ «^^ t^e^ « watchman unto the 
 house of Israel ; therefore thou shalt hear the word at mv mouth and 
 
 SaureTv'^r '"^K^^'f" ' ^"^ ""^° '""^ "'^»^«^' « wicLd man thou 
 wav th.t vli^L Jl '^""l n°? "°' t^^'^ ^° ^■'"" ^h« ^^'"^ked from his 
 way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I re- 
 
 Z:l tt" '^"'•' """^ °' ^'^T' "' «"'■' «"'P^"-«' is of more w igh 
 than ten thousand arguments to the contrary: though practically Tiain- 
 tamed by he greatest and most popular nam.s in a Kingdom FoT to 
 a soul fres ,:5 aroused, by the solemn authority of the mandates and 
 mamfestations of Heaven having «acred tr-uh^on his sidr^ stands of 
 nml,.rH^"'"'M-^*''* f '^^ °P»'°^'^'"" «"*^ contradictioi of the im 
 lilies, and the most eminent talents, can possibly effect." 
 
 But since I think it now full time to dismiss our meeting, after mv 
 long and tedious interference, I do, in fine, freely allow you rSv dear 
 ""^w"'^ candid Charles, to make any brief remarks yr^hoL ' 
 
 m.Y. :r T '^"P^^ ^° ^^y ^"* '■"'« ^^ ^^e time. If your state- 
 ments on the subject in dispute are unfounded in truth, I verily pity the 
 man that stands in your sleeves ; but if your accounts are whnl|y%,t or 
 
 bilit!' nH r"""'' '°°'' "P''" "f '"^ '°"^'«^« "« °f <"»' «^'f"> responsi! 
 Church. n .t?'"^ rT" '"^ '^'"""'■' ''^^'^ " individuals, and as a 
 Church, ,n he time of his great goodness and gracious forbearance. 
 
 ^aJIT ^ '^'^'l questions to ask upon various other points connect- 
 
 ed with our main dispute ; and. from your intelligent and open replfes 
 
 o my queries already posed. I feel confident you Luld in a gooS deg ee 
 
 tirnat;rrt'll''"\^' '^' '"'"" '''""'' ^« '^•"«' ^«^« «" confiderat o^iof 
 his nature till another occasion ; as the patience of our audience has 
 
 ^.d'onnortn 'v '''!'T'^' ^"* ' ''^^' '^^'^^ ^ ^^^^ "^^ y«"r advantages 
 
 .and opportunities to know, or to ascertain the height of profanity and 
 
 religious formality aad pride existing at present in lur Church, }et am 
 
lil i 
 
 i I 
 
 lOS 
 
 deny the »iul.l,,.rnTvide KtM.f fh. oT-^'^ ''" *""*' ''^''" ' ''"*'"*• 
 
 which ^ve receive 7Z2ytoAT^i^^^^^ 
 
 through ccference w h nL en. ^;an'; of^ T ''*^ *''•'"''' '"^'* 
 «=Ter,| of whom arc theLere« b m^Il «nH h' '^'.T' «1"'"»»«"" ^ 
 notorious deKeneracv of m,r ChnrA X *"f ''*'«'"«f»' evidence of the 
 
 and ecclesiastical comn.unitv men?rin^ .h '^ ^^^'""^^ *""' ^'^'""^''y 
 
 Establishment ''°"'"'""'*3'' '"entcmg the ru.n of our very Church 
 
 »-.nable; and .hot a ilere 'LI' j' ^^^^ »o be quite irre- 
 
 and more honorable than a « "hh-n "^ acknowledgement is far safer, 
 
 every mere assertion IL,Z\^ f-^ h^, *^'^"'" '"^ ^^^ »"«"'' ^i' 
 
 out/o„ the "b'e r^oXf ve" Ja'!?:^ '°""i^P* V" ''^ »»''"*^" 
 very diffidently of his mean! ^I . ^^"^"P^Pe'' = For when he treats 
 O.vis vSv' And T "f' ^^T"'*' '"""'^ confidently of his cause. 
 n^Zrr^.rf^tl'^T^'t^'l i-'r !"-" and injurious weak- 
 
 covociii u oui a very mean »ii 
 «.me, ihe novel appearance of a tint of Normanism 
 
 BND OF THE DIALOGUE. 
 
 njuriouE 
 
 iousand 
 
 having, at the same 
 
 c--' 
 
108 
 
 (8 mor» and 
 en I cannot 
 >f accouuta, 
 home, ard 
 juamtance ; 
 itice of the 
 de^^ree but 
 (1 manj ot' 
 he country 
 leges. The 
 themselvea 
 1 of whom, 
 low filling 
 en, grand- 
 Idoni with< 
 ' keeu and 
 r humanity 
 I religious 
 ! prog/eas, 
 ir country 
 y Church 
 
 asCj enjoy 
 1 the pre" 
 necessary 
 IS 8t:ite of 
 |uite irre- 
 far safer, 
 especially 
 my hum- 
 ise all my 
 i the idle 
 md Don- 
 leir own 
 fully be- 
 dest and 
 Church, 
 only in 
 snar 
 ! thrown 
 be treats 
 B cause. 
 s weak- 
 d sacred 
 he same 
 
 A\ 
 
 cr 
 
 Regardinj; the word " Normaniam,"--wh:ch is to l*e found in the fore- 
 going Dialogue,— it may be proper lo remark, to such as otherwise know 
 nothuig oi" it, that it oi Sginatet' as a term of reproach, from the offence 
 which some great professors, and especially MinisterH of the Church of 
 Scotland, felt on account of the dissent from, and opposition to, some 
 of their own religious measures, met with, in the conversation and con- 
 duct of a certain person called Norman, born and bred in the said Church 
 and kingdom; and now residing in Cape Breton. And any people who 
 happen in any degree -» he friendly to him or his ways; or who cannot 
 follow and profess th- »jrch of Scotland, in her Mik?isters, as '• all in 
 all,' must run the hea^ risk of beinjj now themselves branded wiih the 
 odious and reproachful name Normanists ; and their sentimenid Norman- 
 ism hy every friend of the " true faith !" In consequence of which, sim- 
 pie Norman anW his . lends think it as weli to make a merit of necessity, 
 and so tc run cheerfiiJI , with the full measure and miuJ, force and facul- 
 ty, of wind and weather, under the pride and protect?" 1 - : these tides 
 and titles; so that when they cannot otherwise wipp >,* warti, cover or 
 guard, their own character on this ground, they may, by this yielding 
 turn of temper, defeat the aim, and thwart the smart of cutting and cor- 
 roding adversity. The proud sword of Ooliah the Philistine, is a cheer- 
 ing and consecrated ornament on the humble thigh of David the son of 
 Jesse!— A shorl paragraph quoied verbatim, from 9 letter of one of our 
 iteighboriag Ministers, may throw sufficient light on the subject, written 
 to a correspondent ; who was at the time openly envious against Nu.man 
 and his friends here ; and when the said writer and Norman we^e out- 
 wufdly ou friendly terms, and actually interchanging visits; and in fact, 
 on the part cf the latter, in plain sincerity. It reads as follows : •* i en- 
 close you a letter lately received by Middle River. It smells strongly 
 of Norraanism. The more, for my part, I become acquainted with the 
 »et, the more rottenness I discover in them. They are like the Badger, 
 iJ^ieir own smell follows them whithtrsoev^r they go, or in whatsoe er 
 they do." Without any further remark on this head, the reader is left 
 to his own reflect;— 3 upon it. But I have heard Norman himself tell 
 that various and numerous instances of similar inconsistent treatment 
 from Ministers, compelled him to think of the oresent character of that 
 grand order of beings, in a quite different manner from his first estimate 
 of u He told me he once had thought that all the Ministers of his own 
 Churchy exceeded us » superlative pitch, even the piety of grave-diggers, 
 and colTiG-raakers,,* a most pious set, so familiar with the implements of 
 
 • As the subject has never witnessed an open grave or a coffin, unimpressedrjie 
 in U:a ooyhood, thought it certainly impossible for those immadiately employed about 
 :he dead to be but senously pious; and he therefore, nt that time, supposed none 
 to exceed them in piety, but the Ministers of hiu own Church. 
 
 
 ; I 
 
1U4 
 
 grim death, the tyrant-kiiig of terrors ! An.! siBce there tvas not then a 
 smgUi Seceder or Dissenter, in his own bic. sed parish, he really supposed 
 the hr^stofthese extraordinary distinctions he would meet with should 
 h- it the monstrous mark and make of having two heads to a body or two 
 faces to a head : or in fact, something or another ridiculously s'.rancre. 
 liut the first Seceder he ever saw.-although frighted Norman ran to tlie 
 window, at the alarming sounding of the passing traveller's religious 
 name,— appeared nothing different from other human shapes; having his 
 gun on his shoulder, and a shot rabbit in his hand; and in all other re. 
 spects like one of the old neighbors; which seemed Very astonishing in- 
 deed.-But this same odd Norman whispered to me at another time, (hat 
 he felt, by a process of unavoidable necessity, a strange change in his 
 views on the score of Ministers. He marked their vanity; and, among 
 other matters, observed that he most seriously thought of four particular 
 sorts ofcreatures, though of different degree and grounds, yei, as very 
 tTv " hf 1'. .S"' p "f ^",«^' V" i^eir pride, viz : The Yankees, since 
 they bea the English "^the Pope, since he became infallible,-the 
 Scottish Clergy, since they have been open persecutors of Dissenters — 
 and the great Lucifer, since he fell from Heaven. Impressed with ihise 
 and such improved conceptions, I saw their subject write to a correspon- 
 dent, under hi« own hand, (after having read the contemptible compari- 
 son of the Badger) with perfect composure, and good feelings, in the 
 following strain :-" If every one that is now reasonably dissatisfied with 
 Clergymen be denominated a Normanist, I shall not, in existing circum- 
 stances vvant a numerous and sob* party, in very many places, but 
 especially in Cape Breton. And though I know well that the appellation 
 never arose but from dire spite; and that it is still applied but in the 
 same spirit ; yet I humbly rejoice in it, as a glorious reproach, suffered 
 upon the whole,— with all my iraperfections,-for the sake of a good 
 conscience in the service of Jesus Christ. And I sincerely wish that I 
 could, by divine assistance, commiserate and love my revilers on this 
 point as heartily as they shew themselves to hate and to slander both 
 myself, and my best motives and actions, as well as my worthiest friends 
 m the world, according to the sacred rule of Heaven ;— •• But I say unto 
 you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that 
 hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute 
 you ; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven." 
 ■^Matthew v. 44, 45. 
 
 ^' 
 

 not then a 
 r supposed 
 th, should 
 dy, or two 
 y strantje. 
 ran to the 
 religious 
 having his 
 other re- 
 lishing in- 
 time, that 
 ge in his 
 id, among 
 particular 
 t, as very 
 ;es, since 
 ble, — the 
 lenters, — • 
 vith these 
 orrespon- 
 compari' 
 s, in the 
 sfied with 
 I circum- 
 aces, but 
 ipeilation 
 It in the 
 , suffered 
 f a good 
 sh that I 
 I on this 
 der both 
 it friencls 
 say unto 
 hem that 
 ersecute 
 leaven." 
 
 lETTERS 
 
 OP 
 
 PADDLE PLAIN AND MARY ANXIOUS 
 
 ON 
 
 MIMIC MINISTERS AND RATTI.ING llEVlVA 
 
 ts. 
 
 TKKEr.—Danielv. a7. 
 
 
 w 'i^mm%m£,mmm 
 
 appeared, When the said Paper disanDeaici J f"'* ^'''""'^ "^ "'«''• onJ/ 
 
 the Times." ^ ajsappeai-ed, and was substituted by " The Spirit of 
 
 r^^^Syt:.i^S^:C^t:^:^^^ «'- -i^ intercourse 
 
 f'ixth Letter; and is I.errprin ed i its fiTst^S ^fn iT A*' "H''^ ''""^'"^'"^ "^^''« 
 revisal. The silly, sly, and slandero L onnnfiH . '''^' ''''"'°"' ""^ '^^'^'^^^ or 
 very first appearaJ^e ^ these retranrtSeh^rhl"^ "" ^"' ""^ ^'''"<1' »« »h« 
 t.on on the other, but argue and confiVm in x . .^ .' f"'^' "?'' '""'dsome recep- 
 ed both to correct and fo commend™^ mI U J T'^' '"'''^^'''^^ ^'^« '"^end- 
 because their deeds Were evil frnr • ^^^^ darkness rather than light 
 
 Lis deeds should be reproved •' or diJnoy.^r '^^\ '^°"f' ' ^^^ ''»»«^'> ^^e light, S 
 of the deepest dyes, an'^d'rdfh.st s gt"o7 tt'telV' e"'"^"-;;"'- ^^" "'• <^- 
 maintainers cannot sustain any candid invJ^iSf T'" '''f "^ ^"^.i^'^ts or 
 tho.r principles and conduct. SrimDosi^S""' ''•' ^"'P^"'-'^' examination, of 
 neighbors, can little avail or excuse tE on^Ti^ '"""f '•^"'"""' '^ '''"''' «^ ""r 
 «wn tcnderhess of conscience! and th^vblent a Srn"".^' "" u " '^''^^' ^'^''^ ^''^ir 
 «rder, they aVoid being drawn into ho ^nlr^ nf . '''^^ ".1 '''•"'" '°""'' ""'^ ^"'-•rod 
 rity on this score, theifneaceablp m n?i I ^^ *="""'"t«on." Had they any since- 
 biy desort them, on eTer^^ other fri^olff '""^ •"^^^"res w„„,,, „„^ ^^ ^^ J ^ '^'oe 
 and fearfully proud of their iiftJ.inH °^-*=««>«"- To find a flood ofmighty men 
 
 ;lm does "o^bear the swTeJ'o a"pt.Et' iTed' b^V'^'-^'T' of eternal c„^,cTrn: 
 the sovereign superintendent, wLC divine'Dr.S„ ''"'""'"« ?"^' ^tmnge. B„t ^ 
 
 equally with lice anlt:;:; l^t^^ jL^^^nr^^Xni SflLlJ-' 
 Gape Brecon. Dfinprnh*... on iq^i P. P 
 
 / 
 
 14 
 
 f 
 
 >»> 
 
106 
 
 il 
 
 For the " Cape Breton Mroeatt" 
 LETTER I. 
 
 Mr, Editor, — In *' The Guardian" of the 6th instant, and under i\\e 
 title " Cape Breton," we see very lofty accounts of " the Clergymen and 
 Schooira? sters sent out to the Island from Scotland," and of the results 
 of their labors on the minds and manners of the people as " astonishing 
 and beneficial." And from t'lC inforn^ation of " an 'r.telligent and highly 
 respectable Correspondent," it ie stated that "w^ have five excellent 
 Ministers to guide us in our devotions in worshipping Jehovah as our 
 fathers did of old." And then follows, " What a hallowed influence does 
 the Church of Scotland carry along with it, wherever it is planted, there 
 peace and prosperity, friendship and affection, every where abound," &lc. 
 
 Now, Sir, there are in this Island, to my clear knowledge, some thou- 
 sands of inhabitants, of ordinary intelligence, and sobriety, all of whom 
 were born, and have been brought up, like myself, in the Church of Scot- 
 land, to whose minds, notwithstanding, the said statement is highly offen- 
 sive and harshly offensive ; because they can find but little truth in it. 
 Where, I ask, is "the great and wonderful change" in agricultural im- 
 provement, " which has taken place in almost every part of the Island," 
 according to the assertion of the same Correspondent, since those excel- 
 lent Ministers and Teachers arrived here, and by their means or influence 
 more than before? And where is, likewise, the astonishing improvement 
 in morality and piet} , by the instrumentality of the said good Clergymeft 
 and Schoolmasters, to be marked out to us over all the Island, excepting 
 our wild and violent " Revival ;" which we must believe to be a delirium 
 or something worse, rather than a sound and sL.utary cokiversion; and 
 consequently more a plague than a blessing to all concerned ; and those 
 that indulge and encourage such roaring madness, and raving insanity^ 
 to be stumbling blocks rather than stepping stones, to any sort of moral 
 excellence, or religious improvement. Many hundreds of my sober, and 
 serious neighbors, and several of them your humble subscribers, are from 
 time to time heart-sick by similar draughts from the shameless columns 
 of the Guardian ; with a small drop of the same lees now and then from 
 your own, about the extraordinary merits and enterprises of the Chuich 
 of Scotland, I do not choose to deny that we have in this poor Island, 
 an average share of what our now unhappy Church is really worth ; and 
 yet this is not saying much. 1 cannot esteem those her best and truest 
 friends, who, so extravagantly, magnify her virtues, now that she wildly 
 pants, and vainly puffs, in her proud degradation, and perverse deformity, 
 of open sin and schism, so that any of her members, especially Ministers, 
 who, at this lime, dare contradict these last brief and" moderate remarks, 
 must, indeed, be wofully blunt, or wilfully blind. I think it now unne- 
 cessary to enlarge in detail, though I am abundantly supplied with 
 materials. If you choose to publish this short letter in your paper, I may 
 trouble you with a few more, by and by, on the same subject. 
 
 I a'xi, sir. your obedient servant, Paddle Plain, 
 
107 
 
 if I 
 
 under the 
 ^ymen and 
 the results 
 istonishing 
 and highly 
 ; excellent 
 rah as our 
 uence does 
 nted, there 
 >und," &/C. 
 some thou- 
 II of whom 
 ch of Scot- 
 ighly offen- 
 ruth in it. 
 ultural im- 
 he Island," 
 hose excel- 
 )r influence 
 iprovement 
 Clergymeft 
 i, excepting 
 ; a delirium 
 irsion ; and 
 ; and those 
 ig insanity^ 
 rt of moral 
 f sober, and 
 rs, are from 
 ss columns 
 1 then from 
 the Chuich 
 )Oor Island, 
 ;vorth ; and 
 t and truest 
 
 she wildly 
 ; deformity, 
 f Ministers, 
 ite remarks, 
 now unne- 
 >plied with 
 taper, I may 
 
 E Plain. 
 
 • ' f^or t/ie 'yCupe Breton Mvocate." - 
 
 mS mvtir"""^ ^T'T ^^ "^'^^^^ '«"«« <>•• science. Could I 
 
 rpudeuceVf outroirt' ? ' ''" ^'^' "'"^ ^'^g"«' '^' ^ff^^^'tery and 
 !hl . .!i ^°'***'' '°"S since wo M his brangUnff brains have fplf 
 
 din?rv „ . . , r '""^ "-eligious excellence, as weH as of so extraor- 
 sion in '' '"m ''*"""y *'''^"^«* *^« d^^'inies look in pity and compl 
 of cZ R 'T''^^^ ™'' '"'^ ^ ^^^^^™ °f '"y fatuous triL over the face 
 vL^bksont' f r'^r ^"^'^^''^ ^^ ^^^'"^ 'he real t?uth of three 
 bdieve and n ■/ '' '"'^ """ account-but in a still far worse condiiiin 
 ilir li P^^""^ ^"^ *''°" '''«> •" « '«ng degree, the very reverse of it 
 Ch rTJo'rS :d'"°"' '1' -'igious^x^elle'nce' /n'Tto il' 
 tical eviderfc^ r n^^ ^'f'"'' *" "I'g'^'' ^ ^^ink, with the clearest prac 
 Uuir T\ I *'^^'"«P°«e t 'e words pf the Guardian, as quoted in m v first 
 
 C'w h Ter r ^""l' "' r*^^"*^"^^ "'«"^- ' '^o- "h^ carry 
 try--there wr .ii;! ^^^ she is planted, both at home and in this coun^ 
 in *?.lf r 7 f "^ '"'^ confusion, every where abo«nd." What is she 
 even aSi:llo'!r^^^''''^^!.'" '«-« <»f th. Strrhbogie stJuggle^! 
 Telf bu, . "^ p^ seIf.cGntrad,ctory Accounts of the "Guar^iS" it- 
 
 loJ: W ris!he"now ^f > '^* ''^''"^ P-gatory,i„ her owl 
 uweis, vvnat 13 she now, and for a long score of years has she bp^n 
 
 ,erv"nr'€''°'^r'^ '' ^'^'°'^' '^"^ ^"^^ thVoverheatS and burst macM- 
 
 around her ? Her hve excellent Ministers," with all her School tLX 
 
 and s3 ""i^",' '^^^ "'^' ^^^"' ^"^ -« ^« this hourfa sore rebuff 
 
 g^and^tJ TSut^^^^^ "T 'I' ''''"''' ^"' P^^S'ess of th; two best and 
 grandest institutions under the stars-the Bible and the Temoerance 
 bocieties-not only by their own shameful neutrality on thes7chle 
 and exhihratuig subjects, but what is worse, by openl/vilVin.yd mTs 
 representing the motives and measures of he mo' e La orfeaders „" 
 
 'onrw^^fr^;!;' rr^^'fi ^^"'"^ ^"^ tempu^Tthe'mhd: «" 
 
 o stnr H .1 if '"^^^'*«»'^ ^"Ih by example and persuasion, as of late 
 
 elS ouVexedUn^t '"'^ ^'''"' '^'''' '"^^^ eminent'means of'moral aud 
 religious excellwice or improvement— but all their art or aim snn nr 
 zeal. IS to preach their own va-.-i-ip. rn^-— • -" ' cjmi, &np oi 
 
 m 
 
 Ml 
 
 - * i 
 
 i 1 
 !,i i 
 
 .' 1 1 
 
 __ I I p 
 
108 
 
 These are open and stubborn facts, and I defy the world to falsify 
 them. 
 
 "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up 
 the kingdom of Heaven against men : for ye neither go in yuurselveii, 
 nor Buffipr ye them that are entering to go in.''— Matthew xxiii. 13. i*' 
 Meantime, I am, Sir, yours &c, Padole Plain. 
 
 Cape, Bretony24lh November, 1841. 
 
 i' 'i« » ■ ,.i..t:i,i, ii 
 
 \ I 
 
 For lht<'^ Cape Breton Mtocate,'' 
 LETTER HI. 
 
 * I^Ib. EditOhs,— -Afiieighbor has just told me that iii" ctotisequence o( 
 my first letter's appearance in the ''Advocate," a certain subscriber to it, 
 had ordered his paper to be discontinued ; and also threatened to endea- 
 vr-ir influencing all the Presbyterians in the country, in similar circum- 
 sti-uces K) follow his example, with great puff and boast of his most flou- 
 rishing Church. But I suppose that either the zealous man did not reallV 
 mean to act up to his pretence ; or that he was far mistaken in his viewiii 
 of the consequence. For the panic flight of all the Presbyterian Fleet, 
 at the very first sweep of the poor Paddle, would be inde»!d so very ex- 
 traordinary a piece of news over all the country, as could not miss to 
 defeat its own purpose, by attracting in itte eddy, at least, an equal num- 
 ber of kindred Paddles to subscribe for the Advocate : But 1 really fear 
 that proud Paddle, with all his stock of vanity, needs not dream of such 
 a glorious triumph. I, and my weak fellow-paddles have suftered the 
 sore vanity and falsehood of the Guardian, the Presbyterian organ here, 
 to ir suit our very common sense, with our religious sentiments, and 
 Christian experience, for several successive years, without a single open 
 grudge or growl; though'some of us have been, for some time, and are 
 still, among the humble subscribers of that very open insulter. But as 
 to the word Presbyterians, it is of a more extensive meaning, than the 
 foregoing suspender would either understand, or admit it:— 
 
 All the Antiburghers, or Seceders in the country are Presbyterians ; 
 who, I am persuaded, will not generally feel offended for the commence- 
 ment of my paddling. 
 
 There are thousands also of those connected with the degenerate 
 Church of Scotland, who sadly both admit and latnent her deplorably 
 low condition by this time; and who consequently, animate, and peisuade 
 poor Paddle to attempt io sweep well, with all his might and main ; for 
 that Heaven and earth now combine to call aloud, for straight and 
 strong, sad and sound paddling! And lastly, Paddle himself is likewise 
 styled a Presbyterian, and does not rate himself much the better or the 
 worse for that mere designation. As for men to boast so much of the 
 goodne-s and strength of their own cause, and at the same time to le 
 such coward? as to endure no opposition, or reflection ; but to flee as it 
 were from the buzz of a fly, must be something s.iniilar to the confounded 
 
to falsify 
 
 ti shut up 
 ruurselveit, 
 i. 13. 
 Plain. 
 
 quence of 
 fiber to it, 
 I to endea' 
 ir circum- 
 most flou- 
 
 not really 
 I bis views! 
 ian Fleet, 
 ► very ex- 
 >t miss to 
 qiial nunn< 
 really fear 
 n of sucli 
 ffered the 
 gan here, 
 lents, and 
 ngle open 
 !, and are 
 But as 
 
 thun the 
 
 109 
 
 flight of Ben-hadad's army it the sound of th^' Hebrew lepbr's crutches 
 «n5 flonrUh""''' of Scotland is at this day i,r4d so spiritudirgree n 
 ?elfowsSb sfh'r'"' ^^•"'''^^'V"^ •"^'"berKMna ^neral ecclesiastical ^ 
 fe lovvship. a. the Gunrd.an and «o many of jS^mfiituuied party main- "^ 
 tarn, there necessarily must have been of late a radicill and- extraordinary 
 
 Xinn T" °r '^^ '"^'^''^ '^''''" of.human natH;^#a.uell as of all 
 re ig.on, for in former times, and past ages, and according to the jrenc 
 
 lid", if P. '"' ^"^^ "I '"""'i Scriptures, the puny animnf and the^ v t 
 
 chan're or JT". ' '"'^ commands of |v3 Crentor ; and without a real 
 and fmnpr' H 1 ' '°"''r '' u' ''^^'^'^'^'^^ »" ^^ akso. in hisaexfure 
 rilv iemCdprJVr''V"'^' requisitions, and qual.hoations ordina- 
 rily demanded, and the submission and exception usually enioined in 
 
 onV: f ' ^"'7'^''^^', ^"'^ '" «"*'^'« membership, in h'e true Chu^c 
 of Jehovah ; especra Jy under the Gospel dispensation But the dear and 
 
 enr"'* ""^'"' "'"^"!"'^ fl<^""«hi»S Church of Scotland does not 
 requ re now of m^e any thing contrary to my native inclination, or fallen 
 
 over my habits and conduct as may permit the rest of my 8iK>cie>. to sus. 
 pend my execution on the gallows, and likewise as t rcr^^ i.g IT 
 that w.th a my heart, and with all my, soul, and with all my LnatiV 
 
 and st^ t 7 h""'' ' '''' ''"•!'""' ''''''' -'^ -^P-«. i-'hisbo-d ; 
 ad spirit, and character, part and parcel, that only abominable bein^r^ 
 
 not otherwise to be named by the pure lips of a Christ.an,-a Dissenter 
 from the Church of Scotland; for that is the only impard nable r.er' 
 itr^f cE.'''j''"'r'''^^ either fallen human natu're. and therm r' 
 nrlVnT ^.'^".''^ « k'"^^^"'?. .""-e «"pplinted and transformed, or that the 
 present religious stat3 of the Church of Scotland is awfully' degenerate! 
 and dangerously fatal. I am. Sir, your obedient servant. 
 
 Cape Breton, 1st December. 1841. " ^'"''"'^ ^'^'''- 
 
 % 
 
 ni 
 
 jyterians ; 
 )mmence- 
 
 egeneratft 
 leplorably 
 I peisuade 
 iiain ; for 
 light and 
 s likewise 
 er or the 
 ch of the 
 me to he 
 ) flee as it 
 nifounded 
 
 fur tAc Cape Breton .Id tfocatc" ., 
 
 LETTER tt'! ^•." 
 
 Mr. EoiToH.-Since the date of my third letter to vou, 1 sent you the 
 names of some new subscribers for the Advocate : And others of vour 
 
 trboMe'rTr dt'"'^; '"^ ^"'' '"^ «^''""«'>'' ''-^^ '"^^y hHrf b:;n°on':he 
 very border^ of discontinuing your "stale Paper," ris they phrased it 
 
 (for every thing is stale now but P. P., until they found! theTr very 
 
 agreeable disappointment the first letter of Paddle : Thi« you must un^ 
 
 derstand is not saying too much of one's-self! And inferring from anua- 
 
 p?e".lomt;A'^r"^ '''"'' ^'"' y^" '""^^ '^"^^^ '^-' gene;ous prTde'ira 
 predominant and open trait m my character) that the?e is no danger of 
 
 ;°" .5"'^^.^^.'*"«^^'"'"i?"'yP«-»ddIing. Let all who dread a sweep 
 
 
 'f they choose; the Paddies, I find, wUi soon supply" iliS 
 
 I I 
 
\r. 
 
 ■' • I 
 
 I ii 
 
 t!i 
 
 I" i 
 llii 
 
 110 
 
 post. Publish, however, to me your loss on my account, and I hereby 
 freely promise, either to cover that loss, or to relinquish my ground. 
 This is, at least, a lacit notice to all the friends of paddlinj^ to push for- 
 ward and support the Advocate. Let the haters and opposers of poor 
 Paddle — if any are so unfortunate as to merit that name-r-advocate their 
 own cause, in as moderate and plain a spirit, ao Paddle Piam chooses to 
 treat his own, and they are all and heartily welcome to the ground. O I 
 How fne very heart of Paddle begins to pant, bounce, and burn, like a 
 wanton horse in smelling the battle! O for a stout and sturdy sweep 
 against the agitated current, and the billowy storm ! 
 
 Please to hear that I have a smart brother called Bottle Bruce : he and 
 I are twins; for the fruitful womb of dear mother, Mary Bottle, never, 
 like other women, missed to conceive and to carry twins! My father 
 was, as every body knows, old Bruce Pl:iin ; and, in his time, was also 
 a poet; so that you may naturally anticipate dome very novel and extra- 
 ordinary things from the rare genius of both myself and brother Bruce. 
 Well, as I said, brother Bruce is about lo publish a book on many a 
 good and bad thing; which, by the bye, must prove to the interest of you 
 Printers ! He writes, I say, — as his genius naturally leads.-r-on Minis* 
 ters rnd monkies, — Popes and puppies, — conversions and convulsions,-— 
 physiognomy and phrenology, — logic and matheraatic ; — good and evil 
 spirits; — and, in short, on time and eternity.: indeed he does not leave 
 her sacred majesty Victoria herselt behind his remarks; so that I hope 
 the whole country will soon ring with his praise! And I cannot but 
 hope that His Excellency our Governor himself, will purchase, at lejtst, 
 two copies of the work, when it is; out of the Press; that is to say, the 
 one for his own use, and the other for her majesty I I am confident the 
 subject is, by no means, below their notice; although J sincerely regret 
 that grt.it folk generally look big; and so, unfortunately, overlook the 
 worthy works of rare talents, placed in humble circumstances! "The 
 poor man's wisdom is despised." This I trust will serve as the first ad- 
 vertisement of the publication I Now, after this tedious digression, and 
 before I offer any further remarks, on the languid and forlorn present 
 religious state of the once lively and shining Church of Scotland, I most 
 seriously and sincerely wish it to be understood, that I do, by no means, 
 choose, to give a handle to malevolence, or envious reflections, by any 
 thing 1 have already written, or that I intend further to write, on the 
 subject, against her community. 1 know, from long experience, that 
 many worthy persons connected with her name, and that have neither 
 suflicieqt discernment to see the extent of her degeneracy, nor the forti- 
 tude to reli.:quish her fellowship entirely, who yet cannot but bemoan 
 her wpful barrenness, and the fatal pride and effrontery of most of her 
 Ministers. What was the worst bar to reformation, in the persecuting 
 and prrfp-.e Church of Rome, in the days of the famous Luther, but that 
 the majority of her Bishops and Priests, could not be once brought to 
 admit, or concede any error of judgment, malignity of disposition, immo- 
 rality of conduct, or wickedness of government, in all their civil and 
 eccAesiastioal concerns ! And was it not the same cause tha'. bolted the 
 
I 
 
 \ I hereby 
 )y ground. 
 > push I'or- 
 rs of poor 
 ocate their 
 chooses to 
 •unci. Ol 
 rn, like a 
 rdy sweep 
 
 e : he and 
 tie, never, 
 \ly father 
 , was also 
 and extra- 
 i3r Bruce. 
 n many a 
 est of you 
 on Minis'' 
 uisions,— 
 I and evil 
 not leave 
 at I hope 
 tnnot hut 
 ;, at least, 
 D say, the 
 Indent the 
 ely regret 
 rlook the 
 ! " The 
 e first ad- 
 ision, and 
 n present 
 id, I most 
 lo meanis, 
 8, by any 
 e, on the 
 nee, that 
 e neither 
 the forti- 
 ; bemoan 
 St of her 
 rsecuting 
 , but that 
 ought to 
 m, immo- 
 sivil and 
 lolted the 
 
 HI 
 
 hearts and ears ofthe bulk of the Jewish nation against the heavenfv 
 solvation of our ever blessed Saviour Jesus Christ and the preachfnTof 
 His Apostles? And it is the same fatal bane, in a high degree hou^h 
 under different modifications and various form's, that hl'ds t^he Cie gj^of 
 the Church of Scotland so desperately shut up to conviction at this day 
 and consequen ly, so far from any chance of real remorse, or right re 
 form In fact 'St ,s" a task of almost equal difficulty to shame Popery 
 out ofthe pr.de onnfallibility. and the absurdity of f ransubs^antiS 
 and to convince the body of the Scottish Clergy, if the practical dispS 
 iZtTTr^u ^^^^•^".^''^.••f^l f««tures of their Chur.h'! and the trSe es^- 
 t.mate of Christ 8 spiritual kingdom in thf world,—" Let your light so 
 shine before men, that they may see your good works, and gloiify your 
 
 fn f^fi^ 1'.^ " '" ''.''''''!;" : ^^^ '' '^' ^^^y without the sp^rhsVead 
 so faith without works ,s dead also." " Salt is good : but if tL salt have 
 
 ol t'rnT"' •';' thenceforth good for nothing, but to be c lou , "nd 
 o be trodden under foot of men." I take the liberty of concluding tl° s 
 letter by a few lines from "The Course of Time," as descriptive o! the 
 character and spirit of true Missionaries.^.,.,, ,:, T.^^ 
 
 —j' The Warriors of Meesiah, mcMengers 
 Of peace, and light, and life, whose eye unsealed, 
 saw up the path of immortality, 
 Far into bliss, saw men, immortal men, 
 t . fV ''*^ f^'l^ wandering fVom the way ; eclipsed in night, 
 ': .7 •■ L»ark, moonless, moral night; jiving like beasts, 
 Like beasts descending to the grave, untaught 
 Of life to come, unsanctified, unsaved ; 
 . Who, strong, though seeming weak ; who. Warlike, 
 
 ' it*"g'> ""Hrmed with bow and^sword ; appearing mad, 
 
 Though sounder than the schools alone e'er made 
 1 he Doctor's head j devote to. God and truth, 
 
 And swrorn to man's eternal woal, beyond 
 Repentance sworn, or thought of turning back • 
 And casting far behind all earthly care, ' 
 
 All countryships, all national regards. 
 
 And enmities, all narrow bourns of state 
 1 And selfish policy, beneath their feet 
 
 Treading all fear of opposition down, 
 , . All fear of danger, of reproach all fnar, 
 
 —' -'^ And evil tongues; wtent forth ; 
 
 •" '■ and in the wilderness 
 
 Of human waste, to sow eternal life ; 
 
 And from the rock, where sin, v/ith horrid yell. 
 
 Devoured its victims unredeemt d, to raise 
 
 The melody of grateful hearts to Heaven : 
 
 To falsehood, truth ; to pride, humility ; 
 
 To insult, meekness ; pardon to revenge ; 
 
 To stubborn prejudice, unwearied zeal ; 
 
 To censure, unaccusing minds; to stripes, 
 
 Long suffering; to want of all things, hope ; 
 
 lo death, assured faith of life to come ;— 
 ' Opposing." — 
 
 I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 HI 
 
 Cape isreton, Sth December, 1841, 
 
 pAnni.n P 
 
 inrn fr^wi^T 
 
 til 
 
■i\ 
 
 n t 
 
 ,1 
 
 \' 
 
 ■' i( 
 
 Ui 
 
 ' ■'^^^ Hrth^'^'tkpe'iretdit.lktoeaU." ' ' ' 
 
 LETTER 1. 
 TO PAPDLE PI.AlNvr<l05I>IAR¥ ANXIOUS., 
 
 Sir, — Permit a weak thtfiigh anxious Woman to ask orf you softie qu**» 
 lions, and to make humble remarks on some, of irhat you have already 
 advanced to thd Jiublic. I beg first to premise that women — though na- 
 turally tender and timorous— »are yet generally tough and tenacious/ 
 Notable and numerous are the deeds recoi'ded of warhen, not only in 
 civil, but Sacred History : Rahab and Ruth, Deborah and Jael, the tam-« 
 ous Esther and th^ heroine of Thebes. Women also followed oUr Savioui^ 
 to his crucifixion, and his gfavCi when almost all the other aek of hist 
 disciples diffidently fled him. f ' « ^''} ' '^inu r ; m i?T 'W 
 
 It was likewise to women tliat lie sfiowed flitoelf first ^t his resurrec- 
 tion ; and that he entrusted to cafry its first gheious tidings to the rest 
 of his friends. Though I do not presume to castigate, yet I wish td 
 moderate, your apparent severity of reflection on men and manners. For 
 without some female correspondence, 1 sadly fear, you will be apt to leap/ 
 hot only the bounds of all moulds and moderation, but those also of plain 
 and undisguised' truth itself; and so to run wild and watitoil, in witticism^ 
 metaphor, and burning satire. Coui^ider, sir, for instance^ your mothef 
 ■ — of whom you so much seem to boast for her prQlificaCy--^was for whole 
 seven years barren after her marriage with your father; and for' that very 
 reason called Bottle ; though her name since has sometime been Mary 
 Twins, or Mrs. Plain. But observe also what is indre dangerous in the 
 partiality of your relation of her, that she never, had more children than 
 the one conception and birth of twint«, — Bruce and l^addle. 
 
 Now you may tell the World, that you have not written any direct of 
 positive falsehood ; though at the same time, none unacquainted with the 
 particulars of the circumstances can arrive at the real trulh of the case, 
 by your mere account of iti Equivocation is a Crying sin in our day j 
 and that too among men of vast eminence and most prominence in reli- 
 gious and ecclesiastical offices. Is it not eafey to prove by stanch 
 evidence, that a sounding Clergyman still living in this country, and also 
 instrumental irt a famous revivalj attempted lately to evade the charge of' 
 double dealing in a business of serious importancej when interrogated, 
 *• Did you not write a letter in favdr of that Minister whom you promised 
 to oppose ?" by replying "No !'* But the polfit being uneludibly pressed 
 home he replied, " No ! 1 did not send a letter in his favour, I only sent 
 & line!" This is a true sample of the character of this great champion 
 of the Gospel; and you my good friend, ehould avoid all appearance of 
 its imitation. I certainly know a woman, like myself, who once troubled 
 the said great Minister with a letter^ humbly begging him to give hef 
 solutions of certain setibus questions directly connected, both with his 
 own ministerial office, and the special concerns of all his religious adher- 
 ents ; to which notwithstanding he has never been pleased to return any 
 answer. Such disappointment, with several other reasons, excites me 
 
 iiiaf subjects. I wish particu- 
 
 ._ 1.. 
 
 und 
 
 
ome ques' 
 te already 
 hough na" 
 (enacious/ 
 >t only in 
 1, the lam-' 
 jr Savioui? 
 ie% of hifl 
 
 I resurrec- 
 a the rest 
 I wish td 
 tiers. For 
 if/t to leap/ 
 90 of plain 
 witticism, 
 it mothef 
 I for whole 
 t that very 
 een Mary 
 Dus in the 
 [Iren than 
 
 direct of 
 
 d with the 
 
 the oasPj 
 
 our day j 
 
 ie in reli- 
 
 )y stanch 
 
 , and also 
 
 charge of' 
 
 arrogated, 
 
 promised 
 
 ly pressed 
 
 only sent 
 
 champion 
 
 arance of 
 
 3 troubled 
 
 give hef 
 
 with his 
 
 )us ad her* 
 
 eturn any 
 
 xcites me 
 
 li particu- 
 
 113 
 
 larly, and in the outset, to hear some of your thoughts on the natui-e an* 
 
 and how far does your estimate, according to plain Scripture rules c^r' 
 respond with what obtains now in this Island under thos?specio^ nj^ " 
 in/, luh °k'?'^'^"''"'' *° ""y °^"«' «« ^«^i°n«i and responsible be 
 
 lTp'a:r'uront"^°'^^"^'"^^Stm^°L^Tc' ''' 'm ^V^^' 
 Cape Breton, 12th December, I84I' ' ' ^'"' '^~"^°^^- 
 
 For the « Cape Breton Advocate." 
 PADDLE PLAINS ANSWER TO THE FIRST LETTER OP MARY 
 
 ANXIOUS. 
 JLETTER V. ^ 
 
 Madam,— I take your remarks on mv Letters in no ill n^n • ,«^ t -h 
 endeavour to give some solution to yo/r qu st on" But^I hope "ou wl 
 fion Th'' ' ^'?^?^iffr"«« between random mghts of se minTenrvoca 
 tion, where neither character nor interest is at stake and whe^ hn.h 
 these are immediately and seriously involved : For without amnle .cnt 
 on this ground we must nip and curtail not only Lst rorilnocent 
 
 thru:h''n'"^'"'"^"'^"'^°^^P"«Ph^^^^« ^» no^ufequenrinstances 
 through all our various transactions, but even fall foul of the Sabred 
 Scriptures themselves; wh..e we find so many embellished alleaortes 
 obscurely shrouded metaphors, and bold and bombastic-l ke hypefbo ies 
 and c.rcumloc«t> ons. One particular point I must farther preface tha; 
 -as previously not.ced-since brother Bruce is about to oubllsh oliVhi 
 subjects of your enquiry. 1 do not wish but Hghly to forestall ^^^^^^ 
 
 Zl^.rV^'"''^^'' °" ;^' "^^''^'""^ '^^'^^J i« our^eighbohood i su^ 
 gested them in general, in my first letter to the Editor of the " Cao^J 
 
 fdHif TnT' h"""/ Vr^ ^^" ^^^'^ any different estimate r 
 
 dea ot It And in brief and plain terms, I tell you and all concerned 
 
 that, without «s.ng perfect violence to m; feelings. I canno t?eat of ^h.t' 
 
 wild and frantic work, in any serious style. Fof i merit" no to ii^r 
 
 VUrj'" "'''' '"' '" ' ^"^•^^°"^' ^"^ sarcastic manner PeopTe so 
 fur left of common sense, and common decency, are a step beyond seriou^ 
 
 treatment; especially under the sweet and sacred nameTrXZ I 
 We then 7n ''' ^^"^^' ^^'"^^hing about conversions and con Sons 
 We.l then, any person who can imitate the latter, in which our revhai 
 chiefly consists under a so-called sermon, from any of our M^n sters fs 
 at once a sound convert ! I have the plainest and (he strongestSnce 
 ofwomen not unfrequently,in their fond and frantic fi^a our "ad 
 places of devotion, observed as quite regardless of their gimpest habili- 
 
 sTom^f ^"^.v'°'■"'°"^^°'^••°"^^ •" ^he dirt or dust^ and of the r 
 shameful nudities, or even life itself! Preachers roaring and their an 
 
 ,t"r °^!y:T^"« *^«'"' r *he highest pitch of their 'thunderrprLc": 
 ..«.. jvu ever reau tne mate of that, as the sure work of Heaven 
 
 i f I 
 
 iM 
 
114 
 
 (I 
 
 I 
 
 in the Christian Churches? I examined some of those famous conrertA 
 mjaalf : One of their leading men told me, relating to a point of a very 
 complex and difficult casuistry, contained in the works of Jonathan Ed- 
 wards, " that he perfectly and at once understood it, as soon as it was 
 read to him ;" which 1 have every reason to believe it being the height 
 of the operation of his wild fancy, helped by his fostered religious pride. 
 
 The relations of a certain woman — about three minutes' time after her 
 transit from a fit of the work in question,— requested me, by her own 
 leave, to examine her ; which I immediately did, in the manner following : 
 
 Ques. Ist. What has made you cry so bitterly, woman? 
 
 Ans. Oh ! because my sins do testify against me, and that I am past 
 all hope of mercy. 
 
 Q.ues. 2nd. By what light or means do you know these things ? 
 
 Ans. By the Scriptures of truth on my conscience. 
 
 'Ques. 3rd. What particular Scripture, or Scriptures, can you men- 
 tion, as the direct medium of your conviction? 
 
 Ans. All the Bible is against my soul ! 
 
 dues. 4ih. If all the contents of the Bible are against you, it is easy 
 for yon to name to us some particular text, or texts : Let us hear one, 
 or more, of those more directly at your conscience ? 
 
 Ans. 1 can read the Sc|-iptures, both in English and Gaelic, and they 
 are all condemning me. 
 
 dues. 5th. The Scriptures do not run so parallel, in their immediate 
 and apparent application and tendency ; and therefore you cannot find 
 them in the same manner condemning you : And they are also so im- 
 mensely numerous that no person, in this world, can comprehend the 
 least idea, or conviction, of their meaning, at once and the same time ; 
 what say you in answer ? 
 
 Ans. My sins are past numbering, and heinous in their aggravation. 
 
 Q,ues. 6th. I do not choose to hear, like Papists' " confiteorj" or 
 confessions to their Priests, about any of your sins, if such there are, 
 which may appear any wise ugly, shameful, or publicly offensive : Tell 
 us, therefore, any of your sins, which are plainly otherwise f 
 
 Ans. My sins, up from my youth to this day, are so numerous and 
 great that I have no hope of forgiveness. 
 
 dues. 7th. If so they are indeed, it is more easy for you to point out 
 to us one, or more of the " lesser," or least shameful of them? 
 
 Ans. I might be saved only tor my false conversion. 
 
 After a few more questions and answers Of the same rate and rote, I 
 told herself, and her friends present, that by what then passed, they might 
 plainly perceive she had no rational, or scriptural conviction whatever; 
 and that all the puff or pretence was nothing but the roving, raving, and 
 rattling work pf her predominant fancy or imagination, as one of the 
 native results and concomitants of her disordered brain, and the derange- 
 ment of her animal system, by means of wild and unreasonable fear. For 
 the very genius of her preacher, the instrument of her conversion and 
 convulsion, is leading directly to such consequences, by the violence and 
 
 fulminatinn of his nrpnr.hmput ■ an(J thp OYtrafkrHinni-v Vtlasto 2"'' b'^W'" 
 
 r 
 
 
IS conrertA 
 t of a very 
 lathan Ed- 
 as it was 
 the heigh*, 
 ious pride, 
 le after her 
 ^ her own 
 following : 
 
 [ I am past 
 
 ings? 
 
 you men- 
 
 of h.5 bodily exertions, and the inimitable ghastliness and stranrreneia of 
 tiis leatures and grimaces, at the more Huccesssu! times of his public 
 nuni»trat»on;~blu8tering and bawhng out, "brimsiome and burning 
 damnation and dev.U!" These, and similar dreadful and uncohS 
 Btraina, and commonplace .emarke and repetitions, are found by lonir 
 habit and experience, to create, or to excite madness or mormo in bit 
 audience; especially weak and fickle females; and a bugbear Spectrum 
 thus generated and animated, is now most certainly, as Bruce would say 
 
 the top and toe, and root and rind," of our most sounding, and stound' 
 ing, and stumbling revival ! ® 
 
 Till the next opportunity, wishing not to make my letters too tedious, 
 you must res', satisfied with these prelimiuary lines on the subject. 
 
 n o ^ ^ I am, Madam, yours, «fcc, Paddle Plain. 
 
 Cape Breton, 14th December, 1841. 
 
 , it is easy 
 hear one, 
 
 ;, and they 
 
 immediate 
 annot find 
 Iso so im- 
 rehend the 
 ame time ; 
 
 ^gravation. 
 
 ifiteorj" or 
 
 there are, 
 
 ive : Tell 
 
 lerous and 
 
 o point out 
 1 
 
 ind rote, I 
 they might 
 whatever j 
 •aving, and 
 one of the 
 le derange- 
 e fear. For 
 ersion and 
 olence and 
 
 nnrl hlnurr 
 
 For the «« Cape Breton Advocate" 
 PADDLE PLAIN S COMTINUED ANSWER TO THE FIRST LETTER 
 
 OF MARY ANXIOUS. 
 LETTER TI. 
 
 MADAM,~Another certain man of the new converts, came to me by 
 the persuasion of his brother, in order to be examined on his experience ■ 
 But instead of being tied to any method, or rules of catechism, he poured 
 torth such a flood of "conviction and release," as he termed it, and that 
 with so much volubility and violence of expression, and such appearance 
 ot self-importance, and self-complaisance; as, in fact, made almost my 
 very hair to stand oh end. There was neither consistency, nor reason 
 inallhisebulliiion; but one crude, chimerical, feracious, and harura. 
 scarum bombilation; so that I cannot, indeed, think it any wise short of 
 judicial blindness of understanding, or wilful ignorance and stubbornness 
 ot heart and mmd, flowing from corroding pride, and corrupted principles 
 that auy men possessed freely of the unadulterated word of God and 
 other correspondent and ample raeana of edification and erudition 'with 
 explication ot that word; and they themselves assuming the name and 
 sustaining the office of the public servants and Ministers of Jesus Christ 
 should a: the same time, be found so dozed, daffled, or doted; and so 
 devoid of sar.ity, sense, and shame, as to excite and indulge, further and 
 foster, such a height of frightful, and wild vagaries, such mighty, mon- 
 strous, and maodening extravagance. 
 
 Those fanciful converts are generally, and quite naturally, jiven hugely 
 to devotion; and their bigot and partial attachment among themselves, 
 though sometimes pretty hot and haMghty, is yet very richly balanced, or 
 preponderated, by their rancour and revenge, against any who dare think 
 to censure their manners, or mania ; or once to call in question the mo- 
 tives or measures of their fatuous guides ! We have already experienced 
 seen, and heard^ u;hat m.av fi'Mr =---'='' -< • -i ^ . 
 
 ■.» 4 
 
 .._.:f.. 
 
 «I — 
 
 SiiuTp fCinufks, 
 
 ana .smart 
 
r 
 
 116 
 
 lU 
 
 Therefore, let me ever keep my distance, and ^uard my ^assarro 
 nt cal ground Religious and excessive zealots hold the next 
 
 recoil*. 
 
 on this cri; cai ground - Kehgaous .„„.,, ,,„„.„,^ „„,„ ,„^ „„, 
 
 grade to murderers: When they k.ll their faUhful reprove .. it mlt 
 you know. " b. domg God service." Every thing and Ihougl in Zm 
 IS now sanctified ! Wrath and rigour, scourge and scorpionVb lood Ld 
 
 new P'°"n:^ .?'^ '^""«V7 ^'Ti '•"'•y • '^'^°'*^' "' ^^''"g" «^« become 
 ^uJ\ ^ow their very flesh and flower, light and lore, lust ar : lure. 
 
 nZ^f *'"''"'1 ""''^ '^^ ^^''^ '" A- ■« but very natural, we hear 
 now of female ventral magnitude, as the issue of illicit procreation and 
 sexual intercourse, among our convulsed and sanctified tribe ! But vou 
 ixius consider that, now they " are not under the law. but undei trrace !" 
 Other two persons told me. of their own accord, that they had ce. linly 
 SnA^J ^^ expressed It. their very hearts failing them, and their very 
 blood beginning to chill, through all their animal frame! under the vio- 
 lent animation, and thunderin,r expression of one of their leaders in 
 .nr.'?i"'* f«Pf,",«''y by means of the solemn and rvful words "God." 
 
 tnL 1^ ir ^"!.' '''"' "' '^" "T' •"«^^"*' »bey believed themselvw 
 
 to be no wise aflected, or convinced in their understanding, or consci- 
 ence; and that they had neither previous, nor now much dependence on 
 the piety or wisdom of the present instrument of their excitement ; and 
 that these sentiments and reflections sustained and relieved them from 
 becoming perfect preys to the general convulsion and confusion of their 
 neighbors. 1 hese are certainly no suppositions nor fabricati.. r of mine, 
 but plam and unvarnished truths and facts; I ^vill not enumerate in! 
 Uances of this kind m one letter ;-thoufh I have abundant and various 
 inatenals.-since I intend to continue and extend this correspondence. 
 In many scores of different and similar cases I find not one, either in 
 motives, or manners, any wise agreeable, but quite disagreeable to the 
 estimate of the Sacred Scriptures, of saving and spiritual conversions 
 Ufa I the gracious operation and changes, recorded in the New Testa- 
 ment 1 find little or no account ol cries and convulsions.— little animal 
 
 approved by divine truth, as the work of Hoaven. are the cases of the 
 conversion of St. Paid, the Jailor, and those who " were pricked in their 
 heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and bre- 
 thre.^ w.iat .hall we do?"-Acts. This was all blit most rational and 
 sober A' i.c saniiot affirm so much as that any of those subjects 
 intruded m he le.st. on the i.^.ediate preaching, or actual ministration 
 ot the Ap .s..e.. .r ...y other. But our furious and frantic converts rap 
 
 ^^1'^'^' l^T '■°''' ^U^^ ''^'y *•'* «"^ *°P of preaching, and continue 
 so tor a whole sermon : Nay, moreover, some of them, when they don't 
 understand one word of the language preached :~as of late, a young 
 woman, having not a word of English, yet ut.der an English sermoning. 
 ranted and raged as smartly as a bedlam or bridewell! And every un- 
 prejudiced man in all the neighborhood believes her conversion to be 
 consequently, as perfectly safe and sound as any among the vfbole con^ 
 ^jJsed subjects of our mugient and mimic, ruffling and rattlinaj revival' 
 Now m contrast to this turbulent and unreasonable operation, the 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 I 
 ? 
 t 
 
 ri 
 
 V 
 
 o 
 a 
 
 8( 
 
i the next 
 a, it must. 
 It in them, 
 
 blood and 
 re become 
 
 arl lure, 
 I, we hear 
 ation, and 
 
 But, you 
 s; grace !" 
 I ce> linly 
 iheir very 
 r the vio- 
 Icaders in 
 i "God," 
 hemselvea 
 )r consci- 
 ndence on 
 lent ; and 
 lem fronj 
 n c.f their 
 : of mine, 
 lerate in- 
 d various 
 )ondence. 
 either in 
 le to the 
 iversions. 
 w Testa- 
 le animal 
 this sort, 
 is of the 
 d in their 
 
 and bre- 
 onal and 
 
 subjects 
 listration 
 verts rap 
 continue 
 ley don't 
 
 a young 
 moning, 
 very un- 
 n to be, 
 ole con- 
 revival ! 
 tion. the 
 
 .1 
 
 117 
 
 lh,ir Wood. »cr pr;uf.'d mfhS br.?„ '" 7" •""" ' ' . '*"' f""*'""' '- 
 •■bui .p..k' for,^,^h"' word 'oTu "»„d 'Se"::^'*-:.','V:- ^'"' 
 was opened" without the ]oi.«t «nn.lr "ooerneBs. Lydia's heart 
 
 Mar, ^MaBdalon" w.; Iff. l7c'u"7;T.r„°S'-°' ?s' "•""""°"' 
 '.ion of s roar Hut dp. -1. =.,J .!?„ . i "even devil, wilbcut ai.y men- 
 
 d.n,.l wi.h'.b. .piH, o"^ d naLn had bSXd T:f '"^'""',"' '^'" 
 
 o7 at7cr„v"ltr[:'rbf;o"d 0°' "r r '^"''-"'- •'-"''" 
 
 "nffcn f„';l7J,"17'«''.°f'" ■"•'-Iged nor endured .ueh "o^mTng 
 thP frnw^r .1, • • '1'°''"° "nd madness among their converts •• Rnt 
 
 .o.e™ da, of j„^;trr,;rte°d%;t; r ..^Se rr ^^L^ ^ 
 
 Mn«/iT. ^l'J'"' displeasure of the Lamb 
 Sto^HTh r V'*' "•°'' '=°"»«">Ptible, most vilo,- 
 Thrlli ?''° P'-«;'t. and in his consc/euoe felt 
 The felJest gnaw of the Undying Worm. 
 
 Thf M 1 ";«''*'. ^''' ''^ ^^^ °" his hands 
 
 J. he Wood vof souls, that would not wipe away 
 
 Hear what h« was. He swore, in sigfr of God 
 
 being mnculme : Though I am awa,, ih,i ™ . . ? ■*"" '"'' ""•■"puncli 
 
 I 
 
 . fVrtfk 
 
 'mCt of the uriginai 
 
 im 
 
['i ' I 
 
 118 
 
 And man, to preach his master, Jesus Christ ; 
 
 Yet preached himself: he swore that love of souls, 
 
 Alone, had drawn him to the Church ; yet strewed 
 
 The path that led to hell with tempting flowers, 
 
 And in the ear of sinners, as they took 
 
 The way of death, he whispered peace : he swore 
 
 Away all love of lucre, all desire 
 
 Of eaithly pomp ; and yet a princely seat 
 
 He liked, and to the clink of Mammon's box 
 
 Gave most rapacious ear. His prophecies, 
 
 He swore, were from the Lord ; and yet, taught lien 
 
 For gain : with quackish ointment, healed the wounds 
 
 And bruises of the soul outside, but left, 
 
 Within, the pestilent matter unobserved, 
 
 To sap the moral constl.jtion quite, 
 
 And soon to burst ugain, incurable. > 
 
 He with untempered mortar daubed the walls 
 
 Of Zion, saying, Peace, when there was none. 
 
 The man who came with thirsty soul to hear 
 
 Of Jesus, went av/ay unsatisfied ; 
 
 For he another gospel preached than Paul, 
 
 And one that had no Saviour in't ; and yet, 
 
 His life was worse. Faith, charity, and love. 
 
 Humility, forgiveness, holiness. 
 
 Were words well lettered in his Sabbath creed ; 
 
 But with hiu life he wrote as plain, Revenge, 
 
 Pride, tyranny, and lust of wealth and power 
 
 Inordinate, and lewdness unashamed. 
 
 He was a wolf in clothing of the lamb. 
 
 That stole into the fold of God, and on 
 
 The blood of souls, which he did sell to death, 
 
 Grew fat ; and yet, when any would have turned 
 
 Him out, he cried, " Touch not the priest of God." 
 
 And that he was anointed, fools believed ; 
 
 But knew, that day, he was the devil's priest, 
 
 Anointed by the hands of Sin and Death, 
 
 And set peculiarly Jipart to ill, — 
 
 While on him smoked the vials of perdition. 
 
 Poured measureless. Ah me ! what cursing then 
 
 Was heaped upon his head by ruined souls. 
 
 That charged nim with their murder, as he stood, 
 
 With eye of all the unredeemed most sad. 
 
 Wailing the coming of the Son of Man ! 
 
 But let me pause, for thou hast seen his place 
 
 And punishment, beyond the sphere of love. 
 
 I am, Madam, 
 
 Your obedient servant. 
 Paddle 
 Cape Breton, 16th December, 1841. 
 
 I 
 
 Plain. 
 
 ai 
 ol 
 
I 
 
 LAIN. 
 
 119 
 
 SOME FURTHER REMARKS UPON THE "GUARmAN.^^ 
 
 nnZ."?''''* ""^ reflections upon the "Guardian" or its Editors mav 
 appear loo unsparing and severe, as taken either in bulk o- a random^ 
 1 wish not to be understood as desirous of detr-Jctin^ J' i '^^'?^?'»' 
 
 fmlV'f P"^'-^^'°".°^ ''' publishers" a^ t^hr fan"th^.':ranf 
 mmed.ate subject m dispute makes it in my view necessary. In aTl other 
 respects I would rather treat them to^ethpr in a f.. a a- ! 
 For in somerespects I could freery/a^'^t'hout^' ter^^ 
 mem^ '-h the Journal, and the Journalists. But in mv humble udlmrnT 
 and most serioua deliberation, there is a flagrant irdvertencvo'rmS 
 jf not a dreadful and disgraceful misconcep^tion iro'd "e/a^dTo ut^^ 
 hke a selfish and w.lful design, if not fatal ignorance, o a most deS 
 and permcous texture and tendency, in the total absence of a proper 
 line of discnmmation or demarcation, in the Editorial of the GuardTan 
 on the score of the very visible and vast diff^erence existing between the 
 religious or spiritual state and circumstance of the Church ot Sco land 
 
 r iLiourp'/id'e f:is'"'"L" '"° "^r-' l" <=--q-nce of Ihich "he 
 rei gious pride, false confidence, and self-ignorance of thousands ar« 
 fostered and confirmed, so that the blood of so many such miserable ch? 
 
 flatteTers^rnH* ""f^ ^. -^^-" degree, lie at the hands of their ,0^1" 
 tlatterers and sad deceivers. For the sounding name and Z,.Z7 
 ceremonies and formalities of a decenerate Ch, r?h nl? k ?i, '""''S'^^^ 
 to her own infatuated members. a'ndablinale'nThelht'T 
 For the Church of Scotland is at present in s^ it nd iib tfnce dSpo* 
 smon and practice, but the very skin and skeleton, the mere nameTd 
 gnomon, the counter and contrast, of what she was at t^e time of tl e 
 Keformation. and some subsequent periods And the acrn„ntc . !i 
 formation which ,^aces her no\ as upon a lead wItL' vh t'X" on fw"" 
 or had been, are but sinful and senseless means-the result of awfnf 
 .gnorance, or stubbornness, though not seldom varnished unerifiedh 
 order to impose upon the cribbed and credulous ; who are more ,n terestpH 
 m th. shelter and shadow of the pompous and popular design tionofi 
 party or progression, than in the real work of God in their^owiTsouV 
 and die spiritual welfare of their fellowmen, manifested by a concoidan; 
 
 ^^^Si-r^be;:^^^!^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 bofht CeiftffihrB:!;^"^ ''^ ^"^^^'-' -' ^^^ -tT' 
 
 TWO SHORT ANECDOTES: BY A SCOTTISH EMIGRANT. 
 
 Avery popular Clergyman among "tho godly" in Inverness shir^ 
 
 fnd nff?"*T' r'' ^'''^y *° ^^"^ ^°""*ry> that though he Ls"tre name 
 offic." r?^L"''*""'" ^" ""^^^^ thought himself qualfied for iTat 
 pflice. And yet he requests to know what enccurncr. ml. !" »..»°' - - 
 
 .^e given mm in this foreign land, in case he will "receive thTLord's 
 
 
120 
 
 direction to leave his present station, in order to become the " pastor" 
 of a Transatlantic flock. —Queries. 1st, How can he expect to find 
 Heaven's direction in the change of a place, when he never thought him- 
 self qualified for his office: or why does he not resign his office till he 
 thinks he is better qualified for it ? 2nd. Does it not look far more like 
 a prank o. pretended or feigned humility, in order to impose on the cre- 
 dulity of his simple adherents and employers according to the very long 
 and silly habit of that country, on religious points, than any real convic- 
 tion or proper sense of mind on the subject? 
 
 In the parish of Assint, Sutherland-shire, Scotland, there is at Loch 
 Inver a natural fool, the son of J. M. L., Mason ; who has been, like 
 several others of his cast, a subject of the late revival in that quarter. 
 He can, according to the mode of the day, pray and prat to purpose, 
 when and wherever he is bid, or allowed. He is at times followed, from 
 place to place, by merry and curious youngsters, to whom he tells, with 
 great earnestness, that he will unde/go a repetition of his conversion-fits 
 at the request of the party present, for the reward of a halfpenny ! The 
 "Good people" of the place, notwithstanding, admire the "free grace" 
 which prefers this idiot, and others of his kind, as the choice favorites 
 of Heaven I , 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM MARY ANXIOUS'S CATECHISM 
 
 TO HER SON. 
 
 Q,. Are you a fool ? 
 
 A. I am partly, but not entirely ; because I believe, feel, and grieve 
 for my foolishness; and endeavor, by Heaven's assistance, to get by de- 
 grees, cured of that general and dangerous disease. 
 
 Q,. What may be the chief symptoms of that mental disease of your's ? 
 
 A. Ungenerous pride, sullenness, fretfulness, heart-swelling, immode- 
 rate anger, wantonness, laughter, froth and frolick, peevish jesting, dis- 
 content, wrangling. 
 
 d. How do you know that those vices are not prevalent or dominant 
 in your soul, though the fear of outward shame and disgrace, or inward 
 anguish of conscience, and dread of future punishment, might stifle their 
 temporary and external appearance? 
 
 A. Though I find the reasons you have just named to be certain 
 motives, which in a degree, and at times, lead to the effect in question, 
 yet f believe that I have a principle beyond these ; because I would hear- 
 tily rather have my inclinations, which are cross to the commands of 
 Heaven, mortifiedj than Heaven's laws changed in their favor: And 
 that I feel my love to God excited for his holy hatred of my vicious pro- 
 pensities. I would also be a brute or a block rather than a man without 
 redemption from my fallen nature, even were there no hell or eiernal 
 perdition. 
 
 e 
 
 il 
 
iAl 
 
 Q. Who is the happiest man in the world ? 
 
 A. The best man, or in other words, the humblest Christian. 
 
 A Wot "'" '^f f 'r^ '"I"""'' •'^'^"^ °^ ' S^^^ Christian ? 
 
 A. Weariness of life, and a patient waiting for death, accordina to 
 Heaven's appointment, both flowing from the love of ho!in;ss and hafred 
 of sin; especially inward corruption, the fountain of a Tutward t ans^- 
 gressions - 1 am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to deoar Th 
 to be with Christ which is far better : Nevertheles tHbide in'^^he flesh 
 IS more needful for you," «fec —St Paul 
 
 attlme^'n'sf '"^'""^ °' ''"^ '''''' ^""^^ ^° ^^P^^ - P-f^ss such 
 A. They certainly are, in kind or quality, though not in dejrrPP • for 
 
 a " Whv'h S'"nr ' '''' '^ "^rh '^"^-"^ o?tEo1e"feeIg:/ '" 
 
 f«r 1. 7 ^ "^^ ^''^" '° '"""^ '«fty professors, and popular Minis- 
 
 ers, who choose to treat such feelings but as enthusiasm^ fan! [cism or 
 
 some chimerical and wild notions? lanaucism.or 
 
 in.UrnJ^f degeneracy of our times obtains places, of serious and spiri- 
 
 "Lii:;ui"^frj;i;rt'.°'^''''^"^''^"°-'^^-^ 
 
 CI. Who is the wisest man ? 
 
 He that in sincerity and humility professes himself to be the fool- 
 
 I am more brutish than any man."— Agar 
 Who is the humblest ? 
 
 He that is most grieved for his secret pride. 
 Who is the meekest? 
 
 He that most laments his heart's fierceness. 
 Who IS the proudest? 
 He that is most ignorant of his pride. 
 Who is the basest, and most treacherous? 
 
 He that most pretends to groundless merit; especially under a 
 religious disguise : as Ahithophel and Judas Iscariot ^^^ ^ 
 
 ?■ M .r", '"t'^Y ^"y "-eligious inconsistencies, or absurdities ? 
 A. ^lethinks I do, if I could properly define them. 
 
 est^uefi.!i:iir?"' '" ''""' "'.*'^'"' '^^^^^^'"^ *° y°- -^-. -J sl^ort. 
 
 fVom-grJ:^. i^t^^fbl: ilir ^!;^';!:rr'^^'" ^"^ ' '^''^ ^"^"^ 
 bapl'il^TreVen^farn!"^ °' ^'"' '''''''''' '' ^ ^--^"-- ^^ -ere 
 of Gospei ifgh"''"""^ '"""'" "^ ^ "'^^'^^ »"-' ""^- ^he sun-shine 
 
 4th, A sinecure to be Christ's steward, or a pluralist to be His oastor 
 5th, A Protestant and Papist in wedlock. ^ ^^' 
 
 6th, A meetmg for Divine worship without a Priest praver or hihio 
 expecting the visits of the Holy Ghost ^ ^ ' ''^'^' 
 
 ill neVbo'°°' '^'""'''' '"' ' ''' "'^'" ' '' ' ^'''' ^'^"^^^-^ but an 
 
 A. 
 
 ishest. 
 
 a. 
 
 A. 
 
 a. 
 
 A. 
 
 a. 
 
 A. 
 
 a. 
 
 A. 
 
r22 
 
 s 
 
 9th, Chrbi's whole body in a wafpr nn,i „». « 
 
 10.1, The .Hfference beL'eV„ ■■' ";,t,/"^°■^"X"l"': 
 
 iar right of any 
 
 2: J^pr;=i.^C^^^^^ 
 
 18 h, Lent w.thoul flesh, but with honey andbuiter-cske, 
 
 14lh, A proud man, but a guod preacher. 
 Mth tLT" P»™«"'« in a pulpit, 
 rev^;'' ^"^ ~"''"°'°" "f '<"»'" but the inatrument of a graeiou. 
 
 ^.gaxSkteS^rii^;:^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 Ji?st:l:Cdr"vicT,'n '*"'■ "■' '"•"«■' ""o-" ""■". "... 
 fi.lKa„^°:'y;'e''b!Jdlf' ""«" «"" " "'"-^^ " ""Oon.. or a. 
 
 ■«ve?tV Ja°re^VH1,^r„ti'„ot!'e^e'""«""^•,^ "^""'^ '» «- 
 25th, Faith and good works ever separated. 
 
 ^t ToTcrthftr i^i^ ril^^^^^^^^ 
 
 and .raise, in his ruffles ''^^^ P""^'*^^ ^"*^ P"y. P"nce 
 
 •°S ?r "P^' .?.r„S"oi'v;„t ^''- -^ ''--"■• - 
 j£a-?s*^a:d-;^S;i:t-fe 
 
 30th. To expect Heaven, or happiness, without holiness. 
 
! 
 
 COPIES OF TWO LETTERS BEARING ON THE FORE- 
 GOING SUBJECT. 
 
 The drift of the two following letters being, alas, too obvious to b. 
 
 2Z"?r ^''""' '^'''' '^''^r'^-'^'y '^^nnott rea^Lablv q'estiined 
 Some of the proper names .r. these Copies are Only in their^initials in 
 order „ some degree, to avoid giving unnecessary offence, though thej 
 were originally all written without the least dusk or disguise. 
 
 , ^ " Cape BRfitON, 28th Feliruary, 1842. 
 
 Reverend Sir,— Your brother, on a vi^it here in the besrinninff ^ 
 
 Huslfs'r'n^T""' °^^"° ofyour letters to him, bot^ dat"e§ In 
 August 1840, and c.t the same time suggested tliat he thought it of little 
 or no consequence to offer any answer to them ; but to lea^ve them wh^! 
 me for tny consulerat.on. I did not then think to trouble you or mvsef 
 with any remarks upon their contents : nor do I expect now beTnrable 
 to write any thing for your conviction. For I find the same reaso"?^ w . h 
 your brother, to despair of seeing the like of your character any w le 
 corrected, by any human means in the world. Any thi"g I ^aTthe e^ 
 fore suggest at the tune will be purely intended, though fn weakness Tn 
 order to attempt fulfilling a duty ag'ainst the great and soTemn dai o" 
 final retribution. Your letters are filled with frifolous shifts and excuses 
 as well as with sly and silly sophistry ; which are all but ' uite coTslten; 
 
 duct Tho^r m" h' «f.r ^'^^"•"S' -"^ »'- --^ of yoVrr ugTous i:" 
 
 duct 1 hough I had neither heart nor hand in what your brother wroL 
 
 o Edinburgh through your medium, I am fully aware* ef ev^y word If 
 
 •t : And whether it would be agreeable or disagreeable to the TadiP« 
 
 much to guard and regard, it was not the question with the writeJor IWs 
 
 rn^'- \W'''' P^-"*" ^'''''' '"''' °f "'hi^h on the part 0™ fool 
 and wicked Mi.sion in question, were a step beyond common'ense and 
 common decency ; so as. in a degree, to forbid^ serioT? eatment and 
 he square of the ordinary rules of information, or riarration on rel cious 
 subjects: And plain facts. I say, more intended, in therwrUte iTrm 
 and transmission, to be a discouragement to the silly patrirsses in IheTr 
 future support and furtherance of Iheir said Mission"^ t a„ Tpec^ed 10 
 prove a means of any positive adjustment of past follies and^msnile 
 And independent of your service, something of the same Lature whh wt; 
 your sacred and sage tenderness thought proper to cru." has foup^ it, 
 
 deJr e° n:;:;e7""?°"^ fl''"^ '"'^ '« "^ und^tood " ^i^l 
 aegree answered ..le original design, on th s score. Your flat obsen.ii 
 
 /.«,.iij ; J "^^^^^^^'^y^- I ou regret exceeding y ' that your brethf^r 
 could sa down, and rashly pensuch\p.thets as ' fhLurfek oHazines" 
 

 '' f 
 
 124 
 
 ^-C, 'ill speaking of any man ' <3« f c i »* i 
 
 't seems you have become very TJJ. ^^^^^'»'' «"'' 'e"'ier brother, 
 thenceforth. :o be sure, hu t ne (her the ?L^ -nofrensive : you shal 
 nor of a weak MacJonn;.! A d y't beho''' ' ' "'^ ^^''"''''' 
 
 very next lines to these your e,n,rk, rn I'/r'.^^" '^"•"^'^ P^"' i" "'« 
 It as indicative of a smLlL\!hZ' "''^ ^'^^^y ^"'^ ^^neriuah write 
 both dreaded and avol^/d t'^,^ '^ 7 -/^-h, ^" ^e at all ad%4rur 
 
 With Norman and his foliovv^er 7 Bu f V^"'"' ™'"V i ^" ^^ ^'='«^»fi«<i 
 Chnst; in the principal and practical rn."" '' "" '^''°^^«'" ^f Jesus 
 humbly and «inUrel/beli ef he i .d? ', " ^''T^' «« '""^^elf mos 
 thousand other sober and serious n^nll.r^.^'''" ^''''^'^' ""^ several 
 that either .hey or I. um, o ' cX '^i or^ '^^^^^^ '°P^' ^« ^^^^ '^ink 
 
 envious and slanderous reflections of iJ. h^ J .scarecrowed by ,he 
 
 both there and here, together ^h the 'ool,?;".^ T' "?^'''' '^^ 'h---". 
 so as to deviate from thi path of our nL if ^ f '"'^''^ °^ Edinburgh ;' 
 the long-Iost. and far-gone and A^^^verf^r"'^','; '^"'^'J" ^^^er to retrieve 
 v.cousrevilers! You writ^ that naI;reTlf"'^'''''''''"" "''''' ^"'^h 
 have been forwarded, ' the said pXe L^ieslf pr?' '" u'""^''"" ^^ould 
 look upon your brother and his t^arfv .J ^'''"/'"''^h "'"'^'^ a» once 
 you think so indeed, Sir ' and wh^nt? "'"-e^^onable .lunatics' O do 
 harm of it, in our es in tio if vol R ^'" J"^^^ ^^<>"'d be the great 
 jo.n the dear honest Ladi s i„ ,C .|^o:n'r''-'^'^'^ "'^^' ««^'^'^"y 
 Reverend brother, and familiTr associate fllf'^^'".""' ' ^our own 
 Missionary, the famous P. M. is estPem;H^ ' ,'' '^^ ^ite Ladies' 
 more sensible Protestant population if^R \\^^'^^ '""J'^'-ity of the 
 and the proudest fanatics in all MpLvinc.' A . °"' °^ ^''^ ""'^^^^ 
 a train of self-evident si.ns to sustain ..H,' ^""^ "'^ *="" substantiate 
 and all of th.m drafted and der ved Lm h" "'°""'''''" ^"^ '^W^^nuon ■ 
 '"Stances, his peculiar extrava^ ,ce nll'T" ""P'''^^' ^"'^ '" '^-^^' 
 as from his wild and frantic n t , mr n '' '"^ '"'^ practice; as well 
 t.ona! assemblies his rolr ^^ d nfli ' /'"l'^' ''^■"^' '' '" ^vhose devo- 
 quently seen not only as qui?e ret,n it ^' I'lf^ "^"^^'•'«' ^^e not unfre- 
 'ut of life and limbs^.esu le SJi .T:^^ ^"'J nudities, 
 
 fornicanon : one instance of which iM-I'^'T" '^"'^''^ filthiness, or open 
 would be thought by you and your JTr/v' f' ''^f '^""' settlement _ 
 tenng appearance of Lder , on?^ ?^:~"'"^"'' ^" >'^"^ ^^'^t and flat- 
 sneering, snorting, and snarling O .1 J 7f f '"""^ ^""^ >'""'• «°""dest 
 b.ptry ! But all the forego f bu?.ie ofTenf ^^T^''^ ""^ ^'^^^'^^^^ 
 false and foolish name of c1,nve%io L LI? ''' ^^^'"""^3'. ""^e'" 'he 
 nienl, and the degenerate Church w'thwZh 7"'^^' ^"^'^ "^ ''' '"s^^"" 
 chief of your polue Ladies of^nlt^tl " '^°""^<^ted. And the 
 
 proved herself to us by a train of h.r n^ ' ^''"'" ^'''' ^^''- ^'^^^I/^ has 
 the most impolite, insole, to vicious Ladir'^'^P^^^"'^^' ^° ^'« ""« of 
 for whose approb;tion, or CoTatbn « ^ -^"^ '"^= and therefore, 
 
 all your proud party, i. the Tast co^-^'^"? """^ >'""'• ««'"• and that of 
 ^-;««« and his bes friends care „m'- ''^''"'" '""'^ ^"'^ ^^^^^'^V, poor 
 "•e most heartily bless He ven for h v n''"f r. '^"T ' ^'*-^' ^^ *"^^her, 
 -Hd, the approval and apriSy^ m^. ^1 oli^f^-'gi:::;: 
 
 » 
 
 ^' 
 
<lej brother, 
 : you slialJ 
 <1 Minister, 
 
 pen, in tlie 
 iiigJy write 
 
 adventures 
 be classified 
 er of Jesus 
 imseir most 
 and several 
 oytiu think 
 'ed by the 
 il l)reihren, 
 dinhnrgh ;' 
 to retrieve 
 >r all such 
 ion should 
 lid ai once 
 3s.' O do 
 the great 
 
 cordially 
 Sfour own 
 le Ladies' 
 ity of the 
 e rankest 
 batantiale 
 negation ; 
 1 in some 
 ; as well 
 ose devo- 
 ot urifre- 
 nudities, 
 ', or open 
 anient, — 
 and flat- 
 soundest 
 onfirmed 
 Jder the 
 s instru- 
 And the 
 '^ai/, has 
 J one of 
 erefore, 
 1 that of 
 ty, poor 
 further, 
 in (his 
 eligious 
 
 I 
 
 125 
 
 cast and character; for otherwise we have fcinnd it i,« o«»« j i i 
 and lingering experience, inn.o.»U.!e fo^: to L^^d " si ' "^ 
 knew you had but l.ttle .nfliience and 80^0^^ in Vhi! ... ' ^"'* 
 
 among your near relations, you ha e never lowed vou^snr' '^'"' 
 unreserved vent according to its active bmlin. .„ . ^ &^" ^"^ 
 
 gion ; but lor nil your ^ly^rnuffln.^ U Is'i:;';: ^, ^r dl^^,:: y"!^;:^; 
 
 already seen and felt enough of your pLumpTion aTd hynocrisv border 
 
 rrainaiUhr ^^ V ^^l'""^^^^' ^ou de'cenfully fi ^d 7 L at 
 dram all the zeal of your dear brother's soul, through your feia,,ed nro 
 fess.on ot experience on the ground of ' natural famil/co, « I .1 on Td 
 
 &^g j:^:: --^-r in^i - £F 5 
 
 count and conscience to the syren song and ^Je ire o «'he rht^h ' 
 under the ding-dong-and-diasteVpreach^nent of d ,dle G.' t ^nyoL 
 of h,s pop.guu .nates, that your right reverence, and you no e M^ 
 
 hnlL' """"^'r'- c'";''P >'o..r inuntle-shake your noddle-stnke vour 
 bugle ; such lan.uage.s desecrated : the consecrated servants o fHeaven 
 to be thus abashed, abated, and abased,--in their sanction, funct on a. i 
 connection ! Concerning the Sacrament., it were the first cncern I 
 you, and your unfortunate functionary brethren to be convince th't vm 
 are manifestly .anhat state, which gives you no right to hen n vou 
 own persons accordmg to the revealed will of Heaven ; an.l ha there 
 
 to other?' 'r * 7r^''T ^^"^ ''^""^ ^"^ ^'^'^ »'^'« '- admi .ter then 
 to others But sl,l on the ground of your own professed principle^ you 
 arguments to your brother on the su.ject, are all shameful v va< e hS 
 and mconclus.ve, from the pen of a sound.ng Minister of hrOo pd 
 ? B onT^^^' «77"«.^'»«t in the integrity of the PresbyVery of 
 t- B on the score of the intended settlement of Mr. G (for I Lvo 
 
 ioTca^rn'ot whaTtr °P'" T ?' '"'^^ ^''^' ^^^^ ^" - "tl/er' . 
 yuu care not what to sav — whet ipr tniP nr f iicn r^► .u . 
 <• i.u -11 „ -^ ♦v'lciiier irue or i,iis(» — or tliat vour lanoranrfi 
 
 Of the wickedness of the Clergy is both wilful and shameful/ Is yS 
 
 edness; for M.n.sters are. of necessity, either the best or the pes the 
 
 b less.nc; or the plague of any place. In another of your parncrrnphs you 
 
 talk in a very serious-hke manner of your non-ability to tdl Vi;ther 
 
 your fnends in C. B. ought or ought not to foster any' hopes of your re 
 
 mov I to them, because as you remark 'nothing should ^induce Te to 
 
 adopt tha course, t„it a clear conviction and Paramount sense o'' Tuty ' 
 
 &c. But we are now well inured on the ground of hearing simi a? pre- 
 
 Tethren tdkThos?b ''""h "• ^"'^ ^°' ''^« ^^^ generflhy 'r/o^r 
 to hS. .h/ ^ '"'';'''' Warently in order to induce your friends 
 
 prosp s tCthTi:^ '" ''' and guided, not by worldl/ motives or 
 nnd «h^ M /u V '"^"^"*^e «»J direction of the Holy Spirit of God- 
 and should therefore never be expected to shift quarters without .orne 
 
 ,1 
 
t I I 
 
 h'; < 
 
 \m 
 
 13d 
 
 w.th all the reat of your con^^.niiafl iT'^'"'^ *° '^'" ^'"'ft «»d 5cope 
 meaning. And in perfect VruthS' *'°""*'* ^'°'*' g'""'? H'em tlia 
 of the Gospel, it «hoKtVro; ^ JcTd^r:^;,;" ^^V"^ ^'« "^^^^ 
 case .s wuh you and your faKrethr^n ^ '^"V"'^- ^"» "'"« ' 'he 
 vew o. all sincere and intel-Vge .t spectaTorrn ' "'^''''''7' '" ^''^ «P«" 
 spT.t of your correspondencef as w^U a^th" ^'^^"'"'J^°'"^"ct. And 'the 
 charncter, plainly indicates to me and mj friLT".;"'^'r °^ ^°"' S«"«"' 
 "" thus point, a little glittering whiJeor^.."'; "'"' ''^""" "" -^""^ farce 
 ;ble ne.,li„g for the world, in^^e Ice mor?.?"''' '" "'^''^ ^ ^^•"^^^t- 
 turn the scales . And then mv dear ,ir ? *5«",«''o^hcr. would soon 
 honest cow in her humhie ^rTb Sht II T'^ ""^ ^^''^''' ^0"^ very 
 this any degradation to your ndiv^iua chnr« /""%««""«e"or ! Nor ij 
 the common standard of the Jest o,>o .r '"' L ^^ " '« "^'^''"g below 
 
 I repeat that I have your letters open befofe'r"^ ""T^'^" '" «^"«"'- 
 ed and arrogant sinff they contain indeed 'A 'f ' '''^"'^''^' '''''^^ 
 paramount sense of du.y!' Just so 'f ^ '^'^a'' conviction and 
 
 back and belly, goose and goslings or in J^f^'^^""^ ^""^ ^^ ^"^^ ft>r 
 rfren, w.th all the worldly concernVof a f ^ r' ^''^^.-wifeand ohil- 
 or any other place, would be sure !o f.l ^^ ^' •■ "'^ ^^enever C. B, 
 sure grounds in falor of your sedwar r r'""' "'""' '"^ Preponderate on 
 t.on and paramount sense^ordutv woui ^"T'f ^-'^"' «'««r *^onvic. 
 recourse to Heaven's counsd.t^ther tl„n" ''''''\'^'''°*^' '''^'^'^^^ ^"Y 
 order ,o impose on your silly adtr'nt "nd n'"? ^^Pr'^'"«' "^'"^ '" 
 "'^g^i.ded coiKscience. For^theru^se ' '"^1^ .'"^^^ '''° "P**" ^^^^ «^^" 
 horse or cow, might serve your turn 'for .h '^ f ggested. your v ry 
 «ure to answer your prayers^, s .&„„''' •"' !^''"' ^'^"'^ be as 
 probation, while you labor unde the 00^/ T*""""' '"^ «"«'«"« «P- 
 , .-.d the aggravated guilt and sl^s of vmJ fj''''' "^''^« ignorance. 
 hnnging about vour miserable neck ir/""^""^ responsible life, stil 
 trath. . Ye ask and rece ve „ot b^cause""?:"^ I" '''' '''?'"'' '^f — ^^ 
 sume ,t on your lusts.' And we ca.^^l^ , 5 """'' '^^' >« '"^y con- 
 that long since you would have been "tr.'H^.' ^''•'"*' ^' ^°"^ ^"^"'i?. 
 did the ease and affluence, credit and ^1 n 71 """"^ ^«"' ^'i«»J« 
 v'ews O then the silly and wicked ori!" °f;»\ world answer your 
 direction or guidance on thisTround^ T^.^^^'-^^'^^'^ '» ««^ven fur 
 causes that have so effectually^stopped vo1.r ti ' ''?"^ ""^'^^ deplorable 
 a reason to your faithful friendsfor .nn l '^''^ *^'°'" ^^^' rendering 
 d..ct, on the score of the Clergv sinc« / '^'"^i «/ ^^"^^'"ents and con^ 
 Cousin M'K-, and yourVrother a" thrm'ir" ''^^J^'"''^^^' B^^byour 
 have endeavored in vain to ply ^nd doL vo'"™ ''^?^'' ^^••'°"« "»»d«. 
 quue contrary to the injuncS o? Scrinturr. r" '*"'. '"'^'"" g^^""^ 
 an answer to every man that ask pi h^*^ ^® ''^^'^J' always to give 
 
 you with meeknes's and fit ' tou ^'eTerVf;"" "^ ^f.^ '^^P^ ^'^^^ - ^" 
 and Scriptural reason for your official L'n' T '°"'*^' ^''^ ^^^ sound 
 you have become a Clergym^an jfo Jou ^^h'k "*" "L^ "'*"^'"«'' «i"<^e 
 you out on the subject, ll the day of Sment V"''''"J '''' "'" "^^^ 
 
 J J augment. iTou and your unfortu- 
 
\. 
 
 lo not at all 
 ft and scope, 
 •g lliem that 
 afa MinistAC 
 |ut alas ! the 
 in the open 
 t. And the 
 our general 
 I' your farce 
 3 a comfort* 
 would soon 
 , your very 
 r ! Nor is 
 ■hing below 
 in general, 
 'hed, wick- 
 iction and 
 f duty for 
 reandchil- 
 ver C. B., 
 iderate on 
 ir convic- 
 thout any 
 name in 
 your own 
 four V ry 
 Jld be as 
 clous ap. 
 fnorance, 
 life, still 
 of sacred 
 may con- 
 writing, 
 friends, 
 ver your 
 aven fur 
 plorable 
 indering 
 md con- 
 Jthyour 
 ) niiiids, 
 f round ; 
 to give 
 lat is in 
 Y sound 
 , since 
 ill bear 
 nfortu- 
 
 127 
 
 nate associate at U rely upon a spurious conversion, to tender your 
 
 tnmds more callous and impregnable against means of conviction an 1 
 correction, than those of others, who do' not so much dream ofTaving 
 undergone a savmg change. Sacred shame upon you and him, who are 
 such dreadful stumbl ng-blocks. both to one'anofher. and to so ma, y 
 
 >our right nand! Poor men m a manner 'twice dead.'- and 'your 
 An iT."*' ^?' 'l''^'^ ^° continue, being ' worse than the beginning.' 
 a^a^n a'n; Z '° "it T P^^^^f^'/ ^l.e dog is turned to his own vom^t 
 agam , and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire ' Both 
 your pr.de. and your false and evil conscience are most vi" ble in all 
 your correspondence; pretending to have a great Reform, as we I as 
 
 fn^ p'V" '*"" ^'^T^i ^""'^ "^^ ''^''^^' '" ^^'^'r nature, 'appearance 
 t?cnl «nH "'^' T ^^'""^''^V '"f ' ^"'•'^3' ""^ ^he formal profane^iypocril 
 tical, and proud present Church of Scotland. 1 have a pamphei before 
 me of the Revival at Kilsyth, of the same stamp with tL rC i^,. at d 
 antrngofMcL--; and the for.oer wild vagariL and extravagan^ce of 
 "T A ^' « ^"^ accounts are. fro.M tm.e to time, received from all 
 parts of duped Scotland, by oral and auricular, as well as literal iZma- 
 Z^\^ ■'"^'''^'^f infatuation, of otherwise men ol aense. and science ! 
 fni f " 7® °u ^^^ T/^ ^"'^"' instances and concomitants of the fro^t 
 and frown of righteous Heaven, ns a curse of fatal and shameless reli-ri- 
 ous dotage on a kingdom, communities, and individuals, for the wilful 
 rin^'?'/"1 ope«i abuse of clear light, and ample means of knowledge! 
 
 votr f • T/V''" l^"^' **^. ""^ P"^"*« characters. 1 know you and 
 your fr.end to have oeeply sinned against the dictates of your consri- 
 
 tnnr!'!L' 7 "' ^^'l? example; which, without deep and timely repen- 
 tance, must prove a bitter cup to you in the issue. Did the world in its 
 credit and gam equally follow you in a different line of conduct in your 
 religious career, the Lord knows how easy would it be for you to fi."d 
 your path of dut> in t. and at the same time sufficient logicTo sipport 
 and justify you. O the sad deceit of lust !-• Every man is tempted whe 
 he IS drawn away from his own lust, and enticed.' -You could elthe- or 
 
 Ministers, before you were yourselves Ministers ; but now and long since 
 sn^/l '^ ^"" °PP°"""'^y. according to their air or humor, to play the 
 same key or cant over yourselves. I treat you now seriously, as my dear 
 
 IrlZ! 5 r'^ "'f ^°" '"'^ y°"' ^""^"' responsibility, that I would 
 sincerely, and from the very bottom of my heart, yearn over the awfully 
 
 rSfoT' "T "^/°"'' f^^'""' '°"'«- ^ ^««' r^^'^^sly sorry foyou^ 
 religious pride and insolence; and your want of due moderation and 
 fear on very important subjects. And if you would not stumble at it 
 as thinking it to flow from my .elfish displeasure, on my own mere a": 
 count, I could point out to you, my once and formerly dear Duncan 
 some remarks of your insolence, ignorance and imprudence, in yo"; 
 treatment of both your dear brother and myself, in your correspondence 
 
t«'ought myself wdJ wurraned fo tr^J ' '"'' '^^'' ^^'*'^'' ' ''«ve aeriou^U 
 •nJ-Pende..tly and -^"-ca.t c nV i.^r ^ ""*' -V""' character lovl' 
 Para^rapl, of wh.ch. though a L In ***'^«"'"^ M«" "f this Jetter • o, « 
 o alter . for I ...merely ^Sie Tth ' /oriiM ' ' '"J '" '^^«^°"' ^^^ "-d 
 ther „ time or eternity, fmd both vn.r r '.""'^ ''">' "i" "nether who- 
 your letters well deservinHueh „ T T''^' '"^ '^^ «''" «'"i subjects of 
 
 r» ,kl» of .Iee|,-,„„ted relijious di,dZ ^ , "'"' '"' blowers' smell 
 
 3?=; *^::v;:t^££? -f ^M- — ^! dirt 
 
 o »»ers of his ,„i„d jf, thiLlr/e// W IT''>' ''"^^^« brolher. and al 
 J'I<e a.Kl manly in v„u J 'rT , ""''^ " "'^^ '^^^e been more hon J 
 you could uot'agre'e wu , "^ '"'ffi ^^ 7 -->- ->d sulenrorce "h ; 
 
 rcJ.g.ousdoff,na:or teuet/tha o" tou^^^^ their own sincere and 
 reservedly, o„ any important subieot Ti '^"'"■^ ^'^^^ «»^n views un- 
 and supported by plain Scripture and r'"'''°" ' ^"^ ^''«'. «o backed 
 your m.n.sterial aptness, fortitude aud?T""^'/^ ^^''"'^ at o, ee shovv 
 
 choose to excile your anger ■ but f f^ j , "P""'' '"> "I"" I do ttot 
 fore the Lo.d, a„d our Srfve'retl ,?h "'^/P'"'' '''"""> truth, a, be 
 natne, I kuow the superl, ,e , Ibilf, ?• ^"'' '""""' fore.er |4 His 
 d>,.e,it; of ,vhieh you and to, r 1 ' "'' '"S'' '""' '"PPy ground of 
 h..Wy atK, boldly Jefy ^l! a^^ffiS t::i;ajr, ■4"""' """' 
 
 af »A^7d^"oTr"cCcT=Aetr ■ar-"''"' '^^^^^ 
 O"' '.eads and i-'ru'me„ts ■™^.r.!::t^"fL;^:r^'i".'"\Churolf, S 
 
 .i.e real fear of aJi'rXrr'bn"; 
 
onnet ones; 
 I'Ve seriously 
 cter so very 
 » letter ; one 
 iomofmiiid 
 lother, wlie- 
 
 subjectB of 
 t there ever 
 id negative 
 n spite and 
 3r instance, 
 e Ladies of 
 a hair; jet 
 wers' smeJJ 
 riends here 
 
 clioose to 
 ti offensive 
 ^!ir\ty, and 
 'y p.ii'tiaJ, 
 a^* well as 
 er, and all 
 '•■e honest- 
 Bee, when 
 icere and 
 "iews un- 
 lo backed 
 ' ce show 
 ive sadly 
 
 coward : 
 frowling, 
 3t desire 
 fher as a 
 
 ail your 
 sknames 
 stain or 
 
 do not 
 J, as be- 
 • be His 
 iund of 
 : and I 
 5verend 
 R-evival 
 fice, or 
 g such 
 hese in 
 ground 
 I, with- 
 i by no 
 
 I 120 
 
 . make you become fishers of men ^ <T.lTu T^ ^^/"*' ' ^"^ ' ^'" 
 
 f the doctrine ; continue .n i em for it a ^''?- ""T '^y^^^' ^"'^ ""»<> 
 
 I thyself; and them tiat h "r tl^ ' ^ ^^°'"f '^'' ^'^^^ ^'^^'^ ^°^h save 
 
 ietter of his in one of the Reoorts ;f r r ^eT'.*""' '^^ '"^'''^J »'«« ^ 
 and Islands of Scotland Wo Lrfn?"" '.^'^7^ '" '^' Highlands 
 and sound '-Lord wha wU Le the eni of".' ^"1^'^'^''!°°^ ' ^ ^" ««^^ 
 Christ to some of his hearers 'can v. ir '*'"'t.»'?'"8« ' ' How/ said 
 of another, and seek nof.he honour^.hnt ' .w'^ '"'"^^^ ^'°«°"'- «"« 
 may publish this letteraVa'^Jr h ^^^'^Hd "if^o' T'^'' ^-^^ 
 your own strictures upon it. For thouah 7f h! J Ji 'r ^°" ''''°'''^' ^'''^'* 
 I sincerely believe that its driftvv ii '^ J ^'^ V^^ ^^"^"'"^^ of severity, 
 
 the texti'The wounds of a fTiiin" ^ '''""' 'L'^^"^ ^g^^^^J^'e to 
 enemy.' ' "^ * ^"^"^ "^ better than the kisses of an 
 
 rea^theSgrng lines^tl~me'''^^^^ """^ ^ ."^^ '' -"^ ''°"««. ^•«<' 
 
 received a letter from you haU hJl '"^ M' '°'"" ^^^"-^ «i"^e. 
 its drift, in which ymaC;e fa mor^.v 'I'' .'■?.^' '^°"g'' ^ '^^'^ ^'^'"e of 
 correspondence, in^ourj^^hes to emi.ra^l't' .h^'? /" i^^ ^^^' °^ ^°»^ 
 urgent and pressing in yourTniinctTof o h '^'^^^'^"^ '^ «"d also more 
 opening and invitation for yorsett Ipml* k ""' '" ''''^'' ^° ^l^'^'" a™ 
 without any hesitation o^sZLse s^o the -?" '"^ '^'""* «^°""^^' 
 or propriety of the measnrp .! T fl gracious or paramount duty 
 
 you'r fo'rget^uLss or hee esLss not t7' ^^^-^-^^ -'onished fZ 
 point, that vou wm.JriloVL ' ^ *° ^P^^*^ ^^ conscience on this 
 
 fo commU^CseTfl^rmp :i:,yTvo7ha?e f'^' -^"^ P-<ience:tia„' 
 to your brother. And thThe therefore tu "' ''"""' '" ^^^-^ '«"«" 
 on your dangerous pretences anS I ! ^ ^-^'^^^ ^'^^ ^"3^ '•^"^^'■ks 
 
 aw.he same Le fredy ackn^wT^^^^^^^^^ ''' ^"'^J^^^ ' ^"^ 
 
 tions and former friends he InnU • v. u, '"? ^''" ""^^^ ^^ yo"r rela- 
 
 your lucky absence as M. from" th."'"'''^ "^'''"'^^"' ^° "««^«" ^^^ 
 
 andshame\hemsoeirea lly ev nattha f^r:Tr' "^k,^^" ^^'^^^ 
 Had you a better caiicp pn^ /' • ^ ^^^ ^"^ Ibrmidab e distance 
 
 to gi/e your zelus ^d stn^rrC^^^^^^^ 7"" '^^^ ^^'^ ^^^ ^^ "-^ 
 by .the bye, can be sa1S%7an; n.ea^^^^^^^^ ""'T' ^"°"^ °^ ''^^""^ 
 satisfactory answer than to 1^11/1^^^^'. ® ^'^'^ pretenders) a more 
 that you and some of vo. r 3 ut ^Y ^°" ''"^ ' « Minister.' We guess 
 
 that y'ou are Mirst:rs'°"L tuTa "bTso r.'! T 'l"'^' ^"^ ^^ '""^ 
 should be exceedingly far better fr^JLtnh f'^^'K'^'^ yet that it 
 -despicable hang^'n, through :iir.,Hi?r\'!!'\.^°"f.^ --P-«. 
 
 rnotKo%t"a"oh?rfll" r";'f- >"^ ^'-t 'babes' may 
 wretchedness of y^ur cause s ^e7JnI ^"'^'' '''!'''''' '^'^ y°"- The 
 meanly and wea/ly fi?hraga inst Go^d and . ^^^ "^'"'''^ ^'""^"y- You 
 which now like a Purgatofy ulde^^^^^^ •" ""'T'^^'^^S « Church, 
 
 her own bowels, and i:;! Ivl" _!..'"^r^^?^ ^''""^ judgments, burns in 
 
 ) 1 
 
130 
 
 
 fif"" -4 
 
 has manifestly provoked Heaven to forsake her to open infamy and dis- 
 grace, by her long continued desecration of sacred offices and solemn 
 ordinances, by resigning them indiscriminately and freely into the hand- 
 of openly ignorant, false, and wicked men, under the offensive, though 
 pompous name of Gospel Ministers : And this hateful and abominable 
 swarm of doll-divines, and bugbear hirelings, \n order to hold their sim- 
 ple and blind votaries at bay and keep them in countenance, take every 
 dolt, and dreg, and drunkard of them into the same awful guilt of sacra- 
 mental pTiicipation a'ld communion with themselves : a filthy specimen 
 of which we see daily around us. And the most dangerous, both to them- 
 selves and others, among those rueful and ruthless guides, are the pre- 
 tended reformers — the popular preachers — the orthodox or evangelical 
 divines; whoiie generally, and of course, the pseudo-regenerated, like 
 
 yourself, and my unfortunate quondam associate, your neighbor atU : 
 
 a circumstance which makes you naturally more impatient of opposition, 
 or contradiction ; and more freely vicious against opponen's, than lower 
 pretenders to sanctified reason ; and on that ground the pride and cor- 
 ruption of your minds being dominant and operative, though under the 
 specious name of gracious zeal, permit you to enjoy neither real peace 
 of conscience, nor the true and spiritual peace of God, which passeth all 
 understanding. Thus your signs are visible in the forehead of all your 
 religious measures and behaviour ; except to those wofully blunt or wil- 
 fully blind. In another paragraph you seriously advise your brother and 
 others, in case they ' could not b»> satisfied with the ministry of Mr. G., 
 to make sure, in their sober judgment,' first that ' his ministry was not 
 calculated to edify their souls,' and to be certain ' that they acted under 
 the guidance of the Spirit of Christ in the part they should take in the 
 matter.' This is indeed too solemn a parade on the subject. For mere 
 children and half idiots, with little depth of common sense, or natural 
 reason, might feel no hesitat'^n how to act on that score, after the first 
 hearing of him in the pulpit lor ten or twenty minutes together. Your 
 solemnity therefore, on such a ridiculous point, is a dreadful marJi of 
 your dotage, under the ower of religious lethargy, and the just displea- 
 sure of God for your abuse of better light before ever you left Lochalsh. 
 You show the same childishness in exhorting your said correspondents, 
 in their religious privation, to ' pray to the Lord of the harvest to send 
 them a faithful Minister.' This sacred Scripture has long since become 
 a mere commonplace renjark, or a common proverb in the mouths of 
 doted Ministers, and empty professors ; who have the words of eternal 
 life, sorely and sadly roted and ranted out from their addled memory, on 
 every frivolous occasion, and trifling subject, as are now here in debate. 
 Is it to the Church that sent them already such samples of their stock of 
 
 Divines as G , McL , F , F n, S , &c., that they should 
 
 look out for that ' faithful Rlinister in answer to their prayers ; or where 
 else? Surely not el.sewhere, in your estimation ! O religious death and 
 dotage, moth and murder ! What but the spiritual blasting of Him that 
 cursed the blossoray fig-tree would strike men in their common sense, 
 and possessed of such glorious and liberal means of information, into such 
 
 I 
 
imy and dis- 
 
 and solemn 
 ito the hand" 
 sive, though 
 
 abominable 
 >!d their aim- 
 ;, take every 
 uilt of sacra- 
 hy specimen 
 )oth to them- 
 are the pre- 
 
 evangelical 
 nerated, like 
 
 ibor at U : 
 
 f opposition, 
 i, than lower 
 de and cor- 
 h under the 
 r real peace 
 h passeth all 
 
 of all your 
 blunt or wil- 
 brother and 
 y of Mr. G., 
 stry was not 
 acted under 
 take in the 
 For mere 
 , or natural 
 'ter the first 
 ther. Your 
 ful mark of 
 jusc displea- 
 ft Lochalsh. 
 espondrnts, 
 est to send 
 nee become 
 ! mouths of 
 s of eternal 
 memory, on 
 e in debate, 
 eir stock of 
 they should 
 3 ; or where 
 IS death and 
 ^f Him that 
 mon sense, 
 n, into such 
 
 131 
 
 strange and incurable Ir.fttuation ! • Do men cather ar»nm, of .k« 
 
 figs of th.,tle.r . A corrupt tree canZCltX^^ tua' 's' 
 
 ZT\Z\r'' 'rt "i^ '''''' ^"^ '''''' So "eitrej'cJ^^Tcorrupt" 
 —salt— and thorny Church or community as such xanri fo..K *''"""?;• 
 
 who w,.,e, no* to Iha pubUe o„ .he same .abiecTob" m " ! Let h.m 
 >weep, and send, and acatler abroad tbeir craviL h^lla «i^H^„K„ ,j 
 
 aL' .Tmtn"""','"''"' "":: '""i"""' '-"<-■'" and?„a7ltrrph°a'^^^ 
 and simooms, where neither che Scriptures nor anv rivJIi^nf..!? if 
 
 ever yet been heard of: and not to us. or to our fHeL^h^L " ''** 
 
 otherwise,-praise be to Heaven.-far' better sat "i and uppHeVIn' 
 
 eve^y respect, w.thout themselves and their expensive seJvices^^onf; s 
 
 a cross and cumberance, which may sometimes, in the Lord's hand orL. 
 
 trsX'ct. ^"^'^^ '' ^"' "^'"^'""^ • «° ^' "eartilT's:; Am'e'^n'Z 
 "And though I shall ever carry with me a lively and grateful rpmn« 
 branceof the kind and cordial.'generous and gentle cCct/o^!^; 
 tin, 1 ."' '' ' '""^■''^^ ^"^ companion ; and^lso of Se courteoul 
 
 Jzs:-f„T£rS-^^^^^ 
 
 no clue or oinb to help ,„„ „„. of^o";, reilgiJul nT^ e cVe d" aCi Jh* 
 
 .ion ; or .he la,, pan^ of .:er„g :;^ rrr,": 'or h ,i\rr.hrzc 
 
 of the .cope of m, assertiona aa ,uro aa you have aoul" ■ and! tViT 
 
 unnecessary offence, as w^ll as in grea we kn^ess con« derin^cl'^h^^" "? 
 importance of my subjects; yet as I hare aire?. I'obsered^^b^^^^ Hule « 
 pectmg to see you. or any of your stamp conviucVdTnt.s wo" d- either 
 of your gu.lt or danger; but only to exonerate my ownTorc.ence a„d 
 as a humble, sincere, and faithful warning againslthe dav of dpTh , ^ 
 it^r ";•-' P"*^- goeth before destructiL.'and haugSfylfr before 
 a fall. 'Sirau IS the gate, and narrow is the way whfch leade h uZ 
 life, and few there be that find if ' « Tho* u- u .,V 'eaaeth unto 
 
 among men is abomination in tt ght o God ' ' Wifh thff ' ''TT' 
 wilt shew thyself froward '—Psalmis ' Th. ^ ^cT""'^ ^^°" 
 
 be destroyed ' " "I am. Rev st, ^^'"P^'"^" of fools shall 
 
 «'T«.u D T^ .. " Your humble servant, N***** **♦*»'# 
 lo the Rev. D. M., &c., &c." 
 
