There are indeed some who would be
ready to censure such sentiments as these,
in a layman at least, as savouring of narrow-
minded bigotry, and uncharitable party-
spirit ; as if every one who contends that
schism ought to be opposed as in itself sin-
ful, must needs regard it as an unpardon-
able sin, which" at once excludes those
guilty of it from salvation : but it surely is
not necessary, in order to keep clear of
such intolerant harshness as this, that we
should adopt such a notion of charity as
removes, in fact, the principal occasion for
the exercise of that virtue; for the chief
province of charity and forbearance evi-
dently consists in forgiving, and making
allowance for those who are in fdult^-^n
treating with candour and with personal
kindness those whose principles we disap-
prove; but if there be no fault in schism,
there is nothing to forgive ; — if there is
nothing wrong in those who disagree with



TO DISSENTERS. 211

US, there can be no great exercise of cha-
rity and liberality in allowing that disagree-
ment.
