his business-and divides his good things with those, who rule the roast-Should a Swadler* however, venture to take the same sort of liberty-should he be tempted to break his word, take an unhandsome advantage of his neighbor-get drunk at a party, or get his servant maid with child-and yield to any one, or all of these temptations-how long may it be supposed will the world conceal his downfall? why in all probability, until the very first opportunity of publishing it-such an unfortunate man may expect nothing less, than to bring reproach upon the whole body of which he was a member-he may expect to be the talk of his neighborhood, and the laugh of almost every table-and perhaps it is well, that the world thus resents his misconduct-its resentment may proceed from a secret principle of malignity, but no matter-even from this evil also, good may be extracted!-may the war continue-for when peace is made, the Swadlers religion will have become a farce; and some poor despised fool, may be sent to the battlements of his church, to proclaim its downfall!

1

I will notice here, for it is my wish to do every people justice that there continues within the pale of the Quaker society in Ireland, notwithstanding the growth of many evils, a few individuals, who are ornaments to the christian profession; and a considerable number who although apparently lukewarm as to religion, and with but few conspicuous marks of the charity of the gospel,

* Swadler, like the name of Quaker, in the beginning, has been given to the Methodists in this country, as a mark of contempt.

have nevertheless an orderly appearance, in the view of men-I believe the religion of their forefathers and mine, was an emanation from the right source; but abused as that religion is now, of which a series of facts, which I have seen, heard, and felt, have long convinced I think upon the whole that the religion of the Methodists, is now better adapted to help the world at large— and that upon the whole, it does now produce, when conscientiously received, and acted upon, a much more general and extensive, although in some partial instances a less deep and permanent morality.

ine;

HINTS

FOR THE

TREATMENT of EXCOMmunicated PERSONS.

When a member becomes refractory by non-conformity, whether to the wholesome laws of the church, or to the temper of its ruling members or whether he betrays a want of wisdom in the management of his vices; so that he can neither conceal them from the public eye, nor acquire a sufficient stock of wealth to give them credit; why then to be sure, you cannot in decency avoid excommunicating him-so far any observations upon the mode of treating him, are almost useless-but after the church bull has been issued; seeing that two heads are wiser than one, permit me to put mine close to

yours; and with our eyes full bent upon the object of pursuit, contrive the best mode of punishing his rebellion, or of pouring contempt upon his folly.

And first, if the offender be a man of wealth or influence, whatever his imprudence, it may be necessary to treat him with great delicacy-if it is by any means consistent with your honor, substitute a private record, or an impressive admonition, in the room of a public bull; because such a bull let loose upon a great man, might raise a country-side in arms, against its devastationsbut independent of this, even in the bosom of the church, a public excommunication might meet with opposition→→ for the offender might happen to have a brother-in-law, or cousin-german, a chief ruler-and this brother-in-law or cousin-german, might have been under temporal obligations to him, by which means his interest will be secured in the council-or which is a possible case, the offender's sister or aunt, may be the wife of a chief ruler, and may be still a greater ruler than her husband-nor let the church smile at this, as an impossible thing-for 'tis no secret, that a woman has sometimes ruled her house, her husband, and even the church itself-but this the Reader unacquainted with human life, may think extraordinary-his surprize, however, does not alter the course of nature-Kingdoms and Empires have been governed by women-and it is thought, that even the sanctuary itself, from the church that tops the neighboring hill, to the humble meeting-house below it in the valley, has not always been free from their influenceBut to resume my cautionary hints-for the reasons

already mentioned, it may be prudent to deal tenderly with the rich, or if you do exclude them, be very tender of their reputation- -you may receive and return their visits as usual; and by every attention in your power, endeavour to mollify the inevitable decree-by these and such like emollients, the bull will gradually lose its ferocity, and will at length lie down and be forgotten.

The poor fool however, who has had the misfortune to incur the censure of the church, or to offend its male or female rulers, need not be treated with such ceremony--some sacrifices must be made to the church's dignity; for I am not vain enough to suppose, that any existing church, from the hill to the valley, makes the restoration of an amputated member, a matter of any great consequence---the poor fool may therefore be hunted down, as an example to others---and now that the chace is commenced, let us consider the best mode of maintaining it And first---let the bull that has been issued against him, be kept fed, that he may maintain his post, and increase his ravages-You may ask, how can that be, since the monster of persecution has been chained by law? I will ask you another question---Has the law secured to the excommunicated member, any species of kindness?---Does it open the heart or the house of any man, to shelter the hunted game? Does it prevent the forging of false stories, or the exaggeration of true ones, to the prejudice of his trade, his character, or other temporal interests? Rather are not these the common aliments, which feed the bull, and animate him in the pursuit 'tis true, the unhappy victim too frequently

U

furnishes food with his own band to the insatiable monster---but this proof of insanity, ought rather to excite the public pity, than the public cry---but that the reverse is the usual fact; witness ye myriads of men, who physically or morally deranged, are permitted to travel this howling wilderness, without any other entertainment, than the shouts of monsters still more mad than you!!

OBSERVATIONS ON ITS UNIVERSAL DEPRAVITY,

Is it not astonishing, how strangely we are affected to various objects, with which we have imperfect acquaintance, or perhaps none at all, but through the channel of information-Both in the animate, and inanimate world, we form attachments and dislikes, according as the objects we reflect upon, give us pain or pleasure; quite independent of their intrinsic qualities-To this caprice may be attributed, a multitude of prejudices, which are totally destitute of rational foundation-such, as the animosity of men inhabiting nations' of opposite interests-sects differing in their theological sentiments, or forms of church government-of men bating each other, for their habits, their language, or