EDITOR'S TABLE, ) We have been prevented from fulfilling our lution according to the forms in our Liturgy. purpose of taking an early notice of deeply in- That Church obliges the Priest to see that every teresting matters in the proceedings of the last Communicant comes to them. I teach and hold that our Church leaves it with the penitent to deConvention of the Diocese of NORTH CAROLINA,termine whether and how far he needs them, which assembled in Christ Church, Elizabeth and does not permit the Priest to do more in City, May 29, 1850. Our readers will be re-bringing the penitent to them than point out the minded of circumstances of a very painful nadangers of self-trust and self-delusion, and the benefits of unburdening the conscience and of reture, which created, a few months ago, much sen- ceiving the Godly counsel and advice of God's sation throughout our Church, by perusing the Ministers, according to the direction of the exfollowing extracts from the Journal: hortation to the Holy Communion in our Liturgy. That Church holds to the necessity of confessing Priest. I teach and hold that our Church regards each mortal sin of thought, word, and deed, to the it needful that each Communicant should so the rule of God's commandments, as to be able search and examine his conscience, according to to confess all heinous offences in " will, word, or deed," to Almighty God; and that "if he cannot by this means quiet his conscience," and come to the Holy Communion "with a full trust in God's of God's Word, that he may obtain his counsel mercy," he shall open his grief to some Minister and aid to "the removing of all scruple and From the Bishop's Address, p. 15. "It remains to notice one of my official acts during the past year, which has been the occasion of a good deal of misapprehension, and which requires of me a few words by way of safeguard. I refer to the issuing of a Pastoral Letter, relating to the action of the last Convention of this Dio cese. Without going into a defence of the grounds which seemed to me to make the publication of that letter necessary, I would express my deep regret that any of its statements should in any degree have admitted the idea of an intention on my part to question the motives, the truthfulness, or faith of my Clergy. Notwithstanding the circumstances which, under Providence, have given the appearance of distrust between some of them and myself for a time, I desire now to assure them, as a body, of my entire confidence in their affection, their charity, and firm adherence to the faith and discipline of the Church. "I have labored among them for nearly 20 years, I know very imperfectly, but with a sin cere desire for the good of my Diocese, and I believe with unwavering fidelity to my trust. Still, I claim no infallibility beyond honesty of purpose and diligence in duty; and no indulgence beyond that which is extended to every man laboring under the infirmities of a human judgment, and the oft-recurring and sometimes prostrating diseases of a human body. "For myself, as an individual, I have nothing to urge-nothing to say. But as your Bishop, responsible in some sort at least for the truth, I feel bound to remove, in plain terms of denial, some misconceptions which are operating to hinder the due effects of that truth as set forth in my writings, and to keep up agitation and distrust in the Diocese. doubtfulness." Finally, I do not teach nor hold that our branch of the Catholic Church is from any cause either in heresy or schism, or that she is destitute of the true Sacramental system. "Thus much have I thought it best to say negatively to guard my affirmative teaching from misconstruction and misapprehension. That "I neither teach nor hold, as some have thought, teaching is before you in my published writings, Private Confession and Absolution, in the Romish with such explanations as I have felt myself called sense. The Romish Church holds them to be a upon to give. Whatever may be the imperfecnecessary sacrament in themselves, as is Baptism tions of the teacher (and he feels that they are and the Lord's Supper. I hold and teach that many) or the return made to him for his sincere our branch of the Church denies this. That and he believes greatly needed efforts, he has the Church makes them obligatory on all her mem- satisfaction of a firm conviction, and the privibers. I teach and hold that our Church does not,lege of constant prayer, that Almighty God will but makes them an exception to a general rule-so overrule these efforts as to make them rewhich general rule is public confession and abso- dound to His glory and the good of His Church." From the Journal, p. 36. "The following communication was read by the Right Rev. Bishop: "BRETHREN OF THIS CONVENTION: "Aware that the difficulties in the Diocese, to which I have alluded in my Address, still threaten the peace of the same, and being anxious to do all in my power to restore harmony and good will, I hereby ask of you a Committee of Clergymen and Laymen, to