'H \ 
 
 
 
 .^- i i *' : 

 
 L I B R.AR.Y 
 
 OF THL 
 
 U N I VER_S ITY 
 
 or ILLI NOIS
 
 ^,._^ ^<^.v.^='^-' 
 
 A LETTER, 
 
 ADDRESSED TO THE 
 
 EVANGELICAL MEMBERS OF THE 
 CHURCH OF ENGLAND, 
 
 IN CONSEQUENCE OF 
 
 J^n Appeal bg ti)f Uicar of Islington. 
 
 BY 
 
 THE REV. THOMAS BOWDLER, A.M. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 JAMES DARLING, GREAT QUEEN STREET; LINCOLN'S 
 INN FIELDS. 
 
 AND 
 
 U SOUTH SAINT ANDREW STEEET, EDINBURGH. 
 1850. 
 
 J
 
 1. N D N : 
 Printed by G . Barclay, Castle St. Leicester Sq.
 
 A LETTER, 
 
 Sfc. Sfc. 
 
 My dear Brethren, 
 
 Suffer, I pray you, a word, addressed witli no 
 unkind intention, by one who, though he may shrink 
 from assuming the appellation by which you are 
 called, would desire to be what that word imports, in 
 heart and life, in speech and action. It is, I presume, 
 the acknowledged title of that portion of the meuibers 
 of the Chm'ch of England to whom Mr. Wilson has 
 addressed his " Appeal." He makes what may be 
 deemed an apology for applying the term " Roman- 
 izing" to a certain party, to which he is strongly 
 opposed; but the title " Evangelical" is put prominently 
 forward, and must, therefore, be taken as that by 
 which you are to be known and distinguished. And I 
 could find in my heart to congratulate you upon your 
 possession of it. None, surely, can be better suited 
 to mark the disciples of Hiin Avhose office was to
 
 preach the Gospel, and by whose Spirit we all desire 
 to be guided and animated. One could say of it, as 
 was beautifully said of a kindred name, used as a 
 party distinction, and, alas ! " bandied in derision's 
 game," — 
 
 " Ob, give me but some sign, 
 Some seal, to prove tbe title mine ; 
 And warmer tbanks tbou sbalt command, 
 Than bringing kingdoms in thine hand." 
 
 Only let the style and title be a true sign of the 
 temper of those who enjoy it : let that be spoken of 
 them, and more than that, which was said of the early 
 Christians ; not only, Behold how these Evangelicals 
 love one another ! but. Behold how they love even those 
 whom they count their enemies ! 
 
 I would willingly discover a proof of this in the 
 " party term," by which Mr. Wilson, with some ex- 
 pression of regret, designates those to whom he is 
 strongly opposed. Ill suited as is the title of " Ro- 
 manizers " to them, and unjust towards them, yet, like 
 the term " Tractarians," it affords encom*agement of an 
 approach towards a greater exercise of charity, that 
 the name of an individual, loved and honoured for his 
 many virtues, even by those who differ from him ; 
 and especially for possessing, beyond most men, those 
 graces which the Apostle has set before us, as " the 
 fruits of the Spirit ; " should be no longer " bandied 
 in derision's game." We can hope better things. 

 
 and rejoice in the hope, when we think we see the 
 shaft of ridicule put into the quiver, instead of trem- 
 bhng upon the string, and shooting out bitter words ; 
 of wliich he is the last man who should supply — I 
 blush to speak it — a nickname for party use, and a 
 jest for fools. 
 
