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 PREACHED IN ST. PAUL's CHURCH, BRIGHTON, 
 MAY, 17, MDCCCLVII. 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM GRESLEY, M.A. 
 
 PREBENDARY OF LICHFIELD. 
 
 PCTBLISHED BY REQUEST. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 J. Masters, A.ldersgate St., and 78, New Bond St. 
 
 brighton : 
 Alfred Hawkins and Co. 35, West Street. 
 
 MDCCCLVII.
 
 BRIGHTON : 
 
 PRINTED BY ALFRED HAWKINS, 
 
 WEST STREET.
 
 PREFACE 
 
 TO THE CONGREGATION OF S. PAUL S CHURCH. 
 
 My Very Dear Friends, 
 
 I could not trust myself to say all that was in my 
 heart, when preaching to you for the last time. 
 
 Never, perhaps, has there been a congregation 
 between whom and its pastors more mutual 
 sympathy, and good-will, and kindness has sub- 
 sisted than amongst us, at S. Paul's. Meeting 
 together daily in God's House, for common 
 worship, partaking together contmually of our 
 Saviour's blessed Body and Blood, engaged in 
 so many works of Christian charity, it was 
 impossible that we should not be united together 
 in heart and spirit. 
 
 Long may this harmony and love continue, 
 though I am no longer with you.
 
 Let me take this opportunity of thanking you 
 most heartily, — not only generally, for the kind- 
 ness which I have experienced, but, for many 
 special tokens of your regard ; some of you for 
 a most beautiful service of Communion Plate; 
 some for the costly and splendid Window which 
 is designed to represent the worship of the 
 Universal Church, as set forth in the Te Deum ; 
 and other ^vindows, for my new Church ; besides 
 a magnificent Bible, Communion Book, Altar 
 Cloths, and other valuable gifts, more numerous 
 than I can count. 
 
 Itneeded not these costly presents to preserve the 
 remembrance of you in my heart : but, they are 
 gratefully accepted for the sake of Him to whose 
 service they are dedicated. 
 
 Ever, my beloved Friends, 
 
 Affectionately Yours, 
 WILLIAM GHESLEY. 
 
 Maidenhead, 
 
 May 2m, 1857. 
 
 %>InlV
 
 I^rotoil ^amon. 
 
 Ephesians vi. 24. 
 
 "grace be with all them that -love OUE lord JESUS 
 CHRIST IN SINCERITY." 
 
 I do not like to think, my dear brethren, that 
 this is the last time of my addressing you from 
 this place; for though I am about to cease to be 
 one of the officiating priests in this Church, yet, 
 I hope often to visit a place endeared to me by 
 so many associations, and perhaps sometimes to 
 be permitted to occupy my old place amongst 
 
 you.
 
 8 
 
 Pardon me if, on this occasion, I say a few 
 words of myself. 
 
 It is now more than six years since I came 
 here as a visitor, and was allowed to take part in 
 the services of this Church. I look upon it as a 
 great era in my life. I found, as I believed, a 
 Church where a great work was going on for 
 Christ ; where, as the Apostle says in the text, 
 men, " loved the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." 
 The devotion of the clergy to their ministerial 
 labours appeared to me most exemplary and 
 unwearied. In the midst of many temptations 
 to the pleasures of worldly society, they lived a 
 life devoted to God, and to liis service, — occupied 
 in winning souls to Clirist. I felt that God's 
 blessing was on the work, and when, soon after, 
 an opportunity arrived, I resolved to offer myself 
 as a fellow-labourer in the vinyard. During the 
 six years of my ministration in tliis Church and 
 parish, I have never ceased to rejoice and thank 
 God that I had been permitted to take a part in 
 so good a Avork, and share in the praise, or in the 
 dispraise.
 
 9 
 
 The most prominent feature which character- 
 izes this Church is the care taken in the reverent 
 service of Abnighty God. 
 
