1 ? [Benson, I, artin] Eints for the security of the established chiirch. London, 1806. s HINTS FOR THE SECURITY on THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH. HUMBLY ADDRESSED TO HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. Non equidetb hoc studeo, buUatis ut mihi nugis Fagtna turgescat, dare pondus idonea fume. Jitereti loquimur. Feksius, Sat. V. v. 19. LONDON: PniNTED FOR J. HATCHARD, aOOKSir.tER TO HER MAJESTY, OPPOSITE ALBANY, PICCADUIV. 1806. J. BRETTELL, I'RiNTER, MAUaUALL-STREET, GOLDEN- SQUAKH. HINTS FOR THE SECURITY OF THE ay be. permitted to remind you, will actuate to dare in a good cause ;i and to adopt,,, as the principle of action,. the wisdom of the, serpent engrafted ou the Jiarmlessmss .of the dote.. It is no pai't of .my present object to flatter: but report has stated, that your Grace eminently possesses a firnxness of conduct, accompanied fey most affable aad conciliating manners: the suaviter- suaviter in modo, fortiter in re. If so, you will not take, otherwise than in good part, this brief address fron\ a stranger, on some interesting topics, intimately connected with the weighty charge which, in these arduous times, has fal len upon you. Your Grace presides over a church, whose splendid boast it has ever been, that it calls no man master upon earth; whjch takes its desig nation from no sect or single reformer, but is altogether scriptural; being founded bn the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. This we contend to be the case, not only with respect to doc trine, but in government and discipline also. And I need not inform your Grace, that, in support of this position, we have not only the 5ure word of Scripture, but also its safest in terpreter — the immediate practice of thB' primi tive church, and the uncontroverted and unin terrupted succession of ecclesiastical practice during fifteen centuries. Nay, we have more : we have, in honourable testimony to our esta blishment, the arguments of our opponents, during the last three centuries, repeatedly van quished, and now completely at rest. It is against this establishment, that, in the present day, hostile and reciprocally adverse sects level all their artillery : and, in their at tacks, they are unfortunately but too power- fully aided by thfe loose principles of the times, and a deformed mass of auxiliaries, who glory in an indifference to any subject connected with religion. The enemy in view, and an attack so nearly threatened, it will at least become us to secure adequate measures for our defence. How, my Lord, are .they to be effected ? Allow me to pursue the apt similitude. By choosing safe positions, and fortifying them duly; and by endeavouring to counteract the hostile mea sures ,Jiy prudential regulations. One, who holds but a subordinate commission, may, I trust, submit the result of his experience : it will remain with your Grace to estimate the ad vice, to reject or enforce it. The subject unto which I thus presume to solicit a candid attention, is one on which I had the honour of frequent conversation with yovir amiable, conscientious, and vigilant pre decessor. I am competent to say that it en gaged much of his anxious attention, although principally at a time wlien declining age, and increasing infirmities, rendered him less able to engage in the rising contest. But he saw the' growing evil, and sorely dreaded the probable effect. , I thus introduce his respected name to notice further, that I understood from him, that a resolution had in some measure been adopted, even in concurrence with some of the most re spectable of the dissenters, to propose certain regulations ¦regulations of the Toleration Act, which might check that spirit of indiscriminate schism which now threatens, not merely the establishment, but even religion itself: but that it was deemed adviseable to pave the way by an act, which should enable the Bishops to silence one pre vailing argument in favour of separation, by enforcing the stricter residence of the parochial clergy: thereby not only securing to the people vigilant pastors of their own communion, but probably excluding also intruders on their flocks. The course must be allow'ed prudent; and I trust the whole of the plan is yet intended to be pursued. I shall adopt it therefore as my guide, in furtherance of my present address. This bill has now passed ; and most cordially do I rejoice to find that it has so zealous an ad vocate and supporter in your Grace. The firm decision with which you enforce its provisions in your new diocese, is, I trust, a promise of the fidelity with which it will henceforth be ob served in others. The example cannot be suffi ciently commended in the metfopolitan ; it can not be too zealously imitated by his suffragans. On the duties of the parochial clergy, it were foreign to my purpose to enlarge: it must be presumed that they are known and duly appre ciated by those who have been called to the discharge of them : and of their great import ance ance there can be no question. But your Grace stands on an eminence, from whence, although you have a general view of the clerical vine yard, yet may you be too elevated always to discern the particulars, which nevertheless it is of great importance that you should be mi nutely acquainted with. A near spectator, therefore, may be permitted to unfold the maze of the interior. Whilst the outworks are de fended, the citadel itself must not be given over to neglect. The law recently enacted, has provided against one glaring instance of delinquency, ia the non-residence of incumbents; but, in so doing, it was doubtless the object with the Le gislature, to secure the personal superintendance of a parochial minister, wherever invincible ob stacles did not present themselves. This object, however, is as yet but imperfectly attained: Many are the cases wherein non-residence is le galized : and where that happens it will be ob served, that provisions are made for a resident curate. The provision, it is true, is thus made,- but the law does not so immediately touch the individual, as to exact an adequate compliance with it; and, I fear, it will very extensively be