ADVERTISEMENT

(To the Fourth Edition),

TO THE READER.

IN this fourth edition a few illustrations have been added, and some alteration made in the interpretation formerly given of one or two places of Scripture.

Such alterations, I am persuaded, will be so far from being considered as marks of weakness and inconstancy, that they will rather be commended by all ingenuous persons. For the book of Revelation, as well as that of Nature, contains many passages which have not yet been sufficiently explored and unfolded; and our long imbibed and obstinate prejudices always leave something to be discovered and corrected by future industry and a more candid inquiry.

But the writer has found no reason of change whatsoever, respecting the chief object of the work, and cause of relinquishing his benefice and

withdrawing himself entirely from the established worship of the church of England, now more than eight years ago. For, in reading the sacred writings, fresh conviction has continually poured in upon him, and still more confirmed him in his persuasion, that divine worship is to be paid, and prayer to be offered, to the One, living and true God, the Father, only; and not to Jesus Christ, or any

other

person. As few are disposed to read a long Latin epistle, however curious and elegant, and many not able, it has been judged proper to give a translation of the letter of John Fox, our pious and learned martyrologist, to Queen Elizabeth, in which he entreats her to save from the flames two unfortunate Dutch Anabaptists, condemned for heresy, who had fled hither from their own country for refuge. It is therefore now taken from the Appendix, and inserted in the course of the narrative.

FAREWELL.

CONTENTS.

Clap.

Page I. The Introduction, with some strictures

on the origin of the doctrine of the
Trinity, and the opposition it met with
to the time of the Reformation

1 II. Of the state of the Unitarian doctrine,

in our own country more especially,
from the era of the Reformation, with
an account of those Christians who
have professed it ...

29 III. That there is but One God, the Father.

Religious worship to be offered to this
One God, the Father, only

79 IV. The causes of the unhappy defection

among Christians from the simplicity
of religious worship prescribed in the

Scriptures of the New Testament 137 V. Union in God's true worship, how to be attained

... 153 VI. The Writer's particular case and dif

ficulties

...

178

ALPHABETICAL TABLE

OF THE

Principal Matters contained in this Volume.

N. B. This mark * refers to the note in the page annexed to it.

189, &c.

Page ALLIX (Dr.) obtrudes his own Trinitarian notions on the Chaldeé paraphrasts

84* Anabaptists (Dutch) among other things denied the doctrine of the Trinity, and that Christ was God

41 cruelly put to death by Queen Elizabeth 42 Authority (Human) in the things of religion, the cause of

the greatest and most lasting miseries and corruptions
of the truth

145 Author (The) account of the rise and progress of his scruples concerning the Trinity

179 how he quieted his mind for a time

184, &c. what determined him at last to quit his ministrations in the Church of England, and withdraw himself entirely

from its worship
Baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of

the Holy Ghost, no argument for the doctrine of the
Trinity

96 Beveridge (Bishop) very perplexed on the subject of the Trinity

13, 14 owns that the Jews never had been able to find a Trinity in the Old Testament

83* his uncharitable zeal

10* Biddle (John) the Socinian, or Unitarian, an account of 54 his excellent character

55 Calamy (Dr.) his useful and valuable work

183* Calvin (John) causes Servetus to be burnt alive for opposing the doctrine of the Trinity

3 quoted with respect

69* 154 Capellus (Louis) his interpretation of the Chaldee phrase, the word of the Lord

84*

6

87, &c.

119, &c.

Christ not accused by the Jews, John v. 18, of making

himself equal, but like to God. What meant by his
being like to God

honouring him as the Father, how to be understood 7
declares he received his being from the Father

8 a teacher of the Divine Unity his being joined together with God, no proof of equality to him

100 a devout worshiper of God

110 directed others to pray to the Father only

111 his office of mediator and high priest, a demonstration that he cannot be God to whom he is a priest and minister

115 ascribing blessing and honour, &c. to him, does not imply that he is God, or the object of worship

119 prayer to bim not commanded por authorized in the Scriptures

bis power and dominion, what ? no ground of praying to him

123, 124 the true doctrine concerning him very early cor. rupted by the heatheu converts

138 their errors concerning him

139

refuted by St. John 140 Christians at first, and for some time ignorant of the Trinity, both name and thing

the Jewish, always preserved the true doctrine concerning Jesus Christ, and the Divine Unity

143, 144 Clarke (Dr. Samuel) his character

67 a great reviver of the doctrine of the Divine Uuity 68 an instance of his christian courage and sincerity 70

vindication of his memory from a groundless aspersion

71 his zeal for the worship of the One true God, the Father

160 spent much time and labour in amending the Liturgy of the Church of England

162 strikes out of the Liturgy, or reforms, all those parts, in which prayer or worship is offered to Jesus Christ or the Holy Ghost

163 - a list of his amendments of the Liturgy 164, &c, Clerical Petitioners, design of their association

1,2

11, &c.