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Les diagrammes suivants lllustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 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 ^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 .»'''""[ '^'•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.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 inr\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 spolans. ..,,,.1 in Jliis .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 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"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] 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- u1s Mv ('rdart:;c 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 lar1c|, of just ilicat ion, from 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 - 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." i 1 '! ■'. ♦ i i 1 23 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 '! 24 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. J *■ I