ern Diocess-A Sermon-The duty of giving a reason for our faith -It must be done with meekness and fear-Human depravity→→ The doctrine of Redemption-Character and offices of Christ-The Holy Spirit-The doctrines of grace-Holiness-Baptism and the Episcopacy-"A candid examination of the Episcopal Church, in two letters to a friend"-Mistakes in reference to the Episcopal preroga- tive-Constitution of the Ministry under the Jewish dispensation- Testimony of scripture in reference to the christian ministry-Also of the early writers in the church-Views of Bishop Griswold- Forms of Prayer :-President Dwight-Paley-Comparative advan- tages of extemporary and precomposed Prayer-Dr. Payson-The second letter in "a candid examination of the Church"-Rev. John Regeneration:-The Temple at Jerusalem-Its different Gates-Ne- cessity of a change of heart denied by no Episcopalians—-Archbishop Usher-Bishop Hall-Archbishop Leighton-Bishop Hopkins— Burnet, Bradford-Dean of Chichester-Bishop Hobart-Onder- donk-Griswold-Baxter-Presbyterian Confession of Faith-Hei- Regeneration:-Language of the Baptismal office defensible-Differ- ent theories adopted in relation to the meaning of the term Regen- or of God and the usefulness of Christians involved in this-The ....... ..... The tendency of Episcopal Institutions:—An objection answered- The communication of a friend, showing from a statement of facts that the establishment of the Episcopal Church is calculated to pro- mote harmony, and revive religion in any place-A second commu- Minor objections :-Fault of Episcopalians-The Missionary's manu- script-The interview-Infant baptism-Immersion-Open com- munion-The sign of the cross-Saints' days-Festival of Christ- Missionary's manuscript, continued:-Sentences of Scripture with which the Episcopal service opens-Exhortation-Confession-In- cident related by Mrs. M.-The Declaration of Absolution-The Pealter-Reading the Holy Scriptures in church-The creed-" He descended into Hell"-The design of the creed—An incident rela- ted by a young man-Another by a clergyman-Meaning of "Ho- ly Catholic Church"-The Episcopal Church is truly Catholic- 210 Christian Union:-The church ought to be characterized with unity and love-The causes of disunion-The admission of unregenerate men into the fold and the counsels of the church-Defective organ- ization-Properties of union which the Episcopal Church possesses. Her catholicism-Her standards not drawn out into metaphysical hair-splitting She allows of freedom of discussion-The views of a clerical brother of another denomination-The conclusion..... 228 A WALK ABOUT ZION. CHAPTER I. THE CHURCH. "I love his Church, I love the Altar of my sires, Old as my country's rocks of steel, And as 1 feed its sacred fires, The present Deity I feel."--CUNNINGHAM. THE design of the present volume is not to furnish amusement to the gay, and the giddy. A walk is proposed. But it forms no part of our plan to lead the reader through the splendid fields of imagination and taste, or over verdant lawns and along the ambrosial walks of earthly pleasure. We hope we have some relish for the beauties of nature. We trust we are not altogether insensible to the charm of magnificent scenery. We love to stand upon the mountain peak, and behold the awful sublimities of creation that cluster around us in forms of Alpine grandeur. We love to descend the mountain side that overlooks some far spreading vale, which stretches with unwonted loveliness before the eyetraversed, through its whole extent, by a gently flowing, silvery stream, where in the distance, we can see bold uplands, covered with forests which wave their tops in the light breeze. We love to take some such commanding spot, from which we can gaze upon the surrounding landscape-watch the limpid waters that sparkle from the rock---hear the murmur of the bees in the still noon-observe the slow flight of the City of the great King. crane, or the upward movements and sublime steerage of the eagle, as he rises from the summit of the rocks and wings his way upward, till he appears like a dark speck in the sunlight. We love to be placed amid such a scene of enchantment, to inhale the aromatic scent that comes from the neighboring field, and quaff the fragrance of the balmy air-while the sound of distant voices, or notes of music, are borne floating on the breeze to our ear! But it forms no part of our plan in this proposed walk, to conduct the reader forth to a survey of the scenes and beauties of nature. Still it is hoped that the walk, which we invite him to take along with us, will not be without interest. The scenes through which we would conduct him are serious and grave. We desire him to contemplate along with us, objects and institutions that possess moral beauty. In this walk, we would have him fix his eye upon the foundation, and appendages, and beauty, and strength-upon the towers, and palaces, and bulwarks of a city which God himself has reared. We would also have him observe its walls, upon which is written Salvation, and its gates, upon which is inscribed Praise.* We ask him to stand with us beside, and after having gazed there awhile, to walk thence to the holy mount, to survey the city of the Great King-the city of our God in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, and the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion. God is known in her palaces for a refuge.† Come, then, along with us-walk about Zion, and go round about her tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the generation following. Or to drop this metaphoric language, we propose in this volume to direct the attention of the reader to certain facts, connected with the existence and constitution of the christian church, and especially that branch of it, in whose communion we have the happiness of being placed. This we purpose to |