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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d4e3c34 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #63735 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63735) diff --git a/old/63735-0.txt b/old/63735-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e2e3be0..0000000 --- a/old/63735-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1596 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Subscription the disgrace of the English -Church [2nd edition], by Charles Nourse Wodehouse - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Subscription the disgrace of the English Church [2nd edition] - - -Author: Charles Nourse Wodehouse - - - -Release Date: November 13, 2020 [eBook #63735] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUBSCRIPTION THE DISGRACE OF THE -ENGLISH CHURCH [2ND EDITION]*** - - -Transcribed from the 1843 Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans [second -edition] by David Price. - - - - - - SUBSCRIPTION - THE DISGRACE - OF - THE ENGLISH CHURCH. - - - * * * * * - - ———— - - BY - THE REV. C. N. WODEHOUSE, - CANON OF NORWICH. - - ———— - - * * * * * - - SECOND EDITION. - - * * * * * - - London: - LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS. - NORWICH: CHARLES MUSKETT. - - 1843. - - - - -SUBSCRIPTION -THE DISGRACE OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH. - - -IN human affairs, when attention is powerfully attracted to some question -of absorbing interest, the effect frequently is as though one half only -of the subject were visible to the eyes of the understanding. The mind -fixes on some peculiar point. On that a partial light is exclusively -cast; till in time it is discovered that others, consigned for a while to -an unnatural obscurity, are in reality of greater moment. They have -quietly grown in importance—like hardy trees unnoticed by the planter, as -not requiring his care—till they are suddenly developed in their true -character and vigour, to the astonishment of those who had overlooked -them; and demand, if it be not too late, the deepest attention and the -most active intelligence to control or direct them. - -While Charles I. and Archbishop Laud were absorbed in maturing their -favoured plans for Church and State, opposite and deeply-rooted opinions, -whose force they never paused to appreciate till it was useless, were -ripening all around them; and their lives became a sacrifice to their -blindness. While James II. was only intent upon enforcing the dictates -of his own one-eyed bigotry, the Revolution was already accomplished in -the hearts of his people; and William III., the instrument to realize -their wish, was almost at the gates of London. While Mr. Canning was -delighting the electors of Liverpool with his eloquent, and to them -convincing, denunciations against the minutest change in the -parliamentary representation of this nation; while he was admonishing -them, with a wisdom then esteemed oracular, “_Spartam nactus es_, _hanc -adorna_,” a few brief years were to give us almost a new Sparta; new -electoral departments; new laws and forms of election; new -qualifications, and thus new constituents; and, more than all, new -influences upon electors and the representatives elected. - -And thus, as it appears to the writer, will it come to pass with respect -to the subject now to be briefly considered. While the minds of the most -able divines in our nation are bent to one point; are engrossed in -discussing the meaning of our Confession of Faith, the interpretation of -our Articles of Religion; they are imperceptibly nourishing the growth of -a conclusion more irresistible and more unmanageable than even all the -complicated questions now so eagerly debated; for _they are_, _by their -differences and divisions_, _demolishing the whole force of the solemn -assent required to that Confession_. Amidst the present confusion of -tongues, the language of our Articles has still less than it ever had, a -definite meaning. Subscription, instead of being the tie which is to -bind people to certain opinions or truths, is become a rope of sand. So -uncertain is the trumpet’s sound, that it no longer, as of old, proclaims -the spirit of an united host, but turns every man’s sword against his -fellow: and Englishmen must soon awake to the conviction that -Subscription, according to the plain meaning of words, is blown to the -winds, and become the disgrace and not the safeguard of the English -Church. - -2. When the Saviour of mankind was about to leave this earth, He -consoled his dejected followers with the promise of a gift which should -even compensate for His loss, and exercise a special influence upon -Christians in all future ages of this world’s existence. “If I go not -away the Comforter will not come.” And He then announced one of the -purposes for which He should come. “He shall guide you into all truth.” -Of all the qualities which can elevate the character and enlarge the -usefulness of man, truth is the most lovely and powerful. If it be -asked, what is, in briefest terms, the occupation of the ministers of -Christ, it is, to exhibit truth to their people: and, in all their -teaching, this it is which will establish their influence over the human -heart, or at least that without which no wholesome influence can be -exerted, namely, that each is a lover of truth. - -But how is truth to be conveyed from man to man? Only through the medium -of language. And what is language? A set of signs, or sounds, or words, -which by general use and agreement mean certain things. But all human -provisions are imperfect, and language is imperfect: and words may be -artfully put together so as to have one meaning with the speaker, and -another to the hearer; or written language may be twisted from its -primary sense, and forced to a use contrary to the intention of the -writer. Yet truth is a real thing, and every honest man knows that it is -so; for whoever speaks that to another which he knows is not understood -in his own sense by the hearer; whoever twists written language from the -plain purpose of the writer; whoever, by a studied obscurity, veils his -real opinions in order to mislead others, is a liar. Let no one be -offended by a plain term which Scripture sanctions. - -He who is justly branded with the imputation of such a vice as falsehood, -is, in the common estimation of the best part of society, contemptible. -But if a minister of the Gospel, a divinely commissioned teacher of -truth, shall expose himself to such an imputation; if, in so solemn an -act as Subscription to Articles of Faith, or in the interpretation of -them, the plain meaning of words is evaded, or a sense put upon them -which in common discourse between man and man would be deemed -dishonourable and wicked, the character of that person as a teacher of -truth must be damaged, and his influence impaired. He may indeed be -surrounded by a set of admirers captivated by his talents, and their -applauses may preserve his self-complacency, but the final verdict will -yet be against him. It is possible that this error of the mind may arise -from self-delusion, and then the guilt is diminished, but an evil result -must still ensue; for as the root is, so will be the plant, and good -fruit cannot grow out of falsehood or dissimulation. If we remove the -case from one individual to numbers, the general effect will of course be -proportionably worse, and the conclusion will be drawn that _many_ of the -appointed teachers of truth are not lovers of truth. - -We may take, however, a less extreme case, and suppose only, that amongst -the teachers of truth a great difference of opinion has arisen as to some -of the doctrines of which they are called upon to treat, as to the -Confession of Faith which they have to maintain, and as to the terms of -the Subscription by which they declare their assent to it. Then the -conclusion will be—_when this difference is brought in glaring colours -before the public eye_—either, that the Confession itself, or the form of -assent, is so obscurely worded that it cannot be understood; or that they -are intolerable to the conscience of many subscribers, and so must be -somehow evaded; or lastly, that words, to which a definite meaning has -been assigned in past ages, have now lost that meaning; and that the -learned, the pious, the teachers of the nation, are incapable of -discovering and fixing the sense which they are now to bear. - -Let it be fairly considered how far the present state of things in this -nation agrees with any of the cases above supposed: and if it does so -agree, then it is maintained that, on the principle of a sacred love for -truth, Subscription is become the disgrace of the English Church. - -3. It cannot be argued, in mitigation of the supposed evil results, that -the present controversy on this subject is confined to certain classes of -society, the studious, the well-educated, the members of our Church. -Half our newspapers are teeming with it; some of our periodicals are -almost confined to it; all, it is believed, are occasionally employed in -its discussion. It is finding its way into almost every class of -society. The commercial travellers’ room, we are told, has engaged in -it, and much might many a sophistical controversialist learn from that -numerous, acute, and ubiquitous body of men, who know more of the real -opinions of the great mass of the people than any other class that can be -named. - -When our Lord remarked, “The harvest is plenteous,” He pointed to the -multitude of _un_converted souls; and surely England is not without its -full proportion of such, towards whom the most anxious thoughts and -zealous exertions of the Christian minister are naturally to be directed. -The intelligent Christian, the well-affected churchman, may be ready to -make every charitable allowance for the imperfections of our -Church—though charity is not the virtue of these days—but the criminal, -the profligate, the sceptic, over whom it is most desirable, yet most -difficult, to obtain an influence for their good, are proverbially the -most acute in discerning the defects of their appointed teachers, in -noting any inconsistency between the lesson and the instructor. -Suspicion is the very atmosphere they breathe; and to rejoice in -iniquity, especially where there is a profession of religion, is, alas! -too natural and agreeable to them. In whatever degree then the teacher -of truth shall expose himself to the imputation of a want of veracity -amongst the irreligious, deplorable is it to contemplate the decline of a -wholesome influence which must ensue. The writer has himself witnessed a -lamentable instance of this result in one of the most accomplished men of -late times, now no more, whom he wishes it were allowable to name. Could -some of our controversialists look into a conclave of youthful -profligates, led on, it may be, by some ingenious sceptic, they would -blush to hear the comments on their own writings; the bitter and -triumphant questions—What is it which these our discordant and subtle -instructors really believe? Do they believe anything? They subscribe, -and reap the profit. Let them tell us what this Subscription and these -Articles of Faith really mean, and then it will be time enough for us to -consider about attending to their instruction. - -Add to this the obvious reasoning of the dissenting part of our -population. The best amongst them cannot but see some justification of -their own separation from a Church whose teachers are proclaiming -throughout the land, from an hundred pens, the discordance of their -sentiments as to their own Confession of Faith: not mere shades of -difference reconcileable with a general agreement in its object, but a -division for instance on, to them certainly, a leading question. Was the -Reformation a good or an evil? The more worldly amongst them of course -hail with delight what they will designate as the quibbles and evasions -of men apparently eager to escape the trammels of a subscription solemnly -made, which during three centuries has occasioned troubles, and -persecution, and separation, and exclusion in the Christian fold, and is -yet further than ever from establishing its professed purpose—“Consent -touching true religion.” - -A still larger class, amidst the din of controversy, pick up a few -popular reports which help to confirm their indifference to religion -itself, and their preconceived notions as to Subscription. These people, -they carelessly conclude, live by it: they wish to receive the tithes, -and they must sign the Articles: now at least we know from some of -themselves how much they believe them. - -If these views are correct, and these apprehensions well founded, may the -earnest request of one who has long pondered over these things in sadness -arrest the attention of those who are capable of providing a remedy! Let -not his appeal, in behalf of a Church in which he sees the elements of -usefulness unparalleled, to the great body of its ministers and members -whom he deeply respects, and in the cause of eternal truth, be deemed an -unfriendly voice. Let him not be considered an enemy because with -faithfulness, yet with humility, he entreats his countrymen to consider -how far Subscription is become the disgrace of the English Church. - -4. Although the present state of things as to Subscription is so -notorious that it cannot be denied, yet it may be well to confirm what -has been advanced by a few particulars. The Thirty-nine Articles are our -Confession of Faith, though they are hardly entitled to that appellation, -being drawn up rather to meet a special emergency in the history of -Christianity than to present a _complete_ compendium of catholic truths. -Several points left untouched by them, or very briefly noticed, require -at this time to be strongly inculcated. They are, however, our only -Confession of Faith, ever to be valued and revered; and it is required -that every clergyman should declare, and subscribe, ex animo, that he -believes them to be agreeable to Scripture. A similar declaration is -required with respect to the Book of Common Prayer. - -It is not the writer’s object to point public scorn against individuals, -neither is it any satisfaction to him to notice at all the supposed -defects of other men: rather is it a source of real sorrow to him to -observe how censure has been cast to and fro, with an unsparing hand, by -Christian writers and ministers of his own day and church. He speaks -simply for the sake of truth, and in that attempt unwillingly adduces -only what is necessary to his purpose. He speaks also in very general -terms, considering it sufficient only to allude to opinions which -unnumbered publications have rendered familiar. While the terms of our -Subscription are strong and decided, several sections of the English -clergy embrace a different view with respect to it. - -If there be any conclusion which the history of England irresistibly -conveys to readers of honest minds, it is this, that our Reformers in -forty-two Articles, and afterwards in thirty-nine, intended to put forth -a strong and unequivocal protest against the errors and corruptions of -Romanism. Much would it have startled them to be told that the time -would arrive when English clergymen would subscribe to these Articles, -and then proceed to contend that they are not to be estimated as a -protest against the anti-Protestant proceedings of the Council of Trent. -They were accustomed, no doubt, to insincere subscription from men still -Romanists at heart; but the deed was secret, it shunned the light; it -was, with a very few exceptions, practised without open defence. - -It is not intended to affirm that an interminable war is to be carried on -by us against the Romish church: rather it is our duty to desire, without -compromise, union with all Christendom. Subscription alone is now in -view; and while that remains as it is, and English words retain their -meaning, and an English history of facts can be found, and any clear -apprehension of the meaning of truth remains with us, the perversion of -our Form of Subscription, and the misrepresentation of our Articles, -attempted by any who argue that they were not intended to condemn -Romanism, whether as held before or after the Council of Trent, ought to -excite, in every honest mind, an indignation which it is a virtue to -feel, and a duty to express. If it be questioned where such views have -been advanced, it is sufficient to refer to Tract No. 90, now before the -writer of these pages, though other instances might be cited from authors -who have subscribed the Articles. - -If we turn to another section of the English clergy, that most opposed to -the views of the tractarians, however they command our respect from their -piety, and zeal, and hearty attachment to Scriptural truth and sound -doctrine; yet some of them cannot be esteemed clear of all blame on the -question now considered. The writer can here speak from personal -knowledge. In their views as to baptismal regeneration, certainly -opposed to the strict language of our formularies; in their dislike of -other parts of our services, and sometimes in the disuse or change of -certain terms, is to be found a proof that to them Subscription is not -altogether satisfactory; and the often-avowed concession, that the -excellence of our system of doctrine and worship, _as a whole_, -reconciles their minds to some imperfections, is enough to show that, in -subscribing, some violence is done to simple truth. They argue, and -justly, that no human work can literally demand an unqualified -approbation, but our Subscription does require it. Such arguments, then, -cannot be altogether satisfactory to him who uses them, or to many to -whom they may be offered; and truth, it cannot be denied, is to some -extent dishonoured and damaged in their use. - -In that section again of subscribers who embrace Calvinistic doctrines, -though the writer considers that some of the Articles are more -unequivocally favourable to them than their opponents, yet it cannot be -forgotten how frequently and decidedly it has been declared, ex cathedrâ, -that theirs are not the doctrines of the Church of England. - -Another large section of the English clergy may be now comprised under -the name of old-fashioned high-churchmen; and of that title, it is -believed, they will not themselves complain. Many of them would gladly -_extract_ the honey from the tractarian school, without sufficiently -considering how poisonous the plant