,transcribed from the #ahdc ,g4 ,f4 and ,j4 ,rivington edition by ,david ,price4 ,a ,,letter ,,to ,,the ,,rev4 ,c4 ,n4 ,,wodehouse1 ,,canon ,,of ,,norwich2 ,occasioned by his late ,pamphlet1 entitled 8,,subscription ,,the ,,disgrace ,,of ,,the ,,english ,,church30 ,,by ,,the ,,rev4 ,c4 ,,green1 ,,rector ,,of ,,burgh-,,castle1 ,,and ,,late ,,fellow ,,of ,,jesus ,,college1 ,,cambridge4 99 99 99 99 99 ------------ 99 99 99 99 99 ,,london3 ,g4 ,f4 ,,and ,j4 ,,rivington1 ,,st4 ,,paul',s4 ,,yarmouth3 ,c4 ,,sloman1 ,,king-,,street4 ---------- ,,mdcccxliii4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,charles ,,sloman1 ,,printer1 ,,great ,,yarmouth4 ,a ,,letter1 c4 c4 ,,sir1 ,,in addressing to you the following remarks upon a pamphlet recently put forth by you1 under the title of 8,subscription the ,disgrace of the ,english ,church10 ,i think it right to explain the reasons which have induced me to give them publication1 rather than to communicate them in a private form1 and also why ,i have not taken this step some days earlier4 ,the fact is1 that till within the last three days1 ,i had seen nothing of your pamphlet beyond the title2 neither do ,i think that ,i should then have been tempted to peruse its contents1 so repulsive did its announcement appear1 had ,i not received an intimation that my name was mentioned in connection with your former publication1 in such terms as to create some suspicion that ,i might countenance your opinions and views1 and to require from me a declaration how far ,i might concur in believing ,subscription to the ,thirty-nine ,articles a disgrace4 ,this information could not fail to excite in me some degree of surprise and curiosity1 feeling1 as ,i did1 unconscious of having made to you1 either publicly or privately1 any observation whatever in reference to that or to any other of your publications4 ,on reading the paragraph in your pamphlet in which my name is introduced1 it did not occur to me1 that1 supposing ,i had been one of those 8clergymen in the diocese of ,norwich1 who had made comments upon your last publication10 you intended anything more than to speak of me in complimentary terms4 ,feeling conscious1 however1 that ,i could not take to myself that compliment1 for the reasons already stated1 and that it had been more than hinted to me1 that my name being so introduced placed me in an equivocal position1 in which some explanation would be expected1 ,i laid the paragraph1 together with the fact1 before a clerical friend1 who gave his opinion1 that it certainly did admit of a doubt1 how far ,i might have coincided in1 or differed from1 your views of ,subscription1 as stated in your last publication4 ,now1 if your observations had merely concerned myself personally1 ,i might not have thought this accidental circumstance worthy of notice2 at least ,i should have refrained from drawing public attention to a matter of a private nature4 ,but as ,i conceive that the character of a clergyman1 whether as it regards his flock1 or the church1 ought not to appear in an ambiguous light1 and as ,i have always1 both publicly and privately maintained opinions the directly opposite of those which you have advocated in several publications1 it would justly be considered an abandonment of duty1 were ,i1 from an ill-timed silence1 to allow it to be suspected that ,i side with the opinions which you entertain in the matter of ,subscription4 ,under these circumstances and impressions1 ,i have no course but to sacrifice my natural disinclination to make myself a public character1 particularly when1 in that character1 ,i must necessarily assume somewhat of a controversialist1 and when there is connected with the subject much both of a painful and of a delicate nature3 ,i therefore hesitate not to comply with my duty4 ,although such reasons for the course which ,i am about to take apply only to myself1 yet if every clergyman in the diocese chose to dispute your allegations generally1 and to repudiate your imputations in particular1 it would be quite competent to him1 individually1 to make his public defence4 ,before ,i enter on the main subject of your pamphlet1 one word of further explanation will be necessary upon the personal matter between us4 ,at page #dc1 you say-- 8,i have now only to acknowledge the comments of several clergymen and others in this diocese1 upon my last publication4 ,to the ,rev4 ,b4 ,philpot1 formerly archdeacon of the ,isle of ,man1 and to the ,rev4 ,c4 ,green1 rector of ,burgh1 ,i beg to offer my sincere thanks for the candid and christian spirit in which their observations were made4 ,i avail myself also of this opportunity to acknowledge with respect and gratitude a large number of private communications1 both from friends and strangers1 which were a valuable testimony at a time when they were most acceptable40 ,in answer to what concerns me1 ,i repeat that ,i neither publicly nor privately to you ever made any comment or observation whatever upon your last publication2 and that1 if to others ,i may have alluded to it1 it was in terms of disapprobation and with feelings of regret4 ,i now proceed to a discussion of your pamphlet1 which will give me an opportunity of satisfying those1 who may wish to know1 how far ,i concur in your opinions and views2 and ,i trust ,i shall not express myself otherwise1 than in that 8candid and christian spirit10 for which1 by anticipation1 you have already given me credit4 ,the title of the pamphlet is a true index of what may be found within4 ,indeed1 the contents may be reduced to ,,proposition and ,,corollary4 ,proposition3 8,subscription the ,disgrace of the ,english ,church40 ,corollary3 8,repeal of the present form of ,subscription40 ,these in turn shall have my best consideration4 ,the ,proposition you attempt to establish by various suppositions and allegations4 ,a grave charge1 which strikes at the very foundation of our church establishment1 like that involved in this proposition1 should not be grounded on suppositions1 the force of which must depend on their degree of probability1 which is always questionable1 but should rest solely upon proven and admitted facts4 ,indeed1 in a matter of such moment as that1 which you appear extremely anxious to substantiate1 all other reasoning but from facts alone must be excluded4 ,i therefore humbly submit1 that the opinions which you appear to have collected from 8,newspapers1 ,periodicals10 and 8,commercial ,travellers' ,rooms10 must be rejected as inadmissible in the present consideration2 for the articles in newspapers and periodicals1 of a controversial nature especially1 being generally got up to serve some party purpose1 are too often limited to a partial and one-sided view