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 LETTER, &c, 
 
 Sir, — I have perused the documents which you sent me ; the 
 controversy " now agitated" among you, forms an insuperable 
 argument against all alliance of Church and state, which the 
 Ministers who have signed the Pastoral I^etter correctly designate 
 as an unnatural and odious union, equally destructive of '* patri- 
 otism, civil and religious liberty, piety and morals." Here are 
 two large bodies of people, by courtesy, denominated Christians, 
 at open warfare, filling both the Canadas with their noise and 
 vituperation, and for what objects ? Here all the official depen- 
 dents of the English Hierarchy are arrayed against all the licensed 
 adherents of the Kirk — and for what purposes ? To enlighten 
 the Canadian darkness ; to strengthen the Protestant cause ; to 
 devise means for the progress of the truth — to extend the triumphs 
 of the Cross — to augment the number of labourers in the Lord's 
 vineyard, and to gather into the Redeemer's sheep-fold, the wan- 
 dering multitudes who have strayed from God ? — Not at all — but 
 to obtain a portion of the public spoil. 
 
 From the confession of both the parties, it appears? that their 
 existence depends, not upon Christ the head of the Church, but 
 upon the patronage of the Government — this principle is admitted 
 by the ecclesiastical chart, and still higher authority, and morq 
 strongly affirmed in the Pastoral Letter. Now we Puritans in 
 New England cannot comprehend this doctrine, and beg your 
 Ministers not to betray their ignorance by asserting, that " the 
 prime cause of the prosperity of the United States" is, because 
 they *'make a provision for churches." We assure them, that 
 we attribute all our " superiority" under the divine blessing to 
 the exact reverse ; to the impossibility of our Government inter- 
 fering in religious matters, an(^ -.ve have no doubt, that had a 
 
 n: 
 
4 
 
 etnlc church ever been set up among us, we shoulJ have been 
 just as ignorant and vicious as all oiher fettered and hoodwinked 
 people. To unprt^jadiced pci'sons, yonr whde controversy ap- 
 pears founded upon direct injustice ; for in our judgment, the 
 public properly cannot equitably be appropriated to any one or 
 rtt'o or ten religious sects, because it alienates the general poss- 
 ession upon the principle of favouritism. All churches when 
 allied with the State, have for their corner stones, as one of your 
 English authors observes ^^persecution, plunder^ perfidy, and 
 iisurpaiion over conscience.''^ Of the immeasurable tracts of un- 
 cultivated land belonging to our Union, all the Governments com- 
 bined cannot make a donation of one acre for merely religious 
 purposes, so that our example must be ignoranlly pleaded to justify 
 your selfish janglings. 
 
 The report of the House of Assembly of Upper-Canada places 
 Dr. Slrachan in a very unfavorable aspect, and his speech is a 
 most impotent effort to exonerate himself from the censures which 
 he has so justly merited ; an undeniable evidence of the absurdity 
 and wickedness of all attempts to coalesce the church and the 
 world ; and a melancholy demonstration of the wretchedness at- 
 tached to that change of religious profession, which is produced 
 by the attractions of worldly honor and emolument. 
 
 The letter of the Bishop of Quebec is an evident proof of the 
 absolute impossibility to reconcile the convictions of truth and 
 righteousness with the claims of carnal policy — he strives not to 
 wound his conscience, hut is obliged to gratify Ins clamorous and 
 h'mgry expectant subordinates ; what therefore no man can do,, 
 it is not wonderful, he should have failed to achieve. The Pas- 
 toral Letter from the clergy of the Church of Scotland is a mass 
 of inconsistency, mischief and worldly niindedness. Those eleven 
 Ministers talk of " the high desert and real excellence of their 
 sister establishment." Is it not downright mummery for a fol- 
 lower of John Knox to warble the praises of a prelatical church ? 
 such time serving in days by gone, would have deposed them» 
 Compare this mawkish euio«-y with the sabsequent account of the 
 
