from the concurrent judgment, and authenticated results, of seventeen successive centuries; and she encourages every competent inquirer, to obtain satisfaction for himself, from the same unvarying sources, of practical information, and rational conviction. It is too certain, that to some, the best and happiest guidance will appear less desirable, than indefinite self-direction; because, by too many, the chief good is thought to consist, in an unrestrained power of approving, or rejecting, rather than in the practical justness of the approbation, or the rejection.* To others, who suppose strong emotion to be the only likely means of working effectually on the human mind, and who, therefore, conclude, When we observe how much there is, of impatient submission to authority; how much desire there is in individuals, to quit their own sphere; to suggest, and pursue, their own plans, for the confirmation, or advancement, of the christian cause; to become the advocates of general christianity, and to testify an indifference, to forms of belief, and of worship, .. we cannot but believe, that, in those individuals, there must be a strange ignorance, of what is required of them, by the church to which they belong. 'In a deep feeling of the evils caused by such proceedings, we cannot but earnestly beseech those who are about to become public teachers in our church, not to overlook this essential branch of a clerical education; but to study deeply her constitution; and to understand, what is the real situation of the minister of an episcopal church, and what are his duties, before they undertake them. "True, indeed, it is, that the christian spirit may exist, independently of all this true is it, that, at the farthest verge of the earth, and remote from every form, of every church, the spirit of christian hope, love, and joy, may glow in the bosom of the christian. But that, neither alters the principles of human nature, (which, as far as we can judge, first induced the great Founder of christianity, to order the use of external forms in his church ;) nor lessens the obligation of those forms. 'Their necessity, and their expediency, I need not, and I will not, consider here: but thus much cannot be denied, that he, who has become the minister of a form which professes to be apostolical, has both set to the solemn record of his belief, that that claim can be justified; and has assumed every obligation, which such a profession implies. Before he does so, he may, if he pleases, become the minister of another form, or the minister of christianity under no form; but, when he has done so, he has that edification is to be hoped for, only from that which terrifies, or melts, or inflames, . . the equable temperament of the established forms will naturally be less inviting, than the spirit-striving exertions of sectarian missionaries. Those also, as already intimated, who confine the church of Christ to voluntary associations of a segregated few, cannot but condemn a form of christianity, which opens its sanctuary to entire nations. Those, lastly, who regard God as an inexorable sovereign, rather than as a loving and gracious father, will necessarily believe, that the only safe rule, in matters pertaining to God, is to be found in the strict letter of holy scripture; and will, of course, shrink back from all discretionary attempts, to make divine worship pleasant, or attractive to natural feeling. So long, therefore, as these, or similar persua declared, that, in his belief, the one only true, and effectual way, of carrying on his Master's work on earth, is that way on which he has entered; and that, that form to which he has declared his adherence, is the form approved by his Master himself. 'He is, therefore, become, now, the minister of A CHURCH; and, while he continues so, must pursue the road which that church dictates. If continued research should lead him to doubt the truth of the doctrines which the church delivers, he must quit her bosom; for, while he remains in it, he must teach what the church commands, in the sphere which she assigns. He may think, that, at some time, something is left, in that church, undone, which should be done; something done, which should be left undone: but he will know, also, that it belongs not to him, to remedy the error, or supply the deficiency. He will know, that God, under whose especial guidance he believes the church to be, may, indeed, permit evil; but that his good spirit will rectify what is wrong, and supply what is wanting, in the appointed way, and at the due season. His one aim will, therefore, be, fully to understand what the spirit of the church is; his one aim, to fulfil it: he will earnestly desire, to unite with all his brethren; and not cause, or foster, separation: he will yield a ready, and cheerful obedience, to the authority of the church; and not endeavour to escape from that submission, which he owes it.'