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the smallest notice will oblige me to wait on yo and make you my personal acknowledgments for your great kindness to,

"Rev. Sir,

"Your most grateful,

"And most obedient humble servant,

"T. BENNET."

"Chelsea College, near London, May 12, 1715."

Superscribed,

"To the Rev. Mr. FoULKES, Rector of Llanbeder, near Ruthin, in North Wales."

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This record is kept among the manuscripts, in the Library of Lambeth Palace, and is numbered 879. The preceding letters are loosely inserted in the book.

In the manuscript catalogue in the Library, which carries the list of manuscripts as far as No. 888, the following attestation is affixed to No. 879. "This book was delivered to the Most Reverend Father in God, John Potter, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury; and was, by his Grace's command, deposited in Lambeth Library, among the MSS. together with two letters from Dr. T. Bennet, to Mr. Foulkes, Rector of Llanbeder, near Ruthin, North Wales. Witness my hand, Edm. Bateman, his Grace's Chaplain, 3d May, 1738."

APPENDIX V,

ON SUBSCRIPTION

TO THE

ARTICLES OF RELIGION.

THE REASONABLENESS OF REQUIRING SUBSCRIPTION TO ARTICLES OF RELIGION

FROM PER

SONS TO BE ADMITTED TO HOLY ORders, or a CURE OF SOULS, VINDICATED IN A CHARGE DELIVERED TO THE CLERGY OF THE DIOCESE OF OXFORD, IN THE YEAR 1771. BY THOMAS RANDOLPH, D. D. PRESIDENT OF CORP. CHR. COLL. LADY MARGARET'S PROFESSOR OF DIVINITY, AND ARCHDEACON OF OXFORD.

DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN,

IT has not been my custom, nor that of my predecessors, to detain you with a Charge on every Visitation. You stand not, I think, in need of such frequent admonitions, either to instruct you in your duty, or to enforce on you the practice of it. And it may perhaps seem less necessary now, than ever, to give myself, and you, this trouble, when you have so lately received such an excellent Charge from your worthy Diocesan. It might be sufficient to exhort you seriously to call to mind the good instructions, which you then received, and diligently to follow them.

3

But

But an attempt lately set on foot, and carried on with great zeal, to set aside all Subscription to our Articles and Liturgy, has made me think it incumbent on me to deliver to you my sentiments on this head, I shall confine myself to what chiefly concerns us of the clergy, the reasonableness of requiring Subscription to Articles of Religion from persons to be admitted to holy orders, or to a cure of souls,

And I hope I need not employ many words to convince you that persons, who are to be teachers of others, should be themselves sound in the faith, and should give to those, who ordain and appoint them, some proof, and assurance, that they are so. (1) St. Paul directs Timothy to commit those things which he had heard to faithful men, who should be able to teach others also: (m) and to ordain such deacons only, as hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. (n) And he commissions Titus to ordain such elders in every city, as hold fast the faithful word, as they had been taught, that they might be able by sound doctrine, both to exhort, and to convince the gainsayers. And this is agreeable to reason, as well as Scripture. In affairs of less concern, and importance, would you employ a man to teach others, who did

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(1) 2 Tim. ii. 2,

(m) 1 Tim, iii. 9.

(n) Tit, i. 9.

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