calculated to impose upon the imbecility of the many, and the caprice of the few. But of these and of their transactions we shall have occasion to speak hereafter at more considerable length.

Feeling therefore the weight of all these objections, we should not easily have been disposed to countenance the exertions of any new Society for distribution of religious books; nothing indeed but the contents of the volumes before us could have reconciled us to that Society, under whose direction they were published. We are at all times open to conviction, whenever there is an accumulation of facts sufficient to induce us to make an exception, and in favour of a particular instance to resign a general opinion.

These three volumes are published under the direction of a Society, established in 1813," for the Distribution of Tracts in Defence of the Church of England as by Law established." The title which they have assumed, promises much, and we are bound ip justice to say, that what they have professed to perform, they have fully and faithfully accomplished. The first objection, which we entertained against their proceedings, arose from their probable interference with that ALMA MATER of all orthodox in struction and Church principle, the Society for the promotion of Christian Knowledge. With this venerable Institution, however, the Society in question appear cautiously to have avoided any interference; nor is any tract printed or circulated under their direction, which is upon the list for distribution of the former. Their objects, indeed, are clearly distinct: the purpose of the former being to disseminate the knowledge of Christianity among the lower rank of the community, while the design of the latter is to distribute those publications, which are more particularly adapted to form the opinions and to strengthen the principles of the higher orders of society, How far this might have been engrafted upon the proceedings of the Society for the pros motion of Christian Knowledge, we cannot say; it certainly forins, at present no part of their plan. This new Society, therefore are certainly acquitted of the charge of intrusion and interference; it remains for us to examine how far they have acted up to their professions, and proved themselves attached to the principles which they profess to defend.

The publication of single tracts for the use of the higher orders, is a measure, which cannot be expected to command success: so great is the inappetency for this sort of instruction, partly from pride, partly from carelessness, partly from economy, that any attempt to carry these means into effect, must prove generally, abortive, This Society therefore judged right in embodying those various pamphlets and publications in a volume, which otherwise would have little chance of being attended to, by the public. Single tracts may be lent and lost, they form no visible part of a library,

and

and their very form seems to preclude any continued attention. But if they are judiciously selected, and systematically arranged in a volume, they pass into a permanent form, and a lasting possession, and command all the attention and success which may fairly be expected to attend such a publication. The "Scholar Armed" was the first book of this sort which issued from the press, which for the value and scarcity of its materials, and for the soundness and vigour of its principles, was justly esteemed the very champion of the orthodox faith. The present volumes appear to have been formed upon the same model, nor are they in any point of view unworthy of their illustrious prototype.

The Committee to whom their publication was entrusted, appear to have taken a very extended and masterly view of the great questions, which now demand the attention of every friend to the constitution in church and state. They have with great judgment, however, steered clear of the turbulence and the noise of party declamation, and have directed their attention to those foundations and principles upon which the superstructure of practice can alone be grounded with wisdom, or be supported with justice. They have divided their work into five departments, arising out of each other, and forming regular links in the great chain of civil and ecclesiastical polity.

I. The Constitution of the Church of Christ, the Ministerial Commission, and the Unity to be established in the Church. II. Ecclesiastical Establishments and Tests.

III. Church of England.

IV. Popery.

V. Toleration.

To each of these departments is prefixed a preface, explanatory of the various tracts which they severally comprehend, and of the principles which they inculcate. The design of the whole is laid open in a general preface, every sentence of which meets our most cordial and hearty concurrence.

"The first object of this Society was to impress upon the public mind, and particularly upon that of the rising generation, the strong and paramount claims of PUBLIC PRINCIPLE. BY PRINCIPLE is not meant the airy speculations of vague and delusive theory; but that code of moral law, which is the joint result of reason and experience. These are the great guides of our judgment on things around us, the source of all that renders life a blessing either in an individual or a national view, and the origin of that PRINCIPLE upon which all public and private institutions are established, and are to be maintained. Without experience, all the efforts of the human mind, are to every practical purpose, little better than the phantoms of a visionary imagination, which have no foundation on which their utility can be grounded, or their permanency secured. Without

reasoning

reasoning upon the nature of things, experience sinks into a low and sordid calculation of temporal advantage, and man becomes a mere machine of selfish and degraded interest. PRINCIPLE is that compounded motive of action which reason informs us is consonant with the laws of abstract right, and experience teaches us is conducive to the welfare and happiness of man.

"Upon PRINCIPLE then, thus created and established, we found our attachment to all that is high and honourable in the more contracted paths of private life, to all that is venerable and noble in the more expanded prospect of public duty. Upon PRINCIPLE, the fabric of our constitution both in Church and State is reared and supported, and by PRINCIPLE alone can it be strengthened and maintained. This is the high ground upon which every pure and patriotic mind must take its stand, and upon this we must rest our defence of all that is dear to us as Englishmen and as Christians.

"To inculcate and to vindicate this PRINCIPLE on a most vital and essential point in our political no less than our religious existence, is the design of the present publication. To the defence of our English Church these volumes are peculiarly dedicated and directed. Experience would teach every thoughtful and inquiring mind, with how powerful a bond of united interest the ecclesiastical and civil institutions of our native land are cemented and confirmed. Upon this ground alone, every ardent lover of the civil constitution of his country would give some portion of his attachment and favour also to the ecclesiastical. But political EXPEDIENCY is not PRINCIPLE; it forms a part only of that sound and inestimable rule of moral action. Not only because experience teaches us that the Church is an integral and essential part of our constitution, but because reason declares that it is a pure, primitive, and apostolic institution, it is that we assert its claims to our protection and love; and thus upon PRINCIPLE, we become the zealous defenders of our established Church." Vol. I. Preface, p. vi.