 „D „ ^-^^^ Breton, 30th April, 1842 
 
 to trouTvou'or'm;:.TrV ''"" '^^^'"^ "°" P^^'' ^ ^^^ ^^ought never 
 ^ct ^r:.°LT.!^[^L^"y communication of this kind;'uor do I 
 
 e;(pect at this tleat^. b«>in<> «ku .^ . . 
 
 » ""'*' '" J<"p*cs5 or aiarm yoa*- o.hd 
 
 urate mun]. 
 
¥ 
 
 It* 
 
 
 132 
 
 feel doubtful whether hi, p?ide wHlpermii hl^ ,1 n " '" """"O"' ' 
 «ny statement without thi/referenee wL^TJ ,'i 1°' " P""'"' "" 
 » d( fine my general intention on ftl k- "^'' '° '"" ""^y ^"ffice 
 
 particulars.^ 'l have, how" er sin I wr^'h^'t."' ""^ "P"'"°" "f 
 lun ly to know of a ./r^.t., 1 ' .C ^ """• ''=<' some more oppor- 
 
 ftypoLitic, aLln^cfn: n rnd rVnd'fl'h/ ^'r^'* r'f' °^ '^^ 
 whrch produce very visible and rHn.^ ^ ,''"'^ ''•^'''^^^ doctrine; 
 
 ftaviour^fyourproVdt%i '/,';S^^^^ -^ '>- 
 
 specimen in some of the latplLinrl,r' ^t whom tve have a proper 
 
 -fortunately like £Vntap7;|Se^^ ^-^ - - 
 
 and yet too wise to be correctPH t tL rl ?.uc, ^"^ ^^ unimproved, 
 feature., the pharisaicarJroanini nnH f '^% '°"g f««e«/ the swelled 
 tion, are alone suffic en inS c ti?ns of^th°'" ''^'T''\'^'^' ''' '" ^^''- 
 »nd foolish and vain cor ceit vv hout nnt ^I '''"''' '"'^ '°" ^'^P^^ition, 
 nary habits and hogshearr^ ' wZi ^ '''°''/ '^''"*'"^ ^'"^ ^^^^ir ordi^ 
 on this score, that utverf JikYv n^ notwithstanding one consolation 
 -on get rid of this rel g L nu'isan'ce'brthr' "^^^ -"'«--t will 
 migration from the fatal captivity of S.nnf T^^ ^'^^'' '"*^ fi"«» 
 
 ing and blessed boon and pr vi eL of hf = ? '''^.'' ^° ""J"^**^^ P'«««- 
 and wonderful oracle and E m fumn t^^ ^''"^' ^^"^uishing 
 
 all honor and oratorv creeds^.'id r?w f '""' '1'*"' ^"'^ ^^andard, of 
 rend and raving P Sl^r vn„r 1 '"^'V P'"*^ '"'' Perfection, the reve- 
 brother, if not your sniHinnl ? '"*^ :'°*''^' ""''"^ «"d rough-drawn 
 ther « Timothy^ arK-vl'rfl^''''''^ '^on Titus?' along with C- 
 'firstborn!' I serLly'sC hn T' '"^ '^f^idious, fickle' and foiled 
 far as we have any chance ^ ' nl h^^"' ''''^'' '"^ "^'^''^ ^'^i^^'-en, as 
 age ! But at the ^sa me tin J.fJ^T' "'" most worthy of the.r parent- 
 blasted to purpose irtldbd an Ihl'i" '"°"^^ ?^ them.-They are 
 progress. Oh. the ev cL L '^'' '""^ '"^ ^'"^' pruning and 
 
 cur:eoffoula'ndfaT:rreIi;t;nf Th sSuaTne t' «-af cramp' and 
 •ncoherent preaching and inron.i«r.nf 'P''^/""' P^^.t and plague of the 
 
 •ug and fcrLl Minist s n t" r dead^S?ftr'"'""?5'' ^^''>'' ^°'^^- 
 fluence, on the sense and^oul mLd Id ^Ind "'f^ '"'^ ^'•^^^"•"g '"' 
 vassals and victims! O Lord whn .1 ' of their most unlucky 
 
 this awful subject, in reference To ^ """^'T '"^ '^''' ^"^ ^«^'i"g« ^n 
 and cjuondam comrade' Man^^ "^ T' °"*^' '^'''' ''^^^^^i^te 
 
 'J^P now far gone, keenly gi?vedaTd 7l'2\r '''.'' ' ''^ '''> '" 
 and spirit, by your immoderatP .n/l "'^.'"'^'^y, alarmed my very heart 
 the foible; and fa 1 n.rfol .e" nd '^'"^""^^ ^'g^tness and laughter, over 
 violent and vain r ond' nd ' ' ^^'''kne.s of Clergymen, and other 
 
 frivolity or flatne^s^hp .•'"tP'^"^'"^"^ professors of religion. Even the 
 
 Hevotio'nalrera kVorr: io^rrrm^^^^ ^^"^ -^^ ^^"her' 
 
 m 
 
your official 
 ight of your 
 
 issociate Mr. 
 1 common, J 
 a perusal ol 
 may suffice 
 epetition of 
 tiore oppor- 
 sult of your 
 d doctrine; 
 fits and be- 
 ve a proper 
 uch as are 
 inirnproved, 
 the swelled 
 set in ques- 
 disposition, 
 their ordi- 
 consolation 
 lement will 
 :, and finaJ 
 Y the pleas- 
 anquishing 
 andard, of 
 , the reve- 
 Jgh-drawn 
 with bro- 
 and foiled 
 bildren, as 
 JJr parent- 
 -They are 
 ming and 
 ramp and 
 ue of the 
 "ily, foist- 
 vning in- 
 unlucky 
 elings on 
 sssociate 
 had, in 
 :ry heart 
 Iter, over 
 tid other 
 Even the 
 father's 
 castigat- 
 
 poised DulD rsAft ,„J Ml' ''"'■'"' """'■ PonJwous purse, big belly 
 
 LTi^t^t'Lt'a . „t 'Sd' ; tiatrf d™ "' f "'" """ ^°'- 
 
 conscience, and a silent O™ h[!„ P "g'"""' s and imposlors, your seared 
 .0 .urn ,ou'r hear'. toTl? fl' , ".""i^J':!! 1 ll^.r."''" P"- ,™-. 
 .."i »o .ha. whatever ,ou, aSd yourSn^foi;,; cr^i.'° ^nTnt 'fee'i 
 
134 
 
 inclined to thbk or thwart, do or direct, say or suffer, whether right or 
 wrong, toul or fair, sad or sound, must alas, under vour fatal delnwon— 
 and on your part— be all sanative, sanctioned and sanctified ! If there- 
 tore any should feel inclined either to mess or mourn, smart or smile 
 over your tracks and tantrums, they may find full scope, according to 
 heir aim or humour. O, the dreadful disappointment and dire disgrace, 
 to which re igious Tantlings, especially lofty names, are exposed ! 'How 
 art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning !'-Isaiah. 
 bmce I have partly troubled you already in my alluded-to letter to your 
 close officia companion, I waive repetition, only on the subject of the 
 unfortunately proud Mrs. McK—, whom your said associate so much 
 dreads o dee put to any dishumour. Miserable Clergy that must so far 
 strain their nerves, in order to favor and fish the fickle and futile airs 
 and humor of such indign characters ! That silly and selfish lady cares 
 not more for the 'cure of souls' than Jehu had for the worship of God, 
 Dui only while her religious zeal and service seem to enhance her credit 
 among her purblind and self-interested dependants and adherents, in or- 
 der to teed her most manifest and dominant pride. She has effectually 
 plagued ouc dear Island by her transmission of wild vagaries, vomit, and 
 vvoes; foolishness, falsehood, and frenzy; pride, pranks, and passions; 
 stupor, .s jbbornness, and storm; all under the specious and spoliating 
 sound of Gospel Ministers ; though still in their prayers, preaching, and 
 practice, sadly disagreeable, both to the line of the sacred Scriptures, 
 and the original principles of the once venerable, virtuous, and valid 
 J^lnirch ot Scotland. If the greatest champions and defenders of the said 
 i^nurch— which is now but the mere skin or skeleton of what was once 
 vast and vital, fat and fluent, grand and glorious,— "hould meet an equi- 
 librium, of credit and gain, upon different nominal principles, and under 
 an opposite ecclesiastical designation, little were the domineering and 
 pecuniary preponderance. Heaven knows, that would at once turn the 
 scales ; and make those mighty advocates of ' Establishment ' to shift their 
 crow and creed, ensign and index, and bark and bawl out—' Vice versa." 
 lantivi Independence !' 'The Dissenter is the Divine!' with as much 
 pith and impalience, fire and fury, froth and foam, brag and pride, as 
 ever to the contrary ! O, this day of religious irreligion, insolence, and 
 insanity ; and generally, more fatally and incurably so, if possible, in 
 reference to such as once, like yourself, and your official mate, for a con- 
 siderable space of tune, publicly mocked and opposed the wicked, filthy, 
 and formal measures of the Clergy. 'T e dog i. turned to his vomit.' 
 1 wice dead, plucked up by the roots.' I must not forget to suggest 
 tnat your very closest and most partial friends of Lewis Emigrants una- 
 nimously admit the singular pride, and scandalous corpulence of yourself, 
 and the shameful peevishness and pampering of your family contrary to 
 the rule and injunction of sacred Scripture. 'Given to hospitality.' 
 i^harge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, 
 nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly 
 all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good work., 
 ready to distribute, willing to communicate,' tc. ' The steward of God, 
 
135 
 
 sr right or 
 delusion — 
 If there- 
 ; or smile, 
 cording to 
 e disgrace, 
 ed! 'How 
 !' — Isaiah, 
 er to your 
 ect of the 
 e 60 much 
 nust so far 
 futile airs 
 lady cares 
 ip of God, 
 her credit 
 snts, in or- 
 effectually 
 fomit, and 
 
 passions ; 
 spoliating 
 ihing, and 
 Scriptures, 
 and valid 
 3f the said 
 was once 
 t an equi- 
 find under 
 ering and 
 
 turn the 
 shift their 
 ce versa.'' 
 
 as much 
 
 pride, as 
 eiice, and 
 ssible, in 
 for a con- 
 ed, filthy, 
 is vomit.' 
 3 suggest 
 ants una- 
 ' yourself, 
 inttiiry to 
 spitality.' 
 htninded, 
 us richly 
 d works, 
 i of God, 
 
 must not be self-willed, nor given to 
 
 filthy lucre, (which 
 
 ,, , . . , . — , •„ wine, nor nithy lucre, \wiiicn IS now 
 
 the ecclesiastical gain of the- Scottish Clergy) but a lover of hospitality 
 a iover of good men, holy, just, dober, temperate.'— St. Paul 
 
 " Now my good friend, you must undergo another kind of new birth and 
 gospel call to the ministry than you have ever yet known, before you can 
 answer to the above heavenly and necessary description. When I Dart- 
 ed last with you in Edinburgh, you told me with flowing te-,rs and of 
 your own free accord, that you would not, and could not join the Clergv • 
 whose case and conduct were so manifestly clear to your light and con- 
 science, to be so far contrary to the word of God, and their own professed 
 formulas. But the state of the Clergy has not meliorated or fmproved 
 since, in any degree adequate to the just grounds of your objections at 
 that time; but in a certain respect deteriorated, and been confirmed 
 more and more in its incurability. But you have joined that very Clergv 
 whom you derided despised, and opposed; and never given me-your' 
 once faithful and fond companion-nor the public any reason for your 
 solemn and sounding change. The truth of it is, that you never could 
 nor can give any right reason lor that your conduct : nor have I ever 
 requested or expected from you, what 1 must always have been sure in 
 all ordinary circumstances, to be morally impossible to find out viz- 
 Ihe duty of a gracious man to unite with a Clergy openly ungodly in 
 their great and uncontrollable majority : or a Gospel call lo the ministry 
 ot any g;aceless man m the world; a dilemma from which, in yuar ore- 
 sent position, you can never get yourself disentangled 
 
 "As to my bombastic and sarcastic style, 1 take the subject of mv 
 animadversion to be m some of its bearings, a step far beyond .erious 
 treatment ; and it would therefore be ridiculous, and quite below the in- 
 tention of these remarks, to handle most of the desperate and heaven- 
 abandoned characters m discussion, but in a degree under the lash and 
 line of satirical ordeal. For though my very soul regrete the wickedness 
 and folly, vanity and formality, of my correspondents, yet I repeat that J 
 have little or no hopes of their correction or improvement ; but must 
 eave my humble though sincere communication and endeavors between 
 the Lord and your consciences, till the great day of solemn and final de- 
 cision. Knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men '—St Paul 
 "I am. Rev. Sir, 
 
 .. ,„ . _ " Your obedient servant. N***** *•••** 
 
 "TotheRev. A. McL." 
 
 of I^^M '^^'''"^ two letters having been written sometime after the rest 
 of the Manuscript had been finished, are of posterior dates; and cont in 
 unabridged, some unavoidable repetitions, as written under different sig^ 
 natures from mostly al the rest of the work. The remarks of the lettefs 
 in question are certainly sharp and severe in the view of most readers 
 but in the estimation of those properly acquainted with the main subjects' 
 therein handled the whole will seem justly merited and well grounded 
 
 Bruce and Paddle. 
 
 mi 
 
 M 
 
136 
 
 m 
 
 Jr' 
 ;■ 
 
 A FEW SHORT ANECDOTES. 
 
 One of our famous new converts at W. M. said the other day to his 
 brother, " I'll tell you ray experience : you must know that the soul is 
 in the right shoulder ; and that it is there dead till the word of truth 
 touches it ; then it eolivenr and springs, and never sleeps any more : that 
 is what I know now. I never knew before that I had a soul ; but a word, 
 by the Minister, struck me through the right shoulder, and its effect im- 
 mediately sprang through all my body like a dart ; and I am now most 
 certain ot my saving change, and salvation." 
 
 Another man of the same place said, " The manner of my late con- 
 version was thus: I was returning home from sermon, along with some 
 of my neighbors, in a flat — I saw as if the Heavens had opened, and the 
 Father and the Son appeared to me — then two blood-red cords proceeded 
 downwards ; the one from the bosom of the Father, and the other from 
 the bosom of the Son, till they reached, and fastened or fixed in try own 
 breast: and si.ice that moment, T am absolutely sure of ray eternal sal- 
 vation. But I met my temptation ; for before we reached the shore, a 
 thought struck me, that I might now walk on the water, as the Saviour 
 once had dope ; but I took this suggestion to be from the devil ; and as 
 soon as we came to the landing, I jumped out of the boat, and said, O 
 Satan, thou shalt not take me in thy snare !" 
 
 A third of these fanatical revivalists accounted for his conversion in 
 the brief manner following : —"Under a certain sermon, I was sudden)} 
 enlightened to behold Christ on the Cross; and I saw the wound of the 
 s|><jar in his side ; to which I then set my mouth, and from hence tQok 
 my fill, to the satisfying of my soul." 
 
 Interested and prejudiced people may doubt, or contradict those au- 
 thentic narratives ; but they can never falsify the scope of them ; making 
 only due allowance for their translation, from Gaelic to English, iiut 
 there is nothing extraordinary in these, or &uch cases ; for false visionr 
 and wild notions are common to false conversions, and spurious revivals. 
 
 Bruce and Paddle. 
 
137 
 
 day to his 
 the soul ia 
 rd of truth 
 more : that 
 but a word, 
 ts eflfect im- 
 1 now most 
 
 ly late con- 
 l with some 
 led, and the 
 Is proceeded 
 
 other from 
 i in iry own 
 
 eternal sai- 
 he shore, a 
 the Saviour 
 3vil ; and as 
 ind aaid, O 
 
 inversion m 
 as sudden)} 
 ound of tht' 
 hence tQok 
 
 ;t those au- 
 im ; making 
 iglish. Bui 
 false visionr 
 ous revivals. 
 
 Paddle. 
 
 SUPPLEMENT 
 
 TO THE REMARKS OF BRUCE ON THE SACRAMENTS, AND TO THE 
 LETTERS OF PADDLE PLAIN. 
 
 As there are at this time so iruch vain disputes, and so many imDoain<r 
 arguments afloat of a very stumbling nature, and danTeJous conse 
 quence; especially in their practical tendency, in the scofe of the more" 
 solemn, and now most abused ordinances of the Gospel, commonly cTlleJ 
 the Sacraments, or Baptism and the Lord's Supper, I hink it my du 'v 
 
 t7act Vf P^""'^ '"'^ t'"^"'^ ^"PP^'-^^'^ ^y ^he sacred Scriptu es^-to Jx^ 
 tract a few paragraphs, on the subject, from the writings of noted 
 Au ho.s whose sentiments, on this point, are not seldom L misreore- 
 sented, by men of eminence and office in our Presbyterian rhnrphi 
 especially the Established Church of ScotlanT-The S "o.n n1 
 pense or debate, and which I intend only to treat at present is concern, 
 ing the proper adult subjects of these ordinances. '^Such 'as 'naint in 
 that men in their natural or unconverted state, have a right to the SaJra" 
 ments, teach, or declare, consistently with their principles hat they are 
 appointed by Heaven, as converting means of grace to the uncm verted 
 as well as nourishing and confirming ordinances to believers ; aniby thii 
 mode of reasoning fearfully encourage and ensnare their simp e adherents 
 or associates on this dangerous and dreadful stand. And since the Hp 
 servedly famed «' Boston " is generally the pretended or cle of reference 
 among some of our neighbors, on this topic, let us hear first Tnttle of 
 what he teaches and advances on this weighty ground: 
 
 they ureffilaVt^" "' ''' '""""^^^ ^^^^^"^'^ '' '" «'h°- h-« 
 
 " Not to all, but to believers only ; who are members of Christ Or 
 
 to believing receivers, as to the Ethiopian eunuch. ' He that bel veYh 
 
 and is baptized, shall be saved.' oei veth 
 
 " Wherein does this un worthiness to partake (the Sacraments) consist f 
 I answer. In wo things: 1st, In habitual meetnes. inrepectofa 
 gracious state. The soul in the black state of nature is nttTr y unfi? 
 for this ordinance, Psalm v. 5. Such a soul is adoad soul 'dead in 
 trespasses and sins.' Ephesians ii. 1. And a dead man is not fit for a 
 feast, "or a dead soul for the Lord's table, bat rather to be buned out of 
 
 awVJtice dead "si^d' Y''VT ^"^' ' ""^ '"'^>' '^ ^^^^^^^ *-"- 
 away twice dead. 2nd, In actual meetness, in respect of a ffr?cioti<5 
 
 J-salm Ixxx. 18. A sleeping man is not fit for a feast neither- and 
 
 ChT,rT\'r'' 'f i^r '""'J '^^"^"^""ica.e unworth.ly, as some ,n he 
 -. V. i.. „,.., , ,..0, A.. ^^,; o.^ ^o J. jg ,ieceyya,y ihat we 
 
I 
 
 i 
 i 
 
 138 
 
 not only have oil in our vessels, but have our lamps burninij if we would 
 oe fit. Cant. i. 12. 
 
 I' The only true rule or touchstone in this case is the word of God Isaiah 
 VIII 20. • To the law and to the testimony,' &c. The Spirit of the Lord 
 speaking in the Scriptures is the Sui^reme Judge of all questions in religi- 
 on whether relating to faith or practice ; and the word itself is the rule by 
 which the decision is made. God hath given us marks in the word by 
 which one may know whether he be in Christ or not, 1 John iii. 9; and 
 the like. The great thing to be inquired into and examined here is the 
 state of our souls before the Lord whether we be in Christ or not, rege- 
 nerate or not, have true grace or not, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. This we should 
 examine at all times with respect to death and eternity, because our eter- 
 nal state depends on our being in a state of grace here. And this is to 
 oe examined in respect of the sacrament.— The reason is, This Sacra- 
 ment IS not a converting, but a confirming ordinance, as baptism also is, 
 Rom. IV. 2. It is a seal of the covenant, and so supposes the covenant 
 entered into before by the party. It is appointed for nourishment, which 
 presupposes life. And if it was not so, what need of self-examination^ 
 so let him come, not otherwise. It is the word that is the converting 
 ordinance, not the Sacraments, Rom. x. 17 ; and the nature of excom- 
 munication evinces this, 1 Cor. v. 13 — But more particularly, because 
 there are some graces, namely : knowledge, faith, repentance, love, and 
 new obedience, which m a particular manner ar« sacramental graces 
 these are to be examined. ' 
 
 "FirrL What is to be examined concerning our knowledge.— The mea- 
 sure of It whether competent or not, Hos. iv. 6.. The nature of this 
 ordinance is such, that it cannot be managed to spiritual advanta-re, but 
 loss, without a competent measure of knowledge. And this not only 
 Ministers should inquire into, but people themselves, after all examination 
 by Ministers.— The quality of it, whether saving or not, 1 Cor. xiii. 1. 
 There is a notional, idle, inefficacious knowledge of spiritual things] 
 which leaves men still in their natural darkness, as to any saving uptak- 
 ing of spiritual things : and therefore it cannot be sufficient to fit men 
 for this ordinance. 
 
 •• Saving knowledge may be discerned by these two marks. (1.) When, 
 by an inward teaching, one is made so to see the truth of man's lost 
 state, and his absolute need of Christ, as to be brought out of himself to 
 Je«U8 Christ wholly for his whole salvation, John vi. 45. (2.) When it is 
 influential on the life for sanctification, Matthew xi. 29. While notional 
 knowledge leaves always the heart unhumbled, and the life unhallowed, 
 saving knowledge humbles the heart, as it did in the case of Job, chap! 
 xiii. 6, 6. 'I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear ; but now 
 mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and 
 ashes ;'— Ignorant persons are utterly unfit to come to this ordinance, 
 and have no right either before God or before the Church. They are 
 unconverted, unbelieving sinners. Acts xxvi. 18; ever under the power 
 of some lusts, 1 Pet. i. 14. They are incapable of self-examination, and 
 cannot discern the Lord's body in the ordinance, being ignorant of the 
 rnystery of Christ. 
 
 I 
 
if we would 
 
 f God, Isaiah 
 it of the Lord 
 ens in religi- 
 is the rule by 
 he word, by 
 n iii. 9; and 
 i here is the 
 or not, rege- 
 s we should 
 use our eter- 
 nd this is to 
 This Sacra- 
 ptism also is, 
 he covenant 
 ment, which 
 xamination ? 
 I converting 
 i of excom- 
 rly, because 
 e, love, and 
 ntal graces, 
 
 — The mea- 
 ure of this 
 vantage, but 
 lis not only 
 examination 
 Cor. xiii. 1. 
 tual things, 
 iving uptak- 
 to fit men 
 
 (1.) When, 
 
 man's lost 
 
 'f himself to 
 
 When it is 
 
 lile notional 
 
 unhallowed, 
 
 Job, chap. 
 
 r; but now 
 
 in dust and 
 
 ordinance, 
 
 They are 
 
 the power 
 
 ination, and 
 
 rant of the 
 
 139 
 
 " Secondly, Orr faith must be examined. 1. Withont true faith on* 
 has no r.ght to this ordinance. For unbelievers are not with n Z 
 covenant of grace, faith being that by which one ente sinto t.^nd ther^ 
 fore they have no nght to the seal ; they are not of the family of heaven 
 and therefore have no r.ght to the children's bread, John i. 12 3 NaJ' 
 they can please God .n nothing they do. Hebrew xi. 6. 2. Wihout faith 
 there can be no feed ng on Christ Take eat imnli«u „ ' • •. 7 I- 
 . .pirUual feeding, rfith i, .he hn„d a'd' ml 7„' '^'e ^ " aS'1": 
 believer ma, feed on the bread of the Lord, as the beaslsd ank of Z 
 
 zrhfa'ttxtd'" "" """-""'^ ""' '"^^ -""« s tt.V.l 
 
 benefit^ and not for hi, benefit, only, pjaira IxZ is A desirf .f a 
 whole Chr,«, not only for justification, bnt sanctifioM on ,00 aid tu 
 not only as sanct.fioat.o.i is the way to mako the soul happ, but w con 
 
 du!on*:?:^:;;i:^it^ j' ■- =^'°'"'«- ""^°"' '-r^se-rUtcZ 
 
 f iA5^p.r TsSllf JJ^th^; a J„Ve'll"d 'JJ ^L^T^i 
 thy own .nabil.t, to help thyself, thou fle'st out of thyself unw the Cd 
 iymJSZTlZ'A T "''?"""■ 'ig^teousness, and will, 7^0 guided 
 »L ;p- ?k ■ ^ J^'" righteousness alone, and ruled by hij law 
 and .fin the course of thy life thou lookest to h m for direction accent; 
 
 drb.:d;;'ru'bter^"' '° "■' """'^ °«''"" --p"on:Verr 
 
 "Thtrdl!, Our .epentance must he examined. 1. Withont it there can 
 there a'broitn'St""'; "^ ' """="'"' <=''"^'- He is re^M^S 
 
 ;|L\ia';7trriooTs^i[rer::-:'pT''^rrht,tTei7r'"'^ 
 :frbr; r„rbtdTthiLr^rld' ""^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 sealed parlon, .vhich is 'hte^d 'o'f tb^ s!!; "m" t" "ooSZTn^ZIl I 
 ^inneTs Ac"s'iT''4""''i' T'' ""' S;ve Heaven's comfort to Ten 1" 
 
 f,"b'utttr:is?parraVi^"c;:£t:'trJ-'i':e^:b:rit^.^f 
 
 'sinner;.' ° '""'"■""' "^''^ "' " «"' " wrl'rg'ZsVl-mpSenl 
 "Fourthly, Our love must be examined. 1. Tr je love to God i« ... 
 
 fhlToVsTf the^livoT" '°''' ""'" '""'" '"'° a-Pem,%wan w d™p 
 .!• /ff.7. f ^iP*"" ■"agicians; so the love of God will swallow uu 
 
 i^uKc XIV. ^7, and ever sit exa ted above t»-am all 2 t «„« .^ 
 neighbor will make us wish well to all men. 1 Sor v. 8 forJi -e th": 
 that have done us wrong, as we desire to be forgiven of G^d M t' v 23 
 
 of fhP Ur ^rA '^' P'°P'^ °^^°^' of whatever denomination becaus^ 
 '^fimf ^/^^'^'I^^^PPe^ing in them, 1 John iii. 14. * '' 
 
 rijt^l^, Our ooedjence must be examine,! I -h,jj -;--. . r. , 
 
 s:-- -i-.a — f — , , „.,„j, gjTc a iKw marks 
 
 t(l 
 
 I 
 
f 
 
 lit.' 
 
 m 
 
 140 
 
 ofPo 1 ^Hf^* •' 17 ''JJ'f Pe*^' °f ^he principle it proceeds from, the love 
 aL?v 1 r '%?• /.?•? I" respect of the e.id of it. which s Qod'. 
 
 nLt/' n .?'• ''• ^^ J^-^ '* '' ""'^°"«'' P"'-" ^''•''- «■ 1 have a respect 
 unto all thy cornmandraents.' 4.) It is constant, Matt. xxiv. 13. And 
 
 the blood of Christ, because of the sinfulness that attends it. I proceed to 
 shew the necessity of self-examination. It is necessary in two respects. 
 1. 1 o prevent the sin of coming unworthily to the Lord's table. If we 
 rush on this ordinance without previous examining of ourselves, how can 
 we m.ss of communicating unworthily. 2. To prevent the danger of 
 coming so, which is eating and drinking damnation to one's self. The 
 danger is great, (1.) To the soul, 1 Cor. xi. 29. ' For he that eateth 
 and drmketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himsei :. not 
 discerning the Lord's body.' (2.) To the body. ver. 30. ' For tH 
 cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.' 
 
 The next noted Author from whose work I shall quote some more 
 paragraphs on the same subject, is the well known, and justly respected 
 Minister and one of the first Seceders, John Brow'n of liaddingto^n fn 
 his Body of Divinity ' his remarks are foUowinj :— ^ *" 
 
 1 T^^vf ^"^ '•ege'jerated persons have a right to baptism before God. 
 I. Ihe having the Holy Ghost, faith, and repentance, are requi-ed as 
 necessary prerequisites of baptism, Acts x. 47. viii. 36. 37 ii' 38 
 -. bacraments being confirming, and not converting ordinances, suppose 
 those who receive them to be already instated in the covenant of grace 
 -and being seals, cannot be divinely set to a blank, Rom. iv. ii . Col! 
 I. 11, IZ, Gal. 111. 27.— None but such as appear truly regenerated have 
 a rig t to baptism befor. men. 1. If none'but real sainfs have a right 
 to It before God -none but such as have the appearance of saints can 
 have a right to it before the Church. 2. That which is holy ought no" 
 to be given to dogs, Matt. vii. 6. Prov. xxvi. 11, 2 Pet. ii. 18 20 •>2 
 Psalm xiv. 1, 4. 3. Men ought to be made Christ's disciples before 'thev 
 receive baptism John iv. 1, Mat. xxviii. 19. And none ought to be 
 «Af?"p ^u "^' "'"^'? ^"* '"^^^ '' 'PP^^' »o have heard and learned 
 ?Ll! T '"Ji "^r'^'ff ^^^''' '^"o^'edge and faith by their good 
 
 works, John. vi. 44. 45, Mat. vii. 20. 21, Titus i. 16, 1 Tim. v 8 
 
 .hi J'm ."■•'^'«'V'f""''^"! '"'". '' '^'P''^"^ "P"" appearances of saint' 
 I'^if ok '",^' 4.^'! ••• 41. vui. 12, 13. 37, 38, ix. 18. x. 47. 48, xvi. 
 14 10, 64, 63, xviii. fe 5. Admission of persons manifestly wicked is 
 xliv 9 '' P'*"^^"^^'"" of sealing ordinances, Lev. x. 8. 10, Ezek. xxii, 26, 
 
 ^."^hough, in the next remarks of the same author, a good deal is said 
 of infant baptism. I wish it to be understood that, in these quotations I 
 
 .nrnuV"!r!'°" "r '° '^^ '^1 '^'.^^ ^'''> °'" =g^»"«t, the ?ight of any 
 infants to that privilege ; my only aim. at present, is to support the ar- 
 gument against the dreadful existing, and genera! abuse and profapation 
 
rona, the love 
 ich is Qod's 
 lave a respect 
 iv. 13. And 
 m always to 
 
 I proceed to 
 two respects, 
 able. If we 
 ves, how caa 
 e danger of 
 s self. The 
 
 that eateth 
 
 himserr, not 
 
 'For this 
 
 some more 
 ly respected 
 iington^ In 
 
 before God. 
 required as 
 37, ii. 38. 
 3es, suppose 
 It of graqe ; 
 iv, ii., Col, 
 erated have 
 have a right 
 ' saints can 
 y ought not 
 18, 20, 22, 
 before they 
 lught to be 
 and learned 
 their good 
 Tim. v. 8, 
 es of sain t- 
 17, 48,. xvi. 
 wicked, is 
 ik. xxii, 26, 
 
 eal is said 
 jotations, I 
 ght of any 
 3rt the ar- 
 >rofapation 
 
 141 
 
 wUhL'.'..'°'*T- °'■^'"^"^^ '" '*« being granted almost, if not altogether, 
 without any discrimination, or reserve to the infants, or young children 
 of all the Ignorant, wicked, and vain parents within the pale rate and 
 range of the Church of Scotland. And other denominations; who 'ro- 
 fess Infant Baptism, are little different on the subject 
 
 ClJFtSFn^n T of wicke^d parents are by God, in his word, declared 
 hi r / K ' *•• '^f r"-. ^?' ^"^ ^°"' ^'^'^ 'hey. who are visibly cursed 
 by God, have a visible right to the seal of his promise and blessing ? 
 
 No infants, but such as are immediately descended from one or both 
 parents, visible believers, have any right to baptism before the Church. 
 
 iith«h! .'^'5'"r'^'*''i:''*¥' '''■°'" '^^''' """mediate parents, it must 
 hlnJJrt T f'^"! »he'^b«•"g l>apti==ed, or from their being visible 
 
 and vo7d ATT' K^Tf *'°'" '^'''' ^^P''^'"' " 'hat becomes null 
 and void, if they be wicked, Rom. ii. 25. It is quite absurd to allege, 
 that no more is here meant than that circumcision is unprofitable to jus- 
 fi.Iu '?K^'"'u''* •n''^ •""? 'he iaw : for in that respect it would be unpro- 
 Stable though millions of good works attended it. Gal. iii 10 ii 16 
 l<,om ill. 20. 2. Parents' right of access to the Lord's table, and 'their' 
 
 f.ZL ''%' T ^'P*""' '*'"*^/'' ^"" '°^^'her. Such Church-members 
 as have offended by one, or a few scandalous steps in iheir conversation, 
 have their right continued; but they are disqualified to use ,t till thei; 
 thpTr nr. »'""""'^'^-r ^"! '"1*^ '' 'PP^" ""^oly in the general tenor of 
 h^ K ''' r""'^^"' ***'' '''^y have no right at all ; and consequently 
 W^e^^r children have none, in vain it is pretended, that the Holy Ghost 
 
 oPihtT ' ? \^^ *""'!;' ""J '!? '"'"'"' ^ho is descended from parents both 
 hpfortr ."; f ^ wicked : for though he should, yet that child's right 
 before God to baptism could never be manifested to the Church till it 
 «dlTt' r ^ r* ^°'" Tl^- ^' "^he children of parents visibly wick- 
 
 tfinTth '^"''^ ^'""t^ ^y ^°^' °^"'- ^^'^i. 18 H«vv then can he 
 
 allow them in baptism to be solemnly declared visibly blessed ! James iii. 
 
 w u s;^ch as have no discernible evidence of their being within 
 
 God 8 covenant of grace, as is the case with the infants of wicked parents, 
 
 can have no visible claim to the seal of it. Though these parents had been 
 
 baptized, nay regularly baptized, yet if their baptism profit not them- 
 
 ouilprl t"" "'" " P'"^* their seed? 5. Faith and repentance are re- 
 
 ?o bl s7'rr' '° ''7/«V^'''''li!^'"^" ^^^^--^''y holy and admissible 
 
 tisihiS h^r "if '"• ^^' ^T "' ^^' ^^- 6. None but such as are 
 
 their LpHp"" *'*'•' V'^r'^ °' ^""^'^ heing their God and the God of 
 
 m JLl ' "• u'"' ^' ^^'- ^^^'' '^^ 7- If 'he children of manifestly 
 
 ungodly parents have any real right to baptism, the Church ought to pu^t 
 
 The D^ nt^r""" °k/' ^."^ "'^"^ '''^^ he done in this^natt^r ? 
 ner ^? »11m i!"l'P''''' \° ^^"'''" 'hese children in a Christian man- 
 ner. 1 would b.; but a solemn mockery of God to bring them under 
 
 trX'tfon to th° •'' "t''' 'heir practice continues to be anliabitual on' 
 trad.ction to hem. It would be no better to lay these vows on a spon- 
 
 rf^Z^J^i:^^^?}}-^^^ ehLen under his ,oLl 
 
 baptising the infants of parents manifeictJr 
 
 J 
 
 
iM 
 
 I ' ' 
 
 Wk 
 
 142 
 
 ordinance altogether common, and declares those Church-membera, that 
 ?ron??h"' m"'""= '"*^ "° '"»'*^' '^^ ^''"••''h a society not sepa .ted 
 
 r, A^n K ' f K ''• ^^.' ^°'"""' "'• *^- »• '^ ^"'^ked parents have no 
 right to baptism themselves, and theii children derive their right from 
 them, «J has been proved, the children of such parents can have no right 
 to It. 10. The faithful exclusion of the infant- of wicked parent:^ from 
 bapt.srn has a remarkable tendency to promote the ends of the Gospel. 
 
 TnH /iJf T"/° "T.^"*^ ^^"'^ ^y f«*th, and so deny ungodline.; 
 and worldly lusts and live soberly, righteously, and godly. Parent, 
 woidd not be hardened in their wickedness, by an unlawful admission of 
 them to sealing ordinances. None would be tempted : believe them- 
 
 Ir.nfM'""?' r""V^'"^''l'y ''" account of their bein^ oaptised. Hear- 
 ers of the Gospel would not be tempted to indulge themselves in ignorance 
 and wickedness, in hopes of having their infants baptised notwithstand- 
 ing. Baptism would not be reckoned less solemn than the Lord's Sup. 
 per, or profaned as ? common thing. "^ 
 
 r.Z^^^T''"' ^' . w"?," ^'^^ •"f»"t« of Christians are within God's cove- 
 nant. Answer, Will that infer that the manifest enemies of God. who 
 have nothing but the name of Christians, or their children, are within 
 God s covenan ? Has Christ a confederacy with Satan, when he is but 
 called an angel of light? 
 
 >^nl^i''''M"^^J^*'M'^'!"°".^''^"®'^'*°«"'^«^ fo^ ^l^eir liarents' sins.' 
 iL:.nfrV? '" the infants of heathens, who are born as innocent 
 as those of Christians, be baptised? 2. If no children ought to be ex- 
 ^ni r-nT ;^'"'««'^? *« »he Church for their parents' sins, the Jews 
 S"vL 1 ^5« P^*^"''" P«0P'e of God. as well as in the days of Moses, 
 David. &c. 3, Does not God in manifold instances, visit the iniquitiei 
 o the Parents on their children, Exc :us xx. 5. 4. Tlie withholding 
 bapt.8ni from the infants of wicked parents is no proper punishment of 
 
 in^u,!, K 'r' "' ^ T S"'"S **'"'" '^^' »° "'hich they have no right, 
 and which, if g«ven them, would do them no good, but hurt. ^ ' 
 
 .,> ^h ^^\t c ^'^'^ '*"'' •'"P'^^y °f ^'*='^ed parents never exclud- 
 ed their children from circumcision.' Ans. 1, If heresy do not exclude 
 men from baptism neither will atheism. 1 John ii. 22. If no heresy or 
 profaneness exclude men from baptism, why did John Baptist and P^ter 
 the Apostle require repentance as a pre-requisite of it. Matt. iii. 2. 6, 8, 
 
 ,wi, "lA'r ' ^T "• ^®' '"• *^- 3' Where is the proof th^t Ihe 
 infans of Hebrews who were notoriously profane, were admissible to 
 circumcision ? D.d God allow those parents to be sustained members 
 
 hvplh"'' '.K n"'*'*^"^.°^,^''°"^ ^'^ P«°P'«' ^^^ did not suffer to 
 live on his earth, Deut. xv„. 12, Numbers xv. 30, 35, aX ? Had the 
 
 ljj«l7/h ''/n ^^ contemners of the promised land anj circumcision 
 allowed them, till, as adult persons, they received it in their own right? 
 And where IS the evidence that Joshua circumcised «ny that were here- 
 tical or profane. Numbers xiv. Joshua v.? 
 ,r.Um '*"' i ' J°*»" l>apti2ed every person that offered himself to his 
 ioiism. Ans. 1, Must then all Heathens and Mahometans be baptized. 
 
143 
 if thejr offer iheraselvcs to it ? 2, John does not appear to h^^ve bantizorl 
 
 profa„.Ph,,i;ee.orSadduce";;LukrvH-30' """ """'" "" 
 
 oren, r.zek xvi. ^u. Ans. Perhaps these ch dren were God's ncriili.r' 
 proper,, being firs, born.' Exodus xiii. 12, 13, Number, iii fg , n 
 
 and' Z-J"' °"^'" """■'«'•'= "'"'<'''■> '" "■» »•"'» »en,e .rihe aUver 
 
 Etr'4,17: .tHra if- I'i -""' "- "'"■' "'^' "■^«" "• «' 
 
 roooea ol tapliara. Ans, 1, I, is no honour for Chris, to have nrofan» 
 persons .„„.|.r ,o bru,e, and devils, openly repu,edhrs member, 
 
 p^;o?a"nt,7Tt.-;ii- !Sr tNte^'iT'tir::: r i 
 
 w*rf^i'!f ' l^u T^'o^Sh m^ny Parents be wicked and sctndclouB vet thev 
 were rr.ade Christians by their baptism.' Ans. As a single scandal in 
 God i "''kT^' ^"cccsarily infer their being destitute of the grace of 
 un.n .h ' ^'"'^/f ™«y have a nght to L.pfism. tho.^gh these parents 
 until the,r scandal be purged, be disqualified from presenting them Bu»' 
 when parents, by the.r habitual behaviour, manifest themseveVgra^elfss' 
 -the.r bemg once baptized can no more avail their children than h 
 •vails those of a prodigal that their father had once arich eS.'' 
 On the Lord's Supper, by the same author. 
 
 " To anticipate objections, it must be observed. 1. That Melchirprl^t 
 brought forth bread and wine for refreshment to ASraham'; fa^^ued 
 troops, but not to be offered in sacrifice. Gen. xiv. la rThjt the^as 
 5 Thr.K'^^r ' 'IP' °^ '^''' Sacrament, but of ChrirSf 
 LorS's S ooer' Lr"^'' '""'''^ ""'.'' '^' ^'^ Testament is noT the 
 fZJru^^f ' ^ P'*^"' P"""'"®' ""'^ goo'^ ^ofks, Mai. i. 2. All nro. 
 fessed Christians come to years of discretion, are bound by he law of 
 God to partake of the Lord's Supper, and it i; their sin, if they be i^ca- 
 
 before Go7"'n f T'^^'T I' "-^"'y *'"^ b«''«'«" have a Lht to 
 .r/L. n '■^"^■^''■"*' believers, who have examined thsraselfes and 
 
 Co'^xf ter "^h etth"^' "' '°"' "" ''^'''y "^' S prfvileg"' 
 the Lord's SuTn^rTf T "' "^^^^ssary to a right parfaking^f 
 band (Vth P^ u ^' ^ """''^y '*''*® **^ ""'on with Christ as our hus- 
 band latner righteousness, and strength. 2. A worthy frame Ir-^t 
 
 anct^'l'Tr °^'" ^ ^'r' ^^^•^^ 'P'"»' intJedge! faiTr pen't! 
 ance. love, &c. 3, A worthy end of honoring Christf glorifyhrGod 
 and receiving spiritual nourishment to our soul. 1 cir^x 26-31 ,1' 
 
 ' »*'i 
 
 is manifest thnt it 
 
 mi\at U^>_:i.i. 
 
 t.,vaz iiuiiiuio protana> 
 
144 
 
 tiou of it, either to impose or receive it as a condition of civil office or 
 liberty, or as a test of loyalty." 
 
 The following quotations on the points, are taken from the " Confes- 
 sion of Faith " of the Church of Scotland, and of the American Presby- 
 terians : 
 
 " dues. What is a Sacrament ? 
 
 " Ans. A Sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Chris* in his 
 Church, to signify, seal, and exhibit, unto those that are within the core- 
 nant of grace, the benefits of his mediation ; to strengthen and increaafl 
 their faith, and all other graces; to oblige them to obedience ; to testify 
 and cherish their love and communion one with another ; and to distin- 
 tinguish them from those that are without. 
 
 " Clues. How is our baptism to be improved by us? 
 Ans. The needful but much neglected duty of improving our bap- 
 tism, is to be performed by us ail our life long, especially in the time of 
 temptation, and *hen we are present at the administration of it to others ; 
 by serious and thankful consideiation of the nature of it, and for the ends 
 for which Christ instituted it, the privikges and benefits conferred and 
 sealed thereby, and our solemn tow made therein : by being humbled 
 for our sinful defilement, our falling short of, and walking Contrary to, 
 the grace ol baptism, and our engagements; by growing to assurance of 
 pardon of sin, and ol all other blessings sealed to us in that Sacrament ; 
 by drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into 
 whom we nre baptised, for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace ; 
 and by endeavoring to live by faith, to have ovtr converjation in holiness 
 and righteousness, as those that have therein given up their names to 
 Christ ; and to walk in brotherly love, as being baptized by the same 
 spirit into one body. 
 
 "dues. What is the Lord's Supper? 
 
 " Ans. The Lord's Supper is a Sacrament of the New Testament, 
 wherein, by giving and receiving bread and -.vine according to the ap- 
 pointment of Jesus Chrict, his death is shewed forth ; and they that 
 worthily communicate feed upon his body and blood, to their spiritual 
 nourishment and growth in grace; have their union and communion 
 with him confirmed ; testify their thankfulness and engagement to God 
 and their mutual love and fellowship each with other, as members of the 
 same mystical body.' 
 
 " aues May one who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of his due 
 preparation, come to the Lord's Supper? 
 
 " Ans. One who doubteth of his being in Christ, or his due prepara- 
 tion to the Sacrament of the lord's Supper, may havu true interest in 
 Christ, though he be not yet assured thereof; and in God's account hath 
 it, if he be duly affected with the apprebsnsion of the want of it, and 
 unfeignedly desire to be found in Chrint, and to depart from iniquity : 
 in which case (because promises are made, and this Sacrament is ap- 
 pointed, for the relief even of weak and doubting Christians) he is to 
 bewail his unbelief, and labor to have his dojbts resolved ; and, so doing, 
 
sivil ofTice or 
 
 }r of his due 
 
 145 
 
 he may and ought to come to the Lord's Supper, that he mav he further 
 strengthened. 
 
 " Uue«. What is required of them that receive the Sacrament of the 
 Lord's Supper in tlie time of the administration of it? 
 
 " Ans. It is required of them that receive the Sacrament of the 
 Lord's Supper that, during the time of the administration of it, with all 
 holy reverence and attention they wait upon God in that ordinance, 
 diligently observe the sacramental' elements and actions, heedfully dis- 
 cern the Lord's body, and affectionately meditate on His death and suf- 
 ferings, and ^hereby stir up themselves to a vigorous exercise of their 
 graces ; in judging themselves, and sorrowing for sin ; in earnest hun- 
 gering and thirsting after Christ, feeding on him by faith, receiving of 
 his fulness, trusting in bis merits, rejoicing in love, giving thanks for his 
 grace ; in renewing of their covenant with God, and love to all the saints. 
 
 •'O*' L'.\PTi8M. — Baptism is a Sacrament of the New Testament, or- 
 dained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the j^arty 
 baptized into the visible Church, but also to be unto him a sign and a seal 
 the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of 
 remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, 
 to walk in newness of life : which Sacrament is, by Christ's own appoint- 
 ment, to be continued in His Church until the end of the world. 
 
 "Op THE Lord's Supper.— -Our Lord ^;sus, in the night wherein 
 he was betrayed, instituted the Sacrament ot his body and blood, called 
 the Lord's Supper, to be observed in his Church ; unto the end of the 
 world ; for the perpetual remembrance of the sacrifice of himself in his 
 death, the sealing all benefits thereof unto true believers, their spiritual 
 nourishment and growth in him, their father engagement in, and to all 
 duliea which they owe unto him ; and to he a bond and pledge ot their 
 communion with him, and with each other, as members of his mystical 
 body." 
 
 « 
 
 Extracts from " Burke's Theological Dictionary ;" being the senti- 
 ments of many good and learned men, selected and quoted by that intel- 
 ligent, judicious, and excellent Author. 
 
 " Baptism exhibits to us the blessings of pardon, salvation through 
 Jesus Christ, union to, and communion with him, the outpouring of the 
 spirit, regeneration, and sanctificcUon. From baptism results the obli- 
 gation of repentance, love to Christ, and perpetual devotedness to his 
 praise. Baptism does not constitute a visible subject, but only recoff- 
 nizes one." j b 
 
 Of the Lord's Supper.— " The subjects of this ordinance should be 
 such as make a credible profession of the (iospel : the ignorant, and 
 '' ose whose lives are immoral, have no righi to it : nor should ii ever he 
 administered as a .est of civil obedience, for this is perverting the design 
 of It. None but true believers can approach it with profit ; yet we can- 
 not exclude any who make a credible profession, for God only is the judge 
 of the heart, while we can only act accordinp to ontwa 
 
 19 
 
 1 n n f» n r u tT| #^ <»« 
 

 ^h 
 
 146 
 
 .1,0!?!!.'",°"'^'"^^°'" V^'' ^^'•■^^tion'' in vVhat frame 6f mind U-e 
 should attend upon ih.s ord.nance.-Jt sl.ould be with sorrow for our 
 
 nn?r?.ffl' ^"? ^'""^'' '"'^ calmness of affection, free from the disorders 
 and ruffles of passions; w.th an holy awe and reveretiCe of the Divine 
 majesty, yet w.th a gracious confidence and earnest desires toward God • 
 wuh raised expectations ; prayer, joy, and thanksgiving, and love to all 
 
 nr^lT'' ''^''''''^'fcs arising from the participation of the Loi-d>s Supper 
 ^eusSr- i'uVr"' ofstrengthening our faith in the Lofd 
 TovP 1 T. r 'f '■'^' ^' '' consolation and joy.-3. It increases 
 
 Zni;;;!, r'V •'"'^'"^y ' enlighten our minds in the mystery of 
 jodhness._o. It gives us an utter aversion to all kinds of sin, and oLa- 
 
 n holv IT/ ^"' ^""'i'-T^- ^' ^'' ' *^"^^"^y *° '^^^'^ ^nd strengthen 
 al holy desi es in us.-7 It renews our obligations to our Lord and Mas^ 
 
 iT i " ""^ ^°"'^ of Christians one to another " 
 i^rom Poole's work on the same subject.— " Divines agree that the 
 unworthiness here spoken of, respecieth not the person Sf the receiver 
 IvarZ Z '".'""f:.°f ^5^ receiving; in which sense a person that is 
 r !{{, '";^'"^"!'^P f^>'« ordinance Unworthily : It is variouslv expound- 
 ed without due felig.on and reverence, without faith and lo/e, without 
 
 ro7r:;-t:;ot" it " ''^ ^"'""' ""^^^ ''^ ^^'^ °^-^ ^-- - 
 
 "In the sense before mentioned, either having no remote right or no 
 
 present right to partake in that ordinance, being^an unbeliever^, o^ a re- 
 
 o ved unholy, or ignorant person ; or irreverently and irreligiously. He 
 
 t?nnL"p t r Tr'^r^'^rr J^'^Sment. it is no matter which we 
 
 Swll^, '^''."^^°'^'J"^S'"'"^^ "P°" himself in this life, 
 
 they will end in eternal damnation without a timely repentance; but it 
 .s to himself, not to him that i. at the same table with him, unle 3 he be 
 guilty of some neglect of his duty to him " 
 
 From the Rev. Matthew Henry.-" Note, those who, through weak- 
 ness of understanding cannor try themselves, are by no means fit to eat 
 of this bread and drink of this cup; nor those who, upon a fair ufal 
 have just ground to charge themselves with impenetency unbelief anH 
 alienation from the life of God. They should hive the wedding garment 
 
 gracl m Trllse •' ^^'^""^ ^^ ''^ "'^^^'^^^ '''''■' ^^^ '" ^''r^d 
 
 I .!h^^.'*;^^'"■*''';^'''7''!^' ^''- ^•■- ^^^^^'^^g^ on the subject.-"For 
 he that eateth and drn.keth in an irreverent, profane, and unworthy man- 
 ner rnust certain y displease and provoke God ; so that it may truh be 
 said that he eateUi and drinketh judgment to him'self ; he tak^slhe readT 
 
 fn^ the 'ord'TL r" " 'f ^'"•^r °^ ^^^ "P"" ^•"^' ""^ distinguish- 
 ng the Lord s body, nor making that proper difference which he ought 
 to make between that and common food " ^ 
 
 .fZTu'^" ^""""' '"^ ^''- ^?'^''^ Gray.-" How orie should know 
 
 it 1st Thar3"Tr'^ '"l'^*'^- ' '^^" S'^^ y^^ ^'^^«^ evidences of 
 It . 1st, 1 hat soul will be much taken up with felloA-shin 5,n,i nr.r»^..^:^„ 
 
 w.th Christ; and that person that has eaten and drunken ricrhtly' wirrbe 
 
of mind u-e 
 rrovv for our 
 the disorders 
 if the Divine 
 toward God ; 
 nd love to all 
 
 lOi-d's Supper 
 in the Lord 
 It increases 
 e mystery of 
 in, and occa- 
 id strengthen 
 ord and Mas- 
 
 ee, that the 
 the receiver 
 »erson that is 
 sly expouiid- 
 3ve, without 
 y known sin 
 
 right, or no 
 ver, or a re- 
 giously. He 
 r which we 
 in this life, 
 nee; but it 
 unless he be 
 
 ough weak- 
 ins fit to eat 
 a fair trial, 
 nbelief, and 
 ing garment 
 habit, and 
 
 ject. — "For 
 vorthy man- 
 lay truly be 
 ;s the readi- 
 distinguish- 
 h he ought 
 
 lould know 
 vidences of 
 r^ommssnion 
 (itly, will be 
 
 147 
 
 so, as in Song ii. 1, compared with thi .nh verse, 'The king hath 
 brought me to the banqueting-hou^e, and his banner over uie was love ,' 
 and then she prays, ' Stay me with me flaggous, comfort me with apple?, 
 for I am sick of love.' Believe it, I think the desire of fellowship with 
 Christ is now gone. 2ndly, The soul that has communicated rightly, 
 will have high and matchless conceptions and uptakings of Jesus Christ; 
 Cant. ii. 3. ' As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my 
 beloved among the sons ;' as if he had said, I know no match to Christ 
 in all the world. Believe it, many of us would sell Jesus for a pair of 
 shoes, as the prophet, Amos ii. 6, speaketh. 3rdly, If thou hast commu- 
 nicated rightly, thy graces will be strengthened thereby ; for if the graces 
 of love and faith, and the grace of mortification, and the grace of pati- 
 ence and humility be strengthened, that is a speaking evidence that thou 
 hast communicated rightly ; Song ii. 3, ' I sat down under his shadow,' 
 &-C.; before, as it were, she stood, but now she sits down, as it were, in 
 the settled and solid exercise of grace : but are all our graces in the same 
 posture they were in before ? 4thly, If thou hast communicated rightly, 
 the strength of thy idol and predominant corruption will be decaying. 
 1 think communicants are either the greatest feeders of predominant 
 corruptions, or the greatest slayers of them. 5thly, Thou wilt know it 
 by this. Thy love to the saints. There is too little spoken to this pur- 
 pose at this time ; for there are some here, that neither love Christ nor 
 his image; yea, they not only hate his image in the godly, but his pic- 
 ture in the hypocrite. If ye communicate rightly ye will love the saints." 
 
 One might ask, is it possible for our Ministers to know the testimony 
 of those good and great men, and Reformers, — backed as it is by the 
 word of God, — and yet to run quite contrary to it in their own practice! 
 If they choose, they have the same opportunity with me, of reference to 
 them. But the reverse of these sentiments, and of the conduct of their 
 subjects, proves more answerable to the religion of the flesh, and of the 
 world. For it is by the abusive ligation of the Sacraments that a world- 
 ly spirit, in the public office-bearers, in all churches generally, whe- 
 ther Popish, or Protestant, obtains and holds, in a high degree, its 
 awful sway and swing over the minds and misinformed consciences of 
 the laity. I am not here reasoning against any but such as publicly pre- 
 tend to profess the principles here sustained, and yet act as publicly con- 
 trary to them. For the Church of England's defmiiion, or meaning of a 
 Sacrament is declared to be ' An o itvvard and visible si^rn of an inward 
 and spiritual grace giyen unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a means 
 whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof.' — We 
 may now be well aware of the choking arguments of Ministers in e.xtenu- 
 aiion, or excuse of their own unruly and licentious communicants on the 
 ground of the irregularities and disorders recorded of the Church ot 
 Corinth, under the immediate superintendence, or admiuistration of tiu- 
 Apostles, on the score of the Lord's Supper. But for my own part, I 
 can mark a vast difference between the temporary, and inadvertent 
 relapses of comparatively unestablishcd, or new Churclic.^. in the absence 
 
 
 
i48 
 
 i!^ 
 
 m 
 
 of their pnucipal leachers, or instruments of tfieir conversion, and the 
 wil ul stub'orn and stationary repetition of abuse and profanation of 
 well edified, and long established Churches, under the personal and per- 
 inanent miristry and cognizance of their own appointed, selected, and 
 earned spntual guides. Whenever St. Paul, who was the Apostle of 
 the benti.es had opportunity, by his presence, or correspondence, he 
 either ir, mediately rectified the flagrant abuses and misconduct of his 
 adherents, or ordered their excommunication, in the less or greater de- 
 gree according to the nature, extent, and circumstances of their crimes. 
 Must his impartial, prompt, and prudent treatment and discipline, be 
 rtegraded lo bear a comparison with the continued, condemned, and uni- 
 versal torrenc of indifference, ignorance, and wickedness of our times 
 on this score, awfully and wofully. combining and involving in its fatal 
 Xnd'ere^s '" ^ 'P'"^"^' P°^°^ °^ '''^^' P^^'o's as Pirates, and people as 
 
 As to the farcical formality of what is commonly termed, " Fencing the 
 t^onimunion 1 able," it has now long since become but a mere children's 
 Diigbear, which has lost all its former effect and influence; because 
 Ministers speak by rote, and members hear by rounds. Would thev 
 fence their Sacred Table, sharply and soundly, these fencers themselves 
 a' ^;f fi'"«l-'-«'-e.s'"ners, should feel the prime smart of their own fencing! 
 u^u^r' "1?^^^*^ "^^^^''" <^'^ck and brawling braggardism, through 
 The Guardian," from day to day, and from kingdom to kingdom, on 
 this Heaven-provoking ground, they would strike their briny breasts, and 
 sneak their brazen brows; like men deservedly despised by earth, and 
 deserted by Heaven : In some degree according to the aggravated state 
 and s and of the once disguised subjects mostly justly complained of, in 
 the following texts : "For it was not an enemy that reproached me: 
 then I could have borne it : neither was it he that hated me that did mag- 
 nity himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him • But 
 It was thou H man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance."— 
 1 salm Iv. 12, 1 ;. " But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the 
 son of man with a kiss?"— Luke xxii. 48. I most sincerelv believe with 
 all my heart and soul that Christ, and the spirit of the Gospel, and any 
 real Christian, who can discern the religious degeneracy of the times 
 have at this day within the range of my acquaintance, no greater reject- 
 ers nor opposers in the world than the generality of our Cleray and of 
 then closest adherents among the people. And'my sincerity and confid- 
 ence on this ground, have the lioht and life and growth of a full half a 
 century ; so that, it I were nou- sure to appear at the solemn tribunal of 
 my feovereign Judge and Saviour before the next morning liaht, 1 should 
 desire to leave this memorial on record, for a warning to all others con- 
 cerned, whether they would, or would not receive this my humble testi- 
 niony.— " By their fruits ye shall know them Do men gather grapes of 
 thorn;,, or hga of thistles?"-. Matthew vii. lo. 
 
 r< n ^r^ . w^ . Paddle Plain. 
 
 Cape Breton, I8th December, 1841. 
 
Ill) 
 
 siori, and the 
 irofanation of 
 ional and per- 
 selected, and 
 e Apostle of 
 )ondence, he 
 induct of his 
 ' greater de- 
 their crimes, 
 liscipline, be 
 ned, and uni- 
 if our times, 
 [ in its fatal 
 ind people as 
 
 ■ Fencing the 
 re children's 
 ce ; because 
 Would they 
 3 themselves, 
 own fencing, 
 ism, through 
 kingdom, on 
 
 breasts, and 
 ' earth, and 
 ravated state 
 lained of, in 
 oached me: 
 hat did mag- 
 
 him : But 
 lintance." — 
 est thou the 
 believe with 
 »el, and any 
 f the times, 
 3ater reject- 
 rgy, and of 
 
 and confid- 
 i full half a 
 
 tribunal of 
 ;ht, I should 
 
 others con- 
 inible testi- 
 er grapes of 
 
 K Plain. 
 
 ADDENDUM. 
 
 Since the writing of my foregoing Supplement and six Letters, 1 have 
 met with some more of the new converts of the Island. — One of them, 
 D. M., at W. B., angrily and roughly intruded on the peaceable and se- 
 rious private association and devotion of a cluster of his neighbors, among 
 whom I happened to be at the time; and with several other unreasonable 
 and passionate expressions, said, in the very middle of our worship, that 
 " it was not Gospel, nor any ways allowable in worshippers, nor would 
 he admit that any man or ministers' conduct should be spoken against 
 in their own absence, and in his hearing." He was meekly requested, 
 either to hold his peace curing the time of worship, or quietly to turn 
 out : But he insolently replied that he " would do neither but at his own 
 pleasure." He was told that the house was none of his, nor the meeting 
 at his command ; and that therefore he would be compelled to take the 
 alternative : yet at the same time, that he should be freely permitted, if 
 he chose, in a pacific spirit, to ask, or answer any important questions 
 after our lecture and prayers. When he felt his predicament, and after 
 a wild and fothy puff of incoherent reflections on our devotion, because 
 disagreeable to his own favorites and views, he skulked away. With 
 such characters as this, any thing is, or is not "Gospel," just "as it may 
 agree, or clash with their own wild vagaries, and vitiated" inclinations. 
 They can unreservedly backbite and slander, under color of Gospel, the 
 most unexceptionable names, whether present or absent, which may 
 happen to oppose their own false and foolish measures ; when at the 
 same time, none must dare treat them, or their party, but according to 
 the estimate of their own extravagant self-conceit, and proud fancy. 
 
 J. M., another of these fanciful and recent converts, and like the last, 
 a leader in iheir devotion, desired to speak to me privately : But I sent 
 him word, that I had heard so much of the extraordinary extravagance 
 of his religious views, that J felt uninclined tj treat with him alone ; 
 but that, if he listed, I should not refuse to hear him in the presence of 
 a cluster of sober neighbors, who happened then to be together, on a 
 Sabbath evening, after our private worship. The man appeared, when 
 1 asked him, if it were true that he maintained the strange opinion im- 
 puted to him by his religious, associates, viz : "That every word in the 
 Bible was applicable to him, and ought to be taken by him as individu- 
 a ly applicable to himself; and as if only, and personally spoken to him 
 alone ?'^ He promptly and boldly answered in the affirmatire. I then 
 questioned him "How would he think it possible that such a self-con- 
 tradictory extravagance could be tenable, or reconcileable ? As for 
 example, and like the remark of ' Ross against Fraser' (both late of 
 i-iclou,) Oil the very same point, it might be said to him, as the Lord 
 
.♦•: 
 
 V < 
 
 VI 
 
 *';. 
 
 h- 
 
 160 
 
 sai.) to Noah ' Mnke tl.ce an ark of Gophir vrooci; &,c." A similar 
 ri;;:i.:d'" -'"--ppIicabHity and absurdity fo'r him "to .Ir^lch 
 ^o d vJ^r .' 7 "^, commanded Moses^" over the Red Sea, 
 
 to divide It: ^c It was also asked him " What would he do in the 
 case of Joseph, the espoused husband of the Virgin Mary to whom U 
 
 Te M rv'tL':-?:'.' 'c''!l''rf' f. ^^^ ^°^^' ' ^^-^ nofto take Tnto 
 
 Ghost 'W''^ ' for tha which ,s conceived in her is of the Holy 
 
 Oho.s , &,c. I remarked likewise, that all the promises and all the 
 
 hreatenmgs of the sacred Scriptures were at once appUcabMo him on 
 
 written m he book of life ; but that at the same time he muit be also 
 m the condition of Judas the traitor, under the power of a devil mdTo 
 
 heeTC:v' "h- '^ r ^'^'T' " '' ^-^^^ ''«"- ^- him .ever lo t Je 
 been born ! His replies to these and similar remarks wprp eo wildly 
 
 I woJhfhf ^"V"7^'''"^' ^"* ''' '' P*'^^^'^^ ^"^ unconvinced th^ 
 I would have judged it quite improper in myself to waste either ti ne or 
 
 on o? fo i^ 1 / """""Pr^i' "' '^^ '*'""' ^ho had not sufficient discVe- 
 
 Af h t hp "f r ^"^f^'hem entirely from his religious wild c),imer,. 
 
 wLh J. .1 '"^' '^ ^ «V''"'P'''^'y ^^PP*'*^'^ his sentiments, " *>r 
 
 pe u I '' t'\ 'r^T' ;h^ S^^'-jPtures written at all. or left for hi 
 
 vi h n .. f P '"'' "''' ^ !.^^''"^ht it not of the least avail to reason 
 
 of t.rn „:; To r '"^r"; '"^ ^"';*''^ ^'^^^^ '^ '"'^ht prove a likely means 
 
 Horn if ..^ *■''' ""-^ °"'" «"^'^"*^e. vvho already have heard enough 
 
 nsa h '. ? f"u TTr °^ ^''' ""'■^rtunate and stubborn religious 
 
 ruTdel^;ZH°^ -f'''^" ?'^'"^ !^^"Serous influence of his religious 
 
 guide, called Ministers of the Gospel, who appointed him and his fiHow 
 
 iiJLnl?fu '"^.P.T't T'.^''^ P"h''^. «s well as some of the private 
 at wh .h?l neighborhood, in the absence of their own preaching; 
 
 to i . or r 'T' ""T'^'f "' '",' ''"'P"'*' ''^''^^ ^^ '^ tell boastingl; 
 cPd ml '" "P''^ '""^ ''T''"^ adherents, that he sullened and silen- 
 argument" "'^ «^«"^'^»^^«. ^y the stretch and strength of his strange 
 
 mn!!''^!' ^ '"f '^''"' 'u '■'''' ^' '^•' '"'•«••« our wild revival had operated 
 ni0i>t strangely, on the score of vacant gazing.-sn.erky smi in.r - 
 
 "Ss '" "7'' T f ""'^^ °* ^hought.5-selfrt'witchingJ atid boll'ily 
 witftings.-sexual and slant promiscuousuess.-shivering, howling and 
 
 SuTlL'"'''M"r"'r"f "r"^^'- ' ^^«« credil/y' informed, by 
 th nbl 'T'^l^ ^"f"^'- ^hat the game was, by this ti.ne, all over a{ 
 
 elilfnn „'T °' 1^' ?' '""'"''t °^ ^- 'r- ^^^^^ ''^'' '^^ indifferent to 
 S? . I ^^ ^'^'^' ^°' '. ^""'' h«^" zealous ; nay, that they were as 
 wkh ,^"^ '"^^'"P^'-^^^' Pr^f^'V^ and wrangling, as ever in their lives ; and 
 with a far worse grace; wofully fulfilling the true and sacred proverb, 
 Ihe dog IS turned to his own vomit agam, and the sow that was washed 
 to her wallowing inlhe m.re." One of the loftiest converts at W. M, 
 
 Lm/nTlh 'i"""' '''''^ ^'"'T'^ °^ •''" '"i^*» ^hiid, fathered upon L 
 cre2\?i fl ^''""- ".""• ^'''! """'her female of the same cast and 
 credit, and at the same place, we hear, is well niah the m...^ ^r U^nhma 
 out for a luidwife .o help the birth of a similar fuFbidden "conception. " 
 
^^/--^ 
 
 " A simiJar 
 I " to stretch 
 ;he Red Sea, 
 he du in the 
 , to whom it 
 to take unto 
 of the Holy 
 i afld 9II the 
 l« to him, Qii 
 Qs, bis nnine 
 nust be flKsp 
 devil, c^nd to 
 ever to h^iye 
 re *o wildly 
 vinced, th«t 
 ther time or 
 &ome sifj;iple 
 cient discre- 
 ild chimera. 
 leuts, " ^"qr 
 r left for hjs 
 lil to reason 
 ikely means 
 3ard enough 
 rn religious 
 his religious 
 id his fellow 
 f the private 
 preaching ; 
 1 boastingly 
 d and silen- 
 his strange 
 
 ad operated 
 smiling, — 
 and bodily 
 jwling, and 
 ifornied, by 
 , all over at 
 different to 
 ey were as 
 lives ; and 
 id proverb, 
 was washed 
 at W. M., 
 red upon a 
 le cast and 
 til' !f)okin2 
 ceplion. 
 
 151 
 
 • ^I.'^ I ',^°"''^/^«' ^?^ ''•■o'^ exultirtg over these fatal rtnd melancholy 
 sign^ of fallen hnman.ty, and ordinary concomitants and consequences 
 bf false religion, and foolish revivals. Our surprise and regret ought 
 indeed to be excited in finding not the least indication of shame or 
 sorrow, reflection or admission, on the p.irt of those more immediately 
 concerned, whether geese or goslings, guides or converts, but as if their 
 sole ami should consist, either in neutrally overlooking those sad aiid 
 sickening scandals, or in endeavoring to evade the observation arrd 
 Objections of all others around them on the subject. 
 
 Sf)ME FURTHER REAIARKS ON «' THE GUARDIAN." 
 
 In a late number of '« The GHardian,"-^s partly in consequence of 
 ^ i'"^^?^^"^" published m the late " Cape Breton Advocate,"— the 
 good Editor, without flatly naming me, has feelingly complained that I 
 oppose the Church of my fathers." But I take him.ielf, by his vain 
 and false statements of the present flourishing religions state of that 
 Church to be in a good degree the very means of my open opposition to 
 her at this tinrie. But the alleged ground of his objection on that score 
 IS a very vveak and futile one. 1 still profess, in ^he sincerest m.nne; 
 possible, that I venerate the name and the original sentiments, embraced 
 by what IS styled the Church of my fathers ; but when she do;s not now 
 appear to be but, m a fearful degree, the very reverse of what she had 
 in principles and practice once been, and what the living and loving 
 Church of my Heavenly Father and Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ must 
 necessarily be at all times, and under every ordinary, if not every posai- 
 ble circumstance, what, I seriously and solemnly ask, rs the worth 0* 
 value of the mere empty sound of her name to me, or to any man who 
 IS religious y any wise in his right senses ? Names are serious things 
 indeed, and to most people, in religious and eternal concerns, names are 
 awfully stumbling, and wofully fatal. 
 
 Generally speaking. ^ belieye, from long and snd experience, tbat the 
 brief and broad wore -"The Church," "our Church." or "the 
 Church of our fathers," involve in them, 1 » the generality of religious 
 men, a most pernicious delusion-a most baneiu! impression; which can 
 be hardly superseded by any just and Scriptural views, in myriads of 
 otherwise sober and intelligent minds, without the Spirit of God in his 
 convincing and converting powerful influence. Do we seldom see men 
 who care little or none to sustain, or regard, even the general rules of 
 Zr rl' or common decorum, yet rail and wrangle, fight and foam, for 
 their Chuch; and that not unfrequently when they, ^.t the same time 
 know not by rote or rumination, so much as what are the very professed 
 principles ot the thing-the Chnrch-for the sake and sound and saTva. 
 t.on of which they would seem to die freely on the gallows, without ever 
 once serious y questioning their consciences what rational ;nd scriptura 
 fomidation they have for their hope: or what motives for their nrZZl 
 ropery and 1 rotestani.sm are, alas I not seldom similarly implicit on 
 .s crround But if a dissenter from the church of his fath/rs cannot be 
 
 nJM 
 
 this ground. 
 
152 
 
 i t<! 
 
 Mil 
 
 ?.''! 
 
 sound in his faith, or sage in his conduct, what will be said of all our good 
 and great Reformers ; nay of the Apostles themselves ; and far further, 
 iet me speak it with solemn seriousness, for our ever b'-sscd Lord and 
 Saviour Jesus Christ himself was actually and archly a Dissenter in his 
 day, from the church of his fathers; and it was soundly lor this very rea- 
 son that the wicked fathers of the church in his time plotted and com- 
 bined together for his most unjust condemnation, and crucifixion to 
 the death ! 
 
 Who but a madman, after this, would talk at random on the subject 
 of the Guardian! 
 
 If a certain famous bark called "Aurora," transported my grandfather's 
 family from Europe to America, some seventy, eighty, or ninety years ago; 
 would It be thought any good sense or sound reason in me to venture 
 my precious life and limbs over an awful ocean in this once choice 
 medium of conveyance, now that she is found to be dreadfully defective, 
 dangerous, and dead in her deal timbers, and other essential materials,' 
 though in order to allure foolish and fond passengers, she should still* 
 carry on her new-painted lofty stern, and in an endless repetition of de- 
 ceptive and eloquent advertisements — 
 
 "The famous, good, fast sailing Ship Auroha !" &c. &c. 
 Agiin. had a learned, fluent, just advocate pleaded successfully the 
 honest cause of my dear father against foil, fraud, or violence, half a 
 century back, but now that through age, infirmity, and other causes, the 
 ^aid sound pleader has become crazy and deranged in his intellect, par- 
 tial and corrupt in his decisions, proud and insolent in his behaviour, 
 and in short, the very reverse of what once he was, in all his actions and 
 -determinations, or that his son was substituted in his office under all the 
 <]eficience and corruption of his father's latter days, what would it avail 
 me in rny confounding dilemma, or legal distress, to resort to either the 
 father or the son; or even to both put together, merely because the 
 former was some long time past the wise and efficient counsel of my 
 worthy father; especially when I have no pinching necessity to force me; 
 but enjoy an out gate, by some other happy means of relief, or equal 
 benefit, only that I must, for ever and anon bear the reproach and pre- 
 secution of all the foolish, false friends of the old Lawyer, because the un- 
 grateful son of my dear father does not any further blindfoldedly stick 
 most tenaciously, to the quondam good advocate of his father ! And, 
 as Pr-ice would phrase it, the application is both apt and easy. 
 
 I ti:ought to make remarks on the self-contradictory, puffing, and proud 
 letter of the Rev. Simon Fraser, lately addressed from ScoUand, to his 
 abandoned congregation at Miramichi, and published in a recent number 
 of the duped " Guardian." But as I find no sufficient time for the intend- 
 ed animadversion, I must curtail it, and briefly observe that I have seldom 
 through life perused a more pitiful and ridiculous abuse of talent, in 
 latter limes, and under the sunshine of orthodox and scriptural means 
 of edification, than in the address in question, and a similar one last 
 year from the same author to the same silly people, and printed in the 
 same silly " Guardian." The famous Mr. Fraser' deserted his most ut- 
 
153 
 
 r all our good 
 J far further, 
 sed Lord and 
 ssenter in his 
 this very rea- 
 ted and com- 
 :rucifixion to 
 
 I the subject 
 
 grandfather's 
 2ty years ago; 
 le to venture 
 once choice 
 lly defective, 
 tal materials, 
 3 should still 
 jtition of de- 
 
 'C. &c. 
 cessfully the 
 ence, half a 
 • causes, the 
 tellect, par- 
 s behaviour, 
 actions and 
 inder all the 
 ould it avail 
 ;o either the 
 because the 
 unsel of my 
 to force me; 
 ef, or equal 
 ch and pre- 
 luse the un- 
 Idedly stick 
 ler ! And, 
 
 f, and proud 
 lland, tu his 
 ent number 
 the intend- 
 lave seldom 
 f ta!eiit, in 
 ural means 
 ar one last 
 nted in the 
 lis most ul- 
 
 ached, and imposed upon congregation at the said place last year, when 
 be plau.ly elt and found that his circumstances were, upon ^the whole 
 disagee. able to h.s ecclesiastical and worldly views, under he appear nee 
 of unavoidable necessity, and as if impressed and impelled by Kg acT- 
 ous, solemn, and disinterested influence of the Holy Spirit of God O 
 fearful. ofTensive and dangerous pretences ! The Reverend Gentleman' 
 as ,f only gu.ded by a divine volition and power, would never take upon 
 h.m to decide whether he should, or should not, return to his fo mer 
 dear charge till he might find himself, by all his artful means, and sT'e 
 
 gacity, well settled in his nest, in h.s desired and native land, bee use 
 t II then, you mast know, it is but strict worldly wisdom, to keep his 
 blind charge, m this cold and careless country, in suspense. For i^. hi 
 circumstance It serves two important objects! -First in case of disa , 
 pomtment in h.s intended settlement, among his fri.nds at ome 
 left an outgate for his return, to his former most kind, and generous and 
 
 mlt in thlNorth T U ''^ ''T' '''''' "^''^ ^'« e.xp'octed i^^s ' 
 ment in the North, has been pending, it served as a powerful, thoueh 
 
 secret wedge and goad to enhance and forward his interest, where ifis 
 
 heart has long been fixed; like a sly wench, who, in order o urge the 
 
 :7::fi:J, ^oiiT °'^"^' ^'°"^' °^^""'^^^ ^^^ ^^"^ ^^p- -^ "^^ '«' 
 
 In his late address, Mr. Fraser offers as the main reasons for his non- 
 return, h.s diffidence of his own talents or abilities, and his xpectatfon 
 and desire that his former flock would be supplied by a Mi is er of 'u' e 
 rior unctionary requisites to himself;* and yet,witi; the same bre th C 
 tells them, according to the expression of the Apostle Paul, " For thouih 
 
 fo'r in^C Hst r""? r'T""'' '" ""''''''' ^^^ ^^^ ^^ "otmany f he? 
 tor m Christ Jesijs I have begotten you through the Gospel " 
 
 1 feel completely short of proper words to convey mv feelimrs ind irl^n. 
 on this point of the subject, fs any man, who cLTru e ?l e adire 
 under remark, so void of common sense, and common feelings as no 
 a once to see the fatal pr.de. deceit, and self-contradiction o7theun^,r 
 tunate author; who.e case. I cannot at this moment, but sncereU pity 
 
 vvirh '^ l7l"S?? ^' ^'""''T"^ V" ^""y- "^ ■« ■•^' once both overwhelmed 
 with se it-d.fiidence, and at the very top of St. Paul's utmost stretch of 
 sp.r.tual superiority and success ! HeJs also diffident for w nt of taLf 
 o resume the oversight of a poor, half-ignorant, and obscure con^S 
 hnvl' 7 H "'/'^' '"^ 'r-^' of America^ wher; he openly pre^esTo 
 have already been so gloriously and triumphantly successful ;-tlZ'h ,i 
 ;ny view, most dreadfully, if not wilfully mistaken himsel as well 
 most dangerously stumbling to his pretended and numerous tophie of 
 coi^mg_grace^_^et^a^h^^ instant, he can^hesual^gjy 
 
 they originated in a jealousy o^l^'^elf "nd"? v^ 7t ^.Se" ^'iZo^^ 5^' 
 20 
 
 
iir 
 
 154 
 
 take the lead over a populous auditory in one of the more enlightened 
 and popular places in Scotland ; where he has no experience of the pasi 
 nor any sure anticipation of similar success ! ' 
 
 The Lord in sovereign mercy look upon me, and "the Church of my 
 fathers/' which can take neither sense nor shame ; but must fondly pub- 
 lish to the wide world, her own religious nakednese, and sore disgrace ! 
 When men possessed of so much favourable and scriptural advantages 
 through their wilful abuse of extended light, are so far left of Heaven' 
 as to be capable of such inadvertency and pride, fully and deceit, as those 
 01 which vye now sadly complain, what I have learned, from deep and 
 dire experience, should, in my circumstance, by any means, appear nei- 
 ther strange nor unnatural.— Thet if the majority of the Clergy of the 
 Church of Scotland, and in particular now the Presbytery of Cape Bre- 
 ton, had the power of life and death in their hand, according to the set- 
 tled and full bent of their will and inclination, I should equally expect 
 the saving of my neck from the hangman's halter, at their mercy, and 
 that of the Pope of Rome ; and this for no other guilt or crime, than that 
 the Lord has most graciously opened my intellectual eyes to become a 
 sober, serious, and zealous, dissenter from their own vain and formal, 
 false and wicked Church communion and fellowship.— And perhaps I 
 should suppose that the gracious Editor of the Guardian himself, would 
 not see much reason to hesitate setting his sacred amen, seal, and selah, 
 to my just condemnation, as a piece of good and acceptable service both 
 to Heaven, and to the rest of his official brethren ! 
 
 Several people over the Island, feel desirous that the Ladies' Associa- 
 tion in Edinburgh should have some information to dispel, from their 
 eyes, the film and fume with which they are blinded, by false statements 
 of the circumstances of this place, which they receive, on every occasion, 
 from their Missionaries, in order to magnify the result and necessity of 
 their own labor. A Normal Teacher from Scotland, has actually told 
 me, that nothing surprised him, on his arrival at his appointed station 
 here under the patronage of the said Ladies, more than to find the 
 vast disparity existing, on the one hand, between the real character of 
 our inhabitants, with all their modes and improvements, mental, corpo- 
 ral, and agricultural ; and on the other, the deplorably rude and degrad- 
 ing accounts, which the said Missionaries, at least partly, had given to 
 their correspondents at home, on the subject. 
 
 Other Teachers, from the same, and under the same support, have 
 cordially corroborated the story of the Schoolmaster. They agree in 
 asserting their agreeable dissappointment, on their landing, in meeting 
 almost every circumstance contrary to their gloomy prospects; and par- 
 ticularly their ideas of the inhabitants; whum they farmed to themselves, 
 through the mis-statement of Ministers, as they said, to be little different 
 Trotn the ignorance and rudeness of the untutored Hottentots 1— This 
 A as in truth, the very expression of some of them to myself; though it 
 might in fact be too far exaggerated. And as to houses and tillage, ac- 
 cording to the said previous medium of information, they expected to 
 
 find ruefu! huts. 
 
 Q n f I . . 
 
 Rcaltivated lands, q 
 
 iU- 
 
 m\ 
 
 ', quite tue reverse oi our situa- 
 
e enlightened 
 ee of the past, 
 
 Church of my 
 ist fondly pub- 
 lore disgrace ! 
 il advantages, 
 \ of Heaven, 
 sceit, as those 
 om deep and 
 s, appear nei- 
 I!Iergy of the 
 of Cape Bre- 
 ng to the set- 
 qiially expect 
 r mercy, and 
 me, than that 
 to become a 
 and formal, 
 nd perhaps I 
 imself, would 
 al, and seiah, 
 i service both 
 
 lies' Associa- 
 I, from their 
 se statements 
 ery occasion, 
 necessity of 
 actually told 
 inted station 
 1 to find the 
 character of 
 ental, corpo- 
 ! and degrad- 
 lad given to 
 
 165 
 
 tion.--For you know, the greater the disadvantages, inconvenience, and 
 privation, which a Missionary undergoes and surmounts, the more meri- 
 torious, on his part; and the fitter he is to be thought an object of sym- 
 pathy and assistance, in his necessary distresses; especially by his gene- 
 rous patrons. Thus there is a staunch reason given for the mis-statement 
 and meagrely-transformed accounts of our famous Missionaries, on the 
 score of our circumstances. 
 
 Again our "Revivals" must be glorious, in order to stimulate esteem 
 and encouragement, in favour of the blessed instruments. But whenever 
 a Minister wills to serve a turn, as of late by the Guardian, he can either 
 personally, or by a duped proxy, write or rave pompously, of the wonder- 
 ful melioration of our sticks and stocks, lots and lands, as well as of our 
 sultry souls, under their inspection and influence; whereas I challenge 
 any of them to show us one acre of additional improvement by their 
 means, and beyond their own personal possession, over all Cape Breton 
 But even if they should have induced any to exertion of this kind it is 
 plain to the world it would be only to serve their own self-interest.— Not 
 11'^ T l"h''.^/»"ts fee* anxious that the said Ladies' Association in 
 tidinburgh, should also know of the mean, greedy, and shameful, abuse 
 or misapplication made, m certain cases, of their generous bounty, sent 
 to the poor of this Island; which deeply and duly offends the generalitr 
 of our neighborhood. Not treating of books, but of blankets! carpets 
 osnaburg, cottons scissors, thimbles, needles, &,c, wholly or partly, .aid 
 to have been sold dearly, or substituted to uses, and to serve purposes 
 quite unintended by the donors, and benefactors. Our Ministers arc not 
 charged for this misapplication, but for their improper indulgence to 
 those abusers it not purloiners, on account of being their own pitiful 
 Church members. t""iui 
 
 The said Ladies of Edinburgh-the chief patronesses of our Cape 
 Breton Mission; and who, alas! on this ground, plainly appear to have 
 far more zeal than good sense-ought to know likewise, according to 
 the sincere wishes of such of our people as are most reasonably, griev- 
 
 nf hl'jr '^•""'''"'^'^'\°^'u'^'i' ^' '^^'" ^«''ffi°"« rr^en^nre,, on the score 
 of their Missionaries, that the Reverend Mr. Stewart has played on this 
 Island a similar game with his brother Fraser on Miram.chi. For when 
 the former came to our quarter, he seemed to think that every thin^r— 
 sense and science, sack and soul, matter and mind, ought to bow m°ost 
 obsequiously at his own singular shrine ! All thin? , and thouahts whe 
 
 Phose" r;; T^^'T '\°"'' '" '•« ^'^"'' '^^ immediately met'amo - 
 phosed, and conformed, to his own peculiar mould ! Our ever hitherto 
 
 and heretofore dark and drowsy " St. George's Channel ''Tehoved of 
 human and d.v.ne right and rule, to become now the Alpha and the 
 
 ^f'alfr'i^tr ^7 '"' ^'t ^"^' ''' ^''^' «"^ *he Standard, for' and 
 of, all right and wrong, debates and decisions ! Strangers to my subject 
 
 ouY X't ; '"'h7 treatment hyperbolical ; but. alfs ! I IS't^oS 
 ous.-Our Reverend Gentleman by a mode of behaviour, most congenial 
 
 to his now briefly defined disposition and char-.tp. cn.^ ; ::;!!!fu": 
 
 ieiiinto ceaseless and intricate opposition and wranglings,' with Veveral 
 
166 
 
 h 
 
 
 li, 
 
 of the more zealous and Rober, efTicient and intelligent, among liia ad- 
 herents and supporters; and over whose minds, once alienated, through 
 his rashness, pride and imprudence, all his dominant authority, and thun- 
 dering threats could never regain his former asusndency ; nor even the 
 mere acquiescence, or constrained obedience of not a few of his once 
 closest friends ; so that— as his lofty spirit— uninured to self-reflectiou 
 and relentings— could not bow to co-.oessions; and the offended, of his 
 maintainers, being numerous, and increasing, no alternative was left for 
 him, but either to stop unexpediently, or to abandon his charge : The 
 Jatter of which being chosen, ii has proved,— praise to Heaven!— a gra- 
 cious relieve, and negative benefit, of no small esteem, to not a few 
 serious souls in this our poor and dear Island. But did he leave us with- 
 out a brand-tail? By no means! but till this very moment never has 
 ceased his tlout and flutter through his correspondence; nor ever forgot 
 to ply and plough, pluck and plague us, by repeated proposals, in order 
 to reobtain among his former supporters, a sufficient subscription, in the 
 view, either to tease his new employers ai Pictou, to augment his fees; 
 or to leave them in the lurch, in case of any plus-par or advance else- 
 where. 1 o compass this design, he left behind him an odd old phantom 
 —a mere dupe to Ministers— under the name of Teacher, but little in- 
 tended or demanded for that purpose, though by many duly thought to 
 be in fees, from some silly quarters among our worthy Ladies of Edin- 
 burgh. 1' or, as a mere sham, he would teach a few pupils for a few days 
 in the season. But this creature, for a tedious time, has proved our per' 
 tect annoyance, as a shuttlecock, or rather like Samson's foxes, with a 
 firebrand Ml his tail; keeping " West Bay" in a continual ferment and 
 fever, running from house to house, and from man to man, with his scroll 
 of signatures and subscriptions, in his hand, exclaiming "O, will ye not 
 sign handsomely for the return ol our dear e:;cellent Minister ! Where I 
 beseech you, can ye find his mate ? Nothing, 1 assure you, prevents his 
 reaction with us, but the disparity of funds."— Must not my unprejudiced 
 Header easily perceive that this statement of our trouble, by means of 
 this sly and shameless tool of our late vexatious " pope," is far from far- 
 cical, or exaggerated, when 1 tell him that, about one-third of the con- 
 gregation in question, have been, and still are, (luite offended at Mr S 
 and would uevvv wish his return : that again, as many, at least, have been 
 as eagerly in his lavor; and, lastly, that another party are in a degree 
 neutral, or, at any rate, not very hot or anxious on either side. And in 
 not a few instances, two or three of these different, or opposite parties 
 are to be found under the same roof, and in the same bed. What a sore 
 fire and furn ce have our friends suffered on the subject ! Bat now after 
 all these lossings and teasings, we find in the latest Guardian, a likely 
 period to the whole bustle. For, behold, after all the tedium of these 
 maiKEUvres, we have to understand that the man's services cannot be pos- 
 sibly dispensed with, where he officiates; and where his efficient labors 
 are so highly appreciated! And now that he is nestled, and as Paddy 
 would say, good luck to him ! and as we, in the name of Heaven, should 
 
 resDond. amen ! — Hpao HnmKlo onH atc^^r^^} -Hi"-! «- '^ > - r < ■ 
 
 J f 11 L- "' «!'-J v,<,v»ii«j auicu lu ific St;* vict'3 oi mm, 
 
 aCiC Ol aJ his equals in dipposition and behaviour 1 1 
 
lot 
 
 long Ilia ad' 
 ted, through 
 ly, and thun- 
 or even the 
 of his once 
 3lf-reflectiou 
 nded, of his 
 was left for 
 arge : The 
 en ! — a gra- 
 ) not a few 
 ave us with- 
 t never has 
 ever forgot 
 Is, in order 
 )tion, in the 
 It his fees ; 
 ivance else- 
 )ld phantom 
 lit iittle in- 
 thought to 
 ;s of Edin- 
 a few days, 
 'ed our per- 
 ces, with a 
 jrnient and 
 h his scroll 
 will ye not 
 Where, I 
 irevents his 
 iprejudiced 
 ' means of 
 ir from far- 
 »f the con- 
 al Mr. S., 
 have been 
 1 a degree 
 . And, in 
 ite parties 
 Vhui a sore 
 now, after 
 1, a likely 
 1 of these 
 lot be pos- 
 ent labors 
 as Paddy 
 en, should 
 iea of him, 
 
 But I think it of 
 
 . , , ... - consequence ihut any me;:.,.., of ihis kind Hhould 
 
 be used with those generous and silly Ladies; especially since they 
 generally forward and compass their negociations through^the ined i^^ 
 oi their chief superintendent and guide Mrs. McKay, a very ob..ina e 
 and high-minded woman ; with whom I have communicated more tC 
 once on some of the subjects in question, under different names, and 
 various fo ms, u-ithout any succe.-s. In answer to some of her fals; and 
 frivolous, though sneermgly serious and sarcastic charges against myself 
 personally and directly, through the side of a certain correspondent I 
 wrote her a letter of close-written six sheets of po.st paper; and unde 
 the s gnature of my real name; and at the same tune fraliki; permit ng 
 thpnf t I'r^'^r^ ^"" ^° P"^^''«h her own said charges, and m/ answer fo 
 them, to the four winds; and particularly to Cape Breton where mv 
 statement of alleged and local facts, would l,e most likdy 'to rneet Tts 
 proper desert. But my honored Lady would neither adnfit norc^rrec 
 her own mistakes; nor allow the public to judge of our difference. Uut 
 on this ground, she is bit quite consistent with the religious rude and 
 
 nowt'l'tr' '' ''!f """'T"' ^'"^ ^"PI''^^*^: ''"'^ "P"" ^vhich here 
 now begin to rouse and rest the merited fy and fudge of earth with the 
 
 XTeln:^ Tfu 'T" °' "^^^^"' '" "^'''^ '' ^"^^« faint and feeble 
 eHots exerted, either to retain, or to retrieve the desperate glimmerinc 
 of Its full-fast waning and false phases fe".iimering 
 
 mo?nent"'''rVr? .^,7P°^V^'i^\P°i"M ^^ppen to have at hand this very 
 S V~ ''f ^'ble and sober young man, from our close neighbor- 
 
 I don t know much reason for any to hear him, unless it is to s eep!" 
 
 of our rS' M^"^^ I:^^''^ ^°" ^''' ^''' y-^ <■"-«- i-^rum^ent 
 ol our Revival Mr. M. I" His answer was, " Whenever I heard him 
 
 and ZtZ:'"' Vrr 1 ^''"' ^ "-^""^^ '^"^ ^^^--^ ^^at.the foolishness 
 
 Se siXvrin "'"■ ^l^.^'-'r^.i^-y features of his preaching and 
 
 Cape Bletdn '' ^ ' '" " ^""° '^' "'^'^^ contemptible m^in in 
 
 In some measure according to Malachi— 2d chapter— " Behold I wil> 
 
 ''i'r the^nfi TV''^ '^rf,' """ ''' '"'^ '' ^'^ solemn feastl' - 
 
 law t hfs mou h- r ^^"'^ ^f'^ knowledge, and they should seek the 
 
 aw ,u his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts But 
 
 Lw veE'' ""^ °^ /'^f "^^ '• y' have 'caused many to stumble at the 
 The'refore irr^'t''^ H.e covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts : 
 t3eS .Li also made you conter.ptible and base before all the 
 
 the t;.'' ^"^ '' ^' " "°' ^'P' "^^ '''y'' '^"^ ^^^^ ^''^ Partial in 
 
 epiTl'ets'' thles'an'J'iir^ •^'"^''" '^ 1"^'"^' ""P^"P^^ ^'^«^^« "P°" ^^^^ 
 epJtl^ets, titles, and denominations, and in order to correct the blindness 
 
 ar^d VICIOUS prejudice, of bigotry, and implicit faith, in men or Tn 
 
 Churches, and the want of due diligence to lean. nnn'Mnd^r:. '!! 
 
 duty, delects, and dangers, from or by the unerring 7ule""of"ihe'"sacred 
 
 '■ 51 
 
158 
 
 1!I 
 
 Scriptures, I quote tlw foUowing paragrnphfl from the juitly-famed 
 "Course of Time." Treatioflr of the last and mn*r*l l„Aa,r.^,*t #k- 
 
 lively author remarks :— 
 
 eatiofir of the last and general Judgment, th« 
 
 <*» 
 
 -•• unociitcheoncil all, 
 
 . — uiiBciiicneoncu ail, 
 
 lliicrowned, unpiuniBd, unlieimed, unpcdigrccd, 
 t'niaced, iincoronctcd, unbeitarred, 
 —No bnaded Papist, nor Mahomotan ; 
 Cpiicopaiian iion*), nor Preabytor; 
 IVor litilheran, nor Calvini«t, nor Jew, 
 Mor Greek, nor aectary of any name. 
 Nor, of those persons, that loud title bore, 
 Most high and mighty, most magnificent. 
 Most potent, most august, most worshipAil, 
 Mont eminent, words of great pomp, that pleased 
 The ear of vanity, and made the worms 
 Of earth mistake themselves for gods,— could one 
 Be seen, to claim these phrases obsolete. 
 
 It was a congregation vast of men, 
 
 Of unappendagcd and unvarnished men. 
 
 Of plain, unceremonious human beings, 
 
 Of all but moral character bereaved. 
 
 His vice or virtue, now, to eaih remained. 
 
 Alone. All else, with their grave-clothes, men had 
 
 Put off, as badges worn by mortal, not 
 
 Immortal man ; alloy that could not pass 
 
 The scrutiny of Death's refining fires.— 
 
 Most disappointed in that crowd of men, 
 
 The man of subtle controversy stood, 
 
 The bigot theologian, in minute 
 
 Distinctions skilled, and doctrines unreduced 
 
 To practice ; in debate how loud ! how long ! 
 
 How dexterous ! in Christian love how cold ! 
 
 His vain conceits were orthodox alone. 
 
 The immutable and heavenly truth, revealed 
 
 By God, was naught to him. He had an art, 
 
 A kind of hellish charm, that made the lips 
 
 Of truth speak falsehood, to his liking turned 
 
 The meaning of the text, made trifles seem 
 
 The marrow of salvation ; to a word, 
 
 A naine, a sect, that sounded in the car, 
 
 But did no more, — gave value infinite ; 
 
 Proved still his uasoning best, and his belief. 
 
 Though propped on fancies wild as madmen's dreams. 
 
 Most rational, most scriptural, most sound ; 
 
 With mortal heresy denouncing all 
 
 Who in bis arguments could see no force. 
 
 On points of faith, too ane for human sight. 
 
 And never understood in heaven, he placed 
 
 His everlasting hope, undoubting placed. 
 
 And died ; and, when he opened his ear, prepared 
 
 To hear, beyond the grave, the minstrelsy 
 
 Of bliss, he heard, alas ! the wail of woe. 
 
 He proved all creeds false but hie own, and found, 
 
 At last his own most false — most false, because 
 
 He spent his time to prove all others so. 
 
 O luve-dosifOylng, cursed Bigotry : 
 Cursed in heaven, but cursed more in hell. 
 
 
159 
 
 Where millioriit curse theo, «rid muit ovor rurin ' 
 Kohgion ■ mom abhorred ! •erdition's iuo>it 
 
 'rh''"''"«'i ?"''i'' "'""' «i'*'"'""«d '■ '"II" ••••ml damned • 
 
 I he infidel, who turi^id hta impioiia war 
 
 Against the wpIIb of Zion, on tbu rock 
 
 Of ages buiii. uij higher than tlie cloudM, 
 
 Sinned, and nreived his duo rev,^ard ; but sJio 
 
 Within lisr walls sinned mon. Of Ignorance 
 
 Begot, her daughter. Persecution, walked 
 
 The earth, from age to age. and drank the blood 
 
 Oj saints, with horrid relish drank the blood 
 
 Of Ood a peculiar rhildren. and was drunk. 
 
 And in her drunkenness dreamed of —» good 
 
 The supplicating hand of innocence, ' 
 
 That made the ti«er mild, and in his wrath 
 
 The lion pause, the groans of suffering moat 
 
 Severe, were naught to her; . .g'f.ed at groans : 
 
 No music pleased her more, ana no rcpaet 
 
 So sweet to her, as blood of men rede'jraed 
 
 By blood of Christ. Ambition's self, though mad. 
 
 And nursed on human gore, with her compared. 
 
 Was merciful. Nor did she always .age. 
 
 Sha had some hours of meditation, set 
 
 Apart, wherain she to her study went. 
 
 The Inquisition, model most co iplete' 
 
 Of perfect wickedness, where deeds were done — 
 
 Deeds ! let them ne'er be named,-and sat and planned 
 
 Deliberately, and with most musing pains. 
 
 How, to extremest thrill of agony. 
 
 The flesh, and blood, and souls of holy men. 
 
 Her victims, might be wrought; and when she saw 
 
 Wew tortures ofher laboring fancy born, 
 
 She leaped for joy, and made great haste to try 
 
 T..eir force— well pleased to hear a deeper groan. 
 
 But now her day of mirth was pissed, and comr 
 
 Her day to weep, her day of bitter groans. 
 
 And sorrow unbemoaned, the day of grief 
 
 And wrath retributory poured in full 
 
 On all that took her part. The man of sin. 
 
 The mystery of iniquity, her friend 
 
 Sincere, v/ho pardoned sin, unpardoned still. 
 
 And in the name of God blasphemed, and did 
 
 All wicked, all abominable things, 
 
 Most abject stood, that day, by devils h'ssed, 
 
 And by the looks of those he murdered, soorchod • 
 
 And plagued with inv^-ard shame, that on iiis cheek 
 
 Burned, while the votaries, who left the earth. 
 
 Secure of bliss, around him, undeceived. 
 
 Stood undeceivable till then ; and kn«vv, 
 
 T° J '*M®' '''™ '"'»"'''''«' themselves accursed, 
 And all their passports and certificates. 
 A he." •*»#„' 
 
 "Of those forlorn and sad, thou miglnst have marked, 
 In number most innun.erable, stand 
 The indolent; too lazy these to make 
 Inquiry for themselve?, they stuck their faith 
 
 ^ lo some weJI-fatted priest.'with offsrings bribed 
 
160 
 
 Hi 
 
 \i'i 
 
 I ^;|li: 
 
 flit: 
 
 Fo bring them oracles of peace, and tal<o 
 Into his managoment all the concerns 
 Of their eternity ; managed how well 
 They knew, that day, and might have sooner known, 
 1 h«t the commandment was. Search, and believe 
 in Me, and not in man ; w^o leans on him 
 Leans on a broken reed, that will impierce 
 The trusted side. I am the way, the truth, 
 1 he life, alone, and there is none besides. 
 
 This did they read, and yet refused to search, 
 To bearch what easily was found, and, found 
 Of price uncountable. Most foolish, they 
 
 Th^fiV /"'''' .gnorance pleased, and blinded fniih, 
 
 1 hat took not root n reason, purified 
 
 With holy influence ot his spirit pure 
 
 So, on the/v walked, and stumbled in the light 
 
 Of noon, because they would not open their eyes ; 
 
 Effect how sad of .loth ! that made them risk 
 
 Iheir piloting to the eternal shore. 
 
 To one vvho could mistake the lurid flash 
 
 hell for heaven's true star, rather than bow 
 i he knee, and by one fervent word obtain 
 His guidance suro, who calls the stars by name 
 
 1 hoy prayed by proxy, and at second hand 
 Believed, and «lept, and put repentance off. 
 Until the knock of death awoke them, when 
 
 1 hoy saw their ignorance both, and him they paid 
 To bargain of their souls 'twixt them and God 
 tied, and began repentance without end. 
 
