,transcribed from the #ahje ,f4 ,c4 and ,j4 ,rivington edition from ,bodleian ,library scans by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,picture3 ,pamphlet cover ,,an ,,address ,,to ,,lord ,,teignmouth4 ,,president ,,of ,,the ,,british ,,and ,,foreign ,,bible ,,society1 ,,occasioned ,,by ,,his ,,address ,,to ,,the ,,clergy ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,of ,,england4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,by ,a ,,country ,,clergyman4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,london3 ,,printed ,,for ,f4 ,c4 ,,and ,j4 ,,rivington1 ,no #fb1 ,,st4 ,,paul',s ,,church-,,yard2 ,by ,bye and ,law1 ,st4 ,john's-,square1 ,clerkenwell4 #ahje4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,an ,,address1 c4 ,,my ,,lord1 ,,the emotions of my mind1 upon receipt of your ,lordship's address as ,president of the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society1 were such as ,i am not inclined1 for several reasons1 to describe4 ,your friends represent you as not hostile to the established church3 nay1 some assert that you are its firm supporter2 and doubtless it never could have entered your ,lordship's mind to address a clergyman with proposals of lending his zeal and exertions for the promotion of religion1 but in the character of the church's friend4 ,judge then1 my ,lord1 at my surprize1 to see your ,lordship's name at the head of such a list of subscribers as that enclosed to me2 to find your ,lordship's patronage and protection bestowed upon every description of its enemies1 and your request that ,i would promote their design4 ,judge1 my ,lord1 what must have been my grief1 to find a man of your ,lordship's respectability deserting the cause of sound religion1 and our poor country's best defence1 and confederating with persons openly labouring the destruction of all that is sober1 or established6 ,my ,lord1 ,i presume to address you1 invited by your ,lordship's known good sense and candour1 and much emboldened by a strong conviction that some enemy hath craftily obtained your ,lordship's countenance to his project2 which1 ,i am sure1 if your ,lordship knew all1 you would spurn with indignation and contempt4 ,i am persuaded that you know not the men and their communication1 to whom you have joined yourself4 ,let this then be my excuse for intruding myself upon your notice2 and if ,i fail to convince your ,lordship1 at least let me promise myself that patience and respect which is always due to sincerity and good intention4 ,at present1 my ,lord1 you appear as the head of a party1 7rather1 should ,i say1 a legion of parties7 by whom every opponent is sure to be reviled1 as illiberal and uncharitable1 and as an enemy to the gospel4 ,i confess ,i expect the honour of their reproaches4 ,i am thankful that ,i have enjoyed them before4 8,if they have called the master of the house ,beelzebub1 how much more shall they call them of his household80 ,from you1 my ,lord1 ,i expect the treatment of a ,gentleman and a ,christian2 and if ,i fail in the respect which is due to those honourable characters1 ,i sincerely profess it shall be contrary to my resolved purpose2 and ,i beg your ,lordship to let ,charity do its perfect work1 and cover this failure among the multitude of my other sins4 ,it is very true1 my ,lord1 that 8to promote the circulation of the scriptures at home and abroad1 is an object in which every one who professes the religion of ,christ1 must feel a deep interest40 ,but the object of a society1 my ,lord1 is not to be known from its public declaration in print4 ,your experience of the world will suggest to you1 that the most important objects1 whether of a good or evil tendency1 have been prosecuted1 and are now continually pursued in a close and clandestine manner1 under favour of public declarations of a different and often of a contrary character4 ,it is impossible for any man to say what shall be the real object of any society1 till he be in possession of the favourite object of each of its members2 for although a body of men may at first associate for1 and appear to bind themselves to the promotion of some specific common object1 we well know1 that in process of time1 this common object is generally lost in neglect2 and at last1 each individual pursues that particular object which1 as a private man1 engages his affection and preference4 ,to say1 therefore1 what is or shall be the object of a society1 is no easy matter1 if we mean to guard against delusion4 ,the real object will take its colour from the opinions and pursuits of those effective members who shall contrive1 either by an actual majority1 or an assiduity and activity equivalent in force to the power of a majority1 to give direction to the energy of the association4 ,into how many ,proteus forms has ,jesuitism wrapt itself1 upon different occasions8 ,so the monster ,jacobinism has insinuated its poison1 at one time or other1 into almost every species of society in ,europe4 ,it is to little purpose we use our eyes1 if we see this destructive principle only in clubs and lodges1 and spouting societies4 ,this serpent has a far wider range2 wherein there is a place and room to coil in1 there let the passenger beware1 latet anguis in herb4 ,and if your ,lordship will please to call to mind1 the warnings of a learned prelate of our church1 you will remember that he is now in a remarkable manner1 and with much aggravation of malice and impudence1 detected lurking behind the cross4 ,your ,lordship cannot be ignorant how many hundred public declarations it has set forth1 to convince the world how simple are its designs1 how pure its intentions6 ,need we be directed to consider1 can we avoid considering1 those several political societies of the present day1 which1 with the most enchanting titles1 and with avowed objects of the fairest sort1 have perpetrated atrocities of the foulest dye8 ,look into the public addresses of those societies1 sometimes decorated by honourable and responsible signatures4 ,see the printed declarations of their reasons1 objects1 and principles2 then repair to the ,old ,bailey1 or the ,maidstone assizes2 there compare the acts and deeds of those associations1 with the plausible professions of their printed schemes and declarations1 and say1 my ,lord1 whether it be prudent1 at least in this our day1 to consider all as honest and true that meets our eye in print1 shouldered by the well-known signatures of respectable presidents and vice-presidents8 ,my ,lord1 