IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // y ^ "y the great Head of the Church, that peace and order may be restored, and lawlessness restrained, without undue restrictions, or the loss of any earnest, devoted laborers in the Lord's vineyard, through injudicious treat- ment. Grievously has our Church suffered in times past, through the suicidal policy of driving out some of her most zealous and useful servants ; may she be preserved from a repetition of her error. The reference to the unsettled state of the Church in England, recalls to our minds the irreparable loss sustained by the removal of that illustrious man, late of AViuchestcr, but better known as Sanuiel Wilberforce, liishop of Oxford, whose wisdom in counsel, and far siiihtcdness, would have been invaluable to his brethren in the present crisis. By common consent, the revival of the living action of the Church in her Convocations, her Synods, her Con- gresses, and the remarkable increase of the co-operation of influen- tial laymen in Church work, are attributed to his influence, beyond that of any other individual ; and from tiie primate of all England 81 nJ ■ougU downwards nil who had hcen acciit^tomod to work with him, and were most capahle of jiid^nuii^ of his merits, and of his hencfieial Influence, l)oth in counsel and in action, have borne testimony to his worth, and lamented his sudden removal. At a s[.ecial united nieetini^ of the two Houses of the Convoca- tion of Canterhury, the Archhishop said : *' AVhen we consider how much more he did than is given to the lot of the most gifted of men, when we consider how deep was the mark he left almost everywhere, during his long episcopate ; we can scarcely believe he leaves his work unfinished. Yet doubtless the loss Avillbefelt as a calamity, and that over a wide range, such as the departure of scarcely any other man from amongst us would have reached. Doubtless not oidy in England, but in our colonies his loss will be deeply felt. — It was not that strange persuasiveness, it was not that wonderful power of rhetoric which gave him his great influence, it was something deeper which made him so dear to every one. It was a real, genuine, genial Christianity, which enabled him thus to reach men's hearts, and which makes every one of us feel as though wc had lost an intimate friend."* As colonists, wc may not pass over, without special notice, the death of the foremost of the Colonial Bishops, the INIetropolitan of South Africa, the indefatigable and stout-hearted Bishop Gray, One who knew him well, the present Bishop of Kdinburgh, said at a public meeting, that from his knowledge of ]iishop Gray, he believed there had appeared no holier, more faithful, or more christian like character during the present generation. " AVitli regard to the actual work which he accomplished, and which no one could have accomplished without a strength of will and an energy of mind almost beyond that which men possessed, no one knew how much the English Church has gained from the struggles in South *Dean Stanley, prcacliing on the Sunday after his funerivl, said : " We have been warned in various tones, that sucli as he was is not likely to adorn tlie tale of our eventful annals. It may well he so, for sueh a rare, and at tlie same time such an intricate combination of qualities, comes once in the age of a nation and conies not again." " The office of an English Hishop grew, as it were, under his hand almost into a new institution. His example became perforce contagious. No Bishop, no clergyman, we miglit even say no layman, within his reacli, could stand still without feeling the toudi, tlie stinuilus, the magic atmosphere of an activity, wliicii could neither rest itself, nor, as has been well said, sull'er those around him to rest." 6 Africa." And a resolution of the S. P. G., contained this state- ment, tliat " his single minded devotion of himself and his substance to the work of God, his eminent administrative ability, his zcpI which never flagged, his considerate tenderness in dealing with others, his undaunted courage in grappling with unexpected obsta- cles in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel, will live in the records of the African Church as the qualities of her founder, and will secure for him a place in history as one of the most distinguished in that band of Missionary IJishops, by whose labors in this genera- tion the borders of the Church have been so widely extended." Having thus commemorated two of the chief Pastors, who have been taken from the Church on earth, since the last Visitation, I have now to speak of our own special loss. Our meeting together at this time is saddened by the removal of the venerable Brother, whose kindly greetings and hearty welcome you have for many years received on coming to the city, who, occupying as Dean the foremost place, was esteemed and respected still more on account of his personal qualities than of his official dignity. The duties of his office may be efficiently performed by others, but I think you will all concur with me, that he occupied a position in rel.ation to yourselves which cannot soon be filled ; for his age and experience, combined with his well known integrity, and largeness of heart, pro- cured for him a personal influence, such as can only be enjoyed by one advanced in years, and placed where he may have opportunities of frequent intercourse with his b. *hren, an influence which was con- stantly directed to the promotion ot peace and harmony. He held firmly to his own opinions, and respected the same firmness in his brethren who differed from him ; but he rightly held, that diversity of views could not justify ministers of the same Church in holding aloof one from another, or in refusing to co-operate in works designed for the glory of God. IIow extended was his hospitality, how genial his disposition, and how comprehensive his sympathy, you need not to be reminded. Some of you can speak, from the experience of many years of happy and profitable intercourse, but I would set him before my younger brethren as an example of persevering, earnest labor in the Lord's vineyard, as one who was ever ready to attend iv; every call of duty, who never regarded hia re! ac own convenience, nor pleaded weariness, when his services were required by any even the most lowly of his Parishioners, or for the interests of the Church at large. lie always evinced a lively interest, and took an active part, in every Church work, and especially in the Synod and in our Diocesan Society, where his counsels were received with marked deference. It would have been a sore trial to him to live for any long period, destitute of power to work, and hia Master was pleased to spare him that trial, and after a short interval of retirement, he entered into his rest, his last appearance in this Church being on the Festival of the Purification, when he assisted at the Holy Communion, and read in the Gospel the words of the aged Simeon most appropriate to himself. Although he might have spoken of himself, as ♦ abounding in the work of the Lord,' his feelings on his death bed were expressed in the words of the hymn, the last read to him at his own request, '♦ Just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood was shed tor me." " Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, that they may rest from their labc and their works do follow them." tvhilc enumerating those who have been removed, I cannot forbear noticing one who, although not strir 'y speaking a Clergy- man of this Diocese, always evinced an luterest in its welfare, and in all our proceedings, which could not have been exceeded if he had been in truth merc'7 one of ourselves, without any special duties or interests. The Rev. J. C. Edghill, to whom I refer, certainly did good service in this city, and while his attention was chiefly given to the Troops under his care, among whom he exercised a remarkable influence for good, he was eminently useful to the numerous civilians who crowded his Chapel, including many not belonging to our Communion. We may grieve, that he met with opposition from some who, seeing his work, ought to have b6en among the first to bid him " God speed" ; but although he may at times have been somewhat discouraged, he persevered, knowing that he was sincerely striving to do the work of the Lord, and