 \Vi7hn i"- ^''''' ^h^' 'noriiing, as J.ey stood 
 VVith blushing covered, they had for themselves 
 Iho Scripture searched, had for themselves believed. 
 And „,.iue acquaintance with the Judge ere then !" 
 
 If, in religious concerns, I am apparently rigorois on the scor<» nf 
 pubhc characters, I, as heartily, wish Vo be lib'eraf on th^ pd o pr v.^^ 
 worth. I most sincerely choose to make the best possible of anrman 
 under any name or denomination, till the reverse appears unavo'^dable' 
 
 ticked -or hTs tri ^'^^; ''^.^^.'-h- wilful c'o'nnection witl e' 
 nf^fiTv '^•^""^'^ft'-a'nedly VICIOUS conduct : According to some 
 
 ^h-n^g^altp^tf atth-t .'•' '''"'''"' ''''''''' "° evil-beLvetlTu 
 I cannot declare my real sentiments on this subject, any wise better 
 than by subjoin.n^r the ensuing extracts from the ever-g een poer^ of the 
 good and great Christmn poet, the late Pollok ; to whose sacked Ivre 
 my very heart-stnngs respond, through al." his song; rndmorcord al y 
 performance":::!" """' "'' "'"' ' "°^^ '"^^^ '- close tS'sliul'e 
 
 "S"*.^^'?y s''0"l<l I. of individual worth. 
 Of individual glory, longer sing.' 
 Ao true believer was, that day, obscure ; 
 No holy soul but had enough of joy • 
 No pious wish without its full reward 
 n ho in the Father and the Son believed 
 
161 
 
 il., 
 
 le score of 
 t of private 
 ' any man, 
 ^avoidable, 
 n with the 
 g to some 
 siieveth all 
 
 With faith that wrought by love to holy deeds, 
 
 And purified the heart, none trembled there, 
 
 Nor had by earthly guise his rank concealed ; 
 
 Whether, unknown, he tilled the ground remote, 
 
 Observant of the seasons, and adored 
 
 God in the promise, yearly verified. 
 
 Of seed-time, harvest, summer, winter, day 
 
 And night, returning duly at the time 
 
 Appointed; or, on the shadowy mountain side, 
 
 Worshipped at dewy eve, watching his flocks ; 
 
 Or, trading, saw the wonders of the deep, 
 
 And as the needle to the starry pole 
 
 1 urned constantly, so he his heart to God ; 
 
 Or else, in servitude severe, was taught 
 
 To break the bonds of sin ; or, begging, learned 
 
 To trust the Providence that fed the raven, 
 
 And clothed the lily with her annual gown. 
 
 Most numerous, indeed, among the saved, 
 
 And many, too, not least illustrious, shone 
 
 The men who liad no name on earth. Eclipsed 
 
 By lowly circumstance, they lived unknown, 
 
 Like stream that in the desert warbles clear, 
 
 Still nursing, as it goes, the herb and flower. 
 
 Though never seen ; or like the star, retired 
 
 In solitudes of ether, fiir jcyond 
 
 All sight, not of essential splendour less, 
 
 Though shining unobserved. Wone saw their pure 
 
 Devotion, none their tears, their faith, and love. 
 
 Which burned within them, both to God and man,— 
 
 None saw but God. He, in his bottle, all 
 
 Their tears preserved, and every holy wish 
 
 Wrote in his book ; and not as they had done, 
 
 But as they wished with all their heart to do, 
 
 Arrayed them now in glory, and displayed, — 
 
 No longer hid by coarse, uncourtly garb, — 
 
 In lustre equal to their inward worth." 
 
 Cape Breton, 31s'. December, 1841. 
 
 Paddle Plain. 
 
 vise better 
 oem of the 
 acred lyre 
 t cordially 
 this little 
 
 il 
 
 21 
 
163 
 
 m 
 
 K: > 
 
 %< , 
 
 m 4 
 
 PREAMBLE. 
 
 little work has been i„ prooe"rof o^h rif- ^"'"S°'"« P"' »f this 
 
 read wilh imerest b, aluK of p'l„„ ' "°" ' ""f' " '" '"f"'' "-i" '>« 
 greater p. . „f ,uj we?e pubH^dX ^Z'ef, 'hS"'""^ ''"" "'^ 
 promment slations in the Church of Scotland Tnd 1 ^k V'"'""' 
 tmued connection and fellowshin with . rh i. ? '"""^h their con- 
 in practice, and heterodox LdL'it ?e2°^rJZT'f^- ''?"'"='« 
 at best, very „„picioa,; since their hX „n s iul J P, '" <""> ''"'' 
 life; yet their evidence, being in some d J"„ i J Proportionate 
 
 »elves, as well as their' ecclfsii^tc.T brelren afidco' '""'"'' '""- 
 necessarily stand here a test of manifLi J.VJI .u I- "^""'""""ty, must 
 port of the arguments of B^Lce ^nd pTddTe pfai' "" ' '°"'"""""^' '» '"P" 
 
 ter^f^ottf/el'SrCrvrfee"^' '^Zst"' r^'fr"^ '"^ '='"™- 
 connection with the main sublet of t.e'^prS.'r?'' '""^'''" "'""^ 
 tended, not for the offence, bit the br„eS''tpr:fm^^'ran'^c '„": 
 
 5^^oTr;?n^d°[— \rivttrV 5 
 
 this is „ot the time or the pl:.cei,hirvev,f ."'.'"''''''' ^"' ^''^^ 
 ject. But the delusion and sHfi'Jm t of n,;. '''n'^'r "" '^^ «"^^- 
 
 religious subjects: most peoule are "t ^o Tv ""^ ["'^'^ deplorable on 
 orseparntionLmothe Del'ir'aUon m. f'^ '^''' '^'''' difference, 
 own preference, and supc^io chim o.n ' r. '"^'f ^^^.^"d establish thai 
 think strangelv hi^, 7thrm of tlu .r? ^ and sp.ritual safety. Some 
 their fellowtvvorshipperV s uno hti^l "'!' ^""'"^" '^^ ""'"^er of 
 
 nameord.si.natio.'^f he Sr^^^^^^ '•''""^ °''. '"y'i^"-^hal ; and the 
 
 is the general bane a:.d de of <'t tV^sLme',.:" .^''^''- P^P"''''' '^^'"« 
 sin and Satnn have likev ise dl ,hnt i "^' ' not considering that 
 
 are as far elated, or rtuir tick,'; rdeSatK>n\td 't ""''''' 
 the poverty and paucity, of their fellows nr^n I . obscurity, or 
 
 circumstances would infaliblv an" r-'^^ "'""''.' as .f these adverse 
 of Heaven in their flor v e^'fe , *e atl^'^'n? ''!,""'" "'^ «'"''^« 
 ters attach also to sin and s'.t .n ' '"'' '^''^'"'^"^ ^^^^ ^i^^s- 
 
 ply tr:n"ht;^:?.';;::iri;~ ifed^iti^^^^^^^^^^ ri^:;' ■•°' j" =p- 
 
 he write., "generally prod^ces'rnrhe-'r^" H^w ^r.^- -?"t ".'-"■^■■: 
 
163 
 
 tions, which 
 [part of this 
 ped, will be 
 liy since the 
 at present, 
 their con- 
 dogenerate 
 c piety but, 
 oportionate 
 ^insi theni- 
 "»Jty, must 
 ice, in sup- 
 
 the charac- 
 their close 
 ncerely in- 
 >r all con- 
 It grounds 
 formalism 
 lions ; nor 
 ; but that 
 n the sub- 
 orable on 
 ifFerence, 
 ilish their 
 ty. Some 
 umber of 
 
 and the 
 Idi'. This 
 iring that 
 
 Others 
 :urity, or 
 B adverse 
 d smiles 
 nd disas- 
 
 to vote for the reduction of the Episcopacy of the English Church: yet 
 1 had much rather be under the Right Reverend Fathers in God with 
 us, than under the jurisdiction ot the most Reverend Mothers in God 
 among the stricter Independents. Medio tulissimus ibis." 
 
 None closely conversant with the subject but must admit some serious 
 and sorrowful propriety in the said remark, to which the writer of these 
 lines cannot refuse a degree of his own grievous assent, purchased by a 
 very tedious and dire experience. For though he freely admits, and 
 sadly regrets and keenly exposes, the fearful and open declension of his 
 own dear and deplorable mother Church; yet he most sincerely believes 
 that a residue of upright and private mourners, as well as a few half- 
 strangled public individuals of the same disposition, has never yet even 
 at her lowest ebb of degeneracy, been wanted under the umbrage of her 
 ecclesiastical banners ; and that these mourners, in their mourning habit 
 with all their weakness and foibles, show, from time to time, more ten- 
 derness of conscience, and Christian humility, modesty, and meekness 
 than the generalit. of those who, without proper foresight of their own 
 danger, or due conviction, moderation, or forbearance, have boldly fled 
 froin both her name and fellowship, to other dens oi denominations, not 
 a whit more " spiritual," nor less conceited than their old friends. "As 
 if a man did flee from a lion and a bear met him." — Amos v 19 
 
 The petty narrow selfishness or religious pride of a hot-headed new 
 sect, or of a bladder-b loyant lay preacher, which is not seldom most griev- 
 ously and intolerably conspicuous, is in its kind, as abominable to Heaven 
 as that of His Grace of Canterbury, His Holiness of Rome, or their state- 
 liest adherents ; and will damn a soul equally sure with the paradise-pride 
 ol Luciier. ^ 
 
 The ensuing doctrine upon "Church Discipline" is so very asreeable 
 to the Author's views, that, if he had answerable talents, he could not 
 express his own sentiments, on this point, any wise .^jetter than by the 
 Extracts now selected. After this candid acknowledgement, let men 
 style him by any designation they may choose upon the subject: since 
 he so clearly desires to avoid Bigotry and Brownism, as well as Laxity 
 and Latitudmarianism ; and almost equally dreads the present dotage 
 and ^degeneracy of Protestants, with the fatal errors and absurdity of 
 
 X J 
 
 ot ill ap- 
 ^ndents; 
 d to his 
 areme," 
 t'ispobed 
 
 n 
 
i![ 
 
 164 
 
 n'l 
 
 
 m 
 
 <^'. 
 
 NOTE OIV KELAAliD Dih:.;iPLINE, BY REV. JOHN MILWAIN 
 
 DOUGLASVVATER. ' 
 
 and Ire and the very worst fu^Jit.ives from it^f X denVminatf^^^^^ 
 and holds out a constant, and too often a successful temptaUon o h^; 
 neighbors to relax it. I adduce in proof, two author te? The first is 
 from The S^gnsofthe Times, by the Eastern Presbyte y of the Refo m 
 ed Presbyter.an Church in Ireland,'-pp. 19, 20. BelfL 1835 
 
 rhlr.T,^ ^'*t^''^^«^ CJ'^'-ch in Ireland has corrupted other Protestant 
 
 Lhed rh' \ .''"'^'"^ '^"^'!^ "^^ ^^^^'^ °^ ^^'^'^ discipline. The E tab 
 Jished Church has an open door, for all the fugitives from church disci 
 phne ,n other churches. Persons who would not be sustained as resu 
 
 Unfo"utt?f '".°^'",^'.""'^^^' ^^"^^ i"to the EstaSed Ch ^r^h. 
 
 Unfortunate females and other irregular members of Dissenting Churches 
 
 obtain baptism for their children in the Established Church ^andrconl 
 
 equence of this, both they and their children are enrolled is members 
 
 tl bcf "L'tl"- ''^'''tT\'f. f ^'^^^^^^^^«' -'^ profess tirmselves 
 wel ed the numbr;;'f h' ^^'''f'^''^ ^^urch has in the late census 
 bweiiea tne number of her members to something more than 800 000 
 
 J^^d:;Se"i.:rm''r"'"^' ir ''^ "^^^''^^^'^'^ wich 7hf ciiim "ft'?s 
 
 probable her members would not exceed half a million. This is a 
 ;na ter of minor importance. What we complain o and deplore is 
 hat the prostration of discipline in the Established Church has led to 
 yimhr prostration in Dissenting Churches. Dissenters when actin° 
 disorderly, sny to those who are over them in the Lord, "if you attempt 
 
 Clmrdr'" ££":,."'"". "' '"' T," '""f''^^^'^ J^'" ^^^ ^-^^'^ 
 v.nurcn Kather tha.> lose weilthy and nfluential members in thi« 
 
 Sip nf^ Th'' ^ '^;r' r y^^^^' '^^^ ^-" tem t^dTo "L "t 
 (Kscip ine. 1 hey have tallen before the temptation. Their discinlinP 
 over the laity has been almost totally destroved. On he sane p ncipTe 
 
 T 'e'stS^'fTli';'" 'r'i'-'^--'-"d-go over to ^ ^ofnmu tn 
 01 the fe^noa o ULstcr, the Secession Church has been induced to relax 
 
 ^n. cir;;^"^.;'^^:; ^-tead of dom. good in Ireland, l/^^^bl^:;^ 
 ^li urch Jins, 11 this respect, done much evil. The state of Church dis- 
 c-plu.e^,s truly deplorable. It is a subject of lamentation, mournmg; 
 
 cHi'Vif h;vn;r'u-i'rr'''r''' ^'^"'.''.^ of England a man who ha. banish- 
 lavlul wife, ,s living in adultery, and is therefore worse than a 
 
 ' n". In 1 Tu^'^"" ''' ""''^'' ^'''■'' ^^ <^ommnu\on with the Church of 
 
 ."fl ml. and who i.s lly.ng from the discipline of his own Church. Such 
 
 •• nuu come, and present, the otlbpring of his adultery, while some two 
 
LWAIN, 
 
 ih. Having 
 in England 
 ominations ; 
 ation to her 
 The first is 
 the Reform- 
 1835. 
 
 r Protestant 
 The Estab- 
 burch disci- 
 led as regu- 
 led Church. 
 5 Churches, 
 and in con- 
 3 members, 
 
 themselves 
 late census 
 m 800,000. 
 laims, it is 
 
 This is a 
 deplore is, 
 
 has led to 
 hen acting 
 ou attempt 
 ^Established 
 ers in this 
 relax their 
 
 discipline 
 
 principle, 
 ommunion 
 sd to relax 
 Istablished 
 hurch dis- 
 mourning, 
 
 ers of the 
 
 a,s banish- 
 se than a 
 Church of 
 ch. Such 
 
 some two 
 
 165 
 
 other persons take on them awful vows which they cannot perform and 
 the minister is obliged at once to baptize it.' periorm, and 
 
 " It is added in a Note~p. 204 : 
 
 Jr'"^^? ''?*'''*'^ P,"""^"^ '" *^^ Established Church of admitting all 
 persons to solemn ordinances, has proved most injurious to the interests 
 
 PrX?.; ^ '" '- '°""''"i ' ,r^ '^""^'«^^= ' ^^"'^^•^"t temptation to our 
 
 dlnroTT'"'f '' 'u^ ''^'^' '' ''^''^ '^''''^' °^der. as those scan- 
 
 fnlTJ^ r 'J^^ r" "°' '"^"^'^ *° '^' 1^^« °^ Christ when faith- 
 
 Church Tntrr ^""^ '' '"r'V ''^'^' ^''"^ ^" '^'^^•P''"« i" ^^^ English 
 Church. In the few years I have been in the ministry, I have known 
 
 many .nstances of th,s-and J may add that the case given in the ten is 
 not imagmary, but one now at hand and of recent occurrence.' 
 
 mnTT ^^"^.'^e^bJe experience as a minister, I could easily subjoin 
 
 devices ..irh"'''"? '''T *^r°"^.^ '• '^"^ ^^'"^ '"° head to cLp into 
 Malav to rnn . l^ ^"' Other feelings and work,-than like an angry 
 Malay to run a-muck on the subject,— I forbear.— I Cor. x. 23." 
 
 tbe'rllnTn'".'^ '\T ""''" ^T}'^ ecclesiastical establishment, it is with 
 be reluctance of honest grief, I feel compelled by truth and duty to rank 
 
 LZTJcT u''''"'r''J '''^'' convulsion, under the category of de- 
 St o ?nW H T- '".'^"'"^ '°' ^ ''^ influenced by no unfriendly dis- 
 make a" Tnni r .?« '''" extraordinary modern prmciple. that would 
 ruth of^hrh r ' ,^'T '''''^'""' ^"^ ''''' '' overboard!^ I believe the 
 natons ^nH ' w' ^Ph«"«"^. that education is the cheap defence of 
 mo e nfth^ accord with the father of the Scotu h Reformation, that 
 Xv th fi 7f'^ "/;^.'«"^ should be devoted to it. It is unque tion- 
 ably, the first duty of Christian civil rulers, to provide liberally \nd not 
 
 rolun'ifv t7 fir'l''-^''' ''^^"'°^'' ^"'^ '•^'•g'""^ instruction of the 
 rhir» ^f ^."^ the efficiency of such an institute, depends upon its 
 
 and in h f ''"P'"'"' ^T'^- ^h'^' ^'^'y °"^ has a right to inves'^^igate! 
 and to shut our eyes and be silent, amidst scenes of acknowledged defed 
 kind'l '*>7"['fon. would be to connive at them, and the reverse of 
 n ■?! f^ t .^ righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness.'—* First 
 
 pure, then peaceable.' I shall therefore 
 
 ' ISlothiiig extenuato, 
 
 Nor set down aught in malice.' 
 
 And, lest my impartiality be suspected, or that the alleged evils are in 
 
 the optics seeing, not the objects seen.' I shall be careful to advance no- 
 
 or rptcT '''"1 -^ °^ °*^'''' h"* ^'hat is commonly known and admitted, 
 
 water ' "°^ a"cstioned."-i2cr. John Milwain, Douglas- 
 
 J' During the millennium of moderatism, from the middle to the end of 
 
 - he'Soctri,";;r'nf';h '7' 'T'^ '^' ^°'^"" ^^e of the Church's history, 
 the doctrines of the Gospel were miserably perverted ; and the stand- 
 ard ot ministerial character, duty, and even literature fiTfr«p.«i„ i«.„ 
 IheBupernaturai mysteries ol revelation were repudiated; and 'a bare- 
 
 ly .41 
 
 'n 
 
166 
 
 weight, philosopl 
 
 iiifi^i'' 
 
 "» 
 
 W 1 
 
 deists, substituted in their room 
 
 of 
 
 -deadening morality— suited to the gu„.„ „. 
 I . , , room. It is true, in that period, many briffht 
 
 stars adorned the galaxy of Scottish literature and philosophy but fhe 
 light of these luminaries was darkness itself to the pious of the land - 
 accustomed to gaze on light divine, beaming forth in the Bible The 
 
 who rot t" "'" "" '"r""' philosophy! and those in X Church 
 who rose to eminence ,n the world of leiiers. sacrificed the interests of 
 their flocks and the duties of their office. To the peasantry who ,'d 
 Zh^r 1 "'^' '''"'"^'''' ^'^" religiously instructed l>y their^grey-ha ed 
 fathers, these gems appeared but as feeble specks in a murkf horizon 
 and their brilliancy at best resembled moonbeams shininHn mountains 
 of snow -clear but very cold. Dr. Robertson, the celebrated historn 
 whose genius then directed the Church, is estimated very Kv in respe"; 
 of re ig.ous character by Mr. Wilborforce. His famous slu.on o. The 
 tiouXo ^ """"'^ "u '^l ^'"^^ "^ ^^--'^^'^ appearance,' has been just y 
 ianifv which 'r'"? '^'' ^'"'^ "^^^^ ''''^'^'' °^^he truth o> Chr J- 
 ntnr/' 7^ ^'J^J'^o^^ the success of its first publishers. His coad- 
 
 irlT; . ^T. '?'^ ."T"'' ""'^'^"^^^ ^'^^ ^■''^' °^ t»'« tragic „ ,.se. They 
 the^ f/l" !''''' '''"^'' '"""^ '^r ''■^^^'•^" ^'"'^ '"'l^- rehearsal o^f 
 
 Jescriot on of h ' '''?"" 7- ''''^ P'^'^'' '^^'^ ''' « ^^'^''ming pelagian 
 rJe.scr.pt.on of the purity and innocence of children and youn| persons 
 
 H condfct'r:[h"/""' "'' ^'^^ Vf ^""'''^ °^ *-^^-" irrfgSlaritfes 
 er ' but thP '"^""gruous with the sacredness of ministerial charac 
 
 n^' I.Up 1 ^ """'^f ^^'^'^ ^^"^"^ °" devotional themes,-breath- 
 
 ng, like his sermons, incidental sentimentsof doubtful orthodoxy -have 
 
 ^^wiTlT ''" 'r;\^ i^'i""' "^^^^ •^^ ^'- national church 
 Gospds' A.C t^^'h °f f,^^"'§ht, the writer of ' A Harmony of the 
 roomt; if nn 1 ^ > ''''"''' ".''"■ '^' ' ^^''^ '" heaven, if he could get 
 Xd th? 7 ' Tr i^PP-''^^^^'^ t° the most of his contemporaries. 
 Indeed, the system of theological opinions called legnl, /.rminian or 
 someth.ng worse almost universally prevailed among the Cler"y durin. 
 
 " ;;ei:; ty ' ' 1 n^ P-t century. ' From the^Revolutiou'do vn t? 
 tbe present day, said Dr. McCrie, a short time before his death • ' never 
 WHBre the interests of religion sunk lower within her pale than theV were 
 .n the year 1784; truth and godliness sickened and^pined away under 
 the influence of false philosophy, and a spurious modera ^on Socinian 
 >sm had notoriously infected the minds of not a fes. of the Clergy and 
 
 iers ir'^criJ r 'Tf- '"''",'7' ^'^^ -^^"^^ °^ ^h^ --t activf mana- 
 gers in ecclesiastical affairs could with difficulty be restrained from 
 
 bringing fonvard a motion for discarding the Confession of FaTth an^ 
 
 al tests of Orthodoxy.' The testimony" of a shrewd Engl shman -an 
 
 hat 'Sers then " '" '""'r" ' "'^^ "^''^ "^ ^^^ ^h^""^'' ScoUa'd « ho" 
 Fai h' III hp " ^^^^r"'/"^ 'y'""''^ '-^ «°""der Confes ion of 
 Lothnd hnt '. '";r ^""A^'^'l^ than what is found in the Church of 
 many r' r '.f 7 "k' ^l^'' ^^"'"'^^ of England,) so with them-too 
 m-o"^c. t Armin '"^''"^' *u' "''''' ^^P''*^'' Calvinism, and preach the 
 fo <^ot f,^'" '"T ' '" short many can preach as if they hid engaged 
 to go b, the rule oi reverse. The dispensation of mercy lo fallen tf an 
 
 •S4 
 
167 
 
 they have engaged to nph^d Sfew n c'^^ ""'"^ "" "" '''^ ^^"^h 
 them are st.gmatized by the nicknami Z T''T, ^'"'^"^^^ ^^ong 
 divines on th^e other side of the ques^on ." P '''^''" '^' ^^^hionablf 
 the appellation of Moderates. Thl p h^ reml^H'"'"' themselves with 
 warm, neither cold nor hot '-Rev i i« T ^ "' °^ ""^^h^''. ' '"ke- 
 adopt the present half-way infidel svstPm^f*/"/^'*' ^^ ''^'^'' »'l vvho 
 with them ; the cause of Lo a.Mt TcvlJjli t'^' '° ^^P°'' «^y«. it i« 
 and I fear the Scots, by far the fest eirin '^1 "'"^^ ^^ ^^e Gospel, 
 nions, will soon be no better tharLi"^*^'^uP'°^ ^'"^ British domi^ 
 they will become moder fi st v J.^l b?' Y^' '''''' ^'"'«'-« 
 
 they will have a moderate notion of JeJusCMst Z.7T '" /«''gio">- 
 tion, for we cannot expect they will be betVpr h t -^ ^°'P'' °''««'^«- 
 w.ll next be content wuh a mod;/! share of n /^^''.'''"'^"" ' »hey 
 repentance; they will be moderate i^/r.'r.?V If ^° ^^^' °''P''^3'er and 
 and be more moderate in their zed in t?^i ^^'^" "'" °^ '^'''' bibles, 
 biy's Catechism ; and t "is w , leai h m' o"S '^''' f^^^^^- the Asseml 
 
 In point of chastity, honesty, &cihevwi I- T^''''^' '" '"°^«'ity- 
 be very anxious to grow u/th^ faWs T.' h l^'°"l' moderate, and 
 become immoderatelv wicked unIssthou^h"H' '"°^^'-^^'°". till'they 
 little more of ' the grace of God ha ' brin3h ^'V'^^^'^ercy, they hear a 
 
 of the present rt'ry'^ir:th"^ ^-- the beginning 
 
 rally known as to be'almosT pe ero^t o"^^^^ ''"'7' ^"' ^' ^'-' 
 
 U. The following are specimeL of SL i ?^ '"^ ^^ing concerning 
 the whole injunctions of cSanity suZ^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 u;.thstanding our degeneracy oyi/ldZ^ as n "" f' ''P''^'"' ""'" 
 obedience; otherwise' they would not have be.n ''' *t'"°*' ''"P^^^^^^' 
 Legislator.'--' Here some divines have Z- -^ '^'" - °"'' '""■''^"' 
 derived to us from the origi^fal St of I fi '^'' '^''^ '^ « '^""^ 
 apostasy was imputed to us S rende pH ! '^'f' P"'""^' '^^^ their 
 and that we sinned in them and fell ,n a P"^?.''^" ""^ '^^''' '^^'^ity ; 
 Accordingly, certain of t^e Christ nf^.h""' '" '^^ ^''' ^^^nsgressio^n 
 niade betwixt God and Adam ^hich h '" ''"^'^' '^'' » ^^^^'^nt was 
 ' The miseries of Jife then Tnd ^r. ' JT''"'^"^'^^ «" "lankind.'- 
 
 of that punishment to wh.'^'h^:! a ^e S t tife' '' 'T'- ''' ^'^ ^^-^ 
 8Jn. But some divines considpr »hl ? ^ "® imputation of original 
 
 as extending not on^to the tins r.^'t"''"' '""^'''"^ ^°^ original 
 us to misery in the life to confe Such on '''""' f^ ''^'^' hut exposing 
 ta.ned by some of the Reformed Chur^ 'I' *^'°"^'^ '^"^ "« '"^'"■ 
 who have assumed the charter o^beTn.wL' lu" ""'''1 '"•^'"^^ °^ '"^^ 
 
 «" ^er -'"---In th-t;^.:^^-s --^^^^^^ 
 
\% 
 
 168 
 
 Synod of Glasgow and Ayr, so late as 1830, which was honored by the 
 sanction of that Very Reverend Court, there is the following honest 
 categorical declaration. ' Who are the worst foes of our Establishment ? 
 — The men who eat her bread, while they do not her work : — The 
 men who can preach Sociuian, Pelagian, or Antinomian heresies, while 
 they subscribe a Calvinistic creed.' 
 
 " 'The true Ian >'f a living Temple,' and other publications, which 
 it is idle to adduce, furnish ample evidence of the heteredox principles, 
 that are still extensively propagated by ministers in the Church. Like 
 the clergy of England, a great number appear to be orthodox merely by 
 subscription ; and the formularies consented to in common, are no crite- 
 rions of their actual belief as a body ; or of their being 'joined together 
 in the same mind, and in the same judgment.' Verily, the mordant 
 allegation of the excellent Dr. Burns, is yet something more, than * vox 
 et prceterea nihil.' 
 
 " Besides, the Christian communion of this Church, especially in rural 
 districts, is commonly of a motley character. It appears from observa- 
 tion, and even the testimony of some of her own members, that unless 
 under very flagrant scandal, almost all within prescribed geographical 
 bounds are freely admitted to sealing ordinances. — One of her ministers, 
 in a pamphlet published a few years ago, after describing the melancholy 
 state, in which he found the great majority of those in full communion 
 upon his ordination, adds : ' The discovery here made was neither the 
 detection of hypocrisy, nor the backslidings of the children of the 
 covenant ; but a case where, without the existence of any profession of 
 saving faith, according to the word of God — without any scriptural evi- 
 dences of a supernatural principle having been communicated — without 
 any marks or fruits of divine, gracious teaching — and without any symp- 
 toms of spiritual life— sinners as such, plainly in their natural state, 
 were received, called, and treated as constituting, by their union and 
 fellowship in the ordinances of the Gospel, the visible body of Christ.' 
 There is but too good reason to believe, that this is neither a solitary 
 case, nor an overcharged picture. Baptism is dispensed in private, to 
 the ignorant and licentious, to profane swearers, drunkards, ana Sabbath- 
 desecrators, who make no religious profession, and perform no Christian 
 duty, — as a mere common rite. According to the report of a Committee 
 of the Glasgow Presbytery, last year, ' it is dispensed to the children of 
 parents not scripturally qualified, — very generally dispensed privately, 
 and very often in circumstances inconsistent with the design of the 
 ordinance, and the express and frequently-repeated laws of our Church.' 
 It appears too, that the sound of family worship is now rarely heard, 
 mingling as once it did at curfew-ti.ne, with 'the solemn stillness of the 
 gloaming hour.' In several parishes, as lately announced by their min- 
 isters, ' there are little more than one-fourth of the number of the 
 families, in which there is family worship at all.' Even gross immorali- 
 ties are so common in many parts of the Church, as scarcely to be re- 
 garded sinful. Mr. Urqunart, minister of Portpatrick, was reported to 
 have stated in the Presbytery of Stranraer, when speaking of the ' neg- 
 
 I 
 
169 
 
 lect of public and family worship,' that, ' In his own parisli there wero 
 little more than one-fourth of the number of families in which there was 
 family worship at all.' And Mr. McNeil, Minister of dtoiiykirk, at same 
 time, it was reported, ' bore testimony to the neglect of family worship, 
 and to the many evils that were the result. He had found that the pro- 
 portion of families observing family worship in his parish was the sam^ 
 nearly, as that mentioned by Mr. Urquhnrt.'— Scottish Guardian iN'oi; 
 10, 1841. 
 
 •' In all the parishes of the Rhinns, it is believed that the more intel- 
 ligent, religious, and conscientious in general, belong to one or other 
 of the four numerous congregations of Presbyterian Dissenters in the 
 town of Stranraer. Have these gentlemen ascertained how many of the 
 proportion said to observe * family worship at all,' in their parishes, 
 would remain, were Dissenters of all kinds abstracted ? This might not 
 be unworthy of notice in their Statistical Reports. In an inland parish, 
 — almost hermetically sealed against dissent, and equally exclusive, it is 
 feared, as to scriptural religion,—* the number of families in which there 
 IS family worship at all,' are said to be little more than half-a-dozen !" 
 
 " It has also been a melancholy prognostic of the state to which we 
 are progressing, that many of the most eminent literati of modern times 
 have been professed unbelievers, and that others of them have discovered 
 such lukewa-mness in the cause of Christ, as to treat with special good- 
 will, and attention, and respect, those men who, by their avowed publica- 
 tions, were openly assailing, or invidiously undermining, the very foun- 
 dations of the Christian hope; considering themselves as more closely 
 united to them by literature, than severed from them by the widest reli- 
 gious differences. It is with pain that the author finds himself compelled to 
 place so great a writer as Dr. Robertson in this class. But to say nothing 
 of his phlegmatic account of the Reformation, (a subject which we should 
 have thought likely to excite in any one who united the character of a 
 Christian divine with that of a historian, some warmth of pious gratitude 
 for the good providence of God,) to pass over also the ambiguity in which 
 he leaves his readers, as to his opinion of the authenticity of the Mosaic 
 chronology, in his disquisitions on the Trade of India; his Letters to 
 Mr. Gibbon, lately published, cannot but excite emotions of regret and 
 shame in every sincere Christian."— yl Practical View, ^c, nnse 243 
 By William Wilberforce, Esq. ' -y > i s 
 
 "To the sermons of the moderates, Ilobbcs contributed more ideas 
 than Knox. Though they subscribed a Calvinistic creed, they have not 
 all been Calvinists, and under the promptings of the philosophic spirit of 
 inquiry, some ot them have been Arminians, Pelaoians, Socinians and 
 Sceptics. Repelled by the strong and mystical Christianity of the Evan- 
 gelicals, they early became tinged with the philosophy of selHshness and 
 scepticism which was brought into vogue by the Restoration, and wa'; 
 fashionable in the courts of Charles II. and George IV."— Westminster 
 Revieiv, September, 1840. 
 
 22 
 
 m 
 
170 
 
 "In a libel, — founded on ' Thp "^ «. pi«„ ^r t • • ^ 
 other works long in extensive circuMtronTh ' ^tjl^g Temple,' and 
 Borthwick. stani charged witrholcr;~lTtThL^''^^*' Minister of 
 real existence but is such nnlv ir o ^' ' ,} '"®"' ®^'' ^^s no 
 limited views ' 2nd St n ive Jn^f ''"'"r' '"^ '" ''^''''^'' '^ >"«"'« 
 
 s, in such a sense esspnfin „ ,.r ' "<^^" ^ present constitution 
 
 in the proper servi'cLorcL?Jn?t'°"'' '' *° '^"'^ '^'^ "^^""' expression 
 
 worship^, bnptisT nd the^-r^^^^^^^ ""' ^'''' P"*^''*^ 
 
 Buch as faith and repentance belon'o-^'. hn '' '^' evangelical graces, 
 
 to it as it exists. 4tr S t'hp hP^r^ nf '" "'*'!!■"' '"^ "^ «^««"tial 
 
 and what is good S^h tL J all m^^^^^^ ""'T^l^ 'T^ '^'^'"^ *^"th, 
 
 ness. 8th. That deaih is nnt n nT ' " * "^^* ^° f"*"''^ blessed- 
 
 and the operation of God's Snirif ^^ / _ ntn, ihat divine grace, 
 
 by AleiirX' of Dalkei.l,, .„ which .he Sbo^e ca«e wa, remitted 
 
 duced dt ^t d T; thrvo;r"„r:^ "■' ""';' =»" "''°"' «vide„cr d. 
 
 uttatti^oS foil taon allfh. „r°''L'' '""" ""^ "'"'h """'i but 
 
i71 
 
 J,, ,, . ' If venial faults 
 
 Shall thus be winked at, how shall wo stretch our eye, 
 When L'ighcr crimes, chew'd, swallowed, and digested, 
 Appear before us !' 
 
 It is re(iiiired that stewards in God's house be found faithful- and 
 those who are guilty of the disgraceful conduct testified above, stand 
 reproved even by a heathen Satirist, 
 
 ^. . * , * * * At vos, 
 
 Dicite, pontifices, in sacris quid facit aurum.'— Pcrsius, Sat. ii. 
 
 As they must hereafter account to their great Master, it would be good 
 for them to study such texts as Deut. xxiii. 18, Act^ viii. 20 21 -and 
 ' give glory to the Lord their God, before he cause darkness.' '' ' 
 
 "Stories are told in Scotland of Clergymen who, protected by the 
 Moderates, have reeled all their lives in their pulpits as notorious drunk- 
 ards, untroubled by the discipline of their ecclesiastical superiors."— 
 Westminster Review, September, 1840. 
 
 " These facetious, easy, well-bred men never burdened the., nnrish- 
 loners with more religion than the letter of the law imperiously required • 
 and was perfectly agreeable to the society with which they mingled? They 
 relished good living and the pleasures of the table, infinitely better than 
 the honours and privileges of the repenting-stool ; and were not over 
 strict in discipline with one another, any more than with their errincr 
 nocks. Like the jovial friar in Chaucer, *' 
 
 ' Full sweetly heard they confession, 
 And pleasant waa tiicir absolution, 
 They were easy men to give penance.' 
 
 Dr. Burns, however, more pithily than politely, ranks among the worst 
 ioes ot the Lsiabhshment, 'the men whose zeal never kindles, save only 
 when the rights of the Church," as they term them, are supposed to be 
 m danger;— the men who disgrace their calling by the grossness of in- 
 temperance, and by the scandals of profligacy !' 
 
 " With regard to stifling complaints, and frustrating attempts to ob- 
 tain redress, hear the testimony of an ordained Minister of the Chirch 
 formerly quoted.-' It may be asked, Why is not this appeal made in the 
 regular and ordinary course at the bar of the Church Courts? To this 
 1 answer— that I have already gone through these different Courts, on 
 account of the very subject of this appeal, although it was concealed 
 under mere forms and points of ecclesiastical law, which in my view 
 were of no vital importance in comparison to the main matter studiously 
 l.assedover;— andthati am aware that another ordained Minister of 
 he same establishment, has been, and still is, so far as I understand for 
 the same cause, under the consideration of these courts, where every 
 ettort, 1 believe, is made to suppress or strangle the testimony which he 
 bears under the technicalities of mere ecclesiastical law, unconnected 
 with tl^e fundamental subject of difference.-^ Solemn Appeal, c^r 
 
 ri 
 
'I I 
 
 SI ' 
 
 
 IS 
 
 1. 
 
 1T2 
 
 •' Our third topics of discussion are. the evils of discipline's desuetude 
 and defective administration.-The sagacious biograpl.erof Knox has 
 
 discX'' ;"!"''', '',r ' ' '""^'^^""' '^^''>' - "^'er totll disuse " 
 discipline, had gradually crept into almost all the churches un .. 
 retain the name of reformed.' As this melancholy fact f.s be.n 
 premised under the first division, and will now be more full, ovo vc'd 
 in the course of il ustrat.on, it may for the instant he safely r ,..,r 
 And be It remarked -while I respect the maxim which prolMDitt ^'^ ." 
 der.n^ the dead, {mlmortuh nisi bonum), and will show what cour.e.y 
 1 can to the livinjr; ,t may not be possible, in speaking of PuLJir T:,J 
 10 avoid all notice of the men who hold and indulge them. 1 • - ■^■u^i 
 01 Mithridates, on one occasion, it is said, lost the day, by aimine 'ts 
 
 ZZ'n7""\"' '^'' ^'r'''' '^"* '''^ ^^"'^^^'^ "^ ^''^ Roman soldiers^ a 
 mode of warfare not the most advantageous, however innocuous. Des- 
 
 iiight'^Lnnnrio.:.'""^'^^^' ''' ^'^ ''''''' ^''-''' -^ — some 
 
 ' VVImt'a barely just has nothing cheering, 
 And bare truth ih not pleasant hearing."* 
 This danger is increased by deference to hijrh authority, 'vhich however 
 
 o rlX:"' V""^ '^r"^ consideration: The Jrd command by 
 one p ophet,-' Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet 
 and show my people their .ransg.e«sion. and the house of JacobXi; 
 
 iTVn ?• K "•. n'^^ '"Z'^''' '^"^ y«"-«elves in array against Baby- 
 Ion round about : all ye that bend the bow, shoot at hfr, spare no 
 arrows; for she haih sinned against the Lord.'— Jer. i. 14 And the 
 Apostle Paul, spe.king of evil teachers, says, 'One of themselves, even 
 
 tZTjv '-vr °^'"' "'^■' '^^^' ^'^^^^"^ ''' ^'"'«3« liars, evil beasts" 
 s ow bellies. 1 h.s witness ,s true : wherefore rebuke them sharply, tha 
 they may be sound in the faith.'- Titus v 12, 13. 
 nnlVt!" nl"''^M''o ^ r°Pf '^'^^^'Pl'ie, the greatest indignity is put 
 
 s he adv^■mcernent of the Divine gk^ry. and the honor of Him who is 
 King of Sum ; by muintainng the ourity and peace of his Church, and 
 
 e nsi nr-' c '' "'T''-'''\% ^^'^"'^ '^°^^ '^ "'^'^"^ »'^ has intrusted 
 ^f, fi M , . ."' r'''"^ " 'I'l'S^'^'')' •" P^i-gi'-g his floor, his pleasure 
 IS fulfilled, and h.s honor vindicated. ' The heathen shall know that I 
 nui the Lord, sa.th the Lord God. wher i .!.,'! be sanctified in you be- 
 fore their eyes.' But how contrary the case when this is not done ' 
 When his aulhority ks conteumed, his ordinances slighted, and laws 
 openly violated w.ih impunity; his enemies rejoice, and the vilest dis- 
 grace n. cast upon him. It was accordingly sa.d to David, ' Bv this deed 
 thou iKist given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme' 
 And i aul says to the hypocritical Jews, who made their boast of the 
 .aw, but tarou^.h breaknig it dishonored God ; ' The name of God is blas- 
 plie med among the Ge ntiles through you.' Jn this respect Zion's Lord is 
 
 *" Ce qui n'est que juste est dur, 
 
 Cu qui n'est que vrai est triilo." , 
 
173 
 
 T'hev"havf n°n°''.*^ ^^ ''r ^■^\''''^'^ ^^^^"^"^''^^ of Englarul nn.l Ireland, 
 1 hey have properly no discipline; at least the key of it such as t , 
 .« not .n their own hands. Bishop Burnet, and many other" nikefre 
 quent unavailing, lachrymal confession, of this. The povver' o' disci" 
 pime IS wholly vested in the Bishops and their ch ncel ("lawms" 
 ecclesiastical, who direct them in matters of judgement) under the r/iew 
 
 nen ' I'ver'n" h''^ '''''r ""?' ? ^'^''-^' supreme head of goverT- 
 
 '!":. ^ B'^hop iH England and Ireland has a court or consistory 
 
 l:>r exercising spiritual jurisdiction in his diocese. The judge umJerS 
 
 commonly is and according to Jaw .Iways m«y be, a merelayman -^ 
 
 ca^T^Hol in TlTe'kr^^^' ^'"^ ''' ""'''^^ ^ ury'XterSing ai 
 inTct or emo f ,t T '"" *"''"" o"" shut.-cast out or admit- 
 Ch, rrh nt T 'in^'"" censures, and excommunications of the 
 
 them L? !! ?u ^?''. 'r^'" '^y'' ' ^Vhat hu.e I to do to judge 
 \nZ •. r .t'"'i°"'J ^''""^ '''«^ ^'^ ^''hout God judgeth :' but the 
 
 ninn ;.?f""'""""''*''' ""' ''''''' °"^ f^°"' the prelatic commu- 
 n on persons who never were in it. Armed with Episcopal thundeTj^ 
 can concuss any man of whatever creed in.o his preseni^, where < for 
 
 ces:e7!le"lt'rVr''''r^^^^^^^ '^^ '''^ manners and x- 
 
 denurL nf h ^ ^^^1 'T"' J't'gation, be filched of his last farthing- 
 commit te3 to" 'T ^'g^'t«'.f"d through the hands of the magistrate^e 
 ChHst' L for ?"'' "'"', !•'" ^" ^^°^^ ^''■^h and more'religious. 
 Ce bPrn/i chastening delinquents is spiritual, but that of this 
 
 wil shpll^ .'■ ^'' '.' ''^ '°''' consolation; that a handsome douceur 
 
 will shelter from its stroke, and rescue from the very jaws of Satan 
 The less true religion, and the more formalism prevails n any diocese 
 
 Lorf CI renl "^°^^'^^^T^^"' "^ ^'^e abuses o7 the bishopV ouit ! 
 Lord Clarendon says, he 'never spoke wiih one who had experience of 
 
 Bes de the [J nni °"' '" '^'' ^''"''' °^ «"^ ecclesiastical co^rt.' 
 
 resides the iniquitous castigations of these cou:ts, the Church of 
 
 ofn the Churc'h S''"''~""^" ^^'1 "^^« °^ commi'n.tion. bo3ed 
 irom tne Church of Rome,— appointed to be read on Ash Wednesdnv 
 
 which ,s a 'denouncing of God's anger and judgmeL • iai Irsmne s ' 
 
 his si ,s !nd hnmhY I " P^^r" h^« '"«^ie a special ' confession of 
 mou l' of" our r i^ ;'"'^ ^^n'^y '^'''''' '^'-^h^ priest-as from the 
 Zs saitence nf h ^T" ^^'''''''. P^°"«""<^es this awfully presump- 
 uious sentence ot absolution or remission :— " By his authoritv rnmmW 
 
 ndTthe^'s ^'^"'7 '^V'"'?; ^" ''y ^"-> •» the name oe"?:e' 
 and of the bon. and of the Holy Ghost. '-A torrent of I'op. ■ y more 
 
 coTal churchdom v^^ • ^"'''' ''"""=^^ '^' '''^' '^""'«'" ^^ ^he Epis- 
 to a esr>r .t"/;/^^r;'«r_"^ T'' of discipline is stretched fJrth 
 
m 
 
 I 
 
 it*; 
 
 174 
 
 whispering a diffident sigh of alarm. It is justly said by Mr. Bristed, 
 ' When excommunication was practised, its thunders fell not on noto- 
 rious sinners against morality, but on rebels against ecclesiastical autho- 
 rity ; — and now that its thunders are silent, all who are not avowed 
 Dissenters are deemed members of the State Church; from the splendid 
 profligates among the aristocracy, whose divorce bills continuaMy occupy 
 the attention of Parliament, down to the convicted felons in the Newgate 
 Calendar.' 
 
 " O, that some Hercules would cleanse this Augean stable ! It is 
 admitted that the Church of Scotland has the power of discipline, though 
 the ' letters patent ' of King William to her first Assemblies after the 
 Revolution, — and succeeding events, — with recent decisions of the su- 
 preme civil courts, prove that she does not hold it free and unfettered. 
 She has offended grievously against the supreme authority of her invisible, 
 yet glorious head, — by a long course of laxity, tyranny, and partiality in 
 ihe public administration of it. Nor is there an instance on record, that 
 has been discovered, of a Minister ever having been deposed by her, for 
 preaching or printing Arminian and Pelagian errors. Dr. David Ritchie 
 was acquitted by the General Assembly of such a charge, the other year, 
 on making a general and dubious profession of orthodoxy, without the 
 principles of his expository work on the Epistle to the Romans being 
 investigated. The exercise of discipline towards Church members in 
 general, has also been slack and unfaithful. It is confined to very gross 
 immorality; indeed, almost exclusively to the single species of it, which 
 regards a breach of the seventh commandment. The matter is commonly 
 managed in private, and censure not unfrequently commuted for money, 
 which enables one class of delinquents to escape altogether. It is impos- 
 sible that congregational discipline can be observed, as in some parishes 
 there are no resident elders, and has been no session for many years. 
 Even, where there are elders the people are not consulted, and have no 
 e3*ective voice in their eiection,~thongh there be no Act of Pailiament 
 preventing. In many cases they are Episcopalians when they have op- 
 portunity, and are often, it is believed, about as well qualified Qir the 
 olfice, as for being Lords of the Admiralty. After the Revolution, many 
 who had been persecutors, — whose hands were deeply dyed with the 
 blood of the Saints, — were admitted, without even a shadow of censure, 
 to sit and act ; 3 elders in the supreme court. But to remissness in the 
 administration of discipljae, tyranny, and oppression have been added. 
 To crush opposition to their career of defection, the Assembly resorted 
 to measures the most despotic. It is also undeniable, that the solemn 
 charge to administer discipline, ' without preferring one before another, 
 doing nothing by partiality,' has by the Church of Scotland, been greatly 
 ' more honoured in the breach than the observance.' In answer to the 
 question, ' who are the worst foes of our establishment?' Dr. Burns avers 
 in his famous Synod sermon, ' the men who can prostitute the " chair of 
 truth," to the gratification of a base and brutal spirit of pe -sonul revenge ; 
 the men who can abuse the holy discipline of the Church, to the purposes 
 of fell malignity.' Thus, unjust favor and dislike, — by censuring inade- 
 
 I 
 
 ) 
 
175 
 
 quately the erroneous and profane, and ruinincr, if possible, men of an 
 opposite character,-have often been shamefully manifested. Assisted 
 by the devices of an artful profession, the Assembly has been in the habit 
 .;nn= ;r^ ^^r' u • ^' P'"*^t^<^t'«" to offenders", by throwing obstruc 
 unifnr;^ A •'"^ f '^T t''*°.^^^""«" ^"^ conviction. By its almost 
 uniform decisions for a long time, those inclined to be faithful in the 
 exercise of discipline were completely discouraged from attempting it — 
 when there was any likelihood they might be brought before that vene'ra- 
 ble court by appeals After the abortive prosecution of Mac^ill in 1 790 
 &c. It was regarded quite hopeless, to effect the conviction of a heretical 
 teacher m the ecclesiastical courts of the establishment; and it has sel- 
 dom been since attempted. 
 
 "But here, with the permission of dissenting brethren,— whom J have 
 no disposition unnecessarily to offend, or to injure, let it be remarked,- 
 nlinV ;f." K '? established churches only that the evil of relaxed disci- 
 pline s to be found The want, or perfunctory administration of that 
 discipline which Christ has imperiously enjoined, prevails to a me n 
 choly extent in many other denominations. In this respect none of us 
 stand perfectly acquitted, but if tried in the balances will be found 
 wanting. 
 
 nff-17" "'^'"^ '°'''^*''''' '^'' ''•^' "'""y regularly enjoy privileges who 
 offer no morning or evening sacrifice, do not ask th^ blessing of God on 
 their daily provision, and are not careful to train up their chfldren in his 
 nurture and admonition; but, like the profane world, lie, cheat, swear 
 drin.: to excess, desecrate the Sabbath,-and who, in fact, so far from' 
 being visible saints,' are visible sinners, and ' enemies in their mind by 
 wicked works^'-Cencure is seldom administered, excepting for a class 
 of nameless offences ; and even then it is done in the comparative privacy 
 of the Sess,on.room,~,t having of late been discovered, to the great sa- 
 tisfac ion of delinquents, that this is what is meant by the command 
 •rebuke before all, that others,' who neither see nor hear, ' may feTr "- 
 borne when solicited, refu:.e lo administer discipline to persons who'ac- 
 
 To^fL t T ''^Te""'^"^'*" *''^ '''■'""'P''^ ^'^^t t'^ey formerly belonged 
 into ?h ^ r °^^^^f"' but now, a. new creatures, have been received 
 into the family of God. In some quarters contributing to the erection 
 of a house for worship, confers a right to vote in the election t,fa Minis-. 
 \Z:J'fh "^"''"""^ support by seat-holding,-the chief indispensable,- 
 mfe s the privilege of membership. All dissenting Churches, however 
 are by no means alike remiss as to discipline. Some are much stricte^ 
 than others ; and as in the establishment, so among them, there are con- 
 gregations in the same bcoy greatly more faithful than others.— From the 
 preceding induction which we are not aware is in ary particular incon! 
 sistent with truth, the awful dishonor put upon Christ, by neglect o d^s„ 
 cipline in the Brituh Churches, must be very apparent. ^ 
 
 id. By the untaithful administration of discipline, incalculable .niury 
 .s done to delinquents. They derive great advantage from its faithful 
 exercise ; being thus made to see the enormity of thfir sin, and ee the 
 shame and danger attending it.-'Ii any man obey not our word by this 
 
 « 
 
i 
 
 17(5 
 
 Epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he inay be 
 ashamed.' And when the censure is received ni a suitable spirit, it 
 tends powerfully to humble, reform, and edify the offender.—' Our au- 
 thority,' says Paul, ' which God hath jriven us lor edincation.' He will, 
 however by netrlect of proper discipline, be confirmed in hif careless- 
 ness, self-decepUon, and course of sin.—' They have seduced my peo- 
 ple saying. Peace, and there is no peace ; luid one built up a wall, arid 
 lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar.— With lies ye have made 
 the heart of the righteous sad, whom 1 have not made sad, and strength- 
 ened the hands of the wicked, that he -rliOjld not return from his evil 
 way, by promising him life.' _ j c • a- ■ 
 
 " The practice of substituting pecuniary fines, instead ot mtlictrng 
 spiritual censure, has this effect in a high degree. It has not the slight- 
 est influence in producing conviction ; but on the contrary tends to 
 harden sinners, make them heedless of moral obligation, and rei der them 
 infidpls. When men who are not very fixed in their principles, see the 
 ministers of religion thus basely barter sacred privileges,— they must 
 either recrard the whole as imposture, or erroneously conclude that ine 
 <Tuilt of sin is such as may be removed, and an indemnity for living in 
 k prooured by money. A commutation of this kind, is utterly incon- 
 sistent with the spiritual nature of discipline, and even of Christianity 
 itself It is a vile perversion, and profane casting away of a precious 
 ordinance, procured by the costly price of Christ's blood. It savours 
 strongly of the avarice and impiety of the ' mother of harlots and abomi- 
 nations,'— who keeps a custom-house of sin, with prices current regularly 
 marked', in pound, shilling, and peace columns.* . • j • 
 
 " Faithful discipline is the last mean appointed by Christ for inducing 
 repentance ; and if this be neghcted, the defaulter who ought to have 
 been subjected to its operation, is in danger of eternal perdition.— 
 ' Deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the 
 spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.' 
 
 " 3d. Defective,— especially private discipline, is a wrong and in- 
 justice, done to the members "of the Church and others. 
 
 " The er:d contemplated by discipline, is not merely the reclaiming, 
 reformation, or even expulsion of tho fallen person ; but, also, the m- 
 ^pirint of others with salutary fear lest they should oflend in a similar 
 way.— 'Them that sin rebuke before aU, that ojhers also may fear.' 
 This end, however, cannot 1 e gained where censure is neg'-cted, or— 
 what is next to it, dispeniied in private. In this form it ne - -.; i ope- 
 rate beneficially as a public warning for ' the preservation of otnors,— 
 either within tho church,' or without the pale of her communion; and so 
 one of Its important ends is prostrated. The nature •-'' «!n is infectious, 
 and if not repented of, and publicly confe'.sed,— it w=.' . -crease to more 
 ungodliness,'— and spread like a gangrene through the entire body ot a 
 con-^regation.— ' A litth leaven leaveneth the whole lump.' But by 
 
 *"Vide Tnxatio Papalis; being an account of the Tax-Hooks of tlic United 
 Churcli and Court of Modern tlomo. Rvo. London ; 18;V5." 
 
lie may oe 
 e spirit, it 
 ■' Our au- 
 He will, 
 ■ careless- 
 d my peo- 
 vvall, and 
 lave made 
 1 strength- 
 n his evil 
 
 inflicting 
 the slight- 
 y tends to 
 ;i-der tiieni 
 es, see the 
 -they must 
 Ic that the 
 r living in 
 rly incon- 
 hristianity 
 a precions 
 It savours 
 ind abomi- 
 t regularly 
 
 ir inducing 
 iu to have 
 erdition. — 
 sh, that the 
 
 ig and in- 
 reclaiming, 
 Iso, the in- 
 in a similar 
 
 may fear.' 
 cted, or — 
 l: -.; « ope- 
 f oiiiors, — 
 ion; and so 
 
 inleclious, 
 ase to more 
 e body of a 
 ).' But by 
 
 f tlio United 
 
 177 
 
 'rebuking before all,' an open shame and disgrace are stamped upon sin, 
 well fitted to oeter others from committing it. Besides, public ofTences 
 bring scandal on the whole Church ; and give the Lord's people just cause 
 of grief and fear. The righteous soul of Lot was vexed from day to day, 
 with the filthy conversation and unlawful deeds of the wicked among 
 whom he lived. And David complains, ' Horror hath taken hold upon 
 me because of the wicked who keep not thy law.' — The sin of an indivi- 
 dual openly committed without being called to account, and repented of, 
 exposes a whole congregation to the danT^er of God's wrath, and fearful 
 judgments. — ' Did not Achan, the son of Zerah, commit a trespass in the 
 accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of the children of 
 Israel ? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.' 
 
 " These considerations prove, that the Church has a just title to de- 
 mand public satisfaction, in respect to the submission and penitence of 
 her erring members. They too are under obligation to indicate their 
 respect for the Church by rendering this, — for the wrong they have done, 
 and the offence they have given; and thus by th :ir dutiful example to 
 manifest their earnest desire to edify and keep others from si-'.- -As then, 
 in the case of flagrant scandals, t\ll are f.jpposed to be offended, so they 
 have a right to be safisfied. But this cannot be effected by any private 
 confession; for unless it be made 'before all,' it is r.ot satisfaction, and 
 consequently must be wrong, and an injustice. — Matthew xviii. 15 — 17, 
 2 Cor. ii. C— 8. 
 
 "4th. By a laxity in disciplme, the communion of the Church is con- 
 laminated, and her most sacred ordinances dreadfully profaned. 
 
 " ' By a communion,' says Boston, ' I mean a society having a common 
 interest in things.' — The communion of a particular Church, is the pub- 
 lic association, with a view of observing divine institutions, of persons 
 who are agreed with respect to the doctrine, worship, and government of 
 Christ's house. Like all other societies, ihe Church is constituted upon 
 the basis of certain common principles called 'terms of communion,' to 
 which, — on admission to privilege.^, — every member expressly or tacitly 
 yields his assent. This forms a bond of powerful, visible union among 
 them, and a body so constituted do with one mind strive together for the 
 faith of the Gospel.' —'Can two walk together except they be agreed?' 
 
 " The practice of free, or mixed ommunion with other denominaticns, 
 — as of Presbyterians of Jiflerent persuasions with each other,* or v/ith 
 Episcopalians and Independents,- jn the principle thrt all retain their 
 party views^ is a gross viola ' jf this requisite unity, and contrary to 
 the nature of the Lord's If ■ ipci- : — 'for we being many, are one bread 
 and one body.' iiowever ^fopular, it is a scheme in direct opposition to 
 Scripture. — ' Now, I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, that ye all speuic the same thing, and that there be no divi- 
 sions among you ; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same 
 
 "Tliis practice Ins obtained in Pictou, N. S., for the tipace of twenty or thirty 
 successive years past, ai\u uill continues between very openly arid grievously two 
 adverse partiesofFrf shy lerian.s, which is one of the sad signs of the religious formaj- 
 ism and degeneracy of I'resbytcrianiBm in this country. 
 f»3 
 
1^ ' 
 
 PI 
 
 f 
 1 Ji 
 
 178 
 
 rniiitl, and in the same judjrment.'— 1 Cor. i. U\. It is contrary to the 
 tloctrinc of all :l)e relbrincd Protestant Churches— even to Presbyterian 
 principles, and introduces irremediable disorder and confusion. There 
 13 a necessity for coinmnnion in discipline, where there is fellowship at 
 Uie Lord's Table. The latter is confessedly the most intimate act of 
 l-hristian comiuiimon ; and after associating together in this why not 
 unite alHO in the former, which is less intimate. The unscriptural prac- 
 tice, of adnnttiiig people lo a seat at a communion table over whom the 
 ( hiirch can exercise no discipline, is glaringly absurd. We cannot dis- 
 cern a 5 hadow oi reason, for those religious societies retaining a separate 
 ecclesiastical polity, who have themselves determined,- that their differ- 
 ences of government and modes of worship are not sullicient to bar visi- 
 ble communion,— in acts the most solemn and intimate, which can be 
 performed on earth. For such to keep up a distinct organization, is an 
 unnecessary rending of that body, which Christ so fervently desired in 
 his intercessory prayer might be 'one;' and as closely united in all its 
 members, as lie and the Father aic. 
 
 From unfaithfulness in the exercise of authoritative power,— as to 
 the admission and expulsion of members, by the application of legitimate 
 tests and censures,- the ministerial communion of the national churches 
 has hitherto been exceedingly vicious. Had discipline been impartially 
 and vigorously executed, heretics great and small would have been kept 
 out,— or long ere now reclai:ned, or cast out. But through lack of this 
 they still are,— not ' alone,' but hundreds and even thousands stroncr _' 
 ' in their glory.' It is true that in both the Establishments, ihere^are 
 many ablo, erudite, sound, (if not) pious and diligent men, who (miaht) 
 do honour to their office; but they are most closely allied to the oth'ers. 
 Vviih them, they .'.re af-ociated under the -amc consiitutions,— obtain 
 .settlement in parishes, by the same unscriptural law,— are members of 
 the same Churches, enjoying the same privileges, exercising the same 
 functions, and sitting in the same courts of judicature. It matters not 
 how widely tiicy dilfer in their principles of theology.- Church politics 
 —clerical deportment, and other things. In ministerial communion they 
 are mos. intimately united; and are, at least nominally, one. But Churches 
 composed of such adverse elements, if not purified, must come to ruin • 
 tor our Lord has said,—' Every kingdoir divided against itself is brought 
 to desolation ; and a house divided ag, -a a itself falleth.' Christian com- 
 munion also, IS greatly corrupted, and u e holy Sacraments fearfully pio- 
 fnned, through want of proper discipline According to our Confession 
 Catechisms, Directory, and the formulari^'s of all the Reformed Churches' 
 — per.sons who are ignorant, heretical, scandalous, and destitute of Chris- 
 tian character, should be carefully excluded from participatin^r of these 
 special institutions. They are external seals of the Covenant^of grace 
 and properly belong to none,— but such as (foro conscientia;) in consci- 
 ence, or the sight of God, cordially acquiesce in it, and, like the eunuch 
 ' believe with all his heart.' To be entitled to these privileges (foro ec' 
 clesis) before the Church,— there must be knowledge, andli profession 
 of faith in Christ, supported by suitable character ; as it would be horrid 
 
179 
 
 ary to the 
 rcsbytcrian 
 n. There 
 lowship at 
 late act of 
 i, why not 
 tural prac- 
 vvhom the 
 jannot dis- 
 a separate 
 heir differ- 
 
 bar visi- 
 ch can be 
 tion, is an 
 desired in 
 
 in all its 
 
 er, — as to 
 legitimate 
 
 1 churches 
 nipartially 
 been kept 
 ck of this, 
 strong,— 
 there are 
 
 (might) 
 le others. 
 I, — obtain 
 jmbers of 
 the same 
 otters not 
 
 1 politics, 
 nion they 
 Churches 
 ! to ruin ; 
 s brought 
 tian corn- 
 fully pio- 
 )nfession, 
 !!Ihurches, 
 of Chris- 
 
 of these 
 of grace, 
 in consci- 
 J eunuch, 
 
 (foro ec- 
 •rofession 
 be horrid 
 
 mockery to call Christ ' Lord, Lord,' unless his declared will be cordially 
 and universally obeyed. The rule prescribed by himself is, ' Wherefore, 
 by their fruits ye .sliall know them.' Kven ' visible saints,' who have the 
 marks of being regenerated, may like David and others, fall itito gross sin, 
 and come under such foul scandal, as to render them entirely unworthy, 
 for the time, of enjoying externally the ' communion of saints.' — So, when 
 those who have the custodial of sacred privileges, — without any proper 
 ."eparation of the precious from the vile, of the holy from the profane, or 
 the clean from the unclean, — admit indiscriminately to the Lord's Sup- 
 l^er, the ordinance is awfully polluted, and, instead of a commemorating, 
 there is a crucifying of Christ. Jt is not a converting, but reviving, con- 
 firming, nutritive institution ; and to ' give tlie children's bread to dogs,' 
 is worse than paganism itself, — which guarded with stern and jealous 
 care its unhallowed mysteries. Such a practice, goes to yoke unecjually 
 the believer with the unbeliever, — the converted vrith the visibly uncon- 
 verted, — contrary 'o the express commands of Christ. And it establishes 
 a false, degrading, and dangerous standard of Christian character ; which 
 tends to nourish self-deception, and to generate and confirm infidelity. 
 With the solemnity of authority professedly di\ine, promiscuous admis- 
 sion virtually speaks peace, and promises salvation to, persons to whom 
 no peace is spoken in the word of God; and thus to the deceiving, — it 
 may be eternal ruin of their souls, they are soothed into dreadful security. 
 Nor does the principle of excluding Mie grossly ignorant and immoral 
 alone, lessen, but rather augment the delusion ; because it induces all 
 within the range of common morality, and the ordinary charities of 
 human life, to conclude on altogether unsuflicient grounds, that their 
 spiritual conditu ii is good. And thus by ' layiiig a flatterino- unction to 
 their souls,' thev are lulled into fatal repose, and fortifiea against all 
 alarms, till * in hell they lift up their eyes, being in torments.' The 
 other seal of the covenant should not be dispcnf ' .o any but such as 
 * profess their faitii in Christ, and obedience to him.' Precisely the same 
 qualifications are necessary, in a parent presenting his child for baptism, 
 as in a grown person who receives it for himselt', — or in being admitted 
 to the table of the Lord. Were this ordinance denied to all children, 
 but tiiose of parents possessing such a character, the heads of families 
 would be more diligent and conscientious, in cultivating personal and 
 domestic religion, and training up their offspring in the nurture and ad- 
 monition of the Lord. The practice of administering baptism in private, 
 — without being preceded by teaching, as required in the words of insti- 
 tution ; and as a common rite, — to persons the most ignorant, irreligious, 
 and in all respects unworthy, — may couiport well enough with the notion 
 of its being only n festive ceremony, — christening, — or giving name to a 
 child; but it is a sad indignity to, and desecration of, ' a holy ordinance 
 instituted by Christ, wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benetits 
 of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to bclioveiii.' 
 "5tli, The Cluirch is weakened, and her prosperity blasted by nnpio- 
 per discipline. When impartially adminisicred, as in the days of tin- 
 Apobiles, true converts increase m number; and the Clinrch is enlarged 
 
180 
 
 1 2.1. 
 
 Wt 
 
 and strengthened.—' So were the Churches established in the faith, and 
 increased in number daily.— And believers were the more added to the 
 Lord, multitudes both of men and women.' Attracted by the beauty of 
 holiness, shining in her members, others say, ' We will go with vou • 
 for we have heard that God is with you.' But when from defective dis- 
 cip.me, the purity of the Church is not preserved— pious persons are 
 discouraged, and prevented connecting with her ; for the Apostle com- 
 mands, not to keep company,— no, not to eat,' with brethren who are 
 !'r"'"/T ~*1 J'''^ *° ' ^'"^^ fellowship with devils.' It appears from the 
 Jjfeof Dr McCrie, that laxity of discipline in the National Church, was 
 one grand reason, which when solicited, deterred him from attempting 
 to adopt nieasures for effecting a re-rnion, of that division of the Seces- 
 sion to which he belonged. It was also a matter of intimidation to the 
 Uld Dissenters, and a chief obstacle in the way of their uniting with the 
 Churcb,-Iong before Seceders of any kind were in existence ; and it is 
 still a leading reason, why they stand aloof. Those too within the Church 
 who are, or may become, truly pious, when proper discipline is contra- 
 vened, and communion corrupted, are compelled lo withdraw, and thus 
 she is weakened. The imperative command of Christ lo his people in 
 that case is, 'Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the 
 Lord, and touch not the unclean thing.'—' From such turn away.' Nor 
 IS It of small concernment, whether this pointed injunction be obeyed or 
 not. Ihe hie,— the eternal salvation of the party is in hazard, and inti- 
 mately connected with it. The vengeance that streamed from Heaven 
 in sulphurous cataracts on devoted Sodom,— the fatal plagues yet to be 
 inflicted on mystical Babylon,— and the judgment far more dreadful, be- 
 cause invisible and unfelt, of judicial blindness, final oijduracy and im- 
 penitence of heart,— are all the dismal result of truth divine, beincr known 
 hated, and dismissed without compliance. Gen. xix. 17; Rev.\viii. 4,' 
 ^ ihess. II. 11, 12. Such fearful consequences cannot otherwise be es- 
 caped, than by timeously yielding to the directions of the Saviour —His 
 command was dutifully, and instantly obeyed by the early Reformers 
 No sooner were they enlightened, quickened, strengthened from above, 
 and, in some measure, made acquainted with their perilous situation in 
 the Cfiurch of Rome, than they came out, and separated themselves from 
 her. Had they like their fathers continued in her impure communion 
 alter having received the knowledge of the truth, they would have com- 
 mitted the sin unto death. This conviction made them face dangers, 
 and vanquish obstacles, which otherwise human nature would have 
 shrunk fron encountering. The same is precisely the case with the 
 people of God, who may be in communion with any impure Church. 
 
 " The entire want of proper discipline in the Church of England, and 
 the tyranny of her intolerant unpreaching bishops, once drove thousands 
 from their loved father-land, to seek a peaceful retreat amon^ more hos- 
 pitable, savage Indians, in the dreary wastes of North Amer^ica. Hun- 
 dreds of thousands since, have, to relieve their consciences, been forced 
 to enlist under the banner of dissent, in humble, unstecpled edifices — 
 ieavin.^ benehced formalists in their gorgeous churches, to dole out di'lu- 
 
faith, and 
 ed \o the 
 beauty of 
 with you ; 
 ictive dis- 
 jrsons are 
 istle coni- 
 
 vvho are 
 3 from the 
 urch, was 
 Itempting 
 he Ssces- 
 on to the 
 y with the 
 ; and it ia 
 e Church 
 is contra- 
 and thus 
 people in 
 saith the 
 5y.' Nor 
 obeyed or 
 , and inti- 
 1 Heaven 
 /et to be 
 adful, be- 
 
 and im- 
 g knov/n, 
 
 xviii. 4; 
 ise be es- 
 ur. — His 
 eformers. 
 m above, 
 uation in 
 Ives from 
 unuuion, 
 ave corn- 
 dangers, 
 uld have 
 with the 
 urch. 
 and, and 
 liousands 
 lore hos- 
 i. II un- 
 !n forced 
 lifices, — 
 out dihi- 
 
 181 
 
 ted morality, and threadbare tissues of invective, against fanatics, enthu- 
 siasts, and schismatics, to a beggarly account of empty pews.— J n 
 Scotland, a similar evil, the prostitution of discipline, has also on a large 
 scale, produced similar results. The formation of the Secession, which 
 has germinated into a variety of distinct religious bodies, was owing 
 entirely to this cause; as also that of the Relief, which has likewisi 
 become a numerous party. A variety of other sects have originated 
 chiefly from the state of relaxed discipline; and in proportion to their 
 numbers and power, the Church has been wasted and weakened, and 
 her prosperity blasted. 
 
 " 6th. By desuetude of discipline, the distinction between the Church 
 and the world is confounded,— they become convertible terms,— and she 
 appears unholy as the kingdom of Satan. 
 
 " Though the Church be in the world, she is not of it. Her members 
 are separated from the rest of mankind, by being called out of the world 
 vvhich lictl, in wickedness, into the faith, communion, worship, and 
 obedience of God in Christ. No two societies can be more different or 
 opposite, in their views, principles, and hopes.— ' Now,' savs Paul 
 we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is 
 
 e T^u- . ' "^^"' ®^^" ^'^^ '^''"^ ^°^^^' ^'^''" ^^'"s '^"o^v the followers 
 ot Christ, though it should only be to hate and persecute them •— ' For 
 the tree is known by its fruits.' At a time, when the distinction was all 
 but obliterated by tl orrosiv3s of slavery and superstition, it was super- 
 naturally indicated.- -' There was a thick darkness in all the land of 
 iigypt three days;— even darkness which might be felt. Thev saw not 
 one another, neither rose any from his place for three days ; but all the 
 chi dren of Israel had light ia their dwellings.' When by faithful dis- 
 cipiine,— purity of doctrine, worship, and practice,— the grand charac- 
 teristics of the Church are maintained, and her ordinances ^ept pure 
 and entire, she appears in her beautiful garments ; and ' looketh forth 
 as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun.' The old leaven is 
 then purged out,— sinners are discouraged from hypocritically joinino- — 
 the holiness which becomes her for ever is manifested, and religi .^ is 
 vindicated before the world. But where this is neglected, sin is patron- 
 ised the church is reduced to the low level of the world, the children 
 ol disobedience flock to her communion, and she appears vile and un- 
 sightly as the kingdom of the wicked one. No longer does she resemble 
 the beautiful oasis, which by its verdure and fertility refreshes the eye 
 and gladdens the heart, amid.st vast, arid, Lybian plains ; but is ' like the 
 heath in the desert, and does not see when good cometh.' Her hed'res 
 being broken down, she is no longer a garden enclosed,— so that all 
 they which pass by the way do pluck her. ' The boar out of the wood 
 doth waste It, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.' Ministers 
 of a pious f^aithful, and worthy character, are no longer sought or relish- 
 ed ; and tilled with stewards who are profane, careless, and vicious,— 
 .^he becomes like the trans-atlantic world, {nfugimn pcccatormn) an assy- 
 urn lor transgressors. Should she happen to have neighbors belter tHan 
 herself, she fails not to void her rheum in their face ;' and Uke the 
 
 n 
 
 • i 
 
 U 
 
 pas tree, sheds h 
 
 poisonous 'nice on all around. 
 
il II 
 
 182 
 
 1 1'r 
 
 i i, I 
 
 I' I 
 
 y; 
 
 I' % 
 
 ""all. Finally; by defect of discipline, and couse(|uent corruption, 
 tlie Spirit is provoked to withdraw, and th-? wrath of God is brought 
 upon the Church. Fidelity and purity, secure his gracious presence, 
 and blessing. — ' Be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing ; and 
 1 will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my 
 sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.' — ' Because thou hast kept 
 teh word of my patience, I also will keep thee in the hour of temp- 
 tation.' 'I'he name of the city then, is Jehovah Shammah, — 'the Lord 
 is there;' but when discipline is neglected and impunity prevails, 
 'Ichabod, The glory is departed,' may be inscribed on her solitary and 
 joyless palaces. The Unly Spirit, being grieved and provoked, with- 
 draws. ' Grieve not the Holy Spirit.' — ' My Spirit will not always strive 
 with man.' — ' I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy can- 
 dlestick out of his place, except thou repent.' — Instead of a blessing, the 
 Lord visits with his displeasure and wrath. Through the trespai^s of 
 Achan, ' wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel, and that man perish- 
 ed not alone in his iniquity.' — David acknowledged, in bringing up the 
 ark, 'The Lord our God made a breach upon us, because we sought 
 him not alter Uie due order.' And Paul says to the di.«!orderly Corinth- 
 ians, 'For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many 
 sleep.' 
 
 " Such are a few of the more prominent and dreadful evils, natively 
 arising from defective discipline ; and we come in the last place, to con- 
 siiler the arguments by which its exculpation is attempted. — A mere 
 notice of two or three of the chief, will suffice at present. 
 
 " 1st. It is St jngly objected by the advocates of relaxed discipline, 
 that there never ha^; been a pure church on earth ; the Jewish church, 
 the Apostolic c'.iurlices, ."/id the church of the Second Reformation, all 
 contained much corrupt mixture; and it is chimerical, unreasonable, 
 and altogether unscriptural, to expect a pure church, and foolish to vex 
 ourselves about the want of it. 
 
 " We admitted at the beginning, that from the imperfect sanctification 
 and diversilied character of her members, the church visible is, and 
 necessarily must be impure. The attempt of some in New England, 
 near the middle of the last century, to erect a pure church, was quite 
 Utopian, — an abortive effort of sheer, extravagant enthusiasm. No 
 church on earth has been, or can be, perfect and infallible. The church 
 however may, and ought to be pure, in her communion, — scriptural in 
 her frame-work and constitution ; and we are visionary enough to believe 
 that tiiis will be eminently her character in the millennium. INor should 
 this object at any period be lost sight of, in rising the spiritual super- 
 structure. A minister may preach the Gospel, and cleave to Christ 
 personally for salvation, — yet, if in the edification of the church, he 
 should through ignorance or negligence overlook the scriptural principle 
 and rule, — and instead of 'gold, silver, precious stones,' build upon tlie 
 one foundation, only ' wood, hay, stubble,' which are fuel for the eternal 
 burnings, — his ' work shall be burnt, he shall suffer loss : but he himselt 
 shall be saved ; yet so us by lire.' No one e.\pect."3 in this world, a socie- 
 
 
183 
 
 n,ad^ .h« .„e; would ^^^!^^,:^ Z2Z.^!^1S^"' 
 
 crcumcised, and kept L paesover a, Gulal fjosi v ^ s'l h H ''"r 
 =iuch a profession shor.l, before, on tl f lins of M„7b ' It'l' 
 
 understood to embrace the%hole S Ln systm n jfm.T"' ''''" 
 less extraordinary when herPtir.: ^vi / system —In times however, 
 
 /elIow.hip; burr'hMd't'r^ernlr 'S^S ^'"^^ "^^''^' ^^ 
 which they made theirnrnfp.rinn' ^^'^^ ^'^^ circumstances in 
 it deservin^. o the h Ue t^^^^^^^^^^^^^ so.mtensely trying, as to render 
 
1 I' 
 
 '*' * 
 
 1S4 
 
 character were admitted, it was entirely without their knowledge or 
 design ; and they are spoken of as being ' brought.' or haying 'crept m 
 unavvares '— Very unworthy persons were found in the church ol 
 Corinth and the Asiatic churches, which were constituted by the super- 
 intendence of inspired Apostles ; but nothing can be more evident from 
 the sacred record, than that no authority whatever, or permission w;.s 
 „iven —for admitting them— as such.— or continuing them in fellowship 
 without repentance, after they were detected. The incidental corrup- 
 tions recorded as in these churches, like the sins of David and Peter 
 are depicted in such colors, as to discourage others, and warn them ol 
 the danger of similar evils. They are earnestly called upon to repent, 
 and threatened, unless they speedily do so, with a removal of the candle- 
 stick and the gracious presence of God by his Spirit. 1 he ovils thus 
 denounced, have in not a few instances brought extermination, even on 
 the most promising ;-let them therefore be avoided. ' Whosoever hath 
 ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. — 
 The Apostles baptized the sorcerer ; but it was upon making a profes- 
 sion of faith. 'Then Simon himself believed also.' It was not til 
 afterwards manifested that he was in a natural condition.— Our Lord 
 admitted Judas to his society, commissioned him to be a preacher, and 
 some think received him to his Supper, (only to the Passover, antecedent 
 to its institution.— Tohn xiii. 2G-30) though he knew him to be a traitor 
 and an infidel. But Judas, let it be observed, made the same profession 
 of regard and forsaking all for Christ, attended with circumstances to 
 render it fully as credible as, if not more so than that of the other dis- 
 ciples Each of them was jealous of himself, saying. Lord, is it 1 f 
 but not one of them suspected Judas should betray him. His presence 
 or absence at the Lord's Supper does not affect the argument. So long 
 as his shining profession lasted.-until his hypycrisy was demonstrated 
 bv an overt act of scandalous apostasy,— he was not cut off, but sutlered 
 to continue, as it were for the express purpose of exhibiting the scriptu- 
 ral character of the church on earth, even in its state ol highest purity. 
 As before remarked under the old, so also under the new dispensation, 
 Christ did not act in his external procedure towards his people and in 
 the administration of ordinances, from his secret know'ledge of their real 
 character ; but as the head of his visible church— after the manner of 
 men and according to their outward profession. There is no scripture 
 rulc'for excluding a hypocrite, or artful sinner, closely masked with a 
 specious mantle of assumed sanctity, thrown gracefully over. Nor can 
 any blame be uttached to the office-bearers or members of a church tor 
 admitting such,— or continuing them in communion, so long as they 
 walk consistently, tliough they prove in the end to have been most un- 
 worthy The foolish virgins, to all appearance were children ot the 
 bride-chamber ;' and though they had ' no oil in their vessels, they 
 seemed to have it,-for they had lamps, the use of which was to carry 
 oil The wise, therefore, were not to blame for admitting them to their 
 society, and allowing them to remain in it, so long as their lamps ot 
 profession continued to shine, and their hypocrisy was not manifested. 
 
 Ill 
 
vieilge or 
 ' crept in 
 church oi 
 the super- 
 ident from 
 ssion w»s 
 fellowship 
 ill corrup- 
 and Peter, 
 u them of 
 to repent, 
 he candle- 
 ovils thus 
 1, even on 
 oever hath 
 urches.' — 
 ; a profes- 
 as not till 
 -Our Lord 
 acher, and 
 antecedent 
 ae a traitor 
 profession 
 istances to 
 other dis- 
 d, is it I?' 
 s presence 
 ,. So long 
 monstrated 
 lut suffered 
 he scriptu- 
 lest purity, 
 spensation, 
 
 PlG; 
 
 and in 
 
 )f their real 
 manner of 
 o scripture 
 ted, with a 
 Nor can 
 church for 
 )ng as they 
 ;u most un- 
 dren of the 
 ssels,' they 
 [IS to carry 
 lem to their 
 3ir lamps of 
 manifested. 
 
 -g^l/h,: S^,|-r- --E^^ C.. rdl^rn, .hat 
 
 Zion. ever^tho "^oV^^^ d ^ ^^'^^ of our covenanted 
 
 in. to he purged'out o?;;';.^! ^ ^ chtt^ ^f "V^-:- 
 «.-penor w. learning, patriotism, nud rd^/io o ^ , :,. ,,V T'^ '''^'^ 
 try Ml any other ago, yet the Scothsl, U .r, '"^ '"f" of their coun- 
 
 bility. through hun.ar tirmi? ; L r'T "'^ '"^ '^'''"" '" i"'"""'- 
 
 1^1- stops; and ^onJl^me^t r e J^:; I- tv^U ^'7'''"'' '"'" 
 tagems of Papists and Prclatists Tl.nr i.. \ "" mahgnant strn- 
 
 publicly to confess; a . f C „cve ^olc ? '• l"^' ''■?'' '"^^ ■■'^''''""-' 
 
 out. .^han-iers raised t:;:;^r:i:^r;;r^^^ '''' '-- ^-^^' 
 
 madetoinruUnmen nev r n I-'"^^^^^^ T '""rf'""' ^^•^^^''- 
 not excepted. ^ '".uik.—the Jnghest nol>le8 of the land 
 
 liblri^r^^thenaurtu'n^?^"^ ^'^ -''^'on and 
 
 power and trust in th^ St te neJi / '' ' "'"■' T^""'^''^ ''^^'^^ P'"^'^^ of 
 patterns of piety and .dl As uel]"7/V T' ^'" '"'^ ^^''^'^^^ --"^ 
 The tide of public oprnio, wa^ tur c v v lo??"""' ""^ ^^^''^^y- 
 of sin and vice; and all strove to n oi 1 ,1 L I ^^^^ T.'"'' "^"i' '^'"^ 
 credit, of failing under the LnJ^i'es of t rT'' f"^ ^"'"i^tins dis- 
 great turmoil and insubur.iinTt , fl./ f ""'''• ^ '■°'" '-> ^'"''^ of 
 
 under the salutary rest aim of e ;; ' ^''""P r ''"'' ■^"''''^"'■^^'y •"ought 
 to Mead quiet anj per^c" h' V "li Zun'^ '"Vi'"' "'' ^^''^'-^ 
 scriptural discipline faithfully e'^^;;;^ fv '1 " ''"T/^"' '^'''*^^' 
 strun.ent of formin. the hish and Jnvi I i ^^^^ ""^^ '^^""''^'^ '"" 
 population.-investing u'th f Ur I aTo h^;''"'^"^^" "'' '^'^ Scottish 
 ^o.«;«.'-This complex obiection t ,i '"S-r-iium prrjh-vhhan Sro- 
 
 elusive. '^ Objection, then, is perfectly irrelevant and incon- 
 
 wo:MtiJl;o;t:;,^;^.::'!;,-;' -if-- system of discipline, 
 
 s.nall, and harden offei dVrsTv ^X -nT;;' "T' ^^ ^'''^' "^« ^^^"^^'^ 
 salvation. ^ inducing them to abandon the means of 
 
 commits itsexerci.4 tcTr spot W^^^ ''^'' '' *"^" '"« ^'^"^J- nnd 
 
 by such an operation. nusTf,;^^:::I'V"^ the diminution produced 
 
 purgative appliancos,'the animalb STnde t?;' o'"!;"- I'V"" ^'^ 
 peccant humours, it surely cannot hJ iU to throw off indolent and 
 
 ciple will act with more eerom nn ^^r^"''t ^'' ^ ^^^' ^'^'^' P^i"" 
 •t loses in crassitude, is moreXar^n^ ^ ''^'? "''>' ''''^ S^"^" ^^'bat 
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 and muscular power. It is infinitely better for the Church to have were it 
 only one half table, say fifty, or even a score of worthy communicants or 
 yet even far fewer, than hundreds, crowded by ignorant, graceless people 
 wno have no perceptible title to the ordinance, and can onlv 'eat and 
 - drink judfrment to themselves.' 
 
 " That proper discipline is injurous to the growth of the Church is a 
 mistake. The contrary, we have already seen, is the case. Even' that 
 extraordinary act of discipline,— if so it may be termed, -which the 
 Apostles exercised on Ananias and Sapphira, by which all the people 
 were struck with awful consternation, is particularly observed to have 
 contributed largely to the growth of the Church. After reciting the 
 tragical story, it is added-' great fear came upon the Churches and 
 upon as many as heard these things.' And thoujih, on this account the 
 wicked ana insincere dared not unite themselves"; yet on that occasion 
 Believers were the more added to the Church, multitudes, both of men 
 and women. If such were the effects of this extraordinary act of disci- 
 pline at the first collecting of the Christian Church, we need not surely 
 be atraid of its ordinary exercise, ruining her increase now With re- 
 spect to its supposed hardening tendency, upon delinquents, who may 
 thereby be led to forsake the means of grace, it is sufficient to remark 
 that, being an ordinance of Christ, and the last mean which can be used 
 tor reclaming such, the criminal neglect, rather than the faithful exer- 
 ciseof It, may be expected to have the effect of confirming in wickedness 
 iiat though in the pride and stubbornness of his heart, the sinner should 
 disregard the benefits which accrue from discipline, when submitted to 
 m a becoming spirit,-the rulers of the Church are not to be deterred 
 Horn discharging their duty, any more than the minister of the word from 
 preaching, because many turn a deaf ear to all he says, become more 
 obdurate, and have their gu.lt and danger proportionably augmented. 
 The maxim ought never to be forgot,—' Though ruin should ensue let 
 justice take its course.'-Jude says, ' These be they who separate them- 
 selves, having not the spirit.'—' They went out from us,' says John ' but 
 they were not ot us.' And Paul tells the Corinthians, ' To the one we 
 are the savour of death unto death; and to the other, the savour of life 
 unto life.' 
 
 "3rd. It is also objected, the admission of others to communion is no 
 concern of ours, however unworthy, they only injure their own souls,— 
 eat and drink judgment to themselves.' 
 "The nature of the Lord's Supper, and the laws of his house, imply 
 the contrary of this. Communion there is not only a social act,-a hold- 
 ing fellowship by eating and drinking together, as is done externally in 
 social prayer praise, and hearing of the gospel ; but it is in addition, and 
 particularly, the very act by which the Christian sociKy as such, symbol- 
 ically and professedly declare their mutual connection with each other 
 ns members of the body of Christ.-I Cor. x. 16, 17. A believer, there- 
 fore niust contract guilt and deeply injure his own soul, by thus uniting 
 with the unbelieving; not under the mask of hypocrisy, but plainly ii, a 
 state of un.egeneracy and impenitence. When he knows, by infallible 
 
we, were it 
 inicants.or 
 less people, 
 y ' eat and 
 
 hurch, is a 
 
 Even that 
 
 ■which the 
 
 tlie people 
 
 jd to have 
 
 ^citing the 
 
 rches, and 
 
 ;count, the 
 
 t occasion, 
 
 oth of men 
 
 ct of disci- 
 
 not surely 
 
 With re- 
 
 who may 
 
 remark, 
 an be used 
 thful exer- 
 ickedness. 
 ner should 
 emitted to 
 3 deterred 
 word from 
 ome more 
 Jgmented. 
 ensue, let 
 rate them- 
 ohn, ' but 
 ; one, we 
 ur of life 
 
 ;iion is no 
 
 1 souls, — 
 
 ise, imply 
 , — a liold- 
 jrnally in 
 ifion, and 
 1, symbol- 
 ch o'her, 
 'er, there- 
 js uniting 
 ainly in a 
 infallible 
 
 187 
 
 Scripture marks that this is the ca«iP thn. . ,. . 
 
 of sin, inconsistent with a st^fe'cT^e" wfth"th'e chJ'"?^ '" ^'''* 
 fession oi a Christian and thp *>vo.,. % ^ character and pro- 
 
 not ' tell it to the Srch ' he IZ ^^^'f f ^' '^^ '''^'' «"^ yet does 
 
 with him. He thL ;t;e t yd h" ors the S "' "".'"^ '''' "' J^'"'"^ 
 violatina his express comm.nl V ^^'^ Saviour, by presumptiously 
 
 dom. conC^undinrthe d?W. ' \"^^'«"'"? ^he constitution of his king- 
 the Jucce;s of th? Cost • LTle i^'.T ? "'' ^'^ "^^'^' ^"^ -^-'^"i 
 ther's keeper?' and suXL sm unon T' " " ''^'?=' '^"' ^ '^'^ ^ro? 
 and promising salvation oLuiX^tlaM;;;:''''"'"^ 'P'^"^"^ P^^^^' 
 This is the n^ked, undeniable Van and , k V'''^ ""' '"'"''■" «'"^ ^'^^• 
 be done with safety -vv.tho ,? ]»:: L "°^ ^''>' ^° '*^*^ '^"^^ '^ can 
 
 -staining the heav'i^st p so arSv' "Neilh" f '^ ""! '^"^^^' ^"^^ 
 men's sins: keep thyself pur^' "J"'^— ^'''^^^' ^e partakers of other 
 
 ly/b!;; TIZ'i:':^^!'!:!:^^!,^' T'^'^'' ' »^-« ^Po^en fVee. 
 thosewhopatronisethpm h! V '"^ '" attempting to withstand 
 
 a..d ^r:l^^::,::x^t.e;?lt:!;^r^ivl;::!f''"-^-^^ times; 
 
 exercise of ecclesiastic dicinrr' "" ",' "^^ "^'^'''^"^ '"^"^ ""Partiai 
 papacy, they ius' r'la d^^^^^^^^^ '''' relaxation of winch under the 
 
 ticAi of reli/io^n ' ^Evfn ther^r' ^'""' 'T' "^ '^' ""'^'^^^^^ ^^o^rup- 
 siderations' toindut rel xat o- -' '^'''* ?'''"^''' 'prudential Con- 
 or favouritism, hey exe ted r "' h^ ' " "" the principle of expediency 
 age is very different I ht .h i ^ ""^ "^"^ impartiality. Our 
 and the kiowFeZ of scienr.^^^^^^ T^'l'^' '' to refinen.ent, commerce, 
 tian ethics, or pure a„d "''^r "■*' V^^"' '" ^^^^P^^^ ^^^ ^hris- 
 
 reason to confe^ 7n an n" I'avt.l''''' '''/ rehg.on.-our country has 
 "ot what I have I een To o .7? I ''"'"' ^""' '"""V^"^^' ^ram,)l am 
 tree of life, wlMcr3"eldc^d abund "v'th" T' '*' A^^'^^ge wis the 
 there is a boast of k, ^vvled^,! « ^ r "•'' "' Holiness; but now 
 was hun,. by the ho 3-^ '"''^ ^""'^ P'ety;-and. as Absalom 
 fear, uns^nc'tified I olte " tVJ'hl T 'f ^''""'' ''''' '-eason to 
 these things, happy are ye il ye do them ' A tT '""'^-' '''>''^ '^"^^ 
 bis lord's w, I. and prenved nni bi ir ~- f "^ J.^at servant which knew 
 shall be beaten whli lu^t^llLt • ' ""''^"' '^'^ '''''"^'^'S to his will. 
 
 enle^Vci;n:;;;;;;'ihuE:b'"t;dtE''"%if """r^' ^^ ^^^ -^^ --»■ 
 
 arul impartial exercise of i^^l^tJnoVr^'r^' '",''"' ^'^^^ ^'"'^ 
 P'.rity, and separation from U,l wirl I ' "'''^ ^•''" '^"^^ '■^''"» 't" 
 of Clfrist._Let de ene Ue Cll! i I' '''" """^'""^ ''^ '^^ ^ ^''>urch 
 once very promising Wn,.^'f'' ''r' "'''''""^ ^'■^^^" ^''ose of Asia. 
 communLrwere tlie chie ' '"'"'^i'"' t'^'^'T' ''"^ ^'"'^^^'^ent impure 
 them, and of tl eTr mda cholf relLr '"^^"'"'^'^ displeasure ag.l.nst 
 
 tbe Church ofKometf^^^tS:?^,,!-^;::;^^^^ 
 
18B 
 
 i> 
 
 ■if 
 
 m 
 
 i)t< 
 
 fiHfl-cstruction iNor should it be forgotten, that corrupt Churches in- 
 
 volvt in tlieir ruin, the countries where they are located. 
 
 ' VVIiun riiitioiis itrc: to polish in their sina, 
 t 'Tis ill (ht) Chun-h the leprosy begins.' 
 
 " Purity ol communion will do infinitoly more, in securing the honour, 
 prosperity, and stability of the Church, than all the schemes, which with- 
 out it, she can po.ssil)ly devise. When sin is in the house, there is rea- 
 son to fear ruin is at the door. An old leak will sink the ship, if lot 
 timoou.sly repaired. A raging fire within, if not exting' shed, — however 
 KOQure it is made outside, — will .speedily destroy ihe house. And while 
 , jAf^' worst internal evils are allowed to remain, and there is grievous 
 ■ ''-.'ulceration at the core, it is absurd to suppose, that zeal for extension, 
 and external reformation, — with respect to the law of patronage. State 
 encroachments, and other matters — will save the Church from ruin. The 
 words of the Saviour on a similar occasion may justly be applied : ' These 
 things yc ought to have done, and not leh the otiier undone.' lie com- 
 mands to bci(in within, and his direction should by no means be reversed : 
 'Clean the in.side of the cup, that the outside may be clean.' — A scrip- 
 tural reformation never did, and never can take place by a half measure; 
 and as it has been shrewdly remarked, — the extension of an impure 
 Chtirch is nothing but the extension of corruption. 
 
 " Some ignoranlly place tiie reliance of their hearts for rightcousnosa 
 and holiness, (or life and blessedness, on the Sacraments. They evident- 
 ly make an idoi, or rather a saviour of the mere elements; and if on 
 necessary grounds they are denied, or for a time refused the enjoyment 
 of these, tliey regard it a peice of cruel injustice, forsake ordinances, 
 and perhaps abandon the very form of godliness. Brethren, these things 
 ougiif not so to be. Follow no such disgraceful and sinful practices, as 
 they lead tn apostasy and perdition. 
 
 " But it should be recollected, that external subjection, even to the 
 best system of discipline, is not enough. Some treat with marked dis- 
 regard, every thing which they account not essential to salvation; and 
 judge that as good men are to be found among all denominations, the 
 external or'ler of the Chtirch merits no consideration. This is a very 
 pernicious extreme; but an opposite one, not less dangerous, is, to lay 
 inordinate stress upon external arrangements, and rest fully satisfied in 
 a mere outward contbriiiity to certain scriptural rules, as if this would 
 save us. The important principle should never be forgotten, that ex- 
 ternal things are only means for efTecting something higher, — that the 
 end of all institutions is the conversion of sinners and edification of 
 saints ; and that in so far as these objects are not attained, their design 
 is completely lost. Soldiers may be trained to obey orders, and perform 
 with case and precision the varied evolutions of military exercise, — and 
 yet be w;uiting in courage and patriotism, — the veriest cowards, when 
 facing an enemy. So you may be well disciplined to external forms, 
 and yet strangers to the spiritual warfare, and inexperienced in fighting 
 the good fight of faith. — ' Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of 
 God, that yc may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done 
 
rches in- 
 
 e honour, 
 licli wilh- 
 re is rea- 
 ip, if lot 
 -however 
 nd wiiile 
 grievous 
 xiension, 
 ige, State 
 I in. The 
 : 'Tijese 
 He corn- 
 reversed : 
 -A scrip- 
 measure ; 
 n impure 
 
 tcousnosa 
 ^ evident- 
 ind if on 
 njoynient 
 dinarices, 
 \se things 
 ctices, as 
 
 en to the 
 irked dis- 
 iori; and 
 .ion.~5, the 
 is a very 
 is, to lay 
 tisfied in 
 lis would 
 , that ex- 
 -that the 
 cation of 
 nr design 
 1 perform 
 ise, — and 
 •ds, when 
 lal forms, 
 1 fighting 
 armour of 
 ing done 
 
 189 
 
 all to fstaiid.' Let not zeal for external forms, however proper and 
 necessary, usurp the place of that personal humility self-denial watch- 
 fulness against sm, Satan, and the world, fidelity in the discharge of 
 every duty, and devotedness to the promotion of God's glory, which are 
 essential and highly ornamental to the Christian character. 
 
 " External communion, however pure, will not supply the wnnt of 
 grace in the heart Give diligence, then, in making your callin<r and 
 election sure ; and do not rest satisfied with any thing in rcli-xion "short 
 of an interest in Christ by faith. ' He that believeth and Ks baptized 
 shall he saved ; f)ut he that believeth not shall be damned.'— 'J'he shade 
 of a spreading tree or projecting rock, may cool and refresh in a day 
 oppressively sultry; but the mere shadow of religion, will not shelter in 
 that fearful day which shall burn as an oven, when all the wicked shall 
 be as stubble. The tares and the wheat ' grow together until the har- 
 vest; bii n the time of harvest, the Lord will say to the reapers. Gather 
 ye togetli.. first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them • but 
 gather the wheat into my barn. They shall gather out of his kingdom 
 all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them 
 into a furnace of fire ; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.' " 
 
 Note. It ought to h .ve been remarked thut the Reverend Gentlemen Dr. Bntes 
 and Mr lilwain, two noted Ministers, from vvhu«e e.xcc-ilent Lectures so largo 
 extracts ..ere taken by tiio Author, stand not connected with the nrcKent Chur< h 
 ot bcotland, but with the community of the "Reformed Presbyterian Church," 
 whicJi acts far more consistently with her own professed principles, than the 
 hstabiished; and should by no means, thornforc, on this ground, fall under th« 
 same censure. 
 
 I 
 
 
 hi 
 
3P 
 
 190 
 
 hf t 
 
 
 J 
 
 1 
 
 PRICFACK TO THE FOLLOWING EXTHACTS. 
 
 Some late remarks in the "Guardian," on the subject of the intended 
 uniO'i of the Seceders in Nova Scotia, with the community there con- 
 nected with the Church of Scotland, especially the offence and fjre taken 
 at the sober hints of Dr. McCulIoch, by the opposite party, have excited 
 the muid of the Author of tliese lines to publish the following Extracts 
 of Correspondence, Lecture, &,c., being deemed by him as bearing on 
 the points more intimateiy involved in the contemplated combination, of 
 those long and lamentably opposite denominations. The writer hereof 
 IS conscious to himself of being very far from wishing to throw any ob^ 
 stacle in the way of any scriptural union, between the parties concerned ; 
 but, at the same time, he is free in acknowledging that, from the very 
 bottom of his heart, he would dread the issue of their union, without 
 previous, humble, and requisite admissions and concessions; which are 
 yet far out of the question, according to the circumstances, as well as 
 the obvious and ruling spirit and conduct of the parlies in question, 
 Relenting must necessarily precede and accompany reconciliation ; and 
 that, in Its texture and degree, in proportion to the antecedent offence 
 given or taken ; or tha alienation of mind and conduct consequent 
 thereon.— The work from which the main part of the Extracts are taken 
 having been published by a noted Clergyman of the Church of Scotland, 
 it IS hoped that her members will not be so apt to take offence thereat; 
 nor others to blame the transcriber or publisher lor bis borrowed wea- 
 pons ; although he must freely admit, that it is for its coincidence with 
 his own mind the selection is made. Nor can he think himself inconsist- 
 ent in his statements, if others may cl.oose so to pronounce him, for con- 
 demning in the gross (as they may say) the Church of Scotland ; and vet 
 at the same time, adorning his own publication at her expence, by quoti'nir 
 so freely from the writing of some of her ministers. But these ministers 
 are not so much denied the possession of intelligence and reason, as the 
 power of a good will and affection, to act accordingly, at the risk of 
 their worldly interest, by w: drawing from the fellowship of a commu- 
 nity denounced by them as so very dangerously and sinfully connected, 
 both among themselves, and by their civil Establishment. 
 
 It IS hoped that, in the use of the phrase "the Church," in the ensu- ' 
 ing Extracts, none will be either so fond, or so foolish as to mistake its 
 intended meaning, in blending their idea of the real Church, or Christ's 
 spouse, with the mere false name, or the deceitful show and sound to 
 which silly and selfish men attach t!,o true sense of it:— Than in this 
 case, there is not, in the world, a more ordinary and odious, fostered 
 and fatal misnomer ! 
 
 Though the Extracts of the Lecture are mainly quoted verbatim, it is 
 sthl admitted that they are, in no few instances, a little modified, with 
 insertions, alterations, and additions, by the Author. 
 
191 
 
 Extracts of a late Corrrspondence bttwixt a man at Putou, M". S , and his friend, 
 under the nickname a A'ormanist, t'w Cape Breton, on the subject of Ke-u7iion, 
 between Seceders and the Ch. rch of Scotland : 
 
 " Df.ak Sin, — Though our foimer correspondence touched a little in 
 general on the subject of tho contemplated, and commc.iced re-union of 
 Seceders with the Established Church of Scotland, 1 would earnestly 
 wish to enter now more particularly and closely upon this, in my view, 
 very serious and interesting topic. Can you therefore feel disposed to 
 send me, at your earliest convenience, some such hints, as may seem to 
 you both salutary and seasonable on this ground, in reference to the 
 apparent safety, utility, or danger to which this union would be likely to 
 introduce, implicate, or absorb its subjects. I would also choose to 
 learn some of your thoughts regarding the dift'erence of circumstances, 
 both as to civil und ecclesiastical, existing on the subject, betwixt the 
 two Countries : or, in other words, between Scotland and this place. 
 
 "lam, &c., J. G. 
 
 " Pictou, June, 1842." 
 
 REPLY. 
 
 " My Dear Friend,— In answer to your favor of June last, I sincerely 
 feel it a very serious matter how to reply to the main points of your re- 
 quest. In some respects my position, in being ecclesiastically interme- 
 diate, or more neutral than the immediate contending or opposite parties 
 concerned, gives me, no doubt, some advantage, according to my humble 
 measure of knowledge, and means of information ; but on the other 
 hand, I may, by no means, presume to know, or experience, but very 
 partially on this ground, in comparison of those who are, alas! fron. 
 year to year, for a long time together, now 'laboring' as it were ' in the 
 tire.' I believe there is no quarter on either side of the Atlantic, nearly 
 so much in want of means of pacification and unity, on the point in 
 question, as your very unfortunate district ; and, would to Heaven that 
 a proper and profitable medium of union might now be attainable : but 
 I much fear, nay further, I am most certain, that, under existing circum- 
 stances, neither party would reap any spiritual benefit by their coinbina- 
 tion. My excited heart is too full for admitting of a tedious and formal 
 circumlocution, on this lamentable stage. Excited, I repeat, in conse- 
 quence of having witnessed \vith wounding grief, for a long score of 
 years, so much of the flood-wates of darkness and delusion deluginir 
 your otherwise dear and darling neighborhood. Religious envy and 
 enmity, wrath and wrangling; nay, muti'ation and mockery, madness 
 and murder ! And dare you, or any others, once hope or imagine that 
 the blessing of Heaven should ever shine upon a union standing con- 
 victed of such charges, without some previous and proportionate ropent- 
 ance and reform ! A putrid open wound may be skinned ' ver by an 
 unskilful hand, or a fond physician ; but without some rem .y, corres- 
 pondent to the viciousness of the disease, it will accumulate its turpitude 
 or putrescence to the more endangering and injuring of the body, and 
 be apt every moment, to reburst, either at the old sore, or some new 
 
 li 
 
 
""mm 
 
 19*1 
 
 !«l,i 
 
 f 
 
 .iiii 
 
 focus, with greater fury and irritation. Tlie same m the case with 'he 
 wounds of the body politic or religious ; and far more seriously so, on 
 the score of the latter : of which we now more particularly treat, although 
 both are too closely and conspicuously involved, in the case under deli- 
 beration. 
 
 "I do not pretend to draw parallels, or make comparisons, but very 
 partially and cautiously, on this delicate ground. But I care little for 
 the approbation, or reflection of that man, who, of either party, does 
 not, at the best, see much cause for self-condemnation and regret, both 
 in the sight of God and men, on this question. 
 
