OPINIONS OF CLERGYMEN OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES. Jubilee College, Ill. Feb. 7, 1844. SIR:-I am glad to hear you are about to publish the Homilies. Better late than never. Had they been in every Churchman's hand, and their blessed contents well treasured in his heart, his head would not be turning over his shoulder to Rome, with longing eyes for her abominations. Go on then, my good sir, and get them before the public as soon as you can. You cannot do the Church a better service. My own clergy are all well supplied from the great numbers I brought with me from England. With prayers for a divine blessing on your undertaking, I am, your faithful friend and humble servant in the Lord Christ. Mr. Enw. C. BINDLE. PHILANDER CHASE, Sen'r. Bishop of the Prot. Epis. Church in the U. S A. Hartford, January 17, 1844. DEAR SIR:-I am glad to learn, by your letter of the 9th inst., that you are about to publish a beautiful edition of the "Book of Homilies" &c. with the "Canons Ecclesiastical" as set forth in the year 1603; with an appendix containing the "Articles of Religion" and "Canons" of the Church in this country. The present state of the church renders it important that all her members should be thoroughly acquainted with the true import of her doctrines, discipline and worship. Believing that the proposed publication will be conducive to these ends, it has my hearty good wishes for its success. THOS. C. BROWNELL, Bp. of the Diocese of Connecticut. It affords me much pleasure that Mr. E. C. Biddle is about to publish a reprint of the Homilies, from the last Oxford edition. And I cordially recommend the work to the patronage of the clergy and laity of the diocese of Pennsylvania. H. U. ONDERDONK, Bishop of the Prot. Epis. Church in the Diocese of Penna. DEAR SIR:-I am happy to learn that you are about publishing an edition of the Homilies. I sincerely wish you success in the enterprise, and if the recommendation of it, which I hereby cordially and respectfully tender, will at all contribute to this effect among the clergy and members of the church, it will afford much pleasure to Yours, dear sir, very truly, BENJ. T. ONDERDONK, Bishop of the Prot. Epis. Church in the Diocese of New York. MY DEAR SIR:-Your letter asking my recommendation of your reprint of the last Oxford edition of the Book of Homilies, with the Ecclesiastical Canons set forth in 1603, has only just been received, owing to my absence from this city. I hasten, however, to assure you not only of my "approval" of these works, but also of my conviction, that in their republication in the form you propose, you will confer an essential benefit upon the church in this country: and of my hope that this benefit may be realized in their general circulation among churchmen of every order. I remain, dear sir, most truly your friend and servant, L. S. IVES, Bishop of the Prot. Epis. Church in the Diocese of N. Carolina. Philada., January 10, 1844. DEAR SIR:-Your proposed edition of the Book of Homilies, together with the Canons of our Mother Church of England, and an Appendix containing the Articles and General Canons of our own Church, can hardly fail to command universal approbation, and to be productive of considerable good. It will combine in one volume the highest standard authorities, next to the only infallible rule of Scripture, upon every important doctrine of faith and discipline which interests the Protestant Christian; since, however, we may regard them as our own peculiar heritage, of which no Episcopalian should be ignorant, yet it is not too much to say, that the intrinsic merits of the Homilies and the Articles commend them to the most cordial regard and confidence of all who stand fast in the principles of the great Reformation. JOHN H. HOPKINS, Bishop of Prot. Epis. Church in the Diocese of Vermont. Diocese of Kentucky, Jan. 22, 1844. MY DEAR SIR:-The agitating controversies of the times call loudly for a return to the fundamental principles of doctrine and ecclesiastical order: and that press is emphatically performing a seasonable service which is employed in the republication of the earliest, most authentic and sacred documents from which a knowledge of the first and the true can best be derived. Next to the Bible and the Prayer Book, for this purpose, the Homilies of our Mother Church of England are undoubtedly to be ranked. The edition which you propose publishing, appears to me to be specially worthy of patronage; and the documents which you propose to add to your edition, will, to country clergymen especially, prove invaluable. B. B. SMITH, Bishop of the Prot. Epis. Church in the Diocese of Kentucky. Gambier, January 18, 1844. DEAR SIR:-It is well and seasonable that a new edition of the Homilies should be published in this country. They certainly contain, as our 35th Article says, a godly and wholesome doctrine, and necessary for these times." I think there could hardly be times in which that wholesome doctrine would be more required than it is at present. As familiar and standard expositions of the doctrines of our Church; and as the Church's stern testimony against the corruptions of Romanism, they are invaluable. Certainly, every family in the Protestant Episcopal Church of this country, should have a copy of the Homilies. But I believe the edition published many years ago, by the Homily and Prayer Book Society of Maryland, is the only American edition; and that has been long out of print. Wishing your edition an extensive patronage, I am, Dear Sir, your obed't serv't. CHAS. P. McILVAINE, Bishop of the Prot. Epis. Church in the Diocese of Ohio. DEAR SIR:-I am pleased to learn that you have in press a reprint of the Oxford edition of the Book of Homilies. I think there can be but one opinion, as to the value of a work embodying so much of sound doctrine, and wholesome direction in practice, to Christians in all conditions of life. It is a work which the most learned minister of the gospel and the most ignorant disciple may read and study with profit, and to their soul's health. If the expression of this opinion will be of service to you in the prosecution of your design, you are at liberty to make use of it to that end. Very respectfully, yours, &c. JA. H. OTEY, Bishop of the Prot. Epis. Church in the Diocese of Tennessee. The proposed republication of "The Book of Homilies, &c. by Mr. Edw. C. Biddle, is deserving of the encouragement of the Clergy and members generally, of our Church. The "godly and wholesome doctrine" of these venerable standards of the Reformation Era, should be familiar to every intelligent Churchman. ALFRED LEE, Bishop of the Prot Epis Church in Delaware. RESPECTED SIR:-I am happy to learn from your letter that you are about to reprint "the Book of Homilies," and "the Canons Ecclesiastical," from the last Oxford edition, together with "the Articles of Religion," and "Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the U. S. A.” |