A SERMON 
 
 ON 
 
 DELIVERED BEFORE THE ^ 
 
 ANNUAL CONVENTION 
 
 OP THE ^ 
 
 Protestant Episcopal CVmrclao? K. C. 
 
 BY THE RT. REV. J. S. RAVENSCROFT, D D. 
 
 tfEWBERN : 
 
 PRINTED BV PASTEUR & WATSONj 
 AX THE OFFICE OP THB CAROLINA SENTINEL* 
 
 1824. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2014 
 
 https://archive.org/details/sermononchurchdeOOrave 
 
Amos. Chap. 7th, ver. 8th, latter clause. " By whom shall 
 Jacob arise ? for he is smalls 
 
 The providencies and dealings of Almighty God, for and 
 with his Church, form a very conspicuous and instructive por- 
 tion of the inspired writings. Indeed we might be justified in 
 observing, that the whole scheme of revelation and prophecy 
 is predicated on the existence of a Body or Society of men, 
 distinct from and called out of the world, as the peculiar people 
 of God ; and that the dealings of God, whether in acts of mer- 
 cy, or in the infliction of judgments, refer primarily to this his 
 inheritance; through that, to the rest of mankind, and ultimately, 
 as we are warranted in believing and saying, to the higher in- 
 telligencies of the unseen world. " To the intent (says the 
 apostle to the Ephes. 3. & 10.) that now, unto the principalities 
 and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the Church, 
 the manifold wisdom of God." 
 
 Thus divine in its origin, influential in its character, and 
 single in its designation, it presents a subject of the most impres- 
 sive consideration to all mankind ; inasmuch, as it is only in 
 connection with this Body or Society, that the revealed promi- 
 ses and hopes given in and by Jesus Christ, are assured to men, 
 and the appointed means of grace and salvation brought withia 
 their reach. 
 
 Under this view, a brief notice of the distinctive character of 
 the Church, as presented in the scriptures, will prepare the way 
 for an appropriate improvement of the text. 
 
 That this point has been greatly neglected, and held back 
 from the public edification of christians, even by those who were 
 nevertheless entrusted with its defence and support, is imhappily 
 
4 
 
 too evident, and the consequences such, as to warn both minis* 
 ters and people, that it is time to retrace their steps, and by 
 considering this vital doctrine in its application to the hope of 
 man as a sinner, to learn its influential bearing on the advance- 
 ment of pure and undefiled religion in the world. 
 
 I feel, my reverend brethren, as 1 doubt not you also do — the 
 full difficulty with which long neglect, and the consequent pre^ 
 valence, and almost establishment of erroneous opinion, invests 
 the subject. But I trust that I feel and that you feel, the awful 
 responsibility of our respective stewardships, and are prepared 
 to meet whatever may be required by a conscientious discharge 
 of duty. And I trust, also, that j ou, my brethren of the laity, 
 feel that lively interest in the cause we have in hand, which shall 
 ensure your hearty co-operation in such plans for the revival of 
 the Church in her pure and primitive character, as its present 
 condition, and the means in our controul, shall render advisable ; 
 while I cannot permit myself to suppose, that amid the variety 
 of opinions on this subject now before me, there can one be 
 found, by whom it will be considered an unnecessary or unprofit- 
 able discussion. Error, my dear hearers, however sanctioned 
 by time and numbers, still retains its character : truth, however 
 obscured by ignorance or prejudice, or rejected by men, is yet 
 eternal and unchangeable as its author. And when eternity, 
 with all its glories, or with all its horrors, is suspended upon 
 truth or error, here received and followed ; the astounded excla- 
 mation of Pilate, before our blessed Lord, " what is truth ?" 
 should burst from all our lips, and engage our enquiries. 
 
 To every class of my hearers, then, I must believe that a can- 
 did and scriptural, though necessarily brief enquiry, into the 
 origin and purpose of the Church, and of the appointments of 
 Heaven in it, for the salvation of man, must be both desirable 
 and profitable. While to us, my clerical and lay brethren of 
 this Convention, it is essential to the right performance of the 
 duties devolved on us, that we view the subject in this light, as 
 well as in the causes which contributed to its decline ; otherwise, 
 with the best intentions, our efforts may prove abortive, because 
 erroneously devised and improperly directed. If Jacob is evey 
 to arise, it must be as Jacob, and not as Esau. 
 
fii'st — as to the origin of the Church. 
 
 That the Church is divine in its origin, and in the appoint- 
 ments connected with it, is so generally admitted a doctrine, 
 that the less may suffice on this point ; yet it ought ever to be 
 borne in mind, that this divine institution of the wisdom and 
 goodness of God, is not an abstract idea to be entertained in the 
 mind ; but an actual, visible, accessible body or society, for 
 practical use; deriving its constitution, laws and authority, di- 
 rectly from God. As such, it is placed beyond the reach of any 
 human appointment, addition or alteration ; and this so strictly, 
 that all the wisdom, piety and authority in the world, congrega- 
 ted together, is just as incompetent to originate a Church, as to 
 call another universe into existence. This, however, will be 
 more evident, when we come in the next place to consider the 
 purpose of such an injstitution. And as this is the key which 
 unlocks all the difficulties that surround this subject, from the 
 divided state of the christian world, it will be necessary to 
 consider what led to the appointment of the Church as a distinct 
 body, with a visible and verifiable character. 
 
 The dispensations of Heaven's mercy and wisdom for the 
 salvation of fallen man, are presented to us under various as- 
 pects, all of which are closely connected with each other ; yet 
 with marks of distinct discrimination, manifesting, nevertheless, 
 that it is the same plan, modified and fitted by the Almighty 
 himself, to the condition of that poor, perverse, and opposing 
 being, for whose benefit it was all provided, and who has never 
 ceased to corrupt and depart from it, in every age of the world. 
 
