when social order (as a part of the counsel of God,' which he is bound to declare' unto the people) is required to be discussed by him, whether in public or in private and for this reason have I not shunned, notwithstanding the obloquy which many have attached to it, to declare it to those to whom these letters are addressed; in a humble hope, that as it has ever been, so it will ever be, the avowed doctrine of every sound and zealous churchman in this part of the united kingdom. These being the sentiments from which, in my apprehension, no real christian ought ever to swerve, in as far as regards the constitution of the state, it is hardly necessary for me to say, that the same sentiments ought to be cherished by all christians, laity as well as clergy, in as far as the constitution of the church is concerned; and to all that extent of obedience and submission to which this precept of an apostle reaches Obey them that have the 'rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they 'watch for your souls, as they that must give account; that they may do it with joy, and not 'with grief: for that is unprofitable unto you'. Not that from this superior privilege conferred on the spiritual ruler, we are to infer his being possessed of power and jurisdiction in ordine ad spiritu'alia,' that grand fallacy of the Romish church, by which all civil authority is swallowed up in the 2L2 bound 1 Heb. xiii. 17. boundless gulph of its authority ecclesiastical, He, who stands possessed of all power in heaven and in earth,' has sufficiently distinguished between the two constituent parts of the powers' in his possession; and has therefore committed the TWO SWORDS', the instruments of that power, to distinct bearers while his wisdom, we may rest assured, has so ordered matters, and has marked out such certain limits to each, as that, when his distinctions are duly attended to, they neither can nor will 'set on us to hurt us,' but will, in their respective spheres, mutually aid and strengthen each other, in promoting the praise of them that do well.' In short, the christian's measure of knowledge and of duty, in this respect, is clear and explicit; and nothing but passion and prejudice can lead him into mistake. Let us all then study and practise a conscientious submission to constituted authority, 'that we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all god, liness and honesty in that honesty, which will teach us to provide things honest,' and as much as possible to live peaceably with ail men'—and in that godliness which is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come,' Having thus submitted, in this series of Letters, the more immediately interesting articles of the christian faith to the attention of christians at large, Rom. xiii. 4. Ephes. vi, 17. 2 Acts xviii. ro. large, but more especially to the attention of the theological student, and candidate for the office of the ministry, in the episcopal church of Scotland, I mean not to prosecute the subject farther. The 'whole counsel of God' is a system, both doctrinal and practical, of vast extent; and affords copious matter for study; and, when study is properly regulated, for many useful and comfortable speculations. But my design is accomplished; and well I know, for any man to write on, from the cacoethes scribendi,' the mere disease of writing, this is not only to lose labour, but to lose reputation; is not only not to entertain, but not to edify. mere Priscum scrutandi studium siquando redibit- Qui tamen ista legis, lectu si digna videntur, END OF VOL. I. PRINTED BY J. CHALMERS AND CO. ABERDEEN. co.} OE A A A SOE OF |