† ferves to regulate all Difputes in pri

vate.

I wish for Their fake, and the Nations, this was the worft can be faid of 'em, with relation to implicit Affent. But they have one Practice *among 'em, juftify'd indeed by a Statute of their own, which I muft not pafs over; and which, for the Folly and Knavery of it, equals, or rather comprehends all the Juggle, and unwarrantable Impofition of the Romish Church; They oblige Boys at their Matriculation, if twelve Years of Age, to subscribe the Thirty Nine Articles of the Church of England!

To those Articles, upon which fo many Volumes of Expofitions have been written; fo many intricate Questions mov'd: which have divided the learned Men of the Church in all Ages fince the Compiling of 'em; to those muft School-Boys give their full and unfeign'd Affent? Now how inhuman is this? The Common and Civil Laws, in tenderness to Infants, will not fuffer them to bind themselves so much as by Note of Hand for Half a Crown. But these Univerfity Tyrants, (fuch is their Zeal for Orthodoxy, and Contempt of Truth) make no fcruple of enfnaring their Pupils, by Subfcriptions, which they can't poffibly be aware of when they make 'em.

One would think the very mentioning fuch a Practice as this did fufficiently expose it; for if we fubfcribe Articles of Faith because we be

+ The Decree of 1683,

Vid. The Statutes relating to Matriculation.

lieve 'em, as all honeft Men do; our Subfcription neceffarily supposes that we have a diftinct Notion of the Terms of every Propofition; that we have examin'd the Reafons on both fides of the Question; and that upon the whole, the weight of the Evidence is on the fide we take. Now if any one can imagine, that the Boys who enter in the Univerfity, have beforehand gone thro' the Doctrines of the Trinity in Unity, Predeftination, Free-will, good Works before Grace, the Power of the Church, the Supremacy of the Crown, the Authority of the receiv'd Scriptures, and the Conduct of the four firft Councils; I fay, have gone through these Things, and others as difficult, which are contain'd in our Articles; and can give a rational Account of their belief of them; if any one can imagine this, he may fwallow Tranfubftantiation, or unlimited Obedience to a limited Power, or any Pofition as abfurd. But if one fhould take the Freedom with these Orthodox Youths, to fuppofe they are, at leaft at their Admiffion into the Univerfity, as ignorant of thefe Things as other Children are; what an Opinion must one entertain of their Mafters, who require that of their Ignorance, which ought to arife only from a full and thorough Conviction? Nay, what Opinion have these Men of their Articles! Will they not bear Examination? If they will, why muft People be put upon thus fubfcribing them blindfold? Or do they think Subscription is nothing more than Form? Or are the Articles Terms of Peace only, or Articles of Faith? One would think indeed, from this Practice, and the Conduct C

of

of the generality of their Pulpit-Men, (who contradict above half their Subfcription) that the Church had no Establish'd Rules; or that these Men thought She defign'd to bind none but the Diffenters by 'em. The Practice I have been fpeaking of, was, I think, unknown to the Antients, and must be a great hindrance to Learning: For to what purpose fhould a Man examine Principles who has already given it under his Hand that they are true!

But the Mischief does not end here: Implicit Faith is big with a thousand Abfurdities: For when Men have once taken upon 'em to force your Affent to Principles you don't understand; for an Opinion, they pre-. tend, you ought to have of their Learning and Integrity; the next Step is, to impose upon you what you don't believe. So the Romish Church fettl'd Infallibility; and then introduc'd Tranfubftantiation: And our University, from the Doctrine of implicit Affent, proceeded to Paffive Obedience, and Indefeafible, Hereditary Right.

'Tis too evident to be deny'd, that these Doctrines have been openly preach'd, and are greedily receiv'd among 'em: And that the Society is chargeable with 'em: For She has never declar'd her Abhorrence of 'em ; or fo much as cenfur'd any one of the Multitude of Preachers who have advanc'd 'em there. No, People of that Stamp have rather been carefs'd, and diftinguish'd as the beft Church men. We know that Sacheverell's St. Paul's Sermon was preach'd before

the

the University, at leaft Four Years before the Experiment was try'd in London: And that he loft no Reputation by it in that Place. But we need none of thefe Arguments to fix the Charge upon Her, out of Her own Mouth She is condemn'd.

There is a Decree of that Seat of Learning and Loyalty ftill extant; pafs'd in a filent Manner in Convocation; and at this Time. to be feen hanging up in their Halls and Libraries; which carries thefe pernicious Doctrines, to as great an height as any Pulpit has done *. This Libel, tho' 'tis directly contrary to the Law, and conftant Ufage of the Kingdom, as well as deftructive of the Rights of Mankind; tho' it condemns the Revolution, and denies his prefent Majefty's Right to the Crown; yet in open defiance of Law, and contempt of their own Oaths, is at this Day avow'd by 'em. Young Men are referr'd to it for Satisfaction in Political Difputes: And it has once gone abroad

*It declares that thefe Propofitions, viz. If lawful Governors become Tyrants, or govern otherwife than by the Laws of God or Man they ought to do, they forfeit the Right they had to Government. Prop. 3. The Sovereignty of England is in the Three Estates, viz. King, Lords, and Commons. Prop. 4. Birth-right, and Proximity of Blood give no Title to Rule or Government; and it is lawful to preclude the next Heir from the Right of Succeffion to the Crown. Prop. 5. Are Falfe, Seditious, and Impious Deftructive of all Government in Church and State: See the whole printed in Sacheverel's Trial, p. 235, 236, 237, 238, of the Octavo

Edition.

under the Title of An entire Confutation of Mr. Hoadly's Book, &c. Nay, what aggravates the Infolence of continuing the printed Copies of it in their publick Places, is, that the Houfe of Lords have pafs'd a fevere Censure on it: That Auguft Body have condemn'd it, as containing * feveral Pofitions contrary to the Conftitution of this Kingdom, and deftructive to the Proteftant Succeffion as by Law eftablish'd: And order'd it to the Flames by the Hands of the Common Hangman. And yet, as if our Univerfity was above Law, and Reproof, fhe has never repeal'd, or fo much as order'd the Copies of it to be taken down,

If this be fo (as none can have the Face to deny) 'tis no wonder that fo many of the Clergy of the Establish'd Church, who have their Education there are poifon'd with thefe Principles. There are fome indeed, who are got over the Prejudices of Education, and fubmit to the present Government out of Principle; but these are Men of a fuperior Genius, who have the Courage to fearch for Truth, and the Honefty to profefs it: Nevertheless, if we confider how difficult it is for the beft to part with Principles they have been learning the greatest part of their Time; or indeed, to ftand up in the Defence of Truth against the Cla

* See the laft Page of Sacheverel's Tryal I think the Commons paffed a Vote to the fame purpose about that time, but can't now be pofitive.

mour

O