The Press.
London, England, 1857-03-28 00:00:00

MARCH 28, 1857.

phraseology which of itself implies, that there is at present
a lamentable want of congruity between the two ; and sug-
gests, assuredly, a telling argument, not against but in
favour of revision ; if it be granted that the Church ought
to be consistent with herself. Nay it does more than this.
It supplies an admonitory indication, not merely of the
pressing call which now exists for alteration ; but likewise
that some alteration, either for better or worse, is ultimately
unavoidable. Palpable inconsistency cannot, in these
days at least, stand its ground for any length of time be.
fore the world, however it may be tolerated within the pale
of the National Church of England. And hence, for mein-
bent of that Church, there is clearly but one alternative
now remai ,ing. The Liturgy must either be made dog.
matically consistent with the Articles; of the Articles will
eventually be made to confirm the less Protestant tone of
the Liturgy.

Let us deal with eur present Liturgy just as our Re-
formers appear to have dealt with the Liturgies of their
own time—retaining whatever is truly ancient, Catholic,
and Scriptural ; but discarding with unhesitating firmness
those surreptitious alterations, and 111 advised accretions,
which a later age of declining piety and gradually aug-
mented superstition has unhappily introduced.
Mr. Fisher seems entirely to ignore the fact
that the Reformation was naturally a long
time in settling itself; that so great a change
could not be consummated off-hand ; and that
many fluctuations would ensue ere the teach
ing of the Church of England could be finally
accommodated to all those diversities of
opinion which it was her design to embrace.
We must honestly say to this section of the
Evangelical party that they are taking too
much upon themselves. Misled by certain
political events, they are beginning to exclaim,
like Pope's "pampered goose," that all things
are theirs. It is a surprising instance of
mental obliquity that Mr. Fisher should not
be aware of falling into precisely the same
error as the Tractarians themselves—that is,
narrowing the pale of the Church by declaring
certain opinions heretical, though held by
English Churchmen for three hundred years.
This is, in fact, to subvert the Reformation,
and to adopt the worst feature of Popery
under cover of opposing it.
At all events, the mass of English Church-
men will now see what they have to expect
from the ascendancy of an ultra-Evangelical
party, as they long ago foresaw what they had
to expect from the ascendancy of an ultra-
Sacerdot 11 party. All our sober minded prac-
tical clergymen love the Liturgy ; they know
its powerful effect upon the poor; they feel
the aflecting beauty of its services, and all
parties alike have the most tender associations
entwined with it. Certain solemn words have
now come to be indissolubly connected with
all the most important events of human life—
occasions on which, if ever, men lose some of
their worldliness, and their hearts are more
open to the reception of impressions, than at
any other time. By this means the English
Liturgy has come to be peculiarly endeared to
Englishmen. The man of the world, who
cares,' perhaps, little for doctrines, would
battle for the integrity of those beautiful
prayers he has listened to from childhood.
The clergy would defend them as one of their
most effective instruments ; and the poor
would unconsciously cling to them as one
of the few means they possess of soften-
ing arid elevating their lives of labour. We
entertain, therefore, little fear that the
deliberate voice of the Church will ever
authorise the evisceration of these venerable
formularies. Yet much may be done by
well-devised coup-de-main, or by the overthrow
of that happy equilibrium of parties which has
so long existed in the Church. We demand,
therefore, that all her friends shall be vigorous
and watchful ; and we exhort them, in the
words of the Roman Senate, " Videre ne
" quid Ecclesia detrimenti capiat."