As to Catholic Emancipation I profess to know and to fear but little. Were I better acquainted with the effects of the present system, I fancy I should think with such men as Mr. Wilberforce: but not knowing these, having only a very limited survey, I feel quite satisfied to let them think for me. A meeting was lately called at Bridgenorth to petition against the claims. I refused both to attend and to authorize the use of my signature. I am equally satisfied, however, that the bill should be lost: and I should imagine that the strength in the Upper House will always throw it out.
DR. A. CLARKE’S COMMENTARY.
You ask me my opinion of Dr. Adam Clarke’s Commentary. I think that upon the whole it is a great work: and few persons could have produced such a one. But after all, the Dr. is not to be depended on, he is far too venturesome and far too positive—he drives through thick and thin—certain opinions must be maintained, certain characters must be vindicated, and this is done in a manner and spirit which is not quite suited to my taste. I continue, however, to take in the work for the present: but have told one of the Methodist preachers stationed here, that, if he can part with it for me on reasonable terms, I will take from him Benson’s Commentary in its stead.
CLASSES.
As to classes, I still think that something like church fellowship is the grand desideratum of our Church. The Communion, which was originally intended for this, now completely fails. It is almost anything but the communion of saints. Private meetings, too, of a familiar, conversational, or expository kind, do not quite come up to the supposed point. There must be some enclosure—some hedge of separation, something which shall admit the apparently sincere inquirer and exclude the worldly—something, in fact, which shall “gather believers together out of the mass of the ungodly world.”
DISSENT.
In reference to Dissent, I am, I believe, what Dissenters consider a high, bigoted, stiff Churchman, but the simple true Churchman is all I wish to be known by. I love my Church right thoroughly, and I love Church unity in the same degree, and have never, for many years past, done anything by countenancing, encouraging, aiding, or abetting Dissent, and I hope I never shall; but I cannot, dare not, unchurch Dissenters, and deny that they are sections of Christ’s outward and visible Church, and, of course, I cannot but respect the private characters and conduct of many individuals among them.
EPISCOPACY.
As to Episcopacy, I think with Bishop Hall, that it is necessary for the well or better being of a Church, but not essentially necessary to its very being itself; and as to High Church principles, or Puseyism, or Tractarian notions, I go not a single step. I regard them as quite subversive of the doctrine of Christ; there is not one single point, by which they are distinguished but, if honestly carried out, must lead to Romanism. Admit, for example, that in ordination there is conveyed through the bishop, of necessity, and independent of the state of mind of the candidate, any grace or virtue or qualification for the spiritually and graciously discharging the duties of the ministerial office, which is not conveyed by Presbyterian or Methodistical ordination, and you arrogate for our Church what neither Scripture on the one hand, nor daily observation on the other, will substantiate. They may authorize and commission those who appear to them already qualified, but it is the Divine Spirit alone, which can fit and qualify with all the gifts and graces necessary for a due discharge of their important function.