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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre fllm^ A des taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsc|ue Ie document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul cliche, 11 est film* A partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en isas, en prenant Ie nombre d'images ntcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 -, •■•..•■^f. CHARGE, ' DELIVERED TO THE ©ILil^, QUEBEC: FRIMTEU BY THOMitS CABY & CO. FREEMASONS^ HALL; BUAD2 STRJEET. 1839. ^. c Q4) *,'«? •"! ;■'-■..• J»:' * *»♦ An apology is due to my brethren of the Clergy for the tardiness of my compliance with their desire, most kindly expressed, that I should publish the following Charge : but 1 believe that they will thejnselves know how to make my excuse. It may be proper to mention, that in consequence of my having been under the impression that the Charge was rather long, the whole of it was not delivered at any one time ; but every part of it was delivered either in one or other of the places, where the Clergy Avere assembled for the Visitation, and every essential part was delivered in all. Since the following sheets were first put to press, the Keport of the late Governor General and High Commis- sioner has been received in this country. It is impossible that any thing can more strongly and more ominously ex- emplify the correctness ofthe remarks made in pp. 4 and 5 of the Charge. Let the Clergy^tand prepared. Let them not be parties to any surrender of what they conscientiously believe to be the claims and interests ofthe Church, but let them judge, what may be likely to follow in the end, if statements such as those in the following extracts from tho document just mentioned, should really be taken as the basis of Legislation, and the guide of Government. Ltt ihcni ob- serve also the commendation bestowed in other quarters and VI withheld from themselves^ upon points where I am thankful to say that He who sees all, and whose approbation is all in all, knows that they are, as a body, richly entitled to it. Let them be assured that, with the Divine blessing, I will not be wanting in any feeble endeavours of mine to procure them justice, but let them discern, in the necessity for those endeavours, the signs of the times. No person at all acquainted with the facts of the case respecting the alleged powers of Rectors — the proceedings of the Church in the maintenance of its pretensions, the working of the voluntary principle on this side of the Atlantic, the proportion of the poorer classes who belong to the Church of England, and the exertions of the Church* Clergy, not only in the field of Missionary labour, but In the Missionary character which very generally attaches to their ordinary duties, can fail to see at once how these facts are not simply at variance, but pointedly contrasted with the impressions which persons unfriendly to the Church appear to have made it their business to communicate to the mind of His Excellency, and which, through his Re-^ port, have been communicated to the British Government| Legislature and people. Marchmont, near Quebec, April, ]839. i i • »^- 4 I am thankful robation is all entitled to it. ingjiwillnot ne to procure ssity for those ts of the case 3 proceedings itensions, the side of the t who belong the Church* ibour, but in y attaches to w these facts trasted with the Church municate to ugh his Re. rovernmeot, EXTRACTS. • •«•••• .But the last public act of Sir John Colborne be- fore quitting the Government of the Province^ in 1835, which was the establishment of the 57 Rectories, has com- pletely changed the aspect of the question. It is understood that every Rector possesses all the spiritual and other pri- vileges enjoyed by an English Rector ; and that, though he may have no right to levy tithes, (for even this has been made a question,) he is, in all other respects, in precisely the same position as a Clergyman of the established Church in England ••••••• • • The church of England in Upper Canada, 6y numbering in its ranks all those who belong to no other sect, represents itself as being more numerous than any i^lngle denomina- tion of Christians in the countrv The superiority of what is called the 'voluntary principle, is a question on which I may almost say that there is tio difference of opinion in the United States, and it cannot be denied that on this, as on other points, the tone of thought prevalent in the Union has exerted a very considerable in- fluence over the neighbouring provinces. The Church, too, for which alone it is proposed that the in VUI Stale should provide, is the Church which, being that of the wealthy, can best provide for itself, and has the fewest poor to supply with gratuitous religious instruction. An- other consideration which distinguishes the grounds on which such a question must be decided in old and new countries is, that the state of society in the latter is not susceptible of such an organization as is necessary for the efficiency of any Church-Establishment of which I know, more especially of one so constituted as the Established Church of England ; for the essence of the Establishment is its Parochial Clergy. The services of a Parochial Clergy are almost inapplicable to a Colony, where a constantly varying population is widely scattered over the country. Any Clergy there must be rather Missionary than jParo* chial. , - 1 II I* ; ; , , J . ERRATUM. Page 16, fifth line from the bottom, for in holy communication with oursOveSf read, in holy communion xoith ourselm. •». •■ IP %i \ *•'•'■« ,?>5*«=^ being that of has the fewest truction. An- le grounds on 1 old and new latter is not cessary for the '^hich I know, le Established Establishment 'ochial Clergy a constantly the country. 5f than jParom . . * . . munkation with ■'^r ')^- .tt^*t^ .i* .* .5.t *».i ■'•■*; : ■■ ! ,! - : "'f-. ••'*t;^',. t • <.-■;.■! i i. Kbverend Brethren, > !■ , ! At the time when I made my Visitation of the Lower Province,* for the inspection of the Churches •nd the Confirmation of young persons who had been pre- pared for that rite, the late Bishop of Quebec was still living and 1 was acting simply as his Delegate. This cir- cumstance, to make no mention of some other considerations livhich conspired with it, appeared to me to dispense with the necessity, if not to forbid the propriety, of my calling together any portion of my brethren to receive the episcopal charge. The independent administration of the Diocese having since passed into my hands, (altbough no appointment to the See of Quebec has taken place,) and the protraction of those negotiations which were lons^ ago set on foot for the erection of a separate See at Toronto and of which the speedier issue, if succeBRfiil, would have withheld me from making , the Visitation of Upper Canada, having now decided ree to leave that Province no longer without the personal ministra* lions of the Bishop, I have judged that it might be of mutual mdvantage that when thus engaged in completing the * In the beginning of 1837, and for the district of Gaspe, in the Gulph #f St. Lawrence, in the summer of that year. ^ % Si 2 Visitation, I should meet ipy brethren in a body at those diflerent points in the enormous extent of this Diocese, of which their convenience would indicate the choice.* I have expressed the Iiope that our meeting may be of mutual advantage, and although I wish to say as little as possible, I must here say something which personally re- gards myself. If I do not despair, that, by the divine bless- ing, the advice which I am now about to offer, or other more familiar suggestions made during your stay, may be of use to you in the exercise of your duties, I certainly no less an- ticipate that I may derive benefit from the opportunity thus afforded of our taking sweet counsel together, and walking in the house of God as friends. I see among you those to whom I might say, J put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands, and who of course are young in the Ministry, but I pray you to believe that I am ready to receive help from all and want all the help that I can receive. 1 scarcely need assure you that I am sensible how much I need your indulgence of judgment and your prayers that 1 may be guided and prospered in the task whichhas devolved upon fee- ble and unworthy hands. Yoti will not suspect that they are words of course which I use. I do not affect to deny that I have had some experience of ecclesiastical affairs, or that there are circumstances which give me an adaptation to certain local peculiarities in the charge ; and if I were not concious, in addition to these considerations, of possessing such gene- *They were assembled accordingly, for the Lower Province, at Quebec and Montreal. It was in compliance with the desire of some of the Clergy themseWes in U. C. a desire founded upon the obvious inconvenience of deliberating in two distinct bodies at a distance from each other, upon some matters in which it was necessary to come to one conclusion, — tnat the Visitation of ^e whole Province was fixed at Toronto, instead of be- ing held both at that place and at Kingston. 1 ! ; 3 % body at those this Diocese, of :hoice.* (eting may be of say as little as h personally re- the divine bless- er, or other more r, may be of use ainly no less an- opportunity thus r, and walking in ng you those to ice that thou stir putting on of my e Ministry, but iceive help from eive. 1 scarcely uch I need your that 1 may be evolved upon fee- ect that they are zt to deny that I I affairs, or that )tation to certain !re not concious, Bsing such gene- 'rovince, at Quebec fsome of the Clergy us inconyenience of fi each other, upon e conclusion, — tAat mto, instead of be- ral qualifications as enable me in some small measure to sustain the respectability of the office, — above all, if I did not humbly tru^i that God has given me some concern for the grand objects of that as well as of other -offices in the Christian Ministry, — I could not have been justified in ac- cepting it, although if I had not done so, the Church in Canada, from circumstances with which you are acquainted, would have been seen for an indefinite time withouta Bishop. But if 1 had reason to shrink beforehand from the charge, I do solemly assure you, that in the occupation of it, I daily feel cause to tremble. Among the difficulties now attaching to the charge, is one circumstance which in another point of view would seem to be an eminent advantage — namely that I have to take up and carry on the labours left to me by such a man us the Bishop of Quebec. It is not my purpose to enlarge upon the character of that devoted servant of the Lord, whose race, in our weak apprehension, seems to have run out too soon. Upwards of a year has now elapsed since his decease, and in accordance with the voice which was lifted to lament him in every quarter where his name had been known, we have rendered our testimony, in different ways, to his zeal in the cause of that Master for whom it was his glory to spend and to be spent, ^e all personally loved him : many of us were specially obliged to him, and for myself I can truly say, that his long and unvarying friend- ship for me is among the most treasured recollections of my life. But with such a name as he had and so nobly earned, and with some advantages at his command which I do not possess, he has bequeathed to me a task in the execution of which you will feel that I can ask no fitter prayer from you than that a portion of that spirit by which he was animated may be shed down upon mc from the Father of lights. ■S ■t Upon this occasion of our first meeting as we now meet, it appears natural and proper that I should call upon you to contemplate with me for our own profit, the actual state both ofthe Church of England at large and of that portion of it in particular, which has been planted in the Diocese of Quebec. The position of the Church, whether general or local, is in some points of view, critical and even alarming ; and a very exact application may be made to the existing cir- cumstances in which she is placed, of the language used by an ancient father, with reference to his own day upon the earth : ^* The times are difficult : tho^e who conspire against us are many ;" with the addition, as it respects too many of her professed adherents, of the words which fol- low, — *• the genuine spirit of love has become extinct."