whose growth they are to some extent -fostering. They insist often on an exact compliance with Rubrics, and -must forgive me for saying that few amongst them have fulfilled these in -their own practice. Till very lately, it would indeed be difficult to -find many clergymen, or one bishop, within the last fifty years, who have -strictly observed the Rubrics—still less the Canons. Some of them speak -also of a literal subscription; but here again the writer can of his own -knowledge state, that numbers claim and use a considerable latitude in -subscribing, and are satisfied with asserting their _general_ attachment -to the Formularies of the Church. Of their Arminian views as to -doctrine, it is hardly necessary to call to mind how much they are -opposed to others amongst their brethren, and, in the writer’s judgment, -to the Articles themselves. - -In another section may be comprised those who desire improvement in many -things relating to the spiritual affairs of our Church. Some have openly -expressed this desire; a far larger number cherish it in silence. They -who have spoken out have strongly stated their conviction, that a Church, -without the means of even entering upon deliberation as to one general -improvement in its spiritual concerns, is in a false and unscriptural -position. With respect to the Forms of Subscription and the -interpretation of the Articles, some have formally requested a change, or -rather an authoritative solution of the many doubts and uncertainties -which now embarrass the question. - -Thus while we perceive the variety of opinion prevailing amongst these -several sections—a variety which, were it not impeded by subscription, -would find a harmless or beneficial vent in a free inquiry after -Scriptural truth—we see also that from some amongst them all, more or -less, Subscription is requiring that which, in the ordinary affairs of -life, high-minded men would abstain from; namely, the necessity for -qualifying the plain and straight-forward use of language. Is this a -condition favourable to the reputation of teachers of truth; and is it -too strong a conclusion, at least from some parts of the above account, -to affirm, that Subscription is the disgrace of the English Church? - -5. It may be well to look at the result of such a state of things under -another view. The differences above mentioned are now rendered notorious -by innumerable publications. The laxity as to truth, that is with -respect to the Articles, which they display, will be learnt and adopted. -It will be justified by the example of clergymen who are indeed at one -time censured by persons high in ecclesiastical station, yet by others in -the same station applauded or defended, and never authoritatively -censured or restrained. In another age a new set of opinions may arise -equally differing from the literal sense of our Articles and Formularies. -And who, with the precedent of these days before him, could proceed with -confidence against the authors and abettors? The errors of a Socinian or -an Arian may be of a more deadly character; but neither the one nor the -other, in affixing his own interpretation to the Articles, or in -subscribing with such doctrinal views, would depart a jot further from -the true meaning of words than the author and the defenders of Tract No. -90. If that tract has driven one reader to such a conclusion, a -conclusion which he states with pain and sorrow, it may encourage -hundreds to the same; and, ere long, an Arian or Socinian subscription -may be as common as in times past perhaps they were, with this lamentable -aggravation, that in an age of better religious feeling, “men of piety -and talent,” so publicly designated by Bishops of the Church, have taught -the way to justify the deed. - -6. The manner in which the present controversy is conducted greatly -aggravates its evils. It is not only that differences exist and are -eagerly discussed before the public as the judge of clerical orthodoxy, -but that, owing to its character, the discussion assumes a peculiarly -offensive form. It is not merely an inquiry after truth in which some -warmth and zeal might be excused, but clergymen are imputing to clergymen -dishonourable conduct: dishonourable on this ground, that a person -holding the opinions impugned cannot be an honest subscriber, ought not -to remain a minister of our Church. On all sides this discreditable -course has been pursued, and it would be easy to furnish the proofs. The -writer is bound frankly to own that what he condemns in others may be now -charged upon himself; but never would he have entered upon these remarks -except in the humble yet anxious hope that he may induce others to -attempt a remedy for the evil. - -Imagine such a state of things in any other profession. Imagine the -Officers of the Army and Navy for years together accusing one another of -dishonourably retaining their commissions. It is no answer to say that -the remedy with them would be bloodshed, and that this alone restrains -their pens; for this is not the fact. The accused would demand inquiry -and trial, and the scandal would cease. The Clergy enjoy the unenviable -singularity of continuing to accuse one another, of dishonourable -conduct; of acting upon mercenary motives; of a desire to make their -convictions somehow square with their Subscription, that thus they may -retain their position or emoluments as ministers of the Church. The -controversy is disgraced throughout by an irritating reproach against -character, which is neither becoming to the station of clergymen, or the -manners of gentlemen; and degrades a profession which ought to be the -last to exhibit such an example. It seems to be perpetually saying, such -is the sense of our Confession of Faith; I have proved it, but you are -subscribing in a different, in a false sense. Thus it is that -Subscription, in its present state, has rendered what ought to be an -inquiry after Scriptural truth, a perpetual and disgraceful taunt upon -the honesty of the parties engaged. Character is damaged, or at least -assailed, and no satisfactory result, no remedy ensues. - -7. The circumstance last mentioned deserves consideration as another -cause which, under present circumstances, helps to render our -Subscription a disgrace to the English Church. Differences as to its -meaning abound on all sides. Even they who uphold and would enforce a -strictly literal subscription are obliged to allow of _some_ latitude. -Yet what is to be the extent of this no one can say; and in the midst of -all this confusion, no one attempts a remedy. - -Let us turn again to the Army and Navy, and suppose their Officers -discussing publicly for several years the meaning of some of the Articles -of War; deluging the country with printed statements of their -differences; banded into parties, each following the notions of some -favoured leaders; attacking not only the sense but the honour of their -opponents; professing unbounded respect for their generals, and at one -moment pronouncing them almost infallible; yet the next, if they should -offer an adverse opinion, combating it in no measured terms. Suppose all -this, if possible, going on for years without a remedy, without a decided -attempt to devise one. Once, perhaps, it was the case; and it was at -last remedied, so far as he might, by the strong arm of Cromwell: but no -remedy of any kind is now attempted amongst the clergy. - -The Articles of War for the Army are susceptible of an annual revision, -which is to be sanctioned by the Crown, and embodied in the annual Mutiny -Act, and confirmed by Parliament. Those for the Navy have existed since -the time of George II., but they are modified so as to meet existing -views and circumstances, by “The Instructions and Regulations for Her -Majesty’s Service at Sea,” which are altered whenever deemed advisable; -and by other expedients well known to the profession. In every other -profession, trade, or calling, and in every legal document relating to -them, from a Royal Charter to a poor boy’s indentures, we have a judge or -authority competent to interpret and decide when a doubt arises. But -Christians in England are either too timid or too indifferent, for wisdom -it cannot be termed, to attempt an authoritative settlement of the -discreditable differences and difficulties arising out of the various -interpretations of their own Confession of Faith. - -In assuming that this is not the path of wisdom, we have high authority. -In May 1840, thirty-six clergymen, who saw the evil in its true light, -and it is now immeasurably increased, signed a Petition to the House of -Lords requesting attention to the subject. It was presented by His Grace -the Archbishop of Dublin to a full house. Twenty-two Bishops were -present. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury concurred in the -propriety and necessity of some interpreting power. So also did the -Bishops of London, and Lincoln, and Norwich, and upon this point there -was no dissenting voice. - -8. The present state of Subscription is also discreditable to the -English Church when we consider the position in which it leaves the -Bishops. Whoever wishes well to the institutions of his country, and -desires to promote the peaceful happiness of the people, will watchfully -cherish respect for all who are in authority. The Christian is taught to -consider them as ministers of God to us for good; and the clergy are -bound, not only by this universal sanction but also by their Ordination -vows, to reverence the Bishops of the Church: and any circumstance which -occasions a breach in this duty ought to be to them a cause for regret. - -There is a popular error that a clergyman, when in doubt upon any -question of Christian faith or practice, has only to apply to his Bishop, -and that he has authority to settle the question. Some recent writers -have helped perhaps to foster this notion by their ill-considered -professions of entire deference to episcopal authority. No circumstance -has contributed so largely to expose the very limited extent of it as the -controversies of the present day. A Bishop, in fact, has scarcely any -discretionary power amongst the greater part of the clergy as to -questions of doctrine. He can refuse ordination to a candidate, or a -license to a curate, subject, however, to an appeal. If he should refuse -institution to a benefice, the civil courts would demand the reason. He -may institute a suit for heresy; and this must be proved by a reference -to the Scriptures and four general councils, not to the Articles or Book -of Prayer. Yet of late great deference to episcopal authority has been -expressed, and the Charges of Bishops have been anxiously looked for. -The manner in which they have been received by some exposes the -hollowness of the deference professed, the absence of the power supposed, -and the true reason for the anxiety to receive them. They are estimated -as the works of partizans in a controversy, not of judges in a cause. -They are extolled by those to whose opinions they lean; they are -criticized without reserve, and sometimes with very little respect, by -any who are dissatisfied with them. The truth is shown in all its -nakedness, that Bishops have no more _power_ on such questions than other -men, and less influence perhaps than some other writers. - -Yet the Bishops of the Church appear to stand somewhat in the same -position as our judges. But how differently are the _dicta_ of the -latter received! Their decisions indeed are open to argument from their -inferiors in the same profession, but before a superior court, and not by -calling on the public to be the judge of written controversy between the -parties. Their decisions may be reversed by a superior court, but in a -solemn, respectful, and orderly manner, without being rudely assailed; -and the ultimate appeal being to the House of Lords, or the Privy -Council, no judge, who properly feels the liability to error in the -wisest, can sustain a shock to his feelings or character if such superior -tribunals should differ from his own judgment. Very different, as we -have remarked, is the fate of an Episcopal Charge in these days; and, -until the cause is removed, there is no prospect of remedying a state of -things so discreditable to the Church: the probability is that it will be -worse. - -The Bishops, in fact, are endeavouring to settle that which they have not -the power to settle—the meaning of Subscription, the interpretation of -the Articles, the true doctrine of the Church. And whoever in a public -station attempts to exercise a greater power than his office assigns, -exposes a weak point, perhaps before unnoticed, and instead of gaining -new authority, may lose a part of that long-established and deferential -respect, which is the most valuable part of all authority. A country -magistrate is discreetly silent when a case is brought before him which -the law does not empower him to decide, and abstains from lowering his -authority by an interference which may be disputed. - -It is altogether unsound in theory, and utterly fruitless in practice, to -expect that points relating to doctrine can be settled by Episcopal -Charges dropping one by one from the press, and unconnected with each -other. The interpretation of a Confession of Faith or of the terms of -Subscription belongs to the Church in some way represented and convened. -An Episcopal Charge is pastoral advice. When there is in the Church a -proper authority to legislate or interpret, that advice will be received -with respect and thankfulness, and contribute much in directing the minds -of men to a right decision, which is its proper office. But when it -usurps the province of a judge or legislator, or from circumstances is -improperly brought to stand in their place, it will only provoke the -opposition we now witness, and ultimately lose a part of that just -deference which it ought ever to receive. The recollection that there is -no Convocation or other Ecclesiastical Body competent to settle the -perplexing questions recently agitated, may have induced the Bishops -charitably to venture upon a forlorn hope. Their Charges, however, are -powerless in the attempt; and however thankful numbers are to receive -their pastoral advice, yet when we observe the boundless liberty of -reply, and the entire want of authority to enforce their conclusions, -respect for the episcopal office almost suggests the wish that in these -days they were not published. - -Supposing, however, the case were otherwise; suppose a real and unbounded -deference to the least word of a Bishop to prevail amongst the clergy and -people; suppose that they had each authority in controversies of faith; -what, unfortunately, should we reap in the present state of things but -increased perplexity? The judges—so to term them—are divided in opinion; -and, though this in the parallel case of legal judges is stripped of -injury by an appeal to a superior court, the Church possesses no such -appeal. In the meanwhile, two-thirds of our Bishops, perhaps, are ranged -on one side in the present controversy, and have spoken strongly. The -remainder have spoken with a leaning more or less strong in the opposite -direction, or are as yet silent. As to _deciding_, then, the true and -proper interpretation of our Articles and Subscription, nothing has been -gained by Episcopal Charges. Only the unpleasing truth has been openly -displayed, that they may be treated like the pamphlet of any anonymous -partizan. Thus the present state of the question as to Subscription -operates in overthrowing respect to the office and authority of our -Bishops, and this it cannot do without being discreditable to the Church. - -9. They who have studied even cursorily the history of ecclesiastical -affairs in England since the Reformation, may trace in Subscription -another circumstance discreditable, if not disgraceful, to the English -Church, and one which present times bring before our view. The most -earnest and devoted section of the clergy, whatever their peculiar views -in past or present times, have been frequently branded by the imputation -of departing from the literal sense of the Articles, and of the -Subscription required to them and the Book of Common Prayer. They have -been censured also as disaffected to the Church, sometimes to its -doctrines, sometimes to its rites and ceremonies. The next step has been -to speak of them as unfit to remain in the ministry, and to desire their -exclusion. - -No candid man can doubt the piety, the ability, the zeal in their -Master’s service, of the puritanical divines. Yet many of them were -excluded at the Restoration, and thus the Church lost a large body of -Christian men, and itself laid the foundation of a considerable portion -of our present non-conformity. At the end of the seventeenth century, -the eminent divines who attempted to repair by healing counsels the -damage thus occasioned were branded as latitudinarians, and denounced as -disaffected to the Church. In the last century no attempt was made to -turn into a more regular channel the zeal of Wesley and Whitfield, and -their associates. They were excluded as unsound in doctrine and -dangerous to true religion. With difficulty for a long time did the -evangelical clergy, who sprung from them, maintain their position as a -proscribed race, condemned as disaffected to the Church. - -Suppose in all these cases that the charge of objecting to some parts of -the Articles and Liturgy, and to the Subscription required, were true; -yet to what does it amount? With these assumed errors, did not these -persons believe the Bible and love it? Did they not believe all the main -Articles of the Christian Faith, as taught by the Church? Was it not the -earnestness of their belief which made them what they were? Were they -not the very men, who, by their faith and energy, were calculated to -accomplish the object of the ministry, namely, to win souls to the -Redeemer’s kingdom, and to form a peculiar people zealous of good works? -What then was the ground of exclusion or objection? Subscription—assent -to the Thirty-nine Articles and the Book of Common Prayer, according to -the strict and exact terms imposed by the Church. There was not an -objection, nor even indifference, to the smallest portion of the Word of -God; but in some non-essential points they wished for alteration or -liberty. Subscription caused the difficulty. - -Whatever opinion may be now entertained of the tractarian party, the -praise of zeal, ability and piety cannot be denied to the leaders of it; -yet they are censured as disaffected to the Church, and their exclusion -not obscurely suggested. For some of their opinions the writer can be no -advocate. He believes them to have fallen into errors equally lamentable -and dangerous if persisted in: yet were the choice given him between such -instructors and others who pass uncondemned in ruinous indolence and -indifference, he would not hesitate in giving his preference to the -former. Nor, when he remembers the want of earnest men, and the -ever-varying forms of human opinion, can he hesitate in desiring their -continuance as ministers in our Church. - - “We are not only uncertain of finding out truths, in matters - disputable, but we are certain that the best and ablest doctors of - Christendom have been actually deceived in matters of great - concernment; which thing is evident in all those instances of persons - from whose doctrines all sorts of Christians, respectively, take - liberty to dissent. The errors of Papias, Irenæus, Lactantius, - Justin Martyr, in the millenary opinion; of St. Cyprian, Firmilian, - the Asian and African fathers in the question of re-baptization; St. - Austin in his decretory and uncharitable sentence against the - unbaptized children of Christian parents; the Roman or the Greek - doctors in the question of the procession of the Holy Ghost, and in - the matter of images, are examples beyond exception. The errors that - attach to the minds of men are numberless. Now if these great - personages had been persecuted or destroyed for their opinions, who - should have answered the invaluable loss the Church should have - sustained in missing so excellent, so exemplary, and so great - lights?” - - “Since those opinions were open and manifest to the world, that the - Church did not condemn them, it was either because those opinions - were by the Church not thought to be errors, or if they were, yet she - thought fit to tolerate the error and the erring person. And if she - would do so still, it would, in most cases, be better than now it - is.”