FURTHER REASONS FOR BEING A CHURCHMAN. 25

introducing large portions of it into her Services.

And now there are some further reasons which I should like to mention. For instance,

6. I set a high value on my Church, because she makes a firm stand against error. And why can this be said more truly of the Church of England than of other Churches? Because there are laid down in her Articles, and in her Prayer Book, such clear and sound statements of God's truth, that she does indeed serve as a noble bulwark against Romish corruptions, and other errors.

No Church can be kept entirely free from false teachers, and unsound teaching. Our own Church has found them at times within her fold. But, as a Church, she not only "declares all the counsel of God"-and that clearly and unmistakeably-but she has set up certain landmarks of truth, which cannot easily be overstepped.

Hence it is that among her ministers there have been, and ever will be, found many bold and successful champions of God's truth.

And the strongest and ablest writers against false doctrines, which this country has produced, are almost entirely Churchmen.

7. Again, the Church of England provides a fixed Ministry to watch over each Parish throughout the land.

Surely it is no small blessing to have one, whom each Parishioner can look upon as his spiritual Guide-to advise him in every difficulty-to comfort him under every trial— to kneel by his bedside when sick, and point out to him the way to heaven. And these Ministers are duly trained, and then ordained after the manner of the Apostles.

8. The Church system too provides for her members in every stage and condition of life.

In our infancy it brings us to Christ, and puts us under His sheltering care. This it does in the ordinance of Baptism. Then, when we are old enough to think for ourselves, it calls upon us at Confirmation openly to range ourselves on the Lord's side. If a married life be our portion, it unites us together by the most sacred bond. It thinks

of us in Sickness. It stands by us in the hour of Death, and cares for our precious souls. And when life has departed from our body, it commits our remains with a most impressive ceremony to their last resting-place.

Thus, like a tender Nurse, or a loving Mother, our Church carefully watches over her children from their first entrance into the world to their final departure from it.

9. A further reason why we may well prize our Church is that she has nurtured so many holy men among her members.

Many of them have shone as bright lights in this dark world. They had led holy lives, and died happy deaths. Some of these have suffered as martyrs for their Lord's sake. We are thankful to be able to say that many of the most eminent saints, which this country has produced, have been either members or ministers of the Church.

Alas, I know that there are some among us, who are a disgrace and a scandal to the Body of which they are professed members. So it ever will be in every Christian society. But I believe that there are in our communion

more really devoted and consistent persons than perhaps in any other. There is something in our system which promotes genuine piety-something which keeps us humble, and makes us more ready to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour by our lives than by our words. I believe that God has many true servants in other Christian Bodies. But still I have often remarked that, when a person leaves our Church, his spirit is a little injured by the step. He is apt to become high

minded-more careful about doctrine than about practice-more ready to talk about the gospel, than to live by gospel rule. And again, we often find such persons disposed to speak uncharitably of others, and more anxious to gain men over to their own party, than to win them to Christ.

It is not always so, I know. I thank God, there are many bright exceptions. But my own experience tells me that it too often is the case, and I feel very thankful that our system has a tendency rather to keep us down, than to raise us up too high.

10. Another very strong reason why I

would cling to my Church is because I love unity, and I feel that my Saviour loves it.

Now, it is clear that there is no unity in Dissent. One body of Christians holds Infant Baptism: another rejects it. One body is Calvinistic another is just the reverse.

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But in the Church of England there is a widespread bond, which binds all together, and a safe rallying-point, around which we may all gather.

I believe that one great sin of the present day is want of unity-division among Christians. When we look at our parishes, and see men divided on that one point, on which they ought to agree-when we see them on the Lord's-day, instead of gathering together in the same House of Prayer, and approaching their heavenly Father with one heart and one voice, divided off into parties, and looking coldly on one another-this cannot be right. It ought not to be so. It is a hindrance to religion. It is a stumblingblock to our weaker brethren. And what is worse, it is an offence to God. For what does His own word say on this subject?

"Mark them which cause divisions and