THE CHURCH
OF
THE MIDDLE AGES.
THE CHURCH OF THE MIDDLE AGES,
SERMON,
?|reacf)fU in tfje Cfjurc!) of ^t. iBary Uf UoUt,
GLOUCESTER,
MOXDJi; MJV 8, 1837,
AT THE VISITATION
OF THE
VENERABLE JOHN TIMBRILL, D.D.
ARCHDEACON OF GLOUCESTER.
BY
JOHN GOULTER DOWLING, M.A.
OK WAUHAM COLLEGE, OXFORD,
RECTOR OF ST, MARY DE CRVI'T, GLOUCESTER.
LONDON:
I'OIl .1. 'i. AM> I. Kl\ IN(i ION;
AM) J. I.. LF.A, T. JI.W, AND L. URYAM, ULOI CKSTKn.
18.'J7.
GI.OTJCESTER :
A. A\n 1), M. WALKER, PRINTERS,
Wedlgate-Strcet.
T(l THK
VKNKltABLi: JOHN TIM BRILL, 1)1).
vnCllDKACON OI (il.orCF-STKR,
.KSn TIIF,
HKVKI^KND J'HE CLKRGV
OF Tur:
i)i;\Ni'.p\ <>) (.i.(ii"CKsTi:i:
THIS sKinroN
1^ iJi'si'KCTii I I > i\s(i;iiii.i»
The JVriter fias found it itnposnible to co/nmif this Serntoii
to the presn icithout uppe)iding aoiiie Noten. He knows not
whether he should apologise for their being so few, or so many.
Should any complaint be made on the ground of their number,
his excuse, which he cannot but think a very sufficient one, is
the copiousness of the subject. If tltey are thought fewer than
the text requires for its complete illustration, he can only say
that he would have been glad to make them more numerous,
but that he considered himself bound to answer the call of his
Brethren icithout delay.
Glmicester, May 1'), 1837.
A SERMON.
St. Matthew xxviii. 20.
" Lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAY, EVEN UNTO
THE END OF THE WORLD."
The passage in connection with these words
presents us with a very striking picture. A few
poor and dejected men are gathered together in a
solitary spot, in expectation of one whom they
had learned to love and to venerate as a being
more than human. Their mysterious visitor soon
joins them, and they bow before him in speech-
less wonder. Great indeed is the contrast be-
tween those feeble dou])ting worshippers, and
Him who "came and spake unto tliem, saying.
All power is given unto me in heaven and in
earth." It is, however, just the dilTerencc be-
tween man and (Jod. Jn the one we see our-
Helves ; in the otlnr we see our Redeemer.
It was on this interesting occasion, when the
A])ost]('S ('xliil)iti(l the vcrv cxcmplificalion of
mora] and j)hysical weakness, and our Loid had
iissertcd in the most emplialic words liis attribute
<of omnij)oteuc<'. that he solemnly gave them their
B
10
commission — " Go ye therefore, and leach all
nations, haptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you." They might have pleaded
their inability to undertake such a work in their
own strength. He therefore' adds the promise,
" Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of
the world."
We recognize in the command given by our
Lord to the Apostles, the commission of an Apos-
tolical Ministry in all ages. And this view of
the words has been so often and so ably esta-
blished, that it is quite needless on an occasion
such as the one on which we are assembled, even
to allude to the arguments by which it is sup-
ported. We regard the promise too, as intended
to apply to the successors of the Apostles in the
ministerial office, as well as to the Apostles them-
^ M« yap /j,oi rhv ^uaKoxlav, (pi^riv, siitan tuv ispxyixccrm'
iya yap il/xt /j,eff 'u(jimv, q TravTa Ttoim suKO^a. S. Chrysost. in
loc. Tom. II. p. 551. Edit. Savil.
yia^nTBuvai yap auTOvi Travra ra eSvjj HsMucra;, xa) Trpoei^uiy
wj 0£Of, cuj >.oyi(TiMi ava^aivoucriv Iv raTg xapdian; ai/Tuv^ TTug
olov T£ 'iv^ena av^pag TrevvTai, Koi £i/y>>uTTiag sa-TSp-n/xsvoui, Taaav
Trw oUou/xBvw iJ.tra^a>.{ir b\U(Te Tr)V a/jLipi^oMav^ km to Jeoj
£|£j3a?*fv, Eipmuiy Ka\ l^ou kya //.sff vnuv iliJi.i Trajag ra; vfJLepag^
£Ui TYii (TirJT£\£l(x,g Tou aiuvog. B. Theodoret. Interpret, in .Terft-
mia* cap. i. v. 8. Tom. ii. p. 407. Edit. Sohulze.
11
selves. For they equally stand in need of sup-
port, and they are servants of the same gracious
Master.
Regarding, therefore, the words of the text in
this light, and believing, as we do, that every
word of God must have its fulfihnent, we are
certain that the Lord's promise has l)een accom-
plished. He has ever been with his Church.'
He has never ceased to bless the work of his
Ministers. He has always been present in the
administration of the sacraments, blessing with
supernatural powers the cleansing waters of
Baptism, and communicating himself in the
blessed Eucharist.- When his Ministers have
1 " Quia Veritas ipsa dicit iteruni, Ecce ego robiscum sum omnibus
diebus usque ad consummationem seculi, procukiubio eiunt semper in
Ecclesiii, ruin quibus ille sit, eruntque fortissimi ac robustissimi
pugnatores Dei, adversum quos ille qui nunc ligatus est in abysso,
solutus, totis viribus perniittetur belligerare, quos divina gratia
idoneos rcddet adversum tam immanem bestiam diniicaro, <•( victoros
de ea existt^re." S. Agi^bard. dii I'rivil. et.Iurc Saccrdotii. Tom. i.
p. 1.38. Kdit. Baluz.
- 'AvToj o\ KM vuv £7t\ tyi; KoXuu$ridj>3ii roli 7ri(rTtaoii<Ttv aofarwc
iplfTarcn' at/rof TrtpiTrrvrffncu roug vioip^ri(Trou( uf ^/xoi/f Kai
ahx^ou;' km xi-/f» Trpof ai/Toui^ x^'^f'^- outTOf tu^po<xvvyii km
X«p«J ifjLTTtTrXi^Tiv a'jxlv rag Kap^la^ km rif •vj.t/xif. avroj
Toi/f pvTTuvTai a7ro7T\uv(i Toiti T»!f x^jSiTo; vsifMxa'tv. ai/Tog tou(
avayiWiifxtvoui Xfni tw n:jpu roli llviufjuiTOf. ainoi rpo^tli outuv
ylviTM KM rpoipn. S. Gregoriua (I'aU. .Antiucli. .070 - .OIW, ) in
.Mulierri* FnRUontif»Tn>«. ap. ('<iml»<»fmii Nfiv. Aiict, F^il>l. I'i'.