 But if the Romanizers, as they are called, submit 
 to bear the reproach, waiting till their principles 
 being better understood, and their adherence to the 
 Clim'ch, shall prove the injustice of it, let not things 
 that they know not be laid to their charge — things 
 which would make them traitors to the cause of truth 
 and godliness ; whicli they shudder to read of, even 
 among the followers of Socinus, or avowed Deists. I 
 know not what means of judging them Mr. Wilson 
 may possess, nor whom he would bring within the 
 broad sweeping censure of Romanizing; many per- 
 haps, if not all, who hold strongly and essentially the 
 doctrine of Regeneration in Baptism, and esteem 
 highly the privilege of daily Church services and fre- 
 quent Communion, as special means of grace ; who, 
 without extravagance or excess, would do honour to 
 the Sacraments, and therefore " withdi'aw the reading- 
 desk and pulpit from the centre of the Church, in 
 order to give a full view of the sacred Table." Of 
 Romanizing preachers he asserts, — " The gracious 
 invitations of the Gospel are kept out of sight ; the 
 great atonement for sin passed over ; the Cross of
 
 Christ seldom alluded to ;" and more, much more, 
 which it were painful to record.* 
 
 Far from me and my friends be the substitution of 
 Heathen philosophy for Gospel truth ! But far too 
 be the mind which can make statements such as this, 
 and more, many more such, which a spirit of truth and 
 meekness will be loth to describe in suitable terms ! 
 To " preach Christ crucified, as the power of God, 
 and the wisdom of God," has been with us, at once 
 the foundation of all doctrinal instruction, and the 
 moving principle in every exhortation to godliness of 
 living. 
 
 It puts me to shame that I should thus take 
 upon myself to answer for my brethren. But it may 
 be permitted, perhaps, to refer to forms of devotion 
 which are likely to be of common use among them. 
 Perhaps, about this hour of the present day, there 
 may be many who are praying after Archbishop 
 Laud, — " Look upon me, O Lord, but not till thou 
 hast nailed my sins to the Cross of Christ ; not till 
 thou hast bathed me in the Blood of Christ ; not till 
 I have hid myself in the Wounds of Christ ; that so 
 the punishment which should else overtake me may 
 pass over me : then look, and say unto my soul, I have 
 forgiven thee ; and by the work of thy mercy in my 
 soul make me feel it, tlu-ough Jesus Christ oiu- only 
 Lord and Saviour." Or with Bishop Andrewes, in 
 * See p. 13, &c.
 
 words which are, indeed, too solemn to be here set 
 down. Neither of these names may possibly be held 
 in much honour by some of those whom I am ad- 
 dressing ; but let it be remembered that they, the 
 depth of whose piety is so affecting, were among the 
 stoutest of antagonists that Rome has had to en- 
 counter. Or let me quote one little sentence from a 
 writer of the present day, who, as I guess, deserves, 
 without claiming it to himself, the title which you 
 bear : — " Belief of my danger, of God's love, of 
 Christ's atonement, of the Spirit's power — this would 
 make me able in Him to do all things." * Yet let 
 one passage be added from his Preface : — " To have 
 any other shelter than the Cross of Christ, is to have 
 no shelter at all. They who have any real hope seek 
 it here. This will, in His own good time, be found 
 alike the stay of all ; and the knowledge of Jesus, and 
 communion with Him, will increase hour by hour to 
 those that seek it, until the soul loses the remem- 
 brance of its own misery in the abiding sense of His 
 presence and His love." Surely if the strength of 
 the party from whom danger is apprehended be esti- 
 mated by the number of those who "keep out of 
 sight the gracious invitations of the Gospel, pass over 
 the great atonement for sin, seldom allude to the 
 Cross of Christ:" or again, either "avowedly or 
 
 * " Daily Steps towards Heaven. For Wednesday in tlie 
 Seventeenth Week after Trinity.'
 
 8 
 
 covertly reject all the great fundamental doctrines of 
 the Gospel, as laid down in the Word of God, and 
 re-asserted at the Reformation, — the spiritual work of 
 sanctification, a holy life and conversation, the fruit 
 of Divine grace in the soul ; all spiritual life and ex- 
 perimental knowledge of the truth discarded as fana- 
 tical ;" — if, I say, the strength of the party to which 
 Mr. Wilson opposes himself be reckoned by such, he 
 need scarce have dipped his pen in ink, much less 
 in gall. We could almost imagine him to have under 
 his eyes some sermons preached a century ago, when 
 the religion of nature was in vogue. So, again, of 
 those who have addressed their diocesan in censure 
 of Mr. Gorham's opinions, or who attended the great 
 meeting at St. Martin's Hall, how many are there 
 who practise bowings and prostrations towards the 
 altar ? 
 
