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 V,\ MIL 
 
 MJSllOP (IF TOIJO.XTO. 
 
 
 
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C H A E G E 
 
 DELIVERED TO THE 
 
 CLERGY OF THE DIOCESE OF TORO.NTO, 
 
 AT THE VISITATION. 
 
 ON" 
 
 WEDNESDAY, APRIL SO, 1856. 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN, LORD BISHOP OF TORONTO 
 
 TORONTO: 
 HENRY ROWSELL, KL\G STREET. 
 
 1856. 
 
! i 
 
 i 
 
 HERBT BOWSBLL, PRINTER, KING STREET, TORONTO. 
 
 I 
 
 ■ \ 
 
A CHARGE. &c. 
 
 My Reverend Brethren, 
 
 It is now verging on tliree years since wo last met in 
 Visitation ; during whicli time our Lord and Master has 
 continued us who arc present in this, our state of trial — years 
 of which we shall have to give an account to Ilim, and as to 
 which even now it becomes us to examine our hearts and 
 consciences, with the kno>,..dgcthat God constantly sees us, 
 and reads our most secret thoughts. 
 
 Short as this space of time appears, we have lost during its 
 progress two of our brethren, who, I trust, have made a 
 happy exchange from this world of sin and sorrow to a 
 blessed immortality. 
 
 The Rpv. William Greig, who was a Presbyter of the 
 Episcopal Church of Scotland, and of good standing, came 
 to this country about ten years ago. From the first he 
 answered, in every respect, the strong recommendations of 
 his Bishop, brethren and lay friends, which he brought with 
 him. He constantly discharged his sacred duties in the most 
 faithful and edifying manner, and with an earnestness and 
 humility which proved that his heart was in his work. He 
 was good-tempered, quiet, and inoffensive, and at the same 
 time cheerful and not gloomy ; and, in truth, possessed an 
 innocent and playful humour, when not in acute pain from 
 disease, which delighted and won the friendship of all with 
 whom he associated. It pleased God to try him with much 
 
 ' <i 
 
severe and long suflfering, ariKin;^ from a disorder wlilcli was, 
 unliappily, found beyond the reach of any hinnan remedy, 
 and under which he Hank at hist. 
 
 Mr. (in'iir persevered in the rcguhir dischar^^o ofhin(hities 
 lony; after his body van t<>o frail to answer the demands of 
 his zealou-'- and ar<lent mind. And when his Church (St. 
 Paul's) was accidentally burnt, and it was thought that he 
 would give way under tlie calamity, he seemed to revive and 
 rise above it. Jle soothed his allliction witli the hope of 
 replacing his Churcli with a better and a worthier. Having 
 this favourable and nobh? object in vu'W, iie overlooked his 
 extreme feebleness, an<l for a time travelh'd round the 
 Diocese for subscriptions, and gathered refreshment and 
 consolation from his encouraging success. At length the 
 weakness of the body could no longer contend with his ardent 
 spirit — the hour of his de])Mrturo arrived, and he fell asleep 
 in the Lord. 
 
 We have also to bewail the loss of the Rev. John Reynolds 
 Took, one of the most hopeful of my younger Clergy, at a 
 moment when he was giving promise of a long course of 
 useful labour in the Lord's vineyard. But God was pleased 
 to order it otlierwise, and to take him to himself in ihc prime 
 of life, just as he was commencing the eighth year of his 
 Ministry. The Kev. Mr. Took was noted for sincerity and 
 warm-heartedness : he was at the b.Lme time active and char- 
 itable ; faithful in the discharge of his clerical duties, and 
 mucli esteemed by his people. I had formed so favourable 
 an opinion of liis ability and increasing usefulness, that T 
 had sent him the choice of two Missions, (not knowing that 
 he was sick) — each more favourable than Marysburgh ; but 
 it was too late ; he had been called hence, and it is hoped to 
 a far more blessed state of existence. 
 
 He leaves a beloved wife and several children to bewail 
 his early departure, as well as many kind Christian friends, 
 who will long hold him in affectionate remembrance. 
 
5 
 
 The position of the Church in tliis Diocese is indeed sin- 
 gular, and porlmps without a parallel in the history of Chris- 
 tian Colonies. 
 
 The Legislature has declared hy solemn enactment what it 
 calls the separation of Chureli and State. This divorcement 
 was coupled with the confiscation of her property, — saving'; tlie 
 life interests of the present Incumhents, or the computed 
 value thereof. It is not perhaps easy to define how much 
 this strange enactment may or may not iniply. If it was tlie 
 intention of the Legislature to place tlie Church entirely free, 
 and on a perfect e<iuality with all other denominations of 
 professing Christians, they have failed, — because tlie l)ranch 
 of the United Cluucli of England and Ireland in Canada has 
 connections with the Mother Church and the Constitution of 
 the Empire which the Colonial authorities arc incompetent to 
 dissolve. And although the Imperial Government has so far 
 sanctioned the proceedings of the Colonial Legislature, as to 
 approve of the 10 Vic, cap. 21, the difficulties are not, and 
 cannot he removed without further legislation, either l)y the 
 Imperial Parliament or by that of the Colony, with the full 
 consent of her Majesty's Government. Till the necessary 
 steps for efiecting this be taken, the Church remains in an 
 anomalous condition, or rather in one of sufl'ering. Nor can 
 she return to that intimate and cordial intercourse with the 
 Mother Church, which she has so long enjoyed, and desires 
 ever to maintain. But, though we have been made indepen- 
 dent as it were by violence, the act affects nothing more than 
 our connection with the Colonial Government, and therefore 
 we shall continue as faithfully as ever to acknowledge the 
 Royal prerogative, so far as it can be applied to the Church 
 in the Colonies ; and we doubt not that when those antiquated 
 laws by which we are fettered are no longer allowed to operate, 
 the supremacy of the Crown will again be so exercised as to 
 be gratefully felt, — and instead of impeding our healthy pro- 
 gress, will promote it in a wise and benevolent spirit. 
 
 The great work of religion is to govern the passions and 
 
6 
 
 the will. It is from its very nature a restraint on . hor- 
 
 ity, unless purely un<l faitlifully exercised, )>ecauso it conies 
 in the name of a Divine Law. To subdue, mortify and direct 
 human nature is its great oly'ect. It is, tlierefore, always 
 opposed to what is incorrectly called liberty, unless under its 
 own guidance, and to nrrange and accomplish this is the mis- 
 sion and hope of the Christian Church. This of necessity 
 brings religion in contact with politics, for they are insei)ara- 
 ble in the nature of man. Hence he that is loose in the one;, 
 will be loose in the other; and therefore those who reject re- 
 ligion and a salutary obedience to her commands, can never 
 be good sul)jeets, good citizens, nor good members of society. 
 Our Cliureh embodies in her ministrations the purest form of 
 Christian doctrine ; and, not content with demanding of her 
 faithful members that they be good subjects, she aims at 
 something iur beyond this, even to make them fellow members 
 with the saints and of tlie Household of God. If therefore 
 we find man}', a])parcntly good men, proceeding to an ex- 
 treme in politics, and fashioning their religion according to 
 their fancy, and in all this think that they are doing God 
 service, and seeking in this way to benefit their souls and 
 bodies, — it arises from their neglect or ignorance of their 
 real duty to God and of His holy law and ordinances, and of 
 what is revealed in the Book of Life. 
 
 The prevailing spirit of the times is the casting off all 
 authority, and substituting in its place, the widest diversity 
 of opinions on all subjects, religious and social. 
 
 Now, surely this cannot be of God. It is true, Ho permits 
 such wickedness to enter into men's hearts, that he may here- 
 after correct and purge them, and especially those of them 
 who have been placed as partakers and dispensers of divine 
 blessings which they have intercepted instead of conveying to 
 those whom God had intended them, but they arc not held 
 guiltless. 
 
