v^t..'ii.._,fc.

***^,.*..%*«»««g^

* *

^^..4.-%

^:^.. ^^^ a. m .^^ '•'

I »

»• .., *

It: *■ ,

■ ** ,v ** ,■ *\,^ * '» ^ .">* %. iV ftk r ■

3P^"'M* '

jir, %,.>^:ft rm="t

t^, "B:.,/i*' "i^;'^

fi as^* «1-^ .-,.. '^ .^A,- ,

*^# ,pA . ^ . M* '1* % ^ -tt •■ r -^ - ■

i*::M^S^«.*^^i*;.-^.

#, ' -\k' 1

\ *;. *■

^ M

■'^

?^U

tt<

•i .4"

r^J

-A

'Z

c\'i

'xH^

A

TRUE AND FAITHFUL ACCOUNT

OF THE

ISLAND OF VERITAS;

TOGETHER WITH THE

FORMS OF THEIR LITURGY;

AND A FULL RELATION OF THE

RELIGIOUS OPINIONS

Of THE

VERITASIANS,

AS DELIVERED IN SEVERAL SERMONS JUST PUBLISHED IN VERITAS.- .'

LONDON: Printed for C* Stalker, Statloner's-Court, Ludgate-Strect. ■--too ?

Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Duke University Libraries

http://www.archive.org/details/truefaithfulaccoOOfree

PREFACE.

17 VERY perfon, who publifhes, is account- -*^ able to the world for the work he fub- mits to its perufal.

The writer of the following hiftory is my particular friend, and has generally fent me a faithful relation of whatever he has dif- covered worthy of notice.

We were brought up together — ourtempers difpofitions and purfuits were very fimilar ; and altho' the employment he is engaged in feparates us more frequently than we could wifli, yet it tends to our mutual advantage ; becaufe our reciprocal communications have always the improvement of the other for their end.

He failed the beginning of lad year from Bofton, in America, upon an expedition to the fouthward, and was to refrefli at Botany

Bay, i was very anxious for his fafety,

as I had not heard any thing of him for an unufual length of time; but my fears were dilTipated by the arrival of the Lion, which brought me a packet, containing the follow- ing hiftory, as well as a letter, of which this is an abftra6l, A2

iv. PREFACE.

My Dear Friend ^ *' A circumflance that made me fear I " fhould never fee you again, has been the " means of bringing me acquainted with a " moil happy people."

(He then relates having been Ship-wrecked. J " Some particulars of the Ifland we were

" caft upon I have enclofed You are at

" liberty to publifli them, becaufe 1 am really " in a (late of uncertainty, whether the opinions

*• you will hnd therein contained are flilfe or " true

" I feel myfelf almoft converted to their " w^ay of thinking : but neverthelefs I know " not if the Veritafians are right, how it has '* happened that the Learned inEnglandhave " permitted the world to remain fo long in " an error of fuch magnitude.

" Perhaps this hiftory may occafion fome

'' controverfy, if it Ihould, do you be fo good

" as to colle6l for me every thing pro and con

" that may be publiOied before I return;

" when you and I will unbiaffedly examine

" them, and endeavour to difcover what is " truth.

PREFACE. V.

" You may at all events fell my YorkOiire " eftate, becaufe I am determined, if it pleafe " God to fpare my life, to purchafe a (hip, " freight it with fuch things as may be ufeful " in Veritas, and get myfelf admitted as one

" of its citizens, could I prevail on you

" and Mrs. Freeman to accompany me, my " pleafure would be greatly encreafed, and *' your good lady would be delighted with the " virtuous fimplicity of this people.

" The Lion is getting under way-— I have " only to add that I will not forget to fend ** you an account of Botany Bay as foon as *' poffible — -I hope to be at home about *' next Chriftmas." Am, &c. &c.

Your Jincere Friend,

Jasper Richardson.

In conformity with the foregoing, I have publilhed this hiflory, and I beg the Learned of this nation to take the trouble of refuting whatever errors may be found in the opinions of the Veritafians, for from thence this bene- fit will be derived, that when my friend

vi. PREFACE.

Jafper goes next to the Ifland of Veritas, be will take with him fuch refutations, which, if they are convincing, will bring the Veritafi- ans to a knowledge of the errors which they are in at prefent.

Either we or they are in an error, and which ever it is, mankind in general will be bene- fited in having this matter elucidated.

I fhall be greatly obliged to all perfons who may read this book, if they will favor me with their fentiments upon it, by letter addrelTed to me at the publifhers, who am, with all truth,

Their very humble Servant,

Padderton,

Yorklhire. NiLEKAW FrEEMAN,

To the Reviewers. Gentlemen, I am permitted to lay before you a fhort hiftory of a nation, which my friend has dif, covered, inhabiting an ifland in the fouthern hemifphere.

PREFACE. viL

I have given an abftraft of his letter, which accompanied it, and I think I heft anfwer his intention when I make the requeft, that you will critically and feverely examine the opi- nions delivered in the difcourfes of the Veri- tafian priefls.

The hiftorical part is written, as you will perceive, by a perfon, not perhaps capable of producing any work fufficiently elegant for the publick's entertainment ; but a fimple ftatement of fafts is as fatisfa6lorily received from a failor, w^hofe truth is undoubted, as from the moil perfeft writer.

Ever fmce I have read his manufcript, I have felt myfelf very much interefted in ha- ving thefe opinions thoroughly examined ; and I doubt not but (hould any of our divines think it would be proper to endeavour to convert this people, that, by refuting and proving the falfity, and irrationality of the Veritafian doftrines, in a clear and argumentative manner, they would obtain their end ; becaufe all the Veritafians are remarkably open to convi6lion.

Vlll.

PREFACE.

Would you likewife, Gentlemen, in a ihort but clear manner point out their errors, it would greatly oblige

Ycur very humble Servant,

NiLEKAw Freeman.

T H E

HISTORY

OF THE

ISLANDoF VERITAS.

^^.?^^^^^ H E Illand of Veritas is about three hundred f-SXI fXi^C ™^^s ^0"g> ^nd one hundred and fifty

• F^'^^-v^^^ broad, the foil in general fertile, and the

^^/^%^ views pifturefque : Nature feems to

have been partial in producing in this delightful fpot, all the beauties which are admired in the reft of the earth.

This Ifland received its name from an European, Jacobus Veritas ; he was a man of the ftricleft prin- ciples of honor, and his aftions always marked the honeft man ; but difpleafed with the vices of the people amongft whom he was born, and differing from them in his

B

( 2 )

opinions, he rcfolved to (ravel round the AvoiLi, and ac- quaint himfelf with other nations, intending to fettle whcrefoever he fhould find mankind moll virtuous and happy.

