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 m 
 
 
 
 mtimt in ifet t|(iitt of |is Serknts. 
 
 A SERMON, 
 
 PREACHED BY COMMAND OP THE LORD BISHOP OP TORONTO, 
 
 IN ST. PATJyS CHURCH, LONDON, C. W., ON WEDNESDAY. 
 
 THE 8th JULY, 1857. 
 
 BSrOBK 
 
 THE MEMBERS OF THE SYNOD, 
 
 CONVENED TO ELECT A BISHOP FOR THE WESTERN 
 DIVISION OF THE DIOCESE. 
 
 .A 
 
 BY HENRY HOLLAND, B.A., 
 
 0/ Quiem' College, Cambridgf, Mittionary at Tynmnel. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY DIRECTION OJT THE SYNOD. 
 
 TORONTO : 
 HENRY ROWSELL, KING-STREET. 
 
 1857. 
 
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^'^sM^i^iMami^ 
 
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Christ's |rtrogatti)t in l|c t\m of f is Strbants. 
 
 
 A SERMON, 
 
 PREACHED BY COMMAND OF THE LORD BISHOP OF TORONTO, 
 
 IN ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, LONDON, C.W., ON WEDNESDAY. 
 
 THE 8th JULY, 1857, 
 
 IlEFORK 
 
 THE MEMBERS OF THE SYNOD, 
 
 CONVENED TO ELECT A BISHOP FOR THE WESTERN 
 DIVISION OF THE DIOCESE. 
 
 BY HENRY HOLLAND, B.A. 
 
 Of Queens' College, Cambridge, Missionary at Tyreonnel. 
 
 
 PUBLISHED BY DIRECTION OF THE SYNOD. 
 
 I 
 
 TORONTO : 
 HENRY ROWSELL, KING-STREET. 
 
 1857. 
 
" ft seems to be tlw I 
 ""''•^»vo„r to fill in 1„\. •' ''^ "''"'' Proaclier i« |,; 
 
 oitherTv ,1? r' """'■' '■"' "-I'iol. ,1, '"""""■■"■"'I'™. 
 
 ./ ^ oiir ''Sermons. 
 
 I 
 
CHKISrS PREROGATIVE IN THE CHOICE 
 OF HIS SERVANTS, 
 
 •n to 
 
 t'ine 
 
 ers, 
 
 led, 
 
 lis- 
 
 icl) 
 
 ;he 
 
 fht. 
 
 Acts i., 24, 25.-An(l they prayed, and snid, thou, Lord, which knowc^-t 
 the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that ho 
 may take part of this ministry and apostlcshif . 
 
 Thnnkful would the preaclier Imvc been, had the duty ol 
 addressing you on the present occasion, reverend father? and 
 brethren, been intrusted to one better qualified than himself, 
 by attainments of learnino; and gifts of eloquence, and endowed 
 with the experience and authority of riper years. Gladly 
 would he liave sat at the feet of many now present to have 
 heard from their lips tlie words of exhortation and admonition 
 befitting this solemn occasion. Such an occasion, doubtless, 
 all who are present feel it to be. We have met for the dis- 
 charge of a momentous duty, a duty which brings the most 
 serious responsibility upon all who are concerned in it, and on 
 the fidelity with which it is performed will the well-being ol 
 this portion of the Lord's vineyard be greatly dependent for 
 all time to come. The effects of what we shall this day do 
 will last long after we ourselves have passed from the present 
 scene ; they will be felt by remote generations. And, there- 
 fore, O that a deep and holy awe may now rest upon us ; that 
 both in the duty in which we are more immediately engaged, 
 and in that to which this solemn act of worship is the intro- 
 duction, we may realise the presence of our God and Saviour ; 
 and that the power of the Lord, the Spirit, being present to 
 enli-hten our understandings, to strengthen our weakness, and 
 to unite us all in the bonds of love and peace, we may " by the 
 same Spirit have a right judgment in all things, and evermore 
 rejoice in His holy comfort."* If such a spirit pervade this 
 assembly, the preacher may hope that what is about to be ad- 
 vanced, being received, not with captious suspicion, a disposi- 
 tion unprofitPble to those who indulge it, but with candour and 
 brotherly confidence, will tend to the edification of all. Then 
 
 * Collect for Whit-Sunday. 
 
will the ffeblencfs of tho instrumen: soryo but to mngnify the 
 power and grace of God and the efTiracy of the Divine Word. 
 Let that word speak for itself, and from its hidden treasures 
 let us seek to draw such instruction us may contribute to our 
 guidance in the matter we hav.' in hiind, and fiiable us to per- 
 form it to tho greater glory of (.»od and the high advantage of 
 His people. 
 
 The phssage of Holy Scripture from which the text is taken 
 is naturally suggested to our thoughts by the occasion on 
 which we are assembled. It contains an account of the first 
 assembly of the Christian Church, for a purp«tse similar to 
 that for which we are now gathered together. The Lord Jesus 
 Christ, having finished the work which had been given Him 
 to do on earth, had a few days before gone back to His father's 
 house in Heaven. The eleven, standing around Him upon the 
 summit of Olivet, had seen Him taken up. The everlasting 
 doors had opened to take in the King of Glory. The conqueror 
 had relumed in triumph to His abode of peace. The dis- 
 ciples, no Idnger dejected and dismayed at finding themselves 
 left alone and deprived of the personal presence of their mas- 
 ter, but full of confidence and hope, were " waiting for the 
 promise of the Father which they had heard of Christ," and 
 " continued with one accord in prayer and supplication." 
 But their original number was incomplete. The defection of Judas 
 had reduced it to eleven, whereas twelve had been originally 
 designed by the Lord to be the witnesses of His resurrection. 
 It had been Divinely appointed that the number of the Apos. 
 ties, the patriarchs of the Christian Church, should be the same 
 with that of the Fathers of Israel. " That great city, the holy 
 Jerusalem," which was seen in mystic vision by St. John, is 
 described as having " twelve gates, and at the gates twelve 
 angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the 
 twelve tribes of the children of Israel." " And the wall of the 
 city had twelve foundaticms, and in them the names of the 
 twelve apostles of the Lamb."* In order, therefore, to make 
 up the original number, it was necessary, St. Peter declared, 
 that of those of the disciples who had possessed the most inti- 
 mate knowledge of their Master during His sojourn amongst 
 them, one should be ordained to the same rank and office with 
 
 * Rev. xxi., 10-14. 
 
themselves. Two, of whom hoth wcrp supposed to be fully 
 (lualifu'd, hnvintr hwu sflocted, the ussembled apostles and 
 disciples addrrssed to ilieir Lord and Master the solemn prayer 
 contaiii.'<l iu tlie text : which done, •' they gave forth their 
 lots; and the lot f.-ll iipou Matthias; and he was numbered 
 with the eleven apostles." 
 
