leſs to exterminate or deſtroy them. The legiſlature hath indeed thought it proper, that the civil magiſ ſhould again interpoſe, with regard to one ſpecies of hereſy, very prevalent in modern times: for by ſtatute 9 & 10 W. III. c. 32. if any perſon educated in the chriſtian religion, or profeſſing the ſame, ſhall by writing, printing, teaching, or adviſed ſpeaking, deny any one of the perſons in the holy trinity to be God, or maintain that there are more Gods than one, he ſhall undergo the ſame penalties and incapacities, which were juſt now mentioned to be inflicted on apoſtacy by the ſame ſtatute. And thus much for the crime of hereſy.
III. Another ſpecies of offences againſt religion are thoſe which affect the eſtabliſhed church. And theſe are either poſitive, or negative. Poſitive, as by reviling it's ordinances: or negative, by non-conformity to it's worſhip. Of both of theſe in their order.
1. And, firſt, of the offence of reviling the ordinances of the church. This is a crime of a much groſſer nature than the other of mere non-conformity; ſince it carries with it the utmoſt indecency, arrogance, and ingratitude: indecency, by ſetting up private judgment in virulent and factious oppoſition to public authority; arrogance, by treating with contempt and rudeneſs what has at leaſt a better chance to be right, than the ſingular notions of any particular man; and ingratitude, by denying that indulgence and undiſturbed liberty of conſcience to the members of the national church, which the retainers to every petty conventicle enjoy. However it is provided by ſtatutes 1 Edw. VI. c. 1. and 1 Eliz. c. 1. that whoever reviles the ſacrament of the lord's ſupper ſhall be puniſhed by fine and impriſonment: and by the ſtatute 1 Eliz. c. 2. if any miniſter ſhall ſpeak any thing in derogation of the book of common prayer, he ſhall be impriſoned ſix months, and forfeit a year's value of his benefice; and for the ſecond offence he ſhall be deprived. And if any perſon whatſoever ſhall in plays, ſongs, or other open words, ſpeak any thing in derogation, depraving, or