give me leave to say1 you cannot answer for the real object of any association1 but by being able to answer for the real principles and pursuits of its individual members2 you may heartily wish1 and sincerely endeavour to promote the avowed object of this society3 7and ,i know no man more likely to do both1 than your ,lordship47 ,secure those principles1 be able to controul those pursuits1 and no man who knows your ,lordship's high character1 would hesitate a moment to believe that your society will be what it proposes4 ,if ,lord ,t4 will pledge himself that the six hundred members of his society are1 like himself1 honourable and upright men1 who speak what they mean1 and practise what they profess2 who abhor duplicity and deceit1 and know no discordance between the object they profess1 and the object they pursue2--if ,lord ,t4 can assure me this1 ,i shall be proud to rank my name1 and make exertion under his protection4 ,if this he cannot do1 at least let him tell me where is my security that my contribution to the institution1 will not be turned to support some object1 which ,i never intend to support2 and to promote not the object proposed to me in the letter1 but another1 and perhaps a detested one8 ,your presidency1 my ,lord1 is not exactly of the sort to which you have been accustomed1 and which you have much adorned4 ,but far be it from me to say1 that you preside over an association of men1 combined for designs altogether bad2 that you patronize1 and protect a society1 whole objects and principles are wilfully nefarious3 ,all that ,i here assert1 is this2 that your ,lordship1 for whose head and heart ,i have the highest respect1 appears to have undertaken the patronage of you know not whom or what2 and1 confident in your own good intentions1 you have recommended me to do the same4 ,but when ,i cast my eye over the list of your officers1 and subscribers1 7over which your ,lordship's eye has undoubtedly passed17 ,i am really in doubt1 whether your ,lordship be in jest or earnest1 when you recommend the institution to the attention of a ,clergyman of the ,church of ,england2 and1 ,i wonder much1 what arguments your ,lordship can use1 to press it home4 ,in this list1 ,i must acknowledge1 ,i see many respectable names1 with which ,i should be happy to place mine4 ,but ,i likewise see a very large proportion of others1 with which1 as an honest man1 ,i can have nothing to do2 ,i see many names of persons1 whose objects and pursuits have been diametrically the opposite of mine3 what ,i build1 they pull down3 what ,i teach1 they mock1 and endeavour to render ineffectual4 ,the sacred cause1 which as a ,clergyman of the ,church of ,england1 ,i have sworn to serve and support1 7and which1 with the best talents ,i have1 ,i will support1 as long as ,i have my life17 they hold up to scorn1 and abuse with hard names and jeers4 ,they vilify my character1 as a servant of the ,most ,highest1 and set me forth to the world1 as a dishonest man4 ,now were ,i1 my ,lord1 allured by your ,lordship's invitation1 and tempted by the sound of what you call the 8liberal basis of your establishment20 7the sense of which ,i have not yet apprehended37 should ,i be induced1 ,i say1 to venture myself into the company of men1 of whom ,i have hitherto always been horribly afraid1 being frightened at the idea of having the ,national ,establishment blown up1 as one of them said1 clergy and all3 can your ,lordship afford me protection and safety8 ,can your ,lordship shew me1 that our days are so evangelical1 that the lamb may now dwell with the wolf in safety8 ,i see your ,lordship is ready kindly to allay my fears2 and to demand1 if persons associating for the simple and pure purpose of disseminating the scriptures1 ought to be suspected of such views and projects8 ,my ,lord1 since ,i have been a shepherd1 ,i have seen so many wolves1 and have undergone such terrors for my poor sheep1 that you must have the charity to pity my weakness1 and excuse my unconquerable fears4 ,those who are old in the business1 have a right at least to be attended to1 in matters which concern their experience4 ,wolves1 my ,lord1 our great ,master has warned us1 sometimes put on sheep's clothing2 and we find1 ,i assure you1 much harder work with these crafty beasts1 than with those1 which1 without disguise1 prowl about in their proper character4 ,but have ,i not too good reason to be afraid of those who openly1 and fairly avow1 that their object is to eat us up1 both sheep and shepherd too8 ,in plain terms1 if your ,lordship can demonstrate to us1 that those persons with whom you invite me to associate1 under pretence of doing ,god service1 have at any time really revoked their hostility to the church and ministry1 which they have so frequently1 and so fully avowed2 shew us the time when1 and the place where1 they have deliberately recanted their well-known threats and projects1 repented of their numerous slanders and calumnies1 and have as solemnly sworn peace with the church and clergy1 as before they have sworn and pursued their enmity4 ,nay1 my ,lord1 ,i ask no unreasonable thing2 if you can only shew1 that upon this present occasion alone1 they have explicitly and solemnly put off their old man of hostility and hatred1 and have put on the new man of peace1 and love1 and concord--,i am silent4 ,i request your secretary will please to insert my name1 and accept my donation4 ,but1 my good ,lord1 if the enmity of these men has never been revoked2 if their hostility1 and destructive resolutions have never been cancelled2 if no proof to the contrary can be adduced1 but we are still left in possession of the thousand well-known proofs2 nay1 in many places1 of the open confession of their intentions of undermining and destroying both church establishment and clergy too3 ,i then will leave it to any person of sane intellect to determine1 whether it be prudent1 whether it be upright1 whether it be safe1 to accept your ,lordship's proposal4 ,a notion prevails in the world1 but a very mistaken one1 that the association of such a body of persons as appears upon the list1 is the unity so much recommended in scripture4 ,we are perpetually called upon1 in the name of ,christian charity1 to throw aside prejudices and dissentions1 and to unite for some common religious purpose4 ,your ,lordship must know1 that there is more of sound than sense in this fashionable project4 ,that union enjoined in scripture1 is not of the hand and purse1 but of the heart and mind4 ,christian