Is there not a cause? Have not their own sentiments and conduct, for some years past, exhibited a mass of inconsistencies and contradietions? Whilst they profess themselves dissenting teachers, do they not represent dissenting principles, as of little consequence? Ought they to be surprised, if indifference and lukewarmness, or even scepticism should prevail amongst their hearers? Their own melancholy reflections and complaints, must therefore powerfully aid the arguments of this book; and must surely compel them, to retrace their steps, and return to the good old paths they have forsaken.

As the genuine principles of nonconformity, constitute, I am persuaded, the foundation of all that is excellent in the christian character, I most sincerely hope, that this work may prove the means of preserving those who have embraced them, steadfast in the faith once delivered to the saints: it is only in proportion to the prevalance of these sentiments, that we can hope forthe spread of the christianity of the new testament. What have establishments done for the service of pure christianity? Let their history for these fifteen hundred years past, (that is ever since their first institution) let the present state of religion, wherever these systems of statecraft and priestcraft united, are predominant; answer the queston. The serious of all denominations, unite in lamenting the low state of real religion, in all christian countries. What, it may likewise be asked have these establishments done, for the salvation of the heathen nations? Individuals,in different ages and countries, it is acknowledged, have displayed much laudable zeal; but these instances have been, comparatively speaking, few, and the efforts produced, the magnitude of the object considered, trifling. It is scarcely to be expected, that the great head of the church

will honour christian nations, as his instruments, for the conversion of the heathen, to any considerable extent, till elrristianity is much better understood and practised, by its professors, than hitherto: this will not be the case till those dead weights upon christianity, church establishments founded on the usurped authority of the civil magistrate, are removed, and thrown aside. As the kingdom of Christ increases, they must decrease.

The principles I am enforcing, are, I am obliged to confess, unfashionable. The corruption which has been of late years, so rapidly increasing in church and state, and which is now swollen to a mighty torrent, threatens to overwhelm all that is pure, in ourreligion and morals; the majority, I fear, of all sects and parties, civil and religious, are hurried down the powerful and polluting stream. Let those however who in spite of censure, calumny, and every discouragement of a worldly nature still keep firm to their principles; those in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation, who preserve their integrity; let them continue to hold fast the profession of their faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised. For yet a little while, he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. The Almighty has, by the important revolutions which have recently taken place, and which probably are the harbingers of revolutions, of still greater importance, loudly proclaimed terrible things in righteousness to all the established churches of christendom; and as the protestant churches seem resolved not to take warning by the fate of theirsister church of Rome; as they obstinately continue the steadfast opposers of reform, they must all, sooner or later, be involved, in the same mighty ruin. This awful truth, need not appal the faithful followers of adespised Jesus: his gracious voice thus addresses them :-Amidst wars, rumours of wars,commotions, distress of nations, perplexity, men's hearts failing them for fear: look up, and lift up your heads, knowing your redemption draweth nigh.

The greatGovernor of the universe, the father and the friend of his people, "rides in the ' whirlwind, and directs the storm:" he is carrying on, and will most assuredly accomplish his own vast designs. The Captain of our Salvation is advancing, the brightness of his coming approaches. The kingdoms of this world shall most assuredly become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he,and he alone, shall reign the Sovereign of his church for ever and ever. Let us therefore, even under the present darkened hemisphere of the moral world, exult and rejoice that the glorious period so confidently predicted by the sacred writers is hastening. Happy are those, who can in deed and in truth pray for its speedy accomplishment. Grace be with all those, to whatever church, or to whatever outward denomination they may belong, who thus love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

CAMBRIDGE, Jan. 30, 1804.

B. F.

THE gentleman to whom these letters are addressed, having made it necessary for the Dissenters to vindicate their religious principles and practices, they think themselves happy, that, in consequence of the enlarged and liberal sentiments of the present age, they can make their defence without much danger of the heavy fines and imprisonments to which their forefathers were exposed!..

A calmand unprejudiced examination of their cause, is the only method by which they wish to promote it. Such an examination, they are confident will shew, That they are nonconforinists to the established church in those points only, in which she is not conformed to the primitive and apostolic plan of discipline and of worship, as established in the word of God; and that, if the governors of this church. would lay aside those things, which many of the most eminent of the clergy, as well as the

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most discerning of the laity, have long known, and even acknowledged, to be no part of genuine Christianity, the differences between churchmen and dissenters would cease, and we should immediately join together with one heart, and with one mouth, giving glory to God.

The Dissenters chearfully appeal to every candid and impartial inquirer, who will attend to the subject, whether their dissent from the church of England is not founded on the most weighty and cogent reasons. They have only one principle on which they rest their cause

THAT THE SCRIPTURES ARE A PERFECT RULE

OF FAITH AND OF MANNERS, and that, as the power of interpreting authoritatively, for others, those scriptures, which contain the christian religion, cannot be assumed by any man without directly opposing the genius and spirit of that divine religion, no civil magistrate has, ever had, or ever can have, any right, authority, or power, over the consciences and religious opinions of christians.

The dissenters, therefore, believe it to be their duty to enter their most solemn protest against the new edition of christianity, with corrections and amendments, which their brethren of the establishment have taken upon them to set forth; and they have much satisfaction in knowing, that many of the wise, the learned, and the good, amongst all ranks and degrees, both of the clergy and the laity of the established church, have adopted, and are in many respects influenced by, the peculiar distinguishing principles of the dissenters, though, from various motives, they do not openly profess themselves to be dissenters.

No one, who entertains a just sense of the dignity of human nature, can forbear to treat with an honest indignation every restraint which