 This prayer, there can he little doubt, was addressed to 
 Christ. Such is the opinion of every expositor whom I have 
 had the opportunity of consulting. The reasons for this opinion 
 will probably suggest themselves to your own minds in follow- 
 ing the present discourse ; I shall not, therefore, now detain 
 you with them.* The petition was made, us has been already 
 stated, upon an occasion in many resipects similar to that upon 
 which we are now and have assembled. "The number of the 
 names together were about an hundred and twenty." It was 
 upon the first appointment, otherwise than by Christ in person, 
 of a Bishop in the Christian Churc' In making this assertion, 
 let it not be supposed that I am confounding the episcopal 
 ofhco with that which belonged exclusively to the apostles, 
 and in which they had and could have no successors. In us 
 far as St. Matthias was ordained in order that, with the rest of 
 the apostles, he might bear the testimony of an eye-witness to 
 the life, the miracles, the suflTerings, and the resurrection of 
 the Lord Jesus, there is no resemblance between the office to 
 which he was appointed and that of the bishops of succeeding' 
 ages : but inasmuch as he was also ordained to be one of the 
 chief rulers of the Christian Church, and to receive and trans- 
 mit to others » the keys of the kingdom of Heaven," his suc- 
 cessors are found in all who are promoted to the episcopal 
 
 offi.ce.f 
 
 I may not forget that I am now addressing an assembly of 
 Divines, and others, of whom all are intelligent members of 
 the Church of England, and may therefore be supposed con- 
 versant with the arguments by which the" apostolic and episco- 
 pal offices, except in the particular which has been mentioned, 
 are proved .0 be identical. It is therefore unnecessary now to 
 repeat those arguments. The appropriateness of the passage 
 to our present circumstances will be admitted, and I may pro- 
 ceed at once to draw from it the inferences upon which espe- 
 cially I desire to fix your attention. 
 
 * See Note A. t Note B. 
 
 i- 
 
■immm 
 
 •m»m^: 
 
 6 
 
 It appears, then, from the passage before us, 
 
 I. That it is Christ's prerogative to choose those who shall 
 be bishops and pastors of His flock. 
 
 The very words of tlie text direct us to this conclusion : 
 "they prayed and said, ihoii, Lord, which knowest the hearts 
 ofallnrien, shew whether of these two thou hn>^t c/iose„ r* but 
 they do more ; they also suggest the grounds upon which the 
 conclusion rests. 
 
 (1.) The first argument is aflbrded by the title under which 
 Clirist is addrossen in the invocation with which the prayer 
 opens : •' Thou, Lnnir " To us there is but one Lord Jesus 
 Christ ;"* " H'm God hath highly exalted, and given Him a 
 name which is above every name : that at the name of Jesus 
 every knee should bow, of tilings in heaven, and things in earth, 
 and things under the earth ; and that every tongue should 
 confess that Je>^m Christ /v L,.r<l r^'r and He 'hath set Him at 
 H's own right hand in the heavenly places, . . fmd hath 
 put all things under His feet, and bath given Him to be the 
 head over all tilings to the Church, which'is His body, the ful- 
 ness of Him that filleth all in al!.";|: In regard, then, of the 
 exalted rank which has beon conferred upon Him as the Head of 
 the Church, must our Lord Josus Christ surely be supposed to 
 select for himself those who shall rule under Him and admin- 
 ister tlu- laws of His kingdom. To select the ministers and 
 chief officers of State is the undoubted prerogativ f royalty. 
 The sovereign is ever regardt-d us the fountain of ility and 
 honour. It is a law of the Divine economy, an orut- of things 
 which we see universally established, and to the iitness of 
 wnich our natural sense bears witness. The exaltation which 
 Christ has received consists, in part at ' -ast, in the exercise of 
 this very prerogative: He is exalted expressly for this pur- 
 pose. "I appoint unto you a kingdom," said 'christ to His 
 apostles, the future rulers and bishops of His Church, " as my 
 Father hath appointed unto me ; tl.at ye may eat and drink a't 
 my table in my kinrdom, and sit on thrones judg.nn- the twelve 
 tribes of Israel. "§ To Christ, then, as He is th, L„r<l, and to 
 Him alone belongs the undoubted ritrht of choosing from among 
 His subicots those who shall be admitted to the distinguished 
 
 * I Cor., viii., 0. t Phil., ii., .j_li. X Eph., i...2 0-l.'.']. ? Luke, xxii.. 29. 
 
im i» H.<n iiW MEf ^ 
 
 1 
 
 honour of sharins: 'vith himself and administering under Him 
 tho government of His kingdom. 
 