charity no where recommends associations of discordant principles1 combinations of men professedly at variance1 and in hostility with each other3 but ,christian charity enjoins that which renders all these elaborate societies useless2 it teaches and obliges ,christians to be like-minded1 to have one faith1 one baptism1 one speech1 and one hope of their calling4 ,but ,i feel very strong objections1 my ,lord1 to the whole plan3 ,not indeed to the simple1 pure object of disseminating the scriptures3 one of these days ,i hope to see the earth full of the knowledge of the ,lord1 as the waters cover the sea4 ,the mischief lies in the manner1 and the means1 of carrying that object into effect4 ,your society is composed of not only many secret foes1 and treacherous familiar friends1 but of a very large proportion of sworn enemies of the church2 to which enemies1 a much larger share of influence is given by the rules and regulations of your society1 than naturally they have any right to4 ,the consequence of which measure is this3 that your society1 so far from being in amity with the constitutional church of this kingdom1 upholds and promotes the cause of its adversaries2 and consequently seeks and assists in its destruction4 ,no one can for a moment imagine1 that all this you intend3 for myself1 it is as far from my thoughts1 as ,i trust it is from yours4 ,let me therefore crave your ,lordship's attention1 only for a few minutes2 and let me have it pure and perfectly disengaged of all partiality for your project4 ,be not then deceived1 my ,lord1 with the notion that the bare act of distributing ,bibles1 is the act of disseminating the sacred truth4 ,the word of ,god in itself is pure and perfect1 and more to be desired than much fine gold3 but as the finest gold may be turned to base purposes1 so may the scriptures4 ,for1 alas6 through the lusts of men1 and the covetousness of the world1 the precious book of life is made the instrument of error1 as well as of truth2 of much evil1 as well as of infinite good4 ,when it is remembered1 that to the scriptures1 not only the true church of ,christ appeals for confirmation of its divine doctrine1 but likewise that every sect and heresy1 by which it ever was defaced1 has regularly pretended likewise to deduce its error2 when we observe the ,papist1 and ,puritan1 the ,socinian1 and ,calvinist1 the ,baptist1 and ,quaker1 all appealing to the ,bible for the truth of their principles1 and pretending to prove them thereby--it will not be maintained1 ,i think1 that the mere distribution of ,bibles1 under the present circumstances of the times1 is likely to spread the truth4 ,on the contrary1 it is to be expected1 that each member of your heterogeneous society1 will draw his portion of books for the promotion of his particular opinion3 for it is easily seen1 that a ,bible given away by a ,papist1 will be productive of popery4 ,the ,socinian will make his ,bible speak1 and spread ,socinianism2 while the ,calvinist1 the ,baptist1 and the ,quaker1 will teach the opinions peculiar to their sects4 ,supply these men with ,bibles1 7,i speak as to a true churchman7 and you supply them with arms against yourself4 ,for what reason have we to suppose1 that your simple1 pure1 and important design1 will be exactly prosecuted by all the various descriptions of your society8--,what security have we1 that each zealous religionist will not1 according to the nature of his particular creed1 accompany his pious donation of the scriptures1 with his own peculiar interpretation and comment8--,as a ,church-of-,england man1 and sadly experiencing daily before my eyes1 that the ,holy ,book is made a nose of wax1 by the various discordant and opposite sects1 ,i should deem it my indispensable duty1 not only to diffuse the text of scripture1 but to guard my people against what ,i consider as misinterpretations of it4 ,does not this1 indeed1 constitute by far the greater part of the ,christian minister's duty8 ,is not this the chief design of most sermons preached1 and of most of the religious tracts1 which issue from the press8 ,and can we suppose that any conscientious and careful dissenter will not do the same8 ,if he be indifferent to the prevalence1 either of truth1 or error2 that is1 if he be hypocritical and insincere1 he may not perchance give himself the trouble3 but if he be honest1 and is warmed by the least spark of zeal1 he cannot do otherwise4 ,were the ,bible so miraculously contrived1 that it were impossible to misinterpret or misunderstand it2 that is1 were it impossible to abuse it1 all other religious societies might be saved a vast expence of trouble and revenue1 by relinquishing all their former plans1 and falling into yours4 ,but if it be possible from the scriptures1 not only to draw the word of truth to salvation1 but to support so much error and delusion1 as every religionist is ready to see any where1 or every where but at home1 something more is required1 than a ,bible society1 to secure the faith once delivered to the saints4 ,if your ,lordship sees no impropriety in requesting a clergyman to aid and assist in the promotion of the various hostile sects1 which war against the church1 and sound religion2 if you see no harm in his becoming the patron and fellow-worker1 together with ,papists1 ,socinians1 ,quakers1 c4 your ,lordship1 ,i am sure1 will not refuse to enlighten my mind upon the subject1 and prove it to me from the word of ,god4 ,at present1 believe me1 ,i am fully purposed1 by ,god's help1 never wittingly to lend my hand to sow tares in the church of ,god4 ,quote not1 that the wheat and tares must grow together till the harvest1 if by that you would wind me to your present plan4 ,tell me not that heresies must needs come--,i know it4 ,but by my means they shall never come4 ,you know1 my ,lord1 it is the enemy's part to sow tares2 heresies descend not from heaven4 ,how then can you invite me to do the enemy's work8 ,how can ,i do this1 and be innocent8 ,permit me1 my ,lord1 now to say a word or two upon the 8liberality of the basis of your establishment20 which is held out as 8giving additional force to the claims arising from the simplicity1 purity1 and importance of the design40 ,not satisfactorily apprehending at first1 what might be signified by the expression of a liberal basis1 ,i had recourse to a well-known lexicographer1 who under the word liberal1 gives us these meanings3--8not mean1 not low in birth2--becoming a gentleman2--munificent1 generous1 