 It is with " great heaviness and sorrow of heart" 
 that one sees occasion for making these remarks. At 
 a time when the whole united strength of the Church 
 needs to be put forth to stop the progress of Infidelity 
 on the one side, and Romanism on the other, aided, 
 both of them, by a latitudinarian Government ; when 
 many would endure to be called by a hard name, if 
 they could find a common ground upon which 
 Churchmen, who (as is supposed) differ more in 
 words than in principles, might meet, and oppose 
 their common enemies ; there is issued from a par-
 
 ticular quarter a trumpet call, summoning the forces 
 who are leagued on that side, to meet and put down 
 their adversaries. And this in a strong party-spirit. 
 For what can indicate such a temper more clearly 
 than the comprehending in one broad bill of indict- 
 ment all who differ from them, whether in outward 
 form, or essential doctrine ? We desire much to know 
 upon what authority this summons comes forth. Has 
 it the sanction of the chief among you, brethren ? 
 of those whom you would acknowledge as your 
 leaders? We will not believe it. Has it the appro- 
 bation of another high authority — the Metropolitan of 
 India ? We can hardly suppose that the Vicar of 
 Islington would stand forward, as he here does, with- 
 out the approbation of his lordship. I would not be 
 thought to intrude impertinently, in any sense of the 
 word, upon the privacy of family intercourse ; but it is 
 of much importance, when the forces are mustered for 
 the fight, that our doubts and perplexities should be 
 relieved so far as may be done. It has been under- 
 stood that several distinguished persons among you, 
 who would be thought worthy of honour, have ex- 
 pressed a difference of opinion from Mr, Gorham, and 
 stated openly that they did not hold with him. Are 
 they prepared to wink at the extreme opinions which 
 they do not approve, for the purpose of establishing 
 their own views ? to unite in taking " active measm'es 
 for removing offending members," scil. Tractarians,
 
 10 
 
 "from the Church?" to unite in adopting the Arti- 
 cles of Religion as the one basis of union ; ignoring 
 the Book of Common Prayer, to which those who 
 minister among you have declared their unfeigned 
 assent and consent ? It is a singular contrast now 
 presented to the public eye : on the one side, that of 
 an earnest striving after union among the brethren, 
 upon points where they can agree without compromise 
 of principle; and on the other, the denouncing of 
 those who differ from them, as those "who have 
 bowed the knee to Baal ;" and, " merging minor 
 differences among themselves upon subordinate points" 
 (the denial of grace given to infants in and by Bap- 
 tism being one of these I), for the sake of crushing 
 those whom they deem enemies to the truth. 
 
 It is much to be considered, and I pray you to give 
 your best attention to it, that of those who have left 
 us to seek a rest for perturbed spiiits in the Roman 
 Communion, perhaps the greater part have been bred 
 and nurtured in what are called Evangelical prin- 
 ciples. This excites no surprise among those who, 
 like our Reformers, look to the Church in the first 
 ages for truth in doctrine and worship. They see, 
 in principles half leaning to Church and half to Dis- 
 sent, a want of reality of some points upon which 
 the heart and mind may stay themselves ; a want of 
 power derived from the Divine source of power, and of 
 assurance of His presence ; a want of much that He
 