 (3.) The terms in Avliich the office is described lead to the 
 same conclusion ; " that he may take part in this ministry and 
 (ipo^tlcHhip.'" Ministry implies the office and functions of a 
 servant, as in the words of our Saviour to the disciples, " who- 
 soever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and 
 whosoe/er will be chief among you, let him be your servant ; 
 even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to 
 minister."* The household in which this service is performed 
 is the Church : the master is Christ. Of the various servants 
 in a household, some are greater than others; to some it is ap- 
 pointed to labour and toil in subjection and obedience, to others 
 is assigned the office of controlling the inferior servants and 
 of regulating the affairs of the household : one is but a menial, 
 another is the steward. This illustration of the various ranks 
 and occupations of members of the Church is frequently em- 
 ployed in the New Testament. Thus, on one occasion, " the 
 Lord said, who then is tlmt iaithful and wise steward, whom 
 his Lord shall make ruler over His household, to give them 
 their portion of meat in due season. "f And St. Paul writes, 
 " Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and 
 stewards of the mysteries of God ;"| and in another place, 
 " A bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God."§ Now, 
 however the inferior servants in a household are appointed, 
 we know that the steward is invariably selected by the master 
 himself, and holds his appointment from him alone. The capa- 
 bilities required in him, the nature of the trust reposed in him, 
 and the authority with Avhich lie must be clothed, make it 
 necessary that it should be so. 
 
 It is also an " apostleship :" and whether we regard the 
 nature of the office as it may be inferred from the derivation 
 and literal signification of the term, which implies the being 
 sent forth with a special mission, the office of an ambassador 
 for Christ, or its original in the mission of the twelve and 
 others mentioned in the New Testament, we arrive at the 
 same conclusion, that those by whom it is to be filled must be 
 chosen by Christ himself. Thus it is written, " It came to 
 pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, 
 and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was 
 
 * Matt.., XX., 26-25. f ^^^^> xii, •!-• t ICor., iv., 1. 'i lilua, i., 7. 
 
8 
 
 Jay Ho c„lk.,l u„,„ Hi,„ Hi. .iiscipie. : „„d of .hom H,. 
 chose twelve., wl.o.r, „lso l,c named apos.ios,"* So that .rulv 
 m.gl.. He say ,o .hen,, shortly before Ho snfforod, .ye ha ' 
 no chosen ■„,, bt,t | have chosen yo„, „n,l ordained yot .-; 
 
 r hat S ;:; :% "V° ''"'"■"^ °f Can^ascs, coLern! 
 ngthat Sanl of larsus who was alterwards iinown as Paul 
 
 .he Apostle? •• He is a chosen vessel nnto me." HeZll 
 Paul, spe„kn,5 of himself and his coadjutors in the ^rea^en: 
 
 .0 .ctheSonofC.0,1 wtth power," " we have received grace 
 
 Hi'! r:' "t '" '"'■ °''""°"" '" '"" *"" ""-"« "" ""'--": 
 
 (a.) There is yet another argument suggested by the text 
 m proof of tins T Chris, belongs the pre«ga,ive o choosing 
 Hss ,.,„.„, ^ He only .,;..„„„, ,;,„ /,e„,.» „/„,/ ,„„,,^ 
 
 Ichshe .sassa.led, of commanding the little band of wai^ 
 Mots by w.tom the armies of the aliens must be pu. to fiifh.. 
 Reflect o„ the exalted position of .hose who are called to hi 
 .1 e ep.seopal oihce, an,l the vast influence, for good or for evi 
 whtch they e,ert over the whole body of the flock. For good 
 tf careful ,„ guarding that co.nmi.ted to their trust, the fahh 
 
 iNgence, to ban.sh and drive away all erroneous and strange 
 
 sending, and laying hands on others:" if "denvin-r „M „„„„T 
 lmes.s and worldly lusts, and living soberly r I fou,!;;, 
 godly tn this presen. world so as to shew th^msl spinal 
 h ngs an exantple of good works unto others."? For ev,' • 
 .f taking the oversight of God's flock as though " by eonsn,,,! " 
 "for llhy lucre," or as •• being lords ove^ God'sZ „ '"ll 
 
 fo li sTcc f'TT^r- "" """""' 'l-Mcationsnece's ry 
 for the successful discharge of these various duties. WheJ 
 &t. Paul exc aims, •< Who is sufficient for these things ••' i" 
 
 such ,n^,.l,fie.a,io,is, demands more than human penetration 
 and wtsdom, that He only, who ..searches the reins Ld h a, " 
 -_pn.^emjomjUce_U«_sek^ ,„„3 jY/^;^ 
 
 Sc^icf "-'il 'ikte''',., if''"' »'■. 10- t Koa.., i.,'G. JOrdiaation 
 
9 
 
 passed before Samuel, " he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely 
 the Lord's anointed is before him. But the Lord said unto 
 Samuel, Look not ou his countenance, or on the height of his 
 stature ; because I have refused him : for the Lord seeth not 
 as man seeth ; for man looketh on the outward appearance, 
 but the Lord looketh on the heart."* From this passage we 
 learn how easily the amiable bias of private friendship, or 
 admiration of many estimable qualities in others, may so con- 
 ceal from us their faults and defects, as to render our judgment 
 respecting them wholly erroneous. And on the other hand, 
 dissimilarity of opinion or a mere difference of natural temper- 
 ament, may create in our minds causeless prejudices against 
 those on whom Christ has set the mark of His high approba- 
 tion and choice. Many frailties in the Lord's servants which 
 are hidden from us, to Him are well known. Rank, and 
 power, and a prominent position in the Church, although 
 often the objects of ambition, are attended -with great peril. 
 To Christ only are known the motives by which men are influ- 
 enced, the temptations by which they might be most easily 
 snared, and the effect which altered circumstances and new 
 relationships might produce in bringing to view traits of cha- 
 racter previously hidden, even from themselves. 
 
 To Christ then, both as He is the Lord, and as He only 
 knoiceth the hrarts of all men, must be conceded the right of 
 choosing for himself those who shall take part in the muiistri/ 
 and apostleship of His Church. 
 
 A second inference which may be drawn from this passage, 
 in connexion with the narrative of which it forms part, is, 
 
 n. That in making known to the Church whom he has 
 chosen to be its chief pastors, Christ nevertheless employs the 
 instrumentality of human agency. 
 
 He did so under the Old Testament dispensation. When to 
 Aaron and his sons was given the covenant of an everlasting 
 priesthood, the Divine purpose was made known to Mosos, and 
 through him to the Church of Israel. Christ himself desig- 
 nated the twelve apostles by name. When it became necessary 
 to fill the vacancy occasioned by the apostacy of Judas, St. 
 Peter was directed to bring the matter before the synod of 
 apostles and disciples, and by them was employed the method 
 
 * 1 Sam., xvi., 7. 
 