7'oin. I. <vi| H4.'>. It.
12
proclaimed the tidings of salvation, and "taught
that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, men
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in
this present world,"' he has caused his word to
come Tvith power, imparting to it a living energy.
And " where two or three have been gathered
together in his name, there has he been in the
midst of them."^
We further believe that the promise is being
accomplished still. We regard ourselves as going
forth to our work supported by the presence of
our Master. That, feeble though we be in our-
selves, the power of God "is made perfect in our
weakness."^ That we are endued with the powers
with which he has been pleased to intrust the
Ministry for the edification of the Church. And
that to us he will, in the exercise of his wisdom
and goodness, vouchsafe his blessing.
But here I panse ; for it would ill become any
one standing in this place, on an occasion like the
present, to substitute assertion for argument, or
decline giving an answer to any fair ol)jection
that may be raised against our principles. We
regard the text as affording the guarantee of the
Saviour's promise for the perpetuity of the
Church. But it is objected, that in this sense it
has not been fulfilled. That this is so far from
> T\i\\%. II. 12 2 Matt. xvin. 20. :< 2 Cor. x\\. 9.
13
having been the case, that during a long course
of ages, error and false doctrine overran what
was called the Christian world, and utterly de-
stroyed the simplicity of the Gospel. This
objection threatens to remove from us one of the
firmest warrants we can find in the sacred volume
for support in the trials and difficulties of our
ministry, and even lirings into question the vera-
city of the Saviour. My present ol)ject, therefore,
is, in dependence on Divine help, to attempt to
meet it. I have chosen this as the subject of to-
day's discourse, not because I am not fully aware
of its difficulty,; not because I am not conscious
of the hazard to which it must be exposed in hands
so feeble; but as having been led to deem it of
urgent necessity that our attention should be
directed to it in the present condition of the
world and of the Church.
The members of the Clmrcli of Kngland are,
it must b(! confessed, very unfavourably situated
for arriving at a proper estimate of tlic condition
of the Churcli (hiring tlie period usually denomi-
nated the Middle Ages. Enjoying as we do, by
the gracious Providence of (iod, a purity of doc-
trine and a simplicity of worsliij) truly aj)()stolical,
we are a|)f to look back fu limes less enlightened
with contempt and prejudice. We are so deeply
convinced of the scriptural tnilli of our creed, and
the primitive eliaraeter of our eerlosinsticnl polity.
14
and see them so Avell ada[)ted to the wants of the
human mind, and of the human heart, in the exist-
ing state of society, that we are little accustomed
to look with indulgence upon the opinions which
were current in ruder periods, or to reflect whether
other states of society may not have had other
wants. This state of feeling Avould alone be
suflicient to make us unfair to the earlier Church.
But there is another circumstance which has had
a still more direct tendency to produce this effect.
I mean our constant warfare with tlie Church of
Kome. As that Church represents itself as iden-
tical with the Church of past times, and as it has
been too commonly admitted by Protestant con-
troversialists that it does actually correspond in
faith and discipline with the Western Church of
the Middle Ages^ many of us have come pretty
much to think, that in our controversy with Rome
we are virtually contending with the Church of
the period in question, and consequently regard
it with suspicion and jealousy.
I may remark too, that the measure wdiich has
sometimes been dealt out to those who have enter-
tained the more favourable opinion, has scarcely
contributed to bring us nearer to a correct view
of the subject. On the one hand they have been
denounced as admirers of the spiritual despotism
of an ignorant period; and on the other hand they
have been suspected of a secret inclination to the
15
doctrines of Kome. But at all events, it is time
for us, my brethren, to submit the whole matter
to a serious and careful examination. If we are
not prepared to lose the warrant of our Ministry,
or to give up our Lord's promise as a signal in-
stance of a prediction not fulfilled, it becomes us
fairly and openly to meet the difficulty to which
I have referred.
Our Lord promised that he would ])e with his
Ministers " unto the end of the world ;" and yet
(we are told) during a long course of ages the
Church was in grievous ignorance of the truth,
and taught very dangerous errors. This is the
difficulty,' — which I have endeavoured to state
forcibly and fully. The subject is evidently one
that cannot properly be treated with ])revity.*
But it may perhaps be found possible to suggest
in a few remarks, considerations which may tend
to break the force of the objection, hi the ]io})e
of effecting this I would remark —
1 I would be understood as freely confessing my belief, flial if
tlie truth was not preserved in the Church, it was not preserv imI at all.
The notion that it was pri'sorvcd in separated cnminunities can
scarcely l>c regarded as any longer tenable. .\s to the All)igense8
and Wahlenscs, the distinction bt'twoen (hose sects, and the futility
of tlie attf'mpts to maintain the otiioiloxy of tiie one, and the anti-
quity of tlie other, seem to have been fully estalilished.
2 " Habebit tamcn in his iectoris mei curiosa vcstigatio, etsi
non copiam satietatis qui delecletur, qualenicunque lamen causam
inquisitionis, qua melius exerccafur." Walafridus Siraho de Hcbiis
Ecrlesia-iticis. Bibl. PP. Tom. iv. col. .'i7'2. r. Ivlit. 1.^7-''.
16
I. That the fact which is assumed to
MILITATE AGAINST THE LITERAL FULFILMENT
OF OUR Lord's promise is greatly over-
stated ; and
II, That allowing to a certain extent
THE truth of the FACT ASSUMED AS THE
OBJECTION, IT still CANNOT IN ANY SENSE BE
REGARDED AS IMPEACHING HiS VERACITY.
In the first place, then, I humbly submit, that
it may safely be maintained, that the representa-
tions which are commonly made of the state of
the Church during the Middle Ages are unfair
and overcharged. The peculiar position of the
Anglican Church, to which I have already ad-
verted, has concurred with modern arrogance and
sciolism in producing a conventional estimate of
the elder period of the history of the existing
European nations, which those who have made
any kind of acquaintance with the original sources
of information know to be very far from correct.
There is reason, to think that the whole subject
has been very greatly misunderstood and misre-
presented. But no part of it has suffered more
than that which relates to religion. For here
additional agencies have been at work in pro-
ducing and per2)etuating error. The notions of
individual critics with regard to the interpretation
17
of the prophecies,* have had very considerable
influence in forming and modifying the opinion
which generally prevails among us. And whole
generations have grown up in false views of his-
tory, because a writer of note has perhaps left
the straight path of literal interpretation, or mis-
taken the sense of a particular prediction.
