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I
/V^or ^^ T PL
^f^*^ ft
A CHARGE
DELIVERED
TO THE CLERGY
OF THB
DIOCESE OF HURON,
IN
ST, PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, LONDON,
CANADA WEST,
AT HIS
TRIENNIAL VISITATION, IN JUNE, 1862.
BY THE
RIGHT REV. BENJAMIN CIIONYN, D.D.
LORD BISHOP OF HURON.
►•♦-
LONDON, C.W.:
PRINTED BY THOMAS EVANS. DUNDAS-STREET WEST.
A CHARGE.
&c., ^c.
We are permitted, my Reverend Brethren, in the providence of God, again
to meet as one body, after the lapse of three years, in conformity with the
practice of the Church, to take counsel concerning the important interests com.
mitled to our care. Such meetings of the Clergy arc eminently calculated to
he profitable to all engaged in them. On these occasions we arc enabled to
advise, exhort, encourage, and cheer each other, and thus to strengthen our
hands for the work to which we are called.
When we reflect on the importance of the subjects which are to be brought
before us — that it is not the transitory and perishing things of time alono
which are io engage our attention, but the vast concerns of an endless eternity,
our feelings should be deeply solemnized; and our thoughts elevated above
everything low and earthly, and we should lift up our hearts, with our hands,
to the Giver of all Grace, that he may be present with us in «ur deliberations,
and may direct all our consultations to the advancement of His glory and the
good of His Church through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In addressing you, my Reverend Brethren, I shall first notice some events
of a public character which have recently occurred, and in which we, in com-
mon with all our fellow-subjects, feel a lively interest I shall then consider
the changes which have taken place in this portion of the Lord's vineyard, in
which, by the providence of God, our lot has been cast I shall also briefly
touch upon some subjects of a practical nature, which call for attention ; and I
shall lastly dwell upon some points of doctrine, which appear to me to be pecu-
liarly important at the present time.
Within the past year our nation and our beloved Queen have been visited
by a most severe aflliction in the death of the late Prince Consort. This event
cannot be regarded in any other light than as a great national calamity. Now,
that it has pleased the Great Disposer of all things to remove his Royal High-
ness from amongst us, our eyes have been opened to his real value and his
inestimable worth. With that modesty which is ever a characteristic of true
greatness, he was content to devote his great talents and his varied intellectual
attainments to promote the prosperity of the country and the good of mankind,
without seeking praise of men. There lives but one, who can tell how much
of that wisdom and sound discretion in the management of public affairs, which
t„ be ascribed to the ..Imirable «amplc Y''t,w ,1 been ma.l» «Pl>»rent to
„, i„ ^-^^'f^^^^Z^^;^ ;;,e .IL favoraMe opinion, .nd
dnrins bis late v.s.t to this co«"< y, B , „__, ^„j„ty
e„nciliate,l the mast loyal •■:"- "'^^'^^i;, '"ahsenee ofall those viee. which
.„.! aifability of h,. manners an 1 by •'';;"'"•« ^^^ ^^,^^y „,,„ „.Weh we
so often sully the character of the yo,m lUe > ^^^^^^
can cherish in our hearts an.l present to Oo, m ^'^f^" „„,„„t
Prince of Wales is, that he may tread m the ^'»"=1'» "' J^;^ \^ „„,i„,
Lher, and may emulate '''^f 7' :-:£,tt ' Iverundcr the mighty
for us and for aU members of he cmrc^> to bundle on ^^^ ^^^.^_^_ ^_^_j
hand of God. who has inflicted «-^ ^ "^ jl'^^'™ ^ to our beloved Queen,
continually to pray that such w.sdora "''^ ''. ™ Juhin^s may be so ordered
and to those placed in authority under her tot -» * »= J.„ ^,,,
us throughout all generations "
Dunn, the past year question, of the deepest j^P-^^^^^'J^St^^^
attention of the Ecclesiastical Courts ^"^-^^^^^^^'I'^^XX,. D. J.
delivered in the case oii^^J^ ITa'X "'•-«"''"'" '''"'"'""
Heath, demands our careful attention. In inai j „ .^
laid down, as the principle by -^''\'^^^^'^SltmM »«' "*•
forming his opinion concernu,g the <I°='™" '""" « "^ J' „ . .,^^i ,„„rtruc
plain grammatical sense of the f -'^"^V ''^/"^f p", „ tWil in the c^s.
,i„n"of it; and he refers to '^;J'"'P"-"' ° '^^^^^^^^^^
ofOorham against the«op„f^et..s^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ .^^^ ^^
the same prmciple. Th.s. my ''"• »'^ '.^„„ the Thirtv-nine Articles of
There has been, of late years, a hatat "f/f ™"- ^^ \f ^^„„ ,„„,e,y inter-
our Church as giving no certam sound, but -''^^''^^^^llr:.. of them haa
preted to suit the views of every subscriber _ a """ .''»*';'™ ™ . j,^„„ d,^,„
Ln advocated in many instances, and they ^^I'^^^'^f^^'l^Xr^- •3«l-»-
aside from their literal and «'™™f '^^C ^^^^^^^ by the
tion prefiiied to the Articles. Th.s P™°'J " ^^^ ^heir hands will now
true friends and conscientious adheren s of the Church l
be strengthened by the decision ,0 "l"-^! adve , f^^^^ ^>^J^,^.^^
of the highest court in the -»>™.;^ * ^J^nce with th"; Articles, literally
rgri^tS^^rrofbi^:^^^^^^^
"'rication of that in«de, ^o-,-— ^S l^J^^
»»
almost every doctrine net forth in these formularies, has given rise to the case
of the Bishop of Salisbury against Dr. Rowland Williams, upon which the
j udgmcnt of the Court of Arches has not yet been pronounced.* This case
brings up many painful thoughts, when we consider that for several days the
question was pra%*ely discussed whether a clorfryman of the Church of Kiiglaiid
may with imptinity hold and teach, that the ItibU; is an expression of tlcvout
reason— that it is the written voice of the congregation- that the Church is as
much inspired as the Bible—that certain parts of the Sacred Canon may be
repudiated— that prophecy may be entirely denied — that the narratives of
Scripture may be treated as myths — that the incarnation may be spiritualized
— that a sinner is not justified for the njcrits of our Lord Jesus Christ by faith.
In ore word, that the entire system of doctrine set forth in our Book of Com-
mon Prayer may be called in question with impunity. Let tis pray that wisdom
from on high may be imparted to those who may be called to give the final
judgment in this important suit; that as in the Gorham case, so also in this,
wc may have & clear decision from which there shall be no appeal, and that the
doctrines of our Church concerning the inspiration of God's word, and concern-
ing the justification of the sinner only for the merit of our Lord Jesus Christ
by faith, may be vindicated, and that it may bo made apparent to all that the
Articles of our Church speak an intelligible language, and cannot be treated
with contempt or explained away with impunity.
Since we were last similarly assembled, some important changes have been
effected in the Church in Canada. The Diocese of Toronto has been divided,
and another Diocese has been added to the four which previously existed in
this Province. We have every reason to hope that the increase of the Episco-
pate will, in this instance, as in all similar cases, be attended with an increase
in the zeal and energy of the members of our communion included within the
o Since this charge was delivered, the judgment of Dr Lushington. the .Tiulge of
the Court of Arci.es, has reached this country. "We find that Dr. Williams lias been
con(' mued on the first six charges brought against him by the Bishop of Salisbury
-tlu.t he is also condemned on the seventh, which is to !« "reformed" — that the
eighth charge was rejected with a strong ensure contained in the following words :
■" For this reason, though I tliink Dr. Williams' opinion militates against one of the
most important doctrines held by the most vciuirated divines of the Church, I can-
not come to the conclusion that the Articles of religion or the Liturgy have in this
respect been violated." The ninth charge is rejected on the same groimd, biit the
teaching is pronounced by the learnetl Judge '* very erroneous," but is " not deemed
to come within the condemnation of the law." The tenth and eleventh charges
are rejected on similar grounds. The twelfth charge is to be *' reformed," but it is
Bubstantially admitted ; it relates to the atonement, and the Judge thus expresses
himself concerning it : '• I think snch declaration is inconsistent with and contrary
to the thirty-first Art'cle. The thirteenth charge was withdrawn. The fourteenth
charge was rejecter'. The fifteenth chaige, concerning justification l)y faith, is ad-
mitted as '• wholly inconsistent with the llth Article." The sixteenth charge was
admitted ; the 17tL charge was rejecteil ; and the Judge, in conclusion, thought it
desirable to give leave to appeal to Her Majesty in Council " The judgment in the
case of Fendall v. Wilson was delivered at the same time, it is in many respects
aimilar to that in the case of Dr. Williams. Both these cases are now to be brought
before t'le Privy Council. Never were more important issues submitted to this august
tribunal. ^ We wait with prayerful expectation the final judgment of this the high-
est Court ia the realm.
