sure method of embittering and perpetuating opposition, by carrying it into all the relations of social life? Nay, would it not be necessary to extend the subdivision still further? Should not each branch of each party have its own separate institution? Or, seeing that every one has certain individual peculiarities of opinion, whereby he is distinguisht from all others, the euthanasia of this system would be for every single man in England to establish a series of charitable institutions, in which he should be ready to confer all good on all such as agreed with him, but to which no one would come, because there was nobody who had not some difference to keep him away. It was not by stickling, each for his own separate opinions, that the Apostolic Council at Jerusalem pacified the first controversies in the Church, and prepared themselves for their mighty work of bringing the world to Christ, but by giving each other the right hand of fellowship, and by adhering to that which was morally essential, while diversity and freedom in lesser things were fully allowed. In fact, by refraining from supporting institutions establisht for a godly purpose, because they are supported by the members of an opposite party, we do all we can to give them the very bias we complain of; whereas, if we took part in them heartily, we should correct that bias. In this manner is the whole work of the world carried on, not by single forces, but by manifold combinations of opposite forces. Nor does harmony arise from the incessant repetition of a single note, but from the union of divers

notes.

I have spoken thus strongly on this point, though I have often spoken on it before, because it is by these

miserable and hateful divisions that God's work upon earth, the work for which Christ came down, and lived in the form of a Man, and died on the Cross, has been hindered age after age. Through them the Church has been rent in pieces, and has become an object of reproach and scorn to the unbeliever and the Heathen. Through them that holy Body, which the soldiers would not break, and the unbroken integrity of which was of such deep meaning as to have been typified for a millennium and a half in the Paschal Lamb, has been broken in all parts of the world, as though it were the body of Dagon. Through them the saints have been persecuted, and their labours have been baffled. Through them Satan is upheld from age to age on his tottering throne. Nor have these hindrances often been more powerful, and more mischievous, than at this day in England, fostered and stimulated as they ever are by our religious newspapers, which draw their bloated life from feeding on the morbid humours in the Church, and which therefore are ever busy in fomenting and exasperating them (M).

After I have detained you so long, you will not desire that I should protract my Charge still more by talking about the ordinary parochial duties of the Churchwardens. Of these I have spoken frequently on former occasions; and the remarks which I made then are, most of them, applicable still. The restorations and improvements which I recommended in my earliest Charges, are still needed more or less, in many of our Churches, though several of them have been gradually effected in some. This reformation has been carried on during the last year in several parishes with a very

commendable spirit. The greatest work of the last year in the way of church-building has been the opening of the beautiful and noble church of St Paul at Brighton, the architect of which has shewn that he has been thoroughly animated with the spirit of the great architects of the Middle Ages. Valuable improvements have recently been effected in the parishes of Balcombe and Catsfield, where where the churches have been in great part rebuilt on a larger scale. From both these churches the nuisance of pews has been in great part removed, from the latter entirely; and the congregations assembled in them are no longer broken up into knots, but have assumed the appearance of a single body. The same change, I understand, is shortly to take place in the fine church of Icklesham, in which many improvements have already been made. So, I trust, will it at Winchelsea, where important works have been undertaken for the restoration of the church, wellnigh the grandest and most beautiful in the Archdeaconry. The beautiful little church of Bishopstone, which is quite an architectural gem, but which was grievously disfigured by all manner of incumbrances, has also been restored. The church of Lindfield, that of Framfield, that of Warbleton, and that of Jevington, have also been greatly improved. Thus a better spirit has been spreading from parish to parish most of the worst abuses have been removed: and ere long, I trust, no house of God will be left in this Archdeaconry, the aspect of which will not betoken that it is regarded with reverence and love by the people. From my not dwelling more on these points, you will not infer, I hope, my friends, that it is less

desirable now that you should attend to them, than it was ten years ago,- excepting so far as the works, which were then most needed, may already have been accomplisht,—or that, because I have been exhorting you to the fulfilment of higher and more important duties, you may therefore deem that you have an exemption, at least for the time, from the lower and less important. On the contrary it is commonly found that they who are the most active and faithful in the fulfilment of their highest duties, are also active and faithful in due measure in the fulfilment of the lowest ; as conversely they who are faithful in the lowest, are mostly so in the highest. It implies a morbid vision in the eye of conscience, when it can only discern large objects, and has no sight for small ones.

There is one subject however on which I must say a word, before I conclude. I have been speaking of a number of moral evils, against which we have to contend; and it has appeared that the only effectual mode of contending against them is with the manifold weapons of Christian love. In like manner, you all know, a terrible physical evil is now spreading destructively through various parts of England, and is even said to have invaded our own county. At all events we must not expect to escape its attacks. In every village we may be exposed to them: and we are the more likely to be so from having such a long line of sea-coast, which has been remarkt to be especially visited by its ravages. It is a disease too, against which medical skill has been more than usually powerless. Yet here also infinite good may be wrought by the same remedy, wherewith alone we can encounter all other evils

successfully, by Christian faith and love. In this mode of resisting it we may all bear part along with the physician, each of us in our several parishes, ministers and churchwardens, clergymen and laymen. Let us take advantage of this occasion by increast diligence in exercising all the offices of Christian love toward all classes of our brethren. It is well known how sickness, in the case of individuals, is often converted into a special means of grace. In like manner, through the transmuting power of Christian love, as the most precious fruit of human nature regenerated through Christ's Incarnation and Passion, may this deadly pestilence be converted into a great national blessing. It may become a warning to many to forsake their sins it may lead many to a more earnest repentance: it may move many to turn with greater entireness of heart to God. So too may it be the means of softening the hearts of many toward their brethren: it may render many more active in ministering to them: and in this manner, by manifesting Christian love toward the helpless and needy, shall we win a rich harvest of love in return. Hereby, if we make a right use of this calamity, we may be enabled to counteract the numerous causes of division which have arisen out of the eager pursuit of outward wealth, fostered by the selfish maxims of an antichristian Political Economy; and in spite of Satan, in spite of man, the hearts of the English people may be drawn together.

Thus, whithersoever we look, whether on the light, or on the darkness, whether on our national prosperity, or on our national distresses, whether on the miseries and helplessness of our brethren, or on the grace and