make such a jumble of things altogether, that half the community are bewildered, and know not which path to pursue.

In short, the world seems turned topsyturvy ;boobies assert, men of erudition do not oppose them-upstarts assume, no one corrects them— children dictate, parents obey-servants control, masters submit scribblers decide, their superiors consent and, though last, not the least injurious, the Laity preach, and leave the Clergy to practise. - In some counties, the mania for running after these itinerant preachers is so grievous, that the preliminary step when a servant goes to be hired is to bargain for the privilege of going twice or three times in the week to meeting. Masters and mistresses may, in the meantime, either wait upon themselves, or wait for every thing they may want in their absence. Neither are the orthodox Clergy exempt from these public nuisances; for they can hardly go to order their mutton for dinner, or their coffee for breakfast, but Mr. Allspice or Mr. Cleaver, forsooth, must needs pour forth a volume of evangelical rhetoric over his block, as though he thought he had nothing but calves' heads in his clutches, and that he might turn them either this way or that, at his pleasure. But in these attacks their arguments are generally vain and futile, and much less calculated to convince the learned, than to seduce the ignorant. "I would recommend thee,” said a clerical friend, one day, to one of these

fanatics, who had a little ruffled him, “I would recommend thee, friend,” said he, but with the true spirit and meekness of Christianity," to have done with these ill-timed and ill-judged contentions, they do but engender strife. And what does all your knowledge of Scripture amount to after all?" asked he, "are you the better for it think ye, or does it only tend to make you wiser? Doeth thou these things? for whosoever knoweth them, and doeth them not, is, you may rest assured, in a pitiable plight." It is a trite observation, and not, however, the less true for that, "that the greatest part of those who engage in controversial discussions, contend rather for victory than for truth;" though butchers, bakers, cheesemongers, and blacksmiths, all in their turn, enter the list.

“No,”

"I'm a strict churchman," says one. says another," the gentleman you sit under doesn't preach the Gospel." "Not preach the Gospel," returns the churchman, “what can you mean? he preaches as Christ himself was wont to preach ;-Believe in God, and keep His commandments; do unto all men, as you would they should do unto you; avoid hypocrisy; pray for your neighbours; and forgive, that ye may be forgiven.”

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"Vain and frivolous are the motives that lead you to your duty," replies the fanatic, good works will avail ye nought till they proceed from a right spirit, you may rest assured."

"As to that," retorts the other, "the rules of our Divine Instructor, as they are laid down in the Gospel for our observance, are too plain and easy for a person of moderate capacity to mistake them. Be aware of false teachers, friend, as well as false prophets; nor vainly suppose that your election is sure, and that nothing remains for you to do. Look to the words of our Saviour, Blessed are they that HBAR the word of God and KEEP it.' For the rest I refer you to the Sermon on the Mount, the best, you must allow, that was ever preached in this world; there you will find fixed, certain, and indisputable rules of conduct, both as to faith and practice, the one being incomplete without the other."

Thus are these religious contentions carried on by the most ignorant as well as the most learned. But as few in this age of piety and independence will be convinced of their errors, they serve but to create a kind of enmity between Christians, that degrades the character they profess to maintain. But while there are preachers in every house, errors must abound. Would the Clergy compare notes, and come to a better understanding among themselves, in all probability, there would not be such a diversity of opinions among the Laity; but as long as the former contend for the true doctrine, the latter will run after different pastors, and the most eloquent preacher will generally succeed in collecting the most numerous congregation. Hence schisms arise. The bigot

says "I am more orthodox than you" the enthusiast“ I am sounder in the faith ;" and thus superstition and fanaticism, while they make their own election sure, charitably consign to everlasting, misery all who do not think as they do. The Churchman tamely observes the rapid strides that are making towards the subversion of the established religion; satisfied that, as the world becomes more enlightened by the dissemination of the Holy Scriptures, erroneous doctrines and unscriptural tenets will give place to apostolic truths, and bring the church to its primitive simplicity. But while faith and practice refuse to go hand in hand, hope and charity will be at variance; and the Christian graces that should inhabit one soul and prepare it for eternity, being thus disunited and deprived of each other's support, may, for aught we know, disappoint all our expectations of happiness in a future state.

Moderation, seasoned with a commendable zeal for the maintenance of the Gospel, is certainly a glorious trait in the Christian character. But apathy of spirit, in times like the present, when the Church is undermined and threatened with destruction is reprehensible, and should be roused into action. Force must be repelled by force ; and every individual, at such a time, should lend an assisting hand, and exert all his energy to put a stop to invasions of so ruinous a tendency. But at the present moment, there seems to be more teachers than persons to be taught. Not only

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school boys and apprentices, as before observed, but every country looby, as soon as he can write his name or read a paragraph, thinks himself capable of discussing the most important subjects, and able to clear up the most doubtful points. Too wise, in his own opinion, to listen to his Pastor, he is now, he presumes, fully qualified to expound the Scriptures himself, with clearness and precision, and actually takes upon himself that sacred duty; in which he is suffered to proceed sometimes with, and sometimes without leave or licence.

How far these learned beings will increase the wisdom and piety of a nation, remains to be proved; but it is surmised by many, that religion is more talked of than practised in this enlightened age; and, that under the garb of sanctity, vice and immorality trespass on the peace of all classes of society.

Whether we shall become a happier nation as knowledge increases, or a more virtuous people by enlarging the mind of the peasantry, and annihilating the rustic simplicity of our cottagers, is a question that must also be left to the decision of time. The increase of crimes, however, and the barbarities practised by the lower class of late years, do little credit to the dissemination of Christian knowledge, and are by no means adapted to encourage the liberal system of education that is so universally, though perhaps indiscriminately, patronized. Equality seems to be the prevailing