and more desirable than the gifts of it. The gifts of it may improve the conformity of my soul after the metaphysical image of God, in knowledge and wisdom; which the apostate spirits retain. But these are the fruits of it; as love, joy, peaceableness, &c. which conform my soul after his moral image, and make me partaker of His moral excellencies and perfection, and which alone can qualify my spirit for His presence and acceptance; when many inspired men, and many more enthusiasts who think themselves inspired, shall be shut out of the kingdom of God: as for other sins, so especially, for disturbing the peace, and rending the unity of the Church.

"

Wherefore, if we lived in the age of miracles; or if God, to confute the infidelity of atheists, or to convert the Mahometans, or for any other reasons, should now renew the gifts of his spirit; in submission to his good pleasure, I should beg, with the prophet Jeremiah, to be excused from all intellectual inspirations, from visions and revelations, and prophecy; from the gift of tongues and discerning spirits, and preaching and praying by immediate inspiration. Instead of these gifts which fail, and which are good or bad, as the man is that receives them, I would beg him, for the sake of Jesus, to inspire me with the graces of his spirit, which never fail; with humility, temperance, purity, justice, and charity; for every one of these surpasseth all understanding, and the knowledge of all mysteries; more especially would I beseech him to grant me his peace, or inspire me with the love of union, which surpasseth all understanding, and would

keep my heart and mind from envyings and strife, and from making or fomenting needless divisions, through Jesus Christ my Lord."

An attempt to add to the force of the above excellent passages, would be presumption. They are, therefore, left to produce their own effect upon the reader's mind, who, if unacquainted, as most probably he is, with the writings of this great divine, will thank me for producing thus at length a quotation from him, which breathes the true Christian spirit in so eminent a degree.

To prevent misconstruction, it remains only to be observed, that what a sincere regard for genuine Christianity, accompanied with an earnest wish to promote the unity of the Christian Church, has induced me, in the former part of this discourse, to say, in apparent contradiction to a writer, who has lately favoured the world with his religious sentiments; must be considered as said against the meaning, which may be drawn from certain unguarded passages in his publication, rather than against that of their author. So much respect is due to this amiable author for the design of his undertaking, that it would give me pleasure to think, that what has been here written, might prove the means of putting his publication into the hand of one additional reader; because so much of good is contained in it, that the reader must be either good or bad in the extreme, who does not derive benefit from it.

Feeling with the Critic,* "that an extra official exhortation to that renovation of mind which con* Brit. Critic, for Sept. 1797.

stitutes the characteristic of the true Christian, assisted by the credit of this author's situation, the just and general confidence in the worth and sincerity of his character, the clearness of his intellect, and the force of his eloquence, will produce a more extensive, and on many minds a more powerful effect, than any instruction from the pulpit, or even from the pen of a divine;" I feel earnestly desirous of contributing to so important an object. Before I conclude this postcript, however, I could wish (if it may be done without offence, and where no offence is meant, none should be taken) to recall to the particular attention of this respectable author

some few considerations.

In his late publication he has pronounced a general condemnation upon the professional character of the Clergy of the established Church. By wise and candid men, a general and indiscriminate condemnation will be seen in a light, in which this author, if we may judge of him from some parts of his work, would be very unwilling that his sentiments should appear. Considered, in its reference to the Clergy as a body, his sentence is certainly not less impolitic, than unjust. It is unjust, because unsupported by facts. It is impolitic, because it must prove detrimental to the constitution of this country, by alienating the minds of the community from that branch of it, which has always been regarded as its firmest support.

The utmost credit will be readily given to this author for his good intention. Upon this head I believe the opinion of the public is not less honourable that it is decided. But convinced, as I am,

that the Church of Christ has been ever an Episcopal Church; and that a separation from its communion has been, what it always will be, the fruitful source of heresy* and uncharitableness, and consequently one of the greatest misfortunes that has ever happened to the Christian world; it is impossible to look with indifference upon that growing prevalence of sectarianism, which marks the character of the present day.

Our author would be considered to be a professed friend to our happy establishment. No one can feel more disposed to see him in that light than myself. At the same time, I trust, it will not be regarded as any intentional impeachment, either of his integrity or judgment, to remind him, that railing against the Clergy of the establishment has been that preparatory step to subversion, which has been twice adopted with success by the subjects of Great-Britain. It may be unnecessary to add, that the Revolution of the last century in this kingdom, and that lately effected in our colonies, are the instances which I have in view.

It is not positively said, (because I would not hastily pronounce sentence against the good sense of this nation) but he must be a very unprofitable spectator of what is going forward around him who does not see reason to fear, that a conspiracy against our establishment is now in a state of rapid growth in this country.

*"Inde schismata et hæreses oborta sunt et oriuntur, dum episcopus, qui unus est, et ecclesiæ præest superbâ quorumnam præsumptione, contemnitur: et homo dignatione Dei honoratus, indignus hominibus judicatur." CYPRIAN. Epist. 69.

But surely these are eventful times, in which no wise man will be forward in hazarding experiments. Allowing that reformation is wanting, (a subject upon which, alas! there can be but one opinion) it is still a matter of essential consideration, in what manner that reformation is to be effected. The disease of which we complain, so far at least as the clergy are concerned, is partial; such as, we trust, the vigour of a sound constitution will prevent from becoming desperate. But an ill-judged method of cure ofttimes brings death to a patient, not otherwise in danger.

If, upon the ground of the present supposed insufficiency of the clergy, (a fact which their enemies know themselves to be incapable of proving) communion with our Church be no longer considered a matter of Christian obligation; and it be judged adviseable, for the more effectual advancement of the Christian cause, to follow what may be deemed the sound of the Gospel, wherever heard, or by whomsoever delivered; we do not hesitate to say, that in such a case the remedy will, in the end, prove worse than the disease; and that those wellmeaning persons, who are perhaps most sanguine in its application, will eventually find that they have been only instruments in the hands of designing men, for the accomplishment of purposes, which, could they foresee them, they might be among the last to promote. "If the foundations be destroyed,

what can the righteous do?”*

*Psalm xi. 3.