of things2 and ,i have yet to learn that commercial travellers' rooms1 however proverbial for practical information and good sense1 have become schools of sound theology4 ,for the same reason1 we must pass by the suppositious questions of 8youthful profligates1 led on by some ingenious sceptic20 also1 8the obvious reasoning of the dissenting part of our population10 and the notions of 8a still larger class1 who1 amidst the din of controversy1 pick up a few popular reports1 which help to confirm their indifference to religion40 ,we must likewise dismiss from our consideration your analogical reasoning1 from the case of the ,officers of the ,army and ,navy to that of the ,clergy1 and from the 8,articles of ,war0 to the 8,confession of our ,faith40 ,for reasoning of this sort1 to be valid1 must be founded upon cases analogous2 and what analogy exists between the 8,articles of ,war10 which depend on ever-varying expediency and annual revision1 and the 8,confession of our ,faith10 which is based on the never-changing word of truth8 #h ,some analogy there may be between ,officers of the ,army and ,navy1 who for dishonorable conduct are dismissed the service by court-martial1 and the ,clergy who hold opinions contrary to their ,subscription4 ,but ,i forbear to animadvert on that comparison4 ,therefore ,i think you must allow that1 in a demonstration of such moment1 as that 8,subscription is the ,disgrace of the ,english ,church10 we cannot admit suppositions1 assertions1 and notions1 but that we must have stern facts4 ,is it then the fact1 that 8while we perceive the variety of opinion prevailing amongst these several sections 7of the clergy17 we see also that from all of them1 more or less1 ,subscription is requiring that which1 in the ordinary affairs of life1 high-minded men would abstain from2 viz4 the necessity for qualifying the plain and straight-forward use of language80 ,if you succeed in establishing this position1 then ,i shall be ready to acknowledge that there is treachery within the pale of our ,church--widely-extended treachery1 and that you will have gone far towards maintaining that 8,subscription is the ,disgrace of the ,english ,church20 or1 to put the proposition more logically1 that the ,clergy thus subscribing and acting are the disgrace of the ,english ,church4 ,it will now be necessary to extract in full from your pamphlet those allegations upon which alone your position depends1 in order that the truth of them may be canvassed1 and the foundation of your charge made perfectly clear to my readers4 ,in pages #aa to #ad1 you say-- 7#a7 8,subscription alone is now in view2 and while that remains as it is1 and ,english words retain their meaning1 and an ,english history of facts can be found1 and any clear apprehension of the meaning of truth remains with us1 the perversion of our ,form of ,subscription1 and the misrepresentation of our ,articles1 attempted by any who argue that they were not intended to condemn ,romanism1 whether as held before or after the ,council of ,trent1 ought to excite1 in every honest mind1 an indignation which it is a virtue to feel and a duty to express4 ,if it be questioned where such views have been advanced1 it is sufficient to refer to ,tract ,no4 #ij1 now before the writer of these pages1 though other instances might be cited from authors who have subscribed the ,articles4 7#b7 8,if we turn to another section of the ,english clergy1 that most opposed to the views of the tractarians1 however they command our respect from their piety1 and zeal1 and hearty attachment to ,scriptural truth and sound doctrine2 yet some of them cannot be esteemed clear of all blame on the question now considered4 ,the writer can here speak from personal knowledge4 ,in their views as to baptismal regeneration1 certainly opposed to the strict language of our formularies2 in their dislike of other parts of our services1 and sometimes in the disuse or change of certain terms1 is to be found a proof that to them ,subscription is not altogether satisfactory2 and the often-avowed concession1 that the excellence of our system of doctrine and worship1 as a whole1 reconciles their minds to some imperfections1 is enough to show that1 in subscribing1 some violence is done to simple truth4 ,they argue1 and justly1 that no human work can literally demand an unqualified approbation1 but our ,subscription does require it4 ,such arguments1 then1 cannot be altogether satisfactory to him who uses them1 or to many to whom they may be offered2 and truth1 it cannot be denied1 is to some extent dishonored and damaged in their use4 7#c7 8,in that section again of subscribers who embrace ,calvinistic doctrines1 though the writer considers that some of the ,articles are more unequivocally favorable to them than their opponents1 yet it cannot be forgotten how frequently and decidedly it has been declared1 ex cathedr1 that theirs are not the doctrines of the ,church of ,england4 7#d7 8,another large section of the ,english clergy may be now comprised under the name of old-fashioned high-churchmen2 and of that title1 it is believed1 they will not themselves complain4 ,many of them would gladly extract the honey from the tractarian school1 without sufficiently considering how poisonous the plant whose growth they are to some extent fostering4 ,they insist often on an exact compliance with ,rubrics1 and must forgive me for saying that few amongst them have fulfilled these in their own practice4 ,till very lately1 it would indeed be difficult to find many clergymen1 or one bishop1 within the last fifty years1 who have strictly observed the ,rubrics--still less the ,canons4 ,some of them speak also of a literal ,subscription2 but here again the writer can of his own knowledge state1 that numbers claim and use a considerable latitude in subscribing1 and are satisfied with asserting their general attachment to the ,formularies of the ,church4 ,of their ,arminian views as to doctrine1 it is hardly necessary to call to mind how much they are opposed to others amongst their brethren1 and1 in the writer's judgment1 to the ,articles themselves4 7#e7 8,in another section may be comprised those who desire improvement in many things relating to the spiritual affairs of our ,church4 ,some have openly expressed this desire2 a far larger number cherish it in silence4 ,they who have spoken out have strongly stated their conviction1 that a ,church1 without the means of even entering upon deliberation as to one general improvement in its spiritual concerns1 is in a false and unscriptural position4 ,with respect to the ,forms of ,subscription and the interpretation of the ,articles1 some have formally requested a change1 or rather