found, that the curate is rarely a resident be yond the few hours exacted by the Sunday duty. Let JLet it tiot however be supposed, that I am 2iere censuring this respectable part of theeccle- •siasti car community. Where this default oc curs, it is, in most instances, to bre imputed to the misconduct of the principal. The salary is too small to afford a competent rneans of resi dence; and the cmate is thus cbmpelled to accumulate engagements to enable him to sup port his place in society. This, it will be ob- sei-ved, arises not from defect in the law, but frorti evasion. True; but if the law were made inore pointed, the evasion would be less practi cable. Yet, as it now stands, the case is not nvithout its remedy; and 1 take the liberty to observe it should be strenuously applied. It is certainly eminently desirable, that all possible delicacy should regulate the proceedings be tween a bishop and the clergy of bis diocese: ^yct will circumstances of so suspicious a cast sometimes glide into these transactions, that delicacy itself should give way in favour of a conscientious discharge of duty. Bishops do not seem to be sufficiently impressed with the idea, that an individual, who will undertake for a most solemn charge, and will avail himself of every trifling subterfuge to escape the labours of it, is not of a principle to be much depended on. Such is the case with many who solicit the licence fqr non-l-esidence. And it may be apprehended apprehended that, although the licence stipu lates for an adequate salary to the resident cu rate (a salary which shall enable him to reside and occupy the deserted post of the incumbent), yet, by private contract, this provision is evaded; and the curate, rather than offend, engages in further duties, all of which he can not properly discharge. It is on this subject that the words of an eminent prelate are on record, that if " he discovered any similar col lusions, he would let the parties know that there were canons and statutes, and would bring them under the clutch of them *." There are then canons and statutes applicable to these cases : the evil has attained sufficient magni tude to require that they be put in immediate force. But, as far as the controlling powers of the bishop are in questioil, this may be called a la tent evil ; and how, it may be asked, bring it into notice? The remedy is far from being of difficult attainment. There is, my Lord, an officer in every diocese, of infinite utility, who is very aptly termed the oculus episcopi. Let the, office (but too frequently considered as Httle niOT-e than a sinecure) be made efficient, and the ? Bishop Horseley's Charge to thfe Diocese of Rochester. Not having the work at hand, the words aje quoted only from recol lection. officer 9 otficer be urged to the full discharge of his duty. Moreover, let the annual visitations be made somewhat more than mere forms. Present ments, jand answers to the articles of enquiry, are now made as matters merely of course ; and rarely state a complaint, but to gratify some private pique. Let the queries be maturely weighed and plainly stated; and then let the officers be examined, aud cross-examined, as to the accuracy of their statements and omissions. Let severe examples of delinquency be made; and thus this important channel of information, which has been too long closed, will be speedily and effectually opened; whereby all the requi site information will be obtained. I need not add, when the matter is brought to this bear ing, the bishop has ample powers to remove the evil. But, my Lord, T find myself imperceptibly .advancing towards a subject of greater delicacy, but which I have always considered as a still more prominent cause of this and other too prevailing evils. In thus bringing it to public norice, I am sensible that I tread on very ten der ground : but, my Lord, otters will tread it with worse motives; and as it will be good po licy in the delinquents (may I thus presume to call them?) to correct the evil, so must it 'not be considered as an act of hosrility to point it out. 10 out. Far be it from me to charge the present Right Reverend Bench with neglect of their important duties. I am far from undervaluing the piety, literary talents, and professional ex* ertions of several amongst tPiem. But the ques tion, if proposed, as to the spirit and nature of their office, would not fall without its due point and application. Are they not E'tctaKomi — overseers? Overseers of what? Of their own dioceses surely. Yet keen must be the sight of some to enable them to watch the progress of events from the very distant stations to which they have removed themselves. Is it, my Lord, honestly to undertake this office, when existing and continued engagements, by pre venting residence, absolutely bar the proper discharge of its most weighty obligations ?— Is it to perform the part of an overseer, to with draw altogether from a diocese to a very distant residence'; and to concentrate all the personal communications with it into occasional political pamphlets, submitted under the equivocal shape of a triennial charge ? " Cold friends to me : what do tbey in the north, _ *' When they should serve their sovereign in the west ?" Or again, by what parallel example of praise worthy excellence shall we countenance the practice of withdrawing from active scenes, where 11 where duty calls, to an obscure seclusion at a distance ; or of lingering, for months together, amid the vapid insipidities of a public water ing placfc? Report states, that similar delin quencies have been. The, consequences are not confined to the bad example: here is a radi cal impossibility that such bishops (whose duty I will venture to say it is to be personally ac quainted even with every curate in their dio cese) can be informed of the various proceed ings of their clergy : and thus, he, who should be the adviser, the instructor, the superintend ant, becomes in truth the greatest stranger of the whole flock. Certain dissenters have objected that the mo dern bishop is no counterpart of the character iims denominated in the New Testament, or in the primitive church. In this they palpably