 It may be that we ourselves, my brethren, have been to 
 blame — that while we ought to have stcpt forward boldly in 
 
the Htron;^tli of the Lord, iiii * manrully (lefoiKlod the p;ift.s 
 wliicli he had bestowed U|)on us, we sat with our hand; folded 
 in dis^^raceful repose, and looked at the threats of our enemies 
 in fear, or with listless and aimless apatliy. lUit although 
 wo may have, from want of zeal and energy, encouraged at- 
 tacks on our Church, tlie motives of the assailants have l)cen 
 evil, and belong to anti-Christ instead of the (lospel. But 
 let us not despond. The men who destroy religious institu- 
 tions will themselves be deceived to their ruin. Some, no 
 doubt, begin honestly, and are deluded into the belief that 
 they arc able to purify the society around them ; but through 
 want of patience, and prayer and a submissive spirit, they fall 
 into constant murmuring and complaining ; and being at length 
 thoroughly corrupted, they l)ecome haters of the good which 
 they had at first acknowledged, and at length sink into re- 
 probates, despising God ;ind J lis Christ, and so perish for ever. 
 
 In Jio meantime, it becomes our duty strenuously to up- 
 hold and strengthen whatever there is yet left of tlod's 
 spiritual an<l temporal heritage in the colony — nor to bo 
 deceived because those who, under the pretence of reform, 
 put forth their sacrilegious hands to pull down the Ark of (jlod, 
 arc for a time prosperous and successful, that it Avill always 
 be so. 
 
 Even should we be unable to stay the torrent of destruction, 
 let us at least discountenance its promoter:^, and not come 
 into their secrets. It is our privilege, as it ought to be our 
 firm resolve, to remain true to the Church of our Fathers in 
 her temporal, as well as her spiritual concerns, even when 
 there is no possibility, humanly speaking, that we can pre- 
 vail. We can wait for deliverance, as the Jc^\.- I'd, in God's 
 good time. There is yet true light in the country, and it is 
 our duty to cherish it into active life. That many of our 
 public men are careless of the true interests of Christianity, 
 and inflict upon us one injury after another, the few past 
 years more than testify. When we address them for justice, 
 they postpone from time to time to grant claims which they 
 
8 
 
 I'!! 
 
 are ashamed directly to refuse, till the matter loses interest 
 or becomes impracticable, or falls into the hands of men still 
 more indifferent. Even the common measure of civility is 
 sometimes wanting ; and we are repelled and accused of mix- 
 ing up public affairs with religious, as if we and our affairs 
 had nothing to do with religion. Are we not citizens and 
 subjects, and amenable to the laws? Is the discharge of 
 our various duties to society of no value ; and are we to sit 
 still and say nothing, while our dearest rights are invaded ? 
 Tliat the word Politics may be used in a bad sense we readily 
 admit, but religion has nothing to do with anything bad ; and 
 the politics which religion employs are for the promotion of 
 human happiness in the most extensive range. 
 
 In all things there is a right and wrong, and it is not a 
 matter of indifference which side a, man takes, for all of us 
 will be judged hereafter for the side we take. Men doubtless 
 act in general from mixed motives, and therefore they arc 
 not all at once in fearful peril ; but the avowed doctrine of 
 the day is, that religion has nothing to do with public affairs — 
 a doctrine which can never be true while God governs the 
 world and rules over all things, human and divine. And 
 although we may submit to injustice for Christ's sake, yet we 
 are not called upon to be entirely passive under repeated 
 inju-y. The gospel indeed restrains rash and rigorous 
 resentment ; yet, where the honor of the divine law is con- 
 cerned, it fully warrants the salutary restraint of offences 
 and injm'ies, and prevents their repetition by various degrees 
 of punishment. St. Paul wrote against his enemies, and 
 pleaded against his accusers. Our Lord vindicated his doc- 
 trine and conduct against the rancorous calumnies and ma- 
 lignant violence of the Scribes and Pharisees. The breach 
 of unity and Godly love is with those who attack our Church 
 and her doctrines, and not with those who are compelled to 
 defend them. 
 
 It is not, however, from the operation of antiquated legis- 
 lation that we have much to fear, because it will soon be 
 

 
 swept away. But it is from other more extensive and vital 
 causes that our sacred interests are at peril. There is at 
 present an unexampled activity and life in what is called the 
 religious world, which seems, I lament to say, rushing to- 
 wards evil, rather than to good, and which it becomes all wise 
 and truthful men to exert themselves to regulate and diroct in- 
 to the true path. For although we are but a small brau'ih of 
 the Catholic Church, yet as a portion of the Church of Eng- 
 land, the bulwark of Protestantism, it will be expected of us not 
 to sit idle and in apathy, merely to contemplate at a distance 
 this spirit of life and activity. We must meet it with bold- 
 ness, and endeavour with all our might to bring it under the 
 guidance of that wisdom which is from above, and with zeal 
 and confidence in God's assistance, direct and mould h to the 
 advancement of the gospel. This religious movement, as it 
 respects this Province, is of a peculiar character, and has 
 operated in a way very different from what it does in most 
 other places. The population of Canada may be said to be 
 nearly equally divided between Protestants and Roman 
 Catholics. By the last census the difference in favor of 
 the former being something less than fifty thousand, but 
 rapidly increasing. 
 
 Now, it might have been expected, that in the presence of 
 so formidable a front as the Koman Catholics present, our 
 fellow Protestants would have rallied around the Church for 
 the maintenance of the principles of the Reformation. But 
 since the union of the Provinces dissenters as well aa 
 Roman Catholics, have been united as our enemies ; and how- 
 ever much they differ from each other, they are at all times 
 ready to forget such differences for ♦he purpose of doing us 
 an injury. 
 
 In England the majority of the dissenters have in times of 
 peril acted very differently from what they do here, and have 
 not het?itated to acknowledge that they felt the Church of 
 England to be the most prominent and illustrious of all the 
 Protestant Churches, and they nave readily admitted that her 
 
 B 
 
10 
 
 
 martyrs' liturgy, he* articles, and the profound learning and 
 Avritings of her ministers, have given witness to the truth, 
 such as no other Protestant Church can produce. 
 
 Her founders s».ught not to innovate, but to reform. They 
 were too pious and wise to be carried away by that improvi- 
 dent recklessness which rejects the good, because accompa- 
 nied with some transient or accidental evil ; nor did they 
 cast away the truth of the primitive C^urch, bui separated 
 from it the dross of later times. And thus they held fast the 
 foundation laid by the Apostles and Prophets, and to this we 
 continue faithfully to adhere. The pure gospel has now been 
 the teacjjlng of our Church for three centuries. The Scrip- 
 tures are free and open to all, — her ministrations are clear 
 and easy to comprehend — she has no novclites or recent 
 institutions to justify or explain — her truth and order, which 
 she exhibits in all her services in every part of the world, 
 are as old as the days of the apostles. 
 
 The population of this country presents two aspects — 
 political and religious. With the latter wc shall deal by 
 and bye ; but at present we confine ourselves to the former. 
 And here, we remark, that the crusade against the property 
 of the Church of England has from the first been purely 
 selfish and political, and has been pursued in a spirit of the 
 utmost virulence. In fact violence and turbulence were the 
 only weapons^ for there could be no license to commit sacri- 
 lege either from law or equity. The great majority of those 
 who (^esired to destroy the property of the Church had come 
 into the country long after it had been set apart for religious 
 purposes by the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain, by 
 virtue of their indisputable right, and c^ Id urge no claim 
 whatever to any share, by gift or distribution. It was natural 
 for the Crown and Parliament, while they respected and 
 guaranteed the far more ample possessions of the Roman 
 Catholic clergy, to grant a like provision also for the suste- 
 nance of a Protestant clergy, so that both properties might 
 stand upon the same title. And being thus granted and 
 
 ini 
 
 i 
 
n 
 
 disposed of, they could not bo resumed, even by the donors, 
 without manifest injusti^^e ; much less applied to secular pur- 
 poses. Under these circumstances it mi^rht have h.en 
 expected that the Roman Catholics would, from principle, 
 have abstained from any interference ; but the course they 
 have pursued has been quite the contrary. They have pro- 
 ceeded hand in hand with our enemies in every measure that 
 has been taken against us, and by thus acting, have laid the 
 foundation at some future time for a larger series of bitter 
 dissensions than has yet been seen in Canada. It was their 
 duty and interest to aid in preserving to the Church of Eng- 
 land her vested rights. No lloman Catholic can be so obtuse 
 as not to read in the fearful denunciation — '• Secularization 
 of the Clergy Reserves" — temporary forbearance to the 
 Roman Catholic Chm*ch and future proscription. 
 
