not led away by the error of the wicked, to fall from their own stedfastness:"" not tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine; by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive: but "marking men of corrupt and reprobate minds concerning the faith" those "who cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine of Christ" and "themselves obeying from the heart, the form of doctrine delivered to them, that they may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

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Rejecting any particular branch or article of the Catholic Faith, must therefore (says Dr. Waterland, in his excellent Commentary on the Athanasian Creed) be a sin against the whole; against truth and peace; and therefore damnable in its own nature; as all wilful sins are without repentance." In this he is authorized by the Scriptures for " whosoever," saith St. James, "shall keep the whole law, and

yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all;" and " whosoever," saith our Saviour,

"shall break one of the least of these commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven." James ii. 10. Matt. v. 19. see also Deut. xxvii. 26. Gal. iii. 10.

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"As for allowances to be made for invincible ignorance, honest prejudices, or unavoidable infirmities, as they will be pleadable in the case of any other sin, so may they, and will they be pleadable in this. But it was foreign to the purpose of the Creed, to take notice of this case in particular, when it is common to all cases of like nature, and is always supposed and understood;" the condition of repentance being a component part of the Catholic or Christian Faith.

Such is the Faith which the Gospel requires of Christians: a Faith, producing singleness and devotedness of heart; purity and holiness of life: a Faith, sound and uncorrupted in the doctrines of that Gospel,

"which is the power of God unto salvation to all that believe:" besides which Faith there is none other; for there is but "one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism," &c.

The word of God, wherever it be preached, demands this Faith of all men ; with a promise of grace, and eternal life, to them that "embrace and hold it fast ;' with the curse of eternal misery to them that reject it. How then can those escape, who "neglect so great salvation ?"

The Church of England, consistently with the language and spirit of the word of God, upon which she exclusively builds her Faith, asserts, that "without doubt," they who keep not this Faith "whole and undefiled, shall perish everlastingly." Always excepting those therefore, who return to this Faith, by that " godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of;" (a principle of charity necessary to her existence as a Christian Church,) she is authorized in this doctrine, and that, not by a single

text only, but by the whole tenor of Scripture; not by difficult and abstruse passages, which have divided the opinions of the learned; but by the most simple and plainest declarations of Holy Writ; respecting which, all sincere and humble Christian enquirers have entertained no difference of opinion. Such are the following:

"Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."Luke xiii. 3.

"He that believeth on the Son, hath life; and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."-John iii. 36.

"Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved: for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not the truth."-2 Thess. ii. 10, 11, 12.

"He that believeth on him, is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already; because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”—John iii. 18.

"To whom sware he, that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So they could not enter in because of unbelief."—Heb. iii. 18, 19.

"Unbelievers shall have their portion in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."-Rev. xxi. 8.

Hath then the Church of England erred in "receiving with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save the soul?" Can she be deemed uncharitable in arming herself" with the whole armour of God, to be able to withstand the evil day, and having done all, to stand? In girding her loins with truth; in putting on the breastplate of righteousness; and having her feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace? Above all, in taking the shield of Faith, wherewith she shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked: and in taking the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, to fight the good fight of Faith?" While she unfurls the banner of salvation from her standard, she is safe from her enemies; "the gates of hell shall not prevail against her." Whatever missiles are cast against her, are equally cast against the Rock upon which she stands :