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does it most effectually by adducing undeniable instances in all the leading doctrines of Christianity. Lord Bacon, he says, hath wisely observed, "that "the works of God minister a singular help and pre"servative against unbelief and error, our Saviour

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having laid before us two books or volumes to "study; first the Scriptures, revealing the will of "God, and then the Creatures expressing his power, "whereof the latter is a key unto the former." He shews evidently, to the utter confusion of infidelity, that the doctrines of our faith are attested by the whole natural world. They are recorded in a language which hath never been confounded; they are written in a text, which shall never be corrupted."

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At the preaching of the first of these sermons, the audience was not large, but it increased annually, as the fame of the preacher “was noised abroad," whose manner was no less animated and engaging than the subject matter was profound and important, " bringing out of his treasure things new and old ;" and at the last Sermon, the Church was full. Satisfaction was visible in every countenance while he was preaching, and disappointment when he shut the book, as "sorrowing they were to hear no more."

This faithful Seer, lamenting the corruption of the times, and the prevalence of error, through the artifices and assiduity of sectaries, republicans, socinians, and infidels, had long meditated the establishment of a Society for the Reformation of Principles, with a view to take such measures, in a literary way only, as should be most condusive to the preservation of our Religion, Government, and Laws, and, at last, in the year 1792, he flattered himself he had accomplished it. But to whatever cause it was owing, whether

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whether to the humble situation of the first mover,

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great abilities, and ❝ an honest and good heart," apart from outward appendages of a dignified station, not being sufficient to recommend the plan, or to the little zeal of those who should have promoted the good work, it did not meet with the countenance and protection that might have been expected, but soon fell to the ground. However, to his praise be it. spoken, he did what he could. He wrote the Prospectus, explaining the object of the Society; he gave Being to the British Critic; and he published, in two volumes, the Scholar Armed against the Errors of the Time. His Scholar Armed is a judicious, well-digested collection of invaluable tracts, intended for the information and assistance of young students, excellently adapted to the purpose, and ought to be in the hands of every one. I have been told, that objections are made to some of the tracts, but surely not by any true friend to the Constitution; not by any of the "Angels of the Churches," it is presumed; for with St. Paul, when he answered for himself, might the worthy collector say, "neither against the law, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cesar, have I offended any thing at all."

When the democratical and levelling principles were spreading with so much rapidity, and to such an extent, as to threaten us with immediate destruction, this ever wakeful watchman was not backward to

In the Appendix, No. I. the reader will find a beautiful Monastic Ode, written by him to a Friend, at that period, in a moment of temporary dejection of spirit, at the prevalence of evil working, and at the horrors, which, at that eventful period, overspread the world. The Reply of his Correspondent is also subjoined.

give warning of the danger, and use his endeavours to counteract it. His ardent spirit would not suffer him to sit still. He thought it high time to "ask for the old paths," the only paths in which we can walk safely, as experience shews; and the Letter of Thomas Bull to his Brother John, which was disseminated throughout the kingdom, came home to men's bosoms and business, and was a word in season, fitly spoken, if there ever, was one. It was admirably calculated to open the eyes of every honest Englishman, and it produced the desired effect. Notice was taken of it in a certain Assembly, and the Author was bitterly inveighed against by the great popular Orator, once the man of the people.

Pro ecclesia Dei, pro ecclesia Dei, were the last words of Archbishop Whitgift. In life and in death, his chief care was for God's Church. So might it be said of this able defender of the household of faith, And his care for God's Church made him anxious for the success of that pure and reformed part of it, the not established Episcopal Church in Scotland, in their application to Parliament for relief from the hard penalties under which they had long suffered. Through his acquaintance with one of the Bishops, with whom he had frequently corresponded, he was not an unconcerned spectator in the business. Though too inconsiderable in station to be of any immediate service, he rendered them mediately all the service in his power, and they had also his prayers-" the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.' Their cause was heard, and they were relieved. What is now to be lamented is, that the English episcopally ordained clergy, who have chapels in Scotland, do not at once acknowledge the spiritual

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authority of the Bishop of the Diocese in which they reside. They must have very low imperfect notions of the Church of Christ, its nature and constitution, not to see that they are guilty of the sin of schism in not doing it, and their congregations must have been badly instructed not to know they are involved in the same guilt in attending their ministrations. As to any interference on the part of the English Bishops, it would be a brutum fulmen; the english clergy when in Scotland, are out of their reach; they can do no more than Bishop Horne did, when he was applied to, which, no doubt, they all do, they can exhort the english clergy to be in communion with the Scotch Bishops, assuring them it would be their own practice in similar circumstances, being persuaded nothing would be required of them but what was necessary to maintain the order and unity of a Christian Church.

The love which this dutiful son of the Church, the Curate of Nayland, had for the mother that bare him manifested itself on every occasion. Her welfare was ever nearest his heart; and his fears for her safety were soon awakened. Not more than two months before his death, writing to a friend, in great alarm, he says "I have been much hurt by a private Letter, says" "assuring me, that the patrimony or settlement of "the Church is about to be taken away by the govern ❝ment, and that the poor bride will be put on a se"parate maintenance, as divorced from her husband. "If she should marry again, and take the world for "her protector, I fear that will last a very little "while, and she will ruin her character. What argument is there left for us? Now God has lost his "title as King of Kings, how shall we prove that he "has property (in the world of his own making)

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"and that the Church holds under him? If such a "design is in hand, the Methodists have been long "preparing the way for it, and the Minister will have "them all on his side. Is he also among the Me"thodists? Have any of the Guardians of the Church "been acquiring a religious character only to open a "masked battery without suspicion? Will the clergy "be lulled to sleep with the prospect of peace, and "leave the matter to the laity? We are either at a * tremendous crisis, or it is all a sick man's dream. "Tell me which."-Alas! it was not a sick man's dream. Designs were in hand, and designs are in hand, which, if accomplished, must end in the destruction of the Church. Many have evil will at

Sion, who say with the children of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem, Down with it, down with it even to the ground; and she has foes of her own household, ready, it is to be feared, to betray her for "thirty pieces of silver." From what painful anxieties has the good man probably escaped! Had he lived to see the mortal blow lately aimed at the Church of England, his spirit must have once more sunk under the apprehension of the danger.

However some may suppose, that the repeal of the test act, a part of the meditated plan, would be attended with no inconvenience or detriment to the Church, he was not to be told, that when the fence of a vineyard is taken away, all they that go by pluck off the grapes; the boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beasts of the field devour it. And as to the abolition of tithes, another part of the meditated plan, for which some contend as necessary to the improvement of agriculture; and enriching the state, he was of opinion," it is the blessing of God," and not "it robbing

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