or not shown, by their writings, that they are but fallible men? Will it be said, "They MAY still be RIGHT in their arguments on the points in question?" True-And, therefore, once more be it observed, that though argument can be fairly encountered only by argument, yet contempt, overbearing, and such like, may, on most occasions, be properly enough resisted by producing instances of the fallibility of the persons who use such weapons.

Let the Reader consult Mr. Joseph Milner's small volume of Essays*, and then judge for himself, whether, as far as argument is concerned, exclusive of all sort of authority, except what is divine, the despised Enthusiast has not much the better of the contest, particularly in the important question of the influence of the Holy Spirit on the understanding. Let him also compare the contents of these same Essays, with all that has been written on those subjects by both the Rev. Messrs. Ludlam-and judge, WHO HAS WRITTEN MOST

LIKE A MAN OF A PLAIN, DOWNRIGHT UNDERSTANDING; WITH THE GREATEST CLEARNESS; WITH THE LEAST PARADE, AND WITH THE DEEPEST AND MOST ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE OF

THE SCRIPTURES. These Essays remain yet unanswered..

Nothing can be more natural than that the Rev. T. Ludlam should have a partiality and veneration for the productions of a near relative who well deserved all his respect and esteem. Nor does the Writer of this Narrative make any scruple to confess that, on similar grounds, he feels a par

*This is now reprinted in the last Vol. of the Edition of All his Works.

tiality of the same sort for the late Rev. Mr. Milner; and on this account he expects his report of that Author's Works to be received with considerable reserve by a cautious public.-But after all it should be recollected, that it is one thing to have a high opinion of the knowledge and ability of a near friend and relative, so as even to think him a model for imitation, and quite another thing to treat men as Fanatics, Enthusiasts, and Rejectors of Reason, or as sly, artful, and designing characters, because they venture to think for themselves in religious concerns, and are not disposed to worship the image which another person sets up.

4. The most arduous and important undertaking of Mr. Milner is his " History of the Church of Christ," on a quite new plan. Three Volumes of this excellent work are now before the Public. The Writer therefore does not feel it necessary to say much concerning this performance. He is just now publishing a second Edition of the first Volume, which has long been called for by the Booksellers; and he has begun to print a fourth Volume of the same from the Author's Manuscripts. The fourth Volume will carry down the Work to about the middle of the 16th Century*. Formerly this Country abounded with Divines, who were strenuous and able advocates for the Establishment, who were orthodox in their faith, and who also, were diligent and zealous in the practical application of their principles. Of later years there have not been wanting orthodox members of the Church, who have also shown themselves powerful defenders

* These Volumes have since been published.

of Ecclesiastical institutions; but the persons of this description have not usually been industrious, earnest, plain, and practical preachers of the essential articles of the Christian faith. They seem to have contented themselves with supporting the outworks of Religion, and with occasional declarations of orthodoxy, and almost to have forgotten that whatever, in its aim, stops short of thoroughly awakening the consciences of men, of subduing their natural corruptions, and of producing "a peculiar people zealous of good works," is not "the Gospel of Christ, that power of God unto Salvation," which St. Paul preached. The evil consequences of this fundamental defect have not been few. Many persons, truly conscientious, and sincerely attached both to the doctrine and the discipline of the Church, have often been displeased, and even disgusted, with the defective or erroneous instruction of the pulpit; and this,-at the very time that they approved and admired what came from the reading desk. And others, who were less friendly to our Ecclesiastical Establishment, have taken advantage of this want of harmony, and thereby promoted mischievous schisms and separations.

Certain of the rulers of the Church, a long time ago, took notice of some of these EFFECTS, and expressed sufficient indignation on the account but, whether they were thoroughly aware of the cause, or whether they took the right method of curing the evils, are questions of great moment, and which call for most serious and dispassionate consideration.

That some, at least of our present Ecclesiastical

Rulers have now their eyes open to the chief cause of many of the irregular practices, and other unpleasing circumstances, which have taken place in the religious concerns of this country, the Writer of these pages collects, with great satisfaction, from several excellent Charges which of late years have been delivered by eminent and experienced Prelates at their respective visitations.

In regard to himself, he has long been fully persuaded, that the feeble and indistinct statement of fundamental articles of faith, and the almost entire neglect of enforcing the same, and of applying them closely to the consciences of the hearers, has amounted, on the part of many of the Clergy, to a DANGEROUS DEPARTURE from sound doctrine; which, if not checked, will, in no great length of time, be found much more pregnant with mischief, than it is generally suspected to be.-Already a discerning eye can trace the great havoc of the Church which it has made in various ways.

The times are awful and threatening: The Church has determined and inveterate enemies: Sects and parties daily increase in number; and the endless divisions and separations from the Establishment afford a most melancholy symptom of the decay of real religion, and of the ascendancy of loose principles.

Any wise provisions made by the State, for the purpose of strengthening and protecting the Church, ought certainly to be received with gratitude by all lovers of piety and good order. But nothing short of a radical reform of the fundamental defects here mentioned, will effectually remove our dangers.

The present times are not only awful and threatening; they are also peculiarly difficult. The very word REFORM in our days, carries along with it something that alarms;—and with very good reason, when applied to Governments, either of Church or State. The Writer of these pages, however, uses it in a way that cannot be thought exceptionable by any one.

A diligent examination of the internal history of this country in religious matters, will prove, that what he has advanced respecting the departure of many of the Clergy from the doctrines of the Church, is no idle conjecture: and the same examination will also show, beyond all dispute, that commensurate with this departure, and in proportion to it, have been all along the increase of the sectaries, and the diminution of attachment to the Establishment.-Those, therefore, who are accustomed to connect together causes and their effects, cannot but cry out REFORM. By which term, not a hair's breadth more ought to be intended, than that we should return to the GOOD OLD WAY; that we should revert to our original principles. And here happily we have not our principles to seek they are penned with the greatest clearness and precision.

In one word then, the likeliest method to preserve the unity of the Church, and a consistent harmony among its members, will be, for each individual of the Clerical order, according to his ability and situation, to do his utmost,-first, to comprehend and thoroughly digest that System of Doctrine and Practice comprised in the Articles and Homilies of the