It is needless to observe, that this politic system, though adopted in many instances from pure and praiseworthy motives, is, to say the least of it, a doubtful and dangerous one. It is liable to involve those who practise it in a course of habitual dissimulation, which cannot be vindicated by its alleged motives, and can scarcely fail materially to injure the genuine integrity, simplicity, and godly sincerity, which the true Christian, and above all the Christian minister, will endeavour to cultivate with all assiduity and diligence. As far as Mr. Peirce's case is concerned, it is however worthy of remark, that if his preaching and public services were really conducted from the first on the plan which he describes, his ultra-orthodox hearers must have been much less alert and vigilant than such persons generally are, not instantly to detect his deficiencies, not so much in the actual assertion or introduction of obnoxious principles, as in the absence of topics and modes of address which a person thoroughly ‘sound in the faith’ may be expected to employ on all occasions. It may be added, also, that of the other ministers, Mr. Hallet, if not Mr. Withers, appear in a great measure to have adopted the same views, and to have acted on the same principle.
In 1715, a vacancy occurring among the associated ministers was supplied by a Mr. Lavington, a young man of no great talent, but abundant orthodoxy,
