138 
was, however, certainly long at vari- 
ance with its articles. During the space 
ef more than a century and a half, the 
tenets of its leading divines were Ar- 
minian, and the stricter creed, more con- 
sonant, perhaps, to the principles of the 
first institutors, was, by the prevalent 
party, regarded with suspicion and dis- - 
favour. ‘The moderation of the clergy 
was accompanied with a remission of 
that zeal, which seizes the attention and 
engages the passions of the multitude ; 
and the national church, long unassailed 
by any powerful external force, was not 
sensible of any diminution of strength, 
when on a sudden there arose, within 
its very pale, an adversary more fcrmi- 
dable to its repose and unity than it had 
long experienced. The sects which 
originated at this period, with every 
profession of respect and reverence for 
the established constitution of religion, 
directed all their complaints to the un- 
faithfulness and degeneracy which they 
ascribed to the depositaries of its func- 
tions. "Their tenets, in themselves ac- 
commodated to popular apprehension, 
they urged with that zeal, and main- 
tained with that general consistency of 
life and demeanour, which were calcu- 
tated to make the most powerful impres- 
sion ; and in every part of the kingdom 
they proceeded to the formation of dis- 
tinct places of worship and instruction, 
subsidiary, as they professed, to those of 
national institution, and rendered requi- 
site by the want of evangelical teaching, 
under which, in their estimation, the 
country Jaboured. 
This internal revolution, as usually 
happens in similar cases, has not been 
without influence on the regular clergy. 
The leading members have felt them- 
selves compelled to a nearer assimila- 
tion of their public teaching, with the 
terms of their subscription: the pecu- 
liar doctrines of christianity, as they are 
usually termed, are on the one hand 
‘treated with more respect, and more 
frequently insisted on, though not to the 
exclusion of useful topics of morality ; 
while, on the other hand, the guilt of 
schism is more strenuously maintained 
and urged, and the false confidence of 
arrogance and enthusiasm severely and 
justly arraigned. Such is the spirit of 
the church of England of the present 
‘day: in ald of this spirit, its members 
of every rank have come forward, and 
the work which is now before us may be 
THEOLOGY AND ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS. 
regarded as a humble contribution to 
the general cause. years 
This work consists of forty-nine letters, 
addressed by Mrs. Marriott, to a young 
lady, her near relative. They are a 
combination of reflection and narrative. 
In the first three are treated the funda- 
mental topics of religion, the existence 
and providence of God, and the impor- 
tance and actual communication of di- 
vine revelations. In the  sueceeding 
forty-two, the history of the Old and 
New Testaments ts deduced; and the 
remaining four comprize a very brief 
sketch of subsequent ecclesiastical his- 
tory. 
The important subjects of the first 
division are treated, though in a manner 
somewhat declamatory, yet often with 
beauty of expression, propriety of 
thought, and justness of: argument. 
In the narrative part, the beautiful 
simplicity of the scripture histories fre- 
quently suffers from thé ornaments of 
Mrs. Marriott’s pen. ‘The concession of 
Abraham to Lot, for instance, is thus 
related: Several disputes had arisen 
between the herdsmen, when, to remedy 
the inconvenience, and obviate every 
occasion of farther strife, Abraham, 
equally affectionate and generous, with 
the kindness of a brother and the urba- 
nity of a gentleman, requested, that out of 
respect to their near consanguinity, there 
might be no farther contention either 
between themselves or their servants ; but 
as a separation was now requisite, he de- 
sired Lot would regard the whole coun- 
try as before him, freely to chuse in it 
his place of residence.” Vol. I p, 201. 
The following is the account of the m- 
terview of Abraham’s servant with Re- 
becca and her family, and his return to 
Canaan, after having accomplished the 
object of his journey : 
‘* His prayer was scarcely ended, when 
he saw a very beautiful young woman, com- ~ 
ing from the city, with a pitcher upon her 
shoulder. Charmed with her appearance, 
the moment she returned from the fountain, 
he ran to meet her, and supplicated the 
bounty of a little water: drink my lord,” 
she replied, with respectful courtesy 3 nor did 
her good nature stop at the obliging haste 
with which she lowered the pitcher from 
her shoulder, and satisfied his thirst with the 
cooling beverage, for she added, «* I will give 
drink to your camels also, till they are fully 
satisfied.” 
«« Charmed with these proofs of courteous- 
ness and beneyolence, anxious to know 
~ pine j 
+ * 
