legs nor their ears; for they run away from the Arminian, and hear others; as it is written, "Thus saith the Lord, as the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in [mongrel] Samaria, in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch," Amos. iii. 12.

I must confess I am much surprised to hear that the Reverend Gentleman should so often in his pulpit utter the words, 'Under this holy roof,' meaning the church; and, after all his consecration, defile the same by an absolute denial of her doctrinal articles, which himself must have subscribed by oath, as well as a renunciation of the supremacy of the Pope.

About twelve months ago, the Rev. Mr. P. told his audience, that he saw a heavy cloud hang over Wallingford, and desired them to pray for him. This prediction is really verified, and himself appears to be the cloud, as saith the wise man, "Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift, is like clouds and wind without rain," Prov. xxv. 14.

Thus the prediction is more than fulfilled, for there is a dry wind as well as an empty cloud; but I trust both will be of use under the management of infinite wisdom; the wind seems to sever the chaff from the wheat, and the empty cloud drives them to the fountain of living waters, where they are sure of a supply; as it is written, "when

they are sure of a supply; as it is written," when the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them," Isaiah xli. 17. The shaking of this apparent column has filled many with filial fear; it has brought others to self-examination, and some few to the work of digging deep to find the rock which God has laid, in order to build a gospel hope for themselves.

As for the doctrines that have been lately advanced by this reverend divine, they go by various names; which, as I am not a master of arts, it is not in my power to explain; nor do I believe there is a doctor of divinity in all the world that can make these following assertions harmonize.

The Vicar styles them The doctrines of grace, with some improvements;' but what improvement the carnal wisdom of blind, fallen and corrupt nature can make on the grace of God, is a mystery too profound for an illiterate coalheaver to fathom; therefore I am constrained to leave this with the learned.

From a text in Matthew, chap. viii, personal purity was forcibly insisted on, from which discourse Jesus Christ and faith. in his blood were wholly excluded, and yet his audience were commanded never to set themselves down as Christians till every precept was fulfilled, and every command obeyed. If this is a true son of the Church of England, how comes he to differ so

much from the reformers' introduction to the Lord's prayer in the catechism? My good child, know this, that thou art not able to do these things of thyself, nor to walk in the commandments of God, and to serve him without his special grace, which thou must learn at all times to call for by diligent prayer.'

It appears to me that the improvements which he has made on the doctrines of grace, have led him to contradict the articles which he subscribed to, and by enforcing the doctrines of popery, he is guilty of perjury; and has in effect forfeited all right and title to any offerings, tythes, or surplice fees belonging to the Church of England.

Another strange improvement on the doctrines of grace is, that All the promises in the 17th chapter of St. John are never to be taken or applied to any Christian, for they all belong to the saints in glory, and to none else.' But what occasion the saints in glory can have for promises, I know not; seeing that they are already in full possession of the promised blessings. The heir does not live by faith on the testament, when he is in full possession of the inheritance. The promises are not made, nor left upon record to support the hope of glorified souls. God has made them happy in full fruition, his word is to his church militant, "Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men."

When a certain Mr. W. complained of his com

fortless state to the Rev. Mr. P. the Vicar desired to know if the fault lay in the preacher, or in the pious hearer; the hearer replied, He was not a competent judge to determine; but as the honest Mr. W. was esteemed by the Vicar to be a most discerning Christian, the preacher was obliged to own himself and his doctrine to be in the fault; and that he had altered the system of his preaching, and had not apprized them of it; and therefore,' said he, I have distressed you all by it.' But though he owned that he had made the heart of them sad, whom the Lord had not made sad, yet it had no effect on the preacher; for instead of Wisdom being justified by her children, Wisdom's children were left to sink in their own verdict; while human wisdom in the Vicar was kept in the full possession of infallibility. This is not bringing the faults of individuals to the body of Christ, which is his church, where Christ has left the decision; but it is bringing the jury to the humour of the supposed infallible judge.

Another account of the improvements of grace is in the following public confession that he made. And as to election,' said the divine, and predestination, they are stumblingblocks to the world, and to many people: for instance, here is on the other side of Benson, an old woman who cannot bear the doctrines, and she is in perpetual doubts and fears about her election,' &c. So the sovereignty of God, his revealed will, and the whole covenant of discriminating grace, are to creep be

hind the scene, that the judgment of an old woman may be exalted; and the preacher is to alter his doctrine to please the world. If a bible was to be compiled by a few doubting, distrusting women, all the world would be at a loss to find the path of life. I never found any means so effectual to establish a doubting troubled soul, as delivering from the bible, what election is, what election does, and what the elected are predestinated to; and the difficulties the elect have to cope with.

'But as for election, God forbid that I should give it up in my private opinion,' said the Vicar; 'but I choose not to preach it, it is such a stumblingblock. And as for them that hold it, I see that one is a snivelling Christian, another a wild-brain fancied Christian, another an Enthusiast, and a fourth, a street-walking Christian.' My friends will observe, that although the Vicar holds election in his own private opinion, yet he will eat that morsel alone; he does not choose to declare the whole counsel of God, nor yet to proclaim on the house-top, what he has heard of the Lord in secret. So, instead of speaking out of the abundance of his heart, he is determined to keep the good heart treasure to himself, and deliver to the people the improvement of his own brains. Surely this is not preaching from the heart to the heart, nor yet appealing to God and conscience in God's right. And according to the Vicar's account of free sovereign grace, it only teaches people to