* Parties in the mother country very widely at variance with each other upon the subject of Religion, appear to have cast their heads together with one consent and to be confederate against her ; and from the character ofthe times, these parties are rendered formidable in a way which the merits of their cause could never make them. The ruling powers at home, perhaps in many instances feeling or con- ceiving their position to be one in which they can only say, noil estista nostra culpa sed /6m/7orMm, are found scarcely to afford justice to interests which are identified with the cause of established authority and order and the maintenance of what is venerable in human institutions ; and the ungene- rous cry of those who have found their own opportunities of advancement or distinction in exciting odium against the Church, aided by the unconsidered statements of others whose war against old prejudices is in fact the great preju- yvYKTiov ctTTOhuKiyf Chryiostom ra Sacirdotio. # •• -.i' M I we now meet, ■all upon you to :he actual state of that portion n the Diocese of (ther general or even alarming ; the existing cir- nguage used by n day upon the i who conspire ,8 it respects too ords which fol- ome extinct,"* ily at variance gion, appear to isent and to be ter of the times, way which the n. The ruling feeling or con- y can only say, lund scarcely to with the cause naintenance of nd the ungene- pportunities of urn against the lents of others he great preju- jm Sacirootio. dice of their own minds, has been allowed to prevail too far against claims which are at once legitimate in themselves and connected with the highest interests of man. In this Diocese we have experienced our full share of the effect of these principles upon the prosperity and efficiency of the Church. We have risen, indeed, by the Divine blessing, since the Church Grst assumed a consistent form under the auspices of one whom I forbear to name, — we have risen from very feeble beginnings, to a state in which we now number considerably above a hundred Clergymen, with many orderly and devout Congregations. Yec constituted as we are an integral portion of the Established Church of England, we have, from unpropitious circumstances, been left to occupy in the eye of the world, a dubious position and to appear in an equivocal character ; our claims still un- settled, and the support of our Clergy partial, meagre and precarious, to the in^nite detriment of religion and the mani- fest perpetuation of those very jealousies and contentions of which the apprehension has dictated this temporizing policy, but of which the existence is to be traced to the want of an avowed and decided maintenance of the Church-Establish- ment as it was originally planned. With you, however, my Reverend Brethren, 1 need not enter into particulars upon this topic. We have done, and, by God's help, shall continue to do our part, I trust in all charity and meekness, to urge and to uphold what we believe to be our own right, the glory of a Christian Government and the blessing of a land : the issue we must confide to the hands of God. What I am anxious to bring under your notice is, first, the great com- fort and ground of thankfulness which we enjoy in all the difficulties and struggles of the Church, and secondly, the peculiar responsibility which we contract under the circum- stances of the time. f i 5^ r> ■ I ■ With reference to the 6rst point, I do believe that there never was a period in which the Church of England, con- sidered as a whole, presented an aspect so satisfactory as at this day. I do not mean to say that the Church-Gstablish- ment is faultless, or that any branch of the Church on earth will ever be totally and literally without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. We shall always have reason, if perfection be insisted upon, to say^as was said in a Latin distich by one who was a burning and shining light in the Church of Eng- land, — They want that the Church should be free from every speck : This the present life denies : the future life will afford it.* But when we see what a spirit, within the memory of living man, it has pleased God to shed down upon the Church ; how many evils have been corrected and what new life has been infused into the whole system ; when we wit- ness the sincerity and the fervour with which Christ crucified is proclaimed by the Clergy; when we behold with what true fidelity and zeal, a great and still increasing portion of that body devote themselves to the labours of the pastoral charge, and what care is taken by the rulers of the Church, to preserve a high standard of character and qualifications among her Ministers; when we contemplate the variety and the magni- tude of efforts made within the Church for the diffusion of spiritual blessings at home and abroad ; when we look at the prodigious multiplication of our places of worship in Eng- land,t and the progressive enlargement of Associations for the promotion of education and the communication of religious light, and then turn our regards to what is done, with little aid from the State, for distant dependencies of the Empire, • Optant ut careat maculis Ecclesia cunctis Praesens vita negat : vita futura dabit.— Bernard Gilpin, t See Note A. 7 elieve that there England) con- iatisfactory as at lurch- Bstablish- Church on earth 7t or wrinkle or >n, if perfection n distich by one Church of Eng- very speck : ifford it.* the memory of down upon the [1 and what new ; when we wit- Christ crucified with what true portion of that )astoraI chdrge, rch, to preserve ons among her and the magni- he diffusion of we look at the )r8hip in Eng- ciations for the on of religious >ne, with little of the Empire, ilpin. and darkened corners of the earth, — for Colonist, for Gentile nnd for Je« when we see what an energetic piety, what a noble mui -':;ence in religious works,^ what a love for the National Establishment, what a growing attachment to Church principles, is manifested among the laity as well as the Clergy and is found often in the highest orders of the realm ; when we consider that although the establisliment of Colonial Bishoprics is still lamentably insufficient and most unworthy of the Empire, yet the formation of two Sees in the West Indies, and four, including Australia, in the East, has taken place within the recollection of all here pre- sent, — we have surely ground to bless the name of our God, in the synoptical survey of these interesting facts, for the mercy which he has granted to us, with all our sins, that our Church should not fall behind in the race ; and we should be encouraged to believe that He has not cast her off, but that a distinguished part is reserved for her in forwarding the blessed consummation, when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God, as the waters cover the sea. While we are permitted, however, to exult in these thoughts, "we muM remember, with a heightened sense of responsibility, what interest we have in charge — THE IN- TEREST OF CHRIST ON EARTH, to the promotion of which "one thing" we have vowed 'as much as in us lies, wholly to apply ourselves, laying aside the study of the world and of the flesh."f If the times are difficult and there are many adversaries; if, at the same time, a great spirit of Religion has been awakened in the world, and different parties are seen emulous of each other in seeking to advance the Kingdom of God ; if the Clergy of the Church of Eng- land are posted in a conspicuous station, and are eminently as f * See Note B. t Ordination of Priests. (-.{. 4 Illl .'I 8 VI. "1 li* jliii ] a city set upon a hill, which cannot be hid ; — if our brethren in other quarters, strong in the power of faith, are doing great things in the cause, — striving successfully against the tide of worldly opposition, and surmounting, in some instances, the threatening waves of trouble; if the present conjuncture is highly critical with reference to the ecclesiastical affairs of these Provinces, and consequences of vast importance to future generations in this rising country, may depend upon the foundation now laid for the Church, — then, amidst all these incitements to vigilance and zeal, it will be required of us that we be found with our loins girded and our lights burning, and like unto men that wait for their Lord. And if the signs of the times appear pregnant with great events, and the astonishing advances of science, more especially in its practical application to the purposes of international com- munication, seem destined, in the hands of Providence, to open the way for a new and marked aera of the Gospel,.which, according to the anticipations of many religious persons, may be preceded and introduced by scenes of trial and sore tribu- lation in the Church, — then we are solemnly called upon, not simply as the soldiers of the Cross, but as the leaders of the battle, to /aAre unto us the whole armour of God, that we may be able to ivithstand in the evil day, and having done all to standi Having touched, however, upon the signs of the times, and the prospects of the universal Church of Christ, I feel it necessary to advert to the extreme diffidence and reverent caution with which we should pronounce upon yet unacom- plished prophecy, and indulge our speculations, too apt to lead