mony against the authority and imposition of men in matters of religion, and also against the many abuses and corruptions in Christian doctrine, discipline, and worship, which had their source in the antichristian church of Rome, and which yet remain in our established church.

A cause like this wants not the countenance of numbers, or of wealth, to make it respectable. It is true, my brethren, our profession excludes us from many of the honours and emoluments of this world, and even subjects us to many grievous pains and penalties, whenever the malice of our enemies shall break through the restraints of humanity and natural justice, by taking advantage of several laws, which are as disgraceful to our country and free constitution, as they are injurious to us. But I trust that, considering the nature of our profession, and our expectations as Christians, we shall not be surprised or discouraged by this circumstance, as if some strange and extraordinary thing had happened to us; when our Master himself, not being of the world, was hated by the world, and his religion was, from the very beginning, a sect that was every where spoken against.

In fact, what you and I, my brethren, call genuine Christianity, has hardly ever been so much as tolerated by the laws of any Christian country, at least in Europe, and what is called Christendom. I trust, however, from a view of the present face of things, compared with the writings of the prophets, (which were certainly intended to apprize us of very important events respecting the Christian church,) that the time is fast approaching, when an end will be put to all antichristian tyranny, and when "the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ." [Rev. xi. 15.

All who are interested in the support of these antichristian establishments, which usurp an undue authority over the consciences of men, and whose wealth and power are advanced by them, are at this very time in a state of general consternation, both at home and abroad; seeing their principles and maxims universally decried, and their unjust claims assailed from a great variety of quarters, so that their kingdom is now "full of darkness, and they are gnawing their tongues for pain," (Rev. xvi. 10,) but without repenting of their deeds. And we are authorized, my brethren, by the Spirit which foretold both this corruption of Christianity, and the restoration of it from this deplorably corrupted state, to enjoy their confusion and distress; and,

together with the powers of heaven, and the holy apostles and prophets, to rejoice at the fall of this mystical Babylon, since it is God that avengeth us of her. (Rev. xviii. 20.)

But who shall abide this day of our Lord's coming, to plead his cause in the world, when those princes and states which would not have him to reign over them, and who have persecuted and oppressed his faithful witnesses, shall be broken in pieces like a potter's vessel.

THE CONCLUSION.

I think myself happy, my brethren, and I shall reflect upon it with pleasure as long as I am capable of reflection, that, as our connexion has subsisted with perfect harmony, it is dissolved with mutual gratitude and esteem. I am conscious, indeed, of many imperfections, and of some neglects in the discharge of my duty, but you have had the candour to overlook them. I would observe, however, that it is not by the opinion which we may entertain of each other that we must stand or fall, at the tribunal of the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, Christ Jesus. He, being endued by God with a perfect knowledge of our characters, (though, having a fellow-feeling of our infirmities, he will be disposed to make all reasonable allowances for us,) may acquit where we condemn, and condemn where we acquit. To this decisive judgment, let us have respect. Happy will it be for us if I have so preached, and you so heard, that we need not be ashamed before him at his coming.

It is another ground of satisfaction to me, that I leave the congregation in so good a state, in a variety of respects, especially so harmonious in your general sentiments and views, on which account you cannot fail to appear highly respectable wherever the Dissenting interest is known; and you have given a very important proof of your prudence and judgment, as well as of your harmony, in the perfect unanimity with which you have acted in the choice of my successor; * a choice in which I sincerely concur, and on which I congratulate you. May you continue to be a pattern to other congregations, in this and in every thing else in which a Christian society can be worthy of imita tion, and may you reap the proper and happy fruits of what has been so truly praiseworthy in your dispositions and conduct.

Rev. W. Wood, F. L. S. who died in 1808. See Wellbeloved's Memoirs, 1809, pp. 15-18.

"And now, brethren," in the words of the apostle Paul, "I commend you to God, and the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them who are sanctified." (Acts xx. 32.) "To Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy, to the only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen!" [Jude 24, 25.]

A

SERMON,

PREACHED DECEMBER 31, 1780,

AT

THE NEW MEETING, IN BIRMINGHAM,

ON

Undertaking the Pastoral Office in that Place.

[First published in 1781.]

PREFACE.

THE request that has been made to me to publish this Sermon has been such, that it is with great pleasure that I comply with it. But my principal motive is, to exhibit what, I hope, will not long be so remarkable a thing as it is at present in this country, viz. the concurrence of a numer ous and respectable society of Christians, in the proper Unitarian principles; thinking, for the reasons mentioned in the Sermon itself, that it cannot be too generally known that there are Christian societies who hold these principles.

