antiquity appears to be against them, every serious and considerate mind will be slow in believing, that the boasted wisdom of modern times has made discoveries, with regard both to morals and religion, which had entirely escaped the penetration of the learned and pious divines of all former ages. Shall we not, rather, look with suspicion on opinions and theories, which are chiefly recommended by their novelty and boldness? Shall we not look with regard and veneration upon institutions, which, in their principle, at least, have been sanctioned by the wisdom and piety of illustrious theologians in successive generations? It has been well observed, "that the discovery of the unlawfulness of establishments is of very recent origin, and that it would not be easy to point out any author of reputation, who was known to hold such an opinion, till we reach the revolutionary spirit of modern times, i.e. the period of the French revolution."* † Well may we be startled at the proposition which announces, that the civil magistrate in his official capacity, the sovereign of a nation in the exercise of his responsible office, shall, in matters of religion, assume the character of a Gallio and care for none of these things. Let us listen to the command of Jehovah, addressed to his chosen people

* Dealtry's Sermon before Prayer Book & Homily Society in 1833. + See Note C. Acts xviii. 19.

Israel in the words of the text by his prophet, and let us follow his directions. "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." Let us shun the example of those rebellious Israelites, and of many in our own days, who, like them, exclaim, "We will not walk therein."

i

In referring to the practice of ancient times, as connected with the worship of God and the communication of religious knowledge, the earliest instance on record is that of Abraham. We find the Almighty bestowing upon him this high commendation, this marked approval of his conduct, "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."* Here we contemplate the patriarch, not, simply, as a father and master giving religious instruction to a small circle of children and servants. He was then the head of a very numerous body of dependants, so numerous, that, fifteen years before, he could arm three hundred and eighteen trained servants, born in his own house, for the pursuit of the confederate Kings, and the rescue of Lot, his

* Genesis, xviii. 19.

brother's son.* For the religious instruction of this numerous household, then consisting, probably, with women and children, of nearly two thousand persons, Abraham made provision, and for so doing received the approbation and blessing of God. With that numerous household he not only prayed, but, (I quote the words of the pious Matthew Henry, a non-conformist, but not an advocate of the unlawfulness of religious establishments) "he taught them, as a man of knowledge, nay, he commanded them, as a man in authority, and was prophet and King, as well as priest, in his own house. He had an eye to posterity, and was in care not only that his household with him, but that his household after him, should keep the way of the Lord: that religion might flourish in his family, when he was in his grave."+ If, from any cause, Abraham found himself incapable of conducting the religious worship and instruction of so numerous a household, can we suppose, that he would make no provision to supply his own deficiency, or that he would be pursuing an unlawful course, if, instead of leaving them to the uncertainty of instruction from any voluntary teacher who might offer them his services, he had provided them with regular

* Genesis xiv. 14.

+ Henry's Commentary on Gen. xviii. 19.

and competent teachers? No." I know him," says Jehovah, "that he will command his children and household after him. He will exercise his authority, use his influence, and not fail to supply them with suitable opportunities of worship and ample means of instruction." When we find Isaac charging his son Jacob not to take a wife of the idolatrous daughters of Canaan, and Jacob commanding his household to put away the strange gods which were among them, and to accompany him to Bethel for the purpose of erecting an altar unto God;* we can hardly doubt, that they also followed the example of Abraham, and commanded their children and households to keep the way of the Lord. Can we then suppose, that, if Abraham's household or dependants had been multiplied an hundred fold; if he had become, not merely "a mighty prince," but the prince of a very numerous nation, he would have abandoned the principle on which he had been acting, as now unlawful and sinful; that his obligation to provide for their spiritual welfare would have ceased; or that, in continuing to command them to keep the way of the Lord, he would have been assuming an unlawful and unwarrantable office ?‡

When the Almighty delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, and, in the character of

* Gen. xxxv. 2, 3.

+ Genesis xxiii. 6.

See Note D.

their King, graciously condescended to exercise that office by direct communication with his appointed servant Moses, he gave them laws and ordinances, both political and religious. So far was he from prohibiting the interference of the State in matters of religion, or leaving it doubtful, whether such interference were lawful, that in this instance, (and it is the only instance in which God has been directly the legislator of any nation) it is expressly sanctioned and enjoined by divine appointment. Now, without entering upon the consideration of the many peculiarities of the Jewish institution which we are manifestly not required to imitate, and which bear not upon the present part of our argument, it is evident, that t'of we have here a Church Establishment, appointed by God himself, actually incorporated with the state; which, amidst all the changes of the state, and all the corruptions of that Church in succeeding ages, continued unaltered, in its great outlines and form, for the period of 1500 years. From this example of direct divine legislation, we may infer with certainty, that the interference of the civil magistrate or sovereign authority for the support and maintenance of religion is not, as many have asserted, in all cases unlawful. Shall we not be guilty of something worse than presumption, if we dispute the wisdom of the Almighty, in the mode which he adopted for pre