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because so much of good is contained in it, that the reader must be either good or bad in the extreme, who does not derive benefit from it.

Feeling with the Critic,* " that an extra official exhortation to that renovation of mind which conftitutes the characteristic of the true Chriftian, affisted by the credit of this author's fituation, the just and general confidence in the worth and fincerity of his character, the clearnefs of his intellect, and the force of his eloquence, will produce a more extenfive, and on many minds a more powerful effect, than any instruction from the pulpit, or even from the pen of a divine;" I feel earnestly defirous of contributing to fo important an object.

Before I conclude this poftfcript, however, I could wish (if it may be done without offence, and where no offence is meant, none fhould be taken) to recall to the particular attention of this respectable author fome few confiderations.

In his late publication he has pronounced a general condemnation upon the profeffional character of the Clergy of the established church. By wife and candid men, a general and indifcriminate condemnation will be seen in a light, in which this author, if we

Brit. Critic, for Sept. 1797.

may judge of him from fome parts of his work, would be very unwilling that his fentiments fhould appear. Confidered, in its reference to the Clergy as a body, his fentence is certainly not less impolitic, than unjuft. It is unjuft, because unfupported by facts. It is impolitic, because it must prove detrimental to the conftitution of this country; by alienating the minds of the community from that branch of it, which has always been regarded as its firmest support.

The utmost credit will be readily given to this author for his good intention. Upon this head I believe the opinion of the public is not lefs honourable than it is decided. But convinced, as I am, that the church of CHRIST has been ever an Epifcopal church; and that a feparation from its communion has been, what it always will be, the fruitful fource of herefy* and uncharitablenefs, and confequently one of the greatest misfortunes that has ever hap pened to the Christian world; it is impoffible to look with indifference upon that growing prevalence of fectarianism, which marks the character of the present day.

* “Inde schifmata et hærefes oborta funt et oriuntur, dum epifcopus, qui unus eft, et ecclefiæ præeft superbâ quorumnam præfumptione, contemnitur: et homo dignatione DE1 honoratus, indignus hominibus judicatur." CYPRIAN, Epift. 69.

Our author would be confidered to be a profeffed friend to our happy establishment. No one can feel more difpofed to fee him in that light than myself. At the fame time, I truft, it will not be regarded as any intentional impeachment, either of his integrity or judgment, to remind him, that railing against the clergy of the establishment has been that preparatory step to fubverfion, which has been twice adopted with fuccefs by the fubjects of Great-Britain. It may be unneceffary to add, that the Revolution of the last century in this kingdom, and that lately effected in our colonies, are the inftances which I have in view.

It is not pofitively faid, because I would not haftily pronounce fentence against the good fenfe of this nation; but he must be a very unprofitable spectator of what is going forward around him, who does not fee reason to fear, that a confpiracy against our establishment is now in a state of rapid growth in this country.

But furely these are eventful times, in which no wife man will be forward in hazarding experiments. Allowing that reformation is wanting, (a fubject, upon which, alas! there can be but one opinion) it is still a matter of effential confideration, in what manner that

reformation is to be effected. The disease of which we complain, fo far at least as the clergy are concerned, is partial; fuch as, we truft, the vigour of a found conftitution will prevent from becoming defperate. But an ill-judged method of cure ofttimes brings death to a patient, not otherwise in danger.

If, upon the ground of the prefent fuppofed in. fufficiency of the clergy, (a fact which their enemies know themselves to be incapable of proving) communion with our church be no longer confidered a matter of Chriftian obligation; and it be judged advifeable, for the more effectual advancement of the Christian cause, to follow what may be deemed the found of the Gofpel, wherever heard, or by whom foever delivered; we do not hesitate to fay, that in fuch cafe the remedy will, in the end, prove worse than the disease; and that thofe well-meaning per fons, who are perhaps most fanguine in its application, will eventually find that they have been only inftruments in the hands of defigning men for the accomplishment of purposes, which, could they foresee them, they might be among the last to promote, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Pfalm xi. 3.

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POSTSCRIPT to the CLERGY.

T

HE confideration of writing to my Brethren the Clergy on a fubject, with which every minister of the church is, from his profeffion, fuppofed to be acquainted, has more than once ftopped my pen. But circumstances and fituation may qualify one minister to speak more fully upon some particular subject than another, without his laying claim to any general fuperiority in profeffional knowledge.

It having been the will of Divine Providence to fix my refidence in a place, which has given me continued opportunities of lamenting the effects produced by a feparation from the communion of the Chriftian church; it is to be expected, that my thoughts should occafionally have been employed upon this fubject. Such of my brethren as are placed in fimilar fituations, may perhaps be obliged to me for bringing into one collected point of view the refult of my reflections upon it.

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