Those who are acquainted with the state of the Dissenters, will be satisfied that, notwithstanding the great advances that have been made of late years in just and liberal sentiments, there are few societies among them who would even bear such an Address as that which is now before the public. But the Congregation of the New Meeting, at Birmingham, have had uncommon advantages, in the instructions of the late excellent Mr. Bourn, those of

my worthy colleague, and of the Reverend Mr. Hawkes, whom I have the honour to succeed.* The same simplicity, and the same fearless integrity in the cause of truth, would, I doubt not, be every where, in due time, crowned with the same success. And, certainly, this is a cause which well deserves that we should be willing to run some risk for. In promoting genuine Christianity, it must be expected by us, that we exert not only fortitude, but likewise patience, before we see the happy fruits of our labours. I hope that my own example, as far as it is known, will operate to encourage some. There are few who have, of late years, suffered more from bigotry than myself. So extremely unpopular was I for some years after my first settlement as a minister, though I had never preached a controversial sermon, or done any thing that I thought could irritate, (and I do not know that I was charged with any thing in my conduct unbecoming a Christian, or'a Christian minister,) that, besides losing the greatest part of my hearers, when I printed and circulated Proposals for opening a School, for which I was not thought to be unqualified, I never got a single scholar. I did not want friends to solicit for me; but to all that could be said in my favour, it was replied, "What! send my son to an Arian?" For such I then was, and did not conceal it. †

When I look back upon this trying situation, I consider myself more indebted to it, on several accounts, than to any other of the scenes through which it has pleased Divine Providence to lead me. And I hope I am equally thankful to that Being who disposes of all things, both for leading me into it, and bringing me out of it.

From so discouraging an outset, I thank God that, having persisted in my inquiries after truth, and in the most unreserved profession of whatever I have apprehended to be such, (notwithstanding, in the course of it, I have been led to maintain opinions the most offensive that were ever advanced among Christians,) I have been brought, though with very different views, within the call of a Christian society who are liberal enough to think me capable of serving them in the character of their pastor. Nor is this the only congregation where I have had reason to think my services would have been acceptable.

Even those opinions which occasioned so great an outcry

* See Vol. I. Memoirs, 155, 156.

+ This happened at Needham, about 1756. See Vol. I. Memoirs, 41, 59.

at first, I can already perceive not to give such alarm at present; and I am persuaded that, in due time, they will not only wear a still less frightful aspect, but be generally received by Christians, and be valued by them as one of the greatest bulwark of the Protestant cause, against the most fundamental corruptions of the true Christian system.

Having been favoured with so much more encouragement than I had reason to expect, (far more than most others who have trod the same unpromising path,) I hope I shall not, in a more advantageons situation, pursue any other course than that which I have hitherto held, and that I shall cheerfully exert my best endeavours in the service of the society I have the happiness to be connected with, and whose candour and indulgence I shall, on several accounts, have so much need of.

Notwithstanding the attention that I hope I shall always give to these superior duties, and to theological studies, I propose not to remit any of my application to philosophical pursuits, which also I entered upon under many disadvantages, and which I am now much better situated for prosecuting. These pursuits, different as they are, are far from being at variance. On the contrary, they perfectly harmo nize with, and promote each other.

I shall subjoin a copy of the request of the congregation to print this Sermon, and shall add, that the reader will find some of the most important sentiments in this discourse, farther urged in the Sermon on my Resignation of the Pastoral Office at Leeds, but more largely in an excellent piece just published, entitled, "A free and serious Address to the Christian Laity, especially such as, embracing Unitarian Sentiments, conform to Trinitarian Worship.'

The doctrine of the proper object of religious worship is of such importance, that it behoves all who are impressed with a just sense of it, to cry aloud and not spare; especially now that the attention of the Christian world is awake to it, and the opposition to the great doctrine of the Divine Unity, may be expected, from the evident agreeableness of it to reason and the Scriptures, to be more and more impotent. I rejoice to see so seasonal le a publication as that above-mentioned, on the subject, and wish it may have all the effect it deserves.

I will also now inform the reader, that on this subject I addressed the public in an anonymous piece, entitled, “A Letter to a Layman on the Subject of Mr. Lindsey's Pro