10 
 
 which has been already related for the ascertaining of Christ's 
 will concerning the appointment. When Paul and Barnabas 
 had been called to the apostleship by the Holy Ghost, certain 
 prophets and teachers at Antioch were directed to separate 
 them for the work, and to ordain them by the laying on of 
 hands. In the designation ol Timothy and Titus to be bishops 
 ofEphesus and of Crete respectively, so far as we are informed, 
 St. Paul alone was employed. From these instances we may 
 infer that different methods, but all involving the instrumen- 
 tality of man, have, on different occasions, been employed by 
 Christ, in making known whom He has chosen to be the chief 
 rulers of His flock. 
 
 The same inference must be drawn from the facts of ecclesi- 
 astical history. It does not appear that any settled method in 
 the designation of persons to the episcopal office has always or 
 every where prevailed, on the contrary there has been consid- 
 erable diversity in the manner in which this has taken place. 
 Here, however, it is necessary to observe that it has been a 
 law of the universal Church, that, in the appointment of a 
 bishop to a particular diocese or charge, two things should 
 concur. First, the selection must be made of a person sup- 
 posed to be properly qualified, who must, thereupon, be pre- 
 sented to the primate or metropolitan, and at least two bishops 
 associated with him, for their approval. Being approved of by 
 them, but not otherwise, he is consecrated by the laying on of 
 their hands, and it is thus declared to the Church that he has 
 been chosen and appointed by Christ to the episcopal office. 
 
 For the former of these objects we are assembled here this 
 day ; the latter belongs exclusively to those who liave succeed- 
 ed the apostles in the inheritance of Christ's promise,— «' Lo, I 
 am with you always, even unto the end of the world,"— the 
 bishops of the Church, to whom it appertains to transmit to 
 others the authority they have themselves received, and by 
 virtue of which they administer the government of the Church. 
 " Seeing that none but bishops do consecrate," says the author 
 of the Ecclesiastical Polity, " it followeth that none but thev 
 only do give unto every bishop his being."* And the learned 
 and excellent Bishop Beveridgehas the following remarks upon 
 the same subject: "The apostles being ordained and instructed 
 by our Lord, took special care to transfer the same spirit to 
 * Hooker's Ecc. Pol., VIII., vii.r2! 
 
11 
 
 others, which they had Tcceived from Him. . . And where- 
 soever we read that the apostles ordained any, they did it after 
 this manner, even by laying their hands upon them. . . . 
 Thus therefore it is that the apostolical office hath been hand- 
 ed down from one to another, ever since the apostles' days to 
 our time, and so will be to the end of the world, Christ himsei 
 being continually present at such ftnposition of hands ; thereby 
 transferrmg the'samc Spirit which He had at first brenthod 
 into His apostles, upon others successively after ihem, as really 
 as He was present with the apostles themselves, when He first 
 breathed it into them."* And that this is in perfect accord- 
 ance wi.h the teaching of the Church of England, appears 
 from the office for the consecration of bishops, where it is di- 
 rected that " the archbishop and bishops present shall lay 
 their hands upon the head of the elected bishop, kneeling be- 
 fore them upon his knees, the archbishop saying, Receive the 
 Holy Ghost for the office and work of a bishop in the Church 
 of God, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our 
 
 hands." 
 
 But that with which at present we have to do, is the selec- 
 tion of an individual who shall be presented to the primate for 
 approval, and thereupon for consecration and appointment to a 
 particular charge ; and it is in the mode in which such selec- 
 tion has been made that considerable diversity has prevailed. 
 I may again quote from the "judicious Hooker;" "The man- 
 ner of uniting bishops as heads, unto the flock and clergy under 
 them, hath often altered. For, if some be not deceived, this 
 thing was sometime done even without any election at all. 
 At the first, the first created in the college of presbyters was 
 still the bishop. He dying, the next senior did succeed him."t 
 This rule, however, being found to lead often to the appoint- 
 ment of persons not duly qualified, in course of time gave way 
 to the selection by the presbyters of a diocese, of that one of 
 their number who was thought to be most worthy. "In 
 which elections," continues the same writer, " at the begin- 
 ning the clergy and people both had to do, although not both 
 after one sort. The people gave their testimony, and showed 
 their affection, either of desire or dislike. But the choice was 
 wholly in the sacred college of presbyters." 
 
 in the fourth canon of the Nicene Council, however, as 
 
 * Beveridge's Works, vol.1., p. 10. f Hooker's Ecc. Pol., VlU., vU., 2. 
 B 
 
M i( 
 
 12 
 
 quoted by the learned Dr. Brett, in his " account of Church 
 government,"* it is desired, " That a bishop ought chiefly to 
 be constituted by all the bishops of the Province." And 
 ••The Council of Laodicea decreed about the same time, that 
 bishops long approved both in faith and doctrine, shall be 
 constituted for the government of the Church, by the metropo- 
 litan and neighbouring bisho^js ; and that the multitude shall 
 not elect any persons to be ordained. "f Upon this the author 
 observes, (supporting his opinion also by that of Bishop Bever- 
 idge,) that •• The right of election was in the bishops present, 
 but the consent and approbation of the election appertained to 
 the people." And, further, " It is certain that the whole 
 power of election, as well as ordination, was in the bishops, 
 even as it had been in their predecessors the apostles." 
 '• However, I am persuaded," he continues, " that the people, 
 amongst which I also include the clergy, generally nominated 
 some fit person or persons, whom the bishops, if they approved 
 of, consecrated, or otherwise ordered them to make a new 
 choice ; which, if they refused to do, then the bishops them- 
 selves appointed whom they thought fit." To this he adds 
 that •• afterwards, the form and manner of electing, though not 
 of consecrating bishops, was a little varied." When a bishop 
 was to be ordained, the clergy and chief men of the city as- 
 sembled, and having chosen three well qualified persons, he of 
 those three was consecrated whom the bishops judged most 
 worthy. This was the rule in the Eastern Church ; in the 
 Western it was ordained tl.at the bishops should name three 
 persons, of whom the clergy and people should choose one " 
 
 In more recent times a still greater change in the manner of 
 appointing bishops has tat:en place, as in Englan.! at present 
 where the election is but a matter of form, and the appointment' 
 proceeds entirely from the Crown. 
 
