merely as such, and to urge their observance only on this ground, is to detract from their excellence and importance. I know that they are viewed only in this light by some very numerous and respectable bodies of Christians: But it is not in this light that they are presented to our minds in the Scriptures, in the writings of the first three centuries, and in those of the reformers. As positive duties, the observance of them is enforced by motives arising from the command of God; and as means of grace, by motives arising from a regard to our own interest, and a desire to do every thing which may help us forward in the work of salvation. In addition to their being positive duties, they are 66 religious rites in which God bears a part, and through which he bestows an inward and spiritual grace upon the worthy receiver, and of which they are the pledges." The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is not only a single positive duty, but the most comprehensive of all the means of grace. "It is a band and cement of all duties, or a kind of security for the future performance of the whole duty of man." This is said on the ground of the renewal of our covenant with God, and of our vows and promises of obedience, and of the consecration of our souls and bodies to his service, which we make when we receive this Sacrament; and of the spiritual assistance which our Heavenly Father is graciously pleased to convey to us, when we receive it with proper qualifications. And receiving with proper qualifications, or worthily, implies, faith in Jesus Christ, and a thankfulness for his death, 66 present repentance, a heart turned to God, and to universal obedience, and a serious resolution to abide so to our lives end. The receiving of the Lord's Supper, then, comprehends all that allegiance which we owe to God, and all that attachment which is due from us to Christ as our Saviour, an express stipulation to preserve a conscience void of offence, and universal righteousness, both as it respects our principles, and our affections, and conduct. This is solemnly promised for the present, and expressly stipulated for the future, by every sincere and devout commu→ nicant." If the Romish doctrine of transubstantiation be excluded from this Sacrament, the doctrine of the great body of Christians, in every age, will not differ materially from the doctrine expressed in our homilies, viz. "that in the Sacraments, God embraces us, and offereth himself to be embraced by us, and that they set out to the eyes, and other outward senses, the inward workings of God's free mercy, and seal in our hearts the promises of God."....Hom. on Com. Pray. & Sac.-Towerson, in his Treatise on the Sacraments, establishes the principle that " a Sacrament relates to that which flows from God to us," and he claims that this is "evident from what the Scriptures teach concerning Baptism and the Lord's Supper." Vossius, on the force and efficacy of the Sacraments, says, "that as faith is the qualification by which we seek and receive, so the word and Sacraments are the transactions of God, by which he offers and confers what is sought and received by us through faith." And Dr. Rymer, in his General Representation of Revealed Religion, as quoted by Dr. Waterland, says, that "according to the Church Catechism, a Sacrament is not supposed in its most essential part, an application made by men to God, but one made by God to man-a gracious condescension of God's, by which he converses with men, and exhibits to them spiritual blessings. God's part is indeed the whole that is strictly and properly sacramental; the outward and visible signs are in effect the voice of God, repeating his promise of that inward and spiritual favour." If the Lord's Supper be viewed in this light, the Christian will regard it with proper reverence. He will justly view it as the most interesting and solemn ordinance of religion; and will feel himself constrained to receive it, not only as a positive duty, but as a pledge of the divine favour, and as a means of his partaking of the richest mercies of heaven. Viewed in this light, the Christian who would lead that life which his Master has required of him, and who would enjoy that tranquility of mind which arises from a consciousness of the divine favour and acceptance, will consider it absolutely indispensable; and will be moved from motives of interest, to receive this Sacrament, that he may be enabled, by that assistance of the Spirit which it is the means of conveying to him, to spend his life according to the injunctions of the Gospel. B. R. For the Churchman's Magazine. Association of the Western District, New-York. I HAVE noticed with pleasure, that a Society has been lately formed in the Western District of the State of New-York, which is denominated "The Protestant Episcopal Society for promoting Christian Knowledge," in that section of our country. The state of the Church, and the rapidly increasing population in that district, imperiously demand the combined and vigorous exertions of such an institution. The Church has been planted in those parts chiefly by missionaries; and by their zealous and judicious labours, accompanied with the divine blessing, it has prospered to a degree almost unexampled in the ecclesiastical history of our country. Much however remains to be done, and we canuot well see how the Church can take its proper stand in that region, without the concentrated action of this Society. In this most