5787 EDITOR'S PREFACE. In the mass of literature that has been called forth by Bishop Milner, however, writing in the beginning of (1) Infallibility of the Church, by G. Salmon, D.D., 2nd ed., 1890, p. 79. 270.9 M6 Melancthon which I have been unable to find, but as I came across it in Grotius, quoted by him in the same words and with admiration, I feel satisfied that it is correct. The toil of verification in other instances (which, as a glance will show, has had to range over a wide expanse of literature) would have seemed waste of time, if I had not been persuaded that the book has a future before it in that turning of the hearts of the children to their fathers which is so conspicuously occurring in this country just now-I mean in the movement going on towards communion with the Holy See. There is, however, one objection which may be urged against the republication of Milner's End of Religious Controversy, namely, that it is in parts ninety-four years old (1), and therefore much that was said of the Church of England is not true of it now. There is no doubt of this fact; and I have accordingly pointed out in short notes where it seemed.especially the case. But the changes are only in details, and the framework of Milner's argument is so strong that it would not be affected by the removal of a few such points. It must be remembered that in treating of the Church of England we have to do with a heterogeneous mass of teachers, sharply divided on important points, some of whose actual teaching differs little from that described by Bishop Milner, whilst some differs much; but the whole mass still adheres to a rule of faith in direct contradiction to that which Bishop Milner shows to be the true one. Consequently all that concerns the establishment of the true rule of faith applies now, as much as ever, to the Church of England as a whole. Keble's account of Tradition, in his celebrated sermon on the subject, does not bring the theory of the High Church within measurable distance of the Catholic Rule of Faith; for it disclaims the existence of an unerring, living judge (ie., (1) It was first written in 1801-2, and at length published for the first time in 1818. Five editions were published in the Author's lifetime. |