Upon the whole, if it shall be still thought for the benefit of Church and State, that Christianity be abolished, I conceive, however, it may be more convenient to defer the execution to a time of public prosperity; and not venture in a season of so great commercial distress, to give ground for any new prejudices against British manufactures. The larger part of those who purchase our wares are Christians, and many of them by the prejudices of their edu cation, so bigotted as to pride themselves upon the name. It has been said, indeed, that the Yankees are of no par ticular religion, and that the South Americans, who promise to afford an ample market, will probably pur chase their freedom at the price of their Christianity; but on the other hand it must be remembered, that both Mahometans and Hindoos are believers in revealed religion, and will probably be quite as much scanda lized at our infidelity as many of our Christian neighbours. At all events these people are convinced of the existence of a God; and they will not easily be persuaded of our ho nesty, punctuality, or diligence, when a contrary opinion has been esta blished among us by law, To conclude; whatever some may think of the great advantages which the poor will reap from this favourite scheme, I do very much apprehend that in six months time, after the act is passed for the extirpation of the Gospel, that the wages of labour will fall one shilling a week, and the price of wheat will rise five shillings a quarter. The rich, (whoever the rich of that period may be,)will né lon ger feel themselves bound to give alms, or employment, to subscribe to charities, or to support infirmaries. They 3 MANNER OF VOTING IN PARISH VESTRIES... G Sir, THE view of the question of the incumbent's right of presidence in his parish vestry, by Sir John Nicholl, in delivering his opinion on the case of Wilson, v. M'Math, is nearly the same with that suggested by myself, and inserted in one of your former. numbers. I there stated my doubts, whether the incumbent was neces sarily chairman of the select vestry I am now of opinion that he certainly is not; and, perhaps, he equitably ought not to hold that situation even by election. The select vestry is nothing more than a committee for the management of the poor, emanating from the gene ral vestry, and accountable to it. The chairman of the general vestry. cannot with propriety fill the office of chairman of the selectivestry, any more than the Speaker of the House of Commons can sit as chairman in a committee of that honour able House. If the sentiments of the learned Judge be correctly re-d ported, he observes, that, of "In modern times the maintenance of the poor so heavily burdens, in some particul lar parishes especially, all species of pro perty, and temporal affairs generally, thit where the Minister may have no proportion of rates to pay, it may be fitting enough to leave the choice of their chairman to those particular persons with whom the choice would not produce any delay, nor lead to any particular inconvenience; and in this particular point the legislature has so provided." Accordingly it is customary, I believe, in those parishes where select vestries have been established, for the overseers to fill the chair in rotation.. There is another doubt which occurs to me, and which it is of great importance to decide, viz. whether the manner of voting shall be the same in general and in select vestries. Before the act of 58. Geo, 3. c. 69. every member had an equal vote; but, by that act, the number of votes is proportioned to the assessment paid by each member to the poor. In general vestries, In general vestries, which are often numerously attended, this regulation may be just; but in a select vestry, where three persons are sufficient to form a quoram, such a privilege cannot safely be possessed. The Act of Parliament, Geo. 8. 59. c. 12. is not sufficiently explicit, but I am inclined to think that an equality of votes, in a select vestry, was intended by the legislature. I am, &c. &c. A SURRY INCUMBENT. PARAPHRASE OF THE LORD'S PRAYER: (Extracted from Ogden's Sermons.) ABBA, FATHER; thou author, preserver, support of my being, life, hopes, and happiness; who hast brought me into this world, thy work; and redeemed me by thy only begotten Son, through thy holy Spirit to an eternal inheritance in heaven: I acknowledge thy authority and thy affection with reverence and gratitude; I own thy paternal power and tenderness, and approach thy presence with the sentiments of a son, with fear, and love, and joy. Thus emboldened I raise my thoughts from earth to heaven; I look up to that celestial seat, where thou hast dwelt from eternity, enthroned in majesty above all height, and clothed. with light, which no eye can bear to behold. But though thy glory is unsearchable, and I cannot see thee. as thou art; yet so much, at least, I can discern of thee by thy image, expressed in thy word, and reflected from thy works, that thou art great, and just, and holy. Thou wilt be "sanctified in them that come nigh thee." Thou requirest truth in the hearts of thy worshippers, and that the lips, which presume to utter thy hallowed name be free both from impurity and