sons in the Godhead was not scriptural; for, though there were three that bare record in heaven, yet they were only there distinguished to set forth the work and operation of God, and therefore were no more than three personal characters, names, and office-titles, subsisting in the Godhead; and to describe them any other way, was to lead men's minds astray in their addresses to God, by setting before them three Beings or Essences, which was Tritheism. This was what he taught as a doctrinal explanation of the Trinity, which we have witness to prove from some who have no connection with us, but received it from sitting under his ministry. And once in particular, after preaching, Mr. Rogers and Mr. Short went into his house with him, where he took down from off his shelf a book, entitled 'The Faith and Hope of the Gospel,' and read the following extract verbatim:

A person hath been defined, by some, a thing subsisting by itself, which is not part of another; and by others, the individual substance of a rational nature. And do not the words, Three Persons, naturally convey the ideas of three separate individuals? Are not many hereby led into wrong conceptions about God, as if the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, were and existed separately as three individual human persons? And is not this Tritheism? Do not the generality speak of the Father as if he existed separately and independently of, and was somehow greatly superior

to the Word and the Holy Ghost? And doth not this indicate as if they thought the Father to be the great God, and the Word and the Holy Ghost to be two demigods? How contrary is this to the solemn declaration of the Most High, "Hear, O Israel, Jehovah, our Aleim, is one Jehovah!" Is not such confusion the consequence of calling the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, three persons? But there are other men who are clear of such confused ideas about the Godhead; and though, in compliance to custom, they use the words, three persons,' which, by the way, Mr. Vessey never did while with us, unless it was to condemn it yet they intend no more thereby than the distinction and the offices in the Godhead.' These Mr. Vessey declared to us were his sentiments, and the first author that he ever read who treated so clearly of it.

Also, why did he tell the clerk, Richard Pankhurst, to leave the words, three persons,' out in singing the hymns? And why did he, after he had wrote a letter on the Trinity by the desire of Mr. Olliff and Mr. Main (which, we believe, was to stop the inquiry into that which he had before held, that he might not be discovered), change his former sentiments of three personal characters, names, and office-titles, into persons and subsistences, and tell Mr. Short, who went to him on hearing the report, that he did not altogether like the words persons and subsistences, that he had there asserted?Why did he say that Mr. Hunt

ington and the minister of Blackfriars were not clear in respect to the Trinity; and that Mr. Re had given the late Mr. Elliot, the Arian, sufficient ground to charge him with Tritheism? These are stubborn facts, which he cannot deny any other way but by presumptuously calling the Holy Ghost to witness that they are false, as he hath done in his letter to you respecting Arianism; which is not to be wondered at, when he could, while with us, with levity dare God to his face to damn him; making use of these words, when speaking of the stability of the covenant-that he cannot do it if he would.

After Mr. Vessey had for some time gone to Chatham occasionally, the Lord was pleased to open the eyes of one and another of us to some discovery of his doctrine, and the effects it had produced amongst us; which, upon Mr. Smith's coming, was fastened home under the word, with power, on several of our hearts. Upon which, five of us went to Mr. Vessey to have some conversation respecting the state of the church. At which time we asked him, Whether he had any discovery given him of the cause of such a declension amongst us? He said that many things had occurred to his mind; but he did not think it would be profitable to enter into discourse about it. To which we made answer, That it was for that purpose we came unto him, as we had reason to believe that it was through his doctrine the church was brought into the present situation,

which was that of antinomianism. To which he replied, That he believed great part of the people was in that error; but wholly denied himself to be the instrument of bringing them there; making answer, That 'what he had preached had never taken that effect with him. A few days after, one of the members positively telling him that he was the means of drawing us aside, he sent the following letter:

To the Deacons and other Members of the Church of Christ in Caliss's Alley.

6

'As a period seems to be put to my usefulness among you as a minister, and as you look upon me as the ringleader of your souls in that truly awful error, of sinning that grace may abound; you should have ere now dismissed me as a servant, and have also cut me off from church communion with you as a brother.' You will observe that this was impracticable, as the majority was wholly against us. But, as this hath not been done, I have deemed it necessary to acquaint you of my fixed intentions on this present occasion. I intend then, from henceforth, to withdraw myself peaceably from you, and totally to desist from any further labouring amongst you in the work of the ministry. How far this conduct is justifiable or condemnable, the Searcher of hearts will make manifest in some future period.

'Finally, brethren, farewell; be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

'And now, whatever hard thoughts any of you may harbour in your breasts concerning my everlasting welfare, or otherwise, yet persuaded I am, that I shall sit down in the kingdom of God with many of you. Therefore give me leave, this once, to subscribe myself your brother in the threefold bond of eternal love,

WILLIAM VESSEY.

Thus, sir, we have given you as brief an account as possible of the things that Mr. Vessey endeavours to appear a total stranger to; the effects of which are increasingly making manifest in most part of those who are said to be called under him; the whole of which, excepting two, have separated themselves from us.

We remain, Sir, with due respect,

RICHARD PAN KHURST, JOSEPH FULLER.

RICHARD WELLborn,