OUGHT TO Bfe DOI-JE FOR THE CHURCH ? 555 



jperceive, in this respect, the strongest marks of resemblance to that per- 

 fect pattern of benevolence, which should be imitated by us all. 



The Church has made one experiment, chiefly in large towns, in con- 

 formity with modern habits, the success of which has been so complete> 

 that one would have expected it would have led to others some of them 

 bearing upon the rural parts of the kingdom. We allude to the institu- 

 tion of Sunday evening service, and, in some places, a week-night service 

 also. What occasioned this alteration in, and in some cases an addition, to 

 the usual times of worship ? Why, it was observed how numerously Dis- 

 senting meetings were attended at those hours ! and the wish naturally 

 was that the church should have the benefit of a prevailing disposition to 

 engage in devotional exercises at a later period of the sabbath day. The 

 result has proved the expediency of making the change; and the marvel 

 is that the same faculty which discovered the propriety of the church 

 having service on Sunday evenings, has not, also, seen the necessity of 

 other modifications which might be equally favourable to her interest. 

 It was a new thing, and as some contended an irregularity, to open the 

 church on a Sunday night but the advantages of the innovation have 

 justified its adoption. And so, we contend, would the good which must 

 result therefrom justify other arrangements ; and amongst, if not above, 

 all the rest, would the appointment of occasional auxiliary worship in 

 vilages or neighbourhoods inconveniently situated for attending the usual 

 parish church, be beneficial to our establishment : and we leave those> 

 who say the thing ought not to be done> because it would be irregular, 

 to determine whether it were best for the church, that these people should 

 worship in communion with her, nearer than our places of abode ; or 

 whether they should so worship for they will, after all, worship at 

 home in connexion with Dissenters. This is the real, indeed the only, 

 question to be decided > will the church relinquish her claim to a great 

 portion of the population, or adapt herself to their circumstances and 

 convenience ? 



In conclusion, we submit the foregoing observations to every sincere, 

 sober-minded friend of the establishment ; and more especially to those 

 who have influence in ecclesiastical matters, under the profoundest con- 

 viction that the wisest policy, being most agreeable to the genius of our 

 holy religion, would be, to free the church from some of the restraints 

 which are at present upon her to afford her every facility for conveying 

 the gospel to every locality in the kingdom, and to let her have full 

 liberty to increase her strength and influence in every possible way, for 

 the spiritual benefit of the whole population of Great Britain and Ireland* 



