God condemned us all to everlasting punishment, but he reverfed his judgment through the medium of Jefus Chrift.

Sir WILLIAM SCOTT interrupted him, and faid, the only queftion which he had to determine was, whether Mr. Stone had revoked the errors which he was proved to have pub. lished. The statement made by Mr. Stone he held to be unfatisfactory, and the juftnefs of his arguments there in fupport of his opinions, was not a competent fubject for him to decide. He thought the indulgence of another week, would be productive of no good. If he did not avail himself of the prefent opportunity of revoking his errors, no alternative was left but to certify his cafe to his Diocefan, who would pronounce the fentence of the law.

The BISHOP OF LONDON, accompanied by the bishop of Lincoln, the chancellor of the diocese, and feveral prebendaries, was then introduced; and on the cafe being reported by Sir WILLIAM SCOTT, HIS LORDSHIP pronounced fentence of degradation against Mr. STONE, according to the forms prescribed by law, depriving him of his rectory of Cold Norton, in Effex.

After the fentcnce was pronounced, Mr. STONE exclaimed, "God's will be done!"

Had this unaccountable man followed the example of fome of his Unitarian brethren, he certainly would have merited refpect, whatever might be our opinion of his errors; but when we fee him clinging faft to a church which he deems idolatrous, merely for the fake of her emoluments; when we fee him infulting the conftitution of his country, by tenaciously holding a benefice, while he is violating the facred engagements he entered into on his inftitution; and when, moreover, we hear him appealing to his Creator for protection, at the very moment he meanly prays leave to abuse his worship and ordinances, our pity is fwallowed up in contempt and indignation.

Review of New Publications.

An Admonitory Epifle to the Rev. Rowland Hill, A. M. occafioned by the republication of his "Spiritual Characteristics, or most curious Sale of Curates." By PHILELEUTHEROS. 8vo. pp. 30. 1s. Conder.

THE

HE author of this epiftle is a liberal-minded dissenter, justly fhocked and indignant at the vulgarity, infolence, and inconfiftency, of the domineering pontiff of Surry Street chapel. It was our intention fome time fince to have noticed the fcurrilous libel, to which this pamphlet is a reply, but upon mature confideration, we judged it beft to treat the filthy effufion of fanatical impudence with filent contempt.

The task of reviewing the "Spiritual Characteristics," has, however, fallen into good hands, and we fincerely thank the author for the juftice which he has fo amply and ably administered.

After pointing out the nonfenfe of the piece, and the illiberal fpirit in which it is written, Phileleutheros comes to clofe quarters with the author, and treats him with the language of honeft reproof,

are,

"In page 105, you declare yourself an admirer of the church, by law established; and in the following page your sentiments "that the platform of the British national establishment is a good one;' and that you wish for her reformation, but not for her demolition;" but it is no easy task to reconcile your advice to Mr. Goodman, nor your conduct, with these assertions. In this pamphlet you recommend a clergyman to become a dissenter, and to preach in a licensed conventicle. The question is, ought a good man to quit an establishment which is good in itself, and which is ' one of the greatest national blessings the land enjoys,' because abuses and evils are to be found in it? If the church is good, her laws and institutions must be good also, for they are constituent and essential parts of herself, and it is incumbent on every churchman to regard these laws and institutions with reverence. By these laws, are not the clergy prohibited from entering conventicles? And do they not swear to obey their 'Or

dinary,

dinary, and other chief ministers of the church,' and them to whom the charge of government over them is committed? Now with what consistency can a minister who has taken such an oath, directly oppose his lawful rulers? Is not this flying in the face of all order, and subverting the very constitution of the hierarchy Yet by precept and example you sanction such irregularity.

"You have taken orders in the church, yet you constantly preach and administer the sacrament according to the Rubric, in a licensed place of worship among the dissenters. You are protected by the Toleration Act, which is the bulwark of dissenters, and if you disavow this character, and will be a clergyman notwithstanding, you are a most irregular and inconsistent one. I am not speaking for or against the establishment; but for a dissenter, as you undoubtedly are, to imitate the clergy, and appear as such to the world, is most contemptible, and a just subject for ridicule. A clergyman certainly is at liberty to quit the church, and to become a dissenter, as many have done: but practically to dissent, and yet to boast of the character of a churchman, and to embrace every opportunity to lampoon dissenters, as is your practice, appears to me a high degree of inconsistency. If the church is good in itself, a national blessing,' and you profess to be a member of it, you are bound to continue in it, to abide by its rules, and to submit yourself to the judgment of your spiritual governors; for if all the good men quit the establishment because there are many things in it which they disapprove, what must be its fate?