 The crusade against the temporalities of our Church still 
 continues, with increased virulence. Lord Seaton, towards 
 the close of 1835, established 57 Rectories for the benefit of 
 the Church, but only 44 were completed before his departure. 
 Each Rectory was endowed with Crown Lands to the 
 extent of i.bout 400 acres. These lands consisted chiefly of 
 lots which had been selected for the piirpose at a very early 
 period, or at the original surveying of the township in which 
 they were situated. The lands so disposed of amount to 
 17368 acres, which, at the ^time they were devoted to this 
 pious object, might have been purchased at about one shilling 
 per acre, or at less than one thousand pounds currency. 
 Moreover, the lands having been long in possession of the 
 Church, are, in many of the Rectories, much improved by the 
 Incumbents and Congregations, and on some of them valuable 
 and extensive buildings have been erected. So iniquitous did 
 the attack on the Rectories appear when first made, that the 
 following resolution passed the House of Assembly in 1837, 
 three years before the union, by a majority of 18, being 
 38 to 20. 
 
 '* jResolued, That this House regards as inviolable the 
 
 If 
 
12 
 
 hi" 
 
 rig'its acquired under tlic patents by which Rectories have 
 been endowed, and cannot therefore eitlier invite or sanction 
 any interference with the rights thus established ; and as an 
 impression seems to prevail that Ilectories so established 
 are entitled to enjoy and exercise general and exclusive 
 spiritual and ecclesiastical power, and it is expedient to 
 remove all grounds of fear and apprehension on this head, 
 an humble address be presented to His Majesty, praying in 
 earnest and strong, but in respectful . language, that His 
 Majesty will be graciously pleased to convey to the Imperial 
 Parliament the anxious desire of the House in behalf of the 
 great body of the people of this Province, that, as the Pro- 
 vincial Legislature is restrained from legislating on the 
 subject, except under peculiar and embarrassing circum- 
 stances, an act of the Imperial Parliament may be passed in 
 plain and explicit terms, that the establishment and endow- 
 ment of Rectories in this Province shall not be construed to 
 confer any right to exercise any ecclesiastical or spiritual 
 power whatever, except over the members of the Church of 
 England." 
 
 So much, to shew the animus of both Dissenters and Roman 
 Catholics in regard to our Church, as respects her temporali- 
 ties. Nor have we any reason to believe that they are less 
 hostile to our religious principles. But we now turn to a 
 worse foe than either Dissent or Romanism, which is rapidly 
 approaching. 
 
 MODERN INFIDELITY. 
 
 By this worse foe we mean open infidelity ; and as it is 
 most important that the eyes of all, and especially of the 
 Clergy, should bx: opened to the real existence of such a 
 danger, and its actual presence among us, I feel it my duty 
 to notice it on this solemn occasion. 
 
 You are aware that movements are going on in Europe, as 
 well as in America, avowedly for the destruction of Christi- 
 
13 
 
 IS 
 
 Ihe 
 a 
 
 (ty 
 
 as 
 ti- 
 
 anity, and that among many the very idea of Diviuc and 
 human authority is disappearing. Indeed the contest between 
 Atheism, in its various forms, and the Christian faith has 
 ah'eady commenced. Take a few quotations from authors 
 said to be popular and in extensive circulation : '^ What is 
 religion," says one, "but anotlier feature of romance, with 
 its wonders upon wonders — its hopes — its terrors — its fictions? 
 And to believe that it is all true — that the prophecies, the 
 miracles, the morals, &c., tS:c. — and yet to sweep aAvay these 
 ideas and clear the ground, how sad it seems — how blank the 
 place where they were. It is hard for reason and for history 
 to struggle against such romance as this — to throw off the 
 glorious promises, and to awake to common life." 
 
 They tell us "That the mind of man, the instincts of 
 animals, the sympathies, so to speak, of plants, and the pro- 
 perties of stones, are results of material development ; that 
 development itself being the result of the properties of matter, 
 and the inherent cause or principle, which is the basis of 
 hnatter." 
 
 "I do not say," exclaims another, ''that there is no God, 
 but that it is extravagant and irreverent to imagine that 
 cause a Person. I cannot believe in a God as implied in the 
 idea of a Creator and a Creation, nor can I believe in an 
 beginning or end in the operations of nature. The operations 
 in nature or of nature are eternal and immutable." 
 
 " Is there nothing in that Faith which seeks for happiness 
 out of itself in the happiness of others, and the glories of 
 nature — content, that in death the sense of personality shall 
 pass away, and you shall be as you were before you were — 
 in a sleep for evermore." 
 
 " The human being, a mystery considered as an individual, 
 becomes a simple and natural phenomenon when considered 
 in the mass ; and morals — that part of the system of things 
 which seemed least under natural regulation or law — are 
 thoroughly ascertained to be as wholly so, as the arrangement 
 of the heavenly bodies," &c. &c. 
 
14 
 
 
 \ili 
 
 But infidelity is not merely a denial or negative : it seeks 
 to embody itself into an aetual system, as the writers of the 
 Avorks from which we have quoted have actually done. Some 
 even deny their unbelief, and call themselves rational Chris- 
 tians. To effect this, all the doctrines peculiar to the Gospel 
 are carefully weeded out : hence, the Nature they worship 
 , knows none of them. She has no redemption from sin — no 
 gift of divine grace — no danger from the tempter — no priest- 
 hood, no sacraments — in a word, she has not one of those 
 things to which salvation is promised. 
 
 Such infidelity is no longer confined to the closets of phi- 
 losophers, as in former times, but threatens to become more 
 and more general among our people. It already forms the 
 subject of a portion of our periodical literature ; and, what is 
 worse, the Church is not entirely free from the contagion. 
 Nor are some of our valuable social institutions altogether 
 untainted by this moral leprosy. Their abettors are pre- 
 sumptuous and daring — exalting themselves against all that 
 is called God, while in works they deny him. Upon the 
 young and unwary they too often exert a fatal influence. 
 Such are easily inveigled by the wiles of sophistry, and 
 disturbed and distracted in their minds with impious doubts, 
 even when not totally lost. To such persons the Apostle's 
 salutary admonition is most needful, lest they be spoiled or 
 led astray through philosophy and vain deceit ; for if they 
 walk in the steps of such men as deny both the Father and 
 the Son, they are no longer the followers of Christ. To what 
 but to the increasing influence of infidel principles are we to 
 attribute the material education now so much the fashion 
 among us — the banishment of the Bible from our schools and 
 families — and the avowed attempts to desecrate the Sabbath ? 
 
 EDUCATION. 
 
 The system of education established in Upper Canada 
 seems, at first sight, to have something very favorable in its 
 general aspect. It proceeds upon the principle, that the 
 
15 
 
 leeks 
 
 : the 
 
 ^orae 
 
 )hris- 
 
 ospel 
 
 rship 
 
 L — no 
 
 iricst- 
 
 those 
 
 f phi- 
 more 
 IS the 
 ,'hat is 
 agion. 
 gother 
 e pre- 
 11 that 
 on the 
 uence. 
 j^ and 
 loubts, 
 )Ostlc's 
 )iled or 
 if they 
 ler and 
 what 
 e -we to 
 fashion 
 ols and 
 ibbath ? 
 
