doctrines. But I prefer to confine myself chiefly to the spiritual advantages resulting from the settlement of a parochial order of clergy, and to show that these are such as may well deserve the gratitude of every lover of God, as well as of his country.

Let then a helping hand be applied to the removal of every blemish. Let no zeal be wanting to strengthen the discipline which shall remove the unfaithful hireling; to supply the means whereby a resident pastor may be maintained, and his residence justly enforced, in every parish throughout the land; whereby the duties assigned to each may be made commensurate with human powers; and the wise intent of our forefathers be fully accomplished, that every fold shall have its shepherd, who shall be able, after the example of Him who gave his life for the sheep, to know his flock, and call them by name, and lead them forth by his doctrine and example, and gently guide the weak, and gather the lambs in his arms. Let these things be effectually done but let not the institution which has already done so much towards their accomplishment, and is capable of doing so much more, if only its original, its essential principles be acted on, be abandoned as worthless, simply because it has not done all the good we desire; because it is itself liable to disarrangements; because some among the thousands of its agents may be weak, or recreant to their vows.

Those who would thus deal with it, should shew that they can supply the place of usefulness at present occupied by the institution which they would up-heave from its ancient base ;-that the removal of the old landmarks will leave the inquirers after righteousness at no loss what they should do, or whither they should resort for instruction;—that where they have been removed, or are as yet but imperfectly fixed, in India for instance, or America, no such difficulties are known; no lack of Sabbath ordinances, no miss of affectionate and christian counsels amidst the labours and trials of life, no cheerless death-beds on which to the awakened conscience, the voice of a christian pastor, the very sound of the bell which announced him within call, would be like life from the grave, no dreary tracts of country compared with which our largest parishes

* See a Speech by Bishop Jebb in the House of Lords, on the state of the Church of Ireland, published with his sermons and charges.

are of insignificant size, in which the very name of Christ is in danger of being forgotten, forgotten by the descendants of men who were content to lose all for what they supposed His cause.

They should shew also, to what society of christians they propose to resort, to what they could ever have joined themselves, if its freedom from all defects in administration, from all intrusion of unworthy rulers and members, form the essential term of communion. Not to the company of the Apostles: for among them was a Judas. Not to that of their first followers: for with them were false teachers as there had been false prophets before. Not to any existing denomination of christians: for who will deny that there are hypocritical pretenders to religion, and even faithless teachers, in all.

The object of that human authority which establishes a branch of Christ's Church amongst us, is to prevent or remove these defects of administration; to render permanent and uniform the good it is designed to impart. Those therefore who say, as is now so commonly said, we reverence Religion, we respect the Church, we only find fault with the Establishment, seem surely in effect to say, we love our bibles, but care not how seldom they be read;- -we value the ordinances of religion, but can well dispense with their celebration;we care for the souls of our brethren, but would leave the means of their conversion to hazard and uncertainty;-we would make public provision for their correction, that they may fear to do evil, but none for their instruction, that they may learn to do well.

I would in conclusion address myself, to three several classes of my hearers.

To any who may thus far have been opposed to such an Establishment of Religion, I would earnestly and affectionately say,Re-consider the nature, the actual working of this institution. In ten thousand places of assembly, the word of God is read, the gospel of Christ is plainly set forth, to all classes of the people. In ten thousand parishes, instructers are provided, of whom it is surely not too much to say, that they fall not below the general mass of professing christians, or of reputable men, in their regard to oaths and obligations; and who have bound themselves by the most solemn engagements to labour for the salvation of their brethren. You cannot deny that thousands and tens of thousands of your countrymen have in past ages been taught, are now learning, and may hereafter learn the

way to Heaven, by these means, who, if we may judge from the visible results of unregulated labour; from the Reports of the many voluntary societies in operation amongst us; were never likely to have been reached by your most active efforts.-Are these then the means whereby souls are destroyed rather than saved?—Are you acting kindly by your brethren and companions in the flesh, or as wise master-builders towards the spiritual Temple of God, when you attempt to unsettle an institution for their good, which, from its long continuance among them, is deep-seated in their habits and attachments; and, from the reverence with which they have been accustomed to receive its elementary teaching, from the respect to religious ordinances which even its outward aspect is calculated to inspire, affords the most desirable vantage-ground to the teacher, for the further inculcation of scriptural and saving truth? Can we be truly told, that no sin would be committed, nɔ duty neglected, nay, that God would be honoured, were our Governors, as such, to care for, none of these things; were an act of the Legislature to determine, as to the whole or any portion of our country, that all this machinery of good should be stopped at once; no check be imposed, but at its own option, on the workings of the carnal mind; and vice and ignorance that will not come to the light, no longer dread lest it should pierce their dens? Is it not rather in accordance with His will, that religion should preside in our senates, dictate the terms of our treaties, pronounce the sentence of our judges, adjust the transactions of our marts, adorn our seats of secular study, influence all our actions both public and private, as rational and accountable creatures. And does it not behove us to take heed, lest, in resisting an ordinance of man designed for the promotion of this end, we be haply found to fight against God!

