PREFACE.

THIS Sermon is published in compliance with a requisition from several of the Clergy who heard it; who have honoured it with their deliberate approbation, and who imagine that some good may be produced by its circulation. I shall be happy, indeed, if this shall prove so. But it was composed with no view to publication. It is faulty in some respects and deficient in many; and as little fitted to meet the eye of rigid criticism, as it is unworthy of the subject which it attempts to treat. Nevertheless, that Reverend friends may not reproach me with presenting to the public a different composition from that which it has pleased them to commend, it has been consigned to the Press even such as it was delivered.

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Yet can I not refrain from prefixing to it a few general observations, some of them bearing very closely on the subject of the Sermon, and none deviating widely from it. And 1 trust that those who have taken in such good part the admonitions addressed to them from the pulpit, will not quarrel with the fruits of my more private meditation—seeing that they are dictated by the same motives, and urged in the same spirit of earnest devotion to our religion, and deep and sober affection towards our common Church.

It will not, I think, be disputed, that whatsoever may be the ultimate effects, for good or for evil, of the recent change in our political constitution, one result at least is certain-all our Institutions must rest henceforward, on a somewhat different ground from that on which they have hitherto stood; and not least so that, of which we are Ministers. The strength which has been acquired by the popular principle, must and will be felt in every department of Government, whether civil or ecclesiastical: and it will be in vain, that we claim the supremacy and protection of the Crown; that we

rnish sources of patronage to the servants of

the Crown; that we are bound by the closest ties of interest to the landed Aristocracy, unless we shall at the same time secure on our sides the good will of the majority of the people. From the moment that we shall lose that support-from the moment that the public voice shall have decidedly and repeatedly declared against us--we may plead our apostolical succession and the authority that we derive in a direct stream from the companions of the Saviour; we may plead the purity of our doctrine, the sublime solemnity of our liturgy, the venerable names which adorn and consecrate our History, the learning and piety of our actual prelates and ministers- but our fate will nevertheless be sealed, and our utmost exertions will not long avail to suspend it. Now, if this be so; if it be so manifest that scarcely any man will venture deliberately to question it; why should we be reluctant to acknowledge a truth of such deep import-a Truth, in which we have to seek our principles of action, and our means of safety? If indeed we are involved in circumstances of difficulty, it may even be, of peril, surely it will be wise in us to examine with courage, and without passion or prejudice,

the position in which we are placed; to open our eyes to the real nature of the danger; to ascertain the point on which the struggle must be decided, and to gird ourselves with such weapons as the occasion shall seem to require.

Henceforward, then, our principal hopes of strength and and perpetuity must be placed in the affection of the People. But what then? what is there so very terrible in this prospect? If, indeed there be any amongst us, who have dishonoured theirprofession, and forgotten their Faith, and broken the sacred obligation which they have undertaken before God and before man-let them tremble. But the Church, which disclaims them, has nothing to fear from an appeal to a Tribunal, which only condemns her abuses, and denounces the men who disgrace her. And when we turn to enquire, what methods there are by which we may trust to win its suffrages, our conscience at once replies to us, that in our dealings with the People we can address to them no argument so persuasive, we can urge on them no eloquence so commanding, as the faithful discharge of our duties. We must not attempt to deceive ourselves; this is