Scripture and ancient authors, that Christ designed his Church should be; and such in doctrine and worship, as brings it into the strictest conformity with the word of God. This character of a truly apostolick and evangelical Church, we think that it is peculiarly calculated to maintain, by its requiring the constant use of a liturgy every way fitted to diffuse a general knowledge, and enforce a general reception, of apostolick and evangelical principles.

Whatever, then, we do to strengthen the cause, and enlarge the borders, of this Church, we think is the most legitimate means, and those which have the best promise of success, of promoting the great interests of the Gospel. And the more closely we adhere, in our efforts in this good work, to that primitive and evangelical bond of Christian unity which is afforded by the ministry, sacraments, worship, and doctrines of the Gospel, the more we think we do the work of the Lord in the way which the Lord himself hath ordained. Hence, then, the true policy-not the policy of sect, but that of sincere love and devotion to the cause of Christ-of our Church's engaging in this work as such, and in conformity with her distinctive principles. Her views of Gospel religion will not suffer those unnatural coalitions, which, built on the sacrifice of here some, and there other, distinctive principles, are strengthening the cause of a boasted liberality, but a real indifference, which is fast preparing the way for the abolition, or but light esteem, of the dear. est truths of the Gospel, and thus increasing the deleterious influence of heresy and infidelity.

Our method, my brethren, of diffusing Gospel truth presents it as a whole. It ventures not to put asunder what God himself has joined. It would so advance the cause of Christ as it was advanced in its best days, by bringing men into union with his Church, and by its worship, ordinances, and instructions, using the means which he himself was pleased to appoint for their growth in grace, and their advancement towards spiritual perfection. It would urge, with all the earnestness with which it was urged in primitive times, to the preservation of the unity of the Church, as intimately connected with the purity of evangelical religion.

Institutions, brethren, organized upon such principles, possess, we think, an immense advantage, in doing their part in the great work of promoting the cause of Christ. We act upon this principle, whe ther we send abroad the Holy Scriptures, the Book of Common Prayer, other books of pious instruction, or the little tract; whether we provide the services of the missionary; whether we afford the means of rearing a duly qualified ministry; or

whether we extend to the poor the bless ings of gratuitous instruction.

And, my brethren, operating under cir. cumstances so advantageous as our Church affords, "what do" we "more than others," who are prosecuting the same good de signs without these advantages? Surely if to any, to us, the ten talents are committed. If of any, of us, therefore, other ten will be required. If there are among Christians those whose time, care, and labour, should be given the most willingly, and whose wealth should flow the most liberally, in the great cause of God, of eternity, and of immortal souls, they are the members of our Church, in strengthening the bands of those institutions by which she would advance that cause. Is it so, my brethren? Do we more than others?

The society now before you is one of those institutions. You are acquainted with its particular mode of operation. It is unnecessary to enlarge on the usefulness and importance of the distribution of religious tracts. These have long been established by the experience of the Christian world. A very valuable and efficient part of those operations of the venerable society in England for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, to which our Church is indebted for so long a course of nursing care and protection, consisted in this species of pious charity. The field in which that noble institution laboured is still immense, and still daily widening. The American publick is an inquiring and a reading publick. They want a continual supply of something to interest their minds and fix their attention. There is also prevalent a strong disposition to religious inquiry. Often, too, in a moment of leisure, the little tract will be taken up, when a larger volume, and even the Bible itself, would be thought of too formidable a size. Thus may some religious truth be enforced, some call to religious duty' come home to the mind, or some religious example command regard, and lead to imitation.

Incessant supplies of tracts are afforded to every portion of the country, which tend to give false views of religion, and not a few devoted to the unhallowed purposes of infidelity and heresy.

From these and similar considerations, the trustees of this society are induced to cherish the hope that their fellow Christians will regard it as a highly im portant instrument, in the hands of the Church, for promoting the great interests of the Gospel.

Very delightful is it to him in whom it has now devolved to plead the cause of this society, to look back to the period, more than fourteen years ago, when he was one of the few who took sweet counsel together for its organization. By the

blessing of God, the design was executed. Various new modifications have been introduced into the society, as circum. stances appeared to require them. Its operations have been continued, until, by the same divine blessing, it has circulat ed 105,704 tracts. Nine thousand new tracts will soon be issued; which wit make the total number which this society has, at various times, had in its depository, 125,955. This, it appears by the report, is all which the society has been enabled to do; inasmuch as the printing of the last mentioned 9000 will more than exhaust the whole of our disposable funds. This fact, my brethren, connected with the view, which we cannot doubt you entertain, of the importance and efficiency of this society, will, I trust, more than supply the defects of the humble appeal

which has now been made in its behalf.

