234 LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [17S5 



Depositories, under God, of the doctrines of the Church, whereof we 

 profess ourselves members. 



From those doctrines no essential deviations were intended by the 

 convention, and we are confident it will appear that none have been 

 made in the book which hath been proposed, and which we thought it 

 but just and candid to publish to the world, and particularly to have it 

 presented to your Lordships before any Clergyman nominated to the 

 office of a Bishop among us should be sent to you for consecration. 

 In the meantime it was to be our endeavour to remove as far as possible 

 every objection that might remain or be apprehended among our Civil 

 Rulers ; to which we believe nothing could more contribute than an 

 open and candid publication of the Alterations which seemed necessary 

 or expedient, either in a civil or religious view. We conceived, more- 

 over, that this declaration of our doctrines and public worship would 

 contribute effectually to do away any prejudices against our Church, 

 which may still be found among our fellow-citizens at large \ these 

 prejudices, we are persuaded, are few and inconsiderable. For some 

 time past they have happily been subsiding, and your Lordships will 

 undoubtedly approve of every measure which a sister Church can adopt 

 towards completing the circle of Christian Charity and forbearance. 



Some alterations became necessary upon the principles set forth in 

 the preface to the proposed Book of Common Prayer ; but we apore- 

 hend that there are none such as can induce your venerable Body to 

 consider us as having adopted "an ecclesiastical system which will be 

 called a branch of the Church of England, but which may appear to 

 have departed from it essentially either in doctrine or discipline." We 

 have already expressed our hope that there is no such departure, or, 

 should it appear to your Lordships that there is any, we shall be happy 

 to have it pointed out to us. 



Our book is only a proposal, although we must say it is a very ac- 

 ceptable one to those of our Church who have had the greatest oppor- 

 tunity of being made acquainted with it. But we have not established 

 it, nor do we consider ourselves as having authority so to do in the 

 Churches of any of these States till they are fully organized and have 

 their Bishops in Council and Government with them. When those 

 shall be sent for consecration to the Church of England, they Avill be 

 informed in what points, if any, there may appear to be essential devia- 

 tions either in doctrine or discipline; and they, as well as the Conven- 

 tions in the different States, will undoubtedly pay all that deference to 

 your exalted characters which we know to be necessary for maintaining 

 a perpetual harmony and union with the Church of England in all 

 essentials. 



We therefore Pray, That as our Church, in sundry States, hath already 

 proceeded with nominations of Bishops and in others may soon proceed 

 with the same ; you will be pleased to give us as speedy an answer to 