5 
 
 merits of Uie Chm'ch of Krijlmd. Behides when f)i«l ilie English 
 Church ever acknonlcdgo this new f mgl.M! sisterhood ? will {U'^y 
 receive a Preshyl-jriim minister until he has disavowed the con- 
 fesbion of faith, and his prior ordination — and sworn to the Ar- 
 ticles, Canons, Honiihas, Liturgy, ^c. an ojth which no man in 
 his senses could possildy take, were it not uiilded over by " Lein- 
 poral considcration.s," as these. Scoteh worthies afiirm, " a coni- 
 forfahlt! living oi' three hundred poundu per annum," with no sniaii 
 additional " jjlunder"' .' Who told them, " that it is (he (hity of 
 a Chri.sti.ui fctate to support ChiMstianity'' ? Not the Gosprd ; lor 
 it denies this baneful doctrine. Does lh;t Chrijti.ui state, (jreat 
 Britain, support the same religion in Enghnd, Scotland, Hanover, 
 Malta, Ilindostan, Canada, tlie West Indies, and at the Cape of 
 Good Hope ? *' We wonder that a f ict so obvious, sliould not 
 have forced itself upon their attention." But they have sheltered 
 themselves from this heresy, (for all state religions are ih.c quin- 
 tessence of Romish abojnination) under the authority of Paley, 
 who was a notorious Socinian ; and who although lie disavowed 
 all the fundamental doctrines of the Gospal, maintained that a man 
 mi^ht subscribe and swear, as he himself did some ten times, th.it 
 he beheved what he denied, and was moved by ihe iJoly ("<I.o.sL 
 to preach that which he decried as absurd raid fanatical. He ob- 
 tained for his dissimulation, "• a fixed and permanent provision," 
 which, according to all your disputants, is ihe only thing lor 
 which Religion is at all estimable. 
 
 The Ministers say, that the early English Reformers displ;, /ed 
 one of the worst features of Popery, viz : intolerance and perse- 
 cution. But did the kirk never exact the same ? What else 
 means this act of the General Assembly passed in September, Id-lT, 
 and which has never been rescinded. " The General Assembly 
 considering how the errors of independency and separation, have in 
 our neighbour kingdom of England spread as a gangrene, and how 
 possible it is for the same evils to overspread this Kirk and king- 
 dom. Do therelbrc in the name of God ! inhibit and discharge all 
 laembcrs of this Kirk and Kingdom, to converse with persons 
 

 
 • !. 
 
 1 
 
 li\i\ie\ witlj surh errors, or to import, sull, or vend such erro- 
 nc'ovsi books and paper" — but that they beware of and abstain from 
 book?; jhuinttiining Independency, S:c. 
 
 '• TIji')' li'CorniiM nd to Ministers on the sea coast, and in towns 
 whuro jsiationers are, to watch, and report to their Picsb^teriea 
 i( any books shall be fouiul, that some course may be taken to 
 liuiiicr the dii^Jicrsion thereof. And hereby all Presbyteries and 
 Synods are oidained to icy and process (prosecute) such as shall 
 trausgreiss a;i;<iinst the premises or any part thereof. Jlnd the As- 
 sein'jlij ali.o doth seriously recommend to civil Mctgi:itratcs to assist 
 Minister^ and Pr^ahytcries in the rxecutionof this act.^'* Again, who 
 would have worried the Puiitans at the death of Charles I., bad 
 v\L){ Cromwell interi)Osed? Who would have hanged, drawn, and 
 quurtsvcd the Erskinos, Gillej^iic and others ? Who excommu- 
 nicattid preachers lor praying and expounding, and patronized 
 ffTimblii)^? disii;ipated prorogates, who had nothing of a Christian 
 x^Jiiiister about them but the gowns and the bands ? As the Scotch 
 (•iiar;'.cteri;lic shrewdness is not displayed in part of this letter, I 
 pv;^sun!ii, that the MiListers were not the authors of it; but 
 s?;;ned it judging ihiit no person would read it, that comprehended 
 ii.s' uicariiiig : or thnt all its contents would be credited, because 
 their uameg closed the pamphlet. 
 
 Of the article respecting the Union, it is suffjcient to observe, 
 that ati Tcii^sion h.id no concern in that political measure, neither 
 party can be ben'-tited by any a))peal to it. When the Episcopal 
 Cleryy aiihrn, that the term Protestant applies exclusively to 
 
 them, and docs not comprise all who renounce popery we in 
 
 N'Vv-lCngland can only declare our surprise at the impudence of 
 tho asseition. We have al^nys thought with your famous Mack- 
 intosh, th.)t '' the. Puritans are the most Protectant part of the 
 Protesntrd rtorW,'' and that the Episcopalians were the nearest in 
 approximation to Romr—because a Jesuit can become an English 
 Vn'?.^X without re-ordmation, while they denounce all other Cbris- 
 fian denonunatiori.^ as "without Mimsters, Sacraments, and the 
 covonan ul mercies of God." l}ow ignorant therefore are the 
 
 " assurrtpt'ft 
 
 gale, that 
 
 Papists, I 
 
 invidious 
 
 strong ho 
 
 less, and 
 
 If the 
 
 and those 
 
 you wou 
 
 own conl 
 
 and bark 
 
 , The€ 
 
 two or tl 
 
 and no I 
 
 patrona^ 
 
 to these 
 
 atory is 
 
 avowal 
 
 not shar 
 
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 Thej 
 
 a disgr 
 
 describ 
 
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 sheer I 
 -bread,' 
 
