We must also endeavour to forget and forgive the "sweeping censure" passed upon the whole body of the established clergy, by president P. in his sermon, especially as the conference, in their minutes, say that their venerable brother did not mean to stir up any persecution against us, by the expressions he employed; and as he himself has expunged one of the most offensive passages concerning the clergy, and even allowed that some of them are of use in awakening care. less sinners.

While we are thankful for this concession in our favour, we must take care to keep within the sphere of usefulness, the president has assigned us, if we would retain our popularity. The moment we attempt to educate our own children at home, and instead of sending them to a wet or dry nurse, prefer for them their mother's milk, as more wholesome and nourishing than that of strangers, we give of fence to those who wish to be employed in this way. If we are fond of popularity, dislike the trouble of rearing a family of children, and love no part of the pastoral office but preaching to a large congregation, we must be careful not to offend such persons (who can puff as well as revile) by endeavouring to counteract their schemes. But if we are really engaged in the service of the Church with those views, which every conscientious clergyman ought to have, of her excellency, asthe pillar and ground of truth and social order in the land; if we consider a Christian education, according to her doctrines and rules, as calculated to form a character far more amiable and useful than any other, and if we regard every separation from her communion as productive of mischief and confusion, we ought to take heed that she receives no detriment from our negligence or disorderly conduct.

Yet there is a peculiar trait in the character of a true churchman, which

must always make him an unequal match for zealous separatists. He cannot bring himself to think so ill of them as they do of him, or to suspect that they are not in a state of salvation. Hence he always acts upon the defensive, and never takes any pains to draw over to his communion those who are settled in any other which holds the fundamental truths of Christianity.

This is a curious circumstance, and yet undoubtedly true. I do not know one serious Churchman, who has not been tampered with to change his religion, and assailed by proselytes of various sorts, who have attempted to unsettle his principles; to put him out of love with his Church and authorized teachers, and to shew unto him a more excellent way; though I do not remember one instance of our attacking them, or seeking to lead them away captive to our Babylon, as S. P. calls the Church of England. If this is a detect it is an amiable one, and cannot be cured but by introducing a portion of bigotry into our constitution, which would be a remedy worse than the disease.

For my own part I have not the least inclination to make reprisals, as I cannot doubt about the safety of all, in every denomination of Christians, who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. But supposing, as is probably the case, that S. P. and P. P. express the general sentiment entertained by their respective sects of the Church of England and the very best of her clergy, the Dissenters must press all serious people to "come out of her, lest they partake of her plagues;" and the Methodists must labour to draw them from us into their CONNEXION, where they will be better instructed, and taught the way of the Lord more perfectly. Thinking as they do of us, they cannot conscientiously act otherwise. I blame them not on this account, nor even the Roman Catholics, who are a far more numerous and formidable body, in this place, than all the other sects put together.

I shall only add, that what I wrote did not flow from pique, but principle. As I never received those personal provocations, which are suggested in some of your pages where I am mentioned; never saw the Church bereaved of her children here, as she

has been in many other places, I am really not entitled to the excuse which has been made for me.

In the inclosed letter, from Mr. Walker to Mr. Adam, the Methodists are mentioned in a way which can bardly be thought uncandid. None of your readers need be alarmed at the re-appearance of this correspondence. Neither of the writers were uncharitable or narrow-minded men, though zealous for established order. But whatever may be said, you are not to be responsible for it. From the very nature of your candid and useful miscellany, many things must be allowed a place in it, which cannot claim your unqualified approbation. He must be an unreasonable correspondent indeed, who expects every person to think exactly as he does.

I find that you, Mr. Observer, are looked upon as, a kind of amphibious animal, neither fish nor flesh, too much attached to the old doctrines of the Church to be endured by divines of the modern school, and too steady a friend of established order to be liked by those who separate themselves from her. Now as this happens to be pretty much the light, in which my own character, and that of my deceased fathers, are considered, I think you should, from sympathy and fellow-feeling, admit us occasionally into your monthly parties.

W. R. Mr. Walker's letter, if possible, in our next.

FRAGMENTS OF A VOYAGE.

