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 rii^i«itei 
 

 AN 
 
 APOLOGY 
 
 FOR ACCKl'TINO 
 
 C(]e |ni)it(ttioit ia Mmit^ fniMr 
 
 IN Al^r^ LA.NDS 
 
 OIVEN BY THE AMERICAN 3IISSI0N AT LODIANA, 
 
 BY 
 
 REV, JAMES C, USHER, 
 
 R*:CT©Il OF GUACE ClliniCir, nUANTFORD. 
 
 BRANTFORD : 
 
 Pm^TfiD AT THE EXPOSITOR, STEAM VUINTIX8 ESTABLISHMBXT. 
 
 1860. 
 
 ^'^'iJI0\, 
 
^ 
 
AN APOLOGY. &c. 
 
 " AN INVITATION TO UNITED PRAYER, ADDRESSED T0 
 THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, THROUiJHOUT THE WORLD ; 
 BEING AN EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE 
 23aD ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LODIANA MISSION." 
 
 When this 4elightful iavitation to Prayer was received by me, my 
 heart rejoiced '* with joy unspeakable and full of glory," for as the voice 
 of God's praying people was borne on the air from the shoi ; if the 
 hundred channelled Sutlej, to the inland lakes of America and Canada, 
 X exulted in the thought and assurance that the time was drawing nigh, 
 when in the words of prophecy, " The inhabitants of one city shall go to 
 " another, saying, * Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and 
 " * seek the Lord of Hosts ; I Wihh oo also ;' that the bright day was 
 " soon to dawn upon our world, when would be realized that from the ris- 
 '' ing of the sun, even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be 
 '' great anjong the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered 
 " unto my name, and a pure offering. For then will I turn to the people 
 " a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, :to 
 " serve Him with one consent." 
 
 But while this invitation to United Prayer, for the outpouring of .thi» 
 Holy Spirit upon the world, was meeting a ready respoqsQ .i» the hearts of 
 thousands of Christians of various denominations; and the great promises 
 of the Gospel for the increase of the Kingdom of Christ in the latter 
 days, kindled within my own heart a desire to unite ipy prayers, and th$ 
 prayers of our dear people, with all who in every land, " love .tbo Lord 
 " JesusChrist in sincerity," I hesitated for the moment as to the most becom- 
 ing and effectual mode of joining in the sublime concert of the saints iq 
 intercessory Prayer. " 1 besought the Lord to open my lips, that m.y 
 i* mouth might show forth his praise." 
 
 J ftskod mjeelf — WheLCO does this invitation come ? With whpw is ji^ 
 
4 AN APOLOGY, &C. 
 
 propoHod that I and my people Hhall unite ? Who are they that xhall 
 Hupplicute the '• Ili;j;h and Holy ()ne that inhal)itcth eternity," throujrli 
 the adorable name and mcritH ofJcsuH Christ, to pour out of the Holy 
 Spirit ujjon the perishing millions of the heathen, and upon the whole 
 world ? 
 
 The invitation came from the Ameriean Mission of the Preshyterinn 
 Ohurch in Lodiana, in the Punjauh, where the Bword of the formidable 
 Sikh had prepared the way for the Gospel of Christ ; the invitation was 
 repeated and urged by the London Mission in the Metropoli.s of Ifritain, 
 where under the favoring,' aus[)ici:s of a noble hearted Bishop, Prebendary 
 Burgess exerted himself (with his usual ahicrity in the cause of true re- 
 ligion), to make it known to the ehurehes of Europe, and when the invi- 
 tation reached us in Canada, it came to me and to my brethren in tlio 
 Ministry recommended by the Secretary of the Colonial Chuieh Society, 
 — if not with the weight of Church or Episcopal authority — with the 
 heartfelt sympathy and approval of many Bishops, and I believe of my 
 own beloved Diocesan. 
 
 And to whom was this addressed : — 
 
 " The Church op Christ throikhiout the world." Does this 
 mean the Church visible, or the Church invisible ? Docs it mean all 
 the baptized of every communion over the whole face of the globe ? or 
 does it refer merely to the true and spiritual church of believers ? As it 
 includes an invitation to United Prayer, it must relate only or chiefly to 
 those who arc qualified by the Spirit of Adoption, to address God as their 
 Father in Christ Jesus. " The Church of Christ" well described in a 
 beautiful collect : " The elect of God knit together in one communion 
 *' and fellowship in the mystical body of Christ our Lord," and in that 
 delightful prayer in our communion service : " Very members incorpo- 
 " rate in the mystical body of the Son Avhich is the blessed company of 
 " all faithful people." 
 
 The members of this church arc they who, wherever found, have been 
 baptized by one Spirit into one Body, even Christ ; they are born of God 
 and are made new creatures in Christ Jesus; they are justified by faith 
 and accepted in the Beloved, and they grow up unto Ilim in all things 
 who is the Head. This Church united unto its adorable Head and Sa- 
 viour, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the one Holy, Catholic, 
 Apostolic, Mystical, Livisible and Invincible Church, in which we pro- 
 fess our belief in the creeds ; " known only unto Him, who knoweth them 
 " that are His ;" and this I believe to be the Church of Christ which is 
 invited, and has the grace of supplication vouchsafed to her to plead in 
 prayer the promises of the covenant for blessings of the Holy Spirit upon 
 the world. 
 
AN APOI.OGV, &.V. 
 
 5 
 
 What iiit<!rcst iloos the vi«iMo oliun-li take, or is likely to take In such 
 fill imioii of prayer lor power iVoin on lil;ili ? interewt ! none. It is fadly 
 manit'ost all around us. The external or visible chureh, conipvislny; all 
 who by Baptism pntl'es.s themselves Chri.-^lians, is a body animated (we 
 speak from authority) in the proportion of ut least nineteen twentieth's 
 ■with the most deadly hatred to Christ and his true disciples ! and will 
 rather nudi;;n and avoid than join those who meet for prayer ut the throno 
 of grace. "We deeply deplore the divisions, enmities and jealousies, which 
 rend and injure the visible chureh, composed of 80 many names and par- 
 tics ; it is an evil which should affect us to tears, and we would, as one part 
 of that visible church, enjoying us we believe, distinguished privileges, 
 take home to ourselves the solemn warnings of St. I'aul, which were is- 
 Hued to the Klders at Miletus, and to the Church at Home and Corinth 
 during his Apostolate ; but as we must with grief confess that the Church 
 of England was faithless to her divine Head in a considerable portion of 
 licr history, inducing, if not compelling, many worthy sons to forsake her 
 communion; and as we know by long experience that unifonnit\j in t/ic 
 vhihh both/ is utterly impracticable, and ineomiKitible with the legitimate 
 cxtrcisc of tlio rights of conscience, and " with the liberty wherewitli 
 '* Christ hath made us free," it becomes us who know what the truth of 
 the Gospel is, to " endeavour to keep the unih/ of the Spirit in the bond 
 of peace ;" to seek that we may heai ilo breaches in Zion, not by authori- 
 tative cx-connnunications against the contumacious — by the enforcement 
 of canons, or oven by a rigid adherenco to rubrics and acts of unifor- 
 mity, but in the spirit and terms of the Prayer for all conditions of men, 
 " that all who profess and call themselves Christians, may by thy good 
 " spirit, be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit 
 ** in the bond of peace and in righteousness of life," 
 
