duly transmitted to the Bishop by the Rural Deans. The Bishop confirmed the vote of the majority, and acted upon it. It was a regular Synod. Nor indeed is this a subject unworthy of the deep consideration and grave debate of a more formal Synod than ours was. Few people, except parish Priests who have had constant and lengthened experience in these matters, can understand the importance of fit seasons. The seasons of the natural year, the lengthening evenings, the unusual leisure, interrupted, and that only partially, by the spring sowing, the greater facilities for preparation, all these are subjects well deserving of thought. But far more than people of general education can possibly conceive, depends on the seasons of the spiritual year, which, being thus adapted to the feelings of the catechumens, in the first place are made means of teaching and systems of preparation, and eventually become anniversaries and remembrancers of First Communion, its blessings, its privileges, and its duties. While these sheets were in the press, the following announcement reached me from the Bishop of Chichester, and as the exhortation to the godfathers and godmothers is so complete a confirmation of my own observations, I have requested permission of his Lordship to publish it. "TO THE MINISTERS OF THE DIOCESE OF CHICHESTER. "Reverend and Dear Brother, "On the day and at the church assigned in the scheme below, I purpose, GoD willing, to administer the Holy Rite of Confirmation to such members of your Flock as, being of a suitable1 age, and not having yet been ad 1 Be it observed, the Bishop does not take upon himself to determine mitted thereto, you shall then recommend and present to me for the purpose. "Meanwhile, I request that you will read the following Announcement and Exhortation in your church, on one or more Sundays, as you shall judge expedient, after Morning and Evening Prayer. “I remain, "Your faithful and affectionate Brother, "A. T. CICESTR. "Palace, Chichester, May 24th, 1853. "Announcement and Exhortation. "Dearly Beloved Brethren, "I am directed by the Bishop to give notice, that he will, by GoD's help, be ready to confirm such young persons, and others, of this parish, as shall be duly prepared, on Saturday, the thirteenth day of August, at Westbourne, where they are required to be at eleven o'clock. "The Bishop further desires, through me, on this occasion, to remind godfathers and godmothers of the obligations they have contracted towards those for whom they answered on the day of their baptism; and the natural parents, likewise, of the obligations they contracted towards those godfathers and godmothers, towards the Church, and towards CHRIST, and the FATHER, and the HOLY SPIRIT, the one ever blessed GOD, when their child was brought to the baptismal font in the Church's faith, acting by the sponsors, and there laid in CHRIST's arms, in the sure trust that He would receive and bless it, as He did those young children who were brought to Him in the days of His flesh upon earth. Those obligations and responsibilities were nothing less than that, each in your sphere, you what the "suitable age" is-he leaves that to the discretion of the parish Priests. xiv you PREFACE. should look to it that the children baptized 'should be taught, so soon as they should be able to learn, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession' you then made for them in their baptism. A season of Confirmation, then, is a season of inquiry, affecting all the parties before concerned in bringing an infant to baptism. Have you fulfilled the engagements then so solemnly entered into? Have taken care that the children, who, on your presentation of them, were admitted by the Church to baptism, should, by yourselves, or by others, be taught the Creed, the LORD's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and all other things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his soul's health? And you, who have not yet renewed in your own persons the vows that were then made for you, (that is, who have not yet been confirmed,) have you, as dutiful children, and faithful servants— according to your years-of CHRIST, set yourselves to improve the privileges of your Christian calling, so as to be ready, now that you are of a sufficient age, to renew, with an understanding mind, and a willing heart, the covenant heretofore made for you in the blood of your merciful SAVIOUR? These are the inquiries virtually addressed to a very large number of this congregation by the announcement that a day is appointed on which the young, and others who are duly prepared, may be presented for Confirmation. Them it will be my duty especially to examine and to instruct towards this end. But neither was it fitting that the opportunity should be omitted of calling the serious attention of others to the different degrees in which they too are interested in this event. is an occurrence, indeed, which cannot be viewed with indifference by any faithful member of the congregation; for if true Christians, we must feel that we are all concerned in the spiritual welfare each of the other, as bound together in a holy brotherhood in CHRIST JESUS Our LORD." It CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION.-ON CONFIRMATION. Our people unable to realise our Office-Reasons for this-Con- firmation a means of regaining them-Sponsors-Necessary at Con- firmation-The use of them-Christian Education-Obstacles in the way of it-Means of observing them-Middle Schools-Sunday Schools -Evening Schools-Obstacles to preparing for Confirmation arising from the occupations of the Lower Classes-Arising from the inex- perience of Bishops-The Proper Age for Confirmation-Common mis- takes made by the Priest himself-Preparation of the Conscience as well as the Intellect-Schism-Preaching must be authoritative, not argu- mentative-Preparation of Intellect-Of Conscience-Articulus stantis vel cadentis Ecclesiæ-Work and Pay-Salvation by Works essentially a Puritan idea-National peculiarities to be studied as well as personal- Difference between the English character and the Italian or Spanish- The Church adapts her teaching to reach either of these characters.- CHRIST Our Example-The Churchman taught by the Calendar— Advent, Preparations for following CHRIST-Christmastide, Qualifications for following CHRIST-Circumcision, Obedience-Epiphany, Privileges- Sundays after Epiphany, the various duties of social life-Last Sun- day after Epiphany, the Warning, and the offered Prize-Septuagesima : the Awakening-The Talents-Easter: the Resurrection-The Priest's invitation-Preparation necessary-Easter a warning of Judgment.— The whole of the Old Testament narrative is Typical-Christian Doc- Leader-The Passover, the Sacrifice-The Red Sea, Baptism-The Pillar III. THE SEASON OF WATCHFULNESS AND SELF-EXAMINATION. The Sundays dating from Easter-Septuagesima: Watch-Lent: Pray -Change in the character of the Gospels-The Labourers in the Vine- yard-Change in the character of the Lessons: Isaiah and Genesis- The Parable of the Sower-Christian fields and Christian hearts-The Miracle of the Blind Man-Reason why it concludes the Season of The Church Calendar a Type of Christians' Life as well as the Exodus -Manhood is not enjoyment, but hard work-Liberty implies Respon- sibility-The Duties and Privileges of Manhood shown by the Six Sun- days in Lent-First Sunday: Social duties easier than personal purity- Second Sunday: Our spiritual weakness-Third Sunday: GoD's Defence. A sense of our own weakness peculiarly necessary to those who have made any advance in Holiness-Example of the Pharisees-Reason for the constant recurrence of the Ash Wednesday Collect-The Memory of our past unworthiness a more profitable meditation than that of any pre- sent advance in Holiness-How to avoid the snare of Spiritual Pride.— VI. THE CHRISTIAN'S NOURISHMENT. Midlent Sunday-The Sundays in Lent are not Sundays of Lent-The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes-It forms the Gospel for two important Sundays-Reason for this-Its Advent interpretation-Its Easter inter- pretation-The latter authorised by our LORD-Why the Communion is the real Bread from Heaven rather than the Manna.-(Pp. 83-89.) |