they

still less for the invidious and uncharitable object of magnifying their own exertions at the expence of other associations: they judge no man nor body of men; but they think that, without any breach of Christian Charity, they may press the claims of their own Society to the preference of all true Churchmen; of all who venerate, in our own National Establishment "the Pillar and ground of the Truth." And in submitting the Annual Report of their proceedings, they will not present themselves before you as if entitled to the thanks of the community; they claim no reward for their exertions, for they know full well, that when " have done all things which are commanded them, they must ever say, We are unprofitable servants, we have done that which was our duty to do." But they do claim your assistance, they do claim your sympathy they claim them on the sure ground of your being members with them of an Apostolical Church; they claim them on behalf of the poor and ignorant, the first objects of your Saviour's gracious care; they claim them on behalf of those among you, your own fellow countrymen, who have not been blessed, as you have been, with early education; they claim them on behalf of your dependants abroad, who without your aid would lack the best and in some cases the only means of Christian instruction. And farther they claim them for your own sakes; for to "whom much is given,

of them shall much be required." Born and bred in a Christian country, enjoying the highest Christian privileges, in the possession of God's Holy Word, and the participation of his blessed Sacraments, in the ministration of an Apostolical Clergy, and the performance of an Apostolical Liturgy, you have all the means of edification within your own reach, and what you enjoy so largely, they conjure you to impart to others also. "Freely you have received, freely give." Here then, my lay brethren, is your sphere of duty contribute each according to his means, to this great work of Christian Charity, the Promotion of true Christian Knowledge. The Parent Society, in its eagerness to do good, has been compelled from time to time to break in upon its treasured capital; last year its expenditure exceeded its income by little less than £30,000: and such has been the straitened circumstances of your District Committee, that they have not been able to make any Special Donation to the General Fund for the last ten years; and the third of their Subscriptions transmitted to the Parent Society in that time has only amounted on the average to about £40.

Replenish then, by your liberality this day, the exhausted funds of our venerable Association, enable it to continue the circulation of God's Word, of our Scriptural Liturgy, and of all those various

Tracts, which are so well calculated for the moral and religious culture of the population at large: encourage by your aid and sympathy the exertions of the Clergy; you may do much which they cannot, or rather are not permitted to do; for in the present temper of men's minds, all our professional labours are under-valued, because they are professional. The performance of duties we are sworn to fulfil is viewed in the light of an obligation, for which no credit is to be given; or taken as a matter of course, for which no thanks are due. We ask however no thanks, we disclaim all merit, we disregard all praise; we desire only that our example should have its full effect, not for our own satisfaction, but for your edification; not to our own glory, but to the glory of God. And when the Laity are seen zealously seconding the exertions of the Clergy, and taking upon themselves those departments of duty, which may properly devolve upon them, the effect on the world at large is incalculably great. Men the most worldly and the most ungodly do not doubt the sincerity of those who have no interest, that they can understand, in the cause, and are yet most active on its behalf: and they begin to think there must be something in that common principle, which parties, to their apprehension so opposite, unite in maintaining.

Encourage then, I again intreat you, by your aid and sympathy, the exertions of your Clergy; they need them always; for although the opposition of perverse men will not deter them from doing their duty, the approbation of the wise and good will cheer them in the performance of it, and lend them a strength inferior to that only which God himself supplies. They need them always; but now more especially in this season of rebuke and blasphemy, when those very means of promoting Christian Knowledge, which I have laboured to prove are either the same with, or analogous to the Apostolic means, are all, in one way or other, menaced or impugned. The constitution of our Church, its government, and discipline, the form of sound words," our Liturgy and Articles, are the objects of violent and perpetual attack; and even the Word of God, mistranslated and misinterpreted is converted into a weapon against its divine Author.

Whether then, you value the Church for itself, or for the many blessings of which it is the channel; whether you value its Ordinances for the comfort they give yourselves, or others; whether you value the Bible as the Word of God, or the Book of Life to man; support, I beseech you, that venerable Society, which may be said to be part

D

and parcel of our Apostolical Church, which is based upon our Apostolical institutions, and whose business and glory it is to counteract the designs of the infidel, "to preserve the faith once delivered to the Saints," and, by the united exertions of all its members, to disseminate true Christian Knowledge, and promote true Christian Holiness, in every quarter of the habitable globe.

"Now unto Him, that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

THE END.

J. G. Rusher, Printer, Banbury.