JJ©TOlTAICi
OF THE
PROCEEDINGS OF THE
NINTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
OF THE
PROTESTANT EP^SCOPAiE,
IN THE DIOCESE OF GEORGIA,
TOGETHER WITH
wmm
Preached at the opening of the sam8, in Christ's Church,
St. Simon's Island, on Sunday Morning,
April 17th, 1831.
BY THE REV. HUGH SMITH,
RECTOR OF ST. rAUl/s CHURCH,
AUGUSTA.
PPBL1SHED AT THE REQUEST OF THE CONVENTION.
AUGUSTA:
PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE GEORGIA COURIER.
1831.
CHRIST CHURCH, ST. SIMON'S ISLAND,)
Monday, April 18th, 1831. 5
This being the day appointed for holding the
Ninth Annual Convention of the Protestant Episcopal]
Church for the Diocese of Georgia, and this Church
being assigned as th e place of meeting, several of the
Clergy and several Lay Delegate accordingly at
tended, at 11 O'clock, A. M.
Divine service was conducted by l5ie Rev. T. B,
Bartow, minister of Christ's Church, St. Simon's,
and a discourse delivered by the Rev. Edward Neuf-
ville, of Christ's Church, Savannah: The Convention
Sermon having been preached yesterday, according
to appointment, by the Rev. Hugh Smith, of St.
Paul's Church, Augusta.
The Rev. Hugh Smith was called to the Chair,
pro tern, and Win. T. Williams, Esq. acted as Sec¬
retary pro tem.
The Certificates of Lay Delegation were then pre¬
sented, read, and examined ; when it appeared that.
Dr. James Bond Read, Wm. T. Williams, and Jo-
seph S. Pclot, Esq'rs, from Christ Church, Savan¬
nah, and Win. W. Hazzard, Esq. Thomas B. King,
Esq. and Dr. Thos. F. Hazzard, from Christ Church,
St. Simon's, were duly appointed Delegates to the
present Convention. All these gentlemen, with the
exception of Dr. Read, appeared, and took their
seats.
The Lay delegation appointed to represent St.
Paul's Church, Augusta, having failed to attend, their
certificate was not presented.
4
No delegate appeared from Christ Church, Macon.
On MMon, a Ballot for President, Secretary, and
Treasurer, of the Convention took place, when the
Rev. Edward Neufville was chosen President, Jo¬
seph S- Pelot, Esq. Secretary, and Dr. James Bond
Kead, Treasurer.
On Motion, Resolved, That the same Rules of
Order, observed at the previous Conventions, shall
be observed as the Rides of Order on the present oc¬
casion.
The following Parochial Reports were then pre¬
sented, read and ordered on file :
CHRIST CHURCH, S AV ANN AH.
REV. EDWARD NEUFVILLE, RECTOR.
The Rector is happy in being able to state that
this Church continues to increase and flourish. Its
financial concerns are in a much better condition
than they have been for many years past. A liberal
bequest, made by the late Miss Wilkins, has enabled
the Wardens and Vestry to liquidate the remaining
deb^ and to improve the appearance of the building
as well as add to the number of pews, by altering
the arrangement of the Pulpit and Heading-Desk.
Much praise is also due to the few Ladies com¬
posing the Beneficent Society, for their active and
persevering industry, in raising an amount sufficient
for the purchase of a new and very handsome Organ,
which they have recently presented to the Church:
thus adding materially to the beauty and solemnity
of our worship, in that essential part of it—sacred
music.
There have been since the last report—
2I} "•?*■». 28 ofJtf
Marriages, 8 Removed, a
Funerals, 18 Died, 1
Confirmed, 33 Withdrawn, 1
The Sunday School continues about the same.
5
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, AUGUSTA*
REV. HUGH SMITH, RECTOR.
Marriages, - - 10
Adult, 1 ) D , . _
children, 4 iBab"sn,s' " 5
Funerals, - 5
Persons confirmed - - 15
Communicacl^X^ 10
Present Number, - 80
The Rector is not a little encouraged in his labors,
by the augmented numbers, and the spiritual im¬
provement of the people of his charge. He has no¬
ticed, with much satisfaction, an increased attention
to the great concerns of Religion, and a new degree
of that zeal, w hich is the very life of the spiritual bo¬
dy. An adult Bible Clas.*, re-organized during the
winter, has been, and still continues to be, productive
of very happy results.
The Sunday School attached to the bongregation,
has been resumed ufrder a pledge from the Teachers,
that, with the blessirtg of God, it should be efficient¬
ly conducted : a pledge, thus far, nobly redeemed.
Under the superintendance of John F. Lloyd, Esq.
assisted by Mrs. Edward F. Campbell, in the Female
Department, it bids fair for great and increasing use¬
fulness. There are now on its roll, a President,
Superintendant, and Assistant Superintendant, ten
female and eight male Teachers, and seventy-three
scholars. The average number of Attendants is
from sixty to sixty-five. The teachers are punctual
in their attendance, and devoted to their duties : the
scholars assiduous in their studies, and orderly in
their deportment. The Room, now occupied, being
too small for the comfortable accommodation of tkc
School, it is contemplated, immediately to erect a
building for the purpose, of Brick, 50 feet by 30—a
subscription for which, has already been commenced.
On the whole, the Rector is cheered in spirit, and
encouraged to hope for the continued blessing; of Him,
who hath " helped hitherto," and to whom alone it
belongs to " give the increase."
6
CHRIST CHURCH, ST. SOION'S ISkAffB.
T. B. BARTOW, MINISTER.
Neither Baptism, Funeral, nor Marriage, 1ms oc¬
curred during the brief charge of the present Minister.
Number of Communicants, . • 8.