to presumptuous error, upon the magnificent future of the Gospel victorious in the world. It is not for us to know the times or seasons which the father hath put in his own power. And hence I take occasion — looking ir ppr urns liie or too i'r. tlhei to r iUel Will • , Q' ^ -if our brethren , are doing great ainst the tide of e instances, the conjuncture is istical affairs of importance to ly depend upon hen, amidst all 11 be required of and our lights sir Lord. And ith great events, re especially in ernational com- Providence, to 3 Gospel, .which, us persons, may and sore tribu- lalled upon, not e leaders of the f Gody that we nd having done of the times, Christ, I feel it and reverent 1 yet unacom- culations, too 16 magnificent // is not for ither hath put ision — looking 01 certain incidental effects which are connected with great ifforts in Religion, in modern, as they have been in earlier kimes, to recommend the Christian grace of moderation : m holy moderation and sobriety'Jn all the varied exercise of Ipiinisterial duty ; in the methods adopted for the propaga- ion of the Truth of God — yes, and in the very preaching of le blessed Doctrines of Grace. If what I recommend seem be the cowardly accommodation to the world for which le fervent Paul would have withstood us to the/ace, or the ikewarmness of spirit which Christ will indignantly reject, ilken, my brethren, stop your ears against my words. But in t^at combination which is charged upon Christian teachers the qualities of the Serpent with those of the Dove, great tscretion and great gentleness appear to be implied : and IL is known to have been a distinguishing characteristic of P^r own Reformers that they shunned some extremes to which olliers in the heat of the struggle were carried away. The Ojild and moderate Melanchthon, among foreign reformers, iias not found to turn his back in the hour of danger. In ine Religion of the Gospel, as well as in other things which •ngage the mind of man, there are certain bounds within Of without which, that whieh is right cannot stand.*' Although it is most certainly true, that we can never be ||»o religious or too devoted, yet it is equally certain that in the developement and the exercise of the religious affections^ tf^ere is often, through the infirmity of nature, a tendency to religious irregularity and to what may properly be called HHligious excess. In those points, especially which create parties and party names within the bosom of the Church iUelf, the most vehement and eager spirits on either side #ill not be found, I believe, to be the nearest to th tri':^ sttnt certi denique fines t» Quos intr^ citr^ue n^qftit consistQie rectum. ■ ' i ' jll mmm 10 i^i| ii!( » l; :<; 4 j m 11 and the approximation of parties to each other, each los- ing something of its own and borrowing from its opposite, is, according to my own convictions, the issue for which we should devoutly pray and for every manifestation of which (and these are not few) we should render thanks to our God. I apprehend that there is no one doctrine of the Gospel which does not receive the tincture of error, when pushed to an extreme ; and we are sometimes accused of not going far enough, when the very fact of our stopping where we do, is the evidence of our keeping step, if I may use so familiar an illustration, with the Gospel itself. Truth exaggerated is not higher truth : it is rather truth deteriorated by some alloy. Instances might be given, without number, to sup- port the justice of this remark; and we see it very plainly exemplified, if we have recourse to the stronger shades of dif- ference among believers in Revelation upon certain points of their Faith. Because one party will lower and dilute to nothing the vital doctrine of the work of the Spirit in the heart and understanding, another deals in sensible revela- tions and impulses, or proceeds to the extravagance of claim- ing the miraculous gifts of Apostolic times : — Because one party preaches the law rather than the Gospel, another seeking to magnify the covenant of Grace, will tread upon the verge of Antinomian error : Because one party makes Re- ligion consist in forms and ritual observances, another makes it an evidence of spirituality to depreciate or even to dispense with the very Sacraments themselves. Upon similar principles, I cannot forbear from stating my opinion that we ought to manifest a wise spirit of allowance, and charitable construction in some lesser matters relating to particular habits, usages, observances, or religious phra- seology. Things which are often found among the accidm- tal characteristics are thence liable to be regarded as the 11 iier, each los- n its opposite, i for which we lion of which ks to our God. of the Gospel , when pushed d of not going g where we do, use so familiar ;h exaggerated >rated by some imber, to sup- it very plainly }r shades ofdif- i certain points * and dilute to he Spirit in the sensible revela- gance of claim- — Because one ospel, another I tread upon the larty makes Re- another makes iven to dispense from stating my it of allowance, matters relating religious phra- >ng theaccidefi' egarded as the necessafy evidences of a devoted piety and a genuine Faiih in Christ. There are many things in human life, many more than some religious persons are willing to allow, which must be left to the province of christian liberty and discretion, — and of which it must be said that neither if we do them are we the better, nor if we do them not, the worse, and vice versa ; what may be inexpedient for one man, may be conceded to another— nothing being insisted upon as of universal obii- gation> which does not carry the distinct warrant of the word of God — no burthen imposed which would not have been imposed by the Apostolic Council at Jerusalem. Upon this subject of moderation, 1 am not ashamed to have recourse to the support of a female writer — the late Mrs. Hannah More, — the preface to whose work on Practical Piety contains the following pertinent remarks : — " Would it could not be said that Religion has her parties as well as Politics. Those who endeavour to steer clear of ^all extremes in either, are in danger of being reprobated by both. It is rather a hardship for persons who have considered it as a Christian duty to cultivate a spirit of moderation in thinking, and of candour in judging, that when these dispo- sitions are brought into action they frequently incur a hatsher censure than the errors which it was their chief aim to avoid. , _ . ** Perhaps, therefore," she continues, '^ to that human wisdom whose leading object is human applause, it might answer best to be exclusively attached to some one party. On the protection of that party at least, it might in that case reckon; and it would then have the dislike of (he opposite class alone to contend against ; while those who cannot go all lengths with either, can hardly escape the disapprobation ofboth." These remarks, as it appears to me, are very applicable nut iMM Hi 12 'li! i III' i ■ ■ ,■!» only to the judgments which we pronouhce, but to the part which we feel called upon to take with reference to the pro- fessors of the Roman Catholic Religion.* I would willingly avoid this topic ; but duty forbids my passing it without notice. I conceive that it is our manifest duty, as, if we have any love to the souls of men, it must he our earnest desire, wherever a door seems opened to us by the hand of Providence, to propagate the simple Truth of God, and to declare Jesus Christ to sinners as their Saviour, in a manner in which he cannot be presented to them by a system en- cumbered with human devices, and,acoording to the language of our own Articles, plainly repugnant, in many points, to the Word of God. And so far, I think, we shall be all agreed. But with respect to the most eligible and judicious mode in which we can prosecute the object of advancing the cause of Scriptural Truth, a great diversity of opinion may exist among persons equally concerned for the honor of God ; and it is at least a question whether more is not likely to be ultimately done towards the attainment of this object, by a prudent and modierate course of proceeding, and very often by the unobserved working of a holy leaven in the mass of society, — the indirect influence of a purer faith, as recommending itself by its fruits, and winning friends by its deportment, than by the provocation of a public challenge, or the disturbance of an impetuous assault upon the host encamped around us under the banner of Rome.t One thing is plain : — that our first duty is to our own followers ; our care of them, with the limited resources which we have at command, seems likely for a long time to be more than sufficient to fill our hands, and our incursions in other quarters may be reserved till we have means and energies to spare, after supplying our own ill-provided people ; at least we must take care that nothing is left undone for their ■■ * See note C. f This applies to a particular portion of the Diocese— namely that portion .of Lower Canada which is inhabited by the old French population. r but to ihe part ence to the pro- would willingly sing it without duty, as, if we he our earnest by the hand of )f God, and to >ur, in a manner [>y a system en- to the language many points, to fre shall be all le and judicious f advancing the of opinion may the honor of er more is not taikiment of this proceeding, and holy leaven in of a purer faith, ining friends by ublic challenge, i upon the host Rome.t One own followers ; which we have > be more than rsions in other is and energies ded people; at ndone for their lely that portion. of ion. 13 direct benefit, because we are engaged in a different eiki- ployment of our zeal. The Apostles, in the execution of !:their commission, and the choice of their field of labour, were directed by the Revelations of the Spirit of God : we can only gather from circumstances what it is the will of God that V e should attempt and make our experiments, seeking such light as is now vouchsafed in answer to the prayer of faith, according to the result which appearance^ may promise. I desire, however, my Reverend Brethren, to have it well understood, that whatever charity of judgment, what- ever Christian courtesy of language, whatever prudent caution of proceeding for the very sake of advancing the interests of truth, it may be proper to manifest in this behalf, I am most fully alive to the necessity of our making a resolute stand against that spirit which walks abroad, and to which, by a mere perversion of language, the name of Uberality is often conceded ; a spirit which confbunds all distinction between Truth and Error, and absolutely tendi^ |o nullify the effect of Revelation. Certain Wonderful truths are made known to us from Heaven : the correct application of those truths furnishes the remedy for our inoral and