:SMJK'"-^1^^ y»„fimiid, * ^i, -32 LIBRARY OF THK UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. ^■^M:^ Received ^.-^^Ck^Tl^s^.^iSS^r , A ccessions No . -2-^6?^ X- Shelf No. THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAIXED : O R, AN APOLOGY FOR. THOSE OF The Regular Clergy of the Establishment, WHO ARE SOMETIMES CALLED . JEVANGELICAL MINISTERS: OCCASIOKED BT SEVERAL MODERN PUBLICATIONS. By JOHN OVERTOX, J.B>'^ *' Be ready al\ravs to give aa answer to everv n-.^n that _ __ . • you a reason of the hope that isin you.* . & Fetfr. *' We hare in feet lost many of our people to Sectaries by not »* preaching in a manner sufficiently EvangeBca! ; and^pe shaU " neither recover them from the extravagancies into viWi they " have run, nor keep more from going over * 7 *' returning to the right way.** ..... .A: , _... .r. PrialeJ iy T. WnJOS aaJ R. SFEXCEt Wgi Om^::tr. Sold by J. Mawmak, (foccefior to Mr. Dili.\) Foaltry, and F. & C. RiviKGTox, St. PauTs Church-yard, London; by Wilson* and Spkkce, J. Todd, and J. Wolstenholme, York ; and by the BookieJiers of Leeds, Hull, Durham, Halifax, Blrminghaatt, Manchcfier, 6:c. Jtoio 1801. ^X ^ll\ ^ 6 2yLy PREFACE. 'id certain writers coniine their ftri^lures to the pecu- liar doctrines and irregular procedure of SeclarieSy as, to fuperficial obfervers, they would feem to infinuate, they might, doubtlefs, deferve well of the Church of England, and of Chriftianity in general. But, if, as a learned Pre- late exprefles himfelf, in their *' over-abundant zeal to check the frenzy of the Methodifts *," they involve under thefe ftridjures many important dodrines of the Church of which they are Miniftcrs; if, as a late eminent Arch- Bifhop fpeaks, they do fuch fe£taries " the honour of mif- calling other perfons of more than ordinary ferioufnefs by their name^ •," if, under certain reprobated and reproachful terms, they hold up to ridicule and contempt fome of the moft faithful adherents to this Church, their defert is very different. And this they unqueftionably do, in the judg- ment of the prefent Apologift. There is, it muft be confefled, an indiftinflnefs, and a feeming afFedlation, in the Title under which fuch Church- men are here vindicated ; but, as it is that under which, among others, they are accufed ; that which they are con- ftantly charged with having *' arrogated to themfelves ^ •," and which, in reality, is, in fome degree, chara6leriftic of (a) Biftiop Horfley's Charge, 1790, p. 25. (b) Seeker's Ch. I. p. 77 of Vol. vj. of Bifhop Watfon's Traas. (c) See,the Antljac. Review for April, 1799, p. 362, &c. 5 the fanie for May, 1799* P- 76} Effays by T. Ludlam, M. A ; A Guide to the Church by the Rev. C. Daubeny, LL. B. ; &c. A 2 li PREFACE. them ; it may prevent circumlocution, and cannot be v/holly unfuitable. There are confiderations, indeed, which might be urged in exprefs defence of the Appellation, It might be fuggefted to the recolledlion of our Clerical Bre- , thren, that the original commiflion delivered to the Apof- tles of our Lord was, to " preach the gojpel ^ " that the authority deduced from hence, and given to us, by the Bilhop, at our ordination, exprefsly is, to ^^ preach the gojpel '^ i" and, that if our fituation in any degree refembles St. PauPs " TF^oe will ^e unto us j/^we preach not the go/pel^,* It might be fhown reafonable to charge the invidioufnefs of the di(lin6lion to their account whofe conduct has rendered it neceiTary. At any rate, it might be fairly inquired, why there is more arrogance 'in this aflumption, than in affuming exclufively the proud Title of " rational di- vines^." Be it known, however, to the writers in queftion, and to all others who do not know it, that a large -number of thofe Minifters whom, by name and direct alluftotiy they clafs with Method'ifts, Enthufiafts, Fanatics, and Schifm- atics, are wholly unconfclous of affording any other caufe for this treatment than a Jlr'ict adherence to the vows 'of their Ordination; that they equally refpe^l, in their theory and their praftice, the doBrines and the conjlitution of the efta- bliflied Church ; lament, mod cordially, every occafion, and every degree of deviation from her ; and wifh for nothing fo much as htr prefer vation in her genuine purity^ And for thef^ and thefe exclusively, under whatever Tide they are found, it Is the obje6l of this work to apolo- gize. This it is particulaily requefted, that the reader would fully underlland, and conftantly remember. What- ever may incidentally be faid of perfons guilty of anyfpecies ['■V) Markxy5-i5. (t) Ordination Service. (f) i Cor. >'• ^5. (s^) See Mr. Polwhele's Letter to Dr. Hawker, p. 555 JvJr, Daubeny's Guide, p. 3-5 -, Src PREFACE. V of ir regular it^i with whom thefe chara£lers have been con- founded, will only apply to them juft fo far as they adhere to this ftandard. And whoever puts any conftru£lion upon the book, contrary to this declaration, will wholly mifrepre- fent and pervert it. Nor will the Work become refponfible for the doctrines of any perfons except thofe for whom by name it undertakes. Few, however, it is believed, will be found of the denomination and defcription in queftion, who will not cordially fubfcribe to their fentiments. The Writer well knows how frequently it is infinuated, that profeflions of regard for the Church are wholly incon- fiftent with animadverfions on the defedls of fo many of her Minifters. But, to anfwer in the words of a moil fen- fible and celebrated female writer, on another occafion \ " Surely an earned willi to turn their attention to objetls calculated to promote their true dignity, is not the office of an enemy. So to expofe the weaknefs of the land, as to fuggeft the neceffity of internal improvement, and to point out the means of effectual defence, is not treachery^ but patriotifm &." A city that is fet on an hill cannot be hid. The commencement of the nineteenth century is not a iJeafon when men can be hoodwinked refpe£ling their reli- gion. It is every way abfurd to fuppofe that it is not Imwti what are the real do(Slrines that we preach. And if, in fa£l, they are not fuch as we have folemnly and publicly engaged to teach, it will not;, (often the reproaches of our adverfaries that we are dexterous at equivocation, and en- deavour to huddle up the bufmefs among curfelves. But in truth, neither the exiftence, nor the proclamation of this defea in the do£lrines of feme of the Clergy, affords any fttfficient ground for the enemies of the Elfablifliment to triumph. However much it is to be lamented, it Is only an -occaftonal and a partial deviation from a conrtltution (g) See Stri^ures on E'lucaiipn, by Hannah More, Introduc tion, p. 10, J VI PREFACE. fundamentally found •, whereas, however our common Oppo- nents may poflefs fome occaftonal reftitude, their various fchemes, as the arguments of the learned and the experience of all ages have proved, are radically defective, and contain the principles of endlefs divifions and confufion, in their very nature. The Divines, however, upon whofe procedure the nature of the prefent undertaking renders it neceflary to animad- vert, are the Aggreffors, They have attacked per/onally and by name^ a number of Individuals, who had taken no fuch liberty with them. They, therefore, at any rate, cannot reafonably find fault. And, from among fuch of their co- adjutors as have fallen under the writer's obfervation, it may be proper alfo to mention, that they have generally been fele6led on account of their refpe£tability. Nor is it the Writer's intention, that a fingle pafiage fhould be ap- plied to any Divine who does not profejfedly hold the doc- trines advanced in their works ; or, that they fhould be refponfible for the dodtrines of each other, any further than i\ity profejfedly agree. He therefore who pofleiTes the " Mens confcia re<5li," will neither be injured nor dif- mayed. There are many, very many, ferious and worthy mi- nifters in the Church, it is believed, who do not adopt the language, and clafs themfelves in the ranks, of the cha- ra«5lers here defended ; who neverthelcfs, acknowledge their dbflrines to be thofe of the Articles ; approve of thefe doctrines in their hearts ; and are only deterred from more frequently dwelling upon them by the dread of incurring aii odious name^. Is it faid, that the boundary of fimple defence has been too far exceeded, and that too much has been done offenftvely ? Our late great Premier's Apology, under a fimilar reprehenfion, is full in point ; a perfuafion that nothing would fo efFettually contribute towards an (z) See below, Ch. ix, beginning of Conclufion. PREFACE. til honourable and a lafling peace, as a teformsitioii of the Antagonift's principles. Another thing of which the writer is aware is, his own incompetency to do juftice to the fubjeft. Many, he doubts not, will exclaim on the occafion " Non tali auxllio, nee defenforibus iftis Tempus eget " Others, he forefees, among his elder brethren, will be even angry at the at- tempt, and will certainly reprefent it as impertinent and prefumptuous. He muft however be indulged in believ- ing, that fuch is the clearnefs of the caufe, to the extent to which it is here purfued, that the meaneft advocate, who engages in it, can fcarcely fail, in fome degree, to advance it. There is no pretenfion to any novelty of argument. Although not, perhaps, precifely under its pre- fent form, the queftion has, in effe£l, been difcufled too often to admit of this, whoever may undertake it. But it by no means follows, that hence it is ufelefs to advance any thing upon the fubje£l:. There is much wifdom in the ob- fervation of the late eminent Mr. Burke ; ** Let us only fuf- fer any perfon to tell us his ftory, morning and evening, but for one twelve-month, and he will become our mafter *^.*' And who, except thofe to whom the bufinefs is familiar^ hears only the pleadings of one party in a court of judica- ture, and is not generally inclined to become his partifan ? The clamour therefore which is now raifed upon the fub- jqOl in queftion K and the frequent repetition of the old arguments on one fide of the cafe, will juftify the repeti- tion of a few particulars on the oppofite fide, in the minds of all who really defire that the iflue may be according to truth. Nor is a reply wholly wanting to other parts of the obje£lion which this regard to the ** an liceat, an deceat. (k) Quoted in the Antijacobin Review for July, 1798, p. 5S. (1) See the writings of Dr. Croft, Mr. T. Ludiam, Mr. Clapham, Mr. D^ubeny, Mr. Polwhele, the Antijacobin Review, &c. kc, A4 VlU PREFACE. an expediat," may fuggeft. Many inftances might be ad- duced, In which, as the great Dr. Johnfon obfcrves, they ** who form the bafe of the pyramid of fubordination, and lie buried in obfcurity themfelves, fupport all that is fplcn- did, confpicuous, or exalted "*." No perfon however who has fubfcribed to the dodtrines of our Church, and h an appointed public teacher of thefe do£l:rines, fhould be fup- pofed wholly ignorant of their nature. Or, to fay the leaffc, in this land of perfeft liberty, no perfon is too infignificant to affign the reafons for his conduct, when he finds himfelf implicated in a public cenfure. This privilege will cfpcci- ally be allowed him, when, as in the prefent cafe, the charge is a ferious one, which afFedls, at once, his under- ilanding and his integrity, his reputation and his intereft ; when fuch charge is made very notorious, and reiterated with great confidence, as a fa£l that is unqueftionable % and when, after a very careful inquiry, he firmly believes there is no foundation for it whatever ; but that, as a fpecies of king's evidence, the accufers themfelves are the real of- fenders. Of one clafs of readers, the writer foliclts candour; of another, he demands juflice. Thofe who have aflumed the immediate office of giving a verdi6l on fuch occafions, it will be found, are deeply interejled in tlie bufinefs. They therefore, according to the ordinary courfe of juftice, are incapacitated for being heard ; or, at the moft, they can only give a fort of " ex parte" evidence. Thofe of them however, although interefted, may be expe£led to adl ho- nourably whofe main and profejjed objetl it is to expofe the UNFAIRNESS OF REVIEWERS". The manner in which the fubjedt is here treated, is as' old-fafliioned, as the do£trine which is defended. A lead- ing charadleriftic of this, is, to advance nothing without (m) Rambler, Vol, iii. p. 225. Ed. 12. (n) See the Profpeflu* to the Ant)jacobin Review , and that to the Britilh Critic, PREFACE. ill PROOF ; to claim credit for nothing which is not either founded in argument, or fupported by teftimony; and, in the ufe of this teftimony, to admit nothing 2X fecond hand : but to bring forward the vouchers to fpeak for themfelves ; or at the leaft, to fpecify their names, and characters, and places of abode. This, it muft be confefled, is a procefs whichi befides being unfafhionable, is liable to many feri- ous objedlions and inconveniences, Who knows not how- much more difficult it is to prove than barely to affirnty al- inoft the plaineft matter ? Who fees not the drudgery and tedioufnefs of fuch a procedure, and the awkward ap- pearance of the margin which it occafions ? And how {hall all this be endured I How much more eafy and com- pendious a method of treating an opponent it is, to clafs him, at once, with pcrfons whofe principles or charaders are generally obnoxious, with whom he may happen to hold fome things in common ; and conftantly to afFail him with their abfurdities ! How much more fimple a procefs It is, to get furniflied with a few indefinite terms of abufe, which, as the late excellent Bifhop Home affirms of them, " always fignify what the impofers pleafe to mean, and the people to hate •,*' and with thefe, as with a fort of magic, to overwhelm him at a ftroke ! Tedious, however, as the mode of inveftigation here adop- ted is, in quejlions offaB, of which kind the prefent inquiry muft chiefly be confidcred, the wifdom of ages has dif- covered no method fo certain for arriving at truth. And really, there is no end of regarding what angry opponents merely affirm of each other. On this plan, the chief of the Apoftles may be reprefented as " mad-y* and Chrift himfelf ch:irged with immorality 2,i\d ohioxious connexions °, Nor do Aieer vulgar prejudices, fuppofitions that thofe who differ from us, in religious opinion, are a kind of monfters in the treation, at all change their nature wliether they proceed (o) See Matt. xJ. 19, and A6ls xxvi, *4, from the ** great vulgar** or the fmall ; from the chair of fome learned feminary, or from that of the nurfing-room, T'he method here purfued affords alfo the heft fecurity- agalnft the iniquity of quotation itfelf. It is, ** prima facie>" a pledge of the writer's fairnefs, as removing all hope that diflionefty would remain undetected. It affords eafy means of examination and fatisfa6lion to thofe wlio are doubtfuL It is indeed fcarcely pofhble not, fometimes, to mifunder- ftand, and of courfe, to mifreprefent an author. It is flill lefs poflible to avoid the imputation of this conduft ; be- C3ufe, when placed, however juftly, in a fituation that is unpleafant to him, a difingenuous writer will deny his own do6lrine, and equivocate even with himfelf. In what is here given as quotation, the ivords of the author are carefully dillinguiihed ^. For the juftnefs of what he is faid to teach in effed:, to infinuate, intimate, &c. the places referred to mufl anfwer. No ftrefs is laid on mere criticlfms on the meaning of a few doubtful words \ nothing is founded on confequences deduced from the opponent's do6lrines, which lie can fairly deny. Whatever is not proved by a whole body of evidence, rendered ftrong and invincible by the harmony and fupport of all its parts, and interpreted as it would be by plain honeft men of found underftandings and fufBcient information, fliall be confidered as not proved at all. It is therefore efpecially defired, that, on one part, and on the other, regard may be had to no unsupported CHARGE ; and that, ** luith nvbai meafure we mete^ it may le mea/ured to us again p." The Churchmanpjip oi the perfons under vindication being afcertained, a few things are offered on behalf of the (z) In a few inftances, the perfon, or tenfe, or an infignificant word for the fake of the connexion, is altered, or the antecedent is put for the relative, but never (errors excepted) where fuch change, can pofTibly afFeft the argument. (p) Mat. vH. 2. PREFACE. 3a » CHURCH, and in defence of her genuine do£lrInes, That particular is fixed upon, and difcufled at large, in regard for which, the chief prejudices againft the reft of thefc doc- trines, and their abettors, are pretended to be entertained 5 namely, the dodrinc of Good-Works, or Chrl/iian Zlor^lity, Hence, it is intended to appear, that the charadlers In quct- tion, are true Churchmen of a true Church, and therefore worthy of the Title, in the higheft fenfe. And if, in reality, this feeble effort fhould contribute to this end ; if, through the bleffing of God, it fhould, in any meafure, caufe the true principles of the Eftablifhment to be more refpe&dj if, in any degree, it fhould render it a more creditable thing to preach the real do5irines of the Church in the Church, the labour of the writer would be rewarded abundantly- This, he is confident, would be produ6^ive of proportionable good, to both Church and State. For, without arraigning the principles of thofe who think otherwife, as intentionally had, cnly in the faithful promulgation of thefe doBrinesi^ziihc fee any efFedlual oppofition to the prefent alarming progrefs of In- fidelity and Profligacy ; and only in the promulgation df them in flriEl conformity to the ejlablijhed plan, can he expcdl any good efFedls of the Pulpit, that are fober, general, and permanent -, and that are not counteracled by a nearly pro- portionable degree of diforder and mifchief. CONTENTS. CHAP. L The main question stated; and argued against the Afsail" ants, from their conduct in subscription, — their OWN CONCESSIONS, — and the complaints of several EMINENT BISHOPS. Fcge 15 CHAP. IL The REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, AJJI) DoCTRINES OF OUR Reformers, investigated, ayid appealed to, on the question 44? SECTION I. The true interpretation sought, from our different FORMS as they illustrate and explain each other ; the TITLE and PREAMBLE annexed to the articles; the cir- cumstances «/z^ OBJECT of our Reformers ; their othek public and approved writings ; and the authori- ties they respected. .....,» . . 44- section ii. The true interpretation of the articles further sought from the known private sentiments of our Reformers. 69 Xirr CONTENTS, CHAP, IIL An exmninadon whose teaching most resembles that of oitr Church and her Reformers, in respect to, the use made of the peculiar doctrines of the gospel, and the necefsiti/ of PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY Page 100 CHAP. IV. The inquiry pursuedwith regard to the doctrine of original SIN, and the consequent state and character of iJLAN, in this world, AS A sit^tJER 12g CHAP. V. Thd investigation continued with respect to the doctrine of ilepentance 160 CHAR VI. ^\ The question prosecuted with regard to the doctrine of justification. .......*.. 17* CHAP. VIL The question of adherence pursued in respect to the doctrine of GooiD Works; with a vindication of our tenets on this head. ..:.... 220 section I. Concerning the Standard of Morals 221 section II. Comerning the Sauctioi^s of Morality, .... 273 CONTENTS. XV SECTION III- A vmdication of certain Individuals; an appeal ta Experience, and to the Concessions of our opponents^ on the point ; and a conclusion that it is the Strictness (f our morality which gives the offence. . , . . 306 €HAP. VIIL The Reasons of our adherence to the genuine doctrines of the Church of England stated; and a general Apology for her doctrines, . - - - 333 CHAP. IX Th^ Recapitulation and Co nclusjon. - • , 389 ^' THE TRUE GHURCHMEN &c. CHAPTER I. The main qucftion Jiated ; and argued againji the JJJ'ail- ants, from their conduct in subscription, — their OWN CONCESSIONS, — and the complaints gf several ^EMINENT BISHOPS. Our firfl: objeiSl fliall be to ftate fully in what the matter at iffue confifts. We will begin with an extract from a pamphlet entitled " Thoughts concerning the Methodifts and the eftablifhed Clergy; by George Croft, D. D/' In this pamphlet the Do6lor exprefles himfelf thus : " They alone, if ive believe them/elves, have adhered to the doElrines of the articles, homilies, and liturgy. This, he proceeds, is grofs viifrepre/entation. They taught more than thefe doclrines, and WE teach them as they *werejirji delivered by our Reformers ^." — Now that Dr. Croft includes under this cenfure perfons of the defcription fpecified in our preface, thofe who are guilty of no /pedes of irregularity, but who, as they conceive, in all things, adhere ftriftly to the rules of the eftablifliment, is beyond a queftion. He alludes exprcfsly, in this fame pamphlet, to Mr. Milner, to the Minlfter of " the New Church," and all the minifters, except " one Individual," then =^ in the churches, at Hull; to Dr. Coulthurft", his Curate, and thofe " who are anticipating appointments tp the Chapels in his parifh$" to Mr. Romaine ; and to all for whom prefentations have been procured " by a noble Earl, and fome gentlemen of opulence"; and, with equal ex- plicitnefs, alludes to them as " fanatical Divines," •* clerical Enthufiafts," "pretended Favourites of heaven \** &c. (a) Page 19. (2.) I795- (b).?. 14j 29* 31- B H THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. The feme, however, in efFecl:, with the above propofitlon of Dr. Croft, is the language of Mr. Polwhele*, Mr. Haggitt *, and a whole tribe of modern writers on this fub- je6t:. Whatever different objefts thefe gentlemen have im- mediately in view, or however more or lefs fparingthey arc in the mention of individuals, or- in epithets of reproach, diredly or indire£lly, their cenfures uniformly involve the characSlers in queftion; and their reafonings obvioufly pro- ceed on the fuppofition that the reft of the clergy do, and that thefe perfons do not, teach according to the eftabliflied dodrlnes of our Church. This, in effedl:, is the propofitlon maintained by Mr. Daubcny, and his admirers, againft the well-known ob- je61:s of his (Iriclures, Mr. '\Vilberforce and Mrs. More. The opinion Mr. W, has exprefled^ refpefting the dif- ference between the atlual and the profejfed principles of many of the clergy, Mr. D. fays is " unjuft," and *' derived more from the indecent revilings of irregular preachers than fromfa£\s.'' To other parts of this pu- blication Mr. D. has " thought it neceflary to object as more favourable to eiithujiafm than pra/ofeach of the articles;" and confidered it "agratuitous aflumption'^." So alfo he is underftood by the Antijacobin reviewers. Having- obferved that "whenever a reference is made to the " animus imponentis" in fubfcription, for the doBrinCyXt muft be made to the ^^ framers of the articles, for the law to the enaBors ;" " this diftin£lion," they add. (d) Moral and Phil. p. 180—182. 4to. (e) Ibid. (f) Ibid. p. 568. (g) Moral and Polit. Philof. chap, on forms of Prayer in Public Wor. p. (^S. Syo. (h) Moral PhiJofophy, chap, on Promifes. CbNDUCT IN SUBSCRIPTION. 2t ** fweeps away at once all that rubblfh of reafoning, with which Dr. Paley particularly vfOvXdijufiifyfuhfcription without belief '^ J* Mr. Polwhek .quotes him ?i^ faying exprefsly, after the mention of * abettors of popery, anabaptifts, and puri*- tans/ ** Thefe three denominations of perfons, therefore, ought not to fubfcribe the 39 Articles : but all others may^y This, however, although it may fcem foreign toourpurpofe to notice it, is both a falfe quotation, and a plain mifrepre- fentation, of Dr. Paley. Mr. Polwhele wholly omits the claufe *' and in general, &c. ^" which follows the particulars that are enumerated. Nor does " the Archdeacon faf^ what is here given as his words. To Dr, Paley, however, thus interpreted, with one other writer 2, Mr. P. refers, as a moft fatisfa6tory anfwer to the charge of deviation from the plain meaning of the arti- cles; *^/uch a reply as mujifatisfy every man, who is neither an ENTHUSIAST, «C>r^ HYPOCRITE'^.'* It is furely a little unfortunate (we cannot but here re- mark by the way) that what Mr. Polwhele thus confidersT^- fatisfaBorily deciftvey his great admirers, the Antijacobin Re- viewers, confider as arrant ** rubbifli of reafoning," flicer jefuitifm, a mere opening for " Arians and Socinians!" Commenting upon the very fame palTagc, amidftmuch ta the like eiFedl:, " Such,'* they exclaim, " is the confufed- nefs of Dr. P.'s ideas here, and fuch the contradic- torinefs of his language ! A more grofs, more palpable, more mafly inftance occurs not, perhaps in any other au- thor whatever °r* We will not apply to thefe gentlemen the appellations, which, according to Mr. Polwhele, may feem to belong to them, for this diiTatisfadion with his author. They however could extol Mr. P.*s attack upon the very Divine he is here combating, as " not more remark- able for its ftrength than its jufticej" and " ftrenuoufly re- commend it to the perufal of our regular clergy °!" (i) January 1800. p. 19. (k) 2nd Letter to Dr. Hawker, p. 22. (1) Sse abovep. 19. * (z) Bifhop Burnet, (m) 2nd Letter, p. 22. (n) January 1800. p. 19 — 21. (o) Review of Letters to Dr. H. Auguft 1799. p. 452. September 1799, P« '^*» 5>Z THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. But, to return to our argument. What may feem alittlc extraordinary, the Conductors of the Britifh Critic approve gf Dr. Paley^s method of treating this fubjedl of fubfcrip- tion to the Articles. '* We avow our fatisfadign," they fay, " in the liberal (not flimfy and unprincipled," as their author had ftyled them) *' arguments, adduced by the Archdeacon in his explanatory obfervatlons on the duty of fubfcribers to that teft of faith. . . . We feel oiirfelves, and we think the whole Chriftian community greatly obliged to that Gentleman for favouring the public with his rational^ judicious^ and enlarged fent'imetits on this head, and we hope they will, as they ought, have a due effedl upon every re-* fle6ling, unprejudiced, mind p." By another, clafs of thefe Divines, it is achwwledgedy or all but acknowledged, that the eftablifhed Confeflions hiive ac- tually experienced what they call, a tacit reformation. Thefe perfohs reprefent our formularies of doclrine as hav- ing *^ a new and acquired fenfe ;" and maintain, that in this fenfe they are confcientioufiy fubfcribed, however dif- Jerent it may be from their literal and primitive meaning. A leading patron -of this fcheme is the celebrated Dr. Fowel, late Archdeacon of Colchefter, and Mafter of St. John's College Cambridge. Thus, in a difcourfe exprefsly on the fubjedl, preached before the Univerfity, and en- titled *' A defence of the fubfcriptions required rn the Church of England," we find fuch declarations and reafon- ings as the following : Speaking of the Articles, he fays, ** as neiv difcoveries have fprung up, new explaNanions have been gradually framed and adapted to them; and almoft every commentator has added fomething to the com- mon (lock. And if, among this great variety, a free in- quirer fliotild not find all his own opinions, the fame li- berty of adding to it dill remains^." This is admitting, inr plain terms, no fmall part of our queftion. " We are not," he iay.s exprefsly, *' concerned to difcover what was mea7it by Cp} February, 1796. p. 146. (q) Dif. 2, p. 39, Conduct in subscription. 23. the writers, but what will be underftood by the readers. ... I will not," he proceeds, '* add by thofe who require the declaration; not by the governors of the church ; ... not by the legiflature 5 . . . but by the general voice of learned men through the nation V* " Such words," it is added, "as were originally determinate, by length of time and change of circumftances may become ambiguous. Cuftom can take away the force of expreflions, or give them a new mean" ing, * . . Nor are thefe changes of the fenfe unufual, even in our moft folemn forms, the fcriptures^" On this ground, the Dodor vindicates his brethren, againfl the charge of departure from the meaning of the Articles. *' The accufation," he (ays, "is not only falfe, but the crime impoffible. That cannot be the fenfe of the declara- tion which no one imagines to be the fenfe ; nor can that interpretation be erroneous which all have received. With whatever violence it was at firfl introduced, yet poffeflion is always a fufficient title It is fufhcient to juitify the ufe of any explanation, that it has been openly declared, and not generally condemned. And therefore when an article has been underftood, by good and learned interpreters, in a fenfe, neither the moft obvkus, nor the moft ufuah he who aflents to it, is at liberty to follow their guidance, or to join himfeif to the multitude ^" ** Upon the whole," he ob- fervcs, ** it appears, that we may underftand the eftablifhed doctrines in any of thofe fenfes which the general words comprehend, or to which the received interpretation of thefe doctrines, or the judgment of able interpreters, have extended them : and that we may allow ourfelves, if it feems neccf- fary, to dtffe-i as much from former interpreters, as they have frequently done from each other"." Nay, he almoft doubts, whether they can now be confcientioufly underftood in their obvious and primitive Cgnification. " Where,", he fays, ** the original fenfe is one, the received THiothcv, the fubfcriber (r) Pa^c 35. (s) p. 37, (t) p, 38, '^(u) p. 4«, 24 THE TRUE CHURCHMEW Ascertained. is at liberty to ufe them in either. That he may under- ftand them in their moft obvious and primitive fignification, •willfcarce be doubted; and yet \i there is any place for doubt » it can only he heve ^.'* All this is adhering to the fenfe of th reformers with: a witnefs ! But the notion of this ** tiew and acquired fenfe" ap- pears to have obtained its higheft plaufibility, and received its greateft fupport> fironi the learned Dr. Hey. This Di- vine asNorrifianProfefTorof Diviility at Cambridge, whofe lectures, in many cafes, it is neceffary to attend as a quali- ficdtion for Orders'^, has illuftrated and defended fuch a method of interpretation with great labour and ingenuity. Andj the refult of his atchievemcnts feems to amount iO fomething like this : That " forms'* may be •' left in tUof-d^, but iakett awaji or altered in meaning" in which cafe, ** it ma^f be either faid, that they grow ohfoletey or that the law which injoins them is tacitly repealed -^ . * . that a tacit repeal is of equal va- lidity with an exprefs one 5" that while thefe forms remain the fame, " it ispoffible to conceive fuch a feries of improve- ments, that all the laws enjoining forms fhould be (thus tacitly) repealed j" that ** in this cafe, there would be z per- feB liberty ;' and that all this would be ^' Jlriclly defenfible and right^-r In other words, *^ that a tacit reformation might be total ; " that as" each part might become obfolete, every part might become fo ; or at lead every dijlinguipfing part :*' that *' in this cafe, a religious fociety would change its do&rines^ and yet retain the exprejjlons by which they were defined :" or, that " at the fame time that one fociety ^lAiKiSt another might adhere to the old fenfe of the forms;*' and that then ** there would be two religious focietieSy diflenting from each other, yet ufing i\iQfame articles of faith *," that there may be " two (w) Ibid. p. 37. (x) See the Biftiop of Durham's Ch. 1792, Ed. 2. p- 61, J and the Blfliop of London's, 1790, p. 34. (>) Nor- lifan Leftures, Vol. a. p. 50 — 53. N. B, The quotations from Dr. Hey are all from thefe Le^iures. <:pNPUCT IN SUBSCRIPTION. 25 different Churches of England, ufmg the fame forms','* that one *^ might be called the prefent church," the other ** the antiquated church','' that "each party maybe fincere ;" that ** in each the minifter may aflent in the fcnfe in which he is utiderjiood to aflent, by thofe whom he accounts the jnoft judicious 2." It is not affirmed that this is the a£lual flate of things here. We are referred to the church of Geneva to fee the " fuppofitions exemplified V Nay, a caution is fuggefted ** that every thing that is faid be not applied, or thought ap- plicable, to the articles of the Church of England in parti- cular^" It is however a little remarkable that Dr. Hey's Juppofed cafe fhould be precifely that which it is our objedl to prove a real one ; that his two churches iliould be formed by *' thofe who have been commonly called Methodijls among us . . . underftanding parts of our articles in a literal fenfe, which others of the clergy afTent to in t^ different fenfe*^." It is worthy of remark alfo, with what apparent approba- tion the learned Profeflbr explains the reafoning of Dr. Powell, which is founded on the admillion of the deviation in queftion. On the doub.t exprefl^ed by the Archdeacon, whether the articles can now be underftood in their ob- vious and primitive fignification. Dr. Hey comments thus: *^ This may mean, common men will fcarce doubt, that a man fpeaks truth, who fpeaks according to the literal fenfe; but thofe, who have confidered the nature of veracity and of tacit reformations, will fee, that a man, by fpeaking ac- cording to the literal fenfe, may fpeak falfehood^." This fyftem of interpretation is illuftratcd from the 74th Canon of our church. Hence, it is concluded, «* it appears, Firfl, that a tacit reformation has fince 1603, taken place in the church of England, v/ith regard to the habits q{ its minifters. Second, That he who engages himfelf to obey the laws with regard to apparel, is underftood to engage himfelf ac- (z) Ibid. p. 72, 73. (a) Ibid. (b) Ibid. p. 48, (c) Ibid. p. 73. (^dj Ibid. p. 74. <26 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED, cording to prefent notions of decency and gravity, that is, in the new and acquired, not in the literal fenfe of fuch engagement : and therefore that the perfon, who does zBi after the nenv and acquired fenfe, fpeaks truth though con- trary to the letter; whereas any one, who fhould make the engagement in the literal fenfe, would fpeak falfhood though according to the letter ^" In commenting on the Preamble to the articles. Dr. Hey obferves, " We may fay in general that the literal fenfe of of any form can be the right fenfe only while it is new," and and *efers us to the place where he has obferved that our <* Articles" were " made 230 years ago," and treated " of the effeds of lige in articles of religion ;'* and adds, ** in whatever degree they (the articles) grow ohfoletey the Injunc- tion muft grow fo, notwithftanding it commands interpre- tation in the literal fenfe ^" From thefe, and fimilar confiderations, viewed in con- neiH-ion with his ov/n comments, it will, perhaps, appear to many, much the fame as if Dr. Hey had faid exprefsly^ that the Articles are not now generally underftood according to their literal and primitive ftgnificationy but in a neiu and acquired fenfe. But however this be, it is undeniably his object to eltabliih a liberty for fuch an interpretation ; and this in fome refpecls, is even more contrary to the propofition of our opponents, that they teach thefe doftrines " as they %vere firft delivered by our Reformers s." While the Rule of duty is preferved entire, many degrees of deviation from it are compatible with hopes of a return, but who will adhere to its original ftridlnefs after the ftandard of conduct is depreffed ? after they have a free lic^ence to depart from it ? — And what is all this but faying, in effed^. We do not even pretend to follow the interpretation of the Reformers ; we do not acknowledge ourfelves at all bound by their fen- timents s we have a new fenfe of our own; the opinions of (e) Ibid. p. 75. (f ) Ibid; p. 68, (g) Seeabove p. 13. and 77. CONDUCT IN SUBSCRIPTION. 27 ^ thofe we account learned and judicious men" of the prefent day, is our ftandard? A third clajs of Subfcribers may be mentioned, who \vholly difapprove of this unlimited latitude of inter, prctation; but who nevenhelefs plead for liberty upon, what they call, the " myfterious and difficult doctrines ;'' talk of retrenchment and alteration, and by other means difcover, that there are fome things in the Articles to which they do not cordially fubfcribe. It is fuperfluous to obfervethat the Divines already noticed are unanimous in thus far expreifing their dilTatisfaaiioii with the Eftablifned Creed. The obfervation fliall however be fupported by a fmgle paffage from Dr. Balguy. ** The Articles, we will fay," this Churchman obferves, " are not exaftly what we might wifti them to be. Some of them are exprefled in doubtful tQxm^ ; others are inaccurate, perhaps unphilGjcphical : others again may chance to mjfiead an ig- i^orant reader into iom^ erroneous opinion V He is per- fuaded, however, that ** there is not any one among them that leads to immorality K" — But to proceed to evidence which includes thofe who are reputedly more orthodox. Dr. Hey, treating on the Athanafian Creed, fays, that *,^ feveral eminent men in our own church, have feemed to wifh it removed ^," A learned Bifhop, the Dr. alfo informs us, who " would now be a leading man in any councils in which he would think proper to engage, feems inclined to retrench Articles about myjlerious or dijicult dcElrines ^" The Profeffor's evidence may not., however, appear, to fome perfons, wholly unfufpicious. We will next therefore adduce that of the learned, and reputedly more orthodox. Dr. Ridley. Speaking of thofe celebrated champions of our Church, and Expofitors of her Articles, 'the Do£lors Nicholls, Bennet, Waterjand, Stebbing, and others,' " It doth not appear,'* Dr. R. fays to his opponent, " either (h) Ch. 6. p. 293. (1) Ibid. (k) Vol. s- P- iH- O Ib'.J, Vol. ir. p. 203. aS THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINEB. that they did not allow the expediency of a Reformation of the Articles, or that they would have oppofed it. I have lalready had occafion to fhow the contrary, with refpedl to Dr. Stebbing. And the Author of the Hiftorical Effay on the Articles hath ihown it of Bennet. And probably every one of thofe you have mentioned, (the above Doctors and feveral others) would have owned, that fome of the Articles now are umucejfaryy and others unhappily expreffed. To nxjhat alterations they would have confented, or their fucceflbrs would confent now, you have no title to afk, till, &c."^" Again, " The conceflion, that a reformation is expedient and defirable," he fays, " we have freely made you ^" But the divine who feems in the higheft repute with the Gentlemen in queftion, is the great Bifhop Warburton. pis " Do6J;rine of Grace" is, at once, a kind of general magazine from whence almoft every puny aflailant of our fyftem borrows his weapons, and a fuppofed bulwark under which he (helters himfelf. To the works of this Prelate we are referred for corre£l:ion and inftru£i:ion in othodoxy, by Mr. LudlamS Mr. Polwhele p, Mr. Clapham % Dr. Croft % and nearly the whole hoft of our Antagonifts. His fenti- ments therefore may properly be confidered as peculiarly deferving of attention. And they are briefly thefe; that it is owing to the multiplicity, the ahjirufenefsy and general fault of our Articles, that there are fo many unhappy divifions jimong us; and that in order to remedy this evil, a great many of thefe Articles should be retrenched, and the rt^ftmplijied and rejcrmed, — ^Thus in a fermon on '' church communion," fpeaking immediately of our pwn affairs, and ** explaining how the unity of the fpirit became violated," — " Some men," he fays, "... inftead of flopping at the few general and fundamental principles of Chriflian faith, clearly delivered, and uniformly believed by all, went on, and (m) 3d Letter to tlie Author of the Confeffional, p. 10?. (i?) Ibid. p. 109. (o) 4Ersay5, p. 62, 8z. (p) 2d Letter to J)r. Hawker, ijtk-.pagc. (q) Sermon at Boroughbridge, p. 10, 25. (r) Thougbte, &-r. p. 13. Njte, CONDUCT IN SUBSCRIPTION. i^g brought into the church, as terms of communion, ahflrufe quefiions relating to points obfcurely delivered; &c. '." " But fince," he proceeds, " through a negledt of thefe rules, . this unity of the Spirit hath been unhappily violated, the next qucftion is of rejioring it. "Which, what is here faid concerning the means of its prefervatlon, fliows us is to be done. By RETRENCHING all ttntiecejfary articles, to which the animoftty of parties y tht fuperjlition of barbarous ages, and evca the negligence of time, have given an imaginary importance^' and by reducing the formula of faith to the primitive fimplicity * Leaving ALL disputable points, together with fuch other as no party deems neceffary, to the yr^^ decifton of every man's private judgment ^" Dr. Croft fays, " That the articles concerning Grace, Faith, and Good Works, lean towards the fide oienthuftafm ^, and thinks our fuperiors might explain the nature oi jujlif- cation by faith ; and diffiiade Chriftians from entering into the nature of predeftination and eledlion ; it being noiv^^ he adds, " clearly proved both by Dr. Tucker and Dr. Paley that thefe terms regard more an admiffion to the privileges of the gofpel, than any determinate notion of the future deftination of Chriftians^.'* But it is wholly unnecefTary thus to multiply particular evidence on the point. It is eftablifhed by the mod con- fpicuous marks of violence and diftortion which certain of thefe poor Articles almoft conftantly exhibit, and by all the labour and ingenuity which have been difplayed to fliow, that it is only to their general meaning, and to any grammatical fenfe of which the words are capable, to which fubfcription is required. To evade, or to extenuate, fome of the vifible do£irines of the articles is the end of the whole bufinefs; and we challenge our opponents to produce a fingle Commentator, ftrictly of their defcription, who. does (s) Sermons at Lincoln's Inn, Vol. II. p. 177. (t) Ibid. p. 178, 1-79, (w) Bampton Lc^.p, ii», (x) Striflurcs «n Palcy and Gilborne, p. -63, 61, c 30 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. not upon feveral of thefe articles, endeavour to eftablifh a meaning hg/ow that of the plain, natural, and obvious fignificatlon of the words. On whatever grounds then thefe various modes of treating the eftablifhed confefTions are built ; fuch a procedure cer- tainly does not refemble the condudl of thofe who adhere to the epcprefs and obvious doBrines of thefe formularies. Will they pretend to believe and teach the dodlrines contained in the articles, who do not confider them as propofttions to be believed^ but articles only not to be publicly contradicted; mere profcripttons of Papifls, Anabaptifts, and Puritans? Can they be fuppofed to preach according to the primitive fignification of thefe articles, who tell us exprefsly that they have a new and acquired /en/e, in which they may be honeftly fubfcribed? Is it credible that they (liould " teach them as they were JirJI delivered ky our Reformers" who lament, that in con- iequence of the errors of thofe times, the articles contain io many things which are ohje^ionable, and which want reforming? Thefe are all methods of viewing and repre- fenting the fubjeft which they find no fort of occafion for, who really adhere to the plain and natural meaning of the articles, as they are illu ft rated by the known fentiments> and other writings of the Reformers. 3. But let us attend a little more particularly to the con- cessions of thefe Gentlemen. " A refutation," the Britifh Critic fays, " drawn from the admiffions of the author him- felf, is a refutation drawn from the moft fatisfaCtory of all fources ^." We will begin then with the admiffions of this Critic himfelf, in favour of our argument. " If," faith he, ** a defeftios) from the church is widely extended, and a furrender of its orthodox principles called for y even by its own fonsy we fpeak from knowledge when we fay. Hoc Ithacus velit, et magno mercentur Atridx ^." To the fame efFe6t, but more difl:in£lly, and at large, he fpeaks in another paflage which we have quoted below *^. (y) Oaober, 1797. p. 38c. (z) Jan. 1796. p. 71, (q) Cb. 9. § i. 4 CONCESSIONS. 31 I)f. Hey ** fufpedls, that many of thofe who arc fo im- patient about the Athanafian QxQQd., fecretly favour a change in the do£lrincs of the church V " It is not," he fays in another place, *' a thing to be neglected, that many arc de- firous, at this time, to make a change in the dotlrine of the National Church : fome of thefe are philofophcrs and fcholars ; fome even Minijiers of the Church ^*' *' The Englifh Divines,'' he alfo obferves, ** have been fuppofcd to favour the tenets of the Semipelagiansy though the Liturgy of our church implies, in fcveral places, that vrc hold the doc- trine of preventing grace* *," and though, it may be added, the articles were intended againft Semipelagians *. Yet the Dr. thinks *^ they feem likely to continue Tundh^ popular.^* — . He clearly admits too, adopting the fentiments, and nearly the words, of Bifliop Warburton, that fince the Reftoration Divines have gotten into the extreme which is ojipofite to the dodtrine of Juilification by faith. Having nlentioned the •' great ftrcfs laid on'* this doctrine previous to that event, .*. *' Men did not," he fays, " fairly get into the oppo^ fite extreme until the beginning of the 18th Century. The ilifF zeal of the fcctaries was firft foftened by thofe eminent men, who were called Latitudinartan Divines. . . . Ere long Faith came to be refined away into nothing : nay, at length, an attempt was made, by a Clergyman, an eminent ortho- dox Divine, to prove the perfed coincidence between ChrU Jiianity and Reafon, by fliowing, that our religion was only a repuhlkation of the, law of nature^."—** At length," Bifliop W. fays, " the great Gospel-pkinciples of Faith ; . . . on which Protestantism was founded ; . . . came to be held by many for Fanatical." — «' Morality was ad- vanced fo high, and Faith fo frittered into nonfenfe, that a new Definition of our religion, (namely, that it was only this republication of the law of nature,) in oppofition to its Founders, and unknown to its early Followers, was (b) Vol. III. p. 116. (c) Ibid. Vol. IT. p. 199. (d) Ibid, Vol. III. p. 203. (e) See Nor. Lea. Vol. II. p. %o^. Nct8 (f) Ibid, Vol. III. p. 265, and ♦* Divine Legation/' B, 3, C 2 21 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. grown to be the fajhlonahlc tenet of the times '/* nisy he fays again, was " a Principle become fajhionably orthodox y." Nor will tliey fufTer us to fuppofe, that thefe flighted dodrines of Proteflantifm, have ever been reinftated in their ancient credit, fwce tlxis period. — According to Bifhop W., efforts toward this end were making, " when the old Puritan Fanaticifm revived, under the new name of Methodjfm. . . . This," he adds, ** foon put a/cp to the re- covery of that middle way, in which Grace and Morality are preferved in their refpedlive rights : an unhappy difpofiticn now appearing in feveral oppofers of this late revived fana- ticifm, to return back to the old latitudinarian exeefles 'x" *' Such improvements," continues Bifhop Shipley, ** have been made by the clergy, in the rational manner of preach- ing, that in fome inflances they have even reformed th^ doctrines of the church itfclf." ..." At prefent,'* hisLordlhip adds, " it appears that our ablest ditines have gradually departed from fomc rigorous interpretations of the articles that prevailed at firft : this is not unknown to thofc who alone have authority to determine what is moft expedient for us j and we doubt not, but in their own good time, they will confent to have the burdens that are complained of removed 5." According, indeed, to tlie notions of this Prelate, Arch- deacon Paley, Dr. Key, &c. refpecling*' the effedls of age in articles of religion," and their fuppofition that a church is, in reality, conftantly changing its creed, this difference be- twt^cn the acliial -s^vA profejscd ientimentsof our Divines mud obtain under the prefent circumftances of our church. A pafsage from the Archdeacon fliall confirm what has already been advanced to this effeiSl-. After mentioning the incon- veniences attending '* eftabliflied creeds and confefTions" before noticed, '* However," he adds, " they may exprcfs the peifaafion, or be accommodated to the controverfies, or to the fears, oi the age in which they are compofed^ in procefs of (z) Docl. of Grr.ce, p. 316 — 319. (y) Ibid, p. 325, (x) Ibid. p. 326. (g) Charge z. p. 43. CONCESSIONS. 33 time, and by reafon of the changes which are wont to take place in the judgment of mankind upon religious fubjeds, they come at length to contradiH the aElual opinions of the church whofe do£lrines they profefs to contain''." That the do£lrines of our church therefore (hould be believed and taught now as they were taught near 240 years ago, is a thing fcarcely poflible ! ! ! The concefTions of Dr. Croft alfo deferve further atten- tion. Having propofed the queftion, " Whether, upon the fuppofition that the reformation had been deferred till our days, the articles would not have been materially different from the prefent ? No advantage," he anfvvers, *• is given by allowing that they certainty would ;^^ and then proceeds to (how how proper and necejfary this would be. Speaking of the do6lrines of the articles, and the opinions which obtained when they were firft impofcd, " Oppofite errors in our time," he fays, " require a different kind of religious inftrudtion*." Now what is this but the very reverfe of the doctrine of his pamphlet ? That, in fuch a cafe, fome verbal and trivial difference would obtain, may readily be admitted without affe6ling the queftion. But with whatever propriety it would be done, for that is not here our fubjedl, they who would now make the articles materially dif» FERENT, and who maintain that a different kind of religious injlruclion is noiv propery mud believe and teach fomething materially different from thefe articles, which is furely the very contrary to adhering to them and teaching them as they werejirjl delivered by our reformers » But that, in Dr. C's judgment, this difference would not confift in any tiling trivial or unimportant, but in the fundamental and moft diftinguifhing do61:rines of the gofpel, in the articles which refpeCl grace, faith, and good-works, he has fully informed us. That thefe articles " lean to- wards the fide of cuthufiafm," he feems not to doubt but every body muft admit; and it " is neither" he fays^ *' to (h) Moral and Polit, p. 568. 4to. (i) Bampt. Lect. p. no. c 3 34 "^HE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. be condemned not wondered at ^" We may be pardoned for repeating the paflagc becaufe the doftor has honoured it with a place in two feparate publications ^ which Ihows that it is exprefhve of his deliberate judgment, and of a fen- timent he is zealous to propagate. But furely this is leaning towards the reprefentation Mr. Hume has made of our ellablifhed creed ^. It is howeve^^ another proof that Dr. C. and thofe of his opinion, have not ftri6tly adhered to the do£lrines of this creed. It can- not be fuppofed that, with the whole aggregate of learning and rationality, which it feems they exclufively poflefs, they ihould believe and teach that which only leans towards this degrading error. Nay, the paflage not only proves that Dr. Croft and his aflbciates do not adhere to the doctrines of the articles, contrary to what his pamphlet maintains ; but alfo, zs far as his authority reaches, that thofe whom he calls Methodifts do adhere to them, which he denies. For, accord- ing to his ftatemcnt, the matter ftands thus : The do£lrincs of the Methodifts are mixed with enthufmfm : the articles of our Church lean towards enthuftafm : then, according to the moft confummate logician, things that are like the fame things are like one another : Ergo, the doBrines of the Methodijis, and the articles of our Church are alike; and Dr. Croft's differ from both ! At leaft, this leans towards a proof of the point. But Dr. Croft ftiall further ratify it. The author of Pietas Oxonienfis, (aprofcfled Calvinift and Methodift, and abettor of Gofpel minifters) Dr. C. fays, *' well knew that the articles leaned to his fide of the queftion ; in this he, and all the fraternity triumphed '^.'* But who would expert any thing in fupport of our pofition from our very warm opponents, the Antijacobin Reviewers ? Yet even they have heard of " the ratiocination of the cold Theologian.'* And mark their words. " We cannot," they (k)Ibid. (1) Ibid, and Stria, on Paley, &c, p. 58. (2} See below, Ch, 8. § z. (m) Stiidures on Paley, &c. p. 63, CONCESSIONS. 35 fay, *^ but lament, that learning too often operates on the minds of our grave Dignitaries, with an influence fatal to common fenfe and nature. We have had occafion to perufe more than one Infirmary fermon, for inftance, from the Clarendon prefs at Oxford^ a dry, unanimated, philofophical le6lure; more in thf manner of Aristotle than of CHRIST *^." — Another pafTage, not a little to our purpofe, they have produced us, from their defervedly admired au- thor, Mr. Jones j and from a vi^ork upon which they bellow the| very higheft encomiums. *' We have allowed," fays * this excellent advocate for found principles in religion and politics,* as they characterize him, " fo much to human philofophy, that it is too commonly known againfl our preachers, and fa£lioufly objected to them, that they neglect the GOSPEL, and take what they call gsod natural religion into the pulpit. — This is justly thought to be a great and cry- ing ABUSE *, in confequeuce of which Gofpel-preachers arife and abound, who have no authority to teach the people °."—. And " the root of this, he adds, is, that ** our preachers gre formed and educated '* after fuch " dirc<5lions as Bifhop Warburton's p.'* Surely then, all thefe Gentlemen forget themfelves, when they fo indignantly " reprobate "and ** fpurn *" the mention of this circumftance by others. If there is not a foundation for the charge, why are they thus guilty oi Jlandering their brethren ? Why, in all thefe ways, do they contribute towards the fupport and propagation of fuch an idea ? If there is a foundation for it, and if this conduct is, as they here fay, •'justly thought to be a great and crying abuse, why ^o they on other occafions fo vehemently deny it ? And why may not others who view the matter in this light (n) Nov. 1799. P* 3°^» (°) ^1^^'^* N^'*''' 179^- P- 5^^' (p)Ibi>i. (q) See Croft's Stri6>ures on Paley, &c. p. 14.5 ; Clapham's Scr. at 3^010 ughbridge, p. 2S j Daubeny's Appendix, p. 622 j &c. C4 36 ^ TilE TRtTE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINEtJ. openly lament it as well as themfelves ? What conftitutes that condu£l weaknefs, and enthufiafm, and reviling in/ome minifters in the church, which is not fuch in others ? And if, in reality, they do not perceive a nearer refcmbiance between our doiSlrines and thofe of the churchy why do they thus charafterize them by the fame epithet ? And why do they/zj; ** that the articles lean to our fide of the qucftion ? Nor can our conclufion be evaded by faying, that their obfervations are confined within much narrower limits. Some of our writers, doubtlefs, may have exprefsed them- felves in too general terms. It was natural for men under their circumftanccs, and experiencing their treatment, to do fo. The perfons, however, cenfured in the pafsages juft quoted, are " The Clergy,"—** Our ableft Divines,"— Our Preachers,'* — the Englifh Divines V* &c. cxprcfsions which extend the condudl in queftion far beyond what this Work undertakes. 4. But, as the oppofers of our do£lrines would be thought to have great refpedl: for- the judgment of our BiJhopSy and "wifh to charge us with a dereliction of our duty towards thefe dignitaries of the church *, Let us hear the OPINION of fomeof our moft a£livc and eminent prelates on the fubje£l we are difcufsing. Few men, it may be prcfumed, have worn the Mitre with iDore luftre than Archbifhop Seeker. And there is, perhaps, 110 writer whofe works are more generally recommended to the perufal of the clergy, by the prefent Bilhops, and other Dignitarifes of our church ^ His opinion therefore cannotbuthighlydeferve our attention. Onepafsagedecifively cxprcflivc of this opinion has already been produced °. We will here add another- Treating then diredlly on our f«b- jed, he addrefses the clergy thus: — " To improve the people eiFe6lually, . . you mufl beaffiduous in teaching the principles (r) Above p. 30, 31^ 34. (s) See Antijac. Rev. April 1799. j>. 364. (t) See the charge of the Eifliop of London, 1 791 } Hit of Books rccpmmendsd by the Bilhop of Clkefter 5 &c, . (c) Title p^fxe, COMPLAINTS OF OUR BISHOPS. ^7 Hot dnly of virtue and natural reHgion,but of THE gospel * and of the gofpel, not as almost kxplained away by modern refiners, but 'as the truth is in Jcfus-,* as it is taught by the church of which you are members ; as you have engaged by your fubfcrlptions and declarations, that you will teach it yourfelves. — You mull preach to them faith in the ever-blcfsed Trinity *, . . . you mud fet forth the original corruption of our nature ; our redemption accord- ing to God's eternal purpofe in Chrift, by the facrificc of the crofs ; our fandlification by the influences of the Divine Spirit J the infufhciency of good works, and the efficacy of faith to falvation. . . . The truth, I fear, is, that many if not most of us have dwelt too little on thefe do6lrines in our fermons, . . . partly from not having ftudied Theology deeply enough to treat of them ably and beneficially : God grant it may never h»ve been for want of inwardly experiencing their im- portance But whatever be the caufe, the cffeEi has been lamentable. — 'Our people have grown lefs and lefs mindful, firft of the difUngmlJjing ardcles of their creed, then, as will always be the cafe, of that one which they hold in. common with the heathens ; . . . flattering themfelves, that what they are plcafed to call a moral and harmlefs life, though far from being either, is the one thing needful. . . . Refledions have been made upon us . . . on account Of thefe things, by Deifts, Papifts, Brethren of our own ', &c." The pious Bifnop of London has thought it necef- fary to give a perfe6lly fimilar exhortation to his clergy j which is, in cffedt, acknowledging a fimilar occafion for it. Amidfc many other excellent admonitions, " More particularly," his Lordfiiip fays, " it will not be fuf- ficient to amufe your hearers with ingenious moral efsays on the dignity of human nature, the beauty of virtue, and Uie deformity and inconvenience of vice. This will be a (v) Ch, I. p, 79, Watfon's Traas, Vol, 6, '58 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. feeble and incffe£tual effort; will be as founding brafs and a finklin^ cymbal. If you wifh for any effcclual fuc- cefs, you muft take a very different courfe. You muft lay before your people, with plainnefs and with force, the great fundamental doElrines of the gofpel." And, having enumer- ated thofe which we confider fuch, *' Thcfe," his Lordfhip proceeds, *' are the great evangelical do^lrines which muft be preflcd repeatedly with devout and folemn earncftnefs, on the minds of your hearers, which can alone fpeak to their confciences, their affedions, and their hearts^." Thus does this venerable Prelate condemn a contrary condu£^ and recommend the precifc mode of preaching adopted by us. The learned Bifliop of Lincoln quafhes, at a ftroke, all the cafuiftry, we have feen employed to evade the plain mean- ing of the articles; and tojuftify fuhfcription without actual be- lief, " The Articles," he fays, " are to be fubfcribed in their 3PLAIN AND OBVIOUS SENSE, and affent is to be given to them ftmply and unequivocally »^* Nor can the contrary procedure be condemned more ftrongly. "If," his Lordfhip pro- ceeds, " the candidate for holy orders thinks that he {tQs reafon to dijfent from any of the doBrines aflertcd in them, no hope of emolument or honour , no dread of inconvenience or difappointment fliould induce him to exprefs his folemn ajfent to propofitimsy which infaB he does not believe, ... And let it be ever remembered, that in a bufinefs of this ferious and important nature, no species whatever of evasion, SUBTERFUGE, OR RESERVE IS TO BE ALLOWED, OR CAN BE PRACTICED, WITHOUT IMMINENT DANGER OF INCURRING THE WRATH OF GOD*." That great Divine, Bifhop Horlley, has occupied nearly a (w) Ch. x79f, p. 2a, 23, (x) Elements of Theology, Vol. ii. p. 567. How does the Brltlfti Critic reconcile his unqualified praife of all this, with his " avowed fa- tisfadlion in," and high commendation of Dr, Foley's notions ? ee kis Rev. for Peccmber, 1795, and above, p, 18, Complaints of ouk EisHofs. 39 whole Charge in fpecifying, lamenting, reprobating, ac- counting for, and attempting to reform, the conduct in queftion. The reafon, in this Prelate's opinion, why the labours of the clergy are not more efficacious in (topping the progrefs of infidelity and fe£tarifm, he fays, is, ** that erroneous maxims are gone abroad, which, for feveral years paft, if my obfervation deceive me not, have very much governed the condu£l of the parochial clergy in the m'uitftra- tion of the luord^ " ^Thefe maxims, he [tells us, are, ** That it is more the office of a Chriftian teacher, to prefs the pra^ice of religion upon the confciences of his hearers, than to inculcate and aflert its doBrines'* And, " That praBical religion and morality are one and the fame thing : That rnaral duties conftitute the ivhole, or by far the better part, of praaical Chrijlianity ^" «' Both thefe maxims," his Lordfhip proceeds, ** are erroneous. Both, as far as they are received, have a pernicious influence on the mi- niftry of the vi^ord. The fiifl, mofl abfurdly feparates pradice from the motives of pra£lice. The fecond, adopt- ing that feparation, reduces pra£lical Chriilianity to heathen virtue; and the two, taken together, have much contributed to DIVEST OUR SERMONS OF THE GENUINE SPIRIT AND SAVOUR OF CHRISTIANITY, AND TO REDUCE THEM TO MERE MORAL ESSAYS.' ^Thc fyflcm chiefly in requeift, with thofe who feem the mod in earneft in this (train of preach- ing, is the flri6t, but impracticable, unfocial, fallen moral of the Stoics. Thus, under the influence of thefe two pernicious maxims, it too often happens, that ive loje ftght of that which is our proper effice^ to publiOi the word of recon- ciliation, to propound the terms of peace and pardon to the penitent J and we make no other ufeof the high commiffion that we bear, than to come abroad one day in the feven, drelTed in folemn looks, and in the external garb of holi- ncfs, to be the apes of epjctetus^" This may ferve as a fpecimen •, but, as we have faid, nearly the ivhole Charge (y) Ch. 1790. p.3. (2) Ibid. p. 4, 5. (a) Ibid. p. 5, 6. 4© THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED, is to the fame effe£l. And this opinion of the Bifliop of Rochefter is fully approved and confirmed. By the late excellent Biftiop Home. Speaking of thofc who make too much of what they call natural religion, and of the increafe of infidelity occafioned by this condu£t, ** And," he fays, ** as the unedifying morality of our pulpits is a growth from the fame root, we need not wonder at the zeal and earneftnefs, with which it hath very lately been treated, by a learned and able Prelate of this church, whofe words are the nvords oj wifdomy and his example nvorthyofimitation,^^^ This prelate, a note informs us, is Bifhop Horfley r Again: " Of late times," fays this ornament of our church* ** there hath been a prejudice in favour of good moral preach- ing; as if the people might do very well, or even better, without the knowledge of the Chriftian myfteries •, a good moral life being the end of all teaching. The enemies of Chriftianity, taking advantage of this prejudice, have made a total feparation between the works of religion, and its dodlrines y pleading the example and authority of fome of our divines. And it mujl not be concealed^ that, by delivering cold inanimate leElures on moral virtue^ independent of Chrijii- anity, many of our clergy of late years have loft them- felves very much in the eftimation of the 'religious part of the laity. ^" We will only add, for we might proceed at pleafure, The opinion of the very eloquent and eminent Bifhop of Durham, on the fubjed. Having noticed that the obliga- tions which are upon minifters to preach the eftablifhed do£lrines, he fays, "The doctrines which you arc thus bound by your duty to Gody to the laws of your count ryy and the engagements of your profejfwny to inculcate and maintain, have been of late years too much neglected : as if dotlrines of faith were fubordinate parts of Chriftianity. (c) Ch. 1792, p, 19, (d) Ibid, p, 14. COMPLAINTS OF OUR BISHOPS. 4I Yet, all that diftinguiflies Chriftianity from other religions, is do£lrInal." His Lordfhip then proceeds, after the manner of the Prelates already noticed, to inveftigate the caufes of this ne- gle£t. ** As doctrines of faith," he obferves, " are fo im- portant a part of a Chriftian minifter*s duty, it concerns him to guard himfelf againft the caufes which have operated to their NEGLECT. One caufe has been, the fuppofed unfitnefs of fuch fubjedis for general inftru£lion, efpecially of the poor and uneducated*"." ...