upon

times, affume the title of moderate Calvinifts. As thefe feceders feem rather inclined to dispute with us for words than for things, and are in many respects highly valuable members of Christianity, we are in this inftance rather called to lament infirmity, than to reprobate grofs error. A defire of being wife above what is written, a contentious fpirit, and the abfence of clear ideas, are failings which we should feek to remedy in ourfelves, and meekly endeavour to reform in others.

Our ableft logicians affirm, that the phrafe moderate Calvinifm* is a folecifm; that this fyftem must be adopted

* Some explain moderate Calvinifm to mean people who hold the doctrine of abfolute predeftination themselves, but do not confider fuch belief to be neceffary to falvation, or an effential article of Christian faith. Some explain it to be, only holding parts of that reformer's fingular opinions.

wholly,

wholly, or totally rejected; that without reprobates, no meaning can be affigned to the word elect; and that without human agency, there can be no virtue. I am not equal to thefe niceties of disputation; it is fufficient for my purpose, that the above appellation is adopted by many, who use it as the fign of their diffent from the great body of the eftablished church. To me it appears a diftinction without a difference; or rather, that the difputed points are of fuch a metaphyfical fubtile nature, as to elude the research of ordinary understandings.

It is not my wish to lead you into a maze of controverfy; but only to guard you against all fchifmatical perfuafives, which may come recommended by the impofing names of ferioufnefs and extraordinary piety, or of more profound gofpel knowledge. Inftead of profcribing piety and seriousnefs, our church requires them

B 2

them from all her members; fhe has appointed offices for morning and evening prayer; and fhe commemorates every festival connected with Christianity, either in relation to its myfteries, or to the example of its primitive worthies. So far from withholding the Scriptures from the congregation, fhe enjoins the frequent ufe of them to all her members, and she prays, that they may not only "read," but "mark, learn, and inwardly digeft "them." If, therefore, we really are in fearch of piety, virtue, and knowledge, we need not wander from her fold.

It is true, our Church rejects all fimilitude to the boaftful merit of the Pharifee, on whatever pretext that merit is fuppofed to be founded. She admits no pofitive judging of the religious state of others, further than as their actions speak their hearts; and the encourages us to direct our attention to our own lives as

well

well as principles. She requires great modesty of judgment on abftrufe and myfterious points, especially as to what relates to our fpiritual condition, or to the manner in which divine grace is conveyed to the foul; and it must be confeffed, the expects her members rather to be learners and bearers, than expoftulators and expounders; that they should be clothed with humility, instead of selffufficiency; and that they fhould fubmit themselves to their "fpiritual paftors and "masters," instead of cavilling at those who "watch over them in the Lord."What paffes for fpiritual gifts in the eyes of many, the esteems the folly of "curious and carnal men;" and to the long tautological extemporary effufions of over-weening confidence, fhe oppofes her formularies, conceived "in obedi"ence to the fober counfels of the Royal "Preacher :" Be not "rafh with thy "mouth,

ર

B 3

1

"mouth, and let not thy heart be hafty "to utter any thing before God."

In another point he is alfo decided; I mean as to the independency of her minifters; who, " being ftewards of the

myfteries of God," derive their commiffion from him, and certainly ought not to be amenable to the congregation whom they are ordained to inftruct, and from whom they are not to withhold what is profitable. The liberty of choofing their own inftructors, or, what is tantamount, of deferting their parochial church, if it be occupied by a clergyman whose manner of preaching they diflike, is afferted by most moderate Calvinifts; who, while they affect respect for the hierarchy, claim a degree of licence for its lay members inconfiftent with the regular fubordination on which it is founded; and degrade a fpiritual function, by judging it with the

fame