Mr. WHISTON's Letter of Thanks, &c.

ALTHO' I have not the Honour of being One of thoſe Incumbents in your Lordſhip's Dioceſe, to whom you immediately direct your late Letter againſt the Uſe of New Forms of Doxology, &c. Yet becauſe I generally frequent one of your Pariſh Churches, where a New Form of Doxo⯑logy is every Day uſed; Vid. Hiſto⯑rical Pref. Edit. 2. p.128.—131. where yet, accord⯑ing to your Lordſhip's laudable Admonition, I diſſent from that New Form of Doxology, and uſe an Old one; becauſe I ſeveral Years ago at Cambridge oppos'd that New, and there⯑fore, by the ſame excellent Rule, unjuſtifi⯑able Form of Doxology, I cannot but think it very fit for me to own the great Pleaſure your Lordſhip's Caution againſt New Forms of Doxology has given me; and in my own Name, and in the Name of many other good Chriſtians, who, with me, reject all ſuch New Forms of Doxology whatſoever, I return your Lordſhip this Publick Thanks for your ſo open Approbation of our Conduct in this Matter.

[4] I take it here for granted, My Lord, that your Lordſhip is in earneſt in this Letter; that by New Forms of Doxology therein diſ⯑approv'd, without any particular mention of the Forms themſelves, you truly mean ſuch as aroſe long ſince the beginning of the Goſ⯑pel; That alſo by New Forms of Doxology, in⯑tirely agreeable to thoſe of ſome ancient He⯑reticks, your Lordſhip particularly means thoſe New Forms which were introduc'd by certain Hereticks in the fourth Century; tho' your Lordſhip ſeems indeed unhappily to have miſtaken their Name and Character.

I take it alſo for granted, My Lord, that 'tis impoſſible for a Chriſtian and a Proteſtant Biſhop, both which your Lordſhip is known to be, to call the ancient and ſacred Doxo⯑logies of St. Paul, St. Peter, St. John, St. Jude, &c. with thoſe of the reſt of the moſt pri⯑mitive Chriſtians, New Forms of Doxology, intirely agreeable to thoſe of ſome ancient He⯑reticks: And upon this reaſonable Suppoſiti⯑on, I do again return your Lordſhip my moſt hearty Thanks for ſo ſeaſonable and Chriſti⯑an a Caution againſt the modern groſs, and notorious Corruption of this kind.

Now that this ſolemn Caution of your Lordſhip's againſt all New Forms of Doxo⯑logy may have the greater regard paid to it by all the Clergy of your Dioceſe, I ſhall beg leave to ſupply what ſeems wanting in your Lordſhip's Letter, and ſhall produce here all the certainly genuine Forms of Dox⯑ology, that, upon a former diligent Enquiry, I met with in the Apoſtolick Age, or a little later. And that your Lordſhip may be ſecure that none of them ſhall be liable to the lea [...] ſuſpicion of favouring any dangerous Opini⯑ons [5] that aroſe in the fourth Century, your Lordſhip will there find that the lateſt of them is near two hundred Years older than the riſe of either the Arian or Athanaſian He⯑reſies. And I hope this Account may be far⯑ther uſeful to your Lordſhip's Clergy, as af⯑fording them for Practice ſure Original po⯑ſitive Rules or Forms of Doxology, free from all ſuſpicion of Heretical Pravity; which alſo your Lordſhip has intirely omitted to give them in your Letter.