err. But it is to be lamented that their error should be countenanced by somewhat tod nearly bordering upon truth. The office is as strictly apostolic now, as it was in the very 'first ages. I should however fear to trace the parallel with respect to ptactice. The advice of Ignatius, pLVjSsig %wp/s E^Kruoxs rt wpao-u-Elw twv avi^-AovruV fj; Tvjv EnnKviiTieev : and again, 'Oxs av (pavv S s'jTKnoirog f*ta TO otA^Qcj rttw, cannot well be interpreted ptherwise than as exacting a personal superin tendance: aud accordingly in ancient times, consistently 12 consistently with Ggspel language, the bishopric was considered as the spouse of the bishop ; and like a faithful husband, he attached himself to her for life. Now, it must be owned, the same harmony does not always prevail. Too fre quently he solicits a divorce, for reasons not unusual in such cases, that he may marry with one more richly dowered : and then again will he separate, as if wearied with her importuni ties. So did not the bishops of old times. Discipline is excellent: that of our church is peculiarly so : but it must not only be enforced by authority, it must be recommended by ex ample also. But, my Lord, allow me further to state, that it is not merely the superintendence over individual cases that falls within the province of the bishop. His views are enlarged ; he is the general adviser, admonisher, the friend and father of his clergy. To him they look for direction, in application of their particular ta lents : from him they look for reward and en couragement in the performance of their duties. That he may effect this, he is entrusted with the disposal of preferments (a most solemn and im portant trust), and, that the succession be duly preserved, to his discretion is entrusted the yet more solemn and important caje of ordination. These are particulars of hi^ duty, which I wjU venture. venture to say no bishop can perform who is not minutely conversant with all the circumstances of his diocese. The intrusion of most unworthy characters, both into orders and preferments, too plainly demonstrate that aliquando dormitat episcopus : but I fear it will be found too fre quently, that he escapes the charge of sleeping at his post. My Lord, these are not times for such ne glects. We are watched in all our movements : the enemy will be vigilant though we may be slothful. What may be the extent of your Grace's powers to remedy this evil, I will not take upon me to say. Thus far, however, I will venture -nvith confidence to observe, — if they are defective, you will not fail in the as sistance of the legislature to enlarge them. Let some means be devised more strictly to enforce, not only paiochial, but episcopal residence. Then, giving heed himself to the ministry he has received, may the bishop, with an unblush ing countenance, and without dread of expe- riencino- an unpleasant retort, admonish others to feed the church of God; then may he, his ozvn withers unwrung, make others wince ; then will he be competent to eradicate from the vineyard those noxious and disgraceful weeds, the hunting, the gaming, the drinking, and the ¦ time-killing churchmen. ~ But 14 But your Grace will apprehend that you dis« cern an enemy in disguise. Believe me you are in an error. You hax'e before you one, who is deeply impressed with the dangers which threaten the venerable fabric of the Church of England; one who admires it for the purity of its doctrines, and the apostolic excellencies o^ its polity ; one, moreover, Avho yields his full tribute of applause to the learning, the piety, the exemplary morals, and the active profes sional exertions of a very great majority of he^ prelates and clergy ; — but one, at the same time, who sorely laments that the enemy should derive any advantage from the delinquency of a few. We are but men ; and human frailties will attach to every community thus consti tuted. But we are men fully put upon ouF guard ; and we must be convinced that every advantage will be taken even of our casual lapses. The constitution of our church is so framed, as to redress evils 6f this description. For Heaven's sake let the due and proper uses be made of the means which are at command. The enemy is envious, active, subtle; let us then be wise and vigilant. Episcopal superin tendence, enforcing parochial residence, and affording due encouragement to the zealous dischai:ge of duty, would ensure the requisite provisions. The edifice itself is strong. It is indeed 15 indeed powerfully assailed ; but it will not falf, unless it be undennined by those whose duty it is to defend and uphold it. Such,, my Lord, are the positions we are bound to take: we must secure an efficient priesthood, and a vigilant episcopacy : the for mer, seriously impressed with the importance of their obhgations, competent to defend their assailed faith, and recommending it to their flocks by their earnest, moral, and pious de meanour : — the latter watchful in their superior and most important caUing, as lights, not only to their own particular church, but to the Avorld; following in all things the apostolic in junctions; thus conciliating those in favour of the individual, who, from a perverted interpre tation of the Scriptures, may object to the of fice. To your Grace we look up' as to the pro minent character who shall put and keep this- machine in motion. Prove to the world that you are zealously affected towards the church ^ and you will be haled as a blessing little infe rior to that which is estimated of our first re formers. Establish these internal improve ments, strengthen thus the ground upon whicb the establishment legally stands, and we may then, with confidence, make our suit to the Legislature for the reparation of those breaches- which time has effected, and for the establish- 1 jneot 15 ment of new outworks, wliich the encroach ments of modern fanatics have rendered neces sary. The danger which at this time threatens the Established Church, arises principally from the prevailing irregularities which characterise ¦ this eventful period. A spirit of insubordinatioli has long since shewn itself; and, although it has been checked, as far as it seemed to