*' But," after fome other pertinent obfervations, " whatever,'* he adds, ** our doubts of their ca- pacity may be, the injunftion is clear and pofitive, that to them the gofpel fliould be preached. But what is this gofpel ? . . . Not mere precepts of morality. . . . The good- tidings are the hopes and confolations which are offered by the^ new covenant, and reft on the fatisfa^lion made for us, not by ourfelvesy but by our Redeemer, To preach the gofpel, therefore, is to preach the doctrines of fatisfadtion by the death of Chrift ; that is, th^ do£lrines of atonement and re- demption : and to preach them to the poor, is to preach them to the congregations from which they have often been Jiudi' oufy excluded^,'' "Another caufe," it is added, '^ of the negle^ ofthefe doBrines has been the improper ufe made of them by enthufiafts. . . . The rationalift adopted an oppo- fite do6lrine to the enthufiaft; and moral works were held out as alone neceffary tofalvation. The conclufion was founded on a common fallacy, that where one extreme Is wrong, the oppofite muft be right. Yet this is, in truth, an error, at leaft as unfcriptural, and of as great magnitude a^ the other ''.'' Such was this learned Prelate's judgment in 1792, and five years of further diligent attention to the fubject, fecms fully to have confirmed him in the opinion. In his admired (f ) Ibid. p. iS. (g) Ibid. p. ly. (h) Ibid. p. «o, J{% THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ^ASCERTAINED. charge delivered in 1797, having mentioned it as his fcnti- ment, and " affigned his reafons for thinking, that the growth of fcepticifm and infidelity in the Chriftian world, is chiefly to be afcribed to an almoft univerfal lukewarmnefs and indifference in Chriftians, refpef^ing the ejffenfials of their religion, the peculiar grounds of their faith y of their hopes, and their fears ;"" and, having obferved how exceedingly it con- cerns the clergy to inform themfelves, " whence arifes this unchriftian lukewarmnefs," he adds, ** Upon the moft dili- gent view of the fubjedl, I am perfuaded, that lukewarm- nefs in religion is, in a great meafure, to be afcribed to the following caufes:'* and then fpecifying four, one of them is, An infrequency in the pulpit of thofe fubjcdls which conftitute the peculiar doctrines of CHRISTIANITY'." ^-On this caufe, therefore, his Lord- ship continues particularly to expatiate, and urges upon his clergy the removal of it, with the utmoft force of pious eloquence and zeal. And is there after all no ground for this complaint ? Do not thefe diflingulfhed Heads and Champions of the church, after " the moft diligent view," under/land the fubjeft ? Or are they guilty of " grofs mifreprefentation ?" Is this *' the raving of enthufiafm ?*' Or will the Britifh Critic and Mr. Daubeny call this ** the reviling of feftaries ^ ?" Men may indeedy?7jy what they pleafe, and when they pleafe contradin at one time what they afUnn at another. Thus however does it appear. That one clafs of thefe Divines in vindicating fuch a con- duct,' — another in confefftng it, and our Bifhops in lamenting it, confpire to ejlablip thefa6l, in oppofition to our Aflailants, that many of them have not adhered to the obvious doctrines of the articles ; or in other words, do not preach fo evan- gelically as thefe forms: And thus, on the other hand. (■) Page 21. (k) Brit, Crit, September, 1797, p. 3015 Gulds to the Church; p. 324. j 378. COMPLAINTS OF OUR BISHOPS, 43 do toe profefs to adhere to their plain meaning ; thus is it confejfed that the articles lean to our fide of the queftion ; and thus do thefe eminent Prelates recommend, with all their energy, the very ftyle of preaching by which we are charaSierized^ for which we are colummated, and ivhich onh we would here vindicate. The importance of our fubjeft, however, it is prefumed, may juftify its more full difcuffion. Let the reader then only exercife a little patience, and he iball be fully fatisfied on the queftion. CHx\P. II. The REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, AND DOCTRINES OF OUR REFORMERS iiweftlgated , and appealed to, on the quejiion. SECTION I. '"^it tnieinicYpr elation fought froin, our different forms '^ they illuftrate and explain each other ; the title, mid pre^ amble y annexed to the articles ; the circumjiances and object 0j our reformers ; their other public arid approved writings ; ^00td- the authorities thei/ refpected, "W ivlUCH, it has appeared, is done to (how, that the arti* cles are not to be interpreted according to their literal and obvious meaning ; but that lefs. is often intended in them than feems to be eicprefjed. The moft orthodox of our opponents ^ contend for this extenuating'conflruftionofy^w^ of the arti- cles. Is there then really any ground for it? " The mean- ing of the Articles," the Antijacobin Reviewers have al- lowed, " is undoubtedly to be fought from the framers of them*.'* Is there then, in reality, any evidence ^ or any pre^ fumptiouy that the framers of cur Articles did not mean to be underjlood according to the natural y obviouSy and full fignif cation of their ivords ? Men's ^iVords are the ufual channel through which they difcover what they wifh to be known of their inte?itions. And no men, it is prefumed, have afforded greater proof of their abhorrence of every fpecies of duplicity and pre- varication, than the original framers^ of our articles did : no occafion could be more adapted to call forth their in- tegrity into its full exercife: no fet of men ever ufed greater deliberation, or difcovered great fcrioufnefs in any . undertaking*^. (a) January iSoo. p. 19. (b) The Martyrs Cranmer, Rid. Icy, &c. (c) See Burnet's Hift. of Reformat. Vol, ii, p. 93, 155, 405, Strype'a Life of Cranmer, p. 273. THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. 45 Befides, we have here their public profcflions and declara- tions on thefe fubjedls, upon different oscafions, under different circumflances, and in a variety of forms. The articles, homilies, and liturgy of our church, are three- dif- tin6t fpecies of writings. They were compofed at different times, and, in fome refpedls, for different purpofes. And yet, in point of do£lrine, they uniformly breathe the fame fpirit, and exprefs themfclves with the fame degree of foroe. No one of them contra£ls the ideas, or by any means lefsens the import of the reft ; but, when compared with honefly, and underftood according to the common rules of inter- preting written compofitions, each mutually illuftrates and confirms the full, and natural fenfe, of the others. In this light they were uniformly confidered by the great charadters who reviewed, and examined them, at their firft eflablifli- menf*; and whatever may have been urged to the contrary from a few detached pa/sages ^ he muft be a very fuperficial Theologian, who confiders them thoroughly y aad does not perceive the fame exaB harmony in them now. To the great difturbance of fuch Divines as Archdeacon Paley, the doc- trines of the articles are " woven with much induftry into her forms of public worfhip*." ^This circumftance therefore muft materially afhft us in difcovering the original fenfe and intention of the ivhole^ and leaves little room to doubt but it was that which is moft obvioufly fuggefted by the words, when underftood according to the common ufe of language applied to fuch fub}e(Sls. If however a doubt could remain of the De/ign of fuch words, fo repeated, and under fuch circumftanccs, even that would be removed by the Title which the Articles bear. ** To form an additional barrieir," as the Antijacobin Re- Yicwers well expreCs themfelves, " to fix exprefsly what was fufficiently fixed already by its own quality, to (hut the door for ever againft fuch fophiftry," as that of Dr. Paley (d) Sec Strype's Eccles. Memorials p. 3a, 84, 85, aioj Ad af U,;iformirv5 k . (t) Above, p. 17- D 46 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. and his approvers, " the very articles themfelves are averred by the very convocation which framed them, to be framed < for AVOIDING DIVERSITIES OF OPINIONS, and the eftabhfhing of confent touching true religion ^.* " Now furely the authors of thefe forms of do6lrine mufl have bell known their own meaning and intention in them. And while they have fo unequivocally declaredthat t his wzs their obje£l:, it mull be an extraordinary mode of reafoning that can mw prove the contrary. But how could this end be obtained, or even hoped for, if they did not as clearly as poflible difcover their Intetition by their Words ? In what other manner was it to be collecSlcd ? How otherwife was this uniformity of dodrine to be eftablilhed, and propagated through the nation ? It does not indeed, by any means, ap- pear from hence, as fome have perverfely argued f, that their ideas of confent extended to every fubjeBy and every cpiniouy that can poflibly enter the Theologian's mind. They had, no doubt, immediately in view the great fubje£ls then in controverfy, and upon which thty prafejfedly treated in thefe Articles, and on each fubje£l the extent to which they have exprefsly decided. But fo much they mufl have intended by the phrafe : This their avowed objedl rendered ncceflary \ and this is that for which we contend. But our argument receives a ftill further confirmation from the Royal Declaration which Is prefixed to the ar- ticles. This, which, like preambles in general, was made for the exprefs purpofe of teaching us the right method of interpretation, has determined the matter in the fulleft man- ner in which words can poflibly determine any thing. It fpcaks of the littral meaning of the faid articles, as " the true and ufual" meaning. It prohibits us hom*^ varying or de^ parting from them in the least degree^* or from " affixing any New sense to any article.' And what is not a (f) Jan. 1800. p, 19. (^3) The Coiifefllonal, Friend in his Let- ters to Bifhop Pretyman, and others who wiOi tg diiparage fubferiptiou to JiUinan forms. THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. 4^ little remarkable, in regard to that article, with which Di- vines miu take the greatefl liberties, and which they moji la^ bom- to evade y extenuate » and annihilate, this preamble is the moJl exprefs in prohihitng fuch a procedure. The injundtion in refpe6l to this is, ** That no man fhall either print or preach to draw the article ^ aftde any way, but fhall fubmit to it in the plain and FULL meaning thereof j and fhall not put his OWN SENSE or comment to be the meaning of the article^ but fliall take it in the literal and grammatical SENSE V* If therefore common language is any longer to be made the vehicle of common fenfe, whatever is the plaifiy literal^ grammatical^ and full fenfe of the ivords of the articles, that is the fenfe in which they are to be under- flood. This declaration, it is true, was not provided either at the time when thefe articles were firfl compiled, or impofed, and is therefore only evidence of their intention then^ as it teaches that this literal and grammatical fenfe, was ** always'* the " true and ufual" fenfe of them. But, admitting its va- lidity, which is generally done by our Divines', this circum- flance of its pofteriority, renders it of more importance as a directory to us. It fhows, what well deferves our attention, that it was not, as fome would infiauate, only on th^firjl moment of her emerging from Popery, that our church adopted this mode of interpretation ; but that more than half a century afterwards ^ (he adhered to it j or to fpeak more corre£\ly, did not defcend below it. And as to any interpretation Icfs favourable to our fcheme, being inferred from the fuppofed Deftgn of thisln- flrument ; whoever impartially confiders the real occafion and circumftances of it will, furely, find, that they af- (7) The t7th, no doubr, is meant. (h) See the preamble to Arts. (i) Bifliop Burnet'* Expo, of Art?. Intro, p. 8} Bi, Bennet's Eifay on 39 Arts. p. 4.23 j Dr Ridley's and Lclier. p. 143, &c. and Poftfcript j &c, (k) See ibid, D 2 48 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED-. ford much ftronger reafons for the very oppofite concltr- fioii. If we will fufFer it to explain its own defign, it ac- cords precifely with its expreflions. It ties Divines to this {lri£l adherence to the Articles, from a convidlion, that, thus explained, they "contain the true do6lrine of the Church of England, agreeable to God's word v" and in or- der, to terminate the "unhappy differences^'* confcquent upon a departure from this rule of interpretation- But what is the hiftory of this Injun£lion ? Bifhop Laud^ in favour at Court, and a few of his AfTociatcs, had adopted, what are fometimes called, milder notions, on the points peculiar to Calvinifm^ than thofe which, according to the united teftimony of all parties"*, generally prevailed in the nation, at that period. On this account, Bifhop Burnet informs us, they were accufed of " departing, from the true fenfe of the Articles. But it was anfwered by them, that finct they took the Articles in their literal and grammatical fenfe, they did not prevaricate. And to fupport this," adds his Lordfhip, " that declaration was fet forth ".'* In this view therefore, and as it is expreffive of the doftrines then taught in the church, it proves our point a fortiori ; inaf- much as, of the two parties into which the church was di- vided, that which was the mod moderate profeffed to reach this ftandard, while the other, which confided of a great majority, was fuppofed to exceed it. And that an Inflru- ment thus circuraftanced, fo poGtively and exprefsly incul- cating the direft contrary, fhould have ever been conftrued into a general licence to deviate from the plain and full meaning of thefe articles, is, furely, an almofl: unexampled inftauce of the perverfion of common fenfe, and common language, and of the triumph of cafuiftry over con- fcienc3. 2 All this then appears upon the very face of thePrayer- bjok ; and only additional fupport of our Doftrine will be (!) See the Preamble. (3 5© THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. made toward the ancient fyftem. The nature of their fituation would indeed make fuch a procedure appear even neceflary, in order to the fmallell profpe^t of fuccefs. And fuch we are aiTured it was in fadl. " It was the principle of Cranmer/' Bifhop Pretyman obferves, ** to proceed with moderation, not to reje£l too much of what people had been accuftomed to, to procure a gradual change in their opinions ** ;'* and, " Elizabeth's apparent attachment to ufages that had obtained under the ancient eftablifhment/' his Lordfhip adds, caufed " feverai alterations to be made with a view to conciliate the Roman Catholics ^" — Bifhop Burnet had before taught, that the avowed Rule by which the Agents in this bufmefs proceeded was, to make no in- novaiion nv'ithout the moji fuhjiantial reafonfor it; but, in imi- tation of Chrift and his Apoftles at the firft eftablifliment of Chriftianity, to accommodate their fyftem to the prevailing opinions and prejudices » as far as was compatible with what they deemed eflential to be received *. And, that in many refpe6ts they unqueftionably adhered to this rule, we have an irrefragable proof in the clamours of their contemporaries the Puritans, and of Difl'enters ever fince, for a furcher re- formation ^ Thefe clamours, at the firft, indeed, related rather to other matters than to doBrmcs -, but it would be unaccountably ftrange to fuppofe that they a6led upon di- rectly oppofite principles with refpe61; to dodlrine, from thofe by which they were governed in external matters. Admitting, however, for the fake of argument, that if to have fecured the Church againft the errors of Rome had been the ctily obje6l of our Reformers in the Articles, it were poffible, they would have aCled as the objection fup- (q) Elements, &c. Vol. il. p. 22. (r) Ibid. p. 25. (?) Hill, of Rtfor. Vol. ii. p. 73. See alfo Hume's Hift. v. 5. p. 149. (!) SeeNears H.ft. of the Puritans, Vol. i. p. 180, 2^5, and paHim ; Mr. Wellbeloved's Strmon, entitled, " The principles of Roman Catholics and Unitarians compared j" &c. THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. $1 pofcs, and have verged in their language toward the oppo^ fite extreme. Was this realiy the cafe ? — If we may credit the Bifliops, Burnet % Conybeare^^, and Pretyman* ; the Dodors, Heylin% Ridley ^ Tucker % Heyb, and Croft '^j the Hiftorian Mr. Hume^ ; or in fliort, the coileclive evi- dence of nearly all modern writers, on the fubjeft, it was equally the objedl; of the framers of our national Creed to guard againft the extravagancies of thofe who proceeded to THIS EXTREME, and to free themfelves from the calumnies thefe extravagancies had occafioned. " It was the endeavour of Elizabeth," fays Hume, ** to guide her people by God's rule, in the just mean between the corruptions of Rome and the errors of modern Sectaries*." And to the fame purport fpeak the reft, with refpecSl to the founders of our Eftabliftimcnt in general. His Lordfliip of Sarum men- tions the prevalence of this latter evil, as one of two ESPECIAL circumftances, which rendered an eftablifhed form of doctrine neceflary *^. To provide againft it was therefore a full half oi the, intention of our articles. Heylin would almoft infinuate, that, when thefe articles were finally revifed and impofed, under Elizabeth, to guard againft this extreme was their principal objects. And, that this fuppofed error really confifted in laying too great ftrefs upon the doctrines of divine grace, as oppofed to the powers and merit of man, thef^ writers would leave us no room to doubt. Befides their exprefs aflertions, and gene- ral reafonings, the very epithets applied to thofe accufed of (v) Hift, ofRefor. Vol. II. p. aj, and 113. and Expo, of Arts. p. 4. (w) Ser. ©n Sub. in the Oxford Enchieridion, &c. p. 24.*. (x) Elements &c. Vol. ii. p. 36. (y) Qn^inq. Hift. p. 589, 597, of his Tra6ls. (z) 2 Lett, to Conf. p. X4., 29, 141, 168. (a) Letters to Dr. Kippls. (b) Nor. Left. Vol. Hi. p. 330, (c) Bamp. Left. p. 109 — 112. (d) Hift. of England, Vol, v. Ch. 40. p. 149. (e) Ibid. (f) Expo, of Arts. p. 4. (g) Qu-nq. Hift. p. 589, 597. D4 ^2 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. it, eftablifli the point. They are denominated, among other diftin£^ions, " mad enthufiafts ;" ** corrupt gof* pellers-," " men who thought that if they magnified Chrift, and depended upon his merits, they might difregard mora- lity ;'* " thofe who thought themfelves more evangelical than others ;" and who *' bufily flickled in the maintenance of Calvin's doarine ^" The " 12th Article," the BIfhop of Lincoln fays, ** was added in 1562, in oppofitlon to the opinions of certain feels called Antincmlans, Solifidlans, aiid Gofpellers, who denied the necefiity of good works'." ** Our Church," Dr. Hey proceeds, " did not . . . properly intend to lay down any do£lrine of predeftination *, but only to declare againji ahufes aBually prevailing ^ /* or as Mr. Daubeny explains the matter, only to " give, a feries of texts relative to a certain myflerious fubje6l, chiej^y for the purpofe of guarding againji the ahufe of them^ '* In this cafe, therefore, the authors of our forms of do^lrlne would ne- ccflarlly ufe the very utmoft caution in the expreiTion of their fentiments. They would, as far as the language of their times, and the fubjeds in hand rendered it pofiible, exprefs juft what they intended to be received, and no more. They could not exprefs themfelves tco ftrongly again ft the old errors, but they encouraged the n^^w ones. They were placed between Scylla and Charybdis, andcculd not fteer at too great a diftance from the one, without equal danger of fplltting upon the other. And thus haye thefe Geptl^mcn, by their own ftatement, fet their bending obje£lIon ilraight, and proved, notwithftanding its general prevalence, and ap- parent plaufibillty, that it has no foundation whatever. There are perfons however, who, notwithftanding all this, believe it a facSt, that as far as doBrine was concerned, ihefe very extravagancies, not Icfs than the corruptions of (h) Ibid. ; Hlftory of Refor. Vol. ii. p. 27 ; 2cc, (i) Elements, Vol. ii. p. 265. (j) Nor. Le6t. Vol. iii. p. 502. ' (0 Appendix, S:c. p. 219. ^mlSm" THE TRUE SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. 53 Rome, confifted in a depreciation of the doflrines of grace. So far, it is, on the other hand, maintained, were the Sec- taries which then prevailed in England from proceeding to the extreme which abufes thofe dodlrines, that a leading feature by which, in common, they were diftinguiihed was, their rejection of fuch tenets *, their rejeiStion, or extenuation, of the *' do6^rines of Original fin, and Predeftination, and Elec- tion, and adherence to thofe of Free will and human Merit." Nor is this opinion unfupported by unexceptionable evi- dence. No teilimony of an individual on fuch points, per- haps, dcferves greater attention than that of Mr. Strype. No man feems to have inveftigated thefe matters with more diligence, and few have obtained greater credit for integrity. There is a " Tefl.imonial prefixed to the fecond vol. of his Annals,'* which is referred to by Bifliop Watfon ^^ " of his ability for writing an ecclefiaftical hiilory of-the church of England at, and after, the firfl Reformation, arrd a re- commendation of his work figned by above twenty Bifhops." And yet, if we may credit Mr. Strype, they were not abufers of Calvinifm, but perfons of the very oppofite principles, ** who firfl made a feparation from the Reformed Church of England in 1550;" who excited the anxiety and exer- (pifed the Pens of the principal Reformers in Queen Mary's time; and in fliort, who conftituted the principal Seds that obtained, and were noticed, in 1552, 1562, and «57i, the periods when the articles were efpecially under confi- deration ; when they were framed, revifed, and finally eftablKhed ^ The principles, Mr. S, mentions, among thofe which efpecially diitinguiihed thefe Seels, are, that they ** held the opinions of the Anabaptifls and Pelagians, and violently oppofed the dodlrine of Predeftination ;" that they <* held freewiUy man's righteoufnefs, and juftification by works J dodrines which the Proteftants in the times of (k) Tra6ls Index. (1) See Eccles. Mem. and Annals under tjjefe years. . 54 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. King^ Edward, for the mod part, difowned ;" that they " denied the Divinity of Chrift and of the Holy Ghoft, the do£lrine of Original fin, Predeftination and free Eledion, Sec. which the Proteftants here generally held*"." The fame thing is indeed obvious from another confidera- tion. The Se6laries againft whom the Articles are faid to have been principally intended are, the Anabaptifts, and the Puritans". Now that the errors of the Anabaptifts were on the Pelagian fide of the queftion, there can be no doubt*. And, when the Articles were firft framed, and, in fubftance> made what they now are, the Puritans did not exiftP. Nay> there is very ftrong evidence, that at the time when thefc dodlrinal ftandards afTumed their precife prefent form, no difference had commenced between the Epifcopal Church- men, and thofc afterwards called Puritans, in matters of doBrine ; but, that the leaders of our Reformed Church were unanimous in decrying the above Anticalviniftic fentiments as heretical ^, Now in proportion as this account of the matter is received, the former one muft be rcje£led, and of courfe all reafonings upon it. But then, our fyftem will be equally fupported upon another principle. In this cafe, as will appear more fully hereafter "■, the prevailing fentiments of our Reformers were thofe now ufually termed Calviniflic, and they are ex- prefsed with great moderation. Our opponents may admit whether of thefe accounts they pleafe, they are equally un- friendly to their extenuating fyftem. If according to the former, and now common reprefentation, it was a principal obje6l with the authors of our forms to guard againji Ca/- vinifm, then certainly they would verge no nearer it than (m) See Ibid .(n) Above, p. 16. (o) See the 8th. of Kino; Edward's Arts. In the Colleftion, &c, to Hift. of Reformation, p. 210 j and Hift, itfdf, Vol. il. p. 110. (p) See Strype's Life of Parker* p. 154. (q) See ibid. ; Neal's Hift. of the Puritans, p. 137, 16?, 268 } Roger's Preface to his Expof. of the Articles, &c. (r) Se£^.2nd. of this Chap. THE TRUE SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. SS what they deemed eflential truth ; if, according to the latter account, they were themfelves, in the above fenfe Calvinijisy this confideration will prohibit the fmalleft extenuation of the plain meaning of their words. And every one of the ilatements which have been made, their conceffions towards the ancient fyftem, their rejection of Calvinifm, or their un- animity upon it, militates alfo diredly againft the frequent infmuation ^, that expreffions were adopted beyond what was intended in order to accomodate, and to comprehend the Calviniits* 3. Another method by which we may approach the pre- cife dodrines intended to be eftabhfhed in the written con- feflions of our Church, is, The examination of the other WRITINGS AND DECLARATIONS of her Reformers, on the fame fubjedls ; efpecially thofe which were of great pub- licity, or had the fandion of authority. Thefe writings are at once commentaries upon the eflabf lifhed Creed, and in themfelves diredl evidences what doc- trines were uniformly taught by the framers and impofers of it. It would indeed greatly exceed the limits of our plan to e xhibit here this evidence in its proper force. We will however venture to aflert, that, from the Acceflion of Edward when the articles of our faith firft came under regular dif- cuflion, to the period when they affumed their prefent form^ and were finally impofed under Elizabeth, there is no other producSlion either of any colledlive Body of the chief Agents in the buiincfs, or even of any principal Individual among them, that in the fmalleft degree reftridts the moft full and dodrinal interpretation of thefe articles upon the points in queftion. Nor did thefe venerable men ever, at any future period, difcover by their writings any relaxation of the fen- timents here exprefled. In expatiating upon them more at (s) See Croft's Bampt. Left. p. 109 5 Stri6lure$ on Paley p. 5X1 Antijac, Rev. for January 1800, p, 47. 56 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. large, they oftentimes purfued thefe do£lrInes ftill further, and went beyond ^hzt is'neceflarily implied in the eflabliflied compendium ; but it was left for Divines of another Century to explain ihem atuay. We begin with the acceflion of King Edward, becaufe thea only, it is, and muft be, confeffed, the legal and regular re- formation of our Church commenced. Before that period, as Bifhop Burnet expreffes the matter, ** it was rather con- ceived than brought forth ^*' Bifhop Pretyman, accordingly^ calls Edward the *' firft Proteftant King of England^." The great hero of this work, Cranmer, had before laboured un- der perpetual and invincible reftridions from the auftereand capricious Henry : and, as might naturally be expedled, hfs own mind, and the minds of his aifociates, only opened upon the erroneous fyflem gradually; and by the fame gradation advanced toward the perfection of truth. The produdions of Henry the Eighth's time are not therefore the proper illudrations of our articles. As well might we attempt to illuftrate the perfe£lions of a man by the half-formed Em- bryo -, as well might we recur to the dawn of the morning to illumine the meridian brightnefs. Thefe publications were indeed excellent in comparifon of what preceded them, and an fome particulars their doCtrines are found ; but they notorioufly, and confeflcdly, retain many of the peculiarities of the Romifh faith. " In the articles of religion publifhed by Henry the 8th in 1536," Bifliop Pretyman fays, ** fome of the Popifli do6lrjnes are difclaimed, but others are re- tained''." And, the " ncceflary Do£lrine," he " printed in 1543," Dr. Hey admits, " has many do£irines of the church of Rome in it*." It would therefore be equally v/arrantable to prove from fuch writings that thefe Popifh do£lrines are the fpecific do£lrines of our church, as any others on which they differ from what was afterward^ (t) Fi£f. to I ft. Vol. of Hlft. of Refer, (v) Elements Vyl. 2. p. ^4, (w) Ibid. (x) Nor. Le^, Vol. ii. p. 207. THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. 57 agreed upon. Yet with this confefledly popish " NecefTary Doarlne," &c. Dr. Hey^, Dr. Ridley S Mr. GrayS Mr. Daubeny '', the Author of the Oxford Diflcrtation ^, and the whole body of thefe Divines, conftantly attempt to fix and illuftrate the precife docElrines of our church ! To thefe P and Cat. of Originals, No. 17 ; Burnet's Hlft. of Refor. Vol. ii. p. 285 ; and Fox'« Afts of Monuments, Vol. ii. p. 164.1, where the Declara is more perfect. (1) Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 350; Appendix, p. 195, No. 83; Eccles. Mem } Ccverdale's Letters of the Martyrs j and Fox. (m) Eccles. Mem. Vol. iii. p. 563.; Cat. of Origin. No. 61. (n) Sec Heylin's Quinq. Hift. Trafts, p. 609 j Dr, Iley's Nor. Left. Vol. ii. p. 209 } Daub. Appen. p. •130 ; &c. 6o THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED* period, muft exhibit the moft moderate view of their doc- trines. Dr. Heylin appears to labour to prove, that the doif^rines afterwards eftabli(hed, were not defigned to be, what are fometimes called, more rigid*. It is fufficient to our purpofe if they were not intended to be lefs fo, which will fcarcely be much contefted with us ^But, as the de- cifions under Elizabeth are thofe which are binding upon Minifters now, to a few of the mod authentic and im- portant theological publications under her reign, we will particularly appeal. The firfl we will notice is, A *' Declaration" of the Pro- teftants' do£lrine drawn up, and fubfcribed, by Sandys, and the other eminent Divines, met in Conference at Weft- minfter, for the purpofe of preparing the Book of Common Prayer, in the year 1559. This Declaration is nothing elfe than a republication, and explanatory enlargement, of the Articles of King Edward j and the reafon aflignedby them- felves why they do not adopt the very words of thofe Arti- cles, is, *' that they were led to particularize againfl the objections of their adverfaries :" But, as they think pro- per to add, ** that in altering, augmenting or dimlnifhing,. adding or omitting, they neither improve, nor yet recede from any of the faid articles 5 but fully confent unto the ivhoky as to a moft true and found Do6lrine, grounded upon God's Word*^." There is manifeflly therefore no infringe-* ment of our fyftem here. The fame may be affirmed of the Confession to which the fubfcrlption of the Clergy was required in the fol- lowing year*!; and, in {hort, of every work either of emi- nence or authority, which preceded the regular Settlement of our 39 Articles in their prefent form in 1562 '. And what the precife do6lrines then defigned in them were, we have as full ^evidence as the nature of the cafe is (o) Qninc. H^ft. Traas, p. 597. (p) See Sti7pe's Annals of the Reforma. p. 114. (q) Ibid. p. 207. 209. (r) SeeStrype*S Life of Parker, p. 120. 2 •THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. 6r Well capable of, in the Catechism that was reviewed, cor" reded, " approved and allowed," by the fame Convoca- tion, which pafled them. This Catechifm, it feems clear, as Mr. Strype concludes from internal evidence, is only an improved Edition of that we have already noticed, which pafTed the Synod of 1552; or at the leaft, much ufe has been made of this former work in its compofition. It was Jiow drawn up at the inftigation of the great Secretary Cecil, by the eminently learned and pious Dr. Nowell, iDean of St. Paul's, who was Prolocutor of the Convocation in which it, and the 39 Articles were pafled. It underwent the moft careful and mature examination and difcuflion of the mofl: celebrated Divines in the Kingdom, with the ex- prefs view, that it might be " a Handing fummary of the Do£lrines profcfl^ed in our church/* When it was printed, it was fubfcribed by the two Arch-Bifhops, dedicated, to them, and to the Bifliop of London, by namt, and to all the reft of the Biftiops. It pafled in a (liort fpace, through fe- veral editions, and was tranflated into difl^erent languages. It was commonly ufed in fchools. And, in fhort, in fuch high eftimation was it holden, on its firft coming abroad, and for many years after, by Parker, Whitgift, Cooper, and the other Dignitaries of our church, that it was even en- joined to be ftudied by Minifters, in order *' that they might learn true divinity from it»." And to crown the whole, its importance has been recognized, and its worth extolled by two eminent modern Prelates, Bifhop Cleaver % and the Bifhop of Durham ^. No teftimony can therefore be more deferving of attention in our inquiry. And yet none can be more decifive in our favour. We appeal to (s) See Strype's Annals, p. 313—316; Life of Parker, p. 1^2, 301^ (t) See Preface, p. 6. to his Edit, of if, or below § a. (v) Sec his Charge, 1792, 2nd Edit. App«ndix, p. 54; and the Oxford Encheiridion Ecdefiafticum, E 62 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. every page, to every paragraph, to every fingle fentence of it. Another Work of great publicity and importance at this period was. The famous apology for the English Church, written by Bifliop Jewel. This Prelate, Bifhop Burnet afTirms'', and it feemsthe general fentiment, "was the firft, and much the beft, writer of Elizabeth's time." He •* had a great fliare in all that was then done, particu- larly in compiling the Second Book of Homilies''." " His Works" therefore, his Lordfhip juftly obferves, may with ** great reafon" be confidered ** as a very fure commentary on our articles**." But the work which efpccially immor- talized his name, and which mod demands our prefent at- tention, is this celebrated Apology. It was written at the inftigation, and by the common advice, of the whole body of Divines that were aflembled for the purpofe of efFe£ling tlie Reformation. Its exprefs obje£l was, to exhibit the real and precife doctrines of our church; to fhow her agreement, in matters of faith, with the German, the Hel- vetian, the French, and the other Reformed churches ; and to refute the objedlions of the adverfarics of thefe doctrines. lu this charader, as the avowed Creed of the Church of England, extra£ls from it appeared in the Harmony of the Confeffions of Eleven Proteftant Churches that was publlfhed in the year 1581. It pafled through many edi- tions, and was publiftied, both at home and abroad, in va- rious languages. It was repeatedly vindicated, when at- tacked by the enemies of the church, and contributed more, it is believed, towards its eftablifhment than any other publication of the age. And, as Hiftorians afiure us, in fuch equal efteem, and of fuch equal authority, with the 39 Articles themfelves, was it in thofe days holden, that a defign was entertained of its being joined with them\ (ww) Pref. to Expo, of Arts. p. 3. (o) Ibid. (x) Sec Stiype's Annals, p. 249. Life of Paiker, p. 173. THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, Scc. 63 This work therefore muft alfo afFord very Important evi- dence upon the point in queftion; and the interpretation of our ecclefiaftical ftandards which it favours, is unqueftion- ably that which was intended by the original framers and impofers of them. Yet to this alfo we mofl readily and confidently appeal. It would be eafy to enumerate many other publications to the fame effect ; we will however confine ourfelves to one more. This fhall be, The Analysis of the 39 Articles by the Reverend Thomas Rogers, Redlor of Horninger in Suffolk. This was the firft regular commentary upon the Articles, and the only one that appeared during the prefent reign. The general unanimity of fentiment refpeding their true fenfe, for fome time, rendered fuch works unnecefTary. It carries upon the face of it a teftimony, that it was ** perufed, and by the lawful authority of the church, allowed to be public ^." It was dedicated to two fucceffive Arch-Bifhops of Canterbury ; the firft edition of it in 1584 to Arch-Bilhop Whitgift, by whom Dr. Fuller tells us, it was countenanced*; and the fecond in 1607 to Arch* Bifhop Bancroft, whofe Chaplain the Author was*. In this dedication, and the work itfelf, Mr. R. fhows, that the undoubted do£trine and invariable intention of our church in her articles, were always according to the prectfe and ex* prefs words of thofe articles ; that in no other fenfe they were ever underftood by his Grace's moft venerable pre-» deceffors Whitgift, Grindal, Parker, Cranmer, or any other of the renowned Divines and Fathers of our Church; that In this light they were viewed, and acquiefced in, by the Brethren and Puritans thcmfelves ; nay, that this inter* / pretation correfponded with the *' Confefllons of all the Reformed Churches in ChriftendomV* (y) See Tiile-page, and Preface near the end. (z) Ch. Hift* B, 9. p. 173. (a) See the Dedication. (b) Ibid, toward the ^nd. F. 2 6j{. the true churchmen ASCERTATNeI^. it is needlefs to fay whofe fyflem all this fupports. Tlic dodlrliies, w!iich, in Mr. Roger's judgment, the words of the articles naturally import ; and which, he fays were all approved for true and Chriftian, by the lawful and public allowance of the church, at that time, are clearly Cahimjiic^, Fuller indeed fays that fome Proteftants were'^fFendcd at this interpretation, and complained that Mr. R. had con- fined the charitable latitude before allowed in the articles^ : But, as Dr. Ridley is conftrained to admit *, the hiftorian gives «^ proof oi fuch a circumftance. Nor does it appear a fa£l, that the doElrinal part of the book was unacceptable, except to the aiders and abetters of Popery : But admitting the objection, it does not reach our prcmifes. But, if all thcfe othelr approved and public theological works of our mod diftinguifhed Reformers and early Di- vines thus individually, collectively, and unequivocally, breathe one fpirit, teach one do£lrine, and favour our fenfe of the eflablidied Confcflion, there can remain little doubt either what the genuine doctrines of the Reformation were^ or v/ho they are that adhere to thefe do6lrines. 4. Still further light may however be obtained on the fub- jedl by confidering, The Authorities our Reformers had regard to in their important Work. It does not indeed by any meains follow, as fome appear abfurdly to have con- cluded ^, that in all points of do6\rine they neceflarily agreed with every Proteftant Divine of whom they fpoke with approbation, or with whom they held a friendly intcr- courfe. Our own times afford ample evidence that men of the mofl difcordant dodrinal fentiments may very cordially unite againfl what they efteem a corrupt Eflablifliment. If therefore in the Book of Martyrology, which was enjoined (c) See the Book. (d) Ch. Hift. B. 9. p. yz, 73. (e) 3d Lett, to Conf. p. 16. See alio the ConfeflTional, Edit. 3. p. 232 — 235. (f) Sec tl^.e War that has been continually waged, Whether Calvin or Melanfthon had a greater hand in our Reforma. ; Heylin's Qulnq. Hift, Trafis, p. 54S ; Toplady's Hiftoric Proofs cf the Doctrinal Calv. of ihc Ch. cl Ent^land, p. 367, Uz.\ uTc. THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C*. 65 to be had in Churches, fome things may be found inimical to our Ritual, and the Epifcopal Habit S; or if in Erafmus* Paraphrafe which attained the fame honour'', the interpre- tation in fome particulars fcarcely reaches the prevalent doc- trines of thofe times, on this principle, the clrcumftancc is eafily aecounted for. Both thefe Works contained many things that were excellent, and in an efpecial manner tended to promote the main objedl of a feparation from Rome. For thefe reafons they were defervedly efteemed and re- commended to efpecial notice. But it does not follow that every thing contained in them coincided exadly with the Reformers' fentinients. That Erafmus* doQrines were not ivholly approved is indeed declared In the Epiftle dedicatory prefixed to the tranflation of his Paraphrafe on the A6ts. But after this writer's judgmcnty *' a little trip among fo many notable good works for the interpretation of fcrip- ture, and for the help of the fimple, fiiould rather be borne withal, than fo many 'good things, to be either rcjeded or kept away from the hungry and Chrlfllan reader." And beyond all doubt, his Works fhould be received with fome qualification, who, as his Biographer informs us, could ex- claim, ** that he abhorred the Reformers ^ j and could fre- quently revile them with the utmoO: virulence. If how- ever our opponents will havs^ it ^, that becaufe this Para- phrafe was placed in Churches, the Reformers could not hold "any opinions which arc difapproved in it, they muft, for the fame rcafon, conclude from Fox's Booic, that our Reformers were a kind of Puritam ! (g) See Fox's A6^s and Mon. p. 1366 j and Quinq. Hi!!, p. 613, 614, (h)|Ibid. p. 54.8, (i) See Jortin's Life Erafmus, p. 6oJ5, 441, 481. (k) Sec Dr. Hey's Nor. Lect. Vol. il. p. 208. Vol. iii. p. 502 J Daubeny's Appendix, p. 203, 211, 244, Mr. D. fuppofes that hence an argument againft our fyitem aiilcs which is un- anfwerable, becaufe when Erafmus obtained this honour, *' Luther had publiflied a Cammetary on Galatians, and Calvin his Inftltutes." But who knows not that Luther held different notions frcm our Re- formers on the Sacrament J and Calvin on Dijci^line ? E 3 66 THE TRtJE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. Doubtlefs then, their condud in refpe£t to both thcfe Works, is to be interpreted on the principle juft mentioned 5 and with an eye to the fame principle mull theirexpreflions of approbation be taken in many other inftances. The general Dodlrines of the Reformation muft how- ever refle£t fome light upon the precife views of the founders of our church ; and thofe Works, and Authors, which they continually quote, and refer to, for the illuftration of their fentiments, muft afford very important evidence on the fubje£t. We appeal then alfo, upon the points in queftion,^ to the Writings of Luther *, the renowned Leader, and acknowledged Chief, in the great Tranfadlion 5 to the WHOLE Body of the Confessions of all the Reformed Churches '^ 5 to the Authorities which, next to the facred Scriptures, our Reformers efpecially profeffed to refpe£t, the PRIMITIVE Church ", and the Works of St. Austin °. No human authority had certainly fo great weight with them, or was fo frequently reforted to by them, as that of Auftin^ *' I am well affured," faid Bifhop Carleton, who was one of the four Englifli Divines chofen by King James to affift at the Synod of Dort, " that the learned Biihops, who were in the Reformation, in the be- ginning of Elizabeth's reign, did fo much honour St. Au- guftine, that, in the collecting of the Articles and Homilies, and other things in that Reformation, they had an efpecial refped: unto St. Auguftine's dodlrines p." " It is not to be denied,'* proceeds Bifhop Burnet, " but that the Article," (l) See e. g.his TreatifeDe Servo Arbitrio, and his Commentarium in Gal.; with Burnefs Expo, of Arts. p. 150 — 152, (m) See The Harmony of Eleven Proteftant Churches, pubhfhed 1581, and the Body of Confefllons of Sixteen Churches, publifhed i6iaj Rogers on the 39 Alts. J Bingham's Apology of the French Church for the Eng. Church. (n) See MUner's Hift. of the Ch. during the three firft Centuries j Bp. Beveridge's, and Welchman**, Expo, of Arts. (0) Sec the following Notes to (v). tp) Examina, of Mounlague, p. 49.. THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICI-ES, &C. 67 namely the i-Vth, ** fecms to be framed according to St. Auftin's Do6lrine." ..." The three cautions that are added to it, do likewife intimate that St. Auftin's Do«Strine was defigned to be fettled by the Article j" they ** relate very vifibly to the fame opinion **." " In England,'* adds Mr. Tindal the Hiftorian, " The Articles of religion are a plain tranfcript of St. Auftin's Doctrine, in the contro- verted points of original fm, predeftination, juftification by faith alone, efficacy of grace, and good works'"" And to produce but one evidence more, from a whole holt, " This,'* faith the eminent Dr. Ward, another of our Plenipotentia- ries at Dort, '' can I truly add for a conclufion, that the Church of England from the beginning of the reformation, and this our famous Univerfity, with all thofe who from thence till now, have with us enjoyed the Divinity Chair, if we except one foreign Frenchman *, have conftantly ad- hered to St. Auftin, in thefe points ^ ; namely, thofe jull enu- merated. But what however is more convincing in the cafe, than ten thoufand other evidences, we have ocular demon- ftration in the Works of our Reformers, of their great ufe of this diftinguifhed Prelate's Writings, and of their high refpe61: for his dodrines ^. We ftop not here to fhow pre- cifely what thefe dodlrines are. No Divine can be ignorant of them. And they who really know them, muft know alfo that they are the very eflence of what is now called Me^ thodifm. Mr. Daubcny however. Is above following fuch a Guide, and profefledly maintains a different fyllem. ** For my own part," fays " this vigilant guardian of our eftabhlhed faith, this intrepid champion of the doClrines of the Church of England **," this zealous oppofer of Eledtion, " I do not (q) Expo, of Arts. p. 168? See alfo Ibid. p. 114, and Preface, p. 1, (r) Continuation of Rapin, Vol. iii. p. 275. (s) Peter Baro, (r) Concio ad Clerum Cambridge, 1625, p. 45. (r) See Homilies J Cranmer's Difcourle of faith, &c,5 Jewel's Apology j &c (o) Antijac. Aug. 1800, p, 438. E4 68 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. take my faith from the writings of Luther, Calvin, or the more ancient profeflbr of this dodrine, St. Auguflin "." We would however here afe this Gentleman, by the way, how he can attempt to perfuade his reader, that " by an appeal to hifloric fa£l," he has brought him " acquainted with the circumftances which accompanied the original eilablifhment of our prefent Church do6lrine," and <« quali- fied him to form a decided opinion on the fubje£l * ;" when this " hiftoric fad" confifls, of quotations from Books full of Popery y written many years before the regular reformation of our Church commenced y, quotations which affirm that ^* Good-Works be the very fervice of God, and be merito- rious towards the attaining of everlafting life ^ 5" of a few detached pafTages, that are perfedly equivocal*, and of other mere fecond-hand fcraps taken from avowed partizans in the bufmefs^; and when fcarcely one of thofe great Works we have mentioned, which, beyond all queilion, were fo in- timately connected with the ** original eftablifhment of our prefent Church doctrine," is even affirmed to exi/} / How is this reconcileable with common integrity ? And how is it that fo many of our opponents, in fome degree, imitate this writer ? Did they never hear of this great ufe of Aujiitt; of the Work that pajjed the Convocation along with the Articles^ and ivas hound up with them, in 1 552; of the writings of our Biffjops and Martyrs in Prifon, Nowelfs Catechifin, Jewel's Apology y and the other authentic^ and publicly approved Works of our principal Reformers^ at the time of our Reformation ? Why then is this unimpeachable evidence on the queftion almoft wholly fupprejfed ? And why do they continually weary us with fuch equivocal and illegitimate teflimony ^ ? (w) Guide p. 9T. but fee the whole 5rh DiTc. and his Appendix. (x) Appendix, p. 261, (y) Ibid. p. 169,, iZy, 303, 329, &c.} and above, p. 57 fee. (z) Appendix, p. 329. (a) Sec ibid, p. ioi— 209. (b) Ileylin, Mr. Fletcher, Dr. Hev, &c. (c) Sec above, p. ^7, r Mm.- The i { G^ ) SECTION II The true interpretation of the Articles further fought from the known private sentiments of our Refoimers. JL he laft illuftration of the genuine fenfe of our con- ftituted forms of do^lrine, I (hall mention, is, The known private fentiments of thofe who compiled and impofed them. Thefe fentiments we mean to fliow were thofe which are now ufually termed Calvinifnc, Out of the muhipHcity of evidence by which this fadt might be eftabUflied, I will feled, as fufficiently decifive, only the following. I. Firft, The unanimous testimony of men of all fentiments, and of the utpiofl refpe£tability. — ^Upon this point bears that which we have already adduced to prove the articles Augujiinian. For, however Calvin might exprefs himfelf more decifively on fome points of dodlrine than Auftin had done, or might even differ from him, thofe who now only adhere to Auflin are called Calvinifls, '* When this dodrlne," faith Mr. Daubeny, ** now diftinguiflied by the title of Calvlniftic, was firft broached by Auflin^ it was reckoned an herefy *." So alfo in the pafTage already cited =*, reprobating Eledtion, Sec. as taught by " Luther" and >* Calvin," he fays, ^' or the more ancient profeflbr of this doctrine, St. Auguftin." — All " other differences," except thofe which refpedl Baptifm, Bifhop Burnet teaches, " be- tween St. Auftin's Doctrine, and that of the Sublapfarians, are hut forced ftrains to reprefcnt him and the Calvinifts as of different principles y." — " Calvin," Bifhop Pretyman ac- ^ cordingly adds, " nearly followed Ati/Iin and the Latin Church^." — But our witnefTes (hall fpeak diredly to the (d) Appendix, p. 400. (t) page 62. (y) On Arts. p. 149. (x) Elements, Vol. ii. p. 312. See alfo Bifliop Watfon's Charge, J755- P- 68. 70 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. point. We will begin with a man equally unprejudiced in favour of any fyftem of revealed do£lrines, The celebrated hiftorian Mr. Hume. «« The firft Reformers in England," he fays, " as in other European countries, had embraced the moft rigid tenets of predeftination and abfolute decrees, and had compofed upon that fyflem, all the articles of their religious Creed*.'* And in another place, fpeaking of the fame doctrines, " All the firft Reformers," he fays, *' adopted thefe principles K" Hear next the equally well-known Dr. Moflieim f, whofc exprefs obje£l it was to make a faithful record of fuch par- ticulars. — " After the death of Henry," relates this learned Church Hiftorian concerning our nation, " the Univerfities, Schools, and Churches, became the oracles of Calvinifm. . . . Hence it happened, that, when it was propofed, under the reign of Edward the fixth to give a fixed and ftable turn to the doftrine and difcipline of the Church, Geneva was acknowledged as a Sifter-Church, and the theological fyftem there eftabliflied by Calvin, was adopted, and rendered the public rule of faith in England. This, however, was done, without any change of the form of Epifcopal Government V The fame fentiment he repeats a little after in thefe words ; ** It is certain that the Calviniftical do£trine of predeftination prevailed among the firft Englifti Reformers, the greateft part of whom were at leaft Sublapfarians *." The depofitions of another clafs of hiftorians, the con- du£lors of* the New Annual Regifter, run thus : Speaking of the precife periods when our articles were agreed upon in convocation, and confirmed by Parliament, " The tenets," they fay, " commonly received then, and indeed fupported by the 39 Articles, were thofe commonly called Calviniftical. (e) Hift. of Eng. Vol. vl. p. 273. (f) Ibid. p. 166. (g) " For an account of this controveriy" (the Calvinian) Bifliop Pretyman fays, " fee Mojheim," Elements, Vol. ii. p. 312. (h) Eccles. Hiftory, Vol. iv. p. 87. (i) Ibid. p. 88, THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. 7 1 In thefc opinions there was fuch an almoft univerfal con- currence that we meet with only one perfon ^ of any con- fideration in this reign, who advanced fentiments approaching to what afterwards went under the name of Arminianifm ; and fuch was the clamour raifed againft him, that he retired from his Profeflbrfliip*." <' The opinion of Calvin," the Critical Reviewers fay, «' was the|do£lrine of the early Fathers of the Church, and was generally maintained till the time of Bifliop Burnet, by the members of the Church of England ^" " Of all the Reformed Churches," adds the elegant Dr. Robertfon, " that of England has deviated leaft from the ancient inftitutions. . . . Though the Articles to be recog- nized as the fyftem of national faith were framed con- formable to the doctrines of Calvitiy his notions with refpedt to Church government and the mode of worfliip were not adopted 2." Bilhop Burnet's teftimony is equally {hort and decifive. ** In England,'* faith his lordfliip, " the first reformers were generally in the Stiblapfarian hypothefis; but Perkins and others aflerted the Siiprahpfarian way""." The fame, in effea, fay Machine ", Strype°, WilfonP, Smollett*, and numberlefs others. In fliort, as the learned (k) Peter Baro, Lady Margaret's Profeflor of Divinity at CambrlJge (1) New Annual Regifter for 1789. (y) June, i3oo, p. 2.23. (z) Hiftory of America, p. 163. (m) Expof. of Arts. p. 151. The Sublapfarians fuppofe, that, the ele6l were chofen, and the reft of mankind puffed by, as fallen-creainrcs, or fi/mers; and attempt rot to account for the difficulties eir opinions occafioned. Houfon was fufpended, and the other only faved thcmfelves by their filence and difcretion. Sec Quinq. Hift. as above j Strype's Life of Whitgift, p. 476 i Fuller's Hilt, of Camb. p. 152 3 andTindal's Con- tinuation, Vol, iii, p. ago. (b) Appendix, p. iji. (c) Barap. Le6V. p. 267. N. — Mr. G/s other arguments to prove this fad are the following : •* 1 . The public profcfTions of faith, a. The delay in the Upper lioufe of Convocation In ratifying Nowel's Catechifm. 3, The fupprcHion of the Lambeth Articles." To the ift a Calvinift may anlwer, that it begs the quellion : To the 2d, That they did ratify it : and to the other. That it was only, to fay the moft, the hightft Species of Calvinifm that they did not think neccffary to be made ^fTential to Church Communion. (d) Barret. F 4 S4 THE TRUE GHURCHMEN ASCEKTAINEI5', ceffions, than their predecefibrs were. The oppofite doc-* trines are become more a dead letter, and lefs intrufive ; and their claims are denied as they appear without friends to fup- port them. Important concefTions are however ftill made on the fubje£t. Thus the prefent wri-ter admits, that ** Cal- vinian fentiments fpread confi-derably among the Clergy in the reign of Elizabeth ;" ** that many perfons" in ** ecclefi- aftical departments were flrongly tinftured with them ;*'* that they" were induftrioufly propagated and patronized by many eminent men ; as by Cecil, Leicefter, Walfingham, Sir Francis Knollis, &c. j" and that they were " liftened to readily by many of our eftablifliment ^." — «So alfo the mo- dern Prelate before noticed,, when, fpeaking of the precife time when our Articles w^ere impo fed, and avowedly wifh- ing to (how that Calvinifm was not eftablifhed in them, ad- mits, " That many and thofe of great name, were at that pe- riod, adherents to this do£L'rine ^/* But the prcTalcnce of thefe fentimen's may, it feems, be eaftly accotmied for •> and the whole body of Arminian Writers engage in aiTigning the reafons of it ^. But does this over- throw, or eflabliih, the fatl ? Admit that thefe fentiments are of foreign extraction : So it may be flaown are the gene- ral fentiments of the Reformation here. Admit that fome of the great characters employed in refettling the Church dn the Acceffion of Elizabeth, had acquired a greater relifh for them than they had before : Still thefe characters muft be clalled among our principal Reformers ; ftill this was the pe^ riod when the do6lrines w^ere legally eftablifhed which are Binding upon us. The more clearly therefore this circumi ftance is accounted for by the Gentlemen in qucftion, the more clearly do they eftablifli the fa 61, they wiftrto refute. (e) Bamp. Le6>. p. 26^, ^6j. (f) Preface to NowePs Cat. ^:€. (g) See Heylin, Quinq. Hift. p. 594., 609; Ridley's 3d Lett ^•''ifl Gray's Lea. p. 265, 2665 Hey's Nor, Lea. Vol. il. p. 209 j t)atibtfty's Appendix, p. 230. THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. S^ tFhey would Infinuate indeed, that at fome previous peridd of the Reformation, other (their own) fentiments obtained- Now admitting this alfo, it does not much concern us. They produce however no proper evidence that this was the cafe after any thing was regularly and legally done. We fhall fay no more here refpedling the Works of Henry the Eighth's time, of which fo much ufc is made for this purpofe. Fromr thefc Writings, it has already appeared ^, they may equally prove, that our church holds many of the diftinguilhing pe- euliarities of Popery ; and their very recurrence to fucK illegitimate teftimony affords no mean evidence of their lack of better, and that their cafa is a forlorn one. More hopelefs however, if poflible, is the attempt to prove that it was only at fome ftill later period when thefe Calvi- niftic fentiments io prevalently obtained. Heylin himfeif reprefents the circumftance as coeval wirh our legal efta-- blilhment, with ** the rcfeitling of the Church under Queen Elizabeth'." And the teftimony of Hume, Moflieim, Bifhop Burnet, and the whole body of other evidence we have adduced, refpeifls the " Church of England from her FIRST rejlcrat'ion from Foper^y^"* our " first Reformers^* *' the FIRST Englifh Reformersy^ ** the first Reformers in England ''." Yes, Mr. Daubeny ! The " particular period" in which you and your colleagues allow thefe dcdlrines were prevalent, includes the very period when our Articles were made what they now are,^ and legally impofed, as well as a whole century afterwards : *' The large portion of the great body of the Clergy of our church \** you fpeak of, as favouring fuch fentiments, includes the very men who thus formed and impofed thefe Articles. It may be added to the fame effedl, that nearly the whole of what is produced in oppofition to our argument, from the Works of thefe times, refpeds only the proper manner of (h) Above, p. 58, (i) A-bove, p, 82. (k) Above, p. xo— • (Ij Appendix, p. 198, ^6 Th£ true churchmen ascertained. treating on the fubjetSt of Predcftlnation and "Election, and the abufe of the do£lrine, and is what every fenfible modern Galvinifl moft cordially approves. I will take as an inflance of this, the paiTage quoted by fo many Arminian Writers, and among others, by Mr. Gray, from " Bifhop Hooper's Introduction to his Expofition of the Decalogue,'* None of the illuftrious Prelates who fuf- fered Martyrdom for their principles, ufed language more favourable to the fcheme of the Arminians, than Biftiop Hooper j and no where, it may feem, from the frequent ufe they make of this pafiage, has he faid what more favours it than here. Let us then examine the paflage fairly, and allow it all its weight. As quoted by Mr. Gray it runs thus : " It is riot a Chriftian man's part to fay that God hath written fatal laws, as the Stoic, and with neceflity of deftiny violently pulleth one by the hair into heaven, and thrufteth the other headlong into hell. The caufe of re- jediion or damnation, is fin in man, which will not hear, neither receive, the promife of the gofpel'^." This Mr. Gray produces as a ** remarkable pafTage ;" remarkable, we' muft underftand him, for its complete decifion againft Cal- vinifm. This idea of it is alfo fupported by the Conductors of the Britifli Critic, who both approve of Mr. G's ufe of it, and themfelves defcribe it, as " exprefsly Combating the notion of abfolute decrees"." We cannot however, at all, judge of Bifliop Hooper*^ meaning in thefe words, unlefs we attend alfo to the other parts of the paffage with which they are immediately con- nected. Lefs mutilated the paffage flands thus: — " It is hot a Chriftian's part to attribute his falvatiori to his own Free Will with the Pelagian, and extenuate originat fin ; nor to make God the Author of Evil or our Damna- tion, with the Manichee: Nor yet to fay, God hath wrote fatal laws, as the Stoics, and with neceirity of defliny vio- (m) Earnp. Lei>. p. 246. N, (n) For Augufl-; 1795, THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. 87 lently pulleth one by the hair into heaven, and thrufteth the other headlong into hell. But afcertain thyfelf by fcripture what be the caiifes of reprobation, and what of election. The caufe of rejection or damnation is fin in man, who will not hear nor receive the promife of the gofpel. . . . The caufe of our election is tha mercy ofGodin Chrifl. Howbeit, he that will be partaker of this Ele£lion, muft receive the promife in Chrifl: by faith. For therefore we be ele£led, becaufe afterward we are made the mem- bers of Chrifl:, &c." So we judge of Election by the tvtvX Or fuccefs which happeneth in the life of man p/' And is it not now a little extraordinary, that this very paragraph, when taken as it is, ihould be remarkably de- cifive againfl: fome Arminian Tenets, which Mr. Gray and his Brethren in fentiment, aferibe to our church ? Yet cer- tainly it is fo. Mr. Gray " rejc(5ls" the doctrine " of Pre- defl:ination,'* as a " curious conceit^:" Bifliop Hooper efiahlijhes it, by teaching us rightly to afcertain the caufes, the Confequences, and the ei'idences, of reprobation and elecfiion. With Mr. Gray, it is " incautious and exceflive enthufiafm, to dilate on gratuitous jujiifcaiwrty fo as to invalidate the im- portant doBrine ©/"Freewill ^ :" Bifhop Hooper reprefents the making o^xt falvation to turtp upon our freeioill^ as ep:^ tenuating original fin^ and no better th^n pelagianifm, Mr., Gray fays, " Our church confiders . . . eledion as import- ing zforefeen conformity to the Divine will*:*' Bifhop Hooper fays, " The tau/s of our Eleftion is the mercy ofGodin Chrijiy and that therefore we are elected," not becaufe we are feerp to be good, but, that we may be m^de fo ; *' becaufe after-^ ^ards we are made members of Chrifl:, &c." This lafl: claufe contains, in effedb, the whole matter at ifluej namely, whether faith, holinefs, &c. tlt^ tliQ fruits oi eledtiori, or the caufe of it y* and fo far we fee, are the An- (p) See Strype's Eccles. Mem. Vol, ii. p. 203, or the Work itfflf. (q,^ B amp. Lea. p. 14-6, N. (r) Ibid. p. 266. (>} Ibid, p, 245. 83 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. cient Martyr and the Modern Divine from harmonizing on the fubje6l, that they view it in dire£lly oppofito lights. The cm fays, "The caufe of our election is the merrj of God in Chrift ; the other teaches, that ele6tion imports a ^^ fore^ feen conformity tO the Divine Will.'* But what do the good Biftiop'^ words cotitain that is fb irreconcileable with the Calviniftic fcheme ? He forbids u$ to talk of fate like th6 Manicheans or Stoics: So do the Calvinifts. They do not with the former of thefe Se6ls hold that there is an Independent Evil Prindphy to which they fo attribute evil as to exculpate themfelves^: They do not, tvith the latter of them, afcribe what happens in human af- fairs to an immutable defiiny^ refulting from the influence of matter, or from no man knows what, by which God him- felf is reftrained^j but, to the appointment of a Supreme (t) See Milner's Hiftory of the Cburcn, Vol. ii. p. 340— 3S6 ; where both their fentiments, and the light in which St. Auftin viewed them after his converfion, are mentioned j Molheini, Vol. i. p. 24.0 ; Beau- lobre ; Cave j &c, (v) it is unneceflary here, were it poIUble, to fay precifely, amidft the variety of ilrange and inconfiftent notions of this fefl, what they ineant either by God or Fate. This feems to have been the popular idea. And thofe perfons who have extolled the language of the wifer part of ihcnn on our fubjefl, appear to have put a better conflruftion upon their Words, than they were capable of doing themfelves. — Dr^ Moflieim's account of thenr is, that they confider *' God a corpor&i Being, united to mriter by a neceflary connexion, and fabje6l to tne determinations of an immutable fate." — St. Auftin fays, " Dicunt omnia fidera partes Jovis eiTe, et omnia vivere et rationales animas ha- bere, et ideo fme contrcveraa Deos efie.'' — La6lantlus adds, *' Ifti uno raturas nomine res diverfifTimas comprehenderunt j Deum et Mun'dum, Artiiicem et opus, dieuntq: -Alterum fine ahero nihil poffe, tanquairi natura fit Deus Mundo permiftus."— Arid Laertius, fpeaking of Chry. !lpp«s, one of the patriarchs and champions of the itoical Tt^, lays* *' Puriflimum dixit, ac LiquidifTimum -^^thera, quem etiam primum aiTcri:nt Stoici efTc Deum, r^niibilitsr veluti ;nfufuni, per eaqU32 funtin THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. 2C) Governor of Infinite Vfifdom, Power, Goodnefs, and Per- fection, who, they believe, orders all things with a view to his own glory, and the greateji pojjible ultimate good of his creatures^"*. He denies, that in confequence of fuch a def- tiny, fome are violently thruft headlong on the road to fal- vation, and others to perdition, whhoMt tht concurrence o£ their own wills: So do the Sublapfarians. The one, they be- lieve, God only fuffers^ to follow their own will, and their own way, and that this •terminates in their ruin ; and that the other he difpofes to approve^ choofe, and love, that which is good, by a fupply of proper means, and the influences of his Grace *. He teaches, that the caufe of God's rejection of any man is his fin, and reje£tion of the gofpel : So do thofe who are called Calvinilts y. He inculcates the c3- aere, per cun6las Animantes et Arbores, per terram autem ipfam foe- (undum H:i]itum." — Even the famous prayer of Cleanthes, on which jfo great ftrefs is laid in vindicating their notions, clearly rcprefents I' ate as a Semi-Deity ^ and Coequal Partner with Jupiter in the arrange- ment of human affairs. It runs thus : Ays oVj (AS, u ZiVf xa* cry, h lle7rfxy.tfr!f Otfoi W06 v[A,iv n^A ^icx.Tflay[AiV<^, It 15 therefore furely no proof that a man is an Arminlan, becaufe he does not talk of God and of Fate like the Stoics. — See Moflieim's Jlift. Vol. i. p. 28 J Aiiftia De Civit. Dei Lib. 7. cap. z. ; Diogenes Laerfius de viiis Philos., efpccially that of Zeno, the founder of the Stoic Seft ; Epidletus Enchir. Cap. 77 j Cicero de natura Deorura, de Fato j &c. Sec. (w) See a fummary of Leibnitz's Scheme apud Dr. Maclaine, Mof- hcim's Hift. Vol. v, p. 24 j Dr. Bellamy on the Wifdom of God in the perrainion of Sin, and the Millenium j Dr. Blair's Sermon oa Pfalm Ixxvi. 10 j Sec. &c, (x) See Edward's on the Will; and the Writings of Davenant, Ihli, Doddridge, Scott, &c. paOi'n. (y) See ibid. .^o THE TRUE .CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED* folute necejjity of faith and holinefs ; and that thefe are the only certain evidences by which we muft judge of our elec- tian : So do all fenfible Calvinifts^^. The whole therefore that this fai-nous pafTage .can fairly be made to inculcate, is, the propriety of guarding againfl: the excejfes and .abufes of the Dodrines of Predeftination and Ele£^ion ; and the proper manner of treating on the fubje£t ; namely, that we muft argue from the eifecl- to the caufe, and only infer our ele<5lion from our Chriftian ex- perience and conduct. And this is nothing -but what was generally taught by our leading Divines of this period. " If,'* fays the excel- lent Bilhop Hall, " we confider of God's working and pro- ceeding with us, the order is the reverfe, as it is alfo rightly ilated in the 17th Article ; but, if we confider the order of ■€ur apprehending the ftate wherein we ftand with God, we muft ASCEND ONLY from our cffcflual Calling, and true be- lieving, to a comfortable affurance of our ele£lion\" — - ** No otherwire,"adds Bilhop Carleton, ^* would God have us to be certain," of this circumftance, ** but a pofteriori^ from the effeds of his fpirit'we apprehend in our own fouls ^" This alfo is the purport of the famous reafoning " afcendendo*\ maintained to be the true dofbrine of predeftination by Bi- ihop Bancroft ^, And precifely the fame might be fhown, of all that is fo generally quoted by writers of an Arminian caft, from the works of Melancthon^, Latimer^, Hall^, (z) See ibiJ.; Archbilhop Ulher*s Body of Divinity, p. 91; ar.d Aich-bifliop Lcighton on 1 Peter, vii. ^. (a) Remains, Ser- mon on a Peter, 1. 