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The subject of the ministry you admit to be one of great moment. You admit that Christians in general are lamentably ignorant of it. And is not this a most unhappy state of things? In no way, I will venture to pronounce, can the true interests of religion be more deeply wounded, than by low and crude notions of the Christian ministry. Indeed, there is a strong tendency to this error in the spirit of the times. Here it is that the real danger lies. Bigotry was the vice of a former age.t Clergymen are the ambassadors of Christ They act in his name, and exercise his powers. It is his commission that gives validity to their ministrations. "No man taketh

this honor to himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron." Even our blessed Savior glorified not himself to be made an high Priest. He waited for an outward commission. How awful, then, the responsibility of those who venture, without regular authority, to enter upon the sacred office! In an especial manner is it the duty of all, who act as clergymen, or who look forward to that important situation, to give the subject, in question, a most impartial, and

easy of explanation. The reverend person alluded to has been so long accustomed to consider presbyterial government as the true and only one prescribed by God; he has been so long in the habit of regarding Episcopacy as a corrupt innovation, invented by the devil, that opposition to the former, and vindication of the latter, have absolutely grown up, in his imagination, to be a crime.

But admit that we ought not to maintain the exclusive validity of Episcopal ordination; it being an infringement of the rights of other societies to do so. May we not insist that the rule operates universally? Let Presbyterians, then, alter their confessions of faith, and the works of their standard authors. Let us hear no more of " Presbyterial government as the true and only one which the Lord Jesus Christ hath prescribed," or of the exclusive validity of Presbyterial ordination. Surely, we may ask that Episcopacy be no longer branded as antichristian, and that Episcopal ministers be no longer represented as impostors. Will our Presbyterian brethren consent to all this? No, no. And will they, nevertheless, inveigh against Episcopalians for maintaining the Episcopal constitution of the ministry? What degree of consistency, or of humility, there can be, in such conduct, let all candid men judge!

† Men are extremely apt to run from one extreme into another.. Time was when the clergy had too much influence; being looked up to with a superstitious reverence. That time has past; at least in the Protestant world; and we are fast running into the other extreme of underrating the importance and solemnity of the sacred of fice.

deliberate, investigation. The allowance, which a merciful Judge will make for error, we humbly hope, is great; but, surely, they can lay no claim to it, who, through pride or sluggishness, fail to embrace the truth.

I have the honor to be

with all due respect,

sir, your most ob't serv't.
THOMAS Y. HOW.

ERRATA.

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