children, when it gives them their little ones purified from the baptismal font, no longer children of wrath, but really and truly children of grace, God's own adopted children; and bids them nurture them in the ways of godliness, assuring them that there is a Divine Spirit within their infant souls, which, if duly cherished, will preserve them from the snares and miseries of sin. What parent, who is himself walking with Christ, will not joyfully accept this blessed assurance. Who, that has himself once fallen under Satan's power, will not thankfully receive the means of saving his child from the struggles and miseries which he has himself experienced. All these inducements should be diligently employed to recommend the Church system, against the ungenial, tasteless, unimaginative, unrefined system of Puritanism. But we must not seek to conceal the harder and less attractive portion of our system-the need of self-denial—the need of making religion paramount in the system of life. We must accept no converts in ignorance of what they are undertaking, when they propose to themselves a faithful conformity to the Anglican Church.

That it runs counter to modern notions, and

habits we must not attempt to conceal. That, indeed, is its chief value-to work a beneficial change and renovation in our corrupted system

-to raise the poor from the depths of degradation, to save the rich from their debasing selfindulgence, and to infuse the spirit of Christianity into our every day duties and feelings. These are the high objects for which we labour, and in whatsoever degree they are accomplished amongst us, we rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

CHAPTER XVIII.

CONCLUSION,-PERSONAL CONSIDERATIONS.

IN the foregoing pages, while defending the Anglican Church as she exists in her authentic formularies, it has been deemed dishonest, nay, impossible, to deny the very great practical corruptions, and variations from her laws and spirit, which have been suffered to exist. Indeed, one principal object has been to aid in the endeavour to bring about their reformation.

Before concluding, I would take a brief survey of the question, as it affects the duty of individuals amongst us.

We find ourselves placed by Divine Providence, as members of a religious community,

which professes, and is able to prove itself, to be a branch of the Church Catholic, founded by Christ our Lord upon the earth. Its Ministers shew that they have God's authority to instruct us, and administer to us the Sacraments of the Gospel. We find, moreover, prepared for us, a grave and solemn Liturgy, which, on Sundays, is read in our churches, and is ordered to be read every day. The whole is sanctioned by the authority of the State, and by the adherence of many wise and good men-the best and wisest, indeed, of living, as well as of past generations. In short, the system in which God has placed us, comes recommended by many strong claims, and many cogent argu

ments.

On the other hand, we find it assailed by objections. The Dissenters on one side, and the Romanists on the other, are endeavouring to draw off members from the Anglican Church; and it may be that some amongst ourselves, and those not the least sincere and conscientious, do not feel that inward satisfaction, and religious peace, which they might expect under the wings of their mother Church. Some, it may be, do not find in the Minister set over

them that friend and holy adviser to whom they can, with satisfaction, open their minds, and confess their griefs and difficulties. Others, perhaps, painfully experience a want of devotion in our services; others feel aggrieved by the unfrequent recurrence of them. To use a common expression, their souls are "starved" for want of nutriment. In short, though no palpable fault can be alleged against the theory of our Church, yet, in practice, they do not experience from it that consolation and spiritual aid which they desire.

Now, to persons troubled with these thoughts, I would suggest the following considerations, which may help to keep them from taking any serious and dangerous step, that might be fatal to their everlasting welfare.

First, that whatever practical faults exist in our Church, the same exist in greater measure elsewhere; or, if not the same in greater measure, there are others of a worse character. If we feel disheartened by the irreverence and carelessness with which, in too many churches, the service of God is performed, the undue exaltation of preaching, the little regard to devotion, the curtailed services, and other sad defects, let