The period which is represented as that of spi-
ritual darkness and degradation is comprised in
the thousand years which followed the extinction
of the Western Empire.^ Now, though it has
been very common to speak of the whole of this
long series of centuries as bearing the same
general characteristics, and as deserving to be de-
scribed in the same terms of oj)pro]H-ium and
contempt, a moment's reflection might lead any
one to exfiect that the various divisions of it
must dilfer very materially, and tliat the pecu-
J Tlie attempts wliidi have be^n made to establish a correspon-
dence between the ehiirdi of Rome and llie prophecies rehilinp to
Antichrist, have |)rol)ably done more than any tiling else towards
producing the <urrent notions respecting the state of religion in the
Middle Ages. The process which has been going on in perverting
history and garbling docnments to support tliis opinion, li;is i)een
exposed by Mr. .Maitland, in his writings on the I'iWdays — espe-
cially in his first " llnfjuiry."
- A variety of circumst;inces have induced the writer to confine
hin remarks in this discourse entirely to Western Christendom. He
trusLs, however, that one whos(> studi(>s have been chicHy among the
later Greek thcologi<al writers, and who hoj)i's liereafter to ofTcr
fuller proofs of the vitahty of the K;L'.tcin ( Inu'li, will not in the
m»»an time l>c .Hii«p«,T|pf| «if neglecting or undervjibiing il.
IS
liarities of one age could not be found to exist,
in the same intensity at least, in another. And
this is the fact, A mere glance at the records of
Church-history is suflicient to convince us that
the condition and spirit of different periods in the
Middle Ages differ as they do in other times.
For somewhat more than two centuries the Church
maintained a doubtful conflict with the conquerors
of the Western world, alternately enriched and
despoiled by the superstition or violence of rude
chieftains. Better times' succeeded when the
earlier Carlovingians, who imited the dignity of
genius with military and political talents, had
learned to respect the character of the Clergy,
and to protect and encourage moral and intellec-
tual worth. The great feudal aristocracy which
was established under the later and more feeble
monarchs of this dynasty, w^as little favourable
to the prosperity of the Church. The Clergy
were gradually accustomed to seek from the ser^
of Rome the protection which they could not
obtain from their native princes. The Popes at
length came to exercise an acknowledged sove-
reignty. The schoolmen grew up to inculcate
1 Lorenz's Life of Alcuin, whicli has recently been translated,
contains much interesting information of a popular character respect-
ing this period. But many of the German divines, even of the
better class, still speak with so much levity and indistinctness on
religious subjects, that it is often no easy matter to find out the
objects witli whicli they write, or the principles of the writers.
19
the theology, and the canonists to maintain and
teach the laws, of Rome. Bnt this was at the
beginning of the thirteenth century. For it was
only at this late period that the system of Papal
dominion was fully developed.
Now^ it may be safely affirmed, that during the
first and second of the periods 1 have marked in
this rapid survey — that is, till the latter part of
the ninth century — the doctrine of the Church
remained very much what it had been in the days
of Jerome and Augustine.' There w^ere super-
stitions doubtless, (but this is a part of the sub-
ject to be noticed hereafter,) yet the substance of
Christian opinion remained wonderfully uniform.^
The Churches on the North of the Alps had all
publicly recorded their disapprobation of image-
worship'* in the course of the eighth and ninth
1 Note A, in tlie Appendix.
- I say u'onderfalli/ iinit'onn, in reference to (he degree. But the
fact was a natural coMsiMjuence of the course of slmly pursued \)\
all who studied at all. The ancient divines were iMi|»licitly followed
as teachers, and imitated as models, liy all whu sought to obtain or
to conmiunicatc theological knowledge. Towards the very end of
the ninth century, Notker, surnamed the Stammerer, a monk of Si.
Gall, who died in 9 1 "2, wrote to a friend re<-ommending him a course
of theological s(u<ly. 'I'his tract allnrdsa lr)iig list of ancient authors,
but only five who wrote later than the time of St. (iregory, namely,
Isidore of .Seville, Hhahanus of Mayence, Ilede, Alcuin, ami I^ad-
ken ; the last three natives of the British Isles. Notatio Nolkcri dc
lllustribus Viris. np. l-'ahricii Bihl. Me<lia' e( Inlim. Latinif. \'o!.
V. 0O4— D.VJ.
•' .Noll- H, III tlif .\pp<"ndi\.
20
centuries ; and towards the middle of the hitter
some of the most eminent writers of Christendom
had vigorously opposed the novelty of transub-
stantiation.' In the following century perhaps,
while the Northmen and Hungarians cruelly
ravaged various provinces of the West, and an
ambitious nobility, whose privileges and power
rendered them so many independent rulers,
stripped the Church of its property, and diverted
ecclesiastical institutions from their legitimate
objects, error was on the increase — though piety
put forth some of its fairest blossoms and bore
some of its richest fruits.^ The eleventh century
too witnessed an opposition to false doctrine.^
And if towards its close the claims of the Papacy
were generally acknowledged, we must remember
that such was the state of the times, that the
establishment of an ecclesiastical monarchy,
though a manifest violation of its original con-
1 Tlie book of Paschasius Radbertus (Abbot of Corbie) " de
corpore et sanguine Domini," written in 831, is allowed to have been
the earliest exposition of the Romish doctrine. The views which
it advocated were expressly opposed by Rhabanus Maurus, (Arch-
bishop of Mentz,) Ratramne, (a monk of Corbie,) and our country-
man, Joannes Scotus Erigena ; and incidental expressions of several
other writers of the centur}- shew that transubstantiation was not
then the received doctrine of the Church,
2 I would here make a general reference to the papers on the
Dark Ages, which during the last two years have appeared in the
British Magazine.
•' I allude to the controversy with Berengarius.
21
stitution, undoubtedly afforded present relief and
safety to the Church.^
In the middle of the twelfth century, "the last
of the Fathers" ^ was called to his rest, and the
Schoolmen then became the doctors of the Church.
From that era the current theology rapidly tended
towards the form presented by the modern doc-
trines of Rome. Still, however, there were few
barriers^ raised against the possibility of a return
to a Scriptural model. It was the social corrup-
tion, and those irregularities of the Clergy that
were in so great a degree to be attributed to the
Romish system now in full activity, which formed
the great scandal of Christendom. The mendi-
cant Orders — an invention of the adherents of
the Papacy, not the native growth of any national
church — spread superstition and ignorance among
the vulgar ; while the rise of modem litcn-ature,''
1 Tlie great error of the adlieronls of tlie cliurcli of Home
has been in consecrating abuses. In mistaking a particular position
of the church for its natural condition. The pajiary wius during a
certain period an instrument of good. Like the (hctatorship, it was
salutary in its season— a tyranny when made perpetual.
