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by the efforts of men who set every thing in heaven and earth in motion for the diffusion of evangelical religion.

As the independent churches and pastors form the great body of those who are engaged in these benevolent exertions, their zeal is a sufficient indication of religious prosperity. This indeed has caused them to throw off the stiffness which once hindered their usefulness, and to inquire how they might become the greatest blessings to the world. What has been already said of the labours of the ministers, proves that they are diligent in public; and the spirit which breathes in the pulpit, leads to the pleasing conclusion that many of them are much devoted to God in secret. The numbers that attend on the meetings for prayer, and the spirit of devotion which prevails there, inspire an equal confidence in the personal religion of many of the members of the churches. These are in some places twice, and in others three or four times as numerous as they were in the former part of this period, so that it may be confidently asserted, that the increase of religion has been far greater than the augmentation of numbers among the independents.

It has been feared, however, that family religion has not proportionably advanced. Some accuse the pulpit of encroaching on the closet, and charge the evening lectures with producing the neglect of family instruction. But the intervals of public worship leave sufficient time, if well improved, for personal and domestic exercises, and if any are drawn off from the private excellencies of the ancient dissenters, the greater quantity of popular preaching is rather the occasion or the pretext than the cause. It is, however, to be regretted, that in the larger towns a roving

spirit has infected some of the members of churches, which is equally at war with their own edification and the welfare of the societies to which they belong. Nor should it be unnoticed or unlamented that there are churches which, by a disgraceful coldness, are prevented from co-operating with the rest in the propagation of the Gospel, or sharing with them in their prosperity and increase.

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The state of religion among the particular baptists also has been prosperous during the last half of this period. In this denomination have been raised some men of distinguished talents and usefulness, who have raised its character by the most laudable The zeal which established the baptist mission in Bengal, the theological publications which arrested the progress of socinian and antinomian sentiments, the solicitude for the supply of suitable pastors which has multiplied their seminaries, and the zeal for the diffusion of truth which has increased their congregations, all speak in praise of their religion. But while the writings of some now living have diffused the sentiments of the Edwardian school of theology in opposition to the supralapsarian spirit of Dr. Gill's writings, the latter have concurred, with many uneducated ministers, and the hasty admission of members into this communion, to produce so much antinomianism, that the churches in various places are suffering severely by this noisome pestilence.

The general baptists, who have accompanied the presbyterians in their departure from evangelical sentiments, are with them losing the spirit of piety. But the new connection, which has been formed upon more evangelical principles, enjoys greater religious prosperity,

Of the quakers it is difficult to speak; for while they have high and universal praise for their philanthrophy, which entitled them to a large share of the praise due to the abolition of the slave trade; the interior of their religion is hidden from all but themselves. Socinianism has of late years appeared among them, and produced controversy and schism, but it has been decidedly protested against by the majority; and upon the whole it is said, that religion has increased' among them during the latter part of this reign.

Of the methodists, the calvinistic part first claims attention. The state of religion among them, if we were to judge from the distinguished share which they have taken in the exertions for the best interests of mankind, would be prononnced highly prosperous. The additional seminary, which has been established by one portion of those who bear this name, has been produced by two pleasing causes, an increase of congregations and a solicitude to supply them with preachers not entirely uneducated. With all the vivacity of a youthful communion, the calvinistic methodists want the accurate extensive knowledge of theology, and the eminent family religion which distinguished the old dissenters. Like the baptists, they have suffered severely from the inroads of antinomianism, but the taste for good preaching has increased, and is we hope counteracting this evil.

The Wesleyan methodists have not suffered by the death of their founder, but have perhaps increased in religious excellence as well as in numbers and in influence during the latter part of this period. They have among them able men who aim at the noblest objects, and see their recompence in a number of pious people who are the salt of the communion. Though much

deduction be allowed for the sectarian zeal which prevails among them, great praise is still due to their persevering efforts to call sinners to repentance. But the want of competent knowledge in the great body of their preachers, has nourished error and enthusiasm among the people, and too fully justified the heavy censure which has been passed upon this communion, as containing a greater sum of ignorance of the Scriptures than was ever found in any body of protestants since the reformation.

Antinomianism has made, during the latter part of this period, so much progress in many dissenting congregations, as to demand some attention. Where the operation of principles is left uncontrouled, the progress of error will be strongly and distinctly marked. Hence some pernicious principle has always been seen to struggle, among dissenters, against the truth, which in the end is invigorated by the contest and diffused by the victory. The hyper-calvinism, which had long lurked as a cocatrice egg in the sand, during this period, broke out into the fiery flying serpent of antinomianism. If some have attempted to trace socinian principles from Dr. Priestley up to the candour of Dr. Doddridge, and to what they call the Baxterian medium of Dr. Williams, we may with much more evidence contend, that Dr. Crisp was one of the first patrons of calvinism run mad, which has of late polluted and tormented the churches. Socinianism having too completely thrown off the mask to have much more influence with the multitude, and being evidently on the decline, except among the rich, the father of lies introduced, as the popular poison, a bastard zeal for the doctrine of salvation by grace, Glorying in the name of Calvin, whose works

they never read, or they would have branded him with the epithet of an arminian, these zealots proclaimed the sovereignty of God, not in the spirit of Jesus or his apostles, with humble awful adoration, but with the temper of fiends who wished to render it odious and repulsive. The terms believer, disciple, saint, and other more ordinary appellations, which the Scriptures give to Christians, were abandoned for the less common name of the elect, who were addressed, not in the language of inspiration" put ye on as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering *;" but as if the words were intended to be parodied, and the elect taught to insult over others as reprobates, in whose damnation they delighted. Eternal justification and sanctification were made to supercede repentance for sin, and pursuit of holiness; the very word duty was abhorred; the law of God vilified; and, while the most ridiculously allegorical interpretations of Scripture were applauded as proofs of inspiration, all addresses to sinners were anathematised as rank arminianism.

Such erroneous notions produced the bitterest fruits. Conceit, asperity, and all the evils enumerated by the apostle among the works of the flesh, were canonised by these pretended calvinists for cardinal virtues so that they valued themselves upon despising every teacher who would not foster their pride and their lusts. In too many who are possessed of this unclean spirit, open profaneness has published their shame to the world; while they have been so completely besotted, as to suppose that drunkenness was consistent with seriousness, and lewdness with

a Coloss. iü. 12,