 The worship of God is the great object of our 
 lives. It was for this purpose that we were 
 created. For this purpose, when we had fallen 
 into sin, we were regenerated and born anew, of 
 water and the Spirit. For this purpose, when 
 we sink into the grave, we shall be raised again 
 from the dead, — that we may worship God to all 
 eternity. True worship implies that we "love 
 the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." Without the 
 love of Him we cannot be true worshippers. And 
 such worship I believed that I had found here. 
 Others go to Churches where they may hear the 
 gospel preached : and far, very far be it from me 
 to disparage the faithful preaching of the gospel. 
 But, I confess, that -with me the first object was 
 to find a place where God was really worshipped. 
 The most eloquent preaching ill compensates for 
 a cold unreal service. 
 
 There are peculiar facilities in this place, beyond
 
 10 
 
 most others, for maintaining a reverent and holy 
 worship. A liberal and unanimous congregation, 
 a skilful choir and organist, seconding the zeal and 
 piety of thcu' pastor, have all contributed to pro- 
 duce the admkable service which it has been our 
 privilege so long to enjoy. 
 
 The light in which I have always regarded the 
 services of this Chui'ch, is, as an attempt, and a 
 very successful one, to bring out the real capa- 
 bilities of the English ritual in all its beauty of 
 hohness. The worship of God ought to be 
 accompanied by reverence and grandeur. When 
 God condesended to prescribe a ritual for him- 
 self, under the old dispensation, it was ordained 
 to be with splendour and magnificence. It is 
 true that the ancient ritual was one of types and 
 figui-es of good things to come : and we have the 
 anti- types and the reality. Instead of the mere flesh 
 and blood of bulls and goats, we do, as our Church 
 declares, " verily and indeed partake of the body 
 and blood of Christ." The blessed Eucharist is 
 ten thousand times more holy than the sacrifices
 
 11 
 
 of the former dispensation. But, is the superior 
 holiness of Clu'istian worship any reason why its 
 accompaniments should be cold and irreverent'? 
 On the contrary, we might conclude that the 
 more holy and spiritual our worship, so much the 
 more warm, and reverential, and diligently cared 
 for should be its accompaniments. Such has 
 ever been the practice of the Church universal. 
 No sooner had it risen from the persecutions of 
 the first centuries, than it at once built splendid 
 Churches and Basihcas in honour of Christ, and 
 adopted a reverential and ornate ritual. If we 
 cast our eye over the surface of Christendom at 
 the present day, we shall still see, almost every- 
 where, the greatest attention paid to the service 
 of God. In our own Communion, unhappily, 
 during the last century, when the love of Christ 
 waxed cold, and few sei:ved him in sincerity, 
 much slovenliness and irreverence was suffered to 
 creep in. Our Churches, closed, except for a few 
 hours on the Sunday, became, disfigured with 
 damp and mildew : attempts here and there to
 
 12 
 
 restore something of decency, were, from long 
 disuse, executed in the most tasteless manner. 
 In short, our parish Churches were, very 
 generally, a disgrace to our religion. 
 
 We have to thank God that within the last 
 twenty years a better feeling has arisen in this 
 country. A great work has been going on, — 
 nothing less than the restoration of the worship 
 of God throughout the land, to its fitting 
 solemnity, — and that, not by any change or 
 innovation, but simply by drawing forth the 
 resources of our own Prayer Book. The 
 Church in Avhich we are now assembled is one of 
 the results of this movement. It has sprung up 
 from the craving of an awakened piety, for 
 something more of fitness and decency in the 
 worship of God than had recently prevailed. 
 
