that book, and I pray that we

more sure to make us grow in devotion and in that sober enthusiasm which is our special characteristic, anything which will bring men such as we are to love God in our deep but undemonstrative fashion. I pray with all my heart that we shall not undervalue the great blessing that God has bestowed upon us in giving us shall be very slow to press our own opinions, however earnestly we hold them, in such a way as to lower that book in the eyes of our people and of our own eyes. I pray that God may be with us in all times of perplexity and anxiety, and that he may keep us straight in the path in which He has already placed us. I have the deepest conviction, that of all the instruments that we can use for the true progress of the work that we have to do, both at home and abroad, there is none that we can put by the side of that which by God's providence has been to us so great a blessing." (The italics are ours.)

It is the belief of all true Christians that the Scriptures were given to us by God, but to say that the Prayer-book also was "bestowed" by Him is surely a declaration which ought not to be unquestioningly accepted. This opinion of the Primate, however, may be very widely held in the Church, with this result, that the Prayer-book may be regarded as of almost equal value to the Bible itself, and may even be more frequently perused. Oh, for a resurrection of the Bible in our beloved country! It is the great instrument

with which the Holy Ghost works, and by which He effects all spiritual results in the hearts and lives of men. He is the Spirit of the Truth,' and it is by the Truth as it is in Jesus that He convicts and converts, saves and sanctifies, comforts and upbuilds, the believer in Jesus. And it is by the Truth, also, that He Christianizes homes and churches, institutions and nations, and seeks to deliver the whole human race out of the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. However good the Prayer-book may be, it is infinitely inferior to the Bible, and if only the latter were more fully and generally known, the former would not be so highly esteemed and trusted as it is, neither would the people be so easily led astray by the teachings and doings of the so-called Priesthood. The Archbishop says: "I pray that we shall be very slow to press our own opinions, however earnestly we hold them, in such a way as to lower that book (the Prayer-book) in the eyes of our people or of our own eyes." No rightminded person would wish unnecessarily "to lower that book in the eyes of our people," but if, by pointing out its mistakes and shortcomings,

we can exalt the Word of God to its rightful place, and impel Christians to go to the fountainhead of all spiritual truth and life, no better blessing, we believe, can be conferred on the English Church and nation of to-day. We earnestly hope that this little book may be Divinely blessed to effect, in some measure, these great and most desirable ends.

CHAPTER II.

CONCERNING THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.

1. WHAT are we taught by the New Testament regarding this? 'He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ' (Eph. iv. II, 12). 'Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi with the bishops and deacons' (Phil. i. 1). This is a true saying: If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. For they that have used the office of a deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus' (1 Tim. iii. 1, 10, 13). The apostles

and elders and brethren, send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia' (Acts xv. 23). 'Ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee' (Titus i. 5). 'The elders which are among you I exhort' (1 Pet. v. 1). Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus' (Heb. iii. 1). 'Ye also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house; an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ' (1 Pet. ii. 5).

2. What are the teachings of the Prayer-book concerning the Ministry ?

"When the day appointed by the Bishop is come, after Morning Prayer is ended, there shall be a Sermon or Exhortation, declaring the Duty and Office of such as come to be admitted Priests; how necessary that Order is in the Church of Christ, and also how the people ought to esteem them in their Office."

"When this Prayer is done, the Bishop with the Priests present shall lay their hands severally upon the head of every one that receiveth the Order of Priesthood, the receivers humbly kneeling upon their knees, and the Bishop saying:

"Receive the Holy Ghost for the Office and Work of a Priest in the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the imposition of our hands. Whose sins thou dost forgive,