alone the rite may be administered) prays for the confirmed persons, "" upon whom (after the example of Thy Holy Apostles) we have now laid our hands, to certify them (by this sign) of Thy favour and gracious goodness towards them 1."

Of the Eucharist, she teaches that "the Body and Blood of CHRIST are verily and indeed taken and received by the Faithful in the LORD's Supper 2:" calls it "the Spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of Thy Son our SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST," and directs the Minister, who delivers the Sacrament to the communicants, to say with the Bread, "the Body of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life;" and with the cup, "the Blood of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life 3.

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And of the relation of the Sacraments,

1 Confirmation Office.

2 Catechism.

3 Communion Office.

to other parts of Christian duty and life. she teaches accordingly, that they are generally, that is universally, necessary to salvation. She prays for the child about to be baptized of ALMIGHTY GOD, "Who didst sanctify water to the mystical washing away of sin, we beseech Thee for Thine infinite mercies, that Thou wilt mercifully look upon this child ; wash him and sanctify him with the HOLY GHOST, that he being delivered from Thy wrath, may be received into the ark of CHRIST's Church, and being steadfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity, may so pass the waves of this troublesome world, that finally he may come to the land of everlasting life, there to reign with THEE world without end: through JESUS CHRIST Our LORD'." And after his baptism, that he " may lead the rest of his life according to this beginning" connecting the blessing of holiness of life in this world, with the state of blessedness in everlasting life, and both

with the Sacrament: and so, not passing it by only as a sign or seal of covenant once set, and of no influence upon the soul afterwards; but representing it as spreading its Heavenly power over the whole of this life beneficially in relation to that which is to come. And in the Confirmation Service she in like manner commemorates the past gift of the HOLY GHOST, and prays for its continuance ; "Almighty and everliving God, who hast vouchsafed to Regenerate these thy servants, by water and the HOLY GHOST, and hast given unto them forgiveness of all their sins; strengthen them, we beseech Thee, O LORD, with the HOLY GHOST the Comforter, and daily increase in them. thy manifold gifts of Grace," &c.

The rubric to the Communion of the Sick fully explains the mind of the Church as to the Eucharist relatively to other Christian duties, "Forasmuch as all mortal men be subject to many sudden perils, diseases, and sicknesses, and ever uncertain what time they shall depart out of this life: therefore to the in

tent that they may be always in a readiness to die, whensoever it shall please ALMIGHTY GOD to call them, the Curates shall diligently from time to time (but especially in the time of pestilence or other infectious sickness) exhort their Parishioners to the often receiving of the Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of our SAVIOUR CHRIST, when it shall be publicly administered in the Church : that so doing they may in case of sudden visitation have the less cause to be disquieted for lack of the same," &c. The Church plainly teaches here that, in order to a readiness to die, she holds a recent communion necessary, (when it may be had) and that Parishioners who neglect the receiving the Holy Communion in the Church, have in case of sudden visitation some cause to be disquieted if they cannot then obtain it.

Of Absolution the Church declares that ALMIGHTY GOD "hath given power and commandment to His ministers to declare and pronounce to His people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission

of their sins'," and, in the office for the Visitation of the Sick, puts into the mouth of the Priest this form of Absolution, "Our LORD JESUS CHRIST Who hath left power to His Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in Him, of His great mercy forgive thee thine offences, and by His authority committed to me, I absolve thee from all thy sins in the name of the FATHER, and of the Son, and of the HOLY GHOST."

Enough has now been said to show that the Church of England professes to be, and is, essentially Catholic: she is, however also, (accidentally) Protestant. And by calling her accidentally Protestant is meant, that as she was Catholic before she became Protestant, and has remained Catholic since, so she might conceivably cease to be Protestant, (say from the necessity of protestation being withdrawn) and remain Catholic as before. She became Protestant in this modified sense, when, by reforming her

1 Morning Prayer.