Short Sermon. speaks must be something fuller, greater, wider, more conspicuous and authoritative, than this. Churchmen (and in this term I include all primitive Christendom and all who, since the separation of East and West, have believed in the Catholic Church as a visible fact) believe that the Church of this Scripture is a divine visible society, ordained of God, commissioned by Christ, directed by the Holy Ghost, deriving its authority of ministration from the Father, through the Son, from Him through the Apostles, from them through the succession of Bishops; preserving the Word of the Old Covenant, and deciding by the Spirit what was the Word of the New (for from the authority of the early visible Church we have received the canon of the New Testament), and, as heresy after heresy arose, pronouncing by Creeds authoritatively, for instruction, for explanation, and for defence. upon the truths of the infallible Word. But where is this Church now? Alas! though (like the Jewish Church till Messiah came) it could never perish, it has, because it is human as well as divine, become divided; it has now no single collective voice; it is corrupt in one direction, torpid in another, and, though comparatively pure in another, hindered and thwarted by heresies, dissensions, and divisions. But how has it-whether corrupt or torpid, or comparatively pure-how has it now a visible form, an authentic voice at all in its various parts? By these three essential signs and facts amongst others, that it maintains and asserts the infallibility of the Divine Word, that it has preserved the one and threefold apostolic ministry, that it confesses and asserts the creeds of original and undivided Christendom. This, brethren, I maintain, is the only ancient authentic and reasonable interpretation of that Article of the Nicene Creed which all honest Churchmen at least assert: 'I believe in one Catholic Apostolic Church.' But then, it may be asked, are all who, as Dissenters, do not so acknowledge and belong to the Church outside the pale of Christianity? No, indeed' (we Churchmen reply thankfully), if they believe with the Church in the truth of the Godhead, and of the Incarnation and Atonement and Resurrection, and are baptized, then are they within the Church, whatever name they go by, so far as that which is absolutely essential to salvation is concerned, and are only outside it so far as its fullest, and highest, and completest privileges and blessings are concerned.' So far, brethren, as to the Church indicated by this Scripture (1 Tim. iii. 15). But I have said that the Church once united is now divided, and is partly corrupt, partly torpid, and partly (though pure in comparison) by various difficulties thwarted and hindered. How do we so define it? Thus: The Visible Divine Society called the Church, asserting the infallible Word, retaining the Apostolic Ministry and confessing the Creeds, has its three great sections-the Anglican, the Eastern, and the Roman. Of the Roman we assert that its corruption is so utter and so awful that, though as a branch of the Catholic Church there is still life within it, and in many of its individual members doubtless much Short Sermon. true grace and blessing, yet as regards its executive it has become apostate and adulterous; although it could not deny, it has practically hidden the Divine Word. It has dared to impose a new creed rife with heresies (the Tridentine) upon the faithful, and subsequently new dogmas as monstrously absurd as they are un-Scriptural and unCatholic. Of the Eastern branch we say, that though it has never so denied the Apostolic Faith, and never so apostatized, and though in the main it is a noble and majestic Church and shows unmistakable signs. of the Divine Presence, yet there is a comparative torpor, and a heaviness, and a want of spiritual energy throughout it, which makes us long for the sound of the trumpet to stir its children to the great conflict with unbelief and the world; which makes us look elsewhere for the Church in its noblest, purest, and brightest aspect. This we assert that we find, and that we possess, in that branch of the Catholic Church which we call the Anglican. To this we belong, we are its children in Christ, we have been born in it, or, if not, we have come to it, divinely led; and with holy humble pride, and with loving reverence, we hear her say, as our spiritual mother adoringly before her Master and Lord, 'Lo I, and the children which Thou hast given me.' And if she is beset with difficulties without and within, hated with more or less rancour by both Roman and Puritan as well as by the Infidel, and though there are some within her inclining, either in ignorance or unfaithfulness, towards each of those directions, we do not honour her the less, or love her the less, for her toil or her tribulation; rather are we animated more devotedly to vindicate her Divine claim to affection and to reverence for the Lord's sake. And by His blessing she is making wondrous progress; enlarging her borders throughout the world day by day. If she loses here and there one in the direction of Rome, of the feeble and sentimental, or in the direction of Puritanism, of the fickle, the self-sufficient, and the uninstructed, she gains from both their most vigorous and clearsighted children; the vast proportion of the healthy piety, the sound and candid common sense, the reverent intelligent devotion, the social refinement in all classes, the sanctified imagination, the intellectual vigour, of the English-speaking people throughout the world, of the Anglo-Saxon race in both hemispheres-the mightiest race, and the probable future rulers of the world-belongs to this branch of the Catholic Church, our Mother Church of England. What true and intelligent child of hers shall not think proudly and lovingly of her for the Lord's sake? She has some feeble children, some half-hearted and unworthy sons, as well as multitudinous enemies of every sort; but she is strong at heart and clear of head, and with lifted forehead and level-fronting eyes she is going on her way through the world, through evil report and good report, sure of her mission, confident in her Master's Presence and Blessing, doing His work and waiting His coming. Her enemies may carp and cry against her that she has troubles without and within: but this is a proof for her, not against her she is not other than her Lord in His experience of the world: in the world she shall have tribulation, but with Him and through Him she shall overcome the world. If her Short Sermon. will is consecrated to Him then all is well, whatever be her tribulation : and we may adapt and apply to her the burning words of the poet of this generation : O well for her: her will is strong! She suffers but she will not suffer long: For her nor moves the loud world's