10. p. 269. (b) Exam, of Montague, p. 14a, (c) Summe of the Hampton Court Conference, p. 29, (z) The famous quotation from this celebrated Reformer on the f'ubjeft js, the following remark he made to Arch-bifliop Cranraer : ** Nimis horridas fuerunt initio ftoicae difputationes apud noftros (the foreign Reformers) de fato, et difciplinae nocuerunt." See Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 409. It is remarkable, however, that at the fame time, and alfo on other occafions, he recommended to" the THJL REAL SENSE OP THE ARTfCLES, &C. pi the Reformatio Legum^', and the lafl: claufe of the 17th Article. The paflages contain nothing more than fon?e falutary cautions again fl the ahufes or mifreprefentation of the Calviniftic DocSlrines, of which cautions every prudent Calvinift fully admits the propriety, 4. On all hands therefore does it thus unqucftionably appear, how generally thofe fentiments were entertained by the FOUNDERS OF OUR CHURCH, which are mnv reprefented as ^* a curious conceit^*,'* *' a fyftem of nonfenfe S'* ** an artifice of the Devil ^ j" "a dodlrine, which carries its own condemnation upon the face of it^," is fynonimous with *« fanaticifm^** " makes God a Tyrant'," " lays the ax at once to the root of all religion *^," " is full of barbarity and blafphemy^:** and, ftrange to fay, thus reprefented too, by thofe who fill high ftations in this Church, by thofe who PROFESS TO ADHERE TQ THE GENUINE DOCTRINEa OF HER REFORMEPwS ! Arch-bifliop, " that nothing might be left under general terms , but cxprefsed with all the perfpicuity and diftinctnefs imaginable/* Ibid. So direflly hoftile was this Divine to that general latitude of expref- Jion and interpretation, he is fb often cited to favour. Melancthon, Bp. Davenant fays, only difapproved of the manner in which fome de- livered the do(5lrine of Predeltination, Sec, Anfwer to Hoord, p. 72. See aifo Clarke's Marrow of Hift. p. 293. (y) See Quinq. Hift. p. 556, and Latimer's Sermons, palfim. (x) See Anf. to the Confeflional, Lett. 3. p. 70, from Bp. IPs Shaking of the olive tree, p. 355, &c. (w) Vide Caput, as. De Hasres. Ibid. Cap. 9. (d) Mr. Gray's Bamp. Lect. p. 246. n, (e) •Daubeny^'s Appendix, p. 229., from Dr. Balguy. (f) Ibid. p. 303* (g) Daubeny's Guide, p. 77, (h) Mr. Pol- whele's 2d Letter to Dr. Hawker, p. 18. n. (i) Dr. Hey's Nor. Le£)t. Vol. 3. p. 497, from Dr. Balguy. See alfo Mr. Dat^beny's Appendix, p. 149, and quotation from Jortin. (k) Dr. Palcy's Vifitation Sermon, 1777, p. 15. (1) Mr. Polwhele's ift Letter, p. 43. n. See alfo BiOiop Watfon's Charge, 1795, p. ^7, 6?. ^Z THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. There is, however, It mud be confefled, a difcovery made by Mr. Daubeny, which, if it be juft, forms a confidej:- able objedlion to our conclufion. "But Sir/* fays this Writer to his Opponent, '* I fiiall not do juftice to the 17th Article, if I do not obfejve further, that fo far from being intended to favour the Cahinlftic DoSlrtne, it appears to me, tofurnifh the most decisive internal evidence against j-pm-p Poor deluded Hiftorians, ancient and modern, foreign and domeftic, who, with one voice, have told us, that our public Confeffions are formed on the Aiigufiiniany or CalvU man plan ** ! Poor unfortunate Bifhop Burnet, who, when employed by his Queen, and the great Metropolitan, for the very oppofite purpofe, has faid, " It is not to be denied, but that the Article feems to be framed according to St. Auftin*s doftrine 5" that although, in his judgment, others might fubfcribe it,, yet that '^ the Calvhiifts have lefs occafton fir fcrupk, fince the Article does feem more plainly to favour them ;" and that the very *' Cautions that are added to it» do like wife intimate that St. Auftin^s do^rine was deftgned to be fettled by the Article^ ! Poor good-natured Armi-^ nians, who have made fo many undue Concefftons, and have Jo laboured to account for this circumftance ; afcribing it to the Marian Exile, and a defire to comprehend the Calvin- ifts, and to the fadl, that ** fome of the compilers of the (m) Appendix, p. 221. (n) Above, p. 70, 74. (o) Expo, of Arts. p. 16S. See alfo above, p. 70. Yet Mr. Polewhele who makes high claims to liberality of fentiraent, and confiftency of condufl i v^ho is moft indignant at being thought in any degree to have deviated from the Articles j and who fays " I fubfcribed them, wiih Burnet in my hands ; and Burnet has, from that hour, been my guide y ;" fa)s, wiih nearly the lame breath, "I abhor the Cal- vinias^l*' (y) 2d Letter to Dr. H?wksr, (x) Ibid. p. i5> Note, See al{c 3 Letters paSio:, ^B Article IB all tog THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. 93 Articles were CalviniftsP !" Poor fliort-fighted fimpletons, all together, who, for two hundred and thlrty-feven years, have been doting about the Calv'mijilc tetidency of our Arti- cles, when, after all, the very Article upon which this opinion has been chiejly founded^ fur nifies the most decisive EVI- DENCE AGAINST IT ! Weil may Mr. Daubeny be repre- fented as " indifputably the very foremojiy or among the foremoji. Writers of the Age "^ !" Well may it be triumph- antly concluded, that '* Calvinifts will hardly attempt to reafon with him "" !*' With the man, who can view fuch an Article in fuch a light, confidered under ail its circum- ftances, and in conne£i:ion with what has been the prevail- ing opinion of perfons of all perfuafions upon it, it is cer- tainly in vain to reafon. 5. Nothing, however, is furtfier from our purpofe, than to infer, from what has been advanced in this Section, that the precife theological fyftem of John Calvin, in all its parts, 2,n6. to its full extent i was intended to be eftabhdied in the 39 Articles, to the exclufion of every milder fenti- ment. We think they have equally failed who have at^ tempted to fhow this, whether the exaltation, or degrada- tion, of the national confeffion, has been their obje£t. To fay the leaft, our eftablifhed forms do not teach direBly feveral do:ient of Chripts Redemption ^ : They are filent concerning abfolute reprobation "y which is here taught exprefsly ^''. The Au- thors of thefe forms unqueftionably built upon the fame foundatioHy with this celebrated Reformer, but they have not carried the fnperJtruElure to the fame height. They were aware of the eictremes to which fome had proceeded on thefe fubje£ls, and of the liability of the dodlrines of grace to abufe ; and wiflied therefore to exprefs themfelves with moderation and caution''^. They were aware of the inabi- lity of the human underftanding to comprehend the ivhole of the Divine plan of procedure towards his creatures; and of courfe, of the difficulties attending the fubjed, when purfued beyond a certain limit. They wifhed, therefore, in framing a (landing public Confeffion, to decide no fur- ther upon thefe deep points than they believed the decifion of importance, and for which they had the moftexprefs and certain warrant of Scripture. They knew that on this fub- je£1: efpecially ** Elt modus in rebus, funt certi denlque fines, <* Quos ultra, citraque nequit g^ofiftere reilum.'* (3) Infl. Lib. 3. Cap 23. § 8. p. 335. (t) Compare par- ticularly the Explanation of the Creed in the Catechifin j the Confecra- tlon Prayer in the Communion Service} and the writings ot Cranmer, Latimer, and Hooper, every where j with Inftit. Lib. 3. (v) See 17th Art. ; Clement's Conftffion ; and the Articles fubfcribed in the aft year of Elizabeth. (w) Inftit,, Lib. Cap. Z3. §. 8} Ibid. §. I ; and Calvin, in Rom. ix. 18. (x) They fay this exprefsly in the Anlcles fubfcribed as above, but declare at the fame time, that «' fteing fome men of late have rifen, which do gainfay and impugn this truth (Predeftlnation) we cannot pafs over this matter with filence, both for shat the Holy Ghoft doth fo often make mention of it in the Scriptures, which argueth it to be a thing both fruitful and profitable to be known j and alfo being occafjoned by the fame reafon which moved St. Auftin to write of this matter of Predeainatlon.'' Strypc's Annals, p. 118. This fhows us liiat gvaidir.g againfl the ahnfe of the doflrine, is not donvins the do«51rIne, THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. 9$ Or, to adopt the more lofty language of infpiration: They knew in refpe6l to the Divine Procedure in thefe indances, " That clouds and darknefs are round about him, but that righteoufnefs and judgment are the, habitation of his throne." They wiflied unequivocally to teach, that rmn's/ahation is luholly of grace^ but that his perdition is of himfelf ; and neither to make God the author offui, nor inan a mere machine^ and unfit to be treated as a moral agent. All beyond this> they have left to be refolved on the principle of human ig- norance. And, whatever may be faid to the contrary, this is not in the fmalleft degree belying the principles we have afcribed to them, and mutilating the fubje^l, but dif- covering at once the greateil piety and the greateft wifdom upon it y. Is it faid, that, in reality, there Is no difFerence between this fyftem and the higher fpecies of Calvinifm? It may be anfwered, however that be, the church is only refponfibie for the do£lrines flie teaches exprefsly^ and not for the in- ferences and confequences which may be deduced from thefe dodlrines by thofe who perhaps do not underftand them, and which llie probably^:|Mfcy. difavow. Thefe ** m.oderate bouMs," as the excellent Bifhop HiiU obferves, "the church of England, guided by the fcriptures, has feton this fubjeft^;'' gut fo far fiie has certainly de- cided. The doclrines now often termed moderate Cahinifm, ihe unequivocally inculcates. Thefe correfponded with the doctrines of An -in^ the great model of her founders. With thefe there is not a fingle palTage in any of her public Writings which does not harmonize. From thefe we are confident, no fair Interpreter can free her. But, according to their own plain and full reprefentation" (y) See below. Ch. 8. §. 2. (7) Via media, (haking of die Olive tree, r- 366. a; See Dr. Key's Nor. Led. Vol. ill. p. 200, ^o3 J and Milner's Review of Auftin's Theology, Ilill:. of the Church, Vwl. ii. p. 501 — 5:0. (o) See above, p. 70. G 2 ()6 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. ofthe matter, thefe moderate Doarines, or the tiotiofjs of Jujiin on this fubjecl, come under the reprehenfion of our opponents. On the other hand, thefe are the doarines maintained by the Divines I am vindicating. In which of their writings can our opponents find a fingle paragraph that goes beyond the Sublapfarian Scheme ? But much may be found that comes beloiv it. There is nothing about the Divine Decree of the Fall, Reprobation, or any other of the do€lrines, which are properly denomim\ted the rigors of the Calviniftic fyftem Infifted upon in their works. Even "the hoary Baronet V who has fo recently been called a "rigid Calvinift and Predeftinarian^," begs leave with Auftin, to ilifFer from fome great primitive authorities of our church, on the fide of moderation'^'. And how muft every Divim fmile to fee thefe epithets applied, at the fame time, to an- other diftinguifhed Senator*^. The moft do£lrinal writer, in the clafs under confiderationf Mr. Hervey, fpeaks thus refpecting thefe deep points : " Predcflination and Repro- bation, I think of with fear and trembling. And if I (hould attempt to ftudy them, I would fludy them on my knees V' When therefore, certain Writers have formed a frightful fyftem of nothing but abfolute Decrees, abfolute Reproba- tion, and other Extravagancies, which we difavow, they may attack it as vehemently as they pleafe; but it deferves their confideration, that it is a creature of their own, and ihat in refpect to «x, at leaft, the moft pointed of their weapons falls ** Telum imbelle fine iau." Mr. Daubeny may deduce his confequences, afTume the prerogative of knowing men's hearts, and infift upon it, in fpite of them- felves, that they hold dodlrines^ which \\ity fay^ and helievcy they do not / but it deferves his confideration, that fuch a procedure is abfurd in itfelf, that it is contrary to the efta- (b) Sir Richard Hill. (c) Antijac. Rev. Nov. 1 799, p. i5°- (q) Anf. to Daubeny, p. 89, 90. ((i) Mr. Wiibei force. (e) Col- Uaion of Letters, n. 3' p. 2x3. (0 Appendix, p. 221. THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. 97 bllfhed laws of controverfy £, and that it is juft as fair, and jufl as fignificant, as it would be to infer, from his ftronger exprelTions refpe6ling human agency^ that at the bottom he muft be a Socinian. Here then we might well reft our v/hole queftion. The Church of England, we have fecn ftrong reafon for con- cluding, is moderately Calv'inijik. The chief fubje6ts of oujr Apology are profefledly fo. This circumftance therefore might at once decide who have adhered to, and who have departed from, the original and genuine doctrines of the Articles, as none but thofe accufed oi Methodlfm even profefs to hold any tenet that is Cahhnjlic. It will however abundantly fufhce, to our prefent pur- pofe, to proceed upon a ftill broader bafis. Many fincerc Chriftians, we believe, are prepared to join in the fongs of heaven, in afcribing their whole ** Salvation to God and the Lamb," and hold the above do£lrines ejfcntially^ who difown the name we have affixed to thern. With thefe perfons we -would by no means quarrel, for the fake of a term which we only adopt in the want of one to exprefs our fentiments more perfeflly. But, what is of more weight in the confide- ration, it is not either t^e name or the nature of Calvinifm, as fuch, to which our opponents confine their attack. It 15 the do6lrine of Salvation by Grace, through faith in the Re- deemer y under whatever form or name it is profefied, to which, in reality, they at the bottom object. Several of the late popular Works which have endured the direcSl: attack, or the invidious fneer, contain nothing that is peculiarly Cal- viniftic. Other Writings and Sentiments which have ex- perienced this treatment, are profefTedly y^rw/V/zW;''. Whether therefore the Church ofEngland has determined this way, or the other, or neither, on fome of the abflrufe points agitated between the Calvinifts and Armlniaus is not (g) See Dr. Hey, Vol. i. p. 4.1 1. (h) See Mr. Clapham's Ser mon 5 Dr. Croft's Thoughts j and Mr. Daubeny's V/orks. G3 gS THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. our determining point: On this circumflance we do not found the truth of our main pofition : But thus much, we mufl infifl upon *, this every Perfon, fufficiently acquainted with thefe fubjecls, will fee it impoflible not to allow us ; that in proportion as CcJvifii/m prevailed when our Jriicles nvere ejJahlijljed, and as the private fefitiments of the Compilers^ Reiifers, and Impofers of thefe j^rticlcs ivere Calvinificy a ftrong argument is furnifhed, in favour of our interpretation of them, and in oppofitio?! to theirs whofe ingenuity is em- ployed in explaining them away. We have now then taken a very comprehenfive view of our fubje£l; we have examined our different Forms of doc- trine and worfhip, as they explain and illuftrate each other ; theTitle which the Articles bear i and the Preamble which is annexed to them: We have further inveftigated, the Circumftances in which our reformers were placed, and the obje6l they had in view; — their other authentic theological Writings \ — the Authorities they refpe£len 5-.— and, their own private Sentiments ; and from the whole, it appears moH unqucflionablyj That on the points of doctrine now under confideration, they meant at lead to eftablifh all they have expressed ; that on many occafions they went beyond what is necef- farily implied in the letter of the Articles, and difcovered fentimcnts dill further from the divinity vi^e oppofe ; but that they never, by any means, abridged or restricted the full and natural fenfe of their Words, and mod certaiiily never intended they fiould hefo ijiterpreted. And hence, it follows, as unqueftionably, That all who ill any degree extenuate, or evade the plain, literal, and full meaning of thefe Articles, on the doiSlrines in queilion, do NOT " teach them as they were {irft delivered by our Reformers." But this, in a very notorious degree, it has appeared in a former chapter, is undeniably the condu<5l o? THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. 99 our Opponents. One part* of their pofition is therefore again overturned. But hence alfo, on the other hand, it clearly follows. That they who teach according to this p/aifiy literal, and full meaning of the Articles, do teach them in their true and pri' mltive fen/e ; and that they who, to a certain extent, exceed this literal meaning on the fide of Divine Agency, do not teach more than was taught by our Reformers. And here we call upon our accufers to fhow, by fair quotation, from the Writings of Milner, Hawker, Scott, from the Practical Re- view, the Strl£l:ures on Education, the Scripture Charadters, or Venn's complete Duty of Man, works they have particu- larly attacked, any doClrine that exceeds this ftandard ; any thing that in its natural tendency, and by fair conftru6lion, means more than what is plainly taught in our Articles, Ho- milies, and Liturgy, and illuftrated by the known fenti- ments, and the other writings of our Reformers. Until they do this, we muft conclude that the other part^ of their pofi- tion is alfo groundlefs, and that it is equally certain that we -have, as that they have tiot, adhered to the true and original do(5lrines of thefe forms. (1) Se above; p. 12—15. W ^^^ Ibid. G4 ( loo ) CHAP. Ill, An Examination 'whofe teaching mojt 7^efembles that of cur Church and her Reformers in rejpect to, the use made- of tJie peculiar Doctrines of the Gofpel, and the necejffity of PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY. It is a fa£l of which it is impoffible to doubt, that our Reformers did not teach the doctrines in queftion, as mere fpeculative and uninteiefling opinions, which it is fufficicnt barely to afTent to, and contemplate at a diftance j but as truths of .the very higheft importance, truths which it be- comes every Chrldian to know pranically. They confi- dered them of mor^ v/orth than their exalted ftations in the church; their mod admired worldly pofTeflions ; their coun- try ; their liberty, or even their lives. Their, own charac- ters and behaviour, at once, convincingly fliow on what do£lrines they laid the great^ft flrefs; and how effential they believed the pmBical hnoivledge of their tenets. Their exertions in the propagation of thefe doctrines; their invin- cible ccndancy; patient refignation; exalted charity; tri- umphant faith, under the mofi: trying provocations, the lieavieft prefent facrifices, and in the midil of the flames, aRbrd a ftriking proof both what the genuine efficacy of their piinciples is, and that it was experienced by themfelves. No where, fave in the exhibitions of the Bible itfeif, can we fee more that is truly Chriflian, both of dodlrine and prac- tice, than in the dying fentiments and behaviour of thofe among them who fealed the fincerity of their profeffion wah rhe'r blood. They were unanimous, at this folemn feafon, \i\ cjicluding all merit from themfelves; in buildineall their THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, ^'C. lOl hopes of falvation upon the mercy of God in Chrifl: Jefus; in rejoicing tliat they were counted worthy to fuffer for his fake ; and, in exprefTing a raoft firm and unlhaken confidence of pofleffing eternal hfe, through him^ And with precifely the fame views did thofe depart, who furvived this ftorm, and went from earth to heaven by a more ordinary way, in the fucceeding reign ^ It was not, in the judgment of thefe ** divine men ^," the part of " Ambafladors of Chrift" to omit, and generally feem to forget, the peculiar doctrines of the gofpel, in their public difcourfes, any more than to difavow them. They did not barely (late, in genernl terms, the outlines of the Chriftian fyftem ; make little or no more ufe of it ; and confider it their chief bufincfs " to be the apes of Epidletus,'* Plato, or Seneca. ' The diftinguifiiing tenets of Chriftianity ever conflituted the prominent features of their religious inflru£lions, and are their reigning theme in the forms of doflrine and worfliip they provided. " The fum of their doclrine," as we are afiured from their own mouths, is, ** to fet forth Chrifl: crucified to be the only Lord and Redeemer; giving all glory unto God, the only worker of our falvation, and removing all merit from man ; and comm.ending and teaching fuch good works of all men diligently to be dpne, as God in his word has prefcribed^." Accordingly, every view of this gracious Redeemer's charader is prefented ; every part of his afl:onifliing work is enumerated, in our creeds *, while to his crofs and fufferings there is a conilant reference throughout the public fervice. Every rite points to him for its efficacy; every petition is prefented in his name ; every expectation is founded upon his merits; every endeavour is direded to his glory ; every acceptable work (a) See Fox, Strype, kc. pafllm. (b) S-e Strype's Lives of Paiksr, Jewel, kc. (c) Bifliop Hurd thus dencn:inaies,the Re- formers, Sermon ir. Vol. iii. p. 206. (d) See Articlts fubfcribsd in the firft year of Elizabeth, Strype's Annals p. 1:7. THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED, IS afcrlbcd to the power of his grace. For proof of ali thio, we refer to our forms themfelves ; to the private letters, confeflions, and other theological v/orks, of thefe venerable men ; and to tlie relations of their mofl approved bio- graphers. Prefent notions, however, fhall induce us to be a little more particular in (bowing, that our Reformers held the abfolute neceflity of fomething more than a m.ere form of religion, even of what we denominate a perfonal, praftical, and experimental acquaintance with the do£lrines they taught. Either then the church of England confiders all perfons real Chriflians who are comprehended within her external pale, or fhe confiders only fome of her vifible members en- titled to this characler, and the reft mere nominal and pro- fefled Chriftians. In a general Form fhe ufes general ex- preffions. She affiimes not the prerogative of knowing either men's hearts, or God^s unrevealed appointments. Necef- farily, therefore, not lefs than in the judgment of charity, on fome occaficns, fiie addrefles all as true Chriftians who profefs to be fuch. Every child that fhe has bap-tized, Ihe fpeaks of, as ** regenerate,*' as a partaker of the privileges of the gofpel, and as, in fome fenfe, called to *' a ftate of falvSttion:" She puts the language of real Chriftians into the mouths of all her worftiippers : She exprefles a favourable hope of every perfon whom fne inters. — Are we then hence to conclude that our church knows of no diftin6lion but that between/>r^/^flf Chriftians and jijro/^^/^ heathens, Jews, 8cc.j and that fhe really confiders all who are her nominal mem- bers, in fuch a fenfe in a ftate of falvation, as that they will efcape future punifhment and obtain everlafting happinefs 'whatever be their charaBers ? Do all perfons ** omit or miC reprefent the dodrines of baptifm*^" who do not accede to (e) See the Antijac. Rev. for April, 1799, p. 369. THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, ScC, 107 this opinion ? Is there no method of afcrlbing a proper ef- ficacy to this divine oidinance, and of fixing a proper value upon our other outward Chrillian privileges, but this? Will our opponents, will any profeifed friends of the ^eftablifli- nient, maintain this do£f rine ? This would be making a {hort and eafy way to heaven indeed. This would remove a conftant fource of the faithful Minifter's anxieties at once, and enable him, under the worfl of appearances, to commit the falvation of his people to the infallibility of his fhurch. But furely our Reformers knew too much of the fcrlp- tures, had too great an averfion to popery, and too much good fenfe and piety, to fubflitute the mere fliadow for the fubftanc^, and maintain this abfurd and licentious fyftem. It is contr:^ry to what our church teaches c^prefsly. In con- formity to the Coiif^lhons of all the reformed churches fhe affirms in dire£l terms, that ** In the vifible church the EVIL be EVER MiNGLEp with the GOOD," and that even fome- times the evil have chief authority in the minlllration of the Word and Sacraments ^ :" She fuppofes, accordingly, that " The wicked, and fuch as be void of a lively faith,'* and who ir^NOWisE ARE PARTAKERS OE c «RisT," may vlfiblv partake of the Lord's Supper, and only ** to their condem- nation s :" She declares, without any exception on account of external church-member(liip, that " they that have done evil, fliall go into everlading firc^^" On the other hand, the initiatory Rite of Baptifm, incul- cates the necelhty *'ofan inward and fpiritual grace," of a <' death unto fin and a new birth unto rigliteoufnefs," as well as " the outw^ard and vifible fign of fprinkling with water;" and *' reprefents to us our profelRon which," it is faid, *^ is, to follow the example of our Saviour Chrifl:, and to be made like unto him : that as he died, and rofe again for (f) Article iC. (g) Article 29, (h) Athar.afian Creed. 104 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTA IND, us; fo fliould we v^ho are baptized, die from fin, and rife again unto righteoufnefs, continually mortifying all our evil and corrupt affedions, and daily proceeding in all virtue and godlinefs of living^." The fame do6lrine is implied and enforced in her whole explanation of the nature of this covenant. The exprefs obje6l of the Ordinance of Confirmation is, to teach the ne- ceflity of this perfonal and pradical Chriftianity. The catechumen here declares, that he will aftuafly ratify the engagements made on his behalf at Baptifm, and promifes in the mod folemn manner, by the grace of God, in his own perfon, evermore to endeavour faithfully to obferve them. And, only on his doing this, and doubtlefs on the fuppo- fition of his fmcerity, is he pronounced forgiven and rege- generate. Accordingly, none are invited to our Communion but thofe who " truly repent , have a lively faith, and are iledfaftly purpofed to lead a new" and holy life. The whole fervice of our Church, indeed, confining of confeOion, petition, devotion, thankfgiving, and worfliip, evidently prefumes this to be the charaO:er of all her true members, and is, when engaged in by thofe who are def- titute of this perfonal fenfe and feeling of what they utter, the moll confummate nonfenfe and hypocrify. She coiifiders it the univerfal characleriftic and experience of thofe who ** at length, by God's mercy, attain to everlafting felicity,'* that they " bewail their manifold fms and wickednefs," ac- knowledge their juil defert of punifliment, and fue earneftly to God, through Chrifl, for mercy'; that they " be called according to God's purpofe by his fpirit working in due feafon V* that " they through grace obey the calling, be juftified freely, made Sons of God by adoption, made like the image of his only-begotten Son Jefus Chrift, and walk religiously in good w^orks"^." She teaches moreover that (i) See efpeclally the Communion Service, and Litany, and Burl:ii Service. (k) Art. 17, THE REAL SENSE OF THE ARTICLES, &C. lO^ fuch perf6ns ** feel in themfelves the working of the fpirit of Chrift, mortifying the works of the flefh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things *." She affirms, that " good works do fpring out necefTarily of a true and lively faith •, infomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known, as a tree difcerned by the fruit "^ j" and confequently, that ali who are deftitute of a holy life, are not, in her fenfe of the word, true believers. She fays exprefsly, that '* true Chrifl- ian faith m man hath^ who in the outward profeffion of his mouth, and in his outward receiving of the Sacraments, in coming to the Church, and in all other outward appear- ances, feemeth to be a Chriftian man, and yet in his living and deeds flieweth the contrary "." Yea, fo far is fhe from fuppofmg, that a participation in her outward ordinances will be effectual to the falvation of any in whom this ** in- ward thing fignified,*' and aimed at, in thefe ordinances is wanting, that this circumRance, (he teaches, will encreafe their condemnation". And to this efFedl, Ridley, Latimer, Cranmer,^ Taylor, Jewel, and every one of her chief re- formers fpeak exprefsly on other occafions. The two firft mentioned of thefe Worthies, fhall here be the mouth for the reft. ''Sometimes/* obferves Bllhop R. meeting the obje£lions of the Romanifts, '' The name of the Church is taken for the whole multitude of them who profefs the name of Chrift, of which they are alfo named Chriftians. But as St. Paul faith of the Jews, Not every one is a JeWy that is a Jew outwardly, &c. Neither yet all that be of Ifrael are counted the feed : even fo, not every one that is a Chriftian outwardly is a Chriftian indeed. For if any man have not the Spirit of Chrift-, the fame is none of his. Therefore that Church which is his body,, and of which^ (1) Ibid. (m) See Art. xi, and below, Ch. vii. §; i (n) Homily on Salvation. (o) Art. 29 j Exhortation at th< Communion j Hem. on Sacrament, on the Relurredlon j &c, 106 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. Chrift is at the head, ftandeth only on living (lones, and true Chriftians,.not only outwardly in name and title, but inwardly in heart and in truth 2." *' A Chriftian," adds honefl Latimer, " that is, one admitted into the Church by Bap- tifm, if he afiftvers not his prof eJTiGny but gives himfelf up to flefhly lufts, is in refpeft of eternal life which is promifed to Chriftians, no more a Chriftian than a Jew or a Turk; yea, I fay, his condition fnall be worfe at the laftdayP." Moft clearly therefore it is the judgment of our churchy that as " he is not a Jew," fo neither is he a Chriftian, " ivho is only one out-wardly -," and that as it " is not circumcifion," fo neither is that baptifm, " ivhich is only outward in the ficfh ;" but that ** he only is a Jew" or a Chriftian, indeed, ^^ vvh.o is onz inwardly y and circum- cifion/' or baptifm, '* is that of the hearty in the Jpirit, and not in the letter, whofe praife is not of men, but of God 'I." She clearly diftinguifhes, between her /rw^ w^w- hrs and thofe who have '' the form of godlinefs, but deny the power of it^." She certainly confiders none who have arrived at maturity, and are capable fubje£ls, in fuch a fenfe Chriftians, as that they will obtain happinefs and heaven, except thofe who are inlluenced by Chriftian prin- ples, and exhibit a Chriftian conduct; who are penitents, believers, and habitual obfervers of God's Law. When therefore, in general terms, (lie addrefses her profefhng members as real Chriftians, it is clearly on the fuppofition that, where opportunity is aftbrded, they really comply ■vvitli the engagements, and enjoy the prefent blelfings of the baptlfmai covenant. While therefore ihe laments (z) Conference with Latimer in prifon. (p) Fox's A6ls, &c. ift Ed. p. 1317, Anfwer to Dr, Sherwood 5 and 2d. Ed. p. 1915, Anfwer to Sir Edward Bayntcn j the Conftri^nce in prilbn, p. lEo; j &c, (q) See Rom. "ii, z8, 29. (r) S^e 2 Tim. ii. 5. *rHE REALSENSE OF THE ARTICLES, ScC, tCy"]' fhe want of "a godly difclplme%" by which notorious Cnners might be more openly diflinguiflied ; and while flie cannot fee men's hearts, and therefore decides not in rcfpe<5l to the ftatc of individuals, in the mod folemn' manner, fhe exhorts all her vifible members to judge thcm- felves by the ftandard of God's word -, forewarns them of the awful punifhmen-t that awaits the wicked and m.ere formalifts, and aflures fuch that their abufed Chrillian pri- vileges will aggravate this punidiment^ 2. And now, whatever all this accords with befides, it is notoriously the do<£lrine of thofe for whom we are apo- logizing. It is that which is avowed by themfelves ; it is that for which they are fpccifically condemned by their opponents. This conftant, all-important, ufe of the Saviour ; this necellity of a perfonal and practical acquaintance with his dodrines, In order to Salvation -, this confequent diftincr- tion between real and merely nominal Chriilians, confli- tutes the mod ftriking of their peculiarities, and, in the judgment of fuch Divines as Dr. Paley, Dr. Croft, Mr. Daubeny, and Mr. Polwhele, the very efTence of ther guilt "^, In thefe particulars, even more, it is conceived, than in the theoretic articles of their refpecllve creeds, the difference between the two parties confifts. In the fyilem of the one, the Redeemer is the Sun, the grand fource of light, life, motion, comfort and every thing that is beautiful and excellent; in that of the other, he has only the place of fome inferior luminary. The one makes fomething real and internal, a certain ftate of heart and chara£ler, elTcn- tial to real Chrillianity ; the other, as will appear pre- iently '^, treats all as real Chriftians who afliime the Chriflian name, and comply with the external forms of our religion. (s) Commlnation Service ; See alfo Arch-bifliop Seeker's IriOruc- tlons to Candidates for Holy Ordeis. (r) See IbiJ j ar,'.! No':^o, above. (v) See below, §. 3. (o) Ibiil. I08 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. They cannot confiftently difown the latter fyftem, whd ridicule the former. We, however, certainly do thus dwell on the peculiar doBrines of Chrijilanlty^ in our adminillratlons. And we think we have the bed grounded reafon for this condu£l ^. Yet, let it not be unjuflly infinuated that we exalt one part of the Chriftian fcheme to the deftruftion of another. They alone we ftrehuously maintain, " rightly divide the Word of Truth %" who afcribe their due importance to all its parts ; and who " Ihun not to declare all the counfel of God ^.'* The do£lrInes in queftion are pregnant with duties both to God and man. Thefe duties are to be ex^ plained and enforced. But to conftitute them Chriftian morahty, they muft be enforced from Chriftian motives. So that in the very a£l of inculcating the moral duties, the principles peculiar to Chriftlanlty are our reigning fub- jeifl; and we have the authority of the Apoftle, not lefs than that of our church', for determining comparatively " to know nothing^" elfe, in the execution of .our high commiffion. And thus alfo do we maintain the necefilty of praclical ChrijTmnity. We neither " omit nor mifreprefent," nor by any means depreciate, the true ** do£lrine of baptifm.'* There is, we conceive, ** much profit" attending it j and as the profefTed Jews had, fo more efpecially the profefled Chriftian hath, everyway, many diftinguiftiing advantages and privileges in refpeft to his falvation. But a fimilat kind of reafoning, it Is underftood, is applicable to this Divine Ordinance, with that which tlie Apoftle ufes re- fpe£ling circumcifion. " CIrcumclfion verily profitteth, if thou keep the law ; but if thou be a breaker of the law> thy circumcifion is made uncircumcifion ^.'* And as " they (w) See below Ch, 9. Coiiclufion. (a) a Tim. ii. ^S- (b) Aas XX. 47. (d) I Cor. xL a. (t) See Romans ii- 2K X and iii. 1, 2, KECESSITY OF PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY.- I09 wxrc not all Ifrael, who were of IfraeK;" as ail were not Ifraelites in a fpiritual and higher fenfe, who were circam- cifed and Ifraelites by defcent and profeflion, but they only who followed the fteps of Abraham in believing and obey- ing -, fo neither can all thofe be confidered Chriftians In a true and fpiritual fenfe, who are born in Chrifllan countries, and "enjoy many valuable Chriftian privileges, but they only who arein reality, what, in the language of our church, they profefs to be, who m reality embrace Chriftian dodlrines, and lead a Chriftian life. Our Church, for inftance, fuppofes, in ftri£l conformity with the fcripfures, that all real Chriftians are regenerate by God's Holy Spirit ^ : In proportion therefore as her adulc members really poflefs the views, difpofitions, and conduft, which Invariably charadlerlze the regenerate children of God in fcripture, they may conclude themfclves real Chriftians. — ■ Our Church fuppofes that all her fincere members really con- ■fiderthemfelves " miferabie offenders," that they " do not pre- fume to come unto God, trufting in their own righteoufnefs, but in his manifold and great mercies j" that they ** have a lively faith in God's mercy, through Chrift-," and that this faith necefTarlly produces obedience, and is incompatible with a courfe of allowed fin^^ : In proportion therefore as the chara£lers of her profefTors correfpond with thefe circum- ftances, they are her true members. — ^Our Church fuppofes that all her real and fpiritual children are engaged in a con- tinual warfare againft fm, the world, and the Devil, Thefe they folcmnly engage to renounce at their baptifm ; againft thefe (he experts them to fight manfully under Chrift's ban- ner to the end of their lives ' : In proportion therefore as her vifible members are a61:ualJy engaged in this conflict, and vi6lorious in it ; as " the old Adam is fo buried, that the new man is raifed up in them ; as all carnal afFe6lions die iu them, and all things belonging to the fpirit Vive and grow in them •, as they have power and ftfength to have vi£lory, and (f) Rem. 9.6. (f) Coiltct at the Nativiry. (l.) See general Confciilun, CuecLIfm, and Cam. Ser. fi) Set BjpriAnal Service. H lid THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINEI?. to triumph over thefe grand enemies of their falvation," they anfwer to her notion of true Chriftians. — Our church teaches fhat the real children of God find in themfelves a principle *^ mortifying the works of the flefh and their earthly mem- bers, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things," and that this they believe to be " the fpirit of Ghrifl'^:" In proportion therefore as heif nominal profelTors are acquainted with thcfe fan61:ifying and cheering efFed:s of our religion, they approach to her ftandard of real Chriftianity. All this then is very diftincEl from the mere profeffioa of the national religion, or from a Chriftian profeflion connected with mere outward decency of charader. To renounce the vanities of the world, and to carry on a daily warfare againfl: it, muft mean fomething very different from barely not dif- gufling it wit?h fcandalous immoralities. And is there then any impropriety in denominating what has thus its root ia the heart and afFecSlions, fpiritual and internal religion, in oppofition to that which merely refpedls the external beha- viour ? Is it improper when the Redeemer thus " blefTes men, by turning them away from their iniquities,"^ deliver- ing them from the condemnation and dominion of fin, and enabling them to " ferve him without fear in holinefs and lighteoufnefs before him all the days of their life V to flyle it a prefent falvation ? Or, Is it abfurd and unintelligible to call thefe various exercifes of the Ghriftian's mind, and ftates of his condu£l: ; his conflicts with thefe enemies of his peace ; his attainments in humility, faith, hope, love, and othei' Ghriftian graces, his experience ? Name it, however, what men pleafe, this undeniably is the nature of the Chriftianity taught by our Church. The affirmation however is falfe, which reprefents us to teach " that no oPxC knows Chrift, or is a tfue Chriftian, until he can fpecify the preeife time and hour of his converfion V (k) Art. 17. (1) See A£ls HI. a6j Rom. vl. 14; v. i j Lukei. 74,75. (m) See Antijac. Rev. April, 1799, P- 3^9* See alfa Mfo Polwhele's Letter to Dr, Hawker, p. 14. ' NECESSITY OF PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY. lit What we infifl upon is, that ProfefTors of Chriftlanity ihould have fcriptural ground for concluding that they have, in fa£t, turned unto God by true repentance, and that, in fa6t> they pofleft the difpofitiohs and charaders of his faithful people. Yet furely, there is no abfurdity in the fuppofitioa that a wicked man may know fomething of the time ** when he turneth away from his wickednefs, and does that which is lawful and right ^" There is furely no abfurdity in putting to a profefled Chriftian an inquiry like this: Did you at the time of your confirmation, when you profefled to do it, really enter upon the faithful obfervance of your baptifmal engage- ments; and have you, in the general and habitual tenour of your life, been acling confiftently with thefe engagements ever fince ? If not : Have you done this at any other period^ either previous or fubfequent to this ordinance ? Have you new the charafter of a true Chriftian ? It is furely very con- ceivable, that thofe who once lived in a firm alliance with thofe powers againft which they now wage irreconcileablc war *, that thofe who once lived in bondage to fin, and to the fear of death and judgment, and have now a lively faith in God's mercy through Chrift, and power over their corrup- tions *, that thofe " whofe minds were once only on earthly things," and are now " drawn up to high and heavenly things," (hould not only be aware of the change that has taken place, but alfo at what period of their life, and by what means, this change efpecially commenced, or has been efpecially promoted. Our Church declares and pronounces all thofe to be in a pardoned and abfolved condition, " that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe the gofpel." " They," fhe alfo fays, *' who in a£l or deed fin after their baptifm, are wallied by Chrift's facrifice from their fins, %vhe7i they turn again to God unfeignedly °."- — All therefore who do this have her warrant (n) Ezekiel, xvlii. 27. (o) See her forms of Abfolution, a'*i Horn, on SaWa. p. la. 112 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. to confider themselves in a ftate of favour and acceptance with God, from the time when they thus turn unto him by ^rue faith and repentance. The abfurdity on the fubjedt will, therefore, perhaps, rather, be found with' thofe who treat all pretenfions to any knowledge of our religious ftate with ridicule ; and who can fuppofe men to repent, and believe, and be reformed, and carry on the Chriftian warfare, as the Church prefcribes, and yet themfelves have fcarce any perception of it, 3. But let us examine how the teaching of our Opponents agrees with that of the Church of England, on the fubje^ls under confideration. In refpe£l to the firft particular, the making fo great a ftir about the blefled name, and peculiar do£lrines of Jefus, they will readily allow us the exclufive credit of it. They will fcarcely pretend that thefe topics make as prominent a figure in their Pulpits as in their Defies. They will avow it of more importance to dwell upon the duties of morality. — Thus, Mr. Clapham " reckons not the infifting perpetually on the do6lrines of faith, grace, juftifi- cation, the new-birth, the indwelling of the fpirit, and communion with God, among the excellencies of public in- Itruiftion P ." — Dr. Croft " is far from allowing that a dif- courfe is not a gofpel difcourfe wherein the evangelical motives are pafledover in filence^.*' — Mr. Benfon vindicates this omiiTion of evangelical dodrines, by the example of the Apoftles, and fays, that the " far greater part of the Epiftles is employed in recommending pradlical duties'^." — 'The whole purport of Mr. Haggitt's Sermon is to this effe6t ^. And one argument by which he juftifies the propriety of fuch a conduct, is, that " every dodlrinal point of our facred (p) Sermon at Boroughbridge, p. 13. (q) Strictures on Paley, &c. p. 146. (r) See Sermons preached at Tunbridge Wells Chapel, by Martin i^enfon, A. M. Minifter of that Chapel, and Reaor "^f Merfth;;m, Surrey, ift, p. 5, 7, (m) Vifiiation Sermon, paflim. NECESSITY OF PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY. II3 religion ^y" is fully taught in our " Liturgy !"— .« It is," confefles Mr. Jones, as we have feen above, " too com- monly known againft our preachers, that they negleB the gofpely and take what they call good natural religion into the Pulpit 5."—" Of late times," adds Bifhop Home, " there hath been a prejudice in favour of good moral preaching ; as if the people might do very well, or even better, without the knowledge of the Chriftian myfteries ^" Nay, it is an eftabhfhed " maxim" among the Clergy, Bifiiop Horfley informs us, " That it is more the office of a Chriftian teacher, to prefs the praBice of religion upon the confciences of his hearers, than to inculcate and alTert its doElrines ; and that motal duties conftitute the whole, or by far the better part, of pradlical Chriftianity ^." And this. ** Infrequency in the pulpit of thofe fubjeds which con- ftitute the peculiar do£lrines of Chriftianity," the Bifhop of Durham, after " the moft diligent view of the fubjed,'* conceives to be an efpecial caufe of the prefent deplorable ftate of rehgion among us ^. In (hort, as we have (howii at large in a preceding Chapter ^, the vindications of this ftrain of preaching by one clafs of Divines, the confeffions of another, and the complaints of a third, in refpe£t to it, render the fa£l undeniable, that this is the prevalent mode of pr'." " That," he fays, *< may be a true Church, in which the pure word of God is not preached ^." " That the fpirituality of Divine Worihip is eflential to the very being and conftitution of a Church, is more,*' he adds, " than will be granted; becaufe the Church of Chrifl has, at diderent times, been permitted to exift without it '^." " You fay," he obferves to his antagonill:, *' The colIe£lion of believers is the Church, of the living God: and therefore the Church of Chrift, becaufe fiie holds the truth. I fhould rather fay, that the Church holds the truth, becaufe (he is the Church of Chriil ^." To the fame (b) Appendix, Letter 7. p. 4525 quoted alfo in the Antijacobin Review, Feb. iSco. p. 141. (v) Ibid. p. 475, 476. (x^ Ibid. p. 452. (w) Ihid. p. 4S:-. (v) Ib"d. p. 4S1. — It is not a little rtmaikable that Lord Bacon's defcription of the Church, which is appealed to hnh by Mr. Daubeny and Sir Richard Hill, makes direfrly ngainft them both ; and, in exa6t conformity with our ig;h Article, and t'»e idea we malnain, confiders a proper regard to burh ^nierr.ah and rxtivnals eflential to a true Church. His Lordfiiip's. words are, *' I believe , . . that there is an univerfal or Catholic Church of God, difperfed over the face of the earth, which is Chrifl's fpoufe, and Chrilt's body ; being gathered of the fathers of the old world, cf the church of the J^ws, of the fpirits of the faithful diffblved, ind th? fpirits of the faithful militant, and of the names yet to be bcrr^ NECESSITY OF PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY. llf purport, a Correfpondent of the Antijaccbln Reviewers obferves, " A curious diftinction has lately been found ou^ between the Church of Chrift, and the Church of Eng- land V' Mr. Polwhele, confiders it among the greatefh extrava- gancies, to think unfavourably of the (late of many " who every Lord's day, attend the fervice of the church^." Yet furely he mud have heard of the fm of pliarifaifm, and the mere '' form of Godlinefs," which our Lord and his Pro- phets and Apoftles, fo feverely reprehend. Surely his at- tention to fuch fubje6ls cannot be fo fuperficial, but he mufl: know perfons who are in habits of occupying their pews in the parifh church, and are yet notorioufly guilty of feme of thofe fins, of the which the fcripture folemnly and repeat- edly declares, " that they who do fuch things fliall not in- herit the kingdom of God'^.'* According, however, to the fame notion. Dr. Paley, Dr. Croft, and their admirers, teach, that the fcripture titles of " eka," " called," «'- faints," being " in Chrift," &c. ** were Intended In a fenfe common to all Chriftian con- verts," and that *' the application of fuch titles to dillinguifli individuals amongfl; us, the profeffers of Chriftianity from one another %" argues the greateft ignorance and pre- fumption, which are already written in the book of life. That there Is alfo a vifible church, diftinguiflied by the outward works of God's covenant, and the receiving of the holy doclrine, with the ufe of the myfteries of 49> ^o J ^"d fecond Letter, p. 17, a6, aS, (m) See ^vik Lett. p. ?.s,— -31. t24 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED* - Again : To be ** awakened to a fenfe of our fins/* Is id make " religion the gloomieft thing upon earth ^" To have our minds drawn up to high and heavenly things, is, to be exalted ** above all earthy connections or concerns °/" and to labour under a " happier madnefs ^." To pretend to any aBiial guidance, fan6lification, or comfort of the Holy-Ghoft, is Enthufiafm, without the benefit of a hear- ing: And notwith (landing thefe Gentlemen profefs to be- lieve ** in God the Holy Ghoft, who fandifieth them and and all the ele6t people of God i" notwithftanding they pray, that God may " give his Holy Spirit" to every child which they baptize ; notwithftanding they conftantly pray, that his *' Holy Spirit may in all things dire£l and rule their hearts •/* that he would " cleanfe the thoughts of their hearts by the Inrpiration of his Holy Spirit,'* that his ** Holy Spirit may be ever with them,** and that he may ** not take his Holy Spirit from them •,*' — yet In their judg- ment, the claim to Injpiration is " chimerical ;'* they yet fpeak with indignation of certain modern religionifts, ** who" they tell us, " to all the nonfenfe of a Calviniftlcal Creed have added the chimerical claim to Infpiration^.*' They truft, at their Ordination, that they " are inwardly moved by the Holy-Ghoft tc take upon'* them the office of Minifters^j they " pray earneftly,'* and wait in filence, (n) See p. 82, 45, 53, 57, 79- -. (0) See Ibid, p. 21, 51, 57. (z) See Warburton on Grace, p. 204..' (x) See Archdeacon Balguy's ift Ch. p. 171. (y) This confideration which many treat fo lightly, was the " main reafon/* why the pious Mr. Boyle did not enter into Holy Orders. ** Not having felt within himfelf an inward motion to it by the Holy Glioft," his Biographer fays, *' he durft not take that ftep, left he ftiould have lied to the Holy Ghoft.'* fo folemnly and feriously did this great man judge of this matter. See his Life, as above, p. 57. See the necefTity of both the internal and, external call to the Miniitry properly enforced, in Arch-bifhop Seeker's Inltruftions for Candidates for Orders j in the Charge of the Bifliop of Ofsory, 1796 J and in the quotation iv^v^x Lord Bacon, above, p. 116. NE(?ESSITY OF PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY. 125 for the Infplration of God's " Holy Spirit ;" they unite with the Biftiop in as ftrong language in favour of Infpl- ration as can well be uttered ^ ; and yet, they confider thofe perfons " Enthufiafts, who think, or pretend to think, that the Holy Spirit over-rules them in their words and aflions ^ *," yet, their definition of the Enthufiaft, whom they abhor, is, that " he is, in his own conceit, the in- fplred of lieaven ^ !" And thus are the moft fober and fcriptural notions of our church, on the fubjecl, difcarded or confounded with groundlefs conceits, and wild extra- vagancies. — If the perfons here vindicated pretend to in- fpiration in any fetije or degree which the c urch does not, we fhall be glad to fee the circumftanc^ roved by fair quotation from their own writings. Thus then do thefc teachers join -''■'■ ' '■'* A world who treat ** All but their own experience as deceit." In. all thefe ways do they afford ground for the ** opi- nion" to which Arch-bifliop Seeker fays, ** our irregular- ities and dlvifions are greatly owing," namely, ** that we are ufually indifferent about vital inward religion ^" All this, furely, • looks like openly difpenfing with any fuch (x) Such furely is this : ♦♦ Come, Holy Ghoft, our fouls infpire. And lighten with celeftial fire. Thou the ansinting fpirit art, Who doft thy fevenfold gifts impart. Thy blefsed Unftion from above, Is comfort, life, and fire of love. Enable with perpetual light The diilnefs of our blinded fight. Anoint and cheer our foiled face With the abundance of thy grace." 5jc. See the whole Solemn Service. (w) See Mr. Polwhele's 3d Letter to Dr. Hawker, p. 59. Note. (v) Ibid. 1 ft Letter, p. 8. (t) Ch. 2d, p. 83. I 17.6 THE TRUE CHUHCHMtW ASCERTAINED. Chriftlatiity. This, furely, is refembling the condufl of certain deluded perfons of old, >yhofe fate (liould be a warning to us, faying, " The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, are thefe ♦," whatever be their difobediencej fubftituting the means for the end, church privileges for true religion. — But had thefe been the fentiments of our Reformers, they might well have fjjared the facrifice of their lives. The whole Church of Rome W2LS profejpdiy Chriftian, and ufed the ordinance of Baptifrn, We know how thefe Gentlemen, at other times, fpeak of repentance^ faith, and obedience, as the conditions of juftification, and a£tual falvation. This it is not our bufi- nefs to reconcile with their prefent language. Indeed what may on other occafions be inculcated, is of little import- ance, if *' cum ventum ad verum eft," the point is thus rehnquifhed. It muft feem, from the whole tenor of what has now appeared, that although they ^eak of thefe things, yet that a renewed heart and a holy life are not made a sine qua non in the character of a true Chriftian ; that a performance of the baptifmal covenant is not fo infifted upon as to exclude all hopes of Chriftian falvation from thofe who negledl it. But our argument does not re- quire us to decide upon this matter. What we infift upon, in conclufion of our inquiry, is this, that thefe Divines muft hold — Either, that ALL profefsed Chriftians, who are members of our church, whatever be their cha- raEterSy are in a ftate of acceptance with God, and would go to heaven fliould they die in their prefent ftate; — or, that only some of fuch perfons are in this ftate ; namely, thofe whofe charaElers correfpond with their profeflion. If the former pofition be maintained j we pronounce it, without the fmalleft fear of refutation, licentious, unfcrip- (s) Jer. vji. 4. NECESSITY OF PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY. 127 tural, and dlredly oppofite to the moft plain and exprefs dodrine of our church. If the latter propofition be ad- hered to ; then muft they admit a difiinBion between " the good and the evil," between real and merely nominal Chriftians, and the neceffity of the latter being changed and converted; then will their reprobation of others for making this diftin£lion and inculcating this neceffity, be found ab- furd; then will it be obvious, that it is not, as -they would perfuade us, the Word of God, but their language about all baptized perfons being in a ftate of falvation, which " means nothing.*' If it is perfifted in, that, in making this ideal dIftin6lion among the profeflbrs of Chriftianity, no perfons who pofTefs outward decency of character, or as they term it, no " moral Chriftians,'* fhould be fuppofed radically defe<9:ive ; this is acknowledging in fo many words, that internal 2XiA fpiritual Chriftianity is difpenfed with. In reference then to the whole which has been advanced in this chapter, we appeal to all competent judges to fay, •whofe teaching moft refembles that of the Church and her Reformers on thefe fubje£ts ; ours who make Chrift and his peculiar do61:rines the foul which animates the whole body of our divinity, or theirs "W^^o make fo little ufe of theSaviour and thefe doctrines ; ours who thus infift upon internal and practical Chriftianity, or theirs who reft fo much upon mere externals, and ufe the language which has been exhibited r I 2 ( 128 ) CHAP. IV. The ijiguirj/ piujiied XiitJi regard to the Doctrine of ORIGINAL SIN, and the confeqaent state and character OF MAN, in this xcorld, as a sinner. 1-^ITrLE doubt, it is prefumed, can remain, in the intelli-* gent and impartial mind, w^r^z Bi/hop of Durham, Char. 1797, p. 3. (c) Thoughts, kc. p. 19. (d) See Taylor on Original Sin, p. 27, 30, 37, i64i Dr. Prieftlcy's Familiar IHuftration, p. 11 j and Bifliop Wacibn's Char. 1795. p. 68. 130 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. ably®. It is the dodrine of the eminent Bifhop Warbui'- ton, to whom, as we have feen, our opponents fo generally refer us as a flandard ^ If this prelate does not abfolutely avow the fentiment, he certainly approaches infinitely near fuch an avowal. " Adam," he obferves, " ate, and became as he was at firft created, mortal^P " It is aftonifliing/* he fays, ** that any other death fhould have been uaderftood by his fentence^." He refers us alfo, like Bifhop Law, to Mr. Locke's Reafonablenefs of Chriflianity, where the doctrine is taught unequivocally ^ At the moil, "What phyfical contagion we contracted at our birth, it is," he fays, ** of little ufe to inquire '^." The fame appears to be the doc- trine which is propagated by the celebrated Bifhop Watfon. It Is impoflible to be more exprefs in denying the depravity of our nature than Dr. Taylor is, both in his treatife on Original Sin, and his Scheme of Scripture Divinity in which he refers to the other for explanation ; yet upon this latter Work his Lordihip beftows the mod unqualified en- comiums. *' It deferves/* he fays, ** to be generally known ; and has been much fought after by the Clergy, and he thought he fhould do them an acceptable fervice, in making it a part of his collections" In nearly the fame manner he treats the above mentioned Work of Mr. Locke, with its vindications againfl the orthodox- Dr. Edwards, and other Works of a fimilar tendency"". Mr. Fellowes alfo fpeaks out. ** The fin of Adam," this Gentleman thinks himfelf imperioufly called upon * as a Minifter of the Church of Eno-land' to affirm, " did not vitiate the nature of mankind. The punifliment inflided on Adam for his tranfgreffion was death, and temporal mifery. His poflerity therefore are (e) See his Conuderations on the Theory of Rel. third Edit. p. 45, No:e c. p. loj, r-S' (0 See above, p. 28. Xg) divine Le- gation, B. 9. Vol. iii. Works, p. 634. (!0 ^^id. p. 638. (i) See the beginning of it. (k) Divine Lega. as above, p. 639. (1) Traas, Vol. i. Contents. (m) Ibid. Vol. iv. Contents. ORIGINAL SIN, &C. 131 born to mortality and to fufFering*, but they are not born either in guilt or in ivichednefs. They are twt horn difpofe d t evil and indifpofed to good. They are born innocent ; and this was certainly the opinion of our Saviour ^." By others, the hiftory, in the firft part of Genefis, refpec- ting the difobedience of our firft Parents, is confidered as being '* not a literal defcription oi faB^ but an allegorical ilory, like the Pilgrim's Progrefs." " Many ferious and thinking Chriftians," Profeflbr Heys fays, have thus confi- dered it. And for this reafon he fuggefts a " doubt whether the diforderly propenfities of man were owing to Adam's tranfgreffion," and whctlier the compilers of our ninth and tenth Articles meant to affirm that they are ^ ! Another method of treating the fubje6l of the Fall of man is, to reprefent it as a tranfa£lion *' of which we are very obfcurely and imperfe£l:ly informed." This is the famous Dr. Balguy's manner of fpeaking concerning it; which Dr. Hey obferves, " feems rather to imply, that he woiild not lay much ftrefs on a ftate fo little underftood °." Accordingly, as the fame Gentleman informs us, *' Dr. B. has only two very {hort exprelfions relating to original fin;" and other " valuable authors," he tells us, " have not dwelt much on it p.'* This view of the fubjedl the learned Pro- fefibr appears to adopt. ** Every thinking man," he fays, will keep ifcin mind. And on this ground alfo he founds the above douhf^, Mr. Ludlam is full on the point. Having obferved that a change of character fucceeded in Adam in confequence of his difobedience, " how far,'* he proceeds, " or in what manner, this change aiFecled his pofterity, we arc not clearly told^" " Though the fcriptures of the Old (z) See "The Anti-C:ilvinift; by Robert Fellowes, M. A. of St. Mary H%11, Oxford j Curate of Harbury ; and Author of a Piaure of Chriftian Philofophy, &c. &c."" p. 15. (n) See Nor. Lea. Vol. iii. p. 137, 152, 1S9. (o) Ibid. p. ,154. (p) Ibid. p. 176, 177. (q) Ibid. p. 152, 163, 219, 183,255. («) Sijc Eflays,p. 83. 14 , 13a THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. Teflament," he fays again, " acquaint us, in very exprcfs and ftrong terms, of man's departure from holinefs,they no where afcribe this change of charader to the fin of Adam'.** . . . *' But if the account of the fall in the fcripiures of the Old Teftament is exceding genertil, that given in thofe of the New is no lefs/o^.''' The 12th verfe of the 5th of Ro- mans, Mr. L. interprets thus: " So, i. e. in like manner as death pafTed upon Adam for his offence, death paffed upon all men for their offences, for that, i. e. becaufe all have finned. That is, death paffed upon all men not for ADAM*3 tranfgreffion, but their own ' !" It is further maintained, that we are certainly not " born guUty." To affirm that we are. Dr. Balguy fays, ** is either unintelligible, or the thing itfelf impoffible ^." Nay, in Mr. Ludlam's judgment, it is highly " unfcriptural and abfurd" to fay, " that children difcover a pronenefs to fin in their earlieft infancy ^ 5" and to fuppofe, ** that men have an inflate tendency to difobedience ^." And, that we fhall be aBual finners, is not, we are taught, an unavoidable and cer^ tain event. ** We do not hold," Dr. Hey fays, " that our paffions are neceffarily and unavoidably exceffive or defective ; but only, that from experience it is to be expeEied, on a foot- ing oi probability^ that they will be fo*.'* And although our fpeciesy taken colledlively, may be confidered as offenders, in- dividualsy it is intimated, may htperfeBly innocent. *' When," Dr. Hey, treating on our fubje£l, fays, " members of any community are faid to offend, as fuch, it is worth obferving, that they may be all the while perfeElly innocent in their in- dividual capacity^." Thefe pofitions the learned Profeffor affumes, illuftrates, and appears to confider as incontrovertible. Mr. Ludlam ac- (s) Ibid. p. 86. (t) Ibid. p. 91. (v) Ibid. p. 91. (x) Ch. 7. p. 300. (y) SixEffays, p. 8a. (z) Ibid. p. 97. (a)Nor. Lea. Vol. ill. p. 165, 178,183—190, 219. (b) Ibid. p. 14-8, 167, 168, 173, 179. ORIGINAL SIN, &C. 133 cordingly affirms, that " When Paul aflerts, that the Ephe- fians * were by nature the children of wrath ;* . . . the word nature muft, of' neceflity, be imderftood, in a figurative or metaphorical fenfe ; and he only means by this expreflion to point out the very general prevalence of wickednefs amongft the Ephefians, even as it alfo prevailed amongfb other heathens; juft as if it was the appointed law of their na- ture^.** " A fimilar mode of fpeaking," Mr. L. adds, "is adopted in all thofe paflages (of fcripture) which fpeak of the corruption of mankind as universal, as if there were not a fingle inftance to be found of the contrary ^,^* "We are told,'* this writer further obferves, " that a change in the (ituation and circumftances of our firft parents took place immedi- diately in confequence of their offence. How far any fur- ther change took place in their moral character, we are not informed •, nor whether, or in what manner, jheir departure from holinefs occafioned that wonderful change in the moral chara£ler of their immediate defcendant and his offspring. But the change in Adam'^ character did not afFe61: the mora^ chara£ter of all his immediate defcendants, any more than that of Cain did 2." It will be remembered that this Divine IS extolled by the Britifli Critic y. And, doubtlefs, it has been among thefe innocent individuals ^whohTiVQ efcaped the general contagion of our race, where Mr. Polwhele found thofe who, he fays, " refembled too much the innocence and fimplicity of little children to htfenftble of pollution from Jln^ and, confequently, were never drawn by the fpirit unto Chrift, to be cleanfed from fuch a leprofy *.'* And when, in the more orthodox fenfe, the univerfal cor- ruption of our nature is admitted, this corruption is confidered as hut partial znA fuperficial in its nature. This is implied in the foft terms by which it is characterized. The phrafes f* human frailty," " human infirmities,** *' human errors," (c) Six Effays, p. 90. (d) Ibid. (z) Ibid. p. 85, (y) Sec above, p, 15, (e) Letter to Dr. Hawker, p. 4.9. Note. J34 THE TRU^ CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. " the defeats of human nature," and " the imperfedions of our nature ^/' are certainly not exprefTive of radical and fundamental depravity. But this fentiment is avowed ex- prefsly. Thus, Dr. Croft affirms, that they " do not ad- mit the effects of original fni to the degree fo warmly con- tended fors." The perfons with whom his contention fub- fifts are Arminians not lefs than Calvinifts. He does not therefore hold this doctrine to the extent which great num- bers of even the former do ; and had he been our reprefen- tative at the famous Synod of Dort, he would have been deemed heterodox by both parties. Thus alfo is the fentiment ftrongly avowed by Mr. Pol- whele, in his comment on the following pafiage of Dr. Hawker. Speaking of the Grace of God, " It is not," Dr. H. fays, " exerted in fupporting what is already ftrong ; not in helping what pofiefles fome power ; not in cleanfing what is in part holy ; but in taking fuch as are of the mafs of helplefs infirm and polluted creatures of the duft, and pu- rifying them for his glory." Upon this paflage Mr. P, addrefies the Doctor thus : ** According to the moll obvi- ous conftru£lion of your meaning, I may deduce from this fcntence, that dangerous axiom : * the greater the (inncr^ the greater the faint.' If the Holy Spirit exert itfelf only in purifying thofe who are polluted by fin, what have we to do, but to gather about us the filthinefs of the flefh, as faft as we can, in order to render ourfelves fit obje7? performed, or at leaft heartily endeavoured p." And thus does Mr. Bcnfon fully teach. *' We muft," he fays, '* convince our/elves offm ; our Convi£l:Ion of it mud: be fudceeded by a godly forrow ; that if it is valid, will work in us a repentance not to be repented of; in other words, a degree of penitence which will induce us, frortn motives fuperior to any worldly temptation, to perfevere in the fear of God, and in the practice of true religion. . . . Repentance is made up of thefe ingredients. And, a.