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    ^ agrees or diffe rs from its declarations , ( which as to all necessary truths , are plain and conspicuous ) we are consequently either to embrace or to reject it . This is exactly agreeable to the writings of the great Archbishop Wake . A paragraph * or two ^^ jof-which , I beg leave here to recite verbatim . — They are as follows . —*• In matters of faith ( bays his Grace ) a man is to judge for himself , and the scriptures are a clear and sufficient rule for him to judge by : and therefore if a man be evidently convinced upon the best enquiry he can make , that his particular belief is founded on the word of

    God , and that of the church is not , he is obliged to support and adhere to his own belief in opposition to that of the church ; and the reason of this must be very evident to all those who own not

    the church , but the scriptures to be the ultimate rule and guide of their faith . For if this be so , then individual persons as well as churches must judge of their faith ,

    according to what they find in scripture . *—And if they are convinced , that there is a disagree , ment in ai * y point of faith , between the voice of the church and that

    of scripture , they must stick Co the latter , rather than the former , they must follow the superior , not inferior guide . ** - *—And further , * t The right-- < of examining what is proposed to us in matters of feligton , is not any special privilege ojfjthe pastors or governors of the

    church ; t butis the common right and duty of alls -Christians ' whatsoever . * " ?< And agaiifr , ' * > Kv 4 ry particular person ( says > this great prelate ) is to an ^ r to Gotl > fbr hiff own soul , ; and > imust examine as for as ham atate , both what he

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    believes and how he practises , and upon what grounds he does both ; and not follow any assembly , though of never so much / Seeming authority . ' *—" And yet ( continues his lordship ) how confidently do some tell us , that we must believe

    them before our own rea ? on , " - <—• That it is schism and heresv and I know not what besides , to doubt of or differ from them in any thing which they require us to believe : and that much better

    were it to shut our eyes altogether and to go on blindfold under their conduct , than to follow the clearest light that scripture , or reason , or even sense itself can give us . — But let them ( sajs his grace ) as * sume what authority they please to themselves and raise wha *

    clamour they can against us : when all is done , this conclusion will re ^ main firm as heaven and clear as any first principles of science ; that if the scriptures be , as we all agree that they are , the word of God and were written for our instruction , then we must follow

    the conduct of them , and hold fast to the truth which they deliver , though not only a company of assuming men , calling them , selves the church , but the whole world should conspire against

    us . " Thus far this metropolitan . I could bring other great authorities , madam , were it necessary , in vindication of my conduct . But I think the forecited

    passages to be clear and conclusive . Jt is certain the human soul is uncapable of force andean yield its-assent oftly to evidence and conviction . The same pro . position frequently appears in a Very different light > to different persons v froto > wh ^ ncfc it i * : iobfi * bus ; that a unity of opinion ^ ii

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    Letters of Mr . Bartholomew Hoare . — Letter I . 213

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1812, page 213, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1747/page/5/