tian faith, refpectable for their antiquity, "have been intirely laid afide; and that " even in that which is called the apof"tles' creed, an article is omitted, which

"was

was thought neceffary to be inferted, "with a view to a particular heresy, in a "very early age of the church, and has ever fince had the venerable fanction of univerfal reception."

66

A little after, in the course of their letter, refuming the fubject, they fay';

"We therefore moft earnestly exhort you, that you reftore to its integrity the apoftles' creed, in which you have omit❝ted an article merely, as it feems, from "mifrepresentation of the fenfe in which

it is understood by our church; nor can "we help adding, that we hope you will

think it but a decent proof of the at"tachment which you profefs to the fer"vices of our liturgy, to give to the other "two creeds a place in your book of com"mon prayer, even though the use of them fhould be left difcretional."

The above accounts are taken from the journals of the different conventions, printed

at

at Philadelphia. In what follows, concerning this lait convention at Wilmington, we are informed, that it was unanimoufly agreed to comply with the defire of the english bishops, by re-admitting the Nicene creed into their american liturgy, but that it fhould be at the option of the minifter, to read that or the apoftles' creed. The restoration however of the creed of Athanafius, fo called, to its place, was unanimously negatived by three of the states, and by a majority of the other two. But Chrift's defcent into hell was again adopted and received into the apoftles' creed, though not without fome negative voices; and the others might perhaps fatisfy themfelves with having declared publicly the fenfe they gave it, as equivalent to his being put into the grave, or buried.

O ye Tillofons, Patricks, Burnets, Tennifons, could ye have been now recalled from your long quict (4) repofe in the grave, where

(d) I never read but with great diflike, the hackneyed infcription on hatchinents, which prefents itself fo often to our eyes in the streets of this metropolis; In cœlo quies, in heaven rest; whereas in truth it should be reverfed, sub

terra

H

where Christ your mafter was fuffered to remain only three days, how different a, have acted! ye part would To how much

wider

terra quies, in cœlo vita, in the grave reft, in heaven life; for furely no dull repofe is to be expected there. And though fuch fort of things, I apprehend, are commonly left to undertakers, who follow a beaten road, without much distinction, I must confefs I was particularly pleased to fee over Savile-house, after its master, the late Sir George Savile, had quitted it and all earthly things, a hatchment with that fine bold chriftian motto, Refurgam, I fall rife again, which none but the chriftian can fay with confidence. And it truly belonged to him, as a chriftian; for fuch he was, taking a latitude in many things to think for himfelf, as I believe all do that think at all on the fubje&t. I remember hearing him once exprefs himself with difapprobation (that gentleman will pardon me) of Mr. Gibbon's unfair way of attacking chriftianity in the guile of a pretended friend, instead of coming forth openly against what he esteemed to be wrong. He was withal the most benevolent of men, leaving himself at last scarce a competency out of his vaft fortunes, through his unbounded zeal to ferve his friends, his relations, his country, and mankind. Of an integrity the moft uncorrupted, but fo well known, that it is almost an injury to him to name it; and, which crowns the rational virtuous character, worshiping with profoundest reverence the one only living and true God, and parent of the univerfe. Some little teftimony I could bear in thefe refpects, from the

year

wider a compass would ye have pleaded for your ecclefiaftical commiffion to be extended, had ye enjoyed thofe lights concerning the equal rights of men, and the incompetency of human authority in the things of religion, with which the world hath been bleft fince your time, by the labours of Locke, Hoadley, Blackburne, Law, all thefe now, and fome very lately, gathered to the fame filent manfions with yourfelves, waiting the refurrection-day!

It may be useful to fubjoin a remark on the above american bufinefs, together with a fhort account of another tranfaction in that country in fome connection with it; as the whole will contribute to give you clear ideas on an ecclefiaftical fubject, commonly involved in much darkness.

To a mind in any due degree enlightened by a proper use of its reafoning powers, and by the study of the fcriptures themselves, it muft appear the refult of a strange fuperftition, for men, like thefe new american bishops,

year 1774 to his lamented death, and am happy in paying this tribute of honour and grateful efteem to his memory.

bishops, to be fent across the Atlantic, to receive a power and authority of appointing or ordaining teachers of the gofpel, which otherwise they could not have exercised with benefit or effect; and this to be conveyed to them, through the laying on of the hands of chriftian minifters in England, of a particular name and defcription, fuppofed to derive their peculiar privilege and power, in a regular, uninterrupted defcent and fucceffion from the apoftles.

And it is a matter of wonder to many, that feveral large provinces of that new world, after having contended fo intrepidly for their civil independency, should subject themfelves to the having chains put upon their minds and confciences, the heaviest of all others, and binding them. upon their pofterity, by confenting particularly to the great alteration (e) made in their fourth article of religion, in order to engage the english bishops to confecrate the perfons fent

over

(e) In their new common-prayer book, printed at, Philadelphia, 1787, the ivth article was as follows. "Of the creed.

"The creed, commonly called the apostles' creed, ought

to