held by the dissenters at the restoration down to the beginning
of the last century-Bennet's controversy with the dissenters
at Colchester-From that time a change in men's opinions on
the subject-Traced back to bishop Hoadly, and his principles
-Bangorian controversy-Nonjurors-Union in conse-

quence between all the dissenters-Even Arians and Socinians

taken into favour-Found protection and countenance in

certain members of the Church-Hoadly-Whiston-Clarke--

Clayton-Blackburne --Application to parliament in 1772-

Supposed or real laxity of opinion in the clergy produced the

Methodists-They also have a party in the church favourable

to them-All these naturally give encouragement to schism—

Hence it is become an evil which requires particularly to be

resisted-Plan of the present lectures-Questions which arise.

out of it, or are connected with it-Church government-Na-

tional establishment-General exhortation to follow after

spiritual things--To seek the kingdom of God in the first

place.
P. 1.

SERMON II.

GAL. v. 12.

I would they were even cut off that trouble you.

TEXT considered-Inference from thence, and from other
similar texts of the necessity of conformity-What is required
of us in Scripture-Adherence to the old ways-Unifor-
mity-Teachableness and humility-Dissentions and Divisions
to what attributed-Not a word in Scripture to justify the
unbounded liberty of private judgment contended for by some
persons--What is the liberty there spoken of-In what par
ticulars only the old covenant superseded by the new-Both

the Old and the New Testament written for our admonition-
Effect of all laws to produce uniformity-Particularly shewn
in the case of the Jews-Examples drawn from the earlier
ages--Before the deluge-Subsequent thereto-In the imme-
diate descendants of Noah-General apostacy in consequence
of men being left to themselves--The Jewish nation on that
account selected and set apart-Tied to a strict rule-Relaxed
in the time of the judges-Consequence-Strict observance of
the established order required in subsequent ages--Schism of
Corah and his fellows-Separation of the ten tribes-Extended
by Jeroboam to religious worship--Why-Its fatal conse
quences-All these instances conclusive against schism-
Strongly in favour of adopting a certain degree of ceremony
in religion-View of the question under the New Testament--
Our Saviour complied with established forms-Submitted to
the hierarchy-Exhorted people so to do--The apostles did
the same-Ordinances of the law reasoned upon by them
Made the foundation for the rule and discipline of the church
-This rule and discipline when established in the church most
rigidly enforced by the apostles-Instances-Strong condem-
nation of those who walked disorderly-Who broke the
peace of the church-The rule intended to be continued-
Directions to Titus and to Timothy evidently designed for
their successors as well as for them.
P. 47.

SERMON III.

MATT. V. 16.

Ye shall know them by their Fruits.

TEXT explained and commented upon-To judge of a doc-
trine not so much from the lives of its professors as from the

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-Docete-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.

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

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"---I his 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-Uuder 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