diocesan." Experience has shown that we were right. It was a liberal and charitable feeling that would not permit churchmen to believe in the prevalence of such sentiments among dissenters as have now discovered themselves to the most purblind the malignity of dissent is now "omnibus ET LIPPIS notum." But while we do justice to the origin of this persuasion on the part of churchmen, we cannot but condemn the persuasion itself. The dissenters had even then spoken out— not as notoriously, but quite as decidedly. We are, undoubtedly, to "hope all things" while we can; but hope was here out of the questionall doubt was at an end. We will not, however, lose any more time in casting blame upon the past; the rancour of dissent, its mortal hostility to the Church, is now no secret. We have acted the part of Laocoon, and gained nothing by our faithfulness but the venom of the serpent. But the battle is now in the streets of Zion; and we call upon every soldier of the cross to do his duty.

When I addressed you four years ago from this place, I said, that I did not perceive, amongst the dissenters, any symptoms of increased hostility towards the established church. It is now, however, too apparent, that even then, the spirit of bitterness prevailed amongst them to a great extent, and waited only for an opportunity to break forth. That opportunity was shortly afterwards afforded, in the excitement and agitation, occasioned by the proposal and accomplishment of a great political change; and the moment, at which it was peculiarly to be desired, that Christians of all denominations should unite their efforts to tranquillize the public mind, and to allay those heats and dissentions, which must ever be most injurious, not merely to the interests of this or that religious denomination, but to the cause of the Gospel itself, that moment was chosen by our adversaries, to assail the church and its ministers with every engine, which the armoury of could supply. And we have perhaps no right to complain, that thtroversy they were skilful enough to take advantage of the church's difficulties, to compass her destruction, when they thought that there was none deliver her, if they are really persuaded that the existence of any established church is incompatible with the purity and prosperity of religion in this country. But what we may justly complain of, is this, and it is scarcely with a favourable opinion of their Christian sincerity, that in of their warfare against the church, they have had recourse to the grossest calumnies, and the most unfounded accusations.†—Pp. 2—4.

reconciled prosecution

Some of these "calumnies" and "accusations" are briefly, but very completely, refuted. As for instance the property of the Church.

The total number of benefices, with and without cure of souls, (including those churches and chapels which have no other endowment than that of pew-rents,) is 10,701; and the total net income thereof is 3,058,2487; giving an average of 2851. for each. The total net income of the bishops, the

CHRISTIAN REMEMBRANCER, 1830, p. 659. :

+ In another part of the Charge the Bishop says, very plainly, "It is true, that nothing we can do, in the way of reform, will appease our enemies: on the contrary, I believe that the improved and improving condition of the church is one great cause of their increased hostility.”—P. 18. All this is what we have been repeating for years— disbelieved by most-by many, branded with illiberality for telling the truth.-We suppose we shall be credited now.

cathedral bodies, collegiate churches, and other ecclesiastical corporations. of every kind, is 432,942. If this were added to the income of the benefices, and the whole were divided equally amongst the parishes in England and Wales, so much to the clergyman of each parish, no provision being made for the rulers or officers of the church, nor for a large body of curates, the average would be about 326. net income, for each; an amount, barely exceeding that, which, by almost common consent, has been fixed upon, as the minimum of provision for a well-educated man, set apart for the work of the ministry, and cut off from all other sources of emolument.-P. 12.

The pew rents deducted, (which our opponents cannot object to, they being "voluntary") the sum would be about 150%. less to each clergy

man.

The Bishop thus states the arrangement of Church property within his diocese.

In the diocese of London there are 608 benefices, the gross annual income of which amounts to 267,137., and the net income to 254,9717. giving an average of 3991. net income. The number of curates is 355, who receive, in stipends, 35,138/., averaging 981.

It is not sufficiently remembered, in discussions on this subject, that it is not merely the church's property which is employed in carrying on the church's work. A very considerable proportion of the smaller benefices are held by clergymen who have some income independent of their preferment; this is added to their clerical income, and the whole is spent for the benefit of the church. If the inducement of a certain legal maintenance were withdrawn, a very large amount of property, which is now employed in supporting the respectability, and increasing the efficiency of the parochial clergy, would be diverted into other channels, and lost to the cause of religion. Pp. 58, 59.

But, be the property of the Church great or small, the injustice of that "liberality" which would "bona aliena largiri," is very well put by the Bishop.

Let us imagine for a moment, that an attempt were made to interfere, by legislative enactment, with all the wills, and trust-deeds, which secure a certain amount of property to various places of dissenting worship throughout the country; and to appropriate the whole, or a part of that property, to secular purposes; or even to the object of general education; that so full scope and freedom might be given to the voluntary system, to put forth all its energies, unembarrassed and unimpeded by the unholy incumbrance of worldly possessions. What a clamour would be raised, and justly raised, against such an attempt, not only by the ministers and trustees of particular chapels, but by the great body of the dissenters? With what force of language, and strength of reasoning, would they point out the injustice and impolicy of such an invasion of the rights of property, especially where the interests of religious truths are concerned ! And I would gladly learn, whether the case, which I have here supposed, differs in principle from the projected spoliation of the established church; or whether it differs at all, except in this, that it would be a far less flagrant, a less extensive, a less mischievous departure from all the acknowledged rules of honesty, and equity, and justice.-Pp. 10, 11.