 It appears, then, upon the whole, from this brief review of 
 Scriptural sanction, and the general usage of the Church that 
 although It may be questioned whether the mode of proceeding 
 which has been decided upon for the present occasion, is the 
 best that could have been devised for the attainment of the 
 desirable object, there is suffic ient^precedc^nt for its employ. 
 
 tha't the^S:?nnfen?r?h?XurcroVF"' f^T^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^oa 
 
 ^ 
 
1 
 
 ment to warrant us in believinfr, that Christ will, by means of 
 this instrumentality in connexion with, and subordination to, 
 that of the bishops of the Church, be pleased to signify His 
 will concerning the appointment about to be made. 
 
 Nor let it be by any supposed that because the Lord Jesus 
 is no longer personally present amongst us : that because the 
 a^e of miraculous interference and direct Spiritual illumina- 
 tion has passed away ; that because the tongue of fire no lon- 
 ger descends from Heaven, and resting upon the head of the 
 chosen apostle, points him out as the Lord's anointed; that 
 therefore Christ has ceased to exercise His prerogative in the 
 choice of His servants, or that He has not ample means at His 
 disposal for the signification of His will. Is it not to those 
 who are assembled by His authority, for the administration of 
 the affairs of the Chureh, that the promise was expressly and 
 originally intended, " Where two or three are gathered toge- 
 ther in my name, there am I in the midst of them "?* Do we 
 truly and firmly believe, as we pray, " that the never-faihng 
 providence of God ordereth all things both in heaven and 
 earth," and can we for a moment suppose that a matter which 
 so immediately concerns the well-being of His spouse the 
 Church, is left by Christ to be determined by ^_^^^^'''' ^' ^ 
 the mere caprice of men ? We dare not entertain a doubt but 
 that He can and does, in a manner inscrutable to us, so con- 
 trol the minds both of individuals and of bodies of men, as by 
 what appear to be their voluntary acts, to accomplish notwith- 
 standing His own will, and to make His sovereign pleasure known. 
 ' Does any one present find it difficult to realise this? Let 
 him only consider the network of circumstances by which each 
 of the many individuals, who have been brought together to 
 take part in this day's proceedings, is surrounded, and the 
 diversity of influences which have been brought to bear upon 
 him ; with each of these let him connect the distinct declara- 
 tions of Christ, that " the hairs of our head are all numbered, 
 and that '' not a sparrow can fall to the g--^, -'f;";;:/ 
 Father ;" and let him crown his reflections with the cons.dei- 
 Tt n so emphatically stated by St. Paul that » all thmgs work 
 together fo good to them that love God, to them who are the 
 caUed according to His purpose," and I dare affirm that he 
 
 will be sceptical on. this point no longerj^ 
 
 * Matt., xviii., 20. t Note D. 
 
I 
 
 14 
 
 m 
 
 We have then .sufficient orrounds for the conclusion that 
 while it is the undoubted preroorativ'e of Christ to r/tnoxr ffh 
 own sercanu, it is nevertheless Mis jjleasure to make known to 
 the Church wliom He lias chosen to be its bishops and pastors, 
 1)1/ fhf hiHti'vmndalitif nf human agcutH. 
 
 From the passa<re before us, therefore, T proceed to infer, 
 III. That it should be the sole object of those who are 
 intrusted with any share of this duty, and therefore, tluif it 
 .thoiM be our ohject i(j)on (he present occasion, to seek to discover 
 whom Christ has chosen. Ai^ain, mark the words of the text. 
 " They prayed and .said, thou. Lord, show whether of these 
 two thou hast cho.sen." Are we now persuaded that it is the 
 will of the Great Head of the Church that the office of the 
 episcopate should exist for the government of His kinj^dom 
 upon earth? We may also be assured tliat He has provided 
 fit and proper persons to fill that office. And do we believe 
 that it is by His ijerinission and authority that we are now 
 called upon to select from among the presbyters of the Church 
 one wliom we may suppose to have been by Him designed for 
 the office ? We may then surely expect to find in the New Testa- 
 ment, if not direct instructions, yet principles laid down wOiich 
 may be applicable to the occasion, and may very much assist 
 our judtrment. Many such are therein to be found. Such 
 e.r/., i« the direction given by St. Paul to Timothy : " Let the 
 elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, 
 especially they who labour iu the word and doctrine."^^ And 
 such is the rule laid down by our Lord himself in the parable 
 of the talents, where it is tJie good and faithful servant who 
 liH.s been faithful over a [cw ihing,s, who is made ruler over 
 many things. With the best reason surely may we .suppose 
 that he whom Christ has chosen to advance to a jjost of emi- 
 nence and authority in Hi.s church, will be one who lia.s been 
 faithful in the management of the two or the five talents previ- 
 ously committed to his care : one who has been distinguished by 
 an earnest devotion to the duties of his sacred calling, in whatever 
 sphere he may have been bidden to exercise it Tone who has 
 continually kept in view the solemn account of his steward- 
 ship he must one day give at the judgment seat of Christ. 
 Such an one will not have la boured in his own strength ; he 
 
 1 Tim., V. 17. ~ 
 
15 
 
 arduous duties and ugher '^^'"^^^.^^ „,, i^ss successful 
 him, he will be not loss --- n - ^ .;^^^ ^^^ ,^,, , j, 
 
 in obtaining the '^^^''.fj^^^^^^ 
 necessarytoobserve.thatasme P I ^^_^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ 
 
 of ministerial -f f'J^^'^;;^^,, and fidelity. The most 
 invariable attendant on cbl. nc ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 skilful and devoted --^^^ Jj; ^ut l^^ resolutely 
 
 is crowned with ^^^^ ^"^"^^^ .^\ ^ ' ^ ion, and while taking the 
 combating the difficulties <^^^^'^^,, j, secured, falls on 
 very measures by which ^^'''''''''' J^^^^^^^y , ,,aest heroes, the 
 