 , conscie 
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 Ushmei 
 
 . Christ 
 ■^ gation 
 
7 
 
 uch erro- 
 stain from 
 
 i in towns 
 
 esb^terie* 
 
 e taken to 
 
 'terics and 
 
 h US shall 
 
 nd the As- 
 
 s to assist 
 
 Igain, who 
 
 les I., had 
 
 rawn, and 
 
 excommu- 
 
 patronized 
 
 Christian 
 
 the Scotch 
 
 is letter, I 
 
 of it ; but 
 
 prehended 
 
 if because 
 
 > observe, 
 'c, neither 
 Episcopal 
 usively to 
 ry — we in 
 3udence of 
 5US Mack- 
 >art of the 
 nearest in 
 m English 
 her Chrls- 
 5, and the 
 e are the 
 
 y assumptions, and how ludicrous the t^ffrontory of mon, nho ntT<>- 
 
 gate, that while in miny points, they cannot be distin'^iiis^lie'l fn>r»i 
 Papists, yet they are the only F^rotestanls ! This is the nio?t 
 invidious part of their claim, and while thry fanc} it to be tlu'ir 
 strong hold ; it is in truth as silly and conteinpliblc, as it h worth- 
 less, and malignant. 
 
 If the Protestant Clergy he, as the pastoral lo+ter de^crihr' irom, 
 and those Ministers stoutly maintain their title to the corporation ^ 
 you would do well to dismiss the whole of them ; for by their 
 own confession, their principal capacity and employ are to grir>vvl 
 and bark over clergy reserves. 
 
 The eleven Ministers di.^tinctly tell us, that were it r.ot for th<» 
 two or three hundred pounds per annum — no Episcopal Clprg^,', 
 and no Episcopalians would be found in Canada, especially if thr» 
 patronage and offices of the Government which are chiefly applied 
 to these persons were also taken a away, j»nd the best part of tl)f3 
 atory is, that this odious representation is published, by the 
 avowal of its authors, merely because these same kirkmcn do 
 not share in this public spoil. The annals of the nominal churcli 
 in its utmost rottenness, scarcely match this complicated unblush- 
 
 ijing corruption. 
 
 i They also unfold a ^' mystery of iniquity," which is not only 
 a disgrace to religion, but to decency. The Episcopalians are 
 described as multiplying their proselytes, and Ministers only by 
 
 '," money and promotion'* — and the Presbyterians are exhibited as 
 sheer Renegadoes, who for *' a piece of silver and a morsel of 
 
 -bread," resort to the Bishop for holy orders. Then to shew the 
 , conscience of this motley tribe, these Ministers acknowledge, 
 that when they themselves obtain the disposal of wealth antl patro- 
 nage, the case will be reversed, and these purchased Episcopa- 
 , lians will again become good Presbyierians. At the same time, 
 these Vicars of Bray are owned as members of the sister estab- 
 lishment : Agreed, but instead of being any part of the Church of 
 .Christ, they belong, as the old Scotchman said> to *' the congr«- 
 
 ^, gation of Satan." . . 
 
 ■^ 
 
8 
 
 ! 
 
 H;»y, "If 
 
 thr\t chm 
 *• nntionfil 
 ])iety nnrl 
 
 were 
 
 t! 
 
 M;iny of (h»- livlnj; Kplscopalinns '* di-iliononr ihn Profosbin: \vlii<:'i flu 
 nnmo, and Ix'lie tluir Trotostiint prolLSsion," nml lo confront that 
 T)«»foriou!* p;i[)ist Lain!, tlie lettr.r (luotc^, r«s snmplen of siiperex- 
 cellfncc — Hooker, who, in many ^('spoct^<, was no more than n 
 si^mI-PrntC3t!int, Cliillinpvorth who was ])rofoun<l!y hetero<lox — 
 ;hi(1 Paley who, besides heini^ a Socinian, defentled perjnry in 
 Pidrscription to creeds and canons. If these rhilosophor«, nnd 
 Divines are eulogized for their pre-eniiuencc, what must tiioHt- ,|j„j jj^^ |, 
 be whom they censure? Rebelled i 
 
 They talk of " the papal supremacy and domination permitting •^^^] ^y^^j ^ 
 no division or vvaste of the means for buihUng np religion." Take ^ j.^^,) ^^'\ 
 care of John Knox's ghoxt, Saixney. Many a man has stood upon ^g ^.j^gy ^ 
 the stool of repentance for fur less oli'enccs than this '* bonny ^jgter, ar 
 notion/' ^these Mil 
 
 The Ministers proceed '* to develope their views of the Eecie- KHous " 
 sinstical Policy of the Church of England," in which they de- teen. 1 
 monstrate very clearly, that all established Churches are opposed ao-ainstth 
 to a true love of our country, that they counteract national pros- j^qU no 
 perity — that they extinguish civil and religious liberty — that they \vhich th 
 destroy piety and good morals — and that they debase the charac- mmption 
 ter of Christianity, and fill the Ministers of such establishments imd Scot 
 ■with " lukczvarmness and apathy in religion^ and a bastard zeaU jnent in 
 the of spring of self-love and secular interest.''^ This is exactly establish 
 what the Puritans always maintained — and now eleven Scotch lof the C 
 Ministers boldly tell us, that the Established Churches of Great ^nd Puri 
 Britain are the most dangerous enemies to national prosperity, The 1^ 
 and not less inimical to the religion of Christ Jesus. So that from 
 this delicious portr.iit of the sister establishments, we may pro- 
 nounce them, par nohlle. 
 
