time; of which the Sabbath being a larger por tion, that facred feafon is referved for fuch purposes as an evening will not answer: that goes to a day's ramble; to a distant vifit; or to a glut of convivial indulgence nearer home. And if the public-house have not entirely brutalized the man, he then perhaps thinks of the wife to whom he has given little of his company; who, by way of compenfation for being deferted every evening, is included in the Sunday scheme of enjoyment. Thus profanation of the Lord'sday grows into a habit in the father, and is communicated to his wife, to his children, to every domeftic; and the very idea of utility in what the state has provided for the spiritual neceffities of the people, is loft in many. Hence the minifter, instead of having the joy of leading his parishioners to Heaven, fees perhaps not a third of them fo much as in the firft approaches to it.

From a view then of what is paffing in the country at large, we perceive, that we cannot confole our minds with a hope, that the irreligious habits above stated are confined to the metropolis and its neighbourhood. There indeed they present a broader front: but they are to be found elsewhere. The intercourfe between town and country ferves to convey, not only the caprices of fashion, but the more ferious corruptions of the capital, to the diftant parts of the kingdom.

In many of the villages, as well as in the great towns, the marks of our declension in respect of religion are too vifible to permit us to fuppofe, that the difeafe exifts only in places of the greateft concourfe.

The defertion of the temples has ever been held as a threatening omen, not only by the pious, but by all who have ftudied human nature. Thus fpeaks an author, whom no wellinformed reader can fuppofe to have written under the influence of fuperftitious horrors. "The rulers of all ftates, whether kingdoms or commonwealths, who would preserve their governments firm and entire, ought above all things to take care, that religion is held in the highest veneration, and that its ceremonies at all times are preferved uncorrupted and inviolate: for there is no furer prognoftic of impending ruin in any ftate, than for divine worship to be neglected and defpifed*."

Machiavel, Political Difcourfes on Livy, book 1. chap. 12.

SECTION II.

On the Increase of Separatifi.

FROM ROM the fad ftate of things represented in the preceding fection, many turn with pleafure to what is paffing among our Separatifis *, whofe places of worship generally exhibit a very dif

* This name is not used as a term of reproach, but for the fake of convenience; as it ferves for a general defcription of perfons of various denominations, by whom numerous chapels licenfed under the Act of Toleration have of late years been opened in different parts of the kingdom. Methodists, both of Calvinistic and Arminian fentiments, Independents, and Baptifts, having all joined in this bufinefs. with one profeffed defign.

To this reafon for ufing the term feparatift, I beg leave to add a remark, which I wish the reader to bear in mind whenever he meets in this publication with any reference to Proteftant Diffenters. I wish it to be clearly understood, that I by no means intend any dishonour to them as fuch. To men of as upright minds, and of as pure lives, as others; to men firmly devoted to the Proteftant fucceffion; attached to the conflitution; and who have to bear their full proportion of all the expences attending the difcharge of both the civil and ecclefiaftical functions ordained by the state, while they entirely fupport their own religious inftitutions; I feel that respect is due. I mention this once for all; and hope that I may now be permitted to speak freely of the Diffenting Syftem (when it comes in my way) without being thought an enemy to the Diffenter himself.

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ferent scene to our parish churches. Here there appears to be fome life and effect. The officiating minifter has not half-empty pews to harangue, but a crowded auditory hanging on his lips." Whether, however, in what is now before us we thall find no cause of uneafinefs, when all its circumftances are confidered, admits of great doubt.

It cannot be denied, that with all the fanaticifin charged on Separatifts (and it is to be feared with great truth in fome inftances) many a profligate has been reclaimed, and much good in other ways, has been done among the lower orders by the labours of their minifters. From thefe circumftances, and the known ignorance and diffolutenefs of the times, many, without the leaft degree of adverfe intention to our established church, have in the fimplicity of their hearts concurred in forwarding the endeavours of the Separatifts. An hence it is, that in all the more populous parts of the country, we fee that multitude of diffenting chapels, which of late years has increased, and is still increasing.

To fome good men, free from all prejudice against the Church of England, it is matter of no regret, that the number of Separatifts increafe, provided there be with this circumftance an increafing regard to Chriftianity. With fuch

perfons all confideration of forms, and modes of worship, is funk in the greater importance of genuine faith and piety. But it enters not into the thoughts of fuch perfons, that "tares may fpring up with the wheat;" and that what at prefent has a good effect, may operate to the production of fomething hereafter of a very different nature. Now fuch we conceive to be the nature of the cafe before us. We have reason to apprehend ill confequences from increafing feparatifm; whatever zeal for important truths, and with whatever fuccefs in propagating them, it be at prefent accompanied.

And first, it may be obferved, that it goes to the annihilation of the established church as a national inftitution. The bulk of every newlyraised congregation of Separatifts is compofed of perfons educated within the pale of the church of England. Of these many are heads of families, or likely to become fo. By commencing Diffenters, they, and their pofterity, however multiplied, are broken off from the national church. These detachments from the establishment, going on as they have done of late years, muft consequently increase the number of those who prefer a differently conftituted church; and these may in time amount to fuch a majority, as to render it again a question with those in power,