A Bible Class lias been recently established for
the younger part of the congregation. It is a sub¬
ject of regret, that the Sunday School is necessarily
small, in consequence of the distant residence of the
Parishioners. A Sunday evening Lecture is like*
>vise preached to the Blacks.
The Parish now presents the desirable anomaly
of an undivided attachment to the Church, through
all its families, and Hope has nothing left but to
await the day, when her doctrines shall be as gene¬
rally felt in power as in word, and the primitive spir¬
it of the Church be loved as well, as the venerable
beauty of her Liturgy.
From Christ Church, Macon, no formal report was
received; it was, however, stated to the meeting,
that a lot had been purchased, and funds collected
ibr the erection of a Church, and that the congrega¬
tion were anxious to obtain a minister, to whom they
were able and willing to give a comfortable support.
A correspondence having been opened for the pur¬
pose, it was confidently hoped that they would not
jong remain destitute.
The Rev. Mr. Smith, as President of the standing
Committee, made the following Report:—
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Geor¬
gia, beg leave to report to the Convention,
That since the meeting of the last Convention, the
Rev. Theodore B. Bartow, then a candidate for or¬
ders in this Diocese, has been admitted to Deacon's
7
orders, by the Right Rev. Bishop Bower., of South
Carolina, and is now officiating with much accep
tance, and a fair prospect of usefulness, in Christ
Church parish, St. Simon's Island, vacant by the re¬
moval of the Rev. T. S. W. Mott, to the Diocese of
South Carolina. They regret to state, that there
is no other candidate for orders now in the Diocese.*
During the past year, official communications
have been received from the Dioceses of Maryland
and New York, accompanied by the proper testiino
nials, announcing the election of the Rev. Wm. M.
Stone to the Episcopate of the former, and of the
R ev. Benj. T. Onderdonk, D. D. to that of the lat¬
ter. The concurrence of the Standing Committee
in their desired consecration, was given and for-
warded.
(Signed,) HUGH SMITH, Pres t.
Ewd. F. Campbell, Sec'y.
The following preamble and Resolution was of¬
fered by the Rev. Mr. Smith, and unanimously adop¬
ted
Whereas, " it has pleased Almighty God, in his
wise (but to us, inscrutable) Providence," to remove
from a wide sphere of devoted labor, and of eminent
usefulness, the Right Rev. Jno. Henry Hobart, D. D.
late Bishop of the P. E. Church, in the Diocese
*—It is the conviction of the Standing Com¬
mittee that an efficient and permanent supply for
the wa.nts of the Church in this State, can only be
expected from the dedication to the work of the
ministry, of some of its own Youth. To youns,
men of piety and talent, who might be disposed to
prepare themselves for that work, every necessary
encouragement and assistance in the prosecution of
their studies, would be afforded by application to the
President of the Committee, Rev. Hugh Smith, Au¬
gusta, or the Rev. Edward Neufville, vSavannah,
8
01 New \ork, very shortly after the lamented remo-
vai by death of the Slight Rev. John Stark Ravens-
croft, late the energetic and able Diocesan of North
Carolina: and, whereas, the death of these distin¬
guished Prelates is a severe loss and a deep affliction
to the whole Church, throughout the U. States
Therefore, be it Resolved, That this Convention,
under the influence of deep feeling, would record its
high sense of the rare ability, and invaluable services
of these departed servants of Christ—its lively sym¬
pathy with the Churches, over which they so ably
presided,—and its cherished hope and fervent pray¬
er, that the wisdom and unanimity displayed by one
of these bereaved Dioceses, in its choiee of a succes¬
sor, may attend upon the counsels of the other also,
in the difficult and delicate task of filling its still
vacant Episcopate.
On Motion, Resolved that the thanks of the Con¬
vention be presented to the Rev. Hugh Smith, for
his impressive and highly interesting Sermon deliver¬
ed yesterday, & that he be requested to furnish a copy
for publication, to be affixed to the Journal of the
Proceedings of this Convention.
On Motion, The Rev. T. R. Bartow, and W. W.
Hazzard, were appointed a Committee to communi¬
cate to the Rev. Mr. Smith, the purport of the above
Resolution, who reported that Mr. Smith had acqui¬
esced in the wishes of the .Convention.
The following Report from Dr. James B. Read,
Treasurer, was read and accepted, viz :
The Treasurer begs leave to state, that circumstan¬
ces have prevented his preparing a Report of the
state of the Funds of the Diocese, to be laid before
the Convention. He refers to his last report, which
stated a balance in his hands of Twenty-one Dollars:
since which, he has received from St. Paul's Church
Fifteen Dollars, and from Christ Church, Savannah,
Fifteen Dollars, making in the whole, Fifty-one
9
Dollars : and having expended for pointing the lftst
Journal, Twenty Dollars, there yet remains in the
Treasurer's hanas, Thirtv-one Dollars, subject to the
calls of the Diocese. As Treasurer of the Society
for the promotion of Christianity in Georgia, lie
states, that not having received or paid away any
money for the Society, he begs the former report
may be accepted, and that the balance then stated,
of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars, may be taken as
the sum in hand.
On Motion, Resolved, That this Convention,
feeling a deep interest in the honor of the Church, and
in the safety of its members, do recommend to the
respective communicants of the Churches i» the Dio¬
cese, to observe that sobriety arid serioushfess.of de¬
portment, which should ever distinguish ttob follow¬
ers of Christ, from " the lovers of pleasure, riiore. tliari
the lovers of God." Arid they would respectfully call
the attention of the riieiribers of the Church in this Dio¬
cese, to the following expression of opinion, entered
upon the Journal of the House of Bishops, iri the
General Corivention, A. D. 1817, arid subsequently
read in the House of Clerical arid Lay Deputies, at
the same Convention, viz :
" The House of Bishops, solicitous for the preser¬
vation of the purity of the Church, and the piety of
its members, are induced to impress upon the Clergy
the important duty, with a discreet but earnest zeal,
of warning the people of their respective cures,
of the danger of an indulgence in those worldly
pleasures, which may tend to withdraw the affec¬
tions from spiritual things. And especially on the
subject of Gaming—of amusements involving cruel¬
ty to the Brute creation, and of Theatrical represen¬
tations, to which some peculiar circumstances have
called their attention—they do not hesitate to ex¬
press their unanimous opinion, that these amuse
ments, as well from their licentious tendency, as from
B
10
the strong temptations to vice which they afford,
ought not to be frequented."