In the courfe of his \o)ages he landed upon the Ifland of Veritas, and from a fupcrftitious cuflom of the peo- ple, was chofen their governor or king : Finding their manners fimple, their tempers docile, their genious quick and inquifitive, he determined to put in force the fcheme he had entertained from his youth ; and on his Death-bed he had the fatisfaftion of knowing himfelf beloved by a nation, \vhofe happinefs was received from him.

He died much lamented, in the 91ft year of his age, after a reign of 60 years : — his fubjcfts have raifed to his memory a very elegant monument, which, accorJingto his \^\\\, has no other epitaph than the following..

( 3 )

II E R E

WERE BURIED THE REMAINS

O F

JACOBUS V E R I T A S,

uEiatis Sua, 91.

II E \V A S A M A N W H O BELIEVED

IN GOD,

AND ENDEAVOURED TO MA K E

THE GOODNESS

O F

THE ONE SUPRIME

KNOWN

TO ALL MANKIND.

Every aft of his reign remains engraven on the hearts of the Veritafians, who fpeak of him with the higheft veneration.

He planned tlieirprcfent form of govei'nment, which confifts of King, Lords and Commons, with all the principal regulations that are now in force.

Of the King of Parliament:-

The crown is eleftive, and the follov/ing is their re- gulation for the eleftion.

' As foon as the foul of a king fhall, by the pleafure

'■ of the Almighty God, be permitted to leave this earth,

' the lord in waiting fhall give notice thereof to the

* chancellor, who fhall forthwith fummons the parlia-

B2

( 4 )

' ment to meet in tlic palace : — The commons fliall tlieit ' depute ten of their members to go with the chanceU ' lor to infpetl the body, — when finding that the king did ' die a natural death, they fhall make report thereof to th^

* lords, who Ihall immediately proceed to eleft, out of

* their own body, two perfons to be returned to the com- ' mons, for them to chufe one of them to be king.

* Upon the choice being made, the lords and commons ' fhall fwear allegiance to their king ; and fhall take care ' that information be fent to every part of the realm, of ' whom they have elefted.'

The privileges which the king enjoys are exaftly the fame as thofe of the king of Great Britain, except where otherwife ordered by particular laws.

It was confidered by the founder of this government, that perhaps, as the fovereign was to be chofen from the lords, a confpiracy might fometim^e be formed to deflroy a future king, in order to promote a favorite of their own body; — the law therefore provides, that ' In cafe the ex- ' amining committee from the commons, fliall report

* that a malicious violence was the caufe of the king's ' death, the chancellor fhall then diffolve the parliament; ' a new one fliall be chofen by the people, and from this ' new parliament fhall a king be ele£led, who fhall be ' enthroned by the chancellor.

' The king fiiall immediately direft the parliament to

( 5 )

* proceed to the eleftion of the lords, and the chancellor ' fiiall inform the people of whom they have elefted. *

Their title of lord is for a year, and fignifies merely a lord of parliament.

The number of the lords is two hundred, but as they are only a feparation from the commons, I will proceed to fpeak of the nature of elefting the commons.

The whole Ifland is divided into one hundred divi- fions or counties, — — each county is divided into one hundred parifhes, and all perfons who have attained the age of twenty-one years have a right to vote.

Every county has a flieriff, to whom the chancellor fends orders to return fix members for his county. Up- on receiving thefe orders, the fheriff direfts the minifter and church-wardens of each parifh to colle6l the votes of their parifhioners, for the appointment of fix perfons fit and proper to become member's of parliament.

Having proceeded to the ele611on, the minifler and church-wardens make their return to the (hcrifF, and at the fame time fend to every parifh in their county, a copy of the return fo made by them.

* Although the crown is thus declared eleftive, yet the Veritafians have made it a point ever fince the death of Jacobus, to chufe that perfon of his family for their king who would have been entitled to the crown had it been hereditary.

( 6 )

tlpon receiving the parifh returns, the {herifFcafls up the number of the votes for the different candidates, and returns to the chancellor thofe fix who have the majority ; fo hkewife doth each parifh receive from its officers an account of thofe perfons upon whom the lot has fallen, whofe names are painted on a particular part of the church, and remain there the whole year.

This eleftion is annual, and the return is made to the chancellor the laft week in the old year ; the members meet the firft monday in the fecond month of the new year, at the parliament houfe : when, after having fworn allegiance to the king, they proceed to the elec- tion of the two hundred lords of parliament, who are then prefented to the king, for him to feleft a privy council of the number of fixty ; but the whole body of lords meet in a feparate houfe, and form a feparate flate from the commons.

No aft of parliament has efleft till it has gone through the fame forms as in the parliament of Great Britain ; but further, upon receiving the fanftion of king, lords and commons, it is fent to a particular committee of the houfe of commons, which prepares an abilraft of the

fame ; this abflraft is returned to the commons for

their approbation ; — it is then carried to the lords, ^vho, upon giving their affent, direfl it to be printed and tranfmitted to every parifh ; — it is afterwards copied up- on the walls of the church, and the printed abftract is preferved.

( 7 )

Of thar Courts.

There is in each parifli a court of twelve perfons chc- fen annually by the reft of the parifhioners, feven where- of make a court to tranfaft bufinefs ; they meet every fortnight for the determination of all caufes of difpute

that have arifen in the parifh : They reduce all the

evidence to writing, which is fworn to by the parties ; they give their fentence in writing, with the reafons for their verdift; and both the evidence and fentence is enrolled, and copies are kept by a parifh regifter.

If through negleft of proper evidence, or through other caufes, one party {hould have reafon to think that the fentence of this court is unjuft, he has a right to apply for relief to the IherifF of the county ; who is then bound to fend to every parifti court under hisjurifdic- tion, for them to nominate one of their members to meet him in the chief county town, on a day appointed ; there to enquire into and determine the caufe.

This court of one hundred, or as it is called, the Centum Court, when once chofen, lafts a twelvemonth from the time of its firft feflions, and meets only once in three months, on a day appointed by itfelf, unlefs fooner called together by the fherifF.

This court, in cafe of any doubt, has a right to appiv to the council for their advice, ftating the fafts to the council in writing, and confirming them, if neceffarv, by viva yoce evidence.

