case under ordinary circumstances, the amount of obligation which all members of the Church of England in this Diocese owe to the Archdeacon of Bath.

Under ordinary circumstances, I say, those high qualifications for administering the most important functions in the Church, which have now been brought out before us all, would, perhaps, have been known only to few: but the events of the last few years have proved that while he is spared to us-and long and late may the hour be which calls him from us!-the Church in this Diocese has one in her governing body, who is equal to all emergencies, and able to discharge whatever duty may be laid on him, with an ability which is only surpassed by his modesty. When I consider the difficulties and delicacies of his position-the critical character of the times—the dangers and trials which have hung over the Church;-the jealousies and apprehensions which inevitably follow the steps of one who holds the unenviable and anomalous situation of vice-gerent for an authority which seems more or less in abeyance: when I consider these things, and then hear on all sides the testimony of the clergy of this Diocese, as to the manner in which he discharged the trust committed to him,-with what firmness and tenacity of purpose he adhered to the course which

his conscience told him was the right one;-with what fairness and impartiality he attended to all representations and complaints,-what sound judgment and discretion he displayed in the execution of his office,—with how kind and conciliatory a manner he drew all hearts towards him, when I see around me the amount of good which he effected, and am not afraid to make that the guage of the amount of evil which, in a quiet way and without attracting observation, he must have repressed, and when, in addition to all this, I remember the noble act of disinterestedness by which he declined what the law had awarded him as the just remuneration of his labours,-I really feel that no language of eulogium which I can apply to him would be too strong for me to use, or would be more than the voice of the assembled clergy would confirm and corroborate. And if I forbear to dwell upon the subject longer, it is only because I cannot trust myself to speak of my personal obligations to him, and of the respect and affection which I bear him.

And now to pass on to a consideration of those points connected with the general welfare of the Diocese to which, on the present occasion, I am anxious to direct your attention.

And, in the first place, my Reverend Brethren, I thank God, and take comfort amid the cares and anxieties of these distracted times, that on

this our first meeting, when, as I sincerely trust, we have with one heart, as with one voice, been invoking on ourselves and our congregations the healthful Spirit of God's grace, and the continual dew of His blessing, I need not re-open a wound, which, alas! has bled too long, by dwelling at any length on the miserable controversies which for the last fifteen years have harassed the Church, and been a scandal to the world. I cannot, indeed, but be cheered by the conviction that what has taken place is a sign not of death, but of life.-Anything is better than torpor. It was our past torpor which caused our present woe. But I repeat my sanguine conviction that however distressing and humiliating may be the state of things among us, such searchings of heart as we have gone through; such carefulness as hath been wrought in us; yea, such clearing of ourselves; yea, such indignation; yea, such fear; yea, such vehement desire; yea, such zeal; yea, such revenge; can never be displayed in a Church from which Christ hath withdrawn His presence, and which His Spirit hath forsaken as unfruitful, sapless, reprobate. I take all that is past as evidence that we have life still in us, that we retain the notes of a true Church. My faith tells me that "all things" shall "work together for good to them that love God:"I read how, sometimes, through the troubling of the waters, a healing power has been conferred on

them. I see around me abundant evidence that eventual good is working out of present evil. I see it in the silent and unsuspected growth of sound Church principles, even among those who have almost professed to hate their very name. I see it in the more just appreciation of the incalculable evils of Romanism on the one hand, and of Ultra-protestantism and Rationalism on the other. I see it in the increasing strictness of the clergy in their lives,—in their increasing devotion to Theological study,-in the increasing care and pains which they bestow on the souls of those over whom they watch as men "that must give account:”—I see it in the increased energy of the Church; in her growing power in many countries, and over many minds:-I see it in the interest excited in behalf of the heathenized masses of our manufacturing population, and in the determined feeling, which every day strengthens, to assert on the Church's behalf her right to give her children a Christian-a Church education.

Nevertheless, whatever good may issue to this Church and Nation from the religious movement of the last fifteen years, I fear that those who come after us, and speak impartially, will find little in the conduct of either of the great parties, which have been in opposition to each other, of which they will be able to speak with unmingled com

mendation.

On the one hand, a small band of pious, devoted, and humble-minded men-and if there be one person who, more than another, can speak of the purity of their motives, and the piety of their lives, from personal knowledge of both, it is the individual who now addresses you,— betaking themselves almost single handed, and with every chance social and political against them, to the task of fighting the Church's battle, by teaching her children to know their obligations to her, and appreciate the privileges they had forgotten. This was their first object, and had they rested there, and been content to have foregone the attractions of party, we should not now have to lament over the apostacy of some, and our own loss of men who might have been the ablest champions of our Church. But in a while they gathered disciples round them, and the disciples, I fear, had, in many cases, little of the humility and self discipline of the teachers. Zeal undoubtedly they had, but knowledge, and patience, and discretion were wanting. Hence all manner of needless offence was given,-prejudices were shocked,-trivial details were insisted on before great principles had been established: congregations were called upon to witness alterations in the manner of celebrating Divine service, before they had been taught that what seemed to them novelty was in fact, restoration, and what seemed