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orders and ranks of men amongst us, the same degrees of bishops, priests, and deacons; we build upon the same foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone;" but are we heretics, are we schismatics, because we will not build upon saints, and martyrs, and canonized hypocrites, and offer up prayers to the Virgin Mary, the mother of God? We preach Christ crucified, but are we heretics, are we schismatics, because we do not worship the wood of the cross? We commemorate the lives and deaths of the apostles,— but are we heretics, are we schismatics, because we do not reverence the bones and garments which the Romanists pretend belong to them? We remember the Sabbath-day,—but are we heretics, are we schismatics, because we do not keep it holy by dancing, and drinking, and frequenting the theatre, and worshipping the world, the flesh, and the devil, as they do in Romish countries? We receive the bread and the wine, and distribute them to every communicant, because Christ has commanded all to eat, and all to drink of it,—but are we heretics, are we schismatics, because we do not deny the cup to the laity, and because we do not believe bread to be flesh, bones, muscles, sinews, nor wine to be blood? We believe that Christ is spiritually present to every true and penitent recipient of the holy supper, but are we heretics, are we schismatics, because we do not believe that Christ's body, which we know is in heaven, is upon earth; and not in the shape of a human body, but in the form of a piece of bread, manufactured by human hands of wheat and water?

On all these points, and upon every other, we agree with the Scriptures, with the words of God and Christ,-and shall we be told that we are heretics, that we are schismatics, because we do not hold opinions and doctrines, and follow practices, which are not taught, not even mentioned, (except to be blamed,) in those Scriptures? We do not pray for the dead, because we know, that as "the tree falleth so it must lie;" we do not believe in purgatory, because we know that "there is no repentance in the grave;" we do not build upon our "good works," because we know, that our very righteousnesses are filthy rags; that if we had done all that we are commanded to do, we should be but unprofitable servants; we do not worship the Virgin Mary, nor bow to pictures, and statues, and images of saints, and relics of men, because the word of God condemns these things as unscriptural and profane, because God is a jealous God, and will have no other gods besides him, and because there is "one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all." (1 Tim. ii. 5, 6.)

These are the doctrines which the Scriptures teach, and in which we of the Church of England believe. And hence, having the Scriptures to appeal to from which those doctrines are derived, we have reason to bless God for his unspeakable gift. From that blessed volume it was, that the primitive Christians drew their faith, and to which they conformed their obedience; from that volume, the first Christians of Britain received their light and instruction, long before the Romish Church sent over its missionaries to deceive, and its armies to conquer, whilst St. Paul preached in this our native land, and the Church of Christ was established here in the days of the Saxons. It is a matter of history

and of fact, that this kingdom was a christian and a Protestant kingdom, and that its monarchs owed no allegiance to Rome, long before the Church of Rome asserted her supremacy; and, even, if she dares to assert it upon the strength of the argument that the Church of England once was imbued with Romish doctrines, we may throw ourselves safely upon our defence, in saying that the succession of our Bishops has never failed, because, firstly, the reformation was brought about by Archbishops and Bishops, who as Bishops became Protestant; but secondly, and chiefly, because there were Protestant Bishops in England long before there were Bishops who paid homage to the Bishop of Rome. And we may deny, moreover, the supremacy of Rome, because St. Peter, whom the Romish Church espouses, received no particular authority over his brother apostles, but was himself reproved by St. Paul, and sent out by other apostles, which would not have been the case had he been of a higher rank than they.

These, it may be said, are mere assertions; but we appeal only to those records of general history which are within the reach of all; which were written by men who could not lie-who if they have lied, have been found liars; and though the mass of the people do not know these things, the Romanists well know, that they can only support themselves, where these facts are not known; and therefore they hate all light, all instruction of whatever kind, as tending to make men too wise for their unholy ends.