 11 
 
 has ordained in His Church for the benefit of His 
 people from the beginning. It is no marvel if such 
 as have never known the truth of apostolical succession, 
 and of a real spiritual presence of Christ, are led to 
 a vicious excess in extolling what they have hitherto 
 been taught and accustomed to hold in no esteem. It 
 is but one out of a thousand instances of the weakness 
 and perverseness of human nature ; of the manner in 
 which the author of evil turns to his own bad 
 purposes the inbred disposition of man to rush from 
 one extreme to another. Suppose now a young 
 person of a reverential tone of mind, with much 
 warmth of feehng and ardour of devotion, seeking the 
 means of giving vent to a full heart, and at the same 
 time desiring counsel and control, and the friendly 
 aid of some minister of God's word and sacraments, 
 who may speak with authority for guidance and 
 direction, hearing and resolving of doubts, and giving 
 assurance of pardon and grace ; if such a tender and 
 delicate spirit, taking delight in the services of the 
 Church, and desiring a more frequent attendance upon 
 them, and especially upon the Sacrament of Christ's 
 body and blood, should be told, as is not unlikely, 
 " Oh, you are half a Papist abeady ;" * and should in 
 
 * " Such .... is the pitiless part, 
 
 Some act by the delicate mind, 
 Kegardless of wringing and breaking a heart, 
 Already to sorrow consigned." ^
 
 12 
 
 an unlucky hour be tempted to enter the precmcts of a 
 Roman Cathohc church ; and, lured by the exhibition 
 of piety and a gorgeous ceremonial, be induced to 
 consult a priest ; who will hear the confessions of 
 the sick soul, pronounce authoritative absolution, 
 and dismiss the penitent Avith counsels and a bene- 
 diction, " Go in peace /' and all that has been before 
 regarded with horror be hid from view, or turned into 
 objects of love and veneration ; — we may mourn, and 
 blame such a one a little, and ourselves more, but 
 cannot wonder if the yearning heart find there em- 
 ployment and rest. Or suppose one of stronger 
 mind, searching after the truth, and sincere in making 
 the search, finding (as he cannot fail to do) much to 
 disappoint, and little to satisfy, in the faith and 
 practice of the Evangelical school, as embodied in 
 Mr. Wilson's " Appeal," and exhibited in some 
 churches according with, if not led by, his teaching ; 
 may he not argue thus with himself, — " The Church is 
 the pillar and ground of the truth ;" and there, there- 
 fore, is the sacred deposit to be found. And where is 
 that Church ? Not, surely, where Calvinism, or Zuing- 
 lianism (to speak more truly), is admitted upon equal 
 terms of favour with the Catholic doctrine taught in 
 every age : where a boastful display is made of adhe- 
 rence to the principles of the Reformation ; while 
 the Book of Common Prayer, which \vas then com- 
 piled, is slightly treated ; and the real presence, which
 
 13 
 
 Ridley (perhaps of greatest note among the martj-rs) 
 professed with his d}dng breath, is rudely pushed 
 aside and disclaimed : where a civil court, however 
 composed, may give judgment on doctrine ; " and the 
 Queen, pronouncing a final sentence in ecclesiastical 
 matters judicially referred to her, is said to be the 
 Church herself, deciding Church matters by her recog- 
 nised head -. " and even this is but a shadow and a 
 pretence ; for the prerogative of the Crown is seized 
 and swayed by a ]\Iinister who wiW make the highest 
 and most sacred appointments at his will and plea- 
 sure ; and the ancient court of the Church is treated 
 with mockery and derision ; and the State has no 
 settled principles of religion ; and that which was 
 falsehood yesterday is truth to-day ; and the Church 
 of Rome is flattered, supported, and encouraged ; and 
 all denominations of Dissenters have favour shown 
 them indiscriminately; and the Church has no one 
 form of government, and no settled doctrine ; and if 
 an attempt be made to restore to her her ancient 
 rights, or to give her the power of deciding on 
 questions of doctrine, it is crushed at once, and put 
 down with a strong hand ; and this state of things is 
 approved by the Evangelical body, who are called 
 upon to support a lax and latitudinarian Govern- 
 ment ! Can the truth be here ? It must have been 
 in the primitive Church : but the organ of the 
 Evangelicals dates altogether from the Reformation,
 
