fact, and adopts them as indispensable, in the Church of England and Ireland: but thanks be to God, she nowhere identifies the Church of England with the Church of Christ.

She acts in conformity with that fruitful saying of the great German reformer, " Charity beareth all things, faith nothing." Where the faith of the Gospel of God is involved, our church is nobly inflexible: but in everything short of that faith, in all the varying ceremonial of human instrumentality, she is as nobly charitable.

Why then, it is asked, why not hold reciprocity of communion with those churches which prefer other modes of worship? The answer lies in another important distinction, namely, between communion in the congregation as worshippers, and communion personally as brethren. For congregational communion every church must maintain her preferences inviolate, else there could be no decency and order, in compliance with apostolical precept, no security to her children of finding at all times the modes of worship which they have been taught to prefer, and for which many of them imbibe an attachment of reverential piety greatly productive of devotion. But personally, our church interposes no barrier to brotherly communion with other bodies. Surely this combination of faithful testimony for God, and forbearing moderation among men, is an unquestionable excellence in our national church.

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LECTURE V.

PRACTICAL

EFFICIENCY OF THE CHURCH HINDERED BY LIMITATION IN EXTENT THE JOINT OPERATION OF THE CHURCH IN ITS PRESENT DIMENSIONS, AND OF THE VOLUNTARY SYSTEM, WHOLLY INADEQUATE UNDER EXISTING CIRCUMSTANCES-PROOF IN THE ACTUAL STATE OF THE COUNTRY-ROOT OF THE WHOLE EVIL, WANT OF REAL CONFIDENCE IN REVELATION-ENGLISH GENTLEMEN APPEALED TO-VAIN TO EXPECT UNANIMITY IN THE MODERIGHT TO PROCEED NOTWITHSTANDING-HALF MEASURES USELESS AND DANGEROUS-IF MORE BE NOT DONE, TOO MUCH HAS BEEN DONE ALREADY IN DOING MORE, PAROCHIAL SUBDIVISION INDISPENSABLE; AND IF THOROUGHLY ACCOMPLISHED, EFFECTUAL AS FAR AS HUMAN MEANS CAN BE.

IT has been my endeavour: first, to exhibit the scriptural character of our national church considered in itself: secondly, the scriptural aspect of its wisely regulated connexion with the civil power: and, thirdly, the scriptural duty of the civil power, in the national use of such an instrumentality, as it has pleased Almighty God to supply to them, in the inspired writings, and divinely appointed officers and ordinances of the christian church.

It might naturally be anticipated, that a national

arrangement, so much in accordance with the revealed will of God, would be productive of the happiest results to the community so favoured; and so indeed it has been. The facts of the case fully justify the expectation. Our appeal is to facts, to the brilliant facts of our national history, at home and abroad; to facts which, whether considered in the light of naval or military achievement, or in the nobler light of commercial enterprise, of art and science, of humanity and liberty; bear ample testimony to the fostering care of the divine blessing : since the period when our scriptural arrangement was first fully established under Elizabeth, (and when, let it never be forgotten, our glorious national poor law was the immediate offspring of our more glorious national Protestantism,) and more particularly since the period of the rescue of our scriptural arrangement from Popish aggression, and its reconsolidation on firmer grounds, under the more enlightened toleration, and more determined "no surrender," of William of Orange. I repeat, our appeal, for the results of a national establishment of a scriptural church, is to the transcendent facts of English history, from the first of William the Third, of English peace at home, while all Europe beside was convulsed in revolutionary struggles, and English prowess abroad, when all Europe was combined under military despotism, down to the last of George the Third, whose removal gave occasion to the opening of that fatal door; into which, while a right honourable baronet

entered with faltering steps, he uttered an acknowledgment, evincing a sagacity all but prophetic; at the expense, alas, of a consistency, which had it sustained no enfeebling wound then, would have rendered him more than irresistibly victorious now. But he left a vulnerable tendon, which has been so often hit, that Achilles halts: inferior chiefs are paralysed; disunion is in the camp; and consequent disaster in the campaign,

Delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi.

Of course the church has suffered. Her bitterest enemies have been taken into counsel as to her practical treatment; and, as might be expected, under the mask of aiming at her improvement, they are systematically compassing her destruction. Already they have chanted the commencement of their song of triumph, in the form of a requiem over ten departed bishoprics.

It is true, that for the present they have refrained from adding another strain, on the appropriation of her revenues but it is perfectly obvious that that must soon be; unless her members throughout the nation, awaking from the quiescent aversion to agitation which they have learned in her venerable and peaceful bosom, and perceiving that their mother is really assailed; shall say to their representatives speedily, plainly, decidedly, in a tone not to be mistaken, that it must not be. And not only so; but that her resources must be increased, and her maternal arms enlarged to embrace the multiplying

thousands of the national family; while, at the same time, they urge with earnest affection, every practicable improvement in her internal administration, whether financial, or educational, or both.

Her practical efficiency is obstructed by causes, which may be profitably considered under two general heads:-

First, with reference to that part of the population of the country, which has wholly overgrown the utmost possible reach of the instrumentality provided. And, secondly, with reference to that part which is supplied with church accommodation, and pastoral superintendence. In other words, the practical inefficiency of the church may be considered, first as regards its extent, and secondly as regards its working. The first is our present subject.

It is a plain matter of fact, that the population of the country has largely overgrown not only the parochial provision originally made for their religious instruction, but also all the additions which have from time to time been made to that provision, whether by national grants, or individual beneficence. The melancholy proof of this is a matter not of argument, but of figures. We have only to refer to the population returns, and compare the numbers with the accommodation provided in all our churches and chapels, to be painfully convinced that hundreds of thousands of our fellow countrymen are destitute, inevitably so, of every species of religious instruction. Why should