• Rom. I. 25
  MORE than the Creator: who is bleſ⯑ſed for ever. Amen.
• IX. 5.
  Who is over all, God bleſſed for ever. Amen. [or, The God over all be bleſſed for ever. A⯑men.]
• XI. 36.
  Of him, and through him, and to him are all things. To him be Glory, for ever. Amen.
• XVI. 27.
  To the only wiſe God be glory, through Jeſus Chriſt, for ever. Amen.
• 2 Cor. XI. 31.
  The God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who is bleſſed for evermore.
• Gal. I. 4, 5.
  According to the Will of God and our Fa⯑ther. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• Eph. III. 21.
  To him be glory in the Church, by Chriſt Jeſus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
• Philip. IV 20.
  Now to God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• 1 Tim. I. 17.
  Now to the King of Ages, immortal, in⯑viſible, the only wiſe God, be honour and glo⯑ry for ever and ever. Amen.
• [6]
  VI. 16.
  Whom no man hath ſeen, nor can ſee. To whom be honour and power everlaſting. Amen.
• 2 Tim. IV. 18.
  The Lord: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• Heb. XIII. 21.
  Now the God of Peace,—through Jeſus Chriſt: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• 1 Pet. IV. 11.
  That God in all things may be glorified, through Jeſus Chriſt. To whom is glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
• V. 11.
  To God be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
• 2 Pet. III. 18.
  Our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt: To him be glo⯑ry both now and for ever. Amen.
• Jude v. 25
  To the only wiſe God, our Saviour, be glo⯑ry, and majeſty, dominion, and power, both now and ever. Amen.
• Apoc. I. 6.
  To Jeſus Chriſt be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
• IV. 1.
  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power; for thou haſt created all things, and for thy pleaſure they are, and were created.
• V. 13.
  Bleſſing, and honour, and glory, and pow⯑er be to him that ſitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen.
• VII. 10.
  Salvation unto our God which ſitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb.
• v. 12.
  Bleſſing, and glory, and wiſdom, and thankſgiving, and honour, and power, and might be unto our God, for ever and ever▪ Amen.
• XIX. 1.
  Alleluiah: Salvation, and glory, and ho⯑nour, and power unto the Lord our God.
• Clem. Ep. I. §.20. p.159.
  All theſe has the great Creator and Lord of all commanded to obſerve peace and con⯑cord: being good to all; but eſpecially to us who flee to his mercy through our Lord Jeſu [...] [7] Chriſt: To whom be glory and majeſty for ever and ever. Amen.
• §.32. p.164.
  God Almighty: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• §.38. p.168.
  He that made us, and formed us: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• §.43. p.171.
  That the name of the true and only God might be glorified: To whom be honour for ever and ever. Amen.
• §.45. p.173.
  The Moſt High: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• §.50. p.175.
  Choſen by God, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
• §.58. p.180.
  Jeſus Chriſt: By whom be glory, and ma⯑jeſty, and power, and honour unto Him, now, and for evermore. Amen.
• §.59. p.180.
  Through whom be honour, and glory, and might, and majeſty, and an eternal throne, from everlaſting to everlaſting. Amen.
• Conſtit. Apoſt. L.I. C.1. p.200.
  Through whom glory be to God for ever. Amen. Vid. C.8. p.207. L.VII. C.25. p.370. C.47. p.385. C.49. p.385.
• L.II. C.14. p.223.
  The will of the God and Father of the Univerſe, which is revealed unto us by Jeſus Chriſt our Lord: To whom be glory for ever. Amen.
• L.IV. C.5. p.294.
  Through whom glory be to God, in ſpi⯑rit and truth, for ever. Amen.
• L.V. C.6. p.304.
  Believing in the one and only true God and Father, through Jeſus Chriſt, the great High-Prieſt, and Redeemer of our ſouls, and Rewarder of our ſufferings: To whom be glory for ever. Amen. Vid. L.VIII. C.3. p.390.
• L.VI. C.30. p.360.
  Through him worſhip, and majeſty, and glory be given to Almighty God, both now, and for evermore. Amen.
• [8]
  L.VII. C.27. p.371.
  O God the Creator of the whole world:—For thine is the glory, and the power, for ever. Amen.
• C.33, 34. p.373, 374.
  O thou great protector of the poſterity of Abraham, thou art bleſſed for ever: Thou art bleſſed, O Lord, the King of Ages.
• C.38. p.378.
  Glory and worſhip be to thee for all theſe things, through Jeſus Chriſt, now, and ever, and throughout all Ages. Amen.
• C.45. p.382.
  By whom glory be to thee, in the Holy Spirit, for ever. Amen. See Ignat. ad Epheſ. §.21. p.55. ad Rom. §.8. p.77. ad Philad. §.11. p.86.
• C.48. p.385.
  Praiſe becomes thee; Hymns become thee Glory becomes thee, the God and Father through the Son, in the moſt Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen. Vid. L.VIII C.5. p.392. C.6. p, 394. C.8. p.395. C.9 p.396. C.11. p.398. C.37. p.416. C.40 p.418. C.41. p.418.
• L.VIII. C.7. p.394.
  For to thee is due glory, honour, and wor⯑ſhip, and by thee to thy Father, in the Holy Spirit, for ever. Amen.
• C.12. p.404.
  For to thee belongs all glory, and wor⯑ſhip, and thankſgiving, honour and adorati⯑on, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, both now, and always, and for everlaſting and endleſs ages for ever. And let all the people ſay, Amen. Vid. C.15. p.406. bi [...] C.16. p.407. C.18. p.407. C.20. p.408 C.21. p.408. C.22. p.409. C.29. p.41 [...] C.38. p.417. C.39. p.417. C.41. p.41 [...] See this form and the Holy Spirit prov'd to b [...] a later Interpolation inſtead of in the Ho [...] Spirit, in my Primitive Chriſtianity Reviv' [...] Vol. IV. Append. p.10, 11, 12.
• [9]
  C.13. p.404.
  There one that is Holy, there is one Lord, one Jeſus Chriſt, bleſſed for ever, to the glo⯑ry of God the Father. Amen. Glory to God in the higheſt, and on earth peace, good-will among men. Hoſanna to the ſon of David. Bleſſed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord, being God and Lord, who appear⯑ed to us: Hoſanna in the higheſt.
• C.37. p.417.
  With whom worthy Adoration is due from every rational and holy nature to Thee, and to the Spirit, who is the Comforter, for ever. Amen. [See the foregoing Note.]
• Martyr. Polycarp. ap. Euſeb. Hiſt. Eccl. IV. 15.
  Wherefore I praiſe thee, I bleſs thee, I glo⯑rify thee, for all things, O thou God that canſt not lye, the True God, through thy e⯑ternal High-Prieſt, Jeſus Chriſt, thy beloved Son. By whom, to thee, with him, in the Holy Ghoſt, be glory both now, and to all ſuc⯑ceeding ages. Amen.
• Juſt. Apol. I. §.85.
  He that preſides over the Brethren, recei⯑ving the Bread, and the Cup mixed of Wa⯑ter and Wine, gives praiſe and glory to the Father of the Univerſe, through the name of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
• §.87.
  And indeed in all our Oblations, we bleſs the Maker of all things, through his Son Je⯑ſus Chriſt, and through the Holy Spirit.

