665 
The Rev, R. Valpy^s Sermons, 
•years; he himself had vainly endeavour¬ 
ed to prevent their accumulation. The 
pile was at last completed, and he brought 
the torch which gradually effected the 
conflagration ; but his hand was only the 
instrument ofthe will of the people. To 
collect the component parts of the new 
edifice was the work of three reigns. 
Tenet was to be confronted with tenet, 
errors of interpretation were to be cor¬ 
rected, false opinions were to be recti¬ 
fied, original meanings were to be reco¬ 
vered, primitive simplicity was to be re¬ 
sorted to, and perfection, as far as it is 
compatible with the nature of man, was 
to be attained. Length of time was 
itecessary; length of time was given, 
and the wmrk was completed. 
To him, who admires the beauty, and 
appreciates the excellence, of this struc¬ 
ture, it is a subject of wonder that so 
many schisms should exist in this coun¬ 
try. That difference of opinion, ever in 
a state of activity, vvhich is not permitted 
to alter and mould the political constitu¬ 
tion at pleasure, is at liberty to vary the 
forms of religious worship. Hence the 
love of independence, and the impatience 
of restraint, natural to mankind, find in a 
variety of sects an ample field of exer¬ 
cise. 
The guardians of the Church of Eng¬ 
land should act with the greatest vigi¬ 
lance. They should be always at their 
post; for, although the citadel is built on 
a rock, against which the open or secret 
attacks of its enemies shall not prevail, 
5 ’’et the outposts are frerjuently threat¬ 
ened to be driven in by irruptions from 
CO many quarters, that it is their duty to 
acquire a knowledge ofthe causes which 
promote those inroads. 
Of these causes, a few' shall be expo¬ 
sed, with a view to point the public 
attention to the practicability of their 
removal. 
I .»_One of these is found in the inces¬ 
sant efforts made by some sectaries to 
extend their numbers ami their influence ! 
To counteract this disposition by corre¬ 
sponding labors, without persecution and 
xvithout hostility, is the object of a wise 
policy. But, while we lament the exist¬ 
ence, and deprecate the increase, of sec¬ 
taries, prudence suggests the advice of 
tiie doctor of the law in Jerusalem ; Re¬ 
frain from these men, and let them 
alone. The government will respect 
their prejudices, and be satisfied with 
enacting regulations consistent with their 
libeKy of conscience, but tending to col¬ 
lect the abuses^ which by the nature of 
things will silently creep into every hu¬ 
man system. From these the Church of 
England has not been perfectly free ; but 
the legislature has from time to time ju¬ 
diciously applied the necessary correc¬ 
tives. It seems equally expedient that 
Dissenters should submit to the same 
control, exercised with lenity, modera¬ 
tion, and judgment. 
The principal source of the evils of 
schism is the abuse of the Act of Tolera¬ 
tion. “ An unlimited toleration of all 
religions,’’ says an ingenious writer, at¬ 
tached to the civil and ecclesiastical esta¬ 
blishments of his country, “ is the 
most effectual means of putting on end 
to all religious dissensions, which thrive 
under persecution, and, when they cease 
to be opposed, cease to exist.” But, 
although the jewel is to be scrupulously 
preserved, it is necessary sometimes to 
shake off the dust which will settle on 
it, and in time obscure its brilliancy. 
An indiscriminate admission of per¬ 
sons to tlie ministry, often without 
probation, sometimes without qualifica¬ 
tion, is not only derogatory to the dig¬ 
nity of the sect, but detrimental to the 
interests of religion. The evil is con¬ 
stantly spreading, both by new schisma¬ 
tics, who require a separate minister, 
and by new ministers, who are in want 
of congregations. Where no unitorm 
inode of public w'orship is to be adopt¬ 
ed,’’ says the same writer, ‘‘ every man, 
who has a sense of religion, may make 
one for himself; from whence innumer¬ 
able sects spring up, e^ch of which may 
chuse a minister, who, being dependent 
for subsistence on the voluntary and pre¬ 
carious liberality of his cougregation, 
must indulge their humours, submit to 
their passions, and learn of them what 
doctrines they wish to be taught; and 
consequently none hut the most ignorant 
would undertake such an employment, 
A people thus left to tlie dominion of 
their own imaginations and passions, 
and the instructions of such teachers, 
would split into as many sects and par¬ 
ties, divisions and subdivisions, as arti¬ 
fice and enthusiasm can produce; each 
of which would be attacked with vio¬ 
lence, and supported with obstinacy.” 
On tile other hand, an interested, some¬ 
times a conscientious, founder of a new 
doctrine, may easily practise on the 
credulity of a set of men, by the charms 
of novelty, and form one of those new 
establishments of which we see frequent 
instances. Thus the cause and efl’ect 
are easily coniinutabie* 
