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LETTER XXXVI.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

POPULAR CHARGES AGAINST THE CHURCH, IRRELEVANT TO THE PRESENT SUBJECT.

CONDUCT OF AN IMPARTIAL

ENQUIRER, WITH RESPECT TO THESE CHARGES.

BABLE DECISION OF SUCH AN ENQUIRER.

JUDGMENT SUGGESTED.

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A RULE OF

APPLICATION OF THIS RULE, TO

THE COMPOSITION OF HISTORY, AND INQUIRY HOW FAR IT HAS BEEN OBSERVED BY SOME POPULAR HISTORIANS.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

I SHALL not attempt to disprove, or to palliate, (though I cannot but think them too indiscriminately applied,) the charges of a relaxation of discipline and zeal, which have been brought against the national Church, at this period of her history. Happily, it does not belong to our object, to enter farther into the discussion, than as it relates to the influence of these circumstances (to whatever degree they may have existed,) on the style and subjects of our pulpit divinity.

I may, however, observe, that certain precautions and limitations are necessary in the investigation of these charges; an attention to which, would probably produce a censure less severe and undistinguishing, and perhaps, in more cases than are commonly supposed, a complete and triumphant acquittal.

Instances of partial, or of individual negligence, a fair inquirer will not urge, as a ground of general reproach: and while he traces in the history of the times, and perhaps in the constitution of the Church

* The large endowments enjoyed by the Church, and the unequal division of its revenues, and, above all, the independence of clerical income upon the rate of clerical exertion, have been assigned, with some reason, perhaps, and more plausibility, as causes of occasional supineness in the clergy. Yet it would be fair to take into account the advantages resulting from this constitution; and to recollect, that the evil complained of is, in fact, inseparable from a competence of temporal provision, under any circumstances, where professional exertion is supposed to be stimulated by any human motive. It is an evil resulting from the corruption of our nature, and which nothing but personal piety will remove; and the esta

the causes of an occasional declension, he will still feel the value of an Establishment, which has proved, in its general conse

blishment of a contingent remuneration, whether dependent on the government or the people, might introduce the still worse evils, of servility or faction, hypocrisy or extravagance. Though the labourer in the spiritual vineyard, is confessedly worthy of his hire, it is not for his hire that he should labour; and it is, perhaps, expecting too much from human nature, to expect that avarice will always resist the temptation of progressive or contingent acquisition.

- Into the very complicated and difficult subject, of the nature of Church property, and the administration of Church patronage, the writer of these pages pretends not to enter. It has already exercised some of the ablest pens, and occupied some of the best informed minds, in the community: and every succeeding enquiry has but contributed to prove, that its inconveniences, obvious and palpable as they are, result rather from the abuse of the system, than from the system itself: and that, although partaking necessarily of the imperfection inseparable from every human institution, its principle is equitable and wise, and equally calculated to prevent the minister from sinking into a dependence on the caprice of his congregation, and to preserve that connection between the church and the government, which is necessary to secure some important advantages of a national religious establishment. The Church, under her present hierarchical constitution, is the natural ally of legitimate

quences, a great national blessing; which has resisted political anarchy, without deserting the principles of liberty; — and which, equally removed from spiritual tyranny and licentiousness, has restrained the rage of innovation, without violating the rights of conscience. He will acknowledge the excellence of a church, which has built her faith upon the rock of Scripture, and illustrated that faith, with instructions to assist, but not to over-rule, the judgment of her children.* He will farther confess, that the Church, even at the period to which this censure refers, had many burning and shin

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and hereditary monarchy; and it seems essential to the preservation of this alliance, that the disposal of her high and confidential offices, should be vested in the person of the sovereign, whom she acknowledges as her supreme temporal head. But it is also necessary, awfully and imperiously necessary, that this great privilege should be wisely and conscientiously exercised; and that the advancement of the interests of religion, should be the sole consideration in the appointment of those ministers, who are invested with the high trust and deep responsibility, of providing "faithful men" for the farther instruction of the people.

* See Article 6.

ing lights, not less exemplary in practice, than eminent in knowledge; and in the monuments of their pastoral and literary labours, he will find that professional dignities or emoluments, did not relax their zeal in professional duties. He will separate what is Scriptural, and fundamental, and permanent, from what is occasional and temporary, in their writings, as well as from what is personal and characteristic ; and he will examine, by a careful reference to the prejudices and controversies of their day, the ground of any apparent aberrations, with which the judgment, or the prejudice of his own times, may charge them.

For real aberrations from the standard of Scripture doctrine, he will, indeed, make no farther allowance, than a consciousness of his own fallibility may suggest: yet, if he considers the indefatigable diligence, with which many of these writers appear to have searched the Scriptures, he will perhaps hesitate, even on such points, to urge his own judgment dogmatically against theirs, till he shall have studied as deeply,

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