r-v^-j
 
 THOUGHTS 
 
 ON 
 
 CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION, 
 
 AS ENJOINED, OE ALLOWED, 
 
 IN THE 
 
 Qtf^uxtfi of 3SnBlantJ, 
 
 WITH 
 
 SOME REMARKS ON THE PRIESTLY OFFICE : 
 
 BEITTG A SEQUEL TO A TEACT, EIs'TITLED 
 
 " QUID ROM^ FACIAM ? 
 
 OR, NO NEED TO JOIN THE ROMISH COMMUNION ON ACCOUNT OF THE 
 WANT OF DISCIPLINE IN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND." 
 
 BY THE REV. 
 
 THOMAS BOWDLER, M.A. 
 
 PREBENDARV OF ST. FAUl's. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 FRANCIS & JOHN RIVINGTON, 
 
 ST. Paul's church yard, and waterlog place, 
 
 185L
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 The foregoing tract was penned at a time when many hearts were failing 
 for fear, and looking after those things which were coming upon us ; and it 
 was thought that some doubts might be removed, and confidence in the truth 
 and safety of our position in the Church be reassured, if it were well con- 
 sidered what that condition really is, and what privileges are secured to its 
 members ; of which, if thej' do not avail themselves, the blame and unhappi- 
 ness are their own. Felices sua si bona norint ! Such considerations, urged 
 from various quarters, had their due weight : and though one mighty leader, 
 too much relied on, fell from us, and drew after him a few uneasy spirits, 
 magnified by the fears of some, and the evil speeches of others, far beyond 
 the truth, yet the many remained faithful ; and were, through the grace of 
 God, strengthened in faith and love by active labours in parochial cure of 
 souls, that blessed inheritance of our Church. And thus they might have 
 remained, and peace have been preserved, had not a disturbing cause arisen 
 in another quarter ; namely, from the power assumed by the First Minister 
 of that Sovereign whose brightest title is that of Defender of the Faith ; 
 which seemed to reduce the Church to the condition of a mere creature of 
 the State. Hence arise renewed questions respecting the spiritual right 
 and authority actually belonging to the Church ; which, though capable of 
 being strained beyond due limits, must not be abandoned or betrayed, lest 
 life itself be endangered. One of the most prominent at the present crisis, 
 and most important of these, respects the power vested in the priesthood to 
 receive confession, and absolve the penitent. This is, with many among us, 
 a point of vital importance ; of life or death ; of finding here, or seeking 
 elsewhere, the promise of Christ's abiding presence. The following thoughts 
 upon this subject, not originally intended for ])ublication, are, at the sug- 
 gestion of some friends, put into circulation ; and seem to form a fit addi- 
 tion to the tract to which they are appended.
 
 THOUGHTS ON CONFESSION, 
 
 In order to ascertain the mind of our Church in this matter, 
 we must look to the Ordinal ; for a man can only give that 
 which he has received, and exercise power which has been 
 conferred upon him. The office of a deacon, according to 
 the intention of our Church, is purely ministerial ; and if in 
 our day it has attained higher dignity, and any one who 
 holds it is invested with the cure of souls, or acts as curate, 
 according to the proper sense of that word, and of the office 
 which it describes, it is owing to the lamentable deficiency 
 in the number of priests ; upon which more may be said in 
 the sequel. It seems manifest that at the age at which a 
 person is capable of being admitted a deacon, very few can 
 be qualified to perform all that is laid upon the higher order 
 in the ministry. 
 
 When a deacon is '• to receive the order of priesthood," 
 he has an exhortation addressed to him, which is as just 
 and true in the instruction which it gives, as it is calculated 
 to thrill to the inmost and best feelings of the devout and 
 tender heart, and fill the mind that reflects upon it in after 
 life with awe and fear : — " thoughts that breathe, and words 
 that burn" — that breathe the breath of the Spirit of God 
 infused into them ; that burn with the fire of " the live coal, 
 taken from off the altar of the King, the Lord of hosts." It 
 
 A 2
 
 4 
 
 speaks in a lofty tone, describing the office as " of so great 
 excellency, and so great difficulty," of " so high a dignity," 
 and " so weighty a work," a ministry " towards the children 
 of God, towards the spouse and body of Christ." And yet 
 higher and of more fearful import is the charge given at the 
 laying on of hands : " 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, they are forgiven ; and whose sins thou dost 
 retain, they are retained. And be thou a faithful dispenser 
 of the Word of God, and of his holy Sacraments; in the 
 name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 
 Amen." The Exhortation delivered in the earlier part of 
 the office, and the Charge given at the imposition of hands, 
 pointing out, the one the pastoral, the other the priestly 
 office, may be separately considered, for the better under- 
 standing of the sense of the Church upon the subject before 
 us ; which indeed conveniently divides itself into two parts, 
 Confession, and Absolution. The division is made, however, 
 only for greater convenience, for the two offices are inti- 
 mately united. 
 