inter fere with the prosperity of the State, yet has it been alarmingly progressive in its hostility to the church. At the same time that this is the case, so specious is the veil behind which this spirit frequently conceals itself, that it is not always easy to detect the imposition. Modern dissent takes altogether a novel form. Schis matics do not at present dissent on account of their principles, but they so arrange their prin ciples, that they may dissent. The motive is not even disguised, — hostility to the church; not to the principles, not to the faith— but to the cluirch itself. It may be fit consideration for the Legislature, whether the true object of their attack may not lie somewhat deeper. Now, my Lord, the peculiar mischief of the case is, that the existing laws do not reach it. I need not point out to your Grace that fea ture of peculiar excellence in our happy consti tution, which favours the gradual amelioration and 17 and extension of its laws, as the times vary and circumstances require. The times have mate rially varied since the days of King Wilham, and circumstances imperiously demand some law, explanatory at least of the Toleration 9ct. At the time when that statute was enacted, the case of the Dissenters Avas very different from what it is at present. They were then an acknowledged and definite body of people. In their character of Dissenters, they had been previously liable to pains and penalties. Not to sanction their tenets, but to relieve them from the effect of existing statutes, this act was passed. And it is honourable to the clergy of that day, that the measure had their sanction. I conceive those of the present by no means de- jsire, either that its spirit should be abridged, or its provisions restrained. But, my Lord, when at that time the Legislature granted rplief, they granted it to persons and principles, which were known ; and it was enabled, in consequence of this knowledge, to frame such cautionary pro visos, as should give freedom of worship to individuals, and at the same time guard both Church and State from the effects of a misplaced and dangerous lenity. The words of the act sufficiently prove this; for they specify the pre vailing tenets, and apply the specific and ap- G propriatc IS propriate rehef. Moreover, as a safeguard, it stipulates for publicity in the place of worship, a test of loyalty from the teacher, and, as I conceive from the spirit of the act (although it is certainly not clearly expressed in the letter), it exacts a limitation of the services of the teacher to his appropriate congregation. Thus did the Dissenters enjoy, on the subject of di vine Avorship, all the protection which had pre viously been given to the Establishment. Iu this A^ew of the subject, the respectasble Dis senters themselves are equally interested Avith the Members of the Established Chureh, in maintaining the fair principles of this act. Break through it, according to the modem attempt, and the hedge Avhich fences the privileges of the Dissenters is equally broken down, a& that which defends the Church. Allow me, in the next place, to point out the modern practice of encroachment, founded on a perverted interpretation, and, I must add, gross abuse of this laAV. The Presbyterians, In- dependentsi, and other dissenters of the ancient denominations, remain, as they did, obedient to, and deriving protection from, this act. But Ave have Avitnessed the rise in our day, of a vast and threatening separation, under the general denomination of Methodists; involving, how ever, Avide ramifications and diversities of opi* nion% 19 nions, but all united in one point, — hostility, inveterate hostility to the Church ; Avith whom, nevertheless, in many instances, they profess to' unite in faith. ¦ These separatists, taken on a general prin ciple, are formed into a community, or rather I should say, communities ; subjected to their own laws, and competent, by means of inter nal regulations, to enforce their own provisions. They submit to the public existing laws, as far as they are compellable; Avhilst, at the same time, they undermine them by their subtle and fanatical evasions. But, in one essential parti cular, they have systematically departed from ¦what I conceive to be the intention of the To leration act; or, if it is not, Avhat clearly ought to be so; unless the Legislature Avould countenance the laying of that destructive train, AVhich being intended to blow up the Church, will probably carry with it a considerable por tion of the State likewise. Two principles of arrangement, which have been heretofore unknown, distinguish and cha racterize their system. The one is, rarely to permit the residence of a minister with a con gregation beyond the term of a single year. This is a politic provision ; having a two-fold object;— in the first place, thereby to prevent the minister from so far ingratiating himself with 20 hi& audience, as to attain the hope of establislr* ing himself Avith them, independent of the con-" troUing society; and, in the next, to flatter and increase the flock by the charm of novelty* It may be doubted whether the provisions of the Toleration act are not hereby violated ; for the invariable expression in that aet is, " any "preacher or teacher of any congregation;" which seems to imply one permanently settled in that character ; and would moreover appear to place sneh an individual in a parallel situa tion Avith the minister of the Establishment^ who is permanently appointed to the cure of a specific charge, and, Avithout a special enlarge ment of authority, cannot extend his service "beyond it. If such be a reasonable interpreta tion of the spirit of this Act, it were difficult under it to deduce a sanction to this loco-mo tive ministry. And it may further be pro nounced highly objectionable, if not dangerous * in other points of view. It is dangerous to the State, for it deprives it of that great source of protection against mischief, which arises from a knowledge of the individual Avho is commis sioned to teach. It is dangerous in a lower de gree, as it fails of the social advantages which might accrue from so important a connection, as