 We are not concerned to justify the admission of every class of Heretic 
 into the visible church, though we believe that even the Church of Homo 
 admits that Heretics, if baptised, are amenable to Church authority, and 
 therefore within her pale. " How comprehensive then must be the 
 Christian enclosure, and at the same time how discordant its parts, and 
 yet this has been styled Jlolj/ and Catholic ! ! ! We arc perfectly satis^ 
 fied with the doctrine of our XIX. article, on the marks and notes of the 
 visible church, which coincides with the tciuching of the confessions of 
 all the Protestant Churches of Europe, the Augsburg, the Helvetian, the 
 Belgian and several others. I am eijually satisfied to rest the wholo 
 weight of the argument in favor of the view given above of the true an<J 
 epiritual church — the mystical Body of Christ, '' the Bride, the Lamb's" 
 "wife," upon the testimony of those great lights of the reformation, Ridley, 
 Jewell, Whitgift and Usher — ^Archbishops and Bishops in those stormy 
 
6 AN APOLOOT, &0. 
 
 nnd irouWoufl tiincH, wlieii tho foundalionH of tlio Anp;lican Church woro 
 bcin<» laid anew. :^With their profound and truly Catholic toHtimony, 
 vrc arc entitled to regard all those denominations as brunches of tho ortho- 
 dox church, true visible churches of Clirist, whore the pure word of Ood 
 isprcachcd, the Sacraments are adniinistcrod, and where there is some ccclc» 
 BiJistical discipline and government. 
 
 I shall confirm this with the declaration of one from among several of 
 tho earliest Archbishops of the resuscitated English Church. In the tes- 
 timony of Whitgift, the fourth Archbishop from Cranmer, wo have tho 
 judgment of tlie Heads of the Church of England at the very period of 
 the final settlement of the thirty-nine articles. " It is plain," says "Whit- 
 gift, " ihat any oub certain form or kind of external governuaont, perpe- 
 " tually to be observed, is nowhere in Soripture proscribed to the church ;" 
 and Whitgift's great disciple, the judicious Hooker, says in his Ecclesias- 
 tical Polity in a fine train of reasoning that " Christ never intended to 
 " set down particular and positive laws for his Church." Hence wc are 
 not surprised that Archbishop Uslier, the most profound perhaps of all 
 the divines who have governed tho Church of God in the British Isles, 
 gave a judgment which ought to be deeply pondered. " I have over 
 .declared my opinion to be ' that Episcopm ct Frcsbijter, gradu tantum i/i/- 
 •* ^/eruHt, non ordlne ;' Bishop and Presbyter differ only in degree, not In 
 *' order, and consocjuently that in phuscs where Bishops cannot bo had, tho 
 f* ordination by Presbyter standeth valid, And howsoever I must needs 
 ** think that the churohes whioh have no Bishops arc thereby become very 
 »' defective in their government — ^yct for testifying my communion with 
 '* their churches, which Ida honour and hve m true members of the Church 
 f universal, I do profess that with like affection I should receive the blessed 
 '' sacrament at the hands of the Dutch ministers, if I were in Holland, as 
 ^* I should do at tho hands of the French ministers at Charcntpn." The 
 only other name worthy to bo mentioned after the Llsh Primate, is Lord 
 Bacon : " I do confess that in revolving the Scriptures I pould ncvof 
 '* find any such thing, but that God hath left the like liberty to the church 
 *' government as he hath done to tho civil government ; to be varied ac- 
 >* cording to time, place and accidents, whiqh nevertheless liis high and di» 
 f^ vine providence doth order and dispose. So likewise in church matters 
 >' the substance of doctrine is immutable ; and so are the general rules of 
 >* government ; but fo. rules and ceremonies, and for the particular luorar^ 
 >'* chics, policies and discipline of churches, they be left at large ; and thcre- 
 ^' fore, it is good wc return to the ancient hounds o/unitif in the Church of 
 
 ' xjXJU. xt-'/ttt/t tt'-to t/7tr /ttttft, tf/tc t/tti/tto/ft f it/tit i-tt/t •//(£ tiirtltrVft^, One u(sv.(- 
 
 i^pliney Arch-Bishop Sancroft entirely approved of this singularly wise and 
 |U\^iptt)ral judgment of Bacon, when he directed his clergy to exhojt theijr 
 
' 
 
 AM APoLO(»r, kc. T 
 
 f»»oplo to "join in iliih/ fervent pmyer to the Cfi)d of Pcictfor the univer- 
 " tnl blc»$ed union of all reformed churches both at iMtne ind abroad, 
 " again»t our common r/icmtVu." 
 
 Sustained by this unequalled testimony !n relation to the constitution 
 of the Christian Cliurch, us a visible bcnly, wo cannot go far wron^ in 
 Recognizing tho claims of Home societies of Christian people, whoso min- 
 istry, govornnient, and mode of Worship, differ from the EpiKCopal. 
 When, therefore, w« of the Church of Kngland arc invited by the Prei*- 
 byterian Church of the American Mission of Lodiana, to unite in prayer 
 for the outjwxiring of the Iloh/ Spirit in all lamb, we feel assured that had 
 Whitgift, Bancroft, Usher and Hall been living in this day of hlgti spirit- 
 ual expectation and promise, they would have responded to tho evangelical 
 call, and united in supplication and intercession with all who hold tho 
 Cfospel in its purity — receive tho sacraments — exercise charity, and hayo 
 some form of government. 
 
 Heartily, therefore, do 1 respond to tho invitation g»ven by the sister 
 church in LodiaUa, Catholic as that invitation is in itj spirit and object, 
 to approach the mercy-scat, with tho Itoly Church throughout the world, 
 in the prevailing Name of Jesus, that the spirit of grace and supplication 
 may be poured out upon the professing cburch, and that the " way of God 
 " taay be known upon earth, his saving health among all nations." 
 
 Tho object of this Invitation is strictly Evangelical and Catholic, and 
 must commend itself to every believer's heart, and it is difficult to com- 
 prehend how any reasonable objection (with the Scriptures in view) could 
 be urged against any Christian's compliance with it, and how any Church 
 system, whose paramount duty and piivilege it is to advance by prayer 
 and effort the Redeemer's Kingdom, should offer any obstacle, or require 
 any compromise of principle or position, or expose its attached members 
 to offer violence to their conscience by uniting with other Christians and 
 other Churches in supplicating the God of the nations of the earth, to pour 
 out of his spirit upon all fltsh, and hasten his Kingdom — " Thy Kingdom 
 cdme." 
 
 But reasons are urged, and iterated with all the confidence and zeal 
 which can only be made to comport with the system of Homanism, which 
 denounces every effort and union of Churches outside the pale of the 
 Catholic Church, as heretical, schismatical, and Satanic. We fain hope, 
 however, that none who are not of Rome, mean so much, though theii' 
 vJfews of the Church involve it. 
 
