INTRODUCTION.

IF there be any one truth, in embracing which, it might be supposed, that the intelligent part of mankind would univerfally agree, it is furely the importance of religion, and the neceffity of attending to what it recommends, for promoting the interests of society on earth, as well as preparing men for the happiness of heaven. Viewing the matter in this light, it is impoffible but that ferious thinking every perfon, who wishes well to his country, must fincerely lament the unhappy divifions, which have fo long agitated the public mind, on a fubject fo interesting as the nature and tendency of true reli gion. However justifiable separation may be in some cases, and however neceffary at all times, for the friends of truth and righteousness to withdraw themselves from the tents of error and ungodlinefs; ftill it cannot be denied that the numerous fects, and parties, into which the Christian world has been divided,

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vided, and their almost endless diverfity of religious opinions, must be confidered as one of the heaviest calamities, with which mankind have ever been vifited. Nor need we be at much pains to point out this wild variety of sentiment respecting the doctrines of the gofpel, as the most common fource of infidelity, and most powerful fupport of irreligion; fince we find it daily appealed to as fuch, and therefore industriously encouraged by those " per"verse difputers," who, rather than embrace the pure undefiled religion" of Christ, allow themfelves to be completely "fpoiled through philofophy

"and vain deceit."

Nothing feems to be better known, nor more carefully improved, by the adverfaries of our common faith, than the advantage they derive from those unhappy diffenfions, by which the family of Chriftians, which an apostle calls the "Household of 'faith," is divided against itself. In lamenting the effects of such shameful divifion, the church of Christ may justly fay, in the words of the Pfalmift,

"It is not an open enemy that hath done me this "difhonour; but even those who were once my "companions, who took fweet counsel together "with me, and walked in the house of God as "friends." Such" offences" however, we are asfured," muft needs come;" even although a "woe be denounced against thofe, by whom they "come.' We are alfo forewarned, that there rnuft, and will be herefies, factions and parties.

diftinguished

distinguished by their false and deftructive principles; "that they who are approved" by their steady adherence to truth, unity and order, " may be made "manifeft."-Such then being the divided state of what is called the Chriftian World, thofe who have promoted the prefent work do not hope to produce any thing like general unanimity in a country fuch as this, where fo many jarring opinions are entertained on the fubject of religion.The object which they have in view is of lefs extent, and therefore more likely to be accomplished. The defign of this publication is to offer fome arguments in defence of Episcopacy in general, and particularly that of Scotland; and to perfuade fuch of the inhabitants of this country as profess to be of the Epifcopal Communion, to walk worthy of that profeffion, by acting in a manner confiftent with it, and endeavouring to fupport the conftitution, and preferve the unity of that fmall remnant of the old established church, which still happily exists in this part of the united kingdom.

There is no article of the Christian faith, as laid down in our public creeds, that feems to be fo ftrangely misunderstood, and fo little attended to, as that in which we are taught to profefs our belief of the "holy, catholic church." And the mistakes and inattention fo prevalent with regard to this important article are the more to be regreted, as thẹ baneful confequences arifing from this unhappy caufe do daily exhibit an increafing tendency to

disorder,

disorder, confufion, and every evil work. It is no doubt by preferving the bonds of ecclefiaftical unity, that Chriftians are to be kept in the way of obedience to the one God, and dependence on the one Mediator. It has therefore been justly observed by an eminent writer, that, "if ever this fubject of the "church of Chrift, now so much neglected, and al"moft forgotten by thofe who are moft concerned "to understand it, fhould come to be better confi"dered; there would be more true piety, and more

peace, more of thofe virtues which will be required "in heaven, and which must therefore be first learn"ed upon earth. Some amongst us err, because "they know not the Scriptures; and others, because "they never confidered the nature of the church. "Some think, they can make their own religion, "and fo they defpife the word of God, and fall into infidelity. Others think, they can make their

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own church, or even be a church unto them"felves; and fo they fall into the delufions of enthu"fiafm, or the uncharitableness of fchifm."

Thefe are the pertinent remarks of a learned divine of the church of England, and they are enforced by an obfervation fo juftly expreffed, and fo well adapted to my present purpose, that I must take the liberty of presenting it to the notice of those, for whom this publication is more particularly intended. "But, as there is nothing to enlighten the minds of "men in the doctrines of falvation, but the word of "God; fo there is nothing that can unite their hearts

and

"and affections, but the church of God. Ye are "one bread, and one body, faith the apoftle; one

body by partaking of one bread; and that can "only be in the fame communion."* Impreffed there fore with the truth and importance of what is here fo justly afferted, and earnestly defirous of its producing the fame effect in the minds of thofe, for whofe benefit I am now writing, I fhall beg leave to requeft their ferious and impartial confideration of the fubject before us; while, taking a view of the general ftate of religion in this country, and the danger to which it is expofed, from profeffed infidels on the one hand, and from the fanatical abettors of enthusiasm on the other, we look back through all this mist of modern confufion, to the primitive order and uniformity of the church, and fee what neceffity there is for our continuing ftill in the "apostles "doctrine and fellowship," as the only fource of order and guard of uniformity.-We fhall then close our view with fuch a brief, but, I truft, fatisfactory account of the ecclefiaftical orders and administrations of the Epifcopal Church in Scotland, as, notwithstanding the violent attack which was lately made upon it by a learned Profeffor of the establishment, may tend, by the bleffing of God, to confirm the regard and attachment of its present members, to promote a becoming union among all those who profefs to be of the Epifcopal perfuafion in this part of

the

* See the preface to an Essay on the Church, by the late Rev. William Jones, of Nayland in Suffolk.