condemnation passed by himself, upon himself, if he h pens to be wrong. True it is, that two things, which are posite in themselves, cannot both be right at the same -ti and every person who differs from me, must think that I wrong, or that he himself is wrong; and woe unto them shall make no difference between right and wrong! But each one say for himself in the language of the Poet, "Let not this weak, unknowing hand, And deal damnation round the land, While a member of College, I left the congregational Pr byterian religion, in which my parents and I had be brought up, and joined the Episcopal church; and I did it cause I then thought, and now think it was my duty. thought that the Episcopal church was of divine appoi ment; that in it the sacraments were administered by div and undoubted authority; that the doctrines taught that church were in every point of view honorable to G and useful to man, and supported by the authority of Go word; that the worship of God in that church did not depe upon the discretion or indiscretion of any one man, and not as various and as discordant as the tempers, dispositio and abilities of all those who should lead in their devotion but was founded upon the temper and disposition of the g pel and supported by the authority of the holy scriptur In this church, there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, d God and Father of all, who is above all, and through ali, a in all, working in due season, that we should bring forth fruits of a virtuous and good life. Constantly to unite the same forms of worship has a tendency to bring us to the same disposition, and a sameness of disposition c ates friendship in all beings and in all worlds, (so far as knowledge extends) and by this, says our blessed Saviour, sh if he ich are "O, Almighty and Everlasting God, who alone can govern same the unruly wills and affections of sinful men, make me, bek that seech thee, at all times to love those things which thou dost them command, and to desire those things which thou dost promise, But that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, my heart may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found, through Jesus Christ my Lord." ng! bet, gational 1 had norable to was graduated at Yale College, in New-Haven, Connd I did necticut, in the year 1790; and soon after, was placed vine app afterwards bishop Jarvis,) in the study of divinity and ecs my dut under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Jarvis in Middletown, ered by dclesiastical history, and boarded in his family. My situation ines taugh Soon became unpleasant in consequence of his churlish beority of Gtion. I left his house and was placed under the direction, in did not deny studies, of the Rev. Edward Blakeslee, of North Haven, rs, dispositarvis appeared to be mortified and displeased; his endeavors their devoto excite a disgust against me, in the minds of some of the tion of the Clergy and laity of the Episcopal Church, were soon com haviour in his family and neglect to give me suitable instruc holy script municated to me, and I soon became sensible of the effects of ne batismem. Application was made to me, to perform divine serthrough alce, and to preach, under the direction of the Rev. Doct. ntly to Salem, which I did to the unanimous approbation of the d bring fortansfield, in the churches in Waterbury, in Woodbury, and to bring disposition so far as declined ervice there, the A feelings were excited. . In the year 1791, I attended the C vention or Convocation of the church, in Watertown wit view of being examined and admitted as a candidate, perceiving the hostile disposition of Mr. Jarvis, and the in ence he had gained with some of the clergy, I withdrew wi out offering myself, or making my intentions known. wishing to avoid any thing unpleasant, I received letters recommendation from the Rev. Dr. Mansfield, the Rev. N Blakeslee, and others; also from the church in Branfo Northford, and others, and went into the state of New-Yo and commenced a Reader in he churches in Schenecta and Ballston, under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Ellison, Albany. In this situation, having given notice to the bis op of New York, I remained until the next vear, when I w recommended to the said bishop of New York, and stan ing committee of the church in that state, for deacon's orde by the Rev. Dr. Mansfield, and the Rev. Mr. Blakesle in whose families I had resided, and studied divinity and e clesiastical history; by the church in Branford, where I h been born and brought up, and where I had neen know from my infancy, and where public notice had been given the congregation, assembled in the church, for public worsh on Sunday, the 15th day of April, 1792, that in the month June, in that year, I should apply to the bishop and standi com nittee of the church, in the state of New York. to be dained a deacon, and they were then solemnly called upon the name of God, if they knew any thing scandalous in conduct or character, or any just cause or reason why I shou not be ordained, to let it be known within one month, that might be communicated to the proper authority, I was al recommended as aforesaid. by the church in Northford, by t church in Guilford, by the church in Ballston, and by church in the city of Schenectady, where I then resided, a by the Rev. Mr. Ellison of Albany, under whose care a direction I had been employed as a reader for about one yea with these recommendations, and my diploma from college d the C e to the b k. and sta vinity and 1, wherel been given public wor the mont and stand York. to be called up ndalous in on why I sh month, the y. was orthford, b on, and by en resided hose care about one from colleg Newbold to the R M dividually the same communication and request, and after due examination, received the same recommendation from them. I then went to the house of the Rev. Mr. Perry, of Newtown, who was secretary of the Convention of Connecticut, to obtain a certificate, that I had not been refused holy orders in that state, in order to contradict the falsehood of Mr. Jarvis. When I arrived there, Mr. Perry was from home on a journey; I stated my business to Mrs. Perry, and wished to examine the records, which I did in her presence, and in the presence of a Mr. Isaac Davis who was there, a young gentleman with whom I was acquainted, when I was a member of college: not finding my name on the record, as I was sure it was not, Mr. Perry being from home, the day of my ordination having been appointed, and nothing but the evidence of a plain matter of fact wanted; Mr. Davis consented to give a certificate in the name of Mr. Perry, that no act of the bishop and clergy of Conuecticut, had been passed, refusing me orders in that state; this he did—and with this certificate, and with these recommendations, I returned to New York, satisfied Dr. Beach, (who was only one of a committee of eight, and only a majority was necessary,) and I was ordained a deacon, in Trinity church. in the city of NewYork, by the Right Rev. Samuel Provoost, D. D. bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in that state, on the twentyfourth day of June, A. D. 1792. On the day after my ordination, I called on the said Dr. Beach for my papers and documents, as they could be of no use to him. Those which were directed to the standing conmittee he claimed as vouchers for his conduct in recommending me, and refused to return them; but the certificate written by Mr. Davis, was not directed to any body, and was reOn turned to me. my way home, which was in Schenectahim dy, I went to the house of Mr. Perry, in Newtown, gave the certificate which Mr. Davis had given me in his absence, told him how came by it, and what it was given for. His reply was, "I am sorry that I was not at home when you was here before, for I should have been glad to have afforded you every assistance in my power, and am glad that Mr. Dagave this certificate." He then tore it in two, and |