 But we calmly institute the enquiry j^'-What objections arc there which 
 Bfiould prevent me as a Minister of the Chufch of Ilnglandj and my 
 t>eople also, from uniting with Ministers and Members of other denomi-' 
 tetiofis, (Churches in the profound judgment of Usher and Bacon, «b4 
 
^ AN APOLOGY, &C. 
 
 the Refonncrs of the Eiv^lisli Church) in imploring together a sccona 
 rcntccostal blessing upon the Churcli and world ? , , t i 
 
 Docs not my conscience whisper to me (in this my liberty) ^that I daro 
 not unite with Christians outside the pale of the Church of iMigland, in 
 prayer for any purpose ? else I become open to the charge of schism ! and 
 I may not use any other b.ok in Prayer, but the Common Prayer- 
 or Prayer ofany kind in public, or in the smallest company, except tnat 
 prescribed form ; under pain of ecr.communication or suspension from 
 office. Are the vows taken at my ordination so express and binding on 
 these points that I must violate conscience, when I venture to pray (.in 
 any manner or in any place) except in my closet, without the Prayev 
 
 'l mi-ht easily dispose of this knotty question, by referring to the jud- 
 ment avowed or tacit of our Bishops now governing the Chunch in various 
 parts of the world,-and to the usage of the Church in relaxing the strin- 
 , Ley of the Canons which relate to those points. But it is of more 
 importance just at present, when Christian minds aiN3 joal.ms of spiritual 
 ri^dits and privileges, to deal with this question and untie this knot now 
 cast defiantly at our feet, and if wo fail to do so, to take the swoi-d of the 
 Spirit, with the holy jealousy of a Paul-and sever it in two, exclaiming, 
 « Where the Spirit of the Lord is, tliei-e is Lihcrtyr 
 
 We shall see whether Ministers of the Church subscribing the Canons, 
 may not pray sometimes where two or three are met together, or " many 
 ^' be gathered together p' xying in the house of a Mary " for a blessing 
 upon a Minister, or upon the Church, without the Book, and offer no 
 
 violence to conscience, , t i - 
 
 I am ashamed that it should be needful in this age of Gospel light, 
 liberty and love ; in this era of Missions and Bibles in every tongue, and 
 of united, unceasing Prayer, circling the globe, for the advancement, and 
 hastening triumph of the Kingdom of Immanuel ; I say I am ashamed 
 and grieved at heart, that it should be necessary to offer this defence, and 
 show that a Minister of a pure branch of the Church of Chris , 'may be 
 allowed" to meet a few of his people who delight in spiritual fellowship 
 with their Father and his Son Jesus Christ-with special prayer and 
 intercession-" and without infringing a Canon of his Church, and 
 exposing himself to suspension or Episcopal censure." 
 
 And this will we do by God's help, and may the Lord the Spirit open 
 the eyes of those who ''observe" Canons and OrcZmanccs, for Paul wa^ 
 a/mtVZo/suchin his day, and - rnho come in privily to spy out our 
 " liberty, which we have in Christ . 'eMcs ;-that they may be soon brought 
 *' into that liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, *' never more to 
 *' be entangled with the yoke of bondage." 
 
^hc Canons or laws of the Church as an ccclesiaFtical lody sre nunicT* 
 "ous, hut with few exceptions they may ho considered as ohsolete and 
 inappliciible. The only Canon wliich may he consiacred as now really 
 hindinci; upon the conscience of a Minister of the Church of England is 
 tlic XXXVI — subscribed ez-aniino previous to ordination ; and the clause 
 wliich cLiinis our examination hero is the follow ing> — '■* The Book of 
 " Connnon Prayer and of ordering of Bishops, Priests and Deacons, con- 
 ^' taineth in it nothing contrary to the Word of God, and it may lawfully 
 " be used ; and that he himself will use the form in the said Book prescri- 
 " bed, in Public Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and none 
 other." 
 
 This Canon has all the authority that the Church can give it, and what 
 is its obvious meaning and intent ? That all Ministers of the Church of 
 England should in the Public, stated, accuskmcd services of icligicn, use 
 the Book of Common Prayer, and no other form ; a rule of great impor- 
 tance, of high Conservative benefit, at the time when the Canons were 
 put forth, and when there was a strong disposition in 3Iinisters to depart 
 from that order, and .substitute a Directory or something diilevent. And 
 the Canon properly interpreted, and used as designed, is Conservative and 
 important still ; for who that is a conscientious, consistent minister of tho 
 Church, tiucstiovis cither her authority or her wisdom in requiring the use 
 of this form on all public occasions; V017 few, I apprehend, among the 
 thousands of her Clergy, however they may differ on other points, infringe 
 the letter, much less the spirit of this wholesome Canon ; 1 speak for 
 myself, as an attached, ihough unworthy son of the Church of England, 
 and a great admirer of her Liturgy and Articles, that for twenty-seven 
 years, I have been spared and privileged to offer up with the great congrega- 
 tion the Morning and Evening Sacrifice of Pra3-er and Praise ; en Sundays, 
 Holidays, and many other days— without addition, omission, alteration 
 or reserve. By God's help I have done so, unto this day ; and by his 
 Grace in Christ Jesus, I hope and desire to do so, until my adorable 
 Master siiall call me hence. 
 
 But does this Canon, (in the judgment of candor and of the spiritually 
 taught mind) enjoin the use of the Common Prayer, every morning and 
 evening throughout the year, and on every occasion when the Members 
 of the Church are invited for prayer. It does not enjoin it, and although 
 the preface to the Prayer Book expects every Minister to use these servi- 
 ces daily, and to invite his people to do so (by the tolling of a Bell,) the 
 Canon simply enjoins that this form and no other be used when public 
 worship is peribrmed ; leaving it to the judgment of the officiating Minis- 
 ter to hold service as often (in addition to the accustomed worship of Uw 
 
10 
 
 AN APOLOGT, &0. 
 
 Lord's (lay) as ho may deem beneficial, or as he may be able to Bccttfe s 
 BuRicieut attendance of liis people, to make it a PuhHo Sertncc. 
 
 But furtlier, does this Canon touch the question, the vitally interesting 
 question, of Prayer on those many occasions which will arise in a Church 
 or amona' Churches, who delight in spiritual fellowship, and like the pre- 
 cious saints of old time " spake often one to another of the things of 
 • < God — and were filled with each other's company." 
 
 In Christian candour does this rule interfere in spirit or letter with the 
 devotions of the fiimily, the social meeting, the special gathering of 
 the Saints, or the confidential intercourse of the soul alone with its God; 
 it would iiulced he a perversion of the intent of this Canon, to force its 
 application to such cases. The Book is a Book of Connnon Prayer — 
 " Prayer for all people. " The Canon, and the Church speaking through 
 the Canon, is wisely silent ss to those other occasions ; she as the great 
 upholder of the right of private judgment, and of liberty of conscience, 
 has left her children free to approach their Father in Heaven, wither 
 without the form in the spiritual exercises of the fiamily,— in those of the 
 select society wliereafew meet for Divine fellowship ; in seasons of special 
 prayer, — and in private unrestrained outpouring of the soul unto God. 
 
 I say the Church is wisely silent in reference to these occasions and 
 exercises ; for these arc not common — they are not j)m7>?u- — they are not 
 adapted to, or regarded by the masses of the Baptized ; they are special — 
 pecH/tVrr— domestic, and admit of great diversity in spiritual exercise and 
 application ; and I am sure that the Church of England, whatever her 
 faults, has imbibed too much of the Spirit of her Lord, which ia Liberty 
 and Love, to presume to infringe the sacred, 'nviolable prerogatives of the 
 Boul, of any of her children whose '' life is hid with Christ in God— whose 
 citizenship is in Heaven," by the most judiciously-framed Canons and 
 
 Rubrics. 
 
 We might safely leave the matter here, for the knot is sufficiently un- 
 tied, and we " trust that in this we have a good conseience." 
 