I
♦n him in lar-e mcfisure Ihs J,"'aco, that nc may
^ 'X^e «,e ,n..- *..io, which ,Wvo - J-P^'; '' - . ,,,,„,„„.„„ f„,
the Province of Cana, a. You «;" '™ f „„„„ jedincl to do so, for
ti.ioncd forthi, "W""!''"'""'- Itl r^e that we believedlhat in tho Synod
several rea»o,,», the prmoipa of »1^U««^^.»^ ^^^^, „„ ^^„ po„et
law. to which Ili-T Majesty had g.vcn i" J™'- "^"J „„,, „„ fc„ed -hat
'which wa» necessary for the «"";-- „^,t; * ju troUtan would involve
Provincial Synods which wonld ho »-'™ '';3 \^^ '„, „,o fnnds of the
the diocese in an e.,,cnse «-'"'^''' '" "'l^l^j ,„ p,„,.ed that our fea»
Church, would he felt to be oppress v.^ ,^1'ZZ. UL\ hv the only Pro-
were not Rroundloss, for a lar^c part of ,h »P™« " „,,^„, i the diocese •,
'" ^77^, -.e-'-d that the collection which - -"^lialcf S^
the" expenses operated f-'r^^Jl^:^^t:L.. collected in
eiety. which. I a,n -V -^tillt W^ht hire you in thehnsines. o
the previous year. This ^'"'JMt w " J considon.t.on ; for
the Church Society, and 1 »°>'"«"^ ''? ^ ""'",„ ,.(* our couRregations. by
I fear if our Church Society >s ■'7*^ ,f J ^ " „ff,,rts m the diocese will be
.uch appeals being frequently m A on^^^^^^^ ^, ^,^ C^„„h
to he held on the tenth day <>' ''^^l^X^.Z'n school of theology in the dio-
For some time past 1 -- ' ^^J, ^ rJcandidates for holy orders n>igh
cese, where young men o(fcr,ngthems'e. ^^^ ^^^^^^i
^ecive such teaching, and "-'-'g" ^";' _ ™ "„} Mependent missions with
«ork, as would Rt them to enter -^-'^^^^:^^ ,J „e taken from col-
reasonable prospect of sncces . A' P'^^™''; J „;,si„„s far removed from
,ege, orfron, "--'V'"^!-' f "^■:,'rtb;res Ittas been, in more cases than one.
their brethren n the »"■'* • ""^ * Z want of some experienced friend to
. r.e. t::t:^t^^^ - '-- -^ -'- ^"- "•""
-\?sinT::r,:;:r;o.mg.nen.^^^^^^^^^^^^
their ministry under some '^^^^'ll^^^rSZu.^l But in this coun-
his direction, the evils wluch '"^ f;^'™;;, , Therefore, I have for some
night
the doctrines of our church may bo taught, where I shall have the opportunity
of ascertaining the fitness of men for titc ofHco which tiioy seek, and where
they may be trained in pastoral and parochial duties.
Last year Dr. HoUmuth, who had lonsj l)ci'n known in Canada as general su-
perintcndcnt of the Colonial and Continental Church Society in Hritish North
America, was compelled, >)y ill health, to resign his ctinnoction with that soci-
ety, and to go to England. I gludly availed myself of the opportunity of ap-
pointing him as my commissary in the United Kingdom, to solicit aid for tlm
erection of a school of theology in the diocese; and having appointed him Arch-
deacon of Huron and assistant minister in the cattiedral, he went to Kngland for
the purpose of laying before our brethren there our wants and wishes upon tliis
subject. I am truly thankful that, through the Divine blessing upon his ejrorts,
the venerable archdeacon has met witli a large measure of success amongst our
friends at home. Tlic sum of over five thousand poimds has been the result of
a few months' unwearied exertions in the mother country. I regard this as an
earnest of what our brethren at home are disposed to do for us toward carrying
out the object we have in view.
Exception has been taken to some statements made by the archdeacon at a
meeting in London. I have cxauiined these statements, as explained by the
archdeacon, and so far as the part of Canada with which I have been intimately
acquainted for nearly thirty years is concerned, I feel assured that his state-
ments are strictly in accordance with facts. With many of the dioceses in
British North America I have liad little or no acquaintance, therefore I cannot
from my own knowledge speak of them. But as Dr. Hcllrauth has acted for so
many years as general superintendent of the Colonial and Continental Church
Society in British North America, I should not be disposed to question his tes-
timony as to the religious state of these dioceses.
Whether it was prudent in the archdeacon, while representing me in Eng-
land, to have made statements concerning other dioceses, may be questioned by
some, but it must be borne in mind that the archdeacon addressed a meeting of
avowedly evangelical clergymen in Islington, not so much as my representa-
tive, as the late general superintendent of the Colonial and Continental Church
Society, and I presume he thought that as he had acted so long for this society,
of which all the clergymen he addressed were zealous supporter's, it became him,
when resigning his official connection with it, to give these gentlemen the re-
sult of his experience and observations in the British North American Pro-
vinces. I think it due to Archdeacon Hellmuth to state here tliat my confi-
dence in his sincerity, his piety and veracity, is entirely unshaken, and that I
shall continue thankfully to avail myself of his valuable services for the work in
which he has proved himself a faithful and efficient laborer.
One thing 1 must not omit to state, that my instructions to Archdeacon Hell-
muth were, that he should solicit aid from our brethren at home for an institu-
tion which should be thoroughly Protestant and evangelical, so that hereafter,
when the constitution and laws of the institution are made public, no charge
may He against him of having sought and obtained aid under false pretences.
I
^. i.h.fnmMUiuchiUtirtiaaeUtemenU of the position of
I now proc«d to Lj befor. y""*"'"" „ f„^ , correct wtlmat. of
U.. Church in o»' .'-»-•" " ^3 w.C. mdo .inco th. l»t vinit*
the proBr»,«hich, by tl>o Dmn. "'"^^^J; J ,„ ^^^ M„r. the Diocese
lion, an.1 also of the work which yet «»"""•" ,,„ ,„i„i«,ation» of th.
«„ be s»id to k. .t .Ul .<leq.»ely ^JP''"^*"; ^ clergy since the Iwt
Church. Some cl-nRC, l^ 1 •"''™ '"'"J 'rr.l- hr^t mis-Lry .ppointed
to (ioderich «.d the »"*•>»'''""[ '^'•JXovedby.lcath , .nd . few der-
who rcsuled there for many ye.r», to '«™ ".™°;„ ^ „„,„b'e, of the dersar.
gy„,enl,ave lc« the Diocese At tt» »^ ^;»";~ Missionary. Mission-
fncluding the Bishop, the 1WI>» ''"B^l""™^ ^„ ^ ft.
