mystify the readers, and draw off their formable to each other, this is quite difattention from the real question) of dwell- ferent from saying that either of them ing on truths which are universally ad- derives all its authority from the other. mitted, not only in theory but in practice, On the other hand, our Reformers do not by Christians of every denomination? Ca- maintain merely that the Creeds which techisms, oral or written,-expositions of they receive are agreeable to Scripture; Scripture-religious discourses or tracts, but that they are to be received because of some kind or other, &c., are in use, they may be proved from Scripture. more or less, among all. The utility, and indeed necessity, of human instruction, both for young Christians and adults, has never, that I know of, been denied by any Christian Church or denomination. The only important distinction is between those who do, and those who do not, permit, and invite, and encourage their hearers to "search the Scriptures whether these things be so," which they are taught by their pastors.

It is to be observed, however, that what I am speaking of is a reference to Scripture, as the sole basis of the articles of necessary faith, the only decisive authority.

The distinction, as I have above remarked, is apparent only, and not really important, between those who require the acceptance of what they teach, independently of Scripture, and those who do refer to Scripture as the ground of their own conviction, or at least as confirmatory of their teaching, but require their interpretations of Scripture to be implicitly received; denying to individuals the right and the duty of judging ultimately for themselves. The real distinction is between those who do, and those who do not recognize this right and duty. For if a certain comment is to be received implicitly and without appeal, it not only is Some persons, while claiming reception placed, practically, as far as relates to every for such and such confessions of faith, thing except a mere question of dignity, declare continually and with much earnest- on a level with Scripture,† but has also a ness, that they are teaching nothing but strong-and as experience has abundantly what is "conformable to Scripture," proved, an increasing tendency to super"agreeable to Scripture," &c. And the sede it. A regular and compact system unwary are often misled by not attending of theology, professedly compiled from to the important distinction between this, Scripture, or from "Scripture and Tradi-between what is simply agreeable to tion blended together," if it be that which, Scripture, and what is derived from after all, we must acquiesce in as infallible, Scripture, founded on it, and claiming whether it accord or not with what apno other authority. pears to us to be the sense of Scripture, being more compendious and methodical than the Sacred Books themselves, will naturally be preferred by the learner. And all study, properly so called, of the rest of Scripture, (for on the above supposition, such a comment would be itself a part of Scripture, infallible and divinely inspired, as much as the rest)—all lively interest in

When it is said that the Old Testament and the New are not at variance, but con

It is no uncommon practice with some writers, to shelter (as in the present instance) some paradoxical tenet, when opposed, under the guise of a truism; and, when this has been admitted with out suspicion, to unmask the battery as it were, and by a seemingly slight change, to convert a self-evident and insignificant truth into a dogma of fearful importance. Thus for instance, when we are sometimes told, with much solemn earnestness, of the importance of holding fast "the faith of the Holy Catholic Church," this is explained as being "what has been held by all Christians, always, and every where:" ["quod semper, quod ubique, quod ab omnibus:"] and of course no one can think of denying that what has always been held universally by all Christians as a part of their faith, must be a part of the universal [or Catholic] faith. There "needs no ghost to tell us that;" as it is in fact only saying that "Catholic" means "Universal," and that what is believed is believed. But when the wooden horse has been introduced, it is found to contain armed men concealed within it. "All Christians" is explained to mean "all the orthodox;" and the "orthodox" to be, those in agreement with the authors who are instructing us.

* See Dr. Hawkins on the Duty of Private Judgment.

Among the Parliamentarians at the time of the Civil War, there were many,--at first a great majority,-who professed to obey the King's commands, as notified to them by Parliament, and levied forces in the King's name, against his person. If any one admitted Parliament to be the sole and authoritative interpreter and expounder of the regal commands, and this, without any check from any other power, it is plain that he virtually admitted the sovereignty of that Parliament, just as much as if he had recognized their formal deposition of the King. The parallelism of this case with the one before us is too obvious to need being dwelt on.

See Essay (Third Series) on "Undue Re liance on Human Authority."

the perusal, would be nearly superseded is right;"-as long as the Church "orby such an inspired compendium of doc- dains nothing contrary to God's word,” trine, to which alone, as being far the-nothing, in short, beyond what a Chrismost convenient for that purpose, habitual tian Community is authorized both by reference would be made in any question the essential character of a Community, that might arise. Both would be regard- and by Christ's sanction, to enact; and ed, indeed, as of divine authority; but the requires nothing to be believed as a point compendium, as the fused and purified of Christian faith "that may not be demetal; the other, as the mine, containing clared" (i. e. satisfactorily proved) to be the crude ore. taken from Holy Scripture. But when a Church or any of its Pastors ceases to make this payment on demand-if I may so speak-of Scripture-proof, and requires implicit faith, on human authority, in human dogmas or interpretations, all check is removed to the introduction of any conceivable amount of falsehood and superstition; till human inventions may have overlaid and disfigured Gospel truth, and Man's usurped authority have gradually superseded divine: even as was the case with the rabbinical Jews, who continued to profess the most devout reverence for the Mosaic Law, even at the time when we are told that "in vain they worshipped God, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

§ 27. The uses are so important, and the abuses so dangerous, of the instruction which may be afforded by uninspired Christian teachers, that it may be worth while still farther to illustrate the subject by an analogy, homely perhaps and undignified, but which appears to me perfectly apposite, and fitted by its very familiarity to answer the better its purpose of affording explanation.