 But in what manner do our venerated Bishops deal with the Canon; 
 for upon their judgment and action, as our Ordinary, we must rest. How 
 often do they find it necessary to deirart from and modify the Canon in 
 question, when they institute special services with additional prayers or 
 different psalms and lessons from those prescribed. In seasons of war, 
 and pestilence and famine; when the heavens are as brass, and the God of all 
 tAO earth is administering correction, and the Ministers of God's heritage 
 invite tofasting, humiliation and prayer ; the ordinary service is felt inade- 
 quate to the exisrencv-. and the Canon must be relaxed, that the Father 
 cf mercies may be specially entreated ; and when the affliction is followed 
 by renewed mercy, appropriate Thanksgiving be offered up. And the 
 
AN APOLOGY, &0. 
 
 11 
 
 exercise of this prerogative of our Overseers is of vital moinent to tho 
 spiritual health and revival of the Church. 
 
 But what shall we say or infer from the recent decision of the Church, 
 in expunging from the Prayer Book three services because no longer 
 necessary? The simple inference is that the Churcli Is adapting and 
 ought to adapt herself to the times and the dispensations of Proviilence ; 
 and the Canons of two centuries back, are an insufficient rule for her at 
 the present, Tlie demands for relaxation of nny positive Canon are 
 yearly more evident and urgent; it is difficult to divine what the spiritual 
 requirements of the masso;;: of pe-ople hitherto regardless of a heavt^rcllgion 
 may induce our Bishops and Clergy, iind the Church herself, to do. Wo 
 Jcnow .that the time is not distant v,dien the lines or barriers v.hieh confine 
 •each siiction of thi; visible Churcli (holding the Head) witiiin its own 
 pale, will be obliterated, by tlie adoption of the pure clement of Chris- 
 tianity — Love ; — when Canons and Kubries will CL*ase. Tliis time is hasten- 
 ing; and we are not surprised that some of the more distinguished watchmen 
 ■on the walls of Zion, descry the approaching glean^s of the niornin'>- light 
 and are aiding to bring in the day of Christian unity and love. 
 
 foremost in the van of these Watchmen, is the Bi-^hop of London, in 
 -the land of our Mother Church ; placed by the great Bi.'^lio}-. of Souls, to 
 guard the vital heart of Christendom, whose every pujse vibrates to the 
 utmost limits of pure Catholicism, he has given no equivocal evidence of 
 the mode and spirit in which he desires that the system of the Church of 
 England should be made to Avork, and adapt herself to the spiritual, and 
 moral, and even temporal necessities of the millions dependent upon her. 
 
 The Exeter Hall Services to the working classes, conducted by some of 
 the most eloquent dignitaries and Clergy of the Church, have onjoved all 
 the influence and sjnupathy of this noble-hearted Prelate ; and this is but 
 one of the many plans and efforts which have been put forth, under the 
 enlightened and liberal policy of this true Watchman of Zion's interests. 
 to .adapt the system of the Church of England, now moving more freely, 
 to the exigencies of a large and thirsty population. 
 
 Time would fail me, were I to advert even cursorily, to the various 
 agencies now at work within the limits of the City of London, and requir- 
 ing the Bishop's approval and ; r.rveillance, such as the City Mission 
 numbering several hundred Mis^^iinaries, Scripture Headers' Association 
 Ragged School Union, Open Air Mission, Lady District Visitors, and now 
 <hc Female Domestic Mission. Were we to know a hundredth part of 
 wh t comes before the Bishop as to the means and agencies employed to 
 effect thiir objects, I fear that some of our more zealous champions of 
 Canons and Rubrics would be sadly discomposed and shocked ; and be 
 tempted to do what some two hundred leading men have done— ^throy 
 
12 
 
 AN APOLOOT, &C. 
 
 themselves despairingly into the arms of Rome, there to repose their soul* 
 io a VISIBLE Unity ! ! I 
 
 We rejoice, however, that the Church of Eno-hmcl is now being made 
 under the able rule of an Evangelic:il Bishop, venlly the Church of the Poor 
 and of the Masses. Wc rejoice that the ospel Trumpet in the hands of this 
 Watchman, sounds along the walls of Zion with no uncertain sound, and 
 we feel assured that the timo has come, when we may carry the battle to 
 the gate, and go forth (strong in the Lord) to the world lying in wicked 
 ness, and snatch the brands from the burning, and save souls alive. 
 
 We have stood too long on the defensive, perhaps we should say, too long 
 satisfied with a mere negative religion, which maintains no vital truth with 
 effect. Yet the war is going on ; the call is now at length given to awake ; 
 and it is powerfully seconded by the conduct of the brave Prelate who 
 preached in an Omnibus Yard, within the precincts of the great metropolis, 
 and must have for once relaxed somewhat of the ceremonial of our stately 
 Liturgy. The movement is now steadily onward ; Rectors and Vicars have 
 gone forth to the highways and byways, not studious of Rubric or Stole, that 
 they might proclaim among the City Heathen, " the unsearchable riches of 
 Christ." Rectors and Vicars have associated with Ministers of other 
 Churches, and been aided by Laymen in Union Prayer Meetings, not in a 
 few instances, but in many, that they might raise up by the Spirit of the 
 Lord, a more formidable standard against the enemy. Rectors and 
 Vicars are now engaging Theatres and Saloons, hitherto the resort of the 
 ungodly, as centres for devotional exercises. 
 
 And the last phase of this remarkable relaxing of Canon and Ceremonial 
 within the limits of that Diocese, whose every movement is an instructive 
 and weighty lesson to tho Christian world ; some forty Clergymen (among 
 whom I find the successor in the Parish of St. Giles, of Bickersteth, the 
 present Bishop of Ripofl,)have unitedly resolved that they will henceforward 
 devote themselves by the Grace of God, to the great work of saving per- 
 ishing souls. In view of all this, and of what is in prospect, we may 
 well exclaim, " This cometh of the Lord, who is wonderful in counsel and 
 " excellent in working." 
 
 We believe that the Rubicon is passed ; the war with the world, sin 
 and the Devil is now to be aggressive. We must all put on tho armor of 
 light, assured that the righteousness of Christ shall go before us, and the 
 glory of the Lord shall be our rereward. Instead of waiting for our people 
 to come to Church at the toll of Bell, and reading the daily, morning 
 and evening service, because it is Canonical to do so, whether the number 
 who attend be ten or a hundred, it becomes our duty as those who watch 
 for souls, and are fully alive to their danger, (as well as to their present rebel- 
 lion against God,) to follow the example and defer to the judgment of thow 
 
AN APOLOGY. &C. 
 
 13 
 
 lest qualified by high position, and full acquaintance with the devices of 
 Satan, to know the wants and perils of the Church, and to adapt her 
 system to her present exigency. 
 
 God Almi-hty grant, that our Church may realize in this her last great 
 struggle, '' That the Lord in her is mighty." 
 
 iTannot take leave of this interesting point ;— the adaptation of the 
 system or machincryof the Church of England to the changing state of 
 society professedly 'christian, without declaring, that we hold and shall 
 uphold the Liturgy and the 39 Articles of our Church as a very noble 
 monument of the lleformation, and we shall esteem it our duty and privi- 
 lege to preserve and employ this Conservative bulwark of a Scriptural and 
 Spiritual religion, as our defence under the good hand of our God ; second 
 ever to the Inspired Scriptures, and ever to be tested by them ; our defence 
 against Popery, fanaticism and infidelity. Having now said what would 
 seem needful to justify a departure at times from the strict letter of the 
 Canon, while we observe the spirit of it as Conservative of Order; and 
 having shown, I trust, the importance of adhering to the Book of Common 
 Prayel-, on all the accustomed occasions of Public Worship,— we are now 
 prepared to entertain another point in this vindication, which is called for 
 by the Invitation to Prayer already referred to. 
 
