though it was not, a faltering of the Church in her chief council, to go forward in the Missionary enterprise. Nor can I be persuaded to believe that this Church will ever confirm the grounds on which the leaders in the opposition to that measure took their stand. Every allowance should be made for the desire for fuller information. The prudence, which is almost tempted to become suspicion, or, at least, distrust, in its desire to guard old landmarks, must be treated with all tenderness. To the objections which are founded in what men sincerely judge to be expediency, however often the convenient stalking-horse of selfishness and cowardice, we must be meek and patient in reply. But when the assertion is distinctly made, that the Church in her chief council, has no aggressive power; that the General Convention was organized for conservative alone, and not for Missionary functions; that when we come together, at our great assemblage, it is but to sit down over our own feet, and keep them warm, it is high time to look into the charter, and call up the terms of our great trust. Men who gave the shape to that decision did contend in private and in public, that the General Convention under the present Constitution, could do nothing beyond the limits of our civil territory; did deny to the House of Bishops, as such, any authority to make provision for the wants of perishing sinners beyond the line which is or shall be settled, in our treaties with the neighbouring powers; did forbid to this Church, as a Church-call it a union, call it a confederation, call it what you will-the attempt to "preach the Gospel," to any, and much less "to every creature." They said, the Constitution was conservative alone. They said, the General Convention was for deliberative, not for executive purposes. They said that neither of the two houses, nor yet both of them, had any power but in the United States of America; and undertook to prove their limitation by the language of the title of the Constitution-the Constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America." As if the truth, of which the Church is the divinely constituted "pillar," were not designed to fill the world. As if it had not always sought to do so, and must always seek to do so, by spreading from fixed centres. As if the sun were not to shine on earth, because it is in heaven. for covering just the ground it stands on, a post were not as useful as a tree. As if the favourite Scripture emblem of the truth, were not the light which shines out, and fills all the universe with life. As if the favourite Scripture emblem of the Church, were not a tree whose root indeed is on Mount Zion, but whose branches are designed to cover all the earth, that all the nations may rejoice in the refreshment of its shadow. I do not say that they who reasoned strictly from the title of the Constitution, or its terms, were not good lawyers. I do not say that their construction of it would not stand in any or in all the courts. But I do say, that, if such be the meaning of the Constitution, it is in limitation of the Gospel; and that the human must give way to the divine authority. I do say, that if such a Constitution as they would make of it, had been penned upon the day of Pentecost, the Church had never got beyond Judea. I do say, that if the Apostle Paul had been controlled by such a Constitution, he could

As if,

never have exulted, in his chains, in the transporting thought, Happen what may to me, "the word of God is not," cannot be, "bound"! No when the tree has learned to bend its boughs all back upon its trunk; when the live coal has caught the trick of concentration, till it gives no heat; when the clear shining of the Morning Star beams inward only, and not out upon the world, then will the Church of God no longer be like them. It still will be "the tree of life," whose "leaves" are "for the healing of the nations." Still will its baptism be "the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire," to warm and melt and purify all faithful hearts on which it falls. Still will it be "the light of the world," in the comparison with which all other lights shall "pale their ineffectual fires:" and that be true, which the beloved John hath written in the Revelation, " and the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."—And mark the practical results of their position. Is not diffusion of the very essence of the Church? Would it be, but for diffusion? It could not be denied! How then can this Church do its duty in parts beyond the civil territory? It must be done by the several dioceses! But Bishops are essential to the diffusion of the Church. How can they be consecrated? Any three of the diocesans are competent to do it !-This is not fancy's sketch. It is the substance of actual conversations, and the practical result of the whole argument. It goes to show that the attention of the Church should be directed to this subject. It goes to show that Churchmen should be careful whom they send to represent them. It goes to show that dioceses, to have their sense of duty acted on, should cause it to be known. It is a case for anxious thoughtfulness, when in the exercise of one of their highest trusts for Christ, the action of the Bishops can be prevented by the smallest possible majority in either order: and a portion of Christ's Church forbidden to discharge the duty which is enjoined in its commission, and to the discharge of which, the promise of the Saviour's presence is assured, “make disciples of all nations," on the construction merely of the title of a human Constitution.

I have drawn out enough, the life-long earnestness of my Father's labours in this great cause. Had it pleased God to call him unto the most remote portion of His vineyard, he would have gone without a thought. Was it not a great work, to wake so many others to this glorious duty,-to be in thought and mind, and work and prayer, at once a Diocesan and a Missionary Bishop; to sow broadcast throughout the world the good seed of God, while every seed-place in his own special field was planted, and tended, and reaped, as though there were no other but itself? Truly, he paid the debt to Jew and Greek, to his own Diocese, and to the world.

The sacred privacy of his home life, in Boston, is unveiled, as much as it should be, in these extracts from his Private Journal:

Monday, April 7, 1828.-Unanimously elected Assistant Minister of Trinity Church.

Sunday, May 4, 1828.-Fourth after Easter-entered upon the duties of my office, which may God, Who alone giveth the increase, bless to my own soul, and to theirs unto whom I am appointed to minister, in holy things.

Thursday, Sept. 17, 1829.-My happy wedding day. May the blessing of the Lord rest upon it, and all its issues!