investigate all the circumstances connected therewith, and report to a future meeting of this body. "L. SILLIMAN IVES, "Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina. 66 May 31, 1850. "On motion of Dr. F. J. Hill, "Resolved, That the communication of the Bishop, just made to the Convention, be referred to a Committee composed of four Clergymen and four Laymen, to be elected by ballot. "The Convention proceeded to ballot, and the following were elected to compose said Commit "The Committee to whom was referred a communication from the Bishop to this Convention, in these words: "BRETHREN OF THE CONVENTION: ed by the Bishop, and that they make report to the next Annual Convention. "Resolved, That the said Committee be chosen by ballot. "JARVIS B. BUXTON, "Chairman. "The question was then taken on the adoption of the resolutions as reported by the Committee, and decided in the affirmative." From the Journal, p. 41. From the Report of the Committee on the State of the Church. "The Committee have heard and read with great satisfaction that portion of the Bishop's Address which contains the explanations of doctrine taught in his published writings:-stating that he "feels bound to remove, in terms of denial, some misapprehensions which are operating to hinder the due effects of that truth as set forth in his writings;" and they trust that these explanations will tend to remove "the agitation and distrust" of which the Bishop speaks, and have the same effect upon the Church throughout the Diocese which they have had upon the mind of the and harmony, for which this Diocese was forCommittee of inducing the hope. that the peace merly distinguished, may be restored. "The Committee must not omit to express the gratification with which they have received the expression contained in the Bishop's Journal, of his entire confidence in the affection of the Clergy, and their firm adherence to the faith and discipline of the Church." It is peculiarly gratifying to see attached to this last Report, as Chairman, the name of the Rev. gentleman, who, as Chairman of the same Com"Aware that the difficulties in the Diocese, to mittee at the preceding Convention, had felt which I have alluded in my Address, still threaten compelled to address a letter to his Diocesan rethe peace of the same; and being anxious to do all in my power to restore harmony and good specting the troubles to which all this matter rewill, I hereby ask of you a Committee of Clergy-fers. The great respectability of that gentleman, men and Laymen, to investigate all the circumstances connected therewith, and report to a future meeting of this body. (Signed,) his long and faithful services in the Church, and his well-known talents, sound principles, and excellent character, gave to his letter great value, and therefore caused it to excite deep and pain"L. SILLIMAN IVES, "Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina.ful solicitude. And when we farther consider respectfully report: That they recommend the appointment of a Committee by this Convention, according to the request of the Bishop, to consist of three Clergymen and three Laymen, to be chosen by ballot; and that said Committee make their report to the next Annual Convention,-it being the opinion of this Committee, that this is the earliest period at which as full a representation of the Church in the Diocese could be obtained, as the circumstances of the case require. 'They recommend the following resolutions: "Resolved, That a Committee of three Clergymen and three Laymen be appointed, as request-> his characteristic frankness, ingenuousness, and fearlessness, we are encouraged to regard the sanction given by him to the happy ecclaircisse ment effected in the last Convention, as justifying all the joy and confidence with which Christian charity loves to contemplate the exchange to kind and friendly, of whatever there may have been of distrustful feeling among the people of God; and the return of the peculiarly happy connection which had so long characterized, in North Carolina, the chief shepherd and his flock. BOOK TABLE. A HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION IN ENGLAND, designed to illustrate the Doctrinal Character, and the Ecclesiastical Position of the English Church. By the Rev. W. D. Wilson, D. D., Author of A Manual of Church Principles, The Church Identified, &c., &c. 12mo. pp. 338. Baltimore, Joseph Robinson. 