books. It can by no means, however, be conceded, that sentence should pass against us, according to the unproved suppositions of our opponents. The manner, in which we perform the duties of our ministry, may often be injudicious: but the state of our parishes and congregations, if investigated, will prove, that it is not that it is not mischievous in the extreme:' and surely, there are other tenets and practices, which need to be exposed, with more frequency and earnestness, than those of the evangelical clergy: otherwise, let them be convicted of heresy, or immorality, and suspended from their ministry.-The word practices is ambiguous: it may mean immoral practices, or, the practice of preaching extempore, and others of a similar kind.

P. clxxvi. Note. 'Dangerous, &c.1 As Grotius had neither subscribed our articles, nor required subscription to them from others; he was therefore the less reprehensible, in writing this passage. The quotations made from Mr. Overton, sufficiently

Dangerous things follow incautious speeches. For most men, reading these things, hearing these things, (namely, that we are justified by faith alone, without any works,) while they live in sins, neither amend themselves, yet promise themselves salvation; truly because, as they speak, they believe, that Christ ⚫ died for that, absolutely, that he might save them: and applying to themselves by faith, the righteousness of Christ, which is most perfect, and worthy of the heavenly reward, they make his • merits their own. If this can so be done, other things are now superfluous; it is of no consequence how they live. Without condition, Christ hath satisfied for the punishment, which they owed; without condition, he hath merited for them eternal glory.' (Grotius. Translation.)

guard every attentive reader, from the perversion of the doctrine, of justification by faith alone, which is here stated; and as to the doctrine itself, it is enough to refer the reader, first to the eleventh article of our church, and then to the twelfth, as guarding it against perversion: and should any thing further appear necessary on the subject, his Lordship's own most excellent statement of the subject, before adduced, may properly be referred to. In respect of Grotius, I would once for all say, that I consider him, as one of the most able, and plausible, yet most decided enemies, of genuine christianity, that modern times have produced..

P. clxxvii. l. 18.

I P. 110, 111, Refutation.

And is not, &c?" Whether

2 And is not this, says the same author, the notorious divinity ' of Mr. Daubeny? The benefits of Christ and faith, according 'to his phraseology, are redemption from a state of certain con⚫demnation, and a restoration to a state of possible salvation; together with a gracious provision of assistance to make that salvation sure. These benefits he considers as enjoyed by all the professed members of the church of England. But whe 'ther, he says, this state of possible salvation through Christ may become a state of actual salvation to the believing party, must depend upon the use made of the means vouchsafed for that purpose. Again, having observed that Christ has only placed man in a salvable condition, the clergy, he says, feel themselves called upon to enforce obedience to the moral law, as necessary to 'to the accomplishment of the christian scheme; necessary to bring fallen man into a state of acceptance with God, by quali fying him for the salvation which has been purchased. Works, • he says again, should be pressed upon christians at all times, as the condition upon which they are taught to look for salvation; ' and, on another occasion, they (that is, works) will be considerations on account of which God will be pleased to accept a fallen,

this passage, quoted by Mr. Overton, from Daubeny, do consist with the doctrines of Scripture, and of our articles, I shall not at present enquire. I certainly think with Mr. Overton, that they are wholly incompatible. But I only adduce them, as introduc tory to that which follows.

Supposing

P. clxxviii. 1. 20. My object, &c. the quotation adduced, to contain contemptuous language, (which I can not perceive it does; unless to. suppose a fallible fellow mortal to be mistaken, be contemptuous language ;) what has this to do, with the evangelical clergy in general? Mr. Overton has had to bear censures enough, from those who are considered as belonging to the same company as himself, to make him painfully sensible, that they do not consider themselves responsible for his statements, or manner. Quotations, amounting in all, to about a page, or two at most, from one book, are brought forward against a body of men, amounting to many

⚫ condemned, though at the same time repentant and obedient ✦ sinner, for the sake of what an all-gracious Saviour has done and • suffered for him.'

'My object in making this quotation, is not so much to de'fend Mr. Daubeny, who has fully and unanswerably vindicated 'himself against the attacks of this writer, as to shew the con

temptuous manner in which the evangelical clergy speak of their • brethren of the establishment, who 'feel themselves called upon ⚫ to enforce obedience to the moral law, as necessary to the ac⚫complishment of the christian scheme, and who teach theit congregations that "works are the condition of salvation and that they will be considerations on account of which God ⚫ will be pleased to accept a fallen, condemned, though at the same time repentant and obedient sinner, for the sake of what an all-gracious Saviour has done and suffered for him,'

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hundreds, as evidence sufficient for the condemnation, not only of the author, but of the whole -company, whether they approve of his publication ! in toto, or in any part of it, or not. What would our truly venerable judges say to such an ex parte Sevidence, if brought before them in any court› of -justice? Undoubtedly they would at once quash the Sindictment. Our books are numerous, and some of them widely circulated: from them our sentiments may be known; if our opponents choose to know them, before they attempt to refute them. Probbably not ten of our whole body saw Mr. Overton's abook before it was published: and no great number - so much as knew, that it was to be published. WheDther his doctrine and manner, or Mr. Daubeny's, be most scriptural; is another question: but certainly the evangelical clergy are no more to be involved in -Mr. Overton's condemnation, (if condemned,) thán Jall the rest of the clergy, in Mr. Daubeny's. Some e will think that the one, and some that the other, has -the best of the argument; and it is as naturally to be expected, that I should say, "Mr. Overton has - never been fairly answered;' as that his Lordship V should aver, that Mr. Daubeny has fully and unDanswerably vindicated himself against the attacks of this writer. But we are both fallible; and God must judge, which of us is mistaken. Whether the conVcluding language of this quotation be scriptural, br according to the doctrine of our articles and homilies, the reader must judge. Works the condition ' of salvation,' is not the language of the Scriptures,

sermons, in which many of us do not introduce it. But let it be observed, that it is not, in order to be preserved in a salvable condition,' or even, in order to have some further hope of salvation: but "knowing, "that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."-The Kother / scriptures, which are adduced in the next opage, also are constantly brought forward by the : levangelical clergy in general, in their instructions and exhortations.-Good works are doubtless necessary: the controversy is not concerning this, which both parties allow; but merely, concerning the rank, which they are to hold; the office which they are to perform, or sustain ; whether of recommending us to Ji God; or, as proving the sincerity of our professed faith and love, as the genuine expressions of our gratitude, and our zeal; as those things, in which -the true christian delights, and desires to abound; sas glorifying God," and adorning the doctrine of vis God our Saviour" and as profitable, to our 1: brethren, and fellow creatures, whom grace teaches us to love and to desire to profit. This is the only point in debate: whereas our opponents argue against us, under the mistaken supposition, that we undervalue, good works, in themselves, and, do not consider them, as any essential part of christianity. But that may be important, nay, essential, to the building, which is wholly unsuitable to be, in any degree, the foundation of it.

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Matt, xvi. 27. John v. 28, 29. John 6. xiv. 12. 1 Cor. iii. 8. Phil. ii. 12.

Acts, x. 35. Rom., i

Jam. i. 25. 1 Joha

jü. 7.