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4. In the first century you have omitted to notice the church of Jerusalem, which, from the scripture account, and the testimonies of the ancients, affords Episcopacy strong support.

I have now, Sir, said all that I think necessary to be said upon the question relating to the government of Christ's church. The subject will admit of a much ampler discussion, and it would be an easy matter to fill another volume with testimonies, and reasonings upon them; but I think enough has been done to convince those who will weigh with candour and impartiality the evidence adduced, that Episcopacy is an Apostolic and divine institution.

Although my patience has been severely tried by your manner of quoting authors, by several provoking hints and expressions, and by a management strikingly partial and unfair; yet I hope that I have not been hurried into any transgression of decorum. I certainly wished, while I spoke plainly, to avoid every thing that would unnecessarily hurt your feelings. When error is exposed, it must unavoidably have an unpleasant effect upon the mind of him who has fallen into it; but if, when exposing error, the manner of doing it be so harsh as to irritate the feelings of an opponent, it is censurable. That I am faulty in this respect, I am not conscious; but if you, Sir, perceive any thing of the kind, point it out, and it shall be immediately retracted. Or if I have done you injustice in any respect whatever, you have but to name it, and if it be really injus

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tice, I will readily acknowledge it to be so. To err degrades. no man; but obstinately to persevere in error, is really disgraceful.

The series of Letters which I have now addressed to you, can certainly have no claim to freedom from defects. The circumstances under which they have been written, do not, I believe, often attend one who gives his thoughts to the public, upon such a variety of points as have occurred in this discussion, By far the greater part of these Letters have been written in the midst of my family, without having had recourse in a single instance, to solitary retirement, and but one of the whole series has been transcribed. My collegiate duties, too, have caused daily and almost hourly interruptions. A candid mind will not, therefore, be disposed to find fault with slight inaccuracies; but will place them among those things quas incuria fudit.

I shall now, Sir, take my leave of you, at least for a time. Whether I shall ever address you again, will entirely depend upon yourself. Should you be disposed for any further discussion of the subject,. you will not find me unwilling to meet your wishes. When the church to which I have the happiness to belong is attacked, irksome as writing is at my time of life, I feel no backwardness to exert the little ability I possess, in her defence; and it af

fords me no little pleasure to think, that I am at the same time defending the cause of almost every Christian church upon earth.

I am,

Reverend Sir,

With esteem and respect,

Your obedient humble servant,
JOHN BOWDEN.

Columbia College, July 15, 1808.

THE END.

Printed and sold by T. & J. SWORDS, No. 160 Pearl-street,
New-York.

1. Dissertations on the Prophecies, which have
remarkably been fulfilled, and at this Time are fulfilling in the World. By
Thomas Newton, D. D. late Lord Bishop of Bristol.

2. A Companion for the Festivals and Fasts of the

Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Principally selected and altered from Nelson's Companion for the Festivals and Fasts of the Church of England. By John Henry Hobart, A. M. an Assistant Minister

ERRATA.

Vol. I.

Page 50, line 4, for that read this.

97, last line, for Presbyters, read Presbyteries. 130, line 14, for him, read them.

160, line 12, for Acts, read Article.

170, line 7, 9, 12, put the before third, fourth, fifth. 197, line 15, for keen party men, read keen parity men. 312, line 3, for that order, read this order.

Vol. II.

Page 81, last line, for friends, read fiends.
122, line 3, for have, read bas.

169, line 2, for enlightened, read unenlightened.

224, line 3, for of the days, read to the days.

247, line 4th from the bottom, for Holland to, read Ho land too.

sisting of Lessons selected from the Old Testament. For the Use of scho and Families. By Mrs. Trimmer.

10. An Attempt to familiarize the Church Cate

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chism. For the Use of Schools and Families. By Mrs. Trimmer. First Ameri can, from the third London Edition.

11. The Christian Institutes; or, the Sincere Word

of God. Being a plain and impartial Account of the whole Faith and Duty of a Christian. Collected out of the Writings of the Old and New Testament: digested under proper Heads, and delivered in the Words of Scripture. By the Right Reverend Father in God Francis, late Lord Bishop of Chester. The first American, from the twelfth London Edition.

12. Discourses on several important Subjects. By

the late Right Rev. Samuel Seabury, D. D. Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the States of Connecticut and Rhode-Island. Published from Manuscripts prepared by the Author for the Press,

fords me no little pleasure to think, that I am at the same time defending the cause of almost every Christian church upon earth.

I am,

Reverend Sir,

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