1850. may be considered as a unit. It produced a disenthralment, it gave a liberty to thought and speech, it opened lights of knowledge, it exposed abuses and iniquities, it encouraged to a long unknown freedom of inquiry and investigation, and wrought other consequences on the human state individual and social, which produced similar effects everywhere, and gave Protestantism something like a definite character, and a consolidated influence. These remarks, however, apply not to the most sacred and important subject of religion. Here "The Reformation" partook largely of human infirmity, and produced results of a widely different character. Here Protestantism has such divers meanings as to be almost without meaning; unless it be taken to mean simply dif We remember when, a great many years ago, a new book was the subject of conversation between two of our class-mates: one observed, It easy to see that this is an American publication from the long table of Errata; the other promptly replied, English publishers are not honest enough to give the Errata. There was probably a little ultraism on both sides. Errata are an unavoidable incident to human nature whether English or American; and their correction a duty attended to about as faithfully by the one as by the other.ference from the Church of Rome, whether its The occasion for the duty, however, is not pleasant to the reader, and is, it is to be presumed, equally unpleasant to the printer; particularly if the latter be of the excellent character of the one to whose very useful press we are indebted for the issuing of this admirable volume; the only page which we were sorry to see, is that which would be, if numbered, page vi. Nevertheless, we sincerely thank the worthy publisher for the good things he has done in the cause of Christ and the Church; and beg our readers to possess themselves forthwith not only of the volume now before us; but also of all those named on what would be its pp. 339, 340. Though the correction of their Errata is a trouble that might better have been spared them, the publications are well worth it. "The Reformation" may be ranked among the greatest events recorded in history. Its results have been stupendous. Governments have felt them in their very vitals. Literature and science have been moulded and controlled by them. All orders of men, from the proudest monarchs to the humblest peasants, have had their condition, and its duties, principles, and consequents, most essentially affected by them. Armies and navies, universities, guilds, and fraternities, have, in their respective spheres of operation, been the means of making the world feel those results most sensibly. In these and other respects the Reformation direction be towards Christ or from Christ. In its religious aspect, as connected with the Gospel of Christ, "The Reformation in England" is a very different thing from the Reformation on the Continent of Europe. The former is that of the old British Church, founded in primitive times, probably by an Apostle; preserved by the good providence of God through a vast variety of changes and chances;" made, and for a long That is, on the Continent generally. A suggestion, with which we are much pleased, has been lately thrown out in one of our Church papers, that it would be well for us to study more the true nature and character of the Reformation in Sweden and Norway, and the claims of the Churches of those countries to a closer affinity and intercommunion with our own. Most happy too should we be if our very excellent friends the Moravians could make it appear that theirs is the old Church reformed, and not a new one lacking in reality the Apostolic succession which it has in name and appearance. The labors of Professor Wilson, in his masterly efforts to concentrate the thoughts and affections of English and American Christians on the British Church, and its branch in these States, as, for them, that religious communion of which Christians are bound to be true, faithful, and devout members, if they would give true, faithful, and devout reception to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and conform thereto their hearts and characters and lives, are worthy of all praise. Let those who love that Savior in sincerity and truth, see and study for themselves, in this and other volumes of that excellent author, the bearing of sound evangelical principles on the faith and practice required of them as Christians. LIFE AND LETTERS OF THOMAS CAMPBELL. Edited by William Beattie, M. D., one of his Executors. In two volumes. 1850. time kept, the unwilling vassal of the Church of unity, and introduced endless incongruities, diRome; and at length, at the Reformation, throw-visions, and strifes, into prevalent ideas of the ing off the yoke thus wrongfully imposed upon Church of Christ. her, and in her restored freedom, shaking herself from the dust of the grievous corruptions which popery had brought upon her. She sought nothing new, but a return to the old. She became the Church reformed; not a Church then constituted. The reader of history knows that this was not generally the case with Continental Protestants. By setting up new ministries, alien from that which had come down by regular succession from Christ and His Apostles, they formed new Churches, so called, beginning then, and under ministrations for which a form of authority was given, not that which Almighty God had appointed by His Holy Spirit, and which therefore had been"—had existed-" from the Apostles' time;" but one of man's invention. In the two great leaders of