468 METHODISM AND THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. 



been taken indiscriminately under the protection of these champions, 

 and they have stood by the whole as if it were perfection itself. This is 

 one error : a second has been, that her defenders have mostly expended 

 their zeal in protection of her revenues, while her doctrines and her effi- 

 ciency for salvation have seemed but to occupy a secondary place in their 

 esteem. Every nerve has been strained to uphold her tithes, her church 

 votes, &c., while her spiritual character has been too much forgotten. 

 Now, the most successful line of defence would be, to show that the reve- 

 nues of the Church were not regarded as private emoluments, but en- 

 tirely as a provision for the maintenance of men whose sole business it 

 is to do good, who are not of the world, but given up, body and soul, 

 to the service of God and their fellow-men. The true defenders of the 

 Church should set themselves to disencumber her of those who disgrace 

 her by unclerical conduct, of drones who eat her fruits without serving 

 her interests. Some of the trammels which are upon the Church should 

 be taken off, and she should have all possible liberty to do good. Every 

 encouragement should be given to those who really love her, and are 

 useful to promote her welfare : but we find we are deviating from the 

 particular object of this article, which was to show, that in estimating 

 the Methodists as being friends of the Church, an error is committed; 

 which, if persevered in, the establishment may be greatly injured thereby. 

 We hope this has been made sufficiently apparent, and that, in future, 

 those who really desire the conservation and prosperity of the Church of 

 England, will withdraw all confidence from other sects, so far as regards 

 their helping her in her difficulties ; but, at the same time, we; would 

 have no hostile or unchristian feeling cherished by the Church in refer- 

 ence to any sect whatever. An unclean spirit is utterly at variance with 

 the genius of the gospel ; we hope, therefore, that still the Church places 

 no reliance on them for aid. She will always say to those who are not 

 in communion with her, " Serve God in your own way, and be at 

 peace;" and that, so far as any sect is instrumental in doing good, its 

 usefulness, in the cause of religion generally, will be acknowledged, 

 though it may not be regarded as properly auxiliar to, or in alliance 

 with, the Church of England. 



SONNET. 



Tis evening's placid hour, most still and calm, 

 The sun is setting in the crimson'd west, 

 And birds are sweetly singing him to rest, 



With notes most plaintive, like a low-breath'd psalm. 



Nature seems downcast as a gentle maid, 

 To whom her lover late hath bid adieu, 

 Wears on her countenance the languid hue 



Of sorrow, where a smile so lately played. 



Now twilight walks along the darkening sky, 

 And throws on all around her fairy veil ; 

 And there, the young moon shows her crescent pale ; 



And heaven is bright with starry sanctity : 



Deep silence reigns, and all is hushed repose 



Oh ! that a world so fair, should be a world of woes ! * 



