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ADVERTISEMENT.

THE late Archdeacon WATSON, almost precluded, for many of the latter years of his life by his infirm state of health, from the public exercise of preaching, and averse to all kinds of publicity except such as the simple discharge of duty required, had never during his life-time allowed any of his Sermons or Charges to be committed to the press. It is not in the intention of those who have the charge of his papers, to act contrary to his known wishes by offering a selection of them to public perusal now; but many, to whom he was endeared as a friend or in his pastoral relation, having desired to possess some memorial of his mind and thoughts, the following Charge, delivered on an important public occasion, and at the time received with marked approbation by the respectable body of Clergy to whom it was addressed, was chosen with a view to meet that wish by a small private impression.

On further consideration, however, it appeared so strongly to illustrate a part of the revered Archdeacon's character, (feelingly alluded to in a Funeral Sermon', printed at the request of the Parishioners) viz. "his high sense of the dignity and of the responsibility of the Ministerial Office;"-a portion of Divine Revelation, once too little appreciated, but which he happily lived to see

"The Good Shepherd"'-a Sermon preached in the parish church of Hackney on the Sunday next following the funeral of the Ven. J. J. WATSON, D.D. Archdeacon of St. Alban's, by the Rev. H. H. NORRIS, M.A.— Page 20.

restored to its due regard with a large proportion of

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Churchmen; whilst at the same time it contained such a seasonable declaration of his sentiments on certain schemes of National Education' now unhappily revived; that it has been thought more due both to the author's memory, and to the Truth, which through his useful life he devotedly maintained, to present it as a public offering for the service of the Church; in the humble hope that it may confirm some hearts that "tremble for the Ark of God," and instruct the zeal of others that are bold in its defence.

1 See p. 22, of the following Charge.

August, 1839.

2 1 Samuel iv. 13.

Α

CHARGE,

&c.

MY REVEREND BRETHREN,

IN submitting to the consideration of the respectable Body of Clergy connected with this Archdeaconry any suggestions upon professional subjects or pastoral duties, I cannot but very strongly feel that I am addressing many of my Brethren who require not from me either counsel or incitement "to speak the things which become sound doctrine," or "to show themselves in all things patterns of good works 1." I must not however allow myself to find in that conviction an excuse for neglecting the province assigned to me on such occasions as the present, although, in endeavouring to acquit myself of this obligation, I unavoidably trespass on the attention of several, who, upon the very points in discussion, may be better qualified to give than to receive

1 Tit. ii. 7.

instruction. There are indeed some truths of such acknowledged importance, and yet not always perhaps present to us in their clearest light, that any assistance offered to recall them to our recollection, from whatever hand it comes, will never be received with indifference. And though, I humbly trust, we are none of us strangers to what our sacred function demands from us, yet who is there so sufficient for these things, as to reject the word of friendly exhortation? My best security however will be from your regard to the office, to which you can have no exceptions, abstracted from the officer, liable to so many.

I would request you therefore, in your indulgent acceptance of my imperfect services, to divest yourselves of any personal consideration, and to receive me as the messenger from superior authority, acting, under a trust of deep responsibility, for the support of those ecclesiastical regulations, which are designed and calculated to promote the peace, good order, and prosperity of the Church of which we are Ministers. Commissioned for these high and honourable objects by a Prelate', whose distinguished talents and endearing virtues conciliate the respect and attachment of all within the sphere of their influence, and have already, I doubt not, given him the strongest hold on your affection and esteem, it will be my persevering endeavour and most anxious wish to justify a con

1

His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, then Bishop of London.

fidence more valued than merited by me, and to approve myself among you as a faithful fellow-labourer with yourselves for the advancement of those important interests which we have equally at heart; anticipating, in your cordial co-operation and advice, the surest pledge of a successful prosecution of my duties, and looking for their most acceptable recompense in this world, to the regard and friendship of this venerable Body, the credit, regularity, and comfort of your respective Parishes, and the approval of our revered Diocesan.

Among the various subjects, which most naturally engage the considerations of such meetings as this, some unquestionably acquire a more immediate interest from the temper and circumstances of the times. And although those in which we live afford abundant matter of anxious examination, and are big with consequences essentially affecting both our spiritual and temporal concerns, yet I know not whether there be any which a conscientious Pastor of Christ's flock, desirous of bringing back the stray sheep to the fold, and of preventing others from wandering, will feel to be of stronger urgency, than a clear, correct, and convincing statement of the nature and constitution of the Christian Church, as necessarily involving the exclusive validity of the Episcopal Priesthood. To ourselves it must be most satisfactory to be able to establish, upon the solid basis of scriptural evidence, the sure footing on which we stand in the assumption

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