.ric, to 0.e Indians and the fng.t.ve.t.jes^-^^^^^^^ ,__ ,,^^ ^^ ^^
,„sent time is -^'^ J™i - "^ » ^7„ „', „,^,,, ,,,„„«,, to «ld four
yean^ In the conrse of t^ie mxt ';""«» ^,„„„„„„ t, minister to the spi-
te thi- number, which will g.« .,shy«™; ';t''^;^,hi„,, ,„ pr«.ch the gos-
ritual wants of our brethren ^''^^^J'"^2J^Zv.Ji^'^'^^<>---'^
pel to the red tnen of the -^„n,% '"^rojAfric^ wbo have e,«ped
to proclaim true hherly to *»««J^;''' ^ .,„„„p,t „,. The popnla-
from slavery, and hare found . ^"""'^^I'^J'^^f^ ^ ;,,„e yean.. In 1859
«o„ of the dioc« has largely '»-- .^''l f^med on tL bet data w,
it was estimated at 403.581. 1>» """1. ,.e can state accurately
eouid then o.;taiu. and - -'^-J™^ •:;;,.„ i„ ««.. to 4W.1
that it amounts, accordmg to the fc»'" ^ ^ U,;, jnarcasc m the
showing an i„c««se '» '- j;-;;l\ ; ':i^^^^^ „t L clergy. From this it i.
populaiion we have *'i'^"* '"™'»^,'" '"' " uer of clergymen in the diocese, we
apparent, that, if we ><«''' ""'J- *» ''^'nher'ogrl w. have made ; but w^^^^
Zy be disposed '»fc««'^'"7'''';^r„',™l aXL yearly amongst us. from
we'taUe into ^^"-"^'^^^^^''Z' T^^^l^Zn^I iJ^ "PO" - "»' *«
various quarters, say 80,000, )w pamw ^^^^^^^ ^^,
are falling behind the populatmn yea by y ar, »a ^^^._^ ^^^
human wiil be squired from - a.<ledl,y^ ^Tfo herland, inany degr« .0
our brethren and the great Churcl 3°"*'' °" ™ ^^ ^^ich are th.« every day
tneet the demands for 't"""^«^'Timlts the number of churchmen to
inereadng upon u^ J''\7T/"tna„; ,-''"«»'<''='»"'»**''"'"' 'i*
the diocese to be 91,87*. whde "« »«'»»"™8 . „„ „,igio„ „r no creed.
the diocese 11,624 who return ff^t^^^toTselfeswhictloudly calls for
Surely this is a state of ''-*'f """"""^^aTdune last. I have visited 58
Chri^ian effort Since the ""-^^ f^'d /^"ermons. I have conflrrned
congregations in the *°'=f^' '"J^^f tana 5 burial-grounds, ordained 7 dea-
1,171 candidates, consecrated '/^"ifj^^'^^ithto the diocese, besides journeys
c;ns and 6 priests, and travelled ^.53* n>d^^ » '*" ,^ „t ,he church. I
to Quebec, Montreal, Kmgs ton and loron o "^ '^ „f j^e diocese.
„„..o«. with the Divine blessmg, to v.b^ '^'""""'^jitbe present
puvi.ti.-, ' wrHr* Huron. Grey aaa tens, a«fi"s ** s"
comprising the counties of Bruce, umon, v, )
Bummer.
At our raeef'ii.' in Ih-i, T rf.,„,rf.T ftiiif fTi.. ^odciy for I^ropngating th«
OoKpel in Foreijcii iUris WM Kfiwitv.! i tou »t«rliiig pertonura, toaid ia tho sup-
port of misitionario)) in t)ie«liocc<*e; thin grant wa» to terminate at the end of
three yean*. I tl»on oxprcKscd the hope that, when the r«al state of the country
was Icnown to tliat hcncvoient iwclc'ly» which lia.«i for so long a time Jiberally
contributed to the Aupport of the church inCuni h ih, ^lautwouM not only
be extundeii hut cnlar^o^L The event Ims prov. .] t imi | i,! not calculate rashly
nn ihf CDofl fpcltnt: ofourbrcthron, for sinrr thai limc tin' i^rnnt has hoon I'on-
liuu'ji.l 1 Lwicij iucrcascA ! lulfly rcccivud u li'ticr from i he Secretary of
that society, in reply to an ippl!>;ition which I had lun.lr tor an .uMitional
grant, stating tlmt the nociety had h ( i.lcl tn iiicrfane the grant to £1,200 ster-
ling per annum, ami to contniui' if tbrtwoyi'ar- and adialf from tst July next.
I wouUl here call attention to the conditiona which acconiiKinv this grant of tho
society ; that before tho termination of the grant, "onooriuM' .f liic foljowinn-
steps shall ha\'e been taKcn by the inhabitants (from local losourcis ,, towards
the in<lepcndence of the mission : — 1st The erection in each of a parsonage,
with a glc'tie attached 2nd. The erection in eacli of a church. Srd. The col-
lection andinvestmcnt of an endowment fund in each mission, i inal to Imlftho
society's grant, or sufficient to produce an income of £40 per annum." 1 would
also remind tho missionaries who are supported in parf hy this society, that it
is refjuired by the society, thatevery missionary shall >r\n\ in a quarterly report
of his mission, to be forwarded by mo to the Si)i,i.t\ . This fondition has, in
some cases, been overlooked, but I trust that all the missionaries ■ >\ the society
will, for the future, show their appreciation of the liberality wliich we have ex-
perienced, by forwarding tonie regular reports each quarter of their proceedings,
and of the state of the church in their respective missions.
The venerable Society for Promoting Christian Kno^^■ledge >till continues to
make grants for the building of churches, and, with their assistance, already
fort/-threc churches have been erected in the diocese. This society has also con-
tributed £500 to the fund for tho support of a theological college in the diocese.
The Colonial and Continental Church Society has also continued their valu-
able assistance to us. Tho agents of this excellent society still carry (jn the
labors amongst the fugitive slaves, and one missionary to the Indians on tne
river Thames, is mainly supported from their funds,
I have been desirous for some time to add to t' v? number of iMir missionaries to
Indians scattered throughout the diocese, but foi want of funds have been unable
todoso ; Ihave made several applications for this purpose to societies at home, but
the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts alone, has re-
sponded to my appeal, by granting £100 per annum towards the salary of tho
missionary on Walpole Island.
You will see, my reverend brethren, from these statements, that much re-
mains for us to accomplish — that we must not consider ourselves relieved from
m
the responsibility of exerting ourselves, because our brethren at home thus as-
sist us. Our congregations in the various missions, even in the most recently
settled parts of the country, must be require.l to do what they can towards the
support of the missionaries laboring amongst them; and our brethren in the
more wealthy settlements must be exhorted to contribute liberallv of their sub-
stance that the Lord's work may be carried on m every part 'of the diocese.
And he,e I thmk it well to bring befcvo you the claims of the Church Society.
By the mac.unery of this society, the clergy have frequent opportunities of
bnngmg the wants of the church before th.ir cong. 3gations, and cf urging
upon them the.r duty to contribute liberally to its funds. In their quarterly
appeals to the people, the clergy should not rest satisfied with a cold, formal
statement concerning the object for which the appeal is made, but should show
the people that the mterests of the church in the diocese arc now in their hands
and that, unless the seveial congregations are alive to their duty, and liberally
contribute for the ex^>nsion of the operations of the church, we must retroo-rade
instead of advance. The annual meeting, of the parochial associations should
be conducted with spirit, both by the clergy and laity of each mission, and the
deputations which are appointed to attend these meetings should bo regarded
only as auxiliaries. I fear it has become too much the custom to leave the en-
tire business to the deputations ; thus the interest of the laity in the meetings
has been allowed to cool. Every effort should be made to induce the members
of the church not only to attend the meetings, but to take a lively interest in
tficm.
I would therefore press upon you, my revexond brethren, the performance of
this duty to the Church Society, as of paramount importance. Were our dio-
cese divided into parishes, and each parish provided with an endowment for the
support of the minister, the only dufes which would then remain for the cler-y
woulu be to minister in holy things, and to be active in works of charity. But
circumstanced as the church in this country is, the clergy are called upon to use
every means in their power to obtain from the people, funds, which shall be em-
ployed m extending to their brethren in the remote and destitute parts of the
d-oceseche spiritual privileges which they themselves enjoy. All our efforts
Should be directed to the expansion of our influence and operations throu-^hout
the length and breadth of the diocese, and we should be careful not to encourage
any feeling in our own minds, or in the minds of others, or to advocate any mea-
sure, which might have a tendency to weaken our sympathies with our destitute
tellow-churchmen in the diocese, or to contract the sphere of our usefulness
amongst them.