But whether history said these things or not-whilst we have the Bible to appeal to, what other evidence can we need? If the Bible be the word of God, and we teach or believe nothing but what the Bible contains, is it possible that we can err? To this point let us then draw our conclusions. Here is an answer before which Romanism must be dumb. This Bible, this blessed volume of light and instruction, we have, and from it we have derived our mode of worship, our forms of prayer, our subjects of thanksgiving, our themes of praise; from it we have received that splendid liturgy, which has supplied us with the devotions of every other Sabbath-that holy book teaches us how to live, and how to die-it affords us the only comfort in time, the only hope for eternity; and, having revealed to us Christ crucified for our sins, and risen for our justification, points to him as ascended and sitting at the right hand of the throne of God, there offering for us in the smoke of his own once and for ever offered sacrifice, in the presence of God for us, those prayers, and those intercessions, which can alone reconcile God to us as his offending, but repenting and pardoned children.

Is this a blessing, or is it not? Is it a blessing or is it not, to have free access to that volume which opens heaven to our aspirations, and reveals God as a Saviour? And if it be a blessing-the greatest that man can receive or God can bestow-is it not worth our while to thank God for this his unspeakable gift, and to remember, with pious gratitude and holy affection, those tried and faithful followers of the Lamb of God, who, having discovered the errors of the Church of Rome, periled their lives to the death, and laid them down a willing sacrifice to insure to us and our posterity that greatest of all earthly boons, which we possess in the translation of the holy Scriptures !

Surely then we have reason, as Protestants, to rejoice in the "liberty wherewith Christ has made us free;" surely we have reason to join in the words of the apostles, and to say, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."

X.

THE VOICE OF GOD.

It was a voice of might that spoke,
And first eternal silence broke:

"Let there be light!"-light knew the sound,
And pour'd its golden stream around.
Then sweetly sang each morning-star;
Then angel-strains were heard afar
To hail complete the wondrous plan,
In Heaven's best work, immortal man.
That voice of might-again it came
Through tempest-cloud and lightning-flame,
A voice of menace and of fear,

Which conscious Israel quail'd to hear.-
But now it speaks, a voice of love;
Now, breathing softly from above,
It wafts glad news of guilt forgiven,
Of peace on earth, and joy in heaven.
Who hears that voice-who hears it not?
In tower or temple, church or cot,
Where anthems hail the festal day,
Or lonely age retires to pray.
To all it speaks, a voice within-
It calls to every child of sin,

"Behold thy pardon, bought with blood;
Sinner, behold the Lamb of God!"

"Behold the Lamb of God!" O Thou,
Once of the scarr'd and bleeding brow,
Now arm'd with sceptre and with sword,
King-Conqu'ror-Judge--Redeemer-Lord!
Thy voice shall next to judgment call ;—
But sweet shall be that voice to all

Who strive to set Sin's captive free,

And win the wand'ring soul to thee!

T. D.

SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN

PARTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN REMEMBRANCer.

SIR,-I wish to call the attention of your readers to two remarkable features in the present royal letter in favour of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. In former letters of this description, the Clergy have been required to collect at the church, and round the parish. The present letter substitutes or for and. Signed as it is, "J. Russell," I

VOL. XVIII. NO. I.

F

confess I do not regard the substitution accidental. The Bishop of the diocese in which I live has nullified this insidious alteration, by requiring his Clergy to make collections both in the church and parish. I trust the same has been done in other instances. The Society, at all events, it is to be hoped, will not suffer from Lord J. Russell's substitution. The Clergy have had the remedy in their own power.

I would remark further, that formerly the money collected under such letters has always been directly remitted to the treasurer of the Society ; ; now, however, it is to be sent to the Secretary of State. Considering the noble lord's ideas on church property, surplus appropriation, &c., I would much prefer communicating with the secretary Yours, Sir, very truly,

at once.

INDEX.

THE AMERICAN LITURGY.

(Continued from page 747.)

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN REMEMBRANCER.

Among the occasional Prayers and Thanksgivings to be said before the two final Prayers of Morning and Evening Service, these following are the particular forms to which I have before alluded; the rest are, with a few alterations, the same as in our own Prayer Book, only that the one beginning, O God, whose nature and property is ever to have mercy and to forgive," is entirely omitted.

