The church of CHRIST under the Gospel is now in its eighteenth century. For upwards of fifteen centu ries of that period there was no difpute on the subject of its government. That was confeffedly and univerfally epifcopal. The first Presbyterian church that was ever heard of in the world, was fet up by JOHN CALVIN at Geneva, in the year 1541. From this period the controverfy between Epifcopal and Prefbyterian government dates its rife. It is much to be lamented, indeed, that fuch a controverfy ever took place. But whoever will give himself the trouble to mark fairly the progress of it, will determine, that whenever the Diffenters have brought their forces (if I may adopt your phrafeology) to a pitched battle with the Churchmen, they have never failed to be beaten out of the field. If their most famous leaders, BLONDEL and SALMASIUS, have been unable to maintain their ground, we may fafely fay, the few advantages which may feem to have been occafionally gained against the church establishment, have been gained by flight fkirmishing parties; who, by fudden irruptions, have furprised some of the church troops fleeping on their posts, or unprovided with arms to repel the attack. But I will venture to fay, that no Diffenter of learning and character will

choose to enter the field against a Churchman of the fame description, on the fubject of church government; because he knows that field of controverfy has been well fought over, and that there is not a poft to be found in it that is long tenable against a powerful adverfary. I believe you would not deem this to be a bold affertion, if you had read, as I am inclined to think you have not, the Differtations of the learned HAMMOND against BLONDEL, together with the writings of the celebrated LESLEY, or even the Discourse of Bishop POTTER.

You are not to be informed, Sir, that at a noted period of our history, when Presbytery had gained the afcendancy in this kingdom, and every argument that could be mustered was brought forth by its champions against Episcopacy, then trodden under foot; that excellent Chriftian and found Churchman, CHARLES I. a layman, without the affiftance of books or papers, engaged in single controversy with the renowned Scotch Prefbyter HENDERSON; who was placed by the Parliament at the head of the commiffion for the defence of the Presbyterian caufe; and made him retire out of the field.

The defeat which he received, or a conviction of the badness of the cause he had espoused, is fuppofed

to have had fuch effect upon the fpirits of this veteran divine, that the historian reports him to have died of grief, and broken-hearted, foon after he departed from his Majesty. See CLARENDON, book x. page 31. "It was credibly reported," fays the learned HEYLIN," that HENDERSON's being worsted in the controversy threw him into a deep melancholy, which ended in a mortal disorder." Hift. of Prefb. page 477. "Some fay that HENDERSON died a convert to his Majefty, and that he did him the juftice of an extraordinary character for managing a debate of this nature." See COLLIER, vol. ii. page 848. However this be, the conduct of the Parliamentary commiffioners furnishes the most convincing proof of the King's having gained the victory; for, feeing their veteran leader overcome, they declined engaging further in the controverfy. If you fuppofe that Presbyterian troops will not, even after they have been often and completely defeated, rally again, and return to the charge, permit me to fay you are unacquainted with their character and temper. To quit your military allufion, Prefbyterians may be convinced and convicted, but on the fubject of church matters they are not to be filenced. They have a caufe to defend which must not be given up. They

have committed themselves, and muft proceed. "Veftigia nulla retrorfum." Arguments, therefore, which have been again and again difproved, will be brought forward again.* Difprove them as often as you please, you will find them as often repeated; on this known principle, that a story, however ill-founded in itself, gains fome credit with fome people every time it is told. And when we confider, that at least ninetenths of the world are totally indifferent about the truth, and of the remaining tenth much the greater part are unqualified to examine into it; we fhall conclude, that this is an advantage not to be defpifed by thofe, whofe object it is at all events to carry their point. I do not mean to fay that this mode of conduct is peculiarly characteristical of Diffenters; I fear it is too general in the world, to be confined to men of any particular clafs or profeffion. Those of the most upright intentions and of the best understandings,

The reader may find a moft ftriking fpecimen of this repetition of old arguments in Profeffor CAMPBELL'S Ecclefiaftical History, lately published; who has detailed, nearly in the fame order and language, fome of thofe apparently material proofs, which had been brought forward a century before his publication made its appearance, without at the fame time taking the leaft notice of the anfwer by which thofe proofs had been decidedly and convincingly fet afide at that time,

when they have committed themselves in a caufe, have been known, I am forry to fay, to go any lengths rather than tread back their ground. Their honour and character they feel pledged for the maintenance of what they have once advanced. They will therefore wilfully fhut their eyes against the light, rather than be reduced to the neceffity of confeffing that they who were once blind, at length fee clearly. To make use of a vulgar phrase, and vulgar allufion, they will die hard, rather than confefs. Were it not foreign to the fubject, I could furnish you, Sir, from my own experience, with one of the most notorious inftances of this kind, that is perhaps to be produced.

You will not, I trust, think it to be an unneceffarytrespass on your time, if, before I proceed to the main fubject of your first letter, I pass a short remark on the allufion contained in your 4th page, which appears more calculated to miflead an incautious reader, than to illuftrate the position to which it is applied. "The church," Sir, you fay," is the LORD's vineyard. He has commanded in his wifdom that this vineyard fhould be fenced about, and feparated from the world by a wall of defence; that no inroads or encroachments might be made in it by those thieves or depredators who would break in or