Telves. Be that as it may; we are innocent: let them look to it.

For my own part, the more minutely and the more impartially I examine into the grounds and motives of feparation alleg'd by the several fects of Proteftant Diffenters, ftill the more reafons do I difcover for thankfulness to God, for that he hath been graciously pleased to call me to a ministration in the Church of England: ftill do I fee in a stronger light the propriety of applying to that Church those words of the Apoftle which I have prefix'd as a Text to this feries of discourses. A ftrict application of the words can indeed be alone competent to the Church triumphant in heaven, compos'd of God's Elect, the fpirits of just men made perfect. The Church militant here in earth, confifting of frail mortals, muft in fome degree partake of human infirmity. To affirm that our Liturgy is abfolutely faultlefs, would be to claim the gift of infpiration to it's compilers. Learned and pious they all were; many of them were Martyrs and Confeffors: but we pretend not to fay they were infpir'd, nor of confequence could they be infallible. But thus much we may fafely and confidently affert, that a more perfect and faultlefs work never iffued from the pens of uninspir'd

men

men.

And fhould ever a review of it be thought expedient, little more will be found neceffary than an accommodation of fome few parts, and those chiefly among the Rubrics, to the alter'd manners of the times. And fuch a review might not im. probably have taken place before now, had it not been for the unreasonable cavils of the Diffenters; whofe real aims are easily discoverable through the flimfy veil wherewith they affect to cover them. Against these both Church and State can never be too cautiously guarded: and when a fortress is closely begirt and vigorously attack'd by an inveterate and indefatigable foe, an attention to the meanest and apparently most infignificant outwork becomes a matter of importance. Shall we give place then by subjection? No; not for an hour.

I am not fanguine enough to entertain a hope that any thing I have advanc'd in these difcourfes would reconcile a fingle Diffenter to the Church, even on the fuppofition that any of that description had made a part of my audience, and favour'd me with the fame attention which I have experienc'd from You. I well know the rooted obftinacy of their prejudices, imbib'd in earliest

confirm'd by education and habit.

infancy, and

And God for

bid that I fhould judge them to our common

Master

Mafter they must stand or fall. It is for the fake of my own flock folely that I have engag'd in this tedious undertaking, which I have now at last brought to a conclufion; and whofe merit, if any be allow'd it, belongs more to the defign than to the execution. It has been my aim to guard you against the wily arts, and furnish you with answers to the captious cavils of fuch as would fain feduce you from the plain and fafe road of truth, into the crooked by-paths of error, which lead to deftruction; and who for that purpose cease not continually to revile and malign the establish'd Church. Of that Church, whereof we are happily members, I have endeavour'd to imprefs you with that high opinion, which is to me the refult of conviction; and to justify the application I have made to it of the words of the Text: fince it can fairly claim the merit, beyond any other establishment of Christianity, and with the exceptions only of mere human infirmity, of being

A glorious Church, not having fpot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing!

And may the Almighty ever preferve, protect, and bless it! may He profper its fupreme head upon earth, our gracious Sovereign; granting him

a long

a long and happy life, and compleat victory over all his enemies both foreign and domeftic; who are alfo the decided enemies of Order, of virtue, and of Religion! And may He vouchsafe to us his humble fervants grace fo to faithfully ferve, honour, and obey Him here, that hereafter we may finally obtain everlasting life; and for ever join the heavenly choir of Saints and Angels in unceafing Hallelujahs to the adorable Trinity in Unity.

Amen.

FINIS.