of the Lord. (Article 28.) Contrary to that of the Apostle Paul, (1 Cor. xi. 20,) who saith of the elementary eating and drinking, "This is not to eat the Lord's supper;" but the Lord's supper is the communion of the body and blood of Christ; that is, of his spiritual flesh and blood, which he speaks of, (John vi. 63,) "For my words," saith he, "are Spirit and life.""Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."(Rev. iii. 20.) This is the supper of the Lord, which doth not consist in eating and drinking outwardly; but in inward supping with Christ, whose spiritual flesh and blood giveth life and nourishment to the immortal soul.

That every particular, or National church, hath authority to ordain, change, and abolish ceremonies. (Article 34.)

This article intrencheth upon Christ's authority, who alone hath power to ordain and appoint both the matter and manner of his worship; and it gives unto man a power to intermeddle in the things of God, contrary to that of Christ, who hath reserved it as a prerogative to himself; saying, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you; but here man takes upon him to command ceremonies of worship, which God never delegated unto man to do.

That the book of consecration of archbishops and bishops, and ordering of priests and deacons, lately set forth in the time of Edward the Sixth, and confirmed at the same time by authority of parliament, doth contain all things necessary to such consecration and ordering; neither hath it any thing that of itself is superstitious and ungodly. (Article 36.)

This is false; because the Church of England, archbishops and bishops, priests and deacons, are such as the Scriptures make no mention of; and, therefore, the consecration and ordering of them is superstitious and ungodly.

That the Christian religion doth not prohibit a man from swearing when the magistrate requireth. (Article 39.)

When Christ himself, and his Apostle James, expressly forbid all swearing. (Matt. v.)

False worship is performed; namely, a worship devised by the wisdom of man: and such is the common-prayer book worship. Also in using ceremonies which are not instituted by Christ; as hoods, tippets, surplices, crossing the forehead of the child or person baptized; godfathers and godmothers, confirmation, churching of women, bowing and courtesying at the pronouncing the name of Jesus; turning towards the east at reading of the creed, and bowing towards the altar, &c.

Again, in using a set form of prayer; whereas, the Scriptures testify against it: for the Apostles prayed not by a set form, but as the Spirit dictated to them; and, therefore, saith the Apostle Paul, "I will pray with the Spirit," (1 Cor.) and, "We know not what to pray for, as we ought; but the Spirit helpeth our infirmities," (Rom. viii. 26.)

4. Because the said rates are for repairing and maintaining a place where God is dishonoured, and his sacred name profaned by men, who cry, The word of the Lord, when he never spake to them; but they preach their own dreams and imaginations.

5. Because the said rates are for the repairing and maintaining a place where men preach for hire, and forced maintenance, contrary to the commands of Christ, who said to his disciples, when he sent them forth, "Freely ye have received, freely give," (Matt. x. 8.) and the examples of his Apostles, of whom the Apostle John saith, that, "for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles," (3 John 7.)

6. Because the said rates are for repairing and maintaining a place where many untruths are told unto the people; as, that children baptized, are regenerated and born again; that God did sanctify water to the mystical washing away sin; that sick men believe, as Christian men ought to believe, if they do but answer affirmatively to the minister reciting the creed; and that all die or are buried in a sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, except such as die

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unbaptized, are excommunicated, or lay violent hands upon themselves; whereby the vilest persons in the world are made the heirs and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven.

7. Because the said rates are for repairing and maintaining a place where the whole parish are at a lump esteemed for church-members, though many of them know nothing of conversion and regeneration, but live in known sins and rebellion against God and Christ.

8. Because the said rates are for the repairing and maintaining a place where a place where gross ignorance and superstition are held up; and sin in priests and people is pleaded for during life.

9.-Because the said rates are for buying the priest's surplice, for washing and mending it, for bells and bell-ropes, for paying for books, as the Common-prayer Book, books of articles of religion, of canons and constitutions, of inquiry relating to visitations, homily books, and the like; and for wardens' fees when they come into and go out of their offices, for the priests' dinner, and their own at visitations, and fees to registers, apparitors, and the like, to which we cannot pay; because they are unscriptural impositions upon us, we not reading in the Scriptures, that any such things were practised by the Apostles, or required to be done in after ages.

10.--Because the said rates are anti-Christian; at first introduced here in the dark times of popery, and still continued upon that foot; and therefore,

11. The said rates springing from the same root with tithes here, which formerly belonged to the Levitical priesthood, which is abolished; Christ being a priest after the order of Melchisedec, and not after the order of Aaron, (Heb. vii. 11.) Now, "the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law; for he of whom these things are spoken, pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar: for it is evident, that our Lord sprang out of Judah, of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood;" (Heb. vii. 12, 13, 14,)

and, consequently, nothing of tithes, for they appertained to the Levitical priesthood. And, therefore, since that priesthood, and tithes thereunto belonging, are abolished by the coming of Christ, who is made "not after the law of a carnal commandment; but after the power of an endless life, a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec." There is an end also put to all those rates and payments, which are imposed for the aiding, and assisting, or any way contributing to the support of that priesthood, with the worship and service thereof, which claims tithe-maintenance under the Gospel.

These are some of those many reasons which have induced me to deny paying steeple-house and wardens' rates; and after thou hast well weighed and considered them, laying aside all prejudice or prepossession of judgment, I hope thou wilt forbear judging me, as thou hast done, to be a contentious person, for refusing to pay the said rates, and place it, where in truth. and righteousness thou oughtest to do; namely, upon a principle of conscience, truly guided by the Spirit of Christ within, and according to the Scriptures without.

Thou knowest how quietly and peaceably I have lived in the parish, since I came into it; being ready to do good unto all, to the utmost of my power, and paying all such payments as I can, without sinning against the light of Christ in my conscience, and the express commands of God, laid down in holy Scriptures.

I enteat thee also to forbear threatening, and clamour, and evil-speaking, and to live in love with thy neighbour, and to do to him as thou wouldst be done unto thyself. I shall put thee in mind of a few things. more, that I told thee of; namely, That we did not ask the parish to pay towards the repairing of our meeting-house; and that we were a great ease to the parish in providing for our own poor, not being willing they should be burdensome to others, though we paid with others to the maintaining of the parish poor.

I told thee also, that our meeting was a great mercy to the parish, where blindness and ignorance, sin and

iniquity abound, if they would mind the day of their visitation. For here the Gospel of Christ was preached in its truth and purity, and they might come to hear it if they would. The work of our ministry being to open blind eyes, and to turn men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they might receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith that is in Christ Jesus. I told thee, that we "coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel;" but, as we had freely received, so we preached freely. For the Lord, who has been good to us, has begot a concern in our souls, to do what good we can to our neighbours; and that without money, and without price, or hire. And seeing the greatest good we can do them, is to persuade them to repent of their sins, and be reconciled to God, and walk in obeience to all his commandments; therefore the Lord has opened our mouths, to declare of his love to the children of men, and to beseech them to accept of mercy, upon the terms freely offered them; that is, repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Saviour; and in order to their salvation, hath not only given himself a sacrifice of propitiation for their sins; but hath also given unto every man the manifestation of his Spirit to profit withal.

Let him that readeth understand.

EXTRACTS

FROM THE WORKS OF RICHARD CLARIDGE,

AGAINST THE PAYMENT OF TITHES.

"Motive 1.-The Levitical priesthood which received tithes, being changed, and a change also of that law which required the payment of them necessarily ensuing thereupon, tithes themselves, considered as the minister's maintenance, consequently ceased with that change: and there being no law of Christ,