healing, miracles of various kinds. The man, who pretends to an extraordinary commission, and has it not, is one of the most dangerous men upon earth, whether he succeeds or not. If he succeeds, it is as an impostor; if he does not, he gives the enemies of the Lord occasion to blaspheme, and makes Christianity the scorn of the world, when he is detected. The false miracles of Papists gave advantage to Infidels abroad, till they extirpated the Gospel; and the pretensions of fanaticism will give the like advantage here, and produce the same effect. Even at this moment we are in a tremendous situation, and have a prospect before us, which cannot be viewed without horror. Without the Church of Christ the religion of Christ will never long subsist; and a Christian is very imperfectly instructed, unless he understands what perils are to be expected in the latter days; when the Church shall become so degenerate that men shall say, the Church of Christ is not his Church; it is under such bad regulation as a society, that they can make a better for themselves. They shall make sport with its corruptions and its misfortunes; over which wise and good men will rather weep and lament (I would to God they all did so!) as Christ shed tears over Jerusalem. In such tears, there is true brotherly love, which needs no apology.

With respect to the present moment, in particular, if the doctrines of Calvin are increased of late, as reported, it is to be feared an enemy is at the bottom more than we know of. The Church is so calumniated and exposed on all sides, as if there were some latent design on foot to ruin it. Calvinism is a convenient engine against the government; perhaps the most convenient of all others; and will be promoted, for that end, even by those who have no religion at all.

If our enemies at home or abroad can destroy us, they will not be nice in the choice of the instruments. That which destroyed it once may destroy it again, and will, unless the Church be supported in this critical time against their assaults. Let us remember what a good man once said, "If the King supports the Church, the Church will support the King, and God will support both." Thus it will be, unless the time be now come, when all are to perish in one common ruin; which may God forbid; and I trust you will join in this prayer with your Christian friend,

PHILALETHES.

February, 1800.

AN

ADDRESS

TO THE

BRITISH GOVERNMENT

ON A

SUBJECT OF PRESENT CONCERN.

1776.

Under the cloak of Whiggism are concealed factions, which, if suffered to gain ground, would prove no less dangerous to the House of Hanover, than to the Church and Monarchy.

Dr. Jablonski's Letter to the King of Prussia, dated London, March 17th, 1711.

THE situation of our public affairs at this time may have opened the minds of people to receive those friendly informations, which they would have rejected some years ago as the insinuations of an enemy; it is therefore now a duty incumbent on those who would preserve as well as restore the peace of this kingdom, to take this opportunity of reminding the government, that episcopacy ought, according to the laws of God, and the rights of Englishmen, in the great charter of this country, to have been settled in the American

AN ADDRESS TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. 269

Colonies above an hundred years ago; and had likewise a political as well as a religious claim to be protected against all other interests, as congenial and friendly to the British government. But instead of this it has been left under every possible disadvantage. All attempts made by good men, either here or in America, to introduce episcopacy, have either been coldly neglected by those in power, or purposely defeated; and this, either by silent artifice, or clamorous opposition. And why? Because the Presbyterians would be disobliged. But now this paroxysm of moderation is come to a crisis, we may have sense and spirit to inquire at last, who the Presbyterians are, and why it is of such great consequence not to disoblige them? They are Calvinists by profession, and Republicans in their politics, who never can side with kingly government, but are of the same opinion with Hugh Peters, that the office of a king is useless, chargeable, and dangerous; and that all kings, especially the best, are to be blackened as much as possible, to bring about a Republican Revolution. When it serves their turn, they will affect to be in the interest of the government, and yet never fail to oppose it, if its establishment is of service to any party but themselves. They sided with William, but it was for the sake of ruining the episcopacy of Scotland; they favoured the Hanoverian succession, but it was out of hatred to Queen Anne, who had favoured the Church of England. And having now nothing to oppose but the Hanover family on the throne, they have at last taken up arms against that, and will carry on a war against the authority, the commerce, and the honour of this country, as long as they have the means of rebellion in their hands; for this has been a Presbyterian war from the beginning as certainly as that in 1641; and

accordingly the first firing against the King's troops was from a Massachuset meeting-house.

These are the people, whom it hath been the ruling policy of this government not to disoblige for almost a hundred years past; and now they are justly raised up to scourge us for our folly, by bringing upon us a most expensive war, exposing us to the attempts of our natural enemies, and hazarding the very existence of the British empire. The rule has been, let us not encourage episcopacy in the colonies, lest we offend the Presbyterians, and they turn against us. So the Jews said, lest the Romans come and take away our place and nation; for which treacherous policy, the Romans, by the just judgment of God, were made the instruments of their punishment, and brought to pass all those things, against which they were securing themselves by a wicked and foolish timidity. God forbid that the issue should be any thing like to this in our own case; but no wise or good man, who considers what is past, and is used to compare events with their causes, can wonder if the fruitless cries of our episcopal brethren in America, who have been almost afraid to utter their voice, while their enemies have been indulged to the uttermost in all their unreasonable clamours, should at last bring down some signal misfortune on those, who on so many occasions have refused to hear them. God knows where the chief blame is to be laid; whether the State or the Clergy have been most in fault. When Herring was Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop Sherlock of London desired his concurrence in a petition to the Throne, for leave to consecrate suffragans (Bishops without sees) for America; but was answered, that he would have no hand in any proceedings that might give offence to our dissenting brethren: on which Dr.