—_Bishop Jeremy Taylor_. - -In our own case, what would be gained by the exclusion of the persons -just referred to? The past may teach us that this will not silence men -earnest in their convictions, or promote the unity we desire. But, if -their opinions are to be tolerated within the ministry of our Church, -then, in common justice, and for the credit of that Church, the stigma -ought to be removed which now attaches to them as insincere subscribers. -It is this which makes the present controversy so bitter and -disingenuous. Remove the irritation occasioned by this perpetual taunt, -and is there not ground to hope that it would settle down into an -unfettered inquiry after Scriptural truth, and that the result would be a -more universal deference to the Word of God? Such is the trust which the -writer cannot but entertain. - -To wait charitably in patience and hope on the one hand; and on the other -to concede all that can be conceded without compromise of truth, for -union and unity, are Christian duties; but it is not the dictate of -wisdom or charity to repel hastily from the ministry, zeal and piety -which cannot be spared, and which the providence of God may eventually -overrule and direct to the great good of the people. And if Subscription -involves us in the danger of repeatedly excluding the most zealous -portion of our clergy, it is a disgrace to the Church which continues to -enforce it. - -10. About two years ago the writer ventured to name a remedy for the -evils and inconveniences arising out of the embarrassed state of the -Subscription now required. His proposal was, that a clergyman should -subscribe to the Three Creeds, instead of the Articles and Liturgy, -retaining the other tests or pledges now in use. Within the last twelve -months he has had the satisfaction of observing, that, on an occasion of -great interest to Christians in this and other nations, a plan very -closely resembling this, as he understands it, has been adopted under the -sanction of the highest ecclesiastical authority. On the appointment of -an English Bishop for Jerusalem, which was effected, as is well known, in -conjunction with His Majesty the King of Prussia, it was determined to -make such regulations that the subjects of that King, employed either as -missionaries or ministers of congregations in Palestine, might receive -the full benefit of episcopal sanction and superintendence. This was -effected in the manner described by the following Letters, which appeared -in the Prussian _State Gazette_ of July 12th, 1842. - - THE BISHOPRIC OF JERUSALEM. - - BERLIN, JULY 11. - - His Majesty has been pleased to address to the minister of - Ecclesiastical Affairs the following orders in respect to the - relations of the Bishop of the United Church of England and Ireland - in Jerusalem with the German congregation of the evangelical religion - in Palestine:— - - “I send you herewith a letter from his Grace the Archbishop of - Canterbury, Primate of England, which contains the definite proposals - respecting the relations of the Bishop of the United Church of - England and Ireland in Jerusalem with the German congregations of the - evangelical religion in Palestine, which are inclined to place - themselves under the jurisdiction of the latter. You will see from - this letter that the Prelate secures to the congregations of the - German Protestant faith in Palestine the protection and pastoral care - of the English Bishop at Jerusalem, without any other conditions than - such as the exercise of the protection itself requires. The - publication of these proposals will be the best means to dispel the - misunderstanding of some well-meaning persons, and to render the - misrepresentations and calumnies of the evil-minded of no effect. - Though there are at present no German Protestant congregations in - Palestine, but the formation is still to be looked for under the - influence of favourable circumstances, yet young divines of the - German Protestant Church, whom the increasing interest in the labours - of the missions for the conversion of the Jews induces to go to - Palestine, will certainly think it desirable to avail themselves of - the offers contained in the letter of the Archbishop of Canterbury, - to obtain a greater freedom of action and a more successful result of - their labours, by accepting the protection and care of the Bishop of - the United Church of England and Ireland. I am very ready to - support, in a suitable manner, young divines of this kind, when they - have been examined and found duly qualified, and especially proved - themselves to be thoroughly grounded in the doctrines of the - Protestant faith, according to the Augsburg Confession, and I invite - you to point out to me any such persons. - - “FREDERICK WILLIAM. - -“To the Minister of State, Eichhorn.” - - ——— - - Lambeth, June 18, 1842. - - “Sire,—As it seems to me to be desirable that your Majesty should be - thoroughly acquainted with the relations in which the German - congregations in Palestine will stand with respect to the Bishop of - the United Church of England and Ireland in Jerusalem, I take the - liberty most respectfully to submit the following proposals, which I - hope will be agreeable to your Majesty:— - - “The Bishop will consider it as his duty to take under his pastoral - care and protection all the congregations of the German Protestant - faith which are within the limits of his diocese, and are inclined to - place themselves under his jurisdiction, and will afford them all the - support in his power. The German Liturgy, which has been carefully - examined by me, which is taken from the liturgies received in the - churches of your Majesty’s dominions, will be used in the celebration - of divine service by the clergymen who are appointed, on the - following principle:—Young divines, candidates for the pastoral - office in the German Church, who have obtained your Majesty’s Royal - permission to this end, will exhibit to the Bishop a certificate from - some authority appointed by your Majesty, in which their good conduct - as well as their qualification for the pastoral office is in every - respect attested. The Bishop will, of course, take care, in the case - of every candidate so presented to him, to convince himself of his - qualifications for the especial duties of his office, of the purity - of his faith, and of his desire to receive ordination from the hands - of the Bishop. As soon as the Bishop has fully satisfied himself on - these points, he will ordain the candidate on his subscribing the - three Creeds, the Apostles’, the Nicene, and the Athanasian, and, on - his taking the oath of obedience to the Bishop and his successor, - will give him permission to exercise the functions of his office. - - “With respect to the confirmation of young persons of such - congregations in Palestine, the Clergyman of the congregation will - prepare them for that purpose in the usual manner, will subject them - to the requisite examination, and receive from them, in the presence - of the congregation, the profession of their faith. They will then - be presented to the Bishop, who will confirm them according to the - form of the Liturgy of the United Church of England and Ireland. - - “With the most profound respect, - - “I have the honour to remain, - Sire, - - “Your Majesty’s most sincere and humble Servant, - - “W. CANTERBURY. - - “To his Majesty Frederick William IV., - King of Prussia.” - -It is of course impossible to suppose that such a step was taken without -much deliberation: and here we see, first, that an English Bishop, -regularly consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury and other Bishops -at Lambeth, is authorised to confer Holy Orders, requiring from the -persons ordained Subscription to the Three Creeds only. - -When it is remembered how long the Christian Church has been divided and -rent, and how the Protestant part of it is again subdivided into numerous -sections, sometimes in the same nation, any approach towards the -establishment of a sound and primitive catholic test, which may enable a -larger number of Christians to enjoy communion with one another, ought to -be viewed with thankfulness. More especially ought it to be so viewed by -ourselves, if there be a hope that the example can be adopted as the -means of promoting peace amongst the ministers and members of the _same -Church_—namely, our own—now so unhappily disunited; and if the great -Truths in which they _agree_ could be thus prominently exhibited to the -world. And, if the rule laid down with reference to our Christian -brethren of the Prussian Church be sound and judicious; if it has been -wisely and charitably selected as calculated to unite many who have -hitherto been separated in communion, though not materially in doctrine; -why should it not be applied to secure similar advantages amongst -Englishmen, and to heal some of the wounds which are daily inflicted on -the peace of the Church by its own ministers and members? - -Let not such a proposal be hastily rejected from an unexamined -apprehension that the doctrines of the Reformation are to be surrendered. -Let it at least be calmly and candidly considered. The remarks hitherto -offered may be disputed as incorrect; but no one can possibly deny that -the state of the English Church is unsatisfactory, perhaps unsafe. The -writer can in all sincerity declare himself, in the fullest sense of the -word, a Protestant: yet he may, very consistently, with such a -declaration, desire to see Protestants Catholics, and, in fulfilment of -the pledge given at ordination, “to maintain and set forwards, as much as -in him lieth, quietness, and peace, and love, among all Christian -people.” These are what the Universal Church now requires for her -prosperity and success. - -While the above-named catholic test was adopted to meet the peculiar -situation and duties of the new Bishop in Jerusalem, we see that it was -at the same time provided that candidates for ordination, subjects of the -King of Prussia, should be examined generally as to their qualifications -for the ministry; and also as to their being thoroughly grounded in the -Augsburg Confession, the foundation of our Articles; and further, that a -certificate of their having satisfactorily passed such an examination -should be laid before the Bishop of Jerusalem, who will also take care to -convince himself of their fitness to receive ordination at his hands. - -If we were to transfer this whole precedent, as the writer understands -it, to our own Church, the change it would make would be simply this, -namely, that it would be left to the Bishops, each exercising the -discretionary power now vested in him, to judge, upon examination, of the -doctrinal views of a candidate, instead of requiring him to subscribe to -the Thirty-nine Articles. And if we draw this out into practice, the -loss as to security for any particular doctrines would be none. Each -Bishop would of course exercise the discretionary power as he now does, -and the same candidates would be admitted; but the evils now attending -upon Subscription would be remedied, or immeasurably diminished. - -A candidate would be examined as to his general qualifications, and also -by questions on the Thirty-nine Articles, according to the judgment of -each Bishop, and might be received or rejected, as is now the case. -Whatever point in the Articles might appear to each Bishop to require -particular attention, would be made a subject of examination, as is now -the case. Any question relative to doctrinal views, deemed necessary, -might be put, and the Bishop would have the actual view of the candidate -in his own words; and, if his word will not bind a man, will his -signature? If a candidate, for instance, professed that he considered -the Reformation injurious or imperfect, the Bishop might reject him, or -not; and if he did not profess this, but afterwards came to that opinion, -the case would only be as it is sometimes now. Possibly Bishops might -differ as to their mode of conducting such examination; and in one -diocese a candidate might be received who might fear being rejected in -another; for so it has been, and may be again; and thus persons of -various shades of opinion are admitted to the ministry, probably to the -benefit of the Church. - -After examination, and previous to ordination, each candidate would -subscribe to the Three Creeds, {33} and engage to conform to the Liturgy. -At his ordination, as a priest, he would promise before the congregation -to study the Word of God, to teach nothing contrary to it, and to fulfil -the duties of the ministry according to the solemn and comprehensive -pledges of our Ordination Service, to which the writer requests a -particular attention in connection with this subject. There is here no -want of security so far as pledges can give it; and every advantage -_really secured_ on the present plan would be retained. The present -Subscription does not produce consent touching true religion, whereas an -assent to the doctrine of the Creeds would be almost catholic. The -present Subscription does not secure attachment to the doctrines of the -Reformation. What advantage then does it realize which would be lost on -the plan proposed? They who love the Reformation and revere our -Articles, would love and revere them still. It is not Subscription which -draws forth their attachment, but conviction—the conviction that they are -founded on the Word of God, coupled with a thankful recollection of the -men and the times which gave them to us. - -Let it not be forgotten that, whatever power the laws now give for -restraining or punishing those who impugn the Articles or Liturgy, would -remain untouched. And in all cases where the law does speak, it ought to -be the test of wrong doing. So long as it was not called forth, the just -presumption would be that no such offence had been committed; and -controversy, which must always exist while truth is loved, would be -carried on without the discreditable concomitants detailed above. - -The precedent adopted then, on the appointment of a Bishop for Jerusalem, -suggests an unobjectionable improvement; {34} and it carries with it this -further recommendation that it would bring the law and the practice -together, which is always considered sound legislation when the practice -has become so established that the law is virtually repealed. Instances -of this kind are well known. The repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts -was little more than a formal abrogation of a law no longer in force; and -the repeal of the present form of Subscription would, in like manner, -only legally confirm that latitude of interpretation with respect to it -which already prevails. {35} - -11. If, however, the above-named precedent be rejected, there are yet -unquestionable grounds for desiring that something should be done in the -present state of things. It is asked, not in a hostile or unreasonable -spirit, but seriously, soberly, and earnestly—for the peace of the -Church; for the credit of its ministers and members; and for the sake of -truth itself—that we may be told in what sense Subscription may be, or -ought to be, made. It has been of late advanced as an argument against -those who would set up various human authorities as arbiters of truth, -that the Church has already declared the truth by her interpretation of -Scripture, that she has given us that interpretation in our Thirty-nine -Articles, and bound it upon us by Subscription. We answer simply, that -the interpretation itself is disputed, that the sense of it cannot be -fixed. We want, therefore, a new decision. - -It has been argued again that Subscription preserves truth within the -Church. We simply ask, _what_ truth? and affirm that the constant use of -our Liturgy preserves pure doctrine more effectually, and always will. -It has been advanced also, somewhat inconsiderately, but by high -authority, as an argument against alteration, that any change might make -matters worse, by making Subscription more strict. We answer that, if it -requires an assent to that which is scripturally true, it cannot be too -strict. Let it then be strictly and literally enforced: but, if this be -deemed unadvisable or impossible, let it be interpreted anew, or -repealed. In its present state it cannot be too plainly or repeatedly -affirmed, that it is a disgrace to the Church. - -12. It may be pronounced absurd or presumptuous in an individual to -propose a