 It is a great mistake to suppose that, in this 
 
 * 
 
 movement after a holier worship, there is any- 
 thing connected with the peculiar errors of Rome. 
 Ignorant" and designing people raise a cry of 
 Popery, when they see any tiring which accords
 
 13 
 
 not with their prejudices. But can it be Popery 
 to restore the English service to its due solemni- 
 ty — to do simply what the law of the English 
 Church allows or enjoins 1 There may be those 
 who like things because they assimilate with 
 Rome: others may ^Mike them for the same 
 reason. People will have their peculiar fancies 
 and prejudices. For myself I care only whether it 
 be for the greater glory of God. Whatever 
 tends to express reverence and love for Christ 
 our Lord, and to symbolize and exhibit the great 
 objects of our faith, — tliis I should gladly see 
 adopted. I do not wish to go beyond the lawful 
 limits of the Church of my country, which have 
 happily been defined, and I trust, set at rest by 
 recent judgments. But whatever of reverent 
 ceremonial is compatible Avith her institutions, 
 that I hope we shall see gradually restored 
 tlii'oughout the land. And for this reason, — 
 because I know from experience that great 
 attention to the general reverence, and even 
 minute propriety, of God's service, has a very
 
 14 
 
 powerful effect to di*aw souls to God ; it speaks to 
 many minds more forcibly than the most eloquent 
 sermon. Yes, there is an immense influence for 
 good in the reverent service of God, such as we 
 are privileged to join in, in this Church. It has 
 a marvellous power to convert souls from sin and 
 woiidliness to true religion ; and to lead them on 
 from grace to grace in the path towards per- 
 fection. A poor sinful soul, laden with iniquities 
 comes, it maybe accidentally, amongst us: he sees, 
 what perhaps he has never seen before, a con- 
 gregation of real worshippers, who love the 
 Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and look upon his 
 service as the great object of their lives. His 
 heart is stirred within him, and he wishes that 
 he too could learn to worship God, He comes 
 again and again, and still ever feels more and 
 more the sacred influence around Mm. Exam- 
 ple is proverbially better than precept. The sight 
 of a congregation worshijiping is more effective, 
 in leaduig others to worship, than the most urgent 
 exhortation, when the example is wanting. It is
 
 15 
 
 the carelessness and irreverence of the worship 
 in too many Churches which, I am persuaded, 
 is the cause of so few conversions. It is to 
 the care which is taken to give a life and reality 
 to oiir worship here, which has won so many to 
 our communion, and, I trust, has conduced to 
 the salvation of many souls. 
 
 Another principle which we have endeavoured 
 to carry out in this Church, is, to afford every 
 opportunity to the members of our congregation 
 for private communication with their pastors, 
 whether for confession, if they need it, or for 
 spiritual counsel and advice. It has been our 
 practice to dwell much on the need of the 
 worthy reception of the Holy Communion of the 
 Body and Blood of Christ. How often have we 
 quoted to you the words of our blessed Lord, 
 " Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and 
 drink His blood, ye have no life in you." But, 
 it would be most improper and dangerous to 
 urge persons to a rash and indiscriminate 
 reception of their Saviour's Body and Blood,
 
 16 
 
 without a due prej)aration of their souls by true 
 repentance and faith. To meet this require- 
 ment, we have from time to time invited those 
 who were doubtful of their fitness, to come and 
 open their grief, as the Church directs them", " to 
 one of God's ministers, that they might receive 
 the benefit of absolution, together with ghostly 
 counsel and advice." The happiest results have 
 sprung from thus faithfully following out the 
 instructions of our Church; and many, I trust, 
 will have cause to thank God everlastingly for 
 having been brought, through this Ordinance, to 
 true repentance and an amended life, and taught 
 to " love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." 
 
 I need not remind you that much difference of 
 opinion, and many discussions have arisen with 
 regard to the doctrine and practice of confession. 
 It has been a cause of sincere grief to me 
 (indeed, almost the only great trouble which I 
 have experienced in this place,) that I have found 
 myself opposed, in respect to this subject, to the 
 opinion of one, to whom, in all cases which
 
 n 
 
 appeared to admit of question, it was my duty to 
 yield my judgment — I mean the respected Bishop 
 of the Diocese. I have no authority whatever to 
 say that his Lordship's opinion is changed ; yet, 
 I have reason to believe that it is so far modified, 
 that he no longer considers the opinions held by 
 myself and my friends to be mcompatible with 
 perfect loyalty and faithfulness to the Church in 
 which he bears authority. 
 