<5 we colle£l from the Gofpel, it is not only necelTary to falva- tion, but it is requilite alfo that it take eiFe6t, before we can hope for any aid^ whether temporal or eternal from the Gofpel *i !" His notions alfo are, that men are capable " by holinefs of living, and an abhorrence of vice, of ?yv:;;w- (1) Letter, p. il. (m) 6 Eftays, p. 92. (n) Ibid, p. lol j and paflim. (o) Ibid, p. 78, artd ad of 4 ElTa} s. (p) Tra^s, Vol. 6. p. 323. Cq) Scr. 3. p. 51. 140 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED* tnending themfehes to the mercy of God^ and rendering thenP' f elves worthy the mediation of J ejus Chriji j'* and that Chrift calls '• only to the righteous'' 1" According to Mr. Fel- lowes, we are '* not born difpofed to evil and indifpofed to good ;" but *' innocent and ripe for heaven;" and naturally •* pofsefs a capacity to perform the feveral duties required of us in the gofpel." And to think otherwife, he maintains, is, to ** fuppofe Chrift. f . . guilty of a palpable abfurdity, and diabolical injuftice ^ !" Some of them maintain that •* without any fupernatural affiftance," any " divine illumination," man's powers of reafon are fufficient to underftand the fcriptures, and attain to all neccflary knowledge in Divine things ; or as they ex- prefs it, in fo many words, that ** the knowledge required of men is attainable by the cuftomary ufe of their natural faculties'." It is the doctrine of nearly the whole body, that his "Will is free to choofe what is good ^ He is able, ** as mere man,'* they teach, " to perform fuch good works as natu- rally make him inclined to accept of a pure religion," *'as attra& the regard oi the Lord of Life ;" " as'nnay be a great recommendation of him to God ;" yea, as rcnderhim " wor^ jf^j^of eledion," and of the " mediation of Jefus Chrift ^.'* When therefore it is affirmed '* that he cannot turn, &c. himfelf, without the Grace of God by Chrift, &g." it may only mean, it is infmuated, that it is not probable that he (r) Ibid. Ser, 1. p. 18, 19. (z) Antical. p. 15, 16. (s) Sec Mr. Ludlam's fix ElTays, p. 92, 97, loi, 8i ; and four Effays, p. 79, 81, »7, 32 J and paflimj and^Bifhop Warburton on Grace, p. 112, quoted with approbation by Mr. Clapham ; and p. 39, 96, compared with Andrews on Grace, p. 112—117; and Bcnfon's ninth Sermon, p. 185. (i) See Dr. Croft's Thoughts, &c. p. 225 Dr. Carr's Sermons, p. 134. Mr. Daubeny's Guide, Difc. 5th, and paffim 5 &c. &c, (v) See Note r j and Mr. Clapham's Thankfgiving Sermon, 97, p. 23, 2+j and Mr. Haggilt, p. 7i and Benfon'^ Ser. x. p. 8, 13, 19, &c. ORIGINAL SIN, &C. '4* Avill, and that <* in each inftance" he can ; that " no power" means only not what is quite ftifficient ; and in fhort, that he can, by his own natural flrength, do every thing but place himfelf " in a ftate of Chriftian perfec- tion ^." Upon the whole then, we have, it mud be allowed, the firmeft ground for concluding, that, as Mr. Locke is faid to have done in refpe£l to the Do£lrines of Chriftianity in general^, thefe Divines " fet themfelvesto reduce this doc- trine to the narrowefl: compafs they poffibly can." ^This indeed fome of them confefs. The general idea, they fay, is, that we did not differ from the Romanifts upon it^ Dr. Balguy would not lay much flrefs upon it ^. Bifhop Wat- fon defends only the De'ijl*s notion of it*. Dr. Hey appears joyful in finding " how near to Taylor, the mofl; eminent of the Socinians," he has reduced it •». 3. Let us now then examine what our church teaches on the fubjedt. It is flill our queftion, it will be remembered, whofe fentiments are thofe which fhe holds, and which her Reformers taught ? It will be remembered too, that {lie is undoubtedly to be underftood according to the moft full and obvious fenfe of her words. 'We will begin with her Article which is exprefsly on the dodrine. And here fhe fpeaks thus : " Original, or birth-fir. ° ... is the fault and corruption of the nature of (w) Sec Nor. Ledi". Vol. 3. p. 219 — 225. (x) ^i^iop Gib- fon's y\ Paltoral Letter, p. 231. (y) Nor. Lecl. Vol. 3. p 145. (z) See above, p. 131. (a) See his Seimons and Charge, p. 68 (b) Nor. Le6l. V^ol. 3. p. 173, 190, 165. (o) '* Still," Bifliop Butler, treating on the * Redemption of the Woild by the appointment of a Mediator,' oblerves, •* it may be tUought, that t!)is whole manner of treating the fnbjeft before us, fu.p- pofcs manhind to be naturally in a 'very firange fiate. And truly fo it does. But it is not Chriitianity, which has put us into this ftate. Whoever will confider the manifoid miieries, and the exti(.'r:ie wicked- K 142 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED, every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far (quam longiflimej gone from originrJ righteoufnefs, and is of his own nature in- clined to evil, fo that the flefli lufteth always contrary to the fpirit.'' In her baptifmal fervice, flie affirms, •* that all men are conceived and born in fin •,** in her catechifm, that we are *' by nature born in fin ;'* and in both, afferts the abfolute n€ceffity of a new birth in order to falvation. She caufes the mcft virtuous of her wor- fliippers to confefs, that ** there is no health in them •,*' that they arc ** miferable offenders ;" and to implore mercy after the repetition of every one of the ten commandments. Her communicants *' acknowledge and bewail their mani- fold fins and wickednefs, which, from time to time, they moft grievously have committed, by thought, word, and deed, againft God's Divine Majefty." But what is the *' wholefome and godly do^lrine" of her Homilies on the fubjedl ? Thefe difcourfes wxre compofed nefs of the wftrld : that the bed have great wrongnefses within them - felves, which they complain of, and endeavour to amend j but that the generality grow more profitgate and corrupt with age t that hea- then moralifts thctight the prelent ftate to be a liate of punifliment : and what niight be added, that the earth our habitation has the appearances cf being a ruin : whoever, I fay, will corfider all thefe, and fonie other obvious things, will think he lias little reafon to objert againft the Si-ripture account, thar matikind is in a fiat e cf degradation'^ againft this being the facl : how difficult foever he may think it to account for, or even to form a diftin(ft ccnception of the cccafions and circum- fiances of is. Eut that the crime of our firfi parents was the occafion of our being placed in a more difadvantageous condition, is a thing thoroughly and particularly analogous to ^wbat ive fee, in the daily courfe of natural pronjidence C Anal. p. 2. C. 5. §. 5. We will prefuine to add, that whoever confiders the nxihole evidence of Scripture on this do61rine, will fee little reafon to rej£6l the notions of our Church upon it. This however, does not concern the queftion with our opponents. But fee Chap. 8. below. ORIGINAL SIN, &C. 143 chiefly by the two leading Agents in the eftabllftiment of our Church, Archbifhop Cranmer, and Bifhop Jewel ^ ; and were extolled by all the eminent Reformers'^. They are fubfcribed with the Articles ^ They have recently been extolled by a great modern Prelate ^, and by other eminent Divines s, and are equally appealed to, with the Articles and Liturgy, by our opponents themfelves^. Their evidence therefore muft be moft conclufive. And this is fuch as the following. " Of ourfelves, and by ourfelves, we have no goodnefs, help, or falvation ; but contrariwife (in, damnation, and death everlafting." . . . ** Into this miferable captivity, we were caft, through the envy of the devil, by breaking of God's commandment in our firfl: parent Adam \'* Again, " Man of his own nature is flefhly and carnal, corrupt and nought, finful and difobedi- ent to God, without any fpark of goodnefs in him, without any virtuous or godly motion, only given to evil thoughts and wicked deeds '." And again, *' All the life of them that lack the true faith is fin K'' — And, to add but one paiTage more, where whole difcourfes might be produced to the fame €fFe£l. In the fermon on the Nativity, after defcribing the perfedlion in which man was created, and then giving the plain fcripture account of the tranfgreflion of Adam, the homily proceeds ; ** Whereby it came to pafs, that as be- fore he was blefled, fo now he was accurfed; as before he was loved, fo now he was abhorred ; as before he was mofl (c) See Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 149 ; Biftiop Burnet's Preface to Exjjofiu'on of the Arts, p. 3 j and Bidiop Pretyman's Elements, &c. Vol. 2. p. 535. (d) See Strype's Eccles. Mem. p. 31, 32, 307. (e) Se^Art. nth, and 35th. (f) Bifhop Ho rfley, Ch. p. 28. (g) See the Antijacobin Review for Oftober, 1798, p. 4.02. (z) See above, p. ir. (h) Horn, on the mifery of nian, p. 10. (i) For Whitfunday, p. 29a. (k) On good Wprks, p. 28. K 2 144 "^"^ TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAIND. beautiful and precious, lb now he was mod vile and wretched in the fight of his Lord and Maker : Inftead' of the image of God/ he was now become the image of the devil; in- ftead of the citizen of heaven, he was become the bondflave of hell, having in himfelf no one part of his former purity and cleannefs, but being altogether fpotted and defiled ; infomuch that now he feemed to be nothing elfe but a lump of fin, and therefore by the juft judgment of God, was condemned to everlafting death. This fo great and miferable a plague felt not only on Adam but alfo on his pofterity and children forever, fo that the whole brood of Adam's flefh (hould fuflain the felf fame fall and punifhment which their forefather by his of- fence mod juftly had deferved. St. Paul in the fifth chap- ter to the Romans faith, By the offence of only Adam, the fault ca'-ne upon all men to condemnation, and by one man's difobediencc many were made finners. By which words we are taught, that as In Adam all men univerfally fmned, fo in Adam all men univerfally received the reward of fin; that Is to fay, became mortal, and fubje£t unto death, having in themfelves nothing but everlafting damna- tion both of body and foul. They became, as David faith, corrupt and abominable, they went all out of the way, there was none that did good, no not one. O what a miferable and woeful ftate was this, that the fin of one man fhould dejir'y and coTidermi all men, that nothing in all the world might be looked for, but only pangs of death and pains of hellK'* The fame is the language of her other public writings and confeflions, whofe evidence we have fliown to be fo exceed- ingly important"^. NowelFs Catechifm is very cxprefs on the fubje6t. " On eating the forbidden fruit," it fays, « Adam immediately became fubj^d to death: the Divine (1) On the Nativity, p. 254. (m) Above, p. 59—68. ORIGINAL SIN, &C. 145 Image in which he was at firft created was obliterated, and in the place of thofe ornaments of wifdom, ftrength, hoiinefs, truth, and righteoufnefs with which God had endowed him, fucceeded the mod horrible peftilence, blindnefs, impotence, impiety, vanity, and injultice ; in which evils and miferies he involved his whole pofterity"." Again, after affirming that Adam was the head an:? reprefcntative of the whole race of men, it adds, " He therefore having loft his original endowments, the whole human nature was left naked, help- lefs, and deftitute of all good. And from him thus defiled, as from a corrupt root and ftock, proceed corrupt branches, which again continually, transfer their own polluted nature into their offspring. Hence the (hortnefs and uncertainty of our prefent life, and all the infirmities of our bodies: Hence that horrible blindnefs of the underftanding and depravhy of the mind : Hence that diftortion and diforder of all the afFedlions and defires : Hence that feminary and vile fource of all fin, with which mankind is infeded and annoyed, which is therefore properly called original sino." The dodrine of Bifliop Jewell's Apology is, that " every pcrfon is born in fin, and leadeth his life in fin ^J' Mr. Rogers explains this corruption of the nature of every man, as extending to ** all his powers ; caufing darknefs in the mind, concupifcence in the will, and rebellion again ft the law of God in the afFedions : the effeds of which are adual fins, an evil confcience, the wrath of God, death, and eternal damnation ^i." Even the Auglburgh confeftion, which is reforted to as a palliative, ufesfuch language as this; *' Item docent, quod poft laplum Adx-, omnes homines fecund urn paturam propagati, nafcantur curi'. peccato, hoe eft, fine metu Dei, fine fiducia erga Deum, & cum concuplfcentia, quodque hie morbus, feu vitium originis vere fit peccatum. (n) See Bifhop of Chefter's Edit. p. 57. (o) Ibid. p. 5S, 59. (p) Page 7^' (q) Expo. Art, 9. K 3' 146 THfe TRUE CHUHCHMEN ASCERTAINED,' damnans and afFerens nunc quoque seternam mortem, his qui non renafcuntur per baptifmum & Spiritum Sanctum ^" ** If," proceeds the judicious Hooker, ** God fhould make us an offer thus large *, fearch all the generations of men (ince the fall of our father Adam, find one man, that hath done one adion, which hath pafled from him pure, without any ftain or blemifh at all 5 and for that one man's only ac- tion, neither man nor angel (hall feel the torments which are prepared for both. Do you think that this ranfom, to deliver men and angels* could be found to be among the fons of men ? The beft things which we do, have fome^ what in them to be pardoned^ How then can we do any thipg meritoriou, or worthy to be rewarded ^ ?" And would we learn how thofe excellent of the earth, our firft Bifliops and Martyrs, fpoke of human depravity when -referring more immediately to ihemfelves, it was in fuch a manner as the following. The eminently holy John Bradford, referring to his expected martyrdom, fays, " I have moft juftly deferved, not only this kind, but alfo all kinds of death, and that eternally, for mine hypocrify, vain glory, uncleannefs, felf-love, covetoufhefs,idlenefs, unthank- fulnefs, and carnal profeffing of God's holy gofpel. ... J am, and always have been, a vile hypocrite and grievous fin- der '." Archbi(hop Cranmer complained, that his *' fips were many without number, and great above meafure, even beyond what his tongue could exprefsj" and exclaimed, ** O Father of heaven, O Son, &c. have mercy upon me a moft wretched caitiff and mifer^ble finner ^" Bifhop Hooper addreffed God in this way : *^ Lord, I ani hell, but thou art heaven •, I am a fink of fin, but thou art a gracious God, and a merciful Redeemer. • Have mercy therefore upon me ^ (r) Article and. See this Confeflion apud Grotius, Opera, torn. 4 ; or the fjarmpny of Confeffions, publifhed in 1581, and in Englifh 101586. (z) Dif. on Juftifica. p. ai, ^s) See Fox, p. 1811, 1839. (t) Ibid. p. 2065, ORIGINAL SIN, &C. I47 moft miferable and wretched offender ^.*' Bifhop Latimer ^dds, "In no condition we (hall know ourfelves or God, except we do utterly coufefs ourfelves to be mer€ vtlenefs and corruption '^ " Such is the exprefs and undeniable dodrine of out church and her reformers refpedling the etitent of human depravity. We will dwell a momewt longer on her notions of the defert and punijhment of fin. She proceeds then, on this part of the fubjed;, in her 9th Article, thus : ** Therefore in every perfon born into this world, it (original fin) deferveth God^s ivr^th and damnation,^* Hercatechifm teaches, that we are all, ** by nature, children of wrath." Her 2nd Article affirms, that Chrifl fufFered ** to be a facrifice for original guilt ;" and her 17th, that Pre- deftination is the purpofe of God " to deliver thofe whom he hath chofen in Chrift out of mankind from curfe and damnation,^* Her communicants confefs that they have pro- voked " moft juftly God's wrath and indignation againft them " Her opinion with refpecl to the future deftiny of unbelievers and evil-doers, is, that " without doubt they fhall perifti everlaftingly ;" that " they iliall go into ever- lafting fire." This Ihe believes will be a " moft juft judg- ment." She prays, accordingly, for every child that fhe baptizes, " that it may be delivered from God's wrath ;" and for all her members, in her conftant fervices, implores deliverance ** from God's wrath, and from everlafting dam- nation," and from " the bitter pains of eternal death." Equally forcible on the point, is the language of her Homilies. Their uniform doftrine accords with what has already been quoted from them y. " We are all," fays the Homily on the PafTion, ** miferable perfons, finful per- fons, . . . juftly driven out of paradife, juftly excluded from heaven, juftly condemned to hell-fire ^.** " We daily and (v) Ibid. p. 1683. (x) Sermons, Vol. i. p. 90S. (y) Above, p. J42— 144. (7) Page 271. K4 148 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED* hourly,** adds the Homily on Repentance, " by our wicked- nefs and ftubborn difobedience, horribly fall away from God, thereby purchafing unto ourfelves, if he ftiould deal with us according to his juftice, eternal damnation^;" yea, " fo griev- oufly have we offended God by our fins, that we deferve a thoufand hells, if there could be fo many ^." " Such" thefe homilies alfo affirm, '* is the filthinefs of fm, that as long as we do abide in it, God cannot but deteft and abhor us*=." *' And verily herein," ' they obferve, *' doth appear how filthy a thing fm is, feeing that it can by no other means be wafhed away, but by the blood of the only begotten Son of God'^." And the death which is denounced againft dif- obedience, they fay, is *' not only an everlajling lofs without ycmedy of the grace and favour of God, and of cverlaf^ingjoy* pleafure, and felicity j hut alfo the condemnation of both hody and foul, without either appellation, or hope of redemption, unto everlafting pains in hell '^." Nor are thefe ftrong expreffions in the fmalleft degree reftri^led by any other public writing, or opinion, of the chief founders of our church. Precifely the fame, in ef- fe£l, ithas appeared *", is the language of Rogers' Expofition, the Augfburgh Confeflion, and the Letters of Mr. Bradford. One quotation more fhall therefore fuffice on the point. This fhall be from that confeiTedly important evidence Nowell's Catcchifm. And here, the queftion being pro^ pofed whether the bad effe£ls of original fin are confined to this life ? it is anfwered, " Nay, fo is our nature corrupted and depraved by this inbred evil, that unlefs the goodnefs and mercy of Almighty God had provided a remedy, as in our bodies we were fubjecSt to every kind of calamity, and difeafe, and death ; fo fhould we neceflarily have been cai^ into the moft excruciating and eternal torments, in un- quenchable fire s.'» (a) Page 334. (b) Ibid. p. 343. (c) Ibid. p. 34c, (d) Ibid. (e) Horn, againft the fear of death, p, 53, (f) Above p. i45. 146. (g) Page 59. ORIGINAL SIN, &C. I49 Can there then be a doubt what docSlrhie Is taught by fuch ftrong, fuch uniform, fuch reiterated language as this ? Is it poffible that all this fhould only imply fome fmall, or merely temporal punifliment ? Then furely words have no longer any intelligible meaning. We have ftill to inquire, a little more particularly, what the church of England holds refpecling man's natural im- potencey or the po.wers he naturally pofTelTes for recovering himfelf from this ftate of fin and mifery. On this point her loth Article fpeaks thus: " The condition of man, after the fall of Adam, is fuch, that he cantiot turn and prepare himfelf, by his own natural ftrength and good works, to .faith, and calling upon God : wherefore v/e have no power to do good works, pleafant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Chrift preventing us, that we may have 2. good ivill, znd working iviih us, when we have that good will." . By *' natural good works" is here, doubtlefs, meant, thofe works which are outwardly and fpecioully good, and which are eftimable in human judg-ment. That he can perform thefe " civilem jultitiam, et diligendas res rationi fubje6las,'' as the Jug/burgh Confejpon exprefles it '", nobody denies. The queftion is not what his powers arc in rcfpe^l to na- tural things, but in. refpedt to fpiritual things ; not what he can do that may pleafe men, but what that is pleafing and acceptable to God ; not how far he can conform him- felf to the laws of civil fociety, but how far he can convert himfelf to true Chriflianity ; how far by his own naturaj and unafTifted pov/ers he can repent, and believe, and love Cod and his neighbour, and mortify fin, and purfue holi- nefs, in the manner, and from the motives, which the gof- pel requires. Nor is it a natural but a " r/ioral impotence" which is th§ fubjedl: of our difculTion. In this article then, it is, we fee, afiirmed, not only that man cannot by his own natural (trength and good works (h) Alt. iS. 150 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. convert h'lmfelf to God, but that he cannot even prepare hiniw felf for this work, or, of courfe, take tht frji Jlep in it. It is affirmed not merely that he is tueah^ and, in oppoficion to the Pelagian and Socinian, that he has need of divine and internal affijiance in order to a right Chriftian condudl, and confequent falvation; but, in oppofition to the Semipe- lagian, the Papift, and all who extol his innate faculties of reafon and choice, in refpe£l to divine things, that he has no poiuer to do good ; not the difpofitiony and confequently, not the ability to do what in the fight of God is good, till he IS influenced by the Spirit of God. The grace of God by Chrift, it is maintained, muft prevent him, prevloufly in- fluence his mind, even that he may have a good-will. — Who- ever elfe then may doubt, •* which begins firft, grace or virtue ' ?*' our church we fee does not. And this fenfe of the article is confirmed by the whole tenour of her language on the point. In her 13th article flie Repeats the declaration, that ** works done before the grace of Chrift and the infpiration of his Spirit, are not pleafant to God ;" and adds, '* neither do they make men meet to receive gracc,^ or in any way " deferving of it j" but ^* rather, for as much as they fpring not of faith in Jefus Chrift, and are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done," (he " doubts not but they have the nature 6f (in." To the fame effedl fhe every where fpeaks in her Liturgy. She confefles our condition is like that of a ** loft {beep j" that " we are tied and bound with the chain of our fins ;" that " through the weaknefs of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without God ;" and, ** that we have no power of ourfelves to help ourfelves." She conflantly addrefies God as " The author of all godlinefs 5" ^' from whom all holy defires, all good counfels, and all juft works, do proceed." She conftantly petitions him, according to the very ftrain and fpirit of the above article, for preventing (t) See Nor, Le^. Vol, iii. p. ?4o. ORIGINAL SIN, &C. 151 not lefs than q/fifting grace, for both the Will and the Power to do what he requires; that, " as by his efpecial grace pre- venting us, he puts into our minds good defires, fo by his continual help we may bring the fame to good efFe£l •," «* that by his holy infpiration we may think thofe things that be good, and by his merciful guiding may perform ^he fame •" that his " grace may always prevent ,and follow us ;" that <« by the help of his grace we may pleafe him both in will and deed ;^^ with numberlefs requefts to the fame cffecl, sll which Ihe uniformly prefents *' through JefusChrlft'^'* She prays too, (it becomes one clafs of our opponents to obferve) for knowledge as well as llrength and a good-will ;. for "the knowledge of God's truth ^ ;" *' that by the fame fpirit" which taught the hearts of God's faithful people on the day of Pentecoft, her members may " have a right judg- mejit in all things ;'* that they " m^y perceive and know what things they ought to do"^ ;" and that it may pleafe God "to illuminate all her Bifhops, Priefls, and Deacons, with true knowledge and underftanding of his word"." The very ftrongeft idea of man's natural impotence, in refpe^l to his converfion, is alfo exprelTed in the rcprefentatipns (lie makes of it as a creation, a regeneration, and a rcfurre5lion°, ThcCe are exclufive a6ls of Deity. This do£trine is alfo abundantly confirmed by the other public writings of the church. The Homily on Good Works affirms, that " they be as much dead to God that lack faithy as they be to the world, v/hofe bodies lack foals." And the whole firft part of this difcourfe is profeflcdly to ihow, that the " mod gay and glorious" works which the/ can perform, who are not united to ChiiH by faitli, arc (k) See the General ConfefTion j Prayer in Ordinnry Service 5 Col- leas for, i^ Sunday after Trio. 2d Sun. after Lent, 23d after Tiin. zdat Evening prayer, Eafter day, 5th after Eilttr, ijth a!tc; Trip, lit after Tiin. (I) Daily Service. (m) ColUas for Wliifun^ 3 II Sunday after Epiphany. (n) Litany. 0) See Colkdt fpi- Afh Wed. Baplifnjal and Funeral Ser^ i-_c-. 152 TlHE TRITE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. ** but dead, vain, and fruitlefsy before God ;" that they are the mere *' names and fhadows" of good works; and that in reality, when tried by the true ftandard, what under fuch circumftances, ** feemeth to be virtue, is vice." And every where, the homilies abound with language like this : " St. Paul in many places painteth us out in our colours, calling us the children of the wrath of God, when we be born : fay- ing alfo that we cannot think a good thought of ourfclves, much lefs can v/e fay well, or do well of ourfelves p." ** Man cannot make himfelf righteous by his own works, neither in part, nor in the whole''." " If we have any will to rife (from fin) it is he (God) that preventeth our will, and dif- pofeth us thereto "■.'* " They that think they have done much of themfelves towards repentance, are fo much more the farther from God ^" ** We mud beware and take heed that we do in nowife think in our hearts, imagine, or believe, that we are able to repent aright, or to turn efFedlually unto the Lord, by our own might and ftrength. For this muft be verified in all men, *' Without me ye can do nothing.'* Again, " Of ourfelves we are not able fo much as to think a good thought.'' And in another place, " It is God that worketh in us both the mu'ill and the deed^,'' So In refpe£l: to our powers for acquiring all necefiary hiowledge in Divine things. " No man," the church here fays to God, " can know thy pleafure, except thou giveft wifdom, and fendefl: thy Holy Spirit from above ^." Again, {he faith, with St. Chryfoftom, " Man's human and worldly wifdom or fcience, is not needful to the underflanding of fcripture, but the revelation of the Holy Ghoft, who in- fpireth the true meaning into them, who with humility and diligence fearch for it.^" And again, after quoting feveral (p) On the Mlfery of Man, p. 8, (q) On Salvation, p, 15. (r) Third for Rogation Week, p. 309. (s) On Repentance, p. 337. (t) Ibid. p. 341. (v) Third on Rogation, p. 310, (w) On the knowledge of Sciip. 2nd, p. 5. ORIGINAL SIN, &C. 153 precepts of God's word, (he fays, " Thefe fentences, good people, unto a natural man feem mere abfurdities, contrary to all reafon. For a natural man, as St. Paul faith, under- ftandeth not the things that belong to God, neither can he folong as the old Adam dwellcth in him^,'* Dean Nowell denominates this part of our malady, " the moft horrible blindnefs and impotence -," and affirms ex- prefsly, *' that we cannot by any works or mcnts prevent God, and firft move him to be propitious to us ^." The Augfburgh Confeffion fays, " Humana voluntas non habet vim fine Spiritu San^to efficiendie juftitiie Dei feu juftitix fpiritualis: quid animalis homo non percipit ea, quaj funt Spiritus Dei*.'* And to finifli with one evidence more on the point ; the common belief of the leading Reformers in King Edward's I time was, " that the Papiftical dodrine of freewill was abominable in the fight of God, and to be ab- horred by all Chriftian men : . . . that Adam by his fall loft from himfelf, and all his pofterity, all the freedom, choice, and power of man's will to do good :" . . , that in coijfe- quence, " all the will and imagination of man's heart is only to evil, and altogether fubjedl to fin and mifery, and bond and captive to all manner of wickednefs, fo that it cannot once think a good thought, much lefs then do any good deed, as of his own work, pleafant and acceptable in the fight of God, until fuch time as the fame be regenerate by the Holy Ghoft, and /»r^^^^/7/f^ by the grace of God; — --That without this his good Spirit, which doth work faith in us, all our doings be very fin and hypocrify in the fight of God, how gay and glorious foever they may appear in the fight of man : That the natural man is dead in Adam, and a child of wrath; and that as a dead man cannot work any thing towards his refurre6lion, or he that is not toward his creation, fo neither can the natural man toward his regeneration,'* this being " only the work of God^". (x) On certain places of Scripture, 2nd, 237. (y) Cat. (?) Art, 18. (a) See above, p. 61. Note m. p. 57i ii3< 154 THE TRUE CHITrCHMEN ASCERTAIN^ED, This then, upon the whole, is the manner in which the dodtrine and efFedls of original fin arc taught in the Articles, Liturgy, and Homilies, of the Church of England. To this extent is her meaning inthefe forms fixed and illullrated, by the other public writings of her principal Reformers. 4. And now, whofe dodlrines moft refemble hers ? Ours who fpeak ftrongly on the fubje£l: ; or theirs , who fo labour to lower and extenuate it ? We appeal to every perfon of common fenfe and common integrity to fay. Is it pof- fible for thofe Divines, who treat this do£trine in the manner which has been fpccified, to believe that they agree with the Church upon it ? On fome occafions they pretty nearly confefs that it is not. Bifhop Burnet, for inftance, admits, that the higher or Augujiinian explication of the 9th Article, which differs from his own, " does certainly quadrate more entirely to the words of the article, and is known to have been the tenet of thofe who prepared the articles.*' " This,'* • he fays, ** thofe who oppofe it, do not deny ^" And, " No doubt," adds ProfefTor Hey, «' he would moft fully agree with our church, who confidered the fall of Adam as the firft beginning of our depravity <^." Nor will he *' fay, that if any one thought that man cannot pofTibly, in the ftri£l fenfe, turn and prepare himfelf to faith, he would difTent from our aricle**:" Both which opinions differ exceedingly from the interpretation which the ProfefTor would efta- blifli. This difference is alfo obvious from the concejftons he would make, and the alterations he ^fuggefts, in the articles on this doctrine ^. And he ** knows not," he alfo acknowledges, *' whether the exprelfions on the prefent fubje6t" in our Homilies, " are no^./omenvhat ioojlrongfor him, though they may be chiefly borrowed from Chryfoflom and Auguftin ^.'* Cb) Expo. Art. 9. p. ii4» ii6» (c) Vol. iil. p. 219. (d) Ibid. p. 220. (e) Ibid. p. 189, 127, 256. (f) Ibid. p. 375. ORIGINAL SIN, &C. 15$ Similar concefiions, in abundance, might be adduced from others of the moft eminent of this clafs of teachers. And that any of them fhould attempt to maintain their agree- ment with the church on this doftrine is really aftonifhing. For, let us only bring a few leading ideas of each into com- parifon and fee how this coincidence will appear. They then, it has been fhown, deny the corruption of our nature by the fall altogethen doubt whetlier our mental corruption is at j// owing to Adam's tranfgreflion ; or con- fine this coiTuption to fome of our fpccies: Our church, in terms the moft exprefs and unequivocal, which (he repeats and illuftrates beyond all poflible room for miftaking her, aflerts, that ** Original fin, is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is engendered of tlic offspring of Adamj'* that "^// men are conceived and born in fin 5'* that into this ftate " we were caft by break- ing of God's commandment in our firft parent Adam; and that we defcend from him as corrupt branches from a cor- rupt ftock. ^The moft orthodox of thefe Divines confider this depravity of our nature as h\xt partial; as confifting in defects and imperfecftions accompanied with much remain- ing good : Our church teaches, that we are thtfarthejl pojfibJe gone from original righteoufnefs ; that we have no health in us, no one part of our former purity and cleannefs ; that of our own nature we are without any fpark of good- nefs in us, without any virtuous or godly motion, and only given to evil thoughts and wicked deeds. In their judgment, the great evil of fin confiftsin its ef- fe6ts on human fociety: Our church affirms, that it moft juftly provokes the wrath and indignation of God A common opinion with them is, that the eiFe(£l:s of the firft tranfgrefiion upon Adam's pofterity are only temporal judg- ments, and a ftate of mortality : The church of England aflfirts, that in every child who is born into the world ori- ginal fin deferveth God's wrath and damnation ; that Adam after his fall was accurfed of his Maker, condemned bv his 156 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAlNEEf. juft judgment to everlafting death; that he had nothing' in himfelf but everlafting condemnation both of body and foul, and that his whole pofterity, fuftain the felf-fame fall and punifhment. According to their cafuiftry, God's moft awful denunciations againft fin may only imply fome fmall, indeterminate, and uncertain kind of punifhment j Thefe denunciations they are always fhy of mentioning : And they even fay, that " We are not called upon by our church to fubfcribe to the eternity of hcll^torments, nor even to condemn thofe who affirm that all men will be finally faved:" — Our church ufes, and conftantly repeats, in regard both to the intenfity and duration of this punifhment, the very ftrongeft expreffions afforded In language: Such furely are thefe, to "perifh everlaftingly ;" ^' to go into everlafting fire ;'* " God*s wrath and everlafting damnation ;" *' the bitter pains of eternal death;" "hell-fire;" " the moft excruciating and eternal torments in unquenchable fire s.'* How would thefe Gentlemen reprefent intenfe and never-ending mifery, if this language does not ? So in refpe£l to the powers man naturally pofTeiTes for reftoring himfelf to holinefs and the divine favour. They mightily extol his reafon as fufficient, without any fuperna- tural afTiftance, to enter into the true meaning of God's word, and to attain all requlfite knowledge In divine things : Our church teaches, that ** unto a natural man, many of the precepts of God's word, feem mere abfurditiesy contrary to all reafon ;" and that '* a natural man underftandeth not the things that belong to God, and that neither can he." They teach, with almoft one voice, like the Paplfts, the do£lrine oi freeivill : — Our Reformers fay,^that the Paplf- tlcal dodlrlne of freewill Is abominable In the fight of God, and to be abhorred by all Chrlft:ian men ; and our church adds, that we have no will to good till we zxc prevented by the grace of Chrift. Their Ideas are, that man's natural powers are only not quite fuffctent for what Chriftianity re- (g) See above, p. 143—148. ORIGINAL SIN, &cr "157 i^uires ; that they cannot place him In a (late of Chrlftlan perfeElion^ but that he can atchieve a great deal toward this end ; and thTit fomething muft ht JirJ} do?ie by hhn, in the work of converfion and falvation, Is mod ftrenuoufly in- fifted upon. Sometimes they fuppofe him capable of per- forming fuch good works as naturally make him inclined to embrace the gofpel ; at others, fuch as may recommend him to God; and at others, fuch as render him worthy of the Divine favour and eIe(flion : Our church teaches, that he has no power to do what Is really good ; that without Chrlft he can do nothing in the work of his falvation ; that of him- felf he is unable even to think a good thought ; that he can- not make himfclf righteous either in the whole or in part ; that he cannot even prepare him/elf to faith, &c. ; that his befi natural works neither render him meet to receive grace, nor defer ving of It, iior ^xt pleaftng to God> but are, ih fad, them/elves ftns. This then Is the agreement with our Articles, Liturgy, and Homilies, of which thefe Churchmen boaft ! In this manner do they teach the doctrines contained in thefe for- mularies as they were lirft delivered by our Reformers 1 But there is another afiertion in the propofitlon under difculTion equally well grounded. We, they fayi " teach MORE than thefe dodltlnes ^." We anfwer then In refpea td the prefent fuhjecl, I5 the thing pojjible ? Is It pollible to ufe ftronger language upon it than what has been produced from the authentic writings of the church, and, her chief founders? We cart only teach that every man who is born, confidered inde- pendent of the grace of God, and in refpecSl to fpirltual con- cerns. Is wholly corrupt, utterly impotent, under the wrath of God, and liable to everlafling torments; all which in the very fuUeft manner is done here. This charge, how- {h) See above. IjS THE TRUE CHIJRCHMEN ASCERTAINED. ever, it will be remembered, includes thofe who only pro- ' ceed Anninian lengths'. It (hall be admitted that the language of the church which has been adduced is popular ; that the pafTages have been fele6led from other language ■jvhich appears to qualify and foften them ; and that fome of them are the exaggerated expreffions of penitence. But who needs reminding, that whatever allowances may, and ought, to be made on thefe, and fuch like, confiderations, are equally applicable to what is (Quoted from our writers ? But by what evidence is the accufation fupported ? From what part of a late popular Work ^, againfl: which it is made ■with fo much confidence, can a (ingle fhadow of this evi- dence be produced ? We hear much of its ** fuperabundance of orthodoxy ^ j" of its "going beyond the creed of the church of England ^ j" of its *' tendency to a particular fpecies of enthufiafm "^ *," ''ofits ''bias toward a fanati- cal fe£l ° ;" and of certain parts of it being «* more favour- able to enthufiafm than to praftical Chriftianity p :" In what part of it th,en, we alk, is there a fingle fentcnce or expres- fion that exceeds the language of the church on the prefent fubjedl ? We defy the united body of thefe divines and cri^ tics to {how : We defy Mr. Ludlam to fhow any fuch ex- cefs in the immediate fubjedls of his attack, the ** Scrip- ture Charadlers," and the Works of Mr. Milner. We defy Dr. Croft, Dr- Paley, Mr. Daubeny, Mr. Polwhcle, and the whole hoft of our opponents to fubflantiate their charge an refpe£l to this doftrine, from the Works of any Author within the limits of our apology. Is it not then, fo far, pretty clear to whom the charge of *• grofs mifreprefentation" belongs? Nay, were that Qom-^ (i) Above, p. 97. ures upon it to the followers of Mr. Wefley, and to thofe of ** Mr. Whitefield, who are generally called Calvinilts," but extends them to fome of the regular Clergy; othervvife thefe ftri^tures would have been unnoticed in this publication, which does not undertake to apologize for Se6larics, or any of their peculiarities, (g) Review, &c. p. zz. (h) See Ibid. p. 22—24; 30^32, (i) See places already quoted, (k) Thoughts, p. j6, 17. kEpENTANcfi. J^^ •and fanatics, if they do not wiih to burlefque and explode thedoarine itfelf ^ ? It will not, it is hoped, be here obje£lcd by thefe DivineSj^ that on fome occafions they rcprefent our do6lrines as mod *' flattering/* " fafcinating," and *' confolatory doflrines^j'* promifing every thing, and requiring almoft nothing; eafing the confclences of the moft abandoned charaders at a very trifling expenfe ; opening a fhort, and cheap, and fure road to heaven for all defcriptions of Tinners, -without the labour of repentance j permitting them to retain the fame manners, the fame tempers, and to gratify the fame favourite difpofitions "*. This they certainly do ; and this flattering nature of the doiftrine afcribed to us they aflfign as a principal caufe of its extenfive propagation"^. We muft, however, leave it to their own wifdom to reconcile this re- prefentation with the preceding one. It utterly exceeds our ddlnefs to perceive how dodlrines like thefe can drive men to defpondency. In the mean time, we may inquire, what their ideas are rcfpefting the change of charaBer implied in repentance ? Now that any total or radical change is^meant by this work, and neceflary in thefe days; any thing that, in fcripture phrafeology, may be reprefented by the term converfion, or regeneration, or fpiritual refurredtlon, or any language of this import, they deny exprefsly. Such phrafes andexprcf- fions of fcripture, it has appeared, they would afliire usj> (2) How forcibly does ail this remind one of the obfervatiort of Mr, Boyle. Some Minifters, this eminent man remarks, rather covet that their hearers " (hould applaud their Preacher, than condemn them- felres ; being belter pleafed with their praifes than to hear their fighs ; and chufing rather to tickle their ears, than to fting their confclences." *' Such," however, he adds, " may invert St. Paul's faying, that he preaches not Chriil crucified, but himfelf." Life, Theol. Works, Vol, I. p. 1x7. (1^ See Mr. Clapham's Ser. p. 24., 25, 27 j and Review, &c. p. 14, 22. (m) Review, &c. p. 10—14., 16 — 27, &c*' (n) See the tv;o laft Notes j and Mr, llag^itt'Sr Sermor, Prcf. p. 131, ij'ii THE TRUfe cfertrtttHtoJJ ASCERTAINED. <* mean nothhig** to thofe who are born and educated in i Chriilian country °. The fuppofition of the neceflity of any fuch change, as this, is wholly incompatible with their notions of the true Chrlftian (late of all who profefs Chriftianity, and with their rejection of experience in reli- gion p. it is fuppofed therefore to have no exiftence, but in the vifionary brains of enthufiafls. To infill upon its ne- ceflity is, they fay, to ** reprefent the Inhabitants of Eng;^ land as heathens in the age of the Apoftles •," " and thofe/* it Is added, whom thefe enthuliafts *' aiFe^l to have cofi" vertedy are faid to have turned from idols and vanities **.** Thofe who moll foberly inculcate this dodrine, they alio charafierize as " bewildered men, who rant about fudden converfions''.'* *' If,'* fays a dry nurfeof the Church, and profeited caterer to the tafte of the times, Theophilus St. John, "we fnould fay to our hearers, * ye mull be born again,' we fliould fpeak more to your fancy than your judgment^'* " What !" adds Mr. Haggitt, with an air of great confidence and furprife, " convert to the Chriftlan faith thofe who are already regenerate by baptifm, by con- firmation, who are ileady made, as our Church catechifm declares, the children of grace : but it is another leading fallacy of thefe Rebukers of others, that with the praifesof our excellent liturgy ever in their mouths, they very dif- intereftedly drip it of Its mod facred prerogatives .... - Converfwny properly fo Called, however it may be the occa- fional, is by no means the general office, of the Mlnifter of the Gofpel. Thofe who have been joining wltli him in the prayers of the Church, who have, Sec; perfons who have thus united with their Minifter in the holy office of our Church, he confiders, — can he do lefs ? — as Believers, as (o) Above, p. 116, ' (p) See above, p. 115 — 125. (q) Antijac. Review for April, 1799, P- 3^9- (0 Mr. Polwlicle'5 Letter, p. 10. . (s) Sermon 5U, p. 8, 9. in poiTeffion of the true faith, in a word, as fellow Chrlftians with himfelf ^." Whatever of radical and internal change is allowed ne- ceflary at any time, is, we fee, fuppofed to have been efFe£led, as a matter of courfe, once for all^, wherever the external rite of baptifm has been obferved in our infancy ^ What thefe teachers therefore chiefly mean by repentance, isj. outward reformation^ or at the mod feme very partial change of character. ** It is,'' they tell us, " to ceafe to evil, and to learn to do well ^ :" It is the " gradual amend- ment of life and converfation ^ ;" Or, if more is allowed requifite, it is only in refpe£l: to the more abandoned part of mankind. " However incKilgent," Dr. Carr fays, " the Saviour of the world may be to the accidental failures of infirmities, or paffion •, . . . if we have fallen into adultery, theft, murder, &c. our repentance mud clofely follow ^." Let us then again have recourfe to our ftandard, and fee how the Church teaches on this fubje£l. 3. And firft, it muft be confidered that thofe for whom file prepared her public writings u'cre neither Jews nor Heathens, but perfons, to ufe the language of our opponents, ** born Chriftians;" and who generally had 'been baptized in their infancy. Whatever her do£lrines are, they muft therefore chiefly refpe£l perfons in this fituation. It has (d) Sermon p. 12, 13. — " Inftead of aiming at the converfidn of finners," the great Man Juft quoted, further obferves, " theMiniller thinks he hath done his part, when he hatli fhown his Wit, and the hearer his, when he hath commended it." Mr. Boyle's Life, as above. (e) Although according to his own account, ** there is rcafon to fuppofc that more than common pains have been taken"" in the com- pofition of his difcourfe, Mr. Haggitt is certainly in danger of being* called to Order by his Brethren, for " pnblifliing tvjo fold doflrines of regeneration, one at the Font" and another at Confirmation. See Antipc. Rev. March 1800. p. 296. (t) See Note p. (v) ThsophJius St. John as above, (w) Df • Paley's Vifita, Ser.p. 17. (x) Ser. 50. p. 12s. \*J2 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED, already appeared that fhe fuppofes fuch perfons may be ^eftltute of " the grace of Chrift, and the infpiratlon of his Spirit, and a true lively faith," and not in a ftate of falva- tion ^. To whom then does the church of England believe re- pentance neceflary ? Her anfwer Is, to every per/on admitted into her communion who has arrived at years of difcretlon. Whatever may be the ftate of Infants, this duty flie confiders all who would be really Chrlllians, *^ bound to perform, when they come to age ^." She mod folemnly exacls it at Confirmation *, flie infifts upon a renewal and continuation of it, in her Communicants ; all her Worfliippers fpeak the genuine language of it ; fhe pofitively maintains, that with- out it, partaking in her external ordinances only increafcs men's condemnation. But what does our church conceive is implied in repent- ance ? Her catechifm anfwers ; It is " to renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and all the fmful lufts of the flefti." Her Homilies add ; It is *' utterly to d^ttOi and abhor fin ;" ** from the very bottom of our hearts to deteil and abhor it ;'* from the confiderations of its '^ filthlnefs,'* and that " God cannot but detcft and abhor us for it," and that " it coft the dear heart's blood of his only begotten Son our Saviour V She has moreover defined It, " A returning again of the whole man to God^ from whom we be fallen away by fin '':" " A forfaking all manner of things that are repugnant and con- trary unto God's wlllj and giving our hearts unto him, and the whole ftrength of our bodies and fouls ^:" '* A renouncing our former wicked life, and a full conversion to god in a new life '^." " For they," fhe fays, " that do truly repent, muft be clean altered and changed^ they mud become new (y) See above p. 103. (z) See Catechifm. (a) On Re. pentance, p. 538, 349. (b) Ibid, p, 536, (c) Ibid. 338.' (d) Ibid. p. i\Z, (e) Ibid. p. 346. REPENTANCE. 1 73 She cannot, we fee, be more exprefs againfl: fubftituting any merely outward or partial change for true Repentance. It is the man, the whole man, that muft be clean changed. His repentance muft extend to the ** heart," the "whole heart,*' the " very bottom of the heart." " For fince," {he fays, " that the heart is the fountain of all our works, as many as do with their whole heart turn unto the Lord, do live unto him only ^" And this repentance, (he teaches, Chrift was exalted to give unto Ifrael •, and " they," (he adds, ** w^ho think that they have done much of them/elves to- wards repentance, are io much more the farther from Gods." It is the office of ** the Holy Ghoft to fandify and rege- nerate" men ; and " the more it is hidden from our under- ftanding, the more it ought to move all men to wonder at the fecret and mighty working of God's Holy Spirit, which is within us. For it is the Holy Ghoft, and no other thing, that doth quicken the minds of men, ftirring up good and godly motions in their hearts, which are agreeable to the will and commandments of God, fuch as otherwife of their own crooked and perverfe nature they would never have. That which is born of the fpirit, is fpirit. ... As for the works of the fpirit, the fruits of faith, charitable and godly motions, if he (man) have any at all in him, they proceed only of the Holy Ghoft, who is the only worker of our fanc- tification, and maketh us new men in Chrift Jefus. . . , Such is the power of the Holy Ghoft to regenerate men, and as it were to bring them forth anew, fo that they ftiall be nothing like the men they were before. Neither doth he think it fufficient inwardly to work the fpi- ritual and new birth of man, unlefs he do alfo dwell and abide in him ^." She prays accordingly, that her members may be " raifed from the death of fm unto the life of right- (f ) Ibid. p. 338. (g) Ibid. p. 337, (z) Horn, for "VVi.ltfunday, p^ zyi. 174 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. eoufnefs'*;" that God would "create and make in them new and contrite hearts ' ;" that " being regenerate, &c. they may daily be renewed by his holy fpirit * ;" that he would " fo work in our hearts by the power of this Holy Spirit, that we being regenerate, and neivly born again in all goodnefs, &c. may in the end be made partakers of ever- lafting life=^/* To the fame cfFe61: prays her illuftrious member Lord Bacon : " O Lord," ... he fays, ** thou arf not delighted in the death of finners, but in their converjion* Turn our hearts, and we fhall be turned j convert us, and we fhall be converted; illuminate the eyes of our minds andun- derftanding with the bright beams of thy Holy Spirit, tha£ we may daily grow in the faving knowledge of the heavenly tnyflcry of our redemption, wrought by our dear Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift *, fandlify our wills and afFedtion by the fame Spirit, the moft facred fountain of all grace and good- nefs. . * . Increafe our weak faith, grant it may daily bring forth the true fruits of unfeigned repentance, that by the power of the death of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, we may daily die unto fiii, and by the power of his rcfur- re£tion we may be quickened, and raifed up to newnefs of life, may be truly born anew, and may be efFecflually made partakers of the firft refurredlion, that then the fecond death may never have dominion over us^." Such are the ideas of our Church refpedling the change of charader which repentance implies. She clearly then fees, in thefe days, fome meaning in the obnoxious terms con- verfion, regeneration, renovation, &c. She fees no abfur- dity in attempting to convert thofe who have already joined in her fervice. She eonfiders fuch a converfion necelTary in all her adult members j and, of courfe, that one part of •* the general office" of her minifters is to enforce it. (b) Burial Ser. (I) CoMeft on Afti. Wed. (k) Cofl. for Chrittmasday. (z) Horn, for Whitfundayj'p. 294. (y) Works, Vol. iv. p. 507. REPENTANCE. 1 75 "We have flill to inquire what her opinion is refpe^liing contrition TLnAfolicitudeofmindy as accompanying this change ? And this, we find, fhe confiders eflential to it. After af- firming that " there are four parts of repentance -,*' ** the firlt," flie fays, " is the contrition of the heart." " For,'' as (he proceeds, " we muft be earneftly forry for our fins, and unfeignedly lament and bewail that we have by them fo grievoufly offended our moft bounteous and merciful God '.'* We muft ** have a thorough feeling of our fins ;" we muft, like the hearers of St. Peter, be " compundl and and pricked in our hearts™.'* And is not this implied in all her humiliating confeilions, and urgent cries for mercy ? What does (he mean when (he exhorts her members to " re- turn unto our Lord God with all contrition and meekriefs of heart; bewailing and lamenting their finful life" ?" What do her children mean when they plead for mercy and de- liverance as " miferable finners, and miferable offenders ° ;'* when they pray for " new and contrite hearts, that worthily lamenting their fins, and acknowledging their wretchedriefs, they may obtain forgivenefs through Jefus Chrift p ?" With what fpirit do they " acknowledge and bewail their mani- fold fins and wickednefs, which moft grievoufly they have committed, provoking moft juftly God's wrath and indig- nation againft them;" andtcll God, that " they earneftly repent, and are heartily forry for thefe their mifdoings, that the remembrance of them is grievous unto them, and the burden of them intolerable^ ?" In the name of common fenfe, does all this only imply thofe gentle touches of re- morfe for fome fcandalous tranfgreffions which our op- ponents dream of, which are fcarcely perceptible to the pe- nitents themfelves, and in no cafe perceptible to others, and compatible with every fpecies of gaiety ? (1) Hom. on Repent, p. 34.2. (m) Ibid. p. 343. (n) Com- jTiina. Str. ' (") General Confeflion, and Litany. (p) Coll. Afh. Wvd. ■ (q) Communion Ser. M2 Ij6 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. A fpecimen of the penitential language of our leading Martyrs has already been produced. A paflage from Brad- ford fliall here be added. ** I pray you," he fays to Mr. Traves, *'in your communication with God, have me, of all finners, a mofl negligent, unthankful, and wretched, in remembrance : That at length I might truly convert and return. . , . This paper, pen, and ihIc, yea, the marble-done, weepetb, to fee my flothful fecurity, and unthankful hard- nefs, to fo merciful and long fuffering a Lord. I confefs' it, I confefs it though not tremblingly, humbly, or peni- tently; yet I confefs it, oh ! hypocritically I confefs it. Therefore pray, piay for me, ut refipifcam, et ut Deum convertar, &c. 2." Yet this "Bradford," Mr Strype calls one of " four prime pillars of the refornjcd churcli of England y.^' Of this Bradford, Biftiop Ridley faid, « In my confcience I judge him more worthy to be a Bilhop, than many of us that are Bifhops already, are of being Parifli Priefts*.'*— — We will only requeft attention to onepafTage more. " When good men," faith the Homily on falling, " feel in themfelves the heavy burden of fm, fee damnation to be the reward of it, and behold with the eye of their mind the horror of hell, they tremble, they quake, and are inwardly touched with forrowfuinefs of heart for their offences, and cannot but accufe themfelves and open this their grief unto Almighty God, and call unto him for mercy. This being done ferioufly, their mind is fo occupied, partly with for- row and heavinefs,partly with an earneft defire to be de- livered from this danger of hell and damnation, that all de- fire of meat and drink is laid apart, and loathfomnefs of all worldly things and ple^fiires cometh in place, fo that no- thing then liketh them more, than to weep, to lament, to mourn, and both with words and behaviour of body, to fhow (z) See Strype's Ecc. Mem. V' I. iii. Catalogue, No. 31. (y) Ibid, p. 254* (x; Strype's Life ot Grindal, p. 8. REPENTANCE. ^77 th«mfelves weary of this life ^*' " Thus,** it proceeds to fay, ** did David, Daniel, Efther, Nehemias, the Ninevites, and all the children of Ifrael, faft and repent « " Here then, I appeal to Dr. Croft, Dr. Pale>s Mr. Pol- whele, Mr. Clapham, Mr. Ludlam, and the whole body of thofe who profefs not to know what Experience means in religion, to fay, whether if any perfon, with the leaft pre- tenfion to decency of condu£l, fhould fcrioufly adopt this ianguage, or by any means difcover this ft ate of mind, now, they would not confider him a Methodift ; and whether if he confulted them as Divines, they would not think of a 'Strait-waiftcoat for him ? And, I again appeal to everycompet^nt and unprejudiced jiidge to fay, which party teaches moft like the church of England on this fubje£l ; mv, who allow men to be ftrious in this moft ferious caufe ; or they, who are fo difpofc <\ to flight, and even to ridicule r£al folicitude about the ipiritual ftate : lue^ who urge the neccflity of a pra61:ical, radical, and general change of charadlcr ; or they^ who reft fo much upon hereditary calls " the admiflion into Chriliianity our/ir/? juftification," (f) See Art. ii. (g) See Strype's Life of Cranmer, Appendix^ p. 60. (h) Traits, Vol, iii. Taylor's Key, p. 360 and paffiriJ. M4 l80 TpE TRUE CfiURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. and ufes **the word juftificatlon 2^.^ fynonlmous to Baptifm V This is the cxprefs doctrine of Mr. Daubeny. The confu- fion on this fubje£t he fays, is to be attributed to a want of ** attention to the fenfo in which the word juftification is ufed in the articles:'* and adds, *^the word juftification, as it was ufed at the Reformation, was confidered Ti^fynoni- mous with haptifm:''^ and that accordingly, " By our juftifica- tion is primarily to be underftood our admiffion into Ghriftianity ^/' He then talks of "man's firft juftifica- tion,*' and his " final juftification j" and fupports thefe no- tions by the arguments, and nearly the wprds, ufed by Dr. Hey y. In anfwer to one of thefe opinions, it may however fuffice to obferve, that no fuch diftin£tion can be found in any of the legitimate writings of our church. Certainly there is nothing like it in her articles and homilies on the fubjefl. And in refpedl to the notion, that " juftification is fynoni- mous to baptifm •,'■ Dr. Hey himfelf allows, that " the ■word" is ^^Jeldom^ if every^ ufed in this fenfe, except in our article and homily ^. And does not this circumftance ren- der it highly improbable that it is fo ufed there ? Does it not far more than outweigh the fingle expreflion "baptized or juftified" in the homily ^ ? Dr. Hey allows too, that there are fuch Beings as mere " nominal Chriftians," and that the 13th Article, which treats *^ of works done before jufti- fication," is " chiefly intended for nominal Chriftians'"." But, if baptifm, or the bare admiffion into the Ghriftian re- ligion, means the fame as juftification, what fenfe is there in this article, or in the doftrine it maintains, as applicable to fuch perfons ? Can they who are already admitted into Chriftianity do works hefore they are admitted into it ? Or, can almoft an^ member of our church, when almoft univer^ fally they are admitted in their infancy, ever do fuch works? (1) Nor. Le6l. Vol. iii. p. 268, 270, 334, 336. (z) Appendix, p. 182. (y) Ibid, and p. 583. (k) Nor. Left. Vol. iii. p. 336. (i) On Salva. part 3d, (m) Nor. Lt^. Vol. iii. p. 378. JUSTIFICATION. l8l But the notion is overthrown by their own hypothefis ; namely, that it fuppofes " men to do their part faithfully i** and that we are then only " put into a way of being eter- nally happy, if all things go on well j" but that " we may lofe our way *^/*— Now if this mean, that we may lofe our juftification, and Dr. H. fpeaks of " our being reftored to it®;" then, if juftification be the fame as baptifm, in order to regain it, we muft be baptized. ** Juftification," he alfo fays> is ''fuppofed variable % fometimes mcreafingt fome- i\vciQ.s decreaftng^," But howcan our baptifm v^ry, and be increafed and decreafed == ? Even the paffage quoted from their favourite, though very illegitimate, authority, the " Neceflary Doctrine, &c.** is nothing to their purpofe. This only mentions baptifm, a$ the way " by the which God hath determined that man be- ing OF AGE and coming to chriftcndom (hould be juftified ^ ;** It certainly does not hence follow that it is the way by which thofe who are not of age, and therefore not capable of faith and repentance, are juftified. Our Church decides favourably, as doubtlefs (he ought, on the condition of bap- tized infants, who die in their infancy. But all who arrive Bt maturity Ihe fuppofes to be finners ; and " they,'* fiie (n) Ibid. p. 334., 336 J and Daubeny's Appendix, p. 149. (o) Nor. Lea. p. 268. (p) Ibid, p 335. (z) Mr. Hooker, fpeaking of th« Romanifts, fays, *« The firft re- ceipt of Grace, in their divinity, is the firft juftification j the increafe thereof, the fecond juftification Unto fuch as have attained the iirft juftification, that is to fay the firft receipt of grace, it is apjjlled further by good works to the increafe cf former grace, which is the fecond juftfication. If they work more and more, grace doth more and more increafe, and they are more and more juftifitd." Difc. oa Juftification, p. 19. — But thefe notions Mr. 11. mentions amongft thofe in which the Romanifts ciiffer from us, and after the mention of which he adds j *' This is the myftery of the man of fin. This maze the Church of Rome doth caufe her toUowers to trei^d, when they alk her the way of juftification."' — Ibid. (q) Nor. I.c6t. p. 336. tSt THE TRUE CHURCHMEI^ ASCERTAINED. teaches, "who in adl or deed fin after baptlfm, are waflied by Chrift's facrifice from their fins," or obtain this blefling of juftification, «« when they turn again to God unfeign- cdly*"/'. What (he really do^s mean by it fhall appear prefently. It ihall only firft be further obferved, That fome of thefe Divines confine juftification wholly to the pardon of Jin ; and that this they often fo explain as to mean very little except our Reformation •. According to Mr. Ludlam the juftification of a finner in the court of heaven is utterly impojjibk. The term, it is well known, is forenfic, and oppofed to condemnation, and fignifies to be abfolved and acquitted, or pronounced juft and innocent, in judgment s. With this idea in view, Mr. Milner has faid, " By the dodirine of Juftification is meant, the par- ticular method laid down in fcripture of honourably ac- quitting finful men before their God, through the atone- ment and righteoufnefs of Jefus Chrift^.** This " definir tion of jufiification," Mr. Ludlam fays, ** is unintelligible/* and " utterly inConfiftent ;" " For, finful men, fo far from being honourably acquitted^ cannot be acquitted at all" They ?' may," he fays, *' be pardoned for the fake of another,*' but not '* acquitted." *' It is upon account of his own iri" tiocence only, and upon no other account whafoevcr/' neither ** upon account of, for the fake of, or through the doings or fufFerings of another," ** that a man can be honourably acquitted." " That acquittance alone is honourable where there is no fu/picion of guilt K^* Now that in the judgment of the fcriptures and our Church, " all men," confidered in themfelves, are finful, and ** guilty before God,*' and " condemned by the law ^,'* it is impofllble to deny. If (r) Horn, on Salva. p. i*. (s) See Biftiop Watfpn, Trails, Vol.6. 31a, 350, 389, from Bi/hop Fowler j and Dr. Balguy's Ser. 4. p. 58, and Charges palTim. (g) See Leigh's Critica Sacra j and Crnden's Concordance.^ (h) Pamphlet on the Life of Wm. Howard, p. 43. (!) Firft Effay, p, 10. n. (k) Sec Kom. ill. 19; Horn, on Salva, p. 16. JUSTIFICATION. 1^3 Mr. L. therefore Is right, their acquittal or juftification is impoflible. All that God Almighty himfelf their Maker and Preferver, and Jefus Chrift their Redeemer, Advocate, and Judge, can do for creatures fo circumftanced is to par^ don them. Our Church however mod unequivocally teaches, that ** for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, by faith," we are not only pardoned, but " accounted rightc' ous before God • :" that befides ** the remiflion of our (ins," we are made *' of unjuft, juft before God °* : that ** Chrift is now the rtghteoufnefs of all them that truly be- lieve in him ;" that ** he for them paid their ranfom by his death ;" that *' he for them fulfilled the laio in his life j fo that now in hint and hy hitn, every true Chriftian man may be called a fulfiller of the law ^.** " And this juftification or righteoufnefs," ftie fays, " which we fo receive of God's mercy and Chrift*s merits, embraced by faith, is taken, ac- cepted, and allowed of God, for our perfed and full jufti- fication ;" that "by this facrifice we are wafhed from our fins, brought to God's favour j and made his children, and inheritors of his kingdom of heaven." ** This," fhe adds, ** is that juftification or righteoufnefs which St. Paul fpeak- eth of when he faith, * no man is juftified by the works of the law, but freely by faith in Jefus Chrift *.' So in other places, Chrift, (he faith, " hath purchafed for us the undoubted pardon and forgivenefs of our fins, and made at one the Father of heaven with us, in fuch wife, that he taketh us now for his loving children, and for the true in- heritors, with Chrift his natural fon, of the kingdom of heaven p." Surely all this means fomething more than our bare pardon as criminals. It is treating us as if we had (1) Art. n. (m) Horn, on Salva. p. 17. (n) Ibid. p. H- (o) Ibid. p. I?. (p) Horn, on the J^aiTion, p. i6i, r?4 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. never offended, and exalting us to the higheft privileges and honours. The fame fentimcnts are fully exprefled by all the princi- pal founders of our Church, in their other writings.— r^ Thus, in the Confefllon figned byFerrar, Coverdale, Hoo- per, Taylor, Bradford, Rogers, &c. in Queen Mary's time, our juftification is reprefented as implying " the for- givenefs of our fins, and Chriji's righteoufnefs imputed to us*!.' Nowell's Catechifm teaches, that •* God both forgives our fins, andy& gives us the righteoufnefs of Chrifi, by faith, that on account of this we are accepted as if it were cur ewn^," Archbifliop Cranmer repeatedly defcribes juftification in nearly the very words of our article, the being ** reputed righteous*."