The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-07 00:00:00

The Rev. J. Macnaught has issued a written ex-
planation to his congregation of the reasons which
induced him to resign the incumbency of St. Chry-
sostoin, Everton, Liverpool. His opinions, he says,
since he came among them, have undergone a gra-
dual change, which, in all its phases, has been
honestly avowed. He declares that he has con-
cealed nothing which was, in his own mind, a dis-
tinct and recognised conviction :
Opposition has often been raised against my
preaching and publication. Sympathy has at least
as often been shown for the freedom with which I
spoke. and wrote. Under the influences of that
opposition and that sympathy it has not always been
easy to separate myself from such excitement as
might lead to my rashly resigning the ministry on
the one hand, or to my improperly retaining that
ministry on the other hand. Now, however, for
some`-Months past, I have enjoyed an almost un-
broken quietness. My mind has been able to reflect,
1111 otkir prOsferdus-m bur birareh'-arneszide s— _All
modes of activity, and I have been able, with com-
parative peace, to consider my position and duty.
There have been many inducements for me to re-
main as I was. The social position of a clergyman,
the enjoyment of a moderate but sufficient income
from the Church, the wishes of dear friends, the
evident opportunities for manifold usefulness, the
flattering attention of a large congregation, in a full
church, the generally improved and improving con-
dition of schools and choir and district, the desire to
vindicate freedom of speech and thought for the
ministry of England's Church—these have been
mighty, though far from being the sole, inducements
to remain and minister among you.
In alliance with these motives there has been the
dread of changing one's profession, the risk of los-
ing valued friendships, and the fear of doing posi-
tive harm, if any should suppose that one abandoned
religion or Christ in abandoning the position of an
English clergyman.
These and such like considerations have so far
kept me at my post, though I have sometimes
found it difficult to reconcile the changes of lily
opinions with the unchanging formularies of ancient
centuries. Till quite lately I have accepted all the
Prayer Book in some scriptural sense. Now I find
myself unable longer to express my " unfeigned
assent and consent to all and everything contained
in the Book of Common Prayer ;" and therefore it
is time for me to retire from a position which de-
mands such "assent and consent" from its occu-
pants.
Let me not be misunderstood. j have as firm a
hold—nay, a far firmer hold than ever—upon the
great Christian principles of love to God and love
to man. Reflection has strengthened—as I trust it
has also purified—my Christian hopes of a future
life and its discernment between good and evil.
These are not matters of doubt or disbelief with me.
I could still continue to preach on these subjects
honestly, and you will, perhaps, kindly think, not
unprofitably or unacceptably, as I have done before. i
It might net be necessary to allude to the points n
which my opinions fail to harmonise with the
dogmas of the Church. Suppression of a few
truths now recognised by me would, doubtless,
allow me legally and safely to retain my pulpit
as long as I chose and God permitted. All this
I know full well; but I also know that with
many of the Prayer Book's teachings—for ex-
ample, on the clergyman's supposed power to re-
mit or retain sins, as expressed in the Ordination
Service, on the subject of confession as contained
in the Service for the Visitation of the Sick, on
the doctrine of "regeneration," as treated of in
the Baptismal Service, on the Athanasian Creed,
on vicarious punishment—with the teaching, I
say, of the English Prayer Book on these and
other points, I can no longer express °'unfeigned
assent and consent," if these words and the Church
formularies aro to bear any natural and gramma-
tical signi&i'tion. Under these circumstances,
what am I to do
P I know no other communion
which is as tolerant the Church of England, or
whose ministers are as je.see as hers. Hence I
itsdo
other
that
or
not see my way to enter any other
.my duty
ministry. One thing only its
man is. to es a conscientious Christian En :Tishman
and its re-
signdig-
my ministry, and its emolumene.c
nity. This I must do if I am to rettn.ti my
self-
respect.
What is to follow I know not. God's Provide.7ce
will lead me if I yield myself to His guidance. .1
go to seek a livelihood in any calling of simple
industry that may open to me. Other men will
preaclkin mypulpit. Other men will bear rule in
my schools and in my district. You and I will
probably be preached to and prayed with in man-
ners widely different from those to which we have
been accustomed. For my part, I shall take my
place among the laymen of England's Established
Church. There I trust we shall all still worship
happily, Whatever changes may betide, let us
ever be found fighting on the side of truth, free-
dom, progress, Christ, and God.

According to a despatch from Rome of the 4th,
the Siamese Ambassadors had had an audience of the Pope.
In reply to their assurance that the Roman Catholic re-
ligion would always be protected in Siam, His Holiness
expressed his satisfaction at the reported progress of the
Catholic missions. The Envoys were the bearers of some
mapiant prenutP tQ I3is tioliagoe,