panied with complete toleration, promises to be radically serviceable to religion; and abundantly to overpay with fubftantial benefits thofe undefirable confequences, with which, in common with every other human arrangement, it will unavoidably be attended.

The theological Student, after having fatiffied himself as to the lawfulness and expediency of the inftitution of church establishments in general, has in the second place to examine the difcipline and doctrines of the Church of England.

In the exterior form and administration of our national church he will obferve two prominent features; that a gradation of rank and office takes place among the Clergy; and that parochial Ministers are neither appointed by the fuffrages of the perfons whom they are to inftruct, nor difmiffible at their option. And he will naturally enquire into the reasons which may be alleged in fupport of these

arrangements.

It is now admitted by the generality of Protestants, that no command was delivered, either

by

by Chrift or by his Apostles, affigning to the Christian Church any specific unalterable form of government; but that, while various offices, fuited to the fituation and exigencies of the new converts, were inftituted at the beginning (fome of which, as that of Deaconesses, have long fallen into disuse), Christians were left at liberty to adopt in future times fuch modes of ecclefiaftical administration and difcipline, as they should deem most eligible in the circumstances under which they should find themfelves placed. At the fame time it appears equally clear from Ecclefiaftical History, that the Apostles uniformly established a Bishop over every Church which they planted, as foon as the Church affumed a ftable form, and became numerous and that during feveral centuries the pre-eminence, and the jurifdiction of Bishops were never queftioned. Hence it seems reasonable to conclude, that nothing short of a cause of very high importance can warrant in any church the difufe of Epifcopacy. The incidental advantages to be expected from the mode of government adopted in the establishment of our own country are principally these. The diftinction of orders in the church, bearing a strong resemblance to the gradations of

rank in civil life, provides friends and companions among the Clergy, and the benefits which may refult from their fociety and example, not merely for the inferior, but likewife for the highest, claffes in the community. The ftations of fuperior dignity and opulence caufe young men of talents to be educated for .the church, who would otherwife be deftined to fome occupation deemed more honourable, and juftly expected to prove lucrative; and also tend to enfure to the clerical profeffion that general refpect, which enlarges the influence and adds to the effect of the labours of each individual Minifter. And when the fuperintendence of the church, and the determination of all queftions refpecting the management of ecclefiaftical affairs, and the conduct of particular Clergymen, is vefted in a few perfons; more calmnefs and temper in examining, and more impartiality in deciding, may probably take place, than when they are committed to a numerous affembly; where turbulence, intrigue, and the fpirit of party may more.eafily find admittance, and the fhame of an unjuft decifion be loft amidst the multitude of Judges.

The

The right of nominating Ministers to vacant benefices entrusted by the State to private perfons is calculated to remedy the many disorders and evils which would be likely to arise in this country, were the choice left to be determined in each parish by the fuffrages of the inhabitants. It is not merely that teachers of every different fect of Christianity might fucceffively be placed in the pulpit, according to the varying ftrength of their feveral parties; but the most bitter animofities would perpetually be excited among the voters of the fame fect, in confequence of their sentiments being divided in favour of different competitors all profeffing the fame tenets. The fuccessful candidate would be received with fixed averfion by a large proportion of the parishioners; and his inftructions heard with deeply rooted prejudices by most of the defeated electors who fhould think proper to attend them. On the profpect of his death or removal, the parish would be affailed with every art practised in a venal borough; and when either of thofe events fhould happen, the flame of contention would break forth. The choice of a Minister of the gospel of peace would be the fource of angry conteft and permanent dif

cord;

cord; and the benefice would too commonly be the prize, not of piety and merit, but of private tampering, fecret or open menaces, and fuperior skill in the manoeuvres of elections.

Were the Minifter of a parish difmiffible at the pleasure of the parishioners, it is obvious under what temptations he would lie to strive to maintain his poft, by relinquishing his legal rights; by practising fervile artifices; by courting the favour, humouring the caprice, and forbearing to reprove the vices of the principal people of the place; and by overftraining or fuppreffing particular doctrines of Christianity in compliance with local prejudices. The most upright Minifter might find himself fuddenly expelled by the unexpected junction of fects and parties, difcordant on every other point, but uniting and co-operating for the purpose of driving him from the pulpit. To these evils are to be added, all or most of those which have recently been stated as the natural confequences of an elective Clergy. For even if the choice. of a fucceffor to the perfon difmiffed was vested in a private patron; the parish might ultimately enfure the appointment of the Clergyman who had been most adroit in conciliating their good