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PREFACE.

On the formulary, which forms the subject of the ensuing tract, the judgment here pronounced, it will immediately be seen, is far indeed from favourable.

Of the whole system, doctrine and discipline together, of which that formulary forms a part, the opinion entertained, it may still earlier be seen, is correspondently unfavourable.

Question. An Oxford Graduate ! - This from an Oxford Graduate? If such indeed he be, and not an impostor, falsely assuming so respectable a character,-by what disastrous impulse can the pupil of so excellent and so holy a school of instruction, have been precipitated into apostacy?

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Answer. Be the author of the book in him

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self honest or dishonest,-be the inducements by which he was engaged in it praise-worthy or blame-worthy,—the formulary, which is the subject of it, is in either case exactly what it is, neither better nor worse: the observations, to which in the present instance it has given rise, neither worse nor better grounded.

So manifestly as well as correctly true is the matter of these answers, that the person, who will be either able or disposed to controvert them in any point, seems not very likely to be found.

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Yet, by any answers of this sort,-pertinent as they are, though not less trivial than pertinent, scarce in any instance, perhaps, will the sort of curiosity, of which the above questions are the expression, be likely to be extinguished, or so much as damped.

That the causes in question are of a complexion discreditable to the author, and to the sort of persuasion in favour of which the work tends to operate, is in a manner included in any such questions as the above: in the character or situation of the author, what (say they) is there, that affords a hope of its being found capable of serving, in the place of argu

ment, to throw discredit on the work? for it is only by a view of that sort,—and therefore only from that quarter of the religion-professing world, that any considerable curiosity seems, in the present instance, very likely to be excited. In the eyes of any person, should the observations of which the work is composed wear the air of truth, by the truth will his attention not only be preferably engaged, but probably nearly if not altogether engrossed.

When, on an occasion of this sort, a question of this sort is thrown out, the author is commonly among the very last persons to whom it is addressed. Ground for condemnation is what is wanted: and, from the party on whom it is to be passed, no such ground, in the way of voluntary contribution, can naturally be expected.

Under these circumstances, curiosity-the sort of curiosity here in question-must content itself, as well as it can, with the not only scanty but partial supply, which, under such circumstances, human nature can find motives for affording.

By any notoriety given to the individual, no effect, in any point of view beneficial, could be produced.

This being the case, to what use (it may be asked) profess to offer to the appetite of curiosity any the smallest part of the aliment of which it is in quest?

An Apostate is every thing that is bad. By your own confession, you are no better than an apostate. You are an enemy-an enemy to the Church, under which you were bred and fostered—of that established Church, of which the "excellence" has so truly been declared, and so nobly proclaimed, by the Right Reverend persons, by whom in one sense it is governed, and of whom in another sense it is composed. Being an enemy to this holy Church, nothing that you say of any thing-nothing that you say of any body— but most of all, and in particular, nothing that you say of yourself, can be entitled to any sort of credence, unless it be to that sort, which, in so far as it makes against himself, may be given to the assertion of any other malefactor, whom, through the veil of mendacious discourse, which he spreads over his deportment, the condemnatory truth may here and there be descried.

The answer is though, if his wishes and endeavours prevail, his name will not trans

pire during his life-time, yet at his death his motives for concealment will be at an end. He will then be known: and in proportion as he is known, he will be known for one, to whom that part of probity which concerns veracity, never could have been an object of indifference.

Unfortunately, in a case of this sort, even during the author's life-time, wishes of this sort, how anxious, soever, are not unfrequently frustrated.

This, then, is a mischance, which, from the nature of what is disclosed, it will plainly be seen he could not but have in view: and against which he accordingly could not fail of being provided.

But why then say any thing at all of yourself? Why-to what good end-give any the most imperfect outline, of that personal individuality, which, by your own acknowledgement, is nothing to the purpose?

The answer is no such apparently irrelevant matter would have found admittance,— no such personal hazard been encountered,but for the instruction-the useful instruction —which, in this shape, it seemed, might perhaps be afforded: and for the sake of that ob

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