 " The more disagreeable and injurious the disunion i.s, the greater 
 must be the ofiensiveness and inefficience of the intended a.«sociation, 
 without answerable conviction and admission, ou the part, at least, of 
 the representatives or principal persons concerned, of both sides, accord- 
 ing, at the lower rate, to the openly known and knowable respective or 
 particular responsibility ani criminality of their individual, relative, and 
 conjoined capacity. 
 
 " But it may be fairly asked, What do you mean to be the estimate or 
 measuring line of our conviction and admission on this ground? I an- 
 swer, nothing more or less, in this place, than the very degree of light 
 which we possess and exert in judging of the actions or conduct of others 
 towards ourselves ; and the same rate of acknowledgment which we 
 exact of, or expect from them, in similar circumstances; without which 
 our condemnation is both sure and just, according to the infallible rule 
 of Heaven. Read the 2d Chapter of Romans. But selfishly zealous 
 men, and particularly ministers of that character, are very far and 
 foreign from this standard, in measuring themselves. 
 
 " In Scotland, Seceders reap far more secular benefits by becoming 
 one body with the Establishment, than the same class can, at present, 
 expect in this country. I need not point out the main cause— State 
 Endowment. The great disparity or minority of their number has also 
 harder bearings on their peace, pride, or popularity in that Kingdom 
 than here, from the potent dominance of the vast numerical ninjority, 
 and ecclesiastical privileges possessed, over them, by their different 
 party of Presbyterians. But in the existing state of religion in Scotland, 
 whatever Seceders may lose in spiritual concerns, by their present union' 
 it is but next to madness to expect their salutary improvement on that 
 score. 
 
 " But Seceders in this quarter have not such inducements, either in a 
 negative or positive shape, to allure them to a union on worldly accounts. 
 And if they can point out to the woild their favorable prospects on the 
 subject, in religious and spiritual interest, according to right reason, and 
 the word of God, during ihe present state and appearance of the Cl'crgy 
 connected with the Church of Scotland in this country, I would, for one, 
 and thousands of the same views and feelings, born and brought up iti 
 that Church, be most sincerely desirous to see, or to hear, a plain and 
 proper description of said prospects. One point, however, is perfectly 
 clear on this ground, that if our Seceders expect any spiritual benefits, 
 
e with 'he 
 isly so, on 
 t, nithougli 
 luder deli- 
 
 , but very 
 e little for 
 larty, does 
 gret, both 
 
 le greater 
 'sociation, 
 It least, of 
 !s, accord- 
 pective or 
 iative, and 
 
 stimate or 
 d? I a!), 
 ie of light 
 of others 
 which we 
 out which 
 Ilible rule 
 ly zealous 
 y far and 
 
 becoming 
 
 t present, 
 
 se — State 
 
 r has also 
 
 Kingdom 
 
 ninjority, 
 
 different 
 
 Scotland, 
 
 mt union, 
 
 It on that 
 
 ither in a 
 accounts. 
 ts on the 
 ason, and 
 he Clergy 
 1, for one, 
 ght up in 
 [jlain and 
 perfectly 
 benefits, 
 
 193 
 
 or improvement, by the contemplated union and association, tlrey thcrr- 
 
 wHcH, r^ ""'^^'^'l ^'^''' °^'l.'^ge"«r-r. nnd judicial blindn ss at 
 whch their commnnity have arrived, amid aP the ample means of kno^ 
 ledge and expernnce that the) have, for a longtime, enjoyed .and which 
 If not miserably and shamefully abuseo, might happily have ed them to 
 frame a qu.te contrary anticipation and concl^sio!;^L^ to prompt them 
 
 us Tw 'h'""''''°" "k'' ' r^"-"^^' "^°^^ P^«-"^ -°"t«"tion and con 
 Jus.on, wuhm n?r own bowels, are open to the four winds • and in the 
 
 mean t.me, wnhout a narallei in the ivhole Christian world J who's av 
 
 Sv'^;ff.''H'"A''"^'''°" V"'°^^^' self-confidence, and persecution of 
 justly offended dissenters from her rilowship; as wdl as her stubborn 
 
 ;s;roVrr ''''''' ^^"'-^'^^^-' - ^^p-^^^-' ^-re^pr. 
 
 But there is a point of dexterous reserve, on the part of the 'kirk' 
 
 on"S Ch^ ch^.rh"'"'' ?K *'" ""^ ° V" '"^^^^^ '' their dependece 
 
 on the Church a ho^e; the meaning of which, I believe, our Seceders 
 
 ir > a . a httle ignorant of. Nor do I find it so easy to define its 
 
 -'^d. ^'' tendency, in order to make you, or others concern- 
 
 ae. 'an i. .,3 ' uuderstand it myself. 
 
 - thoujrl .' .3 h-^re evidently feel very little real regard for their 
 .a3ti.Hi . r...Pd fathers in Scotland ; yet, for various reasons, 
 
 ■ ■■r ,-. '<x:\^\y wisdom to pretend very lofty veneration for, in- 
 
 ■ nc....-ui 10 and close connection with them: Otherwise it 
 ^ouid c, impracticable Tor them to obtain assistance and support n so 
 many ways from hon ,. to this distant and desert country. Xt erv an3 
 duplicity are mighty weapons on this ground. Nor could several of our 
 Ministers, so far in the absence of ministerial talents, and o I e s so d 
 fective in their mora or religious conduct, and a third sort as ha f-idiots f 
 
 a silly farce of authority, imperiahty, and irresponsibility over and 
 among heir luped supporters and adherents, but on accourft'o th; or! 
 raal, necessary, and sacred tie, though in some sort mysterious to the 
 vj3lgar^wtuch sui>sists between our 1ulchan| preachers^ and the great 
 
 * Vide the froward reflection of the Rev. Messrs Wi'linmann ,r,^ ivTln T~ 
 
 on the just and very moderate remarks of thrR^eTDTMrr.Tn.h ^Jf ^ ■].""" ^''i"^' 
 
 dioS."""'"''.' ■" "• ■""• '™'' •"'' '» »''-'' "^ rela,er'::LMo,,g.r.„°/:<,:;',™: 
 
 ,„?/j'?''°°',f'i;"°''"™'' '""""• " ° ^''»"''' '"""i. moaning the skin „ra dcid elf 
 .luffed np w,ll> hay or .traw so as lo impose upon ,he si ly fow, i,, inot,;, in order 
 
 u.?;ei'::;^pCii^?!'p7iS:s.'*"''"'^ ' -" '- " "•°"«'" ^"-^^ -»"■■- 
 
 25 
 
 
 IfilJ 
 
and glorious fathers, sapient Doctors, and seaii-Apostles, over the chan- 
 nel ! Now the proud and profitable pretence of Dependence, which is 
 necessary to be shown to their own party, both here and at home, on the 
 one hand ; and the ensnaring and insinuating profession of Independence 
 requisite to fish and fowl some shy Seceders, on the other, must indeed, 
 require all the wit and wile, art and aim, resort and reserve, possessing 
 the breast and brains of the very shrewdest r.nd sharpest Scottish Cler- 
 gymen. And all this work luit aicrt'Iy aud mainly in order to advance 
 their own claims, and augment their own numbers, for worldly advan- 
 tages, under the specious disJiiise of peace and piety; and with a special 
 view to crush Dissenters; and, if possible, to rival, jf not to outshine, 
 the great, though concealed eye-sore, the cross and crowned Episcopal 
 Church. That is thef very drift and draft, and the very top and tail, of 
 all the mystery of the subject. I am, &c., A. M. 
 
 " Cape Breton, Septr., 1842." 
 
 Large Extracts of a Lecture, 4*c., intended to expose the Sin and danger of Union 
 betteeen the Church of Christ and an immoral or anti- Christian civil Government : 
 illustrated from Reason, Scripture, and Experience. 
 
 " Be not unequally yoked." 
 •' Can two walk together except they bo agreed." 
 
 Whether the Church of Christ may lawfully contract an alliance, or 
 be united with a Civil Government, is a question which, for many years 
 past, has been debated with no ordinary vehemence. Wise and good 
 men, according to the general phrase, in large numbers, have been ranged 
 on opposite sides of the controversy ; and after the utmost efforts of ar- 
 guments, they seem, on both sides, to be confirmed in their original 
 opinions. As it commonly happens, in cases of controversy among Chris- 
 tian men, the actual amount of difference between the contending parties 
 is much less than the Qj^parent ; and on each side much important trut'a 
 is urged, in which those on the opposite side could readily acquiesce. 
 With those who embrace the'affirmative of this question, we believe ihat 
 an alliance may exist between Church and State, not only without sin, 
 or detriment to either party, but with decided advantage to both. We 
 hold that civil government, when rightly constituted, is an ordinance of 
 God; that it is put in subjection to tho Messiah ; and that although in 
 its nature and specific objects it is perfectly distinct from the Church, 
 yet that it is capable of being so framed and administered, that the cause 
 of true religion may derive the most important benefits from it, on the 
 one hand, or sustain the most fatal injury, on the other. That official 
 indifference or neutrality towards religion, which many regard as a dis- 
 tinguished qualification in a civil ruler, seems to us to be impossible in 
 fact ; and if it were possible in those who know the gospel and the right- 
 eous claims of the Messiah, it would be exceedingly criminal. But after 
 this question is disposed of, there is another of vast importance, remain- 
 ing for investigation — the question we are to discuss; namely, What 
 
 
las 
 
 the chan« 
 , which is 
 me, oil the 
 ;pendence 
 St indeed, 
 possessing 
 :fish Cler- 
 ) advance 
 lly advan- 
 li a special 
 outshine, 
 Episcopal 
 nd tail, of 
 A.M. 
 
 r of Union 
 overnment ; 
 
 lliance, or 
 lany years 
 and good 
 len ranged 
 >rts of ar- 
 r original 
 3ng Chris- 
 ng parties 
 tant truth 
 acquiesce, 
 ilievb that 
 thout sin, 
 oth. We 
 linanee of 
 though in 
 ! Church, 
 the cause 
 it, on the 
 lat official 
 J as a dis- 
 )OHsibie in 
 the right- 
 But after 
 e, remain- 
 sly. What 
 
 must be the character of the ciril government with which the Church 
 may warrantably be allied ? Heretofore this question has not received 
 the attention to which it is entitled. On the one hand, the Voluntaries 
 (and when we use the term we employ it purely as u term of distinction 
 and not of reproach) labor to prove, that every alliance between Church 
 and State is unwarrantable and pernicious. In their system, therefore 
 the enquiry we have now instituted can have no place. The advocatec 
 ot ex,»:mg religious establishments, on the other hand, have contented 
 themselves with leading proof of the lawfulness anH propriety of union 
 It either has not occurred to them as necessary, or they have not deemed 
 It prudent, to raise any question in regard to the character of the civil 
 government with which the Church mt:y be safely allied. 
 
 But surely this is a question that ought not to be overlooked. It is a 
 lamentable but an unquestionable fact, that the alliances between the 
 Church and the secular powers of the nations, that have existed since 
 the days of Constantine, have, with few exceptions, proved hurtful to the 
 cause of true religion; a source of weakness and decay, rather than of 
 strength or efficiency. What can be more urgently required, than that 
 those who advocate union between Church and State, and especially 
 those who become parties in such a contract, should patiently investigate 
 the reasons why such alliances have commonly been productive of evil 
 rather than good. It is our conviction, that the chief source of this un- 
 happy result will be found in the unworthy charaster of the civil govern- 
 ments with which the Church has been united. That acute philosopher 
 and able theologian, the late Dr. McLeod, of New York, speaking on 
 this subject in one of his lectures on the Apocalypse, thus expresses 
 himself: Christianity, hitherto, except in a few instances, has suffered 
 by Its connection with civil polity ; and from the very nature of society 
 It must suffer in such connection, until both learning and power are 
 transferred into the hands of godly men, and so made subservient to piety 
 Independently of the impressive lessons oi long and painful experience 
 upon this subject, it is quite reasonable to expect, that if unsanctified 
 men incorporate revealed religion with civil government, such a form 
 will certainly, be given to religion as may suit unsanctified power The 
 daughter of Zion is much better without such an alliance, for it is the very 
 essence of anti-Christianism. The Bride, the Lamb's wife, cannot be 
 supposed to escape pollution, if taken into the embraces of unholy men 
 and rendered dependent upon a government which they administe:. It 
 IS safer for the friends of religion to continue like the witnesses prophe- 
 symg in sackcloth, faithfully struggling in poverty against the frowns of 
 power, than to become the stipendaries of irreligious statesmen " The 
 diversity of character existing among governments, is not less wide than 
 among individuals. Some a/e enlightened and upright, others are bar- 
 barous and unjust : some are distinguished for candour and good faith 
 others are fraudulent and deceitful. There have been thrones of rightel 
 ousness which were the strength and stability of the State, and "thrones 
 of iniquity which established u-^ischief by law. May the Church indis- 
 criminately contract alliance with the civil goverment in all these cases t ' 
 
 ? ' 
 
 hi 
 

 V 
 
 '1 i-.l 
 
 lllli 
 
 196 
 
 The Spirit of Truth declared to David, that the government of a just 
 man, who rules in the fear of God, is " as tho light of the morning, when 
 the sun riseth," and the fruits of his reign are beautiful and profitable, 
 likj "the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear-shining after 
 rain." On the same Jiuthority, it was proclaimed by Solomon, thai " aa 
 a roaring lion and a raging bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people." 
 In the propiiecicsof the New Tesiatuent, a period is foretold, when "the 
 kingdoms of this world shall become tiie kingdoms of our Lord and of 
 his Christ," and another period when "the kings of the earth shall be of 
 one mind, and shall give their power and their strength to the Beast." 
 Is there to be no discrimination here ? May the Church contract alliance 
 with the throne that is upheld by injustice and oppression, as well as 
 vvith the throne tuat is established in righteousness I with tne anti-Chris- 
 tian as well as with the Christian civil government I For ourselves, we 
 must hold th.it such an alliance is not only dangerous in iho *iighest de- 
 gree, but positively unlawful; and that the Church would bo ouprenitly 
 liappier and safer in the friendship of enlightened and pious rulers, al- 
 though her rights were becured by no stipulations, than in that of unprin- 
 cipled and ungodly men, whatever wisdom may have been employed in 
 framing the terms of the compact. " Faithful are the wounds of a friend, 
 but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." 
 
 Every union between Church and State must be .supposed tc imply, 
 that the parties uniting mutiially recognise each other as legitimate. 
 This principle is illustrated in the intercourse of nations. A government 
 that is deemed illegitimate will not be admitted into alliance by surround- 
 ing Slates. A deputy governor of a province, who has revolted from his 
 alIegiaiiC3 to the sovereign authority, will not be admitted into alliance 
 by other deputy governors. Should they contract friendship with him 
 while he persists in rebellion, they would justly be regarded as implicated 
 in his revolt. 
 
 A union between Church and State furthar implies a mutual engage- 
 ment of the parties to support e;.ich otlier. The State pledges itself to 
 afibrd protection, and commonly, also, pecuniary support, io the Church. 
 The Church, on the other hand, gives a pledge of hearty allegiance to 
 the civil goverment, and an engagement to promote its permanence and 
 prot^perity to the utmost of her power. The practice of exacting oaths 
 of allegiance, as a necessary qualification for the receipt of State support, 
 has been, we believe, almost universal. In the case of an established 
 Church the union is still more intimate. Her Creed, or Confession of 
 Faith, is usually embodied in the public laws of the kingdom, and the 
 Church is so incorporated with the State, as to form an integral or essen- 
 tial part of the constitution. Such a union necessarily involves the par- 
 ties in deep responsibility lor one another. And this is, of course, still 
 futther heightened, where a Church sends her representatives to take 
 part in the public proceedings of the national government. And here it 
 is necessary to animadvert upon the line of argument that is often adopted 
 by the advocates of existing establishments. When they have collected 
 and marshalled the proof, that it is the duty of civil rulers, possessing 
 
of a iu8t 
 ing, wheii 
 jroticable, 
 ling aAer 
 , that "as 
 r people." 
 ^hen "the 
 'J and of 
 ihnll be of 
 e Beast." 
 :t alliatice 
 s well as 
 nli-Chria- 
 lelves, we 
 iirhest de- 
 uprenitly 
 rulers, al- 
 )f unpria- 
 ^loyed ia 
 ; a friend, 
 
 Ic in^ipiy, 
 'gitiinate. 
 vernment 
 lurround- 
 1 from his 
 < alliancti 
 with him 
 nplicated 
 
 engage- 
 
 itsfilf to 
 
 Church, 
 giance to 
 ence and 
 ng oaths 
 
 support, 
 tathlished 
 jssion of 
 
 and the 
 or essen- 
 
 the par- 
 irse, still 
 
 to take 
 id here it 
 I adopted 
 collected 
 assessing 
 
 197 
 
 divine revelation, to do homage to the Messiah, and to promote in their 
 respective. tPrr.tones, the cause of scriptural education and of Ire el 
 sThL ^ll' " •"" \'V''' triumphantlj' confuted those Tho loZ ot 
 scr.he all national rehg.on. and all national hnm-.gc to the Mo-t IlLT 
 
 own oTtlnl'^'T'^r'^P '"^ '"' conclusion, that the vindication of S 
 own particular estaulishment is complete; and not unfrequently stiama. 
 
 adv nc^d 'y4?«7f;:'"^ "" '*'"'' ''''■"'"^^' "^«"'"«''''' ^^'«'> ^^^^y have 
 nor candid. " '"""' " P'"''"' ^^"'P^''^ ' ^^^ '^ '« "«i*»'«r just 
 
 There are many supposable cases of union between Church and State 
 wh»ch ought certainly to be condemned. 1st. An i...Lral and wS 
 Unlr'thT'"'l"' rnay be united with a corrupt or idolatrou Q urc^ 
 CWh«n^^^^ .'""?>r''*'''*^ the... «ater number of unions between 
 
 tions to ?hP n' 1 ^"''■^°'; '"■''"' t''«r r; -n.t the most insuperable obstruc 
 count ?iir°''"'^ °! '^^ ^°'P''- ^" ^'^P'«^'' Mahommedan, and Pagan 
 
 o? thtl' :alT''''J ' -' '"«««enge" of truth, and form the main bulwaSs 
 oi me Kwigdom cm darkness. 
 
 n^i?.'!''' ^"^ """" '"PP°'^ * ""^^ ccnst^uted and equitable civil irovern- 
 
 Brit sh ConS'tnf- '"'"r' "•i^? ^"""'''^ ^*'"-h. The admirerf of% . 
 f«.lhl\ "^',"" 'V'' {"•"^'^bly discern examples of this kind -■ u^ 
 
 establishment and endowment of Popery in certain pans of the B it'i h 
 
 g'lZuir ldos"ta\t.^ ^^""^"^"^^ - ^-=^ ^^^ - "^« --^'P °^i'^- 
 
 acrbtu-^'but'/J^-^T ' '''° °^""r ^^^""^ ^^^^ ^h"^^'' i« «^''»d and 
 ZTnr)i cwil government radically vicious and immoral ; whera 
 
 d s era .on'o? the'"*Kh' 'h'"'^ '' ^'7V' '^'' ^'^^« ^^«''^' ^'^« habitual 
 for bv 1 Z r L !. f -^"u' ""■ ^''" "^°''^''y '« n^ai-'itained and provided 
 be alL Tn n ^^'"^ '" '^^ *^°"«'i»"^i«"- May the Church consent to 
 be allied to a cir' government of this character ? Surely there must be 
 
 some strange obhquity either in the judgment, or in ll e\ystem o the 
 Chnstjan man who will answer in the affirmative. What would be thought 
 U I If 7 ^«^'^7,c«"s.nting to be endo.ved by a banditti of robbeFs? 
 It .3 perfectly possible that order ard government m.y be man.ained 
 
 rroL'relioV^f "'^.' ''•'' ''' ""'y «"PP«^^ '^ '^ b« P^-^d i^ Arab a. 
 could h/.f I r '•'"■" [' "" '"P^*"'^' government against which i 
 bell on aAinsl r^'f ''^" '■'^'"'"•^- ^"^^ '^ '« '" '^P'^" ^"^ ^^^^^^i '«- 
 mol n/n , • ^"^ '"^ P''^P°^^' «^ ""'»"<^e •" «"ch a case, the 
 
 le '« wLtr^o "Tu'Trt'' ^' ''''^'''^ '" ^he language of an ^oa- 
 i h A concord hath Christ with Belial?" 
 
 onfrT^nf ^ i'" "" "^^^ '"PP"'^ ^ ^^'^ ^"'^'■e there is nothing palpably or 
 thpn£ T^ ""T^'" ^'l^^O"«t'tution of government, but where, fVom 
 
 fnvnr K. r^^ ""^'''^^/ "^'" ' °'" ^''^'^' ''' '«««^^' '^^n of this description 
 
 in ar ably constitute so large a majority of the rulers, that they are^fuUy 
 
 onthlJ"''^- ?"l.^heir own measures, and impress their own character 
 on the administration of public affair.. The question then is, not wha 
 
 a 
 
 4 
 
 5' 
 
 lU 
 
im 
 
 m 
 
 II, 
 
 - m 
 
 civii rulers ought to do, but what unprincipled and ambitious men may 
 be expected to do, when placed in a position which gives *.hem a dan- 
 gerous control over the Church. 
 
 But over and above the evils that are in the British Constitution, 
 analogous to the two cases last mentioned in their leading features, 
 although in many particulars it commands our approbation, we cannot 
 shut our eyes to the fact, that the overwhelming preponderance of men 
 in the government, who are either totally irreligious, or the abettors of 
 false religion, or whose religion is merely the handmaid of their ambi- 
 tion, has at all periods since the restoration of Charles the Second, given 
 a tone and character to the measures of government decidedly adverse 
 to true godliness, and the religion of the Bible. It is most justly stated 
 by a member of the Legislature, Sir Robert Inglis, from whom we 
 would not have expected such a testimony, that " The British govern- 
 ment never had a conscience in religion," even in what he considers its 
 best period. But without insisting further on this point here, we pro- 
 ceed to state a few specific objections against a union between the 
 Church of Christ, and an immoral or anti-christian civil governnjent. 
 
 1st. Such an alliance is unnatural. There is a manifest contrariety or 
 repugnance between the parties, in regard to their character, principles, 
 and leading objects. The one is religious, the other irreligious; the 
 one bears the stamp of holiness to the Lord, th» other the stamp of im- 
 piety or ungodliness. The real Church, wherever she is to be found, 
 consists of a people whom God " has set apart for himself," that they 
 may shew forth his praise. Their ruling principles are love to God, and 
 reverence for his authority and for his law. The grace of God teaches 
 them " to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, right- 
 eously, and godly in the world." But the principles which regulate the 
 conduct of ungodly civil rulers are not merely different from these, but 
 repugnant to them. Instead of candour and uprightness, there is com- 
 monly inii igue and over-reaching ; instead of benevolence, selfishness 
 or oppression ; instead of humility, insatiable ambition; and instead of 
 supreme reverence for the Most High, there is habitual forgelfulness of 
 his claims, or even manifest contempt. The leading objects which are 
 aimed at, and prosecuted by the two parties are equally repugnant. 
 The true Church seeks to uphold the sovereign authority of God ; an 
 irreligious government is solicitous only about its own authority. It is 
 the object of the proper Church to exalt God's word, as the supreme 
 and infallible standard, by which every opinion and every practice should 
 be tried, in religion, morals, and politics. But in the estimate of civil 
 rulers, regardless of religion, political expediency is paramount to the 
 Bible. Even in Britain, our highly-favored and beloved land, were the 
 proposal seriously urged, that every public measure should be scrupu- 
 lously conformed to this divine standard, in all the great departments of 
 government— at the Horse Guards— the Admiralty — the Post Office — 
 and in Downing Street, — with what surprise and derision would the 
 proposal be received? Every true church must be supremely concerned 
 «bo«i the sovereignty of God ; the exaltation ind glory of Christy the 
 
 i, 
 
199 
 
 authoriiy of the divine law ; the sanctity of the Sabbath ; the prosperity 
 of .el.g.on; the punty of divine ordinances ; and the eternal salvatioJ 
 of the souls of men But are these objects in regard to which she can 
 
 OA ^V '^™P''*?y O"" encouragement from ungodly civil rulers? 
 -k:- o '■*^*'.?^""*^* contract alliance with immoral or anti- 
 5„n« '" J^'!f''u'"i^''"] incurring the guilt of unfaithfulness to her 
 Supreme head, the Lord Jesus Christ. It was early foretold that civil 
 ru ers would be among the most determined opposers of Christ and his 
 cause. So writes David lu the second Psalm ; " The Kings of the earth 
 set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord 
 and against his Anointed, saying. Let us break their bands asunder, and 
 
 ^rflZ'/.l '"■ """"'t f^*" "%•'' ^"^ ^'^^^ " •» they are laboring to 
 prevent ? the accomplishment of the divine decree by which Christ is ap- 
 
 fhrih^M ^."?.°" '^' ^""^^ ^'" '^?'°"- ^° ^'' ''^^'^ recognizing him as 
 the rightful 'Governor among the nations," "the PrincI of the Kings 
 01 the earth; they will not consent that he should be "King of Zion " 
 the Head of his own Church. They will not be satisfied thaf the people 
 whom he has redeemed with his own blood should " render unto Cjesar 
 the things that are Cssars," unless they further offer to Cssar the things 
 that are God s. In the remarkable vision of Nebuchadnezzar, the four 
 great empires which have swayed the destinies of the chief part of the 
 earth from the time of the prophet Daniel to this day are symbolically 
 represented by a great image; and however they differ from each other 
 in nriany respects they all agree in this, thai they are hostile to the au- 
 tnority and kingdom of Christ,-80 much so, that before his kingdom 
 can be established, the-j kingdoms must all be destroyed. "Thou 
 Mwest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the 
 image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to 
 pieces. Although these empires subverted one another, yet the strength 
 ot me preceding one was embodied in its successor ; and when the in- 
 sulted Redeemer arises to take vengeance on the last of them, namely 
 the Ronnian Empire, he will in fact execute judgment on the whole of 
 tnem. l he entire system, in which the same principles were substan- 
 tia y embodied, from the time of Nebuchadnezzar to the present day 
 will be utterly subverted and demolished, never to be restored. " Then 
 was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to 
 pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer thrashing floors- 
 and the wind carried them away that no place was found for them • and 
 the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the 
 whole earth. What a sublime and tremendous idea is this i " The 
 mountain of the Lord's house shall, then, be established in the tops of 
 the mountain, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shal' 
 flow unto It." And with all this the visions of John the Divine are in 
 perfect harmony. The execution of judgment upon the anti-christian 
 powers against which the two Witnesses testified, and by whom they 
 were slam, prepares the way for the seventh angel to sound his trumpet : 
 (Hev. XI. 15) "and there were great voices in heaven, savincr th? king- 
 doraa of this world are become'the kingdoms of cur' Lord ''and of "his 
 
 : '1 
 
SIO 
 
 \u^ 
 
 Ih' 
 
 Christ." Heretofore, they were anti-christian kingdoms, "of one mind 
 to give their strength and power to the Beast." The true Church is 
 represented as rejoicing in this astonishing change. She has, indeed, 
 cause of joy. — " Since the captivity of Judah about 588 years before 
 the Christian era, until the present day," said the afore-mentioned Dr. 
 McLeod, " scarcely an instance has occurred in the whole history of 
 nations, of a kingdom or commonwealth regulating their polity upon 
 purely scriptural principles. Many nations, it is true, have pretended 
 to be Christian. And religion has been scandalized by their unlioly 
 interference. Many Christians have also Lcsen deceived and misled 
 into a belief, that the kingdoms of the nations were so constituted as 
 to merit their conscientious acquiescence and pious support : but the 
 Prince of the kings of the earth, who gave this revelation to his servant 
 John, teaches us, that now, for the first time, the kingdoms of this 
 world are become the kingdoms of God and of Christ. Heretofore they 
 have been thrones of miquity, having no fellowship with God, (Psalm 
 xciv. 20) characterized as beasts, and horns of beasts, both by Daniel 
 and the writer ot the Apocalypse. Servants and admirers, and apolo- 
 gists, and eulogists, they have had in abundance ; but there was not a 
 voice in heaven raised in their commendation. They were to be fieared, 
 but not approved by the saints of the Most High." How, then, it may 
 be asked, shall the Church justify her professed allegiance to Christ, 
 while she contracts alliances with rulers that are in a state of rebellion 
 against him? who offer him no vows of allegiance — who refuse to yield 
 to the demands of his law— who instead of recognizing his rightful 
 supremacy, impiously lay claim to that supremacy for themselves ; and 
 presumptuously intrude, like Korah, into the precincts of the tabenacle. 
 Is it the Pharaohs, or the Herods, or the Neros of modern times, in 
 whom the true Church of Christ may hope to see verified the faithful 
 promise, " That kings shall be her nursing fathers, and their queens her 
 nursing mothers?" 
 
 3d. An alliance between the Church and an immoral civil government 
 has a tendency to suppress a faithful testimony against ihe sinful policy 
 of civil rulers. The world is in a state of alienation from God, and the 
 plan of his providence and the honor of his government require that 
 explicit and faithful testimony be borne against abounding iniquity. 
 And as God is more dishonored by the disobedience and impiety of 
 public bodies than by sins of individuals, it is of peculiar consequence 
 that public iniquities be exposed and condemned. But can it reasonably 
 be expected that this momentous duty will be performed, with any fidelity, 
 by a Church in alliance with an ungodly state ? The fact that she has 
 contracted such an alliance, even if it did not entirely prevent, must in 
 a great and grievous degree, neutralise her testimony against the evil 
 that is in it. But it is matter of certainty that the existence of such an 
 alliance will have the effect of preventing a faithful testimony from being 
 given. To expect that any large number of men, who are dependent 
 on the absolute will of unprincipled civil rulers for the whole, or a chief 
 part, of their support, and the support of their families, should continue 
 
tne mind 
 burch is 
 , indeed, 
 s before 
 tned Dr. 
 istory of 
 ity upon 
 retended 
 r unlioly 
 i misled 
 ituted as 
 but the 
 9 servant 
 s of this 
 fore they 
 I, (Psalm 
 ty Daniel 
 id apolo- 
 as not a 
 )e fieared, 
 1, it may 
 
 Christ, 
 rebellion 
 J to yield 
 5 rightful 
 ves ; and 
 be'^nacle. 
 times, in 
 e faithful 
 ueens her 
 
 vernment 
 ful policy 
 I, and the 
 luire that 
 iniquity, 
 mpiety of 
 [sequence 
 easonably 
 ly fidelity, 
 It she has 
 , must in 
 t the evil 
 F such an 
 'oiii being 
 lependent 
 or a chief 
 
 1 continue 
 
 201 
 
 resolutely to expose and testify against the iniquity policy ot these rulers, 
 would be contrary to every sound view of fallen humanity, as well as to 
 experience. It is altogether roving and romantic. Individuals may possi- 
 bly be found, even in these disadvantageous circumstances,— though ordi- 
 narily the case is next to a miracle,— whose strong sense of duty, and 
 zeal for the glory of their Lord, will raise them above all selfish consid- 
 erations; and lead them to administer pointed and punptua! reproof to 
 noble, or even royal transgressors : But vhere in our day is one of this 
 character? And it would be but madness to expect that all Ministers 
 should equal the zeal and intrepidity of Elijah and John the Baptist, Inde- 
 pendents, of ancient times, or of Knox and Melville, Dependents, of a 
 more recent period. It is proverbial that princes seldom hear the truth ; 
 and least of all are they likely to hear it from those vvho are either in ex- 
 pectation or possession of favors which may be revoked at pleasure. 
 
 What infinite evil might have been prevented in the conduct of civil 
 rulers, had the Church and her Ministers been faithfcl to their trust! 
 How many unrighteous and disastrous wars might have heea arrested at 
 the outset, had the impolicy and injustice of these wars been distinctly 
 set before civil rulers, by the ambassadors of the Prince of Peace ! Where 
 there has been one Micaiah, to proclaim unwelcome truth in the king's 
 ear, there have been hundreds of flattering prophets to raise the shout, 
 " Go up to Ramoth-Gilead and prosper, for the Lord shall deliver it into 
 the king's hand." What an astonishing and humiliating spectacle has 
 l)een exhibited, when Prostestant nations have been slaughtering each 
 other in the field of battle, storming each other's cities, and sinking each 
 other's ships in the deep, and all the while the Gospel Ministry, as it is 
 termed, in the contending nations has been multiplying contradictory 
 prayers, on both sides, beseeching the Most High to bless and prosper 
 their righteous cause! How many unholy ailiances might have been 
 prevented, had the Church, and her Ministers, respectfully, but firmly, 
 represented to civil rulers the doom and danger of confederacies with 
 the enemies of God! Such representations are not always unsucessful. 
 Even a raw and rash, hot and headstrong king of Judea was arrested in 
 his course and counsel by the warning of a single messenger. "There 
 came a man of God to Amaziah, saying, O king, let not the army of 
 Israel go with thee, for the Lord is not with Israel. But if thou wilt go, 
 do it ; be strong for the battle, God shall make thee fall before the ene- 
 my ; f^r God hath power to help and to cast down." (2 Chron. xxv. 7, 8.) 
 How much tyranny and oppression might have been prevented, or greatly 
 mitigated, had the ministers of religion been faithful in tendering to civil 
 rulers sound and seasonable advice ! But alas ! they have commonly 
 had more of the character of courtiers, than of judicious and faithful 
 counsellors. They have too often given to ambitious and arbitrary rulers 
 such counsel as the young men gave to Rehoboam. "My father did 
 lade you with a heavy yoke, I will Id to your yoke : my father has chas- 
 tised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." In all 
 ages and countries, ambitious ecclesiastics have been the sternest enemies 
 of rational liberty. Whatever may have been the suiTerings or complaints 
 26 
 
202 
 
 of ihe people, a pampered and time-serving Ciergy have been foremost 
 to reproach them as insoieni ; and to sileoce their murmurs by a pervert 
 ed application ot holy writ: " Let every soul be subject unto the higher 
 powers. For there is no power but of God : the powers that be are or- 
 dained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the 
 ordinance of God: and they that resist ahall receive to themselves dam- 
 nation;" — as if the Scriptures gave sanction to oppression, whiie thry 
 absolutely prohibited to the sufferers all efforts to obtain deliver<»nce or 
 redress. To what extent this liuvi of conduct, and this strain of doctrine, 
 on the part of Churchmen, have had the effect of implanting in the 
 breasts of an oppressed and suffering people a deep-rooted hatred and 
 hostility, not only to civil government, but also to the Church and the 
 Bible, the day of judgment alone will disclose. Under the worst reigns, 
 and the warmest oppressors, the Clergy have been almost invariably the 
 abettors of tyranny; and although a Pilate, and a Henry, and a Charles, 
 might not, perhaps, have been less ungodly, they certainly would have 
 been less cruel 'nd sanguinary, had there not been a Caiaphas, and a 
 Wolsey, and a Laud, and a Sharpe, to stir and stimulate them into per- 
 secution. 
 
 4th. Such a Union, as we are contending against, never fails to 
 bring a Church into bondage. Let it be recollected that we speak of a 
 government in the hands of men devoid of piety ; in whom the fear and 
 love of God are not the master principles, and with whom the advance- 
 ment of the kingdom of Christ, and the salvation of immortal souls, can- 
 not possibly be the chief ends. It is a moral certainty that such men 
 cannot love the true Church on account of her intrinsic worth, or feel 
 any sympathy with her in the great objects she labors to accomplish. On 
 the contrary, a Church that is faithful to her Supreme Lord, and which 
 displays the beauties of holiness, must inevitably be an object of their 
 dislike. By a necessity of nature they must desire to see the Church 
 less holy, less pure, less faithful and uncompromising, than the law of 
 Christ requires her to be; and unless they can succeed in divesting her 
 of those attributes which the carnal mind abhors, she must be an object 
 of increasing aversion. If such men shall choose to make an alliance 
 with her, their object in doing so must be a worldly or a political object. 
 It cannot possibly be their aim that the Church should contribute to 
 render men religious, excepting in so far as religion may be tolerated by 
 an unconverted world. But there is nothing on earth which the world 
 can less tolerate than true religion. " The friendship of the world is 
 enmity with God," and the faithful followers of the Lamb may expect to 
 be hated for his name's sake. But if ungodly civil rulers car>not befriend 
 the Church, out of any regard to true religion, what can their object be 
 in extending favor to her? The children of this world are wise in their 
 generation. All their noisy zeal for the Church, and princely liberality 
 to her, are not blindly thrown away. They know what influence the 
 Church and her Minioters are capable of exerting on the public mind; 
 they know that the Church is the most powerful engine on earth for 
 directing the feelings, and moving the will, of the great body of the people. 
 
203 
 
 i 
 
 It has been, therefore, at all periods, one of the highest objects of their 
 ambition, to have Ihe Church under their own exclusive management 
 and control. The sum and substance of their policy have been this, 
 make the Clergy loyal and subservient, and by their means the people! 
 * " ,? !* ^^°^ "3 *o depreciate the legitimate influence which Ministers 
 of religion may exercise, and are bound to exercise, in preserving the 
 order and tranquillity of a nation, and in repressing the unreasonable 
 complaints. and murmurs that are sometimes, and not seldom, excited 
 against the most salutary measures of government. In such cases, good 
 Ministers will use their utmost to remove prejudice, and inculcate sub- 
 mission. They wiU exhort the people to " render unto all their dues ; 
 triijute to whom tribute is due ; cuotoni to whom custom; fear to whom 
 fear; honour to whom honour."' But the case is altogether different 
 when irreligious and ungodly men stretch forth sacrilegious hands to the 
 Church of God, that they may mould and fashion it to suit their own 
 ambitions designs. When, after the example of the Man of Sin, and 
 with an impiety not less daring, civil rulers claim the riyht of prescrib- 
 ing a creed or confession to the Church, and perhaps of enforcing sub- 
 Mission to it by civil penalties; when they undertake to regulate the 
 government of the Church, in virtue of a usurped supremacy over her; 
 when they claim the right of nominating her office-bearers, or of autho- 
 ritatively determining in whose hands that right shall be placed ; when 
 they control the meetings of ecclesiastical courts, convening, proroguing, 
 or dissolving them, at pleasure, or limiting them in regard to the matters 
 discussed in them; when they tamper with the worship of the Church, 
 loading it with rites and ceremonies, and disguising the beautiful simpli- 
 city of New Testament worship, by pompous additions of human inven- 
 tion ; when they interfere with the discipline of the Church, by admitting 
 or excluding members, annulling ecclesiastical censures or dictating ter'ns 
 of Church fellowship, it should be no time for the Church to truckle 
 or succumb, but to address the rulers as the Apostles did, " whether 
 It be right, in the .«ight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto 
 God, judge ye." " The liberty wherewith Christ has made us free," 
 shall no man take from us. It may, perhaps, be asked, might not all 
 this be done to a Church not in connection with the civil government? 
 We answer, NO ; the thing is impossible. Who ever heard of a Church, 
 not connected with the State, waiting on the civil rulers to receive its 
 creed, or its form of Church government; or submitting to their dicta- 
 tion in regard to discipline, or the appointment of its office-bearers ? It 
 should be carefully observed, that a Church never can be brought into 
 bondage but by her own consent. She may be persecuted, but she can- 
 not be enslaved. Her public assemblies may be interdicted, and her 
 Ministers cast into prison, and her members proclaimed outlaws and 
 traitors; but all this does not rob her of her independence. Her allegi- 
 ance and loyalty to her one Lord may be as honest and hearty, sure and 
 sound, under these distressing circumstances, as when she enjoys undis- 
 turbed tranquility. The Neros and Domitians of the first age. could de- 
 solate and devour the Church ; but it was through the perfidy of her own 
 
Pi 
 
 *:• i 
 
 i , 
 
 204 
 
 office-bearers, and the insidious friendship of civil rulers, who made 
 religion the stalking-horse of their own ambition, that she was finally 
 brought into bondage The uprightness and integrity of a Chwrch are 
 put to no inconsiderable trial, by her having men of rank or opulence 
 in her communion, even where these men are Christians. The epistle 
 of James shews that some Churches, even in the Apostle's days, were 
 drawn into sin from this cause. It is, of course, much more dangerous 
 to a Church to admit into her fellowship ungodly rich men, oi» to be in 
 any important mea^jre dependent on them for her support. But the 
 danger is greatly increased, when the Church contracts alliance with 
 an ungodly civil government. And if the terms of the alliance be such 
 as to invest the rulers with any authority or control whatever, in the ap- 
 pointment of the Church's Ministers; in other worJs, in the selection 
 end choice of the persons who are to receive public support, that Church 
 must be regarded as being already in fatal chains— and these not the 
 less binding that they are made of gold. A variety of circumstances 
 may occur to modify or mitigate the effect of such an alliance, but the 
 tendency of it is unalterable. The law of gravitation is not more uni- 
 form in its operation. 
 
 A stone projected by a feeble force is instantly deflected from a straight 
 line, and brought to the earth. A piece of metal discharged from a 
 cannon pursues, for a time, a path so nearly rectilinear, that it might be 
 almost held debateable whether it feels the force of gravitation. But a 
 brief space will determine the dispute. The cannon ball descends to the 
 earth as surely as a pebble thrown by the hand of a child. Could we 
 suppose a church in a salutary and sound state, having enlightened and 
 zealous ministers, and religion flourishing in her, suddenly brought into 
 such an alliance as we have described, it is nothing improbable, that, 
 for a time, it might be difficult to discern any palpable change in her 
 purity or efficiency. And yet this must very much depend on the cir- 
 cumstances of the case. There are remarkable instances on record of 
 Churches having sustained most serious damage by the very first contact 
 with irreligious and crafty civil rulers. One of the most memorable and 
 instructive of these, perhaps, was exhibited by the Church of Scotland, 
 at the time when the Scottish nation received home the young Prince 
 Charles, as their covenanted King, after the death of his father Charles I. 
 In the year 1649, the Church of Scotland had reached the meridian of 
 her Reformation attainments. Impeifections and blemishes, no doubt, 
 still remained in her. It is in the world to come that the exalted 
 Redeemer will " present to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, 
 or wrinkle, or any such thing." But for any thing that authentic his- 
 tory records of her, we feel persuaded that the Church of Scotland, at 
 the period to which we have referred, might bear a comparison with 
 any other Church of equal extent, and equally well known, that has 
 existed since the days of the Apostles. In the month of June, 1650, 
 diaries arrived in Scotland ; and before one year had elapsed, the 
 Church had begun to retrace the steps of Refo/mation she had just 
 ainained. At the earnest solicitation of the King and his counsellors, 
 
 
205 
 
 /ho maJe 
 'as Anally 
 lurch are 
 opulence 
 le epistle 
 ays, were 
 langerous 
 to be in 
 But the 
 mce with 
 e be such 
 in the ap- 
 selection 
 It Church 
 5 not the 
 irastances 
 , but the 
 nore uni- 
 
 a straight 
 d from a 
 
 might be 
 n. But a 
 nds to the 
 CouiJ we 
 tfcned and 
 lught into 
 ible, that, 
 ye in her 
 n the cir- 
 record of 
 St contact 
 )rable and 
 Scotland, 
 ig Prince 
 Charles I. 
 ?ridian of 
 no doubt, 
 e exalted 
 v'lng spot, 
 nntic his- 
 otland, at 
 ison with 
 
 that has 
 ne, 1650, 
 psed, the 
 B had just 
 unsellors, 
 
 the Commission of the General Assembly gave their consent to the rep^'al 
 of some acts cf Parliament, passed in the preceding year, with the view 
 ot excludmg from places of trust or power persons who had incurred 
 the censures of the Church, by the scandalous immorality of their lives 
 or iheir notorious hostility to the Reformation. A majority of the 
 menibers of the next General Assembly approved of the resolutions of 
 tne Commission. Thus the door of admission into the Church as well 
 as into (4i'il offices, was thrown open to the malignants, who, in order 
 that they might qualify for places of power and emolument, went through 
 a disgraceful scene of mock repentance. A lamentable division was 
 created in the church, at the time when increasing danger demanded the 
 most cordial union. The more discerning and resolule minority, who 
 deplored, -and testified against these defections, were on that account 
 prosecuted with much rigor by the majority. Thus a multitude of ap- 
 parently good and pious men, who had fearlessly gone forward with the 
 work of Reformation, in defiance of the threats and thrusts of the first 
 Charles were now seduced by the blandishments and blinds of his son, 
 to Jay their own hands rudely on the sanctuary, which they had been 
 rearing with so much pious-like care; and even to make a chamber in 
 the temple for Tcbiah the Ammonite, by receiving the malignants into 
 the tellowship of the church. It is a historical fact, that the very men 
 into whose hands Charles now put the reins of government, became his 
 ready instruments, ten years afterward, in virtue of the authority with 
 vvhich they were now invested, both in subverting the civil liberties of 
 the kingdom, and in overturning the Reformation. In taking a theo- 
 retical view of the question now before us, w6 should hold it as very 
 important, that it be the unquestionable design and wish of those by 
 whom the Church is supported, that her ministers be faithful to their 
 trust— a rare case, indeed ! and that it must inevitably be an awfully 
 ensnaring position, even for guod men, to be dependent for tlieir sup- 
 port on those who undoubtedly desire that they should temporize, and 
 consult expediency. In so far as this point alone is concerned, the 
 intluence on the character and conduct of good ministers would on the 
 hrst supposition be a happy one, whether their support be derived from 
 Christian rulers, or a Christian people ; and on the contrary, the effect 
 must be both unhappy and dangerous, if not pernicious, whether the 
 support be derived from ungodly civil rulers, or an ungodly multitude 
 nlsely called a Christian congregation. The entire argument on this 
 head IS sometimes evaded by the remark, that there are temptations 
 attending the reception of money, through whatever channel it comes. 
 Jiut could this allegation be admitted as satisfactory, it might be employ- 
 ed m the defence of many evil things. There are temptations in the 
 House of God as well as in the play-house,— yet we hold it right to 
 attend the one, but unwarrantable to frequent the other.— There nTay be 
 dangers connected with partnership in trade, even where a partner is of 
 unblemished reputation ; but that would be no good reason for forming 
 
 ,■■1' ■ •■'«" n.nu-.Tii lu uu irauuuieni and wicRed. Boine- 
 
 times the argurrrent is met by the indignant demand, whether there are 
 

 If-. 
 
 I'l 
 
 
 .* ^ 
 
 r! ) 
 
 206 
 
 wot miniilers supported in the manner here condemned, as much distin- 
 guished for faithfulness as any others. But neither is this at all satis- 
 factory. The argument respects the ordinary effects of such an alliance, 
 not on particular individuals, but on large numbers ; and not for a few 
 years merely, but during a long course of lime. There was an Obadiah 
 in the court of Ahab; a Nicodcmus in the Jewish Sanhedrim; and a 
 Judpre Hale on the bench, in the days of (Charles the Second ; but this 
 by no means proves that the position of any one of these eminent per- 
 kous was favourable to integrity, or virtue. But these exceptions are 
 here marked merely for their rarity, and the possibility, rather than the 
 probability of their recurrence; for we can retrace no visible signs of 
 such happy examples even in superlative miniature for a long time now, 
 under the shadow and sunshine of our own religious establishments. 
 
 5th, In a community greatly divided in religious sentiment, an alliance 
 between the Church and the government opens the way for unprincipled 
 rulers to patronis-?, and support the most corrupt churches. Were an 
 enlightened regard to the glory of God, and the eternal interests of men, 
 the high principles, by which civil rulers were induced to extend favor 
 and support to the Church, this support would be granted to those 
 churches only by which the interests of true religion could be effectually 
 promoted. But when State support is bestowed by rulers, not on reli- 
 gious, but on political grounds, the difference between true and false 
 religion will be wholly disregarded. 
 
 Should it so be, which ever seldom happens, that true religion actually 
 possessp political influence, then statesmen must make a virtue of ne- 
 cessity, and although they should hate if. as Ahab dii Micaiah, they 
 must nevertheless make an effort to conciliate it. And therefore endow- 
 ments will be given, if the parties who ask them have political influence 
 to give weight to their demand. If they cannot be conciliated they may 
 at least be quieted. For the very same reason and by the same means 
 niust the professors of false religion be conciliated, or their hostility 
 disarmed. When power is the Divinity, and political expediency the 
 supreme law, it matters nothing about the character of th'^ religion 
 which demands support, whether it is true or false. The great question 
 is. What political influence can it command ? This is the only consid- 
 eration in determining both the grant and the amount. In the case of 
 such rulers, the true reasons for granting support to a Church are " far 
 above out of their sight." The blasphemies of Rome, or the sublime 
 imaginations of Brahma, may as really meet their views, and as effectu- 
 ally serve their purposes, as the gospel of Christ. But we need not 
 dwell on a hypothetical case. The flagrant iniquity of propagating false 
 religion by grants from the public treasury, is practised in our own 
 cou itry to an enormous extent; and must justly be reckoned one of our 
 great national sins. And what is especially to be lamented is, that from 
 the absence of any strenuous opposition, or marked protest against the 
 evil, by any of our Established Churches, the government of the country 
 can scarcely be aware that it is regarded by them, or any others, as 
 siniui. iiuiu awu cjiui urc uiaiiicirjcauy opposea lo eacn otner as 
 
 Kill _JL ! 
 
far 
 
 i 
 
 207 
 
 wholesome food is opposite to poison. We could not but ekecrate th^ 
 
 ti;.v";ira fi,h '''" '':,^^''^'«" -^^ ^^-< g-es them a slcfor when 
 woL l^'^r^' ^''«"' « »«7«"»- B"t the case before us iiunfinitel? 
 worse. It 18 the immortal soul that is poisoned ano destroyed by error 
 
 t whether the government provide it or not. To this we renlv thL 
 
 «:: ifcr ed" r "f^^r.^ "^^ «'°""? °" ^^^-^^ go^erTm^n'i'u' : 
 
 ance is craved— viz., that the parties wish to propagate their orincinl*., 
 more extensively by means of the support of govJinmerittTan they are 
 
 tion th°a ifTh °"' ' '' "IT"^^' ^"^' ^d.lfproceedsi th sLp- 
 provide i for tK T/?h^°' '"7' '\' government may. without s^ 
 provide it tor them. If the people choose to poison themselves *hi 
 government may supply depositories, at the public expose Tom which 
 they may be supplied gratuitously, or at reduced prices' 3d Error 
 provided and paid for by the government of a country.^s mc anirou 
 
 coLr wit' hV'r "'" T^'' '''' '' ''' P«°P'« ^h--™'-. - ^"he„* 
 comes with the stamp and signature of public authority. And 4ih 
 
 What IS done by government in such a matter, involves the^entire nation 
 m the awful responsibility of the meas.re-those only excep ed who 
 do every thing in their power to prevent it. ^ excepted, who 
 
 1 he establishment of different, or opposite systems of relieion ir the 
 same empire .s at once wicked and absurd. If PresbytU .s ri° ht Pre 
 
 e'wronr"ffV"^ 7 '" ^°"^^^^^' '^^^^'«^y is right P7e:by=;'mus; 
 
 versa ^heJr^nfl"'"^"' ''S*?*' ^"P^""^ '""^^ ^« ^^°»g ;-and vice 
 versa. 1 hey cannot be right on hot., sides. If the British Sovereirrn 
 believes Prelacy to be right, how sinful to oblige him (or her) to Sr 
 ndZh of "h'rr^r.™ ^"'^ PoP-y-ysteils oppoLi to elch othe^ 
 Scotdsh ?re"hl'iJ " ^"^-'T '' ^' r'""^' ^" the British Parliamen [ 
 S?shin. nr ^r! ?' '" ^^7 ^''^ Episcopalians, and assist them in 
 hvf.r n ^ or mamtaining Prelacy; and Episcopalians unite with P^es 
 byterians 1,1 establishing or maintaining Presbyterianism; and then both 
 ,i ih.?^'°'''''T ''' ^"^" ''S''^'°' «"d ««tablish o endow P^pe; 
 he s onor°tT'ih:i'P^?P';^^,f ''' °°°''^ ^""^ ^' ^^'^' P^^ --"- ' 
 late yPSrs'^Jre^ ^°"'^' at Maynooth ! Nor is this done of 
 
 when^theEhP ^-^^ ^^"^« monstrous wickedness was perpetrated 
 When the British Parliament consisted exclusively of professed Protes 
 ants, and when each member of the Legislature was rfqu reT^take a 
 h trbr'.'; '^'' y^'^ '''? blasphemous and idolatrous ! ! Can any 
 chss^f menr;'"^ "''''' '^'""'i' *''^" ^^^ '^' government to pay one 
 n nrl t.u K P'^P^g^^'^g '"^"th, if there is any truth taught in any of 
 our estublishments~a„d another class of men foJ propagating error to 
 ftdown-lr'^^'"'" f''' ^"''^'"g"P a system, and^nofhe7or puling 
 It down; to pay one cl.ss of men for laboring to establish the Pro\ee int 
 system in Ireland, and another for subverting it: to pay one class of mln 
 for^reaching salvation through faith in the §ivinityS aLtig bbo^^^ 
 
 d?vi;^;Vrft.E^llT.l!^- [- P--^^"/ 4- the,to.fmran°d 
 another fordestr<,i„^;iie-uisofm;;rT;;S^^ 
 
306 
 
 'I* i 
 ^1 ' 
 
 liJIili] 
 
 
 moral but error demoralizes and destroys. To pay men for tcttclung 
 error is to nay them for demoralizing and destroying a nation. It is 
 settine the seal of national authority to the monstrous absurdity, that 
 error and heresy, blasphemy and idolatry, are as favorable to the pros- 
 nerilv of a nation, and as profitable to the souls of men, as the truth ot 
 the gospel. In so far, however, as we can perceive, the union at present 
 sub-u'-tinc between the civil goverrment and the churches of these lands, 
 renders this result inevitable. No one party is strong enough to main- 
 tain its own church revenues, which are now generally acknowledged to 
 be Dublic properly, without purchasing the forbearance of other parties, 
 by a base and sinful silence, while they make good their claims to a share 
 in the favour of government. Individuals may declaim in private against 
 the expenditure of the public revenue for the support and diffusion o 
 Popish superstition, and the blasphemous doctrines of Socinianism ; but 
 the stoutest opponents of these systems, belonging themselves to a state- 
 supported church, find their tongue to cleave to the roof of their 
 mouth in the national assembly, when increasing grants are annually 
 appropriated to heretical and idolatrous churches W'th what color of 
 rUloLnd consistency could the members ot the Established Chur.hes 
 offer resistance to these grants T We are aware it may be plead that truth 
 has rights, and that error has none ; that true religion deseives to be 
 supported, but that false religion cannot be supported without heinous 
 sin Bu» while the correctness of this statement is fully admitted, it 
 may stilfbe asked of what weight or utility it canbejn an assembly 
 Stituted-as is the British House of Commons ? You might bind 
 Samson with a thread of gossamer sooner than control that assembly by 
 an argument of .«uch a texture. And besides, the established and en- 
 dowed Churoiies have disabled and neutralized I'lis argument, in so tar 
 as it could be urged on their behalf, by their mutual consent to establish 
 and endow one another. Were the question of a general endowment to 
 the Romish clergy in Ireland debated in Parliament, and a member of 
 the Episcopal Church should object to the proposal on the ground that, 
 Pooerv being a corrupt and wicked system, it was not entitled to sup- 
 nort --the Roman Catholic could readily retort, " You have established 
 and endowed Presbyterian Churches, which you do not recognize as 
 Churches of Christ at all, which in very important matters are more 
 remote ^rom your sentiments than the Church of Rome, for if one of 
 our priests joins your Church, you recognize him without his being re- 
 ordained-you acknowledge the validity of our ordination ; but if a 
 Presbyterian minister joins your Church, you insist that he shall be 
 ordained anew." Should some member of Parliament connected wi li 
 the Church of Scotland oppose the grant on similar grounds, it would 
 nrobablv be replied, "You have solemnly consented to the establishment 
 of Prelacy, which your forefathers pronounced anti-christian, and were 
 sworn to extirpate, and the Puseyism of v.nich. at the present day, is at 
 least as remote from your views of orthodoxy, as the semi-popery ot 
 A..KK;«hnn Lnud in the time of the Solemn League ; -you agree, 
 moreover, that the Arian Synod in Ireland, and the Remonstrant bynoa, 
 
r teaching 
 ion. It is 
 rdity, that 
 
 the pros- 
 he truth of 
 
 at present 
 hese lands, 
 
 1 to main- 
 wledged to 
 her parties, 
 a to a share 
 ate against 
 diffusion of 
 inism ; but 
 I to a state- 
 >f of their 
 re annually 
 fiat color of 
 1 Chur-hes 
 d that truth 
 •ives to be 
 out heinous 
 dmitted, it 
 III assembly 
 might bind 
 issembly by 
 iied and en- 
 t, in so far 
 to establish 
 dowment to 
 
 , member of 
 rround that, 
 tied to sup- 
 : established 
 Bcognize as 
 srs are more 
 ir if one of 
 IS being re- 
 n ; but if a 
 he shall be 
 necied with 
 ds, it would 
 stablishment 
 in, and were 
 nt day, is at 
 ni-popery of 
 —you agree, 
 trant Synod, 
 
 
 •209 
 
 and the Southern Association, should be endowed from the public tro.- 
 sury a though you know that all these sects deny the supre m^ Li. itv 
 o the Lord Jesus Christ, which Ron.an Catholics ackimwiedce a d 
 although they der.de that atonement which you believe to be the'oTlv 
 
 k'm^h n'"'; °^ T ^7,^^-"''y" Verily, .should the Cler .J of e 
 Romi.h Church .n Ireland become applicauts for sharinrj in the public 
 support, there does not appear to be any sm.le obstacle o^f importance in 
 
 wi h th'^^ril 'l"""'r- J^' g^-rvvould be in perfect Lcordan 
 w h the principle on which the government has been acting for a very 
 ^ng period, with the consent and concurrence of all our E tlbliJhed 
 Churc es; and we do no» apprehend that any of them would hav the 
 fauhfu Iness. or the courag,. to offer any decided resistance. E en fa 
 few individuals, more conscientious or incautious than the re.s7s o Id 
 offer a protest agu.nst the impious proposal, they should speedily be 
 itZL/ "" ^,?"^°T^'"g •^^"«"-?-. "do y'ou cease to tax'is fo^th^ 
 
 Chr.stian State, has a tendency to break down and destroy the disciplhie 
 of the Church. It has been already observed, that men de okJ of pie y 
 a e incapable of appreciating or understanding the sublime and ha lo ^d 
 purpo.es for which a Church is preserved in^he world. Their obect 
 in supporting her must be a political object. They desi..n that she shoS 
 subserve the purposes of their own ambition. In order, however thnt 
 she niav be effective for such purposes, it is indispensabl^ t ."her ^red 
 and nfluence be maintained; this is one important reason why hev 
 should embrace her fellowship, by becoming Church members, -politf- 
 ci.ms. generally, choose to be connected with the Church ; this mcrea es 
 their own influence over her, while it adds respectability o the Church 
 in the eyes of an irreligious multitude. Now it is alto/ether Kyond lie 
 bound.s of credibility, as it is certainly unprecedented "in hi tory that a 
 Church which has consented to be allied to . civil governme. compos 
 ed chiefly of irreligious and ungodly men. should hfve the fo titud7and 
 fi e ity ...refuse to these men the participation of her inost sac ed o di- 
 nances. 1 o preserve a purely scriptur,)! discipline, is one of the most 
 important and, at the same time, one of the most difficult du ies wS 
 he Church owes to her exalted Head. But the difficulty of doiZso 
 IS prodigious y increased when her connection with an immora civH 
 government brings a godless aristocracy into her templeT Besides 
 when a Church is very richly endowed, and there are livinas and 
 revenues to be disposed of. which may be objects of dJireZfJet 
 rnan's own connections, or to his political friends anisupporYer' 
 there ,s a powerful additional reason why the highct ranks^l ouTd 
 keep in her fellowship. There may he men w^o... p oflLcy if 
 deportment is too revolting to admit of their seeking Church pi^v leges 
 ^nd others, whose hatjed of religion, in every a'pect of i?, n af be 
 strong enough to overbear their conviction- of nnlitJ^nl ••■■ ^ ^ ^^ ' 
 a large proporUon of resolute, ambitious, carcuiating poluid^nJI^choose 
 
^10 
 
 to connect themselves with the Church. And where nhall we find 
 that Churcli, which is I'ependent on the favour of ilie State for her 
 support, that will decline to receive them? V/e speak not of what 
 individual Ministers might possihiy do— men of uncommon firmness 
 and energy of character, or men of singul.r conscientiousness; but of 
 what the great body of the Clergy of a Church will do, situated as we 
 have described, l^et him who possesses a sound knowledge of human 
 nature, or let history and experience answer; both will testify the^ a 
 Church, so placed, will receive into her fellowship the noble, and the 
 honorable, and the opulent, without any regard to religious character, 
 and with extremely little regard to moral character, unless their wicked- 
 ness be indeed so Hagitious and notorious that common decency would 
 revolt at their admission. Nor does the evil stop uere : the walla of Zion 
 being once broken down to admit the ungodly possessors of rank and ' 
 power, the Church has no means or manner of defence against other in- 
 truders. Nothing can be more offensive to the world than a Christian 
 Church, in which the truth of God is faithfully procioimed ana acted 
 upon, every form of iniquity fearlessly condemned, and the special privi- 
 leges of Christ 8 house extended to those only who give satisfactory 
 evidence o. Christian character. But on the other hand, nothing can be 
 more acceptable than a political Church, reared up and supported by the 
 fostering care of civil rulers— themselves destitute of the fear of God — 
 where men may acquire the reputation of religion, while they loathe the 
 reality ; where they may enjoy no inconsiderable share of luxury and 
 display o. the tho;itre, at a mere fraction of the cost of it ; where deluded 
 mortair may persuade themselves that they are making their peace with 
 God, while they continue, habitiiully and zealously, in the service of the 
 devil, the world, and the flesh. The true Church is the chaste and faith- 
 ful spouse of Jesus Christ. When sinners are converted bv the word of 
 truth, and regenerated by the power of the Holy Ghost, they are proper- 
 ly received into the Church, whether they be high or low, rich or poor. 
 They are the holy, spiritual seed of the Redeemer — a people formed for 
 himself, that they may shew forth his praise. Cut when the Church is 
 extended by tlie admission of an irreligious multitude, w'lc ire brouffhl 
 into her fellowship in consequence of her connection with the civil gov- 
 ernment, the Sc.-iptu-es employ a very difleronl emblem to set forth this 
 enlargement. Thv-;. ii'. '.'hurch is represcnled as an unchaste woman, 
 maintaining a .lishonorahie commerce with the kiii:.rsof the earth; and 
 the multitudes that crou j m i. ; fellowsnip, solely on account of her 
 wealth and worldly honours derived from the State, are regarded, in an 
 ecclesiastical sense, as an illegitimate race — the children of adultery. 
 It would be a mistaken and crimmal politeness, that would prevent us 
 from calling attention to the fact, that the Spirit of God has expressly 
 made choice of terms and images, calculated to awaken our abhoience 
 of such a connection. The apostate Church is broadly represented as an 
 abandoned harlot, holding in her hand a golden tup, full of abomination, 
 and filthiness of her fornication; the kings of the earth are her paramours; 
 the vast inciease ol her members is the frui*. of her oruijtv connection 
 
ill we find 
 itc for her 
 3t of what 
 n firmness 
 ms; but of 
 itcd as we 
 of human 
 tify the*^ a 
 e, and the 
 character, 
 Mr wicked- 
 ncy would 
 lb of Zion 
 ' rank and 
 It other in- 
 Christian 
 ana acted 
 ecial privi- 
 lalisfactory 
 ing can be 
 rted by the 
 of God- 
 loathe the 
 uxury and 
 re deluded 
 )eace with 
 vice of the 
 ; and faith- 
 he word of 
 are proper- 
 h or poor, 
 formed for 
 Church is 
 re brought 
 J Civil gov- 
 t forlli this 
 te woman, 
 jarth ; and 
 unt of her 
 ded, in un 
 f adultery, 
 prevent us 
 I expressly 
 abhoience 
 nted as an 
 omination, 
 •aramours; 
 :onnect!on 
 
 
 •211 
 
 with the rulers, and not of any relation to Chaist. Siatc innueiicc. Stale 
 fellowship, the attractions and honours and emoluments which are the 
 result of her alliance with the State, are the sources of her crowded as- 
 aemblies. Let the friendship of the State be withdrawn, and let the 
 Church be supposed to exercise a faithful scriplural discipline, and 
 her crowded assemblies would, in many or most, or in all instances, 
 dwindle into insiginfici.nl societies. It may possibly be alleged that the 
 prophesy to which we have now alluded has a reference to the apostate 
 and idohtrous Church of Rome; but while this is frankly admiiled, it 
 does not follow that it has no reference to other Churches. It is signi- 
 ficantl." caid of that Church, that she is the Mother of Harlots, an expres- 
 sion which soems to imply, that there would be other Churches descend- 
 ing from her that would bear a lamentable resemblance to the mother. 
 And here again we take leave to guard ourselves against the invidious 
 allegation, that our &rgumeiit would condemn evp,y alliance between the 
 Church and a civil government, whatever might be its character. We 
 are convinced it can bear no such construction. Were a government 
 constiiufed on scriptural principles, and the rulers poBsessad of scriptural 
 qualihcations, such rulers might be received into the leiicwEhip of the 
 Chiirch without any breach of her discipline. Such rulers would give 
 vo countenance to factious persons, who might attempt to intimidate 
 Uospel ministers, in maintr.ning the law o! Christ's house; but by their 
 own example, and by their authority as magistrates, they would strength- 
 en the hanci of Church officers, and secure to the government of the 
 Church, w^hen exercised within its own province, all due reverence and 
 respect_ l heir countenance and favour would be the reward of distin- 
 guished devotedness and fidelity to the Redeemer, and not, as heretofore 
 the price of political partizanship and servility. ' 
 
 II. But If. <his a question on whicii we can ascertain the mind of God 
 by an appeal to the inspired record? It would seem highly improbable 
 that on a subject so momentous, the Lord should have left his Church 
 without direction. The fact is, that the guilt and danger of contracting 
 alliances with the wickr d. is a "esson so often brought up to view and 
 inculcated on the people of God in such a muliitvde of ways, that an 
 adequate represenlatiou of the scriptural evidence on this topic cannot 
 possibly be given, within the narrow limits prescribed to a "-cture We 
 can do little more than indicate to our hearers sonir of the principM 
 sourcts of evidence, which we would entreat them to iuvestisate and ex- 
 amine lor themselves. 
 
 1st. We might refer to the numerous and peremptory charaei, address- 
 ed to the ancient Israelites, .cspecii.is^r alliances with the heathen. From 
 the urgency an ilouiniiy with which they were exhorted on this bub- 
 ject, It is mauj.«. that of all the moral dangers to wln-,.i they were ex- 
 posed, this was one of the most formidable. And ti..; events of ther 
 subs'^quent history shew that this was the cas.\ When they " min^/led 
 with the heathen, they soon learned their way." Of similar import "n-e 
 a multitude of passages in which the Israelites were reproved for h,-.vi,rr 
 sought assistance from heathen allies, when C.iey were bruu<Tl,t uiio 
 
 
212 
 
 ' I ,;! 
 
 :ti|{' 
 
 i 
 
 straits. " Wo fu the rebellious children, saitli the Lord, that take coun- 
 sel but not of uie; that walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked 
 at my mouth ; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and 
 to tr ust in the shadow of Egypt. Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh 
 be ynur shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. 
 They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor bean 
 help nor profit, l)ut a shame and also a reproach." (Isniah xxx.) 
 
 2nd. Ill confirmation of this doctrine we might adduce passages of 
 Scripture to an indefinite extent, in which the lesson cannot be under- 
 stood as temporary or local, but pernianent and universal. We might 
 refer to the solemn announcement given in the garden of Eden, respect- 
 ing the natural, invincible, per[)etu!il enmity, th-it should subsist between 
 the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent; and to the frequent 
 lessons which the Saviour addressed to his disciples, in regard to the 
 treatment they might expect to meet with in the world, "if ye were of 
 the world, the world would love his own, but because ye are not of the 
 world, but that I have chosen you out of the world, therefore doth the 
 world hate you." And again; "I have given them thy word, and the 
 world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am 
 not of the world." Can any thing be less in iiarmony with the scope 
 and doctrine of these passages, than the expectation that irreligious and 
 ungodly civil rulers should beconie sincere friends and patrons of true 
 religion ? nursing fathers and nursing mothers to the r'juirch? If tliey 
 do extend to her their fostering care, we may be certain that one or 
 other of these two causes has led to it: cither there is some insidious 
 political design concealed under their professions of friendship, or the 
 Church must have so far conformed to the world, that the distiii.vfuishing 
 features of Christianity have ceased to be discernible in her. One single 
 passage of Scripture might seem sufficient to decide the quest-on, were 
 it possible for men to ponder it without [jrejudice. " Be ye not unequally 
 yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness 
 with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 
 and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or wlint part hath he that 
 believeth with an infidel?" This passage appears to interpose a perpe- 
 tual interdict against such a union as that under consideration. How 
 can it be denied that a Church united to an immoral civil government is 
 "unequally yoked ?" lias this not proved to be the v-,ate in regard to 
 the Church of England, during the entire period of her union with the 
 State? a Church so bound and fettered by the royal prerogative, that 
 scarcely a vestige of liberty has been left to her. And is this not equally 
 true of the Church of Scotland, which, for more than a century, has 
 been compelled to bear the double yoke of Moderatism, and of Erastian 
 control ? 
 
 3rd. The view given in prophecy of the character of the civil govern- 
 ments that should exist in Western Europe, during the period of anti- 
 Christian domination, exhibits very strongly tlieir total unworthiness to 
 be admitted into alliance by the Church of Christ. This, however, is 
 an argument which ought not, perhaps, to be touched unless it could be 
 ftiily stated ; and this our limits will by no means suffer us to do. 
 
take couii' 
 
 e not asked 
 
 inraoh, and 
 
 of Pharaoh 
 
 confusion. 
 
 1, nor be an 
 
 X.) 
 
 passages of 
 be under- 
 We might 
 en, respect- 
 ist between 
 le frequent 
 Tard to the 
 ■ ye were of 
 not of the 
 e doth the 
 rd, and the 
 en as lam 
 I the scope 
 iligious and 
 Dns of trui- 
 i? If tliey 
 hat one or 
 e insidious 
 hi]), or the 
 tintiuishing 
 One single 
 st'on, were 
 •t unequally 
 rhteousness 
 darkness ? 
 ith he that 
 iJR a perpe- 
 ion. How 
 vernment is 
 1 regard to 
 )n with the 
 Tative, that 
 not equally 
 2ntury, has 
 af Erastian 
 
 ivil govern- 
 od of anti- 
 Kthiness to 
 lowever, is 
 It could be 
 do. 
 
 213 
 
 to "eat vlt'ire^lttSr' %'\'T''''--'' ^^''''^^ ^° ^^« '^bilged 
 ish commonwealth rhibited^hfV.'''"' '''PP"-"'"^^"^ "the jfw- 
 
 corrupt the Church than thp «;iotl!i ^7''V'*'">' ""^ speed.ly debase and 
 godly ci.il rulers TM^Ppffi^^^^ interference of ambitious and un- 
 
 ;:is5 f„F3Vf ^-f--' -. ^^'^^^ 
 
 •he Church h „" „l ire ™ h ;iie"sfr"r"' "' "",''"=" """ <"'''"' 
 
 h'Ui T^Ll so Ion. nnd^ fp .1 ' , , ' V'-'""' "*^ P*--rsecntion, which 
 
 Church, n.Kl^^r'rsnfiits,:''' ""'"•, ,""'1 .'H|.<-.r.sti,i„n in the 
 
 ».c„lor power, He ' i^"'! "'"", "I''"'''' ""•' I'^l'ol^-ed. The 
 
 ag.mi.t either ll e A.-irl, ' ! 'l "" '^IT'"' '" ''''""=" ':""'l'l»i"ls 
 noble efr,„„ ,„ "'"'"«•> "I- llie lives „f the priesthood. II„„ ,„anv 
 
 .Te'tt Vpo :;'T,,d t?;';:":,'"'''' ''"'' ^*" '^"'-s^ <» -™- 
 
 'he Bible have been ,1, "'" """'1'°" "' ""=" "> '"'^ '^""ly "f 
 
 have l,een .care d:,";„d^L,i,t;': l''"'''"!'r™'"r''« '^■'l""'"" »"■=''="- 
 ^id and cost, altire, «,.h .he^X'cp Vf d^i'tli'lvrrrrtri'jldl.':",- 
 
'} :| 
 
 ■ i ■ 
 
 9A.i 
 
 possessed most formidable powei-s of seduction, had she been alone and 
 unassisted ; but by becoming the favored mistress of the civil rulers, her 
 ability to do evil was immensely increased. Then her jealousies, and 
 resentments, and capricious passions, could call a power into action, 
 that rendered them tremendous. The Gospel history will supply to us 
 here an instructive ar ilogy. Had Herodias been the mistress of some 
 private person, she might have reviled and slandered the servant of the 
 Lord, who testified against her adultery and incest ; but it was her con- 
 trol over the King that enabled her to gloat over the bloody head of the 
 ^ithful martyr, served up in a charger. Thus might the Mother of 
 Harlots— the apostate church— have raved and stormed against the 
 enlightened and holy men, who wrote and preached against her un- 
 bounded profligacy and superstition ; but without a connection with the 
 state, she could not have carried on a systematic persecution against 
 them; she could not have silenced, imprisoned, and banished them; 
 she could not have organised murdeious fraternities to hunt them from 
 nation to nation ; she could not have instituted inquisitions to torture 
 them; she could not have raised crusades to spread slaughter and 
 devastation through obnoxious cities and provinces; she could not 
 have commanded the whole civii and military forces of the nations to 
 take vengeance on them. It was the position she attained as the rider 
 of the scarlet-colored Beast that invested her with power so appalling. 
 This savage monster- the seven-headed b?ast— had raged and devoured 
 before, but never in such fashion as after he came under the control 
 and direction of the woman. Her wakeful jealousy, and untiring per- 
 severance, and malignant enmity against true religion and the professors 
 of It, goaded him on to such excesses of cruelty, as had no parallel in 
 the history ot the world. Then, indeed, the prophHic character of the 
 Beast was verified to the letter ; he became " dreadful and terrible," 
 " devoured, and brake in pieces, and st.-n.ped the residue with his feet;" 
 was steeped in blood himself, and kept the cup of his insatiable rider 
 perpetually full of the blood of the saints.— It is humiliating and melan- 
 choly to reflect that the rema.'ks now made respecting^the apostate 
 Church of iloiiie, may, to a large extent, be truly applied to the Pro- 
 testant Church of England. That Church is literally and undeniably 
 " a creature of the state." Her articles, her canons, her liturgy, her 
 form of church government, were, all of them, enacted fer her by civil 
 authority. She neither has now, nor ever had power to deliberate on 
 the qneition, in a judicial or ecclesiastical capacity, whether sb. should 
 receive or reject them. Henry, in the exercise of his own despotic 
 authority, abolished Popery, and made the Church, to a certain extett, 
 a Protestant Church. His daughter Mary found it Protestant, and 
 summarily made it a Popish Church. Her sister Elizabeth found it 
 Popish, and in the same summary manner, and in the exercise of the 
 very same Erastian principle, made it Protestant again. Little altera- 
 tion has been made on it since the time of Elizabeth. New prayers 
 may have been added to the liturgy, or new holidays to the calendar; 
 but for aity consliluiiunai or substantial reform, thai Church is power- 
 
 f i 
 
 i 1 
 
 if ■) 
 
 s ;- 
 
215 
 
 infecting her universities and mnUiu^JL c u^ ''^® ^ gangrene, 
 
 judicial power to ar est or ^^^^^^^ nun.sters, siie has no 
 
 clergv has mPt fnr thll ^ . *" ' ^'^^^ "« convocation of her 
 
 yearf, 'ZZ^Lt "ZT^Z^l '^tr >''' '""" '""» = '"""'^^ 
 or a prayer in her liturrfv or ,h» ? "^ ° canon, or a ceremony, 
 
 Ee£f .nd Si -^ - f — -' "'--"^ 
 
 p:^x£ioS^SrS?^^^s 
 
 in the scriptural sense nf thn?!- '^ ""§^'® pastor or bishop, 
 
 moderate endolent to ech ^1.'' '"^P^"'-^ ^^ ^" '^'«- ^ith^^ 
 Presbyterian ministers in TrPhnT .k "' '' ^'.'^ ^^ government to 
 
 five thousand ministers Bu^iZl" T ^'°"'^ ^"PP°'' ^''^"^ f^"-- '« 
 friends of the ChnroT i ^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^'^ ""^ required? The 
 the/tenostu^gttyV:^^^^^^^^^^^ her dignitaries%eclare Jh 
 
 the metropolis o^thVer re ^ In n'''''^ destitution, even in 
 lately deceased, who a fewTr^ alpTb^^^^^^^^^ An English nobleman, 
 for the Church of EnglaL^ states that with ' ''^'"'? °^ reformation 
 around London, above 900 000 .^rc " ^.*=""*^'« "* ^^n miles 
 
 pastoral offices of religion' A f^^^^^ '"^ "^?""' ^" «hare in the 
 
 state of matters be alZeTlo fx ' f^r'^a's^n^leT/arT^V^t'/^" ^"^\^ 
 bishops at. once relieved frnm <k^ ^ i bingie year f Why are not the 
 
 "iiy by which ?hlv are in-- .?7^''"''"^ '°^^ of wealth and diu. 
 / J nuii^ii luev are incapacitated for nnatr>rui A,^t.,i a i ■ =» 
 
 people that the dend'^?/ f^- "^''^""^ religious instruction for the 
 
 miaL;ta '^^l^ sp ng"f;om' it "'f.rrar^ 'v '"'1' ^"^ ^^^ "--' 
 chartism, and rockism 1^ ~ "tionnlism, and socialism, and 
 
 which abound throurout th/'^''''^'"- '"^ <^°""t'e«« oth^er disorders 
 Lord Henley wi Sin tlsT*;!;^'^' T^ ^' ^P^^^"^ dissipated? 
 inspecting the 1 it of d .. . .^/ ^^"'^ *^'"^' '""^ ""^ ^'one. "On 
 
 mo'- thaifo e itluf o TS h : '''%'•'' "'" '^ '"'^""^ ^hat no; 
 ground of theolLcarfr i!f , any claim to preferment on the 
 influence famiy connection f"'^ attainments. Parliamentary 
 
 vacancies' asThe]; ::Z:^:':i,^r Z:T^^.!:^'L^^l^' "P t»^e 
 ministers and their adherents. This spec^^ of 'pat;on^rh:r^:^:;:,;^ 
 
216 
 
 been considered as so much ail to grease the wheels of government, 
 that the machine of the state may roil on the more smoothly. Widely 
 as the several parties, that have governed the country for a. ceritury 
 past, have differed in other things, they have all agreed to regard the 
 Church as a source of patronage, which might fairly be employed 
 either for the gratification of private partiality, or as the price of so 
 much parliamentary influence." Here is the reason why the sinecures 
 cannot be abolished. Here is the reason why zealous churchmen 
 are not ashamed to clamor to parliament for an increase of church 
 revenues, while they are fully aware that nearly half a million ster- 
 liner of the revenue already secured to the Church, is devoured by 
 a body of ecclesiastical drones ; a pack of " dumb dogs thai cannot 
 bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber ;— greedy dogs which 
 can never have enough." They know well, that mere politicians 
 cannot be averse to inrrtase the revenues of the Church. A httle more 
 oil may cause the wheels of state to roll on the more smoothly. And 
 all this might be borne, without any vehement emotion, could our atten- 
 tion be confined to the mere economical part of the question. It is 
 immeasurably better to expend a few hundreds of thou.sands in keeping 
 an aristocracy quiet at home, than to lavish millions in the support of 
 military armaments abroad. But when we view the question in its regu- 
 lar bearings, and recollect that this politico-ecclesiastical, semi-popish, 
 semi-protestant institution, is held out to the people as the Church of 
 the living God,— that multitudes of unconverted and heretical men, 
 Demases, and Judases, and Sit.ion Maguses, are thrust into pulpits as 
 the spiritual a des which the- government has provided for millions of 
 immortal beti s; then, indeed, the mingled emotions of grief and 
 indignation c; > neither be disguised nor repressed. We would then 
 feel inclined to beseech the good men who are in tnat church (if so 
 much life should be expected in such a church) to obtemperate the 
 divine injunction :— " Come out of her, my people, that ye be not par- 
 takers of her sins, that ye receive not of her plagues."— A summary 
 account of the bloody persecution of this Church would also form a 
 very dire and dismal, long and loathsome chapter ; but we have now 
 neither tact nor tinn; to enter upon that disagreeable part of the subject. 
 And as to the present statrf of the Church of Scotland, it is not so 
 necess ry to say much here, after what has already been remarked on 
 the subject both now and heretofore in this work. Her spurious late 
 revivals, and her nominal orthodoxy, though highly estimated by many 
 of her lofty members, and popular ministers, are yet found to have for 
 some time now been but so much of her delusion, and of the more 
 stumbling traits of her character, in fostering both self-confidence and 
 proud contempt, and impatience of rebuke or opposition. Whereas 
 nothin<T is more certain than ■ , by her state connection, those of her 
 clergy fondly denominated " lue Orthodox and Evangelical," are so, in 
 name and notion, more than in sense and substance; even according to 
 th^ ncKonnt and admission of some of her own greatest champions at 
 this very day. It is remarked by the lecturer, Doctor Bates, thut "ir. 
 
217 
 
 ;overnmeiit, 
 y. Widely 
 
 a. century 
 » regard the 
 B employed 
 price of so 
 16 sinecures 
 churchmen 
 ) of church 
 nillion ster- 
 levoured by 
 thai cannot 
 dogs which 
 
 politicians 
 L little more 
 :)thly. And 
 d our atten- 
 ition. It is 
 1 in keeping 
 
 support of 
 1 in its regu- 
 semi-popish, 
 
 Church of 
 etical men, 
 to pulpits as 
 
 millions of 
 if grief and 
 ! would then 
 hurch (if so 
 imperate the 
 ! be not par- 
 -A summary 
 also form a 
 e have now 
 f the subject. 
 , it is not so 
 emarked on 
 spurious late 
 ted by many 
 j to have for 
 of the more 
 nfidence and 
 n. Whereas 
 
 those of her 
 i\," are so, in 
 according to 
 champions at 
 stea, thut "in 
 
 so far as nioderatism has prevailed — which is no little extent— thw 
 Church of Scotland has been an engine for evil and not for good ; a 
 pillar '»<' error and delusion, rather than a pillar and ground of the 
 trnti ; " aud and deception upon the souls of men. What infinite evil 
 has rtfi from the maintenance of such a system, as a national insti- 
 tutien, while three entire generations passed into eternity ! What fear- 
 ful iniquity to impose upon the people, whose eternal welfare was at 
 stake, a ministry that nauseated and despised the gospel as ignoble, and 
 fanatical, and vulgar; a ministry publicly hired and supported to' feed 
 the people with the bread of life, but who starved or poisoned the souls 
 committed to their charge; a ministry, of whom a weeping remnant in 
 the land might have taken up the land might have taken uo the language 
 of Mary, "they have taken away my Lord, and I know liot where they 
 hare laid him." And to what do we ascribe all this ? To the fact >hat 
 the Church was united to the State ? By no means ; but to her union 
 with an irreligious and ungodly state. For whatever may have been the 
 causes of decay m churches in other lands, it is clear to demonstration, 
 that the inefficiency, and heresy, and stunted growth of tlie Church of 
 Scotland for a hr.ndred years, were the result and consequence of that 
 unhappy and fatal alliance, which opened the way for the unhallowed 
 and wicked interference of an irreligious and Erastian civil government. 
 And here, verily, is the alternative which mere politicians hiive extended 
 to the Church in all ages, and which the history of the Scottish Church 
 from her very infancy, so fully illustrates. If she concede to the State a 
 real and effectual control over her ;— if the mutual compact be so arranged 
 as to secure to civil rulers as large a return of political influence as they 
 could reasonably expect to secure by the same amount of wealth expended 
 in any other way, then their good officer: and friendship will be granted 
 to her without parsimony, and without grudging. But if, on the con- 
 trary, the Church be faithful to her divine Lord, and disdain every 
 compromise with those who would usurp his authority; if she resolutely 
 maintain her own rights, and sturdily resist every Erastian encroach'l 
 ment ; if she be faithful in exposing what is corrupt, even in the civil 
 constitution, and in testifying against what may be unrighteous or im~ 
 pious in the administration, it will invariably be found, that in the pro- 
 secution of such a course, the favor of ungodly rulers will be forfeited- 
 and she must either make a cc.npromise, or be deprived of their support '' 
 "The ecclesiastical fellowship whicli the orthodox party in the Church 
 have so long maintained with these Moderates, has been one of the great 
 sms of the Church. The retributive justice of God would lead us to 
 expect, that when Christians, from motives of expediency embrace 
 ecclesiastical fellowship with the known enemies of the cross of Christ 
 they must suffer for their unfaithfulness; and that, in all probability the 
 parties with whom itiey have contracted the unlawful alliance will be 
 made instruments for inflicting the punishment. Thus did the Lord 
 punish the improper forbearance of the Israelites towards the Canaanites ■ 
 It shall come to pass that those whom ye let remain shall be pricks in 
 your eyes, arid thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein 
 
 -vCJ 
 
 M 
 
218 
 
 111 
 
 ye dwell.' Having the settled conviction, that ecclesiastical fellowship 
 bet\*cen the orthodox paity and the moderates, is altogether unwarrant- 
 able and unfaithful, we have observed with extreme regret, that at the 
 last meeting of Commisr-ion, the temporizing policy recommended by 
 Mr. Candlisli, who wishes to retain the Moderates, seemed to prevail 
 over the sound and correct views of Mr. Crichton, who wishes to be 
 finally sepnrated from them. If any thing could add to this regret, 
 it would be the fact that this unsound expediency doctrine should pro- 
 ceed from Mr. Candlish, who has been so honorably distinguished for 
 high principle and orthodoxy. Is it possible to convince the people 
 that there can be any thing seriously wrong or dangerous in the system 
 of moderatism, as long as the leading men, of the most advanced section 
 of reformers in the Church, regard the Moderates as proper associates 
 in church fellowship? The Scripture rule is : * A man that is an here- 
 tic, after the first and second admonition, reject.' But Mr. Candlish's 
 counsel is, ' when you have got a few hundred heretics, and sufficient 
 power to exppl them, take no step for their removal.' And the reason 
 lie is reported to have assigned for this advice, is not less strange than 
 the advice itself: lie ' detests their principles,' but would deplore their 
 secession, as an event which might lead to the overthrow of the Estab- 
 lishment. He admits that the orthodox party might get on better with- 
 out the moderates, in the ecclesiastical courts, but believes that they 
 could not get on without them ' as an Establishment.' This statement 
 exceedingly requires explanation. The aspect of it seems to be this; 
 that ' in the present circumstances of the church and of the country,' 
 an established church cannot safely attempt to observe the law of the 
 New Testam^Mit, in regard to discipline." 
 
 The ensuing observation is from the popular Doctor Chalmers con- 
 cerning the two great and contending parties in the state : — " After all, 
 I now feel that 1 owe an act of justice to the Whigs. I understand jus- 
 tice in the sense of equity, (.x'quitas) and I am now bound to say that if, 
 on the question of church endowments, I have been grievously disappoint- 
 ed by the one pany, — on the question of church independence, I have 
 been as grievously disappointed by the other. Of course I speak on the 
 basis of a very limited induction ; but, as far as the findings of my own 
 personal observation arc concerned, I should say to the former that they 
 seem to have no great value for cliurch establishments at all; and of the 
 latter, that their great value for a church establishment seems to be more 
 for it as an engine of state, than as an instrun'->nt of Christian usefulness. 
 The difference lies in having no principle, or in having a principle that 
 is wrong; in either way they are equally useless, and may prove equally 
 hurtful to the church ; and though the acknowledgment I now make to 
 the Whigs be a somewhat ludicrous one, if viewed in the character of a 
 peace-offering, I am nevertheless bound to declare, that, for aught like 
 right church purposes, I have found the Conservatives to be just as bad 
 as themselves." The Doctor continues his remarks, upon the present 
 striiegle of his Church : — " Now we have a Sanbailat and his lloronites 
 to contend with," meaning the heterodox or moderate party, " fierce 
 
al fellowship 
 r unwarran*- 
 , that at the 
 nmended by 
 id to prevail 
 wishes to be 
 this regret, 
 should pro- 
 riguished for 
 e the people 
 n the system 
 inced section 
 er associates 
 It is an here- 
 r. Candlish's 
 ind sufficient 
 i the reason 
 strange than 
 leplore their 
 •f the Estab- 
 better with- 
 es that they 
 liis statement 
 3 to be this ; 
 the country,' 
 1 law of the 
 
 halmers con- 
 -" After all, 
 derstand jus- 
 
 say that if, 
 ly disappoint- 
 ence, I have 
 speak on the 
 ;s of my own 
 ner that they 
 I ; and of the 
 is to be more 
 in usefulness, 
 rinciple that 
 Drove equally 
 now make to 
 liaracter of a 
 )r aught like 
 e 'ust as bad 
 
 1 the present 
 lis lloronites 
 arty, " fierce 
 
 and vigorous assailants, armed with peculiar weapons of hostility, and 
 having the command of very peculiar tactics, l)y which they can not 
 only bring down upon us a hand of violence from without, but stir up 
 against us, and that in all the various quarters of our constitution, an 
 anarchy and misrule within our borders."~So that it is now manifest to 
 the world, beyond any possible darkness or disguise, that this Church of 
 Scotland— a Protestant Church, under a Protestant government, and in 
 the light and liberty of the nineteenth century, cannot act on her own 
 declared or professed principles; but either tamely yield to her old 
 double yoke of clashing and counterpoising religious sentiments, within 
 her own walls, and of government restraint without; or incur the twofold 
 hazard of an open conflict with the civil tribunals of the country, and 
 of bursting asur ler the golden bond of her proud and profitable— 
 though mock and mongrel, long and lamentable— ecclesiastical union 
 and establishment. Bost, in his history of the union of the Moravians, 
 with other Churches, in order to obtain and enjoy more external 
 ease, extension and freedom, concludes one of his chapters with the 
 following judicious remark :— " We may observe here, that the Brethren, 
 in entering into this conn'^ction, forgot the resolution of their predeces- 
 sors, never to be too closely connected with those who could give no 
 sufficient security for the maintenance of evangelical doctrine and dis- 
 cipline; and thus, instead of gaining over the Reformed, the Brethren's 
 Church, or at least the Polish part of it, as Comraenius remarks, by 
 uniting with the Reformed, lost its own existence, and gave up its pecu- 
 liar form, its independent discipline, and the spirit of its ancestors. The 
 great lesson which we should then draw from these events is this :— 
 That the Christian can only exert a salutary influence upon the world, 
 in proportion as he separates himself from it; and that be will always be 
 deceived, if he adopts an opposite course." In a word, a civic church 
 is commonly a sapless, senseless, shameless church. 
 
 After the foregoing Extracts, and their concomitant remarks, which 
 might, if necessary, be extended to a considerable length, on the ground 
 of the respective Established Churches under deliberation, it i& hoped 
 that all Seceders, Independents, and Dissenters, who may chance to 
 peruse the same, will take them as friendly hints of admonition, in order 
 to use, in humility, and with fear and discretion, their ecclesiastical 
 freedom and exemption from the bond and bondage of state connection ; 
 and pause and ponder well before they throw away their liberty, and 
 entangle themselves with those already in establishment captivity. Nor 
 will It look very creditable to the members of Endowed Churches, 
 especially of the Church of Scotland, to show, on this ground, their 
 hettt or hatred against the Author, or his publication, when it is impotjsi- 
 ble for them, either to falsify the main drift of his statements, or to 
 prove his ruling intention as unfriendly to their best interest and rtcrnal 
 concerns. * 
 
 m 
 
 f'^m 
 
iWO 
 
 ft 
 
 
 ! il 
 iil 
 
 EXTRACTS OF CORRESPONDENCE, &t. 
 
 ^^ luTdZKilnT ""f «"'^;«""'-- Correspondence between a Minister in the fUgh- 
 witlhfJ ' "^ *'* Correspondent in Cape Breton. The first Utter, as 
 
 RcjoZder " "" ""*'''"■ '" " ^'■''"■"'^ "'" ''" '''' ^ "'"'' '"*>^'' «"'' '/'« ^"""^ «^ 
 
 Inverness, May, 1842. 
 iJc't'mnrf anr/ i?car iSiV,--! received on the 27th April your Letter 
 tlated 4th March in which I see a number of your neighbors authorise 
 you to make application to me with the view of becoming their Pastor. 
 i lear they have had too good an opinion of me, from report merely. 
 1 ajn a poor barren branch, much and deservedly despised by the men 
 of tni. world. Though I have the name and oflice of a Minister, 
 1 never saw myself qualified for that office. I often wished to have been 
 in the most obscure calling. I must confess that the people of God are 
 the objects of my choice, but if I am with them in eternity, free grace 
 alone will have the glory. I would sooner have answered your letter 
 but t imgs appeared so dark to me, that I had no liberty in doing so. 
 1 hnd my present hearers sincere and affectionate— as much so as a peo- 
 ple could be to their pastor ; I trust, also, there are a few among them 
 ot the excellent ones of the earth— though the world would be happy to 
 see them going to their grave, and me with them. Yet I am truly tired 
 o. I resbyUMies, and would be glad to be free of them— the glory of 
 i>i!nst and the good of souls, are buried out of sight— nothing 'but self 
 uiK pride and party spirit seen amongst us, and I "fear the same reigns 
 with you. I do not wonder though the people there complain of the 
 Kind cl ministers they receive from us ; poor as we are at home, I be- 
 leve none hardly goes to you, except those who will not get a place in 
 their own native land. I wish you had been more specific in your letter ; 
 there are a kw things, of which I would wish to be informed, before I 
 can give any answer ; from my ignorance of the people and the distance 
 oetvveen me and that place, I see it my duty to be plain, and should the 
 people be pleased also to give me plain answers,! shall afterwards follow 
 as the word and providence lead me. 
 
 1. Is there one or two churches or places of worship?— if there are, 
 what IS the distance between them? 
 
 2. Is there a Parish or district appointed to be attached to the church 
 or churches m particular, which one considers as his own particular 
 charge, and to which he should and must chiefly confine his labor, and 
 wiiat IS the extent of said district ? 
 
 3. Is the Confession of Faith of the Church of Scotland, founded on 
 the word of God, considered by the people as the standard, by which the 
 doctrine, discipline and government of the church -.o to be regulated? 
 
 4. Should nny disagreement happen between a Minister and people, 
 can they cast him off without something in his life or doctrine contrary 
 to the word of Ggd ? I never met with any of the kind, but 1 bupposc it 
 ;■! cuatouiaij to do so in the States of America. 
 
'wwJL 
 
 it. 
 
 er in the High ■ 
 first Litter, as 
 nd the second a 
 
 iay, 1842. 
 
 your Letter 
 )r8 authorise 
 their Pastor, 
 port merely. 
 I by the mea 
 a Minister, 
 to have been 
 e of God are 
 y, free grace 
 your letter, 
 in doing so. 
 so as a peo- 
 among them 
 be happy to 
 Ti truly tired 
 the glory of 
 ling but self 
 same reigns 
 plain of the 
 lioine, I be- 
 : a place in 
 your letter ; 
 ed, before I 
 the distance 
 i should the 
 vards follow 
 
 * 
 f there are, 
 
 the church 
 1 particular 
 3 labor, and 
 
 founded on 
 y which the 
 egulated? 
 and people, 
 we contrary 
 [ bupposG it 
 
 5. Will the intended salary consist in money, .ind will a bond be given 7 
 (i. In regard of salary, I feel delicacy; but having a family of six chil- 
 Oren, I consider it my duty to provide for them. I do not wish to have 
 any thing hardly to do with farming— except a small piece of ground — 
 as much as would support a cow or two, and a horse. My calling ia 
 enough for me, without being troubled with the world. My salary here 
 is ^200. I suppose the currency there is not the same as here. Per- 
 haps on the country it is not so difficult to live — but here I feel I cannot 
 support my character with less. Many are the demands upon me by 
 poor people, and in various ways — so th^t I could not decently come 
 through with less. I trust you will see the necessity of answering these 
 few questions. We need not be over-anxious about the present life — it 
 will soon come to an end. Every thing should be done with an eye to 
 eternity, in the fear of God — for grace to answer these words — " be thou 
 faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a crown of life," 
 
 I remain, Rev. Sir, your's sincerely, A. C. 
 
 REPLY. 
 
 St. Ann's, Cape Breton, 29th July, 1842. 
 Reverend Sir, — Your letter dated in May came to hand in course. 
 According to your inquiries, there are several stations and congregations 
 in this Island still unoccupied by Ministers; and some of them so con- 
 tiguous to one another that a Pastor might, in seme instances, and under 
 certain circumstances, serve more than one of them, with comparative 
 convenience and advantage, to all concerned. — A " bond" is generally 
 required and given also, in the case in question, through all the country. 
 Nor is it expensive, especially as to victbals, to support a family out of 
 to 7s in this quarter. The people principally concerned would not 
 choose such a step for themselves as to " cast off a minister" without 
 some open deficience or transgression on his part against both the direct 
 rules of sacred Scriptures, and "the Confession of Faith of the Church 
 of Scotland." But I see no reason but merely to mention these points, 
 since the contents of your letter, I regret to suggest, havp undeceived 
 both myself and those of my neighbors more immediately interested on 
 the subject. — For in the first place we all have thought that your salary 
 did not rise to the amount of "^£"200 sterling," as a powerful stimulus 
 to prevent your removal. Again, we have half believed that you wer*^, 
 more dissatisfied with, and tired of the clergy, than we find by your 
 letter. In the third place, your manner of treating of your views of 
 yourself gives a deadly slfroke to our feelings on this score. For you 
 write us that you " never thought yourself qualified for the office" you 
 hold: aud yet you expect to be "guided by the word and prr/idence" 
 either to remain still there, or to remove to this country. Now, Sir, 
 these points are (luitc inconsistent, and even grievously absurd. For if 
 you really think yourself "not qualified," you ought to resi.^n yaur 
 office, till you would, if ever, improve. And it would be unreasonable 
 and unscriptural to expect the guidance of find's word, to call you to a 
 listant country, in your office, till vou would first know the Lor '" 
 
 ■U 
 
 you 
 
 appr 
 

 ballon of your service at all ; a knowledge to which you can never at- 
 tain without thinking yourself first ordinarily -lualified. For all this I 
 nin long since fully and tediously aware, that your manner of selfish and 
 nn ^°'"P'^'"'^has been now for a series of years, the most likely mode 
 
 the North nf%7r T"" V'" ""^"1'^^ ""^ '^''8'°"' «'"y >"«" over all 
 ^ut uT Ju ^r ?.^j '"'^ particularly from Caithness to Inverness. 
 iSut it ,» both a deceitful and contemptible practice ; and I verily thought 
 
 Tnd ? IZtln Tu'v '^' """' .°^ '^- ^ P''^ y°"' Sir, with all my hefrt. 
 And I cannot but believe your religious condition to be awfully dangerous. 
 It IS not dilhcult to see through your lines the dark and dreary state of 
 Vn^fr'?' 1 .r ?'*'-^7*' ^°''^ yourself and your unfortunate adherents. 
 
 ourh in^rr M :• '"'''.pf T '°, ^'''' ""P°'^^ "P°» thousands of our 
 uJnr t il'gWanders. The Lord in mercy convince and correct you 
 before ,t is too late. You are not qualified, Sir, for your office ; but you 
 do net properly believe it; nor would you wish me, or any other to 
 believe it. Do you not know that one may be very humble-minded, and 
 
 merrv7 ''rf ^'"' '? '^'' Jt"''^.' ^"'^ °^ ^^'^ g^^^'«"« «"d sovereign 
 mercy ? By grace I am what I am— and his grace bestowed upon me 
 was not in vain." &,c.-St. Paul. Why would you for a moment be in 
 suspense whether you should leave your congregation, when thry are so 
 generously good and kind to you : and when you believe that there are 
 some ol the excellent ones of the earth among them V And if you 
 do not mean to leave them, why not tell is at once, without any hesita- 
 tion ? I hardly think that you would choose them to know of this un- 
 generous mode of correspondence. You seem to my neighbors to be 
 also pretty Keen for the world, although you endeavor very slily to dis- 
 guise your prmciple on this head. You hare played long enough amoncr 
 the simple to inure you to hypocrisy ; because your conscience is alarm*! 
 ingly dormant. 1 sincerely wish I could be of any spiritual service to 
 
 .vL i! ?'Y ^'''^ ^?" f'^\ ^''^ ^°^^ "^y^^^f ^"'^ ^y f'^ithful warning 
 tc you. Ijut do not think that I write at random— no, no: I know so 
 inu<jh oi my own deceit and duplicity by nature, that 1 find no difficulty 
 in seeing through your letter, the very prnciple of your soul, for all 
 your Silly art to conceal it. You are at ... variance with your official 
 bretliren, but so lar as it may gain to you credit among half and hollow 
 Christians; and the same way re^rardii.g people of quality, when your 
 abilities will not bear you out in natural or acquired knowledge, accord- 
 jng to heir taste and talents. My dear neighbors, with met desire to 
 bless lleaven that they are not entirely left to the dotage of the general- 
 ity of the world on the ground of our correspondence, and choose far 
 rather or their life to remain under their present destitution, than to be 
 lettered or foundered by the stumbling and stunning administration of 
 
 n n? r. >'■' "'f • V!^'^ ^^''""'^ '^"^ ^he blind, they shall both fall 
 into llie ditch. 1 conclude with tiie ancient and sacred proverb " The 
 wounds ot a Iricnd are better than the kisses of an enemy;" 
 
 And remain, Rev. Sir, 
 
 Yoiii's oincerely, 
 
an never at* 
 )r all this I 
 f selfish and 
 likely mode 
 len over all 
 ) Inverness. 
 rily thought 
 11 my heart, 
 dangerous, 
 ary state of 
 ! adherents, 
 inds of our 
 lorrect you 
 :e ; but you 
 ny other to 
 linded, and 
 sovereign 
 id upon me 
 ment be in 
 hry are so 
 t there are 
 Lnd if you 
 any hesita- 
 )f this un- 
 bors to be 
 lily to dis- 
 igh among 
 e is alarm- 
 service to 
 il warning 
 I know so 
 ) difficulty 
 3ul, for all 
 ur official 
 tnd hollow 
 t'hen your 
 e, accord- 
 desire to 
 e general- 
 ;hooso far 
 hau to be 
 tration of 
 both fall 
 erb^The 
 
 cT,*** 
 
 2^ 
 
 SHORT REMARKS ON THE FOREGOING CORRESPONDPNCE 
 
 It is maintained here by persons pretty well ac(iup;nteu with the posi- 
 tion of the first Correspondent, that the circumstances of his employers 
 
 can hardly have admitted them — from [)0th their paucity and poverty 
 
 to afford the annual salary of .i'200 ster'=ng to their humble Pastor. 
 For, by the bye, though the people concerned are all but the true chil- 
 djen of the Church of Scotland ; yet, as a kind of relief from the Ibath- 
 some law of Intrusion, they choose rather to be at the trouble and 
 expense of supporting thei- darling choice of a Minister, than be left to 
 the fearful prey and pationage of their Mother. And notwithstanding 
 thpir fond fancy, and refined reserve, on the subject, a man of any ordi- 
 nary good sense and soberness, might be thought, in an enlightened 
 generation, like ours, to find no difficulty in discerning the moanful and 
 melancholy, stale and stumbling selection, of the pious and purblind 
 people concerned. And what is the great blessing of their preference 
 and privilege, in their doted position ; though they have to boa^t that 
 they are not— like the generality of their brethren, and fellow Christians 
 — left under the violence or vassalage, obeisance or oppression, of power 
 or of patronage ; when their own exact and expensive choice is perhaps 
 to them, one of the surest and severest spiritual curses and cumbrances 
 imaginable ! If he has not the amount of support alleged, we pity his 
 shanrieful falsehood ; and if he has, we, not the less, despise his avarice 
 or disguise, in his treating of his either intended or pretended thoughts 
 of removal to this distant country. And when the Reverend gentleman 
 acknowledges to have in his congregation "some of the excellent ones 
 of the earth," and all the rest of the community most generous and kind 
 to him, what a fearful degree of hypocrisy or ingratitude, on his part, 
 ever to think of leaving them in the lurch, after" the utmost proof and 
 pride of their due discriminaiion and genuine generosity, in selecting 
 and sustaining him, as their perfect preference among the sound anr' 
 sage, soft and serious, hot and haughty host of all the Highland Clergy I 
 There is another point of notoriety and vory open remark, in the pre- 
 ceding correspondence : — That althouo'. e party slanderously nick- 
 named Normanists, are, from time to time, by their envious or ignorant 
 persecutors, charged as maintaining and manifesting principles opposite 
 or hostile to the original constitution and conduct of the Church of 
 Scotland ; yet that these very people, and humble Norman himself at 
 their head, are the party here, of the intercourse, who have, in more 
 instances than this under review, manifested their anxious desire of 
 obtaining eligible and efficient Ministers of the Church of Scotland, for 
 their Pastors— if such they could possibly find. And that they have 
 never ceased to show their anxiety and endeavors on this solemn and 
 serious ground, till dire despair of success, from long repeated defeats, 
 has, at last, mortified and muriered all the powers and passions of their 
 souls, on this doleful and diieful score. And though their disnppoint- 
 ment hereon is sad; yet their defence is thereby insured, in the estima- 
 tion of all intimate and unprejudiced people concerned. The writer of 
 
 E -J 
 
 i 
 
 < .1 
 
II 
 
 
 Il I 
 
 El 
 
 1 r 
 
 334 
 
 these remarks 'limks it far below his aim to animadvert on the deficiencc 
 of style and grammatical construction, so very conspicuous, in the letter 
 of the famous Scottish Clergyman ; thougl: it is iomething curious and 
 strange to find both Miese so manifest, as coming from the centre of that 
 enlightened and improved kingdom, and from a party whose ministers 
 here boast themselves so highly upon their own superiority over their 
 dissenting brethren on this grouud. There is one general cirse, how- 
 ever, that is peculiar to those pretenders to a more than ordinary degree 
 of sanctity, and familiarity with Heaven — whether Ministers, or other 
 noted religious profestjrs, but espjcially the former— namely : Th^t 
 whatever play or plan, game or gain, credit or covenant, they wish to 
 compass, it tnust, forsooth, be sanctioned and sanctified by the Holy 
 Ghost; and you must take it at their own bare word for it ; otherwise 
 you are to be ranked nrriong the worst sceptics, or the most notorious 
 unbelievers ! For to make any proper use of your common sense, or 
 natural reason, on this grounrl, in order to detect, or to deplore the 
 fallacy or folly, vanity or wickedness, of those choice favorites of Jehovah, 
 ifi to purchase to yourself the sour mess and the sure merit of being 
 identified, not only with that once odious and oppressive sound — a 
 Dissenter ; but of being classified with the intolerable and unpardonable 
 designation— a Normanist ! Implicit faith and obsequious obedience, 
 on the part of the laity, are in a high degree (for the author writes in 
 perfect seriousness, and so purposely avoids any hyperbole) as necessary 
 in our Missionary Churches — and the same of course under all our 
 ecclesiastical Establishment, though nominally styled Protestant — as 
 under the grating knot, and galling yoke, of Popish priesthood ! 
 