While speaking of the Church Society, it is forcibly called to my recollection
that, m the course of the past year, it has pleased our Heavenly Father to re-
move, by death, from amongst us, one of the most zealous friends of that insti-
tution. Ihe late Absalom Shade was always found ready to devote his time,
n
and to give hU most t«I,uMc assistance, towards carrying on the business of the
socety and for pro.noting its objects in every way in bis power. He was a
«tea.ly fncnd and liberal contributor to every object of the church, fron, the pe".
nod of the d,v,s,„n of the dioce,c, until lus death ; and in the last let of 11 hT^
he evmced that h,s ,.cal for the church was not an idle profession, but an m^t
en « pr,„c,ple. by tbo bequest of the nn.nif.ccnt su,:,„f over ks.OOO for he
permanent endowment of the eburch in Calt. Being dead, he ye speake •
.nd >t may be hoped tbat the noble example which be has 'set w II bff tw d
y„ f J .u "''°"' **'"'• '" '''^ P^vidcnce, has given largely of this world's
goods and that, when they come to surrender their stewardship they may L
our departed brother, remember that all which they have has' omTfZ G d
and properly belongs to him, and tbat therefore it is their duty to devote a lb
be,rf port,o„ of that which their Heavenly Father has freely bestowed upon
theber ""rt r'"' '" *""'■"'• "*"'''" «■» "^''Vh' sympathise with
source of "'"""/f <""• ''=""*'«'' "'»"'«■•. « fcol assurcl thai it will be a
source of comfort and of grateful thankfulness to her to know, that the memory
frendlorh 7',;'"''r'r:'"' "" "" '>^"'' '" "'8'-' I'™'"- by all to
fends of the church m the Diocese of Huron, and that the example which he
has set may sfll continue to be productive of lasting good to the church, oven
m inture generations.
The subject ot endowments is now engaging the attention of our brethren in
many C„I„„,al d.oceses; and the venerable Society for Propagating the Gosn 1
fit.:' the"'r"f l;'"""'^' ™''"""^™ '» S™' '-■» 'q"al toot-
No wilst,nd™°r T "" '""'"'"""' '" ""^ ""=''«'=. f-"- this object
■funno t of tb"° '° '"''■"^■™, "■"'■<=" "■» are making upon our people, for the
support of their clergymen, for the erection of churches and parsonages and
for o her objects of the Church Society, I think tbat something might be ac-
compisbed towards carrying out this deshrtle object ; small portion, of and
nngbt be obtained, either by gift or purchase, in the several miss'o s "ubs ip
tions might be sought which, though small separately, in the aggregate would
P^d l::Zl : T ""'.'^^""^'■' ''' ™* apurposfmi'ghtbe
pected Ihe Society for Propagating the Gospel would add a fifth to the
amount thus obtained; and in a few years a provision would be ma ■ „r he
permanent establishment of our missions in the diocese. I commeni' hi sub
jec to your careful consideration and to th.at of the Cbureh Societ
Ihe subject of Sunday School instruction is one which has engaged the at
ention of some of the best and ablest men in oi,r cbureh ; upon it I desi? to 0^^^^^^^
few suggestions It h.,s been for some lime regarded as a necessary part of the
minister^ work, and as furnishing one of the most efficient instiumenlaUte
pL • " f s' '^ T^"";' "'°'"''°" """" congregations. Bishop Law, w en
speaking „f Sunday Schools, says :-" There are few means by which a minis-
tor of our church can more effectually promote the cause of order and religion
n
A Sunday school Is an easy, cheap, and unmixed good." And we find the same
approval of Sunday schools in many Episcopal charges delivered within the last
few years; indceed no difference of opinion appears to exist as to their import-
ance. In this country more particularly, where few opportunities of instnict-
ing the young ai-e afforded to the minister throughout the week, the Sunday
school may be regarded as furnishing the only opportunity of instructing the
youth of our congregations in the principles of religion. The common school
system of education, though excellent in many respects, does not even protend
to provide adequate religious instruction for the young. We must, therefore,
look to the Sunday school to supply that which every parent should regard as
indispensably necessary to the well-being of his child. We know that the
teaching ofthe heart exclusively belongs to God. He alone can bring home
the truth with saving power to the soul ; still it is of inestimable value, that the
young mind should be stored with the knowledge of God's word. In how many-
cases have we found that the good seed sown in the young breast has remained
for years apparently dead and utterly unfruitful, while the noxious weeds of
vice and ungodliness have become more rank from year to year. But when
the Holy Spirit has imparted his life-giving influence to the soul ; when his
quickening power has been experienced, the good seed which has so long re-
mained unproductive has been made to spring up, and bring forth abundant fruit
to God. My reverend brethren, we cannot overrate the importance of the Sunday
school ; I would therefore urge upon you to give much of your thoughts and
attention to this subject. Be not discouraged, if you behold but little fruit from
your labors ; " let patience have its perfect work ;" "in the morning sow thy
seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand, for thou knowest not" whethJr
shall prosper either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike
good." I know that the great difficulty experienced in conducting Sunday
schools, is the want of suitable teachers ; but even this difficulty, great as it un-
doubtedly is, may be overcome by faithful perseverance ; suitable books for the
assistance of teachers can at first be procured, and in time, as the interest of
the teachers in the work increases, they will conscientiously apply themselves
to the work ; and in preparing to instruct others, they will themselves learn
many things of which they were before ignorant. There should be in every
mission as many Sunday schools as there are congregations ; and as the clergy-
man cannot, because of his other duties, superintend them all, he should engage
the assistance of such suitable persons as are willing to undertake the duty of
teachers, and he should meet them occasionally, for the purpose of reading with
them those portions of scripture, and of considering the subjects which°aie to
occupy their attention in the school. This employment of the members of
the congregations will have another salutary effect. Those who are alive to the
interests of their immortal souls naturally feel desirous to make themselves use-
ful to their fellow-men; and where no opportunity of doing this is offered in
« ■ K
< ■ V
f
13
our church, they are Kometimes led to connect themselves with other bodies,
where their desire for useful employment, especiall}' on the Lord's day, may he
gratified. For these reasons, and for others, upon which I cannot now enlarge,
I would most earnestly nige upon yoii, my reverend brethren, the duty of pro-
moting as much as possible the formation of Sunday schools in your missions.
These schools will serve as nurseries, in which candidates for confirmation may
receive that instruction which will fit them to partake of that sacred rite with
intelligence, and in a frame of mind suitable to a participation in such a solemn
act of religion. It is to be regretted that so many of the candidates admitted
by confirmation into the full communion of our church, appear not to be duly
affected by the solemn service in which they engage ; this is painfully apparent
in the fact, that many of those confirmed abstain, perhaps for years, from ap-
proaching the table of the Lord, or partake of this high privilege only occa-
sionally. I am happy to remark a great improvement in this particular ; still
much remains to be done. I trust the clergy will use every effort to impress
upon the minds of those who present themselves as candidates for confirmation,
that it is their duty, when they have made public profession of faith in Christ,
and of obedience to him, to evince their sincerity by becoming regular attend-
ants at the table of the Lord. It is the practice of some dioceses in the United
States not to receive any into the church by confirmation who are not pre-
pared to become communicants. I hope the improvement which has com-
menced in this diocese will continue to progress until the evil of which I have
complained is entirely removed from amongst us.
There are two points of doctrine which I desire to bring before you, my rev-
erend brethren, because that on them much controversy has arisen, and the
truth of God, as revealed in His word, and set forth In the articles and homi-
lies of the Church, has been much perverted. One is the great and fundamental
doctrine of justification by faith only, and the other the scriptural doctrine of
absolution, or, as it has been styled, " the power of the keys."