change in such a matter as Subscription to Articles of Faith, -but in truth _a great change has already taken place_. There have been -in past ages considerable variations as to doctrinal views prevailing at -different times: of late a new character has been given to Subscription; -new certainly to this generation, and new altogether, as proceeding from -persons remaining in the ministry; for the principal abettors of similar -views in past times are found amongst the non-jurors, and were seceders -from the establishment. A few years ago it was pronounced by a Bishop to -be little less than a libel on the Church, to say that the clergy did not -subscribe literally to the Articles. Since that time another Bishop has -designated a system of interpretation put forth and defended by -clergymen, as “so subtle, that by it the Articles may be made to mean any -thing or nothing.” Several episcopal charges have spoken to the same -effect, and almost innumerable publications from other authors. Yet the -principles on which that system is founded, are disseminated with -unabated zeal and increased influence. The Tracts for the Times, -silenced only by name, are issued in reviews, magazines, pamphlets, -poems, and novels; and the same views as to the Reformation and the -Articles are maintained, though the application of them, in the manner -proposed by Tract No. 90, may be partially disowned. A _great change -then has taken place_; and the result is, that Subscription has received -a blow from which it can never recover without some decided measure. It -must become an object of general ridicule or contempt, of which, indeed, -some indications have already appeared. - -To this the writer desires to invite attention. If he has ventured to -propose a remedy, it is principally on this ground, that whoever points -out a defect in existing institutions is commonly asked, what improvement -can you offer? Although, then, convinced that the remedy he has named is -calculated to meet the evil, it is rather his wish that others should be -induced to come forward and so to deal with the change which has taken -place that it may cease to be a reproach to the Church. With this object -before him, he believes himself engaged in the cause of truth, and will -continue to devote to it the limited powers he possesses while life is -spared. And let it not be deemed presumptuous if, under an humiliating -sense of his own insufficiency, he yet perseveres in recommending what is -so far beyond his power to accomplish. No one can reasonably expect -visible success in any undertaking. It is enough to enjoy the assurance -that we are persevering in a right path. The result may well be left to -the Supreme Disposer of all things. Nor are instruments in His hands -weak, as man estimates power; but the weakest may be permitted to sow the -seed destined to bring forth much fruit. It is the progress of -conviction wrought in the minds of men which prepares the way for -improvements. It is the open statement of these convictions, here and -there, which leads to action. - -Few improvements, if any, in the moral world can be novelties. They are -only a return to some good old principle which the great innovator, time, -or rather the great deteriorator, human corruption, hath thrown into the -shade. An age there was, perhaps a better than this, when human Articles -were unknown to the Church; an age also when the shortest of our Creeds -sufficiently expressed the faith of a believer. It does not require -learning or talent to state all this, and to beg others to recollect -that, if heresies call for Articles, a folio would scarcely suffice. -Simple minds may state such simple truths, and God may cause their voice -to be heard. - -Nor can it be justly affirmed that, to expose even in strong terms -prevailing defects, is any proof of disaffection to the Church in which -they exist. The writers of Scripture, although Divinely inspired, are -yet a pattern to their less favoured followers. And who can peruse the -writings of the Prophets and Apostles without being struck by their bold -and uncompromising denunciations of the sins and errors prevailing -amongst high and low, learned and ignorant, teachers and people? If it -be disaffection to the Church, to describe faithfully and plainly an evil -which requires a remedy, then is Isaiah to be condemned in his first -chapter, and St. Paul in his most celebrated Epistles, instead of being -our examples and instructors in the path of ministerial duty. - -If the remarks above offered be well founded, they cannot be a matter of -indifference, for they affect all to whom truth, and religion, and the -credit of its ministers, and the national honour are dear: and all such -might, without compromise of any principle or opinion, as the writer -believes, join in an address to the following effect:— - - To Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, over all persons and in - all causes Ecclesiastical and Temporal within Her Dominions supreme. - - We your Majesty’s faithful subjects have observed with pain the - Controversies now for some time carried on with respect to the true - interpretation of the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion and of the - Subscription by law required to them and to the Book of Common - Prayer; and we humbly pray your Majesty to institute such measures as - to your wisdom shall seem fit, with the advice of your Majesty’s - Privy Council, in order to provide a remedy for the uncertainty - prevailing upon this subject. - - * * * * * - -IT is with reluctance that I add to the above remarks any that relate -merely to myself. Some circumstances, however, appear to require a few -brief observations. - -In a former publication on the Meaning of Subscription, {41} occasioned -by the extreme uncertainty and perplexity in which this subject is -involved, I stated my readiness to resign my preferment, if called upon -to do so within a certain time by His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. -That call has not been made. It may, however, be supposed that the -remarks now offered on the same subject are published, not so much with a -view to any general improvement as from a desire to obtain relief for my -own difficulties. I wish therefore distinctly to state that this is not -the case, and that those difficulties are removed, for the present, on -the following grounds. - -Within the last three years a departure from the plain and obvious -meaning of the Articles has been displayed, to an unparalleled extent, -amongst the ministers of our Church; yet no call has been authoritatively -made upon any of them to resign, and they retain their situations, with -the exception of two or three who have voluntarily seceded. In this -state of things, I can hardly imagine any diversity of opinion with -respect to the Thirty-nine Articles which calls for the resignation of a -clergyman; indeed, it appears to me that it would be simply absurd in any -one to resort to such a step, unless under a decided wish for communion -with some other church or body of Christians. - -It can hardly be necessary to say, after what has been already offered, -how far I am from desiring that such a state of things should continue, -however unfavourably a change might affect myself: for I still maintain,— - -That the condemnatory clauses of the Athanasian Creed, in their literal -sense, are an un-Christian appendage to a document of extraordinary -merit, yet such that a true Christian may innocently differ from some -propositions set forth in it. - -That a Bishop is not authorized by the Gospel to address a candidate for -Ordination in the literal sense of the words, “Receive the Holy Ghost: -whose sins thou dost remit, they are remitted, and whose sins thou dost -retain, they are retained.” - -That a Christian minister is not authorized by the Gospel to address any -one in the literal sense of the words, “I absolve thee from all thy -sins.” - -Entertaining these views, I yet venture to conclude that I could -subscribe the Articles and Liturgy with as near an approach to a literal -assent as most of the clergy, and certainly with a far more cordial -approbation of them than many who might be named. It has been said that -the objections just mentioned are trifling. Whoever has marked the -course of the controversy now existing in our Church will see how great a -stress has been sometimes laid on two of the above points, as materially -supporting the views of tractarian writers. - -_May_ 31, 1843. - - - - -POSTSCRIPT TO THE SECOND EDITION. - - -IN the first edition I briefly alluded to the Rev. C. Green, of this -Diocese, as having made some comments on a former publication of my own. -I am sorry to find that this reference was a mistake, Mr. Green not -having mentioned my name, as I erroneously supposed he had, writing from -an imperfect recollection. Having explained to him how the mistake -arose, I have now publicly to offer my apology for it, which I tendered -in private as soon as it became known to me. - -_Since the first edition_ of this publication, many of the views here -offered have been confirmed by no mean authorities. - -On July 4th, His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin, on presenting a Petition -to the House of Lords relating to Church Government, will be found, on a -reference to his speech, to have used several arguments exactly similar -to some of those here advanced. - -In the very able Dedication prefixed to a Sermon on “The Unity of the -Church,” by Archdeacon Hare, recently published, will be found again a -similar coincidence on other points. - -In the Charge of the Bishop of Calcutta, also very recently published in -this country, the following passages so strongly confirm _the main -argument and title_ of this publication that I am tempted to transcribe -them:— - - Page 60. “But it is useless to speak of their manner of defending - themselves, after the incredible attempt of the Ninetieth Tract, - which brought down upon them that merited disapprobation of their - respected Diocesan, the disavowal of the Heads of Colleges at Oxford, - and the contempt or pity of every Protestant Divine. Nothing so - dishonourable to a clergyman—the word is strong, but in my judgment - not too strong—has occurred in our Church since the time when the - blessed Reformation exempted us for ever, as we hoped, from these - Popish errors.” - - Page 100. “I must confess for myself that, after reading with all - the attention in my power Mr. Newman’s _Lectures on Justification_, I - consider them the greatest insult—not intentionally, of course, but - in fact, the greatest insult ever offered to our Church and the whole - body of our Reformers, by any divine of talent and reputation for - orthodoxy since the 16th Century.” - - Page 108. “The substantial disagreement of these divines with Holy - Scripture, and their substantial agreement with the Romanists, are as - clear as the day. To speak of their disagreement with our Articles - and Homilies after the incredible sophistry of Tract No. 90, would be - useless.” - - “Give me the principles of interpretation by which justification is - thus, as by a magic wand, enchanted away, and I will prove or - disprove anything. Let me apply such a process to the word - sanctification or glorification, or faith or law, and I will disprove - all the doctrines of the Gospel.” - - “Nay, give me these principles—I speak it with awe—and I will defend - the Arian, the Socinian, the Antinomian, the Neological, the - Rationalist heresies.” - -In any other profession such opinions as these could not be published -without compelling the individuals thus censured to take some steps to -vindicate their character. Laudable endeavours are on foot to prevent -duelling. The only profession clear of that practice ought to be -foremost in showing that means can be provided for guarding the -reputation of its members. At this time no clergyman knows how to meet -such a reproach as that conveyed in the above Charge. There is no -individual or body of men to whom he can appeal as possessing, in public -estimation, authority to clear him from the reproach, or to direct his -conduct. Thus, language is continually used amongst clergymen which, if -it became common in all professions, would lower the standard of English -manners, and, thus far, degrade the national character. - -If only _for the credit of the clergy_, and to check the injury of a bad -example in a quarter where it should be especially guarded against, some -authoritative decision ought to be pronounced on the meaning of -Subscription. - -_August_ 23, 1843. - - * * * * * - - NORWICH: - PRINTED BY CHARLES MUSKETT, - OLD HAYMARKET. - - - - -FOOTNOTES. - - -{33} In proposing this test, it is assumed that the view of the late -Professor of Divinity, Bishop Marsh, with regard to the condemnatory -clauses attached to the Athanasian Creed, would be thenceforward -considered as established in our Church. His words are, “I do not mean -to defend those anathemas. They are no part of the Creed itself.” - -{34} The establishment of such a test in our own Church might materially -assist, as an example, in securing a great collateral benefit. They who -are interested in missionary exertions know how great an impediment to -their success arises from the differences and divisions amongst the -ministers sent forth from various churches and societies. One -mischievous effect of these is, that the general consent _which really -exists_ as to catholic truths is _obscured_. The differences on other -points are always on the surface. Thus they command an undue degree of -attention and importance; and, not to mention other evils, the conclusion -must occur to unbelievers, that no one certain system of truth can be -collected from that which is proposed to them as a Divine Revelation. - -To separate the points of difference from the common bond of union, by -affixing some _decided_ mark of preference and distinction on the latter, -would be something gained in attempts to evangelize the world. It might -be better still, if one Creed, the Nicene, were chosen as the test. A -very large portion of Christian missionaries, it is presumed, would -cordially bear testimony to its truth. Thus it would present some common -bond of union amongst them in “preaching the Gospel to all nations”—an -imperfect one, it may be said, yet apparently the best which can be -secured. For almost every doctrinal point beyond that Creed is -controverted; and, at the end of eighteen centuries, every church must be -content to see its distinctive claims to reception rest on argument -rather than authority. - -{35} Private opinion, or judgment, it is very clear, cannot be -controlled by Subscription, or by any other means; yet peace might be -preserved, to a great extent, if the Church had the power to enjoin -silence on any particular point amongst its ministers. In some respects -it would be dangerous to grant such a power; but the wisest human -arrangements are frequently only _choosing the least of two evils_. - -The recent sentence on Dr. Pusey may be very proper as regards the -religious instruction offered to students at an university, but will of -course decide nothing as to the general controversy. Only the voice of -the Church can effect this, and it is time that the Church should at -least _be able_ to speak, though its first decision might endanger the -existence of the _Establishment_. Faith, however, is a better counsellor -than Fear. - -{41} “What is the Meaning of Subscription?” Longmans. 1841. - - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUBSCRIPTION THE DISGRACE OF THE -ENGLISH CHURCH [2ND EDITION]*** - - -******* This file should be named 63735-0.txt or 63735-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/3/7/3/63735 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Subscription the disgrace of the English Church [2nd edition] - - -Author: Charles Nourse Wodehouse - - - -Release Date: November 13, 2020 [eBook #63735] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUBSCRIPTION THE DISGRACE OF THE -ENGLISH CHURCH [2ND EDITION]*** -</pre> -<p>Transcribed from the 1843 Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans -[second edition] by David Price.</p> -<h1>SUBSCRIPTION<br /> -<span class="GutSmall">THE DISGRACE</span><br /> -<span class="GutSmall">OF</span><br /> -THE ENGLISH CHURCH.</h1> - -<div class="gapspace"> </div> -<p style="text-align: center">————</p> -<p style="text-align: center"><span class="GutSmall">BY</span><br -/> -THE REV. C. N. WODEHOUSE,<br /> -<span class="GutSmall">CANON OF NORWICH.</span></p> -<p style="text-align: center">————</p> - -<div class="gapspace"> </div> -<p style="text-align: center">SECOND EDITION.</p> - -<div class="gapspace"> </div> -<p style="text-align: center"><b>London</b>:<br /> -LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS.<br /> -<span class="GutSmall">NORWICH: CHARLES MUSKETT.</span></p> -<p style="text-align: center">1843.</p> -<h2><a name="page3"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -3</span>SUBSCRIPTION<br /> -<span class="GutSmall">THE DISGRACE OF THE ENGLISH -CHURCH.</span></h2> -<p><span class="smcap">In</span> human affairs, when attention is -powerfully attracted to some question of absorbing interest, the -effect frequently is as though one half only of the subject were -visible to the eyes of the understanding. The mind fixes on -some peculiar point. On that a partial light is exclusively -cast; till in time it is discovered that others, consigned for a -while to an unnatural obscurity, are in reality of greater -moment. They have quietly grown in importance—like -hardy trees unnoticed by the planter, as not requiring his -care—till they are suddenly developed in their true -character and vigour, to the astonishment of those who had -overlooked them; and demand, if it be not too late, the deepest -attention and the most active intelligence to control or direct -them.</p> -<p>While Charles I. and Archbishop Laud were absorbed in maturing -their favoured plans for Church and State, opposite and -deeply-rooted opinions, whose force they never paused to -appreciate till it was useless, were ripening all around them; -and their lives became a sacrifice to their blindness. -While James II. was only intent <a name="page4"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 4</span>upon enforcing the dictates of his own -one-eyed bigotry, the Revolution was already accomplished in the -hearts of his people; and William III., the instrument to realize -their wish, was almost at the gates of London. While Mr. -Canning was delighting the electors of Liverpool with his -eloquent, and to them convincing, denunciations against the -minutest change in the parliamentary representation of this -nation; while he was admonishing them, with a wisdom then -esteemed oracular, “<i>Spartam nactus es</i>, <i>hanc -adorna</i>,” a few brief years were to give us almost a new -Sparta; new electoral departments; new laws and forms of -election; new qualifications, and thus new constituents; and, -more than all, new influences upon electors and the -representatives elected.