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first appearance as to have reached a third edition in little more than six months.

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The Editors deem it unnecessary to add more than earnestly to recommend the last mentioned Tract, which is here re-published, to general perusal; in a full persuasion that it will be found admirably adapted to confirm and strengthen, in all who give it due attention, the soundest principles of Church-Government, the pure doctrines of the Christian Faith, and that consistent regard to Christian Obedience, with respect both to Doctrine and Discipline, which are the genu ine characteristics of a faithful Son of the Church of England.

May 29, 1807.

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CHAP. I.

Of the Church.

AINT PETER, 1 Pet. 3. 15. Bids us to sanc

SAIN

tifie the Lord God in our hearts, and to be ready always to give an answer to every one that asketh us a reason of the hope that is in us, with meekness and fear. And therefore it can never be improper, or unseasonable for the most private Man to give an account of Himself, of his Belief, and Practice, especially in a time when Religion is so much controverted; that he may be correctéd by others, if he be in any mistake, (which I call God to witness, in my Case, is not wilful) or if he be in the right, that he may at least by this example, do some good in the World, and provoke others to an Imitation.

I do therefore freely own, that I am not only a Christian at large, who Believes Christ to be come, and the Gospel to be the Word of God, and Rule of Men, and content my self with a silent Belief of This: But I look on my self as a Member of his Church, his Body, being admitted into it by Baptism, and enjoying singu

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lar privileges, and advantages by it, as having a right to all the benefits which he purchased to his Church, and a share in all the Prayers that are made for it. This Church or generality of Christians hath several parts, some of which are more pure, some more corrupt; yet all that hold the essentials of Religion, I esteem to be of it. And though it be spread over the whole World, yet I look on it but as One, Christ himself speaking of his Church but as one; and accordingly I profess it in my Creed. And I think it ought to be but one; for the several parts of it ought not only to believe the same Articles of Faith, but as far as is possible to maintain the same Government, and keep up the same outward Order and Administration of affairs: That so, whosoever sees them, may know them to be the same kind of men, though scattered into several Countries. And they ought to keep up Union not only with one another, but especially with the First and Purest Ages of Christianity. For the Unity of the Church seems to require that we should endeavour as much to keep up Unity with the First Christians, though we live so long after them in time, as if we had lived at the same time with them, but far distant from them as to place. And all the Members of the Catholick or Universal Church ought to be more one, to have a

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