2 St. Bernard (Abbot of Clairvaux) died in ll,').'}. The
" Master of the S<>ntences," (Peter Iyoml)ard, JJishop of Paris,
11.59 — I KV4, ) was therefore his contemporary.
^ I'ield, of the Church, l^jok iii. i hap 7, and .\|i|i' ndix to
Book III.
* It is well for it to be distimtly borne in miml, tliat tin* niaicli
of intellect, though proceeding in our own times under peculiar
Hrf^im^tiincpM, i« no nmi'lfy. It rommencod crrtninly us e«rly
22
niul, somewhat later, the enthusiastic study of
the ancient chissics among the higher and more
learned classes of society, tended to draw oil' men's
minds from religion altogether. It was not,
however, till the German Reformation had shaken
the whole fiihric of the Papal ascendancy, and the
church of England had reasserted her indepen-
dence of foreign domination, that the Romish
party took the last fatal step, and intrenched it-
self in an unsocial and schismatical position, from
which it would almost seem that it cannot he
dislodged hut hy some signal interference of the
providence of God.
So much then for the first consideration, namely,
that the state of the Church during the middle
ages is generally misapprehended.
II. I now come to the second position I ven-
tured to lay down, namely, that allowing (as I
freely do,) that the Church was during that long
interval greatly under the influence of supersti-
tion and error, this was not the case to such a
degree, or in such a way, as to involve any vio-
lation of the promise contained in the text.
as tlie thirteenth century. No one doubts the acuteness and
industry of the early Schoolmen, who were in their way as much
men of a " movement" as the German Rationalists. Italy, at all
events, before the end of that century, possessed a national litera-
ture. Dante was born in 123.5. And in the following century,
Boccaccio and Petrarca, and Chaucer too, were, m tliought and
feeling, moderno.
23
In all inquiries of this natuir we ought con-
stantly to rememl)er, that it is aljsolntely impos-
sible for US to determine what quantity of gospel
truth is necessary for salvation,and that we are
quite unable to decide what amount of error Is
compatible with the soul's eternal safety. The
whole tenor of Scripture leads us to conclude that
what God regards in man is not the extent of his
know^ledge, but the sincerity of his faith ; and that
when the soul has cordially received the revealed
truth, whatever it may be, which is made known
to it, it is in a justified state, and has a personal
interest in the mercy of the gospel.' '' The
righteousness which is of faith speakcth in this
wise." ... '' That if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy
heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt l)e saved. "'^ Ignorance and error are
part of the lot of man in his present state of
degradation. At the ])est, " we have the treasure"
which (lod lias imparted "ineartlini vessels.""*
The analogy of Scripture would lead us to tliink
that there has never been a Saint, however great
his knowledge and holiness, who has attained on
earth a full conception of the whole scheme of
• "Nihil pcriciili, vcl damnationin inest liio, (|ui sunt in Cliristo
Jesn, ab ipso illuminali p(!r fidem." 'I'lioni. A(iuin. Secunda 2u«.
q. 2, :ir. .'J.
2 Rnm. X. r,, W. ' -1 Cnr. iv. "•
21
salvation. \\\* coinniouly jiult^f upon this prin-
ciple of those around us. We make allowances
for those who differ from what we believe to be
the truth, on the ground of the imperfection of
the human understanding, and because we think
that certain dangerous errors and practices are
still compatible w^ith sincerity and the love of
truth. Let us carry this charity with us in our
inquiries into the past history of the Church, and
be equally candid in estimating the errors of an
opposite character* to those on which we are
so ready to look with indulgence.
The Church was setup as the pillar and ground
of the truth. The faith and the inspired docu-
ments to which in the providence of God the
faith was committed, were consigned to its keep-
ing. And so far as relates to its fidelity to this
solemn trust, the promise of God is pledged for
its indefectibility. Now the faith^ committed to
the Church was evidently the great fundamental
truth, "that God was in Christ reconciling the
world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses
J Note C, in the Appendix.
2 " Tiiis is then the foundaticm whereupon the frame of the
Gospel is erected ; that very Jesus whom the Virgin conceived of
the Holy Ghost, whom Simeon embraced in his arms, whom Pilate
condemned, wliom the Jews crucified, whom the Apostles preached,
lie is Christ, the Lord, the only Saviour of the world : other fou7t-
dation can no man lai/," Hooker, Discourse of Justification, § 23,
Works, vt)l. II r. p. 454. Edit. 1820.
25
unto tliem." This was " the word of reconcili-
ation" which under the Gospel God committed to
his ministers. And this the Church has ever
faithfully preserved.' The doctrines of the
Trinity and the Incarnation she has ever main-
tained inviolate. Just as the Jewish Church, in
spite of all its transgressions and corruptions, did
its office in preserving the know^ledge of the unity
of God : so the Christian Church has under all
the circumstances of its history, maintained the
peculiar doctrines of the Gospel. Through the
times of the greatest darkness she has confessed
the faith in the very same terms as we do. The
thre3 creeds have, ever since they were first em-
ployed, distinctly exhibited the doctrines of the
Church. This is surely a signal proof of the
Saviours presence. For the greater we suppose
the ignorance and corruption of the Middle Ages,
the more difficult must it have been to preserve
soundness of doctrine in the most mvstcrious sub-
jects of Christianilv.
Well, Ijiit you aHow that there wore errors —
' " Dixit DoniinuM C'liristiis, prtrdicabilur Evcmgelium in laii-
vetKO mundo, :ti) noii jxTiliicluiii est ad cxitmii f Item illml ; et
porta- infer t nun jira-valibuut adversun h'ccU-.siam, id est, !id\ crsuM
fidom nosfram, an hoc fnlsuni oxtitit ? an non extiteruiil plmimi
ha-rcsiarcliif, t} runni |>(i(ontiw*iiiii, ct Kegt'» iinpii, qui fuli'in oppug-
naniiil, necpic iaiin*ii potiicriint vinccrc cam, rf oxtinguerc ?"
Ana.^ta>tiiiM Althas cotitra .Jiidii-os, a|). CnniHii lyrlionc* .Ant. IsHif.
fia^nRgf. 'f'oni. ri. I', rii. p. I.^.
c
■26
yes, undoubtedly, serious and pernicious errors.
