Whatever conciliation it may have effected amongst dissenters, it assuredly has had a contrary effect amongst churchmen. For there has not been, for a considerable time, a measure brought forward which has created such a division amongst them. A division, which, if continued, may, and most likely will, be productive of the most fatal consequences to the Established Church. A Society, which will instigate and cause such violent and unbecoming animadversions, as are made not only from churchmen to churchmen, but from the clergy of a certain diocese to their diocesan, {12} must hold forth and threaten the most alarming and dangerous consequences. It has already had the effect of creating a division amongst the members of the Established Church, but has not diminished the number of the dissenters. It therefore may with truth be said, that the British and Foreign Bible Society cannot with justice appropriate to itself the merit of either exclusively distributing the Bible, or of inspiring universal love and harmony. A churchman may, therefore, fairly refuse to subscribe to it, without deserving to be reproached as an enemy to the distribution of the Bible, as being a bigot, or being regardless of the spiritual welfare of the poor. He may say, “I love and revere the Bible as much as any person can do, and am as ready to associate for its distribution; but I wish, whilst I am promoting this laudable work, to perform at the same time my duties as a churchman. And, therefore, as the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge consists entirely of churchmen; will provide me with Bibles at a cheaper rate: such as are more useful, from their notes and comments; and will also provide me with Prayer Books and Religious Tracts, I shall prefer that; because no harm can thereby happen to the Established Church; and because I shall thus be enabled to do my duty as a Christian, and at the same time my duty as a churchman. Whilst, by uniting in the distribution of the Bible, through the hands of sectaries of every description, I should consider myself, by promoting their means of conversion, in every convert who was made, or in every intention formed by them for drawing persons from the Established Church, not only an assistant, but an accessary.” These are certainly very fair and reasonable objections to a churchman’s subscribing to the British and Foreign Bible Society. If there were no other Society formed for the distribution of the Bible, the case would be different. But since there is one, which offers superior advantages, and which affords him an opportunity of performing the duties of a churchman, at the same time that he is performing the duties of a Christian, there is abundant reason for his rejection of the one Society, and his adoption of the other.