 ..e'field of battle ; even - -^ ^f ^f iTduty to the aueen."* 
 noblellaglan,late yfe 1, anait . t ^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^_ 
 
 SO may the most ut ul and l^^bon^^^^^^ ,^,,, nt, and 
 
 tors have to toil, all Hit ion, ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ i,,ying a 
 
 with little apparent ^^''^•^'^\' .^^'^j^.^ving the seed of a harvest 
 foundation for future triumph., and sowig 
 
 which others shall reap wU • ^^ ^^^^^ ^,,^,py 
 
 Andmustitnotbeevid tit ^^ ,,,,,nand an 
 
 positions of eminence -^ ^ «/ "^ ^^^ ,,hieh they can look 
 extensive field for ohserva ion, nd ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ .^^^^^ 
 
 down and see the varmus lab - n ^^^ ^^.^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ 
 ,ow each fulfils the -sk - - ^^ ;^^,^ .^^j, p,,piexities 
 whom the clergy are acc"stome ^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ 
 
 -d sorrows, and - -l-ny^^^ ,, approximate estimate 
 
 and aid; ^hat they only can tor ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^ ^^.^^^^^ ^ ^^ 
 
 „f a.e character ot each and o^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ 
 more responsible P^^^tion. ^j^, culiar quab- 
 
 know, because they know by MJ^^^^ ^^^ ^^ 
 
 fications required for the ^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^^ ,_^.,tj, 
 
 weighty duties of the ep.sc P I ofh^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ 
 all due submission, to put ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^,.^^^^^^ ^(- ^^^^, 
 
 a.ese considerations do .ots^^ ^^^-^^^^ .^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^.^^^ ^^ ,. 
 
 tvrSretve'al^elt seenJovmerly given to the metropolitan 
 
 Td'oTheVbishops «f J; f 7f ;;^ „,t without further and even 
 
 But the pages of holy wnt a ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ .^ ^^^^ 
 
 ,nore explicit instructmnsfor^tl^ 
 
16 
 
 -i-tiun or l...r bishop., m the cpisth. of St. Paul to Ti.no- 
 
 ru|Uirc.d ,u thoscMvho.n they, ns chief ovursonrs, urrt' (oordRi.. 
 '" tiK. pa.storal office in th.ir respective churche . An t , 
 .nay n^ ohjected that the .onl .V.Wo, in the pa'r^e 
 relerre.l to ,.s u.sed to describe the oflice of an overseer of fhe 
 flock rather than of the clergy, I nuuntain that they are not the 
 less applicable to our purpose. For it is evident that if thes« 
 .iuah .cations are required in every pastor they should be 
 foimd pre-enunently in one who is to be advanced to the 
 on.ce of a ch.ef shepherd. And in this view I am supported 
 '^y the Church of England, which has appointed the former of 
 tliese j.as.sages to be read as - the epistle" in her order for the 
 ;' consecration of an archbishop or bishop." What then are the 
 n.s ruct.ons of the Holy Spirit on this subject given to the 
 Una ch by the hand of St. Paul. .« A bishop n.ust be blan.eless, 
 tl'o hu.sba.Hl o( one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, 
 g^ven ,0 hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no 
 striker, not greedy of filthy lucre ; but patient, not a brawler, 
 not covetous, one that ruleth well his own house, having his 
 cluld,-en ,n subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know 
 not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the 
 Chm^ch of God ?) not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride, 
 ho- fall ..ito the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must 
 l>ave a good report of them which are without, lest he fall into 
 rop.'oach and the snare of the deWl."* So far the first epistle 
 to 1 linothy. In the epistle to Titus these additional requisites 
 are mentioned. ^^ not selfwiUed, not soon angry; a lover of 
 good men just, holy, temperate ; holding fast theVaithful word 
 as he hath been taught."f 
 
 But in these epistles we find secondary instructions to Timo- 
 'yand Iitus themselves respecting the special functions 
 uh.ch appertained to them as bishops of the church, and the 
 temper and spirit requisite for a faithful discharge of the 
 duties o the.r higli office. And au attentive consideration of 
 these Will tend to throw further light upon the subject. Thus 
 do we find St. Paul giving Timothy a solemn charge conce:" 
 >ng the fa.th. ot the integrity and purity of which he was the 
 ap,)onited guardian ?| We infer that the first requisite in a 
 
 ^d!!!!!l!!iJi'!'!^^^ the 
 
 * 1 Tim., iii. 2, 7. t Titus, i. 7, 9. ± 1 Tim. I 
 
17 
 
 faith in a pure conscience." Do we find h.m next guMnp 
 instructions concerning church ordor a.ul th. soU-mnUu-s o 
 worship^* We know that one whose lunct.on U is to see 
 ,„/churrh's ritual rarrie.l out. must himself be thoroughly 
 i,„,„H,i with its spirit. Is the selection and ord.nat.on of 
 .ninisters his peculiar function? He ought surely to be one 
 possessing in as eminent a degree as it is now vouchsafed to 
 Ln the gift of discerning of spirits.f Is he set up on high 
 a, a watchman to warn the church of the dangers which sur- 
 round and threaten her, the peculiar perils of the age?t He 
 must be one who has himself escaped from their influence. 
 He is required to be " an example of the believers, in word, m 
 conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. ^ He 
 must be able to endure hardness, as a good soldier of Je us 
 Christ II And while on the one hand, "the servant of the 
 Lord, rnust not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, 
 patient in meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves ;! 
 on the other hand, he must "exhort and rebuke with all au- 
 thority, letting no man despise him. 
 
 When we have found one in whom, so far as we can judge, 
 these various qualifications meet, we may reasonably hope that 
 he is the individual upon whom has been set the seal ot 
 Christ's approval and choice. 
 
