Thus the celebrated aphorism of Mr. Pope, descriptive of the divine government-"Whatever is, is right," is to be equally applied to the government of our " enlightened legislature!"

The Penal code of this country has long been the subject of regret to our best statesmen, and to every friend of justice and humanity. No foreign government has adopted such a code, in which the punishment of death has been inflicted for numberless offences, many of them comparatively trifling, so that the penal laws of Britain, may be justly said to be like those of Draco, "written in blood!" The prerogative of mercy lodged in the crown, it is acknowledged diminishes the horrors with which the execution of these laws would otherwise be accompanied; but the sentence of capital punishment being set aside, in nine cases out of ten, is a sufficient proof of the injustice of the laws in question. This perpetual interference of the sovereign between the sentence and the execution of the law, is attended with this dangerous consequence. Criminals are induced by the hope of escape to commit various offences, from which the certainty of punishment would most probably deter them. Laws, if just, ought to be executed, and the interference of the Royal prerogative ought to be only an exception to a general rule. Mr. Custance, however, bestows the most unqualified and extravagant panegyrick on that system of wisdom and compassion, the criminal code of English jus tice!" By the rapturous language into which he breaks forth on this occasion, his mind appears filled with the sentiment expressed in his motto, borrowed from sacred writ, and therein applied to a nation whose laws were written hy the finger of God. What nation is there 80 great that hath statutes and judgments so righteous?-We are by no

means insensible to the excellence of the genuine principles of the British constitution, or to the value of many of our civil institutions; but when we reflect on the injustice, cruelty, and profaneness of some of the laws which disgrace our civil and ecclesiastical code, together with much of the conduct of our administration, in our domestic policy, and towards foreign nations, (Copenhagen in particular), we help exclaiming-What nation is there so depraved, that hath statutes and judgments so iniquitous!

cannot

The work before us professes to be a view of the ecclesiastical, as well as the civil constitution; but we are obliged to remark, that on both subjects, the prejudices and errors of the author are equally notorious. The chapter " Of the Clergy" commences with "A brief statement of the introduction of the christian ministry," in which the very first paragraph contains a most irrational, unscriptural, and degrading view of the divine government, as it respects moral agents. We are informed that "by the transgression of Adam, not only himself, but his posterity have MERITED the punishment of divine wrath." There has been much controversy amongst theologians respecting the nature of the sin of Adam'; but we believe our author is the first, and we hope he will be the last, who represents the God of infinite wisdom, justice and mercy, as damning to all eternity, countless millions of his rational and immortal creatures, for an offence committed thousands of years before they had an existence, and which of course could be no fault of theirs! A single sentence from holy writ is fully sufficient to refute so blasphemous an absurdity. Shall not the judge of all the earth do RIGHT?

After a few common place observations on the nature of the christian dispensation, we are told that "the gospel has been, still is, and

will be to the end of time manifested to the world, by preaching which is committed to faithful men according to the commandment of God our Saviour; who are to be accounted of as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." The clergy of the established church, after being duly qualified by passing through that holy state of preparation, a college life, are of course, these divine stewards! If our author, however, had consulted the epistles of those inspired men who were indeed stewards of the mysteries of God, he would have found, that they had revealed those mysteries to the world; and that they had plainly declared that any man who would but read, and honestly examine for himself, might understand them. But the folly of arrogating the titles of the inspired writers, is not confined to members of the established church; men of a priestly disposition of all sects are fond of grasping at a shadow, the substance of which has ceased to exist, ever since the canon of revelation was completed.

