NO VIMU .PREFACE. some system already established and which realizes most nearly the idea of a Comprehensive Church, and, if it be not in every respect perfect, to improve it, if it will allow improvement, into perfection. It may be there is such a system among us-a system whose structure is capable of any modification, and in whose organization are instrumentalities by which it may be shaped into any form, which the majority of the Christians in our country may desire. We believe there is such a system among us. The writer, although a member and minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, feels a sincere affection for all his Christian brethren of every name, who, being partakers of the "one baptism," are fellow-members with him of "the Holy Catholic Church," and who, by their faith and love, have entered into "the communion of saints;" and the prayer of his heart is: "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." Yet he believes that, in our day, there is a very manifest and sad departure from Scriptural unity, and that it is the duty of those who "love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity" to return, if possible, to a consistency with the Scriptural precepts. We all realize the dissensions of Christ's Church, and suffer from them. If we can, let us remedy them. After an examination of the ecclesiastical systems of various denominations, and a careful investigation of the theory of his own Church, with a particular reference to the practicability of Christian and ecclesiastical unity, the writer ventures to suggest the remedy alluded to. He does so with a confidence in the sympathies of his Christian brethren; for they will approve his design. There ought to be more confidence between the members of the Lord's family, more of mutual and unreserved inquiry on the mode of effecting unity. The large deliberative bodies, which represent the intellectual and moral strength of the different denominations, ought to confer, and to correspond with each other on this subject, which respects certainly one of the most important present duties of the Church. The writer would be glad to see the highest Conventions of his own Church exhibiting first this example of Christian confidence, and even addressing memorials on the subject to the members and the representative assemblies of other denominations. For it is true that the Divine idea of the real liberality and largeness of the Church of Christ, as to its terms of communion, and of the allowable diversities of opinions and practices within its one fold, is very indistinctly realized by the disciples of the Lord to-day. It has been the lot of the writer to mingle much with intelligent Christians of different and opposing and from his intercourse with them, as well as with the members of his own Church, he believes there ; is a prevailing misconception of the principles of unity, and that, if the premises herein advanced shall be generally understood, there will be a great progress toward a United Church. The common conception is too contracted. If he is not very much mistaken, the principles herein exhibited are familiar to comparatively few, and will to most minds suggest a train of reflections altogether unusual. It had been well if the writer could have backed his reasonings by the influence of some personal authority or reputation. But, if he lacks that advantage, his reasonings will have a fairer opportunity to test their force. He comes as a Christian man to communicate to his brethren something for their mutual benefit, something which, he hopes, they will cordially and frankly receive. He commends this outline of thought to the patient and matured examination of the Christian public, and he will be glad if some abler hand shall fill it up more elaborately. He can say, with good Bishop Burnet, in the preface to his "Exposition of the Thirty-nine Articles," although he applies to himself with diffidence the language of so distinguished a man: "I had no other design in this work, but first to find out the truth myself, and then to help others to find it out. If I succeed to any degree in this design, I will bless God for it; and if I fail in it, I will bear it with the humility and patience that becomes me. But as soon as I see a better work of this kind, I shall be among the first of those who shall recommend that, and disparage this." A few words are due to his Episcopal brethren particularly. Ever since he has been in the discharge of his calling, both as a missionary and as a parochial minister, he has felt almost daily the need of some such book as this, both for the instruction of his own people and for information which others need to have. He has been sometimes greatly surprised at the extreme misapprehensions prevalent with regard to the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, when the means of better knowledge have so long been spread before the public. His familiarity with these misapprehensions has blunted the sense of surprise, while it has nourished a sense of continual regret and sadness. He has hoped to find his want supplied, and has finally undertaken the task for himself, since the need is great, and it is hard to wait patiently for an uncertainty. There is a class, and a numerous one-that of theological students, or candidates for orders-who might, as the writer's former observation and personal experience has demonstrated, be much benefited by some such work as this. It is required, indeed, by a general canon, that "the last examination" of every candidate, prior to his ordination as deacon, must be "on Church history, Ecclesiastical polity, the Book of Common Prayer, its history and contents, and the Constitution and Canons of this Church and those of the Diocese to which the candidate belongs." Now, on Church history, Ecclesiastical polity, and the Book of Common Prayer, especially the two former, the student may be very well informed, and his examination satisfactory. But on the Constitution and Canons of the Church his information is ordinarily slight, and his examination (if attended to) unsatisfactory, for this good reason, that he cannot study them except at disadvantage, because they are nowhere so arranged that he can associate them with the system of principles which they illustrate. Hence it is true that most of our candidates for orders, even at their first ordinations, although they may be excellent scholars in the Scriptural, and what we may call the historical doctrines of their Church, do not have clear and accurate and defensible views of their Church as it is as a practical and working system in the present day and in our own country. A treatise like this volume, and especially its sixth chapter, might be a useful manual to the class of students referred to, and a convenient aid to those who have the charge of their education in the department of ecclesiastical studies. Besides, there are many persons who would like information as to the Protestant Episcopal Church, touching the several points and peculiarities of its whole system. There are many inquirers as to these topics; and such a manual as this may prove a valuable help to lay |