that, in the way which he had adopted, the divine blessing had been abundantly vouchsafed to him. 1 believe indeed that his residence among us, and the pattern which he proposed for our action, was beneficial to us all, and that some of you will cheerfully 8 admit tliat you arc greatly indebted to lilm for suggestions, wliich have added much to tlie power of your ministrations. lie was commended to mc, by the Chaplain General, when he came to this garrison, as one who had been singularly successful in his labors for the conversion of sinners ; and we have reason to believe that hero also under his ministry many were brought to the knowledge of the truth. We may not all have his power, but wc may all strive with the same earnestness, and the same love for our Lord and for the souls of men. • • Wc arc thankful that our ranks have not been thinned by many deaths, but there have been numerous removals, suggesting matter for serious reflection, for most of them are to be attributed to the insufficiency of the salaries provided for the Clergy in this Province, five of our brethren having been allured t^ the Diocese of Frederic- ton by better offers than could be obtained hero. Now why is this? Cannot Nova Scotia provide for the Clergy as well as New Bruns- wick? I have no doubt that it can; and I believe the people generally would be very indignant, if wc were to adopt the opposite opinion. If then they have the ability, how is it that they have not the will ? Is it not possible that you may have to blame your- selves partially for this state of things? I say jjartially; because, without reference to your personal action, the people all know that it must be their bounden duty to provide for those who minister to them, and cannot plead ignorance ; but still it may be, that you have not each done all that might have been expected towards en- forcing this obligation. You are the duly appointed teachers of the several congregations, and it is for you to set before them their duty. I can understand the difficulty of pleading for oneself, but false delicacy should not be allowed to interfere with the performance of your duty. The Lord himself "hath ordained, that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel," and lie that is taught in the word should " minic'tcr unto him that teachcth in all good things." I think that, if the duty of giving were more frequently inculcated, it would not be so much neglected. It should be treated as part of our duty to God, as an act of worship well pleasing to Ilim. So long as their contributions are regarded, merely as payments for the services of a Clergyman, each will 9r IS, which lie was ic to this labors for that here Igc of the rive with id for the by many iig matter X'd to the Province, Fredcric- ly is this ? ;w B runs- lie people e opposite they have lune yoiir- bccause, mow that iiinister to that you wards cn- icrs of the icir duty, but false mance of they who is taught all good requcutly ■should be ship well regarded, each will naturally consider what his nciglibor docs, and what is a fair pro- portion for himself; and he will estimate this projtortion nuich too favorably for himself in all jirobability ; but if the truth be recog- nised, that God demands such offerings, that he requires a portion of every one's income for himeclf, and that what is given for the service of the sanctuary is truly offered to Jlini, then much larger amounts may reasonaljly be expected. IMoreover, I believe, that there is a definite rule given to us in Holy Scripture, and. that the law of tithes is still in force, that God requires from every one, at (he least, one tenth of his yearly income, whether large or small, that this is as it were His tax, and that freewill offerings in the strict sense, only begin after payment of these dues. The payment of tithes was certainly antecedent to the giving of the law, since Abraham paid tliem to Mclchiscdec ; and lience we may infer that, as the Father of the faithful i)aid them to the type of our High Priest, so are we bound to pay them to the High Priest himself, through those who minister in his name. If this principle were generally recognised, even supposing the tithe to include the whole of a man's offering, for all purposes, for the })oor as well as to the Church, there would be no roori for complaint of want of funds for carrying on the Lord's work. And even if the obligation to pay the tithe be not admitted, there can be no doubt that God claims a poi'tion of what has been entrusted to each one's stewards^hip ; and you arc not faithfid min- isters if, through delicacy or from any other motive, yiju neglect to set forth the teaching of Holy Scripture concerning this matter. In any case you may avail yourself of the aid of the Ivural Dean to enforce your own personal claims. If you cannot speak for yourself, he can speak for you, and in this respect the ai)point- ment of Dean may be made more particularly useful. And if some are induced to quit this Diocese, by the insufficiency of the stipends provided for them, still more have we to deplore the effect in diminishing the number of Divinity Students at our College, and of Candidates for Holy Orders. This is an old story ; and on former occasions I have spoken at length of the evil, and of the best mode in my judgment of remedying it, but the matter is ; of such extreme importance, that I do not hesitate to repeat my • 10 remarks, and again to call upon you to consider, wlietlier you are ( each doing your duty with respect to it. I again express my con- d tl viction that, if you were^ the dearth of laborers would not be so ehci serious as it is at present. I have begged you to be constantly on atis the watch in your Sunday Schools, and elsewhere in your Parishes, lo n for boys who may be educated and trained for the ministry, with a 'agi reasonable hope that as they advance in years they will be inclined hey to devote themselves to the work. But my exhortations have thus tatc far been in vain, and very few of you have,, to my knowledge, ;esti attempted to act upon them. Parents should be pressed to devote looi a son to the Lord's service. There is a natural reluctance to pre-fuic pare sons for an office, in which they can hardly hope to procure aj th reasonable maintenance, but this difficulty does not appear to affect pne the supply of ministers for the several denominations of Christians I around us. Why should we then suffer so much? Are our people uat( leijs liberal, less disposed to provide adeqimtely for those whoh'cii minister to them in Holy things, or is there less zeal and devotion. lent among ourselves ? Now that all have the rudiments of a good* prj education, there ought to be found youths qualified to proceediboi further, witli aspirations beyond the counting house, and desiringhe li to labor rather for the good of their fellow creatures, than for theiresir own gain. This course implies faith and foresight, for the serviceaitioi of the children who may be influenced by you, can only be availablef tl I'fter a long interval, but we have to provide for the future ; and itheei matters little wheth^j we are permitted, in any matter, to see theforh fruit of our labors, so long as the Church is benefitted. If we feelcarc the evils of the dearth of ministers now, let us be the more anxiousiovc to avert them from those who shall come after us. For studentsray( prepai'ing for Holy Orders, our College pre vides very nearly freor tl board, as well as a free education ; and I am not yet without hopor tl that we may have a great increase in the number of young menreak availing themselves of such a liberal provision. That we mustatcc depend chiefly upon the College, for a supply of duly trainecfecas Clergymen, is certain ; and we must all admit that, as a generalid i rule, a Minister ought to have some acquaintance with the languagegice in which the Holy Scriptures have been given to us, and to be ablqmttc at least to refer to his Greek Testament with ease. Jhuri 11 stlicr you are Once more I must say that I think more might be done by you, iress my con- d tlic way of recommending parents to send their sons to Windsor, aid not be so whether as Divinity Students or otherwise. I am aware that dis- consiantly on atisf'action has been expressed, aud we arc sometimes told that you fonr Parishes, lo not care to recommend our old University. But, putting