are forced to place the XXII. before it, we know one other word must be prefixed to "church," and that one word is, “Roman." But then, alas! how changed is the whole sentence! We know it has become so awfully transposed, that straight we turn upon the other tack, oppose the daring Anti-christ that would engross this godly power to herself, and basely rob us of our birthright-and fight her stoutly, even should she drive us into the flames of martyrdom; delighted to obey "the exhortation" of the Apostle Jude, " to earnestly contend for the faith of the common salvation, which once was delivered unto the saints." And this, with GOD's assistance, will we do, even to loss of life!

We need not here go into the long question of indulgences as connected with auricular confession, penances, absolutions, and the saving merits of good works. To these latter Isaiah has given a decided character, and in such terms, that the Pelagians themselves (with whom, alas! our nominal church so much abounds) must "bolt" it in a lump, without inspecting what they swallow. Does it not run thus: "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags: and we do all fade as a leaf: and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." And this is the state in which Christ found every one at His coming: it was from this state that the expectation of the Messiah redeemed those who lived before Him; and this is the state of every man that lives upon the earth, unappropriating the merits of Christ to himself as his entire stay and redemption. Without this first assurance, even another Howard could claim no other

appellation than "filthy rags" for all the products of his fine philanthropy.

But on this true foundation being laid, this Rock immovable, Mat. xvi. 18. then it is that man's good works rise like a grateful incense to His bounteous Lord, from whom not one shall fail to have much multiplied reward.

But beware, my friends; work not to claim reward for truly then, whilst claiming what you never can deserve, you lose the precious substance for which you vainly grasp! Your works if, after all it be, they come to ought, 'fore GoD-not one of them are yours, but His; for, is it not He who worketh in us, both to will and to do according to His good pleasure? Philip. ii. 13. Let then every thing you do, proceed from love of Him, and think not of yourselves, or by a transition more rapid than will transform our bodies at the last great day, "even the twinkling of an eye," you change the incense which they bear to GOD, into the baneful stench of filthy rags.

The instant we invest good works with merit, that very moment we complete pollution.

Oh! no, my friends: let us put all ideas of merit, far, very far, even from our inmost thoughts: for after we have done all things which are commanded, (even supposing that this were possible) did not our LORD desire us to say, 66 we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which it was our duty to do." Luke, xvii. 10. What also says St. Paul, 'Tis "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us; by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."

Let the salvation-workers and merit-claimers of the Church Establishment, (I distinguish between them and the members of the Established Church, which is in spirit truly apostolic, though much it's loaded, grieved am I to say, with heavy wrongs,) refer to the twelfth and thirteenth articles of our Church communion, and when they have well digested them, read what has here been written once again.

it!"

Well, some will exclaim, "This is a most furious faith, man—I dare say, that he is a sort of fellow that thinks faith will save people without works. You may depend upon it he is, and you may be sure too that he is one of those horrid Calvinists. Oh! rely upon If you mean to make such woeful charges against me, I am ready to admit that your first accusation applies to its very fullest extent, and I rejoice to have an opportunity of testifying, that I, for one, "am not ashamed (as many of our false professors are, I grieve to say it,) of the gospel of Christ, because I know that it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." Rom. i. 16. And who will say that it is not? For I will tell that man to his face, be he bishop or archbishop, that he is "a LIAR, and that the truth is not in him!" and I will tell such also, that works have as much to do with our salvation, as water has with making up a fire. Our salvation is through faith-WHOLE AND UNDIVIDED—" for by grace, (that is, by God's mercy,) are we saved through faith; and that not of ourselves ; it is the gift of GOD: not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. ii. 8. But then, my friends, I will also have you know, that unless a man evidences his faith by his works, even as a good tree is known by the fruit

it produces, then are we justified in saying, that that man's faith is worse than none! That it is not possible for a man to have true faith, unless, living conformably to his profession, he makes it abundantly manifest, in being zealous of good works. And, that that faith, which is not self-evident, not from words but works, will, even like the tree which our Blessed LORD did so miraculously blast, to mark his hatred of such false profession-be withered and cut down by that which is "sharper than any two-edged sword, more quick and powerful;" even the searching spirit of God's holy and unchanging word! "that which pierces even to the dividing asunder the soul and spirit—of the joints and marrow; and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart!" Heb. iv. 12.

Such a professor may deceive himself, but then, my friends, he never can deceive his GOD! and, if at the last dread day (Mat. vii. 22, 23), he shall dare to say, "Lord, in thy name did not I cast out devils; and by the power of thy name did not I remove mountains; and did I not many other wonderful works ?" "Then will the LORD profess to such, I never knew you: depart from me, ye workers of iniquity !" for not every one that saith, LORD, LORD, will enter into His kingdom, but He that doeth the will of His Father which is in heaven. As the apostle James says, ii. 17, 18, “Faith, if it have not works, is dead, being alone, yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works." And in the same spirit St. Paul says, 1 Cor. xiii. 18, That

though he should have abounded in every good work und gift, and have such faith as that he should thereby be enabled to remove mountains; still would all these profit him nothing without charity; and ends his exhortation with this remarkable saying, "And now abideth these three, faith, hope, charity: but the greatest of these is charity." And so it is, but not the first. Faith comes first, and, if it be a true faith, then must follow hope, and charity. The second is the product of the first, and the third of both. When thus created, they are coexistent, they are indissoluble.

With respect to the other heinous sin with which I am charged, it may suffice to say, that I hold No captain under whose banners I will condescend to enrol myself, save those of " the great Captain of my salvation;" that I am perfectly " ready to give to every man that asketh me a reason for the hope that is in me," 1 Pet. iii. 15. That I am neither Calvinist, Lutheran, Arminian, nor Pelagian, but simply a devoted, and, as I trust in GoD, an honest member of His Church.

And, oh! how much is it to be deplored, that even now, at this most awful time, when the men of GoD ought to sink all personal considerations and grievances under which they fancy they are suffering for conscience sake, to rally round our ancient and noble edifice, the Church as it is by law established in this (once) Christian kingdom. What is it, my independent Christian brothers, that is so hurtful to your feelings in our church establishment? Think you, ye