 It may perhaps ' thought that a standard of excellence has 
 been proposed to which none attain, and that therefore we must 
 in vain look for one thus qualified. But suffer me to repeat 
 what has been already said, that he who has appointed the office 
 has most surely provided fit persons to fill it. The church to 
 which we belong numbers her clergy not by tens nor by .urn- 
 dreds but by thousands and tens of thousands ; and in their 
 ranks are many able, and gifted, and devoted men ; men of 
 hicrh attainments and of sincere and unafl-ected piety ; men 
 who possess a true knowledge of human nature, and are not 
 unacquainted with the world in which the Church s warfare 
 must be carried on ; men sound m the faith and warm in their 
 attachment to the Reformed Catholic Church , men in whom 
 firmness is combined with gentleness, moderation with decision ; 
 men who would shrink from no sacrifice to which duty might 
 call them ; men of prayer, and men of God. 
 
 TT^im. ii. t 1 Tim. iii. t 1 Tim. iv.^ § 1 Tim., iv. 12.;i| 2 Tim., ii. 3. 
 ^ 2 Tim., ii. 24. ** Titus, ii. 15. 
 

 18 
 
 Broihron a,ul futhor.s i.. Chri.. U. l.onour of our .„.,tor, 
 ^^'H '• « H ..tula, tho .l.pnity of the odlc, wl.ic-l. „e would see 
 ; . ". In.l. and uuivor.sal ...tiuuuiun. our own wclfa... an 
 -""-••• '•' tl.as,. c-onnnittod to our car... or an who.e rer rc.c'n a 
 nv.'« wo uro iK.r. tins day. d.Muand of us that we look or "I' 
 q|.al. .cat,on.s u. I.un whou. w. Ccct a. our hi.lK.p. VvJ t 
 all observed m every walk of life the tnarvdh u.s indu n e 
 marked by a K.tder whose character i« ,.arked by ear ■! te" 
 ec.s.on and ener.y. Hks presence and exa.npio inspire v"h 
 (e^. ardour, the l,rave ; while to the irre.,lut,. Ld ..id, t ey 
 ^.vo conhd..nce an, coum,.e. Such a 1, adn. may it b our 
 l'Hpp.ne.s to obtain I I3ut on the forehead of ' lod'/hi.h pries 
 must c uiracters of still hi.rhor itnp, ,, be inscribed. M>st au- 
 2'^ then, should we de.ire to iuuo for our chief, one who 
 simll h-ave belmul lum in every footprint the witness of holi- 
 ness; and the influence of whose example, reachinfr fust to 
 ourselves, and from us didusin. itself throu,rh our respective 
 flocks, shall be powerfully felt and universally acknowledj^ed 
 And since, jn our endeavours to discover whom Christ has 
 
 chosentoth.sofiice.weshall.w-hetherindividuallyorcollectivelv, 
 '( le t to our unassisted judgment, be liable to mistake and error 
 surely ,t behoves us now to resort to the means employed bv 
 the apostles and disciples at Jerusalem for obtaining 'divine 
 .llum.nation and s:uidance. " They prayed." And ] would 
 ask, ,s the worship in which we are now taking part, with that 
 more solemn service in which we shall immediately join, a 
 merely formal act, a ceremonial of religion proper to 'race the 
 occasion, and nothing more ? I earnestly hope that there are 
 none who so regard it, but that it is by all felt to be a reality 
 of prayer, and will be by all employed m seeking direction 
 and aid from on high. Assuredly if there is one time more 
 suitable than an ,;',er for making our supplication at the foot- 
 stool ot the throne of grace ; if ,!,o.-o is one time in which 
 more than at another ... may expect to have our petitions 
 granted; it is the present hour. We are " all with one accord 
 •n one place." We are about to surround the holy table 
 on which IS commemorated that sacrifice through which - we 
 have boldness and access with confidence to God." Let then 
 the solemn interval which will be afforded to each during the 
 arlm.nistrat.on of the sacred elements be thus employed ; and 
 let this be the burden of our prayer: "Do thou Lord, who 
 
 mmm^^mmm" - 
 
19 
 
 Unowc»t the h.-urts of nil mm. be plea....! to .how, hy ll..- 
 
 ::::H;vh.r^i.'... i..- '"- '"^^ "•• '-^ ^^^^ "^^^ "• 
 
 this ministry mul iii)i».-*iU'«hip. 
 
 A twofoWl aavantH^Ms it is humhlv hnp-l nu.y un.s.< fro. n the 
 consich-ration of tl. subject which has thus ben l>rou.h, bHore 
 
 ^°in the lirM plac it nmy be of u«c hh serving «'^ g'-; re.il i. y 
 ,,. I a nito form U, the responsibility which attaches Usel t 
 
 a h on« >vho is callea to take part in .he proceeam.s of th. 
 
 I'v A vague sense of respon,s.bility, ana unacco.npanuMl 
 t^ h allil^nct impression of its linuts .uul extent, an.l -. 0. 
 
 :;;!.. it involves, is rather ^^f^^^^^^^^'J^^^ 
 I 1 . ..lul.Mivourea to show from Holy Hcripiurc, wn 
 
 ,,„,ce„a n,o.. of H„y ;-■;-"'; ^>^;,r„ 'I mo». high 
 
 uulhonly. " He 'hat howcui i ^_^_^^,^_ 
 
 «,cU.," .» .n .he .md o us ^_^^^_^_^ ^^ ^^^_^^.^„ , 
 
 „. ,he rol..ion.hip in wh,ch « nd .0 ' * ;^ ^^„„,. 
 object we have tn vcw ! And f there be _^^^.^^ 
 
 rr£:.^s5:^r;t::^^"oL.-e».,h 
 
 one may edify another. * ^j. ^^^^ ^^ 
 
 Finally, th^_consideraUon^ 
 
 *Rom. xiv. 19. 
 