that Avhich is supposed to exist between a con gregation and a minister, engaged, not merely froxa 3a from reUgious, but social motives, to labour for its welfare. But another part of their system is fraught with still deeper mischief; and is a more fla grant outrage on the existing laws. There would appear at the present time to be esta blished in this country a regular propaganda societas, under Methodist protection. And the manner of carrying on their proceedings is as follows : A town, which, according to pre^ vious report, sejems to afford a prospect Qf suc cess, and where heretofpre np Methodist society Avas traced, is selected for the experiment. Here a congregation is clandestinely secured, a meeting established, and duly registered. No appropriate minister is however appointed, but a jnissioijary is sent dowp for the Sunday, and per haps for one e;venipg in the week : on the other days he emplqys his time in the circumjacent villages, as the prospect of success may offer. Here the meeting is held in such places as can be inost readily obtained, without licence ; and a congregation, first procured by stratagem, is afterwards invited to join the meeting in the adjacent town. But invariably, as the ground work of future success, an attempt is made to set the parishioners at variance Avith their esta blished clergyman, by undervaluing his labours, nnd misinterpreting his motives, But, in these pascs^ 22 cases, the variety of teachers is still greater thaii in the former instance : fpr these missionaries are rarely the same for two succeeding weeks. Indeed I have heard that for the most part they are only probationaries, or young men, Avho are but commencing their ministry ; and from the reports, Avhich have reached me, of the display of their talents, I am inclined to favour the opi nion. On this subject however I must add one piece of information, Avhich has been reported ; and which, I trust, Avill not be lost, viz. that they are always most active and insinuating, Avhere there is no resident minister ; or Avhere he is said to be indolent, or inattentive to his charge. Fas est et ab hoste doceri. Here then, my Lord, is an evil, of sufficient magnitude to alarm, reduced into system. Your Grace knoAVS that it is a system, Avhich in the time of your predecessor Avas authoritatively made the vehicle of threatened attack on the Established Church.' I allude to a proposal, which Avas insultingly and insidiously made, about six years since ; Avhich Avas probably communicated to your Grace officially, as it was to me only in confidence. I conceive no unbiassed person will say that such proceedings are not in direct violation of the Toleration act, both in spirit and letter. That act Avas intended for the relief of tender consciences ; and was applicable 23 apphcable to those who had previously estab lished systems, which they could not pursue, but at their peril. But here, the minister does not grow out of the congregation, as Avas evidently the presumption in the act of King William ; but the minister goes about to form, to seduce, to trepan a congregation, as an object of private convenience and profit to himself; and the act, Avhich yields him a licence to preach, becomes, not, as it Avas intended, a relief to a tender con science, but a means of estrangement and seduc tion from the Established Church. Is that act to be preserved, or is it not ? or is it to be violated with impunity? The question is not less interesting to the old and respectable Dissenter, than to the member of the Church of England. He has his privileges, as Avell as our selves : he respects order; he entertains a due sense of religion and of religious discipline. He cannot therefore view with indifference these at tempts to subvert all brder, to degrade religion itself, by making it a mere trade and traffic ; to render it too frequently ridiculous by the incom petency of the teachers; but, what is most threatening, to render it a niere tool of licen tiousness and fanaticism. It will possibly be rejoined that the existing laAVs are sufficient; and that the offenders are .amenable to them. It may be dolibted whether tliev 24 they are ; , the case is altogether new ; and it admits of a great variety of evasion: whilst those, Avho stand in awe of its penalties, make it their study how to escape them. Add to this, that to be hunting out for information, is an un pleasant and obnoxious pursuit; and when obtained, convictions are always doubtful. I must repeat, that on this subject an explanatory law at least, would prove of eminent utility : and the novelty of the case seems to demand it. But, Avhen I urge this necessity, far is it from my wish to increase the number of penal statutes, or to abridge the spirit of the Toleration act. Let it merely be defined, (as is the case Avith respect to the clergy of the Establishment, and has always been considered as expedient by the most respectable dissenters,) that a minister, preacher, or teacher, shall be licensed to andcon^r fined to his own appropriate registered place of worship. Much mischief Avould be obviated by this simple provision ; and surely no dissenting minister could hme just ground of complaint, that he was thus put on the same footing and coU' dition with the clergy of th? Establishment. But, my L.oid, another provision in alliance Avith the above, seems absolutely necessary : and, in this case also, you could not fail in the ready concurrence of every respectable dissenter. Prodigious are the numbers of the congrega tions 25 tions of non-descript dissenters of the lowest atid most fanatical cast. Methodist is the ge^ neral name, which characterizes all irregulari ties of this kind. But I readily admit that, in these cases, it is a gross perversion of the term. They are hoAvever very commonly scions from that main stock of sghism ; Wherever an indivi dual, too lazy to look to the common source of labour for his maintenance, chances to have his brain heated by this enthusiasm, he takes to this employment, as his resource ; and flatters himself with the important character of founder of 9, sect. This anomaly in dissent affords at least sufficient reason