hypostasis of the Son. The difference of translation apparently removes the difficulty; but still it is odd. It has been remarked by some, that when the clergyman, who, in the morning has been reading the Athanasian creed so free in its anathemas, in the afternoon repeats the burial service which sends all to heaven, there does not seem a consistency between the two, nor do they accord with the word of God.

I object in the strongest manner to the sentiments held by the church of England, and expressed in a succession of offices which I cannot but consider as contrary to the doctrine and spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The error begins with baptism. By the clergyman who dispenses it the following expressions of praise are uttered from the liturgy: "Then shall the priest say," "We yield thee humble thanks, most merciful Father, that it hath pleased thee to regenerate this infant with thy Holy Spirit, to receive him for thine own child by adoption, and to incorporate him into thy holy church." Can an enlightened and conscientious minister really pronounce these words in faith? Surely it is not from the New Testament that the doctrine of regeneration in baptism, and its universal efficacy for this purpose has been derived. The reformers must have forgotten to erase this part of the collect in those popish rituals, from which the English liturgy was compiled. The sentiment is calculated to produce on the minds of the people effects not according with the spiritual nature of the Gospel, but savouring strongly of the efficacy of the opus operatum of the church of Rome. The notion of regeneration by baptism is likewise contained in

the catechism. In the answer to the second question the child is taught to say, "In my baptism I was made a member of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven." The dangerous error is thus instilled into the whole of the rising generation in the established church.

Confirmation succeeds baptism. It is an ordinance of human origin, and is destitute of all authority from the word of God. What resemblance can be found between Peter and John's conveying the Holy Ghost by the imposition of hands on the converts in Samaria, and a modern bishop's confirming the young people of his diocese? But at the worst, "what harm (it may be said) can the blessing of a venerable prelate, accompanied with the laying on of his hands, do to the youth of his flock?" What harm? The injury may be incalculable: it may ruin the soul. When it is supposed, nay, and expressly said, that a mighty, a divine virtue accompanies the rite, evils of the most serious nature may arise out of the errors which it engenders. Attend to the doctrine of the rubric on the subject. In one collect the bishop says, "Almighty and everlasting God, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate these thy servants by water, and the Holy Ghost, and hast given unto them forgiveness of all their sins: strengthen them, we beseech thee, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost, the comforter; and daily increase in them thy manifold gifts of grace." In another there is this petition, "We make our humble supplications unto Thee for these thy servants, upon whom (after the example of thy holy apostles) we have now laid our hands to certify them (by this sign) of thy favour and gracious goodness towards

them. Let thy fatherly hand, we beseech thee, ever be over them, let thy Holy Spirit ever be with them."

But what foundation is there for such an immense superstructure to rest upon? It is announced, "that none shall be confirmed but such as can say the creed, the Lord's prayer, and the ten commandments; and can also answer to such other questions as in the short catechism are contained." But does this afford a sufficient ground for such a declaration, and such eucharistical addresses to God? The knowledge required is exceedingly scanty and a person may be able to repeat the creed, and Lord's prayer, and commandments, and catechism, who has not a single idea in the mind corresponding with the words. The declaration of their purpose to endeavour to observe these things may be the impression of the moment, or a thing of course according to what they have been taught to say. How solemn, and how weighty are the bishop's words! and uttered in prayer and thanksgiving to God! The credit which will naturally be given to them, is it not calculated to produce a mistake of the most dangerous kind? Is there not the greatest reason to fear, that it will lead them to conceive themselves to be the children of God when they really belong to a very different family? Consequences of eternal duration may result from the act.

The service for the visitation of the sick, presents a continuation of the same dangerous doctrine. When a person feels the hand of God lying with weight upon him, and sees death staring him in the face, he will tremble and weep, and say, and do every thing that he is bid, if he be told by a clergyman that it will conduce to his deliverance from the miseries of a

future state, and to the attainment of eternal happiness in heaven. How little dependence is to be placed on such tears, and penitence, and professions, the conduct of the generality of those who recover but too clearly demonstrates. Yet when this declaration is made by the person in affliction, the clergyman pronounces a most solemn absolution, in the following words. "Our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath left power to his church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences: and by his authority committed to me, I absolve thee from all thy sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, amen." What effect, think you, gentlemen, is likely to result from this? Is it not more than probable, that the afflicted person will feel a confidence in the safety of his soul, and please himself with the assurance of eternal blessedness, when he would be far more properly employed in offering up the prayer of the publican, "God be merciful to me a sinner." This is so serious a subject, and the doctrine of the church so exceedingly dangerous, that I tremble at the thoughts of the numberless souls which may have ruined for ever.

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The burial service forms the fourth link of this perilous chain, and binds up all the people of England in the bundle of life. To speak of the state of departed souls, requires the lips of wisdom and caution. There is such a proneness in human nature to delusion, and such a disposition to hope when there is no just cause of hope, that a wise and good man will be extremely careful not to raise groundless expectations, as they tend greatly to injure the living, and convey false ideas of the spiritual world to their minds.

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Most of all should this caution be observed in an ordinance of religion. As the hearts of the relatives of the deceased and the spectators are softened by the sight of death, and impressible in an extraordinary degree; and the words of a clergyman arrayed in the priestly vestments, and pronounced with awful solemnity, will at such a season sink into the very centre of the soul, the greatest care should be taken that nothing may be said concerning the state of a wicked man which would give any ground to suppose "that it shall be well with him."

But so far is this from being the case, in this service of the established church, that in the order for the burial of the dead, while the mourners surround the grave, the clergyman is enjoined solemnly to declare, "Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God, of his great mercy, to take unto himself the soul of our dear brother now departed, we therefore commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ." And in another collect there is something to the same purpose, but of greater strength :-" Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of them that depart hence in the Lord, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity; we give thee hearty thanks for that it hath pleased thee to deliver this our brother out of the miseries of this sinful world, beseeching thee that it may please thee shortly to accomplish the number of thine elect." Still farther to foster the confidence of all present in the safe and happy state of the deceased, the priest, in the concluding prayer, is taught to speak thus:-" 0