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preferve it among them when already eftablished.

It is with a view to this question, that I propofe, in this difcourfe, to confider the conftitution of the church of Scotland; not as it is founded in the word of God, or as it is agreeable to the plan of the primitive times; more important propofitions ftill, which have often received as much illuftration, and been confirmed with as much proof, as the nature of the thing would admit; but only in certain points, as it is connected with fociety, and as its external laws and regulations, that are of human invention, have a tendency to form the temper, character, and spirit of its members. The goodness of its inftitutions, in this refpect, I fhall beg leave to confider as the towers, bulwarks, and palaces of our Zion, which help at once to protect and adorn her; which will recommend her to the love and reverence of all her fons; and prove, by one argument more, that, even in her outward fabric, fhe is not unworthy of that wisdom which cometh from above.

My Reverend Fathers and Brethren, I hope, will forgive me, for attempting a fubject, which I humbly apprehend becomes me better, than if I held up a model for their behaviour as minifters of Chrift; which has often been done by mafterly hands, on fuch occafions. I am fure they will hear me with candour on points with refpect to which I may be fo liable to miftake; and on which I fhall, nevertheless,

fpeak

fpeak with freedom, prompted by the love of my own order, and veneration for this church.

In difcourfing of this fubject to an audience of another kind, I fhould firft delineate the conftitution of this church, as confifting of different orders, formed into fubordinate judicatories, with all the powers of government. fo equally and properly divided, as to make a republic of no imperfect kind. But this is fo well understood by my Reverend hearers, that: it would be impertinent in me to confume their time upon it.

It fhall therefore be the chief object of this difcourfe, to fhew the tendency of the conftitution of the church of Scotland to form the temper, fpirit, and character of her members. And this, by the blefling of God, I fhall en- › deavour to point out in three material inftances, that refpect them as minifters, as Britons, and as men. For I will fhew, in the

1st place, The tendency of our ecclefiaftical conftitution, to preferve good morals, and purity of doctrine.

2dly, Its tendency to infpire us with the love of liberty, and the free government of our country.

3dly, Its tendency to form the perfonal cha racter of its members.

I. I AM, firft, To fhew the tendency of our ecclefiaftical conftitution to preferve good mo- ! rals, and purity of doctrine.

The apostle Paul, fpeaking of the minifters

of the gospel, requires it as their first quality, that they be blamelefs, or irreproachable, I Tim. iii. 2.; for this reafon, no doubt, left the people, to defend themselves from their rebukes or cenfures, fhould fay, Physician, heal thyfelf! a reproach, that, whenever it falls with justice, takes from them all liberty of fpeech, and obliges them to tolerate vice, and to fear the vicious. For though their character and miffion is independent of the merit of their lives, yet the bulk of mankind are neither refined nor equitable enough to make this diftinction; but when they defpife a man's private actions, they will defpife his public miniftrations too.

In other churches, the pomp and fplendor of worship, the power and dignity of the fuperior clergy, and their temporal wealth and dominion, will preferve influence and respect to their order, even after corruption of manners has crept in among them. But the members of this church, without dignities, with out power, without wealth and dominion, hold their afcendant over the minds of men,. only by their virtue and abilities.

And happy is it for us, that, being men of like frailty with others, we are laid under the reftraint of difcipline: A difcipline by the laws of the realm still vefted in this church, by which he can not only exclude from her higheft privileges fuch of her lay-members as lead vicious and diforderly lives, but entirely expel fuch corrupt ecclefiaftics as bring difgrace upon their order; a difcipline that, though ftrict in

its own nature, yet is mild and gentle in its execution; for the cenforial power is committed to the most fubordinate court that has jurifdic tion over the clergy; its infpection is near, its vigilance perpetual; and, by giving check to the first appearance of faults, it prevents their growing into crimes,

By the nature of our conftitution, there is little danger that the Church fhould become remifs in the exercise of her difcipline: for fhe depends on that, in a great measure, for the efteem she has in the world, and for her influence over the people, to whom the last appeal is made in the trials of a candidate for the miniftry; for they are at liberty to object to his morals or his doctrine; fo that the virtue and credit of her members are deeply interested in the execution of it. Her difcipline is ftill further fecured by this means, that as there is a perfect equality among all thofe in whom the cenforial power is yefted, the connection of protection and dependence, which has a tendency to fcreen faults, and to flatter vices, cannot take place; but, on the contrary, the jealoufy and rivalship of a republican fpirit, will never fail to favour the strict execution of the laws,

What I have faid with respect to the morals of the clery, extends alfo to the duties of the paftoral office, the diligent execution whereof is committed to the fame watchful care.. It likewife applies to doctrine, the purity of which it is neceffary to fecure. For as the minds of

men are not formed to think exactly in the fame manner on all points, and as the love of fingularity, or diftinction, might carry them far, were they at liberty to give vent to their peculiar opinions, it is a wife restraint, that confines our public teachings within certain limits prefcribed by the church. Hard as this may feem to bear on liberty of, confcience, there cannot be a national church without it for if full freedom was allowed to the extravagant fancies of men, they would foon divide, and branch out into a thousand different fects. It is neceffary too, that the magiftrate, who is to protect the public religion, fhould know what it is, and have it clearly defined.

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But it may, perhaps, be objected to what I have faid on this point, that the fact is against mes and that our difcipline, which I have reprefented to be of fo much utility, and of fo much force, has, in reality, loft its effect.. This I cannot think clear, by any means: for it is much more probable, that the complaints on this head fhould take their rife from that peevish humour, which, in every age, leads men to depreciate the worth and virtue of the prefent times, when compared to the former; ior to a spirit of faction, to an alteration of manners, or to fome other lefs obvious fources; than that our conftitution of government, without any vifible caufe, fhould have loft its vigour, or the principles I have mentioned no longer operate on the human mind.

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But, my Reverend Fathers and Brethren, let

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