The Convention then proceeded to the election of
a Standing Committee, for the ensuing year, when
the Uev. Hugh Smith, Rev. Edward Neufville, Rev.
T B. Bartow, Dr. James B. Read, Dr. T. I. Wray,
and Edward F. Campbell, Esq., were chosen.
The following Gentlemen were elected Delegates
to the General Convention, Rev. Hugh Smith, Rev.
Edward Neufville, of the Clergy; Dr. George B.
Jones, Dr. James B. Kead, E. F. Campbell, and
Thomas B. Ring, Esq'rs. of the Laity.
On Motion, Resolved, That two hundred Copies
of the Journal of the proceedings of this Convention
together with the Sermon of the Rev. Mr. Smith be
printed, and that the Rev. Mr. Smith, and Mr. G.
McLaughlin be, and they are hereby appointed t6
carry this resolution into effect.
On Motion, Resolved, That the Lay Delegates
to the General Convention be requested to pay the
special assessment for each Clergyman in this Dio-
ces> as noticed in the Journal of the last General
Convention, page 73.
On Motion, Resolved, That the next annual
Convention be held in Christ Church, Macon, on the
Second Monday aftt r Easter Monday, in the year
1832, and that the Rev. T. B. Bartow, be and he is
hereby appointed to Preach the Annual Conven¬
tion Sermon, at the time and place above stated.
On Motion, after prayer by the President, the
Conventi n adjourned.
(Sioned) EWD. NEUFVILLE, Pres't
Jos. S. Pelot, Sec'y.
11
The G\or^ and Good Report of the Church.
A SffilBHKDEfo
BY THE REV. HUGH SMITH.
From 87th Psalm, 3d Sf 5th Verses.
" Glorious things are spokeu of ihee, 0 City of God ! Selah."
" And of Zion it shall be said, This and that mau was bora in her ;
and the Highest himself shall establish her."
This is bold and striking language. Ascribing
life and intelligence to the earthly Zion, the Psalm¬
ist, in a beautiful apostrophe, reminds her of her fair
fame among the people. It is evident that when he
penned it, his eye and his mind were intent, not on her
external grandeur, or her civic polity, but on her re¬
ligious constitution and character. He thought of
the Sanctuary and its privileges. The "City of God"
was in his mind, associated; nay, identified, with the
Church of God, and to this Church did his glowing
eulogium apply.
It would be foreign from our present obje ct, to
show at large, what " glorious things were spoken"
of this first spiritual " City of God,"—how that God
was unto her as "a wall of fire round about from her
enemies," & " known in her Palaces as a sure refuge—"
how imposing were the solemnities of her worship
—how the light of inspiration gladdened her own ta¬
bernacles, and beamed forth thence upon the sur¬
rounding darkness—how her gifted seers, rapt in
vision, looked upon and declared the luture—how her
" holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy
Ghost,"—how her varied and striking types, concur¬
red with the voice of her Prophets, in speaking of
the Messiah "to them that looked for Redemption in
Israel " Truly "glorious things were spoken of her,"
and in referencetothe past, are yet spoken—for " To
her pertained the adoption, and the glory, and the
Covenants, and the giving of the law, and the ser-
iu
vices of God> and the promises—hers also weie.the
Fathers; a?*d of her, Christ came, who is over all,
God blessed forever." l^ut " her glory hath depar¬
ted." She was and is not. Turn now to the Chris¬
tian Church, the heir of her privileges and her
glory.
To her may justly be applied the spirited language
of the Text—" Established by the Highest himself,"
" in the fulness of time," as the last and best deposi¬
tory of divine truth upon the earth, enriched with all
spiritual grace, having E vangelists, Apostles, and
'Martyrs, among her spiritual children—truly " glo¬
rious things are spoken her," as "the city of God,"—
And, Brethren, taking heed unto " the sure word of
Prophecy," we cannot but feel that her past or her
present glcfry, is as nothing, when compared with
that which shall gild her latter, her Millennial Day
upon earth, or with that which shall attend upon her
ne w state,when stie shall be translated to the Heavens.
As an important member of this great body of the
faithful, the Church from which we are descended,
has her good report among men. The eldest daugh¬
ter of the Reformation, born and nurtured amidst the
strife of conflicting opinion, in the days of "resistance
unto blood," she acquired a spiritual vigor, and a pe¬
culiar impress of character, which admirably fitted
her for the warfare against sin and corruption: and
in her, happily re-appeared those features of the
primitive Zion, " the mother of us all," which had
been lost during many intervening generations. Her
name and her deeds have found a place, in the proud¬
est annals of human history; and the world which
she has cheered with the light of doctrinal truth, with
the splendor of holy example, and to the intellectual,
moral, and spiritual amelioration of which, she has so
largely contributed, will not be unmindful of her
claims. Had we nothing else to attest (he value of
her labors, the stable and well ordered polity, and the
IS
sublinie and scriptural Liturgy, which she has trans¬
mitted to us, would cause her to be " had in everlast¬
ing remembrance."