( 8 )

All the courts ftri6lly adhere to the letter of the writ- ten law, when there is any law applicable to the cafe ; but otherwife, they give judgments in equity.

The perfons who are chofen by the parifli to compofe the court of the twelve, e.xercife individually the power of the englilh juflices of the peace.

The Illand of Veritas is governed by four fpecies of courts, at which, every perfon who knows himfelf wronged, may be fucccfTively heard, and may be fure of having his complaints redreffed.

For, in the firfl inllance, the magiilrates or individu- als of the twelve, have a power of redrefling many grievances : and their fentence and conduft are examined into, by their aggregate body, when they next meet; — from this court an appeal lies to the centum ; — from thence to the council ; — and from the council to the par- liament: But in order to prevent unneccffary and

troublefome appeals, every court that confirms the former fentence, has the power of doubling the penalty, which it is expefted to do, unlefs there appears to have been fufficient caufe to jullify the appeal.

Of the Officers of State.

All officers of ftate are appointed by the king, except the chancellor, the IherifF, and the judges.

( 9 )

The Chancellor is the fiift officer of the realm ; his appbihtnierit is for life, and he has a fixed falary, paid' by the treafiiry : He is made by the lords and commons giving their adent to the recommendation of the kintr.

He isaprivy cotmcellor aiid prolocutor of the lords-; and fits at the right hand of the throne when the privy council are examining the merits of any appeal.

He is the general guardian of all infants, idiots and lunatics : To him is intruded thofe extraordinary pow- ers of applying the force of government, to afford that remedy for any ill which could not be given if the in- jured perfon is obliged to wait for the courfe of the lawst But as fuch a power might be fometimes ufed to the injury of fociety, it was i ought necefTary by Jacobus that it fhould be intrufted to fonie perfon who might be amenable to the cenfure of the parliament: Yet as from this the king is exempt, upon our principle that a king can do no wrong, fo on that account the chancel- lor is invefted with this power, which in many countries belongs folely to the fovereign.

The public feals are given to the cuftody of the chan- cellor, but he is not obliged to put the feal to any thing he thinks m^ay be injurious to the king, until he has received the direct pofitive orders of the privy council of the lords and of the commons.

C

( io )

He has a court compoled of hlmfelf and the judges, Yhich receives aunually a regiller of all the caufes tliat hiave been tried by any of the courts of juftice, with their judgments ; and in cafe that a charge of willful mifcon- du6l brought againft any of the magiftrates be proved, thi? court, with the confent of the privy council fines tjbie offender.

Of the Sheriff.

The next officer in rank and confcquence in the flate is the Sherifh of a county.

Upon the death of a IherifF, the court of the one hun- dred is furamoned by the chancellor, to return to the king three perfons born in the county, who are fit and

proper to fill this office. Of tfiefe the king chufes

whoni he mofl approves. This office is for three

years certain ; after which time he is removable either by the will of the king, or by peiidou fiom the centum, Aftfhich petitioi;! the king mull; grant.

To this officer are lent the writs for the eleftion of tiic members of parliament; and by him is the return madcc He has a feat at the head of the hundred court. — To him the confirming the fentences of the court is intrufted, and he has a right to order once, a re-examination of any eaufe which appears doubtful to him.

I^e has alfo power to command the parifh court? to enquire into particular abufes, and to make their rc,port to him.

( 11 )

Of ihe Judges. The four arid twenty judges are appointed by the par- liameht, at the recommendation of the king, and they hold their offices for the Hfe of the king; their bufmefs is to fuperintend the framing of laws, taking care that t key are fimple, clear and neceffary : They alfo explain to tiie houfes of parliamehi the meaning and connexion of any of the laws ; which explanation, if approved of by the parliament and thought necelTary, is recorded and added to the former la\v. They fit in the houfe of lords, but never give any vote : And have certain fa- laries, payable by the treafury.

The reft of the officers of flate are appointed by the king, are removable by him whenever he pleafeS, arid from him they receive their falaries : Tlvo of his principal fecretaries have feats est officio in the hotife of tomrrions.

Of the Revenue.

The expences of government are borne by the par- liament, who raife the fupplies neceflary thereto in the moll fimple manner poffible.

There is neither cuftom, excife, or duty of any kind ; for they think that fuch are hurtful to a ftate, by render- ing it neceffary to be at the expence of hiring people to collect therri ; which in the firft inftance occafions a burthen ; and alfo, that it is laying a temptation in the way of the fraudulent to injure the honeft and confci- entious : Of this they fay thdy are convinced, by the hillories of other nations.

C 2

( 12 )

Their method of levying the neceflary fupplies is as

follows: ^The king fends to the commons, to defire

them to meet him iti the houfe of lords; he there brief- ly Hates the computed expenc,es of the current year, and leaves "hem all the vouchers of the apj)lication of the lafl

fupplies. -^^.i: The commons then retire to their own

lioufe, and one ot the fecretanes of Hate gives them copies of the vouchers.

The lords and commons feparately prepare their opmions of what lum of money ought to be raifed by

each count) ; thefe they fend to each other. If there

is any difFerence, the commons defire a conferrence with the lords ; at this conferrence five lords are elefted by the commons, and five of the coiiimons by the lords, who finally deterrnine the quotas to be railed ; and in cafe of an equal diyifipn on any contefted point, the king decides.

When all is agreed and fettled, the commons prepare a bill for levying the necelfary revenue ; and when the bill is paffed, the chancellor, by the king's order, fend§ writs to the fheriffs, requiring each of them to call together his court of the one hundred, to lay before it the aft of parliament, and to require it to raife the

neceflaries. This court proportions the fum required

according to the abilities of its refpeftive conftitucnt pariflies, which are bound to fend their quota within a certain time to the Iheriff, who tranfmits them to the treafury.

{ 13 )

Every officer under goverment has a certain falar}% no- perquifues being allowed ; and failure in integrity ispun- ilhed in every department with the utnioft feverity.

Of their Laws. Their code of laws is very fimple.

Their parlfli courts have power of orderlnp- reflltution to be made for every wrong, but if the convifted partv thinks himfelf unjuftly fentenced, he may, within teff days, appeal to the TnerifF for a further examination by the centum court, which may either reverfe the fentence of the parilh court, or order its being put into imme- diate execution : If the party does not appeal within the limited time, the parifh courts have power to pro- ceed to execution. . "

The Veritafians punifh no offence with death ; they fay they have no right to take away life, except in felf- defence.

Two benefits they think are defirable from laws ;— —

the correction and prevention of wrongs. Sanguinary

l§ws are known to fail.