 14 
 
 and appears to ignore or renounce the very principle 
 upon which the Fathers then proceeded, — viz. a re- 
 ference to the three first centuries ; the truth may 
 be, however overgrown and hidden, in the Church of 
 Rome, which, moreover, is flattered, for pohtical uses, 
 and even encouraged by our rulers : there, too, is 
 authority ; there is a system of doctrine ; there is a 
 living and true spiritual head — the lineal successor of 
 St. Peter (as is said), and, if so, the inheritor of the 
 power which our Lord delegated to His apostle : 
 there is power to send forth bishops into foreign 
 lands, and bring all nations into obedience to itself : 
 there is power to erect gorgeous cathedrals and sees, 
 and raise the cross and plant the crozier in them : 
 and there is power over the souls of men, to absolve 
 or expel. Such power it has of God. 
 
 " And here choose I, joy be the consequence." 
 
 And joy there will be for a time, as has been 
 expressed by one of the last, and noblest, and best, 
 though not perhaps the stoutest, of her converts ; 
 trained during early years in yom' school. But, alas ! 
 " all that glisters is not gold : " there will be nmch, 
 too, of tinsel and ornament : 
 
 " And ornament is but the guiled shore 
 To a most dangerous sea." 
 
 Let those who embark upon it look to the con- 
 sequence. But I ask, Whether the above cases may
 
 15 
 
 not be taken to represent what often ocenrs ? and 
 whether, whatever may be thought of the process of 
 mind and feehng, or course of argument, as here set 
 down, the fact is not clear and indisputable, that 
 of those who have left our ranks, many, or most of 
 them, have been bred in the Evangehcal school? 
 And let me add, that unless things are strangely 
 altered amongst us, and history is, indeed, only " an 
 old almanac," and not, as it has been heretofore, 
 capable of exercising a prophetic office, or of uttering 
 a warning voice, Rome is hkely to make a sad havoc 
 in that quarter. How the case stands at Islington 
 Mr. Wilson can bear witness, — better, I ween, than 
 of the style of doctrinal preacliing among the Roman- 
 izers. But report speaks of much progress being 
 made by the Roman Catholics in those parts. We 
 know that of old Rome could make common cause 
 with the Puritans ; and well was it for the Church of 
 England that she had giants in her citadel in those 
 days. Yet she was mastered and overthrown for a 
 time ; and hardly recovered her full strength when 
 she rose and stood upright. And a century and a 
 half of dreary character followed, upon wliich we look 
 back with horror at the cold indifference and unbelief 
 of many in the higher ranks, and the scattering of the 
 poor as sheep that had no shepherd ; and with wonder 
 at the mercy of God which preserved a " remnant, 
 as the flock in the midst of their fold."
 
 16 
 
 Let me be permitted, in conclusion, first, to ask, 
 What is the period which Mr. Wilson selects for " the 
 reassertion of the great doctrines of the Gospel at the 
 Reformation?" Not, I presmne, the days of Cran- 
 mer and Ridley. Perhaps the year 1562, when the 
 Thirty-nine Articles were agreed upon. Let us know 
 what is meant, and we may have more to say. 
 
 Secondly, May I ventiu-e to suggest to those who 
 have declared their solemn assent and consent to the 
 Book of Common Prayer, whether this does not 
 deserve greater reverence at their hands than to be 
 kept out of sight, for the pm^pose of making the 
 Articles the sole criterion and bond of Evangelical 
 union? And if the Articles of Religion are to be 
 taken in a literal and grammatical sense, (though, 
 indeed, the Judicial Council seem a little doubtful 
 how to determine upon some points in them), whether 
 such assent to the Prayer-book does not require that 
 it, too, should be so understood ; not that here only 
 a hypothetical construction should be forced upon the 
 plainest language that can be used ? 
 