There was much superstiton, much ignorance, and
consequently much error. The imagination got
to have too much scope in holy things. Opinions
of uninspired men, and perversions of scriptural
truths, gradually came to be regarded as part of
Christianity. The superstitious practices of en-
thusiasts were admired and imitated. An extrava-
gant veneration for the sacraments tended to pro-
duce, what at last it did almndantly produce, false
doctrine and formality. We allow all this. Yet
we still believe that Christ was with his Church'
and his Ministers. For why might he not be ?
Surely he did not promise, w^hen he engaged to
be vy^ith them to the end of the world, that the
outward condition of society should continue un-
changed. He did not promise that mankind
should maintain the same degree of civilization.
But it is quite clear that all changes affecting the
condition of society must have more or less influ-
ence on the Church. What grew up within the
Church, was the natural result of what was going
on without. For the Church to have maintained
an uniform position in intelligence and sound
doctrine, the state of society must have remained
uniform too. We cannot help seeing that the one
could not but have affected the other. As society
1 Note D, in the Appendix.
27
passed from the state in which it existed under the
Roman Empire, and assumed that form of greater
simplicity which it bore through the greater part
of the Middle Ages, it was inevitable that so
great a change should tell upon the Church.
Men in whom the imagination predominated
over the intellect, who were affected more by
feeling than by reasoning, craved after something
more material and sensible than what was sup-
plied by the letter of revelation, and they gradu-
ally adopted the growth of their own hearts as
part of the substance of their religious opinions.
This was just what was to have been expected.
It was after all, very much what had come to pass
in the divinely constituted " commonwealth of
Israel." Unless God had made such changes in
his providential government of the world as would
perhaps have interfered witli man's free-agency,
we see not how it could have been otherwise.
The facts I liavc conceded cannot fairly be urged
against the fuUilmcnt of our Lord's inoniise. l)e-
causc his ])rf)misc only ciii^aizcd Iiim 1o iircscrvc
the fundamental |)rinci|)les oi' the gos|)(l. and to
make them of jiractical eflicacy on ihc human
heart.
1 have hitlicrto su[)|)Osc(l the corrujjtious which
grew up in the ("liurch during tiie period we liave
in view, the natural effect of known causes, and
regarded them as being counteractive, so to speak.
c; 2
28
of tlio purposes intended Ijy the Divine Author
of Christianity. I might perhaps safely go a
step further, and ask if there is not reason to
think that they were made the means of pro-
ducing most important good ? Nations in the
condition in which the inhabitants of We&tern
Europe were during the times in question, needed
much visible recognition of spiritual truths ; and
the very errors of the Church tended to cover the
face of the earth with the outward marks of re-
ligion. It is not easy to see how they could have
been preserved from absolute barbarism but by
the controlling influence of the priesthood ; and
minds such as theirs would have been little likely
to yield to this moral power but at the call of
superstition. Heathen tribes were to be con-
verted ; and we have been taught by our own
experience, that unless Omnipotence visibly in-
terfere, that is an object not easily or speedily
accomplished, when Christianity is presented to
them in its native purity, and is recommended
to them merely by moral suasion. As we can-
not see how in the usual order of the Divine
government, the state of religion could have been
otherwise than it was during the Middle Ages,
so we ought to be cautious how we venture to
pronounce that it was desirable that it should
have been otherwise. Let us take care that we
do not rashly assail a great and important chapter
29
in the history of God's dealings with our species.
He who gave the Gospel, surely best knew, how
it would most effectually promote the benefit of
mankind.
To doubt that the Gospel was at work even in
the most corrupt periods of those times, is not
only to close our ears against the testimony of
contemporary history, but to shut our eyes to
what we might see around us. The writings of
contemporary annalists and biographers abound
with the most beautiful instances of the triumphs
of Divine grace. And when kings, and priests,
and penitents, yea and books too, have passed
away, — their good deeds are fresh and blooming
still. Our fairest temples and our noblest cha-
rities are most of them due to the worst portion
of those times — I mean the later portion — when
the march of improvement was fast bearing down
the simplicity of the earlier period. And what is
of still gr(;ater importance to us, it was then tliat
Christianity sunk so dcej) into our institutions
and legislation, thai it would recjuirt.' tlic liand of
violence to uproot it. \\ hilc, therefore, we arc;
thankful to the gracious Ciivcr for our greater
privih'gcs, ht lis krep up ii; our hearts •' the
communion of saints,' by entertaining a grateful
sense of what we owe to the ancient (liurcli !
Ihil I liave trespassed (juite h)ng enougli upon
your attention. Ms brethren, we li\e in unusual
30
times — in times of great excitement. 1 make
not allusion to the fact as intending to recur to
any exciting to])ic of present interest. It has
been a gratification to nie to liave been al)le to
select a subject for my discourse that is little of
kin to our every day matters of communication.
It is ever a privilege to be able to travel away
from the turmoil of the present into the dignified
stillness of the past. But let us not return un-
improved. We need all the comfort and all the
wisdom we can gather for our support and guid-
ance. i\.nd there is much, very much, to instruct
us, both in the fidelity with which the Lord has
observed his promise, and in the corruptions which
have been allowed to mar the beauty of the
Church. While the words of the text shine
brightly on the page of revelation we cannot
want consolation. The Church is founded upon
a rock ; and it is unbelief to doubt the gracious
promise, " Lo, I am with you alway, even unto
the end of the world."
We have seen that the chief danger of the
Church is in not adhering to ancient and Scrip-
tural principles, but in taking up the feelings of
the times and in working them into religion.
Let it be our care to search out and abide by the
great fundamental principles of the Gospel — to
cling to the truth which is taught in the word of
God : and where there is anv doubt about its
31
interprelutioii, to employ the noble canon of re-
ceiving " what has been always, and universally,
and everywhere received in the Church."^
Perhaps one of the most important lessons we
learn from inquiries of this nature is, the danger
there is in excessive opposition even to obvious
corruptions. There are many of the errors of the
Church of Rome that are hut exaggerated repre-
sentations of acknowledged truths. Many spring
from valuable and important principles. Let us
take care that we do not push our opposition too
far.^ Let us take care that while we attempt to
1 Ciim sit perfectus Scripturaruni canon, sibique ad omnia
satis, superque sufficiat, quid opus est ut ei ecclesiasticic intcUi-
genti.t jungatur auctoritas ? Quia videlicet Scripturam sacram pro
ipsa sua altitudine non uno eodemque sensu universi accipiunt; sed
ejusdem eloquia aliter atque aliter alius atque alius interpretatur ; ul
pent' quot homines sunt, tot illinc scntentia- enii posse videantur. —
In ipsa item catliolica Ecclesia magnopere lurandum est, ut id
teneamus quod ubique, quod semj)er, quod ab onuiibus creditum est.
