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النشر الإلكتروني

I know not how with Decency to exprefs my real Thoughts about it. I am fure 'tis very fhocking to honeft and unbyafs'd Minds, unmov'd by the Temptations of this World, or the modern Authority of Churches. And what I durft not have written for any Confideration whatsoever. This I am afraid will but encourage many to go on in the Ufe of thofe unjuftifyable Forms which they cannot believe to be true, even without any fuch open Declaration of their real meaning in them, as the Doctor has been fo honeft as to make (a) here to the World; and perhaps will encourage fome of the Governors. of the Church in their ftill oppofing a Reformation; fince they have, as they may think, now got fo great an Authority for the Palliating and Excufing, tho' not for Juftifying the continuance of fuch Impofitions. And I am afraid that the Invocation of the Holy Ghoft, without all Authority from God the Fa ther, the One and only Supreme God, and Lord, and Governor of all, and whofe Will and Command is the proper Foundation of all Invocation to the Son himself, to whom alone he appears to have communicated fuch Power and Authority and Attributes, as render him an Object fit for the fame, will at laft appear to be not only not fupported by Scripture, but a direct Breach of the very firft Commandment, and of abundance more of the Divine Laws, both in the Old and New Teftainent, to the fame purpose. However, that I may at once act, if poffible, inoffenfively my felf; and yet not be wanting to my duty of (b) not hating my Brethren in my heart, but of rebuking them, and not fuffering fin upon them, or bearing fin for them, I fhall here prefent to Dr. Clarke, and thereby to all fuch other good Men, as fee no fmall Part of the Errors and Corruptions of this nature iu the Church, but yet too far comply with them; fome of the moit remarkable Texts of Scripture relating to our Duty in fuch Circumftances; and fhall beg of them, tho' perhaps they will not vouchsafe to hear me in this cafe, yet that they will hear the Holy Spirit of God himself, fpeaking by the Mouth of the facred Writers of the Old and New Teftament.

Thou (c) fhalt not follow a multitude to do evil.

Thou (d) fhalt worship no other God: for the Lord, whofe Name is Jealous, is a fealous God.

(e) will be fanctified in all them that come nigh me; and before all the People I will be glorified.

Behold, (f) to obey is better than facrifice; and to hearken. than the fat of lambs.

(a) Introdu&. p. 24, 25,
(c) Exod. XXIII, 2.
(e) Levit. X. 3.

(b) Levit. XIX. 17. (d) XXXI. 14.

(f) 1 Sam. 15. 22,

And

And (a) Nathan faid to David, Thou art the Man.

The (b) Integrity of the upright fhall guide them; but the Perverfenets of Tranfgreffors fhall deftroy them.

The (c) righteoufnefs of the perfect fhall direct his way; but the wicked fhall fall by his own wickedness.

The (d) righteoufnefs of the upright fhall deliver them; but tranfgreffors fhall be taken in their own naughtiness.

The (e) Preacher fought to find out accceptable words; and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

To (f) this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite Spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Thou (g) fhalt go to all that I fhall fend thee; and whatsoever I command thee thou fhalt fpeak. Be not afraid of their faces; for I am with thee, to deliver thee, faith the Lord.

Thou (b) therefore gird up thy loins, and arife, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not difmayed at their faces, left I confound thee before them.

And (i) thou, Son of Man, be not afraid of them; neither be afraid of their words; tho' briers and thorns be with thee, and thou doft dwell among fcorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be difmayed at their looks, tho' they be a rebellious houfe. And thou shalt fpeak my words unto them: whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are most rebelious. But thou, Son of Man, hear what I fay unto thee; Be not thou rebellious, like that rebellious house.

Son of (k) Man, I have made thee a Watchman unto the houle of Ifrael: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

If (1) the watchman fee the fword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the fword come, and take any perfon from among them, he is taken away in has iniquity but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand, &c. See XXXIV. 1. &c.

Now (m) when Daniel knew that the writing was figned, he went into his houfe; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerufalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

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My (a) People are deftroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou haft rejected knowledge, I will alfo reject thee, that thou fhalt be no Prieft to me. Seeing thou haft forgotten the Law. of thy God, I will alfo forget thy children.

The () Prieft's lips fhould keep knowledge; and they should feek the law at his mouth: for he is the ineffenger of the Lord of Hofts.

Whofoever (c) therefore fhall break one of these leaft commandments, and fhall teach men fo, he fhall be called the leaft in the kingdom of heaven.

What (d) I tell you in darkness, that fpeak ye in light and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the house tops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the foul: but rather fear him which is able to deftroy both body and foul in Hell.

Whofoever (e) fhall confefs me before men, him will I confefs alfo before my Father which is in heaven. But whofoever shall deny me before men, him will I alfo deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Then (f) faid Jefus unto his. Difciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his crofs and follow me. For whofoever will fave his life fhall lofe it: and whofoever will lofe his life for my fake fhall find it.

Whether (g) it be right in the fight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but fpeak the things which we have teen and heard.

And (b) now Lord behold their Threatnings; and grant unto thy fervants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word. And (i) when they had prayed they were all filled with the Holy Ghoft, and fpake the word of God with boldnefs.

And (k) when they had called the Apoftles, and beaten them, they commanded that they fhould not fpeak in the Name of Jefus; and let them go. And they departed from the prefence of the Council; rejoicing that they were counted worthy to fuffer fhame for his Name. And daily in the Temple, and in every Houfe, they ceafed not to teach and preach Jefus Chrift.

I() take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not fhunned to declare unto you. all the Counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto your felves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghoft hath made you Overleers, to feed the Church of the Lord which he hath purchafed with his own blood, &c.

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He (4) that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; for whatsoever is not offaith is fin.

It (b) is required in Stewards, that a Man be found faithful. Our (c) rejoicing in this, the teftimony of our Confcience, that in fimplicity, and godly fincerity; not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our converfation in the world.

We (d) are not as many which corrupt the word of God; but as of fincerity, but as of God, in the fight of God, speak we in Christ.

We (e) have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty; not walking in craftinefs; nor handling the word of God deceitfully but by manifeftation of the truth, commending our felves to every man's confcience in the fight of God.

I end these few Obfervations with the excellent words of our Church, in which I am fure we fhall all heartily join:

Bleffed (f) Lord, who haft caufed all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in fuch wife hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digeft them, that by patience and comfort of thy Holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blejfed hope of everlafting life, which thou haft given us in our Saviour Fefus. Chrift. Amen.

Almighty (g) God, by whofe providence, thy fervant John Baptift was wonderfully born, and jent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour, by preaching of repentance; make us fo to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching, and after his example conftantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently fuffer for the truths fake, through Fefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

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S

Mr. WHISTON.

Uppofing that the Reader is acquainted with my Hiftorical Preface, and former Account of the Convocation's Proceedings, he is now farther to Obferve, that my Affair lay all the laft Summer, and the former part of following Winter, in the fame ftate wherein the firft Account left it, i. e. The Synodical Cenfure upon my notions, which had been laid before the Queen, continued there, without any farther Notice or Confirmation by the Royal Authority; and I had the much defired opportunity of Printing and Publishing my Four Volumes without disturbance. Tho' indeed the Fear that my Papers might be feiz'd put me to confiderable Difficulties, to prevent any Surprize of that nature; which after fo great Expences would have been exceeding hard upon me. When therefore my Four Volumes were published, about the middle of November; as far as I could obferve, they, in the main, met with a kind Reception from thofe of an

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