560 WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE FOR THE CHURCH { 



There are two classes of character, each of which has its own plan 

 securing the welfare of the Establishment. The first is composed o 

 persons holding what are erroneously, we feel assured, called high church 

 principles ; these are chiefly Tories in politics, and they would have the 

 same rule of government acted upon in religion as in the state ; that is* 

 to grant a monopoly of privileges and favour to their own party, and 

 keep down the rest by trampling upon their rights as Christian men and 

 fellow subjects, merely because they happen to hold opinions different 

 from their own. Nay, we fear, if this had not the effect of rendering 

 the number small, some of these patented zealots would go even further, 

 and employ the terrible arguments of outlawry and persecution for the 

 purpose of showing their fellow creatures how much they are in the 

 wrong. We have in our mind two slight reasons for not joining these gen- 

 tlemen churchmen as we all are in their plans for maintaining the as* 

 scendancy principle First, they are impracticable according to the state of 

 things at the present ; secondly, if it were possible to carry them into 

 effect, they are unjust and cruel, and therefore unchristian. We are not 

 required by our religion to attempt in its defence that which in the nature 

 of things cannot be done, or that which, being wicked* ought not to be 

 done. Now, as all the high-church-tory schemes for maintaining 

 the power of the church are based on either the one or the other of 

 these principles, they cannot be practically observed, and will not be 

 entertained by sober-minded men, who would exalt her by other means* 

 alike within their reach, and compatible with her character. 



We have been largely treated, of late, with protestant expositions and 

 remarks on Dens' Theology ; and, on the other side, contradictions have 

 been given to some of the explanations and inferences of the M'Ghins 

 and O'Sullivans, at their great meeting. We have also heard much of 

 the destructive intentions of the Dissenters, respecting the Church. 

 Well ! admittiug popery and dissent to be worthy of all the condemna- 

 tion which has been pronounced upon them, by the most exclusive and 

 red-hot churchmen what then ? we repeat the inquiry what then ? 

 The polemic may conclude his argument most satisfactorily against all 

 Who differ from the church ; but the politician feels it a more difficult 

 matter to put them down ; and it is from want of considering this dis- 

 tinction, that we find so many projects thrown out* and spoken of, as if 

 it were the easiest thing in the world for government to protect the 

 church, and secure to her every kind of support and prerogative, over all 

 the rest of the sects in the kingdom. No dream can be more fanciful, 

 or stuffed with greater absurdities, than are the heads of the high-flown* 

 self-styled friends of the church ; and if their suggestions and wishes, 

 respecting her, were to be attempted to be acted upon, by the legisla- 

 ture, in seven years there would be no such thing as an ecclesiastical 

 establishment, in England or Ireland. There may be no difficulty in 

 conducting her into the field ; but if she once appear there in the mili- 

 tant character of an extirpator of all other religious parties, neither the 

 Orange duke, nor the Waterloo duke> would be able to bring her out 

 again in safety. 



We have the greatest confidence imaginable in the ability of the 

 church, not only to maintain her present position, but to extend her in- 

 fluence, if a few changes were made, to adapt her more effectually to 



