Lecturers, to fay any thing as to the controverfy between the Diffenters and the Church. Their object is to prove, in plain fimple language, the truth of the Scriptures; to counteract the poifon of infidelity, which has been fo affiduously spread through the land; to warn against the pernicious principles of PAINE; to fhow the inhabitants the mifery of a fallen ftate, the odioufnefs and danger of vice, the gulph of eternal deftruction which is before them; and to urge them to flee to Him, who alone can deliver from the wrath to come. Surely it is paying an ill compliment to the preaching of the Clergy, if fuch preaching as this will draw their people away! But the fact is, that the Village Teachers go, for the most part, into places where there are no parish churches, or where the fervices are feldom performed, or at uncertain hours, which the parishioners are not apprized of, or in the most curfory and hasty manner.* I can declare, on my own certain knowledge, that the hearers in Villages have earnestly been exhorted to attend the nearest church, when they could; and the time of Village Services has been fo regulated, as not to interfere with that of Public Worship, when it was certainly known.

Again, It may be urged against this new way,

* It would be easy for the Writer to bring inftances of each of these particulars. He can truly say he has not fearched them out. They came accidentally to his knowledge.

that it leffens the reverence of the lower people for the Sacred Order of the Clergy. Should this be the cafe, it will arife, I prefume, from the Clergy's deficiency respecting either their doctrine, temper, or practice; and if so, whose fault will it be? As to defect of doctrine, the Anonymous Author himself acknowledges," there may be perhaps fome just"nefs in this complaint;" (p. 18.) and "annexes "to his opinion" the much respected names of the Bishops of Salisbury and Durham; that "the fun"damental doctrines of Chriftianity are not fuffici"ently inculcated." To which alfo may be added the observations of Bishop Horfeley, in his Charge to the Clergy of the Diocese of St. David. Let any attentive hearer compare the fermons, which are ufually delivered from the pulpit, with the fentiments of the reading desk, and the Articles and Homilies of the Church, and he will foon be convinced of the truth of the acknowledgement.* one grand caufe of the departure of many from the Church of England, and of her Ministers being neglected. The people want the fubftantial Bread of Life; and if they are entertained with that which is not bread, is it to be wondered at, that they should seek it where they can find it, even though it should be comparatively coarfely

This is

* See Mr. Wilberforce's "Practical View," p. 382, 8vo. ed.

+ See Sir Richard Hill's "Apology for Brotherly Love, and for the Doctrines of the Church of England," particularly letter v. prepared?

prepared? The good old Doctrines of the Church then, must be preached with clearnefs, plainnefs, energy, and perfevering diligence; as they were by Bishops Jewel,* Babington, Hopkins, Ufher; and as in modern days by many excellent ministers; and then the people would not leave the Church, on account of doctrines.

But Preaching is not the only thing to be attended to. Uniformity in temper and conduct, muft recommend and adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. The people will always refpect a man who is all of a picce; who exemplifies out of the pulpit, what he recommends in it; who answers St. Paul's defcription of a paftor,(I. Tim. iii. 2-7.) "blameless, vigilant, fober,

of good behaviour, given to hofpitality, apt (i. e. "able and willing) to teach; not given to wine,

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no ftriker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, “not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well "his own houfe, having his children in fubjection

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*Bishop of Salisbury, from 1560 to 1571 : "who was," fays the honourable author of his life, always travelling about his diocese, "and preaching wherever he came." See p. 42 of his Life, prefixed to his "Apology for the Church of England."

a

Being naturally of a fpare and thin body, his friends perfuaded him to abate fomewhat of his exceffive labours; he replied, Bishop fhould die preaching." Well might he be called by Humphrey, his Biographer, in his printed epitaph, from which that on the Bishop's grave-flone was abridged,—“GEMMA GEMMARUM." See his Life, PP, 52, 53; and Biographia Evangelica, vol. II. p. 122. " with

E2

with all gravity; not a novice, left being lifted up "with pride he fall into the condemnation of the "devil. Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without, left he fall into reproach, and the fnare of the devil."

It

What an irrefiftible charm is there in the lovely temper and pattern of a minifter, formed after the model of the lowly, felf-denying, and laborious Jefus! It filences and convinces, if it does not conquer prejudice. It powerfully awes, it almoft terrifies, the profane and profligate ; and compels them to flee, as if afhamed. claims the respect of the rich and the great, even though they do not love religion. And when it is evident that a paftor has a parental concern for the inftruction and improvement, the peace and comfort and the everlasting falvation of his flock,' and their little ones,--esteem, veneration, affection, gratitude, will fo powerfully bind them to him, that it will be no eafy thing for Itinerants, or any others, to draw them away. But, if there be in the conduct of a paftor of any denomination, the reverfe of all this ;-if he make the profane and the lewd, and the vain and the gay, his chofen and general companions, because they are wealthy and fashionable, because they have power, patronage, and influence; - if he drink with the drunken, swear with the profane, or encourage fwearing, or fneering at godliness, by his counte

nance;

nance; if he confume his precious time, which ought to be improved in meditating and studying the Scriptures, in vain and worldly amufements, as cards, balls, races, or plays ;—is negligent of his flock;-is proud and haughty, and condefcendeth not to men of low degree,-never converfes with them about their eternal concerns,never teaches their children, &c. ;-the common people will be fo impertinent, as to make their obfervations and remarks; and to draw comparisons between minifters who are exemplary, and those who are not. The religious farmer and his wife, the village "blacksmith and cobler," the ploughman and the dairywoman, who read their Bible, will distinguish between the fhepherds who feed themselves, and care not for the flock, and those who are anxious to bring wandering sheep home to the Great Shepherd. Nor is it in the power of arguments the most specious, or pretences or arts the moft folemn, to conceal the difference, or avoid the detection.

Objections, to the practice I am vindicating, may also be urged by DISSENTers.

Some may fay," It is a low, mean, difreputable procedure, to go among the poor il"literate vulgar: it is quite methodistical,"* &c.

This is a convenient word, often used as a vehicle of contempt; though perhaps a term as vague and uncertain in it's fignification as any in our language.