From this Church, thus happy in her constitution,
and important in her influences, we, Brethren, have
derived our spiritual existence: And it is our hap¬
piness to think, that while we have relained all that
was peculiarly admirable, or spiritually essential in
her institutions, we have in this our favored land
been enabled to throw off some of her manifest dis¬
advantages, and especially, that one pectiliaritv, so
unfavorable to her spiritual character, and so much
regretted by some of her ablest Prelates, the connex¬
ion between Church and State; a connexion so entire¬
ly repugnant to the genius and spirit of our civil Insti¬
tutions, as to occasion manifest alarm, and excite to
watchful jealousy, even when contemplated as a
bare and very remote possibility—a connexion which,
from its trammelling and debasing influence upon the
Church itself, would be deprecated by all who de¬
sire her prosperity. Saved, the, from this snare,
and yet enjoying all the positive excellencies of that
Church, surely, Brethren, to our Zion ought to be
applicable the glowing language of the Psalmist in
our Text.
But I would cease from her eulogy, however mer¬
ited. The occasion rather demands appropriate
counsel. Bear with me, then. Brethren, while I at¬
tempt to show, under what circumstances, "glorious
things shall be spoken of the City (or Church) of God."
I. When, according to the external structure, it
is "built upon the foundation of Apostles and Pro¬
phets, Jesus Christ himself, being the Chief Corner
Stone."
If it be not thus constructed, it is evidently a hu¬
man, not a divine Institution. Many and very excel
lent things may be spoken of it, in reference to the
wisdom, the prudence, the piety, the zeal of its earth
14
!y founders, governors or members; the nature of its
regulations—the spirit of piety, which is kept alive in
jts bosom. Its influence may, in the main,be salutary;
tending to strengthen the bonds of s >eial order and
to promote the extensive diffusion of a religious spir¬
it. It may be recorded of it, that " this man, and
that were born there ;M and since, through its means,
" Christ is preached," we " therein may rejoice and
do rejoice." But, our admiration of its acknowledged
excellence, in some particulars, will be mingled with
regret, that, although its system may, perhaps, be
based on doctrinal truth, it is not based upon the au¬
thority of those whom God hath placed at the foun¬
dation of the Christian Church. It devolves not on
us to decide upon the consequences of its unwar¬
ranted foundation, or irregular construction. Be
that left to the serious consideration of those whom
it most concerns; and to the liberal allowances of
Him "who seeth the heart," and is ever merciful
to unintended error. But, as to ourselves, it is a
source of lively and grateful satisfaction, that while,
in all,wherein it was left to the mind of man to choose,
and to the hand of man to act, there has been no want
of discreet and efficient action, we have still made
no unauthorized innovations upon the plan of its Di¬
vine Founder—that our Zion is indeed a part of " the
city of God, the city of the great Ring," whose founda¬
tion is "the Rock of Ages," "whose Builder & Maker
is God," whose "walls are salvation, and whose gates
are praise." Consistently with the views which we
entertain in regard to the Constitution of the Church,
and the source of ministerial authority, we lay mark?
ed stress on the fact, that we have retained, not only
the Apostles' 'doctrine? but also their ' fellowship?
and the maintenance of this 'fellowship? by regularly
derived succession, we hold to b. essential to the in¬
tegrity and full glory of the Church. The declara¬
tion of this our honest and assured belief cannot sure-
15
iy be regarded as an infringement upon the christian
liberty of others ; nor as an indication of sectarian bi¬
gotry. The proscription of this our opinion in itself
is bigotry ; and they who assert that we are viola¬
ting christian charity by merely declaring what we
deem essential to primitive order, and an Apostolic
Ministry, by that very charge trench upon our right
of private and social judgment.
II. In order that "glorious things may be spoken of
the Church" she must maintain Integrity of Doc¬
trine.
Faith and practice, nay faith and salvation, are
too nearly connected, to have it a matter of minor im¬
portance what is believed and taught by the Church,
By every defection from evangelic truth, however
slight, she is partially shorn of her glory. Every er¬
ror, is unto her as a " spot, or a blemish," and happy
is that Church which has fewest of them ; and altho"
thro' the infirmity of human judgment, they may not
be wholly prevented, yet like spots upon the sun, 1 hey
should be rarely seen, and almost lost in resplen¬
dent brightness. A general and very close confor¬
mity to the scriptural standard, should be her stead¬
fast aim, and will prove her distinguished glory.—
In this age of bold and reckless departure from the
fundamental Doctrines of the Gospel, on the one
hand, & of culpable and dangerous indifference to its
minor peculiarities on the other, indulged and cher¬
ished under the specious but misapplied name of
Liberality, the only safe motto for us as individuals,,
or for the Church as a Body, is the uncompromising
sentiment, The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth. Depart from this, and you have no longer
a sure and an unvarying principle. The degree oi
admissible concession becomes an unsettled and de-
bateable p« ant, to be left to the discretion or indiscre¬
tion of different judgments; and it is easy to imagine
how often, from the pliant and facile disposition of
16
some, from a thirst for the praise of ftberality in^
th^rs, frcmi ignorance of the consequences involved;
or from the surrender of a better judgment to thfe
force of persuasion, this cbticession Will exceed the
limits of pnid< nee and safety, and amount t6 the
surrender of that which is vitally impbttant.--^
I car; well conceive, that the christian would feel
a deeper solicitude, and make a more determined
sta id, for the maintenance of those doctrines which
air ju-tSy termed the peculiar doctrines of the Gos¬
pel. and without which that Gospel is nothing worth ;
biiii surely there is inconsistency evinced, when a Ifae-
'y zeal for these is found in connexion with lax
vieu's, or utter indifference on subordinate points of
Christian sentiment and practice. The principle of
steady drvot dness to all known truth is then given
up; and this being relinquished, it is natural that
spiritual indifferent e should widen its sphere ; that
pretended liberality should ask and receive, new sa¬
crifices for the altar it has set up; and that not con¬
tent with " the mint and anise and cummin," of hu¬
man and ritual observances, it should demand also,
the weightier matters of the Christian Law."
