tify it, and think it a Thing which ought not to be done. SUBSCRIPTION to human Creeds have, I apprehend, been of infinite Differvice and Hurt to the Christian Church, have rent it into a Variety of Sects and angry Parties, and filled it with innumerable Strifes and Debates They are a Fence raised around the Church, which can poffibly keep none but virtuous and honest Perfons, but never can keep one Hypocrite, one Heretick, or wicked Man, from entering into it. I wish the Cafe you mention may not be extremely common, viz. Fraudulent and infincere Subfcriptions, and the conftant Ufe of Forms, which they who use them do not approve of, whereby the Confcience is defiled.* But the Point of Subfcriptions which is the Subject of your Appendix, will be confidered by an abler Hand; who will give you, I hope, ample Satisfaction on this Head To his Inftructions I commend you, Sir, wishing you with great Sincerity, abundant Peace and Truth. CONTENTS. A Free Enquiry into the main Point in Difpute, viz. Whether the Church hath Power to decree Rites and Ceremonies in Religion, and Authority in Matters of Faith, as afferted in the 20th Article of the Church of England Page 6 8 The CHURCH, to which this Authority and Power is given, not the 12 Neither CHRIST nor his Apeftles ever gave the Civil Magiftrate this Authority in the Church 14 The Guilt of Schifm, lying on the Impofers of unfcriptural Terms of Communion 16 18 20 Diffenters vindicated from the Charge of impofing one particular Pofture at the Lord's Table The CONSTITUTION of the Church of England, and the CONSTITUTION of the Church of Christ compar'd, and fhewn to be quite different, in a Variety of Particulars Reflections on the Athanafian CREED, and the Clergy's using it 13 Times a Year, though wifhing they were well rid of it 31 The damnatory Claufe of this Creed excluded the Subfcription by diffenting Minifters Objections to the Order and Practice of the Church of England, with Relation to Sponfors, or God-Fathers and God-Mothers, in Baptifm Objections against the Ceremony of Confirmation 33 36 42 47 The Diffenters vindicated from the Imputation of Inconfiftency, in many Inftances Objections to the Office of Burial 51 59 The holy Kifs, no Argument for the Church's divine Right of making Ceremonies 62 The deplorable State of the Church of England, in Point of Difcipline reprefented; and the Order of the Dissenting Churches vindicated aigns on the Teft-A 63 67 Lay CONTENTS. Lay Chancellors an Irregularity in the Church of Eugland, that has no A Review of the Point in Debate between Dr. Watts and Mr. White 75 The fchifmatical Conduct of the Church, in fundry Inftances 81 The diffenting Minifters vindicated, with Regard to their Ordination, Reflections on the Order and Practice of the Church of England, in reading the Apocrypha as a Part of her Liturgy, worshipping to- The Outcries about Schifm juftly defpis'd, in the present Age The Notion of being true Members of the Church of England de Books Sold by Rogers and Fowle DISCOURSES on the World to come : Or, The Joys and SORROWS of departed Souls at Death, and the GLORY and TERROR of the RESURRECTION. Wherein, after fome Representations of the HAPPINESS of HEAVEN, and a Preparation for it, there follows a Rational and Scriptural Account of the PUNISHMENTS in HELL, and a Proof of their Eternal Duration. With a plain ANSWER to all the most plaufible OBJECTIONS. By I. WATTS, D. D. Formerly publish'd in Two VOLUMES, and now reduced into One. The History of the Martyrs : Being a Cloud of Witneffes; Or, the Sufferers Mirrour, made up of the Swanlike Songs, and other choice Paffages of a great Number of Martyrs and Confeffors, in their Treatifes, Speeches, Letters, Prayers &c. in their Prifons, or Exiles; at the Bar, or Stake, &c. Collected out of the Ecclefiaftical Hiftories of Eufebius, Fox, Fuller, Clark, Petrie, Scotland, and Mr. Samuel Ward's Life of Faith in Death, &c. By THOMAS MALL, M. A. In Two Volumes. With a Recommendatory Preface by Mr. FLAVEL. Practical Difcourfes on the Parable of the TEN VIRGINS. Being a ferious Call and Admonition to Watchfulness and Diligence in preparing for Death and Judgment. By BENJAMIN COLMAN. D. D. late Paftor of a Church in Bofton, NewEngland. SERMONS on various Subjects, Di vine and Moral. With a facred Hymn fuited to each Subject. Defigned for the Use of Chriftian Families, as well as for the Hours of devout Retirement. By I. WATTS, D. D. Formerly publish'd in Two Volumes, and now reduced into one. Three valuable Pieces, viz. Select Cafes refolv'd, First Principles of the Oracles of God, or Sum of Chriftian Religion; both corrected by four feveral Editions; and a private Diary; Containing Meditations and Experiences. Never before publifhed. By THOMAS SHEPARD, M. A. of Emanuel College in Cambridge in England; Afterward Minifter of the Church of Cambridge in New England. With fome Account of the Rev. Author. |