</p> -<p>And thus, as it appears to the writer, will it come to pass -with respect to the subject now to be briefly considered. -While the minds of the most able divines in our nation are bent -to one point; are engrossed in discussing the meaning of our -Confession of Faith, the interpretation of our Articles of -Religion; they are imperceptibly nourishing the growth of a -conclusion more irresistible and more unmanageable than even all -the complicated questions now so eagerly debated; for <i>they -are</i>, <i>by their differences and divisions</i>, -<i>demolishing the whole force of the solemn assent required to -that Confession</i>. Amidst the present confusion of -tongues, the language of our Articles has still less than it ever -had, a definite meaning. Subscription, instead of being the -tie which is to bind people to certain opinions or truths, is -become a rope of sand. So uncertain is the trumpet’s -sound, that it no longer, as of old, proclaims the spirit of <a -name="page5"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 5</span>an united host, -but turns every man’s sword against his fellow: and -Englishmen must soon awake to the conviction that Subscription, -according to the plain meaning of words, is blown to the winds, -and become the disgrace and not the safeguard of the English -Church.</p> -<p>2. When the Saviour of mankind was about to leave this -earth, He consoled his dejected followers with the promise of a -gift which should even compensate for His loss, and exercise a -special influence upon Christians in all future ages of this -world’s existence. “If I go not away the -Comforter will not come.” And He then announced one -of the purposes for which He should come. “He shall -guide you into all truth.” Of all the qualities which -can elevate the character and enlarge the usefulness of man, -truth is the most lovely and powerful. If it be asked, what -is, in briefest terms, the occupation of the ministers of Christ, -it is, to exhibit truth to their people: and, in all their -teaching, this it is which will establish their influence over -the human heart, or at least that without which no wholesome -influence can be exerted, namely, that each is a lover of -truth.</p> -<p>But how is truth to be conveyed from man to man? Only -through the medium of language. And what is language? -A set of signs, or sounds, or words, which by general use and -agreement mean certain things. But all human provisions are -imperfect, and language is imperfect: and words may be artfully -put together so as to have one meaning with the speaker, and -another to the hearer; or written language may be twisted from -its primary sense, and forced to a use contrary to the intention -of the writer. Yet truth is a real thing, and every <a -name="page6"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 6</span>honest man -knows that it is so; for whoever speaks that to another which he -knows is not understood in his own sense by the hearer; whoever -twists written language from the plain purpose of the writer; -whoever, by a studied obscurity, veils his real opinions in order -to mislead others, is a liar. Let no one be offended by a -plain term which Scripture sanctions.</p> -<p>He who is justly branded with the imputation of such a vice as -falsehood, is, in the common estimation of the best part of -society, contemptible. But if a minister of the Gospel, a -divinely commissioned teacher of truth, shall expose himself to -such an imputation; if, in so solemn an act as Subscription to -Articles of Faith, or in the interpretation of them, the plain -meaning of words is evaded, or a sense put upon them which in -common discourse between man and man would be deemed -dishonourable and wicked, the character of that person as a -teacher of truth must be damaged, and his influence -impaired. He may indeed be surrounded by a set of admirers -captivated by his talents, and their applauses may preserve his -self-complacency, but the final verdict will yet be against -him. It is possible that this error of the mind may arise -from self-delusion, and then the guilt is diminished, but an evil -result must still ensue; for as the root is, so will be the -plant, and good fruit cannot grow out of falsehood or -dissimulation. If we remove the case from one individual to -numbers, the general effect will of course be proportionably -worse, and the conclusion will be drawn that <i>many</i> of the -appointed teachers of truth are not lovers of truth.</p> -<p>We may take, however, a less extreme case, and <a -name="page7"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 7</span>suppose only, -that amongst the teachers of truth a great difference of opinion -has arisen as to some of the doctrines of which they are called -upon to treat, as to the Confession of Faith which they have to -maintain, and as to the terms of the Subscription by which they -declare their assent to it. Then the conclusion will -be—<i>when this difference is brought in glaring colours -before the public eye</i>—either, that the Confession -itself, or the form of assent, is so obscurely worded that it -cannot be understood; or that they are intolerable to the -conscience of many subscribers, and so must be somehow evaded; or -lastly, that words, to which a definite meaning has been assigned -in past ages, have now lost that meaning; and that the learned, -the pious, the teachers of the nation, are incapable of -discovering and fixing the sense which they are now to bear.</p> -<p>Let it be fairly considered how far the present state of -things in this nation agrees with any of the cases above -supposed: and if it does so agree, then it is maintained that, on -the principle of a sacred love for truth, Subscription is become -the disgrace of the English Church.</p> -<p>3. It cannot be argued, in mitigation of the supposed -evil results, that the present controversy on this subject is -confined to certain classes of society, the studious, the -well-educated, the members of our Church. Half our -newspapers are teeming with it; some of our periodicals are -almost confined to it; all, it is believed, are occasionally -employed in its discussion. It is finding its way into -almost every class of society. The commercial -travellers’ room, we are told, has engaged in it, and much -might many a sophistical controversialist learn <a -name="page8"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 8</span>from that -numerous, acute, and ubiquitous body of men, who know more of the -real opinions of the great mass of the people than any other -class that can be named.</p> -<p>When our Lord remarked, “The harvest is -plenteous,” He pointed to the multitude of -<i>un</i>converted souls; and surely England is not without its -full proportion of such, towards whom the most anxious thoughts -and zealous exertions of the Christian minister are naturally to -be directed. The intelligent Christian, the well-affected -churchman, may be ready to make every charitable allowance for -the imperfections of our Church—though charity is not the -virtue of these days—but the criminal, the profligate, the -sceptic, over whom it is most desirable, yet most difficult, to -obtain an influence for their good, are proverbially the most -acute in discerning the defects of their appointed teachers, in -noting any inconsistency between the lesson and the -instructor. Suspicion is the very atmosphere they breathe; -and to rejoice in iniquity, especially where there is a -profession of religion, is, alas! too natural and agreeable to -them. In whatever degree then the teacher of truth shall -expose himself to the imputation of a want of veracity amongst -the irreligious, deplorable is it to contemplate the decline of a -wholesome influence which must ensue. The writer has -himself witnessed a lamentable instance of this result in one of -the most accomplished men of late times, now no more, whom he -wishes it were allowable to name. Could some of our -controversialists look into a conclave of youthful profligates, -led on, it may be, by some ingenious sceptic, they would blush to -hear the comments on their own writings; the bitter and -triumphant questions—What is <a name="page9"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 9</span>it which these our discordant and -subtle instructors really believe? Do they believe -anything? They subscribe, and reap the profit. Let -them tell us what this Subscription and these Articles of Faith -really mean, and then it will be time enough for us to consider -about attending to their instruction.</p> -<p>Add to this the obvious reasoning of the dissenting part of -our population. The best amongst them cannot but see some -justification of their own separation from a Church whose -teachers are proclaiming throughout the land, from an hundred -pens, the discordance of their sentiments as to their own -Confession of Faith: not mere shades of difference reconcileable -with a general agreement in its object, but a division for -instance on, to them certainly, a leading question. Was the -Reformation a good or an evil? The more worldly amongst -them of course hail with delight what they will designate as the -quibbles and evasions of men apparently eager to escape the -trammels of a subscription solemnly made, which during three -centuries has occasioned troubles, and persecution, and -separation, and exclusion in the Christian fold, and is yet -further than ever from establishing its professed -purpose—“Consent touching true religion.”</p> -<p>A still larger class, amidst the din of controversy, pick up a -few popular reports which help to confirm their indifference to -religion itself, and their preconceived notions as to -Subscription. These people, they carelessly conclude, live -by it: they wish to receive the tithes, and they must sign the -Articles: now at least we know from some of themselves how much -they believe them.</p> -<p>If these views are correct, and these apprehensions <a -name="page10"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 10</span>well founded, -may the earnest request of one who has long pondered over these -things in sadness arrest the attention of those who are capable -of providing a remedy! Let not his appeal, in behalf of a -Church in which he sees the elements of usefulness unparalleled, -to the great body of its ministers and members whom he deeply -respects, and in the cause of eternal truth, be deemed an -unfriendly voice. Let him not be considered an enemy -because with faithfulness, yet with humility, he entreats his -countrymen to consider how far Subscription is become the -disgrace of the English Church.</p> -<p>4. Although the present state of things as to -Subscription is so notorious that it cannot be denied, yet it may -be well to confirm what has been advanced by a few -particulars. The Thirty-nine Articles are our Confession of -Faith, though they are hardly entitled to that appellation, being -drawn up rather to meet a special emergency in the history of -Christianity than to present a <i>complete</i> compendium of -catholic truths. Several points left untouched by them, or -very briefly noticed, require at this time to be strongly -inculcated. They are, however, our only Confession of -Faith, ever to be valued and revered; and it is required that -every clergyman should declare, and subscribe, ex animo, that he -believes them to be agreeable to Scripture. A similar -declaration is required with respect to the Book of Common -Prayer.</p> -<p>It is not the writer’s object to point public scorn -against individuals, neither is it any satisfaction to him to -notice at all the supposed defects of other men: rather is it a -source of real sorrow to him to observe how censure has been cast -to and fro, with an unsparing hand, <a name="page11"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 11</span>by Christian writers and ministers of -his own day and church. He speaks simply for the sake of -truth, and in that attempt unwillingly adduces only what is -necessary to his purpose. He speaks also in very general -terms, considering it sufficient only to allude to opinions which -unnumbered publications have rendered familiar. While the -terms of our Subscription are strong and decided, several -sections of the English clergy embrace a different view with -respect to it.</p> -<p>If there be any conclusion which the history of England -irresistibly conveys to readers of honest minds, it is this, that -our Reformers in forty-two Articles, and afterwards in -thirty-nine, intended to put forth a strong and unequivocal -protest against the errors and corruptions of Romanism. -Much would it have startled them to be told that the time would -arrive when English clergymen would subscribe to these Articles, -and then proceed to contend that they are not to be estimated as -a protest against the anti-Protestant proceedings of the Council -of Trent. They were accustomed, no doubt, to insincere -subscription from men still Romanists at heart; but the deed was -secret, it shunned the light; it was, with a very few exceptions, -practised without open defence.</p> -<p>It is not intended to affirm that an interminable war is to be -carried on by us against the Romish church: rather it is our duty -to desire, without compromise, union with all Christendom. -Subscription alone is now in view; and while that remains as it -is, and English words retain their meaning, and an English -history of facts can be found, and any clear apprehension of the -<a name="page12"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 12</span>meaning of -truth remains with us, the perversion of our Form of -Subscription, and the misrepresentation of our Articles, -attempted by any who argue that they were not intended to condemn -Romanism, whether as held before or after the Council of Trent, -ought to excite, in every honest mind, an indignation which it is -a virtue to feel, and a duty to express. If it be -questioned where such views have been advanced, it is sufficient -to refer to Tract No. 90, now before the writer of these pages, -though other instances might be cited from authors who have -subscribed the Articles.</p> -<p>If we turn to another section of the English clergy, that most -opposed to the views of the tractarians, however they command our -respect from their piety, and zeal, and hearty attachment to -Scriptural truth and sound doctrine; yet some of them cannot be -esteemed clear of all blame on the question now considered. -The writer can here speak from personal knowledge. In their -views as to baptismal regeneration, certainly opposed to the -strict language of our formularies; in their dislike of other -parts of our services, and sometimes in the disuse or change of -certain terms, is to be found a proof that to them Subscription -is not altogether satisfactory; and the often-avowed concession, -that the excellence of our system of doctrine and worship, <i>as -a whole</i>, reconciles their minds to some imperfections, is -enough to show that, in subscribing, some violence is done to -simple truth. They argue, and justly, that no human work -can literally demand an unqualified approbation, but our -Subscription does require it. Such arguments, then, cannot -be altogether satisfactory to him who uses them, or to many <a -name="page13"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 13</span>to whom they -may be offered; and truth, it cannot be denied, is to some extent -dishonoured and damaged in their use.</p> -<p>In that section again of subscribers who embrace Calvinistic -doctrines, though the writer considers that some of the Articles -are more unequivocally favourable to them than their opponents, -yet it cannot be forgotten how frequently and decidedly it has -been declared, ex cathedrâ, that theirs are not the -doctrines of the Church of England.</p> -<p>Another large section of the English clergy may be now -comprised under the name of old-fashioned high-churchmen; and of -that title, it is believed, they will not themselves -complain. Many of them would gladly <i>extract</i> the -honey from the tractarian school, without sufficiently -considering how poisonous the plant whose growth they are to some -extent fostering. They insist often on an exact compliance -with Rubrics, and must forgive me for saying that few amongst -them have fulfilled these in their own practice. Till very -lately, it would indeed be difficult to find many clergymen, or -one bishop, within the last fifty years, who have strictly -observed the Rubrics—still less the Canons. Some of -them speak also of a literal subscription; but here again the -writer can of his own knowledge state, that numbers claim and use -a considerable latitude in subscribing, and are satisfied with -asserting their <i>general</i> attachment to the Formularies of -the Church. Of their Arminian views as to doctrine, it is -hardly necessary to call to mind how much they are opposed to -others amongst their brethren, and, in the writer’s -judgment, to the Articles themselves.</p> -<p><a name="page14"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 14</span>In -another section may be comprised those who desire improvement in -many things relating to the spiritual affairs of our -Church. Some have openly expressed this desire; a far -larger number cherish it in silence. They who have spoken -out have strongly stated their conviction, that a Church, without -the means of even entering upon deliberation as to one general -improvement in its spiritual concerns, is in a false and -unscriptural position. With respect to the Forms of -Subscription and the interpretation of the Articles, some have -formally requested a change, or rather an authoritative solution -of the many doubts and uncertainties which now embarrass the -question.