Causes of former deadness in the church.

the pseudo-form of christianity which they have adopted, as condemn the Episcopal church because some of her ministers and members have so sadly departed from the spirit of her standards-retaining the form of godliness while they denied the power thereof. I would ask, is it not so in all churches? Were it necessary, I think I could show, that the Episcopal church is not peculiar in this. We mourn over these things in our Zion, and thank God that a better day has begun to dawn upon us.

There has existed a special reason for this deadness in the Episcopal church. This church sprung from the Church of England. It was established in this country by the Enlish. Consequently all the evils, incident to a union between church and state, were transplanted along with it. The moment the American Revolution broke us loose from the mother country, however, causes were put in operation to liberate us from those evils, which were manifestly incidental. Though in some parts of the country, even to the present time, a coldness and deadness have been perpetuated and have continued to sit upon our Zion like the incubus of death, yet now, almost every where, the church is throwing off every symptom of apathy, and putting on the vestments of strength, and standing up in the energy with which she was clad in the days of the Reformation, when she was baptised in blood, and placed herself in the thickest of the battle in protesting against papal usurpation. Every one now begins to see that the principles of our church are in most delightful harmony with the principles of a republican government.

But I will glance at each one of the particulars contained in the objection.

First, as to unsoundness in our views on the subject of a change of heart. No one can read our Articles or Prayer Book and think far a moment that there is the slightest foundation for such an accusation. If the necessity of a change of heart be not taught in the Prayer Book, it is not taught in the Bible.

Secondly, as to a want of vital piety and spiritual religion in the hearts of our communicants,‚—a word here may not be amiss. I fear we do indeed fall far short of the requisitions of the Gospel. I see it, and mourn over it in myself and my people. Oh! that we did live nearer to God! Oh! that we

The liturgy truly spiritual.

had more of the spirit of Christ! I hope all other churches have far more of that heavenly spirit than we have. It would give me real pleasure to find among them more spiritu ality, more heavenly mindedness, more devotedness to Christ than can be found within the pale of our communion. Bu as far as my acquaintance extends, I am led to think that we are not alone in these sad spiritual declensions. I see precisely the same things to lament among christians of other churches. Their ministers make complaint of, and mourn over, the same evils. I fear, that in this matter, we have none of us any thing of which to boast.

And, finally, as to the neglect of clear exhibitions of Gospel truth on the part of those who dispense the word-I have no doubt there have been some grounds for this accusation in times past. The doctrines of the cross in some congregations were not preached, and, very likely, were but imperfectly understood by those who attempted to guide lost and erring sinners to heaven. There may be individual instances where this is even now the case; where men, wearing the sacred vestments, are "blind leaders of the blind." And I presume that there is not a denomination of christians in the world, of which the same thing may not be affirmed. Such instances are truly melancholy, wherever they occur. I, my. self, have sometimes been to the sanctuary, and heard, from the lips of him who professed to be an ambassador for Christ, nothing about Christ or salvation. What did I say? I am mistaken. The sermon had not a solitary ray of light re. flected from the cross, but the prayers that preceded it, were full of Him who was crucified on Calvary. Episcopalians have an antidote by which they can counteract the deadening influence of such spiritless pulpit exercises. They open their prayer book, and immediately feel refreshed. The strains of devotion that they find there, have an unction from the Holy One. Every word is instinct with spiritual life.

Such a style of preaching as that just adverted to, is at perfect antipodes with the doctrines and spirit of every part of our liturgy. That is full of experimental religion-full of Christ-full of the doctrines of grace-full of the breathings of the Holy Spirit. So true is this, that we have known instances where persons have been converted, and led to the adoption of correct doctrinal views, with no other sanctuary

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The Episcopal church truly Protestant.

privileges, than our spiritual liturgy read by a 'blind leader of the blind.' The Episcopal Service not only teaches the truth, but indirectly pronounces a most severe rebuke, and stern reprimand upon the man who reads it, if afterwards in his pulpit exercises he fails to proclaim the whole counsel of God. Only think of a dull, prosing preacher, first giving utterance to the rich, and spiritual, and highly evangelical strains of devotion embodied in our Liturgy, and then doling out to the people his jejunę, miserable, moral essays! Whythe contrast would be such that no one could fail to observe the difference!