So vital is the importance of doctrinal purity, and
so insi ious the nature of errof, that I cannot look
■with unconcern upon any novelties in speculation
or expression, on the great subjects of Faith and
Practice, however trifling or harmless they may
seem. They are easily misconstrued, and as easily
perverted. Some of the worst systems, that have
ever appeared in the world, had a similar origin.—
Many of the early heresies that infested the Church,
some of which are yet exerting a baneful influence,
may be traced to a careless or unusual phraseology,
or to strange modes of illustration, which were in¬
tended to attest striking originality ofthditght, and to,
secure the prasie of disting* ished genius. This
spirit of bold speculation—this seeking after novelty,
17
is too.often the entering wedge of error: and who
can. wonder if it should be driven deeper and deeper*
until the^sacred tree of Truth i& riven asunder. k*
Let the standards and symbols of our religious bev
lief be sacredly guarded* Let us be routed-to a ho^ .
ly and watchful jealousy, when pretenders to im¬
provement profess to teach old truths in a new way ;
when they would remove all mystery from confessed¬
ly mysterious subjects ; introduce philosophical nice¬
ties* .which are learnt in the School of-Men, into subr
jects which belong exclusively to the School of
Christ; and substitute new terms, for those technical
and established expressions, to which long usage has
affixed both a definite meaning, and a peculiar sa-
credness, All this either meditates heresy, or it will
end in it. And from that Church which hath fallen
from the faith, lp! "the glory hath departed."
But lII-r-Theji and then only will "glorious things?
be spoken of" the Church of God, when her doctrines?
and ministrations prove themselves the means of con¬
version to sinful men.
Of her " it must be saidy that this man and that!
was born in her:" spiritually born-—"born anew," notk
only "of water," but also of " the Holy Ghost." Then
"the Highest; himself shall establish her." :•«
Of the Church to which w« are attached,; Breith«-
rcn, this may confidently be asserted, Her doctvihg
founded on the fall and depravity of man, the atone-
mentof the Son of God, and the sanctifying agency
of the Holy Spirit, is pre-eminently a doctrine ufota
conversion; admirably calculated "to convince of^iiir'
to lead to " righteousness " and thus prepare mcrrfrn"
" a judgment to come." Most insidiously and unwar*
rantabTy has.it been declared, that she neither recog¬
nizes the necessity for a< change of heart, nor its f»e<
ality; and that the. only spiritual or new birth of which
she takes note, is the regeneration of Baptism. It
will require but a moment's examination to correct the'
C
18
misconception, or refute the slander. She does indeed
represent us as being *%jrn again," in baptism; born
out ofthr world, into the Church—>ut of an exter¬
nally uneovenant into a covenant state. And as the
sealing of every covenant transaction on tho part of
God, and the giving of the associated " inward and
spiritual grace" to every appointed "visible sign" or
ordinance, belong, of right, to the Holy Spirit, as his
peculiar work, she pronounces those baptized, " re¬
generated by the Holy Ghost." But so far from re¬
garding this as precluding the necessity for any sub¬
sequent change, she puts up the prayer, that these
baptized and regenerated ones may afterwards
" crucify the old man, and utterly abolish the whole
body of sin." In her admirable catechism, she teach¬
es that there is signified, as the inward grace, cor¬
responding to the outward sign, " a death unto sin,
fy a new birth unto righteousness," but however strong¬
ly adumbrated in the rite, could this be realized in in-
fancy1! could "the death unto sin" " precede the com¬
mission and the consciousness of actual sin 1 could
the ''new birth unto righteousness1' precede the peri¬
od of moral accountability] Mark these striking
supplications: "Grant that the old Adam in this
child may be so buried, that the new man may be rais¬
ed tip in him,—rGrant that all sinful affections may die
in Mm, and that all things belonging to the Spirit,
may live and grow in him.—Grant that he may have
power and strength to have victory, and to triumph
against the i)evil, the world, and the flesh.—Grant
that whosoever is here dedicated to thee, by our of¬
fice and ministry, may also be endued with heavenly
virtues, and everlastingly rewarded," &*c. Wcaslc,
then, span these supplications at all apply to the in-
fa d rav picnt of Baptism in his then state1! How
can sinful affections die, before they have been de¬
veloped \ before any affections are yet entertained 1
Ho# can the chi'd achieve a moral and spiritual
19
victory, a victory which the matured saint, hardly, and
but partially obtains? What Infant was ever yet
endued with heavenly virtues ?" The answer to these
questions is obvious—the inference is irresistible, that
the reference of these prayers is prospective, & there¬
fore that the great moral and spiritual change which
they point out is also prospective. Using the term
Regeneration, in its scriptural acceptation, the
Church applies it to a change of state, which does
take place in Baptism. But the change of princi*
I >le, or of heart, and the gradual renovation of the af¬
fections, she teaches us to pray for, in various and
most expressive supplications, as a thing to be sub¬
sequently realized.*
It would se«m to me impossible, Brethren, to ex¬
amine with cEtndour, her well ordered ritual, to
listen to the evangelic earnestness of her supplica¬
tions for the illuminating and sanctifying influence of
* Wholesome indeed, and scriptural, is the idoa that & race al¬
ways accompanies Christian ordinances, propeily received. In
tb. ise baptized in infancy, the grace received, may either be stifled
and lost, through subsequent sin, or if retained and cherished, its
developement at an after period, may constitute genuine conversion,
and be further displayed in progressive sanctification. But in the
case of aduit recipients of B.iptism, the change of heatt precedes or
ought to precede the ac'. The very »iih to receive the ordinance
being the result of that change—of a newly awak'dned desire to
"fulfil all righteousness"—(he public profession of faith certainly pre¬
supposing the existence and the exercise of faith, and the external sa¬
cramental dedication to God, being only the meet expression of tho
inward desire and resolve, to lead a godly and a christian life. In this
case, the reception of Baptism is the fffeit of antecedent change in
spiiit and feeling-—not the cause of such change ; and conversion
having gone before, the accompanying grace of Baptism will be dis¬
played in the daily " renewing of the Holy Ghost," the maturing of
Christian character.
