and unequivocal terms; and, above all, let each distinction of Christians, earnestly wish, to find an agreement, between themselves and their fellow Christians:—­the result of a discussion conducted on this plan, would most assuredly be, to convince all Christians, that the essential articles of religious credence, in which there is, a real difference among Christians, are not so numerous, as the verbal disputes, and extraneous matter, in which controversy is too often involved, make them generally thought.

Still,—­some articles will remain, the belief of which, one denomination of Christians, will consider to be the obligation of every Christian, and which other Christian denominations, will condemn.  On some of those, a speedy reunion of Christians is not to be expected:  but, to use the language of Mr. Vansittart, in His excellent letter to the reverend Dr. Marsh and John Coker, Esq.,

“There is an inferior degree of Reunion, more within our prospect, and yet perhaps as perfect as human infirmity allows us to hope for; wherein, though all differences of opinion, should not be extinguished, yet they may be refined, from all party prejudices, and interested views, so softened by the spirit of charity, and mutual concession, and so controuled by agreement, on the leading principles, and zeal, for the general interests of christianity, that no sect, or persuasion, should be tempted to make religion, subservient to secular views, or to employ political power, to the prejudice of others.—­The existence of Dissent, will, perhaps, be inseparable from religious freedom, so long, as the mind of man, is liable to error:  but it is not unreasonable to hope, that hostility, may cease, though perfect agreement, cannot be established.  IF WE CANNOT RECONCILE ALL OPINIONS, LET US RECONCILE ALL HEARTS.”

These pages, cannot be closed better, than by these golden words!!!

FINIS.

* * * * *

FOOTNOTES.

[Footnote 001:  Tom. xi. p. 1. 200.]

[Footnote 002:  De Institutiones Clericorum, L. iii. c. xviii. &c.]

[Footnote 003:  In his “Recueil des Ecrits pour servir d’eclaircissement de l’histoire de France, 2 vol.  Paris 1798.”]

[Footnote 004:  “Roswede, or Aroswethe, a nun in the monastery of Gardersheim, lived in the reigns of Otho II. and III. towards the end of the tenth century.  She composed many works in prose and verse.  In 1501, some of her poems, on the Martyrdom of St. Denys, the Blessed Virgin, St. Ann, &c. were printed at Nuremburgh.  Her verses in praise of Otto II. would be tolerable, if they were not Leonines:  there are in them some errors of prosody.”  Bib.  Univers. et Histor.  Vol. ii. p. 46.]

[Footnote 005:  For a fuller account of Feudal and Civil Jurisprudence, the writer of these pages begs leave to refer to his work, entitled, “HORAE JURIDICAE SUBSECIVAE, being a connected series of Notes respecting the Geography, Chronology, and Literary History of the principal Codes and original Documents of the Grecian, Roman, Feudal, and Canon Law.” 1 vol. 8vo.]