spiritual disorders, and conveys to the soul of man the principle of everlasting life. The preservation of those truths, therefore, in their purity as well as the r in- tegrity, liable as they are through the corruption of natUn?, to be obscured and debased, is among the foremost duties of the Church, and the most solemnly important concerns of human society. Any compromise of Scriptural priirci- ples of Religion becomes, in this point of view, alike dan- gerous and sinful ; and we should warn those Who are «piritually under our charge, that they do not suflier them- ^ selves to be led into any such compromise from motives 14 il; either of domestic ease^ of social good understanding, of commercial interest, or of political expediency. In all these points the world will often be found at issue with the Gospel of God, and we must only say to them, choose ye this day tvhom ye will serve. And if we encounter odium in this discharge of our duty, we must call to mind the words of an Apostle, marvel not my brethren if the world hate you, and those of our blessed Lord himself, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. We should warn our people also, when we are upon the subject of political differences and agitations, of the awful responsibility which they will incur, if they are for- getful of the scenes through which we have all recently passed. The right hand of God was so conspicuously stretched forth, and in so many different ways, in the pro- tection of the cause of loyalty, when the insurrection broke out in these Provinces,* as to extort, even from the unthink- ing, a devout acknowledgment of Providential interposi- sion. And we had public fasts, and proclaimed thanks- givings. All must not end there. We must, as a community, rejoice with trembling in our deliverance ; and remember that fresh scourges are ready in the hand of Qod. We must be humbled under a sense of our sins, — thankful for the mercy which we have experienced, watchful against forgetfulness of Divine judgment, fruitful in those Christian works which are prompted by all these combined conside- rations. And it will be happy if the Clergy can be instru- mentalj not only in cherishing that spirit of loyalty which must characterize the true followers of the Church, but in convincing any unthinking part of the population of the great wickedness, as well as folly, of seditious agitations in a country where, if there has been a fault chargeable upon * lu the end of 1837 and commencement of 1838. ' . ' / i 15 idet'standiug, of idiency. In all kt issue with the them, choose ye [icounter odium uU to mind the ren if the world iimself, ye know in we are upon ptationSj of the if they are for- ave all recently > conspicuously '^ays, inthepro- urrection broke )m the unthink- ntial interposi- ;Iaimed thanks- ,s a community, and remember of QoD. We i, — thankful for atchful against those Christian ibined conside- can be instru- loyalty which Church, but in lulation of the is agitations in largeable upon 'the Government, it is that of an unwise relaxation of the authority reposed in its hands for the common good. Never f can, — T will not say rebellion, — but never can those pro- ceedings which tend to rebellion be suffered to pass under •^ the colour of the mere maintenance of a different side in politics. Where can there be worse authors of mischief than those who, not to speak of bloodshed and devastation of property, disturb and distract a peaceful country, and blast the rising prosperity of a people, to serve the purposes * of faction? — or, if men acknowledge the authority of the Word of God, what sin is there more broadly stamped with the brand of the Divine displeasure, than the sin of those who resist and despise power and are not afraid to speak levil of dignities ? Warn, therefore, all who are in danger, as the Messengers of God. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers ; to obey magistrates ; to be ready to every good ivork ; to submit themselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord^s sake. Charge them in the . words of wisdom, my son fear thou the Lord and the Kingy and meddle not ivith them that are given to change. Before dismissingthe subject of the uncompromising main" tenance of principle in opposition to that which passes in the world for liberality, I must offer a very few observations relating to^vhatare sometimes called the peculiarities of f the Established Church. I shall not occupy your time by an endeavour to refute the shallow and unscriptural notion that Christian unity and charity consist in the establishment of a commodious sort of understanding among parties divid- ed in religious communion, that they agree to differ. Cer- tainly they ought to endeavour to live in peace, and in the interchange of all christian good offices ; and it is equally certain that each ought to rejoice in every instance in which another may promote the cause of Christ, and be ready to ^iiifi :li ■'•^^1 16 t put the most liberal consiruction, (I do not avoid the me of tUfi word, for true liberality is a beautiful feature of the Gospel) upon all the proceedings of separate bodies, or in- dividuals belonging to them. We ought to honor and to imitate all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, although they walk not with us» And it would be as diffi- cult to deny as it would be criminal to wish to deny ^hat the blessing and grace of God is often with those whose ministry we regard as irregularly constituted. But with all this, I conceive that we place ourselves in a very false position, and fail to act, in one point, the part which God has assigned to us in the world, il ever we adopt that language or lend ourselves to those proceedings in which the Church is regarded as a Sect among Sects. It is quite foreign to my purpose to argue here the question of Episcopacy : but if we believe that the Apostles founded and framed an Episcopal Church ; if we trace the plan of such a Church in the Scriptures ; if following up our en> quiries to throw light on the question by comparison of Scripture with early ecclesiastical records, we arrive at that conclusion which enables us with the incomparable Hooker to challenge the opponents of our System, that they shew but one Church upon the face of the whole earthy from the Apos- tolic times to the Reformation, that was not episcopal ;* if all the remnants of ancient Churches now existing in the East have preserved this constitution from their beginning, and our own Church has opened interesting communications with them which may be designed to lead the way to their renovation in holy communication with ourselves ;t if the real strength of Rome consists only in the multiplied divi- sions and unseemly disarray of the Protestant Churches ; if this can never be cured, so long as the vicious principle is admitted that christians may lawfully form new Societies, * See note D. t See note E. (!■• ■■ \ it not avoid the we. tiful feature of the rate bodies, or in* t to honor and tu irist in sincerity, would be as diffi. o wish to deny >d is often with larly constituted, ice ourselves in a le point, tlie part , if ever we adopt ie proceedings in long Sects. It is i the question of Apostles founded trace the plan of wing up our en- •y comparison of we arrive at that nparable Hooker bat they shew but I, from the Apos- )t episcopal;* if existing in the their beginning, communications le way to their rselves ;t if the multiplied divi- tant Churches; icious principle Q new Societies^ \7 IM>d create new Miui^lricM ut will ; if it was the singular [esging of our own, a(ii')ng other Churches, at the Refurma- in, to preserve the ancient order and the uninterrupted iccession of her hierarcliy ; if lastly these principles arc so lintedly recognized, so fully received and acted upon in her practice, that we actopt the Orders as valid, of a Romish Uriest who recants, although we re-ordain all Protestant inisters who pass over to us from non-episcopal Churches, len, with this chain of hicts before our eyes, I do conceive lat we are wanting alike in our consistency ns Churchmen, ?d our duty in (he Church universal, if, swayed by the earn of prevailing opinion, studying an ill-nnderstood po- Diilariiy, or r^ven prompted by an amiable spirit of concilia- lipn, we consent to piTJudice the exclusive character of our p inistry, and voluntarily decend from the ground which wc wcupy with our people and other Protestant Episcopalians, il a distinct and peculiar body among the Churches. .^And is this to exalt ourselves, and to preach ourselves Bstead of Christ Jesus our Lord ? Far otherwise than this if rightly considered, our claims to Apostolic order and sue- iession, as is well pointed out by a late excellent Colonial prelate,* should humble us in the dust under a sense of the greatness of our culling so far above our worthiness and strength. Whatever alFonls a heightend view of the office which we hold, and the part which we have to sustain in the Church of Guil, can only — or should only, — prompt us to deeper earneslncss in seeking that sufficiency which is of Ilim alone. . . .... '" I bless God thai there is not wantinfj good evidence aihong us of our having recourse to that sulficicncy— -but what a field is before us ! how ought we each to labour that we may gather with our Lord, and ho>K importunately to pray that •Heber. C w. i< 'J; .Jti. >uaj 'ij; f ^...MiiMrtiMHMl ' v::n .1 M hi' 28 ^''^ .