</p> -<p>Thus while we perceive the variety of opinion prevailing -amongst these several sections—a variety which, were it not -impeded by subscription, would find a harmless or beneficial vent -in a free inquiry after Scriptural truth—we see also that -from some amongst them all, more or less, Subscription is -requiring that which, in the ordinary affairs of life, -high-minded men would abstain from; namely, the necessity for -qualifying the plain and straight-forward use of language. -Is this a condition favourable to the reputation of teachers of -truth; and is it too strong a conclusion, at least from some -parts of the above account, to affirm, that Subscription is the -disgrace of the English Church?</p> -<p>5. It may be well to look at the result of such a state -of things under another view. The differences above -mentioned are now rendered notorious by innumerable -publications. The laxity as to truth, that is with respect -to the Articles, which they display, will be learnt and <a -name="page15"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -15</span>adopted. It will be justified by the example of -clergymen who are indeed at one time censured by persons high in -ecclesiastical station, yet by others in the same station -applauded or defended, and never authoritatively censured or -restrained. In another age a new set of opinions may arise -equally differing from the literal sense of our Articles and -Formularies. And who, with the precedent of these days -before him, could proceed with confidence against the authors and -abettors? The errors of a Socinian or an Arian may be of a -more deadly character; but neither the one nor the other, in -affixing his own interpretation to the Articles, or in -subscribing with such doctrinal views, would depart a jot further -from the true meaning of words than the author and the defenders -of Tract No. 90. If that tract has driven one reader to -such a conclusion, a conclusion which he states with pain and -sorrow, it may encourage hundreds to the same; and, ere long, an -Arian or Socinian subscription may be as common as in times past -perhaps they were, with this lamentable aggravation, that in an -age of better religious feeling, “men of piety and -talent,” so publicly designated by Bishops of the Church, -have taught the way to justify the deed.</p> -<p>6. The manner in which the present controversy is -conducted greatly aggravates its evils. It is not only that -differences exist and are eagerly discussed before the public as -the judge of clerical orthodoxy, but that, owing to its -character, the discussion assumes a peculiarly offensive -form. It is not merely an inquiry after truth in which some -warmth and zeal might be excused, but clergymen are imputing to -clergymen dishonourable conduct: <a name="page16"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 16</span>dishonourable on this ground, that a -person holding the opinions impugned cannot be an honest -subscriber, ought not to remain a minister of our Church. -On all sides this discreditable course has been pursued, and it -would be easy to furnish the proofs. The writer is bound -frankly to own that what he condemns in others may be now charged -upon himself; but never would he have entered upon these remarks -except in the humble yet anxious hope that he may induce others -to attempt a remedy for the evil.</p> -<p>Imagine such a state of things in any other profession. -Imagine the Officers of the Army and Navy for years together -accusing one another of dishonourably retaining their -commissions. It is no answer to say that the remedy with -them would be bloodshed, and that this alone restrains their -pens; for this is not the fact. The accused would demand -inquiry and trial, and the scandal would cease. The Clergy -enjoy the unenviable singularity of continuing to accuse one -another, of dishonourable conduct; of acting upon mercenary -motives; of a desire to make their convictions somehow square -with their Subscription, that thus they may retain their position -or emoluments as ministers of the Church. The controversy -is disgraced throughout by an irritating reproach against -character, which is neither becoming to the station of clergymen, -or the manners of gentlemen; and degrades a profession which -ought to be the last to exhibit such an example. It seems -to be perpetually saying, such is the sense of our Confession of -Faith; I have proved it, but you are subscribing in a different, -in a false sense. Thus it is that Subscription, in its -present state, has rendered <a name="page17"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 17</span>what ought to be an inquiry after -Scriptural truth, a perpetual and disgraceful taunt upon the -honesty of the parties engaged. Character is damaged, or at -least assailed, and no satisfactory result, no remedy ensues.</p> -<p>7. The circumstance last mentioned deserves -consideration as another cause which, under present -circumstances, helps to render our Subscription a disgrace to the -English Church. Differences as to its meaning abound on all -sides. Even they who uphold and would enforce a strictly -literal subscription are obliged to allow of <i>some</i> -latitude. Yet what is to be the extent of this no one can -say; and in the midst of all this confusion, no one attempts a -remedy.</p> -<p>Let us turn again to the Army and Navy, and suppose their -Officers discussing publicly for several years the meaning of -some of the Articles of War; deluging the country with printed -statements of their differences; banded into parties, each -following the notions of some favoured leaders; attacking not -only the sense but the honour of their opponents; professing -unbounded respect for their generals, and at one moment -pronouncing them almost infallible; yet the next, if they should -offer an adverse opinion, combating it in no measured -terms. Suppose all this, if possible, going on for years -without a remedy, without a decided attempt to devise one. -Once, perhaps, it was the case; and it was at last remedied, so -far as he might, by the strong arm of Cromwell: but no remedy of -any kind is now attempted amongst the clergy.</p> -<p>The Articles of War for the Army are susceptible of an annual -revision, which is to be sanctioned by the Crown, and embodied in -the annual Mutiny Act, and confirmed <a name="page18"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 18</span>by Parliament. Those for the -Navy have existed since the time of George II., but they are -modified so as to meet existing views and circumstances, by -“The Instructions and Regulations for Her Majesty’s -Service at Sea,” which are altered whenever deemed -advisable; and by other expedients well known to the -profession. In every other profession, trade, or calling, -and in every legal document relating to them, from a Royal -Charter to a poor boy’s indentures, we have a judge or -authority competent to interpret and decide when a doubt -arises. But Christians in England are either too timid or -too indifferent, for wisdom it cannot be termed, to attempt an -authoritative settlement of the discreditable differences and -difficulties arising out of the various interpretations of their -own Confession of Faith.</p> -<p>In assuming that this is not the path of wisdom, we have high -authority. In May 1840, thirty-six clergymen, who saw the -evil in its true light, and it is now immeasurably increased, -signed a Petition to the House of Lords requesting attention to -the subject. It was presented by His Grace the Archbishop -of Dublin to a full house. Twenty-two Bishops were -present. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury concurred -in the propriety and necessity of some interpreting power. -So also did the Bishops of London, and Lincoln, and Norwich, and -upon this point there was no dissenting voice.</p> -<p>8. The present state of Subscription is also -discreditable to the English Church when we consider the position -in which it leaves the Bishops. Whoever wishes well to the -institutions of his country, and desires to promote the peaceful -happiness of the people, will watchfully <a -name="page19"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 19</span>cherish -respect for all who are in authority. The Christian is -taught to consider them as ministers of God to us for good; and -the clergy are bound, not only by this universal sanction but -also by their Ordination vows, to reverence the Bishops of the -Church: and any circumstance which occasions a breach in this -duty ought to be to them a cause for regret.</p> -<p>There is a popular error that a clergyman, when in doubt upon -any question of Christian faith or practice, has only to apply to -his Bishop, and that he has authority to settle the -question. Some recent writers have helped perhaps to foster -this notion by their ill-considered professions of entire -deference to episcopal authority. No circumstance has -contributed so largely to expose the very limited extent of it as -the controversies of the present day. A Bishop, in fact, -has scarcely any discretionary power amongst the greater part of -the clergy as to questions of doctrine. He can refuse -ordination to a candidate, or a license to a curate, subject, -however, to an appeal. If he should refuse institution to a -benefice, the civil courts would demand the reason. He may -institute a suit for heresy; and this must be proved by a -reference to the Scriptures and four general councils, not to the -Articles or Book of Prayer. Yet of late great deference to -episcopal authority has been expressed, and the Charges of -Bishops have been anxiously looked for. The manner in which -they have been received by some exposes the hollowness of the -deference professed, the absence of the power supposed, and the -true reason for the anxiety to receive them. They are -estimated as the works of partizans in a controversy, not of -judges in a <a name="page20"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -20</span>cause. They are extolled by those to whose -opinions they lean; they are criticized without reserve, and -sometimes with very little respect, by any who are dissatisfied -with them. The truth is shown in all its nakedness, that -Bishops have no more <i>power</i> on such questions than other -men, and less influence perhaps than some other writers.</p> -<p>Yet the Bishops of the Church appear to stand somewhat in the -same position as our judges. But how differently are the -<i>dicta</i> of the latter received! Their decisions indeed -are open to argument from their inferiors in the same profession, -but before a superior court, and not by calling on the public to -be the judge of written controversy between the parties. -Their decisions may be reversed by a superior court, but in a -solemn, respectful, and orderly manner, without being rudely -assailed; and the ultimate appeal being to the House of Lords, or -the Privy Council, no judge, who properly feels the liability to -error in the wisest, can sustain a shock to his feelings or -character if such superior tribunals should differ from his own -judgment. Very different, as we have remarked, is the fate -of an Episcopal Charge in these days; and, until the cause is -removed, there is no prospect of remedying a state of things so -discreditable to the Church: the probability is that it will be -worse.</p> -<p>The Bishops, in fact, are endeavouring to settle that which -they have not the power to settle—the meaning of -Subscription, the interpretation of the Articles, the true -doctrine of the Church. And whoever in a public station -attempts to exercise a greater power than his <a -name="page21"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 21</span>office -assigns, exposes a weak point, perhaps before unnoticed, and -instead of gaining new authority, may lose a part of that -long-established and deferential respect, which is the most -valuable part of all authority. A country magistrate is -discreetly silent when a case is brought before him which the law -does not empower him to decide, and abstains from lowering his -authority by an interference which may be disputed.</p> -<p>It is altogether unsound in theory, and utterly fruitless in -practice, to expect that points relating to doctrine can be -settled by Episcopal Charges dropping one by one from the press, -and unconnected with each other. The interpretation of a -Confession of Faith or of the terms of Subscription belongs to -the Church in some way represented and convened. An -Episcopal Charge is pastoral advice. When there is in the -Church a proper authority to legislate or interpret, that advice -will be received with respect and thankfulness, and contribute -much in directing the minds of men to a right decision, which is -its proper office. But when it usurps the province of a -judge or legislator, or from circumstances is improperly brought -to stand in their place, it will only provoke the opposition we -now witness, and ultimately lose a part of that just deference -which it ought ever to receive. The recollection that there -is no Convocation or other Ecclesiastical Body competent to -settle the perplexing questions recently agitated, may have -induced the Bishops charitably to venture upon a forlorn -hope. Their Charges, however, are powerless in the attempt; -and however thankful numbers are to receive their pastoral -advice, yet when we observe the boundless liberty <a -name="page22"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 22</span>of reply, and -the entire want of authority to enforce their conclusions, -respect for the episcopal office almost suggests the wish that in -these days they were not published.</p> -<p>Supposing, however, the case were otherwise; suppose a real -and unbounded deference to the least word of a Bishop to prevail -amongst the clergy and people; suppose that they had each -authority in controversies of faith; what, unfortunately, should -we reap in the present state of things but increased -perplexity? The judges—so to term them—are -divided in opinion; and, though this in the parallel case of -legal judges is stripped of injury by an appeal to a superior -court, the Church possesses no such appeal. In the -meanwhile, two-thirds of our Bishops, perhaps, are ranged on one -side in the present controversy, and have spoken strongly. -The remainder have spoken with a leaning more or less strong in -the opposite direction, or are as yet silent. As to -<i>deciding</i>, then, the true and proper interpretation of our -Articles and Subscription, nothing has been gained by Episcopal -Charges. Only the unpleasing truth has been openly -displayed, that they may be treated like the pamphlet of any -anonymous partizan. Thus the present state of the question -as to Subscription operates in overthrowing respect to the office -and authority of our Bishops, and this it cannot do without being -discreditable to the Church.</p> -<p>9. They who have studied even cursorily the history of -ecclesiastical affairs in England since the Reformation, may -trace in Subscription another circumstance discreditable, if not -disgraceful, to the English Church, and one <a -name="page23"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 23</span>which present -times bring before our view. The most earnest and devoted -section of the clergy, whatever their peculiar views in past or -present times, have been frequently branded by the imputation of -departing from the literal sense of the Articles, and of the -Subscription required to them and the Book of Common -Prayer. They have been censured also as disaffected to the -Church, sometimes to its doctrines, sometimes to its rites and -ceremonies. The next step has been to speak of them as -unfit to remain in the ministry, and to desire their -exclusion.</p> -<p>No candid man can doubt the piety, the ability, the zeal in -their Master’s service, of the puritanical divines. -Yet many of them were excluded at the Restoration, and thus the -Church lost a large body of Christian men, and itself laid the -foundation of a considerable portion of our present -non-conformity. At the end of the seventeenth century, the -eminent divines who attempted to repair by healing counsels the -damage thus occasioned were branded as latitudinarians, and -denounced as disaffected to the Church. In the last century -no attempt was made to turn into a more regular channel the zeal -of Wesley and Whitfield, and their associates. They were -excluded as unsound in doctrine and dangerous to true -religion. With difficulty for a long time did the -evangelical clergy, who sprung from them, maintain their position -as a proscribed race, condemned as disaffected to the Church.</p> -<p>Suppose in all these cases that the charge of objecting to -some parts of the Articles and Liturgy, and to the Subscription -required, were true; yet to what does it amount? With these -assumed errors, did not these <a name="page24"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 24</span>persons believe the Bible and love -it? Did they not believe all the main Articles of the -Christian Faith, as taught by the Church? Was it not the -earnestness of their belief which made them what they were? -Were they not the very men, who, by their faith and energy, were -calculated to accomplish the object of the ministry, namely, to -win souls to the Redeemer’s kingdom, and to form a peculiar -people zealous of good works? What then was the ground of -exclusion or objection? Subscription—assent to the -Thirty-nine Articles and the Book of Common Prayer, according to -the strict and exact terms imposed by the Church. There was -not an objection, nor even indifference, to the smallest portion -of the Word of God; but in some non-essential points they wished -for alteration or liberty. Subscription caused the -difficulty.</p> -<p>Whatever opinion may be now entertained of the tractarian -party, the praise of zeal, ability and piety cannot be denied to -the leaders of it; yet they are censured as disaffected to the -Church, and their exclusion not obscurely suggested. For -some of their opinions the writer can be no advocate. He -believes them to have fallen into errors equally lamentable and -dangerous if persisted in: yet were the choice given him between -such instructors and others who pass uncondemned in ruinous -indolence and indifference, he would not hesitate in giving his -preference to the former. Nor, when he remembers the want -of earnest men, and the ever-varying forms of human opinion, can -he hesitate in desiring their continuance as ministers in our -Church.