Concerning justification by faith only. Every man who professes to take the
Bible as his rule of faith, must acknowledge that it is therein clearly taught that
"a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law"--that this same doctrine
is enunciated in various forms in our Lord's discourses, and in the preaching of
the first ministers of Christ, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, and in
the Epistles, and it must be equally apparent to every man reading our articles
and homilies, that this same doctrine is much insisted upon in them, and is
there presented to us in every variety of form. Wc know that upon the doc-
trine of justification by fivith only, without works, the great battle of the refor-
mation was fought,— that our reformers considered that error upon this point
was the keystone of the system of Romanism, which they combated even to
death. The eleventh article of our church clearly defines this doctrine, and
the homily on the salvatiou of muikind, to which we are remitted by the article
f
14
for further instruction upon this point, thus teaches, that " this sayinR that wo
bejust.hed by fa.th only, is spol<en for to take away cloarly all „,„ t of „"r
works, as bcng unable to deserve our justiflcat.on at God's hands, and thereby
.nos plainly to express the weakness of man and the goodness of Gd the
p-eat mfirnuty of ourselves and the .night and power of God; the imperfect „„
of our good works, and the most abundant grace of our Saviour t;List Z
therefore wholly to ascribe the merit and deserving of our justinealion unto
Chnst alone and h,s mast precious blood-shedding. This faith the holy .Serin-
ture teacheth us ; this is the strong rock and foundation of the Christian reli-
g.on; this doctrine all old and ancient authors of Christ's church do approvi,-
this doctrine adranceth and setteth forth the true glory of Christ, and beatelh
down the vam-glory of man. This, whosoever dcnieth, is not to beaecounted
for a Christian man ; nor for a settcr-forth of Christ s glory ; but an adversary
of Christ and h,s Gospel, and for asetter-forth of man's vain-glory." So cleaT
so express, so pointed is the teaching of our church upon this most important
question This doctrine of justification by faith only, must therefore, 1^7/™"
a lea.st, be professed by all who are not prepared openly to reject th ut orTty
of holy scripture, as the inspired word of God, and the rule of our faith^
and also to set aside the teaching of our church. But in order to r tn*.
cile the verbal profession of this doctrine with a real rejection of i" Zl
who are ,n their hearts opposed to it, have had recour.se to the eltot
of changing the meaning of some one of the leading terms of the proposition in
which this truth is conveyed, and thus making it to set forth a doctrine the" err
opposite of that which the inspired writers of the holy scriptur and our Z
former., intended to express. The first term which has thus been diverV^
from ,ts natural meaning, is "works," or its equivalent phrase, " deeds of law."
t has been a.sserted that the Apostle Paul, when speaking of "work "^r
forth, means not works done in obedience to the moral law, but ritual obse^.
ances of the ceremonial law. The m,an who propounds thi opinion must^.
culate very largely upon the ignorance of those whom he addres.es for Ae
^ns whieh the Apostle P.aul enumerates, when treating upon ths subject .^ '
without exceptio.,, offences against the decalogue or moral law. He de 1.^
.so t at by the law we obtain the knowledge of sin, and he plain" indS^
to us the law to which he refers, in the following statement; "For I had „^
known lust except the law had said, thou shalt not eovet.- This .houM b»
wt:'i:'d 71 '° r'^ thequestlonas to what works the Apottlnetded
when he declared that " a man is j ustifled by faith without the deeds of the
taw. Our church plainly teaches the same, both in the articles and homilies.
We therefore cone ude that when it is affirmed that a man is justified by faith
«Jy without works, all w-orks of every kind, moral and ceremonial, «, „
the homily expresses It, "shut out from the office of justifying."
(
/ V
\
u
The tenn faith has been dealt with in the same onscriipulous way, in order
to evade the force of the scriptural statement that "a man is jtistilied by faith,
without the deeds of the law." It has been argued that tlie term faith in this
proposition means fidelity, and that therefore the sinner is justified by his
fidelity to God ; in other Mords, by his OAvn works and deservings. This is too
palpable a corruption of the scriptural doctrine to need any further comment.
Again, it has been said that faith means, not si.nply trust in the merits and
atonement of Christ, but that it includes all evangelical righteousness, or all
Christian privileges and gifts ; therefore, the sinner is justified by his evangel-
ical obedience ; in other words, by his own works and deservings, contrary to
the express declaration of God's word and the article of our church. Let us
hear what the pious Bishop Beveridge says, concerning this view of failh :
"Although faith be always accompanied with obedience and good works, so
that it can never be without them, yet in the matter of our justification, it is
always opposed to them by St. Paul; and, indeed, to look to be justified by
such a faith, which is the same with obedience, or which is all one, to be justi-
fied by our obedience, is to take all our hopes and expectations from Christ,
and to place them upon ourselves; and, therefore, this opinion of faith over'
throws the very basis and foundation of the Christiaii religion." Again, it has
been said that feith means "the faith," or Christianity whicli includes the ordi-
nances, the sacraments, and the priesthood of the Christian system. This is
the most subtle and mischievous perversion of the truth which has been pro-
pounded For the man who adopts this gloss upon the word faith, is led to
place his dependence for justification before God, not .simply and unreservedly
on the all-sufficient merits and perfect atonement of the Son of God, but in the
ordinances, the sacraments, and the priesthood of the Church. This is the
system adopted by those Oxford Divines, who, for several years past, have been
corrupting the streams of divine truth at that fountainhead of knowledge, and
who have been endeavoring to introduce into our church that master corrup-
tion and most deadly plague spot of Rome, sacramental justification and sacra-
mental salvation. These divines teach, as a necessary part of their system, that
faith is only a secondary and subordinate instrument in justification, that' bap.
tism is the primary, and the chief, indeed the only instrument by which the
blessing of justification is conferred. This is precisely the doctrine of the
Council of Trent on this question. In its sixth session it decreed, "that the
sacrament of Baptism is the only instrumental cause of justification, without
which justification is obtained by none.*'
The teaching of our church is entirely opposed to this fundamental error of
the Church of Rome. In the eleventh article we read: •'wherefore that we
are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine," and in " the second
Homily on the passion," the following most conclusive passage occurs : "Now
it remaineth that I show unto you how to apply Christ's death and passion to
10
onr oottif,.!-f. nsa nuMli.fno to our woimh, fjo thiit it ituiv work tho sftiiio «-mvt
in us wluMvloiv i( u.-.s .umvom. nM.nHy. tlu' hrnllhwn.l shIvmHou of ,.uv suufs. Knr
nsil |.n.(i(Hli,v,nHMn.i(l„ni,M()liMvo salvMinlrss it W wll «,.plint t.'. the
V»H itin-Hnl, .„ 11,0 ,|r,Uh' oM M.rist sh.'.ll sImimI n^ in |ui fMnv. „n!vsH
wonpi-ly i( (.)..urs,-lv.-siusMd. sort , is fJo.i h.'.fh Mprmint.-,!. Almi.i^hty (Jod
Ooinnmnly workHli I.y „u>ans. ..,,,.1 in Jliis <!,i„^r l,o l,,,»h .Wso nppoinlnl ,uni;m