aside nistry, with a 'ague declamations, and statements so evidently exaggerated that 11 be inclined facy could not be of any use, we have not been favored with any ons have thus tatcments of actual tangible objections, nor with any practical sug- ly knowledge, jestions for the improvement of our system. It is not by keeping issed to devote loof from organizations, good in themselves, that abuses can be ctance to pre-emediod, or improvements effected, but by taking an active j)art 3 to procure aj them, and earning an influence, through the manifestation of an ippoav to affect oncst interest in their progress and success. I of Christians I have spoken of means to be used, for procuring a more ade- Are our people uate supply of laborers, but I do not forget the directions of our for those whorreat Head. He also had to complain, " the harvest truly is . and devotion lenteous, but the laborers are few;" and he hath conunanded, nts of a good* pray yc therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth ied to proceed iborers into his harvest." We must appeal to Him, to incline , and deslringlje hearts of men to devote themselves to his service, with a single , than for theiresire for his glory and the salvation of souls. The public rccog- brthc scrvicesition of this principle in the call to prayer in 1872, at the instance ily be availablef the two great Missionary Societies of our Church, was most future ; and itheering, when the members of our Communion throughout the tcr, to see theforld united in one great act of intercession ; and their voice was id. If we feeleard, and many came forward to offer themselves for the work, c more anxiousioved as we may not doubt by the Holy Spirit in answer to our For studentsraycrs. It would be well to have such an appointed day annually, jry nearly freor there are ever increasing needs, and the same mode of jjroviding t without hopejr them will ever be found effectual ; but unhappily, owing to the of young menreakness of our nature, any such appointment, when it recurs at That we musltatcd times, is much less impressive than when made upon a special f duly trainetlecasion ; the same warmth and earnestness are not excited by it, , as a generalid its efficacy is proportionately diminished. An annual obscrv- 1 the languagesice of the day would probably become, with very many, merely a and to be ablcnitter of routine, but we may well be guided by the decision of the Jliurch in England in this matter, and in any case let us not 12 ! I prod neglect the ordinary use of the means upon which, above all others-iyiH we may expect the blessing of God. Let us urge the LordV '1 people, to give attention to this great want, and to remcuiber i||ooiu constantly in their supplications and prayers. ^ial, And while we pray for more laborers, let us not neglect th(|liin order of the Church, to pray for those who are from time to time tcAreac be ordained to the ^linistry. It is vain to speak to your congrega-|rotli tions upon this subject, unless you are yourselves careful to use th(ii oiu prayers appointed for the Ember Days in your public services ^ven We are constantly hearing complaints, that this or that Clcrgymaiiothii is deficient in power, in piety, in eloquence, in diligence, or iiire f some other respect ; may not our people be taught that llivy caiiiot h have no right to complain, who have not habitually and carncstl3|itcrc prayed, that the needful gifts and graces may be bestowed, upqiiccptic those who are charged with the cure of souls? In this age, quidifi-iflecti cations are needed such as in the last generation were rarely callciirayci into requisition. Objections are to be met, and obstacles are to ba^ey t overcome, such as had not then to be encountered. ]MoreoveiJravei much more is now expected of every man, who occupies a i)r()mi-b the nent position, and claims the obedience or respect of any porlioii olie Pr his fellows. You must aim at much more than mere pcrformanc*storc of routine duties. An efficient minister, is one who is ready tAc an: take advantage of all the opportunities afforded by varying circum4avc a stances and unexpected occurrences. For example, if there is ifiswci revival among the members of any of the neighboring congregationsl) tow or an endeavour to pi'oduce one, he will not sit still, complaininalcrs. of the efforts of others, and suffering his flock to be scattered ; hAougli will meet work with counterwork of a better kind, and, if there iivctli any real awakening, any increase of seriousness and of solicitudAr the about spiritual things, pervading the community, he will avail "\\'l himself of it to the advantage of his own people. This is .'let of remarkable characteristic of the most earnest and successful of th#cvioi Clergy in England, at the present day, who are proving that tliAnteu Church is a living body, able to adapt her mode of working to thie no requirements of each generation. Hence among other experi|tuatc mcnts, — the missions held from time to time in large towns an(|ivice cities, and more especially in London, which appear to have beer»i ■1 13 productive of much good, and of which we may hope that the effects ve all othors^-ill be lasting. : the Ijord'H These missions have not yet been introduced here, but there is remember iioom for them, and if rightly conducted, they mny be very benefi- cial. To the success of sucli an effort in any given place, two t neglect thquiings seem n..re particularly esential ; l.s-^, an earnest loving me to time tc^reacher, and 2nd, fervent faithful prayer. May we not, my »ur congrega-|rcthrcn, attribute many of our failures, and our want of success ful to use th(ii our ministry, to the lack of faith? We are doubtful, wavering, blio services^ven while we pray for ourselves and for our people, and we receive It Clergymai^otlung. Is it not so that wc arc often so weak in faith that, while igonre, or iiire fully recognise the efficacy of prayer in the abstract, we do that f/ioj cai|ot look for, or expect, the desired answer to our own special uid carncstljlitcrccssions on behalf of others, any more than if we were of those stowed, upQi)|ccpties, who avowedly deny its power and the possibility of its 3 age, qniilifi-jflective operation. This is probably most ap[)licable to the public rarely callc(irayer5 ; and yet of these we ought to believe and to teach that .q]cs are to bcjicy 7»?<.s'^ prevail, that a special blessing is promised to united INIoreovei rayer. May I not remind you of the specific answer vouchsafed ipics a promi-) the united prayers of the whole Kingdom, when two years ago my portion o le Prince of Wales was raised uj) from the bed of sickness, and pcrformanc(t;storcd to health, snatched out of the very jaws of death? and of 10 is ready t(^ic answers to the prayers on the day of Intercession to which I ying circum4ive already referred? Only let us not presumptuously expect an if tlicre is lAiswer to prayers, while we neglect anything that we can ourselves ongregationeb towards the desired object ; there is no promise of blessing to complaininalcrs. AVe must be " up and doing," while wc acknowledge that scattered; h^ough " Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, it is God that d, if there iivcth the increase," and do all wuth humble reliance upon Ilim, of solicitudAr the blessing to be secured by earnest believing supplication. »e will avai| AVliilo speaking of public prayers, I may notice the Amended This is f|ct of Uniformity of 1872, allowing much more liberty than had essful of th(iji^t'\ iously been enjoyed in our services. The Clergy who are ving that thcAnlent with providing for their people two services on each Sunday, orking to th(|c not affected by this Act; but to you my Brethren, who, other cxperi|tuatcd by a deep sense of your responsil)ilities, are multiplying towns an(|i'vices, and laboring to the utmost of your ability, the provisions to 1 lave hccii u of this Act afford a welcome relief, enabling you to adapt your ser- vices to the exigencies of time and place, and to the circumstances of the people among whom you minister. Having already issued a synopsis of the Act for your use, I need only remind you that no special or additional form of service is lawful, unless it be '* approved by the Ordinary." A liot of Psalms for special occasions, prepared in accordance with the request of the