 They proceed in the same descriptive and edifying strain ; to 
 *!hew the ],rinciples which actuate all Episcopalians from Arch- 
 bishop Sharpe to the last proselytes in Canada : and the eleven 
 Ministers solemnly assure ys, that ambition jmd covetousness only 
 make disciples to the Episcopal policy. According to this ac- 
 count, if the Lord Jesus were to call them into his service, in 
 
 the prini 
 preach t 
 was a v( 
 tuated b 
 interest, 
 living," 
 they ha 
 terians ; 
 tion to t 
 
Protpstant 
 an front that 
 
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 \\h'u:\ \]\o^^e Iii4^ r.'innol 1)0 q;raliliocl, the S;ivioijr \Vi)m1<I liavo lo 
 s;iy, " I callcil, but yo refused" and tlio;y also av<^r, that (ho'^o 
 f»i siiperex- p^(^(.lpsiastics nrt} *' the unprinciplod ndvocatos and :il)clt()rs of 
 joro than n ^^^^^ chnrcU policy," which thoy dcrlarn involvos tlu» ruin of 
 lelorcxlox— <• national profjporfy, civic freedom, rclii^ious riifht'^, pp r^diial 
 F'^^J'Ty in |,iyty and moraU !" These Ministers allirin, that thfir ancestors 
 opherrt, and were •♦ the firmest supporters of the Throne and Constitution," 
 must tljoHf K„j tj^g l,ij,t(jj,^ of England declares, that tiio Scotch alone tv.ico 
 'rehcllod against the present Royal Family — nnd that when th»y 
 permitting y^^f\ jy^^, complete sway, in the time of Charles L, they ruled witli 
 on. Jake n rod of iron. In f.ict, their Kirk have always developed as fir 
 I stood upon jjg ^^Qy ^^J.f^^\ ^1,^ same destructive ecclesiastical policy as their 
 his '* bonny ^jgt^r, and this pa^storal letter proves, that if they had the power, 
 these Ministers would soon appear as ^'selfish and inordantly am- 
 the Eccie- Utinus^'^ as they represent their opponents " invariably" to have 
 'h they dc- |)een. Therefore, we Puritans most earnestly and loudly protost 
 are opposed against that relationship which they claim to us — for we "shall 
 tional pros- l^Q\^\ ^o fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness," of 
 that they which they proclaim themselves guilty; and we den}' their a;^- 
 the cbiirac- gumptions of the distinguished honor which they claim. England 
 tablishtnents ij^j Scotland in this respect are similarly situated ; their advance- 
 astard zeaiy jnent in literature, philanthrophy, &c., are not owing to clerical 
 IS IS exactly establishments, but to the energy, zeal, integrity, and religion, 
 ven Scotch <)f the Christians who were persecuted by them for their dissent 
 es of Great ^nd Puritanism. 
 
 The Ministers are not wise in their appeal to the dead. From 
 the printed sermonfs of Dr. Spark, I conclude, that he did not 
 '8 may pro- preach the doctrines of the Confession of Faith— and Mr. P>ethune 
 was a very lukewarm Presbyterian, or his namesakes were ac- 
 tuated by '« the inducement of a comfortable living, and secular 
 interest." The morfes? signers of the Letter, *' say nothing of the 
 living," and for a good reason, " it will be sooner forgotten,^'' bu' 
 they have introduced a pompous eulogy upon the other Presby- 
 terians ; this is too barefaced. They hold no ecclesiastical re!a- 
 
 service, in Ition to them, why then are they noticed ? The eleven Ministers 
 
 B 
 
 prosperity, 
 5o that from 
 
 g strain ; to 
 from Arch- 
 
 the eleven 
 3usness only 
 
 to this ar- 
 
 I'l 
 
10 
 
 ■It 
 
 .1 
 
 V 
 
 t ) 
 
 are making tools of them to aid in procuring the Clergy Reserves ; 
 but whea they have obtainc<l " the permanent provision,'* they 
 will again slight and scorn the flcceders. This superfluous, hy- 
 pocritical praise is not less offensive, than their pungent allega- 
 tions against their opponents. They urge the importance of 
 *'f>ractical morality, saundness of doctrine and purity of practice." 
 This is correct. " Preach them down, pray them down, and live 
 tliem down," this is a far preferable mode of making " full proof of 
 their ministry,*' than writing pastoral letters respecting clergy 
 reserves ; which it seems, are the only reward they desire ; as 
 ft)r the conversion of sinners to God, and Paul's crown of rejoi- 
 cing, they shew no anxiety. 
 
