I am well aware that in spite of this, and any other reasoning, in spite of demonstration itself, there are men, who may, and in all probability, will say, that however good and useful the public worship of God may be, they do not wish to avail themselves of its benefits, and owe therefore no contributions to its support. To these men I reply, that he who has no children, or who does not wish to send his children to school, and he who does not use the roads and bridges of his country, because he is either necessitated or inclined to stay at home, may exactly on the same ground, claim an exemption from supporting schools, roads, and bridges. To such an objector, conviction and principle are out of the question-arguments to enforce a public duty, are addressed to a heart of stone, and an intellect of lead. If you attempt to persuade him that he is in an error, by reasoning, facts, and proofs, he regards you with a mixture of pity and contempt, for weakly opposing your twilight probabilities to his noon-day certainty, and for preposterously labouring to illumine the sun with a taper. Sitting in the seat of the scorner, and being one of those

men, whom the wise prince has told us, is given to change, he is either from infidelity, unwilling to attend upon ordinances, or from enthusiasm, fancying himself above them, he becomes dissatisfied with the religious institutions of his forefathers, and censorious of the clergy. A wanderer after every straggling exhorter, and every bewildered tenet, he is carried away by every wind of doctrine, and veers from one folly and falsehood, to another and another, throughout his life. This conduct is often challenged as the mere exercise of the rights of conscience, but conscience is equally a stranger to the conduct and the man.

Those who consider the legislature in supporting the public worship of God, as doing that which is unlawful, found this doctrine upon what they conceive to be revelation; in support of which they quote such texts as the following,-" freely ye have received, freely give."

Every man, who soberly alleges scruples of conscience, in any case, has a claim to be answered, with seriousness and delicacy.

It is said, that the apostles received freely, and were commanded freely to give. The apostles, on a miraculous mission, and endued with miraculous powers, were commanded to heal the sick, to cleanse the lepers, to raise the dead, to cast out devils, and to preach, as they went, saying, "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The supernatural powers, by which these miracles were to be wrought, and which they had received freely from the bounty of Christ, they were com'manded to exercise freely, for the benefit of those, by whom they should be welcomed into their cities and houses.

Is this the commission under which ministers are now to act? if it is, let them obey its call, as did the apostles. Particularly, let them provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass, in their purses, nor scrip, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor yet staves. According to this very commission, they are forbidden to preach the gospel to any, who will not furnish them with these things. Against those who do not perform this duty, they are directed," to shake off the dust of their feet," and it is declared, "that it shall be more to

lerable for Sodom and Gomorrah, in the day of judgment, than for them."

The ninth chapter of the 1st of Corin

Here

thians, has settled this point for ever. Christ has ordained, that "they who preach the gospel, shall live of the gospel,"* and to cut off all debate, so far as debate can be cut off, St. Paul, appealing to the law of Moses, the express injunction of Christ, and the authority of his own inspiration, hath left the fol

*The first converts to the christian religion, felt that the teachers of its doctrines, had a claim for some compensation for their exertions, on the broad principle, that "the labourer is worthy of his hire"; and the practice of the Jews, suggested a tenth part of the produce of the land, for the maintenance of the priests.

The present revenues of the bishops and clergy are wrought into the very fundamentals of our government, and make a part of the constitution. Magna Charta is but a confirmation of their rights, for they have an older charter, that of Ethelwolph, Anno. 855, recorded in Ingulphus, and afterwards ratified by Edmund, Edgar, Ethelred, Alfred, and William the Conqueror; so that with regard to property, they have not only as old, but a much older title to their tithes and estates, than any man or corporation can plead, as far as we can trace the annals of our country. But it must be carefully recollected, that the church, in being supported by the state,

lowing satisfactory decision:-"Who goeth a warfare at any time, at his own chargewho feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock. Say I these things as a man, (upon principles of natural reason and equity) or saith not the law the same also ? for it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corndoth God take care for oxen, or saith he it altogether for our sake? for our sake, no doubt, this is written, that (in the spiritual husbandry) he that ploughs should plough in hope, and he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you

does not lose its spiritual nature. It continues the same church still.-It rests upon its own foundation.— Upon the law of its own discipline, antecedently to the civil laws. Suppose it were persecuted by the civil power, and its ministers and worship were prescribed, would it therefore cease to be the church of Christ? and if its doctrines remained unchangeably the same, in the days of persecution, do its bishops and priests, cease to be bishops and priests? do its sacraments cease to be sacraments? does its discipline cease to be christian discipline, and lose its authority, because according to the prophecy of Isaiah, Kings are become "its nursing fathers, and Queens its nursing mothers?"