face of the whole Christian world) declare, that "whosoever "doth not hold the Catholic faith" as explained in the Athanafion creed" and keep it whole and undefiled, shall "without doubt, perish everlastingly?" This hellish propofition we are enjoined, not only to believe ourselves, but to affirm that we do willingly and ex animo subscribe to it, as being agreeable to the Word of GOD; and then we must openly profefs our faith in it fourteen times every year. I am not unacquainted that various manoeuvres are made ufe of to render these harsh expreffions palatable; but all illuftrations and modifications of these damnatory sentences appear to me illufive. Bishop BURNET has faid all that well can be said them, but, in my opinion, to very little purpose. Honeftly, therefore, did Archbishop TILLOTSON declare to him, "The account given of Athanafius's creed feems to me no upon wife fatisfactory. I wish we were well rid of it."-And fo do I too, for the credit of our common Chriftianity. It has been a mill-ftone about the neck of many thousand worthy men. To be fure, declarations like thefe defcended out of the bottomlefs pit, to difgrace the fubfcribing Clergy, to render ridiculous the doctrines of the Gospel, to impel the world into infidelity, and to damn the fouls of those, who, for the fake of filthy lucre, fet their hands to what they do not honeftly believe. The truth is, though I do believe the doctrine of the Trinity as revealed in the Scripture, yet I am not prepared, openly and explicitly, to fend to the devil, under my folemn fubfcription, every one who cannot embrace the Athanafian illuftration of it. In this thing the LORD pardon his fervant for fubfcribing in time paft. Affuredly I will do fo no more. Those that can do it are extremely welcome to the best bishoprics and livings in the kingdom. I should like to retain what I have already gotten, but not upon the conditions required. As an honeft man, and a man under expectations of falvation, I must renounce my prefent fituation, and the little emolu.ments which arife therefrom. There is no other alternative*. "But, tory I have for fome years made myfelf tolerably eafy under the damnaclaufes of the Athanafian creed, by omitting to read it at the times appointed, "But, you are acting a part extremely imprudent; on "account of your family." True; but then I am obeying the dictates of confcience, and, of course, the commands of GOD. And you know where it is written :-By faith ABRAHAM, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he fojourned in the land of promife, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with ISAAC and JACOB, the heirs with him of the fame promife: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whofe builder and maker is GOD. By faith MOSES, when he was come to years, refused to be called the fon of PHAROAH's daughter; choofing rather to Suffer affliction with the people of GOD, than to enjoy the pleasures of fin for a season; fieeming the REPROACH of CHRIST greater riches than the treasures in EGYPT; for he had refpect unto the recompence of the reward*: "You are already in the Church, and have got over the ❝ business of Subscription. You may continue, therefore, in your prefent station without being called upon to repeat "the fame painful ceremony." appointed. But, to an upright mind, this is not perfectly fatisfactory; because we folemnly declare and subscribe our names before the Bishop, that we will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as by law established. Now every time we omit to read the faid creed, or any other part of the fervice of the church, when appointed by law to be read, we are guilty of a breach of engagement. So that, whether we read the creed in queftion, or neglect to read it, we are culpable, if we do not ex animo approve of it. *I do not recollect reading or hearing of any inftance fo like unto this of Moses as that of the Marquis of Vico in Italy, who died A. D. 1592, at the age of 74. When he was come to years, and the knowledge of JESUS CHRIST, he refufed to be called the fon and heir to a Marquis, a cup-bearer to an Emperor, nephew to a Pope, and chofe rather to fuffer affliction, perfecution, banishment, lofs of lands, livings, wife, children, honours, and preferments, than to enjoy the finful pleafures of Italy for a feafon; efleeming the reproach of CHRIST greater riches than all the honours of the most brilliant connections, and all the enjoyments of the most ample fortune; for he had refpect unto the recompence of the reward. See his Life at large, written by Mr. SAMUEL CLARK, which is extremely well worth the attention of every man, who is in any respect a fufferer for the fake of a good confcience. I have many years been determined never to fubfcribe, agreeably to the requirement of the thirty-fixth Canon, more, whatever offers of preferment might be made me. But, when I reflect seriously and closely upon the subject, this does not fatisfy me. I cannot help confidering my holding a church, and complying with all its rites and ceremonies, as a filent acquiefcence in, and a tacit approbation of, all the unevangelical traits of the Church of England, as by law eftablished. While fuch is my fituation, I certainly constitute a part of the grand fyftem of the anti-chriftian apoftacy, which, as I understand the prophetic Scriptures, is, in due time, to undergo a total fubverfion. "You are quitting a fituation of uncommon useful, nefs.' Granted; With my views, however, I cannot honourably and fafely do otherwife. I believe, and fear, and tremble at, the Word of the MOST