Synod, is now ready and will be published. You may perhaps expect me to s[>eak of the all-important subject of education, causing so much perplexity to the Home Government, and to those responsible for the administration of public affairs in these Colonies ; but I can add nothing to what I have said in former -Charges, respecting both general education, and the teaching in our Sunday Schools. The latter more than ever demands your most serious attention, now that a merely secular system is adopted by the State schools. We probably, all of us, hold that this system is very objectionable, although we deem partial instruc- tion better than ignorance ; and if a feasible plan should be devised for granting aid to denominational schools, fairly and impartially, we ought to combine in striving for its adoption. In my last Charge, I mentioned that an Appeal was per\ding before the Judicial Committee of Privy Council, in the case of Mr. Purchas of Brighton, against the decision of the judge of the Arch- bishop's Court the Court of Arches. The appeal has since been heard, and judgment was delivered in 1871, on an exparte state- ment, Mr. Purchas being unrepresented. The use of Vestments, and the position of the Celebrant at the Lord's Table, were the cliief points to be determined, and judgment was given: "That the Cope is to be worn in ministering the Holy Communion, on high feast days in Cathedrals and Collegiate Churches, and the surplice in all other ministrations ;" also that the Prayer of Consecration is to be used at the north end of the table, so that the Minister looks south. " If it had happened, as it does in one of the Chapels Royal, that the north side had been where the west side usually is, a quesuon between the letter and the spirit of the rubrics would have arisen." This judgment occasioned much excitement at the time of its 15 rplice on is looks lapcls y i8» ould delivery, and was regarded as so indefensible that the then Attorney General, Sir J. Coleridge, applied for a re-hearing, in order that counsel might be heard for the defendant, and a large number of the Clergy of England signed a protest against any interference with a position which, as it now appears, had been in many places customary from the era of the Reformation.* The judgment has been the cause of unceasing controversy, up to the present time, being regarded, even by those who are hiast disposed to violate the law, as not binding either in law or on the conscience. As the cause was undefended, and the question has therefore not been argued, it is held that no one, except the actual defendant, Mr. Purchas, is bound by the judgment, which moreover, according to the opinion of Sir K. Phillimore, contradicted a previous decision of the same Court, that the words of the rubric standing " before the table " apply to the whole sentence. How their Lordshi[)s reconcile these two decisions I am not able to explain. The Lord Chancellor himself lately said in the House of Lords, "every one knows how extremely hard it is for any person, for any layman, perhaps for any lawyer, to be satisfied that these two decisions are reconcilable with each other." It is probable now, that tlie question will be again fully argued, before the lately constituted Court of Appeal, and it is to be hoped that all parties will submit to the judgment whatever it may be. The position cannot be essential, and even they who most strenuously maintain the propriety of the one, or of the other mode, may well submit to the law when impartially expounded. But the two portions of the judgment must stand or fall together. If the Minister is always to stand at tlie north end of the Holy Table, the Cope must be worn in Cathedrals, the celebrant being attended by an Epistolcr and Gospeller, agreeably habited, according to the requirements of the carion, and the surplice must be worn by the Clergy, in all their ministrations witli that exception, so that there will no longer be any excuse, if there ever has been, for the use of the gloomy black gown, in any of our ministrations. *Tliere arc liundroils, if not thousands, of Clergymen whose liabit it has been all tliLir lives before ritu.ilisin was tiiouglit of, certainly before it was developed, to stand in the otlicr position, i. e., looking East. — Speech of Lord Chancellor Cairns. 16 How far these decisions of the Judii.'ial Committee npply to us, I do not pretend to be able accurately to determine, but I presume that if we are boimd by them at all, we must be bound altoi^ethcr. We cannot i)ii-'k and choose, according to our own tastes, if there is a Iciral obli^^ati()n ; but on the other hand if, as I believe, we in the Colonies are not legally bound to obey them, we may take them as a guide to the meaning of the rubrics and formularies of the Church, and when they are evidently the honest unbiassed interpre- tations of able men, they must commend themselves to us, as binding our consciences. • t .. : , There has been another still more important case, which I must not pass over unnoticed, as the charge was of preaching false doctrine. I refer to the case of Mr. Bennett, who, by the use of language utterly indefensible, afforded the desired opportunity to those who wished to check the preaching of the doctrine held by him, with respect to the Holy Eucharist. In a Book called **a plea for toleration," he spoke of " the visible presence of our Lord upon the altars of our Churches," but before his trial, in a new edition, he substituted, "the real and actual presence of our Lord, under the form of bread and wine, upon the altars of our Churches," omitting the word visible. The Judge of the Arches' Court decided, that this "change of language might be regarded as a recantation of an error, which must otherwise have been condemned, and finally decreed that, " to describe the mode of presence as objective, real, actual, and spiritual, is certainly not contrary to the Law." Against this judgment, there was an appeal to the Judicial Committee, who atlirmed it, stating ti.eir opinion however, that jNIr. Bennett's words were " rash and ill-judged, and perilously near a violation of the law." The three charges, as stated by their Lordships, were, that the Eespondent had contradicted the Articles and the Prayer Book : 1, as to the presence of Christ in the Holy Communion ; 2, as to sacrifice in the Holy Communion ; 3, as to adoration of Christ in the Holy Coniniunion. Upon the first they say, " the two propo- sitions, that the faltiiful receive Christ in the Lord's Supper, and that the wicked arc in no wise partakers of Christ, when taken together, do not appear to be contradicted by the statement, that 17 hat the JV)ok : ?, as to iiist in propo- r, and taken It, that there L a rem, actual, objective presence of the body and blood oi Christ in the sacrament, after a heavenly and spiritual manner.** "The Respondent has never affirmed, that the Body of Ciirist ia present in a corporal or natural manner. On the contrary, he had denied this, and speaks of the pi-esence in which he believes as spiritual, supernatural, sacramental, mystical, ineffable." Upon the second, they say : ** It is not lawful to teach that the sacrifice or offering of Christ upon the Cross, or the redemption, propitia- tion or satisfaction wrought by it, is or can be repeated in the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, nor that in that ordinance there is^ or can be, any sacrifice or offering of Christ, which is eflicacious, in the sense in which Christ's death is efficacious, to procure the remission of the guilt or punishment of sins. It is well known,, however, that by many divines of eminence, the word Sacrifice has been appli d to the Lord's Supper in the sense, not of a true pro- pitiatory or atoning Sacrifice effectual as a satisfiiction for sin, but' of a rite which calls to remembrance, and represents before God that one true sacrifice." "To apply the word sacrifice, in the- sense, in which Bishop Bull has used it, to the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, though it may be liable to abuse and misapprehension, does not appear to be a contravention of any proposition legitimately deducible from the 31st Article." Upon the third charge they say : * ' The Church of England has forbidden all acts of adoration to the Sacrament, understanding bj that the consecrated elements. She