cation and peace, and of the last on the means to check its progress, is submitted to the public in a cheaper form, for the purpose of diffusing the contents, and making it more generally useful, by giving those who have not the leisure or the means to peruse a larger work, a sufficient view of the subject to dispose them to consider both the consequences of a disunion, and the means to avoid them; and enabling others who may be so inclined, to put it into the hands of their neighbours at no great expence."

Of the excellent work from whence this pamphlet is chiefly taken, we gave an ample analysis in our fourth volume, page 261; and we are glad to see that the strength of its arguments is likely to have a more extensive effect by the means of a condensed and cheap publication.

The first chapter is on "the consequences of schism as they have respect to the ends of edification."

One of the most common and plausible pleas urged by separatists is, that they are edified better in the conventicle than in the church. This supposed want of the means of edification, which consists in reality, only in the vitiated minds of the hearers themselves, leads them to ramble about after every new device, and "tends to shake their faith, and loosen their reverence to all religion.'

Many excellent remarks are made in this pamphlet on the pernicious effects of schism, and its natural tendency to destroy rather than to promote the ends of Christian edification.

"If it were so," says the author, "that while they are led away from the church, they became a purer and peculiar people, zealous of good works,' which ought to be the characteristic of the whole body of Christians; if they were themselves better men and better Christians, for the change, and no uncharitableness towards others went with them, there would be something to counterbalance the evils which attend their separation in other respects. But if in some instances they may be better, in how many others are they not so? In point of uncharitableness towards their former pastors and fellow-worshippers, their temper is soured; in morals there is seldom any thing gained; and as subjects, they too often mix disaffection to the Government with the enmity which they feel to the national church."

The second chapter is on "The Consequences of Disunion as they respect the ends of Peace."

After adverting to that portion of the English history when schism effected the fall of both church and state, the author observes, that "the same spirit is at work.

Alike the steps, alike it is to be feared will be the event."

It is his opinion, and sorry we are that our experience and observation compel us to agree with him in the opinion, "that the danger appears to be much nearer, and the consequences to be much more alarming, than they appeared a short time before the flame burst out that overspread this church and nation."

The following picture of the present state of schism in this country deserves the serious consideration of all who have any regard for our civil and ecclesiastical constitution.

"The ground is beyond comparison better prepared for that dreadful conflict which is to be apprehended, and the probability of such success much greater. The influence of the clergy is less: on those who have been once tinctured with fanaticism, none at all. Such the bitterness of their adversaries, and such their zeal to work upon the passions of others, and excite like enmity in them, that there is an universal persuasion in the minds of all who are their followers, that the gospel is not to be heard in the national church; and even they who have not yet taken the infection are in continual danger from the same cause. While the influence of the clergy is diminished, the influence of their teachers is greater than ever. Their meetings, which were at that time few in number, are now in almost every place. Their zeal not abated, and the means and opportunities much more favourable than at any former time. The spirit of proselytism never was greater in a Protestant country than it is at the present time in this; and there are no means left untried to effect its purposes; even the Sunday schools are made subservient to this end. And the success of their various schemes to increase their number, and despoil the church of its members, so far from being denied, is the subject of their boast. They triumph in the spoils that they have taken from us; and to humble our pride, make a mortifying comparison between their own well-filled assemblies, and the thinly-frequented pews of the parish churches. So far already have they succeeded in securing the public on their side, that they begin with bold defiance to scoff at all the feeble efforts of authority to check their irregularities, and confire them within the bounds of law. They are looking with more than usual expectation and joy to a crisis which they believe to be near at hand. The present times are considered to be peculiarly favourable to their purpose. Great encouragement has been drawn from recent examples and events in other countries; and the unfortunate issue in which the revolutionary spirit at last has terminated, is a fresh source of encouragement, as fraught with

some

some future and not very distant benefit to their cause. And, that I could not add! another circumstance in their favour; a feature in the present times which was not to be seen at that period when all the other characters were strong and favourable to their purpose; that indifference on the part of those who are still in the number of our friends, that want of zeal to strengthen and uphold the church to which they profess attachment, that lukewarm affection which can behold its danger without concern, that can be uninterested spectarors of its decay, that instead of lending a helping hand to prop the falling pile, they are by their own neglect of its valuable uses and ends, if not by an increasing dissoluteness of manners, no less dangerous than the opposite measures of its enemies, hastening perhaps the hour of its fall."

In the third chapter the author considers "the means to check the progress of dissension."

These are particularly and forcibly stated as respecting the Clergy and the Laity.