 Canada 
 e in its 
 hat the 
 
 great, and indeed the first object of education is to give rauu 
 and women such instruction as shall serve the purpose of their 
 temporal advancement in the present life, and shall enable 
 them to pursue Avith efficiency any calling to which they 
 may turn their attention. And so far as it furnishes the 
 tools and instruments best adapted for the advancement 
 of the scholars in the arena of social competition, it pro- 
 mises a fair measure of success. Religious subjects are not 
 allowed to interfere with any of its arrangements, nor is the 
 necessity of adopting any distinct religious teaching admitted. 
 On the contrary, to avoid all such difficulties, the Gordian 
 knot is cut, and the process of instruction is almost entirely 
 secular, and confined to that description of knowledge of 
 the practical utility of which there can be no doubt ; and 
 Christianity and its doctrines are left to be dealt with by 
 every one according to his pleasure. 
 
 This I believe to be a fair representation of the teaching of 
 common schools in Upper Canada. The system has assumed 
 great dimensions, and no labour or expense is spared to pro- 
 mote its efficiency. 
 
 On referring to the Chief Superintendent's Report for 
 1854, I find the number of schools to bo 3,24-1:, being an 
 increase of 243 upon 1851. The schools in which the Jloly 
 Scriptures are to any extent used may be taken at two-thirds 
 of the Avhole number, as there appears only a trifiing differ- 
 ence since 1851, — showing that of the 3,244 common schools 
 in IJpper Canada in 1854, two-thirds (2163) read the l^ible, 
 and one-third (1081) did not. 
 
 One new feature, which I consider of great value, and for 
 which I believe we are altogether indebted to the able Super- 
 intendent, deserves special notice : it is the introduction of 
 daily prayers. We find that 454 schools, or about one- 
 se^'enth of the whole number, open and close with prayer. 
 This is an important step in the right direction, and only 
 requires a reasonable extension to render the system in its 
 interior, as it is already in its exterior, nearly complete. 
 
16 
 
 But till it receives this necessary extension, the whole system, 
 in a reli;2;ious find spiritual view, may bo considered almost 
 entirely dead. 
 
 I do not say that this is the opinion of the Kev. Dr. 
 Ryerson, who no doubt believes his system very nearly 
 perfect ; and so far as he is concerned, I am one of those 
 who appreciate very highly his exertions, his unwearied 
 assiduity, and his administrative capacity. I am also most 
 willing to admit that he has carried out the meagre provisions of 
 the several enactments that have any leaning to religion, as 
 far as seems consistent with a just interpretation of the law. 
 But with all this, I am fully convinced tliat the whole system 
 of education over which he presides is rotten to the core, and 
 that its tendency is to produce general unbelief. For surely 
 the cold and scanty recognition of the Gospel which we have 
 noticed, and the partial reading of the Scriptures in a portion 
 of the schools, merely by suiferance, and the permitting prayer 
 at the opening and closing of one-Keventh only of their num- 
 ber, will be found quite insufficient to prevent this unhappy 
 result. Much more is required to cherish and bring forth the 
 fruits of true religion. How so many able and good men 
 continue so long to support such a system, may not be easily 
 accounted for. But it may in a great measure arise from 
 hearing assertions constantly made that its basis is Chris- 
 tianity, — assertions which a thorough and earnest examination 
 would prove utterly fallacious. In the meantime, I conscien- 
 tiously feel that such men, however good their intentions, are 
 labouring under an unhappy delusion,- which nothing short of 
 a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures can remove. 
 
 If the children are confined to arithmetic, geography, 
 algebra, &c., while religion, as matter of instruction, is never 
 introduced, it is absurd to affirm that under such arrange- 
 ments you are giving them education. Education requires 
 much more : it is to give your pupils a moral training favor- 
 able to the good order of society, to the performance of their 
 duties to God and man, and to become useful to them here 
 and hereafter. 
 
' 
 
 never 
 ange- 
 uires 
 avor- 
 tlieir 
 here 
 
 17 
 
 Now this cannot be done separate from tlic Cliristiaii 
 religion. At page 14 of the Connnoii Schools' Report for 
 1854, we have the sum of the religious instruction ever given 
 in these seminaries : " In each school the teacher should 
 exert his best endeavours, both by example and precept, to 
 impress upon the minds of all children and youth committed 
 to his care and instruction the principles of piety, justice, 
 and a sacred regard to truth; love to their country, humanity, 
 and universal benevolence ; sobriety, industry, frugality, 
 chastity, moderation, temperance, and those other virtues 
 which are the ornament of society, and on which a free con- 
 stitution of government is founded," &c. 
 
 Now, it so happens that these very same words (which the 
 Council of Public Instruction for Upper Canada (luotes from 
 an avowed Unitarian source) arc literally copied by Lord 
 John Russell in his speech before l*arliament on the 6th of 
 March last, when introducing his resolution on Education. 
 And what comment does his lordship make upon them ? " It 
 is obvious," says he, "that so far as these words are con- 
 cerned, they might have been enacted by the Senate of Rome 
 before the introduction of Christianity, for there is nothing 
 in the words which bear the mark of any distinct Christian 
 character." 
 
 After admitting that many eminent men were in favour of 
 the Secular System, and who tljink that to attend the Public 
 School during the week and afterwards receiving on the 
 Lord's Day distinct religious instruction, either at Sunday- 
 school or at home, children may be brought up good 
 Christians, his lordship adds, that those favourable reports 
 are nevertheless called in question : and while oifering no 
 opinion of his own, he says, with regard to our own country, 
 there are great authorities against it, and there is a strong 
 public sentiment which would not approve the enactment of 
 such a system. He quotes two authorities only, that he 
 might not be tedious — Dr. Arnald and the Rev. Mr. Cook. 
 Dr. Arnald says, " the moment you touch on what alone is 
 c 
 
 . i 
 
18 
 
 - 1' ,' 
 
 education — viz., the forming of the moral principles and 
 habits of men — neutrality is impossible. It would bo very 
 possible if Christianity consisted really in a set of theoretical 
 truths, as many seem to fancy ; but it is not possible, inasmuch 
 as it claims to be the paramount arbiter of all our moral 
 judgments ; and he who judges of good and evil, right and 
 wrong, without reference to its authority, virtually denies it." 
 
 Tliis opinion of Dr. Arnald is confirmed by the Rev. Mr. 
 Cook, a gentleman of great experience and intelligence : — 
 *' I have confined my observations hitherto to the secular 
 aspect of school studies, because objections ar.^ generally 
 made by persons who believe that the time of children in our 
 National Schools is absorbed by the Church Catechism and 
 unintelligent reading of the Old and New Testaments. But 
 I do feel bold once more to record an opinion deliberately 
 formed, and confirmed by a long and minute acquaintance 
 with the working of elementary schools, that, the one great 
 influence which has elevated and developed the intelligence 
 of those children — which has given clearness and accuracy to 
 their perceptions — which has moulded their judgments, 
 exercised their reason and expanded their imagination — has 
 been the careful, daily and uninterrupted study of the Word 
 of God, The religious instruction of our best schools is of 
 an excellence wdiich has never been rivalled in any system of 
 National Education, and which can be appreciated only by 
 those who have had opportunilies, both of constantly examin- 
 ing the children under instruction, and of watching the eflfects 
 of that teaching upon their conduct in after life. 
 
 " I know many young men and women who are now doing 
 their duty heartily and faithfully in their appointed sphere 
 of action, who gratefully attribute the measure of success 
 which has rewarded their exertions to the impressions, 
 instructions and habits, acquired in our National Schools." 
 