The Bishop then proceeds to except from his general accusation, dissenters of the stamp of Dr. Pye Smith; a class of men for whom we

always avowed our entire respect. Sincere, conscientious men, who have no enmity to the Church, but differ from her upon principle, and scorn the arts of falsehood and fraud, are entitled to respectful consideration from the Church, and from every member of it. But again "and again" would we entreat such dissenters to go deeply into the question of their separation, and satisfy themselves what is the real nature of schism. Of one thing, let them be assured. They can do no good as a neutral party. He that is not with the Church in her conflict is against her. If they are ashamed of the conduct of the dissenters, let them be ashamed of the principles which have led to such conduct. If they wish to maintain a Christian establishment, let them join the communion of the Church; for in no other way can they effect their wishes.

The subjects next considered in the charge are, the fearful want of churches and clergy to meet the requirements of the population; pluralities; non-residence; Lord Brougham's bills, of which the Bishop speaks with becoming disgust, but still thinks that no insult was intended to the clergy;* (which we could as soon believe as that a blow from a cudgel was meant for a civility) education; in which it is more than hinted that Government are likely to compel his Majesty's subjects to take their children from under the tuition of the clergy, and transfer them to schools modelled upon the plan of the London University; a measure for which the ministers of the Church will, we hope, hold themselves prepared; while the conscientious laity will pay small deference to acts of parliament which are nothing less than a direct outrage upon conscience. The alteration of the Liturgy is slightly adverted to; the Bishop expresses himself against it, under present circumstances, and positively states that the Bishops had never intended any thing of the sort, and that he believes the Government had no such design,

The whole is wound up with the remarks which follow:

One good result may certainly be looked for from the conflict, in which we are now engaged in defence of our church-a result not incompatible, I trust, with the maintenance of a charitable and forbearing spirit towards those who differ from us-that both the ministers and members of that church will be driven to a closer survey, and a more serious consideration, of the claims which it has upon their allegiance and affection, and of the duties which they owe to its divine Head. This is one of the methods, by which we trust that he may be seeking to purify and refine it, without intending to afflict it to the dust. But let us see to it, each in his own case. Let us inquire of ourselves, whether, when the Lord is manifestly dealing with us, in the way of warning and correction, we are, in our several stations, labouring in all things to approve ourselves as the ministers of God-by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned; by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left. Whether we are declaring to the people all

* Page 28.

the counsel of God with a faithful and uncompromising plainness; testifying repentance towards God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ; being examples of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity; and in all things doing the work of Evangelists.

This, and nothing short of this, it is, to give full proof of our ministry; a proof most open and palpable to the common apprehension of mankind, that we are indeed, what we profess to be, ministers of a true and genuine branch of Christ's holy catholic church, apostolical in our doctrine and our lives, as well as in our commission, and set apart from the mass of mankind not more by our holy calling, than by the sanctity of our daily conversation, and our superior activity in every work and labour of love.

If the dangers which now menace us, or the troubles which may soon come upon us, should have the effect of leading us to a serious and searching self-inquiry in these particulars, and to a diligent seeking for larger measures of God's grace, the church will gain, in intrinsic energy and efficiency, more than it will lose in outward advantages and supports: but it will not, I am persuaded, lose much, even in that direction: it will retain the hold, which it yet has, on the respect and affections of the people at large, and will win over to its cause many, who are now either hostile or indifferent. But if this should not be the case; if justice should not be done to our increased exertions, to our more exemplary faithfulness, to our patient perseverance in well doing; if, with the prophet, it be our lot, humanly speaking, to labour in vain and spend our strength for nought, yet we shall have the prophet's consolation in the assurance, that our judgment is with the Lord, and our work with our God.-Pp. 47-49.

But not one word of CONVOCATION! Every subject is started which convocation alone could competently settle-every reason is advanced why convocation is indispensable-but the word itself is never breathedas if it were pollution and perdition! Yet, if we have not our convocation, we must, politically speaking, expire. This we have said repeatedly and as it turns out that we were right about the policy of dissent, it may turn out, too late, that we have been right here too. Let the recent example of the deanery of Bedminster excite the clergy throughout the kingdom to petition the King on the subject-aye, and the laity too; and, as we have repeatedly said, we are sure the appeal would not, could not, be made to the throne in vain. The King has declared his own sentiments; let churchmen trifle no longer, and, under Providence, the Church is destined to see brighter days than have shone upon her since she arose from the Egyptian slavery of Rome.