26o LIFE AS'D CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \M^9 



The Apostles' Creed seems to have been the Creed of the Western 

 Church •, the Nicene of the Eastern ; and the Athanasian, to be de- 

 signed to ascertain the Catholic doctrine of the Trinity, against all op- 

 posers. And it always appeared to me, that the design of the Church 

 of England, in retaining the three Creeds, was to show that she did 

 retain the analogy of the Catholic faith, in common with the Eastern 

 and Western Church, and in opposition to those who denied the Trinity 

 of persons in the Unity of the Divine Essence. Why any departure 

 should be made from this good and pious example I am yet to seek. 



There seems in your book a dissonance between the offices of Bap- 

 tism and Confirmation. In tlie latter there is a renewal of a vow, 

 which in the former does not appear to have been explicitly made. 

 Something of the same discordance appears in the Catechism. 



Our regard for primitive practice makes us exceedingly grieved that 

 you have not absolutely retained the sign of the cross in Bajjtism. 

 When I consider the practice of the ancient Church, before Popery had 

 a being, I cannot think the Church of England justifiable in giving up 

 the sign of the cross, where it was retained by the first Prayer Book of 

 Edward the VI. Her motive may have been good; but good motives 

 will not justify wrong actions. The concessions she has made in giving 

 up several primitive, and I suppose apostolical usages, to gratify the 

 humors of fault-finding men, shows the inefficacy of such conduct. 

 She has learned wisdom from her experiences. Why should not we also 

 take a lesson in her school ? If the humor be pursued of giving up 

 points on every demand, in fifty years we shall scarce have the name of 

 Christianity left. For God's sake, my dear sir, let us remember that it 

 is the particular business of the Bishops of Christ's Church to preserve 

 it pure and undefiled, in faith and practice, according to the model left 

 by apostolic practice. And may God give you grace and courage to 

 act accordingly ! 



In your burial office, the hope of a future resurrection to eternal life 

 is too faintly expressed, and the acknowledgment of an intermediate 

 state, between death and the resurrection, seems to be entirely thrown 

 out ; though, that this was a Catholic, primitive and apostolical doc- 

 trine, will be denied by none who attend to this point. 



The Articles seem to be altered to little purpose. The doctrines are 

 neither more clearly expres^'^d nor better guarded.; nor are the objec- 

 tions to the old articles obviated. And, indeed, this seems to have 

 been the case with several other alterations ; they appear to have been 

 made for alteration's sake, and at least have not mended the matter 

 they aimed at. 



That the most exceptionable part of the English book is the Commun- 

 ion office may be proved by a number of very respectable names among 

 her clergy. The grand fault in that office is the deficiency of a more 

 form.al oblation of the elements, and of the invocation of the Holy 



