The direct declarations of Scripture on the general truth before us, have been already considered. Its historical information is equally striking and decisive. Search the inspired history, from beginning to end, and you shall find, that just in proportion as ministers of religion were enlightened and holy, faithful and diligent, the purity and prosperity of the church were established. Whether during the Patriarchal or Mosaick dispensations; whether under judges or kings, it was ever the same. Wherever the spiritual instructors and guides were sound and 'devoted men, religion, in a considerable degree, flourished; truth was maintained; idolatry was frowned upon; and order and happiness abounded. And whenever God, after long spiritual declension among his people, intended mercy for them, and a happy revival in their bondage, we never find Him accomplishing his purpose by miracle, but always by the use of human instruments, and generally by his commissioned servants. He seldom failed to raise up able and devoted men to enlighten, reform and sanctify the people. But whenever the prevailing character of those who bore the sacred office became corrupt, a scene the sad reverse of all this was disclosed on every side. Truth and justice were trodden down in the streets. Divine institutions were dishonoured. Idolatry lifted its head. And publick profligacy and misery followed in its train. This was so steadily the course of things throughout the whole of the Old-Testament economy, that to quote all the examples of it on record, would be to repeat the greater part of the Jewish scriptures. On the

one hand, the revivals of religion which occurred repeatedly, under the auspices of faithful men, raised up by God for the purpose, in the time of the Judges, and afterwards in the time of Ezra, of Nehemiah, and of the Asmonean witnesses of the truth

and, on ⚫ the other hand, the pernicious influence of unsanctified teachers, from time to time; the conduct of Hophni and Phinehas, who, by their unworthy conduct, caused the people to despise the offerings of the Lord; the conduct of the sons of Samuel, who became sources of deep corruption and disaffection among the people; and the deplorable spirit, habits, and influence of the Priests and Scribes, before the captivity, after the captivity, and during our Lord's ministry on earth,-all bear witness to the correctness of the principle which I am endeavouring to establish.

When the New-Testament church was set up under a more spiritual form, the ministers commissioned to go forth, and preach the Gospel, with Paul at their head, were men, we know, of a peculiarly devoted spirit. They were endowed not only with extraordinary gifts, but also with large measures of grace. They meddled not with the kingdoms of this world. They aspired to no earthly distinctions. They employed no "carnal weapons." They undertook not to be "judges or dividers" among the people. But setting ONE OBJECT alone before them -the advancement of the kingdom of Christ, in all its simplicity and purity, they pursued that object with zeal, with indefatigable labour, and with unceasing prayer, day and night; "giving themselves

vholly" to their work; shrinking from no privation; intimidated by no danger; counting all things but loss for the excellency of Christ; and not regarding even their lives as dear to them, so that they might finish their course with joy, and the ministry which they had received of the Lord Jesus. How striking the delineation of the character, and the narrative of the ministry of these holy men! What sacred elevation of sentiment and affection! What zeal! What humility! What disinterestedness! What abstraction from the pleasures and honours of the world! What devotedness to their Master's glory, and to the salvation of souls! What unwearied labour in preaching and instructing from house to house! What holiness of example "in all manner of conversation."!

And what were the EFFECTS of the ministrations of such men? The most decisive and happy. The Lord followed their labours with an abundant blessing. More was done in the propagation of the genuine Gospel, during the first century, than in any other, from that period to the present hour. None of those devoted missionaries laboured in vain. The word of the Lord had free course, and was glorified. Much people were added to the Lord. As long as the ministers of Christ maintained this character, not all the wisdom of "Philosophy falsely so called ;" not all the frowns of an anti-christian government; nay, not all the terrors of martyrdom, could obstruct the course of the new and heaven-born system which they taught. Though they were persecuted from city to city; persecuted to prison and to death; hated of all men, and their names cast forth as vile, for

the sake of the holy and gracious message which they proclaimed; still that message went on conquering and to conquer." Great multitudes believed and were added to the Lord, both men and women: And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly; and great companies became obedient to the faith. And the churches had rest and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Nor was this the case merely in Judea, in Samaria, and in Galilee, but also in Syria, in Asia-Minor, in Rome, in Greece, and, indeed, throughout the greater part of the known world.

It is not denied, indeed, that in several of the churches of which we have accounts, during the lives of these devoted ministers of Christ, we read of dissensions arising, of false doctrines being introduced, and of corrupt practices gaining ground. But, while we admit that the apostles were not perfect, more than other men; and that, as long as human beings preach, and administer the affairs of the church, some degree of imperfection may be expected to mark every work and society with which they are connected; still it may be confidently asserted, that the difficulties and corruptions which arose in the apostolick churches, were in no wise inconsistent with the doctrine which I maintain. For, in every instance in which heresy, division, or immoral practices marked the character of any church in the apostle's days, it was, evidently, the work of WEAK OR WICKED MINISTERS; of false apostles, judaizing teachers, or men otherwise unsound and unfaithful; who, coming in, brought

with them error, strife, and every evil work. I cannot recollect a single exception to this statement. Corrupt occupants of the sacred office, or miserable pretenders to that office, were always the authors of the mischief.

In the second and third centuries, we mark a gradual, but very distinct and melancholy decline, both in faith and practice, throughout the whole church. And when we carefully scrutinize the causes, as well as the circumstances of this decline, it is impossible not to consider it as connected with a corresponding decline in the character of the Clergy. When Justin Martyr, Clemens of Alexandria, and Origen, together with other ministers, whose taste and character they became instrumental in perverting, had tarnished the simplicity and purity of the Gospel; they opened the way for more mischief in the church of God, than, with all their learning they were able to estimate, or, with all their good intentions, to counteract. The following strong picture from the pen of Cyprian, will show that there was at that time clerical degeneracy enough to account for all the corruption, in doctrine and practice, which then existed, or which soon followed.

"A long continuance of peace and security had relaxed the rigour of that holy discipline which was delivered to us from above. THE RELIGION OF THE CLERGY SLACKENED AND DECAYED; the faith of priests and deacons grew languid and inactive; works of charity were discontinued; AND AN UNIVERSAL Divers bi

LICENSE AND CORRUPTION PREVAILED.

shops, who should have taught both by their exam

D