</p> -<blockquote><p>“We are not only uncertain of finding out -truths, in <a name="page25"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -25</span>matters disputable, but we are certain that the best and -ablest doctors of Christendom have been actually deceived in -matters of great concernment; which thing is evident in all those -instances of persons from whose doctrines all sorts of -Christians, respectively, take liberty to dissent. The -errors of Papias, Irenæus, Lactantius, Justin Martyr, in -the millenary opinion; of St. Cyprian, Firmilian, the Asian and -African fathers in the question of re-baptization; St. Austin in -his decretory and uncharitable sentence against the unbaptized -children of Christian parents; the Roman or the Greek doctors in -the question of the procession of the Holy Ghost, and in the -matter of images, are examples beyond exception. The errors -that attach to the minds of men are numberless. Now if -these great personages had been persecuted or destroyed for their -opinions, who should have answered the invaluable loss the Church -should have sustained in missing so excellent, so exemplary, and -so great lights?”</p> -<p>“Since those opinions were open and manifest to the -world, that the Church did not condemn them, it was either -because those opinions were by the Church not thought to be -errors, or if they were, yet she thought fit to tolerate the -error and the erring person. And if she would do so still, -it would, in most cases, be better than now it -is.”—<i>Bishop Jeremy Taylor</i>.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>In our own case, what would be gained by the exclusion of the -persons just referred to? The past may teach us that this -will not silence men earnest in their convictions, or promote the -unity we desire. But, if their opinions are to be tolerated -within the ministry of our Church, <a name="page26"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 26</span>then, in common justice, and for the -credit of that Church, the stigma ought to be removed which now -attaches to them as insincere subscribers. It is this which -makes the present controversy so bitter and disingenuous. -Remove the irritation occasioned by this perpetual taunt, and is -there not ground to hope that it would settle down into an -unfettered inquiry after Scriptural truth, and that the result -would be a more universal deference to the Word of God? -Such is the trust which the writer cannot but entertain.</p> -<p>To wait charitably in patience and hope on the one hand; and -on the other to concede all that can be conceded without -compromise of truth, for union and unity, are Christian duties; -but it is not the dictate of wisdom or charity to repel hastily -from the ministry, zeal and piety which cannot be spared, and -which the providence of God may eventually overrule and direct to -the great good of the people. And if Subscription involves -us in the danger of repeatedly excluding the most zealous portion -of our clergy, it is a disgrace to the Church which continues to -enforce it.</p> -<p>10. About two years ago the writer ventured to name a -remedy for the evils and inconveniences arising out of the -embarrassed state of the Subscription now required. His -proposal was, that a clergyman should subscribe to the Three -Creeds, instead of the Articles and Liturgy, retaining the other -tests or pledges now in use. Within the last twelve months -he has had the satisfaction of observing, that, on an occasion of -great interest to Christians in this and other nations, a plan -very closely resembling this, as he understands it, has been -adopted <a name="page27"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -27</span>under the sanction of the highest ecclesiastical -authority. On the appointment of an English Bishop for -Jerusalem, which was effected, as is well known, in conjunction -with His Majesty the King of Prussia, it was determined to make -such regulations that the subjects of that King, employed either -as missionaries or ministers of congregations in Palestine, might -receive the full benefit of episcopal sanction and -superintendence. This was effected in the manner described -by the following Letters, which appeared in the Prussian <i>State -Gazette</i> of July 12th, 1842.</p> -<blockquote><p style="text-align: center">THE BISHOPRIC OF -JERUSALEM.</p> -<p style="text-align: right"><span class="smcap">Berlin</span>, -<span class="smcap">July</span> 11.</p> -<p>His Majesty has been pleased to address to the minister of -Ecclesiastical Affairs the following orders in respect to the -relations of the Bishop of the United Church of England and -Ireland in Jerusalem with the German congregation of the -evangelical religion in Palestine:—</p> -<p>“I send you herewith a letter from his Grace the -Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of England, which contains the -definite proposals respecting the relations of the Bishop of the -United Church of England and Ireland in Jerusalem with the German -congregations of the evangelical religion in Palestine, which are -inclined to place themselves under the jurisdiction of the -latter. You will see from this letter that the Prelate -secures to the congregations of the German Protestant faith in -Palestine the protection and pastoral care of the English Bishop -at Jerusalem, without any other conditions than such as the -exercise of the protection itself requires. <a -name="page28"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 28</span>The -publication of these proposals will be the best means to dispel -the misunderstanding of some well-meaning persons, and to render -the misrepresentations and calumnies of the evil-minded of no -effect. Though there are at present no German Protestant -congregations in Palestine, but the formation is still to be -looked for under the influence of favourable circumstances, yet -young divines of the German Protestant Church, whom the -increasing interest in the labours of the missions for the -conversion of the Jews induces to go to Palestine, will certainly -think it desirable to avail themselves of the offers contained in -the letter of the Archbishop of Canterbury, to obtain a greater -freedom of action and a more successful result of their labours, -by accepting the protection and care of the Bishop of the United -Church of England and Ireland. I am very ready to support, -in a suitable manner, young divines of this kind, when they have -been examined and found duly qualified, and especially proved -themselves to be thoroughly grounded in the doctrines of the -Protestant faith, according to the Augsburg Confession, and I -invite you to point out to me any such persons.</p> -<p style="text-align: right">“<span class="smcap">Frederick -William</span>.</p> -</blockquote> -<p>“To the Minister of State, Eichhorn.”</p> -<p style="text-align: center">———</p> -<blockquote><p style="text-align: right">Lambeth, June 18, -1842.</p> -<p>“Sire,—As it seems to me to be desirable that your -Majesty should be thoroughly acquainted with the relations in -which the German congregations in Palestine will stand with -respect to the Bishop of the United <a name="page29"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 29</span>Church of England and Ireland in -Jerusalem, I take the liberty most respectfully to submit the -following proposals, which I hope will be agreeable to your -Majesty:—</p> -<p>“The Bishop will consider it as his duty to take under -his pastoral care and protection all the congregations of the -German Protestant faith which are within the limits of his -diocese, and are inclined to place themselves under his -jurisdiction, and will afford them all the support in his -power. The German Liturgy, which has been carefully -examined by me, which is taken from the liturgies received in the -churches of your Majesty’s dominions, will be used in the -celebration of divine service by the clergymen who are appointed, -on the following principle:—Young divines, candidates for -the pastoral office in the German Church, who have obtained your -Majesty’s Royal permission to this end, will exhibit to the -Bishop a certificate from some authority appointed by your -Majesty, in which their good conduct as well as their -qualification for the pastoral office is in every respect -attested. The Bishop will, of course, take care, in the -case of every candidate so presented to him, to convince himself -of his qualifications for the especial duties of his office, of -the purity of his faith, and of his desire to receive ordination -from the hands of the Bishop. As soon as the Bishop has -fully satisfied himself on these points, he will ordain the -candidate on his subscribing the three Creeds, the -Apostles’, the Nicene, and the Athanasian, and, on his -taking the oath of obedience to the Bishop and his successor, -will give him permission to exercise the functions of his -office.</p> -<p><a name="page30"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -30</span>“With respect to the confirmation of young persons -of such congregations in Palestine, the Clergyman of the -congregation will prepare them for that purpose in the usual -manner, will subject them to the requisite examination, and -receive from them, in the presence of the congregation, the -profession of their faith. They will then be presented to -the Bishop, who will confirm them according to the form of the -Liturgy of the United Church of England and Ireland.</p> -<p style="text-align: center">“With the most profound -respect,</p> -<p style="text-align: right">“I have the honour to -remain,<br /> -Sire,</p> -</blockquote> -<p style="text-align: center">“Your Majesty’s most -sincere and humble Servant,</p> -<p style="text-align: right">“W. <span -class="smcap">Canterbury</span>.</p> -<blockquote><p>“To his Majesty Frederick William IV.,<br /> - - -King of Prussia.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>It is of course impossible to suppose that such a step was -taken without much deliberation: and here we see, first, that an -English Bishop, regularly consecrated by the Archbishop of -Canterbury and other Bishops at Lambeth, is authorised to confer -Holy Orders, requiring from the persons ordained Subscription to -the Three Creeds only.</p> -<p>When it is remembered how long the Christian Church has been -divided and rent, and how the Protestant part of it is again -subdivided into numerous sections, sometimes in the same nation, -any approach towards the establishment of a sound and primitive -catholic test, which may enable a larger number of Christians to -enjoy communion with one another, ought to be viewed with <a -name="page31"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -31</span>thankfulness. More especially ought it to be so -viewed by ourselves, if there be a hope that the example can be -adopted as the means of promoting peace amongst the ministers and -members of the <i>same Church</i>—namely, our own—now -so unhappily disunited; and if the great Truths in which they -<i>agree</i> could be thus prominently exhibited to the -world. And, if the rule laid down with reference to our -Christian brethren of the Prussian Church be sound and judicious; -if it has been wisely and charitably selected as calculated to -unite many who have hitherto been separated in communion, though -not materially in doctrine; why should it not be applied to -secure similar advantages amongst Englishmen, and to heal some of -the wounds which are daily inflicted on the peace of the Church -by its own ministers and members?</p> -<p>Let not such a proposal be hastily rejected from an unexamined -apprehension that the doctrines of the Reformation are to be -surrendered. Let it at least be calmly and candidly -considered. The remarks hitherto offered may be disputed as -incorrect; but no one can possibly deny that the state of the -English Church is unsatisfactory, perhaps unsafe. The -writer can in all sincerity declare himself, in the fullest sense -of the word, a Protestant: yet he may, very consistently, with -such a declaration, desire to see Protestants Catholics, and, in -fulfilment of the pledge given at ordination, “to maintain -and set forwards, as much as in him lieth, quietness, and peace, -and love, among all Christian people.” These are what -the Universal Church now requires for her prosperity and -success.</p> -<p><a name="page32"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 32</span>While -the above-named catholic test was adopted to meet the peculiar -situation and duties of the new Bishop in Jerusalem, we see that -it was at the same time provided that candidates for ordination, -subjects of the King of Prussia, should be examined generally as -to their qualifications for the ministry; and also as to their -being thoroughly grounded in the Augsburg Confession, the -foundation of our Articles; and further, that a certificate of -their having satisfactorily passed such an examination should be -laid before the Bishop of Jerusalem, who will also take care to -convince himself of their fitness to receive ordination at his -hands.</p> -<p>If we were to transfer this whole precedent, as the writer -understands it, to our own Church, the change it would make would -be simply this, namely, that it would be left to the Bishops, -each exercising the discretionary power now vested in him, to -judge, upon examination, of the doctrinal views of a candidate, -instead of requiring him to subscribe to the Thirty-nine -Articles. And if we draw this out into practice, the loss -as to security for any particular doctrines would be none. -Each Bishop would of course exercise the discretionary power as -he now does, and the same candidates would be admitted; but the -evils now attending upon Subscription would be remedied, or -immeasurably diminished.</p> -<p>A candidate would be examined as to his general -qualifications, and also by questions on the Thirty-nine -Articles, according to the judgment of each Bishop, and might be -received or rejected, as is now the case. Whatever point in -the Articles might appear to each Bishop to require particular -attention, would be made a subject of <a name="page33"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 33</span>examination, as is now the -case. Any question relative to doctrinal views, deemed -necessary, might be put, and the Bishop would have the actual -view of the candidate in his own words; and, if his word will not -bind a man, will his signature? If a candidate, for -instance, professed that he considered the Reformation injurious -or imperfect, the Bishop might reject him, or not; and if he did -not profess this, but afterwards came to that opinion, the case -would only be as it is sometimes now. Possibly Bishops -might differ as to their mode of conducting such examination; and -in one diocese a candidate might be received who might fear being -rejected in another; for so it has been, and may be again; and -thus persons of various shades of opinion are admitted to the -ministry, probably to the benefit of the Church.</p> -<p>After examination, and previous to ordination, each candidate -would subscribe to the Three Creeds, <a name="citation33"></a><a -href="#footnote33" class="citation">[33]</a> and engage to -conform to the Liturgy. At his ordination, as a priest, he -would promise before the congregation to study the Word of God, -to teach nothing contrary to it, and to fulfil the duties of the -ministry according to the solemn and comprehensive pledges of our -Ordination Service, to which the writer requests a particular -attention in connection with this subject. There is here no -want of security so far as pledges can give it; and every -advantage <i>really secured</i> on the present plan would be <a -name="page34"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -34</span>retained. The present Subscription does not -produce consent touching true religion, whereas an assent to the -doctrine of the Creeds would be almost catholic. The -present Subscription does not secure attachment to the doctrines -of the Reformation. What advantage then does it realize -which would be lost on the plan proposed? They who love the -Reformation and revere our Articles, would love and revere them -still. It is not Subscription which draws forth their -attachment, but conviction—the conviction that they are -founded on the Word of God, coupled with a thankful recollection -of the men and the times which gave them to us.</p> -<p>Let it not be forgotten that, whatever power the laws now give -for restraining or punishing those who impugn the Articles or -Liturgy, would remain untouched. And in all cases where the -law does speak, it ought to be the test of wrong doing. So -long as it was not called forth, the just presumption would be -that no such offence had been committed; and controversy, which -must always exist while truth is loved, would be carried on -without the discreditable concomitants detailed above.</p> -<p>The precedent adopted then, on the appointment of a Bishop for -Jerusalem, suggests an unobjectionable improvement; <a -name="citation34"></a><a href="#footnote34" -class="citation">[34]</a> and it carries with it this further -recommendation that it would bring the law and the practice <a -name="page35"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 35</span>together, -which is always considered sound legislation when the practice -has become so established that the law is virtually -repealed. Instances of this kind are well known. The -repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts was little more than a -formal abrogation of a law no longer in force; and the repeal of -the present form of Subscription would, in like manner, only -legally confirm that latitude of interpretation with respect to -it which already prevails. <a name="citation35"></a><a -href="#footnote35" class="citation">[35]</a></p> -<p><a name="page36"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -36</span>11. If, however, the above-named precedent be -rejected, there are yet unquestionable grounds for desiring that -something should be done in the present state of things. It -is asked, not in a hostile or unreasonable spirit, but seriously, -soberly, and earnestly—for the peace of the Church; for the -credit of its ministers and members; and for the sake of truth -itself—that we may be told in what sense Subscription may -be, or ought to be, made. It has been of late advanced as -an argument against those who would set up various human -authorities as arbiters of truth, that the Church has already -declared the truth by her interpretation of Scripture, that she -has given us that interpretation in our Thirty-nine Articles, and -bound it upon us by Subscription. We answer simply, that -the interpretation itself is disputed, that the sense of it -cannot be fixed. We want, therefore, a new decision.