N.B. The Doxologies in Paul, twelve in number, are, as I underſtand them, all di⯑rected immediately to the Father, or to the Fa⯑ther through the Son. Of the three in Peter, two are directed, as thoſe in Paul, to the Fa⯑ther, or to the Father through the Son; and the other is expreſsly and only directed to Jeſus Chriſt himſelf. The ſingle one in Jude is directed only to the Father. Of the ſix in the Apocalypſe of John, three are directed [10] to the Father alone; one to the Son alone; and the other two to the Father and to the Son jointly. So that in the Sacred Writing own'd to be Canonical, the Holy Ghoſt [...] never mention'd in Doxologies at all; an [...] the Son not often, any otherwiſe than as the Mediator. Clement's eight, and the Apoſtl [...] ſix Doxologies alſo in Clement's Epiſtle, an [...] former ſix Books of the Conſtitutions, ar [...] exactly like thoſe of Paul, intirely directe [...] to the Father, or to the Father through the Son [...] without any mention of the Holy Ghoſt. Th [...] publick Doxologies of the Jewiſh and Gen⯑tile Liturgies, contain'd in the ſeventh an [...] eighth Books of the Conſtitutions, are di⯑rected ſometimes to the Father alone, ſome⯑times to the Father through the Son; and the re [...] that we have reaſon to believe uncorrupt, to the Father, and the Son, in the Holy Ghoſt; e⯑ſpecially in the Celebration of the Sacramen [...] of the Lord's Supper, when the Church di [...] rather more ſolemnly mention the Holy Ghoſt than upon any other occaſion. The cer⯑tain one in Polycarp's Prayer before his Mar⯑tyrdom, is in Euſebius's Copy, which is th [...] beſt, To the Father, through, and with the Son in the Holy Ghoſt. [See Primitive Chriſtianity Reviv'd, Vol. IV. Append. p.1-9.

N.B. Here a common Miſtake is to b [...] rectify'd, as if in thoſe Doxologies whera [...] the Supreme God the Father had been men⯑tion'd or worſhip'd through Jeſus Chriſt, t [...] whom glory is immediately aſcrib'd, in th [...] uſual Form of Doxologies; that to whom re⯑lated to Jeſus Chriſt, and not to God the Fa⯑ther; as if upon an occaſional mention of the Mediator, by whom our Devotions are offered, [11] [...]he Great Object of them were immediately [...]o be forgotten by us, and all the Glory con⯑ [...]in'd to the Mediator alone. This ſeems to me a groſs Miſtake; yet is it, I doubt, a very [...]ommon one. The firſt Doxology in Peter before inſerted, when well conſider'd, will help to cure this Error among Chriſtians. ▪ Vid. ubi ſupr. p. 14.]

