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THE TRUE CHURCHMEN &c.

CHAPTER I.

The main question stated; and argued against the Affailants, from their CONDUCT IN SUBSCRIPTION,their own CONCESSIONS, and the COMPLAINTS OF SEVERAL EMINENT

BISHOPS.

OUR first object fhall be to state fully in what the matter at iffue confifts. We will begin with an extract from a pamphlet entitled "Thoughts concerning the Methodists and the established Clergy; by George Croft, D. D." In this pamphlet the Doctor expreffes himself thus: "They alone, if we believe themfelves, have adhered to the doctrines of the articles, homilies, and liturgy. This, he proceeds, is grofs mifrepresentation. THEY taught MORE than these doctrines, and we teach them as they were firft delivered by our Reformers."-Now that Dr. Croft includes under this cenfure perfons of the description specified in our preface, those who are guilty of no fpecies of irregularity, but who, as they conceive, in all things adhere strictly to the rules of the establishment, is beyond a question. He alludes expressly, in this fame pamphlet, to Mr. Milner, to the Minifter of "the New Church," and all the minifters, except "one Individual," then in the churches at Hull; to Dr. Coulthurst, his Curate, and those "who are anticipating appointments to the Chapels in his parish;" to Mr. Romaine; and to all for whom presentations have been procured "by a noble Earl, and fome gentlemen of opulence;" and, with equal explicitnefs, alludes to them as " fanatical Divines," "clerical Enthufiafts," "pretended Favourites of heaven "." &c.

(a) Page 19.

(z) 1795.

(b) P. 14, 29, 31.
B

The same, however, in effect, with the above proposition of Dr. Croft, is the language of Mr. Polwhele, Mr. Haggitt2, and a whole tribe of modern writers on this fubject. Whatever different objects thefe gentlemen have immediately in view, or however more or lefs fparing they are in the mention of individuals, or in epithets of reproach, directly or indirectly, their cenfures uniformly involve the characters in queftion; and their reafonings obviously proceed on the fuppofition that the reft of the clergy DO, and that these persons DO NOT, teach according to the established doctrines of our Church.

h

This, in effect, is the propofition maintained by Mr. Daubeny and his admirers, against the well-known objects of his ftrictures, Mr. Wilberforce and Mrs. More. The opinion Mr. W. has expreffed respecting the difference between the actual and the profeffed principles of many of the clergy, Mr. D. fays is" unjust," and "derived more from the indecent revilings of irregular preachers than from fact." To other parts of this publication Mr. D. has "thought it neceffary to object as more favourable to enthusiasm than practical Christianity "." In his Letter to Mrs. More, after quoting the words of both Mrs. M. and Mr. Wilberforce respecting the 'union between the doctrines and duties of Chriftianity,' he obferves, "But, Madam, this is not the language either of the Scripture, or of the CHURCH OF ENGLAND." And then, having stated his own oppofite notions on the point, “the CHURCH OF ENGLAND," he adds, "teaches the fame doctrine." Accordingly, "If," his panegyrift obferves, " Mrs. More be really of Mr. Wilberforce's fchool, her faith, like his, is Calvinifm in difguife; and her attachment to the Church of England, of a very queftionable kind."" "Those who

(e) Letters to Dr. Hawker. (z) See a visitation Sermon preached at Cambridge, June 1799, by the Rev. John Haggitt, B. D. Fellow of Clare Hall, and Vicar of Madingley. (f) Practical View &c. p. 408. (g) Guide to the Church, p. 324, 378. (h) Ibid. 313. (i) p. 39. (k) Ibid. p. 40. (1) Antijac. Rev. Nov. 1799. p. 255.

are diftinguished GOSPEL-MINISTERS," Mr. Daubeny says, fhould rather be called preachers of abfolute decrees, predestination, election, and faith without works "." And, in short, to prove the heresy of perfons of this description, and his own churchmanship, he has favoured the world with feveral volumes.

Nor must we view in any other light the Efsays of Thomas Ludlam, A. M. He alfo refers us to the Articles and Reformers; not indeed frequently; but, as the "Rector of Fofton," he can scarcely object to this ftandard of doctrine. The object of this writer's more immediate attack is Mr. Robinson, the author of the "Scripture Characters "." A portion of his reproof and correction is, however, extended to Mr. Hervey, Mr. Milner, Mr. Venn, Dr. Hawker, Dr. Knox, Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Scott of the Lock, and, as he expreffes it," the whole tribe of those who call themfelves ferious Divines and Gospel-Ministers", and whom the world not unfrequently calls Methodists." And what renders this ftricture more deferving of notice is, that the part of it contained in Mr. L.'s four Efsays is commended by the respectable British Critic, whofe profeffed object it is to protect the genuine doctrines of the church?. Mr. Ludlam, it is faid, "diffects with justice" the work of Mr. R. and "finds in it the feeds of many opinions, which he cenfures as unfound, and as belonging to the principles of Methodifm; &c." Correfpondent also with this decifion, is the fentiment difcovered by this Critic, in his Review of Mr. Scott's Thanksgiving Sermon .

But what is perhaps not lefs to be lamented, our admired political friends, the Antijacobin Reviewers, have claffed this description of Divines with Heretics and Schifmatics.

(m) Appendix to Guide, p. 622. (n) See Title page of " Four Effays, &c." (z) Mr. L. feems to ufe this appellation as fynonimous with "Calviniftical Divines." See four Effays, p. 59, and note. (0) Four Effays, p. 44, and paffim; and Six Effays. (p) See the Profpectus, &c. (q) For April 1798. p. 400.

(y) See British Critic, June 1799.

We can, however, readily forgive them. Engaged as they are in fuppreffing the Hydra of Jacobinifm, it is no wonder, if they cannot always bestow a fufficient attention upon other matters. We wot, that through fomething they have obferved in the Metropolis, where, perhaps, in fome inftances, order is not fufficiently regarded; or, through the representation of fome angry but ill-informed correfpondents, they have done it. It is however to be hoped, that without any relaxation of their vigilance, or any suppresfion of just fufpicions, this Corps de garde will learn to diftinguish their Allies from the Enemy; and hence, cease to play their artillery upon a large body of men who are both as zealous Antijacobins, and as fincere Antifchifmatics, as themselves.

Their manner of speaking on the subject, however, exactly coincides with what has been already advanced, "Thefe Golpel-minifters," they fay," as their followers are inftructed to call them, upbraid the clergy of our church with not preaching the whole counfel of God. We boldly reply to fuch a charge, that the found and orthodox divines, of whom there are thoufands in England, firmly believe, and frequently preach, as pure and true doctrines, those contained in the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th Articles of our faith." Thefe teachers," they fay again," pride themselves as being the only true members of the church of England, who adopt the faith contained in her Articles and Homilies, &c. .... But let us examine what these schifinatics mean by their church of England. .... Let us inveftigate the fundamental principles on which they pretend to ground their fuperiority over their nominal brethren."These they reprefent to be, holding election, talking of experience, vital knowledge, and feeling, in respect to falvation; notions of which they wholly difapprove°: Or, to adduce the words of their correspondent, "It would be easy," it is faid, "to prove that thofe who arrogate to themselves exclufively the title of Evangelical preachers, are not true (0) Ibid.

(r) April 1799. p. 368.

(s) Ibid. p. 362-368.

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