 If we respond to, and accept this invitation to united prayer, we must 
 be at liberty to pray, and to unite with other Christians, with Christians 
 of other churches, in act or in spirit for the object proposed. We think 
 that we have warrant for doing both. The authorities have been given, 
 both for joining in prayer with Christians, who may differ from us m 
 somethings, while they perfectly agree with us in seeking the outpour- 
 ing of the Holy Spirit ; and for engaging in prayer not prescribed m 
 the Book of Common Prayer. If the dispensing authority be not deemed 
 sufficient in either case by the more rigid Canonists, I fear we shall be 
 obli'-ed to class the objectors with those who teach for doctrines the com- 
 man'dments of men, and make the "Word of God of none effect by their tra. 
 ditions," who forget that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath 
 made us free,— so that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the 
 
 oldness of the letter." o rr i, 
 
 - ]3ut what can the churchman do without his Prayer Book? He has 
 used it in the public services of religion all his life, and he has never tried 
 scarcely presumed, to approach the mercy seat without it; he has been 
 told and in some instances taught from childhood, that no prayers will 
 be heard but those of the Church, and he has even believed that the 
 prayers which she puts up foi him would be more avadable than Us 
 awn out a full and contrite heart. It is difficult to convince such per, 
 sons that they may err, in ascribing so much validity to the Church » 
 
 ttmif 
 
u 
 
 AN APOLOOT, ko. 
 
 prayers. What shall we then think of the Christian who while he 
 values the form in the stated public wors'up of the sanctuary, ventures 
 on some special occasions, in a mcctino; of friendn, within the precincts 
 of his loved home, with his Heavenly Father in secret, to make Ins 
 requests known unto God in petitions drawn iVoni the scriptures, m 
 words and phrases of his own, based upon the promises of the Covenant 
 in Christ— pourin- out the fervent emotions of his soul into the alone ear 
 of his Saviour and God ! Oh, can this be ? Why can it not be ? 
 Does no child of God, bein- a churchman, enter into his chamber and 
 hold fellowship there, like David or Daniel of old, at mormnQ:, at even- 
 in- and at noon day? I trow many an one! And irf heard, in that 
 he'pnvyeth in the prevailing name of eTcsus ! And why may not any 
 good churchman pray without even selecting collects, (excellent as they 
 are for the common wants of the church, but not so adapted to his 
 peculiar wants at the time) without imagining that he undervalues the 
 Prayer Book. Must he be considered as - thinking of himself more 
 " hi-hly than he ought to think ;" as puffed up with a fleshly mind, sup- 
 posing he can make better prayers than those of the church because he 
 has ventured to call upon his God, in petitions which the Holy Spirit 
 has by his gracious promise, prompted hiin to utter. 
 
 it is easy, and not uncommon, to speak of Ministers and Members of 
 the Church of England, as guilty of self-seeking and of depreciating the 
 Book of Prayer, by their using extemporaneous Prayer, for special ob- 
 jects But it is not so easy to substantiate such a charge, by appeals to 
 the word of God, which assuredly the rules of the Church will not con- 
 travene. We are sure that the discipline and the governors ot the 
 Church of England will be able to permit the exercise of such prayer, 
 consonant as it is with the teaching and examples of Holy Writ, without 
 seriously infringing the rules of the Common Prayer Book. And, more- 
 over it is very wrong to ascribe unworthy motives to those who urge, on 
 strong scriptural grounds, the duty and benefit of special extemporaneous 
 
 ^' We do not claim superior sanctity for those who urge this practice, and 
 it is not pretended that the prayers they offer are superior to those in the 
 Prayer Book ; but we do claim for many of these, that they seek not 
 - to exalt themselves but Jesus Christ the Lord ;" and they hope and 
 believe that by the accompanying influence of the Holy Spirit, their 
 prayers may prevail to the building up of the spiritual walls ot Zion-by 
 the edifying of her sons and daughters in truth, hoUness and love. 
 
 *_/:. *v„o .QeHrx" +hfi exercise of this privilege of holding social 
 prayer we ask: What is its peculiar nature and design, as distinguish-^ 
 ed from Public Prayer f What is to be attained in the way of spin 
 
AN APOLOGY, &0. 
 
 1» 
 
 tual blessinn; by extemporaneous or free prayer, where a few of the more 
 earnest ancfdcvout unite, which is not as well or better secured in public, 
 and in the use of the proscribed form ? It will be strange if the proper 
 answer to this interesting and now important question, has not pressed 
 with some force and scriptural obligation upon the minds of many who 
 object to the practice. 
 
 A supposed disparagement of the " Common Prayer" is no adequate 
 answer. A disposition to self-exaltation in exercising the gift of Prayer 
 is not sufficient. A craving for more liberty in spiritual exercises, will 
 not account fur the practice. Men eminent for piety, sobermindednesa 
 and gravity in the school of the mock and lowly Jesus, have other and 
 weightier reasons for assembling week after week for years, with the chil- 
 dren of God's family, to supplicate blessings promised to his heritage, and 
 to enjoy earnests of the heavenly inheritance. 
 
 Social prayer is desired and practised because it is peculinr, and not 
 common in its objects ; it is more suited to the few than to the many / 
 it is based upon the supposititm that those who meet are religious or de- 
 sirous of becoming so, rather than that they are indifferent to personal 
 religion, which is too manifestly so with the mixed congregation. But 
 social prayer is chiefly desired, because it affords opportunity for adapting 
 our petitions and confessions, with express reference to individual charac- 
 ter and experience ; because it enables those who lead in prayer, or in 
 scriptural address and appeal, to give a personal direction (often of the 
 most searching character) to what is said or prayed, which could not be 
 done at any other time or place with like good effect. 
 
 In the social meeting, the utterances and experiences of the contrite 
 or believing soul are brought out in terms which can only be hinted at, 
 or implied in Common Prayer ; and if this be an advantage to those 
 dear inquirers, who need the guidance of an experienced teacher, as 
 well as the " Comforter' who is ever present ;— much more is the social 
 prayer meeting desirable, and in a sense necessary to spiritual health and 
 growth, when it is remeuibered that there we are privileged to pour out 
 at the throne of grace— those supplications and intercessions with plead- 
 ings to the God of promise, for blessings which are not named — or scarce- 
 ly noticeable in the Collects and Litanies of the church. 
 
 If it be alleged that in social prayer thus conducted, we undertake to 
 supply a want which the church in her book of devotions has not sup- 
 plied, or judged proper to give, and thus imply that there is a deficiency ; 
 we remark that the church could not have provided a better or more 
 suitable service for the supply of the ordinary spiritual wants of her chil- 
 dren, than they enjoy whenever they meet in the sanctuary. On this we 
 ihall insist as long as the- church receives the Prayer Book as it is, and 
 
IQ AN ArOLOGY, &0. 
 