bountiful30--then successively applying these several meanings to the subject1 ,i find the address to signify either one1 or all of these positions3 that the basis of your establishment1 is not a mean basis1 nor a basis of low birth2 it is a basis becoming a gentleman1 or it is a munificent1 or a generous1 or a bountiful basis4 ,my author assists me no further1 these being all the senses that he has included under the word4 ,here1 ,i confess1 ,i was a little posed1 my mind remaining still unsatisfied1 that any of these meanings were intended1 although ,i felt that all the epithets1 could they be applied to the subject1 were such as must recommend the basis of any thing4 ,it struck me suddenly at last1 that your ,lordship must intend1 by these classic words1 only what the vulgar would call 8broad bottom40 ,the broad bottom of the establishment 8gives additional force10 c4 ,now1 if your ,lordship designs to recommend your establishment by its broad bottom1 permit me to say1 it has no charms for me4 ,i know the liberal basis1 or broad bottom1 is very much the vogue in all religious 7and chiefly in religious7 projects2 the reason of which1 if this were the proper place1 ,i think ,i could unfold4 ,but do you really mean to tempt a clergyman to join your society1 by seriously holding out to him the opportunity of joining his 8zeal and exertions10 as you speak1 with the zeal and exertions of all sorts and descriptions of men1 who pretend to be ,christians8 ,do you imagine1 my ,lord1 that your invitation can derive additional force1 from the prospect of meeting 7when ,i must have the honour of meeting your ,lordship1 as president of the motley group7 and associating with all sorts of preachers and teachers1 from the preaching blacksmith up to the fanatical ranter in holy orders8 ,those who are used to good company1 know how to behave4 ,i must confess1 that being unfortunately not bred in such liberal-basis'd1 or broad-bottomed principles1 ,i should not4 ,i should feel uneasy1 my ,lord2 ,i should be illiberally1 perhaps1 looking towards the door2 ,i might uncharitably call to mind that bigot ,polycarp1 and actually make my escape4 ,and what would you have me do8 ,you have condescended to persuade me to meet my inveterate foes1 who have repeatedly declared their intentions of pulling the church about my ears1 and starving all the clergy2 and who are actually and openly perpetrating their fatal project2 could you not bring about a reconciliation1 my ,lord1 before we meet8 ,do you not think that this would vastly promote and strengthen your present scheme8 ,at present we are all to meet1 it appears1 each retaining his wonted mind1 and continuing his usual exertions2 that is1 we all meet under your ,lordship's auspices1 still to continue pulling1 with all our might1 different ways6 ,surely1 to every thinking man it must be plain1 that although your ,lordship should call upon such a babel of lips and languages1 with all the powers you have1 for zeal and exertions united1 there appears not the least probability that that unanimity will come when you do call1 till you can prove that those very means which the ,almighty adopted to confound and divide1 have changed their nature1 and now may be used to collect1 and unite1 and carry on a simple plan with effect4 ,mistake me not1 my ,lord1 as intending to deny the possibility of any sort or degree of union among certain descriptions of persons composing the society4 ,this1 ,i am sure1 would be to deny that which authentic histories have abundantly proved to be true4 ,i am perfectly aware1 that all the various and discordant tribes of dissenters from the ,church of ,england1 may unite1 from the ,papist down to the ,quaker2 for they frequently have1 and frequently do unite against the ,church4 8,many times have they consulted together with one consent1 and have been confederate against the church10 saying1 8let us take to ourselves the houses of ,god in possession40 ,but when was it ever known1 that they have united with the church8 ,shew me the history1 lay your finger upon the page1 and say1 my ,lord1 when1 where1 and upon what occasion1 did they ever unite with the church1 for any important and righteous design4 ,i must be satisfied upon this point2 ,i must request some fair example and precedent1 to prove that the thing is neither impossible nor improbable1 before it can be even prudent to listen to your ,lordship's proposal6 ,alas6 my ,lord1 you well know how many sad examples might be brought to demonstrate the reverse3 why then put me to the needless task of reminding you of the many times and occasions when the 8several denominations of ,christians have united1 upon a liberal basis1 their zeal and exertion1 to an unexampled degree10 for the utter destruction of church and state8 ,why should ,i be forced to enter upon the disgraceful history of men1 who1 with words smoother than butter1 and softer than oil1 with fair promises of taking sweet counsel together1 and walking to the house of ,god as friends1 have put forth their hands against such as be at peace with them1 have broke their covenant1 and drawn their swords against them8 ,the church's many scars and wounds as yet unhealed1 and sores that are daily vexed1 have taught her not to lean upon every arm that is held out to support her weak and tottering strength4 ,experience always begets caution2 and knowledge of degenerate human nature1 brings with it circumspection4 ,she reads in the sacred volume written for our learning1 of ,joab's slippery trick with ,abner2 and till she can be persuaded that he who speaks quietly and peaceably means no mischief1 it would now be worse than imprudence to turn aside to speak at all4 ,the church1 my ,lord1 is not solicitous for such companions as these2 and why should your ,lordship be solicitous to bring her sons and servants into familiarity with those who despise her1 and are plotting her destruction8 ,permit me to address you as a ,church of ,england man2 as a man who fears ,god1 honours the king1 and hears the church4 ,allow us1 my ,lord1 to reason together a little1 upon this project of yours1 to which you call my attention1 and endeavour to engage my feelings4 ,you propose an alliance between the churchman and every description of religionists1 who either use or abuse the name of ,christ2 that is1 in the new phrase1 between ,christians of the 8several denominations40 ,has your ,lordship weighed well the advantages and disadvantages that are likely to accrue to the church8 ,supposing