an authoritative solution of the many doubts and uncertainties which now embarrass the question40 ,having adduced these allegations in support of your position1 in which you endeavor to implicate every section 7as your term is7 of the ,english clergy1 in a culpable act in the matter of ,subscription2 you then draw the inference1 that by far the greater portion of the clergy in the several 8sections10 have tampered with their ordination vow2 and finally1 you come to the conclusion1 or rather1 as if doubting1 whether you had so far succeeded as to arrive at a legitimate conclusion1 you put the question1 whether the affirmation is too strong1 that 8,subscription is the ,disgrace of the ,english ,church40 8,thus while we perceive the variety of opinion prevailing amongst these several sections--a variety which1 were it not impeded by ,subscription1 would find a harmless or beneficial vent in a free inquiry after ,scriptural truth--we see also that from all of them1 more or less1 ,subscription is requiring that which1 in the ordinary affairs of life1 high-minded men would abstain from2 namely1 the necessity for qualifying the plain and straight-forward use of language4 ,is this a condition favorable to the reputation of teachers of truth2 and is it too strong a conclusion1 at least from some parts of the above account1 to affirm1 that ,subscription is the disgrace of the ,english ,church80 ,i shall now proceed to examine and discuss your allegations seriatim1 and see how far they are founded in fact2 after which ,i shall adduce evidence of a counter tendency1 arising from a personal knowledge of facts1 and an intimate acquaintance with the opinions of individual clergy4 7#a7 ,in the first paragraph1 you alledge that our form of ,subscription has been perverted and our ,articles misrepresented by persons 8who argue that they were not intended to condemn ,romanism20 and1 in proof of this1 you 8think it sufficient to refer to ,tract ,no4 #ij1 though10 as you state1 8other instances might be cited from authors who have subscribed the ,articles40 ,now1 as 8one swallow does not make a summer10 so neither does one individual1 nor several1 7and ,i believe they are not many altogether1 who hold with ,tract ,no4 #ij17 constitute in that particular1 a general 8perversion of our ,form of ,subscription10 or a general 8misrepresentation of our ,articles40 ,i am not ignorant that it has been the common prejudice to stamp as a tractarian every man who avows that he upholds generally the ,apostolical ,succession1 and ,baptismal ,regeneration1 has lately seen it right to have divine service in his church during ,lent1 and at other times appointed by the ,rubric1 and especially if he preach in a surplice1 although he may differ from ,tract ,no4 #ij1 and its principles1 as widely as possible4 ,and ,i cannot help thinking that you have been carried away by this mistaken notion4 ,but look calmly and impartially around1 and say from your own knowledge how many are the clergy in the diocese of ,norwich1 who countenance the principles of ,tract ,nos4 #ij1 or #he1 or #hj1 or indeed other tracts1 which may be repugnant to the doctrines of our church3 are there three8 are there two8 or one8 ,but if ,i grant you that there are half-a-dozen1 7and except in argument ,i would not allow so many17 considering that in the diocese there are upwards of eight hundred clergy1 it will little avail you4 7#b7 ,in the next paragraph1 which embraces that 8section of the clergy most opposed to the views of the ,tractarians1 you speak from personal knowledge20 and you say1 8in their views as to ,baptismal ,regeneration1 certainly opposed to the strict language of our ,formularies2 in their dislike of other parts of our services1 and sometimes in their disuse of certain terms1 is to be found a proof that to them ,subscription is not altogether satisfactory40 ,i do not deny that there may be among that body of the clergy some who do not admit ,baptismal ,regeneration1 according to the strict language of our ,formularies3 but ,i believe they are by no means so numerous as you would have it inferred4 ,i can affirm1 from personal knowledge1 that some of that party do hold that doctrine strictly in accordance with the church1 and that ,i scarcely know one who does not admit it1 at least in a modified sense4 ,you are aware that the word 8regeneration10 instead of being restricted to ,baptism1 as it is in our ,articles and ,liturgy1 and1 as ,i believe1 also in the ,new ,testament1 has1 by many divines as well as others1 long been used in a looser signification1 to denote 8conversion10 8renovation10 c41 which may be necessary after ,baptism4 ,hence there is reason to think that frequently the difference is more in name than in reality4 ,i can also state positively that1 upon this point1 within very few years1 the views of many amongst this party have undergone considerable change1 and closely approximated to those of the church4 ,if1 however1 upon one of the most difficult and abstruse doctrines of ,christianity there should be shades of opinion1 it is only to be expected2 considering that all have not equally faith to receive1 or the capacity to comprehend the 8things hard to be understood40 ,neither do ,i think it quite charitable to set down this circumstance to their 8disgrace10 or to that of the church of which they are ministers4 8,who art thou that judgest another man's servant8 ,to his own master he standeth or falleth40 #ad ,moreover1 in this neighborhood1 ,i am acquainted with several of the clergy1 who would probably rank themselves under this 8section10 who are not behind any of their neighbors in the exact observance of the ,liturgy4 ,with regard to those 8,subscribers who embrace ,calvinistic doctrines10 any comment of mine would be superfluous1 as it is clear1 from the tenor of your observations1 that you are ready to defend their view of the ,articles4 ,we now come to a section of the clergy whom you denominate 8old-fashioned high-churchmen40 ,your main charge against these is1 that whilst 8they insist often on an exact compliance with ,rubrics10 few amongst them have fulfilled these in their own practice4 ,the supposition of error attaching to them in their 8,arminian views of doctrine10 being matter of private opinion1 may be dismissed as irrelevant4 ,the charge1 then1 may be regarded as a default in ,rubrical practice4 ,this accusation1 however1 is of the less importance1 as it is not contended1 neither indeed can be1 that there exists in the clergy a conscientious objection to a compliance with any of the ,rubrical directions--only that 8few amongst them have fulfilled these in their own practice40 ,and thus much is fully conceded4 ,if it were