Part 103

Suffer me also (as undoubtedly you requested his Lordship to publish this charge for their instruction) to give a word of exhortation to your _Parishioners_. You see, Sirs, that I have used great plainness of speech in my remarks upon this charge of your Right Reverend Diocesan. Do not without examination contradict and blaspheme, but be noble, as the _Bereans_ were, and “search the scriptures whether these things be so or not: to the law, and to the testimony.” Let that determine who are the seducers, who are the enthusiasts, and the enemies to the Church; those who preach up the doctrine of justification by faith alone in the imputed righteousness of JESUS CHRIST, and the indwelling and witnessing of the Spirit; or those who tell you, that they were the _miraculous gifts_ of the Holy Ghost, and not to be expected in these last days. Say not within yourselves, “We have JESUS for our saviour, we have been born again in baptism, we are members of the Church of _England_, we do nobody any harm, we will do what we can, and JESUS CHRIST will do the rest;” but seek ye after a better righteousness than your own, even that “righteousness which is by faith;” and earnestly press after that indwelling of the Spirit, and that true inward holiness and purity of heart, without which no man living shall see the LORD. Get acquainted with the collects, homilies, articles and old writers of that Church whereof you profess yourselves members, and let not ignorance be the mother of your devotion. Remember that “GOD is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” See that your zeal be according to knowledge: and count not those to be troublers of _Israel_, nor like the misguided _Jews_, irritated thereto by the high priests, raise mobs against them, as turners of the world upside down, who out of love to your souls, have put their lives in GOD’s hands, and shew unto you the true way of eternal salvation. Place not holiness in outward buildings, nor reject the gospel because preached to you in the fields, in the streets and lanes of the city. See, hear, and judge for yourselves, and beware lest that come upon you which is spoken by a Prophet: “Behold, ye despisers, and wonder and perish: for I work a work in your days, which a man shall not believe, though one declare it unto him.”