place apart; and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. In the second, Luke ix. 10, the original is, Και παραλαβωναυίες, ὑπεχώρησε κατ' ιδίαν εις τόπον ερημον πολεως καλεμένης Βηθσαϊδα. Οι δε οχλοι γνόντες ήκολύθη car aurwand the translation," And he took them (the Apos tles) and went aside privately into a desert place, belonging to the city, called Bethsaida. And the people, when they knew it, (i. e. not Jesus, but the desert place, and the circumstance of his going thither) followed him."

I am, Sir, &c.

E. PEARSON.

Rempstone, Dec. 10, 1806.

ON A NEW PROFESSORSHIP.

I

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE.

SIR,

Rejoiced exceedingly to find by your last Magazine, that the hint I threw out so long ago as May last, had excited the attention of a gentleman so well calculated to improve upon it. I rejoice still more, that there is actually a probability of its being carried into execution. Perhaps it will be news to the majority of your readers next month, to learn, that Mr. Pearson has received a letter from a gentleman, a stranger to him, who desires his name may be concealed, making him the offer of a salary of 2001. per annum for five years, on condition that he can obtain the sanction of the University of Cambridge, to his appointment to the new Professorship which is recommended. It is, however, a fact; and Mr. Pearson has written to the Vice-Chancellor on the subject. I forbear to panegyrize the generous donor, whose fame no eulogy of mine can increase, and whose desire. of concealment should be a caution not to attempt it: but Vol. XI. Churchm. Mag. for Dec. 1806. 3 L I must

I must be allowed to congratulate the Church of England that, notwithstanding the lamentable defection from her communion, she still cherishes in her bosom friends, whose attachment is founded on disinterestedness, and whose zeal is only equalled by their generosity. Much, however, still requires to be done, to fill up the yet unfinished draught of the institution, which, after all, perhaps, must be indebted for its ultimate and finishing im provements to actual experiment. On this, as on every other account, I rejoice, that the office has fallen to the option of my friend, Mr. Pearson. In such able hands, I have no doubt of its undergoing a close inspection in regard to its nature and obligations, and finally receiving every advantage, which labour, judgment, and integrity can confer upon it. I beg leave, however, to submit to him, whether the title "Pastoral Professor," which I recommended, (see my letter in your Mag. for May last,) would not designate the nature of the institution, better than that of Ritual Professor" which he has substituted. The former embraces the whole range of Pastoral duties in all their arduous variety; and, of course includes that branch, which respects a due attention to rites and ceremonies. The latter narrows the plan to that branch exclusively. Besides, a name has frequently no slight share in the recommendation or condemnation of the thing to which it is given; and if, by conceding to the prejudices of our adversaries, we can conciliate their esteem, or, at least, obviate their reproaches, it is, I think, our duty so to do. Now those, who separate the widest from us, cannot object to the use of the word "Pastoral," because it is sanctioned by the writers of the New Testament, applying it to the then Christian ministry; but the term "Ritual" might be objected to, (how perversely I will not stay to enquire) as implying, that our Church, by authority from its governors, concerned itself with nothing but carnal rites and ceremo

nies.

And now, Sir, I take my leave, earnestly hoping, that the noble and generous offer of our worthy anonymous friend may be gratefully accepted; and that I may, forthwith see one more bulwark erected in defence of our Zion, against the growing hosts of opposition leagued for her destruction. Should this hope be realized, and be followed by the consequences, which I am sanguine

enough

enough to anticipate, I shall have the satisfaction, whenever it please God to remove me from this earthly scene, to think I have not lived in vain.

Iam, Sir, with hearty good wishes for the best interests of the Church and its ministers,

Your faithful Servant,

And occasional Correspondent,

Woolpit Parsonage, Dec. 9, 1806.

S. C.

ON THE UNION CHAPEL AT ISLINGTON.

T

WO letters have been sent to us on the subject of this building one subscribed PERSIS is confined wholly to the enquiry of THEODOSIUS, (see page 259,) and very clearly shews that the property of the Chapel, in question, is fully protected by the Toleration Act.

The other communication is official on the part of the proprietors, who disavow all idea of making this a speculative and lucrative concern; and in answer to the query, "Whether the Chapel has been consecrated and licensed," reply by a reference to the " Bishop of Lon‣ don's Register where it will be found regularly entered and certified under the Act of 1 Will. and Mary, cap. 18, $ 19."