HIGH. Befides, GoD can do as well without my labours as with them. And if he fhould think proper, by this step, to caft me quite afide, as a broken veffel no longer of ufe, I will endea your to acquiefce in the Divine determination. "Gop doth not need "Either man's work or his own gifts; who beft If the Church of England retains much of the fpirit, and fome of the fuperftitions of the Church of Rome*, what is a confcientious man to do, and how is he to act, under fuch a perfuafion?"Let any perfon weigh thoroughly the meaning of the following declarations, and then let him fay in what manner I ought to act :-And the third Angel followed them, faying with a loud voice, if any man worship the BEAST and his IMAGE, and receive his MARK in bis forebead, or in his hand, the fame shall drink of the wine of The late Lord CHATHAM, in a celebrated fpeech, which he made in the house of Lords in favour of the Diffenters, faid, "We have a Popish liturgy, a Calvinistic creed, and an Arminian clergy." the the wrath of GOD, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and be fhall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the prefence of the holy angels, and in the prefence of the LAMB; and the fmoke of their torment afcendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the BEAST and his IMAGE, and whofoever receiveth the MARK of his name. Rev. xiv. 9.—11. Are not these words enough to make the hair ftand " on end like quills upon the fretful porcupine ?" We all read them, and have read them many times for many years, and yet, from our general conduct, no fuch paffage might be found in the Sacred Writings. We Proteftants are almost univerfally of opinion, that they apply directly to the Members of the Church of Rome. The Members of that Church read them as well as we Proteftants, and yet we hardly ever hear of a Catholic becoming a Proteftant, any more than a Jew becoming a Chriftian. They have eyes, and fee not; ears, and hear not; hearts, and understand not. The LORD, in judgment, hath fent them frong delufion that they should believe a lie. The words are extremely plain, and expreffibly alarming; but the force of them is always evaded, by applying them to any thing, rather than to their own church.-We Proteftants too read them, and make ourselves easy under the awful denunciation, by applying them exclufively to the Church of Rome; never dreaming, that they are, at least, in a fecondary fenfe, equally applicable, not only to the English, but to every Church Eftablishment in Chriftendom, which retains * Dr. DODDDRIDGE obferves on this paragraph of fcripture," When I seriously reflect on this text, and how directly the force of it lies againft thofe, who, contrary to the light of their confciences, continue in the communion of the Church of Rome, for fecular advantage, or to avoid the terror of perfecution, it almost makes me trembic; and I heartily wifh, that all others, who connive at thofe things in the difcipline and worship of Proteftant churches, which they in their confciences think to be finful remains of Popish fuperftition and corruption, would seriously attend to this paffage, which is one of the most dreadful in the whole book of GoD, and weigh its awful contents, that they may keep at the greatest poffible distance from this horrible curfe, which is fufficient to make the ears of every one that hears it to tingle.” any any of the marks of the Beast. To me this admits of nớ doubt. If I am miftaken, it is my very great misfortune. My judgment has not been biaffed by intereft, by connec– tions, by inclination, or by any human confiderations whatever. I have thought much upon the subject; read on both fides of the question whatever has fallen in my way; converfed with various perfons for the fake of information; fuffered the matter to reft upon my mind for fome years undetermined; have never made my fears, fufpicions, and diffatisfaction known to any man; and now, when I bring near to myself the thought of quitting one of the most commodious churches in the kingdom, erected on purpose for my own miniftrations; leaving interred by it many a precious depofit, who will, I trust, be my joy and crown in the great day of the LORD JESUS, befides a mother, a wife, two children, and a fifter; and giving up various kind friends, whom I love as my own foul, together with a large body of people, that, if it were poffible, would have plucked out their own eyes, and have given them to me :-What fhall I fay?—All that is affectionate within me recoils. I am torn with conflicting paffions; and am ready to fay with the Apostle, I could wish that myJelf were accurfed from CHRIST for my friends and brethren, whom I love in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST. But then, various paffages of Scripture-(ill understood, fome will fay)-urge me, on the moft momentous confiderations, to renounce a fituation, which I cannot any longer retain with peace of mind. Perhaps it is my own fault; certainly it is my very heavy misfortune. I bewail it exceedingly, I have received no affront; conceived no difguft; formed no plans; made no connections; confulted no friends; experience no wearinefs of the ministerial office, the ways of religion are ftill pleasant; I have been glad when duty called me to the house of God; his Word hath been delightful; the pulpit has been awfully pleasing; the table of the LORD hath been the joy of my heart; and now that PROVIDENCE calleth me away, with fome degree of reluctance it is that I fay, LORD, here I am. Do with me what feemeth thee good. Let me ftay where I am. I gladly |