plauded by all the libertines and loose thinkers of the nation, who foresaw that the argument would end in the dissolution of the Church as a society: and therefore they made him a thousand compliments.

If we consider how the mind of man is influenced by custom and education, and that his conscience and self-approbation will be according to his principles; then we shall see that sincerity, if admitted, would sanctify all the wickedness under Heaven. St. Paul, as a zealous Jew, verily thought (that is, he was sincerely of opinion) that he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth; so he persecuted the Christians furiously, and breathed out threatenings and slaughter. Now as he had a good meaning in all he did, to what end was he converted, when his sincerity would have saved him in his former way? After his mind was better enlightened, he pronounced himself to have been the greatest of sinners, for what he had done in the sincerity of his heart.

Thus it would be in all other cases; he that acts sincerely upon bad principles, must be a

bad

ought to read, that he may know what ground he stands upon, and against what enemies he may be called forth to maintain it.

bad man; a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit: and, not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commend eth. Upon the whole, he that will be saved, must be saved in the way which God hath appointed, and not in any way of his own We shall be judged at last according to God's word, not according to any persuasions we may have taken up, through the prejudices of education, or the perverseness of our own hearts; all of which are indeed no better than dreams, having no foundation but on that loose bottom of human imagination, on which are built all the visions of the night, and all the he resies in the world.

If these doctrines of absolute election, immediate inspiration, the sufficiency of moral virtue, and justification from sincerity, were true; it would follow, that God is unwise, inconsistent, and improvident. For if he appoints a visible Church and its ordinances, as necessary to make us members of the kingdom of Heaven; and if he began the way of salvation by adding to the Church such as were to be saved; and yet, with all this, has another private way of saving men, by a secret decree which has no regard to any outward means; he is inconsistent in ordaining them. And also, as the doctrine of immediate Inspiration,

VOL. IV.

GG

Inspiration, or new Revelation, without any signs or credentials from Heaven, opens a way to every possible delusion of the mind, either from its own vain conceits, or the suggestions of evil spirits; God must be improvident, in not securing us against such dangerous impositions, which may introduce all kinds of wickedness. into the world, under the sanction of a divine authority: an impostor having nothing to do, but to persuade himself, as any madman may do, that he acts by immediate inspiration. With this persuasion, men have butchered one another to make bloody baptisms; have set themselves up as kings and rulers of the new Jerusalem; have taken plurality of wives, and blasphemously personated God himself *. All the disorders of the last century were committed by fanatics, who assumed a privilege of seeking the Lord, and consulting, and receiving answers from him; while their minds were bent upon the most horrible crimes of rebellion, robbery, sacrilege, persecution, and murder.

Then as to moral virtue, if that can save those who are not added to the Church, it must follow, that man never was lost, and that Christ

need

*See Ross's View of all Religions; particularly the ac count of the Anabaptists of Germany.

If since

need not have come into the world. rity in any persuasion, good or bad, will recom mend us to the favor of God; then will lies, if we do but believe them, answer all the purposes of truth then is there no difference between good and evil; and it cannot be worth while to convert Jews, Turks, or Heathens, to the gospel, because they are as safe in their own way. Such are the pleas, by which some men of necessity, and some of malignity, seek to justify themselves, when they leave the Church, or despise or neglect its ordinances. But the foundation of God standeth sure.

After what hath been said, few words will be wanting to convince any thinking person of the dangers and evil consequences which must attend the sin of causeless separation.

If men for salvation are brought out of the world into the Church, they cannot possibly forsake it, without hazard to their salvation.

If the promises of God, and the means of grace, are committed to the Church, we lose them when we leave the Church: at least it will be very hard to prove that we carry them away with us: and who would chuse to be under any uncertainty in a case of such importance?

Another evil is that of breaking the great rule of charity in our worship. We are commanded to glorify God with one mind and one mouth,

and all to speak the same thing. How contrary to this is the practice of following different ways of worship, some totally disagreeing with others; and some not deserving the name of any worship at all; for in some of our assemblies people meet for no purpose but to hear one another talk. There is no praying, no confession of sins, no absolution, no thanksgiving, no litany, no sacraments! We read, that the Apostles, when the Holy Ghost descended, were all with one accord in one place; and so ought Christians to be, if they would preserve the presence of the spirit amongst them, who is the spirit of unity. And as the spirit of unity in worship disposes men to a more peaceable and charitable temper; so the spirit of division and fanaticism is attended with violence and bitterness of language, and an intolerant persecuting hu mour toward all who are not fanatics; especially toward the members of the Church of England, which is deservedly placed at the head of the Protestant Reformation *.

There

An author who put out a Syllabus of Lectures, in the year 1778, on the Principles of Non-conformity, speaks in the person of Jesus Christ, upon the tribunal of judgment at the last day, and supposes him presenting to the world, on that tremendous occasion, his faithful servants, the non-conformist ministers, as the great objects of his favour; and at the same time sending off those holy tyrants, the bishops of

the