Murder they elleem the moft atrocious crime, yet they believe they ihould not be juflified in taking the life of the murderer ; becaufe, as the offence is againfl God, immediate human punifhment may prevent the effeft of repentance, and a foul may thereby be deftroyed.

But as the murderer cannot expecl favor from fociety, they therefore condemn him to perpetual folitary im-

( ^4 )

prifonnient j wliefc, pfdvided Wilfi f clod bodks, Th* is left to endeavour to apjxJafe his God, for -A wrong hfe"

can never rcinftate t<3 man. He has food fuffici^rtt

to keep liim alive, brought to him once a day, by the goaler, who is forbidden ever to fpeak to him.

Other crimes are punllhed with temporary imprifisn- fonment, the time being proportioned to the ofTcnce:— £very man in prifon is kept feparate and fohtary ; nor has he an opportunity of feeing any body but the perfoii \vho brings his food.

The name of every perfoii \Vh6 is fent to prifori, is pliblifhed in his ^Sf-ifh^ chufch, ori the funday next altgf hi* commitment, with the riature of the ofFenct ittd the fentence paflcd upon him.

Of Oifi>tge dj Vrepirty.

In the defcent of property among the Veritanans, the neareft relation^^ >fhcthef itiale Or ferhale ; or of tlie whole or half blood, take pofleffion of all property irt equal fhares, except where otherwifc ordered by parti- cular laws.

Their wills /ec|uire feiv fotmalitids, bccaufe if there! be a widow iind children, fhe has a life intereft in half the property, the reft W\t\g Equally divided among th& childrCiV; and at hcf de'afth, her filafe becomes the' cqiial property of all the chiWFen j nor can a wiH alter this fuccelliGri: Where there are no children, a man may.

(V5 )>

leave one half of his prpperty to \yJt^i?t>feever hg:fiiea^i^ till? other being his widows, if h^ leaves gnc; fenfc liiis will mufl be attefted by three vvit^f fi^s_..

Their conveyance of real eftates is made by aftual livery of feizen, which is regiilered in the hundred court.

TJie foregoing are the heads of their government and laws, and fo fimple is the adminiflration of juftice, and ib well acquainted are all the Verjtafians with the la^'is, that the offences which are brought before the courts, are as few as can be fuppo/ed ; iijdeed to the excellent regulations of their refpeftive parilhes, are to be attribute ed tKeir happinefs and virtue.

Mentioning their parifhes, I am led to take notice ot their clergy and their fchools.

The living of each parilh is worth abo-at t\vo hundred and fifty pounds a year of our money ; this fum is raifed by government, with the other expences, and the parife officers deduft it from the account they fend to the

flieriff. This is divided into two parts /'150 far

a minifter, and £iOO for a curate ; bivt both are obliged to refidence ; nor can one clerg^'raan hold two livings> Tbejfe ckrgy are ele^ed annually by th? parifh ; wlien they are retur«ed to fix officers, called infpectors of t\ic clergy, who go a circuit ev.cry ye,ar through dift^rgnt divifio^is^ to infpect and make their re^rts to tlje.clj^n- cellor.— But when once a clergyniaygij.qjgfttfi^ jt^.c^ttttOifc;

( i6 )

be turned out, nor can another be elec'ed without fuffi- clent reafon being given to the infpcctors, who, before they admit the new one, muft receive the chancellor's afient. i ^ ,; •; "

As the clergy enter into the profefiiot^ with tlje .firm- determination of doing their duty, fo to them is intrulted the education of all the youth in the parifh. — ——They fuperintend the fchools, and examine that parents teach their children to read their native tongue ; they take care that there be always a fupply of proper books pro- vided at the expence of the parifh, for the ule of the children ; endeavouring to procure fuch books as may give them a jufl knowledge of their own nature, there- by enabling them properly to glorify their creator.*

There are in Veritas ten public fchools or colleges, where languages, arts and fciences may be acquired,

and a finifiied education received. Thefe are attended

with fome expence to thofe perfons who fend their chil- dren to them ; but the regulations are fo excellent, that in them alinoft all the chief people of the nation have fome part of their education, although the parents thcm- felves are the chief inflructors of their children.

In thefe fchools they who intend to be cler- gymen finifh their education and receive a certificate of being properly qualified for the duties of their pro- feflion, but an immoral man will never be able to

* Every parifh alfo has particular regulations for the employ- ment of its poor — fo that in Veritas no man ever complains of being unable to find work.

( >7 )

aain it They are very particular in enquiring into

the virtue of their clergy, becaufe it is their opinion that the fociety which admits immoral men into the proiellor- fliip of its religion, mufl be in a very rotten Hate.

The enquiry whether a man is a virtuous citizen ? is with them a matter of great concern ; and he who wilfully violates the laws of God and virtue, is fure to meet the cenfure of the twelve, and to be fent into temporary confinement.

Every perfon is brought up to fome bufmefs or em- ployment ; for the Veritafians believe that an idle man can hardly fail of being vicious.

They trade with the utmoft integrity, and their ^vord

is at all times as facred as a bonr'. They feem

exceflively fond of traffick, but feldom venture beyond their capital : — They are very frugal and induftrious, therefore failures are very rare with them ; if, however, fuch by accident fhould happen, the creditors of the unfortunate meet togrether and examine his books, and if they find it has been through unavoidable lofles, they aflift in putting him into trade again ; but if avarice, or extravagance have been the caufe of his error, they deliver him to the twelve for their examination, who, if they think proper, order him into confinement.

They are a lively cheerful people, fond of meetings where the old and young can mix together, and where

D

C 18 )

the innocent pleafures of youth are recalled to their minds, by the fight ot the fame joys in their children.— They condemn the unnatural auflerities, which are prac- tifed by many nations; they declare that God is good; that he is pleafed when his creatures are happy, and that all his appointments are wife : But neverthelefs, they acknowledge that man does fometlmes commit aftions which are very wrong ; yet, this they fay, proceeds folely from his being igndrant of what is right. — When told, that fome people contend that man i's naturally vicious, they deny it, .and aflert, that the errors which odaer nations give into cannot be attri- buted to nature, for they are in fa6l unnatural, as tend- ing to defeat the intentions of God.

It appears extraordinary to them, when they read of men devoting all their time to amafs gold and jewels, in order that it may be faid, they die worth fo much. Human nature cannot receive, any advantage from them after death ; yet, to obtain riches, many men are guilty of praftices which make them run the greateft hazard of being miferable in the future ftate ; for avarice and vanity do not leave them any time to think of what may be their lot hereafter.