Sharing the distinguished honour of being an instrument whereby the church, in the exercise of its legitimate peculiar functions, and by the nurture and admonition of its Divine Head, is to bring many sons unto glory, it asks that its hands may be strengthened in so good and great a work,

For the Christian Journal.

Modern Liberality. WHEN a writer sets out to express his thoughts on any subject in which he feels an interest, his first concern is to make a good beginning. Sometimes he comes directly to the point, and carries his reader with him, at once, into the very depth of his subject. Sometimes the reader is to be insensibly led through a series of preliminary remarks, more or less connected with the matter in hand, to follow the authour in his lucubrations. Frequently an extract from some other writer is made a sort of text or ground-work on which the essay is to be founded. As the latter suits my present purpose, 1 here present the courteous reader with extracts from two recent newspapers,

"It is rumoured that one of the most "celebrated Bishops of the Episcopal

The society was instituted in October, 1810. It was then styled "The Protestant Episcopal Society of Young Men, for the Distribution of Religious Tracts." The following was the first Board of Trustees:-Dr. Henry U. Onderdonk, president; James Bartow, vice-president; the

Rev. William Berrian, the Rev. William E. Wyatt, Dr. Samuel W. Moore, Samuel F. Lambert, William D. Titus, Edward W. Wil kings, John W. Chanler, trustees; Jackson Kemper, treasurer; Benjamin T. Onderdonk, secretary.

"Church in America has given in his' " adhesion to the see of Rome."

"COMMUNICATION.

"The paragraph, which is going the "rounds of certain newspapers, re"specting one of the most celebrated "Bishops of the Episcopal Church in "America,' is wholly and unqualifiedly "false.

"Editors who may have inserted the "said paragraph, are respectfully re"quested to insert also this contradic❝tion.

AN EPISCOPALIAN.”

Now if I were to take the above pasthem secundum artem, I think I could sages as a text, and proceed to consider draw from them a variety of not uninteresting and not unedifying matter.

"It is rumoured." What a field here for enlargement on the license allowed to that "little member," which does so much mischief in this wicked world! What a picture might be drawn of the unchristian extravagance to which it is indulged by many who not only profess and call themselves Christians, but better Christians than their neighbours, more holy, more vitally pious, more evangelical! A paragraph, too, might be given to the mere suggestion whether we do not sometimes see an austere opposition to certain worldly compliances, and social recreations, intimately connected, and perhaps naturally so, with tenfold more worldly and unevan, gelical indulgences in the spirit of the mind, and in the words of the mouth.

"One of the most celebrated Bishops of the American Episcopal Church."

The text is often to be explained by a reference to the context. In the present instance, however, the text contains all that is to be found on the subject, except by those who may happen to have some knowledge of the rumours to which such an honourable effort is made to give increased circulation. Now I happen to be one of those; and could mention names, not without authority, where credit for pulpit eloquence, Christian liberality, and evangelical piety, will have weight, in support of the propriety of designating, as the object of this vague attack, that truly and justly "celebrated" Bishop, whose whole professional career, because of

the unbending conscientiousness, and disinterested and successful labour, which have marked it, has been, like the earthly ministry of his divine Lord, the provoking cause of reproach, illwill, and incessant misrepresentation. "Has given in his adhesion to the see of Rome."