 't^o won1,l venture in her vindication did she need it, to use the very ar^ 
 cumont u,-cd i>y our Bishops in the Conference at Hampton Court with 
 the Puritan divines, who ohjectcd to tl>e lannjuajre in the Taturgy as too 
 qencral and in<Jrjhutc, which they deemed a great fault. The Bishops 
 replied that it would have been a great fault, if it had been otherwise 
 than ^^cneral. Had the pctiti.)ns, confessions, and thanksoivings boon 
 made" more suited to individuals, the service would not be Common 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 If then there be any deficiency or defect, on this point which was so 
 warmly contested by our forefathers, it is not desirable to supply that by 
 eivin. 'more of a special character to our Public Prayers ; but an intcresfc- 
 in. and perhaps a vital question has of late years come up, as to whether 
 the social prayer meeting may not answer a beneficial purpose, as auxiU 
 hrv to the Common Prayer. We believe with many devoted sons of the 
 Church of En-land, that social special prayer conducted cither by appro- 
 Driate forms, "or, which is better, if done in Immble and believing de^ 
 pendence upon the Holy Spirit (whose office it is graciously to help our 
 Infirmities, and teach us to pray) we believe that this kind of Prayer^ 
 eminently suited to fill an important place in the spiritual edification <>f 
 God's people, between private communion and the public worship ot the 
 
 great mixed assembly. , x • ^ i •+ 
 
 If this idea was self-originated, I should be backward to introduce it 
 in the present vindication ; but it is not so. I have no appeal to make to 
 Christians outside our pale :-^thc subject has been one of deep and increase 
 in. interest for the last fifty years, and it deepens in its claims upon the 
 lovers of Prayer every day, and in every part of the household of aith. 
 
 It is with satisfaction I am able to support the idea of a social prayer 
 «,eeting, by the practice of two Clergymen, who were equally respected, 
 admired and loved in their time and spheres of labour :-^the ^evXharles 
 Simeon, of Cambridge, in the Church of England, and the Rev. Dr. 
 Milnor of St. George's, New York, the able predecessor of the justly cele- 
 brated Dr. Stephen Tyng, whose parochial labours and success are scarcely 
 paralleled in any Church. 
 
 No Minister was more looked up to by Bishops and Clergy, or College 
 Gownsmen, than Simeon. His unquestioned piety, his great talents, and 
 acquirements-his remarkable self-sacrifice, and his great influence and 
 success as an Evangelical Clergyman in that important sphere ot duty 
 trave wei-ht to all that he did. One of the most striking features m his 
 mrochiarsystem was the meeting for Social Prayer. I shall q«ot<5 a pas- 
 
 ^ - PI • -_„ Uf+f.-" in r«^«ror,r>o in ihis : " I am aware, says 
 sage from uiie of nis uwn lettC.o m r^.. --- - - - 
 
 ihe " that such societies are by many accounted irregular, and that lew 
 t^f the Governors of the Church would sanction them j ana it is a curioiis 
 
AN APOLOOT, &0. 
 
 17 
 
 fact tlitit the establishinc; of these societies is generally supposed to indicate 
 :in indillin-encc towards tliu (Jhurcli when it actually proceeds from a love 
 to the Chureh, and a zeal for her interests. Were the Bishops acquainted 
 with the Ministers who are called Evangelical, they would soon see the 
 importance, yea the absolute necessity of such meetings, not merely for 
 the editicatioii of the peMi»le, but chiefly for the preservation of the Estab- 
 lished (!hurch. Where nothing of the kind is established, the members of 
 any Church are only as a rope of tiand, and may easily be scattered with 
 every wind of doctrine, or drawn aside by any proselyting sectary. As 
 to the idea of such meetings being contrary to our obligations as Ministers 
 of the Establislunent, let any one read the Bishop's charge to the Priests in 
 the Ordination Service, and say whether a Clergyman can fulfil his duties 
 without them ? I am well persuaded he cannot, and experience proves 
 that wherever there is an efficient Ministry in the Church without some- 
 what of a similar superintendence, the Clergyman beats the bush, and the 
 dissenters catch the game; whereas, where such a superintendance is 
 maintained, the people are united as an army with banners." After an 
 experience of thirty years, Mr. Simeon's opinion remained unchanged on 
 this subject 
 
 But if any objection should be urged against Simeon's practice, as few 
 men could do successfully what he did ; — the plan pursued by another 
 Clergyman, a contemporary of his in the Episcopal Chureh, New York, 
 will commend itself as answering every purpose desired by its projector, 
 and one which may be followed by any minister of like sentiments, with- 
 out being open to any real objection by the attached Churchman, 
 Milnor's ministerial Ufe was a contrast in one respect to that of 
 Simeon. The stream of Milnor's life in his own parish was uniformly 
 smooth : that of Simeon was troubled throughout, yet both were eminently 
 successful. The Evangelical stand of Simeon at Cambridge, excited a 
 continuous opposition during a great part of his Ministry. The Evan- 
 gelical stand of Milnor, who stood at that day nearly alone, was much 
 blessed to his own Parish of St. George, but the disapproval of his pecu- 
 liar sentiments and practice, by nearly all his brethren, was most formidable. 
 He instituted a Tuesday and a Friday Eve: Lecture, in h's Lecture 
 Room, which was opened with forms from the Prayer Book, but closed 
 with extemporaneous prayer ; where with large audiences, scenes of deep 
 and powex-ful interest through the evident presence of the Holy Spirit, 
 occurred. I here quote from his instructive Biography : '• Out of his 
 parish, his course of labor lay through much opposition, and his day of 
 action was often stormy. The extemporaneous close to his Lecture-room 
 exercises, and the meetings which he countenanced among his communi- 
 cants for social prayer without forms, encountered the constant and earnest 
 
jg AN APOLOGY, &0. 
 
 di,plea.uro of Wing men ; ^hile the puWio stand ,.hich U felt It l,i, J«ty 
 . tr in CO oncratin" with Churches of other acnoramat.ons in .hstr bu- 
 If t he B bir,^ tho"«t note or contment, and in circulatin, re .„ou, 
 Ta ts ."unitarian character, d«w«,K;nhin. reiterated expre,.,,,, of 
 
 V Koiinn from a laf-o portion of the Episcopal Church. 1 host tcs- 
 
 S : the ra:d :«e of the social prayer .ce.ing arc snffic.nt 
 
 to rdicate their adoption bj^ those who desire to know the n.oro rclH,;«;» 
 frrrtllclnd to keep them united in the bonds of spinlual and 
 
 Chth Mm^h p Simeon and Milnor were men of high spiritual pr.n. 
 
 d^tand left th'cir mark on the Church, and on the age .n wh.ch they 
 
 '"They have gone to their rest-Simeon in 1836, Milnor in 1845, " and 
 thir wo,S do Mow them ■," and we must say of them both with emphas.s 
 that "Two great men have fallen in our Israel 1 1 
 
 The storms which these accomplished standard bearers of Immanuel had 
 to brnvfTring the greater part, or the whole of their event ul course, are 
 Ll"I nr-S the Tund evangelical principles for which they contended 
 tiZ „r;ch success are now bearing their sway, not ■» P-*-" ^^^ 
 in several Dioceses in England, teland and Amenea^ Six B^^h^^ ' "j' 
 more, occupy that high position in the American Church, win h th u h 
 but Presbyter Milnor held nearly alone) supported by a staff of C eigy, 
 everyone o^whom acknowledges a high debt of gratitude to be due o the 
 Ta^c and colsistent champion for a pure and full Gospel, >n the D.oeesc 
 
 of New York. i xt, * 
 
 While speaking of the American Sister Church, I would remark tha 
 effjt harbeenlade for some time to obtain from Conventton a onna 
 recognition of the Social Prayer Meeting, (as auxiliary to but not to 
 Irfere with the system of the Church and of the Prayer Book,) bu. it has 
 notbee'Ifeted, audit is doubtful whether it will ever receive anything 
 rrthrthrnttJeitapprovalbytheBishop in whose Diocese such Prayer 
 
 Meeting is deemed really beneficial. , .. •, v 
 
 It is not so much a Church, as a Parochial arrangement, and if it he 
 eonn^rthsohriety of judgment, and .Uhasi^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 Cod and the spiritual edification of souls, it will hardly fail to recene the 
 S<^ronlf:hose who love Evangelical truth and godliness, and Apos- 
 
 '^''^Ztnol.sio.oUyAs defence, and '^-'^^^^^fl^.Z^^^^^ 
 
 , . ^f .x.r.0^ wl,n <1P.aire to see in the Church of England a 
 
 :i3orvitl Wli^ei, Gospel Truth «.d Love, Spiritual Liberty 
 Z^^Z, I would invite ea^esfttention to two things of great unport- 
 ance at the present time. 
 
