tion if not the principal one, againft coming into our Church.

As alfo because fome of our own Brethren, who confider Subfcriptions in the fame Light with the bigotted Members of the Church of Rome, and probably never read, or never duly confidered the Act of Uniformity, have taken Occafion, from that Form of Declaration of Affent, to brand thofe, who prefume to doubt, or differ from them in any of their imaginafy orthodox Notions, with the Imputation of Perjury, or, at leaft, of Hypocrify.

But though we should fuppofe this was done, and that Subfcrip

tions were declared to be only re-. quired for Peace-fake; yet there is ftill a Difficulty which remains behind, with regard to thofe who do not approve of all the Articles of the established Religion, or of every thing in the Liturgy; because it is natural for them to defire, that thofe Things, which they take to be Errors fhould be amended; and yet it is found by Experience, that whoever attempts to find fault with the Canons or the Articles of Religion, or the established Form of Liturgy, becomes immediately a Disturber of the Peace of the Church, as he is fure, at leaft, to be loaded with the opprobrious Name of Schifmatic, or Heretic, which, ever fince the Days of Po

pery,

pery, are Sounds that occafion wondrous Horror in the Ears of the Vulgar.

Whoever confiders the Difficulties which attend the Reformation of Religion in general, and, in particular, the Difficulties which attended these Nations in their Re

formation from Popery, ought to thank God that fo much was done at that Time as was done, rather than repine that more was not effected. The Humour of the Times would not fuffer a more thorough Reformation; thefe Nations having been fo long accuftomed to a Kind of utter Darkness, that their Eyes would not bear too much Light to be let in at once. b 2

Chrifti

Christianity was not established, nor the Jewish Religion thoroughly reformed, all on a fudden. After St. Paul had been many Years a Preacher of the Gofpel, he complied with the Jewish Ceremony of [2] having his Head in Cenchrea, because he was under a Vow; and of [3] purifying himself at the Temple of Jerusalem, rather than give Offence to the Jews: And the whole Council of Apostles, when affembled at Jerusalem, affented to enjoin thofe [4] Jewish Profelytes, who, from among the Gentiles, were turned unto God, to continue for fome

time under a prohibition from eating Things ftrangled, and from Blood, which hath been long fince discontinued. And our Saviour himfelf was pleased to declare, that he concealed many Truths, till the Disciples fhould be able to bear them, John xvi. 12,

The present Conftitution of these Kingdoms, both in Church and State, is, in my fincere Opinion, the beft in the known World; but I will not fay, that it is not capable of being ftill further amended. What then is to be done? For if the Church be not infallible any more than the State, why may not that be amended as well as the State? And why should we be