material to the point1 it would be no difficult task1 in extenuation of those who deviate from the strict letter of the ,rubric1 to prove that the ,rubrics are not always definite1 and frequently admit of a variety of construction--that to a certain extent the church accords to its ministers a discretionary judgment in this as in all other things--that at the present time there exists a prevailing disposition to revive much which has fallen into desuetude1 and an earnest desire to carry out the ,rubrics in all their practical utility--and consequently1 that there is notwithstanding a great deal of honest and upright practice4 ,but your charge affects not the clergy1 but ,subscription4 ,it will therefore be a sufficient answer1 to refer you to ,article #cd1 in which it is stated--that 8every particular or national church hath authority to ordain1 change1 and abolish ceremonies or rites of the church1 ordained only by man's authority10 in order to remind you that1 without having recourse to that measure1 which in the sequel you propound1 the church does possess a provision to abrogate or enact1 whenever it may be deemed by the legislature expedient to direct the ,convocation to proceed with that business4 7#e7 ,in the last 8section0 of the clergy1 whose views you notice1 ,i see nothing in the slightest degree inconsistent with their ,subscription4 ,surely1 according to ,article #bj1 which states that 8the church hath power to decree rites and ceremonies1 and authority in controversies of faith10 it is quite competent for any clergyman to state strongly his conviction1 that a church1 without even the power of entering upon the means of deliberation as to one general improvement in its spiritual concerns1 is in a false and unscriptural position4 ,the summoning of convocation rests with the legislature1 and not with the church1 and is a matter of expediency upon which every individual clergyman may entertain his own opinion4 ,i have now carefully1 and for my readers ,i fear too tediously1 gone through your allegations2 but as ,i conceived that your proposition depended solely upon their being supported and established by facts1 ,i trust ,i shall be excused if ,i have made a point of examining them with that patience and candor1 which ,i thought their importance demanded4 ,i find then1 that1 because an indefinitely small number of the clergy in every diocese may agree with the author of ,tract ,no4 #ij1--;because a portion of a certain 8section0 of the clergy possibly do not hold ,baptismal ,regeneration in strict accordance with the ,articles and ,liturgy--because some incline to ,calvinistic1 some to ,arminian views of doctrine--because1 in practice1 an exact conformity to the ,rubrics does not obtain1 notwithstanding that in the #cdth article express provision is made to meet this case in all its bearings1 and because1 in accordance with the #bjth article1 certain persons avow that a church1 without the means of deliberation1 is in a false and unscriptural position--,therefore 8,subscription is the ,disgrace of the ,english ,church40 ,such is the conclusion at which you arrive from your premises--a conclusion1 in my humble opinion1 so slightly supported by fact1 that ,i can hardly bring myself to think1 but that1 if there had not existed a strong propension1 a predetermination to come at this result1 your judgment would have rejected the evidence as totally insufficient to support it4 ,i now proceed to adduce evidence of a counter-tendency1 arising from a personal knowledge of facts1 and an intimate acquaintance with the opinions of individual clergy4 ,in #ahch ,i preached at ,yarmouth before the ,lord ,bishop of ,norwich1 yourself1 and a numerous body of the ,clergy residing in the two adjoining ,deaneries1 a ,sermon1 in which ,i delivered the following sentences1 viz4-- 8,by ,god's providence1 my ,reverend ,brethren1 we have been ordained ministers #8of that pure and reformed part of ,christ's church established in this kingdom1' which1 from the deepest conviction1 we believe to be #8built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets1 ,jesus ,christ himself being the chief corner-stone2' and in obedience to her authority1 and in conformity with her ,articles and ,liturgy1 we have pledged ourselves to discharge the functions of our ministry4 8,i have been ordained to #8administer the doctrine and sacraments and discipline of ,christ1 as the ,lord hath commanded1 and as this church and realm hath received the same4' ,and1 until ,i am convinced that she is in error--that her ,articles or her ,liturgy contain #8things which are neither read in scripture1 nor may be proved thereby1' as a minister of the ,church of ,england1 ,i may not indulge in speculations of my own imagination1 or perform her offices in ways and modes of my own devising1 but ,i must labor for the edification and salvation of the souls entrusted to my care1 according to the laws1 the regulations1 and the spirit of the ,church of ,england1 which is the ,church of ,christ4 ,when ,i can no longer do so conscientiously1 it will then become me no longer to appropriate her emoluments4 8,but revering and loving her doctrine1 and approving her discipline1 ,i can well repose myself under her guidance and administration4 ,these1 my ,reverend ,brethren1 ,i may venture to hope1 are equally the sentiments of us all40 ,whatever might be the individual opinion entertained of the obligations under which1 on that occasion1 ,i apprehended myself and all ministers of the ,gospel to be1 or of the sentiments which ,i expressed in regard to those obligations1--the ,sermon1 containing this acknowledgment of our ministerial engagements1 and this expression of corresponding sentiments1 was requested by the assemblage then present1 without a dissentient voice1 to be printed2 and ,i think the charitable inference is1 that each individual sanctioned with his approbation the sentiments delivered in that discourse4 ,if this construction upon their unanimous act be correct1 the accidental publication of this ,sermon will go far to exonerate the parties then present from the imputation of disingenuous ,subscription1 which1 ,i must needs think1 in your general remarks1 you have endeavoured to attach to them4 ,but so far as it concerns my neighbours1 ,i have yet something more certain than a fair and presumptive inference to advance4 ,my personal intimacy with many of the ,clergy around me1 enables me to add my belief that these sentiments are theirs1 equally as mine4 ,and if this be true of the ,clergy in one district taken indiscriminately1 why should they not be the opinions of the ,clergy of other deaneries and other dioceses8 ,until you can give me positive