PAGE

Bible without note or comment in public worship becoming more

common in other denominations-also the responsive reading of

the Scriptures and responsive worship better understood-the Lit-

urgies of the Protestant Episcopal Church under the control of the

Church-may be changed by a majority (in the General Conven-

tion) to any extent, even to abrogation-subject of changes some-

times discussed—when necessary or generally desired will be ac-

complished-those who love uniformity or order of some sort in

public worship may be united in the Protestant Episcopal Church, 162

SEC. XIII.-Rights of the Laity. Arrangement under a single view of

previous observations-the Laity an order in the Protestant Epis-

copal Church-their rights in parishes-rights in Diocesan Con-

ventions-rights in the standing committees-rights in the Gen-

eral Convention-rights of Church membership-rights in ecclesi-

astical trials of discipline—rights of full and perpetual self-protec-

tion-their peculiarity as a constituent order in the Church insisted

upon the Protestant Episcopal Church worthy of the approbation

of all Christians,

SEC. XIV.-Baptism. The meaning of Baptism-explained in the

Twenty-seventh Article-the Baptismal Service to be interpreted

by this Article-doctrine compared with the standards of the

Methodist, the Presbyterian, and the Congregational Churches-

the mode of Baptism-dipping or affusion-adults and infants-re-

quisites for Baptism-witnesses for adults-sponsors for children—

duties of witnesses and sponsors-Baptism followed by confirma-

tion-will be shown to meet the views of all Christians-Baptism

the Sacrament of the Confession of Christ-this the view of the

Protestant Episcopal Church-a Scriptural view-two conditions

of salvation, Faith and Baptism-St. Mark-a spiritual condition

and an apparently ceremonial one-confession of Christ in Bap-

tism-St. Luke-St. Matthew-St. Paul in Romans-history of the

Acts-confession of the Eunuch-St. Paul in 1 Corinthians-1

Peter-Baptismal Confession a part of Baptisin-history of the

Church-Infant Baptism reconcilable with the Baptismal Con-

fession,

SEO. XV.-Confirmation, the Sequel or Complement of Infant Baptism.