"For a Sick Person :

"O Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need ; look down from heaven, we humbly beseech thee, behold, visit, and relieve thy sick servant, for whom our prayers are desired. Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy; comfort him with a sense of thy goodness; preserve him from the temptations of the enemy; give him patience under his affliction; and, in thy good time, restore him to health, and enable him to lead the residue of his life in thy fear, and to thy glory: Or else give him grace so to take thy visitation, that, after this painful life ended, he may dwell with thee in life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"For a Sick Child:
:-

"Almighty God, and merciful Father, to whom alone belong the issues of life and death; look down from heaven, we humbly beseech thee, with the eyes of mercy, upon the sick child for whom our prayers are desired. Deliver him, O Lord, in thy good appointed time, from his bodily pain, and visit him with thy salvation; that if it should be thy good pleasure to prolong his days here on earth, he may live to thee, and be an instrument of thy glory, by serving thee faithfully, and doing good in his generation: Or else receive him into those heavenly habitations, where the souls of those who sleep in the Lord JESUS enjoy perpetual rest and felicity. Grant this, O Lord, for the love of thy Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

"For a Person, or Persons, going to Sea.

"O eternal God, who alone spreadest out the heavens, and rulest the raging of the sea; we commend to thy Almighty protection, thy servant, for whose preservation on the great deep our prayers are desired.

Guard him, we beseech thee, from the dangers of the sea, from sickness, from the violence of enemies, and from every evil to which he may be exposed. Conduct him in safety to the haven where he would be, with a grateful sense of thy mercies, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. "For a Person under Affliction.

"O merciful God, and heavenly Father, who hast taught us, in thy holy word, that thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men; look with pity, we beseech thee, upon the sorrows of thy servant, for whom our prayers are desired. In thy wisdom thou hast seen fit to visit him with trouble, and to bring distress upon him. Remember him, O Lord, in mercy; sanctify thy fatherly correction to him; endue his soul with patience under his affliction, and with resignation to thy blessed will; comfort him with a sense of thy goodness; lift up thy countenance upon him, and give him peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. "For Malefactors, after Condemnation.

"O most gracious and merciful God, we earnestly beseech thee to have pity and compassion upon those persons recommended to our prayers, who now lie under the sentence of the law, and are appointed to die. Visit them, O Lord, with thy mercy and salvation; convince them of the miserable condition they are in, by their sins and wickedness; and let thy powerful grace produce in them such a godly sorrow, and sincere repentance, as thou wilt be pleased to accept. Give them a strong and lively faith in thy Son, our blessed Saviour, and make it effectual to the salvation of their souls. O Lord, in judgment remember mercy; and whatever sufferings they are to endure in this world, yet deliver them, O God, from the bitter pains of eternal death. Pardon their sins, and save their souls, for the sake and merits of thy dear Son, our blessed Saviour and Redeemer. Amen."

The prayer which may be used instead of the preceding one, is the following:

"O Father of mercies and God of all comfort; we fly unto thee for succour in behalf of this thy servant, who is now under the sentence of condemnation. The day of his calamity is at hand, and he is accounted as one of those who go down into the pit. Blessed LORD, remember thy mercies; look upon his infirmities; hear the voice of his complaint; give him, we beseech thee, patience in this his time of adversity, and support under the terrors which encompass him; set before his eyes the things he hath done in the body, which have justly provoked thee to anger; and forasmuch as his continuance appeareth to be short amongst us, quicken him so much the more by thy grace and Holy Spirit; that he, being converted and reconciled unto thee, before thy judgments have cut him off from the earth, may at the hour of his death depart in peace, and be received into thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

THANKSGIVINGS.

"The Thanksgiving of Women after Child-birth; to be said when any Woman, being present in Church, shall have desired to return Thanks to Almighty God for her safe deliverance :

"O Almighty God, we give thee humble thanks, for that thou hast been graciously pleased to preserve, through the great pain and peril of