"And now I am upon the subject of inconsistency, let me remind you of another glaring impropriety in your conduct as a clergyman. You, who are episcopally ordained, and who are but a priest, take upon you frequently to exercise the functions of a bishop, and assist in the ordination of dissenting ministers. From this we should be led to suppose that your great partiality for dissenters hurried you into this inconsistency. But it is rather remarkable, that the dissenters also are the subjects of your ridicule and satire. You preach in their pulpits, you are glad to mingle in their society, yet you abuse their church order, and laugh at their pastors; you treat them with the most merciless severity. But indeed, like Ishmael, your hand seems to be against every man. Stand aside, I am holier than thou,' is the proud language of your heart; and it is your misfortune that you mistake eccentricity

Surry Chapel-a licensed conventicle-must resemble a church as much as possible; and to complete the farce, an illiterate layman is dressed up in the priest's band and surplice, to perform the most sacred functions of the sacerdotal office. It is a pity, Mr. Hill did not take advantage of the "sale of curates," and purchase one for himself, but perhaps he could not find a good one that would so degrade his cloth.

tricity and disorder, bitterness and pride, for evidences of superior sanctity and heavenly zeal."

According to the following account, and we have had it confirmed by unexceptionable teftimony, the conventicle in Surry Street, carries on an extenfive lucrative trade; but the practice here ftated, feems a manifeft violation of the law of the land, and it is worth while to inquire whether the venders of books on the Lord's day, ought not to be punished as well as the venders of meat?

6

"In your most curious pamphlet'" says the author of the ad monitory epistle to Rowland Hill, "you laugh at spiritual persons being concerned in secular business. But why, most consistent sir, may not a clergyman be a farmer, as well as a bookseller; especially if he carry his goods to market, and not to the house of God. You sell tickets and books on the Sabbath-day, and make the house of prayer a house of merchandize; and a clergyman may surely pursue agriculture during the week without incurring I remember when in town a few years since, it your censure. was the Sunday after Midsummer Day, that passing through the lobby of Surry Chapel, I saw a great number of tickets spread upon a kind of temporary counter, like tickets in a lottery office-' window, and by their side, a quantity of hymn books, one of which was in the act of being sold, as were also several of the tickets; and two persons were fully occupied in the business. I confess my feelings were hurt, and my curiosity was excited. I applied to the friend who introduced me, for information, and as he was a member, he was able to give it. He told me this was

the method in which the expences of the place, which must certainly be great, were defrayed, that on the Sabbaths immediately following Midsummer and Christmas days, the door-keepers in the lobby only, received more than one hundred guineas. I objected to the impropriety of so much appearance of trade and bustle on the Sabbath-day; but he assured me it was unavoidable, as they had no other method to dispose of seats but by tickets; and that but a small part of the audience attended on the week days. I objected to the sale of hymn books; but he said that was necessary too, as strangers frequently attended, and contipually new hearers, who could not do without them. I inquired if any other books were sold there, as I thought I saw something like the Village Dialogues. He replied, Mr. Hill's publications were also sometimes sold to accomodate strangers, and that he had there purchased his first edition of the Sale of Curates.

"Here I confess my choler rose, and I could not help referring to the circumstances of our Lord's conduct, when he drove the buyers and sellers from the temple. He replied, the cases were materially different, as they sold sheep and oxen, and exchanged money. I argued those were quite as necessary for

Jewish

Jewish sacrifices, as hymn books could be in a methodist chapel and that as to the money-changers, I happened to see half a guinea changed to buy a hymn book; and in the warmth of argument I could not help telling him (without any personal disrespect to you, sir,) that I thought, had our Lord found the Jews selling a tract so objectionable as the Sale of Curates, he would certainly have chastised them more severely-with scorpions instead of cords. We parted as disputants generally do, without either giving up, and I lay the case before you for your decision. He thought you were too good a man to do wrong, and I thought the Sabbath and the Scriptures were too sacred to be trifled with. If it be lawful, sir, to sell hymn books (to say nothing worse,) in a place of worship, on the Sabbath-day, it cannot be wrong to sell Prayer Books and Bibles, which at least are equally necessary to your hearers; and if Village Dialogues are proper articles for Sunday trade, why not Village Sermons, or any other books that treat upon religion, and then, sir, you might keep a shop equally popular, and equally lucrative, as any in Paternoster-Row."

It appears that the Methodists have formed an affociation, with the nature of which we are not acquainted; but the remarks of this writer upon it, are fo fenfible and proper, that we regret he did not enter more fully into the fubject.

"I observe," says he "in addition to what I have already noticed of the strange irregularity of your public conduct, that you, who have long gloried in riding on the back of order and decorum, are now, with some of your brethren, endeavouring to give shape and consistency to your irregularity, by establishing a methodistical association; which you call Associate Churches.' I confess, it appears to me, we have CASTS enough in the Christian church already, without multiplying them; and therefore, I conceive your new association is establishing another barrier to the exercise of Christian love and liberality. Unnecessary distinctions, are often the occasion of unhallowed and unprofitable zeal; they divert our attention from the great cause, and center it in a party. This is hardly consistent with your professed libe rality, and that abhorrence which you have often violently ex pressed against party names. It is rather remarkable, that you, who have declared perpetual hostility to boards and benches, should now attempt to establish-what-perhaps a stool only.-But I imagine, it is a stool on which you must sit lord supreme, or you will soon endeavour to reform, that is, to demolish it."

In conclufion, the author of the Admonitory Epiftle has fketched a portrait of the great man to whom he writes; and every one who knows any thing of the character, muft pronounce the likeness to be an admirable one. It is evidently

drawn