this repugnancy in the co-existence of the two difpenfatior.s confifts wholly and folely in the limited and imperfect na ture of the one, and the unlimited perfection of the other. In this fenfe only it is, that the exiftence of Judaism is inconfiftent with that of christianity; and in this fenfe indeed the fuppofition of their co-existence is a contradiction; but then 'tis notorious, that the existence of this contradiction has no manner of relation to the meer exercise of the acts of the Jewish worship, and therefore can have no kind of dependance upon the ruin or reftoration of the temple. In fhort, this fancy of a neceffary connexion between the temple-edifice, and the being of chriftianity, puts one in mind of a like connexion, which the honeft yeoman of Kent fancied there was between Tenterden steeple and Goodwin fands. Upon the whole we may fafely conclude, that this pretended chriftianity which is of fuch an unsubstantial nature, that it muft neceffarily vanifh at the restoration of the temple, can be nothing else but a meer ghost, conjured up by the force of our author's magical circle, drawn from the nature of the two difpenfations to the prophecies, and round about again from the prophecies to the nature of the two difpenfations. But if it be a ghost, it is evidently the ghost of departed Judaism.

He proceeds foon after, in the way of ridicule, as follows. In effect, fays he, if this doctrine of the final deftruction of the temple be fo clearly revealed, and evidently deduced from fcripture, and at the fame time of fuch prime importance to the being of chriftianity as our author hath fuggefted; then it must be a neceffary funda mental article of the chriftian faith, and confequently both the creeds, as they stand at prefent in our liturgy, are defective in this refpect, for no such article is to be found in either of them. On the contrary, they muft unavoidably lead us into a fundamental error on this head; for it is plainly fuppofed in both as they now fand, that this kingdom of Chrift had its firft beginning while he was upon earth, and in confequence of that, immediately after the afcenfion, he is faid to be placed at the right-hand of God, that is, upon the throne of this kingdom; after which follows the article concerning the general judgment.

This chafm then ought undoubtedly to be filled up; which, with all due deference to my fuperiors, may, I think, be done by inferting into the larger or Nicene creed fome fuch words as thefe: He afcended into heaven, and

fat

fat at the right-hand of the father. Whence he came in majefty and power to judge the Jewish nation, when his kingdom had its first beginning, and from thence he shall come in perfon to judge both the quick and dead, whose kingdom fhall have no ending.' It will be likewife fitting that a proper day be fet a-part for the celebration of this important feftival, and a fuitable collect drawn up for the occafion, whereby we may be annually put in mind to offer up our prayers to almighty God, returning him our unfeigned thanks for raising his church out of the ruins of the temple of Jerufalem, and humbly befeeching him that he would pleafe to continue the inestimable bleffing of this his kingdom upon earth, and fo to watch over his mountain of Zion, as finally to prevent the restoration of that temple for the purpofe of Jewish worship.

Every body fees that the present juncture is very favourable for making this new improvement, now the calendar is to be altered in pursuance to the late act for changing the ftyle; and I hope the whole will be thought a proper fubject for the care of thofe ingenious and pious gentlemen, who are at prefent fo laudably employed in reforming all parts of the liturgy by their curious difquifitions.'

The attempt of the emperor Julian to rebuild the temple of Jerufalem, our author referves to be confidered in the next part of his Review.

ART. VI. Remarks upon a Treatife, intitled, Free and candid Difquifitions, relating to the Church of England, &c. In fome Letters to a worthy Dignitary of the Church of Wells. Wherein an Attempt towards a Discovery of the true aad real Defign of the Difquifitions, is humbly fubmitted to the Confideration of the ferious and thinking Members of the Establishment. Part the SECOND. By a Prefbyter of the Church of England. Octavo, 3s. Innys.

IN

IN the firft part of the performance now before us, our author is at great pains to shew that the proposal for altering the frame of our liturgy, and for contracting the three fervices into one, is neither expedient, prudent, or juftifiable; that the reafons affigned for the alteration, are by no means of weight fufficient to warrant it that the ob jections made to the length of our fervices, to the repetitions in them; to the manner in which they are generally read,

and

and to the fancied defects and corruptions in them, are idle, trifling, and groundlefs ;-that the length of them, the repetitions in them, and the manner in which they are read (whether at diftinct times or otherwife) are clearly justified from the practice of the primitive chriftians, in the purest ages of the church ;-that the little blemishes or defects complained of, are really no defects at all; at least of too little moment to make alterations neceffary, they being very inoffenfive, and far from giving the leaft countenance to popery, to vice, or impiety;---that the alteration proposed (viz. contracting the three fervices into one) is a manifeft deviation from the practice of the first and pureft ages of the church; and has an evident tendency to deface the remembrance of the antient hours of prayer, and the antient piety and devotion of the firft chriftians ;---that it has actually been once a means of introducing amongst us, fuch a scene of mifery, confufion and impiety, as no one, who hath the leaft regard for our establishment, can think of but with horror and deteftation ;---and confequently that it is so far from being likely to promote the ends of true piety, devotion, charity, inftruction, &c. that it would, in all probability, be a means to put an end to that little fenfe of religion, which is left among us.