n..>.ni, wlu'ivhy wo mny take iVuil »n,l j.iolit to oi.r souI'm hrallli. Wh:it tmm
is thai? Forsoolhil is faidi. No( an uuronsiMMt ov Mavn-jn^: fai(h, hut A
Nuri', s((«(i.iras(. o;,,um,l,Ml, a.i.l nnfcipu'.l laid,. 'MJo.l sent liis s<.u into thn
Worl.I," w,iih S(. .roliM. (o what cikI V "That whosoever hi>li..v.>»h ih him shouM
nol pvrisii hnt hav(< hlo cvcrlasiin.ir.'* Mark Uu-s*« wonls. •♦ tjiat Avi.oscH-VtT hrt-
liovdh^ in him." Mnv is ihc^ uw.m whoivhy wv must aj.ply Iho fniiJs rtf
(Minst's iicalh loom- dca.lly uouihI. Iloiv is tho moan nhorohv wi- juust oh-
tainHonianilo, tiamdy. lailh;" aii.l a.i^ain ill (h,< samr: *' lly " this (ho»i y«iu
may well porci^ivo (hal the only mean and iiistni.ncnf of salvatiim uh\\uvM of
onr parls is failh - lha( is to say, rt smv trust and cor.li.IiMuv in (!,«• mvu-wH of
(Jod; \vli('n>l)y \vr |UMsna.KMMnsolvos <!iat tiodholh halh and will for-ivi« luir
sin.s-tliat ho liath a.vrpird us a-ain in<o his tavour that ho hath roloasoil tw
from tho iMUKlsoCianmalion. and mTivo.f us a-aiu into tho numl>or of his ohrt
I'ooplo. notior onr morits an.l dosorls, but rtnly and ^ololy for tho mor its of
(^hrisfs doath and passi.a.;" an.lafiain: "Thus hav« you hoard in fort- wonla
tho moan whiMohy wo must apply (ho fruit ami tnorits of t'hrisf'j* iloath unto
us, sotliat if may work Iho salvaliou of our souls. naJnoJy, n mrv, stoadfiwt,
and p;round»M failh. l"<ir as .all thoy whioh hofioid stoadfastly the hrazon mt-
pont, woro hoalo(landd(>livorod at Uio vory-sisrUt thoroof from thoir corporal
disoasos and bodily slings, ovon so all thoy whioh »»ohold fhrist oruollio.l with
Atrno an.l livoly faith, shall undonhtodly ho dolivortu! fr<»m tho griovous Wounda
of tho soul, ho ihoy novor s(» do;»dIy or many in numhor. Thorofbrr, doarly
holovod, ifuoohanooat a»iy timo, throui^h iVailty of tho iksU,t» fall into sin,
(as if o.innot ho ohoson, hnt \s^' must noo.ls falloffon.) and if wo fool tJ»<; lusivy
hurlhon thoroof to pro.ss our souls. t«u-«nontin!i; us with tho foar of tloath, In-H,
Rnddanmafi»>n; lof us thou uso that nu>au whioh (3od hatti appoititvd in his
word, to wit, tho moan of failh, whioh is tho only instnunont of salvation n«»w
loft unto us. Lot us stoadlastly hohohl Christ cruoifiod with the ry«« of our
hoart. T,ot us only trust to ho save. J hy his death and passion, ami to have
om- sins oU^an washod away through his nu>st [)rooious hlood, that in tho end
of tho world, whon ho shall oomo again to judgo hoth the quiok ami the doati,
ho mar roooi\ o us into his hoavonly kingdom, and place us in the mimber of
hisoloct ana ohoson poopio, thoro to bo i)artakor.^ of that immortal atui ever-
lasting lifo, whioh ho hath purchased unto us by virtue of his bloody Wounds."
I have made tliose long extracts from tho homily, because of their great clear-
ness and of thoir direct bearing upon the subject before tw. In these there h
17
no instnuncut »r]<unw1fi1^t«(Un lh(> jiis;lill<'nli()n iitid ,s!ilvfiM(»n of n Hinncr, hut
*' faith Diily." Afforiliii^r !»> thiH tcncliiii^^ if is n(»t hy liis lidflily, or «'viin^;('l-
iral oh«'»lii'Mrt« ; it is nut \)y n partiripjiliori in all (he ordinaiirt's, |irivil<'^;t's hikI
f;ncrariu>iits of tin- Chrisfian syslcin, thai niaii can he jnslilini hrt'on- <lo<l ; hut
thritu^';h i1h< ohtMliciirc and (li'ath of rinist accouiihMl inilo him for lif^hlcouH-
m'ss, UuMUri,h thi' ah)nr inslnniiciilaiily of a, living failh.
Wliih- licariu^;; such |tnssa|:;cs tin Uksc which I have (juolcd fyiwi Ihc Floruily
OM ihc I'assiou, wc feci as if wc hn^alhcil a clcai- and hcavcidy atnif)S|ihcr(', our
H(>u1s Mv ('rdart:;c<J anil slrcu^lhcucd, and \vc arc i-nalilcd |o hioU hcyoiid tho
ch)uds of uulu'Hcf which siu lias cn}.';ci)dcrcd, to iiini who has purchased for im
by his tiicrits and dealh an incorruptihic (-rown, and who has promised Unit
wlu'ro h(^ is, thero shall also his people, i-vcii till who hclicvc upon hi,s nuiiic", ho,
in i^vcrlasliug hlessedness.
Tho term justilicaUon has shared tho nnuu\ futo as ihoso wlii(di T havo just
Cnnsiderod. Some have iniorpniled it to tiioaii nolhiuf; more than the forp;ivo-
TK'KS of sin. IhiMhe eleventh Article, (he (illc of whi<'h is, "Of tlu! .lustilication
of Man," thus oxplains the term JustirK'alion : "Wo aro accounted rifj:;h(cou3
l)oloro (Jod, only for tho rnorit of our Loj<1 and Saviour .lesus Christ hy faith,
Mind not for our own works and dosorvi^^!;M." Thus teach injj; that tho man who \h
juslilied, is not only frooly and fully pardoned hy tjiod, hut is also uccomitod
righteous for the nu-rits of our Tiord . lesus Christ hy faith, and tho sanio is
tnu^;;ht in tho first part of th(> Homily on the Salvation of Man, wImm'o wo road,
•♦^^o that (Jhrist is now the rij;h(eousn(>ss of all Ihcm that truly do hclievc in
hitu. Ho for th(-ni paid their lansom hy his death. Ho for (hem fullillcd tho
law in his life. So that now in him, and hy him, ovory true (Jhristiaii man
may bo oallod a fidhlior of tho law, forasmuch as that which thoir inlirir)ity
lar1<o«!, Christ's justico («»r rijj;htoousnoss) hath supplied." J <iinnot refrain,
whilo upon this suhj(>c|, of just ilicat ion, from <pi<ttinj:, an olocpient passa^!;c from
the writinjjjs of that most ominent of Kni2;lish divines, liicliurd Hooker, in
which ho would almost ap]»ear to paraphraso that passage which 1 havo Just
quoted from tho homily of our chiu'<h. lie says: "Christ hath moritod right-
eousness for as many ns aro found iti liim. In him Uod lindoth us if wo he
faltliful, for hy failh wo aro inoorporatod into Christ. Then, although in our-
Rolvos wo ho altogether sinful at' 1 uiu'ighteous, yot oven tlio man which is im-
pious in liimself, full of iniquity, full of sin, him heing found in Christ, through
failh, and having his sin remitted through repentance, him (Jod heholdeth with
a gracious oyo ; putteth away his sin hy not unputing it; takoth away the
pmiishmont duo thereto hy pardoning it, ; and aooeptoth him in Josus Christ.
as pcrfootly righteous as if ho had himself fulfilled all that was oommandod him
in tho law. Shall I say, more perfectly righteous than if himself had fulfilled
the wliolo law? 1 must take hoed what I say; hut tho Ai)ostlc saith, ' (jod
niado him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the right*
eousness of God in him.' Such are we in the sight of God the Father, aa is
the very son of God himself." , .. , *i ^r
Justification, then, not only means the forgiveness of sms by the death of
Christ, but the imputation of rigliteousness through his merits—thus it is that
we are accounted righteous before God.
Other opposers of the doctrine of justincation by faith only, have invented a
two-fold justification, that by ihis device they may evade the force of the pro-
position—" We conclude that a man is justified by foith without the deeds of
the law." Great names may be quoted for this treatment of the term. But
neither in the word of God nor in the articles audhonulies of our church do we
find the slightest intimation of a two-foldjustification before God. 'ihe quota-
tions which I have already wade from these sources will be sufficient to estab-
hsh this position. ... ^
I have dwelt longer than I intended upon this point; but such h its import-
ance, and such the eiicct which our views concerning it produce upon our
entire system of doctrine, that too much attention cannot be bestowed upon it.
I would exhort you, my reverend brethren, to study carefully the three homi-
lies on the doctrine of justification, with which our church has provided us, and
to compare them with the word of God; and thould you desire to extend your^
researches beyond these, I would recommend the work of Bishop Mcllvane
•n Oxford Divinity, to your careful perusal, and the sermons on the nature
and the effects of faith by James Thomas O'Brien, D. D., formerly Fellow of
Trinity College, Dublin, now Bishop of Ossory, as well calculated to bring
before you the various views which have been enunciated upon this subject.
