the consequences stated; but it will do any thing rather than induce an association of "bloodshed and anarchy" with conscientious tenderness, exalted piety, and the most strict, and loyal obedience. And it is not unworthy of observation, that while the alarming phraseology just cited is an uniform attendant upon certain allusions to the nonconformists, it was concerning the primitive Christians that the representation first went forth-These all do contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. † But so far from dissent importing disaffection to existing authorities, the reverse is obviously true; and, if sincerity and uprightness are correctly included in genuine loyalty, it is plain, that every manifestation of those virtues by any party is evidence prima facie in their favour. Now Mr. Henry and his associates are standing instances of exemplary subjection, and the congregations of orthodox Dissenters to this day furnish additional proofs of the fact. Nor is it too much to assert, and the more intimate is acquaintance with the subject, the clearer will be the evidence that, in nonconformity, there is neither a principle hostile to the most active and devoted loyalty, nor to scrutinizing investigation, however acute or protracted. In truth, it is for liberty of conscience, for the unfettered purity of the christian faith, for the maintenance of the Redeemer's kingdom in its spirit, unshackled by forms and impositions, for which Mr. Henry and his contemporaries, and the pre Life of Taylor, p. c. + Acts xvii. 6, 7. The Dissenters are sincere wellwishers to the civil part of our present happy Establishment, and they are to be esteemed and loved for it.-Archbishop Secker's Letter to Mr. Walpole, pp. 24, 25.-Life of Bishop Watson, vol. i. pp. 419, 427. sent race of Dissenters contend, and which form the basis of their opinions. * They derive their views from the Bible, and they believe and confidently maintain that it is expedient to adhere as closely as possible to its dictates, + both as to the nature of the christian church, and the duties of subjects to their prince. They claim the right of judging for themselves in the concerns of religion, and they condemn none for doing the same. Forbidden to call any man master, they wish to steer clear of the appearance of that evil, thus exemplifying in practice, as well as theory, the sentiments of an eminent clergyman already mentioned, not because they are his, but because they are the words of truth and soberness. "I, for my part," said the renowned Chancellor of Sarum, "after a long and (as I verily believe, and hope) impartial search of the true way to eternal happiness, do confess plainly, that I cannot find rest for the sole of my foot but upon this rock (the Bible) only. I see plainly, and with mine own eyes, that there are popes against popes, councils against councils, fathers against others, the same fathers against themselves, a consent of fathers of one age against a consent of fathers_of another age, the church of one age against the church of another age. Traditive interpretations of Scripture are pretended, but there are few, or none, to be found. No tradition but only of Scripture can derive itself from the fountain, but may be plainly proved, either to have been brought in, in such an age after Christ, or that in such See the same views maintained by Bishop Hoadley in his Sermon on the Nature of the Kingdom or Church of Christ. The more you recede from the Scriptures by inferences and consequences, the more weake and dilute are your positions.-Lord Bacon's Advancement of Learning, p. 113. b. ii. an age it was not in. In a word, there is no sufficient certainty, but of Scripture only, for any considering man to build upon. This, therefore, and this only, I have reason to believe. Propose me any thing out of this book, and require whether I believe or no, and seem it never so incomprehensible to human reason, I will subscribe it with mine hand and heart, as knowing no demonstration can be stronger than thisGod hath said so, therefore it is true. In other things I will take no man's liberty of judgment from him, neither shall any man take mine. I will think no man the worse man, nor the worse Christian. I will love no man the less for differing in opinion from me, and what measure I mete to others, I expect from them again. I am fully assured that God does not, and, therefore, that men ought not, to require any more, of any man, than this-To believe the Scripture to be God's word, to endeavour to find the true sense of it, and to live according to it."* To the reader of Philip Henry's Life, notwithstanding the assertion-that a very few concessions more would have kept such as he was in the Church t-it will be apparent that, lightly as the subject been adopted than the severity of the Act of Uniformity, a generation would soon have arisen to whom their objections would have appeared in their natural weakness, and the greatest and least rational of those schisms have been prevented which have disturbed the peace and endangered the existence of the British churches.* All this, as theory, may appear plausible, but it is deprived of its force by the fact that "the holy and learned preachers," thus alluded to, were men fully entitled to every honourable epithet, and, therefore, as likely as others to act correctly; that their successors are not remarkable for inferiority, either in intellect or cultivation t—that Life of Taylor, p. ci. Baxter, whose associated with Philip Henry, has noname also Bishop Heber has honourably ticed the state of things after 1662 very differently from his admirer; and in connexion with the remarks above introduced, it may not be uninteresting to select a specimen. "The change of the Liturgy, on pretence of easing us, and the Act of Uniformity, have made conformity now quite another thing than it was before, and to us far more intolerable. I am past doubt that Ri. Hooker, Bishop Bilson, Bishop Usher, and such others, were they now alive, would be nonconformists; yea, I can prove it as well as I can prove that they what they wrote."