The utility of what is called paper currency is universally acknowledged and perceived. Without possessing any intrinsic value, it is a convenient representative of coins and ingots of the precious metals. And it possesses this character, from its being known or confidently believed, that those who issue it are ready, § 28. It is worth remarking also tha on demand, to exchange it for those pre- the persons who make this use of Tradicious metals. And the occurrence, from tion are often found distinctly advocating time to time, of this demand, and the the deliberate suppression, in the instrucconstant liability to it, are the great check tion of the great mass of Christians, of a to an over issue of the paper money. large portion of the Gospel doctrines But if paper money be made a legal tender which are the most earnestly set forth in and not convertible into gold and silver at Scripture; as a sort of esoteric mystery, the pleasure of the holder-if persons are of which ordinary believers are unworthy, required to receive it in payment, by an and which should be "reserved" as a arbitrary decree of the Government, either reward for a long course of pious subthat paper shall be considered as having mission. This system of "reserve" or an intrinsic value, or again, that it shall "economy" is vindicated, by studiously be considered as representing bullion, or confounding it with the gradual initialand, or some other intrinsically valuable tion of Christians in the knowledge of commodity, the existence and amount of their religion, in proportion as they are which, and the ability of Government to" able to bear it;" i. e. able and willing produce it, are to be believed, not by the to understand each point that is presented test of any one's demanding and obtain- to their minds: and the necessity of graing payment, but on the word of the very dual teaching,-of reading the first line government that issues this inconverti- of a passage before the second, and the ble paper currency, then the consequences which ensue are well known. The precious metals gradually disappear, and a profusion of worthless paper alone remains.

Even so it is with human teaching in religion. It is highly useful, as long as the instructers refer the People to Scripture, exhorting and assisting them to "prove all things and hold fast that which

This was the case with the Assignats and Mandats of France.

care requisite to avoid teaching any thing which, though true in itself, would be falsely understood by the hearers, is thus confounded with the system of withholding a portion of Gospel truth from those

The Word "declared" is likely to mislead the English reader, from its being ordinarily used in the present day in a different sense. The Latin "declarare" of which it was evidently intended to to be a translation, signifies "to make clear"-"to set forth plainly."

+ See Appendix, Note (M.)

See Dr. Hawkins on Tradition.

able and willing to receive it;-the system of "shunning to set before men all the counsel of God," and of having one kind of religion for the initiated few, and another for the mass of the Christian World. Very different was the Apostle Paul's Gospel, which he assures us, if it was hid, was hid from them that are lost," (men on the road to destruction, úπoλλvμírovc,)" whom the god of this world hath blinded."

whether alone or "blended with Scripture," so, he ought not to insist on the acceptance, as essential, of any thing which, even though it may be satisfactorily proved from Scripture, yet it is so slightly hinted at there, that till attention has been called to it, and the arguments by which it is supported brought together, whole Churches for whole generations together may have studied Scripture without finding it. I do not say that nothing of this character should be maintained, and supported by arguments which may satisfactorily prove it; but it should not be maintained as something necessary to Salvation, unless it is clearly revealed to an ordinary reader of candid mind.

But the charge of teaching something different from what they inwardly believe, the advocates of this system repel, by alleging that all they do teach is agreeable to Scripture, although they withhold a part, and do not teach all that is to be found in Scripture as if this did not as effectually constitute two different reli- For instance, there are some who think gions as if they had added on something that an intermediate state of consciousof their own. For, by expunging or sup-ness, and others, of unconsciousness, pressing at pleasure, that which remains between death and the resurrection,— may become totally different from what may be proved from Scripture; but I the religion would have been if exhibited cannot think it justifiable to represent as a whole. either opinion as an essential article of