— —Bifhop Latimer is very explicit. " When," he fays, * we believe in him (our Saviour) it is like as if we had no fins. For he changeth with us : He taketh our fins and wickednefs from us. and giveth wihis holinefsr righteoufnefs, juftice, fulfilling of the law ; and fo confequently everlafting life. So that we be like as if we had done no fin at all. For his righteousnefs ftandeth us vafo goodjiead as though we of ourf elves had ful^ filed the law to the uttermojl K" <* The righteoufnefs of Chrift is accounted to be our righteoufnefs "* ". — -.'' I believe,'* proceeds the great Lord Bacon. **That the fufFerings and merits of Chrift, as they arc fufEcient to do away the fins of the whole world, fo they are only effeftual to thofe who ^re regenerate by the Holy Ghoft ; who brcatheth where he will of free grace ; which grace, as a feed incorruptible, quic)weneth the fpirit of man, and conceiveth him anew a fon of God and member of Chrift : fo that Chrift having man' fleftj, and man having Chrift's fpirit there is an open paflage and mutual imputation, whereby^« and wratJ^ (q) Fox*s Acts, p. 1641. (r) p. Ijo. (s) See a^ove, p. 179. (t) Sermons^ Vol. ii. p. 311. Xv^ l^^^' P* ?7?» JUSTIFICATION. l8^ was conveyed to Chrift from man ; and merit and life 19 conveyed to man from Chrift °»." We will only add the fentiments of the judicious Hooker on the fubjeft. Speaking of the man " who is found in Chrift through faith,*' " Him," he fays, ** God uphokleth with a gracious eye, putteth away his fin by not imputing it; taketh quite away the punifhment due thereunto by pardoning it ; and accepteth him in Jefus Chrift as perfeElly righteous y as if he had fulfilled all that was commanded him in the law. Shall I fay m-re perfeBl^ righteous , than if him* felf had fulfilled the whole law? I muft take heed whut I fay; but the Apoftle faith, * God made him to be fin for us, who knew no fin, that we might be made the righte- oufnefs of God in him;* Such are we in the fight of God the Father, as is the very Son of God himfelf * " So very different are the fentiments of our Church and and her moft celebrated primitive Writers from chofe of Mr. Ludlam ! He thinks •* finful men*' can only be par- doned, and cannot even be. acquitted, bn account of the Saviour: They think, that on believing in this Saviour, fuch men are thus accounted righteous, accepted into fa- vour and confidence, and entitled to thofe exalted re- wards. So very different are the views of the great Philofopher Bacon, ^nd the Judicious Hooker, from thofe of the poetical Mr Polwhele, and his Colleagues ! What the former thus fully ftate and zealoufly inculcate, the latter reprefent as moft abfurdy dangerous^ impious, and blafphemous ! Thus, to exhibit Mr. P.'s own words, ** You inform yovir pa- rifhioner,'* he fays to Dr. Hawker, • that * as the fins of his people are transferred to the perfon of Jefus, fo his righteoufnefs is imputed to them alfo ;* and that, in confe- quence of this imputation, * they are confidered as right- Cm) Works, Vol. iv. p. 456. (w) Difc on Juftification, annexedi to Ecc, Pel. folio, p. zq. l86 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. eous before God.* Surely this is one of the mojl ahfurd and dangerous doctrines that ever was devifed by man. If the righteousnefs of Chrift be imputed to the faithful, fo as to become (as you teach us) their righteoufnefs, it fol- lows, that the faithful are equally righteous ; and indeed, that the faithful are, in the eye of God, as righteous as Chrijl him/elf a ! How impious ; how blafphemous * !" But to return to Mr. Ludlam : The fadt is, that confi- dered in its original import, and reftridled precifely to the pra/> juftification. And this dodrine " that we are juftified by faith only," it is added, " is a moft wholfome dodrine, and very full of comfort, as more largely is exprelTed in the homily of juftification V This, Dr. Hey allows, " exprelTes thefe things fully and clearly 5." Here Biihop Horfley teftifies, ** thefe doctrines are delivered with admirable perfpicuity and precifion **." It is worthy of recolledion alfo, that this homily, in particular, is known to have been written by Cranmer'. To the homilies upon thefe fubjeds, we there- fore with pleafure next appeal. (f) Art. II. (g) Vol. ili. p. 270. (h) Charge, ^.28. (i) Strypc^s Life, p. 149. ftd# THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED; *< The very true meaning" then, we here read, " of this {)ropofitiGn, or faying, we be juftifiedby faith in Chrifl only, is this: "We put our faith in Chrift that we be juftified by him only, that we be juftified by God*s free mercy, and the merits of our Saviour Chrift only, and by no virtue or good Svorks of our own that is in us, or that we can be able to have, or to do, for to deferve the fame : Chrift himfelf only being the caufe meritorious thereof''." And again, " This faying that we be juftified by faith only, freely and without works, is fpoken for to take away clearly all merit of our works, as being unable to deferve our juftification at God's hands, and . . . wholly to afcribe the merit and deferving of our juftification unto Chrift only *." Thefe paflages, with others that (hall prefently be added, clearly eftablifti the do£lrine of the article, that we are not j uftified j^r our own Works ; or, that works are in no refpcdl the meritorious caufe of Our juftification. And, with equal clearncfs the point is here alfo confirmed, that we are not juftified ^^r, or in any refpeft on account of the MERIT of, our faith, ** The true underftanding of this dodrine, that we be juftified by faith in Chrift only,'* it is affirmed, " is not that this our own a<^ to believe in Chrift, or this our faith in Chrift, which is within us, doth juftify us, and deferve our juftification unto us, for that were to count ourfelves to be juftified by fome a6l or virtue that is within ourfelves, but the true underftanding and meaning thereof is, that although we hear God's word and believe it, although we have faith, hope, charity, repentance, &c. within us, and do never fo many works thereunto; yet we muft renounce the merit of all our faid virtues oi faith hope, charity, and all other virtues and good deeds, which we either have done, (hall do, or can do, as things that be far too weak and infufficient and imperfedt, to deferve remiffion of our fins, and our juftification, and therefore we (k) Horn, on Salvation, p. i6. (1) Ibid, p. 15, lUSTIFICATlOK. 20I muft tfuft only in God's mercy, and the facrifice of our HighPrieft JefusChrift As great and as godly a virtue as the lively faith is, yet it putteth us from itfclf, and re- mitteth or appointeth us unto Chrift, for to have only by him remiflfion of our fins, or juftification Our faith, as it were, faith unto us, it is not / that take away your fins, but it is Chrift only, and to him only I fend you for that purpofe, forfaking therein all your good virtues ^ words , thoughtSy and works J and only putting your truit in Chrift °*." And again, after a moft full declaration and difcuflion of our ^oi^rine, that " only faith juftifieth us," and that " faith without works juftifieth;" it is added, " and becaufe all this is brought to pafs through the only merits and defervings of our Saviour Chrift, and not through our merits, or through the merit of any virtue that we have within us, or of any work that cometh from us; therefore in that refpedt of merit and defer ving, we forfake, as it were, all together again, faith, works, and all other virtues. For our own imperfec- tion is fo great, through the corruption of original fin, that all is imperfe£i: that is within us, faith, charity, hope, dread, thoughts, words, and works, and therefore not apt to merit and deferve any part of our juftification °." In refpedl to merit, therefore, faith and works are manifeftly here placed on the fame footing. It is undeniably excludedi from both. And the pretence which is fo prevalent, that the expreffions of our church " by faith only," " by faith without works, &c.'* mean only to exclude the merit of works in our juftification, is, as was affirmed above, abfurd and nonfenfical. In this refpect, it is obvious, we are equally juftified without faith. Faith and works therefore being thus equally excluded as meritorious caufes of jufti- fication, what can thefe phrafes " by faith only," <* by faith without works," &c. and the earneftnefs with which our church infifts upon them, mean, but that faith only, or faith (m) Ibid. p. i6. (n) Ibid. p. 17, 202 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED* without works, is the conditional or injirumental caufe of thU blcfli ng? The way in which the homilies confider j^//^ immediately and peculiarly concerned in the tranfaftion has been fliown above *. This is, as it fends us dire£lly to Chrift ; as by it we embrace, receive, apply, &c. the merits of Chrift to ourfelves. And that, in the judgment of thefe umpires, we are juftified in the fight of God by faith only^ thus under- ftood, and not hy works, nor by faith and works together, the following citations in addition to thofe already produced, prove moft demonftrably. Having quoted Romans iii. 23 — 25; x. 4; and viii. 2, 3 ; the homily proceeds thus : " In thefe forefaid places, the Apoftle toucheth efpecially three things, which muft go together in our juftification : Upon God's part, his great mercy and grace; upon Chrift's part, the fatisfadion of God's juftice; and upon our part, true and lively faith in the merits of Jefus Chrift, which yet is not ours, but by God's working in us p." And then, having obferved that this mode of juftification illuftrates the jufticc as well as the grace of God, and " (hutteth out the juftice of man," it is added; ♦' Therefore St. Paul declareth here nothing upon the behalf of man concerning his juftification but only a true and lively faith, which neverthelefs is the gift of God, and not man's only work without God : And yet that faith doth not (hut out repentance, hope, love, &c. to be joined with faith in every man that is juftified, but it shutteth them out FROM THE OFFICE OF JUSTIFYING: So that although they be all prefent together in him that is juftified, yet they justify NOT ALL TOGETHER V Can language be more exprcfs upon any fubjcft? The meaning however, we here fee, and fhall fully fhow here- after *, is not, that works, the very beft we can perform, are (o) Page 195. (p) Horn, on Salvation, p. 13^. (q) Ibid. (z) Sec Chap. 7. JUSTIFICATION. 203 at any time to be omitted, or difregarded ; '* for we are moft bounden," it is declared, ** to ferve God all the days of our life:" Much lefs is it intended, that being juftified, " wc ihould afterwards be idle;** or that any (hould confider themfelves juftified who are deftitute of repentance, love, and obedience: But, the avowed meaning is, to exclude thefc and every kind of works, " fo that we may not do them to this intent, to be made jujl by doing of them *" ;*' to fhow, that however good, and abfolutely neceflary on other accounts, thefe works may be, yet that becaufe of their imperfe(9:ion, and becaufe God has fo ordained, they have no part in this matter of our juftification. This point the Homily certainly prelTes with great earneftnefs. Having in the beginning of its fecond part recapitulated the fubftance of what had gone before, and which has here been adduced, and having cited feveral of the fcriptures by which the doftrine is ufually fupported, it proceeds, " And to be fhort, the fum of all Paul's difputation is this, that if juftice (righteoufnefs or juftification) come of works, then it Cometh not of grace : And if it come of grace, then it cometh not of works. And to this end tend all the Prophets, as St. Peter faith in the tenth of the Adts. Of Chrift all the Prophets, faith St. Peter, do witnefs, that through his name, all they that believe in him, fhall receive the remiflioii of fins. And after this wife to be juftified only by this true and lively faith in Chrift, fpeak all the old and ancient authors, both Greeks and Latins. Of whom I will efpecially rehearfe three, Hilary, Bafil» and Ambrofe. St. Hilary faith thefe words . . , * Faith only juftlfieth.* St. Bafil . . . wri- teth thus, ' This is a perfect and whole rejoicing in God, when a man advanceth not himfelf for his own righteoufnefs, but acknowledgeth himfelf to lack true juftice and righte- oufnefs, and to be juftified by the only faith in Chrift. And Paul, faith he, doth glory in the contempt of his own rightc- (r) Horn, on Salvation, pi 13. 204 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. oufnefs, and that he looketh for the righteoufnefs of God by faith/ And St. Ambrofe faith thefe words, * This is the ordinance of God that they which believe in Chrift^ ftiould be faved without works, by faith only, freely receiving remiflion of their fins.* ** Confider diligently" fays the Homily, " thefe words, without worksf by faith only ^ freely we receive remiflion of our fins. What can be fpoken more plainly, than to fay, that freely without works, by faith only, we obtain remifiioH of our fins ? Thefe and other like fentences, that we be jufti- iied by faith only, freely, and without works, we do read oft-times in the beft and moft ancient writers. As bcfide thofe before rehearfed, in Origen, Chryfoftom, Cyprian, Auguftine, &c «." And in the very fame page, having extolled this doftrine, as thus approvf d " by all old and ancient authors of Chrift's church ;" as taught in the holy fcripture ; as the ftrong rock and foundation of the Chriftian religion ; the homily adds, that " whofoever denieth it, is not to be accounted for a Chriftian man, nor for a fetter forth of Chrifl^s glory, but for an adverfary to Chrift and hs gofpei:' Such is the " admirable perfpicuity and precifion" with which the do£lrine of juftification by faith alone is taught in our Homilies. How then can any perfons of integrity and information, after duly attending to thefe difcourfes, deny that this is the certain dodlrine of our church, or at- tempt to explain her language fo as to evade it ? The proof of the point is, however, by no means finlfhed here. That good works cannot, in her judgment, be either the meritorious caufe^ or \\ic Jlipulated condition of juftification, has often been juftly argued from the language and tenour of the two fucceeding articles ^ Here it is maintained, that whatever works are done ^f/or^ juftification, are not only de- void of every kind of merit, but that they *' are not pleafant (s) Ibid, p. 14, 15. (t) I a, and 13, JUSTIFICATION. 0.0^ to God, and have the mture of Jin ;" and that '* good works are the fruits of faith, ^ud folloiu ^/^r juftification.'* To the fame effeO:, *' No man," faith the Homily on fading, from St. Auftin, *^ doeth good works to receive Grace by his good works, but becaufe he hcLthJirjf received grace, there- fore confequently he doth good works. Good works go not before in him which (hall afterwards be juftified; but good works do follow after ^ when a man is firft juftified*.'* ** However glorious," adds Archbifhop Cranmer, " in the fight of men, works done before juftification may be, they are not allowed and accepted before God. Works only which follow juftification pleafe God, becaufe only after men are juftified they begin to work as God's law requir- eth ^." But, if good works are thus the fruits of faiths and only follow ^/^r juftification •, then they certainly cannot go before this bleffing. Fruit certainly cannot exift prior to the tree which bears it, nor the effedl antecedently to its caufe. And if thefe works cannot precede juftification, but are themfelves the fruits and confequences of it, then they can- not be either the caufe or condition of juftification. Caufes and conditions necefTarily precede that of which they are the caufes or conditions, and ftand in direct oppofition to the fruits and confequences of it. The Bifiiops and Martyrs in prifon thus exprefs them- felves on the fubje6l: ** We believe and confefs concernino- o juftification, that as it cometh only from God*s mercy through Chrift, fo it is perceived and had of none, who be of years of difcretion, otherwife than hy faith only '^.** <* He proveth/* faith Biihop Hooper, fpeaking of St. Paul's leafoning in Romans ix. " man to be faved- only by mercy, for the merits of Chrift ; which is apprehended and received by faith ^." " Our whole juftification" Nowcirs Catechifm (v) Page J74.; feealfo Horn, an Alms-deeds, p. 247. (w) Di(- courfe on Juftification. (x) Fox's Ads, &c. p. 1641. (m) Preface to Expo, of Decalogue. o 206 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. proceeds, muft be afcribed to the mere yof God through Chrifl ; which freely and gracioufly accepteth us in him, without any merit of ours, or any regard to our works '." ** We cannot," it fays again, " by any works or merits of ours prevent God, and firft movehim to be propitious to us; but the fount and origin of our juftification is his love, and election of us, in Chrifk ^." This blelTing he alfo teaches we obtain ** by faith ;"but in nowife "for the merit of faith*.^ " Faith," continues Bifhop Jewel, from St. Auftin, " had in the facraments, doth juflify, and not the facraments. And Chrift," he immediately adds from Origen, ** is the prieft, the propitiation, and facrifice ; which propitiation Cometh to every one by the mean of faith V The fame is the undoubted do6trine of the Augfburg Confeffion. It is here taught, " Quod homines non poflint juftificari coram Deo propriis viribus, mcritis aut operibus, fed gratis juftificentur propter Chrift um per fidem, ciim cre- dunt fe in gratiam recipi, et peccata remitti propter Chrif- tum, qui fua mortc pro noftris peccatis fatisfecit. Hanc fidemimputatDeus pro juftitia coram ipfo'^." Again: "Tan- tum fide apprehenditur remiflio peccatorum ac gratia. . . . Remiflio peccatorum et juftificatio fide apprehenditur, ficut teftatur et vox Chrifti: Cum feceritis hjec omnia, dicite, fervi inutiles fumus. Idem docent et veteres Scriptores Ecclefi- aftici. Ambrofius enim inquit: Hoc conftitutum eft a Deo, ut, qui credit in Chriftum, falvus fit, fine opere, fola fide, gratis accipiens remiflionem peccatorum **." In the Edi- tion quoted in the Harmony in EngUih, the merit of faith is alfo thus excluded : *' We do not mean when we fay, we are juftified by faith, that we zxcjuji for the worthinefs of that virtue ; but this is our meaning, that we obtain re- miffion of fins and imputation of righteoufnefs by mercy (bowed us for Chrift's fake : But now this mercy cannot ba (y) Page i lo. (z) Page 113. (a) Page 1 1 1 ^ (b) Apology, . 73. (c) Art. 4, . (d) Art, 20, and 6. JUSTIFICATION. 207 received but by faith,'* They are treated as enemies and heterodox who " teach not that we do by faith alone un- doubtedly receive remiflion of fins for Chrid's fake." " And for any" it is added, " to defpife or miflike this do6lrine, as detrading from good works," or under any other pretence, ** is more than pharifaical blindnefs." Precifely fimilar alfo are the fentiments of Mr. Hooker. *^ The righteoufnefs/' fays this approved Divine, " wherein we muft be found, if we will be juftified is not our own ; therefore we cannot be juftified by any inherent quality : Chrift hath merited righteoufnefs for as many as are found in him. In him God findeth us if we be faithful j for by faith we are incorporated into Chrift •." In the opinion of the great Luther, " the attention fhown to this doctrine is the fure mark of a ftanding or a falling church ^." A whole body of further evidence equally cxprefs on the point, from the Works of Latimer, Hooper, Taylor, Jewel, &c. {hall be omitted as wholly unneceflary. For, as Bifliop Horfley teftifies, " That nian is justified by faith, with- out THE works or THE LAW, was the UNIFORM doctrine of the FIRST REFORMERS. It is," his Lordfhip adds, " a far more ancient dodrine : it was the dodrine of the whole College of Apoftles. It is more ancient ftill : it was the dodrine of the Prophets. It is older than the Prophets : it was the religion of the Patriarchs. ... It is the very corner-ftone of the whole fyftcm of Redemption ^." Or, if the evidence of BKhop Warburton be preferred, this is, that the redemption of mankind by Chrift, ** together witli its confequent dodrine of justification by faith alone, were the gxtTit go/pel-prindples on ^^ hich protestantism was founded »." So perfedly, fo uniformly, fo undoubtedly, do the fenti- ments of our church and her moft eminent early writers, (e) Difcourfe on Juftlfica. p. ao. (g) See his Sentiments at large on this fubjefV in his Comment on the Galaiians, (h) Charge, p- 26, 6. (i) On Grace^ p, 316, 02 208 THE TRUE CHtTKiCmtB^ 'ASt-ERTAINED, coincide with thofe which we maintain on this do£lrine. Let the mod ingenious of our opponents fairly prove the con- tir^fy. Let them adduce any fuch evidence in proof of /;& agreement with her. But how can they reconcile ail this with the notions they "hold on the^ubjeft ? ^Their own ConceJJlohs Ihow pretty clearly that, after all their endeavours, the thing is im- polTiblc. Thus, the famous Dr. Bennet, commenting on the article upon the fubjefl, inftead of agreeing with her, tells us, that ** Our Church's intention and doftrine about juftilication by faith . . . are unhappily luorded ;'* and that ^* the compilers 6four articles and homilies do notfeem thoroughly to have underjlood St. Paul'* on this do£lrine, ... "as later writers have evidently (hown*!" Dr. Croft clafles this do£l:rine with thofc of thedefcent into Hell, and Predeflina- tion ; concerning which, either fome new interpretation ob- tains, or fomething is " now clearly proved by Dr. Tucker and Dr. Paley;'* and he thinks that if our Superiors inter- fere at all, in regard to the articles, " they might explain the nature of Juftification by faith"*." As if a large Homily written by Archbilhop Cranmer for this exprefs purpofe, with fuch ** admirable perfpicuity and preclfion," and all the other public writings of the church were infuffi- cient ; as if any perfon of common fenfe could doubt re- fpeding her fentiments. The fuggeftlon can only imply that Dr. C. difapprovcs of her prefent mode of explaining this do£trIne. And, to omit all others, the ingenious Dr. Hey is com- pelled to make conceffions on the point. The Reformers, he plainly teaches, in the heat of their difpute with the Ro- manifts, went too far in depreciating good works, and ex- tolling " the neceffity of founding all pretenfions to reward^ on the merits of Chrift •* :" And our church, he owns, " fell (1) Direftions, &c. p. 82. (m) Stri^urcs on Paley, &c. j). 58, 63 (n) Vol. iii. p. 261. 4 JUSTIFICATION. ZQ9 in with the reformed °/* on this dodrine. But, " fehe Re- formed/' he obferves, *^ have departed fo much from the rigour of their do£lrine about faith, and the Romanifts from theirs about good works, that there Teems now very little difference between them p.'* "Nothing," he fays, "was more natural than running into the oppofite extreme,*' after the Reftoration; " for fome afcribed even the political con- fuGons, previous to the Reftoration, to the great ftrefs laid on the dodlrine of Juftification by faith " " Neverthe- lefs, . . . men did not fairly get into the oppofite extreme until the beginning of the eighteenth Century **.'* " Juftifi- cation by faith," he alfo fays, " is one dotlrine by which, Antinomians are moft diftinguiflied*"." He "knows not. whether the expreffions of our Homihes on the fubjeft" of good works, ^* are not fomewhat too ftrong" for him • ; and he talks of making ^' our article (on Juftification) more ac- ceptable by foftening fome expreflfions feemingly tending to Antinomianifm, and by ftrengthening expreffions tending to encourage virtue, and the hopes of its rewards ^" -This furely is not the language of thofe who are quite fatisfied with the church on this doctrine, and who cordially and ftridlly adhere to her. — But let us adduce a few fpecimens of this boafted adherence. Few words will fuffice to fhow the abfurdity of this pre- tenfion in thofe who hold the Soclnian notion of two juftifi- cations, and that all the juftification attainable in this world, is fynonimous to baptifm, or our adrailfio-n into the pro- feflion of Chriftianity. This ends at once all difpute about faith and works on the point, in refped: to the generality of our communion, who are baptized in their infancy when both are equally impoffible. And certainly it is not our juftification at the day of judgment the church has imme- (o) Ibid, p, 272. (p) Ibid. p. 262. (q) Ibid, p, 265, See alfo above, p. 31, (r) Vol. iii. p. 264, (s) Ibid, p. 375, (t)Ibid. p. 183. 03 2IO THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED, diately in view. She would fcarcely be fo minute in dif-* tingui{hiHg what fort of works and fruits they are which follow after our juftification then; and affirm that whatever is done before that period is not pleafant to God, but has the nature (jf fin. Befides, this fecond juftification, they teach, is wholly by works; but that of which the church is treat- ing, is only by faith. But, as was obferved above, this diftindion, and thefe notions, muft be fought for elfewhere than in the legitimate writings of the Church of England. But neither are thefe Divines Proteftants enough wholly to exclude our own merits in this matter of our juftifica- tion before God. The profeflTedly orthodox Dr. Carr teaches, «' that we are fafe under the fhadow of God's wings, fo long as we endeavour to deferve his favour and prote(flion ^.'* Mr. Clapham hopes his Congregation " will recommend themfelves to the favour of God, ... by a regular attend- ance upon Divine Ordinances, and an uniform pra£lice of religious precepts ^." — Dr. Hey, treating of the way in which the pardon of fin is obtained, fays, "Repentance, I doubt not, always avails fometh'wg in the fight of God ^.'* Speaking of *' natural virtue," he obferves, *' It may be infufficient to ferve as the ground of a ftri£l claim upon God ; but it may neverthelefs be a great recommendation to God '." — Mr. Daubeny, although, on fome occafions, he verbally difclaims it, is juftly chargeable with the fame doc- trine. Thus, in vindication of his own notions, he pro- duces a paflage from the ' Erudition of a Chriftlan man/ which fays exprefsly, that Good Works ** be meritorious towards the attaining of cverlafting life ^ !" And, if there is any meaning in the ufe he makes of Revelations iii. 4 ; and xxii. 14, it muft be fomething of this kind. He talks of " works,'' " obedience to the moral law/' as confti- tuting men ''relatively worthy;*' and giving them as he (v) Ser. I. p. 50. (w) Thankfgiying Sermon, 1797. p. H* (;»i) Vol. iii, p. 3ii» (y) Ibid, p, zzt, (z) Appendix, p. 329. JUSTIFICATION. 2II explains the latter of thefe fcriptures, " a right of grace on the part of God/' to the tree of life; and of God becoming their " debtor *." A right of grace, and God " man's debtor,*' in confequence of his obedience to the moral law! for this is what Mr. D. is enforcing. This furely is flrange, if not utterly incomprehenfible doctrine ! The Apodle however, is very intelligible and exprefs on the fubjedl. ** To him that worketh,** he allows, " the reward is not reck- ed of Grace, but of Debt." « But if it be of Works/' he adds, " then it is no more Grace. And if by Grace then is it no more of Works ^.** The Reverend Mr. Nelfon, fpeaking of " Grace," ob- ferves, ** As it is not given when not wanted, fo it is vouch- fafed to thofe only who deserve it ; and when, by their vicious condu£^, men render themfelves unworthy of the fa- vour, it is then withdrawn and withheld from them <^." This is the doiftrine of his ** Treatife on Infpiration/* recom- mended in Newfpapers ^, like certain other precious Articles, as nearly eflential to the lalvation of all Families. And, on being reminded that this dodrine does not feem exa6lly to harmonize with that of the church, Mr. N. in what he calls «* A Defence" of his Work, anfwers thus : ** In the above palTage, I am to be underftood, as fpeaking of Grace, not before, but after it is received ; and my meaning is, that, as it is at firft given to thofe whofe minds are fit to receive it, /o it is continued to thofe only who, in the gracious eye of Heaven, continue to dejerve tt; or, in other words, who are deemed deferving of it** !'* Some perfons will perhaps think that Mr. N.'s Cure is, at lead as bad, as his Difeafe.— ^* The gofpel of Chrift," Mr. Fellowes adds, " is, from beginning to end, nothing more than a rule of life ; teaching us how to live fo as to pleafe God and to be worthy of immortality 2." Mr. Benfon alfo fpeaks out. His avowed objedl in (a) Guide, p. 287, 288, 289, (h) Rom. iv. 4 ; xl. 6. (c) Page 3, Cz) See the York Chronicle, 1799. (d) Page 6. (z) Anii-Cal. p. 12, 04 tit THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. preaching Is, to perfuade his audience ** to become ivorthy of ele£lion ^" " If," he fays, repelling the charge of fome audacious oppofer of his fyftem, 1' we are accufcd of rc^ commending the practice of moral virtues, as necejjary con- ditions^ whereby we may through faith in him who pror mifeth, render curfehes worthy the mediation of our Savi- our; as we flrenuoufly affert the do6lnne, fo alfo we glory in the charge ^.*' He urges '* the neceflity of recommending ourfelves to the mercy of God, and rendering our/elves ivorthy the mediation of Jefus Chrift by holinefs of living, and by an abhorrence of vice s." And now, how can any perfons, endowed with ordinary integrity and difcernment, who ufe this language, pretend to agree with the ftandard writings of our church ? If it is KOt clear from the above extracts, that all mepjt, desert, and WORTHINESS, on the part of man, in all fenfes, is there excluded, in refpedl to his acceptance with God, there is certainly no meaning in words. It may be further affirmed, of a large clafs of tliefe pro- feflcd adherents to our articles, that they certainly teach the dodrine of j unification by ivorks. Thefe they reprefent as the condition of it, and as the chief means by which we muft obtain it. " We are required," Dr. Croft fays, " to confider Good Works as the Condition^ but not the meritori- ous caufe of falvation **." " Were we," fays Mr. Benfon to his congregation, " to utter thofe preffing calls, which elfewhere you may hear . . . ; * Come to Chrift, and throw yourfelves on his mercy. Come to him bringing nothing but your fins. . . . Seek him not by your deeds, but feek him by faith. Were we, I fay, to call you in fuch terms, we fhould but turn confpirators againft the welfare of your fouls." . . . *'The call you defire to hear is uttered only to the righteous. . . . He (Chrift) calls, he fpeaks comfort to, ths. (c) Ser. i. p. 8. (f) Ibid. p. 13. (g) Ibid. p. 19. (h) Stn(5tnres on Paley, &c. p. 60. JUSTIFICATION. 213 righteous ».'* Does not the Saviour himfelf affirm the di- re£l: contrary ^ ? Very fimilar is the Theology of Bifliop Watfon. To his Author, Bilhop Fowler, it appears felf-evident, that ** None but Jjoly fouls are capable of remiffion of fin^ !'* "Thofe perfons," Mr. Fellowes fays, who, among their other extra- vagancies, " €\T^t£k. jujilficatlon upon eafter conditions than thofe. ofgoodivorh^ will find themfelves miferably and fatally de- luded ^.'* ** As," he obferves, " the corruptions with which the gofpel has been intermingled, by the fraud of fome, and the ignorance of others, fhali be purged away, Chriftianity will become again, as it was at the beginning, nothing more than a rule of life. The pradlice of its duties will be the teft of faith, the ftandard of intereft, and the only condition on the performance of which immortality will be ex- peaed y." The divinity provided for the Clergy by Dr. Burn, Chancellor of the Diocefe of Carlifle, is fuch as the follow- ing. " The laws" of the Gofpel, " never promife any thing but to obedience '"." " No man will be acquitted at the day of judgment,, but only for working and obeying **.** The inquiry will be only, whether we have done what was commanded us ? If we have, we fliall be pronounced righteous, and fentenced to eternal life : if we have wilfully tranfgrefled and wrought wickednefs without amendment and repentance, to everlafting death °." "There is no pardon to be purchafed without obedience p." *' Our obedience is that only thing which will 'be admitted as a juji plea J and as a qualification able to fave us in the laft day **." Nor is it obedience taken in an extenfive fenfe, as confining efpecially in believing in him whom God hath (i) Sfcr. i. p. 14—18. (k) Mat. ix. 13. (I) Tra^s, Vol. vj. p. 32Z. (z) Ami-cal. p. 14. (y) Ibid. p. 27. Sec alfo Mr. Haggitt, p. 6—8. (m) Sermons, Vol, i. p. a. (n) Ibid. p. 5. fo) Ibid. p. 9. (p) Ser, 8. p. 144. (q) Scr. i. p. n. dt4 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. fcnt, that is here chiefly meant; but obedience to the moral; law, obedience as diftinft from faith. This is clear from what follows. Having obferved how fatally " men evade this doctrine, becaufe the gofpel promifes falvation to faith, love, being in hrift, &c. j" Thefe, he fays, «* favc us no otherwife than by being fprings and principles of our obe- dience. , . So that firft or laft, obedience is . . . that alone con^ dition which our judge will accept, and which we may fafely truft to'." Accordingly, Mr. Polwhele exhorts ** us all to be aware, whatever our tenets may be, that nothing can afford us comfort, at the hour of death, but the confcioufnefs of having * done juftice, loved mercy, and walked humbly with our God ».'" And is not this alfo the notorious Divinity of Mr. Daubeny ? The benefits of Chrift and Faith, according to his phrafeology, are, " Redemption from a ft ate of certain condemnation, and a reftoration to a ftate oipojfihle falvation; together with a gracious proviGon of afliftance to make that falvation fure '.*' Thefe benefits he confiders as enjoyed by all the profeffed members of the Church of England \ «* But whether," he fays, « this ftate of pojftble falvation through Chrift, may become a ftate of aBual falvation to the believing partly muft depend upon the ufe made of the means vouchfafed for that purpofe"*." Again, having obferved that Chrift has only placed man ** in a falvable condition,'* the Clergy, he fays, " feel themfelves called upon to enforce obedience to the moral laiv^ as neceffary to the accomplifhment of the Chriftian fcheme; neceflary to bring fallen man into a Jiate of acceptance with God, by qualifying him for the falvation which has been purchafed*." " Works", he fays again, ** fliould be prefled upon Chriftians at all times as the condition upon which they are taught to look for (r) Ser. i. p. ii. (s) Letter, p. 90. (t) Guide, p. 299. (v) Ibid J and p. 3095 and paflim, (w) Page 299. (x) Page z%t* JUSTIFICATION. 215 falvation y :*• and on another occafion, " They (i. e. Works) will be conftderations on account of ivhich God will be pleafed to accept 2l fallen, condemned, though, at the fame time, repentant and obedient fmner, for the fake of what an all- gracious Saviour has done and fufFered for him ^." The fum of Mr. D.'s dodlrine then, as far as it Is. at all intelligible, is this *, that admilTion into Chrlftianity by faith, places men in a ftate of poflible falvation ; but that whether this becomes a real, a£lual, and difcriminating falvation to any believer, depends wholly upon his works i whether he is really brought " into a ftate of acceptance with God," de- pends wholly on his " obedience to the moral law." Works therefore are clearly made the grand hinge on which our juftification and falvation turn. All the falvation by which true Chriftians are diftinguifhed from the wicked is founded on their own obedience. And is it not now aftonifliing, that perfons afluming the high office of Guardians of our literature and eftabliftied Theology, fhould affirm, that the dodlrines of Mr. D.'s Guide *' are Jtri^ly conformable to the articles and liturgy of the Church of England, particularly in the two great points of ele6lion and j ujlif cation* \ Is it not aftonifliing that any perfons of fenfe and charadler ftiould pretend that all this is adherence to the doftrine of our church ! Thefe teachers, thus in efFe6l, make works every thing, or at the leaft, the grand turning point, in the matter of our falvation : Our church calls upon us to " confider diligently, that they who believe in Chrift, are saved without works, by faith ONLY, freely receiving the remiffion of their fins." They teach that in order to obtain pardon, and acceptance with God, we muft be thus ** righteous," " holy," " quahfied" by our " obedience to the moral law," and perform all thefe M conditions" of good works : Her uniform dodrine is, that (y) PageftSS. (z) Appendix, p. 328. (a) See ^tijac. Review for Jan, i8co, p. 14. 2 id THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. "faith only jufiifieth;" that in applying to God for this bkfling we " muft forfakeallour good virtues, works, &Cj" that we muft not do any works " to this intent to be made juft by doing of them j" nay, that we cannot, till after we are jujlified, d© a good work. Another opinion, of the fame kind, which thefe Theo- logians maintain, is, " That faith in the merits of Chrift JuppUes the defeBs of our obedience;" and that ** for the fake of ChnHJincerely righteous pcrfons are treated as if they were perfeB/y fo. So teaches Biihop Watfon^ from Mr. Locke and Bifhop Fowler. Dr. Hey fays, " The merits of Chrift fupply imperfedtion V* Mr. Deafon, whofe divinity was honoured with a prize in the Univerfity, tells us, '* Chrift died more particularly to make per feB by his own fufFerlngs, the obedience of fuch as may have been almoft inadvertent or cafual finners**." " Nothing," Dr. Burn adds, *Mefs than this performance of our duty can avail us unto life; and by the merits of Chrift, and the grace of his gofpel, this will*.'* And the fame might be fliown to be the notion of moft of the writers juft mentioned. Of this opinion it has often been juftly obferved, that, in efFt6^> it deftroys both the law and the gofpel; by reducing the former to a mere vague indeterminate fomething, named Sincerity ; and, both in regard to the honour of God and the comfort of man, robbing the latter of all its glory. The Advocates of this fyftem have alfo, with propriety, often been called upon to fhow where in the New Teftament this do£l;riiie is found ; where it is there taught that our own lighteoufnefs perfeded by Chrift's is accepted for our juft i* fication, or that his merits only fupply the defeds of our obedience ? It is however fuflicient to our prefent purpofe to obferve, that it is clearly very different from the preceding reprefentations of the church ; namely, that ** without the (b) Tra£ls, Vol. iv. p. 9 ; and Vol. vi, p. 39a. (c) Vol. iii, P« ISS* (^') Effay on Juftification, (c) Ser. i. p. 8, JUSTIFICATION. ^17 grace of God by Chrlft preventing us, we have no power to do good works," and that " we are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour ]efus Chrift by faith." But, to proceed to the doctrine of the moft orthodox of thefe Divines, at their moft orthodox moments; this is, that we are juftified by faith and good works together; or, as they exprefs it, that faith and good works are the Conditions of our juflifi cation. Little need be advanced in fupport of this affertion, the matter of it will be fo generally avowed. Thus, Mr. Gray, treating on the doftrine of juftification, fays. Our church differs " from the Calvinifts, in confider- ing Good Works not merely as effects, but as co-efficient conditions with Faith V Mr. Foley adds, " The Chriftiati religion is founded on a mutual covenant between the Creator and the Creature. Faith and good works are the con^ ditionsy falvation the reward of obedience^." Mr. Daul>eny exprefles the do6lrine fully. Having mentioned the part which, he conceives, belongs exclufively to God in the aO: of man's juflification ; " the other parts of the gofpei covenant," he fays, ** as faith, repentance, a7id good works through the operation of the Spirit, are the conditions upon which God engages to vouchfafe that justification to him*^." Again, " Good Works," he fays, " are neceiTary as parts of the condition upon which the free grace of God has been fufpended^" And, to be concife where the cafe is fo clear, the learned Bifliop Bull, to whom Mr. DaulTCny refers as having Hated this fubjeft fo clearly as to render further difcuflion ufelefs ''^ whofe Pupil Mr. D. is confidered by the Britifli Critic; and to whofe Divinity the moft or- thodox of our opponents would, doubtlefs, fubfcribe. (f ) Bamp. Le6l. p. 246, Note. (g) See A Defence of th« Church of England, by the Rev. R, Foley, M. A, Sermon vi. (h) Guide, p. 311. (i) Appendix, p, 17 j^. (k) Soe Guide, p. 312,. 2l8 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. fpeaks thus upon It. " A man is faid, e| a^ym hy.cciHo-^ui, to be jufttfied by works, becaufe Good works are thecondi- TiON, according to the Divine appointment, eftabliHied in the gofpel covenant requifite and necefary to his juflification ; that is, to his obtaining remijfton of fins through Chrift, and ac-- ceptance into the Divine favour ^" In attempting to prove this pofition a little after, he fays, " The firft clafs of thcfe teftimonies fhall be thofe which fpeak of Good Works in a general fenfe as the requftte and necejfary condition of jufifi" cation,** And then, having cited feveral paflages from the word of God, " Who," he afks, *^ does not believe that in thefe fcriptures there is an abundance of good ivorks required, which if a man do not perform he is altogether excluded from the hope of pardon and remiflion of fins ?" But is this indeed the do61:rine of our Church ? Is this language congenial with what we have produced from her writings on the fubje£l ? Surely It mull require no ordinary courage to maintain this. If her do£lrine indeed is, that we are thus juftified by faith and good works; or that faith and good works are thus the conditions of jujlification, is it not very ftrange that in none of her exprefs writings on the fubje£l (he fliould have affirmed this ? And is there a fingle expreflion that founds like it, or that can be fairly conftrued into it, either in her Articles or Homilies on the point ?. Let the Advocates of the dodrine produce it. On the con- trary, does flie not in the moft explicit, uniform, pofitive, and earneft manner, rejeSl this fyftem, and maintain the very oppofite one ? In refpe£l: to merits flie places, we have fecn. Faith and Works precifely on the fame footing ; and afcribes this, wholly, in all fenfes, to our Redeemer: and then, when treating direiStly on the means, or condition^ or whatever it is called, by which we obtain juflification, flie fays, " It Js BY FAITH ONLY i" " by faith WITHOUT WORKS j'* by faith (1) Bull. Harmon. Apoft. Cap. i. § 8. and quoted by Mr. Paubcny. lUSTIFICATION. Sip as It IS perfe£lly difl:in£i: from obedience to the law, namely, *^ as it dire£^ly fends us to, and embraces Chrift." She affirms, cxprefsly and repeatedly, that in this a£t of ap- proaching the Saviour for juftification, ** we mu^Jbrfaie, or leave behind us, all our fuppofed good virtues ;*' " that we muft not do good works to the intent to he made jufl by doing of them ;" that whatever good works are joined with faith in every man that is juftified, " it shutteth them OUT FROM THE OFFICE OF JUSTIFYING j" that " howCVCr good works and faith be prefent together in him that is juftified, yet that they justify not all together." She fliows, that fhe confiders it as impoffible for good works to be a condition of juftification, as it is for the efFe6l to precede its caufe, by conftantly reprefenting thefe works as i\iQ fruits and effe5fs of juftification. But we muft not here repeat the whole body of her evi- dence to the fame purport. Enough muft have been faid ta convince all impartial judges, that even this moft favourable ground of our opponents is not fairly tenable ; and that on this moft important of all dodlrines, they do not, as they would pretend, teach, as it is taught in the ftandard writings of our church, and was taught by our Reformers. Whether regard is had to the nature of juftification, to the nature and province of jufiifying faith, or to the means by which juftification is obtained, their deviation from this acknowledged ftandard, and our JiricI adherence to it, are thus equally confpicuous. Our pofition therefore, we conceive, is again eftabliflied on a double bafis ; and that of our opponents doubly overthrown. But whether our prc- mifes warrant this conclufion ; or whether, at any rate, our claim to Churchmanfliip on this point is not the bcft founded of the two, let every competent judge decide. i}2^ ) CHAP. vir. The queftion of adherence purfued in refpect to the doctrine of GOOD WORKS ; with a "vindication of our tenets on this head. HJT let us purfue this inveftigation of particulars to the do£lrine of Good Works, or Chriftian Morality, concern- ing which fo much has already incidently been faid. This then, it muft be remarked, is the point in which we are fuppofed unqueftionably the mofl vulnerable. It is chiefly from a refped to their bearings here, that the ob- je£l:ions to our other do£lrines would be underftood to ori- ginate. The mod open clamour, the moft frequent infmu- ation, againft our whole fyftem, is, that we depreciate good morals \ Becaufe we exclude morality from the office of juflifying, it is fagaciously concluded, that we muft either deny its neceffity ; or, at the leaft, greatly under- rate its value ; as if becaufe we fliould maintain that our eyes cannot perform the fun£lions of our hands, we fliould deny the neceffity or depreciate the value of our eyes. Juft fo it was argued by the rigidly virtuous Papifts againft the do£lrines of the Reformers ^ And the fame obje£l:ion, under a little more difguife, is preferred by the fame kind of (a) See Antijac. Review for April, 1799, p. 368 ; and for May, p. 77 ; Nor. Left. Vol. iii. p. 464, 496, 332 j Review of Policy, &c. p. a2 — 3a; Mr. Clapbam's Sermon, p. 16, 17, 21 j Mr. Haggitt's, p. i<, and Preface, p. 155 Mr. Fellowes', p. la, and Preface j Mr. Daubeny's Appendix, p. 330; &c. (b) See JewePs Apology; and the Corpus Confcflionum, pafllm j the Homily on Failing, p. 174; and Nor. Left. Vol. iii. p. 29a, STANDARD OF MORALITY. 221 perfons, againft the- Church herfelf. This undoubtedly is implied in the affirmation of Dr. Croft, that her ** Articles concerning Grace, Faith, and Good Works lean towards the fide of Enthufiafm <=." This clearly is exprefled in their conceffions already noticed "^j that ** the Reformers went too far in depreciating good nuorks ; that rhe compilers of our eleventh article mlfunderjiood H. Paul ; that the expref- fions of the homily about works are fomewhat too ftrong ; that the article might be made more acceptable by foftening fome expreffions feemingly tending to Atvtinomianifin \ and by ftrengthening expreffions tending to encourage virtue, and the hopes of its rewards ;" &c. &:c. We are in good company therefore, it appears, under our reproach. The charge however is a fewous one, and would deferve, could it be fubftantiated, the mod ferious atten- tion. Were it indeed true that our do£lrines, or thofe of the Church, either in their natural tendency, or ordinary effisfl:, encourage men in fin, no reprobation could be too fevere for them. But *' audi alteram partem;" let not a conclufion be formed too haftily. Our main bufinefs in- deed is, not fo much to vindicate, as to inveftigate, the dodtrines of the Church, and to fiiow whofe opinions mofl tefemble them ; but in this inftance in attempting the one pbjcdi:, wc fhall alfo achieve the other. SECTiON I. Concermig the Standard of Morals. W E will begin with the Standard or Rule of morality which the Church of England prefcribes. This is the mfhole moral law of God. '^ No Chriftian man whatever,'' (c) Bamp. Le5l. p. mo. (d) Above, p. 208, 209. aa« THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. ihe affirms, *' is free from the obedience of the command- ments which are called moral ^** The fummary of this law therefore, the Decalogue, (he incorporates with her or- dinary fervice. What fhe underftands is implied in this divine Code, her catechifm informs us ; and flie may chal- lenge any human compofition whatever to furnilh a com- pendium of moral duty more concife and more complete 5 more pure, fimple, and truly fcriptural. The Jirfi of two chief things enjoined by this law, in clofe imitation of the Saviour, (lie here teaches, is, *' Our duty towards God.*' This fhe fays, is, " To believe in him, to fear him, and to love him with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our foul, and with all our flrength ; to worfhip him, to give him thanks, to put our whole truft in him, to call upon him, to honour his holy Name and his Word, and to ferve him truly all the days of our life." And what fhe more precifely means by this defcription of duty, is fhown at large in the homily on Chriftian Love and Charity. Here it is reprefented to imply abfolute dependence upon God, SI fupreme affedion for him, complacency in him as our chief Good, and the unreferved devotion of all our powers, both of body and foul, to his fervice, and to the advancer ment of his glory. « Thisi' fhe fays, "is the frj^ and principal part of charity *^." So in the homily on Salvation, our duty, fhe teaches, is, thus to devote our whole lives and powers to God, and " to feek in all things, and above all things, his glory and honour s." She fpeaks too, of fet- ting our minds "to ferve God for his oivn fahe'y^ an4 conftantly, of loving our neighbour ** for God's fake '\" Her members pray accordingly, before the repetition of this holy law, that God may " cleanfe the thoughts of their hearts," that they " may perfedly love him, and worthily (e) Art. vil. J and Catechifm. (f) See p. 36. (g) Page 19. (h) See Hom. on faith, p. 25 j Horn, on Salva. p. 19 j Horn, on Good Works, p. 35. STANDARD OF MORALITY. 223 magnify his holy name.'* Her communicants " offer and prefent unto him, themfelves, their fouls and bodies, to be a reafonable, holy, and lively facrifice unto him,'* Her whole fervice abounds with hymns of adoration of him, and afcriptions of glory to him. It ismoft clear therefore, without further evidence, that, in the judgment of our Church, \k\^firji and chief part of Chriftian morality has a dire5l and immediate rcfpecl to God. It is tli€ reafonable fervice we owe him; the juft tribute he dem.ands of us, as the glorious Sovereign of the Univerfe, as our Creator, Preferver, and Redeemer. " Our jirji duty," fhe conceives, as a celebrated Expofitor of human laws alfo avers, ** is unqueftionably a duty to God ^'* The fecond chief thing taught in the decalogue, which the Church notices, is, ** Our duty towards our neigh- bour." This, ftill adhering clofe to our Lord, {he fays, is, *' to love him as ourfelf •,'* and, of courfe, in every relation, and under every circumftance, to a6l towards him accord- ingly. This condudl, as it rcfpedls both the relative, focial, ^nd perfonal duties, (lie diftindlly fpecifies in her comment on the fix laft commandments. Thefe duties fiie notices, and illuftrates in all their variety of bearings and relations, in her other writings. Thus, they are again diftindly enumerated in the Homily on Good Works •, and the mod (Confcientious obfervance of them is enforced, as what we arc bound unto ** by God's commandments ''.'* That the exercife of this love and beneficence muft extend to enemies as well as friends, and triumph over every pofTible oppofition on their part, Is particularly fliown, both from the precept and example of Chrlft, in the Sermon on Cha- rity*. And, in the Homily on Salvation, this duty, (he fays, is, " to be ever ready^ for God's fake, to give our- hofe attention has been ahnoft wholly occupied about their ref[^e£live callings, be any competent judges refpeding the perfection of governments, and the moll politic conduct of nations? Hew can perfons fo fituated, decide with pro- priety on queftions refpecling War and Peace, Alliances and Commerce, and other intricate fubjeCts of Govern- n-ent, on which the wifeft and mod virtuous of men, uhofc whole lives have been fpent in fuch inveftigations. are di- vided ? This is taking the Cobbler beyond his laft with a whnefs! How amoi.gft the many direOIy oppofite opinions of fat> Charge, p. 4.6. STANDARD OF MORALITT; 253 flom in (o doing, the venerable Lord Kenyon affirms, none can doubt. Even the Bifhop's difpenfing with refidence, his Lordfhip obferves, does mot alter the Law on the fubje6l. ** But independent of this,*' he adds, " upon every mral man's mind there muft be a fenfe of duty imprefled, that he ought not to receive the emoluments of his fituation, with- out, as far as he is able, difcharging the duties of it J".** Attention to this duty is moreover ftrenudnfly recom- mended by the unanimous voice of our moil eminent Pre- lates*. In (hort, as the Bifhop of London exprefTes it, ** Nothing but extreme ill health, or fome other equally juil and powerful impediment, can excufe an Incumbent from that refidence which is required by the laws of the land both civil and ecc.lefiaftical, as well as by every motive that can bind the confcience, or influence the condudl of an honeft man ^." In fpite however of all this, Dr. Croft, the Vicar of Arn- clifFe, is a ftrenuous advocate for Non-Refidcnce. Accord- ing to his fublime morality, thefe obligations maybe all con- fcientioufly negle£l:ed. In his judgment, this moil weighty duty of a minifter towards his parifli may be faithfully dif- charged although he feldom comes near it. " The evils of non-refidence and pluralities," he fays, " arc common fubjects of declamation. . . . But were the hopes of ecclefiailics ilill more contracted, all the great abilities of the Country would have recourfc to other profelTions and callings ^.^* '* In the rage for reforming, many pleas for non-' refidence vjcrt omitted, ftronger than fome of thofe which are allowed. I humbly conceive, notwith (landing, that more latitude of conftru£tion is admiflible. Be this as it may, (that is, clearly, be the law what it may) let benignity (y) See Note (i) 2zo, ah.ove. (z) Befides the Charges already mentioned, fee thofe of the Biftiops of Durham, Rochelter, Lincoln, Exeter ; and to ufe thi3 laft Prelate's language, ** almoft every charge of every Biniop." (a) Ch, p. ii. (b) Thoughts, &c. p, i6„ R ^54 THE TRim CHUUCKMEN ASCERTAINEJ). in the ordinary, and in all other perfons concerned, fap-* ply the defea ^'* The pleas fuggefted by the Dr. which the leglllature ha^ omitted, are, " any unfortunate difpute concerning tithes,** and the confideration how little towards a reformation of his parifh the inctimbent himfelf can efFeft ! f In the former cafe, " it is certainly,*' he fays, " much more advifable" for the minifter ^* to change the place of his refidence, and to Hve where he can live in peace and tranquillity *." Thofe Prelates who are ftrenuous in requiring atten** tion to this duty, I>r. C abufes; and reminds them, that ** the great concern of Biftiops is not to impofe improper reflraints, or to faften harfh imputations upon the body of the clergy *." In anfwer to Archbifiiop Seeker, who, in » palTage quoted by Mr. Giiborne, cenfures Pluralifts who do not comply with the exprefs condition of the inftrument of their difpenfanon *, Dr. C. aflcs, ** Whether His Grace re- flcdled how inconvenient and expenfivc this would prove to many?" *' Let the bond therefore,*' he fays, ^* be abro- gated, and while the clergy do all they can in their refpec-' tive ftations, let them oppofe with unremitting zeal the nar-» row rules of ecclefiaftical Martinets, who having found a fmooth and eafy path to liberal emolument, calmly recom- mend difintereftednefs and humility to others, and would lay upon them burdens grievous to be borne ^ " <* Still,*' he adds, *^ the wickednefs of the world is owin^ to the non-reridence of the clergy . Surely men*s abilities and exertions are not to be meafured by their incomes. Therefore why fo much declamation again ft Curates s'?'* The declamation is not againft Curates, but againft Principals for abfenting themfelvesj and with many weighty reafdna for this complaint, Dr. C. may be fupplied by the Biftiop of (c) Thoughts, &c. p. 38. ((!) Ibid. p. 4.5. (0 Striaureson Faky and Gift>orne, p. 14*- (z) See Burn, Vol. iiio Ch. on Plurality, p. icS, (0 Ibid. p. 151. (g) Thoughts, p. 44. STANDARD OF MORALITY. ^5^ London. The conclufion of his Lordfhip's remarks on the fubje£t runs thus: ** In (hort, let him (the Principal) be ever fo careful in the choice of his fubftitute, is he prepared to anfwer, as he muft, at the tribunal of Chrift, for every ftegleft that has happened, every foul that has been loll among thofe committed to his care, and whom perhaps he has never feen or thought of for months and years together ? This is a mod awful confideration ; and I leave it to the ferious attention of every one whom it concerns^/' Now> it is unnecefTary to add, that Dr. Croft's fentiments are not lingular ou this head. Leaving then every other part of a minifter's duty, every other reafon the Dr. may have for wifliing that charges from the Bifliops to the Clergy might be delivered in private, or in Latin ' ; this we muft infift upon, that they who thus vindicate and plead for the violation of^ the lanus of the Idndf the lanvs of thi churchy the exprefs condition on which they are inftitutcd to their benefits, the admonitions of their Ordinary^ their oivn filemn Oath^ and " every motive that can hind the confcience^ tr influence the conduB of an honeji man" muft for ever be filent about inculcating strict mokalitt. Another duty of immenfe importance to focicty is that of Veracity. In proportion as men deviate from Truth the^T deftroy mutual confidence, throw every thing int© confufion, and utterly unfit themfelves for converfe with each other. There is, accordingly, fcarce any virtue more urgently rc^ commended to Chriftians, than univerfal fincerity and fim- plicity in their deportment^; there is no vice againft which the laws of Chrift are more awfully feverc, than every fpecies of lying *. Are then thefe guardians of moralsj^ri/?on this point ? No. (h) Ch. p. 13. (I) See his Striaures, p. 155 j and Thoughts, p. 3?. (k) See Mat. v. 37 i « Cor. i. la j ii. 17 j Xitus ii. 8, 9. (I) John viii. 44 j A-ds v. 3. 4.} Rev. xxi, 8. R 2 1^6 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAlNfilJ. There may be cafes according to Dr. Croft's cafuiftry, ^hcd this abomination to the Lord is abfolutely neceflary.— » Speaking of the condu6l of Medical Gentlemen toward their patients, Mr. Gifborne properly obferves, " They are at liberty to fay little, but let that little be true. St. Paul's diredion * not to do evil that good may come,' is clear, pofitive, and univerfal." Dr. Croft's ftritSlure here is, *' There may be cafes in which It may be abfolutely neceflary to DECEIVE a patienf"." He talks alfo of " a pardonable LYE*^." " The cafuiftry of lying," however he thinks, ** is not in all inftances regularly adjufled. Some," he fays, ** have made it malum per fe. If this were the cafe, it eould no more be allowable to lye under any circumftanccs than it could be to commit fornication or adultery." But ** to tell a lye for charityt &c." he fays, " hath not only been done at all times, but commended by great, and wife, and good men °." This furely rather refembles apology for the violation of the duty of veracity, than ftri£lnefs upon it. , The celebrated moralift, Archdeacon Paley, alfo enu- merates a large clafs of diredt and intentional " falfehoods which" he fays, " are not lies," and " not criminal p." Amongft thefe are fpecified ** jefts," " tales to create 'mirth," " a fervant's denying his mafter," affirmations •* where the perfon you fpeak to has no right to know the truth, or more properly where little or no inconvenience arifes from the want of confidence," difcourfe to children, &c. ** for their own advantage," ^c. Sec** " Many people," he obferves, "indulge in fcrious difcourfe a habit of fidion and exaggeration." Such perfons then it might appear, certainly violate the precepts of fcripture refpeding veracity. But no : " So long," the Dr. fays, " as the fa£i:s they relate are indifferent, and their narratives, though falfe, are inoffenfive, it may feem a fuperftitious regard to truth, to cenfure them (m) Striaurcs, p. 163. . (0) Ibid. p. 6, (o) Ibid. p. 35. Note, (p) Moral and Polit. Phil. Ch. on Lies, p. 154, 155. (q) Ibid. STANDARD OF MORALITY. 257 merely for truth's fake." He exprefles however feme faint difapprobation of this condu6t, and adds, ** White lies always introduce others of a darker complexion"^." This to fome perfons would appear a fufficient reafon why fuch lies fhould be prohibited. But clearly, whatever may be the conveniency of this Divine's morality, it has no claim to ftriclnefs. Very fimilar arc the notions of ProfeiTor Hey on the point " Veracity," the Dr. fays, " may perhaps be mod conveniently defined, an habitual abilinence from falfehood." And " falfehood," he adds, " is deceiving thofe whom we undertake to inform, by the uCe of figns, agreed upon be- tween us ^." To tell a lie occaftonally therefore is no breach of this duty, nor is there any guilt in deceiving all who do not come under thefe circumftances. In illuftrating this definition, and proving how frequently there is apparent, and no real falfehood, the learned Profeflbr ihows, how, without fpeaking falfehood, we may ufe words in a fenfe as different from their literal and obvious fignification, as it would be " to call the Sun by the name of Moon, and the Moon by the name of Sun^i" or of courfe, to call while black, and black white ! Among other inftances of this kind which are produced, we have again that of a fervant's denying his mailer j that is, faying, *^ My malter is not at home, when his mafter is really within ^." ** Arch-bifhop Seeker, being alked about this matter," the Dr. fays, he has been told, " anfwered,'* * The^r/? man that ufed this excufe when he was really v.t home, told a lie ".*' And can there be a doubt but that nine times out of ten when it is ufedj it is a lie iliil ? There has certainly been no exprefs and general agreement that thefe figns or words fhould perfedlly change their meaning; nor have they tacitly, or by any other method,' acquired a new (0 Ibid, ly 157. (s) Vol. ii. p. s. . (t) Ibid. p. SI, ^v) Ibid, p, \z. (w) laid. 2St THE TRUE CHURCHMEK ASCERTAINED, meaning which is fo generally underftood either in town or country, that nine perfons out of ten would not be deceived. by it. The perfon ufing them in fuch a fenfe would there^ fore, in general, deceive thofe he undertook to inform, and according to the Dr.'s own definition would be guilty of falfehood. The fame might, of courfe, be (hown of every (Imilar inflance. And how different, how exceedingly different, i? all this from the injun£lion of our I)ivine Mafter, ** Let your communication be, yea, yea ; nay, nay ; for whatfoevcr i^ more than thefe cometh of evil *." And what a door does it not open for fubterfuge and evafion ! Whatever may be its effe£ls upon learned cafuifts in their ftudies, fbould fuch principles obtain in common life, what hold could ^lankind have of each other ? The evil however affumes a ftill more folemn zfyeO: whci). an " Oath for confirmation" is concerned. This is the. higheft fecurity for good condu£l that mankind can poffibly obtain from each other. In proportion as the obligations of an Oath are relaxed, peace, property, reputation, and life itfelf, are endangered. Whoever therefore attempts to tamper with truth under thefe circumftances, whoever, in any degree, weakens this folemn bond, does in that degree, the yery greatelt mifchief to fociety. Yet whether thefe Sticklers for the facial virtue^ are dear in this matter, highly deferves their confideration. To forae perfons it appears, that their do^lrines and condud muft have this tendency, in refpedl to, the Qath of allegiance ex* plained as above ^ j the Oaths refpe£ling refidence already noticed* j that againll Simony which regards the purchafe of prefentations and advowfons, a pracijce which Dr. Cioft alfo defends * j and their folemn engagements to teach ac-^ cording to the plain and literal meaning of articles, the plaii^ (x) Mat. V. 37. (y) Above, p. 14^. (7) Ahore, p. 252-^254, (a) Thoughts, p. 44, STANDARD OF MORALITY. 7^9 and literal meaning of which they cither profeffedly reje£l or ingenioufly evade''. — ^We flop not further to (how how diametrically oppofite their condu£l, in each of thefe in- ilances, is, to the exprefs terms and tenour of their engage- ments. Neither fay we how far, under fuch clrcumftances, they may fancy themfelves fincere. But, whatever becomes of integrity, for thofe who a(fl thus to pretend ioJtrWnefs in niorality, is an infuk to common fenfe. A further Virtue belonging to this clafs, and to which our opponents lay an exclufive claim is that of Candour* JIaving engaged to teach one fpecific body of do£lrine, which we believe to be agreeable to God's word, to this we conceive it our duty to adhere; and we dare not, like them, ** not efteem any particular opinion concerning the eucharift, the trinity, fatisfacflion, and original fin," eflential to fai- vation^; and affirm after our fubfcription to an Athanafian Creed, that " Pelagius was a true Chriltian *:" As Minifters of a Church which inculcates the neceihty of practical Chriftianity ^, and as Stewards of thofe Oracles which de- clare, that " without hplinefs no man ihaU fee the Lord^,** we dare not cry ^* peace, peace^' to the wicked, and thofe who are mere nominal Chriftians : We dare not afpirc after that Candour which does away the turpitude of a man's own condu£l by " tolerating all the vices committed by others h;" We dare not affea ?