than defiance. The object of the attack is formulas of doctrine which are the subjects no longer to be the union of Church and of controversy. Dissent, they think, would State, but only the Act of Uniformity: not exist, if the dogmas which are dissented 'Comprehension,' not 'Confiscation,' is to be the cry.

from were swept away; nonconformity would cease, if the tests which ascertain it It is impossible to deny the wisdom and were abolished. They do not propose to the self-restraint with which the new policy themselves, much less to their brother of the Liberationists has been selected. Churchmen, that all dogmas shall be abolThey have renounced all idea of using the ished, and all tests relaxed, so as to include approaching festival for the open propaga- every species of Dissenter within the notion of their own peculiar views. They are minal unity of the reconstructed Church. willing to leave their own pet schemes to be Most of them, probably, would admit, if worked out by the indirect though certain hard pressed, that universal conformity operation of the movement into which they would be dearly purchased by the abandonare hurrying their guileless allies. For a ment of all dogma of every kind. But they time they are content to follow, in order are willing to carry out upon a small scale that they may one day lead. They are satis- the process which they shrink from pushfied to join in the clamour for concessions ing to its ultimate extent. They will not which are not apparently incompatible with sell all their dogma to buy any amount the idea of an Established Church, knowing of conformity, but they will sell a little that from such concessions its ruin must sure- dogma to buy a little conformity. They ly and swiftly follow. In the mean time the only wish to relax the test just a little, cry of Comprehension' is everything that so as to include within its limits some an agitator can desire. It possesses all the sectaries who are lying close upon the qualities of a good, useful, serviceable cry. border. But when they have accomplished It does not strike that terror into the hearts that relaxation, they have no wish to go of secular proprietors which is excited by further. They will entertain no project for any hint of spoliation. It can be carried including the sects a little further on, who out without open violation of the rights of will then be lying close upon the border. property. And to many men, who do not They are fully resolved to defend the new look beneath the surface, it has a very cap- test just as vigorously as we are now detivating sound. Separation, isolation, ex- fending the old. Whether they will be clusion, are never pleasant words to a Chris- able to do so, or whether their own present tian ear. There are no earnest men of any efforts may not hereafter furnish a formidparty but long for the day when the 'un-able vantage - ground to the Comprehenhappy divisions,' against which we annually sionists of a future day, are questions with pray, and which paralyze so much of the which they do not distress themselves. It strength of Christianity, shall be healed up. is sufficient for the present that they desire There is no difference of opinion as to the to throw open the emoluments of the Church soreness of the disease; but it is far more to their own favourite sects of Dissenters. difficult to agree upon the cause from which And accordingly, with Lord Ebury at their it arises and the remedy that is to cure it. head and Mr. Miall in their rear, all the Those who inquire of history for a reply, Dissenters and a number of quasi Churchand have noted how these divisions date men are arraying themselves against the from the first dawn of the existence of our Act of Uniformity, which is the main obreligion, how they have hardened with its stacle to the particular comprehension which growth and multiplied with its extension, they desire. It has not occurred to them to will be slow to believe that an Act of Par- inquire what is the motive to which they liament has caused them, or that an Act of owe the suspicious assistance of the IndeParliament can be their cure. A deeper pendents, or why the Congregational Union origin and a more inveterate character must have organized a Bicentenary' to bolster up be assigned to a disease which has clung to their agitation. That astute body of men Christianity in every land and every age do not usually waste their powder in idle where it has been submitted to the action expressions of sympathy. That they to of the speculations and the passions of men. whom a National Church is odious can gain But the Liberation Society are quite right nothing by opening its portals wider, needs in their calculation that numbers of men no proof. They cannot expect any direct will take a more superficial and a more advantage from the repeal of the Act of sanguine view. There are many kindly and Uniformity. It must, then, be an indirect gentle natures who cannot bear to believe advantage that they expect. It is possible that such a malady is incurable, and prefer that they look a little further than Lord to impute the existence of divisions to the Ebury does. Perhaps they do not believe

