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this definition; and whether the article required any alteration to conform it to the Calvinistic Creed, no reader of the passages can be at any loss to decide.

Dr. T. further insists, that "the article does not pronounce with the Calvinists, that man of his own nature can perform nothing but evil." If any reasonable doubt could be entertained respecting the meaning of the article, it must be entirely removed by this passage from the Homilies which contains the same sentiment, and nearly in the same language here condemned as Calvinistic.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND. Have mercy upon all Jews, Turks, infidels, and heretics, and take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy flock, that they may be saved.Col. Good Frid.

They also are to be had accursed, that presume to say that every man shall be saved by the law or sect which he professeth, so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that law, and the light of nature. For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the name of

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I do not deny that some judicious and apposite observations concerning God may be found scattered in the writings of the philosophers; but they always be-' tray a confused imagination. The Lord afforded them, as we have before observed, some slight sense of his divinity, that they might not be able to plead ignorance as an excuse for impiety, and sometimes impelled them to say things, by the confession of which they might themselves be convinced. But they saw the objects presented to their view in such a

CHURCH OF ENGLAND, Jesus Christ, whereby men inust be saved.-Art. 18.

St. Ambrose concludeth in a few words, saying, He that by nature would withstand vice, either by natural will, or reason, he doth in vain garnish the time of this life, and attaineth not the very true virtues.-1 Hom. on good works, p. 28.

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manner, that by the sight they were not even directed to the truth, much less did they arrive at it. Just as a man, who is travelling by night across a field, sees the coruscations of lightning extending for a moment far and wide, but with such an evanescent view, that so far from being assisted by them in proceeding on his journey, he is re-absorbed in the darkness of the night, before he can advance a single step.-Institut. l. 2. c. 2.

s. 18.

Dr. Tomline is of opinion, that "the Gentiles, through the natural suggestions of their own minds, discharge the moral duties enjoined by the law of Moses." p. 8—that "the works of creation, and the law written upon men's hearts, always supplied a ground for faith and a rule for practice. At every period of the world, to fear God and to work righteousness, have been discoverable and practicable duties. The virtuous Heathen, the obedient Jew, and the sincere Christian, will all owe their salvation to the precious blood of the Lamb slain." p. 262. His lordship tells us, that "the Church of England maintains, that whosoever at the great day of final account shall be found to have lived conformably to the will of God according to the light afforded them, will be rewarded

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with eternal happiness through the merits of the blessed Jesus, and that the rest of mankind will be consigned to everlasting punishment." p. 282. But where Church of England maintains" this, his lordship has not informed us. How different is his view of the state of heathens from that in the above collect and article!" He that believeth shall be saved. But how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?"

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All men are conceived and born in sin (and that which is born of the flesh is flesh), and they that are in the flesh cannot please God, but live in sin, committing many actual transgressions.-Baptism of such as are of riper years.

We have of our ownselves nothing to present us to God.-1 Hom.onrepentance, P. 326.

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Are all our industry, perspicacity, understanding, and care so depraved, that we cannot conceive or meditate any thing that is right in the sight of God? To us, who do not contentedly submit to be stripped of the acuteness of our reason, which we esteem our most valuable endowment, this appears too harsh. But in the estimation of the Holy Spirit, who knows that all the thoughts of the wisest of men are vain, and who plainly pronounces every imagination of the human heart to be only evil, such a representation is consistent with the strictest truth. If whatever our mind conceives, agitates,

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him.-2 Hom. on certain places of scripture, p. 225. The Holy Ghost, in writing the holy scriptures, is in nothing more diligent, than to pull down man's vain glory and pride, which of all vices is most universally grafted in all mankind, even from the first infection of our first father Adam.—1 Hom. on the misery of man, P. 6.

Such is the power of the Holy Ghost to regenerate men, and as it were to bring them forth anew, so that they shall be nothing like the men that they were before. Neither doth he think it sufficient, inwardly to work the spiritual and new birth of man, unless he do also dwell and abide in him.-1 Hom. Whitsunday, p. 280.

Let us, throughout our whole lives, confess all good things to come of God, of what name or nature soever they be; not of these corruptible things only, whereof I have now last spoken, but much more of all spiritual graces

Ibid. cxix 10.

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undertakes, and performs, be invariably evil, how can we entertain a thought of undertaking any thing acceptable to God, by whom nothing is accepted but holiness and righteousness?

Nor does the scripture teach us, that our minds are illuminated only on one day so as to enable them to see afterwards without further trouble; for the passage just quoted from Paul, relates to continual advances and improvements. And this is clearly expressed by David, in these words, "With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments*." For after having been regenerated and made a more than common progress in true piety, yet he still confesses his need of perpetual direction every moment, lest he should decline from the knowledge which he pussesses. Therefore, in another place, he prays for the renewal of a right spirit, which he had lost by his sint;

† Psalm, li. 10.

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behovable for our soul; without whose goodness no man is called to faith or stayed therein.-2 Rogation Hom. p. 296.

Again, St. Peter saith, It is of God's power that ye be kept through faith to salvation. It is of the goodness of God that we falter not in our hope unto him.-3 Rogation Hom. p. 297.

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because it belongs to the same God to restore that which he originally bestowed but of which we have been for a time deprived.—Institut. l. 2. c. 2. s. 25.

Dr. Tomline maintains, "that every good affection was not eradicated from the human heart," and that 66 man did not become by the fall an unmixed incorrigible mass of pollution and depravity, absolutely incapable of amendment," p. 3.-"That there is some honesty, some goodness of heart in the human race,' p. 14" That there is at least a degree of righteousness in some men," p. 11.-That "a law given by a righteous and merciful God proves the possibility of obedience," p. 6.--That "obedience is our practicable duty, or it would not have been commanded," p. 78. If this be correct, the law contains no command that we are incapable of obeying, and consequently we are capable of perfect obedience. For what is perfect obedience but the fulfilment of our duty as commanded by the law? This, his lordship says, is "practicable, or it would not have been commanded." Yet with a self-contradiction by no means unusual for him, he says in another place, that, "men, as they now are, are not capable of perfect obedience,"

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