1 thor obferves, as others have done, that the word Trinity is an unfcriptural term, and that it was not known among Chriftians. for near two hundred years after Chrift, being firft ufed by Theophilus, a Gentile convert, Bishop of Antioch; but in no great conformity to what it is made to fignify at prefent. It is acknowledged to be entirely of Heathen extraction, borrowed from Plato, and the Platonic philofophy: and this being its true origin, it fhould feem that a proper zeal for God's word, and regard for Chrift and his infpired apoftles, fhould make us relax a little of our paffion againit thofe who fcruple to use a language not fanctified by their authority, in fpeaking of and addrefing the great God. Mr. Lindfey farther fhews, that a difbelief of the Trinity is no blameable herefy, as Chriftians, for fome ages after our Lord's appearance, were wholly Antitrinitarians. In confirmation of his affertion, he confiders by what means the doctrine of the Trinity prevailed; and, in defcribing the rife and progrefs of this doctrine, he has gratified his readers with feveral hiftorical circumftances, relative to the fects or perfons who embraced Unitarian principles. From his account, it is evident, that what is called the Catholic doctrine of the Trinity, was firft eftablished, and hath been all along fupported, by violence and the fecular power; an argument in its behalf furely not to be boafted of, and concerning which the gospel of Jefus is wholly filent. In the fecond chapter, our Author purfues the hiftory of Unitarianifm, and defcribes, in a more efpecial manner, the ftate of it in our own country, from the æra of the reformation, to nearly the present times. This account includes in it many curious particulars, relative to thofe who profefled and fupported the Unitarian doctrine. But we fhall only tranfcribe what Mr. Lindsey has recorded, from Fuller, of the zeal which King James the Firft fhewed to convert Bartholomew Legate; who, in 1611, was burnt to death in Smithfield, for Arianifin, or rather for Socinianifm. King James caufed this Legate often to be brought to him, and feriously dealt with him to endeavour his converfion. One time the King had a mind to furprize him into a confeffion of Chrift's deity (as his Majefty afterwards declared to a right reverend Prelate, Archbishop Ufher) by afking him, whether or no he did not daily pray to Jefus Chrift? which had he acknowledged, the King would infallibly have inferred, that Legate tacitly confented to Chrift's divinity, as a fearcher of the heart. But herein his Majesty failed of his expectation, Legate returning, that indeed he had prayed to Chrift in the days of his ignorance, but not for these laft feven years. Hereupon the King in choler fpurned at him with his foot; away, base fellow (faith he) it shall never be faid H 3' that that one flayeth in my prefence, that hath never prayed to Our Saviour for feven years together.' After deducing fome judicious and useful conclufions from the history of Unitarianifm, our worthy Author proceeds, in his third chapter, to fhew, that religious worship is to be offered to the ONE GOD, THE FATHER, ONLY. This point is dif cuffed, by Mr. Lindsey, in a manner which deferves the most ferious attention of those who differ from him. It is, undoubtedly, a matter of the utmost importance. If there be any thing which may be regarded as effential in religion, it is the object of worship. It seems to have been the defign of every revelation of the Divine Will, to direct mankind aright in this refpect; and, therefore, it is of infinite moment that we do not give that glory to another, which is due alone to the Eternal Jehovah, the Supreme Ruler of the univerfe, the Original and Parent of all existence. In treating upon the causes of the unhappy defection among Chriftians, from the fimplicity of religious worship prescribed in the fcriptures of the New Teftament, which is the bufinefs of the fourth chapter, our Author points out the influence which falfe philofophy had in corrupting the genuine truth of the gospel. But he has proved that there is another, and principal fource of the corruption of the true Chriftian doctrine and worship; a fource from which the worst of errors have flowed, and which alfo, in the proportion wherein it prevails, will perpetuate them for ever.-Need we add, that the object here pointed out, is HUMAN AUTHORITY in the church of CHRIST? The defign of the fifth chapter is to fhew, how an union in God's true worship is to be attained. Here Mr. Lindley propofes a standing apoftolic rule for prayer; and hath inferted, and recommended the late eminent and excellent Dr. Samuel Clarke's amendments of the liturgy. Thefe we fhall give, at large, to our Readers; and, for the fake of these, we have avoided infifting fo fully on the preceding parts of the Apology as we should otherwife have done. A Lift of exceptionable Parts of the Liturgy with respect to the Object of Worship, and which are either quite ftruck out, or changed, by Dr. Clarke. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghoft: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever fhall be, world without end. Te Deum. Thou art the king of glory, O Christ. thou didst not abhor the virgin's womb. ftruck out, and changed, where ever it is ordered to be read. changed, and the whole directed to "God, and not to Cbriß, Te Te Deum continued. When thou hadft overcome the sharpness of death, thou didft open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou fitteft at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father. We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge. We therefore pray thee to help thy fervants, whom thou haft redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy faints in glory everlasting. Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us. changed, and the whole directed to God, and not to Cbrift. quite ftruck out, here and every where. Prayer of St. Chryfoftom. -when two or three are gathered together in changed to thy thy name The Greed of St. Athanafius. Litany. in} Son's name. ftruck out. O God the Son, redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us, miferable finners. changed, and the O God the Holy Ghoft, proceeding from the Father and the Son, have mercy upon us, mife-whole addreffed rable finners. O holy, bleffed, and glorious Trinity, three perfons and one God, have mercy upon us, miferable finners. -whom thou haft redeemed with thy moft) precious blood. to the one God the Father, By the mystery of thy holy incarnation, by thy holy nativity and circumcifion; by thy baptifm, changed, and the fafting, and temptation. By thine agony and bloody fweat; by thy crofs and paffion; by thy precious death and burial; by thy glorious refurrection and afcenfion; and by the coming of the Holy Ghost. Son of God we beseech thee to hear us. O Lamb of God, that takeft away the fins of the world, Grant us thy peace. O Lamb of God, that takeft away the fins of the world, Have mercy upon us. H 4 whole directed to God. the whole of this quite ftruck out. Litany Litany continued. O Christ hear us. O Christ hear us. Lord have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us. From our enemies defend us, O Chrift. Graciously hear us, O Christ, graciously hear us, O Lord Chrift. Prayer in Time of Dearth and Famine. quite ftruck out. } changed and directed to God. } ftruck out. ftrack out here, -to whom with thee and the Holy Ghoft be and every where all honour and glory, now and for ever. Colle&s. First Sunday in Advent. throughout the liturgy. -who liveth and reigneth with thee and the 7 changed here, Holy Ghoft, now and ever. Third Sunday in Advent. and in all other places. O Lord Jefu Christ, who, at thy first coming, changed and ad Fourth Sunday in Advent. &c. -who liveth and reigneth with thee and the fame Spirit, ever one God, world without end. St. Stephen's Day. -who prayed for his murderers to thee, O changed, and di Exhortation to the Communion. -above all ye muft give moft humble and hearty thanks to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoft, for the redemption of the world by the death and paffion of our Saviour Chrift, & changed, and diboth God and man To him, therefore, with the Father, and the Holy Ghoft, let us give continual thanks. Preface upon the Feast of Trinity, rected to God, ftruck out. Prayer Prayer after the Communion. -by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghoft, all honour and glory be untochanged, thee, O Father. O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jefu Christ, O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takeft away the fins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the fins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takeft away the fins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that fitteft at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy, thou only art the Lord, thou only, O Chrift, with the Holy Ghoft, art moft high in the glory of God the Father. Public Baptifm of Infants. changed intirely, and addreffed only to God. -Ye have prayed, that our Lord Jefus Chrift would vouchsafe to receive him, to release him changed here, of his fins, to fanétify him with the Holy Ghoft, and alfo in the to give him the kingdom of heaven and everlaft-baptifm of fuck ing life.-Ye have heard also, that our Lord Jefus hath promifed in his gofpel to grant all thefe things. Catechifm. What doft thou chiefly learn in these articles? of the belief? First, I learn to believe in God the Father, who hath made me and all the world. as are of riper years. Secondly, in God the Son, who hath redeemed ftruck out. me and all mankind. Thirdly, in God the Holy Ghoft, who fanctifieth me and all the elect people of God. Matrimony. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghoft, blefs, preserve, and keep you. Vifitation of the Sick. Our Lord Jefus Chrift, who hath left power to his church to abfolve all finners, who truly repent and believe in him, of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences; and, by his authority committed to me, I abfolve thee from all thy fins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. quite ftruck out, We |