6

in the moderate and limited Comprehension | ent times. Erratic and unquiet intellects upon which he confidently counts. They do not now concern themselves with the use have probably examined with care the ex- of the Cross in baptism, or the ring in tent of the changes which, willingly or un- marriage, or the posture of communicants willingly, Lord Ebury, if victorious, will at the altar. The questions over which the achieve, and the effect which those changes abler minds of our age are battling take a will have upon the stability of the National far wider range, and go far deeper to the Church. As the result of the examination foundations of our faith. The differences of has been a determination to give Lord opinion among those who call themselves Ebury their unqualified support-in fact to do his agitation for him-it may be worth while to follow them for a short distance upon that ground.

by the name of Christ in these times are not those that could be satisfied by the omission of a rubric, or the modification of an occasional service. We have but just emerged If Lord Ebury had lived two hundred from a fierce controversy; but it has not years ago, and had been more successful in been upon details of posture or of expresconverting the Bishops of that day than he sion. We have had ecclesiastical trials is with the Bishops of this, it is possible that upon disputed dogmas, and ecclesiastical cenhe might have effected the comprehension he sures upon heretics. But the points in issue desires with only a moderate amount of harm have been of very different importance from to the Church. There is no doubt that polit- those which Laud dealt with before the High ical considerations weighed quite as strongly Commission, or those on which the ejected as those connected with religion in prescrib. of 1662 refused to conform. Lord Ebury ing the tests that were adopted at that time. seems to have hastily assumed that, because In 1662 it was necessary to prevent the the Prayer-book was the stumbling-block Church endowments from being used to feed then, it must also be the stumbling-block an insurrectionary propaganda; and in 1690 now. It is a remarkable illustration of the it was necessary to save her from the hands anachronism of his proposals, that while he of a clique of political adventurers who is asking Parliament to relieve the clergy wished to make her an instrument for secur- from the intolerable burden of assenting to ing their own ascendency. If only relig- the Prayer-book, all the recent doctrinal triious considerations had been in question, it als have mainly arisen out of alleged offences is probable that a point would have been against the Articles. He has to deal with a stretched to include some of the more mod- condition of the intellectual world utterly erate Nonconformists. Whether such a different from that which prevailed when measure would have been for evil or for schemes of comprehension were mooted two good, the test might have been fixed at the centuries ago. Men who claim the title of point which Lord Ebury desires, without Christians; and who have every right to it much danger of its being subsequently so far as purity of intention and holiness of moved. Religious divisions were much life can confer it, are scrutinizing, with no more sharply marked then, and the theolo- partial or tender hand, the cardinal doctrines gical area covered by each religious sect of our Faith, and the foundations upon which was much more easily ascertained. Dissent the Faith itself reposes; and their speculawas confined within comparatively narrow tions are encouraged rather than restrained limits. The disputants were not so numer- by the temper of the generation in which ous, nor the subjects of dispute so various. they live. Extensive disbelief upon points. The main body of controversialists did not of vital moment, at best a vagueness and differ either concerning the fundamental doc- suspension of conviction, is at the present trines of Christianity, or concerning the au- time the prevailing tone of mind among too thority of those Apostolic preachers to whose many of the most thoughtful and the most teaching all controversies were by common moral of our educated classes. Intellectuconsent referable. That strange distinction ally speaking, we live in one of those periods between historical Christianity' and non- of anarchy which are the consequence and historical Christianity had not then arisen. the sure punishment of a period of civil war. There were Deists, but they did not pretend Controversy has raged among us till the to be Christians; and to the majority of them religion of any kind was strange. If changes had been made, therefore, it was easy to measure the extent to which those changes were to go. So long as the demands of the Calvinists were accorded, there would have been few other claimants of importance left to satisfy. We are now living in very differ

habit of submission and the capacity for cohesion have disappeared. Upon the good or the evil of this state of things it is not here our province to enlarge. But it is a fact which, in discussing a legislative interference with the existing tests of orthodoxy, it is impossible to ignore.