The Church, then, conceiving all to be " regenerated in Bap¬
tism," because by it brought into a now state, evidently does not
confound this tegeneration with spiritual conversion. That con-
vtrsion, as in the case of adults, nray precede Baptism—or, in the
:ase of those baptised in infancy, may follow it " after many days,"
jr may no! be experienced at all.
20
the Spirit, and still suppose her indifferent to that
radical change, to which this influence naturally
leads.
Facts, however, speak for themselves and for her.
Her doctrine has proved itself, signally, a doctrine
unto conversion. Countless thousands, through the
instrumentality of her services, have been "bro't out
of darkness into the marvellous light of the Gospel;"
out of "the bondage of corruption," "into the glori¬
ous liberty of the- Sods of God." The new heart has
been proved by the new life. And surely it is Unrea¬
sonable to suppose that her members woiild so often
realize in fact, a change, which she denied evert in
theory, and Which shie taught theitt to regard as vis¬
ionary. On this point, her witness is abroad in the
earth, ahd yet, in accordance with the unobtrusive-
ness, and the characteristic mddesty of genuine piety,>
it scarcely goes beyond th<1 simple, silent, but con¬
vincing evidence of facts. She "sounds no trumpet
before her." She doeth not her charities to the soul,
" to be seen of men." With her, " boasting is exclud¬
ed." The work of God goeth on silently, but surely
in her borders, and "the humble hear thereof and
are glad;" but she has no proclamation, at "the cor¬
ners of the streets." Members are added to her com¬
munion ; but she telleth not their names, in "the
chief place of concourse." Some "weep in secret,"
by reason of their sinsother rejoice in the hope of
pardoning mercy; but the deep exerci <es of their souls
are between them and their God; or, if necessarily
|aid open to those who watch for souls, whose duty
it is to counsel and to comfort, they receive not a
publicity which might make them a snare to the soul
that had experienced them, a theme of idle remark,
or perhaps of unhallowed mockery to others. In all
this, she doeth well, loving "the praise of God," more
than "the praise of men," We would not that she
should purchase additional celebrity, by destroying
21
the moral delicacy, or fostering the vanity of lie?
members, by inducing them to substitute the sell-
complacency of a vaunting profession, for that "or¬
nament of a meek and quiet spirit, which, in. the
sight of God, is of gn at price,"—and by departing
from that chaste reserve, that marked propriety, that
holy simplicity which are the peculiar charm of her
polity. Those whom she hath gained unto Go-:, lo !
are they hot all "written in the Book" of his remem¬
brance^ and in the Day when "the Books shall be
opened," when God shall " write up the people," "ga¬
ther together his elect," shall it not be fbtmd who
" were born there?"
The Church then holds and teaches, the Dortrine
of Spiritual Conversion, and her ministrations have
a converting efficacy.
In reference to individual Pastors and Churches,
the want of present success w not always a proof of
the want of zeal and fidelity. "Good seed may be
Sown," and a blessing invoked upon it in faith, and yet
it may lie long buried and inert in (earthly hearts.—
" Many days" may elapse, ere it be quickened, and
"spring up, and bear fruit." "He that went forth
weeping, bearing good seed," may not be permitted
to " come again with joy, and bring his sheav es with
him:" Yea, ''one may sow, and another may reap.'1
Yet as a general remark, it may be asserted, that if
the Word have no spiritual influence, it has not
been spoken in its purity or power : and that the judi¬
cial sentence of spiritual barrenness rests over that
Church, of Which none are born unto the Redeemer.
Aware, then, that the Chuirh Was intended to be a
mean and a medium of converting and strengthening
grac»v to guilty man, & still recognizing God, as " the
author and giver of all spiritual grace," how impera¬
tive becomes the dut y of fervent ptayer in her behalf,
that she may fulfil the en i of her high appointment,
that "the Highest himself Would establish her," "an e
ternal excellency, a jo)r of many generations," that lie
would "make fas-t the bars oi her gates, and bless her
children within her'—that "these children may all be
taught of him, and that great tnay.be their peace."—
It is not under the idea of the general inefficacy of
the means of grace as enjoyed among us, 01* with a
view to the substitution, in their stead, of any extra¬
neous and less regular, though seemingly more zeal¬
ous ministrations, that we would urge upon her mem¬
bers the duty of "striving together in prayer," that
her teaching maybe "in demonstration of the Spirit,
and of power," but simply with a view to the attain¬
ing of that blessing, without which " a Paul may
plant, 01* an A polios water," yet see no "increase."
Feeling her need and knowing the source of her
supply, she has, in many touching appeals, cast her¬
self upon the succours of her God, and the prayers of
her peopie. Let us plead for her, then, in her own
language, & her own spirit. Let her hallowed cause,
the cause of truth and righteousness, of grace and
salvation, he borne upon our hearts, and remembered
in our breathings before the Mercy Seat. Let us
supplicate, not only at special seasons, for special vi¬
sitations of transient excitement, to be succeeded by
anticipated derelictions of the Spirit, and coldness
and deadness on the part of man, but at all times, for
obiding grace; for "the Spirit of Glory and of God"
16 rest upon her; for a lire on her altars* and a light
?h her .tabernacles* that shall "not go out day nor
night," causing "her righteousness to go forth as
brightness, and her salvation, as a latnp that burn¬
etii ;" for then and then only " Shali glorious things
be spoken of thee, thou City of our God," when thou
art the light of the world; a " City set on a Hill,"
when thy ministrations of mercy, prove unto many
"the power of God and the wisdom of God, unto sal¬
vation."
