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PREFACE.

The circumstances under which this Volume was writ ten, are briefly these. The last winter, it is well known, was a season of strange excitement among the different denominations throughout our land. At such a time-as the best safeguard against this injurious influence-the writer thought it well to deliver to the people of his charge, a course of Lectures, plainly setting forth the distinctive principles of the Church. They were continued through ten successive Sunday evenings; and he had reason to believe that the effect produced was beneficial.

The Lectures were originally prepared without the most distant idea of publication. Having, however, been requested by the Vestry, as well as by others in whose judgment he is accustomed to rely, to furnish the series for the Press, the writer did not feel at liberty to decline. He has, therefore, availed himself of what hours of leisure he could find amidst the engrossing cares of Parish duty, to expand some parts of the course and to add the necessary references The result of his attempt is seen in this volume.

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He believes that this work will be found to differ somewhat in its plan, from most of those on the claims of our Church, which are intended for popular reading. are generally written with reference merely to the Protestant denominations around us. The public mind, however, has lately taken a new direction, and the doctrines of the Church of Rome have again become a subject of discussion. The writer has therefore endeavored to draw the line between these two extremes-showing that the Church bears her DOUBLE WITNESS against them both-and points out a middle path as the one of truth and safety. And the principle by which he has been guided in all cases, is that laid down by Tertullian, "Whatever is first, is true; whatever is more recent, is spurious."*

To account for the tone in which some parts are written -for instance, the close of the Lecure on "The moral training of the Church"-he must ask the reader to bear in mind, the high state of religious excitement which was at that time prevailing on every side, and the strange excesses to which it naturally gave birth. These passages have been suffered to remain, because another winter may again produce the same delusions in the denominations around us. On the solemn subject of his religious interests, man seems determined not to profit by the experience of the past,

"Peræque adversus universas hæreses jam hinc præjudicatum sít id esse verum, quodcunque primum; id esse adulterum quodcunque posterius."-Tertull. «dv. Pr xx., § ii. Oper. p. 405.

but year after year courts the fever, forgetful of the chill by which it is invariably followed.

The prevalence in this country of a peculiar form of error, also occasioned the delivery of a separate Lecture, devoted to an exposition of "the Church's View of Baptism.' In the fourth century, Pelagius, after travelling over the greater part of Christendom, could record as the result of his observations that "he had never heard even any impious heretic, who asserted, that infants are not to be baptized." Such, however, is unfortunately not the case in our day. A numerous body of those "who profess and call themselves Christians," have fallen into this heresy, and it has become necessary to show plainly, how untenable are their doctrines when tested by Scripture and the voice of Catholic antiquity.

The writer cannot expect, in bringing forward so many disputed points, but that his readers will take exception to some of his statements. He trusts, however, that the views advanced will be found to be in accordance with the teaching of the great body of divines of the Church of England. In the old path which they marked out, we should all endeavor to walk. And the caution at this time is particu larly necessary. The revival of an attention to Church principles which has lately taken place, will in some cases drive the unstable and the imaginative to an extreme bordering on Romanism. This danger, therefore, we must shun; Beeking with care the well defined line which separates

Catholic truths from Roman fallacies. And if these Lec

tures shall aid any inquirer in forming his opinions, and avoiding the errors by which we are surrounded, the writer Iwill feel that his labor has not been in vain.

Festival of St. James, MDCCCXLIII.

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In all the varied history of the Church, the most beautiful picture is that which is presented by the unity of her early days. The watchwords of a party were then unheard over the earth. No discordant tones arose, to break the delightful harmony which prevailed. No warring sects distracted the attention of the inquirer after the Truth, or pointed to an hundred different paths in which he was invited to walk. With one voice all declared themselves heirs of the same hopes, and alike numbered with the faithful. "By the operation of the Holy Ghost, all Christians were so joined together, in unity of spirit, and in the bond of peace, that with one heart they desired the prosperity of the Holy Apostolic Church, and, with one mouth professed the faith once delivered to he saints."*

The Church then stood before our race, the sole messenger of glad tidings to the world-the only city of refuge, beyond whose shelter there was no salvation for mankind. On widely distant shores, and in many a strange tongue, the voice of prayer was uplifted, yet always its spirit was *From a prayer in the office of Institution.

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