has been careful to exclude any act of adoration, on the part of the minister, at or after the consecration of the elements, and to explain the posture of kneeling prescribed by the rubric." But they add, "some of their Lord- ships have doubted whether the word * adore,' though it seems to- point rather to acts of worship, such as are forbidden by the 28tli Article, may not be construed to refer to mental adoration, or prayers addressed to Christ present spiritually in the Sacrament, which does not necessarily imply any adoration of the consecrated elements, or of any corporal or natural presence therein." And finally, "his language has been rash, but as it appears to the majority of their Lordships that his words can be construed so as not to be plainly repugnant to the two- passages articled against' 2 H: 18 them, their Lordships will give him the benefit of the doubt that has been raised." That Mr. Bennett used very extreme language, and was charge- able with inexcusable laxity and rashness, must be admitted by every one who has looked into the case. And even the Judge of the Arches' Court, who treated his views as essentially justifiable, had to speak emphatically in condemnation of the mode of express- ing them. But upon the principles adopted in* the Gurham case, it was not possible to condemn his opinions ; and in fact it is not easy to determine, since the decision in that celebrated case, what statements can be proved to be so repugnant to the language of our formularies as to incur legal condemnation. When that judgment was delivered, one party in the Church rejoiced in its supposed victory, but far seeing thoughtful men perceived, that the door was thereby opened to doctrines of a very different character, and that one after another might be denied or misstated with impunity. But while much latitude is allowed in doctrine, the Committee are very strict as to practice; and their Lordships said, " in the performance of the services, rites and ceremonies, ordered by the Prayer Book, the directions contained in it must be strictly observ- ed, no omission and no addition can be allowed. But the Church of England has wisely left a certain latitude of opinion in matters of belief, and has not insisted on a rigorous uniformity of thought, which might reduce her communion to a narrow compass." Their Lordships' decree cannot be strictly observed, because in our services there are some occasions when we are not provided with any directions for our guidance, but its general soundness must be admitted, and I now again urge you, as I have urged in times past, to a strict observance, as far as may be possible, of the rules and orders of the Church. If we must err on one side or the other, it appears to mu, that error in excess, is ordinarily a less evil, than in defect, for in the former case all that is ordered is strictly observed, while something over and above is done. But we commonly find the negligent disposed to condemn their more careful and scrupulous brethren ; and this is not surprising, because auch strict observance is a reproach to themselves. A gi-eat advance would be made towards uniformity, if the party commonly charged 19 in the the I less m is but »ore IU60 lince Iged with omissions would redeem the pledge published by their reeog- nised organ. ♦' Lot the law be settled by a competent authority," says the Record, "and we take upon ourselves to say, that Evangelical Churchmen as a body, will be found ready to accord a loyal obedi- ence to it, for they hold the obligations of law to have a much higher claim upon them than any personal preferences of their own on secondary questions of ritual." But notwithstanding this assur- ance, the orders of the Church, which are perfectly clear, or have been already settled, are systematically violated, by many of those whose sentiments the Record professes to represent. It is however, generally admitted by thoughtful men, that in the present age of freedom and enquiry, all attempts to enforce a rigid uniformity, either of doctrine or of practice, must be futile, and, since a National Church must be comprehensive, that within certain limits much diversity should be allowed. Moreover, the very excesses which we deplore are tokens of life. Whenever there has been a great awakening, a stirring up of the vital energy, a quickening and revival of the Church, there have been, and must be, irregularities on one side or the other ; and the most abnormal workings out of life are better than the dull uniformity and quiet- ness of death. They, however, who, having pledged themselves to conform to the regulations of a certain system, wilfully or carelessly violate their pledges, are to be condemned ; and no organization can be maintained without some restriction of individual liberty. There must be an authority to interpret the laws, and obedience to the recognised authority is a Christian obligation, when it does not conflict with our higher duty. That some persons are endeavoring to restore Mediaeval corrup- tions, which our Branch of the Church has deliberately rejected, is too true ; but they are few, and the profession of the leading ritual- ists should be accepted, that they believe themselves to be acting in strict accordance with the spirit of the Prayer Book, as it was left at the last revision. One thing is certain, that the excesses are encouraged by every semblance of unfair treatment, and, that ritualism will never be checked in England, so long as the Bishops give the people reason to suppose, that they do not mete out the 90 flame mcaflurc to all, that they treat with severity the addition of some unauthorised ceremonies, while they connive at the ne<^ject of many positive orders, even at the mutilation of the services, Pid the entire omission of one of the Creeds. In my opinion, there are only two fair and equitable courses to be pursued consistent with equity. Either there should be a rigid enforcement of uniformity, and strict observance of the rules of the Church, in every detail, which is impracticable, owing to the diverse circumstances of our congregations ; or equal latitude should be allowed on both sides of the exact line. I have adopted the latter course, and although the variation in this Province has been almost entirely on one side, and some few of you have taken undue advantage of my non-inter- ference, I am thankful that, upon the whole, the effect 1ms been satisfactory, and that most of you, my Brethren, a[ipear to be heai'tily, honestly, and conscientiously, endeavoring to fulfil your vows, and to conform, as strictly as you can, to the constitutions and orders of that Branch of the Church of which you are ministers. While speaking of these manifestations of self-will, I must not pass over the sad case of Bishop Cummins, who, having lately seceded, is endeavoring to add another new sect to the many by which the unity of the Church is broken. On the tenth of Novem- ber last, he addressed to the Senior Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, a letter of resignation, saying, "I therefore leave the Communion, in which I have labored in the sacred min- istry for over twenty-eight years, and transfer my work and office to another sphere of labor," and three days later, he issued notices for a meeting to be held in New York on December 3rd, " for the purpose of organising a Reformed Protestant Episcopal Church." Here then he admits, that he is about to set up a new Church, in the place of that which has existed from the beginning ; and you will observe that, in his letter to the Senior Bishop, he spoke of transferring his office as well as his work. The functions of his office he has pretended to exercise, not only in the ordination of Priests and Deacons, but even in the consecration of a Bishop, Mr. Cheney of Chicago. I believe the preliminary ste^ have been taken for his deposition; but time is allowed by the Canons for his repentance, and withdrawal of his abandonment of the Church. 