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admitted, to prevent the prostitution of the Toleration Act to practices it was never defigned to countenance; if you can be inftrumental in reviving that discipline of the church, so neceffary to the effectual administration of its fpiritual government; and if you can find out a way to restore to the refpectable parochial clergy that weight which their character ought to have in the scale of public estimation; you will, Sir, in a most effential degree, serve both church and state.

The melioration of the morals of the community must depend on the joint exertions of the minister and the magistrate. What each may endeavour to do in his feparate character, will be more effectually done, when both act in concert. As the object they have in view ought to be the fame, namely, the promotion of God's honour and their country's welfare, their method of promoting it ought to be regular, uniform, and confiftent. It were to be wished that the clergy had no ground for complaint on this head; but this is a fubject upon which, as a clergyman, I do not wish to enter. My only reason for introdu cing it has been, to take off at least a portion of that heavy burthen, which is fo generally and unmercifully laid upon the shoulders of my brethren, as refponsible

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for the morals of the community, by obferving, that however zealous they may be in their ministerial exertions, the state of things is fuch, that they are for the most part reduced to the neceffity of being wit neffes to irregularities, and of lamenting over corrup tion, which it is no longer in their power to counteract or prevent.

I have the honour to be,

&c. &c,

CONCLUDING LETTER.

A

SIR,

S this will probably be the last time that I shall have the honour of a correfpondence with you, my profeffional engagements neither permitting, nor the habits of my mind difpofing me, to remain in the field of controverfy, I am defirous that every part of your late publication which challenges particular attention, should receive its anfwer. With this view, my purpose is to make the prefent letter fupplementary to those which have preceded it, by adding what has fince occurred in fuch points as may not already have received fufficient notice: and happy shall I be, if any endeavours of mine, how feeble foever, may be fo fortunate as to render us, what all Chriftians should wish to be, of one mind, and of one judgment, on the several fubjects we have refpectively handled.

Your first letter (though I can readily believe, that fo far from intending it, you were not even aware of it) might be thought to have been written against the established church of this country; fince, whatever was your purpose in writing it, its effect, if it has any, must be to support the cause of separation from it. For when a perfon, who "avows his fincere attachment to the church of England in doctrine in conftitution, and in difcipline," admits likewise, that 66 they have no bad ground to ftand upon, who feparate from it;" the conclufion drawn by feparatifts will be, that more is meant than meets the ear; and it is hardly poffible that improper use should not be made of it. This fubject I have thought it neceffary to enter into at large, because it constitutes a confiderable part of the ground-work upon which your publication ftands. Some few obfervations, however, have fince occurred upon it, which seem to have no inconfiderable weight. One, which particularly recommends itself to the attention of a steady member of the church of England, as you profess you are, is to be found in the preface to the Ordination Service, in which the church of England afferts, that "it is evident unto all men, diligently reading holy scriptures and ancient authors, that from the Apostles' time

there have been these orders of minifters in CHRIST'S church, bishops, priests, and deacons." (Vide OrTo which may be added the

dination Preface.) judicious remark, on this fubject, of that learned divine Bishop STILLINGFLEET; together with the demonstration of that acute reafoner Mr. CHILLINGWORTH. "The universal consent of the church being proved, there is as great reafon to believe the Apoftolical fucceffion to be of Divine inftitution, as the canon of Scripture, or the obfervation of the LORDS'day. We do not doubt but it is unlawful to add to or to diminish from the canon of fcripture, and

yet

there is no plain text for it with respect to all the books contained in it; and fome of the books were a long time difputed in fome churches: but the churches coming at last to a full agreement in this matter, upon due fearch and inquiry, hath been thought fufficient to bind all after-ages to make no alterations in it. And as to the Divine inftitution of the LORD's-day, we do not go about to leffen it, but only to fhew, that some examples in fcripture, being joined with the univerfal practice of the church in its pureft ages, hath been allowed to be fufficient ground not only for following ages to obferve it, but to look on it as at least an Apoftolical inftitution. Now it cannot but

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