After this he proceeds to point out the true and real defign of the difquifitions; a defign, which, unless timely prevented, bids fair, he fays, to overturn our conftitution in church and ftate. Hear what he fays.

The prefent defign, fays he, indeed has been carried on with fuch fecrecy, that it is difficult, if not impracticable, to trace the beginnings of it, or to look through the whole contrivance. However facts are an evidence beyond exception; and upon a supposition or two, which are not unreafonable, we may poffibly be able to make some discoveries, which may ferve to awaken the serious and thinking members of the establishment.

• First then, let us suppose, that a fet of men, who feparate from our communion, are not thoroughly pleased with their present fituation; that a bare indulgence, to exercife their religion, is not fufficient to content fubjects, who infift upon the moft zealous attachment to the civil conftitution. In this cafe, they will naturally think of proper expedients, whereby they may be admitted into, and enjoy the full privileges of the establishment. And as an attempt of this kind must be attended with great difficulties,

culties, they will as naturally act with the utmost caution. They will confequently conclude, that it would be very imprudent, as Diffenters, to apply to the government for pri vileges; for any thing more than religious liberties, the confequence of applications and addreffes of that kind, and from that quarter, being of too late a date to be forgotten. Let us therefore in the next place, fuppofe

2. That a felect number of thofe gentlemen, who could could be intrufted with a secret, met together, and refolved to addrefs their governors in the capacity of dutiful fons of the church. But when or how, it will be asked, could they poffibly think, that fuch a scheme was feasible? Let us therefore fuppofe, what is not to be denied.

3. That feveral of the feparation, have lately accepted of preferment in the church; that fome of them (fome of them, I fay; for I would by no means fuggeft, that all of them are infincere, being well affured that many of them, and thofe of the highest order in the church, are true friends, and real ornaments to the prefent establishment) ftill retain fome fecret veneration for their old friends, and their old principles, in which they were educated. In this cafe, there will be no difficulty to imagine, that such men would readily come into the fcheme of the difquifitors, and fuffer their names to be made use of, and annexed (when occafion fhould require) to any petitions, which they should think proper to prefent to their governors for the ease of tender and fcrupulous confciences. This difficulty being removed, let us fuppofe,

4. That other expedients were thought of, which might be ferviceable to promote the fcheme, and carry it into execution. An affair of fuch an important nature would require to be conducted with great prudence. An established church is not to be overturned, nor any confiderable alterations to be made in a conftitution, without fome reafons affign'd; without fome plaufible arguments, at least, for the neceffity of it. Let us fuppofe therefore, that in the fame pious, confcientious, and loyal committee, it was refolved,

5. That all the old objections, against the liturgy and the conftitution, fhould be collected together, and drawn up in fuch a plausible manner, as not to be easily obviated by common readers; that in this performance, no complaints or objections should be offered, but in the most humble and inoffenfive manner; feldom any thing propofed, but in

the

the fubmiffive form of queries, or in the ftrongest expreffions of candour, of duty, and obedience to their governors. I fhall only trouble you with one fuppofition more. The objections, queries, and propofals, being thus collected, and put together, let us fuppofe,

6. A bold, conceited, pedant at the head of a famous academy, haranguing his brethren and friends to the following purpofe;

After this we are prefented with a long oratión, carried on thro' no less than fifty pages, and according to our author's account, made up chiefly of extracts from the difquifitions, &c. or inferences clearly deducible from them. It may not be improper to prefent our readers with a few paffages from this oration, which, if they do not greatly edify, will at least divert. It begins as follows:

• Gentlemen,

It is now near a full century, fince our pious, perfecuted ancestors, and ourfelves, have laboured under great difficulties, civil and religious. In a mild government founded upon the principles of liberty, I am confident, you will agree with me, that the best of fubjects ought to be particularly regarded; and confidering the countenance and indulgence, with which we have long been, favoured by the best of princes, we have no reason to suspect, that real and fubftantial emoluments will be denied us. I own, I think, we had never a better opportunity, of having our grievances redreffed, OUR CONSCIENCES relieved, and our privileges enlarged, than at the present happy conjunc

ture.

Our friends, you are fenfible, are great and numerous. We have the patronage and protection of very wife and good men; very wife and good men are entire friends to us and our caufe. Numbers in the army, at the bar, and upon the bench of the leading, the most eminent, the most intelligent and judicious members of the establishment are with us; and thall we neglect to feize fo favourable a conjuncture? Quin igitur expergefcimini! en illa, illa, quam fæpe optaftis libertas! præterea Divitia, decus, gloria in oculis fita funt.

We can truly boaft of faithful and powerful allies, in almoft all parts of Europe and America. Men of all religions and of no religion, cannot but admire and efteem us for our pious intrépidity; for our grateful and difinterested attachment to the government; for our open and undisguised beVOL. VI.

F

haviour;