Continental Protestantism, we see mournful types of the anti-Christian results which have followed their respective systems. Martin Luther, in the bold daring of his character, would mar the Holy Bible, and did speak in wicked irreverence and hostility of the Epistle of St. James, rather than yield to the objections thrown by revelation in the way of his favorite theory touching the evangelical doctrine of justification by faith only-a theory which has done infinite mischief to the cause of the Gospel. John Calvin, besides being much more at home in metaphysical speculation than in the simplicity of the truth as it is in Jesus, profanely intruded himself, without any ordination, into an assumption of the character and functions of the Christian We have received from Stanford & Swords a priesthood. How terrible have been the evils of very neat edition of the BOOK OF COMMON Prayer, Protestantism in league with these principles of pocket size, which they are selling for the low these men! It has produced systems, called price of thirty cents. The book is well printed, Christian, which have egregiously sinned and reon good paper, with gilt leaves and neat binding. belled against Heaven by every species of the It is truly marvellous how publishers can be resubstitution of human theory for the Bible's teach-munerated when they sell really handsome books ing, and of affront offered to this; and by theories for almost nothing. Their desire to put this voland operations, touching the Christian ministry, ume within the reach of all, should be met by a which, setting at nought "the Apostle's fellow-corresponding patronage that will encourage them ship," have flung to the winds every thing like in their praiseworthy efforts. The Messrs. Harpers are doing good service to the cause of literature by the publication of works of the above character. It is a fitting companion to the Life and Correspondence of Robert Southey, just issued by the same house. The present volumes are edited by Dr. Beattie, one of the execu tors of Campbell, and are given to the world in fulfilment of a promise made to Campbell a short time previous to his death. The letters published comprise the entire period of the poet's life, and exhibit his character in a very pleasing and attractive light; and furnish a large amount of most delightful reading. CALENDAR FOR OCTORER. 6. Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity. 13. Twentieth Sunday after Trinity. 18. St. Luke the Evangelist. 20. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity. 27. Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity. 28. St. Simon and St. Jude, the Apostles. HE PLATE to which our at- and all horrible things, were there in the tention is now directed, midst of barrenness and perfect desolation, reminds us of two impor-yet, that the chosen people were safely led tant events in the history at the last to a land of plenty and enjoyment, of the Jews, as they jour-overflowing with blessings which they neineyed to the Land of Promise. Upon ther appreciated nor deserved. two separate occasions did the Lord Almighty work a miracle for the benefit of His chosen and favored, but faithless and ungrateful people; causing streams of pure water to flow from the rock in the midst of the desert, that their thirst might be allayed, and their imperfect devotion to Him increased and purified. In order to a proper consideration of the first miracle, that to which our attention is now particularly directed, we must quicken our own faith, and endeavor thoroughly to realize that it is of no romance we read, but of events, actual, and full of no fictitious interest. We must remember that the wild desert through which Moses and Aaron were leading the children of Israel, is even now a part of this earth, our dwelling-place; that the cragged piles of rock, amongst which Horeb stood, still exist, and have for ages existed, as monumental proof of what we read; and that although the wild beasts of the desert, fiery serpents, scorpions, deep pits, From the very commencement of their existence, even as a family, the Jews, as we are well aware, were under the especial favor, care, and protection of that Great Being who seeth the end from the beginning. Whatever evil was manifested in their conduct to Him; however base their thanklessness and incomprehensible their unbelief; with Him there was and is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. He is ever the same, gracious, full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy. We open the inspired volume, at the mysterious passage of the Red Sea. We look with wondering eyes upon the flood, as, obedient to His word, it rises with awful grandeur, and stands a wall upon either side of His people, whilst they tread the depths unharmed. Here, then, is the hand of Deity; the operation of that creating Power which formed the earth and the sea, and which holdeth the universe "in the hollow of His hand." Can we, if we attempt it, imagine or de VOL. VII.-NO. XI. |