 Popery and priestcraft could never gain, or have held, such fatal 
 ascendancy, over the minds and manners of men, otherwise intelligent 
 and judicious, but for their inexcusable blind and implicit acquiescence 
 in the unscriptural, unreasonable, chimerical, ridiculous, impossible 
 Infallibility or inerrauility, of fallible and wi '^d men ; who are as distant 
 from possessing that faculty, power, or cii,^acity, eitiier as individually, or 
 collectively, as the very simplest or silliest Indian in the world ; though 
 they arrogantly and absurdly assume Uj themselves the power and pecu- 
 liarity of the Apostles, on this ground; assumption as blasphemous as it 
 is preposterous, for any man, or body of men, since the apostolic days, 
 fill the end of time. And the hypocritical pretences of our Protestant, 
 and Presbyterian clergymen, on the ground of their supposed free access 
 to heaven on every vain and frivolous occasion, render the evident power 
 and pride of their black and blockish nature — as in the case of the 
 Inverness correspondent— as nothing but a genuine limb of the cursed 
 prank and presumption of Popery; though under different guise and 
 garb, in order the better to impose on the foolish credulity and con- 
 sciences, of such as are more apt to be scared and scowled by the mere 
 name and nunien of evil and errors in their religious nominal contrasts, 
 and opposite controversialists, than to search and suspect— either them- 
 selves, o- their once fostered, though lalse ghostly guides. Other A^ise 
 they would far more dread and deride, aver and avoid nanacy and 'oisco- 
 
 1 a 
 
Wit 
 
 pacjf at home than abroad ; and might boou find, to their sorrow and 
 ihame, the popish and primatical authority to wliich they unaware yield 
 their willing, if not their wilful, allegiance, under the fond and famoui 
 face and features, of Gospel homage, and obedience, to the Lord's holy 
 saints, and honorable servants ! 
 
 Want of real love to the truth of the Scriptures, is one sure and solemn 
 cause, of the swing and sway, of the dark and damnable, spirit of popery 
 and perverseness under whatever shape or sound, name or uo'i-o, it rnny 
 rally or rule, rape or reign.—" Because they received not the love of tlio 
 truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them 
 strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all mig' • be 
 damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unriuhteousi. ss " 
 — 'iThess. ii. 10, 11, and 12. ^ 
 
 Though there is one prime and proud Pope in the world, bearintr moat 
 dreadful and dangerous dominion over the minds and manners of^mer, • 
 yet our Protestant and Presbyterian Popes are, in their ov.n sphere, and 
 according to their sway, more dangerous to us ; and more imposing upon 
 their own popish-protcstant adherents. Nay farther, every profane and 
 proud, false and foolish man in the world, has his Pope and Popedom • 
 for he IS Pope to himself: and, if he could, as he would, he should be 
 Pope over the Universe. This is the evil and awful conr-quence of our 
 original fall, and first yielding to Satan's temptation — " Ye shall be gods." 
 And ihis is the spirit that so far pervades the drift of correspondence 
 contained in this little work, and which unavoidably rules, according to 
 his civil and religious swing and circumsta'ice, in every child of Adam • 
 for which sad and solemn reason, the merit of Jeses Christ, effectually 
 applied by his Holy Spirit, is so absolutely necessary, for our begun 
 redemption, and eternal salvation. 
 
 .'luthenfi^ i^ftra t; of a recent Correspondence betwixt two religiouafnendt,~bv some 
 people called JVormanisla,-in consequence of one of them havinT Uitelv been in 
 
 ZlSrs""' *' ^' ""'* '** '^'"-^ "*""'''■ ''•^""'' '^'"'"''' "'"""" *""*' "'*"'' 
 
 Dear Sir,— In consequence of the late interview you had, at VV B 
 with our famous Minister, Mr. M., I wish to see somethincr from your 
 own hand, upon the subject. What were the chief heads of converaa. 
 tion or debate, and the conclusion of it? Had you both, or either of 
 you, any great excitement of mind ? How did the people present behave 
 --and was the meeting numerous. I shall feel much surprised if you 
 have not, by deep experience, got some additional lessons by that contact 
 tor, according to the Scotch trite old adage, " C/ia'« io^niit an t-olc 
 f/iaicinn agtis a c/daistinn." To meet the evil i^ diflfereiit from the 
 hearing of it. When I, at times, happened to hear the mn, ster in que-. 
 tion pre aching, I could not, in some respects, but wish you to be present, 
 
 "The meeting of the abovo-named persons seems to have heon of no antecedont 
 aosign, since neither of the "urti'es Rrinfin.^!!'.- rmrrrp.sjj .-o"!.-" Ksv" •••■•'-•-' ' 
 known either the circumstance'i of the'interview, or been Ictuaily^desirouB^of .^ ^ 
 
^^ 
 
 Mil > 
 1 
 
 ^1 
 
 -i i 
 
 -4 - 
 
 ! 1'^ I 
 
 ■ ] \ ill ' 
 
 ^J .Mil, 
 
 > 
 
 226 
 
 in order to know personally the strange and varnished incoherence of 
 h»8 sermons; and conaequently the misery and danger of a people that 
 can be so tamely satisfied with sugared poison for gospel truths, as the 
 food of their souls. Aud not only coi 'ent themselves with their black 
 and personal mistake on this ground, bu» the far greater number of those 
 misguided creatures, have long since lost their balance; for wrath and 
 wranghng ire their best weapons, whenever their own case, on this 
 score, or the extraurdinary piety or wisdom of their spiritual guide is 
 called in question. But the civil and sacred proverb is here verified— 
 " Like people, like priest." 
 
 1 shall e.xpect your candid answer, at your earliest convenience. — 
 And in the meantime, 1 remain, your's, &,c. J M 
 
 Baddeck, 16th October, 1842. 
 
 REPLY. 
 
 Dear Sir,— In r-ply to your lines of the I8th inst., the adage quoted 
 by you was indeed one of the first thoughts that struck my mind after 
 the interview in question. For I have never formerly so far understood 
 the temper of my opponent. For though I partly knew of it before, both 
 by some personal conversation, and ample hearsay, yet I freely acknow- 
 ledge, that till this last conversation, 1 have still' been half ignorant of 
 his endless evasions, and shameless sophistry ; as well as his irritaMe 
 disposition, and contemptible flattery. And if I did not believe that in 
 the hand of divine Providence it might, though indirectly, prove to my 
 instruction, I should, from the very bottom of my soul, regret my having 
 fallen into contact with that unfortunate Minister; if it is indeed proper 
 to bcbiow that title upon any such miserable characters. But the habit 
 of the world exacts of us the bestowment of many unmerited appellations ; 
 but the worst grain of that exaction is, not seldom, on religious grounds, 
 as in the case in hand. 
 
 There was no " great excitement of m " on either side. The num- 
 ber of people present, I think could nc. exceed 3 or 4 dozens. There 
 were no particular heads of debate of any consequence; for my match 
 would not but evasively reply to my first interrocration ; so that I 
 did not choose to play at random. But I humbly hope that the said 
 interview may prove a good le-sson to me for the future in various ways; 
 as first, to iiKike me more cautious how to enter upon the borders of 
 similar leinptalioiis, v itlioui clearer light of some very important duty 
 at stake. Se.-.ond— 1 have never felt, with more life and light, the pri- 
 vilege of exeriiplioii and freedom from both the civil and refigious con- 
 nection and fellowship of foolish and formal, deadly and deceitful pro- 
 lessors; especially the prominent leaders; who are generally like our 
 present subject, both daring and dastard, proud and prattling; and hav«^ 
 their chief art and aim consisting in frivolous and false excuses in their 
 own favor, as well as in endless and invented, silly and sly digressions, 
 in order to elude the point or poignancy of any trial or truth, which may 
 hear hard upon their own measures and misrule. Third— I feel more 
 than ordinary sympathy with those pitiful souls that ore under the fearful 
 
827 
 
 and fatal influence and imposition of those spiiitually blind and bloody 
 guides; who not only leave their unhappy adherents unedified and un- 
 improved, but must drain and dry up the very remainder of their natural 
 goodness and kindness, and convert those qualities into the very reverse 
 of Heaven's appointment. And fourth, that soul-sickening interview 
 has proved the oblique medium of extending my knowledge of several 
 sacred scriptures .—As first, Matthew xxi. 25, 20, and 27. Here we see 
 the chief priests and elders' wickedly dextrous mode of reasoning 
 .between themselves, in order to evade our Saviour's query to them. I 
 asked of our minister a very plain and important question, viz: What 
 was his general opinion of the religious public character of his official 
 brethren in our neighborhood ? But he would not answer, but in silly 
 and sly evasions. Why ? Because he knew very well, if he should say 
 that he did not think them to be pious, or converted men, then we would 
 answer, Whv do you thon hold church fellowship with them? And if 
 he should reply to the contrnry, he was sure that their general character 
 and conduct could not bear him out. — Now we see it is not the w£.nt of 
 natural reason, but of a good conscience, that is the curse and plague of 
 our clergy, like those priests in the days of our Saviour. And indeed 
 an evil conscience, the sure companion of a corrupt heart or will, and 
 not necessary or excusable ignorance, is the bane of every deceitful and 
 wicked man in the world, who has the revealed will of Heaven formally 
 in his head, and freely in his hand, but more especially public Teachers 
 and Preachers. 
 
 The next scripture that has impressed my mind on this occasion ia 
 in 2 Thess. 3 ch. 2 ver.— " Brethren, pray for us * * * * that we may 
 be delivered fom unreasonable a,.d wicked men." Not the absence of 
 reason, but the abuse of it, made those opposers of the apostles so very 
 dangerous and disagreeable; especially at Athens, whence this Epistle 
 was written. The third text of my contemplation is, Timothy— 6 ch. 
 5 ver., — "perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of 
 the truth, supposing that gain is godliness : from such withdraw thyself." 
 Those here again from whose association and conference, Timothy was 
 to expect no benefit, but the reverse, were not the unavoidably ignorant 
 or untutored ; but the supposed Teachers, according to the context ; or 
 their close disciples and adherents — men whose dangerous influence and 
 fellowship consisted more in the corruption of their minds than in the 
 darkness of their natural understanding. My present thoughts of the 
 corruption of the views and feelings of our. Clergy ; and especially the 
 lead of them, and said thoughts augmented and confirmed in consequence 
 of my late interview, indeed beggar all description. The Lord, in 
 sovereign mercy, look upon our place and people !— **0 my soul, come 
 not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not 
 tiiou united !" 
 
 Here 1 will repeat my question, and give also the scope of Mr. M.'s 
 reply; and then make some remarks. 
 
 Uuestion.— " What is your opinion of the religious public character 
 G» jvui ujiJwiui u.'uiuruu iM vape jireion f 
 
 
 ■■il 
 
 i 
 

 
 
 Answer.-" It was with the Church, and not with these Ministers, that 
 J connected niyseii at my ordination ; for I did not then know at all 
 
 A ^^ '?J/^«"'d be cast in the world.-I believe there are some good 
 and godly Mmisters in the Church; but if there are here present any who 
 have any tlnngs particularly or remnrknblv unlawPil with which to charge 
 Ihe conduct of those our neighboring Minister., let them produce the 
 same and I will treat of them, in private, to those Ministers concerned." 
 
 i he said question repeated—" What is your opinion," &c 
 
 Ans.— "Hovvcver our Church may be defective, yPt the Church of 
 England, as well as other Churches, is far more degenerated. And at 
 Me host times of the Church there were deficiencies, and defective men 
 and Ministers in it. But it were better to treat of, and look to the 
 wounds of the Saviour* for the benefit of souls, than to be always 
 Bpeaking of the defects of Ministers," &c. «fcc. , 
 
 Again and again the same question was repeated, " Will vou tell us 
 your opinion." &c. 
 
 Ans.— " You are always insisting too much on that and similar points. 
 It IS now too bite— It should be a long time that would end the dispute— 
 we would need trace the history of Church of Scotland from the earliest 
 limes— but you deviate from the rules of the Church— we had written 
 you to show us your iocuments and credentials on this score, and what 
 kind of answer you returned us ! But we shall look after you yet on that 
 ground ! We know not where have you obtained your divinity license 
 or ordination, if you have any. You weaken my hands in my endeavors 
 to do good by your opposition and reflections— but I forgive you— I 
 ircely and f ully forgive yo u allt— I wish to treat you with the respect 
 
 *To speak so plausibly on the subject of " tho wounds of the Saviour" mav 
 sound very imposingly m the ears of Mr. M.'s fanatical, or unintelligent hearers : 
 an,! :.nsvver, l.kevyise, at times, as a muzzle in the mouth of just reflections: but i 
 s st.l only l.ke thr rest of His Reverence's evasive and vagie arguments. But on 
 th,s ground >t ruvAM be asked, Why did not St. Paul treat of the wounds of the 
 saviour, when he was opposing and exposing the folly and falsehood, vanity and 
 w.ekednesB ..f Mymas the sorcerer : And why not St. John ; when he was writing 
 or the pride and prating presumption and persecution, of Diotrephus; and so of 
 thousand other matters of the same and similar texture and tendency. It is quite 
 
 fl^'o"n . r"" ^'"''"'' .'"'T''-?'' ^'"'^ ""'^'" "'''pessary subjects are, in their proper 
 nme and turn, connw^ted with that most important point-" To treat of the wounds 
 of le .Nav.our : and that the evasive Mr. M. himself, with all his specious flutter 
 on that wing, does n.-.t but occasionally treat ofthat topic more than his opponents. 
 
 t I he Kev. Genileniaii does not once suspect that himself is chargeable with any 
 guilt or < rime against his opponent, so as in the least degn either to request or 
 regan! forgiveness; although it is notoriously known by every unprejudiced an.l 
 mteil.gent mmd concerned, that he is deeply mistaken in his own supposed inno- 
 cence on this score. Ibis is, however, some of the .spirit of the times. Cut the 
 writer of these remarks does not think the lavished remission of his good and kind 
 leighbor once worth a single cent on this ground, cither to the remitter or the re- 
 r ittrd : according to the common proverb : '• What comes with the wind goes with 
 Xl.e r.uM . Such vapidness and vacancy, tolly and frivolity of mind, are alas ! but 
 come ot the marked curses and consequences of men's assumption of that awfully 
 responsible function, th» Ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as spintuallv un- 
 quahhed-uncalled : a sin while uurepented of, leaves its miserable subject inmeni- 
 
 tent anri innnrriarihla in oM >.;„ -,<! _.,:i. __j _ .. ■.. .. ^ ,•' ..«. , 
 
 vi-ki . r-p.Ji.. in .1!! },!:, ._,t}ici gum ituii tjuarrciung — "For tiiui winch ib 
 
 «igiiiy esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."— Luke xvi. 16. 
 
no 
 
 inisters, that 
 know at all 
 e some good 
 sent any who 
 ch to charge 
 produce the 
 concerned." 
 c. 
 
 ^ Church of 
 ;d. And at 
 :fective men 
 look to the 
 ) be always 
 
 you tell U3 
 
 nilar points. 
 le dispute — 
 the earliest 
 had written 
 ;, and what 
 I yet on that 
 lily license, 
 y endeavors 
 ive you — I 
 the respect 
 
 aviour" may 
 leut hearers ; 
 tions; but it 
 Mits. But on 
 aunds of the 
 , vanity and 
 ! was writing 
 s; and so of 
 It is quite 
 their proper 
 fthe wounds 
 Bcious flutter 
 opponents. 
 blc with any 
 o request or 
 ;judiced and 
 pposnd in no* 
 :!s. Diit the 
 >od and kind 
 ;cr or tlie re- 
 nd goes with 
 ire ahis ! but 
 that awfully 
 iritually un- 
 ijoct inipeni- 
 ui whic-ii is 
 ce xvi. 16. 
 
 dut to age. And if all the«e people present, and their neighbors, «i. Jose 
 to hear you rather than me, let them follow you,' &-c. &c. 
 
 I do not mean to affirm thai the above quotat-ons .Hre exactly, in every 
 sentence, in the same arrangement in which they were spoken • but 
 there is nothing added, nor any turn given to them, but what is necessary 
 in the translation. Mr. M. and I spoke some more words, at the time : 
 but winch were all ot little consequence for good, either to ourselves, or 
 our nud.ence; for which, on my own part, I wish to make this open and 
 nuniDle acknowledgment. 
 
 On the first of Mr. M.'s answers— which was, "that it was with the 
 Church, and not with the present Presbytery, that at his ordination, he 
 connected himself," I remark that the words are very curiot:? and glossy 
 indeed ! just as if a man should say of his wife, "that it was with the 
 tooman that he connected himself, at the time of his marriage, and not 
 with her ]uvgs or limbs, so that he has nothing now to answer, for her 
 hips or hands, lap or legs, in her stealing or strolling !" A Minister has 
 nothing to answer for his connection with an inefficient or ungodly 
 Fresbytery, or Synod, because it was not with them, but with "the 
 J^hurch, which includes these, as some of her component parts or mem- 
 bers, that he " connected himself," &c. Fine divinity and loaic indeed ! 
 In fact, I felt at the time quite struck dumb to hear this strange and 
 strangling argument from the mout!. of an extraordinarily noted Minister 
 —the great instrument of our revival ! I was perfectly stunned and 
 astonished, and admired the effrontery of the highly reputed servant of 
 Heaven on this subject. What part ,i (he Church with which he has 
 or could have more concern now than those Ministers and members with 
 whom he so closely or necessarily associates ? Or, can he form a Church 
 without parts, more than a wife without members ! If he esteems his 
 functionary brethren here as sound members of the body ecclesiastic 
 why not as such freely own them? And if as offensive or rotten limbs 
 —more hurtful than useful— why not endeavor to " cut them off and 
 cast them from him,'V according to Christ's injunction, in similar cases. 
 — Matt. y. 29. But the fair and fearful truth is, that there is none here 
 among the members" more offensive and oppressive than himself; and 
 80 his ogic is according to his leprosy. Pity ! Oh, thrice pity, those 
 spiritua victims, who are fully satisfied, and feel never otherwise with 
 such sriy and shameless sophistry I See again the man's flatteiy, and 
 pretended acquiescence. " I forgive you," &c. What! to forgive me 
 my great anH aggravated sins, committed against him, as the eminent 
 and extraordinary servant and minister of Jesus Christ j without the 
 least acknowledgement, or sign of repentance on my part I Who, I ask. 
 has guided or commanded him to absolve me, the heinous sinner, in my 
 Jong and lusty, open and outrageous impenitence on this ground ? But 
 tnis sly appearance of kindness is sufficiently powerful to impose upon 
 the fond and foolish minds of his doted adherents. One additional Jessou 
 1 desire to learn, in consequence of the interview, under remark, is 
 that 1 intend, if possible, to have no intercourse, or correspondence 
 ry'n^i^i^ cnaracLers as these in view, for the future, but witn mx peri 
 and Bibhe in my baiKJ, in their personal absence, before the public' 
 
 
 1 rif 
 
 
ii i i> 
 
 m I 
 
 ft' i 
 
 210 
 
 For, O! the frarfui absence of natural integrity and truth with thli 
 order and description of men! Here is some of the npiritual mystery 
 of Christ's curse upon the fig-tree in the Gospel, which had green leaves 
 without niiy real fruit. Blessed for ever be the Lord, for r.iy early and 
 happy dissent from this kind of unholy and unhappy beings! 
 
 Ill their present principles, disposition, and conduct, let my life and 
 death and eternity, O most gracious Heaven ! be entirely separated from 
 their futile and fatal condition, and from their hurtful and hateful asso- 
 ciation. — AiMen! 1 am, &c. N. McL***. 
 
 St. Ann's, 24th October, 1842. 
 
 Mstract of a late Correspondence betwixt tico distant friends — the one yet in tkt 
 highlands o/ Scotland, and the other in Cape Breton — but who lived in their yonth 
 close together in the former place. 
 
 At R — , Pari&h of A — , Sdtherlard-shire, N. B., 
 August 20th, 1842. 
 
 Dear Sir, — Owing to some changes in my own religious views and 
 circumstances, since you left this country, as well as from different re- 
 ports concerning your sentimenta and conduct, on ecclesiastical grounds; 
 and more especially, in consequence of some of the remarks of your 
 correspondence with two of my neighbors, during last winter, I feel 
 desirous of communicating with you on a few subjects; and would think 
 it a favor if you should endeavor to avoid, as much as possible, the ordi- 
 nary vein of your sarcasm, hyperboles, and high-toned metaphors — so 
 natural to your 7eniub — in order te enable me the more easily to arrive 
 at your real meaning and mind, on points, to me, of very serious import- 
 ance. There was a remark in one of your letters lately to this place, 
 " That in existing circumstances Church Patronage is hardly an evil." 
 This has surprised me and several others; and also offended not a few 
 of your old acquaintances; since there is hardly any point of greater 
 evil iu our Church, according to the long opinion, tnd present alarming 
 struggle, of our best men and ministers on this score. Ycu wrote also 
 in another of your letters that " every good man must now be a Dis- 
 senter;" and yet you said that "a Dissenter is in as much danger to 
 lose his soul as those from whom he separates " Again, that "our Min- 
 isters are persecutors of one another, and are generally manifest haters 
 of good men, whenever situated near them." In another paragraph you 
 observed that " most people care nothing for one Church or persuasion by 
 another, but from mere habit and external circumstances." But the most 
 strange of all your observations is the following — that " all the Churches 
 in the world are but Dissenting Churches ; and consequently every min- 
 ister and member of them is a Dissenter, only of different degrees, and 
 on different grounds." And that "Popery fill^ the Christian world." 
 These curious and extraordinary doctrines, no doubt, need explanation; 
 for in their uuipialitied present form, they seem to be but mere absurdi- 
 ties, and manifest inconsistencies ; and ihef efure fur tnure like the fteaki 
 
I with thii 
 al mystery 
 reen leaves 
 y early ind 
 
 ny life and 
 irated from 
 ateftil asso- 
 VlcL***. 
 
 jtie yet in th$ 
 n their yontk 
 
 IRE, N. B., 
 
 s views and 
 lifferent re- 
 al grounds; 
 ks of your 
 nter, I feel 
 vould think 
 e, the ordi- 
 ;aphors — so 
 ly to arrive 
 ous import- 
 
 this place, 
 ly an evil." 
 I not a few 
 
 of greater 
 nt blarming 
 
 wrote also 
 vv be a Dis- 
 h danger to 
 
 " our Min- 
 ifest haters 
 ragrnph you 
 irsuasion by 
 iut the most 
 e Churches 
 
 every min- 
 egrees, and 
 ian world." 
 xplanation ; 
 ere absurdi- 
 e the freaks 
 
 231 
 
 of fancy, or the bantlings of brains, than the real resulta of iound expe- 
 rience, or serious investigation. I expect, then, according to lur former 
 familiarity and friendship, that, at your earliest opportunity, you will be 
 pleased to return me your candid exposition, and plain reconcilement of 
 these quotations ; which are otherwise but self-contradictory, or appar- 
 ently at variance with every sound reason and ru.aination. Meanwhile, 
 
 I am, dear Sir, your's truly, A. B. 
 
 REPLY. 
 
 Cafe BRETorj, Ist November, 1842. 
 Dear Friend,— In answer to your letter of August last— which came 
 to hand in due course— thof'gh I do not alway.-, retain duplicates of my 
 ordinary correspondence, I dare say I may have written the remarks 
 which you quote ; and I allow that they may require some explanation ; 
 but I think they had not been sent abroad, without a litfle more modifil 
 cation than ihe solitary position in which you placed them. But as I 
 never feel reluctant to comply with the reasonable requests of my friends, 
 especially on religious subjects, 1 will endeavor to satisfy your mind, as' 
 far as I can, on the points in question. But after all my poor attempts, 
 It may still be <M§of my power to give you the satisfaction, which you 
 may anticipate ^p^this very serious ground. 
 
 As to " Patronajpe," none can be more against its very existence in the 
 Church than myself. And I know, without reserve, it is hut an old rotten 
 l:mb of Popery ; and, in itself, I would freely wish it were for ever done 
 aM-ay with, out of the world. But the present dominant spirit, and open 
 ctinduct of our Clergy, and of the people in general over whom they 
 preside, appear to me to be so far from the rule of sacred truth, that I 
 fully and Ireely think, that the privilege of electing a Minister, 'by the 
 majority of a congregation, is nothing in their real favor. That privi- 
 lege, no doubt, most mightily, feeds their foolish pride, and fond fancy; 
 and the simple creatures greedily believe that— like Micah of old— the 
 Lord will certainly bless them, now that they enjoy their blessed choice 
 of a famous gospel minister ; when, in reality and truth, they have ordi- 
 narily an additional curb and curse, to stimulate their sorry souls, to more 
 deadly security and selfishness, than when under the galling yoke of 
 Patronage. Why? it may be asked. I answer; because our more 
 popular Ministers aie generally more hypocritical and imposing; and 
 consequently more stumbling to their deluded adherents. Why other- 
 wise- 1 again ask— could they, from year to year, during their function- 
 ary lives, sustain the religious and scclesiastic fellowship and brother- 
 hood, of their openly erroneous, heretical, and wicked official brethren' 
 " Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." " The companion 
 of fools shall be destroyed." *' Dost thou betray the Son of Man with a 
 kiss." " What communion hath light with darkness?" 
 
 And the present keen contention of the anti-patronage party in the 
 Church, under the specious pretence of being evangelically zealous, in 
 the. csuss of trut.b, and popuiar right and privileges, against ecclesiastical 
 oppression and intrusion, has wofully and shamefully imposed upon almost 
 
 r'j 
 

 1''; 
 
 ■ I 
 
 E! 
 
 Ii::,i 
 
 W' ■ 
 
 ill^L 
 
 i.l!|| ! 
 
 all the ?resbjiterians In the world ; so that from rarious and distant parts, 
 both in Europe and America, we hear and read of their gracious and 
 grappling sympathy with the good and godly party, in the glorious 
 Church of Scotland, who now, so manfully, fight th? battle of the Lord 
 against the mighty Erastian bondage. Whereas it is, in my own hum- 
 ble view, but a mere sham fight, though under a sad disguise, to the 
 generality, even of serious and zealous people. For the proud-spirited 
 party in the General Assembly, who took the original lead against the 
 Strathbogie Intrusion, have felt the unexpected consequent opposition 
 to their own measures, as dominant and selfish men, and not at all a.t 
 godly Christian Ministers ; since in other respects, unless some of them 
 in mere name, they are generally nothing singular from the generality of 
 their present opponent brethren. But because the nominal ground of 
 their dispute and opposition, is in itself a good cause, this nnti patronage 
 party take very unworthy and dextrous advantage of that point, as if 
 there was nothing short of the glory of God, and the spiritual privilege of 
 their fellow-men exciting their minds, and spurring their conduct in this 
 struggle. 
 
 In several of their public speeches, as partly quoted by the " Aberdeen 
 Herald" of last summer, some of their greatest champioDi — and the great 
 Dr. Chalmers for one — impliedly threaten to dissolve l^lir ecclesiastical 
 connection with the State ; and to turn Indepen'Jents, in case the 
 Government will aot grant the abolition of patronage. But, for my own 
 part, I feel very sceptical on that score ; and I must see it come to pass 
 before I can bring my suspicious mind seriously to believe a word of the 
 story. For the good things and sou'-ds of this lower world have always, 
 in my opinion, been uppermost in the views and feelings of these good 
 and great Ministers ; and I should therefore feel very much surprised, 
 that they would unadvertently throw away their State endowment ; 
 although we are sure that their hot and haughty souls cannot but feel 
 very heavy affliction in their present dire dilemma. Righteous Heaven 
 proves them, but not to themselves, nor to their credulous adherents, or 
 distant sympathisers. If their zeal were sincere against the sinfulness 
 of Patronage, it would equally prove so against other evils of the same 
 and similar tendency, and of darker dyes and greater extent, according 
 to their known and apparent degree or danger. "For he that said. Da 
 not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill." We seldom hear a word 
 of blame for licensing candidates, though none but the stark-'>lind can 
 fftr a moment doubt the fearful and fatal open inefficiency of, at least, 
 the majority of their probationers. I repeat that righteous Heaven 
 proves and tries the Clergy of the Church of Scotland ; and especially 
 the nominally orthodox or evangelical party of them ; who are manifestly 
 more aggravated in the sin of imposition, as having still a sounder tongue- 
 creed, and vocable-zeal, than the opposite number. And yet, for the 
 sake of the world, and in the absence of a good conscience, (hey havo 
 held the fellowship, and supported the association of those denotniuated 
 
 pun 
 
 4U.~. *U> If k_<»^J»_il r.».*., 
 '.iSCU!, lis— - 
 
 ishment 
 
 .... — __ _ — .. -.j-^^ lvt3*-5V7 
 
 permits these very heretics to be as "pricks in 
 
 J > 
 
233 
 
 their sides," on the verj ground en which, or for whose sake, they sig- 
 ned together, viz : State endowment — the very mate and minister ol 
 patronage. And it is very probable that the " sound divines," after all 
 their popular and passionate struggle, must either obsequiously retract 
 their plea, or abandon their long, and loud, and lucrative Dependence. 
 And O! dread*"'!! to say or think, if they lose their dependence, they 
 will be then "Independents;" which is the same sound with the awful 
 
 thunder Dissenter ! Don't say that I am now sarcastic — by no means 
 
 I feel still but upon quite serious grounds. For there is hardly any 
 alternative, without contemptible compromise; since it is so very impro- 
 bable that the British Legislature ; and especially the Tory members of 
 Episcopacy, should ever yield to anti-patronage. For Prelacy and Patron- 
 age must, in a high degree, live and die together ; as both insure the best 
 pillar of support to an Erastian Government. 
 
 As to what you think " so strange" in my former remarks — "That 
 all the Churches in the world are but Dissenting Churches," &c., I am 
 not without grounds on that point. See for instance, in the first 'place, 
 the Established Church of England : what is she now, and has she been 
 since her reformation from Popery, but a Dissenter ? What was she under 
 Papacy, and had she been long before her present designation ever 
 sounded, or a Pope existed, but a sad and sound Dissenter, from the 
 Apostolic Church ? For, strange as it may seem to you, it would be easy 
 to prove, except to her own tenacious members, that Prelacy — which 
 through ambition gradually sprung first out of Presbytery— is both the 
 mother and the daughter, as well as the close sister of Popery. For 
 the title of prelate, primate, or archbishop — taken here as convertible 
 terms— is, in its present meaning, or common usage — as anti-christian 
 in kind, though not in degree, as that of Pope. And consequently Pre- 
 lacy— according to its existing form, though far from the same extent of 
 error and evil — is as destitute of real foundation in the word of God, as 
 Popery. And I am freely one of those, who fully believe, that when the 
 millennial happy times shall have, unavoidably and forever overset the 
 latter, with all its folly and fallacy, vice and wickedness, the former shall 
 crush and crumble in its total and tremendous ruins ! " Be not partakers 
 of her sins, that ye receive not of her plagues." "And a mighty angel 
 took up a stone like a great mill-stone, and cast it into the sea, sayincr, 
 Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down an'd 
 and shall be found no more at all."— Rev. xviii. 21. Read the whole 
 Chapter. Again, what are all Presbyterians, and their Churches, but 
 Dissenters; and that both from each other, and wholly from Papacy and 
 Pielaoy? And lastly, what are the various classes of Independents, but 
 Dissenters also from one another, as well as from ail Established Churches'? 
 And in short, the same may be said of every other religiou- persuasion 
 in the world ; so that you must observe, there is nothing in existence 
 more volatile and various, mutable and mysterious, stationary and stormy, 
 in its rise and rest, result and resen-e, meaning and motion, than the rare 
 and ringing, rubbing and random, vocable, Dissenter ! It implies and 
 iavoives all disgrace and disregard, disappointment, disagreement, dis- 
 oU 
 
 n 
 
 
 i'-^i 
 
 I 
 
 It 
 
 
m 
 
 ) 
 
 {^> 
 
 [I ! 
 
 234 
 
 content and desolation ; yet fortune and fortitude, fame and fj /or, peace 
 and propriety, power and praise. The cliameleon in its colors, or a 
 venal in its rounds, a doll in its dressing, or a dandy in his downhauls, 
 the phasing of the moon, or a fool in his nuisance, is not more change- 
 able than the proper sense of the word Dissenter ; so that you may un- 
 derstand the human form or the two-legged creature (for I know that 
 when I left you, you would think huge'y strange of this anomaly of 
 creation,) thus described, may be the most hopeless or happy, loathsome 
 or lovely, wicked or wise, being in a kingdom. Now don't charge me 
 of hyperboles, for I need not their service on this open ground. But if 
 you, or any others, would ask, what may the index of a good, or a bad 
 Dissenter? I answer, in general, that when any man judiciously finds, 
 or forms a party, better, upon the whole; or in other words, more agree- 
 able, in their sentiments and conduct, to the plain rules of the sncred 
 Scriptures, than the community from which he separates, it is so far a 
 favorable sign ; and vice versa. You know that 1 most heartily abomi- 
 nate, the vain and wicked pretence to the private or peculiar privilege or 
 right, of any person or party on earth, to the interpretation of the word 
 of God Nor yet do I think our gracious common benefit on this grand 
 subject at ".'i a point of little weight, or unimportance to any man in the 
 world. On this ground "Infallibility" is one of the blackest, and most 
 deadly bitter roots of Satan in mankind ; which poisons both ihe princi- 
 ples and practice of the unconcoiviibly unhappy community that wickedly 
 hatches and harbors it; and which, of itself, would render it a most ne- 
 cessary and imperative duty to any man to dissent from it. " Search 
 the Scriptures," said our Saviour. For my own part, I have, for several 
 years past, thought it a good rule for myself, to flee or favor any Church, 
 according to its less or greater known degree of Popery. And this sen- 
 timent stimulates me to dread the dark dyes of Prelacy, as fearfully too 
 similar to the features of " the man of sin." See for instance the same 
 laughable and lofty, fabulous and foolish pretence of both the Churches 
 in question, on the score of " Apostolical succession." Apostolical suc- 
 cession ! ! What a sad mockery of Heaven ! A man of thought would 
 hardly believe such ridiculous pretenders to be in their wit, or sober 
 mind. For it is as wise, and as agreeable to truth, to assume Apostle- 
 ship, as to pretend being their successors. For the Apostles could have 
 no successors. And if they could, it is clear that those shameless, 
 senseless, husky, haughty, greedy, gorgeous, dry, and dronish sinecures; 
 who most pretend to the thing, would, of ah others, least obtain, and 
 last deserve it; as showing by their open lives and lineaments the very 
 contrast of Apostles! "He that is greatest among vou, let him be a 
 serf ant of all " "Not lor filthy lucre, but of a ready mind ; neither as 
 being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." 
 " God resisteih the proud." 
 
 On the remarks, you quote from my letters, that " our Ministers are 
 persecutors of one another, and are generally manifest haters of good 
 men, whene.er placed near them," I did not mean much more on the 
 first sentence, thaa ihe wild struggle in your own kingdom at present 
 
h lor, pftaco 
 colors, or a 
 downhauls, 
 ore chr.nge- 
 ou may uri- 
 know that 
 anomaly of 
 ', loathsome 
 charge me 
 nd. But if 
 d, or a bad 
 lously finds, 
 more agree- 
 the sncred 
 k3 so far a 
 rtily abomi- 
 privilege or 
 of the word 
 n this grand 
 man in the 
 it, and most 
 I the princi- 
 at wickedly 
 , a most ne- 
 , " Search 
 , for several 
 uiy Church, 
 nd this sen- 
 earfully too 
 ce the same 
 B Churches 
 stolical suc- 
 tught would 
 it, or sober 
 xie Apostle- 
 could have 
 shameless, 
 1 sinecures ; 
 obtain, and 
 nts the very 
 et him be a 
 ; neither as 
 the flock." 
 
 inisters are 
 ;rs of good 
 nore on the 
 n at present 
 
 nmong the Clergy of the Church of Scotland. Though I might descend 
 to a long score of particulars on the subject, where, and whenever, they 
 feel offended, either over there, or in this country. Cut as to the last 
 clause, "that they are haters of good men," that is notoriously manifest 
 to all, but those who love darkness rather than light. I do not now in- 
 tend to enlarge upon this point, of which I know so much by long obser- 
 vation, if riot experience. But in this our own Island, what is visible to 
 all, might indeed teach a good, though a grievous lesson. You may still 
 remember good neighbor D. M. from G. C, who resides now here at 
 G. R. A more honest, serious, and sincere man, according to his meas- 
 ure of knowledge, can hardly '3 met with, among ten thousand; and 
 notedly meek and humble-minded, in the same degree. None, you would 
 thmk, could deny this testimony. You can also well recollect Mr. J. M. 
 from L. A., who is settled at L. V., and is now Teacher. He is now far 
 more mtelligent and discerning, than when in Scotland ; 3nd possess'JS 
 likewise the good qualities of his neighbor, al-eady named. J. C. from 
 L. E., has, for the long time since he left the North, been settled at W. B. 
 All who know him must bear witness to his most upright and Christian- 
 like behavior. For my own part, I have seldom, if ever, met a man less 
 exceptionable in his general character, according to his circumstances, 
 and the means and measure of his information and knowledge. I give 
 these three instances, instead of many more, which could be shown on 
 this ground : My intention in this is to exhibit the fearful and unhappy 
 state of mind of our (Clergy, on the subject, wh^n you read that there 
 are none in Cape Breton with whom our Ministers are so much offended 
 and it pposition, as these very men, and anv others of their stamp, or 
 disposition and discrimination. Why ? you will ask : I answer ; because 
 the reason is quite natural ; for these good men see, without disguise, 
 that our Missionaries are but unqualified for their high calling; whicll 
 is wofully evident by all their administration : and when the former can- 
 not contradict their own light and conscience, or use violence to their 
 feelings, in rendering respect, and yielding obedience, to the latter, like 
 other tame and di.tTed creatures, the offence is taken for that cause. And 
 It IS on this ground that these good men must become Dissenters ; be- 
 cause our Clergy are all inefficient, and are men evidently unconverted, 
 secular and secure ; prouil, passionate, and plain-proof, to any serious 
 and sound correction ; especially the ring of them. 
 
 But we have our Presbyterial Popery, Implicit faith is as necessary, 
 in order to glue and glomerate, to coop and coil, our sheep and shepherds 
 together, as among Romanists; though, to speak seriously, not in the 
 same high degree, Without this wilful and woful, blockish and blind, 
 Jicquiescence, on the part of the people, they would, at once, throw oil 
 their hireling pastors; who are obviously far more a plague than a bless- 
 ing to any audience, that have otherwise any free access to the sacrtid 
 Scriptures, and several other useful publications, for their religious in- 
 struction. But our day is an awful time of spiritual judgment, and judicial 
 
 ' r ii^i— ... u..,. ja^i, ijgiiicsjas, iiiiu .-suvurcign uispieasurc ••; 
 
 lieaven, upon a sinful and secure generation ; for their wilful abuse ot 
 
 i!vl 
 
 'M 
 
23G 
 
 |4 1 ii 
 
 I -^k 
 
 superior means of Scripture noon, and knowledge. Protestant papacy 
 is a fearful leaven infused unawares more and more into all our ecclesiastic 
 administration : And though more highly and openly under Prelacy, yet 
 not the less sure and snaring under Presbytery, and Independence. — In 
 the Church of England, according to her Liturgy and Ministry, '* all are 
 regenerated by baptism — confirmed in grace by the bishop — assured that 
 Christ's body was broken, and his blood shed for them individually, at 
 the communion of the Supper — absolved from all their sins when sick — 
 and declared to have gone to heaven at death." " With the mere excep- 
 tion of unbaptized infants, excommunicated |iersons, and self-murderers, 
 all who die go to heaven, whatever was their previous character '"' 
 There is nothing worse, nor partly so bad, in Popery itself on the subjec': , 
 except the delusion of purgatory. Our Prcsbytcrial Popery, though far 
 less notorious, and more shy and shuffling, is yet notless enticing and 
 entangling, in its texture and tendency, qccordiug to its degree. For 
 you may convince a Pope or a prehte of the anti-christianity of his toga 
 and title.s, fifincl and fees, pomp and power, lordship and laziness, as soon 
 as one of our Presbyters of the guilt and gall, doom and danger, plot and 
 prostitution, pest and pollution, of his mimic and mercenary, mawkish 
 and mavvmish, mastery and ministration ; or his fond and foolish, wilful 
 and wilde'ed charge, of their own hapless and hopeless count and con- 
 dition, under the influence of false confidence and comfort, or fanciful 
 terror and torment ; awfully and aptly fulfilling the sacred metaphor, 
 "If the blind lead the blind, they shall both fall into the ditch." For 
 our Popish Presbyterians — pastors and people — under the manifest signs 
 of their unregeneracy, and downright contrary to their own professed 
 cant and creed, abusively administer and obtain the most solemn ordi- 
 nances of the gospel; and that now either universally, or almost withoui' 
 any discrimination, or distinction, of cast, character, or conduct; so that 
 not only f very lawful Minister, but all loyal members of the Church, 
 must of course, go to heaven, right or wrong, foul or fair ! " Wo to them 
 that heal the hurt of the daughter of my people lightly, saying Peace, 
 peace, when there is no peace." "And my people love it to be so." 
 As to the vast number denominated Independents, they have in a lessor 
 larger degree their own proper share of Popery ; according to the graces 
 or grossness, goodness or guile, virtue or vileness, not merely of their 
 codes or creeds, books or bawlings, sentiments or science, but also of 
 their choice and chocks, heat and hate, principles and practice, decision 
 and dissension, discipline and disposition, horror and hilarity, adhesion 
 and association. Motory and mental, practical and pontic Popery, is far 
 more dangerous to us, than professed or professional, open or audible, 
 molded or marked. Popery. 
 
 Popery is the Gospel of Lucifer, in all Christianity, as Idolatry is in 
 heathen f'-ountries. But this gospel is yet like himself; and ris l^as been 
 already impliedly observed, is of a transformable and transfusible nature. 
 And though it has, with little modification, sustained its uniform trammels 
 
 QVPf tbp ininrls nnrl mnnrKar nf >nillir>rie nf \i-r\fn} i-i/»«imo {ry -^ tUnticnnA 
 v/ » w . -..w ......^w ....^« :.i»....w. >, . ... ........ .....till.?, is^j tt t. itvv(i7nliM 
 
 ;t, in a circumscribed and qualified mood, its shapes and sides, 
 
 
 i 
 
 (■ears 
 
237 
 
 lant papacy 
 ccclesiaatic 
 Prelacy, yet 
 idence. — In 
 ry, '* all are 
 issured that 
 viduaily, at 
 hen sick — 
 Tiere excep- 
 -murderers, 
 ;haracter ''' 
 he subjecl , 
 though far 
 nticing and 
 !gree. For 
 of his toga 
 ess, as soon 
 er, plot and 
 y, mawkish 
 jjish, wilful 
 nt and Con- 
 or fanciful 
 metaphor, 
 tch." For 
 nifest signs 
 1 professed 
 tlemn ordi- 
 ost withoui 
 uct ; so that 
 be Church, 
 Wo to them 
 f'lng Peace, 
 to be so." 
 in a less or 
 • tlie graces 
 ?ly of their 
 but also of 
 ;e, decision 
 y, adhesion 
 )pery, is far 
 or audible, 
 
 oiatry is iii 
 ris l^as been 
 ibie nature, 
 m trammels 
 a thousand 
 and sides, 
 
 models and maggots, are as mutable and multiform as the meaning of the 
 word Dissenter ; and its dyes and dimensions more numerous than seventy 
 times seven the seven colors of the rainbow. For a sulky selfish man, 
 whatever is his crape or creed, is, as such, and so far, as infallible in his 
 own conceit, as his infidel infallibility of Rome : And so also of any 
 other Popish error or delusion ' hatever. 
 
 But as to the quotation " lVl(,.t men care nothing for one Church or 
 persuasion by another, but from mere habit, and external circumstances," 
 i wish it were more difficult to prove it by daily experience, and the 
 general open ''"nduci of mankind. But this is a large field for speculation ; 
 and -I feel not this indeed the happiest moment to range it : For it is now 
 deep of night; so that I far more incline to roost and to rest, than to write 
 or to roam. — Of one point, however, I am confident, upon the safest 
 ground, that the more evident the truth of the quoted proposition appears, 
 the less self-application it is like to gain. But generally folk can find 
 no difficulty in forming a judgiinent of opposite parties and persuasions, 
 quite agrteable to my position. Why otherwise are men ordinarily found 
 of the religion of ♦heir parents, and predecessors; and this not seldom 
 in a long row and raige; perhaps for many successive geneiations; and 
 yet living and dym,f most sadly and securely under the open power of 
 most dangerous, or damnable errors, of judgment, or practice ; or of both ! 
 And those not only such as are unibrtunately and wickedly prohibited, 
 and prevented from the free and favorable, blessed and beneficial, aom- 
 menJcd and commanded, salutary and safe perusal of the sacred Scrip- 
 tures — as under the accursed asperity and authority, devotion and delu- 
 sion, doctrine and darkness of Rome ; but men who enjoy the fresh and 
 full, frank and fruitful, bought and binding, broad and bettering boon of 
 access to the holy oracles of Heaven; for their guide and guard, con- 
 viction and correction, companj and comfort, satisfaction and salvation. 
 Again you may observe that, except in, or near populous places, people 
 are more generally, especially in long inhabited countries, like yours, 
 of the same religious outward cast and creed ; and yet, very frequently, 
 and in multitudes, with tne word of life and light in their hands, in their 
 families, or at least, in their close neijrhborhood, and public places of 
 devotion; they pass their days together till their last gasp, either in fear- 
 ful neglect and neutrality, on the score of their eternal concerns; or 
 satisfy both themselves, and one another, with mere religious formalism, 
 or sore superstition. Some have sound creeds, and indifferent, or im- 
 moral lives — others prove their conduct better than their creed ; as we 
 meet in some Socinians and Unitarians— a third sort show both their 
 principles and practice to be at variance with the sacred truth with 
 which their memories and mouths are so richly stored. The majority of 
 men in almost all places, care more for the name of their party and pro- 
 fession, than for the doctrines taught, or the conduct pursued by their 
 leaders ; provided that no innovation come suddenly and unvarnished ; 
 or too expensive and unredeemed, to iheir own humor or interest; Not 
 
 atAtsr /AfKofc 
 ' • - " " t. • 1 ^' I i; 
 
 \n 
 
 "very quarter, -.voulu shift ihcir creed and conduct to 
 the worse, with every new moon, for a paltry improvement of their 
 
Ill 
 
 MB.! 
 
 i^li ' 
 
 •2.18 
 
 xvoriaiy circumstance , provided their names, for so d^uig, be not pul.- 
 lished on the house-tops. Myriads of others would lose their scaip and 
 skin, blood and bile, from credit or conscience, for the sake of a Church 
 and religion, which would be sure to launch them into the gulf of eternal 
 perdition : But more especially, of such as most miserably and implicitly 
 take the blessed Bible (or far rather its hellish shadow and substitute) 
 on wicked men's trust, or at long second-hand. According to their cir- 
 cumstances, or connections, you may not seldom find people— not only 
 the silly and shy, vulgar and void ; but even the otherwise efficient and 
 intelligent admonished and advised, composed and courageous, corn- 
 pacted and combined— to be fearfully apprehensive of the charge of a 
 religious name or gnomon, seal or sound, 6ye or designation, different 
 from their established denomination; and this when the transfei or 
 change of their index might be more beneficial than injurious • As for 
 examples, A Papist is nick-named a Protestant— A Prelatist is hooted as 
 a Presbyterian, or a Methodist— An establishment Presbyter is doomed 
 a bece.ler, an Independent, a Dissenter, a Schismatic ; or, if possible 
 something more fatal. And yet all this mutation of sounds— if properly 
 merited, and graciously embraced— might prove, to its subjects, one of 
 the most invaluable titles, privileges, and benefits imaginable, for both 
 lime and eternity. But the weakness of our nature is sadly manifest on 
 this ground. Or if you happen seriously to object to the unscriptural 
 and stumbling mode of indiscriminate administration of baptism, you 
 must be branded as an Anabaptist.* And yet we find not few excellent 
 individuals of that party; especially of late years— see for instance, Dr, 
 Carey of Calcutta, Mr. and Mrs. Judson, with some of their associates 
 
 ~^r ,""^®*^ ^"^ ""^'®' ^^'"^'^ ^^^ venerable, guides and Christians. 
 Ihis last paragraph will not be thought as indicating partiality ; as you 
 know that I am not now of that persuasion on the point of baptism, more 
 lh;in when I left you. But 1 heartily esteem and admire the missionary 
 spirit and labours of these good people: Though at the same time I 
 humbly regret that such good men should not have more effectually felt 
 the stiff and strong tide of evidence ngainat them on this ground; both 
 in the testimony of so many good and great men, and ministers, and 
 martyrs of modern times; and the numerous consequential and cogent 
 bcripture significations. And I candidly believe tiiat whenever the ne- 
 cessary investigation is made, it will not leave uii.sliaken the best foun- 
 dation of the Baptist, on this score. But I wish to trsat very tenderly 
 on this point ; for it had cost my own poor soul many a restless night, 
 and painful day, serious investigation, and earnest prayer, before I arrived 
 at my present conclusion. Bui the mere silence of the New Testament, 
 on the positive administration of Infant Baptism— which I conceive to 
 be the best resort of Antipaedobaptism— is but too weak and invalid to 
 sustain and overset, all the sound, serious, and sober weight of the argu- 
 ments arrayable and relevant against it.— But I have completely forgot 
 
 * Baptists, or rather Antipasriobaptisti, arc not seldom, either in contempt, or from 
 ignoranes, denominated Anabjiptistn 
 
239 
 
 e not pult' 
 scalp and 
 a Church, 
 'of eternal 
 1 implicitly 
 substitute) 
 
 their cir- 
 — not only 
 icient and 
 
 J0U3, COflT- 
 
 iiarge of a 
 1, different 
 ransfei or 
 13 : As for 
 
 1 hooted as 
 is doomed 
 f possible, 
 if properly 
 ts, one of 
 , for both 
 lanifest on 
 iscriptural 
 )tism, you 
 
 excellent 
 ance, Dr, 
 associates 
 Christians. 
 r \ as you 
 ism, more 
 nissionary 
 le time I 
 tually felt 
 ind ; both 
 sters, and 
 »d cogent 
 er the ne- 
 est foun- 
 I tenderly 
 5SS night, 
 
 I arrived 
 estameii», 
 nceive to 
 invalid to 
 the argu- 
 ely forgot 
 
 iptjOr from 
 
 my »iibject— the>e last lines are mere digressions: For I thonght 1 w»t 
 aotuaily pleading with my worthy friends, of the Baptists; whom I would 
 by no means unnecessarily choose to oUend.—I w»i to sutrijest that 
 comparatively iG\y, people know but very superficially their own professed 
 religious tenets; or t».ose of their serious separatists, and open oppo- 
 nwits; and far less the real grounds of their principle-whether well or 
 III tounded. In most places, and with most persons, religious concerns 
 -but to be neighbor-like— are, alas! of as little real regard as blind- 
 man s-buff with children.-The work of grace, and of eternal salvation 
 IS so very rare in the world, that not one in a thousand, even am >ng 
 nominal Christians, cares for, or knows the least serious and sober noti- 
 tion of It. The mere sound of religion, and designations of persua- 
 sionl^ without any proper sense of human guilt and corruption ; and in 
 the absence of all saving light and life, fill the Christian world with 
 wohil fatalatity and bpi.M.al death. The very general run of religious 
 wrath and wrangling, 0. .sions and distractions, is similar to the idola- 
 trous commotion in "Acts."—- Some cried one thing, and some ano- 
 ther; for the assembly was confused; and the more prrt knew not where- 
 fore they were come together." " For," saith our Saviour, " wide is the 
 gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there 
 be whir.h go in thereat . Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the 
 way, wh4ch ieaaeth unto life, and few there be that find it." " There is 
 a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end tl reof are the 
 ways of death."— Prov. '« Counting one by one, to find out the account 
 —one man among a thousand have I found."— The Preacher " Not 
 every one that saith unto me. Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom 
 of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." 
 Many arc oaUcd, but few are chosen." — Christ. "They loved the 
 praise of men more than the praise of God."— St. John " Jesus an- 
 swered them and said, Vwily, verily, I say unto you, ye seek me not 
 because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves 'and 
 were filled. ' " For the time will come when they will not endure sound 
 doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers 
 having Itching ears." &c.-St. Paul. "Wo unto you, hypocrite, and 
 i»v;yers — or false and wicked comment tors of Scriptures, and pretend- 
 era to infallible decision and judgmeni— " for ye have taken away the 
 key ot knowledge"— prohibited the common gift of the word of God 
 and violently and vainly monopolized its propagation and explanation \ 
 and thus so far— " shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ve 
 enter not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered"— 
 according to your influence and power, by your phiz and falsehood, bells 
 and bulls, pranks and prongs, pry and proscription, pride and pollution, 
 pretence and prosecution. " From a child thou hast known the hoU 
 fecriptures wh h are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through 
 faith which IS in Christ Jesus "-2d Tim. "I write unto you. litfle 
 children because ye have knowr. the Father." &c. " The Bereani were 
 more noble— in that they searched the Scriptures, dailv."— Actg 
 
 vViiat but wretshed inditterence, false ze^l. or the influence of corrupt 
 
 N 
 
•240 
 
 will, and vile affections, under the power of erronaous means of edifica- 
 tion, could render men to force the sacred Scriptures to speak language 
 quite contrary to their plain and unsophisticated meaning, in order to 
 correspond with fond, favorite, and fabricated systems ! Here, for ex- 
 ample, take the peculiar frame of Arminianism. You need not stir or 
 stare, trim or trope; for I intend not, on this ground, to enter upon any 
 vain or varnished, sublime or supralapsarian disquisition ; but only to 
 give you a little plain story of the poor bedrid, neighbor Nancy. Well, 
 as I was to tell you, I happened the other day to visit poor auld Nancy ; 
 and on entering her cabin, she was, as ordinarily, dining on her couch, 
 with her antique pair of spectacles on her skeiet a nose, and her half-a- 
 century Bible open in her trembling hands. ' Now, Nancy," I said, 
 "what is this you are reading to yourself at this time?" " Indeed, Sir," 
 the replied, with a smiling pathos, "I was reading, and marking, here 
 and there, some plain and gracious texts, for my own great comfort, in my 
 weakness and vicissitudes. And I think it very strange that any folk of 
 good sense and sound reason— not to speak of ministers and magistrates 
 — should once nistake, or make others mistake, the clear meaning of 
 them. These gracious truths" — she continued — " seem to rne, as if our 
 merciful heavenly Father purposely appointed them for ot:r particular 
 support and consolation; and especially, for times of trials and tempta- 
 tions." " But," 1 asked, " what particular point, or points you have in 
 view 1" " O ! Sir," she answered, " the glorious and grand doctrine of 
 the fi^'al perseverance of the saints; which is clearly founded on eternal 
 election; accord' g to the sovereign and unchangeable love, and free 
 grace, of God t Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ ; and effec- 
 tually applied, aiid carried on, in due time, by the blessed operation of 
 his Holy Spirit. And," still she continued, " however useful the works 
 of other good books and great authors are, in their own measure, I see, 
 in this blessed boon of heaven, of itself;" pointing to her Bible, " a 
 sufficient clue and connection, of both pith and plainness, for the free 
 and full su[)port and satisfaction of a gracious soul, in the meanest cir- 
 cumstances; and otherwise, under the humblest means and measure of 
 edification and knowledge." " I freely wish," said I, ' to know some 
 of those Scriptures, which you have particularly in view." "Thay are 
 indeed very numerous," said she, " both in the Old and New Testa- 
 ments ; but, at your leave, I will read a few of them ; as 'irst, ' The 
 righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall 
 be stronger and stronger.'—Job xvii. 9. ' Though he fall he shall not be 
 utterly cast down ; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.' — Psalm 
 xxxvii. 24. ' Th'.)u shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward re- 
 ceive me to glory.' — Psalm Ixxiii. 24. ' They that trust in the Lord shall 
 be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removeds but abideth forever.' — 
 Psalm cv. I. ' But the path of the just is as the shining light, that 
 shineth more and more unto the perfect day.' — Prov. iv. 18. ' Many 
 waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.' — Cant, viii. 
 7. ' For we know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were 
 dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not mado with hands, 
 
241 
 
 of edifica- 
 i language 
 I order to 
 re, for ex- 
 not stir or 
 upon any 
 ut only to 
 iy. Well, 
 Id Nancy ; 
 iier couch, 
 her ha!f-a- 
 ," I said, 
 ieed, Sir," 
 
 •ng. 
 
 here 
 
 fort, in my 
 my folk of 
 [lagistrates 
 leaning of 
 }, as if our 
 particular 
 id tempta- 
 >u have in 
 loctrine of 
 on eternal 
 1, and free 
 and effec- 
 teration of 
 the works 
 lure, I see, 
 Bible, " a 
 jr the free 
 eanest cir- 
 r.easure of 
 now gome 
 'TliRV are 
 [ew Testa- 
 irst, 'The 
 lands shall 
 hall not be 
 J.'— Psalm 
 erward re- 
 Lord shall 
 forever.' — 
 light, that 
 3. ' Many 
 -Cant, viii. 
 :iacle were 
 vim iiailua, 
 
 eternal in the heavens.' — 2 Cor. v. 1. ' What shall we then say to these 
 things? If God be for us, who can be against us?' &,c. 'Who shall 
 separate us from the love of Christ f &c. ^ 'Nay, in all these things we 
 are more than conquerors, through him that loved us.' — Rom. viii. 
 ' Who loved me, and gave himself for me.' — St. Paul. 'The peace of 
 God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds 
 through Christ Jesus.' — Phil. iv. 7. ' Henceforththere is laid up for me 
 a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall <rive 
 me at that day ; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love'his 
 appearing.' — 2 Tim. iv. 8. ' Beloved, now we are the sons of God; but 
 it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know, that, when he 
 shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is.' ' And 
 every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is 
 pure.' ' These things have 1 written unto you that believe on the name 
 of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life.' dtc. 
 * And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an under- 
 standing, that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is 
 true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal 
 life.'—l John. 'All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and 
 him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.' — * And this is the 
 Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me 1 
 
 should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.' 'And 
 
 this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son 
 and belicveth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up 
 at the last day.' 'Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that believeth on 
 me hath everlasting life.' ' This is the bread which cometh down from 
 heaven, that a mau may eat thereof, and not die.' — ' I am the living 
 bread which came down frora heaven : if any man eat of this bread, he 
 shall live for ever :'— ' Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, 
 hath eternal life ; and I will raise him up at the last day.' — John, 6th chap! 
 — ' But whosoever drinketh of the water that 1 shall give him shall never 
 thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water 
 springing up into everlasting life.'—' Verily, verily, I say unto you. He 
 that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlastimr 
 life, and shall not come into condemnation ; but is passed from death 
 unto life.'— Ibid. Now, Sir," said Nancy, " I stop, lest 1 should too far 
 impose on your generous indulgence, and more than kill your kind 
 patience. I could continue a lengthy catalogue of such gracious texts 
 to the same purpose ; which, in the course of my daily reading are, with 
 so many other truths, so exhilirating to my poor soul. But for all this, 
 none must think that I pretend to treat of these scriptures, according 
 to the critical notions of scholars in controversy. No, no ; but I seriously 
 believe it would be far safer for people to endeavor to r.nderstand the 
 spiritual meaning of these and such sacred testimonies, for the life of 
 their own souls, than by carping or captious dealing, to endeavor to 
 tempt, or to deprive other humble and sincere souls, of the saving con- 
 solation of these most glorious heavenly benefits to mankind. And T 
 feel also most confident—although, I trust, in humility— that all the 
 
 f-J 
 
242 
 
 1 ■! 
 
 opposition of earth aad hell -hall never be able to invalidate or overset, 
 the general view now taken Ci the scope of what has just been advanced. 
 — I have added, however, one verse, for obviating an objection, more 
 than for confirmation of my main principle ; namely, " And every man that 
 bath this hope in him, pur.fietb himself even as he is pure.' For I hope 
 I know by experience thit this is the genuine result of all saving hope 
 and faith, on the ground I sustain; whatever active, or passive abuse to 
 which this divine doctrine is, or may be, otherwise exposed ; either by its 
 Antinornian and Solifidian professors, or its Armiman and Latitudinarian 
 opposers. Tlie I7th chapter of St. John, as an epitome of our Saviour's 
 intercession with the Father, in the special behalf of his peculiar people 
 —though I was obliged to waive it for brevity's sake— would, of itself, 
 prove a stable pillar of this great gospel article of faith ; the support and 
 comfort of which I would not lose for all the treasures of the A-orld. And 
 as to the specious common objection, that admonitions, exhortations, 
 ■watchlulness and fear, would not work, on our ground, it is only a mere 
 phantom ; and the result of fatal ignorance and error; or rather to serve 
 a turn. It is on this ground that all the persuasions and dissuasions, 
 threatenings and promises, in the word of God, can operate to purpose; 
 and comparatively, but ineffectually, on any other possible system. Will 
 any generous servant desert or despise his beneficent and bountiful master ; 
 or neglect, not only his right and reasonable, but his apt and amiable, 
 proud and profitable services, merely because — as the best stimulus to 
 insure obedience— his said lord and master, binder and benefactor, most 
 graciously engages to give and grant all powerful and permanent succor 
 and support, in struggles and straits, vapidness and weaknes.s, dizziness 
 and despair, necessary for the present performance, and final perfection 
 of the doings exacted, and the duties enjoined ! Who, but a rogue or n 
 rascal, a knag or a knave, could ever be capable of abusing such benefi- 
 cence and bounty ! And who, but miscreants or madmen ; and what 
 but folly and vanity, could onto prefer a different mode of engagement, 
 on the part of a ruler, in secular and civil concerns? But who can de- 
 scribe the frenzy and fatality of fallen and forlorn nature, in despising 
 aud deriding this most gracious and congenial, this benignant and sur- 
 pnt'ing compassion and condescension of Heaven, in favor of sick and 
 soaked, sad and saped mankind ! Or who can conceive the ignorance 
 and insolence, the mist and mockery, the puff and pride, of corrupt and 
 crazy, fragile and frigid, fallen and foiled humanity, in preferring any 
 differi-nt or diverse system or styptic, destiny or dispensation; without 
 feeling, at once, the powerful conflict of the softest commiseration, and 
 the soundest indignation !" 
 
 Here poor Nancy respired. And while I admit the style has under- 
 gone a slight tinge of my pen, I assure you, and all concerned, that the 
 sense aud substance, drift aud divinity of the remarks are wholly her 
 own. And without r.ny comment from me, on her sentiments, I could 
 heartily wish that all the country, and the world at large, would prove, 
 by the correctness of their conductj the coodnesa of their nrincitjifis as 
 well as the soft and savory, humble and holy, bedrid auld Nancy. ' I have 
 
343 
 
 r overset, 
 advanced, 
 on, more 
 f man that 
 or I hope 
 ing hope 
 
 abuse to 
 ;her by its 
 udinarian 
 Saviour's 
 ar people 
 
 of itself, 
 pport and 
 rid. And 
 ortatiuus, 
 ily a mere 
 r to serve 
 ssuasions, 
 purpose; 
 jm. Will 
 il master; 
 I amiable, 
 imulus to 
 ;tor, most 
 nl succor 
 dizziness 
 )erfection 
 ogue or a 
 ch benefi- 
 and what 
 [agement, 
 can de- 
 despising 
 t and sur- 
 sick and 
 Ignorance 
 rrupt and 
 rring any 
 ; without 
 ttion, and 
 
 as under' 
 , that the 
 'holly her 
 I, I could 
 lid prove, 
 
 .,. J. .,,.., .... 
 
 I have 
 
 now spun out my letter to a tedious length ; although my subjects are 
 but comparatively briefly handled. You can readily overlook the ira- 
 methodical order in which I have taken up your quotations ; for 1 saw 
 no reason for cny particular arrangement, on thet score. I have treated 
 on the quoted remarks just as they struck my mind ; and reserved to the 
 last, that which appeared to me as of greater importance than the rest, 
 viz: The general, fearful, and fatal indifference of mankind about their 
 spiritual and eternal concerns.—This is a subject which I can hardly 
 abandon.— It is but a heart of steel, that feels neutral on this awful 
 ground ; althmugh some of my old neighbors there may give me, on this 
 point, but little thanks for my pains; still my hearing and anxious soul 
 springs from place to place— skips from kingdom to kingdom— and flies 
 trom pole to pole— musing and masking and mourning! To see man— 
 precious man— to whom most gracious Heaven declares, that if he should 
 gain tne whole world, it were still but loss, in losing his own soul; To 
 see I say, this, this glorious being fast asleep under the injurious power, 
 and ungenerous pride of his cancerous and confirmed native corrupiioa 
 and guilt ; either in the absence of maans of saving knowledge, or in 
 their formal and false enjoyment, feeding on fancy and vanity— loving 
 Hattery and falsehood— hating purity and plain-deaiing ; To see, I repeat 
 this mysterious sub-deity— second-crealioa—first-born of Jehovah, under 
 his probationary and portentous, fortunate and fatal destiny, thus stand 
 careless, if not cureless, on the very break and brink, verge and vortex 
 ot life or death eternal— is a sight and scene most arousing, most arrest- 
 ing, most alarming. The least and loftiest, the humblest and highest 
 the peasant and the prince, the kidder and the king, the Presbyter and 
 the Priest, the pauper and the Pope, are all on a level on this most 
 logomachious and lamentable score:—" As it is written. There is none 
 righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none 
 that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are 
 together become unprofitable." &c. " Let the wise become fools, that 
 they may be wise." " For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with 
 (jod." " They hate him thu rebuketh in the gates."— Amos. " Having a 
 lorm of godliness, but denying the power thereof."— St. Paul. The waters 
 of Jordan and Jacob's-well, of Thames and Tigris, of Nile and Teptune, 
 are equally ineffectual for our spiritual baptism and purification ; without 
 the operative and experimental, fructiferous and famous, sanative and 
 saving, application of the " fountain opened to the house of David, and 
 to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness." But which 
 few do know, and not many desire. "If any man love the world, the 
 love of the Father is not in him." "The secret of the Lord is with 
 them that fear him." " If ye love me," saith Christ to his disciples, 
 "keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall 
 give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever ; even 
 the spint of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him 
 not, neither knoweth him ; but ye know him ; for he dwelleth with you, 
 and shall be in you." "Judas saith unto him, (not Iscariot) Lord, how 
 IS it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto ub, and not unto'the world I 
 
 I 
 
 » I 
 <■ il 
 
 ^ '4 
 
344 
 
 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my 
 words ; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and 
 make our abode within him."— St. John xiv. " He that loveth father or 
 mother more than me, is not worthy of me : and he that loveth son or 
 daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not 
 his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me."— Matt. x. 37, 38. 
 
 The subjects of your letter beinjr both serious and numerous, I could 
 not have passed them over without this trial of your patience. If you 
 find my ren)arks any wise agreeable to your wishes, you can continue 
 the communication, upon these, or any other important topics; but if 
 otherwise, you are welcome either to start your objections, in a candid 
 and dispassionate spirit, or to drop the correspondence. 
 
 With sincere desires for your present edification, and eternal interest, 
 I remain, dear friend, your's, &,c. C. D. 
 
 1 Summary of a late Correspondence, on the subject of the diversity and contrariety 
 0) religious sentiments in the world, betioecn two acquaintants : The one in the 
 State of JVeto York, and the other in Cape Breton. 
 
 Ilfliaii 
 
 At C jCou.NTY OF L , State of New York, 
 
 September 7th, 1842. 
 
 Dear Sir, — Owing to the late vigorous and violent spread of so many 
 and various branches of religious persuasions in this country, and its 
 concomitant and consequent confusion and distraction, struggles and 
 strife, now even in my own neighborhood, I wish to resume our corres- 
 pondence ; in hopes that you might assist or relieve my mind, on some 
 of the subjects more immediately affecting my concern, since I received 
 your last friendly letter in the year 1838. Calvinism, Arminianism, 
 Mysticism, Universalism, Deism, Idealism or Scepticism ; and some tints 
 of Popery from Baltimore, where a Bishop of that denomination is estab- 
 lished. As to Quakerism, it has been deeply rooted all around us ; 
 especially in Philadelphia, and all th« State of Pennsylvania, since the 
 days of its founder, the famous William Penn. There is a swarm of 
 other branches, under the general name of Nevvlights, which would be 
 tedious to enumerate ; but the worst pests we have, are the proselytes of 
 the well-known name Tom Paine ; whose work is now likely *o deluge 
 the whole land, with dark and dangerous infidelity, and outrageous 
 immorality. But as to such as deny the sacred Scriptures, though their 
 influence is fearfully pestiferous, over the minds and mimners cf the 
 ignorant and the unstable ; yet I feel more concerned how to carry my- 
 self towards these, who not only acknowledge, but zealously admire, and 
 pretend to venerate the word of God, as the main or only rule and standard 
 of their principles and practice, conduct and conversation. — The main 
 point of my inquiry is, How to decide with certainty, on controverted 
 subjects? Or to know, Whether there is any fixed or established, in- 
 fallible or unsubvertible criterion, in the Scriptures themselves, by which 
 
245 
 
 ill keep my 
 o him, and 
 th father or 
 relh son or 
 taketh not 
 I. X. 37, 38. 
 us, I could 
 ;e. If you 
 n continue 
 ics; but if 
 in a candid 
 
 al interest, 
 C. D. 
 
 d contrariety 
 he one in the 
 
 Ew York, 
 
 of SO many 
 ;ry, and its 
 uggles and 
 our corres- 
 I, on some 
 I received 
 minianism, 
 
 some tints 
 m is estab- 
 iround us ; 
 , since the 
 
 swarm of 
 1 would be 
 ■oselytes of 
 f *,o deluge 
 outrageous 
 lough their 
 lers cf the 
 
 carry my- 
 dinire, and 
 id standard 
 -The main 
 )ntroverted 
 }lished, in- 
 i, by which 
 
 people, especially simple and unlearned men, like mvself, could arrive 
 at unerrmg decisions, as to the main difference between right and wrong, 
 heterodox and orthodox principles, which are so hotly debated between 
 powerful and numerous parties? And if there is such a criterion or 
 estimate. What is it ; and how to find it ? For it is in my own view a 
 most melancholy and desperate condition, to be left here^ like a vessel 
 without helm, or her captain without compass, at the wild mercy of 
 waves and winds; or as a football for the mad sport of every religious 
 wrangler, or the duped victim of every tossed and twisted disputation. 
 Your deliberate and candid answer, therefore, at your first convenience 
 cannot fail of much obliging, Dear Sir, yours, &c. 
 
 S. M. 
 
 REPLY. 
 
 At S. a..., Cape Breton, 22d x\ovember, 1842; 
 Dear Sir,— I but very lately received your letter, dated the 1st Sep- 
 tember last; whose contents, though very reasonable and important, 
 would devolve on me a task, in a high degree, I seriously much fear| 
 too far beyond my compass and capacity, of apprehension and decision. 
 Not that your inquiries have at all surprised, or taken me at unaware; 
 lor they are but such as my own difficulties, on the same and similar 
 subjects, not seldom suggest to my own mind ; but I most sincerely tell 
 you, I would a hundred fold far rather obtain, than attempt to return 
 any answer to them. J think there might be given on this ground, 
 something like postulates, axioms, or fundamental propositions, which 
 would, in a certain degree, assist the anxiously inquiring mind, farther 
 than any thuig of the kind, with whicli I aim yet favored, through ail my 
 life, in my limited means of information and knowledge. And buried 
 alive as now I am, and have been, in this thicket of comparative darkness, 
 for the space of a long score of years, I have but little access to borrowed 
 assistance on this serious score. But though I do not presume to give 
 any fully satisfactory answer to your q-^eries,! will write you some ot"the 
 rules by which I endeavor myself to I jided in searching the meaning 
 of any text of: Scripture, or point of cont. uversy under doubt or discussion. 
 — As-first, To examine carefully v.^hether the same text is to be under- 
 stood literally, or metaphorically. This will sometimes require a good 
 deal of caution and candour ; but in the more important cases for all ; 
 but especially for ordinary readers, both the context and parallel scrip- 
 tures will help much on this point. Without this rule a Prelate or a 
 Fope, IS as apt to blabber and to blunder, as a pauper or a peasant. 
 1 here never has been any thing in the religious world, of greater con- 
 sequence for good or evil, faith or falsehood, error or orthodoxy, than 
 the preserving or perverting of this particular point. Heresy would 
 starve to death but by trespassing this rule. Some taught "that the 
 resurrection was already past."— 2 Tun. ii. 18. Popery would be lame 
 nut on the same ground. Purgatory and transubstantiation would expire 
 
 toffether. hut in tho Ki-on/.!! nC *u\^ ,.,u p.,_ ii.. -^ _ ■ i i 
 
 ,-' ' ~ "■■•• •" '"''' lu:--. fur iiiauiy Biiuiigc, anu uias- 
 
 pheinously wicked, as it appears to every other sober person, Christ, 
 
246 
 
 oar ever blessed Lord and S«viour, and a silly wafer — consecrated by 
 the wicked mummery and mumbling of a wicked priest — are one and 
 the same to the deluded Papist. And all this wilful and wicked impo- 
 sition, on the part of the priesthood, continued, under the light of the 
 niripteenth century, and in the midst of Protestantism, merely by mis- 
 taking the figurative sense of a most plain text, for its literal meaning : — 
 Hoc est meum corpus — " This is my body." The folly and wiles of hell 
 could not fabricate nor foster a more maggoty, monstrous, and mad ex- 
 planation. Yet it is possible that the provoking sins of Popery, against 
 clear light and knowledge, on the part of its clergy — although otherwise 
 in a high degree with its blind laity — draw upon its wilful priesthood, 
 such judicial blindness, permitted by the sovereign dispensation of 
 Heaven, as renders, at least some of its very leaders themselves to believe 
 in such ridiculous and blasphemous explanation, as this under remark; 
 According to 2d Thess. chap. 2. " Because they received not the love 
 of the truth, that they might be saved — for this cause God shall send 
 them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might 
 be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteous- 
 ness." Mark, for instance, how ridiculously absurd would it be to ex- 
 plain, in a literal sense, the following text .spoken by our Saviour to his 
 disciples: — "Call no man on earth your father, or your master:" And 
 the words of St. Paul, to the Thessaloni^ns ; "Let us not sleep as do 
 others." And on the other hand, to deny the literal import of the ensu- 
 ing scriptures, would involve similar absurdity : " Every house is builded 
 by some one:" — "One star differeth from another star in glory:" or, as 
 in the original — For star differeth from star in glory (in light). — St Paul. 
 And so of thousand other examples. The second general rule I observe 
 for myself is, that when many, or several texts, are apparently contrary 
 to each other in their meaning, I feel fully assured that one of the two 
 opposite clusters, must not be taken freely in its apparent sense. My 
 next step is, to compare very deliberately, as in the sight of Heaven, and 
 with as little prepossession as possible, the said apparently opposite two 
 clusters; and to see which of them is more plain in its meaning, without 
 any violence or change. 1 ordinarily find here — blessed be the Lord — 
 at least two advantages, going hand in hand : Where I meet the plainer 
 meaning, I find also, by far the greater number of texts. This is a point 
 of blessed notoriety. thi.i never fails ; nor can escnpe the notice and 
 knowledge of the s.n.ple and sincere examiner of sacred truth. This 
 rule holds also the same, whether we have two or three; or a score of 
 varieties and opposiies to compare. And there is not a possibility of 
 disappointment to the man that can properly try and tend it. It is as 
 necesf-arily true as a mathematical axiom. And the Infallibility of Rome, 
 and all its foolish and wicked pretence or imitation, is but a mad con- 
 fusion in this comparison. This is the gracious gift of Heaven, to fallen 
 mankind ; and it is worthy of its glorious and condescending Author. 
 My third grade, in this process, is, to try the opposite series or order, by 
 
 i\\o nnalnrru f»f nihnr nlnin afrinlnrpa • a"d 'hp C'lSfiUenfe IB. that wliat- 
 
 '" oJ '" "' " 1 "f" "~ ! "" """ 1 " ' 
 
 ever seeming opposition, or contradiction this latter cluster bears to the 
 
rated by 
 one and 
 sd impo- 
 it of the 
 by mis- 
 aning : — 
 53 of hell 
 mad ex- 
 ', against 
 )therwise 
 iesthood, 
 sation of 
 :o believe 
 remark ; 
 . the love 
 hall send 
 all mio[ht 
 iofhteous- 
 be to ex- 
 iir to his 
 :" And 
 jep as do 
 the ensu- 
 3 builded 
 :" or, as 
 -St Paul. 
 I observe 
 contrary 
 
 the two 
 use. My 
 aven, and 
 osite two 
 r, without 
 e Lord — 
 le plainer 
 is a point 
 otice and 
 Ih. This 
 score of 
 iibility of 
 
 It is as 
 of Rome, 
 mad con- 
 I, to fallen 
 r Author, 
 order, by 
 :hat what- 
 irs to the 
 
 247 
 
 former order, it can still be explained without any real violence (o it. 
 exts; but quite agrt.able to its contexts; and at the .ame Virne as co- 
 respondent to us former seeming opposite. Thi, is both a e Tnd and n 
 simple harmony in the word of God. But lest, in this experiment I 
 should be part.al. from prejudice o. bigotry, arising from ocle y or se?fi;h. 
 "?' r' r ]""''''''' ^ ''^'' ^ ''""^'h turn; and that is in try nfto 
 
 t I Zo "'''"''. PT'"'. '" °'"^^'- '" '''' ^"^ ^^r i' i« possible to m^ak° 
 •t I armomze with other plan, parts or portions of the scriptural account 
 of fallen humanity and of the glorious scheme of salvation. butT 
 nenr^^T.r;'- '''•"'' '"'^ ""detached-all is confusion and de ng 
 
 concerned FoZ '" P'"''"'"" '' '^' ^"^"''^' ^'^'S'^^ ^'''^e subjec s 
 concerned. For th s is a most gracious and universal method ; and most 
 
 conspicuous through all the revealed will of Heaven ; that aciordinTto 
 
 the co,nparat.ve importance of any sacred truth, its undisguised s^mZity 
 
 or plainness is in the same proportion. In the fifth place. 1 rec Ho mJ 
 
 TofZZ^'''"'T' 'f '''•'' '^ '''"' '^"'""'^y and'thankfulne s to t e 
 a'ce' MvlTi"" ^'"""T ^PP«'"?«"^ «nd condescending assist- 
 ance. My sixth step is, to endeavor, in the perusal of scriptures to mark 
 a particular distinction between extraordinary and ordfnayiiftsar J 
 graces ; believing, as I fully do, that the former have forever ceaC wi h 
 
 AndthT,°" T' '"^- "''^ "" ^^'''^' ^'^"' '" '^'^ "Rev ation'' 
 And that therefore it is as arrogant and wicked for any man, o^ set of 
 
 to thp^lT'' 'T''"^, t° "Infallibility of judgment and d cision or 
 Lif or " n^"^ '/ "'"■'''''= "' '\'^' possession of any extraordinary 
 ^ll* A ^ ! "° common to good and gracious men in general as to 
 pretend o Apostleship. Whenever this distinction is once^ransgressed 
 or overlooked adieu to the sense of truth, humility and hdmess' 
 Connected with this head is, in my view, to give due deference to the 
 ^r.^M "'""'' '"^ conduct of eminentlf good and learned men 
 especially Ministers and Martyrs; who have nolably showed,-by "he ; 
 ives, and suffering; and especially by martyrdom, or endurance of Z. 
 rXlnn ^°""7"' imprisonment and death,-the power of truth and true 
 m„ ir lu , '.""^ °'^" P^'^' ^'^""gh """« <^«" reprobate, more than 
 
 myself, the evil of implicit faith, in the absence of the clear' revelation 
 of Heaven for our foundation, yet I still wish to feel tender fear and 
 hesita ion. in refusing or adopting any principle or practice, of any serious 
 importance ; in the very face of a vast majority of such eviderfce ever! 
 
 partly the first means of stimulating my own exertion on this my method 
 of Scripture examination. And I much pity the man, who pretends to 
 be an anxious inquirer after truth, that has never experienced serious 
 hesitation on the same ground. As for example, where, I ask can 
 
 -aourr W?"" ^"^ ''''■"'''' "^ '^' "^''''^ Worthies." and the 
 Cloud of Witnesses" m its own favor? Never did. and never will 
 iMor, ndeed, I am humbly confident to assert, any other party or deno' 
 
 rJ."!^r '.'"/'- r'^K-^'^ "'"P^- '' ^"'^^'" P--P'- or P7a'ctice the 
 r-^..== oi vvnai the subjects ol the said eminent memoirs, professed' an J 
 supported by their life and death. The more I examine the word of 
 
248 
 
 k. 
 
 
 revelation, according to my method, the more I ngree with the principal 
 religious sentiments of the good and great and numerous cloud under 
 consideration. Let noi such as vainly acknowledge the propriety of these 
 last remarks; but who are far the very contrast of those deservedly 
 commended, anywise pride themselves, upon the score of a mere name ; 
 which will never stand the touchstone of the word of " testimony." My 
 next purpose, is in the seventh place, to be never stubborn or refractory 
 on this point ; but to stand always, in the fear of God, open to conviction ; 
 especially for improvement; and in this mind to make use of every likely 
 means for my correction, admonition, edification, confirmation, or com- 
 fort; and in this mind to endeavor, during my life on earth, to be either 
 under the most likely practicable means for my own religious instruction ; 
 or to attempt, according to my circumstance and measure of knowledge, 
 to instruct others ; and this last point, as free of self-interest and worldly 
 gain as possible : According to the text, " Freely ye have received, freely 
 give." — And Christ said, " Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, 
 and become as little children"— that is, humble and properly teachable 
 
 " ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."—" The wisdom that 
 
 is from above, is easy to be entreated." &c. If, after my previous 
 acknowledgments, any should be apt to say, that I write but a sham 
 account of my religious tenderness, and that I never suspected my own 
 judgment, or my power of investigation according to my seeming self- 
 diffidence, I answer that 1 have written nothing but serious and unvar- 
 nished truth, in my reply to you. And moreover, I tell you positively, 
 that my zealous anxiety, from my youth, after Scripture knowledge, 
 exposed me to great temptations, of which the generality of even religious 
 people are, by experience, quite ignorant. By my keen thirst, or per- 
 haps, in a long degree, rather my curiosity for religious improvemeut, 
 never allowed me, in my earlier years, to pass any opportunity of reading 
 any religious book falling in my way. Through my sad ignorance of the 
 powerful influence of sly errors on an unexperienced mind, 1 was, by this 
 means, for a certain period of my life, a Papist ; though you know I was 
 bor« and bred up a Protestant. After sore struggles, which would be 
 tedious now to enumerate, I got disentangled from that dreadful delu- 
 sion. The next trap for me was Universalism. I was taken in that snare 
 for about a year and a half; which, after sucking very plausible doctrines 
 indeed, I found as destructive as my former deception; and yet that is 
 enough indeed ! Heaven knows what mental suffering these things cost 
 me ! " After that Infidelity ; or in other words, both Deism and Atheism 
 
 infernal terms— arrested and infested my very soul, for at least the 
 
 space of two whole years ; But not so much, like my othev errors, by the 
 reading of wicked or infidel books, as by deistical and atheistical sugges- 
 tions, piercing, not seldom, as it were, my very spirit through and through : 
 The Lord permitting these long and sore temptations, I hope, for my 
 subsequent spiritual advantage. Don't think that I write these things at 
 random ; for I think them too serious to treat them lightly. Q,uakery 
 aftected my mind, rather unknown, at the time, to auy but myself. For 
 some time, however, I relinquished secret devotion ; not from any disre- 
 
principal 
 ud under 
 y of these 
 leservedly 
 ire name ; 
 ny." My 
 refractory 
 Dnviction ; 
 ery likely 
 I, or com- 
 be either 
 struction ; 
 nowledge, 
 id worldly 
 ^ed, freely 
 converted, 
 teachable 
 isdom that 
 ' previous 
 It a sham 
 id my own 
 ming self- 
 nd unvar- 
 positively, 
 nowledge, 
 1 religious 
 it, or per- 
 »rovemeut, 
 ot reading 
 ince of the 
 /as, by this 
 now I was 
 would be 
 idful delu- 
 that snare 
 3 doctrines 
 yet that is 
 things cost 
 ,d Atheism 
 t least the 
 ors, by the 
 cal sugges- 
 d through : 
 pe, for my 
 e things at 
 Q,uakery 
 
 ..;-~\r 
 
 any disre- 
 
 249 
 
 i^ard to religion, or its serious concerns; Imt from Qnakerly fipnliments, 
 as fearing it more offensive to Heaven to perform any Hevotional duties 
 without what I esteemed the presence and previous lively exercise of the 
 Holy Spirit, ihan a suspension of my external worship. This brought 
 on me a lingerin^f decay in the inward man; till I was drawn into the 
 gulf of temptation, and a sad condition to purpose. O! the sad state, 
 even of religious zealous men, without the real guidance of the word of 
 God ! My next trial and temptation fell out on the ground of Arminian- 
 ism. I read much on that subject; and induljied my family to do the 
 same, probably too far. But under a long and heavy fever, rnd in n)y 
 great weakness of body and mind ; and under deep desertion of my 
 wonted .<;piritual peace and joy, for tlie space of six weeks, I believe<l — 
 or at least fearfully dreaded — I was fallen from grace. This was by far 
 the heaviest aHliction that ever hits arrested my soul. But it has, I humbly 
 trust, proved, in the hand of Divine Providence, an effectual means to 
 stimulate my mind to a more and more serious examination of the prin- 
 ciples more directly and commonly in contrast, on ttiis ground, viz : 
 Arminianism and Calvinism. You know, I am not going now to dispute 
 these principles. And I know that good people may be tinted with 
 Arminianism, as well as with other errors of judgment. But after the 
 freest deliberation, and the closest investigation of it, 1 am lully persua- 
 ded that very few errors, if any now in the Christian world, exclusive of 
 Popery, o'c; of equal evil and danger with it. This insinuating, sly, and 
 slaying principle has, for a long time, filled the religious world with its 
 fatal influence. But it was not the principle of the prophets, or of the 
 Apostles. And where, I ask, besides, will you point out to me, any 
 eminent martyrs, pui)licly professing the fundamental pomts of this 
 principle (as opposed to Calvinism), and showing forth the praise of the 
 Lord, in prisons, and on scaffolds, as freely excited and assisted by the 
 lively presence and spiritual influence of the Holy Ghost, as both a per- 
 sonal and public token of Heaven's approbation of their witnessincr and 
 suffering. Ileal Arminianism, to use a figure, will spread most, and 
 thrive best, in temperate zones. It will patiently and punctually undergo 
 lesser and lower privations and suffering; for these shall well agree with 
 its genuine spiritual pride and boast, of self-suflicience, and legal merit: 
 But the [..ord has never yet shewed, and never will show, his divine 
 approval, of any principle contrary to his own revelation in the Scrip- 
 tures ; as this delusive and dangerous heresy certainly is. There arc hard- 
 ly any controverted points, in the word of God, among Protestants, more 
 richly conspicuous throughout the Bible, especially in the Psalms, am! 
 the New Testament, than liie perseverance of real believers, as connected 
 with, and flowing from, their particular and eternal election and pre- 
 destination ; and the total spiritual incapacity of fallen humanity, for its 
 own recovery or saving redemption. For where there is no will, theru 
 is no power. It is as easy to prove that there is no sun in the firmament, 
 as the reverse of these points. The religion that is farthest above and 
 against fiUen nature, is the religion of the Bible; but this is, by no 
 means, the religion of Arminius; but a thing, in a long degree, within 
 
 Iji'i 
 
 if'! 
 
250 
 
 the grasp mid ^rip of my native liiimauity ; but too flattering and favor- 
 able to my self-power mid pride to be true ! I would not veMlure my 
 «oul, on that sandy foundation, for a tbouisand worlds ! " Who c-j bring 
 a clean thing out of an unclean?"— Job. "Behold I was shapen in 
 iniquity; and in sin did my rnotiier conceive me." — Psalma. •' There is 
 none that dorih ^ood, no not one." " For I know tba in me (that is 
 in my flebli) (hvclielb ho jjood thinjr.'— St. Paul. Bi i how safe and sure 
 IS the state of true believers.— " And we know that all tliinas work 
 together for L'ood to tliein ihat love God, to them who are tlPe calif d 
 accordinnr to his purpose."—" For whom he did foreknow, he also did 
 predestinate to be conformed to tbe iniarre of his Son, that he might be 
 the first-born among many brethren."—" Moreover, whom he did predes- 
 tmate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified • 
 and whom he justihod, them he also glorified."—" What bliallwe then 
 say to these things? H God be for ns, who can be again.^t us?"—" lie 
 that spared not liis own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall 
 he not with him also freely give us all things ?"-" Who shall lay any 
 thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."— " Who 
 IS he that condeir.neth? It i.s Christ that died, vea rather, that is risen 
 again, who is even at the ri-bt hand of God, who also maketh intercession 
 for us."—" Who .shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribula- 
 tion, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or 
 sword?"— "As it is written. For thy sake we are killed all tbe day long; 
 we are accounted as dieep for the slaughter."-" Nay, in all these things 
 we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." — " For 1 am 
 persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor 
 powers, nor things present, nor things to come," — "Nor height,' nor 
 depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us fromllie love 
 of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Romans viii. Vide 1 Pei. i. 
 10 and 11. Why would any serious or tender-minded Arminian feel 
 angry, at the rehearsal and af)plication of such sacred texts, as the imme- 
 diately foregoing blessed mode of reasoning, infallible affirmations and 
 conclusions, and implied most triumphant promises, left on record by the 
 Holy Ghost, through the medium of St. Paul, as Christ's " chosen vessel," 
 for the encouragement and comfort, confirmation and gratitude, of all 
 good Christians and true believers! For if he is once under the'suving 
 influence of divine grace, he is included in those most gracious promises ; 
 and if he has no permanent right to them, he has nothing yet that cari 
 efficiently sustain his faith at death, or absolve his soul at judgment. 
 For the solemn and sacred texts, under remark— let it be noted— are not 
 detached, solitary, or obscure points, requiring exposition, or circumlo- 
 cution ; or subject to various or double meaning, at the mercy of every 
 captious and carping critic. No, no: They are open, free, and full; 
 spacious, unvarnished, and fundamental ; so that if tl;e Apostle, when 
 he wrote them, under the infallible dictation and influence of the Holy 
 Ghost, did not infallibly believe his own eternal salvation, and that, at 
 least, of all his gracious correspondents, to be infallibly sure; as. by a 
 most gracious and sovereign climax, or necessary chain, connected with. 
 
'251 
 
 g and favoT- 
 veMiure my 
 'ho c.") bring 
 'as shapen in 
 •' There ia 
 me (that is, 
 safe and sure 
 tilings work 
 re the called 
 , he also did 
 he might he 
 e did predes- 
 Ifo justified : 
 lall we tlien 
 us?"— "He 
 ,11, how shall 
 hall lay any 
 h."— " Who 
 that is risen 
 intercession 
 5hall tribula- 
 or peril, or 
 le day long ; 
 these things 
 "For 1 am 
 ipalities, nor 
 height, nor 
 om tlie love 
 i^ide 1 Pel. i. 
 minian feel 
 IS the imme- 
 nations and 
 ecord by the 
 )sen vessel," 
 itude, of all 
 r the saving 
 IS promises; 
 fet that can 
 I judgment, 
 ed — are not 
 )i circumlo- 
 cy of every 
 g, and full ; 
 )ostle, when 
 )f the Holy 
 and that, at 
 e ; as, by a 
 lected with. 
 
 and proceeding from, eternal, unchangeable and particular or special 
 election and predestination, I know not what is the use or sense of his 
 language through all his writing : And I challenge the world to give here 
 a dilferent explanation with any consistency, propriety, or shadow of truth. 
 As to many simple victims, that are enticed and entangled by the per- 
 suasion untie'- consideration, who have more zeal and sincerity, than 
 proper sense and circumspection, I would not choose to write any thing 
 harshly about them : They are, in my view, more to he pitied than up- 
 braided; since they have hardly any judgment for themselves, in religious 
 concerns; but their all, on this ground, is in the sleeve of their leaders. 
 But for such as are possessed of a good stock of biblical knowledge, as 
 well as natural understanding, there is nothing but the power of prejudice 
 and pride, in support of a favorite system, and in the ni)sencc; of due 
 concern and investigation, could leave them, for a long life, under their 
 fatal blindness, and opposition to such meridian sacred light, as the 
 glorious scriptures last quotcH. necessarily suggest and shed around them 
 at first sight, and undisguised to every sensihie and unprejudiced mind 
 in the world ; the very simplest humble Christian not excepted; so that 
 the man, who dares once wrest them from their divine and simple drift 
 and scope, may trifle or tamper at pleasure with any other texts in the 
 ♦hole word of God. I do not choose to speak or to write unadvisedly, 
 of men in great repute and esteem, among numerous, sober, and respect- 
 able people. But whatever degree of good the famous Wo.sleys have 
 efl'ected, by their example and writing they have done incalculable evil. 
 'J'hose commonly denominated Wesleyans, ere generally so quiet, kind, 
 .aid unassuming, both in their moral and religious behavior; and also so 
 zealous, patient and persevering, in endeavoring to do good in the world, 
 that 1 feel, in sincerity, very reluctant to suggest any tiling untcnderly 
 or disrespectfully of them. But by their being in a less or greater degree 
 leavened with Arminianisfn, I am fully sure that, so far, their tenets and 
 doctrines are dantfcrous and unsafe. And moreover the Wcsloys taught 
 some uiiHcriptural principles beyond Arminius himself; ^specially sinless 
 perf(&c!,ioii in this life, and a total falling from grace, to bei*ossible; and 
 on their plan, likely in the same person. But many of their followers do 
 not choose to admit that they professed these points. But I have the 
 Catechism of Mr. John Wesley on the subject, just now before me, laying 
 on the table; which runs as follows : — 
 
 "Uues. What is implied in being a prrfect Christian I 
 
 " Ans. The loving of the Lord our God with all our iieart, and with 
 all our mind, and soul and strength. 
 
 "Q.'Does thirf imply that all inward sin is taken away? 
 
 " A. Without doubi : or how could we be said to be saved from all our 
 uncleanness? Ezek. xxxvi. 29." "We grant that many of those who 
 dieil in the failli,yea, the greater part of those we have known, were not 
 sanctified throughout, not made perfect in love, till a little before death." 
 
 "Q,. What, then, is the point wherein we divide;" [/. c differ froiu 
 our brethren.] 
 
 ''A. It is this: Whether wc should [expect to be saved from all siu 
 before the ariicio of dcuth ? 
 
 ; -'il 
 
•I 
 
 " U. U Ihcre r.ny Scripture pnuuises of this, that God will save us from 
 all sill f 
 
 "'^•. '^'l'^',';,.'''.^'''- cxxx. 8. "He bhall re.lrein Israel from all hi» 
 itJiquitics. J Ins IS more largely expressed in Ezek. xxxvi. 25 29 " ^c 
 
 in some of the account of his life, I rend where this same Mr. Wesley 
 acknowledged freely to some of his religious friends, that he believed 
 liimse.l to lave attained to this perfection, of which we treat. Now this 
 IS a man, with all his knowledge and profession, yet showing his fearful 
 Ignorance, both of himself, and of the Scripture account on the subject 
 I'or my own part, I can think it nothing short of spiritual lethargy, or 
 religious madness. If there was nothing in the Bible, but the 7th 
 chapter of Romans, to keep Scripture readers off this rock, of fa-iciful 
 perfection, you would think it fully snflicient ; l;esides that the longer 
 any experienced Christian lives, and the mere he knows of God and of 
 Christ and of the enjoyment of saving grace, the farther he is from 
 that dangerous and daring delusion And as to the opposite extreme, 
 Wesley m his said Catechism, on the point of falling from grace, writes 
 111 the following maiiMer :— an. 
 
 II Q,. Can faith be Just but through disobedience 7 
 
 "A. It can not. A believer Hrst disobeys ; inclines to sin with his 
 heart; th a his intercourse with God is cut off, /. c. his faith is lost: and 
 after this lie may fall into outward sin, being now weak and like another 
 ni tin. 
 
