you must be pleased to recollect that the persons of whom you speak have the Church to direct them,— an authority whom (to say the least) it is better and safer to believe than to doubt. The great body of Christians have as much evidence that tradition has been received from the first, as they have of the authenticity of Scripture itself. They believe both on credible testimony: and there is no more weakness or credulity in hearkening to the voice of catholic tradition, as conveyed and handed down in the creeds, the articles, and liturgy of the Church, than there is in receiving the Bible itself as the Word of God on the same testimony."

"The night wears on apace," exclaimed Mark, as the chimes of the clock reverberated from one of the old turrets; "I dare say you will be glad of rest; and I myself, deeply interested as I am, shall be glad to pause and think over all that has been said, before we proceed to other subjects; but there is one question I must ask you before we part for the night. If, Mr. Warlingham, the opinions you maintain are true, what becomes of that leading sentiment of the reformers, that the Bible alone is the religion of Protestants ?""

"I think," said I, in reply, " that the reformers would be a good deal surprised at many of the sentiments for which their descendants have made them answerable. They held that Scripture is the sole authoritative rule of the faith, and that tradition is wholly subordinate to it; but they never (speaking

generally) laid aside the use of tradition. On the contrary, the reformation itself was an appeal from the modern tradition of the Romanists to the tradition of the Church universal in ancient times. Nothing can be clearer than the language of the Church of England on the subject. Her instruction to her preachers is, that they shall, in the first place, be careful never to teach any thing from the pulpit to be religiously held and believed by the people, but what is agreeable to the doctrine of the Old or New Testament, and collected out of that very doctrine by the Catholic fathers and ancient bishops.""11

"You conceive, then, Mr. Warlingham, that the Bible was never meant to be its own interpreter ?” "Not in any such sense as that men are to decide by their undirected reason what doctrines are to be drawn from it. But do not misunderstand me. I do not say, abstain from investigating for yourself the doctrines of the Bible; but investigate in such a manner as may bring you to a safe conclusion. Be guided by the concurrent voice of antiquity, not by some living human interpreter, yourself, or your chance instructor. Never dream of such an absurdity as taking up your Bible, and working out a religion for yourself. The thing is impossible; every thing from within and from without make it so. But even were it not, the Bible was never intended for such a purpose. It was not by Scripture, but by an ante

"Canons, 1571.

cedent process, preaching,-by laying the seeds of hereditary religion, that the truths of the Gospel were propagated and established. That hereditary religion you have received, and your duty is to try it,—not by your own weak and unassisted reason, but by the Bible, and the voice of antiquity expounding that Bible where its meaning is doubtful to you. Do not be misled by the fallacy of rejecting ancient tradition, and substituting that which is modern. Do not be deceived by that modern reverence for Scripture, which sets aside the evidence of antiquity, in order that it may obtain an unlimited liberty of interpreting and wresting the word of God to our own preconceived opinions. Give to the Bible the first place; to the Church, as its witness, the second; to your own reason, the last. Your own reason is the judgment of an individual,— the witness of the Church is that of all the faithful; and that witness is not likely to lead you astray, so long as she follows the emphatic protest of the beloved disciple against novelties in doctrine :- Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but the old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye heard from the beginning."12

"Well, certainly, Mr. Warlingham, all this is sufficiently intelligible to an educated person; but I don't see what the uneducated are to do. Suppose some ignorant old woman in the village were to

12 1 John ii. 7.

M

come to you to be satisfied on the points we have been discussing, what would you say to her?"

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'I should be disposed to answer as Melancthon did to his aged parent under similar circumstances. The poor woman, stunned and frightened with the din of reformation, asked him how she was to win her way to heaven amid so many disputes. 'Go on,

mother,' said he, watching and praying, and discharging your daily duties as you have done, and never trouble yourself about controversies.' It was the advice of a wise man and a good."

A friendly Warning.

If thou fail'st to prove All Christ-like ways of gentleness and peace, Holding truth's hand, and giving no release To lying spirits; if love leave undone What love might offer, thou art no true son Of our dear ancient mother, who doth pray, Though mourning, for her children gone astray. Thoughts in Past Years.