Nov. 11.-Consecration of Trinity Church; Rector preached from St. Jude 3. "Earnestly contend for the faith."-May God give us all this grace; and to His Name shall be all the glory.

Thus ends the year 1829. The happiest year of all my life. For it has united me "till death," with her whom my heart holds dearest. Whatever earth has of blessedness, seems now within our reach. May He keep us in his faith and fear. May we be meek, humble, and holy. May our love for each other, and for Him, abound more and more. May we be disposed and enabled to discharge every duty to Him, to each other, to our dear children, to the Church, and to all mankind. And when we have done serving Him here, may we rest together in peace, and together rise to His celestial presence, to dwell, accepted for His dear Son's sake, a family in Heaven. Amen.

Sunday, September 5, 1830.-My beloved boy born this morning. -Gratias Domino maximas!

Sunday, October 17, 1830.-My little boy baptized, by the name of George Hobart. May the rest of his life be according to this beginning. And may he be emulous, in his faithful service of the Lord, of him whose honoured name he bears. Deus faxit.

December 7, 1830.-Unanimously elected Rector of Trinity Church. "Non nobis Domine."

Another year completed. A year of great mercies, and most precious blessings. God, make me thankful for them! And enable me to live, more than ever, to Thy glory.

1831.

Still keep us, Father, in thy faith and fear,

And grant thy blessing, on the coming year;

Guard us at home, and guide in all our ways,

And fill our hearts, with love, our lips, with praise.

* *

Tuesday, April 19.-Was instituted Rector of Trinity Church by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Griswold. Quod bonum, faustum, felixque nobis omnibus, totique Ecclesiae, Deus faxit, per Domnium nostrum Salvatoremque Jesum Christum. Amen.

1832.

Another year departed. No death, no sickness, no disaster. Former mercies still preserved, and new and greater added. Lord, as thou increasest our gifts, increase also our gratitude. Nor, shouldest thou withdraw them from us, leave us unresigned, and therefore comfortless.

Sunday, March 14; Quinquagesima: preached from "The good ness of God leadeth thee to repentance." Primum post natum W. C. Deo maxima laus; mihi penitentia, animusque gratus.

Sunday, November 4.-Preached on "Ye are complete in Him,"

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having been consecrated on the 31st of October, in St. Paul's Church, New York, to the office of Bishop of New Jersey. Lord, what am I, that Thou hast called me to this dreadful honour? Who is sufficient for these things? Blessed be Thy holy name, for that most gracious declaration, My grace is sufficient for thee." So replenish me, O Lord, with the truth of Thy doctrine, and endue me with innocency of life, that I may earnestly feed Thy flock, diligently preach Thy word, and faithfully serve before Thee, to the glory of Thy great name, and the benefit of Thy holy Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thus ends a year by far the most eventful of my life. Blessed, in the early part of it, in the birth of a sweet boy, my second child, followed on the part of my beloved wife, by severe illness and long debility. The Summer much distracted, with dissensions in the Church at large, and attempts at division in my own Parish. Then my unlooked for, and most undeserved election to the Episcopate of New Jersey. In October, attended the General Convention, and by the special mercy of God's blessing and the generous interposition of friends, was rescued from a foul and cruel conspiracy, against my character and usefulness. Consecrated on the last day of October, (every cloud being dispersed, as by a wind from the Lord,) to the office of a Bishop. The remaining three months of deep domestic sorrow: yet God be praised, diversified with manifold and great mercies. Truly a memorable year."

CHAPTER IV.

CALL TO NEW JERSEY-CONSECRATION AND EPISCOPATE-WHARTON, WINSLOW AND OGILBY-MONUMENTS-GROWTH OF THE DIOCESE-GENERAL PUBLIC INTERESTS.

FULL.of work, rich in influence, blessed with the utmost devotion of friendship, green with Croswell's affection, and beautiful with the opening of married love, my Father's life in Boston was full of happiness and promise. And yet it was but another class, of the training school, in which God was fitting him, for the labours and sufferings and triumphs, of his apostleship. He was digging out the channel, and planting the trees and flowers along its banks, in which the strong current of his life, should run, over the sands of sorrow, and past the rocks of bitter opposition, through meadows and pasture lands which it beautified and blessed, into the great eternal ocean of God's perfect peace. On the 17th of September A. D. 1829, in Christ Church, Boston, he was married by his friend Croswell, to Mrs. Eliza G. Perkins. Of his married life, on which the darkest clouds lowered, that the brightest sunlight might break through them, I may not speak. How near its joys, and she who made them, were to his inmost soul, his constant lines to her will best show, to those who have not had the opportunity to see and judge for themselves. Nor may I now, of his home, amid the lingering rays of its home light. Of all else that concerned him most intimately; of labour, and love, and friendship which faltered never through life; of influence, success, and usefulness I have spoken. Öf suffering and sorrow I may speak again. But now I leave them, where in the year 1832 he stood so unconsciously, at the threshold of a "larger room" of labour, and suffering and success. I say unconsciously, for never could a more unexpected thing have fallen to any, than the call to the Episcopate of New Jersey proved to him.

At the annual Convention of the Diocese, held in Morristown in May A.D. 1832, the venerable Bishop Croes, prevented from