. . State of Protestantism, in sions have place in the christian world, the enlargement of our established church must necessarily be impeded, and its influence counteracted. But, in the view of unprejudiced reason, can such censures be judged to reflect discredit on the English church? Without the slightest severity of remark, on the several classes, who thus variously arraign the established religion, it is sufficient to ask, on what properties of our church do the accusations fall? Is it not, on her settled belief, her sober and tranquil spirit, her comprehensive benignity, her free and filial piety? Shall we wish to escape these charges? Rather, will not every enlightened member of our establishment, say from his inmost soul,. . Be our church still thus disliked, and thus censured, rather than attain popularity, by the compromise of any one ancient tenet, or the relinquishment of any one venerable observance'! As the church of England is, she will be revered and loved, by the purest, noblest, and most enlarged spirits. Though her devotion may not spread like flame through a multitude, it will not fail to communicate itself to every susceptible heart, and to glow in every rightly disposed mind; consuming, in proportion as it prevails, all that defiles, debases, or contracts the inner man; and gradually assimilating the immortal mind to those perfected intelligences, with whom, if it be but fitted for their society, it is destined to live, in the presence of God for ever. Let only the church of England be examined by those tests, which obvious reason points out as the fairest and least fallacious, . . namely, by the spirit in which she worships God,.. by the depth, the sublimity, the moral ardour, the mental calm, the unfeigned reverence, the cheerful, yet humble affiance, which, altogether, form the yet unrivalled character of her stated devotions, . . let her, in a word, be seen in that truth and simplicity, in which she presents herself to the father of spirits, and searcher of hearts, . . and what greater blessedness could be conceived, on this side heaven, than to breathe the spirit, to be imbued with the sanctity, to attain the moral liberty, to possess the divine tranquillity, which our inestimable formularies are ever bringing before us, and inviting us to pursue? Is it not, in the most perfect manner possible, 'the path of the just, which is as the shining light; which shineth, more and more, unto the perfect day?' And by what other means could we proceed in this path, more certainly, or more successfully, than by such an application to ourselves, of the petitions in which we publicly join, as may, through that grace, which is in readiness to give effect to every honest effort, tend more and more, to transfuse the spirit and substance of our liturgy, into our minds and hearts? To this end, may it be the chief ambition of the ministers of our church, adequately to unveil, and illustrate, these invaluable treasures! May it, above all, be their object to feel for themselves, what they are appointed to communicate to others! In a word, may the spirit of the liturgy live in their hearts! Our establishment, thus supported, thus administered, would accomplish its every purpose. Its solemn, yet cheerful beauty, would engage the yet powerful, discipline, would shield the purity of youth; its sublime morality would illuminate every path, and influence every movement, of active life; and its tranquil spirit would invite declining age, to seek, in its soothing bosom, compensation for the infirmities, and support under the sufferings, of sinking nature. We conclude with this earnest, but we trust, unpresumptuous anticipation, that, in proportion as the human mind is understood, as christianity is comprehended, as the full meaning of holy scripture is developed, as the history of the church universal is weighed and digested, . . in the same proportion, the church of England will be valued, loved, and venerated. The great charter of nature and providence has established, that temperaments shall survive, when extremes are no more: . . OPINIONUM COMMENTA DELET DIES; NATURÆ JUDICIA CONFIRMAT. * It seems strange (but so the fact is) that some have understood Mr. Knox to use this word, in its ecclesiastical, rather than its moral sense. If the reason of the thing did not speak for itself, it is clear, from the conversation with Mr. Parkin, detailed in the introduction, that, what has been called ecclesiastical discipline, could not have been intended. The fact is, the only just, and even classical term, has been employed, in its appropriate meaning. Thus, Facciolati : . ." DISCIPLINA: syncope, a discipulina: ratio vivendi et discendi, quæ discipulis traditur. Hæc, igitur est tua disciplina, sic tu instituis adolescentes? Cic. pro Cœl. cap. 17.'" A great luminary of our church, in his discourse Against rash censuring and judging,' properly elucidates the subject: . . 'We take upon us, to purge his floor, to sever the chaff from the corn, and the tares from the wheat, and discriminate the goats from the sheep: which to perform, will be the work of God's infinite wisdom and justice, at the last day,' a.. BARROW, vol. i. serm. 20.- ED. aLet them sleep, let them sleep on, CRASHAW. |