Another thing, which appears aftonifhing to them, is, that men and women in fome parts of the world live together m^r€ly for the gratification of their app6t?tes ; and, that many women gain their living by common proftitution.

( «9 )

God, they fay, made man and woman, that they ihould live together, but ordained, that by their union the fpecies Ihould be continued. Connexions there- fore, where no ifllie is defired, cannot be called na- tural ; indeed they are intirely deftruBive of the end intended.

Such never happen with them ; they follow the diftates of regulated nature, and turn all their pafTions to a proper and happy courfe. They inftruft their children in the knowledge of every thing ; and particularly in •the confequence of making a proper connexion in order to their future happinefs, to which, virtue is the only guide.

The neceflaries of life being all they wifli, are eafi- ly procured : And the Veritafians teach their children at an early period to employ themfelves ufefully. Thus, taking away the motives that aftuate many nations to delay matrimonial connexions, — -their youth foon marr)', for the parents have feldom occafion to diflent, becaufe virtue is the chief fortune that is required both by the parents and children. We afked whether their childrcu had not too early a defire for marriage ? They (aid, i^t was very feldom the cafe, and even when it was, that it could be turned to the greateft advantage if the child had been properly educated ;— for inftance, if a fon fhould fancy himfelf in love, they generally approved of the perfon upon whom he had fet his affeftipns, ex- tolled her as inuch as he could wifli, — and then pointing D 2

( 20 )

out to him fome branches of learning, of which he ftill remained ignorant, — thcv afked him whether he could think that he was intitled to marry fuch a vir- tuous and accompiifhed woman ? Advifed him to

itudy in all things to oblige her, to gain her affeflions, and to prove himfelf worthy of her ; but before he fhould venture to afk a return of her love, to acquaint him- felf with thofe parts of education of which he was ignorant, and aflured him that, whenever he fliould find himfelf deferving of her, all his parents intereft fliould be joined with his, in order that his wiflies might be gratified.

What furprizes them moft is, that the people who call themfelves chriftians, who fay that the moft high God took upon himfelf our form, fuffered death upon the crofs, offered up himfelf a facrifjce to himfelf for the fms of the world ; and who left behind him precepts

commanding every virtue ; That thefe fhould be

the people who moft generally, according to hiftory, give themfelves up to the errors of avarice and licen- tious gratifications.

The Vcritafians are ftriftly virtuous, and arc truly religious, although their opinions differ from ours. — —They meet in prayer every night and morn- ing in their own families ; for fince God has not forbid their addrefhng him, they affert that they fhould be wn-ong in neglefting to exercife this great privilege of man, even if God would not ahvays hear them ; but as they are fatisficd that he ahvays will hear the prayers

( 21 )

of the humble, they efteem the honor of being permit- ted to call upon him as the moil invaluable of any they enjoy.

Their form of prayer bears a great fimilitude to ours, and was clearly taken from it by Jacobus ; there are fome trifling alterations which render it feemingly more conne6led, and other grand alterations arifing from their creed. * I here fubjoin their form of public fervice, and fhall afterwards convey their religious fentiments through the alTiflance of fome fermons, which are in the higheft eftimation in Veritas.

MORNING SERVICE.

Prayer to be ufed by all Perfons upon entering the Church.

O Almighty and ever merciful God ! I befeech thee to cleanfe my heart from all impurities, and let thy holy fpirit enable me to render unto thee, a faithful and acceptable fervice. Amen.

* I told one of their clergy that I thought they had fpoiled their firft plalm, [our 95tli] by altering the beautiful eaftern mode of expreffion ; and that the harmony of their numbers was no ways equal to the tranflation, ufed by the church of England ; it might be fo, he faid, but he was fatisfied it was more agreeable to reafon ; and he could not conceive the benefit to be expected from worfliiping God in metaphor.

o

(' «2 )

The Minijkr Jltall addrefs the People as follows.

Come, let us worfhip the lord : let us heartily re- joice in the ftrength of our falvation.

Let us come before his prefeuce with thankfgiving : and ihew ourfelves devoted unto him.

For the lord is a great god : and a great king over all creation.

The fea is his, and he made it : his power prepared the dry land.

O come, let us worfhip, and fall down : and knee) before the lord our maker.

For he is the lord our god : and we ought always to offer unto him our unfeigned thankfgivLngs.

To day if you will render him acceptable fervice, harden not your hearts : as we read, that the Jews did in the provocation and in the day of temptation in the wildernefs ; when, as their hiftorians inform us, tliey tempted him and faw his greainefs.

Forty years long did they wander in the wildernefs ; and proved that they were a people who did err in their hearts, for they did not know his ways.

Yet, he bore with their fins ; and had mercy on their tranfgreffions :

And permitted them to enter the land which, according to the bible, was flowing with milk and honey.

Let MS Praife God. Glory be to thee ; O thou raoft higheft !

( '^3 )

The People Jhall fay.

May thy name be blefTed, thy ways be known, and thy Will be performed by all mankind. — Blcfled be thy name, O God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The MiniJlerJJiall exhort the people as follows. If v/e fay that we have no fin, we deceive ourfelves, and the truth is not in us ; but if we confefs our fins, and fincerely repent, God is merciful and will forgive us our fins, and will cleanfe us trom all unrighteoufnefs.

D'

^EARLY beloved brethren, the fcripture moveth us in fundry places to acknowledge and confefs our manifold fins and wickednefs, and it is evident to ourrea- fonthat we fliould not diffemble, norcloakthemheforethe face of almighty God, who knoweth all the lecrets of our hearts, but that we fliould confefs them, with an humble, lowly, penitent and obedient heart ; to the end that w& may obtain torgivenefs of the fame, by his infinite good- nefs and mercy .-^And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our fins before God, yet ouglu we moll chiefly to <k), when we affemble and meet to^ gether, to render thanks for the great benefits we have received from him, to fet forth his moft worthy praife and to alk t-hofe things which are requifite and neceflary, as well for the body as the foul — Wherefore I pray and befeechyou, as many as are here prefent, to accompany me with a pure heart an^d fumble voice unto the throne of the heavenly grace.

ALMIGHTY and raoft merciful father, We have erred and ftrayed from thy wa)-s, We have fol- lowed too much the defires of our own hearts. We

have offended againfl thy holy laws ; We have left undone thofe things which we ought to have done; and we have too often done thofe things which we ought not to have done.— But do thou, O Lord! have mercy upon us repenting Tinners. — Spare thou them, O God, which

confefs and repent of their faults. Reltore thou

them that are penitent — according to the affurances given

to mankind by jefus chrift. And grant, O moft

merciful father ! — that thy holy fpirit may evermore affifl us — in leading godly, righteous and fober lives.—— To thyglor)'. Amen.