The figure called climax is not without boldness, force, point, and conclusiveness The writer of this part of the text is entitled to full credit for thus beautifying and enriching his short but pithy paragraph. As an Episcopalian, Bishop, (I was about departing from the kind and liberal temper of my authour, by publishing the name, which he, in such a genuine spirit of evangelical liberality and forbearance, has mercifully concealed,) that is, " one of the most celebrated Bishops of the Episcopal Church," has had his share of the obloquy cast on his church generally, of having too great a liking for some of the " rags of popery." As a "high churchman," he has had dealt out to him a proportioned extraordinary share of this effusion of evangelical piety. As a firm and enlightened supporter of his principles, he has still more incurred the displeasure of certain righteous spirits. When he thought it his duty to oppose promiscuous Bible societies, promiscuous Sunday school societies, promiscuous missionary societies, promiscuous tract societies, and every other variety of promiscuous societies, associations, &c. &c. &c. which he believed, in his conscience, tended to the injury, and the ultimate subversion, of evangelical and primitive unity of order, and unity of faith, the signal was given for a host of calumniators,-his condemnation was considered as signed and sealed, and popery is one of the mildest of epithets that characterises the system of railing accusation which has pursued him. The very natural compliment which has been paid him, of requesting his aid in the services of the Protestant Church at Rome, has afforded too glorious an opportunity to be lost. He had been so far marked with the signal favour of his holiness, as to have been allowed to preach in St. Peter's!!!! Eheu! jam satis! Here is a foundation deep and strong for one of the

clearest Q. E. D.'s that has ever been made out since the days of Euclid. Popish tendencies, the abetting of popery, and similar periphrastical charges, which have heretofore given ease to the spirit of holy indignation and of vitally pious zeal and concern, may now be laid aside, and rest for the righteous souls who had been thus sorely vexed, be found on the bosom of the broad charge, that he "HAS GIVEN IN HIS ADHESION TO THE SEE OF ROME." And while this is ministering private consolation to those who have at length made the great discovery, and they are doing their best to bring others to a knowledge of the fact which is henceforward to screen the Protestant name from the charge of such outrageous anti-protestantism, a kindly editor is to lend his aid, that the tidings, under the modest and charitable garb of "it is rumoured," may spread like wildfire, from Maine to Florida, and help on the godly work of bringing the Episcopal Church, and especially high-churchmanship, into disrepute.

But let me not forget that there is a second verse to my text.

"The paragraph which is going the rounds of certain newspapers."

Now if I intended to enlarge, or rather, perhaps, the reader will think, if I had not enlarged so much, I might give a moment to the phrase," certain newspapers," and pay my respects to "certain" worthy editors, whose very meat and drink it seems to be to do what in them lies to help on the little, low, and unchristian prejudices, which it comports very well with the professed liberality, but real bigotted sectarianism, of the present day, should be encouraged against the Episcopal Church; or if that be too unceremonious towards some good friends in this bond of liberality, against a portion of that church. But I pass over this, and proceed with the text.

The paragraph, &c. " is wholly and unqualifiedly false."

Now this is plain speaking. This is what I like. It is what may be called close preaching; and I have no doubt that even if it cannot stop the unruly member aforesaid, it will be an effectual quietus to our rumour-publishing edi

From a brief view of the text, it is usual to proceed to some general prac tical remarks. The reflections which led to the writing of this article, and were suggested by what I have assumed as its text, were connected with the title," Modern Liberality," which has been given to the piece. This acme of the charges which have been brought against one of the most celebrated Bishops of the Episcopal Church," led me to ask, Where is the evidence of the great and increasing Christian liberality which is the boast of our times? O! we are pointed, in triumph, to Bible societies, missionary societies, tract societies, Sunday school societies, Bethel Unions, prayer meetings, and a great variety of other societies, unions, meetings, associations, &c. &c. in which Christians all meet in sweet accord; and this produces Christian liberality. Here are no bigotted attachments to creeds, no blind submission to a definite ministry, no being tied down to certain sacraments and forms of worship. We meet as brethren; and each sacrificing his peculiar views, we take what remains of religion, in which we all agree, and make that the cementing principle of our blessed fellowship. Well. Grant for a moment that Christian unity and liberality are inconsistent with that evangelical principle of unity which is established in the doctrines, ministry, and sacraments of the Christian church. How far extends the godly liberality, thus engendered and fostered? I have looked pretty closely into this matter, and seen enough to satisfy me that it is little else than the unity and liberality of sect; something like the liberty of conscience established by the first settlers of New-England, which, it has