the design of this proposed association to be as pure as it appears to your ,lordship1 and that the exclusive object be1 to disseminate ,bibles throughout the world2 will this new connexion empower the church to extend its bounds1 and to confer its salutary blessings upon those who sit in darkness8 ,is this likely to be effected by the aid and assistance of those whole delight has always been to clip the silver wings of the heavenly dove1 and to pluck her golden feathers from her breast8 ,when did she ever soar1 but to encounter a cloud of enemies1 to tempt the rapine of every bird of prey under heaven--to offer a luscious and inviting morsel to all the several hungry 8denominations of christians1 to whom the happy constitution of this country10 your ,lordship says1 8affords equal protection with herself80 ,if the church to which you profess to belong1 be really a part of the ,holy ,catholic ,church1 that kingdom of ,christ in which we are promised pardon and salvation--is it likely to be enlarged and promoted on earth1 by a coalition with those who profanely hold it in derision1 and disdainfully1 dispitefully1 and cruelly load her with all the ill names that the most vindictive malice can suggest8 ,look to all the public acts of your new friends2 observe the spirit of all their various and varying publications2 and what do we find1 but one steady and unremitting plan of hostility2 sometimes marked with smiles and proffered fraternity2 sometimes ferocious and formidable1 with open mischief and attack8 ,and if by this connection1 it be impossible to enlarge the pale of the church1 there appears no probability that its interests of any sort can be safe and secure2 for that opposition which would prevent its extension1 must infallibly operate1 and does indeed operate1 to produce its destruction4 ,in this projected association1 indeed1 the danger of final destruction to the established church is scarcely concealed2 it is open and evident even to him who runs and reads its proposals4 ,it scarcely needs a suspicious eye2 it only needs the attentive one4 ,how this has escaped your ,lordship1 and several other illustrious friends of this association1 ,i cannot explain2 unless we bear in mind1 that those who mean well themselves1 are the last to suspect evil in others4 ,but let us see1 my ,lord1 how the case stands1 and examine what claim ,i have to credit1 when ,i assert1 that your society is in direct opposition to the interests of the established church4 ,in this association1 with no previous reconciliation between the church and her acknowledged adversaries1 the church is invited1 by your ,lordship1 to meet the several denominations of ,christians in all their avowed and secret enmity4 ,thank heaven1 the gates of nonconformity have never1 since the grand rebellion1 prevailed against the church2 and if her members were true to themselves1 and to the cause they profess to espouse1 in this happy country they never would4 ,but if such projects as this1 which your ,lordship recommends1 become popular and numerous1 and are supported by such patronage as appears at the head of this--with tears1 and many an heart-rending pang1 ,i must soon bid a last farewell to that venerable mother1 that chaste spouse of ,christ1 who hath borne many an illustrious child of ,god1 and many an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven6 ,what your ,lordship1 who has seen a little of the world1 can expect from such a meeting1 but the usual manners and actions of those several denominations you convene1 what you can possibly calculate upon1 but the scratchings and sightings1 which you know are usual with the parties when on the outside of the tavern walls1 it is difficult to guess4 ,not one friend do you attempt to gain for the church1 nor to conciliate a single foe4 ,they are to meet2 and by the sweet call of charity1 chanted most musically from your ,lordship's lips1 peace is to be preserved1 and war is no more to be known4 ,but it was to have been expected1 that your ,lordship1 who professes to be of the established denominations of ,christians1 if you had been disinclined to assist the church1 would certainly not have betrayed her1 in any degree or mode2 much less have addressed a clergyman1 inviting him to do the same4 ,my ,lord1 this ,i never will believe was your own act and deed4 ,you have lent an incautious ear to some insidious friend1 who abuses your respectable name to purposes of his own4 ,how else is it possible to conceive that your ,lordship could have invited me into an association1 under such a regulation as that which is numbered eleven8 in which the committee1 7which is 8to conduct the business of the society1 appoint all officers1 except the treasurer1 have power to call special meetings1 and are charged with procuring for the society suitable patronage7 shall consist of thirty-six laymen2 of whom1 twenty-four who shall have most frequently attended1 shall be eligible for re-election for the ensuing year2 six shall be foreigners1 resident in ,london or its vicinity2 half the remainder shall be members of the ,church of ,england1 and the other half members of other denominations of ,christians6660 ,we have here a standing majority against the church6 ,oh1 my ,lord1 how could you join in such a plot8 ,what could induce your ,lordship to lend your name to such a business as this2 and why should you think so basely of the clergy1 as to tempt them1 by you own example and fair reputation1 to sign the death warrant of the established church1 and the instrument of their own ruin8 ,it cannot escape you1 my ,lord1 that at present 7and thank ,god for it7 the church enjoys a very large majority against the combined members of all the several tolerated denominations of ,christians4 ,according to the most authentic calculation1 she can produce more than four of her members to one dissenter4 ,so that if the constitution of your committee had been formed upon a fair and righteous basis1 there plainly should have been at least four churchmen to one of the other denominations4 ,but here1 my lord1 strange to tell1 you propose to deprive the church of her natural numbers and strength1 you take from her1 her best means of defence1 and invite her into the midst of her sworn enemies6 ,where is the liberality of this1 my ,lord8 ,where is the justice8 ,the first temptation held out to the public1 is the liberal basis of your establishment4 ,is it liberal1 my ,lord1 to deprive one party of more than three fourths of its