And now after theſe really ancient and Chri⯑ [...]tian Doxologies, Give me leave, My Lord, to preſent you and your Clergy with the Doxolo⯑gies of Athanaſius himſelf; and with a ſhort Epitome of his Follower Baſil's Diſcourſe con⯑cerning ſuch ancient Doxologies, both by me printed formerly, and belonging to that very Time when the New Athanaſian Doxologies were creeping apace into the Church.

• ^a THAT love God and the Father, in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord: By whom, and with whom be Honour, and Power, and Glory to the Father himſelf, with the Son himſelf, in the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
• ^b By whom, Glory, Power, and Majeſty be to the Father, before all Ages, and for ever and ever. Amen.
• ^c His [the Son's] is the Kingdom: The Father's, the Son's, and the Holy Spirit's, now, and for ever. Amen.
• [12] ^d 'Tis fit to give Glory, Honour, an [...] Adoration to God and the Father, with hi [...] Coeternal Son and Word, together with th [...] moſt holy and quickening Spirit, both now▪ and for endleſs Ages of Ages. Amen.
• —^e In Chriſt Jeſus our Lord: With whom Glory and Power be to the Father, to⯑gether with the holy Spirit, for ever. Amen.
• —^f In Chriſt Jeſus our Lord: By whom Glory and Power be to the Father, in the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
• —^g Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: By whom Glory and Power be to thee the Father, even with the Word himſelf, in the holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
• ^h To him [the Son] be Honour and Ado⯑ration, who was formerly, and is now, and will be always, and for ever. Amen.
• ⁱ [For when the Spirit was in the People God was in them, by his Son, in the Spirit.
• For the Father himſelf operates and beſtows all things by the Word, in the holy Spirit.]
• ^k For as the Trinity always was, ſo is i [...] now; and as it now is, ſo was it ever, and i [...] ſtill; and therein the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit. And there is one God the Father▪ who is over all, and through all, and in all▪ who is bleſſed for ever. Amen.
• —^l In Jeſus Chriſt our Lord: By whom and with whom Glory and Power be to the Father, with the holy Spirit, unto all Ages o [...] Ages. Amen.
• [13] —^m In Chriſt Jeſus our Lord: By whom, and with whom Glory and Power be to the Father, together with the holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
• ⁿ One Lord; one Faith; one Baptiſm; in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord: By whom Glory and Power be to the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
• —^o Jeſus Chriſt: By whom Glory and Power be to the Father, in the holy Spirit, both now, and for all future Ages of Ages. Amen.
• —^p In Chriſt Jeſus our Lord: To whom be Glory for ever and ever. Amen. [This Doxology is wanting in Evagrius's Ori⯑ginal Latin Verſion: However, ſee the like afterwards, Epiſt. ad Afr. § ult. Op. p.900.]

Note here, (1) That Athanaſius's only Dox⯑ology before the Council of Nice, and not a few afterward alſo, were the ſame that has ſo long been called Arian; I mean that of in, and not to, or with the holy Spirit: And that Athanaſius ſometimes afterward uſed the one way of ſpeaking as well as the other: Juſt as Baſil did alſo; and as the preſent Copies of the Liturgy in the Eighth Book of the Conſti⯑tutions do ſtill exhibit it to us: While it ap⯑pears by other Evidence, and by Baſil's own Accounts, that no other than that eſteemed the Arian Form of in the holy Spirit, can lay ſure Claim to any publick Original, or ſacred Authority in the Church.

[14] Note, (2) That Baſil has a full and remark⯑able ^q Diſcourſe upon this Subject; a ſhort Summary of which only, becauſe of its length, I ſhall here give the Reader; as highly wor⯑thy of his ſerious Conſideration upon this Oc⯑caſion.