 Under the first, or Patriarchal dispensation, as it is called, of 
 religion, as the benefits of the covenant of redemption were to 
 be continued in their knowledge and operation, by the influence 
 of parental instruction, and a family priesthood, no particular 
 designation as a Church, or visible society, with privileges and 
 obligations, promises and helps, of a special description, was 
 marked out. Each family composed a Church for the worship 
 of God, and was furnished with the necessary means of grace 
 within itself, in the offering of that sacrifice which prefigured 
 the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and was 
 appointed and intended, to keep alive in the minds of men, 
 
6 
 
 the knowledge of their fallen condition, and of the only method 
 of recovery from it. 
 
 When, however, an experience of 1 500 years had proved that 
 the corruption of human nature was too powerful to be withstood 
 and counteracted by this method of continuing the influence of 
 religion in the world ; and when a farther trial of the same 
 means, for the space of 500 years more, under the fresh remem- 
 brance too, of the recent destruction of the ungodly by the 
 general deluge, and the still more recent visitation of the dis- 
 persion at Babel, had demonstrated, that they did not like to 
 retain God in their knowledge ; but had corrupted their way 
 before him, and departed from both the letter and spirit of his 
 institutions — Then it pleased the merciful Saviour of poor sin- 
 ners, again to interpose; and by selecting from this mass of cor- 
 ruption, another family — through that to restore, and continue 
 in the world, the true knowledge of God, of the worship ac- 
 ceptable to him, of the expectation of a Deliverer, in the pro- 
 mised seed of the woman, and of the means of that grace, by 
 which only, can fallen man be renewed in the spirit of his mind, 
 delivered from the guilt and power of sin, and from that eternal 
 death, which is its only w ages. 
 
 In this, the second dispensation of true religion, provided for 
 mankind, the distinction from that which preceded it, to be 
 most carefully marked and considered by us, is, its covenanted 
 and peculiar character ; in other w^ords, the limited and pre- 
 scribed conditions, on which only, its privileges and advantages 
 can be obtained. If we overlook this, we overlook its most 
 distinguishing feature, lose that deeply impressive lesson, which 
 it was intended to teach us, and pass over the most interesting, 
 because most hifluential part of the whole transaction ; that of a 
 new relation to God, conferred upon men by outward and visi- 
 ble marks, and henceforth confined and limited within this insti- 
 tution. For it is this, and this only, my brethren and friends, 
 which marks its separation from the rest of the w orld, as the 
 Church, the peculium, the elect of God. Because of this its 
 distinctive character, it was made the visible and only depository 
 of his revealed will and precious promises. For certainty and 
 assurance, to this Church were committed, those lively oracles 
 
7 
 
 of divine truth, which were corrupted and lost under the custo- 
 dy of tradition. And in it was prepared arid established that 
 body of testimony to the person and offices of Jesus Christ, as 
 the promised seed of the woman, which shines so bright, so 
 enhvening, comfortable and irrefragable to us, under the gospel. 
 Through this cliannel only, was to flow hereafter, that chain of 
 revelation, prophecy and providence, which constitutes and con- 
 firms the hope of man. And to mark its dignity and pre-emi- 
 nence, and to fulfil the wise purposes of its founder, the condition 
 of the rest of the world, in the rise and fall of its kingdoms, and 
 in the operation of its various events, is overruled, and made 
 subservient to the advancement, enlargement, and final establish- 
 ment of this kingdom of God upon the earth, against all the 
 opposition of men and devils combined. 
 
 For the order and uniformity of the public, prescribed, and 
 therefore only acceptable service of God, in this his sanctuary, 
 a divinely constituted priesthood was appointed, through which 
 alone, were the people permitted to present their united worship, 
 to offer up the proper sacrifice for personal as well as general 
 sin, and to draw assurance of forgiveness, through the efiicacy 
 of that great sinoffering, atonement and expiation, which all 
 their sacrifices represented. 
 
 Hence, my brethren, the singular and personal character 
 under which it is spoken of, throughout the scriptures ; that 
 sacred unity with which it is invested ; hence, that zeal for it?- 
 purity and interest, so constantly manifested, and that care with 
 which its constitution and government were fenced against all 
 intrusion. 
 
 Hence, also, the strong language, in which its endurance or 
 everlasting continuance is spoken of in the scriptures ; which 
 proves that it was not a temporary appointment ; but inseparabh 
 connected with the wonderful plan of man's redemption, and to 
 rim parallel with it, and efficient in it, " until the earth shall be 
 filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover thr 
 great deep," " and the kingdoms of this world become ih 
 kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ." 
 
 Here, then, my brethren and friends, let us pause a moment, 
 and look back and reflect, wh^t would have beeo the state of tbp 
 
6 
 
 world, what would have been our individual condition, had thi3 
 wise and merciful provision of the love of God, never been ap* 
 pointed ; had men been left, as justly they might have been, to 
 the influence of traditional knowledge, as the ground and the 
 means of salvation for sinners — and let the awful religious blank 
 which the thought reflects baok upon the mind, awaken us to 
 consider more carefully, the foundation on which we are build^ 
 ing for eternity ; whetlier on this certified and verifiable basis of 
 God's appointment, or on some presumptuous imitation of its 
 liniaments, by ihe weak and incompetent intrusion of human 
 wisdom. " I speak as unto wise men, judge ye what I say." 
 
