tends he has licence to act at all), is plain, not only from the argument just stated, but from the overt acts of Mr. B. and his colleagues and connections, who upon occasions glory in their opposition. Therefore, in this instance, we find Mr. B. upon the same ground with the Dissenting teacher who nevertheless stands upon his ground with honour, and acts neither artfully in this respect, nor falsely; Mr. B. plays the hypocrite in a most sho king manner: he receives the Bishop's Ordination, which puts him into the Church, and then acts directly in opposition to it. This, John, is the way of them, and the people love to have it so, and thereby suck they no small advantage.

Tw. We ought to be fair and just with every one: and surely Mr. B cannot be censured for going beyoud his commission, or intruding into your flock, so long as he keeps to his own church. If strangers will flock to his preaching, that is not his fault, but theirs; and I remem ber hearing him one day defend himself in this way, when a friend was telling him how the neighbouring Clergy look upon him.

Min. Ah, neighbour, there is more sound than sense in such a defence as that. He certainly preaches in his own church, if he mean thereby the building so called but he does by no means confine himself to his church of Christians committed to his care." On the contrary, he takes all possible means with the neighbouring Christians to make them despise their own Ministers as heretics, and to prefer him, as the only Gospel preacher! In short, if you consider the thing, it is evident, that he interferes with my ministrations as much as possible!

he baptizes my people, he administers the Sacrament, and he preaches to them; and as for his performing these offices in his own church, that is a case of necessity, for he knows he could not do it here.

Tw. You think, then, I see, Sir, that Mr. B. has no right to preach or to minister the Holy Sacraments of Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, to any congregation but his own?

Min. If he has any regard to vows and solemn promises, he cannot.

Two..... But pray what vows and promises has Mr. B. made to prevent him?

Min. Several, neighbour Twilight; several; though one I should think enough to bind a Christian. Give me that large Prayer-Book, and I will show out of the Office for Ordering Priests and Deacons', two or three of the solemn vows and promises that Mr. B. your Evangelical Minister, has made. Ay, here it is! The Bishop said to Mr. B. Will you give your faithful diligence always SO to minister the doctrine and Sacraments, and the Discipline of Christ, as the Lord hath commanded, and AS THIS CHURCH AND REALM HATH RECEIVED THE SAME? Mr. B. answered and promised, I will do so by the help of the Lord'. Now, this Church and Realm hath committed the people of the different parishes therein, each to its respective pastor and to him alone; for the Bishop gives the pastor his charge in these words, when

he institutes to a Living: We, by Divine permission, &c. charge you in the Lord with the care of the souls of the said parish, and with the government of the Church aforesaid'. Which form of words by giving the pastor the absolute care, of course excludes others from any interference with it. All this order and discipline of the Church and Realm, is by Mr. B contemned and violated. The Bishop puts this question likewise: Will you maintain and set forwards, as much as lieth in you, quietness, peace and love among all Christian people &c. ?' 'I will do so, said your Gospel preacher, the Lord being my helper.' Alas! neighbour Twilight, what can we think of Gospel preachers regard for this their solemn vow? what disposition do they manifest to quietness, peace, and love?... Again, the Bishop, in the Name of God, demanded of those who received Ordination of him, Will you reverently obey the Ordinary, and other Chief Ministers unto whom is committed the charge and government over you? following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions, and submitting yourselves to their godly judgments? To which Mr. B. and the rest of them answered, I will so do, the Lord being my helper.' But do the Gospel preachers keep this solemn promise? So far from it, neighbour Twilight, that you know how they speak evil of the Bishop's dignity, and despise his government (Jude). You know too, how they do this wickeduess not in ignorance, but fraudulently, and deliberately; the very men who today despise the government, and speak evil of the dignity of the Bishop, you find were yesterday candidates at the gate of the palace for Holy Orders, for pretended commission and authority from the Bishop to act in opposition to that commission, and to fly in the face

of that very authority. »

Sikes 3.d Dialogue, London, 1817, pp. 57-65.

B.

It were something more than frivolous to argue, that these Canons are perpetually violated by the occasional assistance afforded in the Desk or Pulpit by one Clergyman to another. For when such help is rendered in the presence of the regular Incumbent, the assistant Minister or Preacher is not to be regarded as acting upon his own, authority or licence, but as the mouthpiece or organ of the Minister whose place be takes; of whom he is a representative, acting, as a delegate, in his name and person. And so again in the case of casual or sudden illness of the regular Minister; it must be supposed in all fairness that these Canons never were designed to stop the Church's Services, till a substitute, specially and duly licensed by the place and the occasion, could be provided. emergencies come plainly under the dictum bat regulam. However by the 52 nd Canon', enacting that names of strange Preachers shall be enrolled in a book to be provided for that purpose, it is plain that the Church has herself contemplated and made provision for such cases; and hence, therefore, that she does not herself consider them as any infringement of her rules or canons.

Bishop for the Such cases or Exceptio pro

<< When it was proposed to the Clergy of the Convocation of Canterbury, to acknowledge the King supreme Head of the Church and Clergy of England, they absolutely refused to pass this title simply and unconditionally; and after much discussion, the King was at last obliged to accept it with a proviso, introduced by the Clergy, to the following effect: Ecclesiæ et cleri Anglicani singularem protectorem et unicum et supremumi dominum, et (quantum per Christi legem licet) etiam supremum caput, ipsius majestatem recognoscimus.' »

t

This was A. D. 1531; at which time it is more, ..3 over important to remark, that the Church of England was in full communion with Rome; Tunstall, Gardiner, &c. being amongst her Prelates, and either parties, or eventually assenting, to this act of Convocation. It was not till A. Ď. 1534, that Henry assumed, by Act of Parliament (25 Hen. VIII. cap. 1), the title of Head of the Church. 1 end a bolt

« It is an unfounded assertion of our adversaries of all denominations, that the Papal power was transferred to, the King. The Royal supremacy was of a perfectly distinct nature from the Papal jurisdiction. The Clergy recognized the former in the year 1531, as already existing; the Papal jurisdiction continued legally to exist along with it till 1534 (of which we have a proof in the fact that Cranmer, in the judgment on King Henry's marriage, 1533, retained the title of Legate of the Apostolic See').

It