Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

able gentleman in the chair, so exactly correspond with my own. I do not hesitate to say, that a more unfit place for theological discussion than the House of Commons could not be chosen. I have myself done, what I hope other honourable members have done as well,-I have long ago fixed my religious opinions,-long before I took my seat in this house. I come with my opinions formed, and I am prepared not to discuss, but TO ACT UPON THEM, (loud cheers). I believe that the religion of our Lord Jesus Christ is given for the salvation of mankind. I believe the Church of England to be a branch of the Church of Christ, and the form of its worship to be the purest form existing. And, believing these things, I do not hesitate to declare that, so long as I have a voice in this house, I will raise it for the extension of true religion to my perishing countrymen. I care not who may scoff at this declaration. If I stood alone I would maintain it. But I rejoice to find, that I have around me many warm hearts, which respond to my sentiments, and many cheering voices with the aid of which I do not fear that I shall yet accomplish the dearest object of my wishes."

Loud and continued cheering followed Sir A. Ridley's concluding words; and the gallery

I was cleared for a division. Considerable time elapsed, during which it was understood that some of the leading Whigs wished to have avoided a division. However, the house at last divided and the numbers were as follows :

:

[blocks in formation]

355

CHAPTER XXVII.

CONCLUSION.

"Wherefore shrink and say "'tis vain:
In their hour hell-powers must reign? '

*

Yet along the Church's sky

Stars are scattered, pure and high.
Israel yet hath thousands sealed,
Who to Baal have not kneeled.
Seize the banner, spread its fold!

Seize it with no faltering hold!

*

God hath sown, and he will reap;

Growth is slow where roots are deep;
He will aid the works begun,

For the love of his dear Son."

LYRA APOSTOLICA.

My work is now nearly concluded. I have attempted to describe, though briefly, the character of an English Churchman,—his princi

ples, his feelings, his habits, his duties, his motives of action, and line of conduct, both private and public.

My object in the foregoing pages, has been twofold;-first, by the exhibition of the Churchman's character, to win others to the side of truth and excellence; secondly, to rouse the dormant energies of Churchmen themselves to those necessary exertions which alone, under Divine Providence, can infuse a new life into our corrupted system, and warrant the hope of God's protection.

We have been recently told, by a great statesman', that the Church is safe. Religiously speaking, the Church—that is to say, the Catholic Church of Christ-must always be safe. God himself has declared that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. We may also hope that the branch of it established in England is for the present safe. It has weathered a great storm, and has proved itself to be still protected by God-still rooted in the affections of the people. But we must prepare for another and a fiercer assault; when the cycle of revolutionary fury shall again come round. If it be not

1 Sir Robert Peel.

irreverent to scan the Church's position with the eye of mere human policy, we might say, that she has escaped this time, because she was not the first object of attack; the fury of the tempest was spent, and the nation was beginning to right itself, before the assault was directed against her. Another time she may be called on to stand the brunt of the battle, and if she be not strengthened in the mean time, God may save her by some unexpected interposition, but, humanly speaking, she must fall.

We have to thank God, that He has already raised up, in defence of the doctrines of the Church, many able champions, who have vindicated her claims and set forth her real character. But that which seems to be the one great object, to which Churchmen should now turn their minds, is, during the time of comparative safety, to place the Establishment on a footing commensurate with the wants of the nation. This is the pressing demand which swallows up all others, and claims the united energies of all churchmen of whatever shade of opinion. And it is not by victories gained over Dissent, so much as by reclaiming the waste places of Heathenism, that we must look for strength and

« ZurückWeiter »