 Thirdly, recurring once more to the glorious title 
 by w^hich you are distinguished, be this consideration 
 laid much to heart, that it is a pledge for the adoption 
 of the purest Gospel principle ; and that principle is 
 Love. If the title of " Evangelical " be assumed as 
 a party designation, distinctively and exclusively, can 
 we fail to be reminded, with very painful recollection,
 
 17 
 
 of those who said, " Stand by thyself, I am hoher 
 than thou?" Must we not say that the assumption 
 of such a designation is an act of schism, — a grievous 
 breach of the law of charity, and unity, and peace ? 
 And what pregnant examples have we before us in 
 the history of those who have, in times past, taken 
 similar distinctions to themselves ? Little need have 
 we to dive into the records of past ages, when the 
 famous 16th century exhibits the origin and progress 
 of the Puritans ; telling, as with a warning voice, of 
 the danger of separation, and breach of unity and 
 obedience; which, aiming at first at greater purity 
 within the pale of the Church, gradually fell into 
 alienation from it, holding false doctrine, and prac- 
 tising bitter persecution. From schism, no less than 
 from false doctrine and heresy. Good Lord, deliver 
 us! 
 
 Let it be considered how short a period intervened 
 between Jewel's Sermon at St. Paul's Cross, contain- 
 ing his famous Challenge to the Papists, and his last 
 Sermon in censure of the Puritans ; and the events 
 which marked the interval; — the growing dislike of 
 the Puritans to the Church, and the advance of Popish 
 pretensions ; the rejection of the Enghsh Liturgy by 
 the former, and the issuing of the Bull of Pius V., 
 which excommunicated our Queen, and absolved her 
 subjects from their allegiance ; and how the principles 
 of each party were adverse to her government ; and 
 both were leagued against the Church ; — and it may 
 
 B
 
 18 
 
 be seen how great was the danger to rule and order 
 from their plots and machinations, whether separately 
 or in union. Here is surely a timely warning. The 
 grasping ambition of Rome is perhaps greater than 
 ever. Its success has hitherto been comparatively 
 small. But let Mr. Wilson muster his forces, and 
 join those of a latitudinarian government, and it may 
 march on proudly, or rest securely upon its arms ; it 
 will " have met with foes that strike beside it." 
 
 Mr. Wilson has sought to justify his heavy charge 
 against his brethren, in an Appendix to the third 
 edition of his " Appeal," wherein, alas ! by way of 
 aggravation, he has accused them of the grossest hypo- 
 crisy before God and man. It must be remarked that 
 a sentence is introduced into the "Appeal," which 
 serves for a point of reference. Whether it is quite 
 fair to make a score of alterations in a new edition of 
 a tract, without notice, is not worth considering, as 
 they are of no great importance ; but this mode of 
 dealing with his readers is scarcely what might be 
 expected. Mr. Wilson offers neither proof nor ex- 
 planation of the statements, some of which I have 
 quoted ; nor any justification of the hard names, with 
 which I have been unwilling to stain my paper ; but 
 gives " a few specimens of the system of Divinity 
 to which he alludes." These are drawn from Mr. 
 Newman's " Lectures on Justification," from No. 80 
 of "Tracts for the Times;" and from Dr. Pusey*s
 
 19 
 
 " Letter to the Bishop of Oxford," and the Preface to 
 his Tract on "Baptism." Such passages, even taken 
 by themselves and without explanation, are absolutely 
 worthless for the pm-pose of sustaining the charges 
 which he has brought against that large and influential 
 body, which he would crush with a strong hand. — The 
 last paragraph in the Appendix must not be passed 
 over in silence. 
 