 1. The Exhortation, taking up the thought suggested by 
 each of the passages appointed to be read for the Gospel, 
 points out the duty incumbent upon those who are called to 
 this office, " to teach, and to premonish, to feed and provide 
 for the Lord's family; to seek for Christ's sheep that are 
 dispersed abroad, and for his children that are in the 
 midst of this naughty world, that they may be saved through 
 Christ for ever." They are admonished therefore to " have 
 always printed in their remembrance, how great a treasure 
 is committed to their charge. For they are the sheep of 
 Christ, which He bought with his death, and for whom He 
 shed his blood." And (that we may not exceed due bounds 
 in our extract) they are solemnly warned, " see that you 

 
 never cease your labour, your care and diligence, until you 
 have done all that lieth in you, according to your bounden 
 duty, to bring all such as are or shall be committed to your 
 charge, unto that agreement in the faith and knowledge of 
 God, and to that ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ, 
 that there be no place left among you, either for error in 
 religion, or for viciousness in life/' This is indeed a mighty 
 work, requiring of any one who undertakes it, that he be 
 not only " strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus," but 
 that he be " instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, 
 exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine ; do the work of 
 an evangelist, make full proof of his ministry." How is this 
 work to be accomplished by a parochial minister ? 
 
 It is manifest, that for providing " that no place be left in 
 his flock for error in religion, or for viciousness of life," he 
 must make himself acquainted, so far as he is able, with the 
 opinions and the practice of every individual who is com- 
 mitted to his charge. Indeed, he is required, and promises, 
 '' the Lord being his helper," to " use both public and 
 private monitions and exhortations, as well to the sick, as to 
 the whole, within his cure, as need shall require, and occa- 
 sion shall be given." His office, and mode of executing it, 
 may be illustrated by the conduct of those who minister to 
 earthly necessities. For instance : how does a physician 
 proceed in his work of healing a sick body? Does he con- 
 tent himself with a very general or superficial knowledge 
 of the state of his patient ? Does he not examine him tho- 
 roughly, and watch eveiy symptom and indication of dis- 
 ease ? May he not say to his patient, especially if he knows 
 something of his condition, " Now, I think it very likely that 
 you have inherited a sickly constitution — it is the case with 
 all of us, more or less ; but I suspect you have done your- 
 self harm by your course of life ; and moreover, that you are 
 mistaking the seat of the disorder : you think your head is
 
 the part chiefly affected, but I believe it to be the heart, or 
 the liver, or some other organ : tell me now — it will not go 
 any farther — whisper in my ear, if you will — have you not 
 indulged more than was prudent ? even in what is allowable, 
 and, still more, in what is natural to youth? You must 
 enable me to give you good advice if you ask it of me." 
 And then he will prescribe remedies to be used immediately, 
 and a course of living suitable to the case; abstinence from 
 stimulating food or liquor, early rising, regular hours, and all 
 that bodily discipline which may produce a healthy action. 
 The medical adviser, if he knows .his business, will likewise 
 pay attention to his patient's state of mind, and temper, and 
 peculiar views. We might mention many other points : but 
 enough upon this head. Only, of course a different mode of 
 treatment will be adapted to different subjects : one will be 
 dealt with freely and plainly, or searchingly; and another 
 most tenderly, and with all possible delicacy. Now, I would 
 ask, is it any thing but mere spiritual quackery for one, 
 whose office is to heal a sick soul, perhaps sick unto death, 
 to proceed in a different manner? When relief or cure is to 
 be administered, must not the heart be probed, and the con- 
 science awakened to a knowledge of some fatal error, or some 
 bad habit, or some lurking mischief, or some heavy weight 
 that presses down the soul? and a course of discipline be 
 enjoined, which will, indeed, in some instances, be much the 
 same with that prescribed by the physician — temperance, 
 abstinence, and the like ? All this, I presume, is no more 
 than M'ould be allowed, or required, in a priest of our Church, 
 who has undertaken the charge of a cure of souls. 
 
 Take another illustration. A man, who has outrun his 
 means, applies to his friend, who is versed in the mystery of 
 book-keeping, for counsel; or to a friend, who has both 
 means and inclination to help him : will not the first word 
 that is spoken to him by either of them be, " Now you must
 
 tell me your whole condition, or I can do nothing for you ; 
 there is no serving a man, while any debt, or incumbrance, or 
 engagement, remains behind undisclosed?" And how shall 
 the spiritual adviser help any one to make up his account 
 between God and his soul, if any secret sins are allowed to 
 remain under a profession of sincerity ; or help him to obtain 
 peace of mind, and the favour of God, and strength of reso- 
 lution to abandon an evil course and practise holiness, if 
 there be some bad temper, and a spirit of deceit, spoiling all 
 his endeavours, and wasting the soul of the hypocrite or the 
 self-deceiver ? 
 
 To apply all this to making confession to a minister of 
 Christ. Let it be borne in mind how many there are who 
 need to be told of the evil of their ways and their inclinations, 
 and of the deceitfulness of their own heart ; and who are too 
 light-minded, or forgetful, or afraid to make confession to 
 God : how many require, and would even rejoice to find, a wise 
 and tender friend, to whom they may unburden their griefs, 
 and fears, and unworthiness. How often has a clergyman 
 had occasion to lament that he did not know the thoughts of 
 some under his care in time to prevent their being led astray 
 by false teachers, or the evil working of wicked men and 
 seducers. How many souls might be saved by a free and 
 timely opening of the heart to God's priest ! 
 
