112

Lactantius, his testimony to the Unity of God, and to Christ
as a preacher of it
Legate (Bartholomew) his opinions—that Christ the apostles
teach to be a man only, who began to be when he took
flesh of the Virgin Mary-that he was God only in this
sense as having a divine power conferred upon him-
and that he was not to be played unto

Smithfield

his good character-burnt alive in

wherein he differed from those called

48

49

Socinians

49*

Litany, the perplexing variety of the objects of worship held forth in it

135

Madan (The Rev. Martin) his singular way of explaining
Deut. vi. 4.

Mosheim, a good historian, but to be read with caution
Nazarene (Christians) their right sentiments concerning
God and Christ

Origen, his just sentiments in one place concerning the ob-
ject of prayer

Parliament, a most injurious Act, passed 9 and 10 Wm. III. Paul (Father) how withheld from quitting the communion of the church of Rome

not entirely satisfied with his own methods of quieting his scruples Plato, his doctrine of a second God grafted upon the gospel by the heathen converts Prideaux (Dr.) his interpretation of the Chaldee phrase, the word of God

Robertson (Rev. Dr.) relinquishes his preferment in the church of Ireland-the motives that induced him

Secker (Abp.) his explanation of the Trinity of three being

Sherlock (Dr.) his trinity of three minds

Smalridge (Bp.) his unworthy fears of examining into the
truth of established forms of worship

South (Dr.) his trinity of three modes or attributes
Socinus maintains that Christ, though a man only with ex-
traordinary powers from God, is to be prayed unto

Stephen, his request to Christ (Acts vii. 49), accounted for without authorizing prayer to him

118

Tucker (Rev. Dr.) his ungrammatical and contradictory language concerning the Trinity

175

191

64

65

Tillotson (Abp.) his opinion concerning frequenting public
worship, where one could not sincerely join in the
prayers used in it
Whiston (William) his expulsion from the university of Cam-
bridge for maintaining that the only God of Christians is
God the Father

his character

Whitby (Rev. Dr.) maintains that the christian writers, before the council of Nice, held that Christ was not God, but a creature made by him

his retractation of the errors in his Commentaries on the New Testament concerning Christ Wightman (Edward) burnt to death for his opinions concerning the Trinity Wollaston (Rev. Mr.) and his associates-their application to the bishops to set forward a reformation-rejected

THE APOLOGY,

&c.

CHAPTER I.

THE INTRODUCTION, WITH SOME STRICTURES ON THE ORIGIN OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY, AND THE OPPOSITION IT MET WITH TO THE TIME OF THE REFORMATION.

IT would be doing an injury to the petitioners to parliament for redress in the matter of subscription, with whom the writer was from the first connected, to class them as holding the same opinions with him, if there should be any thing to blame in the freedom with which he hath delivered his sentiments on some favourite points. The rise of his scruples and difficulties was many years prior to that connexion, and would, he is persuaded, have brought him to take the step he has been constrained to for his own quiet, without it. Whilst at the same time he must ever think the design and conduct of that association, unsuccessful in its main point as it hath hitherto been, highly serviceable to true religion, and honourable to all concerned in it; and cannot but reflect with peculiar satisfaction, that he did not quit his ministry in the church established, till the most reasonable attempts for a farther

B

reformation were rejected; first, in the honourable the Commons House of Parliament refusing the petition of the clergy, and the two professions of law and physic, for relief in the matter of subscription to the Liturgy, and Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England; and next, in the abrupt negative put by the governors of the church upon the application made to them by the Rev. Mr. Wollaston and his associates,* for their assistance and direction in procuring this relief: viz. that in their opinion it was† neither prudent nor safe to do any thing in the matter by them submitted to their consideration; the very words (as communicated by a friend) of the A-p of

*Three of Mr. Wollaston's associates have been since promoted to dignities in the Church: the Honourable James Yorke to the Bishopric of Ely, Dr. Porteus to Chester, Dr. Percy to the Deanery of Carlisle. As the influence of these gentlemen is increased by their high stations, it is not to be doubted but it will be exerted in accomplishing as far as they are able the desired reformation: and a better plan can'not be proposed than appeared soon after this present Work was laid before the public, and is in some respects an improvement upon it, printed without the name of the Author, but-ascribed to an honourable member of their association, and entitled "Queries relating to the Book of Common Prayer, &c. with proposed Amendments; addressed to Those in Authority, and submitted to their Consideration." London. Printed for J. Wilkie, No. 71, St. Paul's Church-yard, 1774.

"It may therefore be dangerous to begin with making alterations and amendments in the church, lest those scaffoldings, which are erected for repairs, should be made use of to pull down the whole fabric."

C-y, to the previous message and deputation sent to him from Tennison's library, the place where that gentleman and his associates held their meetings.

The clergy-society at the Feathers was made up, as the like voluntary combinations of serious and inquisitive persons unknown to each other ever will be made up, of men differing in opinion from each other in many respects, but united in this, that subscription to human formularies of faith was an unjust imposition upon the consciences of men, and an invasion of Christ's authority, the only Lord of conscience, and head of his church.

As a body of men, they are no more chargeable with the private opinions than with the private conduct of each individual of their number. Some of them, without any just impeachment of their integrity, may think there is nothing amiss in repeating that subscription, of which they sought the removal. Others may not be able to allow themselves such a latitude. And it may be painful, and even impossible to some to reconcile

"Ans. As to the Christian religion in general, we have the sure word of prophecy, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And as to particular establishments, I should apprehend, that the freer they were from errors, the more likely they would be to stand. At least I should think it would be right to run some risque, and place some trust in the providence of God, rather than let errors of any consequence -Dr. Clayton, Bishop of Clogher, ¿ μanagirys, Dedication to Essay on Spirit, pp. xlv. xlvi.

remain."

B 2