once was deserving to be stamped with the brand of usurpation. We were aware, that ever since the days of the great father of political philosophy-Aristotle, every government was resolvable into its representative emblem-a family. Thus if a family, convey the prevalent and increasing indifference of even many, very many of our own Church, to this venerable and Apostolic institution. As we are assured, and as certain as of the very truth of Revelation, that this apathy is the precursor of more pernicious effects-if, indeed, any thing could be more pernicious than a contempt of God's own Administration-we desire, and would fondly hope, to heighten the tone of public feeling, in behalf of this, the most important branch of the whole Christian polity. At the same time that we wish to do so, we hope that the distinguishing and exclusive powers of Episcopacy, may be regarded, as in truth they are, in no other light, than the delegated boon of God. Let it not be thought, that any one office of our Hierarchy, in any of its grades, proceeds from any other source. We boast notwe claim not any privilege, any internal visions, any fancied illuminations, to invent or constitute governors over God's vineyard. We desire but to follow "what is written," and to tread in the footsteps of those, who discoursing and co-operating with the Apostles themselves, dared not to wander from the teachings, guidance, and practice of Inspiration. With them we are contented to walk; and though it may fetter our imaginations, and may curb the complacency of self, yet our principles rather urge us to follow than precede-to copy than newfashion. We have, it is true, heard of those who "Receive their Ordination From th' Elders of the Congregation, Depose them, as they would their Kings!"-Butler. but a system, which was unheard of, and unthought of, in any one Church of all Christendom, for fifteen hundred years in its principles directly opposed to Revelation-having for its origin, Arianism--deriving its primitive strength from the intrigues of Jesuits-imitating the example of both Arians and Papists in many of their institutionsand mainly propagated by the clamour of ignorant mobs and the fury of oft-repeated Rebellion, and the wages of Sacrilege-a systein, we assert, which has thus emanated from the polluted dregs of Heresy, Popery, and Rebellion, and fostered by an ignorant and bigoted aversion to the universal usage of all the primitive and Apostolic Churches, as well as to the divine precepts of power and government, most assuredly cannot command much of our esteem or love. With us, the magic of a name, has but little influence. It is to little purpose, that the fancies of Presbyterianism, Secederism, Qua an adequate idea of a national society and its laws, we thought that it required no great sagacity, to decide on the bare justice, or policy, of the interference of any individual, unconnected with that family. We have asked ourselves were it honorable, safe, or kerism, or any other of the sectarian offspring of Puritanism, appeal to our indulgence or charity. We remember the above unanswerable facts of history, to them so justly applicable; and should we not take heed and warn others of the lesson, which such experience teaches us? With feelings of deep melancholy we call to mind, the pathetic sentiment of the illustrious Bp. Jeremy Taylor, who, in the bitterness of his own personal, and of the Church's persecutions, and her temporary annihilation, exclaimed, that "Our Common Prayer Book had the fate of St. Paul; for when it had escaped the storins of the Roman Sea, yet a viper (i. e. Puritanism) sprung out of Queen Mary's fires, which at Frankfort first leapt upon the hand of the Church: but since that time it hath gnawn the bowels of its own mother, and given itself life by the death of its parent and nurse." (Collect. of Offices, p. 12.). We know the viper's venom, and venomous rancour, are yet, what they ever were. Nor shall we draw back from striving to deprive the reptile of its sting, or else suffer it no longer to bask in the tricks and delusions of ignorant fanaticism, but to force it to play its gambols in the searching and exposing sunbeams of Revelation, Reason, and impartial history. What now remains but to remind every humble, pious, and sincere member of our Apostolic Church, that all her sacred and venerable institutions, are attributable but to the one exhaustless, and unerring Source of all things, human and divine-the Spirit of God. We hold, and teach, and pride ourselves, in the comforting conviction, that our Church gives the glory, where the glory is only and truly due. From our Altars, we continually declare, that from God only "do proceed all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works" (Liturgy) -that He "rules over all the kingdoms of the world, and disposes of them according to his good pleasure" (Ibid.)-that He "upholds and governs all things in Heaven and Earth" (Ibid.)—that He " has called Christian Princes to the defence of the Faith, and has made it their duty to promote the spiritual welfare of their people" (Ibid.)