 Their bitter satire against others, if used against themselves, 
 woold be deemed, although manifestly not less applicable, cruelly 
 ironical—- it is a strong pill — / msh the Doctor'' s would swallow 
 their owo medicine. 
 
 the eleven Ministers are very defective in their character of 
 a Christian Church ; but according to their own criterion of judg- 
 nieflt, persons who are guilty of the offences alledged, belong not 
 to the Church of Christ, and all these disputants, by their own 
 avowal, are employed in a scheme to extinguish *• civil and reli- 
 gious liberty, morals and piety." The Lord confound their devices ! 
 
 They also strive " who shidl most promote by preaching and 
 example, the pure spirit and benign influence of our common 
 Christianity," but what do they mean by religion ? Travellers 
 from Canada, who stop at Burlington, pubhcly narrate marvellous 
 stories about this common Christianity" — and one of your nominal 
 Presbyterians declared at first, that the Pastoral Letter was a joke. 
 When I asked him the reason of his incredulity ; he replied, " the 
 ncii;t tia>e you visit Canada, inquire for yourself." 
 
 The Ministers state, that the constitution of their Church " has 
 been proved abundantly effective for maintaining and promoting 
 piety and morals ; and is peculiarly ill-fitted to serve ambitious 
 viflws." This, as we aay in New England is very tiifisiical ! \( 
 they mean that pure P^esbyterianism promotes piety and morals, 
 
 f 
 
 ,\ 
 
11 
 
 [Reserves ; 
 
 ion,'* they 
 
 luoua, hy- 
 
 Jnt allega- 
 
 ►rtance of 
 
 practice." 
 
 I, and live 
 
 ill proof of 
 
 ting clergy 
 
 I desire ; as 
 
 rn of rejoi- 
 
 ihemselves, 
 )le, cruelly 
 lid swallow 
 
 haracter of 
 
 ion of judg- 
 
 belongnot 
 
 their own 
 
 il and reli* 
 
 sir devices ! 
 
 caching and 
 
 ur conjmon 
 
 Travellers 
 
 Biarvellous 
 
 mr nominal 
 
 was a joke. 
 
 >lied, ''the 
 
 lurch " has 
 promoting 
 B ambitious 
 istical ! If 
 md morals, 
 
 i 
 
 the proposition is granted, but if they iatend that their Kirk, 
 patronised and fattened by the Government, conduces to thos|p 
 effects, then all history, even their own letter confutes them. Is 
 not this appeal to the public the offspring of ambition and usurpa- 
 tion, and a S9licitude to obtain the favor of the civil authority, and. 
 a goodly portion of the public money ? 
 
 The grand marshalled hosts have sounded their controversial trum- 
 pets, not to proclaim the glorious Gospel, but their mutual faults. 
 
 Dr. Strachan and his forces assail the Presbyterians as a weak, 
 inert mass, too inefficient to produce any good. The eleven 
 Ministers rejoin and in full chorus proclaim, that the whole 
 " merits, high desert and real excellence of their sister establish- 
 ment," are the utter extinction of " piety and morals" ! 
 
 The Doctor is the factotum of Upper-Canada in politics and 
 Churchmanship. He advances and authenticates in the most mis- 
 chievous manner, what is notoriously untrue., and as his opponents 
 declare, that which, at the time he knew to be false. He also 
 combines with his pernicious and contemptuous views of others, 
 the most extravagant pk^aises of his inferiors, who defend bis 
 statements, and cunning contrivances to aggrandize his clan at the 
 national expence, and at the jeopardy of the provincial peace pnd, 
 prosperity. Eleven Scotch Ministers, testify, that the whole 
 system of Dr. Strachan and his adherents is totally destructive to 
 all that is good in individuals, families and the commonwealth ! 
 
