The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-27

Isut w uncharA0io
ana the Of all consciousness OF language in the
good rovdspce of God the times shall have arrived Tor
qustng the distractions in the Church. and for the res
torstion Of peace and harmony among her members We
would earnestly invoke the operation Of the ana
particularly Of the press in promoting so auspicioas
The principles of sound rshmanship have no inhs
rent tendency Romsnism, to the opposite extreme
As they are deduced from the Holy sen ana exhi
in ha ppy equilibrium. IL Is only when one doctrine
Office msgnifed at the O. pense OF the rest that the
eou destroyed. The tendencies to and to
extremes lie in part In the different constitutions Of men,
in the diversities Of their empers education aud preu
dice and net In the system Of Christianity itself Some
men rest upon the rnsl mess of their religion
others ctcal deveopements Some disposed
greatly to magnify the efficacy Of the Sacramens Others
base been equally inclined TO depreciae their efficacy
The only remedy for all these is receive and
hold the doctrines Of Scr pure and their summary the
Prayer Book in due proportion, and not to magnify
doctrine or precept al the expense OF another.
Again, there are differences among Churchmen arising
out Of the different sche OILS Of theology which they have
been trained, and still other differences arising of the
various systems Of metaphysics in which the different
sys.ems Of theology based Now, in all these cases,
reasonable lattuce of federation should be allowed 1t IL
impossible TO make all think alike: and long
they will receive in good faith the doctrines Of the Cos
indulgence should be extended TO minor differences
arising fro natural tsmpera.ent or from the preudces
OF education.
With the Apostolic Church, Christ all in all A
reliance he all sufficient efficacy OF His
diaton and aonemsnt constitute their strong bond Of
union. When difficulties began arise these subjects
the Apostles and the Nicenc creeds successfully
adopted by the church, sSponsnts of the common
faith They were regarded As the legitimate expsnsnts
for fifteen hundred years. But the Catholic Church had
bee divided in the progress OF centuries and both the
Greek and La branches Of had sought out many in
venons, and devised many superstitions and corrup-
tions At the happy period Of the tion the va
bodies which adopted to promote it. aban
doned these supersons and and endea voed
TO restore Christianity to its primitive purity. Tho
Church of England, from which descended, took
prominent part IN this work OF REFORM and completed it.
by establishing code Of ARTICLES OF Religion and a
Liturgy Of Christian worship which, being adopted by
(wih such changes politicalreaon requirsd)
places the platform Of and worship which
occupied by the primitive Christian Church. Our
PayerBook then, amid all the varying shades Of indiv
dual opinions is the strong bond Of union for church
While 1t is moot valuable help and standard for the
Interpretation Of The Scriptures IL should itself be inter
preed with all candor and fairness and according to the
church. This especially the obligation and duty Of all
who minister at the affairs of the church At their ads
to the priesthood they solsnny bind themselves 10
conform to the doctrine and worship of the Protestant
Episcopal Church" They thus engage to refrain from
any private and individual interpretation for the church
which exacts the subscription is the lawful interpreter OF
the sdnse in which it is TO be taken
Under these circumstances, it should seem that the
church contains in her apostolic organization the elements
OF her perpetual unity and the of composing
every violation of her harmony We must appeal to her
No mere party in the church claim the right to be
the expounder Of her faith Mere nan followers and
the disciples of parties are not to be regarded as her
Her authoritative voice speaks only through her
standards
But though the church is unit and speaks always
members in this one body; and as among many men
there must be diverses of intellect we various
modes OF education it naturally happens that there
should be diversity in their apprehension of the
teachings Of the church
The Bishops, however, fully believe that this diversity
is not great is sometimes imagined They per-
suaded that much of the supposed difference of opinion
arises from msa Pprehsason Such is the poverty
of language and the various conditions of tho
minds Of men, that different individuals attach different
meanings to the words. Words themselves. too
may be equiyocal or they may become so by different
" tn
them some way. The science of theology has become
peculiarly technical and different schools and different
denominations of Christians have each their Sh obolshs
which they adhere to with great tenacy. Men who
candidy disposed therefore liable to misunderstood
tious and fault finding tempers are concerned.
