effect and tendency of it-No decisive argument to be drawn
in favour of a sect from its leaders being of a good moral
character-Not to stop us from examining into the soundness
of their tenets-The position that we are not to press an ad-
versary with consequences which he disavows examined-How
far only admissible-The consequences of a doctrine pecu
liarly its fruits-Exemplified in Calvinists-in Papists-Argu.
ment in favour of schism from the supposed sincerity of schis-
matics examined-Hoadly's position-Answered by William
Law-Further combated-Consequences-Language of St.
Peter-Of St. Paul-No authority for saying that men while
in error can be in favour with God-We are bound to follow
after truth-How God will deal with those who err is not
revealed to us-The inquiry improper and mischievous as it
leads to relaxation in our endeavours-Case of the Judaizing
Christians-Were they sincere? How spoken of by St. Paul
-The same reasonings and the same language applicable to
other schismatics—Conclusion-That no stress is to be laid
on the plea of sincerity -We are rather to argue that a man is
sincere because he holds the true doctrine-Ideas of a general
and comprehensive union-Impracticable-Would lead to
confusion-Shewn from the nature of the dissentions now sub.
sisting From those which subsisted in former ages-In the
days of the apostles-Almost all heretical-Only exceptions---
Schism of the Donatists, &c.-Schism among the popes-
Ebionites-Gnostics-Manicheans-Doceta-Impossibility of
union with such as these must be admitted-Immoralities real
or supposed of these heretics-Means by which they defended
their tenets-Corruption or denial of the Scriptures...Fruits
of schism-Conclusion, recommending humility and sim-
plicity.
P. 89.

1

SERMON IV.

LUKE xi. 35.

Take heed, that the Light which is in thee be not
Darkness.

HERESIES of the earlier ages succeeded by the corruptions
of popery---In the church itself---Words of the text parti
cularly applicable to them---Not to be so lightly thought of,
as they are by some men---A false security---How it has
grown up---No material change has taken place---Nor can
be expected---Proselytism of the Romanists---Pretended mi-
racles---Co-operation of Dissenters with the Papists---Unna-
tural---Can only subsist as being directed against the estab-
lished church---Romanists in these kingdoms equally schis-
matic with other dissenters---The schism which took place
at the reformation all imputable to their church---Case very
different as between our church and them and as between the
Protestant dissenters and us---We require no terms of com-
munion that are sinful---Nor had the popes ever of right any
jurisdiction over our church---The king supreme---As the
emperors were---Practice of the first ages---Absolute inde.
pendence of bishops at the beginning---How limited---General
communion between all bishops and churches---All interested
in maintaining the true faith---Hence interposition with each
other in particular cases---Synods---First provincial---Their
powers---Paul of Samosata---Establishment of patriarchs and
metropolitans---Pre-eminence in dignity of Rome---Extended
to Constantinople---General councils---Convened by the
emperors---And decrees enforced by them...Jurisdiction of
popes over other metropolitans, if any, could only have been
- commensurate with the empire---When that was dismembered

b

must of course have ceased in all those parts which were so
torn away---No such jurisdiction either allowed or assumed
by the early popes---Expressly disclaimed by some of them---
Gregory the Great---Texts upon which this usurpation was
built---No reason why the bishop of Rome should be the suc-
cessor of St. Peter---Not even certain if St. Peter was at
Rome---But certain that St. Paul was---And that he estab
lished a church at Rome.--First text respecting Peter's con-
fession of Christ---Power of the keys---Given to the other
apostles as to him---Opinion of the fathers---Of some popes
---And cardinals---Second text, respecting St. Peter being
bidden by our Lord to "feed his sheep"---This also common
to the other apostles---Commentaries of the fathers upon this
text---Other passages of Scripture decidedly against any su-
periority of one apostle over another---Other doctrines called
in aid by the popes.--Visibility of the church---Infallibility---
unsupported by either Scripture or fact---Judgment of Pro-
testants upon these points---Recapitulation of the argument
---Shewing that the Reformation is no authority for the lati-
tude now contended for by the dissenters.

P. 135.

SERMON V.

2 TIM. iii. 5.

Having a Form of Godliness, but denying the Power
thereof.

SIMILARITY of error in all ages-Took nearly the same.
course in early times as in the subsequent ages-Insinuated itself
by the same means- -Under a false "form of godliness”—The
case with all false religions-General view of the corruptions
introduced by the popes-Established at length by persecu

tion-The same corruptions and the same spirit still existing--
Intolerance of the Romish church of itself a reason why we
should separate from her-Three heads of corruption parti-
cularly noted-First, idolatry-Second, doctrine of merits-
Third, erroneous ideas of Christian perfection-Other errors
subservient to these, and all to the advancement of the papal
usurpation Titles given to the pope-Transubstantiation-
Belongs to the first class---Indulgences and penance to the
second---Preliminary points---Evasions of the Romanists---
Denial and palliation of their doctrines---A religion intended
for the poor must be taken as understood by the poor---
Subterfuges and ambiguities particularly inadmissible in the
Romish church, on account of her pretensions to certainty
and infallibility---More especially when arguing on the Re-
formation, we have a right to take the religion as then prac
tised and avowed---The question is, whether Henry the 8th,
and Elizabeth, were schismatics---The Romanists, on their
own shewing, can have no right to allege any supposed sub-
sequent improvements---First head considered---Idolatry,
how practised---In the worship of images and relics---Pre-
tence, that only relative---This is no more than what the
heathen pretended---Usage and judgment of antiquity---Gre-
gory the 1st---Council of Constantinople---Of Frankfort---
Second commandment---How evaded, and kept from sight---
Short forms of decalogue--- Difficulty here, as to what shall
be the 9th, and what the 10th commandment---Worship of
relics---On what built---No real foundation---Legends be-
longing to them---Often involve impossibilities---Abuses at-
tendant on the practice---Adoration of the cross in par-
ticular---Invocation of saints---How defended---Inferior
worship---Texts, in which we are bidden to pray for one
another.--Difficulties of the Romanists themselves in account-
ing for the manner in which saints become acquainted with
our prayers..-Saints are directly prayed to in the church of
Rome---Most pointedly against Scripture---Moses's body...
Christ's language to the virgin.--Little known of the apostles

...Adoration of the bread and wine in the mass--Why de-

vised.--A matter of traffic---Absurdity, as well as impiety of

transubstantiation---Reasoning of the apostle to the He-

brews---Variety of opinions among the Romanists themselves

---Doctrine of the intention of the priests---Suicidal---How

absurd in its consequences---Conclusion---The odiousness of

this traffic.
P. 190.

SERMON VI.

MARK Vii. 9.

In vain do they worship me, teaching for Doctrines

the Commandments of Men.

SIMILARITY between the Rabbis of the Jews and the
Popish doctors---Second head of corruptions---Supposed
merits of the saints---Adoration paid to them---Of what
nature, and to what extent---Instances---Doctrine of satis
faction...Object of it---Purgatory---The pains of it, how to
be redeemed...Works of supererogation---Indulgences---
How obtained, and to whom granted...At first particular---
Afterwards general---Still subsisting, and authorised and re-
commended by the Romish bishops in England---Use made of
the Vulgate translation---Sacrament of marriage---Penance
-The doctrine detailed---How held at this moment...Traced
from the beginning---Penances imposed---Turned to the ag-
grandisement of the see of Rome, and the clergy of that
church---Nature of the merits ascribed to the saints---A
short review of our Lord's conduct---Of that of his apostles
...Contrasted with that of the Romish saints...Instances of
the particular kind of merits shewn forth in the lives of these
saints...The foundations upon which they stand examined---