1

The danger of innovation is an ecclefiaftical watch-word of very trifling importance when used to difcourage the removal of forms

Vadovitz, profeffor in the academy at Cracow, writes "The only thing to be regarded (with an herefiarch) is to hinder his endeavour to propagate his doctrine, and, if it cannot be otherwife done, by chains and a prifon." (p. 105) Schlichtingius, a difciple of Socinus, improved confiderably upon the limited principles of toleration maintained by his mafter. Upon all which Mr. Toulmin obferves in his Life of Socinus, 8vo. 1777. p. 119. that Schlichtingius would probably have never "proceeded fo far in liberality of thinking, if Socinus "had not opened the way. Mankind are difpoffefled of "their mistakes and prejudices only by degrees. A just "fentiment is ftarted by one; another adopts it, places it

in new and different views, and carries it to its utmost "extent. The garden, which has been over-run with weeds " and noxious herbs, requires, befides the hand that clears "the foil of thefe obftructions to the growth of good "feed, the care and skill of others to carry the beautiful "flower and generous fruit to perfection: this is the "more pleafing task, and is apt to engrofs applause; "but the former labor is rather moft meritorious, and prepares the way for the latter's more agreeable toil. "To them, therefore, whofe ftudies have cleared away the clouds of error, and fcattered, in any good degree, "the mifts of ignorance and bigotry, be merit and "praise afcribed; though they did not pour upon the "human mind the full light of truth, nor entertain the "moft generous fentiments themselves."

forms and ordinances which confeffedly obstruct christian edification, for the fake of which, furely, something more ought to be hazarded than the lofs of a merely ideal uniformity; and upon which the spirit of the gofpel, bleffed be God, lays no fuch stress, as to make the use of them an indifpenfible condition either of christian communion here, of of everlasting falvation hereafter. The apoftle Paul was not backward to declare, in his epistle to the Romans, in the true spirit of an apostle, "Let God be true, but every man a liar.” And this fuppofed danger was (we well know, and ought to remember with unfeigned thankfulness) fucceffively difregarded by Mofes and the prophets, by Christ and his apoftles, by Luther and his followers, in fpite of all the interested clamors of their opponents.

In answer to those who have wished for a partial reform, and also have objected to the mode of application, it will be fufficient to reply, that nothing was thrown in the way of others of our brethren who chose to seek their own relief in their own way. The experiment

* Rom. iii. 4.

riment was tried by a body of very learned and refpectable men; and ended in fomething very like the converfion of the first promoter of it to the principles and proceedings of the petitioning clergy*. D 2

In

* See an excellent pamphlet, generally ascribed to Mr. Wollaston, entitled, "Confiderations on the state of fubfcription to the articles, and liturgy of the church of England, towards the clofe of the year 1773. By at confiftent proteftant:" Printed for Wilkie. p. 35-37. Nor can the conclufion stated above be thought more than the words of the worthy and ingenuous confiderer will justify. After fpeaking of the application of Mr. Wollafton and his affociates to the bifhops, and the answer returned that in their opinion, it was neither prudent રે nor fafe to do any thing," the writer (who was not a petitioner, p. 46.) observes, “The petitioners thereby "feem to be justified in not having applied to them at "first." p. 37. And again, (p. 48.) after telling his reader that he had thought an amendment of the articles more to be defired than their being wholly laid afide, and, therefore, he had joined in the application to the bifhops for a revifal: But I have fince, fays he, been "convinced of my error, and am not ashamed to ac"knowledge it. A man need never be afhamed of "amendment. I am fatisfied upon fuller confideration, "that the requiring of fubfcription to human articles of "faith, though practised in proteftant churches, can only "be defended on the principles of popery." &c. &c.

In favour of the conftitutional impractica bility of the measure, a claufe in the act of union which declares the preservation of the ecclefiaftical establishment of both kingdoms, to be a fundamental and effential condition of the union, has been much infifted on. But this act was clearly intended only to prevent each of the contracting parties from interfering with the other, without the mutual confent of both. In this fenfe, have fome diftinguished lawyers, and other eminent writers, interpreted this favourite notion of fome men, which is the fheet-anchor of their oppofition, to any further reformation; in this fenfe, it was ably explained in parliament, and correfpondent with fuch explanation, is the account of the beft contemporary hiftorian*.

The

* See bishop Burnet's "Hiftory of his own times, vol. ii. p. 463. The only law-authority that I can recollect, at this time, for the real existence of this objection, is Sir William Blackftone, who was long ago confuted by the mafterly pen of an anonymous writer, under the name of Mifomumpfimus, in two letters in the St. James's Chronicle, of February 6, and April 8, 1766, and fince republifhed in a valuable collection of

"Letters

The apostle Paul fays, "Let all things "be done decently and in order*,” and

Letters and effays in favor of public liberty," in 12mo. vol. i. p. 162 and 191. Alfo by Dr. Furneaux, in his "Letters" to him (fecond edit. 8vo. 1771.), by Dr. Priestley, in his "Remarks on fome paragraphs," and by the author of "An objection drawn from the act of union confidered, &c." (printed for Dilly, 1771.) and, occafionally, by certain other learned and ingenious writers, as also by the then folicitor-general, (Mr. Wedderburne,) in the house of commons, on February 6th, 1772: notwithstanding these several confutations the exceptionable paragraphs are continued in the ninth edition of the commentaries, which is now before me. (See Introd. §. 4.) Hence I conclude, guiding my judgment by my own digeft of their respective pleadings, that the queftion fo peremptorily decided by the commentator is, while limited to his work, coram non judice.

Since the first publication of this fermon, the writer has obferved fome very material alterations, which have taken place in the fuppofed conftituent part of the union, judiciously recited by the investigating pen of Mrs. Macaulay, and which precedents were indeed announced by Mr. Wedderburne, in the house of commons. "A "bill paffed both houses, (1712) with little oppofition, "for granting a toleration to all fuch as fhould use the "liturgy of the English church in Scotland, with 2 "clause which required the civil magiftrate to execute "none of the fentences of the judicatory of the church ❝ of

#1 Cor. xiv. 40. I