 Confession, at least, opening of grief, is enjoined or recom- 
 mended by our Church in two instances — preparing for the 
 Holy Communion, and for death ; indeed, in every stage of 
 sickness. In the latter instance, much power is evidently 
 given to the priest in using exhortation. He is directed 
 to " examine the sick person, whether he repent him 
 truly of his sins, and is in charity with all men ; and to 
 move him to make special confession of his sins, if he feel 
 his conscience troubled with any weighty matter." In the 
 former case, which is of more general application, those who
 
 8 
 
 are minded to come to the Holy Communion are publicly 
 exhorted to open their state, if they " cannot quiet their con- 
 science by self-discipline and penitence, to God's minister, 
 that they may obtain further comfort or counsel, and the 
 benefit of absolution, by the ministry of God's word.'' Now 
 what the priest is directed to pronounce publicly, he surely 
 must feel it to be his duty to say privately, to those who will 
 hearken to him. He is bound to use a like admonition to 
 the members of his flock, whom he is striving to bring to a 
 sense of their duty, in respect of a regular and worthy attend- 
 ance at this Holy Ordinance. 
 
 Again, in the preface to the Commination Service a strong 
 wish is expressed that the ancient discipline of the Church 
 might be restored. In that case confession of sin would be 
 made, and public penance enjoined, for the saving of souls. 
 Here too seems to be a rule for the guidance of the pastor, 
 that he should endeavour by private monition to supply the 
 defect which the Church owns and laments. And as he is 
 directed to pronounce publicly the wrath of God against sin 
 in the form set down in the Commination Service, and the 
 very solemn address which follows, and lead the congregation 
 to most humble and earnest supplication, he must do the 
 same in private, as he sees occasion, using of course much 
 delicacy and discretion. 
 
 But in tending his flock generally, according to the admo- 
 nition given at his ordination, how is he to fulfil the duty laid 
 upon him, so that, if possible, " no place may be left either 
 for error in religion, or viciousness of life ? " and how is he to 
 " bring them to ripeness and perfectness of age in Christ," if 
 he is to remain in ignorance of their sins and weaknesses and 
 several necessities ? 
 
 Suppose, now, that in the course of his daily rounds, 
 " seeking for Christ's sheep that are scattered abroad," the 
 pastor meets with one whose conscience is sore burthened.
 
 9 
 
 or in much perplexity, or brought to a view and sense of sin, 
 and the danger of it, beyond what has been seen or felt be- 
 fore, and " requireth comfort or counsel," how is he to deal 
 with such? Will he not, with all possible skill and tender- 
 ness, seek to probe the wound, and ascertain the cause of the 
 malady, and how far it has spread ? and minister advice or 
 consolation with firmness and gentleness? and, while he 
 soothes the penitent, prescribe a remedy with what discretion 
 he may use, and with due regard to the circumstances of each 
 individual ? And how is this to be done without the most 
 perfect knowledge which he can obtain, that he may not be 
 deceived, iior deceive those with whom he has to do, nor 
 suffer them to deceive themselves ? Will not his language 
 be, " You must tell me all your needs, if you seek to have 
 them supplied by any advice or help that I can give ? What- 
 ever may be unfit for me to know, I of course do not desire 
 to know. There may be much between God and your own 
 conscience which you would not reveal to any one ; much 
 likewise between yourself and others, which it would involve 
 both you and them in difficulty to make known ; many 
 family secrets which should be kept from the whole world ; 
 or thoughts which may not be breathed to the most intimate 
 friend of one's bosom. And in all points and every instance 
 you must lay open your whole soul to the Great Searcher of 
 hearts, in order that you may obtain full pardon by free con- 
 fession. But if you believe a certain power and authority to 
 be given to those who minister in holy things, not usurping 
 the prerogative of the Most High, but as instruments in His 
 hands to convey spiritual help and grace and an assurance of 
 divine favour ; if you believe that this gift cannot be bestowed 
 in vain, where any one is faithful in receiving and exercising 
 it ; and you are led to seek counsel and comfort from such an 
 one, then give him the means of ministering to your neces- 
 sities faithfully in regard to God, and profitably to yourself.
 
 10 
 
 by freely opening your heart to him, so far as it may be law- 
 fully done. And this without fear of being betrayed, or of 
 any improper use being made of it." Such will be his lan- 
 guage to any one of tender conscience sorely burthened, 
 needing much of direction and consolation, but timid, reluc- 
 tant ; seeking help, but ashamed and afraid to ask for it ; 
 coming to God's minister, as to one who may speak in His 
 stead, with a feeble resolution, which has been growing up in 
 the heart under the influence of God's grace, and in the use 
 of devout prayer. 
 
 But the shepherd is to seek out the lost sheep, and those 
 which are scattered ; the fisher of men is to cast his net upon 
 the waters, and by all lawful means, *' by blameless guile and 
 gentle force," to catch souls ; to watch occasions which may 
 arise, and use them to the best advantage ; to preach over 
 again at the homes of his people the sermons he has delivered 
 at Church ; and to find matter for his sermons in discovering 
 the necessities of those whom he is to address. He must 
 seek opportunities of speaking to his people individually. 
 The great art in preaching is to make each one feel his or 
 her own part in what is spoken ; but this can be done effec- 
 tually only by domiciliary visits, and by bringing his parish- 
 ioners to his own home. Little, comparatively, is to be done 
 by talking to a woman at her wash-tub, or to a man who is at 
 his daily labour ; and if a parent is to be rebuked or exhorted, 
 it must not be in the presence of the children. The people 
 must be invited to private conference at the parsonage or the 
 vestry ; and there dismissing the thought and fear of forced 
 auricular confession, a free acknowledgment of sin and error 
 be, if possible, elicited from the one party, and faithful admo- 
 nition be given by the other. What will any one say who is 
 negligent of duty, or following schismatical teachers? that he 
 is as good as his neighbours ; or hearing the Gospel, and in a 
 safe way. But it is needless to show the importance, and even
 