 It is but quite natural for men who once stumble upon the plainest 
 truths, that they have no fixed rule to prevent then, from ridiculous and 
 dangerous extremes and inconsistencies. This ly sidly the case with 
 this celebrated religious Teacher. Such men, I freely admit, may be 
 and actually are ; and not seldom, even upon a large scale, the means 
 of a great deal of stir and change to the better, among their fellow-nien 
 in a moral and ecclesiastical point of view. But that the Lord would 
 render these, or similar characters, laboring themselves under the power 
 of h.igrant heresy, to bt- the immediate instruments, of gracious revolu- 
 tions, and t^aviug conversions, and that in such a conspicuous manner as 
 their adherents fondly believe eoucerning the Wesleys, and iheir leading 
 ollowers, are points quite inconsistent with the will of God revealed in 
 MS own word. 1 most deliberately and sincerely believe, and that from 
 long acquaintance of their seiiti.nents and conduct, that there is not 
 the same degree of morality, apparent humility and kindness, and con- 
 fniucd religious formalism in any otiier community in the world, with as 
 litUe ol the real power of godliness, as among Wesleyans. I will here 
 give you one short example from the leport or journal of one of their 
 iiineratit preachers; who since a few years, passed through this neiirh- 
 borhood ; " i.'roni N. R. 1 went to B. D., where I met with Mr M C 
 the Lord's precious and dear servant in that place ; who, upon mv arri- 
 val tliere, immediately called together the few brethren of that scttle- 
 nieiii; vvhom, when they convened, at J. P.'s house, we found to have 
 comsiited of ten persons (all named) and four of them sisters. 1 preached 
 and prayed — after which Mr. 11. " ■ ■ ' 
 
 made some remark 
 
 Had iravc a 
 
ave us from 
 
 om ail hJM 
 i, 29." ^c. 
 Ar. Wesley 
 le believed 
 Now this 
 Iiis fearful 
 he sul)ject. 
 ithargy, or 
 Jt the 7th 
 of fanciful 
 the longer 
 iod and of 
 le is from 
 e extreme, 
 ace, writes 
 
 1 with his 
 I lost; and 
 ie another 
 
 e plainest 
 ulous and 
 case with 
 t, may be, 
 he means 
 llow-meii, 
 ^rd would 
 the power 
 >s revolu- 
 naniier as 
 ir leading 
 vealed in 
 tliat from 
 lire is not 
 and con- 
 i, with as 
 will here 
 
 of their 
 lis neigh- 
 Ir. M. C. 
 
 my arri- 
 at scttle- 
 1 to have 
 preached 
 il iruve u 
 
 word of exhortahon. The Lord was manifestly present.-the little astern- 
 biy were all melted luto tears-and every one gave expression to some of 
 their experience. It was far of the evening before they were dismissed. 
 As tor my own part, 1 could hardly be ., conciled to tin; separation • for 
 in very truth, I would not have exchanged my situation for the enjoyment 
 ot angels . 1 his last sentence would have been foolishly and arrogantly 
 extravagant, in any association in the world. Rut when we know by loni 
 acquaintance and experience, what silly, dy. and senseless, were, and are 
 to His day, the very persons who composed the aaaembl- under remark • 
 and 111 particular, the ignorant and foolish man in the said r^-ort, styled 
 as the Lord s precious and dear servant," we cannot proi .y admire 
 the fatality under which such men as this oflicial Reporter are left by the 
 sovereign permission of righteous Heaven; to be a pla- -.nd stumbling- 
 block to people who greedily drink up such mad ac...nts; and also 
 eel much offended at some of their intelligent and judicious neighbors, 
 vvho benevolently object to the groundless foundation upon which they 
 build their religious confidence. A few groans now and then-a little 
 trothy talk of your experience— a sly smile and looking aloft— to whistle 
 a hymn— to ^e punctual at your exercise of frivolous and fanciful devo- 
 tion— and i. .urn your common conversation to Script. ire phraseology, 
 will make you a sound saint among the Wesleyans ; though you should 
 otherwise be the very nausea and nightmare of the best and ivisest 
 Christian in the world. Am sure they will be angry-but I cannot help 
 It I could tire your softest patience about the silliness and shallowness 
 of the ordinary rate of their religion-not to speak of their gross heresy. 
 x>reao.u beyond conception and description must be the latter end, of 
 thousands of these most fat-lly deluded souls; who will not believe a 
 word of any faiitiful admonition, that clashes with their own once-received 
 opinions. In siort-although I lay to my account to suffer sad ;. ^.d 
 sound reproach lor this my sincere reflection— I seriously believe, upon 
 he maturest consideration, that the Wesleys were the greatest stumbling, 
 blocks to mankind, that have existed in modern times; and that thou- 
 sMuds and myriads ol unfortunate souls shall have to rue and regret for- 
 ever the day in which they were first entangled in their fast and^fatuous 
 snare Were there no other objections to their real pie'y-wliich is 
 very br from the case— than their most foolish and wicked profession of 
 SMI es. ^rfection in this life, it would have, of itself, proved a fully 
 Mnl.c.ent demonstration of their awful ignorance, both of God and of 
 tlieir. elves; as well as of their daring presumption in wresting and 
 f..jbvert.ng some of the most gracious and essential truths and principles 
 ot tlie (jospcl. *^ 
 
 The epistle of one of them to the good and great and gracious, Rev. 
 Jame. lervey-with their other opposition to the justly famed writings 
 • {that humble-mmded, elegant, and orthodox Author, is another evident 
 loken of the deplorable depravity of their disposition, against any viaorous 
 and virtuous opposition to their hateful and hurtful, far and wide! over- 
 spreading heresy. Lord keep niv soul fior.: thpir s^cr^'t I 
 
 mM 
 
 iii^ 
 
254 
 
 ■i 
 
 I 
 
 Ag to Mysticism, Uie common people cio not understand the proper 
 sense of the phrase; so iliat many of them are in danger of this principle 
 witlioiit so tnuch as knowinif that such an error now exists, or ever has 
 been (Maintained, in fl)e world. There is a fearful tinge of it at present, 
 in different parts of the Highlands of Scotland; and which has been 
 workinjf there, under the name of " Spirituality," since at least half a 
 century. The suhjects of it, in that quarter, are all of a Calvinistic 
 creed, and members of the Church of Scoiland. As for myself, for several 
 years together, in my youth, I verily thought there were no men on earth 
 v.'ho had closer communion with Heaven than these Mystics; and I cer- 
 tainly proposed to myjielf no higher religious attainments than to imitate 
 some of these deceiving and deceived men. Perhaps I have never run a 
 greater risk in my devotional career, than by this high and siiblime 
 delusion. Sut it would be almost equal for you, in my native country, 
 to object to the good sense and piety of St. Peter or St, Paul, as to the 
 superior wisdom and spirituality of the men in question ! These spiritual 
 men will not take a single text in the Bible in its literal sense or mean- 
 ing; for that would be only legality; and like legal preachers; who have 
 not the " Spirit." To mystify and to spiritualize the plainest literal and 
 liistoriciil fiicts, must be the province of these semi-supjrnatural beings! 
 They will never bow to the servile task of understanding figures, meta- 
 phors, or parables; nor in the explication of the darkest prophecy, will 
 they require any rule or estimate, as to particular periods, degrees, ©r 
 manner of falfilmcnt; for that wou!:: be limitin:;; the Spirit, or the 
 " Holy One of Israel," in his divine impulse, inf^'uiice, and o^jeration : 
 For "the wind blowelh where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound 
 (hereof, but canst not tell wheiice it cometh, and whither it goeth : so is 
 every one that is born" — or "led" — " by the Spirit!" Their implicit 
 adherents never once tb.ink of doubting the "spirituality" of the wildest 
 vagaries of tiiese whims. Do not imagine that I exaggerate on the 
 subject; for I write nothing beyond Hober truth, and fair facts. There 
 have been none of the clergy, except a very lew of late years, in the 
 number of those here concerned. 
 
 Mysticism, (Quakerism, and Wesleyism run, in some long degree, 
 quite paiallel. The famous John Nelson, the W°sieyai) preacher, was 
 a rank Mystic, or f uatic. But 1 once read his book with singular satis- 
 faction and approbation ; anrl thought the author a man of singular 
 spiritufility and sound judgment ; but I deliberately now, upon the safest 
 ground, believe him to have been a wild entliusiast, like his heretical 
 leaders. 1 could give yoi'. numerous instances, of a very curious nature, 
 both in tl'.cory and practice, of our own familiar Mystics; bat it would 
 be too tedious in a letter otherwise swelled to an odd size. But should 
 you ask me, how I got myself disentangled from tlieir dangerous snare; 
 I would answer, that it was by the help of the maxims I have partly laid 
 down already in this letter, for the exjdanation of adopted hypotheiscs or 
 theories. For as tliere can be no real inconsistency in the words of 
 sacred scriptures, we should feel the trreatest seriousness, and use the 
 utmo&t di.liieration in deciding upon apparently contradictory priiici[)!es 
 
 
255 
 
 in the Bible. It is the absence of this circumspection and ciuition 
 tlKit leaves the religious world such a gloomy chao.s, and u Babel of 
 contusion. 
 
 Socinianism, Arminianism, and in fact every other hetoredox n-inci- 
 ple, would be soon reduced, but for want of proper fear of bein<r deceived 
 I he subjects of the former, nannely ; Socinians, or UnitarianMind in the 
 rvew J estament, lor instance, that Jesus of Nazareth was calird o- sup- 
 posed to be •' the Son of .ToGeph :" But will this solitary, detached or 
 parenthetic te . bear any balance, importance, or proportion, to the vast 
 and valid, sound and tolid, pirun and placid, artruments of Trinitarians 
 on the opposite ground ; as founded on a large portion of the Scriptures 
 of both the Old and New Testaments ! i • » 
 
 Arminians, and all other heretics, are in the same, or similar predica- 
 I ''ot, just in proportion to the extent or viciousne^s of their re-^-ective 
 •isies. Read here the justly-fanied " Scott's Force of Truth " 
 -.nowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any pnvale 
 interpretation For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of 
 inan; but ho^y men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy 
 (jhost. —St. Peter. Before I leave the ground of the son'-destr'^yina 
 leprosy of Arminianism, or Wesleyism, 1 must warn you from the late 
 pu jlication of Robert Wilson on that point : a more positive a-id poison- 
 ous p-ece than which has never yet been written on the subiecf i iiave 
 the book in my little thicket library; and, as a whole, a faithful servant 
 ot Satan It is indeed ! You do not know, perhaps, that Vv iisoii was one 
 01 my fe low-collegians, and my familiar companion fur some time 
 But 1 tell in fact he was : And one of more religions thong and tliirst 
 tor argument, our whole ring of students did not produce. We included 
 indeed his counter, for hot dispute, and wrangling contest, though not 
 lor warmth of passion and pious zeal. Often did these two greedy cocks 
 or verbal fighting engage and fight their bloody battles, in our spacious 
 lobby, and at our lodgings. We calle-' he«n "The Cock-Robins •" for 
 they were actually both Roberts by . .^r first name. One day' after 
 hearing their endless debate, on dismi ..ion, I took Wilson aside,— for I 
 indeed loved him, and that, at the time, with apparent return,—'' Bob " 
 said J " you seriously grieve me, by your fondness for arcrument witiiout 
 considering, what is apparent to one half of our studlnts; that yniT 
 zeal evidently supersedes your sense and knowledge; and that you do 
 not but litlle improve by your foils and frustrations. Your uUta^onist 
 IS your evident superior, in every branch of your controversy f.vrept 
 religious zeal and obstinacy ; and by these you hope to overcome him 
 but in vain. When yon feel your own defc it on one point, you shift 
 your ground, without admitting your error; and you combat oup text 
 by another, unconcerned whether it would be easier and safer to recon- 
 cile their apparent variance on the system of your opponent, or your 
 own. lius IS neither virtue nor victory— natural light nor loc^ic " 
 Whatever temporary and superficial efi'ect these friendly and faithful hints 
 rnight have, at that time, on the mind of my neighbor, I see n:-- r^u;,,!,. 
 '>y his publication, that he h«s ever been tl ° 
 
 
 HI' 
 
 
 le same selfish and stubbor 
 
 J'l 
 
256 
 
 m 
 
 wilful and wily disputant, without the least wise itnprovenient, by his 
 increase of years, or means of knowledge. I here take notice only of 
 one remark which runs so often in tlie book of this unfortunate Wilson ; 
 As in treating of believers, he writes : " If they fall partly ; or that their 
 graces partly decay, Why not totally?" O, why, it may be replied, but 
 that Heaven actually both wills and promises the case to be otherwise, 
 according to the plainest possible Scripture evidence. But it would be 
 more rational and beneficial to nsk, Why arc tliis x\niiiniua champion, 
 and all his n'jmerous party, so hotly tenacious of opposition to the most 
 explicit Scripture acount of the certain and infallible perseverance of 
 all true believers? In brief answer to this important question, it may 
 be premised, that an error is never singular, or alone; but always fruitful 
 and combined. The most ridiculously frivolous and fnnciful, foolish and 
 false appearance, or apparent change, which obtains, at all times, in all 
 places, and among all classes, of this sorry denomination, under the farci- 
 cal and fond name of " Conversion," makes it unavoidable for them to 
 split upon the rock of fallibility, or "falling from grace," quite contrary 
 to tlie most positive, potent, and plain declaration of Fleaven : Because 
 so many ol their own silly and sham converts, fall endlessly, and of course, 
 from time to time, from tlic-ir scanty and skni-appearance of grace , they 
 build one error upon another; and instead of humbly reflecting upon, 
 or adujitting their own credulous belief and confidence, in such superficial 
 and shallow conversions, in place of the real work of the Spirit of grace, 
 they rather jump to the wicked and violent expedient of wresting the 
 word of God, in order to support and maintain their own unfaithful and 
 unfounded, heretical and hateful system ; A system, liy the bye, though 
 desperate, which is very congenial to the blind and brackish bias, of 
 proud and peccant, fallen and foiled humanity. And since these Armin- 
 iaus ever harp and carp that Calvinists miss the best guard and guaranty 
 to stipulate or stimulate their exertion and zeal, obedience and contin- 
 uance, in the Lord's grace and service, by dependence on their perse- 
 verance, they hereby plainly indicate, that they themselves, place undue 
 confidence on their servile fear : But no virtuous wife maintains her 
 fidelity, to her generous husband, mainly or solely from fear of his dis- 
 pleasure ; nor a filial child, obedience to its wise and worthy parent, on 
 the same ground ; for both possess and exert some superior passions or 
 powers, movings or motives, — though not exclusive of generous fear, — 
 to induce the faithfulness of the one, and the reverence of the other. 
 And shall the vast and wise manifestation of tlie peculiar lee or iove of 
 a husband, or a father, the less secure due returns, from its pef-uliar 
 happy objects! This mode of reasoning is quite conclusive in the case 
 of the true spouse of Christ, or child of God. Love and esteem are the 
 predominant ingredients, or graces, in the principles of every real 
 Christian ; virtues which are engaged, cherished, and insured most 
 effectually by the Lord's sovereign and choice precedents and premises, 
 in the spacious and special favor of his own peculiar people. "Charity 
 never faileth." Read Roni. 8th and 15th, and 2 Tim. i. 7. \nd those 
 that otherwise view or feel, write or rant, show to all, but to themselves. 
 
o^7 
 
 lit, by his 
 e only of 
 I Wilson ; 
 that their 
 plied, but 
 •thervvise, 
 would be 
 iiainpioti, 
 the most 
 jrance of 
 n, It may 
 fs fruitful 
 jolish and 
 les, ill all 
 the farci- 
 • them to 
 contrary 
 Because 
 jf course, 
 ice , they 
 u(f upon, 
 uperficial 
 of grace, 
 isting the 
 ithful and 
 e, though 
 ri bias, of 
 se Armin- 
 guaranty 
 d contia- 
 !ir perse- 
 ce undue 
 tains her 
 r his dis- 
 larent, on 
 ssions or 
 )s fear, — 
 le other, 
 ir iove of 
 pef'uliar 
 I the catic 
 m are the 
 very real 
 red most 
 premises, 
 "Charity 
 \ni} those 
 lemselves, 
 
 
 their pefitilent and pitiful state in time ; and their dire and desperate 
 prospects for eternity. J.ord, forever keep my soul far from their wild 
 and wilful notions, from their sore and sad delusions. Arminiani may 
 retort that Calvinists are generally found chargeable with every species 
 ot inward depravity, and out misconduct— frivolity and talsehood in 
 religion, and vain and foolish confidence of salvation in common with 
 their opponem.i; or beyond the measure, with whicli I choose to tax 
 ihemselves : I thall not attempt to contradict a word of ail that; for it 
 IS, alas! but too obviously true and correct; but it is still nothin-r in 
 lavour of false or wicked principles; nor anywise available to depreciate 
 or overthrow any views or feelings, sentiments or sounds, which are in 
 themselves, agreeable to the rule of Heaven, more than, if a Paoist 
 should argue that, Decause many Protestants wear characters as objec- 
 tionahle as Romanists; or even more so than some of their Popish 
 neighbors therefore. Popery is equal, or preferable, to Protestantism. 
 Ihis would oe very bad logic. T^or the abuse of any good, is no fair 
 objection to its goodness; nc the varnish of any evil, any sound 
 recommendation of its vilencss. But millions are forever destroyed 
 lor want of care upon this ground. I will here take the liberty of 
 sul)|oining some extract from the excellent poem of Pollock's "Course 
 ol lime;" m commendation of the Bible; and in complete accordance 
 with my own sentiments, and the principles, in this letter, wiiich I 
 endeavor to inculcate and sustain : — 
 
 " Tlicy might linve understood, the bard rejdied ; 
 Tlioy liad tiio I5ibio. Hast tliou ever heard 
 Of such a book ? Tho author, God himself; 
 Tiic suhject, God and man, salvation, life 
 And death— ulernal iilb, eternal death- 
 Dread words ! whoso meaning has no end, no bounds- 
 Most wondrous book ! bright caHdle of tho Lord ! 
 Star of eternity ! liio only star 
 By whicii tho bark of man could navigate 
 Tlie soa of life, and gain (lie coast of bliss 
 Securely ! only star which roso on Time, 
 And, on its dark and troubled billows, still, 
 As generation, drifting swiftly by, 
 Succeeded generation, threw a ray 
 
 Of heavena own light, and to the Jn'lla of God, 
 The eternal hills, pointed the sinner's eye. 
 IJy prophets, seers, and priests, and sacred bards, 
 Evangelists, npostles, men inspired. 
 And by the IJoly Ghost anointed, -let 
 Apart and consecrated to declare 
 To Earth tho couuEcLs of the Eternal One, 
 This book, liiis holiest, this subliniobt book. 
 Was sent. Heaven's will, Heaven's code of laws onliie. 
 To man, this book contained ; denned the bound^j, 
 Of virn .-nut virlue, , -Mid of life and death ; 
 Aiid what was shijdow, wiial was substance taught. 
 Much it revealed; important all ; iho least 
 NVorth more llian what else Hcenied of highest worth , 
 Hut (his of plainest, most essnntini Iriilii 
 •'hal (iod IS . ie, eternal, holv, just, 
 
26B 
 
 l\ 
 
 Oi«iiij)Ol«Ht, ornnifit«nt, in6nitc ; 
 
 Moat wisfl, raoit good, most merciCui au<l true : 
 
 In all psrr«cUon most uDchnngenbio : 
 
 Thnt msn, that every man of every climo 
 
 And hu«\ <»f every age and every rank, 
 
 Wfti bad, by nnlure and by practice bad ; 
 
 In understanding blind, in will perverse, 
 
 In heart corrupt ; in every thought, and word, 
 
 imagination, f nssion, and desire. 
 
 Most utterly depraved throughout, and ill, 
 
 In sight of Heaven, though less in sight of men; 
 
 At enmity with God his maker born, 
 
 And by his very life an heir of death : 
 
 That man, that every man was, farther, vnost 
 
 Unable to redeem himself, or pay 
 
 One mite of his rait debt to God ; nay, more, 
 
 Was most reluctant and averse to be 
 
 Redeemed, and sin's most voluntary slave : 
 
 That Jesus, Son of God, of Mary born 
 
 In Bethlehem, and by Pilate crucified 
 
 On Calviivy, for man, thus fallen and lost. 
 
 Died ; and, by death, life and salvation bought, 
 
 And perfect righteousness, for all who should 
 
 In lii.s great name bcliev? : 'i'hat He, the third 
 
 In the PtcrnnI Essence, to the prayer 
 
 Sincere should come, should come as soon as atked, 
 
 I'roreeding from the Father and the Soi, 
 
 To give faith and repentance, such as God 
 
 Accepts; to open the intellectual eyes, 
 
 Blinded by vico ; to bend the stubborn will, 
 
 I'Krvcrsely to the nido of wrong inclined. 
 
 To God and liis commandments, just and good ; 
 
 The wild, rebellious passions to subdue, 
 
 And bring them bade to harmony with heaven; 
 
 To purify the conscience, and to lead 
 
 The mind into all truth, and to adorn 
 
 With every holy ornamtint ot grace. 
 
 And BimcliVy the whole renewed soul, 
 
 \\iuch hcncefurtli might no more fall totally, 
 
 But p'jrsfivoro, tl.oiigh erring oft, amidst 
 
 The misl? of Time, in pietv to God, 
 
 And pocrcri wor'^s of charity to men : 
 
 That ho who tluis believed, and practised thus, 
 
 Should have his sins forgiven, liowever vile ; 
 
 Should be bustnined a! mid-day. morn, and even, 
 
 By God'a omnipotent, eternal grace; 
 
 And in the evil hour o^'sorc disease. 
 
 Temptation, pcrscmlion, war and death, — 
 
 For li-mporul deal!), r.lthough unstingod, remainod,- 
 
 Beneath the slifdovv of the Almighty's wings 
 
 Should sit unhurt, and at the judgment-day, 
 
 Shotid share the resurrection of the just, 
 
 And reign with Christ in bliss for vermorc : 
 
 That all, however named, however great, 
 
 Who would not thus believe, nor pra< tise thus, 
 
 But in their sins impenitent remained. 
 
 Should in perpetual fr-ar and terror live; 
 
 Should die unpardoned, unredeemed, unsaved ; 
 
 And, at the hour of doom, should be cast out 
 
 
%9 
 
 To uUer darkneiii in the night of hell, 
 
 Bj mercy uiid hy God abandoned, tbore 
 
 To reap the harvests of eternal wo. 
 
 This did that boolt decJare in obvioui phraie, 
 
 III most sincere and honest words, by God 
 
 Himself selected and arranged, so clear. 
 
 So plain, so perfectly distinct, that none, 
 
 Who read with liumblo wish to understand, 
 
 And asked the Spirit, given to all who asked, 
 
 Could miss their meaning, blazed in hoavcBly light. ' 
 
 More, anil still larger extracts, from the same very eminent Poem ; 
 whereby are exposed various errors and heresies, wickednesu and 
 villaniea, dire superstition and damnable superiority, in religion and 
 religious communities ; but especially in their pretended leaders and 
 guides; as now, as it were, past remedy, in their eternal distress and 
 damnation; according to the general scope and scansion of the fore- 
 going letter ; — 
 
 "Many believed; but more the truth of God 
 Turned to a lie, deceiving and deceived , 
 Each with the accursed sorcery of sin, 
 To his own wish and vile propensity 
 Transforming still the meaning of the text 
 Hear, w ;ilo I briefly toil what mortals proved. 
 By elTort vast of ingenuity, 
 
 Most wondrous, though perverse and damnable. 
 Proved from the Bible, which, as thou hast heard, 
 So plainly spoke that all could understand. 
 First, and not least in number, argued some, 
 From out this book itself, it was a lie, 
 p'^^^'itilo, framed by crafty men, to cheat 
 The simple herd, and make them bow the knee 
 To kings and priesis. These, in their wisdom, left 
 The light revealed, and turned to fancies wild ; 
 Maintaining loud, that ruined, helpless man, 
 Needed n*^ Saviour. Others proved that mea 
 lyight live and die in sin, and yet be saved, 
 For so it was decreed ; binding" the will, 
 liy God left Iree, to unconditional, 
 Unreasonable fate. Others believed 
 That ho who was most criminal, debased, 
 Ccndemiied, and dead, unaided might ascend 
 The lu'ights of virtue; to a perfect law 
 Giving a lame, half-way obedience, which 
 By useless elibrt only served to show 
 The impotence of him who vainly strove 
 With liiiito arm to measure infinite ; 
 Most uscl.'.is effort, when to justify 
 In sight of God it meant, as proof of faith 
 Most acceptable and worthy of all praue 
 Another held, and from the Bible held 
 lie was iufallible, mcst fall-in by such 
 Pretence; that none the Scriptures, open to all, 
 And most to humble-hearted, ought to read, 
 
 HllJ priests ; and all wlln vpnUimA fn A]ar-\ntt 
 
 
 priests; and all wh;j ventured to disciai 
 
 Ilia forged authority, ineurred th 
 
 m 
 
 e wrn 
 
 ih 
 
mm-K. 
 
 "Al^^^ttit 
 
 '260 
 
 lAV : 
 
 .iiii 
 
 -N. vf 
 
 Of Ilc.tvcn ; and ho who, in tlic blood oCsucfi, 
 
 Though father, mother, dauglitor, vvii'e or boh, 
 
 Imbrued iiis hands, did most religious work, 
 
 Well pleasing to the heart of the Most High. 
 
 Othors in ouUvanl rite devotion placed, 
 
 In meals, in drinl.3, in robe oi'certain shape, 
 
 In bodily abasements, bonded knec:- ; 
 
 Days, numbers, placcis, vcstmentH, words, and names ;. 
 
 Absurdly in their JieartJ imagining, 
 
 That God, like ircn, wan pleastd with outward show 
 
 Another, stranger and more wicked still, 
 
 AVith dark und dolorous labor, ill applied, 
 
 With many a gripe of conscience, and with most 
 
 Unhealthy and abortive masoning. 
 
 That brought his sanity to serious doubt, 
 
 'Mong wise and honest men, maintained that fit', 
 
 First Wisdom, Great Messiah, Princo of Peace, 
 
 The second of the uncreated Three, 
 
 Was naught hnt man, of oarthly origin ; 
 
 Thus making void the sacrifice divine, 
 
 And 'eaving guilty men, God's holy law 
 
 Still unatoned, to work them endless death. 
 
 These are a part; but to relate them all, 
 
 The monstrous, unbaptized fantasies, 
 
 Imaginations fearfully absurd. 
 
 Hobgoblin rites, and moon-struck reveries, 
 
 Distracted creeds, and visionary dreams, 
 
 More bodiless and hideously misshapen 
 
 Than ever fancy, at the noon of night, 
 
 Playing at will, framed in the madman's brnin, 
 
 That from this book of simple truth were proved, 
 
 Were proved, as foolish men were wont to prove, 
 
 Would bring my word in doubt, and thy belief 
 
 Stagger, tliougli hero I sit and sing, within 
 
 The pale of truth, where falsehood never came. 
 
 But the unfaithful priest, what tongue 
 
 Enough shal! execrate? His doctrine may 
 
 lie passed, though mixed with most unhallowed leaven, 
 
 That proved, to those who foolishly partook. 
 
 Eternal bitterness. But this was still 
 
 Mis sin, beneath what cloak soever veiled. 
 
 His ever growing and perpetual sin. 
 
 First, last, and middle thought, whence every wish. 
 
 Whence every action rose, and ended both : 
 
 To mount to place, and power of worldly sor! ; 
 
 To apo the gaudy pomp and equipage 
 
 Of earthly state, and on his mitred brow 
 
 To place'a royal crown. For tiiis ho sold 
 
 The sacred truth to him who most would give 
 
 l)f titles, bencllces, honours, names; 
 
 For this betrayed his Master; and for this 
 
 Made nierchandiso of the immortal souls 
 
 Committed to his care. This wjs his sin. 
 
 (.)fall wlio oflice held unfairly, none 
 
 Could r-i< ad excuse ; he least and last of all. 
 
 By ooiohin, awful ceremony, ho 
 
 Was set npirt to speak the (ruth entire, 
 
 By action an ! by word ; and ruuiid hiiu stood 
 
 Thr ppnpj,-, from his lip<; cipccting knovvledgr 
 
 an 
 
 Pr 
 an 
 
 \vl 
 
 its 
 
 yo 
 
 i:x 
 
 ho 
 
 nic 
 lat 
 tie( 
 rer 
 
 3H{ 
 
t.)i»e daj 111 seven, the Holy Sabbath Icrmtd, 
 
 They Htood ; for lie had sworn, in face of God 
 
 And man, to deal lincorely with tlieir souli; 
 
 To preach the g pel for the gospel's aake; 
 
 Had sworn to hato and put away ail pride, 
 
 All vanity, all love of eiirtiily pomp; 
 
 To seek all merry, meekness, truth and grace ; 
 
 And being so end'owed himself, and taught, 
 
 In thorn like works of holiness to move; 
 
 Dividing faithfully the word of life. 
 
 And oft indeed the word of life he taught; 
 
 But practising aa thou hast heard, who could 
 
 Believe ? Thus was Religion wounded soro 
 
 At her own altars, and among her friends. 
 
 The people went away, and, like the priest, 
 
 Fulfilling what the prophet spoko befi're, 
 
 For honour strove, and wealth, and place, aa if 
 
 The ])reacher had rehearsed an idle talc. 
 
 The enemies of God rejoirod, and loud 
 
 The unbeliever laughcil, boasting a lifn 
 
 Of fairer character tiian his who owned, 
 
 For king and guide, the undefiled One. 
 
 Most guilty, vilianous, dishonest man ! 
 
 Wolf in the clothing of the gentle lamb ! 
 
 Dark traitor in Messiah's holy camp ! 
 
 Leper in saintly garb ! assassin masked 
 
 In Virtue's robe ! vile hypocrite accursed! 
 
 I strive in vain to set his evil forth ! 
 
 The words that should sufriciently nccurse 
 
 And execrate such reprobate, had need 
 
 Come glovTing from the lips of eldest hell. 
 
 Among tlia saddest in the den of wo, 
 
 Thou eaw'st him saddest, *niong the damned most damned." 
 
 In conclusion, you must still consider, that what I hava suggested 
 and quoted, is not meant as any formal controversy, or contest, on the 
 principles or points concerned ; but as a mere string or strain of casuistry 
 and caution, fit for private and familiar correspondence; the perusal of 
 which may, by the Lord's blessing, prove beneficial to you, as I hope 
 its contemplation and digestion have proved to me. And still open to 
 your further communication, on any serious subject you may choose, 
 
 I remain, Dear Sir, yours, &c. M. L. 
 
 
 Extracts of a late correspondence bettreen a man in the \orth of Scotland, a7id his 
 former acquaintance, in Cf/2)e Breton, on the subject of costume tr habili .caits. 
 
 " At a. S. Reay's Country, 12th August, 1S4!3. 
 •' Dear old Friend,— I wish you would tell me, in your next letter, 
 how do the people dress in that quarter of the world— whether clumsy, 
 moderate, or extravagant. Here, I think, we are on the increase of the 
 latter extreme. What are your thoughts on this ground— Are there any 
 necessary rules or estimates, to be found on this score, in Scripture, 
 reasn.K or exnerionce ? Or arc h-o left at mere random, or the ikklc 
 !*mi wild tide of fondnes.i n<td fashion' Or what can be the readies* 
 
SfiS 
 
 Ml 
 
 ji 
 
 B 
 
 reusoo, or lli« moving and main eauss, that the other e«.\ aro geri«raliy 
 more extravagant tlian we men on this point I And lastly, do you believo 
 this topic worthy of the serioun notice and notificatiou of the Clergy ; 
 who are here, but slowly and seldom, likely to take the least considera- 
 tion of the subject. I am, &,c. K. M." 
 
 REPLY. 
 
 " At B. D., Cape Biikton, 12th November, 1812. 
 "Dear old Neighbor, — In answer to your queries, on the subject 
 of dress, I must premise, without any falsehood, that the intended bearer 
 of these lines, being actually on the wing, you cannot expect from me, 
 »t this time, I regret to say, but u mere huddled answer, though at the 
 aame time, I admit the points, otherwise, very worthy of a serious con- 
 sideration. The case is here, certainly, much the same as you bespeak 
 your own country ; to wit, generally and offensively extravagant, and far 
 more notoriously so, ou the part of the female sex. There certainly aro 
 proper rules, in Scripture, and reason ; and in scriptural and reasonable 
 experience : And he that seriously and sincerely consults them, on this 
 ground, will reap benefit, and walk orderly thereby ; according to his par- 
 ticular vocation, and external circumstances in the world. Extravagance 
 in dress is, and has been now for a long time, one of the crying sins of our 
 limes. Nor is it a solitary, but a conjunctive sin or snare, which involves 
 in its train, vanity, frivolity, flattery, and folly, lightness and loftiness, 
 balling and ballading — self-importance, envy and idleness, strife and strug- 
 gling, diblionesty in dealings, profanity, or religious formalism; or even 
 both; and in a lii;;li degree, the sure and certain index and indication, 
 of the fjul and filthy t^pirit of jeering and jealousy, of harlotry and 
 ■whoredom. The lower, if not the very louest grades of the people, are 
 generally, though not exclusively, the advance and adepts, of this silly 
 and siui'iil fabhion. And t'^e clergy — being ordinarily and originally,, 
 of tins superlatively vulgar cast ; and still under the power of their 
 native passions and pride — are, with their families, commonly found to 
 be the very paps and patterns of the peasantry on this ground ; which is 
 a sad and sound rate and reason for tiieir sinful somnolence and silence, 
 on this score. The Minister's wife — in the majority of cases, especially 
 in the country, and out of towns — is the very spindle and speedwell, 
 coquet and cuckoo, j)uppet and peacock, of the feminine pride ; as her 
 reverend liushaad, —in no rare instances, — is the cocket and cockade, 
 patrol and parade, rufHe and rainbow, of the dandy tribe ! There is no 
 excet^s on this point, in any place, but vvhert, the Minister himself is 
 either a dolt or a drone. As for this extravagance being more notorious 
 in woman-kind than in men, one certain and original reason for it is, 
 that the woman sinned away first her primitive innocence ; and so brought 
 nakedness and its sinful misery into the world; and is therefore more 
 cursedly uneasy under the indulgent and beneficent protection and pro- 
 vision of Heaven on this ground. And again, as a just, though light 
 punishment, for her temoting her htisbar>d to sin, the Lord has doomed 
 her to subjection to man ; according to Genesis. 3d chapter and part of 
 
 , 
 
sot 
 
 geritralif 
 u believo 
 Clergj ; 
 ansidera- 
 L. M." 
 
 1842. 
 
 ) subject 
 2d bearer 
 from me, 
 rh at the 
 lous con- 
 bespeak 
 t, and far 
 ainly are 
 asonable 
 , on this 
 J his par- 
 avagance 
 US of our 
 
 involves 
 loftiness, 
 nd strug- 
 
 or even 
 idication, 
 otry and 
 lople, are 
 this silly 
 iginally,, 
 
 of their 
 found to 
 
 which \i 
 1 silence, 
 jspecially 
 aeedwell, 
 
 ; as her 
 cockade, 
 lere is no 
 limself is 
 notorious 
 
 for it is, 
 ) brought 
 )re moro 
 
 and pro- 
 igh light 
 j doomed 
 id part of 
 
 the 16th verse: "Thy desire thatl be to thy husband, and ho shall rule 
 over ihee." Thence the silly and sly woman, to balance, or prepon- 
 derate her disagreeable inferiority, veers and wastes her breast and 
 brain to overcome, humorous and amorous, though rigorous and rancor- 
 ous man, by her gowns and gaudery, bonnets and panlings, caps and 
 canopy. The greatest zest or zeal for the Lord's day, among the 
 run of our youth— 1 wish the evil had stopt at this stage— is evidently 
 in order to see, and be seen, to advantage ; and the hum-drum ineffi- 
 cience of many of our clergy would stamp a perpetual vacancy on the 
 pews of our chapels, but for the day of holy rest being turned to a day 
 of idle rant and fiddle-raiment. Itch and edge for^lressing, on the 
 otherwise nsele.ss and idle Sabbath, are therefore, in no rare examples, 
 the best stimulus and security, in favor of the preacher : And how then', 
 could he discourage his own best gown, and proudest guarantee, on thi.s 
 " holy ground." You will never find any real wit or wisdom, for time 
 or eternity, in the ruff or ring of fashion ; or in other words, where the 
 character is carried on the back or breast, cape or cravat. Even in the 
 poorest, as far as practicable, the Gospel allows and enjoins tidiness and 
 decency, but not tatooism or dandyism. Read the beginning of the 3d 
 chapter of 2d Peter. I fully imagine, Her Majesty Victoria is not half 
 so proud of her royal reign and robes, diadem and diamonds, as our 
 mushroom maids are of their own belts and beads, busks and bonnets, 
 combs and crisping-pins, rings and ringlets, lace and lockram, locks and 
 linings. No man, or woman, needs be at any loss for example on this 
 score ; for in every place and part of the world, there are some of both 
 sexes, sufficiently modest and moderate, by nature and habit, to lead the 
 inquirer of proper dressing, to examples answerable for imitation, while 
 Uvjng among them. For the soberer number of the people will al^rays 
 prove as efficient posts or patterns, according to their various orders or 
 orbs, stations and stands, on this ground. I write seriously every word 
 of this very hasty reply ; though apparently sarcastic ; and sincerely 
 dread that Heaven is provoked— by our generation, on account of our 
 unchristian, extravagant, mode and madness on this subject— so as to 
 deal with us, as his ominous frowns already threaten, according, in some 
 shape, to his ancient treatment of mankind on this ground. — Immoderate 
 immodest dressing was, certainly, one of the main arid manifest provoking 
 causes of the Flood, to destroy the antediluvians. For accordincr to 
 the beginning of the 3d chapter of Genesis, "The sons of God," or'the 
 professing descendants of Seth, saw the daughters of men, or the wicked 
 ofTspring of excommunicated Cain, that they were f.iir— or as 1 appre- 
 hend—immodestly dressed, to allure and altVact, tempt and tense, the 
 carnal and careless, eyes and airs, powers and passions, of their fickle 
 and faithless, foolish and formal spectators; which naturally stimulated 
 the forbidden intermarriages— as now. by the bye, of Protestants and 
 Papists — which first deluged the world, wiui vice and wickedness, pride 
 and oppression, and consequently with the destroying waters of the 
 general fljod. It was also by immoderate and immodest dressing that 
 the Midtanilish young women imposed on the unguarded Hebrews. 
 
 4 if! 
 
 m 
 
^ 33S?^Sr'i2^-'Sl^^^ 
 
 ■^01 
 
 See thenccountof Moses.in ilie3lai chapter of Numbers— l.Stli and IGili 
 verses. ' And Moses baid unto them, Have ye saved all the women 
 nlivo? Behold these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel 
 ol' Ilalaam, to commit trespass airaiiif-t <he Lord, in the ntatter of Peor, 
 .v-id there was a plague among the congro;N'Uion of the Lord.' Read 
 likewise the accounts of the prophet Isaiali — ;ld chapter, and from the 
 lt)lh verse to the end; for the very same, and similar sins and shame- 
 lessness ; and the consequent doom and danger of which we treat : I 
 here transcribe the verses : — ' Moreover, the Lord saith, Because the 
 daughter-- of Zion are haughty, and walk with slrelched-forth necks, 
 and wanton eyes, walking, and mincing as they go, and making a tink- 
 linw with their feel: Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the 
 crmvn of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover 
 their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of 
 their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their 
 rout)d tires like the moon. The chains, and the bracelets, and the 
 mulllers. The bonnets, and the ornaments of the I^^s^ and the head- 
 bands, and the ear-rinus. The rings, and nose-jewels. The change- 
 able suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping- 
 pins. The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. 
 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell, there shall be 
 stink ; and instead of a girdle, a rent ; and instead of well-set hair, bald- 
 ness ; and instead of a stomacher, a girding of sackcloth ; and burning 
 instead of beauty- Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy tnighty in 
 the war. And her gates shall lament and mourn ; and she, being deso- 
 late, shall sit upon the ground.' As soon as Mary Magdalen received 
 Christ, she changed the former extravagant tufts and turrets of her 
 head. 'A prude's top is the devil's toy.' The 'Spectator' smartly 
 observes, that ' There is nothing in nature more changeable than a 
 woman's head-dress.' It is a just and jostling remark, that whenever 
 the Lord is about to commence, or to revive the power of religion, at 
 nnv time, or in any country, the work begins with the priesthood; and 
 that, on the other hand, the decline, or degeneracy, at any period or 
 place, originates on the same ground. The despicable and degrading 
 foppery oT foolery, of the ministerial ornaments and hoods of the popish 
 and prelatic priesthood, is rude and ridiculous, prodigal and proverbial; 
 and other denominations are far from free in their imitation ; which is 
 certainly, at least, one of the chief sources of all our extravagant and 
 sinful fashions; and especially on the Lord's day and at divine worship; 
 when and where gallantry and gaudery are more intolerably odious and 
 otfensive, both in the sigiit of God, and all good men. 
 
 " I shall, in great haste, conclude tliese lines by quoting some verses 
 from the pithy and pious ' Course of Time,' on a wife, or a ' woman of 
 fashion;' careless of husband, children, and all domestic duties and 
 'oncerns : — 
 
 "As rueful stood liis other half, as wan 
 Of cliock. Small lier ambition was, but .ilrango. 
 Tlin distaff, tieedtu, all doiiieslic cares, 
 Ilcligion, rliildrnn, husband, lioiiio, wore tlniigi 
 
265 
 
 I and IGtIi 
 e women 
 e counsel 
 
 of Peor, 
 .' Read 
 
 from the 
 id sliame- 
 ! treat : I 
 cause the 
 rth necks, 
 iig a tink- 
 i scab tl»e 
 1 discover 
 l)ravery of 
 
 and their 
 5, and the 
 
 ihe head- 
 le chanije- 
 e crisping- 
 1 the vails. 
 e shall be 
 hair, bald- 
 id burning 
 
 mighty in 
 leing deso- 
 n received 
 ets of her 
 )r' smartly 
 )le than a 
 
 whenever 
 eligion, at 
 hood ; and 
 
 period or 
 
 degrading 
 the popish 
 iroverbial ; 
 
 ; which is 
 I'agant and 
 e worship ; 
 odious and 
 
 orae verses 
 ' woman of 
 duties and 
 
 She could not bear the thought of, bitter drugs 
 
 That Bickoned her soul. The house of wanton mirth 
 
 And revolry, tho mask, the dance, she lored, 
 
 And in their E<ervice xoul and body Rpent 
 
 Most ch( rl'ully. A littlo admiration. 
 
 Or true or falic, no matter which, ploai^od her. 
 
 And o'er tho wreck of fortune lost, and health 
 
 And peaoo, and un eternity of bliss 
 
 1.081, made her sweetly srnilo. Slio wa.s convinced, 
 
 That God had made her greatly out of tasto ; 
 
 And took much pains to make hernolf anew. 
 
 Bedaahed with paint, and hung with ornaments 
 
 Of curious selection, gaudy toy I , 
 
 A show unpaid for, paying to bo seen ! 
 
 As beggar by the way, most humbly asking 
 
 Tho alms of public gaze, — she went abroad. 
 
 Folly admired, and indication gave 
 
 Of envy, cold Civility mado bows 
 
 And smoothly flattered, Wisdom shook his hend, 
 
 And Laughter shaped his lip into a smile ; 
 
 Sobriety did stare. Forethought grew pale. 
 
 And Modesty hung down tho head and blushed. 
 
 And Pity wept, a», on tho frothy surge • 
 
 Of fashion tossed, she passed them by, like sail 
 
 Reforo some devilish blast, and got no time 
 
 To think, and never thought, till on the rock 
 
 She dashed, of ruin, anguish, and despair!" 
 
 "I could, and would, more fully and freely enlarge on this interesting 
 topic ; and might descend to various and curious little anecdotes — as 
 the slender girl's sleeve, which holds a bushel of oat-meal — but I moit 
 stop, and subscribe myself, Yours, &c. M. L;" 
 
 Abstract of a recent correspondence bcticeen a Poss-skire man, in Scotland, and hit 
 friend in Cape Breton, on the subject of Psalmody. 
 
 "Tain, Ross-shire, 10th September, 1842. 
 "Dear Sir, — Since you left this country, there is a manifest declen- 
 sion, in many places, from the former seriousness of religious professors ; 
 although at the same time, we have had a great rush and rotation of 
 what is termed Revivals; which, by the bye, proves now but abortive. 
 Our young Ministers, in no few instances — with the religiously muscu- 
 lar and musical spawn and spirit of the age — increase the innovation, 
 long since begun, in our public worship and devotion ; and more espe- 
 cially, in our Psalmody; of which I would desire now more particularly 
 to treat. Other denominations have, in a high degree, and time out of 
 mind, publicly abandoned the * Psalms of David ;' but our good old 
 Presbyterian Ministers and people held long and fast their standing on 
 this score. But now the case is otherwise, in many churches; and I 
 fear, we shall all soon have no Paalms whatever, but Dr. Watts' epitome 
 and paraphrase; or ome other hymns and rhyines, sallies and songs, 
 34 
 
•06 
 
 1: 
 
 * i 
 
 ■Hi 
 
 ii 
 
 m their oxchanije. Will you please to favor ine, with snme df your 
 tlioiialita oil tho htiLjecl; and how in the case in vour own (luarter of the 
 world, oil ihft same ground ' i am, vours, »Lc. W. II." 
 
 REPLY. 
 
 " S. A., Cave Brktox, l,"iiii JNovembcr, 1842. 
 
 " Deah Sir, — In answAr to your favor oi" lOth September, we may 
 hero mainly mo? on the same key with yourself, on the principal subject 
 of your coi respondciico. The ground of your complaint has long since 
 been keenly r;rievous to many a serious douI ; and to me, for one of the 
 number. And it is most assuredly one of the gloomy siijns of the times. 
 A frivolous and frisky tpirit, under the mask of pax and piety, has gra- 
 dually stolen in, and prevailed to a drovvninff flood, of reliirions mirth 
 and mirage. The fiddle-faddle, dance-aud-drum, balhid-aiid-bawdy 
 genius, of heathen ignorance and idleness, superstition and prostitution, 
 IS now ' transfornied into an anccl of light' and lute-devotion; and wan- 
 tonly iiiul wildly, plays and plights its lusory and lucious gallantry i.nd 
 gambols in ' Bethel ;' which converts it to a ' Eatli-aven,' in the view of 
 wisdom. A lucky luuy pulpit p.-a]modist, ^.ith all his bladder-chorus 
 and the life and lure, of flesh and blood, within his own bark and bones, 
 trnmps and irilks, in his consecrated bo.\, r his plnystago — views and 
 vies around ijim, in the sacred theatre, all the female bloom and beauty 
 of the town or district—Oii, to excite und exalt their si»en song, in 
 psalter and psalmody— the highest and hapoiest, softest and safest, pro- 
 mises of the gospel, for lime and eternity, are composed and collected, 
 selected and sounded, to the silly or sulky, 'cute or coy, key and count, 
 capers and conscience, of the fond audience. — Softness sings, sound- 
 ness sleeps, and Satan smiles ! 
 
 •• I do not choose to be understood, a? denying due merit, to hymna 
 and spiritual sotigs; as far as they may be found agreeable to tlie word 
 of God; but I do aot hesitate a moment, in believing that nothing but 
 a worthless or worldly, careJGss or carnal pirit, that has chased 'away 
 the 'Psalms of David,' from the public worship o ' God ; for in many 
 places, r.tid among many parties, they are either entirely obsolete, in 
 their Psalmody, or grossly mangled and deranged; or as they term it, 
 modified and modernized; and thus they must be mi-:; ably curtailed, 
 if not wholly cashiered. Low-ebbed as Presbyterial churches are, at 
 preset t,I suppose they are still the less culpab! on this ground ; though, 
 by no means, diachargeabic. Even in point of translation, the Highland 
 Clergy of the Church of Scotland committed a grievous nd ^ross mis- 
 take; nay but wilful and violent trespass on the book of Psalms; (thro' 
 their reviser and modifier, J. Smith, I). D.) printed at Edinburgh so 
 late a.s in A. D. 1812 ; and more particularly, on the 109th Psalm — 
 Gaelic version ; where, from the 6»h verse to the SGth, the whole is mis- 
 applied ; as if the inclusive fourteen verses were not the precative 
 denunciation of the Psalmist, under divine and prophetic influence, as 
 representing the true church, and prefiguring Christ, agains* his ene- 
 mies; but as the nnrrndlv'!? vicious clamor, and erne! execration ^trainst 
 
! oi your 
 rter of the 
 W. II.' 
 
 r, 1842. 
 , we may 
 lai subject 
 ong siiicp. 
 >iie of the 
 the times. 
 , has gra- 
 ms rairth 
 iid-bawdy 
 jstitution, 
 mid wan- 
 aiUry ;;nd 
 le view of 
 ler-choru9 
 nd bones, 
 views and 
 lid beauty 
 I song, in 
 afost, pro- 
 collected, 
 nd count, 
 ;s, sound- 
 to hymns 
 tlie word 
 thing but 
 iscd away 
 in many 
 solete, in 
 ' term it, 
 curtailed, 
 !s are, at 
 ; though, 
 Ilijfhland 
 .ros3 mis- 
 is; (thro' 
 iburgh so 
 I Psalm — 
 )le is mis- 
 precative 
 uence, as 
 it his ene- 
 ■>n nwain-st 
 
 267 
 
 him ; conl.ary to the express application of St. Peter; who quotes from 
 I .e verses under review :-' il,s bishopric [or oHice] Ut another take.' 
 vets, lat chapter, t»Oih verse, and lU'Jth P:,alm, 8th verse. This u a 
 daring iristance of modilication. in the very face and teeth of an .\postle • 
 1 lave bmith 3 version now before me. on the table , and defy those 
 concerned to ^ilsify my remarks. Yet this is but a true sampio of the 
 spirit ot the time,., on this ground ; for almost overy place and narty is 
 pervaded and absorbed in a los.. or jTrcater de-^ree, by this m'i.stakon 
 einty and laxity, or latitudmarianism. Since . V-eu has~in these 
 happy day.^ and hopping era-butone great and gracious allnbute, called 
 iVJercy; upon which, every poor and prating, tricking and truculent 
 sinner may lean securely without reserve, or much ado ; especially . ■ ood 
 dinger ol modern nymns, or modified Psalms ! For «trect-balladin^ and 
 chur.h.barcing tre now, in fact, become quite similar; except in mere 
 phrase 1 he old demon of wakes, is now the altar-dame of whistle 
 lhecwrkc5tsong3tres.sisthe splay-mouth of the sanctuary; and the 
 jade ol the theatre, the chantress of the tabernachv O, now for mirth 
 and match, .11 holy ^ynomosy and sing-song ' Thus the spirit of (|,« 
 woild and of the flesh, loses nothing by the holiness of mere transformn- 
 tio- or nominal conversion. I seriously believe that church-music, and 
 ianat.c and wanton humming, have, for a series of years now, been 
 aniong the best cheers, and bet-jigs of Diahol.is. 
 
 No church on earth has either power or permit, to meet or make 
 the vain and wicked substitution under remark, but at the risk of souls, 
 and Heaven s displeasure. Oh ! the sweet and savory .sin-rer of Israel 
 be thus (.xpunged and exchanged, for evory pseudo-psaimographer, o^ 
 upstart psalmodi.t; who may rant, or riiyme together, some elude or 
 carded prouuct.on. according to liis own fond, fastidious, or fantastic 
 creed ; or the ignorance, humor, and interest of his misguided adherent., 
 i.ie lox m the lion's bed.' 'Mustard for manna.' 'Mushrooms for 
 niundraKes. An owl for an eagle— a nitter for a nightuKrale " 
 
 Yoii may unvagnely estimate the amount of seriousness and soul- 
 
 avoidance, of Davids Psalms; especially in stated and public v-orship 
 Ihc re igious decline and defection, falsehood and formalism, of our 
 own Church, have for the last past half-century, very evidently kenl 
 pace with her psaimodical innovation. And, generally speaking you 
 jvill hiid the state of avery church accordingi;. As for my own part I 
 have ever found, and .still find, these divino°aid choicest songs, 'to my 
 lery soul, so fresh and lull, so fruitful and various, so amiable and an- 
 swerable so ample and arduous, that I sincerely pity the communities 
 or ndividuals, tiiat detach or despise them, by expulsion or detraction 
 n alea.ction or mutilation. And as has already been partly observed' 
 otucr evils have, in our day, crept into church music, besides some of n^ 
 
 IIZZa^ '',-''''?'T'''' .'.';'""' '"'^ ''''"'' ^'''^ sadly and strangely 
 changed; and with these, likewise, ,n some places, and"more and ruorc 
 > ue-icc3, musical in:,tiuments— -where their use was formerlv never 
 lor mentionod—havc been introduced : and all these in.prove 
 
 ii 
 
 minu<^d. n 
 
268 
 
 hin: 
 
 ments — with their accompanying frisk and fury, fuss and facas ; or the 
 wild and violent, sudden and stormy, muscular motions, and vaunted 
 vocality — are evidently calculated to feed and foster, animal and ardent, 
 vile Initiated, fume and feelings, pith and passions : But at the same time 
 far different from the sedate and sober, modest and mild, placid and 
 plain, disc and devotion, spirit and specification of th3 Gospel. 
 
 " You must, in the mean time, rest satisfied, with these summary 
 renoarks, and cursory lines from me, till I may have more leisure to 
 treat more particularly on this serious subject ; only that 1 cannot leave 
 the ground without subjoining a short and sharp description of \yorthy 
 poetry and poets from the rare and radiant ' Course of Time,' in the 
 following verses : 
 
 •» ' The true, legitimato, anointed bard, 
 
 Whose song through ages poured its melody, 
 
 Was most beverely thouglitful, most minute 
 
 And accurate of obstTvation, most 
 
 ramiliarly acquainted with all modes 
 
 And phases of existence. True, no doubt, 
 
 He had originally drunk, from out 
 
 The fount of life and love, a double draught, 
 
 That gave whatever ho touched a double life : 
 
 But this was mcro desire at first, and powe? 
 
 Devoid ot means to work by ; need was still 
 
 Of persevering, quick, inspective mood 
 
 Of mind, of faithful memory, vastly stored. 
 
 From universal beiwg's ample field, 
 
 With knowledge; and a judgment, sound and clear, 
 
 Well disciplined in nature's rules of taste ; 
 
 Discerning to select, arrange, combine. 
 From infinite variety, and still 
 
 To nature true ; and guide withal, hard task. 
 The sacred, living impetus divine, 
 Discreetly through the harmony of song. 
 Completed thus, the poet sung ; and age 
 To age. enraptured, heard his measures flow ; 
 Enraptured, for he poured the very fat 
 And marrow of existence through hia verse, 
 And gave the soul, that else, in selfish cold, 
 llnwarmed bj kindred interest had lain, 
 A roomy life, a glowing relish high, 
 A sweet, expansive brotherhood of being- 
 Joy answering joy, and sigh responding sigh, 
 Through all the fibres of the social heart. 
 Observant, sympathetic, sound of ho:id, 
 Upon the ocean vast of huma.i thought, 
 With passion rough and stoi-my, venturing out, 
 Even as the living billows rolled, lie threw 
 His numbers over them, seized as thcj were. 
 And to perpetual r.ges left th'jm fixod, 
 To each, a mirror of itself displayed; 
 Despair for ever lowerini? dark on Sin, 
 And Happiness on Virtuo smiling f.ir. 
 He was the minister of fame, and gave 
 To whom he would renown ; nor missed himseif— 
 Although despising much the idiot roar 
 
 
269 
 
 Of popular applause, that sudden, oA, 
 
 Unnaturally turning, whom it nursed 
 
 Itself devoured — the lasting fame, the praisa 
 
 Of God and holy men, to excellence given. 
 
 Yet less he sought his own renown, than wished 
 
 To have the eternal images of truth 
 
 And beauty, pictured in hid verse, admired. 
 
 'Twas these, taking immortal shape and form 
 
 Beneath his eye, that charmed his midnight watch, 
 
 And eft his soul with awful transports shook 
 
 Of happiness, unfelt by other men. 
 
 This was that spell, that sorcery, wl"ch bound 
 
 The poet to the lyre, and would not et 
 
 Hini go; that hidden mystery of joy, 
 
 Which made him sing "n spite of fortune's worst, 
 
 And was, at once, both motive and reward.' 
 
 " A dark and dismal off and omen to old Scotland, that lost such an 
 Author in the very bloom and prime of his exalted poetry, and promising 
 ministerial usefulness! Meanvvhile I am, yours, &,c. M. N." 
 
 Mstract of a recent correspondence, of two friends ; the one in the State cf Ohio, 
 
 the other in Cape Breton. 
 
 New Lisbon, State of Ohio, 20t!i September, 1842. 
 
 Dear Sir, — According to the nature of our correspondence, there 
 ai-e still some pomts that I would earnestly wish you to handle; as I 
 acknowledge to have received benefits by what you advanced in your 
 former letters, 
 
 .In the mean time, I should choose to know your judgment upon the 
 subject of Church Government. For there is here a variety of sects and 
 denominations; and severally claiming, either precedence, or preference. 
 And almost every class can find either plain texts of Scriptures, or infer- 
 ences and deductions, drawn from sacred truths ; or some quotations 
 from the fathers, as they say ; which are all one and the same, in its own 
 favor. Some others maintain, that such testimonies as these, are not 
 riecessary for their support, on thin ground ; because the Apostolic 
 Church, or Churches, were not to be the complete and permanent 
 pattern, model, or standard, of subsequent and future times ; but as far 
 as circumstances might admit and correspond ; or in other words, a« 
 vi'ould be found practicable. 
 
 The leading parties, in the dispute, are Episcopalians, Lutherans, 
 Presbyterians of various communities; and of late, split into mo.e and 
 more divisions. Also, Baptists, and Methodists, both Calviniptic, and 
 Arminian or Wesleyan. A;.d some Roman Catholics. As for Quakers, 
 and a score of New-light sections, with which the land abounds, 1 leave 
 them now comparatively behind the counter. I do not mean to afiirm 
 that all these persuasions are in my own immediate neighborhood ; but 
 that they aro in a less or greater degree spread over the country. And 
 that as my business, you know, urges me often abroad among them, 
 
 i'^m 
 
 ii 
 
,M 
 
 •v! 
 
 270 
 
 1 should feelingly wish tolearii how I ought to carry myself with them, 
 ijspecially wlieu they draw forth -iiiy disputation with me, on this score ; 
 which is not always easy to avoid, without incurring the charge of igno- 
 rance, or diffidence; I feel not, in this case, so much concerned on the 
 bottom of Popery, as on that of Protestantism ; f«r the former has not 
 yet attamed but little root or circulation in this country, in comparison 
 to the latter ; especially, now the prelatic church ; which begins, in some 
 places;, to assume very lofty claims on this ground, of ecclesiastic form 
 of government. I beg also to ascertain how far you believe these seve- 
 ral religious communions to include f?ood, or godly men among them, 
 according to yonr ordinary estimate of these persuasions, in Britain] 
 and British America. Your explicit and candid answer, at your first 
 opportunity, will be deemed very desirable and obliging, by 
 
 Dear Sir, yours, &c. G, S. 
 
 REPLY. 
 
 S. A., Cape Breton, 1st December, 1842. 
 DcAR S.a,— I received, in course, your letter of date 20th September: 
 nnd shall now ende. -or, though certainly in great weakness, to write 
 you some reply. — The form of Church government must always be 
 disputed, in a less or greater degree, according to the existence and 
 o.\tent of different opinions on the subject; circumstances which have 
 ever, in a measure, agitated the aiiiids," and inflienced the conduct, of 
 all sorts cf Christians, since the days of the Apostles; and that, m this 
 generation, rather increase than cease. Do not anLicipate from me any 
 deep or formal investigation of tiiis point, or on this ground; for ihe 
 ■sum and substance of what I intend to oner t!icr3ori, is the result of my 
 own concern and experience, for my own guard and guidance, more 
 than for tlie instruction of others. But I don't mean by this to allege 
 that there is not a pattern or platform, model or mould, in the New 
 Testament for our example and instruction, on this score; but that it 
 requires examination and exposition, simplicity and sincerity, caution 
 and candor, in order to benefit thereby. But since piety and principles 
 are, in various and changed circumstsnces, more permanent and practi- 
 cable ; and proportionately more imperative and important, than any 
 particular modes or manners, forras or fashions, of any church govern- 
 ment, it would be pesterou.'s and preposterous, to judge or ji igle, that 
 gracious Heaven should hang or hold religion, on impossshiltties, or 
 impracticable measures. I therefore conceive that the examples and 
 instances, on this ground, given in the Gospel^ arc certaiuly, not to be 
 viewed as rough or random, odd or idle accounts, of no concern to u.; , 
 but as precedents or piactices «o be owned and imitated by poste-ij? 
 periods, and futiue generations, till the end of the woild ; but still, as 
 iar only as may be comiistent with any things and thoughts, sentiments 
 and circum;:tances of higlier interest, and greater weight, on the score 
 of the gioiy of God, and the real interest of men ; ^lccording to the 
 Jcvealcd will of Heaven: winch is the spiritual balance of the sauctuarv. 
 "V^ ;tkout tiie^^e prt'limia,iry co'i^idcrations, we are exposed to the danger 
 
 1 
 
 '^:(V 
 
 ./^ J 
 
271 
 
 -^ of uiiderratrng or overrathg, distracting or distenrling, mutilatinLr or 
 
 .i.afrnify.ng, ,solatmg or idolizing, any Itatus or standard of churcl 
 order or estabhshment, guidon or gubernation, gammut or gov rnme' 
 ^ut those who unan.mou.Iy agree, that a certain form of chtfrch Zern- 
 
 , noent ,s prescribed in Scripture, differ widely among themselves ^re^ard- 
 
 TJlf Pr-"''•'^^hape, which i. of exclusive div.ie autSty 
 
 i\ccording to general views, and Dr. McLeod's Ecclesiastical Catech^^m 
 
 here are three principal and distinct forms of Church government To 
 
 ^"hich all others may be referred, viz. Presbyterv, Prelacy aud liide" 
 
 pendency lNow,-as the Rev. Mr. Neilson of Roth.ay.^ob erve i„ 
 
 annrov ^r'^'"' T ^''^ ^^''^ "'" '^' ^''^''^' Establi.hm^ent "' vvhi e 
 approximating, and even coinciding u, some point., these systems differ 
 ^o widely ,n their fundamental principles, that if a divine VarT mt or 
 
 so lar. destitute^ of Scnpiure authority." A3 to the second of these 
 f^^^rnjs; namely Prelacy,-or in other words the hierarchy of the Church 
 Drovp"! r'~il /' IS uothmg. in my own view of the case, more easily 
 proved, for all its lofty pretences to the contrary, than that it has no 
 loundation in the Scriptures. The New Testament wil fford o 
 ground for that monstrous and lordly semi-popish fabric; .-nd he CM 
 restament is an obsolete and a desperate resort here for au.ili-,rv Do 
 not think, tor all this, that I would, by any means, be ur2r ood ns 
 denying or depreciating the merit of good men. found at any perTod o 
 irom time to time, within the pale, and under the oesign/tion of thi 
 Church ; of whom the late famous, zealous, and pious. Rev. John New- 
 ton, was a notable instance. ^nu i^ow 
 
 Presbytery and Independency must therefore rival, precedenc- or 
 prefe-ence on the score. And I believe it will be diffia.lt for' the la'tte- 
 to overcome ,n Its own favor, the strong claims of the former in hi; 
 
 Fm!^ '^-p^ r" "°' '''' ""*''■ "P'''" ^'"^ ^•^P"^^ «'^ ^hc .subject of ay 
 Elders. Presbytery then, is in my sincerest vi...v, the ncnrest .xi te u 
 iorm to the Apostolic standard. But here I must disclaim perlea on 
 and admit the reverse in the best and wisest ecci, .iastical cona u io^' 
 imitation, and order now in the world. ^""amuuon, 
 
 nvir'r"f ^'''' '''\l^o"fe^h church government is not to be indifferently 
 overlooked or un, errated; yet that it is only, at the best, but an out! 
 
 and points of far more ir.porlance. and ' :=nsic weight and vie 
 Here indeed our Saviour's counsel to th .isees is /ery applic de 
 
 C ennse first that which is within the cup and platter, tha thi' on de 
 of them may be clean also." It is not, however, seldom very obse iv We 
 that many of those, who most harshly dec. ..e excellent, or esc lable 
 churcn government of their neighbors. ..e also found th^ mo ' W 
 le.Iy extravagant to met and magnify their own abused, or absurd forms 
 Both Popery and Prelacy are notorious on this ground; and Presbytery 
 
 ol'SV T^ ''""' no-played a half game, on the same scofj, agS 
 otlended and oppressed D'ssenters "S«i"3i 
 
 But although the Apostolic Torm of Church government is this far 
 

 m I 
 
 *72 
 
 admitted to have been Pre'.jterial or Dependent, yet it certainly con- 
 sisted with the greatest possible spiritual freedon^ and independence , 
 so that for my own part, I see nothing irreconcileable. but most har- 
 moniou'sly agreeable, in maintaining this seeming paradox or contra- 
 diction. Don't be surprised ; for I feel well my bottom on this score ; 
 and that it is impossible for the law and legislation of Heaven to be other- 
 wise " If the Son," saith Christ, " make you free, ye shall be free 
 indeed " " And the muliitude of them that believed were of one heart 
 and of one soul ; neither said any of them that aught of the things 
 which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common. 
 How could these be independent on one another? And yet this their 
 dependence, was their greatest freedom, blessing, and benefit : because 
 it wa^ both their individual and combined ; or, in other woros, their 
 respectivt and collective choice, and happiness ; as the genuine and 
 necessary result of their divine love and unity. The law of love is the 
 law of liberty— it is self-binding. Every virtuous wife is, in this view, 
 both dependent and independent on the generous husband of her own 
 heart and hoist, joint and choosing. Since 1 am myself but a sort of an 
 ecclesiastic mule or mongrel, conceived of dependence and independ- 
 ence I hope my dissenting friends there, will take this my sound doc- 
 trine in good part; for I tell them froely that I find it far easier to justify 
 my independence from the blessed and bountiful proviso and relnvo, of 
 the Apostles, than from their own elected and adopted form of Church 
 government. There is no necessity for tip-toe in my plan.— Ail the 
 wiembers of a sound body, are in the same circumstance, botn dependent 
 and independent, on one another. And the mystical members of Christ's 
 body so far as their love and unity extend, and iheir association or 
 communication is practicable, are unavoidably similar, on this ground. 
 It would be the benefit and not the bondage, of a defective or a deform- 
 ed member to be dependent on a sound body ; and while the said defect 
 or deformity would be either bearable or curable, neither the body nor 
 the branch should choose a disunion. Read 1 Cor. 12th and 13th chap- 
 ters The same parallel holds in spiritual and ecclesiastical bodies and 
 branches, meetings and members, as far as locality, and other outward 
 concerns admit. Was it not the blessing and privilege ot good Chris- 
 tians to be under the immediate oversight and su crintendence of the 
 \postles, and their elected, or approved Ev.-D:;elists, Pastors and 
 Teachers Helpers and Elders, Doctors and De icons? If they had 
 erievances, they were in the best way to obtain r.idress ; so that their 
 very reliance shaped and secured their very relief. Their due and 
 demanded dependence, was the best support, and soundest insurance, 
 of their salutary and suitable independence. And whenever the case 
 were otherwise, there is no law revealed from Heaver in favor of 
 Dependence. And it were indeed the greatest vanity or wickedness to 
 expect '>' " For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as m 
 all chu les of the saints." Dependents and Independents stand here 
 upon equal footing just in proportion to the similarity, or disparity of 
 their respective principles and practice, to the ordinary graces and 
 
ertainly con- 
 lependence , 
 ut most har- 
 )x or contra- 
 I this score ; 
 a to be other- 
 shall be free 
 of one heart 
 f the things 
 gs common." 
 et this their 
 fit : because 
 words, their 
 genuine and 
 af love is the 
 in this view, 
 of her own 
 It a sort of an 
 [id independ- 
 y sound doc- 
 isier to justify 
 nd reli'jvo; of 
 m of Church 
 Ian.— Ail the 
 »th dependent 
 ;rs of Christ's 
 jssociation or 
 I this ground, 
 or a deform- 
 he said defect 
 the body nor 
 nd 13th chap- 
 ,al be dies and 
 )ther outward 
 ■ good Chris- 
 idence of the 
 Pastors and 
 If they had 
 so that their 
 heir due and 
 est insurance, 
 ever the case 
 r in favor of 
 wickedness to 
 >f peace, as in 
 Its stand here 
 jr disparity of 
 y graces and 
 
 27. S 
 
 commandment, are not grievoos."-St John '' Kp I of ° '' 
 
 to one another "—St IVtor '.Pnii T r u "^ -^°" subject 
 a..L.iiici. C3i. i eier. -Call no man father or masip " Pi,.;.* 
 
 left free from sinister c^rolut'thout t^^lTnro^lso ""1'""^^ ''' 
 would be only wreathing our Tcks .mdpr ' ^ , ' ""' '^^ 
 
 yoke-thougi/under another „l'e-f on/ vh"/hes-.?/ i'f'" '^°'^ 
 our fathers brought themselves and us, to eni; I ' ,e " ed'ir .'^ 
 Dependence— without the full freedom of an en'iil,;«? i '^""'^y- 
 
 entirely unknown to the -o.p-^ Offer ns^lf.^^^ consc.ence-is 
 
 ."sure ^our best interest, or s ^HtuaVnCt; i'^rtu^.^^^^^^^^ ^^''! 
 no good Dissenter can ever refuse it : proffer anv othpr ., it./ '"'^ 
 the ingenuity and elements, learning and logic Ya 'the ^Id^ 
 us one word of frospel truth in .t^ i\vnr t. ■ i • , \vorId, to show 
 
 seUes tl. noton;.^:^Ss ^n J^^i^^ls^of ^J^^i^^^^^ ^1^^^ f T 
 
 ofnominalChri^u';" ehe"-^ r,u7bu^'^^^^ 
 M.e New Testament, that any judiciou iVgood mJ^i "'n' k^^r"'^ °' 
 sconces free, but in so.ne shape or othe/uider ZJ ' '/""■ ''°"' 
 
 «h.lter and shroud of either professed or imml f T '^ •' '"^ ^'''^^''"^ 
 
 merciful relief of the appoSent of hT , '^'''''""'"^>' = ^^ ''^ ^ 
 souls, on this ground : ^Tf it w as n^ ^^ ['^ STr' ""''''''''' 
 'H the days of the Apo.stles, it is cer ain y be "' 21'^°'"''"^'"^ 
 s.ty ibr it, tJirough dissension or d. m on .^^"^Z"^::^ T'^" 
 behevers. For ,ho ma.u doom and dano^ o>cVr 1 v" 'f ' 
 association and connection of the Anoulo. am HI ei.- ? ^'■'"" ^^'^ 
 
 -n, warn,,,,, „,ul,e o„o i.nj, 0. foi,l„d'n„c. r^Ue':;;,!;:'';;!/^:;; 
 
 It* 
 
 
5 l! 
 
 274 
 
 hijgbeai of Apotitoiicul succeasioii, and invitation, to bind us to oppressive 
 dependency ; or on the other, to be as fatally fooled and foundered, by 
 the wild wlmnseytj and whirlwinds, of the numberless sects and senti- 
 ments of Dissension. 
 
 It is but religious madness to think, that whatever form of Church 
 government, is more particularly prescribed by the authority or example 
 of the Apostles, it is any further binding in future time, than, while it 
 consists and corresj)onds with the spiritual benefits and blessing of true 
 beliovors; both in their collective and individual capacity. Suppose a 
 case, far from cliinT^rical or ideal ;— I have in my close neighborhood, 
 two certain mi-jisters or preachers — both equally contiguous — The one 
 a Presbyter ; or as you please, a Dependent ; the other a Dissenter — the 
 former a dolt and a drone— the latter excellent and eflicicnt. Now, on 
 the supposition that Presbytery, as is now admitted, was the semi-or-sole 
 ibrm of the first Christians, will any one in his sound senses, hesitate a 
 moment, in pronouncing what is my duty, as a hearer, on this ground : 
 nnd vice versa. Is any man so doted, as once to dream, that the differ- 
 ence or preference of the form or fabric, can ever overbalance the 
 efficience of the one. and inefiicience of the other, of these Teachers ! 
 Or can you ever bring your own sound reason to believe, that any mere 
 external foim of Church government is, in the prescription, or estimation 
 of divine wisdom and goodness, a proper substitute, for the personal and 
 prevalent, particular and pointed-out, qualifications of preachers ? With 
 mc, however, i,he case has, for u long time, been past all surmise; and 
 that J'pon t!ie surest *and safest possible ground. For the due qualifica- 
 tions of ministers are authoritatively, fresly, and fixedly, established in 
 the Epistles of St. Paul to Timothy and Titus; so that no form of 
 Church government in the world, can supersede their necessary requi- 
 sition. My very soul is all life and light, on this most solemn and solid, 
 stable and steadfast ground. " A bishop then must be blameless, the 
 husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospi- 
 tality, apt to teach ; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy 
 lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well 
 his own house; having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for 
 if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care 
 of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest, being lifted up with pride, 
 he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must have a 
 good report of them which are without ; lest he fail into reproach and 
 the snare of the devil."-— 1 Tim. iii. 2—7. " For this cause left I thee 
 in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, 
 and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be 
 blameless, the husband of one wife, having faitliftil children, not accused 
 of riot, or unruly. For a bishop must be blameles.s, as the steward of 
 God : not self-willed, not soou angry, not given to wine, no striker, not 
 given to filthy lucre ; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, 
 Eober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the "faithful word as he iiath 
 been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and 
 to convince the gsinsiiyers,"~TituB i. 5—9. Oli, how my very soul 
 
 
to oppressive 
 oundered, by 
 :s and uenti- 
 
 n of Church 
 y or example 
 nan, while it 
 ssing of true: 
 Suppose a 
 eighborhood, 
 us — The one 
 issenter — the 
 it. Now, on 
 I semi-or-sole 
 !9, hesitate a 
 this ground : 
 lat the dtffer- 
 rbalance the 
 36 Teachers ! 
 hat any mere 
 or estimation 
 personal and 
 hers? With 
 iurmise; and 
 lue quaiidca- 
 stablished in 
 no form of 
 essary requi- 
 nn and solid, 
 lameless, the 
 ven to hospi- 
 edy of filthy 
 t ruleth well 
 gravity; (for 
 he take care 
 p with pride, 
 nriust have a 
 reproach and 
 se left I thee 
 are wanting, 
 3: If any be 
 , not accused 
 D steward of 
 ) striker, not 
 f good men, 
 i as he hath 
 exhort and 
 ny very soul 
 
 275 
 
 a.sgusts the clap and clank, clack and clamor of false and formal wicked 
 and worldly men, respecting the forms of Church governmen w thout 
 one ser.ous throw or thought, throe or throb, about the mairrconc ra- 
 the necessary qualifications of ministers and members of churches ■ 
 
 Decu'lhr"%'"^TP''/^^'^P°'^''^'^ ^^"""^ °^ ^^"'■'='» government was 
 peculiar For the Apostles were extraordinary men; and therefore 
 ;mmu b,, ,„ ,,^^i^ extraordinary capacity, could'have ieUher quah v' 
 cessos 'TT°"\r •" °'''''" ^^^^'•d^' "Either equals, imitators, nor sue: 
 Churrh' t '' necessary, as it is evident, that all the Apostolic 
 
 Church however numerous, in her branches, ministers, and members 
 was all dependent on, and under the superior ty and control as well as 
 
 And^her!""" ''''''T' °^ '""T ^^'^^onUnlry Gospel iiesseligrs 
 And there \ as as much much utility as duly in the enjoined obedience 
 to their authority. But in their ordinary function, the AposUes nut 
 
 breren";" '>-7''^^' "?^^f^'--. -d iove, on the «ame levZw h th'e 
 brehren; especially their Christian fellow-presbyters or bishoos • and 
 on this ground, never assumed to themselves an/ superiority like our 
 
 SLmi'lr'^',' ^""r "'' J^^^' ^^P^^ ^"^ P-'^^- ' <^h' deep Z 
 tZt ? -'"^ mocking, .hame and shaking, on them, b^ Heaven's 
 merciful visitation and intervention; before they maze' and mis of 
 Le.uuel • and meet and mate with T.ucifer, the fan^ous and fucrjthe anj 
 fallen star-son of the morning !- iah xiv. l-).-You will excu e this 
 
 S mX"""' 7' 'FT"''' ' ^'^'^ ^'"-""'- ->d serious core 
 alter my hearing of such tales and tattles, papas and powers lordshin^ 
 
 and ocusts as claiming their furious and furtive instUution,' ZTZ 
 
 trl uJl"f' ^ '"V"! ^^^^^.^^ ^"^P^' °f J««"« °f Nazareth "I 
 wrote unto the church : but Diotrephus, who loveth to have the nre- 
 eminence, rece.veth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I wilf remember 
 h.s deeds which he doeth, pratin, against Ls with mali'cious words ;'tc 
 tlLl 'i:^ '' D.otreplms-a self-ccnstituted Pope, or pr mate • 
 
 stonT:.rlr~^^^^ themselves.-There is no 
 
 1 erP U » J '"?' P"''" ""^ P'-ef^^r^nce, when once past due bounds 
 "ere is, then, at least, one of the best precedents in ali the Bible for 
 Mther i ope or prnnate ; and is it not worthy boast and iniitation ! i And f 
 ireely defy all the knot and kniting, ring and rabbins, of the whole order 
 to show a much better. Vide Luke xxii. 24-28. Papacy and primacy 
 you see now, stand upon this very high and haughty, load and lo:t; 
 ground! But do not think, for all this, that I mark no distinction 
 between these two grades of unscriptural ptrfenaion : For their differ- 
 ence is sadly and soundly serious ; though their parity is so fearfully 
 notorious. But though the Apo.tles measured and n.aintamed-na here 
 and whenever necessary-lheir oxtraordinary authority in the Church' 
 according to Sd ConnthiaM.. lOth chapter; and especially Sth verse i 
 For though I should noast someuhat more of our authontv. (which 
 the Lord hath given us for edi'^cation, and not for destruction,) I should 
 no. be ashamed ;•■ \ et ui nil their ordinary claims and conducMione 
 could surpass their disavowal of prcferencraMd prerf^deiice : " \or of 
 
276 
 
 SM. 
 
 i:-' I il 
 
 II 
 
 i. 
 
 I 
 
 men sought we glory, nellfier of vou, nor of others, when we might hnvc 
 been biirdeasomo to you, aa the Apostles of Christ. But we were gentle 
 nniong you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children ;" St. Paul. Vide 
 1 Corinth. 2, 3. " The elders among you I exhort, who am also on 
 elder," or presbyter ;— St. Peter. "The elder unto the elect lady and 
 her children," &lc. St. John. 
 
 But as to the dispute between Dependency and Independency ; since 
 unity and uniformity of principles and practice, sentiments and signs, 
 are, both necessarily, and in Scripture accounts, among the most gracious 
 and glorious lays and laws of the kingdom of grace and glory, preference 
 must be in favor of tiie former, whenever practicable. But because its 
 feasibility — in no few circumstances — is far more uncertain, merciful 
 Heaven— though few properly prize it — has richly furnished every 
 Christian, in every period of lime — as has already been partly observed — 
 with a most favorable outgate, or alterntitive ; (though many abuse it, 
 and others oppose it,) according to the following Scriptures: — " Now 
 we command you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that 
 ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and 
 not after the tradition which he received from us. For yoursolves know- 
 how ye ought to follow us : for for we behaved not ourselves disorderly 
 among you." — 2 Thess. iii. 0. "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark 
 ihem which cause divisions and olFences, contrary to the doctrine which 
 ye have learned, and avoid them. For they that are such serve not 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly ; and by good words and fair 
 speeches deceive the hearts o' ihe simple." — Horn. xvi. 17. " Brethren, 
 be followers together of me, and mark them which walk eo as ye have 
 us for an ensurnple." &c. — Phil. iii. 17. " And ye became followers 
 of us and of the Lord, *** so that ye were ensamples to all that believe 
 in Macedonia and Achaia." — 1 Thess. i. (J and 7. " Be ye followers of 
 me, oven as I also am of Christ." — 1 C«rinth. xi. I. " But now I have 
 urilten unto you not to keeji company, if any man that is called a brother 
 be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, 
 or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.' — 1 Cosiiith. v. IL 
 " If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wliolesome words, 
 even the words of our Lord Jesus Chri.^t, and the doctrine whicli ia 
 accordnig to godliness, (Slc, from such withdraw thyself." — 1 Tim. vi. 3,5. 
 
 Here is a solid bottom, as well as a rich treasure. Here is a directory, 
 both deep and durable, dear and divine, to decide in full favor of n)y 
 principle : That Presbytery or Dependency, so f<u- only as the said depen- 
 deticy is properly feasible ; or without any restraitit upon a good con- 
 science, and gospel obedience, in any higiier concerns. But the scope 
 of the texts now quoted, supposes numerous, or endless cases and instan- 
 ces, in which it were the solemn and necessary and immediate duty of 
 orderly believers to withdraw and .separate themselves, from their dis- 
 orderly brethren : and consequently never to rejoin them without answer- 
 able repentance and reform. Here are, then, supposed ainpic and end- 
 less grounds, for not only aHowable, but most solejunly commanded, 
 difscnt , und consequently Indcpcndcncr ju^t in propc>rtir'h to tjie 
 
 J 4 
 
iJ77 
 
 3 might have 
 were gentle 
 Paul. 'Vide 
 > am also or) 
 ect lady and 
 
 Icncy ; since 
 ts and signs, 
 lost gracious 
 /, preference 
 L because its 
 lin, merciful 
 ished every 
 r observed — 
 ny abuse it, 
 es : — " Now 
 Christ, that 
 iorderly, and 
 rsolves know 
 s disorderly 
 ithren, mark 
 [ilrine which 
 ch serve not 
 irds and fair 
 " Brethren, 
 as ye have 
 ne foUowerrt 
 that believe 
 followers of 
 , now I have 
 ed a brother 
 a drunkard, 
 iiiith. V. 11. 
 some words, 
 ine which is 
 Tim. vi. 3,5. 
 a directory, 
 favor of n)y 
 ! said depen- 
 a good con- 
 jt the scope 
 ! and instun- 
 Hate duty of 
 m their dis- 
 lout ansvver- 
 plc and end- 
 :oniraandcd, 
 tinii to t]if- 
 
 ofTenco given, and justly taken ; and not an inoh further. And i veniy 
 pity the Congregationalist or Dissenter, who ever seeks, or claims for 
 himself, any greater latitude than this; for neither the letter nor the 
 spirit of the Gospel can ever support him, on that ground. But a.'* 
 already remarked, being, ecclesiastically, myself but a moiHrrrl breed 
 my worthy father having been but a stanch Presbyterial Dependent and 
 my dear and tender mother a tenacious Dissenter. And though' this 
 my circumstance passed unheeded, on my part, in my puerility and boy- 
 hood, yet in my maturer and reflecting years, it became a source of keen 
 regret and deliberation to me. For though my ever honored parents— 
 vvho are now no more— were, upon the whole, most corlial between 
 themselves, in all civil concerns; and lived together in great conjugal 
 harmony during their connected existence ; yet their ecclesiastical dis- 
 tinction, excited not seldom, some little debates and emotions between 
 them; and which, on Fome rare occasions, would border, on such keen- 
 ness and coolness, as could not fail of both arresting my lively attention 
 and affecting my reflective mind. It might perhaps assist you, or any 
 other neighbor there, on our subject, if I should givs you a short sample 
 of their difference and dialogue, though, at the same time, on my part, 
 with the greatest possible tenderness; and under the terms Husband 
 and Wife, in the manner following : — 
 
 Husband.—" My dear Meg,"— for that was my ever dear mother's 
 nanve— " why have you so wildly stept the rounds, by jumping from the 
 top of Prelacy to the bottom of Independency ?" 
 
 ^^'*'«-— " ^Vell Sir, Dan,"— Daniel having been my worthy father's 
 name— "I dure say not, in many respects: yet, in several other instan- 
 ces, I could not have freedom of mind, in complying with your Church's 
 form of government." 
 
 Husband.— "Pray, 'Rib,' which may be the chief of these instances 
 of your disapproval I" 
 
 Wife. — *' Your dependence on, and connection with, the same objec- 
 tionable civil Government— to say the best of it, as the Church of 
 England. Also, great many of your ministers, being manifestly proud, 
 and unmoral in their outward conduct, as well ;)s otiiers of them, erro- 
 neous and heretical, in their principles and doctrine ; tliough under the 
 general sanction and standard of an orthodox Creed and C^onfession of 
 Faith. And again, that all your Clergy—good and bad— associate 
 together in religious, as well as civil concerns; and that all your people, 
 young and old— and foul, or fair, of character— are, indiscriminately^ 
 half, or whole, churcli members. And how can all these excesses and 
 enormities consist with Go.spel direction or obedience?" 
 
 Husband.--"! do not choose to deny the scope and skain of your 
 objections; and 1 feel seriouHly grieved', that they are all^ alas! but too 
 well founded : but what can a tender conscience do, when a man must 
 either endure these sore grievances, or forsake the church ; for, as mat- 
 ters now Btand, there is no alternative V 
 
 Wife.—" I do not deny the aad operation and inlluence of misguided 
 coiu-ciciicc?: Ix.i! '.viih t!;c g-^ncralitv of intelligent men ; cspeciallv Mims^ 
 

 i'r, 
 
 fprs u IS souietlung eine instead of conscience, th«t binds them fast to 
 l^ndowed and Establislied Churches ;— such as the pride of popularity 
 mid the braid of benences—as well as fear of the rudeness and reproach^ 
 poverty and partiality, poaching and prejudice, privttion and persecu- 
 Hon, to which ecclesiastical Independency is universally and unavoidably 
 exposed : Subtract and supersede all these obstacles and ousters, amo- 
 tions and amounts, and then ^jood and kind conscience— I will warrant 
 the kingdom— shall soon alter its course, and flourish its tail. iJut I 
 humbly beg your patience and pardon, Sir ; for, in the last of my re- 
 marks, and in the heat of my zeal, I have completely forgot my real 
 position, and thought I was, as usually, disputing it with neighbor Molly ; 
 though I stiil sincerely believe, that I have not an inch surpassed the 
 bounds of truth and moderation." 
 
 Husband.— "All very kind, my good Meg, if you should steer so very 
 close and cautious at the foibles and failings of your own dear party • or 
 allow others to do so for you ?" f ./ . 
 
 Wife.—" Well, my guide, it is but fair play : And I shall never justify 
 mysell in appaling.or opposing any fair or favorable means or measures, 
 either exertod, or designed, for my impression or improvement. If you 
 are, therefore, anywise inclined, to offer any remarks upon the general 
 principles and practice of Dissenters, as repulsive or repugnant to right 
 reason and the rule of sacred truth, pray. Sir, speak freely your mind." 
 Husband.—" Though I do not choose to be either swayed or swelled 
 Dy bigotry or prejudice ; yet I think I discern several and serious points 
 very objectionable in the count and conduct of Dissenters. As first, in 
 no few examples, their shameful defcience in, and depreciation 'of 
 iiberal education, on the part of their preachers. I could readily point 
 out to you a cluster of these spiritual guides, that our little boy mioht 
 put to the blush, on this ground. I read a letter, which one of our 
 inerchants received the other day from Mr. Cam, a mighty preacher— 
 iliey pretend— and were it not thought invidious in me, I could not but 
 publish It, lor a friendly correction to the more sensible part of that 
 community But ins people say he has 'the spirit;' and consequently 
 not so much need of the letter— ' for the letter killeth, but the spirit 
 givetii hie !' The Apostles, say they, were never at College ! Thoucrh 
 all nunrht know, that the Apostles were perfectly taught all necessa'ry 
 Joarning and languages in a miraculous manner, on the solemn day of 
 1 entecost. The preacher undsr remark is evidently a ' novice'— if not 
 worse; both in a literal and spiritual point of view— who is prohibited 
 being 1,1 such public olHce; 'lost, being'— as this unfortunate man ccr- 
 n.m y i^-—' lifted up with prir'-, he fall into the condemnation of the 
 <.evil. — 1 1 im. HI. (5. Now, ycu know, that the best Presbyterial Min- 
 ister in the country is near this Mr. Cam; and that the latter would he 
 \eiy glad lo get ordained as a Dependent Minister, for any conscience ' 
 to the contrary; altliough nothing but petulance and pride prevent his 
 oecommg a Presbyterian hoarer I There is manifestly a numerous 
 Cluster of your dissenting Ministers, in the very same circumstince, 
 f:om mere selhsh pride, besides their pecuniary support from their hear- 
 
270 
 
 iin fast to 
 
 (opularity, 
 
 reproach, 
 
 I persecu- 
 lavoiclably 
 ters, amo- 
 
 II warrant 
 I. But I 
 )f iriy re- 
 t my real 
 or Molly ; 
 assed the 
 
 2r so very 
 party ; or 
 
 'er justify 
 measures, 
 If you 
 e general 
 t to right 
 ir mind." 
 'r swelled 
 us points 
 s first, in 
 alion of, 
 lily point 
 oy might 
 le of our 
 eacher — 
 i not but 
 t of that 
 sequently 
 lie spirit 
 Though 
 lecessary 
 in day of 
 i'— if not 
 rohibited 
 man ccr- 
 n of the 
 rial Min- 
 ivould be 
 nscience 
 2vent his 
 unierous 
 mstincc, 
 eir hear- 
 
 ers ; which they would lose at once, by becoming themselves hearers of 
 otf-ers, instead of their own gross and crude, wild and worthless stale 
 and stumbling preachment. There is nothing more confrenial to reli- 
 gious pride than a pulpit, with its ordinary concomitant and conseciuent 
 credit and cries, of simple and silly adherents; especially humorous and 
 amorous, freakish and frantic womon. Don't be olfended— my dear 
 Meg— my heart is too full, on this ground, to be yet imposted or impeded 
 1 have long thought, with perfect grief and groans, of the capital and 
 cogent remark of a modern excellent divine— 'That there could be no 
 heavier cross or curse upon any country, than an ignorant priesthood ' 
 And this 13 mournfully and mockingly, if not madly, the case in the 
 majority of places, among Independents. For though literary know- 
 ledge may be, and is, alas ! not seldom abused; yet ignorance in the 
 priesthood is, of itself, a manifest abuse of the office.— It is as puttinir 
 a sword to the hand of a madman, to the desperate danger of the handler 
 and all concerned -around him ; and that in a case infinitely worse thari 
 k)r the tackling of time :— It is in the vast concern of souls and eternity 
 But lest you think I take undue advantage of a solitary case, take Mr 
 Mac, one of the Highland Missionaries— and lately a Baptist :— I hap- 
 pened last month to iiear him, on my way home from B M He 
 preached, as the phrase runs, both in Gallic and English. In the latter 
 service, I can assure you, I felt in perfect balance whether to low or 
 laugh, to smut or smile ; foi my very spleen and spine, spell and sprain 
 wrought so violently and warhably, that I knew not whether my indip! 
 nation or compassion was predoi. inant. For as Mr. Cam wrote without 
 mutes ; as ' rong, rath, nat, nave,' itc. for wrong, wrath, gnat, knave 6lc 
 so Mr. Mac pronounced all his own mutes; and quoted hymns, in' con- 
 trasted stanzas;— for David's Psalms are now superannuated! \u(i 
 leaving grammatical arrangement, and exordium out of question* he 
 gaped and gasped even for vuljrnr vocables. But why ! the ' spirituality* 
 of the man must supply, and sanctify all these, and such deficience ' 
 Both the men under remarks, are plainly destitute of common sense 
 and common modesty, as well as common acquirement ; but because 
 they were ' wonderfully converted,' under Independent ministry and 
 can rave and rant of their ' experience,' to every dolt or dowdy' that 
 meets them by the hi<jh road, none must dare object, either to their 
 science, sense, or sanctity ! But, in the second place, look at the gene- 
 ral discipline of Independency : It is equally lax and languid, with that 
 of Presbytery ; though not always in the very same channels. But the 
 majority of the people, of both denominations, are quite similarly, under 
 the same evident and sad sigr;s of unregeneracv; including both' minis- 
 ters and members; and on this ground, 1 am sure, the one party has 
 v^ry kttle scope for boasting over the other. Nothing but putrid pyrrho- 
 nism, or partiality, can start a single objection on this score. And the 
 most part of Independents gain nothing by their division from Presbv- 
 tenal dependency, but the foul and fond drift of an Elysian dream" • 
 e.Kcept the advantage and advancement of their inefficient and illiterate 
 preachers, who slyly find it a short cut, and cheap way to the pride and 
 
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 bufstm mujfr''.?i'T^ ' <!''r«^ ^""r""^' P^^"»"'r''y. or^ « lower scale ; 
 but still under the fanciful, or wicked disj^uise of a tight and tender 
 
 conscience and the fruit and foar of God. But they but "fleelvon 
 the eeth of tne hon to the paws of the bear.'-Amos v 19 For I, de 
 
 liTsc plh/e' "Vor' r, "^^^ ''T'' "^^^^^^"^'^^ ^--^^- ihe cord of 
 discipline. For, unabused, s:ul unrestrained, consider the vast and 
 
 weighty, might and motion, of Presbyterial censure and seizure of de in- 
 
 que„cy_the powerful chance and chain, from the lowest link of e Kirk 
 
 of whic'h a '"or" '"''. °' ''' ''''''?' ^.f'^^^^ ' ^'^ '^^'P ""d efficien J 
 suPDerand nnnoH = 7"-and still dependent-for his suffrage. 
 tKv mL ^'^ ""? '" '"dependent audience-is entirely destitute 
 er are' n'n n'T '' ^"'^ '''"■^ costumeof Lay and Independent preach^ 
 P cs V n"id" . rr "/"'i !"»«'^^«^''y °ff^"«ive; and rankly savor of 
 rvesand ';:'.?:='''''•"' unportance. Illiterate clowns, in clerical 
 4io\e>^^ud gaze can never meet my eye without my deeuest disaust 
 
 nnd pr:';:fs "To'r.r '■ r'^ T' r ''^ ^^'^^"-- '^ S preS/g 
 Grained but } Z ?'^ ''''''''' ?'' '^'^ ^^''" P""^^^^ and pray extempore 
 ..off r '"^^'!"^" '"ay do so also; and sometimes with little or 
 
 am 'cdlTct:* ^Z ?'" -"-^-"-' - -herence. Your own ^ -- 
 
 ii^al I an OS nnd r™°j^ P'"y^''' ^''^^^'^S^ «"d crosiers, rubric and 
 
 da s deS/nm^ '^"'^ organs, homilies and holy- 
 
 uays, decimals and dedications; tiresome and tedious, danjrerous aiid 
 
 i'ZuMis e's.^rbe'r"" r'^ ^"•"'^' '^"' ''''' ^^--- an! rerun 
 .V;«l f «f easily be hanged to their service, as to the sleeve or slop of 
 
 ee-fourths of your pulpit declaimers.-That the surtout of a po cher 
 and the surplice ot a priest, are. both and alike, dominant and deceitfu ' 
 becomes now proverbial ; and is not at all inapplicable, on our prTsliu 
 subject of ecclesiastical comparison. .In the fourth and last nh?e X 
 
 h.detV,"';''"""" "•' '^'''y' '^ -^ ^°^^>' disavowal and disgust oi 
 Independents ,n general-though not, I confess, inthe same dSree- 
 on the score ot all the good books and publications in the worldThlch 
 have been written, or published, by any dependents. As to those di 
 senters who profess a different and oi^osi e creed, on this TornJ i 
 should feel it.le, or no surprise; but lor such as acl nouled.e^r^^ 
 andamental principles; and adopt the same standard of orfhodoxrn 
 the more essential doctrines of the gospel-thoucrh not the same form o 
 church government-I feel persuaded 'that their partiality and prSce 
 n this case must prove too far against them, that they lay nforTt an 
 due stress upon their own favorite and frivolous, if nof «lfame7u| an 
 minister. d,.s tinctions; especially when we take to account hSw eaaerlv 
 and augurially, they will eke and esteem, mete and mncTnifvr'end n ? 
 ran , every probable or possible item or ima. of merit or moon any wi e 
 fiddling or favorable, to .heir own peculiar religious distortion's Don' 
 
 ^"rnuit tf.^"''^'"'?^-'""^^^' ''' °^^-'^'- l-l-aded or behind 
 ZJT J ''•'"■'' °*^ ^'°"'* P'^'"^'''^' Dissenters, on this ground. For 
 we read and ruminate with both pleasure and profit, not only the works 
 of our own von.roblo .;.d favorite church -but also, with imparti. 
 approach and approba.i.n, the writings of every other f stJied oZZa 
 
281 
 
 ower scale ; 
 and tender 
 
 ' flee from 
 
 For Inde- 
 le cords of 
 le vast and 
 re of delin- 
 of the Kirk 
 d efficiency 
 is suffrage, 
 y destitute, 
 ent preach- 
 ly savor of 
 in clerical 
 5st disgust, 
 
 preaching 
 jxteinpore : 
 Lh Jittle, or 
 own quon- 
 rubric and 
 I and holy- 
 ferous and 
 
 resounds, 
 
 or slop of 
 
 a poacher, 
 
 deceitful, 
 ir present 
 place, the 
 Jisgust, of 
 I degree — 
 rid, whicli 
 those dis- 
 ground, I 
 » the same 
 lodoxy, in 
 le form of 
 prejudice 
 nore than 
 neful and 
 V, eagerly 
 read and 
 
 any wise 
 s. Don't 
 or behind 
 ud. For 
 he works 
 impartial 
 or famed 
 
 good author. See for instance, how ue admi.e and exalt, without pre- 
 judicial di.stiaction, tl>e preductioiis of good and godly Episcopalians : — 
 The notable and ni 'luingale Bishop Ilnl! — the great and gracious .Tudge 
 Ilale— the ever memorable and Reverend James Hervey — the late very 
 worthy ?ind Rev. Leigh Richmond — and evea the famous and learned 
 Archbishop Tillotson ; with a cluster of others loo tedious to be enume- 
 rated. .Ind also of dissenters fro'u Prelacy— such as the deservedly 
 noted Dfs. \Vatts and Doddridge — and the excellent Commentator 
 T. Scott; with several other great and good names that might be men- 
 tioned. ^ And among the number of worlliy names, wo ought not to 
 overlook the laborious, heaven.} -minded, and useful instrument of edi- 
 fication and conversion, the remarkable Richard Baxter. And likewiss 
 the good authors, who seceded froui the Church of Scotland— say the 
 famous Erakines, and the very pious and learned Brown. Nor arc we 
 but far from impartial to Coiigre'Tationalists and Baptists — In.stance the 
 dear and tender-mindod Mr. and'Mr.s. Newell— Mr. and Mrs. Judson— 
 Dr. Carey, 6cc. And for ever read John Bunyan. For chough 1 freely 
 wish to deal a death-blow to the unscriptural and indecent religiou.? 
 protuberance of Religionists; yet may gracious Heaven ever preserve 
 jne from hurting in the slightest degree, any point or per.«!on, as such, 
 that is in the least measure agreeable to the line or lineage, aim or image, 
 of God and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And now, my ever 
 dear spouse, as I have for the present, relieved my own mind, under the 
 cooling shade of your patient hearing; and though I have advanced 
 nothing, on the subject, beyond my perfect knowledge, and sincerest 
 conviction ; yet I shall allow you, most freely, to make any exceptions, 
 or objections, which you think anywise equitable and warrantable." 
 
 Wife. — '• Though under the protecting shelter of even your generous 
 lee and leave, my ever honored hu.«band, I must cordially, though 
 grievously, acknowledge both the justice, and the judgment of your 
 remarks generally ; yet I beg to offer some few exceptions : As first, on 
 the words ' unabused and unrestrained;' for Presbyteri-il church govern- 
 nient, both in its ecclesiastic and civil connection, is now, and has long 
 since been— you must very well know. Sir,— quite a stranger to the 
 proper meaning of the words disabuse and unresfaint ; 'No company 
 no cumber :' And that is one of the best reasons in favor of dissent 
 ('equal limbs and lining') from its present surly and self-contest, confu- 
 sion and control. For how could that Church expect or exact aitachment 
 or obedience from others, which is but a mere and manifest brake and 
 bramble, brew and boiler, in her own bowels; and between her greatest 
 champions ! And all this, not of a sudden heat and motion, but of a 
 serious height and duration. Here, the ancient proverb, — 'Physician, 
 heal thyself,'— applies then with perfect pith, power, and prop'-iety.— 
 In the next place, I wish to acknowledge with sincere gratitude, that 
 you have, my dear Dan, fairly forestalled me in your generous excep- 
 tions of dissenters, by marking vast difference between man and man, 
 in a party so nuii.erous ; or rather numberless, 'tnd various, in sectaries 
 and sentiments, as well as individual cast and character. There is too 
 
lET. 
 
 SS2 
 
 much food and foundation, for all the rigorous-like animadversion now 
 passed on the folliea and falsehood, partiality nnd prepossession, of the 
 swarm of sly and filuggish, proud and pranking teachers and preachers 
 under conBideration. But you, Sir, and some others of your libernl 
 dispositi^on, among your own party, are not the whole of your commu- 
 nity. For I have good reason to believe that a large number of yoiir 
 people; and including popular pastors; who feel and find, little heart 
 or interest, in the writing or reports — however vast or valuable — of any 
 church in the world but their own. The love of our Snviour is neces- 
 sary indeed, to our impartial love and esteem of his people : On. long 
 and latent prejudice bears, in our minds, deep and dangerous swing 
 nnd sway, of which very few of us sincerely choose to be convinced. 
 Again, lenient and learned men ; and of no less popularity and prefer- 
 ence ; and who dissent from their brethren, to their own manifest 
 worldly disadvantage, without any popular or pecuniary redeeming 
 pledge ; either in prospect or present enjoyment, ought to meet vvith 
 our particular candour, in our judgment of their motives; far beyond 
 the common rate of dissenting people; who, either as preachers, have 
 nothing of consequence, in their own estimation to lose ; but a good 
 deal of pelf and praise to gain; or as hearers, who have generally neither 
 search nor sacrifice, of any balance, within their power or poise ; but 
 who are led by the impulse of mere accidents, loeal circumstfinces, 
 jnatrimonial connections; or may be, for a moment, a cheaper gate, 
 and quicker clack to a fool's paradise. Besides all these, there is 
 another grade of dissenters, which should not be indiscriminately 
 classified with the generality of their nominal designation ; and of 
 these I beg to treat a little under the three following divisions: — 
 As first, a certain number of those called by the general name 'English 
 Dissenters.' For I verily believe — and 1 hope no intelligent asd gene- 
 rous mind will oppose it — that, if there is any of the life of'piety — excuse 
 the expression — now to be found, in our British Island, it is indeed, in 
 some measure, among some of this denomination. The pious and ex- 
 perimental savor of some of their late publications, in commentaries, 
 paraphrases, sermons, tnd magazines, cannot, I think, escape the notice, 
 nor miss the approbation of every sensible and candid peruser of them. 
 Second;. — Some dissenters from the Church of Scotland; who have, in 
 no few instance?, been long oppressed in their minds and consciences, 
 before they could think of any separation : and indeed many of them 
 cannot properly be called dissenters ; but rather dissentienis or semi- 
 dissenters ; who have joined no otiier party of Independents — though 
 tenfold sick oi the preaching and practice, sentiments and sensualiry. 
 dismgenuity and discipline of their Clergy : — but are, somehow, similar 
 to those deplorable people, of whom the Gospel records, that when our 
 ever merciful Saviour saw them, ' he was moved with compassion on 
 them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having 
 no shepliord.' Can any Christian be so cruel or careless, as to deal his 
 rending or random L!ow to this description of humble and unassuming 
 mourners ; among whom, I feel the firmest confidence, there are some 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
ersion now 
 iion, of the 
 d preachers 
 yoiir liberiil 
 )ur commu- 
 ter of your 
 Jittle heart 
 Die — of any 
 IT is necea- 
 : Ou. long 
 iroua swing 
 convinced, 
 and prefer- 
 n manifest 
 redeeming 
 I meet vvith 
 far beyond 
 (hers, have 
 >ut a good 
 ally neither 
 poise ; but 
 umst^mces, 
 eaper gate, 
 e, there is 
 iriminately 
 >n ; and of 
 v'sions : — 
 e 'English 
 asd gene- 
 iy — excuse 
 indeed, in 
 us and ex- 
 mentaries, 
 the nctice, 
 ;r of them. 
 10 have, in 
 nsciences, 
 ly of them 
 3 or semi- 
 s — though 
 sensuality, 
 ivv, similar 
 when our 
 lassion on 
 lep having 
 to deal his 
 lassuming 
 are some 
 
 srraciouii soula ; though, to avoid prolixity, I now wave som* bright and 
 binding instances in favor of this uiy reasoning. Third, — I cannot but 
 feel inclined to mark come distinction, among dissenters in general, 
 between various and opposite dispositions and characters, even of the 
 samo distinct, or particular denomination; as ivell as of different 
 branches of the one generic root. Tliere is in every place a markfid 
 diversity of both outward circumstances, and individual natural capaci- 
 ties ; so that dillbrcnt persons are, as it were, in different worlds, or in 
 different periods of the world, at the same time. On this plain supposi- 
 tion, therefore, — though 1 never choose to palliate inexcusableness, not- 
 to call rudeness radiance, or dotage divinity ;— yet ample allowance 
 must be made in favor of simple aod surmiseless sincerity. In this view, 
 the man of three-score may fall below par vvith the shot of twelve — the 
 almond fleece may flourish on the stripling head — the apfed cripple aiusi 
 be forborne, if he apes the nursling, on the miraculous reverse of his 
 ankle bones. — 'Of some have compassioii, making a difference.' — Si. 
 Jude. ' Support the weak.' 'We then that are strong ought to bear 
 with the inflnnities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.' — St, Paul, 
 * I write unto you, little children, beeauso ye have known the Father.' — 
 St. John. ' Thou hast revealed them [spiritual things] to babes.' — Christ. 
 Wherever I could Hud sincerity, modesty, candor, zeal, and the appear- 
 ance and acknowiagoment of the impartial love of the Saviour, and his 
 people, testified by correspondent behaviour and conduct; with whatever 
 mixture of ignorance and iniirraities, I would never choose for myself 
 to be rigorous or rancorous, in my exercise or exaction. ' A bruised 
 reed sliall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench, till 
 he send forth judgment unto victory.' — Messiah, i humbly admit titat 
 my exceptions arc indeed very rare; and more especially oa this last 
 division; but still exceptions they are; and I cannot — for the peace and 
 pleasure of my own mind — avoid to sustain them : Though, at the 
 same time, I should feel very sick and sorry to administer thereby, any 
 help er handle to false grace and confidence, succors and security, vvith 
 which — Heaven knows — even the religious world is already, most sadly 
 and strangely, platted and plagued, with little or no redeeming pledge. 
 But I now conclude, and thank you freely, my ever worthy gift and 
 guide, for your most generous and cherishing allowance and indulgence, 
 on this very long and lingering, eairer and interesting topic." 
 
