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HE Occafion of Writing this Effay is fufficiently declared in the TitlePage; and the Defign thereof is to contribute fomething towards the Recovery of those, who are almost drowned in the fatal Error, of thinking that they receive Chriftian Sacraments, when in Truth and Reality they receive none at all. I don't doubt but I fhall procure to my felf many Enemies by this Attempt; but no matter for that, if this my poor Endeavour can but prove effectual to ftir up the Clergy (whofe Office it is) to Preach and Write frequently, to difabufe Mankind in fo weighty an Affair.

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I am well aware, how diligent the Adversaries will be to find what Faults they can; and I am not fo vain, as to think my felf to have escaped altogether free from fome in this Effay. And therefore, that I might take away all Occafion of unneceffary Difpute, and fave my felf the Trouble of future Anfwers to what may be cavill'd at by fome; I once for all declar'd, in the Second Edition of this Book, what I thought necessary for the more clear Explanation of my Defign and Meaning in fome Paffages, which otherwife I fear'd might have given Offence.

In this Fourth Edition, all thofe Places are more correct in the Body of the Book it felf, and therefore not neceffary here to be particularly explain'd, except in the Appendix,

Page 128. and forward, where, in Answer to the 10th Objection, I have attempted to prove the Validity of Holy Orders conferr'd on Unbaptiz'd Perfons: What I have propos'd in brder thereto, I defire the Judicious Lovers of Truth to interpret only as an Effay. I am not fo fond of any thing I have faid about it, as to strive with those who may happen to differ from me: Nay more; if after due Confideration, it fhould be generally condemn'd by Orthodox Learned Men; 1 fhall acquiefce, acknowledging, That a Man ought to be a Member, before he fhould be admitted to be a Minifter of Chrift in his Church.

What I have faid in the following, and other Parts of this Book, in General Terms, relating to Lay-Baptifm, I think neceffary by way of Precaution here to explain; by telling my Reader, that I defign thereby to mean fuch Baptifm, as is performed by Perfons who never receiv'd any Real Authority from their Bishops; or elfe by fuch as were

never.

never really Authoriz'd, and yet att in Oppofition to Epifcopacy. "Whether Bishops, the Spiri"tual Governors of the Church, who have "Power from Chrift to give a Man a Stand"ing Commiffion to be a Prieft, cannot give "him a Commiffion pro hac vice, in Cafes of "extreme Neceffity, to do a Sacerdotal Act," I will not prefume to determine. Neither do I think it neceffary to difpute against thofe, who affirm that they can; provided the Layman be in Communion with, and an actual Member of that particular National, or Provincial Church, over which the Bishops prefide who give fuch an Occafional Commiffion; provided alfo that they give him this Commiffion in SUCH A MANNER, and with fuch LIMITATIONS and RESTRICTIONS, as that there may be no more Reason to fufpect the Truth of the Divine Authority refiding in him, for the Executing of that Sacerdotal Act pro hic & nunc, in a Cafe of extreme Neceffity, than there is to queftion the Validity of the STANDING COMMISSION of the Ordinary Priesthood. For then, in fuch Cafe, the Man acts not of himself, or as a mere Laick: He is fuppos'd not to Adminifter by Virtue of any Canon of Foreign Councils; but As empower'd by the Authority of thofe Particular Bishops he is fubject to. And I think it necessary to make thefe Provifo's; because, on the other Hand, it is well known, how apt Men have been, and ftill are, to pervert and abuse this Power and Authority, and misapply it to wrong and ill Purpofes, by unfound and falfe Inferences; (as I my felf have found by Experience, in my Converfa tion relating to my own particular Cafe) fo far as at last to make the Chriftian Priesthood be efteem'd by the Heedlefs Multitude, as a thing of

no neceffary Ufe and Value at all: And for this Reafon 'tis that I have endeavoured fo much (in this Effay, pag. 85. and Appendix, pag. 149, and 150.) to shew the Ill Ufes which Men are apt to make of the Church's Power.

After all, whether a Church has, or has not the Power of Authorizing her own Laicks (as above fpecified) to Baptize in Cafes of Extremity, I think I need make no Scruple to fay,

ift, That the Practice of one National or Provincial Church in this Cafe, cannot Authorize the Laicks of Another fuch Church, which gives them no fuch Authority. (As here with Us.)

2dly, That no Church can have any Power to allow Laicks of Oppofite Communions to her, to Adminifter Baptifm in that Cafe, much less when there is no Neceffity at all: (As certainly there is none in our Diffenters Baptifms.)

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3dly, That no Church has, or can have Power to Confirm Baptifm so adminifter'd; because Confirmation fuppofes the Perfon to have been validly baptiz'd before, and his Baptifm to be confummated and finished thereby.

The Author of a Pamphlet entitled, New Dangers to the Chriftian Priesthood; who with great Rudeness, inconfiftent with his Priestly Character. has, by PARTIAL Quotations from my Two Books of Sacerdotal Powers, and Diffenters Baptism Null and Void, endeavour'd to perfuade the World, that I Separate the Divine Commiffion from the Chriftian Ministry, and that I hold and affirm, that Bishops have Power to Authorize Laymen to Baptize, would have done but Common Fuftice to have confider'd, and let the World fee what I have faid here in Anfwer to a Question put to me concerning fuch a Power in Bishops. He knew in

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