proof to the contrary1 ,i shall charitably presume that they are so2 and leave you to reconcile with fact the following extraordinary1 and to me unaccountable1 assertion3-- 8,subscription1 instead of being the tie which is to bind people to certain opinions or truths1 is become a rope of sand4 ,so uncertain is the trumpet's sound1 that it no longer1 as of old1 proclaims the spirit of an united host1 but turns every man's sword against his fellow3 and ,englishmen must soon awake to the conviction that ,subscription1 according to the plain meaning of the words1 is blown to the winds1 and become the disgrace and not the safeguard of the ,english ,church40 ,under ordinary circumstances it would seem sufficient to have made a general statement in regard to ,subscription1 but as you have particularised three several points to which you take exception in the matter of ,subscription1 it might appear uncandid to pass them over without more especial comment4 ,these points will be best given in your own words3-- 8,i still maintain-- 8,that the condemnatory clauses of the ,athanasian ,creed1 in their literal sense1 are an un-christian appendage to a document of extraordinary merit1 yet such that a true ,christian may innocently differ from some propositions set forth in it4 8,that a ,bishop is not authorized by the ,gospel to address a candidate for ,ordination in the literal sense of the words1 #8,receive the ,holy ,ghost3 whose sins thou dost remit1 they are remitted1 and whose sins thou dost retain1 they are retained4' 8,that a ,christian minister is not authorized by the ,gospel to address any one in the literal sense of the words1 #8,i absolve thee from all thy sins4'0 ,i am not sure that ,i understand your precise meaning in the expression1 the 8literal sense20 but ,i will not shrink from stating distinctly the sense in which ,i subscribed1 and1 so far as ,i have been able to ascertain1 other ,clergymen subscribe to these points4 ,scripture itself is not always interpreted in a strictly 8literal sense40--,witness a great part of the sixth chapter of ,st4 ,john4 ,but in the interpretation of a particular passage1 regard must be had to all the circumstances and considerations connected with it4 ,the same observation1 ,i apprehend1 applies in ascertaining the meaning of the ,articles and ,liturgy4 ,now whoever subscribes to the ,athanasian ,creed1 subscribes to it in conjunction with the ,thirty-nine ,articles3 and the #fth ,article states that 8,holy ,scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation2 so that whatsoever is not read therein1 nor may be proved thereby1 is not to be required of any man1 that it should be believed as an ,article of ,faith40 ,by the standard of ,scripture1 then1 we are bound to try every clause of the ,athanasian ,creed1 and every other subject of ,subscription1 before we embrace it as an article of faith4 ,and thus1 the condemnatory clauses of that ,creed are to be understood and received in perfect agreement with the ,scripture4 ,and to satisfy ourselves of their true sense we must have recourse to the ,source of ,truth4 ,then1 are these clauses of universal or of limited application8 ,our ,saviour's words are--8,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved1 and he that believeth not shall be damned40 #bb;a ,and to ascertain the extent of the condemnation herein denounced against unbelievers1 we must compare the passage with others evidently to be taken in conjunction with it4 ,first1 the words of our ,saviour--8,that servant who knew his ,lord's will1 and prepared not himself1 neither did according to ,his will1 shall be beaten with many stripes4 ,but he that knew not1 neither did commit things worthy of stripes1 shall be beaten with few stripes40 #bb;b ,secondly1 the declaration of ,st4 ,paul--8,now we know1 that what things soever the law saith1 it saith to them who are under the law40 #bb;c ,hence we learn that our ,saviour's words in ,st4 ,mark are to be understood with this limitation1 viz4 8he that0 hath the means and opportunities of believing the ,gospel1 and 8believeth not shall be damned40 ,at the same time1 to show that 8there is no respect of persons with ,god10 whether ,jew or ,gentile1 ,st4 ,paul expressly declares with reference to those who sin without revelation1 8,as many as have sinned without law1 shall also perish without law40 #bb;d ,hence we are bound1 ,i think1 to receive the condemnatory clauses of the ,athanasian ,creed in the same sense and with the same limitation as our ,saviour's words in ,st4 ,mark4 ,they are declaratory of ,god's revelation respecting those who have the means and opportunities of believing the saving truths of the ,gospel1 and yet do not believe4 8,this is the condemnation1 that light is come into the world1 and men have chosen darkness rather than light1 because their deeds were evil40 #bc 7#b7 ,now1 in regard to the ,absolution in the ,visitation of the ,sick1 the same rule of interpretation is to be applied4 ,if the words1 8,i absolve thee from all thy sins10 were taken to convey to a fellow-creature an absolute pardon of sins committed against ,god as unreservedly as we may forgive his offences committed against ourselves1 this construction would appear to invest us with an authority which every priest is sensible that he does not possess4 8,who can forgive sins but ,god alone80 ,whatever therefore be the signification of the words in this ,absolution1 we are certain they must be so understood as to harmonize with ,scripture1 which declares the forgiveness or remission of sins to be conditional4 ,faith and repentance are the conditions1 and baptism the outward mean1 whereby the forgiveness of sins is formally and legally made over to the worthy recipient4 ,acts ,,ii4 #ch1 and ,,viii4 #cg4 ,in accordance with these conditions1 the ,absolution in both the ,daily and the ,communion ,service is framed2 and in both places the priest pronounces pardon and absolution 8to those who truly repent and unfeignedly believe10 agreeably to the ,covenant of ,baptism4 ,and the authority on which he professes to do this1 is--that 8,god hath given power and commandment to his ministers to declare and pronounce to his people1 being penitent1 the ,absolution and ,remission of their ,sins40 ,hence1 in these two cases1 the office of the priest is clearly ministerial4 ,if now we would reconcile the words in the other ,absolution with the plain intention of ,scripture1 we have only to apply to the ,liturgy the ,apostolic ,canon1 which we ever adopt in the interpretation of ,scripture--8,comparing things spiritual with spiritual10 and compare the latter ,absolution with the two former1 and we have no difficulty in convincing ourselves