If  the  powers  of  the  church-courts  were,  on  the  one


NOTES  BY  THE  EDITOR.  141

hand,  not  to  be  so  stretched  as  to  interfere  with  the  law
of  the  land,  and  consequently,  when  exercised,  to  be
either  nugatory  or  to  produce  a  collision  between  the
civil  and  ecclesiastical  judicatories  ;  and  on  the  other
hand,  not  to  be  so  curtailed,  as  in  a  very  important
respect  to  be  \'irtually  annulled,  there  should  be  no
hesitation  in  giving  every  fixcility  to  the  people  for
making  their  sentiments  known  in  a  matter  of  so  much
interest  to  them  as  the  appointment  of  a  pastor.  It  is
agreed  on  all  hands  that  they  have  a  voice  in  the  ap-
pointment. The  difference  of  opinion  respects  the  ex-
tent to  which  their  voice  should  reach.  Let  the  advo-
cates on  either  side  weigh  calmly  and  dispassionately
the  sentiments  and  \aews  of  those  who  oppose  them.