Brethren, we are peculiarly situated. Our con¬
gregations few in number, and widely separated by
distance, ca»» scarcely animate and encounige each
other by mutual countenance, far less, produce any
strong & deep impression on the public mind. Whol¬
ly unknown, or known only by name, or still worse,
by partial, unfair, and malignant, report, it is evident,
that for a season, we shall have to contend against
that vague suspicion, that indefinite, but still deeply
fixed prejudice, which are ever entertained against
ill-understood systems of Doctrine. The mere fact
that we are so few and so little known, would operate
unfavourably to our claims, in the minds of some;
placing us in the light of innovators among est ablish
ed sects, innovators moreover, evidently not backed
by public opinion. Dark insinuation, doing its work
in secret, would increase this prejudice, with no op¬
portunity for its counteraction by the light or the
tongue of Truth. Hence, therefore, results a peculiar*
necessity for the open,frank, and full statement of our
doctrines, and exposition of our services; that the
public mind may be disabused and enlightened; and
that the Church, no longer viewed through the mistfc
of ignorance or with the jaundiced eye of prejudice,
may be seen in the clear light of truth, in all her fair
proportions and attractive beauty. Hence, also,
brethren, there is in our case a special necessity for
an enlightened comprehension of her principles, and
a holy consistency of conduct, on the part of her
members ; that each one, as occasion may require, or
opportunity permit, may be the prudent, but convin¬
cing advocate of her cause, his life, not less than his
lips, being eloquent in her praise. This indeed is in¬
cumbent in all places, and at iall times; and we
would by no means hint, that the standard of chris¬
tian knowledge and practice might be differently gra¬
duated to suit different Meridians or Latitudes, and
elevated or depressed, according to the tastes or hab¬
its, of different localities. God forbid, brethren Still,
we cannot but perceive that the importance and the
24
results of individual example, are far greater in
some cases than in others. Where the Church is firmly
established, and generally known; where she takes her
noble & conspicuous stand among other religious insti*
iutions ; causing the voice of her teaching to be heard
of men, and the voice of her supplication to go upward
to Jier God, ably supported by her ministry, and ad¬
vantageously presented by her Laity—there, Breth¬
ren, her general character triumphs over the defects
o? individual example; and the happy moral and spir¬
itual influence which she exerts as a whole, settles
her claim in the esteem of the whole christian com¬
munity, to a share in all that is "pure, lovely, and of
good report." In that ease, individuals are judged
of by the body : but w ith us the body is judged of by
individuals. The single advocate for episcopacy,
whether professedly pious or not, in a whole commu¬
nity ignorant of its principles, is considered as its re-
pr< smtativ—And the solitary Church in the midst
of many others, variously differing from her in "doc¬
trine, discipline, and worship,'" gives the current;
character to all the Churches of our communion.—
What a call does this give to holy circumspection!—
Members of the Church, and more especially profes¬
sing members, do you indeed love her in sincerity and
truth 1 Show it in your works ! See that she is not
"wounded (like her Divine Lord,) in the house of her,
friends." " Glorious things should be spak&i of her."
—Let her not, then, through your means, bp " blas¬
phemed among the people" I appeal not now to the
mere pride of sect I ask not, neither do I expect a
sacrifice to the dhurch, solely from regard to her
worldly reputation, which yon would refuse to Him
who "hath purchased both her and you, nith his own
blood;" but for your own sake, I ask for that consis¬
tency which would become you as men, in reference
even to worldly things, far more, as christian men, in
reference to sacred things, Let an attachment open-
25
ly professed by your lips, and doubtless deeply cher-
ished in your hearts, be manifested in your lives.—
Feel that you are the representatives of her cause^
& charged with her honor. It is not enough, that we
whot( name the name of Christ," should depart from
opm and glaring iniquity*—and sit down with con¬
tented hearts, and folded hands, in the decencies of
a worldly profession. 3Ien expect, the Church rr^
quizes, God demands more than this. There must
be spirituality in the heart and in the life. Citizens
of the spiritual Zion, " ouv conversation (our citizen¬
ship) must be in Heaven." Even the world can
boast of its morality: The Church must be marked
by heavenly-mindedness: for why should it be taunt¬
ingly asked of her members, "What do ye more than
others V9 Awake, then, ye that love her, to a solemn
§ense of your responsibilities.
It is certain that the standard of christian profes¬
sion is again elevated more nearly to its primitive
height: to fall below this, is to fall short of general
expectation, and to destroy our claim to general res¬
pect. A worldly Church—worldly in its spirit, its
habits, and its associations, is scarcely esteemed as a
Church, by the serious in the religious public; nor is
it respected by the irreligious themselves. Entirely
worldly and earthly-minded members, however nu¬
merous, add nothing to the glory of any Church-
hay, they are a shame and a reproach to its commun¬
ion. Let those, then. who have " witnessed a good
confession before many witnesses," act up to the spir¬
it of its requirements. "Not conformed to the world,"
let them be " transformed by the renewing of their
26
minds." Let' them be " a holy and a peculiar peo¬
ple, zealous of good works"—devoted, consec ated
unto God. Then truly will that God, " be their God,
and they shall be his people and, then, "thy spirit¬
ual children all being holy," " Glorious things shall
be spoken of thee, thou City of God."
