take that elevated course, by which the ancient land marks of Christian truth might be placed on their primitive foundations, and the whole power of Christian influence could be brought to bear upon unbelief, and idolatry, and superstition, instead of wasting its strength and hindering its advancement by a miserable partizan warfare, which leads to no fixed result, and gains no decisive victory.

But until the hearts of Christians are made ready, by the good Spirit of the Most High God, for a real union, based on principle, and established in the face of the world, by the only practicable mode-a General Council, we can do nothing better for the interests of pure and undefiled religion, than to pursue the track marked out by Scripture and the Primitive Church, in the temper of benevolence towards every sect, but without attempting to unite with any. We are not at liberty to sacrifice the rules of apostolic order, or the authority of the book of God, to please our brethren; nor may we gratify other denominations, by wounding the unity of our own Church, because this would be to purchase favor abroad, at the price of trouble at home.

Meanwhile, however, let us do all that we can in our respective spheres, for the prosperity of Zion. Let us never cease to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and cherish towards our Christian brethren, without regard to party, the temper of charity and kindness. Let us do justice to their motives, make allowance for their errors, abstain from any attack upon their feelings, and indulge no other sentiments towards them, than such as we should be willing to carry with us to our dying hour. And with all this, let us be firm and constant in our adherence to the Gospel of Christ, and to the Church of the Apostles' planting. Let us resist with constancy all attempts to innovate upon that best and surest system. Popular or unpopular, in evil report or good report, in perils or in peace, let our lot be cast in with the primitive Church of our Redeemer. While others are blown about with every wind of doctrine, we shall there find an anchor for our souls. While others pant for the excitement of novelty, we shall there walk in the old paths, the good way of Christ's appointment. And if this union of kindness towards others, with constancy to the primitive system, should bring reproach upon us, let us remember, my beloved brethren, that it is a very small thing to be judged by man's judgment, for he that judgeth us is the Lord.' If our defence of Apostolic authority provokes unfriendly feelings, let us reply to our accusers, in the words of St. Paul, 'AM I, THEREFORE, BECOME YOUR ENEMY, BECAUSE I TELL YOU THE TRUTH? And let us take comfort in the recollection, that so long as the evil spoken against us is said falsely-so long as our peculiar principles are derived from the warrant of our allegiance to Christ-so long as we do truly make his Church on earth, a preparatory school for his Church in heaven, the tongue of the reviler may, indeed, prove an injury to himself, but to us, it will only be the herald of a more abundant blessing.

DISSERTATION

ON

SUNDRY QUESTIONS

OF THEOLOGY AND PRACTICE,

CONCERNING

THE INSTITUTION,

THE SACRAMENTAL NECESSITY,

THE DERIVED CHARACTER,

AND THE JUDICIAL POWERS

OF THE EPISCOPACY.

CHAPTER I.

ALTHOUGH I do verily believe that there is no portion of the family of Christ more thoroughly united in sentiment than the Protestant Episcopal Church, yet it would be idle to expect that there should not be several questions amongst us, involving considerable diversity of opinion. Nor is this diversity, perhaps, to be greatly deprecated, so long as the advocates of either side allow to others the liberty which they claim for themselves; and do not identify their favorite views with the prosperity of the Church to such extent, as to deny the honesty and fidelity of those who differ.

For my own part, I frankly avow my abhorrence of all party names and distinctions. High Church and Low Church designations should be held in reprobation by all true Churchmen; and the mistaken zeal of those who identify either of these terms with the interests of Primitive and Scriptural Christianity, cannot be too constantly discouraged by every judicious and sober mind. But in order that I may contribute my share to the establishment of what seems, in my humble judgment, to be the truth of the points in question, I shall treat briefly, in the following dissertation, the most important and interesting subjects of discussion, not desiring so much to use my own words, as those of the admired 'masters in Israel.'

The first enquiry which I shall endeavor to answer is, Whether Episcopacy, as held by us, is a divine or a human Institution?

I reply, that it is unquestionably divine; and for the following reasons.

1. It has been shewn that the Episcopal system is the Apostolic system. That the Apostles were commissioned by Christ, is not denied. Of course, they were divinely instituted. But, in the last confirmation of the Apostolic commission, the Redeemer expressly said, 'Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.' (Mat. xxviii. 20.) Manifestly this promise was intended for the Apostles and THEIR SUCCESSORS, because the Lord knew perfectly well, that the personal ministry of those whom he was addressing would terminate in a few years, and he could not, therefore, mean to be understood as limiting his presence to those individuals alone. Neither could he be supposed to contemplate a ministry of an inferior grade to the apostles, because the promise is, 'Lo, I am with you alway, that is, with you, and with those whom you shall appoint in your place. Therefore it results irresistibly, that the Saviour here contemplated the continuance of the Apostolic office, which, being divinely instituted by the great Head of the Church, in person, and being continued by the Apostles, and still existing, by an uninterrupted succession from them, remains a divine institution to this hour, and will so remain, according to Christ's promise, until the end of the world.

2. Secondly, however, the Scriptural system of Episcopal government is divinely instituted, because it was settled by the Apostles, who were guided by the Holy Spirit. We have the mind of Christ,' saith St. Paul. 'I think

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also,' saith he elsewhere, 'that I have the Spirit of God.'