that the words1 8,i absolve thee from all thy sins10 7whenever it may be a point of duty to use them1 viz4 8if the sick person humbly and heartily desire it10 and having 8made an especial confession of his sins107 are pronounced ministerially and conditionally4 ,take lastly the case in the ,ordination of ,priests4 ,this consists of two parts3-- 7#a7 8,receive the ,holy ,ghost1 for the office and work of a ,priest in the church of ,god1 now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands40 7#b7 8,whose sins thou dost forgive1 they are forgiven2 and whose sins thou dost retain1 they are retained40 7#a7 ,the authority on which a ,bishop addresses these words to a ,candidate for ,ordination is derived through the ,apostolical ,succession4 ,they are the words in which our blessed ,lord thought good to invest his ,apostles with their ministerial authority2 and there is strong ground for believing1 that the first ,bishops received from the ,apostles1 upon whom ,christ built his church1 the like authority in the same form of words1 and so handed it down to their successors4 ,some formula for ,ordination there must be1 as of baptism2 and though the one is a sacrament and the other is not1 my faith teaches me1 that 8where two or three are met together in ,god's name10 in any ,godly work1 8there is ,he in the midst of them40 ,i would therefore humbly and piously hope1 that in such a holy work as the ,ordination of weak and frail men for the great and responsible office of the ministry1 ,he will vouchsafe to be present with ,his church2 and after care duly taken by the ,bishop to 8lay hands suddenly on no man10 the solemn vows sincerely taken upon himself by the candidate1 the earnest prayers of the congregation1 the pious invocation of the ,holy ,ghost 8to inspire the souls0 and 8visit the hearts0 of those engaged in the sacred investiture--upon a candidate so truly called1 and so dedicated to the ministry1 ,i would devoutly trust that ,god would be pleased to pour down a portion of the sanctifying ,spirit1 by the laying on of hands4 7#b7 ,with regard to the second part of this formula--8whosesoever sins ye remit1 they are remitted10 c4 ,it is generally admitted that one meaning of these words applies to ,ecclesiastical ,censures1 in reference to the members of any ,church who may have committed scandalous offences and incorrigible misdemeanours4 #be ,and comparing them with ,matthew ,,xviii4 #af1 #ag1 #ah1 it seems almost impossible but to conclude that1 in one sense1 they relate to those matters4 ,if this were the only signification1 there would be no perplexity4 ,but the words most probably have another reference--a reference to sins1 as they are committed against ,god4 ,and herein ,i apprehend lies the difficulty4 ,to arrive at a satisfactory solution of this1 we have only to consider 7supposing the ,priest to be endued with authority to remit and retain sins in a spiritual sense7 the occasion on which he is called upon to exercise that function4 ,clearly1 in pronouncing the ,absolution1 wherein he declares remission of sins to those who truly repent and unfeignedly believe4 ,and although1 in the ,absolution1 he declares not the counterpart of the sentence1 yet he has equally authority to pronounce1 that the sins of those who do not repent and believe1 will be retained by ,god4 ,it has1 ,i conceive1 been demonstrated that the ,clergy1 with comparatively few exceptions1 do not subscribe otherwise than ex animo1 and by consequence disproved that they are the disgrace of the ,english ,church1 in that respect1 at least1 or1 as you invert the proposition1 that 8,subscription is the ,disgrace of the ,english ,church20 it therefore might seem superfluous to discuss the ,corollary1 which falls to the ground as a consequence4 ,but as there is reason to doubt whether you intend the alteration of ,subscription1 strictly as a ,corollary dependent on the previous problem1 or as itself a distinct proposition1 offering a substantial improvement in the ,constitution of our ,church1 it may be worth while to investigate the matter further4 ,you propose then1 next1 8the repeal of the present form of ,subscription20 and instead thereof1 8,subscription to the three ,creeds1 and an engagement to conform to the ,liturgy30 and you add1 that 8assent to the doctrines of the ,creeds would be almost ,catholic40--,would it8 ,could you subscribe to the three ,creeds1 or engage to conform to the ,liturgy1 without some modification or limitation8 ,you declare that you still cannot accept1 in the 8literal sense10 either the ,condemnatory ,clauses of the ,athanasian ,creed1 or the ,absolution in 8the ,visitation of the ,sick10 or the formula in 8the ,ordering of ,priests20 and in your former publication1 entitled 8,what is the ,meaning of ,subscription80 you stated that 8you were not contented to take them otherwise than in a #8literal sense1' without a declaration from ,authority that they are not strictly to be so taken2 and you went so far as to offer to resign your preferment1 if called upon so to do by the ,archbishop of ,canterbury1 unless in the meantime you obtained relief in that respect40 #bg ,supposing therefore the changes made2 in this dilemma1 how would your case be affected by them1 one way or the other1 without an authorised interpretation also1 which should be satisfactory to you8 ,but supposing further1 that you obtained everything which would satisfy yourself and some thirty-five others who united with you in #ahdj in a ,petition to the ,house of ,lords1 how could the ,arian and the ,socinian subscribe to the ,athanasian ,creed with a safer conscience then1 than now8 ,could those who deny ,baptismal ,regeneration repeat1 8,i believe in one baptism for the remission of sins10 in the ,nicene ,creed8 ,would the 8,three ,denominations0 feel quite easy in repeating 8,i believe in ,one ,catholic and ,apostolic ,church10 in the ,nicene ,creed1 and cordially unite with our ,church in maintaining the present ,three ,orders of ,bishops1 ,priests1 and ,deacons8 ,would the ,romanists be contented to reduce their tenets within the ,confessions of the three ,creeds1 and confine their ,services to our ,ritual8 ,it is really difficult to think you serious1 when you say1 that 8assent to the doctrines of the ,creeds would be almost ,catholic40 ,but we will proceed2 for the subject deserves grave consideration4 ,to maintain that your proposed alterations would insure anything like 8,catholic assent10 promote union among ,christians1 and advance the growth of vital religion1 is to contradict ,catholic experience1 derived from undoubted history4 ,do we not read of schisms in the ,corinthian ,church1 even in the days of their ,apostle1 