(Concluded from p. 155).

FRIDAY.-The country now in our view, is particularly interesting, as being the parent of a race of men, who made the longest and firmest stand against Roman tyranny; and, in later times, were as famed for hardihood and valour as any of the inhabitants of Europe. How is the pictufe now reversed! Her bold mountains, as we have ocular proof, remain: but the heroes they nourished have given place to a degenerate progeny, debased by papal and regal despotism, and seduced, by the wealth of Peru and Mexico, to exchange the honest and wholesome gains of agriculture and legitimate commerce for sloth and indulgence. The powers of body and mind, necessary for the

attainment of their former objects, were no longer exercised. The precious metals flew to them across the Atlantic without any exertion on their part; and their vigour and sagacity, having been long suffered to sleep, lost their tone, and they were punished by the signal degradation of those important faculties, which they refused to employ. This appears to have been the lot of all the higher orders, and to have rivetted their civil and religious chains. The lower orders must always partake of the evils which fall on the higher, and be subjected to others by the debasement of their superiors. From various causes the commonalty in Spain have suffered, in both these respects, in an extraordinary degree. The domineering power of France has extinguished the political independence of this miserable land; and she may now cry out, with peculiar propriety to all her enemies and rivals, and to none more than to the navy of Britain, non sum qualis eram; parce, parce, precor. I am glad that I have seen her shores. The sight may contribute with the divine blessing to give force to the lesson her history is intended to convey to us.

Captain A gives an extremely pleasing account of a Danish crew, with whom he once sailed. All were called up to prayers every morning. There was through the day no appearance of profaneness or other gross vice among them, but they lived together with much cordial good will, and in the true spirit of mutual sympathy and accommodation, more like a family of relations than a ship's crew. He believes, that the state of things is in general pretty similar to this in Danish ships. Earnestly do I wish that the same could be said of British!

Saturday. The absence of many little comforts we enjoy on shore at once proves to us their value, heretofore too little noticed; and affords us a useful lesson of self-denial, and of the importance of not giving way to habits of effeminacy and indulgence, when delicacies and luxuries are within our reach. The sickly state of our servants, making it unreasonable for us to expect the attendance to which we have been accustomed, we are each of us taught the importance of being able to perform little offices of all kinds for ourselves, and for such as are more sick than we happen to

be. And as we cannot but find, that our ability to do this actively and cheerfully is, in a considerable degree, proportionate to our habits of acting for ourselves when on shore, we are taught the importance of not calling on servants for their assistance when on shore, beyond what necessity and propriety plainly require. Our situation gives us an opportunity of acquiring some little branches of knowledge both of men and things, which will not, I hope, be entirely lost; and of continually affording each other accommodations called for by inconveniencies, little if ever felt before, which will, I trust, draw more closely the bonds of affection which

unite us.

Our present situation has natural ly brought some passages ("they that go down to the sea in ships, &c.)" in the Psalms, and St. Paul's voyage and shipwreck, to our minds. What advantages and comforts do we enjoy compared with those who went on the sea in David's, or even in St. Paul's days. Let us never forget who is the donor; or fail to give him the praise! I do not know, that I ever before entered so feelingly into the calamity of the companions of the Apostles, tossed about so many days in an ungovernable ship, and in a very dangerous sea, without any means of ascertaining where they were or whither they were going. St Paul himself had support from on high, and was in formed what he was to expect, but he must have felt much of the pressure of the common misfortune. But this was by no means the only peril by sea which he experienced, as we are told 2 Cor. xi. 25.- Thrice have I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day have I been in the deep." Looking back on his sufferings, what cause have we to praise God for the easy lot, and the abundant mercies, vouchsafed to us?

Sunday. Mr. L- using a profane expression in conversation with me this afternoon, I put a force on myself, and determined to introduce the mention of his present conduct contrasted with his religious education. Fortunately he spoke on the subject himself, when he saw that I was drawing very near it, or at least he was put in mind of his own case by the tenor of my conversation, and candidly applied my remarks to him

self. He seemed impressed, but not at all offended, by what passed in our subsequent conversation. May his God and Saviour, who has been so often invoked by the prayers of his father to be his friend and protector, fix the subject of our discourse on his heart; and enable me, if they see it necessary, to contribute, as their humble instrument, to that great end!Our conversation was interrupted by the Captain.