 His Lordship then asks, whether will you have Schools 
 confined to those secular objects to which I have adverted, 
 or whether you will introduce into them moral instruction ; 
 
19 
 
 j8 and 
 
 very 
 jrctical 
 asmucli 
 ' moral 
 rht and 
 lies it. 
 ev. Mr. 
 mce : — 
 
 secular 
 ;ncrally 
 
 1 in our 
 ism and 
 s. But 
 bcrately 
 [lintanco 
 ic great 
 ^lligcnce 
 uracy to 
 smcnts, 
 on — has 
 
 Word 
 
 )ols is of 
 
 ystem of 
 
 only by 
 
 examin- 
 
 le effects 
 
 )W doing 
 
 sphere 
 
 success 
 
 ressions, 
 
 lools." 
 
 Schools 
 
 dverted, 
 
 auction ; 
 
 and concludes "witli rejoctin;; Secular Schools, because eVrry 
 body refjuires more tl;an they ran ;.'iy(', and introducini:^ the 
 Holy Scriptures. Now, 1 firndy believe, notwithstniiding 
 the apparent ac([uioscence in the system of Schools established 
 in this Province, that the ffoneritl feeliui; here is tlie same as 
 in England, and that most ))arents consider any plan of 
 educati6n imperfect which does not instruct their cliildren in 
 their duty, both to (rod and man, on a Christian foundati')n. 
 Fortunately, this system, vicious ns it is at present, may be 
 very easily amended, and -without losing a })arti('l(' of its 
 value, may be made to sup})ly with eillciencyall that is want- 
 
 mg. 
 
 1st. Let Separate Schools be admitted in all villages, 
 towns and cities, Avhen required, and let the same privilege 
 bo extended to the country, whenever the population war- 
 rants their introduction. 
 
 2nd. Till this regulation take effect, -let it be provided that 
 all Public Schools whatever be opened and closed with 
 prayer, and a portion of the Holy Bible be daily read ; and 
 farther, that the Lord's Prayer, the Aj)ostle's (yVeed, and the 
 Ten Commandments, be regularly taught in every such 
 School ; provided, nevertheless, that no cliild be compelled to 
 receive religious instructicm, or attend any religious worship, 
 to which his or her parents shall, on conscientious grounds, 
 object. 
 
 These simple provisions would interfere with nothing of 
 importance that exists in the present system, nor in any way 
 disturb its elaborate machinery, which would apply, as well 
 as it does now, to every exigency that might occur. All the 
 different denominations which desired it would have their 
 Separate Schools, and could arrange, according to their par- 
 ticular views, the religious instruction of their children. 
 Hence all the heartburnings that at present exist would be 
 removed. Nine-tenths of the Protestant, and all the Roman 
 Catholic population, would be satisfied ; and throughout the 
 country, where the thinness of the settlers prevented the 
 
1 
 
 20 
 
 t : 
 
 establishment of Separate Scliooln, the inhiiMtarits would 
 rest content under tlie second provision, till they were able 
 to support tlieni. 
 
 iiciore passing from this important subject, there arc two 
 or three points in wliich we, the ministers of reli;;;ion, arc 
 especially interested, and to which 1 therefore re(iuest your 
 serious attention. 
 
 We must not wait for the adoption of tliesc amendments 
 to our system of Education. Thankful shall we be for tlicm 
 wlien obtained. But in tlie meantime, we must redouble our 
 exertions to protect our Hock, and especially our chihlren and 
 youth, by increasin*^ the number of our Sunday Schools. 
 You ou;ilit to have one at each of your Stations. The diffi- 
 culty to find teachers, 1 know fro'm experience, to be great ; 
 but I likewise know that in most cases, it may be overcome 
 by activity and kindness. In most places we shall find, by 
 a diligent search, sobyr and pious individuals, willing, under 
 your occasional assistance, advice and encouragement, to 
 undertake the labour. If sincere in the work, they will soon 
 become themselves anxiously alive to the progress of their 
 classes, and begi)i soon to discover that their regular atten- 
 dance is rather a pleasure than a toil. 
 
 Great care must also be taken as to the manner and value 
 of the instruction imparted. 
 
 You must not be content with merely teaching the articles 
 of faith and forms of devotion. These can be very soon 
 h'arned by the children ; but without a tender and minute 
 explanation, they do not reach the heart. 
 
 Y^oung persons taught in this way are apt to consider 
 themselves possessed of religion, when it has as yet no sure 
 foundation ; and finding that it does not enable them to with- 
 stand temptation, nor when they have sinned, does it excite 
 a lively remorse and repentance, they infer that it is useless, 
 and become indifferent. Hence, when assailed bv wicked 
 companions, they easily fall into transgression. Again, when 
 they find themselves defenceless against ordinary cavils, and 
 
 |::i 
 
21 
 
 feel surprised at their inability to answer them, instead of 
 seeking; more correct iiiroriiiiition, they too fre(iu('ntly fall 
 into corrupt unbelief, which tlicy discover to be more uccept- 
 al)U! to their passions and a sohice to their ignorance. 
 
 In impartin<^ religious knowhMlirc, every portion sliould bo 
 patiently and thoron;^hly (?xpl:iine<l as we proceed. This, 
 no doubt, re<[uires natural ability in the teui-her; some 
 acquaintnncc with sacred and pr .fane history, and a readi- 
 ness to illustrate what lie is inculcatiu*;, with apt exam[)l('S 
 from the liiblo and other sources. lUit in all this they will 
 find encoura<^emont from you ; and, with the help of a few well 
 chosen hooks, to which you can direct them, they will rai)idly 
 ac({uire the knowledge necessary to enable them to dispenso 
 it with satisfaction to their Scholars. Your teachers, while 
 instructing others, will raj)idly advance in learning them- 
 selves, not merely intellectually, but morally; and after a 
 time they will become more patient and forbearing — more 
 cheerful under labour; and at the same time firmer and more 
 just in their decisions. 
 
 The teachers receive great encouragement when the minis- 
 ter catechises in public. It is the mode of instruction which 
 was universal in the first ages of the Church, nor is it long 
 since it was general in our own. It was sadly neglected 
 during the latter part of the last century, and the early part 
 of this ; but it has of late years revived, and is extending on 
 every side, and may be considered one of the most healthy 
 signs of the times. Such public catechising not only benefits 
 the children themselves, but confers a blessing upon all pres- 
 ent, and is peculiarly interesting to the teachers, and more 
 especially when you can induce them to ask you to explain 
 any difficulties that come in their way, and encourage them 
 also to question their own hearts as to the progress they are 
 making in the spiritual life. 
 
 ThcxC are times when all clergymen of a serious and re- 
 flecting character feel painfully dissatisfied at the little 
 intercourse which has been kept up between themselves and 
 
jjf 
 
 22 
 
 J 
 
 M -i ! 
 
 IMI 
 
 those of their flock, whom they have prepared for confirma- 
 tion. 
 
 The intimate acquaintance which grows up between the 
 pastor and his youthful parishioners during the preparation 
 for this holy rite naturally produces confidence and good 
 feeling, and is commonly attended with many acts of kind- 
 ness and affection, — hut all seems dissolved and gone when 
 the Bishop departs. Not perhaps always, because the first 
 Communion in many well-ordered parishes soon follows and 
 keeps up the endearing connexion. But in general, the con- 
 firmed are to a great degree lost sight of, and tlie tender in- 
 fluence which the clergyman had acquired is gradually 
 loosened, till it altogether disappears. Now there seems no 
 better plan for continuing this salutary influence and strength- 
 ening the moral habits which may have been commenced, than 
 that of establishing occasional meetings with the confirmed, 
 perhaps once a week, or even once a month, to converse on 
 religious subjects. Such meetings may, by a judicious cler- 
 gyman, be turned to infinite advantage. It is the father 
 meeting his children, and instructing them as their parent, — 
 conversing with them indulgently and frankly, and encourag- 
 ing them to impart their difficulties, their hopes, and their 
 fears, that they may be counselled and directed. He can 
 suggest such books as may be most profitable for them to' 
 read, and, as oncasions ofler, he can point out the pernicious 
 tendency of promiscuous reading, and the errors of such po- 
 pular publications of the day as come in their way. Sucli 
 intercourse begets confidence, and in time friendship, — and 
 may, under a wise guidance, be made exec dingly })leasant 
 and salutary, while it extends the influence of the pastor over 
 many minds who will be prepL,red to assist him in promoting 
 schemes of benevolence and good-will throughout the parish 
 and neighbourhood. 
 