 But to proceed — Thus divine in its origin, constitution and 
 appointments — -definite in its purpose, and singular in its charac- 
 ter, the Old Testament Church stands alone in the world, like the 
 ark on the waters of the deluge, the sole depository of the truth, 
 and of the people of God ; nor is there access to it, nor admis- 
 sion within its saving enclosure, otherwise than according to the 
 institution of its founder. It was competent to no man ; not 
 even to Lot, or to Melchisideck, to obtain its privileges, without 
 its seal. Whatever of mercy might be in store for them and 
 the rest of mankinrl ohservuig the law written in the heart, it 
 was not the pledged and promised mercy made over to the 
 Church. Whatever the truth or reasonableness of any religious 
 duty might be ; however well founded the hope of God's favour^ 
 from conformity to the dictates of natural conscience ; it was 
 not the truth confirmed by express revelation ; it was not the 
 hope which springs from the promise of God, certified by out- 
 ward, visible and appointed ordinances, as helps to faith, means 
 of grace, and assurances of a relationship to God, in which 
 none other stood, transacted through an authorized and accre- 
 dited agent. 
 
 This, my brethren and hearers, is that deeply impressive and 
 influential character, in which the Church of the living God is 
 presented to our notice and use, in working out our eternal sal- 
 vation. This is that commanding feature, by which it is to be 
 distinguished by us from all imitations of it, by either the piety 
 or the presumption of fallible men ; at»d it is by tracing it ac- 
 cording to this, its specifick chararacter, through all the deal- 
 
hxgs ^nd provldericies of its founder, that we, at this day, are 
 enabled to discover and distinguish this ark of safety — this spe- 
 cial deposit of the promises of God to a fallen world — this au- 
 thorized source of agency between Heaven and Earth. For the 
 Church of Christ, under the i\ew Testament dispensation, is 
 not a new or fresh appointment of God, in the sense and mean- 
 ing too commonly entertained ; but a continuation of the old, 
 in all its essential provisions. The same, and not a new divine 
 origination ; the same, and not a fresh devised constitution of 
 government, administration and authority ; with the same and 
 not another holy purpose of separation, certainty and assurance 
 to men, in things spiritual and invisible ; and this, upon the sure 
 ground, that " Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, to-day, and 
 forever." 
 
 From not attending to this essential point to the very being 
 of a Church, room has been given for the intrusion of man's 
 presumption into this sacred appointment, and to deal with it, 
 as the creature of his contrivance, as a thing subject to his alte- 
 ration and amendment. By losing sight of the intimate rela- 
 tion and analogy between the old and new testament dispensa- 
 tions ; by failing to consider the one as pcrf-^ctlve of the other, 
 confusion and obscurity on this subject has spread over the 
 christian world; and division and destruction, intead of union 
 and peace, has been the bitter fruit : while the event has fulfilled 
 the prediction of our Lord, in impeding the progress of the 
 gospel, and encouraging that infidel spirit, which turns away 
 from the truth, because those who call themselves the disciples 
 of Christ, bite and devour one another. Above all— by neglect- 
 ing to apply the test which God himself has provided, whereby 
 to determine the certainty with which we are transacting our 
 spiritual afiairs, in the very natural enquiry — " By what authori- 
 ty doest thou these things and substituting, in lieu thereof, the 
 reputed piety and holiness of particular men, has the darkness 
 become thicker and blacker, and the powerful prejudices of 
 pride and profession, been enlisted against the truth ; so that 
 men, reasonable beings, with the light of God's word in their 
 hands, contentedly trust their souls to a security, on which they 
 would not risk their estates. 
 
 B 
 
10 
 
 Yet the truth remahieth, my brethren and friends, unaffected 
 in its heavenly and unchangeable nature, by any perverseness 
 and opposition of men. And to us it is given, by the distin- 
 guishing mercy of God, to know and ascertain the truth, to 
 the comfort and health of our souls. The Church also, " the 
 pillar and ground of the truth," the peculium of God, by the 
 same distinguishing mercy, yet remaineth, lingering as it werej. 
 with us, and verifiable, by the same heavenly original, divine 
 authority, and saving purpose, which constitute its sacred char- 
 acter. As such, it is presented to your consideration this day, 
 my hearers, in a point of view in which you may never have 
 regarded it ; briefly, it is true ; yet sufHciently plain to enable 
 every man, with his bible in his hand, to determine the question 
 for himself. And sure I am, that this Is the only representation 
 of the subject, which can correct erroneous notions, or confirm 
 those which are true ; the only ground on which there is any 
 foundation for faith to rest upon, any assurance of hope in the 
 revealed mercy of God. For I am yet to learn, where a pro- 
 mise of God to fallen man is to be found, that is not limited on 
 the previous condition, that he be a member of Christ's visible 
 Church upon earth. 
 
 Having thus given a faint outline of the origin, purpose, and 
 importance of the Church, as an appointment of Almighty God 
 in the gracious plan of our redemption ; I will make a few re- 
 marks on that branch of the true vine which has been planted 
 in this portion of the Lord's vineyard. 
 
 Of the early state of the Church in this diocese, the notices 
 are so scanty, and my information so limited, that there i;* no 
 safe ground on which to form an estimate of the state of religion 
 within our commxinion, previous to the recent effort to revive 
 the cause in the year 1817, 
 
 The journals of the General Convention, and the lists of the 
 clergy in each state therein published, give no notice, that the 
 Episcopal Church was even known by name in North-Carolina. 
 It is nevertheless certain, that the Church was coeval with the 
 establishment of a regular government, and had spread the 
 knowledge of her doctrines and liturgy, and formed regular 
 congregations for the worship of God, as far west as the middle 
 counties of the state. 
 
We mtist therefore refer the decline, and almost extinguish- 
 ment of the Church here, to the same causes which operated 
 throughout this vast continent, to wit : the just judgment of 
 Almighty God, on the sins and iniquities of his people. To 
 ascribe the depression of the Church to political causes solely, 
 is to reverse the order of his providence, who overrules and 
 directs* the affairs of the world, to the final triumph of his spiri- 
 tual kingdom. 
 
