circle, was weakened by diffusion, and glimmered only with the fcattered and uncertain rays which it continued, though with diminished glory, to emit. But what argument can thence be drawn against fuch liberal and discreet appointments, as may indicate becoming reverence; and fuch competent and permanent provifion as may fecure independency and encouragement to the labourers in a spiritual service?

If a provision were not made adequate for the support of a Ministry, fufficient as to number to preach to the poor as to the rich, and refpectable as to qualifications for the attainment of learning, Chriftianity would infenfibly fink into difregard with the general claffes of fociety, and become the fubject of rare and speculative difcuffion. Its complicated evidence, contained in remote records and languages, known only to the inftructed; its prophecies, interwoven with accounts of ancient history and its doctrines, deducible from laborious collation, would be confidered only by the ftudious in filent enquiry; and its inftructions, defcriptive of the Divine attributes, and impreffive of religious obligations, would be admired only in abstracted contemplation: whereas that evidence, when

prefented

"

prefented with frequent demonstration to public attention, and thofe doctrines inculcated in familiar expofition, bring forward religion to general regard and observance. Its inftitutions, fet up with national fanction, are viewed with habitual reverence; its worship, expreffed by exterior acts of celebration, is performed with focial concord, and its maxims, imbibed by daily hearing, affimilate with the principles of our conduct, and meliorate the character of our thoughts, words, and actions.

If it be ftated, that indolence is the refult of fecurity, and that the exertions of an established Miniftry may be deadened in the confidence of protection*, it is an argument deduced from the confideration of a partial hypothefis; and to have any weight, must fuppofe the fuppreffion of hoftility, which ever calls for vigilance, and the distribution of ap-.

• Hume ftates the advantage of establishment to be, to bribe the indolence of spiritual guides, by affigning ftated falaries to their profeffion; and rendering it fuperfluous to be farther active than merely to prevent their flock from ftraying in queft of new paftures. The farcaftic hiftorian might have reflected, that activity cannot retain the flock in the old pastures, unless they are preserved in a state of perfection fuperior to that of the new. Hift. of England, ch. xxix.

pointments fo equal, as to fuperfede every fecular encouragement to emulation. It must also harshly suppose in men, whose minds have been awakened to every ferious motive and folemn obligation, an indifference to every confideration which they have profeffed. Calculated as is the national establishment of fome approved fyftem, to prevent by its ftability the endless vibration of uncertain interests, and the mutual intolerance of fects ruling with transient and anxious triumph, it can by no means still the strictures or repress the jealous complaints of those who are ever eager to expofe its defects, and infult over its unworthy members.

The evils then which have refulted from the injudicious and extravagant favour beftowed at different times on the Church, by no means outweigh the great and folid advantages which have been urged; and they certainly furnish no just argument against a civil establishment of religion, as fupported in agreement with the principles of the Reformation in this country. The excellency of those principles may be vindicated upon the ftrong and important ground of their tendency to effectuate fuch advantages in an

eminent

eminent degree, from their confistency with the defign of revelation, and their conformity to the character and difcipline of the early Church.

It was a favourable effect of the peculiar views of Henry, that, while his resentment urged him to break down the tower of that ufurpation which had been raised above the ftructure of the Chriftian Church, he had no wish to destroy the original form of its edifice. Its principal fupports were preferved uninjured; its ancient pillars remained unfhaken. The appointments of that order by which all things in heaven and earth are kept in harmony; which were regulated with fimple diftinctions and appropriate functions; and which were endowed with privileges adapted to the genius of our conftitution, continued to confolidate the well-compacted frame of spiritual and civil government. Monastic institutions and their dependencies, the prime intention and ancient utility of which were destroyed in the general corruption of their establishments, were, (with indiscriminate violence and unjust fpoliation it must be admitted,) fuppreffed *. Those unendowed orders,

+ Witness Malverne and Godstow. Cranmer refused to confent to the application of the revenues of the fuppreffed establishments,

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orders, whofe ambitious intrigues and officious fervices had been craftily employed in fupport of former fuperftition*, were abolished; but the epifcopal form of government, with its fuitable appendages and fubordinate inftitutions, refting on its ancient rights and ju rifdiction, and privileges, ftill maintained its degrees in due dependency of rank; distributing its members through every department of fociety, preferving in its elevation a luftre that commands refpect, and defcending in its humility wherever ignorance and abafement demand its care.

Notwithstanding the unjuft alienations and embezzlement of the ecclefiaftical revenues which the Church fuftained, to the deplor able impoverishment of fome of its labo

lishments to the king's ufe. Latimer interceded particularly with Cromwell for Malverne, that it might be allowed to stand; "not in monkery, but fo as to be converted to preaching, ftudy, "and prayer, Alas, my good lord, fays he, fhall we not fee "two or three in every thire changed to fuch a remedy?” The imperious wants however, and sturdy determination of Henry, were not to be refifted; though the Parliament reluctantly yielded to the menaces of the king, who had the affurance afterwards to affert in his fpeech to the Parliament, that the fpoil had been committed to him without his defire, and promised to employ it well, towards the fupport of the poor, and the advancement of learning. See Spelman. Hift.

* Warburton has obferved, that the religious orders of the Church of Rome who had no endowment, were the perfons who got poffeffion of the power of the Church. Almost all nations have deemed an establishment to be neceffary.