The Deinburgh Review or Critical Journal

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1816. Excerpt: ... though the State has not quite fulfilled the condition which is supposed. The Church of John Knox, that ' breathed out threatenings and slaughter, ' first against the Catholics, and afterwards with not less fury against the Episcopals, has been happily converted by a better light 'r she now sees, without apprehension or jealousy, the sectaries admitted by law as freely as her own disciples to every honour and emolument of the State; and sire has even addressed the Throne in behalf of the injured Catholics of a sister kingdom. She wants many things indeed Svhich, in the opinon of many, are essential to an Established. Church. Her Ministers have no representative in either House of Parliament; not even an elective franchise from their benefices, .along with the lay electors: there are no dignities-to reward her Ministers, and no Bishops to superintend them. They are merely a parochial clergy with moderate revenues, . and not likely, we think, to be much corrupted by better revenues than we fear-they have any chance of obtaining. And there is still another strange anomaly which deserves to be mentioned: --The ecclesiastical courts are composed, in pretty nearly an equal proportion, of clerical and of lay members.--Yet, notwithstanding.all these disadvantages, we have great pride and satisfaction in declaring, that we know not where to look f r a Church, which better answers all the good purposes of an Establishment, --which is so completely free from the reproach of allowing to any individual a plurality of pastoral charges, --or which maintains a more careful, . but not inquisitorial, vigilance over the pastoral fidelity and morals of its clergy..art. IX. A General View. of the Progress of Metaphysical, . Ethical, and Political Philosophy, since the revival of Lett...