90 A CHRISTIAN CHURCH. it has oftentimes been made a hateful engine and instrument of quarrels and schisms, of reproaches and sharp persecutions to many sincere and honest souls, that could not warp their since- rity, nor subdue their consciences to such a compliance. Whence arises the severity of the inquisition in Spain and Portugal, and the compliances of the Jews there, to profess the l3,oman faith ? It is true, no human method is perfectly free from all inconve- niences, yet I would not willingly encourage such a method which has often had such mischievous and impious effects, and has always such danger attending it. Yet I am very much of the mind that articles of religion, confessions, catechisms, and short summariesof the christian faith, are very useful and neces- sary amongst the churches of Christ for several reasons : and particularly, 1. " Tb give a short and compendious view of the chief and most necessary points of the christian religion, which lie scattered up and down in many distant places of scripture :" And for this reason, such books are very profitable for all christian families, to teach the young and the ignorant the sum and sub- stance of what they must believe and practise in order to salva- tion ; for though every thing necessary be plainly contained in the word of God; yet persons that have little time, and little knowledge, and very weak reason, would be at a great loss to collect all their faith and duty from so large a book as the bible is, without some teacher. They would want some instructor, who might lay these things together in an easy method, or some systems, confessions, or catechisms, wherein it is done already. Though these catechisms and confessions should be examined by the word of God, so far as every person is capable, and should be no farther received than they bear a conformity thereto by all that are capable of such examination. 2. Such articles, or summaries of the christian religion, are useful " to hold forth to the world what are in general the sen- timents of such a particular church, or churches :" And this is proper on many accounts, so it is of use i,I order tomake the way to their communion evident and easy, and that other christians may know whether they agree with them in what is essential to christianity, and may judge whether they should seek or desire constant or occasional communion with them ; and that other churches may judge whether they should admit their members to communion : This also may tend to encourage more zealous and hearty consultations, and mutual assistances towards the support of their common christianity, provided that these articles are drawn up with judgment; and these things are managed with prudence and charity. Such are, or should he, the articles of the church of Eng- land, which proclaim her doctrine and discipline to the world :
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