 The progress of human knowledge can never be arrested, 
 nor, when rightly understood, is it opposed to Divine law. 
 They are not rivals or enemies, but in the closest agreement, 
 
 I ! 
 
23 
 
 for they both corae from God. The written Word jind the 
 unwritten page of nature equally manifest His power and 
 glory, and both are essential to social ini])rovement. The 
 Gospel of Salvation and of human knowledge join hand in 
 hand in promoting the moral and mental amelioration of our 
 fallen race. 
 
 Let, then, the good Angel of the Lord preside over all 
 our educational institutions, with the Bible in his right hand 
 and the volume of human mowledge in his left. 
 
 THE BIBLE. 
 
 One of the steps in the progress of infidelity is to banish 
 the Holy Scriptures from the Common Schools — wholly if 
 possible, or partially when a full interdiction cannot bo 
 effected. Now, the dissemination of the Scriptures has been 
 justly called the bulwark of the Reformation, and it is pleas- 
 ing to reflect that in no age of the Church since that period 
 has this been more warmly fell, and more strenuously carried 
 out than during the last fifty years. 
 
 Nevertheless, we find in this Diocese that in more than 
 1081 schools the Bible has not yet been introduced ; but, on 
 the other hand, we have tlie satisfaction to arnounce that 
 public opinion has compelled its adoption in 2163, — that is, 
 in two-thirds of the Common Schools ; and we arc encouraged 
 to believe that in a short time the same happy influence will 
 not leave one single school unprovided. 
 
 " The Bible, oi the Holy Scriptures," says Sir William 
 Jones, " contain, independently of a Divine origin, more true 
 sublimity, more exquisite beauty, purer morality, more im- 
 portant history, and finer strains of poetry and eloquence, 
 than can be collected within the same compass from all other 
 books that were ever composed in any age or in any lan- 
 
 guage. 
 
 Henry Hallam, the son of the historian of the middle ages, 
 — a youth of great promise, who was soon removed to a brighter 
 
1 
 
 24 
 
 world — was accustomed to say that " the Bible fits into every 
 
 fold of the human heart. I am a man, and I believe it to be 
 
 God's book because it is man's book. I am determined to 
 
 receive the Bible as Divinely authorised, and the scheme of 
 
 hii 
 
 human and Divine things which it' contains as essentially 
 true." 
 
 And how enlightened and rational was the conduct of good 
 King George III ; and how noble his saying, that he hoped to 
 see the day when every poor child in his dominions should 
 be able to read the Bible. This day may be said to have 
 come. The Bible is to be found in almost every religious 
 family in Protestant Christendom. Its principles are leaven- 
 ing the human mind through the vast circle of civiliza- 
 tion. The Holy Bible gives the history of our race from the 
 Creation to the present day, and in its prophecies continues 
 that history to the end of time. The Bible connects all parts 
 of man's history together from the beginning, and at every 
 step points out that there is a God who reigneth, and whose 
 moral government directeth all things in heaven and on earth. 
 It brings prominently before us the Church and the world, 
 which, though consisting of the same human beings, exhibit 
 two societies as distinct from each other, as if each of the 
 parties composing them were of different natures. Now, 
 what are we to say to those Avho ignore this inestimable book ? 
 Even as a source of knowledge, it is most precious. Are we 
 anxious to know whence we are and whither we are going, 
 where shall we seek for information but from the Bible. 
 What is Rousseau compelled to say, though unLappily an 
 infidel — " The majesty of the Scriptures strikes me with 
 astonishment, and the sanctity of the Gospel addresses itself 
 to my heart." It is the source of all sound literature. In 
 no other book is our written tongue found so pure and so 
 elegant — hence it has remained the standard of the language 
 of England and of her Faith for more than three hundred 
 years. 
 
 The Old and New Testament, in all their fulness, bring be- 
 
 ■'li 
 
25 
 
 fore us in every age, the principles and progress of moral 
 improvement — in which all our duties and virtues are pre- 
 scribed — rising in a series, ever ascending till consummated in 
 Heaven. It brings before us the Kingdom of Heaven upon 
 earth, with all the struggles required for its extension and 
 establishment, and all the sublime and holy relations which 
 take place between miin and his Maker, and between man 
 and man. Its teaching, as may be seen in our Lord's Ser- 
 mons, is so beautiful ana simple that it can be understood 
 even in early infancy, and becomes more and more applicable 
 to our wishes, wants and necessities to the end o^ our lives. 
 It directs us to our Father in Heaven, who looks on all his 
 creatures with love and compassion, and teaches us to regard 
 him with all those sentiments of filial boldness which good 
 children feel towards a kind and benevolent Parent. It in- 
 vites us to address Him with deep and unfeigned reverence 
 and confidence, and to worship Him in spirit and in truth. 
 Again, as children of the same F.ather in Heaven through 
 Christ, and united to one another by one Lord, one Faith, 
 one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and 
 in us all, we acquire the most noble and endearing affections, 
 which not only purify our hearts, but all our social relations 
 and institutions. In the view of Christ and of God, as repre- 
 sented in Holy Scripture, there can be no peculiar people on 
 earth. All are called to become the disciples of Christ and 
 the children of God, and to be at length gathered into one 
 fold. 
 
 This sublime doctrine of the Bible largely unfolds. Hence 
 it follows that the contempt and hostility with which differ- 
 ent nations treat, each other will gradually disappear, as the 
 knowledge and influence of the Bible extends, and as its 
 blessed spirit pervades the minds and hearts of all. Then 
 will our kindly charities be fostered in private and public life. 
 Enemies will forgive as they hope to be forgiven ; and every 
 human being, whatever his position or difference in colour, 
 habits, and condition, will be at once regarded as the child of 
 
! 
 
 26 
 
 the same Father, and an heir with ourselves of a blessed im- 
 mortality. 
 
 This future and higher state which the Bible, and the 
 Bible alone, opens to our view, is most glorious and ennobling. 
 Rising in knowledge, our powers and capacities shall expand. 
 Perfect freedom will be given us from all low and sinful pro- 
 pensities. Communion with beings of far more exalted and 
 purer natures will be ours, and we shall enjoy a progressive 
 felicity, which shall never have an end. 
 
 Beholding all this infinitely more in vision than in sight, 
 well might the blessed Apostle explain — '' Death, where is 
 thy Sting. Grave, where is thy Victory. Thanks be to 
 God, who giveth us the Victory, through our Our Lord Jesus 
 Christ." 
 
 Such is the book ; full of the most precious knowledge — 
 historical, moral, and religious, — the book which unites us 
 with our God and Saviour, and which in the hour of darkness 
 and distress consoles millions and millions of our fellow 
 creatures. Such is the book Avhich infidels are seeking to 
 repudiate and destroy. Not all the books on earth would 
 compensate the loss of the Bible to mankind ; for it is the 
 Bible, and the Bible alone, that points the way to the mansions 
 where God in Christ for ever reigneth. 
 
 THE LORD'S DAY. 
 
 The adversaries of religion have been so successful in their 
 assaults upon the Bible, both in Great Britain and America, 
 that they are proceeding to undermine the sanctity of the 
 Lord's Day. Now, precious as the Bible is, beyond any 
 human calculation, it would be deprived of half its value were 
 h not embodied in our Sunday services, and made the sub- 
 stance and foundation of our public worship and private 
 devotions. 
 