--Answer to Dr. Edwere honest men, and would hold to ward Stillingfleet's Charge of Separation, by Richard Baxter, 4to. 1680, pp. 1, 2, Preface. The state of things of Dr. Owen, by Mr. Orme, particularly prior to 1662 is well detailed in the Life pp. 5-8. In connexion with which may be read with advantage the whole of the Petition for Peace, ut sup. has been treated in connexion with Bishop Taylor, nonconformity assumes, in relation to Mr. Henry, an aspect of sobriety, and importance, as opposed to obstinacy and quarrelling as it is to tampering with conscience, and the prostitution of liberty. Nor will a pe+ See Baxter's Penitent Confession, rusal of the narrative, or an inp. 65. Let any man read over the distinguished names of Doddridge, Chandvestigation of the general history ler, Kippis, Foster, Watts, Lardner, of the nonconformists, whether of Robertson, Blair, Maclaine, and others the present or an earlier era, jus- whether Dissenters do not keep an even that might be mentioned, and determine tify the insinuation that there are pace with Churchmen, as virtuous men, no grounds at all for dissent; able scholars, and sound divines.-An still less that had other measures address to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, by a Conntry Clergyman; London, printed for G. G. J. and J. Ro * Chillingworth's Works, pp. 290,291. binson, 4to. p. 62. I cannot look upon + Life of Taylor, p. cii. + lb. p. ci. the Dissenting clergy as inferior to the clergy of the Establishment, either in stronger light has been, and still continues to be, thrown upon the grounds of dissent, by acute, and profound investigation. Indeed, it will be seen, that the immediate sufferers by the Act of Uniformity, were far from needlessly pertinacious, or obstinate, or precise, (the only natural inference from Bishop Heber's remarks,) and that while they were influenced by the soundest principles,* and principles, and the purest motives, they were the anxious friends of peace; and were willing to sacrifice in its service, any thing but truth. In fact, they felt, upon solemn inquity, a deep and most conscientious conviction,, to borrow the expressive language of one of their successors, whose eminence will not be questioned, that "the dissenting cause is founded on reason and truth, and that the honour of God, and the public good is nearly concerned in its support. We are to be concerned for this interest, not merely as the cause of a distinct party, but of truth, honour, and liberty; and I will add, in a great measure, of the cause of serious piety too."+ learning or morals. Bishop Watson's Letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Sermons and Tracts, p. 413, cd. 1788. * Dr. Burnet, afterwards Bishop of Salisbury, one day conversing freely with Mr. Howe, on the subject of nonconformity, told him, he thought it could not subsist long--but when you, and Mr. Baxter, and Dr. Bates, and a few more are laid in your graves, it will sink, and come to nothing." Mr. Howe replied, "that must be left to God, but I reckon it depends not on persons but on principle. As some pass off the stage, others will rise up and fill their places, acting upon the same principles, though I hope with due moderation towards those of different sentiments. Life of Howe." Works, vol. 8. p. xxx. + Dr. Doddridge, Works, vol. 4, pp. 201--203. "If we would but open our eyes," said a venerable conformist, " we should see that we are beholden to the Dissenters for the continuance of a great part of our theological principles. If there had been no " Mr. Henry, "having with great intrepidity withstood the rage of his violent persecutors, for the space of near thirty years, had, at last, the happiness to see better times, and to enjoy, for near seven years, that toleration, liberty, and peace which King William, and the Revolution introduced."* But, as the reader will find, he remained steady to the very cause which, in the face of every historical fact, and the plainest dictates of Christianity, is so perpetually maligned. tually maligned. His views are in the "well-known life," fully developed, and his venerable name will ever continue a silent, but powerful, opponent to mere party zeal, on the one hand, and obstinate bigotry on the other. Fully satisfied with the views he had embraced, placid and tranquil in the retrospect of his exemplary moderation, his dying language derives additional weight, and can never be regarded too devoutly. He said to his son, who sat by his bed" Follow peace and holiness, and let them say what they will."-" More," his biographer adds, " he would have said to bear his dying testimony to the way in which he had walked, but nature was spent, and he had not strength to express it." + In the face of such facts as have thus been introduced to the reader's attention, the inquiry may be pressed-Is there just cause for statements like those which have been the subject of animadversion? Is there, it may be also asked, a propriety in reiteratingschism-as descriptive of nonconformity; and under its auspices rendering odious, in attempt at least, all whose inquiries induce conscientious dissent? By the Act Dissenters, the Church of England had been long since ruined." The Preacher, by Dr. Edwards, vol. 2, p. 133. * Dr. Richard's Welsh Nonconformists' Memorial, p. 360. + Life, p. 153. of Toleration-the very authority preachers," "but rather on the vicupon which the Church of Eng- torious party," who had the fairest land rests a British Parliament possible opportunity, had the dishas allowed the separation, and, position existed, not only to rentherefore, there can, in no sense der it of less wide diffusion, and of the term, be schism now. In- of less deep and lasting maligdeed, inasmuch as the object of nity," but to have prevented it the statute was to "unite Protes- altogether. It is also clear that it tant subjects in interest and affec- was not imbecility of mind, or a tion," the censures objected to are factious, turbulent opinion, but not only opposed to its peaceable "religious reverence for the divine provisions, but the wisdom of the authority which animated our pious legislature is virtually impugned, forefathers to so resolute, and so and a libel thereby cast upon the expensive an opposition to the atState itself, not to say the Protestant tempts which were made in their Reformation, with all its results of day to invade the rights of confreedom, illumination, and tran- science, and the throne of God, its quillity.