ing. His zeal in opposing erroneous opinions sometimes, though rarely, obscured his judgment: an instance of which occurs in the "Unum Necessarium," or "the Doctrine and "Practice of Repentance;" which he published in the year 1655.

His motive for engaging in this work was not merely to supply Christians in general with a treatise upon this important subject, but to place it in its proper light, in opposition to the prevailing errors of the age; to shew that " Repentance is not like the sum"mer fruits, fit to be taken a little, and in "their own time; it is like bread, the pro"vision and support of our life, the enter"tainment of every day, but it is the bread "of affliction to some, and the bread of care"fulness to all: and he that preaches this "with the greatest zeal, and the greatest se"verity, it may be he takes the liberty of an

66

enemy, but he gives the counsel and the "assistance of a friend.'

The preface is addressed to the Bishops of Salisbury and Rochester, and to the rest of

* London 8vo.

b

Brian Duppa and John Warner.

the clergy of England; to whom he thus expresses his reasons for giving this treatise to the world "When he had observed," he tells them, "concerning the church of "England which is the most excellently in"structed with a body of true articles, and "doctrines of holiness, with a discipline ma"terial and prudent, with a government "apostolical, with dignities neither splendid "nor sordid, too great for contempt, and too "little for envy (unless they had met with "little people and greatly malicious) and in"deed with every thing that could instruct "or adorn a Christian church, so that she "wanted nothing but the continuance of 66 peace, `and what she already was; when he "had observed that amongst all the stores of "excellent things, and books by which her ❝sons have ministered to piety and learning "both at home and abroad, there was the "greatest scarcity of books of cases of con"science; and that while he stood watching "that some or other should undertake it ac"cording to the ability which God gave them; "and yet every one found himself hindered "or diverted, persecuted, or disabled, and "still the work was left undone, he suffered "himself to be invited to put his hand to this

"work, rather than that it should not be done "at all."

This important subject he reduces to the following arrangement. First, he lays the foundation, and shews the necessity of repentance, in remedy of the unavoidable transgression of the covenant of works. Next he considers the possibility or impossibility of keeping the precepts of the Gospel; how repentance and the precept of Christian perfection can stand together; and lastly, he reduces his doctrine to practice; a method which he observes throughout the treatise.

The nature and definition of repentance, the subjects of conversion, of the distinction of sins into mortal and venial, how far to be admitted; of actual single sins, of sinful habits, of concupiscence, and original sin; of sins of infirmity; of the effects of repentance; and lastly, of ecclesiastical penance, or the fruits of repentance; these, each ramified into considerations, which naturally spring from them, form the contents of the "Unum "Necessarium."

His motive for entering upon it must be

applauded by all good men. Adversity taught him to enter deeply into the wretchedness of mankind.

Stern rugged nurse! thy rigid lore
With patience many a year he bore;

What sorrow was thou bad'st him know,

And from his own he learn'd to melt at others' woe.

"Tu autum conversus

By the sad experience of his own miseries and the calamities of others, to whose restitution he had been called to minister, he had been taught something of the secret of souls and he had reason to think that the words of his Lord to St. Peter were also spoken to him. "confirma fratres." He hoped he had received many of the mercies of a repenting sinner; he had felt the turnings and varieties of spiritual intercourses: and he had often observed the advantages in ministering to others, and was confident that the greatest benefits of his office may with best effect be communicated to souls in personal and particular ministrations. Impressed with such feelings, and possessing such qualifications, he entered upon the subject. It unavoidably led him into the consideration of original sin, and its effects: points which were at that time.

much controverted between the Arminian and Calvinistic parties, and he adopted the opinion of the foriner; carrying it to a degree that the latter utterly condemned, and which the church of England does not approve. His sentiments with regard to the doctrine of original sin were then, and are at present, generally considered heterodox; and are irreconcileable to the tenets of our church laid down in her liturgy, articles, and homilies.

; as

This drew him into controversy. His friend, the Bishop of Rochester shewed his disapprobation of the chapter of original sin, in the "Unum Necessarium," in a letter addressed to Taylor, expressly on the occasion, and dated the 28th of July, in the year 1656: which was not received till the 11th of September, owing to the situation in which Taylor was then placed.

At the end of the year 1654, the Royalists, who were still active, had made an insurrection at Salisbury, and brought upon themselves

Dr. John Warner.