God blesses us with a fine day and a quiet ship on this his sabbath. The wind continues fair, but light, and we go but about two knots an hour. The sea heaves this morning in smooth and majestic swells, which move forward in easy sweeping curves of much grace and grandeur. They give more motion to the vessel than is comfortable to us. Rand F read me some chapters in Genesis before breakfast, beginning with the twelfth. How trying was Abraham's journey to be a sojourner with his posterity, he knew not how long, in Canaan; and not knowing whither he went, through his intire ignorance of that country! He could neither procure any history to give him any account of it, nor could he even see its figure and position in a map; for he was probably as ignorant of letters, as of delineation for purposes of geography. Probably he might not meet with any travellers, who could give him any comprehensive account of the country and its inhabitants. Yet he went cheerfully in faith, and we hear of no subsequent complaints or regrets in the history we have of him when in "the strange land;" nor do his spirit and proceedings indicate that he harboured any in his bosom, not even when the gift of the child of promise was so very long delayed. "He sought a better country, that is a heavenly," and this made every sacrifice easy to him, and gave his bosom that peace of God, which passeth understanding, and includes not only content but joy. Alas! that we, under a trial incomparably lighter, and heirs of so much better promises, should find any difficulty in following Abraham's example with undeviating cheerfulness! In whatever sense, or with whatever distinctness of conception as to the nature of his object, he

sought a heavenly country;" there is no doubt, but that this may be said.

of real Christians, (God grant that we may be such!) in the highest sense, and that we have ample information as to the excellence of our object!

Thank God, we now hear very little swearing except from C; to whom I must speak, when I have an opportunity. Poor old man! his years and a bad cough ought to give him a near view of the grave. How thankful ought we to be, that we have been spared those strong temptations to this vice to which he has probably been exposed, and have enjoyed great and precious advantages of various kinds, which have not been vouchsafed to him. Such deplorable examples should lead us to see and-lament the evils of our own nature, and not to be high-minded, but to fear.

I am now preparing letters for my friends, that I may lose no time in sending them, if an opportunity should occur, How pleasant is it to have a little intercourse with them through the powers of imagination and of the pen, when at the distance of three or four thousand miles! This is a blessing, which a very small portion of the human race can enjoy; a blessing to be prized as productive of present pleasure; and what is more important, as fostering that affection toward our relations and friends which the spirit of Christianity requires, no less than its precepts.

Tuesday. The crew have, for some days, been busily employed in making new sails. They go through this business in all its parts with great adroitness, sitting on the deck like professed tailors, and handling their needles in sewing together the lengths of canvass, and in fixing the edges of the sail to the ropes which serve as binding to it. Mr. L― tells me this skill in sail-making is an indispensable quali

fication in a good sailor. This accounts for the prisoners at Orleans turning their hands so readily to the making of trowsers when Mr. L. was there. I spoke this evening to C― about his profane language, he listened kindly, and professed intentions of reformation.

Saturday. After going about thirty miles during the night, the sailors soon after sunrise announced land. Thanks to the great Lord of winds and waves, that our voyage appears to be so near its close, without any serious calamity, and with many very many blessings.

To the Editor of the Christian Observer. I HOPE you will excuse my disapproving of the following passage, in your otherwise instructive history of the Life of Simon Peter:-"His imagination fervid, his heart feeling, his passions strong, his spirit bold and decisive, he was ever prompt to speak and to act; but from such a modifica tion of character, he was too frequently betrayed into faults, which are ble of those generous feelings, which seen and avoided by minds little capaflourished in the heart of Simon." (Vol. I. p. 146). These words seem to recommend a temper, which, I am sure, from the usual tenor of your writings, you would be the first to discountenance. Their impropriety strikes me, perhaps, more forcibly than it may others, from, I will not say, an exactly parallel passage which I met with in a sermon, viz. "That mind which is too timorous to sink to a vice, will never soar to a virtue." H. O.

