It must indeed afford extraordinary satisfaction to every friend of the rights of conscience to perceive such sentiments confirmed from a quarter not always expected; from the primate of the established church. The Archbishop of CANTERBURY "acquitted Lord Sidmouth of intentional persecution; yet the flood of petitions “which had been laid on the table, ought to convince their lord"ships of the necessity of stopping short for the present. However "he might lament what he conceived to be the errors of dissenters, "it was to be recollected, THE BIBLE WAS THE FOUNDATION OF THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEF, AS WELL AS THAT OF THE "ESTABLISHED CHURCH, and which was or might be in the hands "every member of the empire; and it was to be recollected that w the best of interpretations were but the interpretations of men, The noble vis"and that the best of men were liable to error.

“ count. who brought in the bill, stated that he brought it in, as he "conceived under the sanction of the dissenters; but they were the "best judges of what was for their own interests; he therefore con"ceived that more injury than good would result from persisting "in the measure, and he thought it would be better not to attempt "to press the bill against the opinions of the dissenters."

The right of every man to his own faith and mode of worship, and to choose any one to converse with, or instruct him in religion, is the dictate equally of reason and religion. It is a charter given him by God, and solemnly ratified by the great and only head of the christian church-JESUS CHRIST. Even high churchmen themselves, when they have the bible only before them, are compelled to acknowledge this glorious truth. Bishop Warburton observes, "that to claim mastery or rule in matters of religion on mere human authority shews so much impudence, and to acknowledge the "claim such egregious folly, that one could hardly conceive any 66 man who had been delivered from the bondage of corruption into "the glorious liberty of the children of God, should be in danger "either of assuming it himself, or submitting to it when assumed

by others." A still higher churchman, the late Bishop HORSELEY, on hearing it remarked," The claim of infallibility, or even "of authority, to prescribe magisterially to the opinions or the "consciences of men, whether in an individual or in assemblies or "collections of men, is never to be admitted"-" Admitted!" ex. claimed the bishop, "it is not to be heard with patience, unless it "be supported by a miracle!" So plain is the truth-That every man has a right to judge and act for himself without human controul in all matters of religion, that it is fully acknowledged even by those whose conduct is too frequently inconsistent with such acknowledgment, and whose theory is contradicted by their practice!

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Lord Sidmouth appears to deprecate the increase of "ignorant "sectaries to the great detriment of the interests of the church of England." We acknowledge that ignorance is by no means a qualification for a teacher; and that talents and learning, biblical learning more especially, may be very useful, and in various instances indispensibly requisite: but the grand qualification in general is, an ability to discourse on the sacred scriptures; and of this ability, we repeat, no man, nor body of men on earth have a right to judge but those who choose, or who attend to the instructions of such minister; no man is obliged to hear another against his will; and a mere "self appointed teacher," who is not encouraged by others, will not long be fond of preaching to himself alone: we however beg leave to add, there are many who possess good natural abilities that have not had the benefit of a learned education; but who have thought much more on the subject of religion, and have studied the sacred writings with greater diligence, and are therefore much better qualified for instructors than many who may have a superior knowledge of the classics or mathematics. There are some, who are engaged in reputable employments on the week day, tradesmen, mechanics, &c. who are equally active on the Sabbath; and what will somewhat surprise Lord Sidmouth, and many of his noble friends, their services are perfectly disinterested: like the primitive preachers of the gospel, they deem their work the best wages, and wish for no other rewards, than the benefit of their fellow creatures, and the approbation of their conscience and their God. These men want no certificates from others, nor will they submit to the civil magistrate as their judge in matters of religion: had even the intolerant measure of Lord Sidmouth's passed into a law, we are convinced some of this class would have continued their labours, whatever might be the consequence to themselves. Should persecution have assailed them, they would, under the influence of divine truth, and deeply convinced of its importance, have replied in the language of the fishermen of old-Whether it be right to hearken unto you more than unto God judge ye; for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (ACTS iv. 19. 20.)

We beg leave to add, our firm persuasion that, notwithstanding the outcry that has been made against unlearned teachers, the labours of men of this description have been of infinite service in civilising, and reforming the lower classes of society: it has pleased the Almighty, in the christian dispensation more particularly, to humble the pride of man; to make use of the weak things of this world to confound the wisdom of the wise. Our readers will perceive in our Miscellany, a Review of a sensible pamphlet " On the increase of Methodism,” in which are mentioned some striking facts to prove the great usefulness of the Methodists in improving the

morals of the people in places where the common-place labours of the "qualified" priests had proved useless. The evidence on this subject does not proceed from any of the sect, but from men of a very different description; amongst the rest from a great and good statesman-the father of the present Marquis of Landsdown. The opinion of Dr. Priestley who was very far from methodism in both doctrine and discipline, but who had good opportunities of judging, is well known. He considered the labours of the methodist teachers in reforming the manners of the most ignorant and vicious classes of society, as of more use than those of all the established clergy united. We are not vindicating, or in any way apologising for the eccentricities or extravagances to which many of that sect are too prone, and which their leaders would do well to use their utmost endeavours to restrain and correct: but this is their work, or the work of those who hear and encourage them the legislature have no right to interfere or to determine who any man or any number of men shall employ as their teacher, any more than their lawyer or their physician. In all matters of religion, a man is responsible to no one but his God and his conscience.