 The long period, however, during which the people were de-^ 
 prived of the services of tfie sanctuary, could not fail to operate 
 injuriously. We gradually forget our dearest friends, my breth- 
 ren, when removed from all intercourse with them. We soon 
 seek to form new connexions, and v;e cleave to them the closer, 
 perhaps, because of previous privation. And thus it fared with 
 the Church, Multitudes, who would never have deserted the 
 fold, were forced by want and privation into strange pastures. 
 Still greater numbers have grown up in ignorance of her claims, 
 and even of her existence ; while the pride of opinion, reluctance 
 10 acknowledge an error, and the modern fallacies of liberality 
 in religious opinion, and equal safety in all religious denomina- 
 tions, keep back many who once enjoyed the benefit of her 
 sound and safe ministrations, and bid fair to estat)lish the notion, 
 that no religious profession is necessary. Thus demonstrating 
 by experience, that in proportion as you weaken the vital doc- 
 trine of the visible unity of the Church of Christ, b}' acknowledg- 
 ing communions erected by human authority, you encourage the 
 growth of infidelity and impiety. And it requires but a fair 
 consideration of the effects which have followed the divisions 
 among christians, and the consequent adoption of liberal opin- 
 ions, to demonstrate the alarming fact, that if the Church of God 
 may be found every where, it will soon be sought no where. 
 Indifference to religion, is the inevitable result of such pestilent 
 notions; and this is the sum total of gain from this so much 
 boasted system of liberal opinions. 
 
 Yet the arm stretched out upon his inheritance was, and is, 
 an arm of mercy. A remnant was left. Jacob indeed was 
 made thin, and the fatness of his flesh became lean yet 
 
 gleaning grapes were left in the vineyard, as the shaking of 
 
V2 
 
 tin olive tree, two or three berries, in the top of the uppermost 
 bough." It was a prating remnant, and it pleased God to open 
 his ear to hearken. 
 
 For that remnant, then, it is, and for those whom God hath 
 added to them, and for the deluded multitudes who are living 
 without God in the world, we are met, in the fear of God, 1 trust, 
 and in the hope of his guidance and direction in our counsels, 
 to consult and devise things profitable, prosperous and happy ; 
 the things which accompany salvation. Let us then enquire 
 
 Thirdly — By whom shall Jacob arise ? 
 
 And by whom, my brethren and friends, can Zion " arise and 
 shake herself from the dust, and put on her beautiful garments, 
 and become the praise of the whole earth," but by that Almighty 
 arm which upholds the universe ; by that ever living head, who 
 hath pledged his promise, that the gates of Hell shall not pre- 
 vail against her. 
 
 On that promise T am built ; on that providence I am staid ; 
 and when I consider the marked interposition of his hand in the 
 commencement and progress of this work ; when I reflect, that 
 by liim who inspireth the counsels, and ordereth the doings of 
 the children of men, I meet 3^ou here this da}^, in the station 
 which I fill in his Church ; I bend in humble adoration before 
 his wonder working power ; 1 rely, with unshaken confidence, 
 in his abiding faithfulness ; and give myself to the work, in the 
 firm belief that the set time to favour Zion is come. Well may 
 we say, dear brethren, " what hath God wrought !" and in 
 contemplation of what he hath already done, be strengthened 
 and encouraged to be workers together with him, in building 
 up the waste places of Jerusalem. I have been among them, 
 my brethren — among the earliest records of the piety ot our fore- 
 fathers; and my heart yearned over the ancient and decaying, 
 and now too often silent temples. I have been among the an- 
 cient Simeons and Annas, servants of the Lord, who " take 
 pleasure in the stones, and favour even the dust of Zion ;" who 
 have prayed and fainted not, through a long night of darkness 
 and bereavement ; and 1 have seen the smile of transport, and 
 the flush of hope, and the fervour of devout and grateful praise, 
 light up their patriarchal countenances, as the promise of a 
 
13 
 
 brighter day dawned upon their children ; and I felt that if 
 would not be disappointed. 
 
 In tliis holy hope, then, let us continually look up to our 
 great covenant head, and ever merciful Redeemer ; beseeching 
 him to inspire our prayers, direct our counsels, and prosper our 
 endeavours " to the advancement of his glory, the good of his 
 Church, the safety, honour and welfare of his people." 
 
 But while it is by the Lord only, that Jacob can arise, it is 
 by ^he use of means within our reach, by joining our earnest 
 en deavours to our united prayers, that this most desirable work 
 is to be carried on and effected. 
 
 First, then, because of the highest concernment, let us, my 
 brethren, ever bear in mind, from what causes the depression 
 and downfal of the Church originally proceeded, and guard 
 carefully against a return of the same evil. Throughout the 
 whole history of God's dealings with his Church, we may see, 
 that the light of his countenance upon his people, or the hidings 
 of his face from them ; the communication of his favour to them, 
 and the infliction of his judgments on them, have ever been 
 regulated, according as piety or ungodliness prevailed among 
 them. Now, all these things, we are instructed, " happened 
 unto them for ensamples, and are written for our admonition, 
 upon whom the ends of the world are come." Happy, then, 
 will it be for us, my brethren and hearers, if we take warning 
 hy this more recent example and proof, that the same order of 
 his proivdence yet subsists ; and keep ourselves from the evil 
 way of profession without practice, religion without holiness. 
 Many suppose, that in the Episcopal Church, a greater laxity 
 is allowed, than in other denominations. But this manifests a 
 total ignorance of all our institutions. No countenance is given 
 or allowed to what is sinful ; nor can any denomination pretend 
 to greater strictness, than is required by the Canons and Ku- 
 bricks of the Church. We cannot help it, my brethren, if per- 
 sons whose conduct is a scandal to all christian profession, will 
 call themselves Episcopalians : the discipline of the Church can 
 he applied only to those who are known and received as com- 
 municants ; and by those compared with any other denomina- 
 Uon, we fear not to be tested ; yet with us, whatever may be the 
 
14 
 
 case with other professions, we know and confess, that much of 
 the old leaven has to be purged out ; and this will we do, if 
 God permit. 
 
