fhould receive much benefit from it: especially it is not likely, as I confider it liable to the preceding objections.

And now, fir, I have given you my reasons for non-attendance upon your miniftry. It is not becaufe I have a diflike to public worship. So far from it, I cannot help thinking it a misfortune to be thus debarred from what I esteem a great and defirable privilege. I should rejoice to join with my fellowchristians in fuch worship as I think agreeable to the true spirit of christianity: but were I to join with you, I fhould, in many inftances, wrong my conscience and in barely giving attendance, I cannot avoid being hurt, more or lefs, by what I hear. When I do attend, I endeavour to make the most of what I approve, join in the worship where I can, and pay a particular regard to your fincerity and upright meaning. If it should be asked, why I attended conftantly fo long; I did it, because I was afraid of setting a bad example, or rather what might be so conftrued. But, on further confideration, there seems no great reason to fear this, as it is well known, that I do not make the day a day of pleasure: and I hope, and am perfuaded, that my abfence is not fufpected to proceed from a difregard to religion.

In this letter, fir, I have not fcrupled to declare my fentiments of your opinions with a great deal of frankness: you may poffibly think, too much. But the cafe required it. And I doubt not you would

have been as free with my principles, if you had written to me on the subject.---I had in view the honour of God, and the christian religion, as well as the juftification of my own conduct. I affure you, that I neither intended, nor do intend, any thing like hoftility for, however much I may think you mistaken, as a man I esteem and respect you; and have not defignedly failed to fhew my respect upon proper occafions, when you were either prefent or abfent. I now beg leave to offer you my best wifhes, and fubscribe myself,

Reverend fir,

Your real friend,

and very humble fervant.

AN

EXHORTATION

то ALL

CHRISTIAN PEOPLE,

TO REFRAIN FROM

TRINITARIAN WORSHIP.

We preach unto you, that ye fhould turn unto the LIVING GOD, who made heaven and earth and the fea, and all things that are therein. Acts xiv. 15.

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ADVERTISEMENT.

In the following address, great use is made of a tract entitled, "A free and ferious addrefs to the chriftian laity, especially thofe, who, being of unitarian fentiments, conform to trinitarian worship," which is afcribed to Mr. Toulmin, of Taunton. The words of other authors, as quoted by that writer, are also in fome places adopted, without any reference being made to them.

[Re-printed from the fecond edition, 1789. ]

PREFACE

TO THE

SECOND EDITION.

THE writer of the following address is unwilling to let a fecond edition of it appear, without attempting to point out the inconfiftency of those who have expreffed their approbation of the fentiments it contains, whilft they continue to join in trinitarian worfhip. It was not drawn up fo much with the view of expofing the errors of the book of Common-prayer, as of prevailing upon you, who are fenfible of those errors, to discontinue the use of devotional forms, which you look upon as inconfiftent with the fcrip

Be intreated, brethren, carefully and seriously to review the confiderations which are laid before you in this little tract. Carry in your minds, whilst you are reading it, that you are the perfons principally addreffed. Apply every argument-for religion is a perfonal concern---apply every argument to yourselves. Examine them carefully, and inquire if you can be justified in treating them with neglect. Do not trifle with yourselves. Beware of admitting any vain plea, as a fufficient apology for your acting inconfiftently

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