* only sovereign." † Misrepresentations like those which the writer has thus ventured, respectfully, to exhibit, can proceed, giving Charity her widest scope, only from a desire "to exalt the Church of England, by attributing an exclusive pre-eminence in purity, consideration, and wisdom; and by justifying her enactments for uniformity, to offer apologies for past intolerance. But how much more convincing would her title to this distinction appear, were her stumbling blocks removed, her impositions abolished," all those rites, ordinances, and ceremonies renounced, for which, to borrow the language of one of her own communion, "she is driven to make apologies that remarkably contradict her pretensions to an authority to decree them. While, therefore, the assumption is made in her present situation, it will only pass with the judicious for the meanest of all mean things-self-adulation."+. From the whole it must, surely, be apparent that "the offence of schism" is not justly chargeable even upon the early nonconformists, nor their "holy and learned See Furneaux's Letters to Sir W. Blackstone, p. 25, ed. 1771. † Archdeacon Blackburne. The Confessional, p. xxii. Life of Taylor, p. cii. In conclusion: it is pleasant to turn the thoughts into another channel, and to remember that while a difference, of opinion must of necessity, and may very laudably, exist as to many disputed points, they terminate, among Christians, with those which are non-essential to salvation. Who can doubt that among conformists and nonconformists there are not a few who are distinguished by 66 strong sense, extensive literature, and soundness in the faith ?" And it is equally certain, that both parties can bear testimony to the presence and blessing of God in their societies, can instance in their ministers men who, with an apostolic sincerity, "preach not themselves, but Christ Jesus their Lord," and can recognise, in their churches, not a few who adorn the doctrines of "the common salvation." The differences essential to the present state of things, and which will necessarily continue so long as variety exists in the constitution of the mind, the habits formed by education, and the remains of human imperfection, may excite to forbearance, promote patience, and not a little endear the prospects of the righteous in a Life of Taylor, p. cii. + Dr. Doddridge's Works, vol. iv. 203. future world. It is in the heavenly state alone that the Scriptures represent distinctness and uniformity of vision. There imperfection, obscurity, and sin being removed, interminable union will form an enchanting contrast to the vexations of mortality; and the perpetual presence of the Redeemer will inspire one harmonious song, affecting no earthly distinctions, associated with nothing ritual, nothing doubtful, but employed in ascriptions of "blessing and honour, and glory, and power, unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever." Let us then join in conversation, and intermingle interests, discover no estrangement of behaviour, and cherish no alienation of affection. If any strife subsists, let it be to follow our divine Master most closely in humiliation of heart, and unblameableness of life. Let it be to serve one another most readily in all the kind offices of a cordial friendship. Thus shall we be united, though distinguished; united in the same grand fundamentals, though distinguished by some small circumstantials; united in one important bond of brotherly love, though distinguished by some peculiarities of sentiment."* Z. ON OCCASIONAL COMMUNION. (To the Editors.) GENTLEMEN,-In some of our churches, there are circumstances attending the observance of the Lord's Supper, which deserve a more serious consideration than they have recently at least obtained. What is here more particularly alluded to is, the admission of occasional communicants, without mentioning to the members the churches to which they belong. This omission, whether * Rev. James Hervey's Works, vol. i. pp. 127, 128, ed. 1790. defensible or otherwise, has been the occasion of offence in the minds of some persons who had previously been accustomed to a different mode of proceeding. It was usual with our forefathers to represent the admission of occasional communicants, that is, members of one church to the Lord's Table in another, as a part of that communion of churches for which they were strenuous advocates. Now if we are to regard the subject in this light, and why should we not? does it not seem necessary that there should be a mutual recognition, and that the members of the society in general should know with what church they are thus holding communion? Does not the very term munion, at least in some measure, involve the idea of mutual knowledge? com We form an inadequate conception of the design of the Lord's Supper, when we regard it merely as a commemorative ordinance. Was it not also intended to promote brotherly love? At the Lord's Table, if ever, we appear as one in Christ, and as members of that body of which he is the head. Brotherly love is a duty which we owe, not only to the individual professors, and the particular societies with which we stand more closely connected, but to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and in truth, and to all other churches of the saints. But how is this affection to be excited at least it must be very languidly excited-where perfect ignorance prevails as to what persons, and what churches, we are holding communion with, so far as communion can be held under such circumstances as these? We might venture to affirm, therefore, that the announcement for which the writer presumes to contend is necessary, in order to the full attainment of one of the great objects for which the Lord's Supper |