15


of  the  charges,  however,  in  my  opinion,  are  nothing
less  than  a  libel  upon  the  characters  and  intentions
of  some  of  the  Authors ;  and  many  of  their  opinions,
and  the  object  of  many  of  their  labours,  may  be  re-
ferred to  a  somewhat  undue  veneration  to  the  dicta
of  the  Fathers.  I  am  confident  that  I  am  correct  in
vindicating  the  integrity  of  their  intentions  (neverthe-
less a  wide  door  for  schism  is  opened),  and  in  affirming,
that  there  has  been  more  danger  in  the  disciples  than
in  the  masters ;  in  which  idea  I  have  been  confirmed,
by  witnessing  in  some  of  our  Churches,  especially  un-
der the  ministration  of  the  younger  clergy,  external
approaches  to  Romanism,  which  were  contrary  to  the
canons,  and  in  every  respect  reprehensible.  This
allegation  also  has  received  still  greater  confirmation
from  the  fact,  that  several  of  them  have  been  called
to  account,  and  most  justly  so,  by  their  superiors,  as
many  of  the  Bishops  can  attest.
The  truth  has  been,  that  the  discussions  and  re-
searches in  the  Tracts  have  become  the  groundwork
of  a  far  more  extensive  practice  than  the  writers
seem  to  have  intended  ;  and  that  many  of  those,  who
addicted  themselves  to  this  new  school  in  the  Church,
wanting  the  learning  and  critical  acumen  of  its  mas-
ters have  branched  out  into  extravagances  and  theo-
ries, which  were  little  short  of  Popery.  Their  faults
and  vagaries  became  imputed  to  the  Tract-writers.
Viewing  thus  the  question  in  its  just  light,  we  are


16


on  the  one  hand  bound  to  fix  the  blame  where  it  is
really  due,  and  on  the  other  to  oppose  the  tendency
of  the  practices,  which  some  have  sought  to  introduce.