 Husband. — " My dearest Meg, 1 acknowledge my special approbation 
 of both your modesty and prudence, as well as your general mode of 
 reasoning: Of the former in several respects; but particularly in that 
 you have made no mention of your own Minister, but left that point with 
 me ; since you knew very well that unacquaintance, on my part, on that 
 ground, could not excuse my unexception ; for I know the weight and 
 value, mettlo and merit, of your worthy Teacher, and his efficiency — 
 both natural and acquired, moral and religious — very far to surpass that 
 of the common rate of Dissenting Ministers; and that his Indepe J- 
 ence cannot have resulted from his ineflicient necessity ; since none of 
 neighboring Clergy could be ashamed of his ninislcrial qualifications. 
 
\>S4 
 
 And if my own worihj Minister, was not in several respects far differ- 
 ent from the bulk of hh onicinl hrothren—thousrh still, alas much re- 
 strained in his ireedoin~r .should not Ioit; hesltnte, by heaven's blessin-^ 
 tojoin vour commnn.ty; even under the disadyontage of the gratiirff 
 sound of the term dissenter, in ihe ea.- of dc;.enr!oni3. Siiil it ig possible 
 that my petty pride u-nnld not so easily yield to this voluiKary admission, 
 did yon but ri-orously, tiiough but reajonabiy, insist yourself upon these 
 fiubjocts ot reiiia»k. And on your mode of reasn^ill.^ 1 must observe* 
 Uiat, except on very general subjects, I can never satisl}' my own ft-^lin-zs' 
 or reflections, by any sour or sweeping argument; foriliouTh it may, for 
 the moiacnt, serve the etlgo of a keen passion ; yet it ever leaves the 
 mind, not only vr;pid and vacant ; but also unhnppy-uneasv ; and thua 
 unstrung for t:je soft and sveet service of heaven, luid the nrooer har- 
 uiony ot social diversio;-;, or devotion : ofherwi.ss iii our cane,* ac'cording 
 to the sacred text— 'That our prayers be not hindered.'— St. Peter." 
 
 Here I now finish the extract, taken from the dialogue of iv.y ever dear 
 parents, with whirh 1 make ii ee to trouble you ; in hopes it may, in a de'^ree 
 throw some ralditional liglu on some ofthe subjects of our correspondence'. 
 But as to the last liisragranh of your letter, regarding- :,;y "ordinary esti- 
 mate of good or gn,i|y men bein.r among the variou's i^ersuaaions" men- 
 noned by you, it is a mo^L delicate point : And I do not chocise to enter 
 upon It, but in a very geuor;;i :md tender manner; esneciallv :,i ice the 
 extracts already taken do. in a cc'tain d.-iyree, treat of'that subject- and 
 nre, so far, agreeable to my own sentiments. But there are three distinct 
 principles or persuasioi!?, nmong yom- sneciiled p.uiiesj which J deem 
 tar difterent from the rest, in liio vnctmss and ucioi:i3ness, of their res- 
 pective errors and heresies, ^ iz. Popeiy, Quakerv, and Armiuianism. 
 As to the first of them: nn.nejy, Popeiy; iie fai.eimod and wickedness 
 ot Its system ; and especially now, and ioii:?; since, in Protectant countries 
 and under Prolestani governuumtrf— tlse freedom and favor of '.vhich 
 greatly aggravate their guilt— are such as ought hardly, at the best be 
 brought at all under the designation ul ChiiL^tianiry, hut under ihut of 
 anti-christianity, or "the man of tl ' a^ it is cerlairdy termed in the 
 New leitanient. To me— in comniOL with mauv good and .rrsat men- 
 it is certainly a question, whether Safan hiuisclf, could ever invent a more 
 deceitful and destructive system, where the letter of tiie Gospel has ever 
 been revealed : it is indeed such a master-piece of hell's frame and fabri- 
 cation, fastening and foster-dam ! There, a sad and silly rote of saint 
 and sounding vocables, mummed and muttered over a fool's-cross and 
 crossings; or some dirty and doubtful relics, and religious rays, rosaries 
 and repetitions— penitents and penitcnti..:-/— pcaairces and purgatory' 
 pilgrimage and paternosters- leuts and limiio— litany and legeisdury— 
 missal and miracles— confessions ai.d consecrations -convents an 1 con- 
 juration, celibacy and cemetery— vows and vigils, visions and virTinity— 
 ^^pectres and spells, sponsors and si)ittles— briefs and breviary— bldls and 
 burials— bells and beggary, brothels and bagnios— abbots and absolution 
 —hosts and holy-water- sacraments and eacrifice— transubstantiation 
 and tradition— excommunications and extreme-unction - infallibiliiv and 
 
 i I 
 
285 
 
 i far difTer- 
 , much re- 
 's blessing, 
 he griiting 
 13 possible 
 admission, 
 upon these 
 pt observe;, 
 Ml l't;elini/3, 
 it may, for 
 leaves the 
 ; nnd thua 
 jroper har- 
 accorfliiig 
 , Peter." 
 
 y ever dear 
 n a degree, 
 spondence. 
 linnry esti- 
 ons" men- 
 se to enter 
 ■ iiiijce the 
 bject: and 
 eo distinct 
 ch J deem 
 ' tlieir res- 
 iiiiiianism. 
 lickedness 
 countries, 
 of '.vliich 
 best, be 
 er ihut of 
 led in the 
 3at men — 
 3nt a more 
 si has ever 
 and fabri- 
 'i of saint 
 cross and 
 i, rosaries, 
 lurgatory, 
 jeadury — 
 3 an \ con- 
 irginity — 
 -bulls and 
 ibsolution 
 tantiation 
 ibility and 
 
 
 index-expurgatory, indulgences, invoc tion, and idolatry ;—'* Hoc pro 
 vobis"— "hsBC pro nobis"*— "Ave Maria, laudem tibi dabo"— O, Dei 
 n-aler, me nnserere, &,c. &c. These, I ropeat, is Popery ! which by ita 
 mortal heresies, superstition and idolatry, drowns the simplicity, f?plen- 
 dor, and spirit of the gospel, to such a dangerous and dreadful decree, 
 that the salvation of men, under its full power and prevalence, is' impro- 
 bable, if not impossible, especially, under the meridian light of Piotest- 
 antcy. But there are exceptions, in regard to different circumstances, 
 i^.nd means of knowledge and information ; on the ground of which, I 
 would, by no means, choose to make any rigorous, or random conclu- 
 ^'ions; and more particularly, in countries never blessed with the day- 
 trar of lieformaiion, or where that has been long eclipsed. I shall 
 here subjoin a few sacred texts, descriptive of the dies, doom, and dan- 
 ger of proud, preying, and prowhng Papacy :— St. Paul saith, " Let no 
 man deceive you, by any means; for that day shall not come, except 
 there be a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of 
 perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is celled 
 God; so that he, us God, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself 
 
 that he is God whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his 
 
 mouth, and shi.ll destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him 
 whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs 
 
 and lying wonders because they received not the love of the truth, 
 
 that they might be saved, God shall send them strong delusion that they 
 should believe a lie, that they all. might be damned who believed not the 
 truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." — 2 Thess. ii. 3 — 12. 
 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall 
 depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of 
 d'^ils ; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with 
 a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, 
 which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which 
 believe and know the truth."— 1 Tim. iv. I. "Now as Jannes and 
 Jambres withstood Moses, 30 do these also resist the truth, men of cor- 
 rupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. For the time will como 
 when they will not endure sound doctrine — and they shall turn away 
 their ears from the truth, and be turned unto fables."— 2 Tim. chap. 
 3 and 4. St. Peter tells us, "There shall be false teachers among you, 
 who privily shail bring in damnable heresies. And many shall follow 
 their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil 
 spoken of. * * * Who have forsaken the right way : to whom the mist 
 of darkness is reserved for ever; while they promise them liberty, they 
 themselves are the servants of corruption."— 2 Pet. ii. St John—" And 
 there came one of the seven angels, and talked with me, saying unto me. 
 Come hither; 1 will show unto thee the judgment of the Great Whore 
 
 * "I1;li' pro )ioI.;s" is a retort made by an oflcnded certain hearer and aptclalur 
 of a pncst, tor ilic delucivo and tantalizing cxoerscise of tiie laltor, l>oni Snljbatli to 
 f>a )batii, HI bawling out (o the starved audience, the preceding sentence, " Hoc pro 
 vobis,' wlien nobody but the actual bibber hiinielf renpcd any benefit from tlu: 
 eiicharistic wine-bumpor. - Tity the victims of Topcry : 
 
260 
 
 I , 
 
 i 
 
 1^ 
 
 thai fiitiei . upon many waters : with whofn ilic kings of llie earth liaVd 
 
 commuted fornication:— And the inhabitants of the earth have been 
 
 made drunk with the wine of her fornication—And I savf a woman sit 
 
 upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, havinrr seven 
 
 heads and lei. horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and°scarlet 
 
 colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls— And 
 
 upon her forehead was a name was a name written, Mystf.rv, Jjarylon 
 
 THE Urlat, the Motiiku oi' Haplots and Abominations ov^ the 
 
 L.AUTII And J saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints 
 
 and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And I heard another voice 
 
 from heaven, saying, Babylon the great is fallen. Come out of her my 
 
 people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive no't o'f 
 
 ner plagues —Rejoice over her, thou Heaven, and ye holy Apostles and 
 
 1 ropnets; Icr God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took 
 
 up a stone, like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying Thus 
 
 with violence s.iall the great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be 
 
 tound no more at all."— Revelations, chap. 17 and 18. 
 
 As to the silly and sorry br.-^g and boast of Popists on the score of 
 antiquity or precedence, if far better founded, in favor of their own 
 Churcn, nothing can be more frivolous or foolish ; for sin and Satan 
 are certainly more ancient than grace, and Christ's humanity: and vet 
 never the better, but tlie worse on that score. 
 
 Read the excellent works of McCulloch, McGavin, and Anselev ; and 
 t.ie AwtuI Disclosures" of Maria Monk, the late and famous Nun of 
 Montreal, on the subject. But I still beg you to observe, that when I, 
 most Iiearti y, and openly, abhor and abominate, the principles and 
 practice ol Popery, 1 uisli to love the persons of Papists; and earnestly 
 entreat, il it were the Lord's sovereign will to open the eves of any of 
 them, to their own fear.'ul and fatal, dole- and danger, in the time of 
 IJeaven s g-er.l and gracious, favor and forbearance. 
 
 I will liere lake the freedom of inserting an interestincr anecdote, of a 
 recent occurrence; and published in the Report of the British and Foreign 
 liib e Society for the year 1S41, concerning the conversion of a once 
 zealous Jvoinan Catholic priest ; and who is now a Protestant Mission- 
 ary :_ i,y happening accidentally, and in a singular manner," says he 
 to read one of the Flemish Testaments, sold by a Colporteur, at tho 
 tune 1 was about to enter into a monastic life— the day was fixed for my 
 entering luto a monastery, the strictest of convents, that of the Trappista. 
 1 suliered great agony of mind. I was about to shut out for ever even 
 ilu; light. I cast myself on my knees, and gave myself up to God. I 
 earnestly implored him to direct me. If it were his pleasure for me thus 
 to sacnhce myself, I begged him to enable me to do it; if not, to plainly 
 fchevv It me. I felt that I entirely gave myself up to llim. I arose from 
 my knees J took the Bible from my table, and opened it at the 51st 
 tsalm; 1 knew it well in l<atin, and had often repeated it, but now it 
 was fixed m my miud in a manner that I shall never forget: it will be 
 ever precious to me. My eyes lighted on this verse: 'Purge me with 
 l!.}ssop, and 1 shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter Than snow.' 
 
287 
 
 le earth haVd 
 h have been 
 a woman sit 
 laving seven 
 ! and scarlet 
 earls. — And 
 V, Babylon 
 
 3NS OF THK 
 
 the saints, 
 lother voice 
 t of her, m/ 
 ceive not of 
 Apostles and 
 r angel took 
 lying, Thus 
 and shall be 
 
 be score of 
 f their own 
 1 and Satan 
 y ; and yet 
 
 nseley ; and 
 ous Nun of 
 hat when 1, 
 ticiples and 
 id earnestly 
 s of any of 
 the time of 
 
 jcdote, of a 
 nd Foreign 
 
 of a once 
 nt Mission- 
 r," says he, 
 eur, at the 
 xed for my 
 J Trappists. 
 ' ever even 
 to God. I 
 for rue thus 
 , to plainly 
 arose from 
 at the 51st 
 but now it 
 
 it will be 
 ;e me with 
 han snow.' 
 
 As to 
 though 
 sorts o^ 
 exceptiori 
 could n'3L 
 piety. 
 
 The Iruth flashed across my mind ; I understood it all. It was not !«y 
 my inflicting on my poor, sinful, and weak body, pain and Butrerin<rs 
 that ( oould be delivered from my sins; I saw that was to be df»ne by a 
 nobler sacrifice : 1 must be washed in the blood of Chriut, which cleanseth 
 from all sin. The IGth and I7th verses of the fimo Psalm determined 
 me what to do; from that moment I have had a peace and joy which 
 surpass all knowledge. I found real for my soul ; I find ii still amidst 
 all the trials and temptations to which the Christian is subject in this 
 vale ^f tears. Attach yourselves to the word of God, and not to the 
 traditions of men : that alone can lead you aright." 
 
 Oh: that the fatal votaries and vaasals of "deluding and destroying 
 Popery, would be once brought to emulate and imitate the meek and 
 modest, humble and happy, subject of the foregoing short and sober, 
 open and authentic nan alive; especially, in his active and earnest, un- 
 shaken and unshackled, pursuit and perusal, of the ever blessed boon— 
 the free and fresh, bright and broad, safe and sound, searching and 
 saving, unad il^ . "?d— undisguised, revelation of Heaven, in the sacred 
 Scripture.s. 
 
 ■Rry, 5 ^0 r i, f*^'! inclined to say much. Jt is a peaceable, 
 (gCi j',3 •^'■' uas.v/ii. I have a summary of five different 
 ra, V*" sv QUO certain party formed, in my view, an 
 
 JW Tf , frorr aM the rest of the name; so that I 
 - c • ,, I, at mere might not have been some real 
 _ 1 mu bhaued, niid dangerously blended, with errors, and 
 enthusiasm, in some of its inTibers. Cut as to the generality of this 
 denomination, they have d?plo»ibly stumbled upon their nominal spirit- 
 uality; at the very expense of due respect for the letter, and external 
 ordinances of the Gospel. And there is no doubt that the notorious 
 general falsehood :!nd formalism of all other sorts and secis of nominal 
 Christians have, even to this day, been a fatal stumbling-block to this 
 unfortunate denomination, since its very first and distinguished formation. 
 And their obstinate ahd incurable, though inobtrusive, self-confidence, 
 and confirmation, on this ground, are, indeed, very deplorable. One of 
 this sect has, lately, sent me a present of pamphlets, and for the most 
 part, the deceptive production of his own community; but including a 
 piece of the gracious experimental exercise of the noted Christian, the 
 great Judge Hale. And I could indeed, but commiserate the absorbing 
 ignorance and augury of my kind grantor, in expecting to impose upon 
 me, aa it is probable he does on himself, the dangerous and delusive 
 belief, that the spirit of the ^'ery contrasted publications under remark, is 
 any wise similar. But alas ! for my friend, the case is awfully the very 
 evident reverse. The spirit of the Quakers is not the spirit of the gospel; 
 but the fatal spirit of darkness and destruction ; and which is awful!/ 
 distant and diverse from the good and gracious spirit of the very worthy 
 and wise, pithy and pious Judge Hale. Besides their evil and heretical 
 wresting and mystifying of a great part of the Scriptures, Quakers fall 
 upon three particular and radical errors in common with, nt least, a great 
 number of Arminians; viz. Partial views and feelings of our original 
 
288 
 
 I 
 
 .1 ■ 
 
 J '' 
 
 '• 1 
 
 .h-A 
 
 corruption, sialess perfeciiuii attamablo in this life, aiui lubjeclion iu t 
 total falling from spiritual grrxe. The full depth of thrso false princi- 
 ples, seemn to me most dangerous, if not certainly damnable; and lauUIy 
 partakes of Popery itself. Their disuse and denial of the ministry of thy 
 word of God, and the sacraments — their shameless and senreleti sini^u- 
 larity, on the score of dress, titles, and time reckoning — and their cxi)0- 
 sure to the flood-gates of the wildest notions and no.isensc, by thi.ir free 
 admission of a private aud putrid spirit to their miniatry, without any 
 distinction of sex or circumstances, are all but most evident indications 
 of the dreadful religious pride and plague of this unfortunate denomina- 
 tion. 
 
 But as to the third distinction ; namely, Arminianism — since T wrote 
 lately to one of your neighbors, A. C. on the subject — I do not now 
 intend to insist so much, upon it, to you. It is one of the baneful mis- 
 fortunes of Arminians in general — in common with every other wilfully 
 erroneous and heretical party — that they can .never, impartially and 
 earnestly be brought to examine, what is against them, both fruitfully 
 and freely in the word of God ; and in the works of good r.nd great, and 
 godly men. It is as difficult for a man — who can tolerably read and 
 understand tho Bible — to be a sound and steady Arminian — as ii is for 
 open eyes to refuse the meridian light — but through the wilful, or wicked 
 influence, of partiality and prejudice. I would challens^e the world to 
 show rne that complete and confirmed Arminian ; who, in the search of 
 sacred truth, has sought the Lord's gift and guidance, with the art and 
 eagerness, tact and- tenderness, fear and forwardness, with which the 
 banker tries l.is guineas, and the broker his gains— the lawyer the suit 
 of his opulent client, and the lover the heart cf his osculent maiden — 
 the navigator his dangerous reckoning, and the theologist his daring 
 ravages — the miner his earthy fossils, and the miser his hidden treasures. 
 Real Anninians are, of necessity, dreadfully ignorant of the spiritually 
 total depravity and impotence of fallen humanity ; and, consequently, of 
 the proportionate divine rij^hteousness and power necessary for the 
 renewal, support, and security of frail mankind, by and^ through Almighty 
 grace; according to the sovereign and spacious, special and spousal, 
 eternal and unchangeable, peculiar and permanent, love of God in Jesus 
 Christ. But the vain and wild notions of Arminians prove very conge- 
 nial and coriUal to the self-power and pride, mettle and merit, of corrupt 
 nature ; and this is the sad and sure secret of their fatal fondness and 
 fancy, thirst and throes, for their mad and muddy, sick and sorry «ystem; 
 which — while ii tackles their vain confidence, aud tickles their foolish 
 pride — most evidently and odiously, violently and wickedly, outrages 
 and outmarches, as well as contemns and curtails, the most gracious 
 and glorious, promises and privileges of the Gospel revelation — robs 
 God of his glory, and his people of their greatest possible safety and 
 security, umphire and anchor, hope and help, cast and comfort; and — 
 for all the vast and valid, benefits and blessings, of predestination, par- 
 ticular election, pecujiar and permanent sealing, immutable justification 
 and adoption, persevering — though here imperfect — sanctification, with 
 
iibjt-'Clion to 4 
 10 false priuci- 
 le; and luiikly 
 uinislry of tbt' 
 snrelcbi siiii;u- 
 nd their cxi)0- 
 ;, by thi.ir free 
 r, without any 
 ;nt indications 
 ate denomiua- 
 
 -since T wrote 
 -I do not now 
 ic baneful nriis- 
 
 othar wilfully 
 Hpartially and 
 
 both fruitfully 
 and great, and 
 rably read and 
 n — as ii is for 
 ilful.or wicked 
 e the world to 
 1 the search of 
 th the art and 
 1th which the 
 iwyer the suit 
 ilent maiden — 
 rist his daring 
 Jden treasures. 
 
 the spiritually 
 onsequently, of 
 essary for the 
 ough Almighty 
 I and i>pousal, 
 f God in Jesus 
 ve very conge- 
 erit, of corrupt 
 I fondness and 
 i sorry system ; 
 s their foolish 
 cedly, outrages 
 
 most gracious 
 jvelation — robs 
 sible safety and 
 omfort ; and — 
 3stination, par- 
 ble justification 
 :lification, with 
 
 S89 
 
 «H thcif unspeakal.le concomitant and consequent prices and prUllerres 
 prune, and prehbat.ons-and for all these, I repeat, would "hamele?!], 
 and senselessly, offer to substitute the fe'eble 'J.ndVutile. toi^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 nnli T^ll""'^^? "'"^ ^"^4"^^' '''^^'^^°" ""d scarecrow, toggel Tnd 
 Cnn;rle. toller and tong-the Arminian system ; with all its feorfu ar J 
 fo.«tmg m.sconceptiou and misconstruction, fo. and He ion f?and nnd 
 
 nscol; by wh.ch millions of m.s.uided and'mistaken soTarc c pturea 
 and controlled, doomed nnd damned, for ever! Though I wouklno^ 
 
 S^Kf co'r"''"t;"''^ '" ^'^''P °"^ "'"^''^ °" ^'-^ pHlow ;?: om. 
 TnJ nl '""".'■••^^^' Armin.an; yet a good Christian may be plumped 
 
 and plagued With a tmgo or touch of this spiritual malady, ad vveTab 
 other hateful heresies The Lord keep my soul, for ever.^a anif ee 
 from Its irost and final influence I vcr, lar anu iree, 
 
 «nM,'n !'^^'T^" ""'! '^P'-O'^y ^»' Armininnism, that have so lon-r. and m 
 fluch a lu.h degree brought so many churches, to their prose.u rrinir" 
 l.de of formalism darkness, and degeneracy; and so far under tToab- 
 
 rTo CiS'J;'V''t '1'"- /-?''J-^'^- ^or6 Chathan" "vV have 
 in AnH^^nnr E'^gland a Popish Liturgy, Calvinistic Articles, and 
 an Armin.an Ciergy." And the consequonce is notorious, even at this 
 tune : bee the late account of Mr. Bristed, of the Cler.y of Im hurch 
 
 "Thrirr ''""r^'" ?"''■''" '"^^P"'^' ""^ w4s as follows l: 
 1 ne cold lileless, formal, uncvangeiical preacIiiu'T of the rreat hnrl« 
 
 bven the most decent of these clerical formalists, dole out 
 
 •.vorid. 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 c.,KKnf:^,.i r T . -"»"='^ »^.c.i.jui lurmaiisis, fio c out 
 
 Sabbat.ral discourses, dry. methodical, and unaflectinp. with a deliverv 
 most calmly insipid; so that, if the peaceful pieacher si ould .^rcLce 
 peep over the pulpit cushion, which alone he seems to address.^ he ^ioht 
 
 nous hum of their clerical instructor. A large portion of ihe Er:disli 
 na lonal clergy do not even affect to preach 1heir own sermons -they 
 either transcribe those already in public circulation; or, what is verJ 
 common, use those which are printed, as if they were manuscripts w i h 
 bvTheTnT^T ^l°"'"g^-^^ «'--"'-^- Such being consuntly on e 
 dollars a dozen!" "' ' '' '^" '"''^'"*' ^'''^ °^ ^''' '''''' '''^ 
 
 J'tt- ^"^'1'"*^ the established clergy are, for the most part, trained up 
 
 " ' '^n.r^n'v r'^'""'. '" '''' f"\° '"^""^^ as to any Lcu'lar calling^ 
 «..-. generally live as laymen do, hunting, shooting, card-plavinjr ife. 
 
 LnTeTVa r;''"H '""'rf- '"'' "'' -"^-ting. as rnr.sters If 'ti.e'cere. 
 monie., balls and assemblies, oaimg, drinking, cursing, swearing elec. 
 
 iZ"TK""y r ^°'^^f ' /•^--••^-.^ to their means, ability, ani fu'cHna. 
 t.on, being distinguished trom other mere worldlings/only by their 
 e.xterior apparel, and not always even by that " ^ 
 
 C^itilf!! Xr'-\7'':"" °" 'u^ ''•"" subject-- The truth is, the 
 
 curates as Gml, by the prophet Jeremiah, speaks of,—' They have healed 
 
 he wound of the daughter of my people slightly, crying PeacL peace 
 
 when there is no peace.' Whenever they /,v. Ln or Lmantr^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 37 
 
290 
 
 Ml 
 C -1 
 
 for sin, O, say thty, that is hut mad melancholy, God is merciful ; you 
 never did ill lo any body, what needs you be so feared? And bo they 
 cured up the wound sligiitly. But they forj^fot that God hath more atlri- 
 buios than one ; they never told that he was juht and holy, and that 
 without holiness they should never see God ; so, in so dnin^f, tliey did 
 not di'claro the whole counsel of God ; in this they erred. Let any 
 man live as lio pleaaeth all hio life, yet for n httle money they would 
 preacn a funeral sermon to him at his death, as if he had been a aain* : 
 yea, there arc some that will preach funeral sermons to one, fifty ycara 
 after they aro dead at.d goiio. In this they err albo : for i>i all tho 
 Scriptures we never read of a funeral eermon for any of tlie Prophets «r 
 Apostles; neither was it ever heard tell of, but ao much as since i'upery 
 and Frclacy came to the land." 
 
 About Lutherans, I do not now intend to write but little. Luther 
 himself, as their fjundcr, I higlily esteem, as a singular and sp 'cinl 
 instrument in the Lord's hand, in converting and reforming so mimy of 
 his fellow-mea, from black and blind Popery, to the way of life and 
 light, safety an 1 salvation, thtough Jesus Christ. The good and gra- 
 cious and g'."ciit man, needs not my poor coinmendatior ; otherwise most 
 humbly and heaitily would I contribute my meed and mite of praise, on 
 this grouud. But both himself and tiiose called after his name, have 
 fallen on one particular error, which I v,ish briefly to notice, vi;;. 
 " Consubstantiation." It was, in faci, one of my own boyish notions : 
 as it is mentioned in the Gosp'l, that our Saviour presented himself 
 among his disciples, when the doors were shut, for fear of the Jews. 
 For several years, in my youth, my I'ancy found no difl'iculty in ima- 
 gining that the Cmnipoteiit Saviour might — body and spirit, as ail ono 
 to him — enter by open doors and bra-icn walls, the saiue as if he had 
 no materiality whatever. This is the silly childishness, or rather tho 
 wilful and vviclced unreasonableness and absurdity, which so far and 
 fatally obtains in Popery; and so mjch supports or suspends that base- 
 Isss and backless fabric. "TrauEubstiintialioii." The Lutheran Cimrch 
 maintains that, after consccratiun, the body and blood of oui Saviour 
 are present, together with tlse substance of ihe bread and wine; which 
 is called consubstantiation or impanation. But Christ's body sustained 
 its essential corporeity or solidity after his rcourrection, according to hia 
 own declaration : "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; 
 handle me, and see ; for v. spirit lialli not ficsh and bones, as ye see mo 
 have." Now, according to the doctrine of i.npanaiion, us well as tran- 
 substantiation, our Saviour must liave no flesh «r boueh; or any other 
 bodily identity, that can affect cur senses ; because, we apprehend him 
 by none of them in the Eucharist ; and yet he must have a body of both 
 real flesh and blood; because the words "thi:; is my body, and this is 
 my blood," must not be understood in a figurative, but a literal sense or 
 meaning! On this strangely absurd and abominable supposition, Christ 
 has, or has not, a body — his body is alive and dead at the s?me time — 
 it is, at once, and at ail times^ both in heaven and en -earth — it is whole 
 and entire in one place, and the same in a million of different places at 
 
merciful ; you 
 And BO they 
 atli more attri- 
 holy, and that 
 nin^, they did 
 red. Let nny 
 ey they would 
 
 been a siiin* : 
 mo, fifiy ycara 
 
 for ia all tho 
 lie Prophets sr 
 3 sinco i'opery 
 
 little. Luther 
 ar and sp xinl 
 ncf so mi'.iiv of 
 ly of life and 
 good and gra- 
 Dtiierwiso juost 
 
 2 of praise, on 
 Is ntiine, have 
 lo notice, vi;;. 
 5yish notior.s : 
 sented himself 
 
 of tlie Jews. 
 Ticuliy in ima- 
 irit, as ail ono 
 
 3 as if lie had 
 or rather tho 
 
 ich so far and 
 nds that bnse- 
 liieran Church 
 (f out Saviour 
 1 wine; which 
 body sustained 
 icordinfj to hia 
 it is 1 myself; 
 , as ye see me 
 ,3 well as tran- 
 ; or nny other 
 ipprehend him 
 a body of both 
 dy, and this is 
 iteral sense or 
 position, Christ 
 1 srme time — 
 h — it is whole 
 erent places at 
 
 »1 
 
 Iho san.e instant of tin.«— a part of Christ's body in equal to ihn wh«ie, 
 contrary to a mathpuiatici.' axiom, or a self-evident proposition ! On 
 this Popish and Lutheran ground, the Indian Joa IJurna's miracles aro 
 to us, ot as much enortjy and evidence, validity and verity, as all the 
 miracles of the Bible ! For in the absence, or abusa of our sunses, wha» iM 
 the use or i.tis, shield or service, of all the external wonders ever wrought 
 in the wovld, for the conlirmation of truth and 'rinity, and tho confu't.'>. 
 tion of tricks and treachery ! — Janues and Jambres ar<j equal to Moso> 
 nnd iMe diach— Elymas to Klias—Demons to Daniel— sons of Sceva to 
 St. Paul— St. Pope to St. Peter— and Jupiter to Jesus Christ ! Finite 
 ubiquity — inlinitc linitude— substance without accidents, and i.ccidents 
 withoii: substance ! Fine philosophy, indeed ! \\l sacred and saviui; 
 doctrine, indeed, for fanatics and favorites, fr -• lungiaes and lunatics! 
 But not for men of eafo and sound risk and son. In secular and 
 civil concerns, of any vast or valid interest, r.> could not allow therr- 
 ■clvcs to be thus doted and duped, under the fatal force and farce, of mere 
 imposition, and implicit ccnfidencc. No parent of any sense and science, 
 could permit his boy at achooi, to be tau .. the following? sipns:— 
 5X5^^5. 20— ir>=iJO. 10-r-2=^i0. 2:f5.r<l=-2. 100+50+00X80=0. 
 0+G+CX 0=100,001'). ^:,c. fcc. And yet the bloated and blas])hen]0U3 
 absurdity of impanalicn and iransubstr.ntiation, is equally yross and ^lar- 
 in;!T^ to every intelligent and unprejudiced mind in the world, I swallow 
 a whole man at a sup, once a month, or a twuivemonth, without any 
 cxten!=ion, or expansion, of my cheeks or jaws, leg? or lungs, windpipe 
 or verier; and yet tho said man, at tho time of eating him, is ab far 
 locally diptant from nic, as heaven is from earth ! For the heaven must 
 renci>e, or retain, Clirist's humanity, till the ti-ne of restitution— or final 
 regulation- of nl! things. Acts iii. 21. A real wafer is a red man ; nay. 
 more, a real Cod ! O, my friend ! you do not but little know the divine 
 power and pull, prevalen -c and prickpunch of a drossy or drunken 
 priest, or a dreaming and drawling prelate, humming and mumming 
 some commonplace and composed vocables of copsecration, over a bit 
 of paste, and a good bumper of wine ! Yes ! Tdy stars I His mummery 
 surpasses Omnipotence itself; which can ncvf '• produce any abriuruities 
 or inconnii-tencies I But fond and fanatic religion can swallow and 
 sanction, that v.'r.illc is ficslijthat burgundy is blood, and that gross con 
 fusion ia good conscience! If any man in Jiatural transactions should 
 tallv or teach according to the mood or niaJness of the people under 
 rcviovy, he would be immediately set under some eflectua! arrest or 
 restraint ; for none would tiust their life or limbs to his wild catch and 
 control. But till the Lord see meet, in h.s sovereign will and wisdom, 
 to correct the wilfulness and vagary of the fatuous vFctims of these extra- 
 ordinary heresies, no moJo or match of reasoning in the world, will be 
 able to convince thiui. And in general, it would be on'y wasting argu- 
 ment, once to face them on the subject. 
 
 As to the •' Fathers," I do not pretend to be very conversant with their 
 writing; nor is there but little need here of their assistance. I would 
 
2d3 
 
 remark, with a recent good author— "That it were easy to adduce impr^ 
 t/idence, from the most ancient and respectable of ihem, in support of 
 Presbytery. Many of tb Fathers, however, it must be remembered; 
 were weak and credulous men, who wrote in a very loose and inaccurate 
 manner ; and hence iheir authority upon such topics as that in hand ia 
 of comparatively small value. A peculiar infelicity in appealing to them 
 IS, that there is no difficulty in quoting father against father ; 'yea, one 
 part of the writings of the same father against another; while there is 
 scarcely any opinion or practice so absurd, but its advocates may find 
 ample support from the Fathers." 
 
 On the subject of Baptists— as Antipoedobaptists are commonly called 
 - 1 do not now incline to say but little. I sincerely respect not a few 
 of them; and believe too that the generality of them think, in sincerity, 
 that they possess themselves a degr'^e of scriptural knowledf^e and dis- 
 cernment, so far superior to their opponents on the point of Baptism, 
 And though J do not judge this ground of dispute anywise essentially 
 comparable to the other principal distinctions treated in this reply; yel 
 I verily believe that the majority, even of the leaders of the party under 
 remark— not to name the bulk of their followers— have certainly, in this 
 debate, come far too cheap by their conclusions in their opposition to 
 infant baptism. I do nut begin a dispute now upon this stage. But 
 I have not seldom felt deeply offended at the religious selfishness 
 and shamelessness of Baptists, both in Scotland, and this country. They 
 are ordinarily under the present genera! curse of formalism and frivolity 
 in their devotion with most other denominations. And by their untender 
 and indelicate manner in this Island of immersing their members, they 
 have disgusted many, who have otherwise been not unfriendly to them. 
 Iheir minister will lead his female subject to immersion out in her bare 
 smock or shift, in the very face of a cluster of male, and mocking spec- 
 tators ; without the sign of a blush upon the brow of either him or her 
 And the obvious reason is, that they arc both blunt and blind under the 
 talse and fanciful names of faith and fortitude, duty and devotion.— Is 
 It not very disagreeable, in the view of sober and judicious men, to seo 
 these immersed people, after all their silly pretence to conversion, noisy 
 distinction, and superior sanctity, prove, at least, for the most part, to be 
 evidently distinguished by their selfish foolishness and fanaticism, as 
 much as by their re-baptism. What can you think of the pitch of enthu- 
 siasm or wild fancy to which some, even of their Ministers, have arrived, 
 when I can positively tell you that one of their most prominent number^ 
 in this country, wrote, not long since, in his correspondence with my- 
 self, in the following strain :— "I may truly say, I experienced, accord- 
 ing to St. Paul, that whether I was in the body, or out of the body I 
 cannot tell— God knoweth. 2 Corinth, chap. 13. I have no dependence 
 on books, according to the general manner of the world— I have no 
 library but my Bible and Concordance." &,c. &c. Others of them, are 
 as far on the other extreme ; taken up with mere talk iuid toll, tag' and 
 toil, about the mere literal shell of edification and devotion ; regardless 
 
adduce impfd 
 , in support of 
 
 remembered; 
 md inaccurate) 
 lat in hand, is 
 ealingtothem 
 her ; yea, one 
 while there ia 
 ■ates may find 
 
 nmonly called 
 ect not a few 
 :, in sincerity, 
 ed'Tc and dis* 
 : of Baptism, 
 ise essentially 
 his reply ; yel 
 e party under 
 tainly, in this 
 opposition to 
 > stage. But 
 is selfishnesa 
 •untry. They 
 I and frivolity 
 heir untender 
 lembers, they 
 ndly to them. 
 Jt in her bare 
 locking spec- 
 r him or her. 
 nd under the 
 Jevotion.— Is 
 i men, to see 
 ersion, noisy 
 >st part, to be 
 inaticism, as 
 tch of enthu- 
 have arrived, 
 lent number, 
 ice with my- 
 iced, accord- 
 ' the body, I 
 ) dependetice 
 i — I have no 
 of them, are 
 toll, tag and 
 ; regardless 
 
 2»8 
 
 of anrreal change of disposition and principles. They are immersed of 
 baptised-they are now in the true church— the Baptists'-t.-ey left the 
 hetthen world behind them— they were once, forsooth, as bad and un- 
 concerned as any of their heathen neighbors-they were among the 
 loolish people who baptized, not only senseless infants, who could have 
 no faith; bu* also unconverted adults, when at anytime within their 
 contact! /liey can now bless Heaven for their great chanrro, and 
 their hopeful and happy association ! = a > 
 
 Let none think these remarks anywise invidious, unfounded, or extra- 
 vagant; tor I have full and founded scope for this my oloomy and 
 grievous animadversion. 
 
 It is remarkable, however, that some nimble and noted, and even 
 learned and laborious men, arc found both verv frivolous and fanciful 
 in tlieir religious views and feelings : I might h^re instance the famous 
 Ui. Clarke : who, in his account of his own experience, tells the world 
 that he saw Christ visibly, calling him (the Doctor) to draw near to 
 himself, (the Saviour.) What a dangerous and strange notion, in such 
 a great scholar, and generous man, as this famous author! No wonder 
 the fcohsh ai..i vulgar are so often and effectually mistaken, in their 
 religious notions. 
 
 I subjoin some extracts from the evangelical "Gospel Sonnets" of the 
 just y-famed Rev. Ralph Erskine; which I hope vou will find agreeable 
 to the subject of our correspondence. 
 
 «' Tliough liaiighfy Deisls hardly stoop to say, 
 That natm-e's night has need of Scripturo day ; 
 Yet gospel-light alone will clearly rihew 
 llow ov'ry feoiitcnco hero is just and true, 
 Expel tlii) shades that may the mind involve, 
 
 Andsoon the seeming contradiction solve. 
 All fatal errors in the world proceed 
 
 From want of skill such mysteries to rend. 
 Vain men the double branch of truth divide, 
 Hold hy the one, and slight the other side. 
 Hence proud Arminians cannot reconcile 
 Freedom of graco with freedom of the will. 
 The blinded Papist won't discern nor SCO 
 How works are good, unless ibo.y justify. 
 Thus Legalists distinguish not the odds 
 Uetwceu their home-bred righteousness and God'i. 
 Antinomists the saints' perfection plead, 
 Nor duly sever 'tween tiicm and their head. 
 Socinians won't those seeming odds agree, 
 How heaven is bought, and yet salvation free. 
 Bold Arians iiate to reconcile or scan, 
 How Chrjt,t is truly God and truly man : 
 Holding the one part of Immanuel's name, 
 The fther part outrageously blaspheme. 
 The sound in faith no part of truth control , 
 Heref.rs own the half, but not the whole.'' 
 
294 
 
 The Bdicver's perfect beauty, free aeeeptance, and full security, through tha imputa- 
 tion, of Christ's perfect righteousness, though impurted grace be imperfect. 
 
 ti 
 
 4 
 
 '«0 hapjiy soul, Jciiovnh's briilc, 
 
 Tlie Lamb's IkjIovcJ blouse ; 
 lilroij;; fonsojl.-iiiun'^ flowing tido, 
 
 Tliv IliisbatuJ thee nllov/s. 
 In tlicc, tliouirh like thy futlicr's race, 
 ^ IW nature lila^k a.--, hell, 
 Yet now, so hcautii'y'd by fiaco, 
 ^ Tliy Kusb;,;,.J joves to chveU. 
 Fair a.; tljo moon t!iy robes appear, 
 
 V/liilo ("races arc in drnss; 
 Clfar as lim Pun, wliilo found to wear 
 Tiiy llu.-;b;jnc:'3 ri^i-ijliiouhncsJS. 
 
 ! graces, ciianging much, 
 
 Tiiy n;oGi!-!l„ 
 
 Ilavo lnr,! ai;d iberc a rpot ; 
 Tiiy H!i:i-ii;>c glory is not sucii, 
 
 T!iy Husband cl;angcs not. 
 Thy wbilo and ruddy vesture fair 
 
 Outvie:; tile rotsy leaf; 
 For 'inon;r I'ju tliousand b(-auties rare 
 
 Tliy Husl;aud is iiie cliiof. 
 Clotli'd vvilii the sun, tliy robes of light 
 
 Tlic njorning rays outs!iine; 
 The iaiii;j3 of iieav'n are noj; so briglit, 
 
 Thy Husband decks ti'co fine. 
 Tiiou'ni hciiisiisnioke tiiy duties stain, 
 
 And sin deform t!ieo quilo; 
 Thv ouroty'i merit miik<;s tbco clean, 
 
 Tiiy Husband's beauty vviiito. 
 Thy pray 'rs and tears, nor pure nor good, 
 
 iiu'i. vile and IcKiti-sonie scorn ; 
 Yet gain, by dipping in his blood, 
 
 T/iy Husbau'l'y ]ii<;"!i esteem. 
 Xo fear thou starve, iho' v.ants be great, 
 
 In him thou art complete : 
 Thy hungry s^nil may liopbfiil wait, 
 
 Thy Musbaiid gives tlieo meat. 
 
 Tiiy money, merit, pow'r and pelf 
 
 Were squander'd by thy fall; 
 Yet, having nothing in thyself, 
 
 Thy Miisband is thy all. 
 Law-preeep!s, threats, may both beset 
 
 To crave of thee fhcir duo ,: 
 But jusli(e for lh\ double debt 
 
 Thy Husband • .d pursue. 
 Ihoiigii justice stern as much belong 
 
 As mercy to a God ; 
 Yet juslice suflered here no wrong, 
 
 Tiiy Husband'e back was broad. 
 He bore the load of wrath alone, 
 
 That mercy might tak(3 vent; 
 Heav'n's pointed arrows all upon 
 ^ Thy Husband's heart were spent. 
 Ko partial pay conk! justice siill, 
 
 IS'o farthing w"s rotrench'd ; 
 Vengeance ciactcd all, until 
 
 Thy Hus'iand all advnnc'd. 
 He paid, in liquid golden red, 
 
 Jlach mite the law requir'd, 
 Till, vviih a loud 'Tis finished, 
 
 ^ Thy liusband's breath expir'd. 
 I^'o process more the law can tent; 
 
 lliou st..nd'st with its verge. 
 And may'st with pleasufe now present 
 
 I'iiy ljuf,band's full discharge. 
 Though new contracted guilt beget 
 
 Pmcw fear-'i of divine ire ; 
 Yet fear thou not, tho' drown'dindebt, 
 
 Thy Husband is the prayer. 
 Cod might in rigor thee indite 
 Of iiighest crimes and flaws ; 
 Dut on thy head no curse can light — 
 Tiiy Husband is tho cause." 
 
 Comfort to Duicvcrs from the stahility of the promise, notwithstanding htavy 
 
 chastisements for sin. 
 
 '•Tn!:c well hown'cr Irind Wisdom may 
 
 Dispose thy jirescnt lot ; 
 Tho' hcav'n and earth s'lould pass away, 
 
 Ti:y liusband's love will not. 
 A!! needful help ho will afford. 
 
 Thou hast his vo.v and oalii ; 
 And once to violate his \'.uYi.\ 
 
 Thy Hu£'.-:!id v/iil be lolli. 
 
 To uie and floods wiui thco he'll down, 
 
 His promise tiiis iiisnrcs, 
 ^ViJ0be cretiit cannct burn nor drown : 
 
 Thy Husband's irutii endures. 
 Dost tiiou 1:0 more his word bciicve, 
 
 As mortal mail's, forsc-uh .' 
 O do not thus his trpirit rrirvo, 
 
 Thy Hu.sband is th«lVufh. 
 
 Tiio' iboti both wicked art nnd weak, 
 
 His word he'll never rue; 
 Though hcav'n and earth sliould bend 
 
 ;ind break, 
 ^ Thy Husiband will bo true. 
 I'll never leave thee, is his vow; 
 
 H' Truth has said the word. 
 While Truth is trutli, this word is true, 
 
 Tliy //usband is the Lord. 
 Thy covenant of duties may 
 
 Trove daily most unsuro : 
 ills covenant of grace for aye 
 
 Thy Husband does secure. 
 Dost liiou to him thy promise break, 
 _ And f- nr he bre.ik to thco r 
 Nay, not thy thousand crimes can mnli'> 
 
 Thy Huoband once to lie. 
 
 1 
 
S93 
 
 gh tha imputa- 
 imperfect. 
 
 'r and pelf 
 
 :liyfiill; 
 
 thyself, 
 
 ill. 
 
 fiay both beset 
 
 ; duo ,: 
 
 le debt 
 
 suo. 
 
 much belong 
 
 I no wrong, 
 was broad, 
 til ulons, 
 :o vent; 
 5 ail upon 
 were spent, 
 tice siill, 
 neii'd ; 
 until 
 mc'd. 
 n red, 
 [uir'd, 
 lisbed, 
 1 cxpir'd. 
 ■ can tent; 
 verge, 
 
 e now present 
 scliarge. 
 guilt be{^^et 
 e; 
 
 :)wndindebt, 
 raver, 
 indite 
 flaws ; 
 J can light — 
 :iut;c." 
 
 inding htavy 
 
 irt and weak, 
 
 uc; 
 
 I siiould bend 
 
 true. 
 
 lis vow; 
 
 void, 
 
 i word is true, 
 
 ard. 
 
 lay 
 
 •0 : 
 
 ' aye 
 
 uro. 
 
 miso break, 
 
 iiCC .'' 
 
 noscnn mnlm 
 he. 
 
 Ha visit will thy sins with itrokos, 
 
 And lift his heavy hand ; 
 But never once Lis word revolcca, 
 
 Thy Husband's truth will stand. 
 Then dream not he is changed in love, 
 
 \Vhen thou art changed in frame ; 
 Thou mayst by tr.rns unnumbered move, 
 
 Thy Husband's aye t'lo same. 
 H« for thy f(illics may tliec bind 
 
 With cords of great distress ; 
 To mako thee moan tiiy sins, and mind 
 
 Thy Husband's holiness. 
 By wounds he ma/vcs theo seek his cure, 
 
 By frowns ins favor prize ; 
 By falls adVightin^j, stand more sure, 
 
 Thy Husband is so wise. 
 Proud Peter in the dirt of vica 
 
 Fell down exceeding low ; 
 His tov/'ring pride, by tumbling thrice, 
 
 Thy Husband cured so. 
 
 Before he si'lTir prido (hat swells, 
 
 He'll drag thue through the mire 
 Ofsins, temptations, liitie hclla; 
 
 "i'hy Husband saves by f re. 
 He iu aflliction's mortar may 
 
 Squee/ie oui old Adam's juice, 
 Till thou return to him, and say, 
 
 Thy iiusband is thy choice. 
 Fierce billows may tiiy vessel toss, 
 
 And cross..j curses seem ; 
 But that the curse lias iled tlie cross, 
 
 Thy Husband bids tiieo deem. 
 Conclude not he in v/rat!i disowns, 
 
 When iroubin theo surrounds; 
 Tiicse arc his fivorablo frowns, 
 
 Thy Husband's healing wounds. 
 Yea, when he gives tliu deepest lasli, 
 
 Love leads the wounding hand ; 
 Hh stroke, when sin lias get a dash, 
 
 Thy Husband will reman. i" 
 
 THE BELIEVER'S RIDDLE. 
 
 [Copious and correspondent texts of Scriptures are annexed to tho "Kiddle " but 
 are iicro omitted for brevity's sake.] ' 
 
 The mystery of the Believer's pardon and security from revenging xorath, notwith- 
 standing his sins' desert. 
 
 I, though from condemnation free, 
 Find such condemnables in me, 
 Ad make more heavy wrath my due 
 Than falh on all tho damned crew. 
 But though my crimes deserve the pit, 
 I'm no more liable to it: 
 Remission seal'd with blood and death, 
 Secures me from deserved wrath. 
 And having now a pardon free, 
 To hell olinoxious cannot be, 
 ISor to a threat, except anent 
 Paternal wrath and chasflsoment. 
 My soul may oft bo fiil'd indeed 
 With slavish fear and hellish dread. 
 This from ray unbelief does spring, 
 My fuitii speaks out some better thing. 
 Faitli sees no b'gal guilt again, 
 Though sin and its desert remain : 
 Some liidden vv iders hence result; 
 I'm i'ull of .sin, yet free of guilt. 
 Guilt ix tho legal bond or knot, 
 Tiiat binds to v.rnth and vengeance hot; 
 But sin may be wliere giiiU's away, 
 And guilt where sin can never stay. 
 Guilt without any sin hiis been, 
 As in my surely "may bo seen ; 
 Tho elect's guilt upon him came. 
 Yet still lie Wii3 tho holy Lamb. 
 Sin witliout guilt may likewifco be, 
 As may appear in pardon'd me : 
 For fhougli my sin, alas ! docs stay, 
 Yet pardon takes the guilt away : 
 
 Thus free I am, yet still involv'd; 
 A guilty siun r, yet absolv'd : 
 Though pardon leaves no guilt behind, 
 Yet sin's desert remains, 1 find. 
 Guilt and demerit differ lioro, 
 Tho' oft their names confounded are, 
 I'm guilty in myself alway.'j, 
 Since sin's demerit ever stays. 
 Yet in my Head I'm always free 
 From proper guilt affecting mo ; 
 Because my Surety's blood cancell'd 
 The bond of curses once mn Jield. 
 The guilt that pardon'd did divorce, 
 From legal threat'ning.s drew its force : 
 But sin's desert that lodges still, 
 Is drawn iiom sin's intrinsic ill. 
 Were guilt naught (ise but sin's dc=ert. 
 Of pardon I'd renounce my part -. 
 For were I now in heav'u to dwell, 
 I'd own my sins deserved hell. 
 This does my highest wonder move 
 At matchless justifying love. 
 That thus .■secures from endless death 
 A v.Totch deserving double wrath. 
 Tlio'.igh well my black dejcrt I know, 
 Yet T'ln not liable to wo ; 
 V> i' '. full and oompleto righteousness 
 InipiUed for my frecdona 'u. 
 Hence my security from wrath 
 As fumly stands as Josua' death, 
 As docs my title unto heaven 
 Upon his great obedience given 
 
I 1 ^ ' 
 
 
 
 
 It 'l': 
 
 t96 
 
 Th«* wntcnf H«aT'n did full pronounco, 
 Has pardoned all my sins at once : 
 And ev'n from future crimes acquit, 
 Before I could the facts commit. 
 I'm always in a pardoned state 
 Boforo and after sin ; but yet, 
 Tliat vainly I presume not hence, 
 I'm seldom pardon'd to my senso. 
 
 6in brings s Tengeemeft on mj titnd, 
 Tho' from avenginjj wrath I'm frood. 
 And thougii my sins all pardon'd be, 
 Their pardon's not applied to mo. 
 Thui though I need no pardon moro« 
 1: et need now pardon's every houri 
 In point of application free ; 
 Lord, waBh incw, and pardon mo. 
 
 The difference hclieeen Jwlifieaiion and Sanctification ; or rirrhtcousncss imputed 
 and gract imparted; in upicmrds of thirlij particulars. 
 
 u 
 
 Kind Jesus spent his life to spin 
 
 My robe of pcrlect righteousness ; 
 But by his hipiiil'a work within 
 
 He forms my gracious holy dress. 
 He as a Priest me justifies, 
 
 His blood dots roaring conscience still; 
 But as a K.inj he sanctifies, 
 
 And subjugates my stubborn will. 
 He, ju.slifyuig by his merit, 
 
 Imputes to me his rightcouc.icss ; 
 But, siinclifying by his Spirit, 
 Infuses in mo saving grace. 
 My ju^^tifyiIlg righteousness 
 Can merit by condignity ; 
 But nothing with mv strongest grace 
 
 Can be deserved by naughty nio. 
 This justifying favour sets 
 
 The guilt ol"ull my sin remote j 
 But sanctifying grar,e deletes 
 
 The fillb' and blackness of its blot. 
 By virtue of this righteousness, 
 
 Sin can't condemn nor justly brand : 
 By virtue of infu.sed grace, 
 
 Anon it ceases to command. 
 The rigbteousness which I enjoy. 
 
 Sin's damiiing power will wholly stay; 
 And grace imparled will destroy 
 
 Its ruling domineering sway. 
 The former is my Judge's act 
 
 Of condonation full and free; 
 The latter his rominenccd fact, 
 
 And gradual worj; advanc'd in me. 
 The former's iiistantaneou.'". 
 
 The niomcrit that I first believe : 
 The latti!.' is, as Heaven allows, 
 
 I'rogrpssivo wlule on eartli I live. 
 The fiist will peace to conscience give, 
 Tlio last the filthy heart will cleanse ; 
 The first effects a relative. 
 
 The last a real inward change. 
 The former pardons every sin, 
 
 And counts mo righteous, free and just: 
 The latter quickens grace within, 
 And mortifies my sin and lust. 
 Imputed grace entitles mo 
 Unto eternal happiness ; 
 Imparted grace will qualify 
 
 That heavenly kingdom to possess. 
 
 My rightcouGncss is infinite, 
 
 Both subjectively and in kind ; 
 My holiness most incomplete, 
 
 And daily wavers like the wind. 
 So lasting is my outer dress. 
 
 It never wears nor wa.xes old; 
 My inner garb of grace decays 
 
 And fades if Heaven do not uphold 
 My righteousness and pardon la 
 
 At once both perfect and complete; 
 But sanctity admits degrees, 
 
 Docs vary, fluctuate, and fleet. 
 Hence fix'd my righteousness divine 
 
 No real change can undergo ; 
 But ail my graces wax and wane. 
 
 By various turnings ebb and flow. 
 I'm by tlio first as righteous now 
 
 As e'er hereafter I can be : 
 The last will to perfection a;row. 
 Heaven only is tho full degree. 
 The first is equal, wholly given. 
 
 And still the same in every saint : 
 The last, unequal and uneven. 
 
 Whilst soma enjoy what others want. 
 My righteousness divine is fresh, 
 
 Far ever pure and iieavonly both; 
 My sanctity is partly flesh. 
 
 Anil justly termed a monstrous clotli. 
 My rigbteousness I magnify, 
 
 'Tis my triumphant, lofty flag; 
 But poised with this, my sanctity 
 
 Is nothing but a filthy rag. 
 I glory in my righteousness, 
 
 And loud extol it with my tongue; 
 But all my grace, compared with this, 
 
 I under-rate as loss mid dung. 
 By justifying grace, I'm apt 
 
 Of diuiiio favor free to boast ; 
 By holiness I'm partly shap'd 
 
 Into his image I had lost. 
 The first to divine justice pays 
 
 A rent to still tho furious storm ; 
 The last to div.ne iioliness 
 
 Instructs me duly to conform. 
 The first does quench the fiery law. 
 
 Its rigid covenant fully stay ; 
 Tho last, its rule embroidered draw. 
 To deck my heart, and gild my wiiy. 
 
jn my h*«d, 
 th I'm frood. 
 pardon'd bo, 
 ,ed to mo. 
 pardon mora« 
 every hour, 
 ree ; 
 lardon mo. 
 
 sncsa imputed 
 
 iito, 
 
 in kind ; 
 [)lete, 
 llie wind. 
 ess, 
 
 xos old ; 
 ccays 
 
 not uphold, 
 rdon ia 
 
 nd completo ; 
 3es, 
 
 nd fleet, 
 ^ness diviiio 
 idcrgo ; 
 nd wane, 
 )b and flow, 
 ous now 
 
 1 be : 
 
 on a;row, 
 
 II degree. 
 
 y given, 
 
 every saint : 
 
 neven, 
 
 lat others want. 
 
 ; is f'resli, 
 
 ivonly both; 
 
 sh, 
 
 lonstrous cloth. 
 
 nify, 
 
 oAy flag ; 
 
 y sanctity 
 
 ■ rag. 
 
 ne«s, 
 
 h my tongue ; 
 
 ired with this, 
 
 nd dung. 
 
 I apt 
 
 o boast ; 
 
 siiap'd 
 
 lost. 
 
 CO pays 
 
 ious ytorm .: 
 
 less 
 
 conform. 
 
 he fiery law, 
 
 ly stay ; 
 
 )idered draw, 
 
 id gild my wiy 
 
 297 
 
 The subject of my righteousness 
 
 Is Christ himself, my glorious Head , 
 13ul I the subject am of grace, 
 
 As he supplies my daily need. 
 The matter of the former, too, 
 
 Is only Christ's obedience dear; 
 But, lo, his hclpir.g mo to do 
 
 Is all the work and matter hero. 
 I on my righteousness rely 
 
 For lleav'n's acceptance free, and vvin; 
 But in this matter must deny 
 
 My grace, cv'n ns I do my sin. 
 Tiiough all my graces precious aio, 
 
 ^ Yea, porrjct also in d'jsire ; 
 They cannot stand before the bar 
 Where awful justice is umpire : 
 But, in the robe that Christ did spin, 
 
 They are of great and high request; 
 They have acceptance, wrapt within 
 
 My elder brother's bloody vest. 
 My righteousness proclaims me great 
 And fair, cv'n in the sif.hi of God; 
 But synctif;-'3 my main od'-set 
 
 Before the gazing world abroad. 
 More juslify'd I cannot be 
 
 By nil my most raligious acts; 
 But the.«o increase my san- tity 
 
 That's still attended witli defects. 
 My rigliteou.sness the safes! ark 
 
 'Midst cv'ry threat'ning flood will bo; 
 My graces but a leaking bark 
 Upon a raging, stormy sea. 
 I sec, in justifying grace, 
 
 God's love to me does ardent burn; 
 But, by impacted holincs' , 
 I, grateful, love for love return. 
 
 My righteougn^jsg is that which drawi 
 
 My thankful heart to this respect; 
 The former, then, is iirst the cause, 
 ^ Tho latter is the sweet effect. 
 Christ is in justifying mc, 
 
 By name, The Lord my righteousness; 
 But, as he comes to sanctify, 
 
 The Lord my strength and help he is. 
 In that I have tl e patient's place, 
 
 For there, Jehovih's act is all ; 
 But in the other I'm through grace, 
 
 An agent working at his call. 
 The first does slavish fear forbid. 
 
 For 'hore his wrath revenging ends 
 The last commands my filial dread, 
 
 For hero parental iro attends. 
 The former does annul my wo. 
 
 By God's judicial sentence pass'd ; 
 The latter riakes my graces grow 
 
 Faith, love, repentance, and tho rest. 
 The first does divine pard'ning love 
 
 Alost freely manifest to ine ; 
 The last makes shining grnces prove 
 
 Mine int'rcst in the pardon free. 
 My soul in justifying grace 
 
 Does full and free acceptance gain ; 
 In sanctity I hecvenvvard press, 
 
 By sweet assistance i obtain. 
 Tho first declares I'm free of debt, 
 
 And nothing left for me to pay ; 
 Tho last makes mo a debtor yet 
 
 But helps to pay it ev'ry dav. 
 My rightcousness.with wounds" «fe blood, 
 Discharg'dboth lawand justice' score; 
 Hence with the debt of gratitude 
 I'll charge myself for evermore. 
 
 I am tedious, to excess, both in my prose and verse. But I could not 
 give you my views and feelings on this case; anywise bettei- than by 
 supporting them in the Extracts of the Poem, of the very orthodox 
 experimental, and happy author j whose works, and particularly this un^r 
 review, I most heartily admire and esteem, on the serious subjects of 
 Justification and Sanctification ; on which most heretics break their 
 necks ; and especially those, more immediately under consideration in 
 our present correspondence. * 
 
 J shall conclude my whole subject, both of my communication with 
 you, and of my other correspondents, on our religious ground in the 
 following words of the notable Dr. Young ; and vvith a text or' two of 
 sacred scriptures : 
 
 " Shall all hut man look out with ardent eye, 
 For that great day which was ordained for man .■> 
 Great day of dread, decision and despair, 
 At thought of thee, each svddunary wi«h 
 Lets go its eager grasp, drops the world. 
 And catches at each reed of' hope in heaven, 
 38 
 
I!' 
 
 M. . 
 
 ,1 
 
 298 
 
 Al thouglil of Ihee ! and art thou nbsont then * 
 
 Ah ! no, I eeo, I feel it : 
 
 I BOO the judge enthron'd, the flaming guard, 
 
 The Tolumo ope..v;d, opened every heart, 
 
 A sunbeam poirjting out each secret thoug!it; 
 
 No patron, intercessor none, now past, 
 
 The sweet, the clement, the mediatorial hour : 
 
 For guilt no plea, to pi in no pause, no bound, 
 
 Inoxorablo nil, nnc all extremo \"—J\'ight Thovtrkti. ' 
 
 "For \VQ must all appeai before the judgment-seat of Christ ; that 
 every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that ho 
 hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of 
 the Lord, we persuade men ; * * * * For the love of Christ constraineth 
 us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead : 
 And that ha died for all, that they which live should not henceforth livo 
 unto themselves, but u?no him which died for them, and rose again." — 
 2 Corinth, v. ^ 
 
 I am, dear Sir, your ever loving friend, M. L. 
 
 Ji 
 
 ff«t 
 
 Mstract of a lata corrtspondenee^ bttiotcn a man in Old Edinhurgh, mnd his friend 
 m Cape Breton ; the authenticity ofnhich will be hardly suspected, by any judicious 
 readers ; since the suhjicfs handled, carry along loith them, too strtng faculties 
 and features, to be once mistaken for falsehood or fiction ; and which are tktrefore 
 left n0io to the candid consideration of the public, without any furthtr remark hii 
 the author. 
 
 Edinburgh, 25th Septetriber, 1842. 
 Dear Sir, — Having, since you left this country, heard several opposite 
 accounts of the inducements and motives of your emigration; especially 
 •n the score of the Clergy; and nore particularly in consequence of the 
 treatment of the Rev. Dr. R. towards you, I should feel very anxious to 
 hear from yourself some detail on the subject. Som3 people say that it 
 was your own imprudence, or rather your obstinacy and false zeal, that 
 provoked the Doctor to his rigorous dealings with you; others, that it 
 wtfs his own pride and ecclesiasticlordliness ; and a third sort maintain 
 that the frown of Providence has manifestly overtaken him, in his des- 
 perate and shaneful bankruptcy, and melancholy dumbness and discredit, 
 if not disgrace, as so many symptoms of divine retaliation, for his per- 
 secution of you, as a remarkable species of hi? misconduct: of which 
 disasters, on his part, not a few of your old acquaiiitances assert that 
 you had, in some degree, predicted, some time before you left this king- 
 dom. I know, however, that there vere dilTerent steps of his treatment 
 to you and others, so very singular that the faithful record of them could 
 not fail of proving useful for the edification and admonition of any impar- 
 tial and unprejudiced minds. Wo''!d you therefore feel disposed, at your 
 convenience, to give me a sketch of them, under your own hand, in a 
 brief and plain manner ; not only for my own private perusal ; but with 
 permission to communicate the same with ail my familiar friends here- 
 aUuuijr, »niu afc au.viOus uii iiic stiujcvii, ii v. yulCI uutiut;isiiL;nuuiy uuiigu. 
 
 Yours, &c. M. M. L. 
 
299 
 
 Christ; that 
 ig to that ho 
 the terror of 
 constraineth 
 ;re al] dead : 
 iceforth livo 
 ie again." — 
 
 M. L. 
 
 md ins friend 
 any judicious 
 'ang faculties 
 I are thtrefore 
 i«r remark by 
 
 >er, 1842. 
 ?ral opposite 
 i; especially 
 lence of the 
 y anxious to 
 e say that it 
 16 zeal, that 
 hers, that it 
 )rt maintain 
 , in his des- 
 id discredit, 
 
 for his per- 
 . ; of which 
 
 assert, that 
 fl this king- 
 is treatment 
 
 them could 
 f any impar- 
 tsed, at your 
 
 hand, in a 
 I ; but with 
 riends here- 
 uuiy uuiigu, 
 
 1. M. L. 
 
 Cape Breton, 25th December, 1842. 
 1>EAR Sir, — In answer to yours of 25th September, your request, tho' 
 Veasonable, devolves on me a very delicate duty. There were, no doubt, 
 some very singular circumstances both introductory and inducive tp my 
 removal from my native country ; and closely connected with the subject 
 of your particular notice, in reference to Dr. R. ; in whose Parish 1 
 resided for the last two years of my continuance in that kingdom. But 
 some of your friends there would, I am fully sure, be very apt toslumbi* 
 at the rehearsal of not a few of the incidents involved ir: the correspond- 
 ence and transaction, which subsisted between the Doctor and me, during 
 my residence within the line and limits of his ecclesiastical authority, 
 and intended religious command over both my conduct and conscienc*; 
 80 that I found it impossible for myself to live within the circle of his 
 eway, but either under his control or hisconteck ; and at variance with 
 him, or with heaven. All concerned could agree that his pride and 
 passions, wrath and wrangling, were exorbitant ; almost to a proverb ; 
 and the evident means and measures of his subsequent wretchedness 
 and ruin. IJe wofully abused his shining talents, and fondly and foolishly 
 dreamed to carry before him every possible opposition, whether political 
 or ecclesiastical. He could fleetly and fluently preach filter and philo- 
 sophy, aster and astronomy, chimera and chemistry, to the wonder and 
 wantonness of the vaporish and vulgar ; and even simple saints -while 
 Btrangers to his misroute and misrule would think him a terrestrial 
 nngel.^ As for example, in explaining the text, " Ye are the salt of the 
 earth;" the learned Doctor tells his audience that the substance salt 
 may, by certain artificial operaiion, be extracted, from their common 
 hedges and heath, earth and herbs, rocks and rutil, sea and sorrel ; and, 
 in short, from almost every thing in the world. Again—" Ye are the 
 light of ihe world," is a passage as pregnant and prolific as the former ; 
 tor all the planetary system is at once in blaze, as liie scene and stage of 
 action— Hercules and Herschel, Neptune and Newton, Poles and Poly- 
 scopes, are all in motion— the sun is the great and grand, vast and vivid, 
 free and fixed, source and substance of all light and lumination— the 
 poor and pale and paintod moon, and her train of void and vagrant jisters, 
 with the whole stationary dependents of the spheres, enjoy°all but bor- 
 rowed garbs, as the full and fair bounty of the solar munificencp and 
 the royal gift of the king of day ! Don't think that I am wild— t need 
 no hyperboles here— for the eloquent preacher, for a time, fully absorbed 
 all the powers and passions of the souls of his untutored parishioners, on 
 this ground. He fed their fond fancies by his scholastic harangues 
 devoid of real gospel life or light. The name of a sinner, or a Saviour, 
 would rarely occupy a place in his philosophical discourses; and that 
 rarity without any serious and sound application. The result was cor- 
 respondent : no improvement of heart or hand, principles or practice, 
 • oilowed, on either his, or their part; though for the first period of his 
 Hiiiiisiry, you migiit potiiiiveiy, as well object to the message of <i;ibriel 
 
\\'( 
 
 i'-l 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 u 
 
 ■ 
 
 300 
 
 to the Vircrin Mary, m> to start a vocable against the efficiency of this 
 sublime evangelist, to his absorbed and astonished adherents. For they 
 certainly behevcd, that there has not been a gospel messenger on earth 
 since the Apostles' days, if they had not one in the person of their own 
 wonderful Minister: Although, at the same time, he most eflecLually 
 tuned and tantilized, strangled and starved, their very souls to dire and 
 desperate dearth and death I His law-suits were endless, while he sus- 
 tamed any cr2dii— he had once five of them in action at the same period. 
 Une of the.n onginaied in a dispute about a crooked crabbed pine tree 
 not worth a dollar ; by which he is said to have lost the sum of £\iOo'. 
 Another prosecution commenced in a debate about a very avoidable 
 by-iodd, on which, by his mere passion and pride, he was stimulated to 
 transgress ; in consequence of which he is reported to have lost several 
 tolds the first amount. A third action was with the master of a vessel, 
 with a cargo of salt to him ; but who having been detained by contrary 
 Wind3, could not arrive at the very expected time : but " winds and 
 weather" being, according to the ordinary terms of seamen, included iu 
 the conditions, the Doctor lost iiis plea ; and so his plea and purse, at 
 a lopa and loi.g run and rate. He most disgracefully and unfortunately 
 engaged in a fourth process with his mother-in-law, commenced on the 
 ground of some silver spoons, after the death of her husband, and the 
 two successive heirs of his estate; which ended in the ruin of them both. 
 1 his was the result of his matrimonial connection with this once opulent 
 lamily ; whose property, at the time of his marriage with th'i only dau^rh- • 
 ter against the will and consent of her parents, amounted to ==4'G0,OOO, 
 in bank or bullio' ; besides cattle, and an estate of nearly ^2000 rental. 
 In consequence of which the land property becan.e alienated L^eyond 
 redennption. But without further enumeration of his other "le^al pro- 
 secutions, which hardly left h\j composition a shilling in the pound— he 
 artfully aimed one petty shot against my poor self; which, though no 
 great thing, he likewise lost. The case was briefly as follows :~I enter- 
 ed his parish as a schoolmaster, under the patronage of the Society in 
 il-dinljurgh, for propnguting Christian knowledge— and, with hi.s own 
 approbation, opened a school, at a cert^iin village, about nii'.e miles fron 
 his residence ; where J taught for a twelvemonth : and read to the villa- 
 gers, with general remarks on the scriptures selected, or some e.vhorta- 
 tion, on the Sabbath, in the absence of the Doctor: For his Reverence 
 preached in our village but i ery seldom. But because I showed no great 
 regard lor his piety or preuching— since I fully believed he had no reali- 
 ty in the former, and that the latter was of no benefit to my soul -he 
 soon began to manifest his sore displeasure, the natural fruit of pride 
 and spiritual ignorance, in all such circumstances. With other sin-^u- 
 Jar instances ot his heat and haughtiness, he once in the middle of his 
 sermon, at our said village; and in the height of his passion, command- 
 ed all present, who favored or fostered me or my religious service, to 
 Jeave his meeting and ministration at once, in the very name of Satan, 
 in Its wildest designation! which made some of the audience sham and 
 Shake ; and others sham and shift. After that he enjoined my employ- 
 
 w 
 
:Iency of this 
 it3. For they 
 iger on earthy 
 of their own 
 •St eflec^ially 
 Is to dire and 
 while lie sus- 
 same period. 
 L»ed pine tree, 
 urn of c£300. 
 ery avoidable 
 stimulated to 
 e lost several 
 sr of a vessel, 
 1 by contrary 
 " winds and 
 , included iu 
 and purse, at 
 jnfortunately 
 need on the 
 and, and the 
 )f tliein both, 
 once opulent 
 I only (Jau2;h- • 
 to ^'00,000, 
 '2000 rental, 
 lated L«eyond 
 er legal pro- 
 3 pound — he 
 , though no 
 s : — I enter- 
 e Society in 
 iih hi.s own 
 B miles fron 
 to the villa- 
 ime e.\horta- 
 i Reverence 
 /ed no great 
 ad no reali- 
 y soul -he 
 lit of pride 
 jlher siuicu- 
 iddle of his 
 , command- 
 service, to 
 le of Satan, 
 e sham and 
 my empioy- 
 
 301 
 
 era to withdraw their children from my teaching on pain of his displeas- 
 ure; pr to support me, at the forfeit of their church privileges, in case 
 of my disobedience ; as he termed my non-attendance on hTs ministry 
 according to the ordinary phrase, in such circumstances. But my very 
 kmd neighbors and supporters' unanimous non-compliance-except his 
 nv!! .? t!L' ' ° ^^'^'^^'•^v^ his son, " black Jilneas," the very toughest 
 tvvig that has ever graced my drill, as no favorable index of the father's 
 
 .nTlu T^"""''"^ ! u' ?°''.°'''' "^'"'^ *° ^""'^h « degree, as to threaten 
 l^ll '' I °"' "^'g»\borhood, as well as myself, in s°o wi!d a manner, as 
 made us aU sensible, that there was no alternative, but for me to resign my 
 office; which-after some very tight struggles of mind, on my part, be- 
 ll ""^ ''"'' °^''"'^', '"'^ ^''•'■^ °f ^'^^^' *" ^y dearnative land, and 
 among my generous employers-1 intended actually to do. But before my 
 ernployers could be finally brought to th.s decision-thinking it but shame- 
 
 h;rn?/rT";°2^*''P''^°/''^"''' Minister-he summoned me to appec 
 before his Kirk Session, i shall here take the liberty of givin-r you ^ 
 summary of the result of the Session, and designate m'vself as Panel !- 
 
 chfraP, ■" ! ""^ w'^'"= ^ ""'"^^•" °'' articles-" are so many 
 Charges against you. Were you not at the late meeting here, at th« 
 time of the communion ?" * * 
 
 Panel.—" Yes, Sir, I was." 
 
 «ni?r v'"" ^''^ ^m" ?''^'°" y"""" '^*"''" home, deride our religious 
 solemniies J especially the action sermon, by reflecting that the Alinis- 
 
 ters well picked the bones of the Saviour ?" 
 
 .nv^!i?^T." ^- "^""'^ deiiy that such words passed ; but I cannot charge 
 myself of hayiiig uttered them ,n ariy light or luaicrous direction." 
 
 off?n"i;rr7flectiofir ^^^^^' '^^^^^ ^^^ ^-S"' ^'-n, can we take your 
 
 r..r,T^'T"y ^°"' ^'''' ^"1 ^^'^ '^^^ ^f ^he Session, could have the 
 patience to bear it many a day my very soul sickened, by hearincr so 
 much abou. the suflering of our blessed Saviour, from the dead hearts, 
 and decei ful tongues, ot wily and worldly Ministers ; especially at sacra- 
 ments ; who openly tell by their habitual civil and religious conduct : 
 and. in a h.gh degree, by thfeir preaching, that they want the real love 
 and lite ot J»^8us Christ. 
 
 Elders.-" Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! Why, do you hear him !" &c &c 
 Doctor.- ' Don't you keep the people of U. and its neighborhood 
 from at ending my ministry, since you have been among them '" 
 «„flT K no command over the people in question; but when- 
 
 ever they choose, of their own free will, to attend my humble service- 
 especially at such a distance from your ordinary place of worship, f can- 
 not feel disposed to discourage them." 
 
 rni?r i°''"~r" ^ '""'"''^ not impose upon you, or them, to attend here 
 regularly ; if you yourself should eppenr here now and then, even rarely 
 say once in a quarter, and show otherwise by your conversation and 
 conduct your approbat on of my ministry, I could freely indulge, you 
 totl^m ^JlT/^'"'^'' besides your preachiiig is a stumbliti Jbbck 
 

 
 ll 
 
 Panel.—"! don't call my eer vice preaching," (for you know 1 wai 
 not llien licensed) " according to the general acceptation of the phrase " 
 Doctor.— " Don't you, any wise, publicly explain the Scriptures; and 
 What authoiity cun you allege for so doing, from the said Scriptures?" 
 
 Fanel— " I ihnik there are some plain texts in my favor on that 
 ground} instance the following :—' No man,' saith Christ, ' lighteth a 
 candle to put it under a bushel or a bed; but in a candlestick, that it 
 •nay give light to all that are in the house.' 'As every man hath received 
 t le gilt, even so m-.nister the same one to another, as good stewards of 
 the manilold grace of God.' — St, Peter." 
 
 Here a tough contest took place, betwixt the Doctor and me For he 
 most tenaciously maintained -hat "the gift," in {he latter quotation, 
 bignified only an extraordinary gift, to which I neither had, nor laid any 
 claim; but I, on the other hand, as vigorously held, lliat the ordinary 
 giUs and graces of the Spirit, were included, on the subject. And none 
 ot us ever yielded to the other on this j-round. It would be tedious 
 to pursue this meeting any further. But before we dismissed he olfered 
 me twenty days ol suspense and respite, before 1 should be deprived of 
 the schoo . Bat I peremptorily told him that that, nor any other time 
 "r" 1 n-"' "" "'^<^'"'"''^" '" f"} fomiinents or conduct, on the subieOs 
 01 ditlere-ice between us. He, however, suspended any further prose- 
 cuiion, till the end of the given period. But a particular circumstance 
 happjned during the tedious time of the Session, which in some respect 
 proved a sorer temptation to mo than the dispute : It rained in such aii 
 extraordinary manner, as swelled the river which runs along-.ide the 
 meeting-house and the manse ; and so intervened my intended return 
 home, that evening, 1 had left my pony on the other side ; and the 
 Doctors best horse could not now cross me over. I stopped at the 
 river s side, in anxious, but vain expectation of getting horn , till I was 
 perlectly drenched, and pitch-dark night necessitated my return to shel- 
 tor. In great confusion of face, I popped into the Doctor's kitchen: 
 tor ihere was no other house near me. Happily, as I thought, there 
 was no person there, at the time ; and I tumbled my poor carcass into 
 an empty bed, not far from the warmth of a-good fire; where I intended 
 to coop concealed till the morning ; for it was in April. Jjnt, alas ' by 
 latal destiny,! was soon detected, by tne officious servants; who imme- 
 diately spread the alarm through the manse; in consequence of which 
 the generous Doctor sent a mesjage for me to the parlor: where his 
 lieverence and his lady, with a lew more, sat at tea; among whom was 
 one ot his Llders— a select member of the Session. I dare say. in truth 
 1 have never, in my life of sixty, felt so much reluctance and embarrass! 
 nient at i-ny other invitation, as arrested the very feelings of my soul at 
 that .noin.Mit. But it could not be helped. Was it fate, or fancy, or 
 .ascination? No! But it was divine proof and providence, in order 
 to teach me some further lessons of myself, and also of the clercry, and 
 tl-eir fondest adherents! The good Doctor and his Elder, who had 
 lought such a hot and hectoring battle with me throncrh the day, upon 
 some ol the most serious and sublime isubjecls posbible,°vere now as free 
 
know I wn« 
 'the phrase." 
 ■iptures; and 
 jriptures?" 
 ivor on that 
 
 • lighteth a 
 stick, that it 
 latii received 
 
 stewards of 
 
 me. For he 
 :r quotation, 
 nor laid any 
 he ordinary 
 And none 
 d be tedious 
 d he offered 
 deprived oi' 
 other time, 
 the subjects 
 ther prose- 
 Ircumstance 
 )me respect, 
 in such an 
 mg-t-ide the 
 ided return 
 le ; and the 
 )ped at the 
 . , till I was 
 urn to shel- 
 's i<itchen ; 
 tught, there 
 ^arcass into 
 : I intended 
 U, alas I liy 
 who imme- 
 e of which 
 where his 
 whom was 
 ly, in truth, 
 embarrass- 
 niy soul at 
 ' fancy, or 
 e, in order 
 clergy, and 
 , who had 
 day, upon 
 low as frei; 
 
 300 
 
 find frivolous at every chit-chat, at their tea and toddy, toPsts and toys 
 as little chdJren! J might also by this providence, learn more of mr 
 own weeds and weakness. For though my very soul disgusted the 
 vanity and frivolity of the table-talk and toasts, of my prosecutors if 
 not persecutors; yet thj present shame of being cliargeable of ill man- 
 ners or indecorum, among superiors, at once disarmed the ordinary 
 active exercise of my religious zeal, and merited reilection, on the un- 
 becorrnng conference and conduct of my associates; so as in a decrree 
 to yield, though most reluctantly, and I dare say. very awkwardly, to'the 
 current pulse of the company. Fruitless and forma! family worship- 
 as might be naturally expected— served at last to close the scene. And 
 the good Doctor himself, in order to show his utmost condescension and 
 kindness, introduced me to my bed-rjom, with a flaming candle in each 
 hand— in their silver sockets ; and in the most pleasant and placid 
 manner bade me good night! All this kindness co.t my poor soul 
 more than months of adversity and opposition. I spent a night 
 of solemn and serious reflection, till break of day. much longed 
 for, for my retreat, and return home.* All the foregoing treatme°nt 
 However, made no alteration in my sentiments or conduct. 1 carried 
 on my school, and Sabbath services, just as heretofore, till the end of 
 the aforesaid given twenty days of probation ; when his Reverence sent 
 positive and permanent orders— as unalterable as the laws of the " Aledes 
 and Persians"— io lock the school-house and chapel, being both one • 
 and to take the key for ever from my keeping and command. ' 
 
 But the foregoing chase and charge did not satisfy the good Doctor 
 in divinity; for the majority of the villagers still collected about me on 
 the babbath ; so that after his depriving me of my school and a year's 
 salary; I was obliged to serve for a season, in the troublesome and 
 dangerous Caithness fishing; in order to defray my necessary debts 
 incurred in sincere dependence on my convenient and comfortable 
 employment ; for the inclusive annual emoluments of my school amount- 
 ed to the sum of between ^70 and ^80 sterling. But you will observe 
 that 1 received tie school fees for my 100 scholars, in n borough town 
 during my year's service ; though I lost the Society's salary ; which a 
 leacher m the fijghlands of Scotland cannot obtain, but through the 
 medium of his Parish Minister. 
 
 After these tossings, a cousin of mine, John T , came to visit 
 
 my family from one of the adjacent parishes ; who, on account of the 
 scarcity of wood in his own qua.-ter, wished to obtain a boat load of a 
 small growth of natural wood, owned in common by the Doctor and iiis 
 neighbor, 'Squire Mac, of L. M., who both had agreed to get the said 
 piece o f wood land cleared for pasturage: and for that purpose allowed 
 
 ; Let me remark hero, also, tlio trouble and temptation of my dear and~dIlieato 
 wite • who could not rest at home; but eame, in tl.o same dark and dreary nicl.t. 
 a 1 the aforesaid rough and rudo nine miles; and that alone, in hopes of meeUnJ 
 me by the road, through every shot ef the said distance; till she arrived at the 
 overflowng river, ami received intelligence o*" my safety; when she stopt at a 
 neighbor a house, till she met me gladly earlv in the morninff ^ 
 
 
9G4 
 
 m 
 
 
 t| •! 
 
 it 
 
 one half of the sticka to the cutterfi, for their labor. The trees consisted 
 of various sorts ; birch and poplar, ash and hazel, aspen and alder, but 
 chiefly the last kind; so that you may understand the comparntive 
 worthlessncss of the wood. But, however, my said cousin would have 
 some of it, as it was thus a game open to all, on the same level ; and so 
 he insisted that myself and my boy Kenny siiould go with my little flat, 
 along with him, to our friend 'Squire Mac, for his order : So we went, 
 and obiiiined free leave in the name of Cousin John ; arrived at the 
 wood, at the summer-day meridian—met the Doctor's (e -er or woods- 
 man—asked him where would he choose us to commence ; who told 
 us any where all one--so all hands to work ; and soon dispatched the 
 job— returned to my door, without fear or disguise, in broad dayli^bt, 
 and in sight of all the village; in the little yole loaded with alder ! 
 Contrary winds preventing Cousin John's further trip for home, urged 
 him to unload hi? alder at my house, till his next expected opportunity. 
 In the interval I went from home to a communion at L. C, a distance 
 of forty miles; where I intended to get my first child Jockey baptized 
 by my relation, the noted L. McKenzie ; whose fame, for sin,"iilar piety, 
 prompted my hope— though personally unacquainted with him— to find 
 in him a character so 'Mfferent from the generality of the Clergy an would 
 exonerate my conscience in treating with him, in the administration of 
 the said desired solemn ordinance. I do not say now how far my views 
 on the subject may ha\^e been scripturally reasonable or not ; but I am 
 sure I was then acting in sincerity according to my best knowledge of 
 my duty. For I cr.ald not feel freedom to accept any sacrament of 
 Ministers, whose characters andisguisedly indicated their unregeneracy 
 —which is still m/ fixed sentiment ; and 1 had thought, at that time, 
 that the said Mr. McKenzie was so far the reverse of°his official breth- 
 ren, in his zeal and independence of spirit and authority, as lo super- 
 sede his ecclesiastic diifidence and embarrassment; in which, however, 
 I soon learned my sad mistake. For when 1 told him my intention, he 
 replied that he expected the Doctor to the communion, and would endea- 
 vor to conciliate us; which I answered to be impracticable. But he 
 still insisted on an interview between us, in his own manse. I replied 
 he should see that the Doctor's passion would preclude any sober reason- 
 ing on our subject; since, by sore experience, it was 'too evident to me 
 already, ibat he could hardly be-.r my very presence, with any patience; 
 and far less endure to hear of me nte of brptism ; when I had never 
 applied to himself on any religiop? groDnJ whatev r ; but still that 1 
 would not refuse to appear before '!.ei:» att;,eir bidding, for atrial. In 
 short, on the Doctor's arrival, I was sent for to Mr. McKenzie's study; 
 where both the Ministers sat alone. And after my being desired, by 
 the owner, to sit. he immediately introduced our subject, in the words 
 following : — 
 
 Mr. McKenzie.—" Here, Doctor, is a man from the Parish of L. B. 
 applying to mo, as desirous of receiving baptism for his child : but " 
 
 Doctor.—" What ! A man from L. B. here for baptism ! A man, I 
 say! here from L. B. for baptism ! What!!" 
 
trees consisted 
 and alder, but 
 I comparative 
 in would have 
 level ; and so 
 
 my little flat, 
 
 So we went, 
 arrived at the 
 
 -er or woods- 
 ce ; who told 
 lispatched the 
 road daylij^ht, 
 id with alder ! 
 ■ home, urged 
 J opportunity. 
 C, a distance 
 ckey baptized 
 linfiilar piety, 
 
 him — to find 
 ergy an would 
 linistration of 
 
 far my views 
 )t ; but I am 
 knowledge of 
 sacrament of 
 unregeneracy 
 at that time, 
 official breth- 
 , as lo super- 
 ich, however, 
 intention, he 
 would endea- 
 ible. But he 
 ie. I replied 
 sober reason- 
 ivident to me 
 my patience; 
 I had never 
 Jt still that 1 
 r atrial. In 
 nzie's study; 
 I desired, by 
 in the words 
 
 rish of L. B. 
 
 d : but " 
 
 ! A man, I 
 
 S05 
 
 Mere t!ie Doctor's extravagant passion overcame him eompl'tety • and 
 triost evidently told—m his coaUcoIored face and feature^, as well a? the 
 «trangliM|T fume and fury of his voice and vociferation— the superlative 
 pitch of his perturbation r.f mind. " Well, ' said J, to Mr. McKenzie 
 lou see now, Sir, what I had every reason lo anticipate; for I was 
 sure the Doctor could not contain himself on the subject; it is there 
 lore, in tlio mean time, as well for me to withdraw :" and so I left the 
 room. But, on dismission of the communion. I visited Mr. Mac again: 
 and asked his final determination on the subject of my mcsanro. lie 
 told me plainly and meekly that he believed me to be a propcr^'subiect 
 for my request ; " but," said he. " I siucerely regret that it is absolutely 
 oevond my ecclesiastical power to meet your wishes, without the actual 
 pen ission of your Parish Minister; which I perceive is unfortunately 
 out of the question." And then he asl;ed me, "How would you act 
 yourself lu the supposed case following :— There are two Christians at 
 variance; and their diifercnce is at your decision, wilhou!. any evidei.ce 
 beyond their own declaration-at the same time, though the opponents 
 are both good men ; yet one of them is far superior in grace, to the other • 
 Now would you not. on this supposition, feel aptly disposed to do, nie in 
 avorof the far stronger, or more experienced and inlclligent of the two?" 
 I woulo su!d ;. " think it but quite reasoMable." " Well then " he 
 continued, " that ^ just my very position, in the case between the Doctor 
 and yourself ; for thour h I believe you to be a Ch-istian, I take you vet 
 ''"irr/'?.''n°"^ '" comparison to him.-And don't you so judge your! 
 se . ? ' By no means," I replied ; " for though I should, most freely 
 alow the propriety of the proposed comparison on literary grounds I 
 shall not admit it, in the least degr.-, in religious concerns; for I do 
 not believe my opponent to be possessed of any saving grace at ali." 
 Oh don t you don't you !" said the meek man.* without the least ruf- 
 fle of temper. I finah^ then enquired of him, if. according to his own 
 previous admission he thought me scripturally qualified on the subject 
 of bap.ism for my child Why should he yield to ecclesiastical rules con- 
 rary the law o Christ? " Well, then," said the kind, simple Minis- 
 ter, we cannot deny that we have law? in tlie Church con;rary to the 
 laws of Christ, but we must submit to them." "Oh ihto" 1 said 
 " that acknowledgment. Sir, is now fully sufliciout for my determination •'' 
 and so bade him final adieu ! I then got my dear spouse and chilu [, 
 retrace home our dreary forty miles of moss and mountains. But not at 
 all disconsolately ; for v/3 learned by this trip, several serious and sound 
 lessons; which, indeed, hive, in the Lord's hind, proved very beneficial 
 to us, ever since, even to tins day. But I cannot leave this oart of the 
 subject without remarking, that ) could not but sincerelv love the meek 
 and humble and undisgr > temper and disposition of this Minister of 
 Loch Carron ; for in ai: • y interviews with him, on the subje.-t in dis- 
 cussion I f^aund him as easy of access, and as unrullled in his passions 
 as a little child. How could I, therefore, but seriously regret his '-.hild- 
 ish simplicity, in his ever having been, through all his functionary life 
 tnc sincere dupe of religious imoosition : nnd tl.^ rlanrro^o.-o r.„,i a^LacA 
 
 li 
 
 39 
 
 
 J iiti'i u; vauiv'i 
 
«r/ 
 
 
 i 
 t' 
 
 800 
 
 slumbling-block of ihousanda. On this account, both fondness and false- 
 hood, admired his superior and singular piety and preacliing ; whereas, 
 m perfect truth, the man was at best, and could not be°but a weak 
 Christian; since lie was by nature,.but an open somi-simplcton. Hig 
 subjection, also, from time to time, to temporary mental deran<rement, 
 or absence of mind ; and especially in his Iatt»r days, worked not^eldorn 
 on his imagination, to a degree that impelled him to utter incoherence, 
 or absurdities; which, some of his foolish and fond adherents must 
 needs constitute or construe into oracles or augurv, mystery or macaroni, 
 prescription or prophesy. There was perhaps, in his day, none in all 
 the Ilighlaiiijs of Scotland, who proved a snare to sillv and sluo-gish 
 religious professors, so much as this shallow and simple-minded Mi'riis- 
 ler. And yet I should feel very Air from suggesting ouce that he was 
 BOt a real Christian. But some people )aiay probably feel surprised 
 when I tell you, it was the man's silliness or debility of intellect, which 
 so richly excused, or extenuated, his most dangerous religious friend- 
 ship and fellowship, credit and cronyism, .so manifestly and mistakenly, 
 exerted and extended by him^ towaids so numerous swarms of the more 
 ofllcious and oner.sivc, despicable and disgustful characters over a con- 
 siderable part of the kingdom. For though he may, in the sovereign 
 mercy and mysteiy of heaven, have, as a •• bruised reed or smoking flax"." 
 been redeemed; yet I;feel not the least hesitation in maintaining that 
 he was never qualified for his ministerial oflice; for he possessed nl-ither 
 discrimination nor discretion, art nor authority, proper for his solemn 
 and responsible calling. And as a notable instance in favor of this argu- 
 ment, there were hardly any community or communicants in the North 
 of Scotland more brackish and brutish, untutored and untamed, than 
 the majority of his congregation and communicants. These reflections, 
 which challenge contradiction, are here oflcred, not for the dead, but 
 for such of the living as much merit their smart, in consequence of their 
 blind and boastful admiration and imitation of a man, whose incllicience 
 and indulgence, credulity and craziness, marked him certainly for a 
 private man ; and not at all, for a public Minister. 
 
 Upon our arrival at home, the first sight that met our eyes, wa3 a 
 summons in the window, from the Doctor, charging me as a thrust and 
 a thief, in the amount of about i^lSO, or twenty pounds Scots for every 
 stick of the 'forementioned alder! ^nd in default of restitution, a dun- 
 geon or a Tolbooth was tdso signified and sounded, in most howling and 
 harrassing, loud and lofty style and strains, as the due and designed, 
 inevitable and invincible, doom and desert, of the villain and lelon 
 Norman ! the dangerous and daring, trespasser and transgressor, stealer 
 and spoiler, of the goodly and grand, planintion and paradise, of the far- 
 famed tiller and toiler, tenant and trainer, the reverend Divine! Don't 
 think that I exaggerate on this rare and round subject; for the pua\nnd 
 pomp, foolishness and falsehood, of the summons, wore ridiculously sin- 
 gulp.r; and extensively proverbial; and arc, to this day, freshly rocol- 
 loctod and facetiously recreative, among some of my merry friends, in 
 the rich and rcstifl^ woods ..nd wilds of Cape Breton ! For when, in his 
 
807 
 
 simplicity, Cousin John set arbiters upon the elicks, they, with perfect 
 consistency, disputed and decided vvithiu the latitudes and limits, banks 
 und boundaries, of five and seven shillings sterling ! But by the bye, in 
 cwisequence of this prosecution, the alder was never removed froin the 
 end of my house, for any further use than playing clubs to the village 
 scholars; who mirthfully extolled the virtuous interference of the pro- 
 eecutor, as well as the benevolence and bounty of their benefactor, the 
 wood plunderer!* In the mean time, I sent for Cousin John, in order 
 to go along with me to 'Squire Mac, by whom we had made ourselves 
 Buro to be released from any further charge, on this ground. But what 
 were our disappointment and confusion, when he dastardly and bare- 
 facedly told us, that although he should most freely ackno'vledge his 
 previous order in a private manner, both to the Doctor, and to our- 
 selves, yet that he could not venture to absolve us publicly, from fear of 
 his reverence's censure and displeasure. He admitted his sincere regret 
 for our unmerited and disagreeable predicament ; and also signified that 
 our prosecutor wa;3 not ignorant of our innocence, and that himself 
 knew the ground of the despicable prosecution to be religious prejudice 
 and pride ; but that, for all this, he durst not legally discharge us, for 
 the reasons already assigned. — You will be here apt to enquire, why 
 would this man, and at the time, in a civil circumstance, quite independ- 
 ent— feel so diffident of ecclesiastical censure: I answer, that though 
 'Squire Mae was a bachelor, and poisessed then a land estate worth, 
 alone and exclusive of other property, the sum of c€7000, yet he had the 
 misfortune of having a bastard child by one of his domestics, at that 
 very crisis; for which offence he wished to obtain or procure the Doctor's 
 indulgence. And whether this beggarly misnomer and misobedienco 
 were, or were not, the price or bribe of his absolution or exemption, it 
 IS quite evident that he never underwent the ordinary privation or penal- 
 ty on the subject. Finding ourselves thus defeated by 'Squire Mac's 
 mean treachery, a.^ well as the Doctor's deep plot of hypocrisy, we pro- 
 posed that Cousin John should appear at court, in my stead ; and ac- 
 knowled^ himself the trespasser, at the trial; and me but his servant, 
 in case his evidence of our innocence would be frustrated. In the 
 mean time, h.owcver, under nil our confusion, we had the consolation 
 not only of the testimony of our own consciences, but the full credit of 
 all our neighbors in our favor, though they did not well know how to 
 exuicate us, according to the exaction of the law, and the weight and 
 uilos of OL.' wicked and famous prosecutor. Providence, also, provided 
 for us a pointed and powerful intercessor, 'Squire McDonald, of L. I. 
 under whose proprietary, both Cousin John and myself lived for a long 
 score of years; and who therefore knew well our general cluractcr; aa 
 well as the real ground of our present distress. lie undertook to pro- 
 tect us, and first to disclose to the Doctor's attorney the drift of the 
 prosecution. Me was as good as his word. Cousin John, however, 
 appeared on the day of trial ; though at the distance of 70 miles from 
 
 'he I'oelov w 
 
 X:i uljiy a tciiUiit, iiii.:l noi Uic piopi'iotui' of the iildfjr planf.Uioh. 
 
yf.t- 
 
 •z^n" 
 
 808 
 
 uL residence, and 40 miles from mine. Ke returned to my house under 
 encouraging circumstanced ; but still enjoining from court, the necessity 
 ot my appearance at the same place on an appointed hour, next Friday 
 according to a clause in their legal proceedings. None ignorant of the 
 simplicity of our Highlands, in those times; and of the rarity of legal 
 prosecution— especially remote rom public and borough towns— can 
 lorm but very faint ideas, of the natural confusion, then commonly at- 
 tendant on summons; particularly like ours, for allei^ed villany or felony f 
 In my case, being keenly tender of my religious "character— and then 
 placed in a comparative strange situation— I certainly experienced the 
 lull mea' 'ire of the smart. 
 
 The next week, according to authority, I went to court; and as alrea- 
 dy noticed, at the distance of forty miles, of which eirrhteen of dreary 
 mire or moss were without the smoke of a house; excejt the hut of one 
 herdsman. On my arrival at D. W. the Court Town, agreeably to 
 appointment, on Friday, the interment of a certain famous Nobleman, of 
 that quarter, took place on that very day; at which all the barristers 
 and lawyers of the town attended ; so as to supersede a leet. and pre- 
 vent my access tolhe Doctor's attorney, till the dusk of Saturday :— for, 
 be It understood, I did not engage any couiisellor in my own favor; but 
 left the whole burden at thn full and faithful, puunce and poinliutr of 
 our triend 'Squire McPonald. At sunset, however, I got an interview 
 with Barrister McRae, the Doclor's attorney ; who, .fter examining me, 
 in a summary manner, on our subject, very generously told me, that my 
 answers exactly corresponded with the very evidence of Mr. McDonald, 
 in my favor— that he regretted I had not made my appearance on the 
 appointed day, in my summons ; as otherwise I would have legal claims 
 to damages— that he had no doubt of our innocence.— And that, altho' 
 he stood on the tender ground of being the Reverend Doctor's attorney, 
 he could not but feel sorry and surprised for the uuupt and unnecessary, 
 teeth and trouble of the prosecution— and forthwith and freely released 
 me with a cheerful farewell ! You cannot but feebly imagine the width 
 and vigor of my joy, at this lucky moment of my fund and final release, 
 irom the persecuting clutches of iny tyrannical prosecutor. But on losing 
 sight of the Court Town, a rough and rainy night began togloom : and ac"^ 
 cording to the anxious expectation of my family and friends at home, I 
 
 should, bv ibis limp lif> nn« fnr tV/nn m.r l.,^■,o^ T?, : i... i i . „ 
 
 "iiv,, uiiu ivcij-vvioiicia iuo'ii_j Willi iier, in 
 
 I should not return home Saturday night. But you will observe that 'all 
 this our excitement arose not from any undue care for my poor carcass 
 or caption; but for ray credit and character; which were dearer than 
 limb and life to us. For " a good najne is better than j)recious oint- 
 ment," and (with this real good name) "the day of death better than the 
 day of one's birth." For it was pnst all doubt; with every unprejudiced 
 mind in the country, that my adversary had nothing in view, in all his 
 bustle oi pfoaecuiion, bntto break my credit, and expose my character ; 
 
809 
 
 for hi8 unfortunate envy and uneasiness, on this ground were to l,im 
 h.gh y .ntolerable. All these circu.nstances conc^rej to s iL ^te m^ 
 exertion to get home wuh as little delay as possible. I therHWe detTr^- 
 mined to trace my forty miles of breaks and burns on my pair of In. 
 .no lusty legs ,n the dark and dreary night- without any\es or roo t? 
 
 Lin. iaJbl '"^''-""''r ^?/'*'^"' ^"' ^ ■•^^^'-'' '--^ =^^-"t - - 
 nnn °;mi «]'ornM,a; where Cousin John met me at the door: who 
 
 poor lellovv i>ad watched the night, with some others, in anxious susl 
 
 s I^'uTtol " ^^Pf^/"!-"-* «'^^ •'- "-- -rious p^rt of my sub "ct 
 IS yet untold ; and I feel sincerely concerned how to enter upon it -for 
 
 hrorhthr' '""'"" ^'r ^^'''^ presence, in realty and t u t , f . o 
 hrough the journey under remark. I was fully conscious of n y own 
 nnocence; and my immediate neighborhood had no doubt of if- but 
 
 cioufniisret':'" TT' '" °^'"^'"^^ '"^^'''''''> ''"-"^''^ '^"--'t and 
 ^nj nrn 1 P '?^'"" ' '" ^ousequence of which, for a time, bigotry 
 
 irieve^ ^ThewT'^'''' ^^V ""^ ^^-volence anil friendship mig t 
 grieve. 1 he wiles and violence of my wilful and fatuous pursuer were 
 
 censurable neighbor, and commonty-tenant, proved notorious All 
 these particulars had their full weight of impression and or r ion a 
 once upon my mind. Jn .hort-though a delicate subjec , a .d no 
 
 and Zd'l^esr t'' '"'.?'"^' ''T^'' ^'"'"^^^ -^ -'««'--'^. »^>»^>i v 
 
 sutSn J OP? ir.''" 'f^'f ' or failings, but conclude that I was actually 
 JeL Chrlt ' ^ ' """' °^ ' -^""'^ conscience, in the service of 
 
 function 'or f-nJ.?i; ''^'' P/e/'i^ti"". I have never pretended to possess that 
 
 Lu r ? ,! ' ! "I """;°"' P*""^"'^^ °^ thousands on this ground. But 
 orco„HL1nn""r<f ""'''^ prophesying now, as previously to the closing 
 «s at 11 on emi"^ r r'""" "/ Sc'-'P^^re^ "or for evermore, in this world^ 
 l)v no Inn ^ °""^ ''"'^ '''" ''"^^^''^'^ ^^"' "^ «°d '» his word ; yet J 
 
 f no lir in n/r'' ''^ •""" '^■^'^'°'" '^^ '•''>'"^"'"' '° ^''0 opposite extr;!', as 
 houl t .vnir''r''°"' '"]P^^^^'«" «'• i"ipul«ion, dictation or direction, 
 h oald be e.vpected in any degree, of the Lord's mind, by his Holy Spirit 
 
 o or=d • ?v to""''"" '" ^' V"'^ "*■ '''''' ^'•"^•'' b^3'-fd what is'natirai 
 
 one^atio^i onr/'"'^ '"'"' f"' ''"' ^^""''^ '^'^ ''"^'^'"^ ^he o^der ani 
 
 ?nni n e7 iwl ! r"' ^''^ "."'' °PP°'''^ ^°' ^" ^'^i"« revelation, as nell as 
 
 hriof I T^'T' ""^' '^-^^'"'P'es in experience on the subject since 
 
 iTela! on n.r"^- r^ ^''"\' '"'^ "laintain, therefore, without the least 
 o the Sr int .r'' " > *=°""-"'^'«t'0". that in conformity and subordination 
 •ue arul t7tr'7'''r '^"^^ ^P?P'^> "^ at least some of them, have been, 
 iedae and '""^ "^ '"".°' ''''" '^"' ^^'''''^ ^^'^h some degree of kuow^ 
 leu^.jimljii some singular cases, on subjects past, present, or future, 
 
 to 
 lie 
 
 u'n';."'!" •'.? i" nf^'° '^^'""^'.<^ to facetiousnes. on tlie .ubicct, l,v con.o.rin. him.df 
 ■rod : '''''^'' " '"''• * '^'^'" ^ "uraculous release, (rem the confiiument ot 
 
!l 
 
 '-<-'■ 
 
 810 
 
 beyond tlie common rate or reckoning, ken or cbunt, of the generaliry 
 of men, in the general course of Providence. "The secret of the Lord 
 is .vith them that fear him." — Psalm xxv. 14. " But his secret is with 
 the rijjhteous," — Prov. iii. 3:2, — i. e. The jirucious meaning of his word, 
 and the intention of his dark providence. After these preliminary re- 
 marks, I seriously and freely admit that I had impressions on my mind 
 during the tedious and troublesome journey in question — and that under 
 the powerful life and light of the word of God, in overflowing abundance, 
 over all the j)0wers of my very soul, which were not of common occur- 
 lence to myself; though not a stranger to them ; nor are, by any means, 
 ordinary, even to the righteous; and far less to the wicked. I-et igno- 
 rant or violent revilers sneer or smile, dart or deride, as they like or list, 
 on this stanch and stable stand. The Lord's gracious presence, and 
 approbation, of my service and suffering; and his disavowal and disgust, 
 of the gust and guile, court and ccnduct, of both my pullback and pro- 
 secutor, were at that time very evidently manifest to my oppressed and 
 uplifted soul. The blessed Scriptures poured their ample store, from 
 their righteous and divine, perfect and bountiful Author, upon my soul 
 and spirit, heart and affections, through all my pointed passage ; and 
 more particularly the 37th Psalm ; where the Psalmist, most richly and 
 rousingly, dooms and defines, compares and contrasts, the dispositions, 
 states, aims, at d ends^of the virtuous and vicious, righteous and riotous, 
 worthy and wicked. Will you not read the whole Psalm, as it must 
 sadly weaken my sage and solemn theme to crop or curtail that sublime 
 and sacred song. As also the following t"xts: — "Though hand join in 
 hand the wicked shall not be unpunished." " He that seeketh mischief, 
 it shall come unto iiim. " Behold the righteous shall be rewarded in 
 the earth ; mucii more th( vicked and the sinner." — Prov. xi. " If ye be 
 rcproaciied for the name 1' Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glcry 
 and of God restetli upon you," &c. " If any man suffer as a Christian, 
 let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this behalf." — 1 
 Peter iv, 
 
 1 believed then very freely and fully that the Lord was deeply displeas- 
 ed with my troublers — the unfortunate Doctor and 'Squire Mac —and 
 that his frown would certainly fall upon them visibly in this world ; 
 although I knew not, nor pretended to know, the particulars of the 
 impending fat.il and fast-approaching dispensation; all which I told my 
 dear spouse, alter 'Oy return; and that has come to pass, in a notojious 
 manner, since that time, in several singular steps of Providence. For 
 the 'Squire reduced his property by negligence and rioting — lost his 
 estate and all his credit — turned insolvent — was taken by the neck, and 
 lodged in the jail of Dingwell (intended for me) as a smuggler and 
 bankrupt, upon a bunch of straw, under a rug, till at length released, 
 by his relative Capt. McKenzie, of T T. , who hired him as a catller 
 common drover and driver, for the remai . of his roving and wretched 
 life ! His lewdness and dishonesty incurred and insured his wreck and 
 ruin. He once ptirch-ised of myself three young cowd ; for the price 
 of '.i liicli, in ijiy u)isu?picioii3 simplicity; I took hispiiv.:tc baie [>roiiii3e ; 
 
 r^ 
 
the generalifjr 
 ret of the Lord 
 i secret is with 
 -irt of liis word, 
 preliminary re- 
 13 on my mind 
 and that under 
 itig abundance, 
 lommon occur- 
 by any means, 
 ed. liCt igno- 
 liey like or list, 
 presence, and 
 ^al and disgust, 
 Iback and pro- 
 oppressed and 
 pie store, from 
 , upon my soul 
 passage: and 
 lost richly and 
 le dispositions, 
 us and riotous, 
 aim, as it must 
 lil that sublime 
 ii hand join in 
 jketh mischief, 
 be rewarded in 
 xi. " If ye be 
 : spirit of glcry 
 as a Christian, 
 lis behalf."—! 
 
 leeply displeas- 
 iiire Mac —and 
 
 in this world ; 
 ticulars of the 
 hich I told my 
 
 in a notoiioug 
 evidence. For 
 oting — lost his 
 
 the neck, and 
 
 smuggler and 
 ;ngth released, 
 lini as a catller 
 r and wretched 
 
 his wreck and 
 ; for the prico 
 
 baie [>iO:i:i3e ; 
 
 SU 
 
 which was all I ever received for my bargain; though at tho time, he 
 traded in oatmeal and pine timber; articles of which I then stood in 
 need ; but that » vould never sell me, lest, by so doing, I should reco- 
 ver my debt of •■ .gainst his own dishonest grain. I mention these 
 points to give _ -u u . >mple of his character; which agreed to his desti- 
 ny. "The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth : the 
 wicked is snared in the work of his own hands." — Psalm ix, 16. 
 