been facetiously but not untruly said, consisted in every man's privilege of thinking as he pleased, provided he thought right. What measure is meted out by these great friends and boasters of liberality, to those who differ from them, and do not think it their duty to come into their councils? Let the treatment of the distinguished individual, the gross calumny against whom has led to these remarks, reply in part. Let the notice which is usually taken of the objections and objectors to the promiscuous religious associations above mentioned, be considered. Let the treatment which what is called high churchmanship generally receives from these liberal men, be taken into the account. Let us see to what extent charitable allowance is made for difference of opinion as to the proper view of evangelical piety. Let us ask who are those among the clergy and laity of our church who are the perpetual themes of eulogy, when this liberality is to show its triumph over sectarian feeling. An accurate observer cannot but see that the charity of this newly organized Christian community is as truly sectarian as any other. There are doubtless in this community many truly sincere Christians, who have been wrought up, or have wrought themselves up, into the persuasion, that pure evangelical religion may exist without laying any great stress on a ministry, on sacraments, or on doctrine; and that, therefore, real Christians should form a bond among themselves, in which these are not to be matters of discussion or of difference. This sect, as well as every other, has a right to cherish, and by all proper means, to strengthen, its cause. But let it not set up for the credit of establishing among Christians any new influence of real Christian liberality. With proper decorum, and in an evangelical temper, let it oppose those who, contrary to what they think right, deem the Christian ministry, sacraments, and doctrines, essential to Christian unity. What is objectionable, and strongly objectionable, in them is, the license which too many seem to think their great cry of liberality gives them to indulge in the most illiberal and unchristian treatment of the motives and

views of those who differ from them. Believing as I do, that the ministry, sacraments, worship, and doctrines of our church, furnish what once was, and ever ought to be, the true bond of Christian unity, "the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and breaking of bread, and prayers, * I must confess myself an humble advocate of those views of the Christian system, and of consequent Christian duty, which have exposed one of the most celebrated Bishops of the Episcopal Church" to the cruel mercies of the misnamed liberality of the day. I would that the voice of an humble individual could have any effect in inducing churchmen to see and feel that these views are in the greatest accordance with holy scripture, and primitive christianity! Without judging others, and at the same time unawed by their reproaches, let the members of the Episcopal Church strengthen her hands in all their efforts to promote the interests of the gospel. In her system, the gospel is constantly kept in view, every way recommended, and most powerfully urged. The liberal sect has little or no system of any kind, and on the contrary, is unfavourable to any. This is seen, and known, and improved, by those who would reject, as an unauthorized system, the dearest and most precious truths of the gospel. Their purpose is exactly answered by the popular liberality of the day. They are rejoicing in the advantage which that liberality is giving to their unhallowed cause. Of this advantage, I am certain, many of the favourers of that liberality are not aware. But it is working surely; and the time will come when true Christians will see that they who, for conscience sake, endured the charge of bigotry and illiberality, were keeping alive that principle of primitive order which will prove the most welcome refuge of the friends of primitive faith and primitive piety. N.L.K.

For the Christian Journal. Interiour of a Parish.—No. I. THE time devoted to travelling this season, and my advantages in selecting

* Acts ii, 49.

religious society, have afforded numerous sources of observation. I take pleasure therefore in communicating, through your paper, a representation of what I have seen and heard.-On my arrival at

-, my letters of introduction procured me an acquaintance with the pastor of the church and the people of his charge; and the observations being of a general nature, as such they shall be communicated-having reference however especially to the internal state of the parish.

The congregation here is regularly increasing: since the ministrations of the present pastor there have been added, through God's blessing, to the church several families. This circumstance undoubtedly is very encouraging, and will warrant the expectation of the promise which is to follow of his spiritual blessing. The true seed of the word is productive of much fruit; and the gospel of Jesus Christ is like a candle set upon a table, in order to disseminate its light in all directions.

With this prospect before us, there is much to be hoped for: both from preaching and from our visitations, there are many advantages to be gained: much religious information may be derived from colloquial opportunities for explaining the scriptures. Many of those whom we have visited are well disposed towards the church, and freely converse on the subject of religion; but it is absolutely necessary to seek for these opportunities of the divine illumination. Our natural disposition leads us to a different course, and unless these subjects are brought into the view of parishioners, the conversations will most generally have a bearing quite contrary to their spiritual concerns. If the visits to the congregation therefore are to be made beneficial in this respect, there must be especial regard paid to the selection of subjects; for individuals may be induced to take a part, though perhaps too diffident to introduce a religious conversation. The best plan of producing good effects appears to be, not to make too long visits, but to make them frequently. There will be persons always found somewhat lukewarm, and some also who endeavour to avoid or divert the subject; but