The occasional abuse of licences as an exemption from civil office, is the only plausible pretence urged by Lord Sidmouth for introducing his bill; but had he merely levelled against such abuse, he might have suggested other means which would not so glaringly have violated the toleration acts. This abuse it may well be presumed, occurs but seldom; nor can it be of material consequence, or even worthy of consideration, when the attempt to rectify it is at the expence of the religious rights of men, confirmed by the authority of the legislature, and guaranteed by the honour of the crown. That man must be a contemptible animal, destitute of either piety or common integrity, who could procure a licence as a christian teacher, merely for civil purposes; and no such person would receive the countenance of any assembly of honest men. But what is remarkable in the present case, the methodists, the very sect against whom this charge is principally levelled, have publicly set their faces against it. Amongst the resolutions of the regular ministers in the Wesleyan connection, just published, we perceive the following:-"That the restrictions proposed in the said bill " are as unnecessary as they would be injurious; because the in"stances of abuse, on which they are professedly grounded, have "been few in number; because the recurrence of such abuse has "been in part, already prevented by some recent legislative enact"ments; and because the methodists in particular have explicitly "prohibited (by a regulation which they voluntarily adopted in “the year 1808) the application of licences, procured under the "act of toleration, to the purpose of obtaining exemption from mi

*litary or parochial duties, by auy persons in connection with "them, who are not wholly employed in the christian ministry.” We should have thought it impossible for Lord Sidmouth to have been acquainted with this resolution, had he not read it himself to the house of Lords. It overturns the very shadow of reason for his proposed measure. Such a resolution from men who are the appointed guardians and directors of the methodist itinerant teachers, will do more towards preventing the abuse complained of than all Lord Sidmouth's restrictions; and completely removes the necessity, or even the expediency of any legislative interference in the business. It has however, after all that his lordship has asserted on the subject of ignoraut, and unqualified persons, aud the abuse of licences, been suspected, that the blow he has been so long meditating, was not aimed so much against the methodists as the more regular dissenters; and that his lordship had some political design in view. What has given rise to this suspicion is the terms in which he described the independents, who in the sight of his lordship are "the most obnoxious class of dissenters." What could thus induce his lordship to defame, a sect at least as respectable as that of any other dissenting from the establishment we know not. Whether even the very terms " independent-indepen"dency”—are peculiarly obnoxious to a man of his lordship's contracted mind; to a statesman who procured for his son when a boy at school, a sinecure of 3000l. a year; the abolition of which had been talked of, even by "the great man now no more,”—is a question we cannot be supposed to answer. The original principles of the independents were the dictates of sound reason, and genuine christianity; and all that can be alleged against the modern indepen. dents is, that some of their pastors have imbibed notions of priestcraft, and that some of the laity, the more wealthy in particular, have by their support of war, and corruption, too evidently proved their being tainted with the servile and degenerate spirit of the times but such dispositions we should have been led to imagine, would not have exposed them to the animadversion of Lord Sidmouth, and that he would scarcely have deemed those of their pastors who have distinguished themselves by such a spirit, less qualified" on that account, for " holy orders, or pretended holy "orders." Is it because the original independents were firm in their resolution of acknowledging no man master on earth in religion; is it because they deserved the encomium of Mr. Hume, "that to their resistance to regal tyranny, we owe the whole free"dom of our constitution," that the present race are viewed with so jealous an eye by his lordship? If so, we have only to add our warmest wishes, that their descendants may emulate their ancestors, and be the foremost in their consistent, uniform, and zealous en

deavours to preserve the freedom, the virtue, and the happiness of the British empire.

The manner in which this business has been taken up by the different denominations of dissenters, and by several of the members of the established church, may be considered as a luminous spot in the darkness of the political hemisphere. The public spirit which animated them has made a most evident impression on the house. Several noble lords appeared alarmed out of the bill, on account, as they expressed it, of the alarm and agitation it had ocasioned amongst the dissenters. There has, however, nothing occurred which could justly.terrify their lordships. The conduct of the dissenters has exhibited nothing of violence or intemperance: it has been characterised by a spirit of patriotism, and by calm resolution and dignified firmness. To the surprise of the right honourable house, upwards of six hundred petitions had, in the course of a week, been drawn up and signed by many thousands, and, as was remarked by Lords Erskine and Stanhope, "if the bill was per"sisted in the number of petitions would be quadrupled, and the "signatures must be counted by millions instead of thousands." We have in this instance, a proof of what the people can do, peaceably, constitutionally, and effectually. The noble lord last mentioned remarked-" Never since he had been a member of parlia

ment, had he received so much pleasure as on that day, in ob"serving the number of petitions so numerously signed which had "been presented against this most wretched bill. He had heard it "said that such was the public feeling, that the people would not "be affected by any thing which could possibly happen: the peti"tions now on their lordships' table, however, completely gave the "lie to this allegation: the event had shewn there was still a public "opinion in this country, and that when called into action, it could "manifest itself speedily, and with effect."

This being the case, we hope the conduct of the dissenters will excite proper attention in all ranks and classes of the community. However justly we may complain of the corruption of ministers, of the venality of our representation, of the injustice and folly of our wars, of the grievous oppressions under which we suffer, we must not attribute all the blame to our superiors, but must allow part of it to be due to ourselves. We can meet to petition for peace, and for reform; and we find the great influence which the opinions of the people expressed with firmness have upon their legislators, upon Lords both" temporal and spiritual." Should the present ruinous system of war and venality, of overgrown paper circulation, of increasing debts and taxes end in the ruin of the nation, as similar systems have always proved the ruin of other nations adopting them, however the people may execrate the conduct of their rulers, as the active