 Rut to return to the Doctor, he has ever since been losing his credit 
 and ground from day to day ; both politically and religiously— '^' deceiving 
 and deceived." There are current of him two particular anecdotes 
 pretty singular; which I shall here briefly relate :— First- A sheep 
 farmer, in his immediate neighborhood had privately deposited in tho 
 Doctor's hand, for further use. the sum of ^:500. And without any 
 receipt, or evidence; as wholly confident in his reverence's integrity. 
 The dishonest man having soon become bankrupt, and compou'^nded 
 with his creditors; and in fond expectation of his concealed money; 
 applied to his secret treasurer; who, under the appearance of unusuaJ 
 surprise, asked the shepherd— " What do you mean? You havuw 
 money ! Have you not publicly sworn off as' insolvent— and could you 
 ever, at the same time, durst have money in reserve ! Away immediately 
 out of my sight, you staunchest ring of rogues !" Second.— The Doctor 
 having had a lawsuit with 'Squire M. D. of L. L, gained the action; 
 for the expenses of which the defaulter passed his bilffor the amount ol" 
 several hundreds; or a similar sum, with the sheep farmer's; which, 
 when become actually due, the 'Squire having appeared with the balance' 
 in his hand, and his evidence at his side, offered the full amount to the 
 Doctor, between his manse and his chapel ; for behold, it was the Lord's 
 day ! ' Here," said the 'Squire, " is your money. Doctor !" " What !" 
 said his reverence, "is it on this day, you would offer me money ?" 
 •' Yes, Sir," said the 'Squire, "this is my day, according to ihe date of 
 my bill to you; which I come to release; and if you now refuse the 
 payment, I take my witness, that you may, in vain, look for it any other 
 day !" This was a fair trick ; for the debtor, in dating his bill, had de- 
 signedly aimed the defeat A his inadvertent correspondent ; which he 
 thus basely accomplished. "And with what measure ye mete, it shall 
 be measured to you again.' 
 
 But to return, the Doctor having los. his action against me, he also 
 lost a share of his good ground and credit with hi^ people, in issue of 
 his oppression nnd prosecution of me, with their natural concomitants 
 and consequents; which he has never redeemed to this day. My kind 
 reighbors, in general, sympathized with me; and sincerely regretted my 
 ueprivation of the school; both on their own, and my account. And as 
 T was, for a season, without any pecuniary employment; and, at the 
 same time, obliged to c'omesticate, by means of my partner's desperate 
 indisposiiion, I felt the dilemma of dire destitution, or the disagreeable 
 contraction of debt. Under these circumstances, much reflection, from 
 all quarters, fell to the share of my pursuer; though in a long degree 
 rrivalelyj from fear of his displeasure. And not a' few, even among" iny 
 
If 
 
 I 
 
 812 
 
 own otherwise eincere friends, not to speak of others, would now and 
 then keenly upbraid myself to my "ery face, for my illiberal religious 
 sentiments, overheat of zeal, indiscretion and imprudence, or needless 
 scrupulosity of conscience; which they suggehted, incurred my poverty, 
 in procuring the Doctor's resentment. Thoy alleged I might be a good 
 Christian, Miough I should not forfeit the fugue and favor of the clergy, 
 objectionable as were some of their measures. But though I knew the 
 reverse, by loud and long experience; yet that soilg and" sound of my 
 friends, were now and for yenrs past, quite familiar to my ears; but of 
 as little influence. In the mean time, strange to hear, 'Squire Mac told 
 me that the Doctor ordered him to allow me a boll of his oatmeal, if J 
 should send for it. I thanked him ; but made him understand that he 
 might make any other use he pleased of it. He sent the meal, however, 
 in my absence; and the messenger poured it in an empty cask, found 
 in a closet, and so left the house before my return home. After delibe- 
 ration, I felt no freedom of mind to make any further bustle on the sub- 
 ject ; and consequently the flour was consumed in my family. But for 
 my part, I am at a loss to this moment, what was the ruling motive of 
 his Reverence in thii curious bounty — whether sympathy or selfishness, 
 vvhether lo pacify hPuven or to please his hearers; and whether to alle- 
 viate, or to alarm my destitution. For, as formerly suggested, he .vas 
 at times subject lo strange fits of passions; which produced as strange 
 ruffles and remarks. He once observed to a neighbor that it was the 
 uncommon magnitude of my grace that disordered my religious conduct. 
 At another time, on his hearing of my disappointment of a passage, and 
 my intention to return to his parish; though he was then sitting among 
 respectable associates of both sexes, and at a sacramental meeting, he, 
 under great excitement of mind, and regardless of his delicate position, 
 exclaimed, " He returns to torment me !" 
 
 The manner of his marriage was not less singular : he was fifty years, 
 when he wooed a lady of twenty-four ; with a fortune of about £2000, 
 and as formerly remarked, entirely against the will and consent of her 
 parents. He ordered the next clergyman, to administer the marriage 
 rites m the bride's chamber, in her father's house, in order, according 
 to articles of law, to secure her dowry. And after the solemnization of 
 the ceremonies, he sarcastically thanked his father-in-law; who, with his 
 lady, was in a pensive mood, espying the scene, in an adjacent open 
 apartment; and then immediately rode off, with his bride behind him, 
 to his own manse. 
 
 When I was deprived of the school, a common tippler was substituted: 
 Nay, a mere sot of a drunkard ; and whose wife was of the same charac- 
 ter. But they were both good Christians; because they were sheep- 
 submissive to the Church ; which sustained them, from time to time, 
 anil from place to place, till kerving and kind death, put soon a period 
 to tlieir wretched lives, by the slick and sly, feral and fatal, demon of 
 alcohol ! 
 
 The Doctor once waning in his previous respectability and authority, 
 declined fast and formally both with his Presbytery and people. From 
 
313 
 
 the former, he was chased away wiih contempt; and so the latter feit 
 proportionately released from their former fear of him : the predominant, 
 if not the only, locket and ligature then controlling their obedience. 
 The local division of his Parish, and the consequent induction of a 
 Clergyman, within his former ministerial bounds, according to the eccle- 
 siastical arrangements then effected; — who gained not the Doctor's 
 approbation—provoked his obstinate, but unsuccessful opposition; 
 which, with so many other concurring disappointments, deeply affected 
 both his mental and organic constitution. The consequence of all 
 which has, for some years past, been total dumbness, .vith confirmed 
 debility of body and mind; to which now, according to late accounts, is 
 added partial, if not perfect ''eafness; as well as increasing intellectual 
 derangement; with poverty and disregard, two natural concomitants. 
 ^This man's resources were once ample and accumulated, for the son 
 of a poor guider, or gardener ; but now, through his own fault and folly, 
 he is a penurious pensioner, as well as a pitiful and partial pantomime. 
 For some time of his functionary life he had officiated in Holland ; 
 where, feeling indisposed, he provided a substitute, for a share of his 
 considerable endowment, the handsome balance of which attached to 
 himself in Scotland, during the period of insinuating and procrastinated 
 suspense, for his return, without any detriment to his salary at home 
 He was also for years, and under his more auspicious circumstances, 
 transacting in caitle, and other branches of business, from the mere 
 love of gain ; when his neighbors would think, that his own emoluments, 
 with the aforesaid handsome dowry of his wife, might prove sufficient 
 for his support and comfort^ without recourse to other shifts and sha- 
 vings, rather mean and meagre, for a man of his position and connection, 
 both in the Church, and style of the world. But for all this, five per 
 cent, was the principal received by his creditors, in his first insolvency. 
 But it 'i6 indefinable, what may be the issue of his last composition : for 
 it hangs on the tender thread of his life ; and the precarious space of his 
 church vacancy, during his doomed and dormant existence. For, in 
 common commisseration with himself, and his dependents, the said 
 vacancy is sustained by his Presbytery, and his people; in order to secure 
 the salary and stipend, for the benefit of his creditois, with a stated 
 allotnrient thereof, for his own and his forlorn family's bare maintenance. 
 This is now, and bus, for several years past, been the true circumstance 
 of this unfortunate Minister, and his sad and singular concerns. But 
 do not imagine that I feel or find any plum or pleasure, in the nature or 
 narration of the subject, farther than »o comply with your request; and 
 the justification of God's deep and divine providence. For otherwise 
 instead of being grieved or gangrened, for his treatment to me, blessed 
 be the Lord's name, I have, for a long score of years now past, reckoned 
 and lanked him, though indirectly, among the very best of my friends 
 in the world. For heaven has truly done me much good, and shown 
 me singular mercies, both for time and eternity, through his means and 
 measures. Probablv. I shonlrl upvp . .< ■ 
 
 )rji( 
 
 1!S CO!!!! 
 
 her( 
 
 T h 
 
 met so many benefits and privileges— though certainly l)UMi(Ied wiih 
 
 sorj-i 
 
 40 
 
Ik 
 
 lit •« 
 
 I fj' 
 
 -■'. i 
 
 i-'. 
 
 li'nn ^'!r ?w^ tewplations- but for the prosecution, ,f not the pers.cu. 
 i.^^ o*^ /he main Bubject of my rare narrative; so that I should far 
 ra her pat and p,ty, than pounce and poker hint; did he even enjoy the 
 
 n^tJ.fnn??. ""V''^^"'' n'«y ^"'i pride, of his better days, and fondest 
 anticipat.on. My sincerest desire is, that Heaven vould errant hira 
 saving conv.ct.on-though but rarely obtained, in his now almost despe- 
 rate condition-before his appearance, at the serious and solemn, fatal 
 and final, tribunal of the great God, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 As the history of his faiher-in-lavv's family is, for a series of years, so 
 closely connected with that of the Doctor; and involves also some sin- 
 gular circumstances, 1 judge it not superfluous to treat a little further 
 on the subject. I have already touched on the opulence of this family, 
 1 heir parsimoniousness squared every inch and item of all their art and 
 ^ llnence. 1 he man, in particular, was the next step to a miser. All 
 his land property was highly rented to his tenantry. In [.Is youth 
 through the influence of his haughty and hard-hearte/i mother, his sub' 
 jects were sorely oppressed ; especially by the pression of young men 
 for the army. 1 he old lady, m order to obtain these posts of honor for 
 Her other sons, and to reserve unretrenched, accordincr to habit the 
 whole estate for him, left no means untried for that pui pose. The cries 
 and curses of motheis and maidens, of sisters and sweethearts of victims 
 and widows were dismal and dolorous, terrible and tremendous, on that 
 account ilis said brothers, who should be glad to enjoy the sweets 
 and safety of private and domestic life, were chased abroad, by maternal 
 pride and paternal avarice; where their fatal destiny soon and soundly 
 repaid the mood and motives of their dark and dire expatriators This 
 Baron possessed all the necessary arts for amassing wealth. The chan- 
 nels ot his income were several and sure ; but those of his outlays 
 shuffling and sparing. His numerous tenants were taxed witn extra 
 abor besides their -ent; who, during their tithe days, received from 
 tneir lord only a skinny and scanty dinner— the rest at their own mercy 
 His domestic servants, especially the male, generally messed on barley 
 bread and whey-seven banuocks in the lippy-by cook and kitchen 
 Jaw and legislation ; and all the other household arrangements of the 
 same standard of economy. He had a hundred milch cows, in two 
 stocks besides lesser folds ; and sheep and goats in abundance. I have 
 iormerly named the amount of his revenue and reserve. The heir of 
 this gentleman at his own death, became possessed of the accumulated 
 heritage of his father: but behold he was but a fool: though his foolery 
 not had been legally identified, till it was too late to supersede his prodi- 
 gality and extravagance. Oi. this ground, he was the ve-y contrast and 
 counterplot of his father. It would be tedious, and beyond the aim of 
 these brief and summary remark.s, to enumerate a decimal of the parti- 
 culars of his ridiculous errors and irregularity. One instance of vvhich 
 may be sufficient :-Bemg sei.t to College-not to treat of his low and 
 lan-liable courtship— he was, as was natural, found incapable of proper 
 improvement; in consequence of which a fellow-student one day accost- 
 ed him «n the following ironical interrognte • "We!!, Mr, Kenny ! how 
 
 
■ \. 
 
 •t ihe pefsccU' 
 at I should far 
 even enjoy the 
 ys, and fondest 
 3uld grant hira 
 w almost despe- 
 id solenvn, fatal 
 Christ. 
 
 ies of years, so 
 also some sin- 
 a little further 
 of this family, 
 ill their art and 
 ) a miser. All 
 In [.Is youth, 
 lother, his sub- 
 of young men 
 ts of honor for 
 : to habit, the 
 se. The cries 
 arts, of victims 
 •ndous, on that 
 ijoy the sweets 
 d, by maternal 
 n and soundly 
 riators. This 
 1. The chan- 
 of his outlays, 
 ced wild extra 
 received from 
 ir own mercy. 
 3ed on barley 
 k and kitchen 
 ements of the 
 
 cows, in two 
 ance. I have 
 
 The heir of 
 I accumulated 
 gh his foolery 
 ede his prodi- 
 ,' contrast and 
 nd the aim of 
 1 of the parti- 
 mce of which 
 
 his low and 
 ble of proper 
 e day accost- 
 Kenny ! how 
 
 S15 
 
 do you come on now with your Greek Grammar V Reply--" Indeed, 
 Sir, very well ; for I have gone through it." " Indeed !" aaid his feliovr, 
 "that is excellent beyond comparison." " Och, mind, though," said 
 Kenny, " it was, as you see," handing over the book, " with the red-hot 
 pok.^r !" This foolish heritor, after a few years of expensive folly, died 
 childless ; and, as might be expected, left his estate m the hands of 
 aliens; and under the clutches of the law and lawyers. T.'e olJer of 
 his two brothers succeeded him, but for a very short time, when he also 
 died. The unmanly prosecution of the Doctor against the estate; and 
 in fond and foolish expectation of obtaining it for his own children, left 
 no chance for the third and last male of the line; who served then ai 
 an ordinary clerk, in a mercantile house in London. The consequence 
 was, as formerly suggested, the fatal and final forfeiture of the estate, 
 from all the breed and branches jf the family. A rich excommunicated 
 wretch of seven bastards, has lately purchased it, from the hands of 
 retainers ; when tho surviving heirs could neither redeem it, nor even 
 answer the cry, and craving voice, of their own pressing and piivato 
 demands. " There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth ; and there is 
 that vvithholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poveity." "He 
 that trusteth in his riches shall fall." —Proverbs. 
 
 I have now finished what I intended on the subjects of your inquiry ; 
 and you may rest assured that I have stated nothing unfounded ; but 
 what came either under my own immediate cognizance, or was familiar 
 and current in my neighborhood. In some instances, I have rather 
 mitigated than magnified the peevishness and passions, misconception 
 and m ^conduct, penury and pride, of the heroes of my tale; and for 
 fear of prolixity, passed over a mass of matter of equal interest, and 
 similar importance, with what is brought on the stage. As for instance, 
 the tedious s( ,ggle which subsisted between the Doctor and the moro 
 eminent religious professors in Ross-shire, on the subject of Judaa the 
 traitor's efficiencc, or evanescence, expedience or expunction, on the 
 score of his saintship and -^ervicei; as re^r^rds the imitation and instruc- 
 tion, or abjuration and abjection of futt re ages. In the dispute of 
 which, the Doctor, like the generality of his tribe, of the day, strenuously 
 endeavored to support the claims of this grand and groundvvork-Aposile, 
 against all his disclaimers and despisers : Judas casting out devils, con- 
 verting sinners, communicating at the Lord's Supper with Christ him- 
 self and his disciples, and what not! ergo, a wicked preacher, a vora- 
 nious poacher, an avaricious purser, and even the very thief and traitor 
 and devil of a Judns, may now do all well in the Church of God, and for 
 her benefit and beauty, nutriment and number! ! 
 
 Without further tedium, till you may choose, if ever, to write me again, 
 
 I remain, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Yours, Alc. 
 N. M. 
 
 1 
 
310 
 
 \ 
 
 i'- '«. 
 
 
 riOME BRIEF REMARKS, UY THE COMPILER, 
 
 OlM ^R^ KO«S' JUDAS. AND PORTERS RECENT PUBLICATION ON 
 EPISCOPAL ORDINATION AND APOSTouICAL SUCCESSION. 
 
 now *i'ht 'J'^'^'f''^ P'i'«» »hat the sacred bones of St. Judas were not 
 c?»Tnn nf .1 "'^''" r^'"' *°^ resuscitatcd by the rejrular u.e and appli 
 
 nf «3. p . L '' ' to"- •" il>at case, this glorious AposUe, instead 
 
 of CanterbuX^ 1' T^'^/f '''" '^' ^°P^ °'^^°'"«' ^^^^ Arc'hbilop 
 cute nf 7' .r^ '^^^p^^o^erator of the General Assembly of the 
 Church of Scotland ! Th.s would prove a most sublime Apostolical 
 
 valid and vaunted ecclesiastical ordination, to both Popery and Prelacy 
 without any preposterous and painful, padding a.d ^afchinV of the 
 
 Ai d vp Tc f ""i ^''^"7«'-'°«^ since never-found consecution; 
 ThnrA ' . "• ', °[ '' ''''•'' «P''-it"a' service to a vapid or vitiated 
 or hv ;i • Vr^'u'^^'' r^'^'i' ^''"""Sy'- tJ^ough bragged and boa.ted 
 «.;H^/n ^^'°"'^"''^'?°°^ '"^ ''^"y' "'"'^'^^'•y ^"*^ mania, new for a thou- 
 sand odd years together: and whose claimers and clappers, clinkers and 
 
 undU .5 . ^? ''JT^'''' "' '" ^'^^ ^'■'^^'•y' '^^'^' ^"d damnable ages, 
 under he dearth and domination of Popish anti-Ch.istianity. Indulge 
 me for th.s Inst and light digression ; which is partly excited by the peru! 
 sal of some late publicaiions-on the subject concerned-most disgust- 
 ing disconcerted, and deranged. Among {>ther offensive stuff and sfeal 
 rln^ u""^ M '"« "''"'■^' '' " P''"'^'^ ^^'•"^0". J"«t published in this 
 
 rpnlv R . shameless novice; and that is hardly worth any serious 
 Dan nhlPi i° '^ ""fr ^t^^^^'^"^ conspicuously pervade the whole 
 l]"J^^^'\ ^^'^y ^''if'^^f^ood.perverswn ^nd pridej compose its very 
 
 the'^rood n?onl?%'''°°^ '"^m ^"u"^ ' ^^^^''^ ^''' ^^^^^^ -^ shame for 
 Inpnfrr^ ^. f . u °"^ "eighborhood, who have any ise been instru- 
 ZlJ/u 7'"^ !,'''^ ^""'^ circulation ; unless th., purposely intend- 
 ed thereby, so far to disarm and disgrace, the religious socety expressly 
 ftlhered, in its pompous publication. It is likely that incensed rigCs 
 Heaven permits not only the spiritual delusion of high'y-conceitfd rdi- 
 
 fSta^S t"\r ''"", ^"^ '■''' ''''''' '' '^''^'^ ignorance abe 
 extend to v.. ^hese under review-but that their cramp and curse 
 
317 
 
 groundless notions of that odd and nM \A\» m,,^ m^i . 
 
 tTm h ?"""' ^"'. ^^'•io^s'y vvish to deal tenderly with dl those of 
 iro^eVlv f^r ;IV.^^ ^^ ^PP^^'-'^ies. to exa^nin^ tile ub ect 
 
 nnh 1 i r u ^'.'^'' ^'"^ *'" "'^^ account, are more to be pitied than 
 ui^b a.dea. for the.r .gnor.nce on controverted articles of f«iih^ To such 
 
 Sous Dr Dol^^r''".'" '^''r^^' °'' '^' '«»^ «"'! iearnd pithy and 
 
 an uninterrupted succession of bishops, and wh ch maL he val id it of 
 
 nVe'th^ lst".rlf ';'?\" "'"'^'"^ '^^^"^ "P- -d! a sue c tin 
 since there is so great a darkness upon many periods of ecclesiasticn 
 
 oi the Church of Rome, though that Church was so celebrated- ami 
 Euseb.us himself, from whom the greatest patrons of thl doc fne'ha e 
 made the.r catalogues, expressly owns that it is no eZ mT er ro tei' 
 who succeeded the Apostles in the government of he Churches excen 
 n^g such as may be collected from St. Paul's own words/' '.ConSd 
 elections ,n a most all considerable cities, make it very dubious whch 
 were the true bishops; and decrees of councils. renderiLail tl.ose ordi 
 nations null where any simoniacal contract wa^ the founda. o of them 
 makes it impossible to prove that there is now upon earth any one ne^^ 
 son who IS a legal successor of the Apostles; at least. accSn.rto'^th; 
 pnnc.ples of the Roman Church. Consequently, whatever s stem is 
 built on this doctrine must be very precarious " ^ 
 
 Let us hear the testimony of Dr. Whitbv, a high rooal aufhnri v 
 
 upon this point : quoted by the Rev. Mr. N^ilson^of Ro. say.^ o ^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 some of his own judicious remarks on the same subject :-'« Where s 
 some compare the bishops to the Apostles," says he "the seventy to 
 he presbyters of the Church, and thence conclude that d vers orders n 
 the m.ms ry were instituted by Christ himself. It must be gran ed that 
 some of the ancients did believe these two to be diverse ordf" and ha 
 hose of the seventy were inferior to the order of Apostles and some 
 times they make the comparison here mentioned. But hen'i must be 
 also granted that this comparison will not strictly hold, for U-eevlty 
 eceive not their mission as presbyters do. from bishops but 'mediate- 
 ]y from the Lord Christ, as well as the Apostles, and in their fi st m 3- 
 •'To add'aSir'^ ''"?r'" ^^'"^ '''"■' ^"^ -'^h the same pTwer" 
 .ama '^1'"° ?!.'::!:°'^ '^'f '!^'^ ^ deliverance from Whitby," Ly. tha 
 
 !(h( 
 
 were a v.ork of supererogation. 
 
L„ 
 
 !'l^ 
 
 1 1' 
 
 ti 
 
 sii 
 
 " I^qiinlly untenable i<* the argument founded upon the extraordinary 
 office-bearer • in apostolic times. It is a favorite idea of Prelatisig, and 
 in fact tlie key-atone of the entire hierarchical fabric, that dioceaan 
 bishops are the immediate successors of the Apostles. Such n supposi- 
 tion, however, proceeds upon a total oversight of the plain and important 
 distinction already referred to, between extraordinary-temporary, and 
 ordinary-permanent office-bearers. That apostles, prophets, and evan- 
 gelists belong to the former clays is, one would think, too obvious to 
 need proof or require illustration. Take for instance the Apostle — the 
 chosen model of the diocesan bial op — and yoi. find that he required 
 the followinjr qualifications: lie must have personally seen the Lord; 
 must have obtained, immediately from Christ, his commission; must 
 have the power not merely of working miracles, but of communicating 
 miraculous power to others ; and po^^crfs authority, not limited to a 
 particular congregation, parish, or diocese, but extending equally over 
 all the churches. Now, if modern bishops will insist upon being the 
 successors and representatives of ihe Apostles, it is perfectly fair to call 
 upon then^ to establish the validity of their claim, by exhibiting the 
 above credentials ; and since this is out of the question, let them at 
 once and for ever renounce their arrogant and groundless pretensions. 
 It has been truly and justly remarked, ' that as the office of the Apostles 
 was such as to requirei extraordinary and miraculous endowments for 
 the discharge of many parts of it, it is impossible that they can have 
 any successors in those services, who are not empowered for the execu- 
 tion of them as the Apostles themselves were.' It is very s'range, too, 
 by the way, that while the Apostles have so many pretended successors, 
 there is no actempt mode to find representatives and successors of the 
 prophets and evangelists. Why should one class of these extraordinary 
 office-bearers have legitimate dcicendants, and not the other two ? But 
 the Apostles had an ordinary as well as an extraordinary character, and 
 they accordingly assumed liic nar.)e,and performed the d Mcs of ordinary 
 ministers. In this capacity, it is worthy of remark, Oui tney ne\ er took 
 the designation — bishop — which their pretended successors approprirate 
 .so exclusively — but that of presbyter, o/ elder. A -ordingly, Peter says, 
 the presbyters which are among you, I exhort, who am also a presbyter. 
 (I Epis. v. 1.) In their ordinary ministerial c'laracter they preached 
 the word — the grand and leading part of their work, in which they 
 peculiarly delighted — dispnnsed the seals of the covenant — ordained, 
 although rarely, and by no means exclusively, and exercised the func- 
 tions of discipline and government. Now, all these were competent to 
 presbyters in apostolic times, as well as subsequent ages. Yes, presby- 
 ters exercised l)oih 'the prerogative of government, and the privilege of 
 ordamii.'g,' — which diocesan bishops claim as their exclusive right — in 
 common with the A|)ostles themselves. Of the former we have an ex- 
 ample in the aj)peal irom Antioch to the Apostles and elders- presbyters 
 at Jerusalem; (Acts xv.) and of the laiter in the fact that Timothy was 
 ordained by tne layini on of the hands of the presbytery, (1 Tim. iv. 14.) 
 And in regard to the preaching of the word, which is unquestionably the 
 
 lu 
 
 *.!;h|- 
 
»xtraortlinary 
 relntisis, and 
 that dioccaan 
 :h a eupposi* 
 nd important 
 nporary, and 
 Is, and evan- 
 10 ol)vious to 
 Apostle — the 
 lie required 
 in the Lord ; 
 lission ; must 
 inmunicating 
 limited to a 
 equally over 
 on being the 
 ly fair to call 
 Khibiting the 
 , let them at 
 I pretensions, 
 the Apostles 
 owments for 
 ley can have 
 or the execu- 
 s'range, too, 
 d successors, 
 jssors of the 
 jxtraordinary 
 ir two ? But 
 tiaracter, and 
 3 of ordinary 
 ;y neier took 
 s .'ippropriate 
 y, Peter says, 
 • a presbyter. 
 )ey preached 
 1 which they 
 it — ordained, 
 sd the func- 
 competent to 
 Yes, presby- 
 3 privilege of 
 ive right — in 
 have an ex- 
 !- presbyters 
 Timothy was 
 Tim. iv. 14.) 
 stionablv the 
 
 far most difficult and important part of the ministerial nork ii will not 
 be queat.oaed. we presuu.e, that the teaching elder, of Pre by terfa^ 
 churches h .ve copied the example of the Anostles ns fnitl,n.ii„ . i 
 iLtrr ''^'°^t' ''i'eachin'g.. it hL bC'^el -^^ e ^ !*L'"f 
 
 efvic. T'^ I" '^' ^^7''"' ^""^"^^ '^ '» 'h« "'«»» useful an 1 laborious 
 tinn of' ^IT'l""^ ''^^ '^^ P'-i»cip--^I work of the Apostles. The am b.! 
 tion of prelates has inverted this divine order Prpu-hin /;« .t 
 
 est service in the Popish and Episco;a7churcr"rrn:.;'^-;: 
 servient to the government of bishops and popes. The bi hoos exal 
 
 Li^" T^ be : "''• «°— r - -itE tLm the p'rin^S.;? 
 rejigion. lo be in power is more dignified than to edify ' This olas» 
 
 Apost es, the order of bishops has its foundation in carnal and unholv 
 
 asp'jat.cns after worldly pomp and aggrandizement. Se u g "ide " ei^ 
 
 n'd woToni^AotZ' ""' ^^^^^rr'^ ^-Porary. in t^.e'Slc! '^ 
 
 fif.^« ° ^''^ creature priest, there is no such name or its use with anv 
 fitness row in the world. For the word «n«< is surely and p- lv« 
 Lev.tical designation; and so answers no ^purpoewlatlerJi hfess 
 
 ' As thereP?:f ' ''"" ''? ""''''^ ^-Pensatfon.' Whlttaker s ays tr f 
 As there IS now no sacrifice, so neither is there any Driest' ood " A Z 
 
 ^ar Tn', T^tl ''f'\ -.^-^^^^g-' that^'^^he mi^Llce (of r' ' 
 bp^n ?L • I "S^'."^^" °^ P''^^'^ ^^ t>Pes of the gospel nin.stry ) has 
 been the original and foundation of many errors.'' ''The Zt,! tor! 
 E ter'; "--employed in the inspired Llume to poirlt'o'u t'K 
 TZTJ: . "° ""l ^^^ '"'"3^ departures from Scripture-warrant of 
 
 ca one nr'?r"'" '" '^e Churches of Rome and En^nd, t , hey 
 call one of the c.aers .f their ministers priests." Under the New tI? 
 anient system, the very name of priest or priests is de es ble exc 'p; 
 
 Jesus^Ch^n't "T ^'" 'l^ ^'^'''^^'^ ^^'g'^ P^'«^'. the Lord and SaS 
 fivP U hn • ^""^ '7 °'^''" '" '''^'^^P^ ^-^ «««"'"e the u.iscriptural apnella 
 P iP«.h?n.' ^'li"'"'/""'^ of Jewish, Pagan, or Popish antUChri tSJ 
 
 mpendmg displeasure, for the puntLent of bolb/af hey have for » 
 
 Pone . nl I " ''"f "•""'• °"' """i"-! Proteslantism, and n.,al 
 cor^d ^b„. rhi?I^n 'y['\ ""P ""' "■»"''" 'OS^'^O'. i" mon's.rous" on- 
 
 ioL7rJ.°3%trA':, 1".''. P""" ■"<>;"; according to ,;,e following 
 - ..... .^,^a ,^^„, an ^.y,; gp,^jj between Abimeiech and tho 
 
d20 
 
 :>P' 
 
 11 
 
 
 tnen of Sliechem."~-.Tudge9. " They did not destroy the nations, corl* 
 cerning whom the Lord commanded them : But were mingled among 
 the heathen, and learned their works. And thev served their idols j 
 which were a snare unto them. * * * Therelore was the wrath of the 
 Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own 
 inheritance. And hegrve them into the hand of the heathen; and they 
 that hated them ruled over them." &c.— Psalm cvi. " As for such as 
 turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with 
 the workers of iniquity." — Psalm cxxv. "A companion of fools shall 
 be destroy2d."~Proverbs. " The friandship of the world is enmity with 
 God." — St. James. "I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor 
 hot : I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, 
 and neither cold nor hot, 1 will spue thee out of my mouth." — Rev. iii. 
 *' And I heard another voice from heaven, saying. Come out of hei, ray 
 people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of 
 her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath 
 remembered her iniquities." — Rev. xvii:. 
 
 Let it be observed that the author sincerely believes, and freely ac- 
 knowledges, that a great proportion, not only of the useless and offensive, 
 empty and erroneous, orisons and observances, ceremonies and services, 
 of Prelacy, was once,— respecially during the first three centuries, ac- 
 cording to truly authentic Church history,— quite differently induced 
 and intended, on the part of some of the best and brightest spiritual 
 luminaries that ever have enlightened our world, from what it now im- 
 plies and involves; and has, for a tedious time past, merely or mainlv, 
 sadly or solely, designed , but that a considerable share, even of tlie 
 mummery and mystery, errors and heresies, of Popery itself, consists in, 
 or is founded on, usages and umbrages, practices and penalties, which 
 had, at some former periods, been either partially or pointedly, whaly or 
 wholly, commissional and commendable, precious -nd praiseworthy. 
 The abusive or abortive, preposterous or supers!" .^„s, idolatrous or 
 imbonitous imitation, of rare and real goodness and greatness, is one of 
 the worst and vastest religious evili' and errors in Christendom. From 
 Buch abuse, Moses' miraculous serpent, in the wilderness, became 
 Hezekiah's " Nehustan"— brass or bubble.— 2 Kings. The most, if not 
 all, of the following superfluous, ceremonious, superstitious, heretical, or 
 idolatrous, existing exactions or exercises, requisites or rules, had once 
 been held, in a mott beneficial and benign, extacy and estimation, 
 among the first Christians, viz : — Anathemas and absolutions, bishoprics 
 and benedictions, celibacy and cemeteries, crossing and crucifixes, 
 doxologies and dedication, fastings and funeral-rites, hosties and holy- 
 days, idolatry and interdicts, lents and lauras, litanies and legends, 
 rnonasteries and martyrologies, oratories and ordination, penances ind 
 pilgrimages, responses and relics, surplices and servitesism, tithes and 
 tradition, vestries and vigils. Vide "Jamieson's Manners and Trials 
 rf the primitive Christians;" and "Buck's Theological Dictionary." 
 
 r, ! 
 
 ^ 
 
nations, con* 
 ngled among 
 i thfcir idols ; 
 //rath of the 
 red his own 
 eii ; and they 
 for such as 
 m forth with 
 if fools shall 
 i enmity with 
 her cold nor 
 rt lukewarm, 
 ."—Rev. iil. 
 It of hei, ray 
 iceive not of 
 nd God hath 
 
 nd freely ac- 
 nd offensive, 
 arid services, 
 enturies, ac- 
 itly induced 
 est spiritual 
 t it now im- 
 f or mainly, 
 even of the 
 , consists in, 
 ilties, which 
 lly, whaly or 
 raiseworthy. 
 dolatroub or 
 ss, is one of 
 lorn. From 
 ess, became 
 
 most, if not 
 heretical, or 
 23, had once 
 
 estimation, 
 s, bishoprics 
 i crucifixes, 
 Bs and holy- 
 nd legends, 
 ;nances ind 
 I, tithes and 
 3 and Trials 
 :tionary." 
 
 TO THE "MAXIMS 
 
 POSTSCRIPT 
 
 CONTAINED L\ TflE "REPLY" COMMENCED 
 AT PAGE 21:3. 
 
 In the hurry of other urgent calk, at the time of uriiinfr the fore- 
 going Maxims, to which the following Supplement refers,! forrrot to 
 mention one particular subject, Uiat I th^nk should have been p:irtic"ularly 
 noticed; because, though it is, of itself, unimportant, it is "et neither 
 seldom, nor in mere shadow, made a bone of contention between reli-rjous 
 parties, not otherwise at so much void or variance. And tlie arjoptiou 
 of the wrong side of the point in question— as is generally the case in 
 such circumstances— renders its adopters far more exposed to other 
 cindred errors ; and also prouder of their own .supposed superior lio-ht or 
 learning, attention or attainment; as well as proportionately less clreful 
 and corrigible: preposterous tenaciousness being one of the native 
 concomitants or consequents of every unexcusable misconception and 
 misconduct. 
 
 The subject in view regarding " blood, and things strangled;" is what 
 1, with the generality of New Testament professors, freely believe to 
 have only been a temporary and discretionary prohibition, ur^red bv the 
 peculiar circumstances of the Christians, at the timej^and in'volvina no 
 possible point of morality for perpetuity; but has been evidently su°per. 
 seded according to a train of Scriptures, boii. by direction and deduction. 
 Whatsoever is set before you eat, asking no questions for conscience- 
 sake. 1 know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is 
 nothing unclean of itself." " But if thy brother be grieved .vith thy 
 meat, now walkest not thou charitably." " All things indeed are pure 
 but It IS evd for that man who eateth with offence."— St Paul To find 
 "fornication" and "the eating of blood" cringed and clasped under the 
 one and same sad interdict, instead of enjoining their equally permanent 
 general, and moral obligaiion, does rather show than shade, the merely 
 temporary binding of the latter; as founded only upon prudential 
 considerations, urged by incidental speciality. 
 
 The supposed necessary perpetual observance of this temporaneous 
 injunction and an(i.pa3dobaptiim,go now generally— though uncxclusively 
 —hand m hand. And 1 cannot but sincerely regret that so many 
 otherwise good and gracious people.' should be fuiind— with so little 
 hesitation, or refleciion— to adopt principles and practices— which are 
 so easily contested, or condemned, by far stronger arguments, both 
 sacred and scholastic— in the very teeth of a hundred to one of other 
 great and godly men ; whose creed and character, note and number 
 should point the scrupulosity, and pound the antagonism, of their 
 religious opponents, " In the multitude of counsellors there is safety " 
 — Proverbs. ^' 
 
 41 • 
 
3-22 
 
 11 w 
 
 i 
 
 ■i"' 
 
 Any moral, or religious distinction, between meats or meals — poa^ 
 terior to the decent and dutiful, gradual and graceful, embalming and 
 burial of the ceremonial law — is directly repugnant to the genius of the 
 Gospel. 
 
 I do not choose to censure uncharitably, on this ground, either 
 any excusable ignorance, or corrigible tenderness of conscience ; but 
 I fear not to wound the wilfulness and vanity, stubbornness and stupor, 
 of all who labor under the error here boldly expressed and briefly 
 exposed. 
 
 In conclusion. I take the liberty of quoting a few unequal stanzas 
 from a recent poem on the distinguishing tenets of Baptists ; wherein 
 their pretended religious sagacity, or superior knowledge, in the Scrip- 
 tures, is compared to Esau's born beard ; or sham sageness, and childish 
 seniority ; and also Leah's tender eyes, as quite serviceable in the dark, 
 untried by the noon-light. And though I feel far from desirous of need- 
 lessly irritating them or any other pariy, yet 1 am fully satisfied, that 
 their communities, in most places, are deeply, if not desperately, under 
 the common cramp and curse of the frivolousness and formalism, vapid- 
 ness and vanity, which now manifestly and mournfully pest and pervade 
 the religious world. The Loru commiserate them, if they take offence 
 at my faithful, though frightful, admonition and correction, on this 
 serious subject. 
 
 'LA.S Esau's birth with bushy beard. 
 
 And Leah's blear eyeballs in bed, 
 So's proud pretence to texts' infuse 
 
 Beyond the muse of us'al breed. 
 A Baptist wench can quench her soul 
 
 In dream, drought, drawl and dearth. 
 By once foregoing strangled prowl, 
 
 And blood expounded death ! 
 Immcrsif ' wipes her white as flower 
 
 From Sin, sod, sour, and soot : • 
 
 She beats John Knox and Fox in lore; 
 
 And dreads no more a doubt ! 
 Ten thousand martyrs fast behind — 
 
 As blockheads, blinds, and bats — 
 She drops: unworthy of her mind, 
 
 All * unbaplised' are brats !" 
 
 1^," 
 
 W 
 
■ .T 
 
 [round, either 
 
 SHORT EXTRACTS FROM BUNYAN'S "HOLY WAR." 
 
 According to the scopo of the 1st Chapter of the Epistle to the Ephe- 
 sians — from the 3d to the 15th verse; and numerous other correspondent 
 texts; a few of which run as follow :—" Blessed be the God and Father 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings 
 in heavenly places in (Christ; According as he hath chosen us in him 
 before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without 
 blame before him in love : Having predestinated us unto the adoption of 
 children by Jfisus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of 
 his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made 
 us accepted in the beloved." * * * "In whom also we have obtained an 
 inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who 
 worketh all things after the counsel of his own will :" * * * "In whom 
 also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise. 
 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the 
 purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." 
 
 HOLY WAR. 
 
 "By this time Diabolus had finished his army, which he intended to 
 bring with him for the ruin of Mansoul ; and ha(' set over rhem captains, 
 and other field ofilcers, such as liked his furious stomach best; himself 
 was lord paramount, Incredulity was general of his army. The highest 
 captains shall be named afterwards; but now for their officers, colours 
 and esciitcheons. ' 
 
 " 1. Tiioir first captain was Captain Rage, he was captain over the 
 Election-doubters; his were the red colors, his standard bearer was Mr. 
 Destructive, end he- had for his escutcheon the great red dragon. 
 ^ "2. The second captain was Captain Fury, he was captain over the 
 Vocation-doubters; his standard bearer was Mr. Darkness; his colours 
 were those that were pale, and he had for his escutcheon the fiery flying 
 serpent. ^ 
 
 " 3. The third captain was Captain Damnation, he was captain over 
 the Grace-doabters ; his were the red colours, Mr. No-life bare them, 
 r.nd he had for his escutcheon tlie black den. 
 
 "4. The fourth captain was Captain Insatiable, he was captain over 
 the Faith-doubters; his were the red colours, Mr. Devourer bare them, 
 and he had for an escutcheon the yawning jaws. 
 
 "5. The fifth captain was Captain Brimstone, he was captain over 
 the Perseverance-doubters ; his also were the red colours, Mr. Burning 
 bare them, and his escutcheon was the blue and stinking (lame. 
 
 "G. The sixth captain was Captain Torment, he was captain over 
 the Resurrection-doubters; his colours were those that were pale, 
 Mr. Gnaw was his ancient-bearer, and he had the black worm for his 
 coGiiicheon, 
 

 u 
 
 \ i 
 
 '.> : 
 
 ' • 
 
 ^11. 
 
 " 7. The seventh captaii. was Captain No-ease, he was captain over 
 the Salvntion-doiihiera; his vv^re tlie red colours, Mr. Restless bare 
 them, and his escutcheon was the ghastly picture of death. 
 
 "8. The eighth captain was the Captain Sepulchre, he was captain 
 over the Glory-doubters; his also were the pale colours, Mr. Corruption 
 was his ancient-bearer, and he had for his escutcheon a scull, and dead 
 men's bones. 
 
 " 9. The ninth captain was Captain Fast-hope, he was captain of those 
 that are called tlie Felicity-doubters ; his ancient-bearer was Mr. Despair ; 
 his also were the rc;d colours, ard his escutcheon was the hot iron and 
 the hard heart. 
 
 "Now when Diabolus saw that Emmanuel's captains were come out, 
 and that so valiantly they surrounded his men, he concluded (that for 
 the present) nothing from them was to be looked for bin blows, and the 
 dints of their two-edged sword. 
 
 " Wherefore he als-» fnlls on upon the Prince's army, with all his 
 deadly force. So the battle was joined. Now, who was it that at first 
 Diabolus met with in the fight, but Cap>ain Credence on the one hand, 
 and Lord Will-be-will on the other : now Will-be-will's blows were like 
 the blows of a giant; for that man had a strong arm, and he fell in upon 
 the Election-doubters; for they were the life-guard of Diabolus ; and he 
 kept them in play a good while, cutting and baltoring shrewdly. Now 
 when Captain Credence saw my Lord engaged, he did stoutly fall on, 
 on the other hand, upon the same company also ; so they put them to 
 great disorder. 
 
 " Now Captain Good-hope had engaged the Vocation-doubters, and 
 they were blurdy men : bm the Captain was a valiant man : Captain 
 Experience did also send hihi some aid, so he made the Vocation-doubters 
 to retreat. The rest of the armies were hotly engaged, and that on 
 every side, and the Diabolians did fight stoutly. " 
 
 •' Now when Diabolus saw that he and his forces were so hard beset by 
 the Prince and iiis princely army, what does he and the lords of the pi*, 
 hat were with him, but make their escape, and forsake their army, and 
 eavo them to fall by the hand of Emmanuel, and of his noble Capt.iin 
 Jredence ; so they fell all down slain before them; before the Prince, 
 and before his royal army ; there was not left so much as one Doubter 
 alive, they lay spread upon the ground dead men, as one would spread 
 dung upon the land." 
 
 After this, some others of these Diabolian Doubters, being found lurk- 
 ing in Mansoul, were brought to trial and execution, according to the 
 following statement : — 
 
 "Then they called the outlandish Doubters to the bar; and the first 
 of them that was arraigned was the Election-doubter ; so his indictment 
 v.as read, and because he was an outlandish man, the subst.-^nce of it was 
 told him by an interpreter; to wit, That he was charged with being an 
 enemy of Emmanuel the Prince, a hater of the town of Man?ou!, and an 
 nnposer of her most wholesome doctriuo. 
 
 |l Ij: 
 
325 
 
 
 <X foun<l luik- 
 
 ^ ^ " Then the Judge asked him if he would plead ? But he said only thig, 
 That he confessed he was an Election-doubter ; and that was the religiiii 
 that he had ever been broutrht up in. And said, moreover, if I must die 
 for my religion, I trow I shall die a martyr, and so I care the loss. 
 
 " Judge. — Thei^ it was replied, To question election is to overthrow n 
 great doctrine of the gospel; to wit, the omniscience, and power, and 
 will of God ; to take away the liberty of God with his creature; to stum- 
 ble the faith of the town of Mansoul; and to make salvation to depend 
 upon works and not upon grace. It also belied the word, and disouieted 
 the minds of the men of Mansoul ; therefore, by the best of laws, he 
 must die. 
 
 *' Then was the Vocation-doubter called, and set to the bar; and his 
 indictment for substance was the same with the other : only he was par- 
 ticularly charged with denying the calling of Mansoul. The judee asked 
 him also. What he had to say for himself? 
 
 " So he replied, That he never believed there was any such thing as a 
 distir.^t and povy-erful call of God to Mansoul, otherwise than by the gene- 
 ral voice of ilic word; iior by that neither, otherwise than as it exhorted 
 them to forbear evil, and to do that which is good; and in so doing a 
 promise of happiness is annexed. 
 
 " Then said the judge, Thou art a Diabolian ; and hast denied a great 
 part of one of the most experimental truths of the Prince of the town of 
 Mansoul: for he has called, and she has heard a most distinct and power- 
 ful call of her Emmanuel, by which she has been quickened, awakened, 
 and posseised with heavenly grace to desire to have communion with her 
 Prince, to serve him, and to do his will, and to look fur her happiness 
 merely of his good pleasure. And for thine abhorrence of this good 
 doctrine, thou must die the death. 
 
 " Then the Grace-doubter was called, and his indictment read ; and 
 he replied thereto, That though he was of the land of Doubling, his 
 father was the ofispring of a Pharisee, and lived in good fashion amono- 
 his neighbors; and that he taught him to believe, and believe it I do, and 
 will, that Mansoul shall never be saved freely by grace. 
 
 •■Then said the Judge, Why, the law of the Prmce is plain : 1. Nega- 
 tively, Not of works. 2. Positively, By grace ye are saved. And thy 
 religion settleth in and upon the works of the flesh, for the works of the 
 law are the works of the flesh. Besides, in saying as thou hast done, 
 thou hast robbed God of his glory, and given it to a sinful man ; thou 
 hast robbed Christ of the necessity of his undertaking, and the sufficiency 
 thereof, and hast given both these to the works oi tiie flesli. Thou hast 
 despised the work of the Holy Ghost, and hast magnified the wii: of the 
 flesh, and of the legal mind. Thou art a Diabolian ; the son of < Diabo- 
 lian;^ and for thy Diabolian principles thou must die. 
 
 " The court then having proceeded thus far with them, sent out 
 the jury, who forthwith brought them in guiliy of death. Then stood 
 up the Recorder, and addressed himself to the prisoners: You, the 
 prisoners at the bar, you have been here indicted and proved guilty 
 
 crisnes agamcil iiiinmanuel our Prince, and a«T,iu!5i r 
 
 iio uoiiuie 
 
32G 
 
 of the famous town of Mcnsoul ; crimes for wliich you must be put 
 to death ; aud die ye accordingly. 
 
 " So they were sentenced to the death of the cross. The place 
 assigned liieu: for execution was that where Diabolus drew uo his last 
 army against Mansoul ; save only that old Evil-questioning— who en- 
 tertained them— wns hanged at the top of Bad-street, just over against 
 his own door." 
 
 By the foregoing extracts, the reader may see in what an abhorrent 
 timation tlie good and gracious Bunyan held those Arminian doubters 
 
 and doctrine. " And others eave with fear, nulling them out of the 
 
 fire."~St. Jude. 
 
 :u 
 
 ANECDOTE OF A CLERGYMAN, 
 
 SOME YEARS 1»AST, ITINER.\TING THROUGH CAFE-BRETOiN. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. M. K. commenced a circuit, for the purpose of baptising 
 t hildren, in order to obiain the small sums pror'.ured by the administration 
 of the rite under remark. But as another Minister, Mr. M. L. N., of 
 greater esteem, in the view of the " pious," was then expected from ano- 
 tlier quarter, several of the parents of unbaptiaed children objected to the 
 bervice of the first clergyman ; against whose demurring he assured them 
 that they had no ground for their present anti. ipation ; for that their 
 expected favorite w;is not to appear at that period— although he well 
 knew the reverse— as the sequel proved, even before the first°circuiteer 
 but scn-ceiy finished his round; a dexterous trick, which keenly otfended 
 the religious people most concerned, on this subject. For till this day, 
 they cannot have fostered the slightest doubt of the first tourist's perfect 
 information of his official brother's time of intended appearance; accord- 
 ing to resolved ecclesiastical appointment between them, as members of 
 the same Synod, if not— tho' then rather distant— of ihe same Presbytery. 
 Oh, the mean trap and trickery, falsehood and fraud; for such a paltry 
 pittance, as the baptismal fees! And all this peddling manceuvre under 
 the mask and motion of piety and priesthood, is here" the pensive point 
 of our admonition and admiration ! " A man sins for a piece of bread." 
 — Proverbs. 
 
 iji 
 
BRETON. 
 
 SHORT EXTRACTS 
 
 FROM BRAhXERD'S JOURNAL OF REVIVAL AMONG THE INDIANS. 
 
 Since our Revivalists are forever found to harp and howl, on the 
 pretended similarity of their own convulsive and confounded revival, 
 with that evangelical work which obtained under the gracious instru- 
 mentality of that justly-noted Missionary of the American Indians, the 
 Rev. David Brainerd, I cannot but think it duty, to such as are ignorant 
 of the wide contrast, of the two subjects, to quote a few paragraphs from 
 the Journal of the sound and sensible Author himself, for their simple 
 and seasonable information, and serious and sober consideration. 
 
 "It is further remarkable," Mr. Brainerd writes, "that God has car- 
 ried on his work here by such means and in such a manner, as tended to 
 obv'ate and leave no room foi those prejudices and objections that have 
 often been raised against such a work. — When persons have been 
 awakened to a solemn concern for their souls, by heaping the more 
 awful truths of God's Word and the terrors of the divine law insisted 
 upon, it has usually, in such cases, been objected by some, that such 
 persons were only frighted, and that there was no evidence that their 
 concern was the effect of a divine influence : but God has left no room 
 for this objection in the present case, this work of grace having been 
 begun and carried on by almost one continued strain of Gospel invita- 
 tion to perishing sinners; as may reasonably be guessed, from a view 
 of the passages of Scripture which I chiefly insisted on in my discourses 
 from time to time; which I have for that purpose inserted in my 
 Journal. Nor have I ever seen so general an awakening in any assem- 
 bly in my life, as appeared here, while I was opening and insisting 
 upon the parable of the Great Supper ; in which discourse I was ena- 
 bled to set before ray hearers the unsearchable riches of Gospel grace; 
 Not that I would have it understood here, that I never instructed the 
 Indians respecting their fallen state, and the sinfulness and misery of it ; 
 for this was what I at first chiefly insisted on with them, and endeavored' 
 to repeat and inculcate in almost every discourse; knowing that 
 without this foundation I should but build upon the sand, and that it 
 would be in vain to invite them to Christ unless I could convince 
 them of their need of him : (Mark xi. 17 :) but still this great awaken- 
 ing, this surprising concern, was never excited by any harangues of 
 terror, but always appeared most remarkable when I insisted "on the 
 compassion of a dying Saviour, the plentiful provisions of the Gospel, 
 and the tree offers of divine grace to needy distressed sinners. Nor 
 would I be understood to insinuate, that such a religious concern might 
 justly be suspected as not being genuine and from a divine influence, 
 because produced by the preaching of terror; for this is, perhaps, God's 
 
3-28 
 
 It f 
 
 more usual way of nvvakeniii^ einiierg, nnd appears entirely agreeable to 
 Scripture and sound reason : but what 1 meant to observe here is, that 
 (jiod saw fit to improve and bless milder means for the elTectual awaken- 
 inc; of these Indians ; and thereby obviated the forementioned objection, 
 which the world might otherwise have had a more plausible colour of 
 inakincf. And, as there has been no room for any plausible objection 
 against this work, in regard of the means; so neither in regard of the 
 .Tianner in which it has been carried on. 
 
 "It is true, persons' concern for their souls has been exceeding great ; 
 tlie' convictions of their sin and misery have risen to a hi"h decree, 
 and produced innny tears, criee, and groans : but then they have not 
 been attended with those disorders, cither bodily or mental, that have 
 sometimes prevailed arr^ong persons under religious impressions. There 
 has here been no appearance of those ' convulsions, bodily agonies, 
 frightful screamings, swoonings,' and the like, that have been so much 
 complained of in some places ; although there have been some, who, 
 with the jailer, have been made to tremble under a sense of their sin 
 and misery; nunibers who have been made to cry out from a distressing 
 view of their perishing state; and some that have been, for a time, in a 
 great measure, deprived cf their bodily strength, yet without any such 
 convulsive r.ppearances. 
 
 " Nor has there been any appearance of mental disorders here, such 
 as 'visions, trances, imaginations of being under prophetic inspiration,' 
 and the like ; or scarce any unbecoming disposition to appear remark- 
 ably affected either with concern or joy ; though, I must confess, 
 1 observed one or two persons whose concern, I thought, was in a 
 considerable measure affected, and one whose joy appeared to be of 
 the same kind. But these workings of spiritual pride, I endeavour- 
 ed to crush in their first appearances ; and have not since observed 
 any afllection, either of joy or sorrow, but what appeared genuine and 
 unaffected." 
 
 There is not the least turn given to the preceding abstract. And 
 its transcriber is free jn giving it his hearty approbation, and sincere- 
 ly pities the idleness or ignorance, wiles or wickedness, of such as 
 have access to the eminently pithy and pious Author's records and 
 remarks, on the subject; and our contrasted wild and frantic Revival; 
 and yet dare once fiddle or fancy, prattle or pronounce them, as any- 
 wise similar, in their instrument or inspiration, texture or tendency. 
 
 r, 
 
 ii 
 
A DIALOGUE 
 
 Uetween alec and billy, 
 
 ON THE NEW SECESSION, FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Alf.c.-^J nin glad to meet you, Neigh'or Billy, in order to hear your 
 opinion of tlie late disruption, from the established Church of Scotland : 
 Who could hitherto believe that so much pith and power should be 
 found Hithm her pale and pale, as would effect the extraordinary sacri- 
 fices now made, in the view of the world? 
 
 Billy.— I freely admit, that I have myself been one of the number of 
 stiff unbelievers, lu the measures chosen by the Separatists; for 1 havo 
 thought indeed, that few or none of those great names would be found 
 to abandon their long and lordly privileges, whenever they should have 
 no alternative, but either to retain their former station, under the old 
 system ; or to turn Independents. But though I feel far from condemn- 
 ing their Secession— since I cannot but approve the action— yet you 
 need not expect from me any high opinion in their favor, according to 
 the general run of mankind, on this ground : Not 'hat I choose herein 
 to be singular; but that i must not, and dare not be otherwise. 
 
 Alec.—A\\(\ '' . you then suspect the real purity and piety of their 
 motives, when you so far approve their course and conduct? 
 
 Billi/.~A few £rnod actions, at the best, without consistency, are but 
 a meagre plea or p!ny to prove the Christianity of any man or multitude : 
 1 liough I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and give my body to 
 be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."— St. Paul. 
 
 ylicc— And can you show oiic.i luconsistencv in the general tenor of 
 these great men's conduct as would justify your suspicion of the pious 
 sincerity of their separation ? 
 
 Bill I/. —Whether I can or cannot form or frame vocables sufficient to 
 express my meaning, 1 have ample scope for fur more than mere sua- 
 picion on the subject. 
 
 J/tc— What (hen would you presume to allege as the principal 
 meaning or motives of their disunion? r r 
 
 Billy:— I do not pretend to discern what may have been the various 
 channels of inducement on this ground ; though I feel no hesitation i« 
 believing that religious pride and obstinacy, and ecclesiastical ambition 
 o boundless control, were evidently prominent, in all their long struggle, 
 till they found themselves at last, and almost, or all at once, sadly and 
 strangely disappointed ; and consequently "shut up," as quite past 
 remedy, in issue of their previous and buoyant brag and boast of pious 
 dismtercstedness : For when they finally understood their desperate 
 pOsUiou, lu tneir reiaiioa to the civil government, it was too late l»- 
 
330 
 
 V 
 
 i i i 
 
 
 *. 
 
 retract, without risking their religious popularity, and superior credit 
 lor spirituality and sound principles, in the estimation of ail their partial 
 and blind adherents, and sympathizers, hoth at home and abroad In- 
 dulge the harsh-like expression, "partial and blind ;" for there is no- 
 thing short of wilfulncKs and judicial blindness that could ever leave 
 themselves, or others concerned, once doubtful of what is most manifest 
 to me, or any others open to conviction, and to ordinary means of infor- 
 mation, on the subject; according to the strain of my present, and 
 intended remarks on this ground. 
 
 Alec— I am one of those who do not believe that they were " shut 
 up to the course they adopted ;" for according to the sentiment of the 
 ''Scotsman," "After the judgment in the Auchterarder case was con- 
 firmed by the House of Lords, a prudent man would have seen that 
 there was danger in committing himself farther in contending for the 
 Veto Law." And what, therefore, but eminently high principles of 
 honor, integrity and piety, could urge those active and engle-eyed, pro- 
 vident and prudent Ministers, once to resign t! eir several sTngular bene- 
 fits, and solemn and sounding titles; and, at the same time, to submit 
 to anticipated privation and reflection, persecution and mortification, of 
 no low degree, or ordinary mete or magnitude : Even the mere designa- 
 tion of Seceders, formerly so comparatively despicable in the tinkled and 
 tender ear of Establislmient Clergymen, should of itself weigh and worry 
 most mightily the delicate and dandled fibres and feelings of the manse 
 occupants and owners ; and perhaps, partly, in a deeper tone and tor- 
 ment, of the female tuft and tribe; whose private objections and oppo- 
 sition to the intended relinquishment, on the part of their Reverend 
 relatives, in their respective connections, at tlie mildest reckoning, can- 
 not be calculated without adding ample weight to the scale of ecclesiastic 
 Dependence; and must therefore proportionably and properly i agnify 
 the merit of the manliness and mind, the piety and power, which 'have 
 so truly and Iriumphntly preponderated -in favor of hitherto degraded 
 independence— all the forenaiued clashing and combined considerations; 
 and which are still but a brief summary of the dismal disadvantages that 
 might, on this score, be fitly and fairly heyed and enumerated ; "and as 
 edging or far exceeding the inconvenience of our first Seceders. 
 
 Billij. — On your estimate of the advantages under review, I feel no 
 reason to be at variance : Our disagreement is sadly and solely on the 
 ruling principles of the New Separation ; for when you and your misted 
 and mistaken party presume to make it all meet and meritorious; and 
 as running parallel with, or even exceeding the meeiness and merit of 
 the Old Secession, I am all- quite the reverse in my estimate, on this 
 ground; and feel most soundly disgusted at the counter and comparison. 
 But I rather take the balance of the sanctuary — the word of sacred truth 
 — ihan any other standard, to try the general conduct and conversation 
 of the party concerned. 
 
 Alec.—l boldly invite you, or any others, to try your standard at its 
 full stretch, in order to measure the principles and practice of our 
 gracious and glorious non-intrusionists ! Produce your reason and 
 
331 
 
 uperior credit 
 ill their partial 
 I abroad. Iii- 
 »r there is no- 
 uld ever leave 
 most mnniiest 
 rienns of infor- 
 present, and 
 
 y were " shut 
 itimeiit of the 
 case was con- 
 ave seen that 
 riding Cor the 
 
 principles of 
 gle-eyed, pro- 
 lingular bene- 
 ne, to submit 
 unification, of 
 mere designa- 
 te tinkled and 
 gh and worry 
 of the manse 
 lone and tor- 
 )ns and oppo- 
 iir Reverend 
 jkoning, can- 
 •f ecclesiastic 
 )erly i agnify 
 , which have 
 irto degraded 
 nsiderations; 
 vantages that 
 ated ; and as 
 sders. 
 
 vv, I feel no 
 joleiy on the 
 
 your misted 
 torious; and 
 and merit of 
 nate, on this 
 
 comparison, 
 
 sacred truth 
 conversation 
 
 ndard at its 
 
 ctice of our 
 
 reason and 
 
 iraiiocination at the fullest and freest pitch of your power and poise, on 
 this nf.ost interesting and admirable subject of our settled sclcouth 
 sejunction ! 
 
 Billy. — Since I am not now so ignorant as formerly of the wildness and 
 wilfulness of your cast of mind, and that of the party, whoso worth and 
 virtues you so strenuously wish to exaggerate ; and whoso startling and 
 strnngf vjipidness and vices, spiritual igno- ace and sliameless inconsisten- 
 cies you aim so eagerly, either to deck and dony,or to va.np and varnish, 
 I do not but little expect to convince you of your serious error, or rather 
 stubborn mistake, by any statement, however well supported, that I can 
 possibly mean or ma!'c on this ground. But some others may and 
 must hear and understand plain and pointed files and facts. It is not 
 to be expected that I should here enter on a long catalogue of the sins 
 and somnolence, heresy and whoredom, deceitfulness and darkness, of 
 the Church of Scotland, as including the two great parties, before their 
 final rupture; for that is done elsewhere. But now, if you can have 
 patience to hear me, I intend to treat at some length of some leading 
 points, as more express to my main purpose. As first. That there ever 
 has been, and still is. so little difference between the said parties, either 
 combinedly, or as component parts, in their moral, or religious conduct. 
 And if, in some instances, their professed sentiments, as to some arti- 
 cles of faith, have differed, eince their difference has hitherto had so 
 little influence on their practice— except some little sham-skirmishes, 
 chiefly arising evidently from ecclesiastical ambition, and self-interest, 
 though farcically named otherwise — What, I ask, is the real merit of 
 the one party over the other? For, if the said difference was of no 
 serious importrMice, their irreconcileable variance must, on both sides, 
 as Gospel Ministers, be judged very shameful and sinful ; and if the 
 ground of tiieir open division, and formal disunion, has been essential, 
 or eminent, and so worthy the current loft name of the N^w Sece-ssion, 
 What sort of conscience have these Seceders maintained, during all their 
 past ministerial years, under the same galling yoke, of double texture, 
 viz. Erastian oppression by the civil government, and heretical fellow- 
 ship with their ecclesiastical brethren ; for there was no innovation in 
 either case, but the same patronage, with its law of Intrusion, in the 
 state; and the same heterodoxy, with its various lines and limbs, in the 
 Church, through all the past days of the non-intrusionists, as well as at 
 the peiiod of their separation: But, in all their windy trumpeting, of 
 new freedom, and self-ndulalion, with shameless shouts and cheerinws, 
 far liker theatres and thunder-claps than association and assemblies "of 
 divines, where or when will you hear any pointed and penitent, humble 
 and happy, sober and serious admission and acknowledgment of their 
 bygone sad and sinful eodality and slavery ! In the second place, What 
 is the great evil of Patronage but through the medium of the Clergy 
 themselves? Fo), as Sir James Graham justly argues, "Patrons can 
 have no inefficient ministers to force on the people unless t!ie Church 
 prepare them into their hands;" for who can license or ordain, approve 
 or oppose, examine or exclude, recommend or reject, any pastor or 
 
( ' 
 
 m 
 
 U I 
 
 f!!; 
 
 98a 
 
 prencher. whethar good or giddy, il] or hole, «arf or eom.d but thd 
 
 Clertfy. and through their means and measures So th t it is mamfl.t 
 
 ho bane of ■' Intrusion" originates and ends in .he prVstho ul T h^dlj 
 
 the non.mtrus,on,Ms-with all their clack and clamor I he co tra ?' 
 
 anrlr/. °"^",''''^''''' evidently deHcicnt ..ui derrnudin,^ defunc 
 on defo mod on Ih.s ground, as ,he opposite parly. For riis«raml 
 
 I ifZl"^' M^'^'""'."" "'■'' "« perfidy wule-throalcd to su^ W 
 
 embers to he.r (Imv and (dioush.p, a3 anv Protestant communiiv iri 
 all tiio country. We need not herein far-fe ch our evidence- o s-^d 
 
 CO gh or con.rad.ct.on. cloubt or disposition. For whether our Colo- 
 ..uil Churches-hitheno ,n connection with the Scotch Establishment 
 j-may or may not hnally side uiih the " Free Church"_as she uoTZel 
 herself- ,t .s already unden.able, by public journals, that she is wi mr 
 v.thout any hes.tat.on, to adopt and include them nay. but mo e"?! 
 
 o" ?;^7?: "" ''''''' '""'.""^ "'^^ *^"'- Pre^byt/rians-^whetler 
 m ' h! H .'" clT''~^r ^T ^''' ' '^ '^'y ^'^' '"^^^'y 'ave or rant 
 
 Headship of Chnst, Non-Intrusion, Anti-Patronage;'' thonrrh with- 
 
 out any consistency, coherence, goodness, or conscience! F^ourthly 
 
 1 hough the Ne«- Seceders have manifestly exposed themselves to very 
 
 ve^'ufp'r „ '^rr^'T' '''"^^P'-i^''"i""«. «« has already been admitted, 
 yet hese are far from being uiihout ample redeemin.r pledges: at least 
 •n the meaniime, both in prospect, and present enjoyment ^ 
 
 of .h.4!; -^ ''?"«^ ^"," ;» <hemin«r;.y, the considerably large number 
 01 the beparatis.s; which proponionately shades and shelters them from 
 the^heat and haughtiness of Establishment rule and reflection. 
 unA i *':'^^'f^"^^'«»^»'J'^J^^y"'Pa«hy shown them, both at home 
 nnd abroad, among almost every degree and description of men ; which 
 now amounts in the:r favour, to marked pride and popularity, far beyond 
 their former proportion, on this score. »i^ J. ^J'^nu 
 
 3rd. The active and extensive preparation made and makin-r for their 
 serMce and support, accommodaiinn and comfort, in divers cJ.arts and 
 channels both pecuniary and potential, free and factotous. 
 
 4lh 1 heir prognostication and prospects both of pro-sperity and po- 
 pularity seem to be rather bright than bashful; as their late and lofty 
 deet^and flattering addresses, to her Majesty the Queen, do partj^ 
 
 5ih. The manifest pest and plague of the binntness and blindness of 
 the unhappy recipients; which render them so openly and outraaeouslv 
 nnueung and unwearied, in their getting and gathering, for themselves 
 .' nd one another, under the mask and mirage of the famous favorites of 
 Jleaven, faithful messengers of salvation, and spiritual servants and stew- 
 nrds of the true Church ; according to iheir designation" and dis.ruise : 
 who as such, would be " worthy of their meat,- or modus: But? who 
 m their sad situation, and woful condition, are unworthy of both their 
 racat nnc mesusge ; and consequently but a nocumentio, and nightmare 
 
M5 
 
 tipon the louis uuu ^,„ ^umntances of their miserable adiierehts, who 
 mus'. now poy dear for Iheir fond and false freedom. " For while they 
 promise them liberty, they ihemsrives are the servnnts of corruption." — 
 St. Peter. But more lender pulse and pnssiona would smartly feel the 
 circumstance of living thus nl the cxpcnce of, and in such deuendonce 
 on 80 poor and pressed people as the generality of their supporters now 
 in Scotland. But on the Fifth general head, Infatuation, or judicial 
 blindness, on tlie part of the Non-intrnsionists, as manife-tly permitted 
 by Heaven, to prick and punish their Establishment turpitude and 
 tyranny, pride and prodigality, petulance and persecniioii. Forth." 
 most sage a d sagacious, when so far left to themselves, can never see 
 their danger till too late, and past remedy ; nay in this case, eminent 
 and aggravated sinners, like our subjects of remarks, do not seldom, 
 both in extraordinary and ordinary manners, entrap, ingulf, or hiher 
 themselves: as Aliiihophel and Hamnn, Absalom and Pharaoh, Saul and 
 Shemei, Joab and Adonijah. M Tht not not all these hoary and haugh- 
 ty, cruel and crafty men, fcrc.. :heir own awful e-iinent doom and 
 danger ; if not left to their own lond and fatal count and counsels : As 
 for examples, Pharaoh should thus reason with himself^ and hiscouniers 
 and CO insellors : " The Red Sea freely opens before us ; but surely not 
 in our favor; hut for our Hebrew slaves, for whose benefit ten dre'adful 
 and destructive plagues have already been poured upon us, and our peo- 
 pie; let us, therefore, at our peril, allow their escape, lest we inevitably 
 destroy ourselves, by any further pursuit of that extraordinary ca-» of 
 beings; for whom heaven and earth, sea and signs, combine to work, 
 in spite of all our might and main, our pant and pride, or craft and cru- 
 elty. Saul likewise might know that it was not only sinful, but sense- 
 less, to pursue the life of innocent David, to whom, he well knew, the 
 Crown and Kingdom vv^re surely and solemnly promised by the word 
 of the Lord. Shemei — if not infatuated — could plainly foreknow his 
 own risk, by transgressing his proper bounds, over the belly of his own 
 solemn oath, and the serious prohibition of Solomon, his vigilant and 
 wise sosjreign. A::d so of all the rest of our subjects, "lie taketb 
 the wise in their own craftiness." The Sodomites could not find the 
 door of Lot's house, though within their immediate scratch and scram- 
 ble, while under their foil and fatality. 
 
 Alexander, you would think, might easily fores, j his own eminent dan- 
 ger, by presuming to rival Hercules, in his wine bumper and bibacity : 
 But his fatal vanity and folly overcame all his sense and sanity, range 
 and reason. Sound judgment would suppose, 'hat great Kings aild 
 Counsellors— first-rate and field-oflicers— choice colonels and comman- 
 ders— wise freemen and philosophers— sharpsighted gendarmes and geo- 
 graphers—with all the font rwid faculty of physicians, both civil and 
 sacred, for sack and soul, could never be found to compack and com- 
 bine, under the dole and dotage of not only turning crusaders, but of 
 repeating tlio grandscale- .oily, after so sad nod sore defeats : and all ti.is 
 boast and bustle, foil and falsehood, dictated and directed, foamed and 
 fastened, by the despicable and distracted, brunt and brain, of o.tp of 
 the lowest gradeji of inonki.sh emissario? anvl enlhur.instis ! 
 

 '■Is 
 
 334 
 
 The iiiratuatioti of Bonaparte, was no less evident, in his wild and vile 
 expectation of conquering the world. The Bishop of Rome, with all 
 J«is true adherents, as of rate and right aspires still to the supreme Go- 
 vernment of all the earth, both as a spiritual unicorn, and civil monarch. 
 And even the Church of England, though nominally, and in some small 
 degree Protestant, pretends to the cross and chiinf-rical thinff " Ados- 
 tolical Succession." And after all these, and numberless cogent instan- 
 ces that might be readily given, is it so very strange or straggling to be- 
 Jieve— what I here endeavour to sustain, as a point fnr from m/sterious 
 —that the Non-nitrusionists, as part and parcel of the d .enerale and 
 deluded Church of Scotland, had been under a heavy dn an and drive 
 ol similar stupor or stupefaction, on the ground of thoi critical posi- 
 tion, till they found themselves at once, completely undeceived. And 
 then being so sadly shut ud by their oivn antecedent and deceitful boast 
 and brnggardism, of untested disinteiestedness, not only their own haugh- 
 ty obstinacy, but their oil and interest with the people forbade their re- 
 traction ; since, in the majority of cases, at least, their respective con- 
 gregations, would far more oddly and odiously "look aloof" upon 
 ±.vangelical" Recant^rs than either upon " Aiiddleman" or •' Mo- 
 derates." 
 
 Sixthly and lastly, Their disagreeable, offensive, and e.Ktravacrant tri- 
 tone and triumph, both actively and passively ; and as if favorld with 
 anipler riieasure of the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost ; than what 
 ordinarily falls to the share of good Christians; especially as a "spirit 
 ot supplication nnd prayer,"— according to some of their own very words 
 —vvithoui any other sign sound, but quite the reverse, of the trut.. 
 ot their presumptuous an ^roud statement ; which in the nose of wise 
 e.vperience, rankly smells not only of fatal ignorance, and fearful hypo- 
 crisy; but likewise of sure discontent. For the really happy man or 
 iruiy contented Christian is, as such, never found vociferous or clamo- 
 rous, ostentatious or obtrusive, iu his ch-^ers or joy, addresses or advan- 
 ces, adoption or adherence, reflection or reform. " For as the cracklin-r 
 oi thorns under a pot, so is the.laughter of the fooI."-Ecclesiastes. ° 
 
 ihe poor rion-intrusionists, as already hinted, are, alas, too like their 
 deserted brethren, except the mere name, to be so boastful and proud of 
 their preposterous separation ; which manifestly wants numerous other 
 necessary counts and concomitants, to prove its real correspondence with 
 n^ loud and lofty current name. " Empty vessels sound loudest." 
 INeu'spapers are by no mepns generally lound the liitest medium to cir- 
 culate tiie worlv ol saving grace, in the principles or practice of livincr 
 subjects.^ It is certainly a false and fallow, hot and hollow spirit thai 
 commoniy thus intrudes and iuiposes on the siily or sickened public. 
 A gracious action or disposition is neither solitary nor soundintr ; ac- 
 cording to experience, and sacred truth. Moral consistency and'^svu,- 
 metry, and also modesty and mildness, necessarily acconipanv the po\ver 
 of religion, wherever it operates. " F„r whosoevtn- shall ko.-i) the whole 
 Jaw, at.d yet ofle.id m one point, he is guilty of all. For he that «aid 
 Uo not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill,"~St, Jme^^ "How cut 
 
 u 
 
 ■■=. ft 
 
 J 
 
:ja 
 
 o 
 
 s wild and vile 
 ■ome, with all 
 ! supreme Go- 
 civil monarch, 
 in some small 
 thing, " Apos- 
 cogent instan- 
 aggling to be- 
 )!n mysterioua 
 generate and 
 un and drive 
 critical posi- 
 jeived. And 
 leceitful boast 
 lir own liaiigh- 
 bade their re- 
 jspective con- 
 aloof" upon 
 n" or " Mo- 
 
 ;travagant tri- 
 favored with 
 ; ; than what 
 as a "spirit 
 I'n very words 
 , of the trutii 
 nose of wise 
 fearful hypo- 
 ippy man, or 
 IS or clamo- 
 ses or advan- 
 ihe cracklinrr 
 ilesiastes. 
 
 00 lik« their 
 and proud of 
 nerous other 
 )ndence with 
 lid loudest." 
 iiuni to cir- 
 ce of livincj 
 
 1 spirit that 
 )ued public. 
 )uuding ; ac- 
 y and sym- 
 iiy liie power 
 'p the whole 
 h(! tiiat said 
 
 " How can 
 
 ye believe, which receive honour one of another and seek not the honof 
 that cometh from God only ?"— St. John. " Godliness with content- 
 ment is great gain." St. Paul. 
 
 ^^ec— Poh ! Do yon respire now ! I have been thinking ihnt your 
 tedious harangue of a lecture might be more answerable for the grave dis- 
 cussion of a "General Assembly" than for a homely dispute between two 
 familiar neighbours. But, passing this, I'll be so candid as to admit 
 that there is still in my view, a good deal of lit and fair truth in what 
 yon have advanced ; for I never wish to shut my ears or eyes to any 
 means of conviction. But it is not easy to convince me of either your 
 correctness, or consistency, when you assert that the difference of the 
 two great parties under remarks, is more in sound than in substance ; 
 though at the same time, you admit that the ground of division, on the 
 part of the separatists, is, of itself, sufficiently important— or something 
 to that pujpose — a ground which you have named to consist chiefly in 
 the three particulars of Christ's Supreme Headship, Non-intrusion, and 
 Anti-patronage. Now, I beg to ask, How can you reconcile these ap- 
 parent contradictions ; or How can the points of their condition and 
 separation, be found both serious and senseless; or at once indifferent 
 and important ? 
 
 Billy.— \\-\ brief answer, just as the divorcing of two or three con- 
 cubines by a man who still retained a score of prostitutes; several of 
 whom were on different accounts far more vicious and viie than those 
 abandoned. And moreover, when you would find this filthy and wick- 
 ed man, from day to day, and fron> place to place, bragging of, and 
 bawling out his own singular and sound wisdom and virtues, beyond his 
 neighbors, who still remained in similar circumstances with himself, be- 
 fore his eminent reformation, in dispensing with a 'iQ\s of his foul strum- 
 pets; and at the same time without any blush or bashfulness ; either for 
 his still retent of his naughty bagnio, or for his conduct previous to his 
 said reform. But his name and nature would be further odious and of- 
 fensive, in the view and feelings of virtuous discernment, when the ge- 
 nerality of people were found here and there, to key and kink to string 
 and storm, their thumbs and throats, their harps and organs, in the vain 
 and wonderf.l celebration of this shameless fornicator's high merit, and 
 singular, and peculiar self-denial, in his gracious resignation of the fore- 
 told few of his bawdy women ; for whose keeping he held an annual roy- 
 al bounty ; in lieu and liege of which he is now lO reap an equivalent, 
 as far as all good and kind hearted men can bestow it ; and also far lof- 
 tier and larger honors and hooras, joys and cheers, than ever have hi- 
 therto fallen to his share, under his former premium and protection ! 
 
 Alcc.—'^\\Q good stars forever protect us! Can you really feel once 
 sedate or sane, in your— to me and other myriads of sober men- - 
 highly end awfully dangerous simile— a filthy fornicator, and the Freo 
 Chiirch I 
 
 BilUj. — I truly feel as serious and sober as ever in my life, 
 ^/cc— Pray, then, explain yourself— What can you mean by your 
 score of strumpets?" 
 
 j 
 
836 
 
 Billy. — I Uiean nothing more o? itss than the dominantly evil d'lapn- 
 tiition of their minds, manifested by 'iieir outward conduct, and general 
 conversation : or, aa the Scripture expresses it, "The lusts of the fleah, 
 and of the Spirit;" which may b ) described as either negatively, or 
 positively; or as under a passive, r r an active form ; or even both. 
 
 Alec— I beg you then to defire some of them, at least, since you can 
 certainly, at the lowest rate, enumerate a score ! 
 
 Billy. — Whether I can, or can not, as to number answer your banter- 
 ing demand, I know, that every unrenewed man, like these in view, has 
 his long score, of metaphorical and spiritual prostitutes: such as Madam 
 Unreg(Mjeracy, Maid Scull-divinity, Lady Pseudo-conversion, Mrs. False- 
 vows, Dame Misordination, Misses Desecration and Profanation, Mam 
 Party-zeal, Matron Misrule, Mother Sacrilege, Prude HufF-devotion, 
 Virgin Good-varnish, Jade Mouth-orthodoxy, Sisters Bigotry aud Blad- 
 derlove. Bride Shame-evangelic, Witch Mammon, Molly Gates, alias 
 Gormant, Fret Catharist, and the famous duean Rant-revival. All these 
 have their respective underlings, or female attendants, possessed of the 
 very worst and vilest poison and passions in creation; which sometimes 
 burst out openly, and without disguise : but more generally under a vail ; 
 which, though but shallow, yet blinds the ignorant and heedless general 
 mass of all the religious world. Even the Non-Intrusionists, Anti- 
 Patronageibis, and Supreme Ileadshipists themselves, are certainly as 
 far rigorous Intrusionists, proud patrons, and heart-despisers of Christ's 
 Headship, as, at least, any of their Presbyterian opponents ; which they 
 openly show — but to the purblind — whenever they meet their opportunity. 
 And it is impossible for natural men, like them, ever to do otherwise. 
 For "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Hcly Ghost." 
 — St. Paul. But it would be too tedious for us both to enter now on all 
 the particulars, and long train of similar prostitutes, that might readily 
 Oe named, as closely connected with the subject; in order to give full 
 propriety to my foregoing simile, on this serious ground ; so that the 
 current estiniaie given and taken, on the score of the New Secession, is 
 quite extravagant and offensive, fast unmerited and unsound ; and in my 
 view, is one oi the most delusive and disgustful subjects now afloat in 
 any Protestant churches throughout the world. 
 
 Ahc. — 1 desist now from answering a word, but the strange and 
 stormy charge of those great and grand '' divines" being left by you, in 
 the dire and dreadful lurge and labyrinth, of their black and bloated, 
 naught and natural slate ; for if that charge is appropriate, the iest of 
 your train must be but natural and necessary consequents; but O, Sir, 
 the sad and sore singularity of your estimation I But I feel quite ex- 
 hausted I 
 
 Bilhj. — The general cause and conduct of your famous and fond Free 
 Church, must in the true light of gospel truth evi lently prove her foul 
 and fatal falsehood, in spite of all the feeble and foolish, daring and 
 dextrous opposition ever in her favor, And whether, in the meantime, 
 of religious drift and distractioii, a few or a flood of my neighbors, or 
 nation, may bless or believe tha serious truth of this my sad and sober 
 
 
337 
 
 itly evil dispft- 
 :t, and general 
 is of the fleah, 
 
 negatively, or 
 iven both. 
 
 since you can 
 
 T your banter- 
 se in view, has 
 inch ns Madam 
 >n, Mrs. False- 
 fanatioa, Mam 
 Huff-devotion, 
 otry and Blad« 
 y Gates, alias 
 val. All these 
 ossessed of the 
 lich sometimes 
 y under a vail ; 
 eedless general 
 isionists, Anti- 
 ire certainly as 
 sers of Christ's 
 ts; which they 
 eir opportunity. 
 
 do otherwise, 
 e Hcly Ghost." 
 nter now on all 
 
 might readily 
 der to give full 
 id ; so that the 
 vv Secession, is 
 ind ; and in my 
 .8 now afloat iii 
 
 he strange and 
 [ left by you, ia 
 k and bloated, 
 ate, the iest of 
 Its; but O, Sir, 
 
 1 feel quite ex- 
 
 i and fond Free 
 prove her foul 
 ish, daring and 
 1 the meantime, 
 y neighbors, or 
 |r sad and sober 
 
 statement, the time is fast approaching, when the present (tost and fif ^s 
 mist and mama, on this and similar subjects, shall be done away, by the 
 spirit of light and life, discretion and decision, which is promised, in the 
 code of heavenly laws, tu be poured out on countries and kini^oms in 
 the happy millennial period. But as to four or five hundred etninently 
 pious clergymen being found now together on a hillock, or in a hall, out 
 of the bowels and belly of the manifestly secular and civic, dominant 
 and desperate Church of Scotland, is a dare and dream, draft and de- 
 claration most worthy of herself, in her ministers and members ; as well 
 as her tickled and tippled sympathizers ! The same number of priests 
 and prophets, in the days of Ahab, flattered himself, and his people 
 with false promises, in their formality and wickedness; and so is the 
 case now both in fatal old Scotland, and our wretched colonies-all flat- 
 tered and foiled, svvarmed and swamped, with the falsehood and folly 
 
 ZiiinTnH 7'"'''''""''°^ °7 Clergy-their dangerous and damJl 
 able evi and influence, as a pestilential efiluvia ; or the storied effects of 
 the Dead sea, corrupting and corroding, claiming and cramping, kenneling 
 
 b ff rnH"h^o?'7 '''"r^ ''T''' '^ °"^^ ^^"^'" ^'' P^'^'Jli"? ««d poisonous 
 buff and bounds. For the time will come when they Sill nit endure 
 
 sound doctrine ; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves 
 teachers, having itching ears. * * * Having a fofm of godliness buJ 
 denying th« power thereof. They profess that they know God ; but in 
 works they deny h.m. Desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding 
 neither what they say nor whereof they affirm. Thou that teaches! 
 another dost thou teach thyself !"_St. Paul. " Woe unto you when a 
 men shall speak well of you ! for so did their fathers to the false pro- 
 phets. "Woe unto you * * * for ye pay tithe, &c.. and have omit- 
 ted the weightier matters of the law." " Ye blind guides, which strain 
 at a gnat, and swallow a camel." " Ye love the uppermost seats in the 
 synagogues, and greetings (or cheerings) in the markets." "Ye are as 
 graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware 
 of them. Christ Ihese and similar texts, 1 most confidently take to 
 be applicable to the New Secession Clergy in their farcical " Free" 
 form, as well as in their old Establishment; although, at the same time 
 1 lay to ray account to suffer sad reproach, and sound reflection -for this 
 my free and faithful tabor and testimony— from the bilbo and bulk of the 
 party thus exposed, and all their fond and fascinated friends ; who are 
 generally under the same woeful and wilful bluntness and blindness, with 
 their ecclesiastic leaders and lords ; for which righteous Heaven n so- 
 vereign justice, permits the awful fulfilment of His word, in the case of 
 tliese, and all such miserable pastors and people : " If the blind lead the 
 blind, they shall both fall into the ditch." 
 
838 
 
 
 SOME VJBRSES 
 
 JCztractedfromtht Potmof old Paddle Plain, on different subject, ; especially upoH 
 his heigmg of the ^ etc Secession compared, as upon a spiritual equality with 
 the most eminent of our old Scotch Reformers, Covenanters, and Seceders: and 
 t/iejollowmg stanzas beginning in a precative strain and style. 
 
 They ground what sounds their own 
 defoat, 
 
 For strong deceits absorb them. 
 I pity tho stork ignorance, 
 
 Of •'liffhters" that confound 
 
 Lord, touch and teach my soul to fear 
 
 _My fallow, fire, and foiling; 
 Direct my thumb, correct my wrongs, 
 
 Prevent my runes from roiling. 
 Excite my zeal to hail thy will, 
 
 Through peril.-), pulls, and pains : 
 Arrest my pride, and guide my feel, 
 
 ^" j"y» j'"") chills, or chains. 
 Instill thy grace, unshill thy face, 
 
 In times of bates and broils: 
 Impress my fears, in mid of cheers; 
 
 Protect in tears and toils. 
 And when my censures are most sharp, 
 
 Let not my heart be found 
 To foster vicious resorts. 
 
 Or map retorts unsound. 
 I live in days of dearth and death, 
 
 When pious pest abounds, 
 In shameless shells and formal knells, 
 
 Of cheerless reels and rounds. 
 When sin is owned without remorse, 
 
 And folly void of shame, 
 Or love to God presumed unfcit, 
 
 It sears the soul in crime. 
 He that denies his guilt defies 
 
 The frown and fire of heaven j 
 The boldest sinner is the prize 
 
 Of jjottest ire to burn. 
 Mohammed's paradise of toys. 
 
 And Popish purgat'ry, 
 Shall never ring nor raise my joys. 
 
 Nor scare nor bcowI my pry. 
 My happiness is holiness, 
 
 And joyfulness is grace : 
 The worst mischeers that I can fear 
 
 Are false compeers of Christ. 
 Mad fret, misfrown, air-guns, and grime, 
 
 I lay my soul to foci ; 
 As weapons of all pestilent guides, 
 
 Who lead their blind to hell. 
 I seek the safety of their souls, 
 And liowl for their miscount. 
 The folly of their confidence, 
 
 And falsehood of their ground. 
 Oh ! desperate blindness of men, 
 
 \Vho cannot, will not bear 
 To hear of their ily.'^ian dream, 
 Till di'ath and diuad appear. 
 Tenacious of self-conceit, 
 And deaf to self-reforms, 
 
 The "Covenanters" with our blinds, 
 
 And guides, for their compound. 
 Thw fame of Chalmers and John Knox 
 
 Can't commix on my lyre 
 With more propriety of coax, 
 
 Than that of fo.x and lion. 
 Our 'Chalmers,' with their Calvin creed 
 
 Arminian breed can sooth, 
 With conscience leaden'd hold their 
 bread 
 Where ' Welsh' his head would lose. 
 Where men provoke, the Lord doth 
 strike ; 
 His judgments just are found, 
 To balaii c oft the malign weight 
 
 Of moral rots and rounds. 
 A worldly priesthood, at all times, 
 
 Presume divine contest. 
 When interest is undermined, 
 
 Or credit foiled protests. 
 All earthly cures, or schemes, or crimes, 
 
 Must nought be rh\ med amiss : 
 Hut sacred to the powers on high 
 
 Their brunts and broils must hiss. 
 Their logic shaped to sophistry — 
 
 Theology to law — 
 All Scripture lore to politics — 
 
 And holidays to maw. 
 The altar sanctifies designs I 
 And all divines are saints ! 
 Transformed in exercise nnd mind, 
 
 Their bane of guile is set ! 
 Their fret and fury suit their zeal ; 
 
 Their tameuess, gentleness 
 Assumes; and sullcnness must gain 
 
 The name of seriousness ! 
 Pronounce m6 libeller for troth — 
 
 O ye who foster lies — 
 Which cost my soul much 8ombr« 
 thought, 
 With rash retorts and fines. 
 O, the profanity and pride, 
 
 With Stygian stubbornness, 
 And the gro.ss greediness and guile 
 Of our Bible pcdiers:* 
 
 The words " Pible pedlers" are to be taken in a sense not literal, but eccleataslteal. 
 
'; especially upoH 
 tual equality with 
 nd Seceders ; and 
 
 3unds their own 
 
 bsorb them, 
 ince, 
 confound 
 with our blinds, 
 ir compound, 
 a and John Knox 
 ly lyre 
 of coax, 
 d lion. 
 
 iheir Calvin creed 
 sooth, 
 len'd hold their 
 
 head would lose. 
 , the Lord doth 
 
 are found, 
 
 lign weight 
 
 )und8. 
 
 at all times, 
 
 test, 
 
 rmined, 
 
 esta. 
 
 lemes, orcrimei, 
 
 iDed amiss : 
 
 ers on high 
 
 }ils mu.st hiss. 
 
 sopliistry — 
 
 oiitics — 
 
 V. 
 
 signs I 
 
 ia lilts ! 
 
 so nnd mind, 
 
 is set ! 
 
 t their zeal; 
 
 tieness 
 
 Bss must gain 
 
 less! 
 
 for troth — 
 
 much 8ombr« 
 
 i fines. 
 
 ido, 
 
 nnesa, 
 
 ss and guile 
 
 Unforeseen impediments in the Press, have, at a long rate, procras- 
 tinated the publication of this book ; but, at the same time, the said 
 delay has furnished unexpected opportunities and facilities, through new 
 acenes and circumstances, for selecting subjects, and swelling the work, 
 from the shape and size of a mere pamphlet, as only coftisting of the 
 first Dialogue, with its immediate appendages, to its present bulk and 
 braid— as a sort of factotum—quite beyond the anticipation of the 
 Author. 
 
 The Publisher not having at first intended to trouble the public with 
 any of the contents of this Publication, except the mere Dialogue, has 
 left the rest of it without that arrangement of parts in which it might 
 otherwise have been placed. But the various other subjects have fro^n 
 time to time been sent to the Press just as the circumstances producing 
 them have occurred ; which has left, on that ground, no alternative to 
 the choice of the Author. 
 
 Lit eccleatastrQal. 
 
'Il 
 
 1.1' 
 
 
 .! 
 
 *!■ 
 
 I 
 
 ; r SI 
 
. .1 
 
 5 
 . 6 
 
 7 
 103 
 105 
 119 
 119 
 120 
 123 
 136 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 t*RErACE 
 
 hfT %°?u " n ^''•esiyfery of Capo Breton to the Rev. korman McLeod ' ' 
 Keply of tho Rev. Norman McLeod to the above-mentioned Letier' ' 
 
 K:fw;t^:nre^ir«:;e"'"^^'^ •' ■ 
 
 Two short Anecdotes, by u Scottish Emigrant, ^ . . ' ' * 
 
 Extracts from Mhry Anxioua's Catechism to her Son, , * ' ' ' 
 
 ^ ttrpjdn.*'" """'^ '' ^"''' °" '''' S^--"^"^ --^ to ii'e Letter, of 
 
 Addendum . ' . 137 
 
 Some further remarks upon the "Guardian,"" ' JJ? 
 
 FrllnT r""" "'" publications, on the evils of relaxed diicipline ' ' ' " ill 
 Extracts of a correspondence betwixt a man in Pictou, and his friend in Cane Br« 
 ton, on the subject of re-union between Seceders and tl e Churcli of SPoM?nT loi 
 
 ree;^rS° rc^';TchH\"^^'j'^ '" '""^r ''' ^'" and dinTer of fr i';^^ 
 f «VZ= h,^,."^'' ""''a" ''"™o''a'o'" anti-Christian civil government 194 
 
 Some correspondence between two religious people in Cane Breton * 
 
 "^;"7f riirgirs^rtrent'irth^wtid?^^ -' ''- ^^-^^^ -^ -- 
 
 'rr^-f :^-^S— ™ ;;;^->ancI and his .iend in Cape Breton. 
 thTs^ecTof pfahroS; """""'"^^ '"^"' ^""^ ^"^ ^^'^"'^ '" ^^^P« ^-'on, on 
 
 ''5fc'apfBrito'nr"'"^°"''"''' ''*''''" ' """" ^" Edinbur«h/and his friend ^' 
 
 ^°Pn,«^''^i ''?'''''• °" ^'■' ^°"'^ J^'^as, and Porter's recent publication' on ''^^^ 
 Episcopal ordination, and apostolical succession, . puoucation, on 
 
 ScXnd '"'''" ^^'^ ""^ ^'"^' "" ^''^ ^«^^ S^'=''"'°". f'O'" the Church of 
 
 '*'•• = 321 
 
 220 
 225 
 
 230 
 
 244 
 
 261 
 
 265 
 
Pi 
 
 m 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 ikM* 
 
ERRATA 
 
 Pnge 13— fourth line from the top— for 'par/ childhood,' read ';»ffli< childhood.' 
 rage 18— in the long clause within the nine lines at the bottom— lor « ihe former,' 
 read 'the latter;' and vice versa. 
 
 Page 22— elovcntii line from the bottom— for ' critics assertt,' read ' critics assert.' 
 Page 24— eighteenth line from the bot'om- for '^motive read ^motites.' 
 Pago 27— seventh line from the bottom— for '■persecution,' rend * prosecution.' 
 Pago 30— eighteenth line from the bottom— for ^ man's,' read '/«r a man's.' 
 Pago 45— twentieth line from the top— for 'three following ' read ' the throe fol- 
 lowing.' 
 
 Page 48— eleventh line from the top— for 'o/,' read ^ on.' 
 
 Page 72— seventh line from the bottom—for ' none of icAicA,' read ' none of icAom.' 
 
 Page 79- fourteenth line from the top— ior ' as follows,' read ^ as follow.' 
 
 Page 84— twenty-first line from the bottom— for 'good look,' read 'good /ucA/' 
 in the twelfth line from the bottom, for 'doleful Zone,' read 'doleful tone.' 
 
 Page 90— fourteenth line from the top— for 'a/lover,' read *ovcr all;' in the 21»t 
 line from the top, for •speak Mr. C read 'speak to Mr. C 
 
 Page [)1— twenty-fourth line from the top— for 'much wiser,' read 'much tka 
 wiser;' in the tenth lino from the bottom, for ' dare take,' read '■dares take.' 
 _ Page 94— fourteenth line from the top— for ^ her darling's,' read * his darling's;' 
 in the seventeenth line from the top, for ^ has boast,' read Uan boast;' in the first 
 line from the bottc:.., for 'as well the,' read ' aa well as the.' 
 
 Page 95— twenty-third line from the top— for 'idolaters' read 'idolaters.' 
 
 Page 98— twentieth line from the bottom— for 'or need oC meditation,' read 'nor 
 need of mediation.' 
 
 Page 104-"firtcenth line from the top---for decree, read degrees. 
 
 Page 106— fifteenth line from the top— for 'harshly offensive,' read ' harsly un- 
 founded.' 
 
 Pago 107 — eleventh line from the top — for 'sense or science,' read 'sense nor 
 science.' 
 
 Pago 110— twenty-first line from the top — for 'mathematic,' read 'mathematics.' 
 Pago 114 — elevt 
 Page 119- 
 on 
 
 Page 132— nineteenth line from the bottoni— for dafted, read daft, o\- daffcd. 
 Page 133 — seventeenth line from the bottom — for dotls, read dolts. 
 Page 184 — seventeenth line from the top— for ' dependants,' read ' defendants.' 
 Page 140— nineteenth line from the top — for ' are following,' read ' are the follow- 
 in" ' 
 
 Pago 148— twentieth line from the bottom — for ' mostly,' read ' most.' 
 
 Page 152 — fifteenth line from the bottom — for presecution, rend persecution. 
 
 Page 153— ^eighteenth line from the bottom — read ♦ functionary requisitea superior.' 
 
 Page 156— eleventh line from the top — for 'relieve,' read 'relievo.' 
 
 Page 162 — tenth line from the bottom — for ' being,' read 'it being.' 
 
 Page 201 — first line from the top — for 'iniquity,' read 'iniquitous.' 
 
 Page 207 — twenty-second line frono the bottom — for » Presbyteriaaim,' read 'Pros- 
 
 b^'terianism.* 
 Pago 208 — twentieth line from the top — for 'plead,* yead 'pleaded.' 
 Page 226 — eighth line from the top— for 'the extraordinary,' read 'th« suppossd 
 
 •Jtraordinary.' 
 
V'''Vt 
 
 ^- 344 
 
 Page 228— ninoleentli lina from the top— for «of CliurcJi ' r^n.l •«?#*. /--i.,, i . 
 Pngo 248-tvvcnty-second lino from tl.e bottom-for ^By mv keen ' r., 1 . ^f. 
 
 7L 2M "":f;:v'v''""/'°'"/'7 •'""°"'' <■- '--^. reacts "' ""' *'^ 
 
 rnge ^oj— eigJitli lino from the Ijottom— for « icAa/ sillv ' ro«A i i.^,h „-ii . t l 
 
 pZ ^'iS-and cUevvhere-for Diotrephus, read Diotrepkes. 
 
 Pnfe iI::'e!fS eVn,".f iT/*'' '"P---*°'- ' P»''''«='^.' --ead 'Aarf passed." 
 Pafe 287 twn r?n- r ''"l" V*"" ''°«°'»-f"<- *e, read /o ic. 
 inS, '''"'^''' ''"' ^'■°'" "'° ^'^""'"-for 'I could indeed,' read « I e.uld not 
 
 ' ■fiftp?n'lh' I ' • r""" ^''.° »'°«"'"-f«r */m,«, road shame. 
 •fifteenth hno from the top-for none, read ,t«7Aer. 
 ■eighteenth line from the top-for « I am at a loss/ read • I am at b Iom 
 
 Pago 300 
 Pago 8U2 
 Page 312- 
 to krtoio.' 
 Pago 314 
 P.ige 315- 
 
 -ninth line from the bottom-for ' not had,' read • had not ' 
 
 paio 32u-eighteenth ^ ^:^.;::;^z:z^:Sy::^^:s^^ 
 
 .ho'uld^^a;^rnTace'daf;:rS'S^^^^^ the'R r, , Presbyterian Churd,' 
 of improper Union^tweon Churcl^aid fate "^'"'"^ '" ''"^ ^'" ^"'^ ^""Ser 
 
 Cr The Author of this Book having, at the 
 
 time of its publishing, resided at 
 
 selve. .. fir., sfglf, ™"^.,Tv"S g Tpe °S"r,h'e° ft'".",''; 'f ^'■°" ""■"■ 
 further correction; besides'thnt thZ. J.m- i j work; so as to require no 
 
 beyond his own free will for th« P"''''^'\^'- ^°«« "Ot hold himself responsible, 
 fictitious correspondents ' ' ' «vert'ghts or mistakes, of .ither his' real or 
 
 I. ^ 
 
 
 4^t^ 
 
' of M« Church.' 
 lad ' brow-proof.' 
 id contrariety. 
 In tho aixtoenth 
 
 ?■ 
 all.' 
 
 keen,' TPdA • Mjr 
 
 JWBiWy.' In the 
 the greatest.' la 
 
 road ♦confidence 
 
 sed.' 
 
 •ead « I could not 
 
 d ' I am nt a loai 
 
 not." 
 cious. 
 lily. 
 
 terian Church,' 
 Sin and Danger 
 
 hing, resided at 
 ng proof-siieets, 
 v<-e but partially 
 ese uncorrected 
 to show them- 
 .8 to require no 
 elf responsible, 
 her his real or