Bishop SPARKE, the present bishop of Ely, who owed his promotion to the Rutland interest, is stated to have his family provided for in 1823, as under.

The Bishop's See of Ely and dependencies.£18,000
The Bishop's eldest son, the Reverend John

Henry Sparke, a prebend in Cathedral of
Ely...

Rectory of Cottenham, £1500, and by suit in

progress to be made

3000

5,500

The Bishop's son-in-law, the Reverend Ed

ward Fardal, a prebendal stall in Cathe

These young men must have extraordinary capabilities, to be able to discharge the duties of so many important offices.

Again: The Archbishop of Canterbury, has also been conspicuous in providing for his family. I have not the means of stating all the preferments in his Grace's family, but the following is the way he has provided for one member of it.

Hugh Percy, son-in-law of the Archbishop.

1809, Chancellor of the diocese of Salisbury.£800

The family of the present Bishop of Winchester, too, has been

amply provided for, out of the church property: the following are a few of the offices heaped on his children, while Bishop of Lincoln. G. T. Pretyman.

Chancellor of Lincoln,-Rector of Wheathamstead,—

Rector of Harpenden...

wwwwww

Richard Pretyman.

~£2,000

Precentor of Lincoln,-Rector of Middleton Stoney, -Rector of Walgrove,-Vicar of Hannington£2,200 John Pretyman,

Rector of Warwick,-Rector of Sherrington,-Pre

bendary of Lincolnamayanamam£2,000 The Pretymans have some other emoluments. He made one son Master of Spital Hospital, another son Warden of Mere, &c. but we will not be tedious, having cited sufficient to illustrate episcopal patronage.

In Parochial Patronage, the same abuse prevails, as in the higher departments of the church. The following classification is drawn up from data in the Ecclesiastical Directory.

One individual has thirty-four livings-another twenty-fiveanother twenty-Two individuals have each fifteen livings.-Three have thirteen each,-One, twelve,-Two, eleven,-Four, ten,Eleven, nine,-Seven, eight,-Eleven, seven,-Twenty-seven, six livings each, &c. &c. In short, we learn, from this statement, that out of 6719, the number of parochial clergy, 2936 (nearly the one half), are PLURALISTS.

"The parochial clergy, for the most part, are a mass of sinicurists. In 1809, out of 11,194 benefices, only 3,836 had resident clergymen. Let us learn the avocations of these absentees. Many, we learn from Mr. WRIGHT, had retired to more pleasant parts of the country, to enjoy the sports of the field; some were officiating as masters of ceremonies at watering places; some were tallyhoing; others barouche-driving, carding, &c. Some were pleading the bad state of the parsonage house; others, the ill health of themselves, their wives, or daughters: but the real causes are a hankering after amusements, and a desire to exchange the clerical character for the more lively one of gentleman, and man of the world."To use the words of St. Paul, they are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." This is, surely, not as it ought to be: Nay, it is high time that such an iniquitous state of things were put a check to. Poverty, or, at all events, humble fare, and simple modes

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of living, are the most friendly to religion and virtue. It is not more absurd to think of disuniting cause and effect, than of maintaining and examplifying the christian character while living in affluence and splendour. Nay, I hesitate not to assert, that such a life in a minister of the gospel, is nothing less than monstrous: it is altogether contrary to the nature of that doctrine which is emphatically styled the doctrine of the cross. "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon." And, to think how the people are oppressed, to support this affluence in the clergy, is almost beyond endurance.

When I talk of splendour and affluence being incompatible with the christian character, and especially a christian minister, I speak not only from scripture and reason, but from observation and experience. How often do we see those clergy, in a humble sphere, "adorning the doctrines of Jesus Christ by a life and conversation becoming the gospel," while those in affluence are living in all manner of pleasures, "fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind." And," tell it not in Gath," have we not seen them charged, as being conspicuous above other men, even in the indulgence in crimes that we blush to name.

