the doctrines of the established church, and more especially from the trinitarian forms of its worship, it was utterly inconfiftent with integrity, (under my convictions of the proper unity of God, and that he only is to be worshipped,) to remain a minifter, or a member, of a church to whofe articles, creed, and liturgy I could not give my affent. This refignation, made under the preffure of difficulties and difcouragements almoft peculiar to myself, has, however, been the fource of the greatest comfort and happiness to my mind, from that hour to the prefent, and I am perfuaded will continue to be fo to the end of my life.

Upwards of ten years have now elapfed fince I became affiftant-minifter to this congregation. The fupport which your countenance and approbation afforded me in the hour of trial, and the affectionate attentions I have experienced fince the commencement of our connection, are entitled to this grateful acknowledgment: and I truft, that the fame good understanding which has hitherto improved with our acquaintance, will not be impeached by our ftill better knowledge of, and nearer relationship to, each other.

It is, therefore, no fmall fatisfaction to me, that the unexpected refignation of my late worthy colleague, who is very deservedly esteemed by you, has been followed by my being appointed his fucceffor: and I the more readily accepted of this voluntary and unanimous appointment of the trustees of this chapel, because I had an affured perfuafion that it would meet with your general concurrence. I fhould now be unjuft to you and to myself were I not to add, that the truth of this perfuafion has been confirmed in very fatisfactory and unqualified terms. I enter upon my charge, not indeed without much anxiety and folicitude, but with all the fatisfaction that an honeft mind may be allowed to derive from fo honourable a connection: I enter upon it with an ardent desire to promote the better knowledge of the truth and purity of our common christianity, and the practice of all virtue; and, I hope, with that just diffidence alfo of my own abilities to discharge thefe important duties with credit to you and to myfelf, as will awaken the most unremitting attention, and vigorous exertions on my part.

We are generally agreed in believing the unity of the one fupreme caufe of all things, and

and that he is the only object of religious praife and adoration; that to fear God and keep his commandments, and to love our neighbours as ourselves, comprise the whole duty of man; and that there will be a refurrection of the dead. Let us add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godlinefs, brotherlykindness, and charity: for, if these things be in us, and abound, they will make us that we shall neither be barren, nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our lord Jefus Chrift.'*

Let us jointly endeavour to promote, by every word and deed, chriftian charity and brotherly love among every defcription of men. May we, by cultivating thefe virtues among ourfelves, become diftinguished examples to others. The harmony of our fociety arifes from our reciprocal good opinion and confidence ; and our recent connection is established, I trust, by our previous mutual knowledge of each other. May this great fource of our common comfort and edification remain, under the Eleffing of God, in uninterrupted peace and love. May it equally refift the boldest attacks of our open enemies, and every fecret and clandeftine

2 Pet. i. 5-8.

clandeftine attempt to disturb the dearest confolations of human life.

To conclude. We, my brethren, are as a city placed on an hill, exposed to every paffing eye. If, therefore, we attach ourselves to our principles in earneft, and are defirous of approving ourselves to God and man, we must be watchful and vigilant in all the duties of our chriftian profeffion. The purity of our religious faith will avail us nothing unless it be accompanied by a truly religious and virtuous character; neither will our zeal for religious liberty be of any real fervice to us, unless we freely allow the fame portion to others, which we claim and exercife ourselves.

Finally. Let me remind you of the occafion which was given to the adverfaries of chriftianity in the earliest ages of the church to exclaim, How greatly do thefe chriftians love one another! We all know what the fcriptures. fay of brotherly love; the firft chriftians recommended it by their example; and it will become us to enforce the practice of it, in this our day, by every word and work.

FINI S.

BY JOHN DISNEY, D. D. F. S. A.

I. REASONS for refigning the rectory of Panton and vicarage of Swinderby in Lincolnshire;

and quitting the church of England. The fecond edition. 8vo. 1783. 6d.

II. MEMOIRS of the life and writings of ARTHUR ASHLEY SYKES, D.D. 8vo. 1785. with an appendix, 5s.

III. THE WORKS theological, medical, political, and miscellaneous of JOHN JEBB,' M. D. F. R. S. with MEMOIRS of the life of the author. 3. vols. 8vo. 1787. 11. is.

IV. A FRIENDLY DIALOGUE between a common unitarian chriftian, and an athanafian: occafioned by the former's behaviour during fome part of the public fervice. Or, an attempt to reftore fcripture forms of worship. To which is now added, a fecond dialogue, between Eugenius and Theophilus, on the fame subject. The fecond edition. Svo. 1787. 6d.

V. DISCOURSES ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. TO which are added, Confiderations on pluralities. BY SAMUEL DISNEY, LL.B. late vicar of Hal. ftead, Effex. with a preface. 8vo. 1788. 6s.

VI. LET