 In much simplicity, but, as it should seem, in 
 ignorance and folly, I have mentioned the forms of 
 devotion used by the so-called Romanizers, as a just 
 test of their sentiments and feelings before God. 
 But, as if by anticipation, Mr. Wilson asserts that 
 they are not to be judged by their books of devotion. 
 Now, there are persons who do not scruple to express 
 in prayer and thanksgiving, as the Church directs, 
 their belief in the fact that every infant which is 
 brought to God in baptism is actually regenerated in 
 that sacrament; while, in their teaching, they deny 
 the possibility of this, and the truth of the doctrine 
 which the Chui'ch sets forth : much as the Roman 
 Catholics have for a long time past been allowed to 
 mention the immaculate conception of the Blessed. 
 Virgin in prayer, though the doctrine was not de- 
 clared, as a matter of faith. But we have been willing 
 to suppose that such persons were neither self-de- 
 ceivers, nor intentionally deceivers of others ; that by 
 some process which we could not understand, nor 
 reconcile to our own rule of interpretation, they felt
 
 20 
 
 justified in putting an hypothetical meaning upon 
 the words to which I allude. And this has been 
 confirmed by the Judicial Council; not thereby, pro- 
 bably, intending that all plain and positive assertions 
 in the Book of Common Prayer may be so dealt with, 
 but only those which relate to the Sacrament of 
 Baptism. Thus we desire to relieve our minds from 
 unkind thoughts towards our brethren. But no such 
 tenderness is shown by Mr. Wilson towards those 
 whom he opposes. (And, in sober truth, if there 
 were, it would be very different from the spirit and 
 tone which mark his "Appeal.") Those who use 
 the devotions of Andrewes and Laud (to repeat the 
 time-honoured names which I have before mentioned) 
 are not to be judged by "the devotional fervour" 
 with which they pour out their souls before God. 
 The most humiUating confession of sin, the strongest 
 expressions of reliance on the atonement made by 
 Christ, and the most earnest supplications for divine 
 grace — all these pass for nothing ; they do but blind 
 the eyes of " the less-experienced reader." 
 
 And can they be for nothing ? Can these, and 
 such-like forms of devotion, drawn from Holy Scrip- 
 ture, from the Church in its first and purest ages, 
 and from our own Liturgy, which is little else than a 
 transcript of these, be no true index of the state of 
 heart and mind, of feeling and of judgment, in those 
 who use them ? When Bishop Andrewes wetted his 
 manuscript with his tears, and when those who follow
 
 21 
 
 hiin vex and reproach themselves with the coldness 
 and dryness of their hearts and eyes, had he, or have 
 they, " that deep-seated dislike to the truth as it is in 
 Jesus, and to the distinctive doctrines of grace, which 
 the Apostle describes as the carnal mind which is 
 enmity against God?"* Yfas there nothing but a 
 " smoldering Pharisaism " * in the solemn stillness 
 during prayer, and the loud Amen, and the union of 
 thousands of voices in repeating the Lord's Prayer, 
 which (as is generally reported by those who were 
 present), distinguished the assembling of themselves 
 together in St. Martin's and Freemasons' Halls ? 
 
 No, it is not so. Those who are so evil spoken 
 of show their doctrines by their prayers, the deep 
 thoughts of their hearts by the words upon their lips. 
 They know that in Adam all have died, and they 
 seek a new birth in Christ Jesus ; and own thank- 
 fully His great goodness in providing a holy ordinance, 
 which shall be at once the means of conveying this 
 grace, even to the new-born babe, and a pledge and 
 assurance, a sure sign and seal thereof. They feel 
 deeply in themselves that corruption which remains 
 even in the regenerate, and the power of besetting 
 sin ; and while they strive earnestly and labour dili- 
 gently, they pray mightily for that grace which alone 
 is effectual to cleanse them from all filthiness of flesh 
 and spirit, supply all their needs, and make them 
 
 * " Appeal,'' p. o.
 