laudable undertaking we wish them distinguished success-" To aid the cause of religion, and more especially to vindicate its great and peculiar truths; to correct prejudices, to counteract the diffusion of erroneous principles, and to enlighten, confirm and animate the sincere Christian, by the circulation of cheap and valuable essays, and to facilitate the attainment of religious knowledge, and to provide for the education of Candidates for the Ministry," are stated to be the objects of this Association. The constitution provides for the prosecution of these objects; and the report of the Committee, on presenting the constitution, urges them upon the attention of Episcopalians with force and eloquence. They state that "having taken into considera"tion the present state and future "prospects of this section of our country in general, and of our "Church in these parts in particu"lar, we are deeply convinced that "much should, and may be done, to "strengthen its influence, and pro"mote its prosperity." After noticing the local situation and advantages of the Western District, which must soon render it one of the most interesting, prosperous, and important sections of the United States, the Committee remark-" Here is a "field, where the various denomina"tions of Christians are sowing their "seed with great industry, and, as "may be expected, with great suc cess; but we regret to say that the "prosperity of the Church has not 66 kept pace with that of the country. "Our establishments are few, and "some of them in afflicting circum"stances of destitution. Illiberal "prejudices are cherished against "her doctrines and forms, and inad equate measures are taken to cor"rect them. A few neighbourhoods "enjoy the salutary influences of the principles and services of the «Church, but multitudes have no "stated religious services whatever. "They are as sheep having no shep❝herd. They are becoming the "prey of false teachers, who are "privily bringing in damnable here"sies, even denying the Lord who "bought them! And no very ade❝quate and effectual means are em"ployed for defending the faith, "which was once delivered to the "saints. Here is a call to vigourous "exertion. The progress of error is "checked-truth is to be maintain❝ed-the cause of the Church is to "be defended-congregations are to "be planted, and a competent min"istry is to be provided for them." These interesting and important objects are thought perfectly practicable, and the Committee proceed to state the measures by which they hope to accomplish them. The first measure proposed, "is to print and "circulate such tracts as are calcula❝ted to explain and enforce the prin on the practicability, and the salutary influences which might arise from the zealous prosecution of this measure, they proceed to urge the considerations which should prompt to immediate exertions in this way. The first is the importance of an early, wide, and permanent establishment in this new and flourishing part of our country. In enforcing this consideration, they remark, that such "an establishment may now be ob"tained, but will hereafter be em"barrassed with new and increasing "difficulties. The ground is now "comparatively unoccupied, and is "open to the Church as well as to "other denominations of Christians : "But it will not long remain unoccu"pied-if we neglect to improve the "present opportunity,others will not. "They will establish themselves, and "that permanently: And where the "Church would now be welcomed "with enthusiasm, it would then find "far to eradicate them when they "first appear in the tender blade, "than when they have taken deep 66 itself shut out by prejudices, and "interests, which it would be difficult, if not impossible, to overciples and duties of the Christian ❝ come. In addition to this, errors "religion in general, and the doc- "are now upon the wing, scattering "trines and forms of the Protestant "those seeds which will soon spring "Episcopal Church in particular, "up every where, and in alarming ❝and to counteract the pernicious in-abundance. It will be found easier "fluence of prevailing errors and vi❝ces."-"The necessity for such a "measure will appear, if we duly consider, 1st, the importance of the "duty which devolves upon us as "Christians, and as Episcopalians, "to do all in our power to withstand "prevailing errors and vices, to pro"mote truth and virtue, to correct "the prejudices against the Church, "to defend its doctrines, to strength"en its influence, and to enlarge its "its boundaries; and 2dly, the in"adequacy of the means which have "been hitherto employed for effect"those important purposes, and the "insufficiency of any other means, "which, in present circumstances, "we may have it in our power to "adopt."