"ing upon the good queen, to be instructed by "her majesty whether that gentleman's books, "concerning the Trinity, were to be condemned

"

as heretical or not? Do they tell us, (you ask) "of the synod laying their censure before the queen, to have her judgment upon it?" Yes: "And of their waiting upon a WOMAN, to learn, "from her mouth what the church is to believe, "and what to reject, as to this great mystery of "faith?" You must see and feel that this really is the case and you must permit me to wonder that you Sir, who, as a dutiful son of the church, ought to have drawn a veil over every thing which can reflect no honour upon it, should, by a rash and indiscreet defence so much injure the cause which you wish to support.

As your Letters and Defences breathe a noble compassion for the straying souls of dissenters, the extraordinary instance with which you conclude the whole, ought not to be overlooked. You are concerned, it seems, "That I have read, "and in several instances agree in sentiment "and reasoning-with, the author of the Rights "of the Christian church, and appear to have "much studied and profited by that worthy au"thor;-and are sorry to find dissenting minis"ters and gentlemen dealing so much in books "of this sort. So long as this is the case, what "hope of a comprehension! Or, indeed who "would wish for it!"* I have read, Sir, and I hope profited by, the rights, &c. as you profess to have read, and I hope not without profit, Bellarmin, an author incomparably worse. As for my agreement with the author of the Rights, &c. as far as he agrees with truth, with scripture, and with law, you must give me leave to say, (without augmenting, I hope, your sorrow) that I esteem it, not the least reproach: nay, for once,

* Appendix, pages 41,

Sir, if you please, I will make you my confessor, and frankly own, that, in many things, I agree in sentiment and reasoning with those who are far worse than either Bellarmin or the author of the Rights, &c. for, I believe in one God, notwithstanding, St. James says, the devils are of the same opinion.*

Dissenting ministers, and all gentlemen who are sincere inquirers after truth, deal, I presume, in books of all sorts, whence they can gather useful knowledge, and improve and enlarge their minds. They have dealt in the writings of the shrewdest deists, as you see by many noble defences of Christianity which their pens have produced. Your affectation, of a pious censure on our dealing in books of this sort, is a bugbear, which may frighten children in understanding; but dissenters, you should have known, have not so learned Christ. They are commanded to try the spirits, to examine and prove all things; and remember the noble Bereans, who are commended by St. Paul for searching carefully into the grounds and evidences of things before they gave their assent. And, if this liberty of examination, and of speaking and writing freely upon subjects of religion, be a bar to a comprehension, such may it ever remain, till our brethren of the establishment have both felt and avowed this fundamental principle, THAT IT IS

THE GLORY OF CHRISTIANITY TO INVITE THE

SEVEREST ENQUIRY. Let bigotry and error endeavour to hide themselves in mysterious darkness, grow touchy and alarmed if you attempt to bring them into open light; but let every man who thinks he has good reasons for believing the truth of the Christian religion, boldly challenge every adversary to examine and to disprove it if he can; for if it be the work of

James ii. 19.

men, it will come to nought; but if it be of God, it cannot be overthrown.

We acknowledge, Sir, your goodness in bringing down to our understanding the mystery of consecrations of churches and of church-yards; and your kind attempt to illustrate the usefulness, edification, and comeliness of this ceremony. There are some previous questions, which I could wish to see answered, before we enter thoroughly into the grand debate:—as, whether you think the Apostle Paul, in all his apostolic labours and travels through the churches, ever consecrated a plat of ground? Whether the synagogues, where our Saviour preached; the chamber where he instituted and first celebrated his sacred supper; the upper room, where the apostles met when they actually received the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost; the house of Aquila and Priscilla, Nymphas, &c. in which were Christian churches, had really any other consecration than our places of worship have? And yet, whether these were not as much the house of God, and places of his more immediate presence, as any splendid cathedral now consecrated with all the pomp of sacerdotal device?*

You appeal to "the forms which Bishop An"drews and others have used in their consecra❝tions: and ask, what think you now? Is there any thing ridiculous or superstitious in all "this?" Yes, extremely much of both, if they at all resemble that of Archbishop Laud, (the only one I have ever seen,) when he consecrated the churches of St. Catharine Cree, St. Giles's, and

• You have forgotten, perhaps, the doctrine of your own homily, to which you have several times solemnly subscribed, "That, in Tertullian's time, 160 years after Christ, Chris ❝tians had no other temples but common houses, whether, "for the most part, they secretly resorted." Peril of Idol. Part. III. page 159.

• Appendix, page 45.

others in London. The form of this intolerable piece of ecclesiastical foppery, which no sound Protestant can read without indignation, has, in larger histories, been more than once published; but having never seen it in any little tract, I shall beg leave to transcribe it for the edification of our common readers. It is a striking instance of the danger of indulging human invention in things of religion; and shews into what wilds of ridiculous superstition even learned minds are apt to run when they leave the simplicity of the gospel of Christ.

"The bishop came attended with several of "the high commission, and some civilians. At "his approach to the west door of the church, "which was shut and guarded by halberdeers, "some that were appointed for that purpose, "cried with a loud voice, open, open, ye everlast

ing doors, that the King of glory may come in! "Presently the doors, were opened, and the bi"shop, with some doctors and principal men en"tered. As soon as they were within the place, "his lordship fell down upon his knees; and "with eyes lifted up, and his arms spread abroad, "said, this place is holy, the ground is holy: in the "name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I

pronounce it holy. Then, walking up the mid"dle aisle, towards the chancel, he took up some "of the dust, and threw it into the air several "times. When he approached near the rail of "the communion-table, he bowed towards it five "or six times, and returning, went round the "church, with his attendants, in procession, say"ing, first the hundredth, and then the nine"teenth psalm, as prescribed in the Roman pon"tifical. He then read several collects, in one "of which he prays God to accept of that beau

tiful building and concludes thus:-We conse"crate this church, and separate it unto thee as (6 holy ground, not to be profaned any more to

common use. In another he prays, that all "who should hereafter be buried within the cir"cuit of this holy and sacred place, may rest in "their sepulchres in peace till Christ's coming to "judgment, and may then rise to eternal life and "happiness.

"Then the bishop, sitting under a cloth of 66 state, in the aisle of the chancel, near the com"munion-table, took a written book in his hand, " and pronounced curses upon those who should "hereafter profane that holy place by musters "of soldiers, or keeping profane law-courts, or "carrying burdens through it; and at the end of every curse he bowed to the East, and said, let "all the people say Amen. When the curses were "ended, which were about twenty, he pronounced "a like number of blessings upon all that had any hand in framing and building that sacred "and beautiful church, and on those that had "given or should hereafter give, any challices, "plate, ornaments, or other utensils; and at the "end of every blessing, he bowed to the East, " and said, Let all the people say Amen. After "this came the sermon, then the sacrament, "which the bishop consecrated and administer"ed in the following manner.

66

"As he approached the altar, he made five or "six low bows; and coming up to the side of it, "where the bread and wine were covered, he "bowed seven times. Then, after reading many

prayers, he came near the bread: and gently "lifting up the corner of the napkin, beheld it; "and immediately letting fall the napkin, he re"treated hastily a step or two, and made three "low obeisances. His Lordship then advanced; "and having uncovered the bread, bowed three "times as before: then he laid his hand on the 66 cup, which was full of wine, with a cover upon ❝it, which having let go, he stepped back, and is bowed three times towards it: then he came