20 
 
 ^ 
 
 1/ 
 
 it tends to assuff us that the government of the church is still 
 carried on by Christ, notwithstanding the waywardness of men, 
 and the opposing iafluences of this world, which may appear 
 to be thwarting and counteracting His designs. We are some- 
 times in danger of speaking and acting as though, should the 
 plans we have formed for the good of the church fail of being 
 carried into effert, and the hopes we have indulged be dis- 
 appointed, disaster and ruin must follow. Vain and foolish 
 forebodings! May it not be said to us as it was said to the 
 disciples on the sea of Galilee, " Why are ye so fearful ? How 
 is it that ye have no Jaith ?" "The waves of the sea are 
 mighty, and rage horribly: but yet the Lord who dwelleth on 
 high is mighti'.^r." " The Lord sitteth above the water- 
 flood : the Lord remaineth a king for ever : the Lord shall give 
 strength unto his people : the Lord shall give his people the 
 blessing of peace." 
 
 And now to God the Father, &c. 
 
21 
 
 Note A. 
 
 " That the prayer is addressed on this occasion to the Lord Jesus, we may 
 humbly conclude for the following reasons: 1st— Because Tie was < the 
 Lord,' specified immediately before this invocation in St. Peter's discourse, 
 ver. 21. 2nd— In the election of presbyters, afterwards in the several 
 churches, ' after prayer and fasting,' the apostles commended them to the 
 Lord on whom they believed,' chap. xiv. 23 ; but that Lord was unquestion- 
 ably Christ. ;Jrd— Our Lord himself expressly and formally assumed the 
 title here given him, ' And all the churches shall know that I am he which 
 searcheth the reins and hearts,' Rev. ii. 2.3." Dr. Hales quoted in a note 
 of the Family Bible of S. P. C. K. 
 
 Note B. 
 
 "The first bishops in the Church of Christ were his blessed apostles; 
 for the office whereunto Matthias was chosen the sacred history doth term 
 'iTiffKoniiv, an episcopal office, which, being spoken expressly of one agree- 
 eth no less unto them all than unto him. For which cause St. Cyprian, 
 speaking generally of them all, doth call them bishops. They which were 
 termed apostles, as being scat of Christ to publish his gospel throughout the 
 world, and were named likewise bishops, in that the care of government was 
 also committed unto them, did no less perform the offices of their episcopal 
 authority by governing, than of their apostolical by teaching. The word 
 e'lrio-KOTT^, expressing that part of their office which did consist in regiment 
 moveth not (I grant) their chiefty in regiment over others, because as then 
 that name was common unto the function of their inferiors, and not pecu- 
 liar unto theirs. But the history of their actions sheweth plainly enough 
 how the thing itself which that name appropriated iniporteth, that is to 
 say, such spiritual chiefty as we have already defined to be properly episco- 
 pal, was in the holy apostles of Christ." Hooker's Ecc. Pol. vii. 4. 
 
 For a popular discussion of the subject, sec " A Presbyterian Clergyman 
 Looking for the Church," chap. xxii. "The true issue." 
 
 Note C. 
 Of the people, St. Jerome complaineth that their judgments many times 
 went much awry, and that in allowing of their bishops, every rnan favoured 
 his own quality ; every one's desire was, not so much to be under the regi- 
 ment of good and virtuous men, as of them which was like himself. What 
 man is there whom it doth not exceedingly grieve to read the tumults, 
 tragedies, and schisms, which were raised by occasion of the clergy at such 
 time as, divers of them standing for some one place, there was not any kind 
 of practice, though never so unhonest or vile, left unassaycd whereby men 
 might supplant their competitors, and the one side foil the other. Ecc. 
 Pol. VIII. vii. G. 
 
 Note D. 
 
 The author cannot allow this sermon to appear in print without the fol- 
 lowing rem.ark, intcaded to supply an obvious omission which ho deeply 
 regi'ets, and which was pointed out by a kind and valued friend immediately 
 after its delivery ; 
 
22 
 
 i\ 
 
 It is not intended to be implied that the choice of man, in every instance, 
 falls upon those whom Christ has approved and qualified for office in His 
 Church. In making the selection, men may be swayed by evil passions, or 
 blinded by error, or influenced by unworthy motives ; they may neglect the 
 means appointed for obtaining divine illumination ; or they may proceed 
 without regard to the principles by which their choice should be guarded. 
 Thus they may fail of ascertaining whom Christ has chosen, and may them- 
 selves come under condemnation as having betrayed their trust. The indi- 
 vidual upon whom their choice falls may be unworthy, and the Church 
 may suffer grievious injury. Nevertheless, as Judas was appointed to the 
 apostleship by the Lord Himself, Demas was selected to be the companion of 
 his labours by St. Paul, even this may be needful for the discipline and 
 probation of the Church, and may be eventually overruled for good. 
 
 Note E. 
 
 " It happened to me to be with Lord Raglan in an hour of trial more 
 bitter than that to which I, a mere subordinate officer, now find myself 
 exposed, and I saw that my Chief was able to bear all, and to stand firm by 
 the army in its time of need, because he simply cast away every thought of 
 self, and remembered,— these were his very words— remembered his duty 
 to the Queen." Addresses of Sir Richard Airey, page 212. 
 
 The thoughts suggested by the following touching lines on Acts i. 21, 22, 
 from Keble's Christian year, would have been embodied in the sermon, 
 but for want of space. 
 
 Who is God's chosen priest ? 
 He, who on Christ stands waiting day and night, 
 Who trac'd his holy steps, nor ever ceased. 
 
 From Jordan's banks to Bethphage height : 
 
 Who hath learn'd to witness 
 From his Lord's cradle, patience from His cross ; 
 Whom poor men's eyes and hearts consent to bless ; 
 
 To whom, for Christ, the world is loss ; 
 
 Who both in agony 
 Hath seen Him and in glory ; and in both 
 Own'd Him divine, and yielded, nothing loth. 
 
 Body and soul, to live and die. 
 
 In witness of his Lord, 
 In humble following of his Saviour dear : 
 This is the man to wield th' unearthly sword. 
 
 Warring unharm'd with sin and fear. 
 
 ROWSELL * ELLIS, PRINTEES, KING STREET EAST, TORONTO.