"The church of England," we are further informed " is episcopal;" and "that the episcopal ordination and government prevailed even in the Apostles days, cannot be doubted by any who gives credit to the epistles of St. Ignatius." Is it not a shame that any man should endeavour so to impose on the minds of youth, by leading them to imagine that what is called episcopacy in the church of England, bears a single feature of what was called episcopacy in the primitive churches.-Darkness is not more opposite to light, than the whole frame and constitu tion of modern episcopacy, is to that plain and simple mode of church government, in which one, two, or more persons, who were generally laymen, following secular employments, were appointed as bishops, that is overseers of a christian community; as overseers, or head ser

vants, are appointed in other societies. As to the characters, views, and employments of the great majo rity of our modern" stewards" and " bishops," we shall say nothing; but we beg leave to refer Mr. C. to one of his own prophets, the Rev. Dr. Haweis, the famous evangelical rector of Aldwinckle, who has presented the world with their portraits. The correctness of the likeness, and the justness of the colouring we hope will be duly appreciated by Mr. Custance.

"The hand of the PRIESTS also hath

been chief in the transgression. The clergy, worldly-minded,proud, ambitious, idle, ignorant: however learned as philosophers, linguists, or mathematicians, ignorant of that which is the most valuable wisdom, the knowledge of a crucified JESUs and his grace, are the blind leaders of the blind. Are not the herd of dignitaries the chief stumbling blocks? must not their whole pursuits, connec tions, conduct, convince the very infidel great, whom they fawn upon, and perse cute for preferment, that, if the systems inculcated in the epistles to Timothy and Titus be true, it is impossible these men should believe one word of christianity

more than themselves*. Nor are their inferiors dissimilar; enslaved by the

"These were nearly as I can recol. lect" (says Dr. Haweis) "the very expressions uttered by a noble lord of the most distinguished attainments, natural and acquired, in a conversation I once held with him respecting the truth and evidence of christianity."-A striking illustration of the observations of this noble lord occured in a parliamentary debate a few years since. Dr. B. then. bishop of Salisbury, boasting of his independent principles, was answered by the Marquis of Landsdown, that when he never was so persecuted in his life, as he (the marquis) (6 was in administration, for the see of Salisbury, for Dr. B. then bishop of Llandaff. This right reverend successor of the apostles, aspiring still higher, was shortly after translated to the see of Durham, which is said to be worth upwards of 16,000l. per annum. We

recommend to Mr. Custance when he next peruses the "Epistles of St. Ignatius," to give us some account of this episcopate, or any one similar to it, amongst

same objects, and occupied in the same advantages, commencing in those corrupting seminaries, our public schools; advancing in our grievously neglected universities, where amidst all the circle of the sciences, who ever thought of learning the knowledge of a crucified JESUS-an idea that would be generally scouted-entering into the ministry (I appeal to the groaning consciences of the examining chaplains, if they are men of any conscience) how often, ignorant of all science, but especially of the doctrines of Christ, which they profess to teach subscribing articles they have hardly read, never considered, and generally disbelieve-Opening and closing their ministry, without being able to produce, or indeed ever expecting to see one sinner by their preaching converted from the evil and error of his ways, and brought to the knowledge of God's and faith in him! May it not well be said to such in the words of the great head of the church, Wo unto ye blind guides, how shall ye escape the damnation of hell *

grace

In his account of the manner in which the clergy enter into the church, our author appears somewhat fearful lest our British youth should be too well informed on the subject, Leaving them to inform themselves as well as they can, he refers them" to the order of the very solemn service printed in the larger sorts of the liturgy of the church." These services, however, do not contain a syllable of the declaration, or subscription of "unfeigned assent and consent to all and every thing contained in the liturgy and articles," required of every clergyman.

Amongst the peculiar excellencies of the church of England, are stated "the perpetuity of her creed and worship; that her articles remain the same compendium of scriptural truth, the homilies the same deposit of godly and wholesome doctrine; and

the primitive christians. We would likewise recommend to him a careful perusal of the 1st. volume of Dr. Haweis's History of the Church of Christ, which may afford him much useful instruction respecting the nature of the primitive churches.