strength1 and to throw it among the others1 who have no other right to it1 nor expectation of it1 but what they derive from your ,lordship8 ,no doubt1 my ,lord1 if you can gain your point1 and can tempt the clergy into your scheme1 there will not be a single ,nonconformist1 ,papist1 ,socinian1 or ,quaker1 silent in your praise4 ,no doubt your unbounded liberality will be sounded forth1 by every gospel-preacher in the church1 and every twanging teacher in the conventicle4 ,ungrateful wretches would they be1 were they to pass by unnoticed1 and un-eulogised so great a friend to their cause4 ,a friend indeed2 whole unexampled zeal and exertions in their favour1 must raise their memory to their halcyon days of #afdh1 and fill their beating bosoms1 with well-grounded hopes of once more realizing those scenes1 which1 but for your ,lordship1 and a few other liberal men1 they little expected to see4 ,but what will the church say8 ,what will four-fifths of the nation think of your ,lordship's 8liberal basis10 which is treacherously withdrawn from the established church1 to build up the walls of conventicles and meeting-houses8 ,do you expect that any honest clergyman1 in his sound senses1 can relish your ,lordship's liberality1 for such conduct as this8 ,it is too gross1 my ,lord1 to pass4 ,i am lost in astonishment and grief1 when ,i see a man who professes so much good-will to the pure ,christianity of the country2 whole well-known integrity and respectable talents1 might have tempted the woe-worn church to look up to his piety and pity for relief2 whose rank and credit in the world1 afford him much ability to bestow it2 when ,i see such a man engaged in a fearful scheme1 by which our ,zion may be pulled down1 and her enemies exalted upon her ruins--alas6 for these things ,i weep3 8mine eye1 mine eye runneth down with water1 because the comforter that should relieve my soul1 is far from me40 ,my ,lord1 ,i repeat it again1 ,i am convinced you have been deceived4 ,were you a known enemy to the church1 or even a suspected one1 doubtless it would be highly gratifying to your ,lordship and companions1 to accomplish the object to which you solicit my concurrence4 ,at present1 the church is far too strong for her combined adversaries2 the contest is unequal4 ,confident1 ,i am1 there is none but an enemy could have advised this3--an enemy1 with whom it is far more dangerous to treat than to fight2 therefore let her take a friend's advice1 for once1 and stand upon her guard4 ,let her be true to herself1 and the gates of hell shall never prevail against her4 ,in point of strength1 therefore1 to establish herself1 and to resist her numerous foes1 it is impossible that the church can be any gainer by your ,lordship's heterogeneous society2 on the contrary1 it is perfectly evident that she would be extremely injured2 in as much as she is deprived of more than three-fourths of her natural strength1 which is given by your ,lordship to the general mass of her avowed enemies4 ,a standing majority of dissenters is constituted against her4 ,nor can ,i devise one argument sufficient to tempt her1 unshielded as she is1 by want of discipline and good government1 to throw away that natural defence which ,god ,almighty has given her1 and trust to the liberality and protection of those who threaten1 and are daily compassing her destruction4 ,nor is the church more likely to gain any thing to her dignity by her new associates1 than to her interest4 ,it is prophesied in scripture1 as a comfort to the church1 that one day she should have 8kings for her nursing fathers1 and queens for her nursing mothers40 ,your ,lordship holds out nothing of this sort in your society4 ,it cannot be denied that a few nobility are found in your list1 and some other folk of high rank1 but of such a description as we should not have expected to find there4 ,but1 my ,lord1 as it is not the mere presence of a nobleman that can make the company which he honours with his presence1 either creditable or polite1 so ,i presume at once1 that ,i am not required to consider your association as a creditable one1 merely because ,i find at its head your ,lordship1 and a few other respectable names4 ,for when ,i cast my eye downwards to the motley list of subscribers1 ,i find such names as can certainly reflect no credit upon the church4 ,there ,i recognize the dissenting teacher1 the ,methodist preacher1 the preaching blacksmith1 c4 who can make but awkward nurses of the church4 ,but one thing is plain1 that although our credit will be no gainer by the company you propose1 it is not so with them4 ,if we may take their account of themselves1 their doctrines and communications have hitherto been confined chiefly to the inferior ranks4 ,if your society succeeds1 it will be a society for 8bettering their condition20 a thing to them1 it may be presumed1 by no means unpleasant or ineligible4 ,the scriptures promise to none called ,christians but in the church2 and history proves that none but the church have enjoyed the splendor and favour of princes4 ,if1 therefore1 these several denominations have not1 and cannot procure1 the nursing of kings and queens1 is it to be wondered at that they should be glad to share the partiality of a nobleman or two8 the benign influence of some wandering star8 ,moreover1 as it is notorious that several liberal friends of rank have strenuously defended the dissenting denominations of ,christians against the one established1 but scarcely any have been persuaded to quit their connection with the church1 and honour the meeting-house with their presence2 it would not be an easy thing for those several denominations to prove their connection with their friends in the church1 were it not for the opportunities afforded them by societies established upon 8liberal basis40 ,here1 indeed1 it is with all the members1 as the proverb goes1 8hail-fellow well met40 ,all is unity and charity1 and ,christian benevolence2 and every thing that is good6 ,here is realized the pretty hand-in-hand frontispiece to the ,christian ,ladies ,pocket ,book1 #ahjc4 ,in sweetest harmony we view the preaching shopman and the ,british peer2 the ,methodist1 and ,baptist1 and ,independent1 the ,antinomian1 c4 c4 c4 and a venerable ,bishop of the ,church of ,england4 ,but1 my ,lord1 if it be fact that few men of opulence1 and fewer still of rank1 frequent the conventicle or meeting-house1 although several are well-known supporters of the cause2 if men of influence and consideration1 who