548 ) 



WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE FOR THE CHURCH ? 



THE time is at hand when, in the apprehension of all parties, some 

 changes will be x introduced into the church establishment of this country. 

 Turn right or left, or whatever way we will, every one we meet admits 

 this in different phraseology, to he sure, yet it is the same thing that is 

 meant, whether expressed in the wailing accents of some, who tell us 

 the church is in the act of being overthrown, or in the less fearful man- 

 ner of those who hope and believe that alterations are likely to be effected 

 which will prove salutary reforms, and alike required for her own sake 

 and for the interests of Christianity. All, we say. are agreed in this, 

 that she will not be allowed to remain much longer in her present state. 



During the last few years, a numberless variety of publications, sent 

 forth both by churchmen and dissenters, have treated of ecclesiastical 

 reform ; these are noticed here chiefly for the purpose of observing that 

 their pages have been mostly defective in one or two particulars, of much 

 importance to the right understanding of what ought to be done where 

 changes are imperiously demanded, and where a firm stand should be 

 taken, in any attempts for the settlement of church matters at the pre- 

 sent moment. The defect alluded to more especially is, a seeming non- 

 acquaintance, on the part of writers, with the particular feeling of the 

 members of the establishment individually, and also of the sects in a state 

 of separation from her; consequently, the relation which they hold 

 towards each other, and the bearing their different opinions have 

 upon the common faith, have neither been clearly defined, nor have the 

 discrepancies between them been ascertained and rendered prominent in 

 connexion with proposals for such modifications or reforms as existing 

 circumstances are supposed to require. The same oversight has appeared 

 in our legislators : hence, when measures, well-intentioned, and designed 

 for good purposes, have been introduced into parliament, no sooner have 

 they been explained, than they have been discovered to be quite beside 

 their object alike undesired by the people, and inapplicable to the re- 

 moval of the grievances complained of ; and the party having charge of 

 the matter in either house, has been obliged to withdraw it, greatly to 

 his own mortification. 



We almost invariably rejoice when any proposed new law for the 

 church is compelled to be given up, from whatever cause we hardly care, 

 so that the attempt to heap another statute upon her burthened shoulders 

 proves a failure ; and for the same reason we are glad when an old church 

 law is abolished indeed, if our will could have effect, we would burn 

 nearly all the ecclesiastical statutes in e-xistence, for the sake of the 

 church herself, believing, as we do, that an act of this description would 

 be more conducive to her prosperity, and that she would be better pro- 

 tected thereby, than by the thousand wished-for enactments, in her be- 

 half, which now float in the heads of my Lords Winchelsea, Roden, and a 

 number of other high churchmen who are frightened out of their wits at 

 dissent. 



