limits of a church establishment are; and then, to lay down those principles of toleration, and liberality by which its blessings may be most widely extended, its friends the most successfully increased, and its interests the most effectually protected.

any

The church must be distinguished from religion itself. We might be Christians, without established church at all; as some countries of the world are at this day. A church establishment is only an instrument for teaching religion; but an instrument of admirable contrivance, and of vast utility.".

*To constitute an established church, there must be an order of men set apart for the ministerial office; a regular, provision made for them; and a particular creed containing the articles of their faith. These are the three considerations which seem

*This account of a church establishment is taken from Paley. Though such truths are so obvious, that a child might state them, if he had no interest in perverting the truth.

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to make up our idea of an established church.

First, If those who instructed the people in their religion, were not a peculiar body of men set apart for that purpose, it is clear that the Christian religion, the evidences of which depend so much on history, and on a knowledge of the dead languages, would be very imperfectly taught. Society, too, has a right to look to its clergy for the benefits of example, as well as precept; which of course they could not do, if the character of a religious teacher could be assumed, or laid aside at pleasure, and lasted only for the time requi

site to deliver the instruction.

Secondly. The support of the clergy ought not to be left to the caprice, and pleasure of individuals, but it should be (as it is) compulsory upon all; because, upon any other system, they would either not be supported at all, or would be compelled to gain their subsistence by following where they ought to lead, and

by flattering where it was their duty to

instruct.

Lastly. If there were no articles of faith, to which it was necessary to subscribe in order to become a member of the established church, every species of contradiction would be preached to the same congregation; one minister would defend the doctrine of the Trinity, and another would attack it. We should hear, at one time, that Christ was the son of God; and at another, that he was merely a prophet. The church would become as divided in its doctrines, as Babel was in its language; and the minds of well-intentioned Christians, jaded by controversy, would lapse into uniform indifference upon all subjects of religion.

These, then, are the three main points upon which all church establishments must . rest; and thus far such institutions have reason on their side, and powerfully promote the best interests of mankind. In spite ́ of all wild, and visionary theories, it is right that the state should choose a particular

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creed; that they should set apart a particular order of men to defend it; and compel every individual to pay to its support. Homely, and coarse as these principles may appear, to many speculative men, they are the only ones by which the existence of any religion can be secured to the community; and we have now too much reason to believe that the system of greater latitude, attempted naturally enough in the new world, will end fatally for the Christian religion, aud for good practical morality.

It may also happen, that a particular sect, dissenting from the doctrines of the church, is at the same time disloyally inclined towards the state; and then it seems expedient to seize hold of their religious creed as a mark of their political principles, and to exclude them from civil offices lest they should use the power such offices confer, to the injury of the commonwealth. Exclusions of this kind exist in our own history; and in their origin, they were, perhaps, wise and necessary: But it must be remembered, they are not, nor were they intended to be any essential part of a church establish

ment; ; they are only laws which make use of a religious test, to effect a particular purpose in government; laws, which do not say that the man holding such religious opinions, must necessarily be an enemy to the state at all times, but that he is so at that particular time; and that the civil exclusion must remain as long as the political disaffection exists, and not a moment beyond.

I beg then, before I speak of the spirit which ought to animate the established church, to remind you, that the only essential, and indispensable requisites for an establishment are, a separate order of men as 'teachers; a legal provision not left to the option of the people; and a clear exposition of their religious belief to be subscribed by all its members. It may be necessary also, sometimes, for the state to make religious faith the test of political opinion, and, therefore, the reason, for civil incapacities : but all these regulations are temporary, are by no means essential to the church establishment, and ought to cease with the causes which gave them birth.