But Lord Ebury, and the Bicentenarians

who back him, may possibly reply, 'What kind, have, on the contrary, an uneasy susis all this to us? We have no intention of picion that they will not. comprehending these freethinkers. Too As his Bicentenarian friends have appamany are comprehended already for our rently persuaded Lord Ebury that this enter taste. It is only the orthodox Dissenters prise is practicable, let us look for a mowhom we desire to admit.' It is perfectly ment at the conditions it requires. Before true that Lord Ebury's latest proposition he can persuade Parliament to accept the affects a very limited body of men. It does scheme of comprehension, which is to dinot propose to abolish the Prayer-book, or vide the Dissenters into two bodies, of to relieve the Clergy from the obligation of whom one shall be taken and the other using it. That proposition was never sub. left, he must either point out to it some mitted to discussion. He only proposes to sharp natural line of division between the release them from the necessity of declaring two, upon which they can take their stand their assent to it. Consequently he will only in order to resist further change; or else he relieve that very remarkable class whose must persuade them that those whom he consciences forbid them to profess their as- finally excludes are too feeble to be troublesent to the doctrines contained in the Prayer- some, and too meek to avail themselves of book, but whose consciences do not forbid the precedent which he is creating for them. them to proclaim those doctrines as facts in The last alternative may clearly be put an address to Almighty God. For the credit aside at once. The freethinkers whom he of human nature, we are willing to believe would exclude are strong in ability, in the that the number whom his proposal would influence they have gained with a certain admit into the Church is very small indeed: section of the educated classes, and in the fact but the question is not who will be admitted that, as a school, they are young and have by his proposals; but whom will he be able the promise of the future before them. The to exclude, when once the question of re- Unitarians, with whom on such a question adjusting the Church-tests is opened. What they would act, also possess a strength aris ground has he for the idea that those who are ing from social position and ability out of aggrieved by the Articles will be silent, when all proportions to their numbers. They those who are aggrieved by the Prayer-book would never moot such a question of themare being relieved? Or how will the Par- selves: without assistance they would be liament that has yielded to one class protect powerless to force the defences of the Church itself, with any pretence of fairness, from of England. The Church as she exists is a the importunities of the other? There is a very difficult thing for them to disturb. motley throng of religionists crowding out The present tests-from the power of traside the door of the Church, anxious to force dition, from the force of habit, from the testheir way in, in order to divide the treasure timony of two centuries' experience to their which is stored inside. As long as the door wise adaptation to the people for whom is kept shut, they cannot reach even the they were framed, from the association smallest objects of plunder. They have and veneration that have grown up around made the effort recently, with at first some them, and from the great men who have prospect of success, and have been in the end devoted themselves to her defence-have a bitterly disappointed. But Lord Ebury has strength which, they well know, would be two or three friends among the throng out- wanting to any new test. So long as the side whom he is very anxious to let in; and, existing formularies standing by the right of therefore, he begs to be allowed to open the a long prescription are left untouched, they door just a very little. But he is extremely may be content to acquiesce. They may eager to convince the stern guardians of the not care to light up an agitation which will door that it is only to be opened just ajar, only clear the ground for the Protestant and that the very moment his friends have Dissenters. But if the question is fairly slipped in, it shall be securely closed again. The only question is whether the Socinians, and other stalwart sectaries behind, who do not enjoy the advantage of Lord Ebury's friendship, will allow him to smuggle in his own friends, and then patiently stand perfectly still while he slams the door back in their faces. Lord Ebury, whose simplicity is as confiding as his charity is amiable, believes that they will. We, who have the misfortune to take a gloomier view of man

opened for discussion, it is impossible to believe that they would be silent. They would be more or less than men, if, when the gate is open, and the others are pressing in for a general scramble, they should refuse to follow and enjoy their share.