</p> -<p>It has been argued again that Subscription preserves truth -within the Church. We simply ask, <i>what</i> truth? and -affirm that the constant use of our Liturgy preserves pure -doctrine more effectually, and always will. It has been -advanced also, somewhat inconsiderately, but by high authority, -as an argument against alteration, that any change might make -matters worse, by making Subscription more strict. We -answer that, if it requires an assent to that which is -scripturally true, it cannot be too strict. Let it then be -strictly and literally enforced: but, if this be deemed -unadvisable or impossible, let it be interpreted anew, or -repealed. In its present state it cannot be too plainly or -repeatedly affirmed, that it is a disgrace to the Church.</p> -<p><a name="page37"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -37</span>12. It may be pronounced absurd or presumptuous in -an individual to propose a change in such a matter as -Subscription to Articles of Faith, but in truth <i>a great change -has already taken place</i>. There have been in past ages -considerable variations as to doctrinal views prevailing at -different times: of late a new character has been given to -Subscription; new certainly to this generation, and new -altogether, as proceeding from persons remaining in the ministry; -for the principal abettors of similar views in past times are -found amongst the non-jurors, and were seceders from the -establishment. A few years ago it was pronounced by a -Bishop to be little less than a libel on the Church, to say that -the clergy did not subscribe literally to the Articles. -Since that time another Bishop has designated a system of -interpretation put forth and defended by clergymen, as “so -subtle, that by it the Articles may be made to mean any thing or -nothing.” Several episcopal charges have spoken to -the same effect, and almost innumerable publications from other -authors. Yet the principles on which that system is -founded, are disseminated with unabated zeal and increased -influence. The Tracts for the Times, silenced only by name, -are issued in reviews, magazines, pamphlets, poems, and novels; -and the same views as to the Reformation and the Articles are -maintained, though the application of them, in the manner -proposed by Tract No. 90, may be partially disowned. A -<i>great change then has taken place</i>; and the result is, that -Subscription has received a blow from which it can never recover -without some decided measure. It must become an object of -general ridicule or contempt, <a name="page38"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 38</span>of which, indeed, some indications -have already appeared.</p> -<p>To this the writer desires to invite attention. If he -has ventured to propose a remedy, it is principally on this -ground, that whoever points out a defect in existing institutions -is commonly asked, what improvement can you offer? -Although, then, convinced that the remedy he has named is -calculated to meet the evil, it is rather his wish that others -should be induced to come forward and so to deal with the change -which has taken place that it may cease to be a reproach to the -Church. With this object before him, he believes himself -engaged in the cause of truth, and will continue to devote to it -the limited powers he possesses while life is spared. And -let it not be deemed presumptuous if, under an humiliating sense -of his own insufficiency, he yet perseveres in recommending what -is so far beyond his power to accomplish. No one can -reasonably expect visible success in any undertaking. It is -enough to enjoy the assurance that we are persevering in a right -path. The result may well be left to the Supreme Disposer -of all things. Nor are instruments in His hands weak, as -man estimates power; but the weakest may be permitted to sow the -seed destined to bring forth much fruit. It is the progress -of conviction wrought in the minds of men which prepares the way -for improvements. It is the open statement of these -convictions, here and there, which leads to action.</p> -<p>Few improvements, if any, in the moral world can be -novelties. They are only a return to some good old -principle which the great innovator, time, or rather the <a -name="page39"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 39</span>great -deteriorator, human corruption, hath thrown into the shade. -An age there was, perhaps a better than this, when human Articles -were unknown to the Church; an age also when the shortest of our -Creeds sufficiently expressed the faith of a believer. It -does not require learning or talent to state all this, and to beg -others to recollect that, if heresies call for Articles, a folio -would scarcely suffice. Simple minds may state such simple -truths, and God may cause their voice to be heard.</p> -<p>Nor can it be justly affirmed that, to expose even in strong -terms prevailing defects, is any proof of disaffection to the -Church in which they exist. The writers of Scripture, -although Divinely inspired, are yet a pattern to their less -favoured followers. And who can peruse the writings of the -Prophets and Apostles without being struck by their bold and -uncompromising denunciations of the sins and errors prevailing -amongst high and low, learned and ignorant, teachers and -people? If it be disaffection to the Church, to describe -faithfully and plainly an evil which requires a remedy, then is -Isaiah to be condemned in his first chapter, and St. Paul in his -most celebrated Epistles, instead of being our examples and -instructors in the path of ministerial duty.</p> -<p>If the remarks above offered be well founded, they cannot be a -matter of indifference, for they affect all to whom truth, and -religion, and the credit of its ministers, and the national -honour are dear: and all such might, without compromise of any -principle or opinion, as the writer believes, join in an address -to the following effect:—</p> -<blockquote><p><a name="page40"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -40</span>To Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, over all -persons and in all causes Ecclesiastical and Temporal within Her -Dominions supreme.</p> -<p>We your Majesty’s faithful subjects have observed with -pain the Controversies now for some time carried on with respect -to the true interpretation of the Thirty-nine Articles of -Religion and of the Subscription by law required to them and to -the Book of Common Prayer; and we humbly pray your Majesty to -institute such measures as to your wisdom shall seem fit, with -the advice of your Majesty’s Privy Council, in order to -provide a remedy for the uncertainty prevailing upon this -subject.</p> -</blockquote> - -<div class="gapmediumline"> </div> -<p><a name="page41"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 41</span><span -class="smcap">It</span> is with reluctance that I add to the -above remarks any that relate merely to myself. Some -circumstances, however, appear to require a few brief -observations.</p> -<p>In a former publication on the Meaning of Subscription, <a -name="citation41"></a><a href="#footnote41" -class="citation">[41]</a> occasioned by the extreme uncertainty -and perplexity in which this subject is involved, I stated my -readiness to resign my preferment, if called upon to do so within -a certain time by His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. -That call has not been made. It may, however, be supposed -that the remarks now offered on the same subject are published, -not so much with a view to any general improvement as from a -desire to obtain relief for my own difficulties. I wish -therefore distinctly to state that this is not the case, and that -those difficulties are removed, for the present, on the following -grounds.</p> -<p>Within the last three years a departure from the plain and -obvious meaning of the Articles has been displayed, to an -unparalleled extent, amongst the ministers of our Church; yet no -call has been authoritatively made upon any of them to resign, -and they retain their situations, with the exception of two or -three who have voluntarily seceded. In this state of -things, I can hardly imagine any diversity of opinion with -respect to the Thirty-nine Articles which calls for the -resignation of a clergyman; indeed, it appears to me that it -would be simply absurd in any one to resort to such a step, -unless under a <a name="page42"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -42</span>decided wish for communion with some other church or -body of Christians.</p> -<p>It can hardly be necessary to say, after what has been already -offered, how far I am from desiring that such a state of things -should continue, however unfavourably a change might affect -myself: for I still maintain,—</p> -<p>That the condemnatory clauses of the Athanasian Creed, in -their literal sense, are an un-Christian appendage to a document -of extraordinary merit, yet such that a true Christian may -innocently differ from some propositions set forth in it.</p> -<p>That a Bishop is not authorized by the Gospel to address a -candidate for Ordination in the literal sense of the words, -“Receive the Holy Ghost: whose sins thou dost remit, they -are remitted, and whose sins thou dost retain, they are -retained.”</p> -<p>That a Christian minister is not authorized by the Gospel to -address any one in the literal sense of the words, “I -absolve thee from all thy sins.”</p> -<p>Entertaining these views, I yet venture to conclude that I -could subscribe the Articles and Liturgy with as near an approach -to a literal assent as most of the clergy, and certainly with a -far more cordial approbation of them than many who might be -named. It has been said that the objections just mentioned -are trifling. Whoever has marked the course of the -controversy now existing in our Church will see how great a -stress has been sometimes laid on two of the above points, as -materially supporting the views of tractarian writers.</p> -<p><i>May</i> 31, 1843.</p> -<h2><a name="page43"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -43</span>POSTSCRIPT TO THE SECOND EDITION.</h2> -<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the first edition I briefly -alluded to the Rev. C. Green, of this Diocese, as having made -some comments on a former publication of my own. I am sorry -to find that this reference was a mistake, Mr. Green not having -mentioned my name, as I erroneously supposed he had, writing from -an imperfect recollection. Having explained to him how the -mistake arose, I have now publicly to offer my apology for it, -which I tendered in private as soon as it became known to me.</p> -<p><i>Since the first edition</i> of this publication, many of -the views here offered have been confirmed by no mean -authorities.</p> -<p>On July 4th, His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin, on presenting -a Petition to the House of Lords relating to Church Government, -will be found, on a reference to his speech, to have used several -arguments exactly similar to some of those here advanced.</p> -<p>In the very able Dedication prefixed to a Sermon on “The -Unity of the Church,” by Archdeacon Hare, recently -published, will be found again a similar coincidence on other -points.</p> -<p>In the Charge of the Bishop of Calcutta, also very recently -published in this country, the following passages so strongly -confirm <i>the main argument and title</i> of this publication -that I am tempted to transcribe them:—</p> -<blockquote><p><a name="page44"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -44</span>Page 60. “But it is useless to speak of -their manner of defending themselves, after the incredible -attempt of the Ninetieth Tract, which brought down upon them that -merited disapprobation of their respected Diocesan, the disavowal -of the Heads of Colleges at Oxford, and the contempt or pity of -every Protestant Divine. Nothing so dishonourable to a -clergyman—the word is strong, but in my judgment not too -strong—has occurred in our Church since the time when the -blessed Reformation exempted us for ever, as we hoped, from these -Popish errors.”</p> -<p>Page 100. “I must confess for myself that, after -reading with all the attention in my power Mr. Newman’s -<i>Lectures on Justification</i>, I consider them the greatest -insult—not intentionally, of course, but in fact, the -greatest insult ever offered to our Church and the whole body of -our Reformers, by any divine of talent and reputation for -orthodoxy since the 16th Century.”</p> -<p>Page 108. “The substantial disagreement of these -divines with Holy Scripture, and their substantial agreement with -the Romanists, are as clear as the day. To speak of their -disagreement with our Articles and Homilies after the incredible -sophistry of Tract No. 90, would be useless.”</p> -<p>“Give me the principles of interpretation by which -justification is thus, as by a magic wand, enchanted away, and I -will prove or disprove anything. Let me apply such a -process to the word sanctification or glorification, or faith or -law, and I will disprove all the doctrines of the -Gospel.”</p> -<p><a name="page45"></a><span class="pagenum">p. -45</span>“Nay, give me these principles—I speak it -with awe—and I will defend the Arian, the Socinian, the -Antinomian, the Neological, the Rationalist heresies.”</p> -</blockquote> -<p>In any other profession such opinions as these could not be -published without compelling the individuals thus censured to -take some steps to vindicate their character. Laudable -endeavours are on foot to prevent duelling. The only -profession clear of that practice ought to be foremost in showing -that means can be provided for guarding the reputation of its -members. At this time no clergyman knows how to meet such a -reproach as that conveyed in the above Charge. There is no -individual or body of men to whom he can appeal as possessing, in -public estimation, authority to clear him from the reproach, or -to direct his conduct. Thus, language is continually used -amongst clergymen which, if it became common in all professions, -would lower the standard of English manners, and, thus far, -degrade the national character.</p> -<p>If only <i>for the credit of the clergy</i>, and to check the -injury of a bad example in a quarter where it should be -especially guarded against, some authoritative decision ought to -be pronounced on the meaning of Subscription.</p> -<p><i>August</i> 23, 1843.</p> - -<div class="gapspace"> </div> -<p style="text-align: center"><a name="page46"></a><span -class="pagenum">p. 46</span><span -class="GutSmall">NORWICH:</span><br /> -<span class="GutSmall">PRINTED BY CHARLES MUSKETT,</span><br /> -<span class="GutSmall">OLD HAYMARKET.</span></p> -<h2>FOOTNOTES.</h2> -<p><a name="footnote33"></a><a href="#citation33" -class="footnote">[33]</a> In proposing this test, it is -assumed that the view of the late Professor of Divinity, Bishop -Marsh, with regard to the condemnatory clauses attached to the -Athanasian Creed, would be thenceforward considered as -established in our Church. His words are, “I do not -mean to defend those anathemas. They are no part of the -Creed itself.”</p> -<p><a name="footnote34"></a><a href="#citation34" -class="footnote">[34]</a> The establishment of such a test -in our own Church might materially assist, as an example, in -securing a great collateral benefit. They who are -interested in missionary exertions know how great an impediment -to their success arises from the differences and divisions -amongst the ministers sent forth from various churches and -societies. One mischievous effect of these is, that the -general consent <i>which really exists</i> as to catholic truths -is <i>obscured</i>. The differences on other points are -always on the surface. Thus they command an undue degree of -attention and importance; and, not to mention other evils, the -conclusion must occur to unbelievers, that no one certain system -of truth can be collected from that which is proposed to them as -a Divine Revelation.</p> -<p>To separate the points of difference from the common bond of -union, by affixing some <i>decided</i> mark of preference and -distinction on the latter, would be something gained in attempts -to evangelize the world. It might be better still, if one -Creed, the Nicene, were chosen as the test. A very large -portion of Christian missionaries, it is presumed, would -cordially bear testimony to its truth. Thus it would -present some common bond of union amongst them in -“preaching the Gospel to all nations”—an -imperfect one, it may be said, yet apparently the best which can -be secured. For almost every doctrinal point beyond that -Creed is controverted; and, at the end of eighteen centuries, -every church must be content to see its distinctive claims to -reception rest on argument rather than authority.</p> -<p><a name="footnote35"></a><a href="#citation35" -class="footnote">[35]</a> Private opinion, or judgment, it -is very clear, cannot be controlled by Subscription, or by any -other means; yet peace might be preserved, to a great extent, if -the Church had the power to enjoin silence on any particular -point amongst its ministers. In some respects it would be -dangerous to grant such a power; but the wisest human -arrangements are frequently only <i>choosing the least of two -evils</i>.</p> -<p>The recent sentence on Dr. Pusey may be very proper as regards -the religious instruction offered to students at an university, -but will of course decide nothing as to the general -controversy. Only the voice of the Church can effect this, -and it is time that the Church should at least <i>be able</i> to -speak, though its first decision might endanger the existence of -the <i>Establishment</i>. Faith, however, is a better -counsellor than Fear.</p> -<p><a name="footnote41"></a><a href="#citation41" -class="footnote">[41]</a> “What is the Meaning of -Subscription?” Longmans. 1841.</p> -<pre> - - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SUBSCRIPTION THE DISGRACE OF THE -ENGLISH CHURCH [2ND EDITION]*** - - -***** This file should be named 63735-h.htm or 63735-h.zip****** - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/3/7/3/63735 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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