AN APOLOGY, &0, 
 
 19 
 
 The first relates to the Scriptural warrant for the Social Prayer Meeting ; 
 the second to the Scriptural bond of union between all who believe in the 
 Lord Jt'surt Christ. 
 
 And it must be confessed that when wo look at the meetinj: of a few 
 roally devoted Christians, for devotional purposes; (apart from the particular 
 rules of any local Chuich,) in the lif?ht of God's Holy Word alone, we are 
 struck with wonder that those who belonp; to the family of heaven and earth, 
 who feel thomst'lvos influenced by the Spirit of Adoption, and led by the 
 promises of the Covenant of Grace, to meet fw Spiritual fellowship ; wo 
 wonder that they can live from week to week, and from year to year, 
 witliout being brought together, by their love to Christ, to lu)ld precious 
 domestic fellowship in the things of God. Surely nothing but the absence 
 of that spiritual thirst, so beautifully figured by David, " as the hart 
 panting after the water brooks, " can account for the indifference to these 
 social g.ithcrings of the Saints ! — and for the objection to them as interfering 
 with public devotion and rules of discipline. Glad are we that " times of rc- 
 " freshing from the presence of the Lord" are shedding a more holy influence 
 over our Zion, and that the calls to prayer wafted from Northern India, from 
 Burinah, and from other regions thirsting for the dews of Heaven, are 
 responded to, and the Throne of Grace is simultaneously surrounded by 
 thousands in every land, united in this one aspiration, " Our Father 
 in Heaven hallowed be thy Name "— " Thy Kingdom Come." In this 
 we shall rejoice. It seems as if the time had come that Zion should 
 put on her beautiful garments, and her children were now to plead 
 the groat promises of her Lord that she should become a praise in the 
 earth. Prayer social, personal, public ; intercessory, iraportupate prayer, 
 is now more than ever her duty and her privilege. 
 
 The perilous and responsible position of the Church depiands increas- 
 ing prayer; the Scriptures everywhere invite her to keep not silence ; the 
 Holy Spirit incites and helps her to supplicate her Lord ; exceeding great 
 and precious promises encourage her to plead with her Covenant God in 
 Christ ; the cry of perishing millions coming up from the dark places of 
 the earth urges her to wrestle for the blessing of prevailing .Tacob ; — and the 
 times plainly tell her '' that the Bridegroom cometh — and her redemption 
 draweth nigh. " 
 
 Christians everywhere, and of every name, awake, arise, and unite in 
 fervent prayer; Churchmen take your Prayer Book into the Sanctuary, 
 and wwship God in the beauty of holiness, with the Spirit and with the 
 understanding also ; pour out your hearts in deep contrition, and fall 
 down on your knees before his footstool. Come with me. now into the 
 place where a few are met together praying — an Apostolic practice, — and 
 jet us implore in special prayer blessings promised to individuals, in whom 
 
20 AN APOLOOT, &C. 
 
 WO hnvo R spcciiil intcrent; let us Hupplicnto tho God of nil CJriico nJi 
 wo hrtvo novpr done before ; let m pray for the peace nnd purity nnd 
 prosperity of Jcvuside.n, tlio Zion of tho whole o.-.rth ; lot u« pray thnt 
 all Churches may dwell topither in lovo nnd harmony ; that the divifionB 
 and jealousies of the Church uuiy be healed ; that the Ciospel may havo 
 free course and be glorified; that the Miiusters f-f Christ may ho indued 
 with power from on high ; that the Holy Spirit may he abundantly 
 poured out, that the form of godliness may give place to its power ; 
 that God's work v b." ^nvived in the midst of the days; thnt tho 
 Deliverer may eome to 'Au . and all Israel be restored to their land, and 
 be saved; that liabylon tl great may speedilv fall ; all flesh see the salva- 
 tion of God, nnd tlie Reign of the Prince of Peace conunetice. 
 
 Come with me to the place where Prayer is wont to be made ; and iinite 
 with us in special supplication for these, and for numerous other things, 
 and if you cannot find, for I. have been unable to find svlt,(bfe and special 
 prayers in the Prayer Book for these things, bo cindid enough to acknow- 
 ledge that everything definitely promised in the liiblo to (lod's hovitage is 
 not prayed for in that cxcollont ^lanual, and confers tliat you have asked too 
 much of the Common Prayer Book ; r.. d with the itrspired promises nsycmr 
 warrant and guide, feel that you may exercise the liberty and the privilcgo 
 ^f asking your covenant Father to grant you abundantly more than you 
 have ever yet asked in the name of his adorable son Jesus ;— and doubt 
 no more that special outpouring of your soul in " Prayer in tho Spirit" 
 is necessary— that the Church and every adopted child may enjoy spiri- 
 tual blessings in heavenly places iu Chris- 1 Jesus. 
 
 Tell me not I utter it not. brother Ch hu'an, an the hearing of any 
 one who knows that the Church of Christ t. mc. '•• .? ' Jit of the world, " 
 that she holds the promises of her liord, .nid : r /tr .nsible to *hem if she 
 fails to plead them at the Throne of the Gr^at I •t<;rcessor; /ly not, that 
 the Prayer Book contains everything in Promise and Prayer fcr her 
 children. 
 
 It does not ; no,— not one hundredth part of what is expressly pro- 
 mised, and is the subject of Prayer in the Bible, and especially to be 
 urged in these days of conflict and high hope. Take your Bible into your 
 closet, and after a week of close communion with heartfelt prayer to be 
 tnu'rhtofGod, come forth and acknowledge that special prayer, oxtom- 
 poraneous, social prayer " in and by the Holy Spirit," is absolutely 
 needful to the spiritual health, growth and usefulness, both of the Church, 
 and of every one of her dear children. 
 
 Let this suffice upon the Scriptural reasons for Social Prayer. May the 
 Lord by his Spirit put it into the hearts of all those who believe in Jesus 
 
AN APOLOGY, &0 
 
 21 
 
 Christ for nilvation, to nicflitiito on tho 20th nnd 2l9t vcrfies of the iii. of 
 Ephcs " /'ir lu Im fiiifli/iil Ihiit jiroinlxiif f " 
 
 Atal nov in connhipion. wo hnve iriu'hcrl in our application of thn 
 wl.MoHubjcct the point fnuu which W(! \w.<im\ ;— tho Srripturnl t-roiinds for 
 uniting in Prayer with nil who love the Lord Josus Ciirist in hinrority for 
 the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the world. Wc would offor this 
 afFectionato and faithful apixial : 
 
 ChristiiinH! Lovers of Christ ! Heirs of Promise! influenced hy he 
 Spiritof Adoption to cry Abba Father! I appeal to yon on bchaU of 
 your Covenant dod, and for Christ the Son of the Father ; for his Churcii, 
 nnd for the world ;— to sick by nil instituted means, the Union of uil 
 "who nan 3 the name of Christ." 
 
