himself has left some points; let her dismiss now remains, by way of summing up the evimany of her Articles, and convert those which dence, to bring "forward" certain other arshe retains into terms of peace; let her recall guments contained in the Considerations, to the terrors she suspended over freedom of in- which no answer has been attempted. It is quiry; let the toleration she allows to dissen-contended, then, ters be made "absolute;" let her invite men to search the Scriptures; let her governors I. encourage the studious and learned of all persuasions:-Let her do this and she will be secure of the thanks of her own clergy, and, what is more, of their sincerity. A greater consent may grow out of inquiry than many at present are aware of; and the few, who, after all, shall think it necessary to recede from our communion, will acknowledge the necessity to be inevitable; will respect the equity and moderation of the established church, and live in peace with all its members.

I know not whether I ought to mention, among so many more serious reasons, that even the governors of the church themselves would find their ease and account in consenting to an alteration. For besides the difficulty of defending those decayed fortifications, and the indecency of deserting them, they either are or will soon find themselves in the situation of a master of a family, whose servants know more of his secrets than it is proper for them to know, and whose whispers and whose threats must be bought off at an expense which will drain the "apostolic chamber" dry.

Having thus examined in their order, and, as far as I understood them, the several answers given by our author to the objections against the present mode of subscription, it

abstruse points, this they may be certain of, that in the present state of the church, even supposing only such as are accounted orthodox to be joined together in one visible communion, they communicate together with a very great variety and confusion of notions, either comprehending nothing plain and distinct, or differing from one another as truly and as essentially as others differ from them all; nay, with more certain difference with relation to the object of worship than if all prayers were di rected (as bishop Bull says, almost all were in the first ages) to God or the Father, through the Son.-Hoadly's Answer to Dr. Hare's Sermon.

II.

That stating any doctrine in a confession of faith with a greater degree of "precision" than the Scriptures have done, is in effect to say, that the Scriptures have not stated it with "precision" enough ; in other words, that the Scriptures are not sufficient." Mere declamation."

That this experiment of leaving men at liberty, and points of doctrine at large, has been attended with the improvements of religious knowledge, where and whenever it has been tried. And to this cause, so far as we can see, is owing the advantage which protestant countries in this respect possess above their popish neighbours.-No answer. III. That keeping people out of churches who might be admitted consistently with every end of public worship, and excluding men from communion who desire to embrace it upon the terms that God prescribes, is certainly not encouraging, but rather causing men to forsake, the assembling of themselves together.-No answer.

IV. That men are deterred from searching
the Scriptures by the fear of finding there
more or less than they look for; that is,
something inconsistent with what they have
already given their assent to, and must at
their peril abide by.-No answer.

V. That it is not giving truth a fair chance,
to decide points at one certain time, and by
one set of men, which had much better be
left to the successive inquiries of different
ages and different persons.-No answer.
VI. That it tends to multiply infidels amongst
us, by exhibiting Christianity under a form
and in a system which many are disgusted
with, who yet will not be at the pains to
inquire after any other.-No answer.

At the conclusion of his pamphlet, our au

In his last note our author breaks forth into "astonish-thor is pleased to acknowledge, what few, I ment" and indignation, at the " folly, injustice, and in- find, care any longer to deny, decency" of comparing our church to the Jewish in our "that there

Saviour's time, and even to the "tower of Babel;" mis- are some things in our Articles and Liturgy taking the church, in this last comparison, for one of her which he should be glad to see amended, monuments (which indeed, with most people of his com

plexion, stands for the same thing) erected to prevent many which he should be willing to give up our dispersion from that grand centre of catholic domi- to the scruples of others," but that the heat nion, or, in the words of a late celebrated castle-builder, and violence with which redress has been "to keep us together." If there be any "indecency" in

such a comparison, it must be chargeable on those who pursued, preclude all hope of accommodation lead us to it, by making use of the same terms with the and tranquillity-that "we had better wait, original architects, and to which the author of the Con-therefore, for more peaceable times, and be siderations evidently alludes. This detached note is con.