 11 
 
 necessity, of the most intimate communication of the pastor's 
 thoughts ; of his learning the state of each one's heart and 
 mind, views, and opinions ; to get into the heart of each, and 
 gain confidence, and by patience to win souls. We speak of 
 the spiritual pastor and fisher of men ; let us remember too the 
 Apostle's words, " Ye know how we exhorted and comforted 
 and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children." 
 Let any one who admires the union of gentleness with power 
 in the great Apostle, strive to imitate him in affectionate 
 earnestness towards his own flock, blended with the plainness 
 and simplicity of truth. — It is an unseemly thing for one, 
 who is conscious of many sins and negligences, even to bear 
 the appearance of an adviser of his brethren, when he greatly 
 needs their prayers on his own behalf; but in a season of great 
 peril for the Church, when many are offended, it were un- 
 faithfulness to forget the words of our great Teacher, and fail 
 to " magnify our office, if by any means we may save some 
 of them." 
 
 The common sense view of things, then, so to speak, is, 
 that if the pastor is to fulfil the office assigned him, and the 
 flock to profit by his godly admonitions, there must be as 
 much freedom and sincerity of communication among them as 
 is consistent with the rules and decencies of society, and the 
 law of God. — And let this suffice on the subject of Confession, 
 the loss of which, be it remembered, has been lamented by 
 those of greatest note, from Ridley to the present day. 
 
 Let one word be written upon the office of confessor. 
 This should be, according to the original use of the word, 
 a confessing of Christ; and we are thus reminded of the 
 duty of " the servant, that he be as his Lord." He should 
 therefore seek to know the sheep of his flock, and be 
 known of them ; to have what he may of that knowledge of 
 the thoughts of those around him, which was perfectly pos- 
 sessed by the Son of God. He should be firm in reproving
 
 12 
 
 the hypocrite and worldly, and especially in maintaining the 
 honour due to God; but mild and compassionate, gentle, 
 " full of grace as well as of truth ;" and, above all things, 
 careful not to " break the bruised reed, or quench even an 
 expiring spark," if it may be kindled into penitence and 
 love. 
 
 But there is a far higher view to be taken, and which in- 
 volves the power and right use of Absolution. Here we 
 must look more particularly to the gift bestowed by the 
 laying on of the hands of the bishop and presbyters in the 
 office of ordination. The gift is none other than " the Holy 
 Ghost," and the power to "forgive and retain sins." The 
 office of the priesthood is a shadow and emblem, but a true 
 part, of that which is exercised by the great High-Priest in 
 the heavens. He who bears it speaks " on Christ's behalf," 
 for reconciling men to God. He is, in his degree, an inter- 
 cessor for his people, a mediator, to communicate the will of 
 God, and impart His blessing. And the choicest blessing 
 which can be conveyed through him, is pardon of sin and 
 grace to lead a new life. Both of these are actually con- 
 veyed by his instrumentality in the sacrament of baptism, 
 and confirmed by the laying on of the hands of the bishop, 
 once for all; and continually bestowed in the public ordi- 
 nance of daily worship, but especially and more solemnly, 
 and with higher efficacy, in the Lord's Supper. In the daily 
 service and office for the Holy Communion, public confession 
 of sin is made by priest and people in the most humble and 
 devout posture ; and then, while they continue on their knees, 
 he rises to pronounce absolution. The posture so strictly 
 prescribed, the title of priest so carefully given, together 
 with the term " pronounce the absolution," clearly mark a 
 power vested in him. The exact form of words, whether 
 declaratory or precatory, is of little consequence : it does not 
 appear what precise form was used of old. But the course
 
 13 
 
 pursued in the public service may be taken for an expression 
 of the Church's mind in this matter, so far as is needed or 
 is appHcable. 
 
 There are two occasions on which the Church directs 
 private absolution to be sought for : that of an unquiet con- 
 science in a person who is preparing to receive the Holy 
 Communion, and of one who is visited with sickness. The 
 directions given in the latter instance are plain and suffi- 
 cient ; but it is not so in the former. Alas ! the sad neglect 
 of priestly functions has brought us into great difficulty. 
 