21 38 le »» • in lu lis P lis With respect to persons admitted by him to Holy Orders, since his resignation of his office and work in the Branch of the Church in which ho received authority to ordain, I have no hesitation in saying that they arc not to be acknowledged as ordained ministers at all. That a Bishop, having no Diocese, may go about the world ordain- ing whom he pleases, and that such persons are to be recognised by the Church, although they may be destitute of any qualification, is contrary to common sense. It has been held, from the first, that some irregularities cause ordinations to be null and void. Thus, in the Council of Nice, the ordination of Priests without due enquiry is declared null and void, and also that by a Bishop for a Diocese w*-.v''rein he has no jurisdiction. And if such irregularities can ever invalidate the act of ordination, the acts of this man must be held to be invalid, most especially in the pretended consecration of Mr. Cheney, who was himself under sentence at the time, and incapable of receiving power to perform any ecclesiastical function.* Any Clergyman performing the functions of an office while under sus- pension, is guilty of "irregularity," which, in its ecclesiastical signification, is equivalent to felony, and involves ipso facto depo- sition and excommunication. The case of Bishop Cummins is very sad, for there is reason to fear, that he never heartily embraced the doctrines of the Church of which he was for about seven years a Bishop, although he had taken an oath, of *' conforraiiy and obedience to her doctrine, discipline and worship." It is certain that these were the same, when he quitted her, as when he took that oath, and he does not allege any change in his own views, as a reason for abandoning her communion. lie speaks of the prevalence of false doctrine, in the Diocese in which he was an assistant Bishop, but having the 8ole charge actually, although not nominally, he was himself pledged to banish and drive away all erroneous and strange doctrine. He has pretended, that he desired t sturn to what he calls Bishop White's Prayer Book, which in fact was not Bishop White's, and was never adopted by his branch of the Church, having only been ♦ Sentence of degradation from the Ministry was solemnly pronounced npon Mr. Ciieney, by the Bishop of Illinois, in accordance with the unanimous judg- ment of the Church Court, in June 1871. 22 put forth by a Committee in 1785, and superseded, after four years in 1789, by the Prayer Book as it now i», which was used by Bishop White for nearly forty years until his death. Moreover the Prayer Book to which Bishop Cummins refers contains the doc- trines which he repudiates, upon the Sacraments, the Orders of the Ministry, and Confession and Absolution of the sick. He is very strong upon the necessity for a revision of the Prayer Book, affirm- ing that " the only true remedy," for what he condemns as erron- eous, " is the judicious, yet thorough revision of the Prayer Book." But in a sermon preached in 1861, and repeated in 1867, he takes as his theme, ♦' the fitness of the Book of Common Prayer, to be the bond of unity, the manual of worship, for all the confessions which divide Protestant Christendom, the golden chain to restore the ancient unity of the Kingdom of the Redeemer." The special fitness of the Prayer Book to fulfil this office, arises, he says, from the fact, that " it embodies, as no other uninspired volume does, tlie ancient and primitive Catholic faith of Christ's Church. This goodly robe of the bride of Christ is wrought out of the purest gold of divine truth ; its warp and its woof are alike Holy Scripture." Again, " are not these facts evidence that the system of the Prayer Book is the system of the Bible? This is the boast, this is the honor of our Church. Let her willingly submit to the ignorant reproach, that men of evory creed can find in her something to favor their views, while she shares this reproach with the Word of God." Once more, *♦ where is the longing of the soul, which it does not satisfy, where the craving it does not appease ; where the deepest experience of the love of God which finds not here an appropriate utterance? Where the contrition which cannot unburden itself in its penitential pleadings? What soul-sorrow finds not fitting expression ? What soul rapture may not find wings for its Heaven- ward flight, in these anthems worthy to be chanted by Cherubim and Seraphim?" " Come and see is our reply to him who would depreciate the liturgy, and tell us that its tendency is to deaden spirituality, and to make formal lifeless Christians. Come and see the saints of lofly stature, the men and women of lofty holiness, the mighty wrestlers with God, the meek and lowly followers of the Lamb, whose names and works are now the heritage of all Christen- m 23 » in" dom, and whose lives are most truly the fruit of Prayer Book nurture." I must apologise for quoting so much from such a man, but hia sentiments are so just, and his language so good, that we cannot find a better or truer eulogiun of our Prayer Book. Alas ! how- fallen is he now ! how strangely perverted his judgment 1 To say the least, what is to be thought of his fitness to be a guide, and the founder o" n sect, who, after twenty-two years acquaintance with the Prayer Book, could describe it in such glowing terras, and within six ycara condems it, affirming that a thorough revision is the only remedy for the numerous errors which, in his opinion, are nourished by it in the Church in which he had ministered for eight and twenty years, which is to-day precisely what it was when, leaving the Episcopal Methodists so called, he entered her ranks and received a commission to promulgate her doctrines. He now takes advantage of that commiusion, and of the still higher office to which he had been called, to injure her, as far as he can, by a new schism of which he is himself to be the leader, in which, in short, judging from his conduct on th^ day of the organization of the sect, he exi)ects to be the lord and master. But the question immediately occurs to us, if there '.^ no special advantage in Episcopal ordination, and all ministers are to be equally esteemed, whether deriving their autliority from Christ or from the congregation, v.iiat can he as a Bishop do that theij can not? what rights, power or authority has he, by virtue of this office ? and why did he attempt to consecrate another Bishop ? And again, does he really mean, that he would regard as true ministers, with whom he ought to hold communion, all who claim to be such, the Unitarian and the llniversalistfor example, or would he undertake to reject some as unsound, thus arrogating virtual infallibility to himself? Is it to be endured, as it must be if this union principle be admitted, that a minister denying the validity of infant baptism shall have a right to occupy our pulpits, and to tell us that we are unbaptised outside of the covenant of grace ? Unhappily Dr. Cummi-.i is not the first Bishop, who has become a schismatic or a heretic, and has attempted to found a new sect ; and it will be with him as it has been with others, that his work not being of God will come to naught, but in the meanwhile he 24 1' * may be the occasion of leading astray sume who, having not been well grounded in the faith, are liable to be blown about with every wind of doctrine. We hear ihat, in this Dominion of Canada, two congregations have been organized under his superintendence. Let us hope that they may speedily recognise their error and return to the old paths. An attempt has been made to liken this to the old Catholic movement, but there is this essential difference. The old Catholics are what their name indicates, they walk in the old paths. The Branch of the Church, of which they were members, has formally adopted new Articles of Faith, which they have declined to accept ; but there is no such plea for Bishop Cummins. The Church from which he has seceded maintains, that nothing shall be required to be believed as an Article of the Faith, but that which may be proved by the Holy Scriptures. Bishop Reinkens has been constrained, by the peculiar circumstances of a large body of Christians, deserted by their Pastors, and left, through no fault or act of their own, as sheep without a shepherd, to accept the charge over them. Only to a superficial observer, can the two cases appear to have any thing in common. Some persons have in leed ventured to suggest, that this new so-called Reformed Episcopal Church is in the same position as the Church of England at the Reformation. But it can scarcely be necessary to demonstrate the fallacy of such a comparison. It is sufficient to notice that the rejection of the Supremacy