It is justly observed that

All other Christians are much more tenacious of their principles than those of the Church of England for the most part are. They are better acquainted with the grounds of their dissent than the members of our church with the principles of their attachment to it. Great pains are taken in their early years to explain and strengthen the grounds of their separation. It is a leading object of the care of those who are active in the cause, to strengthen their early prejudices, and keep alive the principles which will prevent them from yielding to the liberality of their own sentiments, and re-uniting with the church, from which they might else be sometimes inclined to lament that there should have been any separation. But such is the mistaken liberality, candour, moderation, or whatever else it may be called, in the church, that its ministers seldom introduce the subject of church unity into the pulpit, fearful, as it would seem, to vindicate their own doctrines, or to dwell upon the excellence even of that liturgy, in the defence and praise of which they can never say too much; and perhaps take no other pains to train up the young in the principles of the church, than that of teaching its catechism, leaving both them and their elders unacquainted with the grounds of their connexion, and uninformed of the sin and consequences of schism, lest they should be charged with illiberality, uncharitableness, and I know not what else that they are afraid of; if they touch upon such subjects in these enlightened times. Of course the argument is all on our side. The teacher, on one part, is constantly training up his pupils in the principles of dissent: on the dther, all is left to chance and time to fix or to unsettle theirs. On one side they are exhorted to fly from a form of worship

that is highly offensive to the feelings of a conscientious worshipper, or to come out from a church that professes not the means of grace, or the powers of edification: on the other, they are not told how sinful it is to do so: that it is highly offensive to the head of his church, flying in the face of his authority, and a breach of that unity and order which he established in it, for every man to do what is right in his own eyes, without regard to decency, authority, or consequences of any kind, whe ther they respect the cause of Christianity, or the ends of present harmony and peace. Thus while the laity on their side are furnished with weapons to defend their own, and to attack the principles of our Church, our's are left naked and defenceless; without any of the guards that are to secure them from attacks, and therefore with very little chance of escaping, whenever they be exposed to the scorn of its adversaries, or to the arguments which may be employed to gain them over to their side."

Our author then judiciously and earnestly recommends that the clergy do give to their congregations a view of the divine authority under which they act, a clear conception of the origin and ends of the establishment of which they are members, and a right understanding of its divine constitution and edifying ordinances.

But the utmost labours of the clergy will be unavailing to secure the Church and to check the alarming progress of Schism, if the laity do not powerfully take an active part with them. The author, therefore, proceeds in the next place to consider the part which the laity have to take; and this he points out as it respects, first, their own attachment; secondly, their example, and thirdly, the more active assistance, that it may be in their power to give.

Many striking observations, and much good advice, are given under these particulars which well deserve the serious attention of every conscientious member of the established Church.

We not unfrequently hear persons urge as an excuse for wandering after popular preachers, that their own. parish minister does not possess the talent of eloquence. Among the variety of causes, to which the encrease of schism and enthusiasm may be attributed, this is one of the most considerable. As a check to it, we extract with peculiar pleasure the following excellent advice.

"If" says Mr. Symons, " in the public provision that hath been made for their instrruction, there be any thing wanting to

their full growth and nourishment in virtue, let them learn at home; or, let them apply to their proper pastor, who, if he be not the orator that can please the fastidious ear from the pulpit, will be that counsellor and friend in private, that will solve their doubts, dispel their fears, quiet their apprehensions, explain the things which may be hard to be understood, and give them that advice and assistance which they may need in all their difficulties. Here, at least, they can have no want of eloquence or address to complain of. The chamber counsellor is often a sounder lawyer and safer guide than the frothy orator, who makes a display of greater talents to please the ear, and play with the passions of the listening crowd; and I have never heard in such cases the want of exterior graces considered as any deduction from the value of his learning, or the confidence that is placed in the soundness of his opinion and advice: nor will the sound and unaffected parish priest, who neither courts the applause, nor aims to work upon the passions of his hearers, be found a less faithful expositor and interpreter of the Divine Law, if “they seek the law at his mouth*." This is one of the valuable advantages that belong to every member of the Established Church, too often overlooked in estimating the benefits of that establishment of which it forms a part; the whole and benefit of the offices of a parochial minister being too generally confined to his public duties, to the neglect of those private ones which out of season, as well as in season, he is placed among them to adminis

ter.

But let it be remembered, that it is not his fault if the people do not seek to him for his advice in private, or send for him to their houses when sickness confines them, and calls for the consolation of their spiritual pastor. It is their own neglect, if not their pride, that deprives them of this opportunity of intercourse, no less disagrecable to the conscientious minister than useful to themselves.'

We have only to add to this judicious and salutary advice, our wish that the clergy would publicly and privately invite their hearers to this familiarity of intercourse. We are in some degree apprehensive, that the shyness of the people arises principally from the reserve and distance of their minister; and be it remembered, that a consciousnesss of inferiority in situation and mental endowments will naturally have this effect upon them. It is, therefore, incumbent on the Christian pastor by his. deportment and exhortation, to encourage and solicit even the " poor of his flock" to apply to him for advice and assistance. And while we are upon this subject we cannot but earnestly recommend to the serious consideration of the clergy, Mr. Clapham's excellent discourse on Pastoral

Malach. ii. 7.