to man the only covenanted plan of falvation. It is an unpopular doctrine, perhaps, and, from the prefent appearance of things, likely, it is feared, to become more fo; but the minister of the church has nothing to do with popularity; his rule of judgment is not to be taken from this world; he is to speak "as the oracles of GOD;" I PET. iv. 12. Should he feel himself inclined to withhold the truth, for fear of giving offence to those who may have thought fit to depart from it, he had better at once relinquish his ministerial office, than continue answerable for a charge which he has not refolution to fulfil.

I proceed now, Sir, to the confideration of your fixth letter, fo far, I still wish to be understood, as it appears to concern myfelf; and though, I trust, I am not actuated by narrow and ill-grounded prejudice, yet, I must confefs, I feel that degree of interest in the fubject of it, which to me appears fuitable to its im、 portance. You fay fomewhere in your book, that you are no voluntary fchifmatic; by which I under stand is meant, you certainly would not be a fchifmatic, did you think that you really were one. It is not my business to determine this point; I choose rather that it fhould be determined by yourself. But for this purpose it seems neceffary that you should attain a

more correct notion upon the fubject of fchifm than, if I may judge from the letter before me, you at prefent poffefs. And though it may not be in my power to fay any thing more decifive on this fubject, than has been already faid in my third discourse; yet if I should be fo fortunate as either to hit on any new remark, or to place an old one in a more striking point of view, as to afford you any additional fatisfaction, I fhall certainly think the time spent for the purpose well employed.

To proceed then with your letter; in page 153, you tell me that "you experience no fmall difficulty in knowing where to find me. Sometimes you fay, I am displeased at those who do not make use of a form of prayer in their public affemblies; at others, I am diffatisfied at those who do; and extol the publican's prayer- GOD be merciful to me a finner,' -above all forms."

I always feel a degree of concern when I remark any grofs mifrepresentation of my book; becaufe, fuch a circumstance tends to place the reader of it in a point of view, in which I do not wish to see him. It being my defire however to give you credit, Sir, for the best intentions, you will permit me, I trust, to cherish the hope that the foregoing comment, ill

founded and harsh as it is, originated rather in want of attention on your part, than in any want of confistency on mine.

4

The object of my tenth difcourfe was to point out the advantages attendant on a confcientious communion with the church, together with the disadvantages confequent on a wilful feparation from it. One of the advantages of church communion, neceffary to be infifted upon, was the use of an excellent liturgy, in oppofition to the manifeft disadvantages attendant on an extemporary form of worship. After having taken up fome pages in drawing a contraft between these two different modes of worship, with the view of leaving a strong impreffion on the reader's mind in favour of the established church, and pointed out to him what fober Chriftians understood by the fpirit of prayer, in oppofition to the wild idea of fome enthufiafts on that fubject; I purpofely threw in a hint to prevent the abuse of an established form, by taking occafion to remind the Christian of that spirit of devotion, which can alone render a religious fervice, of what kind foever, acceptable to the DEITY.

The fpirit of devotion, (I fay) which gave acceptance at the Throne of Grace to the fimple prayer of the publican, and without which the most perfect

compofition is but a collection of vain words, offenfive to the Being to whom it is addreffed, is a mixturė of humiliation and gratitude, derived from the confideration of our vilenefs and wretchedness on the one hand, and the contemplation of infinite goodness and aftonishing loving kindness on the other. Whoever prays in this difpofition of foul, most certainly prays by the spirit; because this difpofition is not natural, but the effect of that Divine influence, which is gracioufly employed for the purpose of bringing fallen man back to his Maker."

If, Sir, you will take the trouble to read over again fome few pages preceding the one from which the above extract is taken, I flatter myself you will be at no difficulty in afcertaining the precife object I had in view in writing them.

You proceed to point out to me feveral gentlemen, of whofe profeffional abilities you have formed fo high an opinion, that you think it is much to be lamented on my own account," that I do not suffer myself to reap the benefit of their ministry. I am very fenfible that I might reap benefit from the abilities of many men, to whofe fuperior attainments I look up. I am only forry in this cafe, that you have not found a tutor for me in the church of England,

founded and harsh as it is, originated rather in want of attention on your part, than in any want of confiftency on mine.

The object of my tenth discourse was to point out the advantages attendant on a confcientious communion with the church, together with the disadvantages confequent on a wilful feparation from it. One of the advantages of church communion, neceffary to be infifted upon, was the ufe of an excellent liturgy, in oppofition to the manifeft disadvantages attendant on an extemporary form of worfhip. After having taken up fome pages in drawing a contraft between these two different modes of worship, with the view of leaving a strong impreffion on the reader's mind in favour of the established church, and pointed out to him what fober Chriftians understood by the spirit of prayer, in oppofition to the wild idea of fome enthufiafts on that fubject; I purpofely threw in a hint to prevent the abuse of an established form, by taking occafion to remind the Christian of that spirit of devotion, which can alone render a religious service, of what kind foever, acceptable to the DEITY. “The spirit of devotion, (I fay) which gave acceptance at the Throne of Grace to the fimple prayer of the publican, and without which the most perfect