of the Pope was the act of the whole Church of England, in her Convocation in 1531, and that the work of reformation was gradually and cautiously conducted in and by the Church itself. There was no secession, and no schism, until, on the publication of the Pope's Bull in 1570, they who recognised his authority were compelled to separate them- selves, and to inaugurate in England the Roman Schism. There has been of late so much discussion of the subject of confession, that I must not pass it over unnoticed. Auricular confession, or private confession to the ear of the Priest, is as you know obligatory in the Church of Rome, and declared to be neces- sary for salvation ; but this obligation only dates from the Lateran Council in the thirteenth Century. According to the teaching of 25 )f ir our own branch, it is generally admitted that such confession is not enjoined, and the question is, whether it is encouraged or even allowable. The maintainers of the affirmative have at least this prima facie support, that it is twice recommended, under particular circumstances, in the Prayer Book, and that it is not enumerated among the Romish abuses condemned in the Articles, and that it is formally sanctioned by the 113th Canon. Tliat there is a prevalent strong prejudice against the practice cl auricular confession we all know, but popular prejudices are not always reasonable, and are very often traceable to a confusion between the use and abuse of their subject matter. That confession is » condition of forgiveness, requires no proof, for we all believe that " if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." Here confession to God [alone is mentioned, but many sins are also against our neighbors, and some occasion public scandal. In these cases, we also learn from Scripture, what accords with our own judgment, that there should be confession also to the person injured, or to the whole Church, and not only so, but where possible restitution or satisfaction, as set forth in the exhortation to the Holy Communion. In primitive days such confession was public, and the restora- tion of this discipline, the Church in the Commination Service, affirms to be desirable. But it was afterwards deemed expedient, to substitute private confession, and penance, until at length penance was elevated to the rank of a sacrament, and an elaborate system was adopted, requiring an accurate investigation of the details of every sin, in order to determine the penance to be enjoin- ed as a satisfaction. Hence arise the objections most commonly urged against confession, as part of the sacrament of penance, and therefore necessitating these minute enquiries and disclosures. But setting aside the notion of satisfaction, to be made accor'Mng to the Roman system, there is no occasion for such exact sc i.; . The confessor, being made acquainted with the nature of th«. ii, and being satisfied of the penitence of the sinner, may grant absolu- tion, without any such minute investigation ; and if this distinction were admitted, and understood to be practically recognised, the most effective objections now urged against the practice would be obviated. _^ 26 That auricular confession, as at present understood, was not practised iu the Primitive Church may be certainly affirmed, the confessions in those days having been made to the con-y to persuade, all to come witli due preparation. It may be said, that people, who receive the Scriptures, know their duty in this respect, and do not require to have it more fre- quently set before them. This plea i^ good for anything, must be good to a much greater extent, and may be used to show that all your ministrations are superfluous. I do not find that they, who are negligent in enforcing the benefits of the Holy Sacraments ordained by Christ, are at all scrupulous about repeating over and over again the same elementary truths, with which their hearers have been familiar Irom their childhood. In fact, we know that, if we would teach any truths 3frectually, line must be upon line, and precept upon precept, and it must be attributed partly to the neglect of tlie ministers of God's Holy Word and Sacraments, that so large a pro- portion of most of our congregations, although regular attendants at public worship, and constant hearers and readers of the Word, are yet self-excommunicated, and at the same time unconscious of 36 their danger. It 18 argued, that this duty is not very frequently inculcated in the Epistles of the inspired Apostles, the unerring guides and teachers of the Church of Christ. But the answer is plain, simple, and conclusive. The taking part in the breaking of bread was an essential condition of fellowship with the Apostles. The persons addressed were members of the Church, "called to be saints," instructed in the way of salvation, familiar with its practices. Any such teaching as we have now to repeat and enforce, would then have suggested a doubt, as to that which was unquestioned, would have assumed the possibility of a neglect, which was then without example. AVhen the Disciples came together in those ■ days, it was not so much to hear sermons as to break bread, so :that It could be said of the whole body, " We being many are one bread, and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread," that bread of which our Church affirms, in accordance with the inspired Word, that to "such .as rightly, worthily and with faith receive the same^ it is a partaking of the body of Christ." Of the teaching of our Church, concerning the Holy Sacraments, I refrain from speaking more particulai-ly, as I explained my views very fully in my last Charge, (in 1870) to which 1 refer you for this, as well as for other important subjects, necessarily passed over on the present occasion. It jnust unhappily be admitted that, however faithfully you may preach, and enjoin this duty, and warn your congregations of the danger of neglect, many will still be unconvinced, or if convinced will still follow their own way, and walk according to their own devices. Many will be hearers only, and not doers of the Word, however faithful aud earnest the preacher may be ; and some may try to satisfy their consciences, by finding fault with you, when you press them too hard, and charging you with teaching false doctrine, if you would have them adopt a higher standard, than may be needful for the maintenance of respectability. They cannot appreciate the pearls which you cast before them, and will therefore turn again and rend you. But notwithstanding all this, and making allowance for inevitable failures, you may labor in the confidence that all will not be in vain, that some of the seed sown will take root) and bear fruit. ^ own ord, may vhen alse may not fore dng jnce take 37 When there are large congregations, and few communicants, it may commonly be inferred that tiie Pastor has been too much inclined to set up himself, instead of the chief shepherd, before the flock, that he has been more anxious, to have them come and hear him preach, and to be in their estimation as "a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument," than to have them seeking for the food provided by their Lord. And tl'C proportion of communicants in any congregation may ordinarily be taken, as a fair criterion of the diligence and faithful- ness of t'lc minister. The hearers arc many in these days, and a ready speaker will always attract an audience, altliough his words may convey little sound instruction, and may be rather adapted to please the ear, than to affect the heart. Doubtless it is very plea- sant and cheering to have a full Church, and there is a powerful temptation to adapt our preaching to the tastes of the people, who are apt to say virtually, "speak unto us smooth things prophesy deceits." There are few members of any congregation who are wise enough, and large minded enough, to wish to have the truth set before them, in all its parts, and from all points of view. Most men are more or less one-sided, and the majority of people cannot bear to have their prejudices assailed, whereas the honest seekers after truth will always be glad of the opportunity of hearing both sides of every question, wishing to be convinced, if their own views are not correct, and knowing that, if they already hold the truth, the result of argument and investigation must be to confirm it. The most popular system will be that which involves least trouble ; short and easy methods are popular, in religion as well as in other subjects, and they who will be well pleased, if you invite them to the House of God to hear a sermon on the Lord's day, will be indignant, if you speak of the duty of coming on other days to worship Him. The importance of faith is readily admitted, because, so long as it is merely a sentiment, it is intangible, and may be supposed to exist without involving much difficulty or self-denial ; but faith in action, the external manifestation of that which, unless manifested, may be assumed to have no existence, implies devotion and self-sacrifice ; and no teaching can be popular which insists upon these features. 