 The very discussion of the subject has had the 
 effect of leading those who are sincere to truth. 
 It is, I think, now very generally admitted, ^r^^ 
 that the principle of Confession and Absolution 
 is most undeniably and distinctly recognised in 
 the English Church. Indeed, it is impossible to 
 deny the fact, unless vv^e set aside the plain sense 
 of words. And, secondly^ that the practice of it 
 must be left to each parochial minister, and those 
 members of the Church who desire to avail 
 themselves of it, subject, of course, to the cor- 
 rection of the Bishop, if any abuse arise in this 
 as in any other matter. In truth, absolution
 
 18 
 
 is a privilege which the members of the Church 
 have a right to claim at the hands of their 
 priests, in its proper time and measiu'e, just as 
 much as any other Ordinance of Reli- 
 gion, I only wish that more persons would 
 claim the pri\ilege than those who are found to 
 do so. Hundreds there are, now living in sin, 
 and worldliness, to whom the confession of sin 
 might be the beginning of a new life, and the 
 first step towards a happy immortality. There 
 is no one thing so helpful to conversion of the 
 soul to God, and true repentance, as this 
 ordinance of the Chiu'ch. 
 
 With regard to the clamour which has been 
 raised on this subject — those who talk so loudly at 
 public meetings about such matters, would I fear 
 not feel themselves very much flattered, if they 
 knew the perfect indifference "svith which they are 
 regarded by us. In truth, our only regret has 
 been, to see persons acting with so much bigotry 
 and folly. I can compare their sayings and 
 doings to nothing more fitly than to the blustering
 
 19 
 
 noise of the storm that rages without, when all is 
 peace mthin our home. Nay, to follow out the 
 simile, — as the rage of the tempest drives men 
 to seek for shelter under the friendly roof, so the 
 very clamour of their controversy has, to my 
 knowledge, driven those who desire peace to take 
 refuge here. 
 
 But enough on this unpleasant subject. Let us 
 turn rather to the words of holy benediction, 
 in which St. Paul takes leave of his beloved 
 Ephesians " Grace be to all them that love the 
 Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." Can I, my 
 beloved Brethren, in parting from you, (though 
 it be but for a time,) beseech for you a greater 
 blessing than that ye may love the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and that His grace and peace may be 
 with you. 
 
 It is not the wrangling of controversy, 
 but the loving the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
 the being beloved of Him, that is the great 
 object of all our preaching, all our prayers, all 
 our endeavours, yea of our very lives. He that
 
 20 
 
 hath the love of God in his heart, hath every- 
 thing of real value, both for this world and for 
 the world to come. " God is love," and " he 
 that dwelleth in love, dAvelleth in God." He 
 that is "rooted and grounded" in the love of 
 God, hath a sure fomidation, on which to build 
 the fabric of eternal life. A^Tio can tell the 
 height or depth of the love of God 1 " We love 
 God because he first loved us." Hereby 
 perceive we the love of God because he hath 
 laid down his life for us." "Behold what 
 manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, 
 that we should be called the Sons of God." 
 Must not He who knoweth and believeth these 
 things love God above aU. earthly things '? And 
 yet there is nothing of necessity enthusiastic or 
 liigh-flown, or beyond the power of an ordinary 
 man of honest heart, in loving the Lord Jesus 
 Christ in sincerity. It is not so much a thing of 
 mere sensibility and feeling, as of earnest sober 
 duty. If God gives sensible, enthusiastic, high 
 wrought feelings of love to any of us, let us be
 
 21 
 
 thankful, and see we be not unduly elated. 
 But if we have not these feelings let us not be 
 disappointed. We may still love the Lord 
 Jesus Christ in sincerity. "Tliis, says St. 
 John, is the love of God that ye keep his 
 commandments." This is the only true test of 
 the love of God in our hearts, that we yield a 
 ■willing and hearty obedience to His command- 
 ments — that we follow His Avill not our own — 
 seek to please Him by a cheerfid obedience. 
 " Who so keepeth His word, says St. John, in 
 him verily is the love of God perfected." 
 