Hoc est etenim vere proprieque, catholicuni (quod ipsa vis nominis
rati(ique dccjarat) quod omnia fere universaliter comj)reIicndit.
Sed hoc ita demuni tiet si sequamur univeisilalem, antiquitateiu,
consensionom. Scqucmur :iu(em universitatem hoc modo, si hant
unam tidem veram esse latcamur, quam (uta |)er orbeni terraruni
confitetur Kcdesia. Aniiquitatem vero ita, si ab his seiisibus nulhi-
tenuH recedamus, quos sancUjs Majores ac I'atrcs nostros «'elobiiisse
manifestum est. Consensioncm quoquc itidcm, si in ipsii vcdistafe,
omnium Sacordotum pariler el Magi^lrorum (K'fmitiones sentoii-
tiasque secfiMiiur. Vincent. I/criii. ( 'omnmnit. |) ."{17, •ilH. Jviit.
Halo/.
' Qui nnir«- f|i' finji«'n<l(» (Mnirr Hoiicilus eHl, lanlmuquf* Iiuju'-
modi "ktudio intti")!!, ul xcriliili ipi fi<lem B'ljunci'ic n^m'l, aul illaiii
'A2
cut away the excrescences, we do not wound the
precious substance to which they have adhered.
If any of us are called to controversy, let us be
careful in the choice of our weapons, and jealous
over ourselves that we engage in a right spirit,^
There is no real good to be effected for any cause
by loose charges and ignorant or half-learned
declamation, by passionate extravagance and ill-
digested arguments.^ We can expect to be useful
in this field only when we possess an intimate and
extensive acquaintance with the subjects in dis-
pute, and contend for the faith in a sincere and
honest love of truth.
It must be quite unnecessary for me to remind
sibi insectandam sumat, ubique fallaciam sibi metuens: alia quidem>
via impingit, sed tamen impingit in errorem. Dubitare autem
possumus, utri miseriores sint, an qui errorem contrahunt ob cau-
tionis defectum ; an qui veritatem repudiant ob ejusdem cautionis
excessum. Muratori, de Ingeniorum Moderatione in Religionis-
Negotio. Lib. 1, c. 2, p. 14. Edit. 17/9.
1 Hujus adventui plenum expectationis obsequium pra;be-
amus. Nee defendi ante Dominum servi irreligiosa et inverecunda
festinatione properemus. S. C^yprianus, de bono Patientia^ p. 220.
Edit. Oxon.
2 Tam solicite, cauteque Veritas investiganda, atque prodenda
est, ut Christianae simul Caritatis, ut modestise, ut justitiae maxima
ratio habeatur. Quamobrem maledictis, et conviciis perpetuo absti-
nendum, calumnite non segnius, quam pestis fugiendae ; hominem
graven! ars mimica, virulentai irrisiones, declan)ationesque, minime
decent ; in errores vero potius, quam in errantes dimicandum j,
tibique, vel quum triumphas de errore deprehenso, exuenda omnis*
ambitio. Muratori, in opere supra litato, lib. rir. c 14, p. 577.
33
you, my Kevereud Brethren, tliat it is our obvious
duty to seek diligently the information* -which
may qualify us " to give an answer to every
man that asketh us a reason of the hope that is
in us,"^ and that we have solemnly devoted our-
selves to the work of providing our Hocks with
the bread of life. But whatever degree of pro-
ficiency we may attain in professional studies,
may He " who alone worketh great marvels" en-
able us all faithfully to preach the Gospel — to
teach our people to rest their hopes of salvation
on the one foundation, Jesus Christ, to look for
the preventing and assisting help of the Holy
Spirit, to live in prayer, to ''adorn the doctrine
of God our Saviour in all things."^ Al)ove all,
may He make us such in our lives, that we may
in our measure be able to say to them with the
Apostle, " Be ye followers of me, even as I also
am of Christ."*
To you, my l)rethrcn of the laity, I will only
say, that we anxiously desire your lovi'. your
conticU'iicc. your co-ojx'ratiou. (iod allows you
the honour of greatly liclpiiig u^ in oui- work.
Without disturljint^ (•cclcsiastical oidci-, all may
assist in making known the Ciospcl of Peace.
TTonoinable as it is publiel) to |)ror]aim tlie trntli,
it is not h'SS excellent to henelit our fellow men
' Nod* K, in tin- ,\|»|)<'iiilix.
■J I IVt. III. I.'). •■• Til. II. 10. * I (or. M. I.
34
))y our liolinoss aiul oviv prayers.' May avc all
prfach ])y our lives ! May the Holy spirit cause
the light of faith to burn brightly in us, and may
Ave " let our light so shine before men, that they
may see our good works, and glorify our Father
which is in heaven,"^ and confess that with us at
least is fulfilled the Saviour's promise, " Lo, I
am with you ahvay, even unto the end of the
world."
' KjiXov to oia 'Koym u<psX£7v Tolg 'Ssvv&avoiJ.BVovi' iiDii<T<TOv
0£, TO o\ apETrii xcci 7rpO(Teux*ii (Tuvipym ai/ToTg • o yap ^la, tovtuv
iauTov 7rpo<T(pspci)v tw Oeu, $ov6eT km tu irk'Ka; ^la, tou i^'iou
QoYi^YiixaTOi. S. Marcus Eremita, ap. Bibl. PP. Grsecolat. Tom. i.
p. 896. A. Edit. 1624.
2 Mat. V. 16.
APPENDIX
Note A, p. 19.