$ more labourers may be sent forth into the ripening harvest which spreads itself around us ; that larger blessing may des- cend upon those Institutions at home, (foremost among which we must mention the venerable and munificent Societies for the Propagation of the Gospel and promoting Christian Knowledge) and those endeavours upon the spot, of which it is the object to supply our destitute settlements. I am dis- posed also to think, and I shall take occasion, from our meeting, to follow up the suggestion, that we might, with much advantage, establish in this Diocese, a Church Society, similar to that which has been framed under the auspices of an able and zealous Bishop, in the neighbouring Diocese of Nova Scotia. In seeking to recommend the Church, according to our bounden duty, in the eyes of our own people or of others, and to give the fullest effect to the beautiful Offices of her Liturgy, there is a principle to be observed of which I have taken notice upon former occasions in addressing my brethren in a different capacity, but which I am prompted briefly to touch upon, because it is in danger from local cir« cumstances, of partially falling into disregard — I mean the principle of rendering the services of the Church more im- pressive by the manner of performing them, and by the ex-» terior reverence and decorum with which they are clothed. The preface to the Common Prayer Book, the Canons and the Rubrics, more particularly in the Communion office,* aftbrd sufficient evidence of the care which was wisely taken by our holy Reformers, while they purged away from our worship, the cumbrous pageantry of Superstition, to pre- serve the utmost gravity, solemnity, and order in the public ministrations of the Church ; and to shed over them a venerable air fitted io remind men of th? awe with which ^ See note F. If- ' -'i i, l^ ripening harvest blessing may des* iost among which lificent Societies (noting Christian i spot, of which nents. iamdis- casion, from our we might, with I Church Society, r the auspices of uring Diocese of 1'^ ccording to our pie or of others, ful Offices of her of which I have addressing my I am prompted er from local cir- [ard — I mean the i^hurch more im- , and by the ex^ ;heyare clothed. the Canons and imunion office,* was wisely taken away from our rstition, to pre* ler in the public sd over them a awe with which i^^ ihonld approach the things of God. The forms and ceremonies of the Church, the prescribed postures of wor^ Ihip, the habits of those who officiate, the vessels of the mctuary, the several appendfiges and distinctions of our iifational Churches, are all designed to aid in this effect ; Imd, as servants of the Church, \ie ought to act in the Ipirit, and, wherever we can, according to the letter of her iegulations. The disuse upon the ordinary occasions of pfe, of a distinguishing ecclesiastical dress, is a departure from wise and venerable rulesy* from which our Clergy ought never to take licence to depart farther than, according to ^e now received usage, they are obliged to do. They jpboiild never betray a disposition to secularize the character |md office which they hold. And in the actual performance ^BXij ecclesiastical function, no deviation can be justified ijf^r which the plea of necessity cannot be advanced. No ^eedless irregularity should be suffered to creep into our per- formance of o^cial duty which may fettle by degrees into a Iprecedent. To pass, however, to considerations of a higher nature,—^ I would observe that among very many disadvantages at- jUiching to our situation as a Colonial Branch of the Church, we have our advantages too ; and it is not the least of these that, in many parts of the Diocese, we are less trammelled )l)y circumstances in making an approach to that holy disci- pline, the restoration of which, according to the language of .the Church herself, is ^ much to be wi8hed.**t The exist- ence of any such advantage ought to be turned to the utmost liccount. Instances have not been wanting in this Diocese ^D which Communicants who have given scandal by some irr^uliurity, have made public reparation to the assembled company of worshippers ; and I cannot but commend the See Qote G. t Gmniaation Office. MMMi §. |i: l! endeavour, which has beeh used with success by some of oiur Clergy, to reTive the practice enjoined in the prayer-book, that persons desirous of presenting thetn^dves' M the Lord^a Supper, at least unless they are accepted and cohstant Com- municants, should intimate their purpose beforehand to their pastor. " '"■' -'n-' '-'''' r---'-'^-' -"■' '' i.;i. ......: "J ,.;;i, 1 could enlarge upon this topic, and there are others which I could wish to notice, particularly the encouragement find the direction of Sunday Schools, were it not time that, (ifi may borrow the allusion,) I should draw in my sails and make for the shore.* I will only say^, then, in conclusion, that if, as 1 have intiniated in the course of these observa- tions, we stand as a distinct and peculiar body, in virtue of our being a branch of the Episcopal Churchy this is not the highest or tlie most important peculinnty by which w^ should be marked. Our ^istinrtinn as 'Episcopalians Mrill irery little avail us, unless We take heed that we are not behihd others in the genuine characteristics of the people of God ; a PECULIAR people^ in the language of one Apostle, zealous of good works-^a chosefi generation ; according to the de- scription of another^ a royal priesthood^ an holy nation^ a vECVLiAn peoplCf who sheta forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light. This is the mark which we should set before our followers, and to the attainment of which we should seek to le^d them We should keep clear and conspicuously bifight the on. lamp of Holy Truth, which, as thePriestsof the Temple, we are appointed to watch ; holding forth constantly to view, (for this is the life and light of the Church, and in exact prd- portion as it is obscured, our Ministry fails of its purpose,) the salvation of sinners through the free Grace of God in e,\tr«mo ni jam sub fine laborum Vela traham, et torris festinem adverterc proram.— Virgl i#^^' : !« m •.eiUhy somebf tiur II the prayer-book, &lv68' it the Lord'a ind cohstant Com- >eforehand to their re are others which ncouragement find [lot time that, (ifi V in my sails and en, in conclusioh, i of thesd observfi- body, in virtue of rch^ this is not the )y which w^ shbiild opalians Will very ve are not behinfd e people of God; le Apostle, sealous cording to the de- an holi/ nation^ a raises of Him who marvellous light. fore our followers, d Seek to lead them ^uously bright the J of the Temple, we hrist Jesus. We should magnify the love which was dis- layed in the rescue of a guilty race, and in the gift of the pirit of Holiness: we should press these things home to the osoms of our hearers, and teach men to make them their bwn: — we should labour night and day to awaken those Irho are plunged in the sleep of sin, and to dissipate the iPreams of those who smooth over the Doctrines of the Cross, nd are satisfied in conscience, because they satisfy the no- inally Christian world : we should regard it as the busi- |iess of our lives to be instrumental in turning men from rkness to light, and ft om the power of Satan unto God* nd even if it were to please God that we could turn but one, all we not think (belabour of our lives to have been better pent than in the pursuit, howe«3r successful, of any worldly !^bject, when we remember, for our encouragement, the value l^f one immortal soul, as set forth in the declaration of Him Hrho paid its ransom — that there is joy in the presence ||bF THE ANOELS OF GOD OVER ONE SINNER THAT BB- I^ENTETH? •;'%: instantly to view, V 4m- ^. ' .;. ■ '• ^- '^ \ < t:.iV!.; ■'■■ '"♦ i'^, ':y •"■ - , and in exact prd- ) , V'-J, ^ ils of its purpose,) e Grace of Gon in N ■ ■\-\ ''■■'■ - - • - - i ¥'"■;' . *-- ,''-k-^ • ;.; '^!/i;fjff)', * ''• , J , ■■ ■ ,- ,^,! I ' "' -:*'' "-;/» 1 .-Virg. -••^'^ 1 « ^ • P 1. .^^.^t- » '■■» I.- -■ V i-vi; V* ^'^ ' IV ,•»• -•:•'■ f^'.-ifrf" • > v:t; ; ••; -•;: v. .'(,'■ .,-,. f • - . .... .. * •■ , ■ • ■ -■ ■ ^ ■ • K . ... •'- : v.w, NOTES. ', ." ^ t>s%:rf? IfoTB A. p. 6. — As it is possible that nany of the indivrdaals into tirhosA hmis this Charge may fall, may be little aware of the facts to which nmrence is here made, it may be encoaiaging to them to> state some I^iilicular examples : — Jf London. — The Bishop of London has consecrated in (his Didcese sine^ 3, sixty new Churches. His Lordship, as Bishop of Chester, to which ;ese he was appointed in 1824, had consecrated twenty seven, in all ity seven Churches. rincftesfcr.— The number of Churches consecrated in this Diocese iH^in the last ten years, is fifty nine, and between twe and three hun« ^d more have been enlarged and improved. thestcr. — The number of Churches consecrated in this Diocese by the juiisent Bishop during ten years is one hundred and three : Churches novi^ NRlding in the Diocese, tliirty five : Chapels not consecrated, but having tlUlir own ministers, twenty.^*— EcHes. Oazettejfor Fehruaryy 1839. if my recollection does not deceive me, there are now thirteen places dT^orship of the Established Church, of which two were originally Dis'^ «ting Meeting-houses, in the single parish of Lambeth, where, whett present Rector took possession, there was only the Parish Church, (thtf wivate Chapel of the Archbishop not being reckoned.) All over Eng- Mttd, additional Churches and Chapels of the Establishment are springing '^ ; and other instances are not wanting of the Same transfer of Meeting* puses to the Church, which has been just mentioned as having takeil ace at Lambeth. The augmentation and renovation of Churches is ko proceeding every where with the same spirit ; and it is a gratifying feature in all these undertakings, that one grand object kept in view is td jilfovide free sittings for the poor. I^^Three new Churches have recently been consecrated in the parish at ,^|Repney, which now contains five spacious Churches, with three thousand i^e sittings. We hear a great deal of the alarm conceived, and not Without reason, m^the multiplication of places of worship and religious institutions in home, in connection with the Church of Borne, and of the towering anti* (ipations of that Church respecting the recovery of her dominion in the ^untry. But let us thankfully bear in mind the far greater multipHcatiM If oqir own Churches; and through whate?3i stmg^es we miyhafeto ittlMi NMMi 24 pasa, let us not despair of our cause,— the cause of Scripture and of Truth. The cause of our true Protestantism is the cause of God him- self; and it will be seen in the end, what will become of all human devices in religion : — ■ ret RomatUB PBRiTURiauB rbona. Note B. p. 7. — Although in proportion to the wealth of the English people, if it could be hoped that all who conform to the Church would have a sense of their duty in this point, it is> still little that is done, yet every day affords some examples which remind us of the exclamation of David, Who am I and what is my people that we sliould be able to offer so wUUngly after this sort ? for all things come of thee and of thine' own have we given thee. Many have nobly responded to the call of the present Bishop of London for the erection of additional Churches in the metropolis. Many have given their hundreds, and not a few their thousands. The example has been followed in other Dioceses ; Associations for the exten- sion of Church accommodation have received the most liberal support, and individuals have come forward in the same spirit. The following speci- mens are taken almost at random from a single number of the Ecclesiastical Gazette : — *' The Bishop of Ripon has recently consecrated three new Churches in the Archdeaconry of Craven, Lothersdale, Stoneyhurst Green, and Settle. ****** We cannot omit to notice the munificent gift of £1,000 from the Reverend Walter Levitt, the Vicar of Carlton, towards the endowment of the Church [at Lothersdale.] ******* A public meeting was held at Chelmsford, October 23rd, for the purpose of forming an Essex Association, in aid of the Incorporated Society for building and enlarging Churches and Chapels. It was originally suggest- ed by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese. The