tention. Suffer me to remind you that a perfect acquaintance with the principles and doctrines contained in the Catechism is required of all our members before they can be brought to the Bishop for Confirmation; and I feel satisfied that none of the religious and well-disposed portion of this congregation will think me justified in recommending even one single person to attend this holy Ordinance, who is not able to give a satisfactory, and intelligible account of his Faith. And

I

may inform those young persons who will diligently and patiently attend to this subject, that they will soon find that an intimate acquaintance with the great doctrines and principles of the Catechism will give them a much better understanding of the subject of Religion generally, make them take a greater interest in Religion and in religious employments, and, as I should trust, make them, in many other respects, better, wiser, and happier.

3. We are constantly hearing of the immense number of enemies that the Church has in the present day. We must not wonder at this altogether, fort he Church of God will always have its enemies, so long as there are wicked men in the world. Such persons however may as well attempt to overthrow, or demolish, the Church, as a mite to overthrow a mountain, or a feeble

man to oppose his God. The Church is built on a rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" Lo!" said its Divine Founder," I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." These are words, my brethren, which ought to assure us that the Church is protected by a far better guardian than its enemies ever dream of.

Still, it is certainly true that many well-disposed and excellent people are more inclined to spy out faults in the Church now, than they used to be; and I will take it upon myself to say, for I have been able to observe it from personal experience, that nine-tenths of these charges against the Church proceed from entire ignorance of what the Church is. Many likewise have seceded from the Church, because they have believed, or fancied that they believed, that it is unsound, or unscriptural, in its principles.

My beloved brethren, the Church is quite safe, for it is protected from above. Do you try to learn what the Church is, and what are its doctrines; and then you will not be tempted to join in the cry against it, because some person, who perhaps knows little about the matter, tells you that it is "a corrupt Church;" nor will you be disposed to listen to any one who would draw you away from it by instilling into your ear that

it does not " preach the Gospel"- -or because it does not preach "faithfully"*. -or because it denounces all those who, "deny the Lord who bought them."

Catechizing,-diligent, patient, persevering, instruction in the Catechism-is the way for you to learn what the principles, and doctrines, and practices, of the Church are. Do, I beseech all of you, pay the strictest attention to this subject —and all of you, whether old or young, but particularly you who are as yet young, and therefore ignorant in those things which at some future period you will be ready to give all you have to know, come constantly here at the seasons appointed for Catechizing, and endeavour to gain some portion of that Christian knowledge, which, by God's blessing, will finally spring up within you unto everlasting life. †

* "Preaching the Gospel," and " 'preaching faithfully," but too often mean preaching false doctrine.

I may very properly in this place recommend to families a most admirable little work on the Catechism, entitled "The Church Catechism illustrated," by Joshua Dixon. Published by Seeley and Burnside, Fleetstreet, London.

LECTURE XIV.

CONFIRMATION.

Hebrews vi. 3.

THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS, AND OF LAYING ON OF HANDS,

HAVING already considered the subject of Baptism, and the various reasons for which Infant Baptism is continued in the Church, together with the various promises and engagements which Godfathers and Godmothers solemnly and publicly enter into for those who are baptized; and having shewn you, my brethren, how admirable a scheme of Christian instruction is provided for our young members in what is commonly called the Catechism, I shall proceed to offer a few remarks on the nature, and intention, of the next office contained in the Prayer Book, viz. Confirmation. It may remind you how careful the Church has been in providing for the spiritual

instruction, and the spiritual edification, of its members. It first brings them to Christ in Baptism; then teaches them what they are to believe and to do as Christians; and then directs them, when arrived at an age to understand what they are about, to profess publicly before God and His assembled Church, that they are willing to take upon themselves the promises made at their Baptism and to continue Christ's faithful soldiers and servants for evermore. This, together with the Bishop's blessing pronounced over them, and the united prayers of themselves and the assembled congregation, we hope will confirm and strengthen them in their Christian course-for which reason principally it is called Confirmation.

Supposing that this holy, and ancient, rite ist not ordained in scripture, yet there can be no objection to it, if it be not plainly forbidden by the Scriptures, or decidedly opposed to them. St. Paul's direction is, "let all things be done decently, and in order ;" and "let all things be done unto edifying"-leaving it to Christians generally to arrange many things for decency, for order, and for edification, which are not plainly prescribed in the Scriptures; always bearing in mind, as I said, that nothing is to be ordained which is forbidden in the Scriptures, or which is plainly opposed to them.