cluded with as detached, and no less curious, an obser- contented with our present constitution as it vation, which the writer thinks may be a "sufficient an- is," until a fairer prospect shall appear of swer" to the whole, namely, that the author of the Con

siderations" has wrought no miracles for the conviction changing it for the better.-After returning of the answerer and his associates." For what purpose thanks, in the name of the "fraternity," this observation can be "sufficient," it is not easy to guess, except it be designed to insinuate, what may per- to him and to all who touch the burden of haps really be the case, that no less than a miracle will subscription with but one of their fingers, I serve to cast out that kind of spirit which has taken so would wish to leave with them this observa full possession of them, or ever bring them to a sound

mind, and a sincere love of truth.

tion That as the man who attacks a flourish- till the cool, the calm, the discreet part of ing establishment writes with a halter round his neck, few ever will be found to attempt alterations but men of more spirit than prudence, of more sincerity than caution, of warm, eager, and impetuous tempers; that, consequently, if we are to wait for improvement

mankind begin it, till church governors solicit, or ministers of state propose it—I will venture to pronounce, that (without His in terposition with whom nothing is impossible) we may remain as we are till the " renovation of all things."

REASONS FOR CONTENTMENT,

ADDRESSED TO THE

LABOURING PART OF THE BRITISH PUBLIC.

thought which generate them. He enjoys, therefore, ease in this respect, and ease resulting from the best cause, the power of keeping his imagination at home; of confining it to what belongs to himself, instead of sending it forth to wander amongst speculations which have neither limits nor use, amidst views of unattainable grandeur, fancied happiness, of extolled, because unexperienced, privileges and delights.

HUMAN life has been said to resemble the situ- no leisure there or vacancy for the trains of ation of spectators in a theatre, where, whilst each person is engaged by the scene which passes before him, no one thinks about the place in which he is seated. It is only when the business is interrupted, or when the spectator's attention to it grows idle and remiss, that he begins to consider at all, who is before him or who is behind him, whether others are better accommodated than himself, or whether many be not much worse. It is thus with the various ranks and stations of society. So long as a man is intent upon the duties and concerns of his own condition, he never thinks of comparing it with any other; he is never troubled with reflections upon the different classes and orders of mankind, the advantages and disadvantages of each, the necessity or nonnecessity of civil distinctions, much less does he feel within himself a disposition to covet or envy any of them. He is too much taken up with the occupations of his calling, its pursuits, cares, and business, to bestow unprofitable meditations upon the circumstances in which he sees others placed. And by this means a man of a sound and active mind has, in his very constitution, a remedy against the disturbance of envy and discontent. These passions gain no admittance into his breast, because there is

The wisest advice that can be given is, never to allow our attention to dwell upon com. parisons between our own condition and that of others, but to keep it fixed upon the duties and concerns of the condition itself. But since every man has not this power; since the minds of some men will be busy in contemplating the advantages which they see others possess; and since persons in laborious stations of life are wont to view the higher ranks of society, with sentiments which not only tend to make themselves unhappy, but which are very different from the truth; it may be an useful office to point out to them some of those considerations which, if they will turn their thoughts to the subject, they should endeavour to take fairly into the account.

And, first; we are most of us apt to mur

teach you to expect more, give you no instance where more has ever been attained.