 Dr. Strachan justifies himself, and avers that he has not yc't 
 told all the truth — but by the report of the House of Assembly he 
 must be set aside, as an evidence ; where arithmetical precision is 
 requisite, the Doctor understands compound multiplication, far 
 better than simple addition, and being an Apostate from tae Pres- 
 byterians, his views are distorted, by so many good things which 
 *' the God of this world" has given him for his ecclesiastical trans- 
 formation. The Doctor, however, is '* a man of Ttar," in vain 
 you knock him down, he is on his leg?? again as if by magic — in 
 vain, yon demonstrate that two and tw© are only four, he will 
 sljjnd to it they count thirty one — and browbeats you with his 
 
 \i 
 
12 
 
 titles, diplomas, an 1 excommunications. The eleven Ministers 
 intersperse some ** smucth things" amid the din of discord, 
 •' they cry peace, peace, when there is no peace" — they mix 
 up a marvellous Scotch hodge podge of '* unity and uniformity" 
 they recommend love and harmony, and roar lustily for " the 
 spirit of meekness and charity" and they talk of " Christians of 
 all denominations in this happy land," but who do they mean by 
 Christians ? According to their own confession of Faith, not the 
 Pope and his devotees — by this letter, not Episcopalians, who are 
 represented as altogether " indifferent to Religion," not the se- 
 ceders, Puritans, and Methodists, with whom they have no more 
 intercourse than the ancieni. Jews had with the Samaritans — Who 
 then ? Themselves ! — so that after all this pretended milkiness, 
 the whole scheme is, to get for themselves a comfortable living 
 from the Government, and a larger number of sheep to shear 
 under the name of burial and christening fees. This is a very 
 concise way of terminating divisions ; but would " this union and 
 combination of resource, conduce to the advancement of true 
 religion ?" I tr©v not. . 
 
 The arguments adduced by the Bishop for Diocesan Episcopacy, 
 are very summarily disposed of by the Ministers — but their dis- 
 cussion is incomplete. They have proved, that all established 
 Churches are totally contrary to the spirit and letter of the Gos- 
 pel, that during three centuries they were non-existent, that they 
 have always been the curse of the nations and the bane of religion 
 which never can flourish in them, and that prudence and piety 
 demand their immediate abolition — but by confining their views to 
 the evils of "the ecclesiastical policy of England," they have 
 craftily left their flocks to suppose, that their own establishment 
 i« free from those ulcers with which they have so profusely cov- 
 ered their sister. 
 
 The Pastoral Letter is singularly defective, when the Mmisters 
 were exhorting their Brethren to " hold fast that which is good" 
 they should accurately have explained what they were to retain. 
 Thty speak of '* religion our common Chrisiiunity, and of the 
 
 philosoph 
 church n 
 unlearnc( 
 bibed so 
 Greek ? 
 
 m ' 
 
 |- preach I 
 ** Preachei 
 N^ divine? 
 \ standards 
 
 of Presb; 
 
 s ■ 
 
 (lid not 
 
 *' sound 
 
 obtain y 
 
 whether 
 
 the blinc 
 
 would hi 
 
 censorio 
 
 man tha 
 
 meekne 
 
 The 
 
 charity 
 
 proache 
 
 tion of i 
 
 willing 
 
 and inc 
 
 ever m 
 
 of Epi 
 
 Roman 
 
 endless 
 
 of the 
 
 his Ai 
 
 moder 
 
 might 
 
 ' city, 
 
 lcdgc( 
 
13 
 
 Ministers 
 
 discord, 
 
 hey mix 
 
 iformity" 
 
 for '• the 
 
 ristians of 
 
 mean by 
 
 , not the 
 
 who are 
 
 \)t the se- 
 
 B no more 
 
 ms — Who 
 
 milkiness, 
 
 ibie living 
 
 to shear 
 
 is a very 
 
 union and 
 
 nt of true 
 
 piscopacy, 
 t their dis- 
 established 
 r the Gos- 
 , that they 
 of religion 
 and piety 
 ir views to 
 they have 
 ciblishment 
 usely cov- 
 
 j Ministers 
 
 h is good" 
 
 to retain. 
 
 and of the 
 
 philosophy, language and theology wliich the judicature, of our 
 
 •hurch 
 
 1) 
 
 th 
 
 e Ignorant 
 
 and 
 
 require of their probationers,'' an( 
 unlearned, it sounds very fine and profound ; but have they im- 
 bibed sound pliilosophy ? are they critics in the Hebrew and 
 ^ Greek? are they skilled in evangelical theology? and do they 
 i preach the doctrines of their own confession ? Are there no 
 ' Preachers in Canada whose doctrine no mortal upon earth can 
 1i divine? Are there no Elderd who never read the Presbyterian 
 •* standards? are there no compmnicants, who understand no more 
 ,of Presb3/terianism, than a man in Arabia knows of ice ? Why 
 (lid not the eleven Ministers inform you what they mean by 
 *' sound doctrine and purity of practice" ? because if you are to 
 obtain your knowledge only from *' preaching and example" — 
 whether good or bad, you ma}' perchance be blindfolded and follow 
 the blind into the ditch. A full explanation upon these topics 
 would have proved, that while they are so extremely caustic and 
 censorious, they are " ready always to give an answer to every 
 man that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them with 
 ^ meekness and fear." 
 