 To this point, then, my brethren, let us bend our united at- 
 tention ; taking away occasion from those who seek it, and 
 wiping out the reproach against us ; firmly setting our faces 
 against all conformity with the world in its ungodliness ; and 
 withholding our fellowship from all who walk disorderly. This 
 we owe to our own souls, to the honour of God, to the credit and 
 advancement of the Church, and to the souls of others ; we owe 
 it to that forbearing goodness which has once more revived us, 
 and in agreement with which only, can we hope to prosper. 
 
 As holiness is the mark of God's children, we are called to 
 holiness, to severance from the world, its idolatrous pursuits, its 
 vain and vicious pleasures, in ourselves and in our families. 
 " Wherefore come out from among them, and be separate, and 
 touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and be a 
 father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith 
 the Lord Almighty. " Having therefore these promises^ dearly 
 beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh 
 and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 
 
 This is the doctrine of the Episcopal Church ; this is the 
 practice in the life, which all her precepts inculcate upon her 
 members ; which her discipline is constructed to enforce, and 
 which no endeavours of mine shall be wanting, God being my 
 helper, to bring to full effect. And here I am truly thankful 
 that so many circumstances concur to favour us in this essential 
 work. No wide spread, inveterate habit of ungodliness, has 
 yet had time to take root among us, and cause alarm at the 
 extent of the excision required. Jacob indeed is small, but he 
 is young also, and comparatively free from the great transgres- 
 sion. Be it our care then, one and all, dear brethren, that as he 
 increases in stature, he may * grow in grace,' and increase also 
 in * favour both with God and man.' 
 
 Whatever reproach of this nature is brought against our com- 
 munion as yet, is brought from a distance, and there, let us re- 
 solve that it shall remain ; whatever is now to perform of the 
 painful duty of reproof and correction, is comparatively light ; 
 
15 
 
 and blessed be God for it, there is no diversity of opinion among 
 those who have the care of the flock. United in this, as in ali 
 other points which concern the peace and prosperity of our 
 Zion, we may humbly trust to build up those committed to our 
 charge, " an holy Temple unto the Lord." 
 
 Secondly. That Jacob may arise as Jacob, it is essential 
 that the doctrines and worship prescribed in the articles and 
 liturgy of the Church, be faithfully preached and adhered to by 
 all of her communion. 
 
 On you, my brethren of the clergy, depend the hopes of the 
 Church in this diocese, for this means of resuscitation. This 
 precious deposit she has committed to your fidelity, and at your 
 hands does she require that it be exercised for the increase of 
 the body. 
 
 And here again I have to bless God, that the lines are fallen 
 to me in pleasant places. That however small the number, it is 
 a little phalanx of men sound in faith, and united with me in one 
 mind, and in one doctrine ; that on no point is there such a 
 division of sentiment as leads to a diversity of practice ; but all 
 can go hand in hand to the object before us. That however 
 feeble in the eyes of the w orld, it is a band of brothers who 
 have themselves experienced the power and efficacy of the truths 
 they preach ; who know and feel that they are the power of 
 God unto salvation, and are therefore able to teach others also. 
 Who admire and love the scriptural simplicity, devotional sub- 
 limity, and doctrinal security, of that form of sound words, in 
 which they lead the public worships of the sanctuary ; who 
 know that the liturgy of the Church is the great bulwark of the 
 faith once committed to the saints ; the tried safeguard against 
 the heresies of the day, of all who use it with the understanding 
 and the afiections. 
 
 Thus favoured of God, my burden, dear brethren, is com- 
 paratively light — while my hope is animated, that with such 
 workmen, the edifice will arise, beautiful in its proportions, 
 resplendent in holiness, and the praise of the \^ho'e earth. 
 
 The foundation on which it rests, is the rock Christ, confes- 
 sed, and believed on, as God over all, blessed forever — 
 
 who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from 
 
16 
 
 Heaven, and was Incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgm 
 Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us, under 
 Pontius Pilate." The beauty of its proportions, consists in 
 the harmony of that unsearchable wisdom — whereby 'mercy 
 and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed 
 each other' — in the unspeakable mystery, of God made sin, that 
 man might be made the righteousness of God in Him. And the 
 splendour of its embellishment, in the union of all its members, 
 in the faith which worketh by love, the hope which maketh not 
 ashamed, and the charity, which never faileth. 
 
 This is the blessed fruit of the doctrine of the gospel, and of 
 the Church, * truly preached, truly received, and truly follow- 
 ed.' The mystery of godliness, that " God was manifest in 
 the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto 
 the gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory," 
 is the new sharp threshing instrument predicted by the prophet, 
 wherewith to break down the kingdom of sin, satan and death. 
 " Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel, I will keep 
 thee, saith the Lord, and thy Redeemer, the Holy one of Israel. 
 Behold I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument, 
 having teeth. Thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them 
 small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. — Thou sh alt fan them, 
 and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall 
 scatter them ; and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt 
 glory in the Holy one of Israel.' 
 
