theirs. All I can do in this important ordinance is, to " look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen,” and thus, by faith, looking above the outward visible signs, for the inward spiritual grace, to realize the communion of saints, from which if I should separate myself by neglecting so blessed a mean of maintaining it, I should (I think) sin against my own soul, and against the whole body of Christ.

You are placed, my dear sister, perhaps you will say, in more painful circumstances than I am; because you know too well that your Minister, and nearly all the communicants in his church, are unconverted. This is certainly very painful and lamentable. Yet that minister (so wisely and wonderfully has our Church provided) can do nothing and say nothing in administering the Sacrament, which is in itself superstitious or unscriptural; but only that which tends to the real edification of the true believer. You may look on him therefore, as a mere instrument. But, if you come in faith, you may look upon him as an instrument in Christ's hand (who works by

what instruments He will) to administer Christ's ordinance to you. And looking above the instrument to Christ, even as, looking beyond the outward visible signs, you look for the inward spiritual grace,-you may, by faith, receive a blessing.

And not only in the administration of the sacraments, but even in the preaching of the Word, it is the Christian's privilege and duty to look above the poor unworthy instruments to the GREAT SHEPHERD and BISHOP of our souls always remembering that Ministers are to us just what Christ is pleased to make them, and that (whether willing or unwilling, enlightened or ignorant) they are but instruments in His hand. It is true, that for the most part Christ is pleased to feed and instruct His Church by means of enlightened and willing instruments, who can speak out of their own experience: but He is not tied to such. He can declare precious truths by the lips of Balaam, or work His miracles of mercy by the hands of Judas. And did we look to Him in simplicity of faith, we should find that "all things are ours,

whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas," or friends or enemies, Ministers that love the gospel, or intruders into that office who hate and despise it; all shall be subservient to our comfort and salvation. I have myself, on more than one occasion, received wonderful edification and comfort under the preaching of the most blind and worldly Ministers that I ever happened to hear. And I have met with other instances of the same kind. So that those who think they cannot hear any but a converted Minister, do, in fact, take wretchedly low views of the ordinances, and of the power and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in them. Oh! who shall presume to dictate to Him by what instruments He shall please to work? Or who shall forbid Him to use a Balaam, or a Judas, or a Demas now, for the edification of His Church, and the comfort and salvation of His people? Hath He not all power, and all authority and dominion both in heaven and earth? And doth He not make the devils themselves subservient to our joy and salvation? If then you are so situated that you can only attend the ordinances, in a church

where the Minister is unconverted, blind, and even hostile to the Gospel, still wait upon the Great Head of the Church in humble and earnest prayer; and He both can and will put into the mouth of that Minister the words of warning, reproof, edification, and comfort, which He deems it necessary for you to hear, and which your case requires.

Of course, if it lay within our power and choice, we should earnestly desire that both the Minister and the people with whom we meet for public worship, and in the ministration of the word and sacraments, should be really children of God, and partakers of like precious faith with us. But many things which are exceedingly desirable, are not absolutely essential. And let us take heed that we make not those things essential, which Christ hath never made so: otherwise we may deprive ourselves of many helps and blessings which He freely and abundantly holds out to us; and put ourselves needlessly, (if not others along with us), into the greatest perplexity and distress.

If the Minister were Paul himself, and the

Lord Jesus were not pleased to use him, and bless him to my edification and comfort, what should I be the better? (1 Cor. iii. 6, 7.) Therefore, even in this case, I should have need humbly and simply to look to Him in faith and prayer. See Article XXVI of our Church, in which there is very much of scriptural wisdom.

If you will read again, and duly consider the Homily, ("Concerning the Sacrament,") from which you have made so many extracts, you will find that the grand point urged is selfexamination in regard to which it is a model of faithful preaching. But discipline is not the matter in discussion there. You will therefore find it expressly written therein, towards the conclusion, "Thus we, and not other, must thoroughly examine, and not lightly look over ourselves, not other men: our own conscience, not other men's lives: which we ought to do uprightly, truly, and with just correction." For it is an unquestionable historical fact, that our Reformers did not look forward to the possibility of exercising strict discipline in the Church. The introduction to the Commination Service in the Prayer Book