5. And finally, you have probably heard it charged upon the Episcopal church, that she has strong affinities drawing her towards the Romish church. But let the well known fact stand forth in bold relief, that no church in Christendom has protested against the usurpations of the papal hierarchy, with a more steady and unyielding testimony, or at greater 'expense, than the Episcopal church. Hundreds of her noblest sons have sealed their testimony with their blood. Can it be said in view of such men as Cranmer, Latimer, and Ridley, going to the stake to maintain protestant principles, that the Episcopal church, favors papal Rome? Let those who thus impugn the church, look into her Articles and her Homilies, and see if there be one of the protestant churches that has taken such high and decided ground against the pestiferous doctrines of Rome, as the Episcopal church. Her very frame-work* must be taken down, and her institutions annihilated, before she can assimilate with that mother of abominations, whose character has been delineated with such wonderful accuracy by the pen of inspiration.

I wished to call your attention to some of these popular objections, and to dispose of them before I attempted to give you even a cursory view of the frame-work and peculiarities of the Episcopal church. I wish you to understand, however, most distinctly, that we have no desire to exalt the church above the Saviour. We love her for no other reason than because we love Christ, and firmly believe this church is truly

* See the 6th, 11th, 14th, 18th, 19th, 22d, 24th, 25th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 32d Articles of the Episcopal Church, all of which are constructed with a special reference to counteract some error of Popery.

F

Episcopal church will bear examination.

his spouse. Those institutions and arrangements connected with the church, which are of human appointment, unquestionably partake more or less of human imperfection. Her members and ministers are only frail men, and are, unquestionably, as liable to go astray as other christians. I ask you to judge of the church from an examination of her standards.

If she does not hold all the great doctrines of the cross in their integrity-if she does not exalt the Saviour, and make him all in all-if she does not place before her children a high standard of holiness-if she is not obviously that church which Christ bought with his blood, then I will not ask you to give to her any countenance. But if the Episcopal church can bear the test of the most rigid examination, and commend herself more and more to those who will take the trouble to look into her peculiarities, I am sure you will not regret the trouble of the investigation to which I invite you.

I will now proceed to give you a cursory view of the dis-* tinctive features of our church, and leave you to judge whether we can claim for it a scriptural and apostolic origin or not." The conclusion of this communication will be found in the next chapter.

Elijah at Horeb.

CHAPTER IV

A PANORAMIC VIEW OF ZION

At last a voice all still and small,
Rose sweetly on the ear,

Yet rose so clear and shrill, that all
In Heaven and Earth might hear.
It spoke of peace, it spoke of love,
It spoke as angels speak above,
And God Himself was here:
For oh! it was a Father's voice

That bade his trembling world rejoice.

There is something striking, and peculiarly instructive in Elijah's interview with God at Horeb. The Lord passed by. But He was not in the strong wind, that rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks; nor in the earthquake, that shook the mighty fabric of nature to its centre. He was not in the sheet of vivid flame that shot across the troubled sky; but his approach was betokened by "the still small voice."

Living in an age distinguished by the din and noise of action, and surrounded by numbers who seem to have a passion for continued excitement, and who, in reference to thrilling sensations of some sort, like "the horse-leach's daughters, are ever crying, give, give,”* we have the more reason to read over frequently, and meditate profoundly upon this account of the Prophet's interview with the Most High.† To the class of persons above referred to, who are ceaselessly seeking for something of an exciting character, we can promise nothing very inviting in the present chapter. The view to which we design to direct the eye of the reader, is not one that will be likely to strike powerfully the attention of those who run

* Prov. xxx, 15.

, 1 Kings XIX, 11, 13.