Section

Page

16-18. Influence of this system on the GOVERNMENT... 77-79

1. On the liberties of the people.

2. On the stability of the ruling power.

19-22. Influence of the system on the CHURCH

83-111

1. On its unity.

2. On its spirituality.

3. On its success.

23-25. Pleas in defence of the continuance of the system

26. The system shewn to be inconsistent with-

1. The example of Christ;

2. The peculiar sanctions and penalties of religion;

114-119

3. The nature of religion as a service of voluntary de-

votedness;

4. The fundamental principle of Christ's reign, which

forbids the aid of the civil power

...

133

...

CHAPTER V.

OF THE OFFICE AND DUTIES OF THE CIVIL RULER.

1, 2. The theory which holds that it is the duty of the magis-

trate to support religion, stated and examined 142, 143

3-8. This duty not founded either-

1. On scripture, or

2. On the law of nature or reason

...

144-151

9. The office of the magistrate,-the regulation of the ACTIONS

of the subject, but in no case the regulation of his

opinions or FAITH

...

...

...

10-12. Objections founded on the immoral tendency of in-

fidelity; on the practical value of the Bible; and on

the conduct of dissenters on the education question,

158

163-172

13. The consistency of this doctrine with reason, just ex-

pediency, and scripture

...

...

174

CHAPTER VI.

OF THE PRINCIPLES AND PROSPECTS OF THE VOLUNTARY

Section

SYSTEM.

1-5. Summary of the theories that have been examined in

the preceding chapters

...

...

...

Page

179-184

1. Of those that found establishments on scripture and

conscience,-Hooker, Inglis, Mr. Gladstone.

2. Of those that found them on utility,-Warburton,

Paley, Coleridge, Dr. Chalmers.

Refuted.

6. Voluntaryism does not imply that religion is not of national

importance, but only that there must be no com-

13, 14. Its prospects, and the certainty of its ultimate

A. Of the opinions of the early nonconformists on voluntaryism

C. Of voluntaryism in the primitive church

D. Of the right and abuse of private judgment...

E. Of the income of the English church

...

...

...

F. Of the professed unity of the English church

G. Of the power of the government to modify or reject the

226

H. Of the influence of the people on the purity of the esta-

Page

Note

I. Of the interpretation of Rom. xiii. 1-4

...

...

...

230

231

237

...

238

K. Of the secularity and dependence of the state clergy

L. Of the interpretation of John xviii. 36

M. Of the abrogation of the law under the gospel

N. Of the "national clerisy" of the Jews

O. Of the theory of a state church advocated by Mr. Glad-

...

...

...

P. Of the opinion of the fathers on the office of the magistrate 252

Q. Of the efficiency of voluntaryism, and of some misstatements

of Mr. Gladstone

...

...

...

252

R. Of the advantage of the division of a country into parishes. 253

S. Of voluntaryism in America...

T. Of voluntaryism in England...

CHAPTER I.

OF CERTAIN SOPHISTICAL STATEMENTS OF THE VOLUNTARY

QUESTION.

"C'est qu'en effet, en travaillant à la destruction du pouvoir absolu dans l'ordre spirituel, la révolution religieuse du seizième siècle n'a pas connu les vrais principes de la liberté intellectuelle: elle affranchissait l'esprit humain, et prétendait encore à le gouverner par la loi. Aussi est-elle tombée

dans une double faute d'une part elle n'a pas connu ni respecté tous les droits de la pensée humaine; au moment où elle les réclamait pour son propre compte elle les violait ailleurs; d'autre part, elle n'a pas su mesurer, dans l'ordre intellectuel, les droits de l'autorité; je ne dis pas de l'autorité coactive, qui n'en saurait posséder aucun en pareille matière, mais de l'autorité purement morale, agissant sur les esprits seuls et par la seule voie de l'influence. On n'a pas su concilier les droits et les besoins de la tradition avec ceux de la liberté; et la cause en a été sans aucun doute dans cette circonstance, que la Réforme n'a pleinement compris et accepté ni ses principes ni ses effets."

GUIZOT, Histoire de la Civilization en Europe, XIIème Leçon.

1. THERE is probably no one at all conversant with the history of knowledge but has been deeply affected by the general prevalence of error and the slow advancement of truth. Ages have often been needed. for the diffusion of elementary principles, and ages more for the correction of the very errors which these principles implicitly condemned.

B