Thus much certainly is sufficient to place this building within the shelter of the law of the land, as a Dissenting Meeting House, and under that character, its claim to protection cannot, and ought not to be contested.

But the Union Chapel it appears, assumes a higher distinction, and is avowedly a rival of the Parish Church; for these are the words of the Proprietors themselves:

"We occupied for several years, a Chapel in an inconvenient and remote part of the parish; we felt for the wants of the population at large, in respect to accommodation for

Divine

6

Divine Worship, and built the present on an extensive plan for the benefit of others, as well as ourselves and our fami lies. Instead of being chargeable with Schism,' our conduct is directly the reverse: we aim to unite those who have been too long separated; we are members of the Church of England, of the Church of Scotland and Dissenters, uniting in the spirit of harmony, and, as agreed in all essential doctrines, to worship together under one roof."

This exhibition of their motives and objects, deserves very serious consideration; more especially of those members of the Church of England, who have been led to attend this chapel, under the specious, but delusive plea of Christian unity and superior edification.

The Toleration Act was professedly provided for "Protestants dissenting from the Church of England, and for no other persons," whereas the proprietors of this chapel do not scruple to declare, that some of them are members of the Church of England; and that, in " erecting this building on an extensive plan, they have had an eye to the wants of the population at large." In another part of their letter, they say, that "the Liturgy of the Church is solemnized in the morning by an episcopally ordained Clergyman, using the Litany and the Communion Service alternately."

1

. According to this, the Union Chapel, instead of being what the Act of Toleration was intended to protect, a place of worship for conscientious protestants dissenting from the established Church, is merely a trap for the pur pose of drawing away the people from their parish church and minister, to a conventicle where the Liturgy of the Church is read in a garbled state by a Clergyman, who acts in violation of his ordination vows.

Now, whatever may cover the building itself, or the proprietors, or the occasional teachers, the fact is, that all members of the Church of England, who frequent this Meeting House, are guilty of Schism, and the Episcopally ordained Clergymen who officiate therein, are liable to the penalties of suspension and excommuni, catión.

But the gentlemen engaged in this concern, are very angry at having the charge of Schism brought against them; and we shall be very glad to find that they have a proper abhorrence of the thing itself, for then, it is to be hoped, they will see that this affected UNION is no other

than

than a breach of Christian order, and a disobedience of that authority which Christ instituted in his Church. All that we are here stating is directed to the attention of those who have been admitted by Baptism into the Church of England, and who believe that her orders, services, and doctrine, are in unison with the faith and worship of the Apostolic age.

According to this, the Church is a visible society, regularly constituted with proper powers, and having a form of government established at the beginning, with an assurance from Christ of being continued to the end. Now there can be no government without a magistracy or governors, and, therefore, at the commencement of the gospel promulgation, twelve were chosen, who became an Episcopal College, with subordinate ministers under them; that college, by the defection of one member, was filled up by a solemn act of consecration; and thus a succession of governors in the Church was settled, and has continued to this day. In them only, lies the power of ordaining Presbyters and Deacons, for the administration of the Sacraments and other public services of religion; and whoever does not derive his orders in this line, we maintain to be a mere layman, let whatever acts or decrees of Civil Powers, interpose to shield him from legal incapacities, or from Church censures.

What ideas the primitive Christians had of Church Unity, and of the obedience due to their spiritual governors, will appear from the writings of those who lived in, and near, the times of the Apostles themselves. The holy Ignatius, who was the disciple of St. John, has many strong and excellent remarks on this subject, in his epistles; "He that is within the altar," i. e. in the Communion of the Church, "is pure" saith he, "but he that does any thing without the Bishop, Priests, and Deacons, is not of a pure conscience*;" again in his epistle to the Magnesians, this blessed martyr says, " Some, indeed, call their governor, Bishop; and yet do all things without him. But I can never think, that such as these have a good conscience, seeing, that they are not united, or gathered together according to the ordinance of God." And in the same epistle he gives this excellent exhortation:

"Let there be nothing in you that may cause a division among you; but be ye united to your Bishop, and

Epist. ad Trall. The unlearned reader will do well to peruse carefully Abp. Wake's translation of the genuine Epistles of the Apostolical Fathers, which will prove an excellent preservative against Schistu.

those