the vows of God are still upon us, how long soever it be since they were first made, either by us, or for us: and it is in vain to forget what he will assuredly remember; or hope to be safe in neglecting what he expects us to do. But let us use proper diligence; and he will infallibly give us proper assistance, and confirm us all unto the end, that we may be blameless in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ †.

Now unto him, who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever, Amen ‡.

Psalm lvi. 12.

+ 1 Cor. i. 8.

* Jude 24, 25.

AN

ANSWER

ΤΟ

DR. MAYHEW'S OBSERVATIONS.

DR. MAYHEW's book is written, partly against the church of England in general; partly against the conduct of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, in settling ministers of that church in the Massachusetts and Connecticut; partly against appointing bishops to reside in his majesty's American colonies. The first, though not formally proposed by him as one head of his work, appears to be in his view throughout the whole of it. And if satisfaction be previously given to candid persons on this point, they will be better prepared for considering the

other two.

He objects against the constitution and worship of the church of England, as unscriptural †. Now even had he attempted to bring proof of this, it would only lead into a long dispute, very little connected

* The quotations out of Dr. Mayhew's Observations are taken from the English edition, which contains 147 pages. The American hath 176.

+ Page 128.

with his professed subject, and "into which," he declares, "it was by no means his design to enter *." But instead of proofs, he contents himself with bold assertions, reproachful names, and ludicrous representations; a likely method indeed to please the prejudiced, and carry the thoughtless along with him, but not to persuade the considerate and judicious. Whatever the doctor may think of our church, it hath ever been highly honoured by foreign protestants. The Lutherans prefer it to the Calvinist communion, the Calvinist to the Lutheran, the Greeks to both: which may sufficiently justify the expression, understood in a latitude not uncommon, that all other persuasions esteem it next to their own t. And further, most, if not all of them, blame the English dissenters for separating from it. The Doctor seems to entertain the worse opinion of it, because the members of the church of Rome likewise esteem it more than they do others. But we have to reply, that they hate it more also, as the most dangerous enemy to their cause, and strongest bulwark of the Reformation. If there be some appointments in it, which the Scripture doth not require: so have there been from the first in the church of New England too, as may be seen in the Appendix to the history of that country, written by Mr. Neale, a dissenting minister: and so there are in all the churches of the world. Ours hath not many things of this kind, nor lays great stress upon them and to think indifferent things unlawful, is as unreasonable and superstitious, as to think them necessary.

He speaks with horror of its "enormous hierarchy, ascending by various gradations from the dirt to the skies §:"-" and resembling that of the Romish church,

* Page 126. + Page 126. ↑ Page 127. S Page 128.