(a) tithes. Whereas, the good shepherd should be ever with his flock; the diligent watchmanTM ever on his guard against that old adversary the devil; the faithful steward ever preparing and ever ready to administer spiritual aliment, to strengthen the weak, and dissipate the doubts of the sceptical. At church it is where he meets with the better part of his parishioners; but it is his duty also to go into the highways, and gather together the maimed, the halt, and the blind. Those who are whole need not the assistance of a physician, as much as those who are sick. Christ himself has told us, he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

(a) However unpopular my opinion may be, I cannot but observe that tithes, (notwithstanding the objections to which they are liable, such as being a tax on industry, &c.) as a mean of remunerating our clergy, tend, upon the whole, to the support of the too little influence which this body, (by no means deficient in literary attainment) now possess. I not only from education, but conviction, profess myself zealously attached to the established church; and sincerely do I trust, that though like the burning bush beheld by Moses in the land of Midian, it be now encompassed with flames, it will never be consumed. Until some arrangement, however, connected with pluralities, some more decided plan be adopted to enforce residence, &c. &c. I confess, I should he sorry to see an alteration in the present system of tithes. "There are many (says the celebrated author of Civic Economy) who look with an evil eye to the endowments of the English church, and the (alleged) indolence of her dignitaries. But to that church, the theological literature of our nation stands indebted for her best acquisitions.

Let therefore our clergy not deceive themselves, God is not mocked, he claims their hearts, their affections, their devotion to his service; and whatsoever they sow, that shall they reap. If, therefore, at any time, they are found prostituting their holy calling at the shrine of vanity, folly, political influence, or wordly distinctions, their harvest will be disappointment and misery; "whatever therefore they take in hand, let them remember the end." Let them "make full proof of their ministry," and let them strive to do the work of an evangelist alone, and remember that godliness with contentment is great gain.

I would here finish this dígression, were it not that my fears of late have been so much excited,

Nor should we grudge her the wealth of all her endowments, when we think how well, under her venerable auspices, the battles of orthodoxy have been fought; that in this holy warfare, they are her sons and her scholars, who are ever foremost in the field; ready at all times to face the threatening mischief, and by the might of their ponderous erudition, to overbear it." This, in my opinion, is a strong collateral argument in behalf of a church establishment, that no other system would supply, to individuals of a certain rank in life, an inducement sufficiently strong to encounter the expences and labours of a learned education. The above claim of our church, as issuing from the bosom of the kirk, and being one of the few tributes of the kind which have passed the Tweed since the days of Cromwell, I trust I shall stand excused introducing to the reader's notice.

by the disrespect, I have observed, shewn towards many conscientious and worthy pastors of our church. I must, therefore, mention one other, and a very fruitful source, from whence has arisen many an unpleasant feeling, which has militated against that spiritual influence, which every honest churchman must wish our clergy to possess. I allude to the indiscreet and intemperate opposition, displayed by too many of our spiritual guides, towards a Society which has for its only object, "the distribution of the word of God.”

It is really to be deplored, that any "minister of the conciliation," should call forth such an observation as the following, and that too from an authority, perhaps as able and as commanding as our church can at this day produce.

"I hold it to be a most unjustifiable attack on the Bible Society. It is destitute of the demonstration it professes to give; so defective in its premises, so inconclusive in its references, and so reprehensible in its calumnies, respecting the church of England members of the society, that it might be left to its own refutation." (b)

Before I gave my feeble support to the Bible Society, I felt great anxiety to become thoroughly

(b) See the Bishop of St. David's notice of the Rev. Norris' attack on the British and Foreign Bible Society, in a pamphlet by his lordship, entitled, The Bible, &c.

acquainted with its object, and the mode in which its business was conducted. I attended many meetings in different parts of the country. I read many books, some advocating its cause, others distinctly hostile to its progress. I endeavoured to take an impartial view of its proceedings, not forgetting that I was a member of the established church. I never in my life entertained a single doubt, as to the road my duty impelled me to pursue. The late venerable Bishop of London, Dr Porteus, shall speak the result of my inquiries. "The more I consider its object, and the longer experience I have of the spirit and principles on which it is conducted, the more deeply I am convinced that it merits all the support the church of England can give it.”

Is it not shocking to hear any one who fails not to remind his congregation of his claim to be considered an ambassador of Christ, attempting to denounce methodism, and to approve his orthodoxy by his holy hatred to the bible society, (b)

(b) One really should have thought the names of the many noblemen, statesmen, prelates, clergymen, and respectable laymen, enrolled in the lists of the bible society, (particularly adverting to that much respected nobleman at the head of his Majesty's government,) would have screened it from the animadversions of the preachers of peace and goodwill; but I lament to observe, that Mr. Norris, has again ventured his oppositon, in "a respectful letter to the Earl of Liverpool," whose speech at a meeting of its friends,

h

and the evangelical clergy? But this conduct is but too often discernible in the lives and conversations of these bold accusers, who, were they but for a moment, to consider how far they themselves are fallen from the righteousness of God, would not talk so exceeding proudly, neither would they permit such arrogancy to proceed from their lips. It shall ever be my business to warn those most dear to me, not to hearken unto the words of prophets, that prophesy such vain things; they speak a vision of their own hearts, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. It requires not indeed any depth of intellect to combat the flimsy and unscriptural arguments of these, in my opinion, misguided men; they offer a sure victory, for it seems as if God had decreed, "that their own tongues shall make them fall."

I have already wandered too far from my present pursuit, or I would here state some objections usually urged against references being made from the pulpit to party or political transactions and disputes. I must confess, at times, I have

has called forth Mr. Norris' displeasure. It would be at variance with what we have proposed to discuss, to enter upon a reply to Mr. Norris, the greater part of whose book bears not even the appearance of argument; but should the reader wish to pursue his inquiries further, we earnestly recommend his perusal of Mr. Scolefield's able answer to Mr. Norris' respectful letter.