subscription is already a munificent one, amounting to nearly £2,000. ******** On the 1st of November, in the township of Clayton-le-Moors, was laid the foundation-stone of a new Church. * * • The site was the gift of John Fort, Esquire, of Read Hall, M. P., who has also granted a site for a Parsonage-house and a National School. The estimated expense of erection is £1,700; endowment, £2,000 ; total. £3,700 ; of which sum £500 were subscribed by John Fort, Esquire ; £1,000 towards the build- ing, and £1,000 towards the endowment, were the munificent donations of his sister, Ann Fort. ******* • Lord Braybrooke has given the sum of £100 towards building and endowing a Church at Knowle Hill, Berks. ***••*•• Mr. Gladstone, a Liverpool merchant, has contributed the sum of £4,000 towards the erection of a Church, besides e-^.Howing it with a perpetual annuity of £50 towards the maintenance c: a nunister. * * Earl Fitzv/illiam has given the sum of £1,000 towards affording addi- tional Church accommodation at Malton. *•**•*♦♦• , Lord Ward has subscribed £200 to th^ Worcestershire Diocesan Church Vt in ofi is the inci ed tal) tiai if' ripture «nd of of God him- of all human )f the English Church would lat is done, yet exclamation of able to offer so thine otim have of the present the metropolis. Lousands. The 1 for the exten- al support, and bllowing speci- le Ecclesiastical ew Churches in st Green, and nificent gift of Carlton, towards « • « * , for the purpose ited Society for ginally suggest- jn is already a • » » * . Moors, was laid te was the gift 50 granted a site lated expense of ; of which sum vards the build- ficent donations « * « « ds building and » • • • • ted the sum of ■■wing it with a inister. * * 1 affording addi- » • • « • )iocesan Church 25 Duilding Society', and £30i) to that of Lichfield. His Lordship will also erect Paisonage^liouses at Nuthcituu and at Cosely, at his own expence. • At a public meeting at Birmingham, November 27th, the Bishop of Worcester in the Chair, a Society was formed called the Birmingham Clmrch-buUding Sodchj, lo supply the appalling deticiency of Church accommodation in tliat town. . . . The Society proposes to provide, within five yeais, ton additional Churches. On the 28th November, the new Church of St. George's, Egbaston, was consecrated by the IHshop of Worcester. The ground on which it stands is the liberal gift of Lord Calthorpe, who has endowed the Church, and contributed the greater poition of the funds (between £5,000 and £6,000) required for its erection. The Countess of Bridgewater has given £500 towards the fund for erecting additional Churches and Parsonage -houses in the Diocese of Lichfield. ........ On Sunday last, a new Church, erected by Mr. James Brook, of Thorn- ton Lodge, near Hudderslield, for the accommodation of the inhabitants of Meltham Mills in the employ of Messrs. Jonas Brook and Brothers, was opened by licence from the Bishop of the Diocese It will seat about two hundred and fifty persons ; and adjoining it, is a School • which, by means of sliding shutters, may be thrown open and form part of the Church. The School-room is calculated to hold about six hundred children. At the other end of the School, there are two Dwelling-houses, one for the Clergyman and the other for the School-master. The whole of the edifice, we are told, is erected at an expence of not less than £4,000. ^ truly Christian example is here set for the opulent manufacturers in the jbountry to provide for the spiritual wants of those who are in their daily ^employ." — Ecclesiastical Gazette for December^ 1838. The Dowager Queen Adelaide is building a Church at Malta, for the jEnglish residents, estimated at £7,000 or £8,000, at her own expense. The Bishop of Lincoln gave £800 the other day towards the erection i?ct of what he had just attributed to them. " Howbeit," he says farther on, ** considering how many virtuous and just men, how many Saints, how many Martyrs, how many of the Ancient Fathers of the Church, have had their sundry perilous opinions ; and amongst sundry of their opinions this, — that they hoped to make God some part of amends for their sins by the voluntary punishment which they laid upon them- selves, — because by a consequent it may follov/ hereupon that they were injurious unto Christ, shall we therefore make such deadly epitaphs, and set them upon their graves, they denied the foundation of Faith direct- ly, they are damned, there is no salvation for them ? Saint Austin saith oi bmse\f) Eirare possum, HtEretieus esse nolo. And, except we put a difference between them that err, and them that obstinately persist in error, how is it possible that ever any man should hope to be saved ? " And shall I think, because of this only error, that such a man touch- eth not so much as the hem of Christ's garment ? If he do, wherefore should not I have hope, that virtue might proceed from Christ to save him ? Because his error doth by consequent overthrow his faith, shall I therefore cast him off, as one that hath utterly cast off Christ ? One that holdeth not so much as by a single thread ? . . . . " Surely, I must confess unto you, if it be an error, that God may be merciful to save men even when they err, my greatest comfort is my error ; were it not for the love I bear unto this error, I would never wish to speak, nor to live. . ..... 20 ;rantj anti direct- 1 proceedings in IS, do shew, not hold the founda- e our arguinents 3ed his Father's uld do fondly to y them, if tliat hey do not hold, ■y answers to all t them, will not or no. Can any be ignorant, how e remission of all by deserved, the blood of onr Lord men; but for no lood of Christ be appointed that to ead things, only efficacy in them ation ? Finally, and freely with- the good things J satisfactory and 3t allege for mine i writers of the just attributed to « Howbeit," he men, how many it Fathers of the amongst sundry e part of amends aid upon them- that they were ly epitaphs, and of Faith direct- aint Austin saith xcept we put a lately persist in to be saved? ch a man touch- do, wherefore Christ to save lis faith, shall I irist? One that • • that God may be t comfort is my ould never wish " Wherefore to resume that niothcr sontf nrc, whereof I little ll.oii;.';lit that so much trouble would have grown, ' I duubt not but (lod was merciful to save thousands of our Fathers, living in Popish superstitions, inasmuch ai they sinned ignorantly.' Alas ! what bloody matter is there contained in this sentence, that it should bo an occasion of so many hard censures? Did I say, that thousands of our Fathers might he saved ? I have shewed which way it cannot be denied. Did 1 say, I doubt not but that they were saved ? I see no impiety in this persuasion, though I had no reason for it. Did I say, their ip:rinrance did make me hope they did find mercy, and so were saved? \Vh;it hindoreth salvation but sin? Sins are not equal; and ignorance, though it doth not make sin to be no sin, yet seeing it did make their sin the loss, why should it not make our hope concerning their life the greater? We pity the most, and doubt not but Cod hath most compassion over them tnat sin for want of understanding. . If I have been deceived on this point . . . the blessed Apostle hath deceived me. What I said of others, the same he said of himself, I obtained mercy, for I did it ignorantly. Construe his words, and you cannot misconstrue mine. I speak no otherwise, I mean no otherwise than he did." He winds up the whole argument by a salutarj' caution that it is « a great deal meeter for us to have regard to our own estate, than to sift over-curioTisly what is become of other men. And fearing, lest that such questions as these if voluntarily they should be too far waded in, might seem worthy of that rebuke which our Saviour thought needful in a case not'unlike. What is this unto ihce ?" * If, however, there are any who go so far as to think that a hope en- tertained for the disci[.les of Rome is an evidence of dangerously defective views in religion in the person himself who entertains it, the single case of Hooker is surely sufficient to disj)rove such a notion. Hope iov other men may, I believe, be still/ar//icr extended without prejudice to sound Protestantism, or to those views of our Salvation, which give all the honor to the blessed Saviour of sinners. Will any man attribute a laxity upon those points to the author of the Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul f Yet in his Family Expositor, (in a note upon I. John ii. 2,) speaking of the Salvability of virtuous Heathens through Christ, he says, '' I do not see that Christianity can receive any prejudice by our acknowledging that if there are those in whom a truly virtuous temper prevails, they may be accepted of God, in consideration of the atonement which Christ hath made." A truly virtuous temper must be an evidence of some mea- sure of grace given. But to return to the case of the Romanist, can any mriu deliberately think that there are not evidences of grace and of a saving faith iu Christ implanted in the heart, in such men as the author of the Imitation ofChrist,t eras Fenelon, or as Pascal? If these evidences are mixed with matter which seems by logical inference to contradict them, we • Tl)« forepoing f xlrncts from Hookf r are taken fron liis Discourse on Jueiifica* )ion, 1 had made them larger and have found ii difPciilt Ut reirencli Jliem, but 1 did not wish to lend ihej<« notes to exrvss. Tlioae who have accefs to his workn, and to whom thp Discourse above-nipniionf d is new, wfil lie well repaid by iI)b perusal oTit, alihongli possibly they may not agree in all puiniB wiili tiie viewB of ihH writer. t Conitnfinly reputed to be Thomns i Kempia, . 30 must remember that it is never fuir in judging o/mcn, although it may be perfectly proper in^rcasoning- with them, to insist upon fastening coiise-< quenccs upon them, as flowing from their system, which cunsequencesi thny reject and disclaim, and thus to deny to tlicm the benefit of their inconsistency. 