 The Pastoral Letter is also redundant. The affectation of 
 charity forms a grotesque contrast with the insinuations and re- 
 proaches which it contains — but the Bishop's letter is the emana- 
 ' tion of a mind, called to perform a disagreeable duty, and obviously 
 ^•willing to be released as easily as possible ; it conveys no sarcasms, 
 '* and includes no grave indictments of deep criminality. Whatso- 
 ever may be thought of his arguments respecting the divine right 
 of Episcopacy, the Apostolic succession, and similar antiquated 
 Roman conundrums, or as Paul would call them, " fables and 
 endless genealogies," with the exception of his implied sanction 
 of the ecclesiastical chart, vvhich]|natu rally arises from prcfering 
 his Archdeacon's testimony, the Bishop's letter is exemplarily 
 moderate. Dr. Strachan does not introduce so much acrimony as 
 might have betn expected ; when we recollect his peculiar vera- 
 city, hardihood, and pugnacious temper, and by pleading a privi- 
 Icdgcd dignified superiority, with a supercilious deception ; lie 
 
 I i 
 
 ' 1 
 
 I I 
 
 I: 'I 
 
 *» 
 
It 
 
 
 i 
 
 I ii 
 
 •;| 
 
 r ' 
 
 ^rrccm Ikiroriciriiom the srnolie and dust of the wordy strife ; yet 
 evert he does not be^ipattcr his adversaries, so as necessarily to 
 rcrxler thm odious. The Pustora! Letter delineates the Epis- 
 G(^[»:>I ('lert2;y .vith their motives, pursuits, and actions, as totally 
 arqu-incipled, and their whole church establishment as a national 
 ntj-isaiice. iDdeed if worldly honor, ease and emolument, as these 
 fliiiifsters afi'tmn, be tl^cir only incentives, the allegation is unde- 
 m;il>ly correct. Whether these denunciations are consistent with 
 filie amicable words "our sister establishment and fellow Chris- 
 tians" is another uiTair, but in a (lastoral letter about waste lands, 
 invidious vuid detractory personal reflections might have been 
 omitted. The evils of the system of ecclesiastical policy were a 
 proper topic of discussion ; and to us Puritans, the exhibition of 
 the iniseries flowing from a state church is truly etUfying ; not- 
 withstanding the Ministers evidently wished only to preclude any 
 scrutiny into their own craft, by the disgusting deformity in which 
 they have so charitable portrayed their sister establishment. " 
 
 A great uproar was made last year respecting some accounts 
 trhich were published of affairs in Canada ; but nothing like this 
 Pastoral Letter ever before reached Vermont. Newspaper para- 
 graphs are often not read, of little importance, and speedily for- 
 gotten, especially when anonymous ; but here is a Pamphlet by 
 eleven Presbyterian Ministers, developing a ** mystery of iniqui- 
 ty" in broad day light, not as a transient act, denounced upon 
 fiiscovery, and the perpetrator degraded, but as incorporated into 
 a permanent :^ystem, extending its unholy influence through both 
 Canudas, and involving all orders of the State Clergy. The facts 
 slated, furnish the strongest arguments ever yet propounded 
 against all established churches ; and the sternest Puiitah never 
 made bolder thrusts at the Hierarchy, nor represented its '* un- 
 (U'incipled arlv'>cates and abettors" in a character more deroga- 
 tory and obnoxious, than the pastoral letter. . . 
 
 The cant about moderation, the cessation of jealousy and bick- 
 ering, the oblivion of differences and animosities, the wretched- 
 ness of the proselyting system, the neccsj^ity of the ''■ pure spirit, 
 
 living 
 deligl 
 the L 
 
1 
 
 & 
 
 jsthic J yet Jbenlgn influence, sound doctrine and pure pnu.tirr of our commr.Ti 
 
 essarily to |Christianity," and the cuUivation of Cliristiim peace antl charity 
 
 the Epis- land unity and brotherly love, is equally cdifyim^ with tlieir dts 
 
 , as totally pcriptions of those, with whom, nfter hnvin^ hehl Ihem np to the 
 
 a national | scorn and hatred of the world, they desire to confederate m <^ra»- 
 
 t, as these > ping the Clergy Reserves. 
 