I am happy to see that the latter work, which for some years has been out of
print, has been recently republished in England. In this you will find the
erroneous views concerning justification enunciated by Bishop Bull and Arch-
bishop Lawrence, clearly exposed and conclusively refuted.
The consideration of the scriptural doctrineiiof absolution, or " the power of
the keys," will form a suitable sequel to the solemn service in which wo were
this morning engaged. When we take part in the admission of brethren into
the holy office of the ministry, we cannot fail being reminded of that eventful
period in our own history, when, according to the apostolic institution, we our-
selves were received with prayer and the imposition of liands, as ministers of
Christ, and thus devoted to his service in the church, forever. It is well, my
reverend brethren, that we should have clear and distinct views concerning the
sacred office which we fill, and to be well assured that our views rest upon tho
solid basis of God's inspired word. There is no subject upon which more error
has been successfully intruded upon the church, than the doctrine of absolution,
or the power of the keys, committed by our Lord to his Apostles. We find
the Apostle Peter thus exhorting the presbyters in his day : ** Feed the flock
of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but
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willm.'lf , not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind, neither as boin^ lords over
(lo(\\lK'ritfi"e; but ht-in- ensami'los to the flo.-k." The apostle, in this warn-
ing rcn.tvni/.0H the <lansror of the nunisters of Christ assunung an undue p-wor
ovti tho peoplo couniutted to their charge; and we kuow f.oui the history of
the chtireh. thsit even tti the days nf the apostles, n;eu began to eovet prc-
cnnru-noe, and to assun^c over their lelUwH a i.ovver whieh was never conumtted
to them hy the Lord.
Let us now consider the nature of that authority which our Lord conferred
upon his apostles, and which wa^ conveyed in the words, -whose sins thou
dost forgive, thcv are forgiven, and whose sins thou dost retain they are re-
tained '' The various interpretations which have been given of these words of
our Lord, may he included in two. One is, that the connnission has reference
to persons, and confers vipon him who is rightly admitted into the sacred mi-
nistry. a judicial power to pardon the sins of individuals. The other is, that
thiM comnnssiou has reference, not to persons, but to characters, and confers
upon the minister authority to declare and prouoimce, to the people of God, the
full and fice .salvation which has heen purchased by the blood and righteous-
ness of Christ, and that God pardoneth and ahsolvcth all who truly repent and
uufei-nedly believe his holy gospel. How theapostlcs of our Lord interpreted
these word^ and what power they believed to he committed by them, we can
best learn from their own acts, from the inspired history of the church recorded
in the Acts of the Apostles, and from their writings. We find the lirst minis-
ters of Christ, immediately after our Lorl's ascension and tho outpouring of
the Holy Spirit, proceeding to exercise their ministry, and we cannot trace, in
anything which has been recorded of them, the slightest hint, that they be-
lieved that an absolute and judicial power of forgiving the sins of men was com-
initted to them ; on the contrary, wc find Peter, upon whom the high honor
was conferred of being the first to use the keys of the kingdom of heaven, com-
mitted to him and the other apostles, by opening the door of faith to both the
Jews and the Gentiles, thus setting forth the authority conferred upon him by
our Lord. In his address to Cornelius and his friends, he says, ** and he com-
manded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it was he which was
ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead ; to him give all the prophets
witness, that, through his name, whosoever believcth in him shall receive re-
mission of sins." Such is the apostle's statement of what he was commanded
by our Lord to do. He was to preach and to testify, not to forgive sins. He
was to declare, with authority, that whoever believeth on the Son of God shall
have eternal life. St. Paul thus declares the same truth when addressing his
brethren at Antioch, in Pisidia : " Be it known unto you, therefore, men and
brethren, that, through this man is purchased unto you the forgiveness of sins,
and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could
not be justified by the kw of Moses." And when the jailor at Philipi, under
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deep convictions of conscience, umi in great alnrin of sotil, piit to liim and Silaa
the important question, " liOrd, what nmst f do to ho saved?" the apostle re-
plied, *' Holievc on the Lord Jesus Christ, and ihou shalt bo saved." Tims, in
the exercise of ihuir ministry by these apostles, we see no trace whatever of an
idea existing in their niiiids thiit thoy possessed the power to forgive the sin«
of those penitent and earnest-iuiudud men who applied to them for spiritual
counsel. But they fulfdled their oflice, when they declared to them, that,
through Jesus, whosoever believed on him, should receive remission of sin8.
We find, also, the Apostle Paul giving charge to Timothy and Titus as to the
exercise of the ministry committed to them, and there is nothing in any of his
epistles which will bear the interpretation that these men of God had placed in
their hands such a tremendous power as that of judicially pronouncing the for-
giveness of those over whom they were placed. Paul's exhortations to Timothy
were, " preach the word ;" " study to show thyself approved unto God, a worl«-
man that ncedeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." If
the apostle had committed to Timothy the power of forgiving the sins of men at
his pleasure, would he not have instructed him in the proper use of such an aw-
ful power y We also find the Apostle Paul exercising discipline in the church
at Corinth by excommunicating and again restoring the incestuous man, but
we find no intimation that he claimed the power of pardoning his sin. From
these and very many other passages of God's word it appears that the .scrip-
tural doctj ine of absolution, or the power of the keys, is, that unto the apostles
of our Lord, and through them, to all the ministers of Christ, in every succeed-
ing age, is committed authority to go into all the world and declare a free and
finished salvation, through the atonement and righteousness of Christ, to every
sinner who bclieveth the record of God concerning his Son. This is that minis-
try of reconciliation which is given to us, to wit, that '* God was in Christ, re-
conciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and
hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now, then, we are ambas-
sadors of Christ, as, though Cod did beseech you by us, wo pray you, in
Christ's steady be ye reconciled to God, for he hath made him to be sin for us,
who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
It remains now to examine whether the teaching of our church corresponds
exactly with this scriptural view of the ministerial office and authority. A can-
did examination of the various services of the church will show that the words
of our blessed Lord, retained by us in the ordination of priests, must be inter.
preted in this latter sense, as conferring authority upon the minister to declare
to sinners the free forgiveness of sins, through faith in Christ Jesus. The first
form which I will consider is that which occurs in our daily service In this it
IS stated that God hath given ''power and commandment to his ministers to de-
clare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution aud remission
of their sins." God alone forgives. "He," that is God, "pardoneth andab-
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solveth all them that truly repent and nnf('i(:;no(lly believe his holy gospel." All
here is in strict acrordnnce with the scrif)tural view ahovo jjiven. Ood pardons
ami absolves ; the minister declares and pronounces the pardon thus piven of
God, and the penitent and helievinp sinner may take to himself the comfort
which is to be derived froni the plad lidinfj;s thus proclaimed. This, which is
the ordinary form of declaring and pronouncinp: (iod's forgiveness of sin in our
church, is styled in the rubric prefixed to the ollioe, " The al)solution or renns-
sion of sins." Thus does the church explain what she intends by the ministerial
power to absolve and remit sins. Also, in the communion service, that which
in the rubric is called the absolution is in the form of a prayer offered to God
for the pardon and deliverance of those who. with hearty repentance and true
faith, turn unto him. There is here no judicial power to forgive sins ascribed
to the minister, but God is recognized as being the alone bestower of forgive-
ness upon those who truly turn to him. When, in these two services, which
are continually brought before the people, our church has thus defined her
meaning of the word absolve, it is manifestly unfair to seize upon and misin-
terpret the same word in the service tor the visitation of the sick, which must
be regarded as a form, provided for an extreme case, to be used, not at the sug-
gestion of the minister, but at the himible and hearty desire of the penitent. It
will be found that when the ministerial office is duly and faithfully discharged,
and Christ's salvation clearly declared by the minister, no member of his con-
gregation will ever think of expressing a desire for the use of this form. But
tho.se who feel sincerely anxious concerning the salvation of their souls will rest
satisfied with the truth of God faithfully proclaimed to them, and will be con-
tent to enter upon an unseen eternity, trusting in the all-sufficiency of Christ,
and believing the blessed assurance, that, for his sake, their sins and iniquities
God will remember no more. Speaking from my own experience of nearly
forty years in the ministry, I would say to you, m)'' reverend brethren, preach
Christ in his fulness, and such mental and spiritual darkness as the desire for
this form of absolution upon the part of a sick and dying man would imply, will
not exist. But he who is the Sun of Righteousness will, with his bright beams,
di.ssipate all the clouds of sin and unbelief, and will enable the humble and
penitent believer to resign his spirit into the hands of his Heavenly Father,
in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life. The true remedy
for such spiritual clouds and darkness is sweetly indicated in the following lines :
Sun of my soul, thou Saviour dear,
It is not ni,c[ht if thou be near ;
Oh, may no earth-born cloud arise
To hide Thee from thy servant's eyes.
