The Early Life and Professional Years of Bishop Hobart

THE present volume consists of two small works, originally published in America, by the Rev. Dr. McVicar, the one entitled "The Early Years," the other "The Professional Life" of the Right Reverend Father in God, Henry Hobart, D. D., late Bishop of New-York.

They were sent to the Editor by his Reverend Friend, Dr. McVicar, with a request that he would exert himself to obtain subscriptions for the establishment of a Library to be attached to the Theological Seminary at New-York,-an institution in the welfare of which the late venerable Prelate was known to take the deepest interest. It immediately occurred to the Editor that he might further this object by republishing in this country the two works now presented in one volume to the public. With this view he inquired of his publisher, whether he would be willing to undertake the publication, and to devote half of the profits to the Theological Seminary. Mr. Talboys, with his usual liberality, replied, that "It had pleased GOD to bless him in the basket and in the store, and he should delight in evincing his gratitude by showing his devotion to the holy and apostolical Church of which he was a member;" he, therefore, proposed to incur all the risk of the publication, and to devote to the Theological Seminary the whole of the profits. To eulogize such conduct would be to waste words.

The Editor at the same time admits that this was not his only or his chief object in publishing this volume. He

regarded it also as the means of making the British public better acquainted with the American Church, and as a medium for the inculcation of much that is high in principle and holy in sentiment. It exhibits an example of the success which may always be expected to attend the ministry of those, who adhere, without compromise, to the doctrine and discipline of the Catholic church, however unpopular for a time their conduct may be. The faith of a true Christian will lead him to believe that the blessing of God will ultimately rest on the labours of all who seek to advance GoD's cause in the manner appointed by GOD himself. The instruments may be dishonoured, the agents may be subjected either to the physical persecutions of Queen Mary's reign, or to that moral persecution which in the present age is directed against all true Churchmen -but the cause will triumph. This fact is particularly exemplified in the history of Bishop Hobart. When that Prelate commenced his labours, the Church in America was almost annihilated. No one had appeared who ventured boldly to assert the doctrines of the Catholic Faith in a republican land. Those who held them, held them in secret: and the divine blessing seemed to be withdrawn. After the election of Dr. Hobart to the episcopate, there was a doubt whether a sufficient number of Bishops could be assembled in synod to confer upon him a canonical consecration. But with that consecration a new era commenced. Through much evil report, and notwithstanding those calumnies in which religious factionists are too apt every where to indulge, he called the attention of Churchmen to those grand principles which distinguish the Catholic Church of CHRIST from the sects of Christianity, whether Romish or Protestant. Those principles, though for a time opposed, were gradually adopted by Churchmen generally, and although he died, comparatively speaking, a young man, yet he lived to see the Church flourish

ing under the superintendence of many Bishops, while every year a multitude of believers was added to it.

A few observations occur in the following pages which will be considered by the English reader as objectionable: but the Editor has not thought it necessary to notice them. as their incorrectness is sufficiently obvious. The English Churchman is perfectly ready to admit, that there are incidental inconveniences attendant on the union of the Church with the State: among others he laments its tendency to encourage Erastian Heretics within the pale, who, thinking only of the temporalities of the Establishment, impede the proceedings of the Church; and, instead of cultivating a friendly intercourse with true Churches, think only of an alliance offensive and defensive with established communities; who, for instance, in the extremity of their selfishness and worldliness of mind, would rather renounce all connection with the poor and oppressed Episcopalians of Scotland than offend the established kirk, though Presbyterians pronounce Episcopacy to be Anti-christian. But the American Churchman is apt, in his nationality, to exaggerate these evils; overlooking the various advantages of such a union, both to the country and to the Church, by the creation of a kind of religious atmosphere, and entirely blinding his eyes to the still greater disadvantages of his own system. The very circumstance that the Churchmen of America are obliged to seek for subscriptions in England for the establishment of a library to be attached to their chief Theological Seminary at New-York, is quite sufficient to show the inadequacy of the voluntary system, modified even, as it has been, by our American brethren, to meet the claims and the wants of the Church. The Editor feels sure that his friends in America will not take offence at these remarks. If we think it pardonable and even praiseworthy in them,

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