Confirmation follows Baptism-reasons for this rule-the rite of

admission to the Lord's Supper-no new obligation assumed in it

-the reassumption of the baptismal obligation-analogous, in

part, to the "owning of the Christian Covenant" in other denom-

169

174

inations-some grounds on which Confirmation is defended-spe-

cial consideration of the relation of Confirmation to Infant Baptism

-Baptism implies voluntary confession of Christ after faith-In-

fant Baptism imperfect without some rite attached to it, as a se-

quel, for adult confession-Confirmation this rite-supported by

legal analogies-this the view of the Protestant Episcopal Church

-proved-importance of Confirmation-a part of a comprehensive

system-the Protestant Episcopal Church differing from all other

Protestant communions in this matter, and reconciling them-the

foregoing principles applied to the system of Pedobaptist Churches

-which are faulty-may be reformed by the system of the Prot-

estant Episcopal Church-applied to the views of Baptists

-Confirmation shown to be de facto adult baptism-may be

by immersion-Baptists may consistently with their principles

unite with the Protestant Episcopal Church-and even present

their children to the Lord in the ordinance of Infant Baptism in

the Protestant Episcopal Church-objection answered-our view in

perfect accordance with the Congregational system of Baptists-

Confirmation, being de facto adult baptism, is in harmony with a

de facto ministry and de facto sacraments, such as Baptists ac-

knowledge and maintain-the Protestant Episcopal Church well

qualified to unite both Pedobaptist and Baptist communions, and

thus to restore the unity of the Church of Christ,

SEC. XVI.-The Supper of the Lord. The meaning of the Lord's

Supper in the Protestant Episcopal Church-proved from stand-

ards-Qualifications for the Lord's Supper-whatsoever may be

included in a worthy discipleship of Christ-proved from standards

-the views of the Protestant Episcopal Church commend them-

selves to all Christian people,

SEC. XVII.-Literary, Educational, Benevolent, and Missionary Asso-

ciations. Literary institutions-enumeration of some-for males

and females-two General Education Societies-Diocesan Educa-

tion Societies-subject of Christian education under the considera-

tion of the General Convention-General Sunday-School Union-

Diocesan and Local Sunday-School Societies-General Theological

Seminary-Diocesan Theological Seminaries- various Diocesan

Bible and Tract and Common Prayer Book Societies-American

Bible and Tract Societies-various Diocesan Benevolent Societies

-various Diocesan Missionary Societies-City Mission Societies—

the General Missionary Society-notice of its constitution-great

evangelical principles asserted in it—its operations-money col-

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202

lected and expended by it-its principles such as to win the assent

of all Christians,

SEC. XVIII.-Liberty.

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212

Replies to several inquiries-liberty in the

Protestant Episcopal Church-to join voluntary and benevolent

societies-to form associations for religious improvement-to offer

extemporaneous prayers-to engage in social meetings for religious

purposes-to make special efforts for the good of souls-statement

of a grand principle of liberty in the Protestant Episcopal Church

-this Church therefore dear to all friends of religious liberty, . 219

SEO. XIX.-Adaptiveness. The Protestant Episcopal Church adaptive

to all circumstances of society, and all the temperaments and hab-

itudes of men-thus proved a true Church-accordant with the

design of the Church-importance of adaptiveness-folly of estab-

lishing a Church on different principles-necessity of adaptiveness

illustrated the opposite of adaptiveness a fundamental error in

sectarism-lessons from the history of the past-the Church may

not forbid anything, and may use everything, but sin-objec-

tions answered-no evils resulting from adaptiveness in the Prot-

estant Episcopal Church-such evils cannot exist in it-illustrated

-the writer's advice to his Christian brethren-a word to Episco-

palians-the Protestant Episcopal Church founded on the most ex-

pansive principles,

SEO. XX.-Religious Devotion and Action. Two tests of a Church.

Religious Devotion- Formularies of the Protestant Episcopal

Church-high spirituality-order of services-holy men of the

Church-distinction between the system of the Protestant Episco-

pal Church and other systems for the production of devotion. Re-

ligious Action-variety and arrangement of evangelical subjects-

in connection with liberty-and with adaptiveness-the Protestant

Episcopal Church the revival Church of the United States-work-

ing of the system-such a Church should be dear to all true Chris-

tians, .

SEO. XXI. Comprehensive Traits. If the Protestant Episcopal Church

be the Comprehensive Church, it becomes the privilege if not the

duty of all Christians to unite themselves with it-extent of this

duty-a recapitulation of the various comprehensive traits eluci-

dated in the preceding sections-the Protestant Episcopal Church

proved to be the Comprehensive Church-the only Church founded

successfully and completely upon the maxim of the primitive and

Apostolical Church-there are few even of its own members who

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230

understand its comprehensiveness—this Church not originated by human wisdom or accident-it is a system provided by the gracious providence of the Lord, for the Christian and ecclesiastical unity of all His disciples, .

CHAPTER X.

Conclusion-mode in which our subject has been treated-the Protestant Episcopal Church comprehensive-none other like it-another aspect of this Church—enumeration of certain principles preliminary to the exhibition of it-the Protestant Episcopal Church a platform on which Christians may meet and perfect a plan of unity -this proved-the means of unity are provided if Christians will use them-the Protestant Episcopal Church capable of infinite modification-invites all Christians to unite in it and modify it as they please-objection answered-the system of the Protestant Episcopal Church further opened-a beautiful and grand schemesin of negligence on this subject—a call to unity-deprecation of false unity-advantages of true unity-call upon the laity-call upon the clergy-our plan submitted to the candid judgment and honest decision of the Christian public,

APPENDIX,

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243

249

259-292

"O ALMIGHTY GOD, WHO HAST BUILT THY CHURCH UPON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF BEING THE HEAD CORNER-STONE; GRANT US SO TO BE JOINED TOGETHER IN UNITY OF SPIRIT BY THEIR DOCTRINE, THAT WE MAY BE MADE AN HOLY TEMPLE ACCEPTABLE UNTO THEE; THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

AMEN."

Collect for St. Simon and St. Jude's Day.