 The intention of the Church seems to be, that every one 
 who intends to partake of the Holy Communion (which all 
 ought to do) should carefully examine his state of heart and 
 life, and truly repent of his sins. This is the work of each 
 individual, to be performed by himself in his secret chamber. 
 But a tender conscience will often be much disturbed with 
 doubt and misgiving, fears for itself, and a want of full 
 assurance of God's mercy. In this case, recourse is to be 
 had to " some discreet and learned minister of God's word ;" 
 to be selected by the person seeking aid (for it needs much 
 care in the choice), that "the benefit of absolution by the 
 ministry of God's holy word" may be obtained "for the 
 quieting of the conscience," and "ghostly counsel and ad- 
 vice," for " avoiding of all scruple and doubtfulness." This 
 is plainly the order : absolution is the first thing required for 
 heahng a sick soul; and then follows sound and prudent 
 advice and direction. Unhappily, the first has been almost 
 entirely put out of sight amongst us; much to the injury, 
 probably, of the second. The absolution is to be "^' by the 
 ministry of God's holy word." Whether it is intended that 
 the application of the inspired word should stand instead of 
 any particular form, or that the absolution should be con- 
 formable to it, and grounded upon it, does not seem cleai*. 
 The expression was introduced in 1553, and was therefore
 
 14 
 
 intended probably to guard more strictly against the Romish 
 practice. Perhaps it might be agreeable to the intention of 
 the Church, if the priest should address the person applying 
 to him thus : " You come to me as your spiritual adviser, for 
 relief of your doubts, and quieting of your conscience ; and 
 this I have endeavoured to do, by setting before you, out of 
 the word of God, His gracious promises of pardon and 
 acceptance, and the gift of the Holy Ghost to the faithful 
 for comfort and peace. And now, in the discharge of my 
 office as a minister of Christ, I give you full assurance of 
 pardon and absolution, thereby receiving you, as fitly pre- 
 pared by penitence and a quiet mind, to approach the Lord's 
 table. God alone, the Judge of all, can forgive sins : I do 
 not usurp His place and high prerogative. But as it is ap- 
 pointed to me to stand up in the congregation, and at the 
 Lord's table, to absolve and bless those (far worthier than 
 myself, it may be, if personal worthiness were to be regarded) 
 who have joined with me in confession of sin, so now, for 
 your greater assurance of comfort and peace, I grant you, in 
 God's name, remission of sins upon your penitent confession; 
 believing, upon the word of His promise, that the sentence 
 thus pronounced upon earth shall be ratified in heaven." 
 
 And if the priest deal thus with meek and gentle spirits, 
 who come to him to be healed of their wounds, is he 
 to act differently towards members of his flock upon any 
 other occasion, who seek his help? It may be considered 
 that he is at all times preparing them for a devout attendance 
 at the Lord's table, and using a similar exhortation to that 
 which he delivers in the Church. But, without reference to 
 this holy mystery, and immediate preparation for it, should 
 any feel their consciences burthened with a sense of sin, or 
 perplexed with doubt and fear, or in any respect weary and 
 heavy laden, and therefore such as the merciful Saviour 
 would invite to Him with promise of refreshment and rest.
 
 15 
 
 should they not come to one of those who are appointed to 
 speak for Him, and in His name? Any one who has opened 
 his heart to his spiritual father, in ante-sacramental confes- 
 sion, can scarce fail to continue a frequent communication 
 with him for obtaining counsel and direction ; relief in 
 anxious fears, and inward questionings how far his heart is 
 right before God ; and confession of frailty and imperfection, 
 and of stumblings, which will alarm a tender conscience 
 more than grievous falls one who walks heedlessly. And 
 any who have been turned out of an evil course, and brought 
 to penitence and godly living, and have learned to look to 
 their pastor for lessons of progress in holiness, wuU gladly 
 consult him, and ask his aid in prayer, and assurance of 
 pardon and grace. Some will open their minds more freely 
 than others, and to such he will act more freely the part of 
 a confessor; and if he finds any worn and harassed, and 
 earnestly desirous to avail themselves of that power to remit 
 sins which, by virtue of the laying on of hands, they believe 
 him to possess, will he refuse to give them, by the ministry 
 of God's holy word, the absolution which may dismiss them 
 in peace? 
 
 Now, when we consider the delicacy and difficulty which 
 must attend the free confession to be made on the one side, 
 and wise and tender dealing on the other, '• even as a nurse 
 cherisheth her children," and look round upon the various 
 characters of those who are admitted into the ministry, must 
 not the same freedom of choice, in respect of the person to 
 whom any one may "open his grief," be allowed in other 
 instances, which is publicly granted to those who are pre- 
 paring their hearts for the Holy Communion? And this 
 more than ever in the present day? For though a much 
 higher estimate is now taken, than was formed half a century 
 ago, of the nature and duties of the priestly office, yet this 
 is more than counterbalanced by the free admission of per-
 
 16 
 
 sons holding lax opinions on the cure of souls, and the dis- 
 couragement shown in high quarters to those that would 
 exalt and magnify that office and its ministrations. How 
 shall any one who believes in baptismal regeneration, and the 
 presence and power of Christ in the Eucharist, address him- 
 self to a spiritual father, who will repel him with " You had 
 much better go to a priest; you are more than half a 
 Romanist already ? " If those who sit in high places exercise 
 their patronage without respect to particular opinions, or 
 with a strong leaning towards such as verge upon heresy or 
 schism, what a stone of stumbling is laid in the way of any 
 one who is earnest for the truth, and would seek it at the 
 priest's mouth ! How much greater, if the priest himself be 
 found to repudiate the power and privileges proper to his 
 office, and even the office itself to which they belong? if the 
 meaning of the solemn words conveying it be frittered away, 
 till as little as possible of truth and reality be left ; and the 
 office of priest be utterly merged and lost in that of the 
 pastor ? 
 