It has been remarked that every statue faith. existed in the block of marble from Again, the call of the Gentiles to be which it was carved; and that the Sculp- partakers with the Jews of the privileges tor merely discloses it, by removing the of God's People, and the termination of superfluous portions;-that the Medicean the Mosaic dispensation, are contained, Venus, for instance, has not in it a single but not clearly revealed, in the Old Tesparticle which did not originally exist tament, and in the discourses of our exactly in the same relative position as Lord; these doctrines are not so obviously now; the artist having added nothing, contained there, as to make them an but merely taken away. Yet the statue is essential part of the Jewish faith. This, as widely different a thing from the origi- therefore, was a case in which a fresh nal block, as if something had been and distinct declaration, supported by added. What should we think of a man's miraculous evidence, was fairly to be expleading that such an image is not con- pected: and this was accordingly afforded. templated in the commandment against A distinct miraculous revelation was made making an image, because it is not to the Apostle Peter as to this very "made," as if it had been moulded, or cast, point.* out of materials brought together for the purpose? Should any one scruple to worship a moulded, but not a sculptured image, his scruple would not be more absurdly misplaced, than if he should hold himself bound, in his teaching, not to add on to Scripture any thing he did not believe to be true, but allowed to suppress any portions of Gospel truth at his pleasure, and to exhibit to his People the remaining portions, as the whole system of their religion.

It may be added also, that as a Christian teacher is not authorized either to suppress any portion of the Gospel as unfit for those disposed and able to receive it, or to inculcate as an essential portion of it, any thing not revealed in Scripture, but dependent on Tradition,

§ 29. In saying that the essential doctrines of Christianity are to be found m Scripture, or may be satisfactorily proven from it, and that the enactments of any Church, with a view to good government, "decency and order," derive a sufficient authority from that very circumstance, inasmuch as the Apostle commands us to "do all things decently and in order," and our Heavenly Master has given power to "bind and loose" in respect to such regulations, I do not mean to imply that such reasons always will, in fact, prove satisfactory to careless and uncandid reasoners-to the fanciful, the wilful, and

According to our Lord's promise respecting the Holy Spirit :-He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance," &a

the arrogant. But nothing is in reality The Christian course is beset by dangers. gained by endeavouring to add force to They are an essential part of our trial on sound reasons by the addition of unsound Earth. We are required to be on our ones. To seek, when men will not lis- guard against them; but we must never ten to valid arguments, for some other arguments which they will listen to will, I am convinced, (to say nothing of its unfairness,) be found in the end to be unwise policy.

expect, here below, to be exempt from them. And there is nothing necessarily gained by exchanging one danger for another; the danger of erring in our own judgment, for that of following imperfect, uncertain or corrupted traditions.

But to maintain the right of any Community-a Church among others-to establish, abrogate, or alter, regulations and institutions of any kind, is understood by some as amounting to an approval of every thing that either ever has been done, or conceivably might be done, by virtue of that claim; as if a sanction were thus given to perpetual changes, the most rash, uncalled for, and irrational. But what is left to men's discretion, is not therefore meant to be left to their indiscretion. To maintain that a power exists, is not to maintain either that it matters not how it is used, or again that it cannot possibly be abused.

Yet I cannot but suspect that the principles I have been deprecating must have been sometimes maintained by persons not altogether blind to the inconsistent consequences they lead to, but actuated by a desire of impressing on the minds of the multitude not only an additional confidence in the doctrines of our Church, but also that reverence, which is so often found to be deficient, for Church institntions and enactments, and for regularly ordained Christian Ministers: and that they have been influenced by a dread of certain consequences as following from an adherence to what I have pointed out as the only sound and secure principles.* For instance, it has been thought dangerous to acknowledge a power in any The absurdity of such a mode of reaBody of uninspired men to depart in the soning would be at once apparent in any smallest degree from the recorded prece- other case. For instance, the Senate, dents of the earliest Churches including Parliament, or other legislative Body of (be it remembered by the way) those ex- this or any other country, has clearly a isting after the times of the Apostles, and right to pass or to reject any proposed therefore consisting, themselves, of unin-law that is brought before it; and has an spired men. And a danger there certainly is; a danger of the mis-use of any power, privilege, or liberty, trusted to any one.