 22 
 
 continually to be given to all good works. Once more, 
 trusting to the words of their Saviour, that in the union 
 of his disciples with Him, in feeding upon his body 
 and blood, is everlasting life, they seek above all things 
 that " He may dwell in them, and they in Him, He 
 be one with them, and they one in Him." And here, 
 again, acknowledging with gratefid hearts the " grace 
 and truth which came by Jesus Christ," manifested 
 in the ordinance which He has appointed for fulfilling 
 his gracious promise, they offer to Him the sacrifice 
 of thanksgiving, and seek to have their " souls 
 strengthened and refreshed by the body and blood 
 of Christ, which are verily and indeed taken and 
 received by the faithful in that sacrament." This is 
 indeed " sometliing more than the simple communion 
 of their Saviour's love ;" though that expression, it is 
 hoped, implies more than a mere remembrance of his 
 death, the low doctrine of the Hoadleian School. But 
 this which we have here set down is the teaching of 
 the blessed Apostle of the Gentiles, and of om* own 
 Church. And let not those who seek a blessing from 
 Christ's presence in the Aveekly celebration of these 
 holy mysteries, or the daily service of the Church, be 
 evil spoken of, as if " all spiritual life and experi- 
 mental knowledge of the truth were discarded by 
 them as fanatical, and religion almost entirely reduced 
 to a matter of form and external observance." For 
 here is that sweet union with their dear Lord and 
 one another, by which the flame of divine love is kept
 
 23 
 
 brightly burning within them, animating and en- 
 com-agiug them to all the duties and charities of life. 
 
 Let such be the spirit, brethren, breathed and 
 nurtured within us by the divine Spirit of love and 
 holiness, with which we meet for discussion, or even 
 controversy, from whatever quarter we set forth. And 
 this, for the sake of truth, no less than of peace. For 
 surely the time is not to come only, but is even now, 
 "when three words uttered with charity and meekness 
 shall receive a far more blessed reward," the present 
 reward being the composing of differences, and con- 
 viction of truth, " than three thousand volumes written 
 with disdainful sharpness of wit."* Let then even 
 om' censure of each other tend " to provoke unto love 
 and to good works;" and to "the assembling of our- 
 selves together," for obtaining the grace of God to 
 descend mightily upon our hearts, and upon the 
 Church, — the mother and teacher of us all through 
 the divine Word, and in Him the close bond of fel- 
 lowship and holy communion. 
 
 And lastly, let this be the temper in which this 
 address is made and accepted. It would come to you 
 without a name, which is little worth, but for the 
 advice of those whom the writer esteems highly. He 
 is willing likewise, since various parties are brought 
 into the field, to speak openly the sentiments of one 
 
 * May we not all meet, as upou common ground, in the 
 study of the mind and temper and \Yritings of Hooker, and of the 
 grace which was upon him ?
 
 24 
 
 of those, " the old High Church party," which Mr. 
 Wilson, suo more, treats somewhat harshly. They 
 would be content to endure neglect, but it is hard to 
 be thought capable of "hatred." Such terms are, 
 alas ! " familiar with him as household words." But 
 let discord cease. The shades in which these lines 
 have been written, far away from the busy scenes 
 which gender strifes, may inspire better and higher 
 thoughts, while they teach the excellence of order and 
 obedience. "Almighty God hath created and ap- 
 pointed all things in heaven, earth, and waters, in a 
 most excellent and perfect order."* "The blessed 
 obedience and order of angels " was the subject of 
 Hooker's dying contemplation. And those whose 
 happiness it is to dwell, even for a short time, in the 
 midst of the lower works of God, may be tempted to 
 utter a pious wish like that with which that excellent 
 * servant of God sighed out his soul. Oh, that it might 
 be so among men — the noblest of His works upon 
 earth ! Oh, that they who should reflect most per- 
 fectly their Maker's image in all its lineaments, should 
 not alone be found to disturb the harmony by which 
 stars move in their courses, and winds and storms 
 fulfil his word ! 
 
 * " Homily on Obedience," First part. 
 
 London :— Printed by G. Babcxat, Castlo St. Leicester Sq.