continue to revile the church1 still think proper to remain nominal members of her communion2 till ,i am favoured by your ,lordship with a better reason for this strange inconsistent behaviour1 ,i am satisfied with this2 that her society is that1 which in spite of calumny is to be preferred1 that still1 in their sober moments1 even men of the world do think it more creditable to be accounted members of our venerable church1 than a subscriber to the meeting-house2 they proceed as if they adopted the idea of the gay king1 and thought that the church was fitter for gentlemen than the conventicle4 ,it cannot1 therefore1 be upon the notion of adding respectability to the church1 that your ,lordship fosters this institution3 although it is evident that much respectability may be reflected upon our dissenting brethren by a connexion with the church4 ,this they know and feel1 and by their conduct avow2 and certainly no man could object to see their condition improved by connection with good company1 were it not that the society by which they are benefitted1 must feel exactly the reverse by an association with them4 ,the question in short must be put1 who are the gainers by this new connection8 ,the answer will direct us to the party to which your ,lordship1 either by chance or design1 has condescended to favour1 at the expence of the other4 ,may ,i crave your ,lordship's attention to consider another material point4 ,i speak as to a true ,churchman2 judge you what ,i say4 ,how is it likely to fare with true religion1 as to purity1 when your association shall be arranged and perfected according to the proposed plan8 ,a man of your ,lordship's known integrity and serious turn of mind1 cannot be supposed to be a member of the church but from conviction2 upon conviction1 that of all the several denominations of ,christians1 that established is the purest and best2 of course1 that all others are not so pure1 and1 upon the whole1 are worse4 ,now we read in the sacred volume1 that evil communication corrupts good manners4 8,he that toucheth pitch10 saith the son of ,sirach1 8shall be defiled therewith40 ,shall we not then extremely endanger the rectitude of our opinions and manners1 by constant and intimate communication with all sorts of impure and erroneous religionists8 ,familiarity would soon lesson the deformity of the most abhorred doctrines1 and daily intercourse would in time smooth the way1 first with ease to tolerate1 and then to favour acknowledged and pernicious errors4 ,and this ,i speak1 not with relation to that denomination alone1 to which your ,lordship belongs2 it holds with all the others in common4 ,the ,socinian1 for instance1 charges idolatry upon the ,calvinist2 the ,calvinist returns the charge1 and accuses the other of denying his ,saviour4 ,and is it possible1 that two such opposite sects can cordially unite for religious purposes1 and enter into familiar friendship1 without considerable danger to the purity of that creed1 which each of them deems the true one8 ,will the ,socinian deem it safe to give the right hand of fellowship to an idolator2 and will the ,calvinist do the same to the despiser of his redeemer8 ,surely not2 if they meet upon such terms as shall secure to each party the purity of his faith1 they must meet upon the ground of religious indifference3 for if each party be hearty in his cause1 and zealous for his religion1 he will not only stiffly maintain it against his friend2 but1 if he be touched with one feeling of benevolence1 he will endeavour to gain his friend to that side1 which he considers as the religion of ,god2 and then1 ,i presume1 it is evident1 that all security is gone1 with respect to the other's faith2 for the zeal of his friend will be perpetually assailing what he deems the truth2 and1 doubtless1 each party will be always ready to quote against his friend1 the strong words of the ,apostle ,paul4 8,what concord hath ,christ with ,belial80 8,what part0 will the ,calvinist say1 8hath he that believeth1 with an infidel80 ,whilst the ,socinian with equal spirit may retort1 8,what agreement hath the temple of ,god with idols80 ,to speak in no hardier terms of your ,lordship's invitation into your association1 than ,i feel by conscience bound to speak2 do you not my ,lord1 at least1 lead the clergy into temptation1 a thing against which they daily pray8 ,and is it not presumption1 to trust themselves in the company of so many agreeable gentleman1 who1 if they be honest1 must infallibly endeavour to seduce them from their first faith8 ,the divine grace is no where promised to those who sin wilfully3 and surely1 it is to tempt ,god's providence1 to expect to come off harmless1 where we know he has in general made no way to escape4 ,my ,lord1 8you know your strength1 and ,i know mine3 neither our own1 but given40 ,nothing with me has such fascinating charms as good company2 and nothing sooner would seduce me from my principles4 ,feeling myself1 therefore1 too weak to say1 that it is positively out of the power of any of your friends to persuade me out of the means of salvation1 or to defraud me of the all-sufficient merits and atonement of my adored ,redeemer1 ,i must in prudence1 and in conscience1 decline your ,lordship's invitation4 ,i am perfectly aware that there are some chosen1 favoured persons1 who seem to possess much greater fortitude and spiritual strength1 than ,i can boast1 or than ,i judge1 the bulk of mankind can pretend to2 doubtless1 7for charity compels us so to determine7 they have by some revealed means1 secured a more than ordinary measure of grace1 and so can safely make a bolder flight in the thickest of this world's temptations and trials2 else1 might we ignorantly ask1 what concord hath a mitre with a meeting-house8 ,why should a clergyman of the ,church1 be unequally yoked with a lovely sister of the conventicle8 ,but upon these heads1 my ,lord1 ,i refer you to a certain officer of the society4 ,perhaps1 he can resolve us how a clergyman of the church1 can attend the meeting-house1 without danger to his principles1 or gross indecorum towards the church1 and its spiritual superior4 ,he perhaps1 can shew us too1 how a clergyman of the church1 can securely1 and without breach of trust1 take his pupils to hear the harangues of those who daily revile her4 ,this to common understandings1 does not appear to be the likely way 8to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrines1 contrary to ,god's word10 which every clergyman at his