-that Kings are His "chosen servants and ministers" (Ibid.) and that His "Holy Spirit has appointed divers orders of ministers in His Church." (Ibid.). Let it then be the language of every faithful Churchman, that the governing as well as the making of the World that the universal as well as the particular ordering of Providence-and that the administration as well as the founding of the Church, are the sole prerogatives of the Sanctuary of Heaven. Let every conscientious Churchman also take heed, that the barrier which divides the Holy Church from the World, be not effaced or lightly overpassed. Let them be thankful, that they are in the Church, and beware of being seduced out of it, to perish in the fury of the World's overwhelming waves. judicious to meddle, for example, with the internal disputes of a man and wife, when to them we were utter strangers? But if, whilst we held out the plausible pretences of friendship and neutrality, we clandestinely for our own interested schemes, conveyed to them re Care not for those who say "lo, here is Christ," or, "lo, there; " in the "desert;" or in the “secret chambers" (Matt. xxiv. 26.). Let all seek to be humble and willing subjects of that visible Kingdom, which Christ Himself has established in this World. Let its ordinances, and its doctrines, and its ministry, be accounted Christ's and not Man's. Here God has made plain the way of salvation. The appointment is not Man's but God's. Let not the impious absurdity of Dissenterism deceive us into the dangerous doctrine, that Men or the World can make a Church, or its Institutions. No, it is God that makes a Church. Yea, by Him, as the original (Ἐκκλησία) word denotes, it is called or chosen out of the World, and from the perverse ways of mankind. Can the Church call itself out of the World, any more than a man can bring himself into the World? All this is as independent of ourselves, as our natural birth. Nor let that more infamous dogma of Sectarianism be once mentioned, that human power and human votes can give authority to a sacred ministry. For is not this too the work of God? Is it not written-" No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." (Heb. v. 4.). Now as Aaron was called by an outward consecration, from a person whom God had commissioned to consecrate: and the power thus given descended by succession to his posterity-so must all Ministers be called by an outward act and investiture of authority, from those very persons, whom God has specially appointed for his high office, and in that line or oraer which bears the impress and promises of divine appointment, and in that unbroken succession, to whose operations only are promised the grace of God's Holy Spirit, in the performance of this all-important duty, and with whom Christ has promised to be "always, even unto the end of the world." (Matt. xxviii. 20.). We therefore exhort every faithful member of our truly Apostolic Church, to regard all, who unsent and uncalled, take this authority upon themselves, and from no higher source than that of men, as guilty of an impious invasion of God's appointments, and of deliberate treason against the great Founder, King, and Governor of the Church. Let them be looked upon as pretending to act in the name of God, but utterly without His appointment. Let them be stigmatized, with the ridiculous, no less than the profane absurdity, of ambassadors sending themselves, and arrogantly presuming, as they do in the Christian Sacraments, without the deputation of a higher power, to sign and seal treaties and covenants! Let them be compared to an army raising itself without commissions, and thus like a company of banditti, leaguing together to usurp, plunder, and destroy. Such is the case of all Presbyterians, Independents, and all the other brood of usurpers of the ecclesiastical spectively, such weapons and goads, as might increase their rancour, and infuriate their warfare, in what other light could we regard ourselves, than as deceptive, dark, unprincipled, and hypocritical ruffians? Common sense then would soon award us our sentence. Now it is functions. They unanswerably and undeniably, in every tittle, correspond with the above description. They have forsaken the Apostolic bodythey have abandoned the Church-they have insulted the ordinances, divinely appointed for the administration of Christ's earthly and visible kingdom-they have dared to worship the self-erected idols of their own bewildered fancies-they have in opposition to God's Church, made a Church out for themselves and they have arrogated to themselves an authority, which as they never received, they can surely never confer. Of all these Sectaries, therefore, we may conclude, that their intrusion into God's sacred ministry, is an unwarrantable, and shamefully impudent usurpation. By departing from the succession so clearly revealed, and institutions of Providence, their commission might as well be called divine, as a commission granted by the silliest, imaginative, old women of their Congregations. They are no more Priests of God, than those