province, in which he had placed him, in plain terms foretells what they would one day do, if they were left to their own elections, and might choose pastors for themselves. "The time will come, (fays he) when they will not endure found doctrine, but after their own lufts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." 2 TIM. iv. 3. This was a pretty fair warning, one would think, both to TIMOTHY himself and to his fucceffors too, (for it was an indefinite prophecy in point of time to them all) that they should beware of trufting too much to the votes and fuffrages of the people, in that particular affair efpecially, of providing paftors for themselves.

Thus much will be fufficient to point out to you the narrow ground, upon which the boldeft affertions fometimes ftand.

But upon the fuppofition, that the end which writers against our establishment have in view fhould be completely answered, by the body of the community being drawn away from our church, give me leave to ask, what advantage will be derived from that circumstance to the ftate? (for in that point of view I am now placing the fubject.) Do you think, Sir, that the government of this country will stand upon a firmer foundation than at present, when its

chief fupport fhall, in a great degree, have been drawn from it?

The idea induftriously propagated by the Rev. Mr. HAWEIS is certainly calculated to make converts among those to whom it is addreffed; but it requires but a small share of difcernment to discover its fallacy.

"Not all the Popes of Rome, (fays he*) not all the bishops and archbishops, nor all the fynods in the universe, can make a man a minifter of CHRIST, whatever preferment he may be qualified to hold by law, who has not been inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost, and called and qualified by the great Shepherd and Bishop of fouls; and where such call and qualifications are found, and fuch a man approved and chofen by fuch as have experienced a like call and qualifications; whether the commiffion be delivered from a rochet or a cloak; if CHRIST owns,

* "A Plea for Peace and Union among the living Members of the real church of CHRIST, by the Rev. T. HAWEIS, LL.B."

Mr. HAWEIS'S mode of promoting union in the church is rather a fingular one. In the diocefe of Peterborough, he may, for any thing I know to the contrary, live in canonical obedience to his bifhop. But when the rector of All-Saints, Aldwinckle, comes into the diocefe of Bath and Wells, he officiates in a place of worship, that is independent of epifcopal jurifdiction; and that has, as I am informed, with the view of escaping parochial affeffments, lately taken shelter, as a Diffenting Meeting-Houfe, under the Toleration Act. "Such things are!"

bleffes, and makes fuch a minifter a father of many spiritual children, and seals his approbation of the work by his fpirit, in figns following; I think every gracious heart will be difpofed to acknowledge fuch a man as a minister of CHRIST, completely authorifed, and will prefer him to all the pomp and pride of worldly dignity, and an unrenewed fpirit, by whatever title distinguished."

Here is fome plausibility mixed with much dangerous doctrine. The whole quotation, taken together, may be confidered as containing Mr. HAWEIS'S infallible plan for vacating the Apoftolic commiffion, by eradicating from men's minds every idea relative to the inftituted government of the Chriftian church. A ftrange undertaking for a minifter of that church to engage in! According to this plan, the ordination of bishops or archbishops is of little confideration; the call and qualifications of the man make the minifter of CHRIST. But, as this fubject ftrikes me, no fpiritual qualifications whatever can fuperfede the neceffity of a regular appointment to the ministerial office; because CHRIST, for wife reafons, left his church under regular government. Spiritual quali fications enable the minister to discharge his office with better effect; and he will be but an indifferent

regu

minifter, who is wanting in them; but it is the
lar appointment alone that makes the man a minister.
If we confider the church, as it is, a regular foci-
ety, we must have fome fixed rules to go by, in
every thing that relates to the management of its
concerns. We are directed to feek knowledge from
the mouth of the priest, for this reason, because he is
the meffenger of the LORD of Hofts; or, in the
words of ST. PAUL, the ambaffador for JESUS
CHRIST. Christians must, therefore, be furnished
with fome fure criterion, by which they may know
where this ambaffador is to be found.

e..

That this is a matter of no trifling concern, we are authorised to conclude, from the attention at all times paid by GoD to perfons invested with the minifterial commiffion, confidered as a fort of mediators between "o GOD and man. We read, for inftance, that GOD would not heal ABIMELECH, though he knew the integrity of his heart, till ABRAHAM had prayed for him. "He is a prophet, (fays GoD) he shall pray for thee, and thou fhalt live." Gen. xx. 7. If the good CORNELIUS will have the Gofpel revealed to him, he must send to Joppa, for PETER to preach to him.

Now it is a decided pofition, that no ambaffador can fend himself. In like manner, and in allufion to the fame idea, the Apostle afks, "how fhall they `preach, except they are fent." Rom. x. 5. Mr. HAWEIS will anfwer the queftion, by telling us, that thofe perfons are fent into the ministry, who have the inward call and qualifications for it. But there is a wide difference between being qualified for an office, and being authorised to undertake it. The former may be confidered as an invisible thing, of which we may not have it in our power to form a competent judgment. The minister may deceive himself, and of course cannot fail to deceive others. But the outward appointment to an office is that external mark, fuited to the administration of a visible fociety, which our bleffed SAVIOUR fanctioned by his own practice, and by which we cannot be deceived.

For, taking the fubject on Mr. HAWEIS's ground, it must be asked, who is to judge of the call and qualifications of every particular minister: not the minifter himself, furely? not quite fo; but, what appears to amount to the fame thing, ministers of a fimilar description, who have received the fame call and qualifications with himself, and have confidered them as their fufficient warrant for undertaking the ministry. :