fraud, May the number be multiplied without measure of such as present this incense to thy name, and a pure offering: and, Oh! that my voice also might be heard among those who thus adore thee! But, alas! we have been enemies to our God; rebels to thy rightful sway; we have followed the dictates of pride and passion; have been seduced by the tempter, led astray by our own corrupt mind, or by the wiles of others, and thy world hath lain under the power of "the evil one:" how long, O Lord, holy and true? The time will surely come, (let it come speedily!) when thy just dominion shall be universally acknowledged, in every region, by every heart; when thou shalt reign unrivalled in all thy works, and the usurped authority of that apostate spirit, which divides and deforms thy kingdom, be utterly destroyed for ever. In heaven thy will is the inviolable law: myriads of ministers encircle thy throne, who cease not, day and night, to celebrate and to serve thee with uninterrupted praises and unerring obedience. Oh! that such fidelity were found on earth! that the sons of men did even now resemble that celestial society, to which they hope hereafter to be united; were animated with the like holy ardent zeal, and could give themselves to God with the same en " tire devotion. We are blind and, vain, but thou art wise and good. Wise, therefore, in thy wisdom, secure under thy care, great and happy in humility and subjection, we have no wishes but in thee. Our whole desire and glory is to be, to do, to suffer whatever thou art pleased to sappoint. During our passage through this perishable state we trust and 93 know, that thou who gavest us life, will give us also all such things as vare necessary for its support: and we ask no more. But, oh! leave us not destitute of that "bread which cometh down from heaven." Let our souls be nourished by thy word and ordinances; that we grow in grace, and be made partakers of a life that will never end. Wealth, fame, and power, be they freely theirs to whose lot they fall; let our riches be deposited in heaven: the object of our ambition is the light of thy countenance, even the appro. bation and applause of God. What have I said? ah, me! Can I hope to be justified when I am judged? Dare I trust to that fiery trial! Will my life, or will my heart, endure the inspection of thy pure eye? But there is mercy with thee; let me appeal from the severity of thy justice, and lay hold on this anchor of my hopes. Pity where thou canst not approve, and pardon that which. must offend. Then shall my life bear testimony to my thankful heart, and that gratitude which extends not to thee, shall overflow on men. How just is it that I should shew to them that merey which I ask and want. I bless thee for thy goodness, and I feel the constraint" of love: and do now, from the bottom of my heart, naked before that presence from which no thought is hid, most freely forgive all those, who by word or deed, knowingly or ignorantly, have offended, or have injured me, uma to puolesce a Push gartespari 1 I relinquish all my claims to vengeance. I bury from this moment, for ever, in oblivion, all offences and the very remembrance of resentment; and do most ardently desire, that the sense of thy divine and boundless love may kindle in my breast a flame of thankfulness to thee, which no time can quench, and an affection to men, which no provocation or wrongs can conquer. May this principle of love live in my heart, and direct and animate my actions. I am willing it should be called forth and cultivated by exercise and discipline, and whatever trials or sufferings thy wisdom sees fit for this happy end, I cheerfully embrace them. Shew me no hurtful indulgence. I decline no danger for thy glory, for the good of men, for the improvement of my virtue, Yet remember that I am but dust. Be thou near me in those perilous moments. Let not the storms of trouble and trial overwelm me. Strengthen my failing faith. When I sink stretch forth thy hand. I'rely on thy providence and grace, that thou wilt deliver me from the danger, or support me under it. Save ine from sin, from the great enemy of souls, and from eternal misery. These, Lord, are the requests which my heart pours out unto thee. But thou seest the wants which it doth not know: thou hearest the desires it cannot utter. Give us what is good though we ask it not, and mercifully deny when we pray for evil. lea z 1. M. My soul falls down with the lowest reverence before thy throne, adding its little homage to the profound adorations and triumphant hallelujah's of the whole host of heaven, and all thy saints on earth.Power and honour be to thee, dominion and glory, infinite and everlasting, my.. Lord, my Father, and my God. REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Authentic Documents relative to the Predestinarian Controversy,which took place among those who were imprisoned for their Adherence to the Doctrines of the Reformation by Queen: Mury : containing, 1. ATreatise on Predestination, with en Answer to certain Enormities, &c. by John Bradford." 