"fuch be found, let them take that which is next Hand; that is, to follow the Opinion of cc many and great learned Doctors agreeing toge"ther: All which faithfully, foberly, diligent"ly obferved and kept, by God's Grace, we "fhall without any Difficulty difcover Error. God give us Understanding to perceive, and to follow fuch things as may ferve our Eternal Peace.

And now I have finished what I undertook, more from a Defire of being ferviceable to my Neighbour, and the Intereft of divine Truth, than any Opinion of my own Abilities. My Intention was fincere, and I hope the Performance, however weak, may be useful.

1. I have in the Letter proved the English Liturgy to be free from Popery; not only from the Subject Matter thereof, but the Teftimony of the moft eminent Divines at Home and Abroad, both at, and fince the Reformation; and that a Liturgy, or Set Form of Prayer, is warranted and authorized by the Holy Scriptures, the Practice of the Church of God among the Jews, and the univerfal Confent of the Chriftian Church always and every where.

2. That the Bishop is the Center of Unity in the Church over which he prefides, and that confequently all Separation from him is Schifm. I have fhewn how feverely this Sin was punished under the Law, how ftrictly prohibited by our B. Saviour and his Apoftles; and how watchful the Bishops of the Primitive Church were against its Affaults, by the Denunciation of the highest Cenfures against the Authors and Encouragers of Separation.

3. That

3. That the Bishop being in his Province, as Christ is in his Church, the Center of Union, and Fountain of Power, whoever fhall pretend to execute any minifterial Function, without being thereunto ordained and appointed by him, do facrilegiously ufurp a Power, and invade an Office which belongs not to them; such are not Shepherds, but Thieves; come not in at the Door, but climb over the Wall, run unfent, and preach without a Call, and are highly injurious to the Majefty of GOD, as they prefume to tranfact Affairs of the highest Confequence in his Name without his Commiffion; and that he has no where promised to ratify fuch Miniftrations, or fulfil fuch Covenants, as thus not only without his Leave, but even against his Order and Appointment are enter'd into. To fhew the Judgment of the Catholick Church in this Point, I have given Inftances, that where any have prefum'd to derive an Ordination from Presbyters, fuch pretended Priesthood has been Synodically declared Null and Invalid.

From all which it will appear, that it is not a Matter of Indifferency where we pray, where we hear GOD's Word or receive the Sacraments; that it is of the greatest Concern that we be not miftaken in this Matter, for fuch Disappointments are fatal where Salvation is concern'd. If the awful Solemnity of publick Devotion requires the moft perfect Service we can perform, Let us choose to worship GOD by a well-compofed Liturgy. If no Miniftrations are Valid which are performed in Schifm, if fuch unhallow'd Offerers fin against their own Soul, let us carefully abftain from the Ways of Korah, that we perish not in his Gainfaying. If no

Perfon

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Perfon hath Autho om GOD to receive into his Church by Bam, or to confecrate the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharift, if he cannot remit or retain Sins, or tranfact any thing in GOD's ftead, in order to our Peace and Pardon, Let us reful to avoid thofe Affemblies, where fuch trations are pretended, and to bearer Teftimony against fuch Profanation of Ho Things; and while we ferionfly lament and bewail the fad Condition of fuch as are deprived of a Regular od and Valid Adminiftrations, let us pray GOD will root out every Plant which he hath not planted, that he will fend faithful Labourers into his Vineyard; Let us honour the Duft of Zion, the few Stones of our Ruins that are left us, and with them (the Orthodox Remains of our once Glorious Epifcopal Church) let us worship the GOD of our Fathers, in the Way and Manner of the Church, always and every where bearing Witness to thofe Truth for which we fuffer, that he may look in Mercy upon us, and turn again our Captivity as the Streams in the South (c) And confidering the Frailty of our human Nature, and the many and great Dangers: and Temptations with which we are befet, let us thus continue to pray in the Words of the Church ;

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From all Sedition, Privy-Confpiracy and Rebellion, from all Falfe Doctrine, Herefy and Schifm, from Hardness of Heart, and Contempt of thy Word and Commandments,

Good LORD deliver us. Amen.