which remain would probably, in no long time, follow, if they were treated more as the "childish things" of the age, than its serious practices or belief,—if hard names were not too readily given to outward appearances, and if much were trusted to the silent progress of knowledge, and the illumina tion of the Spirit of God, whose descent upon the human soul is not assimilated to the unrestrained vehemence of the vulture, but to the gentle flight of the dove!

It is impossible, indeed, to say how great would be the progress of the Churches of these realms, among the sects of every kind opposed to them, if such were to become more and more their high character; and such it evidently will become more and more: whatever other effects may follow from them, one happy result of the late important public measures must be, to unite Christians of every denomination in a closer social and political union,-to remove those asperities which arise from mutual prejudice and ignorance, and to open the hearts of those who have hitherto stood at a sullen distance, to meet, half-way, that generous zeal, which will not now seem to breathe more of worldly domination than of spiritual deliverance. How holy, in truth, must

these illustrious Churches appear, "how beautiful their feet upon the mountains," when they come only with "good tidings!" How will every unhallowed form of superstition, or every opposition of science, falsely so called, shrink from their clear and majestic presence, when, armed with the whole panoply of religion," their loins girt about with truth," and wielding the resistless "sword of the Spirit,” they yet glide on with the noiseless steps of "the Gospel of peace," and rather convert their gainsayers and deniers by the calm unreproaching look which penetrates the soul, and draws out the tears of penitence, than by those scornful reproofs, or harsh penalties, which only harden into obstinate resistance!

It is to these views that, in the present great crisis of the Churches of this Protestant nation, I look forward with much hope, and even with a kind of prophetic assurance. I certainly cannot apprehend any danger approaching to these noble establishments, because the doors have been thrown wide to admit, into the temple of the constitution, those who do not yet worship in the same temple of the Church. And if there would be a danger if these establishments were to fail in their duty, it is only

my confidence that this high duty will not be failed in, that renders me the more assured of the splendid consequences. I know the worth of these admirable Churches. It is from my firm confidence in their “works, and charity, and faith, and patience,” that I seem to hear their angel addressed in the voice of approbation and encouragement; and if they were ever in danger of hearing the opposite denunciation, "that their works were neither hot nor cold, and that while they thought themselves rich, and increased with goods, they were, in truth, wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" if such a denunciation was ever in hazard of being hurled against them, that hazard, I trust in God, is now for ever at an end. The distinguished Churches of these realms have never been slack, whenever they were called to the contest; and there never was a greater contest than that to which they are now called. Not, God be praised, what might once have been apprehended, the unhallowed contest of the sword of man, but that bloodless contest which is fought with "the sword of the Spirit"-" the good fight of faith" against every error of opinion or practice, which may obstruct the progress of eternal truth and righteousness,-the fight which is to be

maintained, not with that "wrath of man which worketh not the righteousness of God," but with undying zeal, unfailing knowledge, and still more, unconquerable charity.

The storm which was lately heard over these lands is now hushed to repose, and the waves are silently subsiding. It will, however, be a time, and some time must be allowed, before all the resources of our great national Churches can be called out into their grand operation. They are scarcely yet aware, it may be, of "what spirit they are of." They do not at this moment themselves know the immense treasures of their spiritual store,-and the wide and generous sentiments with which they will ere long be inflamed. They are yet meeting, probably, with averted eyes, those whom they must soon advance to conquer with the armoury of Christian soldiers; nor may they yet be quite satisfied, that the arms of unholy warfare must now, on both sides, for ever be thrown away, and that there are warm hearts and kindling affections in the most hostile ranks, that are now only waiting to be drawn captive by the irresistible cords of the brotherhood of the Gospel.

In these moments of hesitation and suspense, it is, perhaps, not quite unbecoming in us, little as we

desire in our lowly Zion, to have our voice heard in the streets,-to step forward with friendly greeting and Christian encouragement. Removed from all the conflicts of the world's policy, we have the advantage of being more entirely surrounded with professional objects, than the clergy of high and splendid establishments; and, in the retirement of lives which have little of worldly ambition to solicit them, we can, perhaps, obtain a more distinct vision of the spiritual course of events, and of the duties to which the contemplation of Churchmen ought, in these days, more especially to be opened.—If I have succeeded, in any imperfect degree, in pointing out the character of such prospects and duties, I am sensible that the outlines of the picture have been mainly suggested to me from many hopeful appearances, and no less living examples, exhibited within a narrow compass in our own humble and primitive Church. It is in these edifying examples, in many varied aspects, whether as beheld feeding on the treasures of Christian antiquity, and transfusing the golden produce into their own quiet and peaceful spirits, and looking for no occupation of prouder publicity, than to be found training the lambs of their flock; or as advancing into the eye of a philosophical