We may safely assume that when, once alteration has begun, Lord Ebury will not be suffered in peace to fix it precisely at that special point which he, in his wisdom, has selected as the limit of vital Christian.

ity. If only for their honour's sake, the gle, nothing short of a revolution could sects whom he excludes will not be satisfied force it into agreeing upon a new test. to allow the disgrace of not being Christians Even if a new test were possible, it would to be branded upon them formally by a not be Comprehension. It might transfer new decision of Parliament. He may be the Church property into new hands, as was quite sure that, if he succeeds in paring done by the Puritan measures of 1643; but down the Prayer-book, the Articles will not it would not bring with it comprehension in be left alone. As soon as the Baptist, any sense, because it would expel as many under his protection, has begun filing down Churchmen of the old pattern as it would the Baptismal services, and the Presbyte- manufacture of the new. Lord Ebury is rian is working at the Ordinal, and all Non- obstinately blind to the fact that, in the comformists combined are engaged in tak- eyes of a great number of persons, the ing the edge off the Communion service, comprehension of error implies the abanothers equally bent upon destruction will donment of truth. There are theologians rush upon the Formularies which they hold though Lord Ebury may not credit in special horror. The Unitarian will aim the fact - who think that some positive a blow at the Article which affirms the statement is indispensable in a profession Trinity, and the Article which affirms the of belief, and who would distinctly decline Nicene and Athanasian creeds: the Univer- to belong to a confession that confessed salist will attack the Article which limits nothing. We are not advancing a doctrine salvation to the followers of Christ: the-we are simply speaking to a fact, of which Germanizer will fall upon the Article which Lord Ebury may convince himself by prorecognises the authority of Scripture. The curing an invitation to any Ruridecanal question then arises, How will Lord Ebury meeting in the country. He will find that and the party of comprehension deal with there are men in considerable numbers who these unwelcome allies? Will they be able would deem it a betrayal of Christian truth to suggest to Parliament any principle upon to be joined to a communion in which the which one set of Dissenters can be compre- Truth is treated as an open question. If he hended, and the other set of Dissenters can needs proof, he will find it in the indignabe proscribed? All schemes for altering tion which has been excited among the clerthe Formularies are violent acts of power, gy by the Burials Bills, and which has forced which must have some solid intelligible Sir Morton Petò ignominiously to withdraw principle to rest on. The only principle it. The Bill was a proposal that, under cerapplicable to the present day is the theory tain limitations, the churchyard should be that the national Church should be coexten- opened, not only, as heretofore, to the minsive with the national belief. If comprehen-istrations of the Church, but also to those sion is once begun, no distinction can be set of every sect of Dissenters. From the up, no boundary can be traced, by which churchyard to the church is of course but a any section of religionists can justly be step; and no principle could be devised that marked off from the rest, and denied the should admit Dissenters to the one and yet benefits to which others are admitted. exclude them from the other. The Bill did Even if such a line of demarcation were not open our churches to the common use just in principle, it could not be drawn in of all Dissenters in terms; but it did so in practice. We have not a few sharply defin- principle. It would have been impossible, ed sects to deal with. The area of thought after the Bill had once passed, to resist furwhich we are asked to divide by a new test ther change. It was, in fact, a proposal of into orthodox and heterodox is a vast con- Comprehension on a grand scale. In this troversial zone, stretching from the very light the clergy read it; and the result verge of Romanism on one side to the very shows how any proposals of Comprehension verge of Atheism on the other, and covered would be welcomed by them. It would in by innumerable gradations of opinion no way have interfered with their ministrafading into each other by indistinguishable tions. It would have bound them to no shades. If Parliament were a council of new statement of belief, and to no new ecJapanese sages, untouched by the contro- clesiastical obligation. It would only have versial passions of the West, it could not admitted practically that other doctrines lay its finger upon the point where Christ- conflicting with theirs might possibly be ianity ends, and Infidelity begins. But con- as true as theirs. To the keen compresisting as it does of a body of men intensely hensionist this 'only' may seem a small interested in the issues on which these ques- matter. But it has not seemed so to them. tions turn, and deeply tinged with the inev- The feeling which was produced among the itable partisanship of a controversial strug-clergy through the length and breadth of the

recent experience has taught us go at least as far in the way of comprehension as it is possible to go; but no change can be made in them which shall stop short of their entire abolition.