equal right to do the one or the other; now no one in his senses would understand by this, that it is equally right to do the one or the other:-that whatever is *For instance, the view taken (see Thoughts left to the legislator's decision, must be a on the Sabbath) of the Lord's Day, as a Church matter of absolute indifference; and that festival observed in memory of Christ's resurrec-whatever is to be determined by his judgtion on the first day of the week, and not in comment, may fairly be determined according pliance with the Mosaic Law, I have seen objected to his caprice. to, on the ground that "men are apt not to pay so much deference to the enactments of the Church, A Church, and the same may be said as to express commands of Scripture." That is of a State, may so far abuse its power, to say, although the Mosaic Law be not really and exceed the just limits of that power, binding on Christians (for, if it were, and the ob- as to make enactments which a man may servance of the Lord's day were a part of it, that be bound in conscience to disobey; as, would supersede all need of other arguments) yet it is advisable to teach men that it is, in order that for instance, if either an ecclesiastical or they may be the more ready to observe the Lord's civil Government should command men Day. The Church therefore is to be represented. (as the Roman Emperors did the early and that to men who, by supposition, are dis- Christians) to join in acts of idolatrous posed to undervalue Church authority,—as havworship; or (as was done towards the ing taken the liberty to alter a divine commandment of acknowledged obligation, by changing Saxon Clergy) to put away their wives. the seventh day of the week to the first (besides But this does not do away the truth of alterations in the mode of observance) in compli- the general assertion that the Powers ance with a supposed tradition, that the Apostles that be are ordained of God ;”—that both sanctioned-which it is plain from Scripture they civil and ecclesiastical Governments have did not-this transference of the Sabbath. This is surely expecting an unreasonable deference for a right to make enactments that are not Church authority from men who, it is supposed, contrary to religion or morality. are unwilling to yield to it such a deference as is reasonable.

H

And again; even these enactments.— such as a State or a Church does possess

a right to make,-it is not only conceiv- a Minister in all Christendom who is able able, but highly probable, that there will to trace up with any approach to certainty be some which may appear to many per- his own spiritual pedigree. The sacrasons, and perhaps with reason, to be not mental virtue (for such it is, that is imthe very wisest and best. In such a case, plied,-whether the term be used or not a man is bound to do his best towards in the principle I have been speaking of) the alteration of those laws: but he is dependent on the imposition of hands, not, in the mean time, exempted from with a due observance of apostolical obedience to laws which he may not fully usages, by a Bishop, himself duly conseapprove. For supposing his objections crated, after having been in like manner to any law to be well founded, still, as baptized into the Church, and ordained infallibility does not exist among men, Deacon and Priest, this sacramental all Professions and precepts relative to virtue, if a single link of the chain be the duty of submission to Government faulty, must, on the above principles, be would be nugatory, if that duty were to utterly nullified ever after, in respect of be suspended and remain in abeyance, till all the links that hang on that one. For an unerring government should arise. if a Bishop has not been duly consecrated, If any one, accordingly, is convinced or had not been, previously, rightly that a certain Church is essentially un- ordained, his Ordinations are null; and scriptural, he cannot with a sound conscience belong to its communion. But he may consistently adhere to it, even though he should be of opinion that in some non-essential points it has adopted regulations which are not the most expedient. He may still consistently hold these to be binding, as coming from a competent authority; though he may wish that they had been, or that they should be, settled otherwise.

§ 30. But as there are some persons who are too ready to separate from any religious Community on slight grounds, or even through mere caprice, to "heap up to themselves teachers, having itching ears," it has been thought, or at least maintained, that the only way of affording complete satisfaction and repose to the scrupulous, and of repressing schism, is to uphold, under the title of "Church principles," the doctrine that no one is a member of Christ's Church, and an heir of the covenanted Gospel promises, who is not under a Ministry ordained by Bishops descended in an unbroken chain from the Apostles.

Now what is the degree of satisfactory assurance that is thus afforded to the scrupulous consciences of any members of an Episcopal Church? If a man consider it as highly probable that the particular Minister at whose hands he receives the sacred Ordinances is really thus apostolically descended, this is the very utmost point to which he can, with any semblance of reason, attain: and the more he reflects and inquires, the more cause for hesitation he will find. There is not See “Appeal in behalf of Church Government;" (Houlston;) a very able pamphlet. † See Sermon on Obedience to Laws.

so are the ministrations of those ordained by him; and their Ordination of others; (supposing any of the persons ordained by him to attain to the episcopal office) and so on, without end. The poisonous taint of informality, if it once creep in undetected, will spread the infection of nullity to an indefinite and irremediable extent.

And who can undertake to pronounce that during that long period usually designated as the Dark Ages, no such taint ever was introduced? Irregularities could not have been wholly excluded without a perpetual miracle; and that no such miraculous interference existed, we have even historical proof. Amidst the numerous corruptions of doctrine and of practice, and gross superstitions, that crept in, during those ages, we find recorded descriptions not only of the profound ignorance and profligacy of life, of many of the Clergy, but also of the grossest irregularities in respect of discipline and form. We read of Bishops consecrated when mere children;-of men officiating who barely knew their letters-of Prelates expelled, and others put into their places, by violence;-of illiterate and profligate laymen, and habitual drunkards, admitted to Holy Orders; and in short, of the prevalence of every kind of disorder, and reckless disregard of the decency which the Apostle enjoins. It is inconceivable that any one even moderately acquainted with history, can feel a certainty, or any approach to certainty, that, amidst all this confusion and corruption, every requisite form was, in every instance, strictly adhered to, by men, many of them openly profane and secular, unrestrained by public opinion, through the gross ignorance of the population