Page images
PDF
EPUB

it concerns the mass of the people. Many a generation had lived and died without the establishment of a single new school, or any attempt to provide religious instruction for the children of the poor, up to the period when the Missionary spirit revived; but nothing like a parochial movement was thought of until after the growing interest which was felt for the heathen began to work with energy and vigour.* It is true-this point is now strenuously promoted by many who decry all efforts on behalf of Christian Missions ;† but this does not alter the fact, nor prevent me from asserting, that because we have been led to think of others, God has rewarded us by awakening our sympathies for those who are at home.

Look, again, at the provision of Church accommodation for our own population. So long as it was a just accusation, that our Church made no attempt to extend Christ's kingdom abroad, so long was it a stagnant system at home. It is probably, no exaggeration to affirm, that during the last century many a bishop lived and died, without ever consecrating one new building for

* The National Society for the Education of the Poor, was established in 1811.

Many of these are little else, we fear, than worldly politicians, and the education' they advocate the mere communication of secular knowledge. Would that their numbers were not augmented by those who desire better things for the poor, and of whom better things might have been expected themselves.

The Society for Building and Repairing Churches, was not established until 1818.

the purposes of Divine worship: the very service* itself would have been forgotten, but for the rebuilding of the Church in some considerable town, where time had made it impossible to repair the old structure, and thus compelled its re-erection; or for the addition of fresh ground wherein to bury the dead. But, now, how great the contrast! The consecration of a new Church, and the sub-division of an old parish, is an event of every day occurrence, which is strikingly shown by the facts, that the Prelate who now presides over the see of London has consecrated 141 new Churches within the limits of that diocese ; † and that the present Archbishop of Canterbury, during the twenty years of his residence at Chester, consecrated a very much greater number, amounting (as it is said) to an average of one for each month of that long period.

More striking still, is the history of the means used for providing a supply of additional ministers amongst our overgrown parishes. In this respect, nothing whatever was done until the formation of "The Church Pastoral Aid Society" in 1836; and, as the almost immediate consequence, the formation of the Society for supplying additional curates, in 1837; by whose joint operations, the Legislature was shamed into an

Why should not the service for the Consecration of Churches be bound up with all but the smallest Prayer-books? We are indebted to the Prayer-book and Homily Society for several improvements of this kind; e. g. the 39 Articles, the Ordination Services, &c.; why should not the amount of obligation be increased in the way I have indicated?

†The Churchman's Almanack for 1849.

attempt to do something to alleviate the crying wants of the country. The former Society was established at first, and has been supported ever since, by men who rank amongst the foremost promoters of the efforts which are made for the evangelization of the heathen, through the agency of the Church Missionary Society; in fact, its formation was determined on, and its constitution definitively adopted, at a meeting held in the Church Missionary House, in Salisbury Square.

The chief supporters of these two Societies, will still be found amongst those whose exertions are most conspicuous in Missionary work; but I am compelled to acknowledge that there are some (not only active advocates of Church extension at home, but even personally indebted to the movement,) who practically disown their obligations to that spread of the Missionary spirit, which was the parent, and is still the guardian of the Societies whose cause they plead. I would that their eyes might be opened to see the suicidal character of the course they are adopting!

And here let me add a word against advocating one Society at the expense of another, putting them into a position of unseemly rivalry and opposition. This practice is the main cause of the outcry we sometimes hear, against "the multiplication of Societies," as if it were "a monstrous evil," instead of the occasion of much good both to ourselves and others. Let two Societies be based upon a truly scriptural foundation, and it will be impossible for them to injure each other, nay rather, by the advance

10

Christ, by the blessing it brings upon the Church and nation, it directly benefits the other.

Especially, would I deprecate the advocacy of home objects at the expense of the Missionary cause. Oh, for the time when we shall not give sparingly, as at present, of our money or our agents, but willingly bestow our best and. choicest upon the Missionary field! when men shall no longer consider any sacrifice too great, or any individual too excellent, too accomplished, or too useful at home to be spared for the benefit of dark and heathen lands! For sure I am, that in thus giving, we should bring down a far more abundant blessing from on high; our money would not be spent without return, and the places of the men we spared, would be still more worthily filled by others whom God's power should raise up; by thus scattering, we should not diminish but increase. (Prov. xi. 24.)

We have seen that my plan holds out a fair prospect of benefiting the careless; still more cheering hopes may we entertain of its usefulness to those whose hearts have already been changed by the Holy Ghost. To them such a course as I have spoken of, will prove emphatically a means grace, by supplying to them the best opportunity for spiritual exercise.

"As in nature," says Archdeacon Law, "so in grace, exercise is needful to growth."* A very

These words are taken from a "Charge delivered to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Wells," by the Ven. Archdeacon Law. To this excellent discourse, the writer conB

little consideration will show us that this comparison is most apposite. In nature, exercise is not life, neither can it produce life, no, nor is it of itself competent to maintain life; and yet, without it life soon becomes a burden, and the aliment proper to sustain it, loses half, if not the whole of its powers and virtues. It is so also in spiritual things. Good works cannot quicken the soul, they are not its life; and yet, as they are the necessary consequences of spiritual life, so also are they the means, whereby the same Spirit, which imparts, upholds and strengthens our life, causes it to grow and increase, and thus gives us "grace for grace."

It is to the want of spiritual exercise, that many a fearful declension is ultimately to be traced. The instances are far from uncommon in which the Word has been heard with joy, and for awhile all seems well; but a neglect of positive duty towards others is punished by a permission to fall into a state of careless ease, and then the want of watchfulness brings down its due reward, betraying the soul into strong temptation: and then comes open grievous sin, with all its bitter train of consequences. What then is our right course, when heaviness and torpidity of soul is creeping over those who did run well? The spiritual treatment of such, should resemble that which would be adopted by the physician of the body; we should urge them to such active exertions as,

fesses himself deeply indebted: many of the ideas, contained in this letter, have been suggested by its perusal. The Charge is published in London by Hamilton, Adams and Co.

« PreviousContinue »