« that fenfelefs cant of cha- rity, which pfults the underftandings, and trifles with the feelings of thofe who are really concerned for the happinefs of their fellow-creatures^:" We dare not, in iliort, en- courage any to confider themfelves Chriftians indeed, ex- cept thofe who adually believe the dodlrifies, and, in the ha^ (b) See above^ Chap. i. §. a j Chap, a j and below, Chap. viii. §. i. (d) See Bifliop Watfon's Charge, 1795, p. 66. (?) Nor. Le<5t. Vol. iii, p. 142. (f) See Chap. iii. (g) Hcb. xii. 14. (h; See Striftures on Female Education, p. 37. (i) Pra6lical View, 59c, p. 43Z R4 i6o THE TR,UE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED, bitual tenour of their lives, comply with the precepts," oH Chrifl. Neither dare we, after their maiiner, explain away the ftrong language of Scripture and our Church, refpeding the punifhment of finally impenitent finners, and fuggeft our doubts whether ** a/I men*' may not "be happy ulti- mately ''.'' It is, we conceive, infinitely more fafe and more becoming, to imitate Chrift and his Apoftle, and •* perfuade men" " tp flee from the wrath to come^" Hence, we are reprefented by our opponents as harfh and illiberal bigots, men " who with uncharitable zeal deal damnation round the land"*." "It certainly Is our opj^ nion," fay the Antijacobin Reviewers, " that no man ever did, nor ever will, write decidedly, on the Calviniflic fide of the queftion, as becomes a Gentleman, a Scholar, -and a Chridian. ... It feems to be of the eflence of their princi- ples to render thofe who hold them four and uncharitable "." Thefe Gentlemen, on the contrary, make high pretenfions to candour and liberality of fentiment ; " thank God that they feel no portion of that odium theologlcum,'* which leads divines "to fpeak harfhly or dlfrefpe£lfully of thofe who may happen to diflent from them j" and value theni- felves on " creating conciliation and promoting peace, by recommending mutual forbearance °." A very few fpe- clmens however will (hew that they have little ground for this boaft. Candcur^ In its genuine fcriptural import, i?, the treating the principles, aftions, and characters of others as favour- ably as is confiftent with whar, after proper inquiry, we efteem truth, and a good confcicncc. It is therefore fome-* thing perfectly di{lin£l from incJjfftrence to all principles (k) Above, p. nS 5 and Nor. htSt, Vol. ii. p. 390. (1) 2 Cor. TT. I? J and Mat. ni. 7. (m) See Di Ciott's Thoughis, p. 49 ^ Aitjac. Review, for April, 1799, p. 3^7 — 9, Mr. Claj>harn's Ser-* mon ; &c. (n) See Rev. tor November, 1799, p. 259. (o) Sre Paubeny's Appendix, p. 6375 Croft's Strictures j &c. r HI -9nd a. STiiNDARD OF MOLALITY. 2^ all a£lions. It is compatible with every other Ibid. p. 58. (f ) ThJrd Letter, p. 6, 15, 17, as j and. Letter, p. 12, 18, 30, (g) Second Letter, p. 14.. 6 / STANDARD OF MORALITY. 1^7 Mr. Pdlwhcle, who, at the fame time, reminds uts, ^ that ^vhen our Saviour wa$ reviled, he reviled not again ^ ;'* and who gravely fays, " Let us no more interfere vi^ith one ano- ther in the fpirit of contention 5 but let each individual pur- fue his courfe, according to his belief and his confcicnce. . , Let us look on our feilow-Chriftvans with eyes of candour, of compaflion, and of brotherly love ; ready to make al- lowances for the infirmities common to many, and to affid our weaker brethren by every act of kindnefs '.'* In this ftyle does Mr. P treat a divine, whom he once publicly Chara) See above, p. 234—236, (f) Siy 'Effays, p. ic8. STANDARD OF MORALITY. 2']! and be fpcnt §" for the good of others ; or, if occafioii fhould require it, " to lay down his life for his brethren '^.'* And ought that Llinifter of Jefus to boaft of fuperior Chriftian charity, who is an Apologifl: for that ftigmaof our renowned nationj that monftrous trafhc in human fiefh, the African Slave Trade !— Yet fuch is Dr. Croft. Thus, fpeaking on the fubjeft, he fays, " What evils they (the Negroes) really labour under, is not In my power to determine. . . . Particular inltances of cruelty will no more be conclufive againft planters in general, than Mrs. Brownrigge*s condu£l:, lagainft all mafters and miflrefies of parifh apprentices. Appeals to Scripture are worfe than ufelefs ; it is fomewhat profane to appeal to a fentence which has never been pronounced by the facred penman. To make it kidnapping, is to aggravate the guilt of it, what- ever that guilt may be, and without an actual furvey of the -iilands no adequate judgment can be formed. . . . The advo- cates for abolition have certainly accumulated much un- merited abufe upon the planters. ... If we can abate the virulence of mutual inve£tive, an intermediate way will probably be found, which may fatisfy the wifhes of all par- ties, and he perfe&ly covjijlent wth the benign fpirit of the Chriftian religion '." This is inculcating univerfal benevo- lence with a witnefs. -t > This then is the ground thefe Divi^ies, have for congratu- lating themfelves, fufpeding the church, and cenfuring us, in regar^^to the rule of morals. WE, in ftri6l adhe- rence to our Guide, prefcribe a perfeEl Jiandardy even the whole moral law of God. Perfe^k conformity in heart and condu£l to this law, we maintain, is the duty of all men ; and tl-at after this conformity they ought continu- ally to labour* *THEY, in the flead of this, fubftitute (g) 2 Cor. xii. 15. (h) I John, iii. 16. (1) Pieiacetd'Strifturcs, p. 6. 7. S2 272 THE TRtJE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. fome vague and indeterminate rule of condu£l, which thef cdXXJincertty : They infift not upon the eonverfton and reno- vation of the hearty in thofe who have been educated Chrlftians : They account little of the immediate duties of the nvholefirji table of the law, or allow them only a fecond- ary importance : They cenfure us for our flri- pointed condition of juftificatlon. Let us inquire whether it from hence follows, that we have either no neceflary ufe for them, or no proper fandlions by which we enforce them. The body of thofe whom our dodrines concern conftitute two clafles, the righteous and the wicked, or believers and unbelievers 5 it may be proper therefore to at- tend to their bearings on each of thcfe claiTes of men. Now, it muft be admitted, that this dodrine of juftifica- tion, will have the fame afpe£l: on morals, when taught by us, which it has when taught precifely in the fame manner, by our church. In whatever way therefore jhe can incul- cate morality confiftently with it, ive can confidently imi- tate her. The church too, it has appeared, is in fome de- gree implicated in the charge to be refuted™. To her pro- cedure on the fubjedl we will therefore particularly at- tend. And firft. Our church fecures the interefts, and inculcates the neccflity of morality, by confidering Good Works the natural fruity and necejfary effeB^ of that faith which jufti- fies. On this point flie is moft full and decifive. ** By all the >) ibid. p. 26.- (p) Art. 12. (fj Horn. Oii fa^th, p. 20, "^nd paiTim. (r) Horn, on Saiva. p. iS. V) riom. on faith, p^ ?,i, 26. (i) Hoin. on Salva. p. 18. (.■; A'jcve, p. 192,, ('a) Abov^, p. 193. (x) Horn, ©a '^*va. p. 1%, SANCTIONS OF MORALITY. 5^75 faithful in our converfation, the faith which we pretend to have is but ^feigned faith y." "Deceive not yourfelves therefore thinking that you have faith in God, , . . when you live in fin *, for then your ungodly and finful life de^ clareth the contrary, whatfoever you fay or think ?." Nor is this mode offpeaking peculiar to our Articles and Homilies, but is the commoa language of our Reformers and the authorities they refpe£led, on all occafions Archbifhop Cranmer, fpeaking of juflifying faith, fays, it '* cannot but produce love and obedience *." NowelPs Catechifm, treating on this faith, fays, ** it always has joined with it, a difpofition to obedience ^.'' The Bifhops and Martyrs in prifon, having defcribed the fame faith, fay, " where through as the mind is illuminated, fo the heart is fuppled to fubmit itfelf to God unfeignedly ; and fo flioweth forth an inherent righteoufnefs *,'* and that although this righteoufnefs is to be diftinguifhed " in the article of juflification, f^bm the righteoufnefs which God endueth us withal juftifying us,'* yet that '^ in/eparably they go together*^." *' Our church," the learned Biihop of Lincoln accordingly fays, " confiders good works as cflen- tial to the chara£ler of a true Chriftian, and, as the necejfary confeqtience of Cncere faith in Chrift ^,^* Our church alfo afligns the rmfons why true faith is ever thus productive of obedience. Some of thefe are, becaufe ** when we really receive Chrift, we receive him fuch as he offers himfelf to us; and that it is his oflEce not only to de- liver us from fin and death, and reinftate us in God's favour, but alfo to reform and regenerate us by the infpiration and operation of his'^pirit, and to reftore us to that love and praBiceofho^nefs which is called newnefs of life *:" becaufe (y) Horn, or. faith, p. a*. (7,) Ibid, p. 26. (a) Above, p. 193. (b) Above, p. 194. (c) Ibid. (d) Elements, Vol. ii, p. 269. (e) Nowell's Cat. p. 1125 and Horn, on Refurrcc^ tion, p. 277, S4 27. The fame matter is clear from the vehole tenour of her language. To what has already appeared a Cngle quotation fliall be added. Speaking then exprefsly on the point, *' A man/* fhe fays, " may fooh deceive himfelf, and think that he by faith knoweth God, loveth him, feareth him, and belongeth to him, when In Very deed he doth nothing lefs. For the trial of all thefe things is a very Godly and Chriftian life. He that feeleth his heart fet to feek God's honour, and ftudicth to know the will and commandments of God, and to frame himrelf* thereunto, and leadeth not his life after the defire of his owrf flefli, to ferve the Devil by fin ; but fetteth his mind tofer-^e God for his own Jake y and for his fake alfo to love his neighbours,^whether they be friends or adverfaries, doing good to every man, as opportunity ferveth, and willingly hurting no man: Such a man may well rejoice in God, perceiving ^j;/^if trade of his life, that he unfeignediy hath the right knowledge oi God, a lively faith, a ftedftift hope, a true and unfeigned iove and fear of God ^." On the other hand, (he labours to. prove from the Scriptures, that we neither know God, love him, truft in him, nor belong to himf if we keep not his commandments, love not our brethren, and do not righteoufnefs '*. (a) See above, p. ^^^ — 272. (b) Above, p. 272. (c) Hom> on faith, p. 25. (d) Ibid, p , 24} and on Chaiiiy, p. 38. iANCTIOMg OF MORAUTY, 28^ is not this requiring far more in order to cbnftitute a genuine Chriftlan, than they do, who treat all as real Chriftians who have been educated in a Chriftlan countryj except profeiTed Infidels, and fome notorious offenders againft the peace of fociety ? The lowed conftruflion which can fairly be put upori the above pafTage, and others which have been quoted or referred to, is, that no man ought to confider himfelf in a Juftified ftate who is riot free from the allowed indulgence of any one hioiun fin ; who does not pay an habitual regard to ever^ known duty ; and whOfe hading obje&i the '* trade of whofe life," as the Homily exprefles it, is not to promote the honour of God and the happinefs of men. In this manner then, and to this extent, does our church infill upon Good Works as the only fatisfamor toit, as the fruit is fuperior to the tree, and the end to the means? Only, it is not fubflituting the fruit in the place of the tree. It is ' not affigning our good works that place in the fcheme of falvatioc which the fcripture has not afligned them. But are there, can there he, any more powerful motives to obedience, than thofe which have been mentioned? "What::^ principles can bind the confciences, intercft the feelings, and « influence the condudi of Chrift's profeiTed DiCciples, if con- fiderations like thefe do not ? Have our opponents any more exalted or more efficacious incentives to virtue ? They do, it is admitted, in fome refpedls out-bid us. Tliey fpeak of works as ** recommending men to the mercy of God, and rendering them worthy of the mediation of the Saviour i" and promife them heaven itfelf as the reward of their merits and the price of their doings, in a fenfe that we dare npt*. They can, wjth Dr. Paley, enforce moraUty on' principles more purely felfijliy and piaintain that ** We can be obliged to nothing-, neither to pra6ti.ce virtue, obey the >ViII of God, or any thing elfe, but >yhat we ourfelves a?:e tQ (jc) Sermon at Boroughbridge» p. jt, (m) Vifitation Sermon, Prefa.ce,. p. 15, * (y) Guide, p. ^97. (z) Appendix, p. 330, {^) See above, p. 140, 210— -215, and Mr. Fellowes' Amicalvinilt. SANCTIONS OF MORALITY. 2^f ^aln or lofe fomething by ^ \ and that therefore private hap- pinefs," that is, felfijbnefs, " is our motive •=" to all virtue* But 19 that indeed the higheft fpecies of virtue which flows wholly from this fource ^ ? Is this the onlyy or the principal ground upon which the Gofpel inculcates obedience I Or, may it not rather be doubted whether the condu6l which partakes of no higher principle is Chriftian morality at all ? And can there, in the eye of reafon, be a greater abfurdity than to talk of creatures, circumftanced as we are, " dead in trefpaiTes and fins**," or in our bed eftate " unprofitable f^rvants*," meriting any thing at the hands of our Maker; and efpecially of our meriting an intereft in Chrift Jefus, or eternal glory ? It muft however exceed the ingenuity of man to reconcile thefe notions with the doctrine of our church. But if this apparently high price, which is offered to men, for their good works, cannot be fecured to them; if neither fcripture, reafon, nor the church, will warrant to them the payment of it, they may well be expected more abundantly to produce thefe works for confiderations which are more certain, though lefs fpecious. And, in regard to every other motive our fyftcm has moft obvioufly the advantage. Their lower notions of human depravity *", of the work of the Redeemer s, and of the Rule of Duty ^, neccflarily lower the motives to repentance, gratitude, charity, humility, and conftant exertions after higher attainments in every branch of holinefs. Becaufe, only in proportion as the difeafe is thought ferious, will men (b) Moral and Political Philofophy, p. 50. quarto. (c) Ibid. P- Si« (z) " Tiiough," (aith Bifliop Atlerbury, "a good ai5tion doth not grow immediately wortblefs by being done with the profpeCt of advantage, asTome have ftrangely imagined j yet it will be allowed, I fuppofe, that its being done, without the mixture of that end, cr with as little of it as pofllbic, recommends it fo much the more, and raifes the price of it.'* Sermon on Pfalm 1. 14. (d) See Ephes. ii. i j and above, p. 210—212.. (e) Luke, xvii. 10. (f ) See above, Chap. 4. p, 119, &c. (^) Ibid. Chap. 6, p. lyS, &c. (1») Ibid. Chap. 7, p. 22i,&c. 398^ THE Taws CP0RCHMEK AgCERTillNED. be ferious about the remedy ' ; they only who believe tha« much is forgiven them, will love much^j they who afcribe inoft to their own powers mi merits, Mrill kaft exclude hoafting ^ ; and they who have a reduced ftandard of duty, will fee fewer imperfedtioos to lament, and lefs reafon con- tinually " to forget the things which are behind, and to reach forth unto thofe which are before °^." Their notions in regard to " ^ defective obedience" as all^that is required; their ideas upon fincerity ; the duties of the firft table ; and the other particulars rcfpe£ling the rule of condu£^, which have been fpecified, are, in fadt, ftrongly anthwmiany and fo many exprefs tolerations of deviation from the moral law of God °. Their flight manner of enforcing the neceflity of a reno- vation of heart and principle" mufi: alfo be exceeding un- friendly to a good condu6l: for,whothatexpe61:s apure ftream will not be careful to purify the fountain ? Who would attempt to gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thiftles p ? But what mull have the worft effe£t of all, is, their not fufficiently diftinguifhing between real and merely nominal Chriliians •, their not infilling upon a holy life as eflential to a flate of falvation ; but too much treating all as entitled to the hopes of Chriftianity who are admitted within its ex- ternal pale; whether or not, in any fober fcriptural fenfe of the terms, they comply with their baptifmal engagements **. In this manner the Jews of old refted in Externals and negleiSled the fpirit and practical part of their religion, till they involved themfelves in ruin. And hence, among ourfelves, men are induced to think well of their (late and charaiSter, and to hope for admiffion into heaven, who are not only deftitute of the rCv^uired difpofition of heart, but guilty of many grofs immoralities; yea, who live in the (i) See Mar. ix. 12. (k) Luke, vii. 47. (1) Rom. iii. 27. (in) Phil. iii. 13. (n) S?e above, p, 228, &c. (o) Above, p. 114, &rc, ; 165, &c. (j)) Mat. vii. i.^!, [(\) See above, p. JI4-, &c. SANCTIONS bF MORALITY. Sp^ oi)en violation of every one of the ten commandments, except thofe, the known breach of which would banifh them out of the Country, or make work for the Executioner. Such is the ftrldnefs with which thefe champions for Morality enforce it upon thofe who are confidered real Chriilians ! So little do they require as the evidence of a ftate of falvation ! But in confcquence of our larger demands in regard to this evidence,^ a far greater proportion of thofe who bear the Chriftian name, will clafs with the Impenitent and Unbelieving, It deferves therefore alfo to be enquired, "which party holds forth the ftrongeft motives to repentance and ferious application to the Saviour; or whose moral fanctions are mod powerful as they more efpecially refpedl characters of this defcription ? The church then, it has appeared, in ftri£l conformity with the facred fcriptures, every where fpeaks of the pe- nalty annexed to difobedience, and the puniihment which awaits the finally impenitent, in the jlrongejl and mofl aivful terms imaginable *". She confiders all perfons who " live in fm," and contrary to their " high profeffion," as now- lying under the Divine difpleafure, and that there is no poflible method of their efcaping this moft awful punifh- ment, if they continue in their prefent courfe, if they do not " with hearty repentance and true faith," turn unto the Saviour. ** Upon fuch prefumptuous perfons and ^ilful finners," (he fays, " muft needs remain the great vengeance of God «." "The iilthincfs of fm," fhe fays again, *' is fuch, that as long as we do abide in it, God cannot but deteft and abhor us, neither can there be any hope, that we fhall enter into the heavenly Jerufalem, ex- cept we be firft made clean and purged from it. But this will never be, unlefs forfaking our former life, we do with (r) Above, p. 141—148 J Horn, on Repent, p. 351. (s) Horn, on Faith, p. 26. 3C0 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. our whole heart return unto the Lord our God, and with a full purpofc of amendment of lifcj flee unto his mercy> taking fure hold thereupon through faith in the blood of l)is Son Jefus Ch^ift^'* And fo far is ftie from fuppofing that their having profeffed Chrift's religion, and eaten and drunken at his table, will furnifh fuch charaftefs with any ufeful excufe, that this circumftance, their abufe of fuch diftinguifhing privileges, (he maimains, will aggravate their condemnation \ And that on this head we follow her fteps it will be uh* neceflary to prove. This dodlrine, added to our ftrid re- quifitions in refpe£l to the evidences of a flatc of falvation, is what our opponents brand us with, as conftituting the gloominefs and rigour of our fyftcm. Hence it is that we are holden up to ridicule as '* interlarding our difcourfcs with flices of hell and damnation";'* as " brandifhing; with terror the menace of damnation * ;" as " dealing damnation round the land 5^.*' The crime imputed to Us on this fubjeO: is, that we fet bounds to God*s mercy, unfit men for the pleafurcs and duties of life, and drive tnem to defpair *. And truly, we dare not trifle on the tremendous fubjeft. Whatever may be the precife nature of the fu- ture punifliment of the wicked, if words have any meati* ing, fomething, we apprehend, inconceivably dreadful muft be implied in fuch reprefentations of it as thofe juft alluded to, with which the fcripture abounds. Whatever of harfti- nefs or difficulty the doctrine rray pr^fent, becaufe it ap- pears to ub the certain doftrine of fcripture, we dare not reje61: or mitigate it. And as to charity toward^s our fellow- creatures, they furely, we contrive, hnve the jufteft claim to it who ufe every endeavour to prelerve them from the pofTibility of (t) Horn, en Repent, p. 349. . (v) Abore p. 107. (w) Above, p. 137. (x) Mr. Clapb?m*s Ser. p. 17 (y) Dr. Cioft'8Thoug!)tV,p. 49. (z) See Mr. Polwhdc's Letter, p. 3y> 82 i Mr. Ciapham*s Scr. p. ii i Review, Lc. p. iz ; Sec. SANCTIONS OF MORALITY. 30I . fjuch a (late of fuffering as this. Neither the nature nor certainty of this punifhment, it fhould be conGdered, is at all ahcred by men's fceptical conceptions concerning it. ,The deftru£\ion of the old 'world was neither mitigated nor aveited by^the general inapprehenfiort refpe£ling it which obtained^. -The ovexthrow of Sodom proved equally cer- tain and equally awful) notwithftandihg the admonitions of Xottto* his relatives to efcape were regarded as a mocking-^. Nor can we perceive how thefe admonitions were expref- ^ye of hisvMijant of charity for them. ./': Knowing' therefore the terror of the Lord, we per- fuade ixien,*^/'. Believing ourfelves the awful reality of ,Qpd*s falemn denunciations againft thofe, '* who' obey not thegofpel**," we entreat.fuch charatlers to "flee for re- fuge to the hope this gofpel fets before them ^ j'* to flee 4jnto hiin who is exalted ** to be a prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance and forgrvenefs of fins V* " As though C^oi did befeech them by us, we pray them in* Chrift's ftead, to be reconciled to God ^." — While, on the 'one hand, we exhibit to them the bleflfednefs a perfeverance in their present courfe would forfeit, and the nobler motives of the gofpel, in order to allure J:hem to repsntance ; on the other, we folemnly warn them ** to flee from the wrath to come ^ -," and xionftantly aflure them., that '" except they repent, they muft all-perifh'."^ ■ This is the enco^uragement we give men ** to live as they lift ^ \" Thus do ^* EvangeUcal preadl^crs circulate dodrines, which povsnerfuily ip>pel bad men on in the career of wick- edncfs, by holding out the profpe£i: of impunity^!'* So inuch juftice is there in the charge that we '* open a roaci (a) See Matt. xxiv. 38. (b) Gen. xix. 14. (c) 2 Cor. v. 11. (d) a Thef. i. 8. (e) IJeb. vi. 18. (f ) A6h v. 31. (g) 2 Cor. v. ?o. (h) Matt. iii. 7. (i) Luke xiii. 13. See Note (z) above, p. 3195. (k) Above, p. 268, ^ (z} See Mir. FcUowes* Anticalvinift, Preface, p. 4, u 202 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. to heaven for fmners of every defcription without the trou* ble of repentance '^ ! If however we again attempt to recriminate, our oppo- nents will not eafily exculpate themfelves from the charge that they greatly undermine and weaken this main ban- ner againft the general overflowings of wickednefs and immorality. With their extenuated views of the effeiSbs of the fall, of the rigour of the law, and of the malignity of fin', they do not readily conceive that the worftofmen can deferve to fufFer " the bitter pains of eternal death.** It is a do^lrine not very reconcileable with their notions of the obje£l of God in our creation, and their refolutionof all the Divine Attributes into thofe of pure Mercy and Benevolence "^. And, from the little ufe they make of it themfelves, and the feverity with which they treat the or- dinary fcripture ufe of it by others, there certainly remains a doubt whether or not they really believe the do£lrine. For, whatever maybe faidto.the contrary, and however ungrateful the fubje^l may be, if the do£lrine is realhj heUeved't nay, if it is only thought probable, or even pofTible, fo far is its extreme awfulnefs from furniftiing a reafon for generally concealing it, that this confideration is the very ftrongeft reafon why impenitent finners fliould hear it honeftly proclaimed. But, to fay the leaft, thefe Divines labour to mitigate the apparent feverity of this threatened punifhment, and to make as little as poffible of the awful reprefentations of fcripture refpecSling it. « The difcourfes of Jefus," Mr. Polwhele fays, ..." ne- ver diftraC'i the foul by accumulating images of horror, and (k) See above, p. 169, (1) See above Ch. 4. p. 129. &c, (m) See Dr. Palcy's Mor. and Pplit. Philof. Ch. on the Benevolence of God. SANCTIONS OF MORALITY. 303 minutely painting the fcenes of everlafting torment °.'* Nay, the notion that " Religion impofes the command to believe this, and to do that, under pain of eternal perdi- tion," Mr. P. confiders as an obvious caufe of infidelity z. Mr. Gilpin reprcfents the doftrine refpeiSling " the eternity of future puniftiments," as wholly " uncertain j" and would by all means baniih the difcuflTion of it from the pulpit y. (n) Third Letter, Sec. p. 39, Note. This then we are to fuppofe, is the abfurd condua of Dr. Hawker.' Mr. P. however has not fliown. In what part of this Divine's writings there is a greater accumulation of alarming images and declarations, than what is found in our Lord's dlfcourfes, which are recorded Matthew v. 17—30; vii. 13-23; xviii. 6—9 } xxiii. 13— -36; xxiv. i— 51 ; xxv. 1—46} Markix. 4^—495 Lukevi. 24—26; xviii. 24—25. Does our Lord in feveral of thefe fcriptures only make fome fparing and ♦* obfcure allufions" to the ♦• everlafting punifliment'* of the wicked ? (z) Letter, p. S2, (y) See above, p. 137.— A writer in the Antljaqobin Review has been peculiarly unfortunate in regard to this fubje^: and to Mr. Gilpin. In- dignant at another Critic for infinuating, that fome minlftcrs do not properly inftru6l their flocks " in evangelical truth,'' this writer under- takes to produce " two inftances which entirely defeat'' the infimation s and having repeated the titles of Mr. G.'s Sermons, the matter is thought decided incontrovertibly, and brother Reviewer is ftyled an •* uncharitable ReviJer." Defirous however of improving the viftory, our writer pro- ceeds, " They (the clergy) do not fquare the fcripture to their owii fuperficlal phllofophy, like Monthly Reviewers, when they deem ever- lasting punishmer.t unjuft. They fee the mercy and the juftice of God difplayed in that moft awful truth, in a manner the mod confiftent, and the moft favourable to falvation. . . , To believe punifhment to be not eternal, is to return to the old notion of purgatory. . . , The eternity of future fufferings is a doflrine which man cannot argue down, while he is a true believer."— This furely is producing Mr. Gilpin's divinity as a decifive anfwer to the charge of want of orthodoxy, and at the fame moment ftrongly reprobating his notions ! But after all, there is no fafety in trufting to mere /?r/^j of things. See the Antijacobin Review for April 1801, p. 428 — 433, U z 304 THE TRCTE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED". ' Others deny that this pimKhmcnt of eternal death, waS^ implied in the fentence denounced againft Adam °. Mr* lAidiam fays, this " is no where cle^ly afserted in fcrip- iLire, though it is by certain divines p.'* Dr. Paley fup- pofes, " there may be very little to chufe'* between the con- ditions of feme who are admitted into heaveiTy andof fome who are cad into helH. Dt. Hey favours the fame fcnti- inent. ** Being faved and being damned," he fays, " admit of various degrees of happinefs or mifery, without limit'." And, that no ^^ great degree is neceflarily implied in the word * everlafting;'*' but that ^^ every fine y however f mall \^ an everlajling pumjhmeni\^* This furely i=s making heaven and hell more nearly refemblc each other,, than the ordi- nary reprefentations of them in fcripture would fuggeft. When the Judge feated on his throne fhall have divided all nations into two clafTes, and fhall fay to one of them^ *' Come ye blefled of my Father, inherit the kingdom pre- pared for you from the foundation of the world ;** and unto the other, *' Depart ye curfed, into everlafling fire, prepared for the devil and his angels * j" one would not I'uppofe that only fo trilling a difFerence of condition may be implied ; that to ** go into life everlafling," and " into everlaflrng fire,'^ may be a ftate fo nearly fimilar ! Of the fame nature are the obfervations of Dr. H., that the " exprelTion''^ ufcd in our 9th Article, " God*s wrath and damnation/ is more terrible in the found than in the fenfe:'* that " damnation is only equivalent to judgment/* that " it does not of itfelf imply judgment after deaths nor any determinate degree of evil /' and " is as applicable to the Sociuian U-hjine^ as to any other /' that " a verdicft (.') Above, p. t-,5. (p) Six ElTays, p. 23. (q) See Mor, and Pol. p. 41. (r) Vol. iii. p. 106. '* Yet we may,*' he obferves, *' eafily fuppofe too fraall a degree of evil, as well as t&o large a one, to be innplied in the word * damned." — Ibid. (s) Matt. XXV. 31, &c. SANCTIONS OT MORALlltr. 30^ againft any one, in our civil judicatures, is judgment, or damnaiiotty how fmall foever the fine ^ :" that '^ owing to the moderation of our church, we arc not caHed upon to fub- fcribe to the eternity of hell-torments," nor " e^n to con- demn thofe, who prefume to afSrm, tliat all men will be finally faved/' "Though,'' however, he adds, " one were inclined to hope with Dr. Hartley, that all men nmll be happy ultimately ; that is, when puniSiment has done its proper work in reforming principles and condufl;/' in other words, when our ftate of purgatory is ended, ** yet to a£irm it, «iuft always be preiiimption */* And muft not all diefe refervations, palliatives, and limi- tations of the plain language of fcripture and our church on this fubje£l:, tend exceedingly to Lelfen the dread of pu- nifhment in tlie minds of wicked men? Can God's awful denunciations againft i-mpenitent finners have their proper efFecl in reftraining them from iniquity, if they are not hpneftly and generally set before them ? Is not this, in fo many ways, fuggefling to them, that their punifhment may not by any means be fo dreadful, as it is often appre- hended ? Nay, is it not even leaving them not wholly without a hope that, after all, and however they per fill in their wicked courfe to the end of their livesj they may be ultimately happy ? As therefore it has been before proved that our fyftenj exhibits the ftrongeft incentives to love, gratitude, and .€very principle that can influence the better part, and bet- ter paffions of men, fo it mull here be confefled, that as far as t\iQ fear of piinijbment C2.n operate as a guardian of morals. (t) Vol. iii. p 154, 155. (v) Vol. ii. p. 390. The condemn^- tJon of thofe wio affirmed this. Dr. H. fays, ** was required in the laft. Art. of Edward YI. and he thinks reafonably." *' The title of the Article, « All men (hall not be faved at length," he obferves, "/eems inaccurate ; as, I think, the meaning is. It is not to be affirmed, th&t all men iball be faved finally ; or afier a definite time/' Ibid, Note. U 3 3^^ THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED* we alfo have clearly the advantage. The efFe61: furely mufi be greater vi^hen fuch punifhment, in its awful nature and unqueflionable certainty, is kept generally in view, than when it is only now and then fhyly and doubtingly hinted at, and when the ordinary fcripture reprefentations of it are fo foftene4 and palliated. How void of foundation then, in this view alfo, is the charge we would refute. And how ill does it become the mouths of thofe who advance it. Whether we attend to the motives to good works, chiefly urged upon thofe who are confidered as true Chriftians, or to thofe incentives to repentance which more efpecially regard the wicked, fo worfe than deftitute are they of any folid ground for boafting over us. SECTION III. A mndicatton of certain Individuals ; an appeal to EXPERIENCE, and to the concessions of our opponents^ on the point ; and a conclujion that it is the strictness of our iyloralifij which gives the offence. OO much we may even venture to affirm of the doctrines of thofe among us, whofe flrong fenfe of the evils attend- ing the oppofite errors, has led them to ufe language the lead defenfible on the fubje(fl:, and whofe works our oppo- nents attack with fuch peculiar virulence. We will in- flance^ without undertaking the defence of all their modes of expreffion, as perfons of this defcription, and ilanding in this fituation^ the two late well-known Divinesj Mr, Ro« snaine and Mr, Heryey* DEFENCE OF INDIVIDUALS. 307 Refpec^Ing a work of the former of thefe Gentlemen, a Correfpondent of the Antljacobin, who fubfcrlbes himfelf *' A friend to the EftabliOiment," thus expreiTes himfelf: ** One of the Reviewers faid on Mr. Romaine's Life of Faith, * It was a pity that the life of faith fhould be the death of common fenfe/ But I would go further, and fay, that the life of fuch faith, fuch folitary, modern, antino- mian faith, is the death of all reafotty all pity, all humility^ ell vieehnefs, A few favourite notions are denominated faith, and this faith is exalted above every Chriftian grace, and may exclude every moral virtue ^." Thi« is a heavy charge. If however this zealous churchman will compare the definition of faith given in this work, with that of our Homily, he will find, that they are precifely, in efFea, the fame. Thus, the Homily fays, ** The right and true Chriftian faith is, not orrly to believe that tl-16 holy fcripture is true, but alfo to have a fure truft and confidence in God's merciful promifes to be faved from everiafting damnation byChrift: whereof doth follow a loving heart to obey his commandments \'' — Mr. Romaine, engaged exprefsly like the Homily to fliow " what true faith is," fays. It refers to the Word of God, and that theperfon who really believes, "aflents to it, relies upon it, and ads accordingly." " This,'* he adds, « is faith '^r'* and it is clearly nothing elfe than a compreffion of the words of the Homily. But, if this is the cafe, thefe hard epithets of this " friend to the eftablifliment," apply equally to the faith of the eftablifhcd church, as to that of the work in queftion. And then, as to thefe " favourite notions" being " the death of all reafotj, and all piety, and excluding every moral virtue :'* Refpeding the death of reafon, I flrall advance nothing ; becaufe, enthufiafts like us, will not be allowed to have any judgment In what its life confifts ; and becaufe, the (a) For May 1799, p. ^j, ^^^ 0„ Salva. p. 18. (e) Life of Faith, 4th Edit. p. 24. U4 303 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. whole fyftem of our do£lrincs, we know, appear irrational to a Socinian Reviewer. In dlre£b contradiction however to the other part of the charge, and in the moft perfedt confonance with the notions of our church, it is exprefsly maintained in this little work, that " every man in his natural (late, before the grace of Chrift and the infpiration of his fpirit, has no faith ;" that " a man who lives carelefs in fin has no faith," but is a ** practical Atheift :" that the fermalift, who is content with the form of godlinefs and denies the power of it, has not true faith:" yea, that ** he who is fo far enlightened as to underftand the way of falva- tion, and is deftitute of love, has not true faith'*." How then can it be affirmed that this faith deftroys " all piety, and may exclude every moral virtue," when all carelefs fmncrs, formalifls, and thofe who are deftitute of the genuine love of God and man, are thus pofitively declared not to poiTefs it ? How can fuch a work be ** the death of all humility," when none but truly penitent finners, and humble Chriftians, are addreflfed in it, or warranted to take one word of encouragement from it .? It is alfo, on the other hand, maintained, that all who believe " dread whatever is oppofite to the Will of God;'* that ** the love of Chrift ftiows fin in its exceeding finful- nefs ;" that they are required " to refift unto blood, ftriving againft fin;" and that ** faith working by love to Chrift, gains daily vi deed ; not one of them fliall reign over youS." And, having exhorted the believer to apply to Chrift by prayer for ftrength to refift temptation-, "Sooner," it is added, "(hall heaven and earth pafs away than fm, any fin, thus left with Chrift to be fubdued, fhall reign over thee •'." True believers are alfo every where reprefented as making a daily and progrejfive improvement in virtue, ** Chrift,*' it is faid, " living, dwelling, and reigning in them by faith, will day by day weaken the ftrength of Sin, Satan, and the World; and by the power of his death and refurreftion he will be conforming them more to his own image and like-* nefs. He will by faith enable them to grow up into him in ail things, as long as they live. They will be going on from ftrength to ftrength, till fin and death be fwallowed up in vi£lory '/* *^ Until that happy time come," it is fubjoined, ** he has appointed certain means, in the ufe of which they aic to wait for the continual receiving of grace.'* In the faithful ufe of thefe means, that is, efpecially in prayer, public worftiip, and the fupper, they are reprefented as finding great delight, " which nothing can rob them of but fin," which makes them careful in their life and converfatioa to pleafe their gracious Lord ^. In another place this enemy to all pity and morality proceeds thus : ** The fame faith, working by love, has gained the hearts and afFe£lions of believers over to the intercfts of holinefs, and the commandments now ceafe to be grievous. Love to Chrift, who is perfect righteoufnefs and holinefs, cannot confifl with the hatred of either ; nay, they are renewed after his image in both; and renewed in knowledge, that they might know his precious image, and renewed in heart that they might love it ; therefore being thus created anew in Chrift Jefus, they will certainly in tlie inner man, delight in righteoufnefs and true holinefs ^" .... •* He (Chrift) has perfe6lly fecured the intcreft of holinefs (g) Page, III. (h) P, 1.18. (i) P. 260, (k) P. 261, i6z. (1)P.267. 3IO- THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. and the glory of the moft holy God; for they are his workmanfhip, created unto good works, to love them, to do them, to walk in them as the way to the kingdom; and they live by faith upon Chrift's ftrength for Will and Power to do them, and upon his interceflion for the acceptance of them. ... To him they look for every thing needful, to enable them to glorify God in their lives, and to (how forth the virtues of him who hath called them ; on his grace they rely that their converfation may be as becomes the gofpel of Chrift, and that they may adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things"^.'* Thefe extra •, that we may be holy and unblameable in Love /- ^ called in time ? It is to this intent, that we may fli the praifes of him, who hath called us out of dan. his marvellous light. Are we created again in Curiil It is, to capacitate us for acceptable fervice, and ro K. us unto every good work p." If, Mr. H. readily acic ledges, the fcheme of juftification by faith had the fi.;!, '■, tendency to fupport ungodlinefs, or to difcourage virtue, it would doubtlefs be worthy of univerfal abhorrence. But he appeals not only to the nature of the do6trine, and the reafon of things, but to the experience of believers, v/hether its tendency is not "quite the reverfe*^.'* And after ex- patiating on the immenfenefs of their b!e (Tings, and the means through which thefe bleflings are procured to them, the aftonifhing love and fufferings of the Redeemer ; "Is it poffible," he proceeds, " for the contemplation of fuch goodnefs, to weaken the motives, or relax the fprings of obedience ? As foon may lenient balms kill, and ranked poifons cure. Is fuch a belief calculated to difcourage duty, and patronize licentioufnefs ? Juft as much as vernal {howers are fitted to cleave the earth with chinks, or fummer*s funs to glaze the waters with ice ... . No. Nothing, nothing is fo effectual to beget the mod irreconcileable abhorrence of all ungodlinefs, to make the remembrance of it bitter as worm- wood, the temptations to it horrible as hell. . . . Other motives may produce fome external fervices; but this conciliates the will ; this profelytes the aiFe) See his Preface. (c) See Vol. j, Ch. 2z j and the whole Work paflim. (d) Ibid. Cenf. 3. Ch. 7. p. 3 51— Ch. 15. p. 500. ^e) Vcl. ii. Cent, 5. Ch. ^. p. ^^l^Q\^, 9, p. 510. 314 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. prefented as fo fufpicious ^ ? Can it be proved of his nu- merous writings ^, that they either tend, or are defigned, to depreciate morals ? We appeal to every page, to cvery paragraph of them, for proof of the dire£l contrary. A fingle paiTage fliall be adduced as a fpecimen. " The whole plan of redemption," fays this mofl fcriptural Theologian, commenting on Phil. i. 11, "the humiliation and fuf- ferings of the Divine Saviour, the infpiration of the holy fcriptures, the preached gofpel, and the inftituted ordinances, are entirely defigned to render men fruitful in good luorks ; and if this end be not anfwered in thofe who profefs the gofpel, the whole, as to them, has hitherto been inefFecStual. . . . Even the work of the Holy Spirit, in regenerating, illuminating, convincing, and comforting the foul, is entirely fubfervient to the Lord's defign of rendering it holy and fruitful : nor is any knowledge, experience, faith, joy, or confidence genuine, which is not conneEled ivithfruifuhiefsy or produBive of it s." Nor let it be infmuated, as it often is ^, that what we mean by hohnefs and good fruit, is fomethingthat has little or no connection with the good of fociety. For this writer proceeds, " Whatever part of a believer's conducSl tends to make known the glorious perfe6lions and works of God, and to promote, the credit of the gofpel, the converfion of fmners, and the peace or purity of the church ; whatever may diminifh the fum total of ignorance, error, vice, and mifery in the world, or increafe that of true knowledge, wifdom, holinefs, and felicity ; in {hort whatever does real good to i7janhitid, in their temporal and fpiritual concerns, zV good fruit : all elfe Ihould be counted but as leaves and blofToms. An upright, faithful, blamelefs, benevolentj peaceable, forgiving, pure, and holy converfation ; a cheerful. (f) See Antijac. Rev. for September, 1799. p. 33, &c. (z) Sw hjs Commentary on the Old and New Teftament, his EfTays, Ser- mons, &c. (g) Treatife en Growth in Grace, p, 4.4, (h) See Cbpham's Sermon, p, 17, DEFENCE OF INDIVIDUALS* 315 thankful, rcfigned, and patient fpirit ; a reverential, and ftated attendance on the ordinances of public and family worfliip; a confcientious regard to the Will of God, in our dealings with men, and in our behaviour tovt^ards all who are in any way related to us, even when they negledl their reciprocal duties ; and an habitual moderation in all the purfuits, interefts, and pleafures of life, have a manifeft tendency thus to adorn our profeffion and benefit mankind. To thefe we may add a faithful improvement of the talents committed to our ftewardfhip ; whatever meafure of autho- rity, influence, abilities, learning, or riches, may be afligned to us by our common mafher : for with fuch talents we may do proportionable good; provided we be influenced by evangelical principles, avail ourfelves of advantages and opportunities, and aflc wifdom of God to dire6l us in our endeavours, &c. &c. We cannot think ourfelves perfecl in this life, without being juflly chargeable with pride ; nor can we negledl to pray for perfection and follow after it, without criminal negle£l,'and toleration of fin in our hearts and lives ^" Now, if it is not uncharitable, unjufl:, monftrous, to affirm or to infinuate, of thofe who ufe this language, that their do6lrines lead to licentioiifnefs, and that they nearly exclude morality from their fyftem of religion, there is furely nothing to which thefe epithets can be applied. Yet to thefe fenti- ments of Mr. Scott, the whole body of Divines under vindi- cation will fubfcribe. They are our common fentiments, on tlie fubjeCl. But there is no end of particularizing from fuch a hofl: of Witnefles. To notice therefore but one inllance more; Can Mr. Daubeny fubfiantiate this charge againfl th^ celebrated Works he undertakes to reprehend on the point ? Can he indeed fiiow that thefe Works tend to endanger the exifl:cnce, lower the tone, or relax the obligations of moraU I (1) Growth in Grace, p. 44—^5. 3l6 THE TRUE CHURCHMSN ASCERTAINED, As foon, to adopt Mr. Hervcy's allufion ^y may he prove, that the firemen, by playing the engine, and pouring in water, contribute to the burning the houfe to the grouadf and laying tlie furniture in afhes. One of thefe publications, however, Mr. D. reprefents as defcribing faith in a manner, •* calculated to lead the reader to a conclufion fubverfive of the great defign of the gofpel covenant ^ -" as containing matter " more favourable to enthufiafm, ' than practical Chriftianity ™ j" as defcribing " the obfervance of the mora(l precepts as vain wifdom, and falfe philofophy ^ ;" &c. &c. Yet, however inconfiftently, and notwithllanding this fevere charge againft fome parts of this Work, Mr. D. informs us it v^ould give him pleafure to be the means of extending its circulation •, and is conftrained to believe, " that the reader muft be either good or bad in the extreme, who does not derive benefit from it j" and that it " will produce a more extenfive, and on many minds a more powerful efFedt, than any inftruElion from the pulpit, or even from the pen of a Divine ^" Nor have any perfons, who are at all worthy of notice, ventured to queftion either the intention, the tendency, or even the adlual good effedl of this publication, whatever oWique hints, and infinuations of another kind, a diflikc to fome of its dodtrines has occafioned. The Critics, who are defervedly in the higheft repute with the Orthodox, *« re- commend it to the public as one of the tnoj} imprejjlve boohs on the fubje£l of religion, that has appeared within their me- mory ;** as '* a work in which the author labours by every mode of argument i to revive the decaying zeal and love for religion ;" as " perhaps, intended as a providential inftru- ment towards not only preferving this nation firm, amidft the wreck of religious, moral, and political opinions in (k.) Dia. X. p. 341. Note. (1) Guide, p. 3^i« (««) I^^^* p. 313. (n) Ibid. p. 297. (o) Ibid, p, 376. DEFENCE OF INDIVIDUALS. 317 many parts of Europe/' but even aroufing it ** to a purer praEl'icey and more ardent attachment to the truth p." Similar is the judgment formed of this Work by one of the moft diftinguiflied of our Prelates. The Bifliop of London mentions it as having, in conjundfion with fome other (imilar publications, ** called the attention of the peo- ple of this land to the fundamental do£l:rines and duties of the gofpel, and prejfed upon them the 7iecejfity of immediate re- formation, by arguments not eafy to be withilood ;'* and as having produced good effeEls *' certainly very confiderable '^." And few human produ6lions have received greater ho- tiour, than this has, from the truly pious in general *". But that Mrs. Morels Publication alfo contains doftrines dangerous to morality, Mr. D. has written a Book to fhew. This prodigy of female underftanding, and ufeful virtue, he charges with maintaining a poiition which may lead to a ** ver'j dangerous conclufion ; that of lulling the formal pro- feflbr of Chriftianity into 2. fatal fecurityy on a fubjedl of the firft importance ;* " with giving fuch an interpretation of St. Paul, as " renders human exertion needkfs^ . . in the work of falvation ^ •,'* with exchanging his " argument in favour of Chriflian pra6lice, ... for an imaginary idea ^ j'^ and in (hort, with making nonfenfe of it ^. The Antijacobin Reviewers have approved of this cen- fure, warranted the obje61: of it for " an error tmdoubtedly" and denominated it giving " a novel turn to the Epiftle of St. Paul *."— All this, indeed, is amidfl much incdnfiftent commendation. We fay inconfiftent, becaufe, if the work really contains do£lrines of this tendency, whatever other excellencies it may po/Tefs, it deferves the general difappro- bation of the Chriftian minifler. (p) Brit. Crit. for Sept. 1797, p. 294, &c, (q) Ch. 1799, p. 35, and Note. (r) This appears from its rapid Circnlation, (t) Letter to Mrs. More, p. 45. (t) Jbid. p. 31. (v) Ibid, p. 37. (w) Ibid. p. 32. (x) For Oft. 1799, p. 195. X 3l8 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED* But, that the particular ctoarine in queftion is neither new nor dangerous, has been fully fliown above "f. And, taken all together, fuch, on the contrary, is the undeniable and extraordinary worth of this performance, that it has extorted the approbation, or rather, excited the aftonilhment, of nearly all perfons, of all fentiments and perfuafions, in whom there is a capability of approving real excellence ^. It has proved invulnerable againft the Ihafts of malignity it- felf ; the " Enemy of all goodnefs," like his great Predecef- for on another oecafioii, having come and found nothing in it, but M'hat has ferved to difplay his own malevolence, and to repulfe him foiled*. Yea, fuch is its undoubted excellence, that ** the favourable reception and extenfive circulation,'* which this and the laft-mentioned publication have obtain- ed, have been confidered as indicative of the " returning ferioufnefs," and remaining fecurity of our nation ^. As we cannot well have higher human authority on fuch a point, let the judgment of the Prelate laft referred to, ferve as a fpecimen of the opinion entertained of this work by fenfible and pious Chriftians. *' It prefents to the reader,'* his Lordfhip fays, ** fuch a fund of good fenfe, of wholefome counfel, of fagacious obfervation, of a know* ledge of the world, and of the female heart, of high-toned morality and genuine Chriftian piety j and all this enlivened with fuch brilliancy of wit, fuch richnefs of imagery, fuch variety and felicity of allufion, fuch neatnefs and elegance of di(Slion, as are not, I conceive, eafiiy to be found fo combined and blended together in any other work in the Engiifh language^." Is it not then, we aflc again, monftrous, openly to af- firm, or difingenuoufiy to infinuate, that they in any fenfs (y) P^g^ ^73 — ■^^5' ^'^^ ^^^ ^^^ Britifh Critic for June, 1799, p. 643 5 and the Antijac. 3S above, N. x. (^) See Peter Pindar's ** Nil Admirari ;" and the Critiques upon it. (b) See Bifliop of London's Ch. p. 3^ > Britifh Critic September 1797. (c) Ch, as above. APPEAL TO EXt^ERIENCEj &C. 319 depreciate virtue^ whofe intentions are thus benevolent, vvhofe exertions are thus happy, and whofe writings can be thus charatlerized ? Yet thefe Writers too maintain the precife do£lrines we are vindicating. Whatever compara- tive difadvantage thefe dodrines may fuftain through our inferiority in treating them, theirs are the fentiments we would fupport, as the genuine do£l:rines of the Church of England. It cannot, we think, have efcaped obfervation, how exadly fimilar the treatment of thefe two lafl men- tioned works in particular is, to that which this fame clafs of Divines beftow upon our eftabliflied Writings ; when amidft many high encomiums they affirm, " that the Com- pilers of them do not feem thoroughly to have underjlood St. Paul, on the fubje£l of juftification-," and that they have ufed exprcCHons Jo mewhat toojirong about works '^.^* 2. Neither are we by any means afraid of the refult, if, in imitation of our church, we appeal to Experience in general, to determine the tendency of our do£lrines. Mr. Dau- beny, Mr. Polwhele, Dr. Croft, &c. mention, with great apparent triumph, inftances of the contrary ; of perfons profeffing thefe do6lines who have profaned the Sabbath, been guilty of grofs Immoralities, or " held up their hands at the Bar ^." But nothing furely can be more difmgenuous and abfurd. For, not to fay, that evil reports concerning fuch perfons often originate in prejudices entertained againlt them from the very circumftance of their being, like Abel, more righteous than their brother ; not to fay, that all who fhould really be found of the character they mention would be difowned by us as hypocrites -, not to fay, that it is not the condudl of a few individuals that will turn the fcale, either way ; whence, it may be afked, proceed thofe troops of fabbath-breakers, irreligious and grofsly immoral cha- (d) Above, p. 20^—109. (e) Gu?de. p. 86 j Letter, p. 80, 81, Note J Thoughts, p. 35. X2 320 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINEIJ. ra6lers, that abound in almoft erery parifli ? Whence thofe conftant and copious fupplies for Tyburn, Newgate, and Botany-Bay ? Are they not chiefly from among the profefTed adherents to their fyftem ? Are they not gene- rally lamentable fpecimens of thofe whom they reprefent as " members of the true Church of Chriil, tranilated from the world, delivered from the powers of darknefs, and heirs with Chrift of an eternal kingdom f?" Does Mr. Polwhele remember no inflances of difgraceful conduct in Teachers of religion, except thofe in which he fo apparently exults ^ ? How inattentive muft he then have been to Lord Kenyon'^s labours- It mud however, on all fides, be acknowledged, that the profejfion of the pureft fpeculative doctrines, is no infallible fecurity for good conduct. Such is the deceitfulnefs and defperate depravity of the human heart ?, that to accom- plifh its wicked machinations, it can> Proteus like, aflume every form, and prefent itfelf under every fpecies of dif- guife. And if, on one lamentable occafion, through the intrigues of a few confummate hypocrites, the doElrims of Grace were abufed, we need only extend our retrofpe(Sl a very little further to fee ihofe of merit producing eflecls at leaft equally deplorable. We deny however that the doc- trines which thofe Agents of mifchief pretended to hold, were fuch as are here defended. If they profefled certain parts of the fame fyftem, thefe they fo extended as to anni- hilate the reft, which gave another form and another fpirit to the whole. But in faft, when tried in our ftandard they are unqueftionably proved hypocrites. In this cafe, the apology for the dodrines they profefled is, that they could not be more happily efficacious becaufc they were not really embraced. And the frequent allufion to this event. (f) See above, p. 115, &c, (z) See his Letter, p. 80. (g) See Jer. xvii. 9. APPEAL TO EXPERIENCE, &C. 32 1 v/hlch our opponents make ^, is juft as candid and .jull as material in the queftion, as it would be continually to refer them to the black conduft of thofe zealous oppofers of jufti- fication by faith alone, Bonner and Gardiner. No. Amidft all the infirmities and imperfe6tions, which, as what *< all flefh is heir to," the fincere adherents to the do ;" it muft not be forgotten, that it was efpecially " to the poor that the gofpel was firft preached p." There is fomething in it peculiarly acceptable to their condition ; and, as long experience has proved, wherever it is honeftly and intelligibly delivered, and no material impediment of minifterial charafler intervenes, there wiP they be gathered together. And if perfons of this clalb cannot judge of compofition, they are (hrewd judges whether a minifter is really in earned to do them good ; a matter of much greater importance even in regard to popularity. (1) See Vol. i. Cent. iii. Ch. xxii j Vol, ii. Cent. v. Ci. ii— ixj Vol. iii. Cent. xiii. Ch. i — iv j and paflTim. (n ) The Calviniftic, &c., fyftcms compared, paflUm. (2) Ch. annexed to his Analogy, p. 456. (n) vSee Mr. Polwhele's Letter, p. 85. ^0) Thoughts, p, la. (p) Mat. xi. 5. X4 324 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. We appeal moreover, to the common integrity of per- fgns in general, to fay, whether, if, in the courfe of their travels or vifits, they fhould meet with a ftranger whofe deportment feemed formed upon the model of Scripture Morality; who fliould, as occafion offered, difcountenance fwearing, drunkennefs, and foolifh talking, and introduce ferious topics of converfation, they woukl not fufpeO: him of the principles in quedion ? We afk them, whether this fufpicion would not be confirmed, if, by any means, they fliould further learn, that in his habitual conduct the man was thus ftri(Slly correct ; that he abftained from all places of public or private diflipation, was regular in his devo- tions, confcientious in his dealings, zealous in his'attempts to do gcod to men's fouls and bodies j and that his profefled motive was Loye of God, and Gratitude to Chrift ? But if this, or any thing of this fort, is the ** Shibboleth '^" by which perfons of our principles are diftinguifhed, how- ever thofe who think otherwife may entertain themfelves with the idea, it is a full acknowledgment of the fuperior ^noral effcBs of fuch doctrines. But the ConceJJions on the point, which they make who diflike our do£lrines deferve further attention. For, on the one hand, However inconfiftently, they acknowledge, to a very great extent, the inefficacy of their own principles. *^ Modern Chriflianity,'* Mr. Daubeny admits, is a " dead thing ;" and that fuch is the ** degenerate (late of things," that ** the meaning annexed to the term. Vital Chriftiany, is, to the bulk of profeffing Chriftians, become unintelligible." He ** agrees v/ith*' Mr. Wilberforce, " in his account of the progrefiive decline of genuine Chriftianity ;" and fpeaks of " the growing progrefs of adultery, perjury, and pro- fanenefs among us^" The Britifh Critic alfo ** entirely (q) See «he CrliicalReview for Nov. 1797* ?• -S9, p. 315. 3i«> 321. APPEAL TO EXPERIENCE, Bzc* 325- agrees with Mr. W. as to the neceffity that cxifts at prefent, for awakening many nominal believers to a recolle£lion of the jnojl important doBrines of Chriftianity, and to an a£^ive, and heartfelt fenfe of religion ^" Mr. W's. pifture of the defedive and " commonly prevailing notions of profefled believers," this Critic allows, " Is fo drawn that it is not eafy to deny the likenefs ^" The lamentations of the gene- ral body of thefe Divines, as will appear from our quota- tions below "^, are indeed truly diftrelTmg. On the other hand, they cannot but admit that the doc- trines which they oppofe have done fomething in the way of reformation. Dr. Croft indeed confiders the matter as doubtful. *' Whether," he fays fpeaking of the perfons in queflion, " their doctrines have produced the reformation of manners which not only they themfelves, but even can- did men of a different perfuafion, contend for, admits of much doubt "^.'^ Mr. Clapham, however, the more can- did man, it may feem, of the two, aflures us, that undoubted evidence may be obtained ** of many, who, immerfed in fenfuality, and enflaved to vice, have been, by the preach- ing of Methodifm, reclaimed from their evil courfes^.'* The force of truth has alfo extorted the following admiffion from the fworn enemy of Dr. Hawker : ** There does not appear,*' he fays to the Dr., the jQlighteft ground for Mr, Polwhele's uneafniefs on account of your fo far imitating Whitefield, as to quit haftily your prefent refidence, where you are fo much looked up to, by thofe whofe morals you have in a great meafure reformed^ by adding the manners of the Gentleman to the accomplilhments of a Scholar. And I think it only juftice to fay, that your excellent Pulpit difcourfes have been, in all probability, blefled to the con- vidion, comfort, and edification of many fouls now on (s) September 1797, p. 294. (t) Ibid. p. 198. (m) Ch. ix. Conclufion, §, 2. (w) Thoughts, p, 35. (x) Ser- pion, p. 16. 326 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. earth, and of others who are, doubtlefs, gone to glory y.'* Here then we would ferloufly afk the Divines whofe opini- ons we are combating, whether this is not more than can truly and generally be affirmed of their do£lrines ? And, whether the inftances are not very rare, even of the out- ward reformation of notorioufly wicked men, by their mode of preaching ? But not only the good efe^s, hut the /uperior good tffe^s of our do£lrines, in this point of confideration, are allowed by an authority of all others the lead liable to fufpicion, the Monthly Reviewers. After quoting Mr. Wilberforce's ap- peal to experience on the fubje£l:, they add; "The triumph oi methcdifm (for fuch they denominate what Mr. W. is re- commending as * the very Chriftianity on which our Eftabliflriment is founded,) over the Socinian fe£l, and over every other regular inftitution, in the fudden and poiver/ul effeBs which it has, in many places, produced on the lowed clafs of the people, is admitted.** But ^^ fuccefs** they ob- ferve, " is in no cafe a proof of truth ;** and that " not- withftanding the fa5ls in which Mr. W. jtiflly exults^ it flill remains to be examined whether the fyftem which has produced thefe efFe£l:s be founded in reafon and Scrip- ture *.*' A fimilar admiffion is implied in their language on another occafion. Speaking of ** the people compofing the methodiftic fe£^," " we believe," it is obferved, ''that they are as moral charaBers as the generality of their neigh- bours ; and they form perhaps a defcription of Chriftians whole influence and example may be oijmgular benefit in a fceptical and profligate age. . . . May not ihtfuccefsoi metho- difm be viewed as a good omen : as a proof that we need not defpair of the Chriftian Church, but that we fhould rather be aflTured that it will flourifh, if its appointed minifters and paftors, in the true fpirit of the gofpel and with an ardor arifing from ferious convi6lion,fteadily perform the duties of (y) See Woiton's Later to Dr. Hawker. (z) July, 1797. p. 248. ^^^^^^■^Tppeal to experience, &c. 327 p tlieir office ^ ?'* Whatever then becomes of the truth and • rationality of our doftrines, their good effeBsy which is our prefent fubje£t, are here plainly admitted. Nor muft wc omit what the Conductors of the Britifh ; Critic have witneffed on the point. In their review of Mr. \ Fuller's an(wer to Dr. Toulmin and Mr. Kentifh, Mr. R, lit is obferved, " to the knowledge of a found Theologian, I tmites the talents of an acute and logical difputant." ** The I refutation," it is added, " which their (his opponents) ar- I guments have received, will, we think, convince every can- \ did mind, that the doctrines of unitarianifm are not tenable \ on the ground of their moral tendency, when compared \ with thofe of a more evangelical defcription ^'* r Mr. F.'s comparifon of the calviniftic and focinian fyf- llems, as to their moral tendency, to which we have efpecially ['appealed, thefe Critics alfo **ftrongly recommend.'* With tthe exception of a " few paflages," thofe doubtlefs in which I the fpirit of the Diflenter is vifible, it ** appears," they fay, ^ t' to be the work of a perfpicuous and forcible reafoner, an l^cute difputant, a learned divine, and a very pious and de- l^out man ^" This is no mean teftimony either of the man. pr his doftrines- But Mr. Fuller is a Calvimft ; the fyftem Sie thus vindicates is the calvintjllc one ; and in exadt pro- ||»ortion as our opponents are lefs ** evangelical," and verge Kn their notions of grace and human powers towards Soci- Inianifm, in that proportion his arguments in regard to Itnoral tendency againfl: this fyftem, apply alfo to theirs. |l We will only add the teftimony which thefe fame Gen- ptiemen have borne to the effeEis of our dodtrines, as exem- plified in the character of the late Mr. Romaine. This is important ; both becaufe this Divine's character has been fpecifically attacked \ and becaufe, with whatever propriety* Cm) March i8oi, p. 316. (^) Vol. x.p. 685. (b) Vol. v. p. 431, 328 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. he has been reprefented as a Chie/zmong us^. ** It appears" then, they fay, " that Mr. Romaine was indefatigahly aBive during a miniftry of near fixty years, in dijcharging the duties of his profefflottt and in promoting charitable deftgns* Whatever peculiar theological notionshe might entertain, his piety appears to have been mofi fervent and ftncere ; his charity ever nvatchful for opportunities of doing good ; his literary attainments refpe^labk, and his knowledge at all times luholly devoted to the advancement of religion. To fuch a man, furely, without prefumption, we may apply the words of Eliphaz, * Thou (halt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a ihcck of corn cometh in, in his feafon^.*" May all who diflike their fentiments, be conftrained thus to teftify of the charatlers of our opponents I If this is the morality at which they are fo angry, we muft defpair of pleafing them. If this is the pattern we are imitating as X^linifters, they will not eafily make us afliamed of our condu6l. But what now, if, after all, it (hould appear, that it is not the laxnefsy but iht Jlri£lnefs of our Morality, which excites fuch complaints ? There are perfons, we know, from in- fallible authority, to whom the Redeemer's holy precepts and humbling docSlrines are equally obnoxious. To whom- foever the different characters may belong, the fcripture affirms nothing more plainly than this, that the truly righ- teous are dilliked by the world ^. Nor is there any truth which has been more fully confirmed by experience. Ifhmael, in days of old, derided -Ifaac ^ And, " as then,'' the Apoftle fays, " he that was born after the flefh, per- fecuted him thai was born after the fpirit, even fo it is now^." So both Jews and Heathens treated the Apoftles and firft Chriflians. So the Papifls treated the mod vir- tuous of the Reformers. And fo at all times has the World treated the genuine Difciples of Chrift j perhaps in exadl (c) See above, p. 307; and Chap. i. beginning; and Antijac. Rev. April, 1799. p, 362, Sec, (d) Vol. vii. p. 690. (e) John xv, iS;, 19. (f) Genefis, xxi. 9. (g) Gal. iv. 29, OUR MORALITY TOO STRICT. 