THE TRUE CHURCHMEN ASCERTAINED: OR, AN APOLOGY FOR THOSE OF The REGULAR CLERGY of the ESTABLISHMENT, WHO ARE SOMETIMES CALLED EVANGELICAL MINISTERS: OCCASIONED BY THE PUBLICATIONS OF Drs. PALEY, HEY, CROFT; Meffrs. DAUBENY, LUDLAM, "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh St. Peter. "We have in fact lost many of our people to Sectaries, by not York. Printed by T. WILSON, and R. SPENCE, High-Oufegate, (Price Eight Shillings in Boards.) 10+1 PREFACE. a DID certain writers confine their ftrictures to the peculiar doctrines and irregular procedure of Sectaries, as, to fuperficial obfervers, they would feem to infinuate, they might, doubtless, deferve well, of the Church of England, and of Christianity in general. But, if, as a learned Prélate expreffes himself, in their "over-abundant zeal to check the frenzy of the Methodists 2," they involve under these ftrictures many important doctrines of the Church of which they are Minifters; if, as a late eminent ArchBishop speaks, they do fuch fectaries "the honour of mifcalling other perfons of more than ordinary ferioufness by their name ";" if, under certain reprobated and reproachful terms, they hold up to ridicule and contempt fome of the moft faithful adherents to this Church, their desert is very different. And this they unquestionably do, in the judgment of the prefent Apologist. There is, it must be confeffed, an indiftin&tnefs, and a feeming affectation, in the Title under which fuch Churchmen are here vindicated; but, as it is that under which, among others, they are accused; that which they are conftantly charged with having " arrogated to themfelves ;" and which, in reality, is, in some degree, characteristic of (a) Bishop Horsley's Charge, 1790, p. 25. (b) Secker's (c) See the fame for May, A Guide to the them; it may prevent circumlocution, and cannot be wholly unfuitable. There are confiderations, indeed, which might be urged in express defence of the Appellation. It might be fuggefted to the recollection of our Clerical Brethren, that the original commiffion delivered to the Apoftles of our Lord was, to "preach the gofpel;" that the authority deduced from hence, and given to us, by the Bishop, at our ordination, exprefsly is, to "preach the gofpel;" and, that if our situation in any degree resembles St. Paul's "Wo will be unto us if we preach not the gospel." It might be fhown reasonable, to charge the invidiousness of the diftinction to their account whofe conduct has rendered it neceffary. At any rate, it might be fairly inquired, why there is more arrogance in this affumption, than in affuming exclusively the proud Title of "RATIONAL DI Be it known, however, to the writers in question, and to all others who do not know it, that a large number of those Minifters whom, by name and direct allufion, they clafs with Methodists, Enthufiafts, Fanatics, and Schifmatics, are wholly unconscious of affording any other cause for this treatment than a strict adherence to the vows of their Ordination; that they equally refpe&t, in their theory and their practice, the doctrines and the conftitution of the established Church; lament, moft cordially, every occafion, and every degree of deviation from her; and wish for nothing fo much as her prefervation in her genuine purity. And for these, and thefe EXCLUSIVELY, under whatever Title they are found, it is the object of this work to apologize. This it is particularly requested, that the reader would fully understand, and conftantly remember. Whatever may incidentally be faid of perfons guilty of any species (d) Mark xvi. 15. ix. 16. (z) See Mr. Polwhele's Letter to Dr. Hawker, p. 55; Mr. Daubeny's Guide, p. 375; &c. of irregularity, with whom these characters have been confounded, will only apply to them just so far as they adhere to this ftandard. And whoever puts any conftruction upon the book, contrary to this declaration, will wholly misreprefent and pervert it. Nor will the Work become responsible for the doctrines of any perfons, except thofe for whom by name it undertakes. Few, however, it is believed, will be found, of the denomination and defcription in question, who will not cordially fubfcribe to their fentiments. The Writer well knows how frequently it is infinuated, that profeffions of regard for the Church are wholly inconfiftent with animadverfions on the defects of fo many of her Ministers. But, to answer in the words of a moft fenfible and celebrated female writer, on another occafion; "Surely an earnest wish to turn their attention to objects calculated to promote their true dignity, is not the office of an enemy. So to expofe the weakness of the land, as to fuggeft the neceffity of internal improvement, and to point out the means of effectual defence, is not treachery, but patriotifm." A city that is fet on a hill cannot be hid. The commencement of the nineteenth century is not a season when men can be hoodwinked respecting their religion. It is every way abfurd to suppose that it is not known what are the real doctrines that we preach. And if, in fact, they are not fuch as we have folemnly and publicly engaged to teach, it will not soften the reproaches of our adverfaries that we are dexterous at equivocation, and endeavour to huddle up the bufinefs among ourselves. But in truth, neither the existence, nor the proclamation of this defect in the doctrines of fome of the Clergy, affords any fufficient ground for the enemies of the Establishment to triumph. However much it is to be lamented, it is only an occafional and a partial deviation from a conftitution (g) See Strictures on Education, by Hannah More, Introduction, p. 10, |