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were deemed religious in proportion to the clamorous vehement zeal with which they supported a darling doctrine, while specious; and, it is not denied that they might have been sincere; pretexts were not wanting to give an air of justice to their zeal. The love of truth, it was urged, would not allow them to be indifferent to its interest; they felt the tenets to be true; they were assured of their importance; they heartily embraced them; and, in proportion to their persuasion of their truth and magnitude, they deemed it incumbent on them, as they would not incur the guilt of lukewarmness, to prosecute the sacred cause. (f) Thus the support of truth became an argument for discharging pestilential vapours, before whose noxious breath the refreshing verdure of the graces of the Gospel, which is truth itself, shrivelled up and died. At different periods, a few indeed appeared both on the Continent, (g)

p. 3.) that an excessive zeal for Doctrine had produced an unhappy neglect of morality; "Quod hæc pars Prophetiæ (i.e. morality) hactenus minus fuerat exculta, &c."-Mosh. Eccl. Hist. Cent, xvi. Sect. iii. Part. 2, § xxxvii. Maclaine's notes [p] & [Q].

(f) "Thus the love of truth was unhappily found to stand in opposition to the love of union, piety, and concord: and thus, in the present critical and corrupt state of human nature, the unruly and turbulent passions of men can, by an egregious abuse, draw the worst consequences from the best things, and render the most excellent principles and views productive of confusion, calamity, and discord."-Mosh. Eccl. Hist. Cent. xvii. Sect. ii. Part 2, § xx.-" Nay, in their narrow views of things, their very piety seemed to suppress the generous movements of fraternal love and forbearance."-Ibid. § xiii.

(g) Mosheim, Cent. xvii. Sect. ii. Part 2, § iii. et alibi.

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and among ourselves, (h) who used great and unremitting efforts to mediate between the parties; but, unsuccessful in the attempt, they were not only mortified with finding their schemes of reconciliation prove abortive, and the hopes they entertained of the blessings of peace blasted, but they were even pursued by calumny, and driven to their only refuge-a conscience void of offence. When, indeed, we reflect upon the single fact of Latimer, Cranmer, Ridley, Taylor, &c. who sealed the sincerity of their professions with their blood, being styled

devil's martyrs" by the Lutherans of Frankfort, because they differed with them in opinion concerning Christ's presence in the Eucharist;(i) we have evidence, amounting to volumes, before us, of the fearful opinions to which the excesses of party zeal give birth. If similar If similar symptoms, how remote soever from these violent appearances, indicate a nascent distemper similar in kind, though, blessed be God, not in degree, it is not without solicitude, how conscious soever a man shall be of purity of views, that he can venture to offer any thing which may be converted into the

(h) Hall, &c.

(i) Mosh, Eccl. Hist. Cent. xvi. Sect. iii. Part 2, c. 2, § xvii. Maclaine's Note, "Vociferantur quidam Martyres Anglicos esse Martyres Diaboli. Nolim hac contumeliâ afficere Sanctum Spiritum in Latimero, qui annum octogesimum egressus fuit et in aliis sanctis viris quos novi.”—Melancthon to Camerarius, Epist. lib. iv. p. 259.

exasperating cause of so irritable a disease. Is it not notorious, that in every society, in which the adepts of this newly-revived system appear, doctrinal arguments exclusively occupy the conversation? Do we not see those, who have laid out their time to much better purpose in the practice of the weightier matters of the law, "Judgment, Mercy, and Faith,” (Mat. xxiii. 23.) than in barren speculations, unequally matched with those who have been long handling the weapons of controversy; and silenced, if not convinced, by the lofty tone of confidence with which favourite positions are urged, by the dexterous application of authorities, whether from human writings or the Scriptures, and the supercilious contempt with which the ignorant or the unawakened state of those who differ from them is frowned down? And though we would say to those who are thus assailed, as the wise Melancthon did to his pious mother, when, repeating her simple creed and form of devotion, she inquired "how she should believe, and how she should pray, amid these religious disputes?" "Continue to believe and to pray as you do at present, and do not trouble yourself about controversies ;"(k) yet, it is not without apprehension for its effects, in compelling the most moderate to lay aside their moderation, and become partisans, that we

(k) Camerarius and Watkin's Biog. Dict. ad verbum.

view the present state of society; and therefore, while we deprecate the situation, and are alarmed at its progress, cannot but dread that even this Apology may be used as nutriment to the distemper.-But let us indulge happier prospects, and more pertaining to the peace of Sion, though we thus speak.

AN APOLOGY,

&.c.

CHAPTER I.

Unconditional Election is not the Doctrine of the United Church of England and Ireland.

THE method employed by the Author of "the Inquiry," for stamping upon his own opinions exclusive characters, that should appropriate to them the doctrines of the Established Church, unquestionably possessed attractions sufficient to invite its adoption. The names of the Reformers are justly consecrated in the veneration and gratitude of an admiring posterity. It is not surprising, therefore, that he should endeavour to make his cause their cause, and secure it from violation by committing it to the custody of men whose extraordinary merits claim solemn respect, and whose authority might thence be deferred to in silent submission. Whether this mode of ascertaining the signification of the Articles has been attended with the expected success, will be considered hereafter. In the mean time, of its advantages we are too sensible, in not merely abashing the modesty, but constraining the understanding, of an opponent within`

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