Baſil then was accuſed by thoſe that diſ⯑liked the late Notions and Practices brought into the Church, that he had ventured to alter the old Chriſtian Doxology, as to the Particle in, which uſed to be given to the holy Ghoſt; and that he often made uſe of and, or with in⯑ſtead of it; as if Glory, and Honour, and A⯑doration, were to be not only aſcribed to the Father, and to the Son, in the holy Ghoſt, or by his Aſſiſtance, but alſo directly to the holy Ghoſt himſelf, as to a proper Object of Chri⯑ſtian Adoration or Doxology. In anſwer to which he owns that the Form in the holy Ghoſt is indeed certainly the ancient and un⯑doubted Chriſtian Form of Doxology; and that he will ſometimes make uſe of it ſtill accordingly; that however the other Forms and or with, if they be not really genuine and original in Doxologies, which yet he would willingly inſinuate, they have however been uſed upon other Occaſions indifferently; that even in Doxologies he is not the firſt that has uſed thoſe Particles, concerning the Holy Ghoſt; but that ſeveral great Men had done the like before him; at leaſt ſince the begin⯑ning of the third Century, as he proves by particular Inſtances; and that he therefore looks upon it as a piece of Arian or Heretical Inclination to be ſo ſcrupulous of keeping to this one old Particle in, out of Oppoſition to [15] thoſe that would ſhew their Orthodoxy by the uſe of the other Particles, and or with the holy Ghoſt. This is the Purport of Baſil's Reaſon⯑ing in this Caſe. And I own that if Pruden⯑tials muſt govern, and Chriſtians are at li⯑berty to make themſelves a new Object of direct Invocation or Doxology from remote Inferences of their own, and out of Compli⯑ance with a prevailing Party, Baſil may be in the right, as well as thoſe that follow him in theſe Matters. But if Divine Worſhip is on⯑ly to be given in ſuch a Manner, and to ſuch Objects, as Divine Inſtitution ordains, He and all the Athanaſians run a great Hazard in ſuch Matters, and muſt have a heavy Account to give of this their raſh and unjuſtifiable, and unchriſtian Procedure at the great Day. [Vid. Collection of Monuments, p. 124-126.]

The former Doxologies, My Lord, and many of the latter alſo are for certain the Old, the Chriſtian, the Apoſtolical Doxologies; ſome Centuries before Arius or Arthanaſius were known in the World; by which Men gave Glory, and Praiſe to God the Father, the Fountain and Origin of all Beings what⯑ſoever; together with, or through the Media⯑tion of Jeſus Chriſt, his Only-begotten Son; and by the Aid and Aſſiſtance of his Holy Spi⯑rit.

And that your Lordſhip does fully ap⯑prove of this ancient way of Worſhip and Doxology, is plain by your own excellent and remarkable Words to the very ſame pur⯑poſe, which indeed deſcribe exactly the man⯑ner of Chriſtian Worſhip in the three firſt Centuries, I do warn and charge it upon your Souls, ſays your Lordſhip to your Clergy, as you hope to obtain Mercy from God the Father, through the Merits of Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, [16] and by the Sanctification of the Holy Ghoſt.—I omit the ſtrange Clauſe that is added [...] this till hereafter: But the Words before [...] are ſo truly Chriſtian, ſo very Primitive, [...] perfectly Apoſtolical, that I heartily wiſh you [...] Lordſhip may ever remember them, and a [...] your Clergy may never forget them.

But then, My Lord, That Form which aſcrib [...] Glory and Praiſe, equal Glory and Praiſe, not [...] the Son only, but alſo to the Holy Spirit, is fo [...] certain A New Form of Doxology; ſuch as you [...] Lordſhip juſtly condems; wholly unknow [...] to the Apoſtles, and all the firſt Chriſtia [...] for a long time; and never properly ſettl [...] or ſubmitted to till thoſe dangerous Innov [...] ⯑tors in Chriſtianity, Athanaſius and his Adh [...] ⯑rents, were become of greater Authority tha [...] St. Paul and his fellow Apoſtles; and till in⯑deed at length our Lord's own grand Funda⯑mental, Joh. XVII. 3. This is life eternal to know Thee, t [...] only True God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom thou ha [...] ſent; was oblig'd to give place to the contra⯑ry fundamental of even a counterfeit Ath [...] ⯑naſius, that Athanaſi⯑an Creed. we muſt worſhip One God in Trin [...] ⯑ty, and Trinity in Unity: where None is ſup⯑pos'd afore or after other; None to be great [...] or leſs than another: but the whole. Three Pe [...] ⯑ſons are aſſerted to be Coeternal together and C [...] ⯑equal, where this Author alſo ſolemnly affirm [...] that this ſtrange and new Doctrine is the C [...] ⯑tholick Faith, which except a Man believe fait [...] ⯑fully He cannot be ſaved.