 Tho ultimate and comploU^ union of tho people of Ood on earth is clear 
 ly foretold in the Scriptures of truth. Tt is the subject of prayer by our 
 adorable Head ; in the last prayer he offered during his humiliation, ho 
 prayed that all mho bdietrd mlcjhf be owe, and now that ho is seated on his 
 Father's throne, he urges in prayer the same great object. lie ever livoth 
 to make intercession for ns, that we all may be one. The Holy Spirit is 
 promised to be poured out from on high, in answer to the prayer of the 
 Church, tliat all who bolievc may live in unity, peace and love ; and rcniom- 
 bar that this blessed union will be realized visibly, completoly, gloriou.sly, 
 when th< Redeemer comes to Zion, nnd reigns on earth. Prince of Peace. 
 
 Christians nnd Churchmen weigh these things prayerfully. We ask no 
 compromise of principle or position when we urge that all who believe in 
 the Son of God would unite in truth and love, and as far as practicable in 
 prayer ; that they may thereby manifest the Redeemer's glory. 
 
 Long have Christians of various names united in sending the Bible, with- 
 out note or comment, to every creature ; for many years have they united 
 in the circulption of religious tracts of n Evangolic:d character. More 
 recently it has been thought advisable to attempt a further union of Church- 
 es in the Evangelical Alliance, and now in our own day seasons of remarka- 
 ble awakening and revivals of r jligion hive constrained christians of every 
 denomination, who believe in Jesus, to unite in prayer, and in preaching 
 the gospel, that the great salvation may be seen and experienced by perish- 
 ing thousands. And lastly, while we write these words, a louder, more 
 noble, and soul-stirring call reaches our ears from lands thousands of miles 
 away,' to unite, and plead, and wrestle with God in Intercession, that " tho 
 Holy Spirit may be poured out upon all Flesh," that the grand millcnial 
 promise may soon be realized. " Ask of me, and I will give thee the Hea- 
 
 ,1 n .1 • - • -1 '.I. -5«rl 4-^" nj-frtrirs^o* 'nnvta nf fVlfi ftJirtb for thv 
 
 theri tor ininu iaiiuntanyc, ana lu^ uii^/nii^-.." i - — - - j 
 
 possession," 
 
 Christians and Churchmen, we repeat, we ask you not to compromise 
 
22 AN APOLOGY, &C. 
 
 anything' destinctive in your church position and relations, which you 
 deem nTore valuable than union inspirit, in aspiration, in holy fellowship 
 with those who arc one with Christ by faith. May the Spirit lead you m 
 the right and perfect way ; to your own Master you stand or fall, llcn.oni- • 
 ber the words of Paul, ''I shew unto you a more excellent mojr CiTAUfTV. 
 He that so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten 
 Son to die for us, draws you unto himself, with cr>rds of love, that you may 
 be one. He that died for you on Calvary is now manifestly drawing you 
 unto his cross as the grand centre of Union, that you all may be one. 
 That blessed Spirit, the Comforter, who descended with power and grace 
 upon the infant church at Pentecost, and is now reviving with quickening 
 influence parts of God's heritage , is drawing the hearts of praying Chris- 
 tians in many lands to one common object— the advent of a second Pente- 
 cost, when all " flesh shall see the salvation of God." And surely our 
 Divine Intercessor must regard the prayers and efforts of his believing 
 people after union, with the deepest sympathy, and his intercession will be 
 mingled with his merits, for this huppy consummation. 
 
 oTnce again, and finally. Christians, lovers of holy union, and brotherly 
 love, unite whenever you conscientiously can in praying for the purity, 
 unity, and increase of the church of the saved. Pray that everything tend, 
 ing to injure its beauty, obstruct its usefulness, or perpetuate disunion 
 anmng its professing members, may be removed. Pray that everything 
 pertaining to the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of the 
 Church of Christ, may be brought into the nearest accordance with the 
 word of God ; church reforms, revisions of prayer book, disruptions, seces- 
 sions, Church persecutions, acts of uniformity, acts of toleration, all have fail- 
 ed, m'iserably failed, to unite Christians. Let us now try the power of prayer , 
 of united prayer, and God, even our Covenant God, may smile on the eilort 
 put forth in faith and truth and love, and give us his blessing. Oh 
 let us unite without delay everywhere, in private, in social companies, in 
 our families, and in public, and implore the Minister of the Upper Sanc- 
 tuary, to sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, to purify the sons of Levi, 
 and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an 
 offering in righteousness. Let us stir up our souls, and the souls of each 
 other, to such holy earnestness that, like Jacob wrestling with the Angel 
 of the Covenant, we shall refuse to let him go unless he bless us. Dear 
 people of God, permit me, as one who loves Christ, and all who love him 
 in sincerity, to urge you to unite in intercession for the abundant outpour- 
 ing of the Holy Spirit, and for the speedy coming of the Lord Jesus 
 rihrist to bring in his kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the 
 Holy Ghost. Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high in second 
 JPent«costal rains ; the latter day glory ; the millenial reign of blessedness to 
 
AN a1»0L0GY, &0. 
 
 23 
 
 the church and the world, will not be realized. Therefore send up your 
 p Lit n.ost earnest aspirations to the heavenly throne, that thjs d^ubh, 
 l^J-ofthe Comforter and of the Redeemer-m glorious manifestation, 
 
 ^^^Ti:;;::v::f one hundred-and.twenty-the Ch.-ch of CW at Jer. 
 salcuiivas answered by the rentecostal first-l^-uits. Oh lot the prayers 
 Love than one hundred and twenty thousand-the Chureh of Christ 
 Zlboutthe world-ascend to our adorable Head and High Priest, 
 and wo may expect that a full Harvest blessing will be poured out upon 
 the waitin/and thirsting heritage of the Lord. Hasten, Saviour, thi, 
 promised blessing. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly 1 
 
 r S I think it due to all members of our church, who may read this 
 defence; to say, that I have great satisfaction in referring to the excellent 
 char-c ^f my Diocesan, delivered to his clergy at his Primary .Visitation, 
 for ^.0 views then given with equal clearness and Scriptural fuln^-; on 
 the " maare of the Church of Christ : visible and invisible^ Also on 
 the authority, relative value, and use of the Articles of the Church, and of 
 her .Vomu/ane., as we find them in the Book of Common Prayer I 
 commend all that the Bishop says on these two points (Tbe Authori y of 
 the 39 Articles, and the Value of the Liturgy and other Services for the 
 use of the Church,) to the careful perusal of all our members And I 
 trust that what our beloved Diocesan says at the close of his charge on 
 the importance of cultivating the Spirit of Prayer, will serve to shew that 
 .vhatever variety of opinion there may be among true Christians as to he 
 best mode of offering Prayer under all circumstances, al f « e^joy the 
 Spirit of Adoption will esteem it their duty and pnvilege to 'pray always 
 ''with all prayer, and supplicating in the Spirit with all Saints, that 
 God's way may be known upon earth, her saving health among all nations.