for enacting that, ia every case of licensing a teacher, he should be required to specify to Avhat class of dissenting Protestants he belongs, 1 am aware that this would is mc),ny cases be imposing a consider able difficulty on the individual: but, if the country is to be thus inundated with fanatics, and those frequently of a very mischievous kind, at least let us be made acquainted with the appellation, by which they characterize their separation. Much is frequently learned from a name : and it behoves us to lose no source of information, which by reasonable provisions may be obtained. I recollect, not very long since, an instance of a conscientious member of the House of Com mons, 25 ttions, complaining of the hardship he had expe rienced, in the discharge of his duty as a ma gistrate, that Avhen a youth of eighteen pre sented himself at the Sessions, to qualify as a teacher of a congregation of Protestant dissen ters, and complied with the stipulated conditions, he Avas obliged lo sanction and authorize the presumption of so unqualified a pretender. What Avould the same respectable character have said, had one presented himself for this office, who could neither read nor Avrite; — who was obliged to substitute his mark for his subscrip tion? Yet such things have been. And what is worse, these men of heated imaginations glory in their ignorance, and even institute upon it a plea for inspiration, I Avill take the liberty of confirming, Avhat I haA'e observed on this sub ject, by a fact which has occurred Avithin my own knowledge. In the neighbourhood wherein I occasionally reside, a great prophet in this line has recently shewn himself, and much people have attached themselves to him. I knew him many years since as a menial servant : he Avas then only a Methodist. On losing his master he lost his place also; and, having a new livelihood to seek, he determined to turn his religion to good account, to range the country, and become a teacher to others. How well he was qualified for 27 for his assumed office, may be inferred from the beginning of one of his sermons, Avhich Avas reported to me by one of his audience; it was asfolloAVs: — "I defy all the devils in hell to *' contradict me in this — that I am a teacher " sent from God. I never had two-penny-^- *' Avorth of learning in all my life: my knoAV» *' ledge comes from God." I am ashamed to add, that some respectable persons were amongst the audience to this rant, and gave encourage ment to the preacher. Now this is a licensed teacher under the Toleration act. I might in cur the charge of illiberality with some, but I fear not of a breach of probability, if I were to add, " ab uno disce omnes :" I mean, be it observed, of this Avandering tribe of ministers. It has been said, that certain treacherous and designing infidels, have adopted the method of disparaging Chrisrianity, by making it an ob ject of ridicule. I do not vouch- for the accu racy of the report; but AA'hether premeditated or not, how stands the fact? ReHgion itself iv by these irregular practices, grievously dispa raged. It is not a question Avhether I am a Protestant or a Papist, a Calvinist or a Lutheran, an Antinomian or an Arminian : we may differ on points of faith, but we all agree in the iiur portance and sanctity of rehgion ; we all vene rate our Lawgiver ; we all pay due deference to his his revelations and commands. But must wc not all feel that our religion is wounded by this fanatical assumption of its sacred offices ? We axe therefore all interested in submitting a joint application to the Legislature, to devise in its wisdom, and authorise some test (not of faith but) of competency, for the discharge of the ininisterial office; some testimony (not of an enthusiastic call, but) of a reasonable ground of expectation, that the labourer may prove 'worthy of his hire. Unless something of this kind be done, and I may venture to add, soon, formidable mis chief threatens us : and, unless some methods be adopted to check, if not to annihilate, the extensive and extending imperium iii imperio of Methodist government, and their autocratical priesthood, not the Church only, but the State also, may find itself in danger, when the re^ medy ma}'^ not be so easily attained. It is wor? thy of enquiry, Avhet]ier some of these associa-i tions are not in a considerable degree political. A widely ramified system of dependencies, ex^ tending throughout the kingdom, is not to be viewed with indifference. Their prevailing spi-r rit is hostility to the Church ; not on account; of its faith, but for its constitution. They abhor episcopacy, and aim at its destruction. We have some important information on thi^ subject subject in history. Oh! that due attetltioT^ were paid to this sage intelligencer ! Look; my Lord, into the history of the period ttf which I allude, and estimate Avhat part of the caution may be applicable to your own case. We live, it will be said, in enlightened days, at a period of more liberal feelings. We do so ; but unfortunately, that liberality is too com monly blended with indifferenice, and licen* tiousness has kept more than an equal pace Avith it. But fanaticism is now as wild ; the pretensions to decrees, experiences, and inspi ration, are as frequent and presumptuous as ever they were in the dark days of our republi can hypocrisy, . I fear, my Lord, Avere I tq solicit the public attention to the atrocity and danger of the sin of schism, in these days of affected liberality, I should gain but a small and languid audience,' ProA'ided men do worship their Maker, it seems but too common an opinion, that it is matter of indifference Avhere and in what manner they do it; and, even though they worship him not, they will meet with ready excuses, and have the sanction of numbers to countenance their de fault. From your Grace I may promise myself a more favourable hearing. Against the sin of schism we are as strongly guarded in Scripture, as against any other : and we make it our con stant 30: staniiprajyer in the church, that we may be deli vered sfroin it. It is not necessary to define it here : it has been done by much abler pensthan mine;' and their