Letters to a Friend Whose Mind Had Long Been Harassed, by Many Objections Against the Church of England

CONTENTS.

LETTER I.-Introductory. The sins and defici-
encies of others, no excuse for our neglect

of a plain duty, which arises from the Com-

LETTER II.-The Sacraments belong to all the
Children of God, and we should be more
careful not to exclude them, than to
exclude others. The Parable of the Tares
considered. Each one should examine him-

self, and not others.

LETTER III.-Necessity of caution, arising from

the present state of the Church. What the

Church of England is, must be learned

from the Articles, Homilies, and Liturgy.

Schism is a great sin.

LETTER IV.-All Christians called to endure afflic-

tion. Ministerial Faithfulness. Who are
really “the Church of England" at pre-
sent. The spirit in which we may most

PAGE

comfortably and profitably partake of the

Sacrament. Ministers but instruments

in the hand of Christ.

PAGE

LETTER V.—On Infant Baptism. The Doctrine
and Practice of the Universal Church.
Errors on this point wholly insufficient to
account for the Corruptions of the Visible
Church. Facts. The Dutch Baptists.
LETTER VI.-A good rule of interpretation con-
tained in our twentieth Article.
LETTER VII.-Difficulties answered, respecting
Oaths, the Magistracy,—Resisting Evil,
-the Profession of the Law,—and of
Arms. Necessity of enlarged acquaint-
ance with Scripture, that we may not
sacrifice one Duty to another, or oppose
the New Testament to the Old.

LETTER VIII.-On the Positive Excellences of the

Church of England. 1. The Reforma-

tion of our Church was effected by our

Bishops-to whom the work properly per-

tained. The Advantages hence arising.

2. In separating from the Church of

Rome, they were duly careful not to for-

sake the principles and practices of the

pure and Primitive Church, nor to differ
for the sake of differing. 3. That with
moderation as to externals, they were care-
ful to unite uncompromising decision as to

Evangelical Doctrine. 4. Episcopacy,

derived from the Primitive Church, and

necessary in itself. 5. The Principle of a

Liturgy plainly recognised in Scripture.

Necessary in order to Public Worship.

Objections to our Liturgy frivolous. Arise

principally from its excellence. 6. The

honour which the Church of England puts

on God's Word in her Public Services.

A PAPER drawn up in answer to some questions

respecting our Baptismal Service.

LETTER IX.-Importance of Public Worship. The

Doctrines of our Church, as set forth in
the Articles and Homilies. The Church

Catechism. Nowell's Catechism. The

Principle on which such Catechisms were

drawn up, exemplified from the Heidel-

berg Catechism. The Agreement of the

Church of England with other Reformed

Churches ;-as to Doctrine generally-and

especially the Doctrine of the Three Creeds;

-as to the Principle of a Confession,-

and of an Establishment—(the Objection

that the Jewish Polity was a Theocracy

considered.) The other Reformed Churches

not opposed to a Liturgy. Some of their

best Divines, and several other Churches

decidedly favourable to Episcopacy. The

Dissenters, on some points entirely, and

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133

on others partially, have forsaken the Prin-

ciples of the Reformation. The Reformed

Churches all agreed as to the Principles

maintained in Letters I. to VII. The

Honour which is due to the general views of

the Universal Church. The Spirit of

Truth, not a Spirit of Separation, but

of Union.

Dissenters. The plea of Conscience.

The spirit of the Puritans and Cove-
nanters compared with that of the Reform-
ers and Martyrs. The true spirit of Mar-
tyrdom. Modern Separatists too rash and
uninformed. The Principles of the Church
of England make the Pastor duly indepen-

dent of his Flock—which is a great advan-

tage to both. How desirable that we should

fully enter into, and reduce to practice,

the Principles of our Church!

POSTSCRIPT. Ecclesiastical Polity, however impor-

tant, must be considered as subservient to

Sound Doctrine and Spiritual Instruction.

The exercise of Charity naturally arises

from clear views of the excellence of our

Church. Dangers connected with the Sys-

tem of Dissent; and with the too early

consideration of the Question of Dissent.