nection with you and the Christian people around you would be of inestimable benefit to the improvement and ultimate salvation of my poor soul. I have spent many edifying hours at your feet, and have certainly enjoyed Christian communion with your followers; and I would most humbly express my sense of gratitude and thanks for any illumination vouchsafed to me by the Father of all light through the intercession of his blessed Son, our adorable Emanuel. You know that, as far as worldly rank and condition may go, I am a chief among your people, that I have been long invested with the responsibilities of a sacred office, and that you yourself have frequently sought my counsel in many affairs that have perplexed you; and in all my course,-I speak under correction,-I have not aimed at high excellences, but have endeavoured to chalk out for myself, and those consulting me on any occasion, a path of moderation, consistency, and peace. "Such having been my connection with you, it grieves me to be compelled to signify to you that it must now cease. I have certainly seen you on former occasions acting with indiscretion as a Christian minister, and I have not been satisfied with the general deportment of the greater number of our people, for I fear that too many joined us with no other recommendation than an unjustifiable hostility to the Church and its religion; but the scene this day witnessed by me has determined me at once to take a final step. Indeed, sir, I truly lamented the temptation to which you were exposed when Mr. Pawson proposed your acceptance of the office of chairman; but I had hoped for the gratification of its eliciting your decided refusal, which would have been the next best step to your absenting yourself altogether from the meeting. What must have been my sorrow, then, when I beheld you undertake a secular duty in a spirit far removed from that of a Christian, and actually lampoon without reason or mercy the blameless character of an honourable opponent. "Allow me, for I am writing with a cool head and hand, to suggest some reflections that have occurred to me; I will give my more decided impressions first, in order that the conclusion may leave me in a state of personal charity towards you. "You must be aware, sir, that I had an opportunity of perusing the papers you first wished to publish in opposition to Sir John Armitage's political views. Those papers were very different to the one last sent forth, although this latter, as tending to add to the irritation of the people towards a person who could not substantially relieve them, was unbecoming a minister of the Gospel. I consider, sir, the publication of a violent libel one of the greatest reproaches to human nature, and utterly unpardonable in a Christian. It is by such means that the vilest men have it in their power, after the manner of a midnight incendiary, to VOL. II. ruin the honour of families, to render cheap and base the highest posts and greatest titles, and to expose the noblest dispositions and greatest virtues to the contempt of the wicked and the ignorant; and, since this cruel practice would overthrow truth and humanity, it calls for the detestation of all who have the love of their country or the honour of their religion at heart. What honourable man does not set as much value on a good name as on life itself? Depend upon it, that the person who can secretly defame the one, would take away the other, if he could do it with the same impunity. You may contend, sir, that no man should show any other title to undertake the public offices of religion, than the conversion of his own heart; but, alas! did you yourself this day manifest the crucifixion of the heart? · "What says a noble writer? It is a certain sign of an ill heart to be inclined to defamation. They who are harmless and innocent can have no gratification in that way; but it ever arises from a neglect of what is laudable in a man's self, and an impatience of seeing it in another. Else why should virtue provoke? Why should beauty displease in such a degree, that a man given to scandal never lets the mention of either pass by him without offering something to the diminution of it.' So speaks a Christian author. But you did what was more hideous than this, for you sought to add calumny to mere detraction; and when this was discountenanced by the layman, Mr. Pawson, you consented to express your personal admiration of the high character of Sir John Armitage! What is this, sir, but showing that your conduct is grossly hypocritical? You have displayed intemperate zeal, bigotry, and persecution from mere party motives; and it may be have yourself grown ugly in too often dwelling (I use a light word) on the apparent deformities of others. Did you not on the last sabbath preach to us all from that searching (and God knows that neither the text nor you text |