ordination solemnly promises to do4 ,it wants some clearing up4 ,i am sure ,i have no such extraordinary grace1 as to justify me in any such dangerous experiments2 and therefore1 ,i dare not expose myself to such temptations1 as ,i see persons more spoken of for piety1 practice every day4 ,in short1 my ,lord1 ,i confess my great fear1 that frequent communication with those whom we both consider as corrupt concerning the faith1 would in the end defile the purity of my own2 and therefore1 without presumption1 ,i cannot join myself to your ,bible ,society4 ,but1 permit me1 my ,lord1 to state a still more important objection to your proposed society1 than any already mentioned4 ,how is the purity even of the ,holy ,scriptures themselves to be secured1 if the translation and edition of the sacred book1 are to be entrusted to all the different denominations of ,christians8 ,the translation of any book1 is in effect1 and in a certain measure1 neither more nor less1 than an interpretation1 or exposition of the original2 for what does the translator set forth1 but that which he thinks fit to consider as the sense of his original8 ,about the original of the scriptures1 there can be no dispute1 except as to the genuine text2 which we know is now so accurately ascertained1 that variations of any importance1 are very few1 and have very little effect upon the essentials of religion4 ,but of the several possible senses which may be given of text acknowledged to be genuine1 there are a prodigious number2 and such variety1 as are capable of affording a specious proof1 for the most pernicious errors4 ,hence it has happened1 that christian princes have usually considered the translation1 and printing the ,holy ,scriptures1 as fit objects for their interference and controul4 ,your ,lordship will recollect the history of the ,rhemish ,testament1 and of other popish translations1 and will not be ready1 ,i should imagine1 to entrust either the translating or the editing the ,holy ,scriptures1 to the care of that denomination of ,christians called ,papists4 ,you will call to mind the crafty trick practised by another party1 of substituting one little monosyllable for another1 for the purpose of quashing one of the strongest proofs of episcopacy1 and forcing the text to speak in favour of presbyterian ordination3 and1 it is to be hoped1 your ,lordship would not wish to see a repetition of such transactions1 nor be willing to confide in such translations of ,god's sacred word1 as might issue from the hands of that denomination of ,christians1 which has been guilty in our opinion of such unjustifiable liberties4 ,but what has been1 my ,lord1 may be again2 nay1 if these people sent forth their several translations1 as those which1 in their sincere judgment gave the truest sense of scripture2 they acted at least like honest men3 and who will say1 that the denominations of ,christians1 who1 in these times1 have adopted all their doctrines1 books1 and practices1 are less honest than their predecessors8 ,and therefore1 we must expect1 if the power be put into their hands1 that they will give us the same translations and editions of the ,holy ,book1 as were given before6 ,hitherto1 my ,lord1 all sober ,christians have considered the church1 and not the conventicle1 as the only pillar and ground of the truth2 the best witness1 and keeper of ,holy ,writ4 ,but when the oracles of ,god are forced from the hands of those who are appointed to keep them1 and are thrown to a mixed multitude of contending religionists1 to give them out in what shape they please1 as the genuine and pure word4--,my ,lord1 you see the consequences1 as clearly as ,i can4 ,and when it is remembered1 that in your society1 there is a standing majority against the church1 what can we expert1 if the plan become general1 but that in time our present pure ,english ,bible will be thrust aside1 to make way for others1 translated and annotated to the different tastes of ,papists and ,presbyterians1 and all the other denominations1 to which this happy happy country is laid to afford equal protection8 ,every different party1 has now its doctrine1 has its interpretation2--but then each will have its ,bible too4 ,i shall here1 my ,lord1 put a period to my address1 not because ,i have enumerated all the evils1 which ,i see must follow such projects as that you recommend2 ,i have mentioned not a tenth part2 but1 because ,i am persuaded1 that if your ,lordship be decidedly averse from listening to any representation1 in prejudice of your society1 ,i have said enough to exhaust your patience4 ,if you be inclined1 7notwithstanding your present engagement to patronize the scheme17 candidly to listen to the suggestions of those who are unfriendly to it2 ,i have said more than enough1 to awaken your ,lordship's apprehensions1 and to procure your patient1 and very serious investigation of my objections4 ,i am1 my ,lord1 ,your ,lordship's obedient ,servant4 ,since these sheets were sent to the press1 the author has been credibly informed1 that the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society are at this time preparing an edition of the ,holy ,scriptures in the ,welch language1 in which1 such liberties are taken in the translation as are by no means warrantable4 ,he here gives it merely as a report1 himself being unacquainted with the ,welch language1 and therefore unable to examine it1 and determine how far it be true4 ,if however1 it be in the least degree founded in fact1 ,lord ,t41 he presumes1 will feel himself irresistibly called upon to bestow his very serious attention upon those pages of the address1 which allude to this important subject2 especially1 when he is informed1 that the same representation has been made to the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge1 who have thought proper to make further enquiries upon the subject4 ,the author has been likewise told1 that the distribution of tracts1 as well as bibles1 was in the original plan of some of the first projectors of this scheme1 one of whom is known to be a zealous adversary of the establishment4 ,lord ,t4 doubtless1 has full information upon all points1 respecting the characters of the projectors1 and will be able to determine what degree of attention is due to those fears and forebodings1 so strongly suggested upon this head4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,finis4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,bye and ,law1 ,printers1 ,st4 ,john's-,square1 ,clerkenwell4