whole church, a minister of his judgments, make thee a dispenser of his favours, and an administrator of his mercy!"

About the time of the Revolution, 1688, there were many controversies between the Protestant and the Popish divines. Tillotson and Burnet, two clergymen of the church of England, rendered Protestantism great service by their writings; and were, on that account, elevated to the bench by King William of immortal memory. There are also two excellent volumes of Sermons against Popery, preached in the early part of last century, by various Dissenting ministers, at Salter's Hall. Burnet's History of the Reformation, and the History of his Own Times, published after his death by his son, are two works which throw light on the state of religion in the last and preceding centuries among Papists, Churchmen, and Dissenters. The merit of these publications, ́particularly the latter, is appreciated by Dr. Kippis, under the article Burnet, in the Biographia Britannica. To these may now be added a Defence of Protestantism, by Dr. Sturges, in his answer to Dr. Milner, (a Catholic Bishop) who, in his History of Winchester, takes every opportunity of reprobating the Protestant religion, and of erecting on its ruins his beloved edifice of Popery: Dr. S. shews the rise, progress, and tendency of the Romish religion; animadverts with

spirit on the calumnies by which his antagonist had endeavoured to blacken the characters of the Reformers; and, finally, he proves the Protestant religion, by its views of the Divine Being, and by its regard for the rights of mankind, to be the only true and primitive Christianity. The reply by Dr. Milner has been already mentioned.

EPISCOPALIANS;

OR,

CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

THE Episcopalians, in the modern acceptation of the term, belong more especially to the Church of England, and derive this title from Episcopus, the Latin word for bishop; or, if it be referred to its Greek origin, from ET over, and EXOTE to look, implying the care and diligence with which bishops are expected to preside over those committed to their guidance and direction. They insist on the divine origin of their bishops, and other church officers, and on the alliance between church and state. Respecting these subjects, however, Warburton and Hoadley, together with others of the learned amongst them, have different opinions, as they have also on their thirty-nine articles, which were established in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. They are to be

found in most Common Prayer-Books; and the Episcopal church in America has reduced their number to twenty. By some, these articles are made to speak the language of Calvinism, and by others have been interpreted in favour of Arminianism. Even lately the controversy was agitated -and the publications of Overton, Kipling, and Daubeny, together with the recent Charge of the bishop of Lincoln, may be consulted on the subject. The doctrines and discipline of the Church of England are nearly connected with the reformation of Luther in Germany, and also with the state of ecclesiastical affairs for a considerable. time before that reformation commenced.

Eusebius positively asserts, that Christianity was first introduced into South Britain by the apostles and their disciples; and it is supposed that the apostle Paul visited this country, whose zeal, diligence, and fortitude, were abundant. It is also said, that numbers of persons professed the Christian faith here about the year 150; and ac cording to Usher, there was, in the year 182, aschool of learning, to provide the British churches with proper teachers. On the subject of the first introduction of Christianity into this Island, the reader is referred to the first volume of Henry's History of Great Britain, where his curiosity will be gratified. Something on this interesting subject is expected soon to appear from the pen of

the Rev. William Richards, of Lynn, who is known to possess an extensive and accurate knowledge of the history of his own country. It will be contained in a work which he is now preparing for the press, entitled the Welch Nonconformist Memorial, or Cambrian Biography.

JOHN WICKLIFFE, educated at Oxford, in the reign of Edward the Third, was the first person in this country who publicly questioned, and boldly refuted the doctrines of Popery. He left behind him many followers, who were called Wickliffites and Lollards; the latter being a term of reproach taken from the Flemish tongue. In the council of Constance, 1415, the memory and opinions of Wickliffe (who died peaceably at Lutterworth, 1384,) were condemned, and soon after his bones were dug up and burnt. This impotent rage of his enemies served only to promote the cause of reform which Wickliffe had espoused. It is with a view to the subsequent extension of his doctrine that the judicious Rapin observes," His ashes were thrown into the brook which runs through the town of Lutterworth, the brook conveyed the ashes to the Severn, and the Severn to the sea!" Some remains of his old pulpit, in which he first broached his doctrines, are said to be still seen at Lutterworth, and are beheld by strangers with veneration.

The Church of England broke off from the

Romish church in the time of Henry the Eighth, when (as has been already related) Luther had begun the reformation in Germany. During the earlier part of his reign, Henry was a bigotted Papist, burnt William Tyndal, who made one of the first and best English translations of the New Testament,-and wrote fiercely in defence of the seven sacraments against Luther, for which the Pope honoured him with the title of Defender of the Faith! This title is retained by the kings of England even to the present day, though they are the avowed enemies of that Faith, by contending for which, he acquired that honourable distinction. Henry, falling out with the Pope, took the government of ecclesiastical affairs into his own hands; and, having reformed many enormous abuses, entitled himself Supreme Head of the Church.

When the Reformation in England first took place, efforts were made to promote the reading of the Scriptures among the common people Among other devices for the purpose, the following curious one was adopted: Bonner, Bishop of London, caused six Bibles to be chained to certain convenient places in St. Paul's church, for all that were so well inclined to resort there; together with a certain admonition to the readers, fastened upon the pillars to which the Bibles were chained, to this tenor:-"That whosoever came