The contents of the first department are, I. Eight discourses by the Rev. Edward Davies, the learned author of "Celtic Researches," and "The Mythology and Rites of the Druids." II. Extracts from Wake's Apostolic Fathers. III. The explanation of the Ember days in Lent, by that pious and excellent layman, R. Nelson, Esq. These are all admirably adapted to give the theological student a satisfactory idea of the constitution of the primitive Church, the order and succession of the ministry, and of that unity, which is so essential not only to the propaga tion but to the preservation of Christian truth. Although the writings of the early Fathers are of no authority with us, as with the Romanists, yet as they inform us of the disciplines, doctrines, and practices of the earliest days, they are to be received with all the veneration, and read with all the attention due to human testimony and human authority; and may furnish these later ages of the Church with many valuable documents and important rules, Tt

VOL. II. DECEMBER, 1814.

both

[ ur "encact, and the formation of our blowing stract from the preface to this part plain he intention of the Eutors.

comruation Lave in earnest wish to imaTERS tan Churen upon the minds oftnese vho big sartar Leir work. For this murpose they woud ɔuserve, that what was teemed, the mosties or Christ and their comma*0 le «sential to the character of the Church, etaims the cursest men » per a these rivanced ages of the Gospel. It The that - 138. nis atinite wisdom. purposely left some partiellus, Noncerning he nature and constitution of the Christian mponerment with commanding precision, in the New Testament, in order that, under the murbority apostolical and prative examne, die zenemi ir of the Gospel might be more Consnimane id free among hose who strive to acquire it in its

mune charuters of numility and a lave or concord. While, then, we have before is the usages of the apostles, and of those who immediatele meceeded them, let is fistrust our own rivate notions of that live nine, nv which the Christian faith may be best mainramed in zemnine gurity, if at any time ve mould ind our notions at variance with their ages. With the Bible in our unds, let us be careful not to averlook the primitive practices of the postles and earliest Carstane; but, from what they belleri, and from what / practised, under the Crection of their Divine Luster, to go and Seach in nations," let the nature of the Christian Church be ascertained, rather than from the uncertain and very contradictory notions of the present day. Vol. I. P. 3.

the

The second department, which is dedicated to the consideraBon of " Ecclesiastical Establishments and Tests, contains a still larger portion both of scarce and valuable matter. Its contenis ae, I. Essay on Establishments in Religion, by the Rev. Mr. Rotheram. This may be considered as a tract of very great abi fity, and is now scarcely to be procured. It was first published in answer to the Confessional. II. Warburton's Alice between Church and State, Part I. being the most masterly exposition of the nature and tendency of a test law. III. A Sermon of Bp. Hoadley on the Delusion of many Protestants, who even in his days were desirous of relaxing the test laws in favour of the Roman Catholics. It is worthy of observation, with how much zeal and earnestness even that patron of religious liberty (as it is termed) opposes even the first advances to admit the Roman Ca tholics into power; with how much more reason and warmth would he have combated that overwhelming and fatal measure, which, under the specious name of Emancipation, will resign our constitution into their hands. IV. Bishop Sherlock's Arguments against a Repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts. V. Bishop

Horsley's

Horsley's Review of the Case of the Protestant Dissenters, with reference to the Test and Corporation Acts. VI. The Claims of some English Protestants to greater Liberty than they now enjoy, by Bishop Ellys. He who will read with attention and care the preceding inimitable treatises upon these important subjects, will possess him fully of all that can be advanced in support both of an established religion, and of those tests by which it is supported; and will rise from these great masters in civil and ecclesiastical polity, enabled with the coolest reason to approve, and with the soundest argument to defend the ground work of our Constitution in Church and State; and with the most sovereign contempt for the delusive speculations, air built theories, and empty declamations of religious sciolism and experimental infidelity. To these argumentative and masterly treatises is subjoined VII. Extracts from Reflections on the French Revolution, by Edmund Burke, containing defences of an Establishment, and exhibiting all the confusion of Ecclesiastical anarchy, with all the power of manly eloquence and vivacity of imagination, which distinguished that great and illustrious statesman. From the Editor's preface to this department of the work, we shall present the following extract.

"To meet the various and complicated evils arising from this fatal source, it has been considered no less indispensable to the political, than to the religious interests of every well ordered government, to erect a CHURCH ESTABLISHMENT; or, in other words, tỏ choose one out of the various contending parties, whose doctrines the State shall approve and prefer, whose discipline it shall honour and protect, and whose professors it shall encourage and maintain. With the reasons of this preference, or with the truth of the doctrines thus approved, the idea of a Church Establishment has no immediate connection. Our attention will be directed to these points, when the Church itself, and its own peculiar merit, shall come under our review; all that now requires our consideration, is the necessity of such an establishment to further the interests of Christianity in general, and to promote the welfare and happiness of each particular political body. Anarchy in politics is the necessary attendant upon anarchy in religion. Hence it has been the constant policy of those who have aimed at the destruction of all civil government, to direct the first blow at the Church Establishment; for, as long as the Church remains unpolluted, the bonds of civil union are still uninjured. The eventful period, in which our lot of existence has been cast, has too clearly disclosed the fatal success of so nefarious and so deep-laid a policy. The history of our own country in former years, and the record of our own experience in these latter days, will bear a powerful and overwhelming testimony to the prac tical truth of these opinions. The political and the ecclesiastical establishments of a State mutually support and maintain each other;