when the ,confession of ,faith must have been in the simplest form8 ,and do we not find him sharply rebuking the ,corinthian converts--8,i hear there be divisions among you1 and ,i partly believe it80 #bh ,has not ,st4 ,john left on record the extraordinary caution which he thought necessary1 to guard the disciples against the errors of ,gnosticism1 which1 in his time1 were infesting the ,church8 ,again1 the history of the three ,creeds is but an account of the rise and progress of the ,gnostic1 the ,sabellian1 the ,arian1 and the ,socinian heresies1 which successively sprung up1 the former without1 the three latter within the ,church1 and of the means devised and adopted to counteract them4 ,moreover1 it is capable of proof1 that every singular ,article in the three ,creeds1 has application to some error at the time prevailing4 #bi ,the history of the thirty-nine ,articles is too well known to require more than the mention of them4 ,they were drawn up designedly and expressly to exclude from the ,reformed ,church of ,england all those who still might adhere to the ,romish faith4 ,thus1 then1 we see1 that when the ,confession of faith was in the simplest form1 the ,church of ,christ was not free from schism2 and that ,creeds and ,articles of ,faith were invariably the effects1 and not the causes1 of heresies4 ,but besides a retrospective glance at the past1 it may not be altogether foreign from the consideration1 to take a speculative view of the future results which would probably ensue1 upon the ,subscription being reduced to the three ,creeds4 ,it is often the best mode of trying a proposition1 to suppose the thing done1 and to follow it out into its obvious consequences4 ,suppose1 then1 ,subscription reduced to the three ,creeds4 ,the first question which suggests itself is--,how would this affect our two ,universities1 from which the nation has long derived 8a supply of persons duly qualified to serve ,god1 both in ,church and ,state80 ,if this circumstance should open the door of admission to those eminent schools of education so wide1 as almost to insure the resort of students essentially differing from the principles and doctrines of the ,church of ,england as now constituted1 and thus render probable a material change in the nature and mode of religious instruction there communicated--,i think the conclusion would be inevitable1 that the fabric of the ,church of ,england1 as at present founded on the ,prophets and ,apostles1 ,jesus ,christ himself being the chief corner-stone1 would be greatly endangered2 and consequently1 that your proposition must be rejected as a rash and hazardous experiment4 ,now1 although the ,romanists would not join your ,communion in the altered form1 it is certain that the ,subscription to the three ,creeds would present no obstacle to their entrance into the ,universities1 seeing that they do subscribe to them already1 and something more4 ,then it is more than probable1 that the mass of the dissenters would find the means of introduction and admission into those seats of learning--not even excepting the chairs of the ,professors of ,divinity4 ,and thus the ,orthodox youth of the ,church of ,england would no longer enjoy the privilege of being educated exclusively and securely in their own principles and in their own ,universities--a privilege1 nay1 a prerogative1 asserted and exercised by nonconformists of different denominations1 in their ,academies founded for the tuition of youths of their own communion1 in their own principles of religion1 and in agreement with their own peculiar views2 but they would soon have to encounter1 in this new state of things1 the conflict of discordant opinions1 at all times unfavorable to the growth of true religion1 but especially so in the ardent and restless period of youth4 ,in the year #ahcd1 when the admission of persons into the ,universities1 without regard to their religious opinions1 was urged with unprecedented zeal1 ,dr4 ,turton1 now dean of ,westminster1 then ,regius ,professor of ,divinity in the ,university of ,cambridge1 published some 8,thoughts0 on the subject1 which were so convincing to my mind of the utter impracticability of that measure1 that ,i must be permitted briefly to refer to them4 ,to shew what would be the probable result of such a concession1 he traced the operations of an ,establishment1 which had been tried on a plan very similar1 on a scale sufficiently large1 and for a time sufficiently long1 through its various stages during sixty years1 to its ultimate results4 ,this ,establishment was the well-known ,academy which ,dr4 ,doddridge instituted at ,northampton1 and which his successor removed to ,daventry4 ,the leading facts relating to this ,institution1 are1 that its founder was a learned1 talented1 and in the main1 orthodox divine1 but a zealous non-conformist--that its 8constitution was perfectly ,catholic10 in other words1 that students of any sect in religion were admissible--that the instruction was required to be taught according to the principles laid down in the ,assembly's ,catechism--and that1 after declining thirty-eight years under three successive tutors1 after ,dr4 ,doddridge1 8holding the balance0 7according to ,mr4 ,robert ,hall1 a non-conformist17 8betwixt contending systems1 without betraying the slightest emotion of antipathy to error1 or predilection for truth10 it finally sank into ,modern ,unitarianism1 under ,mr4 ,belsham in #aghi4 ,upon an impartial view of the case1 ,dr4 ,turton attributes all the evil resulting from the system1 to 8laxness in the terms of ,admission10 in the first instance1 which afterwards led to a faulty mode of teaching ,theology4 ,and justly he remarks1 8we have seen the effects of great diversity of belief at ,daventry1 and we may rely upon it that those effects were not accidental2 they were such as will always be produced by the same cause40 ,here1 then1 we have an experiment before us1 of a religious establishment1 on a sufficiently large scale1 commencing under an able1 learned1 and1 in the main1 ,orthodox ,divine1 upon 8,catholic principles10 and terminating within sixty years in the most disastrous consequences4 ,the circumstances of the ,academy at ,daventry1 and of the two ,universities1 under the new state of things1 would obviously be so nearly similar1 that the result which was produced in the former case1 might with certainty be expected in the two latter4 ,if a similar trial should be made by relaxing the present test1 and thus enabling men of almost all shades of opinion to enter at our ,universities1 infidelity would1 in like manner1 be the result4 ,and when the time shall arrive1 that the youth who are destined to supply the ,ministry