2." John Trewe the unworthy marked Servant of the Lord, signifieth the Canse of Contention in the King's Bench, &c." Published from a Manuscript in the Bodleian Library, with an Introduction by Richard Laurence, LL. D. Canon of Christ Church, Regius Professor of Hebrew, &c. Rivingtons. pp. 115. 1819. Is an early Number of this Journal, we called the reader's attention to the additional light which is thrown from day to day upon the opinions of the English Reformers, Mr. Todd's Treatise upon this important and in teresting subject, was quickly followed by the publication at the head of this article: and the naine of the anthor, and the nature of the work, must have placed it long ago in the hands of the majority of those who are attentive to the progress of modern controversy. We shall venture however to assume that the pamphlet is not known as extensively as it ought to be, and upon that as sumption shall proceed to give an account of its principal contents. *The two tracts, now for the first time published, relate to disputes upon the subject of Predestination, which arose among those, who were imprisoned for their adhe reace to the principles of the Reformation, and many of whom subsequently suffered 2 Pedestinarian; and contains an acconut of The Introduction, which com- He goes on to shew that the Predes- martyrdom, in the short but sanguinary sort of re,” and he describes 10 feign of Queen Mary. The first of the two Predestinarians. In which is upon the Predestinarian side of the shew the gurians in terms which a letter to a congregation of Free-willers, by oné that had been of that persuasion, but come off, and now a prisoner for religion," a letter likewise preserved by Strype, the congregation is told F i ་ 1 that of the misery and calamity of this realm of England, one cause was, that we were not sound in the Predestination of Gods; but were rather enemies unto it, God forgive us. And in the last document contained in the manuscripts above described; being a letter signed C. P. and addressed tothe ministers with all that congregate in the name of Christ, the author touching on Pre destination; makes the following re Alections.to y If is both to be much marvelled at, and likewise to be lamented, that this, being one of the principal points of our faith, and the very foundation of our salvation,, is so greatly obscured and insincerely handled in the writings, not only of a great number of the mean, sort, but also of the most excellently learned.", P. xii. 26 A The last and principal subject discussed in the Introduction, is an ap plication made by Bradford to Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, with a view to settle the disputes which had arisen among the prisoners. Strype's account of the matter which embraces every thing that has hi therto been said upon the subject, is that many of them who were under restraint for t the profession of the Gospel, were such as beld Free Will, tending to the derogation of God's and refused the doctrine of grace, absolute Predestination and Original Sin. They were men of strict and holy lives; but very hot in their opinions, and disputations, and unquiet." He further states, that they run their notions up as high as Pelagius; and that Bradford and other Gospellers being confined with them in the King's Bench, he wrote a let ter to Cranmer, to take some cognizance of the matter, and sonsuel at The real opinion of these Freewillers is, to be found in Trewe's Narrative, which contains the very words of the publie déclaration and memorial of the party. And Dr. Laurence shews very conclusively that the opinions of those whom Strype terms Gospellers, were not avowed or approved by the three bishops at Oxford, Trewe and his party appealed to the Articles put forth under Edward the Sixth. And Bradford drew up the Treatise on Predestination, now published in answer to the allegations of that party; and sent it with his own and three other signatures directed to Craumer, Ridley, and Latimer. They were requested" to give their approbation of it, as they might thinkgood." It was further said to them, that to siguify agreement to it, as they the prisoners in London were ready shall see you give them example; the dangerous tenets of the Freewillers were insisted on, and the writer concludes by saying "As to the chief captains therefore of Christ's Church here, I complain of it unto in the last day, if ye will not, as ye can, help you; as truly I must do of you unto God something, ut veritas doctrine maneat apud Posteros, in this behalf; as ye have done, in behalf of matters expunged, by the Papists." P. xxii. 6 9 dolar As the Articles of our Church were settled in 1552, and this letter was written in January 1555, Dr. Laurence argues" very reasonably, that they could not have been overlooked; and that Bradford's request to Cranmer, &c. was that he should express his sentiments upon Predestination in a stronger manner than had been hitherto done. It is important therefore, if possible, to ascertain the answer to this application. And Dr. Laurence plainly proves by reasoning, for which we refer to the pamphlet itself, that he has found Ridley's answer in a letter, which though published by Strype, has hitherto escaped observation Cranmer and Latimer do not appear to have noticed the application; at least if they did, no such notice is on |