lie is an injury which no man patiently endures in common life.  To be charged with polluting the pastoral office with scandal and falsehood, was a violation of character still more atrocious, as it affected not only his personal but his clerical veracity.  His indignation naturally rose in proportion to his honesty, and, with all the fortitude of injured honesty, he dared this calumniator in the church, and at once exonerated himself from censure, and rescued his flock from deception and from danger.  The man, whom he accuses, pretends not to be innocent; or, at least, only pretends, for he declines a trial.  The crime of which he is accused has frequent opportunities, and strong temptations.  It has already spread far, with much depravation of private morals, and much injury to publick happiness.

To warn the people, therefore, against it, was not wanton and officious, but necessary and pastoral.

What then is the fault with which this worthy minister is charged?  He has usurped no dominion over conscience.  He has exerted no authority in support of doubtful and controverted opinions.  He has not dragged into light a bashful and corrigible sinner.  His censure was directed against a breach of morality, against an act which no man justifies.  The man who appropriated this censure to himself, is evidently and notoriously guilty.  His consciousness of his own wickedness incited him to attack his faithful reprover with open insolence and printed accusations.  Such an attack made defence necessary; and we hope it will be, at last, decided, that the means of defence were just and lawful[1].

[1] This nervous argument was honoured by the particular approbation of
    Mr. Burke.—­Boswell, iii. 62.

END OF VOL.  V.