Christians, constitute her beauty and her glory. That the offering of Christ is a perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; that the work of renovation begun in baptism-the sacrament of regeneration, is gradual and progressive; that, after grace given, we may finally fall away; with other doctrines that might be enumerated-appear to me fundamental tenets of our Church; in which,] however, there is very far from being a coincidence between her and other denominations of Christians. That it is evident unto all men, diligently reading Scripture and ancient authors, from the apostles times there have been three orders of ministers, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons; and no man is to be accounted a lawful minister in the Church who hath not had Episcopal consecration or ordination; that a liturgy for public worship is sanctioned by Scripture, by primitive practice, and is most decent and proper; that the rites and ceremonies of the Church are agreeable to primitive usage, and tend to edification-are points in regard to which it is not to be supposed that Churchmen can differ from one another, however they may differ from Dissenters.

"In my humble judgment, a publication which does not support and defend these points, gives up the distinctive principles of our Church, which her brightest luminaries defended while living, and consecrated in their deaths, and ceases to contend for Christianity in her primitive, purest, and fairest form. Some of these principles, indeed, may be unpopular, and though in reality they only can per

manently secure 'the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,' the advocates of them may be supposed to be influenced by a sectarian spirit; but this imputation ought not to have any more effect in deadening his zeal, than the opprobium of being a sect every where spoken against' had on the first defenders of the Christian Church.

"Satisfied, too, I am, that the display of these principles, and the zealous defence of them, have most essentially contributed to revive and increase our Church. In a late visitation through the diocese, in company with Dr. Bowden, I found some of the most enlightened and zealous members of our Church, and persons of influence and standing in society, who traced either their conversion to the Church, or the confirmation of their attachment to it, to the display and defence of its principles in the various writings which from time to time have appeared; and most certainly to the same cause may be traced the zeal and spirit of the young men in this quarter who have lately entered the ministry, and of others who are preparing for it.

"These views, in connexion with other circumstances, naturally excited the desire that the Churchman's Magazine should continue to support the principles which it has hitherto maintained, and that it should be conducted on a plan which, without aspiring to high literary merit, would give the plain people of our communion what they much wantplain and solid religious information; and that, of course, it should be afforded at a price which would render it accessible to persons of this description. Your publication appears to aim principally at

gratifying readers of a higher order, and the price will necessarily prevent its general circulation.

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My cares and duties always prevented that attention to the work which was necessary to raise it even to the humble standing which I was desirous it should attain, and the change of my situation, and consequent increase of my cares and duties, entirely interfered with my charge of the work. I have at length concluded to fall in with a sugges tion of the Rev. Mr. Rudd, and to transfer the publication of it to Elizabeth-Town. From the pressure of the times, and from other circumstances, I shall not be surprised if there is a falling off in the subscriptions, even to so great an extent as to occasion the total failure of the work; still, however, it appears adviseable to attempt, at least, to prolong the existence of the only miscellany devoted to the discriminating principles of our Church. When these are forgotten, or when they cease to influence the members of our communion, that Church which we have been accustomed to revere as apostolie and primitive, will be merged in the mass of Christian sects, certainly having very inferior pretensions to these sacred titles.

"I know you will not be displeased with the candour with which I address you. I cannot repress, however unpleasant, the apprehension, that your views of the best mode of advancing the interests of our Church, differ in some respects from those which, in common with many others, I have been accustomed to entertain. Yet that very liberality which I sometimes fear will lead its votaries into an indifference to those distinctive principles which, VOL. I.

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the glory of our Church, have preserved her from the assaults of heresy, schism, and enthusiasm, will prompt you to excuse in me this honest difference of opinion to believe me sincere in the sentiment, that the prudent, the resolute, and dispassionate defence of those doctrines, of that ministry, and of that worship, which distinguish our Church from other Christian societies, is not incompatible with the promotion of the endearing charities of life, with strengthening the bonds of society, but is, in fact, the surest way of extending the kingdom of the Redeemer. Accuse me not, my dear Sir, of assuming the office of a senior, in regard to one for whom, on many accounts, I feel veneration and esteem; but it did not appear to me possible, without this candid exposition, to account to you for my wishing to continue the Churchman's Magazine under its present title, and on its original principles. And, independently of this consideration, I felt prompted to indulge the liberty, which I trust you will excuse, of expressing to you my fears (I wish they may prove erroneous,) that little good is to be expected to our Church from a publication which, though it may not abandon an iota' of her discriminating tenets, discipline, and worship, certainly asserts its claim to patronage, on its determination to keep them entirely out of view, as those subordinate subjects on which there must be a difference among Christians,' as the only means of discarding that sectarian spirit so long at variance with the spirit of amity and the bond of peace.

"You see, my dear Sir, I have occupied the whole

of my paper, and I have trespassed long on your patience. I conclude with assuring you that

"I am,

"Very truly, &c."

During this year* he held confirmation in twentythree churches, visited twelve others, consecrated four to the worship of Almighty God, and ordained four deacons and seven priests. In administering confirmation, he added to it every circumstance which could heighten its effect. He prepared the minds of the candidates for it, in the first place, by preaching an appropriate sermon. In the administration of the rite his manner was easy and dignified; and the tones of his voice, which were at all times solemn and impressive, received a thrilling interest on these occasions, from the intensity of his own feelings. After the administration of the rite, he delivered a simple and practical address to those who had been confirmed, in so paternal and affectionate a strain, as seldom failed to touch their hearts, and to awaken corresponding emotions in their parents or friends; and very often, indeed, a large proportion of the assembly was melted into

tears.

The objects which he had in view in visiting other churches without performing any Episcopal office, were to preach to the people, to encourage their pastors, to show a parental solicitude for their welfare, to aid them by his counsels, to stimulate them in their exertions, and to strengthen the bonds

* 1812.