those put forth in these Sermons? I think, none. The statement in the Aids to Reflection amounts, I believe, to this. Our Saviour, in the text referred to, did not insist on the necessity of water-baptism, but of spiritual regeneration. The view taken in these Sermons is to this effect: our blessed Lord's immediate object was not to insist upon baptism as the seal of spiritual regeneration, but to proclaim regeneration to be the spirit of baptism. The external rite being supposed, the spiritual change is required. This position goes further than the former, but it is surely not inconsistent with it. The Essay in question is stated not to have exhibited the Author's own views in a manner perfectly satisfactory to himself: but it seems to me, I confess, wholly incredible, that the same man who saw the Eucharist in the sixth chapter of the fourth Gospel, should not have seen Baptism in the third, and in precisely the same way. If, therefore, the former correspond, in any sense, to an outward ceremony, if it be properly set forth in the liturgical forms of the English Prayer Book,—and to this the testimony of S. T. Coleridge, conceived in terms of the most impassioned eloquence, is direct and express, it may fairly be inferred, that the sister service was regarded by him, in the main, with the same sort of approval, and received the same sort of interpretation. In conclusion, I would beg to refer to the peculiar difficulties under which this work has been produced, at a distance from books, and the scarcely less valuable assistance of friends, amid the distractions of a laborious and all but engrossing profession, not with a wish to soften criticism, but in the hope that I shall at least disarm censure. Withdrawn for a time from my more sacred calling, I would still wish to be engaged in the same ministry, trusting that the will and not the deed will be accepted, as the measure of my service. HELLESTON, May 1, 1839. CONTENTS. VIII. The same Subject continued: Objections Answered IX. The Saints, or the Church as delineated in the Aposto- X. The Saints, or the Church of Christ as delineated in XII. The Saints, or the Church of Christ as delineated in XVII. On the Sacraments :-Part V. Holy Communion. Sec- tion II. The Reasonable Service CORRIGENDA. Page 53, line 30, for ripe, read rife. 26, for pursuit, read pursuits. 26 (note,) after counsel, insert of the. 1, for from, read and. 35 (note,) for èkeîvo, read ékeîvol. 34 (note,) for ground, read grounds. 34 (note,) for notice, read notion. 34 (note,) for absolution, read absolutism, 5, for it must be, read that it is. 26, for when, read if. 1, for presents, read present. 12, for exhibit it the, read exhibit the. THE SCRIPTURAL CHARACTER OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. SERMON I. ON THE USE AND ABUSE OF JEWISH PRECEDENTS. PSALM CXxii. 1. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of THE beautiful and impressive hymn of which these are the opening words, though referable, in the first instance, to the feelings of a single individual upon a peculiar occasion, has long been adopted and applied to its own purposes by the Christian Church. We shall greatly err in regarding the principle of accommodation here adopted as merely conventional and arbitrary. No new, no different, no additional meaning is hereby imputed. The prophecy is but traced to its fulfilment; the hidden germ expanded by a natural and foreseen development. The notes of that golden harp were not struck to die upon. the breezes of Judea, nor its last sighs breathed "beside the waters of Babylon," to expire among "the willows," and be heard no more. Their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words to the ends of the world'." Not for their historic interest alone, not for their touching sweetness merely, have they been thus preserved. There is in these inspired strains an imperishable life, inherent in their peculiar nature. The figures in which 'Psalm xix. 4. B |