Such is a sketch of the Patronage, Revenues, and Character of the clergy of the Reformed Church: And from the following paragraph in the Times newspaper of Wednesday last (February 6, 1828), it would appear there is, in the system, even CORRUPTION UPON CORRUPTION. "The farmers of the parish of Christ-Church Hants, pay to Lord Malmesbury, between four thousand and five thousand pounds a-year, for TITHES. The elergyman who performs the duty, receives from £120 to £150." Query-who gets the remainder of the four or five thousand pounds? -Has his lordship made a monopoly of the tithes? I think I am warranted to say, that, taking the system, altogether, it is very justly denominated "Spiritual wickedness in high places,"-" an abomination to the Lord."

I shall next advert to the Irish Protestant Church. From "Carlisle's Topographical Dict. of Ireland," we learn that the Clergy of the Established Church consist of four Arch-bishops, eighteen Bishops, 300 Dignitaries, and about 1200 Parochial Incumbents. From a statement, by Mr. Wakefield, of the quantity of the soil of Ireland in the hands of the Bishops, it is calculated, "that the revenues of the Irish Church, from Estates and Titles,

is not less than £6,068,213 a-year." "The Catholics pay about four-fifths of this sum, besides maintaining their own clergy." In this country the order of things appears to be reversed.—Here the clergy exist not for the benefit of the people, but the people exist for the benefit of the clergy. Such a religious establishment as this, was never heard of in any country. "No country, however superstitious, ever abandoned one-fourth of its produce for the maintenance of the priesthood. Those six millions of revenue among 2,000 persons, average £3,000, even for the schoolmasters and singing-boys!" Really the revenues of the Irish Church, are incredible. I mentioned (p. 159), that some individuals had more than £1,000 a week. But from a statement now before me, out of thirty-three Irish Pluralists, whose incomes are above £10,000 a-year, I shall give the following:

which is, on an average, £58,797 a-year. or eleven hundred and thirty pounds a-week for each individual!

But I shall proceed no further with the Irish Church. My intention is not to enter minutely into particulars, but merely to shew the iniquity of the System: And any candid reader will allow that enough has been adduced for that purpose.-Let us now take a peep at the Church of Scotland.

The clergy of the Church of Scotland have not, indeed, such princely livings; but this is not their fault. Wherever we see ease and affluence, in the clergy, we see the same effects.-Human nature is the same in those of Scotland, as in England and Ireland. And "every-where, the great body of the clergy have been an order of men, at all times cruel and tyrannical-at all times opposed to reform, to the progress of knowledge, and the most salutary ameliorations," as their history sufficiently proves.. I shall mention an instance of their persecution and tyranny, which has just now come

t.

under my eyes. While I am now writing, the Baptist Minister of this place has called on me to ask my advice, relative to the following case, in this parish:

The register of births is not a religious observance. It never was, nor could be intended for the spiritual benefit of either parent or child: but it has often been found of great importance in secular matters. Although the Established Clergy have frequently shewn a disposition to withhold from Dissenters any benefit which it was in their power to deny, yet, so far as I know, the benefit of registration has never been denied to the children of Baptists, except in this place. But, because the Baptists cannot find, in all the New Testament, one syllable, either of precept or example, for the baptising of infants, and because they choose to adhere to the scriptures, rather than to the traditions of men, the clergy and kirk-session here, have given orders to the parish clerk, to refuse to register the births of their children. All their applications have been refused for some time back :-if this is not a species of persecution and tyranny,-what is it?

We have reason to be thankful that the clergy of the Church of Scotland are seldom in civil authority, as many in England are; but, if they haye not ruled, themselves, "they have winked at all the errors of Civil Rulers; and they have, with scarcely an exception, supported them in a long career of blood and slaughter. They have witnessed war with all its infernal horrors. They have passively witnessed the legalizing of pressgangs, and military flogging. They have seen the poor seduced by thousands," and some have urged on to it, "and sent to manure the fields-the bloody fields of Flanders, and the Peninsula, the humid soil of Holland, and the pestilential plains of India. They have preached up the necessity, and propriety, and glory of war, and actually consecrated the regimental colours." "There is no question, however unpopular, which may not obtain some countenance by the influence of the clergy." They have much to lose, and a great deal to expect from the government. Hence, their great devotion to the powers that be, almost upon upon all occasions: and hence their zeal in getting up "loyal addresses," in which few have ever been more conspicuous than the Church of Scotland. Many instances of this might be adduced, besides their conduct on the prosecution of the late queen. And, but a few months ago, they actually petitioned parliament to keep