objection, it is also said, "Is it the duty of Pagan and Mahometan rulers, who have not the light of Scripture, to use their power for the establishment of those false religions which they profess?" But a question of this kind bears not at all upon the subject under our consideration. The duties of those, who have access to the light of Scripture, are not, in the least, affected by queries concerning the duties of those who have not that light. The professors of Christianity ascertain, from the letter and spirit of the Scriptures, their duties and obligations. The question, however, has been fairly met by another, "Is it the duty of any man to be a Pagan or Mahometan ?" In the same degree and to the same extent he might plead the duty of supporting that false religion.*

I have now, as I at first proposed, gone through the general subject of Church Establishments. I have endeavoured to shew you, that they are sanctioned by the practice and testimony of ancient times that their principle is consistent with the principles of God's word: and their maintenance, directly or indirectly, sanctioned by Holy Scripture. I endeavoured also to point out their beneficial tendency and great expediency and, then, inferred the important duty of Christian governors to provide for the people the means of

*Profess. Scholefield's Sermon on Church Establishments.

public worship and religious instruction and further, in the separate examination of those objections, which are commonly alleged against all such Establishments, we are led, I trust, to adhere still more firmly to the conviction, that they are lawful and scriptural, beneficial and expedient. It remains, only, that, on another occasion, we consider the scriptural character and peculiar claims of the Church of England, and the duties to which the circumstances of the present times seem, especially, to call us. While we possess and value the outward ordinances of religion, and the external privileges of that Church of which we are members, let us not be satisfied with the mere enjoyment of the means of grace, if we be not partakers of the grace itself, and be not influenced by the power of religion. May we "hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering,"* and shew to all men the sincerity of our profession, and the soundness of our faith, by a holy life, and Christian spirit. Let us shew, that we value our holy religion, and are consistent and sincere members of the Church, by seeking, at all times, a participation of spiritual blessings, in the use of those sacred ordinances, which are appointed for our edification, and calculated to administer to our great and endless comfort.

* Hebrews x. 23.

SERMON V.

PSALM CXXII. 6, 7, 8, 9.

PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM: THEY SHALL PROSPER
THAT LOVE THEE. PEACE BE WITHIN THY WALLS, AND
PROSPERITY WITHIN THY PALACES. FOR MY BRETHREN

AND COMPANIONS' SAKE, I WILL NOW SAY, PEACE BE
WITHIN THEE. BECAUSE OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

OUR GOD I WILL SEEK THY GOOD.

Our attention has been directed, on some former occasions, to the consideration of religious Establishments: and in treating of them, generally, without immediate reference to the peculiar forms, under which they might be presented to our notice, I have endeavoured to shew, that they are sanctioned by the practice and testimony of ancient times, and that their principle is consistent with the principles of God's word. Assuming that they maintain the great truths of the Gospel, the principles of the Christian faith, we contend that they are scriptural and lawful. It was also my endeavour to point out their beneficial tendency and great expediency; and then to establish that important conclusion, viz. That it is the duty of Christian Governors, to provide for the people the

means of public worship and religious instruction; or, in other words, to support and uphold a National Established Religion. To those who have heard or read the language, and witnessed the spirit, of modern declaimers against all Establishments, it may well appear remarkable, that we should find some of the most distinguished of the early Nonconformists among their most decided supporters. They differed from Churchmen not about the lawfulness, but about the form, and ingredients of such Establishments, and lamented the existence of forms and impositions, which prevented them from joining in one communion. We have also noticed, and replied to, certain objections which are frequently alleged against all religious Establishments. We now proceed, as we proposed, to consider,

6thly, THE SCRIPTURAL CHARACTER AND

PECULIAR CLAIMS OF THAT CHURCH TO WHICH WE BELONG-THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND; and, then,

LASTLY, SOME OF THOSE DUTIES TO WHICH THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PRESENT TIMES SEEM, ESPECIALLY, TO CALL US.

Christianity, as I have already mentioned, became, during the fourth century, in the reign of the Emperor Theodosius, the religion of the Roman State. The Christian Churches, in the various parts of that extensive empire,

enjoying the ministry of their respective pastors, were also placed under the superintendence of the Bishops of the principal cities of those districts, of which they had the oversight. A discussion of the various arguments, adduced both for and against, the government of the Church under Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, would be unsuitable both for this place and this occasion. I shall not attempt to trace the steps by which the Church of Rome, amidst the preva lence of false worship, and great corruption of doctrine, during the convulsions which succeeded the overthrow of the Roman Empire, acquired at length a great ascendancy over all the Churches of Europe. During the dark ages which followed, when the Bishop of Rome, having been constituted a temporal prince, claimed and exercised authority over Monarchs themselves; corruption of faith, licentiousness of practice, superstition, idolatry, gross and abominable enormities prevailed, and were sanctioned, and long continued to increase with the multiplication of superfluous forms and vain ceremonies; till the true Christian faith seemed almost lost, and Christian worship little better than a solemn mockery of God, amidst universal ignorance and general wickedness. At the glorious period of the Reformation, this land, through the merciful Providence of God, was delivered from the tyranny of that corrupt and apostate Church,