1775-
fent but church members) and in like
manner the cup.

The Era when the Popedom was established.

As to the poffure of the communicants, it is very probable, that, as they kept fo near to the original form in other things, they did in this likewife, receiving the elements in a table-pofition, i. e. either reclining or fitting."when the bishop of Rome became a It is certain that they did not receive kneeling in the third century; for Tertullian writes, "that on the Lord's Day they accounted it a fin to worthip kneeling."-After the Supper was over, they fang an hymn of praife.-And concluded all with thanksgiving to God, and a collection for the poor.

To the EDITOR of the LONDON MAGAZINE. SIR,

78

On the Interference of the Magiftrate in Religion. Feb.

tions, on which fatal experience might long fince have convinced us that mankind could never be agreed.

Milton has made it part of the employment of the devils to enter into metaphyfical difputes, in which they found no end, in wand'ring mazes loft. Had he made them end in falling together by the ears, and turning their arms against each other, till bell fearce held the wild uproar, he would have given an exact picture of the conduct of mankind for at least 1400 years back.

It is alledged that the commotions raised by these difputes obliged the magiftrates to interfere and fettle them. But it may be answered that it was the interference of the magiftrate, his partial countenancing of one fide, and his endeavours to keep under or destroy the other, that gave importance to thefe controverfies. Each party then faw their intereft, their reputation, their deareft privileges, in fhort every thing that can poffibly inflame and animate the minds of men engaged in the quarrel; no wonder therefore that it proceeded on both sides to the most extra vagant lengths, and that every decifion more embroiled the fray. There have been many inftances when, by the injudicious interpofition of fuperior power, the most trifling accidents have been attended with the utter deftruction of a state. In one of the most enlightened nations in the world, a

Flamen of superior rank, from the irrefiftible impulfe of nature, I fuppose, took it in his head to turn taylor, dancing master, and cook; the monarch of congenial foul admired his abilities, and by his royal edicts enjoined all his fubjects, on pain of fines, confifcation of goods and imprisonment, to a ftrict conformity in the fashion and colour of their cloaths, in their bows, and their diet. The confequence was, that both the flamen and the monarch died on a fcaffold. Had he followed a quite contrary conduct, and obliged this artift to content himfelf with what cuftomers he could procure for his wares in the ordinary method of tradesmen, all had been well.

But to be ferious, this very practice of comprehending in religion an infinity of speculative principles, which are naturally unconnected with it, was one of the principal causes that made its minifters first formidable to the civil power. When once it was turned from its natural channel, like a devouring torrent it swallowed up every thing; it then became a science, and a fcience, as one of the most zealous defenders of establishments has truly faid, fo intricate, that many who can fathom the depths of the Newtonian philosophy, are yet loft, and bewildered in its mazes.

For the LONDON MAGAZINE. HE following addrefs of the Tarchbishop, bishops, and clergy, of the province of Canterbury, in convocation assembled, was, on Jan. 23, prefented to his majesty by his grace the archbishop of Canterbury:

Moft gracious fovereign,

WE your majefty's most dutiful and loyal fubjects, the archbishop, bishops, and clergy of the province of Canterbury in convocation affembled, moft gladly embrace the opportunity now afforded us of renewing, in this our collective capacity, our warmeft and fincereft profeffions of allegiance, fidelity, and affection to your majefty's facred perfon and government.

We humbly beg leave to affure your

P

majesty, that we are penetrated wit!
the deepeft fenfe of the happiness w
enjoy under your mild and aufpiciou
reign. The proofs your majesty ha
given of your truly parental care an
tenderness for your fubjects are to
But
many to be enumerated.
minifters of the gospel of peace,
hold ourselves more efpecially bour
to exprefs our fincereft thanks to you
majefty, for your unwearied and fu
lor
cefsful endeavours, during a
courfe of years, to prevent the nee
lefs effufion of chriftian blood, a
(in perfect confiftency with the di
nity of your crown, and the true i
terefts of your kingdom) to establ
peace and tranquillity in every p:

4

1775. Addrefs of the Canterbury Convocation to the King. 79

of Europe; a conduct no less confonant to the maxims of found policy, than to the dictates of humanity, and the benevolent temper of our most ho. ly religion.

Thofe gracious declarations your majefty has fo frequently made, and fo religiously observed, that you will fupport the church of England as it is now by law established, demand from us our most grateful acknowledgements, and leave us no room to doubt the continuance of the fame royal favour and protection, which we have hitherto experienced. Permit us, Sir, on this occafion, in all bumility to fay, that "the ecclefiaftical part of our conftitution is no less excellent than the civil," and that they are fo closely and intimately blended with each other, that, as experience has fhewn, they must fand or fall toge

ther.

It might naturally be expected that a people thus favoured by Providence, would demonftrate their gratitude_ by their diftinguished goodness. But truth obliges us to own to your majesty, that the fanctity and purity of their manners do by no means correfpond to the advantages they poffefs. With infinite concern we obferve that a ftrange licentiousness both of fentiment and conduct, a spirit of frivolous diffipation and ruinous profufion, of difrespect to fuperiors, and contempt of lawful authority, have made an alarming progress in this nation, and prefent a very gloomy profpect to every ferious and confiderate mind.

We are fully fenfible that much depends on the labours of the clergy in oppofing to these evils the powerful operation of religious principles: and we do faithfully promife your majefty that we will exert our utmost efforts for

I

this purpose, by redoubling our dili-
gence in the difcharge of our facred
functions, by keeping the ftrictest
guard on our own lives and converfa-
tions, by carefully teaching the true
genuine doctrines of the gofpel, and
impreffing forcibly on the minds of
our hearers the great practical duties
of Chriftianity, which are no less bene-
ficial to fociety than neceffary to fal-
vation.

