STRICTURES

ON THE

ARTICLES, SUBSCRIPTIONS,

TESTS, &c.

SUBSCRIPTION to the Articles, Liturgy, &c. in a rigid sense, is a confent to them all in general, and to every propofition contained in them; according to the intention of the compilers, when that can be known; and according to the obvious, natural, ufual fignification of the words.

Subfcription, in a second sense, is a consent to them in a meaning, which is not always confistent with the intention of the compilers, nor with the moré ufual fignification of the words; but is VOL. I. confiftent

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confiftent with thofe paffages of Scripture which the compilers had in view.'.

Subfcription, in a third fenfe, is an affent to them, as to articles of peace and uniformity; by which we fo far fubmit to them, as not to raise difturbances about them, and fet the people against them.

Subfcription, in a fourth fenfe, is an affent to them, as far as they are confiftent with the Scriptures, and with themselves; and no farther.

In favour of fubfcribing in a laxer fenfe, the following reafons have been alledged:

1. Our church admits perfons to baptifm, upon an affent to the Apoftle's Creed; and useth only that Creed in the Catechifm, and in the Vifitation of the Sick.

2. She declares that the Scripture is the only Rule of Faith.

3. She owns herself to be fallible.

4. Some illuftrious divines of our communion have made declarations, which neceffarily imply a diflike of certain things contained in the Liturgy, or Articles; and yet never were cenfured for it,

by public authority: as Chillingworth, Hales, Taylor, Hammond, Tillotson, Stillingfleet, cum multis aliis.

5. There are propofitions contained in our Liturgy and Articles, which no man of common fenfe amongst us believes.-No one believes that all the members of the Greek church are damned, because they admit not the proceffion of the Holy Ghost from the Son: Yet the Athanafian Creed, according to the ufual and obvious fenfe of the words, teacheth this. No one believes himself obliged to keep the Sabbath Day: yet the Liturgy, ftrictly interpreted, requires it.

6. It is evident, beyond a doubt, that the whole body of the Clergy, and of the learned Laity, depart, fome more, fome lefs, from the religious opinions of their ancestors in the days when the Articles were established by law, and from the rigid and literal fenfe of them. This univerfal consent of a nation, to deviate thus in fome points from the old doctrines, amounts to an abrogation of fuch rigid interpretations of the Articles, and to a permiffion of a latitude in fubfcribing.

If we will not allow thus much, we must fuppofe that in an age,—and an age not perhaps the moft learned,-an Affembly of fallible men may determine

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determine concerning all points of faith and practice for themselves, and for their heirs; and entail bondage and darkness, worse than Ægyptian, upon their pofterity for ever and ever.

They who fubfcribe in a looser sense, would be obliged to declare it, if any perfon had a right to demand it, and to judge of it. But, fince no fuch authority is vefted in any perfon, it would be to no purpose to say in what fenfe we receive the Articles. It would only give an handle to fome oppreffors to use a power, which they could not exercise without great iniquity; fince they themfelves either took fome latitude in interpreting the Articles, when they fubfcribed to them; or fwallowed them with an implicit faith, and without any clear notions about them.

Subfcriptions and Tefts are fuppofed to be admirable methods to keep out the heterodox. But what faid the philofopher to the jealous husband? "Thou mayeft bar thy windows, and lock thy doors; but a cat and a whoremafter will find the way in."

Amanti aut indigenti difficile eft nihil.

Hooker

Hooker is of opinion, "That civil government ariseth from compact and confent, and is of human inftitution; that arbitrary empire is good for nothing; and he well obferves, that To live by one man's will, is the cause of all men's mifery." B. I. p. 22.

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But, when he talks of the utility of General Councils, he seems not to be The judicious Hooker. In difputing with the fanaticks of his own time, he very rational and fkilful: but as to antient Ecclefiaftical Hiftory, he had a fuperficial notion of it, and was not emancipated from the common prejudices of his times. What can you expect, from General Councils ?

As to Articles of faith, we want no general or national council to tell us, that our Lord is the Chrift, the only-begotten Son of God; and that we ought to acquaint ourfelves with his Gofpel, and to live foberly, righteously, and godly; expecting a resurrection, and a future judgment. As to matters of difcipline, there are in all Chriftian nations ecclefiaftical courts, furnished with as much jurifdiction as is neceffary, and with more than is ufually employed to any good purpose,