opinions on the subject are eminently Avorthy of attention. As applicable however to the subject that I am urging, I would observe, that schism is the sin (and pe culiarly obnoxious as such) of thwarting that principle of union in the Church, and charity in practice, Avhich our Saviour and his Apostles so forcibly recommend. It is a voluntary se cession from the visible Church, without a suf ficient motive. When we look back into the history of the Christian Church, and contem-^ plate the various opinions which good men in different ages have entertained, on many con troverted points, it were presumption in any jnan to Stiy that his own are, on every doctrine, exclusively orthodox. For God alone is it to determine. Nor Avould I venture to condemn every species of separation as a culpable schism'. But I Avould urge it, for the consideration of many kinds of separatists, Avhether their objec tions are of sufficient Aveight to justify their separation; and Avhether the public mischief does not much more than counterbalance the private gain ? If they are candid, they will, I thinkj trace their conduct to a schismatic spirit. But 31 But with respect to many separatists, to th© wliole class of Methodists indeed, they profess not to dissent from the Church ; they profess ' to agree with its liturgy and articles ; but they separate from its communion^ ^, For this they have no plea, unless we admit that to be valid on Avhich tbey rest their defence,' — that the doc trines of the Church are not taught in the Church. This Avere an insufficient plea, even were it true ; for, as long as the liturgy remains untouched, they might pray in the faith and the spirit, which they acknoAvledge. But the va lidity of their plea may be safely denied. It is false. Individuals may err ; and in what com munity do they not ? But Avith respect to the general charge, it may be brought to a safe test. Perhaps there is not, nor has ever been, any established church wherein so many of the clergy have benefited the public by their lite rary labours, as in the Church of England, The theological works which they havcj and are daily publishing, are the best vouchers to their tenets ; and on them Ave may safely rest the task of justifying our faith, and the substance; of the doctrines which issue from our pulpits. - But, my Lord, I have entered on this digres sion, that I might call your Grace's attention to one further topic ; to an instance of a very equivocal species of separation, which I scarcely i -v 1 know 32 know hdAv td ebaracterise or define : nor can I understand under what law it seeks, rather can claim, protection. I alltide to the case, where in a minister in episcopal orders (and who has consequently on his oath promised canonical obedience), officiates in a congregation, licen sed under the Toleration act, according to the littirgy of the Church of England. Here is evidently a schism without a motive ; dissent, fiom a mere love of dissent ; dissent, if I may so speak, without dissent. It arises perhaps, in the first instance, only from a plausible specu lation ; from the spirit, which has too much prevailed of late, of making a traffic of reli gion. But it cannot be allowed innoxious in itself: it is, moreover, of an excessively evil tendency; for, more than any other case, it brings the Chufch itself into disgrace: in a word, it is positive schism. I much fear, that no inconsiderable counte nance has been given to these irregularities, by certain practices of a similar nature, Avhich have recently been tolerated in the Establishment it* self. It is much to be lamented, that they should have been sanctioned by something like necessity ; or rather is it to be lamented, that the existing evils were not remedied in a less objectionable manner. To the great number of private chapels in the metropolis is to be im puted puted the great increase of dissenting meeting houses : for so radically evil are their con struction and establishment, that they tend only to drisgiKt the serious rich, and expel the poor.. It is a subject only for private speculation;; and as the rich alone can pay, to them only is ac- comfoodatjon offered. Bi^t it is an horrid subject for speculation. If the minister engages in it himself, he too commonly accommodates his doctrines to his audience; seeking to please ra ther than to instruct : his motives are apt to be suspected, and very little utility can be ejt- pected from his m-inistry. If, on the Othef haaad j he be merely engaged by the proprietor, he is commonly sought out,, not for sterling qualifications, so much as for popular manners aed an* diry elocution ; as is sufficiently proyeid bythe vapid characters which comuionly occupy, such sitHiations. Biit the mpst weighty objec tion to these establishments js, that they are fashionable religious assemblies for the rich. The poor are excluded: and it is no less la- jnentafale, that, in a considerable part of the aietJEopolis, and in some other largfc towns, the middiing;and lower classes have no accommo dation Avhatever for religious- worship-. They are thus driven to the conventicle. Itis^^evea tio^ be.Arished' tliat they shodd go- therej for a better S4> better is it they should so engage in the duties of religion, than not do it at all. • But, my Lord, must it not be acCotrnted an heavy misfortune? It is a national sin. It ia so felt by man3\ Too long has it prevailed. Session after session,- good and serious men have been anxiously expecting that some re medy Avould be proposed in Parliament: but repeated has been their disappointment. Whe ther any measure be noAV in contemplation, I can have no means to ascertain: but viewing the sad effect, and seeing moreover the prevail ing indifference to such subjects, I feel that, having presum'ed to engage your Grace's no tice to some of the formidable dangers Avith which the Church is threatened, I should but half discharge the duty, I have imposed on my self, if I did not notice this, by no means the least, Avhich the Church thus perpetuates against herself; which, as a canker, is gnawing on her vitals, and hastening her to a premature decay. Shall I be required here again to propose