 On the doctrines of the cross, then, as you jjave taken, main-^ 
 tain your stand, my reverend brethren. Preach them in the 
 simplicity and sincerity of hearts that feel them, with the ear- 
 nestness of men, who wish to save their own souls and the souls 
 of others. The entire spiritual death, and alienation of man 
 from God, by the entertainment of sin ; the reconciliation of 
 God to the world, by the sufferings and death of his only be- 
 gotten Son ; the atonement of his blood ; justification by faith; 
 acceptance through the merits of the Saviour ; conversion of the 
 heart to God ; holiness of life, the only evidence of it, and the 
 grace of God, in the renewal of the Holy Ghost, the sole agent 
 from first to last, in working out our salvation from sin here, 
 and from hell hereafter. In fewer words, " salvation by grdice, 
 through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast," 
 
But with these vital and Heaven-blessed doctrines, other 
 points of edification to those of your charge, and to your gen- 
 eral hearers, will require your attention, my reverend brothers ; 
 particularly that of the distinctive character of the Church. On 
 this, a most lamentable ignorance prevails, and most unfoun- 
 ded opinions are becoming established, not only among 
 Episcopalians, but at large. To permit this ignorance to con- 
 tinue undisturbed, is to be false to our ordination vows, to our 
 acknowledged principles, to the interests of our communion, 
 and to the souls committed to our care ; and however amiable 
 in appearance, the principle on which we act may be, reflection 
 shews it to be a mistaken one, and experience proves it to have 
 been injurious. If we hold principles that are indefensible, let us 
 abandon them. But if they are our principles, interwoven into 
 the very frame of our polity — impregnable in their truth, and es- 
 sential in the great work we have in hand ; let us not appear 
 ashamed of them, or weakly afraid of the consequences, and thus 
 become parties to that miserable delusion, which weakens us as 
 a body, strengthens the ranks of our adversaries, and, I will fear- 
 lessly say, weakens the cause of true religion, by tacitly owning 
 one division after another, until the great luaster principle of the 
 Church of God, its unity, is merged in the mass of christian names, 
 and bwallowed up by the indiflerence and infidelity thus fostered. 
 
 If, then, we would be found faithful to ourselves, to the 
 Church whose commission we bear, and to the souls committed 
 to our trust ; this doctrine of the distinctive character of the 
 Church, must be fully unfolded and laid before our people. 
 Their attention must be called to it, on the grounds of scriptu- 
 ral reason. The purpose of this wise and merciful appointment 
 of Almighty God in the salvation of sinners, must be dwelt upon 
 and enforced, by all those weighty arguments and authorities 
 which the word of God so richly supplies. The importance 
 and efficacy of authorized ministrations, of valid sacraments, 
 must be elucidated and confirmed, by the analogies which govern 
 men in temporary things, and by the method so demonstrably 
 resorted to by God himself, both under the law and under the 
 gospel, to give certainty and assurance to men in things so 
 unspeakably important. These are the points to be presented 
 to our people, to be pressed upon the understandings and the 
 
 c 
 
18 
 
 feelings of our hearers, in connection with the other doctrines 
 of the gospel — that they may learn to estimate aright their pri- 
 vileges ; and valuing, to cleave to them. 
 
 Thirdly. That Jacob may arise in his true character, a 
 steadfast and uniform adherence to the liturgy and offices of the 
 Church, as set forth in the book of Common Prayer, and ad- 
 ministration of the sacraments, must be observed. 
 
 In this duty, it is my happiness to believe, that you, my 
 reverend brethren, are found faithful. As honest men — inde- 
 pendent of your christian character, I could expect no less. 
 But in this liberal and latitudinarian age, this duty is sometimes 
 rendered painful, by the wish to yield in some degree to the 
 prejudices of a mixed congregation | *and by the hope, that con- 
 forming in this respect, they may be won over. In aid of this 
 dereliction of duty, the points objected, are artfully represented 
 as things indifferent in themselves, and therefore to be yielded 
 in favour of christian fellowship. All this, however, is mere 
 pretence ; for if they are points really indifierent, the fault must 
 ever be with those, who on such grounds separate themselves, 
 from what never can be viewed with indifference by any serious 
 person. And whatever pretences may be urged, they are all 
 fallacious, and proved to be so by experience. For whatever 
 the principle of accommodation may be capable of in other 
 things, it has ever failed in points of religious dissent — and I 
 am yet to learn, in what instances the surrender of principles, 
 or even of distinctive points, has profited those who have tried 
 the dangerous experiment. My brethren, the attempt has ever 
 been in vain, and has issued in weakening and degrading those 
 who have resorted to it ; and the reason is obvious : Princi- 
 ples, religious principles especially, are presumed to be well 
 considered — adopt-ed as the best, and on the highest authority. 
 To hold them then, as things that may be dispensed with, may 
 be accommodated, may be yielded, is viewed as the mark of a 
 weak or an insincere mind. 
 
 To act upon this expectation then, is to court defeat, while 
 it is at the same time to expose ourselves to contempt, as men 
 of lax principles and designing conduct. A stigma of all others 
 the most severe upon a minister of religion ; who, in common 
 with all christians, but in a higher degree, ought to have his 
 
19 
 
 conversation in the world, in simplicity and godly sincerity . 
 And what has been the effect of such a course, in the trials that 
 have unhappily been made by Episcopal clergymen. Has our 
 communion gained or lost by it ? Where is the addition obtained 
 by this surrender of private and public principle ? It has lost, 
 my reverend and lay brethren, by this Judas like method of 
 betraying it into the hands of its enemies, with a kiss. 
 
 And what have the individuals, who have thus acted, gained 
 by it f They have gained the name, perhaps, of liberal and 
 charitable ; and have lost the esteem of all sound churchmen : 
 while they have not gained the confidence of those, who never- 
 theless flattered their enlarged views of christian liberty and 
 evangelical piety ; because, in the midst of this flattery, they 
 are obliged to view them as false to the most solemn pledges 
 that can be given of sincerity of opinion, and integrity of practice. 
 
 In all such cases, the question with an Episcopal clergyman, 
 is not, whether our general principles, or our method of con- 
 ducting public worship by a fixed form, be scriptural, profitable, 
 or even evangelical ; this ought tO have been settled on the 
 most serious investigation, before he assumes the orders of the 
 Church. Whatever discretion he had as tu this and other puiutS 
 of required conformity, is then given up 5 nor can he continue 
 to wear the livery of the Church, and thus act, without the guilt 
 of the most sublimated perjur}^ 
 
 Alas ! that it should be necessary to warn against the influ- 
 ence of such an example elsewhere. But as the evil exists, and 
 this view of the subject includes every plea for nonconformity 
 to the doctrines and worship of the P. E. Church in the United 
 States, I think it due to you, and to the sincerity with which I 
 am bound to act, to shew distinctly, at the commencement of 
 my administration, the principles by which I anf guided. 
 
