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. THE CONTENTS. Chap. 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 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.... III. That there is but One God, the Father. VI. The Writer's particular case and difficulties Page 1 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 29 79 153 ... 178 ALPHABETICAL TABLE Principal Matters contained in this Volume. N. B. This mark * refers to the note in the page annexed to it. Page 84* OF THE ALLIX (Dr.) obtrudes his own Trinitarian notions on the Anabaptists (Dutch) among other things denied the doctrine of the Trinity, and that Christ was God cruelly put to death by Queen Elizabeth Authority (Human) in the things of religion, the cause of the greatest and most lasting miseries and corruptions of the truth Author (The) account of the rise and progress of his scruples concerning the Trinity how he quieted his mind for a time what determined him at last to quit his ministrations in the Church of England, and withdraw himself entirely from its worship 189, &c. Baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, no argument for the doctrine of the Trinity 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 his uncharitable zeal Biddle (John) the Socinian, or Unitarian, an account of his excellent character 41 42 179 184, &c. 145 96 83* 10* 54 55 183* Calamy (Dr.) his useful and valuable work 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* 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 a teacher of the Divine Unity his being joined together with God, no proof of equality to him a devout worshiper of God directed others to pray to the Father only his office of mediator and high priest, a demonstration that he cannot be God to whom he is a priest and minister · 87, ascribing blessing and honour, &c. to him, does not imply that he is God, or the object of worship the true doctrine concerning him very early corrupted by the heathen converts their errors concerning him prayer to him not commanded nor authorized in the Scriptures 119, &c. his power and dominion, what? no ground of praying to him - the Jewish, always preserved the true doctrine concerning Jesus Christ, and the Divine Unity Clarke (Dr. Samuel) his character a great reviver of the doctrine of the Divine Unity an instance of his christian conrage and sincerity vindication of his memory from a groundless aspersion his zeal for the worship of the One true God, the Father 123, 124 refuted by St. John Christians at first, and for some time ignorant of the Trinity, both name and thing 11, &c. 6 7 8 &c. 100 110 111 spent much time and labour in amending the Liturgy of the Church of England 115 strikes out of the Liturgy, or reforms, all those parts, in which prayer or worship is offered to Jesus Christ or the Holy Ghost a list of his amendments of the Liturgy Clerical Petitioners, design of their association 119 143, 144 67 68 70 138 139 140 71 160 162 163 164, &c. 1, 2 |