329 proportion as they have partaken of his Spirit, and trodden in his fteps. Perfons who a£l thus would be thought, indeed, only to difcountenance hypocrify, grimace, or enthufiafm^ while they admire the beauty, and delight in the exercife of genuine virtue. But the manner in which (he was treated when exhibited in her moft perfedl form, and lovelieil charms, in the Perfon of our Saviour, is a (landing and ir- refragable proof of the contrary. And no excellence of charadlcr, no circumfpecHiion of conduct, no freedom from necdlefs peculiarities, has been fufficient to preferve fuch as have been " transformed by the renewing of their mind*^,** from a portion of the fame treatment; while thofe who have been " conformed to this world," and have " walked after the courfe of it*," have invariably fecured its friend- fhip. Nor will the reafons of this circumftance be wanting, to thofe who confider the enmity of the carnal mind againft God and his law'', the influence of Satan^, and the reproach which a ftridlly holy character reflecSls upon that of hypo- crites, formalifts, and perfons of more languid virtue. And it is worthy of obfervation, as what is moft demon- ftrable from faifl, that it is the living according to the gofpel, and not ih^ profejftony nox tw^ntht preachings of its peculiar doctrines, in which the real umbrage confifts. Where there is a conformity to the world in praftice, it readily excufes peculiarity in theory. But if fuperior holinefs fo commonly excites a peculiar diflike, this may eafily be the cafe in the affair before us ; and it exceedingly behoves men to examine the grounds of their prejudices with a view to this circumftance. There is a paffage on the fubjed: in the Book of Wifdom well deferving of attention. " Let us," fay cer- (h) Rom. xii. a. (i) Ephes. ii. a. (k) Rom. viii- 7. (I) Sit Ephes. vi. 12 ; »Cor. iv. 45 1 Peter v. S. 33© THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. tain charaders, "lie in wait for the righteous ; becaufe he is not for our turn, and he is clean contrary to our doings :. he upbraideth us with our offending the law, and objedeth to our infamy the tranfgrelTions of our education. He pro- fefleth to have the knowledge of God; and he calleth him- felf the child of the Lord. He was made to reprove our thoughts. He is grievous unto us even to behold: for his life is not like other men's, his ways are of another falhion. We are efteemed of him as counterfeit : He abftaineth from our ways as from filthinefs : he pronounceth the end of the juft to beblefTed, and makethhis boaft thatGod is hisFather. . . Let us examine him with defpitefulnefs and torture, that we may know his meeknefs, and prove his patience"^." In a fucceeding chapter they are reprefented as faying on a folemn occafion, " This was he whom we had fometimes in deri- fion, and a proverb of reproach. We fools accounted his life madnefs ; &c "." We make no application of this palTage but that which it neceflarily makes of itfelf. If the manner in which any perfons now fpeak and a<£l in refpe£l to us be exa£lly reprefented in it, they have certain-, ly no occafion to boail of their precedent. If we are fuch mad, fmgular, boafting, obnoxious chara6lers, as are here complained of, we truft we Ihall continue fuch to the feafon juft alluded to. But that it is thtJiriBnefs of our moral fyftem which in reality gives the offence, we have the evidence of our oppo- nents themfelves to prove. This is plainly exprefTed in the whole catalogue of their objedions againft tht JlriBne/s of our Jlandard of morals, and their attempts to fubflitute " a more lenient r«/tf °." This is implied in their flighter requifitions as the evidence of a Chriflian ftate p. This is confefTed in their charge that we ** fhew no indulgence to the common (m) Ch. ij. 10 — 19. (n) Ch. v. 3, 4, (o) Above Ch. vii. §. i, p. 2ai, &c. (p) Above, p. 114—126; 169, 170, 183, &c. THE CHAPTER CONCLUDED. 33 1 failings of human nature *^*,'' and in all they advance agalnft the rigour and aufterity of our fyftem and our manners -. This the moft refpedlable of them affirm in fo many words. ^— Thus, in their review of a popular Work of the defcrip- tion in queftion, the Britifh Critics fpecify inftances in which they think the ideas of the Author ** are carried to a mi/- taken degree ofJ}ri6lnefs;** and fay, *' It is usually censured AS TOO SEVERE *.'* — Mrs. Morc confirms this teftimony. ** It has been warmly urged," Ihe fays, ** as an obje£lion to certain religious books, and particularly againft a recent work of high worth, . . . that they have fet the Jlandard of felfdenial higher than reafon or even than Chriftianity re- quires ... It has been fometimes objefted, even by thofe readers who on the whole greatly admire the particular work alluded to, that it is unreasonably strict in the preceptive and prohibitory parts ^'* But if all this is fo undeniably the fa£l, how could Mr. Glapham, before a learned Bilhop and a Congregation of Divines, appeal to the day of judgment, folemnly pledge himfelf to lay afide " every prejudice," and to confidcr the matter ** fairly and impartially," as he " believes it will appear, when the fecrets of all hearts fliall be difclofed," and then exclaim concerning us \ *' The ifegulation of the moral temper, and the cxtindlion of the malignant paffions, do not alas ! feem to be eflcntial, or even fubordinate parts of their fyftem^ !" How could the grave Prelate " command *" fuch grofs calumny to be publifhed ? With what face can Mr. Fellowes affirm, that we make " Chriftianity itfelf an in- ftrument for the propagation of vice and the difFufion of mifery ;**... that our " doftrines tend to deter even good men from the pradlice of virtue, and powerfully impel bad men on in the career of wickednefs^ ?" With what regard (q) Clapham's Ser. p. ai. (i) Above, Ch. 7. § i. 2. paHim. (s) September, 1797. p. 295, 302. (t) Striftures, Vol. ii. p, 197, (v ) Sermon, p. 9, (w) See the Title page. (x) Anticalvinift, Preface, p. i, z. 332t THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. to faa does Mr. Haggitt infinuate^ that " the obvious efTed of our doarine is, to cut afunder the bonds of all moral obligation, and to put every man*s life and property at the mercy of every fanatical audience y ?" How^ can fo many perfons, under a profeffion of zeal for truth and juftice, load us with fuch palpably falfe and ignominious charges on this fubjedl ? How groundlefs are the apprehenfions which are pretended to be entertained by the more refpeclable and mo- derate of thofe who differ from us ! How little muft all thefe perfons know of our do£lrines, or how wilfully muft they mifreprefent them ! From this full and extenfive view of the fubjedl of morality it appears, That we hold equally the neceffity of Sanclijication as of Jiiftificatioriy and confider thefe bleffings equally provided for in the covenant of grace : that we enforce the practice of good works precifdy on the fame grounds ivhich our church does : and that, whether regard is had to the Ru/e of Mora- lity, or to its SanBionSy or to the degree of it abfolutely indfted upon as the Evidence of a Chriftian ftate ; whether we ar- gue a priori from the natural tendency of the doclrines them- felves to promote genuine virtue, or whether a pofleriori we have recourfe to the effe&s atlually produced by them, our moral fyftem i^farJlriEler^ and our dodlrines far more eiS^ cacious, than thofe of our opponents are. (y) Vifitvi. Sermon, Preface, p. 15. ( 333 ) CHAP. VIII. The REASONS of our adherence to the genuine doctrines of the Church of England fta fed ; and a general Avohoor for her doctrines. .UCH has been advanced to (how that we certainly do teach according to the plain doftrines of our Articles, Li- turgy, and Homilies. It (hall be the bufinefs of this chap- ter to inquire whether or not there are any folid reafons for fuch a condu6l in the Minifters of oUr church. And, Firflf We cannot on any other ground juftify our SUB-* SCRiPTiON to thefe forms of doftrine and worfliip. That the Articles of our Church were intended by her founders for Articles of beliefs to be underftood, and taught, in their plain and obvious fenfe, has been proved beyond all room for queftion *. And to us, her Minifters appear un- der very weighty obligations^ fo to underftand and teach them now. Thefe forms ftill contain and inculcate one ex- plicit and fpecific body of do£l:rine, and are nugatory and unmeaning if this dodrine is not believed. Still they are prefaced with the royal Declaration, which forbids any Mi- nifter from " putting his own fenfe or comment to be the meaning of them,'* or «* affixing ««;; new fenfe to any article*,'* and enjoins that they mult be " taken in the literal and grammatical fenfe,'* in their '* plain and full meaning," Still the deftgn of the impofer is declared, in the title which the Articles bear, to be, the " avoiding of diverftties of opi' (a) See cfpecially Chap, ii, Y 334 THE TRUE CHl?RCHM|EN ASCERTAINED. nio?iSy nnd the eftablifhing of r^;^/^«2f touching true religion,''^ Sdll our fubfcriptions are demanded for the fatisfadtion of our Ecelefiaftical Superiors concerning the dodrines we mean to teach, and mud therefore imply in them what is necefiary for that fatisfadion. But v'hat is more, lliil, in the raoft folemn manner, after fpace for the matiireft deliberation, every candidate for Or- cfers in our Church, declares in the adt of fubfcription, ac- cording to the 3^>th Canon, " that the Book of Common Prayer, containeth in it nothing contrary to the Word of God i that he alloweth the Book of Articles of Religion, and achioivledgeth ail and every the Articles, therein contained, to be agreeable to the Word of God " and that *' ivillinglyy ofid ex animoy he fuhfcrihes to thefe Ai'ticleSy and to all things that are contained in them ^'*. And, according to the ftatute which gives our Articles their legal authority, every Minifter who is admitted to a Benefice is required to read them in the Church, with a declaration of his " unfeigned ajfent to them ^:* And, if the obligation can be rendered more binding, flHI arc we daily exhorted to teach according to the plain and genuine doctrines of thefe articles by the.nis/l aBive and eminent of our BifjcpSy and aflured by them that a contrary procedure is equally pregnant with guilt and danger. Thus, in his famous Sermon on the fubjedt, Bilhop Conybeare fays J " Every one who fubfcribes the Articles of religion, does thereby engage, not only not to contradict them ; but his fubfcription amounts to an approbation of, and an aflent to, the truth of the dodrines therein contained, in the very fenfe in which the compilers are fuppofed to have under- Itood them." " All the conlidcrations which can be urged to prove our obligation to moral hotiefy^ are fo many argu- ments of our duty to fubfcribe without equivocation or referve. (b) See tf)e Canon. (c) See the Statute of the 13th of Eliza, beth ; or Burnet on the Arts. Introduft. p. 8. THE OBLIGATIONS OF SUBSCRIPT lONi 335 Nor can any thing be urged to juftify or excufe prevarica-^ tion in this refpe6l, which will not tend to deftroy all mu- tual truft and confidence among men. Whoever therefore is not really perfuaded that the dodlrines contained in our articles are true, cannot fubfcribe, without an high violation of moral onejly^ and a breaking in upon the fundamental principle, on which all fociety mud be built '*." Archbifliop Seeker, after obferving to Candidates for Or- ders, that in fubfcribing they have acknowledged the liturgy and articles of the Church of England ro be agreeable 10 tlis Word of God, proceeds : *' I hope you will think yourfelves bound, as you are, to be careful that the i"ijftru£lions which you give, and the doctrines which you maintain^ in public and in private, be agreeable to that liturgy and thofe articles: that you neither contradi6t, nor omit to inculcate and de- fend, on proper oceafions, the truths which they contain." *' For," continues he, mentioning the engagements of our Ordination in general, " there can hardly be a cafe in which either infmcerity^ or even thoughtlefsnefsy would carry in it heavier guilt *." Bifliop BarririgtOn confiders us bound, to inculcate and maintain " the doctrines which the laws proteft, . . . by our duty to God, to the laws of our country, and the engagements of our profejjlon ^.** " The Articles," Bifliop Pretyman adds, <^ are to be fub- fcribed in their plain and obvious fenfe, and aflent is to be given to them fimply and unequivocally." " All perfons when they enter into holy orders, or are admitted to c^ny ecclefiaftical cure or beiiefice, are required by law to fub- fcribe thefe articles, that all who are employed in the Mini- dry of the eftablifhed church Jhould unfeignedly believe the (d) See this Sermon in the ** tncheiridion Eccltfiadicum," lately publiflicd at Oxford, and recommended by the Bilhop of Durham, Ch. 1792. (e) See his Inftrudions to Candidates for Orders, in the Biftvopof Landaff's Tra^s, VoK vi. p,. 108. (f) Ch. 1792. p. 17. y 2 336 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED*. doHrlnes they contain.''* And, having mentioned *^ the pro- fefled object of thefe articles,'* and the ** indifpenfable form of fubfcription,'* and how " it behoves every one before he offers himfelf a candidate for holy orders, to perufe carefully the articles of our church, and compare them with the written Word of God j*' " If," his Lordfhip fays, " upon mature examination he believes them to be authorized by Scripture, he may confcientioufly fubfcribe them \ but, if on the contrary, he thinks that he fees reafon to diffent from any of the doclrines afferted in thentt no hope of emolument or honour, no dread of inconvenience or difappointment, Ihould induce him to exprefs his folemn ajfent to propofttmis, lohich infa& he does 7iot believe, ..." And let it,*^' he fubjoins, ** be ever remembered^ that in a buftnefs of this ferioiis and im- portant nature, no f pedes whatever of evafonyfubierfuge, or re- jerve is to be allowed, or can be praElifed^ without itnminent dan- ger of incurring the wrath of God ^^* All attempts therefore, under thefe circumftances, to juflifyfubfcription without a&ual belief oi the plain dodrines of the articles, we cannot but confider as grofs prevarication 5 an attack upon common integrity; a conducSlmoft unbecom- ing the appointed Guardians of truth and fmcerity, and as juftly expofing the Church of which they are Miniflers to the fcorn of her enemies. In anfvver therefore to the notions of Dr. Paley, Dr. Bal- guy, &c. that our articles were only intended for Articles ofpeaccy profcriptions of certain ancient feds, or whateve;* they call it, fomething fhort of this belief of the propofitions they contain^, we will only further add the words of Bifliop Burnet : Speaking of the time when thefe articles were compofed, ** One notion," his Lordfhip fays, " that has fince been taken up by fome, feems not to have been then thought of; which is, that thefe were rather articles of (g) Elements ef Theology, Vol. ii. p. s^^' 0') Sec Ghap, p. 18. — zz. THE OBUCATIONS OF SUBSCRIPTION. 337 peace than of belief : fo that the fubfcribing was rather a compromife not to teach any do<^rine contrary to them» than a declaration that they believed according to them. There appears nb reafonfor this conceit, nofuch thing being then declared : fo that thofe who fuhfcrihed, did either believe them to he true^ or elfe they did grofsly prevaricate */* Nor does there appear more reafon, for the more inge- nious conceit of an acquired Jenfe^ and a tacit reformation^ about which we hear fo much from the Drs. Hey, Powell, and their difciples ^> The very foundation on which they reft this fcheme of accommodation is groundlefs. We al- low that words are mere arbitrary figns of whatever ideas the generd Will of mankind annexes to them \ and that, when a fufficient reafon appears, they may agree " to call the Sun by the name of the Moon, and the Moon by the name of the Sun." But this new Jenfe of terms is certainly only allowable as far as it is thus agreed itpoUi and generally uuderftoodf efpecially among thofe whom the fubjed: they refer to immediately concerns. According to Dr. Paley, to juftify a departure from the original fenfe of any form of words to which we aflent, the inconveniency of adhering to this fenfe muft " be manifefiy concerning which there is no doubt^J* This he {hows with rcfpe£l; to " Oaths to obferve local ftatutes ;" and ** Sub- fcription to Articles of religion,'* he fays, " is governed by the fame rule of interpretation." And it is on the fuppofi- tion that this new fenfe of the articles is generally knoi^fn and underjioody that it is defended by its advocates. Thus, after a vaft deal to the fame effedl:. Dr. Powell ob- ferves, " How unjuft then is the charge brought againft the Englifh Clergy, that, having departed from the meaning of their articles, they all continue to fubfcribe what none be- lieves ! The accufation is not only falfe, but the crime im- (i) Htft. of tbeReforma. Vol. ii. p. 169. (k) Ch. i. p. 23—26. (1) Moral and Polit. Phil. p. 179. Y3 33^ THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. pofQbie. That cannot be the fenfe of the declaration which no one imagines to he the fenfe; nor can that interpretation bq> erroneous which all have received^." This pafra^^^j;7i', the Philofophers, or Initiated, had one religion, and the profanum vulgus another «?'* And what would not be the efFe£ls of the fyftem in queftion, were it generally reduced to practice in the affairs of civil and common life ? Dr. H. himfelf has fuppofed the objection which is infeparable from it, that it " feems cal- culated to perplex plain integrity, to entangle common fenfe, to confound truth with falfehood ^." And, if, when, volun- tarily, and after due time for examination, a man declares, that '^from his heart he acknowledges all the articles of our churchy and every thing that is contained in them to he agreeable to the Word of God, and engages to take them ;n their literal ffn/e, and to put no fenfe or comment of his Qwn upon them con*^ trary to this interpretation," he is to be underftood to mean^ that many of thefe articles have now no ftgnification at all, and that others in their plain and literal fenfe are contrary to the word of Godf and are to be interpreted in a new and different fenfe, it muft furely be inquired, how fociety is to under- fland his meaning, or to obtain fecurity from him, in any other covenant ? Muft not fuch a fcheme open a door to evafion that would, in effe£l, releafe men from every en- gagement that became unpleafant to them? Or would it not, at the beft, occafion as great a confufion of language as that which attended the fpeculation to buil4 a tower to heaven * ? But we need not depart from the cafe in hand to difcover confufion enough. The true ftandard of interpretation, we are taught is, the prefent opinion of " the generality of learned and judicious men j" or "of thofe whom a minifter (f) Ibid. p. 68. (g) fbid. p. 73. (h) Ibid. p. sy (i) Gen. xi, J---9. THE OBLIGATIONS OF SUBSCRIPTION^' 343 accounts the moft judicious K" Let us then fuppofe this to be the cafe, and that for the fake of being fully underftood, and of preferving feme appearance of honefty, every minifter after reading the above declaration of aflent, ihould imme- diately avow this to be his meaning; what would not be his perplexity; and what a farce would not his fub- fcription be ? The learned and eminent Biihop Watfon, the learned and judicious Archdeacon Balguy, the learned &c *, he would find, are of opinion, that it is enough merely not to contradi^ the eftabliftied confeffion in our inftrudlions from the Pulpit. The learned and judicious Archdeacon Paley, whofe Work forms a part of the common reading at a great Uni- verfity, fuppofes, that the main end of our Articles, was the profcription of certain feds and tenets which obtained at their impofitipn •, and that neither the opinions of the Com- pilers, nor of our prefent Bifhops, are of any fignification in the interpretation of thefe Articles, but that it is the legijlature of the iph of Elizabeth whofe intention the fubfcriber is bound to fatisfy ^» Other learned Divines and Critics ap- prove of the Archdeacon's fentiments °. The learned and refpecSlable Mr. Gifborne maintains, that *' It is the intention of the prefent legijlature^ whether that be or be not the fame with the intention of the legiflature of the 13th Elizabeth, which the fubfcriber is bound to fatisfy °.'* The learned and judicious Archdeacon Powell, late Matter ofSt. John's College, Cambridge; the learned and ingenious Dr. Hey, as Norrifian ProfefTor of Divinity in this Univer- fity, with their difciples, fay a vaft deal about fome new and acquired fenfe P. And this fenfe. Dr. P. teaches, is neither fixed " by thofe who require" fubfcription, nor " by the Governors of the church," nor ** by the legifla- (k) Above, p. 42—25. (0 Ibid, p, 18. (m) Ibid, p. 19— la. (n) Ibid. (0) Moral Phil. Ch. on Enga|;c- peats. (p) Above, p. 512-^26. 344 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. ture ^." One clafs of Critics fays •' The meaning of the Articles is undoubtedly to be fought from the framers of them »■ ;" Another is very confident, that The Diocefan is the only proper judge whofe preaching (hould be confidered mofl conformable to the public ftandard *. One body of learned and judicious Doctors adheres to the plain meaning of the Articles except on fome ohjlrufe doBrines ' : Another, neither lefs learned nor lefs judicious, adheres to this inter- pretation on all points" \ &c. &c. If, however, amidft this vaft variety, a Candidate for Orders can determine which party to " account the moft judicious 5" in their fenfe, he may, it feems, confcientioufly fubfcribe our Articles. And thus will the church " avoid diverftfies of opinion^ and eJlaUiJh confent touching true reli- gion!'* Or rather, thus will a Minifter's fubfcription juft prove that he can write his own name I But neither can we reconcile ourfelves to the referve our opponents plead for, in refpedl to what they denominate the •^ myjleriotts and difficult doctrines'' " of the Articles.- They do not clearly fpecify their few general and fundamental principles of Chriflian faith, which are clearly delivered, and uniformly believed by all *.-' Neither do they fay precifely, and uniformly, which are thofe ** unneceflary," " doubtful, inaccurate, unphilofophical," *^ too philofophical," " er- roneous," Articles, they would retrench and correal: ; and "what arc thofe ** abftrufe queftions," and " difputable points,'* they would leave " to the free decifion of every man's private judgment ^.'* Some of them, however, it is clear, confider every thing in the eftablifhed forms " myfte- rious and difficult," which they conceive borders on Calvi- nifm : Others find their difficulties in the do61:rines of Grace, Faith, and Jujlification : A third party applies thefe epithets (q) Dis. ii. p. 35. (r) Antijac. Reviewers, Jan. 1800, p. 19. (s) Critical Reviewers, Nov. 1797, p. 291 (t> Above, p. zj — 29. (v) Ibid. p. 36— 42 J 333—335. (*) Above, p. 27—30. (x) Ibid. (y) Ibid. p. 27—29. THE OBLIGATIONS OF SUBSCRlPTIONi 345 to the Do£lrine of the Trinity : -And a fourth fees nothing but perplexity and difficulty in requiring fubfcription to any Articles of faith. The whole tenour of their writings evinces the firfl of thefe particulars ^. The quotations already adduced from the Drs. Bennet, Croft, &c, eftablifh the fecond \ Pro- feflbr Hey fhall vouch for the next : " We and the Socinians,^' he affirms, " differ only about what we do 72ot underftand: and about what is to be done on the part of God ^. And the laft is proved by the whole purport of the Confeffional, the Confiderations of Bifhop Law *^, and many paflages in the Philofophy of Dr. Paley. " Bifhop Law," Dr. Hey fays, " does riot feem to allow, that any cafe can juftify re- quiring a declaration of opinion **." To allow the Subfcriber therefore to exercife a referve and a latitude on all doctrines which he may pleafe to call myflerious and difficult, is not even to diftinguifh him from a Socinian, or an enemy to all forms of do6lrine, and is, in effefl, requiring nothing of him. *' It is not indeed neceiTary," as the Bifhop of Lincoln obferves, ** that he (hould approve every nvord or exprefjiotn but he ought to believe all the fundamental doBrines of the articles ; all thofe tenets in nvhich our church differs from other churches, or from other feBs of Chriflians *.'* It is not neceC fary, in order to confcientious fubfcription, that our Divines fhould harmonize on every pofTible point of do the Hebrew Scriptures and Tranflation of the Bible. (m) See his Anfvver to Mr. Wilberforce. ' (n) See the Analy- lical Review for May, 1797, p. 509 j the Critical Review for Jan;, J 797, oathe *'Praftical View," &c. 348 THE TRUE CHURCHME*^ ASCERTAINEli, days to the Infpiratlon of God's Holy Spirit ". Others cdri- fidei* all perfons enthufiafts, who talk of Converiion and difcrirhinatirig San£lification among the profefibrs of Chrift- ianity; v Ko difcover any confiderable eiercifes of the Heart and AfFeflions in religion ; or in fhort, who hold the neceffity of any thing which can properly be called Chrift- ian Experience p. The diftin^lion between being a " jew inwardly,'* and a ** Jew only dutwardly," this clafs of Divines will not in- fill upon ; and, as Bifliop Butler complains, ** Under the no- tion of a reafonable religion," they devifeone **fo very rea- fonable, as to have nothing to do with the heart and affefitons, if thefe words fignify any thing but the faculty by which we difcern fpeculative truth **." There are others, however, furely with the moft exprefs decifions ofScripture^ on their fide, who conceive, that every true Chriftian is infpired, en- lightened, fandified, and comforted, by the Spirit of God. In their judgment therefore, enthufiafm confifts, not necef- farily in the claim itfelf, but in an un/upported claim, to di- vine, influence; not in holding the dodrine, but in wrong conceptions of the nature of it ; in a fuppofition that the fw^«wr of the Holy Spirit's operations maybe known, or in fome unfcriptural methods of expeHing ov afcertaining his iwggeftions and influence. However great then the evil of Enthufiafm may be, we ntuft not, it is manifeft, too readily relinquifli every dodrine that is branded with it : If we do, we mull commence Deifts, if not Atheifts. It is a commodious term of re- proach, by which, from the very time of the Apoftles, per- fons of no religion at all, and thofe of cold and languid piety, have endeavoured to depreciate true and zealous (o) Above, p. 124 J Dr. Balguy's Ch, i. p. 172. (p) Above, P-^Hj 126. (q) Sermons at Roll's Chapel, 13, p. 262, (r) See e. g. John xiv. 1 5 j Romans viii j i C«rinth, ii. WORTH OF THE AllTICLES. 349 Chriftians. It is an imputation which the ungodly and pro- fane are perfeftly fecure from, but which, from the very nature of Chriftianity, may be eafily faftened, with fome degree of plaufibility, on the pious and devout. "The charafter of a fober Chriftian," the excellent Bilhop Home bbferves, "will always be in danger from two forts of people, the lukewarm, and the fanatic. With the latter fort his piety will be lifelefs and formal ; and the former will brand him for an EnthuGaft : Thus it was, and thus it ever will be ^"— •" The Love of God," Bifhop Butler adds, *' will every where by the generality of the world, be called Enthufiafm ".'* But, as this very fenfible and difpaffionate Prelate alfo remarks, " A do£lrine's having been a fhelter for enthufiafm, is no proof of the falfity of it : Truth or right being fomewhat real in itfelf, and fo not to be judged of by its liablenefs to abufe, or by its fuppofed diftance from oi* nearnefs to error ^" — It is the fterling Coin which is coun- terfeited ; but who on this account would deny its exiflence or reject its ufe ? — But to return to our appeal. Enthufiafm, as on all hands it feems allowed, owes its fundamental fupport to pride ^, to an over-weening opinion men entertain of themfelves, and an unwarranted conceit of their familiarity with God. The dodtrines of our articles are wonderfully adapted to generate humility. The threa- tenings and promifes, the awful and amiable attributes of the Supreme Being, are fo intermixed and exhibited, as to ex- cite that proper mixture of fear and hope, of reverence and confidence, which only belongs to genuine piety. Enthufiafts reje£l or depreciate the ufe of reafon, argu- ment, learning, and other ordinary means of feeking after truth, in their religious inquiries "*. In our articles we fee (s) On Enthufiafm. (n) Preface to Sermons, p. 33. See alfo the Sacred Writings; Andrews' on Grace; Milner's Hiftory of the Church} &c. (t) Note q, and Sermon, p. cSi, (v) Hey's Nor. Lea. Vol. iii. p. 245; Locke on Human Underftanding, Ch. on.Enthufiafmj Hume's Effays j &c. (w) Nor. Lccl. Vol. ii. p. 1859 Locke; Humcj &c, z 350 THE TRUE CHtJRCHMEN ASCERTAINED. a mod elaborate ufe of thefe means. Enthufiafts account little of the plain duties of common life, and make religion toconfift: almoft wholly in fomething of a more fublime and exalted nature ^. Here every Chriftian man whatever, is de- clared ** bound to obedience to the commandments of God, which are called moral ;" and the relative duties are moft minutely expf^unded, and urgently enforced. Enthu- fiafts,of couf fe, exprefs themfelves in language correfpondent to their rapturous conceptions 7, Here we find " the words of trutli and fobernefs," and the ftrongeft marks of thought, coolnefs, and moderation. " Caution and moderation/* Bifhop Pretyman, fpeaking of our Articles, fays, " are no lefs confpicuous in them, than a thorough knowledge of the fcriptures, and of the early opinions and practice of Chriftians ^. Enthufiafts prefume that they know the Will of God from their own feelings^, that their emotions are infpired and are therefore good ; and hence fuch feelings become the rule of their conduct. Here the very reverfe method is purfued ; the only ftandard of duty prefcribed is the written Word of God *, and we are called upon to judge of the caufe by the efFeds, to examine whether our impref- fions and behaviour are correfpondent to this rule, and then only to confider them good, and afcribe them to a divine influence ^. And, to mention at once what Dr. Croft> Mr. Daubeny, and their clafs of Writers, appear chiefly to have in view, Enthufiafts, they tell us, afcribe fo much to divine agency in the v/ork of falvation, as to difpenfe with the neceflTity, or relax the motive, for human endeavours '^. Here, it has been proved at large, the very contrary is the cafe ; and the confideration, that " God worketh in us," is urged as a moft powerful motive to our working " out our own falvatioa^." (x) Hume; Review of Policy J &c. (y) Ibid. (z) Elements, Vol. ii. p. 35. (a) Hume, Locke, &c. (b) Above, p. 283 — 285. (c) See Croft's Striftures, p. 63, Daubeny's Guide, p. 375. Notej Dr. Carr's Sermons* i. p. 12. (d) See above, Ch, vii. §, z. WORTH OF THE ARTICLES. 35 t Neither do we conceive it to be any folid obje6fcion to bur forms that they contain dodirines that are myjlerious and 'difficult, Not to repeat any thing refpedling the vaguenefs bf thefe terms, if, it may here be obferved, " fbme things hard to be underftood%" were not to be found in our Articles, they could not be a jufl: reprefentation of the whole dodtrines of fcripture. And what fubjeft is not attended with Difficulties ? " Are there not," as the learned Bifliop Stillingfleet obferves, ** myfteries in Arts, myfteries in nature, myfteries in Providence^?'' But the gofpel is pro- fefledly a Myftery ; a myftery " which the Angels defire to look into s ;'* a fcheme of Grace and Mercy utterly un- fathomable. We are told alfo exprefsly, that " now we feo through a glafs darkly ;'* and that here we only " know in part ^" This indeed muft be the cafe, from the nature of bur prefent finite and imperfe£l faculties, and the nature of many fubjefts in religion. Nor are any perfons more ready than our opponents, when it fuits their turn, to complain of " the little that is revealed to us, and the imperfedl manner in which that httle is revealed." When therefore we are called upon to " affix determined ideas to every word we ufe ^" in our religious fyftem; when, with an air of contemptuous fuperiority, it is faid, " Explain to us what you mean precifely by juftification^ by fpirit, by influence, by experience'':" thefe Gentlemen certainly demand more of us than they can do for them- felves. Explain to us, we may retort, what you mean pre- eifely by only one of thefe particulars, " by Spirit ;^^ or if yoii like it better, by the rational fyjlem which rejedls Divind (e) a Peter, iii. 16. (f ) On Scripture Myfteries, Oxford Encheirid. p. 350. (g) i Peter i. 12 j 1 Tim. iii. 16. (h) 1 Cor; xiii. 9, 12. Lord Bacon denominates the whole period " from the Creation to th« Diffolution of the world, the time of the Myfiery."" Works, Vol. iv. p. 457. Our modern Geniufes can penetrate every thing. (i) See Dr. Balguy's *d Ch. p. 1915 and Mr. Ludlara's Writings. (k) Critical Review, Nov, 17971 on Ludlam, ^52 THE True CHURCHMEiJ ASCERTAINED. influence : Show us precifely the " determined ideas" you affix only to the Word god : Point out to us, with precifion, the conne6lion between DiW^^ Prefcience 2ind. Moral Agency ; or banifh thefe notions from your fyftem, and define it without them. An attempt of this kind would perhaps, to purfue their own language, " cut up to the roots," their vaunting pretenfions to fuch a perfection of knowledge, and precifion of Words. A parade about Definitions is by no means that fovereign remedy for every difficulty on moral and religious fubje£ls, which fome perfons would infinuate. " A Definition," as the admired Burke obferves, *' may be very exaft, and yet go but a very little way towards informing us of the nature of the thing defined ^" But the worft is, what is called a definition, is often neither a true reprefcntation of the thing defined, nor of what thofe who underftand it beft confider it, but only of the Writer's own arbitrary, partial, or limited view of it. Yet this, he prefumes, warrants him to treat every other notion of a fubje£l as inaccurate and abfurd. This is manifeftly the condu6l of Mr. Daubeny on the fubje£l of faith™. This is the method of defining religion and morality adapted by Mr. Ludlam, when he " accufes Dr. Paley and Dr, John/on of a want of precifion in their ideas "" on thefe fubje£ls ! There is much propriety in the obfervation of the Antijacobin Reviewers on Mr. Ludlam's Work. ** The propenfity in fome writers," they fay, " to dwell upon elementary and verbal diftindtions, we have always difapproved ; efpecially when religion was the fub- jeft of their confideration : and Mr. Ludlam's fondnefs for Definition compels us to obferve, that Chriftianity was not revealed to man fo much for the purpofe of exercifing his underftanding, as of influencing his affedlions, and regulating his conduct "." Let then the truths of religion be in- (i) ©n the Sublime and Beautiful, Jnrrodufl:. p. 5. (m) See above, p. 277, ^'c. (n) Six Eflays, p. 114; and Antijacobin Review, for July, J799, p. 282. (o) Antijac, Ibid. WORTH OF THE ARTICLES. 353 yeftigated and afcertained with the greateft^^^^/^ accuracy ; but let not our forms of dodrine be difparaged, becaufe they afford not mathematical clearnefs on fubje p. 496. (2) Adventurer, No. 4.9, 362 THE TRUJ6 CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED, prefent ^.'* And again, ** It feems fufficiently clear," he fays, " that the perfons, who compiled our Articles, were men of the Jirfi ability : as fcholars (if we except a few, though mere linguifts ought not to be reckoned) we are MERE CHILDREN to them ^.'* But, IS all this true ? How unfufFerable then is the arrogance of modern boafters! The true chara£leriftic difference of the two periods feems to be, that learning is now more generally diffufed* We have a far greater number of fcholars \ and the fame perfons often poflefs more general knowledge, than was for- merly ufual. But the firft of thefe circumftances would give us little advantage over Elizabeth's learned Divines in forming a Creed, as their number was certainly as great as could be ufeful in this work ; and the other circumftance will generally, and almoft neceflarily, render our know- ledge more fuperficial. Few minds are capable of en- tering fully into fo many fubje£ls ; and perhaps the com- monnefs of learning, or of fomething which pafses for it,' may leflen the ftimulus for exploring its depths. We have alfo, doubtlefs, made particular improvements. We are improved, it may be, by cur ccntroverfies with Infi- dels, in the manner of dating the Evidences of Chriftianity ; but this fubjed enters not into the prefent debate. Great light has been thrown upon particular parts and paffage^ of Scripture by the learned labours of Lowth, Horfley, Hurd, Kennicott, and others \ but the wifeft of thefe great biblical Scholars will not pretend that their difcoveries affed any fundamental truth. Nay, ** The worft manufcript ex- tant,*' it is admitted, " would not pervert one article of out* faith, or deftroy one moral precept '^." We have moreover the additional light of a Newton in mathematics, and a Locke in metaphyfics 5 but Ridley, Tay- lor, and other leaders of our reformation, had a fuflicient (a) Vol. i. p. 62. (b) Ibid. Vol. ii. p. 204. (c) Di% Poweirs Difcouifes, p. ^^.5 5 and Dr, Hey^s Nor, Le6l, Vol. i. p. 4-^* ■WORTH OF THE ARTICLES. 3631 acquaintance with thefe fubje£ls for every theological pur- pofe ; and in Logic and Ecclefiaftical Hiftory, and efpeci- ally in familiarity with the Scriptures, few perhaps will con- tend, that they did not greatly excel us. ** The Scriptures," Dr. Hey, fpeaking immediately of the Compilers of our Arti- cles, fays, " they were converfant in to a degree, of which few now have any conception '*." One ftriking inftance of this is, that Ridley, and fome: others of them, we are affured, ** got by heart almoft all the Epiftles in Greek =.'* Nor are the Reafons of their fuperiority in thefe refpects wanting. Their attention was roufed to the fubjcct, in a manner ours is not, by the peculiarity of their circumftances. The Reformation was an event of great magnitude, and ^' fet all m'^n on thinkingfor themfelves." Theology was at that time connected with every thing important in this Na- tion, and in Europe. Men's underftandings therefore " by reafon of ufe," became more dextrous at difcerning between good and evil. Their at// oftentimes depending on the iflue of their theological contefts, induced them to examine the real ftrength of every argument, and to inveftigatc every queftion to the bottom. Thofe alfo of our Reformers who fufFered fix years banifh- ment, made it afeafon of extraordinary improvement in Di- vinity. "They came forth," Mr. Strype informs us, " out of exile and affliction, eminent for the integrity of their lives, the gravity of their behaviour, and the greatnefs of their fpirits ; and finally, for their diligent fearch and accu- rate knowledge of Scripture, Councils, Orthodox Fathers, and all ecclefiaftical Antiquity ^" Our motives to fuch an application to thefe fubjefts have been lefs urgent. It is no wonder therefore if our knowledge of them is lefs perfe£t-. What troops are equally nerved in the time of peace as in (d) Nor. Lefl. Vol. ii, p. 204. (e) See Rolt's Lives of the Re- formers, p. 305 ; and Fox, p. 434. j and Ridley's farewel Letter with Covcrdale, p. 72. (f) See Strype's Annals under 1559.. p. 106. 364 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. that of War ? And what but much adivc fervice in the field completes the Warripr ? Even that circumftance about which we hear fo much, that our reformers lived two hundred years before us, if no- ticed at all, may be cpnfidered as a circumftance in their fa- vour ; as it places them fo much nearer the fountain and firft origin of Chriftianity. In fubjeds of human fcience which depend on Experience for their perfection, new dif- coveries may be expected through the aid of time, and a pro- grefiive improvement. But in matters of revelation and fa£l, the very contrary is, in many refpecls, the cafe, and the advantage, in regard to the knowledge of them decreafes in proportion to our diftance from the time of their reputed origin. A revelation of the Will of God is, doubtlcfs, per- JeEi atfirjl \ and the higheft improvement of which it is ca- pable by any future ages, is a perfect comprehenfion of what was at firft delivered. For as we read in Jewell, " Hsec ratio, inquit antiquiflimus Pater Tertullianus, valet adver- fus omnes hserefes: Id efle verum, quodcunque primum : id efle adulterum, quodcunque pofteriusC And ** cer- tain it is," Dr. Rennell obferves, " that the channels by which the knowledge of religion was communicated, are neither fo numerous or abundant as in the days of our fathers V* Some perfons indeed will have it, that our philofophical improvements give us an advantage as interpreters of Reve- lation, both over the primitive Ghriftians, and the Apoftles themfclves*. But furely the whole notion is infinitely ab- furd. For, to omit other obfervations, " How," as Dr. Powell 2 incontrovertibly argues, " can the difcoveries pe- culiar to Philofophers be of fuch importance for under- Handing a Book neither written by Philofophers nor addref- (g) Apol. p. 156. Edit. 1691. (h) Commencement Sermon, as above. (i) See Biihop Law's Theory, &c. p. 144—149. (z) Yet ** Dr. Powell," Profeffor Hey fays, " had as good pretenficr>s to the chara(aer of a Philofopher as any man,"" Vol. ii. p. 263. WORTH DF the articles* 365 fed to them ? " The right iiiterprctation of any Book," he obferves, " is the difcovery of the thoughts which the author intended to convey. But an author cannot intend to convey thoughts which were never in his own mind. And tlie firft preachers of Chriftianity, being no philofophers, could not entertain notions peculiar to philofophers. The one among them who had fome acquaintance with Grecian lite- rature, exprefsly difavows, in the name both of himfelf and his fellow labourers, all human wifdom. But had they been verfed in the learning of their own times, ft ill every later dip- covery muft be foreign from their ideas, and ufelefs in explain^ ing them ^.'* And it is highly worthy of remaifk, as the Dr. proceeds to obfervc, that " the great leader of all our modern difco- verie8> the fagacious and comprehenfive Lord Bacon, form* ^d no expedlations in the behalf of religion or philofophy, of any improvements to be made in either, by the afliftance of the other ; but forefaw the mifchiefs they would mutually receive from an improper alliance." 1 have digrcfled, his Lordfliip fays, in his Review of all parts of learning, to Divine Philofophy, ** becaufe of the extreme prejudice which both religion and philofophy have received, and may receive, by being commixed together; as that which un? doubtedly will make an heretical religion, and an imaginary and fabulous philofophy ^" But Dr. Powell and Lord Bacon were perhaps enthufiaftic railers againft all learning. Let it be remembered then, that the reign of Elizabeth, when our Church was founded, and her genuine do£trines flourifhed, has ever been celebrated as one of our moft fplendid literary periods, and for the depth of its erudition, has been ftyled an " Auguftan period;" and that the lead- ing Divines of that age ihrink not from a competition with the brighten ornaments of the prefent day. If however any think it more juft, let our literary fuperiority be admitted; but let thofe who, on this account, would difparage the (k) Third Charge, p. 139. (0 Ibid, Aa ^66 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. eflabliflied ConfefTion, point out to us the conne p. J31. (0) Burnet and Stripe as above, and pai'hm. WORTH OF THE ARTICLES. 367 tiod elapfed of near forty years p. And from the firft forma- tion of our Articles under Edward the Sixth, to the time when they were finally fettled, and received their parlia- mentary authority under Elizabeth, there was another pe- riod of near twenty years. So that, in fa£fc, they contaiii the dotlrines of the Reformation matured by the experi- ence and difcuffions of half a Century. But during the whole of the latter period of time, thefe do£lrines under- went the mod laborious inveftigation by our Reformers; and Cranmer and other leading perfons among them had folicitoufly meditated the great Work, and been induftri- oufly preparing for it long before ^. But the CharaBers of the chief Agents in the formation of our national Confeflion, in other refpedls, deferve to be noticed. " They were not," Dr. Hey obferves, •* mere fcholars, nor monks> nor monkifh men ; but fkilled in go- vernment ; knowing men and manners ; liberal in behavi- our ; free from all fanaticifm ; full of probity, yet guided in their meafures by prudence '^." They pofleiTed not only the advantages already afcribed to them of firft talents, libe- ral education, and unufual knowledge of the fcripturcs, but what, in Mr. Locke's opinion % is far more rare, and yet of more importance in order to the difcovery of truth; namely, a fincere love of it. At leaft, they gave the greateft evi- dence of this difpofition, that men can give. They believed, contrary to many modern teachers, that right theological fentiments are of the utmoft importance to" mankind. They exerted themfelves therefore to the utmoft to difcover truth ; and when in their own confciences they beheved that they had difcovered It, no facrifice, not even that of life itfelf, could induce them to conceal it, to prevaricate rc- fpe£ling it, or in the flighteft decree to depart from it ^ Men therefore of fuch probity, of fuch piety, were not only very likely to difcover truth, but would alfo certainly make (p) See Moflieim ; &c. (q) See Strype, Burnet, &c. as above, nnd paflim. (r) Vol. ii. p. 204. (s) See Eflay on the Un- derftandinr. Cb. on Enthufiafm, B. 4, p. 316. Ed, 13. A a 2 36^ THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. a faithful reprefentation of it to others. They could have no motive for fo earneftly inculcating what they did, but their ftedfaft perfuafion of its truth and importance. They were indeed men, and had therefore, doubtlefs, their imper- fections; but this confideration gives us no advantage over them, becaufe we are men too. Upon the whole then, to adopt the words of Dr. Hey again, **No fet of men could bechofen, nor anycircumftances, more likely to form a good fet of Articles '." Whether wc attend to the Age in which our Reformers IJved ; to the fitu- ation in which they were placed, and their motives to exer- tion ; to their adual literary and theological attainments j to the number of them that were united, and the immenfe pains they beftowed, m their great work ; or, to the proofs of difintereftednefs and genuine piety they exhibited, we cannot but think them entitled to the very higheji reJpeB as hiterpreiers of Scripture, "We know no contrary fyltem of doClrine upon which any fuch degree of intellect, learn- ing, labour, caution, ingenuoufnefs, and unqueftionable vir- tue, has been united and exercifed. 3. To proceed however one ftep further on the point, as iAX as we are capable of judging for ourfclves, we conceive that our eftablillied forms exhibit the plain and genuine doc" ■brines of the Scriptures A ilrong prefumptiori of this, we think, is, that they who evade the plain meaning, and prefcnt application of thef^ forms, do precifcly the fame in refpe£i to the mean- ing and application of Scripture. Thus, Dr. Prieftley, Mr. Belfham, and others of their principles, who reje£l the ivhole /sjlem of doctrines peculiar to our Articles, rcjeCl equally whole pajfages and it/hole Books of the facred Scrip- tures, or leflen their force by telling us, that the Writers of the New Teftament " were fallible, and liable to mijlake f *' that fome texts of the Old Teftament have been improperly quoted by Writers in the New j" that (t) See thtif Bi'^graphers paHlm. (v) Vol. ii.p. 205. WORTH OF THE ARTICLES. 3^9 lliey were ** mifled by Jewifli prejudices," and " muft not in ^// cafes be trufted too implicitly " !" Dr. Paiey, and his large clafs of difciples, ^vho conceive that the main objeiSl of our Articles was to guard againft the errors of the Papifts and Puritans and other Seds at the time of the Reformation, and that they are now in a great degree un- meaning and obfokie ; in precifely the fame manner, confine the application of large portions of the New Teftament to the circumftances of the Jews and Gentiles at the iirft com- mencement of Chriftianity, and confider them in refpe£l: to us f zsperfe^ly unmeaning^. In this way, they fay, we muft reftrain the ufe of the terms, " eled," " called,'* «* faints," being " in Chrift ;" &c. *' The application of fuch pbrafes to the whole body of Chriftians," they teach, •* is become now obfcure ;" and that " the application of them to diftinguifh the profeffors of Chriftianity from one another'* is abfurd. So alfo the phrafes " regeneration,'* ** born again of God and of the Spirit," " dead to fin," and *< alive from the dead," ** a new creature," '* new crea- tion," being made " fons of God," from ** children of wrath," " freed from fin," and " from death," and all the paflages of Cmilar import with which the Word of God abounds, they confine wholly to the firft converfion of the Jews and Gentiles to the profeffion of our religion. " Such expreflions of fcripture," they fay, now " mean nothing, nothing, that is, to us, nothing to be found, or fought for in the prefent circumftances of Chriftianity 1^.'* Thofe who labour to evade the plain fenfe of the Arti- cles on 72>f«^/ar//V«/flr /w/V///, do on thefe points efpecially attempt to tamper with the Scriptures. Thus, Mr. Dau- beny conceives, that the texts which relate to Predeftination (w) See Dr. Pneftley's Letters to Dr. Price, and to Mr. Burn j and his hiflory of the Corruption of Cbriltianity 5 Belfham's Letter* to Mr. WJlberforcej Dr. Key's Nor. Left. Vol. ii. p. 262 j and Ful- ler's Sy Items compared. Letter la. (x) See above, p. iis-~ij8. (y) Ibid i and Dr. Paley's Viiitation Sermon paflira. Aa3 ^7© THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. are interpreted " too literally," and would not have them to be fo " ftri£lly and philofophically inquired into *." Mr. Ludlam, who differs from the Church on the fubje£ts of Original Sin, Juftification, Atonement, the tcivching of the Spirit, and communion with God °, evades the plain force of Scripture on fuch fubje6is, by confidering it as the phrafeology of the Jewifh difpenfation introduced into Chriftianity, and by almoft blaming our Lord himfelf for dealing fo much in figures. Thus when St. Paul afhrms, " that the Ephefians were BY NATURE the children of wrath-," according to Mr. L., ^* the word nature rnuft be underftood in a figurative or metaphorical fenfe ; and the Apoftle only means by this expreflion to point out the very general prevalence of wickednefs amongfl: the Ephefians j" he means, that this wickednefs is as contrary to their nature as ** th^ fize and form of dwarfs and deformed perfons" are to ** the natural ftature and fliape of mankind"^! !'* — And, fpeaking cf the times of the Gofpel, " A phrafeology," he fays, «f appropriate to the Jewifh difpenfation from being literally applied, was now to be underftood in a more extenfive and tranilatitious fenfe. Nor is it to be wondered at, that per- fons, inured by cuftom and attached by principk to the old eftablifhmerit, fhould carry a mode of fpeaking fo familiar to them into that very difi^erent ceconomy which was to take place. The various circumftances of the Jewifh na«. (z) Appen. p. 225. (o) StQ this fuiiy proved above. Yet Mr. L. can coolly fay, " Every confcientious man, one would think, would hold himrdt bound to abide by the rules, and praflices of that church, ii'iro whofe fervice h.e has voluntarily entered, and whcfe emoluments he makes no fcruple to take 5 or if he finds that he cannot confcientiouily comply with them, would quit both the pay snd the jervice of that church, and engage in one more to his mind j juft as a man would quit a fociety, whofe opinions he engaged to mair.tain, if he afferwards found he could not do fo, confiftent with his duty."- This is truly difplaying the philofopher ! The reafon of an ordinary pejfon would be a little confounded under fuch circumitances. (m) Six Elfay?, p. So— 90. WOUTH OF THE ARTICLES. 371 tion fuggefted ideas which can no longer obtain *.'* And, reprobating the frequent ufe of metaphors in Divinity, ** Perhaps,'* he fays, ** a figurative viray of fpeaking ufed by our Lord himfelf may have given rife to an opinion which fo ftrongly and fo extenfively divides the Chriftian world at this day ^." We, however, fliall be content to be humble imitators of our Lord and his Apoftles, and fliall leave Mr. L. the unrivalled merit of improving upon them. Dr. Hey, who makes fo perfect " a nofe of wax" of the Articles which afcribe our Salvation to Grace, does .precifely the fame with the Word of God on this fubjedl. He does •' not conceive, that we have, in Scripture, any Theory of wliat is called the dodlrine of Grace ^." The paflages by which this doctrine is ufually fupported, are not, he main- tains, " for the fake of truth or fpeculation '*," or intended •* to teach any thing ^ j" but are mere " expreflions of fen- timent," of ** eloquence," of " formality and decorum V* of "compliments." They are, as the Dr. conceives, «* popular, paffionate expreflions V' not to be ufed " in a literal, philofophical, fcientifical fenfe'^j" but in fenfes which are •* indefinite," and <* pliable S" and fuch as " ali might adopt, in one way or other, without finding fault with their brethern," and about which there iliould be no more difpofition to quarrel " than about an exclamation or an interjedion ^" They are fine animating " Exordiums," containing " nothing dIdadicV* They are " occafional" expreflions, and therefore when •* general" capable of <* particular applications ° ;'* addrefles to *' collcdive bo- dies" of men, and therefore not applicable to individuals " j (a) FourEflTays, p. 84. (b) Ibid. p. 103. (c) Nor. Left. Vol. iii. p. 230. (d) Ibid. Vol. iv. p. a6. (e) Ibid, p. 30. (f) Ibid, p. n. (g) Ibid. Vol iii. p. 466. (h) Ibid. Vol. ii. p, 422. 0) Ibid. (k) Ibid. Vol. ii, p. 365. (I) Ibid. (m) Ibid. Vol. iv, p. 34. j Vol. ii. p. 364 J Vol. iii. p. 160, 119, 238, 467. (n) Ibid. Vol. i, p. 386. (o) Ibid, Vol, iii. p. 419, 468. A a 4 372 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. mere " Jewifh modes of referring all events to God p i** &c, &c. In fliort, whoever takes the trouble to examine, will find, that the great ohje£l of Dr. H's " elementary obferva- tions," " preliminary remarks," and general fyftem of in- terpretation, is to limit the plain meaning of thofe fcrip- tures which relate to human impotence and afcribe our falvation to the Grace of God*^. After this manner, he teaches, Romans \\\i, 28 — 33, is to be interpreted ^ Of this clafs of Scriptures, we are informed, are " the open- ings of, feveral Epiftles *," and " the whole Epiftle to the Ephefians ^" Thus alfo, when the fcripture fays, ** As many as were ordained to eternal lifey believed |*' *f ho more," it feems, is meant " than that as many as chofe to become Chriftians, were allonved to become Chriftians^." And thus, when the Apoftle in thefe words congratulates the Philippians, ** Being confident of this very thing, that he^ "who hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jefus Chrift ;" this, we are told, *' is merely a com-' pliment devoutly exprefled " !'* and, that *' there feems no fufficient reafon why it fliould be interpreted more literally than the proverbial expreflion, * a good beginning makes a good ending ^^ " &c, &c, &:c. Under thisfe hard circumftances, it may be obferved by the way, are fome perfons placed. When certain Gentle- men would depreciate our mode of flating our doflrlnes, which we profefs to adopt becaufe it is fcrlptural, they €all upon us for definitions and preclfion, to ** affix deter- mined ideas to every word we ufe ^ j" when they would vindicate their ov^n fyftem, they thus tell us, that the Ian- (p) Ibid. Vol. iv. p. 31, (q) See Vol. lil. p. 120 — 133 • 129 — 24.3 ; 1 06 — 1 13 } 1 58 — 193 J 463 — 485 J Vol. iv. p. 25—49, &c. (r) Ibid. Vol. iJi. p. 429 j Vol. iv. p. 26. (s) Ibid. Vol. iv. p. 26. (t) Ibid. p. 30. (v) Ibid. p. 32. (w) Ibid. Vol. iii. p. 466, (x) Ibid. p. 469. (y) Above, p. 351, WORTH OF THE ARTICLES. 373 guage of Scripture on fuch fubje£ls is * * popular,'* and «* indefinite," and admits not of this ftri£l* philofophical and fcientifical" interpretation. It muft, however, be pretty clear, that they who take thefe liberties with the Sacred Writings, are prepared to make them teach juft any thing or nothing. It muft alfo be allowed to be no mean compliment to the fyftem we maintain, that they who re- je6l our dodtrines are conftrained alfo thus to reject the plain fenfe of fo great a portion of the word of God. Nor do we fee how a more fuitable reverence for Revela- tion can be expe£l:ed while its meaning and fitnefs are wholly tried by the ftandard of men's preconceived notions^ whether they denominate thefe notions Philofophy, Natu- ral Religion, Reafon, or any thing elfe. " If," fays Dr. Powell, after (bowing the ufe of Philofophy as an Evi- dence in behalf of Chriftianity, " a Witnefs be allowed to take the feat of a Judge, we can expert nothing but a hafty and partial decifion. And fuch has been the event when Philo- fophy has prefumed to interpret revealed do^rines, or to examine the reafonahlenefs of revealed difpenfations ^. '* " The Englifti Clergy," he fays again, " have wifely avoided the applica- tion of it (Philofophy) where fuch application is imperti- nent or profane : impertinent, as in interpretation of Scrip- ture ; profane, as in the judging of God's Decrees »." •* Revealed religion," adds that eminent Divine BiOiop Horfley, ** ftands not upon the ground of any antecedent difcoveries of natural Reafon; and it is highly impolitic to attempt to place it upon any 'fuch falfe foundation V There feems indeed to be an abfurdity upon the face of fuch a Rule of interpretation. It is beginning at the wrong end, judging of the greater light by the lefTer one, examin- ing the luftre of the Sun by the glimmering of a taper. (z) Ch. iii. p. 337. (a) Ibid. p. 349. (b) Charge, 1796, 574 'THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED, And what, comparatively, has this philofophy, this rea- fon, this natural religion, ever done for thofe who have been deftitute of the advantages of Revelation ? Let hif- tory in general ^, let the Sacred Writings, let the begin- ning of the Epiftle to the Romans in particular, anfwer. Are the notions here fpecified, the fublimc difcoveries by which we are to fix the meaning, and judge of the fitnefs of revealed doctrines ? No, Mr. Ludlam will reply, we are not hence ** to form an eftimate of the moral and intel- Jeclual charafler, of mankind :" This is only *' that wretched ftate to which man can reduce himfelf by idle-^. nefs, inattention ^," 8cc : This is *' to ranfack every dark corner of hiftory for inftances of atrocious wickednefs V It deferves however to be remembered, that it is the Apoftle's dcfcription of both the Jews and Gentiles, the multitude and the Philofophers, at the advent of Chrift. And what reafon have we to fuppofe that " if we had been in the days of our fathers, we (hould not have been partakers with them in** folly ^ ? Let the exploits, the aftonifhingly enormous exploits, of Philofopliers who have rejedled Re- velation, in this "Age of Reafon*;" let the convulfive groans of Europe, anfwer. The fa£l alfo is, that thofe notions in which the more decent of modern philofophers boaft, are themfelves bor- rowed from the light of Scripture ; and thus is the facred Book made to furnlfli weapons for its own annoyance ; thus is a kind of afient to feme parts of it made an obftacle (c) See as a fpecimen only what is adduced in Blftiop Gibfon's Paftoral Letters. (d) Six Effays, p. 8i. (e) Ibid. (f) Matt, xxiii. 30. (x) " The age in which we live," Birtiop Watfon remarks, »' has been called— the age of philofophy— the age of reafon: if by reafon and philofophy, irreligion be underftood, jt undoubtedly merits the appellation ; for there never was an age fince the death of Chrift, never one fmce the commencement of the hiilory of the world, in which atheifm and infidelity have been raoret generally profeffed." — —Sermons and Charge, p, i. WORTH OF THE ARTICLES. 37^ to the reception of the reft, as if the whole ftood not upon the fame authority. Surely then we fhould be cautious how we implicitly follow a Guide, which, under her faireft profeffions, hath fo frequently thus bewildered men in labyrinths, and precipitated them into ruin. Let it not however be fuppofed that we allow Reafonno province in our religion but that of eftimating the evidence of Revelation. This noble faculty muft alfo be employed in afcertaining the meaning of Scripture, and to a certain extent, and on fubjedls within the reach of our underftand^ ings, in judging of the nature of doctrines profeffing to be revealed. For certain it is, that no evidence can prove any do£lrine to be true, which is demonftrated to be falfe by our underftanding and fenfes ; which is manifeftly ab- furd, or contradiftory, or wicked. But although Revelation, rightly underftood, contains nothing contrary to right rea- fon, it neceflarily treats on many fubjedls which in their full extent, are above the comprehenfion of our prefent facul- ties '^. Of this kind efpecially are thofe which relate to the nature and conduB of God^. What we therefore maintain is, that when reafon is fatisfied a Revelation is Divine, it is moft unreafonable to reje£l or to evade any ^odlrines which by legitimate rules of interpretation fuch (y) By things aho'vt reafon, we mean fuch notions as Reafon with^ out the afliftance of Revelation, would never difcoverj whether comprehenfible by our finite capacities or not. By things contrary to reafon, we mean fuch conceptions as are both undifcoverable by mere reafon j and alfo, when underftood, evidently appear repugnant to fome principle or conclufion of right reafon. (x) " Among things that feem not rational in religion," faith Mr, Boyle, *' I make a great difference betwixt thofe in which unenlight^ cned Reafon is manifeftly a competent judge, and thofe which natural reafon itfelf may difcern to be out of its fphere. . . If tliere be fuch a Being as God, or a Being fupremely perfefl, many things relating to his nature, will, and management of things, mult needs be beyond the fphere of reafon." Theol. Works, Vol. i. p. 378. 37^ THE TRUE CHtJRCHMEN ASCERTAINED; Revelation is found to contain, becaufe wc C2inxi0t fully cotti" prehend their import, or fee their fitnefs''. What we chiefly objeiEl to is, the extolling as the dictates of right r^afotty and rcprefenting as fome fixed and certain criterion of the do£lrines of Scripture, thofe vague, contradi£lory, and common notions of men, which are more frequently the offspring of pride, ignorance, prejudice, or oppofition to the holy Will and Charaaer of God ^. (w) ** A thing may," this fame great Philofopher adds, " if fingly or precifely confidered, appear unreafonaWe, which yet may be very credible, if conlidered as a part of, or a manifeft confcquence from a doftrinethat is highly fo."— — Ibid. p. 398. {v) «' We ought to diftinguifli,*' Mr. B. alfo obferves, *' between reafon confidered in itfelf, and reafon confidered in the exercifc of it, by this or that philofopher, or by this or that man, or fociety of men. For, Whatever the faculty of reafon is in itfelf, the ratiocinations are made by men j and therefore if the reafoning faculty is not made the beft nfQ of, it does not follow, that what thwarts their reafoning*, muft thwart the di£iates of right reafon j for man having a Will and Affeftions as well as an intelle^i, though our judgments Aiould be made with an un- biaffed underftanding j yet intelleilual weaknefs, prejudices or prepof- fions, by cuftom, education, intereft, paflions, vices, &c. fo much influence them, that we make few concluiions, or efpoufe few opinions, which are the true refults of reafon, without fome perfonal difability, prejudice or fault." — And having further mentioned ** man's inbred pride," and other ** innate prejudices and propenfities to error which are apt to fA-ay not only whole fe6ls, but the whole body of mankind,*^ and having quoted Lord Bacon fpeaking to the fame effeft, the honour- able Writer thus proceeds : ** If in phyfi;:al things, where one would think rational Beings fliould feek truth, with no other defign than to find and enjoy it, our underftandings are fo biafTed by our Wills and af- feftions, no wonder, if we allow the fall of our firft parents, that our pafTions and intereft, and frequently our vices fhould miflead our intel- le^Sls about thofe revealed truths, feveral of which are above our compre- fions, and more contrary to our inclinations ; . . . . The generahty of iiien may be fufpefted of fecret propenfities to err about divine things, and to be indifpoftd to admit truths, which both lay open the weaknefs WORTH OF THE ARTICLES. 377 But let US further hear our opponents themfelves on the point. " We objed," fays Dr. Hey, ** to calling pre- conceived notions at any sera the dictates of Reafon, in the more difficult doctrines of Scripture ; becaufe reafon tells us, that we are not to trufl our pre-conceived notions ngainji the Scriptures^ in things which relate to the Nature of God, or to the manner in which he is to a£l, in order to promote the happinefs of his creatures*." To the fame effect, fpeaking of the Heretic Marcion, Dr. H. fays, ** He feems a fignal example of the rafhnefs of following human notions of what is beft, in accepting and applying Divine Difpenfa- tions. — You will fay^ Marcion's fancies ought not to be reprefented as human reafon : but they were fo to him, and the notions of the wifeft of men, being infinitely fhort of divine intelligence, may be conceived as on a foot- ing with his, in fuch a comparifon : and he, who fets the mofl improved human reafon in competition with divine Wifdom, will err in the fame form with Marcion, though not perhaps in the fame pairticulars *^.'* Again, '* The Trinitarians,** he obferves, ** have formed their dodlrine in one way, and the Anti-trinitarians in ano- ther : the Trinitarians have collected their do£lrine from fcripture only; the Anti-trinitarians, difgufted with the difficulties attending that method, or with abufes of it, and hoping to foften and moderate what appeared to them harfh, and uncouth, have fet out from notions of common fenfe. of nature and our perfonal dlfabilities ; fo as to mortify our pride and ambition, and afford the mind fo pure and chafte a light as to difcover our vices and faults, and often to crofs our defigns and intereft : Ibid. p. 3g6 — 390. See alfo many excellent remarks relating to this fub- je6^ in Dr. Burgh*s two valuable Works. Read particularly his " Scrip- tural Confutation, &c.'* Chap. 1. p. 13, &c. } and his ** Inquiry into the belief of the Chriftians of the firft three centuries, &c.'* Chap. ii. p. a3~43. (g) Nor. Le£V. Vol Ii. p. 317. (h) Ibid. Vol. i. p. 37*. (1) Ibid. Vol. ii. p, 264., 378 THE TRUE CHURCMMBN ASCERTAINEli* reafon, natural religion; and, taking for granted, tliaf Scripture, if rightly interpreted, muft coincide with thefe, have interpreted it by bringing it as near to them as pof- fible K" But " this," it is added, " is not fimple, genuine interpretation ; that, though it be true in theory, that Rea* fon and Scripture coincide, yet in practice we are not to- take for granted, that our prefent reafon is p€rfe6tly right reafon; experience is againft that ''.