land the moment that this fair-spoken Bill | reason that the presence of each other would issued from the Select Committee exceeded, be mutually intolerable to all. It is possiboth in rapidity and intensity, anything that ble to abide by the present test, which this generation has yet witnessed. Their alarm upon the subject of church-rates has been a mere lethargy compared to the indignation evoked by this foretaste of Com. prehension. It is a long day since the Liberal members connected with counties or rural boroughs have passed such an evil time of it. The petitions that have been sent up, in an astonishingly brief space of time from all parts of England, will form a profitable subject of meditation for those who think that a relaxation of tests would meet with that ready acquiescence which is indispensable for its success as a measure of Comprehension. It is of course open to Lord Ebury and the Liberals of every degree to vituperate this condition of mind to their heart's content; but when they have fully relieved their feelings upon this subject, the fact that it exists will still confront them. If their object be, as they profess, not to transfer the endowments of the Church of England from one set of owners to another, but simply to enlarge her borders, so as to include a larger body of believers, this state of feeling, which they appear wholly to ignore, must necessarily frustrate their endeavours. Their measures of comprehension are necessarily measures of exclusion also. As fast as their relaxation of the formularies attracts new members of the Church on one side, the denial of the faith which that relaxation is supposed to involve will drive the old members out of it at the other side. Their task is the task of the Danaides. The stream which will flow out under their hands at one end will fully equal the stream they are labouring to pour in at the other.

It is to this, if the Comprehensionists succeed, that we must inevitably come. There are those who profess to see in such a result a triumph for pure religion. They imagine that the necessity of agreeing upon some common belief is the chief hindrance to the growth of true Christianity, and that men would struggle more heartily to propagate the Gospel if every one entertained and professed a different conception of what it meant. We are not inclined to assent to the proposition that faith thrives best where preaching is most conflicting. We should rather point to the case of America and Geneva, where the experiment has been extensively tried, as teaching a very different lesson. Faith has ever grown more negative, and love has ever grown more cold, in proportion as divisions have multiplied. But this question is beside our immediate purpose. We are at present concerned to inquire, how the position of the Church as an Establishment would be affected by the abolition of tests, or by a relaxation of them which will be tantamount to abolition, and inevitably lead to it. Its first effect must be to eliminate all spiritual religion from the body which has been subjected to the process. No body of religious men ever were or ever will be maintained in the condition which the Established Church would present after such a change. To act as part of an elaborate religious organization, without the slightest guarantee that those who lead you, We may safely assume, therefore, that or those who are working at your side, have the construction of a new test is an impossi- one single aim, wish, or belief in common bility. A Formula Concordiæ is always a with you, would be a condition of sustained perplexing instrument to construct. Even hypocrisy in which no really pious or earnwhen it is only meant to cover a narrow est spirit could exist. The first effect of and well-defined area, the difficulty of find- such a change would be to drive off all the ing theological language which shall elimi- nobler spirits in the Church to join some renate that which is deadly heresy in the eyes ligious organization in which they could at of one party, and yet spare that which is least be certain that they would not be counvital truth in the eyes of the other, is well tenancing by their co-operation the propaganigh insuperable. But in the case of sects tion of that which they count as deadly which d ffr both from her and from each heresy. That a large secession would imother so widely as those with whom the mediately follow upon any latitudinarian reChurch of England is now contending, the laxation of tests, no one who knows anything task is an impossibility in terms. A new of the clergy could entertain a doubt. But test that should include only a fraction what will happen to the caput mortuum they of the sects would be resisted by those will leave behind? What will become of whom it would exclude; and one that the medley of religionists who will remain in should include a considerable proportion of unfastidious complacency to enjoy the good them would be impossible, for the simple things which their more scrupulous brethren