this declaration is made, is a matter of little moment, provided the formulary be clear and exprefs.

"With respect to our willingness, to acknowledge the lawful authority of bishops, and to affent to the use of the liturgy; those matters are pretty well taken care of by the oaths of canonical obedience, and the act of uniformity. They are questions, totally diftinct from that we are engaged in; and, as our adverfaries know full well, that we have no objections to either of these matters, they will never be molified by any declarations we can make. But it is advisable, you will fay, to gain the good opinion of moderate men. We have not, as yet, offended any moderate men. And those half-friends who, at present, keep aloof, have other rea❤ fons for their conduct, which no declarations of our innocency can subdue. It is urged, by many, as a reafon for not meddling in our affair, that, were the present articles fet afide, as we defire, we should next labour to establish focinian articles in their room. In fhort, there is no end of anfwering

answering objections or of foftening the oppofition. Let us keep our grand point, viz. the fufficiency of the fcriptures, steadily in view. It is a reasonable and intelligible kind of union, which cannot easily be broken. And while we adhere to it, a difference of opinion may indeed arife as to the time, and mode of our operations; but, we shall ever be a refpectable and confiftent body of men, who will, at laft, appear to have hit upon the shortest and most practicable, as well as moft juftifiable method, of clofing, for ever, all prejudicial diffentions in matters of faith.

"You see the state of my mind upon this fubject: you fee I am thoroughly refolved, never to give my affent to any measure, which, in the most diftant manner, implies a departure from our original ground. But, at the fame time, with respect to the mode of carrying on our attacks against this ufurped power of dogmatizing in the church of Christ: whether by the old petition, by a new one, or by bill, as having no fettled opinion of my own, or unable to advise, I

fhall,

1

fhall, with pleasure, fall in with the opinion

of the majority of our friends."

The summer of the year 1772, like the preceding one, (from June to October) he paffed at Bungay; where he prepared lectures on St. Paul's epiftles, and wrote much for the public papers.

Mr. Jebb having fully confidered the argument urged by the enemies of the protestant principle, from the fuppofed neceffity of a proper center of union among chriftians, wrote his fentiments thereon in the public prints, as alfo in a letter which was published in October 1772, and addressed to fir William Meredith.*

On funday, the 27th of December 1772, Mr. Jebb preached before the university; and, as the occafion demanded, confidered the queftion concerning fubfcription, in as full extent as the time and place would admit. The fubject was taken from Acts xv. 10. "Now, therefore, why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the difciples, which neither our fathers, nor we, were able

*See p. 223 of this volume, alfo page 104 and 108, of the third volume.

able to bear?" This fermon is preferved in the prefent publication, under a perfuafion that by fo doing, we render an acceptable service to the proteftant cause.*

The very next day, monday the 28th of December, he again preached before the fame audience; but, having borne his public teftimony to the genuine principle of proteftantism, he wifely declined to proceed in matters of controverfy. He, therefore, delivered a sermon on the spirit of benevolence, which he foon after published; infcribing it to the ingenuous youths who had honoured with their attendance, his theological lectures." +

This fermon was re-printed, in the year 1780, and again in 1782; and the circulation of it widely extended, in the midft of the agitation of great political queftions. To thefe editions, were prefixed the following advertisement by the editor:

"At a time, when difputes run fo high, as to endanger that affection we owe to each other, as children of one common parent, who is the author of all good, it hath frequently See vol. ii. p. 107-133. + Ib. p. 1-26.

quently been fuggefted, by many who wish to promote that univerfal benevolence, recommended in the following fermon, that re-printing it at this time, might tend to moderate our refentments, and induce us, even in the midst of contending parties, to remember that we are brethren.

"With a view of curbing the violence of paffion, without impairing the vigour of our virtuous efforts for that which we think right; leave hath been obtained of the author to re-publish this difcourfe and it is now humbly inscribed to the people of England, Ireland, and America, by their fincere friend and humble fervant, the editor."

During the months of February, March, and April, 1773, Mr. Jebb was particularly employed in attendance on the bufinefs of the clergy affociated for obtaining relief in the matter of fubfcription; and, on the questions relating to the establishing annual examinations at Cambridge.

It may be thought by fome perfons, who have been used to confound academical foundations with monaftic inftitutions, that the disputes in the univerfity may be of no

more