mur, when we see exorbitant fortunes placed this. They, if any such there be, who would in the hands of single persons; larger, we are sure, than they can want, or, as we think, than they can use. This is so common a re- But Providence, which foresaw, which apflection, that I will not say it is not natural. pointed, indeed, the necessity to which hu But whenever the complaint comes into our man affairs are subjected (and against which minds, we ought to recollect, that the thing it were impious to complain), hath contrived, happens in consequence of those very rules that, whilst fortunes are only for a few, the and laws which secure to ourselves our pro- rest of mankind may be happy without them. verty, be it ever so small. The laws which And this leads me to consider the comparative accidentally cast enormous estates into one advantages and comforts which belong to the great man's possession, are, after all, the self-condition of those who subsist, as the great same laws which protect and guard the poor mass of every people do and must subsist, by man. Fixed rules of property are establish- personal labour, and the solid reasons they ed for one as well as another, without know-have for contentment in their stations. I do ing, before-hand, whom they may affect. If not now use the terms poor and rich: because these rules sometimes throw an excessive or that man is to be accounted poor, of whatever disproportionate share to one man's lot, who rank he be, and suffers the pains of poverty, can help it? It is much better that it should whose expenses exceed his resources; and no be so, than that the rules themselves should man is, properly speaking, poor but he. But be broken up; and you can only have one I, at present, consider the advantages of those side of the alternative or the other. To abo- laborious conditions of life which compose lish riches, would not be to abolish poverty; the great portion of every human commubut, on the contrary, to leave it without pro-nity. tection or resource. It is not for the poor And, first; it is an inestimable blessing of man to repine at the effects of laws and rules, such situations, that they supply a constant by which he himself is benefited every hour train of employment both to body and mind. of his existence; which secure to him his A husbandman, or a manufacturer, or a tradesearnings, his habitation, his bread, his life; man, never goes to bed at night without havwithout which he, no more than the rich ing his business to rise up to in the morning. man, could either eat his meal in quietness, He would understand the value of this advanor go to bed in safety. Of the two, it is ra- tage, did he know that the want of it compother more the concern of the poor to stand up ses one of the greatest plagues of the human for the laws, than of the rich; for it is the soul; a plague by which the rich, especially law which defends the weak against the those who inherit riches, are exceedingly opstrong, the humble against the powerful, the pressed. Indeed it is to get rid of it, that is little against the great; and weak and strong, to say, it is to have something to do, that they humble and powerful, little and great, there are driven upon those strange and unaccounwould be, even were there no laws whatever. table ways of passing their time, in which we Beside, what, after all, is the mischief? The sometimes see them, to our surprise, engaged. owner of a great estate does not eat or drink A poor man's condition supplies him with that more than the owner of a small one. His which no man can do without, and with which fields do not produce worse crops, nor does a rich man, with all his opportunities, and all the produce maintain fewer mouths. If es- his contrivance, can hardly supply himself; tates were more equally divided, would greater regular engagement, business to look forward numbers be fed, or clothed, or employed? Ei-to, something to be done for every day, some ther, therefore, large fortunes are not a public evil, or, if they be in any degree an evil, it is to be borne with, for the sake of those fixed and general rules concerning property, in the preservation and steadiness of which all are interested.

employment prepared for every morning. A few of better judgment can seek out for themselves constant and useful occupation. There is not one of you takes the pains in his calling, which some of the most independent men in the nation have taken, and are taking, to Fortunes, however, of any kind, from the promote what they deem to be a point of great nature of the thing, can only fall to the lot concern to the interests of humanity, by which of a few. I say, from the nature of the neither they nor theirs can ever gain a shilthing." The very utmost that can be done ling, and in which should they succeed, those by laws and government, is to enable every who are to be benefited by their service, will man, who hath health, to procure a healthy neither know nor thank them for it. I only subsistence for himself and a family. Where mention this to show, in conjunction with this is the case, things are at their perfection. They have reached their limit. Were the princes and nobility, the legislators and counsellors of the land, all of them the best and wisest men that ever lived, their united virtue and wisdom could do no more than

what has been observed above, that, of those who are at liberty to act as they please, the wise prove, and the foolish confess, by their conduct, that a life of employment is the only life worth leading; and that the chief differ ence between their manner of passing their