of the ,church1 and to fill the ,offices of ,state1 shall no longer be grounded and built up in the principles of 8that pure and reformed part of ,christ's ,church1 established in this kingdom10 but shall be taught some system of belief1 composed and modified out of all the various and discordant elements of religion then existing in those ancient and peaceful ,institutions of 8sound learning and religious education10 the evil consequences will be such as it requires no ordinary nerves to contemplate4 ,surely then the ,church of ,england will pause ere she incline to adopt your proposition1 and exchange a certain good for a certain evil4 ,before ,i conclude1 ,i have a few words to add in reference to the publication of your pamphlet3--and first ,i would observe1 that if you have failed in the proof of your proposition--if your allegations in the main stand contradicted by facts--if there is every reason to believe that the ,clergy1 although varying somewhat in matters unimportant1 do1 with comparatively few exceptions1 subscribe ex animo to the ,articles and ,liturgy--,i then leave with you to determine1 however you may 8believe yourself engaged in the cause of truth10 in what manner your pamphlet is calculated to ascertain and promote it within the ,church of ,england4 ,whatever may be your determination on this head1 the judgment of the ,clergy of this diocese1 at least1 is condemnatory of the course which you have taken4 ,they feel that1 for a period of years1 from time to time1 by your publications1 you have vexed the ,church in general1 and this diocese in particular1 troubled ,israel1 and given occasion to the enemies of the ,church to exult4 ,in this very pamphlet have you not described to us1 in clear terms1 what must be the value of a clergyman's ministry among his flock1 when his character for integrity--his honesty in his ordination vow--is suspected8 ,have you not put into the mouths of 8some youthful profligates1 led on by an ingenious sceptic10 questions relating to the ,clergy1 highly defamatory of their character as ministers of ,christ1 and injurious to the best interests of religion8 ,do you not suppose that your pamphlet has been perused by many who will rejoice in turning it to the worst of purposes--the purposes of infidelity--against the ,clergy collectively1 yourself individually1 and the religion of ,christ generally8 ,do you suppose that this publication has not been discussed in many dissenting assemblies of this diocese1 and exultingly responded to--8,ah6 so would we have it1 so would we have it80 ,too much reason have the ,clergy to say1 in sorrow and in sadness--8,it is not an open enemy that has done us this dishonor20 it is a brother--one of our own order--a dignitary of our own ,church1 who is partaking of the same bread-- ,this1 you may say1 is hard language4--8,but is there not a cause80 ,when ,i turn to the sentence1 8,while we thus perceive the variety of opinion prevailing amongst these several sections1 we see also that from all of them1 more or less1 ,subscription is requiring that which1 in the ordinary affairs of life1 high-minded men would abstain from1 viz4 the necessity for qualifying the plain and straight-forward use of language20 and when ,i find you finally concluding1 8,in this state of things1 ,i can hardly imagine any diversity of opinion1 with respect to the ,thirty-nine ,articles1 which calls for the resignation of a ,clergyman2 indeed it appears to me1 that it would be simply absurd in any one to resort to such a step1 unless under a decided wish for communion with some other church or body of christians0--,i own that ,i am still startled at this bold expression of opinion3 and ,i confess that1 after much reflection1 ,i have been at a loss to couch in softer terms1 my sense of this grave imputation1 and of this deliberate avowal1 thus placed on record4 ,i have now finished a task in which ,i engaged with reluctance4 ,i trust that ,i have fairly and temperately gone through the discussion of the subject2 and ,i can aver that ,i have carefully endeavored not to misunderstand or misrepresent any thing which you have written4 ,i hope1 also1 that ,i have given an impartial consideration to whatever you have advanced in support of your case3 unfeignedly have ,i labored to investigate the subject in all its bearings1 and arrive at an unbiassed result4 ,how far ,i have succeeded in my object1 others will judge4 ,this1 however1 ,i will affirm1 that1 in the discharge of a public duty to which ,i have been unavoidably called1 ,i have been actuated by no motive of private consideration1 and especially by no unfriendly feeling towards yourself4 ,and in conclusion ,i will add that1 if anything which ,i may have advanced in explanation or in support of the present ,subscription to our ,articles or ,formularies1 should happily have placed the matter in a different and more satisfactory point of view1 so as to clear up your present doubt and perplexity1 ,i should feel more gratification and delight than ,i am able to express4 ,and ,i hope1 by the blessing of that ,god whose providence over-rules all things for good1 this feeble effort may not be without its use4 ,i have the honor to be1 ,,sir1 ,your sincere and faithful ,servant1 ,,charles ,,green4 ,,burgh ,,castle1 #hth ,july1 #ahdc4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,end4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,sloman1 ,printer1 ,king-,street1 ,yarmouth4 ,,footnotes4 #h ,reformation is good when reformation is wanting1 but to be always reforming is no reformation at all3 it is behaving like children1 tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine4 ,all errors of any moment have been purged off long ago by the care of our ,reformers1 and why are we then still reforming8 ,physic may be proper at certain seasons1 but to pretend to live constantly upon it1 instead of food1 is the certain way to impair1 and in a little time to destroy1 the best and soundest constitution in the world4 ,remarks on ,dr4 ,clarke's ,exposition1 c4 by ,waterland1 7,works1 vol4 #e1 p4 #dcf47 #ad ,romans1 xiv4 #d4 #bb;a ,mark xvi4 #af4 #bb;b ,luke xii4 #dg1 #dh4 #bb;c ,romans1 iii4 #ai4 #bb;d ,romans1 ii4 #ab4 #bc ,john1 iii4 #ai4 #be ,pearson on the ,creed1 ,article ix1 page #cej4 ,archbishop ,seeker1 c4 #bg ,i quote from memory1 not having the pamphlet before me1 nor being able to procure it2 but trust what ,i have advanced is substantially correct4 #bh #a ,corinthians1 xi4 #ah4 #bi ,i would undertake to prove that there is not an ,article in any of our three ,creeds1 which was not directed against some particular and prevailing error4 ,dr4 ,burton's ,sermons before the ,university of ,oxford1 p4 #bdh4