"not worthy." Nevertheless, they, like Elijah, left their mantles behind them to succeeding Elishas. To them and their descendants, the English nation, according to the acknowledgment of Hume himself, are indebted for its civil privileges". Nay more, they have had a salutary influence upon the English Church established by law, by exciting her clergy and members to greater diligence in the discharge of their respective duties.

The Republic of Holland, in her purest days, affords another historical proof of the truth of the text. Though feeble when she threw off the yoke of Spanish tyranny, yet she secured her independence spite of the

p Hume's History, vol. 5. p. 154. See also Neil's History of the Puritans. Bogue and Bennet's History of Dissenters.

"The existence of the Dissenters in England, has most assuredly operated to the amelioration of the English Church, by compelling her clergy to sustain a comparison with the zeal, the activity, the piety, the frugality, the morals, and talents of the Dissenting pastors, and (which has perhaps been still more efficient,) by compelling her to consider the magnitude and increase of the dissenting portion of the community." Edinburgh Review, No. 43, Art. 7, Blaquiere's Sicily.

The whole of this review, published since the above Sermon was preached, as well as that of Hutchinson's life, before referred to, is worthy of particular attention.

A

gigantic power whom she opposed. great part of her soil, her hardy sons wrested from the ocean, and improved either for the pursuits of agriculture, or the prosecution of commercial enterprise. She grew in prowess, in influence, in fame, in grandeur, so as to rank with the first nations who adorn the annals of time. Her armies triumphed over the best soldiers of the day; her navy successfully supported her maritime rights. that of Leyden, was the resort of students from all quarters. Her statesmen, her scholars, and her divines; her De Witts, her Boerhaves, and Vitringas, attracted universal notice, and stamped. imperishable renown upon her name. Her citizens exhibited a high degree of purity in their morals, honesty in their occupations, and temperance in their enjoyments. And to her eternal honour be it said, she respected the rights of conscience when they were respected no where else', and allowed all to wor

Her universities, especially

r Great Britain first tolerated religion, under William 3d, Prince of Orange; for, though under the administration of Cromwell, than whom, spite of his hypocrisy, the English never have produced a more able statesman, or a more

ship God in their own way, unmolested, so long as they did not disturb the peace of society.

When we reflect upon the origin of this Republic, the circumscribed territory which she possessed, the great and fearful difficulties she had to encounter; and then find, that the greatness of the United Provinces who constituted this Republic, "made them "the envy of some, the fear of others, and "the wonder of all their neighbours'," we cannot hesitate to say, that history furnishes no parallel case.

The Hollanders, as well as the Puritans of England, embraced and maintained the great scriptural doctrine of the righteousness of faith. In defence and illustration of this doctrine, no country has produced abler and more victorious defenders.

A third historical proof of the truth of the text, is furnished by the descendants of the pilgrims of Leyden, that noble band of confessors, who settled in this Western World

vigorous chief magistrate, all religious opinions and worship, were tolerated, yet it was not until the reign of Williams that toleration became a part of the established privileges by law, of Englishmen themselves!

s Sir W. Temple's Observations upon the United Provinces of the Netherlands, preface and work, passim.

Among them, especially, those who inhabit Connecticut, there is a degree of knowledge, of personal improvement, and of social order, which is not to be found in the same compass of territory, in the habitable globe. The religious creed which they have embraced, is that which is called Calvinistic, and is the legitimate offspring of righteousness through a Redeemer.

To the proofs already adduced, I only add the fact, that in Scotland and Holland, extensive plans for the education of youth, plans incorporated in their religious establishments, have been adopted and carried into effect. In this one important particular, they stand alone. Other countries have left the education of youth to the State; these, being Calvinistic in their faith, have made it, what it ought ever to be among Christians, the business of the Church. refer not now to the endowment of Colleges, but the formation of Parish Schools, in which the children of the poor are instructed equally with those of the rich'.

I

t In consequence of an imperial decree, by Napoleon, October, 18, 1810, Cuvier and Noel visited Holland, then annexed to the French empire, to inspect the state of the colleges and lower schools. In their report, they state, that

Did time permit, it might be proved by a course of reasoning, the correctness of which could not be disputed, that these principles directly lead to the improvement both of the mind and heart, more than any other religious principles. I only refer to facts; facts as they exist in Scotland, Holland, and Connecticut. To these may be added, the formation and success of Sunday Schools in England; schools which originated among, and have been chiefly patronised by, the friends and supporters of the righteousness of God by faith, both in the established Church and among Dissenters".

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The truth of the text will be fully and finally established, when the promise of God, relative to the latter-day glory, shall be fulfilled. Then Christ will "have do"minion from sea to sea, and from the river "to the ends of the earth"." According to

out of a population of 1,900,000 souls, the number when Holland was annexed, there were in the lower schools, consisting of 4451, 190,000 pupils. The whole report is highly interesting, and deserves to be translated and published for general information. Whoever takes the pains to read the Constitution of the Churches of Scotland and Holland, and the School-law of Connecticut, will see what care they have taken, and do take, for the education of their youth.

u An account of these schools is contained in the Sunday School Repository. x Ps. lxxii. 8.

VOL. I.

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