 But O ! beware of that great rock of 
 stumbling — the great danger of the present day, 
 beware that ye set not your affections on the 
 things of this world. " If any one love the 
 world, the love of God abideth not in him." We 
 must not suffer the world and its absorbing 
 interests, nor our o^vn corrupt passions and 
 desii'es, to steal our hearts from God. But we 
 must love Him with all our hearts, and souls and 
 strength.
 
 22 
 
 And if we love God, wc shall love our 
 Brethren also — that is another test. " If a man 
 says he loveth God, and hateth his brother, he is 
 a liar". If we love one another God dwelleth 
 in us. We are joined together in Him — so that 
 we must needs love one another, as fellow 
 members of Christ. If we love the Lord 
 Jesus Christ in sincerity, we must needs love 
 the members of His body. Therefore as the 
 aged apostle exhorted his beloved brethren with 
 his latest breath — " Little chidren love one 
 another." 
 
 And then the Grace of God %mll he with you 
 and abound. His grace will sm'ely be with all those 
 who " love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." 
 His grace and his peace wiU be with them. No 
 harm wiU touch them. The Evil One will have 
 no advantage over them. They will have a 
 strength greater than their own to direct their 
 steps, and keep them from falling. They "svill 
 go on their way rejoicing — strong in the grace 
 which is in Christ Jesus.
 
 23 
 
 O ! may it be so with you my dear Brethren. 
 Cherish in your hearts above all things the love of 
 Christ. Prove the sincerity of your love by cheer- 
 ful obedience to His commandments, and by your 
 love and charity for each other. Let nothing 
 separate you from the love of God. Beware of 
 the world and its allurements. Beware of covetous- 
 ness. Keep a watch over the still remaining 
 faultiness of your own hearts. Worship the 
 Lord your God and Him only. Worship Him 
 in the beauty of holiness : dehght in His service 
 of prayer and praise, and to partake often, with 
 due preparation of heart, in the blessed 
 Sacrament of your Saviours body and blood. If 
 scruples arise in your minds by reason of your 
 sin and unworthiness, do not hesitate to go, as 
 your Church bids you, to the minister of God's 
 Word, who is appointed for the very purpose of 
 giving you consolation and help. Care not for 
 the rude cavils of the ignorant world, in this, or 
 any other matter. Keep to your Church and 
 her ordinances. Let nothing move you to for-
 
 24 
 
 sake her or to speak evil of her. Live accordmg 
 to her holy laws and you are safe. And above 
 all, let all things be done in charity. " Be kindly, 
 affectioned one towards another with brotherly 
 love." Speak evil of no man. Love even your 
 enemies. Do not treat them mth bitterness — 
 neither with contempt. But, if I might so 
 speak, treat them with good-temper — that is the 
 true form of Chiistian love towards enemies and 
 opponents. Pray often, watch against sin, 
 " stand fast in the faith — be of good comfort — 
 be of one mind — ^Kve in peace — and the God of 
 love and peace shall be vdth you." 
 
 Finally, Brethren, farewell. May the bless- 
 ing of God be with you aU. Mercy unto you, 
 peace and love be multiplied. — Amen. 
 
 A. HAWKINS, PRINTER, BRIGHTON.
 
 PORTRAIT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REV. AV. GRESLEY, M.A., 
 
 PREBENDARY OF LICHFIELD. 
 
 Published ivith his consent. — Lithographed from 
 Life., hy Mr. Charles Baugniet^ to whom the 
 Rev. JV. Gresley sat. 
 
 TERMS 
 
 artists' proofs 10 6 
 
 PROOFS 8 
 
 PRINTS 6 
 
 We are authorized to state, that this Portrait 
 has the full approbation of the Rev. W. Gresley's 
 family and friends, and, is considered, by all who 
 have viewed it, to be one of Mr. Baugniet's 
 masterpieces. 
 
 Alfred Hawkins & Co., 35, West Street, 
 Brighton. Joseph Masters, Aldersgate Street, 
 and New Bond Street, London.
 
 CAA 

 
 
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