1 believe that the view which I have hevo taken, is agreeable to the word of God, and that those who are ihc sujD'cicrs by corruptions intro- duced into their Church, are not to be confciinded with the authors ox in- terested /overs of those corruptions, against whom the judgments of Scrip- ture are denounced. The case of aacvout and sincere Romanist appears to me to be provided for, if I may so express it, in Cor. III. 12, 13, 14, 15, upon which text Aroiibishon Tillotsoa has a sermon "on the hazard of being saved in the Church of Kome." And now a few more words as to " the rart which we feel called upon to take with reference to the professors of the Roman Catholic Religion"* in Lower Canada (a question which must be affected by " the judgment which we pronounce"! upon them.) In my own view of the case, we are more likely to be called upon to suffer than to do, in testifying to that body, by any general or ext?nsive proceeding, in the cau.'e of spiritual truth. But some of our obligations heaving, as I a,iprehend, been misconceived in a manner calculated to embarrass the consciences of the Clergy, and this having spread, I know not to what precise extent, I feel it in- cumbent upon me, (for now that I am embarked in the subject, I will go through with it,) very briefly to set them, as far as God shall enable me, in a correct light. I. It has been supposed that the Ordination-vows of the Clergy dis- tinctly oblige them to engage in perpetual controversy with the Romish Church in this country, and to labour in the work of proselytism among her disciples. It is certainly (as I have intimated) the duty of Clergy and Laity alike, to avail themselves of all well-chosen opportunities and all promising openings, for endeavourin,^ to communicate to those who do not enjoy the blcssii>g. a knowledge ot pure and scriptural truth. And they should watch for such opportunities, and, if they are permitted, should make them. But with reference to that particular and special cure of souls which is formally confided, in the solemnitie" of Ordinat-on, to the Clergy, and to which their vows respecting pastoral instruction, exclusively refer, it does not, in this country, comprehend the members of the Church of Rome. In England and Ireland, where the entire face of the country is divided into parishes of the Established Church ; where the Churches formerly belonging to theChurch of Rome have been transferred to our own, and where the proprietors of the population at large is subject to payments for the support of the latter, all the inhabitants of a parish are the Parish- ioners of a Clergyman. It is not so here. In Upper Canada, even the Rectors do not stand in the same relation to other religious bodies which the Rec- tors do at home. There is no official connection between them. In Lower Canada, where Parish Churches and tithes are in the hands of • Charge, p. 12 f lb. ibid. 1.1 1 igh it may ling C0M8e-< isequenceii iit of their able to the ions intro- thors or m- s of Scrip- st appears 12, 13, 14, the hazard ailed upon Keligion"* I judgment ISC, we are that body, itual truth, iconceived Icrp}-, and feel it in- , I will go mable me, Hergy dis- e Romish m among lity alike, )romising ;njoy the should Id make of souls Clergy, ely refer, hurch of luntry is hurches our own, ayments Parish- Rectors he Rec- em. In ands of y 31 Roman Callkolics, and Bccuicd to them by law, tliu appoiutmculsiccuived by iiur CUt'i'^ry do not impose an> specific obligation, nor convey any kind of auitiuiity, with respect lu the religious instuictlon of such persons. 2. It bus been supposed that the GGth Canon which relates to Popish llocnsants, imposes a duty of (lie same kind. But that Canon refers to a slate ct society, and describes a class of persons, both of which have long eeused to exist. Itrcusanls were persons who refused conformity to the established Heligioii of Ibc country, ut a time when, the pi'incij)lcs of toleration not being understood, the whole population were by law com- pellal)le, under severe penalties, to conform. The Canons of 1G03 are still binding, so far as they are now practicable and consistent with the pubseciuent sanctions of authority ; but it must bo manifest, even upon a slight inspection of thorn , that in other points they arc obsolete, and have been virtually revoked. 1 shall not notice an nvsumeiit which has been drawn from the commis- sion given by Chiist to his Cliurch at large, to preach the Gospel to every ■creature, farther than to point out that this direction to propagate the faith throughout the world, cannot be understood as if every Clergyman were charged with the direct religious instruction of every individual with whom he comts in contact in life. For in how many instances would ih'is he casting pcarh to swine ! and in how many more would it be lObstrnctirig, by ill-advised or premature interference, the cause which it would be designed to promote ! Lot me not be here thought to repress, or to do otherwise than honor and encourage that zeal which would be i)istant in season and out of sea- .toa. But if we are to do any thing in this particular behalf, let the jgrounds upon which we arc to do it, be first correcthj slated. In musing tipon the subject, I liaye been more moved to hope for our one day creat- ing afavorable impression upon the Romanists of this country, (if we go wisely to worlc,) ' v iho single consideration of Deut. VII. 17, 18, than by all the argunic als which I have overheard in recommendation of our ■taking the lU'ld. WhcneviM ;iii(l wlierrvcr we do so, I hope it will be more in the spirit of Bishop Hn-ikiiis, of Vermont,* than of some other Protestant champions among our i ij:hhour^ in the United States, who would do well to re- member th( saying of a very early Christian father t;— Sjiaac; nxi ccn^xtnoi Koc'i toKjUOC, tc7^ KXTyipx/Aivot; vtto tv 0e« iTVitiKiix )txt TciTTtno^focvyn, KoLi TTjiuuTtii 7rxj>x Toi( iv\oyn/u.tyoii VTTO TV 0e». In modem times, and with reference to intercourse with Roman Catho- lics, we have an admirable example in the interesting Memoirs of Felix Neff. t * In Iiis work, 7'/ie Clinch of Rome in /ler primitive purity, compared with the Church of Rome at thepresent day- I thiuk, however, tnnt lie bai made tome unwarranted concessions. f ('iemeni RomanuR, in liia Grit KpiillQ to the Corinthiani. 32 " The broad distinctions and uncompromising truths of Protestantism were matters of awful sanctity with Netf; and yet though he was the Pastor of a flock opposed to Popery by ail the strong prejudices of here- ditary separation, i might almost say of deep-iooted aversion, with dogmatical and polemical Protestantism he would have nothing to do. He made numberless converts from Romanism, not so much by arg-ument and discussion as by widely inculcating the true spirit of the Gospel ; not by dwelling on topics of strife or points of difference, but on points of universal agreement and by exhibiting our common Christianity in its most persuasive form, until their hearts melted before the one Mediator and Intercessor, and they said your God shall be our God, and your creed shall be our creed." — Memoirof Felix Nefff Pastor of the High Alps, by the Rev. W. S. GUly, D. D. " When NefT was in France, he accidentally found himself in the company of a Roman Catholic Cure, who did not know him. Their route lay towards the same place, and as they journeyed together, the conver- sation took a religious turn. Our pastor, with his usual good sense and right feeling, spoke fervently on the faith and duties of a Minister of the Gospel, but he did not drop a single word which could offend the preju- dices or rouse the suspicion of his companion, who was gradually moved to take a deep interest in the new views of a spiritual life which were opened before him. They came to a Roman Catholic Church, and the Cure invited his unknown counsellor to enter the sanctuary and to im- plore God's blessing on their conversation. Neff readily complied, they breathed their silent prayers before the altar [the Protestant Minister hercjhowever, went a great length] and they parted without the Cure being aware of any difference in their religious opinions. I perceived, said Neff, when he related this anecdote, that the Priest's heart was touched, and I did not disturb the pious feelings of the moment by avowing myself or by attempting to square his religious sentiments with my own." — Ib» Note D. p. 16.— In the letters which passed between Pierre du Moulin, a very eminent foreign Protestant, and the admirable Bishop Andrews, there is a curious example of that infirmity, (and we ought all to guard against it, on whatever side of a question,) by which good men find a difficulty in conceding what makes against their own party ; and if they have been drawn by the force of fair inference acting upon their minds, beyond the mark which suits them, will seek sometimes, although they are imposing upon their own judgments, to retire within it again. ^ Dumoulin intreats the Bishop to intercede for him with King James of England, oi. account of his supposed want of respect for Episcopacy which he disclaims in these words :— Non sum tam fastidiose arrogans iit vclim me opponere toti antiquitati : Et rem quaB jam inde d seculo Apos- tolls proximo recepta fuit in Ecclesi9, ut vitiosam ant improbam as- pernari. • 33 Tha Bishop re-assures liini with respect to the Koyal difipleasure, and then notices a circumstance which beemed to turnish evidence of his going yet further, in his secret judgment, in fiivour of Episcopacy, than he was willins: to allow : Ego vero libens agnosco .-equiorem te in res nostras, plerisque vestrum ; quantd magis antiquitatem versas, tanto ajquiorem : addo & squiorem adhuc multb futurnm, si te sineret Ecclesia vestra; utinam autem sineret! — Ilia, ut videtur, personarum vitia ad res transtulit, remmque adeo legitimum usum, propter abusum sustulit paulalim hoc a vobis dedocenda. Cui dum tu morem gerere vis, morem ipse animo tuo non geris. Nam de animo tuo ex calamo conjecturam facio. Adeo enim in nos propcnsus calamus tuus, ut scripserit (crede autem te non invito) nostrum Episcoporum ordinem rem esfse receptam in EcclesiS. 'Tide a seculo Apostolonim, Recte autem hoc scripserat calamus : Id tu liturd scilicet induxisti (nempc ro Apostolorum) ac vicem ejus Apostolls PROXIMO reposuisti. The Bishop adds, a little farther on, Totam antiquitatem i nobis esse, nee ipse negas : an vero Ecclesiae jam uUi plus defcendum qudm antiqui- tati toti, ipse videris. This is the right way of stating the question ; and thus the other party even after shifting a little from his original position, (as taken by his^en) left the vantage-ground to the cause of Episcopacy. It is this ground which is taken by Chillingworth, in his Apostolical Insti- tution of Episcopacy demonstrated) and he reduces the whole argument to a syllogism. That which fixes the sense of Scripture in those pas- sages which are favorable to our claims, and proves what was the proceeding of the Apostles, in the absence of positive institution in the Word of God, is a comparison with the early, universal and continued practice of the Church. The case is the same as that of the sanctillcation of the first day of the week. What an incalculable advantage would it be to the cause of Protestants, and what sacrifices ought ALL Protestant parties to be ready to make for the sake of gaining it, if a comprehension could be effected in which they would stand, as one body, occupying a ground respecting their Orders which could not be challenged by the Romanist himself, if well-informed. With respect to the Episcopal Churches, this is the fact. Witness the Defense de la validitc dcs Ordinations Anglicanes, by le Pere Courayer, whose grave-stone may be seen in the solemn cloisters of Westminster Abbey. Altliough the man was, in the end, persecuted, his proofs can never be shaken. ■\ Note E. p. 16.