 But, as usual, our opponents proceed stealthily. They 
 merely propose, as a beginning,' that it vwdd promote the 
 
27 
 
 moral and intellectual improvemGnt of the working classes if 
 the collections of natural history and of art in the British 
 
 I 
 
 ]\Iuseum and National Gallery "were (»pen t<» the puhlic inspec- 
 tion after morning service on Stuiday. The same privilege, 
 as a natural consequence, -would he extended to every city, 
 town and village where any such institutions are established. 
 Now, although this may appear a very little matter to the 
 cursory observer, we ought to ))c peculiarly and severely 
 jealous of admittino; anvthin-j:; lliat mi;xht have the smallest 
 tendency to weaken the religious basis on which the Sabi)ath 
 rests, and which might ultimately lead to its desecration. 
 There is nothing more to be feared than such admissions. 
 They may be almost imperceptible at first, but their poison 
 advances by slow degrees, til' ihc corruption becomes gene- 
 ral, and the institution is d(">Lroved. AVhat would such a 
 resolution naturally lead to, should it become the law of the 
 British Empire ? First, to the opening of theatres and every 
 place of public amusement, now only permitted during tlio 
 week. Then, to commence ti'ading ; and thus, by degrees, 
 to the total desecration of tlie Sabba th Day. 
 
 Those who arc in fiivour of this pernicious relaxation 
 nevertheless appear full of pity and tenderness for the 
 labouring portion of the community, and anxious that they 
 should enjoy open fields and fresh air, after having been pent 
 up all the week in the pestilent atmosphere of their factories 
 or their miserable and squalid dwellings. How much more 
 to the purpose were they to urge upon the Legislature the duty 
 of considering in a favorable spirit the just claims of labour, 
 so that the poor might enjoy a second day in the week, or at 
 least the half of one, without cither diminishing their wages 
 or intruding upon their Sabbaths, and thus acquire some 
 leizure to enjoy the recreations offered them, or rather others 
 more fitted to their condition and moral progress. 
 
 Instead of giving, they take away half the poor man's 
 blessing, and when he asks for bread, they give him a stone. 
 
 Were not the subject so very serious and important, the 
 
28 
 
 ill ^4 
 
 equivalent offered to the poorer classes for the loss of half 
 their Sabbath might be dwelt upon as exquisitely ludicrous. 
 They are to go to the museum to admire the remains 
 of antediluvian animals, volcanic rocks, geological strata 
 and decayed fossils ; or to the zoological and botanical gardens, 
 to muse upon the wild beasts .\nd the vegetable kingdom. 
 
 Not that such things arc wrong in their place, or unworthy 
 of the attention of the learned and the curious, who have 
 leisure. But to say that the masses would receive any moral 
 benefit from such spectacles, seems to indicate a strange igno- 
 rance of human nature. But happily the ])eople themselves 
 repudiate such trifling with their best feelings, and manifest 
 throughout the whole country something like an instinctive 
 horror at the injudicious attempt to deprive them of one of 
 their most valuable privileges. 
 
 I am certainly no advocate for the severe rigour of the Jewish 
 Sabbath, but I am the friend and advocate of a devotional 
 Sabbath — a day so regulated as to detach the mind from 
 earth to heaven — a day which withdraws our thoughts from 
 our secular and material interests to those of eternity — a day 
 which brings us more immediately into the presence of our 
 God in the performance of our religious services ; and the 
 sweet feelings, holy thoughts and high resolves which these 
 services engender, refresh the body as well as the soul, and 
 this in a far greater degree than the mere abstinence from 
 daily labour can of itself eifect. 
 
 The Sabbath ought not to be made so gloomy and repul- 
 sive as to admit of no sort of recreation ; nor must there be 
 an overstrained indulgence even in devotional exeicises and 
 duties. All attempts to continue such services throughout 
 the whole day must fail, because tasking human nature 
 beyond its powers, which are unable to maintain for any 
 length of time an intensity of moral and religious feeling. 
 And indeed no piety can be acceptable to God which is not 
 cheerful and improving to all the kindly feelings of our 
 nature. 
 
29 
 
 God delights in merely more than in sacrifice, and our 
 Saviour declares that the Sabbath was made for man, and 
 not man for the Sabbath, and that it is lawful to do good on 
 the Sabbath day. » 
 
 And here it may be observed that there are many exercises, 
 though not strictly devotional, which are yet in most beauti- 
 ful harmony with that state of mind which enlightened 
 devotion imposes, and by which the hours of the Sabbath not 
 employed in public worship and domestic duties may be 
 occupied, not only to maintain its sanctity, but to render it 
 an occasion of delightful satisfaction. 
 
 Thus everything which binds us more strongly to our 
 tellow creatures, and strengtliens our natural love of our 
 relations ; everything which enables us to do good to the 
 distressed, the young and the ignorant, or generally promote 
 good will among men, gives refreshment and additional 
 interests to the hours of the Sabbath. 
 
 In general, we best fulfil the purpose of the Sabbath, by 
 devoting a suitable portion of the day to public and private 
 devotion, and yet so employ the remainder of our time as to 
 intermingle with these devotional exorcises and duties such 
 relaxation as, without partaking of the nature or character of 
 business, have the best tendency to awaken in the mind all 
 those soft and grateful emotions which bind us more strongly 
 and willingly both to the Giver of all gooil, and to tlie in- 
 terests of those with whom we are connected. 
 
 By spending the Sabbath in this wa}', wc render it not a 
 day of gloom, but of pure enjoyment. 
 
 In fine, the Sabbath should be so kept as to advance our 
 preparation for heaven, while it affords a foretaste of celestial 
 occupations and happiness. But whatever disqualifies us for 
 pious meditation, or interferes with public worship or domestic 
 instruction; whatever unfits us for its sacred duties, and tends 
 to counteract, or rather not to promote the growth of spiritual 
 affection, is inconsistent with this holy institution ; goes to 
 defeat its most important purposes, and is injurious to our 
 
30 
 
 best interests. Hence, it becomes our duty to resist to tlio 
 utmost of our power tbe slightest approaches towards the 
 desecration of the Lord's Day. 
 
 PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 :ll; .' 
 
 The progress of the Oiurcli depends, under God, entirely 
 on ourselves. If we .ischarge our duty in humid e depen- 
 dence upon our blesse 1 Lord, nothing can keep her back ; but 
 if we arc cold and indnTerent, and fall out among ourselves by 
 the way, instead of advancing, she will wither and decay. 
 Never let us forget for a moment our great responsibility, or 
 leave anything undone which devoted affection gan suggest, 
 to preserve our Church and people from the dangerous 
 encroachments of Rome on the one hand, and the frightful 
 errors of Dissent on the other. We are seemingly a little 
 band, surrounded by numerous and powerful adversaries ; but 
 as we hold the truth, let us dispense it in righteousness, and 
 not withhold spiritual sustenance from our people, or discou- 
 rage them from bearing their part in the defence of the 
 Church of their Redeemer. Be not careless or indifferent in 
 your manner of performing divine offices, but shew that your 
 heart is in tliom, and then they will reach the hearts of your 
 congregation. Let the ministrations of the sacraments be 
 duly and reverently performed ; and if you find your people 
 negligent in their attendance, and disposed to undervalue 
 their privileges, endeavour by meek persuasion to convince 
 them of their spiritual importance, and win them back to the 
 habits and feelings of former times. Be not ashamed to bring 
 the Church prominently forward in her spiritual and sacra- 
 mental character as the body of Christ and the dispenser of 
 His word and ordinances ; for you have solemnly promised so 
 to present her in all her fulness, principles, claims and privi- 
 leges as the kingdom of heaven upon earth. Let her teach- 
 ing and holy practice be systematically offered to your people, 
 
.31 
 
 « 
 
 with impressive explanations, that they may ho able to give a 
 reason for the faith that is in tliem, and he no longer surprised 
 or confounded at the cavils of .her enemies. 
 
