and the swelling tide of apostacy and infidelity. The alarming extension of Romanism, dissent, rationalism, and obdurate unbelief ought indeed to awaken in us strenuous and unremitting efforts in support of that Church, which, being the champion of "the truth as it is in Jesus," is the antagonist of all its opponents. Here is a powerful and influential motive to zealous exertions in every direction tending to promote the efficiency of the Church, and the extension of her borders. In addition to the direct and immediate benefits conferred on neglected and unfed sheep within Christ's fold, and on heathen nations lying in utter darkness and the shadow of death, the elevation and enlargement of our Church tend to counteract the fearful aggression which blind infidelity, and the various forms of error in Christianity, are now making upon the truth. "The enemy comes in like a flood, but the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against him” in the Gospel of Christ. And the Church of England, maintaining that Gospel, contends in behalf of the Lord in "fighting the good fight of faith." Arrayed in the armour of God, she stands forth to oppose all the hosts of the adversary. And the more brightly her armour shines, reflecting the light of truth, and the more numerous her bands, the more powerfully and efficiently will she advance to victory in the cause of the Lord. Wherefore by strengthening the efficiency of our Church, by building Churches and increasing the number of her ministers, and by missionary exertions in heathen lands, we are invigorating and extending an antagonistic force against all the enemies of the truth. But it is the Gospel in the Church, not the external form of the Church, which is the real antagonist of error. When men hear that system of doctrine proclaimed which first tells them all that is in their hearts, manifesting to them all its corruptions and depravity, and then opens to them the blessed remedy for all the evil within them in the Gospel of Christ, they feel, the grace of God co-operating, deeply interested. Their attention is attracted. The spirit of enquiry is awakened in them. They are led to consider the present state and future prospects of their soul, and to apply to themselves the means of salvation spread before them. Recognising in themselves the view of human nature revealed in Holy Scripture, and perceiving the exact adaptation of the evangelical system to the needs of their soul, they cannot but acknowledge the truth of the doctrine announced to them. They "have the witness in themselves." Their own soul bears testimony to it, which they cannot resist without doing violence to their conscience, and contravening the dictates of their reason. Awful is the responsibility under which the ministers of our Church are charged, and have themselves, before God, solemnly engaged, to make her doctrines, which are no other than the pure doctrines of the Gospel, the prominent features of their teaching as well as the prevailing principles of their life.* The light of truth * "Wherefore consider with yourselves the end of your ministry towards the children of God, towards the Spouse and Body of Christ, and see that you never close your labour, your care and diligence, until you have done all that lieth in you, according to your bounden duty, to bring all such, as are or shall be committed to your charge, unto that agreement in the faith and knowledge of God, and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ, that there be no place left among you either for error in religion or for viciousness of life." "And seeing that you cannot by any other means compass the doing of so weighty a work, pertaining to shines in the doctrines of our Church, and the reflection of it in her Liturgy. Her Articles, and Homilies announce what every "Christian ought to know and believe to his soul's health." And her Liturgy represents her children as possessed of this truth, and speaking the language which hearts influenced by it would dictate. Let our Prayer Book be thoughtfully contemplated, and its language carefully compared with that of her doctrinal Articles, and it will be seen how many of its Collects and other portions of its Services are the reflex of the truth therein propounded. But no part of that inestimable book teems more abundantly with evangelical truth than the Order of the administration of the Lord's Supper. It is hoped that this is made to appear in the following pages, which are now humbly commended to God's blessing, with a fervent desire that they may be instrumental in promoting His glory and the salvation of men. the salvation of man, but with doctrine and exhortation taken out of the Holy Scriptures, and with a life agreeable to the same; consider how studious ye ought to be in reading and learning the Scriptures, and in framing the manner both of yourselves and of those that specially pertain unto you, according to the rule of the same Scriptures: and for this self-same cause, how ye ought to forsake and set aside (as much as you may) all worldly cares and studies." "The Bishop. Will you then give your faithful diligence always to minister the Doctrines and Sacraments and the Discipline of Christ as the Lord hath commanded, and as this Church and Realm hath received the same, according to the commandments of God, so that ye may teach the people committed to your cure and charge with all diligence to keep and observe the same." "Answer. I will so do by the help of the Lord.”—The Ordering of Priests. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."-2 Tim. iv. 2. INTRODUCTORY LECTURE. SACRAMENTS CONNECTING HEAVEN AND EARTH. PSALM CXix. 151. "Thou art near, O Lord." AWFUL is the mystery, awful the sacredness of the Holy Sacraments. The mystery of them is awful, because its depth is unfathomable. When we endeavour to penetrate it with our spiritual eye we find our apprehension of it ever increasing with the extent which our mind is enabled to scan. The sacredness of them is awful on account of the Divine presence attendant upon them. When we approach them we say, "Thou art near, O Lord," and the contemplation of God fills us "with reverence and godly fear."a "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Being destitute of the faith a Hebrews, xii. 28. 66 C which is the evidence of things not seen," he is indisposed to believe them. We cannot be surprised, therefore, that the Divine presence in the Holy Sacraments should be disbelieved. Nor should our faith in this important doctrine be shaken by the repugnance of the natural heart to receive it. Heaven has more intercourse with our world than is generally supposed. The servant of Elisha little thought of the heavenly beings by whom he was surrounded when, alarmed by the Syrian "host compassing the city with horses and chariots," he said "Alas, master, how shall we do?" a d And he answered, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." "And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." That which is here set forth as occurring in this particular instance in the history of the prophet Elisha is propounded in general terms by the Apostle to the Hebrews. "Are they not all (the holy angels) ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" But our contemplation of the intercourse between heaven and earth may be extended infinitely farther, elevated infinitely higher. "Thou compasseth my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways."" "Whither shall I go from thy < Hebrews, xi. 1. d 2 Kings, vi. 15. |