** And again, ** The pride of Science has often hindered men from treating the doftrines of Revelation with fuffici- ent refpefl, even on their own principles ^ . .In the prefent age, we are proud of our philofophy, and we encourage it fo much, as to make irfometbues run out into luxuriance: . . Indeed Chriftians: in all ages, efpecially thofe who have prided theiiifelves on any opinions, have made too free with Scriptures *, and many parts- of the Canon have been reject- ed, at different times, becaufe they were, or feemed, con- trary to certain favourite preconceived notions. The' Manicheans had an abhorrence of matter,, and therefore all: parts of Scripture, which mentioned the ufes of matter, were rejedled as fpurious v the whole Old Teftament was cut off at one ftroke ; our modern Philofophers are prodigious friends of matter, and. therefore Scripture mull be conftrued fo that even the foul may be material. To fet afidje whole books of Scripture feems fomething more grofs than to in- terpret*, yet, if we fet afide the genuine finfe-^ we may as^ well fet afide words too ; for, deprived of their right fenfCf words muft either be ufelefs, or miflead "^.^ How excellent is all this! Who would fuppofe that they who ufe this language fhould therhfelves be guilty of the very error they fo fenGbly reprobate ! Yet fo it is. Thefe Gentlemen, it may be added, are great enemies to the doc- (i) Ibid. Vol. ii. p. 264. (k) Ibid. (I) Ibid. Vol. iii.- p. j86. (m) Ibid. Vol. ii. p. 262. WORTH OF THE ARTICLES. 379 trine of Salvation h^ Grace j and therefore, as we have feen ", all Scriptures which appear to maintain this do£l:rine they explain away, and as to any prefent application annihilate. That portion of the Sacred Writings which relates to thefe fubjects they treat precifely as, according to their complaint, the Socinian : treat the Scriptures. On thefe doctrines- we are left to ietiie our notions of " the nature of God, and the manner in which he is to a£l," by fome other rule than the plain declarations of his Word°. Here then we would reply to Dr. Hey and his admirers, in his own words, that, in our judgment, this is not " treating the dodlrincs of revelation with fufficient refpedt, even on their own prin- ciples ; it is being afraid, and almoft afhamed of them p." The Church of England on the contrary proceeds on a plan which inviolably refpeBs all parts of Scripture; believing; that this alone contains " the words of eternal life," that this alone is our infallible Rule; of faith and pradice, and as hath been obferved above, that the nvhole (lands upon the fame authority. And, in regard to the Interpretation of the Sacred Writings, one of the many excellent Rules which her moft eminent Divines, and other learned Critics, have adopted, is, that generally, and in refpedt tc^ eflential doc- trines, the plain and literal fenfe is to be taken when this interpretation contains nothing " manifeftly abfurd, or re- pugnant to the analogy of faith.'* ** When two different fenfes of places of Scripture are offered," faith the great Bifhop Stillingfleet, " we are to confider which is moft reafonable to be preferred, and it is that which, ift, Is mojl plain and eafy^ and agreeable to the mojl received fenfe of words, efpecially when it is no facramental thing, which in its own nature is figurative : . . . 2dly, That which fuits moft with (n> Above, p. 369—373. (0) Befides the places above referred to, fee Nor. Le6V. Vol. i. p. 4; Vol. ii. p. z63, Note} and Preface to the ** Lift of Books" recommended by the Bifliop of Chefter, p. 5. (p) Nor. Left. VoL iii. p. 1S6, N&tej and above, p. 377. 38o THE TRtJE CHURCHME14 ASCERTAINED, the fcope and defign not only of the particular places, but of the whole New Teflament, which is to magnify God and deprefs man : . . . 3dly, That which hath been generally received in the Chrlftian Church to be the fenfe of thefe places : . . . 4thly, That which beft agrees with the charader of Chrift and his Apoftles from whom we receive the Chriftian faith ^." " Although we acknowledge," adds the learned Bifhop Lowth, ** there are fome things in Scripture hard to be underftood, yet we flill affirm, that all things neceflary for us to believe and pradlice, in order to our falvation, are delivered there with the greateji clearnefs and perfpicuity •"...* The generality of the holy Writers affe£t great plainnefs of expreflion, and make ufe of a popular ftyle, on purpofe to condefcend to vulgar Capacities. . . . The Gofpels are plain and eafy, and generally intelligible to the meaneft capacity •/' ** You are," Bifhop Horfley obfervcs to his Clergy, *^ to fet forth the wonderful fchenie of Man's redemption faith- fully and cxa£lly, as it is exhibited in the Holy Scriptures ; and, upon the authority of the Scriptures in their plainy natural^ uti/ophiflicated rtieamtig, in the Offices, the Thirty-nine Articles, and the Homilies of the Church of England™." **' This" proceeds Bifhop Law, " is the neceflary canort of interpretation, which of all othets I think wants moll to be recommended, that wherever his (Chrift'S) words feem capable of diftcrent fenfes, we may with certainty conclude that to be the true one, which lay mod level to the com* prehenfion of his auditors ^" The reafon for this mode of interpretation afligncd by Mr. Locke, which accords with the reafonings of Dr. Powell* and Bifhop Lowth ^, is incontrovertible. The Scriptures/ this great Philofopher obfcrves, •* were defigned by God (q) On Scripture Myfteries, Oxford Encheiridion Ecclefiafticum, p. 34^9. (r) Directions for reading the Scriptures, p. 39^: (s) Ibid. p. 5». (m) Ch, 1800, p, 31. (t) Theory of Rel, p. 305. (v) Ch. 3d, p. 339. (w) Dire^ions, p. 40, "WORTH OF THE ARTICLES* ^^t for the inilrucEtlon of the illiterate bulk of mankind in the way of falvation ; and therefore generally and in neceffary points, are to be imderjlood in the plain diretl meaning of the words and phrafes, fucii as they may be fuopofed to have had in the mouths of the fpeakers, who ufed them according to the languai^e of that time and country wherein they lived ^." Whether fome of thefe Worthies have been fuch good Divines as to folio \^' their own teaching on this fubje6l is another matter. We however fhall adhere to their ex- cellent Rules, but mud add, with our Church, that the bell of all preparations for underftanding the Scriptures are humility, a willingnels to be taught by the Spirit, and a difpofiiion to comply with the requifitionsof God's Word^. it is however one thing to interpret Scripture, and another rightly to apply it. " We interpret," Dr. Hey obferves, *' by confidering the circumftances of others; we apply, by confidering our own : or, more (lri6lly fpeaking, by making a comparifon between the circumllances of thofe, to whom Scripture was imnncdiately addrclTed, and our own ^." But will this con riderationytf/?//5'» ^"^ condemn^ the procedure of the Dr. and his friends, with the Scriptures codcerning Grace? Is not God in all ages the fame? Is not human nature the fame ? And is not true religion, in fubltance, always the fame? And does it not hence follow, that, M'herever or whenever we are born^ or whatever we are denominated, the fame change of ftate and charaQer is, in effeft, neceflary for us, which was experienced by more early Chriftians ; and that this change mud be elTe6led through the fame Divine influences ? And how then can our opponents fhovv that the large portions of God's Word which relate to thefe fubje£ls " mean nothing to us ^ i" Tlie proper Rale of procedure is, to confider the general direc- (x) Keafonablenefs of .Cliiillianity, p. 2. (y) Homily oti Reading ihe Scriprure, p. 5, 6. (z) Nor. Le<51. Vol. i, p. 75. (a) Sec ab(5ve, Cliap. iii. p. 117, n8 j and Ciiap. v. p. I'y), &:-:. j 36.;, 370. Bb 382 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. tions and doctrines of Scripture as applicable to all times', unlefs the Holy Spirit has exprefsly limited them, or feme folid and efpecial reafon can be afTigned why they fhould be limited to any one particular time. Some parts of the Sacred Writings are certainly both more applicable, and more important, to us than other parts are. Like the great luminaries of the natural World, they do not all fhine with equal fplendour, or with equal benefit to mankind. But ** all Scripture," we are aflured, " is given by infpiration of God, and," directly or indirectly, in one way or another, ** is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftru£tion in righteoufnefs ^ ;" and it highly becomes us to take heed that we do not, like certain expofitors of oid^ " make the commandment of God of no efFedt ^" by our glofles and evafions. It becomes us to take heed that we do not teach men to evade the obligation of every divine in- junction that is unpleafant to them,, left " their blood Ihould be required at our hands**." With thefe confiderations in view then, we refer to the texts of Scripture quoted by Biftiop Burnet, Bifhop Beveridge, Bifiiop Pretyman, Archdeacon Welchman, Dr. Hey, or any other Expofitor of eminence, for the mod full and unequivocal confirmation of the plain and exprefs doCtrines of our Articles. Thefe Articles indeed, are fo nearly in fcripture language, on the doCtrines now con- troverted, as Dr. Hey * and Mr. Urban ^ in particular have proved, that on this ground we might reft immoveably > maintaining that whatever the Scripture means by fuch language, that the Church of England means, and that we mean. It is however the Scriptures mutually eftablifhing and illuftrating each other, and forming one confiftentbody of doctrine, which they prefent to us ; the Scriptures un- folding the grand fcheme of our redemption, as far as is (b) 2 Tim. iii. 16. (c) Mat. xv. 6. (d) See Ezekiel, iii. 18. (e) See Nor. LeCt. on thefe fubjc^s. (f) See the Gentleman's Magazine for April, 1772. IVORTH OF THE ARTICLES. 38^ compatible with our prefent faculties; the Scriptures con- fpirin^ to promote the great end of this wonderful under- taking, the glory of God and the holinefs and happinefs of men. If further commentary upon thefe Scriptures is required, we refer to the Writings of Auftin, Cyprian, and other primitive Fathers; to the Works of Luther^', Jewell^* Davenant ', Hall*^, and the whole body of the chief founders of our church ; to the Expofitions of Hopkins*, Beveridge^ Lowth, Scott, Doddridge, &c. &c. &c. The commentary of this lad mentioned Divine has lately been recommended to his Clergy by the Bifhop of Lincoln ^. It is recommended alfo by the Bifhop of London *." The Bifhop of Durham in his celebrated Charge in 1792 beftows upon it the very higheft encomiums. " In reading the New Teftament,'* this diftinguifhed Prelate fays, " I recommend Doddridge's Family Expofitor as an impartial interpreter, and faithful monitor. Other expofitions and commentaries might be mentioned greatly to the honour of their refpe£live authors, for their feveral excellencies; fuch as, elegance of com- pofition, acutenefs of illuftration, and copioufnefs of eru- dition : but / know of no Expofttovy tuho unites fo many ad" vafjtages as Doddridge ; whether you regard the folidity of his verfion, the fulnefs and perfpicuity of his cbmpofition^ the utility of his general and hiiiorical information, the impartiality of his dodrinal comments, or, laftly, the piety, and pailoral earneftnefs of his moral and religious appli- cations. He has made, as he profefles to have done, ample ufe of the Commentators that preceded him $ and, in the explanation of grammatical difficulties, he has profited much hiore from the Philological writers on the Greek Teflament than could almofl have been expefted in fo multifarious an (g) See efpecially Iiis Comment on the Galations. (h) On th« Theffalonians. (i) On the ColofTians. (k) Works, pafTim. (1) See Elements, &c. (z) See his Evidences of CliriftJaW Revelation, Preface, p. 7. Bb2 3^4 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINEI^. undertaking as the Family Expofitor; indeed, for all the iTJofl valuable purpofes of a commentary on the NewTefta^ raent, the Family Expofitor cannot fall too early into the hands of thofe intended for Holy Orders"*." And yet, let Dr. Doddridge interpret Scripture and our dodrines are indifputabie. Thefe then^ in fhort, are our Reafons"* for adhering to the genuine dodrines of our Articles. We conceive ourfelves (m) Page 51. * The attentive reader will here fee, that, beyond all queftjon, tivo of thefe three reafons for adhering to the do(5lrincs of the church, equally bind us to adhere to her Polity and eftabliflied Difcipline, We are equally eng^aged to the one conduft as to the other, by our fub- fcription. We have alike, in each refpefV, the authority and matured Judgment of her founders. And, the more their notions of " eccle- fiaftjcal polity'* are examined throughly, the more, the writer is pei-fuaded, fliall we alfo appear bound to them by our /^/W reafon for teaching our prefent dodrines. The whole external flrufture of the church of England is either founded on exprefs injunctions of Scripture, or on the undoubted ?ra8ke of the Apoftles and Early Chriflians. This has been fatisfafVorily (hown by Hooker* and Milnerb; and, except where they attempt too much, by Jones *^ and Daubcny**. The Expediency of our Elbblirtiment, as contrafted with any thing that oppofes it, has alfo been convincingly (hown by fevcral of thefe Writers, and might be further deraonitrattd, from the nature of the thing, the natuie of njan, and an appeal tahiftoric fa6t. On thefe grounds it is, thatthe pre(ent work fo folicitoufly difclaims oil intention of apologizing for any fpecies of irregularity in any minilters of the Eftabliaiment. They, fureiy, with an ill grace reprehend their Brethren for deviating from the church in one in- ftance, who thtmfclvcs violate equally ftrong engagements to her in another. onr (a) Eccles. Pol. . (b) Ecc)es. Hittory, (c) EfTay on ^^^t C hjith, (d) Guide to the- Church. THE CHAPTER CONCLUDED. 385 hufid to this condudt by the mofi exprefsj folemn, deliberate^ and repeated engagements : We think thefe Articles, conjidered On the other hand, however, certain Gentlemen fhculd be ex- ceeding cautious, that they do no call that condufl of a mhiilter irregulc.r, to which he is foiemnly bound by the vows of his Ordi- nation, the laws of his Church, and the exhortations ot our Prelates. Such Gentlemen (hould be exceeding careful that they do not fub- Ititute their o'wn praSike in the place of Rubric, Canons, Ordination Vows, and Epifcopal Exhortation, and condenin every thing as extravagant which exceeds that Itandard: They (hould be aware of the abfurdity of reprefenting thofe Minifters as Separatifts and Schifmatics whofe whole writings and conduft prove the direft con- trary j and who are labouring under the heaviefl reproaches from another quarter, for their bigotry to the church, and their rigid attachment to Forms z. Our meaning (hall be illuftrated by fome inftances. In the Ordi- nation fervice then, we are enjoined ** never to ceafe our labour, our care and diligence, until we have done all that lietb in uSj according to our bounden duty, to bring all fuch as are committed to our charge, to ripenefs and perfedlnefs of age in Chrift." We are ex- ported, "As much as lieth in us, to apflj our/elves wholly to this one thing, (our office) and to draw all our cares and fludies this way." We engage, •* to leek for Chrifl'sflieep that are difperfed abroad j" and ** to ufe both public ?in delivered *, their limitation of this depravity or its effects to Some of our race, to Jome of our faculties, or to fo partial a diforder of any of them ; their mild doclrine refpe fling the defert and threatened punilhment of fin •, and their ideas of the great powers man naturally poffefles for reftoring him- fclf to holinefs and the Divine favour, — do not form a per- (d) Page i%% — 759. 394 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. fe6t contrail to what is produced from our Articles, Homi- lies, Liturgy, Catechifm, NowelFs Catechifm, Jewell's Apo- logy, Roger's Expofitioh, the Augfburgh Confeflion, the Declarations of Cranmer, Hooper, Latimer, Bradford, and the confeflion containing *' the common belief of the Pro- fefibrs in thofe days ?" Let it be remarked, how nearly im- poffible it is that we fhould ufe ftronger language on this fubjecl than what is here found, and how it muft exceed the powers of our Opponents, or of man, to produce a fingle palTage which goes beyond this ftandard, from the late po- pular Work fo immediately charged with " a fuperabun- dance of Orthodoxy," and with " going beyond the creed of the Church of England -," or, from the Works of any Author within the limits of our apology. On the dodrine of Repentance % the comparifon to be rc- collc£led is, between the defcription given by the church, whofe language we adopt, of the nature of this work, as im- I)lying " a full converfion to God in a new life," " a being clean changed and altered," a becoming " new creatures," &c. ; and that of thefe Divines, who rejedl: the application of fuch terms to the profeflbrs of Chntlianity, and conceive that perfons thus circumftanced muft be radically right and can only need fome external or partial change of character . between her notions of the extent to which this change is nc- ceflary, who requires it in all her members that have arrived at maturity ; and theirs, who nearly confine it to the openly profligate : between her views of the origin of Repentance^ who afcribes it to the gift of Chrift and the influences of his Spirit ; and theirsy who reprefent it as a work to be per* formed by man *' before he can hope for any aid from the gofpel :'' between her ideas of the concomitants of true Re-* pentance, who ufes the moft genuine language of humiliai tion, contrition, and anxiety ; and theirs, who are fo dif* (e) Page i6o— 177« RECAPITULATION. 395 pofed to treat all vifible and earned follcitude about the fpi- ritual ftate with ridicule. On Juftification *^, our ideas of it, taken from Cranmer and the Article, as implyingyor^zVifw^ of fin and the beings accoutited righteous before God, will be remembered. This definition will be compared with the notions of thefe Di- vines about two juftifications, about juftification 2isfymni' mous to bapti/my as implying only the pardon offtn ; and their reprefentation of our view of it, as unintelligible, impojjible^ and blafphemous. Here particularly, befides the Words of our Article and Homilies, the language of Cranmer, Latimer, Farrar, Cover- dale, Hooper, Taylor, Bradford, Rogers, Nowell, Hooker, Bacon, will be contrafted with that of Hey, Daubeny, Lud- 1am, and Polwhele. Our notions oi jufliffmg Faithy and of the manner in which it juftifies, taken immediately from the Homilies, as confifting efpecially, in a trujl in God^s mercy through Chrijl for falvation which produces obedience ; and jujiifying as it apprehends Chrift^ will be compared with theirs, who do not think any particular doElrines efiential to falva- tion, who deny the exiftence of a fpiritual union between believers and Chrift, who conceive that jultifying faith con- fifts in common honejly^ in an ajfent to Chrijliamtyy or in both faith and praBice ; and that itjujifes as it thus includes prac^ tice, Our opinion, ftated in the exprcfs words of the Article, ** that we are juftified by faith ojilyy and only for. the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift,^* will be con- trafted with their own conceflions on the point 5 their re- ftri(5lion of juftification in this world to baptifm, when under its ufual circumftances, both faith and works are equally impoffible-, their unwillingnefs wholly to exclude our own merits in the affair ; and their exprefs do£trines that we are Juftified by works, by faith in Chrift as it fupplies the defers of our own obedience, and by faith and good works together. On (0 Page 178— .»i9. 396 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN A-SCERTAINED. this point, it will be remembered, our views are fupported by the natural coriftru(Slion of the Article, the exprefs lan- guage and obvious reafoning of the Homilies, the Bifhopa and Martyrs in Queen Mary's time, the Augfburgh Con- fefiion, Nowell, Jewell, Haoker, Luther, Warburton^ Horiley. On the fubjedl of Good-Worhs^, the Church, it will alfo be recollected, prefcribes a perfect Standard of Morals ^^ : Thefe Gentlemen obje<£l to this Rule^nd ftibftitute Sincerity in the place of it 'K The Church conceives that ouvfirji duly is OUT duty to God; with thefe Divines the duties of the iirft table have hut ixfecondary importance'*^. The Church aifo inculcates with true fcriptural ftri^lnefs and ferioufnefs the duties of the fecond table ^ : This will be compared with the Apologies of thefe Moralifts for the Stage in its prefent ftate, and for other fcenes of diffipatlon ^ ; and with their notions on Loyalty S Refidence°, Veracity p, Candour**, and Charity •". The Church of England confiders good Works as the natural fruit and neceffary effeSl of true Chriftian faith ^ : thefe Theologians pofitively reject this notion^ and repre- Jent it as abfurd and dangerous ^ Our Church reprefents a holy life as the only fai}sfd61:ory evidence of a juftified Hate, and confiders none Chriftians indeed who do not ex- hibit a Chriiiian conduct ^ : our Opponents confider all perfons real ChrilUans who are educated in Chriftian coun- tries, except profefied Infidels and notorious ofrenders agalnft the good order of fociety ^." The leading motives on which the Church inculcates morality on Chriftians arc, a regard to the authority of God, and gratitude to Chrift ^ 5 (g) P^^ezzo— 33T. (h) P. ^10— xz?. (i) P. 228—^33, (k) P. 2azand 214—236. (i) P. 223. (m) P. 237— 24.4- (n) P. 244— 251. (u)P. i5i-~255. (p) P. ^55— 259 (q) P. 259— 263. (0 P. 268— 271, (s) P. 273— ^7^. (t) P. 277— 232. (v) P. 2S3~»8j. (w) P. 112— ir.5 (x) P. 285—283. CONCLUSION. 397 Ulie chief arguments by which thefe Teachers enforce it are, of a Jtlfip nature, that men may recommend them- felves to the favour of God, become worthy of the media- tion of Chrift, or obtain heaven as their reward y. Our Church in the mod full, frequent, and folemn manner ap- pHes to ungodly and impenitent Tinners the awful denun- Jijf iations of God's Word ^ ; thefe Divines are always fhy of i^uch denunciations and exert their utmoil ingenuity to foften and mitigate them*: &c, &c, &c. Let the fubjed then be viewed in all this variety of lights ; let this mafs of evidence be confulcred feparately and coi- •lecUvely; let whatever is doubtful be rejefied, and what *is frivolous difregardcd; and then let it be faid, whether upon the whole our claim is not better founded than that of our Opponents ? Nay, then let it be faid, whether the conclufion is not eftablifhed on grounds equal to demon- fftration, that we do, and that they do not teach according to the plain, primitive, genuine do brines of our Article Sy Liturgy^ jind Homilies. We then are the true churchmen; and, whatever -^aflonifliment certain Critics may exprefs at the affirmation* in a very fundamental and important fenfe of the word, Mr. Daubeny and his AlTociatcs are dissenters from the Church of England. For, thefe Critics themfclves being judges, ** The want of union in the Church on the meaning of its articles, is manifeftly on the fide of thofe who have departed from the Church. They who (lijl re- main with the Church, acknowledge, by the very act of adherence, that all is right. They who do not adhere to the Church, who do not Jpeak the fame things as the Church, who are not perfectly joined together in the jame mind and in the fame judgment y are not of the Church ; they are Schifmatics, (Iridly and truly, according to the Apoftle's pwn definition *. (y) P. 296, 297 (z) P. 299. (a) P. 30Z— 305, (2) Ami jacobin Review for April, 1801, y. 430. Cc 398 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. I. Hence then, it Is hoped, that: all real friends of the Church will learn not to confound her genuine doBrines tvifh the tenets of Separatj/is and Schifmatics. If, through the unwarrantable deviations of one clafs of her Minifters f-rom thefe do<£lrines, fome dijlinclion among them is re- quifite, in the name of common honefty and common pru- dence, let it not be fuch as reflects difgrace on thofe who have conft:ientioufl})^ adhered to them. This method of proceeding muft be as pernicious in its tendency, as it is unjuft in itfelf. It is the mod effectual way to make this departure from the eftablifhed do£l:rines ftill more extenfive 5. it has in no fmall degree contributed toward its prefent ex- tent. It is an opinion in which perfons of the greateft Tefpe p. 4 j the Critical Revitw* for July tiQOt p. 336. CONCLUSION. pline be pointed out diftindly. But let not this h preferring againft them vague and unfupported cha folly and fanaticifm, but by a fpecific and fubilanti^ii^^ ftatement of the particular points on which they are believed to err. And let all proper means be ufed to " fliow unto them our more excellent way."— Let thofe " who fay they are Jews, and are nor, but do lie ^y" be treated according to their defert. I^et thc:r hypocrify be unmalked, and their inconfiftencies expofed; fo that if we cannot " make them to come and worlhip before" our Altars, they may be dif- abled from perverting others. And if any are indeed found fo far " of the fynagogue of Satan *^,'^ as under the pro- feflion of friendfhip to be feeking the hurt of our Zion> let them efcape no chaftifement that Chriilianity warrants. And let it be invariably inculcated, that to conftitute a ge- nuine Churchman, an obedience to her authority is equally eflential with an adherence to her doctrines. We are perfedly of opinion with the Critic, that " As the acquiefcence of an Arian in the difcipline of the Church feems by no means to juftify his fubfcription to the Arti- cles, the mod rigid belief of the dodrines of the Church is no" juftification of a contempt for her difcipline*. We mufl: therefore here take the liberty to ailufe this Critic, that he is the fartheft poflible from the faft, when he re- prefents the views and conduct of Dr. Haweis as a fair fpecimen of the general opinions of the Clergy of the Church of England who are called Evangelical *". The ge- neral body of thefe Divines, as fincerely lament the Schifm of Dr. Haweis, as the Heterodoxy of fome other Dodlors. In ihort then. Jet the fincere friends of the eftabliftied Church in every way exercife their vigilance and feek her profperity. But, as they value her faivaiion, let them above (c) Re vela. ijl. 9. (d) Ibid. («>) Critical Revieiv May, i8oo, p. ao (f) See I Did. p. 18. Cc 2 4^0 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED, all things beware, that, amidft profenioris of attachment, they do not, through the feduclions of modern innovators, difparage her chara^leriftic dodlrines by confounding them with Seclarifm ; that they do not unite withperfons of this defcription in rendering a confcientious adherence to her a reproach ; that they do not contribute to render that conduFi of her Minijicrs reproachfiily to which they have folemnly bound themfelves, in the face of this Church, and the prefence of their God. But hence alfo, How exceedingly unbecoming muft the condu£i: of our Opponents appear? In their clamour againft our tenets, they publicly attack and contemptuoufly revile the very doBrines which they have publicly profeged to believe y and folemnly engaged themfelves to teach. In cenfuring our condu£V, they criminate us for difcharging that duty, which, under equal obligations to it, they criminally neg* le£t. To one clafs of thefe Divines we will therefore take the liberty to fay, Study the doBrines of your Church, Ex- amine the Articles and Homilies in which thefe docflrines are contained. Read with ferioufnefs and attention the other principal Writings of our Reformers, to whom you have alfo appealed. This would reftrain them in future from thus, at once, advancing wrong charges againft a large body of thfir Brethren, and proclaiming their own Inconfiftencies. This would render their "zeal" for the Church more *' according to knowledge ;" prevent them from confounding things that are.feparate, and in- compatible *, and enable them hereafter to promote, inftead of injuring the cauie they undertake. To another clafs of fuch Minjflers vi^e would beg leave to fay, JB more ingenuotfjy. If, in their judgment, the real doctrines of the Church will not endure the light of this age of Reafon, let them acknowledge this like men ; lay the blame where it (hould be j foliclt a reformation ; or reiin- quifh their connexions with her. But let them not difm- genuoufly fubfcribe to thefe dodrines, and pretend to teach CONCLUSION. 40I tliem, and yet at the fame time by hints and mfinuations reprefent them, when really adhered to by their Brethren, as the peculiarities of enthufiaftic Se£larifts. Let them not endeavour to fupport a pure religion, the minifters of this religion, the whole national eflablifhment, by evafions and fubterfuges that would not be tolerated in the affairs of common life. The attempt is as hopelefs, as it is unjufti- fiable. Such a mode of vindicating the Church, can only excite the tears of her friends, the fcorn of her enemies, and betray alarming fymptoms of her condition. "The Church," fays a determined enemy of it, the (lirewd Mrs. Barbauld, '* will be in great danger whenever it has within itfeif many who have thrown afide its doc- trines, or even who do not embrace them in the fimple and obvious fenfe. ... If the people iliould ever find that your Articles are generally fubfcribed as Articles of peace, they will be apt to remember they are Articles of expence too K'* And really, to what does the profefled zeal of thefe Gen- tlemen for the Church amount ? Allowing the very utmoft to Externals that can with any reafon be demanded 5 yet, as the Lord himfelf afks on an occafion very fimilar, and which exceedingly deferves our attention, **What is the chaff to the wheat * ? ' What is the bed external Policy without the pure doijrines of the Gofpel ? And, what credit would be allowed to a Commander who fhould keep up 9, vigorous defence of the outworks, but trcacheroufly confpire with the enemy to plunder the city ? How unade- quate is that defence, which fuffers the chief treafures th?it make prefervation defirable, to be taken away ? Or to put the appofite language of the Britifh Critic interrogatively. (h) See her Aildrefs on the Repeal of the Corpora, and Teft. Afts, 17905 ScealfoMr.Frend^iftLctter to BifhopPrctytnan J the Conft/Bonal, Ghap. vi;, p. 270, &c. (i) Jejrep. xxiiu^g, Cc 3 4^2 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. ** If, in compliance with the depraved habits of thinking, the indolence, the foppery, and fuperficial information of an age of infidelity, the doclrines of the Church are to be either treacheroufly compromifed, openly furrendered, or fecretly difavowed •, if, to the fpecious names of liberality of fentiment, the right of private judgment, and freedom of inquiry, the faith of Chrift is to be facrificed, how little does it import, whether the Epifcopal, the Prefbyterian, or the Independent regimen be the medium of fuch a furren- der^?" A proper attention to the " outfide," in refpe6i: to Church matters, is thtrefciea poor apology for neg- leding that which is " within." ** Thefe things ought they to have done, and not to leave the other undone ^" But, if we have been at all fuccefsful in another part of our Work, very weighty reafons for teaching the real doctrines of oyr Articles have appeared, befides our hav- ing fubfcribed them. -Thefe Articles, it has been fhown, carry upon the face of them ftron^ marks of caution, mo- deration, knowledge of the Scriptures, and of the Fathers, and of Mankind : The objeflions preferred ^gainft them are unfounded, or frivolous : The difficulties attending them are fuch a? neceflarilyarife from the nature of the fub- je6t, and from which in ideality no fyftem of religion is more free : They difplay the very higheft wifcjom on thefe deep points, about which ferious Chriftians have often been di- vided : And in fhort, {landing only on the ground of their own internal excellence, they (brink not from the fl;ri£left fcrutiny; they challeiige a cotr^parifon with any body of doclrine whatever"*. They have, moreover, a high claim ^o our refpe£l in confideration of the circiimjiances under which they were prepared, the mode of their formation, the characlers who compiled them, and the extraordinary df^ree of intelled, learning, labour, and' unquelti'onable (k) Jan. 1796, pVji. ' (I) Mat. xxiii. 23—2; (m) Above, p, 34 7— +57. CONCLUSION. 403 integrity that were united and exerted upon thcni"* Till therefore any contrary dodrines can {how as high an origin, they have no right to equal veneration. Till fome new fyftem comes recommended by as high an Authority, it is moft rational to adhere to the eld one, and to conclude that it is better. But thefe Articles are alfo fupported by the fair and legi- timate interpretation of Scripture. This has efpeciaily ap- peared from obferving how tho.fe who evade the plain doc- trines of the Articles evade alfo the plain meaning ot Revelation, and from a reference to the moll eminent Commentators °. This then is an appeal to the higheft authority. The Word of God is an Umpire before which all parties will bow. And, what affords 9 ftrong argu- ment that we rightly underftand the decifion of Scripture, it has further been fhown that the true doElrines of our Church are moft efficacious in hlejjing and mending man- iind^. The oppofers of thefe doctrines, as underftood by us, may refl perfe 7> !»• i^-) Mr. Daubeny's Guid , P' 3JS» V^i 3*1' (a) Antijac. Review, Sept. 1799, P- ^^i- 406 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. from a frngle'clty, that "of Salifbury alone, there iflue§ forth on the Sabbath, no lefs a number than between fifty and fixty DifTenting preachers ^ :" that, ** in a popu- lation of 64,000 Inhabitants, there appear to be 52,000 on a flate bordering upon indifference to the rights of the Church P:" that the Church of England now, compared with what it has been, is like an oak cleft to fhivers with wedges made out of its own body;" and that they cannot " without anxiety look fojrward V* What friend of virtue and his Cguntfy mufb not tremble to hear, that fuch is " the incrcafed prevalence of immo- ral and vicious habjts,** and fuch the " woeful depravity of public manners," that a *' fcene of anions, fit only for a bxo.thel," is " publicly tolerated :" that fuch is *' the vaft jmmber and increafed impudence" of wicked perfons, **that unlefs fome ftrong and decifiye meafures be fpeedily adoptecj for the more efFe61:ual repreffion of vice and immorality, for putting an immediate ftop to the flagitious praQice^ that pollute our ftreets, for inforcing an obfervance of de- cency and decorum in our places of public refortj that unlefs, in fhort, a general reform take place ip the morals and manners oi every defcription of people, we can fee not the fmalleft reafon to hope for our efcape from the fame dreadful fate, which the juft vengeance of an offended God has, at different times, inflicted on various nations of the earth, net m'jre degenerate, not more profligate, than our own"}'' What " a matter of juft and fearful alarm,-" it may well be to every churchman, to find from the Repo^rts of the Bifliop and Clergy of one Diocefe, that fo ** rapidly the evil of irreligion may and does dilfeminate itfelf through the mafs of the people at this moment, . . . that above forty (o) Daubeny's Appendix, p. 500, (p) See Archdeacofi Woodhoufe's Charge, 1 2oo. (b) Daubeny's Append!]?^ p. S43. (c) Antijacobin Review, June, 1800, p. 205, 206. 6 CONCLUSION. 407 tlioufand perfons in one parifh pafs the Lord's Day without attention to public worfhip under any mode whatever*^ i" and to hear alfo, at the fame time, of " the extraordinary increafe of diflenting congregations regiftered within thefe yery few years in this Diocefe * ?" How fimilar an apprehenfion muft be excited by the ftatement of faas given by the Clergy of a diftria in another Diocefe, and recognized by the Diocefan, from which it appears, " that the ordinary number of attendants on divine fervice does not amount to one third part of the number of inhabitants," and that " the communicants are not o«^/;v/y?> part of the adults;" that thefe people are alfo otherwife extremely inattentive to the inftrudions of their Clergy, and to religious duties ; and that here alfo there are increafmg numbers of feparatifts ? How ftill more alarming is the confideration when we are infornied by the great Prelate himfelf, that " this Report is allowed to defcribe a great part of the kingdom ^ ?" How ftrongly is this cafe of diftrefs alfo reprefented in the united cry of thefe Divines for fome extraordinary in-' terpofition of the legipature s ? But in fliort, this is a truth, as much too obvious to require proof, as it is too melancholy to dwell upon. It muft be rnanifeft to all who have eyes to obferve, or minds ;o reflet. Let any man deliberately compare the congregations attending other places of worfliip, with thofe ufually found under the ellablillied means of in- ilruaion, in the Town, or in the Country : X^et him view tht progrejfively and rapidly encreafmg number of SeHariJis on the one hand, and of carelefs and irreligiQus perfons on the other, and he will perceive, that, on this ratio continued, thefe two clafles of people united will foon form a majority of the nation, and of courfe be pofrefied of a preponderancy of influence : Let him reflea that however heterogeneous (d) SeeBifhop of Chefler's Ch. p. 10, u. (e) Ibid. p. 14. (f) See the Report, &c. of Lincoln, p. 6, 7, and piflim; ond his 3-Ordfhip's Ch. p. 17, 18. (g) See Note (c) (d) (f.) 408 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED, the Other fentiraents of this coalefced body might be, they would certainly agree in thinking our maintenance a burdea proper to be removed: Let him confider the natural ten* dency of fuch principles, either in a religious or political point of view, and how perfons of this defcription have uniformly a£led, when poffefi'ed of power, at home and abroad: Let any unprejudiced perfon carefully weigh together thefe fa£ls and circumflances, and it will appear to him not lefs certain than deroonftration itfelf, that on the prefent plan of teaching in the Churchy ftie cannot long be fup- ported, but that Church, Conftitution, and all that dif- tinguifhes us from pur diftracted neighbours, mull be loll:. 3. It is furely then high time to invcftigate the caufes of this deplorable ftate of things ; it is high time to inquire after the-beft poflible remedy for it. And both the one and the other are immediately conne6led with the fubje£l under cbnfideration. There is the very bed grounded reafon for believing, that one principal caufe of this low (tate of religion in the eftablifhed Church, is, the negleB of her genuine doc- trines ; and that the mod effetlual remedy for the evil would be, a faithful and earneji inculcation of thqje doHrineSy by her Minifters. For, Firft, The negledl of thefe dodrines in the Church, is the exprefs reafon affigned for their recourfe to other means, by that large clafs of Semi-DifTenters who now occupy the greateft public attention \ A faithful promulgation of thefe doarines by the regular Clergy would therefore remove the very foundation of their dilTent from fueh perfonsj deprive them, on their own principles, of all plaufible excufe for this condua ; and if it failed of fucccfs in reftoring to order and confittency thofe who have acquired habits of irregularity, it would diveft others of a fimilar reafon for following their example. But with w^hat hope of fuccefs can we exhort our pariftiioners to adhere firmly to the good old religion of their (h) See Note (v) above, p. 340 j Mr. Wefle/s Writings, the Antijacobin Review, May, i799» P« 7^i ^^* CONCLUSION. 409 forefathers, if this is not done by ourfelves? Wlio will re- gard our remonftrances refpetling their violation of the dif- cipline of the church, while we depart from her dpftrines ? In vain, with the great bulk of religionifts, will be our higheft encomiums upon our excellent Liturgy, if the fame fpirit and lentiments are not vifible in our Sermons. No: If we do not adhere faithfully to the do6lrines of the Church, we compel thofe who do adhere to them to be DifTenters. But it will have more weight with many perfons, to ob- ferve Next, That, both as it regards Se^larifts and carelefs -people, the difeafe and the remedy, our propolition is fup- ported by the mod eminent Divines and Prelates of the eftabliftied church The reafon, in Mr. Jones' judgment, why " Gofpel preachers arife and abound, who have no authority to teach the people," is, becaufeit is too generally known againft our preachers, that they negUB the gofpel^ and -take what they call good natural religion into the pulpit.** ^* This," he conceives, *^ is juftly thought to be a great and crying abufe ' " " Many well-meaning Chriftians of this time," proceeds Bifhop Home, " third after this doftrine, and think they have heard nothing, unlefs they have heard of Salvation by *JefiiS Chrijly which is what we properly call the Gofpel i and if they do not hear it in the difcourfes from our Pulpits^ where they expe6t to hear it, they are tempted to luander m fearch of it to other places of ivorjhip. . . . And it mull not be concealed, that, by delivering cold inanimate Le^ures on moral virtue, independent of Chrillianity, many of o^r Clergy of late years have loft themfelves very much in the cliimation of the religious part of the laity ^." " To improve the people eftetlualljr," Archbifhop Seeker addrefling his Clergy, adds, ** you muft be afliduous in teaching the principles ... of the Gofpel, and of the gofpel not as ahnofl explamed away by modern refiners, but as it is (i) Stc above, p, 35, (k) Ch» p. 13 j and above, p. 40i 4!0 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. taught by the Church." ..." The truth," he fays, " I fear, is, that many if not moft of us have dwelt too little on thefe doftrines in our fermons ; . . the effeEl has been lamentable. Our people have grown lefs and lefs mindful, firft of the diftlnguifhing articles of their creed, then, as will always be the cafe of that one which they hold in common with the heathens. . . Refleftions have been made upon us . . . on ac- count of thefe things, by Deifts, Papifts, Brethren of our ©wn *, &c." This Prelate's opinion, in refpe& to Seftaries, appears in our Title-page, one part of vi^hich, time haa certainly proved well founded. The Bifiiop of London exhorts his Clergy in a ftrain perfectly to the fame effedl: ; cautioning them of the in- efficacy of mere "moral eilays •," affu''- 'hem that the great evangelical doctrines can alone \. i the effedls defired j and urging them to prefs thefe do£li.nes upon their hearers with the utmoft earneftnefs '^. Bifhop Horfley conceives, that the progrefs of Infidelity and Se£larics would be more efFe6lually (topped, were it not for the influence of fome *' erroneous and pernicious maxims which have very much governed the conduft of the Clergy in the miniftration of the Word, and much con- tributed to diveft our Sermons of the genuine fpirit and favour of Chriflianity, and to reduce them to mere moral e/Tays^." This ftyle of preaching his Lordfhip therefore reprobates, and recommends, with all his might, as pra- mifing good effects the moft extenfive, a more evangelical do6trine °. *' This doclrine," he fays on another occafion, having mentioned the plain doftrine of our Articles and Homilies, ** will always find iis way to the hearts of thofc that fliall be faved, and bear down all oppofition, internal or external, of the carnal man. But if, inftead of thus preach- ing Chrill, you are content to preach only Socrates or Seneca; if, inftead of the Everlafting Gofpel of the Living (') See above, p. 36. (m) Ibid. p. 3 7. (r.) Ibid, f .39. (o) Sec below, p. 416, and Ch. p iHim. CONCLUSION. 411 God, you preach fome extract only of your own, accom- modated by a bold retrenchment of myfteries, to the bhnd- nefs and the pride of human reafon : depend upon it, ani- mated enthufiafm will be an overmatch for dry frigid Ethics ; Superftition will be an overmatch for all fuch mutilated Gofpels j and crafty Atheifm, taking advantage of the ex- travagance of the firft, the infypidity of the fecond, the enor- mities of the third, and of the ralh eonceffions of half- believers, will tnake an eafy conqueft of them all ^." The Bifhop of Durham affigns his " reafons for thinking, that the growth of Scepticifm and Infidelity in the Chriiliau world, is to be afcribed to an almoft univerfal lukewarmnefs and indifference in Chriftians, refpedling the eflentials of their religion, the peculiar grounds of their faith, of their hopes, and their fears j" and " upon the mod diligent view of the fubjeft," is " perfuaded," that one of four caufes to which " that lukewarmnefs in religion is, in a great mea- fure, to be afcribed, is. An infrequency in the Pulpit of thofe fubjedls which condiXViic the peculiar do^rines of Chrill- ianity p ." On this evil, his Lordftiip alfo, like his Brethren, particu- larly expatiates, and labours with all his eloquence and zeal for its removal. " All," he obferves, pleading with thofe who do not preach evangelically enough, " that diftinguiihes Chriftianity from other religions is doctrinal : a Chriftian's hopes and confolations, his obligations and motives, are doctrinal points y the very means and end of his falvation, the main objects of his molt earneft contention, are all the points of faith and do£lrine. Dived then Chrillianity of its faith and doctrines, and you defpoil it of all that is peculiar to it in its motives, its confolations, its fandtions, and its duties ^" And on another occafion, " In the peculiar doc- trines of Chriftianity," he proceeds, " are we to look for the topics which have the ftrongeft hold on the afFe£lions ^ which moft intereft our hopes and our fears. . . . The doc- (z) Ch. iSoo. Pi. 31. (p) Above, p. 42. Cq> Ch, 175K, 412 THE TRUE CKtTRCHMeN ASCERTAlNfet). trines which diftinguiih a Chrlftian from a Jew, Mahometan, or an Heathen, (hould be a Chriftian^s conftant ftudy ; and as It is your duty to teach, what it is every man*s concern to know, it is incumbent upon you to prefent them fre- quently to your congregations, to imprefs them on their minds with all the energy which you can derive from lan- guage, with all the afFe£tion which they are calculated to infpire '^."-^I'here is however higher authority than even this of our great Divines and Bifliops for the opinion we ar^ maintaining. It is alfo manifefl from the. Word of God, and the reafon of the thing. Our commiflion is to '« preach the gofpel •." It is " the preaching of the crofs," it is " the gofpel of Chrift," which " is the power of God unto falvation ^" Thefe are the efpecial means which God has appointed for the reformation and recovery of mankind from fin and death. Thefe only therefore he can be ex- pe£led to blefs. The do£lrincs peculiar to this divine fcheme are alfo, above all others, in their own nature, wonderfully adapted to this blefled end. ** The pra6lice of religion," Biftop Horfley obferves, " will always thrive, in proportion as its do6lrines are generally underftood and firmly received ; and the pradllce will degenerate and decay, |n proportion as the do£lrine is mifunderftood and neg- lected. . . . The motives which the revealed docftrines furnifh, " are the only motives a preacher of the Gofpel has to do with, and the only motives by which religious duty can be effeBtially enforced '^.^ " Let me," fays Bifhop Pretyman, to his Clergy, " particularly recommend to you, to make the Doctrines of Chriftianity the conftant bafis of moral inftrudion, as no other ground can giye fecurity to human virtue "^^ (t) Cli. 1797, p. ta. (5) Mark xvi. 155 and Ordination Sermon. (t) Rom. i. 16 j and i Cor. i. 18. (v) Ch. p. 8. (w) Ch. p. 14. CONCLUSION. 413 It was with principles, precepts, and motives derived from this fource, that the firft Ambafladors of the Redeemer went forth into a world lying in wickednefs, and produced fuch aftonifhlng efFed:s. It was ** the crofs of our Lord Jefus Chrift," which formed the grand obje£l of the great Apoftle's glorying, and which became the efFc6iual means of his fanclification ^. It was •* Jefus Cbrift and him cru- cified," which St. Paul fo ftedfaftly determined to make the grand fubjecl of his preaching, and, in comparifon of which, to know nothing elfe ^, And, his declaration to the Galatians is applicable to others, in proportion as they either intermix with, or fubftitute in the Head of, this gofpel, any thing whatever. " Behold, I Paul fay unto you, that if ye be circumcifed, Chrift fhall profit you nothing. . . . Chrill is become of no effect unto you, whofoever of you are juftified by the law ^" Could therefore the moft perfe^l acquaintance with natu- ral religion, the underftanding of a Newton, the eloquence of a Demofthenes, and the zeal of a Martyr, centre in one Minifter of our church, no truly faving and fan£lifying ef- fects could be expected from his exertions, if the name and offices of the Son of God were defpifed or omitted. What- ever elfe fuch a preacher might achieve, he would certainly never reconcile one finner to God, change one heart, or tit one individual for the true fpiritual worfhip of God here, and the enjoyments of heaven hereafter. And the effect muft be proportionally bad when thefe great doctrines of ** our moft holy faith" are only admitted in general terms, and not frequently and fpecifically enforced. And as, under thefe circumftances, none bat an evangeli- cal flrain of preaching can reafonably be expelled to hu\z (x) Gal. vi. 14. (y) i Cor. ii 2. ^z) Chap. v. 2, 4,. Dd 4T4 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. any proper influence in promoting true religion in the world, fo it is alfo found to be the cafe, By the experience offaEl* Thefe do£lrInes, it has appeared, have in all ages of the Chriftian church been moft fuccefs- ful in effe61:ing the reformation of individuals, and of bodies of men; this mode of teaching arrefts the attention, and in- fluences the condu£l, beyond every other at theprefent time^ Its fuperior popularity is on all hands admitted "^j and to every unprejudiced obferver its fuperior moral efficacy mull alfo be manifeft. Wherever the genuine doctrines of our Church are faithfully and difcreetly inculcated by her Minifters, there is feldom wanting a crowded attendance upon them, and fome other vifible good effects of their la- bours : Wherever thefe dodrines are notorioufly negle£led, there, almoft invariably, will be found, a greater number of one defcription of perfons, who feek fuch doftrines elfe^ where, and of another defcription, who negle£t public wor- ihip altogether. And, the very objedion to this ftyle of preaching which is juftly thought mod plaufible, is neither founded inreafon nor in wifdom, but really furnifhes a ftrong argument for its encouragement. Whatever, it is argued, be its effecl in any pariOi while it is continued, it indifpofes perfons for every lefs evangelical mode of inflru6lion, and therefore has certainly, in fome cafes, been attended with confequenccs detrimental to the church, on its removal from fuch place. But, is it a proper reafon why one JMiniller {hould negle<^ (a) See above p. 306 — 32S. (b) Steabove, p. 3S8, 3S9. ** No- thing can be mo/e notorious,'' fays the Antijacobin Review, •' than that the kingdom is divided almoft between Metbodiits and Dcifts, If we look into any town, almoft in England, and examine the religi- ous creeds of its inhabitants, we fliall find that the thinking (or ra- ther half-thinking) gentry are Deifts or Socinians, fome profefTedly, others fecretly j that the mojcrity of the middle clafTes are Calvinittic or Atminian Methodifts, and that three j^arU of the loweft orders ai^ Methodifts." June iSsji.p. ^87. CONCLUSION. 415 his own plain duty becaufe his Succeflbr may poflibly negle£l his ? Do any perfons rejeft the bleflings of feafons of plenty, becaufe they may be followed by years of deficiency and dearth ? Would it be wifdom in the prefent time of gene- ral fcarcity to reprefs the exertions of thofe who by their ex- traordinary attention to agriculture contribute moft to the fupplies of their neighbourhood ? The evil is wholly charge- able on thofe who defert the true doctrines of the church, who introduce the taftelefs fare of Ariftotle in the room of the rich provifion of Chrift : And the only proper and adequate remedy would be, the very condudl we are re- commending, that all Minijlers fhould preach evangelically, that their flocks (liould uniformly be fed on that " feafl of fat things" which is made *' for all people ^, Such good reafon is there for afcribing the prefent bad ftate of our Church, in a great degree, to the ncgle6t of her peculiar doctrines ; fuch ftrong ground is there for believ- ing that a proper attention to thefe dodlrines would be the mod eiFectual means of effedling her recovery. 4. Our fubjeft then is certainly important. It is not a light matter whether we *' continue in the things which we have learned**," and inculcate them on others, or whether we comply with modern innovations. The points for which we contend refpedt the very Hfe of pradical Chriftianity : They are conneded with the happinefs of individuals, the prefervation of our Church, and the falvation of our Coun- try. The preaching of the true docSlrines of the Eftablifti- ment, is at once a duty to which we are folemnly bound, and a conduft of all others the moft promifing of general good. The propagation of the genuine gofpel among men, is the grand method by which we muft check the progrefs of infidelity and licentioufnefs, heal the breaches of our (c) Ifajah XXV. (< ) 2 Tim. in, Z4. D d a 4»6 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. Zion, move the land to repentance, appeafe the wrath of an offended God, and avert the judgments which are defolating, the reft of the world. " Vital Chriflianity," we confefs, " is our grand pa- nacea ^" This we dare indeed " boldly prefcribe," as the mofl fovereign remedy " for the moral and political diforders of fociety ^ i" it is " the leaves of the tree of life for the healing of the nations :" This is the leaven wc would infufe into the whole mafs of mankind ^ : This is the Salt which, in the name of the Lord, we would caft into the pernicious waters to render them wholefome ' : And thus would we be " The Salt of the earth ^r And what happy effedls might not be expelled would all the " Miniflers of the Altar," apprized of their true fitua- tion, fet themfelves in their refpeflive departments, by doc- trine and example, with zeal and confiftency, to propagate the genuine fpirit and praftice of this Divine religion ? ** I am much miftaken," fays Bifhop Horfley, recommending the plain doClrines of our Articles and Homilies, " if a proper diligence on our parts, to inculcate thefe doctrines, which are indeed the very bafis of the Chriftian fyftem, which the Philofophers of the prefent times explain away, and the illiterate Enthufiafl, by the meannefs of his ftyle, and the abfurdity of his illuflrations, too often bulefques ; I am miftaken, if a proper diligence, on our part, to incul- cate thefe doctrines, would not foon fuperfede the neceflity of all controverfy. Truth, deeply planted in the public mind, would keep poiTefTion by its own native ftrength ; the common people, made proficients in the Faith, however in other rcfpeifts illiterate, and accuflomed to the dodrine ori- ginally delivered to the Saints, would turn with horror from every thing of a contrary found. Nourifiied with the fin- (c) Si-^e the Monthly Review for July 1797, p. 247. (f) IbiJ. (g) Rev. xxij. 2, (h) Mat. xiii. 33. (i) x Kings ii. 19—22. (k) Mat. V. 13. CONCLUSION. 41 f cere milk of the word, by their proper paftors, they would refufe a drink of doubtful quality, mingled by a ftranger. ^n. a word, our churches would be thronged ; while the Moralizing Unitarian would be left to read his dull weekly lecture to the walls of his deferted conventicle ; and the Field-Preacher would bellow unregarded to the wilder- nefs »." This is perhaps expelling too much. The cafe may have become too inveterate to admit of fo complete a cure. Our utmoft however fhould be done. We (hould remove all juft caufe of complaint againft us from Se£laries; we ftiould obey the admonitions of our Prelates ; we fliould impart the meflage entrufted to us; we fhould adopt meafures which experience proves the moft efficacious ; we fhould deliver our own fouls. If this method of proceeding fails of fuccefs, little is it to be expected from any other. In vain ihall we have recourfe to penal laws, Thefe can never efFc6l any thing radical in religion, and are peculiarly ill fuited to the caft of the prefent times. If we would really preferve our people from other teachers, we muft preach to them a doctrine fuited to their neceffities ; we muft convince them by unremitted affiduity and attention, that no perfons are fo much concerned for their falvation : If we would preferve them from infidelity, we muft fhow them, by our whole deportment, that we believe ourfelves what we teach to others : If we would fee them true Chrillians, we muft be " an example of the believers, in word, in converfatioHi in charity, in fpirit, in faith, in purity'"." In fhort, if, in thefe times, we would fupport the credit of our Order, we muft " renounce the hidden things of dif- honefty, not walking in craftinefs, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but, by manifeftation of the truth, com- mend ourfelves to every man's confcience, in the fight of (1) Ch. p. 49. (ra) I Tim. iv. ix. 4l8 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. God » ;" We muft ** take heed unto ourfelves, and to all the fiocky over the which the Holy Ghofi: hath made us over- feers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchafed with his own blood •*:" "We muft " give attendance to Teading, to exhortation, to do6:rine ;" muft " meditate on the thinjjs" which concern our profeffion, and " give our- felves wholly to them. ... In doing this, we (hall both fave ourfelves and them that hear us p." And what motives can be wanting to awaken our vigi- lance, and ftimulate our zeal to the uttermoft ? How fo- lemnly are we warned by the fate of other carelefs Churches ? We have feen their '* candleftick removed ^,*' and darknefs and wretchednefs unparallelled fucceeeding ; and fimilar caufes, we know, will infallibly produce fimilar effects. The whole hiftory of God*s providential government, in re- fpe£l to bodies of people and nations, is a commentary upon his declaration, " Them that honour me I will honour; and they that defpife me (hall be lightly efteemedV Yea, although the King's houfe of Judah is as " Gilead unto God," and " Coniah were the fignet upon his right hand,. . . yet furely," on its ** iniquity being full," ** will he pluck him thence," make him as a " broken Idol,'* and his land as a '' wildernefs '." And can we then, without the grcateft folicitude, behold the growing progrefs of irreligion, licentioufnefs, diflipation, and faction, in this our nation ? Can we witnefs the rapid advances of thofe principles and vices, which, at once, pro- voke the Divine difpleafure, and lead, in the natural courfe of things, to its execution, and r^oido our utmojl to check and rcprefs them? Where then is either our boafted church- manfhip or patriotifm ? How different was the Apoftle's regard for his country, who " could wilh that himfelf were (n) 2 Cor. iv. 2. (o)Aasxx. a8. (p) i Tim. iv. 15—16. (q) Revda. ii. 5. (r) i Sam. ii. 30. (s) Jeremiah xxii. 6, 34. CONCLUSION. 419 accurfed from Chrift, for his brethren, his kmfmen, ac- cording to the flefli * ?** Nay, where is our regard for our- felves, for the welfare of our own body? Can we read God's awful denunciations againft thofe ** Watchmen who fee the fword come upon the land, and blow not the trumpet ^;" can we fee the divine threatenings executed, and the Minifters of fo many churches a£lually " made contempt- ible and bafe before all the people '','* ** fed with worm- wood and drinking the waters of Gall ^," for having " cor- rupted the covenant of Levi," and ** been partial in the law y •," can we at the fame time rezWyfiel a growing ne- glect of our Sacred Order, and not inftitute a ftri£l inquiry into our own condu£l, and not tremble for our own fafety, if we are really unfaithful ? There are however con fi derations to be kept in view, in- finitely more weighty than any thing of a merely temporal nature; confiderations, in comparifon of which, even the revolutions of Kingdoms fhrink into infignificancy. The grand objedt of the Redeerher, in his aftonifliing undertak- ing, was, to fave the fouls of men ; to refcue them from mifery, and provide for them a happinefs, in refpeft to an everlajiing Jlate» The grand obje£l of our Commiflion, is, '* fo to prepare and make ready his way, by turning the hearts of the difobedient to the wifdom of the juft, that at his fecond coming to judge the world, we may be found an acceptable people in his fight 2." The World, and all its glories, are paffing away like a (hadow. This folemn feafon is fall approaching. And then muft each of us give a ftri£l: account of our ftewardfliips. Then will it be found, that both our own, and the evcrlafting condition of our people, have been intimately connefted with our mi- niderial conduct. And what a momentous refponfibility (t) Rom. ix, 3. (v) Ezekiel xxxiii 6, (w) Mal.ichi ii. 9. (x) Jer xxiii. 15. (y) Ibid, (z) Coil, third Sunday in Advent, 420 THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED. do thpfe confiderations attach to our office ! How foUci- tous fhouM this make us, both that our docSlrines may be found, and our diligence unwearied ; that we may neither " per vert =^,'' nor by any means " hinder the gofpel of Chrifl^j'* that we may be " unto God a fweet favour of Chrift, ia them that are faved, and in them that perifli ;" '* not as n?any, which corrupt the word of God ; but as of fincerity, hut as of God, in the fight of God may fpeak in Chrifl <^." How fhould we ** watch for men*s fouls, as they that rauft give an account**." What caution fhould we ufe *' left that by any means when we have preached to others, we ourfelves fhould be caft-aways V What a preponde- rating objecSl of our ambition (hould it be, that when our courfe is finifhing, and we fay to our people, *' Ye fhall fee my face no more," we may be able to add, amidft their af- fectionate " forrowings," — " Ye know how I kept back no- thing that was profitable unto you : I have not fhunned to declare unto you all the counfel of God : I take you to re- cord this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men ^." Well may we, on this view of our fituation, earneftly in- quire, with the Apoftle, ** Who is fufficient for thefe things s ?*' and importunately folicit the aid of God. Well may we, under thefe impreflions, and a fight of the world around us, feelingly exclaim with Mofes, " O that they were wife, that they underftood this, that they would con- fider their latter end ^ !" Well may we addrefs them in the folemn language of the weeping Prophet, '* O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord ' 1" Well may we " be- feech * finners in God*s name, " and pray them in Chrifl*s ftead, to be reconciled to God ^.'* (a) Gal. i. 7. (h) i Cor. ix. 12. (c) z Cor. ii 15, 17. (d) Htb. xiii. 17. (e) I Cor. 9. *7. (f) Afts xx. ao, 25 — 27,38. (g) 2. Cor. ii. 16. (b) Deut. xxxii. 29, (i) Jer. xxii. 29. (k) 2 Cor. V. 20. CONCLUSION. 421 But, are we " the Meflengers of the Lord of Hofts S'* the Ambafladors of that Saviour who left the glories of heaven, and laid down his life for the falvation of men, and can we make a light matter of our office, and be carelefs about the execution of it ? How deplorably then do we betray our truft; how regardlefs are we of the honour of . our Divine. Mafter ; how devoid are we of love for him f Have we de- liberately taken upon us the Cure of the immortal fouls o£ dur refpe£iive. pariflies ? And do we " entangle ourfelyes- with the affairs of this life," or make it the leadii^g. obje£]t of our profeffion to obtain worldly honour and advantage ? Can we calmly think of any who have been committed to our care, living and dying in fin, and ignorance, and im- penitence, and perifliing everlaftingly, through our fault ? Where then are our " bowels and mercies" for our fellow creatures, where is our philanthropy, where our common humanity ? Surely our hearts muft be like adamant, and our cruelty unparalleled. While therefore, on the one hand, we juftly felicitate ©urfelves on the dignity of our Office, as the noblell that can poffibly devolve on mortals *, let us remember on the other, that if we can trifle with it, our chara6lers are moft defpi- cable. — While, on the one fide, we contemplate the moll glo- rious reward awaiting the faithful difcharge of our duty } let us, on the other, learn from the whole tenour of fcripture, that if we are unfaithful we fhall of all men be moft miferable*-^ While, on the one hand, our exertions are animated with the eonfideration that " they who turn many to righteoufnefs Ihall fhlne as the ftars for ever and ever ™ ;" may we, on the ner, be ever fuitably afFeded with fuch paifiTages' as the following : — " Son of man, I have fet the^ a Watchman unto the houfe of Ifrael j therefore thou flialt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I fay unto^ (i) Mai. ii, 7. (m) Dan. xii. 3, Ee .«^,wr 422 THE TRITE CHimCHMEN ASCERTAINED. the wicked, O wicked man, thou (halt furely die *, if thou doft not fpeak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man (hall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand"." *' Though we^ or an Angel from heaven, preach any other gofpel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accurfedV* "If I do this thing wilhngly, I have a reward: but if againft my will,, a difpenfation of the gofpel is committed unto me ; . . . necef-^ (Tty is laid upon me j yea, Wo is unto me, if I preach not the gofpel P." (n) Ezek. xxxiii. 7, 8. (0) Gal, i. a. (p> i Cor. ix. i5, i?. THE EH1>. Printed at the Office of % Wilson and r.s pencil Higb-Oalesatc, York. THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINE OP 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED. FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE, THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE TO SO CENTS ON THE FOURTH DAY AND TO $1.00 ON THE SEVENTH DAY OVERDUE. MAY 19 1944 23r i ov'62 B d is>'/i IU a- L \\ SJanblCDV ^'^V T^OVp^ l^ 196^ m\ sJi^tsLu JAN'54DT 23 ^Dr'58jr REC'D LD MAY 2 3 1958