phyfician and civilian be allowed to practife, are furly to be regulated at the fole difcretion of the ftate. Yet, after all that has been faid, the following queftion may be asked, and indeed it often has been asked with triumph, by the adverfaries of the prefent attempt Would you have the church to authorife and fend forth minifters and pastors among the people, without taking any fecurity of them for the faithful discharge of their office; and, particularly, without guarding against their preaching falfe and erroneous doctrines? Already it has been replied, and the reply expreffes the fentiments of the learned and judicious Dr. Clarke, that in the office of ordination there are feveral questions put to every prieft, the answers to which, feem to contain as ample fecurity as any chrißian church can defire, or can be authorised to demand. At the time of ordination, the priest declares in the moft folemn manner, 1. That he is perfuaded that the holy fcriptures contain fufficiently all doctrine required of neceflity for eternal falvation through faith in Jefus Chrift. 2. That 2. That he has determined, by God's grace, out of the faid fcriptures to inftruct the people committed to his charge; and to teach nothing as required of neceffity to eternal falvation, but that which he fhall be perfuaded, may be concluded and proved by the scripture. 3. That he will ufe both public and private monitions, as well to the fick as to the whole, within his cure, as need fhall require, and occafion fhall be given. 4. That he will be diligent in prayers, and in reading, of the holy fcriptures, and in fuch studies as help the knowledge of the fame, laying afide the ftudy of the world and of the flesh. 5. That he will be diligent to frame and fashion his own felf and his family according to the doctrine of Christ, and to make both himself and them, as much as in him lieth, wholefome examples and patterns to the flock of Christ. 6. That he will maintain and fet forwards, as much as in him lieth, quietness, peace, and love, among all chriftian people, and, especially, among thofe that are, or fhall be, committed to his charge. A LETTER A LETTER то SIR WILLIAM MEREDITH, BART. UPON THE SUBJECT OF SUBSCRIPTION TO THE LITURGY AND THIRTY NINE ARTICLES OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND: BY AN ENGLISHMAN. NON PARTIS STUDIIS AGIMUR, SED SUMSIMUS ARMA CONSILIIS INIMICA TUIS, IGNAVIA FALLAX, то SIR WILLIAM MEREDITH, BART, SIR, He THE writer of this letter is one of the petitioning clergy, whofe cause you lately patronized in the house of commons. acknowledges, with heart-felt gratitude, his obligations as an individual, for the zeal you fhewed in its fupport: and is fenfible how much the whole affociation is indebted to you, for your conduct on that memorable night, when, with invincible ftrength of argument, and most persuasive eloquence, you maintained the unalienable right of your fellow-citizens to an unlimited exercife of private judgment in matters of a religious nature; and evinced the abfurdity, as well as impiety, of requiring from the public teachers of the golpel, a fubfcribed declaration, expreffive of the agree |