 There is another part of the priest's office intimately con- 
 nected with that which we have considered, namely, Bene- 
 diction. This likewise must be slighted, or thrown aside, if 
 the office itself be not duly honoured. And we have known 
 some who have departed from the prescribed form in dis- 
 missing the congregation, so far as to use the first person 
 plural; thus making themselves part of those who meet 
 together. It is " the Lord who gives his people the blessing 
 of peace ;" but if He be pleased to bestow it by the ministry 
 of one whom He would send, the gift will not be impaired, 
 nor should the office lose aught of the grace and dignity 
 which He has conferred upon it. This, like the other parts 
 of the priestly office, was lightly regarded by Hoadly, the 
 favoured object of ministerial patronage in that day. He 
 taught publicly that they were " trifles and niceties." Alas !
 
 17 
 
 that similar teaching, or worse, should be found now among 
 us ! The good God defend us, that the next age be not, like 
 that which went before us, a seculum tepidum ! Or rather, 
 that the latitudinarian temper of the day, opening, strange 
 as it may seem, an easy prey to the Romish spoiler, may not 
 bring upon us the fearful age of unbelief! Benediction is 
 directed to be pronounced in every form of Church services, 
 and whenever a sick person is visited; and who is there, 
 whether bishop or priest, who will hesitate to give a blessing 
 in private intercourse to those who desire it ? Benediction 
 is not a less priestly office than absolution ; and they may 
 mutually illustrate each other. 
 
 All that has been written will perhaps be said by some 
 persons to be absolutely Romish, which is clearly untrue; 
 by others to have a Romanizing tendency, which is more 
 plausible. For such, by God's permission, is the art of the 
 evil one, that the use of that which is good easily degene- 
 rates into the abuse of it, and actual evil. We may expect 
 to find a great truth, perverted and distorted, at the bottom 
 of every Papal corruption. And here is that which suggests 
 much serious reflection upon the causes which may have 
 brought us to such a state, that the faithful carrying out of 
 the principles and requirements of our Church is denounced 
 as of a Romish or Romanizing character. And the one main 
 cause is, that we of the clergy have neglected to " stir up 
 the gift that is in us by the putting on of hands." The 
 Socinianism of Hoadly, infused an evil principle which 
 spread through the whole Church with little exception j for 
 where it did not touch the true faith, it marred the right 
 use of it. This was aided by the Erastianism of the age ; 
 which was indeed part of the evil system, injuring or even 
 destroying the ministrations of the clergy. The parochial 
 system, even when imperfectly carried out, and under all 
 the disadvantage of feeble or partial superintendence, and in
 
 18 
 
 fields of labour far too wide for the power of the spiritual 
 husbandmen, could not fail to produce an immense amount 
 of good, and the turning of many to righteousness, and of 
 keeping them from error. But the clergy, even where they 
 have taken delight in being excellent pastors, have too often 
 forgotten that they are priests ; and have been backward 
 to exercise this their office, even though they might acknow- 
 ledge it in their own hearts, and desire to be able to execute 
 it for the benefit of their flocks. Very few, probably, till of 
 late, have been in the habit of reading the first notice of the 
 Holy Communion at full length ; and fewer still have en- 
 forced the concluding exhortation in private. The conse- 
 quence is that now, w^hen Romanism makes its advances 
 upon us, at a time, when (as it should seem) there is a strong 
 disposition in the minds of many to lean upon authority, 
 we are unprepared to meet the enemy, (alas ! that we must 
 so think of a brother !) with the true answer that we have 
 in our own Church the power with which our Lord invested 
 His Apostles, and they their successors. For, even if owned 
 by us, it has been suffered to lie dormant ; and many who 
 speak of it, and would use it, do not know how ; many more 
 cannot distinguish it from the papal usurpation by the 
 Romish priests ; and some few by an injudicious exercise of 
 it, incur censure from their superiors, and become an occa- 
 sion of greater harm and loss. The upholders of a sound 
 Church principle are all the worse spoken of; the Govern- 
 ment, strengthened by the opposite party leaning upon it, 
 becomes more oppressive ; the right of deliberation is denied 
 to the Church, and even the right and power of deciding 
 upon truth or error in doctrine. What marvel, however 
 poignant the grief, if the allegiance of many of the best and 
 holiest spirits amongst us, is shaken, or transferred to another 
 quarter; where those who are disturbed with fears and 
 doubts seek to find rest; those who require the active ex-
 
 19 
 
 ercise of their powers, to find a wide field of employment; 
 the devout heart to be refreshed with the regular and con- 
 tinual services of prayer and praise : and all to obtain sup- 
 port in leaning upon an authority which claims obedience ; 
 as inheriting from the Apostles, and exercising a power to 
 open and shut, to remit and retain sins. That all these will 
 be disappointed of finding what they seek, at least to their 
 entire satisfaction, is easily said, and may be readily believed. 
 The great question, hoAvever, is whether they might not, 
 some at least, be retained among us. It has pleased God 
 to make the character and complexion of men's minds as 
 various as of their bodies. If those who are of a free and 
 bold disposition may be indulged in " the freedom wherewith 
 Christ hath made us free," taking the caution that they " use 
 not this liberty for a cloke of maliciousness," surely those 
 who are more timid and flexible may have equal indulgence 
 granted to their fears and poverty of spirit. If some are 
 permitted to "judge even of themselves what is right," 
 others may be allowed and exhorted to " hear the Church," 
 and "obey those that have the rule over them, and submit 
 themselves, as to those that watch for their souls," and " are 
 set over them in the Lord." But the truth is that the 
 people in general, as they are willing to be saved the trouble 
 of judging for themselves, so they are glad to be relieved 
 of the greater trouble of being their own guides and coun- 
 sellors, and to shift the responsibility upon others. And the 
 few who are placed in authority are naturally led to claim 
 more than properly belongs to them. The dissenting minis- 
 ter is equally despotic with the Roman Catholic priest, where 
 he can get any to own his power. 
 