The mvnjlerjhall theri make this declaration.

ALMIGHTY God ! the creator of all things, defireth not the death of a fmner, but would rather that

he fhould turn from his wickednefs. And we may be

aflured, that the mercy of the moft high will be exten- ded to all thofe who truly repent of their former fins, and endeavour, with an humble and a contrite fpirit, to pafs the reft of their days in hoiinefs and virtue.

Let us therefore befeech almighty God, to grant us true repentance and an holy fpirit, that thofe things may pleafe him which we do at this prefent,and that the reft of our lives hereafter may be pure and holy, according to the ex- ample fet us of a perfeft life by jefus chrift, in whofe moft comprehenfive form of prayer let us call upon the eternal for his blefling.

o

( ^5 )

The MiniJIer and the Congregation kneeling Jlialljilently and devoutly offer up the Prayer. UR father, wktek^art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily ;^:it;, bread. And forgive us our trefpafles, as we forgive them that trefpafs againll us. And lead us not into temp- tation ; but deliver us from evil : For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever mp&

m9c. Amen.

Minijler,

O Lord, open thou our lips ;

People.

And our mouth fhall fliew forth thy praifc;

Minijler. O God, be pleafed to fave us.

People. O Lord, we befeech thee to hear us. ^-/l--^

' " ' ' *^ —

Here Jollows the Litany. ^-'"'"^

/^ God, the creator of the univerfe : have mercy ^-'^ upon us, accept our prayers, afTift our infirmities, and forgive us our fins.

TFe befeech thee to hear us, good Lord. Remember not our offences, nor the offences of our fore-fathers ; neither take thou vengeance of our fins ; fpare us good Lord; fpare thy people, and be not angry with us for ever.

Spare us good Lord,

( 26 )

From all evil and niifchief, from fin, and from thy heavy difpleafiire.

Good Lord deliver us.

From all blindnefs of heart: from pride, vain-glory andhypocrify ; from envy, hatred, and malice; and all uncharitablenefs.

Goad Lord deliver us.

From lightning and tempe ft : from plague, pellilence, and famine ; from battle and murder, and from fudden death.

Good Lord deliver us.*

From all fedition and confpliacies : from ignorance of our nature, and of our duty towards thee ; and from contempt of thofe laws which our reafon informs us are declaratory of thy will.

Good Lord deliver us.

In all time of our tribulation : iu all time of our wealth; in the hour of death, and in the day when wc {hall be in thy prefence to receive thy judgment upon our aftions.

Good Lord deliver us.

We finn^rs do befeech thee to hear us, O Lord God ; and that it may plcafe thee to make thy ways knoWH to all mankind.

We befeech thee to hear us , good Lord.

( 27 )

That It may pleafe thee to blefs our fovereign and his fcimily, ftrengthenhig them in the true knowledge of thee.

PFe bejcah thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may pleafe thee to endue the council, parlia- ment, and all the other courts, with wifdom, under- flandiiig and the love of jultice ;

JVe befeech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may pleafe thee to blefs and keep our maglf- trates and all perfons who are in office ; and to give them grace to execute their trufls with fidelity ;

TVe befeech the to hear us, good Lord.

That it may pleafe thee to illuminate all the teach- ers of religion with true kno\vlcdge and underftanding ; and that both by their preaching and living they may contribute to thy glory, and to the confequent happinefs of this nation ;

IVe befeech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may pleafe thee to give to all nations, unity, peace, and concord ;

We befeech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may pleafe thee to blefs and keep all thy people ;

We befeech thee to hear us, good Lord.

( ^8 )

That it mav pleafe thee to give us an heart to love fe^duAwftd- xhce, and diligently to live after thy com- mandments ;

We hefeech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may pleafe thee to preferve us from all bi- gotry and fnperftition ; and to bring into the way of truth all fuch as are deceived ;

We hefeech thee to hear us ^ good Lord,

That it may pleafe thee to comfort and help all fuch 9S are in danger, necefTity, or tribulation ;

We hefeech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may pleafe thee to preferve all that travel by land or by water, all women labouring with child, all fick perfons and young children, and to fhew thy pity upon all prifoners and captives ;

We hefeech thee to hear us, good Lord,

That it may pleafe thee to defend and provide for the fatherlefs children and widows, and all that are defolate and opprefled ;

JVe hefeech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may pleafe thee to have mercy upon all men ; We hefeech thee to hear us, good Lord.

That it may pleafe thee to give and preferve to our ufe, the kindly fruits of the earth, fo that in due time we may enjoy them ;

We hefeech thee to hear uS\ good Lord,

i-^-y M< {^puim

t 25 )

That it may pleafe thee to give us true repentance ; to forgive Us all our fins, negligences, and ignorances, and to endue U£ with the grace of thy holy fpirit, to amend our lives, and to pafs our days in friendfhip, charity, and brotherly love with all men; whereby, we beil prove the fincerity of our devotions to thee, who art the God of mercy, and who wifheft the happinefs of all thy creatures ;

We befeech thee to hear us, good Lord.

We befeech thee, O father of mercies to hear our prayers ; and of thy goodnefs to keep from us thofe things we at any time may afk which will be hurtful unto us, and vouchfafe to give us thofe good things which will be neceffary to our welfare, even fhould our ignorance prevent us from afking them. Amen.

We hefeech thee to hear us, good Lord.

Let us Pray'

/~\ God, merciful father, who defpifeft nqt the Cgh- ^^^ ing of a contrite heart, nor the defire of fuch as be forrowful, mercifully aflifl; our prayers that we make before thee, in all our troubles and adverfities whenfo- evcr they opprefs us : and gracioufly hear us that thofe evils which threaten us, and which we have juftly merited, may, by thy providence, be averted ; that we thy fervants being hurt by ho perfecution, may pafs our time in reft and quietnefs, and may glorify thee for thy

( 30 )

goodners in perm'tting mankind, through Jefus Chrlft, to know tliee, ihe one God, the creator of all things. Amen.

God, we have heard with our cars ; and we our- felves have known the greatnefs of thy majefly, of thy mercy, and of thy power :

We hefeech thee therefore gracioufly to look upon our affliftions.

Pitifully to behold the forrows of our hearts.

