pal order, and their anxiety to abide by any conditions, short of a sinful departure from the faith of Christ, under which it might be retained.

How far the reasons, by which these illustrious men justified their conduct, were well founded, it is now unnecessary to inquire; but that they were actuated by an ardent zeal for the truth of Christianity cannot be questioned; for they cheerfully hazarded their lives in its defence. It is certain that the difficulties, which opposed their endeavours to preserve the discipline as well as the faith of the Church, according to the primitive model, were very great; and, though they failed to remove them, we have no reason to doubt that they were sincere in their wishes and attempts to succeed: nay, the very very earnestness with which they pleaded the insuperable necessity of their situation, as their apology for setting up a new form of ecclesiastical polity, will sufficiently prove, that they admitted the authority of that government, which the Church, until then, had

It must not however be hastily i conceded, that the excuse, which they pleaded for departing from the primitive model, may justify their successors in adhering to novel institutions, when similar obstacles no longer interposed to prevent their return to episcopacy.

If this continued rejection of the apostolic regimen be defended at all, it must be upon very different grounds. But this is a question, which it belongs not to our present subject to discuss: undoubtedly many allowances are to be made for habits of thought, and prejudices of education; and it will be our wisdom, as well as our duty, to leave the decision of such matters to that Being, who k" searcheth the hearts" of men. He alone knoweth how far ignorance is so invincible, or prejudices are so strong and sincere, as to be warrantably alleged in defence of a departure from his positive institutions. It is however important to remark, that this unhappy deviation from the apostolic form of Church

i See Note XXXII. Appendix.

k Rom. viii. 27.

government has afforded demonstrative proof of the utility, nay of the necessity of that government, as an instrument of unity.

For it is an indisputable fact, that heresies and schisms have grievously 1increased since that period; and that they have abounded no where so much, and so fatally, as among those, who have thrown off the salutary superintendance of that hierarchy, originally appointed "for the 'perfecting of the saints, for the work of "the ministry, for the edifying of the body "of Christ.'

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There was, we know, a period in our own national history, when the persevering efforts of a designing and powerful faction in the State, co-operating with religious prejudices and animosities, and perhaps too much assisted by the ill digested and vacillating measures of a weak, though well meaning government, had succeeded in shaking the pillars both of Church and State to their very foundations.

Even a slight acquaintance with the

m

events of these distracted times will point out the danger of removing the salutary restraints of established forms and constituted authority; and will sufficiently prove to us, that Christian unity cannot long be preserved, when the Christian priesthood is rejected. They who assume a right to consecrate their own priests, will soon follow the example of TM Micah the Ephraimite yet one step farther, and make their own religion. The busy spirit of innovation, and the bold restlessness of speculation, can only be effectually checked by an habitual reverence for long established ordinances and legitimate power: and as they who have chosen their own civil rulers have generally obeyed them no longer than their prejudices were flattered, or some temporary and sinister purposes promoted by the mock submission; so they who appoint their own religious teachers will never scruple to withdraw themselves from their ministry, when it ceases to be acceptable to their capricious humour; and thus a door will be opened, for the introduction Judges xvii. 5.

of every species of will-worship, until the faith once delivered to the saints is wholly lost, amidst the wild ravings of enthusiastic fancy, or the subtle refinements of an innovating philosophy.

To prevent this evil, to preserve and to extend the confession of the true faith, to do the work of the ministry, to perfect the Christian world in the knowledge and the practice of their duty, and to edify the Church, which is his body, did our Lord, at the first, "give some, apostles; and "some, prophets; and some, evangelists; "and some, pastors and teachers;" appointing unto each his peculiar office; that by the effectual working of every part," all might be taught to "speak "the truth in love," and grow up by degrees • "unto the measure of the "sta"ture of the fulness of Christ." where the plan, which he in wisdom ordained for the government of his Church, is despised, and men vainly undertake to new model his kingdom; there will necessarily follow confusion, and every evil work: n Ephes. iv. 16. 15. Ephes. iv. 13.

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