 The remedy is to be found in a just exercise of authority. 
 The first point is, that we should have a sufficient number of 
 spiritual fathers, and of those who may minister in holy 
 things, and the care of souls : that our bishops be increased 
 
 B 2
 
 20 
 
 twofold, and priests and deacons tenfold. The next, that 
 each should know and consider his proper office, and the 
 nature and dignity of it — that it is both pastoral and priestly. 
 The former implies a most awful charge under the Great 
 Shepherd ; and one which engages the affections deeply and 
 tenderly. The latter brings him who executes it nearer to 
 God ; being in due subordination to the High-Priest in the 
 heavens, a mediator and intercessor, to offer a sacrifice con- 
 tinually, commemorative of that which was once offered for the 
 sins of all men ; and to pronounce pardon of penitent sinners, 
 and bless in His name. As a pastor, he will " seek out the 
 sheep that are scattered;" he will " know his sheep, and be 
 known of them;" his great object will be to lead them to 
 God by repentance; by faith, and love; and the public 
 worship being both the test of piety, and the means of grow- 
 ing in grace, this will be always prominent in his thoughts 
 and exhortations. Here he acts as a priest of the Most High 
 God. And one of his most earnest endeavours will be to 
 give his people high notions of the excellence and dignity of 
 worship in God's house ; of a preparation of heart necessary 
 for faithful and profitable attendance upon it; and the benefit 
 of confession of sins, and absolution and benediction, to be 
 found there. One after another will be brought to see the 
 higher duty and privilege of attending at the table of the 
 Lord ; and with these he will deal more closely and tenderly 
 in the way of admonition and of comfort. In every instance 
 he will desire the most intimate acquaintance with the mem- 
 bers of his flock and congregation ; and while he teaches 
 them that the working out of their own salvation is to be 
 done by each one for himself, under the helping grace of 
 God, he will encourage them to look to him as God's minis- 
 ter, performing his several offices " in Christ's stead." And 
 as, while he will not neglect to " warn the unruly," his chief 
 care and joy, and wherein he will look most hopefully for
 
 21 
 
 profit, will be to "comfort the feeble-minded, and support 
 the weak," he wilP invite and encourage all such to come to 
 him, and all " who cannot quiet their conscience" by the 
 exercise of repentance and faith, communing with their own 
 hearts, to seek the assurance of pardon, as well as " further 
 comfort or counsel," at " the priest's mouth." (For less 
 surely cannot be spoken of him, than of the priest under 
 the law, that his "lips should keep knowledge, and they 
 should seek the law at his mouth ; for he is the mes- 
 senger of the Lord of Hosts.") — Lastly ; in receiving to 
 private and most confidential communing those who will 
 open their heart's sores for healing and medicine, whe- 
 ther in immediate preparation for the Holy Communion, or 
 on any other occasion, he will repeat from the word of God 
 passages, full of comfort, containing rich promises made to 
 the weary and heavy laden ; particularly the several gracious 
 words which proceeded out of the mouth of our Lord. And 
 may he not add, " If now you find that these words speak to 
 your heart with comfort, kneel down, and I, as the minister 
 of Him who has spoken them, and with authority derived 
 from Him, say in His name, *Thy sins are forgiven thee, 
 go in peace.' " 
 
 What has been now said may lead to much consideration 
 of all that belongs to the priestly office, properly so called ; 
 and may receive strength and illustration from every part of 
 it. Let a word be spoken upon the evils which arise out of 
 the neglect of it. 
 
 First, a low esteem of the Sacraments (for there will be 
 
 • One chief token of a priest in our Church is, that he invites to private inter- 
 course, not compels ; acts bj^ persuasion, not force ; not as " having dominion," 
 or being " lord over God's heritage," but " helping their faith." And the words 
 "ghostly counsel and advice," to which was added " comfort " in King Edward's 
 first book, repeating the word, seem to point in the same direction. He is to 
 soothe the penitent, and not to usurp a power over any one's conscience, but give 
 mild and wholesome counsel for the proper management of it.
 