Mercifully to forgive the fins of thy people.

Favorably with mercy to hear our prayers.

O God, let thy mercy be (hewed unto us,

For we do put our truft in thee.

Let us Pray.

WE humbly befeech thee, O Father, mercifully to look upon our infirmities ; and for the glor}' of thy name, turn from us all thofe evils that we mofl righteoufly have deferved : and grant that, in all our troubles, we may put our whole trufl and confi- dence in thee, and evermore ferve thee in holi- nefs and purenefs of living, to thy honor and glory. Amen.

( 3» )

O Almighty God, who haft given us grace at this time, with one accord, to make our common fuppUca- lions unto thee : fulfil now, O Lord, the defires and petitions of thy fervants, as may be moft expedient for them, granting them in this world the knowledge of thy truth ; and, when thou fhalt be pleafed to call them hence, giving them to know that their lives had been pafled in conformity with thy will ; that their fouls will be accepted by thee, and admitted to that higheft of blelf- ings, the more perfeft knowledge of the glory of their God. Amen.

May the love of God be with us all evermore. Amen. End cj the. Litany.

The following acldrefs to the deity, to be offered up by the 7ninijier aloud, the people following Iwnfilenily.

WE praife theeO God ! we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worfiiip thee, the father everlafting \ 'Tisthee! creation doth adore. The heavens and all the powers therein. To thee ! they ofier up their praife. To thee ! their father and their God ! Holy! holy! holy! Lord God of fabaoth I Heaven and earth, are full of the majefty of thy glory.

( 32 )

We praife thee, O God ! we thank thee for thy mercy,

In fending upon earth the bleffed Jefus, to difpcl the

i ! ' darknefs of the idolatrous world !

Without this mercy, we fliould have remained in ignor- ance of thee;

The only God !

And fhould have ftill worfhipped the idols of the hea- thens :

But thv mercy is unbounded ! and tliy goodnefs without end.

Vouchfafe, O Lord ! to keep us this day without fin :

That we may worthily magnify thy holy name.

Make us to be numbered with thy taints in glory everlafting.

O Lord, fave thy people andblefs them.

Govern them, and lift them up for ever.

O Lord have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.

O Lord let thy mercy lighten upon us, as our truft is in thee.

O Lord in thee have I trufted, let me never be confounded.

Then the Minijler Jhall Jay

Let us thank God for his mercies, and let us pray to Almighty God that he will give us a due underilanding of the fcriptures.

( 33 )

Mimjler^

Almighty and omnifcient God, whofe goodnefs exceedeth the utmoft ftretch of human abiUiies ; we thank thee for all thy inercies, more efpecially for the faculty oi reafon, whereby we arc diflinguiflied irom and exalted above the reft of thy creatures upon earth : continue, we pray thee, thy favor unto us, and let thy holy fpirit move us to a due exercife of our rational powers, that we may know, and fear, and love thee, the only God : keep us from all bigotry and fuperfti- tion, which ever have a tendency to diminifh thy glory ; and empower us in all temptations to look up to thee

with confidence and truft And now, O Lord, we

befeech thee to enlighten us with thy wifdom, that as we are going to read a portion of the fcriptures, efteemed by many nations thine infpired work, we may, through thy blefling, be able to know what is neceflary for ful- filling thy will ; and, by the examples there introduced, may fee that thy providence is always watchful over all thy works, and that, (as thy unalterable goodnefs can never change) thou, having from the firft made man a free agent, haft not deftroyed that free agency, not even in preventing the introduction of errors into thefe

refpefted writings. Enable us therefore, we humbly

intreat thee, to difcover thole errors and to receive pro- fit from them, through convincing ourfelves how liable human nature is to be deceived by the arts of the de-

figning or fuperftitious. We, thy fervants, acknow-

F

( 3i )

ledge thy perfeftion and thy immutability. We

know that we are bound to do thy will in all thing/i.— We pray thee to acquaint us with it, and to give us grace to perform it. Amen.

People.

We befeech thee, to grant this petition, O thou moft mighty.

Tlignjhall the Minijler read the appointed Lejfons in the Bibk and Tejlamcnt.

Afterwards let the Minifter deliver a dijcourfe adapted to thelejfons^, explaining what is necejfary^ and pointing out any apparent error in the reading ; ajfuring his Auditors that God never made any revelation to mankind that he did not wijlt them to underjland, and that thoje thifigs which are notfatisfoRory to our reafon, cannot be the revelations of

omnifcience Let Imn enlarge vpon the duties that were

taught and inculcated by Jejus Chrijl; let Ivim teach the greainefs andgoodnefs of God, and explain the real conJe~ quence of moHin the general Jyjiem of creation, and let him finijli hisfermon mth this pf aim :

/^ Be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands : ferve the ^^ Lord with gladnefs, and come before his prefencc with rejoicing.

Be ye fure that the Lord he is God; that it is he who hath made us, and not we ourfelves.

( 35 )

0 come into his gates with thankrgivings, and irtto his courts with praife : be thankful unto him, aud fpeak good of his name.

For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlafling, and his truth endureth from generation to genera- tion.

Here follows the Belief ^ to be pronounced aloud hy alL

IBeheve in God, the father almighty, maker of heaven and earth: And of all things vifible and invifible. I believe that his power and wifdom are unbounded; that he is, from all eternity, a fole felfexiftent God, and that his duration is without end.

1 believe that he made man, the moft perfeft creature upon earth; giving him reafon that he might difcover his own nature and might ferve his God in righteoufnefs and holinefs of life : and I believe that God made man a free agent and left him to the free cxercife oi his powers.

I believe that the earth is a fmall orb, (in comparifon with the reft of creation) revolving round the fun along with other orbs forming one fyftem ; and which, al- though of immenfe extent, occupies but as a point in the incomprehenfibility of fpace.

I believe that God made the ftars, whofe diftance

from us is fo great as to be immeafurable.— And perceiving

that on earth he has done nothing in vain : I do not doubt

but the ftars are fyftems of worlds filled with creatures

who partake of the bounty of their God, F 2 >

( 36 )

I believe that creation was an aft of the goodnefs of God, and therefore that every thing necefFaiy to the happincfs of his creatures was provided for them ; and that whatever unhappinefs is piet with in the world has arifen through the mifufe of the bounties of God.

