in this Essay, is to be received by his Reader as an Article of Faith, but only that it may have its due Weight in his ferious Confiderations; for as he is defirous, that no human Conjectures may be imposed upon him, as of equal Authority with Divine Revelation; fo neither does he defire, that his Conjectures fhould be obtruded upon others.

The Author is thoroughly convinced, that Minifters of State will be very cautious, and with great Reason, how they embroil themfelves with religious Difputes. But as he does not apprehend, that there is any Need of pursuing violent Methods, fo neither does he expect that a thorough Reformation of

I

every

He

every thing that may be amended, fhould be made all at once. could wish, however, that fomething was done, to convince the World, that the Clergy of the Church of Ireland, are not averse to a proper Reformation of fuch Parts of her Public Service, as demand a more immediate Revifal; fince, otherwife, they may give Offence by their Obftinacy, and seeming Infallibility; and if a Storm should arise, may run a Rifque of having that Tree torn up by the Roots, which might have been faved by a little pruning.

As the Laws of the Land require Subscriptions to be made to the Canons and Articles of our Religion, only by Clergymen, Fellows

of Colleges, Clerks, and SchoolMasters, so these do not feem to need that immediate Redress, which those Parts of our Worship require, in which the whole Community are expected to join.

He thinks, that he need not inform Your GRACE, That that Creed, which is commonly called the Athanafian Creed, hath of a long Time given Offence, and continueth to give great Offence to many People. And indeed not without Reason, if we confider it only in this Light, that the Subject of a great Part of it, is a Theologico-Metaphyfical Dispute, which few, if any, of the Learned underftand; but is undoubtedly above the Capacity of the Vulgar; and

yet,

yet, by being made a Part of our Public Service, every Body, as well low as high, is required to affent to it.

It is also now univerfally acknowledged among the Learned, that it was originally a fpurious Production, impofed upon the World under the Name of Athanafius, till detected by the Criticisms of the learned Voffius. But, fuppofing it had been a genuine Piece, and had been undoubtedly written by Athanafius, there can be no Reafon affigned, why the Members of the Church of Ireland fhould be tied down to affent to the Compofitions of a private Person, who had no other Merit, which the Author can find, for being declared a Saint, but his bafe and low Submiffion

d 4

miffion to the Bishop of Rome, who had no legal Authority over him; and his infolent Behaviour to his lawful Prince, who undoubtedly had a Right to his Obedience.

The Author does, by no means, prefume to prescribe to Your GRACE; but he thinks himself in duty obliged to recommend it to Your Confideration, whether the first Step to be taken is not to try to get the Words in the Declaration of Affent and Confent made agreeable to the Intention of the Act, which was attempted in England, A.D. 1663, about a Year after the last Act of Uniformity, and paffed the Houfe of Lords, but was thrown out in the House of Commons, by the then over-ruling Influence of the Duke