*Haweis's Essays, p. 185.

the liturgy the same sublime and spiritual service as they ever were." It is added-" They are all too, as no cessary for these times, as they were in former, and will be in all future generations; and therefore it is hoped they will remain immovably fixed to the end of time!" No bigot in the darkest ages of popery could have expressed himself more exceptionably respecting his infallible church of Rome, than Mr. C. has respecting his infallible church of England! Our limits, will not allow us, nor is it indeed necessary on the present occasion to enter on the inquiry, how far the doctrines of the articles &c. are agreeable to the word of God; but the fact is well known to this high churchman, that the great majority of the clergy for these two centuries past, have not believed those doctrines in the sense of the compilers: this has been the constant subject of complaint in the vourites the evangelical clergy. The sermons and writings of Mr. C's fadoctrines of the reformers have been defended more generally out of the church than in it. When we reflect on the numberless volumes with which the church and the world have been pestered respecting the nature of church subscriptions, and college oaths, we have no scruple in affirmwhich has been preserved in the ing, that the only "perpetuity" church, is a rication, falsehood, and perjury! perpetuity" of preva

66

In the chapter, " Of the Dissenters," we are surprised to find that the whole work anxiously exploring the author, who appears throughout, the measures of the present reign, every opportunity of panegyrizing should overlook one of the most important and honourable, by which the boundaries of toleration have been considerably enlarged. Mr. C. states "that by statute 1 W. and M. called the Toleration act, which was confirmed by 10 Anne, the dissenters are happily relieved from the penalties of the statutes 1 Eliz. and

13 and 14 of Charles II. but" he adds "the benefit of these acts extends only to such protestant dissenters, as shall qualify themselves as is therein prescribed.... that dissenting teachers to be qualifiedas such, must subscribe their approbation of such parts of the 39 articles, as do not relate to the government, ceremonies, and power of the established church, or refer to infant baptism." This egregious blunder is continued in the 2d. edition. With such law books as Mr. C. was copying from, it is strange that it should have escaped him that this subscription was entirely done away by an act passed in the 19th year of his present Majesty's reign.

As the government of England in church and state, is in the eye of Mr. Custance supereminently excellent, so when he contemplates other governments, he can discern nothing to be commended, but what is to be found in our own. "Whatever excellency" he observes" is to be found in the government of the United States of America, must in all justice be allowed to be derived from England." As to the government of France it is termed an "iron yoke of military despotism." We suppose the economy, the total abolition of test laws, the system of religious equality which mark the American government are all borrowed from England! The peaceable system of America by which, although she has been frequently and grossly insulted by both England and France, has honourably preserved her from the crimes and horrors of war for these thirty years past, we suppose was likewise learned from the ministers of Britain! With respect to France, is our author ignorant of the ameliorated condition of the people, in consequence of the abolition of tythes, the establishment of the trial by jury, and of a system of toleration by which all her citizens are eligible to the highest offices of

the state! It is true that these liberties are too much dependent on the will of a despot; and when we reflect how much the liberties of some other nations are dependent on the will of corrupt senates, we find some difficulty in determining which of these nations have the greatest cause to tremble for their liberties, which indeed in all countries must be insecure where the people do not properly attend to the conduct of their rulers. Some of our greatest writers on the English government have predicted its ruin from the corruption of parliament. We hope there fore our countrymen will attend, as its importance deserves, to the awful admonition of Blackstone. "The constitutional government of this island," he remarks is " so admirably tempered and compounded, that nothing can endanger or hurt it, but destroying the equilibrium of power between one branch of the legislature and the rest. For, if ever it should happen, that the independence of any one should be lost, or that it should become subservient to the views of either of the other two, there would soon be an end of our constitution!"

We trust our readers will excuse the length of the present article when they consider the importance of the subject. Attempts are making under the plea of religion, to introduce this pernicious volume into our public schools. The Eclectic Re viewers, setting themselves up at the head of our monthly critics, by their claims to superior piety, have, unmindful of their duty to the public as Britons and as christians, presumed to panegyrize this work in the following unqualified terms: and the paragraph has been carefully at tached to the advertisement of the 2d. edition of the work.

"We most sincerely congratulate the public on the appearance of a work, which we can safely recommend as well fitted to supply a chasm in our system of public instruction. The book before