But now, My Lord, does it not evident [...] appear, on the compariſon of the form [...] Doxologies with the later, that They we [...] neither the Arians, nor Euſebians, but th [...] Athanaſians that introduc'd a New Form [...] Doxology into the Church? Both Athanaſ [...] [17] [...]nd Baſil, as we have ſeen, bear frequent Te⯑ [...]imony to the undoubted forms of more Pri⯑ [...]itive Antiquity; and particularly that they [...]en Glorifyed the Father, by or with the Son, [...]nd always in or by the Holy Ghoſt; while at [...]e ſame time the Athanaſians alſo ventured [...]oldly, againſt the very nature of the Chriſti⯑ [...] Religion and Worſhip, to introduce this [...]oxology directly to the Holy Spirit; which [...]orm can hardly be traced, with certainty, [...]ny higher than that fourth Century. Baſil [...]eſerves to be particularly taken notice of [...] this point; who had not dared ever to [...]ll the Holy Ghoſt God, for fear, as Nazianz. Op. p.364. Nazian⯑ [...]en aſſures us, in his funeral Oration, that [...]oſe who ſought to catch this plain word out of [...]is Mouth, concerning the Holy Ghoſt, that He [...] God, might procure his and his Theological [...]ongues baniſhment out of the City; nay, who was ſo hard ſet in his Innovations, that he was once obliged to ſay, what is now eſteem⯑ [...]d by our Law next to blaſpemy, That Baſil. Op. Tom. I. p.511. He [...]as not God, but the Spirit of God: and yet was at laſt affrighted with the dread of com⯑mitting the unpardonable Sin, if he did not [...]upport this New Form of Doxology, Tom. II. p.222. To the Holy Ghoſt.

But now, My Lord, Amidſt my Thanks for your Lordſhip's Caution againſt New Forms of Doxology, and my Joy for your excellent Clauſe agreeing with the Old Ones, I muſt expoſtulate with you about your ſurprizing and unaccountable Addition to that excellent Cllauſe; where after the mention of God the Father, of Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, and of the Holy Ghoſt, you add Three Perſons, and One God, Bleſſed for ever. It is, I ſay, to me in a Chriſtian Biſhop at this time of day a Sur⯑prizing [18] and Unaccountable Addition. I had indeed, in my younger Years, been, by th [...] Cuſtom of modern Writers, betray'd into ſuch a fatal Miſtake my ſelf; as if the Three Di⯑vine Perſons were One God, or the One Go [...] of the Chriſtian Religion. But aſſoon as ever I had ſearch'd the Scriptures, and th [...] ancient Chriſtian Creeds and Writers, I wa [...] fully convinc'd of the groſsneſs of that Miſ⯑take; and have hardly been able to believe ſince that Examination, that any who have carefully read the New Teſtament, the Ol [...] Creeds, and other Books of our Religion be⯑fore the Days of Athanaſius, can now ſeriou [...] ⯑ly uſe or juſtify ſuch Language. And her [...] My Lord, it may not be improper to repea [...] to your Lordſhip the Offer which I formerl [...] made to Dr. Sacheverell, when, at his famou [...] Tryal, he had ranked me among the Bla [...] ⯑phemers, the Irreligious, and the Heretick▪ becauſe, among other things, I had, in a [...] Erratum, deſired that ſuch an Expreſſion [...] mine as your Lordſhip here uſes might b [...] blotted out; which Offer I give your Lord⯑ſhip, as well as Dr. Sacheverell full right [...] Call me to juſtify in any fair and open wa [...] whatſoever. My Words there are theſe;

‘'Since I have throughly enquired into it, [...] am ſo fully ſatisfy'd that the Father alone [...] the One God of the Chriſtian Religion, tha [...] I muſt now own that when once I deny [...] doubt of that Doctrine, I muſt deny or doub [...] of our common Chriſtianity: there being n [...] one Article more plain, or more univerſall [...] acknowledged in all the firſt Ages of th [...] Church than that was. And here I ventu [...] ſolemnly to challenge Dr. Sacheverell himſel [...] and all his more Learned Friends, to pr [...] ⯑duce [19] one ſingle direct Teſtimony of any Chri⯑ſtian and Catholick Writer, (excepting one or two Expreſſions of Tertullian, contrary even to his own uſual way of ſpeaking; if yet he can be called a Catholick Writer,) who ſaid theſe Three Perſons were One God, or the One God before the Days of Athanaſius, in the fourth Century: while I am ready to produce above an Hundred plain Teſtimo⯑nies on the other ſide, that this One God is no other than God the Father. Which indeed was the firſt Doctrine which the Catechumens learned, and the grand Foundation of our whole Religion.' [Hiſtorical Preface, p. 82.]’