 22 
 
 none to represent the Great High-Priest at the font or the 
 altar) and other ordinances of the Church. In Confirmation, 
 for instance, the attention will be, and often is, directed ex- 
 clusively to the part performed, on the one side, by the 
 youthful candidates for the privilege, who take upon them- 
 selves the baptismal vow ; keeping out of sight the high grace 
 and benefit therein conferred. The office of preaching is 
 extolled, not only to an undue elevation above the prayers of 
 the Church, but to the depreciation of its services. The 
 daily sacrifice is unfrequented, and therefore perhaps " taken 
 away ;" in forgetfulness of that which is placed in the word of 
 prophecy in immediate sequence to this, *•' the setting up of 
 the abomination which maketh desolate '." Again, the want 
 of a ministering priesthood not being deeply felt, there is no 
 willing contribution of funds freely offered for its support ; 
 and its place is supplied by others of man's appointment, 
 perhaps without the cognizance or consent of the Church 
 and its rulers, — Scripture readers, Sunday-school teachers, 
 and others ; useful aids in doing the Lord's work, but acting 
 without authority, and too often speaking their own words. 
 And hence too comes a low estimate of the work to be done 
 for God and Christ, even where some hearts are moved by a 
 spirit of love. It is foretold that " in the day of Christ's 
 power the people shall be willing in the beauty of holiness ;" 
 or " shall offer free-will offerings with a holy worship." And 
 as at once a pattern and a type both for the building of the 
 tabernacle and the temple, the people " offered willingly with 
 a perfect heart " far more than was needed or required. Now 
 resort is had to fancy sales and bazaars, as if to cheat the eye ; 
 and concerts or popular preaching to please the ear; and col- 
 lections are made at the church door, or elsewhere, but rarely 
 presented as an offering to God. Lastly, the Church of 
 England is in danger of losing its proper character and true 
 
 « Dan. xi. 31 ; xii. 11,
 
 23 
 
 inheritance — that which it has derived from the Apostles ; 
 which it has maintained through ages of glorious conflict; 
 which was, through the Divine blessing marvellously ex- 
 tended to it, sealed by the labours and deaths of our illus- 
 trious Reformers, whose chief care was to restore, not inno- 
 vate ; to unite themselves and the Church over which they 
 presided to that of the first ages : to be Catholics, not merely 
 Protestants ; though, be it observed, our Church had been a 
 protesting Church long before the days of Luther and other 
 separatists from Rome. Great cause have we of thankfulness 
 for the guidance of the Spirit of truth, that, in every instance 
 of pressing danger for our Church, the same course has been 
 followed by her best sons. And thus shall we now do honour 
 to the same blessed Spirit, and to our divine Head, who is 
 thus ever present to the faithful ; and to the memory of those 
 whom He sent, and of those who have gone forth in regular 
 succession, with like authority, though with diminished 
 power, " for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the 
 body of Christ." Oh ! may we all strive thus to attain to the 
 " unity of the faith, to the measure of the stature of the ful- 
 ness of Christ ! " 
 
 And is there not another promise scattered largely through 
 the Scriptures ; and therefore another inheritance, which may 
 be ours, if by faith and patience we lay hold on it ? It is the 
 promise so continually made to the small number, the rem- 
 nant, the elect, who shall be only as the shaking of the olive- 
 tree, or the gleaning of grapes. These shall lift up the voice 
 to glorify God " in the isles of the sea." This promise we 
 would make our own, when the powers of the world and of 
 unbelief are united against the Church of God. To maintain 
 the truth, as delivered to it from the beginning, is the privi- 
 lege of the faithful. The British portion of the Church 
 Catholic is according to its first principles, and those which 
 were recovered at the Reformation, Apostolic in doctrine and
 
 24 
 
 in order. And being primitive, it has been small in its num- 
 bers, and must look to be so ; it must look to be hated and 
 despised; oppressed by those who fill high places of the 
 earth, and exposed to the scorn and ridicule of such as seek 
 their favour. Absolute power and universal dominion are 
 the claim and boast of Rome; latitudinarian Unbelief and 
 rationalistic Scepticism will please and delude the multitude ; 
 and Infidelity, gathering all into itself, will sweep the earth 
 like a wide-wasting pestilence. But there shall be a remnant, 
 a " holy seed" ; perhaps as once it was, the " least of all seeds", 
 which shall increase and fill the earth, till " the kingdoms of 
 this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord and his 
 Christ." "The Lord will hasten it in his time !" 
 
 Note. — The attention of the reader is directed (at the suggestion of a most 
 kind friend) to a passage in the Homily of" Common Prayer and Sacraments;" 
 where it is said (arguing that " according to the exact signification of a sacra- 
 ment there be but two"), " Although absolution hath the promise of forgiveness 
 of sin, yet by the express word of the New Testament, it hath not this promise 
 annexed and tied to the visible sign, which is imposition of hands :" and to one 
 in Bp. Andrewes' Sermon V., " Of the sending of the Holy Ghost:" " A third 
 necessity there is we receive Him, for that with Him we shall receive whatever 
 we want, or need to receive, for our soul's good. And here fall in all His 
 offices. By Him we are regenerated at the first in our Baptism. By Him after, 
 confirmed by the imposition of hands. By Him after, renewed to repentance 
 when we fall away, by a second imposition of hands. By Him taught all our 
 life long," &c. There is also another passage in the Homily of Repentance, 
 Part II., which, after a very earnest refutation of the Roman doctrine of 
 auricular confession, concludes with these words : " I do not say, but that, if 
 any do find themselves troubled in conscience, they may repair to their learned 
 curate or pastor, or to some other godly learned man, and show the trouble and 
 doubt of their conscience to them, that they may receive at their hand the com- 
 fortable salve of God's word ; but it is against the true Christian liberty, that 
 any man should be bound to the numbering of his sins, as it hath been used 
 heretofore in the time of blindness and ignorance." 
 
 THE END. 
 
 Gilbert & Rivington, Printers, St. John's Square, London.

 
 
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