 In the decent and regular dischorge of your ministrations, 
 beware of giving an exaggerated or undue importance to 
 externals. If anything be wanting or deficient, gradually 
 approach nearer and nearer to the system prescribed by the 
 Prayer Book ; and if you proceed with a frank and honest 
 discretion, there will soon appear among your congregations 
 H great increase of piety, devotion and charity. Do nothing 
 harshly or unadvisedly ; and should you be driven into con- 
 troversy, direct your studies to the subjects, and, after careful 
 preparation and in a Godly spirit, deliver the result. Con- 
 demn not without anxiously reading and making yourself 
 thoroughly acquainted with the real opinions of those you 
 contend with. This is absolutely necessary in any contro- 
 versy, and particularly with Rome. In such you must be at 
 special pains to arm yourself with the soundest weapons of 
 defence. Here, weak argument, incorrect statements, and 
 hasty conclusions, will only bring you to sham.e. They arc 
 skilful controversialists, and desire nothing better than an 
 antagonist, whose notions of Popery are gathered from the 
 flimsy declamations of popular orators at the public meetings 
 of the day. Do not suppose that the Romish Church is only 
 a medley of fooleries and blasphemies ; nor expect to cry it 
 down as if it were feeble and had nothing to urge in its 
 defence. Those who think so can have no adequate concep- 
 tion of so corrupt and wonderful a system. 
 
 If Romanism contained nothing more deep and true, — 
 nothing more subtilely adapted to the cravincrs of man's heart 
 than that which such silly opponents recognise, it would not 
 be the formidable enemy that we find it. And as there are 
 few of its doctrinal corruptions which are not attached to 
 some original truth, the result of such indiscriminating as- 
 saults is, that one class of inquirers is hurried on to reject 
 the truth and the corruption together, — and another is driven 
 
32 
 
 , liii 
 "4 
 
 II I- 
 
 ■A 
 
 l)y an indignant revulsion of fooling to cling to the ovcr- 
 gro-vvtli of error, as well as to the root which it encumbers. 
 
 In fact, the formidable character of Romanism arises from 
 thif] very possession of much truth ; for with this it deceives, 
 offering the primitive verity to the eye, and giving the 
 modern corruption into the hand. Moreover, by the late in- 
 vention of the doctrine of Development, it can from time to 
 tiuie furnish new doctrines at pleasure ; one instance of 
 which — the Immaculate Conception — is of recent occurrence. 
 In this, however, Home seems to have forgotten her usual cau- 
 tion, for in the Book of Revelation there are no novelties. 
 It came as pure and perfect from heaven as God intended it. 
 Accordingly, the most awful anathemas are pronounced upon 
 those who add thereto, or diminish therefrom. Thus Moses, 
 in the 2nd verse of the fourth chapter of the Book of Deu- 
 teronomy, says, " Ye shall not add unto the Word which I 
 command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, — that 
 ye may keej) the commandments of the Lord your God which 
 I command you." Again, St. John the Apostle and Evan- 
 gelist, says in the 22nd chapter of the Book of Revelation, 
 18tli, 19, and 20th verses, '' For I testify to every man that 
 hearct^i the words of the prophecy of this Book, if any man 
 shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the 
 plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall 
 take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God 
 shall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of 
 the Holy City, and from the things which are written in this 
 Book. He which testifieth these things saith, surely I come 
 quickly. Amen, even so come. Lord Jesus." 
 
 "Many of the leading doctrines of Popery," says Bishop 
 Heber, "are to all appearance subversive of some of the 
 plainest and most essential articles of the Christian faith. 
 Yet I cannot read the lives of Bellamini, Charles Boromeo, 
 Vincent de St. Paul, Fcnelon, and Pascal, without feeling 
 that they were holy and humble men, incessant in prayer, 
 and devoted to God, and to their inquiries after truth, — or 
 
33 
 
 over- 
 
 )crs. 
 9 from 
 ceivcs, 
 ng the 
 latc iu- 
 ,ime to 
 lticc of 
 rrcnce. 
 lal cau- 
 )vcltics. 
 ndcd it. 
 ed upon 
 Moses, 
 of Deu- 
 whicli I 
 it, — that 
 3d ^Yhich 
 id Evan- 
 velation, 
 man that 
 uny man 
 him the 
 nan shall 
 .ecy, God 
 id out of 
 en in this 
 ly I come 
 
 ys Bishop 
 10 of the 
 lan faith. 
 
 Boromeo, 
 »ut feeling 
 in prayer, 
 
 truth, — or 
 
 without a painful consciousness that with all tlic clearer views 
 of iiod's (lisponsatioiis which I believe myself to possess, T 
 should bo happy beyond my hopes, and certainly beyond 
 my deserts, to sit at the feet of the meanest among them in 
 heaven. Nor dare we, as I conceive, deny that men like 
 these, however grievously mistaken in some points, were 
 under the guidance and teaching of that Spirit, from Avhosc 
 inspiration only such virtues as theirs could proceed." 
 
 T do not feel that the progress of the Church can be much 
 impeded by the eftbrts of Vrotestant Dissenters, now that our 
 temporalities have vanished and ceased to be a source of 
 contention. I trust that a conciliatory spirit will take the 
 place of former bitterness between us ; and unless they arc 
 determined to patronise and favour unbelief rather than 
 Christianity, they must come forward and assist us on the 
 great question of religious, as distinguished from mere secular, 
 education ; on the more cordial and general reception of the 
 Holy Bible in our schools, and on the proper observance of 
 the Sabbath to keep it holy. 
 
 But DC this as it may, we do not expect that Dissenters 
 should not attack the Church, her doctrines and discipline ; 
 and we must be prepared to defend them with energy, zeal, 
 learning, and perseverance. They must ever be to us of 
 infinite moment, involving as they do our Prayer-Book, 
 Creeds and Articles, our Church government, our Ministry, 
 our Ritual — in all which consists, in common language, our 
 Holy Catholic Church. 
 
 It would be a libel, not on our branch of the Holy Catholic 
 Church only, but on Christianity itself, to say or think that 
 in so large a body of Ministers of Jesus Christ as I sec before 
 me there are n(it many anxious, resolute, and well prepared 
 to make any sacrifice of labour, time, means, and health for 
 the sake of the religion they profess, as soon as they sec th*t 
 such sacrifice will serve it. 
 
 But, whether we are involved in controversy with Romanism 
 or Dissent, we have, if faithful to our duty, nothing to fear 
 
# 
 
 ii 
 
 34 
 
 from the result ; and T trust that if it do come, it will })0 con- 
 ducted on our part with courtesy and moderation ; bitterness 
 and hard words add no force to ar«5ument, but rather induce 
 suspicions of its weakness. 
 
 It is also reasonable to hope that this course will be fol- 
 lowed by our opponents. But, whether this bo so or rot, wo 
 must on our part exclude strife and calumny, and if reviled, 
 wc must not revile aj];ain, however great the provocation. 
 
 All this wo can well afford to do, because in defending our 
 Church, wo aro defending tho groat bulwark of Protestanism, 
 and the purest form of teaching tho gospel of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ that exists in tho word. 
 
 Having thus touched, hoAvever imperfectly, upon all tho 
 matters on which I propose on this occasion to address you, 
 I have now to thank you for your kindness and patience in 
 bearing with mo so long, and to commend you to Almighty 
 God, who alone can vouchsafe unto us tho will and ability, 
 through the assistance of llis Holy Spirit, to imitate our 
 Great Exemplar, Jesus Christ, whoso blessed recognition of 
 our imperfect services shall become our rich reward and 
 c. "^"'n of glory on the day of his appearing. 
 
 Toronto, 30th April, 1856.