-After some observations root, and are nourished into matu"rity, and expanded into greatness." These are remarks which should strike Episcopalians in this eastern section of our country, with great force. Other denominations have been engaged in great efforts to spread the tenets of their profession, and to perpetuate the religion of the Gospel, among the inhabitants of the western states, and these efforts have been attended with great successDenominations of Christians, not superior to Episcopalians in ability, have engaged in this good work, with an ardour and perseverance which do them great credit. But Episco palians have literally done nothing. There has been but little of the missionary spirit among them, and they have made no efforts to preserve their brethren throughout the immense western region, in the communion of the Church, and to plant there, her doctrines, discipline, and worship. And they have been justly reproached with having done nothing in this Other denominations great cause. have been on the alert, and have exerted all their energies; and the consequence is that which is stated above:-They have planted their Churches; and our brethren, destitute of the regular administrations of the Gospel, have joined them. But Episcopalians have been cold, indifferent, and negligent, on this great subject. Even in this state, the cause of Zion languishes, and her ways do mourn, for the want of zealous exertions directed in this way. We make these observations with a view of calling the attention of the pious and zealous members of our communion, to what we believe to be a duty incumbent on them, and of expressing our most earnest desires, that our Churches which are blessed with the ability, may be roused to those exertions for the prosperity of Zion, which are due from them, and that more zeal and liberality in the missionary cause, may be excited among them. Much may and ought to be done by Episcopalians in this state, for domestic and foreign missions, and it will be required at our hands. "The In the following paragraph, the Committee advert to the powerful effect which may be produced by tracts, written with ability, and suited to common capacities. “leading infidels of Europe produced "a much greater effect upon the "great mass of the people by their "popular tracts, than could have "been wrought by all the Encyclo"pedias and Dictionaries in the world-that the same engines so "triumphantly employed in the cause- The Committee express an opin- "The second object of this Asso"ciation is to provide for the ad"vancement of theological knowl"edge among the clergy and laity of "this district, and for the education "of candidates for the ministry."— The Committee recommend the accomplishment of this object, by the establishment of a permanent fund, the avails of which shall be at the disposal of the Society. We think their views on this subject perfectly just, and we extract with pleasure the paragraph in which they are expressed, not without a hope that they may have theirweight on the members of the Connecticut Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. They recommend "the collection of "a fund which shall serve as a com"mon and indissoluble link to con"nect the Society, and to perpetuate "it so long as light and truth shall «be needed in any part of our coun"try. An association depending en"tirely on annual and casual collec❝tions, will be subject to all the fluc"tuations of the currency, and in "times of great pressure, it may ❝cease its operations for the want of "funds. But with a permanent ca"pital, the interest of which only is "to be applied to the ordinary ex"penditures of the Society, it may "bid defiance to the revolutions of "commerce and trade, and may stea"dily and regularly pursue its path "of usefulness to man, and of glory to God, in the most adverse sea"sons, and during periods of affliction, when its influence will be "most salutary. Even the indiffer"ence of the members of the Institu❝tion, to which all human societies are exposed, will be less, and the "probability of their being constant"ly excited to action, will be increa"sed, by the possession of a fund en"trusted to their hands for the most ❝important purposes." We regret that we have not room to present the whole of this very able and important report to our readers. The Association, whose principles and claims it urges on Episcopalians in the western district, we earnestly hope may meet with that liberal and extensive patronage which it de serves. Institutions of a similar nature throughout our country have been in general successful in their immediate objects, and blessed in their exertions. Comparatively little, howev er, has been done by the Connecticut Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. To what obstacles this is to be attributed, we will not pretend to determine. But we may be allowed to express our solicitude, that more vigourous and general exertions should be made by the friends of the Church in this State, to place at the disposal of the board of directors, such funds as may enable them to accomplish the important purposes of the Institution. There are many parts even of this state, where missionary exertions are absolutely required. Parishes are springing up, and small communities of Episcopalians are scattered in different parts of the state, which claim that fostering care, which it ought to be in the power of this Society to afford them, And it ought not to be disguised, that many of our Churches in important sections of the state, must languish, and perhaps after the present gene ration has passed away, become extinct, if we cannot extend to them that aid which was designed in the formation of this Society. Bishop White's Memoirs of the Church. ON comparing the Book of Common Prayer, as adapted to the Church of the United States, with the estab lished formularies of the Church of England, two circumstances have always appeared very remarkable— first, that the alterations adopted by the American Church are so fewand, last, that they are so judicious. We have already seen that the Church in this country, after the dissolution of the civil connection between the two governments, was left |