To these our earnest endeavours in
the caufe of morality and religion,
we shall conftantly add our most fer-
vent prayers to Almighty God, that
he would be pleased to crown with fuc-
cefs all your majefty's defigns and
undertakings for the welfare of your
extenfive dominions; that as he has
bleffed your majefty with a numerous
progeny, he may vouchfafe you the
ftill greater comfort of feeing them
copy the bright example of their royal
parents; and that in this, and every
other inftance, he may render your
majefty's life as happy to yourself, as
it is dear and important to your
people.

To which addrefs his majefty was pleased to return the following moft gracious answer:

I thank you for this very dutiful and affectionate addrefs.

It is with the deepest concern I am informed that vice and contempt of lawful authority continue fo univerfally to prevail. Your ftrenuous endeavours to difcourage this pernicious tendency to irreligion are highly acceptable to me, and will always meet with my fupport and protection. I have nothing more at heart than to maintain the church of England as by law established, as well as the religious and civil rights of all my people.

To the EDITOR of the LONDON MAGAZINE.
SIR,

AM concerned to find that the Late addrefs of the clergy in convocatian affembled, has raised fome difguft even in ferious and good minds, They are impreffed it feems with an idea that it exhibits no proofs of candour and truth, appears not to be dictated by a genuine fenfe, or love of religion,

and breathes too much of the rank
fpirit of hypocritical cant and priestly
craft.

Those who are unacquainted with the corruption and rapacity, the luxury and profligacy of the clergy, will be pleafed to fee them promifing to redouble their diligence in the dif

L12

charge

80
charge of their facred functions, to
keep the strictest guard on their own
lives and converfations, and carefully
to teach the true, genuine doctrines of
the gofpel. What impudent hypo-
crify it is in men to talk of impreffing
forcibly on the minds of their hearers
the great practical duties of Chriftia-
nity, who are never feen in a pulpit,
whofe indolent and luxurious habits
of life indifpofe them for all duty, and
whofe whole time is abforbed in watch
ing the temporals and railing church
leafes, in hunting levees, and wading
through all the political dirt and mire
of a court? Does it become fuch men
to inveigh against frivolous diffipation,
and to affect a ferious regard for the
honour of religion? Let them at least
in modeft filence batten on the im-
menfe revenues of the church, which
àre bestowed on low and ignorant fyco-
phants, or lavished upon their own
worthlefs relations, without learning
or merit. The celebrated father Paul
in his excellent treatise upon ecclefi-
aftical benefices and revenues, has thewn
that in the early and uncorrupt ages
of the church they were applied to pi-
ous and charitable ufes; and it may
reasonably be expected that fome fu-
ture wife prince will fee the enormous
and growing poffeffions of the church
applied to the public and national good.
I hall pass over the injudicious and
abfurd panegyric, which is an infult
upon royalty; and will not interrupt
the fatisfaction they find in contem-
plating the beauty and excellence of
the ecclefiaftical part of our conftitu-
tion, which it seems is no lefs excellent
than the civil. I fufpect, however,
that the judges of our fupreme courts
in Weftminster-hall will not feel them-
felves much flattered by being put up-
on a footing with Chancellors, Com
miffaries, Archdeacons, Officials, Sur-
rogates, and other low retainers to the
fpiritual court, who, without the ad-"
vantages of a liberal education, affect
a profound knowledge of civil and
canon law.

Remarks on the Convocation Addrefs.

Whatever the fuperficial admirers of civil and canon law affect to think, wife men have wifhed the abolition of ecclefiattical jurifdictions; the abufes and oppreffions exercised in them being grievous to the fubject. The proceedings in the Spiritual court are,

Feb.

from the fummary nature of them, nugatory and ineffectual in testamentary and other matters of the last importance, and the delay and enormous expence attending thefe proceedings are too often ruinous to the parties. They partake likewife of the temper and genius of their authors and patrons, being in many instances oppreffive, arbitrary, and tyrannical. The municipal or common law is a law of liberty, not of flavery. But we are told, however, that the ecclefiaftical polity is no lefs excellent than the civil, and is fo closely and intimately blended with each other, that, as experience has fhewn, they must fand er fall together.

The experience appealed to, will be found little favourable to the principles or claims of the clergy. The hiftory of all nations and ages abounds with the grofs impofitions and impudent ufurpations of the clergy. It were curious to trace the steps by which the Roman hierarchy arofe, and upon what principles it is built. The extravagant claims of our clergy may be seen at large in Matthew Paris, and we know that a facerdotal empire ruling in this country drew all power to itself, and rendered the civil magiftrate its minifter and dependent, till the ufur. pations of the clergy terminated in the Reformation. A learned writer in his examination of a scheme of church power obferves, that "when the clergy found themselves in circumstances to fet up for an independency on the state, they coined a diftinction unheard of in the earliest ages of Chriftianity between the fpiritual and temporal jurifdictions as exercifed by different perfons, and flowing from different principles. One exercifed by the clergy alone, by virtue of the divine, the other by the laity, by virtue of human laws."

I fhall conclude with the words of the fame writer, who, fpeaking of the clergy, fays, "it is notorious that a certain fet of men moft impudently affuming to themselves the fole interpretation of the laws of this kingdom, and pretending to an extraordinary zeal for the honour of its founder, did fet up, and for many ages maintain a kingdom of their own over the greatest part of the chriftian world; the most

Hiftory of Edward and Maria.

For the LONDON MAGAZIN E.

THE HISTORY OF EDWARD AND MARIA. (Continued.)