My Brethren of the Clergy! On us it will largely
depend, how our Zion is regarded among men, and
how far she shall prove a mean of conversion, to " a
world lying in wickedness." They that are placed
of God in " the Golden Candlesticks," must be the
lights of the sanctuary, even as that sanctuary is the
light of the world. The "Angels" of the Churches,
must be the earthly guardians of the Churches. They
must themselves hear the voice, and court the influ¬
ences of the spirit, that they may say unto their peo¬
ple, " He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the Churches." A momentous
responsibility rests upon us—for to us is entrusted
the charge of immortal souls. Who, " who is suffi¬
cient" for it! Let "our sufficiency be of God,"
who hath made us ministers of the New Testament,
The continuance of our sacred stewardship is fear¬
fully uncertain ; and the account to be rendered of it,
oh, how strict and how solemn! Affecting and start¬
ling have been our recent warnings. Within a brief
space of time, how many of our brethren have fallen
before the scythe of Death.—some in tfye freshness
of early promise, others in the fulness and glory of ri¬
pened excellence.—■" And our Fathers, where are
they Vr The mild, amiable, pious, and holy Kemp,
27
is at rest from his labors. The venerated Ravens^
croft, that man of might, that "man of God"—he
who could grapple with a giant in intellect, asd yet
condescend to " a Babe in Christ"—he of whom
as of a dauntless reformer of other days, it might
well be said, that " He never feared the face of man,"
he also hath given his powerful frame to the dust;
while his noble spirit with all its powerful energies,
and ardent feelings, hath "returned to God who gave
it;" in the brightness of his presence, and amidst the
beamings of his love, to expand and glow with a se¬
raph's freedom and a seraph's fire.
•His equal in firmness, his predecessor in the toil¬
some, thankless, and almost martyr work, of resto¬
ring the paths of primitive Apostolic truth, the all-
gifted, and all-honored IIobart—he who was in¬
deed, what his own pencil so beautifully pourtrayed,
" the Christian Bishop approving himself to God"—
he, whose rich and varied eloquence held admiring
crowds in breathless silence, as though fearing to
lose a word or a tone that breathed forth his feelings
and thrilled through their own,—eloquent in life, and
still more eloquent in death—the pride and glory of
our Zion, whose value to her in life, and whose loss
in death, none can speak—the remembrance of whose
bright career of official usefulness, to two of us at
least, is indissolubly connected with the experience
of his private worth, his private friendship, his warm
hearted efforts for our good, and with all the thousand
nameless, but sweet associated recollections of o-
tlier days, when he was our guide, our instructor, our
friend, our father; //e, too, bath fallen,
2S
Brethren, surely "judgment hath begun at the
House of God;" the judgment of mercy to those re¬
moved, but of solemn warning and admonition to us
who remain—Where, and with whom shall it end1?
In providences like these, God speaketh to us from
Heaven, saying, with unearthly solemnity, "what
thou dofest, do quickly ! The night cometh when no
man can work !" " Take heed to thy ministry."
My Brethren of the Convention! To counsel for
the welfare and the glory of the Church, in this por¬
tion of our cou try, is the object of our present as¬
sembling. Let us enter upon our duties, in the fear
of God, in the love of the Saviour, in dependence up¬
on the Spirit of Truth. With us* this is indeed "the
day of small things." But let us not despise it. It
is the promise of Him whose word is truth; that to
those who " are faithful over few things," he will give
the over-sight " of many things." In all that we do
for the Church, let us be careful to compromise no¬
thing of her doctrinal integrity, her wrell-ordered ser¬
vices, her pure and elevated spirit. Let us lay a
foundation, which none who love her, will desire to
Subvert; bilt on which " they which come after"
Shall build with security and advantage ; causing her
walls to extend, and her palaces to arise, that she may
be seen and known afar; that "people) and this in¬
habitants of many cities, yea, many people, and strong
llafiorts, may come to seek thie Lord of Hosts, and to
pray before the Lord," in her hallowed Temples.
It is a delightful thought, that our counsel for the
prosperity of our Zion, is to he ushered in, by the ho¬
liest of her religious ordinances. Recipients of the
29
Eucharist, ajj fee[jngg 0f your hearts be in
ire y exercise, when you come to this holy arid heav¬
en y ®ast. Humbled by the recollection of your sins,,
yet rejoicing in the hope of pardon, feeling your un-
worthiness, but looking by faith to Him, who is infi¬
nitely worthy, pressed down by many anxious cares,
jet ^casting all your carc upon him who carethfor
you, come, in humility, in faith, in peace & love: and
may the Spirit of peace come with you! Let not
your feelings be evanescent. When you go out
again into the world, remember that Ih Vows of * >od
are upon you, & say to your own souls, "What man -
ner of persons ought we to be, in all holy conversa¬
tion and godliness."
Brethren of the Congregation, who have not made
a profession ! It cannot be that you are wholly indif¬
ferent to the purposed objects of our assembling, or
ta the solemn and touching services, immediately
before us. Why is it then, that you "have no right
nor memorial in Jerusalem T' Be ihtreated to re¬
member, that it is private and personal religion, and
that alone, which can prove unto you, "the savour
of life unto life." The Kingdom of God may be es¬
tablished around you and you may advance its inter¬
ests and rejoice in its prosperity—but what will it pro¬
fit you, though thousands " come from the East, and
the West, and the North, and the South, and sit
down in it, if you are yourselves cast out?" And
know, that it is only the kingdom of God ivithin yoy,
the triumph and the reign of grace in your own
hearts, that can prepare you for the kingdom of glo¬
ry above—'-'What shall it profit you though you gain
30
liie whole world" of external privilege for yourselves
& for others, if you still "lose yum f<wn soul /", Too
many, alas too many, are the admirers of religion,
rather than the seekers after religion—the friends
and well-wishers of the Church, rather than its mem¬
bers. Let it not be so with you. Feel your indivi¬
dual responsibility ; and he content with nothing
short of a personal interest in the Gospel of Salva¬
tion. To all the prior triumphs and glory of the
Church, let this be added, that you, and you, and you,
" were born in her," "unto a > ew and lively hope. See
to it—oh, see to it now, that when " God shall write
up the people," your " names may be found written
in the Lamb's Book of Life." Amen.