Actual preparation was here intirely out of the question. It might be _absolutely_ and _indispensably_ necessary, for any thing I had either said or _meant_ to the contrary. For it was not at all in my thoughts. And the habitual preparation which I had in terms declared to be _indispensably_ necessary, was “a willingness to know and to do the whole will of God,” and “earnest desires of universal holiness.” Does your lordship think, this is _meant to set aside all repentance for sins past, and resolutions of living better for the time to come_?
11. Your lordship next falls with all your might upon that strange assertion, as you term it, “We come to his table, not to give him any thing, but to receive whatsoever he sees best for us”. _Whereas_, says your lordship, _in the exhortation_ at the time _of receiving, the people are told, that they must_ give _most humble and hearty thanks, ――――and immediately_ after _receiving, both minister and people join, in_ offering _and_ presenting _themselves before_ God, pages 20, 21. O God! in what manner are the most sacred things here treated! The most venerable mysteries of our religion! What quibbling, what playing upon words is here! “Not to _give_ him any thing,”――――“Yes, to _give_ him thanks.” O my lord, are these the words of a father of the church?
12. Your lordship, goes on, _To the foregoing account of these modern principles and doctrines――――it may not be improper to subjoin a few observations upon the indirect_ practices _of the same people in gaining proselytes_, pages 23, 24.
* * * * *
I. _They persuade the people, that the_ established _worship, with a regular attendance upon it, is not sufficient to answer the ends of devotion_.
Your lordship mentioned this likewise in the _observations_. In your fourth _query_ it stood thus: “Whether a due and regular attendance on the public offices of religion, paid in a serious and composed way, does not answer the true ends of devotion?” Suffer me to repeat part of the answer then given.
“I suppose, by devotion you mean public worship; by the _true ends_ of it, the love of God and man: and by _a due and regular attendance on the public offices of religion, paid in a serious and composed way_, the going as often as we can to our parish church, and to the sacrament there administered. If so, the question is, ‘Whether _this attendance_ on _those offices_, does not produce the love of God and man’? I answer sometimes it does; and sometimes it does not. I myself thus attended them for many years; and yet am conscious to myself, that during that whole time, I had no more of the love of God than a stone. And I know many hundreds, perhaps thousands, of serious persons, who are ready to testify the same thing.”
I subjoined, 1. “We continually exhort all who attend on our preaching, to attend the offices of the church. And they do pay a more regular attendance there than ever they did before. 2. Their attending the church did not, in fact, answer those ends at all, till they attended this preaching also. 3. It is the preaching remission of sins through Jesus Christ, which alone answers the true ends of devotion.”
* * * * *
II. 13. _They censure the clergy_, says your lordship, _as less zealous than themselves, in the several branches of the ministerial function_――――For this _they are undeservedly reproached by these noisy, itinerant leaders_, pages 24, 25.
My lord, I am not conscious to myself of this. I do not willingly compare myself with any man, much less do I reproach my brethren of the clergy, whether they deserve it or not. But it is needless to add any more on this head than what was said above a year ago. [2d letter to Mr. _Church_, page 78.]
“I must explain myself a little on that practice, which you so often term _abusing the clergy_. I have many times great sorrow and heaviness in my heart, on account of these my brethren. And this sometimes constrains me to speak to them, in the only way which is now in my power: and sometimes (though rarely) to speak of them; of a few, not all in general. In either case, I take an especial care, 1. To speak nothing but the truth. 2. To speak this with all plainness; and, 3. With love, and in the spirit of meekness. Now, if you will call this _abusing_, _railing_, or _reviling_, you must. But still I dare not refrain from it. I must _thus rail, thus abuse_ sinners of all sorts and degrees, unless I will perish with them.”
* * * * *
III. 14. _♦They value themselves upon extraordinary strictnesses and severities in life, and such as are beyond what the rules of Christianity require. They captivate the people by such professions and appearances of_ uncommon _sanctity――――But that which can never fail of a general respect――――is a quiet and exemplary life, free from the many_ follies _and_ indiscretions _which those restless and vagrant teachers are apt to fall into_, page 25.