 Fourthly. For the increase and advancement of true godli- 
 ness, let me reccommend the observance and cultivation of 
 family religion. 
 
 Without this root and spring, under God, of all holy desires, 
 all good counsels, and all just works, hope is vain for the 
 Church and the State ; we shall sink into a nation of infidels. 
 
 That the practice has declined in the families of professing 
 christians ; that it is abandoned in all others, is known by all 
 
20 
 
 tvho bear me at this moment. And that the consequences Are 
 the bitter fruit of increasing crime and profaneness, is recor- 
 in every court, and witnessed by every sabbath. 
 
 But, my brethren and hearers, could this be so, were the 
 principles of our holy religion, early and carefully instilled into 
 the minds of the rising hope of this great and growing christian 
 nation ? Was the fear of God, and the reverence of his most 
 holy name, and the observance of his worship, and the 
 knowledge of his life-giving precepts, inculcated and manifested 
 in our families, would so little of it be seen in the world? Awake, 
 then, from this torpor, ye christian fathers and mothers — from 
 this deadly delusion of adulterated religion, which is so fast 
 swallowing up the dearest hope you can entertain of a happy 
 eternity, with those who are dearest to you here. Trample 
 mider your feet, those pestilent doctrines which inevitably lead 
 to this criminal neglect, by confiding the hope, and by neces- 
 sary consequence, the duties of the gospel, to a chosen few. 
 Arise to the blessed assurance of God's public message by his 
 only begotten Son — " that he hath not appointed you or them 
 to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ 
 
 who by the grace nf Ond, tasted death for every man." Be- 
 lieve this his true and faithful word, against all the sophistry of 
 men ; diligently use and apply the means provided by the wis- 
 dom and goodness of God, for your advancement in knowledge, 
 and growth in grace ; and no longer suffer your children to 
 grow up like the wild asses colt, alike ignorant of God and of 
 themselves, of the word of his grace, of his sabbaths, his ordi- 
 nances, his mercies, his judgments, and that eternity, in which 
 all these end, and where you and they must meet, to enjoy or 
 to suffer forever, according to the improvement or abuse here, 
 of the talents committed to your trust. 
 
 Oh ! it is an awakening thought to contemplate a godless 
 gospel family, assembled before the judgment seat of Christ, 
 and to carry out the consequence to the misery that awaits them ; 
 and that misery doubled by the near and dear ties which con- 
 nect them ; Hell made hotter by the endless reproach — we 
 neglected our children's souls — my father and mother hardened 
 sne against God — they trained me to perdition. 
 
 Oh ! it is a heart-cheering, soul-enlivening vision, to go in 
 
21 
 
 the mind's meditation, with the faithful father and mother, to 
 the same awful tribtmJiI, and see the holy confidence with which 
 they stand and say — Behold us, Lord, and the children thou 
 hast g:iven us." We have taught them thy fear ; and by thy 
 grace kept them in the way ; we surrender them to thy mercy, 
 through thy dear Son. " Well done, good and faithful servants, 
 ye have been faithful in a few things, enter ye into the joy of 
 your Lord." But who can speak that joy, when all the dear ties 
 of nature in this life shall be refined, purified and perpetuated 
 in glory; when conjugal, parental and filial love, shall be swal- 
 lowed up, butnot lost, in the love and enjoyment of God for ever. 
 
 And is this, dear brethren, a result, in the one case to be 
 shunned as destruction ; in the other to be desired as life ? Oh, 
 if it be ! (and what christian parent does not feel that it is all 
 this ?) — let the plain and certain road to the attainment of this 
 blessedness, be pursued by all. Discard for ever, my brethren 
 and hearers, this murderous neglect of the souls of your chil- 
 dren and servants ; and as you are able, call them round the 
 family altar, and invoke the blessing, the promised blessing of 
 God, upon your holy purpose ; restrain them from all violations 
 of the Lord's day ; cultivate his fear in their hearts ; and shew, 
 by the example of your lives, that you fear his name, and hope 
 in his mercy. 
 
 Especially upon you, my Episcopal brethren, is this primary 
 duty enforced, by every principle you profess, by every obliga- 
 tion that can be undertaken, and by every sanction known to 
 time and to eternity. Your baptismal sponsion for your chil- 
 dren involves it, b}^ the solemn stipulations then entered into ; 
 and the promises of God therein sealed to them, is your full and 
 sufficient warrant, to engage in this fruitful work, with assurance 
 of success. Let, then, the inscriptions on your dwellings be, 
 " As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." To this 
 source of supply, the Church looks, for the enlargement of her 
 border, the extension of her communion — for the spread of the 
 gospel, and its triumph over all its enemies. 
 
