tion, a third the divinity of Christ, or the personality of the Holy Ghost: and such casuists imbibe the essence of all these errors put together, and destroy the whole design of revelation. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" This objection is therefore levelled against God himself, and points immediately at the declaration of the Holy Ghost: Such assertions destroy the design of scripture under colour of supporting scripture; contradict truth under pretence of establishing truth; fight against Christ while they seem to contend for Christ: All which is the office of Antichrist."*

"I presume, a certain dignitary subscribed the Homilies as well as you; and though he be unacquainted with scripture, yet for the sake of decency, he should have been consistent with himself. In one Homily he subscribes, that not man's wisdom, but the revelation of the Holy Ghost, is needful to the understanding of scripture:" And that "he profits most, who is most inspired with the Holy Spirit." In another he subscribes, that "godly men feel God's spirit influencing their hearts in reading

1 Cor. iii. 16.

* See the marks of Antichrist in an extract of Dell's sermon on the Trial of Spirits, page 9, &c. For refutation from the Liturgy of the Church, see page 46, 47; and for Scripture Authority, see John xiv. 16, 17, 26, compared with Psal. Ixviii. 18. Luke xi. 14. Acts ii. 38, 39. Rom. viii. 9, 11, 13-16. 1 Cor. ii. 10-13. iii. 16, 17. 2 Cor. vi. 16. Ephes. ii. 22. iv. 8. 1 John ii. 26, 27. iii. 24.

2 Homily on reading the Scriptures, Part I, II.

his word. "1 But probably "your friend also found interest connected with subscribing, or custom prevailed, or he subscribed before he considered, or signed in a sense not as the words implied;" and therefore the Prelate sets himself to pervert the whole design of revelation. With regard to the being taught of God, by the grace and illumination of the Holy Spirit, what, as Archbishop Wake inquires, has been more exposed as vain, ridiculous, and almost fanatical, than to believe that any such assistance was either needed by men; or to be obtained of God? But let all such as corrupt the word of God attend to an awful declaration once given to a wicked people, be thou instructed, lest thy soul depart from thee.5

"Your own example, and that of many other Pulpits, in attesting what none of you believe, is an instance of the error and absurdity of requiring subscription to human articles. By this the conscientious are kept out, and the licentious let in. For as the heart cannot be discerned, there is an unavoidable necessity of taking every man's word, which gives an advantage to the Deist, the Arian, the Profane, and worldling, those whose consciences stick at nothing, to fill the pulpits without restraint. Besides, as all human articles and compositions will ever admit of amendment, scruples will always arise, to deter the upright, who will not.

1 Homily concerning certain places in scripture. 2 See Sermon IX. 3 Page 6. 4 2 Cor. ii. 17.

5 Jer. vi. 8.

subscribe what they do not esteem scriptural. Let all subscriptions then be made to scripture alone; if only for the sake of those, who before ordination subscribe articles, homilies, liturgy, &c. but getting preferment, or commencing dignitaries, publish such writings as render them all null and void."

P. My author puts things on a better footing, which leads to a rational system, to the grand morality, without any thing of grace or inspiration, except what is in scripture.

D. "That is, he is void of the light of God, lives without an inward testimony of divine favour, and has no conception of his fall and want of being renewed. The scripture makes conversion a second creation:1 So the homilies affirm. Either then, this champion makes a speculative assent to christianity the same as to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, or else vainly imagines he can be regenerated, renewed, created again, merely by inspiration being in the Bible; either of which equally shows a state of heathen ignorance.

3

"It is part of the daily cross, the filling up what is behind of the sufferings of Christ, to behold men groping in darkness while surrounded with the light of the written word. Lot was vexed from day to day with the filthy conversation of the wicked, and still the righteous endure the same, through them that live in

5

2 Page 52, 53. 5 2 Pet. ii. 7, 8.

3 Rom. xiii.

6 Verse 18

One makes to himself a graven image1 and bows down to the shrine or tooth of an imaginary saint: another allows not worship to the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person: Some make odious that law which is a copy of the eternal mind, a transcript of the divine nature, the fairest offspring of the everlasting Father, the brightest efflux of his essential wisdom, the visible beauty of the Most High." Others yield to the precept, but deny the aid of the spirit: Others acknowledge his almighty help, but renounce his witness, and the assurance of his favour.5 Some contend against the atonement: others against a renewed nature. One makes the sufferings of Christ no more than our example: another defiles him with the guilt he bore for sinners, and makes him an abominable object." Some are so pure as to have passed beyond all need of propitiation: others affirm that believers may be notorious transgressors, and yet have "a sinless righteousness in Christ."

4

"These are lying spirits that are gone forth corruptors of the word of God, handling it deceitfully, opposers of truth, holiness, and the honour of God."

P. So then, while you refute others, you are

1 Exod. xx. 4. 2 Hebrews i. 3. 3 Sermon on the original nature, and properties of the law, by J. W.

4 Rom. viii. 16. 1 John v. 10. 5 Col. ii. 2. 1 Thes. i. 5. Heb. vi. 11. x. 22. 6 1 John iv. 1. 7 2 Cor. ii. 17. 8 Ibid. iv. 2.

not satisfied without making this great champion of the faith a mere infidel?

D. Whatever I assert I will prove, "First, by renouncing the sanctifying influences of grace, he destroys the efficacy of the gospel, and therefore overthrows the whole system of revelation. Secondly, what he has advanced, not only contains the essence of deism, but springs from the same root. For, in whatever light we view the unbeliever, let him pour forth all his objections, start every sort of difficulty, it comes but to one point-he is not conscious that he has lost the image of God; therefore disputes against atonement for sin, the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."1

2

"So that whether the infidel sets himself against God manifested in the flesh, his atonement for sin, or the power of his spirit in believers, it all springs from this, he sees no necessity of partaking of the divine nature. The rise of deism, the sole channel in which infidelity runs, is, the seeing no necessity of being made holy; the not even desiring to bear the image of the heavenly. From hence they reject the gift of the Holy Spirit. And conceiving no use for divine grace; it follows, there can be no need of a Saviour or sacrifice: and if no Saviour, then no place for revelation; and then at once the fall of man, sin and condemnation derived on all, by the offence of one, Rom. v. 12, 18, 19, falls to the ground; and forgive

Tit. iii. 5. 2 1 Tim. iii. 16.

3 2 Pet. i. 4.