I beUeve that God had compafTion upon the errors and ignorances of mankind, who, in a courfe of years, had forgotten their maker and worfliiped the works of their own hands. I beUeve that his holy fpirit permitted Jefus Chrift to have an enlightened idea of his attributes, and that Chrift contemning the world Avhen put in competition with the honor of the great creator, fufFered the cruel death of the crofs with con- ftancy, in proof of the truth of his doflrines.

I believe in a future ftate, when the almighty will be pleafed to make himfelf known to thofe creatures who have rendered themfel ves worthy of that greateft of blef- fings ; and I firmly believe that the virtuous will be re- warded wiijr evej-Iafting happinefs.

N. B. It is to be remarKed of every Belief, that, as it is a declaration in the prefence of God, before the congregation, of what a perfon fays he believes, if he either doubts or does not underftand any parts of the belief he utters, fo as not to feel a perfea conviction, it is the higlied perjury a man can be guilty

of. If there is any thing in the above belief incomprehen-

fible to any one, let him pafs it by, and let no man prefume to

dcci ire his belief in what he has doubts of. God requires

no let form of words, the heart alone he judges of, and the fimple and the contrite fpirit will he not defpife.

( 37 )

Prayer by the Mihijier.

GRANT we befeech thee, Almighty God, that thy, holy fpirit may urge us to a continuance in doing good works, and may aflift us in all our dangers and

tribulations. Strengthen our faith in thee, and in-

creafe our knowledge of thee. Make us to prove

ourfelves worthy the exalted ftation to which thou haft called us, by ever conducing ourfelves with humility

towards thee, and with love to our fellow creatures.

Make us to know that thy goodnefs can have no other defign in creation than of difpenfmg happinefs ; and that if any other refult takes place it is not agreeable to thee, but that it arifes from the perverfenefs of thy creatures, to whom thou haft permitted the freedom of chufmg what is right or following what is ^vrong.

Tliy mercy flilnes confpicuous in all things here on earth : And thy greatnefs in the immenfe, though regular fyftems of worlds which thy goodnefs has permitted the fenfes of man to perceive, fufpended in the regions of fpace, in harmony fulfilling thy will.

Teach us to know our duty towards thee ;— to perform thy will in all thy thmgs; — to pafs our lives fubfervient

to the diftates of reafon.- Make us to be truly fen-

fzble of thy mercies, more efpecially of the bleflings we enjoy, through the merits of Jefus Chrift, of being theworftiipersof thee, the true God, inftead of remain- ing in the ignorant worfliip of idols.

( 38 )

Make us, in all our aftions, to prove ourfelves wor- thy of this tranfcendent goodnefs, and afTift us in con- ducing ourfelves in fuch a manner as rtiay not be dif- pleafmg to thee, derogatory to thy greatneft,' or Unwor- thy of creatures to whom thou haft permitted a knowledge of thy attributes.

To thee, O Lord, we addrefs ourfelves, who

knoweft the infirmities of man.-i We befeech

thee to have compaflion upon us who are continually liable to forget our God, through attending too much to the felicitations of temporal concerns ; fend dowii thy bleflings upon us, who humbly feek thee, and com- fort us, in all our troubles, with the confcioufnefs that thy

afljibnce is not far from us. -Let love and unanimity

pervade the whole of thy people ; let thy proteftion be given to all forts and conditions of men : and infpire us all with fuch a fenfe of our duty towards thee, that wc may evermore regulate our aftions to thy glory.

Accept, O moft mighty and moft perfeft being, the fervices which we thy fervants do, in this thy day, endeavour to render unto thcc ; and grant, that we may continue, daily, to increafe in grace, until it fhall pleafe thee to call us from our earthly body to that blefled immortality, which our fools moft fervently liope for.

To thee, and to thy name be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

End of the Mormng Service.

( 39 ) EVENING SERVICE.

Prayer:

T>REVENT us,.0 Lord, in all our doings with thy •^ moft gracious favor, and further us with thy carrtinual help ; that in all our works begun, con- tinued and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name; and finally, by thy mercy obtain everlafting life, according to the affurances delivered to us, by jefus Chrift. Amen.

Minijler.

/^ GIVE thanks unto the Lord, for he his gra- ^^ cious, and his mercy endureth for ever.

O let your fongs be of him, and praife him» and let your talking be of all his wondrous works.

Yet who can exprefs the noble afts of the Lord ! or Ihew forth all his praile !

Seek the Lord, O ye people ! rejoice in his holy name; let the he»i;t,of thofe who feek the Lord rejoice. , ,v<.i \.

For he is the Lord our Go J ; and his judgments are in all the world.

( 40 )

Tkankfgiving.

ALMIGHTY God, father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy fervants, do give thee moft humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodnefs, and loving kindnefs to us and all men.

We blefs thee for our creation, prefervation, and all the bleflings of this life; but above all for thine ineflimable love, in fuffering the blefled Jefus to declare to mankind the truths of thy greatnefs and power; thus giving us the means of grace, where- by we hope for glory. And we befeech thee,

give us that due fenfe of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we may (hew forth thy praife, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourfelves to. thy fer- vice, and by walking before thee in holinefs and ri^hteoufnefs all our days, through the inftruftions left us by Jefus Chrift, in whofe moft perfeft form of words we offer up our humble petitions.

The Mimjler and Congregation Jhalljilently pray,

/^UR father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy ^^ name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trefpafles, as we forgive them that trefpafs againft us. And lead us not into temp- tation; but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

( 41 )

Minifier.

DEARLY beloved brethren In the bible, and inthe20th chapter of Exodus, we find a fet of commandments, faid to have been delivered by the almiirhty to Mofes.

Their beautiful, yet majeftic fimplicity, proves them to have been written by one who felt the greatnefs of God, and our reafon affents to their propriety. — — In their due obfervance all religion and morality con fifts. I will therefore read part of them to you ; and let us, after each commandment, offer unto the Almighty a prayer, that he will have mercy ■iipon us, and incline our hearts to keep thefe laws.

COMMANDMENTS.

I. Thou fhalt have none other Gods but one, for God, alone is the fole creator of all things.

People.

Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

II. Thou fhalt not make to thyfelf any graven image, nor the likenefs of any thing which is in heaven or in earth, in order thereunto to fall down and wor- (hip.

Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep

this law.

G

( 42 )

III; Thou fiialt not take th« name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltlefs that takeih his name in vain.

Lordy have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

IV. Remember that thou keep holy the fabbath day, fix days {halt thou labour, and do what thou haft to do ; but the feventh fhall be confecrated as a fabbath to the Lord thy God : in it thou {halt not do any manner of work to gain a living, neither {halt thou fufifer any of thy family.