 And to what other source can we reasonably look, my breth- 
 ren, not only for the advancement, but for the continuance of 
 religion among us. Let us ask ourselves, and reflect seriously 
 upon it— what proportion do the conversions, which we occa- 
 
"22 
 
 sionally hear of, bear to the numbers annually coming into and 
 going out of life ? In tiiis state, do they amount to 500 in the 
 year — to one for every 100,000 of its population ? 1 know not ; 
 bui I doubt it. But say they amount to five times this numbery 
 and are all sound conversions of the heart to God — what is 
 this to the annual drain by death, of souls dead to God, unpre- 
 pared for eternity ; what to the multitudes who know not God, 
 and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ; who have 
 grown up without him, and must in all probability die without 
 him ; wliat is this to the thousands coming forward into life, 
 the hope of days to come, equally unfurnished — O let the alarm- 
 ing calculation startle us from this delusion of double death, 
 and convert us from dependence, on the extraordinary, to the 
 serious use of the ordinary means which God has provided, 
 commanded, and promised to bless, in training up our children 
 m the nurture and admonition of the Lord, that his converting 
 grace may change their hearts, transform their lives, and enrich 
 the Church and the world, with sound and instructed believers, 
 serious and experienced christians, and firm professors of the 
 hope of the gospel. Thus, and thus only, shall the objections 
 of the infidel be done away ; the vain reasonings of the dispu- 
 ter of this world be answered and refuted ; and the means cor- 
 responding with the end, and tlie fruit crowning the work, make 
 all men see, that God is with us of a truth. Thus adorning the 
 doctrine of God our Saviour, by the union of profession and 
 practice, Jacob shall arise, and his light shine. Thus shall his 
 seed possess the gate of his enemies, and the Lord whom we seek 
 shall suddenly come to his temple, and "the glory of this latter 
 house shall be greater than the former, saith the Lord of Hosts." 
 
 Lastly. — Our pecuniary means must be reserved for the wants 
 of our own communion. 
 
 This is so plain and obvious a duty, that at first sight, it 
 would appear superfluous to mention it ; yet certain it is, that 
 in this respect, Episcopalians have manifested an easiness in 
 yielding to the solicitations of other denominations, which can 
 be justified on no sound principle of regard for the Church, or 
 feeling sense of the wants and privations of their immediate 
 brethren ; and the time I think is come, when it is absolutely 
 necessary to act difierently. Jacob is small, and he must con- 
 
23 
 
 tinue so, if his patnomony is squandered upon strangers. It is 
 the dictate of inspired wisdom, my brethren, "that if any pro- 
 vide not for his own, especially those of his own house — he hath 
 denied the faith, and is worse ihan an infidel." This rule, both 
 of reason and religion, will apply in the closest manner, to the 
 present condition of the Church in this diocese, and to the pres- 
 ent duty ot all the members and friends of our communion, and 
 should regulate and restrain, the indiscriminate expenditure of 
 her means, for purposes, which if not hostile, are certainly un- 
 profitable. 
 
 If 1 could paint to you, as vividly as I have witnessed, and 
 now feel, the destitute condition of our brethren — men agreeing 
 in faith, doctrine and worship with ourselves, and the general 
 call there is, " come over and help us," — the necessity as well 
 as propriety, in the truest religious sense, of adopting and act- 
 ing henceforth upon this principle, would need no enforcement 
 from me. Your hearts would feel, for congregations destitute 
 of ministers and ordinances ; Jacob's feeble hands would not be 
 lifted up in vain ; the Church of your fathers, and of your affec- 
 tions, would no longer be dry-nursed, to succour her opponents ; 
 but all would be united for one object, and your bounty flow in 
 one enriching stream of nourishment, growth and strength to 
 ourZion. Oh ! if I had but the thousands, which have hereto- 
 fore been drawn away from her exigencies, how^ easily would 
 all our wants of this kind be supplied. It is gone, however, and 
 Tegret will not bring it back. But if it shall teach us to adopt 
 and adhere to a difterent course for the time to come, it will so 
 far be a gain, and there is yet enough left in the piety, and af- 
 fection and affluence of the Episcopal body in this diocese, to 
 meet all our reasonable demands. All that is required, is to 
 act upon principle, by system. 
 
 Much will be said against this my advice to you, my breth- 
 ren ; and I doubt not it will be called illiberal, uncharitable, 
 perhaps unchristian. But by whom will such truly unchristian 
 terms be applied to it By those only, whose interest it is 
 that you should not discriminate. By those, who act themselves 
 as a body, and rigidly too, upon this very principle — who have 
 drawn largely on the easiness, or indifference of your liberality ; 
 but have never returned a cent for the dollar, to our want^. 
 
24 
 
 ami never will ; or by those who cloak real disregard to all re^ 
 iigion, under the motley mask of eq^ial regard for all deno- 
 minations. Regard them not, therefore, my brethren; but 
 strong in the soundness of the principle, and the obligation of 
 the duty, as christians and Churchmen, reserve what you have 
 to spare in t je service of religion, for the wants of your own 
 communion. That certainly has the first and highest claim 
 upon your ability, upon your bounty ; a claim which no sophis- 
 try can invalidate — which no mistaken views of liberality and 
 charity towards the opinions or the practices of others, should 
 either weaken or defeat. 
 
 According, then, as the distinctive character of the Church, i& 
 understood in its principles, applied in the use, and regarded 
 in the hearts of its members, will it be cherished and flourish. 
 According as the walk and conversation in the world, of those 
 who call themselves Episcopalians, shall be as becometh the 
 gospel of Christ, will its high, because heaven-descended claims, 
 be owned, acknowledged and acted upon, in the regeneration 
 of a fallen world ; and according as we shew, that it is all this 
 in our estimation, my clerical and lay brethren — by the zeal and 
 earnestness with which we unite and persevere in the work wc 
 have in hand, "will Jacob arise" — "Will a little one become a 
 thousand, and a small one, a strong nation." 
 
 To this work you have called me ; to this work the Lord 
 through you iiath devoted me ; and to your service, such as I 
 am, I give myself without reserve. Accept, then, the first fruits 
 of the deep concern I feel for your advancement ; of the obser- 
 vatioii and experience I have had opportunity for, and of that 
 sacred regard for your present and eternal welfare, which oc- 
 cupies my thoughts, my prayers, my labours. And may He 
 that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand ; who walketh in 
 the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, be with us in all our 
 undertakings, to bless and prosper us in building up the old 
 waste places ; in raising up the foundations of many genera- 
 tions ; that we m*ay indeed be called the repairer of the breach, 
 the restorer of paths to dwell in, 
 
 Now unto Him, &;c.