the remedy ? The remedy is so obvious, that it aU most proposes itself. The evil has originated from the great increase of buildings ; whereby the local population is become too large to be accommodated in the existing churches. Let there 35 there be a general building act, A\'hich shall sti pulate that to every given number of houses a place of worship shall be established ; to be con sidered as a chapel of ease, (if it be not thought proper to divide parishes,) tp the existing mother church. And, a moderate rate being imposed on every house, an adequate salary would be raised; Avhiist the individuals would probably not pay so much as they do at present in the hire of a pew in a private chapel. So much for the prospective remedy. To obviate the present evil, let the noble example of Bath and Bir mingham be imitated. The free churches there are acts of private charity. To that source the appeal should not be made. The adv^antage to be expected, is national ; and the means should be sought from the public purse. The expence would be trifling when compared with the pro bable good. If it could be accomplished, to such an extent, as to annihilate all private spe culation, and do away all the aristocrat! cal schism-shops, now sanctioned by an episcopal licence, the advantages to religion in general, and to the establishment in particular, Avould be incalculable. In the opinion of some persons, I may possibly seeni to have failed in the proper point of my address, in having objected to facts, without jioticipg tlie peculiar doctrines of the indivi duals 36 duals against whom I ha\'e remonstrated. To such persons I shall only observe, that doctrines Avere not the objects of my attack. Many cer tainly, that are highly objectionable, and some altogether new, are extensively circulated.: but I fear the shafts which were levelled at them, would fall pointless to the ground. AH that the Church is sohcitous for, is, that they shall not be clandestinely or irregularly taught : and all that the Legislature can do, is to provide that the teachers shall comply with such regulations, as may protect the State and the Established Church from the attacks of its enemies. But, having mentioned the doctrines, it may not be inapplicable thus briefly to mention such as are most current. In the ordinary Methodist societies, the calamities of the Calvinistic doc trines are generally prevalent; predestination, election, and reprobation, with their attendants of piesumprion and alarm, are dealt out in seduc tive or terrific language, generally proportioned to the ignorance and illiteracy of the preacher. In the chapels/ Avhere the liturgy of the Chureh is used, bu,t without Episcopal sanction, Calvi nism again is usually taught; thus making the liturgy and the preacher (or, as I once heard a Avag observe, the desk and the pulpit) at vari ance with each other. Whilst in the fashionable chapels, for the accommodation of the nc}\ sometimes 37 sometirhes ethics, somerimes politics are taught, and, at intervals, the Gospel is named ; with studied care, however, not to offend. Its pix>. mises are set forth in glowing language ; it* threats reduced to the standard, Avhich shall ndt interfere with a life of pleasiirC. In these, genC^ rally, much pleasing eloquence will be found,— little religion. I have thus, my Lord, brought the subjects to a close, on Avhich I presumed tb solicit your Grace's candid attention. They Avill, I trusty appear to have that weight, which, at the com mencement of my address, I proclaimed. Ta the Dissenter I hope not to have appeared harsh or illiberal. The odium theologicum I most strenuously disclaim ; nor have I ever consi dered a man less as a friend, a brother, and a fellow Christian, because he differed Avith me on a point of faith. It is to the perversions of faith, to light and inegular separations, that I object; it is t» those,' Avhich level their shafts against order and authority. Some, I am per suaded, have favoured such practices, without due consideration of the consequences: they would even lament, could they, anticipate the event. Let them ponder before it be tod late to recall their steps : " Est modus in rebus ; Sunt certi d«if(ju« ffftes; *" Ulfra citraqnc quos nequit 6bilSi«tete reetuiB." To 35 To your Grace, and your dignified coadjutors, the case applies differently. A sacred and most important charge has been committed to your care; for which you are accountable to your Country, to your Sovereign, to your God. The burthen js weighty, aiid the times are ardu ous. The present Legislature have proved, from the minute attention which, during some late sessions, tliey have given to the regulations al ready adopted, that they are well inclined to exert their power for the preservation of the Established Church. It is not to be doubted but that more would cheerfully be enacted ^ especially if a corresponding zeal decidedly shewed itself in the Clergy, so to regulate their own conduct as to do away the most plausible ground for dissent. Who the presumptuous individual may be who thus ventures to call your Grace's name into public notice, is of small consequence. This is one of the ma^y inconveniences attend ant on so elevated a station. Suffice it to ob-- serve, that he deems no apology needful, A Christian prelate cannot be indifferent^ to the cause of pure religion; and he Avould be uur Avorthy of the distinction, if he could resent a calm and rational appeal on an interesting to? pic; and in the manner of treating it, no lapse of respect or decorum has, I trust, escaped. I Thug 39 Thus much only as to his pretensions. He is one who deeply, laments the errors he has point ed out ; and has, in his pwn person, strenu ously endeavoured to effect what he thus pre sumes to recommend. If his arguments have weight, they will gain nothing by the addition of his name : if, unfortunately, he has deceived himself, it will be to his advantage to remain in obscurity. I have the honour to be, With all due respect. Your Grace's most obedient, Humble Servant, A Memjser of the CauacH op Englakd. THE END. Brbttsll, Printer, MMshiOJ-street, Qglden-sauare. 3 9002 00583 597" '¦^ .s 17*1.' ¦•'!¦