 is unde* This polemical gall, and cant respecting harmony, sisterhooil^ 
 
 istent with * and co-operation, present the alternative of peace or war. If the 
 ow Chris- Episcopalians continue obstinate, then it defies them by the fear- 
 less exposure of the evils of their ecclesiastical policy, and by 
 imputing to them the highest *' moral blame," this must exalt, 
 as they hope, their own character and influence, as indignant 
 censors of such stupendous iniquity, but if the eleven Minis- 
 Jisters shall be permitted as "Protestant Clere;y, to devour the 
 prey and divide the spoil," then they c&n blind tlie eycr? of " their 
 Presbyterian Brethern" by telling them that now they have as 
 much of the government patronage and sfipport, •' as full a pro- 
 portion of the comfortable livings," and as many of the '* pieces? 
 f of silver, and morsels of bread" as their " highly deserving and 
 really excellent Fellow Christians." Therefore all the mischief is 
 eradicated, and the Church establishments which were denoun- 
 ced, as like Pandora's box, fall of evils, are now only sources of 
 blessedness. Thus men, who are ** scarcely to be denominated 
 Protestants, who dishonor the Protectant name and belie their 
 Protestant professions, and who are unprincipled advocates anrJ 
 1 abettors of a system of ecclesiastical policy" which extirpntc^ 
 patriotism, ruins the general prosperity, banishes civil and reli- 
 I gious liberty, destroys piety and morals, and debases its members, 
 ^ into selfish hypocrites of the most odious character, like Jud;di 
 and Ephraim who long vexed each other, may unite tiieir ori^'UKS 
 with the eleven Ministers' Bagpipes, and chant in sisterhood, the 
 halcyon days of ** peace and patronage^ promotion, a romr>rtal;le 
 I living of three hundred pounds per annum." Tliis may be very 
 delightful to these diflerent agitator^ about " the appropriation of 
 the Lands reserved for the s"nport of a Protestant CI. rgy iii the>e 
 
 aste lands, 
 have been 
 
 icy were a 
 thibition of 
 ying; not- 
 eclude any 
 ty in which 
 Qent. • 
 e accounts 
 5 Hfce this 
 aper para- 
 Jed ily for- 
 nphlet by 
 oi iniqui- 
 »ced upoti 
 rated into 
 >ugh both 
 The facts 
 opounded 
 ah never 
 
 
 its 
 
 un 
 
 I deroga- 
 
 md hick- 
 netchcd- 
 irc jipirit, 
 
 '''t 
 
 
10 
 
 ! Si 
 
 It 
 
 (St 
 
 V i 
 
 I! M 
 
 Provinces," but dons it'ngree. with that " siu<i;lenr"'?! ami sitnphcify | 
 of heart" which thi3 eleven Ministers insinuate tlwy alone posesa. 
 
 This two sided contrivance instead of displaying " singleness 
 and simplicity,'* proves that '♦ the heart of man is deceitful above 
 all things and desperately wicked ; for of the abundance of the 
 heart, their mouth speaketh."" 
 
 This controversy is very bewitching : it is no longer restricted 
 to definitions of technical legal terms ; to the disadvantages of a 
 state church ; to the folly of the Archdeacon of York's College ; 
 to the falsehoods of the ecclesiastical chart ; arid to the claims 
 upon lands, to which neither of the parties can produce the 
 shadow 0^ an equitable title ; but the Pastoral Letter has wisely 
 changed the debate into a personal altercation. The eleven 
 Ministers •* rebuke sharply," and " from the general principles 
 of human nature ; the acknowledged laws of the moral world ; 
 and the uniform experience of past ages, affording a proof, that 
 the same causes in similar circumstances will produce the same 
 efiects" they may expect that their raihng acrimony will be effec- 
 tually retorted. The Presbyt(irian Ministers distinctly assert, that 
 Kpjpcopal policy is a mass of incurable corruption, of ** extremely 
 unfavorable influence," evil, only evil, and that continually, 
 wherever its operation extends. Such a system every man must 
 abhor, and wish to be immediately and utterly exterminated. 
 
 Suppose one of its three hundred pound advocates, with his 
 " bastard zeaV should recriminate, by boldly avering, that some 
 persons belonged to the Kirk, who never fulfilled any duty unless 
 for emolument ; that they " werelovers of pleasure, more than 
 lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power 
 tliorcof" ; and that they cared not for "the very essence of 
 Christianity" ; only as it enlarged their temporal interests and 
 secular claims, what will be the consequence ? Every enlighten- 
 ed and virtuous man must pronounce, that such religion " the 
 Nvhole unsta^'::> ilibric, w ^ crtincial, -im,} prejudicial" to the 
 
 
 4. \, . 
 
"ir 
 
 I I 
 
 siinplicify ;? 
 me posFss, ! 
 
 singleness * 
 tful abov(^ 
 ce of the 
 
 restricted 
 tagss of a 
 
 be claimfi 
 duce the 
 las wisehf 
 e eleven 
 3rinciples 
 
 1 world ; 
 'oof, that 
 the same 
 be effec" 
 sert, that 
 xtremely 
 itinuallj, 
 nan must 
 ed. 
 
 with his 
 flat some 
 y unless 
 ►re than 
 
 2 power 
 cnce of 
 3sts and 
 ilighten- 
 n " the 
 
 to the 
 
 m