— The following extracts from the correspondence of the late Bishop Heber, will be interesting to those to whom they may happen to be new :— . ^ .1 » i v.- v, f « He too, [Mar Simeon, Episcopal Commissary from the Archbishop ot Shiranz,] as well as Mar Abraham and the Archbishop Athanasius, ex- pressed a desire to attend the English Church Service, and accordingly came the day on which I administered Confirmation. On the whole 1 cannot but hope that many good effects may arise from this approxima - a4 tioa la courtesy of the Eastern Churches to our own; vrhun they find tha^ we desire no dominion over theni) they may gradually be led to imitate us." , ;. . i 1,11 « I believe I mentioned to your Grace in my last letter, the sort of amicable intercourse which I had maintained with different sects of Oriental Christians, and particularly with some Bishops of the Armenian Church. One of these, whom I had previously met at Dacca, Mar Abraham, a SufTiagan dependent on the Patriarch of Jerusalem, was much with me, and still more, I think, at Bishop's College, during my late residence at Calcutta. He, like the Syrian Metropolitan, attended service in the Cathedral, and I was happy to be able, on different occasions, to treat him with respect and hospitality. His sect (I need not inform your Grace) is Monophysite, and the Liturgy of his Church, grievously crowded with superstitious observances, approaching to those of the Roman ritual. They disclaim^ however^ earm$tlyy the Pope and some of the distinguished tenets of Popery f and both my friend Mar Abraham, and some others of his nation, express a great admiration of our Liturgy, and a desire (which I think claims all the encouragement in our power) to draw near us, and learn from us. One of their nation, named George Avdal, has offered his services to Bishop's College, to translate our Liturgy into Armenian, to which may be prefixed, if God gives me health and leisure to finish it, a short account which I am drawing up of the foundation, reformation, and history of the English Church, which, I am led to believe, may do us great service among the Eastern Christians, and may be advantageously circulated not only in Armenian but the other languages of Asia. And, if Mr. Avdal does his work well, I think of employing him still farther in rendering into that language some of the homilies of St. Chrysostom, and of such other Fathers as the Eastern Church hold in most honour, but of whom, except by name, they know nothing. By such means, duly persevered in, and practised with meekness, and without the appearance of dictation or superiority, it may be hoped, under the Divine Blessing, that some of the grosser ignorance may be removed, and some of the more crying abuses reformed, which have, for many centuries, overspread the most ancient and illustrious sects of Christianity." ** Bishop Abraham evinced^ on leaving Calcutta, his confidence in myself, and Principal Mill in a yet more remarkable manner, in committing to my care for education at Bishop^s College, a very pleasing young man, a Dea- con of his church, and related to himself, who had attended him from Palestine. He said that f/ic -(4 rmenion Church felt the want of a more liberal education than they could usually obtain for their Clergy ; that, in particular, a knowledge of the English language and literature would be very valuable to them, and that this young man, who, having good talents and powerfi I interest, was likely to be calieti, event\ially» to a conspicuous station m the church of Jerusalem, was exceedinsrly anxious to learn any thing which we might have to teach. He professed a will- 35 ingness to pay, to the best of Lis powtr, towards the expense of his re- maining with' us, but, well knowing his poverty, / tola him that was needless. I have accordingly arranged with the Principal, and College Council, to receive « Mesrop David^* on the same terms of inmate and guest on which Christian David, the Tamul Clergyman, was received on a former occasion. They agreed with me that it was an opportunity not to be lost of improving and extending the influence of our Church among his countrymen, and should the Society for the Propag-ation of the Gospel in Foreign parts, object to his being supported at the College expence, / wUl most cheerfully take it on myself." « Athanasius and Abraham, with the titles of Metropolitan and « Ram- ban," or Archdeacon, arrived at Bombay whilst I was there, on their way to the Malayalim Churches, and with regular appointments from the Patriarch, " sitting in the seat of Simon Cephas, which is at Antioch." As it has always been my endeavour to conciliate and befriend the Eastern Christians who find their way into India, both I and Archdeacon Barnes shewed them all the respect and kindness in our power, and we were on as good terms as people could be, who had no common language, the strangers speaking only Arabic, and all our communication being filtered through an interpreter. " They attended Church, unasked, and received the Sacrament at my hands ;* on which occasion I placed the Metropolitan in my own chair, and we embraced in a most brotherly manner at the church-door after aervice." « To Mar Athanasius. (As translated into Syriac, by Messrs. Robinson and Mill.) Calcutta, December, 1825. To the excellent and learned father Mar Athanasius, Bishop and Me- tropolitan of all the Churches of Christ, in India, which walk after the rule of the Syrians, Mar Reginald, by Jhe grac^ of God, Bishop of Calcutta: Jesus Christ." grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and our Lord A correspondence headed in the same oriental stile which appears in this last extract, took place in 1616, between Abbot, Archbishop of Can- terbury and Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria. It led to little or nothing ; and so our hopes may end with reference to any approximation in our own day, of more remote Eastern Churches to ours : f God knows his * This, with ihe (p-eate&t deference be it spoken, may be considered a circum- stance of quettionalilu piopiiely, when reference is bad to the Mate of doctrine autola', nt siipv'i, • • # The Rubrics to which I more particularly refer in this part of the Dbartye are as follows : Whilst these sentences are in reading, the DeacmSf Church-wardenSf or other Jit person appointed for that purpose, shall receive tlie alms for the poor, and other devotions of the people, in a decent Bason, to be provided by the parish for that purpose; and reverently bring it to the priest, who shall humbly present it and place it upon the Holy table. When ail have communicated, the Minister shall return to the Lord^s Table, and revcrentiy place upon it what remaineth of the consecrated Elements, covering the same with a fair linen cloth. If any remain of that which was consecrated, it shall not be carried out efthe church, but the Priest ami si.ich other of the Communicants as he shall then call unto him, shall immediately after the blessing, reverently eat and drink of the same. Observe also the Rubrics connected wiih the Prayer of Consecration. , •ti'\*li''lAl i ^ lo fc^'.idr^olr'tu ; .v:t(f ;■■. II ' > «•,*< Note G. p. 19. — I venture to follow up what I have here sai'^. in my Charge, by an Extract from the MS. Journal of one of my Archidiaconal Visitations, made a good many years ago : . confess myself to be one of those who seriously regret, that the revo- lutions of fashion have, in their ordinary dress, assimilated the Clergy to the laity. I do not wish to see our Clergy dressed as the Roman Ca- tholic Priesthood appear abroad in this country ; but there arc passages in two French writers, which express so much better than my own words can convey them, my opinion upon the subject, that having been able to light upon them both, I cannot forbear from here transcribing them : cet utile pouvoir Commando la decence et rappelle au devoir. Par lui I'homme averti demeure sans excuse Son costume le blame et son habit I'accuse. The other writer expresses the same sentiment in prose. He speaks of the modern fashions in dress as having I'inconvenient de confondre tons lea rangs et toutes les professions, and adds, that I'habit venerable dont I'ecclesiastique etait convert, I'obligeait a la plus grande circonspection dans sa conduite et dans ses discours. It will be said indeed, and truly, that if the heart is unsanctified, the restraint of the garb will do little to make an efficient Minister, and that if the heart be right towards God, aud really possessed by the love of Christ, the guise of the outward man is a matter of very inferior concern. But there will always, in large bodies of men, be some to whom such a memento would be useful, making it familiar to them, as the sign upon the hand and frontlet between the oyes, that they are set apart to God, and operating as a check upon some infirmity of nature, or a guard against the influence of some casual temptation ; but it is chiefly perhaps in the effect upon others that the benpflt is felt; more re vrrcncc is engendered for Religion among the un- 38 III , :' 111 : ■■ thinkuig pait of the Worlds who ate the most aflected by that which meets the eye, and this is one step gained : And it is still another recom- aendation of the practke) that the ideas of seriousness and solemnity thus familiarly associated with the profession, would, as I cannot help believing, keep out of it some persons whose testimonials, with their own attainments, may procure them admission, but who partake too much of a light and worldly spirit, to be an acquisition to the Church. It may seem needless to have quoted French authors upon this subject when we have the solid and venerable authority to the pointy which is found in our own Canons of 1603. << Tlie true, ancient and flourishing Churches of Christ, being ever desirous that their Prelacy and Clergy might be had as well in outward reverence as otherwise regarded for the worthiness of their ministry, did think it fit, by a prescript form of decent and comely apparel, to have them known to the people, and thereby to receive the honour and estima- tion due to the Special Messengers and Ministers of Almighty God : We, therefore, following their grave judgment, and the ancient custom of the Church of England, and hoping that in time newfangledness of apparel in some factious persons will die of itself^ do constitute and ap- point, &c. &c."— Canon 74. m by thAt which another recom^ and solemnity ) I^ cannot help with their own e too much of ;h. in this subject loint^ which is st, being ever rell in outward Ir ministiy, did )arel, to have ur and estitoa- Imighty God; incient custom fangledness of Itute and ap- s. I