are, who pretend to have power of bestowing upon them this great trust. To allow them this honourable distinction, would be as foolish and presumptuous, as to call by the title of The Word of God, a humanly endited version of the Scriptures, which had been made up of scraps, gathered by mere memory, when the originals had been quite lost and extinct. In such a case, it would certainly be well, to make the collection as good, as perfect, and as correct as possible, but would it not argue an excess of gross absurdity, to put it forward, as having equal authority with the true Revelation itself? Now, we ask, can there be any error in our conduct, when we resist those, who in the delusions of blind enthusiasm, or the uncharitableness of imperious schism, set themselves about either making their own Church, or are even, with an odd sort of humility, a Church to themselves? They are stupidly ignorant of the principles of the Apostolic government and practice, and of the very elements of a Christian Church, who do not see their revolting, aye, their impious pretensions. Of the pretended, counterfeit ministers, who have disorderly thrust themselves into the Sacred Office, let us take for example Presbyterians, -who do indeed make more claim than their fellow-sectaries, to the characteristics of a regular hierarchy. Their arrogance being proved, that also of all other Schismatics, easily and naturally follows. Let us suppose, that a considerable party of the laity in their Kirk of Scotland, or in their corresponding Conventicles of the North of Ireland, disliked the present doctrine and discipline of their appointed Teachers, and boldly and piously imagined, that they could do infinitely better for themselves, and should therefore take upon themselves to Ordain Pastors according to their own new and reformed rules of Church polity. Nay, let us imagine that their officious, old women should raise up the easy, to apply this familiar example, to the subject before us. We have solemnly pledged ourselves, not merely in terms of strict neutrality, but close friendship also, towards Portugal. This alliance has been consecrated by a long, uninterrupted reciprocation of mutual benefits. scream and cry, and determinedly lay claim to the same privilege : for we can promise to our readers, that this is not got up, for the mere playing off of a ridiculous paradox: we assure them, that we ourselves, have more than once, heard with our own ears, their clamorous, and deafening tongues, briskly at work in their Meeting-Houses, to legislate for their Church, and appoint their Pastor: for the unfortunate fellow, must, to secure the patronage of all, pass the ordeal of all his electors -must have a common creed to suit the delicate palate of all-must have the accommodating talent of preaching and praying, to please and delight the contradictory tastes of all and must teach, just as he is by his people beforehand taught and lectured, ere they give him the power to edify them !!! Now, we ask, who would be so absurd, as to suppose that Ordinations so manufactured, would have any authority ? Would the Ministers of the Kirk concede the point to the refractory? And yet this is precisely the case with the Pastors of Presbyterians, and all the other Dissenters. They all deliberately, and knowingly, outraged the Apostolic institution-they all usurped a power to which there was no more right, than in the pretensions of our fanciful, old womenand they have all contrived to dub themselves Ministers-though unsent -uncalled-unauthorised-disorderly and uncommissioned. We have in our preceding remarks sufficiently brought forward the general principles, why we thus declare our sentiments. Their validity, we know, cannot be questioned-cannot be impugned. We can hardly expect, that it would be of any material use, to adduce any more authorities, for strengthening, or elucidating our statement. These pretenders are so generally, and so absolutely ignorant, of even the very first principles of Theology, or the least acquaintance of the resources of the primitive ages, that research into, or the treasures of Antiquity, would rather frighten them away, than be a source of any attraction. Like the fable of the frog in the ditch, or the worm in the cabinet, the boundaries of their intellectual world, do not much exceed the limits of their sensible, and visible horizon. We do not profess to supply in our pages, the lamentable defect of a scanty and bad education, and still less do we like to be enveloped in the clouds of words, that these wordy, spiritual demagogues, and loud, village orators, can quickly call into being, marvellously, to amaze, entrance, and confound! We prefer ideas to words-learning to prattling-authority to notions -precedents to whims-sobriety to vapouring-solidity to fanciessteadiness to novelties-the voice of the Church, even to the fond suggestions of our own brains-the interpretation of millions of Saints, blessed with the enlightening influences of God's Holy Spirit, living in all ages, and in all climes, to the pretended inspiration and assumed |