Abide with me from morn till eve,
For without Thee I cannot live ;
Abide with me when night is nigh,
For without Thee I dare not die.
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It is by the presence of Christ n!one, rcnlizod by faith, that the sinner cnn be
efTi'rltmlly Kiistaincd as he enters tlie dark valley of the shadow of deatli.
Tlie (nllowinLT view of the foriu of al»s'>liitioii m the service for the visitation
of the siel<, wliich lias strong' reasons to reconunei\d it, has been taken by inntiy
criiiiieiit divines of our church.* It has been said that it was specially intended
for times and for a state of the cluirch when men were often by the decree of
the ecclesiastical authorities, or ijmj'irfn^ exconnunnicated for the counnittal
of some i^ruve offence against the chur -h: In such a case ft man wl>ose con-
science had been wounded and his soul terrified by the thoui-ht that he hud
been cut off from the body of the faithfid. might earnestly desire, before he de-
parted ihis life, to be reconciled and restored by the authorized minister and
representative of the church, tf> that communion from which he had been sepa-
rated. In the collect which immediately follows the absolution, the man who
has been just absolved i<i represented as still most, cririifsd)/ thsiriug jKmhm
and forfjireness, and the following petitions are presented to (jod for him :
" Open the eyes of thy mercy upon this thy servant, who most earnestly de-
sircth pardon and forgiveness," " preserve and continue this sick metnber in
o Amongst those divines who have taken the view here piven of this form of nl)«
Bolution, I would onlv mention Wheiitly, in liis " RiitiouiU Illn-tnitlon of the Book
of Common rrayer,"' under the head,"" Tlwfonn of almhilion i^ems onli/ to rcsjwcl the
censures of the. church ," he tlnis writes: "Now, whether tlie church designs, by this
form, that the ])riest siiall convey God's jjardon to the eouscience of tlic sinner, for
his sins and olTences committed a,t,'aiusfc him ; or whetlier lie shall only remittiio
censures of the churcli, and continue liim in tlie privilege of cluuvli-comniimion,
which he may he supposed to have forfeited liy the sins lie has confessed, is thought
hy some not to be r'earlv or deterniiniitcly expressed. But if we look forward to the
collect inmiediiitcly afi'er t.<' be used, it looks' as \{ the church did onh/ intend the remis-
sion of eec/esiu.stical c^lmtre.^ and hands. Fm' i;i that prayer the i)enitent is said_ still mod
earnkthi to desirepurhni -indfi yivencss ; wiiieh surely there would be no occasion to do,
if he bad been actually pardoned and forgiven of God, by virtue of the absolution
pronounced before. <- *' " Now it is plain that the authority tirst promised to
St. Peter (Matt, xviii. 18). and afterwards in common to all the ap()stles. was a
power of admitting to or excluding from chureh-commuinou. '^ " " But now
it is tiie oninitni of Dr. Hammond, and from him of a late author of not inferior
.iudLrment (Dr Marshal), that this passage has much the same signilicanee with the
former, and that the terms in St. .John (xx. U3) of retainiiifjji\\y\remittin<j are ecpiiva-
lent to those in St. Matthew, of A»r/(Wy am WooM/j^r. » <> - And if this be the
sense of the words in St. John, then it is plain that this commission, as well as the
former in St. Mattliew, confers only a power of exconmunicotinr/ and ahsohnng ; and
consequentlv that no authority can he urged from hmvv. ior the apfh/int/ of God' h
pardon to thc'conmence of a sinner or for (dmilvinfi him ani/ otliern-i.se than from the censures of
the church. « « " 'As to the form of ahsolution, of wliich we are now discoursing,
a parenthesis was added at the last review, to intimate that this is not to be used
even over the sick, unless he humUi/ and hcortdi/ de.nre it. For it is tit a man should
sliow an earnest desire and a due' sense of so great a benefit before it is ottered to
him ; and then, if he he rightly instructed in the end and design cf it, and the form itself be
applied 'With that prudence and caution above described, the use of it surely may not only
tend to the good of the penitent, but may also prove of singular service and advan-
tage to the church."
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tht unity of the church ; and. foranmnch as he putteth his full trunt <.nl y in thy
mcrcv. impute not to him his lonner sins ;" a.ul in the prayer wluch follow,
for a' sick person, when there appearcth small hope of recovery, we hml thm
petition • " (iive him unfeigned repentance for all the errors of his life past, and
steadfast faith in thy son Jesus, that his sins may he done awuy an.l his pardon
sealed in heaven hefore he go hence and hv no more seen." And ajrum, in tho
commen.latory prayer, this petition is ollVred for the soul of the .lying man:
" Wu^h it we pray thee, in the blood of the immaculate lainh that was slain to
take away'tho sins of tho xvorld. tha^ whatever delilement it may have con-
tracted in the midst of this miserable and naughty world, through the lusts of
the flesh and through the wiles of Satan, being purged and done away, it may
be presented pure and without spot before thee." From the purp..rt of these
prayers, it wouhl appear that the absolution which, when earnestly desired by
the sick man is to be pronounced by the minister, must be regarded as some-
thin- diflerent from the lorgivcness of sin, which is in these prayers ascribed
to God and asked in the name and for the sake of Clirist for the man upon
whom the absolution has just been pronounced. If our church regarded this
absolution as conveying a plenary pardon for sin, it would be a solemn mock-
ery to call ui)on God immediately afterwards to forgive those sins which had
already been pardoned by the absolution of the minister. From all this it ha.s
been maintained that the absolution in the office for the visitation of the sick,
was intended to meet the case of those who, for offences against the church,
had been placed under ban and exconununication, and who, after confessing
faith in Christ and entire dependence in him for their salvation, desired to be
restored to the communion of the church from which they had been excluded.
Viewed in this light, which indeed appears to be the only light in which it can
consistently be viewed, the service is not open to the attacks made upon it by
the enemies of our church.
I am free to state that, in my opinion, the use of this form of absolution, in
the lax state of discipline amongst us, when excommunication is unknown, and
when there are no church censures to be removed, would be calculated to mis-
lead and to induce in the minds of ignorant members of our communion who
do not understand the real meaning of the form, a belief that our church en-
couraged the unscriptural and soul-deceiving doctrine that a power to pardon
had been committed to the ministers of Christ. It is your duty, my rcv-ercnd
brethren, to be careful, lest, by the injudicious use of any of our church ser-
vices you should lead the people to place their dependence for pardon and sal-
vation on anything, save in God's mercy, through the perfect atonement and
spotless righteousness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
And now, my reverend brethren, I would, in conclusion, address to you the
words of the great Apostle of the Gentiles : '* I charge you before God, and the
Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing
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and his kingdom ; preach the word ; be instant in season, out of season ; re-
prove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." " Speak the
things which become sound doctrine." " Study to show 3'ourselves approved
unto God, workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth." " Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." " Meditate
upon these things ; give yourselves wholly to them ; that your profiting may
appear to all." " Take heed unto yourselves and unto the doctrine; continue
in them ; for in doing this you shall both save yourselves and them that hear
you." The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
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