It would be very unreasonable to liope to establish the view
here adopted by exiiibiting a nunii)er of extracts from writers of the
period. But I cannot forbear taking advantage of the opportunity
to introduce a few passages which many excellent persons would
little expect to find in writers of the ninth century. " Infer hac
omnia caveat fidelis, ne omnino vel in modico in propriis viribus
prK'sumat, sed de Dei adjutorio, ut ad finem bonorum pervenire, vol
in bono possit opere perdurare : quia Dominus ait : Si/w vie nihil
potestin facere. Kt Apostolus ; Dens est (/ui operatur in lobis et
telle et jjerficere pro bona voluntate. Et iterum : Ciratiii salvi facli
estiis per fidem, ct hocitntier vobis. Kt iterum: A' on quod idonei
nimu.s cogitari' nli(juid a nobis ipiasi ex nobis, sed sujficientia nosim
ex Deo est. I"]t Dominus : AVwo potest fenire tid wr, nisi Paler,
qui misit me, trcuerit eiiw. Midta Dcus facil in homine bona, (jua-
non farit homo ; nulla vero facit homo bona, (jua- non Dcus pra-stet
ut faciat homo. Suam namque vdhmtatcm homines fariunt, non
Dei, (piandt) id aguni quod Deo displicet. Qiiando autom ila faciunt
quod voluni ul di\in;i' scrviant \olunlali ; (piamvis volcntcs agani
quod agunt, illius taiiien voluntas est a (pio el pra-paralur c>t jultclur
qund volunt. Talcs nos annt Dcus, (jualcs fuluri sunuis ipsinn
dono, nor. qualcs Mumiis nosiro mcrilo. Sua l»onn Dcus pra-videt,
|ir;r^fii, ;idju»a), I'l rcmuncrat in n<il>i-. N'cmn bonus ni^i Hohi"
3()
Dous, ((111 lion est alterius buiu) bonus. Homines auteni, non pro-
prio, sed Dei bono, sunt boni ; qui est fons et oiigo bonltatis ; immo
qui est bonitas, a quo oinne bonum, et sine quo nihil boni." S.
Agobavdus, (Archbishop of Lyons, 81G— 840,) do Fidei Veritate,
0. XIII. Opera, Tom. ii. p. 22, 23. Kdit. Baluz " Subtihter igitur
expendat fidelis examinator et pius, quanta fuerit hominis iniquitas,
quam nee (|uisquam hominum, net; quilibet angelorum, nisi Dei
soUus sanguis valuit expiare. Nee se mereri aliud quam supphcium
credat homo, qui post purgationem bai)tismatis, qua etiam parvulis
legni coelestis janua aperitur, tametsi qusrdain (Hgua venia suspi-
catur se gossisse magis quam novit. JMulta sunt tamen plura, super
quibus divini judicii severitatem formidet. Quamquam etiam de
bene gestis timendum est, cum tantus vir dicat, omnes justitias
noatrae quasi panniis memtruatce. Justitia enim nostra, hcet inter-
dum coram liominibus splendeat opere et sermone, in conspectu Dei
sordescit prava cDgitatione." Servatus Ijupus ( Abbot of Ferrieres,
842 -8G2) de tribus quwst. ap. Sirmondi Opera. Tom. ii. col. 950. A.
Edit. Venet. " Nullus tollit peccata, nisi ille de quo dictum est, Ecce
Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccata mundi : cui nullum bonum homi-
iiis impossibde, nullum malum est insanabile. Quomodo autem
Apostolus Petrus ostendit (|ui ait, Non corruptibilibus argenfo vel
auro redempti estis de vand vestrd contersat ione paternae traditionis,
sed pretioso sanguine quasi ugni incontaminati et immaculati Christi."
Florus Magister (Deacon of Lyons, 852.) de Missa. in Bibl. PP.
Tom. IV. col. 660. d. Edit. 1575.
Note B, p. 19.
The Council of Frankfort, (794,) in its second Canon, (Concil.
Labbe, Tom. vii. col. 1057- d.) condemned the second Council of
Nice, which in 787 had established the worship of images in the
Eastern Church. T!ie Cliurch of England had already taken the
same line of conduct. " Anno 792, Carolus rex Francorum misit
synodalem librum ad Britanniam, sibi a Constantinopoli directum, in
quo libro (heu proh dolor) multa inconvenientia, et verae fidei con-
traria reperiebantur ; maxiine, quod pene omnium oiientalium
37
doctorum nou minus quam trecentoruiu, vel eo aiiipliiis episcoporuin
unanima assertione oonfirmatum fuerit, imagines adorari debere,
quod omnino ecclesia Dei execratur. Contra quod sciipsit All)inus
epistolam ex authoritate divinarum scripturarum mirabiliter affir-
matam ; illamque cum eodem libro ex persona Episcoporum, ac
principum nostrorum regi Francorum attulit." Rogeri de Hoveden
Annal. ap. Scriptores post Bedam. And the Council of Paris,
(824,) which also condemned image worship, thus complained of
the conduct of the see of Rome : " Maximum voliis in eo obstaculum
erat, eo quod pars ilia, quae debebat errata corrigere, suaque aucto-
ritate hujusce superstitionis errori obniti, ipsa prorsus eidem super-
stitioni, non solum resistere, verum etiam incauta defensione contra
auctoritatem divinam et SS. Patrum dicta nitebatur suffiagari."
Synod. Paris, ad Ludov. et Lotharium Imp. It is proper to state,
that as I have not at present access to tiie collections of Goldastus,
(Imperialia Decreta de cultu Imaginum,) or Mansi, (Concil. Tom.
XIV.) I liave copied the last extract from Dr. Gieseler. LeI.rbuch der
Kirchengeschichte. 2en BandesErsteAbtheilung, s. 80. Bonn, 1831.
Agobard, who, according to his editor, the learned and moderate
Baluze, only spoke the sentiments which were then universally
entertained in France, (Not. ad Lil)rum de Imag.) thus phiinly ex-
pressed his opinion: " Quicunque ali(|uam picturam, vel fusilcm
sive ductilem adorat statuam, non exhibet cuitum Deo, non honorat
angelos, vel homines sanctos, sed simulachra veneratur. Agit hoc
nimirum versutus et callidus humani generis inimicus, ut sub pra;-
textu honoris sanctorum, rursus idola inlroducat, rursus per divcrsas
efligics adoretur; ut avertat nos ab spiritahbiis, ad carnaHa vero
demergat ; ac per omnia simus digni ab .Aposlolo audirc : () insrn-
sati, ({uis ros fcuscinavil ? — ^ec iterum ad sua laliljuia frauduienla
rccurrat astutia, ut dicat se non imagines sanctorum adorare, sed
sanctos. Ciumat enim Deus : (lloriain ttwam til/cri iinti i/aho, 7icc
laudem meam Kculplilibus. — Si autem aUcpiis homo adoratur, m-I
anpehis, pia-lcr enin <)iii et D<mis »•• homo et summi esse consihi
angelus, Prupliela testante, pcrliibotiir, non est aliud nomen quod
sit \el super hoc nomen (|ut)(l est super omne nomen, nut H'(|uah'
ilh. Sc<l quia niilhiM Deo aquah", nullns nlins esflcntiaiitcr Jesus,
id est, .'salvator, cxislit, rredamus Apostolo, ccdamus divin.-r
ancforiLnli ; (lorfamus gomi in nomine ^nliiis Jcvu, (pirMl (•"( «iqioi
ninuo iionicii ; iic si iilteri liiiiic lioiunciii liil)uiimis, alieiii jmlii'i--
mur a Deo, et liimittiimur secunilum dosidi'iia cmilis iiostri ire
ill adinventionibus nostris." Liber dc liiiap;-inibus. Tom. l.j). 2!54,
2()7.
