prayers, with hearts disposed as one man to hear his word and to obey it, the love of Christ constraining us so long we may rely upon his gracious promises that his protection will be extended to our beloved country and insure its prosperity. But if not-not. No policy, no power, no wealth, natural or acquired, can save that nation which disowns and forgets God; the sins of the people will recoil upon their own heads, and by a slow but sure process of events will bring about their own punishment. This National Institution of Religion can only be established and preserved by a system, by a consistent code of laws enforced in an orderly manner by regular authority. Reform the Church, as much as you please, by real amendments; let the clergy be kept to their duties, by [residence upon their cures, and an assiduous care of their flocks (and perhaps they rather want encouragement in the discharge of their ministry than reproof) but let the laity, who form a large portion of the Church, be persuaded to consider part of their duty to God, for their own sakes and for the sake of their country, to continue this system in its efficiency by that affectionate and liberal support without which, humanly speaking, it must dwindle and wither away. Finally, my brethren, we seek not yours, but C you. We want to have your hearts with us; that we may go hand and hand through this pilgrimage. Our desire is to win souls. Therefore let me end as I began, by exhorting you to strive more and more to perfect in yourselves the Christian character. No doubt the foundation is the great thing; and other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, Jesus Christ but upon this foundation a man must take care what he builds, whether gold, silver, or precious stones, that is, a valuable and lasting structure, or wood, hay, stubble, light and perishable stuff, which cannot stand the trial in the day when" the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire." One man improves his house and grounds, another his farm, another his shipping, another his merchandise and traffic. Men of business are not satisfied unless they get on, and increase their gain. Let us all be persuaded to give our utmost diligence to amend ourselves, to improve, by God's grace, our stock of Christian virtues, by adding to our faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity, T. Jennett, Printer, Stockton. WHO ARE THE PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL? A SERMON, PREACHED AT USK, OCTOBER XXIII, MDCCCXXXVIII, AT THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE MONMOUTHSHIRE DISTRICT COMMITTEES OF THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, AND THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL. BY EDWARD, LORD BISHOP OF LLANDAFF. WITH AN APPENDIX ON LOGOMACHY, AND ON THE DUTY OF BUILDING CHURCHES. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. G. & F. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL. A SERMON, &c. PHIL. i. 15-18. "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good-will: the one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." MUCH error, and sometimes very important error, has, I believe, sprung from a hasty application of this passage, especially of the latter clause in it, to the circumstances of the Church in the present day. By some it has even been produced as an authority for not confining the preaching of the word of God to persons duly ordained and sent for that purpose, but as implying a free commission to all men, without inquiry into the soundness of their faith, the degree |