This, My Lord, is the plain Old Form of [...]peaking, as to the Father, That He is alone [...]he One True God of the Chriſtian Religion: which makes it ſtrange that a Chriſtian Bi⯑ [...]hop, who is againſt New Forms of Doxology, and muſt be ſuppos'd to know, Chriſtian An⯑ [...]iquity well, ſhould uſe the other New Form of Speaking, That the Three Perſons are One God, without a ſingle Authority in all the Bible, or almoſt in any truly ancient Chri⯑ſtian Writer whomſoever.

But now, My Lord, though I have hitherto gone upon the favourable Hypotheſis, and have returned your Lordſhip Thanks, on the Suppoſition that your Lordſhip really means what you ſay, and are, by conſequence, thro⯑ [...] againſt the common New Form of Doxo⯑ [...]ogy, which ſeems to be deſign'd to give equal Glory To the Father, To the Son, and To the Holy Ghoſt; Yet I cannot conceal the ſhrewd Suſpicion not a few of your Readers have en⯑tertain'd, that altho' your Lordſhip declares againſt New Forms of Doxology, yet you are [...]or perhaps one of the Neweſt Forms of Doxo⯑logy [20] in the World; which is the common one▪ they ſuſpect that you look on the Old Form made uſe of by St. Paul, St. Peter, St. John, S [...] Jude, &c. to be ſuperannuated, to be ver [...] mean and imperfect, if not, in ſome degre [...] Heretical; that you apprehend if any Incum⯑bents in your Dioceſe ſhould uſe none bu [...] ſuch Doxologies as the Apoſtles uſed, th [...] Foundations of our Faith would be in danger▪ nay if any Incumbents ſhould deſire to fo [...] ⯑low the Apoſtles Doxologies only in the Sing⯑ing Pſalms, eſtabliſhed by no Law of th [...] State, nor Canon of the Church, and wher [...] by conſequence, ſuch Forms ſeem hitherto to⯑lerated, you fear they are ſeduced by the ſtron [...] Deluſions of Pride and Self-conceit; and tha [...] you eſteem ſuch Forms themſelves intirely [...] ⯑greeable to thoſe of ſome ancient Hereticks; tha [...] you warn your Clergy, and charge it upon the [...] Souls, that they employ their beſt Endeavou [...] to prevail with their ſeveral Flocks to have [...] great Abhorrence of ſuch New Forms, and n [...] to ſuffer them to be uſed either in Churches [...] Schools, which is, they ſay, here ſtiled a mo [...] pernicious Abuſe.

Now in Anſwer to theſe Suſpicious Perſon [...] ▪ My Lord, I can only alledge, How prodig [...] ⯑ouſly abſurd it is once to imagine this to b [...] your Lordſhip's Meaning; becauſe it is in [...] manner to ſuppoſe you thus ſpeaking to you [...] Clergy:

‘'My Brethren, Have a great Care of Bibl [...] ▪ Preſidents, New Teſtament Language, Apo⯑ſtolick Prayers, and Scripture Doxologies▪ they will lead you at length into the mo [...] pernicious Hereſies. The Bible indeed ſti [...] calls God the Father, and him alone, The On [...] True God of the Chriſtian Religion, in di⯑ſtinction [21] from His Son, and His Spirit: The New Teſtament ſtill directs the ſolemn and ſupreme Chriſtian Worſhip to the ſame One True God the Father, through the Me⯑diation of the Son, and by the Aſſiſtance of the Holy Spirit: The Apoſtles tell us that Chriſt himſelf ſaid, Joh. XIV. 28. The Father was greater than He, and that Matt. XXIV. 36. Mar. XIII. 32. He did not know the Day and Hour of the future Judgment, while he was on Earth, till it was revealed to him by the Father afterward; and that the Apoc. I. 1. V. 9. Fa⯑ther alone then knew it; and they never once call the Holy Spirit God; never once mention any Invocation to him: The known Scripture Doxologies never ſay one word con⯑cerning the Holy Ghoſt; nor do the Apo⯑ſtles other Records appear ever to make Him a diſtinct Object of ſuch Doxology. This is all true to a Demonſtration, and undeniable in all Chriſtian Antiquity. But have the greateſt Care poſſible, My Bre⯑thren, of following ſuch Examples. Here⯑ticks always pretend to Scripture; and they that keep cloſeſt to it are uſually the moſt in⯑clin'd to Hereſy. Such Doctrines and Prac⯑tices as I have juſt now mention'd were at firſt more innocent, before Athanaſius im⯑proved Chriſtianity, and Baſil, with ſeve⯑ral others, gave good Reaſons for thoſe Im⯑provements. You are now to do as the Church bids you; and call the Three Per⯑ſons jointly the One True God. You are to adore the Son equally with the Father. You muſt believe that the Father is not greater than the Son; and that the Son ever knew the Day and Hour of the future Judgment. You muſt expreſsly call the Holy Ghoſt God, as well as the Father; and Invocate [22] Him equally with the Father and the Son▪ You muſt give Glory To the Father, and T [...] the Son, and To the Holy Ghoſt, as being al [...] three Conſubſtantial, Coeternal, and Coe⯑qual. The Church indeed does think fit t [...] tolerate, or rather to excuſe different Lan⯑guage, Notions and Practices in the Apo⯑ſtles, and the firſt Chriſtians; becauſe of thei [...] primitive Simplicity; and becauſe ſhe ha [...] not then made any other Laws about thoſe Matters. But now the Caſe is quite otherwiſe▪ Latet anguis in herba: and what was excuſabl [...] in St. Paul, will be plainly Heretical in ſuc [...] as Dr. C. or Mr. W. I conjure you there⯑fore, My Brethren, by all that is ſacred▪ that you avoid and reject ſuch antiquate [...] Doctrines and Practices, Thoſe perniciou [...] New Forms of Doxology in particular, which the Apoſtles uſed; and which the foremen⯑tion'd dangerous Perſons would revive a⯑mong us. You have the glorious Example of 1200 or 1300 Years, even ever ſince Po⯑pery began, for your Encouragement: and you need not ſcruple to charge thoſe Doxo⯑logies with Novelty, that can plead for them⯑ſelves no more than the Doctrine and Prac⯑tice of the Apoſtles and their Companions▪ and of the three or four firſt and ſimpleſt Ages of Chriſtianity.'’

