and much that is captivating in literary embellishment, and much that is learned in scholastic attainment, have thrown a respectability, and a beauty, and an honour around our clergy; yet still the ministry of the Gospel in their hands possesses not a tythe of its former pungency; a pungency, be it remembered, to the influence of which we are indebted for all that is great, and noble, and free in our glorious constitution, because to it we are indebted for our emancipation from the thraldom of the papacy.

My brethren, Christianity came perfect and entire from the hands of its divine Author, and will admit of no mutilations or improvements by the hand of man. When under pretence of simplifying it, we attempt to hide any of its more mysterious features from the people, we mar the fair symmetry of the daughter of heaven, and present a monster of our own imagination to the view. This is done under the guise of a regard for morality, but it uniformly defeats its own object. And what do we now see around us? The peculiar motives by which the inspired writers enforce their moral lessons, or, in other words, the peculiar doctrines of the Gospel of salvation by Christ Jesus, have no place in the fashionable systems of modern moral instruction, or if a place, it is a place of formality. They are committed to the tongue

in the language of a catechism, but not afterwards dilated, explained and insisted upon, as not only the powerful springs, but the only acceptable sources of Christian practice. On the contrary, the motives almost exclusively urged, are such as take their rise from the present state, founded on reputation, on honour, on health, or on the tendency of the things recommended to promote, under some form or other, the acquisition of worldly advantages. Thus even morality itself, by dissociating it from religion, is made to cherish the love of the world, and to bar the heart more effectually against the approaches of piety. * Now nothing but the entrance of true piety can renew the desperately wicked heart of fallen man, or restrain him from the commission of those excesses, to which he is peculiarly tempted by bis situation and circumstances in society. Are your prisons full then? Are you calendars long? Are your assizes arduous? Is there a general complaint of the increase of crime? It is mainly to be attributed to a departure from the peculiar truths, maxims, and spirit of Christianity, on the part of the national clergy. The knowledge of the people has been proverbially advancing; but knowledge, without the controuling power of right religion, is an evil and

* Hall's Sermon, as above.

not a good, for it renders a man a more expert instrument in the hands of the devil; and this explains the mystery of the multitude of young well informed persons to be found on the list of prisoners in every county. To restrain the progress of knowledge was impossible. The clergy therefore had an arduous task to perform; but instead of girding up their loins to the race, as faithful watchmen, and making religious principle keep pace with secular information; they unhappily subsided into a slothful, careless security: nay, many among them, captivated by the plausible liberality of the age, have co-operated with the practically infidel system. Some, mistaking the skeleton of a boasted orthodoxy for the true body of religion, have rested satisfied in their own leanness, and left their people to starve; and some (Gallio like) not caring for any of these things, are farmers, and fox hunters, and card players, and frequenters of theatres, unto this day. Are these, indeed, ministers of God's word?!!

But should this charge be carried no higher than the parochial clergy? My brethren, it should, much, very much higher. But it is difficult to speak the truth concerning those above us, without exposing ourselves to the accusation of railing against dignities. And is the truth then never to be spoken? and are our great men to pay this awful price for their

greatness, that no man will speak faithfully and with real kindness to them? O gracious God, are thy servants to weep in silence, and never to manifest their true affection by a plain reproof?

Methinks, my brethren, that an ambassador for Christ may, in a right spirit, speak plainly, even before kings. That I may, however, speak wisely here, as well as plainly; that I may use language which cannot be condemned, and which shall nevertheless be adequate to reach the fountain head of this matter, and express the undeniable truth, I shall adopt the words of one of our venerable Reformers, who being called to preach before the court, set himself, with true apostolical zeal and plainness of speech, to correct the leading abuses of his time-the very same abuses which now again require a fresh correction.

"Thou," said the Lord Bishop of Worcester, addressing himself from the pulpit to King Edward, "Thou shalt not be partaker of other men's sins. So saith St. Paul. And what is it to be a partaker of other men's sins, if it be not so, to make unpreaching Prelates, and to suffer them to continue still in their unpreaching prelacy. If the King should suffer these things, and look through his fingers, and wink at them, should not the King be a partaker of other men's sins? And why? Is he not

supreme head of the church? What? Is the supremacy a dignity, and nothing else? Is it not accountable. I think, verily, it will be a chargeable dignity, when account shall be asked of it. If the salt is unsavoury, it is good for nothing. By this salt is understood preachers; and if it is good for nothing, it should be cast out. As for them, I never look to have their good words as long as I live, yet will I speak of their wickedness as long as I shall be permitted to speak. No preacher can pass it over in silence. It is the root of all mischief in the church. As for me, I owe them no other illwill, than to pray to God to amend them. I would have them do their duty. I owe them no other malice than this, and this is none at all."

Thus much to the King. To the prelates themselves assembled in convocation he thus speaks: "Since then the corruptions of the clergy are so manifest; and since so strict an account will be demanded of our conduct, let us at this time do something to shew, that we have the interest of religion at heart. Let us do something to wipe off prejudices, which I know have been conceived against some of us without doors.*

* How exactly does this apply to the present state of affairs. The radical outcry against the Church would cease to produce the slightest effect upon the public mind, if Churchmen were what they profess and ought to be.