THE WEALTH OF NATIONS.

759

Among' tlie followers of tlie reformation, dispersed in alltlie different countries of Europe , there was no general tri-bunal, which, like that of the court of Rome , or an (Ecume-nical council, could settle all disputes among them, and withirresistible authority prescribe to all of them the precise limitsof orthodoxy. When the followers of the reformation in onecountry, therefore, happened to differ from their brethren inanother, as they had no common judge to appeal to, the dis-pute could never be decided ; and many such disputes aroseamong them. Those concerning the government of thechurch, and the right of conferring ecclesiastical benefices,were perhaps the most interesting to the peace and welfareof civil society. They gave birth accordingly to the twoprincipal parties or sects among the followers of the reforma-tion, the Lutheran and Calvinistic sects, the only sects among'them, of which the doctrine and discipline have ever yetbeen established by law in any part of Europe .

The followers of Luther, together with what is called thechurch of England , preserved more or less of the episcopalgovernment, established subordination among the clergy,gave the sovereign the disposal of all the bishoprics, and otherconsistorial benefices within his dominions, and thereby ren-dered him the real head of the church ; and without depriv-ing the bishop of the right of collating to the smaller bene-fices within his diocese, they, even to those benefices notonly admitted, but favoured the right of presentation both inthe sovereign and in all other lay patrons. This system ofchurch-government was from the beginning favourable topeace and good order, and to submission to the civil sove-reign. It has never, accordingly, been the occasion of anytumult or civil commotion in any country in which it hasonce been established. The church of England in particularhas always valued herself, with great reason, upon the un-exceptionable loyalty of her principles. Under such a go-vernment the clergy naturally endeavour to recommendthemselves to the sovereign, to the court, and to the nobilityand gentry of the country, by whose iniluence they chieflyexpect to obtain preferment. They pay court to those pa-trons, sometimes, no doubt, by the vilest tlattery and assen-tation, but frequently too by cultivating all those arts whichbest deserve, and which are therefore most likely to gainthem the esteem of people of rank and fortune; by theirknowledge in all the different branches of useful and orna-