To those whose attachment to the worship of their fathers is yet unshaken, and especially to those who are advancing to active life, and may be called to exercise in their several stations a material influence on all the institutions of their country, I would also most earnestly and affectionately say,-Consider well this important subject. These are not the times, if such there ever were, in which an hereditary and uninquiring attachment to the Church, simply because it is established, because they have been baptized within its pale, and have themselves seen no cause to forsake it, will suffice for any class of its members, least of all for the reading and educated classes.

You will hear it assailed on all sides, assailed not merely by the Infidel, the Socinian, the Romanist, but by some who are not far from us in doctrinal sentiments, and whom, from past professions of brotherly kindness, we should little have expected to find in such company, at such a time. Examine for yourselves. Believe not every spirit, and think not every good man, as a matter of course a wise one. Look around you, and see what of good or harm the Establishment has done and is doing. Ask yourselves what it has done for you. If the reason of all it enjoins be not at once apparent, at least inquire whether, of its living teachers, of the many holy men who have defended and adorned it, and blessed God for its instructions with their dying breath, some be not able to solve your doubts. If apparent evils and defects in its administration present themselves to view, still inquire whether they be not greatly overbalanced by as evident and apparent advantages; whether they be not capable of remedy by exertions in which you may consistently bear a part; whether far greater be not hazarded in any other communion to which you may be tempted to resort. Let this be honestly done, and I doubt not your attachment will be confirmed; you will see that this venerable institution has every possible claim on your reverence, your gratitude, your filial affection, your firm and zealous support.

But let that support be conferred most chiefly, by your devout reception of the spiritual benefits it imparts; let your filial reverence, be manifested by filial obedience. Alas, that in any case we should have occasion to remark an entire absence of heart towards the spiritual services of the Church, a glaring and habitual violation of her most plain and solemn precepts, an abandonment of the rock which constitutes her citadel, in any who prize her as a national institution, who are deeply sensible of her value as an instructress of others, who liberally contribute to the spread of her influence, and manfully defend her external bulwarks. These things ought we to do: but surely they will augment our guilt, they will condemn us out of our own mouths, and by the acts of our own hands, if we leave the others undone. When all is done which human prudence can suggest, which human energy can accomplish, the best safeguards of the Church will still be found in the heart-felt prayers of her members, in their diligent resort to the means of grace, their christian faith, christian knowledge,

christian humility, christian charity, and christian fortitude in resisting the temptations of life.

And, to my brethren of the Clergy, let me lastly offer the word of exhortation, which my office this day could alone render becoming, where so many are present who for age, station, and experience, are far better qualified to teach. Let me remind them, and myself no less, of the solemn responsibility before God and man which attaches to us as the administrators of that Parochial Order which it has now been my endeavour to illustrate and defend. God forbid that any of us should, by our personal impiety, "make men to abhor the offering of the Lord," or by our erroneous and defective teaching, present a mere contrast to the clearness, the fulness, and the force, with which our Church unfolds to the people the great truths of the gospel. God forbid that we should content ourselves with standing forth as the mere official agents in dispensing to others the blessings of which we partake not, unsealing the fountain that they may drink, but ourselves turning away to the turbid and polluted torrent of worldly enjoyment. The Church has no enemy more cruel and more dangerous, be his zeal for her outward defences what it may, than the hireling shepherd, who for his own pleasure or profit forsaketh the sheep, especially in a day like this, when the wolf cometh with unwonted violence and craft; nor does creation exhibit a more mournful spectacle, than that of the man who should live the Liturgy of our Church, the life of Him on whose word it is framed, but who prefers the trifles of time, and so far unsays by his conduct in the world, whatever he affirms in the Church.

May I not however advert to a point of duty, not quite so obvious perhaps as that of personal allegiance to our Lord, yet of considerable import to our consistency and usefulness, and add the exhortation, that in our most earnest endeavours to do good, we forget not our peculiar office as ministers of an Establishment, designed for the universal dissemination of divine truth throughout this nation, by an exact and orderly division of labour among its spiritual instruc

ters.

We are not the ministers of Congregations only, but of Parishes. We are not sent forth as the fugitive dispersers of seed by the wayside, but as the diligent cultivators, each of his allotted portion in the field. And God forbid that for any temptation of short lived popularity, for any weak compliance with the humours of