school, than in that of Winchester college. Dr. Rennel would have found, moreover, that the present Directors of that illustrious seminary, are not only to be classed among first rate scholars; but may also challenge a place on the same line with himself, as sound and zealous divines. Possessed of such a character, it is not in charity to be supposed, that they can be so shamefully regardless of a most important part of their duty; as, in any degree to justify the severity of Dr. Rennel's charge, they unquestionably ought to be.

The opinion of persons, respectable for their character and station, should at all times, be delivered with caution and reserve: particularly so, when it relates to characters of equal respectability with their own. This consideration does not appear to have had its full weight on the present occasion. For, had the nature of the charge in question, in all its bearings, been sufficiently attended to; it is to be presumed, that the framers of it might have concluded for themselves, that such a charge, unqualified as it is, would bear a much stronger mark of inconsideration, than either of judgement, of justice, or of charity. To tell the world at large, that those to whom the public education of youth is committed, and to whom this country chiefly looks, for the supply of that sound well-grounded knowledge, which, under God, is to counteract those loose theories and unsettled principles, which threaten the subversion of our Constitution, are, in the discharge of their important office, worse than Infidels; carries with it surely no mark of judgement. Whilst it is not less consistent with justice, to pronounce decidedly a sentence against parties unheard; than it is with charity, to circulate hastily an evil report.

No one can be more sensible than myself, of the ex

treme

treme importance of the attention, most necessary at this time to be paid, to the religious instruction of the rising generation. And Dr. Rennel ought to be given full credit, for his intention in marking this subject out for serious consideration. At the same time, when I consider the treatment which men of education should receive from each other; it is with regret I remark, that the charge brought forward on this occasion, appears to have proceeded from zeal, unaccompanied with that information necessary to entitle it to implicit credit. It will be concluded perhaps by many readers, that Dr. Rennel and the Bishop of Meath are prepared to substantiate and particularize the charge, on which they have committed themselves. If this be the case, let them, in God's name, proceed in their censorial office; the community at large will be bound to thank them for the honest discharge of it: and every religious Director of a public seminary, lamenting in common with Dr. Rennel and the Bishop, the present declining state of religion and morals in this country, will, we trust, be among the foremost to acknowledge his obligation for the introduction of any system, which, on mature consideration, shall be admitted to be a real improvement on that, in which he is at present engaged.

Did a general charge challenge any particular defence to be made against it, the Society, to which I have the honor to belong, would not want much abler advocates than myself for the undertaking. And when Dr. Rennell shall think fit to exchange an hasty and unqualified decision, for the more deliberate verdict of sober argument and candid enquiry, they will find little difficulty in proving, that the lamentable want of religious principle, which so strongly marks the character of the pre

sent

sent age, and which all good men must be equally solicitous to counteract; is not, we trust, to be attributed to a defect of system in our public seminaries, or to the wil ful neglect of those whose duty it is to superintend them; so much as to the notorious prevalence of some other causes, over which they have no controul.

Still the charge in question, indiscriminate and unqualified as it is, being of a nature to do injury, without the probability of doing good; the Framers of it cannot but expect, to be made amenable to the private judgement of every individual, who feels interested for the credit of the society of which he is a member. For my own part, I should consider myself unworthy the advantages I may have received from a public education, as well as unjust to the sentiment I entertain of the excellency of the Wiccamical Institution; did I forego the present opportunity of entering my decided protest against a charge, so far at least as that Institution is concerned in it, notoriously false in itself; a charge which I conceive, has not been more inconsiderately made, than it has been injudiciously circulated.

DISCOURSE VIII.

HEB. XII. 1.

Wherefore, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight which doth so easily beset us; and let us run with patience the race that is set before us; looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith.

No discoveries can be made in Divine Revelation, until we are dispossessed of all those prejudices which are incompatible with it: that so we may be at liberty to examine spiritual subjects by that light, which the spirit of God has afforded for the purpose.

The different point of view in which the same subjects are seen by different persons, depends on the different qualities of the medium, through which they pass.

The