to an object which it deems of national utility; the tax must be imposed on the country at large, though many individuals may think the object to which it is to be applied useless or prejudicial. On no other principle could public measures be conducted. Were a land-tax imposed for the profecution of a war; would you exempt the land of those who difapproved the war? Or if the legislature believed that the inftitution of a medical board would be of national utility, and fhould lay a general house-tax for its fupport; would it be unjust to require the tax from householders who fhould think unfavourably of the inftitution? Were the legislature to prohibit those householders from employing any other than the established phyfician, the cafe would be very different. But if it leaves them, though neceffarily fubject to the general tax, at liberty to employ any phyfician of their own; they cannot complain of being invidiously or unjustly treated.

The case of tythes is

exactly parallel. The legislature, deeming,

the maintainance of a national church effential to the public good, and the only method of fecuring the universal and regular performance of public worship in a fuitable manner throughout the kingdom, impofed, and continues, for its fupport a tax on land, to be paid by the owner, whoever he may happen to be. But with the confcience of the owner it interferes not: it leaves him at liberty to attend the national church, or any other church which he may prefer. The temptations' to pretended diffent, the complicated and endlefs collufions which muft enfue were the legiflature to exempt any man from tythes who should profess not to belong to the national church, would render fuch a plan fubverfive both of the national church and of fincerity.

But why is the national church hedged round with creeds and articles? Becaufe otherwife it either could not exist at all, or could not exist with public utility. Would you have a pulpit open to be filled in the

morning

morning by a proteftant, in the afternoon by a catholic; to-day by a follower of Socinus; next week by a difciple of Swedenborg? Would a congregation be edified and confirmed in "the truth as it is in Jefus," by hearing the fundamental doctrines of Christianity alternately afferted, questioned, denied? In primitive times, when a variety of doctrines sprang up among Chriftians, particular churches perceived the neceffity of manifefting their opinions by drawing up creeds and confeffions of faith. At the reformation, the church of England, like other proteftant churches, added to the creeds adopted in its congregations a fummary of its faith, contained in thirtynine articles, and directed them to be prefented for the affent of any person who fhould apply to be admitted to the of fice of minister in the church, as a teft by which it might be known whether he accorded with the doctrines of the church. If he did not, he was of courfe an unfit perfon to be appointed one NN 4

of

of its public teachers. The fame prac

tice is continued for the fame reason.

Is the ecclefiaftical establishment then, it will finally be faid, free from attendant imperfections and misconduct? It is free from neither. Shall I exprefs the answer in other words? It is a human institution administered by men. Every work of man is tinctured with imperfection; every proceeding of man with mifconduct. But what is the rational line of argument? Take the most obvious of examples, civil government, and apply it. A king may be oppreffive. Is a republic likely to be less oppreffive? An hereditary crown may devolve into unworthy hands. Did the condition of Poland before its downfall recommend an elective monarchy? A parliament may be misguided or corrupted. Would you be ruled without a parliament by the defpotifm of an individual or of a mob? The utmost to be expected in a human inftitution is, that the advantages fhould

greatly

greatly preponderate, and that difadvantages should be open to confideration and remedy. Try the ecclefiaftical establishment and the administration of it by that rule. If afterwards you ftill feel a doubt remaining, remember with gratitude to heaven that you live under the legislature of a free country; a legislature empowered to apply a remedy in its wisdom to any of those defects which, according to the common fate of all things below, may adhere to its nobleft works.