The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-03-02
H. P, LiddOn and Sacramento Grace.

A brother in the ministry has called our atten-
ton to the doctrine of this author concerning the
Sacraments. His writings have been received
with much favor both in England and America
The following is an extract from his sermons de-
ivered at the University of Oxford. The divi-
sion between the views he presents on the subject
Of Sacramento Grace and these held by Roman
Catholics, is only thin paper wall But these
are the views widely current in the Episcopal
Church in this country as well as in Great Britain.
Mr.. Liddon says:
SERMONS BY II. p LIDDON, NJ. A, DELIVERED AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.
The fountain head of the Supernatural in the
Christian life is the incarnation of our Lord. "As
our natural lite, says Hooker, CONSISTENT in the
union of the body with the soul, so our life super
natural in the union of the soul with God" But
how is this union to be effected? Hooker replies
by sketching the outline Of an argument, which
from his day to our own has been ranked among
the choicest masterpieces of English divinity
For as much" he says, "as there Is no union Of
God with man without that mean between both,
which is both it seemeth requisite that we first
consider how God is in Christ.
Christ reveals himself as the living centre from
which the higher lite radfates throughout regen,
crate humanity. Il am the vine, We are the
branches AS the branch cannot bear fruit of it
self except it abide in the vine so neither can ye,
except We abide in me- Accordingly, He that
hath not the Son of God hath not life. I" And we
Christians are members of his body, of his flesh,
and of his bones Christ in US is ''the hope
Of glory" And since it is certain that as many
infants las have been baptized into Christ have
put on Christ, because there is nothing in an in
10 tbo md ,banf
ton of grace, it follows that each of the baptized
who have not forfeited the divine gift by deadly
sin, may say with the Apostle, " live, yet not l.
but Christ liveth in me.
When the Church of England refers to the
Christian life or to Christian privileges, she con
stantly employs language which at the very least
amounts to saying that the life of a Christian is
altogether above nature, that is, is supernatural
A baptized infant is as such, in state Of saliva
ton, Church CatechiSm) until he forfets it by
wiul sin. Every child is taught heartily" to
thank his heavenly Father for calling him into
it, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
And surely to be "a very member incorporate oil
the mystical body of Gods Son." Communion
Service to be "a member of Christ child Of
Cod and an inheritor OF the kingdom of heaven,
| (Church CatechSm, this is to be in a supernatu.
raj state X I'VE all, saws the Apostle
had our conversation in time past in the lusts Of
our flesh, fulfilling the desires Of the flesh and Of
the mind, and were by nature the children oil
wrath even as others" This is the state of death
The description cannot apply to those who were
baptized as infants, and who have, by Gods mer
cy, preserved baptzmal grace; but all really liv
ing souls throughout the Church must add, Goo
who is rich in mercy for His great love whereuntC
He hath loved US, even when we were dead in sins
hath quickened us together with Christ, Thy grace
are ye saved, and hath raised up together, anC
made us sit together in heavenly places in Chris
Jesus.