of every species of will-worship, until the faith once delivered to the saints is wholly lost, amidst the wild ravings of enthusiastic fancy, or the subtle refinements of an innovating philosophy. To prevent this evil, to preserve and to extend the confession of the true faith, to do the work of the ministry, to perfect the Christian world in the knowledge and the practice of their duty, and to edify the Church, which is his body, did our Lord, at the first, "give some, apostles; and 66 some, prophets; and some, evangelists; "and some, pastors and teachers;" appointing unto each his peculiar office; that "by the effectual working of every “part,” all might be taught to "speak “the truth in love," and grow up by degrees • "unto the measure of the "sta"ture of the fulness of Christ." where the plan, which he in wisdom ordained for the government of his Church, is despised, and men vainly undertake to new model his kingdom; there will necessarily follow confusion, and every evil work: • Ephes. iv. 13. Ephes. iv. 16. 15. F But the Gospel will be at the mercy of every intruder, who fancies himself qualified to interpret it; and the unlearned and ignorant, who must necessarily constitute the larger portion of every community, whether civil or religious, will be p“ as chil"dren, tossed to and fro, and carried about "with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” 66 66 Far be it however from us to inculcate the necessity of a blind submission to infallible guides. The Church of England makes no pretence herself to such infallibility; she requires no such submission. Her priesthood is composed of men, who, far from presuming to lord it over God's heritage, are well aware that they also are compassed with infirmities; and, if they desire to be highly esteemed in love, of those whom they are appointed to teach, seek not this tribute as due to their personal merit or holiness, but for the sake of that work, to which they have been ordained. P Ephes. iv. 14. But, though ready to confess that their treasure is committed to them "in earthen 66 vessels," and that "the excellency of "the power is of God," and not of themselves, they know from whom they have received it and while they deeply feel the awful responsibility under which they are bound to dispense it, for the edifying of those entrusted to their superintendance, they claim to be considered as the r" am"bassadors of Christ." They desire to be obeyed no farther than their directions are founded upon the revealed word of God; but they fearlessly declare, that, within these limits, they have a legitimate authority, which no man can disregard or disobey, but at the fearful hazard of his displeasure from whom it is derived. They therefore deem themselves empowered, nay bound, to s“ reprove, rebuke, "and exhort," with all authority; to preserve, as far as in them lies, "the faith "once delivered to the saints" in all its pri q 2 Cor. iv. 7. r 2 Cor. v. 20. mitive purity; to persuade their flocks to mutual love and to good works, to maintain "" the unity of the Spirit in the bond "of peace," and to dwell together as brethren, in the profession of one common religion, in the nourishment of one common hope, in dutiful obedience to those who have the rule over them, as commissioned by him, who alone is *" * "head over all 66 things to the Church," even Christ Jesus. Considering themselves to be the appointed guardians of Christian unity, they must labour to support it; but while, in imitation of those, from whom their authority has been transmitted, they y "fight the good 66 fight of faith," as soldiers of Jesus Christ; it is to be hoped, that they will ever remember, that z "the weapons of their war"fare are not carnal.” They are the ministers of him, who was not sent a "to destroy men's lives, but to save them;" and therefore, although it behoves them patiently to argue with the 66 u Ephes. iv. 3. z 2 Cor. x. 4. X Ephes. i. 22. y 1 Tim. vi. 12. a Luke ix. 56. doubting, firmly to remonstrate against error, and boldly to reprove the gainsayer and the blasphemer; still there is a point, beyond which they have no licence to proceed; and they who, unconvinced by their arguments, or uninfluenced by their exhortations, prefer to walk in the way which their own conscientious, though, as we believe, mistaken views of Christianity incline them to pursue, must be left to his judgment, who b "knoweth whereof we are made, and considereth that we are but "dust." The Church of England has herself been tried and purified by the fires of persecution; and her ministers have shewn, that they can patiently suffer for the truth, as well as resolutely defend it. But this is not the whole, perhaps not the chief of her praise as she has been firm in adversity, so has she been tolerant and moderate in prosperity: she has not exalted herself proudly among her sister Churches; nor has she tyrannized over the lives and b Psalm ciii. 14. |