1785] REV. WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. 219 



There being no express authority to the purpose,* the contrary was 

 implied in the sending of Deputies on the ground of the recommenda- 

 tion from New York, which presumed that the book, witlr the above 

 exception, should remain entire. f 



He proceeds, a little further on : 



Every one, so far as is here known, ivished for alterations in the differ- 

 ent offices. But it was thought at New York, in the preceding year, that 

 such an enterprise could not be undertaken until the Church should be 

 consolidated and organized. Perhaps it would have been better if the 

 same opinioti had been continued and acted on. 



The Bishop afterwards goes on showing how little hand he him- 

 self had in making the book in its substance. He says : 



The alterations were prepared by another sub- division of the General 

 Committee than that to which the author belonged. When brought 

 into the committee they were not reconsidered, because the ground 

 w.ould have been to go over again in the Convention. Accordingly he 

 cannot give an account of any arguments arising in the preparatory state 

 of the business. Even in the Convention there were but iQ\N points can- 

 vassed with any material difference of principle. 



The Bishop notices these few points. The only ones where a 

 change in the old book was made, and the only ones important 

 therefore to be here noticed, are these : 



One about a form of Thanksgiving for the 4th of July, the 

 introduction of which was displeasing to him, the Bishop tells us ; 

 and to oppose which he availed himself of a privilege which he 

 had reserved on his acceptance of the Presidency of the Conven- 

 tion, to deliver his opinion. 



A second, the alteration of the old 17th Article, about Pre- 

 destination. The Bishop says about this : 



Some wished to get rid of the new article introduced concerning Pre- 

 destination without stating anything in its place. This, it is probable, 

 would have been better than the proposed article which professes to say 



something on the subject, yet, in reality, says nothing Although 



no one professed scruples against what is there affirmed, yet there seemed 

 a difficulty in discovering for what purpose it was introduced. The 

 author never met with any who were satisfied with it. 



* Given by the different State Conventions to the Delegates, I suppose the Bishop to 

 mean. 



f See the recommendation referred to by the Bishop, supra, page 1 16. 