Note C, p. 24.
Though the remarks heie made have no immediate reference to
the present church of Rom(% I cannot forbear quoting the following
passage. " Upon this very point (that we acknowledge an honest
ignorant Papist may be saved) you and }'our like w^ork upon the
advantage of our charity, an:l your own want of it, to abuse the weak.
For thus I am told you work upon them. ' You see the Protestants
(at least many of them) confess there may be salvation in our
church ; we absolutely deny there is salvation in tbeir's : Therefore
it is safer to come to our's, than to stay in their's ; to be where
almost all grant salvation, than where the greater part of the world
deny it,' This argument is very prevailing with men that cannot
weigh it, and with women especially, that are put in fear by violent
(though causeless) denying heaven unto them. — But though this
argument prevails with th ; weak, yet it is much stronger in the
cunning, than the true force of it. For all arguments are very
moving, that lay their ground upon the adversaries' confession,
especially if it be confessed and avouched to be true. But if you
W'Ould speak truly, and say, ' Many Protestants indeed confess,
there is salvation possi!)le to be attained in the Roman church ; but
they say withal, that the errors of that cliurch are so many (and
some so great, as weaken the foundation) that it is very hard to go
that way to heaven, especially to them that have had the truth mani-
fested ;' the heart of this argument were utterly broken." Con-
ference with Fi.sher. §. 3.5, p. 185, 186. Edit. 1686.
Note D, p. 26.
*' They are not all faithless that are weak in assenting to the
truth, or stiff in maintaining things opposite to the truth of Chris-
tian doctrine. Rut as many as hold the foundation which is precious,
:>9
though they hold it but weakly, and as it were with a slender thread,
although they frame many base and unsuitabl-^ things upon it,
things that cannot abide the trial of the fire ; yet shall they pass the
fiery trial and be saved, which indeed have builded themsehes upon
the rock, which is the foundation of the Church. If then our Fathers
did not hold the foundation of faith, there is no doubt but they were
faithless. If many of them held it, then is therein no impediment,
but many of them might be saved." Hooker, Discourse of Justifica-
tion. § 14. Works, vol. in. p. 442. Afterwards he goes on to show
that they did hold the " foundation." — But even the testimony of
Hooker is of less importance for the purpose for which I cite it, than
the following very remarkable passage of the great Sa.xon Reformer.
Luther thus expresses himself on this very subject in his letter on
the opinions of the Anabaptists. Vol. iv. p. .375, of the Altenburg
edition of his Works. " Wir bekennen aber, dass unter dem Paps-
tumb viel Christliches gutes, ja alles Christlich gut sey, und auch
daselbst herkommen sey an uns: Nemlich, wir bekennen, dass ini
Pamstumb die rechte heiliche SchrifFt sey, rechte Taufte, recht Sa-
crament des Altars, rechte Schliissel zur Vergebung der Siinde,
recht Predigampt, rechter Catechisnnis, als zehen Gebot, die Artickel
desGlaubens, das Vater unser." Of which the following translation
is as literal as I can make it. " We acknowledge however, that
under the Papacy there is mmh Christianity, yea ull Christianity,
and moreover that the same is thence derived to us : That is to say,
we acknowledge, that in the Papacy there is the true Bible, true
Baptism, true .Sacrament of the Altar, true keys for the remission of
sins, true oflice of preaching, true catechising, for instance tlie Ten
Commandinent.s, the Articles of tiie Creed, the I^ord's Prayer."
Surely I need no other apology for w hat some perhaps may deem
excessive diarifv.
Note E, p. .'i.'l.
" D.ita est vobis quu-dam urbs pro|)ria, rives rdigiosi, in (piu »i
roncorditer et spiritualiter, Domino pnrstanle, transigitis, cddeslis
jam patri.i; pmfiguratione paurlctis. Nojile amnre dcsidiani, (piam
Domino i-fignfiscitii ddiomini J'r;r'Kl("i \ribi<i sjnl Siiiii-tJiinni Si ii|i-
>'•.
10
turarmii iiistniinentu dugiuatii'a fuai oxpositoiibiis suis, qui veri
sunt Horiferi campi, ctrlestis paradisi ponia siuu ia, luidc ct tuleles
anima' salubriter imbuantiir, vt lin;;iuc vestrx' non caduco, sed fruc-
tifero niniis insJruantur eloquio. Qiiapropter desiderantor introite
my>teria Domini, ut sequentlbus iter indicare possitis, quia magna-
verccundia- pondus est iiabore quod legas, et ignorare (uiod doceas."
Cassiodor. Institut. Divin. Lictionum, c. 32. ap, Bibl. PP. Tom. vi.
col. 77. E. Edit. 1575. Never was the admonition of Erasmus
more suitable than it is at present. " Videtis jam inverti mundi
scenam : aut deponenda est persona, aut agendse sunt sue cuique
partes." Colloquia, p. 230. Londini, 1773.
THE END.
Bi/ the same Author,
A LETTER to the Rev. S. R. MAITLAND, on the
OPINIONS of the PAULICIxVNS. 8vo. 2.v.
UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY
ilhli ill
AA 000 563 999 2
THE folloidng Sermon was preached without the least
idea of its publication, which was requested immediately after
the service of the Sunday evening on which it was pronounced.
It appears as it was delivered, with the exception only of the
extract from the Jpjjendix to the Report of the Hibernian
Society. The Author requests that his friends and congre^
gation will receive it as a token of his affectionate good zoill.
As to the sentiments it contains, they are, it is hoped, derived
from the blessed word of God: the fears it expresses result
from the invariable testimony of experience upon the subject
to which they relate. The whole matter is referred to God,
who *' doeth according to his will among the armies of heaven
and the inhabitants of the earth," with fervent prayers that
his blessing may accompany this effort to advance the glory of
his name.
The Author of this Sermon feels gratified by the rapid sale
of the first edition, and the demand ichich is still made for it.
This reconciles him completely to its publication. He has
added a few notes to explain and to confirm the assertions he
has felt it necessary to make.
Cjmberwell,
October 10, 18J2.