LXXXIII. Unity the Bond of Peace.

(Continued from p. 162).

THE two next chapters are occupied in considering "the means of checking the progress of schism;" first, as they respect the clergy; and secondly, as they respect the laity.

With respect to the clergy, the author says,

"Totally blind must they be to their own interest, as well as to the high and important ends of their appointment, if they did not at this time see the peculiar need of professional exertion and personal circumspection. Great would be the woe

which would belong to them, if, through any indolence, neglect, or misconduct of their's, the impending danger he hastened or increased." (p. 183.)

In a subsequent page, he says,

"If, in those places only where the clergy have been wanting in their duty or character, Sectarism had gained a footing, it would have excited no great degree of surprise, nor should we then have had much occasion to complain. But the instances of this kind, I hope, are few, and it is not unworthy of remark, that the spirit of proselytism is, in general, there most busy where the clergy are most active in the care of their flock." (p. 185.)

Of the circumstance mentioned in the latter part of this extract, many instances might be referred to; and in not a few instances, this circumstance has led some (not very deep reasoners) to infer, that these "most active" clergymen are the greatest promoters of Dissenters. How often is it alleged against such clergymen, that they are not only Methodists, but the makers of Methodists! The fact is, (and we see no reason for suppressing it), that when a zealous clergyman has, by his faithful declaration of the council of God, awakened his hearers to some concern for their souls, and some serious thoughts of eternity, they are then rendered attractive objects of the proselyting spirit before described; and in the infancy of their religious life, they may be more exposed to the seduction of the separatist, than while they remained in their former state of spiritual deadness. Now if a clergyman, on account of such circumstances, shall be charged with encouraging schism, he must submit to the impeachment. At the same time he may, perhaps, venture to ask his accusers, whether, because some of those whom he has awakened to a sense of religion have become Dissenters, he should, therefore, forbear all endeavours to awaken more? It is a question which may fairly be put; and we should be glad to hear how, in such a case, it would be answered.

It may be said, that these clergymen should labour to prevent the alienation of any of their people-they certainly should (and many of them as certainly do), by every possible justifiable method. But are we to wonder that these endeavours, in some instances, fail to be effectual?

After stating in a general (indeed, rather too general) way, what the CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 16.

clergy should do, in order to support the Church, this author states what they should not do: and among the interdicted practices enumerated, is that of joining in any prayer-meetings, where any devotions are used except those which are contained in the common prayer-book. All," he says, "beyond this is the business of the family or the closet." He allows, however, of private explications and admonitions. Without pretending in this place to discuss the merits or demerits of prayer-meetings, or the legality of a clergyman's attendance at them, we must express our inability to conceive how it happens, that a clergyman, who is within the bounds of his duty and the law, when he addresses himself to a fellow-creature, in the name of God, suddenly steps be yond the limits of his duty and the law, when he seeks for a blessing upon his advice, by addressing himself to God in behalf of his fellow. creature.

The 188th and 189th pages contain some very incorrect reasoning. For example, it is inferred, that if a clergyman, from motives of upright policy, follow the example of the Sectaries in one instance, he must follow it in others, through all its devious courses. This is not true: he need not do any such thing. Again, the author (if we do not mistake him) represents a clergyman's institution of religious societies, (similar to those which Dr. Woodward has described), as parallel with field-preaching, and as constituting a desertion of his post. (See last number, p. 161.)

In speaking of those clergymen who are denominated evangelical, the author shews that his evident good sense, and apparent conscientiousness, have not preserved him from adopting prejudices, and crediting vulgar clamours, which it would have better become him to have rejected. The consequence of his having attended to them, and suffered himself to be influenced by them, appears in several instances of inconsistency between his declared principles and his practice. Thus he intimates an inability to distinguish one part of the clergy from another, and blames o thers for making a distinction; yet he adopts the distinction, in order to censure that part which is called evange lical, and to praise the remainder. He deems it indecent in one part of the

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