To prevent misuncerstandings then it would be wise
to avoid using, ourselves, such squvocal words and
and charitable disposition that may not unjusti6ably
misapprehend the meaning Of others
Twelve years the House Of Bishops issued pastoral
letter the important doctrine of classification by
Faith was drawn up by the venerable Bishop Girls
there was much diversity Of opinion in the church
tainipg the subject which he wished to explain and
enforce he desired that the letter should be sub
iected to thorough review by the Bishops before it
should be read to the other house of the Convention
The Bishops who then present will still re member
ceivsd and the cordial thanh which rendered to its
author by all his Episcopal brethren If it is thought at
sentiment in the Church ON this fundamental doctrine
examination of the pastoral letter referred to will
ow that il may be uculcated in language so free from
al technical and party phraseol to secure the gene
raj assent.
regard to the doctrine bapsma regener alton TOO
much Of the controversy which exists arises from the
Of eauvoca words and from msapprehension. Parties
attach entirely different meanings to the word regenera
ton ascrbe opinions which both would
dsavov proof this may remark that all parties
ready to receive the doctrine it is set forth in
III. PrayerRook and as it s in the Scriptures
Instead ther Of spending strength in improbable
disputes about words, which only gender strife 1t
better to devote energies TO the explanation of the
srIf Yn Of tha IN
the enforcing Of their saving efficacy the hearts aud
conscences of The lamentabe fall of first
parents and the natural coruptness Of all their descend
anti the way of salvation devised by infinite wisdom
through the mediation and atonement OF Jesus Christ the
necessity OF sincere repentance or an oar sins OF
lively faith in the aonng sacrifice of Christ of active
obedience to all the divine commands the necessity and
efficacy of the Holy cran ents as means Of grace; the
indv cling influence of the Holy Spirit for the ancfyiug
OF our hearts, AMI the renewing these
themes which may well call forth the wrmest affections
Of our hearts and the energies Of minds AMI
which instead Of gendering bitterness ard STRIFE cal
culated to hll the heart with tie puresi q r.sian
charity This is work in which en- may Cooperate
with hearty realm which all nav sssi.. n
building up the church in the most holy Es..a-
But the wsrd around is pervadel By forms Of
against which nothing but active controversy he
cessful 1t should be controversy, however, dictated
and modified by love 90 the hand behold al
grasping Ronanisn, which gives no quarter allows no
truce, but demands unconditional submission On the
other han various forms Of still pervaded
s by the true spirit of Christianity, but constantly
breaking into and steadily tending to lattudi
narianism Ind infdety Amidst these erraiic ndence
the best hopes of Christianity cenersd in the Church
Of England and in the Protestant Church OF the United
States
The spread OF Romanism Ia this country IL inevitable
not much, indeed by proselytism, but by immigration
romantic and sentimental minds may be captivated
by it's imposing ceremonial and specious claims to holy
living but the hoowness OF its pretensons and the i'm
posing parade Of s impostures cannot stand the scrutiny
Of enlightened public opinion. In most Roman Catho
lie countries there is probably, wide spread n6delty
among the intelligent classes Of the community.
They regard with contempt the imposturss which the
ignorant eagerly receive The Roman Catholic religion,
too a very different aspect in Italy spain and Por
tugal from that which IL exhibits in this country Su
Ierstitions and mummsries there pass unquestioned
which in this country would not impose upon the credul
ty Of its most ignorant devotees The remission Of
hundred years of the pains Of purgatoy by the drop
ing Of few sbillipgs, and repeating few and pas
at the shrine Of supposed saint, which is fre
uuenty advertised in the countries referred to- would
hardly impose upon the most ign rant Romanist in this
land Of free opinions
Tho wonderful immigration Of Roman Catholics to this
country looked upon with alarm by the friends OF
religious institutions. Who knows but IL Il thu way