parity is a "Popish error," nearly coeval in its rise with the commencement of the Papacy; originating from the same source; and tending, in a degree, to the same mischief. And though I would by no means place the former of these errors on a par with the latter; nor venture to pronounce the one, as I do the other, an anti-christian abuse, being fully persuaded that many of the greatest and best men that ever lived have been friends of Prelacy; yet all my inquiries have more and more confirmed me in the persuasion, that it is a real and a mischievous depar re from apostolic simplicity, and that it first arose from the same principle of clerical ambition which gave rise to the Papacy. I hope this is "explicit" enough.

Nor is this all. When I look over the charges and reasonings urged by the Popish writers, against the Waldenses and Albigenses, as they are preserved and exhibited in Perrin's history of those illustrious witnesses for the truth; when I read the language used by the Popish persecutors of the English Reformers, as it is recorded in different parts of Fox's Acts and Monuments; when I examine the cavils and objections made by Harding, Saunders, Stapleton, Campian, and other zealous Catholics, against the Church of England; and when I look into the writings which Chillingworth, in his Safe way of Salvation, examines and refutes, I could almost fancy myself listening to the pleas of some high-toned Episcopalians in the United States against their Presbyterian neighbours. Could you

make it convenient to examine those writings for yourselves, you would find in them so large a portion of the same reasonings, and the same language, which are now found in certain Episcopal writers; so much of the same cry, in exactly or nearly the same words, about the Church! the true Church! the Apostolic Church! so much of the same kind of charges, respecting schism, departure from the covenanted way of salvation, loss of the Apostolic succession, and having no true priesthood, or va lid ordinances, as would fill you with astonishment, if not with emotions of a more unfavourable nature. Nor would your astonishment be at all diminished by finding, as you would find, that the friends of the Church of England, in defending themselves and their cause against the writers in question, resorted, in a multitude of instances, to the very same scriptural authorities, and the very same arguments, which Presbyterians employ against the high-toned Prelatists of the present day !-Reflect seriously on these facts, and then ask yourselves, whether Dr. Bowden has any just reason to complain of me for speaking of an affinity between his claims and those of Popery? I have, indeed, repeatedly suggested the idea of such an affinity, and distinctly meant to do so. I have done it, however, without passion, and without any wish to give unnecessary pain; but with a calm, deliberate, and firm conviction, that the suggestion was wellfounded. And I can assure the gentlemen who have written so much and so resentfully for the

purpose of removing it, that their publications are far, very far, from having diminished the force of this conviction.

I have now, my Brethren, completed my exami nation of such parts of Dr. Bowden's and Mr. How's Letters as I deem worthy of notice. It was my intention, after the example of the former of these gentlemen, to collect and present in one view, a catalogue of the "misrepresentations," "unfounded assertions," "mistakes," and " omissions," with which their pages abound. But finding these "misrepresentations," &c. to be so numerous, that a mere list of them, without comment, would fill another long letter; and many of them of so disreputable and offensive a character as not to be contemplated, even by opponents, without much commisseration for their authors; I have determined to spare my. self the pain of writing, and you of reading such a Letter; and here to take a final leave of the subject. I engaged in this controversy, without the least expectation of convincing Episcopalians, or of bringing over to my own opinion an individual of that communion; but solely for the purpose of satisfying and confirming Presbyterians. My object, I have the pleasure to know, is attained; and perceiving no further advantage in prolonging the con troversy, I now lay down the pen; nor can I foresee any event that will ever tempt me to resume it on this subject.

I take for granted that all the gentlemen who

have already appeared as my opponents, will again come before the public in reply to these Letters ; and will endeavour to persuade their readers that I have again misrepresented them and their cause, and again laid myself open to the heaviest charges and the severest reproach. All this and more I deliberately expect from gentlemen who have generally manifested a wish to have the last word. Should my expectation be realized, it will give me no uneasiness; nor shall I ever, (according to my present views,) take the least public notice of any thing that they may say. If, indeed, I should hereafter discover any important errors in the foregoing pages, (trivial ones, which do not affect the main question, will probably be discovered and pointed out,) I shall consider it as a duty which I owe to you to correct them. But with the controversy, as such, it is my firm resolution to have nothing more to do. This resolution is formed and expressed, not out of any disrespect to the gentlemen in question; but from a deliberate conviction that enough has been said on the Presbyterian side of the argument; and that my time and pen may be hereafter devoted to objects more agreeable to myself, and more useful to others.

That the high-toned class of our Episcopal brethren will, in any respect, alter their tone, either of speaking or writing, I have no expectation; nor have I the least anxiety that they should. Having provided the antidote, I am perfectly indifferent how often or how long the poison may be dissemi

nated. Let them hereafter sing the praises of their truly primitive and apostolic Church as loudly and i as confidently as they please. Let them arrogate, to themselves the honour of having the only true priesthood, and the only valid ordinances in the land. Let them embrace every occasion of pronouncing that we, as Presbyterians, are rebels and schismatics, and out of the covenanted way of salva tion. I trust, my brethren, that not an individual among us has any feelings which are capable of being wounded by such language. Were we inhabitants of South-Britain, where all the smiles of government, and all the treasures of the nation, not only give confidence to language of this kind, but also impart to it no small degree of efficacy, we might feel it as a mortifying grievance. But in this country, where governmental preferences among religious denominations are unknown, and where numbers as well as truth, are, by a great preponderance, on the side of Presbyterians, we may listen to the most obtrusive promulgation of such claims, with perfect indifference, or, at the utmost, with a smile.

That it is our earnest desire to live in peace and harmony with our brethren of the Episcopal church, you can all bear witness. For them, I can truly say, that I entertain a high respect; and am happy. to number individuals of that communion among my most valued friends. I know, also, that many of that denomination entirely disapprove, and deeply lament, the offensive writings of their own cler