This, My Lord, ſeems to be the plain Pur⯑port of the principal Branch of your Lord⯑ſhip's Letter to your Clergy, in the Opinion of theſe Suſpicious Perſons; and this ſets the Matter in ſo clear a Light, that I hope i [...] will be impoſſible to miſtake it; and equally impoſſible to ſuſpect that to be your Lord⯑ſhip's Meaning, without ſuppoſing you to ac⯑knowledge before all the World, that the [23] Church has an Authority far ſuperior to that of [...]he Apoſtles of our Lord Chriſt; which cer⯑ [...]ainly is beyond the length of moderate Po⯑ [...]ery it ſelf. However, many of your Lord⯑ [...]hip's Friends will certainly be in great pain [...]ill they hear farther from your Lordſhip; [...]nd indeed till they find that it will not be [...]nſafe for Chriſtians in your Lordſhip's Dio⯑ [...]eſe to imitate the Apoſtles; and that if St. Paul, St. Peter, St. John, and St. Jude were [...]ere, and inſiſted upon the Uſe of their old Doxologies, they would not by your Lord⯑ſhip be diſcouraged, or at leaſt would not be [...]eny'd, what we alſo hope will not be deny'd is that follow their Example; I mean an o⯑ [...]en Toleration in this Matter.

I freely own, My Lord, the great Dignity of your Lordſhip's Epiſcopal Office; and can never be ſuſpected by thoſe that know me and my Opinions, of any wilful or criminal Diſreſpect thereto. I alſo heartily acknow⯑ledge the great Regard that is juſtly due to the Paſtoral Inſtructions of Chriſtian Biſhops, when they enforce any Parts of Chriſtian Duty upon their Clergy or their Flocks; in which Caſe I ſhould greatly rejoice to be any way inſtrumental in forwarding the ſame: But if, [...]ſtead thereof, the Sacred Epiſcopal Charac⯑ter and Authority be uſed to diſcourage any Duties of Chriſtianity, I and all ſober Chri⯑ſtians muſt conſtantly Act. IV. 19. Hearken to God more than to Men; muſt 2 Tim. I. 13. Hold faſt the Apoſtolical Form of ſound Words, and the Jude ver. 3. Faith once de⯑livered to the Saints, againſt all worldly Sol⯑licitations, Threats, Authorities and Terrors whatſoever. For the Apoſtle Paul aſſures us, that even ſuch as He 2 Cor. XIII. 8. could do nothing againſt the Truth, but for the Truth; that X. 8. XIII. 10. Their Power [24] was for Edification, and not for Deſtruction ▪ that 2 Cor. l. 24. They had no Dominion over the Faith [...] Chriſtians; and that Gal. I. 8, 9. if They, or even an Ang [...] from Heaven preached any other than Chriſt [...] own Goſpel, they were to be accurſed. I am, M [...] Lord, ſo far as the Chriſtian Religion permit [...]