time and yours, is, that they can choose the stations; because in what we reckon superior objects of their activity, which you cannot. ranks of life, there is a real difficulty in plac This privilege may be an advantage to some, ing children in situations which may in any but for nine out of ten it is fortunate that oc-degree support them in the class and in the cupation is provided to their hands, that they habits in which they have been brought up by nave it not to seek, that it is imposed upon their parents: from which great and oftenthem by their necessities and occasions; for times distressing perplexity the poor are free. the consequence of liberty in this respect would With health of body, innocence of mind, and be, that, lost in the perplexity of choosing, habits of industry, a poor man's child has nothey would sink into irrecoverable indolence, thing to be afraid of, nor his father or mother inaction, and unconcern; into that vacancy any thing to be afraid of for him. and tiresomeness of time and thought which The labour of the world is carried on by are inseparable from such a situation. A man's service, that is, by one man working under thoughts must be going. Whilst he is awake, another man's direction. I take it for granted the working of his mind is as constant as the that this is the best way of conducting busibeating of his pulse. He can no more stop the ness, because all nations and ages have adopted one than the other. Hence if our thoughts it. Consequently service is the relation which, have nothing to act upon, they act upon our-of all others, affects the greatest numbers of selves. They acquire a corrosive quality. They individuals, and in the most sensible manner. become in the last degree irksome and tor- In whatever country, therefore, this relation menting. Wherefore that sort of equitable is well and equitably regulated, in that counengagement, which takes up the thoughts suf- try the poor will be happy. Now how is the ficiently, yet so as to leave them capable of matter managed with us? Except apprenturning to any thing more important, as occa- ticeships, the necessity of which every one, at sions offer or require, is a most invaluable least every father and mother, will acknowblessing. And if the industrious be not sen-ledge, as the best, if not the only practicable, sible of the blessing, it is for no other reason way of gaining instruction and skill, and than because they have never experienced, or which have their foundation in nature, because rather suffered the want of it. they have their foundation in the natural igAgain; some of the necessities which pover-norance and imbecility of youth; except these, ty (if the condition of the labouring part of service in England, is, as it ought to be, volunmankind must be so called) imposes, are not tary and by contract; a fair exchange of work hardships but pleasures. Frugality itself is a for wages; an equal bargain, in which each pleasure. It is an exercise of attention and party has his rights and his redress; wherein contrivance, which, whenever it is successful, every servant chooses his master. Can this produces satisfaction. The very care and fore- be mended? I will add, that a continuance cast that are necessary to keep expenses and of this connexion is frequently the foundation earnings upon a level, form, when not enbar- of so much mutual kindness and attachment, rassed by too great difficulties, an agreeable that very few friendships are more cordial, or engagement of the thoughts. This is lost amidst abundance. There is no pleasure in taking out of a large unmeasured fund. They who do that, and only that, are the mere conveyers of money from one hand to another.

more sincere; that it leaves oftentimes nothing in servitude except the name; nor any distinction but what one party is as much pleased with, and sometimes also as proud of, as the other.

A yet more serious advantage which persons What then (for this is the fair way of calin inferior stations possess, is the ease with culating) is there in higher stations to place which they provide for their children. All against these advantages? What does the the provision which a poor man's child re- poor man see in the life or condition of the quires, is contained in two words, "industry rich, that should render him dissatisfied with and innocence." With these qualities, though his own? without a shilling to set him forwards, he goes Was there as much in sensual pleasures, I into the world prepared to become an useful, mean in the luxuries of eating and drinking, virtuous, and happy man. Nor will he fail to and other gratifications of that sort, as some meet with a maintenance adequate to the ha- men's imaginations would represent them to oits with which he has been brought up, and be, but which no man's experience finds in to the expectations which he has formed; a them, I contend, that even in these respects, degree of success sufficient for a person of any the advantage is on the side of the poor. The condition whatever. These qualities of in- rich, who addict themselves to indulgence, dustry and innocence, which, I repeat again, lose their relish. Their desires are dead. Their are all that are absolutely necessary, every pa. sensibilities are worn and tired. Hence they rent can give to his children without expense, lead a languid satiated existence. Hardly any because he can give them by his own authori- thing can amuse, or rouse, or gratify them. ty and example; and they are to be commu- Whereas the poor man, if something extraor nicated, I believe, and preserved, in no other dinary fall in his way, comes to the repast with way. I call this a serious advantage of humble appetite; is pleased and refreshed; derive