random mock, That the Church of England is between the two extremes is the glory of her true children, and her shame in the opinion of her enemies. There is a medium, a middle course in almost all things, a course which is not only the safest, but the closest to the truth, because most removed from human pride, prejudice, and passion. It is the most religious, for it was the Lord's way; it was St. Paul's way, it has been the calm and simple way of the purest saints of God. In a lower point of view it is the most philosophical way, for the mean is judged of by carefully and conscientiously considering all sides before decision is made in view of the falsehood of extremes. It is the most sensible and manly course; for extreme persons, however excellent, are mostly persons with one idea, and prejudiced blindly in its favour; often sentimentalists or transcendentalists; and so in a way unreal. Again, it is the most difficult course; for it is very hard for an earnest man to be told by the extreme that because he is not extreme he is not thorough, not in earnest. It is so much easier to be a pronounced party-man than it is to be a plain English Churchman, whose principles are those of the Word of God, attested and interpreted by the Church of God Universal; and in these days most purely and plainly so attested and interpreted by that branch of it called the Church of England, and expressed by the Church of England in her Prayer-book. I wonder whether there is any one who has been thinking and saying in his or her heart, Why don't you preach Christ instead of the Church? why don't you preach Christ and Christ alone?' My brother or my sister (if there is such a questioner), I ask you, What knowledge, what care, what reverence, what love have I for the Church, except for Christ's sake? I don't know the Church, I don't regard it, I don't want it, I don't assert it, I don't care for it one whit, except for Christ's sake: for verily I know and believe that there is no Saviour but the one Lord Jesus Christ, God and man-that there is no purity or pardon, no assurance of peace, except through the cleansing of His Precious Blood, and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit; that there is no true religion except personal religion-the individual surrender of heart and will, and the consecration of the daily life to Him; and that there is no true conversion unless by the Holy Ghost Jesus is Lord' over all that is within us-understanding, will, affections, heart, and tongue-unless we trust wholly to the merit of His all-perfect Sacrifice for expiation and redemption, and daily in obedience and love endeavour to follow the blessed steps of His most holy life. DURSLEY-continued. it is as laborious as dull. The inhabitants are composed chiefly of Scotch and Irish, with an occasional English family, and they are unbounded in their kindness and hospitality, especially the Irish Canadians, and this is more to be dreaded by the Missionary than opposition, because it seems to fetter him. My Mission is perhaps nearly 200 square miles in extent, very large I flattered myself till the other day, when, describing it to Mr. Good, a Missionary from British Columbia, he suddenly and as completely dwarfed it by saying his extended over several thousand square miles, what could I do but quietly subside; of course it is very different dealing with Indians of unsettled habits and a colony of farmers, who seldom think of leaving the land they have once cleared and reduced to cultivation. Here each separate family must receive special attention and periodical visits, and the time occupied in doing this leaves very little for preparing sermons, correspondence, &c. Then comes Sunday with its three full services; Sunday Schools; the training of choirs, to say nothing of sick visits, not unfrequently calling me 10 or 15 miles from home, and all this to be done singlehanded, for I have absolutely no one capable of instructing the young in Church doctrine, and no organist even. All this keeps me incessantly engaged. And I would not have it otherwise. A soldier of Christ in harness and idle seems so unreal when we think of his toiling Master. Besides, there is a sort of charm in the work; and the simple kindness and affection of my people more than convinces me that my lines have fallen into fair places.' I presume Mr. Madan told you of my scheme for building a Church in the very poorest part of my Mission. It is indeed sadly needed and can only be done by external assistance. The people gladly give their labour, but are too poor to give money; and unless it is built now, I fear the consequences will prove very disastrous for the Church in that neighbourhood. On Christmas Day my Church was very prettily decorated, a signal triumph in a neighbourhood where everything but Puritanism and Infidelity is Popery; and with the Prayer Desk, Matting, and Organ which I have succeeded in getting for it, it presented a very imposing appearance for such a wilderness as this. I used to be very much amused watching my brother Scyely trying to convert his old organ into a new one, little thinking what valuable hints I was thus unconsciously acquiring; it was only when I found myself confronted by the necessity of cleaning and tuning one that I found out, what an assistance even this experience, if one may call it experience, was to me. I have now a scheme in contemplation for procuring a new font for my little Church, in fact I am full of schemes, continually building castles in the air." It is proposed to have an Offertory Collection in behalf of his Mission on Sunday, May 9th, at the Morning and Evening Services, any contributions for the same will also be most gratefully received during the month by Miss C. Vizard, Ferney Hill. The Offertory on Ascension Day will be, as usual, devoted to the House of Mercy, at Bussage. CHURCH REGISTER. BAPTISMS. March 5-Gwenllian Clare, daughter of Arthur de Cardonel and Selina Rice. Albert Henry, son of James and Fanny Harris. Walter Walker, son of ditto. Henrietta, daughter of ditto. Emily Sophia, daughter of ditto. 7-James, son of John and Ann Cross. Thomas Arthur, son of Jane Baglin. 12-Annie Evelyn, daughter of John Benjamin and Caroline Champion. 14-George Frederic, son of Charles and Jane Bennett. April 2-Rose, daughter of Llewelyn and Sarah Ann Hancock. BURIALS. March 2-Elizabeth Hill, aged 82 years. 17-Richard Long, aged 81 years. 00 KING-STANLEY. A very beautiful copy of Raphael's well-known picture "The Virgin and the Holy Child" is being painted by Mr. Henry C. Smith, of Minchinhampton, and is kindly given by him to be raffled for in aid of the Church Restoration Fund. Eighty tickets will be issued at 10/6 each. The names of all intending ticket-holders should be sent to the Rector or to the Curate. Several names have been already received. |