38 Let U8 ever bear in mind, my Brethren, that, while we are to be servants of all men for Christ's sake, in all things wherein we may do them good, we are to be teachers and guides, we are ambassadors for Christ, we must proclaim his message in its integrity, we are responsible for the publication of the truth, as our people are for the reception of it. And you must not shrink from claiming this authority, so that all who arc entrusted to your care may understand their obligation to give heed to the Word spoken by you. We do not by any means claim for ourselves infallibility, but we ought to speak as clothed with a divine commission, so that they may feci, that we have o. prima facie claim to be heard, and that, if after a full and honest examination of our teaching in any particulars, they are unable to reconcile it with the Holy Scriptures, they may feel that the obligation to reject it is no trifling matter, but that in so acting they are incurring a grave responsibility. Owing to defective training and the self-will, and self-sufficiency, now preva- lent, very many people assume to themselves the office of critics and judges, who, ftir from being qualified to judge or to teach, " have need that one teach them again which be the first principles of the oracles of God," their ignorance being proportionate to their pre- sumption. I fear that the misconceptions of the teaching of the Church, not to say the utter ignorance of it, so commonly to be deplored in her sons and daughters, is to be attributed in great measure to the want of early training, and the defective teaching in the Sunday Schools. It is your bounden duty, to endeavour to make them intelligent Churchmen and Church women, and not to afford occasion for the reproach, too frequently well merited, that our congregations know less than any others of the grounds of their faith. So long as this is true, you must not be surprised, that you do not gain adherents from other Christian bodies, or that you lose some of the most earnest members of your own con- gregations, when they are assailed with arguments, which they cannot answer, on behalf of other systems, or are attracted by some specious indications of a more active spiritual life, then they could discern among ourselves. I trust that negligence in imparting such knowledge may never be attributable to ignorance or indifference on your own part. 39 in. " The priests' lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth." If you are not fully persuaded in your own minds, you will teach with stammering lips, and give utterance to uncertain sounds, and will not prevail. Great is the power of truth ; but you will not persuade others, unless you are yourself convinced that you are armed with it, that the way in which you would guide your hearers is the true and the right way, wherein they will find aids, and enjoy privileges, not to be found elsewhere. And withal look to your motives, for defect there will be fatal. The salvation of souls is the great work, in which you are to be laborers together with God, and with this is closely connected the edification of those who are in a state of salvation. In either part your success will depend much upon your own experience. " The love of Christ constraincth us ;" this should be tlic description of every ambassador of Christ, and it will 7iot constrain you, unless the power thereof is felt by yourself. No theories, no book learning, will suffice, you must speak of that you do know, and testify of that you have seen, if you would be successful in turning many to righteousness. Let your first object be to awaken the sleeper, to convert the sinner from the error of his ways, to persuade him to give himself to Christ, to rely upon the one sacrifice, once for all ofl:ered upon the cross, as the propitiation for his sins, and to manifest his faith and love by self devotion and self-sacrifice. And then having laid the foundation, building on tlic lock of ages, you must take heed to the materials with which you build, you will be anxious and careful, to the utmost of your power, to exclude all but the pure gold. You will rightly deem it of great importance, that your converts, and all entrusted to your care, over whom your influence extends, be led to understand, and rightly to use, the means appointed by the Lord himself. In proportion to your love to Ilim, and your simple dependence upon Ilini, will be your anxiety to adhere closely to His institutions, and your estimate of the importance of every part of the system organized by Ilini, under the conviction that " the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." In whatever you do, and whatever you teach, let the Lord Jesus Christ be the central object, so clearly set forth, so plainly held up to view, that every 40 line converging to the one point, may carry the eye to Him, " God manifest in the flesh," To know Ilim, to live in Him, to win Him, to be found in Him, these are the things to be desired. Insist upon this, as the only source of true holiness, the condition of our sanctification— that there must be a real union with Christ, that there is danger in every thing that may in any respect interfere with that union. And withal, let us take heed to ourselves, let us be watchful against the dangers to which we are exposed, if we preach what we do not feel, if our piety be professional instead of personal, lest that terrible fate be ours, of which the Apostle speaks, ♦' lest that by any means wlien I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." APPENDIX. In accordaiico with the request of the Synod, I anthorize tlie use of any one or more of the followini^ Psahns : Fur Advent —18, 46. 50, 96, 97, 9^, 100. For EriPiiANY.— 2, 19. 45, 72, 87, 96, 97. For Lknt.— 6, 25. 32, 38, 39, 51, 55, 86, 102, 130, 141, 143. For Falsi Sunday.— 40, 56. 79, 118, 126, 120, 142. For All Saints.— 1, 16, 24, 30, 84, 91, 107, 147, 149. For any Festival —8, 29,34, 48, 66, 73,75,91,96, 111, 115, 138. For Harvest Thanksgiving.- 65, 103, 107, 113, 141, 145, 148, 150. For Synods and Meetings of the Clergy. — 66, 68, 84, 122, 133, 134. Note to Page 20. As au example of a case, in which there can be no doubt as to your oblij^ation, both legal and moral, I ajxain call your attention to tlie rubric before the Prayer for the Church Militant. I have required you to obey the directions of that rubric, of which the plain common sense interpre- tation has been distinctly enforced by the Committee of Privy Council, therefore you, having tsiken the oath of Canonical obedience, are without exception bound to conformity. How the obligation can be evaded, even according to the most lax explanation of your oath, I am unable to imagine ; but I have to grieve over the fact, that some of you are still habitually violating your oath in this respect, altiiough it is now sixteen years since I first authoritatively enjoined the observance of that parti- cular rubric. The judgment of the Lords of the Council is as follows : " The rubric directs that, at a certain point in the course of the Communion service, (for this is no doubt the true meaning of the rubric,) the Minis- ter shall place the bread and wine on the Comnuinion Table, but where they are to be placed previously is no where stated. In ])racticc, they are usually placed on the Communion Table before the commencement of tlie service, but this ccrtaiiibj is not according to the order jircscrihciL Nothing seems to be less objectionable than a small side table, from wliich t'^oy may be conveniently reached by the officiating minister, and at the proper time transferred to the Communion Table."