THE UNIVEUSIT1ES AND THE DISSENTERS. 655 



merely Christians but deists, this position can never be tenable. So 

 long as our very political existence as a nation depends upon the will 

 of a God, so long do we owe to that God the same collective homage 

 which we pay to him in silence, and in our own chambers for his in- 

 dividual mercies and protection. And how can this duty be dis- 

 charged except by some regulated and certain form of worship and 

 what is this but a national church ? Thus far unassisted reason would 

 guide man. But man is not left to reason only, he has other guides 

 to direct him, which we, for one, will never reject. We will not re- 

 ject the experience of past ages we will not throw on one side the 

 revealed word of God. We do not believe the history of man to be 

 a series of fictions, or the Bible a tissue of philosophical fables. We 

 do not believe that all other generations were fools, and that we alone 

 are wise ; or that a nation can long exist as a nation whose govern- 

 ment is directed solely according to human theories, unsupported and 

 unsanctified by a national religion. Till we have come to this convic- 

 tion we will never cease to uphold a national church. 



Are we singular in these opinions, or is the argument we have 

 adduced only a sophism raised by the parties opposed to the church 

 with a secret hope of overthrowing that establishment, and exalting 

 themselves on its ruin ? 



But suppose for the moment that the church were overthrown, 

 what denomination of Christians would be able to -assume its place ? 

 Which is the sect so distinguished by its superior piety, humility, and 

 learning that all others, by common consent, would yield to its claim ? 

 Would not this be sowing the wind to reap the whirlwind ? Would 

 not this very event give rise to animosities ten times more violent, 

 heart-burnings more bitter, jealousies and strifes more furious and un- 

 christian than have ever been directed against the church ? Look to 

 the feuds which at this moment exist among the different dissenting 

 congregations, and let that answer the question. 



Let us try the claim of the church of England by another test by 

 numbers ; and what society of Dissenters can compare with it ? W^e 

 do not rely much on an arithmetical argument, but it is one mainly 

 in fashion at the present day. 



As we said before, this is not merely a party question, it is one of 

 general importance of universal application, and on which men ought 

 to speak plainly without any reference to politics. We have always 

 upheld the cause of legitimate liberty, but we will not side with the 

 advocates of licentious disorder. We lent our best aid to the cause 

 of Reform, but will as steadily oppose the march of revolution. 



We have been led into this train of thinking by the recent de- 

 bates in the House of Commons, as well on the general question of 

 church government as also on the petitions of the Dissenters to be 

 admitted to the universities, and on the claim of the London Uni- 

 versity to the privilege of granting degrees. Of course the men of 

 Oxford and Cambridge have armed themselves in support of what 

 they consider their privileges. The principal champions of the re- 

 spective universities are Mr. Sewell, and Mr. Wordsworth, both men 

 of distinction ; possessing bold and vigorous minds, classical imagina- 

 tions, and acute forcible reasoners. As might be expected a good 



